#aside from his cannon lore

[captainsaveawoah]

Idk

Simon is 100% that sound bite from that song by Se’kret like ONLY that part of “Come here, bae, come sit next to me, come and take your drawers off. Damn, you on the edge of the bed, you 'bout to fall off.” (Because the rest of it is NAWT that man.)

Anyway, but imagine he bags this BADDIE. I’m talking the baddest bitch around. You’re soft or just all around loud. Idk whatever makes you, you and absolutely a BADDIE. and he’s so him he doesn’t even know what to do with you because he’s just him, ya know?

Like actual the baddie I bagged being autistic. Idk.

[proxycrit]

I love your au!!! I love how the hylian duo look like gremlins, I LOVE the expressions and sass constantly and the changes to the lore, the worldbuilding and also the emotions (OUCH). I love their relationship with purah and each other and the new champions. I love the depth you gave Yona and her relationship with Sidon and Mipha. I love how link feels comfortable talking to sidon in addition to sign, I don't know if he does that with anyone else but Zelda unless its absolutely necessary (eg: just launched out a cannon and is paragliding down, so hands are busy) (side note: i love how much of an adrenalin junky/gremlin he is!!)

I do got a few questions! Will the pair get the sheikah slate again (so say link has the slate and zelda the pad), and can both slates do the warping and item storage (food, ingredients, armor, weapons, etc) (if so: no WONDER link was so upset! His collection!)

Does link have access to the ultrahand abilities (ik you said not The ultrahand, but what about fuse or ascend or rewind etc?) Where is the mastersword??

Does Link still have the champions' abilities, or did he lose those when their spirits moved on at the end of botw?

I know these are a lot of questions but I can't stop thinking about it!! The last few updates sent me back rereading the whole au and now its just vibrating in my head and giving me no piece

This is long and rambly, just know I am very much enjoying this au! Its silly and fun and touching and cute. Thank you for working on it!!

Oo some notes (also ty for circling my au haha im glad other people fixate like i do)

(Prewarning— i did not finish totk despite putting triple hours in it, so a lot of this story is being written while playing, though i know the big broad strokes thanks to cultural osmosis and video essays. A lot of Familiar Familiar builds from my playthrough with BOTW over TOTK, so the sheikah influence is significantly stronger and I will always choose botw characterization over totk characterization as a result.)

That aside

1. Sheikah slate’s dead. Rest in pieces, link’s rare collectable korok poop. Purah’s extracting as much data as she can to put on the purah pad but you can see the dread in her eyes whenever she has to tell link resurrection is not possible.

2. No idea about the zonai arm powers yet— im thinking about ascend, but the longer i go through this story the less likely ill hand it to him just due to immersion breakage. He and zelda will be getting sheikah gadgets from purah though! Maybe ill have a scene of him wandering through the sky island shrines, but without zelda warning rauru he and sonia wouldnt have prepared anything for the hero of the future. (But i DO love ascension and fuse. Lowkey dislike the building mechanics from a concept art pov because the green glue makes me want to cry, but it’s FINE i GUESS)

2b. Master sword’s chilling in korok forest. Link put it back in this au because of Reasons (part of his and zelda’s characterization in this au is to discard their past roles and embrace the present, not as knight and princess but as hero and researcher. They both have to face the reality those roles aren’t dead, but it’s a work in progress. I may also never address it. This “one off hehe lemme draw some guys” idea quickly spiraled into a web comic series so apologies for the vagueness, because i too am watching them adventure with dread and awe and i don’t know where they’ll go with it. They literally write themselves.

3. Rip champions, their ghosts are Gone (but their influence remains. You go mipha, keep haunting the narrative girl, i love you)

I know that some of these story notes don’t quite match up to what totk states is stone cold canon, but that’s the joy of fan work! Anyways sorry for folks who i have NOT answered asks of— i have a lot of them and I’m much better at the drawing and writing part then the socialization aspect (please feel free to peak in to my zoo enclosure ever so often though. I need the enrichment)

[harmonyrae]

Power Couple

CHAPTER 14 - Right Here

I’d like to apologize for this chapter, it’s gonna hurt. Like angst doesn't even begin to describe this. Also, this is completely my own head cannon & is ABSOLUTELY NOT lore accurate (as far as we know).

Photo: From Pinterest, all credit to original poster NSFW: Mentions/Depictions of violence, PTSD, torture, death

Your armchair is not as comfortable as you remember. You sit with your knees curled up to your chest. Your hoodie pulled down over your knees, your arms hugging your legs. You rest your chin on your knee, trying to organize your thoughts. You try to imagine you are so small that no one will know you’re even there. 

The lights are dimmed, you can barely see Sylus sprawled out on the floor of the cage. You remember the night you first brought Sylus here. You were so confident, how did you end up here again? 

You replay that night in your head. His voice echoing in your ear. You stare blankly at his unconscious form, digging your fingernails into your palms willing yourself not to cry.

"I’d hate to disappoint you Miss Hunter."

But he did.

"But her mind… that’s what is most fascinating. It’s brilliant, calculated, and somewhat haunting."

And now it’s haunted by him. His voice. His touch. His empty promises.

"Seems like everything about you is special, kitten."

You were a means to an end. A tool to be used and tossed aside. Nothing special.

A soft groan brings you back to the present. You see Sylus roll away from you and onto his side. His back muscles tensing as he tries to ground himself. He reaches a hand up to the side of his neck. He lets out a soft grunt as his fingers trace the sensitive flesh where the needle deposited the heavy drug. He sits up and scans the room, his eyes straining against the darkness.

You hold your breath. You know he can crush the doors of the cage and simply walk out. But this is the only place you could think of bringing him. You could at least lock him in the lower levels of your tower long enough to evacuate everyone else if it came to that. You take a deep breath before using your phone to turn up the lights. Sylus’ eyes snap to yours in an instant. He was usually hard to read, his emotions hidden behind a wall. But when you look at him, you can see he is raw and broken. 

You pull your hoodie up to release your legs, you shiver as the cold air hits your bare skin. You stand and slowly make your way closer to the cage. The room is eerily quiet, the soft pitter patter of your bare feet on the linoleum echoing through the room. As you approach the cage, Sylus shifts to face you. He makes no attempt to stand up. He draws one leg up and props his arm on his knee. 

“There’s a shirt on the chair.” Your voice is void of emotion. You barely recognize it.

Sylus glances over to the chair to see the sweater you brought for him to put on. He returns his gaze to you. His eyes have glazed over, if it wasn’t for his ragged breathing you’d think he was perfectly calm. He tilts his head as he looks you over. From your head to your toes, it doesn’t feel sensual this time, he’s sizing you up. Trying to determine your motives.

“Why?” 

One word. That’s all he says. The base in his voice is amplified, the simple question rings in your ear. You straighten up, your eyes narrow and you cross your arms. You’re the motherfucking leader of Himitsu, time to act like it.

“That is the question of the hour, isn’t it Oni?”

At the mention of his code name, his eyes close. He drops his head. He sighs deeply before looking up to you once more.

“Did the kid tell you before you killed him or did you dig that up on your own?” His words cut through you like a razor.

“Have you heard of a hacker who goes by the name of Macintosh?” Sylus nods. “He’s on my payroll. Took him less than 24 hours to narrow it down once he had the burner.” 

His jaw clenches. He brings a hand to the back of his neck, his eyes finally dropping to the floor.

“Bit of advice. Tossing a burner off the pier is not the most effective disposal method.” Sylus chuckles. 

“And what would you suggest then, kitten?” 

That’s when you lose it. 

“Don’t fucking call me that. I’m not your goddamn kitten. But I am, apparently, your plaything, right? Distract me, fool me, fuck me. Was that your plan? So you could stroll into my territory and do as you please? Attack my clients? Destroy Himitsu?”

Sylus jumps to his feet and stalks over towards. He tries to grab you through the bars, but you’ve moved far enough back. He uses his evol to pull you forward. Before you reach the bars your gun is in your hand. Your body slams against the bars, you look up to see the barrel of your gun resting at the center of Sylus’ forehead. He doesn’t back away or try to pry the gun out of your hand. He rests his head against the barrel and holds your upper arms tightly against the bars. 

“Do you really think I fucked you as a distraction?” 

You can’t stop your bottom lip from quivering. The tears you’ve held back threaten to fall once more. You take a deep breath and try to force a smile.

“I wouldn’t be surprised at this point. You’ve lied about everything else.” 

“I’ve never lied about how I feel about you. I can’t.” 

“But you did lie.” Sylus finally reaches a hand up to your face, holding your chin steady. His thumb slowly brushes against your jaw.

“I’m sorry.” 

You break away from him. He doesn’t try to pull you back. You drop your gun on the table next to your armchair. Your fingers rake through your hair as you try to calm down. When you turn back to Sylus, he has an arm propped above his head leaning against the bars of the cage. His other hand extended through the bars to you.

“Please let me tell you why. Why Ridgeway and why I couldn’t tell you.”

You stare at him. His bare chest and strong arms make you ache for him. Your body craves him and it hurts to resist. Your heart hammers in your chest. Should you give him the chance? Your mind drifts to earlier that morning. Sitting in the tub, your body pressed against his, his voice in your ear, that heartbreaking tone as he tells you about your shared Aether fragments.

"You wished we could be free. And I made you a promise, that I would find a way for you to be free."

Your heart wanted nothing more than to reach out to him. To hold him close. You see his arm drop and retreat back into the cage, his head pressing against the bar. You take a cautious step forward. His eyes flutter up to meet yours. You wrap your arms around yourself.

“Why?” 

“Ridgeway has a brother. Goes by Sinclair. He’s a member of the board for a medical tech company. I needed information on Sinclair and I was hoping Ridgeway had records that could lead me to whatever hole he has crawled into.”

“Why are you hunting Sinclair? And how does burning down Ridgeway Liquors help you with that? And why couldn’t you have just talked to me about this?” 

“I needed to send a message to Sinclair. His family will suffer if he crosses a line. I couldn’t tell you… I couldn’t…” He struggles to form the words, he starts to tap his head on the bars. Slowly building the intensity until his forehead is red.

You close the distance and grab onto his hand that has reached up to hold onto a bar. He stops and looks down at you. His eyes are hazy, a tear finally falls.

“I couldn’t risk them finding you.”

You blink rapidly, trying to process what he could mean. 

“Sinclair was one of the doctors that worked on us. He’s looking for you.” 

Your eyes widen and you shake your head.

“I made a promise to you. I promised I’d find a way for you to be free. And I found a way. As long as I knew you were safe, I could deal with what they did to me. But when I heard he was leaving to look for you, I couldn’t let that happen. You’ve kept your identity hidden, it’s bought you time. But if he finds out, he’ll come for you. You being unaware kept you safe, at least that's what I convinced myself.” 

“What do they want with me?”

“You’re an energy source. The most pure and regenerative source ever discovered.”

“Is it the Aether core? What about you?”

“The Aether core amplifies your evol, changes it. Possibly adding to it if you’re unlucky. They used me for… honestly, I don’t know how long. But my energy isn’t enough it seems.”

“Is Sinclair working alone or…” 

“The group he runs, their slogan is A New Kind of Energy for a Brighter Tomorrow - safe to say he most likely has a small army hunting us.”

“I thought I knew every major corporation in the Zone.”

“It’s not in the Zone. It’s in Linkon. But they have their people everywhere.”

“What’s the name?”

“Ever.”

Your heart skips a beat. The name feels burned into your memory. But something Sylus said before is the only thing you can think of. You are afraid to ask, but it’s tearing you up inside.

“You said you could deal with what they did to you… What did they do?” 

Sylus drops his gaze to your hand, still wrapped around his hand on the bar. You see his eyes dim, as if he has retreated into his mind. You squeeze his hand, reassuring him.

“After I helped you escape, they punished me. More experiments, more surgeries. As I became more powerful they put more security measures in place. I can’t access all of my power. They called it a 'bio-metric inhibitor'. All I remember is I couldn’t get out of bed for weeks. Eventually they installed a patch over my eye so I couldn’t control anyone. My cell was the energy conduit they used to…”

He looked up at you now, the pain in his eyes so great you could hardly breathe. You hadn’t noticed you had started crying. He brings his arm down to reach through the bars and brush the tears away. You lean into his touch.

“I’ll stop.”

“No. Sylus. Please tell me.” He takes a deep breath before looking down to stare at his feet.

“The regenerative part… when they drain the energy… it… it kills you.” A sob escapes your throat. Sylus doesn’t look up.

“When they first tested their theory… they chose you. No matter how much I begged and fought, they took you away. And when you came back, you had no idea who I was. After that, I spent every day, every hour, every minute working on a plan for you to escape. A month later, I succeeded. You were free. I don’t know how long it was before they needed another energy transference but when they strapped me down I found myself hoping to forget. To forget losing you. But then I woke up. And I remembered everything. My first surgery when they cut into my eye, the first time I saw you, the first time we touched, the first time we kissed, the first time we made love, every time there was pain in your eyes, the fear in them when I put you on the shuttle…”

His grip on the bars was weakening, his body shaking as he spoke. You were frozen, listening to what he went through, for you. Your heart ached. But nothing could have prepared you for what he said next.

“And I remembered how it felt to die. Pain so intense I wanted to tear myself in half. Blinding heat then complete stillness then everything was cold. So fucking cold. And dark. It was completely dark, no light anywhere, I searched for days but it was just dark. I found myself wishing for pain and then I’d feel it, like a knife in my chest, my heart started again. I opened my eyes and I was back. I don’t remember how many times I died. I stopped counting. But every time I woke up I would look for you. Wishing that my previous life was a dream and you were still there with me. And every time I would see your empty room and… and I…” 

His voice finally broke. His grip on the bars faltered and he sank to the floor. He pulled his legs up to his chest, for the first time he looked small. You ran to the door of the cage and pressed your thumb to the lock. The door swung open and you rushed inside, crashing down next to Sylus, your arms wrapping around him. You pull his head to your chest and run your fingers through his silver hair. His body was shaking and he didn’t dare touch you. He wouldn’t even look at you. Desperate to bring him back to you, you start placing gentle kisses to his shoulders and up to his neck. You see his eyes close and you move to sit behind him, your legs on either side of his torso. Your arms pull him back towards you. You caress his chest and place kisses on his back.

You sit like that for what feels like hours until one of his hands reaches up to take yours. He strokes your palm slowly. 

“Y/N…?” 

“I’m here. I’m right here.” 

Tag List (comment if you wanna be added!): @trishiepo0 @not-so-quite-human @kitsunetori @babyx91 @libriomancer

[its-gjera]

Hey you, QSMP fan. We need to talk about something. One fan to another. You ready??

CAN WE STOP EXCLUDING Q!JAIDEN OUT OF STUFF???

Seriously! Some people on Twitter have pointed out how she's constantly excluded from theories, fanart, the Familoier and other fan related stuff.

Excluding her from the "Can you hear it?" event fanart, edits and theories, even though she was the one who started said event.

How she's constantly excluded from Roier's family, despite being the mother of his son and his platonic partner.

She constantly gets pushed aside solely because she can't nor wants to be shipped with anyone... or because she gets in the way of ships.

Before Cellbit came along and SpiderBear (Roier X Spreen) was the #1 Roier ship, some people have gone so far as to say that Jaiden isn't actually Bobby's mother, just so she could be replaced with Spreen as Bobby's second parent. And some fans still do this, but with Cellbit now.

Cellbit can also be Bobby's father, but that doesn't mean Jaiden stops being his mom.

It doesn't matter who q!Roier loves or is with romantically. q!Jaiden is, and will always be, Bobby's mother. PERIOD.

She's part of the family. Foolish and Cellbit have been very vocal about her being family, and Roier has, on multiple occasions, called her Bobby's mom.

Not to mention Cucurucho. People discuss how Foolish or Philza are his favorites when it's clearly Jaiden. Since day one, Jaiden has been Cucurucho's favorite. She was the first one to encounter him, the first one to receive a gift from, she's the only one whom he allows to pet him, and she's the only one he ever apologizes to.

Philza's and Cucurucho interactions are mostly based on 4th wall breaks, so they shouldn't really be considered cannon. While Foolish's relationship with him is very one sideded (Even Foolish himself has asked Cucurucho why does he prefer Jaiden over him)

Things are bad enough due to the fans' poor treatment of Baghera. It seems that women always get the short end of the stick when it comes to SMP fandoms.

So please. Let's include her a little more shall we? :)

(BTW if you're one of the few who does recognize how important she is to the lore and her friends and treat her as such, I love you) *Explodes*

[timeagainreviews]

The Robot Revolution Will Be Televised

If headlines were anything to go by, pre-screened reviews of the latest episode of Doctor Who, “The Robot Revolution,” were mixed. The ending was referred to as “controversial.” My gut reaction was worry that it would be yet another lore change. I felt like the Babadook mum screaming, “Why can’t you just be normal?” There were a couple of moments that I felt could be divisive. Cat fanciers might have balked at the untimely demise of Lucy from number 7’s cat. Then there was the moment when our lovable robot pal, Scoot, vacuums up Alan at his most zygotic. But Lucy from number 7’s cat was quite literally RTD doing the opposite of saving the cat to let you know these robots are bad business. And the sperm and egg line is so camp that it’s going to be one of those “my girlfriend is a paving slab instances.” But we know the real reason this episode might spark controversy.

Was that the first cannon mention of sperm in Doctor Who? I certainly can’t recall another instance of the word in the show’s nearly 62 years of existence. The new Davies era has added quite a few new words to Doctor Who’s lexicon. We now have cosplay, sperm, and even incel. That’s two new additions in a single episode! Bravo! Jokes aside, it’s the incels who may or may not be mad about this episode. I’ve learned to turn down the volume of those types of people years ago. I often refer to it as background static because that’s what it is. The truth is, the only issue I have with Belinda Chandra saying “It’s the planet of the incels,” is that it’s a bit on the nose. But this episode is so camp that I’m not even upset.

The Chibnall era had the unfortunate knock-on effect on people’s perception of a woman Doctor. Because the show wasn’t very good, some people (idiots) blamed it on Jodie Whittaker’s gender. Another knock-on effect was how it made so any legitimate criticism of the era also had to first combat claims of sexism. It was a messy time in the fandom. But when the show is good and people are still complaining, then what is the complaint? No episode of Doctor Who is perfect, but this might be one of those times where if you didn’t like the episode, it’s probably because you’re an incel. You’d have to make one hell of an argument because, baby, I had fun!

My impression of Russell T Davies has always been that he’s a man who appreciates when Doctor Who is a little camp. He even refers to the Robots as “camp” on Doctor Who Unleashed. Part of Doctor Who’s charm is that it exists in a hyper-reality where Doctor Who is possible. This week, he leaned heavily on the retro-futurism of ‘50s B-movies, citing 1955’s “This Island Earth” as one of his main inspirations. Fans of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 will be well-acquainted with This Island Earth, as it’s the film they riff in the MST3K movie. It’s a gloriously corny bit of science fiction from Universal in their post-horror era. The AI Generator’s throne room could easily have existed on Metaluna.

However, the usage of retro-futurism here is also part of a growing trend in sci-fi to embrace vintage tech. In the Alien franchise, we’ve seen the return of the chonky mechanical keyboards of the Nostromo. The computers in Star Wars still look like absolute dogshit. And. I. Am. Here. For. It. It’s nice to see the Doctor using computer panels that resemble something the Second Doctor would have utterly destroyed. I’m reminded of “World Enough and Time/The Doctor Falls,” when they took the look of the Cybermen from “The Tenth Planet,” and updated their texture and materials enough to make them seem realistic. Things don’t always need to look how you expect them to, they can look how they need to look. The Doctor doesn’t need to pull up a Tony Stark-type HUD of holographic buttons for me to believe he’s on an alien planet.

Grounding this fantastic wonderworld in a bit of much-needed reality is Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra. Belinda is a nurse who works hard for the NHS. She lives off of the least spoiled items in a community fridge. She’s a no-nonsense type who treats her work with the utmost sincerity. For the most part, nobody needs to tell us that Belinda takes her job seriously because it’s evident through her actions. Belinda doesn’t just sleep soundly; she sleeps on her stomach over her covers, presumably where she collapsed in exhaustion the instant she got home. This is precisely the sort of character work I’ve been missing from RTD since he returned. His work crafting the Tyler household was so strong that you felt as though you knew Jackie and Rose. I hope he keeps developing Belinda in this fashion.

We first meet Belinda as a teenager, talking to her dickweed of a boyfriend, Alan Budd. It’s clear from the outset that Alan doesn’t respect or even particularly like Belinda. He wants to possess and control her. He names a star after her but needs to associate it with her marital status by adding “Miss” at the beginning of her name. He critiques how she tears open her gift. He also steals the world’s most awkward and unearned kiss from her. In part, Alan is a knob and she knows it.

I found it a bit odd that Belinda would keep the star certificate all of these years later. But despite the irksome “Miss,” or Alan’s name on the diploma, it is still a bit cool to have a star named after you. Alan, as it would turn out, was the least significant part of that equation. In the words of Bilbo Baggins, “Why not keep it?” The episode wastes no time bringing the Robots into Belinda’s life. They drop in, break down some walls, terrify some nurses, and vaporise Lucy from number 7’s cat. RIP kitty. But things don’t happen so fast as to deny us a brief moment with the enigmatic and fourth-wall-breaking Mrs Flood. She’s up to her usual spooky shit. Very little new to report there. The question one must ask, however, is whether Belinda lives near where Ruby lived, or does Mrs Flood get about?

The Doctor tries to save Belinda, but as he’s chasing her, both she and the Doctor experience a “schwup,” in the space-time continuum, causing them to arrive at their destination at different points in time. Their destination? Missbelindachandra One is a planet whose name I would have read as gibberish the first few times in a book but is simply Belinda’s name as it appears on the star certificate, sans spacing, plus one. The Robots are the merciless hatchetmen of an imbicilic AI Generator. This is one of those rare moments where Doctor Who referencing current events doesn’t feel painfully dated, as the AI debate still rages on. You’ll be happy to know that anything you ever read on my blog is always 100% me. Fuck AI.

The Doctor has ingratiated himself into society on Missbelindachandra One. He holds the prestigious title of historian, which, when you consider megalomanics and their attitude toward accurate history must have been torture to the Doctor. Can you imagine trying to spin the AI Generator’s status as a bronze Torbjorn main as something cool? The Doctor truly is selfless. I’d have been stealing shit from the office every day. Call it quiet quitting, I call it fighting the power. My wibbly wobbly timey wimey lunch breaks would redefine the meaning of thirty minutes. Though, I do find the timing all to be a bit off. The Doctor says it took him a long time to rise to the role of Historian, but he’d been there for 6 months before Sasha 55 discovered him. Though, as we’ve learned from the Eleventh Doctor, any time sitting still is interminable. In an episode so fucky, it’s ironic that that’s the only timeline that confuses me.

Spoilers for the 1994 Jean-Claude Van Damme action sci-fi movie “Timecop,” but this episode reminded me of Timecop. Particularly, the moment when the evil Senator MacComb touches himself from another timeline, and the two melt into a puddle. It left an impression on 11-year-old me as it was one more way, like quicksand, which could totally kill me. Previously on Doctor Who, two of the same object or person co-existing has a plethora of effects, especially when those two items or people touch. Rose Tyler holds baby Rose Tyler, and the walls of reality weaken. Amy Pond touches her younger self, and nothing happens. Two of the same sonic screwdriver throw sparks. These diplomas throw us into a trippy Troughtonesque psychedelia where people age in and out of form like a Chris Cunningham video. It's a stunning bit of film making, and that shit reminded me of Timecop. 

Much of this episode reminded me of other stories. We have echoes of “The Girl in the Fireplace,” with a society of automatons (and people) taking a name too literally. My sister and I are watching through modern Who at the moment, and we found weird parallels within “Dinosaurs on a Spaceship.” The villainous Solomon even spurred my sister into saying “Incels make the best villains.” Too true, Rachelle. Too true. But the story which I thought of the most was the Seventh Doctor adventure, “Paradise Towers.” You have a dystopian future where society is thrown into chaos by an overzealous artificial intelligence. My friend Gerry and I both commented that the moment Manny showed up, we both thought of Pex. The big evil robot faces even compliment each other. I also thought of Futurama’s Femputer, which is really secretly a Fembot, which is itself a reference to The Wizard of Oz.

A man behind a curtain is exactly the issue. Alan Budd is our AI Generator. After Belinda inadvertently got Alan kidnapped ten years in the past (thanks to the schwup), he became a sadistic ruler over Missbelindachandrakind. However, due to a fault in programming, he runs on an 8-part cycle, rendering him and his robot thugs unable to hear every ninth word. Because of this, a rebellion was able to form against the AI Generator. But he too is fighting his own rebellion against himself, the Alan part of him that exists within every ninth moment yearns for death. He’s a pathetic figure, really. He’s an idiot’s idea of power. A very apt archetype for today’s leadership. I like to think it was a conscious decision on the effects department’s behalf to make one of his arms way bigger than the other. Alan is clearly working out at Onan’s Gym. It really is the cherry on top of an already stunning design.

Davies’ season openers are usually airier romps. Something to dip our toes back into the world of Doctor Who. Aspects reminded me of “Smith and Jones,” when the Judoon force the Doctor and his new companion into meeting through kidnapping. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” while initially praised as a return in tone to the Star Wars franchise, has since been reappraised (perhaps unfairly) as a rehash of the original film. Similar criticisms have been lobbied toward RTD, which accuse him of recycling older concepts from Doctor Who. It comes with the territory when a writer returns to a franchise. You’re bound to see some of the same themes. But Doctor Who does this a lot. “The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood” is basically a rehash of “The Silurians,” with a dash of “Frontios” thrown in for good measure. “Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel” is a reimagining of the origins of the Cybermen, swapping the mirrored “Tenth Planet” of Mondas for an alternate reality Earth. We’re in season two of this new version of the show, expect to see more “remixing” of the classics. You’re old now.

One thing which I hoped Davies would do is chill out a bit. Stop trying so hard and just let loose a little. This feels like that. When Rose Noble gave her speech about being non-binary in “The Star Beast,” I complained that it felt a bit clunky. It had that awkward David Lynch is your uncle telling transphobes to fix their hearts or die energy to it. It comes out a bit weird, but his heart is in the right place. But with this story, it felt more natural. Sure, lines like “You’ve taken coercive control and made it complete control of the whole planet,” are a bit on the nose, but as I said earlier, the camp tone affords those moments. This all feels very deliberate and considered.

Much of the script feels thoughtful, which in turn proves to be thought-provoking. One aspect to science fiction I’ve always wondered about was whether “humans” in things like Star Wars are like us. Belinda asks a question that you seldom hear come up in sci-fi, and that is whether or not Missbelindachandrakind share a similar physiology to humans. I love that not only does Davies ask the question, but he even takes the time to discuss the differences for no reason other than flavour. It’s nice to see Davies having fun with the ideas he’s bringing up. This tells me he’s engaging with his own concepts and developing them in a way that says, “Thank god we have more writers this year.” He’s not just in love with his ideas, he’s exploring them.

Some fans will have been disappointed that the skeletal ray gun effect from the trailers wasn’t the result of Daleks. I even saw fan theories that Alan’s golden form was the new look for Omega. This is exactly why I stay away from fan speculation as it’s never accurate. However, one clarification from the trailer for which I was grateful was the origin of the Doctor’s cream coloured costume. While the annoying side of the internet was busy melting down over the Doctor’s blue kilt, I was quietly hating on the cream coloured costume that he wears throughout this episode. Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor Who costumes have been rather varied, but generally keep to a few themes. We see a recurrence of tartan patterns, overcoats, and tight fitting shirts. His costume here is the only one from the trailer which felt wrong for the Doctor. So I am very pleased that there was a story reason he was dressed so drab.

Ncuti and Varada have believable chemistry. I like that it’s not so cut and dry. The Doctor is trying to be flashy and cryptic, whereas Belinda is reserved and direct. She doesn’t appreciate the Doctor’s showing off, which is a quality I have always admired in companions. If you read my article about older companions, you’ll know I appreciate their less-than-starry-eyed approach to the Doctor. Donna Noble, Evelyn Smythe, Ian and Barbara, Tegan; none had time for the Doctor’s shit. Belinda is in good company, and I like that she holds the Doctor to a higher standard. Belinda has a good head on her shoulders. She won’t put her skills as a nurse to waste. And she certainly won’t let someone die in her name. She’s also brave in a way I admire. She’s ready to sacrifice herself to save lives.

One aspect of the Doctor and Belinda’s relationship that I’m less into is something RTD seems to be doing more of recently. Instances where two characters experience a lifetime over a short period to insta-bond them is a weak story device. Whatever method they employ to fast-forward character bonding steals real moments of discovery between the actors and the audience. There’s showing, and there’s telling, and this was telling. It doesn’t feel earned, it feels hollow. It’s the weakest element of this episode and I wish they would stop doing this type of shit. What’s the hurry? Why does the Doctor need to state how much he cares about and knows Belinda now? What purpose does that serve other than to reveal too much of the Doctor’s interiority? Shouldn’t we, as an audience, trust the Doctor’s judgment in people by this point? It feels cheap because it is cheap.

Despite the episode’s daft energy, real stakes are established beyond a cartoonish cat skeleton disbursing into the ether. The Doctor’s friend Sasha 55 is unceremoniously cut down by Robots moments after discussing her future travels with the Doctor. The way she was talking to the Doctor like “Take me to the stars,” she may as well have painted a target on her back. It’s the Doctor Who equivalent of a policeman one day from retirement. For their sake, we pretend to be shocked when they die. But we knew. We knew. That isn’t to say that losing Sasha 55 wasn’t an effective moment- quite the opposite. Evelyn Miller gives an effective performance in the short time she’s onscreen. I know people give Ncuti grief for crying too easily, but here it’s totally appropriate. We’re reminded of other would-be companions who didn’t live to see the day. Lynda with a Y. Rita from “The God Complex.” Astrid Peth. And now Sasha 55. RIP Sasha 55. I liked you better than “Orphan 55.”

Watching Belinda walk toward her fate of marrying the AI Generator and becoming incased in gold gave me flashes of Han Solo on his way to the carbonite freezing chamber. The orange lighting pushing through the foggy clouds cast a brilliant glow on Varada’s face, convincing me that she was always meant to be a part of the Star Wars universe. This was her “Empire Strikes Back” moment for sure. The strength in the moment comes from Belinda’s choice not to hide. The Doctor and Manny were working out a plan that sounded foolhardy at best. Anyone within earshot would know it was a doomed mission. Belinda alerts the Robots to her location. She goes willingly. There’s a selflessness to her actions that screams Doctor Who companion far more than the Doctor witnessing her life could ever achieve. Her brand of self-sacrifice is heartbreaking to see, and I wonder if it's completely healthy. I hope they explore that.

The same sombre tone follows us into the ending of the story. When the Doctor fails to bring Belinda back to her own time, we’re shown images of a wrecked earth floating in space. Something or someone has removed or destroyed the earth, and it’s legitimately creepy. It’s giving “The Stolen Earth,” and I’m here for it, again. Though the “Planet of the Apes” style half Statue of Liberty must have been a massive blow to the Weeping Angels. That was like one of their tallest soldiers. I joke, but I also don’t joke. I had to sit through “The Angels Take Manhattan,” and now you’re telling me it meant nothing? It makes you ask the wrong questions in the moment. Questions like “Isn’t that thing alive?” “Is it dead now?” And “Why is it always the top of the statue? Why not the feet?”

I mentioned previously that I might try and write these reviews along with a corresponding Saturday morning cartoon. However, I believe it was my adherence to this bit that delayed this article. After I had watched “The Robot Revolution,” I felt a surge of positive energy about Doctor Who and I really just wanted to sit in silence for a bit. I usually take that as a good sign after watching something. When I sit there quietly absorbing everything I’ve just seen. But when I hit play on that episode of Spider-Woman, the moment ended. So I don’t want to do that anymore. It seemed a fun idea at the time, but I would rather just abide in the time and space allotted to me by Doctor Who. A time which might not always be there. A space so fantastic that Doctor Who can exist within it. Here’s to season three.

[darylsbicep]

Welcome to Edenview, Part 02

Daryl Dixon x Fem!reader

Summary: You are the leader of a community called Edenview, a secluded, well-fortified settlement housed in an old apartment building. It was supposed to be an ordinary night of decompression on the rooftop when two men on the brink of death suddenly appear on the street five stories below. You need to help them. You have to help them. Word count: 2002 Warnings: Adult language. Mentions of drinking. Mentions of blood. Collin being an aggressive asshole.

Disclaimer: I do not use ‘y/n’ or any physical descriptors (aside from clothes) in order to keep the story as immersive as possible. This is my own take on the TWD universe, some things will not be cannon lore.

Author’s Notes: I guess I should have mentioned with part 1 that this is going to be a sloooooow burn. I yearn for the yearning. There’s never enough yearning these days. 

✦        Previous  | Part 02  |   Next (coming soon) 

You led Daryl through the courtyard, boots crunching softly on the gravel path as the moon slowly made its way across the sky, casting a cool glow over your community. You glanced at it quickly, trying to gauge how much time has passed since your calm night turned hectic. You walked a few steps ahead of him, keeping your pace casual, giving him space to feel a sense of safety.

You glanced over your shoulder. He wasn’t just trailing behind, he was scanning everything. Eyes sharp, absorbing the crops tucked into raised beds, the small penned-in area with a couple of goats and some clucking hens, the benches around the fire pit marking the center of the courtyard, and the shaded corner where picnic tables sat mostly empty now. His expression didn’t change much, but you saw how his gaze lingered on the fire pit, where a few lingering residents sat murmuring among themselves, casting wary glances in his direction.

He hadn’t taken off the crossbow. Or Rick’s rifle. The hand guns and knives still attached to him as well. You didn’t blame them for being uneasy.

One of the women whispered something to her friend, and they both looked at Daryl like he might explode. But when they saw you walking beside him, calm and collected, their expressions eased a little.

The two of you reached the building that housed the infirmary. It used to be the rec room, back when people believed in hobbies and fun. Now, it was all clean white sheets and salvaged medical supplies. You pushed the door open and led him inside.

Rick lay unconscious on one of the beds, an IV trailing from his arm to a half-full bag of deep red. The doctor was still working on cleaning and patching up his wound. The scent of antiseptic hung heavy in the room.

Daryl stopped in his tracks. His whole body went rigid.

“The hell is that?” he barked, stepping closer to Rick’s bed. “What kind of blood is that? You don’t even know his type. What the fuck are you giving him?”

The doctor flinched, fumbling with a gauze pad. “It’s compatible, I—”

“Compatible? How the hell would you know that?” Daryl’s voice rose, hoarse and furious. “You got a damn blood bank hiding in here somewhere?”

You moved fast, stepping between Daryl and the doctor, raising your palm like a shield.

“Hey,” you said firmly. “It’s my blood. I’m O negative. Universal donor. He’s fine.”

Daryl’s eyes locked on yours, wild with adrenaline, but the moment you said it something shifted. He blinked, jaw tightening, and then nodded once, sharp and silent.

The doctor exhaled, visibly relieved.

“We’re okay for now,” the doctor said, “but that was our last stored unit. He’ll need more soon if we want to avoid complications. Could you donate again?”

You hesitated, remembering the moment before all hell broke loose. “I had half a beer maybe an hour ago.”

The doctor winced. “It’s not ideal.”

“It’s all we’ve got,” you said.

Before you could move, Daryl’s voice cut through the room again.

“I’ll do it.” He’d stepped back from Rick’s side, already tugging up his sleeve. “I’m O negative too.”

You blinked with surprise. “You sure?”

He gave a small grunt and leaned both weapons against the wall in the corner, then sat down in the second chair, offering his arm to the doctor without another word. You didn’t miss the way he watched every movement. Even calm, his eyes never stopped scanning.

You nodded once, almost to yourself, then turned and slipped out of the room.

You crossed the courtyard quickly, already making a mental checklist while heading for the nearest supply room. You flipped the light switch and stepped inside, the faint hum of a generator somewhere outside buzzing in the walls. The overhead lights flickered once, then steadied, casting long shadows over the narrow aisles of shelves stocked with canned goods, medical kits, and toiletries, all in neatly labeled bins.

You grabbed a box and started filling it with things Daryl and Rick would need. Basic toiletries, granola bars, a few canned goods, some bottled water. You added a change of clothes for each of them, picking through bins of recently salvaged apparel you found on a supply run.

You didn’t hear Collin come in until he spoke.

“What, are you making them gift baskets now?” His voice was low. Sarcastic. Too casual to be anything but deliberate.

You straightened, spine prickling. He was leaning against the shelf like he’d been waiting, voice low but cold, eyes unreadable.

“Don’t start,” you warned, grabbing a can of beans and dropping it in the box harder than necessary.

“Just surprised you’re bending over backwards for two strangers with weapons. Must’ve made quite an impression.”

You turned to glare at him. “One of them’s bleeding out. The other’s giving blood to save him.”

“And that’s all it takes now?” His voice sharpened. “They show up, act a little helpless, and you wheel out the welcome wagon?”

“I’m giving them a clean room and a fucking granola bar.”

“You’re giving him a clean room,” he snapped, stepping closer. “Him. Not them. I know how you get when some broken pretty boy looks at you like you’re salvation.”

That stopped you cold. “What the fuck did you just say?” you snapped, not sure what he was trying to imply, but knowing it was a step too far.

“You heard me.” His jaw clenched. “You’re not being smart about this. You’re being reckless. And when it blows up, you’ll come crawling back to me to clean up the mess, same as always.”

Your heart thudded hard. “You’re way out of line.”

“No,” he said, voice low, almost intimate in its venom. “I’m the only one telling you the truth. You don’t know these people. You don’t know him. But you know me.”

“Yeah,” you said, voice quiet but ice cold. “I do.” You knew him far too well. You knew everything that he was capable of. You’ve seen it.

The silence between you stretched like a drawn bow. Collin stared at you, face twitching with something between anger and disbelief.

Finally, he scoffed. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He turned, walking towards the door. “And don’t come crying to me when your new friends start making people nervous.”

The audacity of his tone and the words he chose made you huff out a laugh. “You make people nervous!”

He paused, knuckles going white as his grip tightened around the door handle. You tried to mentally prepare for yet another argument but he swung the door open as if it were weightless and stormed out.

Your hands trembled slightly as you watched the door shut slowly after his leave. It wasn't fear. It was fury. The last thing he said to you replayed in your head. “Don’t come crying to me when your new friends start making people nervous.” That was rich coming from him.

You had a long history with Collin, friends even before everything went to shit. You kept each other alive for the year you were on the road together before finding Edenview. You trusted him more than you’d ever allowed yourself to trust anyone. But then something within his mind twisted after you stepped up as the leader of the community. Maybe it was the way everything went down. Maybe it was the lead up of events to your leadership that made him this way. It was unclear to you when he changed, he was just different one day. More aggressive, more possessive.

The trust you once had for him was slowly slipping, but putting him out felt more dangerous than keeping him inside the walls where you could keep a watchful eye on him. He might scare people a bit, might make them a little nervous, but he still helped you keep them all safe.

The “broken pretty boy” comment he spat out about Daryl didn’t fall on deaf ears either. You knew Collin had feelings for you. You also knew the lack of reciprocation on your end made him sensitive and insecure. But now he also felt threatened. 

Daryl threatened him. The last thing you needed was Collin trying to play a game of whose dick is bigger with a man that was just trying to make sure his friend makes it through another night.

It took a few moments for the adrenaline of the conversation to settle. Then you reached up to the key locker on the wall and pulled down the one marked 5B, fingers lingering on it before you slipped it into your pocket. The unused unit right next to yours.

The apartment on the fifth floor was clean and ready. A two-bedroom, minimal but comfortable. You stepped inside, placed the box of supplies on the kitchen counter, and set the extra clothes aside for Rick. You paused for a second before heading back out, grabbing one of the plastic bottles of water and giving the space a once-over. It felt safe. Neutral. You hoped Daryl would take the offer for what it was. A kind gesture, not a trap.

Back in the infirmary, Daryl sat quietly as the blood bag filled beside him. He looked up when you entered, eyes following you as you set Rick’s clothes down and approached him again.

You held both your hands out. The apartment key ring hooked on the finger of one hand, attached to a simple plastic tag with “5B” written in black marker. In your other hand, a bottle of water.

He took the water first, but hesitated before grabbing the key with a furrowed brow. “What’s this?”

“You’re more than welcome to stay in here with him all night,” you said. “But we’ve got running water. I left toiletries, clothes, food. It’s yours, if you want it.”

Daryl looked at you. Really looked this time. There was a beat of silence, something shifting behind his eyes. The suspicion hadn’t vanished, but it was softened now, replaced by something quieter. Not gratitude exactly, but maybe understanding.

His voice, when it finally came, wasn’t sharp. “Thanks.”

It didn’t sound strained like it had earlier. It actually sounded like he meant it.

You gave him a small nod, about to turn to leave when your eyes caught on the weapons in the corner of the room and you stopped in your tracks.

“I’m not gonna take your stuff,” you said, turning back to face him. “But I’ve already broken two of my own rules tonight, and if you’re gonna stay, I need you to meet me halfway.”

Daryl watched you carefully without interrupting.

“You can keep them,” you continued, “but only in the apartment. People here don’t carry firearms inside the walls unless they’re cleared by the council, and they sure as hell don’t carry crossbows in the courtyard. That group by the fire earlier? They were scared. They’ve been through enough.”

Another moment of silence. Then Daryl nodded slowly. “Fair.”

You cocked an eyebrow. His lack of pushback was unexpected but welcomed. You gave him a small appreciative nod in response before looking back at the doctor.

“You think he’s gonna wake up tonight?”

“Doubt it,” the doctor replied, checking Rick’s vitals. “He’s out for the count. Between the blood loss and the pain meds, we won’t hear from him for at least twelve hours.”

Daryl nodded again, eyes drifting back to Rick, then toward the key in his hand.

You turned to leave, body already heavy with fatigue. But you paused before crossing the threshold.

“My unit’s right next door,” you said quietly. “If you need anything.”

He looked up at you again, then gave a small, tightlipped, crooked smile. It was the kind that didn’t show teeth, didn’t scream friendliness. But it was real.

“Appreciate it.”

With that, you left the infirmary and made your way back to your apartment. Begging the universe for a single moment of tranquility for the night.

✦        End.

[lazykim12]

Redemption Au! Eli Shane! (and I’m officially back 😭🙏)

. . .

Okay…so i usually disappear after a while after posting sometimes depending, but i kinda lost motivation with anything and been focused on other things in life and i guess i kinda lost interest in posting for a while…But im back! And determined to finish this Au storyline! If I can call it that- but! I’m planning on finishing Eli and some other info about the Au before I officially make a fanfic about it! Maybe…I’m not sure! But I will dive deeper into that as I’m thinking of maybe doing a comic instead! I thought I had made up my mind but apparently not😭 but after this I’m going to actually post fan art and other things!

Oh and I will think about doing FNAF or other fan arts for others so only time will tell I guess-

Anyways here’s Eli!

Eli is slightly different to his counterpart but there isn’t much! (Other than being a bit more stronger and better trained-)

He still is a bubbly, dorky Guy who loves puns..though sometimes twist takes that title and is more dorky than him- but Eli is still the same, but he’s doing a lot better in this Au! He’s a bit more of a thinker during his plans and because of Au Blakk’s training, he is even harder to defeat (depending on the enemy) he is very good in combat training due to Blakk and with a bit of the incredible’s master training, he’s well more experienced compared to his Cannon Counter part!

Still clumsy though sometimes, like his dad😭

LORE

Eli grew up in what he considered a happy life!

Well sort of..he had faded memories of slightly meeting blakk but they blurred since he was nearly about to become a toddler during that time. His relationship with his mom was…complicated, at times she was sweet and caring but as he grew up, he could feel her neglect towards him, and could often see her on the couch passed out from her drinking…So at age 5, he remembered his father divorcing his mom. He doesn’t remember much from that day, but he could remember his mother just not caring and leaving through the door..

He sometimes misses her..

And sometimes he doesn’t.

Growing up, he was raised pretty constantly by his father, even if there were some days he didn’t see Will, will always made sure to make up for that time, never wanting to be away for too long in his child’s life..he’d even put off weeks of being a Shane to spend time with Eli, so for most of Eli’s childhood, will Shane was never really absent or gone for too long!

And even if he was Eli always was patient.

Eli doesn’t remember much about his other family, the only other family he’s ever been around or interacted with is his uncle and aunts from his mom side, and his grandma, but never from his father’s side..expect uncle jimmo once or twice.

. . .

Already Will began to break 2 rules of the Shane code, and was beginning, in his family’s mind..Bringing shame into the family, which is also why Will cut communication with them a long time ago.

To Will’s family and the Shane code book, He broke one of the very first rules ever made, ‘never disrespect your legacy.’

A rule placed for the Shane’s of upcoming years to never not do your work, whatever you had to do was important and no distractions were allowed.

So will shane cutting off his days to spend time with his family, friends, putting the Shane work aside, broke the rule and made his uncle, mother and father and other relatives despise him more.

The second rule he broke was put at the last, and was always reminded of each Shane who would soon step up and take the Bandoleer and blaster for themselves.

‘Be loyal to your training’

By putting this rule, the Shane family for ages have always trained their children, whoever would take the place of the Shane role, would have to train hard, or everyday, and their children too.

It was a custom once the child turned 6, they would begin Shane children, it was a must, so they would be more conscious and remember things better.

. . .

Will easily broke this rule, and he didn’t feel bad, yet a bit guilty about it, but if given the choice again, he would gladly

Do it again.

Once Eli turned 6, he never trained him, he made sure he had a playful childhood, and this caused anger through the Shane family, as arguments went back and forth sometimes between some relatives.

Will Shane made SURE Eli focused on school, friends, playing, everything expect the Shane stuff, he didn’t want to make Eli feel like he needed to be successful or be proven worthy, he was only a child, he shouldn't have had to carry that burden..especially the one will carried so long ago when he was a child himself.

. . .

Eli had a fun childhood in his opinion, and the time he was told more about Slugterra finally was when he was 10 years old, since his time was nearing, but Will wanted to take a slow approach, he didn’t want to pressure Eli or make him think that ‘oh! I have to be a Shane!..I have to work had to prove myself to my dad and focus on only this..”

Will made sure to give Eli other ideas, so he didn’t think he had to be a Shane.

. . .

Eli felt comfortable enough with deciding to become a Shane, not due to over pressure, wanting to prove to his father, but because he wanted to help people.

He made the choice himself rather than being forced or the role being pushed upon him..

. . .

HOW HE IS LIKE-

Eli is bubbly and all about just like his cannon self, Loves puns, but he is more serious in a way due to blakk, not in a bad or cold way, just so he takes things with more consideration, is more quick and clever, and is a fair and well fighter.

He thinks and usually half his plans work really well due to blakk’s thinking passing onto him sometimes during training.

(He’s still his dad son though..😅)

Will slip up and be a bit clumsy at times, but he’s a pretty advanced slugslinger and fighter. Is more advanced in a way compared to his counter part. Still a dorky guy, Trixie makes sure he doesn’t do anything stupid still, while kord and Eli prank each other and go into full warzone …

He has a good heart, and it’s more motivated to grow with blakk’s training, and with his childhood, especially with the way Will raised him. Will always made sure to teach him a lot about compassion, how to give instead of take and to Procter everything in Slugterra, the slugs, the people, everyone, safe others from bad ones, still show remorse and kindness.

He cares deeply about blakk (sees him as an uncle/father figure sometimes)

He’s genuinely more brightful! Though after his dad is saved he feels a lot better, though some final battle happens kinda scars him a little but he is doing fine!

(He also got the mouth scar from some training from blakk, proud of his scar like twist, just a bit disappointed he didn’t get it from an actual slug slinging duel.💀)

Ahsuhsiahejwj SOO THATS ELI’S LORE FOR NOW- Sorry for the long disappearances, I’ll try better this month and April hopefully 🙏 alright see yall next time, peace!

[etherealising]

One more request/ask this time for aiekoy 🍑/🐻/🧡 could you write something on if baby and carm would get together if Mikey were still alive? Or just if they would cross paths and still never say anything? If you’re up to it if not no biggie- again congrats on 1k!🥳

ohhh i love this so much, giggling because i get to play with aiekoy cannon and i am living for it. gonna be honest i don’t even remember writing most of this but it is chaotic and i actually kinda love it.

this was going in so many different directions before this became my final thoughts, thank you for requesting and please enjoy!! 🫶🏽

warning(s): addiction | violence |

mikey lives, does barby?

in this scenario the only ‘aiekoy’ chapters that would still be canon are ch. 1-3, interlude 0-1 and any pre-aiekoy lore that i may not have published yet 🫣.

and for the sake of consistency, we’re throwing all ‘the bear’ canon out the window!

but now is where we start to change things, so we’ll say baby moves back to Chicago beginning of 2019 Christmas showed you just how much you missed being around your surrogate family and so we kiss the west coast goodbye.

and with baby back in town the trio (baby/nat/richie) with all the time they spend around mikey begin to realize like he needs serious help. his deterioration is so clear to anyone who looks at him that if things don’t change soon we all know what’s gonna happen.

it's a bit of back and forth cause mikey is stubborn as hell and he definitely doesn’t take kindly to his addiction being called out. man is feeling cornered right now.

i don’t think mikey would just agree to rehab out of nowhere, growing up as the man of the house i think he definitely has some underlying issues with toxic masculinity.

something big would have to happen for him to see the error of his ways like baby finding him just strung out in his office at the beef pills scattered everywhere and of course, it hurts you to see him this way.

so you begin like trying to dispose of the pills, searching his office for anything more and lecturing him because you love him ya know. obviously reasoning with an addict hardly if ever works.

sadly to say i think it would get a bit physically violent like mikey kind of just lashes out just like grips baby by the arms, and pins you to the wall so hard it alerts the staff.

and it's an ugly scene as richie pulls him off of you. you’re just standing there glued to the wall scared shitless as richie holds himself back from beating the shit out of mikey.

nat gets wind of the whole situation i feel like tina would definitely call her because wtf is going on with mikey?

a few weeks later baby’s distant with mikey, richie is genuinely physically disgusted anytime he’s around his best friend, and nat bless her heart is just trying to keep the family together. she explains what happened to mikey between the two of you because his memory is spotty and the man just breaks down like heaving sobs as he asks nat to help him get better.

they decide a long-term stint in rehab might work best, considering how long he’s been using and the toll his psychological state has taken we’ll say a 6 month program that as it progresses the whole gang will be involved in family counseling sessions.

baby and richie obviously go with nat to drop mikey off setting aside their issues with him (you obviously haven’t forgiven his transgression yet but you want to be there for him) and the whole thing is so emotional i’m talking group hug full of sobs and snot this shit is heartbreaking. but mikey’s adamant that he wants the help.

baby definitely thinks someone should tell carmy but both richie and nat are iffy about it and they table that conversation for the time being.

fast forward a few months mikey is in rehab detoxing and participating in counseling sessions, they aren’t allowed to contact him yet but they do get weekly updates on his well-being.

baby is in new york for work profiling executive chef alex johannes (he didn’t have a name in the show so now he does) about his work ethic and michelin stars or some shit.

he invites you to the restaurant hours before the dinner service so you can observe him and the kitchen during prep and this man is laying the charm on thick!

he’s definitely scummy and you’re genuinely fed up with him so you tell him you need to walk around to get a feel for the kitchen but you just want to be rid of him.

you’re doing your cute journalist thing taking notes, trying to talk to chefs about what the kitchen environment is like working under alex but these people are giving you nothing!

there’s a commotion at one of the prep stations and you’re obviously curious the whole kitchen is trying to pretend they aren’t watching this shit go down.

and you’re just listening to this poor chef get verbally abused as they’re working on their prep, jotting all this down in your little notepad.

but the sight of the chef slamming a cutting board against the counter has you flinching and you just can’t let that happen irritation radiating through you at this bully you’ve been assigned to profile.

you’ve seen enough stepping up to defend the poor chef with a few choice words to the older man ultimately getting in a verbal argument with him and being sent out of his kitchen, but not before he makes the poor chef join you, and whatever bravado you had to rip that asshole a new one is gone as carmen fucking berzatto begins walking in your direction shoving past you to get to the staff lounge.

what are the fucking odds that you end up at the same exact restaurant carmy works at after being ghosted by him again that one christmas. (I’d say they’re great since I’m writing this)

you’re standing there in shock for a minute before turning on your heel to find the man.

he’s pacing back and forth hand pressing into the space where his heart lay. as soon as he sees you he’s hurling questions your way; “what the fuck are you doing here?” “why the fuck couldn’t you just mind your business?” “he didn’t need your fucking help.” blah blah blah.

your anger from earlier is back and you’re just like alright bet “guess it’s still fuck me right carm?” grabbing your bag and getting the fuck outta dodge.

you don’t make it far before carmy finds you, the man doesn’t apologize but he asks you to stop by when he gets off.

you’re a loser for carm so you do. he’s takes you back to his place, it’s awkward as fuck but you finally give in and tell him about what’s going on in Chicago, mikey’s addiction, the “fight” you had with mikey at the beef, him being in rehab.

and carmy is surprised as fuck, to say the least, he tells you that he’s miserable in new york. feels like the restaurant might kill him before his anxiety ever could.

neither of you are sure how any of it happens but the next thing you know you’re naked under him giving into pent-up desires, promises whispered into each other’s skin.

you can’t stay in new york forever but the both of you decide it is for the best not to start anything with all the distance between you.

you try talking carmy into moving back to Chicago and homeboy actually gives it some thought.

after that the two of you are in constant contact like not a day goes by without a phone call or text.

you’re back in chicago mikey’s been doing good in rehab, the family counseling sessions are going well. next thing you know his 6 months are up and he’s out.

you talk carmy into visiting for a bit, he and mikey def have things to work out.

surprise surprise, COVID hits carmy gets stuck in Chicago (man is not complaining though if that means he gets to see you)

you get a roommate who doubles as a lover and everything goes from there!!!

a/n: reading this is so chaotic it actually made me giggle. on a serious note in no way am i saying all addicts are violent or have violent tendencies but from my experiences that has been the case. also i think canonically (7 fishes ep) that mikey did have violent tendencies whether it be the drugs or not.

[diverging-tides]

Champion of the Damned

Happy Halloween everybody! Enjoy this riveting fragmented depiction of DT’s psychosis-he is not well :)

Anyway, every Golden Guard here is unique and cannon to Diverging Tides (alongside about thirty more without distinct faces)-feel free to ask about any of them on this spooky day through the box, and I’ll give you my notes on who they are (Names included)

Every single one of them has lived off the same galdorstone, and aside from Hunter (debatably-no I’m not elaborating) all of them are dead

Digital Halloween-themed treats (and other things) for whoever can identify Darius’ mentor! You all have until the Day of The Dead to submit inquires for lore-one Golden Guard per participant! First come, first served-meaning the person who asks about the correct Golden Guard first is the winner!

The winner of this “contest” will be announced November 2nd, and gets insider knowledge about “The Nameless One”

That’s right-this guy right here! You get to learn all about his deal before everyone else-including exclusive unreleased sketches taking place in the future of Diverging Tides, his personality, his relevance to the story, and even his name!

Have a Happy Halloween-and I eagerly await your inquiries! If nobody gets it right, I’ll have a randomized selection done with those who submitted asks within the timeframe, and the winner will be revealed alongside the correct answer

If nobody submits anything-no harm done! I’m using the contest to give back to my followers in a special way-if nobody is interested, my feelings won’t be hurt

Well, they will, but I’m not gonna begrudge anybody for it

[munchkinmarauder]

Let's talk Magneto's letter!

I'm not marking this as spoilers because we've probably all seen the panels from Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver floating around the internet at this point (but I do apologise if I do accidentally spoil it for someone - take this as your warning to scroll past and not read this post).

So after many months of speculation as to what the letter could be and if it has big reveals the contents of the letter is not a lore changing or retcon inducing reveal but .... Drum roll please.... that Magneto thinks the twins should stay apart, that they are dangerous together (particularly that Pietro is dangerous to Wanda and Wanda coddles Pietro) and that Pietro should have stayed dead after Magneto murdered him.

Wow isn't Maggie father of the year? What a girldad!

Jokes aside and let's get this out of the way because I know a lot of the Magneto is right crowd have been calling for Orlando's head over this character assassination or trying to argue Magneto is in fact right about the twins (despite the story and the twins themselves saying otherwise) - Magneto being an abusive douchbag to his kids is the norm, we only have 60 years of their relationship in the 616 verse alone to prove this. Yes there is nuance to this that makes it all very interesting, one of the most interesting dynamics in Marvel, and I personally never expected to hear Magneto saying the silent part out loud because I do think cannon shows that he loves all his kids Pietro included (but is incapable of loving them the way a parent should), but this is simply an over exaggeration and not out of character. Its no surprise he says this to his son. It's also of note that Magneto never actually intended for the twins to see the letter or Storm would have given it to Wanda when she visited in SW#2 to deliver the news of Magneto's passing, it might have been Magneto trying to work out some feelings and opinions rather than protect them as he claims (cause again he didn't actually intend for anyone to see the letter, he sealed it shut in a box). He is justified in feeling frustrated that his last words were weaponised against his children (lol Mags being like how dare my own hurtful words were used to hurt my kids - no one hurts them but me)

Magneto is one of those genderbended boymoms that is jealous of their daughter and views then as competition. Only in this case it is with his son and the competition is for Wanda's affections. The fact is, Magneto is always going to loose that fight and he knows it.

The more I think about it the more I like that this letter wasn't a big reveal (though I'm sure the recton everyone is hoping for will come some day -I'm glad it wasn't today) but something that played into the themes of this series. Their father, the Wizard and the Giver are all saying the twins should stay apart and the story and the twins say no and prove them wrong. A lot of the twins greatest feats are reactive and evolving, tying back to the red queen hypothesis mentioned in issue 4.

On a side note if the Giver really wanted to deal with the twins she should have gone to dear old daddy Mags and he would have nipped that problem in the bud in a jiffy seeing as he and the giver are of a like mind when it comes to the twins. Technically you just need to get rid of one of them seeing as the Givers worry is about the twins together but let's see what the new Scarlet Witch solo has to say about that (I hope Pietro's role in this isn't forgotten but you can never tell with Marvel)

What the letter is is a classic case of a narcissist parent setting up a golden child and scape goat dynamic. Seeking to isolate the twins from each other. It's very clear he's self projecting onto his son (and Lorenzo Tammetta deliberately emphasises the similaries the two have in appearance to drive this fact home) and blaming Pietro for moments that happened that can apply to himself and are in fact caused by his actions for example his willingness to abandon his daughter to die and murder of his son in HoM. Both the major trigger points for the creation of the HOM verse and no more mutants. I'm not saying Magneto is souly to blame here but he does have a big contribution to what happens that he never has taken accountability for (along with the X-Men who play as victims and the avengers who did own up to what they did but otherwise keep silent about the blame the twins get from the X-Men).

A lot has been said about the impact of the letter on Pietro and I don't think I can add much more other than to emphasise how crushing that has be to hear from a parent and abuser even if you hate them. The twins helped each other survive for a very long time and we're each others everything parent, twins, best friend, protector, etc. You've spent time and energy and dedicated a portion of your life to protecting someone to the degree of making it your reason for living for a long time (please note I am not saying this is a healthy mindset for Pietro- hes taken it too far sometimes) and in a hypocritical tyraid are told it's all for nothing. Pietro handles it really well and comes out this with his head held high. Reacting calmly, expressing his love for his sister and throwing Magneto's words back at him. I think as a Quicksilver fan we can be reasonably happy with this outcome (but I do understand some fans frustration to hear Quicksilver be degraded that way and told he's bad for Wanda while she gets forced to interact with men that did treat her like shit like Vision and Magneto - however the point is that Magneto is WRONG and Wanda herself reiterates this point).

Now the one person who's screwed over by the writing and out of character in that scene is WANDA. Sure she tells Magneto he is wrong but that gentle response (even if she does react with a degree of unhappiness to see Magneto back) and effort to be neutral is so odd for her given that she sent the Wizard to a hell dimension for hurting her brother a few pages prior and has been even more vocal than Pietro in calling her father out in the past. She's as protective of her brother as he is her and I can't believe she would be written as a daddies girl and standby while a man who abused them both continues to abuse her brother.

The contents of the letter is also not great for Wanda. And I would argue is a subtler abuse tactic. Like a lot of the focus is rightly on how shitty it was for Magneto to say what he did in his letter to Pietro but we're also not considering the the negative implications it has for Wanda as well. Wanda has been working to establish herself as independent and not defined by the men in her life for so long and here is her "father", infantalising her and saying he knows better than her about her own life and what keeps her safe, that is seeking to take away from her the one pillar of support she's always had and one of if not the important relationship to her, a lot of Wanda's lowest moments did happen when Pietro wasn't even around, when everyone including Magneto abandoned her, her brother was there. The twins do have a codependency and that codependency does have it's toxic elements, Magneto touches on it but doesn't go into detail. Wanda is codasended to and told she is "coddling" her brother and everything else is Pietro's fault. The letter is worse for Pietro but it's shitty for Wanda too, she is a grown woman& a mother here is a man that abused her talking down to her, saying he knows best for her and her opinions are wrong, seeking to isolate her and undermining her authority.

The twins are right for saying Magneto is wrong but wish Wanda would get more angry at this undermining. Maybe like Pietro she is just very jaded and tired of the whole thing with Magneto. These words would be upsetting if they didn't in their own way love their father too as fucked up as it all is.

Now to be fair - does Magneto's letter have any merit? That isn't to easy to answer but in the interests of equal analysis let's try!

So I think one think that Magneto touches on but doesn't go into or outright say is the twins codependancy. He is a few years late to the party but he's been dead and their not dad for a while so well give him a small amount of leeway in his old age. I don't think the twins codependency is necessary a wholly bad thing but it does have it's nagative elements and in some cases has held the twins back. If we are to adopt a charitable approach her Magneto in his own twisted and emotionally constipated way may be trying to encourage the twins to be independent, to discourage his son from defining his self worth around his ability to protect his sister. Ofc I am reaching a bit here as Magneto could have just said this (though we'll never see the full contents of the letter - both Wanda and Mags may be summerising the worst parts of it) and done so in a way that wasnt cruel.

I also do believe that Magneto in writing those words to a degree did believe or convinced himself that he was not writing those words out of Malice and that it was an attempt to protect the twins (though I will reiterate how much it was actually intended to protect them when Magneto didn't actually intend for the twins to see the letter but at least he owns up to the fact he did write those words). In his mind he was being cruel to be kind but the narrative makes it clear that even if he had "good" intentions - he is nevertheless still fundamentally misunderstanding his children and self projecting onto his son. I'm not mad about this -its in character and I feel this letter is set up for a longer plot thread and I hope it's explored but let's see!

It certainly makes me feel that Pietro's lack of mention in RoM was extremely deliberate as was his lack of appearance in last week's FoX issue despite his cameo in the previous one to save the Magneto and Pietro reunion for this comic (the Xoffice are collaborative)

Is the writing for this scene perfect? no! Is Magneto potentially a tad one note? Yes but being a dick to his kids is in character and it's unsubtle but sometimes it needs to be.

[piri-ooch]

Ik it's too late but hear me out

Alastor as persephone with gladiolus instead of roses attached to his antlers bc of their significance for his mom.

Ik myth wise he's more of a minthe if we change up the myth a TON but stilll

Mayyyhaps with long hair 👉👈

I always like imagining al as a haunting androgynous beauty of sorts, cannon doesn't do him justice at all be it action or visual wise although in concept he's genuinely one of the most beautiful characters with great potential.

My favourite characterizations aside from yours are keely's, and that one fic "the indomitable human soul" which honestly feels strangely reminiscent of a deleted fic, "this mortal coil"

As you may have guessed I'm desperate for overtly analytical ao3 artist friends lmao

Choco? Strawberry? Berry? Friend! What is this coincidence where I’ve been stuck on the concept long-haired Alastor for the longest time and have been COINCIDENTALLY sketching the beautiful being for the past few days???

I agree with how much potential he has, both in character concept design and development which is why I love him so much. Endless things to write and draw! Worldbuilding!!! Although I guess the situation has been slightly changed now that I’ve been spoiled unintentionally about the next season. There are more things might be canon now, even though nothing is really confirmed until the next season comes out anyway. I go into detail about my feelings about it in the A/N of the upcoming chapter of The Devil’s Gift (without revealing the spoiler because I don’t do that lol) but I know some people would consider it a spoiler anyway, so I won’t write it here. I’ll hide it as a dropdown there with warnings!

But long-haired Alastor and mythical lore? Hello! I’ve dabbled with mythology in the past and yes, he’d be more of a minthe in TDG story, but Persephone!Alastor fits him so well! Think of all the flowy outfits he could wear. And the gladiolus antler crown would be *chef’s kiss* if I could get it right.

So…I’m off to tweak my sketch a bit! 😉

[zombiehearts2007]

“Got something a bit different for you general~”

content warning for, self harm scars, scars and suggestive material

A Preston Garvey pin up I did inspire a post @thehivemindsys made where they show a mod that replace Preston with Mariah Carey in not very lore accurate clothes for the fallout universe , I wanted to try experimenting with my art and anatomy so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to do Preston some justice! (Also I just wanted to draw him in a pin up but didn’t have a reason to till now lol)

Jokes aside this was very fun and it gave me a opportunity to share some of my body head cannons for Preston as well. Like his shity minuteman tattoo he got when he was 20. I did change the clothing from the original mod a bit cause I wanted it to look like something you could find out in the wasteland.

Hope y’all like it :D

[marvelmymarvel]

Okay so I have major writers block but I have to share my LOTR idea with yall. And I'm almost certain I am breaking so much cannon lore with the idea but I wanna do it anyway because I can. So please do not correct me, I know I'm wrong just have fun with it.

So here is my idea.

The reader is someone from here and ends up in Middle Earth. Elrond found her and put some of his blood in her to make her immortal. She technically is an elf but looks like a human. The orcs have been chasing after her for thousands of years. so Elrond, to keep her safe, sends her off to Mirkwood to stay with Thranduil. She hates it and manages to sneak out and join the dwarves on their adventures. They don't know she has elven blood in her until they meet with Elrond in Rivendell.

The scene where they are in Rivendell is where my newest idea is placed. Elrond pulls her aside and states that they (Elrond, Thranduil, Gandalf, and Galadriel) haven't been honest with her and have finally decided to open up about her true origin.

Also, all of this is to the song Ptolomaea by Ethel Cain (https://youtu.be/aLy27Xo-gos?si=AcO8odVHGrtgKGIp) Mainly the last part where the darker voice is talking... Art of Elven Sauron below is by Csanikainferna

Elrond eyed you, hesitant with how much to say and how much to show. "I haven't been honest with you... How old do you think you are?"

Your eyebrows furrowed and your eyes slid to Gandalf standing beside the fountain. The three of you were outside in the courtyard, the moonlight shining down and illuminating his gray hair. "I'm around 3,000 years old..." you trailed off as you looked back to Elrond who only stared at you blankly as he gnawed on his lip. "Who found you?"

"You did, what are these questions??" you bit back, nerves finally eating away at you as dread fell over your senses. Elrond sighed before moving towards you, "I should have done this a long time ago, but I was afraid doing so would put you in danger-"

You stepped back away from him, hand coming up to stop him from advancing. "I'm scared-"

"3,000 years ago I took your memories away. I'm going to give them back. All you need to remember is that he won't hurt you... Do you trust me?"

You were frozen but slowly felt yourself nod at the one person you trusted more than anyone else on this continent. His fingers came up and rested on your forehead, "You're safe, I'll be here when you come back-"

Darkness sucked you in before he had a chance to finish his sentence. Your eyes blinked open, blearily looking around the dark space around you. Rocks stabbed into your skin and a terrible heat was making it hard to breathe. Suddenly, ugly faces hovered over you and you gasped in fright as the orcs hauled you up from the ground. Your feet were kicking and you screamed out for them to let you go as they dragged you to the castle. It had dawned on you rather swiftly that you were in Mordor.

Fear coursed through your veins as large doors opened before you, showcasing a large room with a man sitting rigidly on the throne. It felt as if the wind had been knocked out of you at the sight of the blonde man before you. You didn't know how and you didn't know why, but he felt familiar.

He felt like home.

"Why hello there... What might your name be?"

You knew who he was, knew him as the dark lord. He was the nightmare mothers would tell their children about when they were misbehaving. He was murderous. A monster.

And yet, all you felt when looking up at him was peace, as if you had been searching for him for many millennia and you finally found him.

"I'm-"

The scene shifted and suddenly multiple images and moments flashed before your very eyes. Tears started to stream down your face as you took in just how much the feared man loved you. You had begged him to give up his desire for power and control, questioning if he really loved you. That argument seemed to anger him, because he loved you more than anything, and his power would be shared with you.

The both of you would rule the world.

The scenes continued to flash quickly as the conversations morphed into a high-pitched scream before it all went silent and you were looking down at your peacefully sleeping body that was wrapped in black silk sheets. The door to the room opened and you whirled around in fright.

From the darkness emerged Elrond and it finally dawned on you that you weren't saved from Sauron.

You were taken from him.

You stepped in front of your sleeping body but Elrond moved through you as if you didn't exist, only reminding you that this was a memory.

A memory that was stolen from you.

"Oh my... What... Who is she?" Another voice came from the doorway and you knew it was one of Elrond's generals. "I thought she was a myth... But I can already see his magic wearing off... If we don't give her something, she won't last through the night..."

Your eyebrows furrowed as you looked over their shoulder and you noticed the color from your face draining. Elrond scooped you up in his arms, "Gandalf can transfer some of my life force to her, but we must hurry" he said swiftly as they moved out of the bedroom.

The scenes morphed again before flashing, showing you the memories you were allowed to remember. From waking up in Rivendell, acclimating to immortality, being transported to Mirkwood, meeting Thorin, to all the way up to now where you were on the ground kneeling in front of Elrond. Tears streaming down your face as he held you close.

You tilted your head down at the sight, confused as to why you weren't in your own body still, but you would soon get your answer. Your head fell backward, mouth opening as a scream ripped from your throat. Your chest lifted up into the air as if you were being possessed.

The scream cut off, leaving you all in silence. Gandalf was gripping his chest in disbelief as Elrond stroked your cheek with his thumb. "Y/n-"

Your head snapped forward, e/c eyes now blazing red, the same red of the lovers they stole you from.

"Y/n, wake up-" Elrond stated firmly as he tried to shake you out of it.

"I am no good nor evil, simply I am and I have come to take what is mine" The dark tone coming from your lips had you reeling back in fear, realization dawning on you that you had indeed been possessed.

Elrond paled at the words as my possessed lips slipped up into a snarling grin. He opened his mouth to curse at the dark lord in your body, but you continued. "I was there in the dark when you spilled your first blood. I am here now, as you run from me still."

Gandalf rushed forward, hand coming out to try and rip the dark lord from your body.

Your red eyes flicked to Gandalf, "Run then, child," Gandalf ignored the threat and slammed his hand onto your head, making you start to slump over. The red in your eyes started to fade and you began to feel the pull of your by-standing soul into your once-possessed body.

"You can't hide from me forever."

[moseslikellamas]

Thorn of Winterfell pt. 2

Pairing - Stark!OC x Benjicot Blackwood

Summary - The march to war continues with a stop at the Twins and then Raventree hall.

Warnings - some depictions of violence, lore™️, sketchy depictions of medieval hierarchies, spoilers too I suppose. I won’t be completely following cannon but I’m drawing heavily from it.

Word count- 2.1k

Everyone say thank you awoiaf.westeros.org, we love you awoiaf.westeros.org for providing all the lore in an easily accessible manner. Picture is of the unimpressed Syana

Syana decided she liked Forest Frey's wife. She was a young woman not much older than her. She was a loud and funny woman who was charming without trying to be. Sabitha didn’t take any shit from anyone. She was domineering to the men and graciously sweet to the women. Syana got the sense the woman would ride out to war herself if she had the option. But she had a good attitude about it, joking that the twins would screech to a halt if she so much as took a stroll about the gardens. She meant it as an exaggeration joke but her underlying tone suggested it was not.

“Come on you great lot of boring louts! We’ve got a single night and who knows what will come to pass after you leave these halls. Let us have some music and dancing!” The glare she sent about the room when no one moved, set everyone to their feet.

Syana danced first with the prince Jacaerys who looked more and more strained by the hour, his face set in a permanent pout.

“The riverlands are going to think you’ve let the north smother your fire if you keep frowning like that, my prince.”

He set his jaw even tighter, his hand squeezing hers tightly while they spun around the room.

“I should go. Fly back to my mother and talk to her.”

She refrained from rolling her eyes at him. They’d been over this a million times already.

“Lord Dustin doesn’t think its a good idea. You heard him, we don’t know where Aemond is or if he’s watching the skies to Dragonstone. But you can’t outfly him if he is. We know they desperately want what we have, Harrenhal. You can help us here, my prince. Besides, your mother hasn’t seen fit to call you back.”

He shot her a dark glare before sighing deeply. “You’re right of course. I just can’t stand waiting.”

Syana knew he hadn’t taken any time to process his brother's death. There was no time for it, they were marching now and before long many more would be dead. Forrest Frey had taken two hundred knights and six hundred infantrymen with him to join with the three hundred Blackwood archers at Harrenhal led by Rob Rivers, bastard brother of Lord Samwell. Said to be one of the best bowmen in the riverlands. She hoped they had already arrived and that the road ahead of them was clear. Another force was waiting for them at Raventree hall with the heir. Another young man like her brother, called Benjicot. Endearingly referred to as Bloody Ben, for his penchant for carnage. His father had been killed during the battle of the burning mill, Sabitha had told them sadly.

“Come on my prince, you must’ve had many dancing lessons. Show a girl a good time before she heads to war will you?”

He smiled ruefully at her but stepped back at the end of the song before leaving the hall altogether. She left the floor to find her brother, who was hiding behind a stone column pretending not to hear the music playing.

“You know, you might try dancing with one of them.” She nodded her head towards the gaggle of Frey women obviously looking at her brother and giggling.

Cregan frowned, uninterested. He didn’t bother to look at the women. And she felt for him, his wife had been his childhood best friend. A love that couldn’t be easily set aside. They all loved Rickon but the hole Arra left in their life was cavernous. The little heir often resembled his mother in the most painful ways.

“Not every woman can have the steel of a northerner brother and likely none as fierce as Arra. But there’s another out there for you.”

He raised a brow at her, pinning her with his stare. “And what about you? Plenty of men pining away for a chance with you.”

Syana hadn’t found a single man who didn’t bore her to tears.

“They do not make real men of quality anymore brother. It's all brutes and fools, I'm afraid. Would that I could switch with you. I’d rather search for a lady.”

“I think Sabitha is looking for a woman.” Her brother replied.

She smacked his chest, smiling. “Shh. She’s like to hear you and then you won’t make it through the night.”

The two of them laughed for a moment, basking in a sense of normalcy that only comes with family.

“We ought to sleep.”

And there was her brother back to his normal serious self but she agreed. They bid Sabitha a good night, she had winked at Syana behind her brother's back, and they departed together.

***

Syana woke before dawn and dressed quickly. There was a chill in the air that did not bode well for them. Outside mist hung heavy in the air, obscuring the troops as they headed out. She was on her horse Shadow, all of the Starks were on horses. They bred them specifically and started children riding once they could toddle. Syana was good with her bow on her horse but pretty useless when it came to sword fighting on horseback. She preferred to pull back, reorient herself so as to utilize her bow. If that failed, she was expertly good at knife throwing. Though untested as of yet in actual battle.

Since they had set out from Winterfell she'd been buzzing mentally. A dull thrum of adrenaline was ever constant. She hadn’t slept well due to it. The knowledge that they could be attacked at anytime set her teeth on edge and she kept checking the skies for any signs of dragons. When Jace took to the sky, she didn’t feel any better about it. She just started looking specifically for Vhaegar, nervous for Vermax.

Myrian did not help the ominous feeling in the air by sniffing every few minutes and saying in disgust, “Something’s gone foul in the Riverlands and it's not the bodies.”

“What do you mean? What bodies?”

Myrian had simply stared at her with that too knowing look the Crannogmen often had. Presumably she was referring to the bodies from the burning mill but Syana knew Myrian did not always say what she meant.

“The winds are full of the smell of dead stones.” She settled on eventually repeating.

Syana didn’t have the patience for fortunes and prophecies. No one ever interpreted them right and they usually died in some horrific manner anyway. She just nodded sympathetically at her friend and continued on.

***

It had taken them a fortnight to reach Raventree hall and the last leg had been wracked by storms that rivaled the stormlands. It had been so miserable and muddy. Every person in the troop tramped wherever they stayed into a mess of deep thick mud.

It was muggy and humid. Syana wore her hair in two braids down her back but she had hair plastered to the side of her neck and face with sweat. She was wearing the thinnest clothes she owned but they were still too thick in the heavy air. They’d been let inside the castle walls and after stabling their horses, set out to meet the new Lord of Raventree hall. Who had not come to meet them. But her expectations were not high of someone nicknamed ‘bloody’ anything. Her brother was not impressed though, he seemed a bit miffed about it. She had to hide her laugh with a cough.

They found the Lord in the yard, fighting. Of course he was, she rolled her eyes. He was fighting four on one though and absolutely destroying his opponents. He seemed to know where they were going to move before they did it and he used that to confuse them. A pair smacked into each other, their heads knocking together in a comical display that seemed out of place when he hit a man with the hilt of his sword so hard in between the eyes she heard the bone crunch. For the last guy he threw his sword aside, bared his teeth like an animal and advanced before ripping the man's sword from his hands and using it to cut a delicate slice just under his eye. He then held the tip inches from the man's eyeball.

“Do you yield?”

The man, obviously terrified, yielded.

Syana stood there with a disgusted look on her face as the men picked themselves up. They were his men and his blatant cruelty was pointless. It didn’t teach them anything and it didn’t make him look like a smart Lord. She did not have time to talk to her brother before the man was approaching them, covered in blood.

“Enjoy the show, Lord Stark? Care to give it a go yourself?” The lord stood half cocked back, leaning on his still bloody sword.

Syana was seething at the question. Cregan could stand to knock this one in the dirt at least once. But her brother was as stone faced as ever which just this once was probably the appropriate response.

“We’ve come a long way.” She sneered for her brother. “We’d appreciate you showing us to our rooms.” She gave him a tight smile at the end that was not meant to be nice.

He’d shifted his eyes from her brother to hers, never changing his posture. “Well, I’ll be. The Thorn of Winterfell has left her frozen palace.”

Cregan had his sword pulled and pointed at the lord of Raventree before he finished his sentence.

“Benjicot! Stand up straight and wipe that fucking smirk off your face or I swear to the gods you’ll be picking your teeth up.”

A dark haired woman approached, having apparently been watching the encounter from afar. Then striding over she addressed them.

“No need for that Lord Stark, please. My nephew is an idiot and he’s a poor one at that.” She glared at said nephew, who was looking properly chastised.

Cregan quickly pulled his sword back sheathing it before giving her a look that said, ‘Can you fucking believe these guys?’ And she could, sadly that’s what happens when everyone dies fighting all the time. She hoped Cregan lived to be ancient, so old that he cursed the gift of life for lasting too long. She couldn’t bear to live a life without him. It was another aspect of her reluctance to marry. Marrying meant leaving and who knew when she would see her brother again. If she would see him again. The wrong husband could mean she never saw Winterfell again. And that was intolerable to her.

“Please, follow me. I’ll show you to your rooms and you can freshen up a bit before dinner.”

Weary and tired they followed. Raventree hall was a queer castle. It had a timber keep, rather than stone. It had beautiful massive oak beams that ran throughout and she could vaguely see carvings in them. Supposedly the Blackwoods moved into the castle when the king of winter drove them from the wolfswoods. And if you believed further rumor, drove the brackens from the castle before taking it.

As they walked through the wooden keep, they came across a panel of diamond windows that overlooked the godswood. Syana stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the weirwood tree. It was massive, so big it was hard to comprehend. She had nothing to compare it to, it was taller than the castle and so wide it seemed impossible. But no red leaves sprouted from the limbs and that made her feel cold inside. Like she was standing on the precipice of bad luck.

Cregan grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her along. The group seemed uncomfortable at her looking at the tree. Sore subject it would appear. They arrived at their apartments quickly after that and Syana pretended to enter her own room. She waited until her hosts left and then went to dart into Cregan’s room. Only he’d had the same idea and the door swung open, nearly banging into her.

“Thank the gods. Brother, must we always be the most responsible people in the room? It's enough to drive anyone mad. And where is Prince Jacaerys?”

He gave her a questioning look. “You are never the most responsible person in the room. The prince will arrive when he feels his scouting duties satisfied.”

“Ugh. Whatever. What about this supposed ‘lord’?”

“A bad man to have on your flank if he can’t control himself. Bloodthirsty can be useful but how well do you think he listens?”

“Listened to his aunt pretty well. But who can say what a man does on the battlefield.”

“We’ll find out soon enough.” He looked grim and she couldn’t help but to pull him into a hug.

“You’re going to live forever brother. They’ll call you the oldest man to live, an old winter wolf.”

Then she said a prayer, thinking of that dead weirwood tree and trying to will a better future into existence.

He squeezed her tightly back.

[review-anon]

//Happy Valentine's Day to you all, and as a little treat, I've showing something that not only fits the day, but also its gonna be the first of a set of drawings for you all to welt your appetites over on this lull period, and its a fakemon! More specifically its a Paradox fakemon.

//So back in Pokemon Scarlet/Violet when the Indigo Disk was coming out, people were speculating what the origin of the Paradox Pokemon were and the most wildly held theory at the time was the idea that the Paradox Pokemon weren't actually prehistoric or futuristic Pokemon but inside created from the wishes and desires of Professors Sada and Turo due to their wishes to create a time machine. And this...had a lot of evidence behind it.

//Sadly Indigo Disk came out and revealed Terapagos as the ultimate Isekei Pokemon as it yeets pokemon from the Multiverse and that's how you get the Paradox Pokemon. But its still very vague if that's the case or if Dream/Wish Theory is still on.

//Now when I heard of this theory I thought "Hang on, a Pokemon that grants wishes and desires with no strings attached and has no limit? Where have I heard that one before." The first answer is Jirachi but that's lore based stuff, but the second answer is Divine Luck.

//So I went on this thought experiment where what if Utsuro had Terapagos as his partner Pokemon and Terapagos using its powers created Paradox partner Pokemon for the Children of Utsuro. And thus is the start of this mini series where I create fanmade Paradox Pokemon for each of the known Divine Luck users.

//And of course I start off with Akane Taira's partner Pokemon; Foxy Love. This is very clearly a Paradox Zoroark here since I wanted to go for a fox-like Pokemon for Akane, Ninetales was too Gen 1 pandering and I could go for Thievul, but since that's a Gen 8 Pokemon its too close to the current generation to get its own alternative form.

//Typing its Dark/Fairy which is a type only Grimsnarl has so its a very exlcusive typing to have. The way Paradox Pokemon work is that they gain a type if single typed, and if dual typed, it keeps one of its old typings and another one replaces it. And it has a brand new ability. Since this line of Paradox Pokemon is unlike the canon ones, the previous abilities don't make sense so I've given it and all of my fanmade Paradox Pokemon will have the same ability and that is Divine Luck! This is a crazy ability where the secondary effects of moves are guranteed to hit and the critical hit ratio is increased. Think of it like Serene Grace on crack and Super Luck rolled into one ability.

//Is it balanced? Probably not. But guess what? Pokemon has never been balanced so I don't really care. Miraidon, Zacian, Mega Rayquaza and Gen 1 Mewtwo all say hi.

//Stats are 80/112/55/145/55/123. Defences are weaker but it goes into making its glass cannon status even more apperant as it gets crazy Special Attack and Speed. I'm not hot on the VGC so I don't know how if this is good meta wise or not.

//And of course being a Paradox Pokemon its movepool is gonna be strange. Aside from Dark and Fairy moves like Moonblast and Dazzling Gleam, I suspect it to learn moves like Attract and Capitivate and even Alurring Voice. Tidy Up can be learnt and even Refresh. Why? Who knows.

//So as you can tell design wise, its matching a lot of Akane's colours and the red stuff is Divine Luck coursing though this Pokemon. This is gonna be a design feature on all Divine Paradox Pokemon but its more notable on Foxy Love since Akane DOES become the next Nexus of Divine Luck. I imagine this little one to be a cute Zorua at first which helped hide Akane with the line's illusion abilities and when Akane got free its illusions and work ethic helped Akane with her maid work. It wasn't until Akane fell to Despair that Foxy Love evolved into the form you see it as today.

//Yes I know Paradox Pokemon can't evolve but let me enjoy this one for immersion sake. The name was also came up with by Akane since children are not known for their creative names.

//And that's all for Foxy Love! I hope you enjoy this little picture and believe me the Voids and others will be on their way, just don't expect them to come so soon. I might release them as ways to make the wait for new content less agonising. Until then, have a good Valentine's Day!

//Shiny form is under the cut due to DTFA spoilers;

//Pink is obvious due to the association with love and since we know Divine Luck users can glow gold when using their powers for good...it makes a nice shiny colour.

[cyberdragoninfinity]

have been putting together Iliaster Pokemon Teams off and on fooooor the last couple months or so... I always like to put way too much thought into teams so under the cut I have all my reasonings for these choices. I like Pokemon and I like these characters a Perfectly Normal Amount <3

BRUNO/ANTINOMY:

Lucario: feels just very much like a good partner Pokemon for him...same shade of blue, very noble and loyal, EXTREME SPEED!! something something Lucario's innate aura reading and ability to sense emotions and thoughts vs. Bruno's complicated quest to figure out who he is. I think they would be friends!!! It gets amnesia too in whatever funny Pokemon AU Bruno's situation happens in

Skitty: obligatory Bruno kitty cat pokemon <3

Armarouge: T.G. Halberd Cannon/Blade Blaster type vibes, its pauldrons literally turn into a cannon, fire type echoing the sun in the Antinomy/Yusei duel, also a very loyal Pokemon. Plus bonus counterpart to Primo's Ceruledge >:3c

Rotom: silly little guy who likes motors and electronics and machinery!! Also Bruno having a ghost type and being. yknow. a robotic copy of a dead man. I think it suits him.

Yanmega: T.G. Recipro Dragonfly, it literally has eyes covered with a red visor, it's super fast and its design echoes a vehicle (aircraft rather than motorcycle, but still.)

Registeel/Regieleki: in Tag Force 6 Bruno uses and seems to really like Machina Fortress, so I wanted to give him a big 'ol bulky Steel Type. Antinomy gets Regieleki as a counterpart because it's literally The Fastest Pokemon, probably great for Delta Accel Synchro <3 Also Modern Age/electricity/android type invocations...

Porygon/Porygon2: Bruno needs a boxy little computer friend!! Antinomy gettin the evolved form since a big part of Porygon2's lore is that it was made for space travel...thinkin bout that duel again. The Porygon line, Porygon2 especially, also has a really similar color palette to Bruno's various forms!

Miraidon: ok ive seen people give Jack Miraidon and i get it, it's his color palette, BUT LIKE. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST BRUNO POKEMON EVER. literal robot motorcycle from the future who washes up on the beach with limited memories!!! it has a silly goofy friendly form and a badass powered up fighter form!!! it can be the perfect counterpart to Yusei having a Koraidon!!! LISTEN.

LESTER:

Skarmory: Meklord Emperor Skiel of course!!! Violent metal bird moment!!

Wingull: in the Tag Force games Lester really likes the Stuffed Seagull Plush item and I think that's just so cute

Zorua: Little red-haired mischief-maker that can create illusions and false appearances?? IT'S PERFECT FOR HIM.

Klang: From the episode when he infiltrated the twins' school, he used Gear Golem the Moving Fortress....gotta give him some gears.

Durant: Skiel Guard! Little weird metal bugaboo :]

Iron Bundle: challenging myself to give all the Iliaster members (aside from Z-one) Future Paradox Pokemon...Lester of course gets the Bird one. It even shoots a laser like Skiel does!!

PRIMO:

Bisharp: god his whole team is just Mean Blade Guys but like. Look at Him. That's Primo. the way Bisharp commands an army of Pawniard the way Primo commands the Diablo also relevant.

Ceruledge: This is kind of the Primo Pokemon of All Time For Me--haunted grudge-powered knight that "cuts its enemies to pieces without mercy" with sword arms infused with "the lingering resentment of a sword wielder who fell before accomplishing their goal"--like... COME ON. DUDE.

Mega Beedrill: gotta shout out the iconic bee commentary of course, and also it's Another Violent Pokemon With Sharp Dangerous Blade-like Arms.

Melmetal: MEKLORD EMPEROR WISEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Scizor: Metal-clad evolution of a blade-armed beast, also violent and merciless. And it does the thing where it uses its pincers to look like it has three heads--funny for one of Aporia's components~

Iron Valiant: ANOTHER PRIMO POKEMON OF ALL TIME FROM GEN 9. LIKE!!! White robot with a big dangerous sword, created by a mad science supposedly, "said to be cruel enough to take its brilliantly shining blade and cut down anyone confronting it without hesitation"... THEY CANT KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH IT

JAKOB:

Mega Aggron: Granel <3 Big fuckoff metal monster. I also thought it would be fun to try and give the Three Nobles each a pure Steel type Pokemon for the Robot Funsies.

Barraskewda: For Granel's bizarrely fish-like canons and components--Barraskewda also being based on a projectile weapon a bonus, too.

Skeledirge: GOTTA give one of the Nobles something that ties into their sub opera singer namesakes, plus Skeledirge's Spanish influence is perfect for Jakob/Jose. And its an aquatic-based animal like all of Granel's components, too :^)

Alolan Golem: For Jakob's big old beard and eyebrow, PLUS it's a grumpy stubborn beast that launches electric rock blasts. Just suits him imo.

Ursaring: gave myself the added challenge of giving The Three Nobles each an unevolved Pokemon that Aporia has the fully evolved form of.... Jakob gets Ursaring for their matching surly expression and eye(s) plus the Guts ability boosting Attack when inflicted with a status effect is perfect for the Gaining Power Through Suffering motif of these guys <3

Iron Hands: Freakishly powerful big bulky electric robot monster!!! Yellow color motif like Granel!!! probably one of the most Meklord-y Paradox Pokemon, to me.

PARADOX sidenote it's so fucked up he just doesnt have a tag force sprite. sad!

Origin Dialga: Since his whole deal in BBT is having a deck of stolen Legendary Iconic Dragon Cards, i GOTTA indulge and give Paradox a bunch of Legendary Dragon Pokemon!!! Origin Dialga is for the time travel and also it's just a bizarre creature that feels on par with Malefic Paradox and Truth Dragon tbh. Plus it was created by Arceus, and Pdox was created by Z-one <3

Zekrom: GEE PARADOX WHY DOES YOUR MOM LET YOU HAVE TWO UNOVA DRAGONS... he's got that whole black and white color motif with his mask/the Malefic dragon armor. And Zekrom's got an engine...like a motorcycle...

Reshiram: Beautiful long haired bishie of a dragon plus the aforementioned black and white motifs. Also the concept of wanting to make a true AND ideal new future is really fun and kind of Very at play with Paradox~

Espathra: A.) im a Psychic Duelist Paradox truther, I rly wanted to give him a Psychic type, B.) Espathra is a violent weirdo that literally has his hair color palette/style. In my mind's eye this was his partner Pokemon originally ....Paradox with a Flittle is so funny to me.

Roaring Moon: if anyone deserves an Ancient AND Future Paradox Pokemon it's... WELL. THIS GUY. Malefics are almost all Dark Dragons so give him the freakish vicious Dragon/Dark that's like a twisted version of an existing monster (much like how Malefics are twisted versions of existing cards ;])

Iron Treads: Successfully continuing to give all the Iliaster guys Future pdox 'mons...Iron Treads is a big robot tire effectively which works great for a guy who motorcycles through time!!!

SHERRY:

Lunala: For that freaky Soul Binding Gate skeleton door, also a Pokemon that is brought under Necrozma's (Z-one's) power. Sherry having Lunala and Aporia having Solgaleo also just makes me a little insane.

Florges: FRENCH. FLOWER LADY. EASY PICK.

Rapidash: For Horse of the Floral Knights/Sherry's horse shaped duel runner...i love that she's a horse girl 🥴

Teddiursa: For that TEDDY BEAR!!! And also, again, her having a Pokemon from the same line as Pokemon Aporia has is just a fun detail for me.

Tsareena: 100% female. Floral Knights/Chevalier le Fleur. Kicks and fights triumphantly.

Iron Leaves: in general Virizion is already a perfect Sherry 'mon (grass horse, based on French literature, etc.) and I imagine she originally had one before it somehow Became an Iron Leaves when she joined Iliaster :^)

APORIA:

Solgaleo: i mean. He Just Looks Exactly Like One!!!! Also Steel/Psychic is a really good type for this big miserable monster lion angel robot. Plus it can be controlled by Necrozma.

Kingambit: Evolved form of Primo's Bisharp, a powerful and intense leader that fights primarily with brute strength. It's also got an ability that boosts its power the more of its allies fall (die <3) Power through suffering!!!

Silvally: Synthetic chimera of mishmashed fused parts created in a lab :) Can only evolve and reach its true potential through friendship :))) also giving him Silvally and Z-one Arceus just to make myself a little sick in the head.

Klingklang: Evolved form of Lester's Klang, mechanical 'mon that echoes the Ark Cradle's Sun Gear(s) that Aporia protects

Ursaluna: Evolve form of Jakob's Ursaring, hulking powerful bear with big claws and a back sail that looks exactly like Aporia's big metal halo.

Iron Jugulis: MEKLORD ASTRO DRAGON TRISKELION!!!! also a hydra like Aporia's duel runner >:D

Z-ONE:

Necrozma: first of all it kind of looks like Z-one's freaky life support+huge claws contraption second of all something something Infinite Light vs. Necrozma being a light consuming monster third of all the way it can dominate and lord over Solgaleo and Lunala. pounds my fists on the pavement.

Celebi: HE'S THE BIG BAD HE GETS AS MANY LEGENDARIES AS HE WANTS and he needs Celebi of course. Time Angel :)

Omastar: Freaky ancient Pokemon that resembles the nautilus shape of Z-one's contraption...also there's something about fossils being kept alive in there somewhere I'm sure.

Mimikyu: this is like. perfect for him tbh HDHGSDFG Wears the guise of another Pokemon and pretends to be it (and I would definitely give Yusei a Pikachu,) reacts with violence and panic when pushed into a corner, Fairy type (like all the Timelords are), competitively can fill the niche of being Difficult and full of underhanded status effects and tactics and I think that's just lovely for Z-one <3 In my mind's eye I like to think this was his partner Pokemon from even before The Yusei Factkinning Event.

Bloodmoon Ursaluna: Well it's literally got the odd 'device' clamped over one of its (weird glowing) eyes and also. For Aporia <3 That's Aporia <33 Z-one's giant time-displaced apex predator with a big weird circle on its forehead <3333

Arceus: THAT'S GOD BABEYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!