#why did they help a parent save a dying child?

[dravidious]

Finally time for Friends Through Fire to get some much deserved love

-

It certainly hasn’t gotten much love from me lol. Gosh it’s been ages since I’ve even thought about this story. The song seems to fit though; it sounds more epic, and more... goal-oriented? Less like the carefree wandering of Childish Harmony and more like chasing a goal. The tone is also neat; pretty bright and happy, but with lower, more serious parts

[warrior-cats-rewritten]

I really love the "Tigerstar is Swiftpaw's dad" AU. It doesn't change that much storywise, but it just makes it really tragic with Tigerstar sending the dogs that kill him and him wanting to prove himself.

To be honest I really thought for the longest time he WAS Swiftpaw's dad.

God... Tiger spying on Gatherings and not seeing Swiftpaw there. Overhearing apprentices gossip.

"Did you hear what happened to Brightpaw? I hope she doesn't get an infection."

"Better than what happened to Swiftpaw."

But... What happened to Swiftpaw? Where was he? Was he hurt?

Tigerstar getting his 9 lives and seeing his son standing in the crowd, glaring at him with a look that chokes him. He sees the glittering scars and puts 2 and 2 together. That was his son, his baby, his precious boy so full of potential and life and so stubborn and proud. Why was he not given a name? Why did Bluestar treat his son like this? She gave a name to the bastard kittypet child, but denied his son? She's to blame of course, not him, he would have named him Swiftstrike or Swiftfang, something respectable and powerful. His son... Sitting there with his other lost child, lost so young, they both look so unhappy...

Seeing Swiftpaw amongst his own victims as he keeps dying over and over again. Begging them each time to help him. Help me Swiftpaw, please, please, you love me, I'm your father you need to do something you need to save me please Swiftpaw please don't let me die I'm your papa I love y

Watching his other sons, another child of his lost too young, Tadpole was so much like him too, fearless and strong.

Comparing Hawkfrost to Swiftpaw in the horrible way that parents do. Come on Hawkfrost that was sloppy, Swiftpaw had that technique down and never left apprenticeship, you'll avenge me and your brother, Firestar was deputy he could have said something, it would have saved your brother's life.

Seeing Swiftpaw during the Great Battle giving a blessing to Firestar. Realizing he gave Firestar a life and just... Losing it. Firestar stole his son from him, and let him die, and his perfect son still gave him a life?! Why?!

Oh it all just goes perfectly.

Although... It does give Tigerstar the widest family tree EVER.

Lynxkit, Swiftpaw, Brambleclaw, Tawnypelt, Tadpole, Mothwing and Hawkfrost. Oof, gift giving events have gotta be a nightmare.

[alessiathepirate]

Squid Game

THE SEARCH: Hwang Jun-ho x fem!reader

Summary: The search for Gi-hun takes its toll on her. Luckily, someone's there to help.

Notes: English isn't my first language. I apologize for any mistakes I may have made while I wrote this short story.

Warnings: swearing, mentioned death and guns, mentioned and/or referenced trauma and PTSD

●●●

She was dreaming again - that was the reason why she tried to avoid sleep ever since Gi-hun went missing.

--because she was always dreaming about him: him dying, him being alone, him being scared after all that trauma... And her dreams always pointed out her self-blaming - she wasn't supposed to leave him alone, she should be there with him...

Her dreams were troubled once again - with nightmares. She was dreaming about Gi-hun and the marble game, which he failed so he could save another player's life...

That was another reason why she was scared for Gi-hun: because she knew his own life wasn't important to him anymore. She knew it, because she felt the same way.

She woke up to someone shaking her awake. She felt hands grabbing her shoulders, she heard a voice calling out for her - yet she couldn't identify the person; not immediatelly anyway.

Tears were running down her face, blinding her; she could barely breathe; and she could still hear gunshots even though she was no longer asleep.

"Y/N..." she heard her name once more, this time clearer. "You're alright. It was just a dream. Y/N, can you hear me?"

She was shaking - God, she was shaking so badly she barely knew where she was or who she was.

Still, one of those hands gently touched her face, turning her head so her eyes could meet someone else's.

Her lips started to tremble.

"You're okay now. You're awake."

Her fingers wrapped themselves around the hand on her face.

"Jun-ho?"

Reality suddenly hit her and she could feel shame climb up her throat.

She stared into his eyes as he nodded, his lips curled upwards into a faint smile. She swallowed hard as she let go of his hand. Her fingers were still trembling, but she put her hands down and pushed herself upwards into a sitting position. Her blanket fell onto her lap.

"What time is it?" she asked quietly as she raked her fingers through her hair.

"It's almost midnight." Jun-ho said as he grabbed a water bottle from the small desk in the corner of the cabin; he gave it to her, then joined her on the floor.

As she drank she slowly looked around.

They were alone, although she could hear the henchmen, Woo-seok and Captain Park talk outside.

They were probably fishing, she thought. They needed something to do and the Captain needed a distraction after she almost punched him. He would've deserved it though, since he didn't want to look for the damn island late at night. He really should've said a thank you to Jun-ho, because he was the only reason why he didn't get a black eye.

As she put the bottle aside she noted a map and a marker on the desk, under the light of a flashlight. Jun-ho must've been working on finding the island and Gi-hun, when he noticed her trembling in the corner. She was really thankful for his help: for waking her up and for the search.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" she asked as she pointed at the map. "I could've helped."

"Because Woo-seok said you are barely sleeping." Jun-ho looked at her from the corner of his eyes. "And I agree with him."

She didn't want to meet his gaze.

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not." he argued and he sounded like a parent who's about to scold a child. "You barely eat, you barely sleep... I know you want to find Gi-hun more than anything, but you need your strength for it."

Her fingertips started to play with the edges of the blanket. She didn't say anything - she didn't know what to say.

Jun-ho was right, of course he was; but it was impossible to eat and sleep peacefully when guilt and fear was killing her from inside.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"About what?" she asked.

"You know what."

She knew - of course she did.

The nightmare was still being replayed in her head, again and again. She could see Gi-hun losing all ten of the marbles, she could hear the gunshots...

One of her hands shakily reached up to wipe away the tears.

When she took too long to answer, Jun-ho turned to look at her, and seeing her crying again made him regret his question.

"I'm sorry... we don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." his hand landed on her thigh and before he could pull it away, her hand was on his.

She look up at him, her eyes glassy and her lips once again trembling.

"I dreamt that he died." she said after she swallowed. "That's all I can think about - what if he's dead? He's playing those stupid games again and I'm not there..." her voice sounded angry as she spat those last few words. "I'm not there with him and we promised, we promised that we'd never leave each other..." she took a deep breath. "Gi-hun saved my fucking life more times than I can count. And now I failed him... I'm failing him every single moment when I'm not with him." the tears were burning her cheeks as they ran down her face and landed on the blanket. "Why can't it be me who's in there..."

She was full on crying by then, her body was shaking.

It was a pain so deep and unbearable... And nothing could help. Her heart ached, her whole being felt numb and heavy.

She just wanted it to end - all of it.

Jun-ho let go of her thigh and put both of his hands on her cheeks, his thumbs wiping away the tears. He made her look him in the eyes.

"Don't say that..." he put some locks of hair behind her ears and then went back to wiping away the tears - since they just didn't want to stop falling. "It's not your fault. None of it. You had no way of knowing what would happen at that party."

Gi-hun didn't let her go in with him. He wanted her to stay in the car with Jun-ho. He wanted her out of danger's way.

She should've fought harder.

"And you didn't fail him..."

"Yes, I did!" she shouted. "I fucking did..."

Jun-ho held onto her tightly, not letting her wiggle away until he was sure she's fine.

"You played Russian roulette for him!" he argued.

She just blinked in surprise.

That was how she met him again - Jun-ho. He wanted to arrest her after she won the game of Russian roulette against the Salesman. And later, when Gi-hun arrived he almost shot Jun-ho for keeping her in cuffs.

"You played Russian roulette, so that guy - that Salesman - wouldn't go after him." Jun-ho repeated. "You didn't fail him. And he knows that. He almost shot me for you."

She continued to cry quietly and he let her. He let her cry it out as he pulled her close, so she could hide her face in the crook of his neck.

She wrapped her arms around him, letting the blanket fall between them, since she finally had someone to talk to, to be honest with. Someone who understood the concept of loss and uncertainity.

"Thank you..." she whispered as she felt his fingers massage her scalp.

"It's nothing." he said. "And I promise you that we'll find him. Okay?" he felt her nod so he continued: "But I need you to get some sleep for that."

"I'll try." she mumbled.

They changed positions. Jun-ho leaned against the wooden wall of the cabin, while she rested her head on his shoulder. Their knees were touching, and she was sure it had been a while since she felt this kind of comfort.

Right then, she needed him.

Her crying slowly died down and she felt like she could both breathe and think again.

"Jun-ho?"

"What's wrong?" she found the panic in his voice adorable - and it felt great to know that someone cared.

"Nothing's wrong, I just... never really apologized for handcuffing you to the bathtub."

She felt his chest rise as he began to laugh, and the sudden change of mood in the cabin felt nice.

"I handcuffed you first. You have nothing to apologize for."

She felt a small smile tugging at her lips.

"I also apologize for accusing you of being one of Them; and for trying to shoot you." she said as she remembered him sitting in the bathtub as she pointed his own gun at him.

Jun-ho chuckled. "I kind of did those first too."

She couldn't help herself - a small, barely there chuckle left her mouth too.

"Well then... thank you, for being here."

Jun-ho didn't answer for a while and she felt ashamed for being so outspoken. Yet a few seconds later he kissed her forehead and she felt a rush of sudden heat run through her whole body.

"Of course, I'll always be here - if you need anything..."

Jun-ho continued to stroke her head; gentle touches caressing her scalp, her neck and then later on: her back. Slowly but surely her eyelids became heavier and heavier - until she fell into a dreamless, peaceful sleep.

Tomorrow she'd wake up with her head on Jun-ho's chest - and somehow her blanket would be over them, keeping them warm.

Tomorrow she'd wake up with a slight feeling of shame, yet she'd have a new reason to keep on going for.

Tomorrow Woo-seok would give her an all-smile thumbs up.

Tomorrow she'd continue the search with a new amount of hope, knowing she has someone who'll help her every step of the way...

[kennahjune]

Teen Dad AU

Part 2!!

Starting the tag list with: @mugloversonly @jackiemonroe5512 @thestarslittleking @jonesen4coffee @virginlemontea @blackpanzy @littlebluejane @paintsplatteredandimperfect @astrid-nomically-steddie @maferisa-7 @phantomrose17 @child-of-cthuhlu @sofadofax @thoughtfulbreadpolice @fandomnerd103 @artemisiscursed @croatoan-like-its-hot @silenzioperso @myownworstenemyyy @feral-possums-in-the-bog @mente-sindescanso @mrslectermoriarty @y4r3luv @a-couchpotato @aknelimdoogladania @she-collects-smut

…

Thursday came in a false sense of security.

Steve woke up to the gentle sun in his face, the breeze of an open window in his hair, and his son’s chubby baby fingers wrapped around his hand.

Steve grinned sleepily at Louie and laughed when baby Louie smiled so wide back at him that his paci fell out.

Steve held Louie close while preparing a small breakfast of eggs and toast, then continued to hold him while making his bottle and setting out a few cheese puffs for him teethe on.

Steve made sure Louie ate first, helping him hold the bottle and then laughing at the pure mess he makes with the cheese puffs. Then Steve himself ate. Clean up was quick enough witch a wet rag and a speedy wipe-down.

Later on, just as Steve was thinking about preparing lunch, the front doors opened.

“Shit. Shit shit shit SHIT.” Steve angrily whispered to himself. Little Louie stared at him from where he was propped on the couch, not a thought behind his wide eyes. Though he obviously knew something was wrong with his dad.

Steve was quick to buckle Louie into his car seat, bundling him up with a blanket and giving him his bear.

“Stephan? Are you in the living room? Come grab our bags, please,” Cynthia Harrington called from down the hall.

There was no getting out of this. No way of getting Louie to the car without his parents seeing. But he’s sure they already knew of the baby, or suspected something. Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln were nosy motherfuckers set on ruining Steve’s life.

Steve sighed and looked at Louie. He knelt in front of the car seat and rubbed a hand gently on his son’s face. Louie grabbed his finger and smiled around his paci.

Steve wanted to cry.

“Stephan! Your mother called you so answer her!” Richard Harrington yelled. Steve heard the wind outside pick up aggressively and cursed the mornings sunshine.

“Coming!”

Steve padded into the hallway where his parents were taking off their jackets. Cynthia and Richard were picture-perfect— or they would’ve been. If it weren’t for the pressed line of his mother’s mouth and the hard line of his father’s jaw. Steve knew what was coming before they did.

“Stephan, the bags.” Were his mothers first words to him. Not “Hi, son, how have you been?” Not “Sorry we’ve been gone for nearly 8 months.” Not “How are you feelings after that concussion from last November? We’re terribly sorry we couldn’t stop work to simply call and make sure you were ok.”

No. None of that. Instead he was demanded around like a fucking dog.

“Um. Actually, I had to talk to you both. If you don’t mind—“

“Save it. Take the bags upstairs and meet us in the living room,” Richard stated harshly.

Steve flinched. He hated himself for flinching. But they couldn’t go in the living room. Not while Louie was still in there.

“Actually, dad— it’s very important and I just really need to talk to you guys—“

“Stephan!”

Steve winced at the pitchy tone of his mother.

“Please, I promise— It’ll be worth your time, just— just give a minute, please.” He was begging now. He hated begging.

Richard had grown tired of Steve’s fumbling for words and shoved past him. Steve knocked into the wall with the harshness.

“Stephan, you will listen to your mother and take the bags upstairs and meet us—“

“Dad, wait—“

Richard stopped in the doorway to the living room, whatever insult or command he was going to throw Steve’s way dying on his tongue.

“Stephan. Why, in the Lord’s name, is there a baby’s car seat in my living room?”

His tone was calm. Steve knew better than to think he was actually anything other than furious.

“Thats— that’s what I needed to speak to you about. Please, I—“

Steve should’ve anticipated the slap.

But he didn’t. And his head snapped to the side with the force that left him seeing stars.

Steve didn’t stay long enough to listen to his dad yelling slurs or his mom crying. He simply grabbed Louie’s car seat, picked up his shoes by the door, and left.

.

Steve had been driving for near three hours before he pulled over. He’d circled the entirety of town before finally pulling into a small dirt path by the quarry. Belatedly he realized someone was crying.

He hurried to get out of the car, rounding to the back and sliding into the backseat to sit next to Louie’s car seat. But Louie wasn’t crying, he was sound asleep.

Steve realized he was crying.

He startled when a broken sob tore itself out of his throat. He hurried out of the car and dragged himself the few yards to the edge of the quarry.

He sat down and let the rain pelt him from all angles. His face stung. Steve knew the slap would bruise phenomenally in the morning. It’d probably affect his tips at work.

He swung his feet idly on the edge, belatedly realizing he wasn’t wearing his shoes or even socks for that matter. His heels where starting to bleed from each time he rammed them into the rocks on the edge of the cliff.

Steve doesn’t know how long he sat there in the rain. He snapped back to reality when a particularly loud burst of thunder rumbled in his gut. He went back to the car.

Louie was still sound asleep. Steve figured he himself should most likely sleep as well. He didn’t know when he’d be able to get a place for them, but he’d already been saving up.

He curled up in the back seat next to baby Louie. He didn’t bother with a blanket, and he knew he’d get a cold with his clothes still being wet, but he deemed it fine.

Steve’s sleep was fitful and restless. Filled with slurs and yelling and running from monsters that shouldn’t exist.

.

It was a week before he finally got a place.

Not that long, sure. But it was a week of pure dread and exhaustion and nightmares.

The trailer he was looking at was located near the edge of Forest Hills. It was two bedroom one bathroom and had a small living room (with no ceiling light) and a kitchen (that barely had any wiggle room). But it was his.

He’d been at work when he got the call— as that was where he told the landlord to call. Mason— the line cook— called him back.

“Hey Steve-o! That landlord guys on the phone!”

Steve jumped so hard he nearly spilled the waters he was carrying.

“Be right there, Mace!”

Steve was quick to get the waters to the table 7 and take their orders for the night before he rushed back. He tossed his notepad at Mason and snatched the phone.

“Hi, Mr. Gardison!” he greeted cheerily.

“Stephen, hi. So…”

And Steve was given the trailer.

He was vibrating with excitement by the end of his call. When Steve returned the phone to its holder he was picked up from the ground in a bear hug. He laughed and hugged Mason back.

“You got the place!” Mason cheered.

“I got the place!” Steve laughed.

The rest of his day went swimmingly. He would be able to officially move into the trailer on Friday— which was fine by him. Two days of waiting was nothing.

Steve was given congratulations from a few of the regulars. Mr. Jinkins gave him a good slap on the shoulder while Miss. Gladson pulled him into a hug. They tipped him an extra 5 dollars each before they left.

At the end of his Wednesday shift, Steve gave out hugs to most of his coworkers. Mason, Allya, and his boss Michelle got hugs while George and Gwen got high fives. Steve left feeling light on his feet with a to-go bag for dinner.

Thursday was filled with the lunch rush. Steve had to take his break early to check on baby Louie in the back. He felt bad turning George’s manager office into a daycare but George assured him it was fine.

“Hey honey,” Steve’s cooed at the baby in his arms. “How are you doing, huh love? You’ve been cooped up for so long I know.”

Louie gripped his baby hands into the front of Steve’s apron. He was back in the kitchens today, Allya taking his place up front waitressing.

Steve hopped around and lightly bounced Louie against his chest, humming quietly and gently.

Louie whined and continued to cry.

“I know Louie, I know. You hungry? Hang on baby.”

Steve made sure Louie was fed and burped and laid him done for a nap. He only had an hour of his shift left.

Thursday finished off normally and Steve left with his usual dinner. He drove out to the quarry and parked before sitting in the backseat with Louie to eat.

Eventually he took Louie out of the car and sat with him on the rocky ground of the quarry. Steve held Louie close in his lap, letting the baby play with his hands and fingers and babble about nothing and everything.

Steve occasionally answered with little gums of encouragement, but for the most part he let baby Louie talk to himself. He was lost in thought, daydreaming about the trailer and how they got to move in tomorrow.

Before Steve knew it Louie had fallen asleep and he himself was on the verge. He got them both settled in the backseat once more and allowed himself to drift off.

…

We’re finally, maybe, getting somewhere lol. Tag list is open to everyone still, feel free to ask for a place!! We’ll get into some of Steve’s school life in the next part hopefully 🤞

Part 3:

[silverryuan]

Twst with an Ubuyashiki Child reader

Platonic, of course. Contains spoilers of the Hashira Training Arc.

Hinaki, Nichika, Kiriya, Kuina, and Kanata are the children of Kagaya and Amane Ubuyashiki. Born as quintuplets, their appearances are almost similar, save for their hair colors. They are supporting characters of the anime Demon Slayer. They assist their parents when it comes to Corps duties and aid their father to kill Muzan Kibutsuji.

• I decided not to put the other three because I couldn't find proper photos of them. Since the reader is a child of the Ubuyashiki couple, that makes them and their sibling sextuplets.

• Despite being only 8 years old, you're already mature enough to carry out your duties, and mentally strong enough to pass the deaths of the demon slayers each night unfazed. However, the brashness of the newly selected demon slayer at the Final Selection intimidated you. You can only watch as the boy named Genya harshly manhandled your sister. Your sister managed to keep her fear inside until after the selection. You're glad that the boy with red-eyes and hanafuda earrings stopped the boy before Kanata cried.

• You were trained and raised all your life to be proper and emotionless. Your mother and father did so in order to help you and your siblings ease the acceptance of the inevitable deaths of your parents with little to no grievance. After all, you must save the tears after the war. Only then you can finally be free.

• You and your siblings always take care of your bedridden father whenever your mother is out on duty. You can only hope that he might live long enough to witness Muzan's death. You sometimes help your brother, Kiriya, in preparation to inherit the estate when your father is too ill to teach him the ways of being the leader of the Corps. As per Ubuyashiki tradition, whether you are male or female (or non-binary), you must wear feminine clothing in order for you to live longer or until you get married.

• While the demon slayers are preparing for war, your father finally mastered his last plan and called for your siblings and mother. He thanked you for taking care of him for all of the years you've spent together and asked if you are willing to die by his side to which you answered "Yes, father". Your mother can only fix his bandages and told you to play with your sisters one last time.

• The thought of fooling Muzan to lower his guard is the greatest feat you and your sisters ever made, so you played with Hinaki and Nichika. Despite the fear that stayed in your minds, you wished that this sweet moment of pure bliss lasted a bit longer......

• You did not feel sadness, knowing that the rest of your siblings will be left alone.

• You did not feel fear when Muzan Kibutsuji intruded your home with the intent to kill all of you.

• You did not feel resentment towards your parents that they've never given you a normal childhood.

• You did not feel pain when the waves of the explosions engulfed your small figure with its flames.

• All you can feel is happiness, now that you finally shared your last moments with your family and dying alongside them.

• However... You won't be walking into the afterlife with them just yet.

• ...................................

• ..............................................Where are you?

????: "Fnyagh! The robes... Gotta get those robes!"

• ............... What?

• You lift your hand up only to feel the hardness of wood against your palm. Is this real? Are you not dead? Where is your family?

• Lost in thought, you started to notice the sudden change of the temperature inside of the coffin. You kicked and punched the door with your small limbs until the lid fell off. The little monster stood in shock as you raise your head out of the coffin.

????: "F-fnyagh?! Why are you awake?!"

Ubuyashiki! Reader: "....?"

• You falsely assumed that a demon is trying to cook you alive. But you calmly get out of the coffin, straightened your robe, and question him with a smile...

Ubuyashiki! Reader: "... Pardon me, but where am I?"

????: "Fnyagh? Ya must be stupid to not know where ya are! Doesn't matter, just gimme your robe!"

Ubuyashiki! Reader: "... And what are your intentions with my... robe?"

• That's strange. You don't remember wearing this robe. Nor, do you remember anything aside from the explosion. You stared at the monster for any explanations.

????: "To wear them! Now gimme or I'll burn ya!"

Ubuyashiki! Reader: "... You are not interested in eating me?"

????: "Fnyagh? Why would I eat ya? You're no tuna! A-and stop staring at me with those creepy-looking eyes!"

Ubuyashiki! Reader: "...Is that so? And who might you be?"

????: "I'm the Great Grim! The sorcerer extraordinaire! The most powerful mage in Twisted Wonderland! The most popular wizard in this school! So as the greatest, gimme your- Hey, come back here!"

• As the egoistic monster was distracted, you run as fast as your child limbs can take you. Your thoughts plaguing your mind with even more questions...

• You felt the heat of the coffin, which means you're still alive... This is definitely not the afterlife... If you're alive, then would that mean that your parents and siblings are here as well? Did the bait and trap failed? Is Muzan--

• Unfortunately, the monster easily caught up with you and cornered you at the dead end of a hallway.

Grim: "Fnyahaha! Ya thought ya can get away from the Great Grim's nose? We'll ya can't! I'm gonna roast-- OUCH!!"

???????: "You there, monster! Cease your attacks at once!"

Grim, struggling: "Fnyagh... What is... this rope? I can't use my magic!"

???????: "It's not just a rope! It's the Lash of Love, mind you! Don't even bother to struggle, it's useless trying to break through!"

• ... Is he a demon slayer? Wait, no... He's another demon. Is he fighting this demon for you as food? Then you must quickly flee before-

???????: "Aha! There you are! You must be the last student. I've been searching all of the coffins for you. However, I did not expect you to be this small..."

• ... Student? Does he mean you? Does he even know you're human?

Ubuyashiki! Reader: "... Are you referring to me?"

???????: "Of course, who else- Great Sevens! Did I hear your voice correctly? Don't tell me that you're a child?!"

Ubuyashiki! Reader: "... And what if I am?"

???????: "Oh my, you are a child! Did you happen to stumble here by mistake? How did you get past the school gates? Where are your parents? Did a student sneak you in here?"

• Is he asking these questions to confirm that you're alone? He sounded... Worried. Usually, a demon would sound bloodthirsty but... What if his constitution or state is like that of that Kamado girl?

Ubuyashiki! Reader: "... I am afraid I don't know where I am, sir. I awoke inside a coffin and happened to be lost."

???????: "Inside a coffin, you say? Then you are a new student here!"

Ubuyashiki! Reader: "... A student?"

???????: "Indeed. Though young prodigies like you are rarely enrolled here! But I must admit, how old are you?"

Ubuyashiki! Reader: "... I am 8 years old, sir."

???????: "EIGHT?! Sevens! 8 years old and you're already off to college?! Your family must be very well off or you're that intelligent!"

Ubuyashiki! Reader: "...I apologize, but whatever do you mean by college? And new student?"

???????: "My, my... You're small head must've been jumbled by the teleportation magic. Let me introduce myself! I am Dire Crowley, headmage of this school, Night Raven College!"

[vic-does-battlecats]

My personal crack headcanon / theory that I will choose to believe until proven otherwise is that Moonpaw only didn’t die like Voicepaw did because Voicepaw’s ghost helped jumpstart her body somehow through spirit nonsense.

Picture this: When Voicekit dies, her spirit didn’t go to Starclan immediately - instead, for whatever reason, she hung around. Voicekit, this little tiny baby child, barely knows what’s going on, but eventually realizes something is Very Wrong. She can’t communicate with her parents, they don’t see her, they don’t acknowledge her, nobody does, and then she notices they’re greiving over her dead body. Maybe she even witnesses her own funeral. And then she notices her sister is dying much the same way she was. And so Voicekit, this little kit, all weightless paws and sparkling stars, goes to her sister and presses against her. And something happens. Moonkit stirs, she gets better, their parents rejoice!! And Voicekit is so very proud. She saved her sister’s life. She made their parents happy. They don’t know it, Moonkit doesn’t understand, but Voicekit has made their lives better. She doesn’t even notice, or care, that the stars have faded from her fur with the act, because why would she, this little kid, who doesn’t even know anyone in Starclan, who has not known anyone but her own family in her short life? Why would she want to be anywhere else but here? She can make them happy. Moonkit can be her friend. By reviving her, Voicekit has given up her place in Starclan, bound herself to Moonkit - but why would that ever matter to her, when Starclan seemed to hold no care for either of their lives?

I think it’s such an interesting idea too, because it means that Moonpaw only is alive because of Voicepaw (though likely in the literal ‘saved her life’ sense, not the ‘needs to be bound to her to live’ sense), but Voicepaw can only live through Moonpaw. Her act of saving Moonpaw grants Voicepaw an avenue to be parallel to living cats, while also giving her more reason to be jealous of Moonpaw, Thunderclan’s oh-so-special apprentice. They are one after all - Moonpaw owes her her friendship, her attention, her love. Doesn’t Moonpaw realize what Voicepaw has done for her? What she’s given up for her?? That Moonpaw is everything to her?

[yjcorefourenjoyer]

Photo evidence part 6

Tim’s life is officially over!

So apparently, the new Robin is not, in fact, fine! He’s dead! Gone! Went BOOM, if you will! And now, without Tim being able to grieve AT ALL for the Robin he had bonded with and probably spent more time with than his actual parents,

Tim had to pick up the pieces of the mess Jason left behind. (He’ll have a breakdown later)

Batman has been going off the rails, beating criminals to near death (they would’ve been dead if he hadn’t called the ambulance), hurting civilians, breaking more laws than ever, pushing everyone away, and letting injuries get worse and worse and worse…

To put it simply, he was killing himself! 

It was like he wasn’t even the same person, especially after Jason’s funeral, and Tim had a front row seat to the destruction.

Some villains thought that Batman being in this state would make it harder to enact their plans and went into hiding. While the others (the more powerful or the idiotic) decided it would be easier! 

Almost all The Cameras either stopped taking photos or would only send pictures about Batman. All of them had horrible content. Just bloody alleyways, or people running away in fear. They were sent in with the hope of Photo evidence doing something about it.

That is what he does, right? Take corrupt people and either blackmail them or report them to the police…

There was no way that he could get the police to arrest Batman, that would do more harm than good. And the only meaningful thing he has against Batman is his identity. Either way, he can’t go after The Batman! Photo evidence doesn’t fight the good guys!

But... Batman isn’t really a good guy now, is he? It’s like Robin took all the good with him when he died. 

And even if he did blackmail Batman, B might just let it happen! He’s already shown that he doesn’t care what happens to himself now that Jason’s gone.

Which is really surprising, considering he has a perfectly good, alive son and friends!! Like, shouldn’t Superman or Nightwing be showing up to try and stop this?

Oh wait that’s right, Nightwing is mad at B for not telling him that Jason died and that he missed the funeral…

Like okay… Tim understands that not being alerted to your brother’s death while you’re in space can make you mad enough that you don’t want to talk with the person who was supposed to tell you that info to the point where you don’t want to be in the same city as them.

And in Superman’s case he stopped B from killing Joker, which probably started this whole “I’m gonna go punch out my anger cuz I can’t kill the guy who murdered my son,” thing.

Superman also probably thinks that he’ll get killed in Gotham for preventing Joker’s death in the first place, whether by Batman or a Metropolis-hating Gothamite who somehow sensed that Superman stopped Joker from dying, and that probably makes him not want to be in Gotham. 

However, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be helping!!

Seriously, Tim doesn’t understand why out of every. single. person. who actually KNOWS Batman, HE has to be the only one to actually do something.

Aren’t heroes supposed to help? Why does he, a child, have to be the only one who cares? The only one to step up? The only one willing to try and help?

Doesn’t anyone realize if Batman dies on patrol, Gotham is going to go up in flames!?

Oh come on! This was supposed to be his debut! To show the world that he could protect Gotham! But not in a vigilante way… He was supposed to go after the people outside of Gotham. The bats do the actual fighting, not him!

Ok ok, that’s it. He has to plan! Maybe contact a few people before he (or Batman) does something rash… after all he’s The Photo evidence! Timothy Jackson Drake! He doesn’t put himself in danger, that isn’t how a Drake works! So If he’s gonna have to save Batman on his own he’s gonna make sure that it’s the last option before he does.

But like what could he even do?? He can’t just bring back Batman’s hope and light, he can’t just bring Robin back! (Photo evidence blackmails people not resurrect them!), The only way to do that is to have someone become Robin, But the only options for that role are Jason, Dick, or well..… Tim.

And since Jason is dead and Tim really doesn’t want to be stuck in a life that’s gonna kill him (cuz it would kill him eventually), he’s just gonna have to find a way to get Dick back into the Robin role…

Maybe visit him in Blüdhaven? Maybe he could tell him what’s going on with Batman in Gotham? How is he even gonna get there? He honestly has no idea. But if this is the only way to help Bruce, he’ll do it.

He just really hopes that Dick will agree so he doesn’t have to save Batman alone…

[arcaneconfessions]

I’ll tell you why I dislike Caitlyn more than Ambessa or Silco, it’s because of the character’s subjective morality. By her own morals, Ambessa is doing what she thinks is right, her Noxian upbringing is a reason about why she feels so strongly about mages (they betray that war makes everyone equal hence they are a threat that must be taken out) and why she thinks softness is nothing but a weakness. Her worldview is shaped by the brutalities of war that she’s constantly exposed to (and engages in) which makes her this incredibly ruthless and cut throat character.

Silco is all about the “base violence necessary for change”, his convictions are shown when he invited Vander to join him DESPITE the brutal attempted drowning because he’s motivated by the “greater good”- for Zaun, he emerged a stronger resilient man after the violence done to him. He’s willing to give up shimmer and himself for the sake of Zaun’s freedom (but not Jinx). What I’m getting at is this: you can’t look at people’s actions in isolation because their environment shapes their morality and decisions, Ambessa because she was born in Noxus, Silco is like this because he was born in Zaun, I’m not justifying them but explaining how distorted their worldview is because of their environment, they don’t exist in a vacuum where they do evil things despite knowing better because it’s shown that they are trying to do good.

Cait is different because she was given everything from breathable air, to a safe place to sleep at night, food and even the ability to choose her own path regardless of her parents disapproval- the kids in Zaun are forced to work and steal to survive. HER PRIVILEGES ARENT HER FAULT AT ALL. In s1 we see that despite having it all, she wants things on her own merit and tries to help despite not needing to. She has an incredibly strong moral centre with deep conviction. Like Vi says “she believes what she’s saying” when she disagrees with Ekko saying that enforcers hunt them like animals and she even backs it up- ex reassessing her opinion of Zaun, willing to give up her rifle within that “dangerous place” to save Vi, embracing a shimmer addict (those branded monsters) simply because he was hurting, using her connections to help Vi etc.  She tells Ekko to give up the gemstone instead of using it to kill Silco because of the cycle of violence, and I believe her since she showed that she isn’t ignoring his pain but giving him better hopes than bloody revenge. 

S2 shows me i was wrong to like the sheltered, sorta prejudiced but kindhearted girl who always strives to be better because her morals are paper thin and just for show. She has direct knowledge of how bad the grey is because Cassandra documents it- shown in the hellfire music video and the fact that Viktor (her brother’s friend) is dying from it even years later. Yet she still uses it on the streets. Gas spreads obviously and chembarons use child labour in their factories (thanks Jayce)- there’s no way to stop third party effects of the grey. Imagine how bad it must be for Zaunites, who breathe in the air that even trees cannot survive in, immediately suffocate and tear up with their eyes turning red?  She controls their right to breathe and she immediately uses it against them, all the while calling them animals knowing the truth. 

She insists that she wouldn’t have missed her shot (ignoring the fact that she DID just miss her shot when she had a clear go at Jinx’s head and went for her middle finger AND that the hextech weapons were glitching out) and used that as justification for being prejudiced against Vi (“I keep telling myself you are different but you are not, it’s her blood in your veins”) and hitting her where she was stabbed- after taking a calming breath, leaving her and not even looking for her afterward. 

And again she ignores the fact that Isha would have been harmed either by being that close to an exploding head (which she knows because she tells Vi to get out the way) or being killed alongside Jinx because their heads were aligned- Vi was not wrong to call her out in the slightest. 

She knows the things she’s been told about Zaun are wrong, that they need healing and understanding rather than condemnation but so quickly switches back- using othering language and prejudice, literally calling them animals and Vi one of the good ones until Vi doesn’t do as she wants then saying that she’s no different. 

btw she has full right to hate jinx, not saying that she needs to be the bigger person (even if she says that to ekko) but there is NO justification for taking that out on Zaun knowing what she knows or Vi for telling the truth.

So yeah both Ambessa and Silco don’t have the luxury of a kind life, they were both shaped by the brutal realities of their environment and that turns them into brutal people. These guys are villains who do awful things, I hold them at different standards because 1) their role in the story and 2) at the very least they are doing what they think is best rather than knowing better and being evil despite it all. Caitlyn knows better, she has seen Zaun firsthand and has the luxury of having a good life and the ability to recognise that privilege and that allows for a stable moral compass and world view. Jinx is not justification for the grey on Zaun’s streets, or hitting Vi for telling the truth- she knows better and doesn’t care. Even then she gives up because she didn’t have the energy to hate herself for doing these things, not because she got her head out of her ass and saw the impact of what she’s doing. It’s to do with her emotions.

.

[desperateknot]

I swear this one has no right to make as much sense as it does.

Swap Ishqueg/LCB Queequeg AU.

La Manchaland's Fashionita ID Queequeg uptie story:

The child... didn't really have a choice. It was either becoming a mindless Bloodbag or becoming her Daughter.

For her, turning into a Bloodbag would be no better than turning into a Mermaid. That was why...to save herself...Just like back then...

Still, she managed to run. She managed to runaway from that mockery of an amusement park.

Now, it is time for her to return to her original quest.

That bastard has to be alive still. She'll find that crone, tear her heart into pieces, and then drink her blood.

Before that though, she'll have to get over this fear of water.

She feels as if she might be dying already. The water is lodging inside her hair, soaking her clothes, seeping through her skin. Soon, she would explode-

The child stopped that line of thought. She tried to remind herself that there was no real basis for her fear, yet she couldn't stop herself from trembling.

Whose fault is it that she has to suffer so much?

Her red eyes accidentally met the make-shift orange ring on her finger, before closing themselves shut.

Outis: Did you really think you can escape us?

The child had heard the sound of footsteps accompanied by scissors snippings from faraway, yet she found within herself no will to flee or fight.

Outis: The dress I especially made for you...Do you have any idea how much fabric I have to spend for that?

She would rather tear off her own throat before laying a finger on that woman. For, of course, she was her dear Mother.

Outis: Selfish child. Have you ever even spared a thought for your poor parent?

For reasons she can't seem to recall, the child knew what was about to happen next. As if it all had happened before.

Thus, she kept her eyes shut, waiting for the punishments to be over.

When she was dragged back home, that question still plagued her:

"Whose fault is it that I has to suffer so much?"

It would be so much simpler had she just obeyed her Parent.

Outis: Here in La Manchaland, there is no need for you to mourn.

Outis: You will never again have to confront the people who were hunting you! You won't need to avenge for those whose faces you have forgotten!

Outis: So be a good child, would you, Telema-? Your Parent always knows best.

Being a well-behaved and obedient child of the family, being a good sister is not at all a difficult task. In fact, for her, it is like second nature. It's almost as if she has done all of this before.

It's certainly much more pleasant than forcing herself to confront the fear of water.

Snip. Snip. She is trembling, but this time, it is of excitement. Finally, she has something to quench that familiar thirst. She can't help but suck on her thumb, thinking of the mouth feel of the fresh meat.

Once upon a time, she was a maggot fed on the rotten, filthy human flesh. Now, she finally has the privilege to sink her teeth into their still fresh bodies, tender skin and warm blood, listening intently to the faint breath that would soon cease.

Snip. Snip. Her body moved on its own. When she dons the mask, it is nigh impossible to control herself or remember who she is. But all that just feels natural.

Maybe, she was born for this. She mused as she danced with the mangled corpses.

Everything feels deeply familiar, almost as if she was just returning home.

And, if that was the case, things become significantly more straightforward.

Protect her home. That was what she was tasked to do. That was what she was born to do.

Born? Born. She was born.

Snip. Snip. She suddenly felt an uncomfortable sensation on her ring finger, as if something was actively tying her down.

It's the make-shift ring again. Now, fully dyed red of blood.

She could no longer remember why it was there, but surely, it couldn't be that important.

Snip. Snip.

When the strands of sunset scattered through the crimson red streets of La Manchaland, the child could swear she heard a stranger's voice.

???: Wrong question.

???: For whom. For whom do we suffer so much?

She mustn't let those things trouble her, though, lest she upset her dear family.

Still, there might just be one thing that she couldn't help but secretly complain to herself.

She couldn't see the sunset from here.

Was there something she was supposed to do? She couldn't remember anymore.

La Manchaland's Fashionita ID Queequeg voicelines:

Identity Obtained: Protect the family...huh.

Uptying: Aha. Ahahahaha. Cut it. Already cut it all!

Reasoning: The Bloodfiends are kind of like the Middle in the sense that they are a metaphor for a fucked up abusive family that Queequeg can't escape from. To be a Kindred is like to be born again. Themes of rebirth is already present in Canto V. So this is a rebirth for Queequeg, but it's twisted and fucked up.

Queequeg called herself a maggot before, surviving off people's deaths. Bloodfiend Queequeg makes this more literal by sucking on humans' blood to survive.

The Bloodbags, in a sense, are quite similar to Mermaids, something that Queequeg absolutely does not want to become.

Canon Queequeg always wears a mask when fighting for Ahab. Bloodfiend Queequeg conveniently has a mask made by the Barber too.

The Fashionitas' design has rose motifs, which is a red flower, which could be read as a reference to The Little Mermaid, one of Queequeg’s source materials. The Fashionitas' design conveniently has scissors to cut the rope (ring) that connected her to a certain special person that she could no longer recall, which is even more poignant when you remember how she can't go to the sea anymore, because Bloodfiends are afraid of water. Hence, she can no longer reunite with Ishmael.

Too bad that Bloodfiends aren't weak to sunlight, or it would be even more angsty. Imagine. Pacifying her. With the gentle sunset.

Bonus:

Moby Dick Queequeg is said to have been a cannibal before the events of the book and preferred rawer meat.

Vampires don't have reflections on silver mirrors. This is very elaborated, but I feel like it would be thematically fitting if Queequeg doesn't see a reflection of herself in mirrors because of her lack of individuality. It was only when she was with Ishmael that she had any real desire of her own. But right after that, her desire was overwritten with Ahab's.

Personal notes:

There is a reason why she is sucking on her thumbs on the uptie art 👍

Also, I think Bloodfiend's Queequeg uptie art is the best piece I have ever drawn for her. I like the quality of the colour and the fake linearts and everything. However, the pre-uptie Bloodfiend Queequeg art is the most Queequeging Queequeg I have ever drawn, even though she is in a pretty feminine dress. I have a tendency to make all the characters I draw look feminine, even the male characters. Queequeg is the most masc character I have ever been obsessed over, so it's a force of habit.

I actually made a YouTube video of Bloodfiend Queequeg uptie story too: https://youtu.be/56rG1v-0Lv4?si=RgzpvZsPkQ84myZf

By the way, I made almost the entire thing before Part 2 of Canto VII, so I didn't touch the main plot of Canto VII a whole lot. In this mirror world, Queequeg was still a Sister of the Middle, left and joined Pequod, and when Pequod crashed, she returned to land. She wandered in La Manchaland some times later after their 200 years quarantine and got turned into the Barber's Kindred. Now that Canto VII is done, I think Dulcinea would fit her a bit, too, at least superficially. They are both...purple princess (and yes, Queequeg is a princess).

[asukiess]

so like. why didn't anyone, specifically emilie, help amelie?

one can speculate, on top of normal twin-closeness and sibling relationships (which do play with various themes in the show but usually land with protection and love), that emilie and amelie were close--you can hc that they were antagonistic or resentful or often at arms, sure, but it does seem as though there was love there, an understanding that they were sisters and each other's other self.

we can also speculate amelie did not want children. from the transcript: "The king, the queen, and the lord all dreamed of the same thing: a child for the good princess, an heir for the kingdom."

so. emilie returns to court and sees her sister... and? what, amelie is good at covering her bruises? it's not glaringly obvious that amelie is suffering? emilie makes snide comments about amelie never leaving, about her obvious contempt for their parents and her shelter-dog nature?

and learning that amelie is looking for fertility treatment, too? that doesn't ring any alarm bells to emilie? the transcript makes it seem as if they're beautiful opposites, I'm sure this is not lost on the two of them. so if emilie is, ha, dying, to have a child, she must know her sister never wanted them? ("Take shape and give substance to our immense yearning for a child"; "our" can only be taken as an unreliable narrator, from colt; it's his jealousy, after all.)

is emilie mad that amelie never stands up for herself? is she mad that she didn't object to an arranged marriage--you always did that during games, too, and that's why you're not much fun, love.

but... is there a reason emilie used the miraculous herself, and yet colt used it, perhaps other than just his own narcissism? maybe emilie told gabriel to instruct colt to use it instead to save her from falling ill.

just makes me think !!

[37-children-of-the-dreams]

PSA WARNING: Asaba Harumasa’s Agent Story Part One

CW: Child exploitation, suicide and talks of suicide, and a bittersweet ending.

So I did Harumasa’s Agent Story knowing that it’s not going to be a happy one. Yet, I was not prepared for what the writers had in store for his Agent Story.

Now, if you think Lighter had problems, you’re about to question what is wrong with the writers because they upped the ante with Asaba Harumasa.

(Sorry to the next S rank male, but the devs might torture you next)

Now, the story starts off lightly and a bit sad because Harumasa wants to be on sick leave, and then it’s revealed that he was abandoned as a child. Is he an orphan? Might as well because those people shouldn’t be called parents anymore.

Then, after a few fights into his story, we learn that he knew Seth and his brother from their academy days, though it seems that Asaba did not have a good relationship with Seth’s brother and that might’ve contributed to why he acts mean to Seth. If you did Lighter’s Trust Events, you would remember that Asaba and Seth did not get along when dealing with Lighter, Asaba even going as far as to tell Lighter to report Seth for what happened. And now you know why.

And then the fight with the child who turned into an Ethereal. It was bad. Asaba is shook and Seth drives it harder. We had no chance to save the child.

And then you meet this guy. You will want him dead and gone to HELL.

More lore about his master. It hurts him to think about him. He wants answers and has been finding him for years.

I didn’t get much pictures from the start of his second part, but the ones I did get, it’s just horrible. The reason being that you and Asaba meet THREE more victims and Asaba knows what they’re going through because it’s his past that they’re going through. And one of them is suicidal.

He studied a bit of psychology. Good for him because it does help with trying to deal with trauma.

The writers need a ton of awards, higher pay checks and a million vacation days. They legitimately deserve it. This is highly realistic and true. There will be days when you’ll think of why you’re still alive when the world is just suffocating you but then realize that everyday you haven’t died is you being a survivor of your worst thoughts. It’s hard, and it is highly annoying to keep hearing people telling you to be happy when you don’t want to feel like it, but one more day of living for a tiny reason is better than nothing.

We get back to Seth and the other guy. All I can say is, I advocate murdering people that uses children as science experiments and lie to their face about it. Also, I don’t like the other guy because he’s okay with children dying for medical advancement. I get that they won’t live for long, but it’s not right, and we all should try to be like Seth in this topic.

I know this is a secret test of character, but this is why, despite his naivety on some topics, Seth is a good boy. You can trust him to save your life.

May the bad blood end today. Seth passed his test.

Shoot him. Take him to HELL.

[chaoticbardlady99]

Could you please do some comforting fic? Like, Tav is crying because of stress (or maybe a painful memory) and Astarion has to console her being an absolute emotional support vampire?

Dying Star (Astarion x GN! Reader)

Your wish is my command!

Synopsis: While exploring the Shadowlands, you run into Arabella and she asks you to find her parents. Unfortunately, you don’t have good news to deliver and Astarion tries to navigate your feelings with tips from Karlach.

Character Class- Cleric of Lliira

 (I’m really obsessed with this concept because I’m a Social Worker and I refer to myself as the “positivity police” so this is a character type I have grown fond of)

TW: Grief, Trauma, Parental loss, PTSD, Panic Attacks, mentions of violence and gore.

*I really like the nickname Little Love (I know it’s for Ascended only but…..) so I will be using it as a pet name that Astarion uses for the reader.

Companion song: Dying Star by Ashnikko (feat. Ethel Cain)

     It was supposed to be easy. You had an extra skip to your step as you headed in the direction Arabella told you her parents went. 

 Finally, you had thought, I can do something good for someone. I can reunite a family. No morally gray bullshit to navigate.

 You were grinning the whole way there despite your argument with Astarion before sending him with Arabella.

 “We don’t have time to go parent hunting.”

“There is always time to go parent hunting.”

  He had expressed his disdain about finding Arabella’s parents. He told you it’s a waste of time- they were probably dead anyway. Arabella had whimpered and teared up. That was enough for you to lose your patience and you ripped into him for saying "something so awful and in front of a CHILD, nonetheless!"

You sent him back with Arabella and Wyll, telling him that if he had no desire to search and rescue, he didn’t have to. He had looked hurt and insisted he go, that he needed to be there, but you were fed up and a little girl was crying.

Dejected, Astarion had gone back to camp. The guilt sat heavily at the bottom of your stomach, but you had a personal mission to complete and nothing was going to stop you.

  You were orphaned as a young child. The nightmares had gone away (for the most part), but you still remember your father dragging you away from your mother’s cold body as Loth Drows ambushed Silverymoon. They had had a whole army and their druids had control over giant creatures from the Underdark. You remember losing your father in the haze, an arrow to your back, running and slipping into a river. Then nothing. Until a nearby Cleric of Lliira (Leer-uh) had saved you, taking you to Selgaunt (SELL-GAUNT) on the coast of the Sea of Stars. Lliira had healed your heart and saved you- you hoped to pay that debt forward and help Arabella have a better outcome than you did. 

  No one in your party knew your past and you hadn’t brought it up to Astarion. It feels so long ago and it was a topic you preferred to bring up in a more hospitable place than the Shadowlands and after you help Astarion kill Cazador. You wanted to prioritize his joy and help him finally be free, so why would you burden him with your past while he is suffering far more from his?

 It didn’t take you and your party long to locate Arabella’s parents. You found them in the House of Healing- dead.  Along with your hope and joy. 

  You had erupted in a tearful rage and you stabbed the Sister who killed them over and over. 

  You didn’t care what the Joybringer would do if she saw how senselessly you mutilated the sisters and Malus. You had made them suffer as you saw fit. Mutilating them, using more painful methods of killing (stabbing in painful, but not lethal spots), and your crying came out as painful, angry screams. 

   Gale, Karlach, and Shadowheart eyed you with concern as you walked back to the camp. Usually you were singing or whistling a tune, cracking jokes to relieve the tension. 

Instead, you were focusing on how you would break the news to Arabella that her parents are dead and she is all alone. 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

   Astarion paces around his tent, trying to distract himself from the pit of fear in his stomach. You had never snapped at him that way- usually you just roll your eyes at him and give him a chaste kiss with a soft, “I understand if you don’t want to go, but I would appreciate it if you would come along.” 

He wasn’t sure why Arabella and her parents had been a sensitive subject or why you had insisted on looking for them when they were likely already dead. No one survives the Shadow Cursed Lands without a light source and mediocre tactical skills.

That didn’t stop him from rooting for you though- he hopes he is wrong and that you come back victorious. He wants you to be happy. Astarion enjoys seeing you succeed because that’s when you flash that brilliant grin that he has (silently) adored since the moment he met you. The reason he protested in the first place is because he knows how destroyed you would be if Arabella’s parents are dead. He doesn’t want you to hurt- for your heart to lose it’s optimism. 

 He hears you, Karlach, Shadowheart, and Gale come into camp. He steps out of the tent- hoping that you were able to achieve the outcome you wanted, that you would come parading into camp victorious.

He sees you talking to Arabella in a quiet whisper and he watches as your face contorts to hold back your own feelings as Arabella screams at you. He watches you take it- as she punches you in the stomach over and over. You just let her before she runs off. Withers says something to you quietly before you walk into your tent, closing yourself off from everyone.

 Astarion feels stuck in the entryway of his tent. He doesn’t know what to do.

 “Hey fangs,” Karlach says, offering a sad smile as she walks up to him, “you should probably know- they went over the rails after seeing Arabella’s parents.”

A look of confusion spreads across his face. What does that even mean? You were barely capable of hurting a fly!

 “Like they became upset?”

  Karlach nods with weary eyes,“They became upset and… well very, very, very violent.”

    The tadpole behind his eyes begins to squirm as he allows Karlach to show him the scene.

He didn’t think you were capable of that much destruction.  He saw angry tears slide down your face as you destroyed everything in your path. His gentle, joyful Cleric had broken in the House of Healing.

How ironic, he thinks bitterly.

He feels his own tears begin to prick his eyes as he watches you suffer through the battle- screaming and crying. He should have been there for you. He should have gone and let you be mad at him for disobeying. He hangs his head and pinches the bridge of his nose.

“She really needs you Fangs,” Karlach says to him, interrupting his train of thought.

Of course Karlach would say that as if it was the easiest thing in the world- like he hadn't been tortured and unloved for the past two centuries.

“I don’t know how to be what she needs right now,” he says in a soft voice.

It was true. He had only just expressed his feelings for you and he barely felt confident doing that to begin with. He spent two centuries seducing and manipulating whoever he could to survive. How could he be what you need right now? When he is just as much of a monster as the individuals that killed Arabella’s parents?

  Karlach contemplates this, searching Astarion’s face as if the answer to all his problems would be there. 

  “You don’t need to do anything other than being there- tell them you are sorry. Tell them you were rooting for them because I saw it in your head. Tell them that they aren't alone,” Karlach pauses before saying, “And remind them that they are a good person- that Lliira wouldn’t abandon her in her suffering.”

Despite his fear and reluctance, he thanks Karlach for the advice and walks towards your tent. 

   ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Your body is shaking violently as your chest tightens and painful, silent sobs come out of your mouth. You are trying (and failing) to use your hand as a sound barrier.

It’s not about you, it’s about Arabella, you remind yourself, stop being so selfish. 

Except the images are back, you are small again, helpless again, alone, and afraid. Despite your effort, Arabella has been given the same fate and in the same breath, you turned away from your Goddess. You lost yourself in the fight, you were aware of this while it was happening. You just didn’t have it in you to care anymore. 

You hear footsteps approach your tent- you do the best to rub away the tears and snot.

 It’s not about you. 

You hear Astarion’s voice on the other side of the tent flap. 

 “Little love,” he says softly, “can I please come in?”

You laugh, your voice hoarse, “Come to tell me ‘I told you so?’ To gloat and laugh? If that is your intention, then no. You will need to wait one to five business days before you can do that.”

   You don’t hear him laugh at your humorous response as he usually does. He enters the tent and you feel him sit down behind you, his legs on either side of yours. He’s tense as he puts his arms around you from behind, pulling you in between his legs. He slowly relaxes against your body, putting his face in the crook of your neck. 

 “I’m sorry Little Love. I wanted to be wrong. I just knew how much it would… hurt you if the outcome wasn’t… well.”

 You sniff, choking back a sob as he begins drawing shapes on the back of your shaking hands. 

“It’s okay my love. You can let it out. I’m here for you. You aren’t alone.”

 Despite how clumsy and awkward it was said, that sentence alone broke whatever composure you still had. You cry and scream into your hand as Astarion holds onto you as if you are about to fly away and he is your anchor. Your breath is shallow and it’s hard to breathe as you suffocate on your grief and panic. You feel him ask for access to your mind, wanting to know how to help. So, you show him and you let all your grief pour into your cries. You feel his own tear mix with yours as he cries into your neck as he endures how you feel with you- as he watches your whole life fall apart because of one ambush over and over again.  

  He continues to trace patterns on your hands, asking you to focus on him and what he is doing, reminding you to breathe as you do for him when he is distressed.

  You begin to calm as you focus on his voice, focus on his delicate fingers tracing your skin, and for once, you don’t feel so alone. You scoot forward, gently removing his arms , and turn around to face him, your tearful eyes meeting his.

He grabs your face gently and kisses your forehead as silent tears roll down both of your faces. You look down at your hands before speaking.

“I thought… I thought I could help Arabella be reunited with her family,” you say in a gravely whisper, “I had hoped she wouldn’t be alone like I was, but now…”

  You suck in a harsh breath and look at your hands, “Gods, I am naive and stupid.”

 “No- you do not get to talk about my favorite person that way,” Astarion says sharply.

 You look up in surprise at the intensity of his words. He matches your eyes with a look of adoration, guilt, and a ferocity you have never seen before.

 “Little Love, you are not naive and you are not stupid,” He pauses, to kiss one of your hands and intertwines your fingers together, “you are so good without trying because that is who you are. You experienced hardship and you didn’t let it destroy you. You didn’t become a monster.”

 He looks at your face to gauge your reaction. You sit quietly, letting him continue to speak if he chooses so he does.

 “You… you are amazing and a bright light in the darkness. You are my moon, my compass, and you have shown me parts of myself I didn’t know existed,” he clears his throat before continuing.

 “ I hate to see you hurt, but I promise I will be here to help you through your suffering,” He stares into your eyes intensely, “for as long as you will have me.” 

  You pause, taking in everything he has just said to you. You felt like a star dying, exploding in the cosmos. You feel evil and wrong for the violence you inflicted on the Sisters and Malus in your need for revenge. Your actions were not of Lliira's will.

 “I don’t know if that’s who I am anymore, Star. I engaged in senseless violence… I don’t think Lliira will forgive me- and if she does, it won’t be easy to obtain her forgiveness,” you say glumly. 

 He grabs your other hand in his and offers a soft smile. 

“Then we will work together to get you back into favor with your Goddess and I will remind you everyday who you are until you believe in yourself again,” he says before leaving a chaste kiss on your lips.

You smile despite yourself, your chest glowing with warmth as you stare into his eyes. You know Astarion detests the Gods, but the fact that he was willing to help you made your eyes tear up again. You are horribly desperately in love with him and as much as you want to tell him that, you practice restraint. There is a time and place- that time is not now, not when the relationship just began.

 “And what if I need it everyday for the rest of your Immortal life?” You say half-joking and half-afraid of his answer.

 A wide, genuine grin spreads across Astarion’s face as your words register in his mind. 

They want me to stay. They want me to be by their side-even when this is all done.

    Astarion pulls you into his lap, your legs straddling his hips as he pulls you into him and presses a soft kiss against your neck before laying his head on your shoulder. 

“Then I will stay by your side. Forever.”

[whumpbby]

I'm kinda disappointed that there's so very few fics exploring the Core Transfer as an opportunity for Weird Shit happening.

Like, want it or not, JC is the single person in the world that successfully underwent an insane experimental medical procedure and how is that not something to explore? Wen Quing didn't supply a handy guide with negative effects, did she?

Imagine if the word got out that Sect Leader Jiang can unsheathe and use Suibian - gasp! Is he the reincarnated Yiling Patriarch?! That's why he was so bent on killing demonic cultivators, to hide himself?!

Or, hey, if somehow it got out that he has Wei Wuxian's core? Wouldn't demonic cultivators keep crawling out of the woodwork to get their hands on the core of their Idol? Wouldn't there be people ready to experiment on the only available specimen - people who lost their cores to Wen Zhuliu, or those who wanted to get cores without having to work for it, or people too old to start cultivating... There'd be plenty of folk ready and willing to discover how the Core Transfer works to achieve power.

Fuck, imagine JGY learning about it ahead of time and giving Changmei the go ahead to discover how Jiang Cheng regained his core? If they could work out how to melt cores and how to transplant them - the power in their hands would be insane!

Imagine Wei Wuxian coming back to life in a world where JC has been on the experimenting table for some time now, and one step of Huaisang's plan is for Wwx to discover it and save JC, and hope he will be able to testify...

(Jin Guangyao, feeling a bit sad as he visits the "lab" and seeing the co-parent of his child nephew, the man he learned to respect, the man he drank innumerable cups of tea with as they discussed and argued and gossiped across the tables in Lanling or Lotus Pier... Seeing the man strapped down to a stone table, cut open, mumbling nonsense as his loose hair drags over the floor, soaked in blood and carelessly stepped on as Changmei excitedly circles the table... It's a shame, truly.)

Or, the new core not sitting entirely right in the new cradle, some of the veins didn't connect right (Wen Quing was working fast, in a field, with one patient barely alive and the other actively dying, only her brother to help her, she couldn't catch every single strand!) and that results in some qi overflow. In effect JC radiates qi - the more he uses, the bigger the spill; the bigger the spill, the more ghosts and ghouls are drawn to him. The man is a walking ghost-flag. His Night Hunts go by fast, he steps into the forest and the monster of the month is already waiting. (That's why he was so annoyed at JL with the mountain hunt! What do you mean you can't find the ghost? Never happened to me! Sight, nets it is!) But Jin Ling loves hugging jiujiu, because it's always so warm...

I just - it's such a crazy premise, I need some off the wall take on itTT

[animentality]

Listen, I know I said I wasn't pro redeemed Gortash before, but.

But.

I could bend on that idea, if Gortash died and went to the House of Hope.

If he was humiliated by Raphael, asking him if he truly thought that he was more than that scared little boy he bought all those years ago, the boy his servants used to beat black and blue, who used to cry at night for his parents. A boy who was terrified of him, and hated being powerless, who spent his life trying to obtain power, so he wouldn't be afraid again.

Gortash dying and being forced back there...and having to face the fact that this is what he's done to other people...and for what reason?

In the end, he was still that helpless child.

Because here's the thing right. The dark urge is only redeemable because they lost their memories and their old self truly died when they got their head split open.

They only became redeemable when they had a second chance, and took it. When they chose to make themselves better and to fix the damage they caused.

Just imagine Gortash having to be back in the House of Hope, and imagining himself spending a fucking eternity in there...

That's divine, karmic punishment enough for a villain.

Not to mention that Raphael would laugh at him and torture him and force him to wear those hideous prison robes, completely stripping him of the pomp that he used to defend himself for his entire life.

Forcing him to dress like a slave again.

But imagine the dark urge waltzed in and slaughtered Raphael for him.

And saved hope.

The parallels!!!

Gortash couldn't break the cycle of abuse, but the dark urge could do it for him, and give him a second chance!!!

Gortash was abandoned as a child, and he used and abandoned everyone he ever met, so that none of them could hurt him first!!! But the dark urge didn't abandon him.

They came back for him.

He hated them in his final moments, because they had become a hero, something they both used to despise. The ultimate betrayal...but then.

This is also what heroes do. They kill villains...and they save people.

Gortash would ask, why did you help me, what's in it for you?

And they'd just say, it was the right thing to do, fool.

Raphael was a bastard.

So I killed him.

Same as I killed you. For being a bastard.

But then they'd throw his contract at him and be like here. You're free now.

Be a piece of shit again, and I'll kill you again.

But maybe his first act of contrition is making the steel watch help you in the final battle.

I think there's a data mined line where Jaheira says you were made to save the city, right? to the steel watch, when you summon them?

That's really good.

Like Gortash...ruining the city with his stupid absolute plan and his tyrannical steel watch bullshit...

And the arc words, of actually doing what he said he was doing, and saving the city he was was ruining...from the mess he made.

Ahh.

Also dark urge specifically...

I still think about the dev notes, about Gortash seeing the dark urge as something more than a monster.

Or even, seeing them as a person, and not a monster at all.

He gave them a chance before they were even good. He saw them as something more than a bhaalspawn. He doesn't care if they reject Bhaal or accept him, he doesn't care if they have their memories or not. He wanted them on his side.

It would've upset him, no doubt, when they refused him.

But saving him by killing Raphael...yeah.

Maybe he'd wonder if there isn't still some of the old dark urge in there.

The only person in the world who might've really cared about him, even if they don't remember it...but it'd be a glimmer.

It'd be a little spark, a tiny connection, that would make him think they were paying him back for his faith in them.

And then maybe he'd realize what a real hero looks like, and how they act, and if someone as cruel as the dark urge could be reformed...maybe he could be too.

Anyway.

Still fucking better than the current endings, where he either dies or dies.

I'm talking out my ass, as per usual.

He still can't quite make up for his sins.

But...but I....I don't know. Dont talk to me.

[onnahu]

Why Bruce and Jason can't have a relationship we all want them to have

Disclaimer: I mostly ignore things that new-52 changed about their backstories bc new-52 is dumb when it comes to it

The thing about relationship between Jason and Bruce is that their upbringings were so different, and they both are so stubborn, they never could've agreed on some things.

Bc let's be real. Bruce went through a traumatic even as a child, and that was terrible. But before, he had two loving parents, and even after, he is a white, rich man. He is the definition of privilage and that's what made him Batman. I assure you, if he was poor, or even in middle class or whatever, he would never become Batman. Not only for a lack of funds.

On the other hand, we have Jason. From comics, even if fandom kinda streches it, his parents did everything they could. Jason for sure loved them, taking from his reaction at Willis's death, and everything about Catherine. We know he loved them, and they loved him. There is no hint for abuse in his early life (beside new-52 but new-52 is dumb), even if classist beliefs make us assume that. They had many problems, not much money, and Catherine was sick, and later an addict. So even in their poor financial status we can assume Jason's childhood was as good as it could be. He never complained about it, at least. Also, I personally headcanoned it earlier, and in the Hill it was pretty much confirmed, that Jason's latino.

That leaves us with two differences between them already, that gives them opposed perspectives on life. Bruce could never understand Jason's life no matter how he tried. Then, we have Catherine's death. It's a similiarity. Traumatic even where they lost their parent/s. But it's also very different. Even in their reactions we can see how they're not the same. Because as Dick's and Bruce's were similiar, Jason was complitely different.

Jason knew he doesn't have time for grief. He did what he had to keep himself alive, and took care for himself, that he in some way did already. He even menaged to do well for himself. We know that he survived on the streets alone for at least few years, and didn't really need Bruce's help for that. Although survival is not the same as life.

The other, propably more important thing: there was noone to blame for Catherine's death. He could blame her dealer, but he didn't really murder her. Dick and Bruce had the person that murdered their parents. They wanted revenge and they worked for it. Jason hadn't had anyone to take revenge on. He had no one to avenge.

Then, Jason got adopted, and could taste Bruce's life in some way. He learned how it is to have money to throw everywhere, and be priviliged for high quality education, food and entertainment. His poin of wiev on it was of course screwed up, but he got to expirienced it. Also saving people. Because saving people is a privilage.

If you struggle to keep yourself alive, you can't keep the others alive, unless you have a martyr complex. We, as animals, are programmed to keep ourselfs going no matter what. We have to be our own priorities, and if you can prioritiez others it's because you no longer need it for yourself.

Anyway, Jason saw how it is to be Bruce. To be a hero. But Bruce bever knew how it is to be Jason. How to be anyone that's not him. He can have empathy, he can try everything, but he could never understand. Some things you can know only if you expirienced. The same way I know I, however I want to, I will never really understand some things.

Also the whole thing with dying. That's important to. Jason knows how it is to die. He knows how it is to kill. Bruce doesn't know either.

Anyway, it's all kinda messy, but the point is - they could never see eye to eye in some matters. They can try, but especially after Jay's ressurection, they can never have a relationship we wants them to have, not in canon, at least.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

[trancylovecraft]

Can you please do Yandere platonic giyuu with older sister reader who hates him and bullies him?

Headcannons

(KNY) YANDERE PLATONIC TOMIOKA GIYUU x MEAN OLDER SISTER! READER: Headcannons

Thank you for ordering!

Come back soon!

Wow. I REALLY like this prompt.

Giyuu I headcannon as a rather protective, Semi-Obsessive and clingy yandere in general.

ESPECIALLY Protective as a platonic yandere. This is mostly due to your sister Tsutako dying from a demon. Giyuu developed a sort of need to protect you from that.

I like to think that's what drove a wedge between your relationship. You blamed him for not saving your sister in time and therefore developed a hatred to him while Giyuu can only sit back and watch helplessly.

Before that he was always clingy as a child. He'd always follow you around, Any potential suitors your parents gave he would instantly protest to you about and your parents. You two had a good relationship despite that though, You loved him and he loved you.

Giyuu didn't like it when you spent time with anyone else. The only person he would tolerate was Tsutako or sometimes your parents. Even then he'd most likely be there with you.

He'd never leave your side and even as a child he wanted to protect you. Though you found it funny when his small self proclaimed to be able to do so to the much bigger you.

Of course after the split you instantly began to despise him. You'd take your anger out on him by pushing him around, Spitting insults at him as you passed by in the halls and sometimes even got your friends involved.

When that happened you'd sometimes throw pebbles at him. You and your friends would harass him and do all of the previous bullet point together. Degrading names about him being unable to help your sister.

"Weak" "Stupid" "Pathetic" Were the least offensive words you all would use.

Giyuu wouldn't even stutter when you did so. He'd stand there and take it all with his head hung low as you threw another pebble at him. In truth he didn't care, He blames himself and believes himself to be at fault.

He even keeps one of the rocks you threw at him, One of the first ever you did toss. He makes sure to keep it tucked in his haori at all times, It's his comfort item and it reminds him of both you and the pain you inflicted upon him.

He'd still follow you around too and in turn you would continue to hit him and degrade him to no degree. Hissing things about what happened to Tsutako.

The only thing he's bothered by is your friends. You shouldn't be around them, You can torment him on your own so why are they here with you? Don't you like being around him and him alone, Even if it was just to torture him?

He was pissed, But Giyuu would never take his anger out on you. Never you of course, You were his beloved older sister. The one who use to take care of him and look after his needs. He knew you still loved him deep down, You were just hurting. That was all.

And if you needed someone to take it out on he would be willing to take the stones for you.

But of course your friends were still in the way. He hated them, Despised them all and wanted to take it out on them. Of course you'll never know this though, He's always had such a stoic face making it nigh impossible to figure it out.

As you grew up this anger festered more and more inside him. Before, Giyuu had tried to keep it under control for you and your sake only. But as Sabito died and he became a corps member he became.. Uncontrollable.

At this point you're just a civilian, Still living at home. But now you're getting married to one of your friends, One you've been seeing in private for years and years now and one you love dearly.

Thankfully you haven't seen your little brother in years, You're happy about that. Every time you look at his face you're reminded of her death, Every time your near him you feel your skin itch.

But now that you're getting married to the love of your life you feel that you can put this all behind you, Go off and live your life and start a family. Something you've been wanting to do for years now.

Giyuu after finding out about this finally snaps. How could you do this to him? The stones and the hurtful words he could take, He already thought they were true but the simple fact you were gonna get taken by a love interest puts him off to no end.

First it was your colleagues, Went missing and never found. Then your friends, Pieces cut and diced and spread across your village.. And then your fiancée, Strung up outside your house, Guts cut open by a sword slash.

It's only when your crying before the corpse of your beloved does he finally show his face to you once more. Standing behind you in the dead of night as you weep.

You turn around to meet him with tears flooding from your eyes like September rainfall. You sniffle as you look at him, Your voice hoarse as you ask him why. Anger seeping in your voice as you shriek at him, Asking him why he's doing this.

You yell, Over and over again. You yell about how he's been such a stain on your life, How he was the worst thing to have ever happened to you. How you wish he died instead of Tsutako.

It's only then does he reach into his haori. Searching around he pulls out a rock. It's the same one he's kept all these years, The same one he's used for comfort and the one he's held on tight to when he sleeps.

"It's okay, Onee-chan.. If you're angry again you can use this to hurt me again.. I don't mind, I know it makes you happy so don't hold back.. I can take it."

And he does.