#TW: trafficking

[pixelated-whump]

TWs: Referenced trafficking (I intended it to be like... hybrid trafficking but you can imagine it as whatever), Suicidal Whumpee

Beneath the cut is a short drabble I wrote surrounding a scenario in my head, but I barely know anything about the fandom I wanted to write it for, so I made it more ambiguous.

Whumpee barely has the energy to lift their head as someone enters their cell. “Are you here to kill me?” They rasp, a glimmer of hope in their chest. They can finally rest.

The person looks taken aback by their question. They pause for a moment before answering. “No, I’m here to rescue you. I’m with an organization that gets trafficked people back home.”

Their response is carefully crafted. Whumpee hates them for it. “...Why? Why me..?”

The person approaches them carefully, like they’re a cornered rat. “Why wouldn’t I help you?” They ask, kneeling in front of Whumpee. Their face is so kind.

“I don’t want to live,” Whumpee says softly. “You’d be doing me a favor by killing me.”

The person purses their lips. “Forgive me for being selfish, but I don’t want your blood on my hands.”

Whumpee lets their head drop back onto their arms. The person places a gentle hand on their back. “Can I pick you up?”

“...Yeah.”

[ghost-proof]

[peacesmovingcabaret]

Why does this not surprise me?! 😐

[the-smallest-star]

“....”

[thenexusofsouls]

Our Harsh Reality || closed with shadowonthesea

@shadowonthesea

All indications were that it would be another typical day in the Troll Market. It was bustling as usual, with all manner of languages spoken, wares selling, and services rendered. Nuada did not come to the Market very often, choosing to send Mr. Wink or the bark children to acquire what he needed. It was simpler that way, for he somewhat stopped the natural flow of the Market with his presence. Today, however, he decided to do so. The bark children had seen some candy they wanted, and so he had gone to help them purchase it. Several pairs followed him as he walked slowly through, their various heads crunching and chewing happily on the coveted candies. He was good to them, and they were his loyal friends. Others in the Market were wary of Nuada, quickly moving out of his way, while still others bowed formally to him as he passed. Even with his reputation what it was, he was still royalty.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, although some of it was infuriating. Never being one to hide what he felt or to be shy about expressing his opinions, Nuada let many a vendor know his displeasure at seeing car parts, toys, electronics, and other such items of human origin for sale. The skin suits were the worst. Absurd, rubber or latex coverings that would help fae to form themselves to the size and shape of a human, for the purposes of blending in. What a farce, Nuada told them. What an utter disgrace. They ought to be ashamed of themselves. Not all agreed with the Elven prince’s sentiment as he demanded everyone’s attention and gave a speech on the subject, but none dared to argue with him.

By this time, word had gotten around that Nuada was in the Market and criticizing certain vendors for their wares. This prompted a few of them to attempt to close up shop, and as Nuada passed by one of them, he was disgusted and infuriated by what he saw. Many small cages, each one containing a different creature, were stacked beside an unceremonious cart beside them. The creatures were all illegal to be kept as pets, with many of them being ones with dwindling numbers. They were intelligent too, gripping the bars of their cages and peer out with sad eyes, or beating the bars with their arms, tentacles, and other appendages. This was enough for Nuada to make a beeline toward the merchant, but as he got closer, one of the creatures in he cages caught his attention, and his heart nearly stopped.

It was an infant unicorn, or at least it looked like one, lying down in a cage too small for it. Nuada shuddered both from rage and sadness, and suddenly the pathway surrounding the merchant’s shop was cleared. Everyone ran, closed up shop, shuttered windows, and made themselves scarce. All except the bark children, that is, who knew Nuada wasn’t angry at them and wouldn’t harm them. Going up to the cages, they offered some of their precious candies to the creatures as a gesture of kindness. Some accepted them, but others, like the unicorn, only stared back fearfully.

“What... is the meaning of this?!” Nuada yelled, storming up to the vendor, a short and stout, knobby creature of perhaps some Dwarven and Trollish mix. “How dare you sell these creatures as if they were mere commodities! You are no better than the humans! Give me the keys, at once,” he said, holding out his hand. The merchant merely cowered. “Your keys! Now!” Nuada insisted, and soon a ring of jingling keys was placed into his hand. He tossed them to the bark children. “Free them. All of them,” Nuada commanded, and soon the children were fighting over the keys, going up to each cage in turn and trying one key after the other until they had found the right one.

“Whot?! No, don' do that, I-!” the vendor began.

Nuada drew his sword and tipped the short man’s chin up with it. “Yes? You... what? What could you possibly say to explain your shameful actions? Hmm? I’m waiting,” Nuada said with an arrogant, eerie, yet for now subdued anger.

“I... uh...” the man tried, but Nuada was not a patient sort.

“Not fast enough,” Nuada said, preparing to end his life. “You waste my time.”

“Wait! I-I can tell ya who I gots them all from! Surely she’s tha one whot deserves yer anger, m’lord!” the man tried.

That... stayed Nuada’s hand temporarily. “Go on.”

“They call ‘er Mommy Fortuna! She's got a hut at th’end o' Goldire Lane! She’s tha one whot gave ‘em all ta me ta sell!” he said, clearly thinking this would absolve him completely.

Nuada lowered his blade and took a slow step back. “Thank you. You have been most helpful.” Glancing at the children, he saw that they had managed to open all of the cages, and that the majority of creatures had already scampered away. “There’s just... one final thing...” With a swift flourish, he lifted his blade again and sliced off the man’s right hand. He screamed in pain as greenish-black blood spilled out onto the ground. “You are not blameless here, and now everyone will know it. You are marked forever as a thief, for you have stolen their lives away,” he said, pointing to the mostly empty cages. “If I ever... see you in this market again, I will kill you. Is that understood?” With that, he went to inspect the cages.

The bark children were pointing to the unicorn, waving at Nuada to come and see it. While all other creatures had run away to gain back their freedom, the unicorn seemed afraid to even leave its cage. Crouching nearby, Nuada peered into the cage, feeling emotion well up in his chest. As a young one he had once glimpsed a unicorn in his native forest. It had dropped its glamour to allow him to see its true self, and Nuada had been forever changed. His heart began to beat faster, tears were shed, and he had never forgotten the way the unicorn had made him feel. The foal before him now appeared not to know how to glamour itself yet. That is how young it was.

“It’s alright...” Nuada whispered, almost reaching for it when... he looked at his hands. How many lives had he taken with them? How much blood had they bathed in? Hands like his... should never touch a unicorn. “A blanket, please...” Nuada said to the surrounding bark children, and they scurried off in search of one. “Hello, dear one,” he whispered to the foal, who was now eyeing him cautiously. “I mean you no harm. Come out. Come to me, it’s alright.”

At his coaxing, the foal started to squirm out of the cage, stopping every now and then to eye him timidly. Once it had gotten out, it stood to its full height on thin, shaky legs.

“That’s it...” Nuada whispered encouragingly, smiling as he took out a pair of gloves and slipped them on his hands. The bark children returned with a blanket, four pairs needing to hold it above all their heads to keep it from dragging on the ground. “Thank you,” he said, taking he blanket and laying it over his lap as he knelt down. “Come here. It’s alright,” he said to the foal as he slowly reached for it. Trembling, scared, and cold, the foal welcomed someone warm who would hold it.

Picking the foal up and cradling in his arms, Nuada wrapped the blanket around it and gently scratch its belly in an attempt to calm it down. The unicorn watched his face intently, seeming to be placated by this gesture. But after a short time, when Nuada attempted to put it down onto its feet so it could follow him back to his home, the baby began to cry and bleat. “Alright, alright,” he said, chuckling a little. “I’ll hold you, if that is what you wish.” What an honor, for a unicorn to want him to hold it. With a parade of happy bark children trailing him, Nuada carried the foal back to his home underneath the Market, for he could not very well take it with him while he confronted this... Mommy Fortuna.

Mr. Wink was there when he returned, making tea. He did so in the privacy of Nuada’s home where other trolls would not see him and judge. Tea-drinking was not exactly seen as an acceptable warrior troll pastime. Upon seeing Nuada returning with what looked like a tiny unicorn in his arms, Wink was shocked. He pointed at the creature, speaking in his own rough and rumbling native tongue.

“I know. I thought they were as well,” Nuada said. Extinct. That’s what he’d thought unicorns had been for the past few centuries at the least. He had neither seen nor heard of one in ages. “I have important business I need to attend to immediately. Can you please watch this little one while I do so?” Nuada asked.

Wink shrugged as if to say, sure.

“You must hold it,” Nuada said.

“What?” Mr. Wink asked in his own language.

“It does not wish to be put down. The poor thing is frightened, and with good reason. Keep it wrapped. Avoid touching it directly. We are too soaked in blood to be touching such an innocent creature,” he said as he lay the unicorn into Wink’s arms.

The baby looked from Nuada to Wink, unsure about this new development. It decided it didn’t like Wink. He smelled funny and didn’t seem as warm as the other, and so the baby began to struggle.

“Gently rub the belly. Like this,” Nuada said, showing him.

The baby settled down, deciding that, well, if he was going to rub its belly then maybe he wasn’t so bad after all. Wink sighed.

“I know,” Nuada repeated, smirking a little. “But I shan’t be long.” Already turning to go, he directed the bark children to stay behind. “Remain here. Help him.”

They all nodded and waved to Nuada, then crowding Mr. Wink to see the baby better as the troll sat down on a nearby stool. They climbed onto Wink’s shoulders and waves at the unicorn, making little faces and giggling to hold its attention.

Nuada made haste through the market, finding it much quieter and more subdued than before. Going to the end of Goldire Lane as he had been informed to, he found a strange little hut and knew exactly what he was dealing with... A Baba Yaga. “Come out this instant and face me, witch!”

“Go away, elf! You are no prince of mine!” the old woman yelled back, having already been informed of who was coming for her.

“You are engaging in activity that violates the laws of this Market, and you will answer for them!” Nuada insisted.

“Who are you to bark of laws when you yourself are a pariah?” the woman said, slowly ambling out of her hut and narrowing an accusing eye at Nuada. She was short and hunched, passing for what might have been an old human but for her sharp teeth, her thick, leathery skin, and the bark and branches growing out from atop her head. A raven perched on one of the highest reaching branches. Bones, baubles, and other trinkets clanked and jingled all over her person as she hobbled up to him, unafraid. “This is a market, is it not? There are plenty her who appreciate my wares. What harm is there in selling what I... do not enjoy myself...?” she said, laughing lowly. Baba Yagas were of course known for eating many things... and individuals.

“Selling rare creatures that are almost gone from this world? And for what? To consume them? To make money off of their misfortune? You must be punished,” he concluded, drawing his blade, but Fortuna was one step ahead of him...

“Sleep, elf... Sleep forever...” she said, lifting her long, bony, clawed fingers and beginning to cast a spell of deep sleep on Nuada.

Instantly, Nuada felt tired and weakened. It was hard to keep his eyes open and he swayed where he stood. “No...” he said. “No!” but try as he might, he could not fight the effects of the spell. Sleep magic was not anything that Sun Elves had any kind of resistance to, and this particular Baba Yaga was an old one, very capable in her craft.

Fortuna began to cackle as she continued the spell, but her cackles soon turned into screeches as her long white hair was suddenly lifted and drawn over her face, breaking her line of sight with Nuada and aborting the spell before it could be completed.

Nuada’s strength rapidly returned, and as it did so, he could see a small white pseudodragon, no more than a foot long from snout to tail tip, struggling to hold Fortuna’s hair over her eyes as she swatted and cursed at it. “Fly clear!” he shouted to it and it immediately did so. The moment the dragon was a safe distance away, Nuada spun himself around, slicing through the air with his sword and beheading the old witch. Her head bounced and rolled with the hollow sound of a coconut shell. Within seconds, the head and the body it had one been attached to had fizzled into smoke and were gone.

The small dragon landed on Nuada’s shoulder. He recognized it as one of the creatures he had helped free from the cages earlier. “Thank you, friend,” Nuada spoke in Draconic. “Go, now. Enjoy your freedom. But promise me you will be much more careful from now on.” It nodded to him and flew off.

Nuada was not about to leave before checking Fortuna’s hut for more imprisoned creatures. it looked so small and quaint, but Baba Yagas were often deceptive, and if she was running an entire smuggling ring here, Nuada supposed that there might be more to this than met his eye. With his sword still drawn, he cautiously entered.

It looked like an average witch’s hut, with herbs and crystals and various cooking and spell components hanging around or lying on shelves. Nothing out of the ordinary, but at its back was a door. Slowly pushing open that door, Nuada was suddenly faced with a larger building... and many more cages full of rare creatures...

[volucerrubidus]

🔪 ( from Lonnie >:) )

Find my muse post-murder II Accepting

The fight wasn’t supposed to go this way. Tim’s never believed in capital punishment. He’s not supposed to be the executioner; how will there be trust in Batman or Robin if either of them begins to take the lives of those who haven’t had a fair trial?

A death knell rings three times, once for impending death, once just after death, and once at the funeral.

Tim’s working a case on his own, and it’s not that that’s strange. They like working alone.

They’ve just… also been working it alone for three months. Following a trafficking ring that scatters like rats at the first sign of trouble makes it extremely difficult to make headway in a case, even if he’s careful. Unfortunately, the telltale signs of a bat on someone’s tail have become a little too standard, too recognizable not to spot, and with the way Gotham’s been going lately, people who want to hurt others, or profit off of it, have gotten smarter, wiser.

He's asked multiple peers for their advice. He’s implemented the advice. Something goes wrong. He fails. Rinse, repeat.

They’ve never been so exhausted as this. Every time a case goes this way, Tim’s sleep suffers for it. They’ve been scrambling, trying, failing, trying, missing, trying—

They should have listened when Dick tried to urge them to just… let this one go.

Tim can’t.

He doesn’t want to. He can’t.

He thinks of conversations he’s had with friends before. Won’t it be nice to live in a world where we’re not needed anymore?

That world can’t see itself true until Tim gets this damned ring busted.

So, he doesn’t. Stop. Trying.

The thing about desperation, however, is that, if someone is worn to the bone, fighting with gritted teeth, alone but for their own head, steeped in only one horrible, terrible crime, one horrible, terrible failure—

They make mistakes.

The first bell sounds in Tim’s ears as a high-pitched whine and the rush of blood, as he finally corners the leader of the operation— and that leader seizes something that Tim didn’t see because his vision is tunneled.

He grabs a child. By the arm— the kid is scrappy, and so is not yet made into a shield— not by the time Tim reacts.

The second bell sounds when the man hits the ground and doesn’t get back up.

And the third bell sounds when Tim sees the hole he’s made in the guy’s throat. His throwing disc went all the way through and out the other side.

The noise Tim makes is breathy and frightened, and his first thought is of the child who was— where did—

“Hey… kid, uh… You should— Don’t look— You should get out—” Red Robin’s words die in their throat when they see that the child isn’t there— but someone else is.

They drain of color, and their fingers begin to tremble. They’ve frozen to the spot, and even with their eyes whited out by their lenses, it’s not hard to see that they’ve gone wider.

Even Tim’s lips shake when he whispers, devastated, the one person’s name that he thinks might scare him the most in this moment.

“Lonnie…”

Tim takes a step back. Away. He holds out a quivering hand. “It’s not— I didn’t— This wasn’t supposed to—”

[sunset-peril]

Lore for Newbies - Special Project Cykes

*The Story So Far*

On October 7th, 2020, Los Kyoto First Responders arrived at GYAXA Space Enterprise's Cosmos Space Center after receiving a call about a dark-haired man carrying a bloody sword. After evacuating the building, police found the dead body of Dr. Metis Cykes on a table in the robotics lab. Her eleven-year-old chronically ill daughter was removed from the crime scene by paramedics before officers arrived and was erroneously declared missing when she was actually taken to the ER for neurosurgery following a stab in the head. Athena's bodily fluids (blood and other fluids associated with stabbing wounds, idk I'm not a biologist) were found on scene. The incident was ruled as a homicide, and the suspect turned himself in before apprehension.

A few days later, a bomb explodes on the HAT-1 rocket, leading to the HAT-1 Miracle. On October 13th, the trial of Simon Blackquill for the murder of Metis Cykes (and stabbing of Athena Cykes) begins and ends. Simon pleads guilty and is convicted with the death penalty. The only witness was young Athena, testifying only 6 days after her surgery. The FBI forcibly removed her from the courtroom, and Simon attacked them. Athena was not seen again after Simon's verdict. A memorial service was held and a gravestone was placed for her on October 15th despite the fact that there was no evidence she'd met with additional foul play.

Four years later, an Interpol field agent named Klavier Gavin was sent to infiltrate a facility owned by the French government. Inside this facility, he found a full-functional pit bull fighting ring. What shook him to his core were the fighters: not pit bulls, not canines at all. Children. Human children pitted against the largest and most aggressive dogs Europe had. He found himself face to face with a female teen, nearly undressed in preparation for her nighttime battle. He asked for her name, then a picture, then fled the facility to report to Interpol the atrocities he'd witnessed that night. A year later, he was in Los Kyoto as a rockstar and prosecutor, but never forgot what he'd done with Interpol. Her name was Venus, and that memory haunted him every day.

Shortly after meeting Klavier that night, Venus defeated the champion dog, becoming queen of the pit. However, she'd gone over the maximum weight requirement of the pits, and she was handed over to the EUAS asylum Sanatorium Lac de Libellules in Paris, France to be euthanized.

Back in Japanifornia, about a year or so later, Phoenix Wright had been exonerated of his forging crimes, allowing him to become reinstated if he so wished. Apollo joined the Wright Anything Agency and the Gramarye shenanigans were over. During the night, Edgeworth called Wright. His sister, Franziska von Karma, had notified him of a human rights case involving a child who was near the same age as the missing Athena Cykes, the sole witness in the Blackquill case he was trying to reopen. Unfortunately, due to the nature of this case, the child needed a place to stay and an employer before they could process her rescue. Knowing that Phoenix was a sucker had a good heart for hurt children, Edgeworth reached out to see if he would take her in. Phoenix accepted in late November of 2026, and a deathly ill Venus was rescued from the Sanatorium on February 15th, 2027 just minutes before her scheduled execution.

Interpol's chosen rescue team, who's specialty was rescuing and rehabilitating EUAS victims, found a shattered spinal tap needle in her spine. The surgery to remove the fragments caused three heart attacks and severe sepsis, Venus' spine had to be replaced from the ribcage down. Initial fears for her survival developed into fears for her rehabilitation, she was extremely fearful of men and the rescue team found evidence for physical, mental, medical and sexual abuse. Venus' was retrained to respond to the name "Athena Cykes", given new memories, had some cosmetic work done, had her PhD reissued under the new name and was given an attorney's badge before being sent to Los Kyoto.

Although her past caused her to interpret many social situations incorrectly, Venus/Athena adapted well to her new free life. The one snag was that she had to wear two medical ID bands on her arm that denoted her as "legally insane" since she officially had escaped a death-row level asylum on circumstances not related to being discharged. With that information, the right person could feasibly rip apart her entire impersonation. If her impersonation unraveled before the 1st-year-anniversary of her rehabilitation placement, she'd be returned to the rescue team where she ran the risk of her captors seizing her again. Despite her trauma and physical issues, she settled down (not in a marriage way, just in the no-more-kool-aid-man-energy way) and made friends. Athena's family and friends took her in as if she really was their missing loved one, and she even found a loved one of her own in her co-worker, Apollo Justice. A man.

Athena/Venus, after a midnight 911 call in November 2027, was readmitted to a Los Kyoto asylum known as Pavilion Crisis Care (why are there so many dang asylums in this lore?) and tentatively diagnosed with a genetic respiratory defect known as "pulmonary vascular endothelial dysplasia" (as far as I'm aware, this isn't a real medical name heheh I just asked an AI to spit something fancy-like out for me) PVED causes the blood vessels supporting the Oxygen-CO2 air sacs in the lungs to be abnormally thin and weak, leading to them bursting (and the patient coughing up blood) when blood pressure skyrockets. Due to her sketchy legal circumstances, PCC tried to retain her, but Apollo was able to get power of attorney over her so he could take her home, as he knew she had PTSD regarding asylums (but didn't know exactly why).

In December, Clay Terran was stabbed and killed in the same building Metis and Athena were stabbed in, directly beneath the robotics lab as two more bombs went off. As the last joint incident was found to be terroristic, this second bombing-homicide was labelled high-priority. As Venus/Athena tries to grapple with confusing fuzzy memories of the building, she finds herself front-and-center for the Courtroom #5 bombing and gains a hemorrhage of the brain from a severe concussion. While Venus/Athena is in neurosurgery, the hospital finds suspicious brain scans dated 7 years beforehand showing the brain death & damage present in Venus/Athena's brain and a scan showing complete brain death under Athena's name.

The day after, Venus/Athena returns to the court to try and defend Juniper, but is rehospitalized when her stiches break following a PTSD episode and upon finding Apollo assaulted in the courtroom ruins.

After Juniper is acquitted and both Apollo and Athena heal from their respective injuries, Apollo takes his leave of absence to investigate Clay's death, and Venus/Athena confesses to Wright about being instructed to impersonate Athena.

*The next chapter of the trilogy begins here*

So that's my nonsense. Make of my nonsense what you will.

If I forgot anything than I'll fix it tomorrow I'm tired. I purposefully left out a bunch of canon stuff because it's not my lore lol.

[intersectionalpraxis]

I've said this many times before -if you call yourself a feminist and you're silent about ANY person being oppressed around the world by violent dictators/regimes/governments (among many injustices) you're not a feminist. If your feminism isn't intersectional, it's not feminism -it's white feminism. If you don't know about or aren't talking about Sudan and the rampant sexual violence against Sudanese women by a terrorist genocidal militia -then GET TO KNOW and start talking about it because this is horrifying. I'm so tired of seeing mostly white women come to the frontlines of issues when it only benefits or impacts them. I'm beyond embarrassed for you.

[bardic-tales]

4.8.23

Good morning, my fellow authors, followers, and mutuals. I hope you have had a wonderful week.

From @oc-a-day What’s your OC’s immediately family like and their dynamic? Who do they get along with most? Least?

As I have mentioned various times on this blog, Cyras Covelli was originally a Glorendine street waif. Before her foster father offered her a place in his home, she was named Amelia.

Biological Father and Mother

Her mother and father passed on early in her life. When they were alive, Cyras was the closest to her mother. Her mother's friends would say that Cyras was her mini-me.

Her relationship with her father was strained. He was a man ruled by his addictions. For example, before he was murdered, Cyras would spend more time away from home. She blames her father for their murders, as it was over one of his shady dealings.

Children.

Cyras has two children: Camila and Francesco. Cyras adores her children and is proud of their accomplishments. She would say that her children are the only good thing that came from her arranged marriage. As per Olessan tradition, she hardly sees her children as they are respectively sent to an order of Knights and the household of a noble.

Camila was sent away to Avis to train to be a lady beneath in the Augustus household. She is a quiet, reserve young lady. Camila is full of ideas and believes in romantic love. During the events of Cold as Ice, Camila is traveling with Fletcher Augustus from Avis to Olessa. Fletcher is set to ask Cyras for permission to marry Camila. Camila is anxious that her mother will say no.

Francesco joined the Order of Agosto early in his life. He became a squire to a famous errant knight and quickly gain his master's favor. He is currently going through the Agostian trails to become a fullfledged knight.

As a knight, Francesco has little contact with his family, but when he is either in Lucci or Olessa, he will visit his mother. She is incredibly proud at the man he became.

The last time she seen her children was at her husband's funeral.

Foster Father

cw: death of an animal, abuse of a child. slavery.

When he came across her on the street, Cyras tried to pickpocket Niccolo Napoli, knowing that such a rich mark would have the coin to support her and her sister and pay the dues she owed to the Glorendine Shadow Council. He took pity upon Cyras and offered her and her sister a home in Glorendt. Niccolo, however, only needed one of the girls and noticed that Cyras held the traits that the other nobility -- especially the women -- desired.

Niccolo would proceed to sell her sister to one of his noble friends for a hefty sum and turned his attention to Cyras. He would send her away to a finish school, teach her all the mannerisms that she would need to succeed in the social hierarchy.

There was a dark side to Niccolo. He expected total obedience, and when she misbehaved, she was severely punished. There were times when she was locked in a closet in total darkness, a puppy she loved was killed, and restrained until she would behave in the manner Niccolo desired.

Her relationship with him is very strained. Even into her 30s, she is still very fearful of how he will act, so she agreed to his plan on overthrowing the Arturis family. Niccolo didn't count on one thing.

The Crowned Prince's memories of a blonde young lady treating his fever and wounds in Spacci. He loved that little girl so and even married Ambrosia thinking that she was that woman.

Husband

cw: arranged marriage. child bride. child prostitution. Hebephilia

Shortly after Cyras turned fourteen, she was betrothed to the Steward of the Olessan Empire. Chydem was in debt to Niccolo as he borrowed money from him to fuel his obsession with boys and girls. It was either take Cyras as a wife or Niccolo would contact the Shade in order to hire the Wraith to assassinate Chydem.

Chydem was a kind husband, but his addiction for the Olessan rent boys turned Cyras' stomach. He was unfaithful numerous times, often propositioning the male staff that they employed, often buying them expensive gifts. In exchange, Cyras was allowed to start the Covelli winery -- with no input from her husband.

Once Chydem started to resist Niccolo, the Wraith assassinated. This sent Cyras into mourning, but she knew that no great man died. She thinsk that Chydem brought about his own death.

Niece

Aria Vincente is the daughter of Cyras' best friend and her sister. She is part Glorendine and Drakl. Like her father, she has the ability to use her ven to shift into a more pleasing form, allowing her to hide her more Draklian features.

Her relationship with Cyras is a bit strained. She thinks that Vincento likes her mother more than he likes her. Cyras is harder on Aria than she has been on other women she took under her wing. While Cyras does this to prepare her for the Noble Court, Aria thinks it's because Cyras doesn't think Aria and her father are worthy of her presence. That's the furthest thing from Cyras' mind as Aria is the daughter of her best friend, and, later in Book Two she finds out, her sister.

Sister

cw: trafficking of a minor. slavery

Cyras and her sister, Decima, were very close. When their parents died, Cyras knew that the Glorendine orphanage wouldn't be kind to the little girl. Cyras was young, too, but she has always had a calculating mind.

They would eventually join a street gang full of children working for the Glorendine Shadow Council. Cyras would pickpocket adults, pay the dues for both her and her sister, and give a bigger portion of any food they were eating to her sister.

Cyras originally accepts Niccolo's offer as it was a means to get Decima off the streets. She didn't foresee Niccolo separating the girls by selling her to one of his friends and selling her fate as an indenture servant.

She and Decima wouldn't see each other until the events of Cold as Ice. During these events, the sisters try to reconnect and resume their relationship, and while Cyras feels there is something off about her sister, she ignores all the red flags and pursues a relationship with Decima.

[the-smallest-star]

weird bear thing?

"Some sinner called 'Honeybear'. Saw imps more as pets. Was weird."

[dcxdpdabbles]

For your adoptive son au all I can think about is the media storm that’s about to destroy these two 😭

Like when the news comes out everyone’s gonna bash Danny, saying things like “always knew he was shady” or “figures, rich people are all bad” and then praising Dick for going undercover and revealing the monster

And then BAM the accusations are false! All the kids that were on his file of “trafficked” kids all came to testify in Danny’s defense!

Then because the media needs someone to hate all eyes turn to Dick. Because “these are serious accusations he’s practically ruined Danny’s career!”

Tbh when all the court stuff is done I totally imagine Danny severing any and all ties to Wayne company, not because he’s petty but because it genuinely hurts to be connected to a company that belongs to his exes family

Like this is gonna destroy Danny and Dick but the media is gonna make it so much worse for them

The batfam is gonna kick themselves for honestly not digging a little deeper and interviewing a few of the kids on file before straight up turning him in, they probably think they ruined Danny’s life with these accusations

Danny probably doesn’t care that much about the company at this point, he’s just sad that the man he thought he was having a genuine relationship with turned out to be a fake and probably never loved him at all 💔

Despite the pain, Dick keeps an eye on the news, waiting for the announcement of Crowne's arrest to be announced. He went back to bed after taking some photos of the journals. He laid next to the man one that was profiting off of children.

He stared at the ceiling, feeling a sick sort of numb. Unwillingly he thought back to all the times he had had the stray thought that Crowne wasn't evil.

That the bats had it wrong. How could a man as kind and dear as he does something so horrid? Dick had allowed himself to be relived with each failed month of searching for evdidnce.

He can admit it now. He had prayed that Crowne was innocent and had conducted his investigation not nearly as through as he should have.

He had.

Crowne even keeps a record of who and where the children were sold to. The man he fallen in love with was bookkeeping his crimes as easily as he did for his company.

The following day, Crowne- he had been Danny only a few hours ago.- had made him breakfast. The same way his mother used to make for Dick, admitting with a blush that he contacted Harley Cirius to ask for the recipe.

He made his heart swell and then break in the same bite. Dick played his role through the breakfast. His face felt like plastic, the smile he sent Crowne slimly, and he all but ran out of that house.

The house that, in another life, they would have likely raise a family in.

Don't think about it. Dick hissed at himself, tears filling his eyes as he drove away. Bruce had edited out the evidence and would break in while Crowne was working to capture the record books. They would meet in Commissioner Gordon's office, where Dick would turn in his lover. Not my lover. It was never real.

If he tells himself that, maybe he will believe it.

The commissioner had been grim faced as Dick broke down in his office, speaking through wrenched sobs and broken words of the journals he had found. He didn't even need to pretend to be a sobbing mess.

Dick doesn't think he's felt this terrible in a long time. It felt worse than when he and Bruce had their fights. At least then he could also feel anger. Now, he only feels pain, grief, betyal and shattered hope. Bruce- playing the part of a worried father- rubbed his back and anchored him through the moment.

The story they went with was that a few weeks ago, Dick started to suspect that Crowne was cheating on him. After learning about his work schedule, he noticed his boyfriend was always busy with non-work business.

He brought it up with Crowne, but the other man would often dance around the subject. After a while of this, Dick had been unable to help snoop around, where he stumbled across the journals.

At first, he assumed the books were for the many children-based charities that Crowne ran and didn't think they were too important. He continues to date Crowne after not finding any cheating evidence. But Dick could not help about those strange journals or Crowne's cagey behavior about his wearabouts.

Dick had searched the children's names, only to find them all matching missing children notices. He realized what Crowne was doing and had gone straight to Bruce, freaking out.

Bruce had taken them to Gordon since the man was such a close family friend, and they were worried what Crowne would do to Dick if he learned what Dick had discovered.

Gordon had assured them that they would remain anonymous until the trial,getting the warrants and taking the necessary steps to arrest Crowne. Feeling numb, Dick had been taken back to the Wayne Manor.

Bruce fretted around him, unsure what to do with his son, who had obviously fallen for a monster. Jason and Damian tried in their own way too help too, but Dick could not feel up to any of it.

He climbs into his room, muffling his sobs into his pillow, feeling sick and wrong to his stomach. He tossed and turneduntil Crowne's voice whispered I think I love you, Dick and he as if his world was ending.

A few seconds later, he's racing into the bathroom, hurling the breakfast Crowne had made him. It swirled around in the toilet as Dick gagged and gasped, mourning what he had lost for this mission.

The sweet kind man he fell in love with was dead to him.

"The worst part," Dick thinks he confessed to Bruce between tears and throwing up. His father had come racing when Jason reported the noises coming from Dick's bathroom. "Is that I was the one who killed him."

It's been three days.

He had texted Crowne lying about going on a trip and barely responded to the messages he received in return. He hadn't gone out on patrol in days and had barely ventured out of his room.

Sleep evaded because all he dreamed about was Crowne's sweet smiles, gentle hugs, and laughing eyes. His nightmares were filled with Crowne's smug smirk, surrounded by screaming children in cages. The worst nights were when Crowne would kiss him, pushing him against the cages as children cling to Dick's legs screaming and crying in haunting tones. why? why? why? Why do you love him? Look what he's done to us! Why!? Save us!

Dick woke with his own scream trapped in his throat and his arms reaching for a man who he shouldn't want anymore.

Now he, in the present, he sat before his tv watching the News. The lights were all off, the curtains drawn tightly closed. His family worried about him, but they all agree to watch the moment by himself, if only to spare his diginty.

Gordon had sent the message that the warrents were approve and proof had been dropped off by Batman after bringing it to the hero's attention.

They would be arresting Crowne.

Dick would watch it live. See with his own eyes, and his own ears what his lies had exposed.

"Breaking news," The anchor suddenly says, staring intently into the camera. Besides her, a small window shows the familiar front entrance of Crowne's company offices. Dick clenches his fist into the blankets he has wrapped around himself. "Danny Crowne, Owner, CEO and head developer for his family company, Crowne Co. has just been arrested on accusations of human trafficking. We go live to Crowne Co Admin bulding"

The window expands to the entire screen, and Dick feels his stomach turn into horrific mini-whirl pools as various camera crew scramble for a clear view. There is a crowd of unhappy citizens being held back by the police.

Someone had leaked what crimes Crowne had done. The news had spread fast enough that he was deeply hated by the people who had once cheered onhis name.

Crowne is led out in handcuffs by two scowling police officers. His suit is rumpled, and three large bruises are forming on his face- probably due to Officer Black, whose sister was sold to human traffickers when he was a kid-but it means nothing to his expression of devastation.

He looks to be in shock, staring down at his bound hands with dead seat eyes as if he was unsure of what he was seeing. The crowd starts screaming the moment they catch sight of him. Loud curses and swears are all aimed at the man who stumbles his way into the police car.

The doors of Crowne headquarters burst open by a screaming child. Timothy Drake is held back by officers as he desperately screams for his older brother. He starts fighting with all his tiny might as a woman from CPS drags him away.

The reporting journalist for the News outlet doesn't stop speaking as Crowne is led away, looking to be sobbing into his hands as the Police drive away. Drake is thrown into another car, banging on the windows and screaming so much his voice is raw.

The two would likely never see each other again.

Dick's vision blurs with more tears.

He wishes this would have made him angry. He's good with anger. He knows his rage. This grief is consumingly painful.

She outlines the accusations against Crowne, explaining that Gotham's finest had gotten a tip from an unknown source about the possible missing children. Dick slumps into his bed ice racing down his arms and legs, leaving each limb in pins and needles.

He can't stop picturing Crowne's form hunched over in tears, glowing in those red and blue lights.

"There is a gag order on the investigation, " the woman says, mic close to her face and looking grim. "We will keep the people updated with any new information released as we wait for Crowne's trail. Back to you Susan."

The screen flashes back to the old news member, who makes one single comment of disgust for Crowne before moving on to a string of cyber attackes by a unknown hacker.

Dick stops listening due to the rining that build up in his ears. It's done. Crowne was arrested. He will be go through his trail, be found guilty and locked up for the rest of his life.

Batman, Robin, and Sparrow would be hunting down the people involved in the ring, rescuing the missing children. The story was over. The villian defeated and the heros had won.

Yet, Dick felt that he could never live to see a happily ever after. He doesn't think he'll ever be able to feel happy.

______________________________________________________

Days blend into each other. Dick isn't sure how much time passes with him lying in his room, too exhausted to get upand go about his day. His family crowds around him, speaking in low, worried tones.

Jason tries to read to him. In bursts of awareness, he discusses the plot but most days, Dick can only find the energy to only stare at him.

Damian, still trying to find his footing in the manor, brings his cat- Alfred- to cuddle against Dick's chest. He doesn't speak much but the purring of his pe helps some sensations return.

Bruce spent most of his time petting Dick's hair and whispering apologies. For the fighting. For the war, he brought him into. For making him due something that had broken Dick's heart. Dick tells him between sobs that he forgives him and that he's sorry too.

Alfred just provids support, tea and stories of his own lost broken heart.

Dick can feel himself rot around in his room but can't bring himself to care. Not even when Bruce finally panics enough to invite the Teen Titians to speak to him. His friends arrive between waves of consciousness, forcing food down his throat and pushing him into the shower.

He isn't aware of how Crowne's trial is going. Walley doesn't think it is a good idea to keep up with it, blocking it from all his outlets. He's the only one he would be allowed to do that.

It leaves Dick in the dark, and suddenly the world looks so much colder. It is hard to remember the world is still spinning outside of the Manor.

Dick closes his eyes, sinking into his mattress, drifting away among the worried chattered of his friends. Thankfully, the nightmares have stopped. The memoriess too.

All that greets him is the blissful nothing of darkness.

____________________________________________________________

"You did this." A voice hisses, snapping Dick from his blank stare at the wall. Raven and Kori had just stepped out after magically him clean and had gone to go get him food.

How many days has it been since he left his room? Dick can't remember. It's been a while; his body feels weak. His friends' and family's eyes have grown increasingly frantic in worry.

He twists his head to find a small figure in his doorway. It's not any of his younger brothers but someone dressed in all black. The bottom half of their face is covered by a black cloth, leaving their burning blue eyes alight with hatred in plain sight.

A intruder.

Dick should be worried about that, shouldn't he? He can't find the energy to be.

"He trusted you. He loved you. And you did this to him," The figure spats, striding forward, hatred dripping from his words. "They're investigating my parents too. The police think they helped Danny and took me away from them. My life is ruined because of you."

He stands over his figure now, holding a needle. Dick wonders if he's going to kill him. He can't find it in himself to care. Is that not an alarming thought?

But he doesn't feel fear. In fact, Dick can't feel anything at all. He makes no sound as the needle breaks the skin of his neck, nor when the figure leans in to whisper. "It's only fair I ruin yours in turn, right?"

Dick slowly gives into the blissful darkness as more figures enter the room, surrounding his body and lifting it off the bed. The last thing he sees is the thrown picture frame, one of the intruders throwing onto the sheets.

It holds the smiling faces of Dick and Crowne on their last date.

[bruciemilf]

Bruce and Oliver should be insufferable, I think

[hypewinter]

Danny gets kidnapped by meta traffickers. This ordinary wouldn't be a big deal had this particular gang hadn't taken an interest in interior decorating with a specific flower. Now he has to protect the other kids to the best of his abilities and hope that a hero comes soon before he dies of blood blossom poisoning.

[lucrezianoin]

There are three instances in game where astarion calls himself a prostitute and reveals he think is himself as one

1) if you don't romance him and take him to the twin drows he will say "never thought I'd see myself on the paying end of a brothel"

2) if you romance and you go to the twin drows in the brothel post final quest, you can ask to hire one of them, he'll say "You have a type don't you? Elven prostitutes, again?" again refers to himself

3) if you play as Astarion, when you meet the drows at the brothel the first option in the dialogue is telling them "i was in a similar situation as yours". The drow man asks him how it was, and Astarion can answer in four ways, basically (from memory) "i did what i did to survive" /"it was not consensual for me, but you seem to want to be here" /"i prefer not to remember" /"horrible and horrifying".

[butchbarbieagainstterfs]

Oh a known sex trafficker who also groomed young boys into being vile misogynists is now openly on the same side as gender critical “feminists”?

How very unsurprising.

[ramblesofakio]

If you don’t believe RAMCOA/TBMC is a genuine thing, please block me

I’m tired of seeing people post about how “it doesn’t exist” and say that “ramcoa doesn’t exist but the trauma does.” It’s irritating to be told what I went through doesn’t exist and does exist at the same time.

It’s important to hear survivors and to be able to understand that this shit happens and still does. Cults, trafficking rings, etc. they all happen. Just because you think that someone can’t force a system doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Do you know how much trauma that someone faces within shit like that? How easy it is for someone to see that there’s so much dissociation and use it against them?

I’m tired of so many people thinking that ramcoa survivors aren’t real. We are, we exist.

If you don’t believe it, please block me.