#holy fuck do i need caleb

[diazsdimples]

Do you have any buddie fic recs that is a /must/ read for Buddie shippers ( sorry I don't ship Bucktommy 🥹)

Boy do I ever!!!

honey, when you call my name - @hippolotamus (Explicit)

"Eddie witnesses the Buck/Lucy kiss, has himself a little panic, and decides to do something about it when Buck does his Buck thing and won't stop pushing Eddie's buttons" It's spicy, it's sweet, it's packed full of feels and there was not a dry eye in the house!!

Whatever may come (your heart I will choose) - @hippolotamus (Mature)

"The Story of Eddie and Christopher Diaz" The number of times I yelled at Hippo while reading this,,,, it is incredible!! 30 chapters of Buckley-Diaz family feels, Eddie's heartbreaking backstory and FUCK if I could read it for the first time again, I would!

James Bond AU Series - @princessfbi (Teen & Explicit)

James Bond AU with 007 Agent Eddie Diaz and Buck as Q. Incredible. No notes. Read them back to back in one sitting, and then read them again immediately after. No prior knowledge of James Bond needed (cause I sure didn't have any) but be prepared to have the sudden urge to go watch all the films.

Kink Club AU Series - @princessfbi (Explicit)

"Canon compliant one shots where Eddie works at a Kink Club as a side hustle and meets Buck there before his first shift in 2x01." This series is insanely good. 5 perfect fics of the boys and BDSM, it is incredibly hot, full of feels and just.... yeah. Incredible. Please do read the tags before each fic though, especially if BDSM isn't your thing.

because we'll all arrive in heaven alive - @neverevan (Explicit)

"During a search and rescue, Eddie disappears without a trace, leaving Buck to grapple with the sudden possibility of a life without him." I was literally on the edge of my seat with every single chapter release. It's SO angsty and delicious and absolutely incredible, and I think also very feasible for what could happen in canon should Timothy ever decide to be as mean (affectionate) as Newbie was by putting the boys through this.

Out Of Order, Still In Line - @neverevan (Explicit)

"When Buck finally gets to the Clinic, the long awaited release doesn’t seem to come; cue Eddie to the rescue." One of the first Buddie fics I read and it altered my brain chemistry a little. Lord have mercy. It's just ... you gotta read it. Like, Jesus 🥵

My Blood on Your Skin (My Rose on Your Snow) - @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels (Explicit)

"When Eddie needs cash and fast to take care of Christopher, his LAFD Academy buddy suggests a job as a bouncer at Elysium - an exclusive sex club in downtown Los Angeles. Eddie doesn't care what goes on there, so long as he's paid, but he finds he cares a lot bout the club's enigmatic owner, Evan Buckley, and it's not long before the two of them are violating every boss-employee rule in the book. But there's something different about Buck and the club, something not quite... human. If Eddie wants to keep Buck, he's going to have to delve into the world of immortals, and all the risks that implies." Honestly I think the blurb says it all. I read this at my cousin's wedding (literally just before the ceremony and during the reception fsdkjdfs) because I literally couldn't put it down. Incredible Greek Gods integration and so. fucking. hot. Sorry Caleb, I hope your matrimony is holy but this was so worth it.

stuck now so long, we just got the start wrong - @daffi-990 (Unrated at present)

"Probational Firefighters Evan “Buck” Buckley and Eddie Diaz meet on a call which ends with them at odds with each other. As the months roll by, they keep running into each other on the job, much to Eddie’s dismay and Buck’s delight. Can they put aside their first opinions and misunderstandings and allow the seeds of friendship, and possibly something more, to take root?" This AU has been eating me alive with snippets for the last few months and the chapters are FINALLY being published!! Stay tuned for weekly updates about our idiots being - well - idiots. Daffi has written them so well and I don't think I could yell louder about this one if I wanted.

Cow Eyes - @theotherbuckley (General)

"'Eddie's in hospital and Buck tries not to break down' fic except its actually just a cute silly little fic" Exactly what is says on the tin. Cute, silly, fluffy and entirely adorable. High!Eddie is fucking hilarious and Worried!Buck has my whole ass heart. Love this fic, have read it many times, will read many times more

Both Blade and Branch - @cal-daisies-and-briars (Mature)

"The chances of being struck by lightning twice are incredibly minute, but Buck still manages to pull it off. During a double date with Marisol and Natalia, nonetheless. Eddie manages to resuscitate him, but as Buck recovers from yet another trauma, Eddie can’t help but notice there’s something very different about him. He’s not quite sure what version of Buck he got back." Orpheus and Eurydice vibes but somehow more heartbreaking because it's the Boys? Literally every chapter I was gobsmacked and the fact that I couldn't read it in one sitting due to Life™️ was frankly criminal.

what humans do - @gayhoediaz

""…and the thought that she had just escaped death by such a narrow margin made me realize the intensity of my feelings toward her.” Eddie swallows. “‘What’s the matter?’ I couldn’t tell her, so I kissed her instead,” Buck goes on, and since Eddie’s eyes are focused on the page, they drift ahead a little bit, and the next few lines have him swallowing once again, taking his hand back to brace himself against the mattress as he slowly starts to push himself up to sit. “Kissing is what humans do when words have reached a place they can’t escape from. It is a switch to another language. The kiss was an act of defiance, maybe of war. You can’t touch us, is what the kiss said. ‘I love you,’ I told her, and as I smelled her skin, I knew I had never wanted anyone or anything more than I wanted her…” Buck trails off when Eddie reaches for the book, gently luring it out of his grasp. " One of the best getting together fics I've read. So sweet, so hot, full of feels, and also just very 🤯 in many places. Just insanely well written and perfect imagery.

Also I have a small list of authors whom I love dearly:

@spotsandsocks @exhuastedpigeon @wildlife4life @thewolvesof1998 @thekristen999

@steadfastsaturnsrings @watchyourbuck @fortheloveofbuddie @rainbow-nerdss @bidisasterevankinard

@aroeddiediaz @jesuisici33 @wikiangela @loveyouanyway @kitteneddiediaz

@actuallyitsellie @dangerpronebuddie @loserdiaz @elvensorceress @underwaterninja13

@smilingbuckley

Literally anything these wonderful people (and the authors of the above fics) have written is well worth a read. I would rec all of their words and make individual recs for all their fics but I fear I simply do not have the words.

I might also humbly suggest some of my fics, which you can find here! Happy reading!!!

[meadowsofmay]

caleb was very gracious with the way he treated essek when he found out about him being the traitor — and by all means he had all the right to just punch him in the face, having found this out in the worst time possible. but what i enjoy so much is how untrusting caleb is of him during the time after the peace treaty was signed:

he gave him a chance, the same chance to fix things or at least do something good with the power and time as he gave himself, but didn't ultimately trust. because caleb doesn't trust himself to be completely forgiven until he does enough all the while knowing there will never be enough. and yet, he doesn't let himself slack on things he can do to reach a semblance of peace. that being said, he knows essek is in the same place he once had been and he gives him space and opportunity, that he initialy didn't have up until he met m9, to prove not all is lost regarding him. while also reinforcing the trust must be earned.

and holy fuck, it's so good to see essek in visible shame when he meets the mighty nein in aeor and him not being able to look caleb in the eye out of all of them. there's a change, palpable progress that manifests inself in feeling something more than just self centered need. and caleb is someone whom he knows understands him and that is keeping him in check and tortures him simultaneously. which is good.

which is good.

[its-your-mind]

okay well I know I said I wasn’t watching tonight and I’m STILL NOT but ALSO I did see pics of the new art and 1. I love it all so much they are all. Very pretty. Ashton and Dorian specifically did make me briefly black out. Friends you are going into the snow wtf are you doing but also don’t stop doing it holy SHIT I bet Orym just got a nosebleed as soon as he saw both of them anyways speaking of Orym 2. ORYM. MY BBY MY BOY. Two things. First I love the bluebells he’s growing bc that’s his DORIAN flower and that’s cute as fuck but SECOND AND MORE IMPORTANTLY he is growing!! His!! Hair!! Out!!!!!! Do you understand me???? It’s long enough to curl! It’s got enough weight to it to hang down over his face!!

(and you KNOW this was an intentional decision on the part of Liam “Caleb shaved his beard as soon as they got to xhorhas but let his red hair grow long and started to take care of it” O’Brien. He knows what he’s doing.)

I have been having so fucking many thoughts about Orym and his responsibility to his husband and dad and keyleth and his people and the hells and dorian and and and and. and I’m Not gonna be able to get them all into one post I think but Y’ALL. He is Intentionally ditching the military haircut. That’s the kinda haircut you gotta Maintain, ESPECIALLY if your hair curls (trust me — my undercut is on a Strict Schedule bc if I don’t shave it back every month or so it just becomes a field of curly-cues beneath my long hair). My boy Orym keep that cut Sharp and Precise for five years of wandering mostly alone. There hasn’t been any commanding officer telling him to cut it since he left home. But he kept doing it!!

I’m sure it was part routine, but it was absolutely also a connection to home and to the responsibility he had taken on, which we KNOW at its core was a responsibility to his husband and father. They were soldiers. So was he. They wouldn’t stop fighting. Neither would he.

And the Hells found the killer! Found out why the attack had happened! Reported it all back to keyleth, even! Orym did his duty - he hasn’t been an active air ashari soldier for a while now, even if his five years away counted as official business.

But he kept the military cut.

Until now.

Until after he had finally helped to kill the woman who had struck down the man he loved and the man who raised him.

Until after Dorian came back, only one day after Orym begged him, not because Orym needed his help, just because Orym needed him.

And so Orym wears his Ashari armor, is working to advance the world-preserving efforts of the Tempest, but he also lets his hair grow out, and he adorns himself in bluebells.

When Orym died on the end of Otohan’s blade, Will sent him back. Told him he wasn’t done.

Will wasn’t talking about a mission from the Tempest, or his own need to be avenged. Orym knew that then. He knows that now.

But Orym did still feel the responsibility to his family and to his people, to end the threat. And even though it was only a small part of a greater danger, it is still a threat neutralized. Now, there’s this freedom, this world of possibility that wasn’t there while Otohan was still alive.

And yes, things are horrible. They’ve all just lost a dear friend. It’s causing internal ruptures and dangers and it’s still possible the world will end soon. He’s made a lifelong deal with an Archhag. He’s still not sure what his responsibility is to the Tempest.

But Dorian’s here, now. Back by his side.

And Orym decides to let his hair grow out. Just this once. What the hells, right? Everything is changing. The world might end. Might as well see what kind of person he can grow into before he’s done.

[mickeym4ndy]

You have complete creative control over how Mickey’s storyline is handled (in a world where Noel doesn’t leave maybe?) What kind of storylines does he have and how does his relationship with Ian process? Go!

Anon this is literally THE BEST question ever thank u so much for asking!!

I’ve spoken about this before here, and here. What could’ve (& should’ve) been in season 6 and beyond with Mickey is my Roman Empire.

I’d obviously have him not go to prison, or he goes for a a couple months or so but in the end is found not guilty and released.

The main reason I would have LOVED if Mickey was in season 6 is actually Yevgeny (and Svetlana). The potential that storyline had! I would focus his season 6 arc on building a relationship with his son and how that helps him heal a bit from his childhood. That’s really where I think the writers were planning on going with his story.

I would say at the beginning, he’s still quite focused on Ian. But Ian is still pushing him away. Mickey is drinking a lot and drowning his sorrows and just in general feeling terrible. But eventually he pulls himself out of it. I think it’d be maybe Svetlana or Mandy who tells him to get his shit together. (Ian’s arc would remain largely the same but no Caleb bc fuck him).

I’d have Svetlana and Mickey still living together and him slowly warming more to Yevgeny and realizing how much he cares for him and loves him. It would have been SO good to see Mickey actively be a better father than Terry and how much that puts his own childhood into perspective for him.

He’d freak out and be hard on himself, often convincing himself that he’s a terrible dad and the kid is better off without him. But he’d be trying. One night Svetlana has to go out and he’s alone with Yevgeny and he has to bathe him and rock him to sleep and everything and Yevgeny is screaming and crying as toddlers do and Mickey is freaking out and trying not to lose it, but eventually he calms him down and rocks him to sleep and Mickey’s just like holy shit. He looks at his son and knows he’d do anything to keep him safe and it puts his own childhood into perspective bc he’s like how could anyone hurt this baby??? He’s breaking the cycle and trying not to repeat the sins of his father and we love that for him. He’s not perfect and he makes mistake but he’s trying!

Also I’m obsessed w what Mickeys reaction would be the first time Yev calls him Dada/Daddy. Maybe he’d be shocked at first and it’d freak him out and then he’d be like “yea kid, I’m your dad.”

He ends up spending a lot of time with Yevgeny and Svetlana and the three of them become a little dysfunctional family. Mickey and Svetlana hijinks PLEASE. Idek for sure what they’d be doing. But they’d spend a lot of time together, and really grow fond of each other. They become family. They still act like they hate each other, but they don’t. They’d become an accidental bestie/co parenting duo. At this point, Yev and Svet are kind of all Mickey has left, so he’d rely on them a lot. I can see him becoming really protective of them too. And family is important to Svet.

Also Mickey and Mandy get back in touch and she calls him after the dead guy incident for help and he brings Svetlana. Simply because I wanna see what Svetlana would do in that situation. Would be iconic. Also would keep Iggy and Colin in the show and have them hang out some bc they were funny and I miss them. Milkovich family bonding please!

I would like to see him still interact with the Gallagher’s - I’d definitely have him be the one to help out Carl with everything. Mickey would be the one to talk some sense into him and help him through it. I feel like he’d still sometimes talk to Debbie too. I would still have him & Ian not see much of each other, though. I think Ian avoiding him is quite in character for Ian.

One day he’s running a scam or dealing and almost gets caught and Svetlana is like “ok, we need real jobs.” And he goes out and gets a job as a bartender or bouncer somewhere.

When it comes to Ian, I think it’s better if they actually end up not seeing much of each other for a while. But Mickey hears that Ian is becoming an EMT and he’s really proud of him.

Eventually, they’d find their way back to each other. They start as friends and they both have to get passed everything that happened and Ian would have to get passed the “I’m not worthy of love” thing that he dealt with in season 10. One random way I can see it happening is that Ian hears that Yevgeny is in hospital (he’s fine, really high fever but he gets better) and is really worried so he goes to see him. Mickey is there worried out of his mind and they start talking and that’s the beginning of it.

I think Mickey’s priorities would shift and this would lead to a healthier dynamic between him and Ian. But I’ve gone into detail on that here so I won’t talk any more about it lol.

I haven’t thought all that much of what he’d do beyond season 6/7. I think in the following seasons he’d deal with balancing his family and his relationship with Ian. And also him dealing with more of his past trauma and everything (similar to what happened with Terry in season 10, and the PTSD he’d likely struggle with post canon). I’d love to see him talk to someone about it but I do feel like that’s something that he wouldn’t be ready for for years. I’d also like to see him become a tattoo artist or do any job he’d enjoy, but again that would probably be a future/later seasons storyline.

I feel like this isn’t great and I’ve worded it better other times lol. I probably have more but that’s what I’m saying for now! Might add to it if I get more ideas lol.

[kraviolis]

TOH Little Lamb AU Masterpost

"Little Lamb AU" is an alternate universe for the owl house that i designed that is heavily based off of/inspired by this Golden Siblings AU. if u like this one i suggest taking a gander over there bcus its very very good

the base concept is the classic "luz arrives to the demon realm way earlier" trope, but with the little lemon twist of it being belos that finds her first and instead of her becoming another golden guard or being treated poorly in any capacity, belos sees luz as A Pure And Holy Lamb Sent From God To Remind Him Of His Righteous Mission

now belos sees luz as His Lamb and himself as The Shepherd because he is actually insane and also highly religious in this AU (i know many ppl see him as nonreligious or even atheist but hes VERY puritan christian in this one) and sees her as his own child now.

belos keeps luz away from magic and witches for as long as he can bcus his puritan views infect how he treats her. she becomes the princess of the boiling isles, though her face & name arent shared after her coronation so she can grow up in relative anonymity. but because belos is trying to run a fucking country, he doesnt have time to raise a child.

hunter is given full responsibility over luz, despite only being 2 years older. belos's reasonings behind this at first are "eh. caleb did fine with me!" but quickly devolves into him living vicariously through a human child who has an older brother that dedicates his entire life to protecting and raising her and would never ever abandon her. because belos needs severe mental help.

luz calls belos "uncle" and actually loves him & loves hunter but wants nothing more than to be free and learn magic and be a witch despite her uncle constantly saying that she cannot because she's human.

after her 14th birthday, luz begins to sneak out of the castle to explore the isles. she comes back before anyone notices she's even gone, but then one day she meets eda the owl lady and the king of demons...

and now heres a list of posts. im trying 2 make it in chronological order but its difficult bcus i love to smash random sketches together

drawings:

baby hunter meets baby luz

is camila still looking for luz?

misc. sketches 1

belos cares for both of his wards equally

misc. sketches 2

luz & darius first meet

hunter & luz's first interaction after she runs away

asks/meta posts:

vee's motives in the human world

philip's thought process irt how he "raises" luz

how hunter & belos's dynamic changed

explaining darius & hunter's relationship

how exactly do lilith & luz interact with eachother?

luz & eberwolf interacting

how do luz & amity first meet?

hunter's feelings after luz runs away

why isn't hunter happy for luz?

eda finding out about luz's past

+ MY SPOTIFY PLAYLIST FOR DA AU

[poledancingdinos]

Hostile Territory - Chapter 21

Pairing: Captain Syverson x OFC (Leah Coleman)

Word count: 2.4K

Warnings: none for this chapter

Catch up: Series Masterlist

Taglist: @amberangel112  @utterlyhopeful-fics  @marantha @kebabgirl67  @littleone65 @omgkatinka @luclittlepond @persephonepraxidikechthonios @enchantedbytomandhenry  @narnianaos  @geralts-yenn @peaches1958 @avengersfan25 @sillyrabbit81 @summersong69 @identity2212 @liecastillo @lena-banena @mrsevans90 @confessionbrain-writings @eclecticfashionbookszipper @happydistraction @hannah9921 @valacircareads @toooldforobsessions @kingliam2019

Masterlist

Day 204

“Leah! Where the hell are you?”

Without warning, the door to Leah’s bedroom was pushed open, startling both Leah and Sy awake. Instinctively, Sy reached under his pillow, which was devoid of his usual handgun, while Leah sat up so fast she almost slipped off the edge of the bed.

“The hell, Caleb?”

“Shit, my bad.”

Though he was apologizing—sort of—Caleb made no move to leave. There was really no need to avert his gaze either since Leah still wore her t-shirt and Caleb was no stranger to seeing in that particular outfit whenever she came back from visiting Ash but didn’t people usually shut the door when they walked in on someone?

Willing her heart rate to slow down, Leah put her head in her hands and took deep breaths.

She was home.

She was in her bedroom.

The man at the door was her brother Caleb.

The presence shifting next to her was Sy.

There was no threat.

“Fuck off,” she choked out.

Below the blankets, Sy put his arm over Leah’s lap, resting his forehead against her as he stroked her hip. To the outside eye, it probably just looked like a sleepy snuggle but hopefully it would provide Leah enough comfort to pull her away from her impending anxiety attack. In all honesty, Sy’s heart was racing too.

Mercifully unaware of their inner turmoil, Caleb misread Leah’s reaction, mistaking her panic for embarrassment and playing it off by doing what older brothers do best.

“You’re never in bed past six and you’ve literally never brought a guy home. How was I supposed to know you’d suddenly discovered one night stands?”

Leah looked at the clock on the nightstand, noting it was half past eight. To someone working a nine to five it was still early but for someone used to working through the night or getting up for oh-five-hundred PT, it was practically a lie in.

“Right,” she relaxed back against the headboard, squeezing Sy’s arm as a silent ‘thank you’. “And what’s your reason for still standing there now that you know that I’m not alone?” she countered, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Caleb smirked, casually crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe. “To be honest I was waiting to see how long it would take before your boy toy gets uncomfortable and leaves.”

Sy scoffed as he turned over, stretching an arm above his head and shamelessly showing off his bare chest. “I’ve had to shower in a room full of naked strangers while someone counted how long I had to scrub each part of my body. I’m not gonna get uncomfortable.”

“Yeah, and I’m a doctor but that doesn’t mean I need to see your morning glory.”

Leah looked down to realize that Sy’s change of position onto his back had shifted the blankets aside, revealing the tented top sheet. Holy shit. She knew for a fact that he was wearing underwear and yet it was still visible enough for Caleb to notice from the doorway.

Sy still didn’t seem bothered—and really, he had nothing to be ashamed of—but he nonetheless moved the blanket to cover his manhood.

“Was there a reason you came barging in here?”

Caleb turned his focus back to his sister. “We’re having a bonfire tonight. I got someone to cover me for tomorrow so I get to drink more than one beer for the first time in forever.”

“If you drink more than one beer you won’t make it past ten you old grandpa.”

The man in question gasped in mock outrage, clutching his imaginary pearls. “Well, it seems you need a lesson in respecting your elders, young lady. And while we’re at it, a reminder that premarital sex is a sin.”

Caleb made a move towards the bed and Leah quickly climbed over Sy in an attempt to get away, managing to knee him in the ribs as she did and eliciting a small grunt from him. Unfortunately, her brother was too fast, managing to catch hold of her before she escaped the room and throwing her over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes.

He marched her into the hall bathroom, starting the shower on its coldest setting before stepping them both under the freezing spray.

Leah shrieked like a banshee, not feeling the need to hide her discomfort or appear tough for her big brother. She couldn’t attempt to wriggle out of the hold, not unless she wanted him to slip and crack both their skulls open.

“I’ve learned my lesson, put me down!”

Both of them shivered violently, their skin covered in goosebumps, but Caleb was committed to his little punishment.

“I don’t think so. I need to wash away your sins.”

Leah didn’t bother arguing that she and Sy hadn’t actually had sex. It wouldn’t have mattered since neither sibling actually believed premarital sex was a sin. It had simply become an inside joke between them because of the way their grandparents had abandoned their parents.

“I’m clean! Now put me down!”

Her brother simply hummed as if he were considering whether she was, in fact, purged of her sins.

“Caleb!”

The water finally shut off and Leah was unceremoniously deposited back on her feet. At least Caleb was kind enough to take a clean towel from under the sink, draping it over Leah’s shoulders before pulling his own off the drying rack.

“The guys are meeting us at the cabin at two to set up.”

With that, he left the room to go change, leaving wet footprints behind. When Leah looked up, an amused Sy stood in the doorway, having apparently taken the time to find a clean shirt and shorts instead of coming to her rescue.

“You look like that girl that climbs out of the TV to kill people.”

Easily imagining what he meant with her soaked strands loose around her face and the long shirt sticking to her skin, Leah joined in on the laughter. She didn’t miss the way his gaze slid down to her hardened nipples peeking through her shirt. Thankfully, it was dark enough not to be completely transparent.

Sy moved into her space, wrapping the towel tighter around her shoulders and rubbing her arms to give her more heat.

“Your lips are blue,” he said as if feeling the need to explain why he was crowding her space. She hadn’t realized until then how badly her teeth were chattering.

“I should get some dry clothes and get back in the shower. I need to clean my tattoo anyway.”

Sy nodded, not making any move to back away.

“You can use the bathroom downstairs if you want to clean up. Caleb can find you a towel when he’s done changing out of his scrubs.”

“What exactly am I cleaning up for? I heard ‘bonfire’ and ‘cabin’.”

Leah moved closer to Sy, stealing more of his body heat. “We have this cabin about a half hour out of the city. Our dad was thinking of setting up a dog rescue on the property before he…” Leah trailed off, clearing her throat. “We always used it for bonfires and parties since there are no neighbors.”

Sy did his best to mask his deception at spending yet another day sharing Leah’s attention. At least he would get the evening to make up for the poor first impression he’d likely made with Caleb. No one wanted to meet their little sister’s boyfriend while he was half naked in her bed, much less while sporting morning wood.

“Alright, that sounds like fun.” He placed a kiss on Leah’s forehead. “Now go get warmed up, darlin’, and I’ll see if I can put together something to eat.”

When Sy got downstairs, Caleb was sitting at the table, scrolling through his phone with a mug of coffee.

“Can I get in on that?”

“Shouldn’t you be gone by the time she gets out of the shower?”

Although he didn’t sound hostile, Caleb was definitely playing up the ‘big brother’ act. Not one for bootlicking, Sy decided to go on with his plan to make Leah breakfast while Caleb got used to his presence. It had worked on Aika, surely humans weren’t too different.

“Nope, I ain’t goin’ anywhere.”

He went over to the fridge, thankful to find a fresh carton of eggs and a loaf of bread.

Caleb set his phone down, leaning back in his chair as he studied Sy. “Who are you again?”

“I’m—” He almost introduced himself as Captain Syverson but caught himself at the last second. “Sy.”

The younger man continued to watch as Sy opened almost every cabinet in the kitchen, pulling out what he needed from each. He’d found the plates and bowls by the sink, the mugs above the coffee maker and the spices in the pantry but he still couldn’t locate a frying pan.

“Psy as in psychic?”

“As is short for Syverson.”

Finally, Caleb stood from the table, going over to the stove and pulling open the drawer to reveal three different frying pans.

“You’re her CO,” he stated, the tone of his voice taking a complete one-eighty. “Heard good things about you from Niki.”

“Was that before or after I dropped a building on him?” The snarky comment slipped out before Sy could think better of it. He still hadn’t forgiven himself for that incident.

“After actually. He called from Germany.”

Although Sy had gotten an update on his injuries, he hadn’t known Niki had been moved to Germany. It was a relief to hear that Caleb had spoken to him and that he was—presumably—doing alright.

Caleb picked up the cinnamon Sy had just set down and added more of it to the egg and milk mixture Sy was preparing.

“Leah really likes cinnamon,” Caleb said in response to Sy’s unspoken question.

“Thanks.”

“So… do you always shack up with your subordinates or is it only the ones ten years younger than you?”

“Have you always been a jackass or is this something to expect now that you have the letters ‘MD’ after your name?” Both men turned to find Leah toweling off her hair. “Are you done bothering the nice man who’s volunteered to feed me?”

“Fine.” Any further argument he might have had was cut off by a massive yawn that threatened to swallow the whole room Kirby style.

“I bought decaf if you want coffee before you go to bed.”

Caleb had sent her a copy of his schedule for the two weeks she was in town so she already knew he’d just come off a twelve hour shift at the hospital.

“I already made myself a cup,” he answered, shaking his head, “I was just waiting to see if you would take my car and go get some groceries while I get some sleep.”

“Yeah, I can do that. How many are we feeding?”

There were a handful of meals they normally made at the cabin since the kitchen was only stocked with the basics so the number of guests would likely determine what she needed to buy.

“Full house.”

Leah let out a low whistle. “You do realize that you guys are not fifteen anymore and that feeding all of you plus girlfriends is the equivalent to feeding a small army?”

“Then you should be perfectly qualified for the job.”

Caleb finished off his coffee, leaving the mug in the sink before making his way over to his sister. He pulled a wad of cash from the pocket of the flannel pants he’d changed into, setting it on the table before placing a kiss on the top of Leah’s head.

“Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

With that, Caleb went up to his old bedroom, shutting the door behind him. Leah began preparing a fresh pot of caffeinated coffee, making enough for them to have at least two cups each.

“You’re not really ten years older than me are you?”

Sy stepped away from the stove where their breakfast was now beginning to cook. “Uh…” He was actually nine years older than Leah but the only reason he knew that was because he’d seen her date of birth in her personnel file. “Almost, yeah. I’m thirty-one.”

“I never realized there was that much of an age difference between us.” She didn’t expect an answer, thinking out loud more than anything, so she was surprised when Sy spoke from right in front of her.

“That’s because you don’t act like any twenty-two-year-old I know of.”

She studied his face, hoping to figure out whether that was good or bad but since Sy’s face was almost always a blank mask, Leah needed to continue with the whole ‘speaking her thoughts out loud’ thing.

“Is that a problem?”

A flash of something that looked a lot like pain passed over his face but the expression quickly faded to its usual impassiveness.

“Not necessarily.” Sy returned to the stove, flipping the slices in the pan. For a moment, Leah was hurt by his avoidance, thinking that was the full extent of his answer but then Sy faced her again, crossing his arms over his chest.

“For some people, bein’ young and stupid and makin’ mistakes is how they learn.” He kept his eyes trained on the ground as he spoke.

Leah slowly approached Sy, carefully placing her hand over the spot on his chest that was marked with the X-shaped scar. By piecing together the bits of information she’d gathered from Sy, she had determined that there was a story behind the scar but she’d never dared ask.

“Is that how it was for you?”

With a deep exhale, Sy put a hand over hers as he met her gaze. His heart was racing but her touch didn’t make him uncomfortable the way other women’s had in the past. “I’ll tell you the story but only if you promise not to use it as a reason to push me away.” 

He could all too easily picture her shutting down and thinking that he’d said all the right things but had meant none of them.

“I promise.”

With a slow nod, Sy shut off the stove, scooping the French toast onto plate and handing it to Leah.

“I was twenty-one,” he began before proceeding to recount the horrible night that most definitely qualified as the mistake of a stupid young boy.

Chapter 22

[12pt-times-new-roman]

IT'S MIGHTY NEIN DAY LET'S GOOOO

god, the SET, the COSTUMES, travis in full half-orc makeup — fucking gorgeous. but I do have the sneaking feeling that Matt is dressed as young Ludinus.......

The time: seven years after the peace treaty that ended the War of Ash and Light, immediately after the ignition of the Malleus Key. The level: 20. The setting: the Encanter's Rest, Blightshore, where Caleb and Beauregard have landed.

In the midst of this, Caleb has a terrifying realization: if his own collar has been disenchanted, what others have been, too? But Beau's priority is to get to Yasha, who was with Caduceus, and Caleb teleports them there with a chipped piece of gravestone.

The Blooming Grove is healthier than they've ever seen it, and the curse of the Savalirwood has been driven away slightly. Caduceus' hair is a vibrant pink again.

"We made it to the Malleus Key like we planned, but nothing ended as we planned. Da'leth brought down a champion of the Matron, into the heart of the dig site, and he did something — our vision went white, we woke up in a different part of the world —" "Long story short, everything's fucked. I think we need to rally the troupe."

Next stop: the deck of the Nein Heroez, docked in Nicodranas.

Fjord update: his level 20 multiclass is warlock 14/paladin 6, and holy fuck his new art—

Stone's Throw has acquired multiple new ships, including the Rumblecusp Express and the Sapphire of the Sea.

As they travel through Nicodranas toward Veth, they catch wind of something having spooked sea-beasts into the streets.

"I'm sorry, the place is a mess, the world has been turned upside down—" "Wait, something happened here too? What's wrong?" "I have a teenager!"

They sit down to have a conversation, alongside Yeza.

"Uh... Cerberus Assembly, global fuckery, the moon is not where it's supposed to be, Trent may not be imprisoned anymore — and we're getting the Nein back together to deal with it."

Jester update: she took flash recall as her 19th level feat.

Jester attempts to scry on Trent and it doesn't work. They immediately assume that he's broken out and has an amulet, but it could still be that the entire prison is warded against scrying.

"Caleb, do you need an amulet so he can't look in on you?" "Let him come." that's what we call character development!

The Nein, in true Nein fashion, decide to tackle the immediate problem first, rather than trying to push the moon back into space when they don't really know anything about it. Trent joined with Ludinus is far more dangerous than Ludinus on his own, so they'll take down Trent first and play whack-a-mole with the rest of the Assembly later.

Veth isn't sure if she should go with them, but Luc slams his door open — "mom, don't be a coward! You do this every time! You have to be an adventurer for everyone, that's our calling! You can ground me all you want, but I learned it from you!"

Caleb cuts in. "Young man, you do not take your mother's love for granted. Do you understand me?"

They start to leave, but Veth doesn't want to. Caleb draws the circle to the Cobalt Soul archive in Rexxentrum, he steps through, the last to go — and Luc, rogue 5/wizard 3, dashes through at the last second!!

The way the entirety of the Mighty Nein turns on Luc the second they realize he's there and are so protective of him is fucking adorable. Beau challenges him to hit her with a spell, but ol' uncle Caleb counters it and puts him in a wall of force. "We are dealing with people who could kill you with a blink. You are not ready. You are talented, and I'm proud of you, but you're not ready." Luc is out here using Sam's 22 charisma to convince everyone — including Caduecus — to let him stay. Caleb agrees, too, on one condition: that Luc will stay under his eye at every moment, and that he reserves the right to teleport Luc back home the second it becomes too dangerous.

On the upside, it appears that the teleportation circles in the Cobalt Soul are still working.

Since the solstice, the Cobalt Soul has closed its archive doors. They discovered that the master vault has had its wards interfered with and has actually been infiltrated and trapped from within — with Yudala Fon meeting with the king, they ask the Nein to investigate.

Caleb update: Fortune's Favor is his second-level spell mastery choice.

The hallway to the vault leads to a massive adamantine door covered in runes — though it would usually glow blue upon approach, the runes are cold and lifeless. It creaks open without issue.

Inside is a storage room filled with various chained crates, tomes, display cases, and other such things.

In the middle of the floor is a toothy mouth. "Welcome, Bren. You are nothing if not reliable. It feels good to be free — have had so much time to ponder. I can now see how solitude forged you, I now know the greatness that can come from endless quiet and conjecture. At the edges of my mind, many seek me in silence. I wonder If any partnership would meet my standards. I have much to thank you for, my exemplary pupil. It is only fitting you have now taught me, and I return renewed. I must confirm my theories, for they keep many secrets beneath this library. You are welcome to learn what I have, Bren." The magic mouth spell vanishes.

At the far end of the room is a figure, crouched — Aggy, a dwarvish monk (way of the drunken fist, presumably), level 5, played by Wembly Arena's announcer Daniel! The monk was sent into the archive ahead of them, but got caught in some kind of explosion. "Without being too rude, who the living fuck are you?"

Beau update: She got promoted to High Monk!

Fjord uses see invisibility, revealing a handle on the wall that was previously hidden. Aggy goes and headbutts it, inadvertently turning the lever and opening a secret door in the wall.

Through this new door, another mouth appears. "We have all done terrible things, Bren, and we all must be punished for them. I still pay the price, and so too shall he. The Shadowhand must step into his own might. I will tell the Bright Queen of his betrayal, and in this, he shall be made free to follow your path of pain. Only in suffering are we made paragon, and I will make you better; you will be my proudest achievement."

The passage leads to a series of terraced platforms that then lead to a room covered in lockboxes. Each is hidden with invisibility, and protected by various wards.

Aggy, brazenly running down the passageway and sticking his hand on one of the lockboxes, gets instantly killed by a disintegrate.

One of the lockboxes is slightly ajar, and no longer has a trap on it; the inside is empty except for a piece of paper, and another magic mouth appears. "To bleed is to scab, to break is to mend stronger, to hurt is to learn; but recklessness will only leave you dead and forgotten. I was called here to take of its blessing and release one of its forgotten nightmares; arrogance thinks it can use me, but I am the master here. I am he who feeds on ambition, he who drinks of promise and leaves nothing unearned." He tells Caleb to meet him at the ruins of his childhood home — "dinner will be waiting."

Beau comforts Caleb in the way that she does. "You've worked really hard to overcome this. You are above this." "You are right. I don't care that he taunts me. But he doesn't need to be breathing anymore."

With at nat20 plus true seeing, Beau can see the name of what each lockbox contains. The two that were ajar read "adrenus sap," a rare unholy ichor distilled for use in abyssal rituals to bind servants of the abyss or undeath to their domains, or to ensnare such creatures; and "afterimentahl," an arcane binding stone used to capture powerful beings for study, syphoning, or experimentation. The ones known typically contain an entity from the Calamity or before, but the process of creating them has been lost.

back from break and so ready to watch them finally kill this motherfucker—

They put up the tower to sleep for the night, and cast a heroes' feast preemptively.

Caleb uses wish to cast simulacrum on himself to create a copy. He then gives Luc his luck stone, re-attunes his ring of evasion, and casts mind blank on himself before going to bed.

And with a night's rest, Caleb can prepare another 9th level spell or can keep wish — he didn't even have to roll for it because he duplicated a spell! 20th level wizards are a hell of a thing.

With potions drank, fog clouds created, and a heroes' feast had, the Nein plus Luc teleport to Blumenthal.

As they approach, Caleb feels the ghost of his grief, but he has come to terms with it. The house that stands here looks exactly like his childhood home. "I have done what I have needed to do in this world. If I don't walk from this, I need you to get that boy to safety."

Inside, there is laughter — Una's, followed by Leofric's, mingled with Trent's. Caleb walks in, followed by Jester and Fjord. With divine sense, Fjord reads both Una and Leofric as undead. Caleb's simulacrum is polymorphed into a sabertooth to protect Luc. The rest flank the house and watch through the windows.

Breakfast is set at the table. There are seven empty chairs.

"Mother, don't you think it's strange, you haven't changed one iota?" "Not at all. He has given us a second chance." With an insight check, Caleb sees them for what they are: just bodies, reanimated.

Jester leans, says "I'm sorry" to Caleb — and casts turn undead. Both parents fail their saves, fall back. Trent's face falls. "Wery well, then. Perhaps the lesson should start with me." The entire house explodes, but their preparation reduces the damage significantly, and before them is Trent Ikithon, floating up in the air — and where Una and Leofric were are two ghoulish corpses.

time for initiative and combat updates!

Trent's spell save DC is 22. That's just about on-par for a 20th-level wizard with money; a 22 INT plus a robe of the archmagi gets him there, and an arcane grimoire can compensate for no robe or a 20 INT.

Trent can use 2 legendary actions to cast a spell.

Caleb Prime: *downed* Caleb 2: immediately turns into a fucking t-rex

Luc casts see invisibility and reveals that Trent's avatar is an illusory duplicate, and the real Trent is crouched behind a tree like a little fucking creep.

After a chain lightning, a meteor swarm that did higher-than-average damage, and a massive house explosion, everyone's back to full with a mass heal! So with two clerics in the party with a 9th level each, plus a guaranteed divine intervention that can duplicate a mass heal, these fuckers have a latent health pool of 2800 hit points.

Beau update: Her 19th level feat is mobile.

In an antimagic field, Trent is cowering — "but this is why the intelligent prepare. Omentis, be unleashed." The field doesn't suppress artifacts, and he breaks the afterimentahl against his chest. From where he stands, an orb of pitch darkness grows, and a 40-foot entity made of purplish and black shadow, with four arms and glowing purple orbs begins to stalk toward Blumenthal itself.

Seeing that, Caleb plants one palm, two palms on the ground — and uses shapechange to transform into Gelidon, the Nightmare in Ivory.

KAIJU FIGHT!!

and then, just to top it all off, Luc casts enlarge on the fucking t-rex!

"Arty, if there's ever a time we needed you—" Jester uses gate to pull Artagan out of the feywild and right into this fucking kaiju fight. "Don't worry, Jester, I've got y��oh, what have you brought me into?! Really?!"

An archfey, an ancient dragon, a giant t-rex, and the avatar of an abyssal archfiend tethered to the soul of a 20th-level archmage walk into a bar...

With holy weapon active, Yasha does 168 damage in a turn without a crit.

Its full name is Omentis, Scion of Ruin. Everyone within 60 feet gets hit with its "void hunger," automatically takes necrotic damage at the top of its turn. It also has "aura of oblivion," a beam that emits from its face and deals massive (as in, 150 points on a failed save) force damage. Its AC is 24, and it is considered undead.

With his passive perception, Caleb notices that the crystal that Trent shattered is still visible in its chest.

Luc notices and targets the artifact, which causes the shadow holding the creature together to flicker.

Caduceus uses divine intervention (which automatically succeeds) to cause the creature's shadow to become translucent, so that they can see the artifact clearly within it. In the center, with the crystal at his heart, is the shadowy echo of Trent, hanging like a puppet.

what is it with live shows and nat20s at crucial story moments???

With a nat20 strength check, Beau rips the heart from the creature. All the shadows swirl around it and get pulled back into the egg, and as it reforms, Trent himself gets pulled, screaming, into it — Beau tosses it up, Gelidon catches it and smashes it into the ground.

As the dust settles, the people of Blumenthal gather, and the sun begins to rise.

The heart remains intact, but sealed forever with Trent inside it.

Caleb uses demiplane — which opens into a familiar nine-sided tower — to seal the heart away for..... future use.

They decide that after all this, Luc deserves a party — not least of all to celebrate Fjord and Jester's engagement!

At the end of it all, Caleb uses the tower to cook a feast for all of Blumenthal.

"While this was a singular victory, it is still the beginning of much work to be done."

[jaydenix]

W.I.T.C.H Fucking Sucked, change my mind

Oh look, another Winx Club fan who hates W.I.T.C.H, as if the world hasn't seen enough of those

But seriously, I saw absolutely nothing in this show that was really worthwhile. It's very boring and I enjoyed almost none of it. Honestly surprised I was able to finish all 52 episodes but I was very glad to be done in any case.

So like, let's talk about the main cast, the W.I.T.C.H in W.I.T.C.H if you will, and so if you will, let's talk about Will and co. (I am such poetry): Honestly the main five don't feel compelling at all, I take almost no interest in any of them as individuals. All it seems this show is focussed on is showing what they do as Guardians for the most part. Like, we never really see any emotional development with them, how being a Guardian affects their life or the pressure of trying to keep their identities hidden or prevent the bad guys from winning. We don't see of any of that and this just makes them such uninteresting characters. To be honest, they barely even have different personalities. I don't think I can point to a single thing that makes Irma much different from Hay Lin for instance, like they just all feel the same with only minor differences. Cornelia is the one exception as the blonde brat type similar to Stella (Winx) and Sasha (Amphibia), and she's probably my favourite just because of that, but that's not good grounds for a favourite character, it's just winning by default because of low competition.

The episodes also feel very intentionally separated and on their own. I get it's an episodical show but sometimes the characters can be so sporadic it feels like every episode was written by a different person with no synchronisation, characters feel so weirdly different from episode to episode sometimes, and the show regularly has arguments will happen for the dumbest reasons and I just argghh I hate it. This show sucks.

A few other characters that exist: -Blunk is like moderately funny at times -Caleb is... okay I guess he exists -Phobos is an alright villain but he just kinda sits around and waits and doesn't do anything, doesn't really come off as very threatening but there's not too much to hate about him per se -Nerissa is definitely a pretty threatening villain and learning about her backstory and plans and stuff was one of the more fun parts of the show for sure -Most of the characters in the rebellion don't feel very interesting tbh

Also the amount of times this show does stuff like very obviously in public view despite the fact it's still a secret just feels really weird, they've done so much that so many would've spotted them by now it made no sense.

Oh also the opening song is pretty banger I'll give the show that. "WE ARE, WE ARE, WE ARE W.I.T.C.H" it goes so hard

OKAY SPOILER TERRITORY NOW SKIP TO THE END IF YOU DON'T WANNA BE SPOILT:

Now it's time to talk about probably my biggest issue with this show, and that is Elyon, I hate everything about her. In the first half of season 1 we barely see her at all, which is insane because what happens next with her is easily the most important thing to happen at that point in the show. She goes onto join Phobos and it's discovered that she is actually his sister, which I think was pretty obvious throughout most of the first half of season 1. In any case, HOLY FUCKING SHIT THIS NEEDED MORE TIME LIKE WHAT THE FUCK. Elyon's departure felt so one-sided and rushed on two major fronts. The first was her grievances over being left out by W.I.T.C.H. This one is annoying because we only see a few instances of this happening, when Elyon was clearly way more important than that in the grand scheme of things, she should've been obviously left out way more and become more frustrated without answers. We see a little bit of this but not enough, like there should've been a lot more moments of W.I.T.C.H (and especially Cornelia) having to cover up why they didn't show up for things or had to leave and she knows they're lying but doesn't know the full story, it's a common trope but it would work. Additionally, being distrustful of her parents, when they appear IN THE SAME EPISODE SHE FUCKS OFF TO MERIDIAN, like we're just expected to accept that? Not like see what they've done to raise her slowly but surely and eventually decide to take matters into her own hands especially when her friends are unreliable but no she instead runs away with the creepy librarian who has gaslit her into distrusting anyone else??? Fuck off, this whole plot of Elyon in the first half of S1 is just so poorly planned, it needed WAY more attention that the show could have afforded if it chose to focus on what was actually important but of course not. And it only gets worse from here.

Elyon after this becomes so obnoxious in the way she speaks and acts. She talks like she's in some fucking play of sorts with this grandiose way of speech and it's so frustrating, and also she acts so annoyingly loyal to the sleazy guy who apparently is her brother with basically no hesitation. I probably wouldn't mind this as much if her departure felt actually justified and fleshed out but of course that's not the world we live in. God I hate Elyon so much.

Otherwise I will say I did not see Caleb being Nerissa's son at all. Nerissa being a former Guardian and trying to recruit her old friends is pretty cool. Also when she kidnaps Matt and transforms him into that guy was a bold move, I like when villains get personal like this it makes them feel very threatening, Nerissa is definitely makes season 2 better for sure, though that doesn't mean it's that good.

The ending of the show was kinda strange with them bringing back Phobos thinking that would go swimmingly and then he gets eaten by his green monster friend and then everything happens it was a very odd ending that I felt extremely neutral on. Like it's just kinda there, what you see is what you get. But I was glad about one thing that this show was over, I didn't want to watch it anymore lol, I didn't really feel excited that the characters overcame something because it just didn't feel like there was anything to care about, I wish this show didn't suck so bad.

END OF SPOILERS

So yeah, this show is not that good, it has some okay moments but most of the show is boring, uneventful, and poorly written. I do know about the comics and I haven't actually read them I've only watched the show, maybe those are better and I know only a small amount of them got adapted for TV. But from what the show gives me, it's not great

I give season 1 like a 4/10 and season 2 like a 5/10 so 4.5/10 is my personal rating for W.I.T.C.H.

I've been very negative about this show but to be totally honest I didn't want to be, I was genuinely excited going in knowing it was similar to Winx Club, hoping to remind me of what made me like that show so much in the first place, but I was quickly hit with the reality this show was just not great, though since then I rewatched Winx Club S1 and I can say I definitely don't like it as much as I did before, Winx S1 had always been my favourite season but pending my rewatch of the others I think there's a good chance that could change. It seems since I last was into Winx I've learnt how media analysis works, I can take that. Anyway, that's my opinion of W.I.T.C.H.

P.S: Pls don't hate me this is just my opinion if you like this show and I know plenty of people do it's totally okay we can all like what we like and dislike what we dislike and I just happen to not like W.I.T.C.H very much OKAY? Have a good day.

[mickittotheman]

hello new friend! ✨️

saw that post about random questions for your stories, i am yet to read much of your works besides the most recent galladrabble!

so help me get started, what's your favourite fic you've written? maybe your favourite line even? what inspired it?

New friend❗️❗️❗️❗️ 💫✨️ Thank you so much for the ask, I've been waiting to get home from work ALL DAY so I can answer this lol.

So, I do have some (very old) works floating around from past fandoms, but so far the only gallavich fics I've posted have been my drabbles.

But! I have been working on a gallavich fic since like a few weeks before I even made this sideblog, and by "working on", I mean "like over 100k into it so far and not even close to done"

Posting full chapters before I'm done with the entire fic always makes me nervous because what if i have a new idea and need to go back and change something, but I'm always happy to share scenes in the meantime!

Basic premise is it's a vaguely canon-compliant-ish au except they never met growing up. Ian is in his EMT post- Caleb era, and Mickey is newly escaped from the Milkovich House of Horrors and working as a bartender. Inspiration wise, I got this idea for one specific line (from IGGY of all people. like don't get me wrong Iggy is cool and all, but I honestly never thought about him that much until my need to write a stupid pun overcame me) and it somehow snowballed into an Entire Plot.

Anyways, long ramble aside, I have included one of the earlier scenes below if you are interested but if not of course that's fine okay byyyyeeeee 🫣 🤐 😶

__________________

“Third drink of the night, Red,” Mickey says, sliding the newly filled glass of sprite back over to him. “Gonna hafta cut you off soon.”

“Ha fucking ha,” Red grumbles. Glares. Doesn't even try to hide the amused sparkle in his eyes.

He’s been acting weird today, though. Weirder than he usually is, and he’s already usually pretty fucking weird, so that's saying something. 

He keeps shooting Mickey these little looks. Scrunching his brows together. Fiddling with his glass.

Mickey braces himself when Red suddenly takes a deep breath and opens his mouth, dreading what the guy might say. Might ask.

“Why do you call me Red?”

Mickey blinks. Out of all the questions he’d been steeling himself for, that hadn't been one of them. He’s not expecting it. Not expecting the serious look on Red’s face as he asks it. “Uh. Your hair. It’s red,” Mickey says like an idiot, as if the guy isn’t fucking aware of that fact.

Red huffs and rolls his eyes. Squints at Mickey suspiciously. Fiddles with his drink again. “Kinda starting to feel like you just don’t know what my name is.”

“Yeah, I don’t,” Mickey snorts.

Red falters. Nearly tips his glass over. “Seriously?” he asks. Looks a bit put out, a bit annoyed, a bit hurt, and over all really fucking ridiculous. “You don’t remember my name?”

Mickey cocks his brows. “You never fucking told me it, man.”

“I did! I–” Red’s eyes dart around, and Mickey assumes he’s flitting through his memories, trying and failing to find the moment he introduced himself. His skin goes all flushed (and Mickey doesn't think its adorable, because it’s fucking not) and he buries his face in his hands dramatically. “Oh my god. I am such an idiot.”

Mickey bites at his lower lip to reign in the smile threatening to pop up. Raps a fist on the bartop. “You good? You’re looking kinda red there, Red.”

Red splays out his fingers and aims a glare at Mickey from behind them. “Ian. My name’s Ian.”

Ian. 

Mickey rolls it around in his head, on his tongue, getting used to the flavor of it. Ian. It’s good. Short and sweet, just like ‘Red’. Same amount of letters and everything. Flows better, though, the kind of name that sounds good when it's drawn out long and slow in a groan.

Holy fuck does Mickey need to get it together, this shit is getting fucking ridiculous. 

Red– Ian– has regrouped himself while Mickey’s brain was falling to shambles. His pouty glare is back to full strength as he crosses his fucking treetrunk arms across his wide chest and fucking focus, Milkovich. “You didn’t think to fucking ask me what it was? This whole time?”

Mickey shrugs. Rubs at his lip. “Figured if you wanted me to know you would’ve told me.”

Ian uncrosses his arms to flail his hands around. Nearly knocks over his drink again. Mickey sagely reaches over and pushes it out of the danger zone. “Of course I wanted you to know! You think I wanted you to refer to me in your head by the color of my hair every time you think about me?”

“Who the fuck says I spend anytime thinking about your sorry ass?” Mickey shoots out, immediately on the defensive, because yeah, maybe he does spend too much fucking time thinking of Ian, but he’s not just gonna fucking admit to that.

Ian perks up at that. Grins that fucking grin that Mickey knows by now means trouble. “Didn’t say they had to be thoughts about my ass, specifically, but–”

“Shut the fuck up, Red–”

“Ian.”

“Ian,” Mickey mocks. He doesn't think he’s entirely imagining the way something sparks in Ian at the sound of his name in Mickey’s mouth, but he could just be confusing it with the way something in his own body gets set ablaze. 

They both swallow. Mickey can see Ian’s adam's apple bob with it. He forces himself to tear his gaze away from Ian’s throat.

He thinks maybe Ian might be flirting with him sometimes. Maybe. But he’s not sure. Isn’t used to this. 

Before, he’d always scope out his options, settle on a guy who seemed safe enough. Wouldn't have to say a word. Would just catch their eye, cock his brow, and jerk his head towards an exit. If they followed, great. If not, whatever. No skin off Mickey’s back.

He’s never done whatever this shit is. If this shit even is anything. Which, again, it could be.

Probably isn’t. He’s probably just gone too long without getting his dick wet. Is probably just pining like some fucking school girl after the unattainable quarterback, seeing signs that aren’t there. Fucking pathetic.

It ain't right. Mickey’s not fucking pathetic. He’s just not.

+++

That’s what he tells himself, at least, when he’s leaning his back against his front door hours later. Breath still panting, hand still shoved down his now sticky boxers, tongue still tasting Ian’s name, not even having made it to his fucking bed in his rush to get in and get off.

+++

[bananathebookworm]

And whoever chose the vibe of the looks tonight: I want to kiss you. They all looked fucking phenomenal.

Mercer needs to keep doing whatever it is he did with his hair and the makeup because he looked damn good.

Marisha and Ashley especially coming for my gay ass tonight holy fuck. My brain fully short circuited when they both were introduced.

Taliesin being the queer eldritch deity I can only aspire to be. I love everything this man does with his outfits.

Laura was adorable as always and embodied "Looks like a cinnamon roll, can kill you."

I don't know how to describe Liam's look other than "Caleb with the aesthetic of Ashton." However you want to describe it, it was great.

I'm especially impressed Travis committed to his Fjord look and stayed in his costume the whole time since he's usually the first to start shedding pieces due to overheating.

And of course Sam was Sam...

[shiverandqueeef]

i really think a significant portion of shadowgast fans do a disservice to both of the characters involved when they romanticize all of their canon interactions. both canon and word of god (mostly liam but also matt) support a duality to their relationship that is imo what makes it so good. caleb's attraction to essek is real, and care for essek is real, but every single interaction between them right up until almost the end of the actual campaign involves very carefully calculated behavouir from both of them (especially caleb)

there's that poll that went around asking what moment you think caleb fell in love with essek and vice versa and the winner by a landslide for both polls was the forehead kiss/you were not born with venom in your veins scene and I find it genuinely baffling

You know how much shit was going down in that scene?! Caleb wasn't thinking 'oh wow i need to let this man know he's redeemable because i just realized i am in love with him' bitch no! he was thinking 'omg omg oh my fucking god there is so much at stake here the literal and actual future of TWO WHOLE ASS NATIONS i need to say whatever the fuck will keep this man in line and not cause more war"

...also ouchie my feelings are kinda hurt because yeah ok i haven't allowed myself to trust him yet but i like him and now the sexy wizard friend i have a brain boner for went and fucked that up but also not relevant right now holy shit!

[queatherine]

td spoilers episodes 9-13 (long post; more in depth thoughts towards the end)

ep 9:

the dudes being there for priya awwwww that was so sweet !!

hey julia, is that car cool enough :)

sighhhhh mkulia

julia is that tiktok lumberjack lesbian,, i think shes canadian too

ep 10:

listen, i think we could all agree that the moment damien found that immunity idol way back when sealed his fate that he was NOT going to be a finalist,, so i wasnt surprised, just saddened

julia manipulation truly is everything i love evil women

ep 11:

MACARTHUR??!?!??!??!? truly not the cameo i expected, but i did not mind it!!

can we stop this annoying distrust arc between priya and caleb?

cant believe they killed off raj

so like,, did dinosaurs just never go extinct in the total drama universe??? is this one of the insane lore bits like 9/11 never happening (or happening some time after 2009???) 9/11 was the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs

CANT BELIEVE THEY VOTED OFF RAJ NOOOOOO IM WAYNE FRRR

ep 12:

me 🤝 priya afraid of lighting + thunder

OLD MAN TENNIS YAOI????!?!?!?! PULLED THEM OUT OF THEIR GRAVES FOR THIS CAMEO WOW

can we stop this annoying distrust arc between priya and caleb? pt2

i dont ship juliayne (juliayne shippers i do not hate you please do your thing i love you), but goddamn i want more interactions between theyre sooooo silly

ep 13: listen, i think wayne winning is fine. do i love himbos? yes. was i rooting for him in the finale? yes. in the grand scheme of things, do i think he is a good finalist? no. we can all agree that hes very much an owen, and i dont mind that!! i actually think having a fan favorite, comic relief, underdog third party winning makes sense in this season, because i dont think caleb or julia winning would be a satisfying end (especially how they were handling them by the end)

caleb's story was messy, and at the end of the day (and i know that the intentions changed), he did start his alliance with priya to use her. him winning, after all of the drama, after priya was gone, wouldve just idk felt shitty. he did get the girl in the end, which concludes his story better than him winning it. (if im comparing this to the tdi 2007 final three,, i guess hes the gwen)

as for julia, she had two seasons to be villain, and it was amazing. she is so good at what she does and she is such a joy to watch. and we all know how total drama handles its villains, they need to get their comeuppance. did bowie double cross her last season? yes. and she came back still was the main villain and was AMAZING at it. but she was still the villain for another 13 episodes, AND HER GETTING PRIYA OUT LAST EPISODE, she cant win. was her just desserts satisfying? meh. nice callback to heather (we all know julia is the heather of this comparison), though i can understand people who dont like this callback and think its tiring or something. they couldve done something else, but im not mad (i kinda fuck with the mullet). i just see no satisfying way for julia to win with how she was presented in these seasons: she was not world tour heather, with three full length seasons and a greater threat to overcome; she was island heather, and therefore could not win.

overall thoughts of the season:

im someone that thinks the hockey bros jokes nearly always land, so i enjoy the shit out of them (i think im in the majority?)

im someone that did not like priyaleb at first, grew to being more neutral about it, but still found it to be a bit tiring. i like priya, i like caleb, i dont like tiring romantic subplots, and it sucks that that was the entire thing for these characters this season

the julia mk duo was AMAZING, one of the highlights of this season and one that i never wouldve expected to be real. mkulia wins in my heart and i hope they start their podcast (JULIA WAS GOIGN TO USE THE MONEY TO START THE PODCAST WITH MK HOLY SHIT GIRL IS IN LOVE)

it sucks that certain characters really got nothing this season (millie, nichelle, emma, and even axel to an extent).. but i get that characters like millie and emma already had a lot of screentime last time and someone has to be an early boot (just realize the ones i listed off were all women,, damn the writers fr just hate women)

at the end of the day, i really enjoyed this season. and i think the most important part of that enjoyment was this was the first time i got to watch a season and have no idea what was going to unfold. i watched the first four season of total drama when they were airing, but i was a little kid with poor comprehension skills. the first three seasons aired before i knew how to read (i learned to read late). and with tdpi, rr, and tdi 2023, i watched them after the fact and knew who the winners were going in. this was the first season i watched were i truly did not know the winner, and that added to my enjoyment. not to mention this being the one and only time i was present in an online space to talk about show as the episodes dropped. this season was a bit messy here and there, but it delivered some great stuff. i found myself laughing out loud and just having a good time, which is all i need out of my silly little cartoon

[sparkanonymous]

THE EPISODES ARE OUT YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!!!

⚠️ Total Drama Reboot Season 2 Spoilers ⚠️

Alright, so I've been awake for 15 hours now (before starting notes), so I'm gonna get rambly. I know I usually do, but it's definitely gonna get bad.

Episode 9

Priya definitely opened the door twice on Wayne and Raj on purpose. She was just that pissed off.

Okay, but Priya/Damien/Raj/Wayne friendship for the win. I want more of these guys.

Aw, Damien feels bad. (Zeemien-coded)

MK, you cheated in the game, and almost everyone made it clear that they didn't like that, especially since half the people who were mad at you were on the opposite team as you. You knew you were in deep shit with Chris. Are you really surprised? (Plus, like... Priya is generally more liked by most of the cast.)

MK, you know that they know your ways of playing the game. Do you really think sarcasm will work?

Get their asses, Damien.

Raj, why do you know what the peach emoji means?

Damien trying to be the supportive friend Priya needs. (Damiya-coded)

Holy fuck, we finally get to see Caleb. It's been like 5 minutes of straight no-Caleb.

Protective Wayne. He has no idea what's going on, but he's the man you want by your side when things go awry.

Chref moment. Even if he's not into it, Chris will watch any video Chef wants to show him.

Kinda lame challenge.

PRIYA/WAYNE FRIENDSHIP.

Goddamn, Caleb really doesn't want to get in between Team MKulia.

Wayne, Raj just got crushed by a fridge. Help him out. Please, he'll die.

Julia really trying to murder Caleb here.

THE FUCKING CAR.

Damien/Sheep friendship.

MK is so getting voted off.

Wayne did all of that in less than 5 minutes?

THE FUCKING YACHT.

Damn, Priya can push a boulder.

I don't think Damien can support Priya anymore.

Wayne, really?

Julia is seriously good with axes, huh?

NOT THE SHEEP!!

Caleb, this is most certainly not the time.

Julia would become a murderer if she didn't win.

Season 1 mention.

LMAO

Because he's a dumbass, Chris.

Poor Wayne.

Chef, that's a dumb fucking explanation.

How are bumper stickers private, Chef?

Damien doing everything in his power not to hurt the sheep.

I mean, it was pretty unnecessary for Caleb to take his shirt off, I agree. Like, come on, just one episode? Please?

Poor Chef.

Chris, you're such an asshole.

No matter how strong you are, you can not punch a yacht apart like that.

Poor Damien. Poor Wayne.

So... is Raj eliminated? Because of health reasons?

Chris really just wanted MK out. Wow.

Where the hell did that squirrel come from?

Priya, he had to. Are you serious? I know your heart was broken, but come on. Stop trying to guilt him.

MK, YOU CAN'T SAY SHIT LIKE THAT TO WAYNE OF ALL PEOPLE.

Poor Raj...

Did Chris forget to name Caleb?

MKulia. They love to hate each other.

Julia being worried about MK being mad at her.

MKULIA HUG. THAT'S ALL I NEEDED. FUCK EVERYONE WHO SAYS THEY'RE JUST FRIENDS (I'm lying, but I do see them as canon.)

Episode 10

Sneaky Damien. I'm surprised he still has the idol, tbh

RAJ PAJAMAS!

Finally, some more of Wayne being a good friend.

Caleb, be for real.

I heard that piano cue.

Caleb, you knew that MK and Julia were not trustworthy just last episode. You're either really desperate or really fucking stupid or really forgetful.

Priya, come on.

She's not being helpful, Caleb. Ugh, this is gonna be a slog to get through, isn't it.

So... is Julia just OP this season?

I knew Raj and Wayne didn't keep their own grades up. So they do cheat, they just don't think it counts as cheating.

Damien, don't get cocky.

Julia, how the hell would he cheat off of you? You're behind him. He's not behind you. Although, I guess they're broadcasting the answers on a massive screen...

"You'd be married by now-" Y'all are 16, maybe 17. I really hope they won't.

Raj, Wayne, stop being stupid. Please.

Poor Priya...

Caleb, help her anyway.

Damien, just stop mentioning it.

Poor Damien...

I like how Raj and Wayne are still laying there even after it was clear they guessed.

YES MORE DAMIEN WITH ATTITUDE.

They really couldn't come up with an MK punishment. Or an Emma one.

I like how Damien just calls everyone a bad person.

Chef calling the raccoons "trash pandas."

Chef letting his frustrations help the campers.

Poor Damien...

Julia, why would you tell Chris you have a phone on you?

"Hey, it's Bowie!" Raj, you're adorable.

Everyone knows Raj and Wayne are dumbasses.

Chef knows about the Caleb and Priya situationship.

Julia should be automatically get eliminated for that.

JULIA IS SO OUT IF SHE LOSES.

Caleb x Priya... pretty cute this episode.

Poor Wayne and Raj...

Caleb, don't let your tablet go.

Goddamnit...

No, you do not deserve to win, Julia.

Oh, come on, Priya... Ugh, not again.

Goddamnit, Julia found the idol.

DAMIEN TRYING TO RUN AWAY LMAO

Episode 11

Damien/Wayne/Raj friendship.

Raj and Wayne loving dogs.

Yo, Ridonculous Race character. Didn't watch that season, but I'm pretty sure that was where she was introduced.

Julia getting rid of a dog for likes... she would totally get canceled for that.

I think Raj and Wayne should have still liked the dogs even after being introduced. Like... come on. 1, they're stupid, and 2, they liked dogs. You can't tell me they wouldn't win the dogs' affections at some point, because they're also stubborn.

See, Raj and Wayne; fucking stupid.

Julia would've killed that dog for crushing her phone.

Why did Priya think that dogs were only after her?

Caleb don't misjudge the dog. You should know this by now; it's Total Drama.

Did you seriously think that would work, Julia?

Raj and Wayne being forced to split up...

"This is horrifyin'-" "This is my Christmas!" LMAO

Raj, you dumbass. Don't go streaking.

That worked?!

Holy fuck, Wayne really thought Raj died. Poor guy, but he's also dumb.

Naked and Afraid mention. I got that reference.

Even Wayne's stupidity surpasses Raj's sometimes...

Raj being dragged by the underwear.

Chris, this was never a family show. What do you mean?

Raj and Wayne were so pissed for a minute.

How did Julia find Priya?

Come on, Priya is fucking OP. She would be able to win just fine.

Take a wild guess, Priya.

Caleb, you're still playing Priya, dumbass.

Ugh, can we have one episode that isn't a close call?

NO RAJ OR WAYNE IS GOING HOME NOOOOO

NOT RAJ!! GODDAMNIT

Wayne's sad little arm raise at Raj's elimination.

"Bowie, put on your dancing shoes, 'cause we're goin' out!" Rajbow date mention! (No, I do not know if this is their first date or if it was confirmed somewhere else.)

Damn, they really animated that Raj and Wayne hug. Probably the most emotional elimination, aside from MK's.

"- Why are you still here?" "I dunno!" LMAO

Also, I really hope this Caleb x Priya thing is either resolved now or next episode, because it is a pain...

Episode 12

Okay, so are they like... okay now? I thought they were still rocky?

Caleb being more sensitive to death than Priya.

Priya knowing that Julia was watching them... somewhere.

Priya would definitely be the possessive one in this relationship.

Caleb, tell Priya the truth. Holy fucking shit.

Caleb, come on. You're more cruel than this.

Poor Wayne... also, where'd he get those sticks.

The fucking sad Wayne edit. This is gold LMAO

Where'd he get air pods?

Julia, how did you steal Raj's jersey? If this were another show, that would be really fucking weird. Like, come on. If Raj had ended up being bisexual instead of gay, this would've caused a ton of relationship drama. Y’know, if there was a season 3...

Julia, are you talking about MK when saying you and Wayne both lost your "best buds"?

"So you... wanna get MARRIED??!!" Juliayne nation, how we feeling? (Not my cup of tea, but this is pretty fucking funny. I hope I see more Juliayne art circling this moment.)

"I guess you're better than a bucket in some ways." LMAO

Something about Total Drama that I've noticed (and everyone else has, too) is that when the writers are pairing up an unlikely duo, when one of the participating members doesn't like the other member, they make up some random shit that solidifies their dislike for them. The example today is Julia only pairing up with Wayne for convenience, previously showing her dislike of him, and Wayne talking about some game that he and Raj have never played before on screen, "Spit 'N Catch".

Wayne asking the important, but unwanted, questions.

"Do you really want the answer?" "Well, now, I don't!" Wayne, you should know better than that by now.

Fear Factor episode.

Priya, you were raised on this show. You should see EVERYTHING coming. See, she's too broken of a character to make work well on the show. The writers either make her know everything (like she should)- which leads to her avoiding most of the competition because she's supposed to be that good- or they make her dumb as rocks.

There's a difference between being romantically involved with someone and dating. One can mean literally anything (that's what fanfictions are for) and the other is the official title.

Julia's threatening red screen thing seemed kind of dark. It looks like they put a layer above Julia and the screen, so it kind of doesn't stick out as much as it should have.

Stop playing Priya, man.

Julia, you're making him be a bad boyfriend right now.

Priya being scared of thunder and lightning.

Wow. They couldn't have gotten an intern to pretend to be Raj.

Wayne getting over his fear really quickly. Then the bear returning the hug. Wayne/Bear friendship.

"Fine! We'll do salmon. Again!" This friendship is giving me Izzy vibes.

Julia, you still haven't proven you can be trusted in any capacity. I think you should let the "Caleb avoiding proving himself" thing slide since we both know you wouldn't try proving yourself for anybody.

"Caleb, ya basic!" LMAO

"Woah. Was that Caleb or Priya?" "You should go check."

The Snow Owl mascot lmfao

The poor intern in the costume.

Oh, the clown snake tongue... that's disgusting...

Wayne x Intern Lady. Or friendship. I don't care. They're cute.

"Wayne doesn't get scared. He just grows as a person."

"I'm a big truth guy-" That is not what your tune sounded like during the first half of this season. Writers, stop switching it up. Please, I beg.

Poor Wayne.

"Priya, you got hit with a lot of lightning. So, can you, like, see the future?" With how this show works, I wouldn't be surprised lol

"- and you gave Priya the worst wedgie we've seen in... at least a week." That's so true.

Wait, how is the finale gonna work? I thought there would be 13 episodes, but we're on episode 12 and have 4- soon to be 3- campers left. Is this how it worked last season? I haven't watched the second half of that season in a while.

They do not believe in Wayne... and honestly, neither did I or half of this fandom. We all just prayed.

Well, bye, Priya.

Did you seriously not know. Wayne tells people practically everything, Caleb- while he did lie a lot during the season- would have told you, and you knew you didn't have it. It was obviously the manipulator of the season who had the idol, Priya. You're supposed to be the expert.

"Avenge me!" Well... lesson learned; don't mess with the expert of a really messed up show.

Episode 13

"I would also like to be part of this fight-" lmao Wayne is everything. I wish we could get more Wayne and Julia sibling moments. Those were always pretty funny.

So we finally get some insight on what they want to use the money for. Very helpful... but Julia's only comes into play after this season.

MK and Julia have already been talking about making a podcast? They really are just canon, y'all.

Wayne forgetting about the money.

"Phew! I was worried for a second there." "Were you?" Yeah, I don't think Wayne really knows what worry feels like at this point.

I'm interested. Specifically, who did Scary Girl pick? Or is she just gonna follow Damien?

Okay, I'm a little salty. Damien should've grouped with Wayne. I know most of them are on Caleb's team because he's the strongest and smartest of the three, but what about Waymien friendship?

I was gonna ask why Emma was there, but she kinda had the hots for him the first season and might still now. Millie just followed Priya.

I'm gonna nitpick, but they clearly just stretched out the walls of the outhouse so they'd all fit. Reasonably, there should've been some bickering about how crampednit was. Plus, Millie would've probably almost completely blocked Priya from the shot. Emma looks way too big compared to the other camper, purely because of her head size.

Poor Caleb.

All the characters on Wayne's team cheering for him. I'm not sure why Chase is there, seeing as they barely talked to each other, but it's sweet. Plus, look how cute Wayne is! He's just sitting so politely. (I'm so redrawing this. Please ignore the terrible quality.)

Wayne would've totally still would've been like "you got it coach!" After the camera turned back to the mountain he actually has to climb. That's just the kinda guy he is.

MK's touch to Julia's thigh. (I have massive MKulia brainrot.)

MKulia banter. I'm glad that Julia has no other supporters.

Wayne joining Zee for a "pizza party." Best buds, man. They ALSO share a braincell.

I'm glad Scary Girl is back in her original outfit. It looks better than the one she had at the beginning of the season. I'm glad that they cleared up where she went, too. I think the writers wanted a more even split of the team supporters, and this was their excuse to have Scary Girl wreak havoc.

Priya, stop pushing Caleb.

"It's amazing he made it this far... and I'm not even talking about the show." LMFAO

Raj's favorite flavor of ice cream is strawberry?

At least Bowie knows their whole thing at this point.

"Isn't he great?" I can't handle Rajbow... my heart... I love them...

Julia would've so fallen.

MK getting pummeled with tee shirts and Chris just enjoying it.

Chris, that's your husband. Help him back up.

I forgot Total Drama's obsession with giving girls bad haircuts. Julia deserved that mullet, though.

MK, you almost made her feel better. Also, come on, did you see the way Julia looked at her for that split second?

Holy fuck, Julia has strength.

Kinda surprised Bowie didn't point out the haircut.

Zee is awesome. I missed him.

They all feel so bad about taking out Wayne. I will point out, however, that Damien was the first to hesitate. Look, I got my ship biases, even when they're friendship biases.

Raj, you dumbass.

RAJ, THAT IS YOUR BOYFRIEND APOLOGIZE

"- just remember there are different kinds of smart! ... and I'm Raj is one of them." Whoever is writing this dialogue deserves a cookie.

Priya, come on, celebrate the small victories. It helps.

Very true, Julia.

I like how Caleb still helped Julia. "Sorry I'm a good person!"

Wayne/Raj/Bowie friendship for the win. Their little quips. It's funny.

Was... was Chef gazing at Chris? What was he looking at? How bad is my shipping brainrot?

CHREF MOMENT. WHAT IS GOING ON? Headcanon, Chef has a crush on Chris. Chris doesn't know.

Caleb, you're not that stupid, come on.

"Desperate times call for bad ideas." - Wayne 2023-2024

When Zee knows better, you know someone's getting hurt.

WAYNE WON??!!

Why is Wayne's confessional with the team so dark?

I'm so proud of Wayne.

Chef shoving a bag of marshmallows into Ripper's face.

Bowie just accepting the dumbassery.

Next season? There'll be a third with these guys? Please!

It was odd that the rest of the episodes came out on a Saturday instead of a Monday. Oh, well! This was fun. I hope that, if there is another season, it's with these guys, and that a lot of the characters people wanted worked on will get the attention they deserve (Scary Girl, Emma, and kinda Millie). I wonder if they'll keep Julia's mullet, or if she'll give herself a pixie cut or something? I think she'd look cute with short hair, but she would definitely not keep it a mullet. And, hey, maybe it'll give even more fuel for MKulia. Who knows?

See you guys next time! Whenever that happens to be!

[aerodaltonimperial]

Ship of your choice. ‘ "I think... I'm in love with (Name)" || "Congrats on being the last one to find out” ‘

(💚🖤 sorry i'm in hyperfixation mode i gotta write 5 more fics to get to #1 for both of them)

7:29 PM sure, i'll text you after i'm back as long as i don't get fuckin jumped or some shit lol

"You better not," Jack grumbles to his phone in the other locker room.

"Are you talking to yourself again?" Hook asks, without looking up.

"Darby," Jack says, while typing out a quick reply of don't fuck up your back again, we're gonna have to buy stock in IcyHot. "He thinks he's gonna get jumped again. I should probably go back to the tunnels, make sure nothing happens."

"Uh huh," Hook replies, absently. He's scrolling through Instagram. "When's the last time you did that for me?"

"You don't need it," Jack points out.

Hook looks up, unimpressed, and rolls his eyes. "LFI literally fucking knocked me out last week. You didn't even notice."

"Okay, but Lucha is probably gonna go after Darby," Jack says. "I have to be there for that, y'know? And also I noticed!"

"You noticed when I texted you about it."

"No, I knew it before then."

Hook sighs. "I had to text you, literally, hey LFI just fucking punched me in the head, do you have any ibuprofen and you ignored me for an hour."

"That wasn't my fault, Christian was taunting Darby backstage. You know how obnoxious he is. I was busy."

"Nothing even happened. Christian didn't want to damage his Gucci turtleneck."

Jack shakes his head. "But something could have. Jeez, Hook."

The expression Hook levels him with is very, very unimpressed now. Jack stares back at him, a battle of wills, until finally he says, "Don't look at me like that."

"Jack."

"Whatever you're going to say, it's not a thing."

"I invited you to New York last week and you said, and I quote, 'haha I'm busy all week'."

"I was busy all week, I was in Atlan—"

"I tried to get you to come out to dinner with me and a remarkably good-looking group of single women, and you said, 'No, Hook, I don't feel like Thai food'."

"Okay, well I didn't."

"We were going for Mexican."

Jack groans. "I had other plans!"

"I know you did," Hook says, waving his phone. "I know, because you always have other plans. I try to get you to do a Starbucks run, and you'd rather have shitty gas station coffee en route to the local skate park. I asked you if you wanted to be super impulsive and go to London for a few days, and you told me you had to check with someone else first, and then, by the way, you never got back to me. I asked if you were going to Caleb the med staffer's wedding, and you told you that you already have a plus one, which wasn't even what I fucking asked."

"Hook, okay, so I've been maybe a little bit distant, but I'm not—"

"Jack," Hook says, with the sort of infinite patience that Jack knows he'll pay for later, "when is the last time you went on a date?"

Jack stares at him. Stares, and stares, and stares, and then says, "No."

"Yes," Hook replies, eyebrows hiked.

"That's not..."

Hook spreads his hands wide, his left hand still holding his phone.

"No, Hook, I'm not..." Jack trails off. Stops. His stomach drops low as his veins turn to ice. "Oh my god. Oh my god. I'm... oh my god, I think I'm in love with Darby."

"No shit," Hook snorts. "Congrats on being the last one to find out."

"Holy shit." Jack can't breathe. "Do you... do you think everyone knows?"

"Yes," Hook says.

Jack's vision blurs a little at the sides. "Do you think Darby knows?"

"Yes," Hook repeats.

"OH MY GOD," Jack says, quite reasonably and measured. "WHAT DO I DO."

"He's just waiting for you to make a move, dude," Hook says, and goes back to scrolling on his phone as though Jack's life has not just fundamentally imploded. "So... you should probably do that. Like, maybe immediately. Mostly so you can stop lying to yourself and being so annoying about it."

"WHAT," Jack replies, a picture of serenity.

"Just, like, I dunno, find a closet or something? Or the rafters? Somewhere where I don't have to see you shove your tongue down his throat. As a courtesy. To my delicate eyeballs."

He then ignores Jack's ten consecutive panic attacks, which, honestly, is really just the worst.

[utilitycaster]

The Beaujester/Widojest stuff actually reminds me of why I almost wasn't on board with Fjord/Jester at first - I really don't like ships where it feels like one party has to wear down the other, and at first, I thought that was the vibe. So I get really stumped on why people are pushing for closure here. It reminds me of that wild d&d court case. Why would they needlessly burden their friend (Jester) with this information? What do fans think would happen after???

Hi anon,

You are 100% right in that I also think of that D&D Court Case (for those wondering, it's the one that starts here and basically, a couple is playing in a D&D game together and the DM some time ago confessed drunkenly to the player who is writing in that he has feelings for the player's girlfriend...and is now romancing her in-game as an NPC). Like, for real, keep that to yourself! It's so awkward and for what! Tell your therapist! Tell other friends outside this social circle! Do some weird art about it! Have weird feelings! But do not say that to the actual couple involved, holy fuck.

It would require someone with far more knowledge of fandom history to back up my hunch here, so I am presenting it as just a hunch, but it feels like there has been a very heavy drive in the past maybe five or six years towards, rather than "oh man, I wish this ship had happened instead, and here are my AUs and fics in which it did" to "here's why the story is BAD and UNRESOLVED and WRONG." And I don't quite know how it came to be, since internet forums have been around for quite some time, and maybe I'm just clueless because I have come relatively late to every social media ever and it was always like this and the volume has just increased. My personal theory is that people saw all those quirky letter writing campaigns of the 2000s and didn't realize that mailing potato chips or whatever to an NBC exec who was cutting the show because it wasn't getting enough viewers by metrics that were well behind current technology and who would see this and say "oh, shit, this has fans, maybe we can make money off it" is very different than writing hate mail to actual creators, but I could be totally wrong.

But anyway, it is pretty apparent that Uk'otoa was left unresolved! Travis actually had laid the groundwork in-character as Fjord (the bounty hunter hire for Sabian, telling Jester in 2x117 he wanted to deal with Uk'otoa before other things) to return, but it made sense for the show to end after Aeor. Meanwhile, it's not unresolved for someone to quietly nurse a crush, and I'd argue, actually, that both Beau and Caleb's feelings were largely resolved in show. Beau outright told Fjord that she'd had a crush on Jester, but her feelings for Yasha were deeper and more real (and in general this tracks with Beau's repeated self-sabotage when things felt too good to be true). And if you take off the Widojest shipping goggles, it's hard to see Caleb's actions following the party's return from Rumblecusp as anything but quietly admitting that this is not going to happen, as he pushes Jester to dance with Fjord and finally tells her about his past. The goal post of "resolved" secretly means "the preferred ship happens instead."

And then no one ever has an answer for what happens after. Does Beau break up with Yasha? Does the entire scene in Aeor with Essek in 141 - absolutely pivotal, despite coming so late, to Caleb's arc - just not happen, because you really cannot read that as anything but romantic? Does Jester break up with Fjord? How do we reconcile that Jester does not wish to live in Rexxentrum as a housewife, and does want to continue to see the world and be able to regularly spend lots of time in Nicodranas? Do Caleb or Beau make even the slightest concession to Jester's wants and needs, in this fantasy?

I guess I'll wrap this up with this thought: I think that Beau and Caleb's romantic feelings for Jester and how they deal with them are very well played by Marisha and Liam and are incredibly important - indeed, crucial - to understanding their respective character development. But that's the thing in the end. The romantic feelings are deeply important to the stories of Beau and Caleb. They are a footnote on the story of the Mighty Nein. And they are utterly irrelevant to the story of Jester.

[augentrust]

hi i just spent the past two hours literally sobbing while reading your cr fics and like i am not someone who usually cries at shit like this but holy fuck did those — esp the jester one — just hit me where i live in the most absolutely wrecking way. so yeah thanks for completely monopolizing this night i needed to use for Productive Things and instead leaving me unexpectedly weeping until my head hurts bc my god was A Wisdom Without Face or Name one of the most quietly devastating things i’ve read in a long time (not that quietly, considering i was sobbing the whole way thru, but still). you just, like, opened floodgates i didn’t even know i had w that one. christ

ANYWAYS! you write the nein beautifully (and i am very picky about my nein, especially my caleb, and he’s written so well in both!). do you have any recs for other good fics to look out for — either m9 in general or shadowgast specific? not necessarily emotionally destroying ones LMAO, just any in general; you write them so well that i definitely trust your taste!! thank u again for ur (devastating) contributions to cr literature they have not gone unappreciated

anon i am handing you tissues and a warm beverage of your choice. thank you for the kind words, and i hope the cry was a cathartic one  

i read fairly widely when it comes to critical role, but i’ll leave a few recommendations below the cut of fics that influenced how i thought about the nein — and shadowgast in particular — back when i was starting out. my writing today wouldn't be the same without them

“memory in double exposure” by hanap

this is the fic i look to when i think of jester and essek — it honors her depth in a way that i really fell in love with, and i come back to it often

“the other things that make us” by saturdaysky

one of my first shadowgast cornerstones. it does a remarkable job of exploring what is left unsaid, and certain scenes still make my heart drop (in the best way) even after many, many rereads 

“remote times and places and ultimate causes” by mllekurtz (TheKnittingJedi)

this is the shadowgast dynamic to me personally. the fact that it transposes so well to another universe is a testament to their characterizations, and i adore it a little more every time i come back to it

“Hard Mouth” by road_rhythm

an angst heavyweight for shadowgast, and a fic i still look towards for an incredible example of blending story and dnd mechanics 

“only code it knows is rote survival” by Chrome

such a well-written look into essek and the nein, and a wonderful exploration of love and caution and trust and the way that all of these intersect

“hold me down, hold me true” by lakrisrot (enheduane)

a really lovely subversion of expectation, and the careful exploration of letting yourself want things. i reflect on the conversations in this fic often, and it still influences how i think the wizards talk about love 

this hardly scratches the surface of the many wonderful fics i’ve had the pleasure of reading in this fandom, but i hope it can point you in the direction of something you haven’t read before, or at least inspire a reread. have a wonderful day/night, anon!