#he has to think about his family dead to think about summoning them back yet still i do think he does have

[kidfoundonstreets]

I DONT HAVE THE IMAGES IRGHT NOW BUT YOU UNDETRNSAD?? YOU GET ?? YOLU GET? IM MADLY I NLOV WITH YOU TIWLIGHTRCADE MY GOOD FRIEND MY COMRADEMY RIDE ROD IE

[deadsetobsessions]

AU List

Hello! Welcome! This is my attempt at keeping the AU's boiuncing around in my head in order. They should be mostly in chronological order.

Some of them are getting turned into full length fics! The list (and it's open to suggestions) can be found here: Fic List

A couple of things:

Please feel free to write your own fics based on any of these! No need to ask, simply link it so I can also read it <3

If you have any specific scenarios you have an idea for and would like me to write- my asks/prompts are always open! I can't guarantee quality as I do most of my writing at like, 3 AM but I'll try my best!

I don't condone racism, bigotry, homophobia, etc.. I do not welcome it here. I acknowledge that I have biases that I've yet to unlearn. If there's something that makes you feel unwelcome in the things I write, please let me know and I will fix it ASAP.

I write these mostly on little to no sleep (that’s when I get creative I guess?) so good luck.

Squatter! Danny Raises Tim AU:

[Here] In which Tim finds a squatter (Danny) in his house and gets a brother.

[Here] AU of Squatter!Danny where Tim finds Danny squatting in the Nest as Red Robin and thinks he's a coffee-fueled hallucination.

[Here] Tim and Danny stalks the Dynamic Duo and freaks them out.

[Here] Tim and Danny goes shopping, Jazz Fenton casually suggests murder as a means of sibling adoption.

[Here] Tim meets Jason! Robin and fanboys his way into thinking he could become Robin. Danny tries to temper Tim’s stalking habits.

[Here] Family Bonding

Ghost King and the Justice League:

[Here] The JLA summons Danny and Constantine regrets his poor life decisions.

[Here] Writing Prompt: Ghost King!Danny can hear the screams of the Joker's victims.

[Here] Batman tells Hal Jordan to babysit the unconscious Ghost King because Hal’s neon green.

[Here] Zatanna helps the dying ghost boy by repairing his grave and hunting down the GIW

[Here] Zatanna retrieves the gravestones of Phantom's subjects and gives him a safe space to grieve.

[Here] Ghost King!Danny babysits Wonder Woman at the behest of the Goddess Hera.

[Here] Ghost King!Danny munches on some demons.

[Here] Local space ghost scolds superhero club because they littered in space.

[Here] The OG Young Justice team summons Danny in a private school bathroom

[Here] The JLA failed to prevent cultists from summoning the ghost king. Luckily, they get Danny instead, who seems to be the king's assistant.

Alcoholic! Danny Adopts Jason Todd AU: (Fic)

[Here] Alcoholic!Danny saves Jason Todd from a mugger and gives up alcohol to be a big brother.

[Here] Alcoholic! Danny confronts his stalker, buys chili dogs for his new little brother, and kills a pedo in that order.

[Here] Going Sober!Danny meets Batman, and then gives his new little brother an apartment and tells him he can go to school.

[Here] Going Sober! Danny takes his little brother back to school shopping

Spider in Gotham AU: (Fic)

[Here] In which Peter Parker gets isekai'd and shrunk, commits crime, and adopts a Gothamite street kid for a brother.

[Here] In which Peter Parker’s alternate memories haunt him in the form of nightmares, his identity gets made by his roommate, and he talks to a concerned vigilante with poor sleeping habits about his own poor sleeping habits.

Gotham! Danny and His Bats:

[Here] Writing Prompt: Cryptid Danny predates the Bats.

[Here] In which Danny is both Tim Drake and Gotham's City Spirit.

[Here] Writing Prompt: Danny and Gotham’s Bay that’s full of dead bodies, ghosts, and a very alive Red Hood

[Here] Gotham Spirit Phantom has a moment of introspection and would like people to stop blowing parts of the city up

[Here] AU of Gotham Spirit Phantom where Danny has no idea what universe he got reborn in and proceeds to have a bad time and decides to DIY mental health.

[Here] AU of Gotham Spirit Phantom where Danny has no idea what universe he got reborn in, pt. 2: Danny bullies Bruce into self care.

[Here] Writing Prompt: Shade! Jason stumbles across a ghost Danny, adopts him, gets turned into a full-fledged ghost, eats cookies, and gets pulled back into his human body.

Danny in Gotham:

[Here] Accidental Crime Lord! Danny Phantom and his takeover ft. a gaggle of orphans and a stressed Batman

[Here] Writing Prompt Lawyer!Danny Fenton and heroism within the confines of the law.

[Here] Lawyer! Danny prompt fulfillment

[Here] Coffee Shop Owner! Danny enforces the shop's neutrality by beating up the Joker with a chair and accidentally seduces the Red Hood.

[Here] New to the City! Danny dropkicks Red Hood in his stupid red helmet

[Here] Danny vs. Mr. Muffins

[Here] In which Bruce, Alfred, and Dick grieves while Danny wonders why they were grieving on an empty grave.

[Here] In which Danny did not get the memo about Gotham's pharmaceutical companies

Sea Cryptic! Danny AU:

[Here] Sea Cryptic! Danny cleans up beach after local vigilante explodes his plane over the ocean.

[Here] Sea Cryptic! Danny cleans the Gotham bay and does broke college student things.

[Here] Sea Cryptic! Danny extorts money from Batman for blankets.

[Here] Sea Cryptic! Danny makes a friend and calls Red Robin broke.

[Here] Sea Cryptic! Danny makes Batman a debtor and makes friends with the best vigilante recyclers in Gotham.

[Here] Tim asks Danny to introduce Tim to Danny, Jason has a post-zombie crisis.

[Here] Batman tries to adopt another kid, Danny gets Vlad flashbacks, and the Bats finds out that Jason is stinky.

Danny Gets Yeeted (Yoted?) Into Gotham AU:

[Here] Danny gets dropped on the Batmobile and acquires minions

[Here] IOU One (1) Big (Harvey) Dent

[Here] Danny trolls the Waynes by telling them he's died before (and pretending he doesn't know they're vigilantes).

[Here] Tim makes bad excuses for vigilante injuries and Danny forgets about the knife embedded in his stomach.

[Here] Sleepy, assassin-trained Damian accidentally stabs civilian Danny and feels bad about it.

[Here] Danny's Knife Collection (but not just knives).

[Here] Ghostbusters but they don't actually catch the ghost (Danny)

[Here] Danny’s in the goddamn walls!

[Here] Danny's first family game night: trauma, eating paint, and aiming the Bat cannon at the GCPD and firing feral vigilantes out of it.

[Here] Cassandra Cain (former Feral Child) reassures Danny (who is Ghost Feral) that they're siblings.

[Here] Danny gets ice-cream with Duke, Bruce vs. (corrupt) CPS

[Here] Danny does gardening with Alfred

Danielle "Dani"/"Ellie" Phantom:

[Here] "Ellie" visits Gotham and encounters a Stinky Red Hood.

[Here] "Dani" trades "removing corrupted ectoplasm" for "a meeting with Batman about the GIW" ft. Stinky Red Hood and a confused Nightwing.

[Here] A paralegal gets reincarnated/isekai’ed as Danielle “Nellie” Phantom, Prompt

Gremlin Genius! Timothy Drake:

[Here] Toddler! Tim is irritated at his heroes for showing up late at their own Gala.

[Here] Tower Scene AU

Reincarnated as Gamer! Timmy Drake (fem Tim): (Fic)

[Here] The Dissociative Experience™️ of realizing your afterlife is a cosmic oopsie (and that you’re now playing a game as a female Tim Drake).

[Here] Art for the fic

New Tim-line, Who Dis? AU:

[Here] Time Traveling! Tim has a crisis on a plane and hires Deathstroke to off the Joker.

[Here] Time Traveling! Tim takes over Bludhaven's underground at nine years old by terrorizing them and takes out his big brother's enemies via blackmail and Amanda Waller.

[Here] Tim Drake Vs. The Education System round 2

[Here] Dick Grayson remembering his dumbass, self-sacrificing little brother from a different Tim-line.

Prompts Found:

[Here] Tim is a sleeping cat and the law is: you can't move.

[Here] Heartbroken Danny leaves Dick Grayson with a table full of cold anniversary dinner.

[Here] Tim beefs with Superman.

[Here] Triplet Tim

[Here] Triplet Tim Pt. 2

[Here] Triplet Tim Pt. 3

[Here] Triplet Tim Pt. 4

[Here] Triplet Tim Pt. 4.5

[Here] The Trio escapes Amity via train

[Here] Dick Grayson plays dumb... a bit too dumb

[Here] Reverse Trope Prompt- Too many beds (dcxdp)

[Here] Reverse Trope Prompt- accidentally kidnapping a mafia boss (dcxdp)

Thoughts about DC/DP:

[Here] Richard Grayson's successful image change

[Here] DC vs. The Fan Ability of Saying "No"

[Here] Jason's Pit Madness

[Here] Gotham's City Planners

[Here] Jason and Cass discusses their kill/no kill policies and comes to an understanding about each other.

[Here] Danny can be a twink OR he could be buff as hell.

[Here] DC Canon is soup.

[Here] Damian's relationship with art throughout his short life.

[Here] Ra’s could have revolutionized the medical field but decided to be a creep and clone a minor

[Here] Tim Drake is that troll from Trolls the movies, Branch

[Here] Butter Sock

[Here] Gotham city’s unanimous agreement not to fish dead bodies out of the bay

[Here] Danny in Hogwarts.

[Here] Reincarnation Manhwa + the Bats

[Here] The Bats, Supernatural AU

[Here] Jason's sick fic

[Here] Damian is lost in Amity Park

[Here] Tim, Danny, and floating down a river in a wine barrel

[Here] Reincarnated into Damian Wayne's older sister.

[augustjustice]

Children Behave (That's What They Say When We're Together), 1/2

AO3

It’s just after 10 pm on a Saturday night when the Party find themselves standing out on the edge of the forest surrounding Lover’s Lake, summoned by the “Code Red” Dustin had sent out half an hour before on their walkies. 

“Dustin, seriously…what are we even doing out here?” Max demands with an exasperated flap of her arms as she hops off the back of Lucas’s bike, the pair of them stopping a few feet from the two others already dropped into the grass. 

They approach the figures at the treeline quickly, the silhouette of one of Dustin’s many rotating ballcaps and Mike’s black curls–grown out so long they nearly brush his shoulders now–easy to recognize, even in nothing but moonlight. 

It’s just the four of them these days, at least until the Byers manage to pack up their house in Lenora and move the family back to Hawkins. The party has been impatiently waiting out the days until summer begins as a collective, Dustin even rigging up a countdown clock that he updates them on every morning before school.

“Yeah, I really wish I knew,” Mike mutters in answer to Max’s question, the pair of them sharing an equally exasperated look, a rare show of solidarity.

“Reconnaissance,” Dustin interrupts, simple and curt, pointing from his position squatted down amongst the greenery. “Look.”

As one, Lucas and Max turn to follow the direction of his finger–where Steve’s familiar maroon BMW sits, about a stone's throw from Reefer Rick’s place. 

“That’s…weird,” Lucas admits. “What’s Steve doing out here?” 

“That’s what I’m trying to find out,” Dustin explains. “Steve wasn’t answering his walkie. He always picks up, he knows the Rule of Law.” 

“How’d you even know to look for him out here, then?” Max asks, brow furrowed in confusion.

“Through the powers of deduction, my dear Mayfield,” Dustin replies, voice purposefully affected. “Something’s afoot. Of the Upside Down variety.” 

Even the mere suggestion is enough to make the other three teens stiffen, casting wary glances at the darkened forest around them. 

“Vecna’s dead,” Mike says, voice threaded through with sudden tension.

“And El closed all the rifts in Hawkins,” Lucas insists.

“She did,” Max agrees immediately, coming to the defense of both Lucas and El simultaneously.

��How many times have we said that before?” Dustin asks.

Max, Lucas, and Mike all share a cowed, anxious look. 

“I’m just saying, it never hurts to stay hypervigilant. Especially around here. Don’t forget, Steve and the others tried to leave us behind, in this very spot, the last time.”

“Yeah, but…it wasn’t like we didn’t know what was going on then,” Lucas says defensively. “They would tell us, if Vecna was back.”

“That’s because we,” Dustin gestures emphatically between himself and Max, “were the ones to figure it out in the first place!”

“Come on, Dustin, he’s probably just…with some girl.” Mike’s face twists in a way that makes it clear exactly what he thinks of that. “I mean, it is Steve.”

“He’s not on a date, Mike,” Dustin rolls his eyes, his snippy tone implying the very suggestion is absurd. “Because if he was on a date, he would have told me. You think he would have missed the opportunity to brag about some hot Saturday night out he had planned? No. Besides, Steve tells me everything.”

“And yet…” Lucas holds up a finger, with the gravitas of someone interjecting in a court of law, “you still continue to insist he and Robin are dating, despite the fact that Steve’s told you a thousand times they’re not.”

“That’s not the same thing. It’s not my fault Steve’s too emotionally stunted he can’t recognize his own feelings for what they are,” Dustin waves a hand dismissively. 

“They’re definitely not dating, dude,” Max says with a certainty that makes the boys’ heads swivel in unison to look at her, like she possesses some secret knowledge none of the rest are privy to yet. She ignores them, instead taking the binoculars from Dustin without so much as a question. 

“It’s called Lover’s Lake,” Mike points out petulantly, “it’s literally a make out spot!”

“And the exact location of a former gate,” Dustin argues with just as much fervor. “Which Steve knows. Why would he be out here if it wasn’t because of something connected with the Upside Down?”

“I hate to break it to you,” Max interrupts, still peering through the binoculars, a slight smirk unfurling across her face, “but it looks like Steve’s definitely on a date.”

“What the fuck?!” Dustin squawks. “Let me see!”

As Max and Dustin begin a spirited game of keepaway with the binoculars, Lucas cranes his neck curiously. 

“Ew,” Mike’s face screws up in exaggerated disgust. 

“What?!” Lucas’s shoulders scrunch up towards his ears, defensive. “Don’t act like you don’t wanna know.” 

“I definitely don’t, dude.”

“Admit it. You’re just mad because he didn’t tell you.” As she continues taunting Dustin, the corner of Max’s mouth tilts into a teasing grin. “Busybody.” 

“Listen to what your boyfriend is saying, Max, and see reason. We need to find out if Steve and Robin finally got their shit together!”

“I already told you, they are so not dating,” Max rolls her eyes. “Besides, whoever he’s got in there with him? Has dark, curly hair. That sound like Robin to you?”

“Curly?” Lucas’s eyebrows shoot up. “Wait, you don’t think it’s–” 

“Nancy?!” Mike gasps, completely scandalized. 

“No, but I thought–Jonathan,” Dustin darts a confused look at Mike. “Unless…I was right, and they’re out here investigating something! I mean, come on, it’s Steve and Nancy. That sounds exactly like the kind of guns blazing thing that they would do.” 

“It didn’t look like they were investigating,” Max mutters, “at least…not anything that wasn’t already inside the car.” 

Whether it’s that last comment that sets him off is unclear, but from one blink to the next, Mike is suddenly charging out of the woods towards the car. 

“Wait a second, Mike!” Max shouts, on his heels immediately. 

One fleeting look between Dustin and Lucas is all it takes to send them rushing after the pair. 

None of them is fast enough to catch up to his gangly gait, however, especially not with Mike Wheeler on a mission. In moments, he’s right on top of the Beemer, slapping an open palm impatiently against the window.

“Steve? Nancy?!” he shouts in petulant, disbelieving teenage outrage as the two figures inside spring apart. “Holy shit, is that you? Open the door!”

The question is followed by the sound of muffled cursing, and, apparently deciding the pair isn’t moving fast enough, Mike yanks repeatedly at the handle on the passenger side. 

He’s nearly knocked backwards into Lucas, the other three having caught up, when the door finally pushes open under his hand. 

"Nancy?!" he repeats in a screech to rival even Dustin’s loudest as the dark, disheveled curly hair they'd already spotted comes more clearly into view.

"Uh…" a deep, familiar voice pipes up, "sorry to disappoint, but–I'm definitely not Wheeler."

"Oh my God, you guys have gotta be fucking kidding me," Steve’s voice pipes up, and then he lets out a full-bodied groan, leaning across the console and pinning them all under his glare. 

He's wearing his 'seriously pissed off' face, which is about two shades more intense than his 'pretending to be pissed off for the sake of saving face and riling them up' face. And at his side sits none other than…

Eddie Munson, who blinks over at them with wide brown eyes.

Part 2

[teriri-sayes]

Reactions to Young Master Shield's Chapter 207

TL;DR - Cale plans his revenge on HD for spreading the boom-boom word. Cale's parents worried about him. Cale feels awkward with their affection. Cale's parents plan to renovate and boost the black castle's defense. Cale has a talk with Lock. Cale's speech curse strikes again.

Cale's Head Goes Boom Boom This was a funny part. To explain, back when HD first mentioned about the possibility of Cale's head exploding when he opened the Bai Hui Point, HD actually used the word "boom-boom" to describe it. I only translated it as "explode" in my posts.

And then, everyone copied HD and used the boom-boom word too. 🤣🤣🤣

HD: Your head almost went boom-boom! Raon: M-My human's head almost went b-boom-boom?! Cale to Alberu: My head almost went boom-boom. Alberu to Cale's parents: Cale's head almost went boom-boom. Violan to Cale: I heard you nearly died because your head almost went boom-boom? Deruth to Cale: Cale, I-I heard from the crown prince that y-you almost we-went b-boom-boom... Cale: (That damn HD bastard! Why did he have to use the boom-boom word! I'll summon him in Aipotu and make him work hard!)

Worried Parents and Awkward Son There were some touching scenes of Deruth being worried about Cale. He wanted to stop Cale if Cale was going somewhere dangerous, but knew that his family were stubborn people.

As for Cale, after he accepted the Henituse as his family, and the more he spent time with them, he felt awkward at the love and care he received.

But it was nice to see Cale being honest with them about his plans, and his parents knowing him well. This part was funny though 😂:

Cale: The dragons will be going with me too. Cale: (If I say that, I'm sure they'll be relieved because the dragons are powerful) Violan: So you're going somewhere dangerous? Deruth: Is your enemy a dragon then? Cale: (How did these two notice?! Why are they not relieved?)

✨The Henituse Flex ✨ Cale brought up the topic of the black castle going to Aipotu, and his parents offered to renovate and boost the castle's defense with their money. But he underestimated his own parents. Cale thought that his stay in Roan was short, so the renovation would be minimal.

However, his parents thought differently. They were willing to open the safe and spend a lot in order to renovate the castle in a short amount of time. Repair old castle walls? Okay. Install magic cannons? No problem. Replace the moat with a sea of fire? Yes. Magic shield? Let's do it. Magic arrows against flying enemies? Consider it done.

Of course, Sheritt was pleased with the couple's help. And thus, a collection of state-of-the-art magic engineering devices was born in the history of the Roan Kingdom, no, the Eastern and Western continents... 😂 The black castle would also be known in the future as the pioneer and standard in magic engineering... Cale, I guess you really need to spend more time with your family because you still don't fully know them. 🤣🤣🤣

Lock's Career Counselling The author only mentioned in a sentence about Cale's career counselling with his younger siblings. Lock was given more focus today.

Cale praised Lock for having grown, and told him that it was okay to want to be acknowledged. Everyone had already acknowledged Lock's strength. So Cale said to Lock that Lock should acknowledge himself more than seek the acknowledgement of others.

This part was quite touching yet also sad. Cale taking care of the kids made me think about KRS himself. That if there was someone who took care of child KRS, he might have lived a better life. Then again, that someone would end up dead because of the effect of WS's curse on KRS. Ugh, KRS's life is really sad. 😭

KRS's Speech Curse Strikes Again?! The planted flag last chapter did not disappoint us. Alberu left a message that someone sent a warning to the academy, threatening to blow up the place if Cale gives his speech. Even adding that Cale's shield would not be enough to stop it.

And our Cale was dumbfounded to hear that. His speech curse is back? He might have to use his shield again to stop the explosion? Cale had a bad feeling about this.

I have some doubts about the sender of this threat though. Well, it could be a real terrorist or someone who hated Cale. But it could also be a Cale fan staging an explosion plot in order to see Cale's famous shield again. 😂 Or... it could be a continuation of Alberu's revenge to prevent Cale from ditching the speech because he knows Cale would want to protect the audience. 🤣🤣🤣

Ending Remarks It's just a speech, but why has this gone so complicated? 😂 Is the threat real or not? Will Caleism spread further? Just how much will Cale kill his slacker life dream? Monday, please come sooner~!

[ystrike1]

The Devil Raises a Lady - By CHT (8/10)

Will being loved by a Devil make you great? Strong? Beautiful? Immortal? No. In this setting being adored by a monster makes you a toy. Someone who cannot die, because entertaining a Devil is more important than death or life. Our heroine must change her awful future, with an eternal shadow behind her. Can she kill him?

Lady Ayana has been hunting revenge for 13 long years. She failed. She ends up in a cell, to be executed at dawn. Before her dying day she worries about her loyal bodyguard. Her true love. The man she pined for when she was trapped in an abusive marriage. The man she could not forget, even after she gave birth to her only child. The man she ran away with.

Her bodyguard.

Diabel.

He is so brave. So loyal. Her family died brutally in their own dining room, assassinated by a powerful rival. She survived that day thanks to Diabel. She owes everything to Diabel. When she became a fallen noble woman, with little power, he stayed by her side. When she married an abusive man he begged her to run away with him. She abandoned her child to do that, even though she knew that same evil family would attack her. That abusive relationship was her last shield. The only reason why she did not get captured by her rivals.

Diabel convinced her and she got caught and she fought more and she raged and she attempted to destroy the bastards who had taken her family. Diabel took down dozens of men for her, but she surrenderd because she feared for his life.

She loved him.

He cut such a heroic figure, by her side. The one man who knew the truth. Who knew that her loving family was killed. It was no accident. It was all corruption. He reassured her. He said it was ok for her to be angry. He encouraged her rage. He cried for her. He swore loyalty to her, and yet they never confirmed their love. How tragic. She was a noble lady. He could only be with her as a Knight. Surely, that's the only reason why he allowed her to suffer with a hateful man.....right?

Diabel, her partner in life, tells her he will give her another chance. She will be executed, but he can send her back to the beginning of the story. She must make a contract with him though. She's confused. Hurt. She thinks she's crazy, but then he kisses her hand.

He feels different.

She believes it. It's like he's a different man.

He is a Devil.

She wakes up a spoiled and ignorant daughter once more, with a brand on her chest. Coincidentally, she cannot marry again with such a mark on her body. She questions reality, and her relationship with....everyone.

She has one month.

Only one month, before the Rozel Family sends their assassins. Ayana was an idiot girl obsessed with her handsome fiance back then. The Knights do not respect her. No one will believe her. She has to use Diabel...again.

The illusion shatters completely. Diabel never loved her the human way. He is a huge fan of her. He never wants to separate from her. He's willing to be her servant. He is willing to kill. To corrupt. To destroy...but he will never love her that way. That was all a lie. When she was in pain he didn't really care. He just thought it was interesting.

Ayana decides that she wants him dead, with the Rozel Family.

She is happy. Her siblings are alive. She has her loving father. She is safe for now, and she is motivated. She doesn't need rage. She has love. She won't let it go. Her family gave her real love. They don't make her perform tricks the way Diabel does.

She will save them.

She's very brutal.

First, she asks Diabel to summon a demon army. She wants to slaughter the whole Rozel Family. No drama. No duels. Just death. That would be boring, so Diabel says no. He will become the best Knight for her again, but he will not use his Devil power. She must use her knowledge to stop the incoming assassins.

Her main rival is Erez, but things are not what they seem. The Devil is in love with entertainment, and Erez did not want to kill Ayana in the past.

I hope this goes hard. It needs to be dark to work.

[kerubimcrepin]

Liveblog - Dofus, livre 1 : Julith [PART 14]

Joris's face here goes hard. His lifelong streak of being disappointed in everything begins here.

:(

I genuinely have no comment beyond wanting to hug him. And also the fact that the way he says "LEGENDARY BUT DEAD FATHER (derogatory)" is so fucking iconic.

They're a lot alike. No matter how she feels about Joris, or her issues, she's not a fail-aunt.... shes the aunt that Stepped Up. She understands. As she understands, they both lost someone to Julith, and that unites them.

I like to think that, while their relationship post-movie is would probably be turbulent at times, — because they're similar, and hate themselves for similar things, but have different ways of processing these things, — that they were close.

He put on a brave face. But Bakara knows him too well.

I really doubt that Jahash and Kerubim had a close co-working relationship like Julith and Atcham seem to have.

Here's some conjecture/headcanons: I think that Bakara and Jahash's father has passed away at this point, which is why Joris was given to Kerubim. Kerubim was probably summoned to Bonta/went there to help people of his own volition, despite already being retired. Jahash just had no one else to entrust Joris to, — other than the kind, elderly man who always told stories as they walked to the battlefield during the war.

It's kind of sad.

I wonder what Jahash asked of him. "Find him a loving family"? "Take care of him"? "Keep him safe"? Or was he completely silent?

No matter what he said, or didn't say, Kerubim has always wanted to be a father. Even if, in his old age, he has long accepted that it simply wasn't his fate.

I bet it felt like the world was making a cruel joke on all of their expenses.

Kerubim knows what is going to happen to her, going forward.

Do you ever think about the fact that this was the last time Jahash could ever hold her?

He was probably just as outwardly serene, yet utterly devastated, when she was a child, and he could do nothing but watch, as their father saved her from drowning.

As he said in the Julith et Jahash comic: It's why he learned how to help people.

"Bakara, for her part, needed much more... with Jahash's departure, her world collapsed."

He was so scared he couldn't even move. He could only clutch this child closer.

I think it's easy for him to compartmentalize what happened to Kerubim, while realizing that Lilotte's life is at stake. It's not the time to be emotional. And, he and Bakara have a shared enemy, who killed people they love dearly.

Another plea from Bakara as a person who is quite sure she was personally orphaned by Julith, to Joris as someone who was literally orphaned by Julith.

And a not-so-subtle implication of "and you have to be one too, this time," is here too, I suppose.

If papycha was in this situation, he would have been brave too. There will be time to be sad, but not now.

When the push really comes to shove, he's pretty good at suppressing his sadness. We've seen this from his meltdown during the argument with Kerubim, and some select moments of Aux Tresors.

Anyway, do you think Kerubim went back for his stupid hole armour when he could finally form conscious thoughts, and brought it back to Joris's horror, — or do you think that by that time, random other demigods have stolen it, and he had to go on a wild goosechase to retrieve it (so he could keep using it) (while not fixing the FUCKING HOLE IN THE CHEST!!!)?

His 22 sons and NONE of his daughters. #misogyny

Someone loved Kerubim as much as Joris does.

[missglaskin]

Yandere Targaryen family HCS (Platonic) 

Note: This is inspired greatly by @anxiousnerdwritings​ based on the scenario of Aerys (the mad king) taking a child passing it as his 

Characters: Rhaegar Targaryen, Rhaella Targaryen, Aerys Targaryen + (Viserys Targayen) 

Because of the isolation and constant fear of his imprisonment, Aerys' mental health deteriorated. His council already accepted his descending to madness, but for Aerys to suddenly bring in a young girl and claim that they’re his ‘child’. Even Varys was astonished by that level of madness. No silver-blonde hair, no purple eyes, no Targaryen features were evident in his supposed child. Not even have a single ounce of valyrian or Targaryen blood. 

Yet no one had said a word as those who did suffered the consequences. The entire court watched silently as Aerys welcomed his new child into his family. In the midst of coddling the confused and frightened 'child,' Aerys summoned each of his allies and small council members, forcing them to accept his new child; you, as a Targaryen. A few of the lords and ladies of the court pitied you as rumors spread through the king's landing about the manner in which you were taken from your biological family and placed in the mad king’s arms, but more importantly, they wanted to know how the king’s son and wife reacted to the news. 

The lord and the ladies of court fully expected Rhaegar and Rhaella to be outraged, to at least try to knock some sense to their king, and while Rhaegar did so at first, his next course of actions was even more of a bigger shock. It has been rumored that both Rhaegar and Rhaella accepted you into their family. The servants claim Rhaella has been dressing you in pretty dresses and jewelry, and seeing Rhaegar playing the harp with you beside him.

The two have their reasons for accepting you as quickly as they did. Rhaella has suffered many miscarriages, in a way she sees you as her second chance at starting again. There’s also all the abuse and loneliness that contribute to it. Loneliness was also what made Rhaegar accept you in the family. More so, learning of your curiosity towards art and music made him be drawn to you even more. 

After Rhaella birthed Viserys, you were one of the few allowed to be near. Even as a babe, Viserys constantly wanted your attention or his mother’s. He genuinely grew up believing you were his biological sister, even when your appearance says otherwise. Anyone who mentions your forced adoption will meet Viserys’ wrath, regardless of whether he faces the truth or not. 

Back to Aerys, one would think, he may be ecstatic to see his son(s) and wife welcome you. Unfortunately, all it did was cause Aerys to be more aggressive and distrusting towards his family. He thinks they’re hypocrites, especially Rhaegar. First they disapprove of you and now, they want you all to themselves; over his dead body. Eventually after some time, the family breached an agreement, though Aerys continues breaking it and, when confronted, claims he’s the king and can do whatever he wishes. 

It’s no secret that you hold some small power over the king. Such as convincing Aerys not to execute certain people as it’ll upset you. Or telling the king you enjoy orange cakes to which he will serve you every day if you wish. Times you convince him to take care of his hygiene or distract him so he wouldn’t lash out on Rhaella. 

But there’s also a horrible side to Aerys. Because of his constant paranoia, he too fears someone will poison/ hurt you. Hence, why he has you surrounded by guards at all times or has every food and drink be checked. There are unwritten rules that one must not touch, stand too close, or even look at you for more than a few seconds if they wish to live another day. Sometimes, Aerys grabs into you a little too tight, making you promise him you will never betray him, never leave him and if you do so, he will burn all king’s landing. And from the look in his eyes, there’s a gut feeling deep inside telling you, it is not an empty threat. 

Out of all the family members, you feel closest to Rhaegar as he’s more ‘tamer’. He lets you go horse riding with you seated in the front. Both of you also enjoy taking a walk around the garden, with Rhaegar more than once gifting you a beautiful rose. Rhaegar enjoys teaching you how to dance or how to play the harp. 

Since you spend a lot of time with Rhaegar, which frustrates Aerys, Mooton and Dayne, become familiar faces. Jaime Lannister was also a familiar face. Unlike Mooton and Dayne, who engaged in a bit of a conservation with you and seemed quite fond of you (mostly because Rhaegar told them to look out for you), Jaime is quite distant. Though the only time he acknowledged you was when you convinced your ‘father’ to have Jaime play in the tournament.

Rhaella didn’t like you going to tournaments, she didn’t want you to witness any possible bloodshed. In her mind, no matter your age, you’re her little girl, one that she must protect from all the evil. It was the reason she didn’t like you being in the throne room with Aerys, as it meant you’d witness his executions and cruel punishments. 

If you were to mention your previous family or how you’re not related to them. The whole family would be devastated. Aerys would become livid, getting into a screaming fit, and this might encourage him to wipe out not only your immediate family, but your entire lineage. Rhaella might cry depending on how harsh your words are, embracing you and not wanting to let you go, making you feel guilty. Rhaegar would only show disappointment, and try to make you feel bad, having you remember all his gifts and the moments you spent together. 

[thebadboyfanclub]

Fire and Flame Pt. 5 (Massimo x Reader)

Look my guy I got inspired by the song Trust issues the weeknd remix and shameless Camilla Cabello, this might need multiple parts but I have seen you guys ask for it and I think it’s time for me to serve and for you guys to eat… also I would like to say thank you to @severewobblerlightdragon I have noticed them liking my stuff and almost always lives a comment I really appreciate it.

Part 4

The way (y/n) took over Massimos house resembled to a tiger being released from its cage, authority suited her as she strolled around with her chin high and her eyes making grown men shiver and scurry away after mumbling “yes, miss”.

Massimo observed her with his lips in a thin line and his hands curling to a fist, however he knew that any type of reaction would cost him an unbearable amount of power, her family was the only one that came to his aid, the only source of support and protection if he moved even in the slightest way that displeased (y/n) he would be left with nothing.

“A charity ball?!”

“A way to celebrate your success and show to everyone you are left unbothered and unharmed, a gracious move to invite every important person from our cycle and reconcile while standing tall despite the attempted assassinations”

“If you want to wear a fancy dress do it somewhere else, I thought we were supposed to protect this house not let everyone in”

“We accept people that have been exclusively invited by Ass, people who matter, your reputation is at stake, the great massimo has the tail between his legs and is hiding behind his stone walls”

“I am not hiding”

“It doesn’t fucking matter what you have been doing, that is what they are saying, the charity ball is happening like it or not, the invites have already been send out, but your… wife a dress and you better mingle with your guests, like a good and generous host. Got it?”

Massimo identified the assertive tone in (y/n)s and gaze that could burn his entire house down, he could also see his advisor Mario nod at him behind her back, a way to stir Massimo to not push (y/n) further.

“Fine, make your preparations. I am sure if you try hard enough the ball will be decent”

“It will be better than the fiasco Laura had caused, she danced on a pole while somebody called her a whore right?”

Massimos hand slammed on his wooden desk while his other hand instinctively his right hand reached for his gun and pointed it right at her chest. The scary part wasn’t that (y/n) was held at gun point, nor the expression of fury in Massimos handsome face, it was the devilish grin that decorated (y/n)s lips, unfazed by the situation completely.

“Amateur, if you really want to kill me, you aim at the head”

She instructed while her fingers wrapped around the gun and let it touch the skin on her forehead. Massimo was a man that was never afraid to use his weapons, still the way that she did not even blink, better yet she teased him about it left him speechless.

“Massimo put the gun down”

“No, let him, what are you waiting for? Just so you know if I die you will have a bigger problem than a dead body, but an entire empire running after you and my brother wanting your head served in a silver platter”

“You think I am scared of your stupid brother?”

“No, no you are not, you are however scared of me. Even if you plant a bullet between my eyebrows you will never, ever get rid of me”

-

As always (y/n) had gotten her way and the charity ball was buzzing with people, the band she had hired played wonderful music, the staff kept the glasses of champagne full and the platters of small little delicacies going.

Massimo had his hand on Laura’s waist as they went to greet the guests, a United couple that scoffed at the missed jabs of their enemies, at least that’s what they portrayed.

The music came to a halt as a slight sound of the champagne glass summoned every guests attention. As Massimo looked up at the start of his stairs he was met with (y/n) smiling brightly with a glass in her hand, “she finally showed up” he thought

“Our dear guests, I apologise for interrupting any conversations but we have all night for chatter, me and my family would like to thank our dear friends Massimo and his family that were so kind to extend their hospitality to us, I would like to take this moment to raise my glass. To you and your wives success, both of them beautiful, kind and strong despite all. Cheers to the perfect couple”

Everyone clapped and took a sip, to anyone that did not know any better this was such a gracious gesture, a declare of loyalty and a announcement of the two families being allies, to Massimo this was a hit below the belt, to sarcastically smile and praise his wife after everything that has taken place.

Regardless of it all he took a slight sip as his grip to Laura tightened, he wanted to kill her, grab (y/n) by her pretty neck and snap it like a twig, his eyes followed her figure when she went down the stairs.

God was she bewitching, a sight for sore eyes in her dress, the most infuriating part about (y/n) is that he always left him in shambles, to kill her or to fuck her? That is the question

“(Y/n), I have to say that speech was very kind of you”

“What can I say I have a soft spot for love, we started off on the wrong foot Laura, that does not mean we should continue that way”

She was lying, Massimo knew that much and what was worst is that Laura was buying it, his wife believed that (y/n) was genuine and did not just plan an evil scheme to ridicule him further. (Y/n) reached for Laura’s hand to give it a slight squeeze of comfort.

“I am delighted you chose to wear the dress I send for you”

“It was the best out of all how could I not?”

“And you look good in it too, I will catch up with you two later, I must say hello to someone”

(Y/n) was over the moon, just the look on Massimos face made it all worth it, his hands were completely tied and there was nothing she could accuse her of, hell she had even mend her relationship with Laura and now all eyes were on Massimo.

(Y/n) approached the person she was interested in, the only man that made it look good while being completely out of place.

“So you must be… nacho? Right?”

“Yes, and you are miss (y/l/n)”

“Precisely, although I must say nacho does not suit you”

“It is only a nickname”

“I can definitely think of others that would be better”

“Is that so?”

His eyebrow raised at the sneaky way of the woman that weasels her way in his reader, he had seen her walk around the garden, a striking presence could not be missed by any man and she had been captured by his baby blue eyes, the man was sculpted by the Gods and she just so happened to be in need of a hobby. (Y/n) bit her lip as she swiftly nodded at him, the look of a helpless innocent doe that she held worked its magic on him as his pearly whites appeared at a grin.

“I’ve heard wonderful things about your work, people say you are… good with your hands”

“Such flattering words miss (y/l/n)”

“Would you like to show me your… works?”

“Whatever miss (y/l/n) wants she gets right?”

“Lead the way then and please call me (y/n)”

Her voice barely above a whisper as she said her name. Nacho only left his glass on a stand before he let his hand touch her waist and escorted her out of the mansion, what the man had not noticed is that as they went in the garden and away of the eyes of strangers Massimo had silently followed them, curious to see what was happening, who was he? Why was (y/n) walking away with him? He could barely hear what they were saying until they reached a more secluded part and stopped, (y/n) rested her back on a wall as she held her glass of champagne.

“Have you always been interested in gardening?”

“No, I like trying new things”

“That sounds promising”

“I must admit I had my eye on you”

“I noticed”

“You are a very interesting woman”

“I know, I must say you have a lot if potential… if you are up for it”

Massimos blood boil at the sight of (y/n) so sexually flirting with a man, she had never been like that with him, why would this low life get to have her while he could not even get a bite? Nacho placed his hands at either side of (y/n)s face supporting himself on the stone wall, she looked mesmerising under the moonlight, her chest rose as she took in a deep breath.

“I have never been afraid to get my hands dirty”

“Kneel”

She command him, Nacho took the champagne glass from her hand and took a sip before he leaned to connect his lips with hers, at the slight part of her lips he was able to pass a small amount of the champagne in her mouth making the kiss even more thrilling.

He pulled away from her to do as he was told, his one hand went underneath her dress to caress her leg from her ankle and up bringing goosebumps along her spine.

“Obedience becomes you”

“And we have only just began”

Nacho had kept the glass only to take a big sip of what was left of it and throw it away, quickly he lifted her dress and allowed the liquid to ran down the part that ached the most, the cooling sensation made her hiss before pleasure took over.

Massimo stood dumbfounded as he watched from the bushes his (y/n) have such an intimate moment with someone beneath her, he could imagine how good it would feel if he sliced his throat right at her feet, or maybe he should fuck her right there and make him watch. In reality, he froze at his spot as (y/n) let a few audible moans slip past her lips, he should leave, spare himself the fury of being a bystander.

(Y/n) could feel the thrill of nachos skill take over her, not only was the man between her legs skilled, she was also aware of who it was that had followed them, just the image of Massimo being helpless and view her become undone with another was enough to send her over the edge. To have a gorgeous man please you while risking exposure also while getting on your first loves nerves was the biggest aphrodisiac. Once she felt herself slowly shimmer down she guided her hand on nachos chin and ran her thumb over his swollen lips before planting a peck on them.

“You are so… good, now go”

[a-small-batch-of-dragons]

A Strange Sort of Family

hi, resident evil fandom, i'd like to throw my hat in the ring

look, i don't even really go here, the fandom mold just got into my brain and would not fucking leave. this is my first time writing any of these characters so if they feel a bit rocky, please forgive me. my media analysis brain has been spinning nonstop since we started the resident evil brain rot and ho boy would I love to sink my teeth into a proper horror fic but! i don't know if i'm there yet so i figured i'd start a bit easier for me :)

also--we all know there's no way ethan's just gone from the franchise now, right? like, sure, he's dead, but he died like 30 minutes into re7 and that didn't fucking stop him

ALSO also big shoutout to @dragonsareaqueerthing and @greenninjagal-blog for the encouragement to actaully make the words go :) hopefully i'll be spending more time in this fandom now that I've got that ball rolling

Read on Ao3

Warnings: talk about events of shadows of rose dlc, nothing explicit, bullying

Pairings: implied ethan/mia/chris, but Ethan & Rose is the focus

Word Count: 10,919

You'd think after about 16 years of being treated like a child and the most powerful bioweapon the world has ever seen, you might get used to it.

Nope!

Not even slightly.

Sometimes a family is a molded bioweapon, a traumatized agent, a former bioterrorist, and a series of golden, sparkly words. Sometimes family is decorating your room with your mother, sometimes family is hugging a pillow because your dad isn't here anymore. Sometimes family is training too hard and going out for ice cream, sometimes family is a dinner where your parents won't stop teasing you.

Or, five times Ethan Winters was there for his daughter, and one time Rosemary Winters was there for her father.

1.

You'd think after about 16 years of being treated like a child and the most powerful bioweapon the world has ever seen, you might get used to it.

Nope!

Not even slightly.

Okay, well, maybe slightly, but only in the way she's able to shake off some of the lesser things that would've made her really upset before. She's no longer threatening the lives of the agents that call her Eveline, to her face or behind her back when they think she can't hear them. Even when she really, really wants to. Small victories.

But despite her best efforts, she still returns to the cell block of a room—Chris had been so insistent that it wasn't a cell, but it was all concrete walls and a tiny window and a camera that she knows is in the corner—and curls up on her bed, jamming her headphones in and refusing to engage with the outside world until she could summon up the resolve to impersonate a normal person again.

Today had been no exception.

Rose throws her backpack onto her desk chair and slings her hat over the hook, kicking her shoes off and collapsing face-first onto the bed with a groan. More tests today, always more fucking tests. Didn't they have every inch of her shitty, moldy body cataloged by now? She has half a mind to start making shit up when they ask her the same stupid questions. 'How are you feeling today, Rose?' Oh, you know, just getting stuck with more needles than a fucking porcupine, how do you fucking think I'm feeling? Yeah, no, no homicidal instincts yet, just had one murderous thought the other day when I was imagining mold eating the bitch who called me a charity case. Although I did go to the park after I snuck away from that asshole you have tailing me on Tuesdays to see if I could amass a mushroom army, how was your day?

A small laugh leaves her throat at the thought of the doctor's face if she actually did say that, but then she'd probably have two assholes tailing her until they deemed her 'no longer a risk.' God, they were supposed to be these super highly trained agents, then why the fuck do they suck ass at being subtle?

Turns out, even having mold superpowers means she still has to breathe like a normal person, so she drags her face up from the bed and doesn't even bother to fully get up to inchworm up to the pillows. She mashes her face against the slightly cold surface—honestly, the best part about this prison-cell-ass room was that the air conditioning was always on Arctic, so her pillows were always cold—and grabs her phone, squinting at the notifications.

One from school saying her group project deadline was coming up…something from some shopping website she'd logged onto out of pure boredom three weeks ago…and a text from Chris.

Rose sits up a little more and opens the text. "Overseas this week…sorry I'll miss the—you fucking dick!"

Of course Chris is working this weekend, of course he's not gonna be fucking here to take her to the cemetery—great, that means another two hours of bus rides until she can actually go see her dad. She swears he does this on purpose sometimes, how often does he actually need to go overseas for 'work?' And it's not like anyone else here would be able to take her, she's learned her fucking lesson about asking them for anything more than more fucking food. Not bothering to stifle her groan, she flops back onto the bed, only for her phone to clatter out of her hand and onto the floor.

Great. Now she has to move again to pick it up.

She decides that moving is actually not what she's going to do right now, letting one arm hang over the edge of the bed, her cheek scrunched awkwardly against the lip of the mattress. She tucks her face against the collar of her jacket and rubs her thumb against the ring on her finger.

"Sorry it's gonna take me longer," she mumbles, "I really wanted to spend longer with you this time."

Her eyes widen when gold sparkling words appear on the floor next to her phone.

it's okay

"What the—" she whips around to look at the door, closed tightly, and jerks back— "how—"

The words are still there. The words are still etched into the floor, right next to her phone. She should check if they're on the camera—no, they can fucking hack into her phone whenever they want, and she doesn't—she can't—if this really is—

Rose swallows the lump in her throat as the words shift and change.

you ok?

"I—what—how are—" she swallows again, camera in the corner of the room, "uh, M-Michael?"

A pause as the words reform: sure

"I mean, I—I know," she says quickly, "I know what—I know what this is, I…I remember, it's just…"

camera, I know

"How is this possible?" she whispers, not daring to move from her haphazard scramble up the bed, "I thought you were—I mean, at the end, when we, uh, did the thing, it seemed like you were…that you were going again."

The words sparkle again as she grips the sleeve of her jacket—his jacket.

apparently i'm bad at it

"Bad at what?"

staying dead

Another laugh chokes its way out of her throat and she reaches out without thinking about it, just to touch the words. They glow a little bit brighter as she touches them and the tips of her fingers glow. Almost as an afterthought, she grabs her phone and shoves it behind her, hopefully muffling the microphone and at the very least, getting its cameras away from her dad.

Her dad. Those are her dad's words, that's her dad, he's here, he's here.

"Are you—is this…are you really here?"

sort of, as the golden words swirl around, part of you

"What do you mean, 'part of me?'"

not a scientist

"You're the only other m—person like me I know, I'm sure it'll be fine." She can almost hear the little huff of laughter as the golden sparkles swirl again. It seems like it's the same as it was when she was in there, with her dad only able to say a few words at a time.

i'm part of the mold, just like you, we're sharing a part right now

"Are you always sharing a part with me?"

i wish i could, and she feels her chest hurt a little bit, takes energy

"I guess that makes sense." Her arm begins to ache from being so stretched out. "I really miss you."

i miss you too sweetie

Fuck, she's 16, she should not be getting this choked up over her dad calling her 'sweetie,' but fuck it, she's a mold person and her dad's dead, she's allowed to sniffle a little when those words glow warmly under her fingers. Some hysterical part of her wonders if he'd be able to give her a tissue or a hanky the way he gave her guns and chem fluid in there, but she scrubs at her nose with her sleeve and decides that it's enough right now that he's here, in her room, still calling her sweetie.

***

2.

She almost recognizes it the second time, a tug in her gut. Given that she's got her hands over her face and is currently doing a fabulous impression of an angry seal, it'd be harder for her to see it. Still, she can't help the dumb smile on her face when she rolls over.

bad day?

"Oh, you know," she mumbles, "just your average day of being a human guinea pig."

ew

She snorts, clapping a hand over her mouth to muffle it. "You know I get a look at their notes sometimes? That's what they call you, just your initials."

surprised they're still talking about me

"What do you mean? Of course they're still talking about you, you're the—" she cuts herself off. The golden sparkles swirl.

i'm the what?

"Never mind."

The floorboards wait expectantly, but she twists the ring around her finger, chewing on her lip. After another moment, new words appear.

can i help?

"With what? With the tests?"

with you

Another tug in her gut, this time at the fact that she can't actually remember the last time someone asked after her, not their biggest liability or their most dangerous weapon. She props herself up on the cold pillows—thank you, government AC—and sighs. "I'm just really tired."

i bet

"Like—are they bored? What do they get out of sticking me with the same needle fifty different times? And it's not like they talk to me about anything, they just look at each other and then fake-smile at me and they tell me 'you're doing great,' like I'm supposed to know what that means. And the other people aren't any better! They keep trying to train me how to do a thing but they're not—it's not like they tell me why we're doing something or what I'm supposed to be doing instead, they just tell me I'm wrong and that's it."

that sucks

She huffs. "You have no idea."

After a moment, though, she realizes that might not actually be true. From what little she's actually managed to get Chris to tell her, and what she can learn from Mom, they were both held in BSAA's quarantine for ages before they moved over to Romania. And if Mom knew about Dad's…not-aliveness way before he did, then they must've done some sort of tests on him too.

"Can I ask you something?"

anything

"Did they, um, did they test you too?"

The floorboards stay empty for a minute, but it feels more like he's thinking than it does him avoiding the question. Sure enough, after another moment, words start appearing again.

they did, they didn't tell me anything either, just that i was lucky

"Lucky how?"

to have made it, even when i didn't

"You did, though," she mumbles, fiddling with the ring again, "you—this part of you made it. Chris told me, Mom told me. You…even after you were…gone the first time, you…you came back. The important parts of you, they came back."

and i'm grateful for it, for you

"You're gonna make me cry," she mutters, scrunching up a little tighter.

i love you Rosie

"Shut up." It's empty and they both know it. A few extra sparkles swirl around and she could swear he's laughing. "I love you too."

Sunlight streams in through her tiny window and she finds herself looking at the way the leaves on the tree dapple the shadow across the floor. Part of her dad's words are still glowing. She looks at the nightstand, bare except for her charger and alarm clock, then over at the desk where her school stuff is, then at the dresser. She reaches out and touches the metal bedframe. It's cold underneath her fingers.

what's wrong?

"Nothing." The words remain and she sighs. "I'm just being mopey."

you're allowed to mope

"Someone at school said something today," she says before she can think better of it, and she winces at how young she sounds.

bullies?

"Not really, it wasn't even really about me, I just—it's stupid."

if you're upset it's not stupid

"They were just talking about this thing they got for their room, okay?" Embarrassment makes her curl her fingers into the loose fabric of her jacket. "It's this mirror thing that hooks up to your phone and lets you play music and stuff from there. They were just talking about it and I thought—see, I told you it was stupid."

There's another pause. The breeze rustles the leaves outside. The shadows dance over the walls.

do you want it?

"Not really…I don't like mirrors that much anyway. And it's not like they'd let me just have another thing that connects to the Internet in here." She glances at the alarm clock. "I barely got them to let me get a laptop for school stuff. I don't think they've got a 'Mold Bioweapon Allowance' in their budget."

The silence grows thoughtful. She turns her head to look at the floorboards again, watching the few sparkles there swirl around.

it's your room, they say finally, it should feel like it

Rose scoffs. "What am I supposed to do, walk up and ask them to sponsor a shopping trip?"

why not?

"They're not gonna do that. They're just gonna brush me off again or tell me they're busy."

you've tried?

"I told you, I barely managed to get a laptop, which is something I need to be able to do schoolwork or anything, even have a taste of what being normal is like. And even then I had to argue for like, ages, and I had to get one of my teachers to write an email saying that it's necessary." She swats the white pillowcase, bitterness seeping into her words. "Everything else isn't necessary. They're all about practicality, like I'm just some other expense they have to deal with."

what about Chris? or Mom?

"Chris isn't here. He's always off somewhere doing something or he's here glaring at me like I'm some stupid new recruit that he doesn't want to have to train. And Mom's…I don't want to bother her, you know? She's got her own life now."

she's your mom, come the words almost before she's done speaking, she'd want to know

Rose sighs, sitting up to lean against the headboard. She twists the ring around and around her finger, chewing on her lip. "I don't know. Sometimes it feels like she's…like she doesn't want to know."

Another pause. What her dad had said before, about them sharing a part of the mold—she can feel something in her chest. An emotion that isn't quite hers, something like a deep and exasperated sadness. It's faint, not quite enough to put words there, but she can tell when she needs to look back down at the floor.

she does love you, let her

"Okay. I'll try."

thank you

"Would you come shopping with me?" she asks, even when she knows the answer. "If you could?"

The room gets a little happier as the sparkles swirl around.

i'd spend all day with you

"What did you want to have in your room? When you were my age?"

telescope

"A telescope?" She laughs. "Did you want to be an astronaut?"

astronaut ew

She laughs again and the sunlight seems a little brighter.

***

3.

She meets Mom at a coffee shop near the big bookstore downtown. She's not wearing Dad's jacket—it still feels weird to do, even after Mom's said it's fine—but she has his ring on a necklace under her shirt. Mom waves her over to a table in the corner, nodding to the smoothie already waiting.

"Pineapple mango," she says as Rose sits down, "your favorite."

"Thanks, Mom." She takes a big drink, savoring the weird feeling the pineapple leaves on her tongue. "How're you?"

"I'm okay. Work's been getting busy again recently with the month's end rush." Mom swirls her straw around her coffee. "Did I tell you about this new thing our boss is trying to make us do?"

"No, what?"

"Apparently some young CEO in the area made it big on corporate social media about 'team building exercises,'" and Rose is already groaning in sympathy, "so he sent out this survey this past week about what activity we'd rather do."

"What were the options?"

"This group painting class thing, where we all paint the same picture—"

"Like in kindergarten?"

"Like in kindergarten," Mom agrees, "there's a bar-arcade place that's just opened up on the West Side that does private events, and then there's a good old-fashioned work dinner."

Rose makes a face. "That's it? No, like, crazy obstacle courses, or escape rooms, or anything?"

"We barely had the budget for the normal year-end stuff."

"So what did you vote for?"

"I ended up voting for the painting, actually—"

"What? Mom, that's so lame."

"Hey!" She jokingly flicks a napkin at Rose. "Lamer than the most awkward dinner you can imagine or sitting and drinking for a whole evening?"

"Isn't that what adults do? You sit and drink and talk?"

Mom sighs, shaking her head as they both laugh. "Yeah, well, I figured it might be better if we tried to do something that wasn't just sitting and drinking."

"I guess."

"Besides, I'm still missing something for the bathroom upstairs. Maybe I'll hang up whatever I manage to make there," she adds, winking at Rose.

It's supposed to be a joke at how bad at art she is—really, even Chris looked at her stick figures and struggled to find something nice to say, and Mom just laughed it off—but Rose's smile fades and she shuffles a little in the chair. She drinks more of her smoothie. Dad's words turn over and over in her head.

"Hey, Mom?"

"Mm?"

"Would you…" She fights the urge to reach for the ring. "Would you help me decorate my room?"

Mom's brow furrows. "At my house?"

"N-no, my…my room at the compound. It's stupid, never mind."

"It's not stupid, Rose," Mom says, picking up her coffee, "I'm just—I guess I'm just surprised. Most teens don't really want their parents anywhere near their rooms."

"Yeah, well, forget it."

A car drives by. Despite herself, she reaches for the ring anyway. Something warm pulses in her chest.

"It's just," she manages, "I don't really have anything in there. It's just the military stuff."

Mom's coffee cup hits the table with a thud. "What do you mean you don't have anything in there?"

"I mean, there's just a dresser, a desk, and a bed. And my little side table thing. They didn't really give me any—"

"How much time do you have?"

Rose blinks. "Huh?"

"How much time before you have to get back?" Mom's already getting up and putting the lid back on her coffee. "We're not that far from the big stores and I have my car."

"I, uh, I think I have a few hours, so—" she scrambles up too, reaching to grab Mom's arm— "wait, you're really okay with doing this?"

Mom pauses for a moment, then reaches out and covers Rose's hand with hers. "You're my daughter, Rosie, I'd love to help you decorate your room."

A lump appears in her throat and she swallows it down. "Thank you."

"Come on," Mom grins, "what are you thinking you want?"

"Uh, I was thinking maybe like a whiteboard? That way I could write down stuff that I might forget? Or like—a magnetic one so I could stick stuff to it?" She gets into Mom's car and they start driving. "Or a corkboard—I've seen a lot of people pin like, pictures and stuff to a corkboard on their walls."

"What if you get both? A corkboard to put pictures and cute stuff and then a whiteboard to write on?"

"I also want a lamp. The normal lights just make my head hurt. And they buzz, you know?"

"Oh, I know exactly what you're talking about. It's like the world's most annoying crickets, isn't it?"

"And there's no, like, in between! It's either no light at all or—"

"Or my eyes are being scorched out, that's right."

They pull into the parking lot of the store and get out, still bouncing ideas back and forth. Mom grabs a cart and they head straight for the stationary section and they spend about five minutes talking about the different corkboards and whiteboards. Then Rose decides she wants magnets so she can stick stuff to the whiteboard, then Mom spots a cute set of push pins, and then another mom and daughter walk by with one of those fancy photo printers that print out pictures from your phone like Polaroids, and they just have to get Rose one of those.

As they pick out lamps and wall decor and sheets that actually have some color, she's struck by how normal this is. She's with her mom. They're shopping for stuff for her room. They're freaking out over the pillows that have little penguins on them. She's actually smiling and laughing and she's excited. She can't wait to get back and put all this stuff in her room.

She just…wishes Dad could be here too.

"I think I'd prefer the yellow lampshade, but it's up to you." Mom looks up from the shelf to notice she's gone quiet. "Hey, what's going on?"

"Nothing, nothing," she says quickly, wiping surreptitiously at her face, "…just…I kinda wish Dad was here too."

Mom's fingers stutter on the box and for a moment, she thinks she's going to see those walls go up again, the ones that always go up when she tries to talk about Dad, but then Mom puts the box down and rubs at her wedding ring. She still wears it sometimes. Rose reaches for Dad's, under her shirt.

"I wish he was here too, Rosie," Mom says quietly, "he'd be so proud of you."

Rose swallows, and her eyes catch on a tiny monkey LED lamp further down the shelf. She picks it up. "I think he'd vote for this one, don't you?"

A hint of fond exasperation comes to Mom's face. "God, did I ever tell you what happened when he found out that you loved that little monkey you got when you were still a baby? He tried to buy everything monkey-themed he could find because he thought you might like it."

"Wait, really?"

"I had to get Chris to help me talk him out of buying an entire monkey crib for you."

Rose puts the monkey lamp in the cart. Mom smiles and they keep walking. They end up spending way more than she thought they'd be and sheepishly tries to put some stuff back, but Mom won't hear a word of it and bags everything up.

"Chris can help cover the cost if he's so worried about it," she declares as they pull back up to the meeting spot where the car is supposed to take Rose back to the compound, "anyway, all of this should have been done years ago."

"Thanks, Mom," Rose says, "I had fun."

"We should definitely do it again. I'll help you decorate your college dorm too."

Rose smiles and gets out of the car. It fades a bit when she sees Paul again, leaning against the side of the van with his arms crossed. She turns her back deliberately on him and goes to help Mom get all the bags out of the trunk.

"You're late," Paul says, like he has any right to sound like a smug, condescending asshole.

"By like five minutes. Open the trunk."

"What's all that?"

"Stuff. For my room."

"Well, I—hey!" Paul finally moves when Mom just opens the trunk and starts putting the bags inside.

"You must be the agent Rose told me about," Mom says, her voice saccharine as she dusts off her hands, "is that right, honey?"

"Yeah," she mumbles, "that's him."

"Paul," he says, "Ms. Winters."

"Mia." Mom holds out her hand and he takes it, Rose peering at them from under the brim of her hat. Her eyes widen when Mom yanks Paul closer to her, her smile fading as she hisses in his ear. "Call my daughter Eveline again and I'll break your nose, are we clear?"

Paul jerks in surprise, before turning his head slightly. "Stand down, it's fine, I can handle it."

"You can't afford to make a scene in such a public place," Mom says, her voice still perfectly even, "and Chris won't risk harming me or Rose. So you can start treating my daughter like a person or I can break your nose right now and Chris can clean up your mess."

Rose can't stop her snort as Paul sheepishly walks back to the front of the car and gets in. Mom watches him go before she turns around and says, loud enough for him to hear, "Make sure you send me pictures when you get it the way you want it, okay?"

"I will."

"And if you decide you want anything else, we'll get it next time."

"Thanks, Mom. I love you."

"I love you too, Rosie." She glares once more in Paul's direction before she walks back to her car.

Rose doesn't stop smirking as Paul drives them back to the compound. He slinks off with his tail between his legs after helping her get all her stuff into her room. She can't cover up the camera—and let them know she knows about it—but she can play her music out loud as she decorates, hanging up the little plants they found and pinning a few photos to her new corkboard. It still strikes her how normal all of this is, dancing to her music and putting up all of her new things, finally collapsing onto her now-colorful blankets with a laugh.

She texts a few photos to Mom, who responds with gushing reviews and excited emojis, before she rolls onto her side to look at the floor.

"What do you think?"

The words only take a second to appear.

it's beautiful, sweetie

"You were right," she murmurs, "it was really nice to let Mom take care of me a bit."

i'm glad

"Oh! I forgot to show you the best part!" Rose jumps off the bed and goes over to the far wall, switching on the fairy lights she hung from the ceiling amidst a bunch of fake vines. "Now the camera will just think the glowing is from the lights!"

Golden sparkles swirl beneath the soft glow.

you're so smart

"I mean," she blusters, trying not to show how pleased she is, "I was just tired of lying down to talk to you all the time."

i see, still clever

"Thanks." After a moment, she reaches over and picks up the little monkey lamp and her stuffed monkey, safely hidden beneath her pillows. "Mom told me you wanted to buy a monkey crib for me."

it would go with the onesie

"You got me a monkey onesie?"

mom has pictures

"I'll have to ask her next time." She chews on her lip, running her fingers over the seams of the monkey's ear. "I wish you could've been there."

me too

"Mom threatened to break Paul's nose if he was rude to me again." The light swirls as Dad laughs and she laughs too. "I'd kick him in the nuts too."

that's my girl

***

4.

"Stupid fucking dickhead," she spits as she slams the door, throwing her backpack onto the chair so hard it scrapes across the floor. "Fucking asshole! I'll fucking rip his head off, the fucking bastard!"

Out of the corner of her eye, she sees a tiny sparkle from the floorboards, and she stomps over to the lights, turning them on. Almost immediately, golden words swirl up.

what happened?

"Your buddy Chris fucking happened!" Rose throws herself onto the bed and punches the pillow. "He keeps treating me like I'm some—some fucking gun that only he knows how to fire and I'm fucking sick of it!"

It had been especially bad today, too. Chris apparently woke up and decided yeah, today's the day I'm gonna be a total fucking asshole for no goddamn reason. He started them out sparring, which he never does, he always has them warm up first because it's important not to strain yourself, except apparently not today when she was thrown against the fucking ground three times before she could even open her mouth long enough to say hi.

Or maybe ask what the hell crawled up his ass that morning.

And then he kept fucking looking at her like he was disappointed! Like it was her fault she wasn't expecting to be slammed up against the wall or pinned to the ground by a man fucking three times her size and then grunted at when she winced in pain because that fucking hurt, you asshole! And he kept on saying these stupid little comments that just made her angrier and angrier and then he had the gall to be like hey, you need to get a handle on your emotions like he wasn't pushing every single fucking button he knew she had!

You need to be sharper, he'd said like he had any right to try and be reasonable as he almost dislocated her fucking shoulder, emotions make you sloppy.

Yeah, well, he could try being sharper when he was being bullied for no fucking reason.

And when she'd finally screamed at him that she was done, that she didn't want to fucking do this anymore, he had the fucking audacity, the nerve to scoff and cross his arms and tell her that no, she wasn't done, she was only done when he said she was done. And yeah, she hadn't really made the decision to rush at him after that, her body did that on its own, but he literally just tossed her aside like a fucking doll and then said she wasn't leaving until she could do the fucking stupid thing he wanted her to.

She tried. She really fucking did.

But she couldn't do it.

And Chris kept refusing to help, saying he'd been training her for so long already, that he'd wash her out if she were any other recruit—to which she'd screamed that she wasn't, so why the fuck was he being like this? And he didn't fucking answer! He just told her to try it again and he kept making her angrier and angrier and she could tell Chris was getting angry too which just made hers worse because what fucking right did he have to be mad at her? What the fuck did she do to him?

It ended really badly. She'd gotten so mad she'd thrown herself at him again, not caring about proper technique or what was smart or anything, she just went for him. He grappled her, obviously, and that was supposed to be their tap-out, fight's-over thing, but she hadn't stopped. She'd scratched him and punched him and kicked him even when he growled at her to yield, and when that didn't work, she'd bit him.

Chris fucking wrenched her off of him and threw her across the room and she heard three guns click.

They'd glared at each other, Chris holding his arm like it was a fucking biohazard, and then he'd stalked off without a word while agents forcibly shoved her back to her room.

She's panting by the time she finishes, glaring a hole in the wall right below where the words normally appear. Her hands still tingle from where she'd hit the walls and the pillows. She looks up when she sees the familiar swirl.

you shouldn't have bitten him

The anger surges up her arms and she clenches her fists. "That's all you have to say? No 'I'm sorry he was such a dick, Rose?' 'You didn't deserve that?' You're fucking defending him?"

i didn't say that

"I just told you that your friend, the person you told to watch over me and keep me safe was fucking bullying me for no goddamn reason and the only thing you can say is that I shouldn't have defended myself?" Betrayal steeps vehemence into her words. Her nails bite into her palms. "I'm fucking glad I bit him!"

he's trying to help

"How in the fuck is he trying to help," she cries, "by being as bad as the bullies in school? By treating me like a freak that needs to be kept muzzled and on a leash?"

you did bite him

She picks up one of the pillows and hurls it at the wall. It hits with a pathetic thwap and falls limply to the floor. It only makes her angrier when she sees the words calm down when the lights stop shaking.

"Don't fucking tell me to calm down! You're supposed to be on my side!"

i am

She barks out a humorless laugh and picks up the pillow, throwing it back on the bed. "You're not on my side, you're on his. I don't need you lecturing me too. Just leave me alone."

More golden words swirl as she turns away, throwing herself onto the bed and curling up tightly around her stuffed monkey. She chokes around the lump in her throat and wills herself not to cry. She'd almost cried in front of Chris today already, she won't give either of them the satisfaction of seeing her cry now. She won't, she won't, she won't! It's not fucking fair that Chris did that. It's not fucking fair that he gets to act however the fuck he wants and then she's the only one punished for it. He gets to go all over the fucking world and only see her when it's convenient to him and he gets to be an asshole about it.

Dad's not even alive.

A sob chokes out before she can stop it, and then it's too late. She's blubbering like she's a stupid fucking baby again and she can hear the echoes of their voices in her ears. All alone, poor freak Rose, crying like a baby who doesn't get her way. She's so weird, she's so stupid, she can't do it. She's useless, she's not strong enough. Just go away. No one wants you here. No one wants you. No matter how hard she presses her hands to her ears, they won't fucking shut up!

Maybe she should've fucking kept the purifying crystal. Maybe she should've left with no powers and had a normal fucking life. Maybe she should've just left her dad to—

As soon as the thought threatens to cross her mind, she recoils from it. Guilt and anger war in her gut as she nearly grows sick. How could she fucking think that? After all he'd done to save her, protect her, how could she think about something like that, even if it was in a fit of rage?

A strangled noise escapes her throat and the bruises and injuries from her humiliating 'sparring session' abruptly make themselves known. Her body screams in pain; her shoulders ache, the bruise on her ribs throbs, and her jaw feels like it's about to explode. She has the hysterical impulse to bite herself and she wonders if it would hurt more than everything else. Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpses a glow coming from the floorboards now and she curls up tighter, burying her face in the monkey's tummy. Fuck it, she's been called overly emotional and childish enough times already, she may as well throw her tantrum properly.

It's like falling into the Megamycete again; she has no idea how long she lies there, wallowing in her own emotional turmoil. Flashes of the bullies, of Chris's stupid fucking face, of watching herself get tossed around and left behind…even stranger things like massive castles filled with screams and horror, creepy old houses that just feel like tombs, deep water and clanking metal, all filled with whispers of freak, dangerous, stupid child, not good enough. Everything is too loud and too quiet and she just wants it to be over.

When she finally manages to rouse herself from whatever malaise she'd fallen into, the sun has long set. Her clock shows that it's close to 10—that would explain why her stomach is trying to dig a hole in her intestines. The anger fled unknown hours ago, leaving her weary and wrung out. In its absence, she no longer feels like the bioweapon that she's supposed to be, only the scared and lonely child. It's cold. She's hungry.

There's still a soft golden glow coming from over the side of the bed.

Her lip wobbles. She doesn't want to face the consequences of yelling at her dad and throwing a pillow at him, but she can't stop the blooming warmth that he didn't leave. She crawls to the edge of the bed and peeks over.

i'm sorry Rose

She sniffles and rubs her cheek on the sheets. "'M sorry too."

you were right, i should've been on your side

"You're always on my side," she mumbles, "I know you are."

still

She sniffles again and tucks the monkey under her chin. "Why was Chris so mean today? Did I do something wrong?"

i don't think so, sometimes he's just like that

"Why?" She's ignoring how much she sounds like a baby, thank you. "It's not fair."

no it's not sweetie

Rose closes her eyes, basking in the soft glow of her dad's comfort. "Was he ever mean to you when you were training?"

yeah

"What did you do?"

broke his nose once

It startles a laugh out of her. "You what? Wait, what happened?"

he was being an asshole, so i punched him

She giggles again, both at the image of Chris's surprised face with a broken nose and at the fact that her dad got so angry with Chris that he punched him hard enough. A few more golden sparkles surround the words before they change again.

you shouldn't try it though

"Aw," she complains, mostly for show, "but you did it."

do as i say not as i do

She's quiet. After a moment, she lets her arm hang down to touch the words again. They glow gently. "I don't like fighting with you."

me neither

"I'm sorry. I was being a brat."

The words swirl up quicker than she's ever seen.

you were upset at something unfair, not a being a brat

She sniffles again, reaching over to grab a hanky and blow her nose with a sharp honk. She throws it over to the laundry basket and lies back down. The words have changed.

if you need to hear it, i forgive you

"I forgive you too."

rest

She nestles up against the pillows. "Will you stay until I go to sleep?"

of course sweetie, i love you

***

5.

Mostly Rose doesn't dream. She'll close her eyes and open them again and it will be hours later and it's time to get up. Most of the time when she does dream, it's weird half-memories that aren't hers mixed with something she does actually remember. She has dreams of a house with a red chimney being taken apart by little robotic goats, or of a crocodile swimming through a swamp filled with dead crows, or of bugs crawling over test tubes and dirty flasks. Some of them make sense when she digs into the files she's not really supposed to have access to, some of them don't.

On rare, awful occasions, she has nightmares.

She's been curled up and unmoving for who knows how long, desperately trying to feign sleep. The mold in her keeps prickling like there's something else in the room, watching her, just waiting for a sign that she's awake to pounce. Her white-knuckled grip hasn't wavered either. She dares hardly breathe; even though her rational brain knows there's nothing there, there can't be anything there, her entire body is screaming. She can feel the milky sweat beginning to ooze from her palms.

Something creaks.

She goes stiff as a board.

A creak, a groan, a rumble as the air conditioning turns on and she forces herself to relax, cracking open one eye to see that yes, this is just her room, there's nothing to be afraid of here, she's fine.

Her eyes land on the switch to the fairy lights.

The small and whimpering part of her lunges for them, for the warm glow of the light, her dad's words, in lieu of running to her parents' bed to be comforted. The other part hisses that the second she moves, whatever's lurking in the dark will strike. The monkey wheezes as she tightens her grip, staring at the innocuous plastic box hanging against the wall.

With a sudden burst, she launches herself from the bed, slapping the button, and curling back up beneath the safety of the blankets.

Immediately, the soft warm light chases away the worst of the shadows and she can peek over her shoulder to assure herself that yes, nothing is there, she's safe in her room, everything's okay. Golden sparkles are already swirling, a quiet inquisitiveness filling that one empty part in her chest as she lies back down. He's rotated his words so she can read them easily.

what's the matter, sweetie?

"Nightmare," she whispers, more into her pillow than anything else.

i'm sorry

She curls up tighter, trying to pull the blankets up almost over her head. The sweat's almost ruined her monkey—she's going to have to wash it again—and she wipes her hands on the sheet. The absence of it hits the cold air and she shivers, hunching tighter in the covers and sniffling. A sudden and sharp ache sears through her chest and she shudders, harder this time, only the top of her nose peeking out over the comforter. She's so cold. Not in the way where she can pile more blankets on and it'll go away—she could put the whole world on top of her and she would still be cold. This horrible, achy, exhausting cold that seeps into her bones and makes her want to cry.

what can i do?

"You said in your—in your letter," she hiccups, "that you'd hold me when I had nightmares, and—and sing to me until I went back to sleep."

But the words on her wall are just words and words can't hold anybody.

She wants a fucking hug, goddamnit. No one touches her anymore, not unless they're running some stupid test, or sparring, or escorting her roughly down the hallway like some—some prisoner. The last time someone touched her and it wasn't that it was Mom, telling her she'd help decorate her room and that was so long ago, everyone else just—just—

"I want to go home," she sobs and it lands like a dead weight in the still room.

what do you mean?

"I want to go home, I want to go back to that house you showed—showed me when I was in there, where you—where your memories are and I can actually h-hear you and it's warm an'—an' safe, and you love me," she cries, not caring that it's the middle of the night and she's talking to a wall, "no one here loves me. No one loves me, the doctors think I'm some—some experiment that's run too—too long and the agents all think I'm a l-liability and Mom's not here because she gave me up and Chris h-hates me."

he doesn't hate you sweetie

"He does! He does, he does, I can feel it." She hugs her monkey tightly to her chest. "He h-hates me for being the reason you're not—you're not here anymore and he hates me for reminding him that you're dead and he hates me for—for being like this and—and—and—!"

shh…shh…shh…

But he's not here and she can't hear him shushing her and she's all alone in her cold, dark room and she wants to go home.

don't cry, Rosie, it's gonna be okay sweetie

"It's not. 'S not okay."

The wall doesn't move for a moment, then it swirls again.

scoot back, i'm going to try something

Frowning, she does, shuffling awkwardly back until she's on the far side of the bed. The golden light swirls around for another second, before it writes itself on one of the pillows.

hug me

"D—Michael?"

i'm right here sweetie, i love you so much

With trembling fingers, she reaches for the pillow, touching the words with a soft gasp as they glow warmly against her still-slick palms. A sob of disbelief leaves her throat and she bundles it to her chest, burying her face in it. A soft scratching and buzzing fills her ears as more words write themselves across the pillow, but she doesn't pull her face away to read them. Not when this is the closest thing to hugging her dad she's been since she was in the deepest stratum of the Megamycete, crying over his dying body. Not when she's still so cold and the words are so, so warm. She tucks her face into the crook of the pillow's embrace and she cries.

The words don't stop writing themselves over and over and if she focuses hard enough, it almost sounds like her dad is humming.

She falls into a light sleep, not willing to miss a moment of actually being so close to her dad, soothed by his presence. Soon, light has begun to break through the window, the auto timer on the lights long since activated to switch them off. The pillow is all gross from a mixture of drool, snot, and tears, and she sheepishly tries to wipe it away when a small glow comes from underneath.

it's okay

"It's kinda gross."

my privilege, i'm your dad

"Still."

ew, remember?

A watery smile. "Thanks."

i love you so much, i'm so proud of you

"I love you too," she mumbles back, curling her arms around the pillow. Another set of words writes itself and she leans back.

do you really think Chris hates you?

"I don't know. He…he looks at me like he can't sometimes. Or like he's waiting for me to…I don't know, turn crazy or bad or like he's waiting for me to turn into you, almost." She rubs her fingers over the pillowcase. "He used to be nicer."

have you spoken since?

She doesn't need to ask what he's talking about. "No. He's been out of town again. He's supposed to be back, um…"

She leans over to check her phone, eyes widening when she sees the date.

"Uh, today. Shit, I actually think we're supposed to have a training thing today."

Before more words can write themselves, there's a knock on her door. She freezes, phone still in her hand, pillow clutched close.

"Rose?" Fuck. "It's Chris. Can I come in?"

be brave, says the last flutter of words before her dad vanishes, i love you

"…yeah."

Chris opens the door. Rose tugs on her dad's jacket over her pajamas and clutches the pillow in her lap. She doesn't look at him. He moves around a little in the doorway before he shuts it with a click. After a moment, the bed dips and groans under his weight and she sneaks a glance at his arm. Her bite mark is still there.

"Surprised they let you walk around before that healed."

"You didn't even break the skin."

It's probably meant to come off in a way that means she doesn't have to worry about it, but it stings anyway. She turns away again.

A car drives by outside.

"I owe you an apology," Chris says finally, his voice low and gruff, "I shouldn't have been so harsh. I'm sorry."

She doesn't reply, but she shifts to face the window instead of the wall.

"There's been talk of getting you moved to another squad," he continues, and her stomach drops—is Chris leaving too?— "and I thought…if I could prove that you were good with us, that we had it all under control, then they'd drop it. Leave you alone."

At the rustle as he shifts, she glances over at him. His jaw works and his hand twitches on his knee.

"I thought…" He trails off, then scoffs at himself, shaking his head. "I don't know what I thought."

He turns to meet her gaze and her gut clenches at the obvious guilt and remorse she can see there. She swallows.

"You were mean." Her voice comes out a lot smaller than she'd hoped. She swallows and tries again. "I thought you hated me."

"I don't hate you, Rose," he says in a rush, turning to face her, "please don't think that."

"So you're not trying to get rid of me?"

"Shit, Rose, no, I'm not trying to get rid of you. You're—I think Mia'd kill me if I tried, no, I'm just—" he takes a breath— "I'm just trying to keep you safe, okay?"

"Then you should've said something! I would've trained harder if I knew—we could've—I would've done something else, did I do something wrong?"

"No," he insists, shaking his head, "no, you didn't do anything wrong."

Relief begins to pool warily in her chest. Her grip on the pillow loosens and she scoots a little closer. "I'm sorry I bit you."

He shakes his head again. "It's fine. You, uh, you have good bite strength."

"Good bite strength?"

"Yeah. Your contact's really good." He gestures to the bite mark on his arm. "Got all of them in there too."

"Thanks," she says, laughing a little. Chris smiles and it's a bit easier to breathe. She gives herself a shake. "So, what's today? Weapons, sparring, how to punch boulders?"

"Actually, I, uh, thought we'd go get ice cream."

Rose pauses, looking up at him, blinking as if she'd heard wrong. "Ice cream?"

"Weather's gonna get cold soon, the good place around the corner's gonna close." He shrugs. "Been craving it."

"Yeah…yeah, ice cream sounds good."

"Great."

And before she can think too much of it, she throws herself at him and hugs him for all she's worth. She feels him stutter, not quite sure what to do, and then his arms slowly wrap around her, holding her just as tightly. And oh, she's on fire, Chris is big and warm and solid and he's holding her like she's something special and she's gonna fucking cry her eyes out if she stays here a moment longer and she's gonna die if she lets go. Chris lets out a noise of dismay when she sniffles and scoops her up, like she's a little kid again, holding her in his lap and now she's making a mess of his shoulder too.

She could swear she feels Dad smile.

***

+1.

"I'm telling you," Rose says as she lounges on her bed, "you're wrong about the cover. It's actually pretty good."

i like the classics

"Yeah, well, you're old and boring, so that makes sense."

:(

The sight of the old-fashioned emoticon frowny face makes her burst out laughing. "Oh my god, that's so lame. I don't think I've seen someone use that in years."

it's a classic!

"You gotta get with the times!"

totes dope fam

Rose winces at the immense amount of psychic damage those three words dealt, her neck protesting as she almost cringes it out of alignment. "No, D—Michael, just no."

lol

She tosses the pillow playfully at the wall again, laughing when another frowny face appears on both it and the wall. "Aww, okay, I'm sorry, here."

She picks it up and cuddles it and the frowny face turns to a smiley face. Lying back down, grin still on her face, she toys with his ring. It's gotten shinier from all the rubbing, except where she ties the cord around it so she can wear it as a necklace. She turns it this way and that, watching the sunlight glint off of it. As she does, she catches sight of the engraving on the inside.

Always and forever.

"Do you want me to tell Mom and Chris about you?"

The words swirl for a moment.

up to you

She pushes herself to sit up, propped on one elbow. The ring glistens as she slides it back onto her finger, turning it to and fro. "I don't know. It feels bad keeping something like this from them, but I want to be selfish about it too, you know? I kind of like having you all to myself."

it's not selfish

"And what if Chris thinks it's bad?" She twists the ring harder. "What if he tries to take you away from me?"

i won't let that happen

Her shoulders drop a little and she picks up the pillow again, cuddling into it. A few words write themselves across it just so she can feel their warmth and she rubs her cheek against it. "Don't you miss them?"

all the time

A melancholy that isn't hers hangs in her chest and she squeezes the pillow again. "Then should I? They miss you too, you know. I think they'd be happy to, you know, hear from you again."

The words fade and the wall glows again as he thinks. She lets him have his time, rubbing the ring back and forth, listening to the slight rattle it makes as it spins around her too-small finger. When she hears the familiar soft scratch again, she looks up.

they're happy now, i don't want to ruin that

"They're not happy," she can't help but say, "they still miss you."

content, then

"You wouldn't be ruining anything," she argues, "I thought—I thought I'd never get to see you again after I got out of there. The day I heard you again? That was the happiest moment of my life."

mine too sweetie, or my un-life i guess

The words glow brighter as her fingertips glow too. She gets up and lays her hand against the wall, smiling as their powers dance together. "I really think they'd be happy."

A pulse of warmth runs up her arm to her chest as the words shift once more.

when you think the time is right

"I'll tell you, I promise."

i'm so proud of you, Rose, i love you so much

"I love you too."

That time doesn't come on their terms, though, because that would be easy. No, instead it's when she and Chris are over at Mom's house for dinner and Chris asks a question out of nowhere that almost makes her spit all over the table.

"What?" Mom asks as Rose glares a hole in Chris's stupid forehead.

"I said," Chris says like an unrepentant asshole, "who's Michael?"

"Michael?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Rose mutters, staring down at her lap.

"I was coming to get you for training last week and you were talking to someone called Michael." Chris takes a bite of steak and talks with his mouth full, like an asshole. "So who is he?"

Mom elbows her, winking. "Someone you like?"

"What? Ew, gross, no!"

Chris and Mom just laugh and Mom elbows her again. "Don't worry, I was your age once too. That's how I reacted when my mom asked me about my crush."

"Michael isn't my crush!"

"Boyfriend, then?"

"No, he's not my—" she covers her face and sighs. "He's not my boyfriend, he's not my crush, he's not someone from school, happy?"

"So who is he?"

Well, fuck it, no time like the present. She pushes back from the table, muttering about using the bathroom. They wait until she's halfway up the stairs to start talking again, their voices low in that way where she knows they're still talking about her, but she pays them no mind as she goes into the bathroom and shuts the door. She braces her hands on either side of the sink and takes a deep breath.

"I'm guessing you heard all that."

The words swirl up right below the mirror.

yeah

"I mean, it's not like we'll get a better opportunity."

probably not

"Are you ready?"

are you?

She rubs at the chip in the linoleum and turns on the cold water, just to make sure there's no milky sweat on her hands. "I'm nervous."

me too

"No matter what happens," she says firmly, "no matter what they do or say, I'm here for you, okay? I've got your back. I love you."

i'm so proud of you, sweetie, i love you too

The words glow cheerfully against the weird tile pattern and she reaches out to touch them. They share a moment before the words fade and she takes a deep breath, squaring her shoulders in the mirror and nodding to herself. "Right. Let's do this."

She marches back downstairs and Mom and Chris do a horrible job of pretending not to be nosy and expectant. She sits back down and folds her hands in her lap.

"I'll tell you who Michael is," she begins, "but you have to promise not to tell anyone else."

"I promise, honey," Mom says, miming zipping her lips shut.

"Chris, you promise too."

Chris looks at her for a moment like he's going to disagree, then he winces as Mom kicks him under the table. "I promise too."

"Good." She takes another breath and reaches for the ring around her neck. The second she brings it out from under her shirt, Chris's silverware clatters against the plate and Mom inhales sharply.

"Rose," she says shakily, "where did you get that?"

"Before I said yes to joining you," Rose says, "I met K outside the lab. He told me there might be a way to get rid of my powers for good."

Chris frowns. "K never said anything like that to me, what do you—"

"I'm getting there. He took me to the lab where there was a piece of the Megamycete, and said that—"

"He what?"

"Will you both just listen to me?" The two of them quiet down. "Thank you. So, like I was saying, he took me to see the piece of it and said that there was a purifying crystal that Miranda discovered that could take the mold out of someone. All I had to do was look through the Megamycete's index of consciousness to see if I could find it."

"That's incredibly dangerous, Rose," Mom says quietly, and Chris looks like he's trying to strangle his fork. "Please tell me you didn't—"

"I wanted them gone," she interrupts, looking at her Mom, "they were—I was just a freak with no friends. Someone offered me the chance to be normal, are you telling me you wouldn't have done the same thing if you were a teenager?"

Mom looks at her for a long moment, but she doesn't disagree. Rose squeezes the ring and keeps going.

"It wasn't that easy, obviously. It was…really hard. And really scary. I had to fight my way through these, like, twisted versions of the places in Miranda's village, like that big castle and the creepy doll house, and there were all these versions of me that kept getting killed and tortured, I fought a version of Eveline too—"

"Rose," Chris tries to say but she doesn't let him.

"—but I had help," she continues. "There was something helping me. It helped me figure out where to go, what to do, gave me a gun and taught me how to use it. There were these glowing words that would appear when I needed them most and it…it was like having a guardian angel."

"Michael," Chris says, and she nods.

"Yeah, I called him Michael. He—he kept trying to get me to leave, said that it wasn't safe, but I wanted to find the crystal and so he helped me. And then we found out K wasn't actually K and it was all a trap set by Miranda—"

"It was what?"

Chris is already getting up. "Is she still in there? Do we need to—"

"Sit down, Chris, it's fine, we beat her. She's dead now, like, really, actually dead. She crystalized and turned to dust, I saw it."

His face still looks like he ate a lemon, but Chris sits slowly back down. He exchanges a worried look with Mom and she puts her hand on Rose's shoulder. "You said 'we?'"

"Me and Michael." She looks down at the ring and turns it over in her hand. "Until I found out who he really was."

Mom gasps, a small and shuddery thing. She holds her hand over her mouth and stares at Rose. "Ethan."

Chris makes a noise too as Rose nods. "Yeah. It was him the whole time. He…he protected me. From Miranda, from Eveline, from everything."

"He loved you so much, honey," Mom whispers, her eyes growing wet, "he never stopped loving you."

"He showed me our house in Romania," and to her horror, she can feel her voice growing thick too, "with all his memories. I heard his voice, Mom, he—he wrote me a letter, did you know?"

"Yes," Mom says, trying not to sob, clutching her shoulder, "yeah, honey, I know. He cried so much while he was writing it, he wanted you to get old enough to read it with him, oh, Rose…"

She swipes a hand under her nose and turns to Chris, who's doing that big, tough, I'm-too-manly-for-my-emotions-right-now thing and reaches for him too. After a moment, his hand turns and covers hers. He's trembling. "He taught me how to fight, Chris. We—we fought together. He shot the monsters in the face with a shotgun and gave me his power so I could kill Miranda, once and for all."

Chris swallows heavily. "Your dad was…he was one of the best men I've ever known, Rosie. He would be so proud of you." He sniffs. "You said he shot them in the face with a shotgun?"

"Mhm."

"Yeah, that sounds like Ethan, alright." Mom laughs and it sort of sounds like a sob but she and Chris are smiling now, so it's okay. Chris looks back at her and nods a few times. "So you were talking to him, then?"

"Yeah. When you walked by on Tuesday, I think it was…yeah, we were arguing about whether the original Blade Runner was better than 2049." She wrinkles her nose. "He said the original was better but I like the remake."

Chris frowns. "What do you mean, he said—"

The words scrawl over Mom's dining table, illuminating their faces.

i like the classics, that's all

Rose would laugh at the way Chris almost falls out of his chair if his hand and Mom's weren't trembling. She looks at Mom, who stares at the glowing words, and at Chris, who looks like he's about to be sick.

Mom breaks the silence first. "…Ethan?"

The words move, now right next to her forgotten plate.

hi honey

"You're—you're—"

bad at staying dead?

Mom's breath leaves her like she's been punched in the gut. "Oh, Ethan, I—I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry—"

breathe, it's okay

She squeezes Mom's hand as she takes a few shaky breaths. "What—how is this possible?"

rose

"We're both part of the mold," Rose says when Mom looks to her, "he's…he's using my part right now, we're sort of sharing it."

told her i'm not a scientist, figured you'd get it :)

"No one uses those anymore," Mom mumbles and Rose whispers a quiet told you so! as the smiley turns to a frowny for a moment, before the words change again.

i know it's been hard, i'll always love you

"Oh, Ethan," Mom whispers, reaching out to touch the words. She gasps as a flicker of warmth pulses through them and Rose squeezes her hand again. "I miss you."

i miss you too

Another glow flickers up next to Chris, who startles and stares down at the words in shock.

you too

"E-Ethan, I—" he cuts himself off as the words swirl again.

thank you for taking care of my daughter

Chris swallows heavily. "She's incredible, Ethan. You should be proud of her."

always am

"I'm sorry," Chris whispers, and something in Rose's gut clenches at how close to tears he looks too, "if I'd been faster, we could've gotten you out of there, we could've…"

it's okay, Chris, we're all okay

"You're dead."

i died in 2017, doing pretty well considering

"He is really bad at staying dead," Rose adds, "Miranda said so too. You should've seen her, she was so mad at us."

Chris looks like he's having a hard time deciding whether he wants to laugh or cry. The sparkles swirl again.

she's a fighter, she gets that from you too

His free hand jerks and Rose squeezes the one in hers. "You can touch, Chris, he won't bite. That's my thing."

it won't hurt, promise

Chris takes a deep breath and slowly touches the words. His breath leaves him in a rush as they glow warmly under his fingers. Rose smiles as she feels the mold connect all of them there, in that moment, through her and Ethan. Some part of her clicks into place. As if he can feel it too, which he probably can, another set of words appears in front of her.

we're so proud of you, Rosie

"Yeah, yeah," she mumbles as she feels heat rush to her cheeks, "shut up."

no :)

Mom laughs. "We finally have all three of us together again and you want us to not tell you how proud we are of you?"

"They've got a point, Rosie."

"I'll break your nose!"

"No, no," Mom says as Chris squawks, even though she's still smiling, "no breaking Chris's nose."

even if he deserves it

"Hey!"

As they all laugh together, Ethan's words still glowing in the warm, quiet house, Rose sits back in her chair and twists her dad's ring around her finger. Sure, being a mold bioweapon teenager was weird, but if this is the family she gets to have because of it, it can't be all bad.

[pocketramblr]

36 for the word game, please!

36. — conditional

"You don't... want to eat my soul?" Izuku asked. Everything felt unreal, between the light around the demon and the floating sensation between Izuku and his body. Maybe it was just the bloodloss or oxygen deprivation. Maybe the demon wasn't even here. That'd be the better option, right?

"It would not be." The demon grumbled. "Young man, I'd have to be a very powerful demon to utilize souls in magic. I don't know if anyone but the demon king has ever managed it. As for eating humans... Well, yes, some demons would. But I don't."

Well, then Izuku's would-be murderers were going to be very disappointed.

"They just summoned a demon, guess there wasn't a way to phone ahead and check your interest. Sorry you got dragged into this too, then, you can leave right?" And then with no demon to fulfill their wish, Izuku's kidnappers would... Probably just kill him. He was dead anyway.

The demon's brows furrowed, his eyes shone sharp blue in black. "I could, but I don't want to leave you to your death. Nor do I want them to try again, with another summoning circle."

Oh. That was nice of him.

"Unfortunately, I can't really do anything yet until I accept or deny the contract. Until you are dead, or mine." The demon began to pace, yellow bangs swaying side to side. Izuku watched him, and didn't move from the circle painted on the ground. Moving sounded like it would hurt.

"Well, I guess..." The demon sighed, then turned back. "Ok, here's an offer: I adopt you as my son. That means accepting the contract, with another on top."

Izuku already had a dad. He thought about what his mom would say if he said yes, it would have broken her heart. But if he said no... Well she wouldn't exactly have been happy about this, either.

"As your son?"

"It would allow you safe passage to the Netherworld and would fulfill a condition of the contract."

"The Netherworld?"

"Where demons dwell. As I said, in this world... You're not long for it."

"What are the other conditions?"

"I'd need something from you. As this saves your life, you'd have to give up something too."

"My soul?"

"No, that'd be under my custody until you reach adulthood. You'd have to give up your surname."

"Oh, like, change my name on the family registry because I'd be adopted? Demons have family registries too?"

"Sorta... But no. I mean, give it up. You wouldn't ever remember your family's name here, and it'd be replaced with mine."

Oh.

It was his mom's surname.

"So if I don't agree, I die. And if I do, I forget my name and go to the Netherworld with you, and you are definitely only going to adopt me and not eat me because if you wanted to do that you already would have, I guess, and... What happens here? To make sure there isn't another summoning circle or they try to get even more people killed because it apparently works and-"

The demon waved a hand. "In accepting, I would also be sealing the deal with... them too, yes, but I can then make sure they are unable to do anymore harm with it."

"So, you wouldn't be giving them what they want?"

The demon snorted. "I'd be giving them what they think they want. And I can promise you this, they will regret it."

Izuku almost asked what it was. Almost asked what they wanted badly enough to kill him. But couldn't.

"All right. I agree."

"Really?" The demon sounded too surprised, considering he'd been trying to sell Izuku on this plan. Or, trying to get Izuku to sell on his plan?

"Yeah."

"Deal. Sign here." The demon snapped, and papers and and old pen hovered in front of Izuku. He couldn't read the paper.

He signed it anyway.

[maegalkarven]

I just thought of redeemed!Durge run AU in which Elder Brain won (Emperor or Orpheus were not strong enough/Elder Brain grew too powerful under the influence of the crown), so the Great Design was set into motion, gods freaked out (bc no one needed Ao coming to whoop their asses), grouped together and pulled the time rug back.

Which made the entire team go back to the moment right before Ketheric's death (bc it's the last point of no return, after his death Brain gets freed from one part of the command and it just spirals from that).

Gods also pull the kind of dimensional skype call like in Pillars of Eternity. Basically gods summon the team.

Which leads to the most epic yet hilarious encounter.

Imagine: the entire team (with Isobel, Aylin, Jaheira, Halsin and Minthara, let's make it a good run) standing in front of Gods in some liminal space.

I'm thinking the Dead Three, Selune and Shar (imagine how fucked up things have to be for them to be at the same place and be civil-ish), Mystra and maybe Loviathar. Oh, and Jergal is also here.

And it's all pathos and importance of stopping the Netherbrain before the world gets destroyed (and before Ao looks down and starts whooping ass.)

But at the same time most of these gods are evil, they do not know how to work together and they hold grudges.

Shar and Selune are specially seated at the further sides from each other. Myrkul is seated between Bhaal and Bane because these two reached some new levels of hatred and so he is working as a god-shield.

Bhaal blames Bane for Durge's fallout, Bane retorts he would have a better use for Durge than Bhaal, and anyway Durge ruined a perfectly good tyrant, look at him, he has feelings now! (Gortash looks offended.)

Selune stares at Ketheric without blinking and so is Shar (no one sees her eyes, but Ketheric FEELS her gaze). Myrkul tries his best not to bring the twins' attention his way. When it is brought, he argues what at least he gave Ketheric what he wanted and points at Isobel. Isobel is like "DID I ASK THO?"

Mystra says everything is Jergal's fault, if only he didn't give away his power to these three dipshits-

Which brings said dipshits fury over her head.

Loviathar just happy to see Durge who took her blessing oh so nicely. Bhaal demands Bane calls off his wife who is stealing Bhaal's child.

Someone asks "Why when some bullshit happens, it's always you three?" (meaning the dead three),to that Bhaal retorts what he wasn't there when Bane and Myrkul stole the Tablets of Fate from Ao and brought the entire Time of Troubles on their heads.

Myrkul says it's because no one invited him.

Selune says the Time of Troubles was REALLY fucked up and they lost Mystra.

Mystra is like: "I am literally here," to which she gets response "I liked the previous one better".

And the entire time the mortals (and Aylin with Durge) are like: ...so we're screwed, right?

And also NONE of the chosen can be killed bc doing that will free Netherbrain.

Karlach tells Mystra to fuck off. The entire team supports it, to Gale's bewilderment.

Jaheira stares daggers at Bhaal. Like for real tries to intimidate a god with a stare.

Orin has to be restrained bc killing her is not an option, but she will not cooperate.

Shar goes to hurt and intimidate Shadowheart in some way, to which Selune, Aylin and Isobel are like: "Literally fuck off".

Bhaal straight up tells Orin she was destined to fail bc all she was - a trial for Durge. Orin DOES NOT take it well.

Durge and Bhaal ready to kill each other because this family is MESSED UP. The team trying to hold Durge down bc "Stop, you idiot! He'll just kill you again!"

Karlach not taking it well what Gortash shouldn't be killed. Same for Jaheira and Halsin, but about Ketheric. Aylin is more reasonable about it, but deep inside she's seething.

The team snitching on Mystra to the other gods like "she told Gale to detonate netherise orb!"

Shar: I also liked the previous Mystra better.

Mystra: WTF this is so uncalled for

The gods: Did Shar and Selune just agree on something????

[pompomqt]

Journey to the West Chapter 21

Sun Wukong bringing the body of the Tiger Demon to the wind demon to pick a fight:

In the last chapter of Journey to the West with @journeythroughjourneytothewest Sun Wukong beat the mini boss, the tiger demon, now it's time for him to face off against the main boss to get his master back! So let's get into it shall we?

So Sun Wukong drags the body of the defeated demon up the mountain to pick a fight with the big boss. Which causes all the minion demon's of the mountain to freak out and report it to their boss. The Great King doesn't take to kindly to knowing Sun Wukong killed his subordinate- after all, he hasn't even eaten the monk yet, so what is he going around killing his minions for? So The Great King gets dressed in his armor to go out and see just what kind of horrifying monster managed to kill his Tiger Demon. Only to be utterly unimpressed by Sun Wukong's small size.

So Sun Wukong decides to mess with him by saying he may be small in size now, but invites the deomn to give him a wack on the head and watch as he grows six feet at once! So the demon unsurprisingly takes that free pot shot- only to immediately regret it as Sun Wukong does indeed grow another six feet even as he tries to use his weapon to hold him down.

And with that the two begin fighting, with The Great King being able to hold his own against Sun Wukong much better then the Tiger Demon could. Sun Wukong decides to try and end this quickly so he summons a bunch of duplicates of himself. This causes the Great King to break out his own special ability- the samadhi wind. This wind manages to blow away his duplicates and also injures his eyes, temporarily blinding him. Unable to continue the fight in his condition, Sun Wukong retreats.

So Monkey makes his way back to Pigsy and tells him what happened. Monkey says that he is a bit better at fighting then the demon, but that his wind is a problem, and even though Monkey can also summon wind, it's not nearly as powerful as this demon's wind. So for now rescuing Tripitaka will have to wait while Monkey tries to find a ophthalmologist to heal his eyes.

You'd think that finding help in the middle of the mountains might be difficult, but they don't have to search for long before they find a small cottage. And surprisingly enough, the family there lets them stay even without Tripitaka's pretty privilege paving the way. They don't even call Monkey and Pigsy ugly first. Suspicious.

So the patriarch of the cottage gets Monkey and Pigsy settled and gets them some food and tea. Monkey then asks if he has any eye medicine because he had a run in with the mountain demon and his wind injured his eyes. The Patriarch at first doesn't believe him, because if he really had had a run in with the Samadhi wind, how could he still be alive, you'd have to be immortal to survive it! Sun Wukong- Level 5 Immortal, isn't to worried about the wind killing him, but it did manage to injure his eyes.

So the old man eventually gives him some eye ointment and Pigsy and Monkey settle down to sleep- but not before Pigsy mocks him one last time for his blindness. So then Pigsy sleeps while Monkey just mediates for a while before he also goes to sleep. When Monkey wakes up, he can conveniently see again, and he can also see that the family and cottage from before have all mysteriously vanished. Pigsy is shocked that the family managed to dismantle their entire house and move away in a single night without alerting them, but Monkey just points out a note pinned to a nearby tree explaining that the family was actually some of the deities in charge of helping out Tripitaka. No wonder they didn't call Monkey and Pigsy ugly... Anyways, Monkey tells Pigsy about the deities and how he hadn't really utilized them since Pigsy joined up with them.

So Monkey tells Pigsy to wait here while Monkey goes off to check on their master. And Pigsy says, 'Hey if he's dead we'll be able to go back to doing our own thing.' And Monkey tells him to stop talking nonsense and takes off.

So Monkey sneaks inside the cave as a mosquito, by biting the guard on the nose in order to wake them up and get them to open the door. So Sun Wukong manages to find Tripitaka who is currently bound in rope and crying his eyes out. Sun Wukong tells him to calm down and that they will capture the monster and then rescue him today. Having confirmed that Tripitaka was still alive he flies off again to spy on the Wind Demon.

Monkey manages to make it to the demon just in time to hear one of the minions giving a report that they had a run in with Pigsy but didn't see Sun Wukong anywhere. And they come to the conclusion that either they managed to kill Sun Wukong, or that he left to go get help. But that's nothing to worry about, after all the only person who can do anything about his wind would be the Bodhisattva Lingji.

With that tasty piece of info, Monkey leaves the cave and finds Pigsy to tell him all about it. Monkey is excited by the clue, but unfortunately he has no idea where Lingji lives. But Conveniently a convenient old man conveniently walks by just then. And Conveniently this old man happens to know exactly how to get to Lingji and gives monkey directions, how convenient! When Monkey turns his head to looks south, the old man disappears, leaving a note behind explaining that he was actually the Gold Star of Venus. I'm starting to think that any and all convenient old people in this book are actually gods in disguise.

So Monkey once again tells Pigsy to stay behind and watch the horse and the luggage while he takes off to give Lingji a little visit. Also... the horse is still a dragon right? You'd think they would be capable of babysitting themselves and watching the luggage, but I guess not.

So Sun Wukong arrives at Lingji's place and has one of the Daoists announce him and set up a meeting with Lingji. The Bodhisattva offers him some tea but Sun Wukong says there is no time for tea because his Master has been captured by the Yellow Wind Demon. Lingji explains that he was tasked by the Buddha to subdue the wind demon, and has a Wind Stopping Pearl and Flying Dragon Precious Staff to accomplish that. At the time when he had captured the demon he spared him on the condition that the monster retires in the mountain and doesn't harm anyone. Seeing how he broke that rule, Lingji agree's to go with Sun Wukong so the two travel back to Yellow Wind Mountain together.

Since the monster is afraid of Lingji, Lingji tells Sun Wukong to pick another fight with him and lure him out here. So Sun Wukong decides to make an entrance and smashes his staff against the cave door and demands they give his master back, causing the minion demons to once again freak out and go report his presence to their king. This works and gets the Wind Demon to fight Sun Wukong again, they fight for a few rounds before the Wind Demon begins summoning his wind again. Lingji uses this moment to strike and throws down the dragon staff, which transforms into a real dragon which grabs onto the demon and crashes him into the mountain, turning him back to his true form, a yellow furred mink.

Sun Wukong then rushes up to finish the Mink off but Lingji stops him saying that the mink was originally from Spirit Mountain and had acquired the way. He stole some pure oil in a crystal chalice and fled, but the Buddha didn't think he deserved be executed over it. So Lingji wants to bring him back to the Buddha. And Man, it is so easy for everyone but Tripitaka to go see the Buddha whenever they want.

With the main demon defeated, Sun Wukong and Pigsy clear out the rest of the demon nest and rescue Tripitaka. And after eating the demon's food, the group is once again free to continue their Journey to the West.

Current Sun Wukong Stats: Names/Titles: Monkey, The Stone Monkey, The Handsome Monkey King, Sun Wukong (Monkey awakened to the void), Bimawen (Banhorseplague), The Great Sage Equal To Heaven and Pilgrim Sun. Immortality: 5 Weapon: The Compliant Golden Hooped Rod Abilities: 72 Transformations, Cloud-Somersault, Ability to transform his individual hairs, super strength, Ability to Summon Wind, Water restriction charm, and the ability to change into a huge war form, ability to duplicate his staff, ability to immobilize others, the ability to put others to sleep, and the Fiery eyes, Diamond Pupils, intimidating horses, churning large bodies of water, sleeplessness, seizing the wind and enhanced smell. Demon Kill Count: 4+ Unknown Number of Minions Human Kill Count: 6 God's Defeated: 19 + Unknown number Defeats: 3 Crime List: Robbery, Murder, Mass Murder, Arson, Theft, Coercion, Threatening a Government Official, Resisting Arrest, Assault, Forgery, Employee Theft, False Imprisonment, Impersonating a Government Official, Treason, attempted murder, failure to control or report a dangerous fire, desecrating a corpse, breaking and entering and trespassing. Cry Count: 3 Mountains Trapped Under: 1

Current Tang Sanzang stats: Names/Titles: River Float, Xuanzang, Tang Sanzang, Tripitaka Abilities: Curing Blindness, making branches point a certain direction (allegedly), reciting sutras, pretty privilege, memorization and Heart Sutra. Cry Count: 13 Tight Fillet Spell Uses: 5 Paralyzed by fear: 4 Bandit Problems: 2 Kidnapped by demons: 2 Falling Off Horses: 5

Current Bai Long Ma Stats: Names/Titles: Bai Long Ma (White Dragon Horse), Prince of the Western Ocean, and third prince jade dragon of the dragon king Aorun Abilities: Transforming into a human, a water snake, and a horse, eating a horse in one bite, and flight. Crime List: Arson, and Grave Disobedience. Contributions to the plot: 1

Current Zhu Wuneng Stats: Names/Titles: The Marshal of the Heavenly Reeds, Zhu Wuneng (Pig who is aware of ability), Zhu Ganglie, Pigsy, Idiot and Eight Rules. Weapon: Rake Abilities: 36 Transformations Demon Kill Count/Kill steals: 1 Failed Flirtation/romances Attempts: 2 Cry Count: 1 Crime List: Sexual Harassment, Murder, Kidnapping and arson.

[herequeerexitentialfear]

💎💎💎 from georgie about emerie <3

<33

"Emerie! my favorite pink tiefling!! the best alchemist i know!" Georgie is grinning wildly, "Where to start!"

"Shes just so... bright! and joyful! i mean-" Georgie gestures as if to say just look at her -"Shes a wonderful and kind person-" his voice goes low and mournful "-despite everything."

"She has found and rebuilt a family for herself. That takes an immense strength."

"I- I'm not sure what more to say? She is bright an- and I'm just repeating myself again." He laughs at himself.

"Sometimes I wonder how she feels about changing her path, becoming an alchemist. Whether in the dead of night she wonders if it is a rejection of her first family and the love they gave her, to change from the road they mapped out for her." Georgie is staring into the distance, shame on his face for bringing up such personal questions.

"What i mean is- Well i suppose i want the answer myself. I'm just asking her because she seems to have less weight on her shoulders" he smiles with a tightness that denotes its falseness "But I of all people should know that the face someone presents to the world ain't what they feel inside."

"I've found there is a bond of shared suffering between teiflings, and i have to fight the urge to drown my fellow people in questions, questions I'm better off asking my self." he pauses to fiddle with some string, "what I'm getting at, or trying to, is that its hard to think about her without thinking about how i could have been, in another world. I try to capture the stories of my fellow teiflings, so i can weave them together into something i can point to and say is like me. i ask them questions i want to ask myself but know i cannot answer. Am i really a teifling? i have not suffered as much as many of my siblings, those in city's or country's that hate them for existing. Can i claim that relation, that suffering, when i have a loving home to go back to? When i chose to leave the place i had made safe, into a world that hates me."

"i think Em's story may be able to bring me closer to an answer, i think it may help me realize that i still suffer the hate, even if i have people who loved me, even if i have not had the 'normal' experience."

"But that is her story, and its not my place to ransack and demand entry to just because we share an enemy, just for me to know myself better."

"She is a good woman, and an amazing friend. You will not hear me speak against her. But yet i find my vision of her is obscured by the answers i want from her."

he shakes his head, "I apologize. This has said much more about me than her, and she deserves people to see her as more than a vessel to project their personal questions onto. You seem to have caught me in an introspective mood, for better or worse."

"She has mentioned loving animals, but not being able to keep them, maybe she would like to meet my flock. Maybe i can gain her help in making some scrolls of summon creature so she can have an animal companion, in addition, of course, to her lovely dragon companion, but i know the difference between the two."

Georgie is smiling again, a fond warmth.

"Maybe one day we can be the kind of friends who confide these questions in one another, but I enjoy her company and friendship all the same now."

[cleolinda]

Varney the Vampire: Chapter 10

Chapter 9: Flora Bannerworth blasted a vampire, twice, then swooned into an Undisclosed Someone's arms, and personally, I think she earned it.

CHAPTER X.

THE RETURN FROM THE VAULT. -- THE ALARM, AND THE SEARCH AROUND THE HALL.

James Malcolm Rymer actually has a fairly cinematic eye despite this being the 1840s; just after Flora dramatically raising her arm to shoot a vampyre in the face (okay, it didn't say "in the face," but I live in hope), we cut over to:

George and Henry Bannerworth, along with Mr. Marchdale, had just reached the gate which conducted into the garden of the mansion when they all were alarmed by the report of a pistol. Amid the stillness of the night, it came upon them with so sudden a shock, that they involuntarily paused, and there came from the lips of each an expression of alarm.

Whereupon her brother Henry SPRINGS THE FUCK INTO ACTION,

he cleared the gate at a bound, and at a terrific pace he made towards the house, passing over beds, and plantations, and flowers heedlessly

legit ducking bullets and my laughter the whole way, and flails back into the family mansion only to discover his SISTER in the ARMS of a STRANGER:

To grapple him by the throat was the work of a moment, but the stranger cried aloud in a voice which sounded familiar to Henry, -- "Good God, are you all mad?" Henry relaxed his hold, and looked in his face. "Gracious heavens, it is Mr. Holland!" he said.

THAT'S RIGHT, IT'S CHARLES MOTHERFUCKIN HOLLAND, BABY

You... you know...! The guy! The guy they couldn't move away for! Who saved Flora when she swooned off a cliff! He's come to reunite with his beloved and he has no idea what the fuck you people are going on about.

Such a strange scene as that small room now exhibited had never been equalled in Bannerworth Hall. There was young Mr. Holland, of whom mention has already been made, as the affianced lover of Flora, supporting her fainting form. There was Henry doing equal service to his mother; and on the floor lay the two pistols, and one of the candles which had been upset in the confusion: while the terrified attitudes of George and Mr. Marchdale at the window completed the strange-looking picture.

Listen, I give Rymer a lot of shit, but the man can paint a picture (which is, in fact, worth one thousand words).

Having exhausted all his executive function, Henry goes limp again:

"What is this -- oh! what has happened?" cried George. "I know not -- I know not," said Henry. "Some one summon the servants; I am nearly mad."

I also give Henry a lot of shit, but I'm not packing a whole lot of spoons on a daily basis, either, so: fair enough. Although he could do better than subsequently telling the servants, "Flora's dead, or fainted, or whatever, someone else figure it out."

Marchdale, however, is focused on The Stranger Present in the Room, straight-up pointing his finger at Charles Holland. Like, he might as well be snarling. Charles Holland retorts, "Sir, I may be a stranger to you, as you are to me, and yet no stranger to those whose home this is," so who the fuck are YOU? Henry tries to placate everyone by fawning over Charles Holland (you have to say his full name. It just sounds right. I don't make the rules), and it... does not work.

"I am proud to know you, bitch sir," said Mr. Marchdale. "Sir, I thank you," replied Holland, coldly. It will so happen; but, at first sight, it appeared as if those two persons had some sort of antagonistic feeling towards each other, which threatened to prevent effectually their ever becoming intimate friends.

I want to say this might actually pay off later, but I can't remember for sure. Meanwhile, the servants WAIT! WAIT THE FUCK A MINUTE! I THOUGHT THEY ALL QUIT? Sorry, going back to chapter 6 to check this—

[Henry] calmly paid the servants, and allowed them to leave him at once without at all entering into the matter, and, for the time being, some men were procured, who, however, came evidently with fear and trembling, and probably only took the place, on account of not being able to procure any other.

Well, at any rate, Some Guys don't know what happened with the fainted ladies and the vampyre, which well they might not if they're just there for the paycheck and are staying out of this. I know all these thinkpieces nowadays are giving people shit about "quiet quitting," but listen, if I am working for the Bannerworth family just to scrape by with ye olde healthe insurance, I am keeping my head down under the bullets flying and my nose out of their vampyre business. So, exit the unconscious Mrs. Bannerworth, borne away by Some Guys, because she only functions to scream and faint. (It's not an issue Stoker much improves on with Mrs. Westenra fifty years later.) Flora, on the other hand, begins to revive in the mansome arms of Charles Holland, who is, uh, still embracing her. Like. You could set her down in a chair or something? No?

"Oh, do not now take her from me, after so long an absence. Flora, Flora, look up; do you not know me? You have not yet given me one look of acknowledgement. Flora, dear Flora!" The sound of his voice seemed to act as the most potent of charms in restoring her to consciousness; it broke through the death-like trance in which she lay, and, opening her beautiful eyes, she fixed them upon his face, saying, -- "Yes, yes; it is Charles -- it is Charles." She burst into a hysterical flood of tears, and clung to him like some terrified child to its only friend in the whole wide world.

Maybe I've just gotten maudlin in my middle age, but: ;_;

Has Flora been ill?? Oh, brother, we've ALL been ill, say George and Harry Henry (Rymer, buddy, pay attention), and "nearly mad," because no one has ever gone through anything as terrible as having a sister bitten by a vampyre. And in the middle of Charles Holland standing there with his erstwhile ladylove sobbing on him, like, what the fuck are you two talking about, Flora suddenly "extricates" herself and demands that Charles Holland break up with her, now, immediately, posthaste, forever!!! NEVER LOOK UPON MINE ANGUISHED FACE AGAIN!!

"I -- I am bewildered," said Charles.

Ayyyy, it's a reader proxy. Flora and Charles Holland argue about about this a weepy minute, until Henry interrupts to ask Flora what happened in the previous chapter while the menfolk were looking for matches, in an exchange that I would call wonderfully naturalistic if I did not want this book to hurry the fuck up and get on with it:

"Has it been again?" "It has." "You shot it?" "I fired full upon it, Henry, but it fled." "It did -- fly?"

That is to say, the vampyre has fled; it did not fly like a bat per se, because that would have actually been cool. I did forsooth merc that motherfucker, avers Flora, but surely it will come again! Marchdale ventures to suggest that perhaps she actually killed it, maybe for good this time. And meanwhile Charles Holland is like,

…you

you did what now

George offers to explain ("'You seem to be the only rational person here,' said Charles"), but Flora interrupts to break up with Charles Holland again: 

"Hear me, Charles," said Flora. "From this moment, mind, I do release you from every vow, from every promise made to me of constancy and love; and if you are wise, Charles, and will be advised, you will now this moment leave this house never to return to it." "No," said Charles -- "no; by Heaven I love you, Flora! I have come to say again all that in another clime I said with joy to you. When I forget you, let what trouble may oppress you, may God forget me, and my own right hand forget to do me honest service." "Oh! no more -- no more!" sobbed Flora. "Yes, much more, if you will tell me of words which will be stronger than others in which to paint my love, my faith, and my constancy."

If you tell me of... stronger... I don't know how Rymer manages to say something that I can technically understand, but still makes me go all blonde math lady dot gif. Dig the emotionally available love interest, though. But Henry's like, buddy, not now—

"Nay, upon such a theme I could speak for ever paid, by the printed line. You may cast me off, Flora; but until you tell me you love another, I am yours till the death, and then with a sanguine hope at my heart that we shall meet again, never, dearest, to part."

What happened to me since 2010 that I kind of love this now? It's 2023, I've had covid five thousand times, and I want this man to sweep in, go "You live like this?," and start swearing his eternal love to me while promising to fix everything. And I'm not even straight.

Flora sobs that him being such a dreamboat just makes it harder to break up with you, Charles [Holland]—

"Oh, say that word again!" he exclaimed, with animation. "It is the first time such music has met my ears."

What—his first name? That she's said seven (7) times since he got here…?

See, this is the thing. Continuity aside, the problem with Varney the Vampire is that it's not difficult to summarize a chapter in maybe three sentences, tops, if you really put your mind to it. But you start explaining it, and paying attention to it, and then the quicksand gets you. You start quoting it for the absurdity and then... the endless, real-time dialogue... you just... start... sinking:

"It must be the last [time I say your name, Charles] [Holland]." "No, no -- oh, no." "For your own sake I shall be able now, Charles, to show you that I really loved you." "Not by casting me from you?" "Yes, even so. That will be the way to show that I love you." She held up her hands wildly, as she added, in an excited voice, -- "The curse of destiny is upon me! I am singled out as one lost and accursed. Oh, horror -- horror! would that I were dead!"

Love it. Quality gothic content. Had to wade through fearsome verbiage to get there. Charles Holland blanches, he staggers, he reels! "Is -- is she mad, or am I?" Henry, tell him I'm mad! No, Flora, I'M mad! Mad at the very thought! MAAAAAAD!! You'd think they were all clawing their eyes out over some cosmic Lovecraftian horror and not one (1) tatty vampyre falling on his ass, over, and over, and over. Seriously, they've already shot him three times and killed him at least once, the Crawling Chaos over here ain't that deep.

At any rate, it's time for Henry, as the head of the family, to take his would-be brother-in-law aside and Tell Him All!!

Never was mortal man so utterly bewildered by the events of the last hour of his existence as was now Charles Holland, and truly he might well be so. He had arrived in England, and made what speed he could to the house of a family whom he admired for their intelligence, their high culture, and in one member of which his whole thoughts of domestic happiness in this world were centered, and he found nothing but confusion, incoherence, mystery, and the wildest dismay.

Can you imagine—you've spent a couple years off doing fuck knows what, and now you're finally returning to look up your apparent fiancée, only to have her wild-eyed brother buttonhole you in a tiny side room and start ranting about matches. That's going to be the entire next chapter. Good luck, Charles Holland!

(Chapter 11 will go up Friday, April 21.)

[todderwodders]

Hello! I see so many bits about your Durge and they're so juicy. Changling? PARENT? Can you tell us more about them and their relationships to the other chosen and Orin?

Omg hiiiiiiiii

So. This durge was born from an idea that the Dark Urge could be anyone, would be anyone, and is inherently a faceless entity with no name nor creed beyond death. They are an interrogation of gender, intimacy, and what it looks like to be a child of a god who can peek into your brain at any given time. There’s a darkness inside of you that’s inside of me.

If you enjoy this very long breakdown, check out Libations, which will be updated soon!

Let’s start from the beginning, one more time.

I will clarify some things before hoping into lore: I use he/they in meta because the urge uses he/they pronouns personally, but they almost universally allow other people to assume their pronouns/refers to himself as ‘this one’ or ‘this child’. He appears, largely, as a tiefling male, an ambiguously gendered elven adolescent, and a human woman. All of them are pale, all of them black eyed, all of them closely tied to the urge’s identity. The Urge is roughly in his mid 40s by the time of bg3’s events.

The Urge, was not born, The Urge was planted, seeded in the flesh of a newly sculpted infant and made to bloom under the conditions of puberty and awareness and crushing expectation. The Urge was gifted, in the mysterious ways of gods, to a family of doctors within the Lower City, and raised as one of several adopted children. They were well educated. They were loved. They knew nothing of hunger but everything of the human body and it’s inner workings, and the way to breath through the decay and clinging stench of bloating corpses in the summer, when not even their false father’s cellar could delay rot for long. Even in youth, their genius and calm understanding of the raw, sinew stringy facts of life impressed and inspired their foster parents.

Their entire childhood and young adulthood was virtually a carefully constructed test to measure this ideal by Bhaal himself - or so he claims. This is an aspect of Dead Three lore I really want to play with - the gods are former men, and even if they weren’t, like many living creatures they are stupid and cruel and thoughtless. They just have enough power to make people think otherwise. Bhaal robs The Urge of their innocence in all things, slowly, and has convinced then he is all powerful in doing so.

Killing is easy. It’s hurting that’s hard. They come into their menstruation and their skin splits in ways yet unknown to them, spikes and open mouths. Something bloody slips from their body - they do not recognize it as a living thing until they find bloody foot prints where it fell. They are reminded viscerally of calves or colts or other animal things - which means they are that animal things mother, away backed filly bred too soon. The Urge culls their false family and makes it look like an accident later. Everyone thinks werewolf or beast, not child. They scrub the walls clean themselves. They find a new tutor for their medical training, and they carry on, and live next to the shadow of their new self.

The Urge was summoned for his true purpose years later, when they were more adult than child. They put down his old life’s name and the body and face that went along with it, and embraced The Urge. Primal, refined, savage and clinically precise - a knife in the dark and the hand that wields it.

The twist is is that The Urge is still mortal and still a person because he exists within the context and confines of a mortal world - he prefers his fluid body and murderous faces, but is a man at heart, he bathes in ritual blood and lives in dark places but still retains encyclopedic knowledge of rose care from his adoptive mother and cultivates them in Gortash’s garden, etc. a killer that has lived the good parts of life, and understands the world in a much wider capacity, for good or ill, than most people. Life clings. Life informs.

The Urge was created to be in direct opposition to sarevok and his brood - a kind of built in drama for Bhaal to follow as his own progeny makes their way about the world. He and Sarevok hate each other, and do not see eye to eye on almost anything beyond the service of their mutual lord. The cult is split into two unspoken factions in this regard - a conflict that is repressed so thoroughly that no outsider has any real concept of it’s going on beyond some guesses by astute associates.

The urge is a ranger-rogue, classes that greatly affect their leadership and religious theory as it pertains to the running and organization of the Bhaalist cult. He wants to make them ‘true hunters, not scavengers in the bleak midwinter hoping to nip at the weakest heel available’. Implying scavenging, implying wasteful, implying breeding into oblivion when the circle of blood and prestige eventually becomes too rotten to expand on itself.

A huge snub to Sarevok, who understands exactly what The Urge drives at with their schemes. For someone who is virtually a demigod, The Urge goes out of their way to cultivate a ‘pack’ mentality and ensure the basics of running and organizing of a group of people - the Bhaalists who adhere to his way of thinking are, and I mean this with caveats so long they look like terms and conditions page, good to each other, but everyone else is liable to become prey. They are family, they feed each other and kill for each other. They are soooo good at cult retention rates, it makes Sarevok look stupid.

Which is the point. It’s really hard for sarevok to control this very strong willed, well educated, emotionally unstable individual with very little compunctions about blatantly but slowly edging him out of power. The only one with any real power over The Urge is Bhaal. The urge is terrified of their father even as they act as dutiful son and priest, but does his bidding to the letter.

They have very lofty ways of speaking and very needle meets thread ways of going about things to get what they want. They twist pre existing doctrine to their liking, they grab at whatever they need and do not let go. I personally with the inbetweens of human experience, the middle ways, if you will, and I really wanted to make a Dark Utgr that walks in a strange veil of emotional ambiguity, rather than binary morality, even before the lobotomy. No one can truly understand all of them because he’s just the demigod they cling to, not a real person, and that’s how they want to keep it, that’s how they keep their power over others.

I think consciously, they became aware that escape is impossible very early on, and Bhaal’s influence will never slacken, but there’s always a little bit of rebellion brewing at the back of their mind anyhow. The clever child changes shape until they can slip their hands through the bars and feel the sweet breeze of the world they used to know. Bhaal is always willing to remind him who he is and what he is. Not because they don’t like killing, murder is a genuine pleasure and an easy, modern solution to their myriad of modern problems, they just don’t like being told what to do and they certainly would not be a cult leader in the sewer if they had the choice.

As an example, part of their obsession with taxidermy and autopsy is born out of a genuine fixation with medicine and the humanoid body. They have truly ground breaking notes and papers that could only be achieved through inhumane torture and misery that they guard jealously.

They were born, primarily, to propagate Bhaalspawn, with fate killing off all but the one that was conceived in … dubious circumstances. Which is how a changeling, against the laws of nature and the gods, gave birth to a Dragonborn with a red throat. There are children after that, but within five years of his son’s birth, they meet gortash, are elevated to chosen, and are gifted a new purpose. A sexual magnet. Bhaal Laura Palmer’d them so hard, another click in their choke chain collar. Now they’re just a dark venus in a dark sky.

Orin used to worship them like a mother-father and the urge used to dawn over her until she saw them break down and be human, just for an instant, at which point the hate was fucking real and solid from then on. The Urge - and this is a running theme here - thinks Orin wastes herself on a god who will never love her back. She’s brilliant but dumb, too desperate for approval when she could be making ‘real art’. They also think of Gortash in the same manner, and encouraged him to try to break from Bane at least once, which … wasn’t happening, and by then The Urgr was too obsessed with their friendship to really push it. In their eyes, it’s those such as himself that is designated by fate to kill and cull, and those who are blessed by the gods to create. These two idiots could be artists and inventors and instead they’re playing hopelessly devote child right next to him. It’s almost embarrassing. He’s also too selfish to ever make them turn from him in any way that matters.

And on the topic of Gortash … they are not normal about each other. They’re … ‘friends’ of 15 years and equals and they fuck routinely (‘be my seal wife for tonight, I’ll hang my skin at the door’) and plot to take over the world together but neither can truly possess the other while the other is shackled to his god so they just sit and commit tax fraud together, at the end of the day. Any explosive mutual destruction shit is long past. It is both hilarious and deeply fascinating for me for these two to have done some truly insane shit trying to cling to the other and it’s driven them so insane that they’re now like ohhhhh Enver dear if you must wed the patriar’s daughter I want to watch you fuck her on the wedding night. As your friend. And Gortash is just like sure man okay. Can do. Arguing over Gortash getting new drapes even though the urge doesn’t even live in his house. They aren’t for each other to keep in any substantial way and that’s fine, it’s life, moving on.

Unfortunately he and Kethric hate each other. They think the other is a terrible parent when ladies, you’re both awful in different, delicately flavored ways.

Also he loves pink.

[kurisus]

Chapter 102-2 thoughts

Considering how eventful this chapter was, I'm surprised I didn't catch wind of any spoilers beforehand. That said, spoilers to follow~

The thing I wanna start with is Yato talking about Hiyori summoning him back from Yomi, but the way he remembers it is as "Yato" rather than "Yaboku" like she actually said. Thus, he's finally mentally broken free of that control Father held over him.

He follows that up by reminding trash dad he's been the one hurting him this whole time, only showing up with crocodile tears and bandages as a way to excuse all he's done.

The pages of the brief fight between Chiki and Rekki, and the one of Yato slicing trash dad's neck open, are so goddamn cool. So satisfying. I will be looking at these pages whenever I need a pick-me-up. My boy finally got 'em :')

Before I get to that, though, I have to laugh at Ebisu this chapter. Man strolls into the gravekeeper's home, almost destroys the shrine, then pauses and asks for the sorcerer's name. Once it's given to him, he lets the guy die and strolls back out, presumably with the name intact. King shit, I love you little businessman boy.

ngl, I didn't really see it coming that all those people with the gravekeeper were dead, too. That's definitely one way to go about receiving the name without having to kill children. And the way they reincorporated that plot detail from Hiyori's grandma was lovely. The writing in this manga is beautiful.

That said, I still don't think we're quite out of the woods. Like I've mentioned before, they told us this place is very, very dangerous and we haven't seen that, still. While my first instinct was to celebrate that Father's finally bitten the dust, there's probably something still yet required to defeat him. idk. it's nagging at me, though. Ebisu's statement "I've already devoted plenty of lives to this" combined with his realization that he's died here in the past almost makes me want to say he has been the gravekeeper in several cycles, but...there was still a line of humans carrying out this duty. He wouldn't have passed the duty back to them, right?

What happened to kill the gravekeeper's family? Why was he left alive, and they were all killed young? The answer to this is probably the same "danger" on this island.

HOWEVER I'm still going to celebrate Father's death. We deserve it. Watching him bleed out while begging for Yato to understand had me like YESSSSSSSS DIE A MISERABLE DEATH.

So yeah let's go back to that. Yato did clarify "Yaboku dies with you" means the version of himself that's tied to his dad will die, like was frantically speculated when he first said that, and he'll be free to live a happy life with his friends.

As much as I want to believe that was really Hiyori and Yukine appearing there at the end, it probably isn't. Yukine is still having a meltdown, and Hiyori is stuck outside of her body with no way to return. Plus we saw Yato's hands just before, and they were stained with blight.

So Father's dying, the gravekeeper did die, Ebisu (presumably) knows his true name, Yato's not in great shape, and Hiyori is running after Mizuchi. What do I think will happen next?

As usual, I have several ideas: Father will reincarnate into a different body. Fujisaki himself will probably either die or wake up in a panic (remember, Father's spirit is outside of the physical body at the moment. I don't know that getting his throat cut would necessarily kill him, if his spirit is still alive). Since Amaterasu has seen Father, she'll be able to track his new body. From there, I would like to say she'll obliterate him for good, but there's still also the nagging question of Heaven's corruption. What if they wanna trap him so they can study him like a bug? What if they kill Amaterasu? What if Father reincarnates as a really young kid, and there's the ethical question of killing children again? What's going to happen to Ebisu and Take, now that they're the ones with the knowledge of his name? The final arc only just started. It wouldn't wrap up after 3 chapters, right? Something else has gotta happen, but what?

I'm definitely going to think more on this and see if I can come up with a more solid idea before next month. We're definitely in the denouement of the series, but as always Adachitoka is staying two steps ahead of all of us. Outfoxed again!