#your brother has potentially lost an ally

[kirstythejetblackgoldfish]

'heroes'

WTF Saadi

[brucewaynehater101]

I have a vent fic wip that I may or may not finish so I just need to tell someone that I am...feeling so many things all the time about the consequences of the 16th birthday but...

primarily, right now, at this moment. without Robin/Bruce, Tim thought he would lose Dick and everyone else he knew through Robin. and then a little bit later when he quit for Jack, he got radio silence for Months until he became a potential victim, and even then it was just Cass stopping in to give the message and be like "I'll watch you to keep you safe 👁️👁️ ok bye" and he had actual Proof that without Robin, he would lose everyone.

and then. Dick "you're my equal (even tho I'm drastically changing your life without your knowledge or permission), you're my closest ally (even tho you don't even have a name to go out in the field to assist me as backup), I need you (even tho, as mentioned, I made a huge decision without your input because I didn't need it because I know best actually)" Grayson.

skipping over the fact that Dick didn't even have the time to say "you're fired" or anything resembling that, when Tim lost "Robin" to Damian, he felt like he lost everything else too. it didn't matter what Dick said about "equals" or "allies" or "needing". he already had Concrete Proof that it was all false. cheap words that are easily disproven do nothing in this situation, Dichard!

(disclaimer: I love and respect Dick Grayson, I just also think Dick Stopped Existing as soon as he made Damian his Robin for the most pathetic stupid illogical risky-ass excuse he could ever give for making anyone Robin (or a vigilante in general). "because he'll kill someone again". who the fuck says that?? who thinks "oh no oh god oh fuck this kid is gonna go off the rails he's gonna kill someone, I need to Put Him In A Place Of Power Over Oblivious Innocent Untrained People Who Are Expecting A Kind And Empathetic Hero To Save Them" hUH???? ok sorry, I just wanted to rant about what Tim "losing Robin" meant)

I agree with ya. Dick Grayson is fantastic, but it seems weird that he nuked his entire relationship with Tim (a very strong one that other fans have referred to them as "The Brothers") for the new kid.

Yes, Damian is a ten year old traumatized kid who just lost the dad he didn't really have the chance to get to know. Yes, Damian needed guidance, boundaries, and compassion.

But DC spent so much time and effort building up Tim and Dick's rapport only to obliterate it once the "blood son" came in (I also love Damian. This is not hate on the kid. This is confused commentary on DC's choices). It's just a strange idea, but that's also why it hurts so much when Dick does that to Tim.

Then you tie in Tim losing Robin by Dick to Tim's experiences before? Fuck. You are so right for that.

As far as the RR run, Dick could've handled Tim believing Bruce a bit better. I don't necessarily blame him for that one. I get why he wasn't supportive in the way Tim wanted, even though I would've chosen differently for my siblings.

Dick taking Robin, though? That was fucked up. I, honest to the gods, do not see how that was a justified course of action. I can understand his perspective, but it's still not okay. At all.

There's your very adequate analysis:

Robin, for Tim, is his tie to his loved ones. He has proof (twice) that without it, he does not have access to the people he cares about and his support system.

Dick said a lot of pretty words about "equals," but his actions were precisely contradictory to his "intentions."

Tim has had Robin taken from him before or had to give it up. He chose to go back despite this. He obviously feels strongly about being Robin

Damian has not proven, at this point, to be trustworthy as a vigilante (someone in power without oversight). He has instead shown use of excessive force

This isn't even going into the way he found out. That's just an extra layer.

The way Tim has repeated lost and regained Robin (even after RR) as well as his title as Red ROBIN are, to me, a sign that he's still trying to hold on. It's my belief that he would have moved onto a new title, like his predecessors, if it hadn't constantly been an unsure role.

His start was rocky as hell due to Bruce not initially wanting it. Tim had to prove himself and put himself into the costume.

He "quit" twice before it was taken from him in a traumatic way (nothing like being instilled with the fear that the position you've held for four years can suddenly be yanked out from under you without warning)

Damian and Jason both vehemently protested to him being Robin

It would make sense if all of these factors combined to Tim's unwillingness or inability to just let Robin go, especially when we factor in his reason to be Robin. Since Bruce never really gets "better" and continually falls back into bad habits, Tim needs to maintain his task of pulling Bruce back from the edge. We could also throw Jean Paul into this to further how Tim is forced to play as the barrier between a grown adult and their desire to harm others in the name of good.

So, Tim's time as Robin is marked by consistent instability while contrasted with his inherent position as Bruce's leash and the batfam fixer. While the other Robins did have times of doubt, the predecessors of Tim did not have the pervasive role insecurity with regards to Robin.

They had their big moment at the end and some smaller moments in-between, but not quite on the continous scale of Tim. Tim had three big moments and was still sucked back into Robin when Damian quit.

To be Robin is to earn Bruce's love and the ability to be part of the Wayne family. To lose Robin is the risk of losing that (at least to the perspectives of the Robins if not 100% the reality).

I'm not sure I'm articulating this accurately. Regardless, no wonder Tim clutches the title of Robin with bleeding hands no matter how much it cuts him and costs him.

[hildergard]

BLOSSOM OF THE BLUE SOWING: TEASER ★ AEMOND TARGARYEN

SUMMARY | The peculiar behaviour of the dragon Grey Ghost leads the Greens to believe it is courting a potential rider. With Rhaenyra seeking to tame more dragons, the Prince Regent does not have a choice. Aemond Targaryen will win this war⏤even if it means sullying his legacy of Fire with the filthy blood of the Sea.

PAIRING | Aemond Targaryen x Pirate!Reader

NOTE | This is going to be a big one-shot. I can't know for certain when it will be published but I hope around August 15th. If you wish to be tagged when it comes out, please say so <333

READ A SNIPPET BELOW ↓

“We must craft a plan, Your Highness. Sunfyre has not been sighted since Rook's Rest and we cannot solely rely our forces on Vhagar. The dragons are the key to this war. Without them, we are lost. Rhaenyra’s seat may be Dragonstone, but she does not hold power over all beasts. Perhaps it would be wise to try and tame new dragons as well. We now need to look beyond Targaryens."

“Are you suggesting I give up my birthright to filthy blood, Ser Criston?" Aemond gritted. “The dragons are the last remains of Old Valyria. They will not be seduced by vile paupers who bow down at their feet, speaking nonsense in broken High Valyrian."

The tip of a cane rasped against the floor and put an end to conversations. A man, his back to Greydon, straightened up as all heads turned towards him. He hummed and finally deigned to look at the Prince Regent.

“Whispers say otherwise, Sir. The dragon Grey Ghost has been spotted off Driftmark. Nothing out of the ordinary so far, but fishermen in Blackwater Bay also report seeing a white creature flying through the clouds. This has never happened before. The dragon is growing restless and its behaviour is changing. Something is driving it to travel. We all know dragons are sedentary and only migrate for one reason. It would seem the dragon is courting a potential rider, Your Grace, a potential ally for the Greens.”

“The Bay, you say? Hmm... If Grey Ghost is prowling around, there is a good chance its rider lives in King's Landing. Dragons only accept Valyrian blood as riders. Do we have any idea who this person might be? The Gods know my uncle and brother have their share of bastards in Flea Bottom.”

The members of the Council exchanged glances and fidgeted. The man, the one with his back turned to him, cleared his throat.

“No, Your Highness, but the beast avoids the coastline and retreats into the waters. Clearly, the one it… covets is not in the capital, otherwise it would certainly be approaching the city.”

“Grey Ghost is notoriously shy and feeds on fish," Prince Aemond retorted. “It is a peculiar creature. We cannot rely on its movements alone.”

Greydon raised an eyebrow.

“But never mind," the Prince continued. “I rely on your sources, Larys, to find the dragonseed, whether it lives in Flea Bottom or Duskendale. You are right. Our ranks are in dire need of another dragon. If Vermithor and Silverwing are indeed tamed and the Blacks decide to send all their dragons on a single front... I'm afraid even Vhagar will not be enough.”

The Prince stood up and paced in front of the windows. Clearly, this plan was bothering him. Or perhaps it was the weakness of his ranks. There was nothing more fragile in this world than the ego of a nobleman, and nothing more dangerous than a threatened Targaryen.

He turned to the assembly.

“Send heralds and summon the remaining dragonseeds to the Keep.”

[towriteloveontheirarms]

heyyy, if you take requests pleaseeee write a Aemond×reader fic, but reader is the daughter of Daemon and Rhaenyra, she is a young woman with Rhaenyras beauty and Daemons behaviour, she was an ally to Aemond when they were children unlike her half-brothers, but after the night he lost his eye they got seprate thanks to going and living with her family in the dragon stone ( i dunno if i am writing this right english ain't my first language) and after some years, they meet each again and the point is she haven't been sending any letters to him and stuff. i know it's long but i would appreciate you writing anything like this😭❤ and pleaseee if you do accept, make it dark Aemond.

I´m so sorry it took me so long to finish this bestie, but I hope you are still interested in it and will like what I wrote<3 Especially with it being spooky season I love writing/reading all the dark fics I can get my hands on!

I will not let you go again

pairing: Dark!Aemond Targaryen x Daemyra´s daugther!Reader

synopsis: “I love you, my sweet wife.” He murmurs into your ear afterwards.

There once was a time where these words would have made you happy beyond believe, but that was a long time ago. And he wasn´t the only person that had changed for the worse.

warnings: dark themes, mentions of non-consensual sexual acts, forced pregnancy, forced marriage, afab reader

word count: 0.9k

His one seeing eye burns through you during the entire dinner. The truth is you have felt his eyes on you from the second you had arrived at the Red Keep with your family. And while at first it was trying to find out who you were and where he knew you from, now at dinner, it glowed hot with either anger or something more carnal, you aren´t entirely sure. As if the tensions between your families hadn´t been high enough already. Every time of the little times your mother and father take you and your half-siblings back to the capital you are reminded once more as to why your mother had took you away to Dragonstone all those years ago. The sparks of dislike that flew between your half brothers and your uncle flew were enough to set all of King´s Landing on fire, but the hate between your mother and her former best friend had the potential to destroy all of Westeros. It comes as no wonder when the meal escalates in a borderline brawl. Jacaerys has always been bad at controlling his temper and your once beloved uncle Aemond gladly took advantage of that. You would like to say you were not surprised by who the once sensitive, bullied boy turned into, but it didn´t come as much of a shock. Before you had been taken away from your former home you had considered your uncle a friend. That was off the table now.  Yet even as you saw this change in him, saw the strength and cold in his singular seeing eye, you would have never trusted him to go this far.

You walk to your chambers after your mother had told you so, in a slow pace. Careful eyes and ears paying attention to the hallways around you. However Aemond still manages to surprise you. His large, rough hand clamps over your mouth to silence you, the other holding you against his body so you don´t even have a chance to struggle against him. Once he has you in his chambers and you are able to whip your head around you truly see him for the first time. Not only has he grown from the sensitive, bullied boy, not only did he have a cold, strong aura surround him, he seemed downright obsessive. In that moment you can see it in his eye… your doom. He walks towards you without saying a word. His movements similar to that of a lion. Then Aemond finally speaks.

“I believed us to be friends. I considered you the only person able to understand me…” He whispers.

“We were, uncle. I was, I do. We could be again.” You take a step back for every step he takes towards you.

“Yes? And how do you propose we are going to do that?” he growls. “You could not even send me a single letter.”

“I tried to. You have to believe me, dear uncle, but my mother wouldn´t let me…” A gasp escapes your lungs when you feel your back hits the cold brick wall.

“I do not believe you. There have been many chances, but it is all alright now. I will not let you go again, now that I have you. You will be mine. Forever.” Aemond´s breath is hot on your ear. As if it wants to burn you.

“I do not understand…” You shake your head at what he is saying.

“Do not worry, sweet niece. You will soon enough.” He cups your cheeks in his hands and kisses you passionately.

The rough kiss is just the beginning of a night that would haunt you in your sleep for the unforeseeable future. Aemond carries you to the bed and makes sure to breed you thoroughly. Making sure that his seed would take, while making sure you don´t get away from him. And he needs to, because you refuse to give up the fight. He knows that if you end up with child your mother would most likely try to make you wed the child´s father and as much as his mother hates yours, how high are the chances she refuses when he shows himself to be willing to. He knows that you know.

And what feels even worse is, that the seven or fate or whatever the one responsible is called, seem to be on his side.

Without any access to moon tea and a guarantee that no one would learn of what had occurred that cursed night, your pregnancy starts to show a few moons later. Your parents are beside themselves and immediately ship you back to the capital. Signaling the start of a long and rather tedious discussion between your families. At the end of which waits a sept and a marriage bond that is about as wanted as the whole pregnancy. Yet you are in no place to speak up. You don´t get the chance to. You should have made better choices if you did not want this, are your mothers only words on the matter towards you. All the while there is the smuggest of smiles securely on Aemond´s as well as Aegon´s faces. You wished you could wipe it off their faces with your fists.

But you don´t do that. You swallow every bad feeling, aside of a few tears during your vows, until you feel entirely empty and cold.

Once you are pronounced man and wife Aemond kisses you so gently, it´s almost impossible to feel his lips on yours and yet it still makes you feel sick.

“I love you, my sweet wife.” He murmurs into your ear afterwards.

There once was a time where these words would have made you happy beyond believe, but that was a long time ago. And he wasn´t the only person that had changed for the worse.

“I love you as well, my dragon.” You reply. The words devoid of any emotion.

[katenikii]

JJK is about cooperation.

There's nothing I disagree with more than "JJK Is individualistic" takes. Other shonens(and shonen protagonists) are a lot more individualistic because everybody depends on one person, and this person is key to literally everything (Bleach, Naruto, OP, AoT are just like that). JJK is different.

Loneliness is one of the major themes in JJK, especially Hidden Inventory/Premature Death: Geto's descent to madness, Gojo's awakening, Toji's resentment towards the "gifted" ones, Shoko's isolation are all tied to that feeling. It's never a good thing to be lonely in JJK.

Gojo's "You die alone" view is debunked as of right now (thanks to the airport scene) and when you go back, you understand that Gojo has always taught his student to not waste their individual potential. Gojo's teaching his students to never resort to sacrifice as a mean of achieving something. But he never said anything about cooperation and weakness being equal.

The villains in JJK are also strong individually AND collectively. They never really operated alone too. Kenjaku has always had strong allies. Even Sukuna has always had Uraume by his side. And when JJK villains do operate separately, they fail. Naoya lost thrice: to Choso, where not only their techniques clashed, but their views on family, and Maki, where he underestimated her once, and then repeated his mistake .

The current narrative shows, that you have to have individual strength in order to bring something to the table, when it comes to the final fight. Gojo wouldn't have nurtured weak students. In order to rely on each other his students have to be reliable, Gege explicitly shows us when all individuals are weak, their collective effort is useless, that's why Kyoto High is a total wreck, and that's why Todo's technique works so well with Yuji, who was just a beginner sorcerer when he fought a special grade curse Hanami.

Yuji's "cog mentality" plays a huge part in this. He has come a long way, so now he's able to fight alone and take on opponents as strong as Choso. We often see him lose, but that's because he is facing opponents objectively more skilled and expirienced than him. He is motivated to get stronger not because everyone counts on him, but because in order to fullfill his duty as a cog in the mechanism, he has to be strong.

There's a pattern in Gege's writing, that miscalculation WILL cost you something, even your life(e.g. Choso's brothers, Yuki, the Zenin clan, Curse Naoya, Miwa and her binding vow). But being reliant on each other has never been seen as a weakness by Gege. If so, Gojo wouldn't have lost and we wouldn't have witnessed how Gojo's effort helped weaken Sukuna. Additionally, Gojo explicitly told us in the very beginning of JJK that he can, in fact, kill the higher-ups, but that wouldn't change much, because he needs strong allies to change the Jujutsu World.

That's why Shinjuku Showdown arc ending in real collective effort against evil is essentially proving the point that JJK is about comradery, not individualism. We'll see where this will lead us to. P.S. I would say that there is a certain type of collectivism, that Gege is criticising, that's tribalism that is so prominent in the Zenin clan and rural Japan, where there is a strong prejudice against sorcerers (Mimiko and Nanako's story) and anyone who's different (Kugisaki's flashback). Gege praises anyone who recognises that and is able to leave it *all* behind, by maybe not giving them the happy end, but a dignified conclusion. P.P.S. As of right now I think JJK really is more about collectivism than a new character becoming the strongest and Gege just mislead his readers with this plot line. Final chapter showing Sukuna choosing to go North shows exactly that.

[nagarashi]

Always resented the way Logan was treated in Fable 3, didn't you?

Long post ahead...

Fable 3 has always been an example of controversy, at least I used to stumble upon it all the time. Some branded it a disgrace, while others said it wasn't that bad because of the potential it had, which unfortunately was never realized.

I've always been on the side of the second. Just recently I settled on a marathon and went through the entire trilogy. Just like the first time I was "burned out" from that missed potential. In particular I am always saddened by the king - Logan.

For me, Logan is pretty much the only character I really feel sorry for and care about in Fable 3. Yeah, even Walter I feel pretty cold towards.... but that's partly because I'm on the King's side from the beginning of the game, even though they try hard to turn me against him (which is what turns me away from the other characters). And it's the reason I really dislike the Hero (Princess in my case), she's blind, infantile and driven, she doesn't think with her head (probably like all the Heroes in the fable).

The game does our brother one hell of an injustice. I felt it especially strongly when I finally played Fable 2 after many years. The faceless queen (in my case Sparrow Woman) mentioned in Fable 3 suddenly took on a face for me and became something important... I know what she was like and what her life was like. And I'm sure she would have loved Logan, because she was deprived of parental love early on, and didn't want brother and sister to be against each other, because she lost her sister, her only sibling, at a young age.

Logan was the firstborn son of Sparrow and as the firstborn, the eldest, all expectations were to be placed on him, everything was to be left for him... What does the game tell us?

The game does, however, show and give the impression that Logan was some sort of outcast in the family. And for some reason, the Guild seal was supposed to go to the youngest. You say she's a hero? What was her Heroic talent until she got a gauntlet to use magic? Broke sword in training? I may be biased, but I have a feeling Logan has broken more than one sword in training as well.... But for some reason, all the excitement goes to the youngest one.

Speaking of magic, it used to be used without any gauntlets, does that mean that it weakens the blood of Heroes? That would be... logical. That's where Reaver and his still strong bloodline would come in handy, lol.

Back to Logan. Not only was the seal not for him, but for some reason, even in the Sanctuary, the note from his mother was left for Jasper, not him. What?!

There's a strong and unpleasant feeling of ignoring the fact that Logan even exists. Why does he deserve to be ignored? From a game perspective, I understand that it demonizes our brother, but from a logical perspective, I don't see how it's justified, at least not when it comes to things involving family.

That and the way everyone hates him only made me get more attached to him.... and the fact that he's the closest thing we have to family. You can't just walk away from that fact, giving in to calls for a stupid revolution without even trying to talk to your brother before doing so. Was the princess angry with him? That anger is some kind of unfunny joke. She didn't care about her brother, why should she care about some random dudes she's being asked to execute?

The game shows that even the sister didn't care about Logan. She doesn't notice the changes in him (which by the way even Elliot notices, in my case) and doesn't even try to talk to him to find out what's going on.

And as if that wasn't enough, when we get to a certain point and find out the truth of what's going on with our brother, why he's changed so much, instead of talking to him in person, for some reason we let Walter take him away and have a trial where all those bloodthirsty critters from our allies come out when they wish Logan dead (except Page, surprisingly, I don't like her, but she shows a lot of common sense at the trial).

On top of all that, Logan has seen with his own eyes what Crawler can do, he saw the deaths of all his men when they faced the Darkness for the first time and subsequently experienced the horror that Crawler is capable of, and we have seen what he can do through our example and Walter's. He brings out the deepest nightmares.... Now imagine facing the death of your home, your people, your family, the one person you care about. And then with the knowledge of all this you come back and try to tell people the terrible truth, but they just think you are crazy, you are powerless to convince them. But the sheep have to be saved from the wolves, no matter how stupid they are.

Logan obviously has severe PTSD after the incident, recurring nightmares and obsessive thoughts of what will happen if he fails? Thoughts that he MUST succeed no matter what. Wouldn't that drive you crazy?

It makes everyone think you're a monster and hate you..... Imagine what it's like to live under that kind of constant pressure every day? And then your dearest person, your flesh and blood, goes against you... It's like the last drop to break the stone already broken by despair and depression.

I don't know how Logan can be executed at the end of the trial. Personally, I've never done it, although I watched that scene on youtube for the sake of interest. It's just horrible in my opinion... It's so soulless. I love playing Fable as an evil character, but even by my standards this is just too much... Logan's execution isn't evil or even justice as the crowd screams, it's murder besides being very vile, even for me.

I really dislike that at the end, when he leaves, we aren't given a chance to stop him. He will always be a brother to Hero and they will always need each other. Anyway, after everything that's happened, I wish Logan was by my side so he could finally have peace and love instead of hate and despise. I don't want him to wander the world and die in an unmarked grave somewhere.

P.S: I always liked the moment at the trial, when all those who were crying the whole game, what victims of Logan's cruelty they were, immediately turned into a pack of vicious dogs, as soon as they felt the power and opportunity to grab Logan's throat with no punishment, literally siccing you on your own brother.

P.S.S: Screw Teresa, I hate you for what you did to Sparrow and her kids.

[toms-cherry-trees]

Hey hey Mars! ☺️ I’m back with another gif for your celebration!! (I hope it’s ok that I’ve sent in 2…I love your range of writing abilities and couldn’t only send in fluff)

How about this one:

Would you be able to create something angsty using this??

Excited to see what you come up with!! 💕

Hey babes! I am TERRIBLY sorry for how long this has taken but my 9 to 8 job keeps getting in the way of creativity

Mars 1.5k Celebration

Business || Tommy Shelby x Reader

Warnings: Implied infidelity, Tommy being an absolute asshole, sort of an anxiety attack

Your head is spinning. The world comes to a halt. You are sure the ground has cracked beneath your feet and plunged you into the depths of the greatest hell the world has ever known. Your fingers dig onto the edge of the desk for support. Lips quivering, parted into a silent question. All because the man sitting before you, the man whom you love and adore unconditionally, has informed you he is getting married to another woman.

The tense seconds morph into minutes, all while you watch Tommy scribble down some documents, cigarette perched upon his lips, calm and collected as if he hadn’t just taken your heart and flung it from the top of the Clock of Westminster. You ache to find in his face any sign of regret, of pain, any clue that he is hurting as much as you are, but you are met only with emptiness

You cannot bear this any longer. A thousand questions pile upon your lips, striving to escape, but only one single word manages to emerge from the depths of your throat, raspy and shaky “Why?”

Tommy has his answer ready, of course. He is always ready, or he thinks he is. Foreshadowing everything that will happen, knowing exactly how those under or over him will behave. Time and experience clearly failed to teach him that not all variables can be predicted.

“It is the only way they will side with us. We need all the allies we can gather. And with their support we will have free access to commercialise opium all over Europe. America is a promising market but until we don’t have full control of it, we need to branch out”

His reply is so derisory a laugh escapes you. What do you care about opium deals or favourable deals? What is it to you about the wants of his potential business partners? All you see is the man who holds your heart casting you aside like a cigarette butt. 

“An arranged marriage, Tommy? Are you listening to yourself? This is no 1875, love. It's the modern world. Arranged betrothals are for the princes and dukes and folks of the sort, not for people like you and me. Marrying whoever we want is one of the few freedoms we possess, and you are letting them take it away from you for what? More money? More power?”

Tommy’s greed remained a perennial tense spot in your relationship. He always wanted more; more money, more power, more recognition. And he continued to trade his happiness for that. Ambitions had nearly cost him his sister, and had lost him a brother as well. 

Now he had traded the love of his life.

“It is all part of a plan for a greater purpose. I marry her to please her father, and once we have secured the markets and exploited their resources, I will have us annulled on grounds of non-consummation and forced marriage. My lawyer already looked into it. Once everything has calmed, we can get married you and I”

You want to laugh. Laugh at his audacity, at the nerve he must have to think you will stand to come in second place. Not in second to this other woman, whoever she is. In second place to his ambitions. Because right now you see, rolling before your very eyes like a cheap movie, what your life with him would be like. You would never be a priority, nor would be any children born from you. Always shadowed by the veritable breadth of Tommy’s ego.

You also want to cry. Cry out your frustrations, your anger, your immeasurable pain. The man sitting before you does not resemble the man you fell in love with. Not by one inch. They bear the same name but that’s where it ends. Because the Thomas you loved had eyes of a clear blue matching a gentle spring sky, not shards of the deepest ice sending shivers through your bones. The Tommy you love did not bear a perpetual scowl, the jaw always tense and the fists always tense.

The man you love used to smile.

“And where does my opinion lie within your plans? My feelings, my dignity? Are you sending me an invitation as well? Maybe I will catch her bouquet and reuse it for our own nuptials. Do you think I will sit back and watch you-”

“It already happened”

You hoped the surprises would be over, but this new bucket of ice pouring over your head felt like a low blow straight to the gut. Amidst your silence, Tommy pulls out a piece of paper from a folder and slides it over to you. You only read ‘Birmingham registry’ and ‘marriage certificate’. You don’t need to read more. Who knew a single sheet of paper could cause such anguish? Your vision is blurry, and you don’t know if your eyes have flooded with tears or if you are about to faint. You sway in your chair, and you actually have to hold onto the desk for balance. If Tommy had laid a gun and this certificate before you and asked you to choose, you would have chosen the gun. The pains of the flesh cannot be as bad as the agony you are submerged in.

The man before you, a man you don’t know, clears his throat and lights another cigarette “They worried I would back out, so I agreed to an immediate civil ceremony to appease them”

Your body moves against your will, because you no longer have a will. Your brain and your body are disconnected; if they were in tune, you would have stopped breathing long ago, for you no longer remember how to. Every inhale feels like molten lead clogging your lungs and weighing your body. You are clumsy; disoriented. Your heel catches on a board, making you stumble as you get up. In attempts to stabilise you, your hand knocks over an ink pot, spilling it over the document. You do not remember how or when you fastened your coat or grabbed your purse. Tommy calls your name, but he does not move from his seat to pursue you from your escape. The secretaries ask if you feel well, if you need something, but her voices are white noise in your ears. You think you pushed one away, or maybe not, you only felt the clattering of breaking porcelain and tea spilling on your shoes. 

It’s raining. It is spring but it's raining. The cold beads slide into the neck of your coat and down your spine. Your driver awaits with an umbrella, his smile fading into a frown when you walk past him, past the car, past the office and everyone inside it. Your foot slips on the damp cobblestones and you crash your shoulder into the wall, your hand seeking grip on the rough bricks. People behind you call your name, or the name of the one you used to be. You are not the same woman who entered that office. 

You feel a pair of hands on you. Fleeting hope flashes in your heart, but the weak ember dies as quickly as it came to life. It is your driver, holding your weight since he noticed your knees threatening to buckle. You don’t know how but now you are sitting in the back of the car, drenched to the bone. The driver keeps asking you where to go, but you have no answer. You want to say home, but home is no longer your home. The rain halted, there is no wind outside. You look down to your wrist watch and you notice you forgot to wind it. The hands froze at 6 pm, the second you set foot inside that man’s office.

The world has stopped.

[the-starry-seas]

what's one of your fics i could binge tonight?

hmmm, what are you in the mood for?

running with the wolves to get to you, 10k, rated G

Jango and Obi-Wan have been keeping an important secret as their relationship develops, which is that they’re both werewolves. Besides that minor detail, things are going great – at least until their car breaks down on a road trip and the only place they have to stay is an abandoned hotel. The day before Halloween. Which is on a full moon. No way this could go wrong, right?

who you are makes me who i am, 10k, rated G

Boba isn’t the kind of person who forms connections with people. ‘Friends’ are a foreign concept, and the idea of love is even more confusing. Then he saves a woman’s life, and she saves his, and he starts to wonder if it’s all as strange to him as he thinks.

the arms of the ocean delivered me, 11k, rated G

Two years ago, Echo was badly injured by humans, and taken to the Skako Minor aquarium. It's only after he's lost all hope that he finally has a chance to get home, thanks to meeting the Batch - the only other merpeople he's seen since losing his family. When the Batch drops everything to protect him and get him home, is it really any surprise that he wants them to stay?

ghosts have voices, 16k, rated T

Still reeling from Order 66, Obi-Wan finds an even bigger problem on Mustafar: a powerful Dark Side entity that feeds on the life force of Jedi. He’s lucky to escape with baby Luke and Leia, but his regret at their parents’ deaths isn’t the only thing that follows him from the lava moon. The entity is on the hunt. Stranded on a poisonous planet, the odds of surviving aren’t in Obi-Wan’s favour. At least he has an ally in Cody – but even if they manage to escape, Obi-Wan doesn’t know how to ask the man he secretly loves to stay.

if i don't make it back from where i've gone, just know i loved you all along, 23k, rated T

A movie AU where Leonardo travels back in time with Casey. Because even though Leonardo doesn’t want to live any more, Casey doesn’t want to give up on him, and maybe, just maybe, Casey has enough hope for both of them. Or, from my rambling while planning this fic: “future Leo is just so much fun because he's spent the past 22 years demonising his past self for starting the apocalypse but then when he travels back in time to the day it happened so he can stop it, he realises his past self was just a dumb naive kid who had no idea of the potential consequences, so future Leo decides to be gentle with him and it's the only self-love he's ever had because he's always hated himself a little”. As well as “Leonardo trying to break the cycle by being kind to his past self (while still hating his current self) makes me want to put him in therapy and I think makes Dr Delicate Touch want to use him as a piñata”.

this family can bear any weather, 30k, rated G

When Donnie gets his hands on the Arc Capacitor after the events of Out of the Shadows, he decides to repurpose the tech for his own use. Unfortunately the first test run doesn't go well, and he's accidentally transported to a different dimension. His first thought is to find the new reality's version of Donnie, so they can work together to find him a way back home, but while trying to find their lair, he finds a much different version of his brothers instead. At eight, nine, and ten years old, the young turtles are hopelessly lost in the sewers beneath the city, and their only chance at getting home is Donnie. Between finding a way to get four lost turtle kids back to their dad, and finding a way to get himself back to his own reality, he's got a lot to do. AKA the Rise/Bayverse crossover that exactly nobody asked for but I'm writing all the same. Updating Fridays.

Clever Girl, 50k, rated T

A year after defeating Commander Krang, the turtles discover that the Foot Clan intends to bring Shredder back to life. Hoping to stop this plan before it begins, they travel to a secret base, looking for the intended project head, Baxter Stockman. They find the base, they don't find Stockman, and more important than either of those things, they find dinosaurs. Four turtles, four Utahraptors - what could go wrong?

or if you really want a long read, one of my favourites:

two's company, three's a crowd, four's a love story, 91k, rated T

post-BOBF canon Din Djarin/Omera/Cobb Vanth/Paz Vizsla

There’s some BOBF spoilers/references in here, and it's set post-show, but tbh you probably won’t be able to tell canon from headcanon unless you’ve seen the show and know the difference already. Boba, Fennec, the Armorer, and Luke Skywalker make brief appearances in a few scenes. Anyway this is just me in denial of Paz’s BOBF characterization and the fact that Cobb and Omera have only existed for like 15 minutes total in live action. Welcome to my immense amount of headcanons! The majority of this fic is from Din's POV, but there's also a few chapters each from Paz's, Omera's, and Cobb's POV.

[sleepyfan-blog]

Reaper

Author’s note: this is the fifth part of Cedric’s story. Previous. Next.

Warnings: major character death, murder, canon-typical violence, descriptions of body horror

Tagged: @egrets-not-regrets

Summary: Cedric learns that small wounds can be devastating, even to Astartes if Chaos is involved.

"You… You're certain that it must be this way, sir?" Cedric asked his mentor, staring down at the sanctified blade that the much older Brother Apothecary had handed him. It was a master-crafted weapon, with a double-edged auramite blade, hilt and pommel. The hilt of the blade was made in the likeness of the God Emperor's sacred Aquila, and the young astartes could tell that the blade had been anointed with holy oils from the way it gleamed in the artificial light of one of The Sigismund's medical bays. The medical bay that Dessias, Dovo, Angrald, Rodron and himself had been quarantined within for the past three days, after Cedric had come to his mentor, asking for assistance with a puzzling set of symptoms and vital signs readings from one of his squadmates. "There is nothing else to be done?"

Brother Xonfried shook his head, reaching up slightly as he placed a gloved hand on one of his shoulders. "If we had allied witches, they might have been able to give him a little more time, but as we shun witches and burn them for their potential or actual Heresy… This is for the best. If we let things continue as they are, his soul will be corrupted by the poison that foul heretic stabbed into his system, and he'll twist into a mockery of all that he stands for, all that he wants to be. The poison is already affecting his mind, but his soul has yet to be tainted to the point where it won't rejoin the emperor's light. But every moment you wait, the more likely it is that his will and soul will be corrupted by the poison in his body, in addition to it starting to twist his body as well."

"… What do you mean by that, sir?" Cedric asked, his hearts lurching, eyes wide as he sternly reminded himself that he needed to listen closely. The temptation to plug his ears and ignore this warning from his mentor will not help his afflicted Brother.

"I've seen this particular Chaotic poison in use by foul cultists twice before. The first time it was used against a small population of mortals. The communal well had been tainted with it's poison. The rash on his legs and arms will turn into bony growths that will twist his body into fleshy vines that will sprout deceptively sweet smelling and beautiful looking flowers. He will seek combat with others, trying to inflict the poison on them as his mind and soul is further warped by chaos. He will find ecstasy in the pain and glory in the vile monster he has become. If left unchecked, this body and soul corrupting curse will seek out all of us. Flamers are effective against such a creature, but at that point, his soul will be lost to the God Emperor, having been corrupted by Chaos." Brother Alvros explained, forcing Cedric to keep looking him in the eye by catching the younger astartes' chin with the hand not on his shoulder. "That blade is meant to cut down those afflicted by deamonic poisons, so their body will not immediately corrode into a Chaotic mess once their soul leaves it. As the Apothecary assigned to his squad, it is your duty to cleanse him before he is corrupted by chaos."

"… Oh." Cedric managed out through the ten-ton weight that had suddenly landed on his chest and stomach. His eyes were getting blurry again, and with a titanic effort of will, he took in a deep breath. The dagger in his hands was deceptively light, considering what it was meant for. "I… I see."

"If you find yourself unable to do this, I will step in. But I will be… Disappointed. His mentor has been informed of his condition, and that the one who did this to him has already been killed." Alvros informed him, the hand on Cedric's shoulder tightening for several seconds as he spoke before relaxing again. "As apothecaries, part of our duties is to ensure that our brothers are able to seek out the Emperor's Light at the end of their lives… And certain circumstances, that means ensuring that they go to the Emperor's Embrace personally. Do you understand, Cedric?"

Cedric swallowed hard, closing his eyes for several seconds as he struggled with numerous emotions. He opened his eyes and nodded, before glancing away from his mentor, shoulders slumping a little "I understand, sir. I will. I will do my duty to my suffering brother, so that he is not corrupted by the forces of chaos… But I must confess that I will need to speak with one of the chaplains and likely seek absolution for… For some of the thoughts and feelings running through my mind, sir." He hated how small and weak his voice sounded. But… He'd so far been taught hundreds if not thousands of ways to protect and care for his brothers. The task set before him now felt like a betrayal of all of that, though his mentor would not ask this of him, would not set this test before him, were it not necessary.

Surely, he wouldn't.

Brother Apothecary Xonfried's eyes were gentle as he squeezed Cedric's shoulder again "Such thoughts and feelings are understandable. It is never easy putting down a loyal brother due to an unescapable curse or poison laid upon him by the foul witches that are set against the Imperium. I will arrange for you to speak privately with Brother Chaplain Renhardt once you have completed this task… And remember, every moment you tarry, the more likely he is to be corrupted beyond the blade's ability to purify upon death. Once he is dead, message me using this communicator." the older apothecary instructed Cedric, giving him the hand-held device.

"Yes sir, I understand. I'll… I'll explain to the group and then… Then send him to the God-emperor." Cedric vowed, voice trembling a little but his hands were steady as he walked to where his squad mates were currently sitting, as he had been pulled into a sound-proofed side room. His mouth was dry and his hearts ached… But he would do his duty to his brothers. He briefly squeezed the communicator before putting it in a pocket, as he suspected that he would need both hands to complete the grim task set before him.

~

"You're back! Hey Cedric, did they tell you why we've been stuck in quarantine for the past… However long we've been stuck in Quarantine for?" Dovo asked, looking up from where he was seated on a medical cot. He, Dessias, Rodron and Angrald were playing a card game, as they'd been very sternly told not to spar in the medical bay while they were under medical watch.

"… Why do you have that? The rest of us had all of our weapons - and armor - confiscated upon being put in time out." Angrald asks, gesturing to the auramite dagger in Cedric's hand.

The young apothecary couldn't suppress the full body flinch at the other's words, unable to look any of them in the eye. His mouth was so dry, the lights were so bright. His clothes were too tight and too restrictive and scratchy. Nausea and lightheadedness warred with his sense of duty, and the urgency that his mentor had spoken of "I… I-"

All four of them startled up to their feet and Rodron, who happened to be the closest rushed over to Cedric, reaching out and grabbing one of his shoulders "Easy! Easy. Slow your breathing, I think you're hyperventilating. Sit down. We're safe here, Ced. We're in space, on a battle barge, surrounded by our brothers in one of the medical bays. The only possible way we could be safer is if we were in our armor too." He started to rub circles into Cedric's back, a worried frown appearing on his face.

An ugly, awful sound threatened to claw it's way out of Cedric's chest, and the young apothecary shook his head, as his eyes burned. He blinked rapidly, feeling something warm and wet fall onto his cheeks. He took in a deep breath - there wasn't enough air in this room. Not enough air on the ships. By the Emperor's teeth, how was he going to tell them? Guilt and shame warred with his sense of duty. "I… Dessias the… You've been… Do you remember when you got stabbed by that chaos cultist?"

"Yeeeah? That was weeks ago. It was barely a cut, and apart from a weird rash on my leg, I've fully healed. I'm fine, so why are you freaking out so badly?" Dessias answered, a look of confusion appearing on his face.

"There was apparently a Chaotic poison on the blade. You're going to get worse, and it's going to… To corrupt your soul and damn you to be a plaything for the false gods… Unless… Unless you die before the cursed poison warps your body and twists your soul. I was… Given this dagger and… Ordered to ensure you wouldn't fall to the chaos forcibly corrupting you, brother."

Confusion was written all over Dessias', Rodron's and Angrald's faces.

Dovo's face was briefly confused before grim understanding dawned, given the way that the sergeant walked over to where Dessias had jumped to his feet, and pressed a hand to the other's shoulder. "You're going to want to sit down, Dessie. Angrald, Rodron, come with me. We need to give Cedric and Dessias some privacy."

"… Thank you, Dovo." Cedric murmured quietly, grateful beyond words that he didn't have to do this in front of the others. Watching Dessias stare in confusion as the other three left the main room to lurk in the lavatory was difficult enough. He really didn't want to make a spectacle out of this.

"So… Am I about to lose a leg? Is that what the dagger's for?" Dessias asked, looking curiously at Cedric, after the other three were out of sight. "I mean, I'm pretty sure I could rock a prosthetic leg. Brother-Sergent Mallius has two, and he's got a secret compartment built into one of them that holds a weapon, in case some fool manages to disarm him…. Uhhh… Ced… Cedric? Talk to me, brother. You've got a very strange look on your face."

Cedric shook his head a little "I… You're going to be losing more than a leg, Dessias. I asked if there was any other way, but Brother Xonfried says that… That what I'm about to do is the only thing that can be done." He wanted to ask for forgiveness, either Dessias' or the God-Emperor, but he had to keep in mind that this was for his own good. To protect their brothers. He had to do this, even as his hearts trembled before the task set before him.

"… Am I losing both of my legs, then? Ced, Cedric, where are you going with that dagger?" Dessias asked, a nervous edge to his voice, despite the smile plastered on his squad brother's face.

As Cedric approached Dessias, the other swung his legs back over the side of the bed and started to stand. Cedric cleared his throat and ordered "Get back on the cot, Dessias" In his most commanding tone of voice.

Dessias froze for several crucial seconds on instinct, having heard a tone of command, and all of them being drilled to obey, even in their sleep.

Those few seconds were enough time for Cedric to close the distance between the two of them. He shoved Dessias the rest of the way down onto the cot with the hand not holding the dagger - the latter not resisting as he had no idea what was coming - as the hand wielding the dagger flashed forwards and down with all his strength and speed, slashing open his throat.

Dessias gasped in shock, struggling as Cedric used his weight to pin the other to the bed, blood gurgling up in his mouth. "HEL-" The other started to yell.

Cedric covered the other's nose and mouth with the hand not holding the sacred dagger, keeping his voice low and quiet "You've been cursed by Chaos. I've been ordered to kill you before your soul is forcibly corrupted away from the God-Emperor's light. There is nothing else to be done, not even the strength of a witch's magic could do more than delay the worst of the transformations that would have warped your body, Brother." He could feel the tears trying to fall from his eyes again. But he needed to be clear sighted.

Dessias struggled beneath him, trying to shove him off.

Cedric reached over and pressed the button that automatically shackled an unruly patient to the bed with cuffs that extended and wrapped around Dessias' arms and legs. The other's healing factor was starting heal the gash in his throat, so the young Apothecary slashed Dessias's throat, deeper this time, before moving off of his still struggling body. He distantly noted that both of his hands were covered in blood, but there were other vital organs that the robes the other was wearing did nothing to protect against the sanctified blade in his hands. Both of his hearts were pierced in their upper and lower chambers. Cedric then deliberately counted Dessias' ribs, noting the way that his breathing was much faster and shallower, before he pierced each of his three lungs.

Stabbing his kidneys and spleen was next. The cold, clinical portion of Cedric internally wondered if he should remove Dessias' gene-seed now, or if it had been tainted by the chaotic poison that necessitated his brother's culling. The entire time, Dessias was sputtering and growling, struggling against his bonds, glaring betrayed and confused holes into Cedric's very soul. The wet, gurgling gasps eventually faded into silence. Cedric double and triple checked to make sure that Dessias was actually dead before pulling out the communicator and messaging his mentor "It is done, sir."

"Well done. Inform the rest of your squad that they are free to move about the rest of the ship, then clean yourself up and report to me. The morticians will handle the disposal of the body." Apothecary Xonfried ordered.

"Yes sir." Cedric's mouth responded. Cedric himself felt as if he was both thousands of miles away and, at the same time, far, far to present. His body straightened up from where he'd been leaning over Dessias' body and turned, heading to the same lavatory that the rest of his squad were waiting in.

~

"By the Emperor, are you okay? You're covered in blood!" Rodron spluttered, the young sniper having spotted Cedric come into the bathroom first.

"This isn't my blood. We are no longer in quarantine." Cedric heard himself say. "You should go, I'm sure that you'll be glad to finally get some more sparring practice in."

"… You sure you don't want us to help you out with…" Angrald gestured to Cedric, a worried frown on his face.

"I'm fine. I just need to clean up. Go." Cedric huffed, walking over to the sink and starting to wash his blood-soaked hands. The fluid was still warm. So, so warm.

"… We'll be in the usual sparring room, if you need anything." Dovo said, grabbing Angrald and Rodron "We'll be there for the next several hours. I'll… explain what happened to these two, and why."

"Thank you, sergeant. Your cooperation is much appreciated." Cedric's mouth said, confusing the shit out of two of his remaining squad mates as they were dragged off by Dovo.

Finally, a moment alone. To reflect, while he scrubbed his hands free of his brother's blood.

[rosewoodroad]

All 1, 2, 5 and 18 for Wysma 👀

1 was answered here ⭐

2. Who is your commander closest to now?

Caithe! But it took a lot of time, work, and co-parenting chaos to get to where they are as friends. Caithe could single-handedly destroy Wysma's badass reputation with stories of all the dumb shit he did trying to make Aurene happy.

I go into more detail here, but in essence, after all the drama with the egg incident, they began seeing each other’s earnest vulnerabilities through their interactions with their new ward. Both were totally out of their element with Aurene (Caithe doesn’t meet many infants, and Wysma had a somewhat detached parental figure) so there was a lot of bumbling, arguments, and eventually camaraderie while they worked out their dynamic with Aurene and each other.

Currently, Wysma and Caithe feel the most at ease with each other; to one another, they are less leaders and more people, parents who loved and lost and are still trying to do the right thing.

5. Which death caused your commander the most grief?

Blish, for a good long while.

Wysma has seen the deaths of many allies: Trahearne, Eir, Almorra, Tonn, Forgal. They were, at their core, soldiers, sworn to their duties with their lives. It was a pact they’d made, and Wysma knew that, for all the lost potential and lost lives, they would have given it up all over again for Tyria, everything and everyone they loved. Wysma himself would have done the same.

But Blish was different. He was never a soldier, not even a fighter. To Wysma, Blish and Gorrik were just regular kids they picked up because they had nowhere else to go. They were exactly the kind of people Wysma fought to protect, but then Blish chose to sacrifice himself for him.

He’s supposed to be better than this. He’s supposed to be the strong one. But he couldn’t even protect Blish. The worst part is that he had to directly face the consequences of his failure: Gorrik, left without a brother.

Like everything else, though, time heals wounds, and Wysma honours Blish’s memory by looking after Gorrik in his stead.

18. How does your commander handle stress?

That stoic face he has 90% of the time? That's his stress response. It’s like Schrodinger’s emotions where maybe if he doesn’t acknowledge the stress, the stress will go away. He busies himself with anything he can to take his mind off himself.

Wysma is generally just not great at handling or addressing vulnerability, especially when it’s his own. Ironically, Dragon’s Watch knows when he goes rigid like that, he’s under some serious pressure. A relaxed Wysma is a gentler and goofier Wysma.

He’s very aware of his coping mechanism and how unhealthy it is, but is still having some trouble dropping the idea of ‘needing to be strong’ all the time.

[callahanisms]

dancing with red dragons

naturally doing the blacks means i should do the greens. plus there is a lot more angst potential here oops.

ser criston cole

he doesn’t appear to be upset. but deep down, he is. you’ve been in his life for so long. and this betrayal? it wasn’t necessarily a betrayal. you had a duty to fulfill. after all, your father bent the knee to rhaenyra and he has long since passed away, so it was up to you to keep that promise. criston doesn’t know what to believe, especially since you had left in the late hours of the night. he had woken up alone and cold.

“to dedicate themselves to a spider like the princess. perhaps (y/n) is more like the princess than i thought: a spider that sucks their prey dry until there is nothing left.”

alicent hightower

alicent could not fathom how you were ready to leave her at the drop of a hat. rightfully so, you were angry. after all, you were locked in your room by her orders while she had aegon crowned in the dragonpit. and she knew about your duties to rhaenyra, how you were fiercely loyal to her. you even went out of your way to defend her children in private. but you would not be swayed, not even with her begging you.

“i...i have no one (y/n). please! i need someone like you here in king’s landing with me, here to help me. aegon cannot do everything on his own. you know he is reckless, stubborn. but you can help keep him in line. please (y/n).”

aegon targaryen

he was hesitant to become king. his birthright, something that has caused him so much pain throughout his whole life. but when he heard the people cheering, he felt a rush of inspiration and finally at peace with his position. so when aegon returns to you, wearing the crown of the conqueror, he doesn’t expect to see you look so...grim. your family was loyal to rhaenyra and would always be loyal to her and her family. when you saw the crown on his head, you told him you would be leaving. after all, not only were you on opposing sides now, but his marriage and legitimate children helped retain his claim. your presence would dampen it. alicent would have you paid to leave king’s landing or larys strong may do something to hurt your family. either way, you had to leave. aegon was not willing to let you.

“we cannot let (y/n) leave, mother. they are an asset for our claim. we need the north and (y/n)’s house is very influential. keeping them here would mean having leverage so they can bend the knee. it works out quite well.”

aemond targaryen

you were someone who was religious. your family was also religious. in fact, your brother and sister had dedicated themselves to the faith of the seven as septas and septons. safe to say, you were more than horrified when aemond returned from his mission of diplomacy. not exactly a mission of diplomacy considering the outcome. the feast aegon threw for his brother was loud, far too loud for you. and you left the feast. aemond followed after you. after all, you were his lover for over a year. but you blew up on him. your allegiance was clear: it wasn’t with the greens. it would be with the blacks. at least they upheld the faith of the seven. the queen dowager didn’t even deserve to wear the seven pointed star. you’re a kinslayer! you slayed your own kin! you were so angry and upset that you were crying. you are destined for the seven hells! and what’s more, you are now betrothed! if this is what your brother condones, then my loyalty is no longer yours. i am no longer yours. and he was only silent as he listened to you, his heart shattering.

“helaena i...i don’t know what to do. it was an accident! i...i did not mean to kill him! and now i have lost (y/n). but also, why does religion dictate them? isn’t there room for forgiveness? and mayhaps we have lost an ally within our own faith.”

helaena targaryen

aegon never treated helaena right. so you did in private. you filled the sea of loneliness she felt. however, never did you think you would be stuck in the crossfire of the war of succession. your family swore an oath to rhaenyra and would stand by it, refusing to bend the knee to aegon. not only that, but your presence would threaten helaena’s status as queen consort (which was being debated). you had to go. lovers torn apart by unfortunate circumstances. you didn’t want to leave helaena. who knew how she would fare in the current state of the realm. you definitely knew you did not want to leave her alone with aegon even if he mostly ignored her.

“perhaps one day, (y/n), we can leave this place. we’ll fly atop dreamfyre and see the world, eat cake, drink wine. would it hurt to leave now? escape all of this? i don’t want the crown. i just want you.”

[blackjackkent]

Epilogue time! The narrator sets the stage:

Narrator: When the invitation came, you were hip-deep in lemure slime, swarmed by hellwasps, and about to drive the killing blow on a magma claw. Cutting through the dreadful buzz of the wasps and the screamed of the damned, a familiar comforting voice echoed in your mind - Withers.

Narrator: He requested your attendance in Faerun, to gather with your friends and allies, those who stood against the Absolute at your side.

A couple things:

a) Six months has definitely given them time to settle into their new life as Avernus's mutineers, and it seems like they're doing pretty well! No one's lost any limbs or anything so that's nice.

b) That sure is an outfit you're wearing, Hector, lololol. I guess the monk robes didn't work so well in Avernus after a while. Karlach however looks fantastic.

c) Hector and Wyll have definitely become much closer friends during this whole thing and I think Hector probably considers him more like a brother by now. I do also really hope Wyll hasn't just been third-wheeling it this whole time; I think if I do write a fic about their post-game adventures I will set him up with some nice rebellious devil they end up allying with or something. (Potential for interesting angst there with his history with Mizora perhaps? :D )

d) I am standing by the fact that Hector is quite content with their new life. He already knew he was never going to be able to go back to the monastery and live quietly again, so being able to keep fighting at Karlach's side against the forces of evil is basically the best possible outcome for him. I like to think, too, that it's not ALL combat forever; they find some hideout that they're able to make at least reasonably homey and have some happy times too. That being said - he's very excited to see his friends again.

e) We'll have to see how the epilogue dialogues here play out but I kind of want to say this isn't the first time he's seen them (or at least communicated with them) since the brain battle. Perhaps Hector keeps leveling cleric during the fights in the Hells and tosses another four levels in at which point he gets access to Sending.

Anyway, HI EVERYONE! HI WITHERS!

"Thou wert called here. Some from above, some below. For with thine bond, together thou hast kept the Wheel of Fate spinning, when it threatened to halt. Though thou wert drawn far apart in the months after the collapse of the Absolute, tonight Fate renews thy bond once more. Thou shouldst take care to preserve it; it is a great weapon wielded in the hand of good. Go, know one another once more."

Ahhhhh, it's our old camp from the first map way back at the beginning! <3

Let's get to chatting!

[shallowseeker]

What is the most well-acted scene of SPN, in your opinion?

I think for a genre show, there are a lot of surprisingly hard-hitting moments. But today, I'm gonna say this:

CROWLEY: I'd like...to ask you a-a favor, Sam. Earlier, when you were confessing back there...what did you say? I only ask because, given my history...it raises the question... Where do I start...to even look for forgiveness? I mean...

///

Discussion:

I think Mark's voice, and his whole everything in this scene was among the hardest-hitting of Supernatural. It was so incredibly well-done.

Crowley has been brutal this season. He killed Kevin's girlfriend and tortured Kevin, and yet here he is, asking for forgiveness in a Church, a symbol of penance and forgiveness. As he spirals down from the high of the "roofied disinhibition" of "being a demon," he starts to feel everything again, and he despairs.

It's a callback to the demon Father Thompson cured, the one who ate his own children. It's a callback to Sam's hopped-up stent on demon blood.

In SPN Prime, John thought he was doing the right thing by his neglect and absence and violence, to toughen up his children and prepare them to defend themselves in a world that wants to kill them. And in doing so, John let his family down, and he died before they could fix it. Sam grieving John is not just about grieving the man lost, it's about Sam grieving the loss of potential for healing and repair.

If John Winchester could have lived and reckoned with his crimes of absence and neglect and cruelty, could he have done the same? Asked for forgiveness? Sam will never know. Sam would've forgiven him. There's nothing he wants to put in front of his family either, when you get down to it.

And Sam feels this guilt in himself, too, in his powering up on demon blood in order to do the righteous thing and protect the world. (We'll see in season 15 that this power would've corrupted him, eventually killing those very things he longed to protect.)

Also, there's the guilt for what he perceives as his run to escapism purely for the sake of escaping, serving up an incomplete version of himself in order to fit into an idealized normal (Amelia is to Sam as Kate was to John Winchester, perhaps). In doing so, he let his family down when they needed him the most. (He abandoned Kevin, Dean, Cas because he couldn't face the pain of fighting alone, like how John had to fight alone, and like how Mary has to fight alone in the AU Earth-world. Having siblings is like having built-in allies, and because of that, Sam's never had to fight alone.)

Sam, too, will ask for forgiveness in this church, the symbol of forgiveness. Sam still has living family members to connect to and heal with, and in this scene at least, family is about forgiveness. Dean will be compared to Church by Jody, and it's linking this idea that there are things in your life you can rely on, no matter what. Church is supposed to be a "communal family of forgiveness, not judgment" after all. (Example: Jody turns to Church when she's alone.)

Siblings can be a built-in church in the same way that they are built-in comrades. But Sam was not there for his only kin, and he despairs over not being a reliable brother, lamenting that Dean has turned to his “new brothers” over him. Dean capitulates to Sam's mental state here in this scene, affirming his sense of worth and that he'll always be there no matter what. Critically, this is to preserve Sam's life, because Sam is not in his right mind; he's suicidal.

(Eventually, Crowley too will try to repair things with his son Gavin, and he'll also reckon with Rowena's abandonment.)

The nifty thing about this scene, I think, is that while the Church is the symbol of familial forgiveness and penance, the actual institution of Heaven is brutal and unforgiving and judging. Outside, the angels are falling. The idea of it is more powerful than the reality of it. Heaven would not let Cas do penance.

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers LOST EDEN ー Yuma Maniac [Epilogue]

ー The scene starts in the forest

Shuu: ...What do you want?

Kino: Heeh, so you actually are willing to accept my offer? Seems like there’s potential to reason with you at least.

But I’m pretty sure you should already know what I’m after?

I told you before, didn’t I? I want those powers you inherited from your Father.

Please give them to me once I let these two go? You don’t mind, do you? I mean, you even said yourself that you don’t want them. 

Shuu: ...

The situation has changed. I don’t intend to give them to you. 

Yuma: !?

Kino: ...Haah?

Yui: ( What does he mean...? Shuu-san made it very clear that he didn’t want those powers... )

Kino: Haah...First it’s yes, then it’s no. I honestly can’t stand people who change their minds as it fits them.

Well, I guess I have no other choice then. ーー I’ll have to use force instead.

Yuma: Stop!!

Kino: If you won’t give them to me, I’ll steal them instead! Go, my comrades! This is your first step towards freedom!

Male Ghoul A: Uwoooooh!!

Male Ghoul B: We’ll show you what us Ghouls are capable of!!

Reiji: Here they come!

Shuu: Che...This truly is a pain.

Kou: Yuma-kun, M-neko-chan!! We’ll make quick work of these guys and save you at once!

Yui: No...! Please, cut it out! Listen to us!

ー The fight breaks out

Yui: ( ...It’s no use! My voice is being overpowered by them...! )

Kino: Don’t bother. Besides, it’s too late now, isn’t it?

The fight has already begun. This won’t end until either party bites the dust.

Yui: Ugh...

Kino: Lucks! I’ll get her away from here. I’m leaving the rest in your hands!

Lucks: Yeah, leave it to me! For the pride of our organization...And the freedom of all Ghouls!!

Yuma: Idiot! Don’t go, Lucks!

Yui: ( Lucks-san is charging straight at Shuu-san!? )

Yuma: Lucks...!! Fuck! Let me go!!

*Rustle* 

Male Ghoul A: Ah, wait!!

ー Yuma runs up to them

Yuma: Shuu, don’t harm them!

Shuu: ...Why are you stopping me? They’re Ghouls, aren’t they?

Yuma: The Ghouls aren’t our enemy!

Lucks, ya better cut it out!! These people are my brothers and...my allies! Ya shouldn’t be fightin’ them!

Lucks: Perhaps not. However...They’re the enemy of Kino and us Ghouls!

*Thud* 

Yuma: !

Lucks: Die ーー For the sake of us Ghouls!!

Reiji: Shuu!!

Yuma: Stopーーーー!!!!

*WOOSH*

Monologue

ーー It happened in the blink of an eye.

The beam of energy which Shuu-san released,

pierced through Lucks-san like it was nothing

...making him collapse on the spot.

Yuma: Boss!!

Reiji: Are you unharmed, Shuu!?

Shuu: Can’t you tell?

Kino: Ahーah...An OHKO? Ghouls are such frail creatures.

Lucks: Uu...Ah...

*Thud* 

Yuma: Lucks! Oi!!

Lucks: Yu...ma...

Yuma: Hang in there!! ...Ya fuckin’ idiot! That’s why I tried to stop ya...!

Lucks: Haha...It’s like the past is repeating itself...It brings me back to our times together in that city...

In the end, just like back then...I’ll die...without achieving anything at all...

But that’s okay...I don’t have any regrets, unlike I did in the past...

If I die leaving matters to Kino...and you...I can finally rest in peace...

Yuma: Cut the crap! You’re gonna die in front of my eyes for a second time!? You’re not gettin’ away with that...!

Lucks: I’m begging you...Bear. Guide the Ghouls...and aid Kino in his endeavors...please...

Yuma: Oi...Boss...?

Lucks: ...

Yuma: ...Oi...Quit jokin’ ‘round and open yer damn eyes!!

ー Lucks melts away

Yuma: ...!!

Yui: ( Lucks-san’s body is dissolving...? )

Kino: That’s how Ghouls die. They turn into a muddy mess and dissolve into the earth.

Yuma: Ah...Ah...

Shuu: ...Don’t tell me this Ghoul was a friend of yours?

Yuma: ...Uwaaaah!!

ー Yuma lunges at Shuu

*Thud* 

Ruki: Yuma!?

Yuma: Ya bastard!! Do ya have any idea what ya just did!?

Azusa: Yuma, what’s wrong...?

Yuma: ‘What’s wrong’, my ass! This fucker just killed Boss!

Shuu: Boss...?

Kou: Yuma-kun, lay it off! Shuu-san came here to save you two, you know!?

Yuma: I never asked to be saved! Because of that, Boss, he...!

Yui: ( Yuma-kun...! )

Kino-kun, let me go! Let me go to Yuma-kun!

Kino: Sure thing~

As if! You’re my only hostage after allーー

Subaru: Move!

ー Subaru pushes Kino away from Yui

*THUD*

Kino: Woah?

Yui: Subaru-kun!

Subaru: You better behave if you don’t want to be taken hostage again!

Kino: Ahーah...What a shame, I guess that’s all she wrote.

*Whistle*

Kino: Guys, we’re retreating for now!

*Flap flap flap* 

Reiji: Halt! There is something I must ask youーー!

Ruki: Don’t go after them right now! I can sense the Vibora approaching!

Reiji: Excuse me? The Vibora clan...!? 

Yui: ( Could it be the same ones who chased us down before? Did they pick up on the commotion and come back!? )

Reiji: We cannot afford attracting any more chaos right now...! ...I suppose we have no other choice but to retreat. Subaru, you take Yui!

Subaru: I know. Oi, hang on tight!

Yui: ( ...Why...? )

( Yuma-kun only ever wanted to help the Ghouls...So why did it come to this...? )

Ruki: Yuma, we’re going as well!

Yuma: I’m not goin’! Not until I’ve given this jackass a taste of my fist...!

Kou: What are you saying!? If we stay here, the Vibora will get us!?

Azusa: Yuma, what has gotten into you, seriously...?

Ruki: Fine! Kou, Azusa! Do whatever you need to drag him along!

Shuu: ...You can punch me to your heart’s content once we’re back at Eden.

Yuma: ...Enoughーー!!

Kou: No, you two! Let’s go!

Yuma: Ugh...Damnit...!

Boss...!

ー The scene shifts to the night sky

Kino: ...Fufu, ahaha! Hey, Yuuri, did you see that look of desperation in his eyes? His heart must have been torn!

Even though that was nothing but a fake. Fufu, poor guy.

I never thought this plan would work like a charm. It went just as you said it would. 

His past comrade and life savior Lucks really was the key to winning him over ーー Right, Yuuri? 

Yuuri: I only did the research. You were the one who created such a perfect visual representation. 

Kino: Guess you’re rightー I mean, I had a decent fit running around so it wasn’t all that hard.

It would have been so easy if I could have taken Yui as bait instead but then they wouldn’t been able to harm her.

That’s why I thought that having a third party which those Sakamaki’s would have no issue attacking might be more ideal...

Thank god we had such a perfect candidate. Ahー Humans really are so stupid. 

Yuuri: ...You are truly diabolic. 

Kino: Fufu, such harsh words. But that’s exactly why you’ve decided to follow me down to hell, no?

Yuuri: ...Yes. 

ー The scene shifts to the entrance hall at Eden

Yui: ...Yuma-kun, are you alright?

Yuma: ...I’m fine, so leave me be.

Yui: But...

Yuma: I don’t want to see anyone right now. ...Go away.

Yui: ...Call me if you need me, okay?

( Yuma-kun...He won’t even come out of his room. )

( I’m sure he’s in shock but...He seemed just as much enraged. )

( Even if he was unaware of the circumstances, when you consider that Lucks-san was killed by Shuu-san... )

Ruki: How’s Yuma doing?

Yui: Seems like we should give him some time for now. I guess we can discuss everything once he’s calmed down...

Ruki: I see...You will do the talking then.

Yui: Eh? 

Ruki: There’s a reason why he’s acting like this, right? However, we don’t know a thing.

What you were up to while you were gone...As well as how Yuma-kun feels right now.

You should be able to talk to him since you were together this whole time, no?

We need him to explain everything...or else the situation will only get worse.

Yui: Yeah...You’re right. I’ll explain to everyone what happened.

Monologue

ーー At the hall of Eden,

it was not just the Mukami family,

but Shuu-san and Reiji-san were there as well.

From how we met Lucks-san in the human world,

and then decided to move onwards,

towards Rotigenberg. 

To how the Ghouls had fallen victim,

to horrible forms of discrimination,

living in a disadvantaged position to this very day.

Yuma-kun and I,

wished for nothing more,

than to set them free. 

Just when we had set our minds on that,

all of this happened.

I also told the others...

That Lucks-san was the one who saved Yuma-kun’s life,

and took him under his wing when he was still a human.

ー The scene shits to the Big Hall at Eden

Reiji: ...I see. I get a gist of the situation.

Azusa: So that guy is Yuma’s ‘Boss’.

Kou: He told us about him before but...I would have never thought that guy got turned into a Ghoul.

Shuu: ...And I killed this precious ‘leader’ of his, huh? No wonder he wants to hit me. 

Yui: I’m sure that deep down, Yuma-kun realizes that you’re not at fault.

But right now...I believe he’s in a state of confusion because he doesn’t know what to do with his conflicting emotions.

Just when we were thinking of working together with Kino-kun...

Ruki: ...I understand the situation. As well as why Yuma would want to help out the Ghouls.

However, from what you’ve told us, that Kino guy is the one leading the Ghouls, right?

As long as that is the case, we must think very carefully about whether or not we will help the Ghouls. 

Reiji: I am against the idea.

While it is true that within the Demon World, Ghouls are discriminated against and have become the victim of a restricted lifestyle and harsh treatment by others. 

Still, many of them have committed crimes. Therefore, you could also say that they brought it upon themselves. 

Ayato: We shouldn’t feel obligated to save their sad asses. 

Yui: Wait, please. While there might be Ghouls like that as well, many of them are normal people. 

I believe it’s wrong...that they have to be locked away based solely on the fact that they are Ghouls.

Kou: But it isn’t easy to change people’s perceptions once it’s been fixed inside their minds...

Subaru: ...Whatcha gonna do, Shuu?

Shuu: ...

...I’ll think it over for a bit.

ー Shuu walks away

Reiji: Good grief...Unreliable even at a time like this.

ー Reiji walks away as well

Yui: ...Ruki-kun. Do you guys feel the same way?

Ruki: ...Righ now, we have to remain loyal to our King, whether we like it or not.

Even if we sympathize with Yuma’s feelings, as long as Sakamaki Shuu doesn’t decide to do anything about it, we cannot take action by ourselves.

So this might the only thing I can say, but please try to be there for Yuma at the very least.

Yui: ...Yeah, that was the plan.

( ...I want to fulfill Yuma-kun’s wish. However... )

( I’m not quite sure myself if we should save the Ghouls, or if it’s safe to work together with Kino-kun... )

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

[blorbologist]

i wanna know about kyssandra kith........also more mew 🥺🥺

okokokokok

so

I used to be clinically neutral on all Cassandra ships. Cass and Kaylie, Cass and Desmond, Cass and Kynan, Cass too aroace for this shit.

And then I started writing Two for joy, and Kynan. Would not. Stop. Swooning. He has such a huge fucking crush on her it makes him stupid and gods forbid Percy notices (please notice it'll be funny as shit).

And then I remembered that, per Tal'Dorei reborn, Cass never has a spouse mentioned, and in Campaign 3 a spouse is never mentioned then either, and Kynan is still around.

And I decided Cass fucking deserves nice things, right?

Enter, this complete dork.

Both of them have been through absolute hell, and of similar sorts. Kynan's family and most people he knew are likely dead. Emon burned. I mean, his dad was a shitfuck, but he must have lost friends, too, other relatives, so much. He's trusted by both Percy and Vax, to the degree that he's made the head of the Riflemen. What this kid means, as far as Percy ending the cycle of vengeance ("I forgive you, but I cannot let you leave", Kynan allied with Ripley, Kynan played a part in killing Percy, and he's forgiven, too.) and Vax's legacy (Vax specifically requests he guard Cassandra... and then Vax dies) just... holds him up v gently.

Despite all he's been through, Kynan still fumbles, and can't handle his drink (makes sense with an alcoholic father), and just wants to try his best. He's young.

Cass shed her youth like a skin, wears maturity like armor. She lost almost everyone, too.

I think, with Kynan, they could catch up on those lost years. Be blushing, awkward teenagers. Walk around all moon-eyed. Try to sneak around without Percy noticing (Vex would spot them in an INSTANT tho). Kynan wasn't here for the Briarwoods. He doesn't know the Cassandra that she hates, he just knows a strong leader who gags at her brother's antics.

They're also both Rogue/Fighter multiclasses. Think of the POTENTIAL: sneaking around the castle together! Kynan explaining to her how Percy's guns work because gods forbid he talk about it. Cass showing him how to wield a rapier, that stance is revolting, keep your back straight.

It's bodyguard/royal romance!!! With rediscovery of childhood wonder!!! And overlapping trauma!!

Clears throat

anyways.

The premise of the fic itself is that Cassandra keeps slipping her guard to go hide. Partially out of habit - she knows the secret passages well, it's how she initially survived the attack and got Percy out, and she could slip away when the Briarwoods became too much. Partially because she's just fucking overwhelmed, and rankled Vax thinks she needs a bodyguard, and after years around undead and a vampire and a necromancer and their few living lackeys, this much noise and life is too much. She needs alone time.

Kynan is also a rogue. He can find her, pretty easily, most of the time.

It eventually leads to them talking and being honest once Cass blows up at him for finding her somewhere she was sure he couldn't follow... and eventually it becomes a bit of a game of cat and mouse. And Kynan makes himself a little map to keep track. Maybe they start leaving little notes and gifts for eachother.

And then Cass is gone.

Kynan checks every secret spot, every stash, every nook, every cranny.

Vecna took her.

Vecna took her, and Vex'ahlia, her sister in law, shot her down with arrows (arrows in the snow, Percy running) and she died.

He's not her friend. He's not - no. He's her bodyguard. It was his job to protect her. Keep her safe.

He failed.

This is his fault.

(And Vax'ildan is dead, and Percival and Vex are expecting a whole ass kid, and Cass is in a depressive spiral, and what the fuck can he do about it?)

[stormbabylore]

⬆⬆⬆ Perceive Aeryn's early-Stormblood black mage glam! ⬆⬆⬆

I'm still on my black mage AU kick, so I'm gonna ramble out some brainthoughts on my lore for this iteration of Aeryn's story.

Mostly generic, but there will be one StB BLM class quest spoiler below.

Aeryn does not handle the events of the Vault well in any universe, canonically or otherwise. In canon, grief drives her to pick up dragoon again as what I like to call her "rage" class. But in her black mage AU, she takes a different approach.

Aeryn feels her "magic block" has become a deadly hindrance, regardless of Hydaelyn's gifts (or lack thereof at that point in the story). If she's to protect herself and her allies from enemies capable of wounding them with un-healable dark magics, she wants the knowledge and skill to do the same. She approaches the thaumaturges of Ul'dah for assistance. Cocobuki and the others, recognizing Aeryn's potential (and her need), set about to understand the source of her magic block and a means of breaking it. They determine Aeryn cannot easily wield magic in Eorzea due to some other, foreign source of magic inside her - one that is intertwined with her soul in such a way that it seems to "shelter" her from most outside magics. Though they none of them fully understand the source of such power, they all agree that Aeryn will likely never be able to properly channel magic without first severing her connection to that inexplicable power within.

The brothers are concerned at the potential dangers of this process. There's a possibility her soul and the magic surrounding it are inextricably linked, and given the mysterious nature of its existence, they have no way of knowing how its removal might impact her. They warn her it might sever her connection with the Mother Crystal. (Aeryn argues she has already lost that connection.) They warn her she might die. (Midgardsormr again taunts her with threats that there will be further losses - greater sacrifices made.)

Aeryn, however, is determined.

I believe it would have been a brutally painful experience. The notion of ripping away a magic embedded in your soul doesn't sound pleasant.

But they succeed - and in doing so, Aeryn opens herself to a floodgate of new magic all at once. Further, the magic that had threaded itself through her soul does not immediately disperse upon removal. It lingers within her. The combination of so very much magic, and the sudden influx of new magics, are too much for her. Though it overwhelms all her senses, at first, she finds the one most challenging to adapt to is a new sight - the ability to see the use of aether with her naked eye. The brothers acquire enchanted cloth for her to cover her eyes, which helps dull the sight of it enough for her to get by.

I'm not sure if Aeryn will ever learn the whole truth of her existence and the magic she was "born" with. (I'm waiting out Endwalker to see if story canon gives me anything to work with, there, before I decide.) But in both canon and AU, Aeryn begins getting flashes of memory throughout Shadowbringers that might help her piece together the story: the magic that was fused with her soul was the remnant magic of her dying star (what I've lovingly been calling the Fourth, though I have no idea if future game canon will break that for me). Her connection to her lost world had, in essence, been blocking her all along from fully connecting to the magic of the Source, as it continues to do in her canon.

[Spoiler for the StB BLM class quests below!]

As mentioned, the remnant magic extricated from her soul does not disperse, and she progresses through the rest of HW and most of StB bound by a lingering connection with the stars from her past life. So in the StB class quests, she is in a unique position to also sense the nearing of the comet, though she of course can't fathom why. When there is concern in those pivotal final moments of its approach that their efforts have not worked to redirect the comet in time, Aeryn inherently uses that lingering power to connect with the comet and further divert its course.

This act expels the vast majority of remnant star magic within her. The yellow fades from her hair, and as the comet draws away, Aeryn senses a great change within her and reaches up to remove the cloth from her eyes. With much of the excess magic gone, she is able to see as normal once again.

(If I had a way to change Aeryn's hair color for just one glam, her black mage look would not have yellow highlights! Her star magic is what makes her hair turn yellow when cut, so as a black mage, post-Stormblood, her hair would be entirely brown.)

That's it. That's the AU. \o/