#Fight for Life on the Planet Earth (musings)

[bestboiraditz]

I was watching some old clips of Raditz and I realized something interesting about this characterization. Yes, Raditz is immediately interesting because he's Goku's older brother, but he's made even MORE interesting in my opinion thanks to the brief characterization he's allowed to have.

Take his first lines to Goku:

He doesn't immediately berate him for his failure to purge the planet, he takes a moment to muse on how much Goku has grown and how he looks just like their father Bardock. Keep in mind, Bardock wasn't even a spark in Toriyama's mind, so for him to have Raditz say this when he's supposed to be a throwaway villain shows an unusual level of fondness for family, especially considering what we later learn about Saiyans

Raditz, upon realizing Goku doesn't remember him, isn't just annoyed that Goku forgot his mission, but seems distraught that his little brother doesn't remember him.

It's a small detail, but again, cements that Raditz shows an unusual level of attachment to family bonds, especially for a Sayain.

And then (and this is something important to keep in mind) he declares that he will find a way to recover his little brother's memories because Goku is NEEDED.

His priority isn't to get the planet purged or punish Goku for failing, it's to regain the only biological bond he has left, however little of it there may be.

I find it interesting Toriyama wrote this piece of dialogue. It just seems odd he would write such layered dialogue to characterize a villain he always intended to kill off ASAP. I guess it was to play into the whole "subverting the brother trope" but still, it doesn't make the characterization any less interesting

When Raditz tells Goku how their planet was destroyed and how everyone died, he AGAIN emphasizes that this means their parents died too.

Again, Raditz really seems to put value on his family. Note he says PARENTS not just father. Even Vegeta, for as long as we've gotten to know him, never talks about his father King Vegeta that much (if at all? He's thought about him, but not really talked about him) I find Goku's reaction interesting too, as if deep inside, despite not remembering Bardock and Gine, his heart still feels the pain of losing them. (Could it be possible Raditz noticed his reaction and took that as a sign that Goku felt the bond too, hence his following actions?)

Like @masakoxtra said, Bardock's line seems to be unusually empathetic for Saiyans. (He talks about it at 3:30)

Even Raditz, despite living his whole life under Frieza's boot and submitting to the bullying and callousness of Vegeta and Nappa and hardening his heart because of it, hasn't completely lost his sense of empathy, it's part of his nature albeit incredibly suppressed.

Raditz then has an unusually distressed response when he realizes Goku doesn't have a tail.

He doesn't mock him for losing it or immediately gets disgusted by his weakness, he is outright horrified and then gets mad at Goku for letting others just remove his tail (From Raditz's perspective, It would be like if Goku just let his arm get cut off to fit in with a race of one-armed aliens).

For Raditz, he views it as a form of betrayal, not just of his race, but the idea that his own brother would rather pass as a lowly earthling than embrace his own heritage (family being something Raditz clearly values) really gets to Raditz on an emotional level.

Now that I think about it, Raditz kinda goes through 4 out of 5 of the stages of grief for the brief time he's alive.

His first reaction is denial that Goku had forgot him and accepted life on earth, then anger that he would rather live as an earthling than be with his Saiyan kin, and then he starts the bargaining phase, trying to entice Goku with the idea of fighting saying that he's a Saiyan and it's in his blood.

When that bargaining doesn't work, he resorts to a different form of bargaining.

Blackmail.

Raditz steals Gohan trying to force Goku to join him. He tells Goku to kill 100 humans by tomorrow as proof of his submission, but pay attention to the wording:

Raditz says "when you decide to join us, and you WILL decide to" that's how much confidence he has in Goku's devotion towards his son EVEN THOUGH Goku's a Saiyan.

Raditz doesn't have a shadow of a doubt that Goku will do everything in his power to protect his son, even if he is a weak crybaby. Saiyans don't typically care much for their kin as shown in several flashback material later on (in fact it's later explained that they'll completely disown and abandon babies that are too weak to be considered useful. They have a very Spartan-esque society).

But Raditz knows he can use Gohan as leverage because Raditz actually understands emotional connections between family members, something he would've likely valued all the more being considered weak himself.

A lot of times people are able to use emotional manipulation because they either understand or were a victim of similar manipulation.

He then warns Goku that he might as well comply because everyone is going to die anyway, the earth being scheduled for purging. He hammers home the point that Goku's defiance is pointless and he really doesn't have a choice anyway so he may as well submit.

But what Raditz is doing here is almost an act of compassion (for a Saiyan). The way he sees it, Goku will die if he doesn't comply, so joining them is the only way he'll be able to survive. If he didn't care about Goku's life, why warn him? Why give him a chance to prove himself?

In fact, why would Raditz need Goku to prove himself when he was willing to take him without that before?

This is just an idea, but could it be...because of his scouter?

Remember, his scouter was open the entire time so Vegeta and Nappa are listening in. If Vegeta was listening it, after hearing about Goku's weak power level and his defiance and kind-nature, Raditz probably knew Vegeta might just dispose of Goku when they returned, considering him a disgrace to the Saiyan race. So Raditz has to have Goku prove himself by killing a bunch of humans to show Vegeta he's worth keeping alive.

It's horrific in Goku's eyes, but to Raditz, the lives of a few humans is inconsequential compared to his brother. This again is why Raditz says Goku has no choice, Vegeta won't give them a choice.

This also might be desperation on Raditz's part. If we are to consider the opening of Dragonball Z: Kakarot canon, Vegeta and Nappa mock him, Nappa going as far as to declare it's why he's called "Raditz the Runt", apparently a knickname he's saddled with in the Frieza force.

Raditz, instead of responding angrily or protesting as most Saiyans would, bows his head and pathetically apologizes, promising things will be different next time, showing that not only is this bullying common, but Raditz has just accepted it at this point. The way Raditz treats Goku when meeting him may stem from this treatment, he's trying to sway his brother the only way he's seen, through brute force and intimidation.

But Vegeta, getting sick of Raditz's weakness, promises to kill him if he screws up again, and if Vegeta promises death, you know it's coming. Raditz, panicking as his self-preservation instincts kick in, mentions his brother, saying he can help make things easier, but really Raditz just doesn't want Vegeta to kill him. Even then, Vegeta scoffs "The fact that he's YOUR brother doesn't exactly fill me with confidence" It's possible that Raditz did actually forget his brother and it was only in his panic, scrambling mentally for any way to save his life, that in that moment of desperation he at last remembered Kakarot.

Again, if we are to consider this conversation canon, Raditz needs Goku to survive to better the odds of his own survival, it's only after he's in a pod heading to Earth that he has time to think about Kakarot and wonder why he hasn't tried contacting them after so long.

But back to the OG manga, After Raditz gives Goku his ultimatum, he says this:

Again, he could've stopped at "I hope you don't disappoint me" but to follow it up by emphasizing it's for both his and Gohan's sake is noteworthy.

And even though Raditz clearly doesn't have much of a connection with Gohan as he does with Goku, I find this bit particularly interesting:

He barks at Gohan to stop crying and states that he possesses the proud blood of Saiyans. Yes, he is annoyed by Gohan's crying, but he also feels that he's better than that since he is still a Saiyan and wants him to be strong.

I like to imagine that Raditz is repeating something Bardock told him when he cried as a child, it feels like a very Bardock thing to say.

I particularly like the english dub of this scene, Justin Cook gives such an interesting and tender delivery of the line.

Also I really like how Raditz pauses to look at Gohan before walking away in the anime, I like to interpret it as Raditz seeing a bit of himself as a child in Gohan, but quickly burying those feelings.

There's a little fancomic I found that really drives that idea home.

When Goku and Piccolo show up, before they even fight, Raditz says this:

Again, why warn Goku? This feels more like Raditz is still in the bargaining mindset, he's trying to get his brother to give up and now must resort to brutally beating him to get his point through.

And then followed by this.

Remember, his scouter is open, so it's entirely possible he's acting ruthless and declaring they'll die so he won't look soft to Vegeta. I mean, he'd kill Piccolo without a thought, yeah, but Goku...? It may still be a bluff.

Plus, if he was serious about killing them, why stand around and let them plot instead of finishing them off?

The tail scene is where we see Raditz's cowardly nature on full display. But I think this moment really enhances his character because most Saiyans probably wouldn't beg for their lives, at least not to the degree Raditz is doing, they're too proud a race.

Raditz starts rambling about how he'd never actually kill his brother and his death threats were just bluffs.

Yes, we know it's a ploy to get free, but could there be an iota of truth in there? The fact he could've cut off his tail but was waiting for Piccolo to fire off his second Makenkosopo shows that Raditz is a quick thinker and very calculating.

Plus he probably didn't want to have to lose his tail unless he absolutely HAD to.

Goku was NOT stupid for letting go.

After Goku releases him, Raditz mocks his softness stating that he, a Saiyan-warrior wouldn't hesitate to kill their own brother, only to confusedly ask if Goku wants "a demonstration".

Like, if he wouldn't hesitate to kill his brother, why is he hesitating to kill his brother?

He's not killing him, he's torturing him, he could easily end it.

Remember that Double Sunday he shot off with ease earlier?

And of course after Raditz and Goku get turned into donuts, Raditz says one of the saddest lines in retrospect:

Like, he is relying on Vegeta and Nappa to save him, believing that they'll value him as a Saiyan and bring him back because HE HAS NO ONE ELSE TO RELY ON.

Right before he dies, he's in a sort of stage 4 depression where he can't believe this is how his life is going to end, dying alone and disgraced on some backwater planet at the hands of his own brother, their family line coming to a miserable end. He's never allowed to come to stage 5: acceptance (which is often where the change in a person's perspective/character tends to happen) because he dies and is forgotten.

Another thing that makes me sad Raditz didn't survive is cuz he's the perfect medium between Goku and Vegeta.

Goku rejects his saiyan heritage while Vegeta clings to it, but Raditz feels like he could easily straddle both worlds. He'd cling to his saiyan heritage out of love and respect for his parents (He'd still call Goku Kakarot, not because "it's a Saiyan name" like Vegeta, but because it's the name Bardock and Gine gave, his reason a much more personal one).

However, Raditz would have plenty of things NOT to like about Saiyan society, especially with how he and his father were treated as low-class warriors.

Being on earth, surrounded by kind people who don't belittle him and show basic kindness and respect would quickly endear Raditz to earth (remember, Bardock's kin are unusually empathetic for Saiyans).

Plus, being around Goku, who'd no doubt encourage and be proud of Raditz whilst training, would do a lot to boost Raditz's confidence (Goku looking like Bardock a way to ease his yearning to prove himself to his father) and further make him enjoy earth.

I like to imagine that, while Goku always wears a training gi from earth and Vegeta always wears some semblance of saiyan armor, Raditz would probably have a saiyan breastplate resembling Bardock's (as a kind of tribute to his dad) and go with loose pants like Goku which is good for training, visually symbolizing his willingness to find the balance between two worlds.

If Raditz had survived in the canon, this could've played even further into Vegeta's sense of isolation post-Cell arc. During his whole Majin Vegeta vs Goku fight speech, he could've said something like "And imagine the frustration I felt, when the only other pure-blood of my race left, your brother, that low-level trash who'd trembled for years under my elite warrior might, not only obtained the power of a super saiyan, but deemed me, ME the prince of all Saiyans UNWORTHY of his time! UNWORTHY FOR HIM TO FIGHT!"

Oh, and...

Must run in the family.

[these-written-reveries]

Midnight Musings

‣ Pairing: Castiel x Reader (intended as romantic, but can potentially be viewed as platonic ?)

‣ Genre: Fluff, comfort

‣ Summary: A letter to you, from Castiel.

‣ Warnings: Vague reference to difficult times and poor mental/emotional wellbeing.

‣ Word Count: 671

‣ A/N: This was originally written on a whim for my bestie @jslittlebirdie, but I've decided to share it with the rest of the world as well. Perhaps other fellow Castiel lovers will appreciate what he has to say.

Y/N,

I can sense you are in need of some thoughtful reminders and perspective, as I know you’ve been going through a particularly difficult time recently that has caused you to slip into a state of jaded oblivion. It is my greatest hope that with the repetition of these words, woven into the letters I write for you while you sleep, that you will someday come to understand them to be true in the same way that I do.

Thoughts of you occupied my mind after you had drifted off to sleep tonight. I suppose that's not surprising news, as I'm always thinking of you, in some shape or form. 

This time, though, as I watched your delicate lashes flutter ever so softly in your slumber, and the way your lips remained slightly pouted while I smoothed a thumb over your furrowed brow—a reflection of the stress that haunts even your dreams of late, I was suddenly hit with a near-overwhelming wave of gratitude. I, Heaven's most abhorred angel—second only to Lucifer himself, am so immensely blessed by the opportunity of not just bearing witness to the beautiful soul and being that is you, but to truly see you, to know you, to love you, and be with you. How and why I've been so generously bestowed this blessing is beyond my realm of knowledge. I certainly don't deserve you—not after all that I've done, but I'm nonetheless grateful I'm here, experiencing every fleeting fluctuation of life by your side. 

You make me feel like all of this, all the bitterness of this world and life on Earth, is worth it. You've made me see that the harsh cruelty of existence is only outweighed by the beauty and love that lies all around and within us; some of it temporary, some everlasting. I see so much beauty and love in you, and it is one of many reasons I cherish you so dearly. 

You are a beacon of hope and solace in this world. I spend my days orbiting you like the planets do the Sun; observing you, admiring you, looking to you for the unspoken answers I've misguidedly sought in every other being, mission, and location before I finally met you. By merely existing as yourself, you answer my questions, soothe my existential woes. You help me see what really matters in this world, and that life truly is worth living, even when it seems so incredibly dismal and burdensome.

All I have to do is look to you, and I am at once reminded of how lucky I am to have a companion to trudge through the darkness with. You are my guiding light, and you are also my best friend. I strive every day to embody these roles for you, as well. I know in the deepest part of my being that as long as we have each other, we can get through anything. So keep holding on, keep fighting. If not for yourself, then for me.

Open your eyes to the beauty and love, big and small, all around and inside of you. It is always there, if you so choose to see it. Observe it, admire it, cherish it, hold onto it. That will be, what I can say with certitude, the crutch and guiding force that will get you through any dark times you may face. 

Remember, you'll always have me, whether it be physically by your side, or watching over you in spirit. I won't leave you alone, and my love for you will carry on far beyond your expiration.

In this vast, ever-changing universe, there remains a constant source of light, beauty, and love to anyone who is lucky enough to experience the magnificent soul that is you. What a blessing you are to this world. How much bleaker it would be without you. How truly lost and deficient I'd be without you. Even when you fail to see it, just know that I never will. 

I never will.

-Castiel

➼ Main Masterlist ➼ Request Info

‣Taglist: @jslittlebirdie @alittlesmartcookie

‣ If you’d like to join the taglist for Castiel, let me know by sending me an ask/message, or comment on this post!

[macsimagines]

MAC!!!!!

can you give us some headcanons with Yandere photographer Hanma? I loooovvvee the concept of this big bad guy being an actual creep who can’t muster the balls to be face to face with you…

I think this is good?

MINORS DNI

WARNINGS: YANDERE BEHAVIOR, STALKING, PANTY STEALING, CORRUPTION KINK

HANMA SHUJI

God life was so dull. Every day just the same thing over and over again. It was like nothing could stir that thing pumping blood in his chest.

No amount of fighting, or drugs or even fucking could stir some kind of emotion or feeling back into Hanma.

He tried to travel, but all those fucking valleys of nature just got tedious real fast, and people? They were the same no matter where he went. Petty, pathetic creatures all so self involved. And weak.

That is, until he saw you. Hanma had just been sitting in a cafe playing with the zoom on his camera when his lens had focused on your face. With a goofy ass smile plastered on your features, staring at down at your phone screen.

Something about the way you couldn't contain your joy made him... feel. The way the corners of you lips crinkled, the color on your cheeks, that twinkle in your eye. He wanted it.

His finger is capturing that moment before he can stop himself, and for whatever reason he can't stop the need to take more.

Hanma is headed straight for you, keeping his distance but his camera focused on your every move. And something fills his heart when colors start to flood into his eyes again.

Everything around you is brighter, and more vivid in a way that he never noticed before. Something about you brought life back into anything near your orbit. It brought back life into him.

Days pass and you, his new muse, are plastered over every surface in his apartment. He can't understand why he suddenly needs to have your light surround him, Hanma just knows he can't live without it.

You left your jacket one day. And he's coveting it like it's the most precious thing on this planet, holding it delicately in his hands. Sin and Punishment. Suddenly his hands feel so depraved touching something so... Holy.

He can't understand suddenly. This sick and depraved need to covet you and ruin you. To mix your perfect light with his very being, to feel you so skin deep inside of him. To be inside of you.

The jacket isn't enough anymore, he's breaking into your home and taking your things. Clothes, makeup, pillows...underwear. Everything that smells like you, that has your very essence clinging onto it. He needs it to state his beast, before he lets The Reaper take you completely.

But those aren't enough, the soft fabric of your panties against his aching cock, the smell and taste on his tongue becoming so addicting that he has to have the real thing. To worship it, to own it, to fucking ruin it.

Soon, Hanma is leaving you gifts. Photos of you sleeping, naked in the shower, you wandering oblivious down the street. From the camera he left in your room and how he can see the way you're terror stricken.

You thought he loved the way you smiled? It's heaven on earth watching you cry. These new emotions he's eliciting in you, he wants to see them all. Tears when he makes you cry, anger when he pisses you off, despair when he traps you with him, bliss when he makes you cum.

Hanma needs you, he has to have you and own you in every possible way.

"Its your own damn fault. You're fucking perfect."

[cozzzynook]

A Soundwave from another dimension is transported to a dimension where the war is over. Soundwave is in a relationship with Hot Rod who's sparked.

Soundwave from Transformers prime seeing Soundwave and Rodimus from mtmte makes prime Soundwave feral.

That cryptic literally takes one look at Rodimus and wants him but mtmte Soundwave is not letting anyone have Rodimus not even himself from another timeline and they are so close to brawling like gladiators it was terrifying even to the cons aboard the ship.

Prime Soundwave only stopped when Rodimus stood between the two and put his back to him looking very scary and adorable as he glared at his soundwave who just knew not to test him while in emotive swing.

Its up to brainstorm and Perceptor to send Prime Soundwave back who with Rodimus permission, gently touches Rodimus’s tanks and has this sad aura about him.

Rodimus asks him to use glyphs to communicate and he learns Soundwave doesn’t have any of his cassettes and only Laserbeak is left. The little cassette flies and lands on Rodimus tanks chirping at him and he smiles rubbing their little wings and helm.

Rodimus adores Laserbeak and he smiles even rubbing the prime Soundwaves face plate and tells him he should give his four optics a break. Prime Soundwave is completely shocked by Rodimus knowing and Rodimus admits to him that his Soundwave has four optics too.

“You’re very similar, still different but pretty similar,” he laughed making his bitty pat his tanks and Prime Soundwaves servo.

For a moment he wishes to break his vow of silence for Rodimus but he does not because Mtmte Soundwave walks in and stands in the door looking angry and pops Prime soundwaves servo off his conjunxs tanks and holds Rodimus close to him.

“Lesser Soundwave: cease and desist. Rodimus: my conjunx. Will only share with sparkling.”

“Sound, its fine. I don’t think he wants me,” Rodimus doesn’t make a move to leave his Soundwaves hold but he does shift to get more comfortable.

Prime Soundwave doesn’t bother with saying Rodimus is wrong since he doesn’t want to deal with his other self but he is happy to be reminded of what he fought for. The right to this. Living. Enjoying his loved ones instead of fighting an endless war that he wishes to be over.

It makes Prime Soundwave think over the war his Megatron keeps going and he thinks over this Megatrons apologies, musings, his guilt and admittance of it not being about rights but power. He decides when home that he won’t be keeping the war going but focusing on rebuilding the decepticons and working towards building their home planet to be better. They have the technology and science to do it and Shockwave wishes for the same. He knows he can do it.

So when the portal is finished and he says goodbye to Rodimus making sure to piss off this version of himself he hugs Rodimus before transforming and leaving.

When he comes out the other side every con is waiting for him and he proceeds to get Megatron in a room alone and shows him the possibilities of the other world. Shows him what happened and shows him the personal tape his other self left for him.

He’s not sure what the other Megatron said to his version but whatever it was it worked.

A peace treaty was not drawn but the cons left planet Earth and returned home.

On the way they passed a floating small pod that was unidentified and within it was a red and yellow and mech who was heavily injured.

By the time they reached Cybertron and began rebuilding their home by cleaning up frames and debris as Shockwave worked on a way to bring life back, the strange bot onlined and Soundwave knew immediately who the mech was by his optics even if he had a different frame than his other self.

“Where am I?”

“Condition: injured. Location: cybertron,” he used glyphs to inform the mech of his situation and he noticed how weary he was at the sight of his decepticon badge but he didn’t make a move to attack or do anything else aside from ask his name.

“Designation: Soundwave.”

That made the mech startle and he rushed up which made Soundwave startle and try to push him down only for the mech to hold his servos and move them back a little and open his subspace.

He carefully cradled the small cassettecon that he long thought he lost.

“Hey, bitty wake up, your cassette carrier, he’s here,” the mech sounded so happy and Soundwave could barely grasp anything aside from having Laserbeak undock and land on the mech to chirp and nuzzle Ratbat awake who cooed before yawning and stretching tiny wings that hadn’t changed since their tragic separation.

The little bat sparkling looked up and cooed at the mech before sniffing and rushing towards Laserbeak and crying.

Soundwave took both cassettes in his arms and held them close.

Behind his mask he cried and outwardly his shoulders shook.

“I’m not a cassette carrier so..I couldn’t help them develop the way you could but I did keep them alive,” the mech stated looking sad.

“Casseette: returned. Soundwave: forever in your debt.”

“Oh! No! Its not trouble really! They’re a sparkling, I couldn’t just let them get hurt or offline.”

The mech smiled at the happy reunion and finally sat back on the med berth where he closed his subspace and rubbed over his spark chamber.

“Oh, sorry about that. I forgot to tell you. My name. It’s Hot rod.”

Soundwave for the first time in a long time, felt something shift and he retracted his lower face shield to reveal scarred dermas and fangs that were permanently revealed from the damage.

“Thank you, Hot rod.”

Soundwave watched as the mech’s spark sped up and his optics flashed.

‘He felt it too,’ Soundwave realizes.

The mechs soul caught in his throat and he couldn’t focus on anything but Soundwave, his voice and half of his face.

He knows the mech is a con but..

“Beautiful,” he struggled out as venting was impossible.

It warmed him in a way he never knew struggling to vent could and he decided then he didn’t want to leave the mech behind.

“You’re beautiful,” he gazed, hypnotized.

“As are you, Hot rod.”

Soundwave pictured Rodimus and his other part Hot rod who looked so similar and yet different and he understood why his other half was so protective.

He plans to do the same.

[fazedlight]

Hiding (Cat Grant musings)

The girl is hiding something.

It had been a frequent refrain in Cat’s mind, ever since Kiera’s interview. What kind of millennial goes around talking about how average and not-special they are? The girl was too smart to act braindead.

Was the girl a war criminal? Faked her death from some mafia and lived life under the radar? I mean, really, all this subterfuge, and for what? The girl didn’t seem to be trying to give an air of mystery, but Cat could smell a story. She was going to get to the bottom of this.

Then the new caped heroine arrived, and Cat kicked herself for not having seen it earlier. It had taken her an entire three days to figure out the identity of the second kryptonian. She supposed it could be forgiven - after all, Kiera was somehow younger than Clark Kent, and he had been an infant when his parents shipped him off to Earth and his planet died. The timeline was confusing, before her interview with Supergirl cleared that up.

The girl is hiding something.

Kiera had practically marched into the office when she declared “I want to be a reporter” with her entire chest. Which, obviously, Cat could spot talent when it was in front of her. But the bumbling superhero assistant had said that with such confidence. Where had that come from?

The girl is hiding something.

And then there had been this Mike, of the interns, that Kiera was dragging along. It was beyond Cat why Kiera thought that relationship was a good fit, from a man who only seemed to cause her aggravation at every turn. God, that trope was so tired and boring, perhaps some sort of indicator of a mental break. Technically Kiera was old enough for a midlife crisis... perhaps Cat could get a referral from her therapist…

“Two people I love are trapped on that ship, and if we destroy it…”

That’s when Cat realized, when the epiphany slammed into her. Yes, yes, Kiera was hiding her caped shenanigans, was hiding Mike’s identity, yadda yadda. But the biggest secret was what Kiera was hiding from herself. Cat wanted to shake the girl. A super and a Luthor? That would be a combination like the world had never seen.

Snapper was dealing with a lovesick puppy. No wonder he was so irritated.

Of course, reporter-hero aside, there were other things going in Cat’s life. Her role in the world felt increasingly narrow, increasingly restrictive, and she needed to see something new. A woman’s life and self-discovery doesn’t end at 30, as much as the media pretends otherwise. Besides, wasn’t there a time in every hero’s life when Gandalf needed to die so Luke could fight the Star War? Or whatever.

She was sure she’d be back. In the meantime, the world could see what Kiera - Kara - would become.

[shinx-stardust]

I want to try my hand at a real Gravity Falls AU so here we go.

It's semi-based on the Undertale AU Reapertale (one of my all-time favorite Undertale AUs), but mostly I just took the concept, so you don't need to have an understanding of that AU to hopefully enjoy and understand this one.

So basically, the concept is every single member of the cast - or at least the main members - are mapped to a god. For example, Soos is the god of childhood, so his entire deal would be childlike innocence and he'd function sort of as a guardian for lost and hurt children, especially those with rocky family situations.

The gods and their functions would go as such:

Soos - God of Childhood, obviously, protects children and guides lost ones back to their families. Keeps the lonely and hurting ones company when they need it most. Is pretty much the same as he is in canon, lighthearted and good with kids but surprisingly mature at times. (Soos is pretty complex, I think!)

Wendy - God of Forestry. Not necessarily the god of lumberjacks, but definitely the god of forests and trees in general. She's strong and protective and basically exactly the same except she maintains the balance of all forests in addition to messing around with her friends.

Robbie - God of Earth. I almost went with Death but I think I can find someone else to fit Death a little better. Also, if his parents are undertakers, then yes they work with the dead, but I think it's more narratively compelling with him as Earth instead. Plus, the forest and the earth? That's pretty cool (until they break up over something petty as all gods do). He'd probably do stuff like tend to the earth, but I doubt that he'd have much to do compared to literally everyone else here.

Dipper - God of Space. There's a couple reasons for this. I really waffled back and forth on what to do for him and I almost caved to science or cryptids. I picked space for the obvious reason of the birthmark but also because if he's beefing with Robbie, then god damn it, he's going to be god of a narratively fitting thing. The earth and the sky fighting over the trees. It's stupid but I like it. Also space has great symbolic ties to the unknown, so he'd still be able to be super invested in the unknown and cryptids and stuff. His responsibilities would be stuff like managing heavenly bodies and regulating natural cycles.

Mabel - God of the World. Yes this makes Mabel kinda overpowered. Yes I wanted really bad for Mabel and Dipper to have some cool duality going on. No further questions. (Actually there are many further questions you may ask me any that you want my asks are open.) Her job is to maintain the world and everything on it, but it's pretty self-sustaining, so her duties are mostly just causing a rogue natural disaster every once in a while to keep the balance correct. The world is just chaotic enough that I think it still works.

Ford - God of Life. I wanted to go for a vibe with Stan and Ford, and it works best with Ford first on the list. His job is normal Life stuff - create people and animals to live out their natural lives on the planet (as managed by Mabel). He's Life for reasons that I... cannot explain but are there nonetheless.

Stan - God of Death. Stan's job is to kill people. Just like Dipper and Mabel, Stan and Ford are two halves of a pair. Two pieces to maintain the balance. Most of the reason he's Death is because I think it fits his vibe, somehow, and also because I like the thought of Death having to impersonate life. I just think it's neat.

McGucket - God of Science. He was almost God of Progress, but with Dipper and Ford being Space and Life respectively, someone needs to represent science, and McGucket fits the bill well enough. Funnily enough, McGucket acts as a literal muse to important people in scientific fields, giving them divine bouts of inspiration.

Bill - not a god! Well, not anymore. Most of his power has been sealed so he's functioning at about a third of his full power. He used to be some sort of supreme god, or king of gods, but he had some sort of falling. Think Zeus toppling the Titans, where Bill is the Titans and everyone else is the rest of the Greek Gods. Not a one to one, of course. Whatever gods defeated him are likely long dead or sealed, so they're not relevant to the plot and that's why Ford would get tricked by him. In a time past, he had all powers, but he's been reduced to weaker forms of mind magic.

I think that's all the major players, but for my sanity, here's a few more people quickly.

Tambry - God of Communication. Not sure she's relevant enough but I had a good idea for her.

Manly Dan - God of Fighting. Pretty obvious.

Filbrick Pines (Stans' dad) - can't think of something I'm satisfied with! He really doesn't have a lot.

Caryn Pines (Stans' mom) - God of Prophecy. Pretty obvious.

Love God - not relevant to anything at all but in case you were wondering, he's literally still a cherub. Nothing changes.

Gideon - God of Magic.

Bud Gleeful - not a god. You know how in Greek myth Zeus will have children with human women through various weird ways? Yeah, Bud Gleeful is the human woman. Whether that means he's trans masc or a part of his essence was stolen and mixed with divinity is up to you.

Pacifica - God of Change. This one needs a little explanation so basically it's because she's breaking the cycle of change. On a related note,

Pacifica's parents (can't remember their names) - dual gods of power. One seeks more money and the other seeks more beauty. They're totally tricksters who promise you power and then fuck you over.

Can't think of anything else right now but I will be posting design ideas next. And then I will try to put out as many fully drawn character designs as possible. (I'm starting with Dipper and then going from there, but I have ibis paint free trail so i can't draw much).

The AU would probably be called Divine Falls or something like that. That's probably what I'm going with, honestly. Plot will exist later right now it's just a cool idea

[jaeyunverse]

the death hoax

pairing: na jaemin x fem!reader

genres: superhero/supervillain au

wc: 1060

warnings: profanity, mentions of death, jaemin and y/n are morally grey characters (??) but i’m not sure if that’s how they can be described

summary: na jaemin was supposed to be dead, except he’s standing at your door with a favour he wants to ask of you.

note: this was originally written for enhypen but i thought of switching things up!

masterlist

“Aren’t you supposed to be dead?”

“I’ll die after I cash in that favour you owe me.”

Rolling your eyes, you opened your door wider and allowed Na Jaemin to come inside. Noticing the large suitcase rolling behind him, you raised an eyebrow.

“Is that why you’re here?”

He didn’t answer immediately, instead taking his sweet time to survey your apartment. Appearing satisfied, he turned to face you and said, “Kind of. You don’t seem surprised to see I’m alive. Why?”

“Because I know you wouldn’t die at anyone else’s hands,” you answered and plopped down on your couch. “I know you want me to kill you someday.”

He blankly stared at you for a moment. Then, a mischievous smile broke out on his lips. “True.”

“Besides,” you said, surfing through Netflix to find a good movie to watch. “Your cover story was horrible. No way did Torch manage to burn you alive. He can’t even wash his ass properly.”

“Maybe my fake death would have been more believable if you hadn’t faked yours first,” Jaemin pointed out and took a seat beside you. Removing his shades, he continued, “You’re the only superhero capable of beating me. Our battle would have gone down in history as one of the greatest.”

Averting your gaze from the television, you glanced at your nemesis to find he was already looking at you. “Electricity manipulation versus elemental control,” you mused. “I can’t lie, I’ve seen better in movies.”

“Well, there’s my immortality and your self-regeneration to consider too. I can’t die, and you can’t be killed. That would have made one hell of a fighting sequence.”

You paused, thinking about it for a moment. “Yeah, you’re right. We could have made BuzzFeed’s Top 10 of the Century.”

“Top 3.”

“Now you’re just pushing it.”

Jaemin gave you a pointed look to which you shrugged. Sighing, he said, “I won’t beat around the bush. I’m here to ask you for sanctuary.”

“You wanna live with me?” you deadpanned.

“Till I can find a new planet to move on to, yeah.”

He must have seen the uncertainty on your face because he clarified, “I don’t want to stay on Earth anymore. My home is gone and there’s little one can do to make the next several thousand years of their life more interesting. Exploring the universe to search for ways to strip myself of my immortality seems to be a productive way of spending my time.”

“You got bored of terrorizing Earth so you copied me and faked your death. Then you came to my house so you’d have a place to stay while you planned the remainder of your life and hunted for ways to die. Did I get it all right?”

“I can’t possibly plan my entire life; it’s too long. All I want to do right now is decide what my next destination should be. Hopefully, it’ll lead me to the weapon I seek. And if you’re still alive by the time it comes into my possession, I’ll return and you can deliver the death blow.”

You rolled your eyes. “I’m flattered, but you know what I mean.”

“Come on, Y/N, say yes,” Jaemin urged. “You owe me a favour.”

You eyed him skeptically and weighed your options.

Lee Jaemin, better known by the public as Thunder, was a supervillain. You, Phoenix, on the other hand, were a superhero. He was an immortal from a planet that had long been destroyed by extraterrestrial forces which were now extinct, while you were just a human (okay, part-human) from Earth.

Under normal circumstances, the two of you would have been arch nemeses. He was the bad guy who had to be defeated, and you were the representation of all that was good.

Except, you didn’t want to be good. Being gifted with powers wasn’t something you had asked for. Much to your displeasure, you’d been given the responsibility to protect the human race against all sorts of evil from the moment you showed signs of elemental control and rapid self-regeneration.

Over the course of your work, you’d realised not everyone was worth saving. Faking your death to escape your duties may have been completely selfish, but you didn’t give a flying fuck. You’d done enough.

Besides, the other superheroes could take over for you—Torch, apparently, already had.

Lee Jaemin had proved to be an unlikely ally. During the times he wasn’t causing havoc, he was a fun person to be around. He seemed to share a lot of your notions and views—something you’d found rather shocking at first.

No one except you knew the truth about him. As far as the world was concerned, he was just an ill-fated super from Earth who had lost his way.

“Before I say anything,” you began, “why did you fake your death? You could have just disappeared.”

“Closure,” Jaemin replied. “The residents of your planet needed to know I was gone for good. I didn’t want them to wonder when I would come back—to fear the kind of horrors I was planning in my absence.”

You snorted. “Weird to see you being considerate after causing so much pain and suffering.”

“No.” Jaemin’s eyes darkened. “I never wanted to hurt innocents. They were just casualties. Sacrifices for the greater good.”

This was definitely not part of the many notions you shared. “Maybe that’s what the people who invaded your planet thought,” you bit back. “Maybe they thought your kind was just an obstacle standing in the way of their greater good. Maybe that’s why they had no qualms exterminating everyone you cared for.”

Jaemin’s jaw clenched, electricity beginning to cackle at the tips of his fingers. “Do you or do you not accept my request, Y/N?”

You stared him down. “On one condition: you take me with you when you leave. I’m done here.”

“I’m not forming the fucking suicide squad. Besides, you’re only human.” If he was surprised, he didn’t show it. “You won’t make it.”

Letting a small smirk tug the corner of your lip upwards, you answered, “Did you forget what you said, Jaemin? I can’t be killed. You’ve witnessed the things I’m capable of. If there’s anyone who can make it, it’s me.”

Jaemin tilted his head to the side. Scrutinized you. Thought about the pros and cons of bringing you along.

“Deal.”

[shannonsketches]

your tien / krillin / yamcha musings are soooo on point i hate when people make fun of them (in a srs way) like you would literally not last 5 seconds with raditz please calm down! they are humans trying to keep up with aliens and creatures it is not a fair fight for them lol. okay i'm done *backs away*

Sorry this is something I love to harp on you activated my trap card because as MUCH as I love to drag Yamcha and the human crew playfully, they actually fucking rule and I love to yell about why aaAAAA It's not a fair fight, and like that's a huge part of what makes them so cool, IMO! Goku and Piccolo and the other non-humans in the cast know they have this sort of flexible ceiling for growth, and can at least do what they can against non-human threats. The human squad doesn't! They're bound by pretty rigid limitations -- even for guys like Roshi who's over a century old -- and they still show up and fight with everything they have for each other and the planet they love. Their collective dedication to helping Goku despite the odds is ultimately the thing that makes characters like Vegeta and Piccolo believe in the power of love too. They've seen it work!

Goku isn't the one who beat Vegeta; Krillin, Gohan, and Yajiorobe did. They saved Goku and the planet by refusing to yield to their fear of what Vegeta could do to them, and just kept fighting tooth and nail to keep him from killing Goku until he had no choice but to retreat -- for the first time in his life.

-- SPOILERS AHEAD for Yo! Son Goku OVA, DBS movies, and DBS manga --

In Yo! Son Goku and Friends Return, while Goku and Vegeta are focused on the baddie, the human Z-fighters are the ones protecting everyone else from the damage the battle is causing.

In Resurrection F, Toriyama reminds the class that these guys aren't just sitting on their hands waiting for Goku to save them -- Krillin, Roshi, Piccolo, Tien, and Gohan take down the entire Freeza force. The only one the others struggle with, Gohan takes down, and the five of them -- in equal measure with Gohan -- leave only Freeza standing.

And idk if it's to make up for how bad the anime bagged on Yamcha, or for the joke of Yamcha not showing up to Res F or being invited to the ToP, but Toriyama and Toyatarou put on their Yamcha Defense Squad hats for the manga, and he shows up to not only rescue Tien and Chiaoutzu, but also holds it the fuck down with the two of them against a massive invasion of the Galactic Patrol's most wanted list.

Toriyama was super vocal about how did not like Goku being portrayed as a super hero in the anime and earlier movies, and spent a huge portion of both DBZ and DBS' manga actively telling the audience that he's not the only person protecting Earth.

In Toriyama's version of the story, since beating Piccolo Goku has not won a "boss battle" alone (except arguably Freeza, which Trunks had to finish) and even in the fight against Piccolo, he survived because his friends were there to carry him off the battlefield and heal him. Even if his friends can just buy him time and play supporting roles, the core of the series is that Goku's success is almost never riding on his power alone. His second most iconic finishing move requires asking for help! His strength is built on the shoulders of his friends. He and Earth are alive because he has people he can count on to keep him and his planet alive (or at least wish them both back).

That's why it's important that he can't just beat the bad guy with a shiny new power up. Goku is usually the closing act, but it always takes support, it always requires community, it always requires banding together and lending their strength, and that is intentionally, repeatedly, the moral of the story!

Power Alone Ain't Shit If We Stick Together and Don't Give Up!! That's why DBS: Super Hero is so important beyond "Make Piccolo and Gohan relevant again" -- not only to have an entire story of "What if Goku and Vegeta aren't around to save everyone," (since Toei decided to absolutely kneecap the point and the humor of BotG being "What would Vegeta do if he can't default the role protagonist to Anyone Else") -- but also to have Goku have a match be PURELY reserved, no power-scaling, no fancy tricks, and LOSE, and be happy about it.

The point has never been how cool and sexy power is (in fact that's an on-screen statement of the philosophy Goku was raised on).

It's about the chance to learn and grow and live your best life because you put in the work and are passionate about what you do. It is the core thing that Goku and the human Z-Fighters have all, always, had in common.

The human Z-Fighters didn't just stop working and caring about martial arts and protecting Earth because Goku got strong. They all keep working and keep fighting and keep showing up, despite how strong Goku and the opponents he faces are. The human fighters are hands down the most badass people in the series.

[silverstarsimuran]

The Promise

This fanfiction was written before the release of the third Sonic movie, so this story can be considered his alternate universe...

— Soon the colony will come out of orbit and destroy this pathetic planet Earth, along with its damned people… Soon humanity will perish, and then… Then you will be avenged, Maria..." the black hedgehog with red stripes mused aloud, looking at the Earth through the porthole.

A moment later, the metal door opened, letting in a yellow two-tailed fox cub and a red echidna.

"If the coordinates are correct, then we will soon find the Chaos emeralds and the Master Emerald, and possibly Sonic along with them," Tails explained to Knuckles. Suddenly, they slowed down when they noticed a red-eyed hedgehog.

—Shadow! — The fox cub called out to him. The hedgehog turned in response.

"Who do I see? The fox and the echidna. The so—called blue hedgehog family," he quipped.

— Do you know where Sonic is?" We need to find him urgently! Otherwise, we won't be able to stop the fall of the ARK colony!

"I have no idea where that hedgehog is." And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you! Especially for such pitiful and insignificant creatures like you…

—Pathetic?" Insignificant?! — Knuckles screamed, covered with red lightning from anger. — Now I'll show you what such pitiful and insignificant people can do!

—Knuckles, no! We don't have time for fights," Tails stood in front of Echidna, stopped his friend, and then turned back to the black and red hedgehog. "Shadow, please help us. We can't save the world from destruction without Sonic."

— Hmm. I don't understand why you're worried about him.… Besides, I also don't understand why he chose you over me as his blood brother.

—A brother?" Tails and Knuckles were surprised.

- Yes. Although all this is probably not important now. Soon, the colony will fall on the planet, thereby destroying everything.

"We can't let that happen!" We need to prevent this before it's too late! Shadow, please help us stop this! — Why? What's the point of saving everyone if we're going to die sooner or later anyway? — the hedgehog asked them, and then continued, gradually raising his tone. "Besides, these people deserved to die! They took the life of my dear friend! They killed Maria! And she hadn't done anything wrong to them!" — he shouted, and his scarlet eyes turned bright red, and red lightning appeared on his skin.

"I know there were bad people who did this to you... but not all people are bad."… There are some good ones. Besides, most of the people living on the planet are innocent of anything. These people don't know what happened to you and Maria.…

— So let them find out! Let them know about my revenge!

"Shadow, listen to me.… If Sonic is your brother, then help him.… Help save humanity… After all, he's your family.…

— It's not for you to judge who my family is, little fox… Why would you say that about her?

— Because Sonic is our friend and brother. He's our family too. And for the sake of a family, you can do anything..." explained Tails. "You'd do anything for Maria, wouldn't you?"

And then Shadow, grinning, couldn't stand it and attacked the fox cub, grabbing him by the neck and pinning him against the wall.

"Don't you dare tell me what Maria wanted and what she didn't want."… You didn't know her..." the hedgehog hissed ominously, sparkling with red lightning, and then shouted. — I knew her better than anyone, like no one else! And I know exactly what she would like!

"Shadow, that's probably not true."… I'm sure you're wrong..." the two—tailed croaked, unable to get out of the striped hedgehog's tight grip.

Suddenly, the grip loosened. Tails slid to the floor and saw Knuckles blocking him, while Shadow was lying a little further away on the floor.

"Don't you dare touch the fox cub!" Otherwise, you'll have to deal with me! Echidna shouted, banging his fists against each other.

"You want a fight, then? You're going to get it now..." the hedgehog hissed, getting up, and then rushed at the echidna, who hurried to meet him.

— Chaos Control! Shadow shouted and teleported, hitting Knuckles from behind so that he rolled over and fell.

Then the hedgehog looked at Tails with its bright red eyes. He slowly moved towards the yellow fox. The man was afraid to move under his gaze.

Shadow raised his right hand, which he was about to use to launch his power at the fox cub. Tails closed his eyes and turned to him:

— Shadow, I'm sorry about what happened to you and Maria, honestly.… But innocent people shouldn't suffer because of your hatred! I know there is a better way than this. After all, you can save them! It's not too late to fix everything! You could give them all a chance to be happy!

Shadow suddenly froze as he heard the fox cub's last words. Looking at him, it was as if he saw not a trembling little fox, but a sweet golden-haired blue-eyed girl whom he loved with all his heart.

— M... Maria?.. — he whispered. —No...This is can't be real… This… It can't be... no..." he staggered away from Tails. He was surprised by the reaction of the dark hedgehog, as he expected a blow from him.

"Tails, are you okay?" — the fox heard Knuckles's cry, who ran to him. "Did he hurt you?"

- No. I'm fine, Knuckles. Everything's fine..." Tails glanced at Shadow again, staring at nowhere and holding his hands behind his head. Knuckles got ready for a new round, but the fox cub took echidna by the hand.

—Wait, Knuckles. No need.

- Why? He attacked us.

"We don't have time for a fight right now. We have to hurry. We've spent enough time," he explained to his friend, and then they walked on together.

Meanwhile, Shadow was remembering the very moment when he said goodbye to Maria.…

***

Memory…

— Maria, let me out of here! You don't know what you're doing! I have to protect you! — Shadow shouted, trying to get out of his confinement. At that time, the girl was tapping on the keyboard of a device that would lower the capsule down. After a moment, she smiled and turned to a friend:

—Shadow, can you please promise me something?.. I know the soldiers are coming here soon, and they've done a lot of bad things, but... don't hold hatred against all people, Shadow. There are other, very good people in the world. I would like you to protect such people and save them. After all, they need to be given a chance to live a happy life. Would you do this for me, Shadow?.. Will you promise me? ..

—Maria...— was all the hedgehog said, looking at his friend from the capsule.

Suddenly, one of the soldiers burst into the room.

— Don't move! — he shouted.

Maria, frowning, prepared to press the lever with which she would allow the Perfect Life Form to escape.

"Don't you dare pull the lever! Can you hear me?" — The soldier shouted, aiming his weapon at the girl. "If you pull the lever, I'll have to kill you!"

Shadow, kicking and shoving, tried to get out of his confinement. But the glass of the capsule was too strong to break. And the hedgehog had no choice but to watch what was happening.

— Maria, no! Don't do this! Shadow shouted. Maria smiled at her best friend for the last time and pressed the lever with tears in her eyes:

— Sayonara, Shadow the hedgehog…

Then a shot rang out.

— MARIA-A-A-A!!! — a hedgehog's cry was heard as the capsule ejected.

The end of the memory…

***

— Maria… I promise… I promise that I will save the planet that you cherished so much.… I'll fix everything," Shadow whispered to himself, wiping tears from his eyes. And then he hurried after the friends of the blue hedgehog.

***

A huge lizard equipped with life-sustaining technology, the Biolizard, kept Sonic and his friends away from the Chaos Emeralds and the Master Emerald.

— Sonic, what are we going to do? Tails asked his leader.

"We're going to have to fight him, Tails. There is no other way out. I'll take care of him, and you and Knuckles…

"You'd better leave it to me,— Shadow's voice suddenly came to everyone. "I'll fight him, and the three of you go to the emeralds."

Tails and Knuckles were a little unsure about the black hedgehog, but Sonic nodded to him and agreed.

— Alright. Follow me, guys!

Shadow wasted no time attacking the techno lizard using the chaos spear. The monster roared and attacked the hedgehog in response, who managed to dodge.

"I will keep my word, Maria. I will save the world for you. Even if I have to give my life," he mused as he continued his battle with the Biolizard.

[saiilorstars]

Introducing OC »» Lyris, an Eternal.

Lyris, an Eternal, was sent to Earth to eliminate the Deviants roaming the planet and to protect the humans. Arishem gifted her with the power of acoustikinesis to help in the battlefield with powerful sonic waves. She also lends her beautiful magnetic voice to the humans outside the battlefield, creating stories along with Sprite & Druig in the name of humans' advancement. With time, humans come to identify her as a kind of muse — a mesmerizing siren — although thanks to Sprite and her jokes, the story of the sirens became skewed with a few incorrect details. Lyris follows her orders obediently. Live on Earth, destroy Deviants, and protect/help the humans as much as possible. Still, she manages to show her true self outside of the battle field. Lyris is filled with wonder and curiosity, is said to be innocent but those who know her well know she's also fierce and sometimes a little snarky. She wants to explore as much as possible before their time on Earth comes to an end and they receive another mission. However, when Tenochtitlan happens, she, like the rest of the Eternals, finds herself with the freedom to live an actual life outside of fighting deviants. Lyris has to decide what she wants and who she wants to go with: her friends, or the man she loves most. Centuries later when life on Earth takes a turn for the worst after the Blip, she gets word of a new mission — a side mission from Arishem. For 5 years, she's forced to reunite and work with some of her team members to ensure that humans reach their final point of advancement by feeding the Avengers tools to restore balance on the planet. By that point, Lyris begins to feel like Druig was right about just how much trust they should be placing on Arishem himself. After all, they'd always been told never to interfere with humans' wars...no matter how horrific they were. Why go back on that now? But the truth is only revealed after everyone is returned from the Blip and the Emergence is finally set to happen...

❁ Lyris Masterlist ❁

Taglist: @ocappreciationtag​ @arthurpendragonns  @maaaaarveeeeel @stareyedplanet @lenonizi @foxesandmagic​ @kmc1989​​ @caplanbuckybarnes

[valiantlyelegantwizard]

BoonBoomger AU Musings

Not that I'm not enjoying Boonboomger for what it is (because I am, very much so) but I keep having this idea that was only reinforced by this week's episode.

The main change is the idea of Taiya being related the Hashiriyans; specifically being the son of the boss and the heir apparent to the whole criminal empire.

Basically, Taiya is going through a "rebellion phase" because he wants to be a race car driver, specifically in the Big Bang Grand Prix. But obviously his dad doesn't support this and also the Hashiriyan's keep wrecking planets which makes it hard for him practice. So Taiya runs away to Earth where he can train for the race in peace. But then the Hashiriyans start showing up there so he fights them to prevent them from ruining his plans (maybe this is something that's happened before).

And when he starts finding the team, Taiya still supports them "taking the wheel" because that's what he's also doing in his own mind. Eventually though, being with the team changes Taiya to realize what the Hashiriyans are doing is wrong and he starts fighting them out of moral objection; not just because it's making his own life difficult.

This week's episode has only given me more thoughts about this because boy would he probably feel very awkward about Genba after learning about his past and being friends with him now. But also there would be great angst about Taiya feeling bad for him after presumably never feeling that bad about what the Hashiriyans have done before.

[smolcuriouskitten]

Its about time we discuss Rockys family, who they are and what they do! I realize I always mention them in threads but never talk about them in detail whoops.

Renelle Ami Simmonds, Age 125

The youngest sister of both Christopher and Rockelle, she is a neko witch just like her siblings. During first meetings with muses, she will be reserved, stutter and not engage much with new people. After this however, shes bubbly and blunt with a loud personality. Both sisters share the same traits, kind and loving however Rockelle is the more outgoing of the pair.

She works as a model, singer and dancer. Her voice is that of Ariana Grande's in her universe, the iconic soft and sweet sound with the whistle tone. She owns a cat named Pusheen and lives on her own. She often helps Rockelle with dances for new trainees or herself and sings vocals for her if needed.

Christopher Angelo Simmonds, Age 135

The older brother of Rockelle and Renelle, he is a neko witch just like his siblings. He is a goofball and all around good dude. He likes to pull small pranks, joke around, and cant take anything seriously. Despite him being the oldest, he is the most childish of the trio, always being the one who got in trouble for taking things too far. Hes harmless and acts more like a frat bro than anything else.

He works as a singer, dancer, and psychologist. He is the Bruno Mars of their universe. A strong and confident voice, able to capture the most heartfelt and scorned ballads. He only does music and dancing as a hobby since his job takes up most of his time. His personality is dull and reserved at work but outside of it, hes a big oaf. He hides his intelligence behind his comedic persona as the stoic act isnt for him. Just because he acts like an idiot doesnt mean he is. He has a bullfrog that he calls Kermit and lives on his own as well.

Denton (Death) Richards, Age 402

Death is the adoptive father of the trio, given custody of them by their mother Renia. He was a human turned immortal by Renia in the name of keeping him alive for the sake or revenge. He lived in France for most of his life, fighting in the wars and working as a solider for most of his life. He retired after seeing the person he was becoming wasnt who he wanted to be. Now he lives a calm life, enjoying his solitude and hanging out with his kids when possible.

Given his age, he accrued alot of wealth over the years, so he lives in a cabin in a forest, where enjoys his time. While he doesnt sing or dance like his kids, he plays the guitar, giving his input into music that way. Hes calm and collected, being more of a stoic type. The only way to break him out of this to be his ruthless and cold blooded former self, would be to hurt his children or threaten them. He is a widow to his wife Renia, who was killed at the hands of Rockelles ex, Magic. He hasnt remarried or attempted to fall in love ever since.

Renia Celeste Simmonds/Richards, Age ???

Renia was born and raised on the planet Nekoian, being 'grandfathered' in as ruler. She was the queen and ruled along side Trent, the siblings father before he passed away in a war and since then, she ruled the planet alone. During her younger years, she would often come to earth to explore with a man only known as the doctor in a blue box. This is how she met Denton, who at the time was 21. After saving him from death and granting him immortality, they began to fall in love but could never fully be due to her commitment to the planet she called home.

Her planet had issues with another by the name of Dermion, who wanted to harness the witches powers for destruction of the universe. While Renia fought to keep her family safe, entrusting Chris, Rockelle, and Renelle to go to earth with Death, she barely escaped. The planet she knew was destroyed and ever since, she lived her days on Earth, finally being reunited with her family 18 years later. Her life was ripped away from her when she was killed by Rockelle's abusive ex, Magic.

Her personality was a mixture of all of her children. Outgoing, observant, funny and kind. She was a woman who was loved by many for her iconic voice, the Teena Marie of their universe. Her voice being heard by the former nightclub goers and now only her family since the cassettes, now in the care of Rockelle, are too traumatic to hear as they document her final moments.

While she was married to Trent, she was unhappy with their dynamic. He only came home to bring her gifts and keep the legacy alive with children but he was otherwise absent. Her children never got to know their real father, only knowing Denton as their adoptive father. Despite her life being cut short, she spent her last years being around those she loved deeply.

[dramatisperscnae]

blame @knightlier for this, someone decided to mention a soulmate AU >w>

...In A Different Light

Kyle Rayner has always believed in soulmates. Why wouldn't he? The idea that there is one person out there so perfectly meant for you has just resonated with him since he was old enough to understand the concept. His art has often reflected this, with images drawn from all manner of inspiration and sources: the red string of fate, mirrors and reflections, diptychs showing individuals with matching or complimentary marks,triptychs depicting the sudden burst of color into a monochrome world upon a fated meeting, they've all sparked his imagination. As to which ones are true, for that Kyle has no answer.

He hasn't found his soulmate yet.

He thought he had, once. Alex had been perfect. She'd kept him grounded, especially once he'd gotten his ring. She'd been his inspiration, his muse, everything he could possibly have imagined; she'd been his light, keeping him on the path of heroism rather than letting him simply use the ring for his own entertainment. And then she was gone. Killed in the most brutal fashion Kyle could have imagined and stuffed in her own refrigerator. And he hadn't even known.

That's the one thing all the stories agree on, after all: once you meet your soulmate there are things you just know. Their emotional state, maybe, or whether they've been injured, but definitely - oh, definitely - when they die. And he hadn't known. Hadn't felt a damned thing. The single best person that had ever entered his life, and she hadn't been the one.

That didn't mean her loss hurt any less. The thought that his soulmate was still out there somewhere was no consolation for the loss of Alex. After all, couldn't the soul-bond be built? Maybe it takes time to establish itself; that's a theory, too. But it's not a widely-accepted one and it feels…well, wrong. He loved Alex immensely - still does - but she hadn't been his soulmate.

Neither is Donna, but Kyle knows that without even wondering. Donna's great, she really is, but she's not the one, either. She's someone he can see him spending his life with, maybe, sure, and plenty of people don't actually marry their soulmates, but she's not his. And he's not hers, either. He knows that now. Because he knows he was wrong. He has found his soulmate.

And he's just lost them.

Here, watching the sun come back to life, feeling its warmth fall across his face, Kyle feels an intense, incredible pride, and an even more incredible loss. There's a hole in his chest now twice the size of the one Alex left. He can feel tears welling up in his eyes, trickling down his cheeks behind his visor as he stares up at the sky, at the brilliant ball of light that now burns thanks to one man's heroic sacrifice. Dimly, almost as an echo in his mind, Kyle can almost hear what he's sure were the final words spoken. An oath, a mantra, a source of pride and a legacy that is now his alone to bear.

But god, how had he not known? How had this happened? He can still remember meeting the man for the first time as the entire universe crumbled out of existence, fighting to stop the end of everything and ultimately destroying an entire planet in order to stop a man he'd only ever heard stories about. A man who had tried so hard to be a hero, to set right an incredible tragedy, and had lost himself to his pain even as he'd started working.

The second time they'd met hadn't been much better; things had been more personal then, Kyle's ring hanging in the balance. It had hurt, having what should have been a living legend try to take his ring, but it had hurt more to see that fallen hero depart with shoulders bent, hope dashed. That was a sight Kyle's sure will stick with him for years yet. And now this.

It had been an off-handed comment to Donna that had brought the idea to mind. Every hero on Earth had been trying to fight the Suneater, but there had been one hero not on Earth who Kyle had been sure could help. A fallen hero, perhaps, but a hero nonetheless, and Kyle had been so sure that he could get through. That this time that fallen hero could rise again. Could truly help, the way he so wanted to.

And he had.

He has.

The sun is shining again, no trace of the Suneater remaining at all. One man's sacrifice to save an entire world. A hero's death. All around him people are smiling, happy and relieved and overjoyed that the crisis is over, but Kyle can't bring himself to join the celebrations. Not with what he'd felt in those final few moments. That searing, bone-chilling pain that had surrounded his very soul, and then the nothing that had followed. The sudden, sucking absence of a presence that until two seconds ago had somehow always been there.

Parallax is gone.

Hal Jordan is dead.

And Kyle Rayner will never have the chance to truly know his soulmate.

[asurastro]

" outside perspective " + the reveal of Asuraman [Shine]'s secret identity!!!

send me " outside perspective " + a situation, and i'll write a short drabble from an npc's perspective seeing my muse in that situation

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1

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There was no justifying it. This person thought so, and there was a consensus around the room. Someone was yelling about how it wasn't a fair fight.

But then again maybe, the newly minted martian shouldn't have tried to ambush his supposed friends. And he'd been billed as the golden boy! Morally upright, always positive. What kind of a person was he really if he felt he couldn't meet his fellows in civil debate? What was this world coming to?!

Fortunately there were real heroes who would never give up. Eternally watchful, their surveillance necessary to apprehend criminals and stamp out terror.

Good riddance to anyone who didn't have preservation of order in mind.

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2

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It wasn't mind control. There wasn't some fantastical reason like that this time, for why Asuraman Shine would attack his own teammates. People even joked that even under someone else's influence, he would still find a way to hold back.

He'd approached with stern words. But anyone with sense could see all that 'teamwork' being used to subdue the cosmic contender was excessive. This person opted to try and speak up. To encourage more critical thought and analysis. Only to be met with ridicule and scorn. That it was shameful to even suggest that their idols could be wrong.

The voices were louder than this person. Anyone who agreed with them were scattered all over Delta Bay. They might have had strength in numbers if they found each other and stood together. But a world quick to conform was more quickly divided, under the pretense of effective socializing.

The tears that flowed when they talked about his planet of heritage with contempt and jingoistic war-seeking rhetoric. It was sickening to have to listen.

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3

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Blood. That was what this person demanded. That was what the first person conceded to the third, and the second had tried to deny them.

Punishment was priority. That would set the world right. Get the deviants and the troublemakers to feel profound regret. Clearly this alien wasn't accustomed to the real world, as only "free-thinking" humans like this one considered themselves might have understood it.

Then there were the thoughts of isolation of self and their state. Hit enemies first before they could invade. Because naturally, everyone shared that notion of infinite escalation, and if given the chance they would do to this person what they took for granted in their mistreatment of others.

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And elsewhere, similar sentiments were shared among superbeings and costumed adventurers of different stripes. Imperial hordes beneath the Earth's surface and their commanding officers-- supervillains, monstrous sorts, and machines of war cheered for the failings of the interloper with the interstellar origins. Even though insubordination would mark them as equally expendable.

The other do-gooders out there were split. Those like Asuraman's teammates thankful that the latest naysayer was crushed at last, even if he went down swinging his fists and shouting. While others lined up with renewed loyalty. And those on the ground level felt more alone than ever. For certain, torching any token of membership in the larger superhero industry and operating grassroots. Yearning for more of a true community...

Asuraman Shine-- Rex, was neither the first nor the last to have their life ruined by elitist approach to superheroics that had taken root in this era. And there would be those with a vested interest in keeping it that way.

[roleplay-finder-search]

18+ est . I use he/they and im over 21. Im mercury!! Im open to all themes and have no triggers besides car crashes. I will play either Muse!!! Pm me 👾 and which Muse you wanna rp as!!! I can be either but prefer b the alien!!

Muse A is a human adult anywhere from 19-30 who lives alone in an apartment. They just lost their job and got dumped along with having no family left alive (or interested if Muse A was disowned) In short their life is going down hill and all they got going is living alone. Well soon there is an alien invasion and they some how find an alien gun. This is all new to Muse A but they are a video game and sci fi movie lover so the idea of doing something with aliens was cool to them. They used the alien gun to fight some of the invasion before stealing a space ship and it auto piloted them to a new planet. The planet has an amazing city that it took them to before the ship died and couldnt run anymore. Soon Muse A stumbles upon Muse B a travelling mercenary/hitman who lives in a space rv and takes many small hit jobs. Muse A asks Muse B to help them stop the invasion of earth and Muse B finds them adorable and wants to help for free (or not for free?) They work together and possibly fall in love. Or Muse A gives up on earth and moves in with Muse B and they do more slice of life living! (Original inspired by the game High On Life with a hint of cyberpunk)

🪵

[novella-writers]

18+ sci-fi slice of life!! MxM only!! I will play muse B the alien!!! !! Pm me 👾 and your oc for muse a or ideas to plot with!!!

I use discord and do 1-8 paragraphs depending on my partner!! (Or play a human i made up or we can double and both be aliens and humans!)

Muse A is a human adult anywhere from 19-30 who lives alone in an apartment. They just lost their job and got dumped along with having no family left alive (or interested if Muse A was disowned) In short their life is going down hill and all they got going is living alone. Well soon there is an alien invasion and they some how find an alien gun. This is all new to Muse A but they are a video game and sci fi movie lover so the idea of doing something with aliens was cool to them. They used the alien gun to fight some of the invasion before stealing a space ship and it auto piloted them to a new planet. The planet has an amazing city that it took them to before the ship died and couldnt run anymore. Soon Muse A stumbles upon Muse B a travelling mercenary/hitman who lives in a space rv and takes many small hit jobs. Muse A asks Muse B to help them stop the invasion of earth and Muse B finds them adorable and wants to help for free (or not for free?) They work together and possibly fall in love. Or Muse A gives up on earth and moves in with Muse B and they do more slice of life living! (Original inspired by the game High On Life with a hint of cyberpunk) (i have rv pics, a pic of my alien, and the city is inspired by night city meets blim city that i also have pics of)

Message if interested!