#wip: the dead life theory

[alienbrainworm]

Decided it would be fun to do a little character introduction for my main idiots with each of my WIPs. I'm also planning to do a proper WIP introduction at some point, but my sillies first <3

Event V: Haloed Horizons

Jakrin (he/it): Absolute nerd, resident mechanic. Loves ships probably more than himself and is absolutely mentally unwell. Traumatized as fuck, but he's getting better (lies) (mostly) (they all are so it's fine). Loyal to a fault to its family crew.

Syzygy (she/he): Pilot of the ship and absolutely not the captain of the crew, she'll deck you if you say that. He brought the crew all together and is the only reason they're all still alive today. Reasonable, smart, and extremely protective; she loves her idiots.

Chirp (they/he): Handles the communication part of jobs. The other three have a talent for pissing people off, purposeful or not, but he is also a master mimic and is adept at learning new languages. Also a resident prankster thanks to those mimicry skills.

Pyyri (he/it): Feral little shit of the crew. He's short and it's all filled with rage. Itchy trigger fingers and a knack for thievery, he's easily the one constantly bringing chaos upon the crew, and Jakrin's always more than happy to join in and help; much to the dismay of Syzygy and Chirp.

The Dead Life Theory

Theo (he/him): Fucked-up rich-boy-turned-circus-member. Brash and rude, he comes off as a total asshole, but when you get to know him... he's still a total asshole. But the tough exterior is hiding a good ally beneath all those snapping words.

Harlow (she/her): Extraordinarily protective and loving, but takes no shit, especially from Theo's smart-assed mouth. Joined the traveling circus as a younger teen and loved it, sticking around and only becoming more skilled at what she does. Filled with questions, all the time.

"Dog" Elkan (it/its): Aspiring swamp-creature. Loves exploring, collecting shiny shit, and getting into trouble. It grew up in the circus, as its parents run the thing, and it's spent basically its entire life training dogs. Loves its dogs more than anything, and it'll almost always choose dogs over humans.

333

??? (we/it): Doesn't seem to understand it's only one thing. Or... looks like it is, at least. Weird, off-putting, creepy, but... helpful?

Marilou: Confused as fuck. Doing the best a tired barista can do. Enraptured by the pretty girl weirdly determined to befriend Marilou.

Aimee (she/they): Absolutely self-confident queen who is haunted by the weird creature she met all those years ago when she went into a coma. I mean, what? They are maybe a little too in love with coffee, and are definitely way too sleep deprived from their reading habits.

Round Three of Calling You Mine (working title)

Cory (he/it): Confident, ambitious, and determined, he was always sure from a young age he would be a famous music artist and nothing would get in his way. Fell in a little too deep with shitty stuff, but made it anyways. Maybe with a few too many sacrifices, but he can put on his smile. A little hot-headed and quick to fight, but has a heart of gold he wears proudly on his sleeve.

Atlantis (he/they): Obsessed with everything ocean, he always assumed he'd be a marine biologist or something similar at some point, but quickly got wrapped up in the chaos and dreams of the up-and-coming soon-to-be-star Cory upon moving to the U.S. for college. Always rather avoiding confrontation but not afraid to stand up for himself or those they love, but sometimes... it's hard for him to tell exactly who those are.

Jackie (he/it): Hot-headed bastard who falls way too quickly, way too hard, and way too loyally. But also is extraordinarily self-destructive. A great combo, that surely caused no problems for him or its loved ones. Surely not. Other than that, passionate about storytelling and is constantly filled with random ideas that he loves sharing with his loves ones.

[venusbyline]

Jacaerys Velaryon — Nine Moons.

chapter four (previous chapter)

— summary: After Lucerys' death and the arrival of the dragonseeds, Jacaerys no longer wants to be betrothed with Baela. He wants to marry his twin sister, even if it means going against Rhaenyra's decisions and sealing suffering in your life and his.

— pairing: Jacaerys Velaryon x twin sister!reader

— type: dark, angst, sequel to Sleep (but can also be read as a standalone series)

— word count: 2.6k

— chapter's warnings: female!reader, dark!Jacaerys, DEAD DOVE: DO NOT EAT, Targcest (twin brother/twin sister), forced pregnancy, past rape/non-con, dubcon somnophilia mentioned, abusive and toxic relationship, manipulation, possessive behaviour, obsessive behaviour, gaslighting, blood and injuries, argument, crying, curse words, implied underage sex, referenced Jacaerys Velaryon/Baela Targaryen, forced marriage mentioned, dark content, canon divergence. no use of y/n. english is not my first language.

— author's notes¹: Nine Moons is a shortfic, sequel to the one shot Sleep, written for Kinktober. Both Nine Moons and Sleep can be read as standalone.

— author's notes²: Each chapter will have its own trigger warnings.

— author's notes³: It took a while longer than usual! I'm having a hard writer's block because of some personal things, and now I'm full of WIPs 🤣🤣 Anyway, please tell me your opinions and theories. Comments, likes and reblogs are always appreciated.

— tagging list: @neobangverse @hufflepuffxsworld @cwallace02sblog (Anyone who also wants to be tagged in the next chapters, tell me! ❤️❤️)

— crossposting: AO3

❥ Nine Moons masterlist • Jacaerys masterlist • HOTD masterlist

❥ about me • main masterlist

You had been inside the Small Council room during all that time, your hands shaking due to the tension and tears streaming down your face while you waited for the hours to pass, your gaze focused on the windows as if you expected to see some dragon flying over the surroundings at any moment.

The servants had already come to try to calm you down and bring you something to eat, their efforts failing brutally every time your crying fit got worse or when you pushed the dishes away, not caring about the noise of the wares hitting the floor or the women's frightened expressions.

When you threw down the fourth glass of water in the last four hours, Baela burst through the doors. "You need to loose that temper."

"Shut up..." You whined, turning to the opposite side and facing the windows again, wanting to get rid of any lecture your cousin and sister-in-law could give you.

"You are acting like a crazy little girl." She growled, approaching you without worrying about your form huddled in the chair. Her gaze dropped to the broken kitchen utensils on the floor, looking at the servants in the corners before staring back at you. "And you are scaring the maids."

"I do not care." It was a lie, you did not usually treat any servants that badly and you knew you would regret it later.

Baela sighed with frustration, sitting down in the chair next to you. The fingers of her right hand tapped the marble table as she rested her chin on the other palm. Even though you were not talking, there was heavy air between the two of you, your sobs irritating her and her calm behavior making you more frustrated.

You would have preferred that it had been your own mother who had come to try to lecture you, but she was too busy panicking in her chambers after the Maester checked that everything was physically fine with your little brother Aegon III. The boy had arrived in Dragonstone very terrified, having flown on his little dragon for the first time, his clothes damp with his own piss due to his panic.

"We still do not have any news about any of them, including Jace."

More tears appeared in your eyes after Baela's words. You wanted to scream, to knock down everything you saw in front of you. Jacaerys should not have gone looking for Prince Viserys II. Everyone was almost certain that your youngest brother might already be dead, but Jace was stubborn and gone to the battle anyway, instead of letting that mission only for the Rhaenyra's soldiers.

"He cannot die, Baela." You whispered, hands shaking and stroking your own round belly to ease the painful twinges that were bothering you during the past minutes. "I cannot lose another brother."

Baela remained silent for a while, taking deep breaths to control what she would say next, not wanting to get into trouble with anyone during such a catastrophic situation. Her head ached slightly, thinking about the order Jacaerys made before leaving with Corlys. "Jace asked me to give you that."

You frowned when Baela handed you a necklace with two pure gold pendants, one of them was a waning crescent moon and the other was a sun, this last one decorated with a small red diamond in its center. It was very delicate and matched perfectly with the velvet dark red dress you had been wearing since Jacaerys left.

"I presume these symbols have a special meaning to both of you." Baela's tense tone returned your attention to her, nodding silently and wiping away the falling tears with your free hand. "He asked me to give it to you over if he did not come back."

"Then you should not have shown me it yet." Your voice sounded rude and you continued to hold the gift with a firm grip. "He will come back. Everyone will come back, including Viserys."

Baela sighed, massaging her temples. The atmosphere became even more tense, you keeping admiring the necklace and the other princess keeping sitting next to you, thinking about something to say that would not worsen the terrible relation between the two of you since Jacaerys got you pregnant.

She understood very well about the orders Jace gave to her when he was leaving the castle, her wrists were still bruised from the way he held them and threatened her life. Even though she wanted to just ignore her sister-in-law and hole up in her own chambers to deal with envy and worry that consumed her feelings, Baela knew she should not go against what her betrothed had told her to do.

She needed to help you stay sane and ignore the hatred she felt about you carrying Jacaerys' bastard children. She needed to obey him not just because he told her to. Baela needed to help you because if something happened to Jacaerys' life, you were the next heir to succeed your mother to the Iron Throne.

It was already night when Baela managed to convince you to go to bed. Your eyes were reddish from crying and your belly continued to pain, as if the babies were sharing your fears and moving inside your womb more roughly than usual.

The necklace that was once held by you was now decorating your neck, fingers caressing the pendants and a few sniffles echoing in the private room.

You did not pay much attention to what Baela mumbled when she was helping you change the clothes. All you knew was that her gaze lingered a little longer on your big swollen stomach, frowning with the same doubt that Jace had been thinking just minutes before the argument and sexual moments in your chambers during that morning.

The princess' confused face turned pretty obvious that Rhaenyra was not sharing the secret details of your pregnancy with her too.

"Jace believes… He believes the babies are twins."

The white-haired girl widened her eyes, clearing her throat and looking away, concentrating on placing the white linen chemise on you, the larger size fitting perfectly on your current form. "Twin pregnancy, such a surprise." Baela feigned enthusiasm, tying your clothes carefully, noticing how your fingers kept caressing the sun and moon symbols decorated on your throat. "He really corrupted you, did not he?"

The rhetorical question raced your heart, your head aching as did your stomach. A part of you was grateful that she was behind you, taking charge of dressing you. You would not know what to say if you were face to face.

When you did not respond anything, Baela continued. "I mean... He raped you. Forced you to get pregnant by him. He is still betrothed to me... And yet you are more worried about his life than the safe of your little brother who was probably kidnapped or even killed when the Pentoshi cog carrying him and Aegon III was captured."

"Viserys is not dead." Your argument did not seem convincing even to your own ears. "And Jace is only engaged to you because our mother is making him to, and also—"

"He corrupted you." The repeated words were stark and raw, your eyes filling with tears as you walked away from the hands helping you dress, a mix of anger and sadness filling your brain. "Do not you realize how Jace is manipulating you? Making you think you need him, making you want him." Baela growled, rubbing the palm over her face, the last of her patience now disappearing. "He forced you into this situation, took advantage of you when you were sleepy and vulnerable. And now you are crying because you are afraid he is going to die!"

"Jace is my twin... How do you expect me to turn against him? To not forgive him? To not fear about his life?”

"Yeah, I know he is your twin. But he is also the one who forced you to carry these things." She pointed to your belly, which was already about six moons.

A bitter and vulnerable chuckle escaped your throat, crossing arms and turning to face Baela. The girl's full lips were pressed into a thin line, both of you controlling the anger they felt at going through all that.

If only Jacaerys had not gotten you pregnant, or if only Baela had given up on keeping the betrothal...

"You are jealous..." The spiteful and sudden demeanor was not well received by your cousin, who rolled the eyes and scoffed, waiting for the next hypocrisies said. "You are jealous because Jace loves me, because he will love my children and—"

"Did you see that?" Baela pointed at you without even letting your rant end, heartbeat quickening in anticipation of the bitter words. "He already got into your mind enough. Now you think I am the villain and not him. That is what he wanted. He wanted you to resent me for envying you, to forgive him for raping you."

"STOP SAYING THAT!" You yelled with salty tears streaming down your cheeks, flushed and warm from panic, sitting up in the bed and sobbing like a child. "Stop! Just stop saying that word... Please."

Baela hummed another scoff and was about to open her mouth to retort your request, being brutally interrupted by the sound of some guard knocking on the door to your chambers with frightening force. The two princesses were silent until the man's voice came out. "Your Graces, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon has returned."

The cuticles of your nails were ripped off by your own teeth every second that passed without further news. You refused the Maester's order to remain resting in bed, being banned to enter the room until the Maester and the other servants took care of whatever happened to Jacaerys during the battle.

Your hands were trembling, nervous for the moment when someone would open the doors and allow your visit.

Most of the things said there were not understandable behind the big doors. All you could hear were the movements of the servants, your twin brother's screams of pain and some comforting words that Rhaenyra gave him.

No one had let you see his injuries. In fact, no one had explained almost anything to you about what had happened. All you knew was that Jacaerys had been very attacked by the enemies and your youngest brother Viserys had not returned along with Rhaenyra's allies.

"You should be sleeping, it is late." Daemon's lecture increased the discomfort inside your stomach and you crossed arms to hug your own shoulders, wanting to continue focusing on the confusing sounds behind the doors instead of what your uncle and stepfather had to say. "The Maester has already said that your presence inside is prohibited."

You remained still where you were, however, this time you allowed yourself to growl in disbelief. "How can I go to sleep when I do not know what my brother's condition is like?"

Daemon crossed his arms almost as if he was imitating you, his big and strong body leaning against the doorframe. "Your twin was hooked like a fish in the shoulders. He was arrowed several times in the right part of his body. His dragon is also injured and I doubt the creature will survive for more than a month after all of this."

"Do not... Do not talk that way. Vermax will be fine." Daemon did not retort against your overdone optimism at first, limiting himself to just sighing.

The more Jacaerys' screams echoed during the procedure, the more desperate you became, moving from side to side, leaving the pain in your womb aside so you could focus on the well-being of the child's father. You could hear Jace's screams of pain and pleas for the Maester to let you in there, all requests being ignored by everybody there.

Your fingertips tightened around the necklace he had given you, and Daemon broke the silence once again. "It is inappropriate for a pregnant woman to witness a somewhat bloody scene like that. You know..." Your uncle told you the obvious and you clenched the jaw, not wanting to keep hearing anything about it.

Obviously you knew too well the reasons why you were not there to help your twin brother's suffering. And that did not make that any easier. At that moment, you did not worry about the baby — or babies — you were carrying, your attention was on ensuring that Jacaerys would stay alive until the end of the night.

He had promised he would not let you die in childbirth. So he could not die now either, right? He said during the morning that you were born together and would die together... And that was a promise the Gods could not ignore.

"Your mother would hate to hear this, but I am glad Jacaerys is suffering at least a little." Daemon mumbled nonchalantly and you almost threw up in front of him, now staring at him with your face paler than before. How could he say something so cruel? "Oh, are you really surprised that I think that? Or that I am owning up to my cruelty?"

Your throat burned with bile that threatened to come out, not answering until you were sure you would not vomit the food you had managed to ingest. "B-Both."

The whisper was weak, tremble... Almost humiliating. And Daemon found it funny. "Both..." He repeated with a mocking tone, thin lips pulling into a smirk. "What did you expect, dear niece? Your twin brother has been making my daughter's life a hell since his obsession with you became more unhealthy than it already was."

You shook head, letting go of the jewelry to take three steps back when Daemon dared to take three steps towards you. "You are wrong. These are the effects of the war. Jace was not like this before Lucerys' death."

"Perhaps. Or perhaps this obsession was already the start of a fire from the moment your lives were conceived together, and your younger brother's murder was just what Jacaerys needed to allow himself to show the true insane dragon that always existed inside him. Perhaps inside you too." He continued with those long intimidating steps, no more space for your legs to move back. "Jacaerys' soul was probably already sick since the moment you left him alone and waiting inside your mother's womb for a little while during the childbed and—"

"What?"

Your question uttered in a loud voice echoed off the large walls. Daemon, who was already close enough with his shadows almost covering yours, suddenly stopped. The man narrowed the eyes, staring at you with a look that could either indicate genuine perplexity about your reaction, or could indicate that he was just trying to escape the spark of curiosity and rage that he lit in your heart.

Daemon did not move himself, not even when the doors of the chambers where Jacaerys was being treated opened, revealing Rhaenyra and Baela's with with bloodstained clothes and tense facial expressions, now worsening even more after realizing something was happening between you and the older Targaryen.

Rhaenyra called your name loudly, but you ignored her, keeping looking at Daemon. "What is wrong, Daemon?" Your mother asked and walked towards the two of you to pull her daughter away, being stopped by her husband's hand.

"He said Jace was waiting for me inside your womb during the childbirth." Rhaenyra swallowed hard as she listened to your voice sounding as shaky as it did when you were just a little girl getting lectured for some poorly executed innocent prank. "Why the hells would Daemon say that, if you always told to all of us that Jacaerys is your firstborn and he was born before me?"

[wwooyology]

The Murder House | Masterlist & Intro ⏃

↳ this is inspired by an ask from the lovely @addictedtohobi

「parings」 : enha x fem!reader

「synopsis」 : it was halloween season once again, and your brother begged you and your friends to go to this new hit escape room that just came into town; the only problem? you hated going to them almost as much as you hated waking up early in the morning. however, being the good friend and sister you were you went with them. you expected cheesy props, dumb riddles and questions, and a rigged room, so you couldn't get out even if you got the right answers. what you weren't expecting was being drugged and waking up in a room with a dead body and separated from all of your friends.

「genre」 : horror/thriller, gore, angst, psychological thriller, mystery

「warnings」 : MINORS DO NOT INTERACT!!!, heavy gore, blood, murder, mentions of suicide, cussing, death, manipulation, mentions of being drugged, toxic behavior, reader is speculated to be an 03' liner, trauma bonding, other specific warnings on individual parts.

𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆

「taglist」 : CLOSED

↳ a/n: I have decided to make this into a short series because I just know trying to write one long fic won't suffice, so I am making it into separate parts! I am super excited to see what you guys think so far and to hear all of your theories. don't forget to read the intro at the bottom!! I will be figuring out release dates for all of the parts at a later time, but they will all be subject to change depending on multiple factors! also, if you were on the taglist located on the wip post, then you are still on there, so don't worry! with that being said you will only be added to the taglist if you are 18+ and your age is visible on your page. if you don't meet either of those criteria, you will be ignored.

「start」 : May 8th, 2024 「end」 : June 20th, 2024

「synopsis」 : after waking up trapped in a room with a dead body, you are saved by none other than heeseung, but you're still left with questions. why were you and your friends trapped there, and who is behind it all? though it would seem that you won't be getting your answers very easily and definitely not without a few losses. 「word count」 : 10.2k 「warnings」 : blood, dead body, cussing, mentions of murder, mind games, drugging, mentions of mental health disorders (anxiety, panic attacks, etc...), jungwon is kinda reckless, lmk if I missed anything! 「release date」 : read here

「synopsis」 : with everyone's lives on the line will luck be on your side? except it seems like whoever trapped you here doesn't plan on letting any of you leave that easy... suspicion is rising and trust is starting to falter, but can you save everyone and bust whoever put you and your friends through this hell? or will you have to watch all of your friends die? 「word count」 : 11.3k 「warnings」 : cussing, spiders/bugs, water, blood, mentions of betrayal, arguments, mentions of claustrophobia & arachnophobia/entomophobia, mentions of spider venom, life or death situations, more mind games, mental health disorders (anxiety, panic attacks, breakdowns, etc...), (some tags will be hidden as to not spoil the story!) 「release date」 : read here

「synopsis」 : everything seems to be going downhill at a rapid pace and nothing is going right and you've already suffered the loss of two friends, but the mastermind behind this doesn't seem to be satisfied just yet. another test is thrown your way but things are starting to become more clear and you're realizing that the culprit has been with you the whole time... but will you be able to stop him and escape this hell house with your lives intact? 「word count」 : 10.5k 「warnings」 : cussing, even more 'games', blood, violence, gore, gun goes pew pew, poisoning, betrayal, gaslighting, familial issues, mentions of abuse (mental & physical), knife goes stabby, threats, death, obsessive/stalker-ish behavior, mental health disorders, even more betrayal, traumatic events, police, pls lmk if I missed anything! 「release date」 : read here

「synopsis」 : it's been a few weeks since you managed to escape from the murder house, but it's not quite over yet. your brother's trial was right around the corner and everything is brought back to the table. after he's found guilty and sent to prison you are determined to find out some answers, though you aren't sure if you'll like what he has to say.... 「word count」 : 6.2k 「warnings」 : cussing, petnames (my love, love...), kissing, court trial, sister complex, familial issues, mentions of abuse (mental & physical), obsessive behavior, threats, mentions of death, gaslighting, lmk if I missed anything! 「release date」 : read here

“Come on, y/n. We never get the chance to do this!” Riki whined as he draped his taller frame over your back, causing you to slouch forward. You let out an annoyed huff, letting your hands fall to your lap. Your phone slid from your fingers as you tilted your head to look back at your brother.

“Riki, how many times have I told you that I hate going to things like that?” You pushed back against him, causing the boy to fall dramatically back on the couch. Rolling your eyes, you grabbed your discarded phone off the ground, Riki watching you with a pout.

“You watch too many horror movies,” he grumbled, remembering all the nights you would watch horror movies only to have some new-found fear afterward, even if it was something completely unnecessary.

You dropped your phone once more before glaring up at your brother, “ya know, there is always some truth to them.”

“y/n, please. They are just movies. Complete fiction. Ghosts aren’t real.” Riki rolled his eyes, picking at the loose strings of the couch cushion. 

“Even rumors stem from some kind of truth, Riki.” You huffed out, but it didn’t seem like your brother would stop pestering you until you finally gave in. So after hours of continuously asking and begging, you finally gave in to him, telling him that you would ask your friends only if he brought his own.

And he agreed.

When that dreadful night finally came, you were stuck in a car with all of your friends. The crisp October air was cold on your skin, but the heating in the vehicle that Jay had turned on was enough to leave you comfortable. Jake had some random playlist filling the speakers jamming out in the passenger seat while Jungwon, Sunghoon, and Heeseung were crammed into the far back of the SUV, all three on the brink of passing out from how long the drive was.

“I thought you said this place was in town, Riki.” You grumbled, flexing your jaw, trying to ease the discomfort from having it placed on your hand as you stared mindlessly out the car window. However, now that it was fully dark outside, there wasn’t much to look at, seeing that there were no streetlights.

“I mean, the address said it was in town; how was I supposed to know it was in the ass crack of it?” Riki sassed as he scrolled through his phone, looking at whatever was posted on social media.

“Language, dude.” Jay scolded the boy, his eyes staring at him through the rearview mirror.

“Korean, what else?”

Pursing your lips, you reached over and landed a smack on the back of his head, resulting in him letting out a groan as his head fell forward.

“What was that for?!” Riki exclaimed, rubbing the back of his head as he looked over at you with wide eyes.

“Don’t be such a smart ass.” You scolded him, and Riki grumbled before showing Sunoo something on his phone. 

Shaking your head, you lean forward, resting your arms on the back of Jay’s seat, “How much longer do we have to go?”

Jay quickly glanced at you from the rearview mirror, much like he did Riki, before glancing down at the GPS on his dash.

"It's saying we have about ten or so minutes left until we get there." He told you before putting his eyes back on the road. 

It was then that you started to notice just how desolate the surrounding area was. If this was such a hit attraction, why weren't any other cars around? Or any kind of sign of life. It was starting to give you the creeps. However, you just reminded yourself that you were doing this for your brother and that it was probably just your imagination playing tricks on you. So you just tried to relax, sitting back in your seat once more, eyes staring out at the blackness of the trees.

That feeling of unease only grew more once Jay pulled into the driveway, and you noticed that there wasn’t a single car in sight. You pulled your seatbelt off slowly, eyes searching everywhere, trying to find anything to settle this unnerving feeling that was twisting in your gut. As you opened the door, welcoming the chilling air outside, goosebumps littered your skin.

“Come on, y/n, get out. My legs are cramping!” Riki complained, pushing on your shoulder and urging you to leave the vehicle.

With a shaky sigh, you slowly let your foot fall to the ground, your knees feeling like jelly. Jay stepped out of the car, pocketing the keys before looking over at you. His eyebrows scrunched together, taking in the uneasy expression on your face.

“Hey, y/n, are you okay?” he asked, softly taking your arm and pulling you away from the open door so everyone else could pile out. 

“Yeah, it’s just…” You trailed on as your eyes caught sight of the small sign that was hammered into the ground.

The Murder House

You could have sworn that you felt your heart stop. What kind of douchebag names their escape room that? As if the air around you wasn’t suffocating enough, seeing that only made it feel like you were fighting for your breath.

“Sunoo, you’re in the back on the way home.” Heeseung groans as he stretches out, his joints groaning in protest. Sunoo just gave the older male the side eye before moving to stand on the other side of Jake, who had just gotten out of the car.

“Riki, I thought you said this was a hit attraction.” You looked over at your brother, who was inspecting the area much like you were until his eyes landed on you. “Why is there no one here?”

“Calm your tits, sis. I’m sure we just came on a night that no one else wanted to?” He rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, that just means we won’t get stuck with some randos.” Heeseung shrugged, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket.

"Come on, y'know, we didn't come all this way just to chicken out," Jungwon grumbled, tossing his hair with his fingers.

You curled your lips inward, knowing that they were right and that you were just thinking too much about the situation. Crossing your arms over your chest, you nodded your head in silent agreement. Jay wrapped his arm around your shoulder, giving you a gentle squeeze, ignoring the prying eyes that were on the two of you.

“Don’t let it get to you too much, okay? We’ll just get it over with, and if anything, we just let the timer go out.” He whispered softly in your ear, and the warmth of his breath eased your mind slightly. 

“You’re right, I’m just overthinking.” You gave him a small smile before following after him and the others.

“God damn, Riki, why did we have to walk all the way up here?” Sunghoon huffed as all of you reached the steps of the porch.

You couldn’t help but laugh, knowing he was right because that was a pretty lengthy walk uphill. All of the guys nodded in agreement before Jake walked further up the step, trying to see if you were able to get in. He then noticed a welcome sign hanging from the door, with a small basket underneath holding a piece of paper.

“It looks like we got some instructions, boys and girls,” Jake exclaimed with a broad smile, turning with the paper held high.

You looked at him uneasily as he unfolded it with a flourish and started reading it out loud so everyone could hear.

‘You will have two hours to uncover the grand mystery and escape the murder house. You will find clues and puzzles, but be careful, for everything isn’t as it seems… Good luck!’

A shiver ran down your spine as he finished reading. You weren't sure whether it was the chilling breeze that swept through or the cryptic words of the note. However, you did know that it wasn't just your mind messing with you; there was something deeply wrong with this place.

“Hey guys, this seems really weird. Maybe we should just go.” You voiced your concern, earning yourself a collection of groans from the guys.

“Oh, come on, y/n. Stop being such a negative Nancy and have some fun for once in your life.” Jake rolled his eyes, his hands falling to his side.

Your jaw clenched shut, and a glare adorned your features before you leaned forward, snatching the paper out of his hands.

“You’re such an asshole, Jake.” The words tumbled out quietly as you reread the same message that Jake had just read aloud, trying to see if there was anything else that he had missed.

“Yeah, yeah.” The brunette rolled his eyes before going on to complain about how thirsty he was and how he was sure that they would have drinks for sale or something inside. Then, without another word, he opened the door despite the multiple protests from you and a few others. 

“Jake, you can’t just walk in like you own the place!” You exclaim, hands slapping against your thighs as he disappears around the corner.

Letting out a huff, you step past the threshold, trying to shake off the eerie feeling that started to settle into your bones before going in the direction you saw Jake go, everyone trailing after you.

You walked into the foyer with a groan as you saw the older male chugging down a water bottle, some of it trickling down his chin before catching on his shirt. Your eyes then trail over to a tray that sat in the center of the table, six other bottles neatly placed inside.

“Jake, you can’t just take shit that’s not yours!” You scolded him, which only caused him to stop drinking, a gasp leaving his lips as he pulled the bottle away.

Riki then walked past you, looking down at the table and seeing some kind of note. Taking it, he held it up so everyone could see.

Free refreshments!

“The host probably just sat them out for people to take.” Riki shrugged, setting the paper back down on the table before grabbing a bottle for himself. 

Your stomach turned as you watched him unscrew the cap, “we can’t just trust drinks that are given to us by some random strangers.”

Heeseung then moves past you, his arm brushing yours, before grabbing one of the bottles. He inspected it for a few seconds before meeting your gaze.

"It's still sealed; there's no way someone tampered with it," he explained before twisting the cap open and swallowing a few drinks.

“Weren’t you the one complaining about being thirsty in the car?” Riki raised an eyebrow at you, and you just rolled your eyes.

“Yeah, but-” “But what, just drink the water, it’s not like you’re gonna die.” Riki quipped, causing your jaw to tighten. You knew he was right; you had been complaining about not bringing an extra drink for the road, but you weren’t quite sure if you were thirsty enough to drink some random water given out by a stranger. However, the dry feeling in your throat was telling you otherwise, so with some hesitation, you took the bottle Jay was handing you before twisting the cap off and bringing it to your lips; the liquid instantly quenched your dying thirst. 

After everyone got a much-needed drink, they all needed you all gathered around the coffee table. You, Heeseung, and Jay were on the long couch while Sunoo, Niki, and Jake cramped on the loveseat, leaving the armchair for Sunghoon, Jungwon perched on the armrest. 

“So… when does this game start?” Sunoo asked, leaning forward so his arms rested on his knees. Looking around, you couldn’t help but notice that the room was neatly decorated and clean, yet there was no sign of anyone being there.

Heeseung then leaned forward to grab something sitting on the table, catching everyone’s attention. He flipped it around, trying to find any indication of what it was, but nothing was written on the outside, so he opened the flap and pulled out the papers inside.

“It’s more instructions,” he explains as he starts to read them aloud. It says that as soon as the… the… sorry, I just feel really lightheaded.” He mumbles, shaking his head while squeezing his eyes shut, trying to stabilize his vision.

"Hee man, are you good?" Jay asked, putting a hand on the older male's shoulder, and Heeseung just nodded.

“Yeah, I just…” Heeseung’s words slurred as he started to sway, his eyes drooping. 

Panic started to set in your chest as you noticed that Heeseung looked like he was on the brink of passing out. Just then, Jungwon slumped to the side, falling right into Sunghoon’s lap, causing him to start calling out the boy’s name.

You quickly stood to your feet to check on him, but you fell back into your seat just as soon as you stood, your vision swimming. However, as you looked around, you noticed that all of the boys were either slumped over or on the brink of passing out. 

Worry then etched itself into your bones when your hazy vision landed on your brother's motionless form. You opened your mouth to call out for him and tried to get your body to move, but it wouldn't respond, and no words left your lips. Then everything seemed to fade, and your body grew weaker and weaker until you fell to the side, your head resting against Jay's back before everything went black.

Your body shot up with a gasp, and your ears rang so loud you could have thought it was coming from some kind of speaker. However, as it started to die down to a dull shrill, you realized that it was just you.

Looking around, you felt a chill run down your spine. You couldn’t see a thing. The room was shrouded in darkness, with not a single light in sight. Panic then started to set in as the earlier events started to play in your head. 

Where was your brother? Or your friends? What caused you all to black out?

So many questions started filling your brain, some overlapping others as you fumbled to get to your feet. You blinked multiple times, trying to fully stabilize your vision and to see in the darkness.

A scream escaped from your lips as you tripped over something, landing in some kind of liquid. Your heartbeat roared in your ears as you hurriedly tried to get to your feet, the ringing in your ears growing louder.

Scrambling to your feet, you reach out in front of you, trying to find the wall, and as soon as you do, you start searching for the light switch. With shaky hands, you felt around the wall until you felt the switch. Letting out a relieved sigh, you flipped it, allowing the room to flood with light.

You looked up with a smile before remembering that your hands were still covered in whatever you had fallen into. Your gaze then fell down to your hands, only for the smile to be wiped away and your eyes to go wide.

Blood. Your palms were covered in blood.

Your stomach turns the urge to throw up very strong; dread then fills your veins as you slowly turn around. A high-pitched scream leaves your lips as your eyes are set upon the body of a man, blood pooling all around him.

Fear clouded your brain as you quickly turned back around to open the door. Rushing over to the wooden door, you wrapped your hands around the knob, hoping that it would turn. But it didn’t.

The door was locked, and you were trapped.

@wwooyology | Do not steal, plagiarise, translate, or repost any of my work

𝖉𝖎𝖘𝖈𝖑𝖆𝖎𝖒𝖊𝖗 : ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜱ ɴᴏ ᴡᴀʏ ᴀ ᴛʀᴜᴇ ʀᴇᴘʀᴇꜱᴇɴᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ᴀɴʏ ᴏꜰ ᴛ��ᴇ ᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀꜱ. ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜱ ᴘᴜʀᴇʟʏ ꜰɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴛᴀᴋᴇɴ ꜱᴇʀɪᴏᴜꜱʟʏ.

[gffa]

*walks back into BATFAMILY fic fandom eleven months later, holding a Starbucks cup* I'm right on time, I don't know what you mean. AND I have returned with the fruits of a fandom that continues to be incredible at providing the good stuff! Sometimes it's still hard for me to grasp just how much fic has exploded onto the scene in the 10+ years I was away from DC, that there was some incredible fic back when I was into the fandom, but coming back to actual mountains of it has continued to blow my mind every time and made me love these characters even more than I already did.

It's almost overwhelming, honestly, how much good fic there is to read, so let me scream at you guys and shove links at you because I'm having a great time here and I want to drag all of you into it with me, COME HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT RIDICULOUSLY DRESSED SUPERHERO COMICS WITH ME, it's all fun and games, I swear! (Okay, but at least you'll have a good time crying about the Bats, I can give you that much at least.)

BATFAM FIC RECS - BABY DICK IS THE CUTEST GREMLIN ROBIN I'M NOT HEARING ANY ARGUMENTS: ✦ sleepless, perfect duty by glassofwater, dick & bruce, 4.3k     The choice to forgo sleep, to forgo Dick Grayson, has never been easier. Not when the other option is Robin. ✦ Parallels in Reverse by rosetteanon, dick & damian & bruce, time travel, 2.2k     Damian travels to a dimension that's a little bit behind his own. There, he meets a younger Dick Grayson, and a happier Bruce Wayne. ✦ string theory by wingdingery, dick & bruce & damian, time travel, 8k     When Bruce and Dick get transported to an unfamiliar Gotham, it only takes running into a different Batman and Robin for Bruce to realize two things: one, they’re in the future; and two—in the future, Dick Grayson is dead. ✦ Rooftop Meetings by orphan_account, dick & bruce & leslie & shrike & cast, 10.2k wip     When Two-Face almost beats a newly minted Robin to death, Bruce decides that the life of a vigilante is too dangerous for a kid. This becomes the catalyst for a series of events that leads twelve-year-old Dick Grayson down a darker path. ✦ It Could Stay This Simple (Just Stay This Little) by coconuticecream (magspie), dick & bruce, 3k     Maybe claiming legal guardianship over a child at 22, and so soon after becoming Batman, spread Bruce thinner than he'd realized. Maybe Bruce was less equipped to parent a third grader than he'd thought. Maybe Bruce should do more to invite Dick into his life. Maybe Bruce should hug Dick, or promise he'll do better by Dick, or tell Dick that he loves Dick more than he thought himself capable. (or: bruce and dick practice self care together.) ✦ No One Said Flying Was Easy by Wrtrmd2, dick & bruce & alfred, 51.1k     Eight year old Richard Grayson has just watched his parents fall to their deaths. Hurting and alone, he struggles to adjust to the new life he's thrown into. Bruce Wayne takes him in, but seems to have no idea what he's doing. Can they help each other put the pieces of their broken lives back together?

✦ Zitka by PechoraFlow, dick & bruce, 2.7k     After Dick's parents fall to their deaths, he is left clinging to the few things he has left: one of them being Zitka, his stuffed elephant. ✦ your heart is the only place that i call home by emavee, dick & bruce, talon!dick, 6.3k     There shouldn’t be any Talons that are this small, this young, but there’s one standing right in front of him. And that shouldn’t be Bruce’s soulmark blooming on his too-pale skin, but it is—there’s nothing else it could be. Batman really should know better than to bring a Talon home with him, but here he is, wrapping up the boy in a set of meta-cuffs and tucking him into the backseat of the car. ✦ Hostage by EternalLife, dick & bruce & alfred, 3.9k     Dick Grayson is 10 years old. Batman is nowhere to be seen, and Robin has a gun to his head. ✦ The Mother-Son Dance by cometoastop, bruce & dick, 1.8k     Dick is upset he doesn’t have a mother to bring him to his school’s mother-son dance, so Bruce offers to bring him instead.

BATFAM FIC RECS - ADULT BATSON AND BATDAD ARE MY KRYPTONITE, I FOLD LIKE WET CARDBOARD FOR THEM: ✦ Permission To Pause by farawayfiction (JJ_Thomas), dick & bruce, 1.9k     Bruce pulled the phone from his pocket. A text from Dick was waiting for him on the notification screen. ✦ oathbreaker by one_step_closer_to_death, dick & bruce & cast, 2.3k     Stranded and on his last leg, Batman might be fighting his last battle yet. But Bruce promised he was coming back home and this was one promise he wasn't going to break yet. ✦ Judge and Juror by CamsthiSky, dick & bruce & alfred, 6.6k     Anonymous asked: I was just wondering if you would like to write a story set during bvs and how Nightwing could be involved there? ✦ When You Don't Have an Umbrella by TheSilencer, dick & bruce, read the tags, 1.2k     Dick Grayson and Batman talk about the rain. Except they're not actually talking about the rain. ✦ riding the blues by TheResurrectionist, dick & bruce & oc, 3.9k     “What’s in there, anyway?” Charles asked, rolling down the window. “Looks heavy.” “A few million dollars' worth of electroshock weapons,” the kid said, dead-serious. After a moment, a grin stretched across his face. “Nah, I’m just fucking with you. It’s old clothes, mostly.” ✦ Lexically Homeless by nighhtwing (divineauthor), dick & bruce, 1.1k     Dick, Bruce, and their relationship with language and each other.

BATFAM FIC RECS - EVERYBODY LOVES DICK: ✦ One, Two, Buckle My Shoe by sElkieNight60, dick & jason & tim & damian & bruce & alfred, de-aged!dick, 17k wip     Dick was twenty-eight. The boy in the mirror most certainly was not. ✦ Weight of Judgment by Dragonbat, dick & bruce & alfred, 1.6k     As leader of the Teen Titans, Dick had to make a difficult decision. Now he's dealing with the fallout. ✦ Robins, titmice, and other spring birds by Fleur_de_Violette, dick & jason & bruce, 8.5k     There are a lot of things Jason doesn’t understand in the dynamic of the Wayne manor, despite being here for nine months. Maybe a rescue turning a little more dangerous than it should have been for Robin will help him see things clearly? ✦ bachelor parties of different sorts by cedarcat, dick & jason & barbara & cass & bruce (& background dick/babs), read the tags, 4.4k     Dick and Barbara are engaged. There's just one complicating factor that Dick has to deal with. He'd rather avoid it. aka: the one where dick handles past trauma poorly, finds the support he needs in his family, and comes out better for it. ✦ Kitchen Talk by Smitty, dick & alfred, 3.1k     Dick Grayson gets some good advice in the hours before Nightwing #45. ✦ Teach Me to Dream by CamsthiSky, dick & bruce & alfred & leslie & cast, time travel, 29k wip     Dick’s eleven. Not thirteen and eager to prove himself. Not seventeen and mourning a brother. Not nineteen and wishing his best friend wasn’t dead and Bruce would look him in the eyes. He’s only eleven. So why does he remember all of that? ✦ like the back of my hand by Jo_B, dick & bruce & conner & dick/babs, 2k     “Cut it out.” “Would you stay still, please?” Dick swats Bruce’s hand away and starts pushing himself up. “Y’know, in the wild, bats eat their kids.” “That’s not even a little bit true and you know it.” ✦ idea man by vaporeon_ninja, dick & bruce & jason & damian, 8.3k     Ask him. As if it were that easy. As if Damian hasn’t only just barely begun to respect him, and would immediately burn all the ground they’ve covered if Dick so much as implied he wanted to help him get through something. Yeah, fat chance. No, Dick can’t ask him. But he can’t just keep doing nothing, either. So he decides on a third option- just start trying anything. ✦ One of His Own by DawnsEternalLight, dick & bruce & damian & alfred, 1.3k     Dick's freshly back from Spyral and apartment hunting. Little Does he know his dad has already got that covered. ✦ Now That's a Lot of Damage by Sanctioned_Chaos, dick & bruce & jason & tim & cass & cast, 5k wip     On a joint operation with the Justice League, Dick's family falls victim to a particularly malignant curse and he's the only one who can free them. Consequently, it makes him the subject of their suffering.

BATFAM FIC RECS - JASON TODD IS AN ASSHOLE CAT, I'M GONNA THROW HIM AT DICK BECAUSE IT'S FUNNY (AND MAYBE SOME OF HIS OTHER SIBLINGS TOO): ✦ All the Roofs of Uncertainty by Kieron_ODuibhir, dick & jason & bruce & leslie & cast, 70k     For all the blood on his hands, Red Hood was never just a villain. And Nightwing never gives up on family, not for good. (Or: The one where Dick bleeds a lot and Jason argues with everybody.) ✦ Red In My Ledger by WordsAblaze, dick & jason, 1.1k     day five, where jason realises a little too late that dick isn’t an intruder breaking into his safehouse... ✦ Fixed Points and Fluxes by i_am_the_imposter_syndrome, dick & jason (& bruce), 16.5k wip     When a mission involving a mysterious sorcerer goes wrong, Dick and Jason find themselves out of time and place in a Gotham that’s not quite their own. Protocol dictates they lie low and avoid unnecessary interactions as much as possible until they can get home, but their family here is fractured, and if there’s one thing that’s constant across universes, it’s that Bats have each other’s backs. ✦ Too Close to Call by Dragonbat, dick & jason & bruce, 5.8k     Summary: Things go horribly wrong when Robin thinks he can bring in Two-Face by himself. Now Nightwing’s life is on the line and one bad decision might spell disaster!

BATFAM FIC RECS - DICK AND DAMIAN WERE THE BEST BATMAN & ROBIN, I'M NOT HEARING ARGUMENTS ABOUT THAT EITHER: ✦ Won't You Stay A While? by fishfingersandjellybabies, dick & damian & tim, 2.8k     Ric did not expect to find a child sitting on the hood of his cab. Damian did expect to get his brother back. ✦ The Universe Doesn’t Get to Take This by fishfingersandjellybabies, dick & damian & bruce, 1.9k     “And they’re so important that you don’t come home to check on your recently un-amnesiac brother? And here, I thought I was your favorite.” ✦ Just a Little TLC by fishfingersandjellybabies, dick & damian, 1.7k     Dick was not sick. Really. He was fine. Fine!

BATFAM FIC RECS - BATKIDS ALL HAVE MANY SIBLINGS AND THEY'RE ALL PETTY ASSHOLES AND/OR WONDERFUL BABIES AND I LOVE THEM WITH MY WHOLE BEING: ✦ The Long Way Home by itsnatalie, jason & tim & bruce & dick & damian & cast, 111.6k     With Jason tentatively back in the Batfamily, things are going pretty well for him--except for the whole thing with Tim. But who gives a shit about Tim Drake? But when Jason and Tim are pulled into a frightening race for their lives inside a labyrinth that's out to kill them, they may have to look past their differences just to stay alive. Maybe along the way, they'll discover they aren't as different as they thought, and family comes in many different forms. ✦ IRIS Log #1548 by deadchannelradio, jason & cass & barbara & bruce & steph & tim & damian & roy & dick, 8.5k     A Disclaimer From Your Friendly Neighborhood Oracle: The following is a transcript of Patrol Communications Audio written by state of the art transcription technology, IRIS (Interpretation of Recorded Intelligence Software). IRIS was created to provide easily searchable records, automatically, and eliminate the need to transcribe each patrol audio log manually. That being said, IRIS is still experimental, and may not always be entirely accurate. ✦ Real Housewives (sort of) of Gotham by brandywine421, dick & selina & bruce & damian & jason & roy & talia & dinah & harley/ivy & helena & cast, no powers au, 5.9k     Selina is curious to a fault but she has a twinge of concern at her almost-stepson's name popping up on her personal line. They were allies and frenemies, depending on who was Brucie's favorite pet at the moment but he usually texts birthday wishes and xoxo's instead of actual voice contact. "Is everyone okay?" ✦ War! by Smitty, dick & barbara & tim & cast, 1.9k     What 'entertainment' was Nightwing talking about in Nightwing #44? Innuendo. ✦ Nowhere Safer by lurkinglurkerwholurks, dick & jason & tim & bruce, 9.6k     What's a Robin to do when the nightmares don't stop? ✦ Love like Cats by Laroyena, alfred & bruce & dick & jason & julia & cast, 20.7k     “This takes crazy cat people to a whole new level,” his old friend told him. “So this old family your dad took care of, they left their fortune to a cat.” Alfred Pennyworth, ex-special agent of the British Secret Intelligence Service, moves to America to become a butler. A cat butler. ✦ Minimum Height Requirement by Drag0nst0rm, bruce & dick & jason & tim & damian & cass & steph, 66.4k     Somewhere in the multiverse, there's a universe where letting his children dress up in capes and follow him into vigilantism seems like a good idea. Bruce is determined that it isn't going to be this one . . . Despite his children's repeated attempts to convince him otherwise. (Or: "When you're eighteen, you can do what you want. Until then, no capes.")

✦ Family Crisis by librarylexicon, bruce & dick & jason & tim & cass & steph & leslie & cast, 85.8k     At the close of the gang war, Batman uncovers an attempted deception concerning the life of his former protégé Stephanie Brown, and suddenly nothing is as important as his family. While Dick seeks absolution, Tim struggles with grief, Cassandra searches for belonging and Steph rebuilds her sense of self, Bruce faces the return of ghosts from his own past and psyche. (War Games AU) ✦ grasp of ice by Kieron_ODuibhir, tim & damian, 6k     “Drake.” The hand in his was cold. Not because it belonged to a corpse, but because the night was cold. Cold and bright and pitiless, fresh snow glittering perfect under the waning gibbous moon like diamond sand. “Drake. Stay awake.” Drake, because he was insane, smiled before he said, “I don’t want your pity, Robin.” ✦ The Salem Protocol by Dragonbat, bruce & dick & jason & tim & damian & barbara & jim & cast, 47.4k     An AU version of Batman, RIP. When the GCPD makes a surprising arrest, Gordon knows he needs to call in support. Contains MASSIVE spoilers for Batman #678.

BATFAM FIC RECS - I CUT MY TEETH ON DICK & TIM AS CLOSE BROTHERS AND NO ONE WILL NOT TAKE IT FROM ME: ✦ Hide and Seek by WordsAblaze, dick & tim, 1.1k     day twenty five, where a mission leaves dick and tim playing a not-so-fun version of hide and seek... ✦ To be a good brother by andthentheyweretwo, dick & tim (&tim/kon), 7.7k     It’s not always easy to be a good brother. Sometimes, it’s downright hard. ✦ Think Happy Thoughts by fanfictiongreenirises, dick & tim & bruce, 2.3k     Dick's vitals keep crashing if his thoughts turn downwards. Tim tries to help. ✦ Hisstamine by coyote_nebula, dick & tim, 2.7k     Dick gets bitten by a venomous snake. Tim pretends to know exactly what to do. ✦ Words That Must Be Said by Dragonbat, dick & tim, 1.4k     Tim needs Dick's advice when his long-lost uncle turns up.

BATFAM FIC RECS - DICK/BABS FOREVER AND YOU CAN SHUT IT IF YOU DISAGREE, THEY'RE ADORABLE TOGETHER: ✦ I'll crawl home (to her) by dizarys, dick & babs, ~1k     She needed to focus. She was Oracle and Oracle couldn’t falter or be distracted by personal feelings, not when multiple lives depended on her coordinating teams across the city, the country, the globe. There was no time to worry about Nightwing or his radio silence. Too much going on to pester him. He got out, said he wasn’t majorly wounded, and she needed to trust him. After all he was Nightwing. Vigilante since he was ten. Dick didn’t need her worrying in his ear while trying to stay alive. They needed to be professional because anything else could end in death. ✦ to my word now I'll be true by theragingstorm, dick/ babs, NSFW, 4.7k     A chance night becomes something more. ✦ Scar Tissue by Smitty, dick/babs, 2k     Some scars heal more easily than others. ✦ Time Enough by Smitty, dick/babs, 1k     Barbara asked him for time.

BATFAM FIC RECS - I WILL DIE ON THE HILL THAT TIM DRAKE'S TRUE LOVE INTEREST IS CONNER KENT AND NOBODY CAN STOP ME, NOT EVEN GOD: ✦ What a Hunk (Of Rock) by AelinSardothian, tim/kon & cast, 4.4k     Tim is pulling another all-nighter when an injured Kryptonian lands on his balcony, leaking blood and affection. ✦ Obligatory Nap Time by egg_thief, tim/kon, 2.6k     Tim hasn’t been sleeping lately. Kon’s determined to at least get him to take a nap ✦ GUY.exe by thebodydies, tim/kon, NSFW, 4.6k     “If you tell me what you want,” Conner said, “I’ll do the rest.”

BATFAM FIC RECS - TAKE THE ANGST DIAL, TURN IT UP TO ELEVEN, AND BREAK THE KNOB OFF, THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR: ✦ threadbare by inconstant_moon, dick & jason & tim & damian & bruce & donna & cast, read the tags, 53.8k wip     That's the thing. Dick looked right at the kid, broken hand and all, and nearly let him in. He nearly let him train. Because after all these years, he didn't process anything wrong with the image before him. (Dick, Bruce, and the implications of raising a partner instead of a child.) ✦ Kindness isn't Free by minnow_doodle_doo, bruce & dick & alfred, no powers au, 6.7k     “You need to love humanity unconditionally or else the world will beat you into the ground and you won’t be able to get back up again.” He said into Dick’s hand like a prayer. “And you can’t kill what you love and survive.” ✦ Home Assignment by librarylexicon, dick & bruce & tim & babs (some dick/babs), 6.8k     Blüdhaven police officer Dick Grayson is suffering the tail end of a nasty cough when he's summoned to work a stakeout as Nightwing with Batman and Robin in Gotham. As the night wears on, his worst fears are realised when three urgent pleas for help pull him in separate directions, forcing him to choose between members of his own family in a way that feels suspiciously intentional. ✦ How Sharp The Pieces Were (You Crumbled Into) by WinterSky101, dick & tim & damian & cass & bruce & alfred & steph & duke & cast, 14.9k wip     Dick is back, but scars like his don't heal easily, even with a new healing factor. (Thirteen stories of Dick and his family in the year after his return to Gotham.) ✦ Pain o' Chocolate by Anonymous, bruce & dick, 1k     Dick is in a coma.

[distort-opia]

I’m begging, pleading if you will for some longer batjokes fic recommendations that are less mainstream (as I’ve read most of the popular ones) because I just finished your timeloop fic and OH MY GOD IT WAS SO GOOD IM GONNA CRY WOWOW YOU CAN WRITE THEM SO WELL.

so now I guess I thought who better to find more fics from that my fav batjokes fic writer!

First of all, thank you for the kind words! I'm really glad you enjoyed REMS, and I'm flattered you think of me as your favorite writer. I hope I can recommend some multi-chaptered, longer fics you don't already know of... but bear in mind, I haven't been able to keep up with recent fanfic a lot-- real life and a PhD are kicking my ass.

Maybe you already know of the #48 verse, The Eternal Batman Universe, City Goblins, matchjokes, Two sided blade soul mate theory, Enemies With Benefits and the jaxverse series? I assume fics over 1k kudos might be considered mainstream... So I tried to go for stories with a lower number of kudos that are relatively recent, or older fics that might not be well known by newer fans. Either way, they're a mix of Universes, with a bias for comicverse because that's my jam. Some of these I haven't managed to read fully, but I am reccing either because I liked what I did read or I heard very good things from friends.

Needless to say, check the tags carefully before reading! I am only including some short summaries and word counts. Do leave the authors some love if you like the story, and check out their other stuff. The list got pretty long, so I'm putting the recs (in no particular order) under the cut.

Ghosts of a Future Lost by messageredacted (15k+, complete)

Wayne Manor has been rebuilt, but things just aren’t the same as they used to be. Something is stirring old memories, and not just Bruce’s…

Strange Comradery in Arkham by Vampowerment (series, 45k+ words)

Bruce Wayne checks himself into Arkham because he considers himself a danger to himself and others, but only Joker seems to understand why.

Blood of the Covenant by batjokesinlove (28k+ words, WIP)

When Bruce is attacked by a horrifying monster, he finds himself turned into a creature of the night with a thirst for human blood. Although he retains his humanity, he wrestles with his need for blood and his desire to maintain his code. That is until an unlikely person offers up himself up to Batman as his own personal blood bank.

Inside the Music Box by MargueritePoretesDefenseAttorney (series, 116k+ words)

A dark comedy where the Batkids are very suspicious of Bruce's new boyfriend, a strange man who looks oddly familiar . . .

Bygone Boy by Masterofceremonies (25k+ words, WIP)

Bruce is millionaire in the public eye. His husband, Jack, is a widely known, largely mysterious artist, famous for his borderline illegal exhibitions. Their marriage has been a happy one. Mostly. Until Jack goes missing, and Bruce becomes suspect #1.

Induced Labor by fractualized (29k+ words, WIP)

After a fight in an illegal magic shop results in Bruce impregnating Joker, at least things can't get any more bizarre— except of course they can.

A Rule for A Rule by Severus_divides_into_H (34k+ words, WIP)

When Bruce walks into his new elementary school classroom, the first thing he sees is green. Green hair, green eyes, green sweater with a clown on it, green pants that look way too big. A decade later, he looks at the Joker, and all he sees is a person he once loved.

This Strange Effect by battybrownboo (19k+ words, WIP)

Batman and the Justice League are forced to harbor Joker when he accidentally gets beamed up to the Watchtower. But a clown in space will be the least of their problems.

Life is so much better when you're dead by toluenesister (167k+ words, complete)

During the two years following the Joker's escape from Arkham, Gotham gradually becomes rid of its criminal element in a particularly ghastly way. The appearances of Batman and the Joker become more and more scarce as well to the point of vanishing from the public eye, leaving the city's crime rate at an all time low. At the same time, Carmine's daughter, Sofia Falcone, decides to rebuild her father's organization, but in the course of gathering resources she accidentally finds out what both Batman and the Joker have been preoccupied with while they were away from the streets.

Dissolve & Absolve by toluenesister (63k+ words, complete)

One day the Joker decides to lay his mark on what is his, but he doesn't anticipate the magnitude of what is about to unravel.

through a glass, darkly by itallstartedwithdefenestration (series, 156k+ words)

Three months after Batman effectively disappears from society, Bruce Wayne goes to work for the Joker.

Blank Canvas by Vampowerment (21k+ words, WIP)

When Eric Border, an orderly at Arkham and an ally to Batman, tries to build a life outside of his work, he somehow keeps running into Gotham's darling, Bruce Wayne.

Hope We Can Again by blackbatsx (22k+ words, WIP)

Their original counterparts are long gone but what do you do when the universe (or multiverse for that matter) presents you with another opportunity to try again?

a world with love by railroadman, slaapkat (48k+ words, series)

A canon-divergent universe where Bruce and Joker really do love each other.

In the claws of the Owl by orphan_account (27k+ words, complete)

The Owlman, the Great bird of Sorrows, White King of Gotham, is barely human any more. There is something terrifying about the secret tyrant of Gotham who is watching all the time. The Red Hood wishes he didn't love him. The Owl had tried to drown him in chemicals, murdered his family, broken him again and again with torture, but this time Owlman has something worse in mind for his favorite pet enemy.

Kintsugi Elseworld by a_stands_for (20k+ words, complete)

A suspiciously insistent Zatanna reads Bruce's fortune, which somehow leads to an adventure in a parallel universe--one where the Joker wears a mask and cape and fights at Batman's side.

The Heart by slire (20k+ words, complete)

The Joker, sick and heartbroken, plans to recreate himself. Another scheme is in motion; one that'll shake his darling to the core and break the Bat like no one else can.

I'll Tell You No Lies by TheMidnightOwl (29k+ words, complete)

Earth-22. One mistake was all it took. In the months that pass after Bruce accidentally kills a hired gun, he must reevaluate his life, his methods, and his mission. He remembers everything the Joker has ever said to him, every taunt he ever made, every similarity they share, and this time he's listening. This time he gets the joke.

Acts of Agression by vojavodun (series, 30k+ words)

Batman confronts the Joker in a skyscraper and the night's events get physical.

Bring Down The House by ArgentNoelle (53k+ words, complete)

The Joker is the greatest performance of Jack’s life.

Madness, Domesticated by thatsnotfunny (56k+, WIP)

Bruce Wayne offers to rehabilitate Joker at the manor for the holidays. But which of them needed socialization the most?

Love isn't brains, it's blood by cutting_capers (27k+ words, complete)

He was speaking before even choosing to. “But, so many lives. If you care about Gotham, how can you end so many lives?” Bruce shook his head but was then startled out of his own daze by the raised voice of Joker across from him. “I don’t care about their lives. I care about yours!” Joker stabbed a finger in his direction, his other hand balled in a fist and his entire body rigid. After just a few moments, though, the tension broke, a high pitch of laughter bubbling out of Joker. His eyes drifted about. “They do say I’m crazy. I must be.”

Arkham by AnonGrimm (74k+ words, complete)

The Joker has landed in Arkham again with a long sentence ahead of him in solitary. While plotting his next escape, he gets a visit from the Batman. Two-Face has been wreaking havoc and Batman wants Joker to divulge clues in how to stop him or cure his madness. Joker pretends to listen as a new game begins to bloom in his fractured mind. Can he crack that cold strength and find a weakness, find a way to warp the Bat?

The Bliss of Ignorance by Crashingthisbane (Sitarsitar) (34k+ words, complete)

After getting a concussion, Bruce loses his memory. Joker crafts a new past for him. He tells Bruce that the two of them are crime-fighting partners, weaving a tangled web of half-truths and plain lies. Complex feelings ensue, for both Joker and Bruce.

Yes And by limeta (41k+ words, complete)

The Joker "yes ands" his way into having a mental breakdown. Kidnapping Tim Drake and a bunch of Rogues isn't helping. Especially because he isn't the Joker, of course, but Bruce Wayne's newest secretary. Cut him some slack, he's just trying to run some errands!

[writingjourney]

⛧ WIP Wednesday ⛧

I talked about how I find it daunting but I actually continued on a little with my V fic, so this is an excerpt of the beginning. Please know that I am super terrified of even posting this so if it sucks please don't tell me <3 ➽ V/Perpetua x f!reader/non-decripts oc, 1.1k words, third person, this is not sane at all, he is obsessive but still sort of a sweet guy? idk really, mild tw for grief/loss

He’s leaning against the back of a headstone, scribbling in his journal with some enthusiasm, only held back by the speed of his mind. He feels on the verge of a revelation, teetering on the edge of thoughts slowly connecting. The quiet around him allows for such rumination, the presence of the dead muffling the rest of the world that is usually so loud inside of V’s head.

In the cool grass, beside him, two books. Annotated philosophical works, musings on theology, on life and death. He’s sucking the thoughts out of them, rewriting them with his own lines, some vaguely poetic renditions of what he thinks is the essence of it all. It has always bothered him, the lack of pathos in such theories, the gap between reason and emotion. Introspection that brackets out the core of human nature, a head without the heart.

Fog has gathered on this morning, the cemetery shrouded in its grey billows with the sun not quite rising yet. It is entirely too early for visitors and yet his gaze snaps up as he notices the steps close by. He would ignore them, mildly irritated, were they not followed by the most heart-breaking, choked little sobs.

V crawls past the overgrown mausoleum that blocks his view, groping his way along the mossy stone walls as he follows with his ears alone. He finds her behind the structure, two rows down, a habited figure that is unfamiliar to him just like everyone else. A somewhat fresh grave has been dug, a few weeks prior, judging by the depression of the soil. She’s kneeling in front of it, crying, evidently, as she feels unobserved.

He cannot discern much from the distance, not in the fog, but her plain habit indicates that she is a regular Sister of Sin. V crawls a little further down, comes to rest behind a large headstone that sits crooked, weathered, his leather gloves leaving a scraping sound on the rough stone.

And then he sees her face.

The revelation he’s been grazing with his fingertips, it stands before him now in flesh and bone, finally within reach. A single heavy tear rolls down the curve of her cheek, gathering at the corner of her beautiful mouth, and he subconsciously inches forward as if to reach for it. She sniffles, wipes her cheek dry with her sleeve, and he feels some regret that he did not catch her tears with his thumb to taste them. Life and death, so closely intertwined.

The Sister stands, brushing the dirt off her knees where her habit clings to them, wet and stained from the grass. V takes a step back, obscuring himself further, hesitating for a second too long. She leaves in the opposite direction and whatever he had been reaching for is gone.

⛧ ✦ ⛧

Later, V approaches the grave. A wooden upside down cross serves as a placeholder for the tombstone until the stonemason delivers it. Sister Clara, 1960– 2025. On top of the soil, a bouquet of white lilies, roses and carnations, tied together with black ribbon. He does not know her but then he doesn’t really know anyone here, except his brother and the Psaltarians. Was she a beloved mentor? A family member? Her lover, perhaps?

As dawn breaks, V makes his way inside the abbey. The sharp stone arch he passes casts a shadow over the group of Siblings ambushing him, falling upon him like vultures. He gives his practiced cordial greetings, the hand kisses, speaks a short unblessing, nodding along to their reassurances until he can eventually shake them off. Everyone wants a piece of their new Papa, Marika had called it, and his brother had scoffed at that. V isn’t sure how many pieces he has left.

Mass is a whole ordeal. The chapel has been overflowing ever since he came here and so far interest has not died down enough to allow him to leave in a timely manner, not without spending another few hours or so, listening to everyone’s stories.

It’s not that he’s antisocial, per se, nor that he doesn’t care. It’s that the scope of this sudden rise in interest in him is beyond his level of comfort and most days he is sucked dry by the time lunch rolls around. The face of the Sister haunts him all day and yet he does not find her again, not in any of the knots of people.

He can eat somewhat in peace but only because they’ve granted him the luxury of having the meal delivered to his office. Sister Clara does not seem to have any obvious familial associations and since she had been with the church for most of her life she seemed to have had her hand in everything. According to the specific date in the system she died just before V arrived.

If only he knew her name.

He dreams of kissing a tear from the apple of her cheek, tasting the warmth of her grief on his tongue. He’s drifting in and out of sleep like that, hearing the bats moving past the window of his old stone cottage by the cemetery, some of which have made their home in the old wooden beams above his ceiling. They told him a gardener used to live here, back when the abbey was still in the hands of the church, that it lay abandoned until they prepared it for him. The tombstones by the entrance are right side up, the names long since faded, and he thinks their ghosts are visiting him at night.

The next morning, she reappears.

She crouches to light a candle when he finds her, hiding behind a higher tombstone with better view of the grave. Again she is crying, quiet tears gathering at her lashes, and he can’t tear his gaze away from them. Wet, her eyes sparkle in the near dark, two guiding lights in the fog. She is so blissfully unaware of him, wrapped up in the memories of Sister Clara and the pain that comes with the evidence of her loss. It is when he sees her praying that he decides to leave her. It feels vulgar, to intrude on this moment, when she seeks the solitary comfort of the Old One.

V reassumes his usual pondering, leaning against the ever same headstone that seems to carry his shape, so easily does it welcome him. His thoughts are less aligned this morning, straying into multiple directions that all seem to gather into the shape of her teary-eyed face. Grief is no stranger to V, nor is the loneliness that comes with it. Does she know that her love lives on in every tear she sheds for this woman? That the pain she feels must not stop her from seeing the world on either side?

A cool wind carries the fog like fingers between the rows of graves that stretch out on either side of him. It feels like a gentle caress from their Lord below, a hand in theirs at all times, one he hopes she can feel as well, wherever she is now.

V scribbles until the sun comes up.

[rohvee]

Whoops meant to share this for WIP Wednesday here too yesterday! Some backstory/setup for my Death Stranding AU Jayvik fic 🖤

—

“How is the project going?”

Jayce hesitated for a moment.

Mel never let up about the project. Of course, she didn’t. It was the project of the century. A breakthrough that could reshape civilization—if Jayce could make it work. Another tool in the fight against the Death Stranding.

Long before Jayce was born, Runeterra was a very different place. No one knew what triggered them, but the first explosions—the voidouts, they called them—were unlike anything the world had seen. Detonations more powerful than nuclear blasts shattered the land, swallowing entire regions in moments.

But the aftermath was worse.

They called it the Death Stranding.

The voidouts tore through the boundary between the realms of life and death. And through the cracks, things slipped in. Spirits, creatures, substances that defied natural law. The rain itself could kill now, accelerating time with every drop. Stepping outside unprotected was suicide. The few remaining colonies, scattered across the ruins, were isolated, disconnected.

That was where porters came in. A lifeline. Brave souls hauling vital supplies across the hostile land, linking the last remnants of civilization. Trade was brokered. Humanity adapted. Rebuilt.

But the disconnect remained. The life of a porter was perilous, and trade was agonizingly slow.

That was what Jayce was trying to fix, and the key to it all was chiralium.

A substance originating from the world of the dead, chiralium lingered here as dust in the atmosphere, as jagged hand-shaped crystal formations jutting from the earth. It ignored time, existed outside of it. Its properties were nothing short of magical.

So far, it had been harnessed to make objects levitate, to create self-healing materials, and most importantly, to enable the instantaneous mass transfer of data, sending it through the timeless realm of the Beach; the world of the dead. This enabled them to connect communities in a new way. Sharing information—blueprints, crucial knowledge, culture.

But data was all they could send, for now. Nothing real. Nothing with a soul.

That was Jayce’s big project—figuring out how to harness chiralium to send physical materials instantaneously from one place to another, crossing through the Beach.

It would revolutionize trade. It would save lives. It would connect the world.

“It's not… going great,” Jayce admitted with a wince, his eyes flicking to the tablet in front of him. His calculations sprawled across the screen in increasingly erratic handwriting, a visual representation of his fraying patience. “I can’t even get a working theory down, never mind how to actually implement it.”

Mel didn’t respond immediately. She simply stood there, gaze drifting to the floor, thoughtful in that measured way of hers. Then, with a quiet sigh, she reached up and unclasped the sides of her mask.

The golden mask slipped away, unveiling the sharp contours beneath—the cut of her cheekbones, the golden glint of subdermal implants catching in the dim lab light. She was, in every sense, beautiful. A beauty few were ever granted the privilege to see. A beauty Jayce had once known intimately.

She set the mask down on a nearby workbench and leaned against it, crossing her arms. “Jayce, what do you think about bringing on another person?”

His brows furrowed. “Like… a partner?”

“Yes.”

Jayce frowned. “That’s not necessary. I’ll get there eventually, I just need more time—”

“Things are… strained, Jayce.” Mel exhaled, glancing away. “I can’t tell you much, but the ability to send materials through the Beach would loosen tight cords significantly.”

“And it’ll happen, I just—”

“We found someone.” She met his gaze then, unwavering. “An evo-devo biologist in Zaun.”

Jayce blinked. “Evo-devo—? Mel, this is physics. I don’t need a biologist.”

“He’s an engineer and physicist as well, like you. Perhaps a fresh perspective would help.”

His jaw clenched. Irritation curled hot in his gut, and he tapped his fingers against the desk in agitation. “I don’t need him. Really. I’m on the verge, I know it. I don’t need someone coming in and making a mess of things.”

“That’s too bad.”

“No, it’s fine, actually—”

“Because he’s already on his way.”

Jayce blinked. Alarm spiked through his exhaustion. He pushed himself up from his chair. “You sent for this random biologist to cross through BT territory without even asking me if I wanted this?”

Mel gazed at him neutrally. “I don’t care what you want, Jayce. I strongly feel that this is something you need.”

His hands curled into fists. “You can’t just—!”

“I can.”

A low, guttural sound tore from Jayce’s throat—something between a scoff and a snarl. He turned sharply, raking a hand through his hair, pacing in tight, agitated strides.

The thought of someone else—some outsider—intruding on his project made his skin itch. This wasn’t just research; it was his baby. It was the culmination of a lifetime of work, dedication, obsession. No one understood chiralium like he did. No one had pushed the boundaries of its potential further. He didn’t need someone stumbling in, making reckless assumptions, forcing him to waste time explaining what he already knew wouldn’t work.

And a biologist?

What the hell did he need a biologist for?

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic,” Mel sighed, retrieving her mask as she straightened. She slipped it back into place, golden metal once again obscuring half her face. “Just give him a chance when he gets here.”

Jayce didn’t respond. Didn’t turn to look at her. His jaw clenched, but he knew arguing was pointless. Mel had made up her mind. There was no changing it. With a long, exhausted sigh, he let himself sink back into his chair, fingers pressing against his temples.

Mel took that as her cue to leave. She turned smoothly, heading for the door. As she approached, it hissed open, revealing Sky lingering in the hall, looking anxious.

Jayce finally spoke, voice low. “What’s his name?”

Mel paused, glancing over her shoulder. Her lips quirked in a small smile.

“It’s Viktor.”

[insulindian-phasmid]

I've reached the point where i can't tell what requires a dead dove tag anymore. In theory nothing should (everyone read the tags, always), but in practice it's become shorthand for "shit gets beyond dark; the whole thing is dark; we're talking wall-to-wall non-con and torture." Recently I've seen folks complaining that a fic labeled "dead dove" isn't dark enough.

What is "dark"? What is life? The universe? Anything

Does it mean non-con elements or graphic violence? There are archive warnings for those. Does it mean "darkfic" or "whump"? Then tag it that way, is my feeling.

Anyway I guess I should add DD:DNE to my wip to be safe. I wouldn't call it a darkfic though! It's a plotty, surrealist/postmodern piece that includes non-con elements from time to time -- I take sex pollen very seriously for instance. But also there's humor and silliness and dare i say whimsy? idk

[roguegambitweek]

Romy Discord FanFic Rec List

In honor of Rogue/Gambit Week, some of the writers from the Romy Discord wanted to share some fics that we’ve written. 

With so much Romy love to share, we hope y’all find a new favorite or rediscover an old one. 

💚💖 Thanks for reading! 💖💚

Takes Two To Tango (or take down a Wild Sentinel) @aldreantreuperi by AldreanTreuPeri [ao3]

Rating: M | Universe: XtAS’97 | Words: 1,521 | Chapters: 1 | Status: Oneshot 

Summary: A battle is as much a dance as anything achieved on a dance floor…and having the proper partner can literally keep you alive… Episode 5 fix-it fic.

But Here We Are by AppleJ @applejacks1552 [ao3] 

Rating: M | Universe: Comics | Words: 32,978 | Chapters: 30 | Status: Complete 

Summary: They never thought this would be possible, but Rogue is uneXpectedly eXpecting. Yet nothing is ever THAT simple in the life of an X-Man. What secret will Gambit discover that complicates their happily-ever-after?

AppleJ says: Hmmmm ... why I wrote that fic in particular: First, because I wanted to make the fan theory that the twins (Maxime & Manon) were Romy kiddos real. Second, because I KNOW it will be a cold day in hell before Marvel ever gives Romy kids in the main 616 (like maybe long after I'm dead & they're out of storylines & they've already split/reunited them 5 times over?), so it seemed like fertile ground (pun intended). And third, because they say to write what you know & I wanted a pregnancy/birth story that reflected the reality that it isn't all sunshine & rainbows & certainty for many of us & that's okay too.

Mighty Thin Ice by Cajun_Hawk @cajunhawk [ao3] [ff.net]

Rating: E | Universe: Comics | Words: 138,942 | Chapters: 11 | Status: WIP 

Summary: Rogue is working hard to get her powers under control while she and Gambit have decided to take their relationship to the next level, in hopes of having something normal very soon. 

The Legacy of Dark Cerebro by Chellerbelle @chellerbelles [ao3] [ff.net]

Rating: T | Universe: Movies | Words: 45,064 | Chapters: 12 | Status: Complete 

Summary: What if X2 had ended differently? What if the X-Men hadn’t gotten to Professor Xavier in time and all the humans had died? Takes place 5 years after this alternate ending (exception of the prologue). 

Chelle says: After much indecision, I decided on The Legacy of Dark Cerebro. The opening scene had a special place in my heart, and New Sun vs Phoenix was on my fanfic bucket list for a long time. 🙂Also, this story seems a bit more “new reader” friendly than some of my other favourites, haha.

Risk and Reward by DayenuRose @dayenurose [ao3] [ff.net]

Rating: T | Universe: Comics | Words: 47,518 | Chapters: 13 | Status: Complete

Summary: There’s an old adage that goes, the greater the risk, the greater the reward. As a thief, Remy LeBeau know full well that oftentimes the greatest risks come with the greatest rewards. When he starts to fall for the enigmatic Rogue, Remy must decide if the risks are worth the possible reward. 

Rose says: This was one of the first Romy fics I’ve written. It was a real entry into Romy fandom for me. Everyone was so welcoming and kind in the comments. And during the process of writing this, it helped me come to a better understand of Gambit, Rogue, and their relationship. 💜

LeBeau’s Eleven by Ilargikat @ilargikat [ao3]

Rating: G | Universe: Comics | Words: 14,182 | Chapters: 6 | Status: WIP

Summary: Planning a heist is not easy, especially when you need special skills to pull it off. The luck of being an X-Men is that the skills are within reach, maybe not people willing to commit a heist.

Once. Now. Before. Always. by lovethelebeaux @lovethelebeaux [ao3]

Rating: M | Universe: Comics | Words: 10,179 | Chapters: 4 | Status: Complete

Summary: Four vignettes from four different time periods over the course of Rogue and Gambit’s relationship. 

Lovethelebeax says: Heehee I've only written like four things so this will be easier for me than most 😅 it's this one, my first in 20 years

The Tailor & The Seamstress by Ludi_Ling @ludi-ling [ao3] [ff.net]

Rating: M | Universe: X-Men |Words: 58,659 | Chapters: 13 | Status: Complete

Summary: Remy LeBeau is the creative lead at a waning fashion house in 1910 New York. Over the street is his employer’s rival, where a pretty and talented seamstress happens to work. Romance ensues, of course - in-between a friendly rivalry, that is. 

Ludi says: It was a tough call on which fic to choose, but I settled on this one because the last fic I write is always the one I'm most proud of, and this is the last one I completed! Last summer @narwhallove challenged me to write a Romy fic that played on my love of both them and of historical fashion. She threw some ideas at me, and I wrote nearly an entire chapter. Then, X-Men '97 starts, and I read back on what I wrote in July '23, and suddenly the rest of the story unfolds before me. I had a blast writing it! And I hope you have fun reading it too 😉

But I Can’t Trace Time by Sandmans_Raven @sandmansraven [ao3]

Rating: T | Universe: Comics | Words: 8,998 | Chapters: 1 | Status: Oneshot 

Summary: After a battle with the time-traveling mutant-hunter known as Ahab, Rogue is sent into the future. To get back, she must rely on old friends and put a stop to Ahab’s plans. 

Toys by Spaceorphan @spaceorphan18 [ao3]

Rating: T | Universe: Comics | Words: 1,619 | Chapters: 1 | Status: Oneshot 

Summary: Romy catches Remy playing with toy action figures of the X-Men. Shenanigans. Set in the 616 verse, but some fun meta-y references to XM97.

[paperbackribs]

For your WIP weekend, tell me about Demi-Eddie-Soulmate-Steddie!! ❤️

Thank you @eyesofshinigami!! 💚💚💚 An explanation rather than a snippet, this time:

Eddie shoves Steve up against the boat-shed wall and they say each other words - bingo bango, Steve's elated, he's found his romantic soulmate! Robin had tumbled into his life as a rare platonic soulmate last year and he can't wait for this next chapter of his life to begin, once they get rid of Vecna of course.

Eddie's a little more confused. He's never really experienced a keen sense of attraction so he's always just assumed he's straight. He lets Steve down as gently as he can and Steve takes it on the chin.

What else can he do, he explains pragmatically to a sympathetic Robin later. He may want the big R of Romantic Love, but he's destined for platonic. Not that that makes their bond any less, Steve hastily tries to reassure her.

Robin simply hugs him. Sad and confused on behalf of Steve. Wondering what the hell is the deal with Eddie because, as the plot unfolds, there's clearly something there but she thinks that the other guy just doesn't see it.

And Eddie doesn't. Season 4 rolls out, completes, Vecna's dead, everyone survives and Steve and Eddie become almost SteveandEddie with how close they are.

Naturally, after all, they're platonic soulmates.

Except the closer that Eddie becomes to Steve the desires that Eddie never really thought were his to own start to become more apparent, and they're decided on only the one person.

Meanwhile, an unaware Steve is respectful of the situation but he still wants sex and romance; he craves that intimate touch and, with Robin's encouragement, he starts dating.

Cue uncomfortable feelings for Eddie.

Cue increasingly jealous feelings from Eddie and a distressing need to unpack his assumptions about himself as he's about ready to tear Steve from every gal and guy that looks at him twice.

But he's still wholly not realised why he's jealous. Could it simply be that he had gotten used to Steve's attention? And obviously he can't steal him away from Robin so does that mean that Eddie has to get used to having less Steve in his life?

It's a conversation with Joyce that oddly makes Eddie understand himself.

Joyce talks about the meaning of soulmates and her theory of it being your best versions fitting together. Because Lonnie, her ex-husband and soulmate, was great when he was good.

Awful when he wasn't.

And, in the end, Joyce chose Hooper and she talks about the importance of trusting the heart, not just the soul. This strikes Eddie twofold. First, that he can make a choice without lables of straight, gay, soulmate or not.

Secondly, Steve's looking for someone to be happy with and Eddie knows that any person, soulmate or not, would be the luckiest bastard alive to have him. So he better get his ass in gear or he's fucked if that beautiful boy decides to pin his heart on someone other than Eddie.

[heart-0f-a-rebel16]

For the wip meme, can i have a hint of "Gorgeous" and a dash of eepy Kallus pretty please?

Both of these are crack fics lmao. For Gorgeous, Sabine wins a bet with Kallus and makes him shave his beard, leading to chaos on base when everyone realizes that clean-shaven Kallus is a fucking knock-out

Offering Ezra fifty million credits would have earned the same incredulous expression. “You got Kallus to shave?!” Ezra gaped. “Force, Sabine, you're practically erasing his whole identity.” “I can hear you,” Kallus called, his voice muffled through the door. The razor had stopped buzzing. “Rest assured Jabba, the loss of some hair will not drastically change the course of my life.” There was some rattling behind the door, probably Kallus tidying up the ‘fresher. Sabine tried not to bounce on her toes in glee. The anticipation was almost too much to bear. “I bet he doesn’t even have a jawline underneath all of that,” Sabine whispered conspiratorially. “People with weird beards are always compensating for something.” “I can still hear you,” Kallus sighed. The door cracked open. “I truly think this is more important to you than you think it is to me.”  “Don’t be shy,” Ezra crowed. A grin that matched Sabine’s had slipped into his expression. “We have to get the full picture.”

for What Do You Do With an Eeepy Kallus, for some reason I started a fic where Kallus just falls asleep random places because he never gets enough sleep??? And I have no memory or writing any of it

Kanan’s theory was that Kallus had missed out on so much sleep as an ISB agent that his body was making up for it in the here and now. Sabine’s theory was some form of extreme sleep apnea. Ezra would always chime in with the ever-stupid theory that he had been cursed by a Sith Lord in his youth; eye rolling always followed that proclamation. Cassian Andor had no such imaginings: in his opinion, it was just the plain old honest-to-Force brand of insanity that only occurred around one Alexsandr Kallus. Which is how he found himself hauling a very unconscious ex-ISB agent by his ankle down one of Yavin’s many dirt paths. It wasn’t the first time Kallus had fallen asleep at his desk, but it was the first time that Zeb wasn’t around to strong-arm his boyfriend out of Intelligence. No one else had volunteered for the job, which had left one beleaguered Cassian Jeron Andor to try and figure out some way to drag 195 centimeters of dead weight all the way to the barracks. Suffice to say, he was not thrilled.

[rainbow-nerdss]

WIP Wednesday

A little bit of Buck and Chris from the Bucktommy fic 💙💙💙💙 (Aka: you can pry couch theory from my cold dead hands, actually)

“Why were you asking about me and Tommy, anyway?” He asks. “No reason.” Chris shrugs “Dad just mentioned it, that's all. Tommy's pretty cool.” “He sure is. Even if he's got terrible Star Wars opinions.” “Hey!” Chris protests again.  Buck just shrugs. “I said what I said.” He thinks for a moment, then adds. “I guess I never really talked to you properly about me and Tommy, huh? I'm sorry about that, bud.” “It's okay. Dad explained it. I mean, obviously I know what bisexual is already, but he explained how you didn't always know. How there can be things some people learn about themselves as a kid, and other people learn when they're old.” Buck gets a little choked up by how simply put it is. Sure, he's always known Chris to be intelligent, and he's a proper little teenager now, but the way he says it so plainly, the way Eddie explained it to him, it's… Well, he's pretty sure it's love. “I'm not old,” Buck says, just to be a shit, and also to keep himself from bursting into tears. How'd he get so lucky to have this kid in his life? Chris shrugs. “That's just what dad said! Take it up with him.” “Your dad’s older than I am!” Buck protests, and Chris cackles.  “Okay, so maybe I paraphrased a bit. Can you go away now? I'm trying to concentrate and you don't even have math superpowers to help anymore.” Buck sighs dramatically, but he does get out of Chris' chair. He sits on the couch, which is still perfectly fine, thank you.  Usable, at least.  Okay, so he'll probably need a new one soon, but he's sure the people at the furniture store will recognise his face by now and he just can’t deal with that. He turns the TV on low and flicks around for a while, then starts scrolling on his phone, just waiting for Chris to finish his work. They spend the evening playing video games—no more than two hours, Buck knows better than to incur Eddie's wrath on that, then they cook together, eating at the table like grown ups with good table manners.

tags below the cut:

@dangerpronebuddie @wildlife4life @theotherbuckley @wikiangela @daffi-990

@theotherbuckley @diazsdimples @bidisasterbuckdiaz @exhuastedpigeon @aspecbuddie @thewolvesof1998 @neverevan @loserdiaz @goforkinard @kwills91 @trenchcoatsandtimetravel @spotsandsocks @devirnis @steadfastsaturnsrings @sunflowerdiaiz @lover-of-mine @liabegins @lovelettertothewise @slowlyfoggydestiny @buddieboos @shitouttabuck @pirrusstuff @jesuisici33 @nmcggg @elvensorceress @eddiebabygirldiaz @your-catfish-friend @eightpackdiaz @gigi-gigi @bisexualbuckleys @loveyouanyway @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove @arachanae @dangerpronebuddie

[teamdilf]

I'd love to know a little more about the Solavellan Time Travel AU from the WIP Ask Game!

This fic is going to be a long and bleak one! The basic premise is that, 20 years post-Veilguard, the Executors (who are the Forgotten Ones - at least according to the theory I'm going off of for this fic) have arrived in Thedas in full force, and Solas, realizing he is unlikely to escape them, prepares Iris to travel back to the moment of the breach at the Conclave as soon as he dies and the Veil falls.

Iris watches Solas fall to them and she swears her vengeance, uses an amulet based off of the one Dorian had, and travels back, arriving in her body at the moment of the breach, but with 30 years of knowledge/life experience. She's deeply, deeply traumatized - her husband was just killed in front of her shortly before all of this, and now she's encountering a Solas who is a stranger to her, but with the awareness of who he is/what he's planning/what his fate will be if she cannot stop the Forgotten Ones.

Here's a snippet:

Grief looks enough like defiance to those who do not wish to see their prisoner as an innocent, and so her silence accomplishes the same as it did her first time through, freeing her into Cassandra’s custody to hike through the mountains in search of Solas, Varric and the fade rift that will prove her usefulness to the fledgling inquisition.  While they trudge through fresh snow, she focuses on maintaining a mask of defiant disinterest, despite her stomach twisting with terror at the prospect of meeting Solas again. Meeting her Solas was an ordinary affair - the two of them were Elven apostates and instantly had common ground. That remains true, yet Solas does not know that, in another world, he had been her husband for 20 years and that she returned to the past to prevent his death. He cannot know - not right away, but when the time is right, she will reveal that she knows who he is, that there is a better path before him, and that if they work together, they may be able to stop the Executors before they arrive in Thedosian waters.   They do have a fresh commonality this time around: they’re both lying about their identities. Whether that will help or hinder her efforts to get to know Solas once more remains to be seen.  Solas is but an hour dead in her mind, having woken up with no memory of the explosion or her jaunt in the Fade this second time around, and she’s yet to weep for her husband. Her head swims, as if she’s looking at herself from a distance.  “You seem distracted,” Cassandra says after leaping between her and a demon, raising her shield to spare her from a heavy blow and finishing it with a swing of her sword. “My would-be executioner is forcing me to fight through a sea of demons. Would your head be clear in my circumstances?”  “It would not,” Cassandra acknowledges. “Your cooperation, however reluctant, does you credit. Know that much.” “I’m sure I’ll find that a great comfort when you snap my neck.” Cassandra frowns at her but trudges forward and she takes a moment to catch her breath; to force down the panic building. Your husband is dead yet you will see him in minutes, a perfect stranger. It won’t be him. He won’t have the scar over his right eye or the ones on his neck and the top of his head. He’ll be more distant, looking upon her as a science experiment and not as his wife. 

[redratt]

ANTLER QUEEN, WOLF MEAT

wip van fanart thing. back in season 1 i had a headcanon/theory that she was going to become the antler queen because she had survived so much improbable shit. a bloodsoaked herald. i think that Van is still tied heavily with the 'wilderness', alive on its whim-- i find the idea of Van's life being prolonged only by the death of others to be intensely fascinating. Tai's other half finds home in Van, like a den in winter. Van should be dead, but isn't. Something there really intrigues me; the living dead girl and the instinct-half.

[fanaticsnail]

⚠️❗️ANIME SPOILERS FOR BENN BECKMANN DOWN BELOW❗️⚠️

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Sorry for that, but I wanted to put a warning in case others don't wanna know. Okay, so, apparently, on Beckmann's bounty poster, it says he's wanted "Only Dead" rather than "Dead or Alive". I cannot find proper evidence of this anywhere other than internet comments saying so, but I'm gonna roll with it anyway for the fun of fanfic writing.

There's theories about why this could be cause it's pretty crazy to think he's only wanted Dead and meanwhile, Shanks (his captain) is "Dead or Alive" (as far as I'm concerned at least). One theory I saw that stuck out to me was that he might've killed a celestial dragon as the cause. Now, here comes the fic idea, what if Beckmann met someone at Sabaody who was forced to become a celestial dragons wife? I have quite a few ideas on how this would play out, but I wanted to share it with you cause I wanted to hear your thoughts, plus you love Beckmann a lot.

Sorry for the long paragraph btw, hope you don't mind. Also, I have to recommend you listen to Lady by the Sea by Stephen Sanchez while thinking of him. Maybe it's just me, but it gives Beckmann vibes.

Snail: sighs. "Lemme open my WIP list"

I'll Handle It

"Your voice it blooms the flowers on the beach // With lips that glisten in the moonlight every time you speak"

Synopsis: All of it was against your will. It was never your doing, your craving, your motivation, nor your love that drew you to the celestial dragon. It was arranged from before you were born, you trained your whole life to serve him. Your duties as a wife were performed with excellence and grace, only met with violent brutality at the hands of your spouse. Fleeing into the night, you were immediately met with a broad torso, two strong arms, and a kindness in his eyes speaking more volumes than words could ever muster. "I'll handle it."

Notes:

I have so many thoughts, and I took some time to think on it to see what my mind could cook up for you. Let me know if I'm on track for hitting the craving for him in the head.

It might get a little messy with DV implications, I will heavily tag.

@i-am-vita would you read something like this?

[cienie-isengardu]

Masterpost

Making a master post for my analysis and theories, so I would not need to look for them in the depths of my blog. The list for sure won’t include every piece ever posted on tumblr, but should have the more ambitious or important project. 

STAR WARS:

Mini-series:

The Funeral Rites of the Clone Troopers: <The psychological and spiritual preparations for death pre-war> ⭐<What happens to the body of dead clone trooper [part 1] [part2]>⭐ <Conclusion> 

Jango Fett and Walon Vau: Age Difference & Childhood Trauma ⭐ The Laws, Orders, Jaster Mereel and True Mandalorians pre-Galidraan ⭐ Galidraan and its consequences ⭐(the final part about Kamino is not written yet)

Satine and Pre Vizsla: political & social position ⭐ Wealth: clothes < • > paintings seen in their residences < • > living conditions < • > personal ships < • > servants and guards, part 1  < • > servants and guards, part 2 (WIP)

Cienie’s take on Mandalorian Culture:

Kad Ha’rangir and mandalorian traditional weapons part 1 — part 2 — part 3 – part 4 — part 5

Arasuum - stagnation as symbol of death, not sloth, renamed as Arasuum - the God of Death, not Sloth part 1 — part 2 — part 3 — part 4

Original Mandalorians and Gai bal manda ritual

Hod Ha'ran, the god of visions, prophecies and magic

God of Death as a mighty Beast

Mandalorian laws

Mythosaur, beskar and water

The life experiences that shaped Anakin Skywalker: childhood in slavery ⭐ growing up in Jedi Order (p. I) ⭐ growing up in Jedi Order (p.II)

Anakin and marginalized groups: clones and droids < • > Tusken < • > female Twi'leks + additional Vader & droids

Anakin and Clone Troopers in Legends sources [2002 - 2005]: part I —  part II — part III (WIP)

Anakin’s traumatic experiences in slavery: Star Wars Episode I: Anakin Skywalker ⭐ part II (WIP)

One-shot metas 

Darth Vader and the violence against imperial low-ranking soldiers (Old Trilogy)

Mandalorians choosing their leaders vs Darksaber as legitimization of leader

You stole the Mandalorians from me, and then left me to die on Concord Dawn…

Tor Vizsla and “hire your own enemy”type of trap

Jaster, Tor and Montross

Star Wars Fact Files about Tor Vizsla

Star Wars Fact Files about Tor Vizsla II (Vizsla's mindset)

Pre Vizsla doesn’t get enough credit for his duels one on one against Force sensitive foes

He should have been protecting her better if he wanted to keep her…

Jango Fett Open Seasons: Retreat vs. fight no matter the cost

My RepCom Musing:  Control Issue

My RepCom Musing: lekku language

My RepCom Musing: Men in kitchen… or lack of thereof

JF:OS/My RepCom Musing: Mandalorian armor color scheme

JF:OS/My RepCom Musing: Hair and mandalorian norms

Jaster Mereel seen by Dooku, Jango Fett and Tor Vizsla

My RepCom Musing: Arla Fett and Death Watch

My RepCom Musing: Vau and different sexual orientation(s)

Cienie’s Star Wars sidenotes (Jedi healers and Force healing)

An answer to ask about portrayal of stormtroopers/501st as being intensely loyal to Vader

Alpha & Cody and how they addressed or talked about Anakin in Legends sources (2002-2005/6)

A Mandalorian Tradition?

The Funeral Rites of Taungs and later Mandalorian Warriors.

[An answer to ask, originally answered from side-blog, archeo-starwars] Jedi Temple

The obedience of clones - or why I dislike TCW!idea of inhibitor chip and following answer

The case of Krell’s death?

Anakin making sure Obi-Wan get medical help & will not sidetrack on his way to medbay

How exactly Jedi intended to explain killing Chancellor Palpatine to senate and citizens of Republic?

Clone troopers & the movie “Soldier” (1998)

Jango Fett’ childhood on Concord Dawn

Arla - Mandalorian name?

Jaster & Tor

A bit about The Mandalorian s03′s take on mandalorian culture

Jango and “save yourself”

Mandalorians and thrones

About Children of the Watch 

An answer to ask about Sergeant Kreel’s lightsaber

Jango Fett as seen by Count Dooku, Mace Windu and Anakin Skywalker 

Cienie’s headcanon: Strill’s teeth

source material research

How Jedi made Anakin Skywalker feel through the years

How Yoda made Anakin feel through the years

Notron Cant - Taung language and Mandalorian dialects

A bit about Mandalorian Sigils

Darth Vader & Maximilian Veers

Adi Gallia: Human vs Near-Human source material

The way Tor addressed Jango through the years

Sources: Jango Fett sold into slavery

Anakin / Vader seen as warrior in various sources 

An iconographic summary of the main and side characters from Jango Fett: Open Seassons (1-4)

Jaster Mereel's Supercommando Codex - source material

MASTERPOST for MORTAL KOMBAT, ONE PIECE and AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER here