#again just some of the good stuff that happened in the phantom world

[marleneoftheopera]

Some good Phantom moments from 2022:

Phantom anniversaries! Broadway’s 34th anniversary also marked Emilie Kouatchou’s first official principal Christine show (which also made her the first black principal Christine on Broadway).

Sydney Harbour! The first outdoor production of Phantom, complete with a chariot, fire, and ‘Point of No Return’ in the rain.

Unofficial photos! Melanie Gowie (London Phantom dresser and former Carlotta) and Greg Mills (Broadway swing) continue to stun with their unofficial backstage/onstage photos.

Live performances! Probably the biggest one was at the Queen’s Jubilee.

Raoul’s, Raoul’s, and more Raoul’s! While John Riddle killed it in Titanique, Jordan Donica, Paul Schaefer, and Jason Forbach all took turns as principal Raoul. Jordan’s return also marked the first time more than one black actor was in the trio at the same time on Broadway.

Restaged Tour! After being put off for a year, the Australian Restaged Tour finally opened featuring former London cast members Josh Piterman, Amy Manford, and Bridget Costello.

Non-replicas! Several non-replicas had performances this year, including Hungary. Budapest also had (or eventually will have) their first big cast change since the production opened over 20 years ago. 

Korean production! Cast was officially announced for Phantom’s return to Korea.

Chinese production! The first production to actually be performed in Mandarin.

Diversity, Role Swaps, AND New Productions! Besides seeing some real progress in diverse casting across the board, there were also tons of former cast members that returned to various productions (mos tof the time due to Covid cases). Australia saw Josh Robson (Sydney Harbour Phantom) as Raoul and Claire Lyon (former World Tour Christine) show up in Melbourne. They both had to re-learn the show as it’s different staging and did so in less than two days.

[bet-on-me-13]

Desperate Villain Danny AU

(this is a 17 yr old danny)

It started out slowly.

First, a few of Danny's less active Rouges stopped showing up at all. He didn't really notice, and just assumed that they had finally had their Fill of their Obsession for a while and would simmer down for a bit.

Then, some more of his Rouges stopped showing up. No big deal, but he is getting a little concerned for them. They had definitely not had their fill of their Obsessions yet, why did they stop?

Then, the worst started happen. All of his actual Ghost Friends start to disappear. Ember, Kitty, Johnny, even Amorpho, they all start to not show up at all in the Living World.

He goes looking for them in Realms, but he can't find any of them whatsoever. He tries asking around, but everybody else noticed the disappearances much earlier than him and began to hide away from whatever was taking all of the strong Ghosts. He can't find anybody, and the ones he does find won't tell him anything (or don't know themselves)

It takes weeks of searching, but eventually he gets his answer.

The GIW show up in Amity again after a period of absolutely no activity. They have stepped up their operations HARD. Advanced Ghost Hunting Equipment, Much more Competent Agents, and most worrying of all, they seem to know that Phantom is friends with Sam, Tucker, and Danny Fenton.

The GIW comes to his house for a Meeting with his parents, where he overhears them offering his parents a position in their Organization as Head Scientists. While there they also manage to plant Bugs in Danny's room somehow. Although he finds them quickly enough and destroys them.

And then, one night during dinner while his parents are ranting about the GIWs Labs, they mention something that cinches it for Danny.

"And today we even got to Dissect one of the Spooks! It was that Mind Controlly one, you know the one with the blue firey hair stuff that sang a bunch! We're going back tomorrow to continue our Study, this time we'll see how long it'll pretend to experience pain before it decides to give up on tricking us!"

That night, Danny packed up all his things, destroyed the Ghost Portal alongside everything else in his parents Lab, and left his house.

He tracked down the GIW Base, saved Ember from her Cell, and decimated the surrounding Area. No survivors, none of the research is preserved, and he left the Site Director alive to question him.

Turns out, the GIW had managed to Reverse Engineer the Ghost Portal from that brief period of time where they had taken control of Fenton Works. They had been using their own Portal to kidnap any Ghost they could get their hands on. Using the research from those subjects, they perfected their Ghost Hunting Tech and started going after the bigger fish.

"But good luck finding it, Ecto Scum! The Portals location was hidden to everybody, even me!" He said.

"Where are the others!" Danny cried. He was losing control of his appearance by this point. After seeing what they had done to Ember, he was too angry to maintain his Humanoid Form successfully. Even now, with most of his control, he could hear the Static in the air around him, and see the Glitching of his hands as they clenched this Monsters clothes.

"Scattered!" He said with a crazed laugh, "We knew we couldn't contain all of them, so we send them to all of our sites across the Country! You'll never find them!"

Without another word, Danny plowed his arm through the man's chest.

He turned around, picking up Embers weakened Body, before beginning his long flight to Wisconsin. Vlad still owed him a few Favors after all, and honestly his mentorship offers seemed VERY Tempting right now.

(Why reject him if you don't care about keeping your dad alive anymore?)

...

The JLA had recently received a distress signal from somewhere in the middle of some random Forest in Illinois, but when they got to the location, all they found was a crater filled with the ruins of some kind of Military Base, and so so many Bodies.

They had managed to figure out that this was a Government Site owned by an organization called the GIW. A Paranormal Investigation Wing of the Government focused on the study and capture of Supernatural Beings called Ecto-Entities, otherwise referred to as Ghosts.

As it turns out, an Ecto-Entity that had been terrorizing the local town for a few years now had made a drastic change in normal behavior and had attacked the GIW Base that had been posted there.

They would have destroyed it years ago, but this one was unnaturally powerful. It had eluded their capture and terrorized the Town for years, but they had too much pride to contact the JLA and admit that they needed help. And honestly until now, they didn't really need it. The Entity had been entirely confined to the singular town, and had not strayed from that behavioral Pattern in the 3 years since it's inital sighting. They had made the difficult choice to leave it there, sacrificing one town in exchange for the rest of the country.

But now they did need their help. This Entity, this Phantom, was one of the most powerful beings that had ever recorded, maybe even The Most Powerful. The fact that it had left the Secluded town it usually frequented meant that it was loose to wreak havoc across the rest of the world.

The JLA Needed to Find this thing, and Fast.

[an-angel-in-the-garden]

hello! can I get a sort of crossover headcanons? Can I get the obey me brothers reacting to an akira kurusu! mc. They have the same experience with the metaverse and still have arsenal and can probably use arsene in devildom. Id like to see the brothers reacting to weird sexual tension they have with akechi and why their human is so infatuated with another human (akechi) who tried to literally kill them (it's platonic with the brothers and ig a background akeshu but with the mc as the leader of the phantom thieves ig)

This was such an unexpected request but a fun idea. I'm doing headcanons for all the brothers and how they react to learning all of this so hopefully it fulfills your request? Please enjoy. Spoilers for persona 5 and Obey me, set after lesson 16

Lucifer

Out of everyone, is the most understanding about the whole thing though even he has his questions

When you first arrived in the Devildom he already knew that you were a strange human but even he wasn't ready for Arsene to come to your side when you felt threatened

At first he believes this might cause trouble but it won't take long for him to realize how helpful your personas can be

Still expects his brothers to keep you safe but now he's more willing to believe you can handle yourself

That thought is thrown to the side the moment you tell him all about Akechi and what happened him the metaverse

What do you mean he shot you?! What do you mean you miss him!

Will scold you for being so reckless with your own life but won't deny that he feels a sense of pride knowing you rebelled against the corrupt world

He will ask all he can about your team and adventures, he also wants to know about your relationship with Akechi and how it ended

Not the most helpful but certainly someone you can lean on when the pressure becomes too much

Mammon

Is the most concerned about learning everything and he really doesn't plan to keep his mouth shut about it

From the moment he's told to keep watch of you Mammon is freaked out about everything happening in your life

Arsène nearly fights him day one and from then on he decides that you clearly need help surviving in this world

Don't tell him about Akechi right away or he will threaten to keep you locked up in the devildom to avoid anything bad from happening again

Even hearing about what you did as a phantom thief is a lot, sure at first he's all over it, i mean you make so much money from it but then he thinks about just how often you could have died

The more he thinks the worse it gets

Honestly after a few very very long talks about it he's willing to take you on little trips to the human world so you can go to the metaverse together but he's going to be your guard dog

Will never be willing to let Akechi near you after he learns you like him but is pretty cool with the rest of the thieves

All in all not bad but very worried if he's not around you

Leviathan

Honestly thinks its cool, worrying yes, but very cool in some ways funny in others

Everything you tell him sounds like something right from one of his animes and he NEEDS to know more

How did a lame human like you get to do all that awesome stuff, what do you mean you faked your own death? AND plan to fight the government? He wants in but not really

Gives you really good advice when it comes to planning actually, this man is the Grand Admiral after all

Will not help you at all with romance and is in fact very jealous that someone who wants you dead is more important than him but he's not gonna say that

Freaks out just a little (a lot) when he learns about everything you've already done and had to go through but is weirdly supportive

Finds animes that make him think of you so now you both have to watch them as a treat.

Overall is pretty okay with the whole thing and great to go to for planning

Satan

Pretty annoyed at first but thats too be expected getting to know you though he becomes fascinated in the life you've lived

It feels nearly impossible when he first learns the truth but seeing first hand proof really gets him on board

He's going to try and use your persona's for the anti Lucifer club so be ready for that

Hate the very idea of Akechi and will sold you for falling for someone like that, he's also somewhat (way too) worried about the types of people you make friends with

How are you not dead?? A valid question he regularly asks yet never gets a real answer for

Is brutally honest about everything, he pulls no punches and you will know how he feels when it comes to the life you've lives, truly a blessing and curse

Not very helpful but still reliable it's not like he wants you dead or anything so if his advice can keep you around then you have it

Asmodeus

Is the best person to go to about all of this. He wants to hear all the juicy gossip and can give you some advice on getting peoples trust

Tell him all the little details, come to him for help with your confidants Asmodeus is greatest for all things people

Sure most of it is subterfuge but it works out for everyone

He feels genuine sadness for you when he learns about the hardship you and your friends have been through and he really wants you to make up with Akechi

All of the brothers know what it's like to live in a world where people look down on you but Asmo is the most open about it, he understands

Just a good vibe, he's still gonna flirt and joke around but you have his support and backing whenever you need

Playing dress up with the persona's and you, whenever and wherever some of them are just so pretty

does find it a little funny that you just talk around with a bunch of illegal things to sell at some random pawnshop and will never stop mocking you

Beelzebub

Worries a good amount after learning about your life, humans aren't meant to do things like that, what if you get hurt?

He wishes you didn't have to go through such things but he's still going to root you on

Take you out to eat often, if you're doing all that fighting you need to keep your energy up

Will work out with you all the time, keeping you ready for any fight that's bound to pop up in the devildom

Very reassuring in his own way, he gets that life is stressful and you do so much yet get almost nothing return, he wants to change that

Learning about Akechi is a bad time for Beel

He's just sooo worried about you and what happened, really doesn't think it's a good idea to be involved with someone like that

Beel just wants to see you happy and safe, you're practically part of the family and one of his closest friends, if you ever need help you can lean on him

Belphegor 

Gets a really good laugh out it, he's so judgemental about your choices but in a more joking way once you get to know him

He's kind of impressed that you made it this far, after all you fell for his trap yet managed to topple people who have been hiding their crimes for years?

Also wants to use you and your skills against Lucifer and will plan for hours on how to get you to join

Not really interested in your friends but if you start talking about them he listens attentively

Starts to worry when you tell him about the cop and Akechi though he's so down for you just fighting the government more or less

Reminds you to take breaks and no overwork yourself, it's easy to pull yourself too thin between this school and life plus everything with mementos

The moment he learns about what Akechi did he feels a little awful, it's not that different from his own plan and tactics he can't imagine how much it affected you

Honestly these things help him get closer to you, a way for you both to lean on each other and make up for the past

Hello, Hello! It's late I know but thank you to everyone who's waited and been patient with me. It really does mean the world. This fic wasn't fully what I'd been hoping for but I don't mind it. I hope that you like that and thank you so much for requesting it. I have one Bleach request and then my inbox is clear so if you want something feel free to ask. Also! I started physical therapy, I mentioned that I had been in an accident and now I've been getting help for it! I'll be taking care of myself and my family and I hope you all do the same. Stay safe everyone~ Lilly P.S It's my birthday today! I'm now 20 so that's cool

[maniacwatchestheworld]

Several small BatFam notes

@moss-covered-thoughts (I'm answering questions and providing information for DPxDC fans.)

lol don't worry about it! Nothing about you talking about your fic will make me feel left out! I'm just happy to help you out with your work! If anything will make me feel left out, it's the lack of rogues content and people within this fanspace underutilizing Vlad and not having much of that juicy, juicy polycule content (specifically Vlad/Jack/Maddie) that I keep coming back to Danny Phantom for. :p Speaking of, I want to be as transparent as I can with the information I'm giving out, because just like all comics fans, I'm not an expert on everything and I am very much in my own specific niche and haven't read everything out there! I'm actually not much of a Batfam fan and am much MUCH more of a rogues fan! (Specifically my hyperfixation is focused around Harvey Dent and Two-Face.) So while I do have some information about the members of the batfamily, my knowledge isn't nearly as comprehensive as someone who's deep dived into that part of the DC universe! I'll give you the information I can, and hopefully someone with more cohesive Batfam knowledge can reblog this post with extra notes to fill in the holes I have in my knowledge. >.<

Adoption Order

So I can't tell you the specific specifics of adoption specifically, but I believe that the order of each member joining the Bat Family would probably be along the lines of: Dick Grayson -> Barbara Gordon -> Jason Todd -> Tim Drake -> Cassandra Cain -> Stephanie Brown -> Damian Wayne -> Duke Thomas.

Batgirl and Duke recs

Again, I haven't read much Bat Family stuff because my primary focus is on the rogues. But I do have a handful of recs! If you're willing to watch a long-ass video instead of reading, I would actually highly recommend Linkara's retrospective on Cassandra Cain and here's the link to said video! It's very good and goes into just about every major comic appearance she was in at the time of the video first coming out (in 2019)! You will get a very good image of her character from that, I like Linkara's analysis, and by watching that video, you will definitely be able to come away from it with a number of recommendations for both Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown! (He does talk about Steph some in this video, but it's limited.)

Speaking of Stephnie I'm sorry to say that I don't really have any recommendations for Steph as I sadly have just not really happened to come across any works that have her in them in my poking around in different comics and related media. But honestly, while I can't give you any recs for Steph, maybe you should toss Linkara (@atopfourthwall) a message! He's actually a decently active Tumblr user and given that he wants to do a different retrospective on Stephanie Brown, certainly he would have things to recommend!

As for other Cass reccomendations... The only thing I have in my back pocket is Spirit World. It's not about her, it's a solo series about the brand spanking new character, Xanthe Zhou, but Cass IS a main character in it, and people seem genuinely happy with what they did with her in that story!

If you're looking for good Barbra Gordon content... Well... Personally I would recommend giving her episodes in Batman: the Animated series or the issues that include her in The Batman Adventures a look-see...? It's always a solid time with her around in B:TAS, or in the Batman Adventures! They characterize her very well in those serieses!

If you want both a Cass and a Barbra suggestion... Maybe check out No Man's Land...? Asking you to read all of the comics that were part of that saga might be a little much, but there is a novel adaptation of the No Man's Land storyline out there, and personally I listened to the reading of that novel as done by Graphic Audio and it is genuinely excellent! Like, the marketing may be tacky, but it is on the level of quality as something like an audio drama podcast or a Big Finish Audio. It just happens to be a book reading. :p But No Man's Land IS where Cass was first introduced, (also where Harley Quinn joined the comics universe fun fact!) and it has plenty of good moments from Barbara in it too!

As for Duke... Honestly, if you aren't already reading the Wayne Family Adventures, then you really ought to. >.< That series is available for free on webtoon and the first several strips have him as the main character before it becomes more of an ensemble cast thing. (And in case you were wondering it IS official DC media!) >.< I also haven't read much of Duke's stuff, and so in terms of his backlog, I really don't know what to recommend. The one story that I did happen to read that heavily featured Duke... Was "My Own Worst Enemy" (it's like volume 1 of All-Star Batman) which was... Fine...??? Like, as a Two-Face and Harvey Dent story, it was pretty bad and ablest in how it portrayed Harvey's DID. (But this isn't necessarily unusual for books that include him... SIIIIIGH!) But it was also incredibly stupid and fun, and had a lot of good forwards momentum and offered a number of interesting ideas that I don't entirely hate! So overall I find it... Fine... But as a Duke story... Honestly it's not bad as far as a Duke story can go! And the back-up story for that little arc (the Cursed Wheel) was pretty alright too! I do feel like after I read My Own Worst Enemy that I did understand Duke just a little better as a character! So while it's not good... You might find it to be decent in what you're looking for...? Because I really cannot speak on any other stories he's been in. >.<

So uh... Sorry about my whole limited perspective thing... But I do hope that you find some of this useful at least! I wish you the best of luck in your writing endeavors!

[adrift-in-thyme]

Whumptober Day 15: "I'm fine"

This one's for the anon who suggested some post-totk Wild hurt/comfort for day 15. I hope you enjoy!!

Read it on Ao3

- Wild & Time

- Summary: When Wild just barely manages to save Twilight, the wounds from his second adventure resurface

CW for blood and injury and a panic attack

Disclaimer: this fic has very minor spoilers for Tears of the Kingdom. Basically, if you've watched the trailers, you already know about the stuff I talk about here. But just be aware if you want to go in completely spoiler-free!

-----------------------------------

He’s fine.

That’s what Wild tells them. And himself. He repeats it like a mantra in the days following his return to the group of heroes he calls his brothers. It’s his reply to the endless queries about his welfare. His internal chant that keeps the demons at bay.

(Perhaps, if he says it enough times it will feel true. Perhaps, it will make the fear disappear, dissipate the nightmares.

(Somewhere, deep within though, he knows it won’t. It never did before. Why would it now?)

But he tries anyway. What else can he do? 

His brothers are worried about him. He can see it in their eyes, hear it in their voices. And it’s not fair. He didn’t return to have them shoulder this burden.

They already carry enough. 

So, he maintains the lie and convinces himself it’s the truth. Even when the dreams come, forcing him to relive the memories he runs from during the day. Even when his arm aches with the phantom pain of the ravenous evil that once ran through his veins.

And he keeps it together well enough. At least, he thinks he does. He shows off his new abilities, lets everyone inspect his arm, laughs and jokes and tells the most exciting tales from his adventure. 

Sometimes, it’s easy. After all, not every part of his adventure was bad. Most of it, he realizes as he shares more and more with his brothers, was not.

But those bits that were…it is all too easy to allow them to override all the rest. 

Especially when memories decide to repeat themselves. 

Especially today. Because Twilight is falling.

They had been fighting a group of monsters. Hefty beings, though nothing they couldn’t handle. And with all the heroes there it should have been easy.

But nothing is ever easy. Wild should know that by now.

He sees it happen at a slothful pace, as though time itself has slowed. But he doesn’t remember using stasis. He doesn’t even have the ability anymore. 

Though he desperately wishes that he did. Because, then, maybe, he could bring it all to a halt the moment Twilight stumbles. Maybe then he would have time to reach him.

It all falls down in a matter of seconds, racing into each other at breakneck speed despite their immeasurable slowness. One moment the rancher is beside him, trading quips and fighting back a moblin (just like before and somehow that had made breathing a bit easier). And the next the very ground crumbles beneath their feet. 

Wild doesn’t know what causes it — spell, wayward bomb, it doesn’t matter. All he can see now are Twilight’s eyes going wide as he loses his balance and plummets. All he can hear now is his own scream as he lunges forward to grab him.

“Twilight!”

He lands flat on his stomach, ignoring the way the fall rattles his ribcage. Desperately, he reaches out. The turquoise of his new arm glows. 

He can see it — crimson wrapping around it in wispy strings of clawing, greedy evil. He can see her terrified face as she reaches for his grasping hand.

Twilight stretches out his arm. His fingertips brush Wild’s. The feeling in his arm is not as good as it would be in a natural one….one that belonged to him, that his body didn’t sometimes decide to violently reject. But he can feel it anyway — the familiar touch of his brother’s hand, calloused and strong. 

He grabs for him. And misses.

Twilight falls.

“No.” Tears prick at his eyes, burning as they spill down his cheeks. “No!” 

Not again. Please, not again.

His world narrows, his breath grows short. But he fights to push past the panic, he fights not to fail again.

“Wild!” Wind appears beside him, eyes wide with worry. “What happened? Where’s Twilight?”

Wild doesn’t have time to respond (what would he say anyway to explain this?). Again, he reaches out, choking on his sorrow as he does so. Magic is at his fingertips, its golden glow warm and welcome. He directs it at the spot where the rancher once was.

His surroundings go grayish and dull. A ticking sound fills the air, like a clock rewinding. Wild draws in a breath and steels himself. This has to work, it has to. If it doesn’t…

He won’t entertain that thought. He won’t imagine the rancher lying broken and bleeding on a bed of jagged rock. 

Suddenly, there is the sound of wind rushing past his ears and a cry of a monster. Something falls with a thump beside him. The smell of blood drifts to Wild’s nose.

“Nice catch, sailor!” Hyrule cries.

Wild grits his teeth, struggling to keep himself from turning to look. He can’t afford to break his concentration, even for a second. Any moment now, Twilight will appear. Any moment now, he will have to grab him before the spell can break, plunging him back down. 

He makes a mental note to thank Wind when this is all over.

Twilight’s head appears just over the edge of the pit, then his shoulders. Wild doesn’t allow himself to take in the blood running down his forehead and splotched on his tunic, or the unnatural bend of his arm, or the pallor of his skin, the way he hangs limply like a puppet on a string. He digs the toes of his boots into the ground and leans forward. 

The ticking stops. The spell breaks. Twilight slumps into his hands.

The weight of him nearly drags them both back down. Eyes blown wide with panic, Wild struggles against the inescapable pull of gravity. But then someone grasps his legs and begins to pull him back toward the safety of firm earth. 

“Don’t worry, champion,” comes Time’s voice, sharp with worry and firm with resolve. “We’ve got you.”

Still, Wild doesn’t allow himself to breathe until they are firmly on land. And even when they are, he scrambles up, pulling Twilight further from the edge. 

The others rush forward to help him. They’re talking, he thinks, reassuring him that Twilight is alright. But he can’t hear them over the rushing in his ears. 

His shaking hands loosen their grip on Twilight, falling limp beside him into the damp grass. His breath comes in raspy, trembling gasps. The air he manages to drag in burns his constricted throat. 

He can see him even through the blurriness clouding his vision. The rancher is still unconscious, still deathly pale. Blood dribbles in a slow stream from his mouth and nose, bruising has begun to purple his face and neck.

Wild clenches his hands into fists.

I was too late. I missed…again.

“…fine. He’s fine, champion.”

Wild raises his eyes to Sky’s face, blinking away tears he hadn’t registered coming. The knight offers him a small smile.

“He’s just a little banged up. That’s all. And our captain’s going to take good care of him.”

“That’s right,” Hyrule pipes up, as he hands Warriors a potion. “He’s got some broken bones, but he’s endured far worse. Some potion and a bit of rest and he’ll be alright.”

He should respond in some way. A thank you or a nod, at the very least. But the atmosphere itself seems to be pressing down on him. And it’s all Wild can do to stand.

He manages anyway, rising on trembling legs. 

“Wild?” Wind looks up at him. “Are you okay?”

Wild shakes his head. Tears continue to fall unbidden down his cheeks. He can’t breathe. 

Casting one, last look at the fallen rancher, he turns and runs. ------------------

He ends up in the depths of the nearby woods, back against a tree, curled in on himself with his head resting upon his knees. Wild isn’t certain how long he sits there, trying to banish the horrific images that flash before his eyes, trying to breathe. But somewhere along the way, he hears footsteps.  

He doesn’t bother to raise his head. The steps are familiar, after all. No monster could walk so lightly, treading in rhythm with the crunch of fallen leaves and the sound of the wind rustling the branches. No one else sounds as though they are a part of the forest. Almost like the blupees do and the Lord of the Mountain. Sometimes, he gets the strangest feeling that if he looks away for too long, their leader will vanish amongst the shadows of the furs.

Time lowers himself down beside him, now, just close enough that their shoulders brush. Wild fights not to lean into him. He hadn’t realized how cold he had become.

“Twilight is awake.”

Wild lifts his head slightly, blinking. The tears have stopped now but his eyes feel like someone rubbed dirt in them.

“Is…is he okay?”

“He will need to rest for a few days. But yes, he is alright.” A large hand comes to rest on his shoulder. “You rescued him just in time, champion. Who knows how far down he would have fallen without your quick thinking.”

Quick thinking.

Wild can’t hold back a bitter chuckle. It hardly feels as though it was quick thinking. Panicked, more like it, a desperateness born of the need to not lose another loved one. Even temporarily.

Time is quiet for a long moment. Wild slumps further into his protective, little ball, battling between wanting to run again and wanting to sob into Time’s arms. In the end, he can bring himself to do neither.

“A second adventure is never easy,” the older hero says, at last, when Wild is certain he is going to either explode or dissolve into the dirt beneath their feet. “Honestly, I cannot imagine going on as many as our veteran has. Two was more than enough for me.”

With a jolt of surprise, Wild raises his head. He turns to frown at Time, who merely smiles.

“I didn’t want to talk about it either, you know. I kept what had happened on my journey a secret for many years. Telling anyone seemed more difficult than anything else I had endured. Sometimes, even impossible.”

Wild swallows, hard. He is almost certain the tears are returning. 

“I couldn’t let it happen again,” he admits, quietly, voice hoarse. “I couldn’t lose him like I lost her. Like…like I lost everyone.”

Time nods. “But you didn’t. Twilight is safe, cub. Allow yourself to believe that to be true.”

Wild drags in a shaky breath. The words he hardly dares to speak rise in his throat, screaming for release.

“And what…what happens if one day that’s no longer true? What happens if I fail him next time?”

What happens if I fail all of you? What if I fail her again? 

Time sighs. “I wish I had the answer to that. Believe me, it would do much to put my own mind at rest. All I can tell you, is to live for today. Allow yourself this victory. Allow it to strengthen you to face further challenges. That is all that you can do.”

Wild ducks his head, biting his lip to keep the tears at bay. But they come out anyway, spilling down his cheeks in cascading rivulets. He chokes on a mouthful of salt water.

Time shifts. The warmth of his hand leaves, only to be replaced by the warmth of his arms, enveloping Wild as he holds him close. Wild collapses into him, heedless of the tears and snot he is undoubtedly sullying Time’s tunic with. Sobbing into the Hero of Time’s chest is not something he ever imagined that he would do. Now that the great ball of agony has begun to unwind, however, he cannot drag it back into submission. 

He has kept it for this long, held it inside until it almost became a part of him. He has fought it down through months of chasing fleeting clues across Hyrule, fighting beasts that haunt his nightmares. Smothered it at night when sleep refused to come. It refuses to be held down any longer. 

It rushes out like a wave of water upon the collapse of a dam. And Time holds him while it does.

When, at last, the sobs do subside, the tightness in his chest and stomach is still there, as it always has been. But it has lessened somewhat and for that, at least he is grateful. Slowly, he pushes himself up, swiping at his eyes and nose, self-consciously.

“S-sorry about your tu-tunic,” he hiccups, eyeing Time sheepishly.

The hero gives him a small, kind smile. In that moment, it is hard to believe that this is the same hero who can make grown men tremble and take down the largest of monsters without breaking a sweat.

“Don’t concern yourself with it. It can be washed out.” He rises, dusting himself off, then holds out a hand. “Now, are you ready to go? I believe Twilight wants to see you.”

Wild takes a deep breath. His gaze flits to his arm, softly glowing where it rests on his lap.

All I can tell you, is to live for today. Allow yourself this victory. Allow it to strengthen you to face further challenges. 

Slowly, he folds his fingers into a fist. The glow strengthens in answer to his own resolve.

“Yeah.” He takes Time’s hand and stands. “I’m ready.”

[billygoat26]

Reader x Dust (Any gender)

TW: Fairly graphic description of blood and some injuries. If you’re uncomfortable with that then I advise scrolling at least past it. I’ll let you know when the description is over! :D (I’m a kiddo who likes describing stuff, sorry.)

Description start:

Red. Red everywhere. Well, maybe not everywhere exactly, but the warmth of the blood felt like it was everywhere.

It ran down your head and poured from your nose, out from cuts and reopened scabs from when this had happened before. 

It felt thick, choking almost. You noticed that you had to cough, so you did. Up came more of that metal-tasting red liquid. But your throat was cleared… for now. Your chest hurt, a stabbing pain that occurred whenever you took even the smallest breath.

You were helpless, shaking as you lay on the floor of an alley in hopes for a saving grace.

This wasn’t new, if the scabs hadn’t given that away. In fact, it happened quite often.

Description of blood over, on to description of, well, bullying I guess? Plus more injuries.

There was this group of people who hated monsters, and went out of their way to hunt down any person who accepted said monsters and, well, break them.

Physically and emotionally… broken bones, broken spirits, broken hope. 

Descriptions over.

You heard a soft whooshing sound, and footsteps. Someone coming to save you? The world had started to grow fuzzy and the sounds distorted. But you swore you heard someone say something like “Oh my god!” and the footsteps growing closer.

You felt someone scoop you up swiftly yet… surprisingly gently. You hadn’t been able to catch a good look at your saving grace, however, before the world faded to black.

You woke up to find yourself laying in bed, but not your own. Everything still seemed blurry, but the pain had subsided for the most part. You slowly moved your arms to rub your eyes, in hopes to clear the blurriness from them.

When your eyes cleared and your sore arms were resting at your side again, you looked around, taking in your surroundings. They looked… familiar. You sat up, only to be stopped by everything suddenly spinning. You heard a voice suddenly.

“Best you just lay down. You need to rest.” That voice.. it was so familiar. You turn and look in the direction of the voice to see a hooded skeleton sitting in a chair near the bed. Of course, Dust! You smile slightly, and you swore you could see a faint smile on his face as well. 

“Dust! How did you-“ You got cut off by him raising his hand, signaling for you to stop.

“That’s not important.. How are you feeling?” His voice had that soothing familiarity to it, that tone that gave you a warm, comfortable feeling inside. Or maybe that was just you, who knows.

“I’m.. actually feeling quite a bit better. Thanks.” Your smile grows, and Dust nods in satisfaction of your answer.

“Good. You were… pretty beat up back there.. was it them again?” You had foreseen the question, yet the look that Dust gave you. It was so rare to see him look so genuinely concerned that many would see it as out of character. You hesitantly nod, averting your gaze. The skeleton sighs.

You knew he was part of the “Bad Sanses” and he, Killer, and Horror made up the “Murder Time Trio,” so you expected him to be thinking of ways to get back at the anti-monster group even though he tried to keep a relatively neutral expression. You knew Dust too well.

“It’s fine, really. You don’t have to worry about it, Dust.” You give him a reassuring smile, and he just nods. He wasn’t convinced and you knew it.

“I know.. I just…” The dusty skeleton hesitated, glancing off to the side, and you guessed Phantom Papyrus was talking to him. He sighed, turning to face you again. He seemed a bit more confident in what he was going to say now. 

“I just want you to be okay..” He smiled softly, yet hesitantly. You guessed he felt awkward saying that, like he hadn’t ever really done this before, despite what Killer may have said about him and Horror. Though what he did next shocked you.

He one of his gloved hands on yours. It was gentle, and sent a wave of goosebumps through you. You could feel your face start burning slightly, and hoped your face wasn’t turning red so easily. But it seemed it was, because Dust smirked slightly in amusement.

The two of you remained silent, just gazing into each other’s eyes as if communicating silently. After a good few minutes of this, Dust’s face suddenly flushed and he quickly looked to his side. You snickered as you listened to Dust argue with what looked like nothing but you knew to be Phantom Papyrus. 

“Why would you say that?” After a few seconds, his face got covered in another layer of blush and he tugged on his hood to cover more of his face. “Paps, shut up..” This just made you laugh more, though you could imagine how he felt.

After a few moments you could safely assume Phantom Papyrus had left Dust alone, and you had stopped laughing. Dust was rubbing his face and trying to relax enough for the blush to go away. You had to admit, it was strangely cute to see Dust, the usually tough-guy skeleton who is part of the Murder Time Trio, flustered. 

Once Dust had decided he had cooled off enough, he sighed and let his arms drop to his sides. There was still a faint trace of blush on his face, but you decided not to point it out. “…Sorry about that,” he mumbled.

You just smiled. “It’s okay.” The silence hung over you two for another minute before you spoke up again. “Well, you wanna watch TV or something?” You gestured to the TV that was across from the bed you lay in. You could tell Dust was considering your offer.

After a moment- and the blush on Dust’s cheeks darkening slightly as you assumed Phantom Papyrus had commented- the skeleton nodded. You grinned and scooted over, making room for him as Dust climbed in next to you.

“You pick.” You hand him the remote with a cheerful smile, and he nodded his thanks.

He eventually settled on a movie he knew you both liked and leaned back with a proud grin. You chuckled, knowing he did that on purpose- or maybe that was your wishful thinking. Whatever the case, you both watched the movie in content silence. 

After about an hour and a half you felt yourself growing tired, your eyelids growing heavier by the minute. Eventually, you felt yourself lean against Dust’s side, laying your head on his shoulder. You had felt him flinch slightly, then relax as he placed an arm around your shoulder.

The last thing you felt before drifting off to sleep was a soft kiss on your forehead.

[yourpalmickeymouse]

Hey, again Mickey! I looked at your response and I get what you are saying but doesn't explain why it took hours for them to get a criminal off my chimney... Anyway on to my question, I've been seeing the blot the news lately and the thing that caught my attention is that the plans that he makes are so... impossible to solve! How are you able to solve them, are you on the same IQ length, are you two related like he is your secret father and you are his abandoned son in some way but don't know it yet because your family never told you, or are you a wizard, or making stuff with the police for publicity... Thank you and please tell the chief about his police members to STOP GIVING ME TICKETS I've been driving the speed limit omg...

Hiya Asritca,

I'm sorry that happened. I would like to think the Mouseton police were probably tryin' their best. But I guess they aren't as effective as they could be. I'll try to talk to Chief O'Hara about this. I'll also talk to him 'bout the tickets.

As for your question...

...

I honestly have no idea.

I mean when I heard about how He has puzzled law enforcement and government agencies all over the world for so long, I was unsure what would be able to stop him. But yet somehow I did. I honestly have a hard time believin' it. It doesn't feel real.

I dunno if it's anything related to IQ. I mean I guess I've been told that I'm pretty smart. But I dunno if I'm that smart. I did pretty well in school, but I wasn't the valedictorian or anything. I also don't think we're related. My dad is currently in Florida with my mom... Unless if there is something about myself that I don't know about, I doubt that's the case. I think they would've told me something as important as that. Also I'm also not a Wizard and I haven't faked any crimes with the police. I would NEVER do that.

Hm... I guess Minnie has told me that I have a hard time lettin' things go. Sometimes she calls it "Dedication", but she usually calls it "Stubbornness", ha ha. But that might be part of it? I guess? But that doesn't seem right. Now that I think 'bout it, I do feel like when I solve his puzzles or figure out his plans... Well... it kinda feels like they were made just for me. If that makes sense.

I know that sounds real weird. But I guess it does feel like the Phantom Blot and I are on the same wavelength at times. Like he is playin' a song, only I could hear. Like we are speaking a language that only we can understand. Like we are playing a game that only we know the rules to. A game that I can't resist.

I always thought it was silly when books, or shows, or comics or whatever would try to have the hero and their villain have this bond that kinda made 'em obsessed with each other... But I think I get it now... He does kinda feels like the Moriarty to my Sherlock. (Metaphorically speaking, I'm in no way Sherlock). I definitely feel drawn to him in a way I haven't felt before. Like he is my main archenemy and I need to be the one to take him down.

It's definitely a big and terrifying responsibility, but I was raised to step up whenever duty calls.

You can count on me to do everything I can to put him away for good. No matter what it takes.

[swiftyangx12]

“With great power comes with great responsibility…”|Valorant x Marvel #1

[Synopsis]: Marvel inspired Valorant agents and the first one is a Spider-Man based agent.

[Gender Neutral!VP Agent]

[(A/N)]: The characters may be OOC and I’m open for criticism/help to improve.

[TW]: Possible spoilers of ATSV and some cursing

Let’s start with the first recent addition to the Valorant Protocol.

They’re from Queens, New York.

Somebody whose like the neighborhood’s friendly savior.

Well, I think it’s best if they introduce themselves to you…

Arachnis: “My name is [Y/N] [L/N]. I’m a Spider-based Radiant who got their powers from the First Light and not bitten by a radioactive spider. For about two years, I go by Arachnis, swinging around New York, stopping robberies, beating bad guys, protecting people and loved ones, the usual stuff. Then I was recruited by an organization called The Valorant Protocol where there are other agents like me who defend our world, Alpha Earth, from Omega Earth that keep stealing a material called Radianite that powers almost everything. I get to travel around the world and it was my first time using firearms. I’m one of the Sentinels of Valorant and sometimes I can go too far when defending my colleagues…

When I don’t have missions, I visit New York and reminisce about everything that happened before and after getting my powers.

I hope nothing goes wrong in the future…”

《🕷️》

[Valorant HQ]

Breach: *with his booming voice* WHO’S UP FOR GAME NIGHT?!

Arachnis: AH! *Jumps up scared and now stuck on the ceiling*

Brimstone: Breach, you scared them again.

Breach: Whoops, sorry!

Arachnis: You’re good. I’m coming down. *Lowers back down with a thread of silk* Hey.

《🕷️》

Phoenix & Yoru: *Arguing and being dumbasses*

Jett: *Frustrated* When are they gonna stop?

Arachnis: *Shoots their web at the two and sticks them against a wall*

Phoenix & Yoru: [Y/N]!

Arachnis: *Shoots more web at their mouths to shut up* Unless you two behave, stop arguing like Pre-K brats!

《🕷️》

[Location: SPLIT]

Arachnis: *Spider senses triggered* Fall back! Fall back!!!

Skye: ‘Rach? What is it?

[Something crashes in front of the VP team and they readied their weapons. It seems the threat obtain mechanical tentacles protruding through its backside and it look pissed.]

Chamber: What is that?

Arachnis: I don’t know. Just shoot at it! *Starts shooting at the suspect*

[Its tentacles intertwined together forming a shield and the bullets deflect.]

Arachnis: Fuck! *Sprints at the enemy*

Skye & Jett: Arachnis!

Arachnis: *Shoots their web and yank themselves towards the enemy* *Kicks it with great impact and traps the individual in more webs* *Then starts swinging it around, slamming the body left and right like the Hulk beating a Pre-Infinity War Loki*

[Far away from the map]

???: I think the anomaly is taken care of.

[The strangers watch Arachnis tears off the tentacles with their bare hands. They were horrified by the sight.]

???: Definitely taken care of.

《🕷️》

[Hours later]

[Arachnis ties the enemy up with more web and knocks it out of conscious with the butt of their Phantom.]

Skye: Wow. You tore it up worse than a pack of wolves.

Jett: We need to tell Brim about this.

Arachnis: We should. You guys go ahead. I think I dropped my melee somewhere. *Walks around the area*

[They crawl up on the walls of the structures, swinging around with their webbing, searching for their knife until they get introduced by some figures.]

???: Excuse me? Is this what you’re looking for? *Holds out the weapon*

Arachnis: Oh, my knife! Thanks. *About to grab it but Spider Senses triggered again* No way. Are you two also Radiants?

???: Radiants?

???: Sorry, we’re not. We came to pick up the anomaly. *Points at the unconscious suspect*

Arachnis: Anomaly?

???: And if it’s alright, could you come with us?

Arachnis: *Suspicious* …One second. *Speaks through their ear piece* Team, I think I’ll find another way back to base. Inform Brimstone that I’ll be back soon and I need to take care of something.

《🕷️》

[Earth-928, Spider Society HQ]

Arachnis: You mean to tell me there are others like me?

Gwen: Yes, and I think Miguel could use more people like you.

Arachnis: I…don’t think so. I’m part of the Valorant Protocol and already dealing with doppelgängers attempting to steal our power supply.

Gwen: We’re here. Miguel!

[Up on a ascended platform with hologram screens hued with neon orange, the one and only Miguel O’Hara whose back is facing out.]

Arachnis: Does he always do that? His back facing us?

Gwen: Always.

Miguel: You’re the one who took down the Doc Ock variant. *Finally turns to face down at them* All by yourself.

Arachnis: 씨발… [Ssi-Bal…] (Fuck…) You guys didn’t tell me he’s part Goliath Bird eater.

Miles: *Coughs from the sudden response*

Arachnis: He’s huge.

Miguel: Are you finished?

Arachnis: Yeah. Also I’m not joining as I’m already an agent with another organization.

Peter B. Parker: *Barges in* Wait! Before you go and never come back, would you at least tour around the place?

Arachnis: Okay? It won’t change my final decision.

《🕷️》

[Lobby]

Peter B. Parker: You were never bit by a radioactive spider?

Arachnis: Nope. I’m a Radiant. Got my powers from The First Light.

Miles: Have you always experienced near-deaths?

Arachnis: I dodge bullets everyday.

Pavitr: Have you lost a favorite family member?

Arachnis: My family and I had an Uncle Benny and he died.

Pavitr: Oh no. I’m sorry for your loss.

Arachnis: It’s cool. Nobody liked or missed him because he was dick to everyone.

Spider Gang: Oh.

Arachnis: We celebrate his death before, during and after his funeral like New Year’s Day.

Spider Gang: Oh.

Arachnis: Does that count as a canon event?

Jess: It’s better than never.

《🕷️》

[Back in VP HQ]

Arachnis: *Exits through the portal*

Brimstone: [L/N], where were you?

Arachnis: It’s a long story, sir. You may want to sit down for this one.

[Hours Later]

Arachnis: …And that is how I came back here.

Brimstone: It’s long, all right.

Arachnis: Told you. They offered me to join, but I can’t accept it. How can I fill in both organizations at once?

Brimstone: Have you discuss this with their boss?

Arachnis: *Frowns* Yes, and he scares me.

Brimstone: What are the arrangements?

Arachnis: I come by every Tuesday and Friday as their fighting instructor in that universe.

Brimstone: Anything else?

Arachnis: Some of the younger Spider-people want to visit this world.

Brimstone: *Sighs* More chaos.

《🕷️》

[Friday at the Spider Society]

Arachnis: *Babysitting Mayday this time* “'Cause we don't need permission to dance! Da-na-na-na-na-na-na, da-na-na-na-na-na-na!” *Dancing to the song*

Mayday: *Giggling happily at the little performance*

Arachnis: *Twirls around and spots HIM* *Throws a knife at his direct*

Miguel: *Dodges* Was that necessary?

Arachnis: Yes, and I got scared. I’m on Mayday duty so I’m protecting her. *Picks up Mayday* See you around, O’Hara. *Walks away with the baby in their arms*

[Reblogs helps creators and creates for more content]

[Tagged]: @hhurric4ne @l0serloki @luckyowl @radianights @redrage71890 @theladyheroine

[bluepeachstudios]

GitS Asks!

Not as much as he does the boys. April's pretty good about having her own fun, she's got a family to go back to, she can separate herself when she needs to. She can handle herself!

Noted 👀 Though I don't read fanfic very often because I'm. Usually too busy writing it. fhgdkjgf I'm already behind on stuff I want to read. I will put it on my List.

Leo's least favorite is math, he finds it boring as all hell. Raph's least favorite is chemistry. He cannot get any of it right for the life of him. He accidentally made mustard gas once and from then on Donnie was paired with him to make sure that didn't happen again. Mikey's is history! He has a hard time just sitting still and listening. Donnie's least favorite is the mystic arts. He thinks it's unnecessary for him, because he doesn't have a mystic weapon.

Ghost just tells them he's going to teach them something today and they pretty much all show up. If they miss a day, he doesn't scold them about it or anything, he just lets them miss it. If they don't understand something because of it later, he can just teach it to them again. Normally they don't miss more than a day at a time, and if they do there's usually something else going on. Ghost is homeschooling them, and it's not like they're going to college. The point is learning, not to make them suffer when they don't feel like it. ;)

Splinter was giving the boys an education! He taught them colors, and alphabets, and how to read, how to clean, how to take care of themselves. Splinter taught them a lot, and Ghost knows that. He's not mad for Splinter focusing on the more practical things and less on the academic side.

Oh yeah he's gonna flip y'all.

"Who?"

Spoilers! Though I am now thinking of that 03 episode during fast forward where they go to the gala and Donnie is wearing a purple suit. Thank you.

Ghost is still kinda active with the homeless community. He doesn't talk to them, or really show himself at all, but he drops off blankets and clothes he finds when scavenging.

Ghost doesn't know about Don stealing from ATMs at the moment! He won't mind it, though. He's not hurting anyone but big banks by doing it.

Oh you think Ghost's self-blame and self-hatred is bad now? NOTHING compared to what it would be if he'd fallen into Rise after experiencing SAINW. He knows what's going to happen to his brothers. He knows he disappeared, and that the world ended because of it. He'd work a lot harder. I don't think he'd pay any attention to the kids, honestly, I think he'd be neck-deep in making a portal, trying everything, retrying it.

Ghost has accepted that he's stuck in his dimension. Donatello would not.

The TECH! It's so much easier to get high-grade metal and supplies in Rise! He can get SO MUCH SHIT! No wonder Donnie can build things so nicely, people dump out nice stuff!

Welcome to ow, I'll be your host-

Spppoiiilerrsssss? I think? Probably???

It does! There was a poll quite a ways back that even asked if Ghost ends up with Leo or with the other boys. He's in Tahiti. ;)

Phantom is far less scarred than Ell. He still has the leather jacket because I feel like he deserves a leather jacket. Ghost doesn't have the scar over his eye because of Phantom. When Ghost disappeared to the Battle Nexus to try and find answers, Phantom immediately started looking for him. Ghost had only meant to go for a day, but was trapped by Big Mama and forced to fight. Phantom found him and pulled him out of there before he ever got the scar.

Some things are universal constants :)

Whether they survive it or not is different.

Oh 03 Donatello is completely destroyed. He blames himself entirely. He works all the time to get his lost brother back. Ell and Spirit don't blame Donny, but Mike does a bit. It's easier to be mad at someone than the universe.

w... what about it....

Bold of you to assume that Ghost isn't going to break that curse

Rise boys are starting to realize their mentor isn't invincible and immortal. Terrifying thing to learn.

Thank you!! Glad you like it!

[markcampbells]

my Vashwood fics!

Hello hello, everyone! I've been a bit busy this week, but while @trigunfanfic appreciation week is still going on I wanted to put together a quick self-rec post of my Vashwood fics other than the one I've already written a post for. There's a little bit of everything--fluff, angst, hurt/comfort, ace for ace, and even my first go at writing T4T!

your pride like water in your lungs (drowns all the words it stole)

"Listen, you idiot." He holds up a hand to pre-empt any interruption from Vash. "You're embarrassed, I get that. Plain as day. S'pose there ain't no point in arguin' with ya there's no shame in it, so I won't. You're gonna fight tooth and nail on this but I'll say it anyway. Sit here with me for an hour and I'll distract ya, like ya wanted. Hour's up, we don't have to talk about it ever again. Pretend it never happened if you're so deadset on ignorin' it. Best of both worlds."

My proudest achievement thus far, featuring: Vash experiencing phantom limb pain and struggling to accept help, Wolfwood offering help and comfort unconditionally, and a whole lot of angst and pining. (Please mind the bittersweet ending tag!) Originally written for Ace Trigun Week and written from the perspective of ace for ace Vashwood.

haunts me faithfully from dusk 'til dawn

Vash keeps his eyes shut and doesn't answer. It makes no difference if he does or doesn't; he hears him, feels him, whether or not he acknowledges him. On a homestead far from everything, Vash lets himself imagine he isn't in bed alone.

featuring: post-TriMax heavy angst and hurt no comfort. Vash is Really Going Through It here. I would say it's my fault but really it's Nightow's. I just made it worse.

i used to live alone before i knew you

"Don't act so doe-eyed." The smoke that drifts his way makes him imagine Wolfwood flicking his wrist for emphasis. "Ev'ry so often ya put on like you're making eyes at some skirt that crosses your path, but your heart ain't in it. For anyone. Ever, near as I can tell. ... Not judgin' that, by the way; just the way some folks are wired. Point is, you've got no intention of jumping my bones or anyone's. I'd've left a bit of mystery if you did."

featuring: ace for ace and T4T Vashwood fluff/getting together! Originally written for Ace Trigun week, centered around casual nudity. Vash has insecurities about his lack of experience and Wolfwood is staunch and reassuring through it all.

as much, and somehow more

Vash's lips twitch downwards into a frown. "You scratching yourself bloody and throttling my plants with secondhand smoke somehow isn't my problem? Not to mention leaving the bed cold." "Spiky, look." Nicholas drags the hand of the arm Vash isn't tending to through his hair. He'll be awake for the next few hours; he may as well shower at some point. "Was feeling fucked up about heading back to the orphanage. Bein' paraded around like some kinda success story when we both know I'm anythin' but. Wasn't gonna put that on you if I could help it. Was hoping you'd still be asleep when I headed out. My bullshit ain't your responsibility."

featuring: modern AU emotional hurt/comfort, centered around Wolfwood coping with anxiety and Vash asking to stay by his side through it all. Good communication! And the mortifying ordeal of being loved, truly. This can also be read as ace for ace and is a sort of precursor to some other modern AU stuff I've got in the works.

That's all for now, folks! I'll be back tomorrow with a few more recs. This week has been so fun!

[clonerightsagenda]

Sick

We're most of the way through disability pride month and I'm not sure if I'll ever finish this WIP because I'm stuck over how literal to make some of the elements. So, I am posting it because I am curious if any of the weirdness resonates with other people. Enjoy my magical disability cure codependent haunting thing, and also I am going to post a rambling author's note about it.

The morning after the surgery, your Sick is sitting at the kitchen table. It looks good, for a corpse. It’s wearing the ‘I love dying and being dead’ t-shirt you joked about buying two diagnoses ago, pulled over a laced-shut hospital gown.

“What?” it asks. “You had more of a sense of humor when you were sick.”

The doctors warned you that your neurochemistry might be out of balance. You’re adjusting to the sudden lifting of brain fog after moving through the world in a protective cocoon of pharmaceuticals. They didn’t mention hallucinations.

“Think of me like a phantom limb.” Your Sick sips one of those awful plant-based protein drinks that still lurk in the back of your pantry. “Why did you do it?”

Talking to hallucinations probably makes them worse. You do it anyway. “You were killing me.”

“This world is killing you. But you finished yourself off first.”

You sit down across from it in one effortless motion. “That’s not what happened.”

“Right. I’m the enemy. So it doesn’t matter if I’m rotting at the bottom of a biohazard bin.” It considers you. “What’s it like not to hurt?”

What is it like? You’d woken up and lain there for a while, waiting. “Like holding my breath.”

“You’re in charge of all that now.” It nods, the motion referencing the length of your body. “Need to stay on top of it.”

“Like I need advice from you,” you say, but you blink, and the phantom’s gone.

60,000 pieces of microplastic. 7.2 micrograms per liter of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. 1:640 antinuclear antibody titer.

That's what they peel you out of. A second nervous system of petroleum products and misfiring T cells, the stuff that's been running your life via mob rule for a decade. They tell you that you weigh five grams less now.

They tell you, don't be surprised if at first it feels like something is missing.

I thought that was just for rich people, your friend says. She messaged you to remind you to take your meds, and you told her that you would never have to take your meds again. Celebrities and politicians.

Work decided it was cheaper to fix me than replace me, you message back. Score one for being essential.

Perks of your top-secret job.

I promise it's boring. Critical infrastructure usually is.

Did you look?

Some people share post-op pictures. They’re usually underwhelming if you don’t know what to look for - the subtle swelling over an aggravated nerve, hints of boniness in the knuckles. Shadows of bruises that never go away. No. I should’ve, though. I asked for hospital socks when they were prepping me but then obviously after I didn’t have them anymore. Who knows if I’ll get another chance.

You might be finished with surgeries forever and you’re disappointed because you can’t get any more grippy socks.

I'll miss the warm blankets too.

Your Sick crawled inside you when you were nineteen years old. It wouldn’t let you get out of bed.

“Help,” it croaked.

Your roommate (only your roommate then) came the second time it called. She was in her pajamas, her hair a dark tangle. You never asked for her help, even when your hands got so sore you couldn’t open jars without five minutes of struggle. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t feel right,” it said.

Her face softened. “I thought you looked rough yesterday. I don’t have class this morning; do you want me to make something? Call anybody?”

No, you tried to say. I can handle it.

“I think I need to go to the doctor,” your Sick said instead.

You had been putting it off. The doctor meant admitting something was wrong, meant – most importantly – a $30 copay. But healthy people never understand when you try to tell them. At a certain point, your body stops being yours.

Your Sick turned up its nose at greasy slices of campus pizza. It politely but firmly refused invitations for a night out. It sanded the branching tree of your life into a wooden sphere it could cup in the palm of its hand.

“You’re ruining my life,” you told the mirror.

It tilted your head. You read your own confusion. “I’m protecting you.”

“Mask,” your Sick says from behind you. It looks worse today – skin gone gray and patchy, with a shimmer of microplastic shards risen to the surface like body glitter. The shine complements the sequined mask secured over its own face.

You scowl, bag swung over one shoulder. You haven’t gone out since the surgery – you can work from home, you haven’t canceled grocery delivery yet – and now that you’re venturing through your front door, the phantom is back. You had reached for one of the masks on the table by the door before dropping it back into the bowl. “I don’t need it now.”

“So respiratory diseases don’t exist anymore? Dumbass.”

The objection reminds you of your own aggrieved complaints: why don’t people plan events with us in mind, don’t they know how many people there are with immune systems one shove away from collapsing, the world’s not getting any safer.

That was your Sick talking. You don’t have to worry anymore.

“You weren’t doing a good job taking care of me before, and you’re not doing a good job of it now.”

Its eyebrows rise. Black liquid has seeped through the cloth of its mask. “And fuck everyone else like you?”

“Like you,” you say, and slam the door in its face.

Outside, the breeze brushes your cheeks. You don’t have to sit down because you miscalculated the balance of meds and breakfast. You start to scan your surroundings for bathrooms, just in case, and then dismiss the impulse because you’re fine.

You’re better than that.

Three hours in, you realize you’ve been curling your fingers into a fist and then opening them again. You only notice because the joints start to ache. It feels familiar.

Nothing else does.

A notification flashes in the corner of your screen. There’s new activity in one of the forum conversations you’ve been following.

It’s rich people doing what they always do. Wreck the planet? It’s fine, we can get a new one! Wreck your body? It’s fine, we can get a new one of that too. There’s no incentive to improve the situation if you can buy your way out of the problem.

I’d buy my way out too, but there’s no way I could afford it

Then you’d eat your first plastic salad and get sick again. See what I mean?

The new ones are supposed to be more resilient

But it’s not yours

Remember any theological debates go in the quarantine thread

I don’t mean it like that. I just think you’re interfering with your relationship with your body, and that’s a fundamental part of who you are, right? Whether or not a s*ul exists

There’s not a bot monitoring this thread. You don’t have to censor it.

Sorry, habit

Mod is human, asterisks don’t stop me. But they are a screenreader issue, so please edit your post.

You used to frequent disability forums. They had useful resources. Jokes, too, like the t-shirt your Sick wears over its hospital gown. But you can’t understand the people who embrace their disfunction. You took a time-honored approach to your medical misfortune. Cancer. Pregnancy. Demonic possession. Petrochemicals. There is something inside me, and I want it out.

These people helped you, but you don’t need them anymore. So instead of saying anything, you log off the forum for the last time.

You do tell your coworkers, who are excited for you. They pester you with questions over Slack: How long did it take? Did you look? Does it hurt?

Your boss messages you, When can you come back to the office?

You frown at the screen. The work you’ve been doing from home is good – better than what you’ve produced for years now that your head is clear. But your boss has always been old fashioned. Remote work was a concession that there’s no justification for now.

Monday, if you want, you type back.

That gets you an immediate thumbs up reaction, followed by, We’re all so glad you’re ok.

That chafes you in a spot rubbed raw. Everyone assumes once the problem they know about has been addressed, everything else must be resolved too. You must be ok.

Which you are, this time.

Your best friend comes to visit. She brings beers you couldn’t drink with your meds and a greasy pizza that settles in your stomach like a snake planning to strike later. It tastes amazing – you run your tongue over your teeth to capture the last traces of salty richness and tell yourself next time your body will recognize good food.

She’s spent the whole visit on your sofa. You have an air mattress from when she used to sleep on your floor while you were recovering from surgeries. She hasn’t asked you to bring it out, and you’re not sure how to ask if she’s staying. Instead you keep stealing glances at her, the curve of her cheek that’s the first thing you’d see when you looked over the side of your bed in the middle of the night, the hands that have held your hair back from the toilet bowl and now rest on her lap.

She keeps looking at you too. You wonder if she sees a difference.

After the silence and sidelong glances build into an itchy layer on your skin, you lean over, clutch the front of her shirt, and kiss her. She freezes and then kisses you back, gingerly, the way you'd investigate an unexpected bruise. There’s pizza grease on both your lips. Rich and unfamiliar.

You’re the one who pulls away. "I'm sorry," you say. "That's not what I want."

She’s stiff under her softness, like an examination table. "I didn’t think so. I didn't think you did that kind of thing."

You don’t. It’s the silence. Your empty floor. Her hands, resting on her lap. "I just thought…” you try. “That kind of closeness is enough for everyone else."

Your fingers are still clenched in her shirt. She looks at them until you untangle them, one by one. The knuckles don’t ache.

She shakes her head. "It's like you don't want to be better."

“That went well,” your Sick says after the door swings shut.

“It’s your fault.”

It tilts its head on a neck that’s looser than it should be. “I didn’t do anything.”

It’s right. When you were sick you could request a shoulder rub to loosen tight muscles or hike up your shirt, no seduction, no bullshit, to ask if that rash looked bad. You could open your mouth and let the truth of your predicament outweigh prudishness or shame.

You don’t know how to ask people to touch you anymore.

It leans in close. “You need me,” it says. Oil bubbles over its lips and slicks its chin. “I was always your excuse.”

That weekend you watch your phone sit silent on the table, no pings from forum posts or medication reminders. Your Sick drifts over. It’s no longer a rotting corpse leaking garbage. It looks dead in the way you used to whenever you looked in the mirror.

Wherever it is in the real world, it doesn’t look like that anymore. From what you remember from the booklets they gave you, it’s already gone.

“Not going to explain yourself, huh?” asks your hallucination. Your haunting.

You shrug. What would you say to her? I took away the foundation of my life and don’t know what’s underneath. You only started being my friend when I needed help, so what’s left for us? There was always another medication or appointment or symptom but now everything’s fine and I’m still holding my breath.

You’ve gotten used to letting someone else talk for you.

“I was killing you,” it says.

That’s what you said. You look at the lines around its eyes and imagine a billion tiny swords raised against invaders that poured in every time you took a breath to light your joints up with friendly fire. “You were protecting me.”

“I was the worst part of you.”

“You were.” You flex your perfect, painless fingers. “Do I miss it?”

It grins and leans against the back of your chair, wrapping chilly arms around your waist. “I just wanted to make you say it.”

The grip around your belly aches in a way you recognize. Dull pain that makes its home in you. Cozy as curling up in bed with a headache. You look back at your silent phone. “Which one of us did she come here for?”

“Only one way to find out.”

You could reach out, but you don’t move. You have never known how to ask for help.

Your Sick sighs. It loosens its grip and reaches over your shoulder to lace corpse-cool fingers between yours. Then it lifts your combined hands in a swoop like the first dose of anesthesia, when the orderlies wheel you away and everything is out of your control. “Come on,” she says. Her breath is a puff of disinfectant on your cheek. “Let’s do it like we used to.”

After you came out of the anesthesia, the surgeons asked if you wanted to see your old body. You said no. You’d spent long enough inside it – it was something you wanted to leave behind. Besides, even after all the pamphlets and counseling sessions, you worried seeing your vacant face would jar something loose. Convince you like those cranks on the disability forums that you’d severed a connection that was irrevocable.  

If you could do it again, you’d say yes. Step inside the morgue – no, they wouldn’t have moved it to the morgue yet, they’d want you to have a better venue to say goodbye – and catalogue the subtle changes only you could see. The swollen knuckles, flushed cheeks. All the other differences locked inside.

You imagine bending down and lifting the body the way it lifted you once, cradling its head in the crook of your arm. Imagine kissing your Sick and feeling poisonous tendrils creep down your throat to coat your insides with grime.

You imagine saying, welcome home.

(Author's note)

[operafantomet]

How many productions of the World Tour have there been and for how long did each one run?

It is a good question, and probably with many answers...

The original World Tour - the ones first launched as such - happened in 2004. It followed the original South African production in 2004, and both the costumes, sets and much of the ensemble followed from South Africa to Asia as POTO was sent on tour there. The press named it World Tour, but it was always unclear if they meant that the South African run was a part of it. Anyhow, if we assume the latter, the first World Tour ran from 2004 to 2009, and visited:

2004: Cape Town and Pretoria, South Africa

2004: Shanghai, China

2005: Seoul, South Korea

2005-2006: Taipei, Taiwan

2006: Hong Kong

2007: Singapore

2007-2008: Melbourne, Australia

2008: Brisbane, Australia

2008: Sydney, Australia

2008: Auckland, New Zealand

2009: Perth, Australia

2009: Adelaide, Australia

2009: Taipei, Taiwan

By some the original and revial production in South Korea is also considered a part of the first World Tour. The original production ran from 2001-2002, and the second from 2009-2010. But unlike the other listed productions/stops, the Soth Korean productions of 2001 and 2009 was performed in English and not by a touring cast. The sets and costumes were however the same. In that vein, it should also be noted that the 2007-2009 tour in Australia and New Zealand never went under the World Tour label. But since they too did the same costumes, sets and leads, and since they came from Singapore and continued to Taipei... it's kinda hard not to count it as a part of the World Tour.

Then... repeat... The second World Tour also launched from South Africa, or sprang out after the South African run (again, it depends on how you interpret it). As the first time, much of the cast followed into the Asian tour stops, and the costumes and sets were also the same. The places visited was:

2011-2012: Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa

2012: Manila, The Philippines

2012-2013: Seoul, South Korea

2013: Bangkok, Thailand

2013: Singapore

2013: Shanghai, China

2014: Daegu, South Korea

2014: Taipei, Taiwan

2014-2015: Hong Kong

2015: Istanbul, Turkey

2015: Guangzhou, China

2015-2016: Beijing, China

Costumes, sets and some of the ensemble continued into the 2016-2017 Stockholm revival run. But like in South Korea, the cast was a local one and they sung in the native language. Thus, it's usually not counted as a part of the World Tour. But it does explain the gap between the first and second tour.

For both the first and second World Tour run Brad Little was the principal Phantom, with many different Christines and Raouls. Exception was the South African runs, where the Phantoms were André Schwartz and Johanthan Roxmouth. Jonathan Roxmouth was also principal Phantom in Manila 2012, and Ian Jon Bourg was u/s + standby (and occasionally featured in promo stuff, for example in Istanbul). Then, for the third World Tour things were slightly changed. A newly rebuilt tour set was launched, and many of the costumes were supplied from the US and the UK. Jonathan Roxmouth took over as principal Phantom for all the stops, which included:

2019: Manila, The Philippines

2019: Singapore

2019: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2019: Tel Aviv, Israel

2019: Dubai

2019-2020: Busan, South Korea

2020: Seoul, South Korea

2020: Daegu, South Korea

2020: Taipei, Taiwan

And yes, if you look closely at this list, "Phantom of the Opera" was indeed perfoming through 2020, up until December 6. At one point it was the only so-called "mega musical" still performing through the pandemic, partly because South Korea and Taiwan had little infection at the time and partly because they had a super effective system to keep the numbers low. It meant many theatres and restaurants remained open, and I guess it was pure luck POTO was scheduled to perform just there, just then.

Of all these stops the closest the World Tour ever got to me was Istanbul. And that was an amazing excuse to visit a city I have dreamed about since childhood. The World Tour was exceptionally high standard, it was a joy to see. I was also lucky to see the costume exhibition they had going on. For this and many other reasons the World Tour has always been close to my heart. <3

[stealingyourbones]

Danny gets both his ghost side and human side separated, but instead of dying.

It's a two bodies one mind situation.

At first he's horrified, but after a few moments he calms down and is just like: "Welp, I guess I don't have to tell my parents I'm a ghost anymore"

Because technically, he isn't a halfa anymore. But both of his bodies do share the same mind.

Now here's the kicker.

His ghost side doesn't feel pain.

Now normally that would be good, but it's instead where his human half receives double the amount of pain, and any injury that would scar his ghost self appears on his human body as well.

So not only does he have to be more careful about not getting injured than he was before, his human body feels double the pain of said injury as a result of the split.

And he wouldn't have a good excuse for the amount of scars he has by the time he becomes good enough at dodging to not get hit so much.

So if, lets say, his ghost side was caught by the GIW. Not only would his human side receive double the pain and scarring, he would also have to face the mental stress of the GIW's experiments and realizing that he can't even help himself.

Cause c'mon now. What's he supposed to do with his Human half? Yea sure, he might have super strength and advanced healing factor, but it's nothing compared to his ghost halfs.

And sure he might have received some martial arts training. But that wouldn't be enough to storm a government facility.

But what he can do. Is learn how to hack into the GIW server's(Thanks to Tucker) to give himself a little more breathing more and to form the layout of the facility.

And that's not adding in Danny's inventive skills. Now that he doesn't really have to worry about ghost attacks anymore, he can spend most of his time learning how to hack and invent gadgets to make sure this doesn't happen again.(Also he was pulled from school because, well y'know, the whole double pain thing)

Then when he's fully ready. He shuts down everything in the GIW's facility. The security system, the camera's, the power, the doors, just, everything.

And that. That gives him enough time and cover to make his way to his ghost half and get his restraints off. And then when they finally believe they were in the clear.

A portal opens near them.

And before he could stop, he fell face first into it.

And that. Is how Danny arrives in the Dc universe.

A world where Superhero's and Supervillains are real.

A world where the dead can raise and just, continue living.

A world where magic actually exists, and not just the occult ritual stuff. But full blown magic spells.

And now Danny doesn't have an actual way to get back home. So he's stuck here.

Now one way or another the Justice League(maybe not the whole Justice League but just one member) becomes aware of this two team superhero duo that appeared out of thin air and beating powerful foes.

P.S: Danny's double pain thing isn't anything physical, it's just mental. So if to say that his ghost half got stabbed or something, he wouldn't suddenly start bleeding, it would scar though. The first few times it happened he did drop to the floor screaming pain though :)

Ooooo ok ok ok. I positively adore this idea. Giving Fenton ‘phantom pains’ from his ghost selfs injuries? That’s such a fascinating idea to tap into. I feel like i should add onto the prompt but I really just wanna dig into the funky technicalities of this prompt.

My first thought reading this was “now just how painful would tiny injuries like a paper cut or stubbing your toe be if it’s doubled?” And then immediately after that “oh god so Phantom can feel NO pain whatsoever?!?!”

Pain is VERY important. It’s meant to let your body know “hey stop this is going to damage your body/I’ve been injured”. So Phantom having NONE of that could lead to some VERY angsty situations even before the GIW torturing Phantom. I’m guessing what Phantom feels is like when you’re under anesthetic where you can feel pressure but no pain (mostly cause it’s the only thing I can think of). So things like Phantom accidentally clipping his foot on the side of a building and breaking his foot and not noticing but Danny is ACUTELY aware of the injury and is in immense amounts of pain. Phantom could be shot and not notice until he spots that he’s bleeding while Danny is in his room and curled in a ball and whimpering. It would be really hard to know the severity of your injuries when you can’t feel that injuries at all. Phantom could have dozens of broken bones and internal bleeding and not realize how broken his body is.

So when they go to the DC universe, they probably have an option out there that could find a way to fix their injury bond. Giving Phantom his pain back and having Phantom not having to worry about Danny being hurt whenever he’s out fighting.

Now imagine having NEVER felt pain before and then suddenly being able to feel EVERYTHING. Phantom testing that it works by pricking his finger on something and he passes out from the pain. He would have a very hard time readjusting to pain now being synonymous with injury.

If anyone would want to add onto this please feel free. Radiance1 your ideas never cease to amaze me.

[danphantom]

oh hey i wanna talk abt smth thats been on my mind both lately and on and off for a while in general. sorry this ended up being a hella long post lol. but i have a lot to say

so...for context, ive been in the phandom for 10 years--since 2014--though it has admittedly been on and off in terms of engagement from me. in 2017 i got into dragon ball and all but dropped danny phantom completely with a few small drawings here and there. it was only like..within the past week that i actually got back into the phandom legitimately again, actively making art and posts about it and engaging with the source material and etc

anyway, i was obsessed with dp from 2014-late 2017 (until i got into dbz). i made lots and lots of fanart, played the gba games like all the damn time (i got to where i could speedrun tue lol), rewatched the show regularly...i was even one of those fans that bought obscure merch and learned useless trivia that ive since forgotten. in 2015 a lot of you may remember that i made @doppelgangercomic, a comic about an au i had where dan got a redemption arc (albeit a bumpy one) and future vlad was there and stuff happened (go read the comic LOL). it got a LOT of love and traction! it made me really happy to see all the positivity around my work like that :) i actually got a lot of positive responses towards my work in general. i had a really great time in the phandom back then

then i changed fandoms and kinda fell out of the phandom space. after being on a hiatus from the phandom until literally a week ago, i honestly have to say ive felt like i kind of...faded into obscurity in the phandom's eyes? basically i feel like old news. people dont generally know what doppelganger is now. they may have seen my art in passing here and there but they dont know who i am anymore. i think the only place people actively still find my old danny phantom art from when i was heavily active is...deviantart lol. i get notifications from favorites literally every day there. but uh anyway--im not saying this to garner pity or tell a sob story or anything! im just expressing some thoughts and feelings ive had for a long time lol.

the reason i bring this ^ up though, is because like...i know its not true? logically, i know that i DID make an impact in the fandom i loved/love so so much. i left my mark on both the fandom in an artistic sense, and also the people in the fandom, and sometimes i forget that because i get significantly less engagement on my posts than i used to. but i know that doesnt mean that people dont like my stuff anymore, or that ive been forgotten.

i actually got a message from someone today--a friend i made kinda recently who approached me bc they liked doppelganger actually. they told me that basically its surreal to them that theyre talking to me as a friend because they remember reading doppelganger when they were younger and looking up to me because of it. and it really reminded me of what i said previously--ive not been forgotten, and people still do appreciate and love what ive put out into the world (specifically about danny phantom in this case). ive made an impact on people's lives even when i dont realize it or see it physically. the message and sentiment made me feel really really good and nice and happy and honestly relieved, because the phandom and danny phantom as a media has been an extremely important and impactful part of my life ever since i got into it ten years ago. i literally changed my name to dan because of it lol. it was the reason i found stephen silver's work and went down that path of my art journey. its the reason i found so many amazing people and friends and artists and continue to do that even now. i owe a lot to danny phantom and the phandom as a whole, and i try to give back in the only ways i know how--mainly thru showing my passion through my art and posts.

anyway erm. yeah. all of this to say i wanted to thank yall--the phandom--for supporting me all this time, whether youve been with me from the beginning or if youre just joining me recently. youve been an absolute delight in my life and i know youll continue to be for a long time. :)

[wouldntyou-liketoknow]

Hi, do you take requests for x readers? Im really wanting some natemare x reader (they/she pronouns) fluffy cuddles maybe a cute date? Protective and mildly possessive Mare has my heart lol hes so precious and i love him, maybe its a date and Mare left to get drinks or something and a creep wouldnt leave y/n alone so Mare has to step in etc? Its okay if not that and its okay if you dont write x readers too ^-^ thanks :P

Call me Lyxie or Lyx ^-^

(for anon, ill be either Lyxie/Lyx or ^-^ anon if theyre free :P)

Weeeeell, this is a tiny bit awkward, considering the role I wrote Natemare into for Goretober 2022 (sue me, I took inspiration from FNAF lore.) But I'm still happy to write for him again! I really appreciate your patience. Hope it's okay!

(I am SO, SO, SO SORRY this took such an incredibly long time to post! The Goretober stuff and my last-minute Halloween Special Story had already been keeping me busy, AND THEN CHRISTMAS SEASON CAUGHT ME SO OFF-GUARD THAT MY HEAD IS STILL SPINNING FROM IRL CHAOS. I guess I should've expected that, because Christmas is always like that, but whatever.)

(Also, this is kind of my first time writing an x reader type story, or one specifically in a romantic sense, at least. So, sorry if this comes across a bit awkwardly 😅)

(Trigger Warnings: alcohol, eating/drinking, unwanted advances/creepy behavior, body horror, slight physical violence, strong language. Please let me know if I missed anything.)

___

You can be described as someone who’s skilled in rolling with the punches.

Now, rolling with the punches doesn’t always mean being able to understand things that really aren’t meant to be understood, but it seems you’ve got a certain knack. 

If you didn’t, then how else would you have found yourself in a nice relationship with a banshee-esque spirit?

Yeah, your and Mare’s first meeting had been a little awkward, considering you’d been sabotaging a cult that was trying to hold blood rituals in his adopted brother’s name, but you two still became fast friends afterwards. (‘Matter of fact, the adopted brother in question is a pretty chill guy, too. Shockingly chill for an eldritch abomination in disguise, at least.) 

Really, dating Mare has helped open up more of reality to you. Pretty much every aspect of the human world has a counterpart for no-so-human entities. (Yes, you sort of already knew about that, but thanks to Mare, you’ve been able to actually explore it for yourself.)

For example: the setting of your latest date. 

Holy Water Distilling Co. was one of many establishments owned and controlled in Phantom’s domain. 

By day, it was a tidy bar offering a pool table in one corner and a stage in the other. 

By night, it was. . .well, the same thing. The only parts of it to change were the clientele, as well as certain items on the menu. 

One particular evening, Mare just so happened to be up on the aforementioned stage, alongside a few of his musician-buddies. You, meanwhile, were seated at the counter, watching and listening as he performed.

(Not that you minded this arrangement. Mare’s affinity for music was what you initially bonded with him over, after all. You’d tagged along on his gigs before, and he’d never failed to make it a good time.)

Patiently waiting for him to wrap up his band’s last song so you two could enjoy the rest of the night together. . . 

“Y’know, it’s always easy to find some nice toys in this place,” an unfamiliar voice whispers from just a few seats away. “But I never thought I’d see a worthwhile human around here.” 

. . .and trying your absolute damnedest to ignore the stranger who just couldn’t seem to take a hint.

Similarly to Mare and Phantom, the stranger in question could almost pass for a human. Just not at the moment, since he’d obviously taken off whatever disguising veil he used (those were pretty popular among this crowd for many reasons). 

His eyes bulged from their sockets, lacking both pupils and irises. Just two orbs a little larger than the average tennis ball, coming in a shade of dark pink that looked more toxic than fluorescent, ever-so-slightly rolling around in his head as he stared at you. The grin he aimed in your direction would’ve been creepy even without his particular mouthful of oily-looking needle-teeth. 

You ground your jaw, feeling one of your hands curl into a fist on the bar counter. 

The bug-eyed stranger seemed to catch onto that body language. Though you didn’t look at him, your peripheral vision still allowed you to see how his smile fell. 

“What? I don’t get any gratitude for the compliment?” Mr. Bug-Eyes asked, his voice changing from smug to indignant in a heartbeat. 

“If you really think that being called a toy is a compliment,” you finally murmur in a clipped tone, “then you’re in for a rude awakening.”

“Oh, c’mon. I know what girls like,” Mr. Bug-Eyes retorted. “I’ll just never understand why you’re all so repressed.”

“I think you’re mistaking repression for self-respect,” you observed. 

You kept your focus on the stage, on Mare and his bandmates. You knew they were on their last song for the night’s performance. The music was winding down, but it was still awesome as ever. He’d asked for your help with lyrics and fine-tuning a good few times in the past, and that had been flattering enough.

But the fact that he was having such a good time singing the stuff that you helped him decide on. . .well, you weren’t sure when you’d stop riding that high, but you certainly weren’t complaining. 

“Fine, fine. I get it: you don’t want things to move so fast,” Mr. Bug-Eyes piped up again, nudging his bar stool a few inches closer to you. He didn’t seem to notice how you automatically nudged your own chair a few inches further away. “Can’t I just get your number, honey? It’s clear you need someone to talk to.”

“I’ve already got that covered,” you replied. “That’s how having friends works.” 

“That’s big talk for someone who’s here all alone,” Mr. Bug-Eyes sneered. 

You feel your knuckles turn white. “I’m not alone.”

“Well, if that’s the case, your company isn’t paying enough attention to you.”

“That’s none of your damn business,” you hiss, trying to keep your voice down. Yeah, you weren’t shy about potentially clocking this guy in the chin if he tried anything, but you still didn’t want to cause a scene. Not when Mare was wrapping up his gig, so close to finally coming offstage and continuing his date with you. “I already told you: I’m. Not. Interested. If you were half the guy you think you are, you would’ve left me alone after the first time.”

Mr. Bug-Eyes gave a melodramatic sigh, and a sickeningly sweet smell permeated the air around you. It almost instantly caused the first stage of a migraine to flare along the bridge of your nose. You shook your head, blinking as your eyes grew watery way faster than necessary.

A chill raced down your spine as you registered the weight of a hand on your head, ruffling your hair.

You jerked back, slapping it away. “Get away from me!”

The quick motion, combined with the smell, caused you to lose your balance. However, instead of collapsing onto the floor, you felt yourself being caught. Despite your now hazy vision, it took no time at all for you to recognize the colorful tattoos adorning your rescuer’s arms. 

Relief sliced through the awful type of adrenaline that was thrumming through your head. 

From there, things moved pretty fast. 

The environment around you was a blur as clouds of dark violet smoke poured from Mare’s eyes, from his mouth, through his skin itself.  

Mare guided one of your arms to rest along his shoulder, helping you to keep up with his pace. 

Cool nighttime air rushed past the two of you; you almost didn’t notice the deep whooshing sound of a heavy glass door being swung open. 

And before you knew it, you were suddenly sitting down again. The weight of Mare’s arm was still around your waist.

“Deep breaths. Take deep breaths,” Mare coached. There was a slight echo in his voice; his pitch seemed a bit all over the place. That always seemed to happen whenever he had too much energy, good or bad. 

You nodded, following those instructions. You raised a hand to knead at your temple. Then, after a moment of scrubbing at your eyes, you realized that you were now in a completely different part of the downtown area. If memory served, you were now a far distance away from Holy Water Distilling Co.

“Are you okay?” Mare asked, keeping a firm yet gentle hold on your hand. 

You finally looked over at him. His eyes were pitch-black, the purple tear tracks on his face now branching out like veins or tree roots. His skin had turned a deathly shade of gray; if you looked closely enough, you could almost see the shapes of his teeth and skull through the barrier. 

Despite his obvious anger, concern and fear were still present in his features. 

“I’m okay. I’m okay,” you eventually reassured him. Your head still felt a little funny, but now that you were away from the scent, your senses were much clearer. You didn’t hesitate to hug him, resting your head on his shoulder. He returned the gesture tenfold, sighing. 

The minutes dragged along, but you didn’t mind. 

“Whoever that idiot was, I think I’m gonna have to kill him,” Mare murmured after you pulled away. The edge in his voice had died down a bit, and his features were slowly but surely turning less ghoulish, but his eyes remained dark. 

“I won’t stop you,” you hummed, having long-since grown accustomed to his more monstrous side, “but could that wait a bit? Just until tomorrow?” 

Mare squinted at you, understandably incredulous. 

You shrugged. “I mean, you seemed really excited about the movie. The screening’s supposed to start in about. . .” You glanced down to check the clock on your phone, “. . .twenty minutes from now, I think.”

Mare’s eyes widened as a surprised snicker escaped his lips. “Priorities, priorities.”

You tilted your head as you rose from the sidewalk bench. “Consider it your reward for rescuing the damsel in distress.”

“Well, when you put it like that. . .” Mare was quick to follow, locking arms with you as you began strolling together.

[maximaxstreasurebox]

BSD Untold Origins: Anime VS Novel (2)

As I promised, here's the second part, covering the teahouse scene! There's more cut-out moments than changes soooo I tried to highlight the more important and some funny parts..

Season 4 and light novel spoilers!

(Part 1) - (Part 3)

[...] Only after making sure the assassin was unconscious could Fukuzawa finally let out a deep breath. "So that's the hit man?" Fukuzawa turned around toward the voice coming from the other room. "Call an ambulance. And the police," he ordered. "Wouldn't the police be enough? I mean, the secretary's already dead. More importantly, I'm out of a job now, so could you help me out?" Fukuzawa's head was spinning. What was wrong with this kid? What just happened? [...] "Hey don't just leaving me here. What happened to taking me out to eat?" [...] "You-" The young man with cropped hair beamed, radiating innocence and mirth. "The name's Ranpo Edogawa. Don't you forget it!" -Page 84-85

Fukuzawa felt as if he were watching a nightmare play out before his eyes. [...] There were a few other customers present, and they kept glancing in Fukuzawa and Ranpo's direction. Fukuzawa had to fight against the impulse to go around the shop explaining that this kid just followed him here for some reason. [...] -Page 85

Not sweet? It's red bean porridge. The stuff is more mochi than red bean. [...] It was hard to watch, but it wasn't as if Ranpo were committing any crimes. He didn't want things to get worse by saying anything, either. Just imagining Ranpo peeling off the bread of the sweet bun and eating only the red bean paste inside made him shudder. [...] -Page 86

About a page long part is explaining what happened after the secretary's dead. Ranpo tried to walk away but Fukuzawa stopped him, and the two explained the events to the police. The evidences were found in the secretary's overcoat, then another paragrapth of Fukuzawa thinking about Ranpo's deduction skills.

[...] "At the workplace, on the side of the street... I used to always stick my nose into stuff that bothered me, but people would just treat me like nuisance or think I'm weird. After a while, I got tired of it. Sigh. Good grief. The adult world makes my skin crawl." Ranpo shook his head and frowned in disgust. "Do you dislike the adult world?" "I hate it. It makes absolutely no sense." [...] Fukuzawa felt the urge to point out that there were also many wonderful things in the world, but he yet again kept it to himself. He didn't feel as if he had the right to tell such fairy tales. "Fukuzawa, you dare betray us?" "Was our outh to the welfare of the nation nothing more than a lie,Fukuzawa? Did your words have no meaning?" Fukuzawa gave up the sword that day, but he could feel its weight against his hip. [...] -Page 89

A detail I'm actually a little uhh disappointed?? about is not talking of his parents more in anime.

"This city really is a mystery to me." The city - why did he leave his hometown? "What about your parents back home?" "They're dead." A faint hue of sorrow flashed across Ranpo's face.

"Died in an accident. I don't have any siblings or relatives, either, so I came to Yokohama. My dad told me to go to the Yokohama Police Academy's principal for help if anything ever happened to him." [...] "What was your father's name?" When Ranpo told Fukuzawa, he was slightly taken aback. It was a name even Fukuzawa knew. [...] The man was a legendary detective. The "Headless Officer" case, the "Moonlight Phantom," the "Cow Head Incident" - [...]. His powers of deduction and observation were so extraordinary that people called him the Clairvoyant. [...] There were rumors that he retired and moved to the country-side, but...he passed away? "He probably wasn't amazing enough to be known to the public or anything, though. He could never beat my mom when it came to solving mysteries or reasoning, [...]." [...] Apparently, she wasn't a police officer, detective, or even a criminal psychologist, but just an ordinary housewife. [...] -Page 90-91

There it was again. Fukuzawa felt as if something was off. "I have absolutely no idea what adults are thinking," the kid said - and something about how that came across seemed vaguely wrong. A naive only child raised by genius parents... This kid was different from the others. There was something about how his brain worked that was... extraordinarily different. [...] Did this kid not realize he was special? [...] Ranpo knew the secretary was the criminal [...], but the reason he didn't speak up was because in his head, he thought the adults in the room all knew that as well. That must be why he kept rambling on about himself rather than the murder. Or perhaps it was because he had simply lived a sheltered life in a bubble with his parents and no one else. [...] -Page 91-92

"That's it?" he repeated. "Isn't there, like... you know? Something a little more tangible? Don't you get, like... a lump in your throat when you see a wayward fourteen-year-old boy who lost his parents, is jobless, and has nowhere to go?" [...] "I sure do," admitted Fukuzawa. "I still can't believe you ate nine bowls of nothing but soupy red beans." "Oh, this was nothing," Ranpo said boastfully, then almost immediately shook his head. "Wait! That's not what I'm talking about! I'm talking about mutual aid - the spirit of helping one another! You can't take connections like this for granted... Wait. Taken for 'granite'? 'Granted'? Uh..." "Granted," Fukuzawa replied. [...] -Page 93-94

I'm too soft. Even though I try so hard to avoid getting involved with others, I can't stop myself from doing things like this. I want to be alone, but I can't even kick a troubled boy to the curb. It's true that I do owe him, but... Ranpo quietly accepted the business card. [...] -Page 94

"Great! Now that that's settled, let's get a move on! First, I'll just get my stu- Wait. First, I'll wash my hands and - Wait, Wait, Wait. Before that, [...]" Ranpo was full of smiles. A thought crossed Fukuzawa's mind: Maybe I ought to just toss him into the ocean.

My absolute favourite part hahah!! The walk to the theatre wasn't without Ranpo being annoying when he's complaining. 'City sucks but countryside worse', 'I want candy', 'I hate walking', 'Are we there yet?', 'I want candy', 'I wanna feed the birds'-

Three times, Fukuzawa told Ranpo to quiet down as he whined for candy. Twice, Ranpo wore down Fukuzawa's patience until he caved. Three times, Fukuzawa convinced Ranpo to keep walking when he complained his legs were tired. Four times, Fukuzawa carried Ranpo on his back. [...] -Page 96

Nevertheless, while he was responding with nods and brief interjections, he had mentally already tossed Ranpo to the curb. He tied up Ranpo, left him on the street corner, and went home... in his head. He removed a manhole cover, tricked Ranpo to fall into it, and splash! After hearing Ranpo fall to his demise, he closed the manhole cover and left... in his head. Fukuzawa quietly came up with fifty ways to get rid of Ranpo and go home, [...]. -Page 97