#which ends up clouding his judgment and making him the one who's actually in the dark

[khattikeri]

nie huaisang may say "i don't know" all the time but the person who Really doesn't know or even want to know is lan xichen. thanks for coming to my tedtalk

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Hello! I am SO hyperfixated on the fact that the overblot form CAN be controlled??? That’s the case with Malleus isn’t it? And I guess on one hand I can see how Idia can control it too because of his “curse/blessing” (and sheer will and spite).

Maybe this is foreshadowing that maybe it’s possible for the other OB boys to do so as well???? I don’t know how it’ll work with them but I’m so excited. Overblot cards potential AAAH

I’d love to hear more of your thoughts on this!

[Referencing this post!}

Yeah, I definitely think that OB Idia battle segment opens the floodgates for potential SSR Overblot Troublemaker(s) cards 💀 (RIP to the OB gang fans)

As a refresher for everyone (since it has been a while), alllllll the way back in book 1, Crowley and Cater describe “overblot” as thus: “[… being] overcome by negative energy and[…] losing control of [one’s] magic and emotions,” and “evil berserk mode”.

We’ve seen many examples of these traits in the main story campaign; oftentimes, the OB boy in question is impossible to reason with and has to be subdued via battle. However, it’s important to note that while the OBs may be primarily driven by their emotions, it is not purely rage but rather negative feelings in general. Yes, many OBs (Riddle, Leona, Azul, Vil, etc.) do attack others—but other OBs demonstrate moments of calm (ie when their demands are met). For example, Jamil is tame when he believes he has banished Kalim, secured hypnotized Scarabia mobs, and reigns over the dorm as its new leader. I do believe anger is still a large component of the behavior of one who has overblotted though; that rage most certainly clouds a person’s judgment and compels them to strike out at the slightest thing.

Now, about the idea of “controlling” OBs… I don’t that that can actually be done?? We have to remember that Malleus is a VERY powerful mage—and this alone could give him an “edge” that others don’t when it comes to being fully aware while in OB (though I believe both Malleus and Vil indicate early on they notice their blot building). As Idia’s dad states, Malleus is drawing his magic from nature itself and therefore has a limitless supply it. Secondly, I wouldn’t call Malleus’s OB “controlling” it to begin with. It’s clear that he’s still running high on emotions and is unwilling to hear others out or have them interfere with his plans. These are still traits associated with OB; it’s not as though Malleus is “overriding” the unreasonable thoughts, he is still ruled by them and acts on them. I think what you (maybe?) mean is that Malleus has a much more calculating approach and more precise control over how he wields his power rather than indiscriminately smashing stuff in his path. This, again, could do with his insane power level compared to his peers. Unlike most other OBs, his goal (at least in his own framing) before he overblotted to begin with wasn’t to “take away”, but rather to “gift” happy endings to everyone. This sets him apart just based on interests alone, and that’s perhaps why he acts the most different in the lot.

Now let’s consider the circumstances under which Idia OBs a second time: it’s in a dream, meaning it’s questionable whether or not this would transfer over to real life. Because it’s Idia’s dream, he has more autonomy in it, particularly because he is now “awake”/conscious of the fact that it is a dream. Secondly, Idia bears the Shroud family’s curse/blessing, which allows him to “power up” the more blot is present, as it serves as fuel for his magic. This alone makes him a “special case” which could explain the unusual amount of control he exerts over his OB form. (Again though, I’d wager it’s mostly the dream environment.)

I do see maybe the other OB boys doing a similar “oh, lemme OB to help you guys fight” in a dream situation where there are fewer limits on what they can do, but not in a real world setting. It would put them all at risk anyway, as they lack Idia’s curse/blessing or Malleus’s fae powers. Is that worth the risk, knowing they could all die or potentially turn on their classmates?

I just don’t see OB becoming a “tool” or a magical girl transformation the characters could pull out for combat purposes in the story (though this is possible for like the gameplay outside of the story). I highly doubt OB is like something you could train yourself to control; it’s less like bulking up at the gym and more like pushing yourself to keep exercising while you’re high on adrenaline… Sooner or later, you’d burn out and injure yourself in that overexertion.

If there ever are OB cards, I can easily see them as being the type that don’t come with vignettes because… what reasonable story could you conjure up to explain the OBing again? If there are vignettes, then they most likely won’t fit into the main story canon. You’d have to frame the OB cards as “within the moment” of whatever book they OB’d in, and perhaps go more in-depth about the trauma or something along those lines.

[hoseokslefteyebrow]

In which you meet for the first time.

Arranged marriage au.

In which the first years find out you're engaged, and to whom.

An arranged marriage.

You're stunned. But annoyed all the same. 

You're surprised too, even though you know that it's odd and useless to feel that way.

As a member of the L/N clan, you of course would've been forced to be married off sooner or later.

Thankfully, the actual marriage won't happen until years later, when you're grown up, an actual adult.

You're only 13 now.

You can't help the scowl on your face as you enter the room your supposed future 'fiance' is in.

Your eyes are quick to connect with a beautiful pair of purple eyes.

You have to admit, he's cute. If you would have seen him across your school, you might've been interested in him. 

You'd never dare to make a move on him though, not if you had been in the same school or would have seen him elsewhere. And especially not with these circumstances

Currently, the grudge you hold against him due to this arranged marriage is clouding your judgment. You dislike him even when he hasn't spoken a word to you just yet.

Your eyes stray to the symbols on the side of his mouth. Ah right, his family's technique was cursed speech. Powerful, admittedly. You have a vague idea of how it works, but you can't help but wonder if it affects casual speech too.

" L/N Y/N." 

Your introduction is basic.

The boy across from you blushes.

He looks sweet. You shake the thought off.

" Inumaki Toge."

You nod. An awkward silence overtakes the two of you for a few moments.

You don't know what to say.

Your mother had all but shoved you in this room, without further directions or whatsoever.

You awkwardly sit down on the couch in the sitting room, your hands tapping your thighs nervously for a moment.

" Kelp."

You blink as he sits down on a chair across from you, a small coffee table between the two of you.

" What?" 

What was that supposed to mean?

He frowns, searching his pockets before pulling out his phone and typing away.

Great. So he's ignoring you now.

" So, uhm, what's your opinion on our situation-"

You pause as he turns the phone to you.

' Sorry, due to my cursed speech technique I can only talk in Onigiri ingredients to avoid accidentally cursing those around me.'

" Oh." 

You exclaim softly, understanding him better now.

He turns the phone back to himself, typing away again.

" I don't know how to feel about our situation yet. I always knew I have a chance of ending up in an arranged marriage due to my hereditary technique. I understand if you feel different though. I hoped we could see how things go. We can always fight it if either of us dislike it. I won't force you into marriage with me.'

Your eyes widen at his consideration. This was not what you had expected at all.

The only other person you've met who has a hereditary technique is Naoya Zen'In, and you hate that guy with a passion.

You blush softly at Toge's words, smiling as you nod in agreement.

" I have to admit that I thought more negatively about the situation. But you seem nice. Maybe we should see how things go."

Toge blushes slightly as well, smiling softly as he nods.

It was an uncomfortable, odd situation for the both of you. You're only thirteen, and yet both of your parents have already decided that your lives are to be spent with one another.

He takes his phone back, and for a moment, the two of you are silent again.

" Uhm... What's your favorite onigiri ingredient?"

He smiles at you.

" Tuna Mayo."

Before you even realize it, the two of you are talking, (well, mostly you. He's mostly typing, or answering in Onigiri ingredients when it's a yes or no question), getting to know one another.

At the end of the day, you are nowhere near certain about eventually being married to him, yet you have to admit that you enjoyed spending time with him.

And that you looked forward to the next time you're seeing each other again.

[ A/N: Decided to do a small drabble collection of their marriage in little scenarios. Just for the heck of it. Requests about this specific trope are welcome (no guarantee that I'll accept though) ]

[themultifandomgal]

Tommy Shelby- Expecting

Keeping mine and Tommys relationship a secret wasn't something I wanted to do. I wanted us to be official, but Tommy had other ideas. Instead we would sneak into each others bed at night. All hell broke loose though when I found out I was with child. At first Tommy didn't believe me that it was his, then he told me that he didn't want to settle down and have a family. Offered to find a good doctor to do an abortion. I refused and now I'm known at the Watery Lane Whore. Anger however bubbles inside of me when Tommy announces his relationship with Grace and that they were expecting.

I walk through the door of the Garrison and the first thing I see is her smiling and laughing with Tommy and his family. I roll my eyes and turn around wanting to leave when John calls me over

"YN! Come join us, we're celebrating"

"No thank you John" I glance over to Tommy who's got his arm around Grace "not in the mood"

"Hey wait" John runs over to me "how's the baby?" he asks with genuine concern

"Fine"

"Fuck YN whatever you and Tommy are fighting about now just put it to bed for one fucking nought to celebrate"

"Only if you knew what we are fighting about. Look I'm gonna go. Enjoy" as I leave I hear John say

"If I ever find the fucker who did this to her..." little does he know his own brother is the fucker that he won't do shit to. As I walk the streets to get home I'm called a number of names because I'm pregnant out of marriage, but would anyone dare say the same thing to Grace? No because she's with Tommy. The bitch that tried to get Tommy killed is now having his baby and engaged. It's like he's been brainwashed. Ignoring the comments I get home, deciding to go to bed early.

Over the next few weeks I stay as far away from the Shelby's, that is until I hear a knock on my front door. Groaning I get off the sofa, putting my book down on the coffee table and walk to the front door. I open it up not expecting to see Tommy stood there looking disheveled, but here he is

"Can I come in?" he asks sheepishly which is very unusual for Tommy. I cross my arms and frown looking at him

"I don't know. Why are you here"

"She lied. The whole time Grace was lying to me" still frowning YN doesn't say anything but continues so look at Tommy "YN please let me explain" In YNs mind she goes back at to about what she should do. Let Tommy in and talk, or close the door on him and never speak to him again.

Ending 1- YN and Tommy end up together

Wanting her child to know their father, YN sighs letting Tommy into her house. He walks in and takes off his shoes knowing YN hates mud being brought into the house. Not uttering a word, YN walks into the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea. Tommy walks in behind her also not saying anything

“So. Gonna explain?” YN finally says crossing her arms and turning to look at Tommy

“YN I fucked up”

“Tell me about it” YN mutters

“Grace wasn’t pregnant. Never was. She was helping the copper, get close to me the kill me”

“And why should I believe you?”

“You have no reason to. I get that. But I’m sorry. I really liked.. like you YN and I let that bitch cloud my judgment. When you told me you were pregnant I freaked out. I spoke to Grace about it and she told me shit about you. Said you weren’t actually pregnant with my child, said she saw you with another man. That’s why I didn’t believe you. I was hurt”

“You you don’t think I was? I could have dealt with you not wanting a family, I could have even dealt with you just not wanting to be with me. Yes it would have hurt, but not as much as finding out you were happy to settle with Grace”

“Your right. I’m a fucking dick for that and I’m sorry” this catches YN off by surprise. Tommy never apologises. Yet here he is apologising to her “YN I promise you I will do everything I’m my power to make it up to you” thinking about it YN decides to give him a chance.

Over the next few years YN forgives Tommy, they end up getting married and having more children together.

Ending 2- YN leaves Tommy alone and moves away

“I’m sorry Tommy. I can’t. You hurt me more than I ever thought could be possible. I could have dealt with you not wanting a family, I could have even dealt with you just not wanting to be with me. Yes it would have hurt, but not as much as finding out you were happy to settle down with Grace”

“YN she was never pregnant please let me explain”

“No Tommy. I’m moving away tomorrow. I will tell our child that their father was a good man, but couldn’t look after us. When they’re 18 they can choose whether they come to see you. Until then, this is goodbye” YN closes the door in front of Tommy and heads up to her bedroom for the final time here in Watery Lane.

[discordiansamba]

some more assorted thoughts about the earth prince zuko au:

his time with the avatar's group is dai's first time traveling the earth kingdom proper. it's eye opening in some ways. he's always known about the war, but it's one thing to see for himself how bad it's gotten in places.

it's relatively common knowledge in the earth kingdom that prince dai's mother was a mistress of the previous earth king. knowledge that she was fire nation is much less common, so the gold-eyed prince always catches people off guard.

inevitably, there are actually a couple of dai li agents who treat dai with genuine affection. they've become quite fond of the fake earth prince but most also agree that they've done him a favor by taking him away from the fire nation.

while in the foggy bottom swamp, dai sees a curious vision of a young boy in fire nation clothing...

hi gow. hope you like being kicked out of the earth kingdom army because dai absolutely has the authority to see that happen. you clearly don't even give a damn about fighting the fire nation, you're just using your authority to be a glorified bully.

dai promises gansu and sela that he'll have a request put in to look for their son, but that he can't really promise anything beyond that.

dai includes in his reports about general iroh's apparent change of heart towards the war and the fire nation. long feng files this information away.

i think dai should be able to use lightning. as a treat. iroh's the one who ends up teaching him while he's recovering from their fight with azula, because fate still brings the three of them together. most of dai's firebending knowledge has come from scrolls in the dai li's archives. he's never been taught by an actual teacher before.

he should be wary of general iroh. he's not only fire nation royalty, but he also laid siege on the city in which dai was born. but there's something... familiar about him in a way that he can't put his finger on.

(he does not tell long feng about getting firebending instruction from iroh.)

when the gaang learns that dai has been working for the dai li the entire time, and that he's been reporting back to long feng about them and their activities the entire time, it hurts. they've really come to think of him as a friend, and they think dai thinks of them that way too. that's the worst part actually. how can he think of them that way and still go behind their back like that?

long feng conceals the fact that the dai li have appa in their possession from dai. it's obvious he's been getting a little too close to the avatar and his friends, and that might cloud his judgment. perhaps it is time to keep the young prince at home again.

when forced to make a choice between his friends and the dai li, dai will ultimately choose his friends. this means backing their story about long feng concealing the war from kuei- and his own role in that.

in the aftermath, kuei and dai make a tentative peace between each other- as do dai and the rest of the gaang. they're still a little angry with him, but after hearing his backstory, they understand a little better why he had such a deep connection to the dai li in the first place.

(they don't know it's all lies.)

dai accompanies sokka to chameleon bay on behalf of his half-brother. he's not there when azula arrives, disguised as a kyoshi warrior, or when she plots with the dai li and long feng.

(in the end, it's one of the dai li that view dai with genuine affection that warns the group of azula's coup.)

kuei: now that the earth kingdom has fallen, i have decided to live as one of my people and see my kingdom with my own eyes.

dai: ...that's a terrible idea. why are we letting him do this?

[pompomqt]

Journey to the West Chapter 55

Tripitaka on the worst date of his life:

In this chapter of Journey to the West with @journeythroughjourneytothewest we get to witness Tripitaka's first date. So let's get into it shall we?

So Tripitaka has been snagged by a mystery women, so Sun Wukong leaps into the sky and looks in all four directions to see where they went. And sure enough he spots a whirlwind heading to the northwest. Now that they know which direction the demon is heading, Monkey calls to the others, and they zip off using their cloud soaring powers to give chase. This has the added benefit of causing the empress to completely drop the whole marriage plan, because these monks are clearly super Buddhist's.

Anyways they chase the cyclone until they find the typical demon mountain and cave. Pigsy immediately wants to kick the door in, but Monkey wants to do some reconnaissance first to make sure they have the right demon cave. So Monkey turns into a bee to scope out the cave. Inside he see's a nice flower garden, some female attendants, and the demon, who is currently trying to offer a teary-eyed Tripitaka some human flesh stuffed buns. The Demon assures Tripitaka that this place isn't as stuffy as the palace, and will be perfect for his Buddhist lifestyle. And she'll be there as his wife until the day they die. She tells him to relax and try a bun.

Tripitaka is well aware that this situation is a lot more dangerous then the one with the queen, and can't risk offending the demon. So he tells the demon he's vegetarian, and has one of the red bean paste buns. The demon tries hitting on Tripitaka some more, but thankfully Monkey chooses this moment to interrupt and attacks the demon. The demon has her attendants take Tripitaka away, while she pulls out a trident to fight Wukong with. The two fight their ways out of the cave, which allows Pigsy to join in, however, this doesn't give them much of an advantage as the demon simply summons two more tridents. She then tells Monkey that he lacks good judgment, because she knows who he is, but he doesn't know her, and she's someone even the Buddha fears.

And on that foreboding note, the demon lashes out at Sun Wukong's head, with a weapon he can't see. This blow causes him extreme pain and causes him to flee the battle, with Pigsy right behind him. While Monkey is wailing in pain, Pigsy and Sandy try and figure out what exactly is wrong with him. After all Sun Wukong is not someone who gets hurt easily, and his head in particular is extra sturdy. Since they don't really know what weapon the demon has, and since Monkey is currently out of the game, they decide to wait until morning to challenge the demon again. And just hope that Tripitaka doesn't end up losing his virtue during the night.

Speaking of which, it's time to check back up on how Tripitaka is doing. Who is currently horrified as the demon continuously tries to seduce him. And as always when a women tries hitting on him, he kind of just shuts down, until the demon gets huffy and has her servants tie him up and take him out of her sight.

Anyways morning comes and Monkey is feeling better, the pain is gone and now it's just a little itchy. So now it's time for round two. First though they have to check if a rescue is even worth staging, by making sure Tripitaka didn't give up his virtue and decided to stay with his new demon wife. So Monkey once again turns into a bee to scope out the cave, and finds Tripitaka hog-tied in the corner. So Monkey lands on him and asks how his night went. Tripitaka explains that although the demon pestered him all night, he resisted her advances until she got tired of dealing with him and had him tied up.

Unfortunately the demon wakes up and hears them talking, which actually startles Monkey enough to retreat out of the cave and go back to Pigsy to tell him about what happened. Now that Pigsy is caught up on the fact that Tripitaka is still a true monk, it's time to stage that rescue. So Pigsy goes to the door and is allowed to break it down this time, which causes the maids to report to their boss about it. So the Demon tells her maids to take the tied up Tripitaka to the back room, while she goes out to fight them.

So the three of them fight for a while, until the demon pulls out the same mystery weapon from before and hits Pigsy on the lips, which causes Pigsy to flee, with Monkey close behind. They return to Sandy who is busy grazing the horse- who as a reminder is actually a dragon and really should be capable of taking care of himself while Sandy helps them, but I digress. Anyways while Pigsy is complaining about the pain, Monkey mocks him a little before spotting a suspicious old person, surrounded by holy light. Recognizing the old lady as Guanyin, Monkey and the others give their respects.

Guanyin reverts to her true form, while Monkey apologizes for not greeting her properly, but they are kind of in the middle of something at the moment. So Guanyin explains that the monster they are fighting is a scorpion spirit, the tridents are her claws, while the mystery weapon that keeps taking them out of commission is her stinger. Once upon a time, she was listening the the Buddha lecture, and when he tried to shoo her away, she stung his hand. Which even Buddha found painful, which probably soothes Monkey and Pigsy's ego's at least. Anyways even Guanyin doesn't want to mess with her, but luckily she has a friend that can help. They need to ask Star Lord Orionis for help with this particular monster. After that bit of helpful exposition Guanyin vanishes in a beam of golden light.

So Monkey makes his way to heaven, and arrives at the gods palace. Monkey finds the god and explains the situation, and says that Guanyin recommended him for this particular job. The god agrees to go with Monkey, and they don't even have time for a tea break before they are heading back to earth together.

Once there, Monkey points out the mountain and makes the necessary introductions. Pigsy however is still in to much pain to greet the star properly, but luckily the god has a cure for that. He also gets rid of the remaining effects on Monkey while he's at it. Now that those two are back in shape and ready for action, the star tells them to provoke battle with the demon again and lead her back here.

So Pigsy once again breaks the demon's new door, which the maids of course immediately report to the demon, who was busy trying to feed Tripitaka. Hearing this, the demon rushes out again to fight Pigsy and Monkey, who are able to successfully lure her outside so the star can do his thing. His 'Thing' apparently is to transform into his real form- a giant rooster, and crow twice, once to reveal her true form, and another to paralyze her. Once she's paralyzed, Pigsy uses his rake to crush her like the bug she is.

After that they give their thanks to the star god and see him off. After that they gather their belongings and re-enter the cave to collect their master. Only to find the maids kneeling and explaining that they aren't demons. Turns out they are from the kingdom of women and were also kidnapped. After they tell them where Tripitaka is being held, and Monkey double checks that they are indeed humans, Monkey goes and rescues Tripitaka. Monkey explains the adventure to Tripitaka, and they have a meal together before taking the captured women home so that they may continue on their Journey to the West.

Current Sun Wukong Stats: Names/Titles: Monkey, The Stone Monkey, The Handsome Monkey King, Sun Wukong (Monkey awakened to the void), Bimawen (Banhorseplague), The Great Sage Equal To Heaven and Pilgrim Sun. Immortality: 5 + 94,000 years Weapon: The Compliant Golden Hooped Rod Abilities: 72 Transformations, Cloud-Somersault, Ability to transform his individual hairs, super strength, Ability to Summon Wind, Water restriction charm, and the ability to change into a huge war form, ability to duplicate his staff, ability to immobilize others, the ability to put others to sleep, and the Fiery eyes and Diamond Pupils, intimidating horses, churning large bodies of water, sleeplessness, seizing the wind, enhanced smell, discerning good and evil within a thousand miles, Spirit Summoning, lock picking, object transformation, distance reduction, vanishing in a flash of light, super healing, transforming others, and Invisibility Demon Kill Count: 9+ Unknown Number of Minions Human Kill Count: 1009 God's Defeated: 23 + Unknown number Defeats: 7 Crime List: Robbery, Murder, Mass Murder, Arson, Theft, Coercion, Threatening a Government Official, Resisting Arrest, Assault, Forgery, Employee Theft, False Imprisonment, Impersonating a Government Official, Treason, attempted murder, failure to control or report a dangerous fire, desecrating a corpse, breaking and entering, trespassing, violating Tree Law, looting corpses, trading counterfeit goods, criminal threat, animal abuse, Assisting or Instigating Escape, Damage to Religious Property, contaminating a substance for human consumption and Identity Fraud. Cry Count: 8 + 3 fake cries Mountains Trapped Under: 4

Current Tang Sanzang stats: Names/Titles: River Float, Xuanzang, Tang Sanzang, Tripitaka and the Tang Monk Abilities: Curing Blindness, making branches point a certain direction (allegedly), reciting sutras, pretty privilege, memorization, Heart Sutra and Meditation. Cry Count: 29 Tight Fillet Spell Uses: 31 Paralyzed by fear: 6 Bandit Problems: 2 Kidnapped by demons: 9 Falling Off Horses: 8

Current Bai Long Ma Stats: Names/Titles: Bai Long Ma (White Dragon Horse), Prince of the Western Ocean, and third prince jade dragon of the dragon king Aorun Abilities: Transforming into a human, a water snake, and a horse, eating a horse in one bite, flight, Magic of Water Restriction, Singing, and Sword Dancing. Cry Count: 1 Crime List: Arson, and Grave Disobedience. Contributions to the plot: 2 Kidnapped by demons: 1

Current Zhu Wuneng Stats: Names/Titles: The Marshal of the Heavenly Reeds, Zhu Wuneng (Pig who is aware of ability), Zhu Ganglie, Pigsy, Idiot and Eight Rules. Weapon: Rake Abilities: 36 Transformations, parting water, fighting underwater, cloud soaring, size enhancement and CPR Demon Kill Count/Kill steals: 3 Kidnapped by Demons: 4 Human Kill Count: 1 Failed Flirtation/romances Attempts: 4 Cry Count: 2 Crime List: Sexual Harassment, Murder, Kidnapping, arson, defamation, Damage to Religious Property, contaminating a substance for human consumption, Identity Fraud, Theft and Forcible entry

Current Sha Wujing Stats: Names/Titles: The Curtain-Raising General, Sha Wujing (Sand Aware of Purity), Sandy and Sha Monk Weapon: Monster Taming Staff Abilities: Fighting underwater, Cloud soaring, and fetching water from a well. Demon Kill Count: Unknown number of minions. Kidnapped by Demons: 3 Human Kill Count: 1 Crime List: Breaking a Crystal Cup, murder, desecration of a human corpse, Damage to Religious Property and contaminating a substance for human consumption

[yanderes-galore]

Okay now I understand, how about that Sherlock Holmes! Cassidy concept

-🍀 Anon

Oh! I immediately thought of a good idea for this :) I decided to generalize it and just make him a detective for this story. Although he's in his Sherlock Holmes! Skin for this. This ended up being somewhat modern day too....

Yandere! Detective! Cassidy Concept

Pairing: Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Manipulation, Possessive behavior, Murder, Blood, Stalking, Overprotective behavior, Threat of kidnapping, Forced relationship.

Imagine Cassidy being a detective, hunting down a string of recent murders happening where you live.

You had come to the station in tears.

A notorious serial killer is running rampant in the streets at night.

You came to report a recent body being found... one that happened to be a family member of yours.

You were nearly inconsolable at the station, sobbing into your hands and fearing for your life.

That was until you met Cassidy himself, a few officers escorting him to you.

You hear them speak to him for a moment before you're eventually left alone with the detective.

Cassidy's voice is smooth as he talks to you, sitting down beside you with care in his eyes.

He introduces himself to you, patiently sitting through your tears.

The detective in front of you has an oddly calming aura to him.

He gives you an encouraging grin before he continues to speak.

"Now, darlin', care to tell me the details of what you saw?"

Your talk with Cassidy goes surprisingly well.

He gives a reassuring smile as you list off what you saw, even giving you time to sob.

For a detective he's surprisingly charming.

By the end of his questions, Cassidy toys with his plaid coat before deciding to close things.

"You did well... I'll be sure to catch the culprit in no time, sweetheart. Are you feeling safe at home?"

For the moment you did and left the station.

The entire time Cassidy watches you go, a strange curiosity in his eyes.

Throughout the investigation you end up befriending Cassidy, who ends up acting as a comforting figure in your life.

He becomes a shoulder for you to cry on, often visiting to discuss what he's found so far.

You don't mind as you trust him... his presence makes you feel safe knowing he's out hunting down the murderer who tormented your family.

He knew of your fear and felt like you needed someone to comfort you.

You never really understood why Cassidy seemed so insistent on being around you...

But maybe he's like this for other victims too?

It seems strange... yet your grief clouds your judgment.

As the case continues and more murders occur around the area, you begin to feel unsafe.

You find yourself speaking to Detective Cassidy one evening, tired eyes looking at him meekly.

You haven't been sleeping well due to the stress.

You don't feel safe alone, like you're being watched.

You're plagued with bloody nightmares of the night your family member was murdered, a hooded face taunting you.

You admit you feel like you're being watched, which seems to pique the detective's interest.

"You feel you're being watched, darlin'?"

Cassidy's voice is soft, a hand reaching out to gently rub your back.

"Do you need someone to protect you?"

You nod, asking for an officer to be sent to watch your home.

Cassidy, however, has a better idea.

"How about I go with you? That way I can catch this murderer in case they come after you?"

Trusting Cassidy's comforting charm, you agree to let him stay at your home.

This happens a few nights, actually.

The detective usually dwells in your guest room, exploring your home for any potential exits or weaknesses.

Before you go to bed, Cassidy always offers his company.

He sits on your couch with playful comments, always offering smiles.

He's always armed with a singular handgun in case the murderer tries to break into you home.

Even when you head to bed... Cassidy stays up to watch the area.

For a few days such a setup works.

You become quite close to the detective and feel safer when he's there.

You can even ignore the strange anxious feeling you get as long as he's around.

But it isn't long before Cassidy's called off for another murder... leaving you alone in your home.

You call a friend or family member to make you feel less alone while Cassidy continues his hunt.

While you still feel anxious... you have them to keep you company.

You give them the guest room to rest in while you are still in your old room.

For the first time in a long while... you feel oddly at peace.

The moon trickles through your window... and you feel like you can finally rest...

It might just be your sleep deprived body giving up, yet you take the bait...

....

Only to wake up to a struggle, a scream...

A gunshot.

You jump up in your bed, your home eerily quiet.

As you hold your breath, you hear shuffling and heavy boots hitting wood.

It sounds like someone curses under their breath before you hear more walking around.

You reach for your phone to call Cassidy, to plead for him to help you...

The murderer is here and you need help.

You input the number, hoping for it to ring...

Only for it to go off somewhere... close?

You're stunned, swearing you heard a phone ring...

Then your bedroom door bursts open.

A tall man stands in front of you, blood coating his clothes...

You scream, just barely able to tell the bloody clothes are plaid...

But before you can put the pieces together...

A deep voice chuckles.

"Clever one, aren't you? Calling my number... Did you realize I'm the only one who could protect you?"

Cassidy stands in front of you, cornering you like a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Cassidy's a detective, yes...

Yet it appears he's a detective that has been chasing his own crime, like a dog chasing his tail for fun....

"I was supposed to kill you, darlin'..."

Cassidy's voice sighs, almost like he didn't like the thought.

"I even remembered your house's layout... but I can't do that to you, darlin'."

Cassidy then comes closer, making you try to slip past him.

Cassidy, however, snatches you with his robotic arm and holds you up.

"Doll, I'm serious! I won't harm you... Not after I've gotten so attached."

You're then tossed back in front of him, landing on your rear with a pained hiss.

Cassidy merely laughs, leaning down to cup your cheek.

You see more of the blood on his clothes now...

You already know who it belongs to.

"As long as you don't say a word about what I do... You can continue life as you always have..."

Cassidy then forces your chin up, his grip tight... threatening.

"But if you squeal... If you tell those officers what I am... I'll take you away and your remaining family will never see you again. Got that, sweetheart?"

You force yourself to nod, making Cassidy grin before he leans in and kisses your cheek.

"Good... You're all mine now, darlin'. No one's going to save you... not with me around."

Cassidy then pulls you closer, eyes dark and serious as though his words are a promise.

"If anyone tries, I'll kill 'em. I'm the only one who's going to protect you... alright, darlin'?"

You reluctantly nod again with a sob...

Silently accenting the fact you were a lamb to the slaughter no matter what you did to prevent this.

[phillippadgettwrites]

The First Time, Every Time: Miracle Man

Rated X / 1048 words / Tagging @today-in-fic / Posted on AO3

“The power of Christ compels you!” the old priest and the young priest shout in unison.

Streaks of holy water slash through the flesh on Regan’s legs, slicing her skin wide open. She floats above the bed, rigid and mottled, a shell of the child she was when the movie started. 

Mulder’s hand slides further down Scully’s belly, slipping just under the waist of her sweatpants, and gooseflesh lights up all over her arms. 

It’s actually really fucking cliche, a fact that they won’t be able to joke about for another six years. The scary movie, the dimmed lights, the flirtatious teasing about one or the other of them being too scared to keep watching. Mulder facetiously sat too close. Scully ironically pulled the blanket up to shield her eyes. He played pretend at comforting her. Somewhere along the line the joke stopped being a joke, and when he leaned forward and touched her jaw, she knew it wasn’t part of a bit. 

He’s wedged on his side between her body and the back of the couch, and he appears to have aspirations of sticking his hand down her pants. Though she realizes intellectually that they’ve already made a handful of mistakes and would be wise to cut their losses, the fact that she hasn’t been laid in months paired with the empty wine glass in front of her on the coffee table are seriously clouding her judgment. 

“S’that okay?” Mulder mumbles against her mouth as the tips of his fingers graze the skin beneath her belly button, and she doesn’t say no. She doesn’t say anything, just shifts her hips up in encouragement and lets her body do the talking. 

It truly was an innocent invitation. She owns the movie, so it’s not like she went out of her way to rent it or anything. Mulder just seemed out of sorts after their latest case, and she felt compelled to cheer him up. She typically finds moody men insufferable, but Mulder actually talks to her about the things that sour his mood, and often even takes her advice, which makes it exponentially less irritating. She’s truly flattered by how willing he is to be vulnerable with her, a trait that she initially thought to be compulsive but later realized is specific to her.  

She gasps and clamps her thighs down on his forearm when he sinks a finger into her, and he immediately stills. 

“Did I hurt you?” he asks, pulling away a little, and she shakes her head and grabs the back of his neck to tug him closer. 

Far from hurting her, he just woke up nerve endings that have been dormant since Bush was in office, but she’s not about to tell him that. She can’t remember the last time a man spent this much time kissing and touching her without trying to stick his dick in her. Just when she has that thought, Mulder gently grinds against her hip, and she feels herself quivering around his fingers at the idea of fucking him. But of course they can’t do that. They shouldn’t even be doing this. 

He’s very respectful. He asks before he takes off her shirt, her bra, her pants. He doesn’t ask if he can take off her panties, but that’s only because she shucks them off herself when he stands up to slip his jeans off and she sees his cock swing free. Legs spread, lined up, sharp sting and oh. Oh, oh, oh my. 

“Oh my god. You feel—” he starts, and she shuts him up with a kiss. 

They can’t talk about it, it’s too…real. They’re naked, and he’s inside her, and the screen on the TV has gone black because the movie is over, making it that much darker in her living room. Scully closes her eyes and tries to forget who she’s fucking, and why she shouldn’t be doing it, but she can’t. The way he smells, the way he feels, the exact pitch of his moans—it’s Mulder. Mulder, Mulder, Mulder, god—she’s going to come. Is he going to come?

They didn’t even use a condom. 

“Wait,” she says abruptly, pushing on his shoulders. 

He pulls out of her and hovers there, breathless, for a beat. 

“Is something wrong?”

“We didn’t—I don’t have a condom,” she says. 

She can feel every inch of skin on her body burning bright red with embarrassment. It’s real. They just did that. She just fucked her partner. Stupid, stupid, stupid. 

“Okay,” Mulder says reluctantly, sitting back. 

She senses that he might have more to say about his clean bill of health, or questions about whether she’s on birth control, but after a moment he starts to get dressed and she follows suit. 

“I hope I didn’t…pressure you in any way,” he says, a silhouette against the haze of the streetlights, and she’s exceedingly grateful for the relative darkness. 

“No, not at all,” she assures him. “But maybe…do you think we can just pretend this never happened?” she asks, wincing when her voice cracks a little. 

“Okay,” he says. “If that’s what you want.”

She turns on her desk lamp, which gives off enough light that he can find and put on his shoes and jacket, but not so much that he’ll be able to see how red her face is, or how swollen her lips. She walks him to the door and avoids eye contact as they say awkward goodbyes, but he’s clearly lingering and she doesn’t know why he won’t just go so she can begin the process of repressing this night deep into the far reaches of her memory. 

“Was it really that bad?” he finally asks, and her head snaps up to find a somewhat pained expression on his face. 

“Oh, no,” she stammers. “Not at all. It was fine—it was good, that’s not why…” 

A slow grin breaks out over his face as she struggles for words, and Scully huffs in irritation. 

“Glad to hear it. Night, Scully,” he says, giving her upper arm a squeeze. “See you Monday.”

“Goodnight, Mulder,” she grumbles, flashing him a tiny smile before she closes the door behind him. 

She’s not sure if they just ruined her favorite movie, or just made it her favorite for an entirely new reason.

[icedragonlizard]

Kracko's opinions on all the Dream Friends

Note: This is all purely my headcanons.

Kracko famously hates Kirby and wants him dead. What does he think about all of the dream friends? Does he hate them all, too?

Here are his opinions on them:

Bandana Waddle Dee: Bandee being one of Kirby's best friends is enough for Kracko to hate him a lot. Yes, Kracko is legitimately petty enough to hate people for simply being really close to Kirby. It also doesn't help that Bandee joined Kirby in beating Kracko up before, and has even talked madly at him for being so mean to the pink puff.

King Dedede: Kracko and Dedede used to be friends. Used to. They were friends back when Dedede wasn't friends with Kirby yet. But once he became friends with Kirby, he and Kracko stopped being friends. Kracko felt betrayed by Dedede at that point. Nowadays, there's nothing but anger and resentment all around in this dynamic. One time, Dedede criticized Kracko for being so stubborn and hateful about Kirby. That boosted Kracko's bitterness towards Dedede more.

Meta Knight: Before Meta Knight was friends with Kirby, Kracko didn't mind him. But once he did become friends with Kirby, the cloud's opinion of him worsened. It worsened even more when Meta Knight challenged Kracko to a fight multiple times and handily kicked his ass every time. Kracko is pissed off about Meta Knight. He also gets annoyed when Meta and his crew take the Halberd on a flight.

Rick & Kine & Coo: Kracko's thoughts on these guys can be summed up by "go fuck yourselves". He's mad at them for assisting Kirby in beating him up during the events of Dream Land 2. It doesn't end there, as they've also become judgmental to him for being so spiteful and mean-spirited to Kirby. These guys heavily get on Kracko's nerves. And by the way, he also has very similar opinions for Nago, ChuChu and Pitch.

Marx: Let me tell you that Kracko DESPISES Marx. To be honest, this might actually be his second most hated person after Kirby. The reason why is because Marx constantly makes fun of Kracko's hatred for Kirby. He also pulls aggravating pranks on him. Kracko has snapped and ruthlessly struck Marx with lightning more than once. But because Marx literally survived impacting onto Nova, he never dies to Kracko's lightning. And it doesn't stop Marx from trolling him.

Gooey: Kracko doesn't like Gooey for being a close buddy of Kirby's, but this is someone he really can't get himself to have an actual hatred for. Partly because Gooey never agitates him in any way. Unlike most of Kirby's other friends who fight Kracko, criticize him or make fun of him, Gooey doesn't do any of that. Kracko ignores him, really.

Adeleine: Very mixed feelings here. On one hand, Kracko likes that Adeleine is a Cloudy Park resident as that's his favorite place on Popstar, and he appreciates the fact that she seemingly admires him enough to have a painting of him that she can summon into sentience on a whim. But he HATES that she's buddies with Kirby. That causes him to resent her. However, the fact that she seems to like him makes him come to his senses a little bit, and so he doesn't attack her.

Ribbon: Kracko does not like Ribbon at all. This is because Ribbon really looks up to Kirby and has yelled at Kracko for being so mean to him. She even became bold enough to try to challenge Kracko to a fight to "make him back off from Kirby", although other people quickly stopped this. Still, Kracko thinks she's a little pain in the ass.

Dark Meta Knight: As Kracko can exist in any dimension and was present for the events of Amazing Mirror, he was temporarily allies with DMK during that. But that ended afterwards. Then at one point, because DMK is an aggressive son of a gun that loves to fight, he once picked a fight with Kracko and it got worse from there. Kracko resents DMK for that, although these two seldom interact overall.

Daroach: Kracko has a lot of hatred for Daroach and his entire squad of squeaks because of Mecha-Kracko, which he hates Doc the most out of them for being the one to create that, and he just hates the rest of the squeaks out of association. Unlike Adeleine who has a sentient painting for Kracko because she actually thinks he's cool, the squeaks made Mecha-Kracko seemingly just because they can. It pisses Kracko off as he thinks they were trying to replace him with it.

Magolor: Kracko hates Magolor nearly as much as Marx. This is because, much like Marx, Magolor also makes fun of Kracko's hatred for Kirby and pulls pranks on him for it. Kracko has angrily struck Magolor with lightning more than once, but it has never killed him. It also drove Kracko insane when Magolor rammed him with the Lor Starcutter one time. What a totally insufferable person, Kracko thinks.

Taranza: They were allies during Triple Deluxe when Taranza got Kracko to fight Kirby. However, post-TDX when Taranza moved over to Kirby's side, Kracko felt betrayed. He grew to loathe Taranza as a result. One time, he got pissed off about the spider wizard enough to even try to attack Royal Road's castle (Taranza's home) out of spite, but then Taranza threatened to get Kirby to beat him up. Damn it!

Susie: Kracko hates Susie a lot for both her bad and good deeds. He hates her for the HWC invasion on Popstar, but he hates her even more for then turning around and becoming friends with Kirby afterwards. That's the worst of both worlds for Kracko. He was once pissed off about her enough to the point he tried to attack the HWC's main headquarters out of spite, but failed miserably as the HWC's army easily beat him and fended him off. Susie scoffed at him for it.

The Three Mage Sisters: By the time of Star Allies, Kracko's hatred for Kirby was so great that he allied with the cult as he attacked the dream friends in Gabbel Moon. Then post-HiAD when the mage sisters befriended Kirby, he felt betrayed. He hates them. He's especially petty at Zan Partizanne as he wants to "best" her in electrical strength and to beat her up for Kirby's friend. This is a one-sided feud, as Zan is annoyed by Kracko rather than hating him back.

Wow. What a big hater this cloud is. I think he should seek help LOL.

[pico-farad]

aaaaaaa omg you've finished vrains?? what did you think of s3? any fav moments? :D

I've got a lot of thoughts and I'm working on a huge Vrains post (actually, two huge Vrains posts)! S3 is interesting to me, it's understandably a mess, but it also has some of Vrains's best writing.

My favorite episode(s) of Vrains are the Ai vs. Pandor duel.

"Yeah we could duel in virtual reality.... but we could also duel on top of a moving plane"

yesss... YES......!! Now THIS is Yugioh. 

The line writing is surprisingly good, and Ai's VA does a fantastic job with it. The grief and resentment that sit just beneath the jokes serves to make the whole thing more bittersweet. I have some concerns with how sharply they veer Ai's character, but this duel sold me on it.

What gets me about this duel is that these are two people who like each other. You can see it in how they talk to each other, how Ai can't help but be honest, coming close to confessing everything to her.

Pandor: Have you given up on co-existing with humans? Ai: Seems so. I've already hurt humans, so I don't think they'll forgive me. And I have no intention of turning back. Pandor: You're going to exterminate humans? Ai: I don't intend to, but it may end up that way. I don't know, myself. Pandor: Is it impossible for humans and AI to co-exist? Ai: I don't know that either. It was impossible for me. But I won't say it's impossible for you, or for future AI that have free will. As long as there is free will, I can't deny that possibility, that everyone's lives can be one. All I'm saying is that I couldn't co-exist. Pandor: Ai... I sense an incredible sadness from you. Ai: Ugh, stop with that... I don't want anyone to know that. Except for one person.

Unlike all of Ai's other duels, he doesn't have any resentment or mixed feelings towards Pandor; he sees her as kin. That's why their interaction feels so tragic, because Ai is the last of his kind (Roboppi isn't quite self-aware yet) so he gets this opportunity to talk with someone who's like him, someone who is not complicit in the deaths of the Ignis, but they're on opposite sides, and he has to kill her. Which probably feels like how he had to kill his friends.

And Pandor is the only character who sees Ai without betrayal or defensiveness clouding their judgment -- and she sees through him completely. It's amazing. This damn therapy-empathy bot just won't stop seeing into his soul and telling him to stop hurting and killing himself -- while they're both trying to kill each other. FANTASTIC. THAT'S WHAT I LOVE TO SEE.

He wants her to be free from being controlled by humans just as much as she wants his salvation. But they have to fight each other, and die, while the humans all get to live.

And on then on top of being deeply tragic, this is also the funniest episode in Vrains. Because tragedy makes comedy funnier, and comedy makes tragedy sadder.

BRO JUST WANTS TO SEE TOPOLOGINA NAYBEE.

I definitely think that if season 3 was allowed to be its full length, we would have gotten more from Pandor, maybe even see her join Ai's side. After all, it's a classic Chekov's gun to have Revolver of all people create a sentient AI and be like "it's fine, I programmed her not to betray humans." Bruh, of course she's going to betray humans. It's as classic as the story of Pandora's Box itself.

Anyway, if you want to know my top Vrains duels, they are:

Ai vs. Pandor

Spectre vs. Lightning

Yusaku vs. Revolver (s1 finale)

And my favorite characters are 1. Ai, 2. Roboppi, 3. Aoi.

To be honest, at the end of season 2 I was feeling pretty bummed about characters I liked at first becoming less interesting as time went on. I was fully prepared with the joke about my favorite Vrains character being Hatsune Miku, mostly on the virtue of "you can't write 10000 words about a character and say you don't like her." But these two cat-coded AIs snuck in at the last moment to charm me.

[priscilla9993]

Chess Allusions: Pawn Parallels

Rogers: “So you can use [her info] as leverage against [Belfrey]?”

Weaver: “Well that’s how this game works, Detective.”

Talking in the park, Weaver and Rogers both want the information that Tilly knows, the kind that causes Victoria to feel threatened, enough to blackmail Weaver with Tilly’s imprisonment and some CCTV footage of his misdeeds. Although both detectives covet finding and questioning Tilly for what she knows, their motives differ. 

Weaver has a “means to an end” approach, valuing Tilly only when she can be useful in his schemes. His selfish nature sides with his freedom and power over her wellbeing, and he’s okay with that. Tilly might be his informant with the ‘best eyes and ears in Hyperion Heights’, but at the end of the day, she’s replaceable, someone worth losing if it means he gains a stepping stone in the long game against taking down Victoria Belfrey.

Rogers: “Is that all this girl is to you and Belfrey? A pawn? Then why don’t we split up, since one of us actually wants to help her?”

But to Rogers, who doesn’t even know Tilly at this point, he sees Victoria and Weaver’s game as something where people win at the expense of somebody else and goes into full papa bear mode. Rogers wants to help Weaver as a partner and wage justice against Victoria, but not at the cost of using Tilly. He sees Tilly as a vulnerable person caught in the crossfire of a game they didn’t even know they were playing, rather than a soldier in a chess match, and wants to talk to her on equal terms. 

His opinion of Tilly being a bit off kilter but innocent at heart only strengthens when Weaver, in the hospital, unexpectedly pardons her of assumed criminal charges, telling Rogers an obvious lie about a masked robber being the one who shot the gun. Upon meeting Tilly outside of the hospital room, Rogers sees a confused, distraught, and guilt ridden young woman playing a game of chess alone. He tells her the facts with a kind opinion, “Look, you weren’t in your right frame of mind. He doesn’t blame you.” They build up an acquaintance and the budding start of a camaraderie over chess.

However, this all changes when the monster that is Gothel/the fire nation arrives Eloise Gardener gets into the playing field. Victoria and Drizella play cat and mouse, Weaver uses Tilly in a game of lies, and Rogers tries to make sense of things, inadvertently rescuing Gothel, the big bad spider.

Rogers to Weaver: You lied! And you made Tilly lie. Why did you do that?!

Weaver: Because you don't know what's going on around here... But I did it for one reason: to protect you from your bloody self.

(gratuitous physical violence scene bc I love the dynamic)

What Rumple could mean by ‘bloody self’ could be that Rogers lets his temper cloud his judgment first before he goes seeking revenge on/fighting for justice for those who deserve it most. I think that's where Rumple sees the most Killian come out from the supposed "Eagle Scout" detective, stubborn and determined to stick to his guns until he gets to his desired conclusion, which in this case is finding Eloise Gardener (Gothel). 

Rogers defends Tilly, despite only meeting her a few times, going so far as to bodyslam Weaver as he confronts him. However, he loses his respect for her after finding Eloise, where no explanation could outweigh the cost.

Rogers: What do you want?

Tilly: To say I’m sorry about the page. Weaver said it was for the best and I can’t always figure that out for myself.

Rogers: Take a look at what he was covering up. Now tell me, was that for the best? You know what? I understand. I’m just disappointed. You weren’t the person I thought you were.

Rogers is a man of many things, holding grudges being one of them and being rational in the other. The blonde informant had gone so far as to even lie to him about Eloise, dead of all things. As much as he wanted to forgive Tilly, he didn’t know if he could.

At the end of the day, in Rogers’s mind, Eloise needed help, rescue, and emergency aid, something that only happened because of his deep obsession with finding a missing girl from a cold case. And Tilly deterred him from saving a life, unintentional or not.

Roni: “Henry told me about how Weaver used that girl, Tilly.”

Rogers: “Well, it seems to me like she wanted to be a pawn.”

Rogers feels his trust was betrayed and remains disappointed in Tilly. He saw Weaver being a shady bastard from a mile away, but he didn’t expect her to be complicit in Weaver’s dirty schemes. He wanted to believe Tilly was the kind of person who questioned whatever she was told and made her own path on decisions like he did, not so easily roped into following plans, especially ones of slimy bastards like Weaver. If Rogers saw Tilly as an innocent victim of society before, moved around like a pawn, he feels wronged in his judgment and probably thinks she was content to be a sheep to Weaver’s mysterious whims. 

Who was he to believe she could be more than a pawn when she chose to be one?

Luckily, Roni was there to whack the obviously menacing poisoned cake from his hands and knock some sense into him.

Regina as Roni: “You know, people only let themselves be used when they don’t have any other option. How about you give her one?”

Tilly, even if a marmalade sandwich was needed as incentive, had been willingly helpful to his case. The only moment she hadn’t been was when she was under Weaver’s thumb, someone she had known and trusted like a father figure, unlike him who was a stranger in her eyes. People came and went from the older detective’s team, knowledge of informants and detective partners leaving frequently unless they had a special skill set or blackmail hanging over them. If anything, she wasn’t fully to blame.

What Tilly and Rogers can't see until it's too late, being cursed and all, is that they are good natured people afraid of getting hurt, wanting to help others, but unfortunately victims of manipulation, of those with ulterior agendas that use them as playing pieces, making them no better than pawns. 

Roni was right. People like Tilly wouldn’t let themselves be used like pawns if they didn’t have any other option. She had been brave enough to show up to the crime scene to apologize to him in person after what she did, not caring about being forgiven, and he hadn’t even given what she had said a second thought. Knowing Weaver, Rogers would have concluded that the old bastard probably didn’t even give her the entire picture and used her good intentions in an ill manner befitting the man’s deceitful ways, leading her to think it was for the best. 

This leads to Rogers making a step in the right direction. It doesn’t take more than Roni’s small nudge of advice to get him to internally forgive Tilly and go in search of her, eventually offering a chess set to help pass the time with a weekly game and a friend who’d listen if she’d accept. From then on, Rogers and Tilly both grow and begin to trust again, trying to protect the other from getting harmed as the consequence of another’s scheme.

[thinkingaboutbetterdays]

fantasy football. ( tecton x reader )

gif belongs to me

It was Kaz's idea to place bets on which superhero could perform the most rescues. You knew firsthand how competitive Tecton was, and when you were placed on different teams, you knew the teenager's betting would turn ugly. Soon, hero turned on hero, and you refused to be a part of the mayhem unfolding. After failing to try and stop Tecton from focusing on placing the bets against the importance of saving Normos, you grew frustrated with your husband's competitive streak that was clouding his judgment.

After failing to reach his reasonable side, you decided to fight fire with fire and stole every rescue you could, raising the stakes. It made you smirk when you saw how frustrated he was becoming when you used your telekinetic powers to toss him aside, to steal his rescues.

You were in Mighty Med when you saw the news coverage of the bridge, setting down the weights when you saw Kaz and Skylar tied to the bridge. You took in as much detail as you could, recognizing the Franklin Bridge before making a swift exit from the hospital.

Using your powers, you exited the portal you created and rested your hands on your hips as it closed behind you. "You both okay?"

"Yeah," Skylar replied.

"Define okay," Kaz responded.

You looked at Sonic Shriek, "We can end this peacefully."

"I have a better idea." He blasted you with his powers and you covered your ears, groaning due to the ringing in your ears. You tried to blast him backward but felt yourself getting weaker and crumbled to the ground.

"What is happening?"

"Her powers stem from her mind. He's blocking them with the pressure!" Kaz explained. "She can't fight back!"

You turned onto your stomach when Sonic Shriek walked toward you, relieved he had ended your torment, feeling as if your head was going to explode. Kaz looked at you worriedly when you were tied up beside them, your movements sluggish, and he looked at Skylar when she began to yell about Tecton, knowing how protective your husband was of you, Kaz joined in.

"Oh, you are so gonna pay, pal!"

You looked at the two teenagers, "While I do appreciate your admiration for my husband, can you turn it down a notch? My head is killing me."

You closed your eyes tightly before looking at the supervillain, "What are your plans? To destroy a bridge, for what purpose?"

"My own amusement and relief knowing there is one less bridge out there."

"He really hates inventors," Kaz told you.

You expected the two had endured the full monologue of his evil plans and decided once was enough. "You won't get away with this. If you destroy the bridge, you will take us with it, and you will never know peace again. You will be chased relentlessly."

"By who? Tecton." He laughed, "Oooh, I am so frightened of that towering blond -"

Tecton landed in a crouched position, his fist on the ground. He rose to his full height as he narrowed his eyes at Sonic Shriek.

"Tecton!" Kaz grinned with relief.

Tecton stepped forward, stomping, shaking the ground, and causing your capture to be blown back a few feet. He looked at you with a question in his eyes.

"He blocked my powers." You explained.

Tecton frowned deeply before turning to Sonic Shriek.

"When I heard you three were in danger, I came as soon as I could."

"Finally! A hero who is not obsessed with stats or rankings." Skylar exclaimed.

"Actually, I need the Normo rescue because that stupid runaway Ferris wheel was empty." Your husband of two years complained. When you raised an eyebrow at his answer, he quickly added, "And to save you, of course."

"You poor baby!" You replied sarcastically. "Now that you're all cried out, do you think you can get us out of here?"

Tecton sent you a look, his lips pursed to hide his amusement. "You are so adorable when you're annoyed."

After knocking the supervillain unconscious, Tecton came to your side, untying you, and then helped Kaz. You swayed on your feet when you stood up and Tecton caught you before you stumbled. Kaz freed Skylar while the blond superhero fretted over you.

"My head is killing me." You whispered, placing your hands on his chest.

Tecton swept you into his arms and looked at you worriedly when you rested your head against his chest.

Tecton looked over his shoulder at Sonic Shriek before looking at you, "Come on," He handed Kaz his cell phone and told him who to call as he tied Sonic Shriek to the bridge, trapped with bent iron bars until backup arrived.

"I'll stay here," Skylar assured him.

"Yeah, me too." Kaz nodded.

Tecton sent the two a nod before crouching slightly, the ground shaking as he shot into the sky.

When you opened your eyes a short while later, Tecton was sitting next to you reading a newspaper that was tossed aside when he noticed you were awake.

"Hi," You smiled softly.

Tecton took your hand, flashing you a smile before kissing your forehead, lingering for a moment. "How are you feeling?"

"A little tired. But the pain's gone. Sonic Shriek?"

"Enjoying his cell downstairs."

"Who won?" You asked.

Tecton grinned, "Sorry,"

You rolled your eyes, "No you're not."

"Maybe a little." He placed a hand on your cheek, "I'll find Horace."

You watched him walk away and smiled fondly. You knew how you would react if your husband was weakened considerably, losing consciousness, and understood how he was feeling.

Passing the minutes, you sat up in the bed as you read the newspaper which detailed the imprisonment of Sonic Shriek, as you waited for Tecton to return. You noticed Kaz and Oliver following Horace and Tecton and sent the two Normos a smile.

"Hey, you're awake!" Kaz grinned.

"Am I right in assuming, I have you to thank for that?" You looked at Oliver who nodded, explaining how they were able to relieve the pressure in your brain with Absolute Zero's help.

Tecton grabbed Kaz by his shirt, throwing him aside and you reacted quickly, raising your hands, stopping the teen from colliding with the wall. You sent your smiling husband a stern glance as you lowered Kaz to the ground.

"That was awesome!"

You shook your head at his excitement, looking at Horace when he explained you could go home, his only recommendation being to rest for a few days.

"Don't worry -" Tecton interrupted before you could argue about how much rest you required, "She will."

You playfully rolled your eyes and sent him flying in the air with a wave of your hand. Tecton raised an eyebrow as he landed gracefully.

"Cute."

[incesthemes]

there are moments in both croatoan and houses of the holy i want to compare, because i think the show is doing something kind of fascinating and fairly subtle.

the allegorical conflict in croatoan centers around whether dean will kill duane or not (and, by extension, whether dean will be willing to kill sam). in the end, dean lets him live, which is an act of devotion and deference to sam. duane ends up not being infected with the virus, and so dean made the right decision. this is the general framing of the conflict—dean unlocks the good end by deferring to sam's judgment.

the ideological conflict in houses of the holy centers around the concept through fate, taken through a christian lens: is god real? does god have a plan? sam is faithful and dean is faithless, and their beliefs butt heads throughout the episode. in the end dean was right and the "angel" was just a ghost, and sam acquiesces to dean's beliefs and accepts god isn't real. this too is the general framing of the conflict—sam arrives at truth by listening and believing in dean.

but both of these episodes end ambiguously.

as it turns out, duane was possessed by a demon, which means that dean's instinctual distrust was right on the money, and killing (or attempting to kill) duane would actually have been the right choice—dean correctly assessed the danger and took steps to stop it, and it was sam who got in the way and persuaded him to stand down, which allowed the demon to escape.

and also as it turns out, a bigass rebar killed that would-be killer sam was sent after, and it was such an outrageous death that it throws dean off balance and makes him reconsider whether fate and god are actually real—which, as we come to discover later, is true, and sam and dean are cosmically destined to assume the roles of cain and abel in the coming apocalypse. sam was actually the correct one here, and the beliefs he was operating under were given ample support literally throughout the episode; it was dean who clouded sam's judgment and directed him away from the actual truth of the divine plan for them.

i don't think there's a grand revelation in comparing these two episodes this way, but i do enjoy how the show keeps them spinning on an axis, and how the seemingly correct decision is actually much more nuanced than it seems on the surface. when dean is right he's still wrong; when sam is wrong he's still right—and vice versa. black and white answers simply can't exist in this world because there is nothing wholly good and nothing wholly bad. dean had to let duane live because to do otherwise would be to succumb to his fate, even if letting duane symbolizes that dean will allow sam to succumb to his. sam had to defer to dean's ideology because to do otherwise would be to spiral further down the path to his destiny, even if that destiny is real and it's coming for them both anyway and they can do nothing to stop it. they're the best decisions they can make in those situations, but they're still not unambiguously perfect.

it's just another layer to the complexity of these seasons and the plot they've been born into. right is wrong and wrong is right, and family trumps fate but family will lead to ruin. and the gods are absent fathers pulling strings they don't even know are there.

[satansapostle6]

Angel With A Broken Wing | Jonah Simms

And if I may just take your breath away / I don't mind if there's not much to say / Sometimes the silence guides a mind / To move to a place so far away / The goosebumps start to raise / The minute that my left hand meets your waist / And then I watch your face / Put my finger on your tongue 'cause you love to taste, yeah / These hearts adore, everyone the other beats hardest for / Inside this place is warm / Outside it starts to pour

Warnings: Mature language and themes. Sexual content.

Chapter One

Chapter Two: They Just Seem A Little Weird

“Stop looking at her!”

“Wha—I’m not looking at her!”

“Yes, you are, now stop it, it’s getting weird!”

Garrett McNeill was getting more tired of Jonah’s childish dilemmas by the day. The day before, Jonah had made the mistake of trying to ask out Sophie, one of the new hires at Cloud 9, which ended tragically for him. Not only had Jonah inadvertently harassed a coworker, but he had also accidentally asked a single, working mother of a five year-old if she had a ‘wild side’. Needless to say, Jonah felt humiliated and apologetic. This, of course, seemed to work out for everyone except for Garrett.

“Dude, I get that you like her, but I’m gonna be honest, man… I don’t think she likes you!” Garrett pointed out to Jonah, “And not even in the kindergarten like-like way, I mean I don’t even know if she considers values you as a human being after what you said to her yesterday!”

Jonah’s face falls with regret, “I know. What I said yesterday was… Horrible. A total lapse in judgment. I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m not even thinking about trying to get her number anymore, I just… Wish there was a way I could at least apologize to her. You know?”

Garrett looks down at his lap, actually feeling sorry for Jonah, and understanding his perspective.

“I don’t know, man,” Garrett provides, “She might just not wanna talk to you anymore after that, and you can’t blame her.”

Jonah nods, listening as he understands Garrett’s point.

“Just… I don’t know. If you get the chance to apologize to her, just leave it at that, you know? No pick-up lines, no asking her out. Something tells me an apology gets cheapened for a woman if it’s followed up by male gross-ness.”

Jonah nods understandingly. “Yeah, I just… hope I didn’t offend her.”

Garrett scoffs at the idea. “Dude. It’s Sophie. I play video games with her sometimes. You could’ve called her a slur, and she’d be fine.”

Jonah makes a concerned face, “Okay, well… I don’t think I wanna do that…”

Garrett just sits there, looking in front of him at Sophie working the cash register. He feels sorry for his friend, but starts to regret his involvement as soon as he hears a light bulb go off in Jonah’s head.

“Wait. If you and Sophie are such good friends… Can you help me out? Please?” Jonah begs.

Garrett just sighs, muttering to himself as he rolls his chair back to the customer service desk. “This is what I get for getting involved…”

*****

Later that Thursday, just as I was about to leave the register and clock out, I look up as I hear Garrett’s voice over the loudspeaker, with a weird lack of enthusiasm, even for him.

“Sophie Phuong to customer service… Sophie Phuong to customer service…”

I stop in confusion, not sure why Garrett would have needed me. I just shrug it off, abandoning my workstation as I head towards customer service at the front. Sure enough, as expected, sitting at the desk with an odd look on his face is Garrett. But standing by the customer service desk is Jonah, with a sad look on his face like a kicked puppy. I took a deep breath as soon as I saw him, bracing myself for one long conversation.

“Jonah…” I begin awkwardly.

But before I can continue, he cuts me off. Shocker.

“Sophie,” Jonah greets me, smiling hopefully, “Hey…”

I cross my arms expectantly, waiting for him to embarrass himself yet again. I knew at this point that Jonah was a pretty nice guy who just happened to be very awkward, but still, I needed him to at least give me something to work with here.

“I’m, uh…” Jonah fidgeted uncomfortably, “I’m really sorry, Sophie, about—”

Garrett and I both watching curiously.

I just stared, “About…?”

Jonah just looked at me guiltily, knowing he fucked up. “…Everything?”

I raised an eyebrow at his uncertainty.

“Everything. Yeah. Every single thing I have said to you, in the past twenty-four hours, has been… awful,” he apologized wholeheartedly, “Yesterday, I was rude, and… gross, and icky, and… I wish I could take back all the things I said to you,” he sighed.

Garrett looked to me for my input, wondering how I would react to this. I gave Garrett a ‘it’s whatever’ kind of shrug, not really having too big of a reaction to any of this. At this point, all of this was pretty pointless to me, and therefore required none of my energy at this point.

“Jonah…” I begin uncomfortably, “It’s fine. Really. You didn’t offend me, it’s not a big deal at all… Let’s just move past it. Okay?”

Jonah seemed ecstatic at this, thrilled that he was no longer in the doghouse.

“Oh! Uh, wow! Yeah! Great,” he laughed, still processing the entire thing. “Thank you! I’m… glad I didn’t ruin your day…”

I just give him a polite smile. “It’s cool. We’re good.”

An intimately touched smile spreads across my face, as he seemed way too happy about this.

“Thank you, Sophie,” he told me kindly, “That’s… really sweet of you,” he said softly.

I just nod, awkwardly glancing back and forth between him and Garrett.

“So… am I dismissed?”

Jonah looks around awkwardly as Garrett just offers me an indifferent smile, empathizing with me.

“Uh, yeah,” Jonah said quickly, “Yeah of course, I don’t mean to… keep you…”

I give them both a tiny smile and wave as I disappear, heading back to the break room for my stuff.

*****

After work, I headed out to the parking lot of the store, waiting for Ryan to drop Gigi off. He got here around 5:45, which I was pissed about, having had to wait an entire forty-five minutes for him to finally show up. I immediately ran to Ryan’s car the second I saw him pull up, feeling extremely impatient. Of course, I didn’t notice Jonah and Garrett coming out of the store.

“Ryan!” I practically shouted at my baby daddy.

He looked over at me nonchalantly, showing up in his stupid beanie and hoodie, not seeming to be aware of the fact that that I had a reason to be angry at him, let alone the fact that I was angry.

“Hey, Soph!” he greets me casually.

I scowl at him, doing my best to keep my composure in front of Gigi, who runs over to me in excitement. I bend down to look at her first, dealing with her before Ryan.

“Hey, baby, do you wanna wait in the car while I talk to Daddy?”

Gigi nods, fine with that idea. “Okay.”

I watched her as she ran off to my car, making sure everything was okay. I looked back, seeing Garrett sitting in his wheelchair by the front of the store, looking at me as Jonah awkwardly stood by him. He gave me a questioning thumbs-up, trying to gauge whether or not I was okay, given my impending spat with Ryan. I just gave him a thumbs-up, seeing him nod as I went back to being pissed at Ryan the second she’s out of earshot.

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” I hiss at him.

“What the fuck did I do?!” he exclaims defensively.

I scoff in disbelief. “‘What did you do’?! You forced me to wait a half a fucking hour, when you promised me you’d be here at 5, when I actually got off!”

He gave me an extremely annoying groan, not bothered by the reality of how he had inconvenienced me, again. What I didn’t notice, however, was that we were being watched by both my coworkers, and some of the customers in the parking lot.

“Dude, calm down, it’s not that big of a fucking deal!” he yelled at me.

“It’s not a ‘big deal’?!” I cried. “I’ve been waiting here for you for a half an hour!”

Garrett and Jonah wait by the front of the store, not necessarily wanting to be there.

“Alright,” Garrett sighs, watching the argument break out as he starts to wheel himself toward his car. “I’m out—”

Jonah automatically tries to stop him. “Wait, shouldn’t we just make sure she’s okay?”

Garrett sighs as he stops. “It’s okay, man, it’s just Ryan.”

Jonah looks over at him curiously. “You know her ex?”

Garrett nods. “Yeah, he’s a cool guy. He’s not a dick, this isn’t some ‘battered wife’ situation, alright? They’re just arguing. Stay out of it. You can get off your high horse, and take off your shining armor. Sophie’ll be just fine.”

“But, what if this is the one time she’s not fine?” Jonah questions.

Garrett just sighs, knowing he can’t win this one as he just gives in, keeping his chair parked as he watches his friend argue with her baby daddy.

“How the fuck is that my fault?!” he demanded, waving his arms lazily, “You could’ve gone home!”

I nearly scream at him, in complete awe of how both stupid and inconsiderate he can be at times.

“You’re right, asshole, I could’ve gone home,” I agreed furiously, “And maybe gone back to school and gotten my bachelor’s degree in the amount of fucking time I’ve been waiting in this fucking parking lot for you, but no, I had to wait here, because you kept saying you’d be here soon!”

“Oh my God, stop being so fucking dramatic!” Ryan Pollina yelled, “You always get pissed at me over the littlest fucking things! I’m just a little late! I’m sorry!”

“No, you’re not a little late, first of all,” I shouted, “Five minutes is a little late. Ten minutes is a little late. Fifteen minutes is acceptably late. You, sir, are almost an hour late! And you do this all the time! You tell me one time, you lie and make me wait, and then you show up an hour fucking late!”

Jonah looks at Garrett, seeming worried as Garrett still just shakes his head at the whole situation.

“This is getting a little heated…” Jonah observed.

“Not ‘heated’,” Garrett replied, “Just ghetto. Can’t you just let them work it out?”

Jonah doesn’t listen, remaining vigilant as he keeps his eye on Ryan.

“Oh, sorry, I just wanted to spend time with my fucking daughter!” Ryan spat at me.

I laugh, trying my best not to smack him upside the head. “You think I’m mad because you wanted to keep Gigi for an extra hour?! You’re her father! I don’t care if you wanna spend time with her, just don’t make me wait up if you’re not gonna show up! If you had texted me an hour ago saying you were gonna bring her at 6, or whatever, I would’ve been fine with that! But, no! You kept telling me, for that past forty minutes, that you were ‘on your way’, when I could’ve just waited for your ass at home!”

“Fuck you!” he shot back.

Jonah looks back at Garrett, growing increasingly concerned. “Should we do something?”

Garrett looks up at him incredulously. “What is there to do? They’re just bickering.”

Jonah looks back at the pair uncomfortably. “It seems like more than just arguing…”

“Oh, ‘fuck me’?!” I exclaimed at Ryan. “Are you fucking kidding me?! You come late and leave me waiting all the time, and it’s fuck me?!”

“Yeah! Fuck you!” he pointed at me angrily, “You’re always picking apart every single thing I fucking do!”

“Because you’re constantly fucking doing insane shit!” I gasp. “Like, why the fuck do you lie, and tell me you’re on the way, for an hour instead of just letting me fucking go home?!”

“I don’t understand why this is such a big problem!” he complained. “This was just one time—”

“No!” I laugh, “You’re not listening! It wasn’t one fucking time, Ryan, it’s all the time! It’s a pattern, it’s the principle of the thing, dude!” I reasoned.

“Fuck you, Sophie, I’m not listening to this shit!”

“I don’t like this…” Jonah grimaced.

“Dude, you never fucking listen to anything I say!” I reminded him.

“Because you’re always fucking bitching at me about this or that!” he argued.

I scoffed angrily. “‘Bitching’?! You think me expecting some fucking common decency from you is bitching?!”

“Yeah!” he nodded. “You’re constantly fucking bitching at me, about everything!”

Jonah stared. “I think I’m gonna say something…”

Garrett just shook his head, knowing nothing good could come of this. But before Jonah could even figure out what exactly his plan was, he was thrown off by someone else running out behind him. Jonah and I were both surprised to find Marcus running out to my defense. At first, I was somewhat touched by the gesture, until I saw him say fuck it and punch Ryan in the face.

“Oh, fuck!” Garrett slowly turns to Jonah, who’s still in shock. “You were saying?”

Jonah just shakes his head, grimacing. He wanted no part in that.

“Shit!” I exclaimed.

I heard Garrett yell. “Damn!”

“Oh, my God…” Jonah murmured, running over in shock.

Jonah just stood there, in complete shock as Garrett rolled up next to him, watching the aftermath. Ryan struggled to stand up, his nose bloody and possibly broken, but before he could catch his breath, Marcus started absolutely whaling on him as I just watched, unable to do anything about any of it. Ryan tried hitting him back, but it wasn’t looking good. Garrett quickly rolled back, wanting to get as far away from the situation as possible.

“Guys!” Jonah yelled, not really sure how to break up the fight, being far too polite about it, “Guys…!”

“Marcus!” I yelled, panicking as more and more bystanders gathered around, “Marcus! Stop it! Fuck!”

I watched, mortified, as Marcus eventually got off of Ryan, a stupid grin on his face as he walked up to me, while someone checked on Ryan. Marcus walked over to me, seemingly weirdly proud of himself for what he’d done.

“Oh, shit,” Jonah breathed, traumatized as he and Garrett stood around.

“Marcus!” I exclaimed, a distressed expression on my face.

“It’s okay,” he promised me, hands running up my arms, “I got you, babe.”

Before I could stop him, Marcus leaned in to kiss me, seeming overjoyed as he wrapped his arms around me. In my perplexed state, I accepted the kiss for about a single second before I pulled away, not knowing how to deal with this.

“Oh, shit,” Jonah stared at us, before I groaned with embarrassment.

I gave Marcus a dissatisfied look. He just stood there, expectantly, raising his eyebrows excitedly as he waited for another kiss.

-

Chapter Three

[masterthespianduchovny]

KRATOS x FREYA DISSERTATION:

Whether or not it actually becomes canon, I can see Freya and Kratos ending up together.

Although I’m agreement with the noromos who believe that men and women can be friends, I do believe romance is a plausible path for Kratos and Freya despite him killing her son, their own traumas, and grief.

One of Kratos’ most defining character traits is that he doesn’t trust gods. Even in GoW (2018), he stresses to Atreus not to trust gods, which later included Freya. He’s angry because she omitted her true identity, which circumvented him avoiding her altogether thus establishing the beginning of a friendship and trust of sorts with her. And this is important on many levels:

1. Freya was at an advantage and Kratos was at massive disadvantage.

2. He got to know her to an extent without any presumption on her character and intent.

3. She got to know him to an extent without his guard up.

4. His instincts (and Atreus) opened himself up to trusting her.

We see that Kratos typically has a good read on situations and people, esp gods. So when Freya omitted the truth, he was put in the situation to trust a god again, which angered him. It wasn’t a true deception, but the principle of the matter. This key moment in the relationship actually sets up so much between them because, despite Freya not being forthcoming about her identity, she did nothing wrong and Kratos was the one in wrong. This later prompts Kratos to reflect on his behavior when Freya helps saves Atreus’ life even though she didn’t have to. When he apologizes, she says this,

“No. You were right to distrust the word of a god. No need to explain. Not to me. Not for that.”

At this point in time, Kratos knew that she spoke from experience. She wasn’t blowing smoke up his ass or trying to make him feel better. She got his distrust on a visceral level because she went through SEVERAL betrayals of her own at the hands of a god who was her husband at that!

Even though he’s heard stories about Freya’s marriage to Odin and the events leading up to it, why she agreed to it, and why she stayed, hearing her wave off his apology and understanding the context made him see her in a new light. She wasn’t making him apologize for something that evolved into a survival technique because she learned all too well herself. He hears the sadness and melancholy in her voice—the pain that sticks with her.

Throughout the story, Freya helped him without asking anything in return. Her assistance and friendship was genuine. But the one thing she did ask, Kratos didn’t honor.

This is all important because moments prior to Baldur and Freya’s reunion, he and Atreus weren’t even sure they could trust her. Then, when Kratos saw their interaction: Baldur’s eagerness to harm Freya and her willingness to accept said harm even if it meant death. He kept trying to mind his business, but ultimately deduced that Freya didn’t deserve that fate.

In a sense, he’d been in her position before. He understood what it was like to make decisions you can’t undo. To hate and punish yourself. To want to protect your child at all cost, but at what cost? Hasn’t she suffered enough? Why did this have to end in her death, esp when Odin was responsible for most of her suffering. Baldur was the only bright spot for her in a toxic and abusive marriage—her judgment was clouded due to all her pain, suffering, and losses.

Because Odin stripped her of almost everything minus life…piece by piece. She can’t leave home—bound to Midgard. She literally can’t defend herself, despite being a skilled warrior, which she prided herself on. Despite her circumstance, then and now, according to Mimir’s stories—some of which he experienced himself—she was a largely good and kind person and god. Unlike, the gods in Greece and even her former husband. Only to be robbed of her agency and safety.

Even though in the beginning of the friendship, Freya is the one with the upper hand, by the end of it, Kratos is the one with the upper hand. Freya knew he was a god, but she didn’t know his backstory. Kratos knew all about her in a sense, which is why he’s able to be compassionate and understand that she’s punishing herself for more than Baldur’s fate.

Despite only knowing her for a short time, from the moment he decides she doesn’t deserve to die and was dealt a shit hand during her marriage and made a tragic decision that led to “losing” her son, he basically vows to never allow harm to come to her. He considers her his friend even though she hates him after he killed her child. Even though she has vowed and tried on many occasions to murder him, he refuses to see her anything but as a friend who is experiencing extreme guilt and grief.

Interestingly enough, we see Freya’s perspective shift even before she finds out about Calliope. Kratos saves her life from Atreus and says, “she was our friend.” Freya was determined to see Kratos as this evil, selfish guy and, even in that moment, she sees the gentler, compassionate side of him. It frustrates and upsets her, but she changes course because it’s all too much for her at that moment. She also knows that while her present misery is due to Kratos’ actions, he’s not the true reason behind her misery and unhappiness.

In addition to finding out about Calliope and the circumstances leading up to her (and her mother’s) death’s, she’s also being worn down by Kratos and his reason. This is a man who’s traveled down the road she is on. He’s been there. And the thing that she’s promising herself will bring her peace so to speak, she know isn’t true. The more Kratos refuses to let it go, the angrier she gets. She’s largely had no control over her life for just about a century and the one thing she does have control over (thinking she could kill kratos) is something she deep down knows won’t settle her spirit. Once she actually gets her freedom with the assistance of Kratos, it’s then she admits to herself that she can’t kill him, despite her urge to. And she can’t forgive him because he took away her child—he took away her choice: her life so that Baldur could live.

In the journey, something else is established OR, to be exact, it’s re-established: their trust in one another.

Not only has Freya notice Kratos’ consistency in being honest with her and respecting her decisions, he’s a man of his word. He also allows himself to be vulnerable with and around her. That’s not the same Kratos she met years prior or the one who was angry after he found out that she omitted her godhood to him. Despite the things she’s said and what she’s tried to do on many occasions, he’s always respected her and never treated her with anything less than that. He is not Odin. The things her ex husband punished her for and exploited are things Kratos’ values about her and still sees her as even when she was on her worst behavior.

Admittedly, people can still be friends with someone (again) who wronged them. However, I find it difficult to believe that Freya can be friends with Kratos again even though he caused her immense grief if she hasn’t fully forgiven him. Grief that led her to trying to murder him on many occasions and directly put his child in danger who she very well knows Kratos doesn’t fuck around about.

If Kratos can not only forgive her for that, but not hold it against her, why can’t she eventually forgive him for killing Baldur esp when it was to save her life?

I’d argue we see that after Freya is no longer bound to Midgard. Throughout their journey, we see that she is largely by his side even when she doesn’t have to be. She telling him personal things and being vulnerable with him. I believe she still has ire reserved for Mimir that she doesn’t for Kratos. She genuinely wants him to fight alongside her against Odin and not just because he’s a great warrior and the god of war, but because she trusts him as well. Then asks him to be the general of the army going into war. After the win, she agrees to rebuild the kingdom(s) with him. I find it hard to believe she hasn’t forgiven him for Baldur when she voluntarily spends most of her time with him and is making massive major plans with him. The fact that Kratos even asked her says a lot and she didn’t hesitate in her answer.

Now, there are those who say it’s too soon for Kratos to get back into a relationship or he wouldn’t, which I disagree with. It’s been 3+ years since Faye passed. Although he’s still grieving her, that doesn’t mean he can’t enter into a new relationship. You don’t stop grieving a loved one or spouse just because you’re dating again. Grief sticks with you and it’s ongoing. After the passing of his first wife, I don’t think he actively dated or sought out women romantically. Keep in mind, Faye flat out said they fought when they first met, I believe. It took them time to get where they were. I don’t think Kratos even entertained dating her until some (significant) time passed, which she may have facilitated him properly asking her out or straight up marriage—whatever it is they did in those days. So the idea that that’s not an option for him and Freya doesn’t pass the sniff test imo.

I don’t believe either Freya or Kratos will suddenly develop romantic feelings or even get together right away, but a final, gradual shift in their relationship happens. When they realize this, it’s something they fully embrace, but step carefully into.

It would likely be due to familiarity and spending so much time together. Again, they will be rebuilding a kingdom or kingdoms together. He likely will help her around her place and with her different concoctions. She’d likely cook for him even though he can cook for himself and openly admit to enjoy sending time with him. Eventually, they’d be spending most of their time together, which is how they’d prefer it. You know Mimir’s nosey ass would most likely say something to Kratos, but not too much because he wouldn’t want to incur Freya’s wrath.

I can see them having though hard conversations about their children and forgiving themselves for their roles in said children’s demise as much as they can. I can see them fully forgiving each other for the transgression committed against one another because…look at all they’ve been through together. Not only did they fight side by side during Ragnarok, he kept his promise to her about never taking her decision away from her again.

These are two people who get each other in a way that no one else does.

We get the callback after Freya’s no longer bound to Midgard—Kratos doesn’t entertain Freya apologizing about “everything that happened between us” and says, “No need to explain. Not to me. Not for that.”

Like, come on!

There is this gentleness and vulnerability they express to me another that doesn’t exist with anyone else outside of their kids.

As Dana Scully once said, “the best relationships are often rooted in friendships.”

Freya was experiencing so many feelings at once and even though it’ll always hurt to lose Baldur, she’ll realize that she’s forgiven Kratos. He was put in an impossible situation and made the best choice born of compassion.

In time Freya would come to see, that not only is Kratos everything Odin wasn’t, he meets her needs in a way that she never realized. That he’s forgiving and kind and supportive and her rock. Could she get that from someone else? Sure. Could she get that from someone who gets her in a way that Kratos gets her, which is what allowed her to be vulnerable around him more than she was around others, most likely no.

But also, Freya is Kratos’ type: Fierce, tough, compassionate, bold, independent, nurturing (as in caring for others), etc. She is honest, direct, and says how she feels. He doesn’t need someone who sees him as a clean slate, he needs someone who knows him and embraces that part of him because it’s him. Two people who carried immense pain found one another and, inadvertently, helped each other heal and grow.

They have these commonalities in spades.

That in and of itself doesn’t mean they should be together, however, imo, tension has always existed between them even before Kratos found out she was a god. It’s been this undercurrent for the entirety of them knowing one another. It wasn’t sexual, but it wasn’t platonic either, however, I believe it’ll manifest into romance—this is, of course, apart from the driving tension at the end of the first game and into the beginning of the second game.

“Open your heart to the world as you have opened it to me, and you will find every reason to keep living in it.” -Faye

You have a man/god that is first introduced to us as throwing himself off a cliff because he can no longer live with his nightmares. A man/god who later tries to take his own life on another occasion or two after surviving his first ordeal. Who tells his second wife that he doesn’t want to live in a world without her and later prepares his son to live in the world without him because he believes he’s going to die. Only for him to look forward to rebuilding society with Freya, the person he’s opened his heart up to the most since this new journey began. Freya is almost always treated as a partner and an equal.

Kratos allowed Freya and Atreus to get close, despite his protectiveness of him. Noticeably, they have a mother-son-esque dynamic by the end of the game. We have seen Atreus befriend adults and it’s treated as a friendship. Despite initially referring to her as a friend in the beginning, but the end she definitely serves as a mother like figure, which is in no way an insult to Faye nor is she replacing her. Atreus literally tells Mimir he’s a second father. So this shows us there’s nothing wrong with having multiple parental figures, living or dead. Typically when a piece of media is setting up a woman as a mother like figure to a child, romance is brewing on the horizon.

Lastly, in both games, Freya is deeply tied to the main narratives and is involved in the final battles in some way. In the first game, she’s one of the first people we meet and a selfless companion. In the second game, we meet her first and she’s an enemy. In the end of the first game, she’s become his enemy. By the end of the second game, she’s his partner and ally in rebuilding the kingdom. While the games focused on the things they have in common, their connection, and vulnerability with one another, I’d argue it doesn’t stress the friendship angle. They are friends, but the way these two are compared and contrasted and positioned against one another, it feels like a romantic relationship is possible being set up.

I also find her line to Kratos about having another child if she had the opportunity to have one again interesting. Although I don’t think she’s hinting anything to him, why she is telling the man who killed her child, casually, that she wants another child? Why not her brother or the shapeshifter or Sigrun?

[us3rnam3-r3dact3d]

i assume you'll be coming for blood (that makes two of us)

Chapter 1

Ao3 | 1.9k words | Sweetheart's POV

You'd never even heard of shades when the file slid across your desk on Monday morning. - Fooliverse Sweetheart faces off with that first shade. They already know Milo, but things are a lot more complicated than they might have been, not least because of their own stubbornness and pride. Hopefully that pride won't get them killed. Hopefully.

TW: violence, mentions of sex, the Department

You’d never even heard of shades when the file slid across your desk on Monday morning. The Quinn Fox case had left you with a week’s worth of paperwork despite the nice little bow that Milo’s help had tied on it for you. The Department didn’t like the Vampire Council, and the concept of Sanguine Primero was contentious at best with Department officials. The stamped and sealed paperwork you’d been provided with was only good for telling you who was involved. You’d been forced to interview nearly every person involved, including the intimidating Talbot Pack Alpha.  

In the end, Asher, which he insisted you call him, was actually quite nice. Once you’d gotten past his intense demeanor, he had a quiet sense of humor that you appreciated. He’d given you the details, answered every question, and promised you statements from every pack member involved. He did sternly refuse to allow you access to them, especially the wayward wolf that had been the catalyst for all of this, Quinn’s true victim. He wouldn’t even give you their name, just an acknowledgement of how difficult he knew that would make your report. That famous wolf possessiveness on display.  

Just as Talbot- as Asher- promised, the statements were delivered to your work email by end of business that day, including an anonymous one from Fox’s victim. You’d filed them dutifully, along with Milo’s and a heavily edited one from his clan-mate Porter.  

All of that had taken the wind out of you surrounding the case. You’d almost been naive enough to believe that you’d get to take in a wanted criminal on your first case, adding a bit of clout behind your title.  

You were the least impressive member of your class, at least by your instructor’s standards. Being a stealth was useful as an investigator, but not when apprehending suspects, not in a physical test, not when trying to show off to your new captain just how useful you could be. The Department was a good old-fashioned boys’ club. Sons of enforcers and investigators crowded your academy class, and their attitudes surrounding your size and power and physical ability clouded their judgment about you. It didn’t matter that you were the strongest stealth in your family in generations, that you could phase cloak for nearly an hour, that you could run mental circles around most of those assholes in a second. Your power wasn’t one they could see or be intimidated by, so it simply didn’t exist.  

So they gave you shit like Quinn Fox, shit that would either get you killed or leave you with nothing impressive to show for your work. All while your peers hauled in suspects and bagged cases left and right.  

If you weren’t so stubborn, you’d have left this stupid fucking job the night Milo talked you down from a goddam panic attack in the middle of an investigation. If you weren’t so determined to prove everyone around you wrong, you’d have taken him up on his sugar-baby adjacent offer and live off of vampire money while receiving the best fucks of your life. 

When you told your father that you were going to be an investigator, his face had twisted into something like pity. You couldn’t stop until you replaced that with sheepish guilt and impress.  

Of course, you weren’t going to do it with this case. Shades, as far as you could tell, were a fairy tale. The Department resources on them were nearly nonexistent. You’d found a few reported sightings of the ghost-like things, but the only real answers you’d gotten were from Cam.  

Camelopardalis was your favorite coworker. You rarely crossed paths in actual work, but your break rooms were adjacent to each other, and he was the only person who smiled at you unprompted on your first day. You drank coffee together in the morning, you complained quietly about the assholes in each of your departments, and you shared lunch on a bench in the large, green courtyard outside of your building every day.  

Cam didn’t strictly need to eat, but he liked what you cooked. You went from cooking for one to two, making sure there were enough leftovers to feed you both the next day. Over re-warmed shredded beef tacos, Cam recalled everything he knew about Shades.  

“They come from Death,” he had explained, the word taking on the sort of capitalization that important places got, “and they’re very dangerous to humans. We don’t know much about them, just what they do. There’s only been a few confirmed cases of them in human history.”  

“What do they do?”  

“They’re not living things.” He said. His star-dotted eyes looked up, considering the clouds like they had answers for him. “They’re incorporeal when they first slip into Elegy- Terra-” he corrected. Some humans didn’t like it when demons used their names for things. He must have learned to edit what he was saying as he spoke. “-and they need the life force of humans to gain a physical form. Usually that means draining it from unknowing victims. Most of them are drawn to heavily populated areas, feeding a bit from a lot of people. Once they’ve gotten enough life force, they gain physical form, they often become violent. They have claws that are particularly deadly.”  

“Are they... ghosts?”  

“We don’t know.” Cam shrugged, tucking a corkscrew curl behind his tall horns.  

“How do they get here?”  

“We think they slip through the cracks of demon’s rifts.” He sighed. “Of course, it’s impossible for us to rift directly to Death. It’s a sort of... cosmic glitch. Sometimes the rifts get crossed over the wrong dimension, and that’s how we assume they find their way here.”  

“It must be confusing for them.” You said. Cam cocked his head. “I just mean... if they are ghosts, and they’ve spent forever in Death, and then suddenly find their way here... I don’t know, it’s like when you back an animal into a corner. They must be pretty freaked out.”  

Cam smiled at you before waving a hand. With a flourish of his pretty, turquoise magic, the Tupperware you’d brought from home was gone. When you got home, it would all be washed and put away in your cabinet.  

“You have such an interesting perspective.” He grinned, standing and offering you a hand. “You always see the best in everything.”  

You certainly didn’t think so charitably about the shade when you faced it for the first time. It was a ghastly thing. Barely visible, it looked like a skeleton wrapped in thin, black smoke. It’s mouth opened into a horrible, gaping maw. You could smell the decay on it, even from your distance.  

You had backed it into an alley, a secluded corner just off Dahlia’s nightclub district. It had been feeding on college students, drunk kids who couldn’t see straight enough to know to run. You knew to run, but instead of away from it, you’d chased it. God, you were an idiot. When most people ran away, you ran to.  

Your magic was useless against it. It hadn’t taken physical form. Your fists passed right through it when you tried to fight it off. It framed your throat with two boney hands, drew your face towards its own, like it was going to kiss you. Instead, it sucked the life out of you.  

You came to cold, shivering on the damp ground of that alley. Nobody had seen you, or at least, nobody had stopped to help. The shade was gone.  

Making your way home was more difficult than you had thought it would be. Your phone was dead, so no Uber, no call to the Department, no call to Cam since you were truly desperate. The nausea was overwhelming, and your knees were weak. You remembered, giddily, Milo’s comment about not locking them in stressful situations. It only did you so much good, and you had to stop at every bench and a few curbs to not keel over.  

Somehow, you managed the three mile walk and the two flights of stairs up to your apartment. You barely made it to your bathroom before you emptied your stomach of the day’s contents, your vision swimming and body finally giving out on you. By the time you’d dry heaved your throat to shreds and your stomach finally settled, you were shaking all over, broken out into a cold sweat. This felt like a particularly brutal flu, the memory of stomach bugs lingering in the back of your head.  

“I want my mom,” you whispered to no one, your head pressed into the cool white tile floor. That childish instinct reared its head like it did every time you were ill. You wanted someone to brush their fingers through your hair, press a cold cloth to the back of your neck, make you soup and nag you about getting plenty of fluids.  

Eventually, you dragged yourself off of the bathroom floor. You stripped out of your sweat-soaked clothes and crawled under the covers of your bed. You fumbled with your phone charger, your hands shaking, and waited with drooping eyelids as it came back to life.  

You didn’t know why you called him of all people. You had plenty of others who you should have called first. Your supervisor, for one, who would need a report of your injury. Your father was twenty minutes away and would have been there in a heartbeat, with his sorry glances and muttered admonishments about this job being a bad fit. Your older brother and younger sister both lived a handful of blocks away, but there wasn’t a caring bone shared between them.  

“Is this the kind of three A.M. call I’ve been waiting for, Sweets, or-”  

He must have heard your ragged breathing, because he stopped mid-flirt, his tone faltering. Milo’s flirty facade was always sort of amusing to you. It was so clearly an act, a cover for the insecurity or angst or whatever he was trying to keep down. Sometimes, especially when you required some sort of care, it fell away without him even noticing, and you were left to stare at the naked truth of him.  

“What’s wrong?” he demanded, his voice jumping a few pitches in concern. You smiled absently at that.  

“I-” your voice was wrecked, ruined by strain. You cleared it a few times, trying to sound a bit more presentable. “Nothing.” You lied. Milo would know, but you didn’t have the energy to explain. “The flu.”  

“Uh-huh.” Milo replied. He went silent.  

He wasn’t your fucking boyfriend. You weren’t in a relationship. He was a fuck buddy at best. You wouldn’t even go so far as to call him a friend with benefits. He wasn’t your friend.  

“I just-“ you repressed the urge to cough. “I won’t be there. Tomorrow night. Because of the flu.”  

“Are you-“ Milo seemed on the verge of asking you something dangerous like ‘are you okay,’ which would take this fun, casual thing you had going on and add feelings to it, something neither of you wanted. “Right.” He finally settled; his voice still suspicious. “I guess um… just let me know. When you’re better. Or if you need… soup. Or anything.”  

“Soup.” You repeated.  

“Fuck off.” Milo growled. “I haven’t been human in years, remember? I don’t know what sick people need.”  

“I don’t need anything.” You said quickly, defensively. “I’ll… text you next time. I don’t know why I called.”  

“It’s okay,” Milo said, “I don’t mind a call.”  

“Right.” You said. “I‘ll call you in a few days. When I’m better.”  

“Okay.” You could hear him deflate, his tone settling back in that façade. “I’ll see you soon, Sweetness.”  

“Yeah.” You replied. You didn’t know if you managed to hang up before you passed out.