#you know what that means!! the ghosts are all GABE!!

[watchthekittycatcher]

im really not an rpf kinda person. feels weird most of the time. that being said I have read some fob crack fics for fun before and I gotta wonder what it is about gabe saporta that means he has to be the Magic Dude in every single one

[aziraphales-library]

Hi!!! Do you have any fics where aziraphale is famous and crowley's just a "nobody"? preferably without explicit scenes, please :)) thank you so so much <3<3

Hello! We have a #famous aziraphale tag. Here are some fics in which Aziraphale is famous and Crowley is not. I could only find a couple of non-explicit fics, I'm afraid, but I'm pretty sure the smut is minimal/skippable in most of these...

First Thing In The Morning by FeralTuxedo (E)

Aziraphale Fell, erstwhile nerd, now successful fantasy author, is signing books at this year’s Heaven and Earth convention when he spots a red-headed man in the crowd. Someone he hasn’t quite been able to forget since his school days. And as luck would have it, Anthony Crowley, former troublemaker, now responsible adult, seems keen to reconnect.

Pride Month and Prejudice by TawnyOwl95 (E)

They say that you should never meet your celebrity crush. Especially when you know what an absolute bastard he is. So, of course, Anthony J. Crowley's participation in a queer adaptation of Pride and Prejudice for Pride Month has nothing to do with the involvement of A-lister A.Z. Fell. Crowley is only doing it so he has some gossip for his column. He didn't mean to get cast as Lizzy Bennet, he certainly didn't mean to be acting opposite Fell's Mr Darcy. And to make matters worse, Fell keeps staring at him...

Veni Vino Vegas (I Came, I Got Drunk, I Got Married) by A_N_D (T)

After a whirlwind drunken evening, author Az Fell came home from Rom-Con without his heirloom pinkie ring – but with a wedding license from a 24-hour Las Vegas chapel. Elsewhere, book fan Tony Crowley woke up with a hangover, vague memories, and a brand new ring he’s only seen in author photos. Mutually attracted, mutually terrified the other one thinks it was all a regrettable mistake, they turn to their dear but anonymous online friend to vent and ask for advice. …Maybe they should tell each other their screennames someday.

and now all of my garden is grown in lavender by ilikeblue (E)

Popular queer romance author, A.Z. Fell, has been lying about having a husband and a happy marriage for years. Longing to escape a string of failed relationships and looking for a fresh start, Aziraphale moves into the cottage left to him by his Great Aunt Agnes. When a TV adaptation of one of his books leads to sudden popularity and throws him into the limelight, his fans (and the press) are eager to catch a glimpse of Aziraphale's own mysterious leading man. Unfortunately, he still has to cast someone for that role. Enter the handsome gardener… Under Crowley's meticulous care the cottage's neglected garden slowly comes back to life, and Aziraphale finds himself writing the most important love story he'll ever write: his own

Once upon a time by elf_on_the_shelf (E)

‘Hello, my dear.’ Crowley bit his lip for a couple of seconds before he took a deep breath and just went with it. ‘Would you like to go for a coffee sometime?’ There was silence at the other end. Oh shit. ‘That was my friend messing around with my phone…?’ ‘You do realise that only works over text.’ ‘Myeah.’ Why was he like this?��He had wanted to kill Bea for doing the same thing and yet here he was, doing the thing. At Bea’s behest, mind you. ‘I would love to go for coffee. Oh, and cake!’ Aziraphale is a very rich and successful writer. Crowley is at the worst possible moment of his life - living off Bee's couch and posting his mum's fairy tales on some random sites only to be ignored by everyone except one random person simply called A. This is a story about how both of our main protagonists get over the ghosts of their pasts, learn to work together and maybe - just maybe - fall in love in the process. Not to mention that all of the characters that we love (hate - looking at you, Gabe) make an appearance.

The Infernal Bodyguard by Santillatron (M)

Alistair Zira Fell is a popular author. Loved by everyone he meets. Well, almost everyone. Someone is trying to hurt him, and right now, he needs a bodyguard. Anthony J. Crowley is the best, although he doesn't work with celebrities. He has three rules. He never gets too close, never stays once the job is done, and Never Gets Involved. But this isn't a thriller. This, is a love story.

- Mod D

[tagthescullion]

I think who characters see when they see Melinoe, the goddess of ghosts, is very revealing. In canon so far it's just been Thalia and Nico (and Percy but he didn't have any ghosts in his past [at the time. Would things be different now?]). Thalia saw her mother, and I feel like that says a lot about her and Beryl's relationship. She hates her mother, she hasn't seen her since she was about nine, she didn't seem to care when she found out her mother died...but Beryl is still, apparently, a death that Thalia regrets. Meanwhile she appeared to Nico as his mother, although I'd think Bianca would be more likely. Maybe it's because at the time Nico had come to peace with Bianca's death? Although he didn't remember his mother at the time either...(although Melinoe herself would probably remember when her father's lover was killed by Zeus). Do you think Hazel would see her mother? Or that, before Thalia was resurrected, Luke and/or Annabeth would have seen her?

I love that little spin-off story to bits but I'm not sure I love that percy sees no ghosts.

so, by melinoe's own words “Everyone has ghosts — deaths you regret. Guilt. Fear.” that means whoever she shows you, is a death you somehow feel guilty about, or --presumably-- a ghost you'd be scared to see

I know percy's rather pragmatic in taking deaths with grim acceptance, but what if he saw gabe? he lets his mum deal with it but has he come to terms with what happened? he --at age 12-- gave his mum a weapon to kill a person, no matter how much that person deserved it, it's still a lot to process

on nico, I guess he's accepted bianca's death as not being his fault, whereas he's got no clue what happened to his mum, so that's a person he hasn't "rest in peace" yet, so to speak, regardless of how much he can't remembers her, and then melinoe tells him --before he knows the truth-- that maria "died of grief, wondering what had happened to [him] and [his] sister" (bitchy way to impose yourself as an older half-sister, but to each their own)

thalia, on the other hand, shouldn't regret her mother's death. she ran away bc her mum gave up jason, mistreated her her whole life, didn't search for her at all --rich and influential, beryl should've found her runaway kid in a second--, didn't care thalia had sort-of-but-not-quite died.. I get that thalia feels a lot of guilt: she does over leaving annabeth alone as a kid, over luke's turn to the dark side, and I understand her feeling guilty over "abandoning" her mum, but beryl doesn't deserve that guilt

I'd imagine hazel would either see her mother --who she both feels guilty about and fears bc marie could tell CJ the truth of hazel's death--, or she'd see sammy --who she could never say goodbye to, and she feels guilty of leaving in new orleans--

luke and annabeth would sooo see thalia, assuming melinoe can turn into spirits who haven't really died --I reckon she could, she seems to search in people's minds rather than actual ghosts--, what would melinoe-thalia tell them?? (new fic idea unlocked, but alas melinoe to me would be all the WIPs I've left there abandoned)

[wazzappp]

dandandan au but it's robbie and lisa

Do you have any idea what you've done. I have literally been thinking about this for a week now and you've given me an excuse to talk about it. I am in your walls now you cant get rid of me you did this to yourself.

ANYWAY. LETS GET STARTED.

Lisa is fairly easy to just slot in as Momo tbh. She's popular, stylish and actively looking for a boyfriend that fits a very specific criteria. Also idk WHY but it is INCREDIBLY easy for me to see her being raised by Sekio. She doesn't really have a canon family and I think the most important part of her family life is that she grows up fairly well taken care of and loved, which Sekio does! You know. In her own way.

Sekio raising her also makes it very plausible for her to be the kind of girl who carries a brick in her purse and roundhouse kicks scumbags trying to pressure her into sex in the throat. Just maybe a little nicer than Momo is sometimes lol. Being raised by Sekio also means she keeps the attribute of being well educated about ghosts.

I can see her adapting to her psychokinesis pretty quickly, just like Momo does. I do like her emotions influencing her powers just a little more than they seem to effect Momo in canon. Just because I'm such a sucker for her keeping that mask of a smile on her face while unintentionally making cracks in the wall with her powers.

Lisa is also... mildly jealous I think. We can see that in the comic where Robbie and Ms.Marvel have a crossover hangout. She is VISIBLY relieved when they decide they're 'Crossover Besties for Life' so her being a little possessive of Robbie when Aira comes into the picture also stays making sense (smacking the pink bitch on the head with a pan for daring to make fun of her man my beloved).

I cant talk about Robbie and Gabe without first talking about Eli, unfortunately. Eli sucks ass in every universe so yeah he's still working for the Russian mob. Bad news though, he's been getting too much attention for killing the wrong people. He's been visiting Alejandro and Julianna Reyes (who is very pregnant with Robbie) frequently enough that his enemies are aware of them, which means they're actively in danger. So Ivanov uses this as an excuse to send Eli to Japan so he can oversee some drug deals they've been doing with the Yakuza. He has to give his businessmen some scary dog privileges and all that yk. His caution does not last very long at all and he starts making a habit of taking his victims to an old abandoned tunnel on the edge of town for killing and disposal.

He manages to last a whole 5 years in Japan but it's not really voluntary. Ivanov has realized he has a great way to pawn off this liability and he's milking it to the extreme. Eventually the Yakuza decide 'This guy is actually so fucking shitty its worth it to kill him and potentially jeopardize our relationship with the Russians'. So they kill him, and his family, which leaves Robbie and a very small Gabe in Japan.

Because of all the people he killed in that tunnel, Eli's spirit goes to rest there. Rumors had spread of a Mexican guy, high as balls on coke, killing people in there so he earns the name 'Turbo Tío'. Cause 'Turbo Granny' is a INSANE name and I could not resist the dangling chain of alliteration I mean it's RIGHT THERE.

Robbie and Gabe's story stays mostly the same. Robbie is still working on cars but I think it would be reasonable for him to start looking at apprentice work on Trains once he's out of high school. Eli still had his tantrum and threw Julianna down the stairs while pregnant with Gabe, so he's still working to provide for his brother.

Robbie as Okarun changes a few things but surprisingly not as many as I would expect. Okarun is awkward, insecure, lonely and bullied. It's why he attaches to Momo so quickly. Robbie is ALSO awkward and lonely but he's got a lethal murderface and a 'dont fuck with me' attitude so he doesn't have the same problems with bullies. He DOES have the same problems with friendlessness though.

Gabe. The most specialest boy ever. He is an entirely NEW part of the equation and as a result I'm giving him Specialest Boy powers. Gabe is very spiritually sensitive. He can see things most people cant. He pretty quickly learned to Not Talk About It very much and expresses what he sees by drawing. Robbie just thinks he's very imaginative, and he is but this isn't because of that.

Because of this, Gabe has an interest in aliens and supernatural phenomena (the cryptid 'Ninja Wolf' is an obvious favorite). Robbie likes to check any books out in the library that he might like.

This changes things for Robbie once he's cursed because now he has MULTIPLE reasons for wanting to get rid of it.

The obvious. He would appreciate having his balls back, thank you very much (unsubstantiated, based off my research, but rumors spread that because he was with the Russian mob he castrated people in the tunnel so like it or not its part of his lore now.)

Having this curse is putting a target on his back and therefore putting Gabe in danger.

He REALLY does not have time to be fighting all these ghosts and aliens while holding down a job and going to school.

Please for the love of god he wants to incinerate that little cat Eli is being stored in.

BUT theres also a bit of a conundrum there. Lisa can defend herself 100% but with all the shit getting thrown at them its really helpful to have Robbie around (he would. very much prefer for her to not get hurt). And the really big problem: being spiritually sensitive could put Gabe in danger in the future, and if Robbie cant defend him whats the point of all this anyway?

SO. Considering all of this, Lisa and Robbies first meeting and subsequent dare goes a little different. Heres what I'm thinking.

Lisa is super in her head while walking down the hallway because she broke up with her shithead boyfriend. Robbie doesn't see her because there was a new shipment of books to the library and he's carrying as many as he can that he thinks Gabe will like. Naturally they run into each other.

Lisa is pissed at first, saying he 'needs to watch where he's going'. But feels bad mid stomp off and turns around to help. Comments on the subject material. Something like,

'Aliens, huh? I've seen you around school I didn't take you for the type to be into that. At least you've got a little stuff about ghosts here too, thats more reasonable.'

Robbie takes offense on his brothers behalf, 'What the hell makes ghosts more reasonable than aliens?'

Their fight escalates, Lisa makes him a deal. He goes to the most haunted place she can find, she goes to a place with lots of reports of alien activity. First person to back out owes the other 50 bucks (which is like. 7487 yen. Damn). For Robbie thats an entire meal and he's confident he wont fail. Lisa just thinks he's sorta cute and she likes proving people wrong.

I'm willing to bet you can guess what happens from there.

Also, because it's me, they get some fun physical side effects to their curses. Robbie has a portion of his hair that stays white after his transformation. He tries to dye it at first to stay under the radar but eventually its just to annoying to keep up with. I think he should keep black fingernails too. As a treat.

I!! WANT!! SIDE EFFECTS!! FOR TELEKENESIS!! So fuck it I'm giving Lisa funky green face marks she covers with makeup. They can be funky together.

Alright thank you for coming to my ted talk bye

[samwpmarleau]

fic: the good samaritan

whumptober day 19: “is there anyone alive out there?” masterlist: tumblr, ao3 It is Skye, not Ghost Rider, who saves the Reyes brothers that night.

Do you want a second chance, Robbie Reyes? Do you yearn to punish those who hurt your brother? Avenge your own death?

The answer, such an easy one, is on his tongue — or in his head? Somehow, he knows the voice could deliver on its promise. Yes, he prepares to say. More than anything, yes.

He doesn’t get the chance, as he’s brought harshly back into consciousness at the press of someone’s fingers beneath his jaw. The person gives a short gasp, and once more he hears a voice. A real one.

“Oh my god, you’re alive.”

His entire body feels like it’s on fire.

“Robbie, right?” the woman asks. “Your brother told me.”

At the mention of Gabe, Robbie’s eyes fly open. Excruciating pain be damned, he manages to croak, “Gabe. Is he …?”

“He’s better off than you.”

“Good,” Robbie says with a breath that rattles in his shattered chest. “Okay, good.”

“I called 911. Response time here’s slow, but a kid being involved should shave off a few minutes.”

Her face is slightly fuzzy from what he assumes is a concussion on his part, and spots of black dance in his vision. The ends of her long, dark hair graze his cheek. He squints in an effort to note anything else defining about her, to little avail. She’s dressed plainly, her jewelry equally simple. Though he can’t see her car from where he is, that’s probably nondescript, too.

Just some Good Samaritan in the right place at the right time.

“Who are you?” he asks.

She hesitates, then replies, “Skye. My name is Skye.” She turns abruptly at the loud, echoing sound of sirens approaching. “I gotta go. Me and cops don’t exactly mix.”

“Wait …” Robbie dissolves into a wet coughing fit that spills blood from his mouth.

“Sorry. Hang in there.”

In an instant she’s gone, fleeing into the night. He hears the rumble of an engine flare to life, then screeching tires, then a penlight is being shined in his eyes as someone new hovers over him. On the man’s uniform, Robbie can make out a Fire Department patch emblazoned with PARAMEDIC.

“Please stay as still as possible, sir,” says the man, haloed by flashing red and white lights. “Do you know where you are?”

The black spots in Robbie’s vision that he’d been holding at bay close in completely, and the man’s voice fades into nothingness.

———

It’s disorienting to pass out one minute and wake up the next to discover you’ve been in a medically induced coma for three days to prevent your brain and body from self-destructing. It’s marginally tempered by the fact that Gabe is in the bed next to him, bruised and bandaged but otherwise looking as healthy as ever, if a little more subdued. Robbie supposes that’s to be expected, considering.

The doctor quietly assures later, “He’s healing up wonderfully well. His concussion is improving by the hour and the bullets missed every major organ.”

“Other than the one that hit his spine, you mean,” Robbie says. He glances over at his sleeping brother, whose legs have yet to move of their own accord. “Is he ever gonna walk again?”

“I can’t say for certain. There’s a lot of inflammation and more tests that need to be run.”

The doctor’s tone sounds pretty certain. And not in a good way.

Robbie knows Gabe being alive is the only thing that really matters, but it’s still difficult to comprehend. He’d seen Gabe score two goals in a soccer game less than a week ago. The bike he rode to school every morning is probably still leaning up against the house where he’d left it. And it’s Robbie’s fault, all of it. If he hadn’t convinced Gabe to come with him to the race, his brother would be sitting in homeroom right now already studying for finals. Robbie’d be the only one here in the hospital, deservedly paying for his recklessness. Hell, because his stupidity wasn’t wide-ranging enough already, he’d dragged Eli into the whole mess, turning the car his uncle prized into nothing more than a crumpled ruin of steel.

“What about me, doc?” Robbie asks. His body feels nearly as unpleasant as his guilt does. “Gabe said I was pretty messed up.”

The doctor fully snorts in disbelief. “That would be an understatement. Your heart stopped on the table twice, we had to cut out a piece of your skull to allow for brain swelling, your new X-rays light up like a Christmas tree with all the pins and rods —”

“Okay, I get it.” He’ll read the bill later.

“You’re extremely lucky,” the doctor continues. “By rights, crews should be scraping you off the pavement, yet you’re on track to be in better shape than me. If you don’t believe in guardian angels, Mr. Reyes, now’s the time to start.”

The woman’s face flashes in his mind. Skye, she’d said. She’d saved them both, then disappeared. A guardian angel’s as good a descriptor as any.

“Yeah,” Robbie says absently, “maybe so.”

Gabe doesn’t have much more to offer about her than Robbie himself. “She didn’t stay long enough to tell me her life story, and I thought you were dead. I wasn’t paying attention to anything else.”

I was dead, Robbie thinks. He doesn’t say it, though. He doesn’t want to add to Gabe’s trauma from that night.

“Why are you so interested anyway?” Gabe asks. “You said it yourself, she doesn’t want to be found.”

“’Cause it feels wrong not to thank her.” It’s most of the truth, but the whole truth. She’s in his brain, stuck, the mystery of her.

“Yeah, I saw she was pretty, too.”

Robbie scowls. “You think I’m that shallow, boy? Come on.”

Gabe gives him a shit-eating grin, which is plenty to make Robbie’s offense melt away. Since the accident, those have been in short supply. If Robbie has to endure some ribbing in order to see that grin again, he’ll do so gladly.

———

His search for Skye, on the other hand, is short-lived. Not a week later, Gabe in the middle of purposefully unhelpful commentary, a woman in a tailored suit holding a briefcase enters the room with an inscrutable expression. Robbie exchanges a look with Gabe, who seems to share the same feeling — whoever this person is, she’s not here for good news.

“Can we help you?” Robbie asks.

“I’m Traci Blackburn with the Public Defender’s Office,” the woman says. “I’ll be representing your uncle, Elias Morrow.”

“Public defender?” Gabe asks, alarmed. “What for?”

Blackburn’s expression turns mildly softer. “There’s no way to sugarcoat this, so I’ll just come out with it. Mr. Morrow has been arrested for attempted murder.”

“Murder?” Robbie and Gabe exclaim in unison.

“Yes. His boss is currently lying in a Level I trauma center across town in a coma he may not wake from,” Blackburn says. “Mr. Morrow is, of course, innocent until proven guilty, and I will do everything I can, but I’ll be honest with you. The odds that he will walk free are slim. The evidence is damning, and Mr. Morrow has so far been neither apologetic nor forthcoming on details.”

Robbie lets that wash over him, dumbfounded. He doesn’t know a lot about his uncle’s work, mainly grumblings at the dinner table about his colleagues on the project. He knows even less about Eli’s boss, only that he’d recently gone power-mad, whatever that means. But complaining about a shitty boss is a far cry from trying to murder a shitty boss. Sure, Eli’s railed against the system and those who uphold it, but Robbie wouldn’t have thought he had it in him to kill anyone.

“Okay,” Robbie says, as though this makes any sense, “so what are the next steps?”

“I’d like to bring you downtown to speak with your uncle. There are circumstances other than the charges that must be considered.”

“What kind of circumstances?”

Blackburn appraises Gabe briefly, then addresses Robbie with an unsettlingly gentle tone. “Should we get an unfavorable ruling in court, there is the question of Gabriel’s guardianship.”

Robbie swallows. He hadn’t thought of that. Eli’s been such a stalwart support for the last decade; Robbie’s never had reason to think about the possibility that one day he wouldn’t.

“You would be the natural choice,” Blackburn says. “You are not required to do so, but since Gabriel is too young to file for emancipation, if you choose not to be his guardian …”

She doesn’t have to finish her sentence for Robbie to know what it would be. Foster care. That’s where Gabe would be put. Sent to live with a family of strangers who, for all Robbie knows, could want him for nothing more than a meal ticket. The thought is unbearable.

Without hesitation, Robbie declares, “Gabe is not going anywhere.”

“Robbie,” says Gabe quietly, “you don’t have to. I mean, you don’t have to decide now.”

“There’s nothing to decide. If Eli can’t be your guardian, I will. End of discussion.”

“Well, first things first,” Blackburn says, “Eli is anxious to meet with you. Here’s my card, you can call when you’re ready to set up a time.”

“Oh, hell no. You can’t come in here, tell me my uncle’s been arrested for attempted murder, then leave. I need to talk with Eli now.”

Blackburn puts the proffered card back in her briefcase. “As you wish. You boys take a moment, I’ll wait outside.”

Robbie scoffs to himself as the lawyer strides out of the room. A moment. He’s going to need a little longer than a moment to wrap his head around a single word of this conversation.

What have you gotten us into, Eli?

———

“I told you about my boss,” is how Eli begins.

“Define ‘told me.’ Because I sure as hell don’t remember the part where you planned to beat his brains out.”

Eli gestures to the interrogation room around them. “Does this look like planning? Of course I didn’t plan it. I just … snapped.”

“Why? What happened?” It’s surreal, seeing his uncle like this. Orange jumpsuit, flimsy white shoes, wrists chained to a table. Robbie’s entire life, he’s only ever known Eli to be on the straight and narrow.

“Joseph, he was changing experiments and specs without consulting anyone, he was putting everyone in danger.” Eli’s jaw clenches as a flash of fury slides across his face. “Not that he wasn’t a pompous, elitist ass before all that.”

“So it was self-defense, then.”

“That’s what the lawyer’s going to push.”

“That’s not what I asked.” Robbie narrows his eyes, trying to read what Eli’s not saying. There’s something he’s keeping close to the vest. What it could be or why, Robbie has no idea.

Eli lets out a sigh. “I should have done things differently. But Joe’s paranoia and threats kept growing, then you boys were almost killed in that accident, and I couldn’t act like everything was normal when it wasn’t. I had to do something.”

“What was this project?” Robbie asks. “You were thrilled about it when you signed on. How’d it end with you facing jail time?”

“It doesn’t matter what the project was.”

“How does it not matter?”

“Because I don’t want you worrying about things you can’t change or understand. If I can’t shake these charges, you’re going to have bigger problems to deal with.”

The words are like a bucket of ice water. Eli’s right, how the situation happened is ultimately meaningless where Robbie’s concerned.

Eli leans forward and grasps Robbie’s hands, chains clinking against the table. “I need you to trust me on this, Robbie. Please. Joe deserved what he got.”

“I do trust you, Tío. Of course I do.”

“Good. So just keep your nose clean and you’ll be fine. You hear me?”

“Yeah, I hear you.”

It becomes harder and harder to stick to the promise. Blackburn brokers a deal to downgrade attempted murder to attempted manslaughter, but listening to the judge administer Eli eleven years in state prison feels like being sprayed with bullets all over again, only this time, there’s no Good Samaritan anywhere to be found. Between the sentence, signing a mountain of paperwork that officially makes Gabe his dependent, trying to figure out how on earth he’s supposed to afford anything, and going back and forth with the insurance company to reduce his and Gabe’s hospital bills to a payment plan that’s remotely manageable, eating and sleeping become luxuries. Any free time is spent working overtime at the shop for extra cash.

Seeing Gabe determined to make up the months of school he’d lost is about as light as Robbie’s world becomes. It’s all he can do to not submit to the injustice that refuses to leave the pit of his stomach, finances and life scooting over to let in thoughts about how Fifth Street is still out there maiming and murdering. The blood they’ve spilled, his and Gabe’s and countless others’, continues to go unredressed. But doing something about those thoughts would surely land him in a cell down the block from Eli’s, leaving Gabe completely alone. How would he even settle that score anyway? His fighting experience is limited to a dumb brawl sophomore year, and the most imposing weapon he owns is a baseball bat.

No, vengeance is beyond reach. He can’t do a damn thing except tread water and hope he doesn’t drown.

———

It happens as it began: an accident.

The van itself is unremarkable. Old and brown and well-used. The front end is busted, clearly having rammed into another vehicle, and there are a myriad of bullet holes along the side. For this neighborhood, it doesn’t merit so much as an eyebrow raise. It’d cost more to fix than the thing’s actually worth, but if the owner wants to pay, then who’s he to dissuade them?

Once he writes up the damage, he heads into the waiting area and calls out, “Jacqueline Rippon?”

It takes him a while to realize why she seems familiar as she walks towards him. He tries to multitask, wracking his brain while listing off what repairs need to be done, and what others are recommended. “Damn, this is all you’re charging?” Jacqueline asks.

He bends to throw away a wrapper someone had dropped. “Yeah, well, we —”

When he looks up at her, his words trail off as the connection finally clicks. He’s looked into that face before. Her hair is shorter, eyes rimmed in black liner, and her cheek is scraped from the collision — not to mention Jacqueline is not the name she’d given him so long ago — but he’d stake his life on her identity.

He slowly rises to his feet. This is too real to be a dream. He would know; he’s had plenty of her over the years. “Skye.”

“I was wondering if you’d remember.” It’d be a stretch to call her expression a smile. It’s far too exhausted for that.

He tears his gaze from her to double-check the name on the printout. “Or is it Jacqueline?”

“No, Skye. Sort of. Used to be.”

Since asking who she is is, apparently, not a straightforward question, he tries something else. “Are you okay?”

“Okay? Sure, let’s go with that.” He doesn’t think she’s talking about the crash.

“You coming here isn’t a coincidence, is it?” he asks, setting the clipboard aside.

“No.” He wonders when last she’d slept, not that he has any room to judge. Glass houses and all. “I kinda need a place to lie low. Without my van, I’m grounded, and I’m sure they’re monitoring public transit by now.”

“Who is ‘they’? What do you mean you have to lie low?” This is not what he expected when wondering what it’d be like to see her again. Though, the reason she hadn’t stuck around back then was a need to avoid law enforcement, so maybe her being a criminal does make sense.

“S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Watchdogs,” she answers. “Neither of them would peg you as a place I’d go. You’re too good a person for that.”

“So what exactly are you asking me to do?”

“I saved your life once. I’m asking you to do the same for me,” she says. “Just until I can come up with a game plan.”

“A game plan,” he repeats in disbelief. “To be clear, you’re asking me to help you evade a government spy organization and a terrorist group.”

“I know it’s insane.” She drops onto the couch that’s seen better days and digs the heels of her hands into her forehead. “You’re all I’ve got.”

As Robbie’s processing her request, Ignacio ambles into the waiting area to grab himself a cup of coffee. He frowns in concern as he observes Skye’s distress, and Robbie answers, “Expensive repair.”

It’s not a lie. Her van has a lot wrong with it. Ignacio accepts the explanation and, styrofoam cup of middling coffee acquired, returns to the shop. Robbie leans against the wall and thunks his head back against it. “I’m sorry, I can’t expose Gabe to whatever shit you’ve got going on. He’s just a kid, and he’s got a full ride to Stanford lined up. I’m grateful you were there for us that night, but …”

Skye gets wearily to her feet and nods. “I understand. You have to keep the person you love safe.” She says it with a gravity that doesn’t fit the situation. Something had happened to her beyond simply being on the wrong side of the law. “Listen, there’s a couple grand in cash in the glovebox, that should cover the repairs. Just leave the van around the corner when it’s fixed and I’ll pick it up. My alias is solid, no one should be able to find you from that or anything.”

With a grunt of pain, she picks up her jacket and backpack from the couch — which doesn’t fit either; the backpack can’t be that heavy, had she broken something in the accident? — then strides across the lobby and through the front doors.

He stares out after her until the turns a corner. When he got up this morning, he would never have thought this is how his day would go. Not only that he’d see her again, but that she’d ask something so, well, insane. (Her word, not his.) It’s not like he’d be able to hide her from Gabe, and what plausible explanation could Robbie invent? He sure as hell wouldn’t burden Gabe with the truth. Harboring a fugitive is probably not the sort of extracurricular activity Stanford values. Skye’s strange injuries would serve to add even more suspicion.

Except, there’s also the fatigue she hadn’t hidden from him, and how even though she’d only asked for sanctuary as a last resort, she had asked. He can’t imagine there were no other places or people on the planet she could go to. It’d been him she tracked down. And, brass tacks, she’s the reason he’s still breathing, the reason he still has his brother. Can limits really be put on returning that kind of favor?

If he can’t settle his own grievances with the world, he may as well help settle someone else’s.

Praying this won’t come back to haunt him, Robbie jogs out of the shop, around the corner, and comes to a stop in front of her. She regards him with utter bewilderment. She clearly hadn’t thought Robbie would follow her any more than he had.

“Tell me everything,” he says. “Starting with your name.”

This time, it’s not a stretch at all to say she smiles. “Daisy. My name is Daisy.”

[musings-of-a-rose]

Okay so for Robbie (Ghost Rider) x Reader, I was thinking where the reader was going after the Watchdogs and the reader got hurt in the process where Robbie see her and then they got into a slight argument where it is dangerous to go after the Watchdogs.

So a slight angst but fluff at the end. It’s fine that you don’t want to do this one.

Promise

Pairing: Robbie Reyes x f!reader

Word Count: 800+

Rating: Mature - 18+ ONLY!

Warnings: Just like ao3, “creator chooses not to use warnings.” If you click Keep Reading, that means you agree that you’re the age to handle mature themes. Also by clicking Keep Reading, you understand warnings may not be complete in order to avoid spoilers for the story. 

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**Reader is not described

Main Masterlist

Robbie Reyes Masterlist

Ok, I really fucked up this time. I had gotten some intel that a higher up member of the Watchdogs that I’ve been trying to find for months was meeting a weapons dealer in a warehouse across town. I probably should’ve planned this better, but it was last minute and I couldn’t wait. 

Which may cost me my life.

As I stare down the barrel of the gun pointed directly at my face, a man with a mask yelling at me to tell them who I work for, I find myself thinking of only him. Robbie Reyes. My Robbie, the love of my life. I should’ve listened to him when he told me to back down from chasing the Watchdogs, but I was so close. And here I am, about to die for nothing. I wish I could see Robbie one last time. I screw my eyes shut, waiting for the end. 

And then screams erupt from all around me, the sounds of people flying and hitting the various shelves and barrels stacked around, smacking against the floor. And the smell. Burning flesh as the screams are silenced one by one, the gunshots that had been going off slowing to a stop, the shells clinking to the cold, hard floor. I crack an eye open, already knowing who I’d see when my eyesight adjusts. A man with a flaming skull head approaches me, tossing a thick chain over his shoulder. He kneels in front of me, his dark eye sockets boring into my own eyes as the flames disappear and Robbie appears, grunting and shaking his head as his skin grows back, his deep eyes the last things I see before I black out.

—----

When I wake, I’m in his room, Robbie sitting next to me on the bed, checking over the bandages placed over various places on my body.

“How long was I out?” I croak, suddenly needing a glass of water. 

“A day or so. Doc checked you out. Slight internal bruising and a shit ton of external ones.”

I try to move and gasp at the pain. “Fuck you slight.”

“Why were you there?”

“You know why.”

“I told you not to go.”

I sigh. “I was so close, Robbie. I had to try-”

“No! You didn’t! You almost died today.”

“But I didn’t!”

He gets up, pacing the room like he does when he’s angry. “But you almost did! And where would that have left Gabe? Where would that have left me?”

“I…what does it matter? I’m trying to protect you both from them!”

Robbie slams his fist on his dresser and I jump at the sound. “I told you, I can take care of them!”

“But-”

He walks over to me, sitting on the bed directly in front of me. “No buts. I can take care of them but what I can’t do is lose you. I…I wouldn’t be half the man I am without you. I love you, chica. Isn’t that enough?”

Tears stream from my eyes and I suck in some air at the pain. “You are enough, Robbie. I just.. I didn’t want you to think I wasn’t useful.”

His eyes soften. “Not useful? Chica, you save my life every day by just being with me. I have no idea what I’ve done to deserve you, but I know I can’t live without you.”

“I love you too, Robbie.”

He cups my face, careful to not upset the bruising and scrapes littered across it. His eyes catch my gaze and I can feel the love pouring from him. “Can you promise me you’ll stop chasing them? If you hear something, you’ll tell me and I’ll- we’ll handle it?”

By we he meant the Rider and him and honestly, after nearly dying, this is an easy answer.

“Of course. I promise.”

“Thank you, chica.”

He cuddles in next to me, careful to avoid hurting me as I snuggle in next to him,  hand in his chest as I feel his heart beat and feel incredibly lucky to have him in my life.

—----

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[sprnklersplashes]

fic commissioned by @andforthecoating thank you for your donation to Operation Olive Branch

"gabe & natalie. prompt: gabe as a ghost (ambigious if he is or just a hallucination, like maybe he can move things but it might be her doing it idk) that Natalie starts to see/hear at some point in the show and some form of sibling bonding (he takes care of her/they have a talk/her emotions around what he means for the family)."

(ao3) fanfic fundraiser

The house is quiet.

It’s to be expected; it’s close to 2am when Henry drops her home. Every house in the street has lights switched off and curtains drawn. But her house has always felt different, right from when she learned how to recognise it. The rest of the street is quiet, but the silence in her house feels heavier.

Henry says goodnight with a kiss on her forehead. She doesn’t need to turn around to know that he’s lingering there as she opens the door, headlights on and engine softly running. 

So stupid, she thinks, as a faint blush creeps across her cheeks. So ridiculously stupid, she thinks as the smile on her face grows.

Boots in her hand, Natalie creeps through the hall and up the stairs. She’s still relatively new to this whole sneaking-back-after-curfew thing; before now, her late-night study sessions were confined to her bedroom. Still, she’s nothing if not a good student. Quiet on the balls of her feet, quick past her parents’ bedroom, opening her door carefully so it doesn’t creak.

Prom night begins to wear off as soon as she reaches her bed. It fades from her like rain running off a rooftop and she lets out a mighty yawn, limbs already sinking into the mattress. Her boots were tossed on the floor as she came in. Vaguely, she’s aware that she should take off her dress and probably her make-up too, but as her eyes fall closed she’s content with it being tomorrow’s problem. Half-wrapped in her duvet, she presses her face into the mattress, just inches away from sleep when-

��And what sort of time is this?”

Her eyes open.

Natalie bolts up, her thumping heart matched only by the echo in her head. Chest heaving, she scans her room as a small, hopeful voice asks if she imagined it. But she heard it, crystal clear. She couldn’t make that up.

As she reaches for the bedside lamp, the hair on her neck rises, the distinct feeling of being watched washes all over her. Her free hand grabs her purse and reaches for the pepper spray inside.

As soon as the light is on, she sees him. A figure stands against her closet. The scream is wrenched from her throat, and in her haste she forgets all about the pepper spray and chucks a pillow at him.

Her aim is off. It lands sadly just beside him. He looks down at it, bemused.

“Nice shot.”

“Who the fuck are you?” she hisses. “And how the hell did you get in my room?”

“Oh, you love the descriptors don’t you?” he asks wryly. “The fuck. The hell.” Natalie is sitting straight up, pepper spray hot in her hand, plans forming in her mind. She could blind him with the spray, then grab the alarm clock and bludgeon him with it. She could grab a belt or the cord for the curtain and tie his legs together. Yet as the plans pull together, he just looks at her, and in his gaze there’s a familiarity that holds her back. A small, adamant whisper of you know him.

He crosses the room, his gait brimming with false confidence. In the lamplight, she can see the deep brown eyes, dark hair sticking up in every direction. She sees that he can’t be much older than she is.

Then, he’s in front of her. She holds the pepper spray up, eyes bright and hand steady. He blinks, then reaches out. His hand slips through her hair, so light she doesn’t feel a thing. When he smiles, there’s a sadness in it.

“You look so like Mom,” he mumbles. She isn’t sure if he’s talking to her or himself.  

Natalie’s breath hitches, and all at once the realisation crashes over her, a tsunami wave against a tiny coastal town. Her head shakes because no, this is not-

She’s lost it. She has really, truly lost it. 

“Gabriel.” The syllables tremble on her tongue, as if they don’t want to come together. Gabriel smirks, then bows like he’s on stage. Natalie’s mouth hangs open, the sour aftertaste of his name lingering there. Carefully, the pepper spray lowers. 

They stand there, the silence so full that Natalie fears it will shatter. Gabriel rocks on his heels, his hands in his back pockets. 

He’s beautiful, Natalie can’t deny that. Long lashes and big doe eyes that would drive anyone wild. Dimples when he smiles and a face that’s almost angelic. There’s nothing of her in him; his skin is peachy where hers is pale, his eyes sparkle with no red anywhere. He’s handsome, just as mom always said he was. 

“You don’t look like your baby pictures.”

“Probably because I was a baby,” he says jovially. He speaks like it’s all one big game, which maybe it is to him. She doesn’t know how ghosts operate-if he is actually a ghost and not something conjured by her fucked-up mind. 

“You have questions.”

“Not really,” she says. It’s false. Sure she has questions, the main one being ‘what the fuck’. She also has several things she would like to say to him and the list grows longer by the second. She clears her throat, pushes her hair off her shoulder, and settles for the most obvious one. “Why are you here?”

Gabe folds his arms, his shoulders wriggle. He smiles so innocently, so easily. Like it means nothing to him. Like it’s obvious.

“Is it so wrong to want to see you?” he asks. “I kept trying to talk to you but I just couldn’t. You’re my sister after all. I want to talk to you.” The word sister feels more akin to a slap in the face. She flinches and Gabriel’s eyes widen. 

“You’re a pretty lousy brother,” she tells him. He scowls at that, like a kid being put in the corner.

“I mean… it was not my fault that I died, was it?” He gives a half-hearted shrug, face half-turned away. “Believe me, I was not planning on it.”

Everything hits her at once. Sixteen long, lonely years of living in this house, constantly cold in his shadow. Sixteen years of sitting like a forgotten book on a shelf and counting up every achievement and trophy in the hopes that they’d make her mother see her. Wandering the world like a ghost, like someone who was never fully born. Pausing her movie or closing her book because her mom was screaming downstairs. 

It rumbles, a thunderstorm in her chest, until her fingers shake and her heart is pounding and Gabe is looking at her with concern all over his perfect, lovely face.

She grabs the alarm clock from her dresser and chucks it. 

Gabe gasps and he ducks just a second before it hits him. The clock smacks into the wardrobe, the door shudders with the impact, then hits the floor. The back falls off, batteries roll out. The hands fall limply to one side. 

And then she’s crying. She’s crying because her alarm clock is broken. 

“Natalie?” There’s a knock at her door. Gabe freezes, his expression like a deer in headlights and at once, he dives to the floor and presses against the closet. Covered in shadows, Natalie can barely see him. All there is is the faint notion of him pleading with her. When she looks again, she sees him press a finger to his lips.

“Nat?” her dad asks again. She hastily wipes her face and rushes to the door, positioning herself so none of her room is visible. A voice whispers that she’s ridiculous, because if he looked in he’d find no-one there. But… look there’s only so much she can risk right now.

“You okay hon?” he asks. “I heard-I thought I heard you shouting.”

“I’m fine,” she replies. This part is easy. She’s become something of an expert at lying. “I-I saw a spider.”

“A spider?”

“Yeah.” She nods, taps her nails against the wood. “Really big one. I killed it though so it’s-it’s fine.” Her dad nods once, slowly, skepticism plain as day on his face. He studies her, sleep-heavy eyes drilling into her face. Natalie wonders what he sees when he looks at her. Gabe had said she looks like Mom. Does he see that too? The ghost of the woman he sacrificed everything to save? The ghost of Gabe? Did he ever look at her and see her?

“Well, good night then.”

“Good night Dad.”

She closes the door gently, with a soft and quick exhale.

Then she storms over to her bed, throws herself on it, and cries into her pillow. 

Fuck, she was meant to be done with this.

It’s not long before Gabe sits down beside her. She doesn’t exactly feel it, not in the normal way. The bed doesn’t sink under his extra weight. Instead she senses him, like a small pull in her chest. When she turns over, she finds him cross-legged atop the covers, elbows resting on his knees and picking at a loose nail. His head is slightly bowed, eyes half-obscured by his hair. He looks normal. He looks sad. 

“I hate you,” she mumbles. “I fucking hate you.”

“I know,” Gabe sighs. He pulls his knees to his chest and rests his chin on top of them. Guilt prickles against her skin and Natalie wants to scream because why should she feel bad? 

They sit there for a long time. It’s quiet enough that Natalie could fall asleep if she wanted to. She has a feeling Gabe wouldn’t stop her and that’s what keeps her awake. Whether he’s real or a dream or she’s just straight up crazy, she wants to see this to the end. 

“I was six when I found out about you,” Natalie croaks. “Because Mom forgot my birthday and then two months later she threw a party for you. I thought it was a make-up party for me but it-it was for you.” She sniffles. “Then when I was seven, I cut my hair real short. I figured since Mom had lost you I’d just look like you and give her you back.” She chokes, a ragged sob tears from her. “Mom took one look at me and ran out of the room crying.”

“I remember,” Gabe says weakly. She looks up at him, eyes blazing. Her hurt is a tangible thing; it hangs in the air like fog. “You wore hats for the rest of the year until it grew back.”

“What did you think?”

“I think you looked ridiculous with it,” he offers. And for some fucking reason, Natalie laughs. It’s a short-lived little thing, but it was there. Gabe pulls himself inward, his thumb rubs circles against his leg.

“I won’t lie to you,” he tells her. He curls in on himself, traces patterns on his jeans. “A lot of the time, I liked it. I liked when Mom looked at me instead of you. Hell, I pushed for it. Because if Mom was looking at me-it meant I was still alive.” He closes his eyes and breathes out. “It felt like I never died.”

“You did though,” she says. It’s so blunt and so cruel that she can’t quite believe she said it. “You died, Gabriel. And you were meant to stay dead.” She gasps, her chest and cheeks burning. The worst taste bitter and she spits them out. “It would’ve been better for everyone.” Hot tears roll down her face. “You ruined my fucking life and you want my sympathy?”

“I don’t want your sympathy,” he sighs. His head falls back, and the light catches the matching tears on his face. Natalie blinks. She didn’t know ghosts could cry. She doesn’t want him to cry.

“I never meant for any of this to happen.” His voice is hollow. “For this whole time, I never thought about what was happening to you. I just-” He swallows, shudders, looks down at his hands. “I was lonely. And I was angry.”

“Join the club.” It doesn’t come out quite as angrily as she meant it. Gabe looks at her, brown eyes so wide that she can’t breathe. At this moment, he doesn’t look like a monster or a ghost or a phantom; he looks seventeen. He looks like her brother. Natalie reaches for the hatred and the anger that she knows and it slips through her fingers.

Maybe she’s growing. Maybe she’s just tired.

“I’m so sorry, Natalie,” he says. And that squeezes her heart like a vice. It squeezes until the edges crack and the pain comes spilling out until it’s all over her and her bedsheets and it’s all over Gabe too, because he’s crawled over to her and his hand is on her shoulder and he’s sobbing with her. And she doesn’t want to push him away. She wants him to hold all over shattered pieces with her.

(How many times can a person be broken and rebuilt in one night?)

For a long, long moment, they’re silent. All they can hear is her beating heart and the catch in her breath and a car passing outside.

“I think in another life we were friends,” she says. Her voice breaks. She feels, rather than sees, Gabe’s smile. His shoulders sag, as if she took some weight from him.

“I hope so,” he mutters against her hair. It sounds real. He sighs, presses his weightless body into hers. Atop her covers, his fingers brush hers and while the physical sensation isn’t there, something else is. Something soft, warm, tickling her skin.

It feels like forgiveness. 

“Get some sleep, kiddo,” he tells her. “I’ll watch over you.”

“Creepy,” she mutters. Gabe averts his eyes as she steps out of her dress and dumps it on the chair. She pulls on a t-shirt and Gabe sits quietly as she scrubs off her make-up. He shuffles aside as she flips over the covers, her eyes half-closed. She’s almost certain that he won’t be there when she wakes up. 

“Hey,” she says. “One more question.”

“Of course.”

“Are you real?” She lifts her heavy head, forcing her eyes open. With tiredness blurring her vision, helooks more hazy. He could fade away in one blink. “Or am I actually crazy.”

Gabe chuckles, a warm, throaty sound. His fingers brush her hairline.

“Would you believe me if I said I don’t know?” 

“Yeah,” mumbles. Her eyes fall closed. “Yeah I would.”

Isn’t it a classic Goodman trait, to not know if you’re real or not?

She wakes late the next morning, when the sun is already blaring through her window. Her room is aglow, painted in yellows and oranges. 

The alarm clock is back on her table. The hands tick steadily.  The closet door is solid, intact.

Her blue dress is hanging against it, carefully pressed and her boots laid underneath. 

She smiles. 

[nerdthatsiriuslylovesteaxx]

Helpless part 26

He needed to try, the Ghost king shaked as he walked towards cabin 1, lifting his hand to knock, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He couldn't fucking admit it, was too much. He walked back to his cabin, sweating, shaking, in tears. He took out a back of cigarettes, breathing in the nicotine, letting the smoke fill his lungs. He had to try again, he knew he wouldn't live if he didn't, he wished he could die, but he couldn't leave Hazel alone, she didn't deserve to suffer. A small part of his brain wondered... she had Frank, Reyna and that other girl, what was her name? Lavinia? But he knew he needed to at least try, if only for his younger sister. Tears streamed down his face as he forced himself to walk to the Posidon cabin, he wasn't sure why but he felt like Percy would be easier to talk to. His hand shaked as he knocked on the door, he wanted to run away but he didn't let himself, he couldn't be weak. Percy opened the door, instantly pulling Nico inside. The Ghost king sat on the bed and in a voice that was barely louder than a whisper, though tear spoke."..H.. Help me... please, I-I can't let- Hazel... be alone."

"You'll be okay, I'll help you." He pulled the sobbing boy into a hug,

"I'm not even worth fucking helping."

"Nico, I know you've gone through a lot, but you can't give up on life. Everyone's worth saving."

"I'm a suicidal faggot who can't have half a normal conversation with living people and everyone hates me because my dad is the king of the Underworld."

"Shh.. I know it's been hard, I know everything seems to be against you, but things will get better."

"I'm a fucking freak, the only reason I'm not dead yet is because I didn't want to leave Hazel alone but who fucking knows, maybe she'd be better off without a brother that killed two people. I want to give up."

"I wanted to as well."

"What..?" Percy turned his arm around, revealing pale scars streaking up and down his arms. "But... Why? When?"

"Well..., a lot of them were from before I found out I was a demigod."

"Doesn't that mean you were..."

"Eleven? Yes, my step dad, he was a nightmare."

{Percy's memory's}

"Can't wait till the fall, you'll get out from under my roof again."

"You're not even employed, how is this your roof? And I got back yesterday, leave me alone."

"Now litsen here you son of a bitch, the only place you will ever get in that fucking life of your is jail. You can't even fucking spell, your grades are worse than a first grader that's how fucking retarded you are. Go fetch me a beer, that's the only thing you're good for anyways, your slut of a mother isn't around all day to get it for me."

"DON'T SAY A WORD ABOUT MY MOM!"

"Oh, you want to be a little bitch? I'll see how strong you are in three fucking minutes." I ran into to my room, desperately trying to lock the broken door. He walked inside, snapping the belt.

"Now you're going to learn to respect me you bitch." I didn't reply, I knew that would only make things worse than they already are. The leather hit my back, I didn't flich, I wanted to scream from the pain but I wouldn't let him break me. Again, I knew the routine. Punches, kicks, yelling, I had it memorised, same as every summer before, same as every day. He kicked me to the side of my room, locking it from the outside with a padlock.I wouldn't cry, I can't give him the satisfaction. My whole body burned, I look at the scars left by the studded leather belt, I wanted to add more. Who would care anyways? I had no friends, mom might have cared but she's barely around with how much she's working, Gabe would be happy if I were gone. I glace over at my arm where there were pale, jagged lines from last summer, some were my own work, some were from the empty, broken bottles he'd thrown at me. It's not like school was any better, they just kept it all hidden, they don't even fucking care, they just do it to make you think they do. They care just as much as every other school that kicked me out, they'd be happy it's one less person to be responsible for. I grab a knife I had hidden in the back of a drawer, I pull it across my wrist, letting the stinging pain take over me. Again, I wanted to feel the pain, again, I could fucking help it. Mom would be disappointed, but I can't keep fucking living like this. I hate my self, I hate my school and I just hate my fucking life. I hear the rattle of the lock, fuck, I needed to cover this up. It has to be mom, Gabe wouldn't let me out so quickly.

"Percy I'm home; for God's sake Gabriel you are not allowed to lock my son in his room! Remember I'm the one paying for th-... I'll talk to you later."

"S-sorry." I didn't know what to do, but for once, I let myself cry, for the first time since boarding school, first time since Gabe, first time since my life started going to shit.

Oh if only I knew what life going to shit was back then, Percy thought to himself. "Well... there were other reasons, I was bullied pretty badly for years and I didn't have very any friends before meeting Grover."

"You were eleven, and wanted to die?"

"It seemed easier than living at the time, but please trust me, it's worth living, things will start to look up."

"How- how did you stop?"

"My mom helped a lot, but I did have to go to therapy for a year after that."

"Did you ever do it after that?"

"Yeah, I only stopped because I knew my friends would die if I couldn't save them."

"But... why did you do it? Your life.. it was far from perfect, sure, but you're the Percy Jackson, most powerful demigod at camp half-blood, you're..."

"I thought I killed Annabeth."

"Was... that when I was there? With Bianca?"

"Yeah..., Nico the point of this, it doesn't make you any weaker, I know your life's been hard, but you'll always be worth saving. You might think that no one cares, but people care, and people will notice when you're gone, think of every life you've touched."

"Tell me about Luke."

"What?"

"Luke Castellan, tell me about him."

"He was a hero, taken advantage of by a titan yet people say he was evil because he didn't like he deadbeat dad. He was right about the fact-"

"-Before that. When you first met him, you loved him... didn't you? Tell me about the time before the prophecy."

"He- he was amazing, most talented swordsman I ever knew, incredible teacher, kind of every at camp, and he was one of the first people, ever who didn't give me shit from the day we met and yes I-I loved him. That's why I could never blame him for anything he did, not a second of it."

"Did he know?"

"I barely knew myself, but I think he did."

"Thank you for telling me, and... saying you would... help."

"Nico, course I would, you're like my brother." He pulled the younger boy into a hug, he heard him whisper something in italien before walking off. It sounded sort of sad, but Percy couldn't even remotely guess what the words meant.

***

[adambrainrot]

Hazbin hotel×Undertale AU (Guitarapple as Charisk) oneshot

The first fallen

Adam exited the elevator, he could feel Lucifer hesitantly following him.

Not natter how glad he felt at the moment... it also was conflicting for him. He was about to reach the barrier and the King. Part of him was happy. He was about to be able to go home..!

But at the same time, he knew he'd have to leave his friends, he made on his way here. And they'd still he stuck down here for who knows how long before somebody bad falls after him. Not to mention...

His hands thignened the grip around the frying pan, he's been carrying.

"Hey..." He heard Lucifer's soft voice from behind. "You seem a bit... tense..." He said. "Is that about what that Penny gal told you?"

Adam turned at him, but said nothing. He looked away. The ghost boy could feel the tension inside his friend. This was going to be a hard choice, after all...

A thought came into Lucifer's head, as he smiled softly.

"Hey, it's still a long walk before the castle... would you like a story in meanwhile?" He asked.

"A... story?" Adam looked surprised, before smiling a bit. "Um... sure. Honestly... I've been wondering about something... and there should be a story behind it..."

"Oh, then ask away!" Lucifee chuckled, his red eyes filled with excitement, that made the human child laugh.

Lucifer acted like this every time, Adam would ask him about the history of the Underground... well, he did suppose that Lucifer hadn't had anyone to talk to for awhile... finally having a company was abound to get him happy.

"Well..."

Adam sighed, leaning against the railings next to elevator.

"Everyone tells about how the King hates humans and wants to open the barrier. Cherri said he has six human souls already and mine would be the last one needed to destroy the barrier..." He said, trying to recall all the details of this mysterious King, he was hearing to many good and bad things about... and a meeting with who was approaching at rapid pace now.

"I wanted to ask, why did he start... killing humans? I mean... everyone says he wants to destroy humanity... but why didn't he do that when he had one soul? What Waterfall story said... combination of just one human soul with celestial gives you great power... so why is he still bidding this time down here? He could've long since gone out and got six other souls from humans, after getting first one..."

Lucifer looked at Adam with surprise, before his look saddened.

"Oh, this one is quite a tale!" The ghost laughed... but it wasn't a happy one, Adam noticed. "But it should be just a story for the occasion. Let's get started, shall we?"

Adam looked at Lucifer. He could pick up that something was bothering the other boy... but he nodded still.

And so, Lucifer started. "This is the story of the first fallen."

Adam started to walk down the path, listening to the other boy, who begun the tale.

(Start the music)

Once upon a time, a human fell into the Underground... that human was a child, he was about your age, Adam... injured by the fall, human called out for help.

Adam approached the house, on which was a welcoming note. It said "Good day! If you came to see me, find the keys in the kitchen and hallway."

Adam walked inside, before... he stepped back. He frowned, looking over the house.

'M... mom's place?' He thought.

It was an exact replica of Sera's house back in the Ruins... just in gray tones instead of yellow.

Then, help came. A young girl, the King's daughter came to human's aid. She took human to see King and Queen.

Adam look the key from the kitchen, listening to Lucifer's story. The revelation of both, a Queen and a Princess took him by surprise. The king has a wife? And a daughter? But nobody ever mentioned either of them... what was that about?

Adam walked into one of the rooms down the hall. Again, the same exact as the room, Mom Gabe him in the Ruins... but there were two beds in both further corners. And there were also two gifts on the ground. Both unpacked, the insides laying on the ground.

One had a kitchen knife. A new one, by the looks of it. Other one had a golden heart-shaped locket. Inside were a few dried and wilted petals of oh-so-familiar golden flowers. The yellow plants were all over the house, from what Adam noticed. He decided to grab them both.

Adam then looked at the bedsidetanle next to second bed... there was an old, faded picture of two children and, as he assumed, parents.

The adults' faces were out of frame, but he could make out a flower-patterned shirt and... a familiar dress.

"Mom..?" Adam asked, rasing eyebrow.

He remembered... the first human was taken to see both, King AND Queen... and it was Sera's dress... w... was Mom the Queen from the story? He did hear  people here say that celestial beings could live for a long time...

And Adam could tell Mom knows the King... after all, if she didn't, why would she lock herself up in Ruins and tell he was going to kill the fallen humans...

The king and queen nursed the young human back to health. They bonded to him as well... they cared for him as their own child.

Adam raised eyebrow at this, before he looked down at the children.

He could only make out face of a one kid. A girl, he assumed was the princess (Lucifer did refer to the fallen human as a 'he', so the girl must the the princess). She was smiling brightly, standing by her father, holding bunch of holden flowers in her hands. He could see traits of Mom in her... she had her eyes.

The other he assumed was the fallen human... he had his face hidden in same bunch of flowers as the princess. Perhaps he was camerashy?

Over time, Princess and Human became best friends. The kingdom was full of hope.

Adam smiled for a second, before it faltered. According to this story, it meant that Mom and King were in good relationship... and King had nothing against humans, if he was willing to adopt one as their child...

What happened here?

But then one day...

As he human boy walked down the stairs, Lucifer's tale somehow managed to gain a sober tone... it seemed like the ghost's voice fell into sadness.

The human fell ill.

Adam's eyes widened as he looked up onto the ghost child. Ill..?

No matter how King and Queen tried, they couldn't heal the human...  on his deathbed, the human had only one wish. To see the golden flowers in the town on Surface. But because of Barrier trapping us inside, that wish could not be fulfilled...

He died that night.

Adam stood in the hallway. The first huma... died because of illness? Was it what caused King's anger towards humans? No, it couldn't be... everyone said he was a peaceful man... even if he got this attached to the fallen child, it was just illogical to want to destroy humanity because one died due sickness...

The brunette continued to listen to the story. Lucifer seemed to be pleased with it, but he seemed to be too involved into this story.

Consumed by her grief, Princess absorbed the human's soul... she became a being of great power. She picked the human's body and crossed the barrier, carrying her friend into the sunset, right into the human town. Upon reaching the town, Princess found the bed of golden flowers. Princess carried the human onto it...

Adam walked out the hallway, seeing something jist within walking distance... but he didn't care for this, he was consumed by Lucifer's story... something was telling him a turn was going to happen in just few seconds...

Suddenly, screams rang out. The villagers saw Princess holding the human's body. They thought that she had killed the child.

Adam's eyes widened at the statement. Well... as much as he didn't want to admit anyone could be able of such assumptions... he could see how that happened.

The humans attacked her with everything they had. She was struck with blow after blow.

Adam still watched the ghost child, as if quietly asking 'What happened? Why didn't Princess defend or attack back?'. Lucifer looked at Adam with a sad smile, as he wiped away his own tear from his face.

Princess had the power to destroy them all. But... she did not fight back... she didn't want to fight anyone... she was only here to fulfill her friend's final wish.

Adam's own eyes fell as he walked. He was just few feet away from the entrance to the castle.

Clutching the human... She smiled, and walked away. Wounded, Princess stumbled home. She entered the castle and collapsed. The stardust spread across the garden.

Silence.

The kingdom fell into despair. The king and queen had lost two children in one night.

Adam was still looking at Lucifer... the Celestial Princess... she just wanted to do good thing... to give her friend what he wished for... and then getting killed?

Humans could be ruthless, he knew of that. He grew up around them, after all...

The humans had once again taken everything from us. The king decided it was time to end our suffering.

And it meant the new war... why King wants to kill humans... why Mom left to Ruins... looking back, he didn't feel like he could blame either of them... they were heartbroken... losing two children in the same day.

Every human who falls down here must die.

He knows it. Everyone wants it.

With enough souls, we can shatter the barrier forever.

They could now... and Adam is the key to achieve that.

It's not long now.

Adam was the final, seventh human. His soul would be the final needed for it.

King will let us go. He remembered people would say when he met them. King will give us hope. They continued excitedly. King will save us all.

You should be smiling, too. Aren't you excited? Aren't you happy?

Lucifer's voice felt so distant... as if he separated from him... but Adam still seemed like he didn't know it.

You're going to be free.

The ghost finished his tale as the eighth and final fallen human walked inside the King's castle...

His old home...

The first fallen didn't follow him. He didn't have it to enter... not after what he caused...

'Lily...' He whispered softly, holding onto his sweater. 'If you're here... give a sign...'

What Lucifer failed to see... was a single golden flower sneaking inside the castle...

[solrika]

A snippet of conversation between Cole and Jack, post-recall. Implied r76 and spuriken, but it's not the focus.

~

Jack wakes up with a startle, and Cole barely manages to dodge his flailing arm. Later, Jack will blame the lack of a connecting strike on his headache, the empty bottles rolling under his cot. Now, he just groans, wishing he was still dreaming. 

“Good morning to you, too.” Cole glances at the afternoon sun inching across the floor. “Well. For a given value of morning.”

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“I had some time off from babysitting.” Toeing at an empty bottle, Cole adds, “You look like shit.” 

Jack feels like shit, and the aggressive cheerfulness that Cole is radiating doesn’t help. “Do you do this to Ga–Reyes, too?” 

“Nah, he’s not as dramatic as you are–” a blatant lie, if Jack’s ever heard one, “--not as fun to bother. And besides, he pops in on his own.”

Jack stares. “He pops in?”

Cole shrugs. “At first I was worried–thinking he was gonna play la lechuza to get back at you–but you care more about chasing a ghost than watching over the kids. They’re not interesting to you, so he doesn’t care.” Cole’s lips quirk in a painful mirror of Gabriel’s mocking smile. “Guess your days of helping the new recruits are over, huh, Morrison?”

“They have you, don’t they?” Jack spits, rubbing at his pounding head. Rolling upright, he adds, “Cassidy, what the fuck do you want?”

“Maybe I just want to visit.” Cole makes a show of looking around the dusty room. “Genji was right. Should’ve brought a housewarming gift.” He kicks at the nearest cot leg, and it nearly goes out from under Jack’s ass. “Shit’s downright depressing.” 

Rolling his eyes, Jack heaves himself upright. “So you’re just here to bother me.” His clothes need washing, but he ignores the stink and pulls on his shirt from last night. Gabriel would have a fit, but, well, Gabriel’s not here to object anyway. 

“Eh.” A little hand wiggle. “Someone’s gotta make sure you’re still alive.” 

“I’ve got Ana.”

“She’s going to lose patience with you soon.” The mocking smile turns sharp enough to cut. “Reyes was the only one who could put up with your shit, after all.” 

Jack’s fingers tighten on his pistol hard enough the casing creaks. “If you’re just going to fucking needle me–” 

A derisive snort. Cole rummages in his pockets, and comes up with a datadrive painted a cheery purple. Waggling it like a tempting treat, he says, “If you can pull your head out of your ass long enough to help out Sojourn while I chase my own leads, I got something nice for you.”

Eying the drive like it’ll bite, Jack mutters, “Ask Genji. Or Reinhardt.”

Rolling his eyes, Cole says, “Reinhardt needs the most babysitting out of all of them. And Genji’s coming with me. As if you don’t know.”

The headache is already burning away, but it doesn’t stop the mean curl of Jack’s lips. Now it’s his turn to be cutting, and he replies, “I didn’t, actually. I thought he was with that omnic monk now. Wanted someone more introspective–”

Cole just rolls his eyes, and waggles the drive harder. “Off your game, old man.”  

Jack was tired of this game before it even started. He makes a grab for the drive, but Cole twists out of the way with Gabriel’s prenatural grace. “Ah, ah. It’s a trade, Jackie, not a gift. Gotta think of the kids first.”

The words burn. As they’re meant to–all of Gabe’s old anger steeped in new offense, and filtered through a cowboy-shaped lens. 

“I don’t owe you anything,” Jack scrapes out, watching the drive. They both know he could take it in a true fight, his strength enough to leave Cole with a shattered forearm and fingers. They also both know there’s no way Jack could face crippling Gabriel’s favorite student.  “I don’t owe them anything.” 

Cole blows out an exasperated breath, and at least this time the movement is all his own. “Try again.” 

“Fine.” Jack throws up his arms. “Fine!” 

“Thankya kindly.” Cole bows, does something with his hands that flourish the drive back out of sight. “And you’ll get that once I’m back.” 

This time, Jack considers just taking the damn thing a little more seriously. “That wasn’t the deal.”

Cole’s smile reminds him of a coyote. “I know better than to let you weasel your way back to this hole, Morrison.” Dusting off his hands, he adds, “The kids are waiting for you in Gibraltar. Be seeing you in a couple weeks.” Executing a perfect parade turn, he starts for the door. 

“That’s it?” Jack asks his retreating back, incredulous. “That’s fucking it?”

“Of course not,” Cole throws over his shoulder. “I’m leaving some tea for Ana.”

“I hate you,” Jack snarls, and begins throwing his clothes into his bag with barely-concealed aggression. 

“Right back atcha,” Cole sings, syrupy sweet, and escapes out the door.

[bumblepony]

for the EOY asks: 7. Comfort character to create for, 16. Something interesting you researched as part of the process, and 25. A scene or image that lives rent-free in your head (maybe one of your own and one from another writer or artist)

7. Comfort character to create for - Tommy. I just love Tommy. He is so nuanced. Kindhearted but broken, angry but hopeful, sweet but dangerous. I love HBO Tommy, Gabe just eats the scenes he is in, but I am so looking forward to seeing him in season 2 because Jeffery does such an amazing job as him in part 2, and I want to see how Gabe handles those scenes. When he shoots, you know who, just so calm and collected, walking across the background like it's nothing, ugg, I am lost. So yeah, Tommy is my go-to comfort guy.

16. Something interesting you researched as part of the process - Oh it has to be the Ham radio research I did for Ghost Repeater. That was a lot of fun. I know nothing about radio operating, so looking into the community and the logistics of how you use them was very interesting.

25. A scene or image that lives rent-free in your head (maybe one of your own and one from another writer or artist) - One of my own is from Bonita Means Pretty (little smutty sorry guys)

He doesn’t think about the fact that they’re in a chapel while she’s unbuckling his pants and pulling down his boxers. He doesn’t think about the fact that there’s a crucifix of Jesus hanging right behind her back when she pulls off her panties to hang off one ankle and crawls over the top of him to sit in his lap. He doesn't think about the pain of the hard pew in front of him banging into his knees when she’s moving on top of him.

The only thing he can think about is how good her breasts feel in his hands when she pulls them up from her back and places them there, telling him to squeeze. He thinks about how pretty her hair looks, bouncing on her back, and how bright her gold earrings glow in the candlelight.

I had this idea in my mind of Joel and his first time, and I just had to get it out, and now it lives there forever.

For someone else, it has to be @march-flowerr 's matter and matrix, mother and medium

Tommy is angrily mopping suds, his wet jeans dragging on the floor. He turns when Joel comes out of Sarah’s room, and for a second, Joel sees him as he really is - his little brother, less than a year out from losing their mom, barely four months out of high school. He’s still all skinny knees and false swagger and puppy dog eyes and for a second, it breaks Joel’s heart. He takes the mop from Tommy, jerks his head towards the hallway. 

Just this moment of Joel seeing his little brother for what he is and really feeling it, lives inside my head.

[sarifinasnightmare]

Seeking Warmth

Rating: For Everyone

Summary: Bucky is usually the one waking Sarah up with his nightmares. Tonight it's the other way around.

Warning: Deals with grief over a loved one.

Prompt: Tell me a story...I don't know any stories.

Sarah woke up gasping with tears streaming down her face. Quickly she tried to stifle her sobs, but it was too late, Bucky was already awake and staring down at her with great concern.

“What happened?” He asked, checking her over. Usually, it was him that woke up, sweaty and stressed from his nightmares. Tonight, it was the other way around and honestly, he didn’t really care for it.

The strong, indomitable part of herself wanted to wipe her tears away and assure him that it was just a nightmare and she was fine, but her heart was still aching and the tears weren’t stopping, so she just let herself weep.

“Sarah?” He asked more gently as he reached out to rest his hand over the one she hand laying over her chest.

“I…” she tried to gather her thoughts, but it was tough as the painful memory clung to her. “…I begged him not to leave me…I know I should’ve…go in peace…but I was in so much…pain…”

Understanding, Bucky reached over and pulled her into his arms as the bitter memory of her husband’s death overwhelmed her. From what he’d been told, Cassius had put off seeing the doctor until the pain had become unbearable and by then the diagnosis came too late. He’d died so quickly that it had left his beloved Sarah grief stricken and in utter shock. Like him, the trauma never truly healed, but was set aside only to emerge like a ghost in the night.

“Just cry it out.” He soothed her gently. “I’m here.”

“He told me he was sorry. He wished he had done things different.” She sighed. “I had to pretend that I was strong, that I could handle doing it on my own just to put him at ease.” She shook her head. “I wasn’t…I was so…angry…and scared…he promised to grow old with me and he…lied.”

“You still angry?” He asked curiously.

For a moment she said nothing, just buried her face against his soft blue shirt. “Maybe bitter. I mean, all of this could’ve been avoided and he’d still be here watching our boys grow, helping me with the house, the business…I wouldn’t have this hole…”

“It’s because I asked about marriage isn’t it? You’re afraid that I’m going to leave you like your husband did.”

They had been dating for years now and Bucky was completely invested in Sarah, Cass and AJ. He had broached the topic to her expecting some excitement, but instead had received a timid response begging him to let her think about it.

Sarah felt fresh tears of frustration spill out. “I want to say yes. I’m aching to say yes, but the memories hurt so much. Bucky, I love you, I do, please believe me.”

He kissed her precious face and squeezed her tight against him. “I know you love me. I’m so lucky that you love me and I love you so much that sometimes I can’t see straight.”

“How can you love someone whose too scared to get married again?”

He sighed, staring down at her sad brown eyes and kissed her forehead. “I have so much baggage and so do you. I pushed too soon and I’m sorry for that. You and the boys are all that I need, and I shouldn’t need a ring and a paper to confirm it.”

“You deserve it, Bucky. After everything, you deserve to get exactly what you want.” She insisted.

 “I got what I want. I’m not mad, promise.” He smiled warmly at her. “Please don’t cry.”

It was still too raw, and she sighed. “Make me forget…Tell me a story.”

Bucky frowned a little. “I don’t know any stories.”

Now she frowned. “Was it all so miserable for you back then? You had no happy moments?”

“I mean no, but so much is a blur…I do remember my childhood and days during the war.” Suddenly the corner of his lips lifted. “I just remembered.”

“What?”

“It was during the war, and I was with my unit. The weather was so cold, the coldest I’d ever felt in my life and we were all freezing our asses off. Many of us huddled together sharing blankets. Gabe was always warm blooded, so he was fairing slightly better and was trying to sleep. Jim was a popsicle and had rested against Gabe to get some warmth. Dum Dum noticed the cuddle fest and decided to start telling this dirty story about him and some girl he met at a bar. It was just getting good when all of sudden Gabe flipped out on Jim and was like yelling, Hell no, Jim, what the hell! and Dum Dum was laughing hysterically. It took me a minute to realize that Jim really liked the story and Gabe felt it.”

Sarah snorted then giggled, making Bucky grin triumphantly.

“They’re all a bunch of idiots, but they were great guys. I miss them.” He added, soothing away a lingering tear from her cheek. “I can tell you more. I remember one time with Pinkerton, a girl and a tank.”

“Maybe later.” Sarah smiled faintly. “Where did you met girls during a war. I imagined it was all fighting.”

“Well when Steve joined us we got a little more down time and there were a lot of cute nurses and secretaries.”

“Any caught your eye?” She pressed her cheek against his hand, finding comfort in his warmth.

“A few, but none like you.” He admitted before kissing her nose.

“You don’t have to say that. I bet they were beautiful with their red lipstick and fitted uniforms.”

“Well yeah but they’re still not you. I love you.”

Her heart swelled and her smile grew stronger. “I love you too. Hold me tight. I don’t want to feel alone.”

“I’m here.” He promised, clutching her to him as he pulled the sheets to cover them both. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

Soothed, Sarah drifted off, confident that Bucky would keep the nightmares at bay.

[pregnantsecondo]

how does one get into ghost Lore..

what i know so far

im.. pretty sure they arent brothers?

theres one of them who ISNT ghoulish looking. i think hes a gargoyle

is the makeup canon or are they like, drag? is it rude to aknowledge they arent skeletons?

why are they skeletons if the bands name is ghost?

how did this happen

regards, gabe

Hi. Funniest ask in the world. Let me explain.

Papa I (Primo), Papa II (Secondo), Papa III (Terzo), and Papa IV/Cardinal Copia are all brothers. Their father is Papa Nihil and Copia's mother is Sister Imperator.

Not sure what you mean "isn't ghoulish looking" Perhaps you're talking about Cardinal Copia who doesn't have the Papa Makeup.

Its makeup. I guess it's like drag. I think of it like drag. But they aren't actual skeletons. There is a ghost in the lore but it's Nihil.

Idfk why it's called Ghost. There's a ghost. He can shart. Here is the YouTube playlist of the chapters that have a good amount of lore. As for the lore not addressed...well...I just picked that up from being on Tumblr. Mostly through grainy videos and gif sets and theory posts.

[keyblade-knights-blog]

Introducing Tamiel

"What was with the shouting?? That's it! I'm coming in!" Both the Dreamer and Gabriel jump as that voice gives it's final warning, something on the other side turning the door knob. Gabriel looks into the mirror and quickly shushes the alien figure in it. "Don't say anything, I don't want her to worry. Let ME do the talking." ... A moment later, the alien reflection vanishes and Gabriel's is left in it's place. At the same time, the whispers of strange thought quiet in his head.

And when the door opens, a new figure walks in. A young girl about the robot boy's age. Where the boy wore a simple cap to hide most of his hair however, this one let her wiry but somehow full head of blonde hair, dressed in reds similar to the young man, and decked out in steam punk looking gear here and there as well. "Pfft, what's taking so long lazy bum~?" Gabe lets out a fond sigh. "Good Morning Tamiel."

Tamiel? .... Huh. And Gabriel. For whatever reason, the Dreamer was starting to pick up a theme here. "It's Tammy, Gabby! Tammy!" The girl puffs out her cheeks, and the motion looks so fluid and so fleshy, that the dreamer briefly forgets, in spite of the copius amounts of evidence provided, that this girl is made of metal. "You really gotta stop using the full name thing. The only one 'round here who should be saying 'Gabriel' or 'Tamiel' should be dad." The robotic fem huffs and looks around. "BUT, more importantly, I heard shouting. Is everything alright?" "OH UH THAT. UH... Let's see uh...." This poor kid starts to very clearly flounder, and it becomes apparent to the Dreamer that Gabriel has never lied even once in his entire life. There isn't even a single idea tinging up in his brain that could plausibly explain the shout. ... So that's when the Dreamer comes in. "OH RIGHT! Meh, it wasn't anything too serious... Just uh.. Just somehow got grime in a place I didn't know I had." The excuse he fires out? It was clear the Dreamer had been INTENDING to imitate Gabe's voice with a simple impression... And yet it almost FEELS like he had briefly taken control of Gabriel's voice box a few times in there. ... He could TELL Gabe wanted to glare at him. But Tamiel just titters. "Oh is THAT all~? Well I guess that'll teach you not to jump into Ole Mr. Grinder's dump again~." Gabriel takes over from there, "I JUMPED IN TO GET BACK THAT PART YOU DROPPED!!" Ah, the exasperation of a flustered brother~. And the mischievous tittering of a younger sister. It was honestly cute~. "Well WHATEVER Mr. gross~." Tammy continues giggling, fit to burst for a good few seconds before she regains control of herself. "Dad's ready if you are! He wants to give us both a check up before we rush out to do work around town!" With that said, she backs up to the door. "Don't keep us waiting anymore! You've already slept in by a lot!" And with that? Tamiel takes her leave out the door, leaving Gabriel alone in his room. ".... How did you do that?" Gabriel shoots out, sounding terrified at even the POTENTIAL answers. "... Well, honestly, I was just trying to do an impression of you to help you out... And for whatever reason it just... Came out as your voice-?" Gabriel turns to the mirror to give it a flat look.

The young dreamer in the mirror just blushes a bit. "I'm sorry! I swear I didn't mean to take over your voice box too~..." ... Gabriel just lets out a groan. "WHATEVER... Well, hopefully my Dad'll be able to make heads or tails of you." His smile becomes wide and victorious. "He's the smartest guy on the Spaceport and he knows everything! I'm sure he can make sense of it~!" ... Spaceport? "Hold on... Gabriel right? Where... Exactly are we?" That causes the robot to look confused. "Wait... You don't know? I thought you might've been some kind of ghost or somethin... But you don't even know that? Weird..." He grumbles as he walks to the window. "Well whatever. You're currently on-" Then he opens the window. -------------------------------------------- ... And Words? Words do not even begin to describe the sight that awaits outside that window.

-------------------- Title Card Reference: [ https://youtu.be/tWDv7ZQ9v8A?si=tzSedq2bRZ4OAOOv ]

[richincolor]

New Releases for the Week of 2/27/23

Chaos Theory by Nic Stone Crown Books for Young Readers

DETACHED Since Shelbi enrolled at Windward Academy as a senior and won’t be there very long, she hasn’t bothered making friends. What her classmates don’t know about her can’t be used to hurt her–you know, like it did at her last school.

WASTED Andy Criddle is not okay. At all. He’s had far too much to drink. Again. Which is bad. And things are about to get worse.

When Shelbi sees Andy at his lowest, she can relate. So she doesn’t resist reaching out. And there’s no doubt their connection has them both seeing stars . . . but the closer they get, the more the past threatens to pull their universes apart.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Nic Stone delivers a tour de force about living with grief, prioritizing mental health, and finding love amid the chaos.

The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa Random House

On Mar León-de la Rosa’s 16th birthday, el Diablo comes calling. Mar is a transmasculine nonbinary teen pirate hiding a magical ability to manipulate fire and ice. But their magic isn’t enough to reverse a wicked bargain made by their father and now el Diablo has come to collect his payment: the soul of Mar’s father and the entire crew of their ship.

When Mar is miraculously rescued by the sole remaining pirate crew in the Caribbean, el Diablo returns to give them a choice: give up your soul to save your father by the Harvest Moon or never see him again. The task is impossible–Mar refuses to make a bargain and there’s no way their magic is any match for el Diablo. Then, Mar finds the most unlikely allies: Bas, an infuriatingly arrogant and handsome pirate — and the captain’s son; and Dami, a genderfluid demonio whose motives are never quite clear. For the first time in their life, Mar may have the courage to use their magic. It could be their only redemption — or it could mean certain death. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury Margaret K. McElderry Books

Daisy sees dead people—something impossible to forget in bustling, ghost-packed Toronto. She usually manages to deal with her unwanted ability, but she’s completely unprepared to be dumped by her boyfriend. So when her mother inherits a secluded mansion in northern Ontario where she spent her childhood summers, Daisy jumps at the chance to escape. But the house is nothing like Daisy expects, and she begins to realize that her experience with the supernatural might be no match for her mother’s secrets, nor what lurks within these walls…

A decade later, Brittney is desperate to get out from under the thumb of her abusive mother, a bestselling author who claims her stay at “Miracle Mansion” allowed her to see the error of her ways. But Brittney knows that’s nothing but a sham. She decides the new season of her popular Haunted web series will uncover what happened to a young Black girl in the mansion ten years prior and finally expose her mother’s lies. But as she gets more wrapped up in the investigation, she’ll have to decide: if she can only bring one story to light, which one matters most—Daisy’s or her own?

As Brittney investigates the mansion in the present, Daisy’s story runs parallel in the past, both timelines propelling the girls to face the most dangerous monsters of all: those that hide in plain sight. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran Bloomsbury YA

When Jade Nguyen arrives in Vietnam for a visit with her estranged father, she has one goal: survive five weeks pretending to be a happy family in the French colonial house Ba is restoring. She’s always lied to fit in, so if she’s straight enough, Vietnamese enough, American enough, she can get out with the college money he promised.

But the house has other plans. Night after night, Jade wakes up paralyzed. The walls exude a thrumming sound, while bugs leave their legs and feelers in places they don’t belong. She finds curious traces of her ancestors in the gardens they once tended. And at night Jade can’t ignore the ghost of the beautiful bride who leaves her cryptic warnings: Don’t eat.

Neither Ba nor her sweet sister Lily believe that there is anything strange happening. With help from a delinquent girl, Jade will prove this house—the home her family has always wanted—will not rest until it destroys them. Maybe, this time, she can keep her family together. As she roots out the house’s rot, she must also face the truth of who she is and who she must become to save them all. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

The Headmaster’s List by Melissa de la Cruz Roaring Brook Press

One of them was driving. One of them was high. One of them screamed. And one of them died.

When fifteen-year-old Chris Moore is tragically killed in a car crash, Argyle Prep is full of questions. Who was at the wheel? And more importantly, who was at fault?

Eighteen-year-old Spencer Sandoval wishes she knew. As rumors swirl that her ex, Ethan, was the driver that fateful night, she can’t bring herself to defend him. And their messy breakup has nothing to do with it – she can’t remember anything from that night, not even what put her in that car with Ethan, Chris, and Tabby Hill, the new loner in school. Was it just a night out that went very wrong? And is it just a coincidence they were all part of Argyle’s esteemed honor roll, the Headmaster’s List? In a place ruled by pedigree and privilege, the answers can only come at a deadly price.

Set against the glitz and glamour of an elite LA private school, Melissa de la Cruz’s first YA thriller is an addictive mystery perfect for fans of Gossip Girl and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.

[samwpmarleau]

fic: beware the jabberwock

whumptober day 6: regret masterlist: tumblr, ao3 Created by Dark Dimension magic, the Framework is a world all its own — which means it can be portaled to like any other.

Dr. Elias Morrow dies in an industrial accident, leaving his modest estate to his two nephews, Roberto, twenty-three, and Gabriel, twelve.

At least, that’s what Robbie gleans from snooping. Though, does it really count as snooping if it’s technically your house? It’s jarring, waking up in a bed that’s his own, yet not his own. He doesn’t recognize his bedroom, nor the rest of the house. It’s nice, nicer than his actual home, that’s for sure. There are no engine parts strewn on the kitchen table or car manuals on the bookshelf.

No, that’s not entirely true. There are car manuals — but they clearly haven’t been touched in years. On the table instead are books of concepts and blueprints way beyond his understanding, which Robbie at first assumes belong to Gabe. Then he sees the framed diploma on the wall: It’s his name on there, Caltech conferring upon him a master’s cum laude in mechanical engineering.

It makes his head spin a bit, until he remembers Gabe’s voice from long ago in quite literally another world.

How come you didn’t go back and finish school? We’re doing okay now. If you went back, maybe you could be an engineer, like Tío.

“An engineer …” he mutters to himself, running his fingers down the wooden frame.

He takes in the other photos scattered around the living room. Many are the same: Mom, Dad, Uncle Eli, him at high school football practice, Gabe at a science fair. One in particular catches his eye, however, of what appears to be his graduation. Various colored tassels hang around his neck as he rests his hand on the back of Gabe’s wheelchair. It gives him pause. He’d have thought that if Robbie — this Robbie — did go back and finish school, there’d have been no accident. That his path, and Gabe’s, would’ve been set on too different a course to end up on that same stupid road. No accident, no paralysis, no Ghost Rider.

A regular accident, then? Maybe Gabe was in the car with Mom and Dad when it crashed and survived where they didn’t. Or maybe it was the same as in the real world, except Robbie’s injuries hadn’t been fatal, so he’d had no occasion to beg the universe for help? Or was it none of those things and Gabe had simply been born that way?

Five minutes he’s been in this world and he’s already frustrated. It’s disconcerting to not know even the most basic of facts about his life.

The Rider had warned him about this, that this world could be alluring. Distracting. In fact, this was the exact reason the Rider didn’t want him to go into this dimension in the first place, seeing as how he could not follow. The constructed world was nearly perfect — but it existed in a reality all its own without a hell for a demon to attach itself to. At least, the Rider was not willing to gamble his own existence by jumping into a dimension that might swallow him whole.

Robbie himself, however, mortal and moping, the Rider was reasonably sure could survive if he were careful.

Which had felt so utterly patronizing that Robbie had walked through the portal mid-warning. Besides, it wasn’t like he could just not come. He wasn’t about to let a robot armed with the Darkhold have free rein over the people he’d come to consider … well, not friends, really, but coworkers. Allies.

The crux of it all is that regardless of what the intrepid S.H.I.E.L.D. team is or isn’t, they’re people he’s honor-bound to rescue. Maybe they can do it themselves — but he’s not about to take the chance that they can’t, that they’ll be trapped in this place forever under Aida’s thumb to do with what she will. Robbie knows all too well what it is to be someone’s puppet. If he can spare others that fate, he’ll do it no matter how strange or dangerous the circumstances.

The smell of smoke hitting his nose brings him out of his ruminations. He looks down to see it seeping from beneath his fingers, the wooden picture frame beginning to char. He drops it in alarm, glass shattering upon impact with the floor.

Robbie stares at his hands. Though there’s no active flame, he can feel the power running through his veins. It’s not exactly the same as he’s used to, like drinking off-brand Coke, but it’s close enough.

He doesn’t understand. The Rider had said this world couldn’t accommodate him, and Robbie doesn’t feel him inside his head, so how …?

Robbie jumps at the sound of a phone ringing. He reaches into his pocket for his cell, and finds nothing. The ring is coming from the kitchen wall — an honest-to-god landline. No bells or whistles, not even caller ID. Tabling the power mystery for later, he picks up the handset.

“Hello?”

“Robbie! Glad I caught you. You headed into work yet?”

He doesn’t remotely recognize the voice, nor does he have the slightest clue where “work” is. “Uh, no, not yet. What do you need?”

“One of the guys called out, some family emergency, and half the DMV metro has decided to have car troubles today. Mind filling in for old times’ sake?”

“Fill in as … a mechanic?”

“You said if I ever needed a favor —”

“Yeah, that’s fine, just …”

He has no idea if it’s fine. For all he knows, wherever he works would cap him for missing a day. But that’s a bridge he’ll cross when he gets to it. Fixing up some rides would not only be a welcome return to form but give him ample opportunity to learn some more about this place.

“Can you give me that address again?” he asks.

“You serious?”

“Moved on to bigger and better things, man, what can I say?”

After some indignation, the guy on the other end does give him the address. Robbie manages to find a map of D.C. in his office and charts the route to the shop.

The Charger sitting pretty in his avatar’s garage is a sight for sore eyes. Apart from having apparently been retrofitted with seatbelts, she looks the same. Sounds and feels the same, too, as he starts her up and eases out onto the road. While using a portal for transportation has its novelty and convenience, there’s nothing quite like the rough purr of his baby’s engine.

The only thing that mildly dampens his enjoyment is the realization that if ever there were a time to obey the speed limit, it’d be now. With the Rider, having a lead foot never mattered — the power that imbued the Charger with regenerative capabilities and pyrokinesis also prevented cops from noticing her speed.

Now, he’s got no demon to fend off law enforcement, and although he doesn’t know what the penalty here is for speeding, he assumes it’s more than a fine. Which is heat he definitely doesn’t need. He’s got a mission to carry out.

The farther he drives, the more he decides speed isn’t the issue anyway. It’s the surroundings. Everything is gray and uniform, with HYDRA symbols stamped on every available surface. Electronic highway signs tell people to report their neighbors. Dilapidated neighborhoods are a dime a dozen. Even the few people that actually walk the streets look miserable. The only familiar thing about any of it is that his car gets double-takes of admiration. He wonders if his avatar had gotten special dispensation to keep it. There is very little variety in the other cars he passes.

He walks into the shop with what he hopes exudes confidence, even as he takes in with disgust all the HYDRA propaganda posters littered on the walls. Required reading, no doubt.

“Reyes!” comes a voice across the shop. Its owner Robbie recognizes in person no more than he did over the phone. With a proffered uniform, the man greets, “Appreciate the help. Got a full slate for you as soon as you get dressed.”

Robbie nods, then heads into the back room to change. He hopes he can get the lay of the land quick enough to point him in the direction of how to find the team. If HYDRA’s running the show, he doubts S.H.I.E.L.D. will be up and running out in the open, which means it’ll take precious time to figure out where they are.

—

“A flat tire?” Robbie blinks in bewilderment as Phone Man — whom Robbie has since learned is named Perry — tells him the reason for pulling him from an accident repair job. “That’s what you’re sending me out on a call for?”

“What, you’re too good for it?” says Perry, frazzled and perturbed. “The call came from a HYDRA number, it’s top priority.”

If Robbie never hears the word HYDRA again after all this is over, it’ll be too damn soon.

“All right, I’m going, I’m going.”

The address leads him to a deserted stretch of highway outside the city, which makes him a little apprehensive. It doesn’t seem like a normal place a HYDRA agent would be. Then again, even after several hours of being in the shop conversing with both ex-work buddies and customers alike, the biggest things he’s gathered are that this world well and truly sucks, and that HYDRA has a habit of popping up when it’s most inconvenient for its citizens.

The vehicle is easy to spot, at least, halfway onto the road’s narrow shoulder and predictably emblazoned with HYDRA’s ostentatious sigil. A young woman leans against the side, looking annoyed rather than concerned or in trouble. Maybe he can delay, ask her some questions. While it’s been a good decade since he’s had reason to charm anyone, he can give it a shot.

“Need some help, ma’am?” he asks cheerily as he approaches with a toolbox. “We got a … call …”

He stares at the woman, stunned. She stares back at him, equally so. Because it’s not just a woman, it’s Daisy. She looks different, hair past her shoulders with a drab wardrobe and distinctly less eyeliner, but it’s unmistakably her. He’d know her anywhere.

“Robbie?”

She recognizes him, too, then. Thank Christ.

Dryly, he replies, “Surprise.”

“Wait … you’re you? Real world you?”

“Yeah, I’m me. Mostly.”

“How? And what do you mean ‘mostly’?”

“Long story. Short version, I’m here to help.”

“That’s the best news I’ve heard in months,” Daisy says with a tired yet brilliant smile. “God, I can’t wait to see Aida’s ass get lit up.”

If only.

“About that … Ghost Rider’s not in the building.”

“Excuse me?”

“Part of that long story. I was able to portal to this dimension, but he couldn’t.”

Daisy grimaces. “Not gonna lie, it would’ve been useful to have that firepower.”

“Well,” Robbie says, trying not to be offended, “there is this.”

He focuses on the frenetic energy that sluices through his every cell down to the very marrow of his bones, then watches with satisfaction as a ball of fire forms in his palm.

Daisy’s eyes go wide. “Okay, hold up. You’re an Inhuman?”

“I think so.” Robbie extinguishes the fireball with a sizzle. “It’s probably the closest Aida could get to what I actually am.”

“Nice of her to activate your powers. That makes one of us.”

“You can’t quake anything here?”

“Nope. I still have the gene, but I haven’t gone through terrigenesis. Guess Aida didn’t bother making sure you hadn’t since that showdown with Eli seemed pretty final.”

As shameful as the feeling is, he can’t help but be a little happy that he’s here. It may not be a physical realm, and it may be run by the worst humanity has to offer, but he’s as close to being on Earth and his own person as he’s likely ever to be again. No fire except that which he can make himself. No brimstone or unholy screams or blood, guts, and ichor staining his hands. He tries not to think about the fact that once the team gets out of this place and Aida is dealt with, he’ll be bound once more for hell.

This world, Earth, Daisy, it’s all fleeting.

Focusing on the woman in front of him and not the after, he asks, “did you really call for a flat tire? You don’t know how to change one yourself?”

“Of course I know how to change one. There’s no spare in this thing, and the car called the closest mechanic. It was either try to get somewhere on foot or wait for a tow.”

“And your plan was what? Steal the truck?”

“Maybe. I don’t need powers to commit grand theft auto.” Daisy glances down at the hand that a few moments ago had held a fireball. “How’d you get yours anyway?”

“No idea. I think the accident Gabe and I were in still happened, but it’s not like I could Google it. Aida really went full fascist, didn’t she?”

“Absolute power, blah blah blah. So, are we gonna go or what?”

“Go? Go where?”

Daisy grins. “How’d you like to become an enemy of the state?”