#I mean most fantasy is trying to be lord of the rings or else confronting it

[fithragaer]

Yuri sweep

[funkymbtifiction]

Thanks a lot for answering! I wonder could you please give examples of everyday deeds/types of behavior of different primaries and secondaries? Like what are they like when there's a school test or when they need to visit a doctor? The more the better. Something more down-to-earth than the situations from the fantasy movies listed on the website that may never take place in the real world, something found in everyday life that will help someone identify themselves and mb others around them

I’m not sure I can do that, because frankly, your Primary House is a state of mind. It’s what you want and how you feel about things (or do not feel, in the case of Ravenclaws, ahem). But I can talk about a few things, particularly in response to Harry Potter, that can shed light on the state of mind of the Primary.

What I have most noticed about people in general is that we all have a built-in bias, and in order to find our true type—whether that is our MBTI type, our Enneagram core and tritype, or our Hogwarts House combination—we must abandon our ego defenses. What does that mean? We have to overcome our biases and want to know our true self, and own it, more than we want to fight against an answer that might not please us. In the Enneagram, I’ve noticed particular biases against being a 2 or a 6. Everyone wants to be the more “glamorous” 4 or the elusive, bookworm 5.

Harry Potter, for better or worse, introduced us to the concept of Hogwarts Houses, but also introduced us to a bias, because it made Gryffindor the most glamorous House, due to all the main characters (however unrealistically) hailing from that House. Or, at least, all the main characters we like. Ravenclaw is full of wise weirdos like Luna Lovegood, who irrationally believes in things no one can prove. Slytherin is host to mostly back-stabbing, snobbish cheaters. And Hufflepuff is an “afterthought” where all “the boring, nice people are.”

What I like about Sorting Hat Chats is… they made the entire system more interesting and a lot fairer. Now, Slytherin isn’t the only House with villains automatically placed in it: their villains have to be specific in their love (and not betray their family, because it is the house of My Family is My Life). This also means people, fictional or real, who prioritize their loved ones, are Slytherins. Such as Mr. Darcy, or Katniss Everdeen. Suddenly, being a Slytherin doesn’t seem so bad, right? Not if you are loyal to the ones you love! That alone will appeal to the mindset of a Slytherin, because they will think, “Of COURSE I am. Of COURSE my loved ones come first! They SHOULD!”

I have friends in all four Primary Houses, but I will use myself as an example of the Ravenclaw. When I was reading the books, having all the main characters in Gryffindor bothered me, because not only did it show a bias, but I felt some of the main characters ‘belonged’ in other Houses—such as Remus Lupin being a Hufflepuff rather than a Gryffindor. I also felt like Hermione belonged in Ravenclaw. But that is neither here nor there… my objections to the system came from the logical flaws in how she arranged it. It wasn’t realistic to have everyone ‘important’ or ‘admirable’ within the story come from Gryffindor. It was easier to have them share Common Rooms, but people don’t isolate like that and only befriend someone from their House. They look for like-minded friends who share interests, and would make them all over the place. It was my little Ravenclaw brain, pulling away at her system and finding flaws in its logic, but reacting from a place of logical reasoning rather than moral indignation.

When I took the SHC test, it placed me in Slytherin. And I was not opposed to that. In fact, I explored it for a long time, as I thought about how I respond in various situations. Slytherin appealed to me, because… I wish I could stand up for my family automatically. I wish I could prioritize my loved ones all the time. But I kept hitting upon the fact that – I like to think about things in a detached manner, and come to what I feel is a rational consensus. It’s more clinical and less emotional than Slytherins are—and it helped at the time that I knew a Slytherin, and could easily see both how possessive she was of people (they are “mine to protect” – she always reminded me of Slytherin Sam Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings, with his “MY MR. FRODO”) and how, without fail, her sister came before even me, her best friend. Through comparison, I knew I had to be something else. So in typical Ravenclaw fashion, I went through and considered them all. Because, as a Ravenclaw, I want to be RIGHT more than protect my ego. I am always looking for the truth, even when it hurts. And I am always measuring the world against an ideal in my head, built up of my belief system. I do not go against my beliefs; I mold myself to them. And it shocks me to find others who do not, but who claim to be the same as I am. I take, for example, my Christian faith seriously—so what do you mean you are ignoring what your faith says, and doing whatever you want??? YOU MOLD TO YOUR BELIEFS, DON’T YOU? Well, yes, if you are a Ravenclaw, you do. If you are any other House, you do not.

The Hufflepuff Primary I know has a far more ‘felt’ opinion of the books and their sorting system. She got livid reading them, and thinking about how constantly unfair it all was, how biased Rowling was, and how Dumbledore was clearly playing favorites constantly with Gryffindor House. She developed a bad attitude about him as a result… which, of course, is coming from her being a Hufflepuff. To a Hufflepuff, people come first. They are all treated fairly and seen as equals. You do not discriminate, you do not alienate, you do not give unfair favors to Harry and his friends, just so Gryffindor can win the House Cup over and over again. She was actually so angry about this, from a Hufflepuff perspective, that she was willing to be a Slytherin in defiance of ‘The System’ until she realized that kind of mindset is… pure Hufflepuff. “You are not being fair about this, I will oppose you.” It’s all instinctual, it’s all emotional, and it’s all loyalty to the human race, which includes Slytherins. (This caused us some friction for awhile, until I realized it was “just a Hufflepuff” objection, because... how can you be mad at Dumbledore for that? It’s just a convenient plot device in the book! ... says the Ravenclaw who isn’t getting too emotionally involved. ;)

The Slytherin I know, by the way, denied being a Slytherin at first, because she felt ashamed of it. She has been taught to act like a Hufflepuff, that she SHOULD care about everyone all the time, but… she does not. She cares about her loved ones the most, and she would protect them above other people, every time. I pointed out to her that Hufflepuff fits her less than Slytherin, because “You ARE Katniss. You told me that once. That you identified so heavily with her, because you would go into the arena for your Prim.” And then she admitted it, and saw the gloriousness that is being a loyal Slytherin.

The Gryffindor I know is always looking for a Cause, and… as a Ravenclaw, I find that exhausting. She wants to be mad about things, because that anger gives her the fire she needs to do something about it. She has taken on big Causes by financially supporting the Causes she cares about, and done physical things about smaller Causes. For example, as a teenager, she came upon three guys tormenting a dog. It made her so livid, she charged straight at them, swearing and screaming at them to leave the animal alone, and it scared them all so much, they turned tail and ran. She just knew it was the right thing to do, and she and I often butt heads a lot, because she expects everyone else (meaning me) to be as passionate as she is about doing the ‘right thing.’ My more detached “well, let’s look at both sides of this issue” has no place in her black and white Gryffindor mind (no, that is WRONG).

Secondary Houses are… something that may take a little more time to figure out, as you think about how you handle the ‘unexpected.’

Gryffindors… have to speak up if they see an injustice, or hear something they disagree with. They are they person who cannot keep their mouth shut, they need to voice their opinion. They don’t care if you don’t like it or don’t agree, to not state their views would be antagonistic to their central self. My Hufflepuff friend is a Gryffindor Secondary. Not only did she get mad about the biases in Harry Potter, she complained loudly about it, to me, and to other people, and even in a blog post, because the injustice of it needed drawn-attention to, and dealt with, and she doesn’t really care if you disagree. That’s just how she rolls, about EVERYTHING. Because Gryffindor Secondaries state their views. They see an injustice, and they rush toward it. (My Gryffindor friend is also a Gryffindor Secondary: see dog being abused, rush in to do something about it!)

Ravenclaws… want to prepare for everything, and then rely on their own skill set to handle problems as they arise. They are the person who, when their bike breaks down halfway home, consider what they know about bikes (can they fix this easily?), and what they know about public transportation (am I going to be able to catch a bus home?), and make decisions from there. Or who study for a test in advance and show up, only to panic because they found out they read the wrong chapter in the book and know nothing about it. My father is a Gryffindor with a Ravenclaw Secondary, and he over-prepares himself with any useful knowledge he thinks he might need to combat a wide variety of situations—and then is stumped if confronted by something he did not prepare for, and knows nothing about. He is always trying to think ahead and prepare so that he doesn’t have to improvise anything at the last second—because he sucks at it.

It was a comparison with him that actually shifted me away from assuming I had a Ravenclaw Secondary, because… I don’t suck at improvising. I’m actually quite good at it. And I don’t over-prepare, because in true Hufflepuff Secondary position, I figure I can ask someone for help. And they always give it to me. But what really cemented the deal for me, in terms of recognizing my Puff Secondary House, were two—no, make that three, truths from my life. 1) Ravenpuffs distill complex information and put it back out into the world for others to enjoy (hello, Funky!). 2) Puff Secondaries show up and do the tireless work, clock the hours, and are highly reliable, which is… me. I have run this site day in and day out for years. I am punctual, fastidious, I put my responsibilities ahead of all else (even turning down fun occasions because I need to work), and I will painstakingly work on perfecting something, finishing something, improving something, or polishing something (even when I’m bored). In short, I show up and do the work. And 3) the truth that Puff Secondaries have friends to stand up for them, because they have proven themselves reliable and trustworthy, is no joke. A few years ago, I had trouble with someone online and, without being asked, three of our mutual friends came to my defense. Proof of the Puff.

Lastly, Slytherin Secondaries are highly adaptable. It’s no problem for them to shift their approach given the needs of the situation. It’s the equivalent of a friend you admire, but who puzzles you (if you don’t share their Slytherin Secondary trait) because… it seems like they are a different person everywhere you go, because whatever is needed, they can become it. They are the person who has no trouble with change and no need to plan, because they just trust that it’s all going to work out fine, based on their ability to adapt. It’s the person who shows up at a friend’s birthday party expecting it to be formal, finds out it’s casual, sneaks into the bathroom to rearrange their attire, and emerges ready to play Twister. Or who will be serious with you, joke constantly with your brother, and behave like a saint around your mom, according to whatever works and appeals to you the best.

Hope some of that helps, though it wasn’t explicitly what you asked for. Best this ENFP can do, since in-depth sensory specific examples require a heck of a lot more Si than I’ve got. :P

[overdramatic-queer-antagonist]

I really love thinking about the repercussions of what happened to the 7 Birds so I wanted to write a Thing^tm. Sorry if this sucks, I have no memory of writing half of it. 

Taako: He’s constantly writing the names of his crew down any chance he gets. If you give Taako a piece of paper eventually you’ll see him writing, Lup, Barry, Lucretia, Merle, Magnus, Davenport. The word “who?” haunts him. He doesn’t like heights. ESPECIALLY when it’s just him and Barry. He always leaves KrebStar at home when he visits Barry and Lup. They pretend not to notice, they do. He hates the smell of garlic and berries. He hasn't made chicken since that day. Everyone ends up in therapy but Taako endures strenuous physical therapy. Fuck that washing machine dudes. Sometimes he forgets he’s even wearing glamour. Kravitz once walked into a room to find Taako standing over shards of glass, he looked terrified. It takes a long time for him to stop worrying when he cooks for his friends, it takes even longer for him to stay calm when his friends get sick. He’d never say it aloud but he’s so grateful that his sister is already dead. She can’t get sick. He, Merle, and Davenport go hiking every summer. He used to pick up pretty rocks at the side of the trail. He doesn't do that anymore.

Lup: She’s deathly claustrophobic. She doesn’t like being unable to speak, or hear, or see. One time she did one of those sensory deprivation tank things with Lucretia. She came out ten minutes in and spent the rest of the time in the lobby, waiting for Lucretia, trying not to cry. She doesn’t let people walk behind her. One time, on a reaper mission, Kravitz tried to get her attention by poking her in the back with the blunt part of his scythe. She nearly killed him with a sixth level fireball. If she thinks about it too long, she can still feel the knife piercing her, she can feel the poison burning through her veins.

 She doesn’t like it when Barry gets near fire. If Lup goes to an event wearing gloves, they’re off before she leaves the house.

Barry: Barry’s scared of the dark. He’s always been scared of the dark but now he can hardly take it. When a reaper mission takes them into a cave Kravitz tries to give him an advance. He holds onto Lup the entire time. He doesn’t like gold coins. Usually, it’s not too bad if he doesn’t think about it, but one time he and Magnus were out and Magnus owed him a GP. He sat outside the bar they were at just staring at it. Later that night, Magnus came out worried. What he said was, “Barry? It’s getting dark.” But what Barry heard was, “Your name is Barry Bluejeans and you're afraid of the dark” He had to lean on Magnus walking home that night. He used to be a pretty chill guy when it came to death. He accepted that it was just a thing that happened. Now he’s terrified of it. When fantasy Wheel of Fortune started, The Birds decided to check it out. It didn’t stay on for more than 5 minutes. Lucas’s school has a big bell that rings at noon each day. The first time Barry did a lecture there and the bell rang, he walked off of campus without another word.

Magnus: He always has a vase of lavenders in his home. He would never admit it but sometimes he just closes his eyes and takes the smell in. If he tries hard enough it almost feels like he’s in the Hammer & Tongs. Sometimes, when he’s home alone, he swears to Istus that he can hear Julia laughing, calling him for him to check out a project. There’s never anything there when he follows the noise. A few years after The Day of Story and Song, Magnus took Angus to see the races in Goldcliff. They were in a VIP spectators box (one of the perks of being friends with the owners) and when the race started, along with the normal explosive sounds of the battlewagons peeling off, the box shook. Magnus grabbed Angus and tried to shield him from- nothing. He had to get some air. Lord Artemis Sterling invited him to dinner once. He had these fancy, gold, chalices. Magnus didn’t drink a thing.

Lucretia: She used to be the most reserved of the Birds now she’s almost clingy, she doesn’t do alone time anymore. One time Taako caught her staring at her face in a mirror. He sighed and dropped his glamour. He leaned against her and whispered, “You’re still the second-best looking, don’t worry.” She leaves excessive reminders that would be infuriating if the others didn’t get it. She keeps a scrapbook (something that she would never admit too because the only thing lamer than keeping a diary is keeping a scrapbook) just in case. Barry found it once. She was mortified but he just quietly flipped through it, smiling as he did. The Birds have a strict “no staff unless it looks like something else” policy because prolonged exposure, even if you can resist the thrall, to a Grand Relic is no joke.

Merle: It might be silly but, he doesn’t really like getting handed things. He’s moved on from the incident itself, he forgave Kravitz the moment he remembered how too but… The idea of someone being able to do it again makes him sick. The name John became taboo, even more so around Merle. Merle hates that. He likes the name John. If he was young enough to have another kid, he’d probably name them John just to spite those people. He and Dav had to find a new game to play. Dav wasn’t even finished suggesting chess before Merle shut down the idea. It just didn’t feel right. There’s a rumor around Bottlenose Cove about the Eral. They say he talks to himself as he watches the sunset. When confronted with this, Merle just laughs and says it’s just his way of de-stressing. He checks in on Sloane and Hurley constantly. They hold no grudges, of course, but Merle doesn’t think he’ll ever fully be able to forgive that mistake.

Davenport: Nobody really calls him that anymore, per his request. Usually, it’s Captain, Merle and his kids call him Dav, and then there’s Magnus’s ridiculous nickname, but he doesn’t mind what people call him as long as it’s not that. He says it’s like saying a word so many times it loses its meaning. One time Angus asked, very politely mind you, why Dav didn’t celebrate his birthday. He never did get an answer but that told him all he needed. Let’s just say that Fantasy Euchre (Yooker) lost its charm. His Grand Relic didn’t change his mannerisms. A fool might think that he doesn’t care about the casualties but it’s quite the opposite. He feels like feeling remorse for mistakes that he had no control over would be disrespectful to his victims. Instead he and Lord Artemis Sterling arrange for the day the Birds were separated (Cap’nport’s birthday) to be designated as a day of remembrance for The Grand Relics’ victims.

[hazzabeeforlou]

11 questions

Yes I did this a bit ago but @helloamhere (thank you, ily, have fun bussing around Europe, did that once, had to follow apple maps to know where to get off ‘cause I speak ZERO German...) tagged me and I’m an anxious mess waiting for medical news today so WHY NOT! 

Rules: answer 11 questions then pose 11 of your own. 

1. What do you think fanfic does better than published fiction (if anything?) 

Okay obvious answer and not very high brow, but SMUT. You will not see me perusing the gay aisles of Barnes and Noble romance novels :) For various reasons :) 

2. What do you think it does worse

I think (maybe it’s just this fandom) overall it’s quite a bit more sanitary than novels, both in morality and subject matter. I hate to think what the purity police would say about some of the books I’ve read... especially the old ones? But then I usually come here looking for fluff and happiness too so perhaps that’s just the major draw of fanfic, idk. 

3. What’s something another fandom has or does that you wish your fandom had or did?

To be honest I’m not well versed in other fandoms, but I’m going to go with I wish this fandom didn’t have constant infighting. Seriously in all my born days I have never seen a group of people claim such a similar goal and yet devour each other so viciously. Hence I usually avoid anything incredibly explosive or triggering here; I deal with and confront radical people (religious extremists, right wing extremists) in my everyday life and I cannot bring myself to turn my escapism into that same vortex of endless arguing, though I appreciate and support those who fight the fight. I often have very sharp opinions and fall to one side or the other of the fault line, but I draw a personal boundary at a point. 

4. Do you consider yourself a “fandom” type of person in general, or committed to only one, and if so, tell me more about what this means to you.

I have been a HUGE fandom person my entire life, though this is the first time I’ve ever been in a community for it. Star Wars and Narnia consumed most of my adolescence, along with Lord of the Rings. I briefly dabbled in Dr. Who and Merlin (as one does) but because I didn't read HP until nearly the end of college, I kindof missed out on that one. Basically anything geeky or fantasy driven I have always loved, and I can’t really explain how I ended up here? But this is the only fandom I’m active in socially. The power of HL I guess... 

5. I’m trying to get through writing a first draft right now and it’s a slog. How do you stay motivated for long projects, writing or otherwise? 

Ah. A call out question! Like any good Aries, I love starting new things! And then letting them to languish unfinished. I have, however, trained in classical music, and thus I’ve programmed myself to just keep doing the thing because pieces take months and months and months to perfect and if you can’t stick with a project, you go nowhere. I also operate on a reward system, as in writing is the reward for practicing, then when I’m sick of words I go back to music, and so the turn tables. I have learned to ignore (I’m great at ostrich-ing) the crushing self doubt of creativity and just bulldoze ahead and do the thing, which results in very messy first drafts and often bad habits in my musical technique and a tendency to overplay, which wastes energy, but rehearsals wait for no one. I also thrive on last minute deadlines! 

6. Tell me about what you read as a kid. Favorite book? Or if you weren’t into reading then, favorite TV show, etc? 

I HAVE SO MANY. Narnia was my first love. I also adored George MacDonald (At The Back of the North Wind is a fucking masterpiece). My mom hardly let me read Redwall (see: hints of magic) but when she caved I devoured all of those. Anne of Green Gables. American Girl stuff (lots of it, yes Josefina and Kaya were my faves). I read far too many Star Wars expanded universe novels (New Jedi Order  shaped me as a person, esp Traitor). I remember reading all the Eragon series, though these were dubiously approved... and I read various classics, as one is supposed to. In high school I printed out the entire Beowulf in Old English, got a CD of a dude reading it, and proceeded to memorize the first several lines. I can still recite Anglo Saxon but I have no clue what it means (see: I’m a good mimic). Everything non-Christian-magic-related I read during or after college, sigh. 

7. Have your tastes changed?

This sounds bad but not really. I rarely read non fiction, oops. Biographies are a slog for me. I dislike historical fiction and I don’t have a good reason for that. I do love a good mystery, but usually not in book form (audio or visual Agatha Christie is my mana). I do adore socio-policial books, though (The Better Angels of our Nature a good example) or books doing a deep dive into a historical topic. These days I enjoy a good satire more than much else, and since I started on Terry Pratchett in 2016 I haven’t looked back. 

8. I’ll steal your question above--tell me about a fic that changed you, or became a “touchstone” fic that you go back to!!

I didn’t read fics period when I entered the fandom, and stubbornly maintained that for a while, but the fic that changed my mind was (Take Me Home) Country Roads by @a-writerwrites (Awriterwrites). I read it during a drive through the very parts of the USA it’s set in, and I couldn’t put it down, spotty internet be damned. From there @horsegirlharry birthed me into the gay 1D world, though I can’t for the life of me remember which of hers I first read! (Does it matter? They’re all so beautiful...) 

9. Tell me about a WIP, if applicable. How’s it going?? It sounds great. 

I’m plodding along on The Garden, it’s going well, but urgency isn’t a priority. It’s going to be one of those things that I finish and then go in and make matter because right now my ideas are half formed and I know I’ll eventually know where I’m going but it’s a case of blind trust in instinct at this point! 

10. What’s your favorite place to read and sitting position?

Like a true gay I cannot sit normally in a chair, coupled with my pain issues means I’m usually draped over the back of something with a cushy lumbar support, massive pillow, or propped sideways lying down. I love reading outside, but have a tendency to attract bugs, also I’m very light sensitive so my eyes hate the sun, especially if I’m reading from a screen. 

11. Do you feel like fic reading and writing is social for you? E.g. do you share with friends (in or outside of fandom), or are you a lone wolf seeking out your fics in the dead of night??

I LOVE the social aspect of fic reading and writing within fandom! I have shared PITS with only two real life friends though; I am very tight lipped about the fact that I write fic. People are cruel and musicians are judgmental arseholes and if I prefer to spend my days dreaming up love stories for my OTP instead of pouring over scores, that’s my fucking business. 

Alright, 11 from me (I wanted to include artists too so!!): 

1. Are you a start small-work larger type creator, or map everything out then attend to detail?

2. What style of art/writing has most influenced your creative choices? (Genre, time period, muse)

3. How long have you been writing/arting? Is this something you knew you’d do your whole life?

4. What is your favorite thing about creating for your fandom? (reception, excitement, newness, etc.) 

5. Have you met any recent creative goals that you’re really proud of? 

6. What is your creative baby; what work do you want stamped on your proverbial gravestone as I MADE THIS (or have you made it yet?)

7. Do outside forces (politics, culture, hegemonies) play into your creations? Do you intentionally or subconsciously subvert norms or explore ideas?

8. Your creative mind is a garden. Describe what kind it would be and what it would contain (i.e. rock garden, palace garden, wildflowers, rose... etc.) 

9. Do you believe that creative art has power and if so, how do you hope yours impacts others? 

10. I’m double stealing this question: what’s a fic or fan art that changed your life or was a touchstone for you?

11. If you could pick any hero of yours to read/look at your creations, who would it be and why?

TOTALLY only if you want to, but @13ways-of-looking @twopoppies @alienfuckeronmain @prettytruthsandlies @pattern-pals @newleafover @disgruntledkittenface @lesbianiconharrystyles @lululawrence

[dcubang]

DCU Bang 2nd Story Claims

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1 Title: Fly With Me Word Count: About 14k Genre: Fantasy-Adventure Fandom/Universe: Green Lantern, Flash (comics) Characters/Pairings: Barry Allen/Hal Jordan/Guy Gardner/John Stewart/Alan Scott Warnings: Mild/implied body dysphoria Rating: PG-ish Summary: When Watchman Barry Allen arrives to a grisly murder scene, the last thing he expects is the enigmatic dragonlords of the realm to arrive and ask for him specifically. They are handsome and charming, but the existence of enormous fire-breathing flying lizards that seem to exert some kind of... Strange emotional aura is more than a little terrifying. He is introduced to the prince of these dragonlords, Hal, and steps up to be taken back to the towering natural fortress of Oa, a massive hollowed out mountain that sits on the edge of the continent. Called the 'weyr', Oa is home to the dragons and their riders, and Barry soon finds himself welcomed inside with all the honours that a prince might receive. In the morning after a restless night's sleep he is bathed and anointed, and taken down deep beneath the mountain to a holy underground sea, where he must confront the mysterious Lord of Oa and receive the prize for which he had been chosen: A dragon egg, rare and precious. The last third of the story will be hatching the dragon, and a montage of sorts with Barry further bonding with the dragon riders and forming a... Tentative proto-romantic relationship with them. He trains in arms with Guy, learns the histories and concepts of the weyr with John, is taught about the running and logistics of Oa from Alan, and finally Hal tutors him on bonding with his dragon, and eventually flying with it. The broad aesthetic of the fic is very much generic medieval fantasy, set mostly in the mountainous fortress/castle of Oa. Characters vary a little bit from canon appearances, mostly in regards to hairstyles and the like, but a few characters are trans, which is mostly going to be a background detail. There are no warnings except for a crime scene early on (which will be edited down) and brief discussions of trans characters being trans, so there's a bit of mild dysphoria but no explicit details or transphobia/homophobia. There is implied polyamory and age difference, but everyone is consenting adults and nothing is properly established in this fic.

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2 Title: The Case of the Missing Son Word Count: 6,031 of 10k-ish Genre: Mystery, Romance Fandom/Universe: Batman (comics) Characters/Pairings: Bruce Wayne/Dick Grayson, Talia al Ghul, Damian Wayne Warnings: Minor violence Rating: NC-17 Summary: Bruce Wayne has come to PI Dick Grayson with a problem. His ex-wife, Talia al Ghul, has been sending him letters claiming they have a son. Bruce wants Dick to find the boy and bring him home. Dick gathers information from various sources before running into Talia herself, which only results in him getting beat up. He goes back to Bruce to convince him to confront Talia. Eventually, the son goes to Bruce, and Bruce and Dick get some private time together. The story takes place solely in Gotham, from Dick's office, to Wayne Manor, with one trip down into the caves of Gotham for the showdown.

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3 Title: Forth My Mimic Comes Word Count: 19k Genre: Mystery, Supernatural Fandom/Universe: Batman (mostly comics) Characters/Pairings: Gen; Jason Todd, Barbara Gordon, Tim Drake Warnings: past canon character death, non-consensual bodyswap, thoughts that could be construed as non-specific suicidal tendencies (i.e., "I was already dead, if I die again it's no big deal," etc.) Rating: PG/T Summary: Robin saves a boy from being hit by a car, only to discover that the victim is none other than a very alive (if comatose) Jason Todd. An already unusual situation turns even more bizarre when an unfortunate turn of phrase and an errant bit of magic cause Jason and the current Robin to end up in each other's bodies. Knowing it's only a matter of time before Bruce learns of the switch and locks him up in a fit of paranoia, Jason must seek the help of the enigmatic (and familiar) Oracle to fix the problem, all the while learning far more than he ever wanted to know about the boy who replaced him. Takes place immediately following Jason's resurrection in a slightly canon-divergent timeline, primary locations being the clock tower, manor, and cave (and all of Gotham, because patrol).

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4 Title: Pussycat, Pussycat, Where Have You Been? Word Count: 4,579 of 5k Genre: Mystery Fandom/Universe: Batman (comics) Characters/Pairings: Bruce Wayne/Selina Kyle, Tommy Elliot Warnings: Nonconsensual body modification, some torture Rating: PG-13 Summary: Selina Kyle is missing. Bruce finds mannequins and dummies of her around Gotham, each with a modified nursery rhyme about cats. Bruce follows these clues all across Gotham, growing more desperate to find her. Finally, he confronts the villains of Gotham and finds Selina, only to find Hush there as well. They battle and Bruce rescues Selina and takes her back to the Batcave. This takes place solely in Gotham, from the streets and graveyards of Gotham, to beneath Arkham Asylum, to the Batcave.

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5 Title: Daily Gab Word Count: 5776 Genre: Coming Out Fic Fandom/Universe: Batfam Characters/Pairings: Jon/Damian, Damian & Dick Warnings: Bullying Rating: PG-ish Summary: Damian finds a tabloid taped to his locker at school. The headline? "Wayne Kid... Gay?" He endures a day at school listening to the gossip from all the other kids. Dick does the brotherly thing and helps Damian sort through all he's feeling. Damian admits to Jon what the tabloid said and why he's been running scared all day, they talk about the reality of what they want together and Bruce manages to be a real father for once. Summary I'm posting when I post the fic: Damian swallowed against the bile in his throat and carefully took in his next breath, walking himself through the steps of emotional calm. Pretend this was only torture. Pretend it was only a gunshot wound. Pretend it was only his body in pain and not his heart and his mind. Remove himself from the situation and take a few steps backwards from the reality of it.

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6 Title: Stay My Tragedy Word Count: 16k Genre: Drama, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Romance Fandom/Universe: Batman, Deathstroke, Red Hood Characters/Pairings: Slade/Jason Warnings: explicit sex, angst, descriptions of violence, references to self harm, slight dubcon, problematic relationship Rating: NC-17 Summary:

Soul marks can appear at anytime in one’s life -- a mark of karmic destiny that most people take to mean they’ve met the person they’re meant to fall in love with. Jason knows that’s not true. He knows because his soul mark appeared in the very last moments before he died -- marking his destiny to be murdered by the hands of a madman.

  It is a world in which fate is unbelievably cruel, when Jason’s soul mark is of none other than the man who murdered him. Slade has other ideas however, and he might just be the one man who can change Jason's tragic fate into something else.

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7 Title: New Horizons Word Count: 6091 Genre: Action/Adventure Fandom/Universe: Canon Divergence/AU Characters/Pairings: Jason Todd, Stephanie Brown, Tim Drake Warnings: Major Character Death, Abusive Parents, Child Trafficking Ring, Drugs Rating: PG Summary: Jason, Tim, and Stephanie meet while Jason still holds the Robin mantle. They band together to take down a child trafficking ring, all while each one is fighting their own personal battles. Stephanie's dad is a small-time crook who is major-times ruining her chances at a better life. Tim's parents are never home--he doubts they could pick him out of a lineup. Jason is suddenly thrust into life with a billionaire (and vigilante), but not everyone might want him there. Story is mostly set in Gotham and Wayne Manor, with a few scenes in Titans Tower. The Major Character Death is Jason, but it happens off screen and in the epilogue. The Abusive Parents is Tim's parents neglecting him. Drugs are a passing mention. The Child Trafficking Ring is a major plot point.

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8 Title: You’re saving Blüdhaven but who saves you? Word Count: 3457 Genre: Hurt/Comfort, Humor Fandom/Universe: Batman/Nightwing comics, Under the Red Hood Characters/Pairings: Dick Grayson, Jason Todd/JayDick – Jason Todd/Dick Grayson Warnings: child’s death, mentions of rape, canon typical violence, non consensual drug use, incest (pseudo-incest? Jason and Dick were adopted), self esteem issues Rating: T/Teen And Up Audiences /PG14+ Summary: After a kid got killed Dick, already in a bad place, decides that his only option to make a difference is to fight crime in a different way. He decides to partner up with a carefully chosen criminal and Red Hood caught his attention even if some of their morals are on the opposite sides of the scale. This somehow leads to Dick having an elusive roommate he developed an attraction to. It’s a shame no one told him Red Hood is in fact Jason. This story is canon divergence or alternate universe and takes place after the events with Blockbuster and Tarantula in Nightwing comics and intertwines with some happenings from Under the Red Hood. The action is placed mainly in Blüdhaven, but there are trips to Gotham and Wayne Manor. The story has a romantic relationship between adopted brothers. The rape is mentioned several times and one of the character is forcibly drugged. It also contains description of child’s death and violence.

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9 Title: A Bit(e) Wild Word Count: 5-6k total, 4k written Genre: mostly Angst/Fluff but some Action/Adventure Fandom/Universe: Losers/Batfamily, no particular series Characters/Pairings: established Jensen/Cougar, will be Jensen/Cougar/Jason Todd later in series. Background canonical Pooch/Jolene, mention of Clay/Aisha. Warnings: Graphic violence, swearing, maybe sex in the flashback Rating: Explicit. Even if no sex happens yet, it will later, and there's also the violence to consider. Summary: The Losers have just barely taken down Max and cleared their names; Jensen's still cleaning up post-mission but they're all back home. Jason Todd's preparing to move back to Gotham and butt heads with Batman when a bit of pest control ends with him bitten by a wolf shifter. He didn't think the Pit's aftereffects would allow him to be changed, or that he'd call the Losers for backup again, but of all the people Talia had him learning from, Cougar's the only shifter he knows he can trust if this IS the dreaded change coming on. Cue frantic phone call. The Losers load up and head out immediately, but Pooch brings his family just in case, Clay rides up with Roque, and Jensen and Cougar lead the charge because they've already got the shifter genes and being bitten again isn't going to do anything to them (Jake is a recent change; Cougar was born a shifter). By the time the others arrive, they've got Jason settled and all three are in their animal forms. Jensen is a wolf, Cougs is a cougar, Jason is a snow leopard. After the first few lessons, Jason gets impatient--maybe the Pit, maybe new instincts, partly the knowledge that the Losers aren't going to just let him leave until he's got enough control over his shifter side to satisfy Cougar. He tries to slip out in the night, half hoping they won't follow him, subconsciously aware this will be much easier with trusted backup. Every Loser was expecting this, though, and when Jason slinks off to Gotham, they're still mostly packed and ready to head out. It doesn't take them long to follow.

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10 Title: where monsters lie (in dead men's dreams) Word Count: ~75k total, 47.7k written (including unfinished draft) Genre: Drama, Horror, Angst Fandom/Universe: Batman Arkham Games, and a lot of creative liberty taken with comic canon and the traditional Alpha/Beta/Omega AU Characters/Pairings: Jason Todd/Dick Grayson, Jason Todd/Bruce Wayne, Bruce Wayne/Dick Grayson Warnings: Non-con, Dub-con, Drugging, Non-traditional ABO Dynamics, Bondage, Descriptions of Torture, Pseudo Incest, Kinky/Rough Sex, Intersexed Characters, Background Polyamory, Angst, Murder Rating: R Summary: Oracle enlists Red Hood's reluctant help to find Batman and Nightwing, who have disappeared during an arms bust deal orchestrated by the Penguin. They've been captured and dosed with a perverted form of the Scarecrow's latest toxin, and the effects of the toxin force the three of them to face their feelings for each other. All Jason wants to do is run away, except Dick won't let him leave. Things grow more complicated when the Penguin re-emerges with a threat none of them had expected, and Jason takes it upon himself to teach the Penguin a permanent lesson. Meanwhile, Dick has been experiencing random bouts of mania and murderous intent, ever since getting dosed with the toxin. By the time he confronts Jason about the Penguin's vicious murder, Jason sees more of the Joker in Dick than he does in his nightmares. Fortunately for them both, there's no mystery in Gotham that Batman can't solve in time. The story is set in Gotham City, 1.5-2 years post the game Batman: Arkham Knight, but also features several flashbacks of bastardized canon scenes from the comics. If you're a stickler for canon, this will probably kill you dead so please bear that in mind. Besides that, there is a single instance of non-con and another instance of molestation. There are also two implied sex scenes which can be considered dub-con. There is pseudo-incest between Jason, Dick and Bruce. The Penguin gets tortured to death but the torture occurs off-screen and only the results are described in graphic detail. The polyamory is mentioned throughout but does not occur on-screen.

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11 Title: The Sacredness of Tears Word Count: 13k Genre: Romance, character study, elements of fantasy and drama/angst Fandom/Universe: Batman comics, set in the future and using events from New Earth and the current continuity Characters/Pairings: Tim Drake/Jason Todd, Tim Drake-centric Warnings: temporary character death, pseudo-incest, canon-typical violence, discussions of mental illness, parental abuse through neglect, swearing Rating: PG-13 (maybe R for swearing?) Summary: Tim Drake Wayne isn’t weak. He can’t be. And now that he can travel through time, he has the perfect tool to make sure he’ll never be vulnerable again. Gradually, Tim’s family, friends, and his slowly blossoming relationship to Jason teach him otherwise. The story is set in Gotham with scenes in Tim’s apartment, the Batcave, a diner and various rooftops. There are scenes with multiple members of the batfamily and Tim’s team. The romantic scenes are focused on cuddling and size difference. The plot spans several years. Tim is eighteen at its beginning and twenty-five at its end. There is one detailed description of a meltdown or anxiety/panic attack. There are discussions of mental illness; some symptoms of depression are shown, especially withdrawing from the world and diminished self-worth, but nothing too bad and absolutely no hint of self-harm or suicide. Jason dies in one scene (not the canonical temporary death), but that is quickly reversed. There are descriptions of injuries. The parental abuse refers to Tim’s and Jason’s canonical backstories, not Bruce (who tries to be a good parent in this).

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12 Title: The Nightingale Word Count: ~14k total, 8.5k written Genre: Hurt/Comfort, Alternate Universe, Drama, Healing Fic (kinda) Fandom/Universe: Batman - All Media Types, Red Hood and the Outlaws Characters/Pairings: Dick Grayson/Jason Todd Warnings: No Warnings Apply Rating: NC-17 Summary: Crushed by the guilt of Jason's death, Dick quits the vigilante life, gives up Nightwing, begs Bruce for a clean slate, and runs away to New York City. He takes shelter at the Nightingale, a nightclub where Dick works as an exotic dancer, a stripper named Richie. Dick uses the blinding stage lights, Bloody Marys, and a mysterious man named Jay to hide his past. However, Dick's rather painful former life is slowly uncovered by Jay through a series of one night stands. Meanwhile, Dick also has some unconventional run-ins with the Red Hood, a supposed antihero working in the tri-state area and associated with the family Dick has not had any relations with for over five years. Old wounds reappear, and Dick's new life slowly falls apart around him as the truth comes to light. Set primarily in NYC, in the Nightingale nightclub and at the different hotel rooms Jay books. Towards the end, Dick and Jason will eventually move back into Gotham City and Wayne Manor. Story takes place five years after Jason's death. Dick's "new" life is an emotional roller coaster of hurt/comfort, a path of healing, a life built on lies, and identity porn woven all throughout it, until it is all untangled in the end.

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13 Title: Between Flight Word Count: ~15k, 10.8k written Genre: Romance, Drama, Humor, Alternate Universe Fandom/Universe: Batman - All Media Types Characters/Pairings: Dick Grayson/Jason Todd Warnings: No Warnings Apply Rating: PG-13 Summary: Jason is a 15-year-old orphan, living at a crappy orphanage, going to school because it is the only fun in life, and dreaming of the day he becomes eighteen. After a little altercation with a pickpocket, Jason meets Robin, and from that night on, Jason could not get rid of the Boy Wonder. Coincidentally, Dick Grayson starts at Jason's school as well, and decides to befriend him of all people. Jason finds himself being tugged in two directions - towards a charming and talkative circus boy with a past similar to his, and towards Gotham's own hero in scaly panties. Over the course of a couple weeks, Jason is dumped at a school dance, kissed on rooftops, taken on dates a couple times a week, and even glared at by the Batman himself. Needless to say, Jason finds that his life is a lot more interesting after he met both Dick and Robin. But of course things smell fishy to Jason. Especially when Robin knows tricks that only Mr. Circus Boy can do. Or when Dick uses the same girly shampoo as the teen hero. Or when their identical disarming smiles send bursts of happiness straight through Jason's heart. Batman might be the World's Greatest Detective, but Jason Todd is not so shabby either. Set primarily at Jason and Dick's high school, the orphanage, the rooftops of Gotham City, the luxurious halls of Wayne Manor, with special appearances of "date" locations around the city. Jason is 15, while Dick is 17.

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14 Title: Moon Dust On Your Lips Word Count: ~6100 Genre: Romance, First Time, Mutual Pining Fandom/Universe: Batman and Green Lantern, no specific canon Characters/Pairings: Bruce Wayne/Hal Jordan Warnings: Mild sub/Dom, explicit sex, biting and bruising, praise kink Rating: NC-17 Summary: The Justice League is trying to expand their potential pool of allies in the known universe, and with the help of their Green Lanterns, they set off to personally negotiate with as many people as they can. Everyone is involved, but it mostly falls to Bruce/Batman and Hal Jordan. The longer Bruce and Hal work together, the more Bruce let's Hal see under the cowl, and the more Hal starts to like what he sees. Bruce even accepts advice from Hal on an issue dealing with his children. Then Hal, returning exhausted from a mission to Oa, loses his temper at the tail end of a League meeting. He says something stupid within Batman's hearing, and then goes off to get decidedly drunk with Barry. Hal confesses that he has a crush on Bruce, but there isn't anyway that he can see it ever happening, so he decides to just ignore it and move on with his life. Bruce doesn't exactly get the memo right away, but as soon as Hal starts physically distancing himself from Bruce as much as possible, their tentative friendship falls to the wayside. Soon, Bruce and Hal are back to being uneasy coworkers. It culminates with Bruce and Hal on the return trip of another successful negotiation, when their escorts decide to up and leave them in the Middle of Nowhere, Spaceville in a small, cramped, one man space pod. There's an argument, confessions, and then sex, before being rescued. The story takes place in a variety of locations, including Wayne Manor, the Watchtower, Barry's apartment, and the space pod. The sex will include Bruce manhandling a very willing Hal, with some rougher edges (biting and bruising, praise kink).

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15 Title: Happy Middles Word Count: ~4600 Genre: PWP Fandom/Universe: Batman and Green Lantern, no specific canon Characters/Pairings: Bruce Wayne/Hal Jordan Warnings: Somnophilia, Dirty Talk, Praise Kink, Noise Kink Rating: NC-17 Summary: Basically a slice of life PWP about the time Hal and Bruce make for each other, specifically how Bruce's ends his nights and how Hal starts his days. Bruce comes home early from a shortened patrol and joins Hal in bed a few hours before Hal has to go to work. Hal falls back asleep, and then wakes Bruce up when he starts exhibiting signs of a wet dream. Bruce pleasures Hal until he wakes up, and then gets Hal off. Hal turns the tide on Bruce, teasing him until Hal decides he's ready to ride Bruce to their mutual completion. This takes place solely in Bruce's and Hal's bedroom in the Manor, described as having a darker color scheme with blues, blacks, and grays. All kinks are negotiated prior to the story, as this is a well established, husbands!fic. No noncon here.

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16 Title: Hold Me Tight (or Don't) Word Count: 6055 Genre: Mystery, Angst, possible supernatural elements Fandom/Universe: Batman, no specific universe Characters/Pairings: Bruce Wayne, Talia al Ghul, Conner Kent, Jason Todd Warnings: Medical experiments, but non-graphic Rating: Teen Summary: Sometimes, a Family is you, your Beloved's dead kid in a coma, and your Beloved's best friend's "clone" who's other gene donor is sort-of kind-of your boss off to play at politics Or There’s been a rash of robberies in Gotham, leaving Batman puzzled as to what the villains are up to, all the while seeing Jason appear to him, even though he’s been dead for a few weeks. Meanwhile. Talia takes care of a comatose Jason, while discovering Lex’s secret project taking a form no one expected. On the other side of bay/river, Clark is investigating a mysterious Cadmus fire, under a building Lex Luthor (who is now the president) owns. Not to mention the mysterious new villain who may be more connected to the robberies in Gotham that it seems.

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17 Title: untitled as of yet! Word Count: 3039 Genre: 5+1 things, fluff, probably eventual smut Fandom/Universe: dc extended universe, films 2013-present Characters/Pairings: Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne Warnings: none Rating: T at the moment, will likely slide into M/E Summary: After a few months of working together side-by-side as a team while not actively trying to kill each other (even in their spare time), Clark realizes he’s developed Feelings for Bruce. He knows Bruce is stubborn and self-isolating, so he decides the best plan is to figure out a way to make things a little (incidentally) romantic without scaring off Bruce: little notes on rooftops, a dubiously agreed upon makeover by Lois, advice from Barry and Victor and Diana—even Alfred ends up in on the game. Unfortunately for Clark, Bruce is even more slippery (or oblivious) than he ever imagined. Maybe what Clark really needs is a little help from a Higher Authority… or, the five times Clark Kent tried (and failed) to seduce Bruce Wayne, and the one time Bruce Wayne allowed himself to be epically seduced.

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18 Title: the weight of eventuality Word Count: 24,000 Genre: Romance, /Action, Drama Fandom/Universe: CWTV Flash (2014) Characters/Pairings: Barry Allen/Leonard Snart, Team Flash Warnings: canon typical violence, graphic sex Rating: NC-17 Summary: Life was pretty great for Barry Allen, honestly. Team Flash successfully pulled him out of the Speed Force, he still had his job, and all of his friends and family where there to support him. Eddie and Iris were expecting their first child, and even with everything that happened between Caitlin and Julian, the team worked as well as ever together. Barry didn't want to tell them that he was still slipping backward and forward in time, or that every night the Speed Force made him witness the death of Leonard Snart. Rescuing Leonard was easy. Falling in love with him? not really part of the plan. With Captain Cold back in Central City, it was hard to remember that there were other people out there who wanted to do more than flirt and steal pretty jewelry. It was just a matter of time until they made their move. This story takes place mostly in Central City, with a detour into the Speed Force. There isn't really anything to warn for, I think. There's an explicit consensual sex scene near the end of the story, and canon typical violence and injury. There's some mention of minor medical procedures. There's technically some torture, but that happens off screen and Barry is in the speed force of the entirety of it, so there's no graphic detail.

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19 Title: your continental divides Word Count: 9k Genre: Hurt/Comfort Fandom/Universe: DCU. not set in a specific universe, borrows from several continuities. Characters/Pairings: Dick Grayson centric, Batfam and company, Gen Warnings: non-con Rating: PG-13 Summary: After Catalina Flores, Dick is dealing the way Bruce taught him: push it down and carry on. It's not working out very well, and people are starting to catch on. The story is set mostly in Gotham, and guests a few characters besides the batfam (mostly Wally and Roy). It's essentially just an exercise in letting Dick be comforted by the people who love him. This focuses on dealing with the sexual assault from Nightwing #93. The assault is not graphically depicted but is referenced and discussed, in addition to self-destructive behaviors and a variety of coping mechanisms.

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20 Title: Broken Wings and Notched Arrows. Word Count: Around 6-6.5k total. 4,280 written Genre: Action, Romance, Drama. Fandom/Universe: Young Justice, Batman. Characters/Pairings: Will Harper (Roy Harper's clone)/ Jason Todd Warnings: Temporary Character death, mild language, mild violence, small age gape, Rating: NC-17 Summary: The only thing Will Harper wanted to be doing that fine winter morning was to play dress up with his beautiful daughter Lian. What he got however was a surprise visit from the legendary Bruce "Batman" Wayne. And if that wasn't a big enough shock being hired by said legend was icing on the cake. So now instead of spending Christmas with Lian Will is kind of, maybe being held against his will on Infinity Island. Bright side he did find Jason Todd like he was hired to. This story takes place in multiple locations. The main set is in the Caribbeans, mostly Infinity Island and the League of Assassins HQ. It also show cases Will's home in Star City and a major fight screen in Gotham. There is no major warnings. Temporary Character death as Jason Todd doesn't stay dead for long. Some violence but nothing more then a few short details of fight scenes. No gore just a little blood.

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21 Title: Masks Word Count: 7,783 Genre: Action/Adventure and Romance Fandom/Universe: Batman Comics, post-Infinite Crisis Characters/Pairings: Dick Grayson/Jason Todd, Alfred Pennyworth Warnings: Incest, canon typical violence, explicit sex Rating: NC-17 Summary: Continuation of pre-new 52 canon. Jason's back in Gotham. All he wants to do is figure out how he can successfully help fix his city, without falling foul of the rest of the Bats and the GCPD again. He's even hung up his red hood in an attempt to stay under the radar. When he discovers that Alfred is in danger from the gang he's investigating, he infiltrates a costume ball at Wayne Manor in disguise as a supervillain. He ends up flirting with Dick to stop him interfering with the rescue plan. Dick doesn't realise who he is and flirts back until they end up making out furiously in a closet. Afterwards neither of them can get the encounter out of their heads, and they start to get to know each other again. Featuring conversations with Alfred, Dick attending a party in a Superman costume, Jason spray painting his red hood grey, everyone rescuing each other and lots and lots of pining. Warning for pseudo-incest between the adopted brothers, Dick and Jason when they reach adulthood.

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22 Title: Sleeping Beauty Syndrome Word Count: 9k written. Genre: Romance, Angst, Fairytale Rewrite Fandom/Universe: Nightwing, Red Hood and the Outlaws Characters/Pairings: Dick Grayson/Jason Todd Warnings: Horror, gore Rating: PG-13 Summary: Dick Grayson and Jason Todd have been living the perfect life. Happily married for more than five years with two perfect sons, they have everything they could possibly need. Unfortunately, good things don't last forever. Struck by a spell during a mission, Jason's mind has been scattered, putting him into a deep sleep and the only way to wake him up is for Dick to put his pieces back together. The task won't be as easy because each part of Jason has been hidden within a fairy tale, a world tempting Dick to make one wrong move and doom his husband and himself forever. The story will take place over multiple locations, including rewrites of fairy tales like Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, Little Red Riding Hood, The Princess and the Pauper, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.

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23 Title: we just now got the feeling that we're meeting (for the first time) Word Count: Around 36K (34K written) Genre: Drama, Romance, Fluff, Angst Fandom/Universe: Superman and Batman, DCEU canon/movie canon Characters/Pairings: Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne; Lex Luthor, Diana Prince, Barry Allen, Arthur Curry, Victor Stone Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Rating: Teen Summary: While fighting Lex Luthor for his latest weapon, a time weapon, Bruce Wayne gets hit and sent back twenty years into the past. Meeting Clark Kent on some snowy mountain side in Alaska was not exactly what Bruce thought would happen, but he’s here now and there’s nothing for him to do except wait for his team to pull him back to the future. Unfortunately, he doesn’t quite know when that will be, so sticking with Clark is his best option. Of course, it would be much easier if Bruce wasn’t already pining for Clark in the future. How long until Bruce is pulled back into the future, and will he be able to stop himself from falling in love with Clark Kent in the past and potentially creating a time paradox? This story is set in a couple of locations. Most of it is set in the past in Alaska during the beginning of Clark’s pilgrimage, specifically in the Denali National Park. Other locations include the Wayne-Turned-League Manor, Bruce’s Lake-House in Gotham city, and the lake itself! Primarily it involves young versions of Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne, although the very beginning section and at the last few parts of the end is focused on the present/older versions of them. There are no Archive Warnings that apply to this story. It is mainly an excuse to just write cute scenes of Bruce and Clark falling in love in the snow with the added bit of dealing with time travel, with a lot of focus on Bruce Wayne's character! The most rated this story goes is the occasional swear word.

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24 Title: Scarlet Tears Word Count: 12,914 Genre: Action Fandom/Universe: AU Characters/Pairings: Barry Allen/Leonard Snart Warnings: mention mpreg Rating: M+ Summary: Leonard and Mick take a mini vacation from the Legends and head back to Central City. It is there they find out things aren't as them left it. A certain speedster has the attention of Captain Cold when an accident happen will he be able to resist staying away from this particular speedster?

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25 Title: Absent Shadows Word Count: 3487 Genre: Action/Adventure, Hurt/Comfort Fandom/Universe: Justice League Animated/Teen Titans Characters/Pairings: Robstar & Superbat Warnings: None Rating: NC-17 Summary: Starfire can’t believe her eyes when Robin sends her his resignation from the team, in fact she doesn’t believe it all. As she investigates Robin’s disappearance, she considers his similarities with his father and in the chaos, she meets a fellow traveller to this strange planet she calls home. Whilst they learn about each other, she seeks his experience when falling in love with both Earth and more specifically men from a certain family.

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26 Title: Make an Ass of U and Me Word Count: probably 10k-12k (6k written) Genre: Romance, Comedy Fandom/Universe: DCEU Characters/Pairings: Clark/Bruce, Dick&Bruce Warnings: sort of assumed incest, but no actual incest Rating: Teen Summary: Bruce neglects to tell the newly formed Justice League that he has a son, because he and Dick aren't talking to each other . Until they suddenly are. Unfortunately, he doesn't clarify who exactly Dick is to him, so Clark gets the wrong impression. Or: Five times Clark thought Dick was Bruce's boyfriend, and the one time he found out the truth. Contains lots of unfounded jealousy, misunderstandings, Dick being delightful, and Clark being a mess. Lots of domestic settings, mostly around the lake house and the batcave, with the exception of one battle scene.

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27 Title: Honey Trap Word Count: 7.7k Genre: Porn-with-plot, crime/modern AU Fandom/Universe: DCU (Comics) Characters/Pairings: Slade Wilson/Jason Todd, Dick Grayson Warnings: Consent issues (consent is there on both sides, but dubious on one side due to situation), manipulation, some BDSM-style kink Rating: NC17 Summary: Slade's used to dealing with informants. Most get caught in the screening process before they ever get a hold of anything useful, but this one, 'Jason Todd,' gets as far as working in the lower ranks of his organization before Billy drops the file on his desk. Another attempt at an undercover CI from Detective Grayson, this time just some random arrested civilian, instead of a fellow officer. Billy would prefer that he throw him out now, but Todd's not bad looking, and Slade likes the idea of ruining this plant just like he ruined the last one. Modern AU, no-capes. Aside from sex scenes, one character is primarily in part/all of a suit throughout scenes. As Slade is aware from the start that Jason's a plant, the sex has some consent issues. Jason is doing it partly to ingratiate himself, and Slade absolutely manipulates him into it. However, Jason enjoys/consents to everything that happens, it's only the situation that's sketchy.

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28 Title: Don't Let Your Yearnings Get Ahead of Your Earnings Word Count: 7.2k Genre: Western, technically Romance Fandom/Universe: DCU (Comics) Characters/Pairings: Slade Wilson/Jason Todd Warnings: Some non-consensual touching, non-sexual Rating: PG-13 Summary: Slade Wilson is a bounty hunter, one of the best in the business. The contracts that specify 'alive and unharmed' are rarer, but usually worth the extra bonus that comes with. This one is definitely not. Jason Todd was supposed to be just another young outlaw with more balls than brains, not a slippery sharpshooter who Slade would have to chase halfway to the next town. And just to add to everything, he still has to get the damned boy all the way back. That's going to be fun. Western AU with bounty-hunter Slade and an outlaw-ish Jason. Most of the story is traveling, but there will be an inside-mansion scene near the end with Roman Sionis. No real warnings for this. There's some brief non-consensual touching of intimate bits, but it's entirely non-sexual.

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29 Title: [insert song lyric here] Word Count: 8084 Genre: It's a slowburn at its core, with action and drama mixed in Fandom/Universe: DCAU's Justice League/Unlimited Characters/Pairings: Bruce Wayne/Wally West, Shayera Hol, J'onn J'onzz, John Stewart, Diana, Clark Kent Warnings: human trafficking, threat of dub/non-con, language, sexual themes Rating: R Summary: Ever since their run in with the Justice Lords, Flash and Batman reached a new stage in their teammates-but-not-quite-friendship. The only problem is Flash is the only one who seems to think that, so he decides to see how far he can push at Batman's annoyance level before the Bat snaps at him. Unfortunately for Flash, their job keeps getting in the way, including but not limited to stumbling upon a human trafficking ring and a worldwide invasion. When the dust settles, Flash finds himself wanting more from the man under the cowl, and the harder Batman pulls away, the harder Flash is drawn to the man and his elusiveness. The Fastest Man Alive needs to rely on his patience if he wants to get anywhere in his quest. This story takes place throughout the entirety of DCAU's Justice League as well as the first two seasons of Justice League Unlimited, with the main locations being the Watchtower and Wayne Manor. The human trafficking and threat of dub/non-con are contained to two scenes in which a main character falls into trouble, but nothing too graphic occurs. Still, the subject matter isn't everyone's cup of tea. The R rating is just to be extra safe.

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30 Title: Anachronistic Crises Crossover Word Count: 8k Genre: Gen, Crossover, Fluff Fandom/Universe: Red Robin, Batman- All Media Types, DC Comics Characters/Pairings: Jason Todd (Post Crisis),Tim Drake, Jason "Jay" Todd (Pre-Crisis)/Rena(Pre- crisis), Jason "Jay" Todd (Pre-Crisis), Rena(Pre- crisis) Warnings: Period Typical homophobia, possible inclusions of bad mental health care later Rating: T (just to be safe) Summary: Coming off of the Search for Ray Palmer, Jason Todd reconciled with his family. Just in time for Batman's apparent death. After an international adventure that led them to finding the batman, said batman in his Hyper-Adapter crazed state seemingly vaporized them with Omega Energy. Jason and Tim wake up to find themselves stranded in Gotham, New Jersey where its somehow the April of 1986. Tim takes the lead and stalks a young person also named Jason Todd- who is very unlike the one he knows. The Alfred Pennyworth with him seems similar enough though. In there efforts to observe this world's Bat-family Tim ends up having to go to high school again- where the shear amount of brightly colored clothes that are either skin tight or falling off makes him want to claw his eyes out. Jason is comparatively having a much better time as a librarian in the Gotham Public Library to fund their tiny studio apartment with money that doesn't look fake for the time period. Night work continues as well, with Red Hood and the vigilante named by the media as "Shrike". Their quick and calculated moves on the Gotham drug trade lead them to colliding first with this world's Robin. Jason alone is confronted by the Batman, and nearly has a panic attack though Tim will never be privy to that information. Gotham is a not as insane back drop of retro-not-so-chic. Jason enjoys the small pleasures of being legally alive and having a job. Tim doesn't cope well without all his compact gadgetry and hates school- but likes the closeted lesbian couple he meets. A budding bat-detective trying to figure out who these new and weird people are, and who these new sci-fi like vigilantes are. Will the people back home in Tim and Jason's Gotham ever succeed in getting them home? The entire fic takes place in either version of Gotham, with the exception of the Watchtower being there for like 5 minutes. Post-Crisis Gotham features locations like Oracle's clock-tower Jason is wearing his Under the Red Hood costume, Tim cosplays as knock off Midnighter (red robin), Bruce has blue accents and trunks, and Robin-Jay makes Jason re-live cold nights in hot-pants and pixie boots.

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31 Title: Batsons Be Crazy Word Count: 11,169 words Genre: Fluff With Plot Fandom/Universe: Batfam + Shazam basically DCU leaning towards the comics Characters/Pairings: Damian Wayne/Billy Batson Warnings: None Apply Rating: Teen Summary: The story takes place over a year, a year of Billy and Damian teaming up, falling in love, and meeting family. Damian has never liked anyone before, while Billy sees the best in everyone and will fall in love at the drop of a hat. Their romance isn't a crazy one, it's one built off of trust, comfort, and most importantly, a love of animals. Their romance brings them to many places, including Canada, Dick Grayson's apartment, and the dinner table in the manor. No warning apply except maybe underage because Damian is 17 when he begins to peruse Billy as a romantic interest, but doesn't start seeing him until he's 18.

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32 Title: The Past Still Ties You Down Word Count: 7k Genre: Angst, Romance Fandom/Universe: The Flash (TV) Characters/Pairings: Barry Allen/Leonard Snart Warnings: implied/referenced violence and abuse, alcohol abuse Rating: NC-17 Summary: On another earth, Barry falls in love with the most hated man in Central City - mob boss Leonard Snart. Only, Central doesn’t know Len like he does. They didn’t grow up with him like Barry did, sleeping in the bed above him, patching up his wounds and crawling under the covers with him when his bullies had been especially cruel. Even as the years go by - where Len is no longer a teenage boy forced into a life he didn't choose and Barry is no longer the child still grieving his mother while hating the father who killed her - they can't seem to let go of each other. Set in multiple locations in Central City, including a foster home, hospital, and the West house. The violence and abuse are not actually shown, but the aftermath is (ie. patching up wounds, some blood, some discussion of specific actions after the fact).

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33 Title: Unfortunate Souls Word Count: around 8-9k total, 4958 written Genre: Dark Fairy Tale Fandom/Universe: Batman, Batfamily Characters/Pairings: Dick Grayson/Jason Todd, Jason Todd/Slade Wilson, Dick Grayson/Slade Wilson, Dick Grayson/Jason Todd/Slade Wilson Warnings: dub con (may have a bad ending that pushes it into non con) Rating: Explicit, NC-17 Summary: Based off of The Little Mermaid (Disney film mixed with aspects of the original fairy tale) as well as fandom-type Mer AU’s. With red-headed Jason taking the part of Ariel, Dick as Prince Eric, and Slade as Ursula. Jason, adopted prince of King Bruce’s underwater kingdom, is fascinated by all things human. One night, while stargazing on the surface, he decides to follow a ship out of curiosity. On the ship is a handsome human prince who steals his heart. After an accident, Jason risks his life to save the human, which puts him at odds with Bruce. After inadvertently challenging Bruce during an argument about his ‘hobby’, Jason flees the realm and accepts the offer of octo-mer Deathstroke, a one-time rival of Bruce’s, to turn him human. But Slade’s intentions are murky and hidden. He wants Bruce’s throne, his son, and if he gets a human pet out of the deal, that’s just one more trophy to show that he is the stronger Mer. The story is set in the underwater mer kingdom ruled by Bruce; Slade’s underwater lair; and the idyllic land kingdom of Bludhaven, ruled by Price Richard. I haven’t decided whether I want a happy ending, like the film, where Jason and Dick ride off into the sunset or a bad ending where Slade gets everything he wants. If happy, there will be some dub con between Jason and Slade when they make the agreement and later when Slade is using magic to enthrall Dick. If I go with the bad ending, there will likely be some non con.

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34 Title: You Will See Me Word Count: 6,146 Genre: Hurt/Comfort, Character Analysis, Canon-divergent Fandom/Universe: Young Justice Characters/Pairings: Arsenal (Roy Harper), Artemis Crock, Roy Harper (Will Harper), Oliver Queen, Dinah Lance, Lian Harper || Oliver/Dinah, Arsenal & Artemis Warnings: Trauma, PTSD, Realistic depictions of injury, Physical Disability, Recovery Rating: PG-13 Note: Arsenal, and thus Roy, are trans men in this fic. Summary: After being rescued from the clutches of Lexcorp, a cryochamber, and no future, Arsenal struggles to find his grip on life. Between the vast amounts of anger, fear, and loss, he fights to cling to autonomy. A mentor he feels betrayed him, a clone he isn't sure how to relate to, and a couple of badass women who may not have known him, but are here for him, Arsenal is just learning to live again. A heavy introspection fic on the nature of the trauma Arsenal has been through, and his road to healing. Exploring the relationships he has with Oliver, Dinah, Roy, and Artemis especially, but others as well. The two weeks between his rescue, and his first mission with the team are rife with trouble and struggle, but he has a fire and a determination in him that will get him through. The hell of the War World and the true recovery afterwards. Learning to forgive Oliver, learning to accept Roy for himself, a separate entity than himself, getting to know Artemis and the real and true bond they form. Forgiveness, healing, and his fair share of slips and bumps, Arsenal finds closure, acceptance, and comfort in his life.

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35 Title: Build Me A Place (we'll call it home) Word Count: 6,800 story (+outline of ending) Genre: Fluff, Minor Angst Fandom/Universe: Batman, Superman, Justice League Characters/Pairings: Bruce Wayne/Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, Louis Lane, Kara Danvers Warnings: None Rating: PG-13 Summary: Kryptonians are not human. It’s easy to forget, even for Clark. That being an alien means more than his powers. There are traits rooted into the DNA, coming out in the subconscious, until not even Clark notices. Kryptonians, among other things, build Bowers for their mates, beautiful homes to settle into. It’s more than a tradition, it’s a way of life. When Clark begins to redecorate, he doesn't know why it matters so much to him. And why it hurts so badly when Bruce doesn’t even care.

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36 Title: Little Scab Word Count: 6,246 words Genre: gen, family, found family, community Fandom/Universe: DCU, Batfam, Red Hood Characters/Pairings: Jason Todd, Damian Wayne, Cassandra Cain, OFC, Bruce Wayne, Batfam Warnings: violence, descriptions of abuse, non-graphic allusions to sex acts Rating: M for violence, adult themes Summary: Red Hood is not a hero to most. Outlaw, yes. Killer... yes. He and his estranged family all serve some role as self-described protectors, but only Jason Todd delivers his justice in blood. However, following one good deed and the start of a fledgling friendship, Jason finds the Red Hood tasked with leading a self defense class for some of Gotham's most vulnerable—homeless, prostitutes, and runaways. When the Batfamily members start catching on, will they approve? First appears Robin. Then Black Bat. Who next? What will Batman ultimately do about his wayward ward stirring up Crime Alley? Can Jason be trusted to keep Gotham safe? The story is set in Gotham, featuring set pieces like Crime Alley, warehouses, tall buildings, the Bat cave, and more. It features many Batfam characters as well as several OCs all taking part in self defense instruction, with a few action scenes thrown in. The story does contain graphic violence, including allusions to or descriptions of past physical, sexual, and/or psychological abuse. It deals with mature themes but is ultimately about forging friendships, building community, and becoming better stewards of Gotham.

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Second claims will close Saturday, July 13th 23:59 MDT, when all fanworker sign-ups will be closed.

[fantasy-ninjago]

Ninjago fantasy au: Chapter 2

Kai was only slightly furious.

Seriously, considering his hothead and impulsive nature, this time the madness felt nearly unperceivable. He didn’t throw any chairs, he didn’t yell at everyone in the building, he didn’t set anything on fire… That was a big success.

He ran downstairs and through the main hall to the blacksmith workshop on the back of the family castle. He angrily walked inside and when the heavy wooden door got closed loudly by the wind, all the workers around became silent. It wasn’t the first time their lord acted like that, and after a few seconds they knew what to do - they continued fulifying their jobs and minding their own buisnesses.

Kai walked quickly towards the fireplace which was a bit separated from the others and threw his hands in front of him. The flames started burning unexpectandly, and the boy suddenly felt like if he let go of a big weight in his chest. He grabbed a metal stick, put it in the hearth and then he leaned on the wall, waiting for it to warm up.

Now, that he let out most of the fury with his power, he could think more clearly about this whole situation. They needed materials to product more weapons for the king’s royal guard, the army and for private customers, but the prices of them were getting incredibely high. Angelia Ferreira, Lady of Metal, was even worse when it came to negotiating than her father - Lord Karlof tried to understand their situation and he only wanted more free weaponary when Kai couldn’t pay him in money, but this sorry excuse of his daughter? She was completly merciless. She stood by her own terms and didn’t even try to be flexible or change the price of materials. She was not only in enough good financial situation to afford letting them to not pay for next few months, she was also aware of the fact that if the Smith family falls, the country will have to look for another main weapons delievers. Then why the hell she couldn’t show a human side for once?

He took the hot stick out of the hearth and carefully laid it on the anvil. He grabbed a big blacksmithing hammer and started forming the metal by smashing it. It took him some time to realise that he gave way too much strenght into this action and, whatever this creation was meant to be, it was now completly destroyed. He sighed deeply and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“Running away from problems won’t make it easier to solve them, you know?” The voice behind his back made Kai jump. He turned around to see no one other than his sister Nya, still in the formal, blue and red dress from the meeting he finished when he run away from the room. She crossed her arms and looked at him expectandly.

“Listen, sister”, Kai started walking towards the exit leading to the garden. The girl followed him. “I’m sorry to say that, but you’ll never get my problems.”

“Excuse me?” Nya snorted. “I’m with you at every meeting, important or not, I take notes, I try to help…”

“But you are the younger sibling after all!” He threw his arms in the air when they went outside. “Your role is to… get married into a good family, not to rule ours. It’s a way smaller responsibility.”

“You forgot that I don’t plan on doing anything liks that, yeah?” She shook her head. “Listen, I appreciate the fact that you’re trying to help me, but I want to be able to handle my life alone. All those other girls might wanna be damsel in distress types, but it’s just… not for me. If you’d let me move to the capital city, you know, to live for a while in the king’s court, meet new people, find my own way, maybe join the-”

“There is no way I’m going to allow this!” He screamed a bit histerically, stopped and grabbed his sisted by her shoulders. “We talked about this hudred times - I’m not gonna lose any other family member. You’ll become some good man’s wife and you’ll have a calm, safe future. I can promise you that.”

“Have you ever even tried considering my feelings in that matter?” She took a few steps back and looked at him with dissaproval. “Maybe I want something different from the world than just… to stand back and silently watch the show.”

“And maybe, because I’m your older brother and supervisor, you have to accept my decision.” Kai said angrily and already regretted his chose of words. “Sorry Nya, I’m…”

He watched her as she was running back inside.

***

Nya never stopped believing that some change of events will save her.

Not that her life was really hard - those born in noble families usually had it easier in some aspects. She never starved, felt a freezing cold, passed out from exhausting work… But still, something didn’t ring the bell for her. She was technically a free woman and could’ve done what she wanted. She was smart, rich, quite pretty and well educated. The world was opened to her.

Only if her brother didn’t stand in the way.

Nya sat at the edge of the parapet and rested her cheek on a cold window. They were both way too hot-headed for their own good. She tried to act responsible, but sometimes she just couldn’t stand how much Kai wanted to set her whole life the way he wished it to be. The thought of forced marriage kind of terrified her; if she haven’t met the right person yet, why should she follow anything else than her feelings?

“Something troubles you, kid?” She noticed her cousin Ash stopping by and looking at her with his usual smirk.

“Shut up, I’m only three years younger than you.” Nya mumbled. “And it’s same as usual.”

“Kai talking shit?” He nodded his head slowly.

“Language!” She hissed jokingly.

“Oh come on, nobody cares.” Ash shrugged happily. “Besides, this guy is stressing everyone out, I bet all the servant secretly hate him.”

Nya snorted. Her cousin always found a way to cheer her up even a bit.

“What would you say for a short walk? I have so much to tell you.” He asked.

“Yeah, it’s probably better to do something than just wait for Kai to find me here and start another useless argument.” She smiled widely and grabbed her cousin by the shoulder.

They started wandering around castle’s cold, empty halls. It was shortly before the noon, all servants were probably preparing the feast. Nya heard a loud talk from the room they were passing and she realised that Kai probably came there back to try and discuss the deal with Lady of Metal. It probably didn’t work well; the girl caught herself walking a big faster to avoid a confrontation with a furious brother.

“How are the things in the capital going?” She looked at her cousin expectandly. He just came back from the king’s court and Nya was thirsty for any news outside of her boring home.

“Nothing really unusual, I guess.” Ash sighed. “Wu is still trying to keep everything togheter, Morro is still acting like a piece of shit… Oh, you heard that he’s gonna get married?”

“I already feel pity for the person he chose.” Nya shook her head. “Who is this poor human being?”

“I believe it’s a girl from a smaller noble family… Damn it, I can’t remember her name.” He frowned with frustration. “Anyway, it makes Morro even more confident. I mean, if it’s possible for him to get more prideful. He acts like if he is a king already.”

Nya chuckled. She wished that Kai wasn’t so overprotective that he never let her visit the capital city. She could’ve known more about all those people that she heard gossips and news about.

“How is Tox doing?” Girl asked about their another cousin - Lady of Poison, who recently moved to the royal palace.

“I don’t think she fits with all of them really well,” Ash admitted. “She’s too silent. But she’s already siding with Chamille. I don’t think she should trust her so much after such a short time, but this girl can make a good ally in the future.”

This is how aristocrats saw all of the relationships - friendships, romances, marriages… As an opportunity to gain more power. Nya would never say that out loud, but she hoped that this would change someday. That they would hang out with whoever they wanted to, not regarding political connections.

“I agree. Her family is quite big and has a huge influence on a king. Tox is smart, she will find her way to the top.” She exclaimed instead.

“I just remembered something that might interest you…” Ash smirked. “I talked with Shade before the travel. He told me that they have a new recruit in The Royal Guard.”

“Oh, who?!” Nya suddenly got excited.

“Cora Pevsner. I heard she’s not the best, and her powers are pretty much either useless or a boundary. She’s trying hard though.” Ash told her, and then patted her on the back. “I bet you would do way better than her. Still, Cole can’t complain a lot. Since Karlof left for that mission, a lot of guards resigned permanently or temporary, there are only a few left…”

“You actually think I would have a chance?” Nya didn’t even pay attention to the rest of his talk. She held on to this sentence and desperately wanted to believe that Ash just helped her find a way to break free from this place.

“Never say never.” Ash shrugged. “You have a warrior’s nature, it-”

“Can you teach my how to fight?” Nya blurted out. Ash was so suprised that he stopped walking.

“I mean,” He run his hand through his hair and smiled mischeviously. “It will probably get on Kai’s nerves, right? I think that’s a great idea.”

[chroniclerwabba]

Anyone who knows me or has seen my blog knows that I have great issues with modern Warcraft’s storytelling. I’ve spoken at length about retcons, character inconsistencies, forced conflict, rushed development, and a lack of balancing. But the real problem with Warcraft’s story and characters is something much more than that. Those are all major issues that make up the bulk of why modern Warcraft and Blizzard have fallen off. But the real issue IMO is one that genuinely saddens me.

There are no heroes anymore.

What I mean by that is that a lot of the characters have the amazing powers like fel magic, nature, and the Light. But nobody feels like a hero, is my main problem. You have more noble and neutral characters that teeter on heroic like Anduin, Khadgar, Thrall, Tirion, Vol’jin, and Velen. But you don’t get to explore characters like Khadgar, Anduin, Vol’jin, Tirion, and Velen vastly enough to really get into their mindset of why they believe in the greater good and putting conflict aside. They just say “war is bad and we need to stop senselessly fighting each other to rebuild” and just leave it at that. They might be right, but you don’t get to see the gears turning in their heads. Tirion was much more developed in his heroic altruism, but they fridged him off at the beginning of Legion. The most we still have is Thrall, but he’s been rendered largely irrelevant to the current plot and panned by fans on account of being such a focus for so long.

Illidan is pushed prominently as a hero by Blizz, but he really isn’t. A lot of the defenses for his heroism greatly fall apart when put into proper context. He does a lot of really bad and questionable things to get his goal when there are many other more productive and effective ways to do the right thing. Everyone else has been rendered down to warmongers who want to kill the other faction and purge their people. Even Jaina, who was the poster child for Alliance heroism. She had all the right in the world to want Garrosh dead, and I backed her up all the way. But then she borders on drowning the entirety of Orgrimmar and all its civilians, including the orphaned children. Anduin has a touch more setup to being a heroic character (mostly in the expanded lore but regardless), but now he’s being railroaded into an Alliance versus Horde conflict in BFA. When they pulled this conflict back in MoP, there was at least that moment where the Alliance and Horde felt like they could make some progress, and the Horde could finally catch a break to get its shit together. Now the Horde has once again been railroaded into being the antagonistic force because of a warchief nobody trusts but for some reason is complacent with because they needed to artificially inject conflict into this story without taking more time to slowly develop it.

In Warcraft 3, there were lots of characters were heroes, and you got to actually see why they become heroes. Jaina, Uther, Medivh, Tyrande, Malfurion, Cairne, Thrall, Rexxar, Kael’thas. Even Grom and Illidan had their chances to be uplifting heroes. In modern Warcraft, everyone is a warmonger that wants to kill, enslave, destroy, and pillage either for vengeance, xenophobia, nationalism, or greed.

There’s nobody to root for. There’s nobody to believe in.

I think a lot of this is because of the shift in modern fantasy writing, where everything is grimdark war and violence. There’s nothing wrong with this necessarily, as everyone occasionally wants to check their brain at the door and roleplay and root for “deuz vult skyrim for the nords crusader man” and “zug zug lok’tar monster boy.” But all of this came at the cost of believing in goodness or something greater. It came at the cost of altruism and love. That’s why Lord of the Rings is so timeless and cherished by many, because it retains that sense of goodness, hope, belief, and the pursuit of these things for the greater good even in the face of overwhelming adversity and despair. Lord of the Rings was about finding hope and love even through war. Blizzard and many other fantasy writers forgot about this and what ultimately made the mythos work, and I believe this is why fantasy is starting to stagnate and many people I know hold less of an interest in it.

And anyone who says “it’s warcraft not peacecraft” doesn’t at all know what they’re saying. Warcraft 3 was when the series stopped being a Warhammer retool and another Tolkien-esque knockoff and became its own thing. Warcraft 3′s heroes were the Alliance, the Horde, and the kaldorei - three factions who were greatly flawed but ultimately good and trying to overcome things greater than themselves via cooperation. 

The Horde had been enslaved by the Burning Legion and forced to commit mass genocide against Draenor and Outland, and their story was about Thrall leading them away from this sordid past, reclaiming their semblance of honor by fighting not only for themselves but for the greater good, and finding a place where they can build instead of destroy.

The Alliance had grown massively divided after the Second War, distrustful and going on their own. Gilneas, Stromgarde, and Quel’Thalas pulled out, their refusal to cooperate and aid one another ultimately leading to their downfall at the hands of the Scourge. Had they remained unified and worked together, more of them might be left. It was only with Jaina’s journey to Kalimdor and working with the Horde that the Alliance still lives.

The kaldorei were the ones that brought the Burning Legion to Azeroth in the first place, sundering Kalimdor into four pieces and killing millions through the class divide between the Highborne and the common kaldorei. They withdrew into Ashenvale to hide from what they did, letting Kalimdor fall into disrepair at the hands of the quillboar, harpies, and centaur. The tauren were hunted to near extinction for 1,000 years, and they had helped the kaldorei fight the Legion during the War of the Ancients. The kaldorei turned their backs on their ancient allies. Their story was about confronting what they had brought to Azeroth so many years ago and working with the others to correct their mistake, even at the cost of their own immortality.

Warcraft 3 was uplifting because you got to see how far the factions and characters came from where they started off. Nowadays, modern Warcraft has this “push me pull me” dynamic with the Alliance and Horde, only cooperating together at the last minute without anyone bothering to stop and ask why they work so well together and how much more they accomplish side by side rather than at each other’s throats. You can have a good war conflict, but it has to be paced properly, not have rushed characters, a more cohesive narrative not spread out across expanded lore, and making it less one-sided by constantly sandbagging the Horde as the antagonists and the Alliance as being so flat and pushing back.

There isn’t a Captain America or Spider-Man like hero in Warcraft. There doesn’t need to be a character that unique or ornate like those examples. But the way those characters are written and portrayed - their heroism and belief in the greater good and hope - is what helps add depth to universe ripe with conflict and is what is sorely missing from modern Warcraft.

The war part of Warcraft is not why the series was memorable. Both the fans and Blizz forgot this.

“The roots will heal in time... as will the entire world. The sacrifices have been made. Just as the orcs, humans, and night elves discarded their old hatreds and stood united against a common foe, so did Nature herself rise up to banish the Shadow... forever. As for me, I came back to ensure that there would be a future, to teach the world that it no longer needed Guardians. The hope for future generations has always resided in mortal hands. And now that my task is done, I will take my place... amongst the legends of the past.” -Medivh

[rafespeaks]

since apparently u didn’t get it before: do all the muse meme for Silver

1- What’s their full name?

Silver Batalino

2- What’s the reason/meaning behind their name?

He was named after his grandfather on Giovanni’s side, Argentino. (Argentino means Silver.)

3- Do they have a nickname? What’s the meaning behind it?

No nickname. He doesn’t like nicknames. Sometimes (rarely) people call him ‘Silv’, which is just a shortened version of his name. Surprisingly, he’s less adverse to this type of nickname than others. Still doesn’t like it all that much though.

4- Do they have a false name? Why? Does it have any meaning?

Despite living as a thief for a while and who his parents are, he doesn’t have a false name. In the past, he highly disliked sharing his name at all, and he never mentioned his last name if he could help it. Now that he has a more stable life and he’s done all he can to rectify his past deeds though, he’s more open to saying who he is. A good thing too, considering all the socializing he’s done recently.

5- How old are they? How old do they appear?

As of our last RP, Silver was sixteen. Since then, the birthday we set for him has come around again, though at this point we may just say screw it & not count the past year towards the time passed in the Glitch Gen universe. (We did a lot of things since his last birthday, most recently the Alola thread everything that stemmed from it. Holidays that followed were Christmas, Valentine’s Day, & Father’s Day, but we can shove our newest ideas in around everything that happened there instead of it being a half year to a year later.) So... sixteen going on seventeen pretty much. Because of his height though, he often looks a couple years younger than he is. This annoys him to NO end.

6- What is their eye color? Do they have to use glasses or contacts? How good/bad is their vision?

Silver’s eyes are a very light, steely blue. I’ve talked with Turbomun about him possibly needing glasses before, but Idk exactly how bad it’d be, or even whether he’d be nearsighted (like me) or farsighted... ehehehe.........

7- What is their weight/height? What kind of body type/build do they have?

Silver is 5′ even. Couldn’t tell you his weight, but it’s lighter than you’d expect. He a scrawny, wiry boi.

8- What is their skin tone/type? If they have fur, how long is it? Does it have any markings or patterns?

Silver has EXTREMELY light skin with freckles. The freckles are light enough that they’re not too noticeable if he hasn’t gotten much sun in a while, but the downside of getting sun is that he sunburns easily.

9- Do they have any distinguishing marks?

Not sure how to answer this...? Haven’t really thought about birthmarks, though if he had any, they’re easily covered up by his clothes. He also has a few scars, though the more prominent ones are again easily covered by clothes.

10- What are their prominent features?

The red hair is hard to miss. Also the bad attitude and general dislike of socializing with strangers.

11- How attractive are they to others?

If the internet is anything to go by... he is VERY attractive to others. His attitude tends to put off most people though.

12- Are they healthy? If no, why not?

He’s... a lot healthier than he was after just a short time on his own. But fending for himself for so long no doubt stunted his growth on top of him getting a raw deal in the genetic lottery in regards to his height. He also got sick a lot on his own, but this has lead to a stronger immune system over time & a good understanding of how to treat himself with whatever he can find in the immediate area.

13- What’s their favorite color? Why?

Silver is pretty indifferent towards colors, but he tends to like those that are darker & cooler like black or navy blue. The one warm color he likes more is red, & that’s mainly because it looks good on him as an accent color with his red hair.

14- What’s their least favorite color? Why?

No least favorite color.

15- What’s their favorite music? Why?

Anime themes, classical music, and rock music. The anime is because he is a closet nerd & the classical & rock is just because that’s what he likes. No real reason to it.

16- What kind of food do they like or have to eat?

Silver isn’t particularly picky, but he does enjoy sweets more than other types of food. He is also more accustomed to Japanese and Italian cuisine.

17- What kind of books do they like to read?

Long, immersive fantasy stories never fail to pull him in. Especially in the vein of Lord of the Rings. He doesn’t appreciate romantic subplots much, though.

18- How do they get around?

He flies with either Crobat or Lugia. If he’s in a pinch though, he can depend on Entei or Meganium to take him places. (Meganium wouldn’t be very fast of course, but it’s still an option for if he injured himself or something.)

19- Are they a daredevil or more cautious?

Silver is usually a cautious person. The only exception is when Team Rocket is involved in some way. He hates them with a burning passion and tends to lose most common sense & logical thinking when faced with them.

20- How do they handle being alone?

He actually enjoys being alone to a degree, but after a while he will seek out company. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again - he’s much like a cat in this regard.

21- Name any good habits they have

I... honestly can’t think of any...? I’ll have to think on that.

22- Name any bad habits they have

Habitual self-isolation... S’not good, man. Also a tendency to set his own preferences aside around friends and family, which makes asking for his opinion the WORST THING.

23- What are their favorite hobbies or pastimes?

He likes to read. Also when he’s older, I’d imagine he repairs books on a regular basis as like... pet projects of his.

24- How would they like to spend a rainy day? A sunny day?

In bed with a good book on both accounts. Or maybe indulging in a bit of anime.

25- Where do they come from? What is their culture? Any traditions or things of that sort in their hometown?

Silver was born in Viridian, but spent most of his childhood in Fuchsia City & then traveled constantly around Kanto and Johto. As a result of all that, he really doesn’t have any ties to one particular town.

26- List out their immediate family. How good is their relationship with them?

Giovanni (father) - decently good and getting better with each passing dayAriana (mother) - horrible and will likely never recover

27- Are they diurnal or nocturnal? Early bird or night owl?

Left to his own devices, Silver is more nocturnal. He is a complete night owl. The sun is a deadly laser.

28- What are they afraid of? What are they not afraid of?

He is afraid of losing those he cares about, Team Rocket returning, going back to his abusive ways, and thunderstorms.He is NOT afraid of most anything else. Wary and untrusting with some things, certainly, but not really afraid.

29- What are their goals? How are they going to achieve those goals?

He has already achieved pretty much every goal he’s set for himself. Now he’s trying to figure out a direction to point his life in.

30- Are there any obstacles that might get in the way of their goals?

Only his natural introversion and dislike of strangers.

31- How well known are they among the common folk? Is it for a good reason?

He isn’t really THAT well known, but he beat the Johto E4 and Champion Lance, not to mention he’s dating Champion Ethan/Gold, so... he’s moderately well known.

32- Do they hold any secrets? What are they?

His biggest secret is who he’s related to, and as an extension, his relation to Team Rocket. He’d rather die than allow the general public to know about that. Especially since that would put his father in danger.

33- When confronted with danger, how would they react?

He either calls on his Pokemon to support him or promptly Nopes the other way.

34- What is their species? Describe their species and their features

Lol he human.

35- What is their basic story?

Mafia prince runs away when dad leaves to soul search. Steals things and learns to live off the land. Abuses his partners until 3 years later a happy-go-lucky kid beats his ass at every turn & he eventually realizes his lack of compassion is his downfall. 3 more years later he reconciles w/ his dad, starts dating the happy-go-lucky kid & his childhood friend, and achieves all the goals he ever set for himself, even being chosen by two legendary Pokemon to be their trainer. Now he lives in relative peace under the radar, hoping no one pops in to arrest his dad & occasionally wondering if he’ll be given a position as a Gym Leader at one point or another.

[f1uffy-turtle]

Fanfic Writer Asks

[SOURCE: criminal-minds-fanfiction: Most of the writer ask posts I come across are only like ten or so questions long so I thought I’d try to make a longer one because we like talking about our writing! Feel free to reblog!]

I got this from @wickedobsessed101 and copied and pasted the questions so I can fit my own answers too. You can find the post I got from them here.

1) How old were you when you first starting writing fanfiction? I started around 2011, so I was around 13 years old at the time.

2) What fandoms do you write for and do you have a particular favourite if you write for more than one? I am currently writing for The Owl House fandom, but I am intending on broadening my scope to She-Ra as well as Lord of the Rings, Zelda, and ATLA bc gay fantasy brain go brrr.

3) Do you prefer writing OC’s or reader inserts? Explain your answer. I prefer to write original characters myself. Y/N stuff is not exactly my forte. It gives me more control as to how I know the characters will act depending on their own characterization and backstory.

4) What is your favourite genre to write for? I actually really prefer to write really tense stuff, despite my misleading username. I live for the conflict of the moment and it does lean into some pretty angsty stuff sometimes. I mean, look at Soul Bound. However, I also do like writing light-hearted comedies as well as some fluff whenever I can get around to it. My heart yearns and so too must the romantic tension.

5) If you had to choose a favourite out of all of your multi-chaptered stories, which would it be and why? I really only have one that is published, but it is definitely the one that I do like the most. Soul Bound was originally a story that was going to stand on its own. It was set in a world that I created meticulously from the ground up, taking inspirations from Lord of the Rings, Legend of Zelda, ATLA among other things. I do have other multi-chapter projects in the works that I absolutely love, however out of my published babies, it's SB 100%.

6) If you had to delete one of your stories and never speak of it again, which would it be and why? The Legion of Lenny Faces was a crack fic that I just posted for funsies. I wouldn't mind getting rid of that.

7) When is your preferred time to write? Since I am starting to work again, I'm thinking about starting work on my writing around 2PM. It's normally around that time that I start anyway, so it works out.

8) Where do you take your inspiration from? Movies, music, sometimes even my own songs that I write. Inspiration really comes from anywhere that hits me. However, it hits especially hard whenever I make a playlist for a particular mood that I want a story to have.

9) In your xxx fic, what’s your favourite scene that you wrote? In Soul Bound, my current favorite scene that I have written was the scene in the chapter Confrontations with the scene between Amity and Odalia. I essentially channeled everything I ever wanted to say to my abuser into Amity's words and it was the most cathartic thing that I ever wrote.

10) In your xxx fic, why did you decide to end it like that? Did you have an alternative ending in mind?In The Bean that I wrote for April Fools, while it definitely is a crack fic, I still wanted it to read like an Owl House episode or at least an Owl House short. However, I did think of an alternate ending in mind where the bean just kept on multiplying until it flooded the entirety of the BI. However, That would mean by those rules, duplicating all non-living things on the isles.

11) Have you ever amended a story due to criticisms you’ve received after posting it? I split an entire chapter into two pieces and rewrote another one just because of criticisms that made complete sense to me. In all honesty, I did blame the burnout, however all of that and the small break I did take helped a lot to reinvigorate my love for this story that I am writing.

12) Who is your favourite character to write for? Why? Skara. 100%, she is babey and I love her.

13) Who is your least favourite character to write for? Why? Gonna be honest, while I love King as a character, I don't exactly like writing him. I feel like if I wrote him as more of an active part of the story, it would detract entirely from the whole thing. Second would be my OC, Robert Almade solely because I feel like he can be much more fleshed out, but also because there are parts of his character that I did write that just don't make complete sense to me. This should be worked out later.

14) How did you come up with the title for the xxx? - You can ask about multiple stories. For Soul Bound, I literally asked a Discord server for ideas because all the titles I did think of were shit XD. However, I recently came up with the title for my Skarlow punk band AU, Skara and the Wallflower, based on the book/movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower as well as band names in general.

15) If you write OC’s, how do you decide on their names? I normally think about the themes the character embodies and how they may change and grow throughout the story, and then I translate specific keywords into different languages and trim them in a way that sound like a name.

16) How did you come up with the idea for xxx?[Ask me about a specific story]

17) Post a line from a WIP that you’re working on.“Oh, sure! Protect me from him, but let Amity take the brunt of it and possibly die? What if she is dead, Eda? What if I can’t see her again?”

18) Do you have any abandoned WIP’s? What made you abandon them? I'd rather not talk about it.

19) Are there any stories that you’ve written that you’d really love to do a sequel to? Possibly I may have one for Skara and the Wallflower if I feel up to it, however Soul Bound is going to be a one-and-done deal.

20) Are there any stories that you wished you’d ended differently? Yes!

21) Tell me about another writer(s) who you admire? What is it about them that you admire? @lunanight2012 @quirkquartz @descendantofthesparrow

22) Do you have a story that you look back on and cringe when you reread it? Any story that I haven't published.

23) Do you prefer listening to music when you’re writing or do you need silence? I do listen to music just to set in the general mood and once I get going, I can go either with or without it.

24) How do you feel about writing smutty scenes? I can write smut. However I don't ever feel comfortable publishing smut. It really just isn't for me.

25) Have you ever cried whilst writing a story? YES! I ABSOLUTELY HAVE!!!! SO MANY TEARS BECAUSE OF THE ANGST!!!

26) Which part of your xxx fic was the hardest to write? This most recent chapter was actually the hardest to write because I was already so scared when writing Scrying of the Soul that when I started writing this one, I didn't know how to settle down with this whole thing. I knew Luz needed to process her trauma before I introduced the ghost, but exactly how I felt like I had trouble with.

27) Do you make a general outline for your stories or do you just go with the flow? I have a varied mix of ways I outline. Yes, I do have a list of bullet points about what major plot points go where, but really that's all that comes together before I start writing. Soul Bound is completely plotted out in the very broad strokes, but the rest is just improvisation.

28) What is something you wished you’d known before you started posting fanfiction? That writing would be the single most fun thing that I have ever done and to be fair while I do want my stories to be the best they can be, just the fact that I'm getting them out there makes me happy.

29) Do you have a story that you feel doesn’t get as much love as you’d like? Gonna be honest, my one-shots don't get a lot of love, but it is entirely understandable.

30) In contrast to 29 is there a story which gets lots of love which you kinda eye roll at? Ya know, Imma just say a song title that I wrote that many people love that I've grown to just not like. Ticking Time Away.

31) Send me a fic recommendation and I’ll post it for my followers to see! (The asker is to send the rec, not the answerer)Yeah, sure!

32) Are any of your characters based on real people? The way I characterize Odalia is based on a mix of what is already established. That and a heavy doseage of my abuser and their mindset. Which is kind of why it felt cathardic writing that scene in Conflicts.

33) What’s the biggest compliment you’ve gotten? Honestly, whenever I make a revision and it is heavily praised by either a reader if I edited an already published chapter or a beta reader if I had revised a particular scene they didn't like. I thrive off of any good critique and it makes me want to do better.

34) What’s the harshest criticism you’ve gotten? I mean there are people who wouldn’t read just because what I wrote was a ghost fic, but tbh it wasn't even that harsh.

35) Do you share your story ideas with anyone else or do you keep them close to your chest? I normally share with other writers when I'm really excited so I can bounce ideas off of them, however specific story elements I keep close to my chest because that part feels like my personal touch moreso than the general idea.

36) Can you give us a spoiler for one of your WIP’s? HAHA NICE TRY BEYOTCH YOU JUST HAVE TO READ IT!! (Other than the fact that Amity does get her body back, but that's already been promised.)

37) What’s the funniest story you’ve written? The BEAN

38) If you could collab with any other writer on here, who would it be? (Perhaps this question will inspire some collabs!) If you’re shy, don’t tag the blog, just name them. I would honestly be willing to collab with anybody from the Good Witch Society on Discord. As well as my partner which we already talked about quite a few ideas that we had for stories.

39) Do you prefer first, second or third person? So, I do love writing inner monologue, however if I was ever staying in one character's perspective, it would just feel way too limiting. I prefer third person omniscient so I can at least give the reader insight into what's going on in everybody's heads.

40) Do people know you write fanfiction?IRL, yeah. But I have established that I am using this to exercise my own writing skills.

41) What’s you favourite minor character you’ve written? Emira I would actually consider a minor character in the grand scope of my story, however I absolutely adore writing her.

42) Song fic - What made you decide to use the song xxx for xxx.I write my own songs and to be completely fair, it was really spontaneous in Soul Bound, but I found out a plot point that could definitely weave in extremely well within the story.

Skara and the Wallflower being a punk band AU will definitely be a songfic with all original songs.

43) Has anyone ever guessed the plot twist of one of your fics before you posted it? Actually, nobody has ever really guessed a plot twist yet.

44) What is the last line you wrote? This really can't be good.

45) What spurs you on during the writing process? I already really adore the stories that I write and my goals are to write them and get them out there. I think about how the characters react and how things can go wrong in a way that makes sense.

46) I really loved your xxx fic. If you were ever to do a sequel, what do you think might happen in it?[Ask me for a specific story]

47) Here’s a fic title - insert a made up title. What would this story be about?[Ask me]

48) What’s your favourite trope to write? Friends to Lovers, hands down.

49) Can you remember the first fic you read? What was it about? To be completely honest, the first fic I read was a Zelda fic. I forgot what most of the plot was about, but it did involve Link and Zelda going into Termina and meeting up with this original character who did everything he can to fuck with the both of them. It's very vague, but I absolutely loved it and I never remembered it updating.

50) If you could write only angst, fluff or smut for the rest of your writing life, which would it be and why? I'd have to cave and say angst. I like to have conflict in my stories, but I never like to have it be complete brooding. Just some light trauma, you know?

If you wanna read my stories, they’re all right here: F1uffyTurtle

[sky-on-blog]

Have you ever painted a car? No. That sounds exhausting and unpleasant.

What’s the brand of your sneakers? The ones I wear the most are Skechers.

Are there any gnomes in your yard? There’s nothing in my “yard” except the roots of an uprooted tree from the hurricane. 

When was the last time you were somewhere that offered free Wi-Fi? Yesterday at work, I guess? They don’t really offer free wi-fi, but they have it sometimes? It’s weird. 

Do you ever have to write down a phone number to remember it, or not? Either that, or store it in my phone. I’ll forget it as I’m writing it down.

When was the last time you were stung by a bee? What kind was it? The only time I can recall being stung by a bee was when I was about three years old. I think it was just a honey bee. Since then, I rarely go outside, and am terrified of insects anyway, so I’ve avoided them pretty well.

If you have an iTouch or iPhone, what would you consider your favorite App? Uh. I’m really into Animal Crossing Pocket Camp lately?

What is one part on your body that hurts at this moment, if anything? Yeah, my stomach. Ugh. That’s what I get for eating spicy food all day.

Are you gonna buy lottery tickets when you’re old enough? I am old enough to buy lottery tickets, but I don’t.

What’s the last thing your parents yelled at you about? Wasting my life? Lol. Just basically going nowhere.

Do you forget things easily? Yes. Constantly. It’s endlessly frustrating.

Have you ever been into a real cave? Yes, while on vacation in Virginia.

Does your local museum permit free entry to students? I have no idea. I don’t even know what or where my local museum is. I suck.

When your picture is being taken, do you smile with/without teeth, or do you not smile at all? I try to only do a little smirk. I look terrible when I smile with my teeth.

Have you ever posted mean comments on youtube? No. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever posted a comment on YouTube at all.

What are you so sick of? The current political...situation. And trying to explain basic empathy to people as a result of it. It’s fucking ridiculous.

Doesn’t orange juice taste terrible after you brush your teeth? Yeah, it does. But orange juice doesn’t really go with anything in the first place.

What’s your favorite type of seafood? (i.e. shrimp, lobster, etc.) Crabs! <3

Have you ever been to Florida? I live there. Here.

What’s your favourite season? In Florida, probably fall or winter. Anywhere else? Spring.

Do you have a funny last name? Does anyone make fun of it? Nah, it’s pretty commonplace. My first name is funnier, honestly, just because it’s ugly and also contains a word.

What did you eat for dinner last night, if anything? Was it good or bad? Pizza, and it was good.

Have you ever told someone, besides family, that you love them and meant it? Yep.

Has anyone ever called your personality dull? Do you agree with them? I don’t think so, actually. If anything, my personality can be overbearing. I’ve tried to tone it down over the years, though.

Are the blankets that are on your bed now made by someone you know in life? No, but there’s a blanket on the couch that Jeremy’s grandmother made, I think.

Would you ever have a child just to get someone to fall in love with you? No. That’s ridiculous and irresponsible and altogether a terrible idea.

Who was the last person to call you? How long did you two talk? ...wow, I really can’t remember who called me last. I probably didn’t answer.

Can you tell when people are lying or telling the truth? Sometimes.

Ever have a drug overdose? What did you OD on exactly? Nope.

Do you treat others as you’d like to be treated? Have you always? Generally, yeah, unless they start being rude.

Do you ever look in the mirror and name all of your flaws for no reason? Well, not all of them -- I don’t have all day.

The most painful medical procedure you’ve ever had? An abortion.

Have you ever personally witnessed a drug deal before? I mean, weed? Lol. I feel dumb calling that a “drug deal,” but.

Have you ever been pulled over by the cops for speeding? Yeah, on more than one occasion.

Do you know how wide your hips are in exact inches, or not? Nope. I don’t even wanna know. 

Have you ever met someone in person that you met online? Yes, a few times.

Do you get sick of people who call themselves bipolar all the time? Only if they’re using it in a trivializing way, like, “lol sorry I changed my mind about dinner, I’m so bipolar.” But if they’re actually bipolar, no.

Ever have an ultra-sound performed on you? What was it for? Yes, because of severe constipation when I was younger.

Where is somewhere you’re excited to go in the next few days? Psh, nowhere. But I am excited to not go to work, if that counts.

What color is your digital camera, if you have one? I used to have one that was silver. I have no idea where it is, actually...

What time is it where you are currently? 6:19 am.  Have you got any half or step siblings? I have two half-siblings.

When was the last time you had wet hair? Two nights ago, after I took a shower.

Do you like kids’ movies? More than “adult” movies, usually.

When was the last time you were sick and what illness did you have? Uh. I was hungover last week? But actually being “sick,” probably last year or something, when I got a cold.

Have you ever been kicked out of somewhere? I want to say yes, but I can’t remember the instance.

Who did you last speak aloud to and what did you say? It would have been Jeremy, but I can’t remember what I said last.

Do you have any homework to do? Nope -- I’m not in school.

Have you ever been to Manhattan? Yes. I really want to go back.

Did you get swine flu? I didn’t.

Do you know anyone from Alabama? Yeah -- the guy who delivers milk at work is from Alabama, lol. Also another guy who used to work with me.

How bright is it in the room you’re in? Not very bright. It’s dark out and I’m sitting under the ceiling fan, which has the only light in the room, so it’s really only lit in this area.

What can you smell right now? Nothing. I have basically no sense of smell, so I never smell anything.

Are there any teachers that simply hate you? They probably don’t hate me anymore, but there were some that disliked me pretty bad when I was their student.

Have you ever bought a game from a site like Big Fish Games or Shockwave? No.

What were you last at the doctor for? Just a physical.

Have you seen all the Lord of the Rings movies? No, I’ve only seen the first two. I want to like them, because I like the environment and the fantasy and all, but they’re just so boring. I think I’d like the Hobbit ones better if I ever watched them.

What is the strangest food combination that you enjoyed as a young child? I don’t think I ever ate any strange food combinations, honestly. I was pretty picky.

How often do you change your underwear? Daily.

Have you ever had to call the cops on someone else before? Hmm. I don’t think so.

What kind of phone do you have? An iPhone 5S.

How’s the weather? I haven’t been outside today, but yesterday, it was pretty okay. Meaning, it wasn’t deathly hot and humid for once.

Ever heard the song ‘Roses and Butterflies’ by Making April? Not that I know of.

Do you fear growing up? Sort of. 

Do you dislike when you smile at someone and they give you an evil stare? I guess? But I’d probably just assume that they didn’t see me, or they thought I was smiling at someone else, or something.

Name a site that you visit everyday. Facebook.

Have you ever used the site ‘Project Playlist?’ Yeah, back when I had a MySpace.

List all the things you had to eat/drink today: Today, just water and Diet Pepsi.

Current mood: Restless.

Don’t you hate when you’re talking to someone and another person starts? I mean, if they interrupt, or if they’re intruding on something clearly not meant for them, yeah.

Are you a fast walker, or do you take your time? Depends. 

Do you normally stop in the middle of the hallway with people behind you? Not normally, but I’d be lying if I said it never happened. I try not to do that, though, and I apologize and move if I do.

Ever felt utterly ashamed of something or someone? Well, yeah, of course.

Have you ever knocked on wood for good luck? I wouldn’t call it good luck, but I’ve done that before.

Any fond memories of your first sleepover? I don’t have any memories of my first sleepover. It was probably with one of my cousins.

Do you often run away from the truth? Hm. Maybe in some situations?

Ever met someone and immediately wished you hadn’t? Yes. Many, many, many times.  Which do you feel more often: Anxious, or discouraged? Explain. Man, I feel those emotions a lot, lol. I’d say discouraged more, lately. Just...about my entire life/existence.

When someone offers you something, do you always say yes? Uh. No. Not if I don’t want it.

Do you find it difficult to sleep on your stomach? No, I sleep on my stomach sometimes.

Have you ever drunk/eaten a substance in the science lab? Yeah. We used to work with candy and stuff in school.

Have you ever led the prayer at dinnertime? If not, do you want to? No, and no. My family never prayed at dinner, and I am absolutely not a religious person.

Do you believe in the army, it’s disgraceful to improperly salute? I mean, if those are the rules, then it doesn’t matter whether I believe it, right?

Ever been to a play/musical/etc. and fallen asleep? Not a live show like that, but I’ve come very close to falling asleep at the movies.

Would you rather play an instrument or be the singer? I’d rather be the singer, assuming I was...a better singer than I am now.

Do you always assume you’re right in an argument? If it escalates to the point of an argument, then I’d probably be assuming I’m right, just because I hate confrontation, so I try to avoid arguments at all costs.

[hereticaloracles]

New Moon in Aries- Crossfire

“Nothing is given to man on earth – struggle is built into the nature of life, and conflict is possible – the hero is the man who lets no obstacle prevent him from pursuing the values he has chosen.” – Andrew Bernstein

Effective Date:  March 27, 2017

Helios’ Astrological Angle on the New Moon in Aries– FINALLY! We are in Aries season and I couldn’t be more ready for it. Jesus, this is not easy astro though…. This Moon will be like we are walking on a bed of hot coals, and if we get burned we die. Of course, people firewalk all the time… the key to it is to focus on the destination, and ignore the pain you are feeling. You have to shut it out, and you have to step very quickly- not let your foot touch the coals too long. Step confidently and briskly, and you will feel no pain. Of course, the coals in this case is a plethora of underworld gods and goddesses, all waiting for you to miss your step so that they can drag you down into their depths. They will throw up all kinds of fear illusions to try and trip you up, but they cannot sweep your leg and do it themselves.

Artemis’ Tarot Take on the New Moon in Aries-  Good lord, this is like an epic fantasy battle, Heretics, full of wands and swords, two kings and an Emperor with a Tower looming overhead.  And those are just the tarot cards!  A new Astrological year has begun, and with it we are receiving our next mission – right smack dab in the middle of a fire fight.  Will you remain calm enough to fight your way through, or will you be sniped as you are fearfully taking cover?

The Sun, Moon and Venus– This Moon, and Aries season in general, is a challenge to you. You must focus your mind on the business at hand, ignoring all other illusory concerns. You cannot keep half-assing things like you have been since Sagittarius season. Just “trying your hardest” isn’t good enough anymore, regardless of the struggle going on within you- News flash, no one else cares about your internal turmoil, at least not until it affects them as well. View this past winter as a long training session: You have been training under critical condition, with the astro pushing you to what you perceived as your absolute limits, potentially putting you face to even your own death. Under those conditions, with the clarity of the knife’s edge, we are revealed; Both our strengths and our limitations. What you must come to terms with is that the reward you seek must be earned, and no- You have not already earned it yet. Your past works are not enough to earn you future rewards, so you have to stop resting on your laurels. You’re out of cosmic credit, as it were. Its time you bit the bullet and started caring about something with all of your heart and energy, but you can’t care about it fully if you’re always holding yourself back because you’re afraid of it not working out in the end. Concentrate on what is important to you and commit to it all the way; wear it like armor. Let it be the reason you take a breath or get out of bed in the morning. You have come so far, and it is not time to quit now.

This Aries season demands that you have a core of solid steel, but with Venus here the core needs to be wrapped in a soft and beautiful skin- you have to balance strength and softness. Fear is your enemy here, and that must be overcome. The best way to do that? Refuse to take it seriously! Laugh at your fears when they come up, even if it rings hollow- what your fear fears most of all is to be impotent and inconsequential to you. The fears you will be confronted with are phantoms, nothing more. These will be things that you have already faced, and whether you beat them last time or not, you know how to beat them now. What was once a level boss is now just a common monster, and you can take them in your sleep; because in keeping with video game logic, you have grown stronger- You leveled up, and they stayed the same. Swing your sword and conquer your fears for good. (Minor Planets used: Orcus, Makemake, Huya, Logos, Persephone, Hekate, Orius, Crantor, Hylonome, Eurydike, Hybris, Achilles, Panacea, Elatus, Black Moon Lilith, Nodes of the Moon)

The Sun (Emperor), Moon (4 of Wands), Venus (3 of Swords)-  This is major severance right here, Heretics, and it is major severance for your own good.  Venus, the moon, and the Sun will be conjunction after Venus has paid a visit to Uranus/Eris and moved backwards (meaning she will visit them again when she goes direct).  She is about to retreat into Pisces again, meaning all of the worst parts of the Venus Rx are only about to begin.  She goes Cazimi on the day of this New Moon, seated at the highest point of her power before she becomes the Morning Star (aka Lucifer Venus).  We hope you listened to our warning and did what was necessary during the first few, easy weeks of this retrograde.  The Venus in Aries energy at least let us be angry.  It at least fueled us and made us make decisions that were necessary, and it gave us the bravery we needed to kill our darlings.  Now that Venus is hovering only a handful of degrees from Pisces (3 degrees at the start of this new moon), you will feel the emotional backlash of the retrograde.  She is dragging us back into the emotional state we were in back in Venus in Pisces season (meaning, finding the faith through the darkness), and she is going to be far more ruthless this time.  This is the part of the Venus Rx that will offer us the temptations, and it is our job to choose truth no matter how painful it is (3 of Swords).  Because, Heretics, what you are being offered are tests – illusions to see if you are capable of making instinctual decisions.  Mirages to see if you truly realize what your life mission is.  The light gods will not offer you power if they do not see you fit to wield it, and the dark gods will offer it to you just so that you learn your lesson from the pain of miss-wielding it.  If you let yourself fall prey to going back to the way things were, you will suffer tremendously.  This will bring you to a state where you have lost faith in yourself.  You will realize you do not have the strength to overcome your own negative cycles, and you will make the choice to go back to them with open arms instead of living in the difficult present.

It’s like the Matrix when Cypher chooses to go back into the simulated reality because he doesn’t have to suffer anymore there – tempted by good food, sex, and ease.  Life is good and predictable there and he isn’t forced to be a hero.  This combination of planets is demanding you finally make a stand, Heretics, no matter how rough the road ahead of you may be.  It wants you to make the inverse decision that Cypher did.  It wants you to be tempted with all of the wonderful things, but you still make the choice to take the high road – to be the hero.  You know what the right decisions are, and Aries doesn’t lie to you about the bravery necessary to move ahead.  The challenges will always get harder, but you will grow stronger because of them.  The moon reminds you to celebrate regardless of how painful this process has been (4 of Wands).  You have completed a cycle, and you must not back down now.  This is the part in the story where you come back and take charge.  The 4 of Wands is also known as the little universe card, showing you that a great cycle has now come to a close.  This Aries New Moon is the official closure of 2016’s cleansing by fire energy, and the intense shadow work that accompanied us since Scorpio season.  What are the lessons you have learned about yourself – about your weaknesses and where you find strength?  It’s time to channel those things.  This is no time to rest, or you’ll be destroyed by the pressure of what’s ahead.  You must let the past go, because this is the portal to the new astrological year and we have plenty coming that will need your full attention.  This moon demands  you to be present and to celebrate your accomplishments through the harshness of 2016 and early 2017.   With Venus so intimately involved with this new moon, we are in for a fight over the things we value the most in our lives.  Are you willing to fight for what you love, Heretics?  For what makes you truly who you are?  Or will you give up on your love – for yourself and for your deepest desires – and settle into a life of comfort and complacency?   

Mercury, Saturn and Uranus– Get ready for high-speed processing of whatever old issues you still refuse to get rid of, for some insane reason. Maybe clinging to your pain makes you feel like you are paying your dues, or something, I honestly don’t know. Whatever the reasoning, Chiron is going to make sure that you get this handled NOW. It will feel as though you are being assaulted from all sides on this, but all you need to do to make it stop is just drop what you are trying to cling to, what has had its time pass. Let it go and it ends. You need to see the new path you have ahead of you, but you cannot go down it until you get off of the old one. You’ve already decided that one doesn’t head to where you want to go, so why are you fighting so hard for it? Force of habit? Run of the mill bloody-mindedness? Whatever the reason, you will get woke to it real quick with this Moon. There is a lot of adjustment to be done, so the actual cathartic moment will be swift and merciless and you will be expected to roll with these punches. Get into the new way forward, and save yourself a lot of pain. Keep pace or get left in the dust. (Minor Planets used: Pallas Athene, Ixion, Eris, Sedna, Rhadamanthus, Haumea, Chiron, Echeclus, Thereus, Rhiphonos,  Damocles, Asclepius, Askalaphus, Kassandra, Itokawa, Nemesis)

Mercury (6 of Wands), Saturn (King of Swords), Uranus (7 of Swords), Chiron (Death)-   Damn, ok guys!  You need to be the motivator even though things may be hard as fuuuuuck all right now.  You need to truly motivate yourself, tell yourself that you are fucking important, and get on with it already.  Chiron (Death card) wants to finally drop some petty pain that has been holding you back from accomplishing what you truly want.  All things die eventually, Heretics, and this definitely includes your pain from the past.  You have been walking around with an open wound in your chest, and it’s time to let the sinew mold around your wound – creating a stronger and more durable structure.  You have been through hell and back, and now it’s time for you to realize that, fuck, you are still standing (Mercury as the 6 of Wands).  You have made it this far.  All victories are temporary, and so are all defeats.  You have clawed your way up the mountain, starved, almost lost all hope, but you are standing here now – at the Spring Equinox.  If you give up now, everything – all that pain you have gone through – will be for nothing.  This is the place where the magic happens, so don’t pass up this Aries energy.  It wants to breathe life into you, but it cannot do that if you do not choose action and forward motion.  Ride the wave, Heretics.  Don’t let people bring you down when you know what you have accomplished -what you have sacrificed to get to where you are.  Don’t let their dead weight carry you down.  If they were worth the ilk, they wouldn’t be in the shit situations they are in.  They would be at peace and in harmony with their environment.  The very fact that they are lashing out at you and your accomplishments is because they are in a tremendous amount of pain about their own failures.  Don’t let other people’s hate for themselves bring down your love for yourself.   

Saturn is breathing down our necks to forge something useful (King of Swords).  He wants you to take all of the mental bullshit you have mulled through, beaten yourself up with, and assessed like crazy and fucking deploy it.  The Kings of the Tarot allow energy to be released, and he is telling you it is time to take up your sword and act.  A ruler doesn’t have the chance to go hide in their room when their people are in trouble.  Think of your life like your kingdom, and Saturn is demanding that you address the hoards at the door.  It is time to kill the child and let the adult be born.  Life is messy and hard and painful, but you will not receive the blissful, elating, ecstasy aspects unless you are willing to fight the bloody monsters.  Then there is Uranus, and he wants to let you know that all the secrets are coming out (7 of Swords).  If you think you can get away with taking advantage of someone, this will be the time all of that bullshit comes out.  There are many energies in the micro and the macro who believe they can win out with brute strength and secrecy, but Uranus (accompanied by Eris) wants to tell them that their plans will be subverted for sure.  Not very many secrets will survive the Venus Rx, and they surely wont survive the plethora of planets (including the sun) that will be illuminated with Uranus’ revolutionary light.  People are getting angrier and angrier about their mistreatment.  Change is knocking on our door, and change wants to tell us that the old order is about to crumble like a Jenga tower.  Secrets come out sooner or later, no matter who you are.  Even state secrets.  Keep vigilant.    

Mars and Neptune– Doooooooom. That is what you fear, anyway. Some sort of vague and undefined sense of dread is permeating your subconscious, and with it your actions. You cannot hesitate just because you cannot see how it is all going to play out- C’mon, you’re so much better than that! Doing anything in this life carries some amount of risk, and you need to have faith that taking that chance will pay off. If you don’t then, you just end up stuck in the same place forever, paralyzed by fear. You need to be willing to lose it all to play the game, but if you accept that, then you can win. Until you are willing to chance it, you will feel stuck, going through the everyday motions and your soul will die a little more each day. Take that chance, do the thing that scares you the most, and watch the magic happen. (Minor Planets used: Juno, Teharonhiawako, Chariklo, Okyrhoe, Astraea, Sisyphus)

Mars (King of Wands) and Neptune (Ace of Wands)-  So we have a Mars in Taurus that has already had a fire lit under his ass.  You have finally been pushed to the point where you have no choice but to act.  That’s perfect, because a Taurus in motion is a Taurus you can work with.  We are not only being called by Saturn to put your philosophizing to work – make it practical and usable in this world and in your life.  We are also being called by Mars to channel our physical and sexual energy into creative pursuits.  This is “motivate the troops and fight in the trenches” sort of energy (King of Wands).  You can’t command your life from a high tower, you must immerse yourself in it and feel the grittiness of your every day.  Hermit season is over, Heretics, and now we must put into action all of those creative ideas that have been incubating through the winter.  You will have all the energy that is necessary, the only thing you have to do is focus is.  Once Mars in Taurus is focused on a goal, it is relentless.  

Neptune is helping with the cause (Ace of Wands).  The divine are the match stick here, and the redemption of the last new moon in Virgo should still be burning in your gut.  Neptune wants  you to be motivated to do the most important things right now – the “real work.”  The work that the gods put your soul on this earth to accomplish.  We all play our part in the grand plan, so what is this “real work” for you?  Well, Heretics, you will finally be getting that breath of fire air needed to set out on  your mission.  It wont be hard, but there is real redemption on the other side.  If you can keep yourself zoned in on your mission, fighting off all the bullshit that slows you down and keeps that Mars in Taurus from it’s runaway train energy, you will truly come to recognize what great power you possess.  Don’t let them lie to you and tell you that you are weak.  There is a universe of strength inside of you – just look at all of the things you have already fought and survived from.

Jupiter and Pluto– Here is where it gets tricky. Yes, both Jupiter and Pluto both want to win, whatever contest they think they are in the running for while the rest of us are not playing anymore, but it matters how they win. You’ll notice that I’ve been talking about ethics quite a bit lately, and these two are a big part of that. The signs they are in, Libra and Capricorn, are both very concerned with The Rules and How Things Should Be Done, and their transits exemplify that- especially now that they are squaring off against each other. On one hand, there is a call to be at your absolute best at all times, and follow the rules to the letter (while letting others do your dirty work for you), sacrificing your maximum gain so that everyone is taken care of; on the other hand you have a palpable desire to ensure that your needs are met above all else, and that your survival is tantamount. There really isn’t much middle ground between the two at the moment, the call is for polarization one way or the other. You must make a choice, and take a stand for yourself, as your honor demands. (Minor Planets used: Vesta, Chaos, Sila-Nunam, Varda, Circe, Toro, Orpheus, Siwa, Tantalus)

Jupiter (The Tower) and Pluto (1o of Swords)-  Love will break the chains.  You must find that deep, resounding love for yourself and let the mental cage you have surrounded yourself with fall.  Pluto wants you to transform even through the pain (1o of Swords).  He is telling you that you have come to the end of a mental cycle, and that if you stay where you are you will only suffer.  But if you choose to move forward, you will be blessed with a grand mental awakening.  You must become like a phoenix, burning your body and life in the process.  To become a hero, you must leave behind all of your attachments to old ideas about yourself.  You can’t get where you need to go by just traveling there in your mind, Heretics.  It is Aries season, you must involve your spirit to be the vehicle.  You must emerge from the cocoon and spread your wings – becoming something unrecognizable.  It was scary going from childhood to adulthood, knowing the demands that were waiting for you.  Life is a series of these emergence, and you will only be laughing at how silly your fear was once you have made the jump.  It is a natural law of the universe to continue to emerge, so fighting it will only bring you despair.  You will realize that all of the things holding you back from your expansion were mere illusions.  You cannot survive off of illusions.  Mirage water will not keep you alive.  If you do not move out and expand, your spirit does die because you become out of sync with the universal rhythm.  (The Tower)

New Moon in Aries- Crossfire was originally published on Heretical Oracles