#but I wouldn't put them anywhere near great or anything

[erinaeris]

Laios Touden and the Responsibility of Power

First off, let me gush just a bit about how fucking STRONK this man is. Olympic weightlifters are dying of sheer envy and lust over this man. He is a FUCKING POWERHOUSE.

My favorite panels ever, and judging by the cropping of the second photo, Tumblr agrees.

AHEM, where was I?

Ah yes. He's not just strong and incredibly hot, my man is literally an invasive species in this dungeon. He knows every single weak spot of every monster Thistle tried to throw at him and when he finds it he just fucking RAMS HIMSELF AT THEM AND TAKES THEM DOWN.

And when he's a dwarf HE LITERALLY BENDS STEEL.

"Beat Namari at arm wrestling"? My boy, she wouldn't let you anywhere near because you'd FUCKING BREAK HER HER HAND ALONG WITH THE TABLE. (It's such a fucking shame we didn't see Senshi at least raising an (perfectly plucked except it just grows that way naturally) eyebrow in the background when he sees this. Alas, he was too distracted by his hair.)

But I mentioned responsibility, didn't I? Strength is power in the dungeon, and we all knows what comes with great power. And Laios is, in fact, very responsible with that power!

(Futther examples under the cut, wee bit spoilers for anime watchers)

This scene lives rent-free in my head forever, because of two things: Thistle suddenly realizing just what the hell he's up against,

And Laios breaking Thistle's arm.

Now, I think Laios didn't mean to actually break his arm here, he's just half-blind and dizzy and knows he has to restrain Thistle or it will all go to shit. So that's what he does. The move you see above is a restraining hold. The point is that the person pinned down can't struggle much because the position of the arm presses the suprascapular nerve, so it hurts a lot, but unless they're held that way for too long they'll be fine.

But Thistle is TINY and elves are generally fine-boned. I think Laios really did just underestimate his strength.

And the moment the dragons aren't an IMMEDIATE THREAT anymore?

Laios heals him. Thistle's a better mage than him by miles, he could have done it himself. But no. Laios does it. He was too rough, too careless with his strength, and he immediately backtracked, fixed what he broke, and continued with more mindfullness.

And these are just the examples that stuck in my mind the most. And it happens often enough that the team isn't even fucking surprised! Laios' strength would 100% scare people who only saw him in a barfight and didn't know anything else about him. Hell, the other adventurers they meet fucking quiver before this guy who just took down a monster they had nightmares about in one blow, up until he opens his mouth and they relax. You put more malevolent software in that sort of hardware and he'd be the next Shadow Governor.

But Laios is Laios. He's a gentle soul at heart (a Great Pyrenese, specifically, the gentlest souls ever unless you're out for their flock) and he is VERY CAREFUL with his strength, ESPECIALLY around his team. Chilchuck, who is literally half his size and underfed to boot, can smack Laios as much as he wants with ZERO fear because Laios is aware he can hurt Chilchuck by literally tripping over him, so he just stays still and lets Chilchuck smack at him. I'd be surprised if he ever managed to leave a bruise. Chilchuck has to aim at Laios' weak spot (back of the knee here) just to get Laios to notice him!

But because I have some experience with marital arts and close combat, I think the fight with Shuro exemplifies my point so fucking well! Laios is HURT here, he's living every autistic person's worst nightmare.

And he HOLDS BACK. His restraint is fucking IMMACULATE.

Shuro is fucking lucky Laios still liked him when he started talking shit, because he would have broken his spine otherwise. Laios doesn't even take the fight seriously! He starts with a fucking SLAP.

Shuro retaliates with an actual punch (that does nothing but piss him off)

Laios wobbles. Shuro HITS THE DIRT.

And this is the part where he realizes just how outside his weight category he is. Shuro definitely has technique on his side, but that means jackshit when you need ten blows to to even bruise your opponent, but one hit from them will leave you drinking through a straw for a week. For a second there, Shuro thought he was in ACTUAL DANGER.

But instead of finishing the job, Laios tries to talk him down, which just sets him off again. Man was at his fucking LIMIT, and it snapped. Self-preservation who?

And the best part is? Shuro is throwing all his strength behind his punches and Laios just takes them, but Laios? He mostly pushed Shuro around!

They're mostly grappling here, precisely because Laios is very conscious his friend is pretty fragile right now.

And when he does have enough?

Shuro is flat on the ground again, and Laios has a black eye and a bloody nose. He sits down and five minutes later he's ready to go! Like yes, Shuro was at a low point here, but he's been mowing through monsters at only a bit slower pace than Laios' party. He's no weakling regardless. And Laios had to HOLD BACK SO HE WOULDN'T HURT HIM. And it's so obvious that Maizuru takes one look at the two of them and leaves them to their toussling.

When I saw her reaction I had to scroll back and take another look, because I was sure she would intervene! But she doesn't! She is aware of Laios' strength, she has to be, and she doesn't lift a finger to help her precious charge. She knows the big dog he's wrestling with knows to watch his strength.

And that's my whole point: my boi is STRONK AF! And he is very aware of his strength, and how he could hurt the people around him is he wasn't careful, so he is ALWAYS CAREFUL. He has deeply internalized the fact that to have strength is to be careful with it, to use it in service of people rather than to hurt them (possibly from his dad). He is going to SUCH a good king! He's not going to like the job but by GOD he will do it really well.

And I will give my right arm to see a fic about the first corrupt lord/governor/courtier who attempts to misuse their authority for their own gain. Kabru's gonna have to talk Laios out of an execution.

[leah-lover]

Alone. Leah Williamson x reader.

Smut 18+

Motherhood was no easy job. Kids, they take all that you have. From privacy to time, all your day would revolve around them.

You and Leah have been mothers to your twins for four years. In those years all you two did was work as professional soccer players and mothers. You both wanted to create the best childhood for your children so you would spend all your waking hours with them. From swimming lessons, to dance lessons, to soccer practice and play time at home you were swamped.

Another problem with your kids was that they were attached to you, they wouldn't sleep anywhere over near anyone but you two.

You missed your wife very much. You missed her touch, her dominance, and her feeling inside you. Luckily, Leah was very close to her mother. So she and the rest of her family have been bribing and manipulating your twins into staying at their house for a sleepover. The idea wasn't easy at first but after trial, error, and time they successfully confused them to go to their house.

—------

“ Goodbye my loves, have a great night.” You say as you wave goodby to your twins and slam the door shut.

As soon as the door was closed you were hit with a wave of silence that you have been craving for a long time. There wasn't anyone asking for anything or screaming loudly, there was only silence and an embrace from your wife.

“ I am gonna run the bath, you bring the champagne.”she whispers in your ear before giving you a kiss on the cheek.

After a little while you go to the bathroom with a bottle of rosé only to find Leah lighting candles, and blasting relaxing music.

You both strip off your clothes and go to the bathtub. You lay on Leah’s chest leaving only the bubbles between your naked bodies.

“ I have missed you so fucking much “ says Leah while placing small shallow pecks across your shoulder to which you reward her with a small soft moan.

“I missed you too baby. I missed your lips on my skin and your hands inside me.” You whisper in her ears before starting to kiss her slowly and properly. Your kiss was needy and filled with months’ worth of longing.

You stayed in the tub for a little while talking, kissing, and in each other's arms.

You reminisced about your time before children. The times when you would have multiple rounds a day anywhere in the house. You also remembered all the times you got caught in the middle of sex, and when you were loud and scared your sleeping babies.

“Baby I need to feel you inside me “ you say to her squeezing her thigh.

“So needy baby.” She exclaimed.

She then picked you up after you got out of the tub and took you over to the bed. She placed you down, your body still damp from the tub, parted your legs and slid between them. She then kissed you but this kiss was rough and demanding. You always liked that there were two sides tho Leah, the one in the tub and the one kissing you now.

“Leah please please fuck me “ you beg.

“are you that fucking needy for me baby? Is your clit craving my touch this hard?”

“ Yes daddy please fuck me I will be your good girl please daddy.” You beg her.

She then rolls down your body kissing every inch of those skin until she stops at your core.

“Is all of this for me? Did I make you this fucking wet baby?“

You respond by releasing the filthiest moan of the night. She then starts to kiss your inner thighs, then she places shallow kisses on your clit followed by real kisses, then she starts to slowly rubbing circles on your swollen, puffy clit. It didn't take much for you to start begging for her to let you come ,which she agrees to.

“ One more time baby “ she demandes as she gets out the strap and puts it on her core. The strap she chose was double ended so both of you could feel each and every thrust. She started out slowly putting the length of the whole strap in and out of you fucking herself on the process.

“You are so fucking beautiful.”she whispers when she leans down to kiss you. After a while she starts to pick up the pace and fucks you harder and faster. The room was filled with moans and whimpers coming from the both of you.

“ Want us to come together “she says before leaning down again to kiss you. She then puts her head on your shoulder and fucks you harder and deeper which sets you both over the edge.

After you both calmed down and Leah has disposed of her toy, you lay in bed, you on her chest.

“ I love you so fucking much “ she whispers, kissing you temple, dizzy with love.

“I love you too. We should do this more often.” you joked before falling asleep.

Let me know if you want part 2.

[wordsarelife]

"why are you always flirting in near death situations?" With Mattheo and bestie reader or girlfriend reader please. I love your imagined so much and this is my first time requesting 🥺

—willow

pairing: mattheo riddle x fem!reader

summary: mattheo has a brilliant idea for a date.. not

warnings: mentions of sex, a bit suggestive but no actual smut

notes: this was so fun to write anon, thank you!! please send more of these asks in the future! at the moment i mostly enjoy writing for mattheo or theo (or theo and belle -> from my fic call it what you want)

"this was the stupidest idea ever" you mumbled walking next to mattheo "you really outdid yourself this time"

"isn't it romantic?" he gestured in the air around you

you looked around confused "horrifying is more the word i would use"

"don't be so negative all the time" mattheo outstretched his arm and intertwined your fingers "this is the perfect spot for a quickie" he smirked

"you disgust me" you rolled your eyes, while still watching around you uncertain. mattheo had dragged you outside for a walk. in the forbidden forest. at night. "you really are pushing your luck"

"ahh" mattheo almost made a noise that sounded like a giggle "you wouldn't leave me"

"go on with that behaviour and you'll find out" you smiled sarcastically. mattheo relaxed when you squeezed his hand "can we please go back now?" you muttered

"are you scared?" mattheo laughed

"of course not" you shook your head "i just don't want to explain why my boyfriend disappeared"

"are you planning to murder me?"

"no body, no crime" you shrugged

"yeah.." mattheo trailed off and you grew suspicious

"matty?" you asked

"huh?"

"you do know where we are... right?"

"pfff" mattheo looked behind you "of course" he raised his arm to point in a general direction "there's that thing back there"

"you have no idea" you sighed, more to yourself than to him

"i was busy looking at you"

"don't do this right now" you breathed "this is just great" you turned around, trying to find a hint of the way that would lead you back to the castle "did you never read hansel and gretel?"

"what?" he asked flabbergasted

"the muggle tale about the siblings getting lost in the forest, who find their way back using bread crumbs" you got a bit heated and started speaking louder

"no?" mattheo replied offended "why would i?"

"because we are in the exact same position as they were, aren't we? where are our bread crumbs?"

"i'm not sure what you mean, the kitchen has been closed for hours" he said confused

"i'm not talking about actual bread crumbs" you replied frustrated while messaging the space between your eyebrows.

"ooh, yeah.. i understand what you mean" matty nodded and for a short second you had the hope that he put a bit of planning into this idiotic idea "whatever the equivalent of bread crumbs is.. i did not bring it" mattheo admitted and shrank under your gaze

"did you bring anything? a map at least?"

"ehh.. no"

"what was your plan exactly, matty?" you crossed your arms

"well" mattheo said, scratching his neck "my plan was to come here and have sex behind a tree. yeah.. that was it"

"do you ever think with your head?"

"not about you, no"

"okay" you tried to calm yourself down "i'm gonna get us out of here"

"i'm so proud to have such a brilliant girlfriend"

"flattering won't get you anywhere tonight, baby" even though his strategy didn't work, mattheo was glad that you didn't seem as angry as before

"sure" he nodded "what are we gonna do"

"first we're--" you paused, suddenly noticing something that send a shiver down your spine

"baby?" mattheo asked, confused why you had suddenly stopped talking "is everything alright?"

"no" you shook your head, before you grabbed his arms, gently turning him around so he could see what you did

"shit" mattheo said as he noticed the webs and the signs, that had warnings of spiders plastered all over them

"this is my worst nightmare" you panicked. there was nothing, really nothing in the world you were more scared of than spiders. mattheo knew that. his eyes softened as he noticed you shaking and grabbing at his hand.

"don't worry" mattheo whispered to calm you down, suddenly remembering something very important "i did bring a map" he took out a parchment and held it in your direction. theo had been as impressed as you by mattheo's stupid idea, so he had drawn a map, just to make sure you both would survive the night. "theo coulnd't talk me out of it, but he gave me this"

"i need to tell theo that i love him" you said relieved. theo's handwriting was neat, so you had no problem to read what he had drawn.

"this kinda turns me off, baby"

you send mattheo a look. "you better be kidding. why are you even turned on in the first place?"

"you look so hot in that dress" mattheo smiled "my pretty lady" he kissed you on the neck longingly

"why are you always flirting in near death situations?" you asked, impressed how he was still able to concentrate on sex while you were literally surrounded by possible danger

"we're not dying, are we?"

"i suppose?"

"i will never not get turned on by you as long as i can breath"

"matty" you giggled as he sucked on your sweet spot "i'm not gonna have sex with you right now and definitely not here"

"too bad" mattheo acted disappointed "how about my room? i'll get rid of theo"

"don't you think he already did enough for us tonight?" you asked, raising theo's map "we can go to my room" you sighed "but get us out of here first"

"yes ma'am"

[kujakumai]

On the subject of being good with children, which characters do you think WOULD be good babysitters?

YUGIOH CHARACTERS AS BABYSITTERS, RANKED

TOP PICKS:

Seto Kaiba runs an entire company dedicated exclusively to safely entertaining children, and unless his parks are getting continually sued I believe he knows how. Your kindergartner is not only safe with him but will probably leave knowing how to play chess and write in C++. He may allow them to play with knives, but only if they're 9 or over, plus he has all the emergency numbers on speed-dial.

Hiroto Honda babysits his niblings on the regular. Can warm a bottle and change a diaper. A level-headed and practical guy. He’ll be fine as long as his friends don't drag him into a horrible game-themed deathtrap. Don't ask why that caveat exists.

Rishid Ishtar is safe, experienced, has dad energy, however he will crumple like wet paper at the first sign of conflict re: ice cream for dinner / no bedtime / blood-soaked cross-country quest for revenge / an extra episode of cartoons over the screentime limit.

Ishizu Ishtar would make a great babysitter. I don't really have a quirky joke here she just would.

"MAYBE"S

Jonouchi used to watch his little sister and I think he'll do about as well as any other teenager you're paying minimum wage, and with a lot of earnest enthusiasm. Your child will be fine at the end of the night, though they will probably have eaten some junk food and played a T rated videogame.

I do not think Atem would know what to do with a baby, and may panic about it, though if you have an older child he will be happy to offer a rousing speech and some deep-voiced mentorlike advice while teaching them to play board games. Not a bad choice, just try not to leave him with anyone under seven.

Yugi knows zilch about kids and often appears a little annoyed by them. Same general rules as Atem--do not leave him with a baby, but he'll probably just teach an older kid to play shogi or something.

Mai Kujaku will put the kid in front of the television and order pizza while she paints her nails. Honestly, though, what more are you paying her for?

Listen, I love Anzu. I do. She’s smart, driven, and big-hearted, but she is also sort of short-tempered and impatient, and patience is like 90% of child-rearing. Please do not ask Anzu Mazaki to watch your children. She WILL say yes because she needs the money, and she WILL go into it with optimism and gumption, and yes, both she and your child will both be in one piece at the end of the night, but it will be clear from both of their frazzled expressions that she lost most of her sanity an hour in after the fifth "Why?"

DEFINITELY NOT

Ryou Bakura would in theory be a perfectly good, if kind of spacey, babysitter, but you cannot trust him to remain Ryou Bakura, and the other guy is definitely not someone you want anywhere near your children.

I don't think Marik Ishtar has ever interacted with a child for very long and the number of people he talks to that are even his own age is in the single digits. And he is definitely not getting spat on or dealing with any bathroom stuff. I'm not saying he can't figure it out but the learning curve is going to be steep.

I have to put Yami Bakura here in principle and yet for some reason I think it wouldn't go that bad? I mean he definitely doesn't care about the safety of your child. And he may enlist them to the armies of darkness. And he's not cleaning anything up. But he's like, a weird socially awkward over-the-top guy? And children love those? Honestly I think they would both have fun. For at least an hour until everything goes horribly wrong.

Please do not summon Zork Necrophades to babysit your child.

[pressureplus]

Hihii! Hope your all doing well

Could you please do human Sebastian Headcannons where it’s his or our birthday and writhed we get him something or we get him something?? My birthday was yesterday n I think this’ll be cute <3

Remember to take breaks <3

-💫

Hi! We're doing good, thank you for asking ❤️ (We get our breaks by taking turns making stuff, so don't worry too much about that)

It's a day late, but happy birthday, Anon! I hope it was a good one!

Birthday Wishes

Pairings: Sebastian Solace x GN!Reader

Au: Classic

Warnings: N/A

◞꒷◟ ͜ ͜ ◞ྀི◟୨୧◞ྀི◟ ͜ ͜ ◞꒷◟◞꒷◟ ͜ ͜ ◞ྀི◟୨୧◞ྀི◟ ͜ ͜ ◞꒷◟

Everything has to be perfect. As perfect as it can possibly be from a place like this.

He's made sure to send Y/N out on a supply run he's hoping is going to take quite a while, needing some extra time to prepare for something he's making out to be a big event.

As much as he hates sending his dumb little diver anywhere without either going with them or watching them, he's taken a great deal of caution in getting them supplied and assuring the halls were not active today... Sebastian has well enough ferryman tokens in stock to bribe and barter with should anything happen, worse case scenario.

Shaking his head, he attempts to get rid of those paranoid tendencies so he can finish hanging up the streamers. The bastard fish had been awfully mean to Y/N this morning trying to throw them off so they wouldn't catch any hints for the surprises he's planned. The experiment still is not the best with putting that guard down that's been built up so he can live down here, but he's been trying. Y/N has made him really want to try.

Part of him is still nervous about this, scared that once they get this gift and use it that they'll figure out that they don't want him. He's scared that they'll settle on the thought that they only wanted his company out of desperation, lingering on the idea a bit too long and decide to go find someone else. The anxiety has left his hands shaking a good portion of the morning.

But he has to trust them. They've earned that a few hundred times over for being patient with him for so long.

Sebastian has been preparing for this day for years, and in truth this was for himself at first. This was supposed to be for him. He worked for it, scavenged for it, fought, killed, and lived for it. He's been running this shop for so long it's all he knows anymore and it was always for this.

It wasn't until Y/N came along it stopped being for him and started being for the both of them.

There's even a cake, and though he's still a bit concerned they're not going to like his less than stellar icing designs, he knows it's your favorite flavor so he's sure you won't hate it.

When he decides he's made it up nice enough and that he's brave enough to greet you, he makes his way back to his shop and sits waiting, trying not to mull over his choices, hoping that it will go well.

It doesn't take long, maybe another half hour at most, for his favorite person to stroll back in.

"Sebby! I'm home!" Y/N greets him first, going to set the small crate of goods down near the doorway.

"Took you long enough. Hard run?" He teases, reaching one of those big clawed hands down to ruffle their hair. Smile a little wider and eyes a little brighter, he can't deny he's excited.

"No! It was actually super easy! I didn't find even an ounce of data, though..." Seeming disappointed, they almost go to sulk before he catches them.

"No, no, I have made well enough for the week." He reaches under the desk and pulls out a messily wrapped box.

"Plus, it's your birthday, isn't it?" Sebastian grins.

It takes Y/N a long beat of silence to perk up, eyes sparkling under the outdated LEDs.

"It is! You remembered my birthday?" They snatch the present up and instinctually shake it.

"Ah, don't get too happy about it, I saw it on the calendar." The fishy man tries to play it off for longer, really dragging it out.

"I'd say happy birthday, but could it really be happy in the Blacksite?" He pokes, the snide jab not seeming to bring Y/N down at all.

"It is with you!" They give him a beaming grin and start to open their box.

Nearly choking, Sebastian feels his face heat up a bit and his heart stops in his chest. How is he not supposed to treasure his Y/N? How could anyone think they were anything less than amazing?

"Well, it is a special day nonetheless. You only get this old once." He adjusts his comment to match their mood, still reminding himself to soften up for them.

He's decorated it in their favorite colors, colorful streamers matching all the little things that's going to make it feel like a home.

"You got me a plushy?! Where'd you find one!?" Y/N tugs the stuffed toy out of the box and squeezes it, very clearly resembling their favorite mythical creature.

"Would you believe it was luck?" He chuckles, lying to them point blank. He'd made it by hand, but doesn't want the tears or teasing from you that would come with admitting that.

"Thank you so much, Sebastian! You're the best!" Y/N only continues to shine in the dimly lit shop.

"I've got something else for you. It's in the back." He places a hand on their waist to usher the former prisoner along towards the grand finale.

"Is it really gonna beat the plushie?" They joke and he snickers.

"I'd certainly hope so, it's your party." He uses another of his massive hands to cover your eyes and lead you out past the room, guiding your step up on a completely unfamiliar stair.

"Woah, is this a new room?" Y/N looks confused.

"Yep. It's your room now. We're still going to be sharing, but it's brand new." He hesitates for another few seconds.

Closing his own eyes, he tries to stay calm. Ripping that metaphorical bandaid off, his hands come away from them to let Y/N look around.

And Y/N finds themself in a submarine.

"You... Your deal went through. . ." They look around at the painstaking way he's furnished and decorated it.

"Yep. I got us a way out." He closes the door behind him and Y/N whips around to look at him.

"We're leaving!? WE'RE LEAVING TODAY?!" They look shaken, but more excited than he thinks he's ever seen before in his life.

The fear melts away watching the way they go and cheer, tossing their new plush onto the bed at the back of the vessel and laughing, already chattering about showing him the places they wanna go. If nothing he does ever goes right again his whole life, he's done good doing this.

Sebastian pulls another mischievous look and holds out the keys, barely catching their severely divided attention with the shiny new keyring.

"Happy Birthday, Y/N."

[normal-thoughts-official]

here is the thing

when i started playing bg3, i didn't expect wyll to be so devoted to karlach. her devotion to him is a given; the guy risked his life to save her when they had literally just met. of course he matters so much to her

but wyll matched that same devotion right back, as if she had been the one to save him, even though karlach never really got the chance to do anything of that magnitude back for him

but then i think about it

mizora's punishment plays directly into wyll's worst trauma. to be suddenly branded as demonic, so people will always look at him and see that first. like his father did. like the whole city, everyone who ever knew him, did. no amount of good deeds will ever be enough to compensate for his association with evil; his soul will burn in hell and he will not be welcome anywhere because he's a greedy warlock who made his choice. i don't know if that is actually true, but he certainly thinks it to be, if anything, from his assumption that the people of the grove (whose lives he had just saved, and who had known him for at least a few days as nothing but a kind hero who looked out for them) would be unable to look past his appearance and wouldn't want him near them

and mind, mizora clearly wants wyll to stay isolated. why else would she forbid him from explaining the circumstances of his pact? what could she possibly gain from that, other than making sure he can never dispel the notion that he made a deal with the devil simply for power?

so it makes sense that that, more even than the non-consensual body modification, was the punishment. to put his warlock status on display, so that people would immediately be offput by him - and even if they aren't, he will be sure they are

his own father couldn't stand to look at him, and that was back when he had just lost an eye

but the first thing karlach tells him is this:

"Thank you for seeing me for who I really am. And... I think I can see you for who you really are, too. A hero"

obviously, it's common sense for her to see him like this after he just saved her life at great, and at the time unknown, personal cost. but it would also have been common sense for his father to know that the son he himself raised and who's nothing if not a paragon of kindness and duty wouldn't just decide to sell his soul for power out of the blue one fine day. or that, if he keeps trying to say something but can't, then there might be more to the story. for fuck's sake, he lost an eye. and yet, ulder didn't. wyll's association with the demonic was enough to dispel everything about his personhood, his values, and his actions. and now said association was branded, quite literally, on his forehead

and karlach's suffered so much at the hands of devils. just like with the other tieflings, he expects her to be unsettled by him, at the very least

but then she says that she looks at him and sees only a hero. the man who saved her. the man who cared enough to listen and do what was right. the man who sacrificed something for her, who had to make a choice no one should have to make

he had saved an entire city when he first made the pact, and yet not one soul in it was able to see that. see him

but karlach did

karlach does

and not only that. not only is she the first person in perhaps his whole life to put more weight to wyll's personhood and actions than to mizora's; but she knew he needed to hear that. she says it like someone who's trying to offer a comfort in a hopeless situation, which is exactly what she's doing. she knows that he is afraid of being rejected

and of course she does

she is the one who comes closest to fully understanding him.

can you imagine being wyll and seeing karlach's story play out in dizzyingly rapid succession in your mind? had a pretty good, happy life, then in the span of one day everything changed when she was associated with the demonic. she lost everything and everyone she ever had. from then on, she only knew one thing: to fight. no rest and no friends and no breaks, just endless, senseless fighting. her body was changed against her will. she hadn't been touched in a positive way in ten years. even fucking mizora was there

that's his story, too

sure, he might not have been literally unable to touch people, but neither was karlach when she was in hell. he's been completely alone except for mizora for the last seven years, at least in the ways that matter. nothing in his life was constant, except for the fighting and the humiliation at a devil's hand. and the loneliness

of course he thinks it's a trick. it hits too close to home

and of course he can't help but listen anyway. because wyll is nothing if not compassionate, and he's just watched a tldr of his own pain inflicted on someone else

so when karlach says that she still sees him as himself first?

he is reminded that she gets it

for the first time in seven years, he is not alone, and he is understood

of course he would do anything to keep her in his life, just as she would

in a way, she did save him, too.

(slightly late meta submission for @thekindredcollective's wyllstravaganza2024, day 19: bond)

[dilfguzzler]

john price headcanons!

back with my favourite old man! mr. sir captain john price

no pronouns, mention of lingerie as clothing so i'm going to say gn!reader

requests: open

A: Affection (How affectionate are they with a s/o?)

very affectionate behind closed doors. he's not big on pda and wouldn't be all over you in public (unless he's a bit drunk and feeling clingy)

but at home, in your own little space, he loves being close to you. he's loves to just sit on the couch, you reading or on your phone, him watching the match or doing paperwork. he loves to drag your legs over his lap, feeling your presence just knowing you're there spending quality time together

B: Breath (What can their s/o do to take their breath away)

taking care of his boys. he was hesitant to bring you anywhere near his work, but he and his lads are as close as family and he spends the majority of his time with them, so it felt wrong to not introduce you all.

he didn't expect for you all to get along so well. he loves when you invite them for dinner, or make them drinks and snacks when they come over to watch the football. you even put up with their noisy cheering and for that he's very grateful

(he's particularly taken aback with how close you and simon are. he wasn't sure he'd ever see anyone who could take him out of his shell a bit but you two have a great bond.)

C: Cuddles (Do they cuddle? If they do, how and when do they cuddle?)

YES. Mr. man is a big cuddler. Especially at night, he will literally sleep on top of you. He claims it's for safety but you think it's because he's a big, ol' koala bear who can't bare to not be snuggled up

D: Dream (What do they dream of doing with their s/o?)

I think he's quite the traditionalist and wants the whole nine yards of marriage and kids. he doesn't know so much if kids are in his future, but he definitely wants to marry you.

E: Effort (How much effort do they put into a relationship?)

a lot. he knows that it's a lot to expect someone to put up with a partner who's gone so frequently so he is always doing his best when you are together. expect lots of effort and love because he needs to show you how thankful he is for you

F: Fear (What do they do if their s/o is scared? How do they handle it?)

he does what you do for him. provide support in whatever form that looks like. time spent together doing mindless stuff, talking it out, reassuring you, cuddling you until you are overheating, taking a nap. literally anything he can do to help you, he will do.

G: Gifts (What type of gifts do they give their s/o? Do they want a gift in return?)

he doesn't ever expect anything from you. you already give him so much.

he definitely gives me practical vibes, in that most of his gifts are things you need. you want a new mixer for the kitchen? ok, no probs. you have a new hobby and need stuff for it? here you go.

some sexy as shit lingerie? well, i suppose that's more for him. but whatever

H: Hugs (Do they hug their s/o? How often?)

big hugger. and he's quiet as fuck, so when he sneaks up on you in the kitchen and wraps you up in a bear hug, he gives you an extra tight one to apologise. even though he'll do it again lol

he loves hugs

I: Intimacy (How romantic are they? Do they have problems with intimacy?)

he's a romantic old timey guy. loves a romantic dinner. loves kisses and hugs and i love you's. he just loves you and has no issues with showing you

J: Jealous (Do they get jealous? How do they act when jealous?)

i think so, but not from a place of mistrust of you, but of other people. i think he's just extra affectionate and more outwardly possessive. like he'll pull you into his side and kiss your cheek while eyeing up the other person

K: Kiss (Are they a good kisser? Do they like to kiss? How often do they try to kiss you?)

yes good kisser, his beard was a big adjustment at first though because damn can it poke you. but he loves kissing you, could spend his whole day kissing you.

big on good morning kisses, loves a bit of a make-out session before you go to sleep.

L: Love (When do they say they love you? How often do they say it? Do they prefer to say it or show it?)

i think he says it when he's like leaving the house, if he's missed you after a day at work, before going to sleep. he definitely prefers showing it though. he's always trying to find new ways to show you how much he loves you

M: Marriage (Do they want to get married? If so, what kind of ceremony?)

yes he wants to marry you. he doesn't care about what kind of ceremony, so much as he cares about who's there. he obviously needs the boys there, and his close family and anyone you want there. he doesn't want a huge wedding though, definitely only those closest to you both.

he also wants a bit of a party after, just so he can show you off

N: Night Out (What type of dates do they like to go on? How often do they like to go on them?)

he likes nights at the local pub the most. they do a banging roast and he likes to have a few drinks with you just catching up together.

O: Out of the Ordinary (What’s something they don’t normally do for/with their s/o?)

he HATES shopping. can't stand going around the shops, surrounded by people and crap on the shelves. it bothers him. so he leaves all the food shopping to you, and if he needs new clothes or anything he leaves that to you.

if you want to drag him to the shops, he expects lots of loving in return for making him suffer through that

P: Playful (Are they playful in a relationship? If so, how do they play around/mess with their s/o?)

yes i think so. he doesn't exactly seem playful on the outside, but he's a big dry-ass, dad joke maker. also, god does he like to tickle you a bit just to hear you laugh. he just can't resist it

Q: Questions (Do they ask their s/o their opinion on things? Do they share theirs?)

yes. he really values your opinion on things, especially on things you know more about than him. he loves to talk to you, ask you things and have you ask him things. it's one of his favourite things, just having chats with you

R: Random (How spontaneous is their relationship? Do they do things on the spot or plan ahead?)

i think he would like to be a planner, but with how randomly his job can take him away and how often he isn't sure when he'll be back, things end up being more spontaneous than he likes.

S: Sleep (How do they sleep with their s/o?)

as said before, he tends to sleep on top of you for "safety". however, if it's too hot, you will sleep on your own sides of the bed with something touching whether it be hands or knees or backs. always wants to be touching you

T: Trust (How much do they trust their s/o?)

he trusts you the same amount he trusts his boys. he has no doubt in your trust and knows he can trust you with anything and everything

U: Unique (What makes them unique as a s/o?)

his beard.

V: Vulnerable (How long until they can be vulnerable around their s/o? What are they like in this state?)

i think it takes him awhile. it's not a lack of trust, but more so that he's a captain in the SAS, he doesn't often get the chance to be vulnerable so he doesn't really know how to let that side of him show.

he's most vulnerable after a hard mission, or a nightmare. he just wants you near, to know you're safe when he's like this. he kind of just has to work his way through it, but has to know that you're there

W: Wild Card (Random Headcanon)

he loves woodworking. like if you need a new shelf or something made, he will do it in his free time. your current kitchen table was made by him, and it's the most gorgeous kitchen table you've ever seen

X: X-Ray (What would they do if their s/o got injured?)

he'd be calm and reasonable. his job doesn't allow time for panic and that is how he functions in his personal life. he would assess the situation and what needs to be done, and do it.

Y: Yuck (Do they have any pet peeves about their s/o? Are there any habits that might bother their s/o?)

he's a neat and clean guy, it's trained into him, so if you're messy that can get to him a bit. he likes things in order

i wouldn't say it bothers you, but damn can this man eat. like if you try to make a meal to last two days, bad news, he will eat it all. it's kind of fascinating.

Z: Zeal (Are they passionate as a s/o? Do they want or like passion?)

he's crazy about you and he knows you feel the same about him

[jazzmckay]

'I am your Paragon': a Branka analysis

companion piece to my other meta, 'Killing's what swords are for': an Oghren analysis.

upon playing dao for the first time, branka instantly fascinated me with how complex of a character she is. you hear many others speak of her long before you ever get to speak with her yourself. she is the only living paragon in four centuries. you walk into orzammar and immediately can overhear a conversation between a mother and daughter about how the daughter should strive to be more like branka. everyone has an opinion about branka, if you ask--many assume she's long dead, because no one can survive the deep roads for two years, while other consider that she had an entire house with her to protect her and there are still many ruins to take shelter in the abandoned thaigs. regardless of what they assume, both the men who are vying for the crown are searching for her, because her support would win them the election in a near instant. they can't afford to pass up the support of a living paragon. they especially can't afford to let their rival find her first, if she is still alive.

branka is more important than the prospective kings. she's more important even than king endrin's dying wishes--his naming of harrowmont as his heir is hotly debated and cannot be proven. some take it to heart, while others assume it's a lie, or that harrowmont manipulated a dying man into saying something he wouldn't have otherwise. but a king can be pronounced with a crown forged by a paragon, and said paragon does not need to be present for it to be taken as a decree. all that's needed is the warden to claim which king the paragon supported. a paragon is a living ancestor, a figure that the dwarven people look up to like gods.

branka is a paragon, and that is a weighty title to uphold.

in orzammar, castes and titles are everything. they define who a person must be, right from birth. the caste divide and the effect it has on the people is present everywhere you turn in orzammar. dust town shows you how little the casteless are regarded, including the story of a mother shunned by her family for having a baby with a casteless man. dagna's father insists she is a smith, and if she must pursue the field of magic, he can get her into enchanting, but there is nothing for her anywhere else. oghren is of the warrior caste, and his entire life is a fight. when warriors aren't busy defending their home, they're fighting in the provings. a person's caste comes with expectations, and not meeting those expectations comes with great risk.

as a paragon of the smith caste, it is branka's purpose to create something magnificent and long-lasting for the dwarven people. the invention that earned her paragon status is important, but not enough--once she had that title, the expectations were pilled on even more. caridin, a paragon of the smith caste before her, created the anvil of the void and provided the dwarves with the unstoppable golems to protect their empire. who is she to do anything less than he did?

an excerpt from your first conversation with branka:

Branka: [...] I don't care if the Assembly puts a drunken monkey on the throne. Because our protector, our great invention, the thing that once made our armies the envy of the world, is lost to the very darkspawn it should be fighting. The Anvil of the Void. The means by which the ancients forged their army of golems and held off the first archdemon ever to rise. It's here. So close I can taste it. [...] The Anvil lies on the other side of a gauntlet of traps designed by Caridin himself. My people and I have given body and soul to unlocking its secrets. This is what's important. This has lasting meaning. If I succeed, the dwarven people benefit. Kings, politics… all that is transitory. I've given up everything and would sacrifice anything to get the Anvil of the Void.

to branka, the election is nothing compared to her expedition for the anvil. the election is just one king who will probably die in a few decades, and very little will change in the grand scheme of things. orzammar is crumbling under the weight of the darkspawn, and what they need isn't one king over the other, it's the anvil.

Branka: Look around. Is this what our empire should look like? A crumbling tunnel filled with darkspawn spume? The Anvil will let us take back our glory!

and she feels like she must be the one to do it. she's a master of her craft, a paragon, and so she's the one who can give her people what they need, no matter the sacrifice.

the sacrifices she has made are many. 'body and soul', she says. her entire house ventured into the deep roads in search of the anvil, counting on her to make the risk worth it. they traversed abandoned thaigs that few have ever seen themselves--they're crawling with darkspawn, and considered lost. still, they make it through. the anvil isn't where they expected it. they have to push further. further into darkspawn territory. branka leaves a journal behind so that if she fails, someone who follows in her footsteps might be able to pick up where she left off, because this isn't about an individual, this is about the good of orzammar, and she believes the anvil is necessary to their survival. they end up in the dead trenches, a condemned place where only darkspawn and the legion of the dead dwell. and this is still only the beginning. ruck and hespith show us what happens to those who have nothing to sustain themselves with in these abandoned places except darkspawn flesh. hespith's haunting poem whispered within the tunnels tells of what branka did to counter caridin's traps--the members of branka's house became fodder at best, and at worst, one became a broodmother, capable of spawning yet more fodder for the task of defeating caridin's defenses. branka did this to her own people. to her own lover. it is not out of lack of caring--she still calls them 'my people'. it's simply that they had no other choice, in her mind.

during the first stretch of the fight towards the anvil, in a cavern littered with bodies, branka stands above, muttering to herself about what it took to get this far. she has anger for those to tried to oppose her. she tries to justify her actions. a common refrain is that this is their purpose, and they should have faced it bravely, no matter how horrific it was.

to the average player, this is horrific and unforgivable. hespith, branka's lover herself, calls it unforgivable too, and feels guilt for not being able to stop branka. the whole scene is dark, tragic, and unsettling. yet branka's actions are in line with her beliefs and motivations. she is the only living paragon in generations. her people are wasting away. the anvil could stop this. if she can use the anvil, even if it requires the sacrifice of her own soul, it would be worth it to save the rest of the dwarven empire. she speaks of the darkspawn with disgust and hatred, but turned one of her own into a broodmother because in her mind, that's what it would take. that's what had to be done.

branka isn't the only one to feel this way. it's an ideology that many dwarves hold. from a banter between oghren and shale:

Shale: My question is this: had the Anvil of the Void not been destroyed, does it believe the dwarves would have used it? Oghren: Hmm. You mean to create more golems? Oh yes, faster than you could squish a nug. Shale: Even knowing the agony that it caused? They would still inflict it on others? Oghren: No need to inflict it. There'd be plenty ready and willing to sign up, just as you did. There's fewer and fewer of us each year, and the darkspawn never run out. If it meant saving Orzammar? There'd be plenty who'd become a golem, sure.

the dwarves are always dealing with the darkspawn threat, not just during a blight. for them, protecting their city and people is paramount, and sometimes that requires ultimate sacrifices they are willing to pay. for branka specifically, there are extra expectations. there are heights to rise to. it may not seem like she has sacrificed herself, since she still lives while most of her house is dead, but she as an individual has been sacrificed to a cause that has taken everything from her. she is also likely not in entirely sound mind--like the others, there is little for her to eat in the dead trenches other than darkspawn flesh, and, if you side with her, you find out she's been hearing voices. you also find out that she didn't understand the full horror of the anvil. with high coercion, the warden can convince branka that she has gone too far, and she will destroy the anvil herself, even after everything she has poured into this expedition.

Branka: I can hear it! It wants to be used again. It speaks in a hundred different voices. Surely you can hear them. Warden: You mean the voices of all the dead souls trapped inside? Branka: The dead? You think that's who I hear? But… no! It's the Anvil, calling to be used! Oghren: Did you hear what Caridin said? Hundreds of people were bound into golems, trapped inside the Anvil when their bodies were destroyed. That's who you hear! Branka: No! It's not true! You lie! Warden: (Persuade) Think clearly and ask yourself where its power comes from. Branka: But… I will not believe that was Caridin. Caridin would never turn on his own invention. He was a genius. The best of us all! He… must have been wrong. The Anvil was Orzammar's salvation! Warden: Caridin was ready to die to see the Anvil destroyed. Branka: The voices… they've been calling to me for so long, and I didn't even… oh, Hespith tried to tell me, but I wouldn't listen. Oghren: You have to make this right. The Branka I knew would do what is right. Branka: The Anvil must be destroyed. It's an abomination. Go. Return to Orzammar. It's better they never know what became of me.

regardless of what happens at the anvil of the void, branka does not survive. branka, who became a figurehead of cunning and innovation, who became like a god. branka, who was not an individual anymore, but a purpose and a cause. branka, who gave up everything, including her entire house and her lover, for the protection of orzammar. her title told her what she had to be, and failure was not an option, even when her actions became atrocities. when you first meet her, the conversation ends with oghren questioning what has become of the woman he married years ago.

Oghren: What has this place done to you?! I remember marrying a girl you could talk to for one minute and see her brilliance.

and she replies, before turning to walk away,

Branka: I am your Paragon.

[thattimdrakeguy]

What Happens When You Only USED To Care

I find it extremely hard to take any person in the fandom that does that schtick where they make fun of Tim based on made up or overly exaggerated stuff seriously.

I can't even find it within myself to give them the power of my hate, because it's more like a fly near your ear. You swat em away and bye bye bye.

Maybe it's because I know so much about how DC ended up being, that I can tell when they're bullshitting and saying stuff others put in their ear.

I mean you take a kid's favorite toy, and add modifications and paint jobs that take away the whole point of the toy, the kid's aren't going to want to play with it anymore.

Am I expected to blame the toy itself?

Especially with how the fandom has bastardized these characters that they so clearly love, but they still constantly get cancelled.

And I won't make mention of who, because someone will get sensitive, and plus then say "WELL TIM DID TOO" showing they're completely missing my point and didn't read the whole post.

I'm not sure why the fandom thinks taking complex and fascinating characters that allowed readers to escape their potentially bleak lives to jump into something more joyful (at least in an entertainment kind of way) and turning them into sitcom tropes is a great idea that OH IS SO GREAT, and EVERYONE WILL PREFER.

'Cause when the comics start copying that trend, you're actually scaring most people away.

Sure it's different from the big bad edgy we had to deal with a while, but it's still not getting these things back to were the once were.

You're replacing the bad, with a different flavor of bad. This time coated in a superficial dusting of praise that doesn't help anything get anywhere.

See, the fandom isn't as big as it may seem. It functions as an echo chamber which gives the illusion of their being way more. These comics wouldn't constantly be cancelled if they were as good or as popular as people make them out to be.

So all those posts praising the nonsense are as functional as having that one friend who praises you no matter what while the rest of the world says otherwise. Might feel good at the time, but let's face it, it gets you nowhere.

And that's just how the internet works. A bunch of little weirdos sitting around making their chamber, and thinking what they say to someone else still matters.

But it don't.

It doesn't.

They're all just so confident they mean something, when they mean as much to the greater world as a weed so far out of view, you don't bother trying to pull it.

You can make up what ever you want, and try to be as abrasive and irritating about what you made up as much of you want, go out praising when some desperate writer that settles for brownie points over critical praise and legacy puts it into a comic to find validation also as much as you want.

But the lack of genuine interest from most people still leaves it as a dud.

So many characters people think are popular, when they're tragically not, no matter if they were formerly good, is saddening. Because a lot of these characters at one point were good, and interesting, and genuinely popular beyond the small pond filled with indignity.

At best they have fan bases that once cared but now no longer do. That don't bother paying attention, because why should they after being denied the simple thing they want--good writing and characterization. The whole reason most start reading in the first place.

I might point one finger at one of these dudes, because I can comfortably say I used to love them too.

No one bothers trying to help out, and bring them back up though.

They want the instant glorification from a bunch of nobodies, who don't care about them as a person, and are only a validation machine instead of anything with a beating heart in it that will truly be there for them when times gets rough besides thoughts and prayers alone.

And as many years as I've seen this stuff, it never stops.

If I haven't been in a better place since I've almost entirely left DC behind in the dust, I would consider that depressing.

These people are online doing this so much that it is what they dedicate their lives to.

It is their life.

They made themselves so unlikable though, that a lot can't be bothered to find pity.

If you have to rewrite reality in your brain, what's the point of living there? You're just convincing yourself you're the only one not wrong, with no hint of irony. What a weirdo thing to do.

Clinging on to things with no solid backing.

In the grand scheme of things they are that insignificant unless you're also stuck in the chamber.

Hell, the only reason I made this post as long as it is, is less out of care and passion, and more because I can't help myself from being overly wordy.

If only DC could be fucked to remember what it takes to write good stories instead of ripping fandom people off. Maybe something would click in and once again take off.

And giving the illusion they now care--

As we can see with the frequent cancelations--

That only works when you have the talent and know how, to tell good stories, with great characters once again. A retro paint job and partially putting the character where they should be can only do so much, when limited talent has to take the rest of the wheel.

Otherwise all you're gonna get is a month or two of decent sells...and it's back into the dumpster again. Where the higher ups might eventually decide to blame the toy and not the manufacturers.

Unless you're Batman or Superman or that level of iconic/popular.

Disappointingly and quite obviously, it's not hard to know if not assume most characters don't have that level of icon to have their back in the dark times. Meaning most go back into the void unless the ones upstairs think this time their new failed from the start scheme will win them all back.

The secret of success in comics is simple, now it may not go back to the way it was, but they can still come back a bit, and here's the secret--

Learn how to fucking tell good stories, with good characterization, with artists that are beyond simply having good talent, but actual passion that shows them how everything's supposed to be.

If I order a nerf gun, and comes not looking anything like what it did on the box.

You know damn well the person who bought it is going to be displeased and not order from them again.

You're testing customer loyalty, and the economy not doing as grand, and prices going up--

The amount of time you have to get them back is depleting.

So get your head out of your ass and actually do something.

[thelonelyshore-if]

Have you done the NSFW alphabet thingy for Beck? If not... would you? 🥺

Beck's alphabet below the cut <3

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

Beck is always wired afterwards. Like, you'd think they'd be worn out, but it energizes them. They'll typically be pretty chatty and restless. 

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

He isn't shy and is in fact rather vain lmao he thinks he's sexy as hell. If he had to pick, he likes his legs. And on a partner…he likes the stomach. Good for kissing. 

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

She really enjoys watching her partner swallow. Or covering their face. 

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

Beck has absolutely had sex and/or made out with someone all over town lmao she's an exhibitionist. The risk gives her a rush. 

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

Decently experienced! They've had a few casual partners and one night stands; they know what they're doing. 

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

Mmmmm I don't think they actually have a favorite tbh? They're very flexible, sex is sex. 

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

Oh you know he's lighthearted af in bed. Sometimes he can be serious, especially if it's a bit more of an intense encounter, but he's big on keeping it fun. 

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

They've tried going completely bare once or twice but the upkeep bores them. Probably keeps things decently natural. They have a happy trail.

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

The romantic aspect is the part Beck struggles the most with. He's not always the gentlest and romantic intimacy makes him skittish. Will try to distract a partner rather than focus on Feelings.

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

Beck would love to touch themself while their partner watches. They love putting on a show.

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

As mentioned, exhibitionism. She's also really into biting and marking, play fighting, and spanking. 

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

Anywhere at all–bonus points if there's some kind of risk involved. Partial to the Literal Forest, and also on/against their motorcycle.

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

Danger and risk turn them on. After a near-death experience there's nothing they'd want more than to have sex. It's a rush. They also just really enjoy fucking their partner whenever possible.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

Hmm…they wouldn't like being tied up. Being restrained would Not Be Great for them. 

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

He really loves receiving. Watching his partner get on their knees for him…it drives him wild. He doesn't like giving as much, but he can get really into it to pleasure his partner. 

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

Beck hasn't ever done anything slow in her entire life. 

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

You know they love a quickie. They can be convinced to have a little quickie pretty much whenever. 

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

Beck will try pretty much anything. They enjoy experimenting, it's exciting to try new things. 

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

She can go for a while, but after she's come it takes her a minute to regain her breath. After a bit of time though she'll be ready to go again as many times as you want c:

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

I think he doesn't have a lot by way of toys…but he definitely has like. A single pair of handcuffs lol

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

In theory teasing is great, but they simply do not have the patience.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

Beck is not a subtle person. They are noisy–they verbally tease, they have a lot to say, they enjoy making their pleasure known lol. 

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

They enjoy fighting for dominance–making out and play fighting until they've pinned their partner (or been pinned, themself)

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes) 

Beck is eager to show off. They're surprisingly muscular for their relatively slim frame–they're lithe. They have a few scars from various accidents and injuries, and they'll tell you the story of each and every one. 

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

Very c:

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

He doesn't really sleep after sex. In part it's because he doesn't often do it right before bed; the other part of it is that he always ends up Wired after.

[abarbaricyalp]

At The End Of It

If someone asked me at the end / I'll tell them put me back in it / Darling, I would do it again / If I could hold you for a minute / Darling, I'd go through it again / I would still be surprised I could find you, darling / In any life / If I could hold you for a minute / Darling, I would do it again --Francesca, Hozier

The angel--Bucky was calling it an angel. It described itself with scientific terms, but it was a celestial storm that he couldn't fathom, so he was calling it an angel--watched him with curious, maybe even fond, eyes. Angels were supposed to look like men on Earth. But he supposed this wasn't really Earth. Earth was impossibly far away and right below them at once. And the angel wasn't really real. It was ideas and galaxies and a split second of clarity as his eyes went out of focus during a blink.

"James Barnes, would you like to think on this decision some more?" it asked. "We have all of eternity together."

"No," Bucky said easily. "I want to go back. I'll do it all again. You promise I end just where I was?"

"Near enough," the angel forfeited with a wave of something akin to a hand that moved space like a tsunami wave.

"Then I'll go back."

The angel moved like a solar system over a year and Bucky felt it was much closer to him, peering at him like AJ always stared at the fish or the hamsters when he was a kid, and like all of his kids did and all of his grandkids. "If you accept this deal, you will be put back into the same life, suffer the same hardships. If you want to go back to Sam Wilson, you must go all the way back to the train."

Bucky didn't flinch the way he had the first time the angel had said it. It had talked about timelines and branches and alternate universes. Bucky was caught up enough on his reading to know about all of that. Had met multiversal selves. The offer was one he hadn't ever heard before though.

He had died. No two ways about it. He'd watched them drag his body away from the battle, watched a whole funeral and national mourning-ish. It had all passed like no time at all beside the angel. Hell, he hadn't even noticed the angel until things had calmed down a little at home. Until he could bear to look away from his family.

Then the angel had offered to bring him back to life, but anew. Restart him like a checkpoint in a video game. Where did he want his new life to end up? The checkpoints would vary. When he'd said all he cared about was finding Sam again, the angel had shown him the train in the Alps. The cold and the wind was real in their shared impossible space. His cheeks were chapping as he stood there.

"Yeah," he'd said with a sigh, "I figured you'd say that."

After all, there was no Sam if he never made it to the twenty first century and he didn't make it that far without the Winter Soldier.

"Let's get on with it."

And the angel hesitated. Bucky wouldn't have figured celestial storms hesitated, but it did. The stars shuttered overhead like a faulty film reel. Earth spun on in a dizzying blur. Babies he didn't know the names of grew up in their house.

"Do you know how much pain is on this path?" the angel had asked. "You could start anywhere else. Have anything else."

Bucky had shook his head, stubborn even in death. Sam would get a kick out of being right about that. Not that Bucky would ever tell him. "I want Sam. There's nothing else in all the cosmos you could offer me to change my mind."

The angel had nodded, probably, but it hadn't put him back yet. "Would you not want to see what life would've been like if you hadn't joined the war?" it asked. "You have an entire story there."

Bucky shook his head, crossed his arms over his chest, dug his heels into the not-ground. "I want to get back to Sam." It had already been a decade without him. Bucky had been wishing for any kind of moment just like this for that long already. "Will I remember him when I go back?"

The angel circled around in great bursts of air and time. "Not specifically, but it will all be written in the bone of you. You may feel as if you are searching for something, but never be able to name it. You may realize something terrible is coming, but not be able to stop it. You may recognize the pain and live through it all over again."

"Okay," Bucky agreed. "Put me back on the train. Or drop me off of it, I guess. Wouldn't want to jinx not being thrown out the side again."

Hands came upon Bucky's cheeks, burning like starlight and age. "Do you love him that much?" it asked.

Bucky pressed forward into the angel's space, the celestial cold-heat of it. "I would suffer every torture over and over for all eternity if it meant I got to see him at the end of the day. I would live as the Winter Soldier for innumerable lifetimes if I always got to build a life with him when it was over. There will never be a version of me, like this, that will choose anything else. Put me back and let me find him again."

The angel let go of him with a sigh like a rainstorm. "As you wish, James Barnes."

And then he was a young man falling between mountains. Wildly, out of nowhere, he wished he had a guy with wings nearby ready to catch him.

[millylotus]

DeadLights [Danny x Duke | DP x DC] Masterpost

THE WINNER OF THE POLE IS DEADLIGHTS!!! FUCKING LOVE THAT!!! Here's the masterpost for all the contestants, all of them will be posted in due time :]

So this post is going to have all the AUs in a line, and if you don't wanna be jumping around on Tumblr, I'll be posting these on Ao3 and Wattpad soon.

Spotify Playlist

GENERAL NOTES

Just the things that are gonna be consistent across all the AUs unless I say so.

Pt.2 [Claim Sheets]

THE FICS | AO3 SERIES

I SEE ALL OF YOU & YOU ARE MAGNIFICENT - monster x monster :

Danny and Duke see each other for the first time and are absolutely mesmerized by how gorgeous the other is. They fail to realise that being around another monster has made them both more comfortable letting their glamours fall.

MEMES!!!

WRITTEN IN THE STARS, BEFORE WE WERE EVEN BORN - betrothal au :

Light and Time met at the beginning of existence and made a deal. To make sure the other wouldn't back out and take everything, they invested in a collateral. Two of their kin to be born, will be wed. Betrothal contracts were not what Duke or Danny wanted for breakfast.

MEMES!!!

"YOU TAUNT ME, I CHASE YOU" "YOU CATCH ME, THEN LET ME GO" THEY DO IT AGAIN THE NEXT DAY - bat x cat :

Catwoman has a Kitten following her around, and that Kitten just so happens to like messing around with Batman's Sunshine Birdy. No Duke isn't a furry, Tim shut the fuck up you still haven't confessed to Kon! He and Bruce don't have the same type! Besides, the new kid Danny is much prettier than Selina's nephew. Tucker and Sam say Danny has a "vigilantes who can beat his ass" thing, which is stupid cause it's more of a "people who can beat his ass" thing. Cause like Duke Thomas from Algebra is hot.

MEMES!!!

MESMERIZED BY A BANSHEE'S SCREAMS - rockstar au :

Ember, Johnny, and Danny decided to fuck off to Gotham and start a punk-rock band. The new band that Dax found is fucking amazing, but Duke's eyes keep drifting to the pretty bassist.

No Memes, but there's a Spotify playlist on the post!

RASBERRY & LEMON DELIGHTS - countryboy!danny x emopunk!duke :

Duke and Damian go to the Kents for the summer, just for fun. The cute boy from the farm on the edge of town is definitely making the summer less lonely and more fun, they get to make sweets together. Danny is taking a gap year and has been staying with his Aunt Alicia since last summer. Things are boring until their closets neighbors the Kents get visitors. Hanging out with the pretty punk boy is making farm life fun.

MEMES!!!

THE CORPSE GROOM - corpse bride au :

Duke makes the mistake of playfully preforming wedding vows while playing pretend, and just so happens to put one of his rings on a branch that is not a branch. Now he's stuck in the underworld with a clingy new husband who insists that they're made for each other. TW: KIDNAPPING, NON-CON TOUCHING, OBSESSIVE BEHAVIOR, THREATS ON ONES LIFE - when you think about it the Corpse Bride is a fucked up story, this Au doesn't get anywhere near the topic of sex or anything sexual, but Danny is mentioned and stated to be overly touchy with Duke when he doesn't want it

MEMES!!!

What Happens In Vegas, Stays In Vegas - drunk vegas wedding :

It's completely on accident when they wake up in each other's arms thinking they're married. Danny was just so nice to get that creep away from Duke. Duke was happy to have a new friend to hang out with. Neither where all there during the wedding. The dress and suit are very pretty though. TW: DUBIOUS-CONSENT - both Duke & Danny where kinda drunk when they have sex, even though I didn't right the scene it's literally stated as INSERT SEX SCENE

MEMES!!!

"LOVE ME, LOVE ME, LOVE ME, LOV~" - love pollen :

The Everlasting Trio is visiting Gotham for a nature convention/meet up thing. A villain just so happens to attack and Poison Ivy takes great offense to them attack the few humans who care. During the scuffle Danny gets hit with a boat load of experimental pollen Ivy was making. Signal just so happens to be the hero who finds him among the rumble. Also being the first person Danny lays eyes on.

DANI DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY BUT ACCIDENTLY CALLING MR.THOMAS DAD ANYMORE - teacher x single parent :

When Danny & Ellie where traveling around the world, Dani makes the mistake of accidently drinking some Lazarus water. With his daughter rapidly de-aging to a six-year old, Danny runs and finds his sister. Jazz suggests getting Ellie enrolled in a night school, and for Danny to get a job gooning for a bit. It's a plus that Mr.Thomas isn't all that hard on the eyes.

MINI FICS

I WANNA BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU, NEVER FEELS LIKE I AM - popular boy!duke x loner new kid!danny :

The portal to the Ghost Zone has finally closed and The Fenton's decided that it's better for them to just start anew and move to Gotham. Danny's never been the new kid, but he can be the weird loner. People have always adored Duke because of the way he shine like no other, and Gothamites had never experienced that before. Duke never got a big head about it, his mother never let that happen. But that doesn't mean he didn't become the most popular boy where ever he went.

MEMES!!!

MESMERIZED BY A BANSHEE'S SCREAMS - rockstar au :

Ember, Johnny, and Danny decided to fuck off to Gotham and start a punk-rock band. The new band that Dax found is fucking amazing, but Duke's eyes keep drifting to the pretty bassist.

No Memes, but there's a Spotify playlist on the post!

GHOSTLIGHTS EVENT FICS - @dcxdp-ghostlights

To See Your Face Again, is to remember you're not really there - 'I thought I knew you' :

Join Me, he beckoned. Stay With Me, he cooed. Love Me, he demanded.

He didn’t need to ask for the last one.

PENDING FICS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN

Myths

Hades x Persephone : Either or really

Eros!Danny x Psyche!Duke

Atalanta!Danny x Meleager!Duke

Noble Boy!Duke x Kitsune Servant!Danny

Dynamics

Rivals to Lovers

Guardian Angel!Duke x Demon!Danny

Bodyguard!Danny x Famous!Duke

Actor!Duke x Techie!Danny

General

Secret Identity Shenanigans

Royalty

Hanahaki Disease

Dancing

Roommates

Neighbors

Coffee Shop

Fairies

Space Things

Fake Relationship

Swapped Phones

Haunted Houese

POV Outsider : Who's your boyfriend? | Those two are so weird | Accused of cheating with your partner's secret identity

Messy Relationship [I like Drama] : Stalking | Kidnapping | Break Ups | Cheating on each other | Cheating on their partners with each other

Soulmates : Timer to meeting | Timer to Death | Death Marks | First Scars | Soul Marks | Red String | Body Swap | Body Doodles | Black & White then Color | Soulmate Goose of Enforcement [I said what I said]

ngl I am so fucking proud of this banner, worked so fucking hard on this bitch MM!

They're free to use with credit btw [with like a few minor nonos]

[sawyer-is-not-my-name]

Leo Valdez x Son of Apollo

You and Leo were sat outside Hephaestus cabin, he was building small gadgets, and also trying to teach you how. Most of what you built didn't work how it was supposed to, so Leo fixed it. He liked the fact you were trying, and that you were interested.

You focused on tools in your hand, putting the pieces together gingerly. Your were growing a bit frustrated, but you just really wanted to get this one perfect. You continued putting the pieces together until it was finally perfect.

You smiled triumphantly as you passed the invention to him. You watched his reaction as he smiled at you, "You did a great job mi amor! I'm so proud of you." He pressed a sweet kiss to your lips, then pulled away looking back at the invention. He was genuinely so proud of the boy in front of him. He knew your skill wasn't inventing, but he was so proud of you for trying.

Both of you were so involved in your own world, that you didn't see the Stoll brothers setting up a prank meant for you. You didn't even hear them giggling from behind a tree as they set it up.

You whipped around hearing a hiss come from behind you before screaming, seeing rather large boa constrictor less than a foot away from you. Before Leo could react, you were jumping into his arms, cowering into him. The gadget you made falling out of his grasp as he moved to comfort you. Having been with you for a few months, he was well aware of the fear all Apollo children had when it came to snakes, you were no exception to this.

"hey, it's okay mi amor. I'm right here, I'm not gonna let the snake get you" He held you tightly as he stood up. Not bothering to grab your things as they wouldn't go anywhere nor were they near as important as the boy in his arms was to him. He walked you both back inside cabin 9, setting you down on his bunk. You still clung onto him, in a sense of panic, tears strolling down your cheeks.

"Cariño, it's okay. It's not gonna get you, I promise mi amor" he sat on the bunk pulling you into him. He gently ran his fingers through your hair, while pressing a kiss to your forehead. The tears no longer falling down your face, and your breath starting to even as you calmed down.

"you alright now tesoro?" You nodded while still holding onto him, "yeah, I think so" you pressed a kiss to his cheek as a thank you.

Leo knew he wasn't always good with comforting people, but something about you made him need to help you. He cared about you so much and seeing you in a state of distress seemed to cause some pieces to click in his head. Like he knew how to help you, how to make you feel better.

--

By the dinner time, you didn't want to leave the cabin. Partly because you wanted more time with your boyfriend, partly because you were scared the snake was still there.

Leo got up, pulling you up with him. "C'mon cariño mío" you shook your head as he got ready to walk out, "can you just walk out first, make sure it still isn't there please?" He could see the fear that was still in your eyes, and nodded while softly smiling at you "of course mi amor."

He opened the door seeing the mess you two had left, one thing sticking out to him; your invention. It was still there, almost in perfect condition. He picked it up, quickly fixing the part that broke off. He wouldn't tell you it ever broke and that he fixed it, he knew you would be upset it broke, you were so proud you finally made something that worked. He wouldn't take that away from you.

He walked back in smiling at you, "the coast is clear mi amor, also I found this and it still works!" He handed it to you watching a real smile form on your face. It wasn't anything special but it was important, it wasn't what it was, it was the fact you had made it after many futile attempts, and the look on Leo's face when you showed him.

You hugged him, thanking him for grabbing it. Then you both made your way out the door. Cleaning up the mess you both made earlier, then heading to dinner.

[lhs3020b]

The General Election Fallout Post

Hello again; I, uh, forgot to visit Tumble Dot Com for a bit.

Anyway, I'm back. For now, at least.

And yes, Election Day has been and gone. So let's start with some anti-Tory schadenfreude: ROFL, LMAO, LOL, get fucked, idiots. Good riddance, rust in pieces, you will not be missed.

Unfortunately, the overall political picture is - well, let's be honest, for a massive anti-Tory defeat it's ended up more bleak than I would have considered likely.

Unfortunately, the Tories didn't quite collapse in the way I hoped - they had a very bad night, but they're still the official Opposition, so the party will survive as a corporate entity. And that means we'll probably get it back at some point, which I'm not exactly thrilled about.

Meanwhile Labour managed to produce the most flimsy landslide anyone's ever seen. I say flimsy because actually, they took fewer votes than they did in 2019 - remember how our good friends the wise and all-knowing centrists assured us that that was a true sin unto the ages, and we should all hang our heads in shame and never be seen in public again? Yeeeeaaaaah. Your boy Keith did worse, guys. Meanwhile, Labour's fraction of the actual vote-that-was-cast was ... actually not great, either, at 34%. While he won, it's clear he's not loved.

Yes, that's right, their performance is barely a percentage-point better than 2019. And, uh, about 10 percentage-points down on what the Very Serious And All-Knowing Opinion Pollsters claimed it would be. So yes, there's been another fuckie-wuckie from the pollsters; unfortunately, as they technically got the headline result right (if none of the details), I suppose they'll get away with it :(

(Rewards for failure; it's very on-brand for the 2020s, isn't it?)

The only reason last night's landslide happened was because the Tory 2019 voter-coalition disintegrated (though, not as far as the pollsters claimed it would - honestly, we're overdue a period of silence from those guys).

In fairness yes, Labour get to form a government and yes they have a huge majority. But, what they pulled off yesterday will only work once - there will be no second Tory collapse - and their economic plans in particular have some ticking timebombs under them. A hint: what if the GDP Growth Fairy doesn't visit these sceptred isles after all ... ? How will Starmer's leadership ratings cope once their fiscal rules force them to deliver another austerity budget? What will they cut? What public services or government departments will simply stop?

TBH I wouldn't be even slightly surprised if, even one year in the future, Starmer's ratings and his party's have imploded. Yes, I'm fallible and I could be wrong, maybe they'll land another massive landslide in 2029 - but I'm worried about the future.

This brings us to Reform, Nigel Farage's latest vanity vehicle/puppet party-shaped object.

Unfortunately, a lot of the ex-Tory vote went to Reform UK, and if there was any question that Refuck are actual full-fat fascists, then I think the recent mini-scandal put paid to that. (For those who don't know, some Refuck activists were recently caught on camera by Channel 4 News, literally calling for asylum seekers to be machine-gunned, demanding a police pogrom against LGBTQ people, and so on. In as many words. No dog whistles, no coded remarks or anything like that. It was literally - and horrifyingly - what it sounded like. A call for deliberate, directed State violence against minority groups. Centrists, please, if you can't see that for what it is, then please consider why that might be!)

So, given that Refuck have won 5 seats, we now have actual, unambiguous fascists in Parliament. And that was something that had never quite happened before - our politics could often be an awful cesspit but even during the worst parts of the post-2016 crisis we hadn't quite tipped off that ledge.

Not now. Yay us, I guess?

You can tell I'm not enjoying this post anywhere near as much as I wanted to, can't you?

Anyway, fuck the Tories, fuck their ex-MPs, fuck their remaining ones and as for the people who still voted for them in spite of everything, honestly, what's wrong with you? (Seriously - why? What do you see in them? They've done nothing for you. They spent lockdown pissed on expensive wine and laughing at you. Why are you still supporting them?)

The other news is that the Lib Dems are back. They've done a surprisingly-efficient job of turning votes into seats - in fact it looks like they barely wasted any votes anywhere, and so have managed to get from 12 seats to 71 - yes, 71! - while taking only about 12% of the vote. Well, credit where it's due, I suppose. And much as I will never forgive the Coalition for setting us onto the path of ruin that we're on, nonetheless during the campaign Ed Davey was the only person who actually seemed to be enjoying himself. It seems to have worked out - the LDs have had their best election result since the 1920s.

If you want to look for some (possible) rays of light in this mess ... well, the Green Party did relatively well. Their vote went up, and they now have four MPs, vserus 1 in the previous Parliament. (Full disclosure: I voted Green. I don't think they're perfect, I'm not a stan, but Sir Keith's "changed" Labour Party has obvious contempt and loathing for people like me so ... fine? We'll go our separate ways, then.) Much to my surprise, they came second in my constituency, which I genuinely hadn't expected. Apparently my vote was less wasted than usual, it would seem. And the Greens' growth happened in spite of them being resolutely ignored by the entire print and broadcast media, so apparently they don't need the media to keep making progress. It is possible that their growth could continue, and maybe another election-cycle might give us back a semi-worthwhile left-of-center opposition party ... but here I am committing the Sin of Optimism, aren't I?

Also, well, lots and lots of Tories are miserable today. Grant Shapps has had a case of the slaps, Rees-Mogg has been time-warped back to the 18th Century (honestly he'll probably be happier there, it's for the best for everyone) and Liz Truss got yeeted feet-first into the Sun. (Sorry, Sol.)

Also a lot of bootlicking newspaper opinion columnists are having a proper meltdown today, and that is genuinely funny. They certainly deserve no sympathy.

So yeah, the overall picture is a) good riddance to Sunak, b) fuck the Tories and c) oh dear goodness, it's somehow all still a mess.

[ink-and-dagger]

In DWM, you had Silco and Astrid's first kiss during the sensual smoking scene, but you've also stated elsewhere that you were very tempted to make it during the blackout. What were the main reasons for you delaying their first kiss and how do you think the story would have changed if they had kissed sooner in the basement hallway?

*holds microphone up to your face expectantly*

*enthusiastically grabs your hand instead of the actual microphone handle so that you're forced to stand awkwardly holding the mic up to my face and unable to withdraw your hand whilst I blabber on with absolutely zero social awareness of how uncomfortable everyone is*

WOW THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION COI AND LET ME GIVE YOU AN ANSWER.

At this point in story Silco and Astrid are only just beginning to recognise the tension between them for what it really is, and I wanted them to sit with those thoughts and feelings for longer before anything happened between them. Essentially, there hadn't been anywhere near enough pining for my tastes. I'm a true slow-burn advocate, and I like to put my money where my mouth is.

The temptation to have them kiss during the blackout wasn't coming from Inky the Author™️. It was coming from Inky the Old Man Fucker™️. Ultimately, I had to give myself a bonk on the head and spend some time in horny jail.

Hypothetically, if they had kissed during the blackout, they would have dismissed it as an 'adrenaline-fuelled mistake'. These things happen right? Emotions were running high, it was simply a natural response to the situation. Silco would be cool and courteous, Astrid would laugh it off, and they'd mutually agree to not let it affect their friendship. After all, it doesn’t mean anything… does it?

The world beyond your closed lids illuminates, and Silco breaks from your lips with a pained hiss, raising a hand to shield his left eye against the sudden brightness. "Club's Cleared." You both whip your heads towards Sevika, who stands a little way down the corridor, glancing between your tangled forms with a small, shit-eating smirk. She jerks her chin at Silco. “Nice shade. Suits you.” Silco’s jaw tightens, tugging at his swollen, lipstick stained mouth. There’s no point denying anything; you’ve been caught red-handed. Or purple-lipped, as it were.

In terms of how it would potentially alter the story moving forward? It would definitely hang over them. I imagine it would pop up in their internal dialogues often, and they'd be hyper aware of one another. Overthinking interactions, contemplating potential hidden meanings behind words, unconsciously searching for signs of... they don't even know what. And they don't even know if they're searching in hope of finding whatever it is they're looking for, or fear of finding it.

And we all know that once that barrier has been breached once, it's all too easy to stumble across the line again. So, that being said, there's no way in hell that their drunken night wouldn't have ended in a snog at the very least.

"And it was nice, wasn't it? In the dark." Your nose is barely a few inches from his, and his right eye is just as heavily lidded as both of yours currently are. The alcohol on his breath might be making you even more drunk. "It was nice. Just the two of us. I liked the way you touched me. I like the way you kissed me. Mmmn you'sa good kisser—" Silco grabs the backs of your thighs, and sweeps your knees out from underneath you. Your head swims as you land heavily on your back, then blurs beyond all reason and sense when the heat of his mouth crashes against yours.

I don't think they would have gone all the way that night. But I could absolutely see a bit of messy hanky-panky on the sofa. Y'know. Hands shoved down the front of pants, fumbling around with zero finesse or technique. Very much r/Advice: I got drunk with my hot boss and we jerked each other off, what should I do?

It would definitely be a bit awkward between them after that. Astrid's cigar gift to him will have been more of a 'Hey thanks for looking after me last night and I'm sorry if I made things weird.'

The story would probably continue on as is from there. We'd get to the cigar smoking scene and it would be like 'okay so clearly it's pointless attempting to restrain ourselves so let's just bone already'.

Thank you for the question Coi my darling, I had a lot of fun imagining this little AU 🤭

[mj-iza-writer]

Whumptober Day 26

"Sometimes I get so tired, I don't know myself" / Seeing Double / Working to Exhaustion / "You look awful"

*Knock, knock*

"Come in", Caretaker called over his shoulder.

"I was hoping you wouldn't still be up", Whumpee sighed, "you're going to make yourself sick."

"I know, can you pass me the, the uh", he snapped his fingers, trying to think. Finally he just pointed, "the doohickie there."

"You sure you don't want the thingamabob?", Whumpee grabbed the item Caretaker wanted.

Caretaker laughed lightly, "I'll need it later, that and the whatyoumacallit", Caretaker groaned, "this is going to be a long few months. Two new cases will be coming here tomorrow morning, I'm trying to make sure I'm ready for them."

"I know, I've never known you to see two cases at once", Whumpee hugged Caretaker from behind, "that was your rule when you took me on."

"That's typically what I'd prefer. These two are trauma bonded though, so it be harmful to separate them", Caretaker patted Whumpee's arms, "and since you said you'd help me now. I figured two would be okay. I appreciate your willingness so much."

"It's the least I could do. You've helped me through a lot, and allowed me to stay with you", Whumpee grinned, "but you are going to be exhausted when they get here."

Caretaker gave Whumpee another arm pat, "you were always welcomed to stay here." He pulled Whumpee around to look at them, "go ahead back to bed, I'll turn in in a few minutes."

Whumpee gave him the look of 'I know what you are going to do', "okay, goodnight Caretaker."

Whumpee woke up to their alarm around seven, they had a few things to do before the new cases arrived.

They wandered down to Caretaker's room and peaked inside. The bed wasn't even touched.

"I knew it", Whumpee rolled their eyes, and went down to Caretaker's office.

There he was asleep at his desk, never moved from last night.

Whumpee walked toward Caretaker, they gently whispered as they approached and began gently shaking him.

Caretaker gave one more disturbed snore and looked up at Whumpee.

"I did it again, didn't I", Caretaker sighed.

"Yes sir, and no offense, but you look awful sir", Whumpee watched him stand.

"None taken, I'm sure I'm a sight", Caretaker yawned, "what time is it?"

"After seven sir", Whumpee frowned, "they'll be here by ten."

"Alright, I'm going to shower and get ready. You do whatever you were doing, and....", Caretaker started to walk out.

"Are going to want breakfast", Whumpee followed.

"Um just a coffee pick me up would be great", Caretaker started to go upstairs to pull themself together.

Whumpee quickly got the coffee up to him, Caretaker smiled.

"Thankyou, I need to start listening to you I guess", Caretaker chugged the coffee down quickly, "what are you doing this morning."

"Last minute details, make sure everything is cleaned up, and nothing is out to scare them", Whumpee picked up Caretaker's dirty clothes.

"That's a great idea. You'll definitely do better at that then me. I remember leaving a knife out once, and you wouldn't come anywhere near me for the day", Caretaker smirked, "I was stupid."

"Sir you asked me to do it, it was your idea", Whumpee looked at him concerned, "are going to be okay?"

"Yes, I'll have to be. I made this mistake, I'll deal with the repercussions of it", he yawned again, "the shower will help."

"I hope so", Whumpee frowned, "you look exhausted sir."

Whumpee did their final check, everything that could be threatening was put away. The two would be roomed together as they felt safer that way, and the room was between Caretaker and Whumpee in case they needed anything.

Whumpee saw Caretaker come down.

"You look a little better, I ordered breakfast", Whumpee smiled.

"I feel better. Great, I'm pretty sure I skipped dinner last night", Caretaker sighed and went to the kitchen.

Whumpee followed, "yes you did."

Caretaker filled their mug again, "man I'm failing, what else did I not do last night."

"Uh, give me a hundred dollars", Whumpee grinned mischievously.

"I'm about to, you turned into my secretary when you got off of my care list", Caretaker frowned, "I'm sorry about that, if I'm too much, tell me right now. I do not want you to be made uncomfortable or to recede back to a bad mental state."

Whumpee smiled, "I feel more like your parent, but I'm feeling really good. I promise to let you know if I feel like I'm falling back though."

A knock came to the door.

"Breakfast is here", Whumpee smiled.

"I'll get it", Caretaker went to the door.

"That was delicious", Caretaker stood and went for their third and final cup of coffee.... for the morning at least.

"I thought you would like it", Whumpee smiled.

"Ok we have twenty minutes, everything is ready", Whumpee frowned, "I'm feeling queasy."

"It's normal, I feel it all of the time", Caretaker patted their shoulder, "let's sit on the front porch and wait. Sometimes I think it makes it more inviting when someone is visible right away. They don't have to wonder for to long."

"That makes since", Whumpee followed.

The car pulled in right on cue. Memories flooded back to Whumpee. That was once them.

The two got out and immediately grabbed each other's hands. Whumpee's almost cried, but put a brave face on for them.

"These care cases start now", Caretaker whispered and booped Whumpee's nose, then went to great the guest.

Whumpee watched excitedly as Caretaker seemed to have completely perked up. This what he did best.

"So it begins", they whispered.

Taglist. As always please let me know if you want to be added or taken off of the list. It's not a problem at all. @villainsandheroes @the-beasts-have-arrived @sacredwrath @porschethemermaid @monarchthefirst @generic-whumperz @bloodyandfrightened