#man this would be a fun mystery to force bats to chew on

[arcade-confetti]

When Superboy Prime accidentally resurrected Jason Todd, it was described something like the universe righting itself. And, from a purely physical point of view, Jason never died. It brought his body back to it's state before his death, his injuries there but with just enough he could still survive

So, now I'm imagining like. What if there was an au where it was more than Jason just physically "never dying," but it affected memories of those around as well

Joker not remembering killing him, Dick not remembering hearing the news, Batman and Gotham not remembering the 6 months between Jason's death and resurrection, but not thinking much if it

Its all as if Jason never died

[trans-fem-lesbian-crab]

Posting this on my tumblr cause it's beeeen annoying me

Okay quick spolier rant time because I keep seeing people talk about it and like, the knight is Carol. It's not dess man. We have so so so much probable evidence it is Carol. If you say "Well the knight doesn't really hurt Kris so it's not her because ect,ect" like. Of course, Carol wouldn't want to kill Kris. Shes the one fucking blackmailing him to do some of her shit. Plus in chapter 4, she is the one who obviously comes right away after Kris calls, Toby even gives a fucking wink wink hint towards the audience, along with the Katanna within the house that Carol owns and has quoted "Slashed things she disagrees with". Plus she would have probable motivation and easy access to the bunker due to being the mayor. Plus Toby has been building her up these past few chapters as a big scary bad guy along with having mystery to her like "After she became mayor, it's like the police force wasn't even needed anymore." which is something to chew on. Just because the obvious answer isn't fun, doesn't mean that's not going to be the case. I get people want their fan theories to come true and the fandom perception of Dess has morphed into something bigger than what it's meant to be and like just god. ALSO THE KNIGHTS SWORD LOOKS MORE LIKE CAROLS FUCKING KATTANA THAN A BAT, PLUS IT SLICES LIKE ONE.

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hey! Will go on a 10-day trip soon and I was thinking i would like to save some fics just in case i don t have data over there. Share some longer stories? (also really loving your blog, million heart emojis from me)

Hi Nonny!

Oh gosh, that’s exciting!! I love long trips! And lucky for you I LOVE long fics, because they’re perfect for a long trip! <3 Hmm, you know what length of fics I find perfect for trips? Those fics with that sweet spot of 25 to 50K words, those fics that are JUSSSST long enough to have a satisfying plot and resolution, not too short that you’re begging for more, and not so beefy that you need a few smaller fics to read between the Big Fic so you can prepare for the next epic adventure, hah hah (that and I have SO MANY FICS for 20 to 25 and 25 to 50 that I had to choose one or the other for you, LOL). 

Lucky for you I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to share that very list!! BUT if you prefer some longer fics, check out these past lists I made:

Top 20 Fave 40K+ w. Fics (April 2017)

Novel Length Fics: 50 to 100K (Nov. 2018) 

Novel Length Fics: 100K+ w. (May 2019)

Smut-Free Fics Over 50K (Aug. 2019)

Otherwise, I think these fics will be perfect for your trip! And as always, I sort them by length so if you want longer fics, check out the bottom of the list and work your way up, or just want something that will last you a plane ride or a day of relaxation, check out the top to bottom! <3 Hope you enjoy!

—–

NOVELLA-LENGTH FICS: 25 to 50K w. (Aug 2019)

Among the Secret Things by Kate_Lear for coloredink (E, 26,073 w., 14 Ch. || Angst, Drama, Amnesia) – Sherlock would be the last person to describe himself as given to flights of fancy, but at the look on Lestrade’s face he could swear that something inside him curls up and dies. Part 1 of Among the Secret Things

Dropping the Act by jadztone (T, 27,258 w., 10 Ch. || Parentlock, Fake Relationship, Mary’s Family, Post-S4, Cuddling & Snuggling, Bed Sharing, Pining, Christmas) – Sherlock and John are quite happy living together with Rosie in Baker St. They might be even happier if they didn’t act towards each other like their love is only platonic. Mycroft brings troubling news in the form of Mary’s parents wanting to know just what their grandchild’s home life is like. The boys decide to spend Christmas pretending like they are in love in order to seem more like a "normal" family. It's easy enough to pretend when all you're doing is dropping the act.

And A Doctor by StillWaters1 (T, 27,393 w., 6 Ch. || Friendship, Doctor John, Whump, Soldier / Doctor Dichotomy, Five and One) – It was only when people actually saw John working as a physician that they began to understand: that it wasn't just about bullets and IEDs and trauma care under fire. That "doctor" actually covered a pretty wide field. And that John was bloody good at covering ground. 5 times Dr. Watson treated others and 1 time he treated himself.

Don't Leave Anything Out by lookupkate (E, 27,422 w., 24 Ch. || Letters / Epistolary, Misunderstandings, Angst, Happy Ending, Alternate Meeting, Sherlock in Love, Pining Sherlock) – The first letter John writes home from Afghanistan is meant to go to a woman he went on only one date with. How it ends up in Sherlock's hands is completely innocent. What happens next is not. What do you do when you find out the person you're in love with has been lying about something as monumental as who they are? What do you do when you're the one who lied?How on earth do you put the pieces back together?

Vena Cava by SilentAuror (E, 27,452, 1 Ch. || H/C, Infidelity, Angst, HLV Fix-It, Romance) – Sherlock has been shot in the chest; John has been shot in the heart. Though everything is broken, they do their best to heal the wounds that Mary left on them both.

Trust Me, Trust Nobody by BlueMoonOnTheRise (T, 27,751 w., 10 Ch. || Kidnapping, Friendship / No Slash, Adventure, Trust Issues) – Whatever he told Mycroft, John trusted Sherlock almost instantly. When a new case shows up - smattered with the usual thrill of danger, death and cool logic - such trust ends up pushed to its very limits...

26 Pieces by Lanning (E, 28,236 w., 1 Ch. || H/C, Torture, First Time, Happy Ending, Schmoop) – Mycroft gives Sherlock the apparently simple task of solving a puzzle box containing a stolen microchip. It isn't simple.

Silhouettes by allonsys_girl (E, 28,585 w., 7 Ch. || Canon Compliant, POV John, Heavy Drinking, Sad/Depressed John, Grief/Mourning, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Reunion, Foot Jobs, Blow Jobs, Infidelity, Cheating, Drug Use/Abuse, Anal, Switchlock, Rimming, Parentlock) – Sherlock and John find comfort in each other's arms, but as ever with these two, it's not your typical relationship. It's fluffy at the beginning, gets deeply angsty in the middle, gets porny at the end.

Hellfire by testosterone_tea (E, 28,596 w., 9 Ch. || Fantasy / Magic / Mages / Elementals AU || Mage Sherlock, Elemental John, Developing Relationship, Torture, Powerful / BAMF John, POV Alternating, Dark / Blood Magic, UST, First Kiss) – Sherlock is a Mage that gets involved with a case involving Dark Summoning rituals, leading him to John Watson, a man with Berserker blood. The only thing is, Berserkers have been extinct for centuries. And of course, nothing involving Mycroft and his interfering ways is ever simple. This time, even Sherlock may have bitten off more than he can chew.

An Experiment in Apathy Series by belovedmuerto (G to E, 28,701 w. across 13 stories || Empath John, Empath-by-Proxy Sherlock, Epic Bromance Becomes Romance, Angst, Nightmares, Experiments, Trauma, Dreams) – "No man is an island, John. You less so than most." A sequel to the EiE Series, wherein John and Sherlock explore their relationship.

To be Loved by You by TwisterMelody (M, 28,775 w., 1 Ch. || Angst, H/C, Friends to Lovers, Post-HLV, Infidelity, Character Death) – Too many times they had confessed themselves in the darkness, leaving it there, never to speak of it again.  But this is different.  This love deserves the light of day.

To Mend Icarus by AlessNox (T, 29,186 w., 14 Ch. || Post-TRF, Friendship, Drama, BAMF!John, Emotional Turmoil, Introspection, Harry is in this Fic, Angry John, Happy Ending, Queerplatonic Relationship) – After a case lands John Watson in court, he tells Sherlock that he is leaving. Not understanding why, Sherlock decides that the only way to learn the truth is to investigate his flatmate, Dr. John Watson. A revision of the story Mending Icarus.

The Wisteria Tree by SilentAuror (E, 29,773 w., 1 Ch. || Post-S3, Emotional Love Making, Amnesia/Memory Loss, Sherlock Loves John So Much, Sherlock POV, Romance, Angst with Happy Ending, First Times, Hurt/Comfort, Est. Rel., Retirement) – Sherlock wakes up from a month-long coma only to discover that he has no memory of the previous six years to his own shock as well as John's...

M Is For Moriarty by ElvendorkInfinity (T, 29,882 w., 12 Ch. || Suspense, Mystery, Case Fic, Worried Sherlock, No Slash, Whump) – A figure at the end of the hospital bed; a needle in the dark...Moriarty has John, and Sherlock must follow the paper trail through London to find him before time runs out. Sequel to BANG.

"finally kiss the bloody idiot" by Salambo06 (E, 29,812 w., 13 Ch. || Mutual Pining, Declarations of Love, First Kiss / Time, Angst, Misunderstandings, Fantasies POV John) – Inspired by a fic idea on tumblr : "John and Sherlock know the Yard has a pool going for when they’re finally going to get together. It’s been running forever, and it’s worth thousands of pounds. It’s all fun and games, hahaha, until they find out Lestrade is in dire financial straits (dog needs emergency surgery, he’s putting his kid through gymnastics training, I don’t know, something), and they decide to fake a relationship to win the pool for him. Sherlock figures out the day and way that Lestrade thinks it’s going to happen, and they act it out. It’s all for a good cause, fake relationship style, until it’s not." Part 1 of The Pool

Another Auld Lang Syne by DiscordantWords (M, 30,234 w., 31 Ch. || Post S4, Mutual Pining, Alternating POV, Introspection, Parentlock, Christmas, New Year’s, First Kiss, Past Drug Use, Angst with Happy Ending, Drinking, Sherlock Whump) – There had been years of missed chances.

Hitting the Water at Sixty Miles an Hour by what_alchemy (E, 30,568 w., 5 Ch. || Fake Rel., Roadtrips, Slow Burn) – “You love your mother, Sherlock?” John watched the muscles in Sherlock’s jaw jump. He nodded in one sharp jerk.“Then we’re going to her party and making her happy.” John let out a resigned sigh. “As a ruddy couple, you bastard.”

The Kissing Disease by cottonballz_of_death (E, 30,856 w., 15 Ch. || Sick Fic, Angst with Happy Ending, Case Fic, Self-Harm, Slow Burn, Jealous Sherlock, Body Image Issues, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional H/C, POV Sherlock, Oral / Anal, Thong, Frottage) – John brings home a boyfriend, shocking Sherlock, who long ago gave up hope that his straight flatmate would ever take a romantic interest in him. In a bid to reconnect with John, he tries to infect himself with a "harmless" virus. Neither of them is prepared for the emotional fallout that results.

An Acquired Taste by kinklock (E, 31,059 w., 4 Ch. || Vampires AU || Vampire Sherlock, Misunderstandings, Bat!Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Humour, Magical Realism, Fluff and Angst, Blood Drinking, Holmes Family, Slow Burn) – At Montague Street when Sherlock was forced to sate his body’s needs, he was at least able to wander about the flat as much as he pleased. At Baker Street, it was mini-bags in a mini-fridge and bedroom confinement.

Shallow Grave by SilentAuror (E, 31,672 w., 1 Ch. || Romance, Angst, HLV Fix It, Infidelity, Pining Sherlock, First Person POV Sherlock) – Starts as Sherlock's plane is taking off at the end of His Last Vow. When he finds out that Moriarty is alive and that he's being recalled from his mission, Sherlock decides that he should have told John how he felt before he left. So he walks off the plane and kisses him.

Love or What You Will by miss_frankenstein (T, 31,987 w., 11 Ch. || College/Uni AU || Professor John, Ph.D Student Sherlock, Pining John, Poetry, Falling in Love / Slow Burn, Light Angst, Happy Ending) – John is an English professor who specializes in War and Post-War Literature and Sherlock is the brilliant yet impossible Ph.D. student assigned to be his TA because no one in the Chemistry Department is willing to put up with him. And - somewhere between Waugh and Plath, e-mails and takeaway, novels and villanelles - they fall in love.

Here Comes The Sun by JennLynn77 (E, 32,126 w., 15 Ch. || Post S4/TFP, John Whump, Caring Sherlock, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Friends to Lovers, Emotional Sex, First Time, Virgin Sherlock, Switchlock, Cuddling/Snuggling, Surgery/Injury Recovery, Endearments, Anal, Hand Jobs, Porn with Feels) – John suffers an injury and needs surgery. Sherlock, and those around him, help John recover. Along the way, John and Sherlock realise what they mean to each other, and what they've had together all this time.

The Midas Touch by flawedamythyst (E, 32,231 w., 1 Ch. || Magical Realism, John has a Magical Cock, Dub Con, Healer John) – John Watson has a medical condition that means everyone he sleeps with is instantly healed of all illness and injury. This causes complications when Sherlock breaks his arm, and even more complications when Sherlock falls in love with him. Yes, this is a story where John has a literal magic healing cock. It's a lot less cracky than you're probably imagining. Warning: Contains complex issues of sexual consent, although not between Sherlock and John.

Five Times They Kissed for a Case, and One Time They Kissed for Real by fleetwood_mouse (M, 32,406 w., 6 Ch. || 5+1, Slow Burn, Fluff / Angst, Mutual Pining, Friends to Lovers) – A stolen ring! An artful blogger! And many more adventures for your enjoyment.

A Study In Auto-Signatures, Sniper Dolphins, and Sex Holidays by cwb (E, 32,690 w., 8 Ch. || Case Fic, Post S3, Evil Mary, Dev. Rel., Honeymoon, Epistolary, Bottomlock, First Kiss / Time, Fluff, Secret Agents, BAMF!John) – John and Mary go on their sex holiday, and Sherlock is grumpy and pining about it. Part 1 of HOT DOLPHIN SEX

a good old-fashioned happy ending by darcylindbergh (E, 32,731 w., 26 Ch. || Christmas, Frottage, Comfort, Est. Rel., Fluff, Insecure Sherlock) – For Christmas this year, Sherlock wants to get John something special: something every fairytale deserves. Part 2 of things fairy tales are made of

Our Enthusiasms Which Cannot Always Be Explained by withoutawish (M, 32,961 w., 1 Ch. || Christmas, Fluff and Angst, H/C, Post-TRF, Case Fic, Mild Gore, Sherlock Whump) – The list that is tacked haphazardly on the refrigerator of 221B reads, ‘Kidney(s), and/or a full cadaver (preferably male, late 30s, under six feet tall), bag of fresh toes, sixteen cow’s eyes (corneas retained), dual exhaust hand –held flame thrower, an unopened first edition copy of Joseph Conrad’s 'Heart of Darkness', and no less than ten abhorrently gruesome murders in the upcoming month.” The one neatly hanging next to it simply reads, “Sex.” One of these lists is not John Watson’s. If John Watson were to put what he really wanted in list form, to live in a land somewhere beyond ‘almosts' now that Sherlock Holmes has indeed returned to him, he would never be able to look his flatmate in the eye ever again.

Chaperones by MissDavis (T, 34,114 w., 7 Ch. || 11 Years Post-S4, Fake Relationship, Parentlock, Disney World, Bed / Room Sharing, Friends to Lovers, Fluff, First Kiss, Obsessive Sherlock, Insecure John) – Right. Of course. Everyone assumed they were a couple and no one would question it. John put his elbows up on the table so he could rest his head in his hands. "You want to pretend to be a couple so we can chaperone a trip to Disney World with Rosie's class and you won't have to share a room with a stranger?" "Exactly." Sherlock beamed at him. "Don't worry about the cost. The Birmingham case last month paid more than enough to cover expenses for all three of us."

Pater Noster by SilentAuror (E, 34,256 w., 2 Ch. || Case Fic, HLV+, Family Trauma, Sherlock POV, Villain Mary) – During the autumn that John is staying at Baker Street again after Sherlock was shot, he ruminates over the similarity between Sherlock's shot and the one that killed his father when he was fifteen. Cold case meets series 3 fix-it. Part I takes place entirely within His Last Vow, Part II takes place starting at the end of HLV and continues after.

Bedtime Stories by Liketheriver (M, 34,388 w., 1 Ch. || Emotional H/C, Romance, Angst & Humour, Bed Sharing, John First Person, TRF, John Whump) – John's POV during Season 2 and beyond when Sherlock takes up semi-permanent residence in his bed. A collection of codas and missing scenes wrapped up into one long fic and topped with a bow that takes the story beyond Reichenbach and into happy territory once more. Part 1 of Bedtime Universe

carrying up his morning tea by darcylindbergh (E, 34,504 w., 5 Ch. || Post S3, Minor Character Death, Grief/Mourning, Wakes/Funerals, Estranged John, Pining Sherlock, Depression/Insecurity, Slow Burn, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Chronic Pain/Injury, Reconciliation, Awkwardness, Loneliness, Scars, Heavy Angst With Happy Ending) – His fingers tremble as he dials and he can’t force them steady. Familiar number, even though he hasn’t used it in two years. He isn’t even sure he should be calling it now, but she’d asked. She’d made him promise.

Inexplicable by emmagrant01 (E, 34,664 w., 6 Ch. || Body Swap, TSo3, Magical Realism / Artifacts, Infidelity, Angst) – So what was in that matchbox, anyway? John and Sherlock find out, the hard way.

Where Else Would I Be? by cwb (E, 34,910 w., 10 Ch. || Retirementlock, Domestic Fluff, Falling in Love, Parentlock, Fluff and Smut, Reminiscing) – John and Sherlock's five-year-old granddaughter spends the weekend with them in Sussex. Sherlock happily indulges her whims, and John takes care of them while quietly revisiting the past thirty years of their lives together.

The Yellow Poppies by SilentAuror (E, 34,952 w., 1 Ch. || H/C, Nightmares, HLV Fix-It, PTSD, Trauma, POV Sherlock, Doctor John) – Sherlock is threatened and assaulted in the hospital immediately after having been shot in the heart, first by Mary, then by Magnussen. As he recovers at Baker Street with John and plans the attack on Appledore with Mycroft, he fights to work through the trauma caused by these two visits. Set during His Last Vow.

LHR-HNL by scullyseviltwin (E, 35,066 w., 7 Ch. || Hawaiian Vacation, Post-TRF, Friends To Lovers, Slow Burn, Just Talk Already, Drinking, Mutual Pining) – In need of an endangered flora sample, Sherlock and John must make a trip to an unexpected destination.

That Partitioning of the Things of Youth by wearitcounts (E, 35,353 w., 7 Ch. || Humour and Angst, Post-TRF, Fake Relationship, UST / RST, Friends to Lovers, Jealous John) – Victor Trevor is in town, and nobody's happy.

The Wrong Wagon by DancingGrimm (E, 35,663 w., 20 Ch. || Alternating POV, Molly x John [Molly pines for John], Public Sex, Casual Sex, Obliviousness, BAMF!John, Awkwardness, Angst & Humour, First Time, Virgin Sherlock, Jealous Sherlock) – Molly sees John in a new light and realises that she may have hitched her horse to the wrong wagon...or something like that. John pines for Sherlock and worries what he will think if he ever finds out. And Sherlock doesn't know what Molly's up to...but he knows he doesn't like it.

Classified(s) by blueink3 (E, 36,153 w., 4 Ch. || Wedding Date AU || Fake Relationship, Jealous, PIning, H/C, Idiots in Love, Happy Ending, Mary is not Nice) – Clara's American father is the ambassador to some such territory that Great Britain probably used to own, but she (and Harry’s undying love for her) is the reason John is getting on a flight at 12:30pm, flying across the second largest ocean in the world, and pretending to be in a perfectly happy, healthy relationship with an undoubtedly perfectly coiffed stranger. See, Clara is not only American (and wealthy to boot), she's also best friends with John’s ex-fiancée. Whom she's placed in the wedding party. As Maid of Honor. And John just happens to be Best Man. Bloody brilliant.

The Boy Who Drank Stars by kinklock (E, 36,157 w., 4 Ch. || Howl’s Moving Castle AU || Witches and Wizards, Slow Burn, Magic, Jealous John, Happy Ending, Bed Sharing) – “I’m looking for a castle,” John informed the scarecrow. “A moving one.”Except that, as it turned out, it was not a moving one at all.

we have never seen a greater day than this by Lediona (T, 36,420 w., 7 Ch. || A Royal Night Out AU || WWII / VE Day, Prince Sherlock, Soldier John, Alternating POV, First Kiss, Bittersweet Ending, Homophobia, Dancing) – Peace. At long last. It’s VE Day and Prince William desires to join the celebrations. It is a night of excitement, danger and the first flutters of romance.

Malediction by MapleleafCameo (M, 36,680 w., 11 Ch. || Ladyhawke AU || Magical Realism, Romance, Curses, Eventual Happy Ending) – Cursed to a half-life, John and Sherlock must fight the forces of evil to be reunited once again.

Nothing to Make a Song About by emmagrant01 (E, 36,833 w., 10 Ch. || Post-TRF, First Time, Reunion, Jealous John, Pining Sherlock, Romance, Angst with Happy Ending) – When Sherlock returned from his faked death, John could not forgive him for the deception and broke off their friendship. Ten years later, John returns to London in search of yet another new beginning. Sherlock, not surprisingly, is waiting.

A Promise Made to Be Broken by PlantsAreNeat (E, 37,018 w., 7 Ch. || Fake Relationship, Pining, Slow Burn, RST, Eventual Relationship, POV Sherlock) – A young John makes an ‘if we’re still single at 40, we’ll get together’ pledge to a woman who ends up all wrong for him. She keeps reminding him of the promise, and won't let go of it. John asks Sherlock to pose as his boyfriend at a family wedding, so as to dash her hopes permanently. Sherlock, who has at last acknowledged his feelings for John, reluctantly agrees despite knowing how painful it will be to ‘have’ John, but not keep him.

The Unfinished Letters by SilentAuror (E, 37,391 w. , 1 Ch.|| Post S3 / S3 / HLV Fix it, Angst with Happy Ending, Romance, Infidelity, Depression, Case Fic, POV Third Person Sherlock, Love Confessions, Pining Sherlock, Letters) – A fire at Baker Street leads John to read something he was never intended to see: a notebook of half-written, unfinished letters Sherlock wrote during his time away...

Turn Left at the Park by Glenmore (NR (E), 37,409 w., 28 Ch. || Alternate First Meeting / ASiP Divergence, Case Fic, Depression, Suicidal Ideation, Loneliness, No Mary, Possessive Sherlock, Fluff & Angst, Nightmares/PTSD, Sherlock Saves John, Sherlock Whump-ish, Doctor John) – So what would have happened if John hadn't walked through the park and met Stamford?What if, instead, he walked around the park and just went home?

Goodness Gives Extras by mydwynter (E, 39,629 w., 6 Ch. || Fluff & Angst, Case Fic, Oral / Anal, Humour, First Time, Miscommunication, Snark, Christmas) – Christmas time. 'Tis the season to settle down with a drink, some food and a present or two, and to enjoy the quiet relaxation of the holiday. Instead, there's a case that drags them all over, missing presents, disappointed kids, angry parents, and a freak snowfall. On top of that John has to deal with Sherlock, who is being even more of a prat than usual. He really shouldn't have expected anything different.

Act IV by SilentAuror (E, 39,707 w., 1 Ch. || First Person POV Sherlock, HLV Fix-It, Indifelity, Angst, Drama) – After Sherlock is shot, John moves back into Baker Street. They spend the autumn together as John tries to make sense of his life and make some important decisions about both Mary and Sherlock. Canon-compliant, excerpts from His Last Vow.

A Week is Just Seven Days Isn't It? by scifigrl47 (T, 39,906 w., 4 Ch. || Humour, Friendship/Bromance, Stroppy/Bored Sherlock, Undercover/Army John, Texting, Pining-ish Sherlock, John Whump) – When John heads overseas for a week, Sherlock's forced to fend for himself. It goes about as well as anyone could have anticipated. Which is to say, very, very poorly. Don't worry, things'll be fine in just seven days.

(Never) Turn Your Back to the Sea by DiscordantWords (M, 39,968 w., 7 Ch. || Post S4 Fix It || Grief / Mourning, Victor Trevor, Friendship, Sherlock is Not Okay, Nightmares/Flashbacks/Panic Attacks, Parentlock, Pining Sherlock, Angst with Happy Ending, John Comes Home) – Baker Street is very much the same. Only different. And Sherlock is just trying not to drown.

Only To Be With You by SinceWhenDoYouCallMe_John (M, 40,768 w., 4 Ch. || Black Mirror / Future AU || Character Death, Future Technology, Sickness/Cancer/Illness, Heavy Angst with Happy Ending, First Person POV John, Pining John, Heart-Wrenching Angst) – I tell myself that next time I’ll come near this same place again. Wait around for the mysterious stranger in his coat to dash past me, hot on the heels of a new criminal in black. I think this all the way back to my Exit, planning where I’ll wait and what I’ll say when I see him. Scheming on how to get his name. It’s only once I reach the Exit Point door that I realize two hours and forty-five minutes have passed, and I realize that this won’t be the last time I Visit. It won’t be the last time at all.

The Curious Adventure of the Drs. Watson by ShinySherlock (M, 40,883 w., 14 Ch. || BBC & ACD Fusion || Victorianlock, Time Travel / Magical Realism, Friends to Lovers, Love and Kissing, Romance, Body Swap) – What if ACD Watson and BBC Watson switched places...  “Imposter!” Hands clenching the lapels of John’s coat, Holmes shoved him anew. “Yes!” John agreed, nodding, and then grimacing. “Sort of!”

There's Someone On Your Shoulder by halloa_what_is_this (NR, 41,215 w., 6 Ch. || Pining Sherlock, Introspection, Daydreams, Sherlock Loves John So Much it Hurts) – Sherlock trips and falls head over heels in love, makes a lot of lists and stares, stares, stares.

The Semantics of Crop Circle Formation: a case study by Sherlock Holmes [unpublished] bycanolacrush (M, 41,710 w., 9 Ch. || Sherlock POV, Aliens, Wordplay, Casefic) – “Look at these photographs,” I said, gesturing to the wall of crop circles. “What do you observe?”“Crop circles,” John replied.“Obvious. What else?”“Are…are those intestines surrounding them?” “Yes. The majority are bovine and ovine in origin. The farmers who have acquired these crop circles in their fields have also had a tenth of their livestock murdered and arranged thus.” “Why?” John said, presumably in a rhetorical fashion. I detest rhetorical questions. “That is what I must find out, John.”

Resistivity and Relative Charge by liriodendron (E, 41,770 w., 8 Ch. || Synesthesia, Angst, Case Fic, Romance, Est. Rel., Homophobia, Religious Content, Victor Trevor, Mild Jealous John, Mild John Whump) – In which Sherlock Holmes meets an old acquaintance, John Watson doesn't enjoy a trip to the country quite as much as he thought he would, and the past absolutely refuses to stay where it belongs. Part 3 of Conductivity

Right Hand Man by SilentAuror (E, 42,031 w., 4 Ch. ||  H/C, Injury, Slow Burn, Infidelity, Mary is Not Nice) – When John's left arm becomes paralysed after a car accident, Mary asks Sherlock to take him back to Baker Street to recuperate, as she's about to give birth. Despite the fact that the search for Moriarty is ongoing, Sherlock takes John in and takes responsibility for overseeing his rehabilitation as he adjusts to the loss of his arm.

In the Still of the Night by SilentAuror (E, 42,234 w., 1 Ch. || S4 Fix It / Post-S4, Sherlock POV, Angst, Drama, Romance, Virgin Sherlock, Awkwardness, Misunderstandings / Miscommunications, Case Fic, Travelling, Pining) – As locals on the Northeastern coast begin to report UFO sightings, life at Baker Street becomes significantly awkward as John brings up his desire for more than friendship and Sherlock refuses him. They embark on the investigation from the confines of the tiny cottage Mycroft has rented for them, attempting to navigate both the clues of the case as well as their own inability to communicate...

Guidelines by WithLoweredVoices (M, 43,018 w., 15 Ch. || Winglock || Angels, Fantasy, Angst, BAMF! John, War, Jealous Sherlock, Possessive Sherlock, Jealous John, Falling in Various Ways, Needy Sherlock) – The Good Soldier, one of the oldest and strongest of the fallen, is offered a bargain: to live as John Watson and to Guide a fledgling archangel so that he will stay on the path of good. Of course, Sherlock Holmes has different ideas about his destiny. Fantasy AU. Warnings for violence, occasional gore, and a whole load of hurt and angst.

Bloody But Unbowed by BeautifulFiction (E, 43,211 w., 8 Ch. || Abduction, John Whump, Mild Torture, Background Case Fic, Friends to Lovers, Post-TRF / S3 Rewrite, Hurt/Comfort) – When a familiar argument threatens to destroy the last remnants of John and Sherlock's failing friendship, both men are left questioning their worth to one another. Before either of them has the chance to make amends, circumstance intervenes. John is left at the mercy of his abductors, and this time, he's not sure Sherlock will bother coming to his rescue.

The Soul Remembers by i_ship_an_armada (E, 43,636 w., 10 Ch. || Oblivion AU || Post-Apocalypse, Movie Fusion, Science Fiction, Action/Adventure, Angst, Dreams, Bittersweet Ending) – John Watson is the lone security repairman stationed on a desolate, nearly-ruined future Earth. His dreams are plagued by a tall, dark-haired man, and when his dreams meet reality, he will be forced to question everything he believes is the truth about his life.

The Case of the Vanishing Pants by SwissMiss (E, 44,025 w., 6 Ch. || Post-TRF, Case Fic, UST, Homophobia, Friends to Lovers) – Five times John and Sherlock lost their pants in the course of a case.

Sentenced by SarahKnight (T, 44,777 w., 30 Ch. || Dev. Rel., Alternate S4 Canon, Drama, Angst, Pining, Feelings are Hard) – Virtual series 4 opener. Sherlock's in prison being targeted by a murderer, John's married to a pregnant assassin and Moriarty's back.

Left by lifeonmars (M, 45,153 w., 9 Ch. || Magical Realism) – John Watson is left-handed. He’s tried not to let it affect his life, but as any Lefty knows, that’s almost impossible.

The Real Great Perfumers by shelleysprometheus (E, 45,355 w., 68 Ch. || Case Fic, Alternating POV, Gay Sherlock / Bi John, Canon Compliant with Divergence at TRF, Friends to Lovers, Oral / Anal, Pining, First Kiss / Time, Dev. Rel., Drugging, Body Worship, Bathing, Love Confessions, Travelling, Bottomlock, Cranky Sherlock, BJ’s, Alternating POV, Jealous John) – The case, this case. This extraordinary, fascinating, scintillating case. A house. Designed entirely by its eccentric owner, built by no less than five hundred expert tradesmen in the heart of Marrakesh. A house that had, seemingly not only driven its owner out, but also to his quite unpleasant death. And a perfumer, a chemist no less, the very thought of the secrets that house could reveal, would reveal was irresistible. Sherlock had to have this case ... and it seems, he also had to have John! Part 1 of the Forethought and Fire series

Corpus Hominis by mycapeisplaid (E, 47,709 w., 12 Ch. || Casefic, Fluff, Romance, Frottage) - John knows the human body intimately. He’s had plenty of opportunity for study as a doctor, soldier, and lover. There’s one particular body, however, he knows very little about. When Sherlock launches himself head-first into a new obsession and they get sent on a case in an unlikely location, the pair discovers each other’s bodies with confusing yet delightful (and sometimes hilarious) results.

The Norwood Love Builders by flawedamythyst (T, 47,798 w., 9 Ch. || Fake Relationship, Slow Burn, Post TRF Angst) – Sherlock and John go undercover to solve the murder of Joanna Oldacre, but things are complicated by the many feelings John has been repressing in the wake of Sherlock's faked death and return.

The Pieces That Fall to Earth by Itsallfine (M, 49,513 w., 84 Ch. || S4 Fix-It, Epistolary, Love Confessions, Slow Burn, Parentlock, Past Abuse, Coming Out, Questioning Sexuality, Mental Health Issues / Therapy, Angst, Happy Ending) – John and Sherlock have hit rock bottom, but with all their armor stripped away, they can finally speak honestly, seek healing, and find the truths that matter most.An epistolary post-s4 fix-it fic. Now complete.(This fic is rated T except for one very clearly marked and easily skippable chapter, which is rated M.) Part 1 of The Pieces that Fall to Earth

Holmes is where the heart is by Rose de Sharon (T, 49,636 w., 13 Ch. || Hurt/Comfort, Friendship, Post-TRF, Reunion Fic, Bromance, Empty House Inspired, Adventure) – Three years after the Reichenbach Fall. On the anniversary of Sherlock's death, John pays a visit at 221 B Baker Street… and he gets the shock of his life.

Bedroom Tales by Junejuly15 (M, 49,950 w., 22 Ch. || Friends to Lovers, Through the Years, H/C, Military Kink, First Kiss / Time, Romance, Insecure Sherlock, Voyeurism, Post-TRF, Ficlets, Fluff and Angst, Fix-It Fics) – Bedroom Tales is a collection of John and Sherlock ficlets. They are set at various stages of their relationship and are in no particular order. Some are fluffy, some sexy, some angsty, there is hurt and comfort, romance and love. What unites them is that they all play in a bedroom, but not necessarily the one in 221B.

A Love with No Name Series by aceofhearts61 (M, 49,955 w. across 20 fics || Ace!Sherlock / Straight!John, Queerplatonic Relationship, Cuddling/Snuggling, Soulmates, Caretaking, Platonic Romance) – In which Asexual!Sherlock and Straight!John are platonically in love life partners.

[aion-rsa]

How Double Dragon’s Abobo Became a Beat em up Legend

https://ift.tt/2F8DPGk

In the late ’80s, video games started featuring over-the-top, meaty musclemen. Metro City had Mike Haggar, a shirtless former wrestler who became mayor and decided that being “tough on crime” meant ridding the streets of criminals with his bare hands, his girlfriend’s psycho boyfriend, and a ninja in Nikes. Circus strongman Karnov scoured the world for adventure and treasure, fighting all kinds of mythical monsters. Bald Bull was trying to dominate both the boxing ring and the arm-wrestling circuit. Gutsman was a jacked construction robot who was later rebuilt as a 40-foot-tall tank centaur.

And then there was Abobo, the gigantic antagonist from Double Dragon. He wasn’t THE antagonist. Hell, in the first game, you fight him within the first two minutes. Despite his low-level status, he’s still far more fondly remembered than the main Double Dragon bad guys like Willy and the Shadow Master. There’s just always been something about this random brute that’s made him special.

Abobo’s journey begins in the original Double Dragon, Technos’ 1987 arcade hit. The game’s story is very simple. A dystopian, lawless, post-nuclear war version of New York City has been overrun by a gang called the Black Warriors or Shadow Warriors or Black Shadow Warriors. (They kind of workshop that name from game to game.) Billy and Jimmy Lee are two martial arts brothers whose mutual friend Marian is captured by gang members. Off they go to lay out everyone in that gang with their bare fists and occasional barrel/whip/knife/baseball bat.

While the cannon fodder is mostly made up of normal-sized guys, out walks Abobo, who makes his entrance by punching his way through a brick wall. From the moment he appears on screen, it’s clear Abobo is meant to stand apart from the rest. He has longer reach, takes more hits, can’t be thrown, and is able to throw Billy and Jimmy like ragdolls. The only guy more dangerous than Abobo is Willy, the final boss, who brings a machine gun to a fist fight.

Weirdly, Abobo has various forms in the game. His initial form is as a bald, pale guy with a mustache. Soon after, we fight Jick, an Abobo clone who closely resembles Mr. T. Later, we face off against an Incredible Hulk version of Abobo. This is post-nuclear war, so I suppose this tracks.

But it was NES port that really delivered the ultimate form of Abobo, whose appearance was seriously altered for the 8-bit console. With orange-brown skin, Abobo is still bigger than everyone else, but also looks inhuman. He has a giant, bald head almost the size of his bulky torso, and a black arch on his face that is apparently a mustache merged with a frown! While the NES version had its own quasi-fighting game mode with everyone redrawn with a bigger and better sprite, Abobo looked exactly the same. You just can’t mess with perfection!

Abobo sort-of-but-not-really appeared in the sequel, 1988’s Double Dragon II: The Revenge. In a game filled with giant enemies, there was a guy named Bolo who looked exactly like Abobo, but with long, black hair. Actually, in retrospect, he looks a lot like Danny Trejo.

Huh.

Abobo sat out of the next few Double Dragon games, as the Lee brothers busied themselves fighting mummies and chubby clowns. But he returned in a very unexpected crossover: 1993’s Battletoads/Double Dragon: The Ultimate Team. The game featured a bizarre team-up between the Dark Queen from Battletoads and the Shadow Warriors. As Double Dragon didn’t have too many memorable boss characters that could stack up to the likes of a giant rat in a singlet, they went with what they could get.

As with the other bosses in the crossover gamer, Abobo was depicted as an absolute giant compared to the Lee Brothers and the Toads. He was also very generic-looking, appearing as a shirtless, bald guy with no ‘stache. Due to the sci-fi nature of the crossover, his storyline ended with him getting booted off a spaceship and sent spiraling through space itself.

1993 also gave us the Double Dragon animated series. Somehow, this thing ran for two seasons (26 episodes) and Abobo was there from the beginning. The first episode was a weird Saturday morning-style retelling of the NES game’s plot, down to Billy Lee having to fight his “evil” brother at the end. Abobo acted as a henchman, alongside a very colorful take on Willy.

In the cartoon, Abobo was a bald muscleman with blue skin, meaning he has the same mysterious complexion situation as Captain N’s King Hippo. Abobo was also strangely competent on the show, all things considered, although the only fighting he ever did was throw oil drums at Billy and miss every single time. He spent more of his time annoyed at Willy, who was depicted as a psychotic cowboy with a laser gun — one-half Yosemite Sam and one-half the Interrupter from Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

The second episode introduced the Shadow Master, who immediately showed disgust at his underlings’ failure by magically bonding Willy to a giant mural of punished souls. Abobo tried to run for it, but succumbed to the same fate. The two would remain in that mural for the rest of the series.

While there was a fighting game released based off of the Double Dragon cartoon, Abobo wasn’t part of the roster. It was just as well. Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls was a really bad game and Abobo had bigger things on the horizon.

Abobo was about to go Hollywood!

In 1994, Imperial Entertainment Group released the Double Dragon movie, a total cheesefest that couldn’t make back its $8 million budget. But Robert Patrick’s scenery-chewing main villain made the movie almost watchable. The story takes place in a version of Los Angeles that’s a cross between The Warriors and No Man’s Land from the Batman comics. Billy and Jimmy are teens who get roped into a plot that involves two dragon-shaped necklaces that form an all-power medallion when put together.

Initially, Nils Allen Stewart plays the gang leader Bo Abobo. As head of the Mohawk Gang, he’s there to act all intimidating in a goofy ’90s bully sort of way, but he really doesn’t actually do much. He takes part in a car chase and teases a fight scene, but nothing happens.

Then, the villain Koga Shuko transforms him into a literal steroid freak with some experimental machine. From there on out, Abobo is played by Henry Kingi in a bloated, rubber suit. Despite being a muscle golem at this point, Abobo STILL doesn’t actually fight anyone and is instead kidnapped by Power Corps.

Abobo eventually sees what he looks like in the mirror. Broken over what he’s been transformed into, he turns on Koga and…still doesn’t fight anyone. He just gives Power Corps some advice to help turn the tide against the bad guys. At the end of the movie, he asks the Lee Brothers if they could be buddies and recklessly drives their car.

Yeah, it’s…almost something. Not the awfulness of Super Mario Bros, but not the good-for-the-time quality of Mortal Kombat. It’s also not quite as fun-bad as the Street Fighter movie, but it does share one major similarity to it.

Much like Street Fighter, the Double Dragon movie had its own fighting game spinoff. Rather than a one-on-one fighter featuring digitized actors (which was the original idea until it wasn’t deemed viable for the deadline), Technos put together a Neo Geo animated fighter that isn’t so well-known these days due to how run-of-the-mill it was. It looked like your average SNK fighting game, with no real identity of its own. The game was released for arcade, Neo Geo CD, and PlayStation.

The 1995 fighting game was loosely based on the movie’s plot and featured some FMV clips. Showing up from the movie are Billy Lee, Jimmy Lee, Marian, Shuko, and Abobo. The rest of the roster is made up of original characters, though Technos did redesign Burnov, the Big Van Vader-looking boss character from Double Dragon II: The Revenge. Abobo more closely resembles his initial, more human-looking form from the movie, complete with mohawk, although he’s cartoonishly big in the game. Fortunately, he occasionally transforms into his blobby, tumor-like mutant form during certain moves and winposes.

His ending in the game features him eating a lot of meat at a restaurant, demanding to eat meat so rough that it’ll make his teeth bleed. Heh. And Roger Ebert said video games aren’t art.

Read more

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Double Dragon and Kunio-kun: Retro Bundle Coming Soon

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Double Dragon 4: Story & Multiplayer Modes Detailed

By Matthew Byrd

After the inexplicable crossover, animated series, failed movie, and fighting game tie-ins, Double Dragon as a franchise was finally spent. As the arcade scene died down in the late ’90s, the side-scrolling beat ‘em up disappeared for a time, and it would be a little while before nostalgia for it would kick in.

Fortunately, there was still some juice left in the fighting game genre, and in 2002 the Neo Geo had just enough time left before SNK’s hardware line was discontinued. The company Evoga developed what was, for a time, meant to be a Double Dragon fighting game, but ultimately the team wasn’t able to secure the rights and was forced to make the game with a knockoff cast of characters. The result was Rage of the Dragons, a tag-team fighting game featuring Billy Lewis, Jimmy Lewis, and Abubo…

Abubo does not have a tag partner and is instead a mid-boss so powerful that it takes two opponents to stop him. He’s depicted as a low-level mob boss with a ponytail, sunglasses, pink tank top, and overly-long, muscular arms. It’s a decent enough redesign of the original, but…Abubo? That’s the best they could come up with?

As for the official Double Dragon, it made its comeback a year later. Double Dragon Advance for the Game Boy Advance took the original arcade version, updated the graphics just enough, added more stages, enemies, and attacks, turning this installment into a souped-up take on the classic. This of course meant the return of the real Abobo!

2012 would be a banner year for the musclebound henchman. Since 2002, I-Mockery’s Roger Barr had been trying to develop an Abobo-based fangame, and in early 2012, the free-to-play masterpiece Abobo’s Big Adventure was released to the public and we were better for it.

Using 8-bit graphics, the game follows Abobo as he searches for his kidnapped son Aboboy. Each level is based on a different NES title and features a dizzying amount of Easter eggs. There’s a Double Dragon level, underwater Super Mario Bros. level, Urban Champ, Legend of Zelda, Balloon Fight, Pro Wrestling, Mega Man, Contra, and finally Punch-Out. The game is an absolute blast, especially for anyone who grew up with the NES and features such whacked out moments as:

Abobo mating with the mermaid from Goonies 2, which gives him a forcefield powerup made up of Abobo/mermaid hybrid babies, one of which begs for death!

An Abobo vs. Amazon wrestling match that includes the summoning of Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, Roddy Piper, and Undertaker assists in the form of Pro Wrestling sprites.

Taking on Krang’s giant robot body with Kirby in the abdominal area.

An incredibly long and over-the-top ending that gets extremely and laughably violent. If you’ve ever wanted to see a muscular child drink blood from the Shredder’s dismembered arm, this game is for you!

In terms of OFFICIAL nostalgia, 2012 also saw the release of Double Dragon Neon for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 (and later PC). Using 3D graphics, the game was a modern update of Double Dragon’s playstyle while playing up the 1980s aesthetic. It was a lot more ridiculous than the original series. In fact, it’s more in line with the Battletoads crossover since this game also lets you launch Abobo into the deep recesses of outer space to die.

This game also gave us the first – and, as of this writing, only – polygon Abobo. This time a towering, hunched over brute with lots of spiked armbands. All that AND the mustache!

But of those two 2012 releases, Abobo’s Big Adventure is surprisingly the better game in terms of its portrayal of the big man, as it solidified his status as nostalgic beat em up icon.

In 2017, Arc System Works put together Double Dragon IV for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Rather than emulate the arcade original’s aesthetic, the game took its art style from the NES games. That meant the return of the classic NES Abobo as not only a recurring enemy but an unlockable playable character. Double Dragon IV actually lets you play through the story mode as various enemy characters, but honestly, who else would you pick in that situation? Well, maybe Burnov.

Sadly, playing as Abobo in Double Dragon IV leads to a non-ending. I know you can’t improve on “Abobo punches Little Mac’s head off so hard it transcends time and space,” but at least TRY!

Around the same time, another game tried to play up Abobo’s ironic/iconic status. River City Ransom: Underground was released for the PC in early 2017. The River City Ransom series has always had ties to Double Dragon, but this high school brawler goes the extra mile by putting Abobo on a big pedestal. First off, he’s the school principal. If you attack any of your teachers, you’re sent to Principal Abobo’s office to suffer a serious slap on the wrist, shoulder, jaw, spine, etc. Sometimes he’ll even enter classrooms by punching holes through the brick walls, all while shirtless and talking like the Hulk.

Even better than that? Abobo’s not only the school principal but the Mayor of River City! No wonder everyone’s always kicking the shit out of each other! God bless Mayor Mike Haggar for being a true trendsetter.

The Double Dragon/River City connection only grew stronger when 2019 brought the absolutely must-play River City Girls. As the story goes, River City Ransom heroes Kunio and Riki have been kidnapped, so their badass girlfriends Misako and Kyoko go on a violent rampage to save them. Early in the game, while Misako and Kyoko fighting in a classroom, there’s a projector playing a short film about a boy learning about puberty.

It just so happens that the kid in the video is being taught by Abobo, who thanks puberty for his monstrous size and strength. This, my friends, is foreshadowing, as Abobo shows up later in the game as a boss.

Misako and Kyoko confront Abobo about their missing boyfriends, and Abobo admits that he isn’t sure whether or not he kidnapped them since he kidnaps a LOT of people. They throw down and we’re treated to the most powerful take on Abobo yet, considering the length of his life bar. Once defeated, Abobo admits that he has nothing to do with the missing boyfriends, but gives the heroes a lead by talking about his side job as security for an upcoming concert.

In 2020, Arc System Works released a collection for PS4 and Switch called Double Dragon & Kunio-Kun Retro Brawler Bundle. It collects 18 8-bit games, including the three NES Double Dragon games, River City Ransom, and all the old spinoffs from the River City Ransom universe. And who’s on the cover?

Yes, despite technically being in one game out of 18, and not even being the final boss of any of them, Abobo gets a major spot on the cover of this huge collection among the games’ hero characters. Finally, the world understands that Abobo is a star. Now we just need Abobo to appear in Guilty Gear Strive and then we’ll really be cooking.

The post How Double Dragon’s Abobo Became a Beat em up Legend appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/2Gl5jJ9

[purplexflamingo]

Omg, sorry I keep spamming your askbox but yr content is sooo gooood. Of course dialog prompts 8 &10 DrayxSelma, and! OC #19 for Laurie, #40 for Selma...

Hey it is all cool! I have so much fun doing these!! Send any many as you want!!!

“ I see you still have that mutt with ya. Eheh here I thought you would’ve re-homed it. Poor thin’ looked skin and bones when I found it.”

 Selma listened to Drayton’s remark, her fingers coursed through her pooches’ thick coat. How the pup pranced in place, just so happy to be there. Peering up at the man, as she remained on her knees leveled with the dog.

“ I couldn’t part with her. Once you gave her to me-- I tried to drop her off to another family after feedin’ her as much as i could (she liked my cookin’ surprisingly!), but she followed after me. I got very attached and my heart won’t let her go. Every time I think ‘bout it I get too emotional for my own damn good.”

 Planting many kisses on the dog’s black and white furry forehead. Returning to her feet she gazed at the cook. That bright smile faded.

“ I-I am doin’ the right thin’, right?? I just love her so. She seems happy.”

“ There ain’t nothin’ wrong in keepin’ her, she had no family. No collar, no name. She would’ve probably wind up dead if it weren’t for us findin’ her. What did ya end up callin’ her?”

 The reassurance soothed her, she didn’t want any selfish behaviors to cloud her judgement. She had a huge fondness for the canines and it has been over ten years since her last hound dog. 

“ Dallas, it just fit. It felt right.”

“ Well Dallas is welcome ‘round here then. It’s been many years since we’ve had a dog on these lands. I grew up with a great big one named Butch. I was ‘round eight years old. He was grandpaw’s dog. Earned it’s keep by keepin’ trespassers off the farm and kept wild animals away from the cows and sheep.”

 Listening to his stories were always a treat. There was a lot to him she didn’t know and certainly wanted to. Drayton Sawyer was a mystery and she never got tired of hearing his voice.

“ These creatures just fascinate me.”

“ Well I am glad ya like her, you stopped over at the right time. I would’ve been lost on what to do if it weren’t for ya. Heh.”

Selma took it as a compliment and she felt her face flush. Her ears felt so warm. Watching him interact with her new found companion made her heart skip. He was absolutely gentle with her, playing with her to an extent, while chuckling away. Dallas enjoyed his company too, her tail wagging violently.

“ Get it, girl, get it! Go get it!”

 He chanted waving a stick before the pup’s wide eyes. Tossing it and watching her leap after it. Hand shielding his old tired eyes from the sun. It was moments like these that she just wished would never end.

“ I’ve been waitin’ a long time......but Mr. Sawyer--- I mean Drayton. Would you like to go on a date with me? I’d offer ya to come on over to my home and I’d cook ya somethin’, but to be honest with ya. I ain’t the best cook. I can make a few things, not much. It would be very insultin’ to ya-- being a cook and all.”

“ Huh? Well....I’m hesitant in acceptin’ your invitation-- you just don’t wanna get mixed up with me. But for now...I....uh how ‘bout I cook somethin’ for ya and bring it to your home? How’s that sound?”

She chewed at her bottom lip expecting rejection at full force, but this time he seemed to ponder on it and gave her a chance. While warning her. Batting her eyes it finally hit her, he agreed. Her face instantly lit right up.

“ Sounds wonderful! Oh I am so excited. You just don’t know that you’ve made me the happiest girl in the world. It’ll be a wonderful evenin’!”

Out of the corner of his eyes he watched her bounce her heels, the happiness written all over her like she was an open book. This eased whatever feeling he had in the pit of his stomach. Motioning her near.

“ Oh c’mere you.”

Arms wrapped around her, pulling her into an embrace. 

OC QUESTIONS:

19.What does their relationship with their family look like? Are they close? Distant? Ect.

 Laurie has a rough relationship with her adopted family. Her adopted father was constantly working and being a politician made him become a strict father. She has absolutely no control in her life choices. It drove her mad. Her adopted mother was more involved due to being a teacher herself, Laurie bonded with her the most. Though learning she was adopted made her grow distant and try to figure out who he real parents were. Her biological father died when she was a year old from a house fire and her mother was sent to an institution(being accused of the fire, even though there was no proof)- but recently released and she has gone to Mississippi several times to form a relationship. At this point in time she is very distant with her adopted parents since she moved to Texas. But she is attempting to build something with her mother.  

40.If I wanted to draw them, what would be distinct physical features that I would have to know to draw them correctly?

For Selma uuuh definitely her shape, she is a chubbier woman. Her nose, it’s larger than most, rounder too and her gap between her front teeth. 

[fire-bear]

Riot

Warnings: Violence. Also, I don’t know police procedure so let’s just pretend this is how they do things.

Even after going through university to get a degree in engineering, Gilbert knew he wanted to be a policeman. He’d always wanted to be one, figuring that it was the closest thing to being a knight in shining armour. Of course, his father, the Oxford physics professor, talked him into striving for a ‘better’ career. But, when Gilbert graduated and his father told him he could do what he wanted, he had jumped at the chance to become a policeman.

Now a Constable on the beat, Gilbert was delighted to deal with a variety of situations. From something as simple as giving tourists directions to arresting drunks on a Saturday night to standing outside a crime scene to make sure the public didn’t get inside. He loved every minute of it: getting to chat with people on the street; arresting people who had committed crimes; keeping everyone safe. Even arresting drunks made him feel good, knowing he was putting them somewhere safe for the night and they weren’t going to walk into traffic.

The only part he hated was when there was some sort of protest which devolved into a riot. He hated having to scare or bully people, especially when they were protesting an important issue. Being sent to pick up his riot gear always sent a feeling of dread through him. Would he be in the middle of a bad one, with deaths on both sides? Would he be sitting in a van all day?

Usually it was the latter but on that particular day, they were deployed immediately.

Gilbert wasn’t even sure who was protesting and for what. When they got to the square where the protest was taking place, there were people dressed in hoodies or in nondescript clothes. Others, however, were dressed in black and ripped jeans and chains and piercings. People were yelling and screaming. Some were waving large flags or banners. Others – mostly those in black – were throwing heavy things like bricks or glass bottles. Several fights had broken out with the officers already on the scene trying to pull them apart to no avail.

“It’s a protest of a protest!” his Inspector told him. Inspector Héderváry glared at the mess in front of them, tugging harshly at her hair as she pinned her plait to her head. “We’ve to separate the drunk punks who crashed the party from the actual protesters and keep them from killing each other.”

“What are they protesting about, again?” Gilbert asked, curiously.

Héderváry’s expression turned dark. “Something stupid,” she answered. She turned to the rest of them. “Right, you lot! Out you get – you know what to do!”

They all jumped from the van, the sound of many pairs of boots landing on the tarmac as they rushed across the road, their riot shields up and ready. Gilbert found himself at the back of the pack, Hérderváry behind him and Constable Vargas beside him. Vargas was scowling, as usual, keeping his grip on his baton tight.

“This’ll be fun,” Gilbert grumbled.

Vargas rolled his eyes. “This is such a stupid waste of time,” he replied. “I want to be back at the station on my well-earned break.”

“You never do anything,” Gilbert protested.

That was all they could say to each other before they entered the fray, shunting their way forward as they cut a path between the punks and the protesters. Up close, the punks looked both kinds of pissed. Gilbert could only wonder at what had made them so angry. He didn’t like the look of the protesters either: they looked like the kind of people he arrested for being drunk or high and shouting hate at ethnic minorities.

Eventually, they had a wall between the two warring parties. That didn’t stop the punks from shouting abuse at the protesters and vice versa. Gilbert couldn’t hear the words properly with all the noise. When the punks started shouting at the police and throwing things, Gilbert was glad he had the shield up. His back was covered by his colleagues and he wondered how long they’d have to stay there.

Suddenly, his shield jolted, hit by a kick from one of the punks. His eyes widened as he looked up and down their wall and saw that all of the punks had decided to attack the police. Other officers were attempting to wade through the chaos, arresting one person at a time to drag them off to the waiting vans. They would be of no help to Gilbert and the others as the punks began to kick and punch and shove them backwards.

Before Gilbert knew it, the line was breaking and officers were hard pressed to defend themselves from the punks. Beside him, an officer fell to the ground and a man lifted his foot to stomp on him. Instinctively, Gilbert flicked out his baton and swung it at the leg he stood on. The man fell and the officer managed to scramble to his feet – just in time as another man came barrelling into his shield.

Unfortunately, Gilbert didn’t have time to help him for another person started hitting at his shield with a baseball bat. Where the guy had managed to find one was a mystery but he was relentless, forcing Gilbert backwards as he flinched with each hit. Trying to keep his shield steady, he reached around to hit him on the leg with his baton. But the bat was heavier and thicker and the baton wad not really designed to be used against another weapon: it flew from his hand and landed several feet away where it was immediately scooped up by another punk.

Shocked, Gilbert momentarily forgot the attack and was caught off guard when the bat hit his shield once again. He stumbled backwards and his foot caught on something hard, toppling him. His back hit the ground with such force that his breath was knocked from him and his shield arm was flung out, leaving the shield lying uselessly on the ground. As he gasped and coughed, trying to force his body to move, the man with the bat stepped up to him, the weapon raised. Gilbert’s eyes widened, wondering if his protective gear would actually keep him from being killed.

He never found out. The man was suddenly spun around and, as he lowered his arms, he fell to the side, apparently unconscious. Behind him stood another man, hand clenched in a fist and dressed in tight, black jeans with holes at the knees and what appeared to be a black leather jacket. His blond hair was sandy in colour and badly ruffled. He had rather large, bushy eyebrows, one of which was pierced by what looked like a metal bar. A ring pierced his lip which his tongue nervously flicked out to spin. Their eyes met and Gilbert realised that his were green, dulled from alcohol by the looks of things. He gave Gilbert a nod and turned, rushing away into the crowd again.

Gilbert stared after him, stunned and unmoving. Time seemed to have stopped until someone tripped over his foot and he remembered where he was. Then he struggled to his feet and looked for the Inspector in order to regroup.

Later, once it was all over, Gilbert learnt that all the punks had been arrested – none had been allowed to leave the square. Quite a lot of protesters were arrested as well. They were all sent to different police stations to be processed, including Gilbert’s own.

When he walked into the station, eager to get his gear off and back to the streets for a more calming few hours of work, the sergeant on the desk stopped him. “Gil, Alfred’s called in sick,” said Matthew, apologetically. “Is there any chance you can help process all those people from the riot? Please?”

Having never been able to resist the puppy dog eyes, Gilbert reluctantly agreed and hurried off to get into his uniform. Once he had, he was soon going from cell to cell, bringing them to a desk and asking them some simple information. Some of the information he gleaned from them was not of consequence, of course, and were mainly insults. Gilbert had to refrain from writing 'Dickhead’ in the name slot several times.

Finally, there was only one more to do and he would be done for the day – other than his own report, at least. He strode down to the cell with another sergeant who unlocked the door for him. And, for the second time that day, Gilbert was stunned, staring at the man who had saved him from the bat. He seemed surprised as well. But he blinked those green eyes – now a little brighter and shining with intelligence – and was soon smirking.

“Good evening, Constable,” he said.

Frowning, Gilbert glanced at the sergeant who shrugged. Then he shook his head and gestured at the man. “Come on. I have to take down your details.”

“Can’t we do it in here?” he asked, his smirk growing and his eyes glinting.

A shiver ran down Gilbert’s spine which startled him. Narrowing his eyes, he explained, “I need to do it at a computer.”

“Ah, I see,” said the man. “A slave to technology like the rest of us.” He stood and paused, waiting for Gilbert to turn so he could follow.

The sergeant placed handcuffs on him as Gilbert held the next door open for them. Then he watched them on their way to the desk in case the prisoner had any ideas about making a break for freedom. Of course, whoever he was, the man merely sat down on the chair, shifting around until he was lounging in it, butt at the edge of the seat and an arm hooked over the back of it. He reminded Gilbert of himself when he was at high school or university.

“All right,” Gilbert said, opening a new file. “Name?”

“Arthur Bedivere Kirkland.”

Gilbert paused. “Bedivere?” he asked, merely to confirm. “As in… Knight of the Round Table?” When he realised how rude he had been, he hastened to add, “Just so I know the spelling.”

Grinning, Arthur nodded. “The. Very. Same,” he said slowly, his tongue flicking out over his lip ring. This time, Gilbert saw the glint of silver from within his mouth, as if he was chewing on a small star; evidently, Arthur had a tongue piercing.

“Right,” said Gilbert quickly, refusing to acknowledge the strange feelings he had upon his new discovery. He quickly typed it in. “Well, Mister Kirkland, date of birth?”

“Call me Arthur,” he insisted with a twitch of his lips in amusement. “It’s the twenty-third of April, Nineteen Ninety-Five.”

As he typed it in, Gilbert worked out his age. “Aren’t you a bit young for…?” He trailed off, eyeing the t-shirt he could see under the jacket. “Is that The Clash?”

“Yeah.” Arthur seemed amused, watching Gilbert. “You a fan?”

Blinking, Gilbert shook his head and turned to the form again. “Place of residence?” he asked. Arthur only shrugged a shoulder in response. “You don’t know? Or are you homeless?”

Arthur shook his head. “I live in student halls. Or, I did. It’s the end of the year and I’ll be going home but, as soon as I can find a cheap flat, I’m out of there. Maybe before I find a flat.”

“I’ll have to put your parents’ address,” said Gilbert, trying to tamp down his curiosity. Why would Arthur want to leave home so quickly? Was he on bad terms with his parents? Was he being abused? Were the parents homophobic?

He dug his nails into the palm of his hand in order to stop himself from thinking about Arthur’s sexuality.

Once he’d put in the address, though, he realised those were the next questions. “I, uh, need a gender and sexuality, if you’re comfortable with that.”

“Male, bi,” said Arthur, simply. “Though, today, I think I’m swinging more towards men.”

Gilbert couldn’t stop himself from looking up at that smirk. He cleared his throat and hit the enter button to see if Arthur had any priors. When nothing came up, he filled in the details of the crime and situation before he looked at him again. Arthur seemed to be bored by that point, slouching further and looking around the room. Gilbert took a moment to really look at him, noting the slight downturn of his lips, the furrow in his brow, how his eyes glistened. This wasn’t a criminal, he realised. In fact, he doubted Arthur had even wanted to be in the square, had probably been pressured into attending. Gilbert hoped he’d get off lightly.

“I need to take your statement,” he said, softer than he’d intended.

Looking up, Arthur nodded solemnly. Then he began his tale. Just as Gilbert had suspected, it looked as though Arthur had met up with some friends he’d met on his gap year when he was travelling. They’d been having fun on a pub crawl when they’d come across the protesters. Arthur had wanted to get to the next pub since he’d needed to pee but the others had decided to stay put and tell the protesters what they thought of them. After he’d excused himself and hurried off to the closest toilet, Arthur had returned to find the place in a mess. He’d tried to convince the ringleaders to leave it alone and go home but nobody listened to him. Then the fighting started and he’d tried to keep out of it as much as possible, only stepping in when someone seemed to be going too far. He’d been arrested and that was that.

Having dutifully typed in the last few words, Gilbert hit the print button and waited for the old, rickety printer to cough its way into life. “Thank you, by the way,” he said as they waited. “I think you might have saved my life.”

“Not really,” Arthur mumbled. “All I did was punch my friend who is, apparently, a tosser.”

Stifling a laugh, Gilbert told himself to focus. What else did he need to do? As he surveyed Arthur, he wondered when the last time he’d eaten had been. Did he even have enough money for food? Especially if he was buying alcohol, too… “Do you need anything? Water? Sandwich from the vending machine?”

Arthur blinked at him, clearly surprised. It took him a second to regain his composure but then he said, “A drink would be good… The water’s free right?”

“And, for you, the sandwich is, too. Hang on.” Gilbert looked up and around the room which was apparently empty now. Everyone else had probably gone for their breaks. However, the door suddenly opened and Matthew walked in. “Mattie!” he cried in delight. “Any chance you can bring me a drink and a sandwich?”

Matthew looked between them and, with a kind smile at Arthur, nodded. Then he left them alone with a silence which seemed heavy. Arthur was the one to break it. “Thanks,” he muttered, chin tucked into his chest.

“Not a problem, Arthur. You look like you need it.”

“Yeah.”

Silence fell again.

“What are you doing at uni?” Gilbert asked as he stood to pick up the form he’d forgotten about. He returned to the desk and looked for a pen.

“English Literature and Creative Writing,” Arthur answered, accepting the pen to sign the statement. “It’s fun, so far.”

“'Creative Writing’, huh? What do you write about?”

“This and that,” Arthur answered. “I tried writing a murder mystery this semester but I gave up and went back to fantasy.”

“Why’d you give up?” asked Gilbert, chin in his hand, watching Arthur practically unfurl. He straightened in his chair a bit, dropped his arm and faced Gilbert fully.

For the first time since he’d met Arthur, Gilbert saw him blush. It was a dainty thing, a little pinking of the skin along his cheekbones. Gilbert felt it belonged more on a young woman than on what looked like a hardened punk. Most of all, though, it was beautiful and Gilbert struggled not to feel embarrassed as well.

“I, erm,” said Arthur, hesitantly. “I wanted the main character to be a, well, a policeman. Not a detective, I mean,” he added, hastily. “Just… a constable… whose friend is murdered but no-one believes him because the time of the death is wrong and it looks like a suicide. But I wasn’t too sure on the correct police procedure…”

“I could help you out,” said Gilbert without thinking.

“What?” Arthur’s eyes widened and he perked up so much that he was no longer slouching. “What do you mean?”

“Er.” Gilbert didn’t really know himself. He wasn’t entirely sure why he had such a strong urge to help the student. Maybe he reminded Gilbert of himself at university. Maybe it was something more. But he had to think of something to save face… “I could meet you in Il Suo Pasto – it’s an Italian restaurant a few streets away. After you get out, of course. If you’d like.”

Slowly, a smirk formed on Arthur’s face. Gilbert could feel himself starting to blush, his face definitely on fire. “Mm,” said Arthur, eyes lowering so that he was looking up at Gilbert from under his eyelashes. “Sounds like you’re asking me on a date. Got a pen and paper?”

“Um,” said Gilbert, intelligently. He looked around for a spare sheet before remembering his notebook and pulling it from his shirt pocket. As he handed it over, he heard the door behind him open and he jumped in surprise, turning to see Matthew returning with a cup of water and a sandwich laid out on a plate. “Ah,” he said. “Thanks, Mattie.”

“No problem,” said Matthew, handing the items over to Gilbert. “I’m going on my break now, okay?”

“Right.”

Once he was gone, Gilbert turned back to Arthur to find him handing back the pad and pen. “It’s in the back,” he said by way of explanation.

“What is?” Gilbert asked, handing over the meagre meal.

Arthur only grinned. “You’ll find out,” he said, at the exact moment the far door opened and the sergeant in charge of the cells came looking for his misplaced prisoner. As he led Arthur away, reluctantly letting him keep his food, Gilbert gave in to his curiosity and flipped open his notebook. There, in neat handwriting and a note to 'call me’, was Arthur’s number.

They have a lovely ‘date’ where they flirt but don’t acknowledge it and Arthur essentially interrogates Gilbert on the intricacies of the justice system.

I was gonna add a bonus bit where it’s a few months later and, though they’re not dating and they don’t really start for a while afterwards, they have their first kiss and Gilbert likes it. ;) But then it was getting a bit long and I decided it was best just to end it here. It was also going to involve Arthur wearing glasses and changing his lip ring to a green coloured one which would draw the eye - or Gilbert’s eyes at least - from Arthur’s eyes to his lips.

Just in case: Arthur’s 20 and Gilbert’s, like, 24/25?