#you meddling (murderous) kids! au

[sugarywishes]

Full body/outfit references for the FNAF kids (+Fan Characters for AU)

I took many breaks creating this, so you can see how inconsistent the artstyle becomes by the end of it

I'm considering taking a long term hiatus from Tumblr to focus on school and original concept art for other projects, this will be my last fnaf post (for a while anyway!)

Don't repost my stuff, I've started experimenting with a different kind of watermark so hopefully this one will ward off art thieves lmao

[honeyteastar]

Also from the same au only differences is kaito inclusion meaning that's right, heikaishin, meaning kaito gets in the middle of this bc heiji is task on killing kaiou kid while shinichi is saving kid from not getting murder by heiji bc be likes his "shows" also funfact heiji does get him by his hat (just like just like in the beginning the evil fight like points M27 big smiles) and a bit more if you will (HE DOESNT LOSES HIS EYE TRUST JUST A LOT OF NIKS FROM HEIJI SWORD...) and then you got kaito going like there's no way I like two guys who's somewhat out to kill me...

LIKEE i already have the relationship chart in my head like idk how you type it out with out looking like a big mess but overall you do get some solo actions from the guys,like one of the scene is just ig heikai in the sense of heiji legitimate scouting out the layout before a kid heist starts and kaito and aoko is there and you got aoko point out heiji and does a comment to kaito like you should pick him up lmao and kaito is like insane. Stop meddling in my nonexistent love life! (He tries his shot 😔 heiji says flattered but no lmaoo BUT KAITO DOES WIN AT THE END!!) or a ig kaishin moment but more shinkai me thinks waves hand around shinichi calling kaito kid his dove and how he would like murder everyone who trys to "ruin" his shows which kaito is flattered but also scared like insane...also said I'll see you around moment me thinks and then one big whole nods nods kaito has two hands to hold his two very dangerous and highly qualified murders who loves him very much!!

ouaghhh head in hands... :3c the au is more heisin oriented but it can split to the heikaishin part of it yknow :> also pointing from the post this part is inspired (not fully!! Me thinks like some of it yknoww) from this kaishin fic that I have read and then it derailed into this silly au lmao!

[codenamesazanka]

I love your spinaraki fankid! I hope you don't mind receiving asks about him, if so, then please ignore.

In your AU, would Masanori be inclined to meeting mr. compress, if he's still around? Like, if compress was able to get out of jail, would he try to find Masanori (maybe not try to interact but just out of curiosity to know what happened to the kid)? Or Masanori could get Deku to let him speak to compress if he's still in jail? Does compress even know about Masanori's existence?

Ahhhhhhhh I'm so glad you like Masanori and thank you so much for the ask! Please, send all the asks you want. I'm just really happy people like him. 🤗🙇🏻‍♀️🙏🏼

In this AU, Mr. Compress is still around - though still in jail, on death row.* Execution could happen any day now.

(*As part of a terrorist group that was involved in kidnapping, insurrection, multiple murders, etc., he's definitely getting the death penalty. All prison/legal aspects here is based on irl modern-day Japan.)

Compress does know about Masanori's existence! The League (+ the PLF leadership + two or three PLF medical workers) all knew that Spinner laid an egg. And just like Spinner, none of them knew what became of the egg - if it ever hatched, if the kid is doing okay, if they're even alive. Having guessed correctly that Spinner never told the Heroes anything, and with the subject never brought up in interrogations, they all intend to take the secret to the grave.

(Tho you're right: if Compress had ever broken out of jail because he totally should, he definitely would have tracked down the kid! And watched him from afar, to make sure he's okay. As much as Compress might want to make contact, he probably won't, to give the kid a chance at a non-villain, non-fugitive, non-League-bleak-end life. Though he may meddle with some things behind-the-scenes to make sure the kid stays on the straight path.

However, in an AU of this AU—if, like, fate ever puts Masanori in life-threatening danger, Compress would def rush there to save and protect him.)

Masanori - at first - actually has no interest in speaking to Mr. Compress. He knows about the guy, via reading Spinner's memoir and research, but since Masanori decided not to get sentimental about his parentage, he doesn't care to get in touch with Mr. Compress.

Not that Masanori can in the first place - by himself, he's got no way to establish communication with a death row prisoner, no good reason for it should he have to give one, and no one other than family and lawyers can contact Sako Atsuhiro anyway. That also lowered any incentive to act on any curiosity he might have had.

*

It's actually this lack of desire that gives off a red flag to Deku, as part of a series of red flags regarding Masanori. See, Masanori has closed his heart off - doesn't want to know more about his parents or lineage, doesn't want to bond with anyone, doesn't even want friends. (Even Shigaraki had friends and held the League close to his heart!)

It just seems very sad and lonely to Deku. Masanori is not a villain and has firmly declared that he won't be one, so everyone can rest easy, but Masanori sure acts like a Villain, clearly broken and rejecting a world that had rejected him and "too far gone" for any of Deku's (or anyone's) attempts to Make Him Smile. (Metaphorically.) (Also literally - not a smiler, Masanori. Or emotes much.)

So of course obviously, for the story development, for Masanori's character growth, and Deku to for-real save Masanori, kid does eventually have to open up and develop connections. Deku actually takes the first step in facilitating this - getting a stay of execution for Mr. Compress so the kid can still have the only connection left in the world to Shigaraki and Spinner.

Plus for Deku - Compress will also probably be the first person to really take Deku to task about caring for Masanori, for Masanori's sake - if Deku's serious about helping this kid, without forcing his shallow and egotistical heroic ideals on him, and to continue helping him no matter what, no resorting to punching even if the kid fucks up, even if people finds out about Masanori and Deku'll have to defend Masanori's very existence against the world.

*

Anddddddddd I've also toyed with the extremely terribly too-sappy idea that Masanori thinks of himself as a mistake, someone who shouldn't exist. Not only because of his villain lineage, but because clearly he's the result of some awkward situationship between Spinner and Shigaraki, two loser 20-somethings who were each other first friends because they were both gamers. While being boss and underling. Kinda cringe, you know? If they were sensible, they wouldn't/shouldn't have had him. Of course a pair of criminals would end up with a mess of an egg.

But it's Mr. Compress who'll be able to back up everything Spinner says in his letter to Masanori, and more. He'll tell Masanori that Spinner and Shigaraki really did care about each other very much. Masanori is a child born of... maybe not love, but definitely affection. And while he was indeed a complete surprise and accident, that wouldn't have mattered to his parents. Once he was in the world, once he existed, that would've been reason enough for Shigaraki and Spinner to fully accept him and fight to create a world that he can be free in. They surely would've done that. Wanted to do that. That's something Compress can say with 100% certainty. And it'll soothe such an important part of Masanori.

Also once Masanori does open up his heart and he and Compress do bond, I think they can have a good time chatting about stuff. Not just League stories, but also like, history details that Masanori can't learn from books, tips on thievery, the terrible name Shigaraki and Spinner would've came up for Masanori, how to survive having notable bloodlines weighting on you, expensive foods Masanori should try on that Deku Hero's budget.

*

Thanks again for the ask!!! For allowing me to ramble on about this!!!! 🙇🏻‍♀️🙏🏼😭

[penny00dreadful]

WIP Writing Poll

Oh boy here we go again, the number of WIPs just keeps getting bigger! 😬

Thank you @hbyrde36, my dear, for the tag. 🖤

Rules: Make a 24-hour poll with the names of your wips and then for whichever wins, write one sentence for every vote it gets (but you should also write 1 sentence for every vote each of them gets!)

I think I'll do the same and post the snippets here after I get them written so watch this space! All will be posted under their respective tags that are tagged here too. I'm currently vacillating between debilitating burnout, writers block and an idiosyncratic want to write at the same time. So hopefully this will help me get my head on straight again.

(Results)

Fic blurbs below the cut:

Return of The King - Part 8

Steddie vampire fic with vampire!Steve. Last chapter there was an earthquake, Wayne got the cliff-notes of the Upside Down, a car chase van chase, feral Steve, and they approached the gate to the Upside Down.

Comeuppance

The kids (Dustin) try to meddle in Steve's love life though they've been warned not to. Everything starts falling apart and they get their comeuppance.

Through The Valley

Post-Apocalyptic AU set roughly fourteen months after spring break. Eddie, Dustin and Nancy have a nice little community of survivors outside of Hawkins that they take care of. They're the ones who know most about this stuff after all, since the military abandoned them. They don't talk about it, but each of them hopes they can find the others again soon. But it's been so long already.

Unnamed D&D AU

Step right up! Step right up! We got a fantasy AU here! Necromancy! Enemies to lovers! Religious cults! Murder husbands! Who did this to you? Featuring Paladin!Steve and Bard!Eddie who won't stay Bard!Eddie for very long...

And They Were Roommates!

Bitchy queers Steve and Eddie don't like living together and they do not like each other. They snipe and bitch and complain. But Eddie hasn't come home yet and it's not like Steve is worried or anything... he's just... concerned for a fellow human being... that's all.

Unnamed Spies/Secret Agents AU

Containing both an established relationship oneshot and a getting together prequel. Similar to others above we've got enemies to lovers, bitchy, sexy, flirting while trying to kill each other, murder husbands, protective Eddie and maybe just a smidge of Steve getting duped. As a treat.

Unnamed PStobin+RSteddie Baby AU

Steve and his husband had always wanted kids. Except apparently Albert wasn't quite so up for it as he'd previously said. Robin is just standing there, 37 weeks pregnant with Steve's IVF baby having just punched Albert in the nose and oh god why is she leaking everywhere?? Is it happening?? IT'S HAPPENING, OH JESUS! TAXI!

Before He Cheats

I swear to god it sounds so much worse than it is. Steddie boys DO NOT cheat on each other in this fic or ANY of my fics EVER, you can be assured of that.

It's a songfic.

I'm just gonna drop this here.

Zero pressure taggy tags. @augustjustice @artaxlivs @i-less-than-three-you @xenon-demon @every-aj-needs-an-angel @mentallyundone @scoops-stevie @nburkhardt @steves-strapcollection @outpastthebrakers @hardboiledleggs

[wipbigbang]

Round 2 Of Artists Claims For The Regular WIPBB Are Open! Round 2 lasts until July 31st! You may claim 3 fics this round!

These are some of the fics open for claiming...

Naruto #078 Title: My Father's Temper Pairing/Characters: Sakura/Shikamaru, Madara/Tobirama Rating: Explicit | E Warnings/Tags: Graphic Violence Stillborn child, swapping babies without consent, death of an OC child, teenagers kissing Summary: Just before Sakura turned twelve, something happened that changed her life. However, she didn’t know just how much yet. And she certainly didn’t know that in time she would help change the future for the whole world. Because, finding that she had the Sharingan was not nearly as bad as figuring out just who her father was.

#079 Title: A season for change - Iruka's experience Pairing/Characters: Hatake Kakashi/Umino Iruka, Hatake Kakashi & Umino Iruka, Namikaze Minato & Uzumaki Kushina & Uzumaki Naruto, Umino Iruka & Uzumaki Naruto, Rookie Nine & Umino Iruka. Also has other characters in minor roles Rating: General | G Warnings/Tags: No Warnings apply No warnings but this is a royalty AU so someone doesn't have to be a Naruto fan to draw this... Summary: To his surprise, Iruka becomes the tutor for the Uzumaki royal family and a number of other students. Life is great! He has a great job, eager students, a lovely place to live, and all the palace staff are so friendly and welcoming! And it doesn’t hurt that a certain royal guard has caught his eye. But when it turns out Kakashi isn’t who he says he was, what’s Iruka to do about that?

#080 Title: Of Monsters and Family Pairing/Characters: slow burn Hoshigaki Kisame/Momochi Zabuza, Background Terumii Mei/Hoozuki Mangetsu, focus on Found Family Kisame & Juugo & Karin & Kimimaro Rating: Mature | M Warnings/Tags: Graphic Violence Alternate Universe: Canon Divergence! All the Naruto staples: child soldiers, trained killers, blood and violence etc. Kiri/Mist focused so also: That Graduation (murder) Exam, politics, mind control, wanton cruelty, and broken, fucked up (young) adults trying to "mentor" fucked up, traumatized kids. Orochimaru is his especially creepy early canon self. Summary: AO3 starter Summary: What makes someone a monster? Is it appearance, urges, or reputation that earn the labeling of others? Or is it the actions and choices one makes?

And can a monster ever become something else? Can new choices ever wash away the stain of blood?

Meeting a young boy with a monstrous visage in the middle of a destroyed village sets Kisame on the path to looking for the answers to those questions. And more.

Maybe the outcast men and woman that Bloody Mist tried to shape into monsters and demons can band together and raise a new, better Kiri out of out of the bloody ocean of its past.

Nitty-gritty spoilerific summary: Kisame falls ass backwards into a found family with first Juugo, then Karin and Kimimaro, and finally a relationship with Zabuza. He ends up joining the revolution Mei is heading, but things don't go to plan and he gets dragged into politics while officially a missing-nin (but preparing for a second go at taking over Kiri). The politics feature Orochimaru and Konoha. Also Juugo is a sweetheart, Karin is a tiny menace, and Kimimaro is handling his trauma slightly better than in canon. (and Haku is in the background being an unrepentant meddling matchmaker)

#081 Title: Out of the Mist, Into the Forest Pairing/Characters: Hoshigaki Kisame/Morino Ibiki Rating: Explicit | E Warnings/Tags: Graphic Violence, Non-con/Rape Alternate Universe: Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics (non-traditional), explicit sex, attempted rape, attempted brainwashing/conditioning, mating/in heat, mpreg (technically?), everybody has both sets of genitals/reproductive organs in this fic, enemies to lovers, no rape/non-con between listed pairing, full consent, kink negotiation Summary: AO3 summary: In the middle of a mission in Fire Country, Kisame not only discovers he's an omega, but that he's going into heat. Worse, the enemy alpha smells so good. This leads to some very unpleasant discoveries about Kiri, his master, and his own upbringing. It's a very bad week.

After receiving a very disturbing note from the Kiri mole feeding Konoha information, Ibiki leads a capture mission only to end up faced with the Monster of Kiri as an omega in first heat. Worse, the enemy omega smells irresistible triggering his rut, and things only get more complicated from there. It's a very bad week.

Finally getting to indulge in their now desperate heat-rut-fuelled desire at the end of the bad week makes everything worth it, right?

(Eventual happy ending)

Quick and dirty (pun intended) spoilery Summary: Kisame is an omega, goes into heat on a mission where he's opposed by Ibiki's squad. Ibiki is an alpha and the attraction between them is instant and intense. But they're enemies so they fight anyway and all but them and one member of their squads (Miru) is killed in the fight. Ibiki is captured and there is sexual tension on the trip back to Kiri. Kisame is having doubts because he just found out Suikazan is a traitor.

Suikazan is also a VERY BAD MAN who's been planning on forcing Kisame to become what amounts to breeding stock. Kisame resists, and kills him, and then things go from bad to worse because somebody else is controlling the Mizukage. Short version: Kisame and Miru decide to defect to Konoha and flee Kiri with Ibiki. Much sex is had on the way.

But at Konoha, Danzou is a scheming bastard and needs to be dealt with. But spoiler: he is indeed dealt with. Epilogue is years later with Kisame happily integrated into Konoha and a Most People Live ending.

#082 Title: An Echo of Things to Come Pairing/Characters: Sakura/Itachi Rating: Explicit | E Warnings/Tags: Graphic Violence, Chooses not to use Warnings, Temporary Character Death, sort of underage except they are 28 and 33, Summary: Sasuke dies, and that is unacceptable to Itachi. He falls back on a plan that he never thought he would need to try, but in his grief he fails to notice that someone is following him. In her grief, Sakura does not stop to think, she just acts. And that has far-reaching consequences. Far into the past.

The list of remaining fics and the link to sign up are below!

[diabolocracy]

The Big Fat Iniquitale AU Infodump Post (wherein I copy + paste every bit and bob of info I've written about it under one big disorganized post). With pictures! Matured*3 for a reason. If you're a kid and seeing this you lied about your age or some whackjob took screenshots and didn't mark those as mature so hey, not my fuckin' problem, innit?

CW: Dead dove and M*3 for a reason. Murder, abuse, mentions of implied rape, kidnapping, drugging, child murder, also I go into detail about at least one of the sci lab trio's genitalia lol

THE OVERVIEW

• Characters are based on songs. Probably not original. I do not care!

Since they're my main focus I only have WDG's and Sans' picked out. Namely,

LOVE LOVE NIGHTMARE - specifically this version - for whom is obvious. It even goes into the planned "ending" if you do enough mental gymnastics ("Everyone is just getting in our way. I will remove them all using Science. Oh, you do not like that? Then remove me." (Spoiler: he does.))

Qbomb's Crackershock for Sans whose pseudonym is Fuse. Don't yet have a cemented au-ified design for that guy--I need to finagle in the blues and teals.

I'm tempted to use this one for Frisk but they're not relevant until after The Catastrophe, which won't be a thing here or probably ever, lol.

But if I do persist long enough this song is totally Bunny-haunting/taunting/still obsessing over-Fuse after the fact and this one actually fits for confrontation purposes haha

I wanted to use this one for Alphys but it's just... Canon Alphys... lol

[ Bunny -> Fuse || "I can make him worse." ] He succeeds until he doesn't. [ Bunny -> Alphys || "I can make her the same as me." ] He doesn't succeed at all. Alphys doesn't follow in his footsteps to manipulate that fish she's craving. She doesn't graduate beyond stalker. (She does, however, become friends with her boss and his boyfriend. She knows the things that go on between them but she's smart enough to know not to try to interfere. Given her specialty in Monster physio/bio (she wants to become the Royal Physician one day - she is sure that her research into DT will gain her the position; she works at the lab as an assistant to be able to gain access to what she needs), she'll sometimes use her boss as a guinea pig to test out new cures or medical procedures. If he's gonna go and get himself hurt anyway... Why not?)

(fuse memo: normal white eyes, goes all crossed-out when angwy similar as to how WDG's go all heartsy; this'll probably be a thing in general)

This song works for a potential Chara-Bunny alliance I've been considering (and have since decided to go with): ○ Chara was murdered and eaten by the vulture-Royal Scientist while out and about with Asriel one horrible day. They tried many times to Reset and avoid this fate, but they failed each time. As it was ultimately a complete and utter shitshow, their Soul wasn't contained nor was it absorbed. They've haunted the Underground ever since. ○ Until they decided to meddle a 'little,' anyway; in a failed timeline, Bunny was on the precipice of dying courtesy of fucking with Fuse a little too much. Chara decided to lend a hand, merging very posthumously with him after striking up some sort of deal, granting him the ability to Reset and Remember. ○ Chara's end goal is [???]. Bunny's end goal is the perfect "happily Forever after." ○ This is probably how Bunny managed to break the level cap. Additionally, the False Window likely shows Chara's stats prior to their demise. (They were rather a frail human.) ○ This of course means that Asriel is still alive and plagued with guilt over their adopted sibling's murder--and the current King of the Underground. Asgore and Toriel are still together and really old; they both inhabit the quaint Ruins home. ○ When Bunny inevitably does the thing that permakills him (more or less), Chara makes a deal with Fuse and gives him the same abilities they gave Bunny (Reset & Remember). He Resets. Of course, this doesn't bring Bunny back (not in whole) -- the Universe compensates. Alphys becomes the Royal Scientist in his stead. So on and so forth. ○ When Frisk falls, they are hostile. They have to contend with a monster that can Reset and Remember as well right off the bat, though. ○ Every Reset brings a little garbled void-twisted piece of Bunny back. ○ It's Fuse's own personal hell!

◘ As for Chara "Splatter(ed)" Dreemurr, they're a nice kid, really. A tad bit fucked up considering they've died horribly multiple times and spent who knows how along alone gradually burning out, but decent. Mischievous, playful, impish, kind of pixie-like. They were murdered, and this guy was about to be murdered, too; they need a host before they burn out completely, and this guy doesn't want to die; they can fix that by granting him the ability to Reset and Remember (which is the best they can do at this point), which also grants them a host which means they won't eventually disappear for good… And they're curious! Can he ultimately escape Death's clutches, or will he fail, too?

◘ Not wanting to ultimately burn out is also why they make the same deal with Fuse when Bunny inevitably ends up 'dead for good.'

◘ They're avoiding Asriel for their own reasons - namely, they don't want to like, torture the poor guy by making him remember them, or something.

◘ Chara's name is rarely, if ever uttered in the Underground. Asriel gets very upset when he hears their name and remembers the day they were murdered right in front of him while all he could do was scream and cry.

• This AU is, shamelessly, a dumping place for my kinks. This is self-explanatory 😪 but not relevant because he doesn't want you.

• For the sake of interaction WDG's probably created some app that lets him connect to the multiversal internet or make portals or something loll I dunno 😪 this whole shindig is a work in progress baybee.

• If his Sans were to fall before his time this crazy idiot would inject them both with DT to form an amalgamate. No dying. Only staying together. Forever. :)

• He saw this lovely assistant of his punch out a monitor during work hours because of infuriating technical difficulties or something of the sort and thought to himself, I bet that I could make that guy worse. (And he succeeds! Post-Catastrophe, Fuse/Sans fares much better in handling his issues because he doesn't have this influence in his life anymore (...more or less).)

• Instead of Gaster Blasters, given his boyfriend's penchant for punching things Bunny instead made Gloves.

• The Royal Scientist from a little before the Barrier's erection had a taste for Human meat - especially after it had been left out for a while. Vultures, y'know...? Anyway, when the Monsters were trapped Underground, her first order of business was to try and create a substitute. This ended up with Waterfall having to be renamed The Meat Cavern from the strange fungus she cultivated. The entire Underground is now a red haze of spores that smell sickly-sweet - thankfully the fungus itself can only actually grow in the former Waterfall, but it has begun adapting to grow in New Home. New Home residents are advised to burn it if they find it there. Isn't Science wonderful?

• Bunny's mother was a Boss Monster with several concubines. She wanted him to follow in her foot-steps, hinting that he had taken after her in typing, but some time in his teens she met an unfortunate 'accident.' Bunny was taken in by the current Royal Scientist, who was much more successful in shaping his future. (And who also met an unfortunate 'accident.')

Fig. Nya Fuse

• The Resort is run by BP: Bartholome(o)w Pickles (otherwise known in Classic as Burgerpants). It's a family-friendly joint by day and a sleazy strip joint by night, complete with escorts and the weekly comedy night.

• Alphys is Hot Goth GF but too awkward to land that fish on her lonesome (or with Bunny's "help"). Her goal is to become the Royal Physician, and she hopes her research into DT will land her that position. Her side project features Mettaton, magibiosci, and meaty fungal limbs meticulously grown from altered samples of the Meat Cavern fungus infesting former Waterfall. Yeah, she has read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and she's a bit obsessed. (Meanwhile, Bunny is the one low-key into the animays.)

(Further Alphys notes:

Friend is encouraging me with ideas as to how to make the AUwufied Alphys more of a little freak than I was planning and honestly. Yeah. Fuck it we ball. Increasing the canon creepiness factor (look, she has cameras everywhere, and you think she only uses them to watch out for humans? Never mind the fact that humans have to do, you know, human things, and she's a scientist) to 100.

Bunny 100% helps her abduct and fuck Undyne at least once in some timeline or another. Well, he doesn't partake of the fucking, of course, but he helps her with everything else just to if she'll actually do it.

She also uses her magibiosci knowledge to make strap-ons out of fungi and other modified materials that provide sensation to the wearer as if they actually had a dick. And dildos, too, of course! Want one that creates its own lube? Cum? Ovipositor eggs? One that's edible? A special scent or flavor or unique cum type? She's your gal! It's a side-gig for extra funding.)

Fig. Nyo! Alphys.

THE SCI LAB TRIO

WINGDINGS "BUNNY" GASTER

Unhinged yandere that uses his partner’s angry violent outbursts against him to keep him right where he wants the guy. He pretends to be a weak, defenseless, vulnerable nerd - however, he could dust his boyfriend in the blink of an eye if he really wanted to. He won’t really defend himself in dire moments because he doesn’t want to risk it, though.

He will dust anyone who thinks of getting between them, of course (in secret, obviously! that lab tech just met an unfortunate accident! it happens! science is dangerous!).

He gains EXP via pain, to put it bluntly. He uses his boyfriend as an exp farm and will only allow his boyfriend to cause him any harm. He will try to annihilate anyone else who tries.

Through the powers of Science he has broken the level cap. His stats are as follows:

LV 666 HP 666666 AT 66666 DF 66666 – basically the datamined stats for ‘classic’ Gaster. He has created a false stats window for when he is checked. It displays the following, LV 1 HP 10 AT 3 DF 3 –but there are those out there who will inevitably be able to see that it’s false, or to see through it entirely. That’s fine! He doesn’t care! No one in his world can see it, and that’s all that matters.

He has zero qualms about using his status as royal scientist to get what he wants (though he usually uses this in favor of his boyfriend).

Essentially, he is all-around not a nice or sane guy despite giving off that totally inno uwu ball of cheer!! vibe.

Physical Attributes

He is exactly six feet tall when he isn’t wearing heeled shoes or boots and his body shape is lithe with flared hips.

The black spots on his hands are just that–spots. He has them on his feet, too, and in a couple of other places upon his body. If they appear on one side of something, they will appear on its other side as well.

The ‘scars’ on his face are similar - they are all birthmarks.

His face functions similar to Hexadecimal’s (ReBoot) - in order to change expressions there has to be a moment of obfuscation, be it looking away or waving a hand across it or any other sort. The dots of his eyes, however, move freely about.

His pupils are usually normal bog standard white dots unless he’s seriously pissed off and trying to kill someone for realsies. He will throw hands - he can summon as many as he wishes. He mainly uses them to assist in his lab work, but they’re just as easily used to rip some bitch apart.

Lewd Attributes

He has both sets of genitalia and neither are one-hundred percent humanlike.

His cock is a one foot long tentacle-like organ that tapers off to a soft point. As it’s more often than not hidden away in a slit, it’s always well-lubricated. Testes are internal.

His vaginal opening is housed in the same slit, just below the hole housing his phallus. It has markedly less structure to it than a human vagina.

All intimate “flesh” - inasmuch as a monster can have “flesh” - is a deep, dark purple, nearly indistinguishably black.

He has the ability to impregnate and conceive; however, he takes fertility suppressants. Anyone who messes with them runs the risk of getting dusted - unless, of course, it’s his boyfriend. But he’d rather the guy come talk to him if he wants children, y'know?

Despite everything, he is still a virgin.

Bunny is a complete and utter masochist. He will never tell his boyfriend this because he loves the guilty look on the guy’s face after a “session” (also see: after pushing the guy’s buttons ‘til he explodes) or an experiment wherein he basically forces his poor lover to hurt him “for Science.”

However, again, he will only accept such treatment from his boyfriend. Anyone else runs the extreme risk of attempted murder with themselves as the victim.

ALPHYS, PEN NAME 'SHEL'

The magibio limb of the Sci Lab Trio and its medical expert vying for the position of Royal Physician, Alphys – much to her chagrin – is the one that has to patch the two idiots up whenever they get scrappy or perform an experiment in such a way as to eschew every single rule of laboratory safety. Fortunately, she is very, very good at it.

She is, however, not above using her boss for her more experimental procedures and cures. As of yet she has not subjected him to her DT research, but it’s always tempting…

There was a time when she confused the hell out of her boss by signing some of her research papers (those relating to DT and the use of genetically altered fungi as limb replacements or whole bodies for ghost monsters) as Shel after reading some human book she found at the dump (“Frank and Stine” or something of the sort). The confusion has since been cleared up and she continues to do this as a means to differentiate between her research and collabs or things assigned for her to do a write-up on.

She has a side-gig creating sex toys out of the same genetically altered fungus that she uses in her research and experiments. Do you want a strap-on the magically interfaces with your body and lets you feel like you actually have a dick while you plow your lover into oblivion? She’s your gal. Want something made with a specific scent or “cum” (that regenerates over time if you stick it in a bowl and feed it a specialized formula) taste? You can probably find her phone number scribbled somewhere on the wall at the back of the bar. Ovipositor that creates its own harmless – and even edible – eggs? Hit up this pangolin pronto.

She doesn’t just do strap-ons. Dildos are fair game, too, obviously, with much the same options.

Funds go to funding her research… And wardrobe!

Her LV is unknown and she likes to keep it that way.

Post-Bunny and Surface Era info pending.

COMIC "FUSE" SANS SERIF

The hot-headed machinist of the Sci Lab Trio. Clocking in at exactly four feet even when he isn’t wearing his boots (they add a little less than an inch), this guy pretty much lives up to his pun of a pet name–even though he either has yet to realize it, or has already since vented his frustrations about it.

He has a terrible handle upon his temperament. Resorting to violence isn’t unheard of. He’s the scourge of unruly computational devices everywhere. Fortunately he knows how to fix most of the things his anger issues drive him to break.

For those he can’t fix, there’s always Alphys.

His LV is 8, though he doesn’t like admitting to it. Achieving that level of violence wasn’t on purpose. Some people just have a habit of not knowing when to shut up.

On Friday evenings he has a side-gig at BP’s Resort. His comedy routines are rife with gallows humor and generally dark jokes. With that said, however, he is a Sans at heart – he will not pass up on a terrible pun.

His other side-gig involves tuning up and otherwise improving upon other monster’s rides. What, you think there aren’t alternative means of transportation? The Underground cave systems are spacious enough for motorized bikes and those fancy doohickeys with the claws that scale the cave walls like spiders.

POST-BUNNY After the inevitable occurs, Chara jumps ship and offers Fuse the same deal they offered Bunny. He, of course, accepts, and proceeds to Reset to the point they last saved – except Bunny no longer exists so things are a little different. Rather than coming-to in the lab with his fist through one of the monitor screens he comes-to at one of the snowy region’s outposts. It’s about a year before Frisk falls. In the meantime, Fuse adjusts to sharing his existence with a playful human ghost (who has a lot of horrible stories about all the timelines where Bunny f***ed up) whilst also adjusting to all the changes that he’s unfamiliar with. His brother proves to be a positive influence on his temperament; unlike Bunny, who encouraged and enabled all of his negative traits, Papyrus, alias pending, encouraged and enabled the more positive ones. When Frisk does fall, they’re immediately hostile. However, they have to contend with a monster who isn’t going to put up with their bullshit as soon as they leave the Ruins, who can Reset and learn from past timelines. The problem, of course, is that Chara’s Save Point is about a year before Frisk falls. Every time Fuse Resets they have to wait another year-or-so before Frisk falls again. Fortunately they can also Remember whenever Frisk Resets. It’s still a big jumbled mess, compounded by the fact that each Reset brings a little piece of Bunny back extremely wrongly so even when Fuse sets them back a year, after some time, it offers little reprieve: his ex eventually pieces himself back together enough to “return” as a creepy abomination of his former self. Somehow, some way still left unfigured out, the Barrier is still eventually destroyed; Frisk, Chara, and Bunny all die (again) or get erased (again) in the process. SURFACE ERA Due to absolutely no legitimate businesses feeling up to hiring a guy who is actually qualified for several things but lacks “proper certification,” he ends up working at a chop-shop and rubbing elbows with the criminal underbelly of the city. He quickly becomes very good at carjacking. His brother doesn’t agree with his life choices, of course. On more than one occasion Paps ends up having to bail him out of jail. Fuse always makes sure to pay him back with interest, of course. Occasionally Fuse runs a stand selling rather obscene but also kind'a cute food creations at the behest of his brother who keeps trying to push him towards legal means of making money. Unfortunately he does not have a food handling license and humans are way too easily scandalized. He keeps in touch with Alphys–in this last timeline they were work colleagues. She often drags him out to classy and cute cafes when her fish woman’s too busy to go with her.

GASTER GLOVES

better design pending

'Gaster Gloves' edition #1 but I'll probably be too lazy to revise. They enhance the wielder's natural strength 10* exponentially. While they're also capable of firing beams from their mouths like Blasters, it's a less powerful auxiliary function that can also be used to maneuver -- think rocket jumping from TF2. It requires a surface and comes with the potential of causing damage to the user if the distance between user and surface is lacking.

Ｌｉｖｉｎｇ Ｄｏｌｌ subspecies info

Assumed in the past by Humans to be cursed or haunted objects, and otherwise assumed to be a type of Ghost Monster, "Living Dolls" are not at all undead and can be better likened to snails or molluscs. Their external body is not the true Monster, but a protective house that grows around them. As such, their "skin" is hard to the touch, and their natural DEF tends to be rather high.

Extracting the Monster from its shell is a surefire way to kill it, and it is very much a one-way process in that there is no way to put them back in in a way that will save them. They can survive for a time if the extraction process is not "too" physically traumatic, but becoming dust is inevitable.

Every "shell" is different. Some are more or less humanoid; some have and some lack detachable parts.

In Bunny's case, he lacks a "true" face. Each "face" is a magically created mask, of which he has many in reserve for a variety of expressions, but getting stuck on one that doesn't match the situation at all happens often. A moment of obfuscation is required to change expressions lest the nature of this physical quirk (and exploitable weak spot) become noticeable to anyone with keen observational skills.

It is possible to forcibly remove his "face," but it is highly inadvisable as it is a surefire way to make an enemy out of a mad scientist.

The black spots on his external shell are also weak points. They're places where his internal body isn't covered by the shell, and as such, they're soft to the touch.

ART DUMP

^ first time doodling these nerds

Playing around with Papyrus, who will probably be some sort of halloweenie raver.

First attempt at "Bunny but he came back wrong" -- when a bitch doesn't have enough data to put their face back on...

I don't have any good images of the current iteration (drippier, meltier) but I do have this - his presence comes parceled with noises that sound like the beginning of this song. Flashing image warning from the get-go.

[love-lv-nightmare]

This is mainly for my own benefit so that I have yet another place to store information and ideas'n junk.

• Characters are based on songs. Probably not original. I do not care!

Since they're my main focus I only have WDG's and Sans' picked out. Namely,

LOVE LOVE NIGHTMARE - specifically this version - for whom is obvious. It even goes into the planned "ending" if you do enough mental gymnastics ("Everyone is just getting in our way. I will remove them all using Science. Oh, you do not like that? Then remove me." (Spoiler: he does.))

Qbomb's Crackershock for Sans whose pseudonym is Fuse. Don't yet have a cemented au-ified design for that guy--I need to finagle in the blues and teals.

I'm tempted to use this one for Frisk but they're not relevant until after The Catastrophe, which won't be a thing here or probably ever, lol.

But if I do persist long enough this song is totally Bunny-haunting/taunting/still obsessing over-Fuse after the fact and this one actually fits for confrontation purposes haha

I wanted to use this one for Alphys but it's just... Canon Alphys... lol

[ Bunny -> Fuse || "I can make him worse." ] He succeeds until he doesn't. [ Bunny -> Alphys || "I can make her the same as me." ] He doesn't succeed at all. Alphys doesn't follow in his footsteps to manipulate that fish she's craving. She doesn't graduate beyond stalker. (She does, however, become friends with her boss and his boyfriend. She knows the things that go on between them but she's smart enough to know not to try to interfere. Given her specialty in Monster physio/bio (she wants to become the Royal Physician one day - she is sure that her research into DT will gain her the position; she works at the lab as an assistant to be able to gain access to what she needs), she'll sometimes use her boss as a guinea pig to test out new cures or medical procedures. If he's gonna go and get himself hurt anyway... Why not?)

(s. memo: normal white eyes, goes all crossed-out when angwy similar as to how WDG's go all heartsy; this'll probably be a thing in general)

This song works for a potential Chara-Bunny alliance I've been considering: ○ Chara was murdered and eaten by the vulture-Royal Scientist while out and about with Asriel one horrible day. They tried many times to Reset and avoid this fate, but they failed each time. As it was ultimately a complete and utter shitshow, their Soul wasn't contained nor was it absorbed. They've haunted the Underground ever since. ○ Until they decided to meddle a 'little,' anyway; in a failed timeline, Bunny was on the precipice of dying courtesy of fucking with Fuse a little too much. Chara decided to lend a hand, merging very posthumously with him after striking up some sort of deal, granting him the ability to Reset and Remember. ○ Chara's end goal is [???]. Bunny's end goal is the perfect "happily Forever after." ○ This is probably how Bunny managed to break the level cap. Additionally, the False Window likely shows Chara's stats prior to their demise. (They were rather a frail human.) ○ This of course means that Asriel is still alive and plagued with guilt over their adopted sibling's murder--and the current King of the Underground. Asgore and Toriel are still together and really old; they both inhabit the quaint Ruins home. ○ When Bunny inevitably does the thing that permakills him (more or less), Chara makes a deal with Fuse and gives him the same abilities they gave Bunny (Reset & Remember). He Resets. Of course, this doesn't bring Bunny back (not in whole) -- the Universe compensates. Alphys becomes the Royal Scientist in his stead. So on and so forth. ○ When Frisk falls, they are hostile. They have to contend with a monster that can Reset and Remember as well right off the bat, though. ○ Every Reset brings a little garbled void-twisted piece of Bunny back. ○ It's Fuse's own personal hell!

◘ As for Chara "Splatter(ed)" Dreemurr, they're a nice kid, really. A tad bit fucked up considering they've died horribly multiple times and spent who knows how along alone gradually burning out, but decent. Mischievous, playful, impish, kind of pixie-like. They were murdered, and this guy was about to be murdered, too; they need a host before they burn out completely, and this guy doesn't want to die; they can fix that by granting him the ability to Reset and Remember (which is the best they can do at this point), which also grants them a host which means they won't eventually disappear for good… And they're curious! Can he ultimately escape Death's clutches, or will he fail, too?

◘ Not wanting to ultimately burn out is also why they make the same deal with Fuse when Bunny inevitably ends up 'dead for good.'

◘ They're avoiding Asriel for their own reasons - namely, they don't want to like, torture the poor guy by making him remember them, or something.

◘ Chara's name is rarely, if ever uttered in the Underground. Asriel gets very upset when he hears their name and remembers the day they were murdered right in front of him while all he could do was scream and cry.

• This AU is, shamelessly, a dumping place for my kinks. This is self-explanatory 😪 but not relevant because he doesn't want you.

• For the sake of interaction WDG's probably created some app that lets him connect to the multiversal internet or make portals or something loll I dunno 😪 this whole shindig is a work in progress baybee.

• If his Sans were to fall before his time this crazy idiot would inject them both with DT to form an amalgamate. No dying. Only staying together. Forever. :)

• He saw this lovely assistant of his punch out a monitor during work hours because of infuriating technical difficulties or something of the sort and thought to himself, I bet that I could make that guy worse. (And he succeeds! Post-Catastrophe, Fuse/Sans fares much better in handling his issues because he doesn't have this influence in his life anymore (...more or less).)

• Instead of Gaster Blasters, given his boyfriend's penchant for punching things Bunny instead made Gloves.

• The Royal Scientist from a little before the Barrier's erection had a taste for Human meat - especially after it had been left out for a while. Vultures, y'know...? Anyway, when the Monsters were trapped Underground, her first order of business was to try and create a substitute. This ended up with Waterfall having to be renamed The Meat Cavern from the strange fungus she cultivated. The entire Underground is now a red haze of spores that smell sickly-sweet - thankfully the fungus itself can only actually grow in the former Waterfall, but it has begun adapting to grow in New Home. New Home residents are advised to burn it if they find it there. Isn't Science wonderful?

• Bunny's mother was a Boss Monster with several concubines. She wanted him to follow in her foot-steps, hinting that he had taken after her in typing, but some time in his teens she met an unfortunate 'accident.' Bunny was taken in by the current Royal Scientist, who was much more successful in shaping his future. (And who also met an unfortunate 'accident.')

Fig. Nya Fuse

• The Resort is run by BP: Bartholome(o)w Pickles (otherwise known in Classic as Burgerpants). It's a family-friendly joint by day and a sleazy strip joint by night, complete with escorts and the weekly comedy night.

• Alphys is Hot Goth GF but too awkward to land that fish on her lonesome (or with Bunny's "help"). Her goal is to become the Royal Physician, and she hopes her research into DT will land her that position. Her side project features Mettaton, magibiosci, and meaty fungal limbs meticulously grown from altered samples of the Meat Cavern fungus infesting former Waterfall. Yeah, she has read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and she's a bit obsessed. (Meanwhile, Bunny is the one low-key into the animays.)

(Further Alphys notes:

Friend is encouraging me with ideas as to how to make the AUwufied Alphys more of a little freak than I was planning and honestly. Yeah. Fuck it we ball. Increasing the canon creepiness factor (look, she has cameras everywhere, and you think she only uses them to watch out for humans? Never mind the fact that humans have to do, you know, human things, and she's a scientist) to 100.

Bunny 100% helps her abduct and fuck Undyne at least once in some timeline or another. Well, he doesn't partake of the fucking, of course, but he helps her with everything else just to if she'll actually do it.

She also uses her magibiosci knowledge to make strap-ons out of fungi and other modified materials that provide sensation to the wearer as if they actually had a dick. And dildos, too, of course! Want one that creates its own lube? Cum? Ovipositor eggs? One that's edible? A special scent or flavor or unique cum type? She's your gal! It's a side-gig for extra funding.)

Fig. Nyo! Alphys.

[the-blind-assassin-12]

A no-outbreak AU where Ellie and Sarah are not only best friends, but co-conspirators? One where Joel and Tommy’s relationship was never destroyed by what happened and what they did, and instead it’s allowed to flourish? For them to be successful? An AU where Joel lets himself be happy? AND IT’S CHRISTMAS?! Call Mariah. Get her to change the lyrics from “All I want for Christmas is you” to “all I want for Christmas is this fic in which the characters get to thrive and be happy”

Diving right in, I LOVE the way this opens. I love that Ellie and Sarah are this close, and the way that you framed it so that we know right away that Reader knows both girls (and Joel) closely was really well done. Working in retail around the holidays is actually hell- but if you have to do it, it helps to have your best friend there with you. And Ellie’s teaching Sarah to play guitar!! Do I sense that this is a surprise for Joel?? Either way, it makes me really happy to picture them practicing together while the shop is still quiet and empty, and the prospect of Joel and Sarah - and maybe Ellie, too - all playing together at some point is more than my sappy heart can take.

Reader having her me time and her little treat interrupted by Joel is an upgrade, actually. Joel time > me time. Joel’s presence > any little treat that could possibly be ordered on Uber Eats. And yes absolutely Joel. Take my coffee. Take my heart. Take whatever you want. Also? The image of Joel restringing his guitars and oiling the frets … I… 🥴. His hands. Doing capable things with delicate parts. 🥴🥴🥴.

Ellie & Sarah parent trapping Reader & Joel FOR THE WIN! Teenage girls really are a force to be reckoned with once they decide they’re going all in on something, and these two are pulling out all the stops - and the subtleties - to get R & J together. And I support them unconditionally. Ellie telling Reader her excuse was lame and then calling her out and then Reader hissing her name was PERFECT.

And boy oh boy they NEED the girls’ intervention, because these two are rusty in the flirting department. Joel asking her to go and her assuming he only means as friends and then him being like “yeah… that’s… no, yeah that’s what I meant 👍🏻” … they’d be hopeless if not for the tornado that is Sarah and Ellie.

The fact that Ellie called Sarah right away to straighten this out - the image of Sarah going up to Joel like “Dad, come ON!” and then Joel calling Reader … he’s such a precious man. He’s a big strong burly masculine guy that is just one global crisis away from becoming a murder machine. But fuck if he’s not also the most precious man on earth.

BRINGING HER A COFFEE GIFT CARD AS AN EXCUSE TO PROPERLY ASK HER OUT ON A DATE?! ARE YOU SERIOUS?! And not only is it a date but it’s a FANCY date at a FANCY hotel he worked on - and they’re staying the night?! Amazing. Joel all dressed up? Getting all dressed up to go out with him? Getting to know one another for real without their meddling kids? Merry Christmas indeed!

From the moment I started reading this story all the way through its current chapter, I’ve just been smiling. This story just makes me so damn happy and I’m so glad you decided to stick it out and take it all the way because it’s truly fantastic and I’m going to have MUCH more to say about it in future reblogs. Thank you for sharing your immense talent and your gift for storytelling with all of us. ❤️💚❤️💚

Snow and Mistletoe - Part 1

A PedroStories Secret Santa gift fic

This is my submission for @pedrostories annual holiday event, and it's for @burntheedges. I was so excited to get you as a giftee, Kate, because your requests align with the way I tend to write my stories... and this one took on a life of its own. As you can see, this is only part 1. I tried to incorporate some (a lot) of the things that you said you enjoyed into this, and I think (hope) you'll be happy with how they're scattered throughout.

This is a no-outbreak AU, and while it doesn't quite follow canon, you're going to see a fair bit sprinkled in- because I can't help it and I've wanted to write more in depth for Joel and Sarah for a LONG time, so I really enjoyed this a lot.

Thank you so much for all that you've contributed to the Pedro fandom, and for sharing your writing with us. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.

I plan on posting the other 2 parts + the epilogue throughout the day today and tomorrow, but part 1 can be read as a standalone if you'd like.

---

Pairing: Joel Miller x Female Reader

No Outbreak AU.

Word Count: 5,166

Rating: M - as a whole for language and innuendo, but this chapter is very tame.

Summary: You own a music shop in Austin, and both your niece and Sarah are employees. As a former classmate - and the father of your employee - Joel Miller has been a part of your life for many years.

But circumstances have never been exactly right for the two of you to get to know each other better ... until now, when outside intervention pushes you together just in time for the holidays.

“Ellie, go unlock the front door.” You looked up from what you were doing, pointing with one finger. “She’s going to be here any minute.” 

‘I’m kind of busy at the moment.” At her tone, you turned your head sharply, watching as she came around the corner with a stack of boxes in her arms. “You do it. Please?” When she peeked around the cardboard, she actually looked apologetic, so you agreed, hurrying toward the front entrance of your store. 

You were just in time, watching as a dark colored pick up pulled to the curb and the teenager hopped out, leaning her head back inside for a few seconds before waving and heading to where you stood. 

Pushing the glass door open, you grinned, holding it with one hand. “Morning, Sarah. How’s it going?” 

“Good.” Looking back over her shoulder, she nodded. “Really good.” 

You saw him in the truck, the man ducking his head and turning to look in your direction, giving you a view of his entire face. The windows were closed, so instead of saying anything, you lifted your hand and gave him a wave like you did every time he dropped her off - Joel nodding in return before he sat back up again and pulled back into traffic, beeping the horn once. 

You stared after him for a few seconds and then took a breath, your attention moving to the girl, still standing beside you. But she had a curious look in her face, her lips set into a tiny frown. “What?” Letting the door shut, you backed up and into the shop. “Why are you looking at me like that?” 

“I’m … not?” She blinked, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. “Is Ellie here?”

“She is.” You pointed, the stack of boxes that the other teenager had carried in already sitting on the countertop, though she was nowhere in sight. “She’s probably back in one of the lesson rooms, if you want to go back there.” Sarah’s grin nearly split her face in half, her curls bouncing when she turned to head in the direction you’d suggested. “You guys have half an hour, alright? Store opens early this month because of Christmas, and -”

“We know!” Ellie’s head popped out of one of the rooms down the hall, her smile wide, too. “That’s why I’m already set up. C’mon Sarah. Hope you’re ready.” 

You watched as she headed for the hallway, both girls talking excitedly for a few seconds before they disappeared. “Alright.” Nodding to yourself, you looked around the showroom, letting out a breath. “Let’s get ready to open.” 

— 

Six and a half hours later, you were standing outside of the front doors, drinking a coffee that you’d had delivered. 

You rarely took an actual lunch while you worked. But, Ellie and Sarah were more than capable of handling the few customers you’d had that afternoon, and the closing crew would be in to take over within the hour. And I deserve this. 

Sipping the drink, you closed your eyes and were surprised a few seconds later by a deep voice on your right. “Did’ya order one of those for me, too?” 

“No, but you can have a sip of this one as long as you don’t just want plain coffee.” Holding the cup out, you smiled as Joel took the final few steps, reaching out with one hand to take the coffee from you. “You got done early today, hmm?”

“I did.” Raising your coffee to his lips, he look a long drink, humming at the taste. “Shit that’s good.” He held it back out to you but you shook your head, motioning for him to keep it. “I can’t, I -”

“You need it more than me.” He opened his mouth to argue but then decided against it, swallowing another mouthful. “Sarah’s off in a few minutes, do you want to go inside and wait for her?”

“I’m actually here for a couple new sets of strings.” He swiped at the back of his head with one hand, jutting his chin out toward the door. “Figured it’s a good time to change ‘em, and Sarah told me you guys are having a sale.”

“We are.” You pulled the door open, gesturing for him to walk in ahead of you. “I’d offer to point you in the right direction, but you’ve been coming in here longer than I’ve owned it, so…”

“If I need anything, I’ll be sure to come an’ find you.” He smiled, raising the cup again. “Thank you for this.” You turned away from him first, going over to the counter and slipping back behind it. Ellie was leaning there, her elbows resting on the glass. 

“Joel’s here early.” She looked up at you, raising a brow. “What were you two talking about?”

“Guitar strings.” She opened her mouth but before she could say anything, you held up a hand. “Not another word, Elanor.” She snorted, standing straight up and tapping her fingers against the countertop. 

“Alright. I’ll go into the back where you won’t hear anything else I have to say.” She looked between you and the showroom floor, her eyes bright. “But Sarah’s another story.” She beelined it around the counter and then toward the hallway, calling out a hello to Joel as she sped past. He grinned at her, saying hi back. There wasn’t time for anything else before she’d disappeared, leaving the two of you - and an older man who was looking at keyboards - alone. 

You could have stared at him for hours, but instead of letting your inner thoughts win, you busied yourself with menial tasks behind the counter, not looking up until someone cleared their throat to get your attention. 

Unfortunately, it wasn’t Joel waiting to check out. Instead the other customer was in front of you, three songbooks in his hands. “Which one of these should I buy for my grandson?” He set them down, fanning them out. “His parents got him a keyboard for his birthday last month, but he can’t play anything yet.” 

“I wouldn’t choose any of these.” You answered honestly, looking between the three options. “These are all for intermediate players, and if he just got the keyboard, it sounds like -”

“But the ones that are easier are all nursery rhymes.” He scowled at you, eyes narrowing behind his glasses. “Kevin is fifteen. He’s too old for nursery rhymes.”

“If I could cut in…” You looked up to find Joel standing just behind the man, a few sets of guitar strings held between the fingers of one hand. “He might be too old to enjoy a nursery rhyme, but that doesn’t mean he should skip over learnin’ to play them.” Joel took a breath, giving you a look that clearly asked “is this alright”, and when you nodded he continued, pointing at the books. “You gotta start somewhere. Givin’ a kid something that they can’t play yet might make ‘em less likely to stick with it long term.” 

“You could buy two books,” you cut in, immensely thankful for Joel’s interjection. “One of the easier ones and then something a little more difficult that he can work up to?” You gestured to the back of the shop. “When I was teaching my niece how to play guitar, we stared with really simple things and she tried new ones when she felt comfortable.”

“Same here.” Joel stepped a little closer, nodding his head. “First day I picked up my guitar I thought I was going to be able to pull off Jimmy Page or Eddie Van Halen solos right away…” He laughed, rubbing at his beard with his free hand. “Turns out that was not the case.” You bit back a laugh at his words, watching the way his eyes crinkled at the corners in amusement. “It was months of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Smoke on The Water before my fingers got used to playing.” He nodded at the man, his smile smaller but still there. “Get him one of the beginner books, and then explain you want him to feel confident before he tries somethin’ harder.” 

The older man was scowling, his eyes moving between the three books on the counter until he finally looked up at you. “I’ll think about it. Thanks.” He left them there when he turned and headed for the door, pushing past Joel on his way. You watched his back until he was gone, and then finally looked at Joel again, shrugging. 

“That could have gone better.” He set the strings down  - along with two packages of picks - and then spoke after letting out a deep sigh.

“Way he reacted it’s like we were accusin’ his grandson of bein’ an idiot.” Reaching for his stuff, you began scanning it, dropping things into a small plastic bag. “It’s common sense, though. Why overwhelm someone when they’re trying to learn?”

“I wish I knew.” Finishing and giving him the total, you watched as Joel swiped his card before tucking it back into his wallet and shoving the entire thing in his back pocket. Change the subject. “Which guitar are you restringing?” 

“Both of ‘em.” He leaned forward, resting his forearm on the glass, but leaving the bag where it was. “Cleanin’ and oilin’ the fretboards, too.” He looked down at his watch and then back at you. “Might even do it tonight.” 

“What an exciting Saturday night, dad.” Sarah reappeared, followed closely by Ellie, your niece carrying another stack of boxes and a clipboard. “Maybe if you actually answered some of the messages on that dating app you have, you could go out and do things on the weekends.” 

You felt a pang of jealousy at the thought of Joel going out on a date, but tried to push it down. You hadn’t ever made it known that you were interested - especially since you’d known him and Sarah for so long. But it’s harder not to say anything now that Sarah’s working here and I see him more. 

“I do plenty of things on the weekends.” Joel straightened up, putting a hand on his hip. “I hang out with you. I see your uncle Tommy. I work on the house, and -”

“Thrilling.” Sarah rolled her eyes, nudging him with her elbow and looking at you. “I clocked out, by the way, so I’m not just like … standing here on your time.” 

“You’re fine, Sarah.” Ellie set everything down and came to stand next to you, setting the clipboard down on he counter. “I’ll -”

“Speaking of thrilling…” Ellie cut in, crossing her arms and taking a seat on the barstool behind the register. “She told me the other day she’s not going to the Christmas thing at the community center next weekend because “Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest days in the store so I scheduled myself to work.” She made air quotes and changed her voice as she spoke, sending Sarah into a fit of giggles and even causing Joel to briefly smile as his gaze made its way back to you.  

“Well I mean, it’s the truth. Next Friday is -” 

“He said the same thing.” Sarah sighed loudly, looking pointedly at you and then at Ellie. “That he’s too busy to go, and needs to work. On what, I have no idea because he’s only got the one project right now.” Glancing at Joel, you felt alarm bells ringing in your head. Something’s happening here. Something is … this isn’t… “Bet if he had a date he’d change his mind.” 

“That’s got nothing to do with it, Sarah. I -” He looked down at her and then back at you, realization in his eyes. 

“Why don’t you two go together?”  Ellie picked up a pen and started doodling on the margin of the clipboard paper, not making eye contact. “To the party, I mean. Neither of you have plans to go, and you’ve both got really lame excuses.” She paused, finally looking up. “And you haven’t been out on a date in -”

“Ellie!” You hissed out the word, feeling the way heat rose to your cheeks. She’s not wrong, but … “I have to work next weekend. It’s not -”

“Do you?” It was Joel’s voice that caught your attention, the man clearing his throat. “Because I could probably take a couple hour break.” You caught it even though it was brief - a fleeting look of shock on Sarah’s face, her eyes immediately going to Ellie. Yeah, I wasn’t expecting that either. “If you wanted to.” 

You wanted to - more than you were willing to admit. But it would be weird, even if we just did it as friends. “It’s the weekend before Christmas, and -”

“We can work.” Sarah cut in, nodding. “I’m already supposed to be here for part of the afternoon, I’ll just stay later.” She shrugged. “Besides, the store closes before the party is over, so I can just take the bus from -”

“I’ll drive you.” Ellie waved her hand. “I close next Friday.” The girls went quiet, looking between you and Joel, who was also watching you with interest, laughter in his eyes. This is … 

“I don’t know.” He frowned, keeping an eye on you as you spoke. “I feel like I should -” 

“Come outside and talk to me for a minute.” Joel picked up the bag, closing his fingers around the handles. “Away from these two.” That you had no problem agreeing to, Ellie waving you off and Sarah doing the same to her father. 

He held the door open for you, and when he joined you on the sidewalk a few seconds later, pointing in the direction of the small parking lot next to the building, you fell into step next to him. “We just got Parent Trap-ed, didn’t we.” He snorted, agreeing. “You didn’t have to ask me just to -”

“Who says that’s what I’m doing?” You reached his truck, Joel unlocking it and setting the bag down on top of the center console. “Maybe I just want to get to know you.” He straightened back up and closed the door, leaning against it when he turned to look at you. “Sarah’s been workin’ with you for six months, and she an’ Ellie have been going to school together for a couple years.” So that’s the only reason? Because of them? Your face fell; you couldn’t help it, and even though you were able to even out your expression quickly, you were sure that he’d noticed. 

“Yeah, I mean … they’re friends. So it would make sense for us to be, too.” Pressing your lips together, you nodded. “If you’re serious, I’ll go with you.” Crossing your arms, you nodded again, chewing on the inside of your lip. “It’s just a couple of hours, right? “ 

“Right.” Joel swallowed, running his fingers through his hair. “I can pick you up? Makes sense to take one car.” He’s so practical. Everything’s … matter of fact. In all of the daydreams you’d ever had about Joel, you’d never had anything close to the one that was coming true, and if you were honest with yourself, it was disappointing. He said your name, interrupting your pity party, and when you looked back up, he’d relaxed a little more, reaching into his pocket and pulling his phone out. “Can I have your number?

You recited it to him, Joel carefully typing it into the device and then turning the screen around to confirm that he’d entered it correctly. When you told him that you had, you nodded twice and took a deep breath, holding it. “Alright, Joel… so I’ll see you next week?” 

“No.” He smiled, the expression genuine. “I’ll see you next time I pick up or drop Sarah off and you’re here, too.” That made you laugh. When you said goodbye, you were slightly less unsettled than you had been, heading back for the store’s door so that you could tell Sarah it was ok for her to leave. 

She and Ellie were still standing by the counter when you went back inside, both of them turning to look at you in the same moment. “You’re good to go, Sarah. Your dad’s in the parking lot.” She nodded, zipping her jacket up. “But before you go… I don’t know what the two of you are trying to do here, but putting Joel and I on the spot wasn’t -”

“You’re going out with him, aren’t you?” Ellie scrunched her face up as she looked at you, eyes narrowing. “And you like him, so -”

“It made things awkward, El.” You looked at Sarah, sighing. “For him, too. So just … think about that, alright?” 

Neither of them said anything else to you, Sarah telling Ellie goodbye and then walking out the front door, leaving you and your niece alone. “Are you mad at me?”

“I’m not mad.” You exhaled, rubbing at your eyes. “It’s just … weird.” And even weirder because of how awkward it feels.  The door opened and two customers walked in, effectively ending the conversation there, though you knew that you’d be continuing it when you got home. 

— 

You and Ellie made dinner together that night, but neither of you spoke while you did it, moving through the kitchen silently. It wasn’t until you were sitting at the table together, bowls of pasta in front of you that you broke the silence. 

“Why did you and Sarah decide to do that today?” She took a bite, chewing through it to give herself a chance to think of an answer. 

“Ever since I’ve been giving her lessons, we’ve been talking a lot more.” She bit down on a breadstick, waving the remainder in the air. “We’re friends already, but I’ve never really asked her about Joel until now, and …” She shrugged. “She said he hasn’t dated much lately. All he does is work and hang out with his brother and spend time with her.” Ellie paused, making sure to make eye contact with you. “Kind of like you only work at the store and hang out with me.” 

“That’s not true.” You gestured at her with your fork. “I have friends, Ellie. We just see each other less than we used to because they’ve all got really young kids and do that ‘mommy and me’ stuff with them.” Arching a brow, you cocked your head to the side. “And you’re a little old for tumbling classes or playtime at the park.” 

“But I could use swimming lessons.” You both laughed at that, though Ellie cut hers off only a few moments later. “No but seriously. When you took me in so that I could finish school here instead of going with Marlene, I didn’t think … I didn’t want you to just give up doing everything but …”

“Ellie, that’s not what happened.” You got up, moving to the other side of the table and sitting down next to her. “Your mom and Marlene and I were all really close, and after … after Anna was gone, I was more than happy to help Marlene out with you.” You squeezed her arm, leaning in. “I was the one that suggested you staying here, El. Your mom grew up here, and I wanted you to do the same. I didn’t want you having to uproot yourself every eight months for Marlene’s job. I love having you here. I didn’t give up anything.” 

She looked up then, meeting your eyes, and you saw uncertainty in them, though it was accompanied by relief. “I know. I just … it feels like everyone always leaves, and I’m afraid that you’re going to realize that you don’t want to do this with me anymore, and -”

“Ellie, you’ll be 18 next year and off to college. If anyone’s going to leave it’s you.” Taking a deep breath, you held your arms out to her. “I’m not going to leave you, kiddo. I promise.” She hugged you hard, but it didn’t last long, Ellie pulling away to look directly at you again. 

“This still doesn’t change the fact that you and Joel should … see what happens.” She blinked a few times, her expression changing into the same ‘take no shit’ look that you’d seen on it countless times before. “We’ve noticed how you look at him. And he -”

“He and I are going to the party together next Friday, Ellie.” Settling back into your chair, you drummed your fingers on the table. “He told me tonight that since you and Sarah are such good friends, it makes sense that we get to know each other, too.” She frowned at your words, but didn’t say anything. “It’s just a couple hours. It’ll be … fine.” 

“He said that? That’s not what we …” She shook her head, setting her fork down. “I’m done. Can I be excused? Do you need help cleaning up?” You told her to go, eyeing Ellie as she headed into the kitchen, plate in hand. You were used to her changes in mood, but that night was different, Ellie almost disappointed in your reaction to agreeing to go out with Joel, even though she’d orchestrated it. Returning to your side of the table, you finished your dinner, the sound of Ellie’s voice from the other room audible, though you couldn’t hear what she was saying. 

She went upstairs a few minutes later, and you followed, deciding to get ready for bed, even though it was early. I’ll put on pajamas and watch a movie or something. Maybe have a glass of - You were interrupted by the vibration of your phone, an unfamiliar number on the screen. 

“Hello?” Standing in front of your bedroom window, you held it to your ear. “This is -”

“It’s Joel.” Your eyes widened when he spoke, the man’s voice even deeper through the phone than it was in person. “I hate texting, so I thought I’d call.” You weren’t surprised, a quiet laugh escaping you before you were able to stop it. Fitting. “I was just informed by my daughter that I didn’t exactly explain myself well earlier.”

“What?” You didn’t understand - and then you groaned, covering your face with your hand. “Ellie. Ellie called Sarah and told her what we … Joel, I’m so sorry. Ellie and I talked while we ate, and I don’t want you to think that I was just complaining or -”

“You misunderstood what I was sayin’ before. Outside? When we were talking?” He cleared his throat and then continued. “You and I should be friends because of Ellie an’ Sarah. But that’s not why I agreed to go next week.” He paused, giving the shock you felt a chance to settle in your stomach. Why then? “I meant it when I said I wanted to get to know you.” 

That conversation was more in line with what you’d imagined Joel asking you out to be like, and despite your apprehension, you felt yourself relax slightly at his words. “I’d like to get to know you too, Joel.” Pressing your lips together, you nodded. “Sarah’s said some really good things about you.” 

“Ellie’s done the same about you when she’s been over.” He laughed - and you did, too, the tension entirely broken. “We’re going to watch a move, though, and she’s yellin’ up the steps at me, so I’ve gotta go.” He said your name then, the sound quiet - though his tone was certain. “When do you work next?” 

“Monday. I close. Why?” 

“No reason.” He hummed, and you heard another voice on Joel’s end of the line, the sound of Sarah shouting for him filling up the background. “I’ll talk to you later. Have a good night?” 

You assured him you would, and when you’d both hung up, you spent a few seconds staring at the darkened screen, unsure of what to think. 

— 

Monday night, you were getting ready to close the store and count down the drawer when the door opened, the sound of footsteps drawing your attention. “Hi, and welcome to Firefl- Joel? What are you doing here? Something wrong with those strings?” 

“Strings’re fine.” He stepped up to the counter and you couldn’t help looking him over - the man’s upper body encased in a long-sleeved shirt, both sleeves pushed up to expose his forearms. “I came to see you.” 

You were shocked. The day hadn’t exactly gone smoothly, and you were almost desperate to get out of the store and home. But not at the expense of whatever this is. “Me? Why? Is Sarah -”

“Sarah’s fine, too. She’s at soccer practice.” He glanced down at his watch, nodding. “I gotta go and pick her up in about twenty minutes.” That meant that whatever he was doing in your store wouldn’t take long, which confused you even more. “I have somethin’ for you.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small envelope, sliding it across the counter. “Here.” 

You picked it up and thumbed it open, unsure of what to expect. And when you saw the contents, you actually laughed, looking up from what you held and at Joel’s face, the man’s lips set into a lopsided smile. “You took like … half a coffee from me one time, Joel. You didn’t need to …” Flipping the gift card back and forth between your fingers, you sighed. “Thank you.” You meant it, reaching over with your free hand to squeeze the one he’d let settle on the countertop. “I’ll definitely use it.” 

He looked down at the same time you did, your inhale sharp when you saw your joined hands. Oh, shit. I didn’t … “You’re welcome.” Joel cleared his throat, looking back up at you through his eyelashes. “Gift card was just an excuse, though. There’s…” He straightened up again and then pulled his hand back, reaching up with it to rub at the back of his neck. “Shit, I’m bad at this.” 

“Bad at what?” Sliding the card back into the envelope, you leaned over to tuck it into the space next to the register. “What are you -”

“Sarah and Ellie mighta been responsible for the other night, but …” He wet his lips, Joel’s jaw twitching before he continued. “She was right when she said I’ve only got one project right now, because we just finished another big one.” You’d heard Sarah mention that he’d been working long hours, but she hadn’t gone into much detail. “The company we did the work for is … real happy with the outcome, and they’re …” He cleared his throat. “They’re havin’ a Christmas party next Saturday, and we’re invited. I was just gonna go with Tommy, because I figured even though it’s a holiday, it’s still a good time for networkin’, but…” 

“But what?” You tucked the gift card back in the envelope and then slid it toward the register, tilting your head. “Joel?” 

He looked away, eyes wandering over the assortment of instruments and equipment on display throughout the store before they landed back on you. He was apprehensive - you could see the uncertainty in his eyes. What is going on? “Would you have any interest in goin’ with me?” 

“To the party?” He nodded. “Next Saturday?” He nodded again, but all you could do was stare at him in shock, trying to comprehend his words. Going together to the Chamber party was one thing - you and Joel were both well known throughout the community, and the two of you spending time together wouldn’t raise any eyebrows. But at a function for his job? Where he’d be the only one I really know? That’s… “As a favor? Just so you don’t have to -”

“No. As a date.” He swallowed hard after he’d spoken, his eyes widening slightly. “My date.” 

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? We’ve never spent -”

“I don’t know yet.” His smile widened, Joel shrugging. “But I’m still asking.” 

You laughed, the sound nervous. “I only work until 3. What time would I need to be ready?”

“I can pick you up around six?” He swiped a hand over his beard, nodding. “Take us about a half hour to get there.” Taking someone to a holiday party as a date says something. And we’ve never … he’s asking me to … shit. “Before you agree, though…” Joel took a deep breath, his voice steadier. “The project we worked on is a new hotel up near Lake Travis. And they’re openin’ the rooms to people that night.” So it’s an overnight thing? “If you say yes, I’m more than happy to drive back.” 

“Would we have two rooms?” Your heartbeat elevated, you eyed him with interest. “Or two beds, at least?”

“Two rooms. They offered a room to me an’ Tommy each, so if you come with me, you’d have one of them to yourself.” He held up a hand, shaking his head back and forth. “I’m not expectin’ anything, I just -”

“Yes.” You nodded, absolutely certain in your decision. “I’d like to go with you, Joel.” He looked surprised, his lips parting, though he didn’t speak. “Is there a dress code?” 

“Yeah. There is.” He pressed his lips together and then frowned. “Festive.” You burst out laughing at that, covering your eyes with your hands. “Why are you laughing?”

“Festive can mean anything from an ugly sweater to red and green but formal, and -”

“The hell if I’m wearin’ that.” He snorted, and then started laughing, too. “The invitation wasn’t real clear, so…”

“Festive probably means cocktail attire, Joel, but with a holiday twist that isn’t as formal.” You shrugged. “But that works for me. I’ve got a few things that will fit that requirement.” And so do the stores. “Um.” Blowing out a breath, you tried to compose yourself. “Are … does Sarah know you’re asking?”

“No.” He shook his head, chewing on his bottom lip. “She knows I’m goin’, but not about this.” So I won’t tell Ellie. Got it. “Those little shits intervened with me asking you to the other party, but not this one.” Biting back another laugh, you nodded in agreement. 

“They’re going to figure it out.” Narrowing your eyes, you leaned in. “When we’re both getting ready and then gone next Saturday night, and -”

“Yep.” He nodded, the expression on his face serious, though the look in his eyes was anything but. “But at least we won’t have to listen to ‘em all week beforehand.” You laughed again, rolling your eyes. “I’m gonna go, though. I don’t want to be late picking her up.” 

You nodded, lifting your hand and waving - not trusting yourself to speak. But when he reached the door and turned his head to look back at you from over his shoulder, you couldn’t stop yourself. “Joel?” He hummed, arching a brow. “I’m looking forward to next weekend.” 

He smiled - a broad, genuine one - and reached up to rub at the back of his neck. “Yeah. Me too.”

---

Part 2

[dannyphantom-justiceleauge]

AU where Danny never becomes Phantom and you would think that would mean Vlad would succeed in his plans of acquiring Maddie as his wife, but you would be wrong. Unfortunately for Vlad, all his attempts to kill Jack or split apart their marriage all fail, no matter how ridiculous it gets. Jack has an annoying habit of just not dying, and Vlad's attempts to break apart the family just causes them to grow closer. Ironically his meddling just fixes the issues the family have.

love it, i don't think i published it yet, but one of the asks i'm answering has jazz inheriting jacks ability to be obliviously unkillable. it's one of those things where if you're nice enough you're just lucky.

on the other hand i am going to put out another version of this where because jack is ectocontaminated as heck (we see him consume ectoplasm), he has minor ghost powers and is absolutely oblivious to them. to an absurd degree. he's not as ghost as danny and vlad obviously. but it's enough to set off some of his sensors if he doesn't calibrate for that. but the thing is, he just assumes it's ambient ectoplasm in the air. not him. oh some power activated and he witnesses something paranormal. IT"S ANOTHER GHOST MESSING WITH HIM!!! HE NEEDS TO CAPTURE IT! like jack was haunting himself before they even opened the portal.

so he could also have a version of ghost sense and instinctually dodges things coming at him because he feels it. but he still doesn't notice what's actually happening. it's all instinct. and as always i stand by that jacks ghost obsession is ghosts. dead or alive that's all he cares about.

but yeah, vlad accidently fixing the families relationship in his many attempts to kill jack is a vibe. i can honestly seeing it becoming a thing where just everyone else in the family notice the murder attempts and close ranks. like we know maddie notices vlads an asshole after mother's instinct. danny's instinct about people can be pretty hit or miss. but i could see danny getting into ghost fighting by sheer necessity. like if danny didn't become a halfa, i'm assuming the fenton portal never started. maybe before bitter reunions the fenton's haven't quite bounced back yet, so danny attempts to show an interest in ghosts to help them feel better, only for real ghost to start showing up to attack jack. danny goes from skeptical to protective real quick. jazz takes much longer, especially because she's attempting to get her parents to take up normal interests. she doesn't like danny trying to bring them back into ghost hunting or messing around in the lab with their old inventions.

then of course plasmius attacks jack in full ghost form during bitter reunions. and boom the fenton parents are back in old form because that's the proof they needed that ghosts are real. jazz is still reluctant but things are going to steadily escalate from there. there's still going to be some time until they put together that vlad and plasmius are the same person. vlad might even offer to fund the fenton's to endear himself to maddie, and offer danny ghost tech the way he offered it to val, only in this case he's asking danny to put a good word in with maddie. danny is uncomfortable. even if they don't know he's a halfa, everyone at least knows that vlad is shady af. well except jack.

especially when ghost attacks start attacking more once he moves to town, becuase he brings his own portal with him, meaning the chaos starts in force. danny is kept busy fighting ghosts, and his parents are doing their own seprately.

i suppose the big turning point can be vlad letting the ghost king out when her robbed him. this would definately be when danny stops trusting him. especially because vlad is pushing vlad to be the one to fight pariah dark. danny still steals the suit and fight pariah. as a human. he definately almost dies and this time it's not something he can keep a secret. but of course the fenton's get even closer after wards. they've always cared about their kids and putting danny at risk was out of the question. the fact that danny's also been hunting on his own and that vlad was encouraging it. even jack isn't happy about that. he'll teach danny to hunt ghosts but he doesn't want danny going out on his own or being reckless about it. especially because it's effecting his grades. is danny basically the red huntress in this au? yes. does val still end up a ghost hunter? yes, but latter in the series. once she starts fighting ghosts i also feel like she's more likely to figure out that danny's been hunting ghosts because he's basically showing the same sleep patterns and issues she has now. plus he wasn't involved in cujo wrecking her dad's work (he was grounded from ghost hunting at the time). so they can team up. no animosity between them. sam and tucker have also been helping because they're ride or dies, though i imagine they were considerably more skeptical in the begining before ghosts attacks got really common.

danny also gradually figuring out ghosts aren't all bad and ending up talking to his parents about it. they take time to beleive him, but also trust him more in this world.

just family ghost hunter au - Hestia

[nehswritesstuffs]

Father Like Son, Mother Like Daughter, Parent Like Child - Part 4 of 4

This one ended up being even longer than the last, wtf... at least we’re done now lol

First chapter on [tumblr] - [FFN] - [AO3] 

Second chapter on [tumblr] - [FFN] - [AO3]

Prior chapter on [tumblr] - [FFN] - [AO3]

With the Straw Hats dispersed due to Bartholomew Kuma, it’s time for more than just them to brace for the incoming Age. [11,422 words; AU where Cora-san and Bell-mère raised their six kids in the East Blue and everyone is better-adjusted ]

Nojiko gasped as she saw the newspaper, headlines cementing some of her worst fears in quick succession.

STRAW HAT PIRATES ELIMINATED IN DRAMATIC SHOWDOWN

BACK FROM THE DEAD? “STRAW HAT” LUFFY LEADS PRISON REVOLT, DESTROYS IMPEL DOWN

WHITEBEARD, PORTGAS D. ACE DEAD IN EPIC WAR AT MARINEFORD

SIBLINGS? PIRATICAL CONNECTIONS BAFFLE NAVAL INTELLIGENCE

It appeared as though the past few days had been extremely eventful for family members not-her. She went through the articles and tried to figure out if her idiot seafaring siblings were all okay. There was nothing saying that the Heart Pirates weren’t alright, and if her sister’s idiot captain could survive being attacked by Kuma…

“I might just murder the lot of them,” she decided to no one in particular. “No note, no word, no nothing! Not even anything out of Mom and Dad! I’ll kill them!”

“Uhh… Miss Nojiko…?” She looked and saw her tweenaged hired help standing there, confusion on his face and a bushel of mikans in his hands. Oh yeah, that’s right: she had been working in the grove when the newspaper arrived. “Is everything okay…?”

“Maybe? Possibly? I don’t know…” She rolled up the paper and stuffed it in her apron pocket. “You got any siblings, Chabo?”

“No ma’am.”

“Good—they’re only reliable for causing trouble and running up your blood pressure.”

“Uhh… yes, ma’am… if you say so…”

He really hoped he was going to survive this shift.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

The doors to Sengoku’s office were violently kicked open, causing the old man to jump in surprise at his desk. To his even bigger surprise, a woman he hadn’t seen in-person for nearly twenty years came barging in, pure fury on her face.

“What the fuck are you up to, Sengoku?!” she snapped. She completely ignored the goat bleating in confusion at her and stormed up to the desk, slamming her hands on the surface. “I’m waiting.”

“It’s been a long time, Captain Cocoyasi,” he stated. “Please clarify: what brings you from your hometown, into a secure government facility, past my guards, and into my office?”

“You put a child on the chopping block for something he could never control and tried to escape,” she hissed. “Your subordinates almost murdered my children. When is this going to end?!”

“You came all the way from the East to remind me of how terrible my job is? That’s what I have Garp for.”

“Both of you are fucking idiots and honestly deserve whatever this New Age deals you.” Bell-mère folded her arms across her chest and scowled at the man in front of her. The goat kept gently butting its head against her thigh—it wanted treats and pets and she wasn’t giving either.

“Was that really your daughter…?” Sengoku asked quietly. “The Straw Hat navigator?”

“Don’t play dumb with me; I know you meddled with her bounty.”

“He can’t do much for his grandchildren, Belle, but he can at least do that.”

Sengoku silently stood as he looked towards the office door, the new voice slightly deeper and rougher than he remembered. Cora stepped through into the room and he lingered by the door with his hands in his pockets.

“Ro… Rosinante…?”

“Yeah,” the younger man affirmed. “It’s me.”

Shakily, Sengoku rushed to Cora and enveloped him in a hug. Tears choked his words as he held the boy he raised, cursing their near-multiple decades apart, only to realize something…

…his boy wasn’t hugging back.

“How much blood is on your hands?”

The question cut through Sengoku swift and precise. He let go of Cora and allowed the man to step further into the office, enough to look out the window upon the training grounds below. Everything was a fucking mess—rebuilding could have become cost-prohibitive.

“All I’ve done is what I’ve had to,” Sengoku stated, making sure the door was closed. “I’ve never run from it.”

“My daughter declared war on you,” Cora said darkly. A chill overcame Sengoku and the older man suddenly felt very exposed. “She declared war as she went to raid Enies Lobby, to rescue her friend, who you have been hunting for twenty years. That woman is not old enough to have committed a crime punishable by bounty… not if it was committed two decades ago.”

“I did what I had to do,” Sengoku repeated. Something sinister bubbled just below the surface of his words; he knew what this was about. His tone set something ablaze in Cora, there was no more time for excuses.

“Children died because of you! Nations erased because of you!”

“Don’t you think you know the choices I had to make!” the older man snapped. “Unlike you, I never ran away!”

“Then what else didn’t you run away from?!” Cora spat. “If you didn’t run away from Ohara and making that poor girl’s life a living hell, then what else did you approve?! Did you give the orders to murder my daughters’ families in Oykot and eliminate those who protested?!”

“Rosinante!”

“Do I only have my sons because you pulled the trigger on Flevance?!”

“You are out of line! There was nothing else I could have done!”

“Stop lying to me! You killed them! You might not have been there, but it was your orders behind it! Admit it! Flevance is dead in part because of you!”

“Their own hubris was what did them in!”

“Hubris?! You want to blame this on hubris?! If anyone’s hubris is to blame it’s the Government’s! The nobility who fled with only a trace of Amber Lead in their blood and their pockets lined in money! My son’s parents were slaughtered while trying to cure what you ran away from! He would look at his sisters and cry, because all he could do was remember the one who died in his arms! Do you think those three possessed enough hubris to deserve to die from it?!”

“You were not there, Rosinante! You do not know the depths of these decisions!”

“Cora.” The fleet admiral looked at him, eyebrow raised. “My name is Cora.”

“Rosinante…”

“The man said his name is Cora,” Bell-mère said idly. She was half-leaning, half sitting on the desk, looking at the things that covered it. “One of our middle kids gave him that name, you know… though I doubt it was the one responsible for this.” She picked up a picture frame and examined the contents: her and her husband on their wedding day. “This looks like our other middle brat’s work. She’s a clever one—safest for the world she stays farmer.”

Silence settled over the office and the two men glared at one another.

“You want to throw everything away for some misguided kids?” Sengoku asked. “Kids that have been exposed to who knows how many lies since they left your home?”

“Compared to the lies I was fed?” Cora walked back to Sengoku, standing close enough to smell the man’s cologne. “Stay away from my children, do you hear me?”

“I’m the only thing keeping those kids from being hunted down like animals.”

“Wouldn’t that get in the way of Justice? You always did wear your guilt a little differently.” Neither man broke eye contact, the stare-down tense. “Belle, we’re leaving.”

“You sure? It’s kind of fun watching you.”

“Yeah, I’m sure.” He waited for Bell-mère to open the office door before taking a step back. “You know, I always felt sorry for Garp growing up. I guess it’s his son and surviving grandson I should pity.”

“You’re an adult, Rosinante. You should know that sometimes good choices don’t exist.”

“That’s why we change the game, to make the good choices anyhow.” Cora turned on his heel and left the office, Bell-mère flashing Sengoku her middle fingers before backing out into the corridor and following him.

“Yeah, you’re not getting an inheritance,” Bell-mère snarked as she and Cora navigated the base’s corridors, dodging people who were looking at them in all manner of confusion. A few even dropped the papers they were carrying in surprise, having been around long enough to remember them both.

Those days were gone now, and they were the only survivors.

“I should have done this earlier,” Cora admitted. They turned a corner and went down a flight of stairs, heading towards the entrance. He tripped over himself and began to fall, with Bell-mère catching him by the collar before he could take a proper tumble.

“Telling him off now compared to ten years ago wouldn’t’ve made a damn bit of difference,” she scoffed. Once they were off the staircase they immediately went outside, where the sun was so bright they nearly had to shield their eyes. “Take it for what it’s worth; he didn’t kick us out or try to arrest us.”

“Almost wish he had.”

“So that what? We can get high on the shit list too? This is all such a fucking mess.” They made their way over to the docks, only to find that there was a stranger sitting in their boat. It was a young woman, barely older than their eldest daughter, with large, round eyes and a casual air about her.

“We’re not a hire service—fuck off,” Cora said. The young woman did not move.

“Never thought you were, Corazón,” she said. “Apologies; do you prefer Donquixote Rosinante? Maybe Commander Donquixote?”

“Is this something meant to scare me? Because it’s not working.”

“Trying to scare either of you is counter-productive,” the stranger stated. “Cora, Bell-mère, my boss would like to have a word with you. He doesn’t want your pity—it’s something more valuable he wants to discuss.” She took a red envelope from her pocket and held it out, a casual smile on her lips.

An envelope with a dragon printed on it.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Luffy woke up with a gasp. His whole body felt weak and shook terribly. The air smelled funny and he felt like he wanted to vomit. He did do just that, in fact, rolling over and deciding that the contents of his stomach needed to be on the floor instead. Shifting to lay on his back again, he groaned in discomfort, though snapped to full awareness as something hit the pillow next to his head…

Correction: a sword stabbed the bit of pillow next to his head.

“Strawhat-ya,” Law growled. Luffy’s eyes went wide as he saw his fellow Supernova lording above him, murderous conviction oozing from his very being. He was straddling him, knees on either side of his waist as his hands held shakily onto the sword’s hilt, his own eyes glinting in something feral… something powerful… something vengeful. Somewhere nearby, he could hear Hancock being restrained by some others… huh… he was back on the girl island…?

“Oh, hi Torao,” the younger man smiled warily. “Were you the one who patched me up?”

“Where. Is. My. Sister?”

Luffy blinked, unsure how to respond.

“WHERE IS MY SISTER?!” Spit flew from his mouth and tears welled in his eyes. “WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU LET HAPPEN TO HER?!”

“Torao, I…”

“WHERE DID KUMA SEND HER?!”

“I DON’T KNOW!”

“Law, come on, he just woke up…”

“I don’t care, Penguin,” Law snarled. “All I want is our sister, safe.”

“Don’t you think that’s something I want too?!” Luffy snapped back. “Nami’s my navigator! I don’t want any other! I don’t want any other crew! I want them! I want… I want…!” It was Luffy’s turn to cry, as everything hit him at once. “I want my big brother back! I want Ace!” He curled into a ball underneath Law, who straightened in order to look at this boy—he was just a boy, wasn’t he—sob pathetically as he mourned not only his crew, but his family as well.

Fuck… maybe it was meant to shake out this way after all.

Standing up, Law pulled his sword from the bedding and sheathed it, stepping back from the distraught teen. He could feel his own older brothers’ hands on his shoulders and his breath hitched—it was something that Luffy was never going to feel again with Portgas and the rest of the crew gone, wasn’t it?

“He just lost everyone,” Shachi said lowly. “Give the kid some space.”

“Every speck of time helps, and he’s the only one with any answers,” Law replied. He watched as Hancock went to Luffy’s side and began fussing over him, pillowing his head in her lap and smoothing his hair. Jinbe and Granny Nyon both looked at one another awkwardly, not knowing how much of what was going on was necessarily… appropriate.

“Then maybe you need to make the answers for yourselves,” said a voice. The brothers looked over to see that Rayleigh had returned to the room, observing the scene meticulously. “Luffy didn’t mean for any of this to happen just as much as you did—in a lot of ways to him, Nami’s as much his sister as she is to you.”

“Ray-ya, I don’t know if you understand how much we need to see our sister again… how much I need to see her and know she’s safe.”

“Then I suggest you get going on training,” the old man said. “Two years is a long time, but once it’s over, then it won’t seem like any time at all. You’ll need to take care while the Age is shifting or you will get left behind. You don’t want that sassy ginger girl to be stronger than you when she gets back, do you?”

“That would defeat the purpose of being the protective older brothers,” Penguin said. His brothers all nodded quietly. It was then that Bepo returned with a few more of the Kuja, the only one of them seemingly allowed to go wherever he wished sans a guard with exception of Rayleigh. “Everyone ready to go?”

“Yeah—Ikkaku says it’s best we leave soon as possible, so that none of the Kuja get too curious about the Tang,” he said. Bepo noticed Luffy was now awake and shifted awkwardly. “Is everything alright?”

“We have work to do,” Law stated. He handed Bepo his nodachi and approached Luffy again, ignoring the glares he was getting from the Empress. Crouching down, he stared at his sister’s captain until he stopped crying long enough to look at him. “Monkey D. Luffy.”

“Yeah, Torao?”

“Now you also know what it’s like to lose a sibling too soon. Do not disappoint me.”

At that, Law stood and began walking towards the door. His brothers followed, only for them to stop at the sound of Luffy’s voice.

“I’m going to become stronger! And stronger! And stronger! And stronger!” the young captain claimed. “I’m never going to lose anyone ever again!” Law turned around and saw Luffy standing, hands clenched in anger.

“It stings, doesn’t it? Losing someone like that?”

“You don’t know what I’ve lost,” Luffy snapped. “Don’t pretend like you do.”

“Now we’re on the same page.” Law snapped up a Room and twitched his wrist, a pile of goop appearing in Hancock’s lap. “That should stave off the sinus headache that comes from that amount of crying; I’m holding you to it, Strawhat-ya.”

“TRAFALGAR!” Hancock raged, having realized what the goop was soaking into her skirt.

“Oh shit gotta go!” Shachi grimaced, pulling his middle brother along. The four scrambled to make their way out of the castle, with Law shambling them halfway to the docks once they were outside.

“You’re an idiot!” Penguin snapped. “I want to come back here! We want to come back here!”

“We’re literally some of the only men to have ever seen this place and lived!” Shachi added. “Doesn’t that honor mean anything to you?!”

“You two are just horny,” Law deadpanned. Both his older brothers stumbled mid-stride—what a low blow.

“Get them!” someone yelled over the square. “They dishonored the Empress! Don’t let them get away!”

“Shit, shit, shit, shit, SHIT!” Shachi cursed, all of them sprinting fast as they could now. Law caught sight of the Tang and threw up a Room, dropping him and his brothers on the deck.

“Prepare to dive!” he ordered. His crew all stared at him for half a second before hurriedly rushing below deck. Only when they were safely underwater could they breathe, with Bepo gently elbowing Shachi.

“I think you meant to say ‘snot, snot, snot, snot, snot’ back there.”

Okay… maybe it was a little funny.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Two years passed in uncomfortable ease.

The rains came, the sun shone, the mikan harvest needed picking.

Power shifted.

A fractured crew trained on their own, refusing to let distance drive a wedge in their hearts.

Others prepared in their own way, yearning for the day they could put plans into action.

Alive Only, the entire time.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Nami honestly felt great. It was better than she’d felt in a long time—two whole years, in fact—and she was beyond glad to be back with her crew.

“Look! It’s the Sunny!” Chopper gasped. He and Usopp hopped off the Bon Chari and ran the rest of the way to their ship, immediately getting drawn into something ridiculous by… oh, seas, was that Franky…?

“Nami! You look well!” The young woman looked at the sound of her name and saw Robin standing on the deck. A warm smile brightened her face, which quickly spread to Nami as well.

“Robin! It’s so good to see you!” She attempted to ignore the boys as she brought her shopping bags aboard. “You don’t know how much I’ve missed having someone sane around~!”

“This sounds like you’ve got plenty to share involving your time away,” Robin chuckled. She took a quick glance and saw that Usopp and Chopper were still occupied with Franky’s new modifications. “Why don’t we put our things away before the crew’s get even more hectic?”

“Ugh, you’re right.” See? This was why Nami liked Robin; despite the creepy predictions and weird sense of humor, she was absolutely the only other person on the ship with a brain. Most of the time.

Trudging up the stairs, Nami and Robin both brought their bags into their room. Nami put hers on her bed and began to go through them, putting her new things away. She got through a couple bags before she turned around and saw Robin, the other woman sitting calmly at the table, watching her.

“Is… anything the matter…?” she asked.

“I’m just glad to be back,” Robin said. “You’re my family—there’s been plenty to process over these past two years.”

“Yeah…?”

“Yeah.”

After letting out a long sigh, Robin stood and walked over to Nami, bringing the younger woman into a hug. They stayed like that for a while, both taking strength from the other after so long apart.

“Just remember: after all we’ve been through, I don’t doubt you for a moment,” Robin said. “You are better than what came before you.”

“Robin…? What is this about…?”

“I was in a position to do a bit of digging while we were separated,” the archaeologist admitted. “Nothing much, but it’s enough to where I know a bit more than everyone lets on.”

“Considering how you are normally, that’s a lot,” Nami replied. “I trust you; don’t play your hand unless it’s necessary. I think you’re the best at that out of all of us.”

“Then I shall,” Robin agreed. “Now, let’s see what the boys have going on before something disfiguring happens, hmm?”

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Setting up shop on Punk Hazard really did seem like a good idea at the time, Law thought as he wandered the corridors, though with each passing moment, it felt as though something was closing in on him. He had so far been unable to access the experiments that Cesar was working on, not to mention the combination of Monet and Pugio keeping an extremely tight grip on him for people who otherwise couldn’t care less. The Marine seemed almost nonchalant about it, in fact; there was something about him that put the young Warlord on-edge, and he wasn’t entirely certain what. It nagged at the back of his brain, making him more jittery than usual, especially now that he was staring down even more Marines on the front doorstep.

“You’re not supposed to be here, Shichibukai,” Vice Admiral Smoker stated. He and Captain Tashigi had nearly a hesitant air about them, while the G-5 mooks behind them were very clearly itching for a fight.

The dichotomy was… odd.

“What can I say? This is my home now.”

“I have it under good authority that it isn’t,” Smoker replied. “Now stop the act and let us in—we’ve got to talk.”

“I don’t know what I could possibly have to talk to you about,” Law said. “Leave me alone; consider this my Kuraigana.”

“Don’t think you’re able to play tough guy with us,” Smoker spat. Tashigi was readying to prevent the conversation from coming to blows when noises began to filter out from inside. “What’s that?”

“Nothing.”

“Doesn’t sound like nothing.”

“Then you might need to get your ears checked, or does Marine insurance even cover that?”

Just then, the door on the other side of Law burst open, dozens of people piling out into the cold. Most of them were children of varying sizes—giant infants and toddlers alongside normal ones—as well as… shit… some Straw Hats… was she…?

The sight of his sister made his blood run cold.

“Law-nii…?!”

“Nami, you shouldn’t be here,” he scolded. Despite the warning, he nearly ran to her, bringing her into a tight hug as tears streamed down his face. Suddenly remembering their audience, he opened a Room and popped a coat off a Marine and onto her shoulders before stepping between her and the G-5 contingent.

“I thought you said no one was here,” Smoker deadpanned.

“This is a new development.”

“Anyhow; this makes things less troublesome.” Smoker looked at the others, narrowing his eyes critically. “Let’s get these kids inside! They shouldn’t be out in this weather!”

“…but we’re escaping!” one of the larger children insisted.

“We don’t know what you’re escaping from,” Tashigi said, “but we’re the good guys! We’re here to help, but we have to stay inside a little while longer so we can figure out what to do with you!” She then turned her attention back to her subordinates, who were all rightly very confused. “Come on—you heard the Vice Admiral! Get the kids back inside!”

Grumbling, the Marines all did as they were told, herding the children back inside. Law and the Straw Hats stood off to the side, the Surgeon of Death refusing to let go of his sister.

“Where in the hell did you all come from?” Law asked.

“We could ask the same, to be fair,” Franky mentioned. “Why are you here, Tra-bro?”

“Oi! Don’t lock us out!”

Just as the Marines were about to close the door, a large… alligator-centuar…? Yes, an alligator-centuar came skittering inside, with the remainder of the Straw Hats on his back.

“Hey guys! Look what we found!” Luffy cackled, holding up a pair of legs. Sanji held up a severed head, which seemed to sob in relief. “Oh, hey, you found the head! And Torao!”

“Strawhat-ya,” Law regarded flatly.

“Good; we’re missing no one,” Smoker said, coming over to the group. He stared at the torso-less body and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Was this your doing, Shichibukai?”

“Shichibukai?!” Nami gasped in horror. She began hitting Law on the shoulder, the too-long sleeves of her coat beating against him floppily. “Are?! You?! In?! Sane?!”

“Hey!” he grunted. “A lot has happened!”

“It still doesn’t change the fact you apparently cut a guy into three and spread the pieces,” Smoker said.

“He shouldn’t’ve been irritating,” Law shrugged. He watched as Luffy perched himself on Smoker’s shoulders—honest to goodness his sandals were on the man’s shoulders—and he raised an eyebrow. “You two sure are chummy.”

“It’s not mutual, I assure you,” Smoker grumbled. Tashigi saw what was going on and attempted to disengage Luffy, which only caused him to drape himself over Zoro’s shoulders instead, who barely seemed to register the extra weight.

“Smoker and Tashigi know Mom and Dad,” Nami said, keeping her eyes on the Marine officers. Law considered that, then nodded.

“So, then I trust that I can discuss freely with everyone here?”

“If you have a way to muffle sound, then that would help immensely,” Robin said, her attention more on the other Marines. Law put up a pair of Rooms, one just slightly bigger than the other. Smoker then added some of his smoke between them and it began to woosh around, creating a makeshift sound barrier. “Now then, what is it that you have to say?”

“I’m going to take down an Emperor,” Law said frankly, “and I’m going to do it in one of the most effective ways possible.” The others were quiet at the admission, waiting for him to elaborate.

“How do you propose that?” Usopp cringed. “We’re not talking small-fry here.”

“There’s a very specific pressure point that, if hit, can help take down at least Kaidou, maybe even destabilize enough to get Big Mom as well.”

“That sounds insane, Law-nii,” Nami frowned. “What ‘pressure point’ do you honestly think will be that effective at sabotaging a veteran pirate and pirating lord?”

Law stared directly into Nami’s eyes and took a deep breath. “Uncle Doffy.”

Nami’s jaw dropped as she realized what her brother was saying. Their uncle?! Was he insane?! Her crewmates noticed her shock and all glared at Law.

“We’ve never heard anything about you two having an uncle until now,” Luffy said. He was now on Franky’s shoulder, picking his own nose. “What’s all that about?”

“It’s a long story, but essentially,” Nami cringed, “we have the weirdest family and every even mildly weird family has a rich and eccentric uncle no one likes to talk about.”

“Ha!” Usopp couldn’t help but laugh awkwardly at that. “What, is he, like, a renegade Warlord or something?” Law and Nami both stared at him, which made the sniper shudder. “Oh no…”

“This is an issue,” Smoker stated. “We don’t have the authority to go after your uncle; from a Government standpoint, he is untouchable.”

“Well, then the rest of us can help take him down!” Luffy grinned. He draped one arm over Nami’s shoulders and the other over Law’s. “You can’t help who you’re related to sometimes, but that does mean it can be your business to stop them from doing bad stuff. Who is it?”

“Yeah!” Brook piped up. “We’ve all been so busy and bone-tired these past two years, we’ve rarely read the paper!”

“Whoever it is, Nami-swan, I’m sure we can help!”

“Really, Luffy, maybe I should go with my brothers once this is all done—wait, where are Bepo-nii and the goons?”

“Bepo is doing recon right now—I’m here to hit the flint and get sparks going.”

“Naaamiii, Toooraaaooo, who’s your uncle…?!”

“I just remembered,” Nami said briskly, “that I don’t think I ever told any of you my family name.”

“Isn’t it Trafalgar?” Chopper wondered. The rest of the Straw Hats were a mixture of curiosity, like Brook; confusion, like Zoro; intrigue, like Robin; and something close to fear out of Sanji.

“I’m not getting rid of my original family name,” Law explained. “My siblings—however—none of them had a family name before, so they technically have Dad’s.”

“Both of you are stalling,” Zoro scowled. Nami took a deep breath and exhaled… she could do this.

“My name is Donquixote Nami,” she grimaced, “and my uncle is the Shichibukai and current King of Dressrosa Donquixote Doflamingo, otherwise known to the black market and criminal underworld as Joker. He is my dad’s brother by blood as well as name.”

The Room went deathly quiet, everyone staring at Nami and Law until Luffy burst into laughter.

“Oh, is that all?” he chuckled. “I don’t like the sound of that guy anyhow. Let’s kick his ass!”

“He’s dumber than we thought, sir,” Tashigi marveled. Smoker simply facepalmed.

“It’s nice to hear you speak truthfully, Nami,” Robin smiled. She then glanced over her shoulder to see the children and the G-5 Marines getting on disturbingly well. “We still have some more pressing things to take care of, it seems.”

“The children being here is a big one,” Chopper noted. “They’re being experimented on! I don’t think that’s something that the World Government knows about.”

“Despite this being one of Vegapunk’s old facilities? I doubt,” Tashigi said. “This general area is known for child disappearances and deaths, though something tells me that by asking some of these kids question, we’re going to find plenty of answers.”

“We saw ships on our way in bearing the initials C.C.,” Smoker added. He looked at Law. “Is Cesar Clown here?”

“Along with a lab assistant named Monet possessing a Devil Fruit and a Marine vice admiral—”

“Pugio…?” Smoker and Tashigi both asked at once.

“Sounds like you weren’t here just to see me; I’m hurt,” Law joked flatly.

“Well, let’s get going,” Luffy grinned. “I’m hungry, and all our food is aboard the Sunny!”

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

It was late that night as the Thousand Sunny sailed peacefully towards Dressrosa. Although there had been no sight of Vice Admiral Pugio despite his earlier presence, Monet had been quickly dispatched and Cesar Clown was unconscious and tied to the mast. Everyone had long finished dinner and had dispersed into their evening routines. Nami found her brother sulking by himself in the aquarium bar, his arm slung over the back of the bench as he rested his chin against it, staring into the tank.

“Hey.” He didn’t move. “So… there’s a lot to catch up on, isn’t there?”

“Not really.”

“We just spent two years without contact—before, it was only a few months at most.”

She sat down next to him and waited; there was only one true way to break through Law’s moody spells and that was patience. Eventually, he looked at her, bringing his arm down so that his head rested directly on the bench.

“I might have stolen Luffy from the Summit War and treated his injuries just so I could threaten him over your safety when he woke up,” he admitted.

“Okay… on-brand for you,” she chuckled. “I was on an artificial sky island called Weatheria learning about weather from these weird old men.”

“I stole the hearts of a hundred pirates to buy my way into the Shichibukai.”

“I was literally in possession of the only vagina on the island.” Law closed his eyes and smiled, trying poorly to not laugh. “What? You doubt me?”

“Exactly the opposite,” he smirked. He straightened in his seat and nodded as he looked at his sister in the wan aquarium light. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too, dumbass.” She pulled her legs up, hugging them so she could rest her chin on her knees. “Bepo-nii’s really waiting for us in Dressrosa?”

“Yeah—he’s got the safehouse and an escape route all planned, on top of looking for the factory.”

“What about Peng-nii and Sach-nii?”

“They…” He trailed off, not knowing how to continue. “We… we fought… about a year ago now. I don’t know where they are.”

“What…?! What in the hell did you fight about?”

“They wanted to funnel information to Sengoku’s other son, saying it would be better to put military pressure on Uncle Doffy. I refused.”

“It was enough to break up over?”

“Yeah.” Law avoided eye contact, hoping it would help him keep his composure. “Our family is falling apart, Nami. Our older brothers are nowhere to be found, you were presumed dead for two years, no one’s heard hell or high water from Mom and Dad since they told off Dad’s dad—not even Nojiko’s gotten a letter from them…”

“Mom and Dad are missing?!”

“Yeah. I’ve been looking, but…” He shivered. “I don’t know if you, Nojiko, Bepo, and me are the only ones left. Up until today, I thought I only had one brother and one sister remaining.”

“Don’t say that.”

“I know from experience.”

“Law-nii, that was different. You are different.”

“I can’t remember my first family’s faces, you know.” It was quiet between them, only the aquarium making noise. “Every time I try to remember them, I think of our family instead. Mom and Dad… Nojiko… our brothers… it’s them I see… I try to think of my kid sister, but for some reason her hair is orange instead of brown…”

“Law-nii…”

“That’s why I have to do this,” he continued. “Uncle Doffy has fucked us up so irreparably that there’s nothing I can do except take him down. I can’t let him take the rest of you away… not when I’m so close.”

“If anyone should take him down, it’s Dad.”

“Yeah, except I was there when Dad had the chance—he almost died, Nami. Dad had him right there and couldn’t pull the trigger. He’s…” His voice grew quiet as he remembered that day. “…he’s not like him.”

“One’s a farmer and the other’s a criminal mastermind… it’s kind of obvious.” She leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder. “I wonder what kind of a man Grandpapa Homing was like, if he turned out both Dad and Uncle Doffy.”

“Dad said he was kind and loving; very open-hearted. Uncle Doffy said he was weak, pathetic, and foolish.” He paused, unsure of how to continue. “Hey… uh… Nami…?”

“…yeah…?”

“Can you… do that thing Mom used to do?”

“Yeah.”

She took her weight off him and allowed her brother to shift so that his head was in her lap. Her one hand gently carded through his hair while the other rested on his neck, her thumb rubbing soft circles against the nape. She hummed a soft tune—a bawdy sailor’s shanty that was more lullaby than anything when slow and wordless, and let him melt into her touch. His whole body seemed to relax as she continued, going through the entire song before stopping.

“What are we going to do now?” she asked, voice quiet.

“Use Cesar Clown as bait and get our uncle in a position where I can strike him down.”

“You don’t have to do it alone.”

Silence.

“Remember Law-nii… you’re not alone.”

He didn’t answer her, for he was already lost in thought. The ship wasn’t far out from Dressrosa anymore and he was ready to put his plan into action… even if it killed him.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Sitting in the Royal Palace, surrounded by a lavish display of opulence and might, Doflamingo read over a report given to him by a sentry toy, rushed in as he finished up breakfast. From the looks of things, it appeared that he was going to get a visitor soon… fufufu… how fortuitous…

“Mank, Fahkon,” he said, a grin upon his lips. Two of the guards stepped forward—one bald and the other peroxide-blond, both with their employer’s signature sunglasses as the rest of their unit—and saluted. “It appears as though my favorite nephew is finally coming home to take his rightful spot at my side whether he realizes it or not. I want you to initiate Protocol Corazón. Now.”

“Yes, sir!” the men replied before leaving. Doflamingo looked back at the report, examining the photograph that had been included. It was Law on Punk Hazard, a security camera having caught him with a protective arm around a woman… hmm… not just any woman, but the Straw Hat’s navigator…

Oh, he was going to have fun with this.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Everything was going relatively smoothly, considering all the working parts of the plan. Doflamingo had gone and resigned his spot from the Shichibukai, publicly giving up his position as a Warlord. He called Law’s bluff and agreed to meet him on Green Bit, where there would be a trade-off involving handing Cesar directly over to Doflamingo while—unbeknownst to Joker—some of the others destroyed the SMILE factory.

Well, it would be if some other people would stick to the plan.

“I’m going to need you three to hang back while I make the exchange,” Law said. He and the rest of the Cesar Hand-Over Team were walking through the streets, nearly at Primula. Nami quickly appeared at his side, an unamused expression on her face.

“I did not give up being in the relative safety of the Sunny just to watch you go in alone,” she frowned.

“Nose-ya, I trust that you can control my sister should something come up?”

“If you think I can control Nami, then you’re even more insane than I thought,” Usopp shuddered. Robin chuckled quietly from her spot next to Cesar.

“Our Nami is fiercely protective of her own—no doubt a trait she picked up from her elder siblings.”

“I can’t believe you lot are the ones I have to suffer through,” Cesar grumbled. “Of all the upstart little shits, it had to be these upstart little shits.”

“Don’t get too fussy now, or Doflamingo’s going to get his favorite science bitch back in a bit rougher of shape than intended,” Law warned.

“That’s not nice,” Nami mentioned.

“It’s accurate.”

“Doesn’t mean it’s still not nice.”

“Isn’t this the fountain?” Robin asked. The group stopped and looked at the center of the neighborhood square—there was indeed a fountain, topped with what looked like a dancing woman. They checked the map just to confirm—without a doubt.

“So this is where Bepo-nii was going to meet up with us?” Nami frowned. “It looks more like a place for someone to meet a date.”

“Doesn’t matter; he should be here by now,” Law scowled. He checked the clock on a nearby building, with Robin and Usopp silently noting how similar the siblings’ facial expressions were. “He had explicit instructions.”

“You know the fuzzball than I do, and even I know that’s a pretty hard sell,” Nami deadpanned. Law sighed—his sister was right. “He was to establish our routes and meet us here—it was supposed to be a no-brainer. Leave it to the most neurotic of our brothers to screw up a no-brainer.”

“I’m sure he does his best,” Robin chuckled. She then saw a nervous-looking bear looking around the square and smiled. “I think he might be more on-time than we think.”

Just then, the bear caught sight of the group and tried not to rush towards them. While the bear’s fur was brown, there was no mistaking the tears in his eyes.

“I can’t believe it’s you, Gingersnap!” the bear sobbed, picking up Nami in a tight hug.

“You look… different…” Usopp said.

“It’s a disguise—nothing permanent,” Bepo explained. “Everything’s clear to the Green Bit bridge. It’s dangerous, but I think we can handle it. When I realized who you were bringing along, I instantly felt better!”

“Where is the rest of your crew?” Robin wondered.

“Safe; Bepo dropped them off at a secure location before coming here,” Law said. “Now… let’s get to Green Bit so we can get this over with.”

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Once recovered from the shock, ugly tears and snot ran down Luffy’s face as he hugged Sabo for the first time in a long time. He hugged so tightly that it was clear he didn’t want to let go, which made his brother chuckle.

“Ay! Wudduh yuh think yer doin’?!” Bartolomeo snarled. “Mistah Luffy needs t’concentrate before goin’ back out!”

“I’m going to handle that,” Sabo said. Luffy looked at him in bewilderment.

“…but…!”

“You just concentrate on helping out your crew take down Doflamingo—some of my associates are already en route.” Luffy blinked and Sabo chuckled. “They’re headed to King’s Plateau as we speak.”

“Where have you been?!”

“I hit my head so hard that I forgot everything we’d been through until very recently,” he admitted. “Now get those things off so you can go and Lucy can keep Ace’s legacy alive.”

Nodding deeply, Luffy took off his Lucy disguise and handed it to Sabo, who hugged him once more, leaving a kiss on top his head as though they were still kids.

“Your punches still like pistols?”

“You know it!”

“Then you won’t have any problem kicking Doflamingo’s ass—get going!”

“Alright! Help my brother, okay Chicken Guy?!” Luffy ran off, laughing through his tears as Sabo and Bartolomeo stared at one another, one amused and the other completely flabbergasted.

Doflamingo was going to be in for it.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

In her defense, Nami had done everything according to plan. She stayed back along with Usopp and Robin before they disappeared. After that, she even stayed hidden while Law had a pissing match with Doflamingo and Fujitora. She had completely followed along in her brother’s harebrained scheme, which he had promised was going to go off without a hitch.

So why, pray tell, was she locked up in a dungeon?!

“I can’t believe I’ve been reduced to this,” she muttered as she paced the cell. It was a simple design—stone walls, seastone bars, bed, sink, bucket—and yet there was a very complicated feel to the entire situation. Much of the crew was still in Dressrosa, that much was true, and there was the fact that Law was still alive. Doflamingo was truly a sadist; there was no way he’d let Law do something as simple as die without torturing him first. Bepo was also wandering around, but he just watched her get kidnapped, Law get shot, and a Marine Admiral summon a meteor from the sky—he was certain to need time to compose himself.

An explosion went off outside the palace that made Nami jump. Was she going to be trapped while the others fought on? What if she tried to escape? Waited for the others to get to her? Ugh… she really should have stayed on the Sunny when she had the chance…

Just then, she noticed a string slinking along the floor, coming into her cell. It began to swirl around and form a shape, which eventually solidified into the very image of Doflamingo, who smirked at her.

“Well, this is something,” the string-copy stated. It seemed to regard her carefully, as though she represented part of a puzzle he was interested in solving. “I don’t exactly understand: why is the Straw Hat brat part of this? He doesn’t seem smart enough to go through Law’s plans.”

“That’s the thing about Luffy,” Nami said coolly. “He keeps people on their toes.”

“Allies included?”

“Especially allies.”

“Then maybe this might be to my advantage after all,” the string copy mused. It had only a moment to ponder before the door to the cell block creaked open, at which it unraveled and reformed in the corridor. “Ah, Mank, Fahkon, I take it Protocol Corazón is functioning as planned?”

“Well as it’s going to go, sir,” the bald man said. “Mank and I have everything under control.”

The string copy gave pause. “If that’s the case, then why are you here?”

“We have a bit of unfinished business with the woman,” the blond replied. “I hope that’s alright by you.”

“Fufufu, but of course.” The string copy turned its pointer finger into a key and opened Nami’s cell door. She swallowed hard—this was not looking good.

“Much obliged.” The bald man drew the sword at his hip and looked at Nami, smirking casually. “Good to see you too, Gingersnap.”

Nami gasped as she watched the bald man swing his sword and slice Doflamingo’s copy in half, the entire thing falling limp into a pile of shredded string. She was taken aback as the pair took off their sunglasses and tossed them to the floor, revealing their faces in earnest.

It was honestly enough to make her cry. Mostly in frustration, but she couldn’t help the joy that went along with it.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Bepo was, admittedly, absolutely terrified.

He had only just barely slipped away from Uncle Doffy’s grasp when the exchange went sour. There was no sight of his brother or sister, and the Straw Hats had taken Cesar back into their custody at Law’s bequest and got the hell out of there. Nothing was going true to the plan and now he was running around the palace, attempting to find what was, at this point, Plan Q or R or something like that.

The royal palace was strangely quiet, as much of the fighting was going on outside. He poked his head inside a bunch of different rooms as he wandered the corridors, seeing the opulence and grandeur that his adoptive uncle surrounded himself in. It was such a far cry from the mikan farm that it was honestly jarring, though it also underscored the differences between the man who raised him and the one whom they were fighting. He could not imagine his parents wanting to raise him and his siblings there… to him, the fact there were never any visits was proof enough.

Finally, Bepo came across the Hall of Suits, noting how hollow and dark it was. He nearly passed it right up, but saw someone slumped down in one of the chairs… oh, shit… the chair with a heart for a back.

“Law-nii!” Bepo gasped. He ran to his brother and immediately began panicking at the sight of all his injuries. “Is that a gunshot wound?!”

“Bep, I need you to find the keys to these seastone cuffs,” Law grimaced. “He shot me like he shot Dad on Minion Island—if I don’t get access to my Devil Fruit soon, I’ll bleed out.”

That tidbit sent the Mink into full sobs. “Damn it! I’m so sorry, Law-nii! There’s nothing on the walls here and I don’t know where to look!”

“Just, look in the other rooms!”

“I already did!”

“Well, look again!”

“I’m not leaving my remaining brother’s side!”

“What the fuck do you mean by that?!”

Bepo looked over to see Nami running into the Hall of Suits along with two men he didn’t readily recognize. As they got closer, he caught a whiff of them, his expression turning hopeful.

“Peng-nii?! Sach-nii?!”

“The ones and only,” Penguin said. He reached into his blond coif and pulled out a hairpin, which he began to use to pick at the cuff’s locks.

“Where the fuck did you two come from?” Law groaned. “You look fucking ridiculous.”

“We look like the guys who are currently saving your ass,” Shachi fired back. “As if we were going to let you just  get Fuzzball and Gingersnap in mortal peril without some backup! It’s completely irresponsible!”

“This was supposed to be little more than a suicide mission for me, that I was to complete alone,” Law said. The locks sprang open and the cuffs fell away. “If I succeeded, then great; if not, then only my life is on the line.” As he felt the Ope-Ope’s abilities come flooding back to him, nausea overcame him, leading to him leaning over the chair and vomiting sourly. He wiped his mouth with his coat sleeve and surrounded himself in a Room, attempting to patch himself up the best he could with the potential time allotted.

“Uh-huh, and you completely forgot that he’s our uncle too,” Nami scolded, tempted to use her Climatact to beat his thick skull until he got it. “We’re siblings—we can clean up our family mess together. We even have friends to help where we’d otherwise be stretched thin.”

“…but…!”

“No buts!” Nami leaned down and got in her brother’s face, poking him in the bit of chest not marred by a gunshot wound. “Don’t give me that shit! You might have been the only one of us to have lived with Uncle Doffy, but that doesn’t make you the only one responsible!”

“Yeah—we’re doing this together!” Penguin insisted. “What good are dumbass siblings if you can’t ask them for help?!”

“Or rope them into crazy-ass adventures?!” Shachi added.

“Fufufu… I can think of plenty.”

A chill settled over the siblings as someone new entered the hall. Doflamingo casually strolled in, his Haki oppressive as it beat down on the others.

“Stay away from him!” Penguin hissed. He brandished his staff while Shachi held a sword behind him. Nami and Bepo helped Law to his feet, his injuries thankfully subdued for the time being.

“Fufufu… look at my little nephews and niece,” Doflamingo chuckled. They all tensed at that. “I didn’t think nearly all of you would show up… Rosi certainly was… busy while away.”

“Don’t you dare talk about Dad that way, as if you didn’t try to kill him!” Law snapped. “If I hadn’t gotten there in time…! I…!”

“Yes, you certainly did change the course of events,” Doflamingo admitted. “Fahkon, Mank… the both of you? All this time? I’m impressed you were able to keep it together for this long. Did you plan on all of this before or after you joined my guard?”

“Fuck you,” Shachi spat. Doflamingo shrugged.

“No matter—Law, this is your last chance: you are the strongest of my brother’s brood, and I want you to do the smart thing and succeed him as the Corazón. You can do what he never could.”

“Why would I work for a piece of shit like you?”

“…because, I was hoping you were as sharp as I remember. Not a worry though—I have ways to make you see reason.” He lifted his hand and Law blanched.

“You guys need to get out of here,” he growled.

“We can’t leave you,” Penguin said. “We’ll take care of this jackass together.”

“No… I don’t think you understand,” Law replied, voice rising in panic. “All of you need to leave.”

“Which one, which one…” Doflamingo purred. He locked his sights on Nami and twitched his wrist so that his palm faced up, fingers still crooked. “You will do.”

In an instant, Nami’s shoulders jerked back, making her eyes go wide in panic. She tried to drop the Climatact, and couldn’t.

“Parasaito,” Doflamingo smirked. He watched as Nami’s body moved jaggedly before it settled into smoother motions, which made all his brother’s children panic.

“Try to hold still, Gingersnap,” Shachi said. “I might be able to cut the strings.”

“You can’t,” Law snapped. “There’s nothing to cut!”

“This has seastone in the steel—of course it can cut it!”

“Less bickering, more action!” Nami warned. She was beginning to spar with Penguin, who was just barely able to parry her blows without moving in to hurt her. “I don’t care how you do it as long as you don’t hurt me!”

Without a word, Bepo took the situation into his own claws and laid down atop Nami, putting just enough weight on her so that it was difficult for her to move or be moved. Doflamingo scowled as he attempted to pull on his niece’s strings, not getting anywhere.

“Well, that’s boring,” he hummed. “Maybe if I…”

Just then, glass shattered as someone burst through the window, Conqueror’s Haki at full-blast. Luffy took a swing at Doflamingo, raging at the Shichibukai. The siblings braced for an onslaught of broken glass, yet…

“Miss Nami! Youse guys! Ovah here!” They looked to see a barrier between them and the fighting, with Bartolomeo half in a door with his fingers crossed. “Let Mistah Luffy take care of it fer a while! Youse needs t’get yer strength back!” Not taking the opportunity for granted, they ran out of the Hall of Suits, Bepo carrying both Law and Nami.

“Who the hell are you?!” Law asked, attempting to completely ignore the fact he was hefted over his kid brother’s shoulder.

“Oh, I’m Bartolomeo, of the Barto Club! Mistah Luffy and the Straw Hats are mah heroes! There ain’t nevuh been a crew from the East good an’ bold as them! Not recently!”

“I told you we should have stopped back home for a bit,” Shachi snarked. Law pretended he didn’t hear him.

“I have’tuh admit, I didn’t think youse guys would be related to Miss Nami, bein’ Northern an’ all, but I’ve seen woise.”

“How could this be worse?” Penguin grimaced.

“Youse should see who dis oddah guy’s related to,” Bartolomeo chuckled. They rounded a bend and headed towards another corridor. “I mean, he an’ this dame show up with Mistah Luffy’s bruddah, and he says theys here to stop his brudduh from killings their kids! ‘Whose yer brudduh?’ I ask. Apparently, its the creep we’s just ran from! Uhhh… youse guys…?”

Bartolomeo watched as Penguin, Shachi, and Bepo all began to run faster, bursting into the hall ahead of him. They all froze as they saw the two people he had mentioned, casually standing over some freshly-defeated opponents.

“Mom…?” Shachi croaked.

“Dad…?” Penguin marveled. Bepo simply put down his other siblings, completely flabbergasted.

“Took you punks long enough,” Bell-mère smirked. She and Cora allowed their kids to run to them, giving them all tight hugs. “Been a bit—fuck, you’re all tall.���

“We hadn’t heard from you for so long!” Bepo sobbed. “What happened?! Did Uncle Doffy lock you up?!”

“I kind of told your grandfather off two years ago and since then we’re been Revolutionaries,” Cora explained. His kids all stared at him and he chuckled awkwardly.

“I, for one, want to know how you specifically haven’t died,” Nami snarked. “I don’t think you fixed being clumsy overnight.”

“Grauntie Tsuru really worked with me back in the day, okay?” Cora admitted.

“Now, how about we put off talking about Exploits Past for a bit so we can take care of this dry assfuck we call your uncle, eh kids?” Bell-mère asked, jabbing her thumb in the direction of the Hall of Suits. She looked at Bartolomeo, who was staring in slackjawed awe. “Oi, Barty.”

“Yes, Miss Bell-mère?”

“Time to earn your keep, kid. Go distract Mingo for us.”

“Anything fer you, ma’am!” Bartolomeo scuttled off, with Law and Nami groaning in unison soon as he was out of earshot.

“Where’d you pick this lunatic up?” she asked.

“That doesn’t matter,” Bell-mère said. “What does is that we have a plan to get the bastard right where we want him. He doesn’t know we’re here, which is a distinct advantage.”

Her kids all listened intently—with any luck, after this was done, Doflamingo’s existence was never going to hang over their heads ever again.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

When Law finally found where the fight had moved to, it was outside, under the harsh and blinding sun. As it was, it took a while for Bartolomeo to get Doflamingo away from Luffy long enough for Law to utilize the short window to cut in. Some razor strings had just bounced off a barrier the green-haired man put up when Law jumped into the fray, a large Room already up.

“Gamma Knife!” He was able to get a quick stab in Doflamingo’s side, causing the older man to cough up blood. Law quickly moved himself away from his uncle.

“Fuck…” Doflamingo hissed, clutching at his side. He glared at Law, teeth bared and temper wildly spinning out of control. “I took you in.”

“…to groom me into sacrificing my life for you,” Law replied. “You never cared about me past that. Cora-san is the one who cared.”

“Rosi was always soft, like Father,” the Warlord sneered. “I guess he would have been your grandfather, in a different world. Living with Rosi has turned you soft as him… all that time and energy I put into you… wasted.”

“Luffy… I need you to help Nami and our brothers fend off the lieutenants,” Law firmly requested.

“…but I want to help you kick this guy’s ass…”

“If he’s not done in fifteen minutes, then come back here, alright?”

“Not one second more, you hear?” Luffy insisted. He then followed the sound of a nearby explosion; Law and Doflamingo were now alone.

“Foolish move, boy,” Doflamingo stated flatly. “He’s got energy for days—you’re barely upright.”

“All I need is to get in one more shot,” Law chuckled. He watched as his uncle’s expression turn into a frown. “What…? Don’t like your odds?”

“I don’t like any of this,” he said. “You’re forcing my hand, making me kill my favorite nephew, for what? Guilt? Vengeance? Some twisted sense that you’ve decided to call morality? I should have killed you when I had the chance. Now be a good boy and die.”

At that, Doflamingo began to swipe at Law with strings, all near-misses as the younger man popped around the courtyard thanks to the Room. Each time he tried to get close, it was another attack of deadly string. Finally, Law landed another hit, twisting the Gamma Knife in Doflamingo’s side, only to collapse afterwards  in exhaustion. He watched in horror as his uncle remained standing—it was impossible…

“My strings can stitch me up inside as well as out, you arrogant brat,” Doflamingo snarled. He stepped towards Law, who was visibly trembling. “Now I can stomp you out for good.” He lifted his foot and aimed…

…only to be stopped by his own brother’s foot getting in the way.

“Rosi…”

“Name’s Cora; the son you were about to hit gave me that name,” he replied. “Then again, I don’t really think you’d understand things done out of love, would you?”

“Fufufu… aren’t we a little bold for our britches?” Doflamingo chuckled. The two men jumped apart, moving away from Law. “Nice try surprising me; I have to admit that when I heard rumors of you being alive, I thought it was too good to be true. Then your boys went to sea and it was easy to piece everything together.”

“What gave it away?”

“The Heart Pirates, Alive Only—that windbag Sengoku’s the only one able to manage that as a favor to such an obedient little pet who gave us away to Tsuru all that time. Though I do have to admit, the girl’s a surprise. Have her by that Belle you were always pining over?” He clucked his tongue at that. “You became a father so young… and to potentially abandon your daughter at such a fragile age…”

“Like you think Father abandoned us?”

“To the wretched, common wolves, despite the fact we were born in the heavens. They denied us our birthright, so it’s now my right to watch the world suffer and burn.”

“…which makes it my right to stop you.” Just then, Bepo came silently lumbering into the courtyard, crouching down by Law in order to pick him up. Doflamingo drew the gun from his waistband and pointed it at the Mink, only for Cora to point one at him.

“Let them go; your beef’s with me.”

“Oh… nostalgic,” Doflamingo replied, turning his gun towards Cora. The other man’s hand trembled, aim shaky as he took the sound dampening off his youngest son.

“Go,” he said, not looking away from his brother. When he didn’t hear Bepo move, he cocked the barrel of the pistol. “Go, now; that is an order!” Bepo squeaked and scooped Law up in his arms, running away fast as he could. They were soon gone, though there was another explosion and a shishishi to be heard off in the distance. Without aplomb, Doflamingo fired a shot that his brother took in the chest, sending him to his knees.

That was when Cora grinned.

“We need to stop finding ourselves in situations like this, brother,” Doflamingo chuckled. “I thought I demonstrated the first time: you can’t shoot me. You can’t kill me. You are too much like Father.” He frowned as his brother’s smile did not fade away. “Are you that willing to die? Are you that willing to follow in his footsteps?”

“You are right about one thing, Brother,” Cora laughed weakly. “I am too much like Father—I can’t kill you.”

Doflamingo allowed the corners of his mouth to twitch up. Cora was not done, however, despite his labored breathing.

“You didn’t take into consideration one thing though,” he continued. His brother raised an eyebrow.

“Oh? What’s that?”

“My wife is nothing like Mother.”

Inhaling sharply, Doflamingo spun around on his heel, only to be met by Bell-mère pointing a gun directly between his eyes. She pulled the trigger before he could react, killing him point-blank with a spray of blood and brains. His body crumpled on the ground, lifeless and limp, broken and grotesque.

That was when everything changed.

The Birdcage overhead instantly vanished, the citizens sobbing as they dropped their weapons. What was left of the Donquixote Family began to panic and flee, heading directly into traps set by the Marines still there. Dressrosa erupted into joy once again, as they knew that they were finally free to live again as they once had.

“Mom! Dad!” The five siblings, having won their own fights, ran over to their parents, where Bell-mère was helping Cora stand. Law immediately ran a Scan on both of them, finding that there was nothing immediately life-threatening. He then collapsed in Cora’s arms, his energy completely spent.

“We did it,” he breathed. Tears began to stream down his face. “Fuck… we did it…”

“We did,” Bell-mère smiled. She and Cora shared a quick kiss, which made their kids all groan. “Oi; you’re all adults, for fuck’s sake.”

Parents were gross.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Tsuru had a giant headache and it was suspiciously Sengoku-shaped. Because, really, what the fuck was he anymore? Friend? Colleague? Comrade? The guy who keeps showing up? The not-Garp? Nika help her if she knew…

“What does the Inspector General do anyhow?” she asked as they readied to make port. “All you seem to do is wander around and cause trouble for the rest of us.” He munched casually on a cracker, thoughtful.

“I inspect things… generally…”

“You weren’t even assigned to inspect the corpse I have to transport, were you?”

“Nope!”

Then again, how was Tsuru to know what Sengoku’s plan was? He slipped away while her unit was all enamored with the Tontatta princess, making his way through the ruins of Dressrosa until, finally, he found the small house in a field of flowers, where they were…

…where his family was.

Suppressing his Haki, he sat out of sight as he felt the raucous environment just out of his reach. There was presumably the owner of the house, as well as some of the Straw Hats, and… his son, daughter-in-law, and five of his grandchildren. He knew that if he had any chance of meeting them, now would be it… and yet… he knew it was not his place to intrude.

“Are you going to come in or are you just going to lurk there like some sort of weirdo?”

Sengoku looked and saw the Straw Hat’s swordsman leaning against the door frame. He regraded him critically, as though he was unsure of the old man’s true intentions.

“Do I have any right? After it all?”

“That’s not for me to decide,” the swordsman said. He watched as Sengoku stood and, after the man hesitated, turned his attention back inside. “Oi, Kyros, got another chair?”

The whole house went quiet as Sengoku lingered by the doorway. He saw Cora towards the end of the table, mid-reach for his fork, with Bell-mère sitting next to him. Aside from the Straw Hats (the Straw Hat himself, of course, being the only one to keep eating as though nothing was happening), the young people he had only seen in bounty posters were sat all around the couple, looking as though they had paused some sort of petty squabble for him to enter.

“Cora…” he choked, voice suddenly gone. “You… you did it…”

There was no response, with instead tears welling in Sengoku’s eyes.

“You were a better man than I ever could have hoped to be… Cora…”

“Gramps, who are you?”

Everyone looked at Luffy, slackjawed as he simply ate away. Nami and Shachi both hit him on the head, causing lumps to comically form.

“That’s the Marine Fleet Admiral, you idiot!” Nami snapped.

“Former Marine Fleet Admiral,” Sengoku gently corrected. “I’ve been out of that game for a while now.”

“Then why are you here?” Cora asked. The tension was palpable as they waited for Sengoku to make a move…

…though they did not expect him to go to his knees.

“I am here to apologize,” he said, showing every bit his age. “Your lives were all much worse due to my actions, whether I thought I was acting for the good of the world or not, and…” He leaned forward and pressed his hands and forehead to the floor, prostrating completely. “…there is nothing I can do, nothing I can sacrifice, to undo what I did… to fully atone for what I did…”

“Ooohhh… this is really weird…” Usopp shuddered. He looked at his crewmates and friends to see that they were all zeroed in on Sengoku. Well, shit.

“…and I want to thank you especially, Nico Robin, for not only living, but accepting my family despite my connection towards them. You are all so much better than this old, worn-out husk.”

They all stayed like that for a while, no one moving as Sengoku knelt on the floor, putting himself at their mercy. Eventually, Robin got up from her seat and went to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“I accepted Nami because she accepted me,” she explained. “She knew nothing of me and yet I was her friend. She knew everything of me and remained my friend. She knew very little of the extent of her grandfather’s actions and never let what she learned take away from what she built on her own. It’s easy to love someone like that, and just as difficult to hate.”

“R-Robin…” Nami wavered. The other woman pressed a finger to her lips with a smile.

“The sins of the father are not automatically the sins of the child, and despite this,” Robin told Sengoku, “your son has already bowed to me.”

Sengoku shuddered as he sucked in a breath, shame beating down upon him more than he ever thought imaginable. His tears fell directly onto the floor and the insides of his eyeglasses, only for a different pair of hands to touch his shoulder.

There was his boy, knelt next to him once again.

“Oi! Youse guys gotta get goin’!” Bartolomeo shouted as he burst in through the door. “Vice Admiral Tsuru’s been spotted talking to Issho! It could get bad!” He then noticed Sengoku, going completely pale. “Oh.. I… uh…”

“Shishishi—don’t worry, Chicken Guy,” Luffy smirked. “It’s just a family visit. Isn’t it nice that Nami is related to so many neat people? We’ve got so many extra-bonus-ally-friends that we even have them in the Marines!”

“…and to think that Sengoku isn’t the first one, either,” Kyros mused from his position in the corner. “You Straw Hats and Hearts certainly are an interesting group.”

Yeah… they’d take “interesting” any day.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

To stare down the world at sixteen and seventeen, it means you’re staring into a great abyss, unsure of what lies in store for you and yours. There is a certain form of both near-and-far-sightedness that plagues you, tricking the mind into finding substance amongst the wisps and whispers, far from what is actually lurking just out of reach. It’s an uneasy and frustrated feeling, yet one that needs weathering all the same.

To steel yourselves at sixteen and seventeen, it means making promises not meant to be kept and holding them to heart anyhow. It’s quiet letters and silent conversations; lying to others while staying open and honest in private, despite how much it hurts; counting down the days until you can see one another again, with each hour feeling like an eternity.

To be fully-vested soldiers at sixteen and seventeen, it means feeling a small part of you die every time you follow an order, knowing full-well that it could be worse. You could still be a cadet; you could still be a recruit; you could be demoted to chores; so little is justifiable, and yet, you keep going. Yes, sir. Right away, ma’am. You enable the machine that is slowly killing you, as it killed all your classmates’ souls… all your classmates but one…

To love someone else is dangerous, and you don’t know for whom until it’s too late.

[sugarywishes]

I am never, EVER doing character intros like this AGAIN GOOD GODDD I'M SO EXHAUSTED 😭 But anyways I hope you enjoy the grand finale to the FNAF character intro series! This was very fun at first and eventually downspiraled into me rushing this to get it done before the anniversary. I was planning on also making intros for the animatronics who were important to the plot like Helpy or Lefty or The Glamrocks or whatever, but...no.

Please for the love of God do not repost my art ANYWHERE without permission 😭

[ivyprism]

Pirate Sans, Papyrus, and Gaster AU (Info)

Trigger Warnings: Mentions of death, gambling, murder, pirates, etc.

Some Info: This AU takes more place in modern times??? It's complicated and long, but ask if you wanna.

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Brine (The Pirates of Vividus Sans): He's a gambler who never backs down from a wager or a transaction. He is his brother's first mate. He is a lazy guy who enjoys picking fights, but he also knows how to back off and remain cool. He makes a lot of puns and is quite close to his brother. When fighting those who come across them, he and his brother use each other as assets. He has a cool temper and is actually very friendly and extremely charismatic. He's also a major flirt. He'd handle it well if he was transported to the past because he and his brother are both obsessed with the sea.

Appearance: He has a long nasty scar on his left eye that is diagonal and leads to his nose ridge. He has a golden tooth. He has blue and red eye lights.

Gale (The Pirates of Vividus Papyrus): A gentlemanly and patient individual. He has a cool demeanor yet isn't scared to kill and damage people if required. He is generous to those who deserve it, but he is also quite close to his brother. He dislikes his brother's gambling, but as captain, he does not meddle unless it affects the crew. When he's upset, it's as though a blizzard has just hit. He and his brother are a lethal duo. He is a gentleman to those he believes deserve it. When it comes down to it, he cares a little too much and is a really merciful person.

Appearance: He has a scar on his nose ridge and a straight scar on his left eye. The scar on his nose ridge and the scar on his eye meet. He has sharp teeth. He has orange and red eye lights.

Lumus (The Pirates of Vividus Gaster): He is a tremendously intelligent man who has spent his entire life studying water and electronics. He was the one who created and worked with his boys. He is a gentleman despite his short temper. He is only there to assist and care for the ship. He does, however, have a propensity of jumping off the ship. He is disappointed that his oldest kid has taken up on his gambling tendencies. His fury, unlike his sons', is like a blazing fire that destroys everything in its path. He is already a dangerous individual, but adding his sons simply makes matters worse. In the end, he cares a little too much and is a really merciful person.

Appearance: He has normal Gaster scars, but a large nasty scar on his cheek. He has sharper teeth. He has grey and red eye lights.

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@kioko-noodles / @kiokodoodles @miscneilleaneous @und3rwat3r-a5tr0naut

[allwaswell16]

currently reading

Because @zannibythesea continues to encourage me...along with a few other anons lol, I’ll continue to post some of the fics I plan on reading in the next month or so! So probably May/June...and I’ll be reading some shorter ones in between as well! 

This Multiplicity of Powers by @helloamhere

Maybe in another universe he isn’t different. Maybe he hadn’t been given an impossible choice. Maybe he wouldn’t have lost everything and broken everything and then fallen impossibly, irrevocably in love with the first next thing that was kind. Maybe in that universe he doesn’t feel like he’s never breathing, always pretending, teaching the kids even though they all have to learn alone, trying hard not to read the headlines, and so afraid, every day, that he won’t be a good enough teammate to the superhero he can’t live without. He knows that love isn’t supposed to feel this way, slid secret under your skin like a surgical razor, an invisible war held close over the tender vein that keeps you alive. On the other hand, Louis wonders, had he ever known how to do it any other way?

Maybe there’s a universe where he doesn’t have to keep all his secrets on the inside.

But this isn’t that universe.

//an X-Men AU.

The Murmur of Yearning by @mediawhorefics

Four years ago, Harry Styles was forced into a marriage of convenience to enrich and ally both his and his promised's families. The sudden, and slightly suspicious, death of the Marquess of Haxshire, however, brings great disturbance to Crescentfield Hall and, as his late's husband's closest male relative, Harry unexpectedly finds himself the head of a family he never felt he belonged to. Between a meddling distant cousin hellbent on inserting himself in Harry’s life, his wicked and mistrustful mother-in-law and his late husband’s advisors refusing to help or take him seriously, Harry struggles in the fight to keep what he’s earned and make the Estate finally feel like home.

Luckily, he doesn’t stand completely alone and finds himself an unlikely ally in Mr Tomlinson, the elusive Land Stewart who has been taking care of the property in the shadows for years. Louis Tomlinson is caring, patient, and unlike everyone else, he doesn’t seem to think Harry committed a murder.

Blind Faith by @2tiedships2

“Harry?” Liam prompted.

“I’m blind,” Harry eventually said, trying his best to keep himself from crying.

Liam was silent for a few moments, before responding, “That’s not exactly news, H. You were blind when I met you a year and a half ago. Have you been in denial this whole time or something?”

“No, Liam,” Harry cut in. “This is different. I’m not legally blind like I used to say. It’s not just my night vision. The tunnel from my tunnel vision has closed. I’m fucking blind! I moved halfway around the world in the hope of finding my soulmate and it’s obviously not happening now. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Not even a soulmate is going to want to put up with a blind alpha."

New York Kiss by wordsnnotes / @quelsentiment​

“Also, in case you hadn’t noticed, I’m quite the narcissistic type, and I didn’t want that cute guy to have a bad opinion of me for the rest of his life.” “Who, me?” Zayn bats his lashes jokingly, ignoring the fact that his heart skipped a beat at Louis’ words. “Yeah, you. So, shall we go?” Louis drops what remains of his cigarette on the floor and steps on it to light it off. Meanwhile, Zayn makes a reckless decision. “Alright. Lead the way, De Niro.”

Or: A strangers to lovers AU where Louis is an actor, Zayn is a writer (among other things), and they meet each other literally by accident in NYC, just as the world is about to turn upside down.

[catzula]

of red things like an earphone or a thread

Synopsis: you meet a little boy who lost his big brother's earphone, crying because he's sure his brother will get mad. You decide to look for it together, not expecting to find something- or rather someone else instead of the red earphone, although tied with a red string.

Pairing: Iwaizumi x fem!reader

Honorable mentions: soulmate au, female reader, cursing once or twice, children, 1.8k words, fluff, (K/N) stands for kid name lol

One last wave at your friend and you stepped out of the warm cafe to the cold, rainy winter afternoon. 

The wet wind hit you square in the face as the glass door closed behind you, and you knew you were going to get wet. You already knew it was going to rain that morning when you left your house, but you were too lazy to take your shoes off and get your umbrella. I'm not afraid of getting a little wet." You had thought to yourself like an idiot. Though it was true. You weren't afraid of getting wet under the rain, not, however, a big fan of walking through a goddamn storm. 

You sighed, knowing it was your fault, and you were glad you had at least thought of wearing your good old ski jacket. Closing the hood of your jacket over your head, you wore your earphones and started walking. 

~~~

cold, cold, cold, cold

Only halfway through walking, the cold was all that was on your mind. You didn't even have money on you since you had forgotten your wallet back at the cafe (your friend had texted you they had it and would give it to you the next day), so you couldn't even ride a taxi for the rest of the long walk.

Hopping over puddles of water and mud, you were practically sprinting your way back home, not stopping for any obstacle and wanting to go home as soon as you could. 

Float like a Cadillac, sting like a Beemer, you thought to yourself, laughing when the image of Lightning Mcqueen came to your mind. I won't stop until I reach home, not even if Jesus himself stood before me- 

You stopped just as the thought crossed your mind, eyes focusing on the small body kneeling in front of a wall, face hidden behind short, chubby fingers, and body shaking with soft sobs. 

Your brows furrowed in concern when you noticed the kid had nothing but a shirt on, the shirt already wet and sticking to his body. "H-hey," you turned to the kid, afraid of scaring him into thinking you were a murderer. You got a little closer to the boy, also kneeling when he seemed not to have heard you, still sobbing into his hands. 

"Hello?" You touched his freezing arm as softly as you could, pulling it back whenthe boy flinched, abruptly springing to his feet. You watched him as he wrapped his arm around himself, lips near purple and lashes wet with tears and the pouring rain. He couldn't be more than seven, you found yourself thinking as you stared into his oddly familiar olive-green eyes. You felt your heart stopping as the wide eyes stared back at you, reminding you of someone you dearly longed for and missed. You could swear you had seen that harsh gaze and the way he tilted his chin up with pride before, so familiar, yet strange.

"Excuse me," he muttered between chattering teeth, wiping the tears off his face, even though newer ones filled their places nonstop. "Did you- did you see a red earphone coming here?"

"A red earphone?" You repeated, and he shook his head violently. "Yes! Did you see it?" 

You bit your lip as you tried to remember if something like that had caught your eye, watching a new wave of sobs engrave him when you shook your head no apologetically. 

"I'm sorry," you muttered. "Did you lost it? Is that why you're- well, here?" The little boy wiped his tears with the back of his hand, nodding, still looking back at you with those green eyes, now even brighter with tears. 

"Okay, okay, look, first calm down a little, aren't you cold?" You asked as you started unzipping your jacket and shook it off your shoulders. You smiled at him when he didn't answer your obvious question, averting his gaze with a proud, stern look.

He took the jacket without contest, watching his hands as you dressed it over him. Wind howling in your ears, you were left only with a sweatshirt, a wave of shiver running throughyou when the wind howled even louder, the rain already wetting your heair and making it heavier. A curt nod was the boy's thanks, faintly smiling when you gave him a reassuring one. 

"Let's take you home, okay? You'll catch a cold if you stay out in this cold when you're wet." Your words had seemed to take a wrong affect on him, since he quickly pulled himself away from you with a new round of tears gathering in the corners of his eyes.

"No, no- I can't!"

"It's okay, you can buy a new one and-"

"No, please- my brother will be so angry if he learns I lost it, I can't go home!" The little boy started to unzip your jacket off him with panic clouding his mind when he thought just how mad his brother was going to be. He could already vision the furious look when his brother figured it, swearing he would never lend him anything again. 

"Hey- hey, stop," you caught his cold hands between yours before he could shake off the jacket. "Okay, we won't go home, but let's look for it together, all right?" You offered, trying to bargain with him and stay with him until you could convince him to go home. 

"Okay." He agreed, eyeing you with soft suspicion but still walking beside you as you started to walk the way back.

After what felt like a whole day but was only an hour later, you had noticed just how many red things one could find if they looked around. 

Even if you averted your eyes to your hands, there it was, a bright red thread hanging from your finger. But this was the day you had come to hate the many- many red things that littered the surface since each time you saw a glimpse, and it was never the red earphone (K/N) was looking for and made him cry even more. 

You didn't have it in you to tell him even if you did find the earphone, no way it would work since it was raining nonstop for hours now, either. So you swallowed your sense of cold and went on looking with the boy, telling him funny stories, listening more from him. 

You had no idea why your heart missed a beat each time he spoke of his older brother -how old are you, miss? Woah, really? Then my brother is only e year older than you!- how you found your tummy hurting with how hard you were laughing as he kept telling you a funny thing that happened to his brother and his best friend. 

"He seems like a- well, nice guy." You muttered as you threw the red bottle cap you spotted on the ground to the trashcan. "He is!" The boy answered with sparkles in his green eyes, "my brother is the best!"

"That's nice." You smiled, chuckling when he went on. "He is the strongest, the coolest, smartest guy ever!"

"He does sound really cool. But also seems like he has some anger issues." You muttered as a joke, not expecting him to frown immediately. "He will be furious with me." He bit his lip, your eyes widening when you noticed the tears in the corner of his eyes. 

"Hey, no- I'm sure he'll understand!" You tried to reassure him. "Your brother sounds way cooler to get angry about a red earphone." You smiled, patting his head, laughing when he sniffed. "Really? You think so?"

You thought you were reassuring him. A white lie was all it was, but then, why did it feel so real? Why did it feel like the truth, despite not even knowing who the said guy was?

You hummed. "I'm pretty sure." 

"Okay then, I think we should go home." You smiled, nodding and letting him lead you as he pulled your thread-free hand.

"We're here." He sighed, meddling with his fingers as he stared at his house door. "Can yku, maybe stay with me as I tell him?"

You had opened your mouth to answer before a loud call of the little boy's name made you both jump in your places. You turned around to see where the stomping sound came from, eyes meeting the tall figure running his way to you. 

"Th- that's my brother." The boy gulped, and you did the same as you watched the also wet boy coming towards you.

You quickly noticed his eyes weren't on you but the little boy standing next to you, and you bit back the urge to hide the boy behind you from his seemingly furious brother.

"Where were you?!" He shouted, his big hands running over the small face and body to check if he was injured or not, pulling the boy into a tight hug as the man took deep breathes of relief. "I was so worried- so worried, you hear me? I've been looking for you for hours!" The tall man spoke into the hug. "What were you thinking, disappearing like that?"

"I- I didn't mean to worry you." (K/N) whispered to his brother's hair, hugging him even tighter, burying his face to hide his tears. "I was- with this lady... she was helping me."

You felt your heart skipping a beat when he mentioned you, making his brother break the hug and look at you instead. "Helping you? Helping you with wha-" You watched his eyes widened as he finally got the chance to look at you, and you knew he was the owner of the green eyes your heart seemed to long for. 

"Y-you-" he stammered, chest rising and falling as if he had just run a marathon, but you weren't any better. You could feel your face, your whole body heating up, the thought of hypothermia you just had in your mind a few minutes ago now turning into cursing the global warming.

You watched him as his green eyes wandered down to your hand that stood awkwardly next to you, following the red thread hanging from your pinky to his.

Never in your life had you seen the end of the string, you smiled at the thought. It would always blend in with the world, disappearing into the void, and you had tried to follow it to the end countless times, too eager to find your soulmate, to see where it tied your fate to, failing each time. 

But now, you felt your hands shaking with the overwhelming sense of being able to follow it to the end, the end where it was only a few meters away from you, where it tied to the large hand that reached at yours without even thinking.

It felt warm and safe as you touched his hand, both of you smiling uncontrollably.

"You look cold." He spoke the first time to you, but it felt like you had been together forever, like you knew him as well as you did yourself, not feeling the slightest bit of awkwardness.

"I am cold." You giggled, and you could see how it only then occurred to him that your jacket was hanging on his little brother's shoulders, and you stood there wet and shaking with only but a sweatshirt. The green eyes you would find yourself admiring from then on widened with concern, quickly shrugging his jacket off and wrapping you with it.

"Here, wear this." He muttered as he zipped it as far as he could, making you both giggle. 

Maybe it was an odd day to meet your soulmate, you thought, probably not the best, too, since both of you were wet from head to toe, hair sticking to your face, shivering from the cold, and probably a mess (and sick the next day). But however it was, you wouldn't change it for the world.

~~~

You got a red earphone next year in secret santa.

Hajime got a red earphone next year in secret santa, too.

A/n: if you made it this far, thank you for reading! Here's a lil ❤ for u. Funny thing, this red earphone thing is real lol, it happened to me a few days ago!! But it didn't end with me finding iwa, no no, we couldn't find neither iwa nor the boys red earphones and I dropped him back to his home.

[gameofdrarry]

Wizards Hearts Recs: Canon Divergent

Wizards Hearts was a four-month-long Drarry reading fest. Players were given a playing deck of 52 tropes, and were asked to find 52 different fics to read and comment on to fill their decks. To prevent the same few fics from being read, fics were restricted to only being used for the game three times before being considered ineligible for further points. The tropes and submissions list can be found here.

Check out the masterlist of fics for this trope below the cut!

📜 Evitative by Vichan Rated:  Teen Words:  222,452 Tags:  Slytherin Harry Potter, Re-sorting, Dark Arts, Slow Burn, Dark!Harry Summary:  In the summer before his fifth year at Hogwarts, Harry is drawn to a room in Grimmauld Place. Like the Gryffindor he is, he enters the room without fear. The room is a library, and Harry is surprised to find that he’s eager to learn. Then he gets the bad news: he’s been accidentally expelled from Hogwarts, and he needs to be sorted again. Everyone is confident that he’ll go straight back to Gryffindor, but with what he's been learning, Harry’s not so sure. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 The Secondary Task by ProfessorFrankly Rated:  Mature Words:  50842 Tags: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death, Book 4: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Swearing, Frank discussion of teen sex, No actual teen sex, Canon-Typical Violence, If you've read GoF you know the last bit's where the violence and stuff is, Most of this fic has a "T" rating, Quantum Bang 2020 Summary:  When Harry Potter’s name comes out of the Goblet of Fire, Draco Malfoy decides the Boy-Who-LIved needs a friend, whether he wants one, or not. With his mother’s backing, Draco sets out to make sure Harry knows he has someone in his corner, for now, and if Draco has his way, for always. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 Outtake: The Second Task by MickeySLee Rated:  Mature Words:  30824 Tags: Secret Relationship, Book 4: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Hogwarts Fourth Year, Triwizard Tournament, Hostage Situations, Draco Malfoy is a Good Boyfriend, Harry Potter is a Good Boyfriend, Plot Twists, Romance, Fluff, Homosexuality, Homophobia, Good Draco Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy's A+ Parenting, Lucius Malfoy Being an Asshole, weekly updates!, Hogwarts Era, Angst with a Happy Ending, Character Bashing, POV Hermione Granger, Hurt/Comfort, Consent is Sexy, Fairy Tale Elements Summary:  Part of the series Outtakes and A Hard Story. Fourth Year. The Triwizard Tournament. The Second Task. What would happen if Dumbledore made a different decision when it was discovered Draco is who Harry would miss most? Instead of covering it up and declaring Ron to be Harry's hostage, Draco is the one at the bottom of the lake. No one could have foreseen how much trouble that caused. You may want to read A Hard Story or Throughout the Twists to Times first. This story is completed and will be uploaded one chapter per week on Sunday. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 Parades, Pansy, and fuck I’m too gay for this by false_heteros Rated:  General Words:  2227 Tags: Pride is at the end :), A lot of pureblood bullshit, Loneliness, Draco is Sad, Harry Needs a Hug, Pride, Pride Parades, Modern Era, Sirius Black Lives, Mentions of past child abuse, Cedric Diggory Dies, past homophobia, Gay Harry Potter, Gay Draco Malfoy Summary:  After the war, Draco, who had been staying at home like a fucking hermit till Pansy came along, finally finds out about the LGBTQ+ Community, he dives head first into research and is amazed at what he finds. Harry wanders muggle London once every few days. Blending with the crowd and not feeling different for once. He comes along a group of people with beautiful colours around them. “What are they doing?” ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 Closure is a state of mind by Quicksilvermaid Rated:  Explicit Words:  12229 Tags: Morally Grey Draco Malfoy, Inappropriate medical/therapist relationships, Dubious Consent Due To Identity Issues, Lies, Self-Esteem Issues, low key stalking behaviour, Loneliness, Guilt, Therapy, Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms, taking advantage of a grieving person, Death of a Spouse, Character Death, (not Drarry), Disfigurement, Scars, Brief Mentions of Suicidal Thoughts, Drinking, First Time, Polyjuice Potion, Sex While Using Polyjuice Potion, pensieve sex, Voyeurism, wanking, Concealed Identity, Bittersweet Ending, H/D Hurt!Fest 2020 Summary:  After Harry's husband Charlie is killed, his Mind Healer recommends a Polyjuice therapy company, so Harry can see 'Charlie' again and find closure over his death. Draco, whose life over the last ten years has gone from bad to worse, gets assigned Potter's case. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 Harry Potter and the Yuletide Waltz by LakeWitch Rated:  General Words:  3042 Tags: Yule Ball, Dancing, Hogwarts Fourth Year, six years later, Awkwardness, Meddling, Oblivious!Harry, more dancing, Not Canon Compliant - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Christmas, Holiday Season, Canon Divergence Summary:  At the fourth year Yule Ball, Draco Malfoy asked Harry Potter to dance. Six years later, Harry Potter just might ask him why. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 When It's All Over by Erebeus Rated:  Mature Words:  9292 Tags: Rape/Non-con, Unhealthy Relationships, Self-Hatred, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con (not between main pairing), suicidal/death idolization, Hogwarts Sixth Year, Non-Graphic Violence, Spy Draco Malfoy, Loneliness, H/D Hurt!Fest 2020, Betrayal, Attempted Murder, Brief flashbacks and moments of panic mentioned, non graphic torture, Azkaban (brief), Off screen therapy Summary:  If killing you makes Harry happy, you really don't mind. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 Catch 22 by jad Rated:  Explicit Words:  49895 Tags: Romance, Fluff, Humor, Complete, Letter!fic, Sexual Content Summary:  As if NEWTS weren't enough, Dumbledore's gone and had another one of his 'bright ideas.' If all ends well, the Houses will be getting along in no time. Or according to Harry's correspondent, an Apocalypse will be in order. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 (I don't know) what's right and what's real anymore by Ladderofyears Rated:  Mature Words:  2101 Tags: Harry Potter and the half blood prince, canon divergence, no septumsempra, guilty Draco, pov Draco, ghostly Myrtle, attracted Draco, pre-slash, pre-relationship, Harry is a hero Summary:  An alternative sectumsempra scene from Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 Kiss by xErised Rated:  Teen and Up Words:  10764 Tags: Hogwarts Era, Light Angst, Mutual Pining, Secret Relationship, Getting Together, Kissing in the Rain Summary:  For the second task of the Triwizard Tournament, it's not Ron that Harry rescues from the Great Lake, but Draco Malfoy. Hogwarts-era. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 It’s Not Christmas (without you) by LittleBozSheep Rated:  Explicit Words:  79213 Tags: Fluff, Family Feels, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Getting Together, Christmas, Slow Burn, Serious Slow Burn, Everyone ships Drarry, Apart from Drarry, Divorced Draco Malfoy, Divorced Harry Potter, Kid Albus, kid scorpius, Everyone makes a camo, side wolfstar, Besides the last chapter it's rated G, Christmas Fluff, 25 Days of Harry and Draco, Happy Ending, Eventual Smut, Minor Sirius Black/Remus Lupin, Minor Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley, Drunkenness, Drunken Shenanigans Summary:  Maybe agreeing to host everyone for Christmas wasn’t Harry’s best idea. Luckily Albus’s best friend’s dad is an events planner who agreed to help, only issue, turns out the dad is Draco Malfoy. Sarcastic and grumpy to everyone but his son. Will Harry managed to catch him and keep Christmas from being a complete disaster? ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 Leaves by TheLostLibran Rated:  Teen and Up Words:  1190 Tags: Fluff, Fluff and Angst, Fluff and Hurt/Comfort, Fluff without Plot, Healing, Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE, Post-War, Hogwarts Eighth Year, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence Summary:  A lot of work goes on underground, invisible to the naked eye. Though it doesn't mean that no development is occuring, the hopes of a huge, fully grown tree standing strong in the near or distant future only start sprouting when the leaves do. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 Okay But That’s Hot by Fuschaslime Rated:  Explicit Words:  3640 Tags: Anal Sex, Riding, Dirty Talk, Frottage, Lapdance, Slut Shaming, Established Relationship, Friends With Benefits, Enemies to Lovers, Teasing, Begging, Safe Sane and Consensual, Bets & Wagers, Poker, theyre both over 18, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Banter, Perverted Harry, Slight fluff, Shameless Smut, AU where Lily Potter defeated Voldemort for good, and now everyone at hogwarts is kinda cool with eachother, apart from house tensions, Verbal Humiliation, Kinda Summary:  Draco immediately regrets agreeing to a certain bet made at poker night when he realises he’ll actually have to hold up his end of the deal. Harry is ecstatic. OR Draco Malfoy bets Harry Potter a lapdance. He loses. ❤️ Read on AO3

[phoenixyfriend]

The MILFnevka AU

Once again something that was brainstormed en masse on the GG fanworks server.

I was... very much spearheading this one, but I dragged in @professorsparklepants for a lot, because Anevka, as well as input from @fenerismoon, @purronronner, @gelpenss​, and @whirlibird. The original conversation took place mid-September of 2019.

AU where Tarvek's side of the family squeezed in an extra generation or so.

Aaronev was still Lu's generation, but he had Anevka young, and she was an only child who was already an adult by the time Lu disappeared. As a result, Aaronev let her married before she ended up in the machine (because he wasn’t desperate yet), and he couldn't risk drawing the attention by the time Agatha’s gen is being born.

So instead of being Tarvek's SISTER, she's his MOM.

Anevka formed her own faction, separate from the Aaronev and vaguely aligned with Terabithia’s.

She insisted Martellus and his branch hang out with Tarvek because being an only child is lonely, and also it keeps Tarvek out of his grandfather's sights and vague plans of body-hopping.

She is a Protective Momma who is a little TOO down with murdering anyone who threatens her child.

Agatha: you're just going to listen to your evil mom? Because no offense but that's worked out really bad for me so far. Tarvek: She's not EVIL, just... Valois... anyway the Baron knows what she's like and mostly he just rolls his eyes and tries to keep her away from Queen DuPree.

Anevka is definitely the mom that uses her position as mother of the king/heir to stockpile as much power as possible and control everything behind the scenes. Tarvek is currently trying to undermine this and wrestle back control as secretly as possible.

Wine mom with eighty hidden stabbing implements.

When Agatha is discovered, Anevka still kills her dad, but it's not like she can steal Agatha's voice in this AU, so she just settles for aggressively matchmaking her with Tarvek.

Anevka's managed to rein her dad in, mostly, because she's a powerful spark with an Undefined Husband who nonetheless has enough good connections to cause a ruckus if he finds out about the Summoning Throne, and he's too sparky to wasp.

This did lead to his early death and no siblings for Tarvek, but not before Anevka managed to fight her dad down to ONLY trying to throne the girls who were legitimately likely to be Agatha.

And then Agatha's in Sturmhalten and Anevka's just like. Well. Time for plan A. And kills her dad.

Regarding Gil...  She kinda wants to pat him on the head and tell him to try harder.

I'm not wholly convinced Tarvek got kicked off of Castle Wulfenbach, depending on how Anevka married and decided to approach things. She might have warned Tarvek to AVOID stealing information, even, if she was worried about Aaronev trying to do something.

Less "do whatever you can to help us gain power" and more "do whatever you can to stay out of Sturmhalten."

Tarvek: My mom is a bitch and I love her so much

Klaus hates it when Anevka comes to CW because she acts like some unholy cross between Lucrezia, Terabithia, and Zantabraxus and she keeps hitting on his top enforcers but with knives and pretty dresses.

Unstoppable Divorce energies

Anevka: Do you like my new dress? Klaus: Your bodice is far too low cut, please stop visiting me dressed like my ex. I'm the same age as your father. Anevka: I know, it's really fun to watch you suffer as you fail to resist the urge to tell me to put on a sweater.

Tarvek: MOTHER YOU'RE EMBARRASSING ME IN FRONT OF ALL MY FRIENDS PLEASE STOP HITTING ON THE BARON AURGH. Anevka: I'm not HITTING on him, I'm trying to make his face turn puce. Anevka: I am, however, hitting on Von Pinn. She looks like she knows how to have fun. Tarvek: MOTHER.

Tarvek, to Gil: the baron can't be your dad, he's old enough to be your grandfather. Gil: He’s at a solid age for both.

Anevka and Klaus have zero actual attraction to each other but there's definitely A Dynamic that's eerily reminiscent of his relationship with Bang, with slightly less "I did a violence, be proud of me" and slightly more "I did a sexy and/or politics, be proud of me."

Tarvek: I have a problem. Gil: What's up? Tarvek: All of our friends want to fuck my mom. Zulenna: I don't. Tarvek: That's because she used to put you in time-out when we were five.

Anevka is prime Dangerous Widow material. She didn't actually kill her husband but a hell of a lot of people think she did.

Seffie thinks her Auntie 'Nevka is the COOLEST

Anevka having an intermittent fling with that "darlingly stupid young hero, Tryggvassen" makes me laugh way too hard and also dips into my nonsense love of Otharnevka.

At one point we did sidle over into “what if Single Father KB tho”

Like they met at some point on vacation while the kids were still kids, which does lose us the “Anevka aggressively ships her kid with Agatha” thing, so I’m not sticking with this but there’s some hella fun tidbits.

Anevka: Guess what. Klaus, very tired: What. Anevka: I'm getting married. Klaus: Again? Good for you. I hope this one lives longer. Anevka: He has the same name as you. Klaus: Get out of my house.

KB isn't a widower, things are just complicated and everyone blames Lu. There's time travel involved, of course.

"So your daughter--" "Sister." "...how--" "Just... just blame my mother."

He's LEGALLY Agatha's dad, maybe? Their dynamic is parent-child. Just, you know, as far as blood goes...

Anevka wants KB to help her bag Othar again. KB thinks she means finally killing him. Anevka: I might. Haven't decided yet.

Overall, though, including KB is too complicated without undermining the entire premise I want. Which is mostly canon but Anevka is Tarvek's embarrassing, mysterious, prone-to-assassination mother.

Seriously though, the entire attraction here is Anevka having the Dangerous Widow Whom No Man Can Tie Down vibe

She's a solo act. Some flings, sure, but overall? Chaos. Refined, elegant chaos.

Anevka as Bang’s sugar mom was suggested. We were obviously all on board.

Bang doesn’t need a sugar mom, but it makes the vein in Klaus's forehead throb, and that's very important.

Bang absolutely tries to get Tarvek to call her “mom” while she’s ‘dating’ Anevka. One time he does call her that and it throws her for SUCH A LOOP because no wrong.

Anevka occasionally daydreams of a world where she could have both Othar and Bang at the same time without them IMMEDIATELY trying to kill each other. Only occasionally, though, she has evidence to plant and blood to spill.

BACK TO ANEVKA SHIPPING HER KID WITH HIS POLITICALLY-APPROPRIATE CRUSH.

Anevka: Oh look, my future daughter-in-law. Tarvek, tired: Mother, she doesn't like me. Anevka: Whyever not? You're clever, handsome, politically apt, charming, sensitive, heir to a throne, you are EVERYTHING a maiden could wish for. Tarvek: You just think that because you're my mom. Agatha: No, no, she's not wrong. You're just not someone I trust. At all. Especially since you say you've been a honeypot before. Anevka: See? A simple hurdle, dear, I'm sure you could whip him into shape in no time. I could even loan you the whip. And the harness, perh-- Tarvek: MOTHER.

Anevka sends Tarvek out with Othar for “field trips.”

It’s great!! Multi-purpose! Absolutely helps boost Tarvek’s image if he’s associated with Known Hero, gets Othar out of her hair for a little bit, sometimes he can be pointed in a direction that’s useful to her.

Othar refers to this outings as “stepfather-stepson bonding times.” Tarvek absolutely hates it. Detests it, really.

Somehow something goes wrong and like 50% of the time and he ends up getting accused of murder, probably.

It’s so unfair. Especially since of the two of them, Othar is more likely to murder than him. (It’s because everyone knows what those Valois types are like, and Othar is a hero.)

Gil: What's so embarrassing about your mom? Your mom's nice. (To me.)

She gives him head pats and lollipops. His own dad certainly never gives him head pats OR lollipops.

Anevka: Well I WAS going to push him towards dear little Seffie, but he seems to be quite enamored with YOU, darling. Tarvek: Mother, PLEASE stop getting invested in my love life.

Anevka’s job is to meddle, he’s lucky she isn’t drawing up contracts and going Full Arrangement.

I also love the idea of Anevka having one of those "sunshine embodied anime mom" smiles as she says "Oh Tarvek, dear, look at all your little friends!"

She's genuinely enthused but Klaus is heavily disturbed by Anevka smiling like that.

"Is she going to sacrifice them?" "Uh, no, it isn't Sunday."

Human sacrifice is actually garish and passe these days, haven’t you heard?

Just imagining one of those Stately Child and Parent portraits with Anevka and Tarvek here.

When Tarvek was born, Anevka has an "I've only had my son for an hour and a half" moment... and then just shrugged and rolled with it.

Anevka "Hot Mom" Sturmvoraus is one of the MANY banes of Klaus's existence, but she's definitely one of the friendliest on the list... as much as he may resent that, at times.

Anevka: Is the Baron in? Boris: Actually... [Crashing noise] Boris: He just left. Anevka, pulling on the rocket boots she stole from Othar and heading towards the broken window leading to the outside of the ship: That's alright, I'll catch up.

(I love how Anevka's name just lends itself so well to AU portmanteaus.)

Anevka definitely susses out Gil's identity but she doesn't actually DO anything about it other than angling for Useful Connections.

She's always telling Tarvek to bring his friend along, and Klaus doesn't want Gil anywhere near that family but he doesn't want it to look like he has any particular interest in Gil.

Imagine Klaus actually encouraging Gil to persue Agatha with the idea that it will put some distance between Gil and "that damn woman and her spawn." Anevka for her part is pushing Agatha towards Tarvek. Meanwhile the three of them are working it out between themselves.

She just has This Energy, folks:

Tarvek: Oh no. Theo: Whats the matter? That's your mom, right? Tarvek: Oh NO, she's wearing her 'NEWLY WIDOWED BUT OUT ON THE PROWL' OUTFIT Theo: ????? She hasn’t been widowed- Tarvek: SHES AFTER THE BARON AND I'M GOING TO DIE OF EMBARRASSMENT, THEO

The one thing here is that Anevka's not into Klaus and he's not into her but by GOD is she going to fuck with his head about it.

She’s just doing this for the Big Dick Energy of trying to Get Baron Wulfenbach.

Embarrassing mom of the deadliest degree.

Tarvek: YOU’RE GOING TO RUIN MY LIFE. Anevka: Don't be so dramatic, let your mother have a bit of fun. Besides, he's not expelling you anymore, is he? Tarvek: I almost wish he was-

Also Gil and Tarvek reconciling early on due to the immense power of being Embarrassed By Your Parents.

Anevka and Klaus getting increasingly bitchy at each other at dinner, and Tarvek and Gil are just. Bright red and glowering at them.

They’re DESTROYING their COOL TEEN CRED.

Tarvek doesn't ever wants to marry a woman who has been married before, not because of some weird distaste of so-called "sloppy seconds," but rather that he's just scared that they're going to be like his mom, and planning to kill him for his money.

Tarvek, waking up in the middle of the night: What if they really do get married and I have to have Gil as a stepbrother. Tarvek: (screams internally for a few hours)

Anevka is also that Sailor J contouring video

While Otharnevka is... this thing

Some more relevant Vibes: Divorce Court Half-Mourning Upper East Side Widow

Everyone always assumed she had murdered her husband. It was a natural assumption, but ultimately wrong. She had had plans in place to kill him if the need arose, but in the end she hadn’t needed them.

Most people grossly underestimated how complicated it was to arrange for someone to be t-boned by a semi carrying flammable chemicals.

Othar as Anevka's second trophy husband and Tarvek's annoying stepdad has a very specific energy.

That energy is at least 20% "the lovebirds take anniversary honeymoons every year" and 60% "Tarvek hates being in the room with them because they're gross and embarrassing."

This is partly fun because Othar being Tarvek’s stepdad is... a lot.

But honestly, I'm also just enjoying cougar Anevka with Trophy Husband Othar. They're actually in love!!! BUT. Cougar with a trophy husband.

Anevka makes sly comments about Othar and Klaus having sexual tension.

Also I have headcanons about NB Tarvek and like

I think she'd be supportive up until the point of "you want to be Storm King, don't you?"

Less "this isn't natural and you shouldn't be this way" and more "this is going to cause you trouble due to social norms."

"Keep it under wraps until your throne is secure, then you can come out in a blaze of glory." No dresses in public until you're king, then do whatever you want. After all, “Your Majesty” is gender neutral.

Anevka caught Tarvek playing dressup in her closet one time and just criticized the color relationships.

And you must try to avoid wearing that particular shade at all, my dear, it really doesn't look imperial.