#I just think he deserves to blast green powers

[noxcheshire]

HOT TAKE

But I like the idea of the phantom world being reincarnated into very unexpected people.

Like I still love the idea of Danny being Martha or Thomas.

Or Dani being another clone, or her being Damian, and Sam being Poison Ivy and or Martha, etc.

But I also like the unhinged nonsense of Sam being a clone in the dc world — ideally Kon, and Dani (or Dan) being Bruce, while Vlad is gasp Thomas Wayne.

HEAR ME OUT

JUST HEAR ME OUT

I just think the idea of Danny finding out that in an alternate world he married a nicer and age appropriate Vlad and had the son the guy has been demanding for so long in their world is hilarious.

The absolute mental breakdown that boy will go through: this is my son, and I love him, look at him go being a hero and kicking ass, but holy fucking Ancients above I fucked VLAD —

And on the other hand, can you imagine Bruce’s reaction? To his alternate mom being a sassy teenage boy, his alternate dad being an older guy ‘preying’ on this kid that absolutely HATES the guy, and being an absolute creep while his alt self **gestures to your choosing** is either a tiny girl menace or the biggest and meanest growling ghost that is BARELY tolerating being in the same space as the living.

But they also hate his alternate dad and would punch him into next week with Mom! Danny.

This man will being going THROUGH IT.

[gliphyartfan]

@yanderelinkeduniverse @stars-for-thought @imprisioned-in-the-hole @screaming-until-god-hears-me @crestfallenmermaidan @ice-cream-writes-stuff @linked-heroes @eternadreeblissa @justanerd1

(Runs in, throws post in your face and runs back into the void. Plot bunnies chasing after me)

How many times will you watch it Fall young warrior? 

As many times as it takes to leave this place.

.

.

.

She watched him mutter as he meandered through the town. 

"Finish the temple..obtain...speak to...reset everything." 

He seemed to become more and more erratic after the first 3 days. 

 He kept muttering to himself in a way that made it sound like gibberish. Barely acknowledged her. (Though to be fair she deserved it for helping Skull kid steal from him) Yet the very first day he arrived, he walked around aimlessly as if in a daze. It looked as if something was wrong with him.

 (Perhaps being turned into a Deku scrub affected him more than she thought?) 

Then on day 2 she saw him standing out near the Laundry pool for most of the afternoon, staring up at the clouded sky with an empty expression on his face. 

 She had never seen a stranger looking so lost before, let alone a kid. She couldn't help it; she felt bad. 

So on day 3, she tried to talk to him, tried to distract herself from her nerves, distance herself from the nearing moon and trembling grounds. She barely pulled him out of his strange trance at times and have him look at her. 

Any words she had wanted to say shriveled away when he looked at her with such sad yellow eyes. "Um, I-" she started, but she would trail off as he kept staring at her, before slowly continuing his dazed walk. 

She watched as he found a stray fairy and healed the great fairy in North Clock Town, gaining the blessing of magic from her.

She didn't say a word on the third day as the boy turned Deku scrub took slow steps towards the stairs that led up to the top of the tower. 

She kept a brave face as they confronted Skull Kid, allowing her anger to boost her confidence when he hurt her brother, yet panic swept through her as he used the mask's powers to begin the moon's collapse.

Yet the green clad boy didn't panic. 

He just used a Bubble Blast to knock the Ocarina out of Skull Kid's hands, scooped it up, and summoned up pipes to play.

She wanted to ask what he was even thinking (how could he play music at a time like this?) 

But light filled her vision as he played the final note. Felt this sense of weightlessness that could only come from falling, and suddenly, she was staring at the now distant moon, the busy workers continuing their construction.

 She was in the past. Back to the first day of their arrival. Her gaze swept through the area, trying to find an answer as to what had happened. 

Has it been a dream? No, her heart was still racing, she could not have dreamt something so frightening. 

And Link? He merely turns his back to the town and pushes through the doors behind him and makes his way inside the tower. 

"H-Hey!" 

Tatl rushed after him as he approached the ever grinning merchant. 

----

(The Gods have use for you still, young warrior. Yet despite heeding their call, you walk a path that they are utterly blind to.)

Let them continue to be blind. Their arrogance will only benefit me and mine. 

(Such confidence, or is that not arrogance as well? What is the difference between you and the Gods?)

I'm willing to be beaten down if it means never making the same mistakes again. 

(…Curious.)

Aren’t you the same? 

(…)

----

The fairy had thought the boy's strangeness would ease off after he was changed back, but it just seemed to worsen.

 When before he had been a muttering mess, he was now almost always silent. and when he did speak, he sounded different. More monotone. 

The only time he talked normally, or pretended to talk normally, was when he was dealing with someone's request. 

It shouldn't have disturbed her to see the light in his eyes fade when he left the eyesight of whoever he spoke to. 

It was as if…he was playing a part. 

 As if, like an actor, he was pretending to be someone else. But why? It was as if...he was playing some elaborate game, why wasn't he saying something? Anything? 

What was he thinking about? "Link?"

Dull, empty, lifeless eyes turned to look at her.  A stare, devoid of any warmth or emotion

."Hello…there." Tatl waves a hand at his face,"Um…what are you gonna do?"

The boy just stared at her before turning back to continue onward.

"...Do you need anything?", she asked hesitantly, "Do you even know where to go?." Tatl commented. 

"...Yes." A response! 

 She had gotten him to respond !!! "Really!?"Tatl questioned in disbelief, "Yes." The child repeated.

 "But where are we going?" She asked, fluttering a little bit closer to him. Link didn't seem to care and continued walking as if she weren't even there.

"...Woodfall Temple."

The young fairy blinked. "Huh..?".She looked at him in surprise, then turned to look back down. 

"But...how do you know that?"  she asked. 

"...An owl told me." He answered simply, still staring ahead. 

An owl? They hadn’t met any owls…

The wind blew slightly and rustled the bushes behind them...

…and she didn't have the courage to ask him for further details. 

And as he continued to walk forward, it showed he didn't seem to care enough to provide them. 

-----

(Do you think you could be forgiven for your sins against the one you supposedly hold dear?)

No…but that won't stop me from making amends. 

(Is it worth it, for one mere soul?)

For Her, I would freely allow the world to End if that is what She wished. 

(...)

and I am not the only one with such beliefs. 

(No...I suppose you aren't.)

---

He seemed to know exactly where to go, who to speak to, what to do. 

Tatl felt utterly useless, even her knowledge of the enemies weren't of use. 

The boy seemed to have no trouble with all the monsters he battled. He fought them as if he dealt with them his whole life. 

 And the monsters that festered in the temples, there was no way he could have known how to deal with them. Yet he did. With experience. 

Experience he shouldn't have. Experience that there was no way he could have. 

So all she could do was hover awkwardly nearby as she watched him continue on his way. 

She felt utterly useless, she couldn't help him with anything, nothing at all!

 All she could do was..observe him, waiting until something happened, hoping that nothing else bad happened, then move forward.

She was lost in her thoughts as dull blue glanced over at her silently. 

-----

(Your memory of her. Such a curious thing. What beholds you to such a small soul? When there are others with more power and prestige that would freely offer themselves to you?)

If you need to ask me such questions, then you are as blind to what makes her soul beautiful as those that would ‘freely offer themselves to me’. 

(…)

-----

Link supposed he was being a bit cruel…towards someone he was meant to consider a friend. Yet her presence, the presence of Termina as a whole, simply reminded him of how far he was from where he belonged. 

 He knew (How could he not with what he experienced?) how long it would take to reach his destination. Yet that only emphasized how much time remained before everything was right again. 

For the past several weeks he had been wandering aimlessly between areas. Occasionally taking requests from people. It was odd, how familiar he has become to the sensation of being the only one who was ever aware of what truly transpired. 

It was a dull sense of familiarity, of knowing he would remain the only one who remembered the knowledge of what would come and what would not, and had, passed. Normally such a thing wouldn't have bothered him, not anymore at least.

But then again, normally, his being wasn't screaming that he was going insane. Normally his mind wasn't screaming out for the others his sword brothers, the only ones who would understand how he was currently feeling because She was not. Here.

He wondered what was happening with them right now, were they in the same boat as him? Trapped in a past that had long since passed for them? Trapped in a point in time where their memories were the only proof of the trials they had overcome? 

Trapped in another time period where their choices had taken them down a path away from the quiet lives they had once lived? 

Perhaps…trapped in time which had once been their home. Their home which was now so familiar yet so…foreign.

The memories held by so many…now only held by them. 

It was a burden he wouldn't wish on his sword brothers. Yet it was one he selfishly prayed for. 

 To make himself feel better perhaps.

That maybe, in a way, he was not alone in this cruel fate. 

Perhaps they too walked forward, waiting to reunite with each other. 

Yet no amount of self-comfort could push aside the fact that...he was alone...for the first time in so long, he was alone...and he hated it so much. 

 His brothers were gone. The uncertainty of whether or not they would retain their memories left him off-kilter. 

And Termina... 

Termina.

How this land taunted him greatly. 

Striving forward yet trapped in a cycle that forced him to continuously stand still. 

Each day passing yet the sense of tomorrow never truly arriving. 

It left him desperate. Desperate for some semblance of connection...control…

Some kind of reason to get out of his own head.

Desperate to stop feeling. Desperate to let go of this burden weighing on his shoulders. Desperate to leave this place...desperate to return.

Desperate to return to the world he knew... 

 To regain what he had lost.

Because of the fear that he could have lost it forever.

That he would be the only one to even remember, in life and in death…it swirled within his heart. 

And it terrified him. 

It terrified him so much. 

So he just allowed the memories of this cruel place to lead his body forward. 

The paths and foes here ingrained in his memories so deeply, that traversing this place was easier blindfolded than not. 

In the end, while he felt some sense of guilt for treating Tatl distantly. He did not care. 

She would leave in the end anyway. 

So he wasn't going to waste his efforts escaping this place just to appease her feelings. 

In a land where 3 days was too much yet never enough. 

He just didn't have the time to waste on useless things. 

—

—

(What would you give in order to protect her?)

What would I need to give you in order to protect her? 

(So quick to return the question, would you truly offer something precious to me for her sake Young warrior?)

If you must ask me...

(....Then I suppose I must not be seeing what is clearly there.)

My memories, my heart, are open to you, you know this…make use of that privilege. 

(...I suppose I shall.)

—

"Hmhmhm~ What a rather curious fate you've been handed." 

"Has my fate piqued your interest?" was the young, yet far too old, hero's reply to that. 

"Quite so! There is something fascinating about you….the fact that you seem to be rather familiar with the item I am asking you to seek...with this whole land in fact…" The ever-grinning salesman commented, "You seem to always have an answer or word at the tip of your tongue to placid anyone who interacts with you, even me." 

"Perhaps I have a knack for picking up on conversations and people," Link replied. His voice was calm and steady, his eyes focused on the turning gears above them. He had asked Tatl to wait outside for him when the smiling man requested a moment to speak. 

Link wasn't bothered, not like he was short on time. 

"Yes, yes! Indeed you must!" The merchant exclaimed, "And you are correct about our current conversation." He stated, grinning down at the boy in front of him.

"You are a curiosity I wish to 'pick apart' so to speak. you seem to have quite the experience with the task I've presented you." 

Link nodded, "I'm used to situations like this. So, what will you gain from such a conversation?"

"The satisfaction of my curiosity sated, of course." 

"I suppose you'll be sad to know you're in for disappointment." 

A chuckle filled Link's ears, the man smiled as if he was enjoying some joke Only he understood. Then he leaned in close, grin seeming to grow wider. 

"You seem to know a lot about me." The man remarked.

"More than I'd like to," Link answered back calmly.

"Such an interesting response!" Link simply shrugged.

"So child, will you humor my curiosity?"

"...Well, since you seem insistent..." The merchant laughed. 

"Of course! Of course!" 

Link looked at him properly, "Alright…”

"So what do you want to know?"

"Well..."

.

..

...

…..

...

..

.

Tatl waited patiently outside for Link, she had been hovering by the water when she saw the doors of the Clock Tower open, she flew over as Link walked out,  her gaze fixed on his form.

She frowned as she took notice of the strange expression he wore, almost as if he were troubled...

She flew beside him, watching him quietly. Link turned his head slightly to look at her briefly before looking forward once more.

 His lips were pressed into a thin line, frowning in thought.

Tatl blinked in confusion. Did the strange man upset him somehow?

Her wings fluttering anxiously behind her. She reached up to put her hand gently on his shoulder but then quickly withdrew. Her hands folded together.

"Link…." She murmured softly. Her brow furrowing. Did she try to make him talk with her? Or was something more wrong?

Did something happen that she had not noticed?

Was he thinking about everything that's happened to him since arriving in Termina?

"Hey…" She called, swallowing her hesitation and lightly tapping his shoulder, trying to catch his attention, "What's wrong?"

Link glanced over at her and shook his head slightly. Then he moved forward. Tatl followed along with him, her eyes never leaving the back of his head as he continued onwards.

—-

---

(So quick to flee, young warrior.)

..That man will always unsettle me. 

(It is not monsters you feel the need to flee from, nor gods...yet a mortal such as he is enough to send you off to the hills.)

Monsters are simple, they have only one aim, to kill any and all for their master. 

(…)

Man, on the other hand, can unsettle even a God with the right words. 

(You think yourself a god?)

Never. 

(...Apologies…that's right...only one holds such a position in your heart.)

And only one.

---

Link stared into the masks covering the moon children's faces as he tracked each of them down.

-Your friends…

What kind of... people are they?

I wonder…

Do those people…

think of you... as a friend?-

(My brothers, My lady...to ask such a thing would be to diminish the value of what I, what we, believe in.)

-You…

What makes you... happy? 

I wonder…

What makes you happy…

Does it make... others happy, too?-

(The happiness of others has long ceased to matter to me. My brothers...My Lady…All I wish is to be with those who have long earned my trust, loyalty, and devotion.) 

-The right thing…

What is it?

I wonder…

If you do the right thing…

Does it really make…

everybody... happy?-

(My first attempt at the right thing nearly cost me a place in her heart and bond between my brothers. My second attempt cost my brothers and I everything. I pray there will never be another attempt after this.) 

-Your true face…

What kind of... face is it?

I wonder…

The face under the mask…

Is that... your true face?-

(When was the last time I looked at my face and thought of it as mine? When did my child face become that of a stranger's to me? Perhaps the face beneath this child's mask only shows when united with my brothers. Perhaps my true face only shows when blessed with Her presence.)

—

—

He walked calmly towards the last moon child sitting at the base of the tree. 

‘Do you want to play with me?’

"No." He answered. "But you want to play with me." 

‘...Everyone has gone away, haven't they?’

"They all chose to play somewhere else, yes." 

‘You don't have any mask left...do you?’

"No..none left...but you have a mask that you want to give me, don't you?" The child nodded.

"Then, give me the mask, and then let's play a game together. Good guys against Bad guys." Link then smiled at the child, smiled in a way that didn't fit on his own child-like face. 

"I'll be the bad guy.”

The moon child stared at him silently, before slowly tilting their head. 

‘Yes...Let's play that.’

Link held out his hand and the moon child stood and placed a mask in his grasp. 

The moon child watched as he stared down at the Deity's mask, his face blank, his attention focused within. 

Whatever the child saw was enough to please them and they spoke once more.

'Are you ready?' Link swallowed and nodded. 

"Yeah." 

'You're the bad guy…’

'And when I'm bad, I just run." Link finished for him. 

The moon child nodded. 'That's fine, right?'

"Only if you're fine with being chased." Link answered back. 

The child's shoulders seemed to shake lightly in silent laughter.

'Well...shall we play?' Link bowed his head and smiled in amusement. 

"Fine...Let's Play." And with those words, he placed the mask on his face.

Almost instantaneously, the fledgling (-flayed, torn, should have never been severed-) bond that had lingered weakly within the depths of his mind since he awoke in Kokiri Village, the bond that (barely) kept him from falling into the lies this world tried to trap him into believing-

(What had kept him sane during a period when he didn't have any proof other than his turbulent memories of a time that no longer existed.) 

-It all solidified. The presence within the mask, potent, powerful, deadly, surged forth and wrapped around his mind in such familiarity, he would almost be willing to admit he missed. 

(-Young Warrior...My vessel...-) 

For a moment the illusion of wholeness trapped Link in it's hold. 

 But only for a moment. More than enough time to make him choke just before his body began to transform.

 …It seemed this land was fated to always make him feel something. 

-Rest Young Vessel.- The Deity of Ferocious War spoke to the boy whose body the god claimed as His. 

...Or rather…was it instead the Boy, who claimed the deity? 

Their bond was strong, their minds united in this form. It did not matter who claimed who. 

All that mattered was the eradication of the one who would dare threaten that connection. 

The child was claimed by him from this very moment, and the god was now free to wage battle once more.

And as Majora stood before him, the Fierce Deity raised his sword. 

Blood roared within him to bring ruin upon this beast that dared attempt dominance over him and his.

---

---

Link stared at the sky for what felt like hours. The moon no longer visible within the early dawn. 

There is nothing much left to see out here in this land.

The sun would rise every morning, bathing this world in its warmth. 

The moon would rise every night, lighting the darkness with its gentle glow. 

Time finally moved forward in this land once again. 

Which meant..it was time for him to move on from this place. 

In a way…he'd miss Tatl. He had been happy to see her again, even if he had become so different from the boy she had gotten to know in another life. 

But she is back with her brother, and they are friends again with Skullkid. 

At least for Tatl, her parting with them had been short. 

What a lucky gal, compared to him..

…

-

- -

- - - 

- - 

- 

"So what do you want to know?" he asked the mask merchant standing before him. 

"...Who are you?" the merchant asked.

"...I am Link."

He wasn't certain why the merchant asked that or who he was, but perhaps asking that question would give him some answers.

"...Are you?"  Link frowned, focusing on him more intently. 

A moment passed in silence while the merchant considered him. 

"Why do you travel child?" Link turned his eyes away. 

"To find someone precious to me." 

  Link said quietly, returning his eyes to the merchant after a moment. "Someone I love very dearly..."

"How far are you willing to go for such a person?"

"As far as they want me to go, and beyond."

"Where will you go next?"

Link shrugged. "I don't care as long as it's not this place." His eyes glancing back towards the gears above them. 

Another moment passed in silence.

"...I see.." the merchant muttered.

"…Do you?" Link asked.

The ever present smile grew on the merchant's face.  "I see...you are a lonely spirit...empty, unwhole." 

The merchant chuckled, "and you wish to seek answers to a puzzle hidden deep inside you, haunting you, and you have a chance of finding it if only you stay alive long enough to reach its conclusion."

 He continued to laugh at Link's expression. "Child," he continued, "if you were to continue living like this, you wouldn't survive until the end."

Link opened his mouth and closed it again, unsure whether or not to reply. 

"You need to let go of all that weighs upon you, or you'll drown."  Link remained silent, and the merchant smirked as he noticed the lack of response.

"This journey that you've set yourself on. You're trying to fill a hole that no one is willing to fill." 

"Shut it." Link muttered under his breath. 

"No one has been able to fill the space left by the absence of those who once filled that void inside you." The merchant clasped his hands in front of him. "Or rather, you refuse to allow anyone but the ones who once filled that void to hold such a place on your heart." 

"Enough." Link said, a bit louder. 

"You're looking for an answer to some questions, but not all answers can be found in this world."  

"You think I don't know that?" Link growled at him. 

"I know. But there are many worlds where the answers might be within your grasp...or the world you've lost might still be close enough for you to find, if you simply look."

"Stop talking nonsense."

Link turned his head away from the merchant and older man sighs deeply.

"Ah..Then allow me to ask you one last thing" the merchant asked softly. "What direction are you hoping to take?"

"Home." Link replied simply.

"And where is home?" 

"Far away." Link answered quietly.

The merchant hummed. 

"Far away? That is a vague description. Is there any particular location that you mean to return to?"

Link was silent. 

"...I see..." He said to the young boy. 

 "Despite your companion, you are indeed alone, aren't you?"

Link looked up at him, but still said nothing.

"You have many waiting for you." He continued, his eyes locked onto Link. "Is this something you desire?"

"..." Link clenched his fists and glared at the floor.

"You're going to walk away without any answers, and you will be forever confused." The Merchant stated.

"I've already found what answers I could find ..." Link said, almost sounding bitter.

"And yet you still cannot understand why."

"...I believe that's enough questions." Link said before turning to leave. 

He only took a few steps before the merchant spoke up.

"I'll tell you something that tickles my mind, then." Link glanced at him.

 "You are not alone in this."

Link tensed.

"Don't worry. Your companions will wait for you just as you wait for them."

"...How do you..." The Happy Mask Salesman chuckled, bowing to the boy. 

"...Perhaps one day you will realize the truth behind my words." 

-

- - 

- - - 

Link stroked Epona's mane, smiling softly as she whinnied and shook herself. 

Parting with Tatl had been numbing, though not as bittersweet as last time. He had given her a genuine smile and wished her and her brother all the happiness in the world. 

That had surprised her, he could easily tell, and she wished him luck in return. 

With a promise to Skullkid that he'd see him again, he left.  

And in spite of his best efforts to remain stoic, Link allowed himself the momentary break, allowing the tears that had threatened to spill fall freely as he buried his face into Epona's neck, inhaling deeply the scent of her coat.

He just wanted to return to everyone, he wanted to be united again. Termina had been crueler than the shift between his adult form and his child form. 

So much time wasted yet no time wasted at all.

Epona's comforting noises and her warmth was what he focused on to feel calm and secure in this moment. 

After some moments of silence he pulled away slowly, wiping his tears. He couldn't afford to be weak, no matter how much he wanted to be free of this curse…there was work to be done. He couldn't let himself get distracted.

So much time still needed to pass after all.

But it will pass…

…

…It will always pass.

[mrsbluehands]

Night time for the mansion!

Headcanon (x reader)

Creepypasta

Little idea that I wanted to write for a while now. First writing post! Hope it's not too short.

Tw: none

Pronouns: GN

-

X-Virus (give him love please)

Quite forgetful. Even if his nighttime routine is as simple as brushing his teeth, he might forget (please remind him for his own good).

Moves in his sleep like a three year old that is learning how to sleep in a real bed for the first time.

I think he sleepwalks whenever he's stressed. Since the rest of the mansion found out, they force Cody to lock his room from the inside during the night. (You wouldn't want to find him half naked in the wood again...)

Putting your arms around him might help a bit, but you could end up being crushed under him in the morning. If that's a sacrifice you are willing to make.

Can totally also end up on the floor or crushing you under him in the morning

But on the good side, Cody's a real cuddly guy. He needs to feel you close to him all the time.

Usually is the one who is completely engulfing you in his arms at night. He adores to know that you are safe with him, but won't say no if you prefer to have his head on your chest and hands in his hair...

Jeff the killer

Blasts music until 2 am like the edgy teen he still is.

Falls asleep whenever. Doesn't matter if the sun is stil beaming outside or if he just woke up from a afternoon power nap. He will sleep no matter what.

Will also eat anything before going to bed. Usually gets hungry at night, but this man can eat a 5 course meal at 3 am. Hearing some noises at night? You'll find him munching on the meatloaf leftover you made. (He likes you cooking what can he says!)

Not really into sleeping and cuddling stuff. Not a light sleeper, but sometimes he wakes up abruptly and he really wouldn't want to scare you off.

Likes to keep a hand on you anyways. Like wrapping his arm around your shoulder or waist. A hand on your stomach or waist.

He's nice to sleep with though! Extra warm (sleeps only in his underwear) his skin is a real radiator.

He really is a nice guy (mostly with you though). If he wakes up before you in the morning, he most probably will, he'll look at you and smile even wider wondering what he did to deserve to have someone as wonderful as you in his life.

BEN drowned

He doesn't need sleep but he likes it. Especially if he can cuddle with you.

He goes to bed whenever he pleases. No nighttime routine or whatever. He just plops on the bed and he's out.

Speaking of going to sleep whenever, he's the type to take naps in the middle of the day.

I like to think that he sleeps like a cat. All curled up on himself and taking so little space that you could probably spend the whole night in the same bed without touching him once.

Always cold even if he's warm to the touch. Please hold him. Only your warmth makes him feel alive again.

In the darkness of the room, he emits a faint green light while his eyes are a vibrant red. Nearly screamed when you slept with him for the first time.

You might wake up without him on your side, but no worries! Since he doesn't feel the need to sleep, he probably just woke up before you and decided to make you a small breakfast ❤️ (terrible at cooking but he tries that's what's important)

Eyeless Jack

Definitely let's you sleep with his hoodie. Wants to make sure you won't be cold even in summer (you never know).

Nocturnal demon. He sleeps with you because he likes the feeling of having you inside his arms to keep you safe.

He's very much probably never going to let you be the big spoon, mostly because there's very little chance that you're bigger than him, but especially because he loves to feel like the big demon that can protect you at all costs.

His skin is hard and weirdly cold to the touch. Hope you don't get cold at night because he's not much of a warm being unlike Jeff.

Since you are so different from him, he like to feel your skin under his touch and to look into your eyes. They feel so lovely when he compares them to his empty sockets.

Not a much of a talker, but don't worry, you will never fall asleep without your goodnight kiss on the forehead.

Does not move. Like not at all. Heck you need to shake him awake in the morning to be sure he's not just dead (well he kind of already is but you get my point...)

Jane

Pretty sleeper. I'm so jealous. She looks like a movie character.

No drooling, no talking, no mumbling... even her hair stays in place. Like how?

She sleeps with a tons of plushies and pillows, you can't change my mind. She especially likes teddy bears, she probably has like 15 of them.

But if you're here with her she will let her plushies go and hug you instead.

If you sleep together, you two will probably not sleep until morning. She loves to talk. Bonus point if you're a good listener!

You like to hold her at night? Go ahead! She gives so much affection to people for sometime she forgets to take care of herself :( (she really is the mom friend)

Expect her to be wide awake when you wake up, she's a real early bird and likes to do chores in the morning. Just like BEN (but it'll taste better) you'll have wonderful breakfast to start the day.

-

Hope you enjoyed!

[acourtofthought]

"the Cauldron’s blast hit the Illyrian forces. / And where a thousand soldiers had been a heartbeat before …

Ashes rained down upon our foot soldiers.

Seconds after that.......

But the Cauldron did not hit the same spot twice. And Hybern was willing to incinerate part of his own army if it meant wiping out a strength of ours.

An unearthly, female shriek broke from deep in the Hybern forces. A sister’s warning—and pain. Just as that white light slammed into the Bone Carver.

But the Carver … I could have sworn he looked toward me as the Cauldron’s power crashed into him. Could have sworn he smiled—and it was not a hideous thing at all.

There—and gone.

The Cauldron wiped him away without any sign of effort.

And a moment after that:

Nesta wasn’t going anywhere. She could barely stay sitting. And Elain … Amren was holding Elain upright as she vomited in the grass. Not from the Cauldron. But pure terror.

(Previously in the series, Nesta vomited when the Cauldron was used to take down the wall. It's power / vibration is what caused her to be sick: Nesta moaned, body tensing as if she’d vomit again. But then we felt it. A shuddering through the earth. Through air and stone and green, growing things. As if some great god blew a breath across the land. Then the impact came. Rhys threw himself over me so fast I didn’t register wholly that the mountain itself shook, that the building swayed. We hit the stones as debris rained, and I felt him readying to winnow— Then it stopped. Screaming rose up from the valley below. But silence reigned in the palace. Amongst us. Nesta vomited again, and Mor let her sag to the floor this time.

With Elain, it seems to be the deaths that caused her sickness, not the power surge.

A few chapters earlier:

Elain at last slid into the chair near Mor’s, her dawn-pink dress—finer than the ones she usually wore—crinkling beneath her. “Will—will many of these soldiers die?”

Whereas the other characters are bothered by the loss of their soldiers, they seem to accept it as unavoidable.

Nesta is matter of fact when she tells Elain that yes, many soldiers will die.

And while Feyre sends up a prayer for the warriors decimated by the Cauldron and the others begin to discuss what their next move will be, Elain is the only one to have an extremely physical reaction to the deaths that just occurred.

There are some who celebrate "Elain the Kingslayer" but I think we're going to find she's struggling with what she did, taking a life. That she would shun that moniker.

She loves Nesta and would obviously do what was needed to save her but I don't think she's glad to have gotten revenge on the King.

The other characters don't usually blink at taking out someone who harmed their family but I think Elain will always carry an immense amount of guilt for any life she takes, deserved or not. In her mind I don't think it's something she can justify.

Elain begged Feyre not to harm Graysen, no matter what (meaning even if it was deserved).

When Lucien acknowledged her part in killing the King, she immediately turned the attention towards Nesta.

It was very pointed how SJM said Elain returned Truth-Teller and "didn't look back". (Think about what TT is used for, what Elain used it for. It is a tool for death, something Elain walked away from without looking back not to mention possible foreshadowing for Elain walking away from the one who represents death).

The cruelty of the Hewn City specifically bothers Elain. The other characters think it's residents are trash but they embrace the roles they step into while there. They enjoy seeing Kier put in his place. Elain tries to prove she too can belong but it's clearly not something she's comfortable doing.

If Elain vomited from the terror she felt over the lost lives during war (which is pretty much a certainty in battle), then how can anyone honestly think she'll support what Azriel does and the way he thinks?

“If Lucien kills Graysen, then good riddance.”

"I'll defeat him with little effort"

What we did to the Attor wasn’t pretty.”

the quiet voice that had broken countless enemies.

People often made the mistake of assuming Cassian was the wilder one; the one who couldn’t be tamed. But Cassian was all hot temper—temper that could be used to forge and weld. There was an icy rage in Azriel I had never been able to thaw.

“Break its legs, shred its wings, and dump it off the coast of Hybern. See if it survives.” / The Attor was already screaming beneath Truth-Teller’s honed edge when I left the cell.

I held his gaze, though. Held that ice-cold stare that still sometimes scared the shit out of me. I’d seen what he’d done to his half brothers centuries ago. Still dreamed of it. The act itself wasn’t what lingered. Every bit of it had been deserved. Every damn bit. But it was the frozen precipice that Az had plummeted into that sometimes rose from the pit of my memory. The beginnings of that frost cracked over his eyes now.

The way he hesitated before he said learned said enough: he’d tortured it out of someone. Many people.

Azriel leaned against the wall by the lone door, Truth-Teller bloody in his hand

the male bleeding from places Azriel knew would hurt but not kill. Az knew where to slice up a male without letting him bleed out. Knew how to make this last for days.

But Feyre, Cassian knew, had been aware of what she’d see before entering. And well aware that these ten minutes had only been the opening movements in a symphony of pain that Azriel could conduct with brutal efficiency.

Feyre struggled watching Azriel torture. Knowing Elain, does anyone truly think she'd be better at witnessing it than Feyre? She has an inner strength, yes, but she is canonically more gentle and sensitive. Inner strength does not necessarily translate to being fine hurting others.

And the second Azriel sensed that Elain was uncomfortable with what he does, what would be the result?

Azriel leaned against the carved wood footboard at the end of his bed. “Little to add to what you already know.” Smooth, easy liar. Far better than me.

The only character in this series who has been entirely in their right to inflict violence on someone but chose a different route is Lucien.

He would not be wrong in going after Eris (especially early on in the series) or in going after Beron and I don't even think anyone would blame him for putting Ianthe in her place. He could have suggested Rhys take Tamlin out for the way Tamlin has treated Lucien rather than encouraging Rhys to have mercy on him. He could have also easily gone after Graysen.

Yet he has made the choice time and again to avoid violence, only using it in defense.

Elain has not gotten to know Lucien because of the bond, she's using that as her shield and refusing to let her guard down.

But honestly, based on personality and personality alone (and not who wants who at this point because we know that can change), how can anyone think Elucien would not well matched?

[greenlantern94to04]

Green Lantern #50 (March 1994)

"EMERALD TWILIGHT," Finale! Hal Jordan goes full supervillain, and nothing will ever be the same again (for about 10 years).

Last issue ended with Hal, usually the hero of this comic, attempting to steal the power of every Green Lantern in the universe via their Central Power Battery, only to be stopped by Sinestro, usually the villain of this comic. Hal, driven mad by the destruction of his city and obsessed with getting the power to un-destroy it, tells Sinestro he'll kill him if he doesn't get out of his way, but Sinestro ain't buying it -- he still thinks he's talking to the Hal Jordan who appeared in the Super Friends cartoons.

Hal demonstrates how serious he is by nearly blowing Sinestro's pants off with all those GL rings he stole last issue. Sinestro points out that one ring vs. ten rings isn't very sporting, so Hal actually drops the extra ones so they can have a fair fight. I guess resurrecting Hal's loved ones as soon as possible isn't as important as proving to a purple jackass that he can beat him without unfair advantages.

So, Hal and Sinestro start fighting as the increasingly worried Guardians of the Universe watch on. Sinestro tries to get under Hal's skin by telling him about the time the Guardians begged him to take this sad little Earthling and turn him into "half" the Green Lantern Sinestro was, but Hal isn't in the mood for fight scene banter right now. What starts as a classic power ring battle (constructs, energy blasts) soon devolves into two angry dudes beating the crap out of each other, until Hal finally gets his arms around Sinestro's neck...

...and breaks it. Hal doesn't even let out a dramatic "NOOOOOOOO," like a proper superhero. He just mutters "damn you" and walks away, leaving Sinestro's mangled body on the ground.

Now no one else stands between Hal and the Central Battery -- or so he thinks, until Kilowog comes back for another round. Despite having no ring, Kilowog gives Hal a good beating as he tries to make him think about the consequences of draining the Power Battery (you know, like murdering every GL currently in space or in a fight somewhere). Kilowog tells Hal he may have killed Sinestro, but he isn't evil like him yet. He can still stop. Hal replies: "No. I can't." Then he confirms it by turning one of his best friends into a pile of bones.

Hal drops his ring, saying he doesn't deserve it anymore... and besides, he won't need it after absorbing the Central Battery's power. Hal walks up to the Battery and all the Guardians are there, but without any GLs around, they can't really do anything but lecture him. With tears in his eyes, Hal tells them: "What's going to happen is going to happen. It has to. You can't stop it... and neither can I." It's like Hal knows they're all merely pawns to a higher power: yes, Green Lantern editor Kevin Dooley.

It's only once Hal has entered the battery that the other Guardians turn to Ganthet and are like "okay, fine, let's try that plan you mentioned last issue." As the Battery begins to collapse, the Guardians perform a ritual where they send all their lifeforce to Ganthet (which you can tell because they're getting even older and wrinklier). Finally, the Battery explodes and Hal emerges with a new costume, a new more villain-esque hairdo, and, although we don't know it yet, a new name: PARALLAX.

Parallax walks across the Guardians' shriveled up bodies and angrily steps on his old GL ring before flying off into space. Then, Ganthet rises from a pile of corpses and puts the broken ring back together (and gives it a redesign, while at it). He says that, as the last Guardian of the Universe, he'll make sure that his brothers' ideals live on, then turns himself into a ball of energy headed for Earth.

Meanwhile, the same young dude who saw Hal flying to Oa in GL #48 comes out of a nightclub to get some air and spots another "falling star" in the sky, only this one is actually falling. In fact, it's heading directly for him. It turns out to be Ganthet, who lands right in front of this understandably confused clubgoer, tells him "You shall have to do," and hands him Hal's refurbished ring.

Without saying much else, Ganthet turns back into green energy and disappears. After confirming that the hobo who was sleeping in this alley also saw "a blue little guy in a red dress disappear" (for what it's worth), the guy decides to put on the ring -- and suddenly finds himself wearing a Green Lantern costume. "Oh man," he says, "I think my life just got a lot more complicated."

Haha, you don't know the half of it, buddy.

Plotline-Watch:

Things we know about Kyle Rayner so far: 1) he likes Nine Inch Nails, based on his shirt, 2) sometimes he dances so hard that he has trouble breathing, and 3) if a little blue man in an alley tells him to do something, he does it. Perfect superhero material. Things we don't know about Kyle Rayner yet: that his name is Kyle Rayner.

I've always liked the contrast between the way Hal was recruited to the Corps in 1959's Showcase #22 (with a speech about how fearless and honest he is) and the way Kyle was recruited in this issue (with a shrug and a "you'll do").

The Guardians did approach Sinestro about training Hal, as told in Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn II #1 (1991), but there was no begging involved. In fact, they forced him to do it. I guess he showed him in the end when his trainee wound up destroying the Corps (and killing him, but still).

Kilowog (RIP) tells Hal "I know what it's like to lose yer home, the folks ya love..." and it's true: he lost his planet twice. Bolovax Vik was destroyed during Crisis on Infinite Earths, but Kilowog managed to preserve everyone's minds inside his ring. Then, as soon as he found a new planet for his people in Green Lantern Corps #218 (1987), Sinestro blew it up again, permanently killing everyone this time. By Hal's logic, Kilowog should have turned himself into a DOUBLE Parallax long ago.

Kilowog also mentions that Hal has gone into the Central Battery twice before: first to save the day at the end of Emerald Dawn, and then to try to save the day in Green Lantern #6 (1990), although it didn't work out so well the second time because a crazy Guardian had already taken that power for himself. You know, they really should have put a door on that thing or something.

I don't remember if the hobo who was sleeping in the alley when Kyle got the ring will appear again, but I'm giving him a tag anyway. Wonder if they've ever done an alternate reality story about what if he'd become the All-New Green Lantern...

Guy-Watch:

Guy Gardner: Warrior #18 marks the start of the "Emerald Fallout" storyline, which will reunite Guy with his old pal Hal. It kicks off with Guy's yellow power ring (which feeds off GL ring energy) suddenly exploding and showing him a vision of Hal killing Sinestro, Kilowog's corpse, and Parallax emerging from the Battery. Guy, however, seems more concerned with the fact that the ring isn't working now, so he takes it to Blue Beetle, who can't resist the opening for a dick joke.

Beetle ends up giving Guy a prototype of the EXTREME '90s armor he built for Booster Gold (incidentally, based on Kilowog's old designs), which is somehow even more EXTREME and more '90s. Guy has some trouble adjusting to it, but grows to like it.

Next, Guy visits his on-and-off girlfriend Ice at the Arctic Circle, where she's quite literally chilling as she figures some stuff out -- as seen in the Justice League America series, she recently lost her dad after he was murdered by her evil brother, who also died, and then she gained vaguely defined new powers for vaguely defined reasons. Also, she went from modest clothes and no cleavage to an exotic dancer suit and all of the cleavage. The '90s were hard on everyone.

Just when it looks like Ice and Guy are about to reconcile, there's a huge explosion that knocks her out -- it's that Militia asshole who tried to kill Guy last issue, who just shot himself out of a submarine's cannon to finish the job. Will Guy ever catch a break?! NEXT ISSUE: Not in this storyline, he won't.

[darkpoisonouslove]

Trivia Tuesday

Who says Trivia Tuesday is only for written works?

I have been putting this off for 3 months but I wanted to share this compilation of my favorite moments from my Daylight video for Griffin x Valtor and do some commentary on them, talk about the process behind this video.

*I chose to overlay the song from the beginning instead of making you listen to the different segments that go with the footage smashed together in a cacophony. Here's the full video if you want to reference which parts of the song correspond to the respective segments.

There is no reason for me to bring this up other than that in the og video the line "you and I drink the poison from the same vine" just so happens to play while this is going on. I swear that was not on purpose. I chose the vine attack against Valtor because of the dark green glow around the stem which looks like Griffin's magic in order to make this more convincing... and then I realized that this moment happened right as that lyric was playing.

This whole segment starting from Griffin and Faragonda and then switching to Valtor in his lonely tower before Griffin contacts him because she wants to talk to him too and can't tear herself away is just so wistful and nostalgic and the music (especially in the actual video) only adds to that vibe. They're both brooding - out of the daylight - because they despise their obsession with each other but still can't help it.

I especially love that he proceeds to break into Alfea to talk to her and she blasts him with a vortex of books because she sensed his presence (I just didn't include that part in this compilation because then I'd have to post the entire video). It is a headcanon that I've had for a while that because they were partners for so long and the Dragon Fire is the most powerful magic which created the whole universe, Griffin has learned to home in on his magical signature because she can distinguish it from anyone else's.

-- Join me. -- A horrible idea.

I find this moment utterly hilarious. I don't really have anything else to say about it but I guess I can share the process of picking the dialogue for the video. Valtor's lines were easier to pick because they mostly come from a couple of scenes but I had to scour the entire season 1 (aka every scene with Griffin) to figure out which of Griffin's lines can be useful and then I had to piece together actual conversations from them, the one above being my magnum opus.

I simply enjoy the way I made these two different scenes fit together into one to make it look like his whole "teleporting in your chair" shtick happens right in front of Griffin's and the viewer's eyes. This is why I love video editing!

This one! Oh, this was a legendary moment for me! A whole new step in my video making career. I feel like I unlocked a whole new part of my brain when I realized that I could use the mirror effect to showcase Griffin's spell creating her clone. I have never used the mirror effect before and finding such great application for it that adds to the story (because I wasn't sure my idea with the spell was coming through before I came up with this) was certainly a highlight of my video making process.

Kind of on the other end of the spectrum this is here because I wanted to explain that the vortex is the portal that Griffin opens to sneak back to her office and catch Valtor off guard while he's watching her clone. I wasn't sure all of that was clear but I was running out of ideas, mental energy and remaining seconds from the song so I kind of had to speedrun that if I wanted to fit everything in the video.

I thought Valtor deserved a taste of his own medicine (aka payback for the illusion spell he used on Griffin, Faragonda and Saladin at Light Rock lake). Is this scenario realistic? Mayhaps not. But! Griffin used to study under Lysslis with him so she could have picked up some very convincing illusion magic too!

I'm thinking that perhaps I would have been able to provide more insight into the video and my thoughts on it if I had written this back in January when I could still remember the process of making this but it is what it is. I got to talk about it again and rediscover some of the joys that this particular video brought to me which was fun! And now this post works as a throwback to refresh all our memory on my latest efforts in video making before we see where I go from here.

[meles-merrivale]

April 5: Hate

Got a bit long, but there's always tomorrow!

written for @hinnymicrofic

It’s in the fucking walls. Not all the time. Well, not anymore, at least. But it’s still there, that fucking hissing. In the dim haze of empty hallways as she makes her way down to the pitch for early morning practice, slithering under the laughter in the great hall, stopping her dead when she takes a wrong turn on the second floor. 

It’s in her head. He’s still in her head.

She wants to be someone who laughs with Katie on the walk to the Room of Requirement because she's funny and not to drown out the memory in the walls. A girl whose hexes are powered by skill and talent instead of rage. But she's not. She's inkstained and angry. She flings herself into hexes and curses, gives a flourishing bow when the others cheer as she blasts the room apart, and when they start to trickle out for the night she keeps going. When she leaves she'll have to stop fighting. When she leaves she’s the same small girl in the same hallways, and he’s still out there. 

“Hey,” a familiar voice says, and a hand closes around her wrist. It’s warm, and familiar enough not to startle her. She’s not sure when Harry’s touch became familiar. “Might be time to give it a rest, no?” 

No, the twisting thing inside her snarls. The thing that shares classes with friends she almost killed, that never wants to sleep or eat or rest until Tom Riddle is burning in hell.

She takes a deep breath. Waits for the dust to settle from her last curse. 

“Probably,” she says, dropping her head back to grin up at Harry. He’d gotten a good bit taller than her over the summer. She’s decided it’s annoying and not a bit handsome. 

“Good, cause it’s almost curfew,” he says, dropping her hand and heading towards the singed dummy she’d been mauling. It’s only now that she realizes the rest of the room’s already cleaned up. Maybe she had been going a little overboard. 

“What’s this? The legendary Harry Potter, afraid of a little rule breaking?”  

“Absolutely terrified.” 

That gets a laugh out of her and a bit more gentle banter before they subside into companionable silence, packing away the last of the D.A. supplies. Quiet isn’t Ginny’s natural state, but she’s been surprised to find with Harry it’s rather nice. Safe harbor is the term that comes to mind, but that seems a bit melodramatic to think about a boy who, at the end of the day, is just her brother’s best friend. 

They’re set to start the long slog back up to Gryffindor Tower when Harry pauses, one hand on the Room door. “Listen, Ginny…” 

“Hm?” she prompts when nothing follows. 

“Look, you don’t need to say anything. But, um, are you okay? Cause you’ve seemed…tense. Tonight, and in general.” 

She opens her mouth to say I’m fine on reflex, then bites her tongue to give herself a second. When was the last time someone really asked if she was okay? Not this year. Probably not last, either. 

Looking into those bright green eyes, his brow furrowed slightly like she’s a particularly difficult star chart he’s trying to uncode, she’s pretty sure Harry is really asking. 

“Not really,” she says.

She’s not expecting it, the way it feels like exhaling. Like a rubber band she didn’t know she’d been stretching all year has finally eased. 

Harry doesn’t ask any follow up, just lets the air resettle around them. When it does, she finds it’s left space for more words to fill it. 

“I just…You-Know-Who’s back. And I’m so fucking angry. I hate him. I hate him, and he deserves it, but…” she takes a deep breath. “But I don’t think I like who hating makes me.” Harry's been a bit of a prat too, lately. She wonders if he'll get what she means.  

He blinks once, and there’s a flicker of what might be surprise in his eyes. But no confusion, or disappointment, or disgust. So that’s fine. She doesn’t mind surprising him. 

Harry sags slightly against the door, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Yeah,” he agrees. “Fucking sucks, right?”

Ginny snorts. It might be a bit on the wet, gross side of acceptable, but this doesn’t seem like the time or place to care. “That’s all you’ve got to offer?”

“That’s all I’ve got.” he says with a rueful smile. Which, she’s not sure what she really should’ve expected from a fifteen year old boy. But it is kind of nice, actually. Knowing this is all hard for someone else, too. 

Harry leans closer, sliding sideways across the polished wood of the door until his shoulder presses against hers. “Listen, Gin. I don’t know what’s going on in your head, or what it’s like living with, you know, everything. But, from where I’m standing, you’ve turned out pretty great.” 

That’s not quite right. Because he’s probably the one person who does get, you know, everything. Of course, that’s why she doesn���t have to say it. 

“You’re pretty alright, too.”

[donnetellotheturtle]

Protector

Chapter 6

Ruthlessness

Only, Hugo couldn’t sleep. While the fire burned and Nuru and Varian were fast asleep, he was tossing and turning on the ground. Usually, sleeping rough was good. Nice even. But right now it was like his brain couldn’t shut up. After about three hours of this, he laid up, grabbed his glasses, and went for a walk.

He didn’t take the torch. The moonlight was enough to guide his way. Not that he really knew where he was going. He looked up at the stars as he walked up a cliff. He needed the air.

He sat down at the edge of it with his legs hanging over the side, thinking. The way Varian asked him to stay. These last few days had been a lot to say the least. He hadn’t had a moment to breath.

“Have you thought about my offer?”

Mother fucker.

“You said I had until dawn tomorrow. It hasn’t even been 4 hours.” Hugo didn’t turn. He couldn’t look at the thing possessing the only family he had, or he would break.

“I did.” It sat next to Hugo. He made sure not to look at it. “However. I don’t know if I have that much time… My powers are waning by the day.”

“So, leave Varian alone! He doesn’t deserve any of this!” Hugo said. “Just…leave.”

A small pause as the protector thought. “I understand why you are so keen on keeping me from him. I didn’t make a great first impression, did I?”

“No shit!” Hugo snapped. “You’re hunting him and now we’re out in the middle of gods know where! And you’re possessing my-” He finally looked at the protector. It was in Donella’s body. He was staring at her face. At his moms face. He let his shoulders slump.

“I didn’t realize these two had value to you, Hugo.”

“How did you know my-”

“These two…they dream about you. They are not in pain. I promise.”

“That doesn’t make it better…”

“My point still stands. I don’t have much time.”

“Well I don’t give a rats ass.” Hugo stood. “You want Varian, you’ll have to go through me first. Got it?”

The protector frowned as Hugo walked. “I tried to reason with you.”

Hugo’s magic sparked and he just managed to create a shield in time before that goop shattered on it. He fell to the ground from the force of it.

“You have promise, Hugo.” It walked forward. Fear rose in his chest, down to his hands. His magic sparked. He quickly realized it. He could use it.

Donellas hand lifted and the goop grabbed him around the arms, dragging him down. Hugo grinned. He wouldn’t have noticed it, but his hair floated and his eyes sparked with blue green and purple before he slammed his hands onto the ground. It was like the ground responded to him, grass growing and flowers sprouting. Each blade severed the goop from him and he was able to stand up.

A blast hit him in the chest, sending him to the ground. He groaned. Olivia squeaked at him.

“Go find varian.” He whispered to her. “Make sure he and Nuru are safe.”

Olivia hesitated, but then scampered out of his pocket and into the woods.

He stood back up. God his chest hurt. This was like when he was beat up by those kids when he was 14. Magic pooled in his hands. Time slowed down for a moment.

“Remember Hugo, Focus and control.”

He was 10. Donella was bent down to his level, holding his hand arm gently. She had taken to teaching him magic. Neither asked but it had become something that needed to be done after a particularly bad magic surge almost destroyed the inn they were staying at and gave away their identities.

Little Hugo took a deep breath, aiming at the jars set up for Hugo to shoot at.

“How do I “focus and control” if I don’t know whats going to come out of my hands?”

“That’s why we practice. Your magic is unlike any other. The only thing that will make it easier to handle is if you learn how to wield it. Make the decision on what kind of magic you want, and fire.”

“Focus and control…” Hugo mumbled. He closed his eyes, focused on what kind of magic he wanted to come out of his hand. Fire. He needed fire.

He focused on it, and laughed a but when he actually managed to do it. Then he shot it at Donella who was walking towards him. She easily shrugged it off. “Nice trick. You’ll have to do better though.”

Hugo got the hang of it now. He smiled.

--

Varian’s sleep was fitful. For the first time in years he couldn’t control his dreams. He saw his father in the crystal. His friends stuck in red crystal. Black rocks.

The eternal library.

He woke up with a gasp. Something was on top of him.

Varians eyes focused and on his chest was Olivia.

He laid up, realizing Hugo was nowhere near them.

“Hugo?” Varian called.

“Whats going on?” Nuru asked groggily.

“Hugos gone.”

Olivia squeaked. There was an explosion.

“what was that?”

Varian shot up, already on his way towards it. He couldn’t loose Hugo. Not like this.

--

Hugo felt the magic surge before he saw it. He channeled it downwards into the ground. Vines wrapped around Donella.

Hugos body shook. He was running low quickly. He had to figure out a way out of this. He was sweating and the protector hadn’t even stopped to breathe.

“Getting tired Hugo?”

“No…just getting started.” Hugo growled.

He ran towards it. A fist fight wasn’t great but it was better than using all his magic up at once. Even if he was hitting Donella. She couldn’t feel it, he assured himself.

He managed to hit it square across the face. “Donella, if you’re in there, now would be a fantastic time to wake up!”

He felt something slice against his stomach. He winced. He was definitely bleeding already. He looked down and saw Donella’s knife in her hands, covered in his blood.

“Fuck…” He mumbled.

“You were saying?”

Hugo glared. The ground rumbled under his feet. In a burst of teal light, it exploded, sending him into the air for a moment. He rolled into a tree and hit his head. He saw spots.

He couldn’t stop though. It was coming towards him. He blinked. Longer than he meant to, and it was on top of him, putting a hand on his neck. “You should have taken my offer.” Hugo blinked away the spots best he could as the grip became tight. He felt as of something searing was entering his brain.

“Get away from him!”

Varian.

Hugo looked behind him. Varian was standing there. Hair messy and shirt covered in dirt. “Varian no! Get away from here!”

Varian ignored Hugo. Standing firm.

Nuru was not far behind him.

“Get…get out of here…” The exhaustion was finally catching up to him. For once, Nuru looked concerned about him. Didn’t think he’d see the day.

The protector let go of Hugo, standing.

“We finally meet. Face to face…in some respects.” The protector stepped towards Varian. Hugo reached out a hand. He couldn’t do any more magic if he wanted to. Not when he was already hurt and using all his energy not to pass out. Energy that was quickly waning.

“don’t…hurt him.”

The protector rolled its eyes. “Excuse me, Varian.” It turned to Hugo, who glared hard.

Varian threw a rock at Donella’s head. All three of them did a double take. Donnella’s body shifting back.

“You’re here for me.” Varian said. “leave him alone.”

“…I suppose you’re right. Give me the stolen magic and I’ll be on my way.”

Varian looked at Hugo, who shook his head. He sighed and walked forward, towards Donella’s outstretched hand. Nuru didn’t move.

Hugo is about to do something, anything. Get off his sorry ass and tackle that thing in his moms body to the ground.

But Varian stops short of taking her hand. He had an evil look in his eye. He was planning something.

“no.”

“No?”

Varian looked at it. “You heard me.”

“Ugh Teenagers. Why do you have to make things so hard? Just give me back what’s mine.”

Varian smiled. “You know…I’ve been thinking about that. Here’s the thing. I’ve never been to the eternal library. And also you’ve been chasing us. Instead of waiting until I’m asleep. I have to give you it back. You can’t just take it.”

“…Yes.”

“Which means it’s mine now.”

Nuru had quietly made her way over to check on Hugo. She winced at the blood. “You need to stay awake.” She said.

“Y-You need to-to pr….” Hugo blinked hard… He was tired… Maybe if he just…

“No, no stay awake.” Nuru’s voice cut through the exhaustion. He noticed she had torn off a piece of her dress and she was applying pressure. He groaned in pain.

“Shit there’s…there’s so much blood.”

“Nice to see you care.” Hugo chuckled. “You’re so prissy I never could have guessed.”

She pressed down harder, on the wound, making Hugo groan. “Sorry.”

Somehow he knew she wasn’t completely sorry.

“Know any healing spells?” Hugo asked.

“Nope that’s why I’m doing this.”

Hugo focused back in on the conversation. It was the only thing keeping him awake at the moment. Well, that and the searing pain.

“…I was given it. The only question is how.” Varian put a finger to his chin, faux thinking. “Now I don’t know about much about magic but if I had to guess, you can’t give magic without intentionally doing it. My mom couldn’t have. So why did you give me it?”

The protector paused. Hugo wasn’t sure what was happening. Nuru was searching through her spell book for something.

“Well, I didn’t think you’d figure that out.”

Varian stepped back. “Who are you?”

"I told you. I’m the protector of the library.”

His eyes were getting heavy again. What was happening? Where was he? Someone said to stay awake. But why?

Hugo groaned as he was suddenly grabbed by the shirt, and lifted. Nuru reached to grab Hugo back but the way the protector looked at her gave her a second thought. That didn’t stop her from glaring.

Hugo’s head lobbed to the side, limp and useless. He couldn’t remember what was happening. He was so tired. But Varian looked so scared. He couldn’t remember why. He didn’t like it, though. He only caught snippets of the conversation.

“….go.”

“…Little boyfriend…bring…..magic…lib….”

He was pulled to another location suddenly. He didn’t know where he was. He felt sick.

Donella was there. She leaned over him, chanting something. Donella was safe...

He let the world go dark.

--

“Why’d you let them get away!?” Varian yelled.

Nuru was crying.

Varian squeezed his eyes shut, trying to stop the tears. Nuru pulled him into a hug. “I’m so sorry…” She whispered.

“I thought if I distracted him…”

Nuru pulled away. “Come on. There’s no time to waste.

“What?”

“That thing, whoever or whatever it is, took Hugo.”

Varian sniffled. “We’re not powerful enough to stop that thing. I should have given up when I had the chance instead of being a coward.”

“Coward?” Nuru asked. “Varian, you are not a coward. You ran in to save him as soon as you knew something was up.”

Varian sniffled.

“…why did you keep the magic instead of giving it up, anyway?” Nuru asked after a long moment.

Varian took a shaky breath. “what if you’re right?”

Nuru raised an eyebrow.

“What if its the only reason I’m smart? That I’m good at alchemy and science and everything I love? What if I give that up and become a shell?”

“Varian-”

“God I’m so selfish. I didn’t save him cause I was a coward.”

Nuru put a hand on his shoulder. She looked with him with such intensity it made him pay attention to her. “You are not selfish.”

“Huh?”

“There was nothing we could do in that moment. If we attacked, it likely would have used Hugo as a human shield. If you had given up your magic, we don’t know what it would have done. But now we know a couple things.”

“What are those?”

“1. You can only give it up if you want to. 2. It’s corrupted for sure. Not sure how but we’ll need to fix it before we do anything else. And 3. It has Hugo. So we need to buck up and save him.”

“That’s what it wants us to do.”

“Yeah but we can do it in a way that won’t get us killed or worse...”

Varian looked at the ground.

“Its not going to kill him. It needs him as bait.” She squeezed his shoulders. “So, use that big brain of yours and think of a solution.”

< >

Read this on A03!

[redeyeflyguy]

Wonderful Top 7's!!! Top 7 Dragon Ball FighterZ Ultimate Attacks (a.k.a. I try to describe a bunch of super cool anime fighting game moves using terminology that you may or may not understand even in this sentence alone because I think it is absolutely worth it!)

#7: Cooler's Atomic Supernova: I wanted to include at least one Ultimate that was cool more for mechanical reasons rather than aesthetic and Frieza's super shredded brother gives me just what I want. Not to say that the act of gut punching an opponent, slamming them to the ground and then dropping a sun on them isn’t rad. However, what makes Atomic Supernova unique is how it is activated i.e. it is used to reverse an opponent’s strike. You use it, they punch you, and they are punished for their folly...and it feels goooood when it lands. Not so much when they don’t take the bait.

#6: Android 17's Super Electric Strike: Compared to the other supers on this list, A17's is a basic big projectile. Nothing special especially as Dragon Ball is concerned but make said projectile a giant, swirling green lighting buzzsaw of death and it would tick off most of my boxes. The posing and motion before the strike is launched is just the icing on the cake. That and I have Android 17 bias.

#5: Yamcha's Ultimate Wolf Fang Fist: I am going to throw my chips to the lowest ranked of Dragonball's three eternal jobbers because he definitely deserves it. The initial rush is just Yamcha's normal Wolf Fang Fist given some varied camera angles but that last hit with the confident pose, the wolf howl, the dual palm strike, it's just...mmmm. Love it! It might be the best the desert bandit has ever looked (along with the rest of his appearance in this game.)

#4: Ultra Instinct Goku's Silver Dragon Flash: From one end of the power scale to the other. UI Goku's animations really sell how untouchable  DB's main hero is in this form and that also applies to his most damaging combination. Blazing forward bathed in silver fire, moving so fast the only thing visible are lashing whips of light and then unleashing the biggest beam in the game point blank. I may prefer the Top 3 but this ultimate certainly makes a compelling case otherwise.

#3: Hit's I Keep Improving: What's faster than light? Skipping the travel time altogether. For his ultimate attack, this master hitman rushes forward before rapidly pelting his target with punches that erupt into purple pillars of plasma. He then lands the final blow before looking away as time returns to normal and his target feels every last painful strike at once. All that including the stained glass effect of Hit's powers and a spectacular shot where the camera rotates around the carnage as he attacks most certainly makes this super move a...hit. I'd see myself out but I have two more entries. Also, I live here.

#2: Kefla's Gigantic Burst: A little creativity can go a long way in a series where most big attacks consist of generic laser blasts. Case in point: Kefla. Her most powerful technique completely covers the field in red energy beams, turning those same red energy beams into giant red energy whips before forming them together into the coolest laser beam in the series: a double swirling cherry red, lime green plasma blast of pure unadulterated hype. Plus, its activation means it can punish any errant attack an enemy throws out. Yep, this one’s a winner! #1: Gogeta Blue's Meteor Explosion & Ultimate Kamehameha: On one hand, Gogeta Blue's Ultimate attack is ripped straight from Dragon Ball's most recent movie which might be seen as lazy or an obvious marketing ploy. On the other hand, the fact they were able to get the visuals so close to a high budget anime movie is extremely impressive. On a third hand, kicking your opponent into the air, unleashing a massive blue satellite laser from the heavens and capping it off with a move that more than deserves the name "Ultimate Kamehameha" is just plain awe-inspiring. By virtue of having one more hand than the average Level 3 super, Gogeta takes the gold.

[norabrice1701]

The Duke & The Witch - Ch. 5

Charles Brandon x Fem!OC, A The Tudors Slight-AU fic

Series Main List

Ch. 5 Warnings: Discussion of witchcraft; period-typical attitudes towards everything (women, religion, witchcraft, etc.); fantastical squinty science/alchemy

It doesn’t take much longer for his strength to return. His legs shake as a newborn calf when he finally rolls up to a sitting position, breathing heavily from the effort. A hazy numbness still fogs his brain, and he hopes it won’t last much longer. 

True to her word, the cottage is modest in its appointments. The fire embers mostly burned out by the time he finds his feet, and the surrounding furnishings - the large, rough-wood table that she had occupied; a couple of crude chairs; a bed with animal furs in the back corner next to a rough cabinet completed the scene. Except for another table - a taller table to accommodate standing - occupied the opposite wall, next to a wooden lattice and another rough-wood cabinet. None of it bore any obvious signs of witchcraft - no cauldron, no black cat, no pentagrams. Not even a broom that he could see. 

As he leaves the cottage behind, her parting words stick with him. Her assumption that he would indeed search through her belongings to find evidence against her still stings. Does she really think so little of him? That he would resort to something so underhanded to ensure her downfall?

Unless divination counted among her skills, she didn’t know about his role in the downfall of Cardinal Wolsey. But if he hadn’t needed to resort to underhanded measures to bring Wolsey down, then he didn’t need to stoop low to see Avian brought to account. And highly doubted that Avian’s crimes are even half as heinous as Wolsey’s. Embezzling the king’s funds. Placing France’s interests above England’s. Plotting with the Emperor and the Pope to see himself restored to power. The man had well and truly deserved everything that befell him. 

Mercifully, the rain has stopped as he undertakes the journey back to St. Edmunds. His clothing already bears soiled stains beyond redemption and a thorough soaking would make the ride back to Westhorpe even more unpleasant.

His mind spins the whole way back. He recalls watching her toy with the knife at the table - had she considered using it against him? After all, he does pose a credible threat, and he would have been powerless to stop her if she had chosen to attack. Or if not with the knife, she could have blasted him with lightning - like the unfortunate raven. But curiously enough, she had done neither - in fact, it still stuns that she actually answered a few of his questions. 

As much as that feels like a victory, it feels like a trap. Is she just trying to lure him into a false sense of security? Does she present her skills as alchemy to hide the true nature of their origin? God help him, but he wants to learn more. Her bright green eyes held such a vast sea of carefully-guarded truth, and wants to discover all of it. 

If he returned tomorrow, would she welcome him? 

The thick clouds obscure the afternoon sun when he returns his horse to the Westhorpe stable. Taking the stairs up to the main door, there’s little else that he wants to do other than request Joseph prepare a bath.

“God be praised, Your Grace!” Relief bursts on Joseph's face as he enters the main hall. “We have prayed for your safe return since you left us.”

“That was kind of you, but unnecessary.” Charles says, offering a reassuring smile. “I have not fallen victim to witchcraft.”

“I’m relieved to hear it. More prayers will be offered in gratitude for your safe return.”

“Safe, but soiled.” He tears at the buttons of his tunic. “Have water heated and a bath prepared. It’s been a long trail of dungeons and dirt.”

Joseph’s eyes widen with curious concern, but ever the dutiful servant, he only offers a short bow before moving off to enact the order. Working the tie of his shirt open, Charles moves for the dining room, breathing freer in his relaxed clothing. The pitcher of wine rests where it always does and he quickly pours a goblet-full. It slides with welcome relief down his throat as he glances at the pile of scrolls and missives that have arrived in his absence, reaching to take them under his arm.

The duties of his office never cease. 

When the heat of the water has seeped soothingly into his muscles, he leans back against the edge of the wood and canvas tub and reaches for the top missive from the accompanying table. At first, he had found it unusual to just linger in the water without going through the bathing motions, but Catherine had opened his eyes. Showed him how the heat helped soothe aches, clear the mind, and restore the spirit. Of course, her nimble hands had vastly improved the experience. But that’s why, even now, he doesn’t rush his baths.

With a sip of wine, he continues to read. The price of wheat has increased since the last trade. Town elders in Great Yarmouth raise concerns about the fishing industry growth out of Lowestoft and the depletion of herring fishing grounds. Haverhill flour mills have stepped up admirably to aide St. Edmunds in the wake of their mill explosion without charging an exorbitant price.

He reaches again for his wine, taking a slow drink before opening the last letter. He recognizes the King’s office seal instantly. In Cromwell’s hand, the official summons scrawls across the page. The official summons to return to court and take the Oath. He wonders if Henry has ordered Cromwell to write it, or if Cromwell has taken his own initiative. Had Cromwell read something in Charles’ face that day on the archery range that convinced him it would take more than an unofficial visit to prompt Charles’ return to court?

It matters little either way. Cromwell’s shrewd observation skills are hardly a secret, and Charles can’t delay his return to court forever. Even if that bitch of a woman does occupy the throne. Even if his return is only to swear his allegiance to her offspring and forsake all that had come before.

A pang of guilt tears through him at the memory of the forgotten queen. The poor woman, God bless her. She had borne all the humiliation and disgrace with such dignity and courage. All of it was wrong, and he knew it, but he’d still been unable to stop himself that day when he asked for her forgiveness. He had no right to ask it of her, but she had granted it anyway.

Publicly, he acknowledges Henry’s reasons for the divorce, but casting Catherine of Aragon aside for someone like Anne Boleyn was beyond him. He can only hope it wouldn’t be a decision that Henry comes to regret. After all, the man has broken the country away from the Catholic Church to do it. 

But if such a day never comes, then Charles supposes he’s destined to watch Henry and Anne dance about so happily in love. Maybe he’s just bitter, but being a widower twice over has sliced Charles with more wounded guilt and jealousy than he wants to admit.

Once upon a time in his youth, he’d loved every willing woman as freely as he pleased without a care to how others received it. And it had killed Margaret. Yes, the physicians said consumption – but he knew that he was the cause of it. The cause of her perpetual dissatisfaction in life.

With Catherine, he promised himself it would be different and it was. A marriage of true souls, he’d told Henry. And then came the most glorious news that he was going to be a father. She had looked so radiantly beautiful when her belly swelled with his child. For the first time in as many years as he could remember, he had felt peace and contentment with his life.

Until God ripped it all away in one fateful night of cries and screams that still echo in his memory. Catherine had labored for hours, ultimately in vain. But from the moment he had been forced from their bed when she awoke with pains, he had paced the length of the dining room countless times and waited with baited breath. Until suddenly the screaming stopped and no wail of a newborn babe sounded. The solemn face of the physician had been little more than a blur as he tore up the stairs to take in the scene.

Catherine had looked at him with weak eyes, pale – so very pale – but hadn’t been able to manage any words. She could barely turn her head towards him when he dropped to sit by her side. He didn’t even remember what he said now. Empty, babbling words that hadn’t done a damn thing to stop the light draining from her eyes, the last breath leaving her body.

At the time, he’d thought that to be the worst night. But the worst nights were yet to come. Alone. In their empty bed. In their empty house, when instead it should be filled with the sounds of their babe crying out for his mother.

He sighs heavily, dropping the king’s official summons back to the table and reaching for his wine. He drains the goblet in several long gulps to banish the heartbreaking memories. 

Lingering on the past that he couldn’t change never ends well. Maybe, instead, the answer lies in looking to the future.

To his upcoming trip to court, no matter the reason. To seeing his good friend and king in what is sure to be a glorious mood. To his subsequent return home. To continuing his pursuit of Avian. To learning what other secrets she holds dear.

***

“Charles! Welcome back to court!” Henry smiles, warm and excited as he gestures Charles over to the long table. “You have been sorely missed.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Charles tips a polite bow before walking further into the king’s chamber. “You are gracious as ever.”

Henry chuckles as he motions to the chair on his left. “Come. Sit. You, groom – pour wine for His Grace.”

“Very gracious, indeed.” Charles moves to the offered chair while the groom pours a steady stream of wine into a pristine goblet.

“So, tell me,” Henry leans back in his chair with a relaxed ease that Charles hasn't seen in years. “How is my countryside?”

Charles pauses to measure his words. Especially in regards to attitudes towards the current queen. “Rather content, Your Majesty,” he says with an easy smile. “Wheat is fetching a higher price than usual. There are minor concerns with herring supply on the east coast, largely due to the success of the market rather than any official policy, though.”

Henry shakes his head, eyes warm with mirth. “Never thought I’d see the day when you’d have a responsible head for business and policy, Your Grace. But look at you now.”

Charles sighs, resisting a roll of his eyes. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I’m well aware that I’m on my way to being one of those boring, middle-aged men that I used to complain about.”

“Come, come! So much time alone in your widowhood has made you dour, my friend. You should have stayed at court where life and love abound.”

Charles smiles and tips his head in acknowledgement. “Your Majesty is quite right. Your continued happiness is a joy to behold. All congratulations are due unto you.”

“Yes, quite so. I expect that the queen will soon be with child again, and our son can finally be born. All the more reason for the Act of Succession to come to swift fruition. I will not have such worries upsetting the queen during her term.”

“Of course not.” Charles’ jaw tenses on instinct and he forces himself to relax. “I’m told Parliament should have the act drawn up for signatures and oaths just after Christmastide.”

Henry huffs a disgusted breath. “That’s not nearly soon enough. These politicians – they talk, they drag their feet. I tell you, if they had their way, I’d still be unwed.”

“I remember how tirelessly Your Majesty toiled in wait and discontent until your conscience could be set to right.”

“It was the sweetest victory, Charles.” Mischief twinkles in Henry’s eye as he raises his cup. “Though not as sweet a victory as my wedding night.”

Obligingly, Charles raises his cup, toasting to Henry with a smile and soft chuckle to match his king’s.

Henry drinks quickly, licking his lips. “I would have you stay around court until then, Charles. There is much to be done, and few who I trust to see it done to my satisfaction.”

Charles nods without hesitation. “Of course, I am at Your Majesty’s command.”

He tries to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach as Henry presses forward with matters of the kingdom. Dammit, he hasn’t planned on staying around Court for so long. The queen’s insufferable presence would hang over everything, and Henry’s congeniality only extended now because he needs Charles to serve. How long would it be until the she-devil convinces Henry to banish him from court again?

He also needs to write to Joseph upon returning to his chambers. That’s all it will take to have Westhorpe shuttered and prepared for his extended absence.

His thoughts should absolutely not turn to Avian. To her bright green eyes, wild curls, and lightning fingers.

But, dammit, they do.

***

For all his talk, she still has yet to see any trace of the Duke of Suffolk. 

Maybe his absence is just to lull her into a false sense of security. Maybe he raises an army to root her out once and for all. Or perhaps, it’s something as mundane as the King’s business that keeps him away. The man does have his duchy to govern and affairs of state to manage, after all. Despite his words, does he really have time to personally track her down and see to the prosecution of a suspected witch?

Yet another day of peaceful silence comes and goes. Another day of tending to tasks – gathering fungi, cutting chamomile, mending the patch in the roof.

Her most recent trip to the village has blessedly been quiet. Nothing reached her ears of anyone in need of assistance. No mill explosions. No fears that keep the villagers awake. Truthfully, that’s how she prefers it. 

And so the witch went quiet as she sometimes does. Her stores have started to run low and the quiet time gives her good time to restock. To gather the required ingredients and prepare them accordingly.

It takes time and until the duke returns, she has plenty of it. Just as she always has. 

And when a rash of robberies hits the road north of St. Edmunds, the sheriff swears it can only be witchcraft that leaves the trail of melted shoes leading to the thieves’ den.

***

Spring blooms around Charles as he rides back to Westhorpe. The budding trees offer bright spots of color and the young green grass shoots stand out against the winter browns. But if Charles is being honest, it would be a pleasant ride back to the countryside no matter the scenery. 

After four months in court, his weary soul needs a break. Everything about daily life there proves taxing. Or maybe he’s just getting too old? The endless days proved a constant test of his patience which has more than worn thin. Henry’s Acts of Supremacy had finally come around just after Christmastide and devolved into a messy business of witnessing oaths and capturing signatures. 

Of course, Charles had sworn and signed his name. The weight of it still hangs as a stain upon his soul. A complete betrayal to the dowager princess and her daughter. But what choice does Charles have? He honestly doesn’t count his soul to be worth much anymore these days, so why not value his head instead?

He can only hope that Henry won’t follow through on his desire to press Sir Thomas More into the oath. Charles knows well of the man’s true inclinations, and he has held true to his word of a quiet retirement from public life. Not that Charles has ever doubted him. The pure, steadfast goodness of Sir Thomas More has always been something that Charles admires from afar.

But now that he surrounds himself in the familiar quiet of Westhorpe, it’s time to set aside the courtly troubles. They will surely be awaiting him whenever he returns, but for now he fully intends to make the most of his respite.

Well, at least he will when he finishes with the duchy secretary. The man, William Matthews, has done an admirable job of keeping Charles apprised of matters that required his attention, yet the work still never stops. Whether he has a focused mind or not. 

“Thank you, Your Grace.” Matthews says, retrieving the paper from the table with ink still wet from Charles’ signature. “I’ll see this delivered right away and funds allocated to start work.”

Charles nods absently. “Yes, I think the additional roadway will be a great boon to regional commerce. An increase to the inland supply of goods, at least.”

“Indeed, Your Grace. And there is one last matter for your attention.” Matthews brandishes a crude letter, the writing barely more than a legible scrawl. “The elders of Lowestoft say their people are threatening riots. Threatening to take up arms against Great Yarmouth over the herring water rights.”

Charles tilts his head to glare up at Matthews. “I thought those disputes were long settled. Why have they been allowed to escalate?”

“Your office has, of course, worked to dissuade them of such a course. But they remain insistent. I sent a representative to the region earlier this year, and he remarked that tensions had somewhat cooled then but were likely to ignite with the coming of warmer weather.”

“Why wasn’t I forewarned?”

Matthews swallows with visible unease as doubt creeps to his face. “I… I didn’t want to trouble Your Grace with such unsubstantiated rumors until we had firmer knowledge.”

“And now I have written threats of riots to contend with.” Charles sighs in frustration as he tries to think of what direction to give and leans back against his chair. He really doesn’t have a mind for this today. “Tell them that to riot and take up arms against each other is to riot and take up arms against their king. And such an act will be responded to in kind. It’s a vast ocean – surely, there must be enough herring for everyone.”

Matthews tips his head in acknowledgement, trying and failing to hold back an amused smirk. “Very good, Your Grace. I’ll draft and send the letter post-haste. And I will keep you immediately informed of any other news from the region as soon as it crosses my desk.”

“I expect nothing less.” He nods both in agreement and dismissal, watching Matthews bend in a half-bow before turning to go. Charles looks towards the window, the spring green grass catching his eye. “Matthews – have there been any recent tales of the witch in the woods?”

Matthews’ footsteps halt and Charles can feel the weight of the man’s confused gaze. “The witch, Your Grace? Out of the woods near St. Edmunds?”

Charles arches a wry brow, looking back at his secretary. “Is there more than one witch in my duchy?”

“No, not at all. I just – Your Grace has caught me by surprise. I always counted you above such peasant rumors and superstitions.”

“I didn’t say I lend them credence, I merely asked if there had been any recent reports of her doings.”

Matthews licks his lips, still uncertain. “No, Your Grace. Not to my knowledge, at least. It’s possible the commons gabble about her – she brings nothing but heartache and woe.”

“That is interesting. Conversely, I’ve only heard that she helps people.”

“Do not let Your Grace be deceived. While the tales have her appear as an angel of mercy, the price on one’s soul is too high to pay.”

Charles’ lips lift, intrigued. “So you do know about her.”

Matthews nods slowly, as though admitting such knowledge was already an unforgivable sin. “Yes, Your Grace. I have heard of her, but nothing in the last year. Some speculate that she has moved on. Or simply returned to hell from whence she came.”

Charles hums thoughtfully, again turning back to the window. His stomach sours at the prospect of Avian’s departure. Is he just too late?

Matthews draws a tentative breath. “Will that be all, Your Grace?”

[satanicgoatstudios]

Across the Spider-Verse Scenarios!

(Because I love this movie with all of my heart and soul.)

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Author’s Note: ✩•**•.•*.•*★.•*•.*☆.•*.•**•.✩.•*

(You can recommend different scenarios to me, I am just starting out with writing again so hopefully we can all do this together! I will do my best to make everything as inclusive as possible, please offer some constructive criticism as this will help make these stories better! Also as someone who is 19, let me state this: Please keep in mind Miles is a minor and if I ever do get a request/idea for NSFW stories all characters used will be 20+. SFW stories will only be featured on my page until further notice!! Anyhow, enjoy the first scenario! Miles Morales is meeting you for the first time in his dimension after you’ve crash landed! Also in this Spider-Verse fic, Miles does get his own watch because he deserves it darn it >:( now enjoy!)

Key for story: ✩•**•.•*.•*★.•*•.*☆.•*.•**•.✩.•*

Y/P: Your POV. (Any other character’s pov will have their first initial.)

Y/N: Your Name.

F/N: First Name.

L/N: Last Name.

H/C/T: Hair Color, and Texture. 

E/C/S: Eye Color, and Shape.

D/H: Desired Height.

S/C: Skin Color. 

Y/NN: Your Nickname.

P/A: Power/Ability.

SS/O/C: Spider-Suit/Outfit Color. 

D/D: Desired Dimension.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Miles Morales: ✩•**•.•*.•*★.•*•.*☆.•*.•**•.✩.•*

M/P: ✩•**•.•*.•*★.•*•.*☆.•*.•**•.✩.•*

The streets of New York were absolutely filled today! A large parade of grateful people, and devoted fans completely covered the roads. Confetti, streamers, colored powder, and anything else bright was tossed into the air. Blue, black, and red filled the busy city streets. Everyone all had one thing to celebrate today, and that was their hero, Spider-Man! For many years now, Miles had done his best to keep New York safe from countless villains and simple criminals. The people wanted to show their thanks, and gratitude by throwing a big party in one of the busier parts of New York.

Where was Miles? Well, Miles sat at his favorite thinking spot looking down at the civilians wearing their Spider-Man merchandise, and having a good time to themselves. This made him happy to witness, knowing his hard work could be celebrated throughout the city. As Miles continued to watch, he noticed a certain someone going through the crowd. Almost slithering past the people, he could see them trying to sneak by. At that second, Miles' spidey senses crawled up his spine and into his head. He knew something was up with this person, but what? Miles pulled down his mask, shot a web at a nearby building, and swung down. As he landed swiftly on his feet, he tried his best to move through the crowd. The people continued to cheer, throw their colors, and sing along with the music blasting through some stranger’s speakers. Miles' spidey senses continued to buzz as he looked at each person’s face. He had a hard time trying to find this mysterious civilian. 

Y/P: ✩•**•.•*.•*★.•*•.*☆.•*.•**•.✩.•*

I had been trying to move through the crowd, the way everyone around me was moving almost made it feel impossible to find breathing space. Finally, I shoved past a parade goer and stumbled. Once I got onto my feet, I finally realized where I was, New York! But, not MY New York. 

You see, about a month ago I was bitten by a radioactive spider, gained some special abilities, finally hit my growth spurt, blah blah blah, you know the story. Last thing I could remember was being stuck in my bedroom trying to hide from the Green Goblin, then a crazy flashing hole ripped open underneath me, and I fell through. Now I was stuck in New York, confused, and kinda hungry. I could hear people chattering, music bumping, and I watched as the confetti blew through the air. Everyone in this dimension seemed like such party people. At that moment, my senses rang in my head. I gripped my temples, groaning in pain from the brief headache. I could feel the presence of another spider person near, but I wasn’t about to get caught up with them. I quickly looked around, and ran down the busy sidewalk to an empty alleyway. The alley was dark, cold, and eerily quiet but it was at least an escape. I hid behind a dumpster as I checked my clothes, and pockets to make sure I had everything on me. I then heard something or someone jump onto the dumpster behind me.

“Hey, are you lost dude?”, a young voice asked above me. At that moment I looked up to see Spider-Man! I jumped, falling to my bottom, and panicking a little. 

M/P: ✩•**•.•*.•*★.•*•.*☆.•*.•**•.✩.•*

Miles could tell he startled the young civilian, he then held up his hands.

“Don’t worry you won’t get hurt, unless you try something.”, Miles chuckled a little to himself. He then took a moment to observe the person in front of him. First thing he noticed was their glowing (E/C/S) eyes, resembling two Christmas lights or two brightly lit candles. He smiled under his mask, he then lowered his hands from the air as he checked out more. He noticed their soft (S/C) skin, and their gorgeous (H/C/T) hair. He also noticed their (O/C) blouse top and blue jeans. He could feel himself blush, he had never seen someone so beautiful in his life. Miles slowly crawled off of the dumpster, and onto ground level. He then offered his hand to help the young civilian up. 

Y/P: ✩•**•.•*.•*★.•*•.*☆.•*.•**•.✩.•*

As the hero reached out his hand, I grabbed it, and immediately he hoisted me up onto my feet. He then gently wiped off the alleyway dust off of my shoulders. I could see he was very tall, 5’8 at least. I knew I was only around (D/H) tall so the difference was wild. We stood still for a moment, our spider senses growing stronger now that we were next to each other. I could hear the hero gasp, then start to inspect me more trying to find a bite. 

“You have spider powers too?! Where did you even come from?!” I could feel him grab, and lift my arm. I pulled it out of his grip, and leaned back a little.

“What do you mean? I’ve always been in New York!” I said in a confused tone, my body then began to glitch for a second. It was the worst second ever, almost like a bus hit me, my atoms tore themselves apart. They were not used to this dimension. 

“Oh!”he quickly grabbed onto me, holding onto my hands. He then helped me back onto my feet before I gathered myself once more. I then looked at him, only seeing the eyes of his mask. I could almost sense him smiling, and staring into my eyes. He then let go of my hands, and shrugged.

“Well, you and I are technically colleagues now. The name is Miles Morales, and you are?” Miles held out his hand for a respectful handshake. I smiled slightly before shaking his, our hands balled together for a moment.

“My name is (F/N) (L/N), it’s nice to meet you Spider-Man!” We both giggled a bit before he pulled off his mask. My eyes glittered. His face was so adorable, he very much resembled a baby deer! 

M/P: ✩•**•.•*.•*★.•*•.*☆.•*.•**•.✩.•*

Miles thought if he kept his mask on, they would never truly know who he was. Miles could see as their eyes glittered with wonder, little did know it was with admiration. Just then, he felt two soft hands cup and squish his face. 

“You look so adorable and cute! Look at you!” Miles could immediately feel his face blush more intensely as he got more flustered. He then grabbed their hands, trying to pull off their sticking hands from his face.

“Hey let go! Your hands are sticky!” 

☆.•*.•**•.✩.•*THE END✩•**•.•*.•*★.•*•.*☆

[iwillkeepfighting]

Green Ninja Kai AU, the most unoriginal AU premise ever but shush let me have my fun

"Maybe you were right last time. Maybe we do have more in common than I thought."

Last time, Morro had been dead set on convincing the ninja of what they had in common, how he was right and Wu was wrong, and how he and the old man's new pupils should work together. This time, hearing echoes of his own words, confirmation of so many things which he'd fought so hard just to make them understand, he wants to track down one of the Masters of Time in the Departed Realm so he can go back and stop those words before he ever put them in the Green Ninja's head.

"Wu only cares about my power, not about me."

That one, though, was not so directly from Morro, and came as something of a surprise.

"The others..." Kai scoffs. "He's treated them different ever since he found out about me. Like they're not worth his time. Except Lloyd — as soon as his powers showed up, Wu suddenly couldn't let him out of his sight. Like he never abandoned him."

Morro doesn't know what to do with this information. He's not totally sure who Lloyd is. His powers must really be something, if Wu took notice— no. He can't take Kai's words at face value. There's something going on and he's wary, unnerved by the changes in the Green Ninja since the last time they met.

He's angry, a seething anger kept in check but only just. It's most clearly visible whenever Wu is mentioned, which is disproportionately often, even considering the huge role he played in Morro's earlier arguments that Kai is rehashing now. Either they had preexisting problems, or the seeds of those arguments grew even more than they were meant to.

Maybe finding a Master of Time isn't such a bad idea. As the Green Ninja goes on, railing about the way his master treats his friends and himself, about the childhood that this Lloyd person is missing out on, he becomes even more unnerved than his initial reaction to finding himself face to face with the guy and not being blasted at. Which had been very unnerving, but he'd quickly realized that it meant exactly the opportunity he had come looking for, to reason with the ninja and apologize and seek— maybe not forgiveness but some kind of understanding—

It looks like Kai is understanding all the wrong things. Do the other ninja know he's this unhinged? Surely they would have talked some sense into him by now. The things he's saying... He feels a worry for his old Sensei that he hasn't felt in a long, long time. It's clear that the Green Ninja feels betrayed by his master and is overprotective of his friends (no, family, he keeps calling them his family). The question is whether he's dangerously overprotective yet.

...this is the Green Ninja. Of course he's dangerous. Hence the worry for Wu.

"Where is your family, by the way?" Morro cuts in to the rant.

Kai looks like he's about to answer, starts with a wave of his hand, and then narrows his eyes. "Why do you want to know?"

Because it's not a good idea to be alone while grappling with resentment for someone you thought of as a father as family. Because with no one around to talk you down, you wound up doing really stupid things. Because you could die get hurt trying to prove yourself. "It's just that you're out here on your own talking to a ghost that's tried to kill you before, is all," Morro says, and there's a beat before he realizes that sounds threatening— "Not that I'm going to try again. Like I said, I just want to talk, but shouldn't you have backup anyway?"

Kay dismisses the concern with an Eh, still eying him suspiciously. "Why would you want to talk with them? I'm the one you've got issues with. Me and Wu, anyway."

...since when has the Green Ninja dropped titles for his master? Has he been doing that the whole time he's been ranting? It isn't a good sign. Morro initially dropped the title out of intentional disrespect, thinking the man didn't deserve it, and now he doesn't use it because he's the one who doesn't deserve to imply any kind of relationship. "To apologize?" he tries, forcing half a smile. "I did do some damage."

"Yeah," Kai says, shifting into a slightly readier stance, "you did."

Morro raises his hands — only a little, placatingly —and repeats, "I'm not going to do that again. I only want to apologize. Especially to," he falters, but can tell that he won't be able to get away with just trailing off the words, so he quiets but makes himself finish, "to Master Wu."

Kai snorts at that, either the inclusion of the title or the idea of apologizing. "There's nothing to apologize to him for," he bites out, and that answers that. "I know what he did to you."

Oh does he now? "He... took me in," Morro begins cautiously. "Gave me a place to stay, food to eat. Trained me." Loved me.

"Turned his back on you as soon's he found out you weren't the Green Ninja."

The one who did turn out to be the Green Ninja is... surprisingly calm as he says that. No, calm is the wrong word; his voice is even, but his face, his eyes, they're sharp and hanging on close to whatever reaction the words will garner. Oh. So he's trying his hand at manipulation. It's too obvious, it's a weak attempt, but all the same this is a weak point for Morro and Kai definitely knows that. "He didn't kick me out," he says, then forces himself to stop gritting his teeth. "He made a mistake, but then I made a much worse one. He didn't—"

"You were a kid and he shouldn't have put that kind of pressure on you to begin with!" Kai snaps.

Morro stares. Doesn't know what to make of that. Doesn't know what to think. Since returning to the Departed Realm, he's been working on his apologies, working out what to say to prove that he regrets what he did, how to show his old master that he's changed. It hadn't truly occurred to him that Wu had in fact been partially in the wrong and Morro's own mistakes don't overwrite those of his master.

He sees that now mainly because Kai is practically a kid, even if not quite as young as he'd been himself. They can both be wrong. They can all be wrong. Morro's not totally sure what's right at this point — "family" would sound right except for the way Kai talks about it, the edge to his voice and twist to his words that he's almost sure shouldn't be there, but then what would he know about family himself — and he had sort of planned on getting his apologies out, making things right as much as he could, and fading back to the Departed Realm where he belonged.

Now... now he thinks he might have stumbled into some kind of responsibility here. He had put at least some of these ideas in Kai's head, and the guy is clearly not all right. He should probably make sure that Wu and the other ninja are aware of things, and then they can deal with it themselves. He's not cut out for it.

Still, what he can do is make sure the Green Ninja gets home safe. As long as it doesn't rain again or something, that should be within his power. "I want to talk to him," he says finally. "I—"

Kai's scoff interrupts his attempt to swear not to harm anyone. He doesn't say anything else right away, just rolls his eyes, looks off to the side, crosses his arms. Morro waits, and finally the living ninja mutters, without looking back, "Why? It won't do you any good. He hasn't changed."

"I still want to," he says, firm but quiet. Kai has too much angst going on to get any sense out of him, or into him for that matter. He'll have to rely on his family.

He has to swallow a surge of jealousy at the thought of having that, having a family to rely on to pull him out of a dangerous mindset. But no, he had something good and he threw it away. He isn't innocent, no matter how much of the fault was on Wu. He can regret, but he doesn't get to go around feeling sorry for himself, not until he's out of the way in the Departed Realm again. For now, there's some amount of responsibility he has to take for what he's done, and he figures getting the Green Ninja safely back to his family is a decent start.

[lukas-crowsong]

i've been thinking about the soul riders in lukas' campervan (i remembered what they're called lmao) like i briefly talked about a little while ago. i was going to draw it but i'm currently stuck in a super fun art block /s, so i wrote about the roadtrip image in my head instead :)

i love including maya as part of the friendship group shenanigans so she's here as well (probably will be in most of my sso writing of the soul riders) :>

i hope you enjoy if you read!

Lukas honked his van's horn. "Ride is here, folks! Homeward bound."

The effect was instant. Alex sprinted for the van, but Lisa shoved her and yanked open the back door, tumbling in. She blocked Alex's way with a foot, kicking threateningly. Linda shooed them out of the way and climbed in after Lisa. Alex tried to squeeze into the third seat but Lisa beat her to it, claiming the entire seat with her guitar case.

Pouting, Alex sulked all the way to the end of the van and opened the doors there. Letting her girlfriend in first, she bowed for Maya, who curtsied graciously in response before tripping on the lip of the van.

"Hurry up, lovebirds," Anne jibed from her place next to Lukas in the passenger seat, having strolled over while the others scuffled. Alex stuck her tongue out at her as Maya rebalanced, but she'd already turned back around. 

Everyone strapped in, Lukas started the van forward onto the road.

Immediately, Anne was reaching for dials to blast cold air. Wracked by shivers, Lisa tried to block airflow with her guitar case until Linda shrugged off her cardigan and offered it. Maneuvering around her seatbelt, Alex was tugging her hoodie over her head, shirt underneath hiking up. Maya yelped when she got elbowed, losing her drink out an open window. Lukas fought the urge to release the steering wheel and let them fend for themselves.

Hours later, darkness blanketing Jorvik save for the van's headlights and twinkling stars, things had settled. Songs played softly over the radio; an hour ago they were being raucously recited at full volume. 

Tucked away in the back, Maya and Alex were hunched together over a phone, soft blue light pulsating across their faces. Linda was reading while Lisa slept on her shoulder, draped in her knitted cardigan. Lukas glanced over at Anne. She stared at the road ahead (or maybe into middle distance, lost in thought), green eyes half-lidded.

"You can sleep, if you like. I don't need a backseat driver," Lukas said lightly, eyes on the road again.

Anne turned her head to face them. "I'm in a front seat." She said, but her eyes fluttered closed.

It was almost dawn when they reached Valedale. Elizabeth was there in her nightgown and a shawl when Lukas pulled onto her drive. She greeted a zombie-like Alex with a kiss on both cheeks, then accepted Lisa's hug and Maya's shy handshake. 

Anne stirred when the engine powered down. She rubbed her eyes. "Did I fall asleep?" She asked, voice soft from lack of use.

"We're here," Lukas said, climbing out to gather his bags from overhead storage. 

Following suit, Anne stumbled out of the van. Elizabeth rubbed her arms and smiled, then took a duffle bag from her.

"Come, let's get you inside and into bed."

In the entryway, Lukas toed off their shoes, then stretched and yawned. Elizabeth laid a hand on his shoulder. "Difficult drive?"

Lukas shook their head. "No, just long. And the druids of Northern Jorvik have worked us ragged over the past week. For as much as we learned, we were all eager to come home." A beat passed. "The others could sleep during the drive over, but..."

Elizabeth hummed sagely. "A rest is well deserved. You feel better prepared now, I hope?"

Yawning again, Lukas nodded. "Garnok won't stand a chance," he murmured.

Elizabeth patted their cheek. "Go to bed. Jorvik will be here for you in the morning."

Sighing deeply, Lukas traipsed deeper into the house.

[agentark88]

Think: A Venomous Ending

My Hero Academia Fan Fiction by Agent ARK 88

Disclaimer: The following is a work of fan fiction using characters and settings from My Hero Academia/Boku no Hero Academia created by Kohei Horikoshi. I do not claim any ownership of characters present in this piece that are owned and created by Kohei Horikoshi. I do not own My Hero Academia/Boku no Hero Academia.

Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.

Warnings: This work contains mild language, blood, and violence.

(Ending 5 of 8)

A Venomous Ending

A knife sailed past your ear, aimed directly at Shigaraki’s chest. All for One deflected the projectile with ease, and you caught the blade with your mind.

“Traitor,” All for One hissed out.

“I won’t let you harm Sweet Anna,” Kobura snapped back. “Shigaraki is the one I work for, not you. He doesn’t deserve to be dragged around like a puppet.”

“Tomura should have known the cost of obtaining such power. I am just allowing him to rest. You would be wise to stand aside,” All for One said.

You gave Doku back the knife. You saw the feral instincts set in his expression. Venom dripped from his bruised lips. Although his quirk had recently evolved, you weren’t sure if he was in any condition to fight All for One.

“Is that why Shigaraki’s fighting you like that?” Doku asked. “To rest?”

All for One’s posture changed. He leaned forward defensively, his hand rising. “You have no imagination, Doku Kobura. Tomura is in a weakened state. He needs me to survive. If you truly cared about Tomura, you wouldn’t waste your time trying to distract me from the girl. I am the only one my successor can truly trust.”

How did Doku see that Shigaraki was internally fighting All for One? He couldn’t read minds as far as you knew. Perhaps he could sense it, smell it on the man. Doku had said his last questions with such certainty that he had to have known.

Doku continued to adjust where he stood, ensuring that he was directly in between you and All for One. Doku wanted you out of harm’s way. He needed you to be safe. He motioned with his hand behind his back for you to run.

You glanced between Doku and All for One. If you didn’t make a choice soon, the Nomus would be upon both of you. If you left Doku, All for One might actually kill him. You hesitated, fists clenching at your sides. No, you wouldn’t leave him. You took a few steps forward in determination, but Doku had already put his hand out to stop you.

“Please. I can’t live without you. Please run,” Doku said. “I love you.” His body trembled. His knuckles went white from clenching the knife so hard in his hands.

“I can’t—” You gasped, turning your gaze down to your chest. Red and black energy had punctured through you. All for One managed to slip his quirk behind you.

“You’ve revealed your weakness, Doku Kobura. Though I must admit it had been obvious,” All for One said.

Doku’s electric-green eyes widened. The quirk energy was pulled from your chest, blood spurting out. Doku gripped your body as you fell. Rage clouded his vision. His eyes went dead as his trembling stopped. He set you down and in the next instant he was on top of All for One. The knife in his hands plunged into his chest. Doku was blasted off of Shigaraki’s body. Kobura’s hand clutched the knife as he was forced away. He skidded beside you, breathing animalistically, like a thousand snakes hissing at once.

The Nomus came careening up Gigantomachia’s back. You shot out strands of your mind, creating a barrier between them and Shigaraki. You coughed up blood as the Nomus hit the mind shield. You played Shigaraki’s voice in your mind, over and over. The nightmares created his vocal tone vividly.

Stop! Do not interfere! Freeze! you shouted into the Nomus’ minds with your memory of Shigaraki’s rasping voice. Like a zombified army, they stopped moving.

You fell back, clutching your hand to your chest. Blood dripped through your fingers. You unsteadily stood to your feet, using your mind to give you some support. You wrapped a strand around your torso to hold the wound closed as best you could.

All for One looked toward the Nomus, losing focus. Kobura took his chance to strike. He slit Shigaraki’s throat, nearly a fatal wound. Once All for One drove Doku back again, his neck healed, but not fully. All for One went to speak and found the words stuck in his throat. Kobura must have severed vocal cords, where he had expertly plunged his knife. He knew what you’d been able to do. He was ensuring that Shigaraki would be trapped here, unless he himself escaped without outside help.

All for One lifted Shigaraki’s hand again. A multitude of energy spiked tendrils took form, reaching out for Doku. Kobura easily avoided the stabs. His speed was unmatched, and it appeared he’d grown even faster with the new development from his quirk. He sliced through All for One’s arm. Doku was repelled once again by yellow energy.

Kobura skidded to a stop beside you. “Your first mistake was attacking Sweet Anna. Your second mistake will be your last. You let me live. The Pro Heroes have been going easy on you, All for One.” Doku grinned, eyes flashing menacingly. “A villain doesn’t have the same obligations as a hero. I will kill you.”

The black tendrils escaped Shigaraki’s spine, holding him afloat. All for One backed away to escape. Without the Nomus to control by his voice, he would need to escape on his own. All for One was well-aware that time was running out for a clean retreat. The heroes had been incapacitated for the most part, but more Pro Heroes would arrive. He would be outnumbered, outpowered, and too weak to escape.

You grabbed All for One with strands of your quirk, and his eyes were back on you. Tendrils of dark energy shot for you again. Doku reached you faster, grabbing you and leaping from the side of Gigantomachia. The two of you landed, and he sprinted for the buildings with you in his arms. You held fast on Shigaraki with your mind quirk, keeping him from his escape. He managed to jump down toward the crumbling street level even with you holding him.

You shrieked as All for One grabbed one of your mind strands with Shigaraki’s bare hand. It disintegrated in his touch. You clutched your head. Doku put you down, rushing for All for One again, knife clipping into his thigh. Doku easily dodged tendril attacks. Any hands going toward Doku were evaded too. Another slice was made in Shigaraki’s shoulder. All for One sent Kobura reeling this time. The energy blast sent him careening into the bottom of a building, through the glass and several rooms.

All for One bent down. His hand pressed into the ground, and the decay rippled for the building.

“No!” you shouted. You lifted a piece of debris beside you, whipping it at full force toward All for One. In his weakened state, it actually hit him.

As the decay tore through the remaining structure, Doku was already up and moving toward you again. You managed to get to your knees, clutching your wounded chest, but you could barely move other than that. Kobura took you up in his arms. Your cape tore free from your back, being snagged on a piece of metal bar. The building collapsed, pieces falling around you. Even with Kobura’s speed, it was clear that you’d both be crushed before he could manage to outrun the falling debris. You pushed through the searing pain in your mind, giving the two of you one extra burst of mind blast energy to send you flying forward. Kobura clutched you to his chest as you both sprawled out onto the ground. The skyscraper had finally fallen. Dust and rubble rumbled over the two of you, creating a cloud of cover and making it hard to breathe.

You passed out, just as Doku lifted you up in his arms again.

…

You jolted awake. Pain immediately burned in your chest. Your breathing was labored as you took in the unfamiliar surroundings.

“Easy, Sweet Anna. You’re safe,” Doku said.

You were in a room, a regular seemingly underground room with the same modern aesthetic as Doku’s apartment room that you’d been in ages ago. Monitors beeped beside you, connected together with an assortment of wires as if they’d been built from scrap.

“Where am I?” you asked. A migraine throbbed in your temple, and your fingers moved to massage your head.

“My newest hideout,” he said. He bowed his head in front of you, his white hair falling in front of his face. “I’m so glad you’re conscious. It’s been months.” Tears dripped down his face, difficult to see from his posture.

“Months?” you croaked out. “I’ve been here for months?”

He nodded, hesitating to grip your hand in his. “I was so scared. I… I wanted to bring you to the hospital, but there was a manhunt out for me. I wouldn’t have even made it close enough to ensure they’d take care of you appropriately. I… I just hoped that my medical knowledge had been enough to help you. Once I got you stabilized, I didn’t think a doctor would be able to help. It might have been selfish… It was… but…” He covered his face. “I couldn’t lose you. I couldn’t bear to lose you again, and your mind actually allowed me close enough to examine you… I read the other hospital reports, and it had never allowed that before. I thought my help was your best chance for survival in your condition. I was so unsure, and…” He was rambling, trembling and rambling uncontrollably. “I’m so sorry. I just couldn’t let you go.”

Your hand found his, and he froze. “I’m okay, Doku. I survived.” You gulped, tentatively touching the wound at your chest. It was sore, but it clearly had healed. Months? You’d been out for months? “N-no one came looking for me?” you asked, voice wavering.

Doku’s hand tensed around yours. “Your cape was found beneath the rubble of that building. They thought All for One used Shigaraki’s power and had disintegrated you.” Doku looked down guiltily. “Even if that weren’t the case, there was footage of you being stabbed. They assumed you would have bled out and died if the decay had not been the cause of your demise. It was all over the news. Because they found nothing of mine, they thought I was still at large.”

“They think that I’m dead?” you asked.

“Yes,” Doku said solemnly. “I couldn’t tell them otherwise. I would have been arrested or killed on sight. I couldn’t leave you.” Doku wiped his face with his free hand, trying to hide the new tears pouring free. “Your classmates held a funeral for you. They swore that they would capture me for your sake. It was broadcasted on the news too.” He took in a feeble breath. “I know it’s a lot to take in. I will answer anything you need me to. I… I’m just so happy you’re awake and alive.”

“I’m dead…” you trailed off in disbelief. “They just believed that I died and didn’t look for me.” You gulped. You had stood beside Kobura in that fight against All for One, Shigaraki. You stood beside a villain. Even if you went back, would they want you back? You fought against All for One, sure, but there was no explaining working in tandem with Doku. You did it willingly. You chose to trust him. There was no going back to your old world like this.

Your gaze shifted back up to Doku. “You saved me,” you said less like a question and more like realization.

“Of course I did,” he choked out. “I would have given my life for you.” He pressed his forehead to the back of your hand. “I-I can take you back. Once you’re up on your feet, I can bring you back to them. If that’s what you want, I’ll bring you back. I love you so much. I would do anything for you. I promised that if you woke up that I would do anything you asked of me. All I cared about was seeing your eyes open again. I’ll carry you to that damned school today if you so wish it.”

“No,” you said.

“No?” Doku raised his head, surprise washing through his expression.

Tears filled your eyes. You’d been fighting him with every confession. You’d been trying to ignore your feelings because it conflicted with your dreams. You hadn’t realized how much you cared about him, until you were willing to fight alongside him. “I love you too, Doku. I don’t want to go back to that school, to ignoring my feelings for you.”

Doku blinked. “Are you sure? You don’t have to decide now. I don’t want you to feel like you have to say that. You know that I wouldn’t do anything to intentionally hurt you. It’s whatever you want. I promise, Anna.”

“I love you,” you repeated. “This is what I want. You are what I want.”

A smile slowly formed on Doku’s face. He pressed his forehead to yours, nuzzling your nose with his. “I love you so much. You make me so happy. I can’t believe… I just love you.”

…Three Years Later…

The night air nipped at your nose. Up on this rooftop, under the night sky, this was freedom.

“Your chicken will get cold,” Doku said, pouting.

“It’s been cold, Doku.” You chuckled. “You ran all the way in town to get it up here.”

“No one else would have been able to deliver it faster,” Doku retorted, shoving some food into his own mouth. “If it’s cold, it was cold when I picked it up.” He eyed you suspiciously. “I’m not giving you mine again, Anna. You should have ordered it if you like it so much.”

“But, I wanted their specialty chicken, not the lemon steak. Just give me a taste,” you pleaded.

Doku rolled his eyes. He held out a piece of his steak toward your mouth. You took it, chewing happily as you kicked your legs. Your gaze shifted toward the street. Everyone looked like ants from how high up the two of you were sitting.

“I’m getting you both next time, and you better not complain it’s too much food.”

“Or, what?” you teased.

Doku scrunched his nose at your question. “Or, I’m cutting the Wi-Fi in the house. No more video games.”

“You wouldn’t,” you gasped out.

“It’s better than watching my girlfriend starve herself because she won’t eat her own food,” Kobura said.

You stuck your tongue out at him, stealing another piece of steak from his takeout container and popping it in your mouth. Despite his empty threats, he nudged the container of his food toward you. He leaned back on his hands, looking up at the sky.

“I’m just kidding, Anna. I’d order you every dish if that’s what you wanted,” he said. “I’m smitten. You’ve got me wrapped around your finger.”

“That sounds like a villainous thing to do to someone else. Perhaps, you’ve had an effect on me,” you said playfully.

Doku snorted out a laugh. “I gave up being a villain the day you moved in. You can’t use me as an excuse for your dastardly deeds anymore, Sweet Anna.”

“You’re right,” you said. “The past is behind us. We’re in a better place now.”

You leaned into him, glad to snuggle up against him to keep out of the night’s wind. He wrapped an arm around you, pulling you closer. He nuzzled his head against yours, sighing contently.

“I’ll always love you, Sweet Anna,” he murmured.

“And, I’ll always love you, Doku,” you replied.

[tfsroleplay]

The Agents sit in a small circle at the base in Alterna, Julian has definitely been acting off lately. And having him being so quiet was a bit... awkward. Cordelia is telling a story about her and Arius' time saving the Great Zapfish, something about a mission gone wrong.

"It was the worst! I swear I was bruised for days after! I'm so used to listening to figure out where the enemies were, and they must've learned it quick because they started blasting music and made it difficult for me to hear them coming..."

She leans back, groaning as she thinks about the amount of times she almost ran out of power in the spawn point. Definitely something she doesn't miss...

"Man... the spawn point in that dome nearly losing power definitely gave me a scare..."

Arius nodded, thinking back. It was one of the first missions they'd done together, well, while he was still working for Octavio...

"It didn't help that there were two o' us. Ta be fair, I hardly got splatted, it was mostly her."

"Rude. Don't insult my skill! I'm still Agent 5 of the New Squidbeak Splatoon! So... There."

Arius chuckles, gently ruffling her hair. Cordelia glances at Julian, hoping her story somewhat distracted him from whatever's got him in a funk. He still looks upset, Lil Buddy sitting on his shoulder. Cordelia looked at the Captain, clearly unsure what else she should do.

"...Mhm..."

He's quiet for a moment before looking at Arius.

"...You Agent 4 then? Since she Agent 5?"

He's never actually asked Arius that, since whenever the Octoling was there he was referred to by name.

"Huh? Oh, no, that ain't me. They jus' use my name o' call me Agent Arius. But that's a mouthful."

Adria hums, leaning forward to be closer to the group. They'd been telling stories from the past for a bit so Julian could have a distraction from his thoughts but he didn't seem to pay attention as much. But...

"...Do you want to hear a story about my time as an Agent? It's not exactly... fluff, but it's a story."

Almost immediately Cordelia stared at her, eyes practically sparkling. Julian tilted his head, he was curious too, not as much as Cordelia but... close enough. At least he wasn't looking as sad now.

"We get to hear a story from your past?!"

"Easy there..."

Adria chuckled, Cordelia tended to look up to her for reasons she... honestly wasn't sure she deserved. She adjusted the Cap on her head, nodding.

"...I can. Julian, you up for a story of mine?"

"...Mhm."

"Good. I don't think you've actually met Agent 4 have you? Give me one sec and I'll find a photo for you."

She pulled her phone out, scrolling through her photo app to find a picture of Agent 4.

"Ah, here we go. Gramps actually took this one of us."

She holds her phone out to show Julian first, it's of her and Agent 4 when they first started out as agents.

"That's Hayden, otherwise known as Agent 4. Also known as my best friend. The two of us saved the Great Zapfish together."

"Oh wow, you two haven't changed much. I mean, Hayden's changed up his tentacle style a bit but other than that? Still pretty similar. Not that that's a bad thing! I mean, I still look the same besides the earrings... and the choker."

"Yeah, though I once tried to grow out my tentacles to cover... this..."

She hesitantly points to the green scar, it's not exactly something she enjoys looking at.

"But... Well, since my hearing on that side isn't the best anymore, and I can still see out the eye, it would have more cons than pros... So..."

She shrugs, just leaving it at that. She's never gone into too much detail about the events in Kamabo Co., Cordelia did once ask about her scar but Adria only said her memory of it was fuzzy at best (lie) so it was dropped.

"But enough about that, I was going to tell a story. Agent 4 and I were on a mission to save one of the smaller Zapfish, I think it was just before Agents 1 and 2 came in the picture for us."

Both Callie and Marie look at her, but neither interrupt her story.

"It was a battle against Elite Octolings, much like our own Octoboy here."

"Hey."

"We had to split up to cover the grounds in Kelp Dome, but planned to meet back at the end to grab the Zapfish. 4 took the ground and charged his way to it, while I stayed up high. We were a little hesitant to actually splat any enemies, but they had far more power in their spawn point than we did. 3 strikes and that was it."

Cordelia nods, it was similar for her and Arius too. When they didn't have a lot of power, it had to be limited somewhere...

"I used a charger, and 4 used a roller, so I was more looking out for any potential enemies surrounding him. But... I wasn't watching my own back, which almost easily lost us our lives..."

"We were 16, and the reality of what we were in for hadn't really... set in, I suppose. This was like another turf war to us, but... Facing against Octolings like them was a huge wake up call..."

She leaned her head on her hand, frowning. The amount of close calls they had before fighting Octolings hadn't been a lot, but thinking of it now felt like it was still too much.

"4 had been splatted twice, but even then the energy on the spawn point was fading. Gramps said it had enough for 3 times but... Honestly, had one of us gotten splatted again, I'm not sure we would've made it. I managed to get him a safe path to the Zapfish, but as I went to meet up with him, I heard a splat bomb land beside me. I barely managed to get out of the way before it exploded, and even then I was sent tumbling down to the ground..."

[gummywyrmtrainer]

Progenitus the Hydreigon

Art of the above Hydreigon was created by myself, for myself! Full name: Progenitus (More details under the Readmore)

  Individual Head Names, left to right      -White: Gideon      -Blue: Jace      -Black: Sorin      -Red: Koth      -Green: Garruk At MOST times, Progenitus will be addressed as such, since, unless he is totally relaxed, all heads work and act together as one unit, essentially a hivemind, mainly under Sorin's direction. Progenitus is almost NEVER fully relaxed unless he's alone with Tanis and the rest of her team, in someplace he's comfortable with. For other trainers or Pokemon to see the heads act individually is horrendously rare. Species: 5-Headed Hydreigon Level: ??? Size: Big McHuge. An average human can faceplant onto the fluffy parts of his chest.So...2 to 3 times bigger than a "standard" Hyderigon? Nature: Aggressive. Hostile. Violent.     To be saved as a last resort or in dire situations. History:     Progenitus did not start off as creature of malice, but he DID start off a little... Different. Tanis discovered him as a Deino as she was strolling around Unova, and he was at the brink of death. He hatched with polymeia, having two extra legs that did nothing but hinder him at all times, so walking was incredibly difficult, let alone hunting for food. Plus, his ravenous attitude and severely off-putting appearance managed to chase away any who had enough sympathy to even try and help him, human and Pokemon both. Excluding Tanis, who not only saved the poor dragon's life, but she helped him trained. Despite all odds, he grew. Gained weight and strength over the years, and he evolved. He still had those two vestigial limbs as a Zweilous, but, given more tender loving care... He evolved once more.     Suddenly he found himself free of his burden. Those useless legs turned into two extra, fully functional heads when he evolved, all equal in strength and intelligence. And he was angry. He was IS magnificent, and if not for this one, practically feral human who cared for him so tenderly, so diligently, he would have perished. He did NOT deserve that. He deserved to be cared for. Hell, he could have been like this many ages ago, he could have a territory of his own and  rules all beneath him. But no. He was treated as a freak. And now he's everyone else's problem.     However. He is 100% loyal to his trainer. His entire body can and will stop on a dime as soon as the word leaves her lips. He sore to always keep her safe, to keep her happy and healthy, as she has done for him.Everyone else though...? If not for Tanis telling him to hold back, hundreds would have fallen to his ruthless assaults. Moveset:    Every head can use Dragon, Dark, and Normal type moves. However, each individual head has access to 3 other types exclusive to it.      -Gideon: Fairy, Electric, Steel      -Jace: Water, Flying, Ice      -Sorin: Ghost, Psychic, Poison      -Koth: Fire, Ground, Rock      -Garruk: Grass, Bug, Fighting   All access moves: Dragon Pulse, Draco Meteor, Outrage, Dark Pulse, Nasty Plot, Crunch, Hyper Beam, Hyper Voice, and Giga Impact.   Individual moves: Dazzling Gleam, Thunderbolt, Flash Cannon, Scald, Aeroblast, Ice Beam, Bitter Malice, Freezing Glare, Sludge Bomb, Flamethrower, Earth Power, Power Gem, Energy Ball, Bug Buzz, Focus Blast. If you think that this is too much, and want to compromise/ make possible changes for an RP, this can be arranged, you just have to let me know. Progenitus was clearly made and designed to essentially be "Final Boss" strength, but I fully understand that he smashes nearly every law of Pokemon out there. I do love him, and i want to use him, but not at the detriment of others. Fun Facts:      -Yeah he's a walking Magic the Gathering reference. He is based off of this card,

and every one of his heads is named after a Planeswalker. Sorin is the only one not monotype mana, and he's the only exception because I like Sorin and the name.      -Progenitus was MUCH softer looking in his original art.

    -None of Progenitus' extra head/necks look like arms with a muppet head attached to it. They all have the same basic serpentine neck, with all of the supporting heads looking like the main one.      -I'm not 100%sure if the fluffy bits of a Hydreigon are supposed to be fur or feathers, so I went with both. Progenitus is covered in both beautiful scales, and protofeathers. His feathers are basically a mixture of emu feathers and quills. The base/ "undercoat" of these feathers is that pink that you can see through his coat.      -His wings ARE the same color as his chest, they're just darkened in the reference image to make them fade into the background a bit more.