#berating

[kply-industries]

[naminethewriter]

What Dream Are For

Chapter Five: Escalation

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Story Summary: Dreams are weird. Especially when you’re metaphysical. There is a distinction between your own dreams and that of your whole. Even though Roman doesn’t know at first that he’s trapped in a dream, he does know that something is wrong upon waking in an unfamiliar room. He thinks he’s in the Imagination but can’t say for sure. Just what has he gotten caught up in?

Cast as the evil Prince and forced to act out the twisted storyline of Thomas’ dream, Roman, with help from Patton and Virgil, needs to figure out what is happening while constricted by what his hateful character would do and say which is not at all pleasant.

We dream for a reason. And as much as Roman likes to be the center of attention, this dream isn’t about him. Someone else is crying out for help.

Content Warnings: Intimidation, Berating, Insults, Yelling, Partial Mind Control

~~*~~

“It was awful,” Roman concludes. He watches Patton and Virgil’s faces as they digest his retelling of his run in with Remus. Well, Patton already had a vague idea of what happened but not all of it. He looks sick now, his hands shaking at his sides. Virgil meanwhile is chewing his bottom lip like its gum.

“At least we know it really is Remus?” Patton tries but neither Roman nor Virgil react.

“He said this whole situation isn’t your creation but someone else’s?” Virgil clarifies after taking a moment to think things through.

“Yeah. I don’t really know who it could be though, the Imagination is supposed to be our realm… I mean, you do have a semblance of power here but in no way enough to create something of this scale and control.”

“Could—” Patton stops, looking unsure of himself.

“Could what, Pat? Any idea could be helpful, so please share,” Roman encourages.

“Well… I thought maybe… If it’s not you or Remus then maybe it’s just Thomas’? I mean, he is all of us, he is both you and Remus combined, so shouldn’t he have the power to create something you don’t?”

“That’s… Not how this works, exactly.” Roman pauses, unsure of how to explain it. “Yes, Thomas’ creativity is more than just me but… in order for Thomas to use any of his creativity, either me or Remus has to be involved. And even if he used just Remus’ influence, I would still feel the difference to Remus’ other creations. This is different. I just can’t tell you exactly how it’s different.”

Patton looks as lost as before his explanation, but he nods anyway. They fall back into silence. Roman’s eyes wander over to Virgil, who is now chewing on his fingernails, looking deep in thought.

“Verge?” he asks carefully, startling the other. “Sorry.”

“No, it’s fine,” Virgil waves him off, though his shoulders stay hunched. “Just thinking about something.”

“About what? Maybe talking about it would help?” Patton offers but Virgil shakes his head.

“Nah, I… I need a bit more time to think.”

Patton doesn’t look convinced, but before he can say any more, Roman speaks up, “Alright, we’ll be here when you do want to talk about it.” Virgil smiles at him gratefully. “We should focus on trying to figure out what to do now anyway.”

“What can we do?” Virgil asks. “Any information gathering we’ve done so far hasn’t gotten us anywhere. We don’t know why we’re here, where here even is and how we get back.”

“I’m sure if we put our heads together, we can think of something!”

“You’ve been saying that, Pat, but, again, that hasn’t gotten us anywhere.”

“Being pessimistic about it isn’t going to help either, my dark knight. Literally!” Patton cracks a smile at Roman’s joke while Virgil rolls his eyes (Roman can see the fondness behind the gesture though.) “We do have a few more hints.”

“We do?”

“Yes! We know that ‘I’ took something from Remus that he cherishes. So maybe if we figure out what that something is, it will give us a lead!”

“But how are we supposed to figure that out?” Virgil asks. “It could be literally anything. A weapon. An animal. Fuck, it’s Remus, it might be a moldy piece of fabric!”

“Why a moldy piece of fabric in particular?”

“He had a collection of those when we were young. Janus made him throw them out.”

Patton makes a face and doesn’t ask any more follow up questions.

“Janus!” Roman calls out suddenly, making the other two flinch. “We should try and find him; he knows my brother best after all.”

“We have no idea where he could be though, right? He might just be with Remus in his wing or wherever you told him to go back to,” Virgil argues.

Roman shrugs. “Maybe, but he’s our best lead, don’t you agree?”

“Shouldn’t we look for Logan first then?” Patton interjects. “I’m worried that we haven’t found him yet.”

“Then it’s decided! We’ll try to find those two first!”

“How is this any different from our aimless wandering about that we’ve done so far?” Virgil sighs, though he does get up and ready to return to his duties. Their lunchbreak has been drawn out enough anyway.

“If we have an aim, it can’t be aimless now, can it?” Roman counters. “At least try and ask some people about them. If we can’t do that, that’s already a hint, isn’t it?”

“How so?”

“Well, my dear padre, if we can’t simply ask about them, then that means they have a place in this world since otherwise their names would be meaningless and hindering us from talking about them would be just the same!”

“Oh, I see! You’re so smart, Roman!”

“Thank you, I know.”

“Fine,” Virgil sighs, interrupting Roman’s boasting. “I’ll try asking my men about it. We’ll meet up in the evening again then?”

“Yes!”

“Good luck, kid-Virgil.”

“You too, Pat.” With that, Virgil leaves the room.

“Did you hear that? ‘My men’ he said. He’s gotten used to this quickly, didn’t he?” Roman wonders.

“I think it’s kinda cute.”

~~*~~

A few hours later, Roman strolls through the castle by himself. For once there is a break in his schedule since a noble had to cancel their meeting for some reason. Roman isn’t complaining, he can really use the time to simply walk around and think. And he could do so without his entourage following him everywhere.

It feels freeing and that is very refreshing after being stuck in this place where he can lose control of himself any second. He walks wherever he wants to go, ignores passing servants (he doesn’t want to but greeting them is apparently out of character) and just let’s his mind wander.

He is about to make his way back for whatever’s next in his schedule when he comes across another person in an otherwise empty hallway. And not just any person.

It’s Logan.

Roman is overjoyed, finally he’s found him! He hadn’t wanted to worry Patton more, but he’s actually been getting antsy about not finding their friend.

Well, no more! He’s right there, and to his luck, they’re entirely alone!

He just needs to call out to him! What luck!

“How dare you show yourself in front of me!” he bellows.

Fucking shit, Roman curses in his head.

Was there a person he missed? But he can’t see anyone else!

Not that he has time to look around as his legs take him to Logan in long, angry steps.

To his credit, Logan doesn’t back away. He stays still, his posture perfect as always but Roman can see how tense he is.

Is he scared of him?

“Your Royal Highness, Crown Prince Roman, I—”

He didn’t get any farther as Roman reaches him and shoves him against the wall. His hand lands at Logan’s throat and internally, he freezes.

This is different than Remus.

Remus and he always had their differences. Their entire being demands that they oppose each other, fight at every turn and that’s why they know their limits so well, know when to stop, when they go too far.

And yes, he and Logan have butted heads before as well, yelled at each other and argued, but they’ve never gotten physical! (If you don’t count Logan throwing that paper in his eye, but that was a one-time instance.)

Now, he was holding him literally at his throat against the wall, not cutting off his air just yet but very much threatening to do so.

“I don’t want to hear your excuses, you traitor!” he hisses. “I thought I made myself clear last time that I never ever wanted to see your face again, but you didn’t get the memo, did you?!”

The anger that threatens to drown Roman is so intense and very different than the one he felt for Remus. It feels like it’s zipping through his entire body, like it’s burning through every nerve and making him very hot. His face must be as red as the cushions in his room by that point.

Logan doesn’t react even though he is pretty much screaming into his face. He doesn’t try to push Roman off him, doesn’t try to defend himself, just stands there and takes it.

And it just makes Roman angrier.

“Did that worthless piece of shit send you here? I thought he would have learned from this morning, but I guess you both are dense as bricks. Or you’re simply stupid enough to think that I would be forgiving towards you just because you used to be my advisor.” Roman is baring his teeth, growling into Logan’s ear and it still doesn’t get a reaction out of the other.

Internally, Roman is trying so hard to get his arm under control, to get it away from Logan but it’s not budging. His mouth keeps moving, throwing insult after insult into the other’s face.

He wants to cry.

He thought this morning was awful already.

This is worse.

So much worse.

Because at least Remus had defended himself. He least he had quipped back, shown that whatever Roman said to him didn’t get to him.

But Logan?

Logan’s eyes look resigned. He doesn’t argue, doesn’t interrupt, he just let’s Roman keep talking and he hates it so much.

It’s almost as if he believes what Roman’s saying.

As if he agrees with everything.

It makes Roman want to vomit.

“SAY SOMETHING YOU INGRATE!” the prince explodes after minutes of uninterrupted raving.

“I am sorry, Your Royal Highness, it was not my intention to cross your path.”

The pot boils over, his rage reaches the highest point, and his hand tightens on Logan’s throat.

Not knowing what else to do, Roman pushes.

He tries to create a connection between him and Logan.

The real him and the real Logan.

It’s hard. The anger is trying to consume him but he pushes past it.

He can feel something.

The world around him goes quiet.

He’s reaching, he can tell he’s close.

He stretches, picturing in his mind his own hand grabbing on to Logan and it’s so close, he’s almost there—

He hits a barrier.

It’s like an electric shot courses through his entire body and he’s thrown back.

He disoriented for a moment and when he comes back to himself, he sees Logan on the ground, gasping for air.

Oh, how he wishes he could punch himself right now.

“You are such a pathetic, filthy, traitorous bastard. I should never have taken pity on you and let you work with me. I had people tell me back then that you wouldn’t amount to anything and I should have fucking listened to them.”

Approaching footsteps thankfully stop another angry rant from bursting out of him. He turns to see two guards round the corner. They stare at them with wide eyes, frozen by the sight of their prince.

“Your Royal Highness,” one begins, his voice shaky, “what is—”

Roman lifts his hand and the knight stops talking immediately.

“Apparently we have a pest problem,” he growls, staring Logan in the eyes. “First the incident this morning, and now this. I though I was clear when I said that they were both not to leave the Second Prince’s wing.”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness, but we—”

“I don’t want to hear your bumbling excuses!” Roman barks and the knights shrink in on themselves. “Just get my brother’s dog back where he belongs and make sure they stay there this time!”

“Right away, Your Royal Highness!”

They approach them quickly but in the time that Roman hadn’t paid attention, Logan had gotten back on his feet.

“Your Royal Highness, would you please listen to me for just a moment, I can—”

“SHUT UP!” Roman yells. “One more word out of you and I will make sure you never speak again! You should count yourself lucky I’m confining you in your own room and not in the dungeons!”

Logan bites his lips and looks away. The knights, that had stopped their approach when Roman raised his voice, grab him by the arms and lead him away. Roman looks after them until they leave his sight.

As soon as they do, his legs buckle and he has to lean against the wall to stop from collapsing.

That was the worst moment of his life.

He feels sick to his stomach. He wants to go to his room, burrow in his blanket and never come back out.

He doesn’t want to think about how Logan must be feeling.

Slowly, he turns around and walks in the opposite direction, staying close to the wall in case he does end up collapsing.

He needs to find Patton and Virgil.

Quickly.

[shironezuninja]

A good reason to slap a sovereign nation in the face. No normal functionality, no Shirakage Mouse.

[whats-in-a-sentence]

Watt had been working for months on one of the great pamphlets of the age under the pen name "Humanitas". It was published in July and caused a mighty din.

That this homily was the work of a felon outraged Jones' allies. Berating the cruelty of the Hunter River magistrates, the evils of brutal punishment and the dignity of emancipists was a man on a ticket-of-leave.

"Killing for Country: A Family History" - David Marr

[spidertroupeart]

This is. The worst. Happy pride month you filthy animals

[j-jared]

This is why you don't sleep with the Tyrant King - The consequence is children

Constantine avoids involvement with the Infinite Realms for two reasons.

Who wants to deal with all those Ancients in the first place?

He’s avoiding yet another unhinged ex of his.

Of course, hooking up with Pariah Dark wasn’t really an actual relationship, more like a one night stand via dream walking (Nocturn owed Pariah, but seeing as it would be insane to release the Tyrant King from his endless sleep, he’d give him a dream partner every couple centuries) - regardless, Constantine doesn’t want to deal with that.

So yeah - the fact that the Justice League is attempting to summon the High King into the Watchtower has him wanting to drink more than usual.

Of course he gave warnings, but they’re dead set on doing so. A green folder had appeared in the secure “cursed artifacts” vault with no trace of whoever left it there. How else were they gonna find out how it got there?

So Constantine’s stuck there to set up wards, and is trying to find his way out of this one.

When the summoning circle worked, no one expected the teenager to pop out of it. 

Instead of Pariah Dark, or even the sarcophagus showing up, there was a white haired ghost boy with glowing green eyes the same color as the flames of the Crown of Fire. Except he didn’t look exactly like the others ghosts. He had a human skin tone, his proportions were exactly like a human teenager’s, and he was wearing a black and white hoodie with black sweatpants, for God’s sake. 

… Were ghosts able to reproduce with humans?

Before any of the Justice League can get into questioning, Constantine speaks up:

“You’re not the Ghost King.”

Green eyes settle on him, lighting up with recognition - Danny knows exactly who this is, with the amount of complaints on his desk about the blonde. Clockwork also informed him (he didn’t want to know but now he does) of the man’s stint with Pariah. 

Daniel “Commit to the bit” Fenton chooses to do just that.

“Of course not,” The confusion crosses the face of the heroes present- “That’s just because I haven’t had my coronation yet! I’m the Crown Prince, it’s practically the same thing!”

Oh, and the dread and realization crossing Constantine’s face is almost enough to make his core purr in amusement. 

“Now I will gladly answer all your questions, but first!” His eyes swept over the heroes before raising his hand and pointing accusingly at the British warlock.

“John Constantine,” his voice boomed, the temperature of the meeting room dropping as his face stretched with a smile too big and too pointy, “You owe me fifteen years of child support.”

[amu-says-hav-says]

I can’t believe I went through all of Season 2 assuming Nina was the stand-in for Crowley when you actually pay attention it’s so CLEAR that she’s Aziraphale. I was tricked by her spiky, sarcastic, cynical outer shell and lulled into a false sense of security by Maggie’s bubbly optimism and wholesome goodness, because on the surface they reflect the ineffable husbands perfectly, in their personalities, their aesthetics, even many of their actions and morals. but not, and this is the real key, when it comes to their “relationship”. but those first impressions really had me damn fooled. 

I missed the blatantness of Nina’s “we’re just friends. actually we’re not friends. we barely know each other.” the same thing Aziraphale said in season 1.  the way he still struggles to quantify their friendship when Nina asks. Nina’s sarcasm when Crowley asks about rain and awnings because it worked for him (we all know it LMAO). hell, that whole convo the girls have in the rain is so AziraCrow (“I know. I’m not your type” “...You have no idea” hits so much harder the second time, help meeeee.) “Lindsay” maybe being symbolic of Heaven and Aziraphale’s toxic relationship with them and their abuse? (the handwritten text messages in red pen make me think of angry notes on paperwork, anyone else?) because Crowley has never actually cared about what Hell thinks of him, just not getting into trouble (or him or Aziraphale getting hurt). Maggie is always chasing Nina. NINA NEVER GOES IN THE RECORD STORE. Just like Crowley always goes to the bookstore, to Aziraphale, Zira NEVER WENT TO THE FLAT (apart from The Swap but that doesn’t count imo). Crowley has always chased Zira, not the other way around. Always there to rescue him, always going to him for company, always relying on their shared connection, always US. OUR SIDE. All through season one, he comes to Zira every time to work together, never trying to work alongside Hell in any way that isn’t to save their skins or Earth, while Zira hides things from Crowley because he STILL thinks Heaven is ultimately good and will do the right thing if he can just show them. fix it from the inside. 

Maggie working up the courage to finally say something, to put herself out there, while Nina is utterly oblivious and then when she does realise Maggie has feelings, becoming standoffish, putting up that barrier, fighting it, denying it, ITS SO CROWLEY AND AZIRAPHALE IN THAT ORDER. the way I was fooled into thinking Nina’s trust issues are Crowley because he does have trust issues ofc he does BUT Crowley has ALWAYS TRUSTED AZIRAPHALE. has always relied on him. has always been hurt when Aziraphale doesn’t immediately reciprocate the way he expects (the holy water request, the bandstand, the “off in the stars” etc). he’s always the one putting himself forward. Aziraphale has always been the one to second guess everything, to fight their connection, their similarities, their friendship. the girls really made me think it was going to be okay when they sat Crowley down, even as my inner sirens were going haywire about Metatron interfering, they were telling Crowley he just needs to open up and it’ll all work out BUT HE’S ALREADY AT THAT POINT. he may not say it, and by gosh is that part of their damn problem, but he’s always SHOWN IT. he’s not Nina who needs time to heal and recover from her broken trust, he’s always been Maggie believing it doesn’t matter, they’ll end up together in the end anyway AND I WALKED RIGHT INTO THE TRAP THAT THIS MEANT THEY WERE GOING TO BE OKAYYYYYYYYYYY

[choccy-milky]

seb is lucky ominis cant see ref from triptrippy

[gotham-snark]

Welcome to the wall, Jason. Don't let Damian bully you, you eat your chocolate bar in peace ~

Embroidery based on Juni Ba's amazing Boy Wonder series (issue 3 out on 3rd July, please please please buy it! 💛💛)

Damian Embroidery

Tim Embroidery

[chiliger]

Vod’ika’s first wildlife simulator 🦖

Ref image below cut

[they-them-pussy]

new metric for media literacy for film bros is if they understand the barbie movie.

the kens are first presented as accessories to their barbies and it's pointed out loud that they don't even have places to stay in barbieland. one of the barbies straight up asks "wait, where do the kens stay?". they're just arm candy made to look pretty and cool while the barbies run their world.

but that's fucked up!!! the film presents it as fucked up! that's why ken screams "YOU FAILED ME!" and why he is insecure in the first place because he wanted to be respected and seen as a person, not someone who only exists in relation to someone else. should he have done what he did? no!!! that's why it's part of the conflict! the root of both of their breakdowns was in their society in that the barbies are supposed to be perfect and the kens exist in relation to them! it's barbie and ken. he was a footnote. that's why barbie apologizes to him in the end and tells him he can be himself. she doesn't have to exist by some set of rules and neither does he! it's barbie and it's ken! sure, the resolution to the whole barbieland issue wasn't perfect, BUT KEN'S WHOLE ARC IS ABOUT HOW THEIR WORLD FAILED MEN. WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS MOVIE WAS 'WOMEN GOOD MAN BAD'. WHAT ABOUT THE NUANCE

[kply-industries]

[bixels]

hey i dont know if you know this but your art is being used as hate speech on twitter, or at least i believe its your artstyle that i recognize. maybe youve seen it before but this is the first time i have and just wanted to let you know

Oh yeah, I've known about this. This was back when alt-right weirdos found a meme I did about white-washing. Unfortunately there's not much I can do about this, especially over a stupid as fuck edit of a 5 minute meme.

[yesokayiknow]

barbara and ian's exit is an unashamedly joyful one. they laugh about the missing years! they have a pigeon chasing montage! they whisper goodbye at the sky and then run off giggling! and then as vicki laughs at their joy, too happy to let the loss of her few friends sink in, one just turns his head and very gently says that he will miss them. he will miss them.

[k0ri0]

Just a SHIT TON of leo and future leo because they are so dear to me oh my god i love them so much

be lucky i spared the angst i could fucked shit UPPP with them-