#just now realizing that the first part rhymes haha

[gastergrooberfan]

Cheat Codename

The main human actor of Cheat Commandos, who voiced the main “protagonist” Gunhaver showed up on the screen and smiled at the camera.

“Blargh! I’m Crack Stuntman, the actor of the Gunshaver from Cheat Commandos! I’m here for a very special episode of why it’s a bad idea to run away. You see, even if those you live with don’t treat you well, you still need them to survive. It may not be perfect, but even if you’re being tormented every day, you should stay with those you love because they love you deep down, even if they never say or show it.” Crack Stuntman then frowned. “Who gave me this script? This is a bunch of bologna, lucky for you, script writers, I’m desperate for money…”

“Now I remember what kind of shows I grew up on…” Strong Sad sighed as he watched Cheat Commandos.

Back on the show, Reynold was now back to his normal figure. He was thinner than he used to be, but he was still fed enough to be considered a normal weight.

“How are you doing?” Blue Laser smiled as he patted Reynold’s back.

“Honestly, joining you was the best thing that ever happened to me.” Reynold told him. “But you know what would be even better?”

“Destroying the Cheat Commandos?” Blue Laser grinned.

“You read my mind, sir.” Reynold saluted as he started to chuckle evilly. Blue Laser then laughed out loud, then they both burst out laughing maniacally.

Meanwhile, Gunhaver, Silent Rip, and Crackotage were sitting on their bean bags while playing video games, ones where ponies were beating up each other.

“Um, have you guys seen Reynold?” Silent Rip questioned. “He hasn’t begged to be fed in a while.”

“He joined Blue Laser, remember?” Gunhaver replied nonchalantly.

“Reynold’s a fool for joining their pack, pretty soon he’ll come crawling back.” Crackotage rhymed while dancing. “Haha!”

Suddenly, Blue Laser and his minions broke in, wielding laser guns, Reynold was holding his backwards. Blue Laser took it from him, Reynold frowned, until BL gave it back to him with the right side pointing towards the enemies, Reynold smirked.

“We’re under attack! Cheat Commandos! Riggedy roll!” Gunhaver pointed.

“Maybe next time, say “attack”.” Silent Rip rolled his eyes a little.

Gunhaver then tried to take out his gun, but instead he was holding a super soaker.

“What?! What is this?!” Gunhaver gasped in horror.

“We’re in the 21st century now. We can’t have real guns anymore.” Silent Rip replied.

“I forgot… Stupid censors…” Gunhaver grumbled.

“Who’s got the upper hand now?” Reynold chuckled, rather pathetically.

“How could you manipulate our little buddy?! He doesn’t know right from wrong!” Gunhaver scolded, sounding like he had some sort of morality now.

“Little?! First of all, there’s no indication I’m smaller or younger than you, you just always treated me like a kid just because I refused to go on a mission that one time! Second, even if I didn’t know right from wrong, who’s fault is that for always sheltering me?! Third.” Reynold then paralyzed Gunhaver with the laser, it spread to the rest of the commanders and he smirked.

“Look, we’re sorry, okay?! We were just trying to protect you from the outside world!” Gunhaver pleaded.

“Tell it to the Commander!” Reynold laughed as he pointed at Blue Laser who put his stubby hands on his hips proudly.

“Could this be the end of the Cheat Commandos?!” Silent Rip wondered.

“It’s no lie, we’re in trouble, we need a plan on the double.” Crackotage rhymed.

“Now it’s time for the commercial break, and now you realize why you shouldn’t run away with villains, kids.” Crack Stuntman told the camera. “And realizing is part of the fight!

“Buy all our playsets and toys!” The screen showed the set of the Cheat Commandos toys.

“Are you tired of smelling like flowers, sea breeze, or anything pleasant?” Strong Bad announced to the screen. “Are you tired of ladies coming anywhere near you for makeouts? I know I’m not, but if you are, The Poopsmith is selling a new cologne!”

The Poopsmith looked at the screen and held up a perfume bottle.

“Oh, screw this! I’m not going to sell this literal crap! Go find someone else to help you sponsor, I quit!” Strong Bad walked away, The Poopsmith looked at the ground sadly.

“Did you enjoy our commercials? That was from our sponsors! Now back to our special episode! Blargh!” Crack Stuntman announced.

“What a successful mission!” Blue Laser grinned and laughed as he dragged the captured commandos on a wagon. “Now for our takeover of the universe! Then the world! Then the town!”

“Oh boy, how can I help?” Reynold grinned.

“Just stay here and refreeze your former superiors every time they begin to move.” Blue Laser commanded.

“Yes, sir!” Reynold saluted.

“Reynold, you can’t do this!” Gunhaver told his former lackey.

“Of course I can, I am right now!” Reynold growled.

“Don’t you remember the good times?” Silent Rip asked. Reynold looked sad and sympathetic. He remembered him and his fellow commandos skipping across the beach as flower petals fell from the fly.

“Of course I do.” Reynold sighed. “Good times that never happened!” Then he froze the Commandos again.

“Don’t you see Blue Laser is just using you?!” Gunhaver questioned.

“Of course I see it!” Reynold whimpered. “Do you think I’m stupid or something?! Of course you do, but even his fake caring is better than yours!”

“Reynold, come home, you don’t know what you’re missin’, if you come back you can go on a mission!” Crackotage rhymed.

“I’ll miss your rhymes. But my mind is made up.” Reynold chuckled, then he realized something. “Oh darn it, I have to go, see you losers in a minute.”

Reynold crawled on his way to the bathroom.

“Though our situation is badder, we can count on the enemy’s weak bladder!” Crackotage laughed.

“That’s the worst rhyme you’ve ever made.” Silent Rip chided.

“You’re right…” Crackotage muttered. Soon, Crackotage, Silent Rip, Gunhaver, Fightgar, and Firebert broke loose. “We’re free! Free! Free as a bee!”

“What do we do now?” Fightgar asked.

“We need disguises, and that’s where you come in.” Gunhaver told Fightgar.

“Ahh, that was the best one yet, I feel bad for who has to go in there next.” Reynold chuckled as he walked out of the room on the left side of the hallway. Then he noticed his emo brother was standing in front of him, except he had stubble on his furry face. “Oh, what do you want?”

“Listen, sorry for being annoying, big brother.” Fightgar smiled while pretending to be Reynold’s younger brother. “Please come home with me and we can make amends.”

“Liar!” Reynold slapped Fightgar’s face, his spiky blue wig coming off. “My brother would never say such things! I’m not an idiot anymore.”

Then the other commandos hopped out of their hiding places.

“You’re outnumbered, buddy!” Gunhaver smirked. “You’re still the clueless and defenseless idiot we always knew!”

“So you admit you never thought highly of me?!” Reynold grumbled as he shook from anger, then he started sniffling as tears fell from his goggles.

“Uh, I didn’t expect that from the new Reynold.” Silent Rip shrugged.

“Uh… You okay?” Gunhaver questioned.

“I just wanted revenge, but you’re right, I’m nothing, do what you want to me, nothing matters anymore!” Reynold sobbed. Blue Laser watched this from afar, and was getting angry.

“Hey! Nobody talks to my newest recruit like that!” Blue Laser growled as he took out a larger laser beam. “Forget the mission, you all better get out of here or else I will use this even more powerful laser on you! You don’t want to know what will happen when I fire it!”

“Will it melt us?” Fightgar gasped.

“Worse, it will make you all UGLY and UNMARKETABLE!” Blue Laser laughed evilly, all five of the commandos darted away.

“You… You almost ruined our show, just to save me?” Reynold teared up a little.

“Sure did.” Blue Laser patted his shoulder.

“I thought you were just using me for evil exploits!” Reynold sniffled.

“I was, but I actually like having a friend, let’s go get another pizza.” Blue Laser smiled at Reynold.

“Awesome!” Reynold put his arms in the air. The two then drove off in Blue Laser’s ship to go order a large pizza.

[bookerdewittsstuff]

Domestic! Booker Dewitt HCs part 3!

Booker with a baby! no warnings this time.

A/N: I hate college

»»————-　★　————-««

after years of being together, Booker had finally found peace within himself. He no longer saw himself as some piece of shit gambler, private investigator, and veteran. He’s just…him now. And for once, he can stand to look at himself in the mirror every day. Don’t get me wrong, he was still a complete asshole sometimes, but he’s gotten better.

He never imagined himself having kids, he thought it would just be you and him until the end of time…or until you inevitably got tired of his bullshit and left him. But that day hadn’t come just yet.

So when he found out you were pregnant he was shocked to say the least. He literally went :0 and just stared at you for a good few minutes.

-“oh my god, please say something,” you begged, almost ready to slap that bewildered look off his face. He just stood there, his mouth agape as he looked down at the positive pregnancy test clutched in your hand. “Uh…congratulations?” He whispered, glancing up at you.

Of course it was never a planned pregnancy…maybe the two of you forgot to wear a condom a few times…but surprise! You’re welcoming a child into your loving home!

He didn’t care about the gender, but it was a girl and he was perfectly fine with that. The two of you decided on the name Anna (haha), and soon the baby was here!

He had no idea what he was doing. So when you asked him to change Anna’s diaper while you went to the bathroom, he was again bewildered.

-he blinked down at his baby, the baby blinked up at him as she pulled her tiny little foot into her mouth. “Stop that,” he grumbled, pulling off the soiled diaper and quickly discarding it. After wiping Anna clean, he grabbed the new diaper, opening it up and staring at it. “What the hell?” He scoffed, trying to figure out how he was supposed to put this damn thing on. Eventually, when he did put the diaper on, you appeared behind his shoulder, “it’s on backwards,” you said and he jumped slightly, not realizing you were there. “Oh Jesus Christ,” he groaned as Anna cooed up at him, her foot still in her mouth.

When it came to Anna waking up in the middle of the night, he usually let you do it because anna seemed to like you more than him. But one night, anna was fussing and crying and you were sound asleep next to him. He sighed and got up, heading into anna’s nursery and picking her up, holding her against his chest like he’s seen you do many times.

- “how can you be so loud, hm?” He whispered tiredly, sitting in the rocking chair in the corner and slowly rocking back and forth, anna pressed against his chest. “I’m not gonna sing those silly little nursery rhymes like your mama does…” he complained as if Anna understood him. Instead, he talked about his life before he met you, how miserable he was and then he met you, got married, and not too long after, he had his very own child. Anna was fast asleep by the time he was finished talking about his time in the war.

- this continued for a while. He let you sleep and instead took care of the baby himself. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy the way anna looked up at him when he picked her up. How she now immediately stopped crying when he walked into the room. It warmed his heart to be loved by two people who were very special to him.

Eventually, he was a pro at changing diapers, feeding Anna, putting her to sleep, and giving her baths. Though he felt a bit offended when Anna’s first coherent word was “mama” and not “papa” or “dada”.

-“honey, you can’t be mad at that,” you said, patting his shoulder as he held Anna in his arms. He had an annoyed expression on his face as he looked down at the baby. “I’ll remember this when you’re older, little girl,” he said and you just grinned.

When anna became a toddler, he was a bit more on edge than usual. She became curious about things. Such as the cleaning supplies under the kitchen sink or what would happen if she ran full speed towards a corner of the coffee table. So, he had to toddler-proof literally the entire house.

- he was putting the finishing touches on the toddler-proofed coffee table when he heard some noises in the bathroom. He froze, remembering that you had left to go meet some friends and the last time he checked, anna was playing with some building blocks. But when he looked over to his side, anna wasn’t there. He quickly jumped up and ran towards the bathroom. The sight before him was anna holding a bottle of bleach, the cap clattering onto the floor just as he managed to grab the bottle from her. “If you don’t accidentally kill your lead with these damn cleaning supplies first, you’re gonna give me a goddamn heart attack,” he huffed, making a mental note to put a child lock on the bathroom cabinets as he carried anna out of the bathroom.

Despite the critical voice in his head telling him he’s a terrible man, he’s a good father. He found love in both you and his own child. He has two reasons to live now. And maybe once anna is a few years older he comes to you asking about another child….

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

The Monokubs Final Frontier: Part 1.

Alright, we’re here! This should be the place, right?

YES. THIS-IS-THE-CENTRAL-COMPUTER-REACTOR.

Can I ask a question? 

What was the point of there being a computer room, like the one we found Yamato in, if there’s a central computer reactor that’s different from the rest of it?

Well, the simple reason why the reactor is something separate, is because this is the system that POWERS the system.

Thus, if I was placed directly in here, not only would me options at controlling the lab be limited, but I would have the ability to shut down all the lab’s systems whenever I wanted. That’s not the kind of power an AI system is usually allowed to have.

Especially in a situation where I may go rogue, you get it?

Ah, I get it...So that room is the control pad, and this room is the battery.

Yes, but it’s one big battery, and it’s gonna take me a while to turn it off.

Well, let’s not waste any more time and get you in the system. Remember, we’re counting on you.

I’ll be sure not to disappoint.

You comfy in there?

Yep, I’m in the system and all good to go.

*Yamato appears on a computer monitor on the reactor after Sora plugs him in.

Think you can do it Yamato?

Peh. You just watch me.

Still, it’s gonna take me some time to finish, so...uh...I do have a favor I need to ask.

WHAT-IS-IT?

Whatever that thing behind you is...I think you should take care of it.

...!?

...!?

...!?

*Kaede, Sora and Monodam all turn around in unison, as Yamato points out a presence that enters the reactor room.

Haha! About time you guys got here! You sure took your sweet time!

MONOTARO...

Oh boy...

The last Kub standing...

Alright, let’s just get this over with. Yamato, keep up that fix, we’ll make quick work of this toad.

Got it!

Hup!

*Thud!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!*

*Kaede leaps down from the platform and lands on her feet, spear at the ready. Monodam and Sora also drop down, piloting their respective Exisal’s.

HELLO-BROTHER.

Hello, Monocum!

MONODAM. PLEASE-REMEMBER-MY-NAME-VERY-CAREFULLY.

Doesn’t matter, he’ll be dead in a few minutes.

What do you mean “we took our sweet time.” We got here first!

1st is the worst, 2nd is the best, 3rd is the one in the wedding dress, 4th is the one who got a new PC, 5th is the one who is very very happy, 6th is the one who is named by Mrs. Husky, 7th is The Who is kinda ugly, 8th is the one who doesn’t like potato’s, 9th is the one who is eating at a park, 10th is the one who’s the last one there.

Wh-What? What kind of response is that!?

Just trying to see if I remember the rhyme.

You do realize that you can’t count on any backup coming to help you, right? Unless Greenie somehow decides NOW is a good time to backstab us, we’ve dealt with all the other Monokubs.

You’re the last one left. We take you out, your entire family is history.

Be that as it may, we have come too far to back out of this fight now. And you are foolish to think that I don’t have a plan.

For you see, I have been hiding in the shadows for almost 24 hours now, knowing you would come here!

24 hours...And somehow he KNEW he’d catch us here?

THAT-WOULD-EXPLAIN-WHY-HE-DIDN’T-SHOW-UP-TO-ASSIST-MONOPHANIE. WHATEVER-PLAN-HE’S-CONCOCTED-MUST-BE-GOOD.

That, or he’s just a moron. And trust me...I LOVE to pick on morons.

Hohoho! Fight me, and THEN we’ll see who’s the REAL moron!

...

Yamato!

Yes Kaede?

I know I already said this but...Whatever you’re doing, don’t stop for even a second...I’ve got a bad feeling about this.

Huh? O-Ok...

What’s there to be afraid of? Don’t get me wrong, I’m prepared for everything, but look at this. 

He’s by himself, armed with one Exisal, meanwhile on our side, we’ve got two, plus you with that crazy spear of yours.

You’re outnumbered, so maybe start picking your battles before you lose them.

...

...?

...Yes...I am outnumbered...

*The hatch of Monotaro’s Exisal closes.

But I am NOT outmatched...!

*FWOOOOSH!* *BANG!*

...!

...!

...!

... ... ...

HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHH!!!!???

*BANG!* *CRAASH!* *CRAASH!*

*The trio of lab warriors are caught unpleasantly off guard by what happens next. After donning his Exisal’s hood, Monotaro rushes at them at the speed of a lightning bolt. Masterfully moving as if the Exisal are his own arms and legs, he slides underneath the ground, sticking out his arms. The force and speed hits so hard, Sora, Kaede and Monodam all go rocketing up into the air! They fall back down and smash and collapse on the floor, as Monodam grinds to a halt, and whirls back round to face them.

Wh...What...

What the FUCK WAS THAAAT!?

*The hatch opens again to reveal Monotaro’s smug face.

Puhuhu! PUHUHUHUHUHUHUHUUUUUU! Well!? Do you LOSERS feel like taking me seriously yet, HUH!?

Ugh...! 

KAEDE! ARE-YOU-ALRIGHT!?

N-No! That REALLY hurt! He’s...so strong!

How the hell did he do that!?

...!?

Wh-What? What is it? You’ve got a concerning look on your face.

You can tell? All his expressions look the same to me...

I...JUST-REMEMBERED-SOMETHING...IMPORTANT. I-REMEMBERED-WHAT-IT-WAS-I-HAD-FORGOTTEN-PREVIOUSLY!

Oh joy! What is it!? And does it help us!?

I-JUST-REMMEBERED...

WHY-MONOTARO-IS-THE-MONOKUBS-LEADER.

Huh...!?

*Monodam clambers to his feet.

HE-MAY-NOT-SEEM-THE-SMARTEST, NOR-THE-BIGGEST-PRESENCE, BUT-MONOTARO’S-COMBAT-PROWESS-IS-SECOND-TO-NONE.

HE-IS-THE-MOST-POWERFUL-MONOKUB, IN-OR-OUT-OF-EXISAL, AND-EVEN-THE-MIGHTIEST-RULEBREAKING-ULTIMATES-IN-THE-PREVIOUS-KILLING-GAMES-HAVE-FALLEN-VICTIM-TO-HIS-POWER-AND-SKILL.

I-DOUBT-EVEN-SOMEONE-OF-ULTIMATE-MARTIAL-ARTIST, SAKURA-OGAMI, COULD-DEFEAT-HIM-SO-EASILY.

So we’re fighting a teddy bear that’s as strong as Sakura freaking Ogami!? The STRONGEST HUMAN in the WORLD!?

Hoooh, now this is more like it! Keep the compliments coming!

...

Nrgh...

...

That’s it!? That’s all you’ve got for me!? PAH! Fine...

Anyway! Now you know your limits! Are you ready to conceded to the Mighty MONOTARO!?

RAGH!

*Sora slams the ground with her Exisal fist, closes the hatch, and stands up with determination.

Strong or not strong, he’s just a machine! Just like the others! We can do this together!

*Kaede and Monodam also stand.

Right! We’re so close to getting out of here, and I’m NOT gonna let you swipe victory from us, you pompous selfish ass!

I-AM-WITH-YOU! LET’S-SHOW-HIM-WHAT-WE’VE-GOT.

Puhuhu! Yes! I haven’t had one of these in years! A serious fight! 

*The hatch closes again.

Shirogane fears you, Kaede Akamatsu...Let’s see if you TRULY live up to the hype!

PREPARE TO GET WASTED, NINJA!

*With Kaede’s shout, the trio rushes at Monotaro, who rushes at them right back!

//KAEDE, SORA AND MONODAM VS MONOTARO!//

[re-decorate]

Hi sanghavi hope ur doing well and school isn’t too stressful 💖 ily

uwu i lov you <3 school is unfortunately kind of stressful but i’m doing ok so far :) i hope things are going ok for you!!

[blackbutler-readerinsertsandjunk]

Your blog is so nice and your talent is amazing! Thank you for delivering such a wonderful content <33

Would you mind to write anything about s/o caressing Undertaker's scars? Thank you anyway!

aaaaa thank you so much, you’re so sweet!! I have a lot of fun here so thank you guys for requesting <3

God I am SO SOFT............

He curses himself when he flinches.

Were the circumstances normal, UNDERTAKER usually loves to be touched by his beloved. Being close to them in every way he possibly can be, including when they set their hands upon his skin with nothing between, is one of the things he lives for. One of the things that makes him feel alive, the spark of hope that makes him think everything is worth it.

But (Name) has just let their fingertips ghost over the scar which wraps around his pinkie, and he’s jumped nearly a meter.

He really ought to be more composed than that. Unfortunately, though he can almost ignore the presence of his scars most of the time, any touch against them is enough to shift some memories to the front of his mind. The scars themselves aren’t tender the way a fresh scar or a bruise or a cut would be; the parts of his emotional self which connect to the physical, however, are incredibly tender.

They’ve never healed, mainly because he tries to pretend, where other people are concerned, that those emotional scars don’t even exist.

“’Pologies, darlin’,” he chuckles, and closes his fingers around theirs. “Jus’ spooked me a l’il there. Y’know I’m an old man, gotta take it easy on me!”

They give him a bashful smile. “No, no, I’m sorry. Were you thinking about something?”

He hums. “Nothin’ more than usual, just the rocks in my ‘ead ‘n’ all, hehe! Guess if y’ ever need ta get my attention, y’ got a sure way, at least.”

“Haha… that I do, I suppose.” All is quiet for a moment, until they give his hand a light squeeze. “Does it… hurt? When I touch the scars, I mean. I won’t do it ever again if it hurts you.”

God. How did he deserve them? How in the name of rhyme and reason did the universe line up to afford him someone so considerate? “Now, don’t y’ worry y’r pretty little ‘ead ‘bout that. I’m jus’ fine.”

When their head tilts at him, he can see the curiosity glimmering in their eyes. Perhaps he ought not have told them that. The only saving grace is that he knows them well enough to know they wouldn’t ever try to hurt him on purpose.

Even so, they lift their hand to come at him again. His heartbeat, or what passes for one in a creature like him, quickens.

This time, they drag their nails lightly across the scar which practically splits his face in half. And they’re meticulous about it. Their touch begins up at the top of his forehead where the pattern seems to blossom from his hairline. From there he closes his eye to allow their fingertips passage, and they slip over the bridge of his nose.

Their touch finally tapers off when they reach the side of his cheek, where the scar disappears into his jaw. Although it wasn’t as if they were using a lot of force, the way their fingertips draw away is even more gentle.

Maybe it’s the way he’s statue-still the entire time that prompts their soft voice to ask, “Are you sure they don’t hurt, love?”

He hears a shuddering breath, and the fact that he doesn’t feel quite as heavy as before makes him realize that it came from him. “Mmh… no… they don’t ‘urt. ‘S jus’ been… a while… since I let anyone touch ‘em like that. Not used ta it.” That’s not really a lie, is it? he whispers to himself.

“Oh.” It sounds like a lot is packed into that one little word. “Do you… not want me to do it?”

A short little laugh makes its way out. “Lemme ask y’, sweet’eart. Why do y’ wanna do it in the first place?” He adds with his usual teasing tone to cover up any vulnerability, “Plenty’a other places ta touch that might be more fun.”

They snort, then lean forward to give him a kiss. “Maybe. But I don’t know… I just… was looking at you and… thinking about you and… ah. I’m not making sense, am I?”

“Aw, well, where’s the fun in makin’ sense?” He returns the kiss, releasing a sigh against their lips. “Listen, then… if y’ want… go ‘ead.”

“… ‘Go ahead’?”

“Right y’ are.”

Their eyes sparkle at him for a moment, maybe wondering if he’s being serious or being cheeky. Then, slowly, their hand raises up to the scars on his neck, thumb hooking in against his collar as they rest their fingers against his skin.

This time, even though he almost wants to, he doesn’t jump or hold his breath at the contact.

This time, it feels… better. Like they’re pressing a cooling, loving touch to all the pieces of his emotional self that are tied to the scars.

Adrian? They love you, you old bat.

And for right now, that’s enough.

[representshinjuku]

Matenrou Picture Drama

I translated the picture drama from volume four of the rhyme anima blurays but twitter broke just as I was trying to post it so congratulations tumblr, you get it first.

A preview was originally posted on the aniplex yt channel, but as that’s now region-locked, you can view the back half of this picture drama reuploaded on nnd here.

[Contains Spoilers for all of Rhyme Anima under the cut!!!]

Hifumi: Ha… We can finally take a break, Sensei!!

Jakurai: We can. This has certainly been quite tiring. To think we’d have to continue battling right after the Championship… 

Hifumi: ‘S right! We fought Secret Aliens, got chased around underground, then had to fight Secret Aliens again, then fought as four Divisions! How many times today did we have to fight anyway? That’s way too much!

Jakurai: You must be tired too, Doppo-kun. ...Doppo-kun?

Doppo: Ah, I’m sorry. I was just lost in thought…

Hifumi: Heheh, you feelin’ down again, Doppo-chin?

Doppo: No, it’s just, shouldn’t I have been able to do more for you two? (spiraling) But if you ask me what could I have even done in that situation, my answer is ‘nothing’... After we won I thought I could be of use, but I’m nothing but a water flea so I was getting ahead of myself and all that motivation of mine just scattered and I realized that I’m useless, even though I should have known that from the start and so all I can do is be embarrassed of myself for forgetting… Ah…. I’m just…

Jakurai: Despite winning, Doppo-kun is as humble as ever. How intriguing. 

Hifumi: Nah, Sensei, the problem’s not that he’s humble. Anyway. We, Matenrou, won, so let’s just be happy about it!

Doppo: Happy?

Jakurai: Yes. Let’s leave our personal reflections aside and celebrate our victory together. 

Doppo: T-That’s right. I truly am happy that I was able to win with you two. 

Hifumi: Arright! Doppo-chin, back in action! Everybody hold up your glass and… 

Jakurai: Ready… Cheers.

Hifumi and Doppo: Cheers!

Doppo: This drink tastes good! 

Jakurai: It goes down unusually smoothly, very easy to drink.

Hifumi: ‘Cuz we’ve been rapping all this time. I used honey, which is good for your throat and made an energy drink! Sensei, do you like it? 

Jakurai: Very much. I’ll have to ask for the recipe. 

Hifumi: No prob! All that experimenting was worth it. 

Doppo: That’s the good thing about you. You usually never take anything seriously.

Hifumi: Hey, Doppo-chin. You don’t think I take things seriously? 

Doppo: Cut it out, that’s exactly what I’m talking about. It’s amazing how much you change just by putting on your jacket. 

Jakurai: It is. I’m always interested in the way you transform. 

Hifumi: My jacket? This?

Doppo: Yeah yeah, that one! If I put that on, will my personality change too?

Hifumi: Huh, I wonder. You wanna try it on?

Doppo: Eh? Can I? 

Hifumi: Sure! ‘S no big deal! 

Jakurai: Oh? Doppo-kun is going to wear Hifumi-kun’s jacket? How intriguing. 

Doppo: So, here we go… 

(Doppo tries on the jacket)

Jakurai and Hifumi: *noises*

Doppo: How do I look?

Jakurai: I… might just be unused to seeing you like this, but…

Hifumi: Doppo-chin… That looks so bad!!

Doppo: Don’t just say it straight! 

Jakurai: (laughing) It doesn’t suit you.... (composing himself) Or rather, this is the first time you’ve worn this jacket, so… (resumes laughing)

Doppo: Even Sensei says so!? But, I’ve never worn something this flashy before. I’m a little nervous. 

Jakurai: That must be why. You’re holding yourself prouder than usual. This could be a good way to avoid hunching over. 

Hifumi: Right, right! You look good when you stick out your chest and act all confident! Real cool! 

Doppo: It’s true my personality didn’t change at all, but… I feel better. You really can change your attitude just by wearing a jacket. Thanks, Hifumi. 

Hifumi: Since we’ve got the chance, you wanna try too, Sensei? 

Doppo: Hey, Hifumi! Don’t be rude, that’s--

Jakurai: I think I’ll give it a try. 

Doppo: You’ll do it!?

Hifumi: Here ya go!

Jakurai: Then, let me just…

(Jakurai tries on the jacket and begins to glow with holy light)

Hifumi: That’s Sensei for ya!

Doppo: I think I need to pray.

Jakurai: I understand what Doppo-kun meant. I feel a bit kinder than usual.

Doppo: Is it even possible for you to become any kinder, Sensei?

Hifumi: If you work at my club, you’d be popular, no doubt! 

Jakurai: Haha! It’s an intriguing thought, but I don’t have the confidence for that. Hifumi-kun, thank you. I’d like you to wear it last. 

Doppo: Yeah. I want to see the difference between you and us. 

Hifumi: Huh? You see it all the time. Just wait a sec… 

Hifumi: My apologies for the wait, kittens.

Doppo: A dramatic transformation, as always. He’s on a totally different level. 

Jakurai: Yes. Truly intriguing. 

Hifumi: Now, let us drink the night away! Doppo-kun, another round of drinks, please. 

Doppo: R-Right! Understood!

Hifumi: Now, Sensei. Let us return to celebrating our, Matenrou’s, victory. 

Doppo: I brought another round of energy drinks! 

Jakurai: Thank you. And that’s right. Luck did play a part in our victory, but there’s no disputing the fact we overcame tough enemies. Let’s consider our plan for the future, too. 

Hifumi: You’re right, Sensei. 

Jakurai: Then, once more--

Everyone: Cheers! 

Hifumi: Here, here--

Doppo: So tasty…

Jakurai: It is quite tasty, but… do you have any alcohol?

Doppo: Uh, Sensei, alcohol’s kinda…

Hifumi: We have none!

[ellana-ravenwood]

“You...have kids ? AND A WIFE ?!” - Fem!Reader (Batmom) x Bruce Wayne x Justice League

Synopsis : No one in the Justice League would’ve ever guessed that the stoic Batman had kids nor that he was...married ?! 

Just a lighthearted shorter fic (I know, must be surprising, haven’t posted one of those in ages hahaha) because I need it. Slowly getting back into a regular writing funk. And ya know I’m here to write the League interact with Batmom and co haha. Hope you’ll like it : 

My master list blog : @ella-ravenwood-archives

__________________________________________________

The Big Bad Bat that never smiles.

That’s the picture Barry had in his head when thinking of him...

It had been a few months now, since this “Justice League” had become an actual thing. And Flash was still not sure if it was reality or just a fever dream.

Of course, before they truly decided to gather all together to protect this Earth, Barry knew about his “colleagues”. Duh. Who, in America, never heard about the mighty Superman ? The Goddess of Truth Wonder Woman ? The fearless, and fear inducing Batman ? 

And here he was, amongst those legends. Was it making him a legend too, to have been selected to be one of the founder of this “little” team ? 

Barry just couldn’t admit that. What he could admit, though, was that it felt very nice to be part of something like this initiative ! 

It also felt nice that he wasn’t alone anymore. He had the support of people who were like him. “Different”, and with a purpose to make the world a better and safer place ! 

Well, up until now Barry was mainly focusing on Central City, but hey, some of his colleagues only had one city too ! 

And now, they took it further, leveled up in the protective business, and became, Barry would like to say, kind of like a family ! 

Ok, maybe not just yet, but at least they were all good friends. 

Well, “all”. Not quite. 

There was one who still refused to partake in their gaming nights for example, or in any discussions that weren’t work related. There was one whom Barry never saw smile, not even a little twitch at the corner of his mouth ! One who, it seemed, had no intention to bond with his new partners. 

Yes. Batman kept himself guarded from everyone else, which was odd to Barry because he heard that the bat sort of was the one who had the idea for this little world saving team. 

Flash just couldn’t figure out what was the deal with that man ! And Batman wasn’t letting him come close at all. Not reacting to his jokes or anything. While they were hilarious ! The only time Batman seemed to care about what Barry had to say, was when he was starting to speak forensics.

There was one person though, who seemed closer to the bat than all the others. Well, actually make that two. Two persons. 

Superman, and Wonder Woman. 

Almost as if they knew who Batman really was. Maybe they did ? After all, they’re really the one that started this little hero club. 

And so one day, Flash, sitting in the common room of their brand new space headquarters, was staring at Batman (who was making himself a cup of coffee) and without giving much context, he turned to Clark and Diana (who were...arm wrestling ?) and asked :

"Have you ever seen him, ya know, smile ?"

“Huh ?”

Superman turned his head toward Barry, and this two second loss of focus allowed Diana to throw him down. 

Quite literally. For a split moment, unfocused because Flash addressed him and his Ma’ always told him that ignoring people was impolite, Clark released a little pressure in his arm, and of course Diana took advantage of this to strategically put all her force in, and slam the mighty Superman down. 

Barry gave a worried look towards Batman. The last thing he wanted, was for him to come over and see what the ruckus was about. But, still at the coffee station, he just looked at both meta humans, frowned, shook his head, and left the room, visibly grumbling something under his breath. 

With a sigh of relief, Barry turned back towards them, and as Clark was getting back up, giving an annoyed (and slightly vexed) look at Diana, who was showing him her most beautiful smug expression, he asked again : 

“I was wondering, have you ever seen him smile ?”

Massaging his wrist, still a little sour about his defeat, Clark asked, a little absentmindedly : 

“Who ?” 

Flash, looking around, lowered his voice and said : 

“You know...his name rhymes with cancan ?” 

There was a short pause, before Diana says : 

“...A lot of our names rhyme with Cancan.”

“But only one of you never smiles !”

“Oooooh, you’re talking about Batman ?” 

Flash shook his head positively, looking around nervously one more time to make sure said Batman wasn’t there. Diana smiled widely (not a rare occurence in her case) and turned to look at Clark knowingly. And Superman laughed heartily, of his clear and a little childish laugh, and said : 

“No. No I don’t think I ever did...Wait, actually, there was that one time when-" 

"Wonder Woman. Superman. Flash. Hello." 

The big bad Bat himself was right next to them, and Barry couldn’t help but wonder how the hell did he arrive so fast ?! 

Bruce was looking straight at Clark, staring intently at him, and why was he ? It made the man of steel uncomfortable, especially when- Oh. Oh but of course. That one time Clark saw Batman smile was when... 

After a short awkward silence, Clark spoke up again : 

“No. No I never saw what, um, what you asked me I saw. Diana ?” 

“Nope, never.” 

Batman nodded, which mortified Barry as he realized that he knew what they were talking about, and left once again. And from this day on, The Flash couldn’t help but wonder...What was it, that made the Batman smile ? 

Because given the “trinity”’s reaction, it was clear both meta-humans saw him do that once...His curiosity intensely piqued, Barry kept this info about Clark and Diana knowing in the corner of his mind. 

************

Of course, no one would expect such a thing from the Batman. Who, in their right mind, could guess that the stoic, always so serious and harsh hero had a...

Yes. 

Even now, faced with the fact this was reality, Barry couldn’t quite believe his eyes ! It was just so surreal ! And he had a costume, too !! 

Out of nowhere, the man he had tried to make laugh or smile for years came out of the zeta tube with a little boy, who couldn’t be more than nine years old, and acted as if nothing happened !!

Understandingly so, everyone but Superman and Wonder Woman, stopped what they were doing and stared at them. 

Green Lantern is the one that said what everyone was thinking but didn’t dare to ask : 

“What the...Who’s that, Batman ?!”

The sudden exclamation didn’t seem to phase Bruce much, but the little boy stiffened and sort of hid behind Batman’s cape, looking shyly at everyone from behind it. They were all staring at them. It was a little scary.

Bruce turned to Hal, and calmly and matter of factly said : 

“My son. D-Robin.” 

Which made everyone but Clark and Diana unable to stop their : “WHAT ?!”. And to little Dick, it was quite something to witness all his favorite heroes freak out like that, and looking in total shock. 

That’s when Bruce, clearly annoyed, and a little mad as he noticed his usual extroverted boy looking unsure and shy, and hiding behind him (and no one made his kiddo feel like that without repercussions !), said : 

“Get a grip, everyone. You’re making him think you’re all completely nuts. It’s embarrassing, I brought him up here because he was excited to meet all of you, and now you’re acting like mad men.”

The big bad bat then squatted down to put himself at the boy’s level and asked, his voice taking a complete different tone, one that Barry never heard him have. 

“Are you ok, buddy ?"

No one was quite sure what was the most shocking. That Batman had a kid, or that he just took the softest voice ever to talk to said kid, and showed an entirely different persona ?

The young boy nodded, and Bruce turned back towards everyone, putting a reassuring hand on his son’s shoulder. 

“Please, handle yourself better in his presence. You’re intimidating him.” 

Barry had a thought about how odd it was, that this kid was intimidated by him and his friends, while apparently totally ok with Batman. Because in his eyes, Batman was the most intimidating guy he ever met ! Yet that boy seemed to cling to his cape for dear life, as everyone kept staring at him. 

The worry in the boy’s look, and the “mama goose” stance Batman suddenly took, made Barry snap out of it first and, smiling, he said : 

“Well, welcome to the Justice League of America’s headquarters, Robin ! Want a tour of it ?”

And this warm feeling that irradiated from Flash seemed to unlock something in the boy, and, smiling widely, he shook his head yes enthusiastically and slowly walked out of his father’s shadow.

That’s when the zeta tube emitted the sound it does when someone comes through, and someone nobody saw before came from it. She was wearing an unknown costume, and her sudden appearance and the fact she was a stranger made everyone take a fighting stance ! Everyone, but Batman and his son. 

“Hey mom ! Flash is gonna show me around ! It’s Flash !! The real one !” 

Wait...”mom” ? Did that...mean...SOMEONE ACTUALLY MARRIED THE BATMAN ?! 

************

It was quit a shock, the day everyone discovered that Bruce had a family. 

Granted, it was all fairly recent as he only met you a few years back, and Dick had been adopted only a little bit more than a year ago (he only recently started to call you mom, after certain events happening (you can read about it in this story : clickclickclick), and wasn’t quite yet calling Bruce “dad” but it was just a matter of time, really. In Bruce’s eyes, the boy was most definitely his son, now).

But what was the most shocking of all, was how whenever you or the boy would be around, it felt like they were discovering another Batman ! 

Whenever Dick said something smart, he would praise him. Whenever his look would cross yours, his expression would become incredibly soft (”lovesick puppy” was not words Barry thought he’d ever associate with “Batman”). It wasn’t particularly a noticeable difference for the untrained eyes, but it was most definitely there. 

His “soft” expressions were all very fleeting. But someone like Flash ? He definitely saw them. 

The Batman was still this serious, stoic and unwavering man, but as soon as they all discovered he had a family, he became a little more human. 

His “legend” wasn’t broken by the fact he could feel emotions, on the contrary. Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Green ARrow, Black Canary...Everyone. They just realized what Superman and Wonder Woman discovered a while ago now. 

There was two Batman. 

The working one, the superhero, the unforgiving one, who was strategic and pragmatic. 

And the family man. 

And as he observed those two Batmen, Barry realized more and more that they weren’t actually two different persons like it could seem to certain people. They were just different facets of the same man. Two sides of the same coin. 

Of course, Flash should’ve known. Just like in his day time work, just like in forensics and such...Things weren’t always that simple. People, weren’t that simple. Real people weren’t “one dimensional”. 

His theory was confirmed one day when you said that Batman could most definitely be a total jerk towards you or your son (or Alfred), in his “dark moments”. And that you fully accepted it, because you did not love him conditionally. 

Because you understood him, and that in your opinion, nobody was perfect. Hell, you admitted, with a little laugh, that you could be very obnoxious at times...And if he could forgive your bitchy moments, then you could most definitely forgive his dark ones. 

Especially when you knew why he was like that. 

Sometimes, Barry felt jealous, that Batman found such an understanding and loving wife. But then he just had to take one look at how said Batman was looking at you, and he realized that both of you were lucky. 

************

It turned out that Dick wasn’t a shy kid at all. He just got a little overwhelmed at first, to be stared at by Earth’s mightiest hero. But as soon as he relaxed himself and finally opened up, he was a rather talkative little dude. 

Full of energy. And all of a sudden, Barry truly understood why Batman could look so fondly at his boy, or at you. 

The kid clearly was a little ray of sunshine. Although, if we believed you and Bruce, he could sometimes throw terrible fits of anger and...Well, once again, people were more complicated that they can first appear to be. It’s not because you have mostly a joyful nature, that you’re always that way. And Barry could see this whenever Dick would partake in missions. 

The boy was serious too, and resembled his father a lot in those moments. 

However, he was still mostly very extroverted and curious while at the League’s headquarter, and Barry could see how the arrival of such a burst of light in Batman’s life could brighten him indeed.  

It was difficult, to look at you and Dick and not smile. 

Barry wondered, if neither you nor Dick came into his life, how Batman would be now. Probably still cold and seeming unemotional. Maybe even worst than what they experienced so far ? 

There actually wasn’t a doubt in Barry’s mind, that you and your son’s presence in the Big Bad Bat’s life radically changed him.

************ 

Flash could see there was something wrong with Bruce when he came up the League’s headquarter that day. 

He was much grumpier than usual. And when Barry joked : 

“Gee, where’s your boy, I think you need to cheer up.” 

Batman gave him the most murderous look he ever saw, stood up, and quietly left the room, leaving behind him a very cold and scary atmosphere. 

You got up from the zeta tube barely two minutes later, looking both distressed and annoyed, and ask Flash where Bruce was. 

Still sort of in shock, Barry gave a timid gesture towards where the Bat went, and watched as you went there in a hurry. 

Later on, Barry would learn that Bruce and his son got in a fight, which resulted in his beloved boy leaving to join the Teen Titans, and ah, all of a sudden, everything made sense to The Flash. 

************

Jason’s first introduction to the League was quite different from his older brother’s. The Leaguers were less surprised, and therefor more welcoming immediately. 

Jason was a shy kid, who would often whisper things in his dad’s ear before doing it. 

Like for example, the boy didn’t dare, at first, asking Flash how fast he could truly run. So he went to Bruce, and asked him, murmuring in his ear and hiding his mouth. Which made Batman, THE Batman, stand up from the computer on which he worked on, and walk with his son towards Barry. 

“Go ahead, ask him, don’t worry, I’m here.” 

He said, pushing Jason a little forward. And the boy was playing with his hands nervously, before he dared to ask : 

“Howfastcanyoureallygo?” 

And the fond smile Batman had as he stood there, behind his son, silently encouraging him, made Barry feel like he was understanding him more and more. Smiling, The Flash answered : 

“Well, what’s sure is that I’m not going as fast as you asked this question !”

Which made little Jay widely smile and chuckle. Just like Bruce discovered, Jason could be a little “wild” yet “reserved” at first, but it only took a little push for him to become an overly enthusiastic little boy, eager to please and to learn.

It was obvious Jason had a tough childhood, which make him afraid to bother people and be in their way. Which sometimes made him want to be fiercely independent. It was obvious that Jason didn’t have an easy life up until now...

And that he was embracing fully this new chance at being happy and having a family. He’d follow Bruce like he was his shadow. He’d cling to you often. He’d talk about his older brother Dick regularly. 

Little Jason was home with you all, and it was a heartfelt thing to witness for each members of the League. 

It was yet another proof that Batman most definitely had a heart.  

************

Years passed, and nothing much changed. 

Batman was still good old himself, with that softer change when you or his sons were around (fortunately, things with the first Robin, or “Nightwing” now, as he called himself, greatly improved, and although Dick stayed with the Teens Titans still, him and Bruce were speaking again. Of course they were). 

He was still that man who had difficulties to say “thank you” (yet he improved on that front), who was strategic and pragmatic, but now, the members of the League knew better than to judge him just for that.

His children came from times to times to the League’s headquarter, mainly to hang out with their dad, as it was extremely rare they’d take part in League’s mission (Batman was surprisingly protective of his children). 

You’d come up too, a little more often, actively participating in monitoring the universe. And you and the Leaguers became fast friends (he’d never admit it, but the Bat surely wasn’t always happy about that). 

And whenever you or/and your kids were present, Batman most definitely seemed to be in a better mood. 

And things seemed to go normally, albeit for, you know, the moments they had to save the World and sometimes almost died during so !

But yes. Everything as more or less normal up until...

************

For months, the League didn’t see much of neither you nor Bruce. 

When Bruce came back up, the news he lost youngest his son was known by all of them, but of course, they knew better than to mention it. 

Barry knew he wouldn’t smile again in a long time, if he could ever even smile again. 

You and Dick were still there. But you lost a son too. Dick lost his little brother. And if the only people that could always turn Batman’s frown upside down were sad and hurt too, how could he get out of that dark pit ?

It didn’t feel right, to not see your nor Dick ever smiling either. 

It felt, when Jason died, that this nice and warm new family Bruce build for himself, that his new chance at being happy, sort of crumbled. 

Yes. You, him and Dick were still here and alive. Were still supporting each others. But there was nothing worst than to lose a child. A brother. 

Once again, it became clear to Barry that the Batman moods truly became tied to his family. And it didn’t surprise Flash when the man threw himself, mind and body, into his vigilante activities even more...

For a long time, they did not see you, nor Bruce. 

And when Bruce finally came back to League’s affair, it didn’t seem like you’d ever come up again...Or like he would smile ever again.

************

And then one day, a while after Jason’s disappearance, Batman came up accompanied once more. 

It was neither you nor Dick, but someone they never saw before. 

A little boy, who claimed to be “Robin”. One more that the Batman adopted.

And once again, Barry could see a slow shift in Bruce’s mood. 

Ever since Jason died, it felt like something irreparable broke in the man. It felt like he was regretting ever coming close to people again, putting you, his children, in danger. 

As if he thought he was cursed to lose everything he loved...

Ever since Jason died, things have been very difficult, in your family. You and Bruce had each others, but the pain was often too grand to handle and it was difficult to mourn your lost son...

Bruce felt it was his fault, you felt it was your fault, neither of you blamed the other...It was a vicious circle. In those years, you almost broke up because of how everything was tough. 

But in the end, your love got only stronger, and you realized that without the other, you could’ve never come back from this dark times. 

The arrival of a new kid most definitely helped, too. 

The first that came out of this sad funk that surrounded everything was Dick. Nightwing. Barry noticed, he went back to be a little more cheerful again, and didn’t fully turn like Batman was. 

It was thanks to Tim. Thanks to being a big brother again, and having to set an example. Something he didn’t quite do in the beginning, with Jason, as he felt jealous at times...One of his greatest regret. He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. 

The first time Tim came up the tower, he ran into it and started to ramble about everything, asking questions faster than anyone could answer, and touching everything on his way ! 

“Wooooow look at that it’s the best telescope I’ve ever seen !! Hey Green Lantern is it true my dad beat you multiple time and that without your ring you’re nothing ? It’s what he said...OH HEY ! Uncle Superman, how are you today ? WOOOOOW you guys have cookies here ?! -bites into a cookie- Mm, not as good as Alfred’s...AH WHAT’S THAT ?! Hey hey, Black Canary, how high can your voice get ? Oh wow what is that, what does it do ? OH HI AUNT DIANA !! Can you breathe in space ? If I went in space without a spacesuit I would freeze and all my blood vessels would explose. Sounds like a painful death right ? Woooow daaaad look at that !!” 

And that was it. Right there. The first smile Flash saw the Batman have in a very long time, as the man looked at his son running everywhere and be excited about everything. 

It was very easy to understand that this new Robin, little Tim, was an extremely smart child. Curious of everything in a way his brothers weren’t, as he needed detailed explanations about stuffs, not just a simple answer. 

It appeared as he was understanding even complicated notions, and would even give his opinion in the matters ! 

Later on, Flash would learn that at first, Bruce refused to take Tim as the new Robin. Because he still had parents (albeit shitty ones), because he didn’t want another Jason to happen, because...Because he couldn’t have his broken once more. 

But the boy was persistant. And he crawled his way in in Dick’s heart first. Then yours. And finally Bruce’s, who just couldn’t resist. Especially when the boy lost his biological parents too...

When Tim was on the Space Station, you’d be most often there too. It seemed like ever since you lost Jason, you became even more protective of your sons. Like you had difficulties letting them out of your sight. 

Tim didn’t seem to mind. His parents never cared enough about him...So it felt nice, to be loved in that way. 

Quickly, this new little Robin brought back a certain balance to his new family. Of course, no one would ever forget Jason. That’s one of the reason why there was a glass case filled with his costume throning in the midle of the Batcave. 

Jason was unforgettable. The love you all had for him, even now that he was gone, would never die. But the mourning was finally reaching its last step. 

Acceptance. 

And in big part, it was because of that young and smart new Robin, whom the League immediately loved. And were quite thankful for. 

After all, they were Batman’s friends. His pain and struggles, over the years, reached them too. They could understand the pain of losing a loved one. Martian Manhunter, who lost his family, for example, truly was empathetic. 

And slowly, without realizing, all of them sort of got used to dark, cold and harsh Batman being soft around his family ! It didn’t feel right, that he would only be dark, cold and harsh...

That day, that first day Tim got up the Headquarter and got overly excited about everything. That day Batman was again seen with a small smile on his face. A smile he couldn’t hush or hide...

It felt right again. 

************

Cassandra emerged from the zeta tube, getting a piggy back ride from her older brother Dick, a calm day at the League’s headquarter. 

She wasn’t very talkative, but she had an aura that was both impressive and sweet. Just like Jason, Barry could see that this young child went through a lot...But it didn’t seem to dim her light. 

It didn’t take a genius to know she went through years of abuse. That her life most definitely hadn't been easy. Maybe even worst than young Jason’s...

Later, Barry would indeed discover the reason why she didn’t speak much, and would be heartbroken for her...Except. 

Except he slowly witnessed her evolution. 

How having a family, a loving and caring and protective one, made her bloom. 

From that first time she came through the zeta tube, on the back of her brother, who then proceeded to give her a piggy back ride all across the Headquarter, to now...

Flash slowly witnessed her change. 

She was quiet at first, but interested in everything. She would listen to whatever ramblings her brothers would tell her, or to her father explaining things. 

She was probably the one that they sheltered all the most, even you, who were usually a rather chill mother. It felt like you all tried to catch up for the lost years where all she felt was pain, mental and physical, and fear. 

“You. Flash.” 

She once said to Barry, and it was the first time he heard her spoke, so he got a little excited and exclaimed : 

“Yes I am !” 

Before going on on rambles about things, of which Cass’ reply was pointing at him, laughing, and saying : 

“Funny.”

When her father came to tell her it was time to leave, Cass pointed at Flash again and repeated “funny”, which made Bruce...Laugh ?! 

Sure, Barry saw him smile and he thought that once, he heard him chuckle at a joke you made (but he wasn’t certain), but to hear him full on laugh like so ?

Once more, Flash was faced with the fact that Batman really was a man. Whose family would uncover the best part of him. The kind and warm part. Barry would only wish though, that this confirmation in his feelings wouldn’t be at his depend. 

Because clearly, Batman was mocking him, right now. But at the same time, the Big Bad Bat turned to him, smiled at him, and...winked ? 

That day, Barry felt that Bruce truly was warming up to him. That maybe, just maybe, he was letting more than just his family in. 

And when he ruffled his daughter’s hair, and confirmed Flash was one of the only funny one, it took Barry a while to come back from it. 

************

Cass made incredible progress in her speech, helped by her family. She loved to come up the tower and often asked anyone who was up there too to tell her stories of their missions. 

She loved stories. 

She’d listen and give them detailed feedbacks about their way of telling stories, and every single time, it’d warm everyone’s heart. But the heart her presence warmed the most was definitely the Batman’s. 

************

One day, a man wearing a red helmet and a leather jacket came up with Batman. He walked in, looked around as people were sort of staring at him, wondering if Batman had adopted yet another kid (who was  grown ass man..), and he said : 

“Wow, didn’t change one bit. Lame.”

When he took his helmet off, he still had a mask under, and...

“Jason ?” 

Clark is the first one that recognized him. And as Barry turned around, looking curiously at this person he thought to be a stranger, he realized...It was most definitely little Jason Todd ! Except, he wasn’t so little anymore. 

Actually, he was taller than his older brother, Dick. 

Barry recognized that slightly mischievous spark Jason always had in his eyes, as if he knew something you didn’t (Jason was the one most similar to you, always quick to have a sassy come back and make clever jokes). 

“I’m back bitches.” 

The shift in Jason’s personality was quite an obvious one, but somehow, Barry knew it was all for show. That deep down, the man was still that little boy full of enthusiasm and curiosity that worshipped his father and mother. 

In fact, Barry quickly understood that Jason’s reason for this so called shift in his personality, was how much he loved his parents, how much he trusted them, and how Bruce not killing the Joker felt like a betrayal. How much it hurt him. 

Yet. Yet “Red Hood” was back in his family now. 

Barry couldn’t help but think about how incredibly strong that boy (man) was. Able to overcome such pain and feeling of betrayal, to forgive his father. To try and understand his point of view, and why he did what he did. 

The Flash was certain that you were for something in this new recovery Jason went through, but also the Bat himself...It was clear Bruce had lived years feeling guilty and regretful. And now he had another chance, and he wouldn’t let it go. 

His persistance in showing what Jason meant is what brought him back. The love you gave him, is what brought him back. 

Jason was finally home again. 

************

When Damian first came up the Justice League’s watchtower, he seemed unimpressed and like he did not care about whatever was happening. 

But Barry hung out with Batman long enough to now “feel” when someone was protecting themselves behind a shield of arrogance. 

And that little boy ? That little boy clearly took this trait after his father. And Barry wasn’t fooled anymore, by this icy sort of exterior. 

Behind Damian’s eyes, he could see curiosity, and wanting to ask many questions, but not asking in fear of appearing too childish. Behind Damian’s eyes, eyes that clearly already saw too much for their age, Flash could still see the kid he wanted to be. 

Barry’s first impression of Damian was right. As confirmed when you emerged from the zeta tube, and the boy rushed to you to give you a hug, and then excitedly tell you everything he saw on the Space Station. 

When Damian took your hand and made you run along with him because he wanted to show you something, which triggered this small and fleeting smile Batman would have whenever his family would be around, Barry knew. 

He knew that there was more to Damian than that pesky arrogant child who acted like nothing touched him personally. And he was right.

Damian had an odd and painful childhood, raised by people who warped his vision of the World. But with yours and Bruce’s love, with the protection and love his siblings gave him, he “healed”. There was, often, a glimpse at the child he was supposed to be. 

And just like with his father, this “glimpse” would only be triggered by him being with his family. 

************

Barry’s suspicions where confirmed the day Superman brought his son, Jon, up with him. Here was another proof Damian was, in the end, just a kid. 

He first took a smug look because he came up there first, but then excitedly showed his friend around, and the two boys went off and had typical kids’ conversations. 

Like wether the mega-computer could play video games, or who was the strongest in the League (at first they didn’t agree, both saying it was their fathers...until they settled on “Aunt Diana” being the best). 

Damian could still, sometimes, be a little arrogant and such (just like his father), but there was a clear shift when he was surrounded by his loving family.

************

Barry might’ve never realize how you were truly the corner stone of the family up until tragedy took you away from them (in this quite old story : clickclickclick). 

Batman quitted the League, and your children were lost. 

It’s only when you disappeared, that he could truly have a grasp of the importance you had in this family. Without you, things could be drastically different for sure. And your loss was felt by everyone. 

The League’s members were your friends. 

Diana, Clark, Hal, Barry himself, J’onn, Dinah, Oliver...

They all felt the loss. 

You had also became a vital member of the League. 

And when you were gone.....

Barry felt his heart regain color, when he heard about what your sons’ went through to get you back. And when you came up to the Headquarters, a warm welcome is what greeted you. 

Batman didn’t even try to hide his smile, or, for the first time since everyone discovered he was married, didn’t shy away from PDA. 

Flash does not think that there was one moment when Bruce didn’t at least hold your hand. And when at least one of your children would cling to you. No matter how old. 

Yes. It became truly apparent that day, that you were the center of it all. The sun around which they all gravitated. But without them, you also had no purpose but to burn out all alone. You were all linked, forever. 

There was no you without them, and them without you. 

************

It was clear Duke wasn’t quite used yet to all the craziness that came with becoming a vigilante. 

When he arrived at the League’s headquarters, he was rather shy and reserved, and Barry saw his “what the fuck ?” face often as Damian and Cass showed him around headquarters. 

Both Damian and Cassandra were born in a specific environment which made it easy for them to assimilate how everything was absolutely nuts. It was the same with Dick, Tim and Jason. From a very early age they were thrown into that world ! 

But Duke ? Sure, he was used to all the shenanigans that happened in Gotham. But he had a pretty normal childhood. So things could often appear completely crazy or him ! He really tried though, to slowly get used to it.

It was actually quite adorable, to see both Cass and Damian explaining things carefully to a Duke who was trying to assimilate everything. Their bond was obviously strong, it didn’t take a genius to realize that.

Bruce had brought Duke up for a particular reason, which was : getting to know other meta-humans and talk to people who went through the same things he did. 

His talks with Superman and Flash himself seemed to help the boy a lot, to grasp and understand his feelings. It wasn’t easy, to suddenly discover you were different. To suddenly have to control abilities you never had before. 

From afar, you and Bruce kept a close eye on what was happening, making sure Duke was alright and comfortable. And clearly, the boy was actually having a really good time here, finally able to talk with people who truly understood the struggle and loneliness that could come with being a meta human. 

It seemed to Barry, that this newest member of “who manages to make Batman smiles without trying or realizing it” club was on the right track to become quite the hero. 

************

Sometimes, Barry would notice that, when he wasn’t doing something “work” related, Batman’s face would suddenly soften and relax, and a small smirk would appear. 

The big bad bat, in moments of calm, not working on the computer or anything, for example as he made himself a cup of coffee, would suddenly let go of that icy marble-carved expression, and give place for a brief expression full of fondness. Of course, it would always be very fleeting, but it was definitely there.

Barry liked to think that in those short moments, Bruce was thinking of his family. That he would catch a glimpse of the loving and sensitive man hid under the scary costume.

And Barry was right. 

************

The big bad Bat that never smiles (unless with family). 

That’s the picture Barry has now when he thinks of him. 

As he was looking at the baby Batman was holding in his arms, and proudly showing the League members, Flash was reminisced of his first impression of the man, years and years ago. 

Cold, harsh, arrogant, “need no help and doesn’t say thank you”. How Barry was almost sure that “The Batman” wasn’t actually a real man at all. He never showed emotions, never showed weakness or anything, was entirely focused on his work. 

But the truth was, and it was clear at the expression of his face was one full of fondness and love as the baby cooed at him, that Bruce was actually like any other man. 

It’s just that, in the League’s early days, he didn’t have another chance at having a family yet. In the League’s early days, he was wary of making strong connections, new friends and what not, afraid to lose them and feel the pain to continue on leaving without a loved one. 

However, as the years’ went by, Flash saw the changes. Thanks to you, to his children. How he trusted his friends of the League’s more. To the point of bringing up his one month old son to present him to them. 

When there was a time Bruce used to scold little Dick for using his real name at times, it was difficult to imagine what things would become. 

Yes. Over the years, Barry realize he greatly misjudge the Batman. 

He was not that cold, unfeeling and unemotional man. He was the opposite. It just took him taking a chance at being happy again to show it. It just took a loving family once more, for him to smile. 

Of course, when they weren’t there, Batman still had that scary persona. But now. Now Barry new better. Because he saw the fondness and love on his face.

 The softness that even the Bat himself, didn’t realize was painting his every feature.

The End.

__________________________________________________

Here we are, a new story haha. Sorry if it’s meh, I’m really slowly getting in a new writing rhythm, and writing  about the Bats again. I hope you still liked it ! :) I honestly have no idea why I ended up going with writing mostly in sort-of Barry’s POV ! But I hope you liked that...Haha I posted it RIGHT in time, it’s 11:53 pm, I said I’d post it at the latest on Monday, pfffeew what a ride. 

As usual, feedbacks and reblogs are extremely welcomed. Like, really beyond appreciated. Thanks in advance, and see you soon with a new story <3. 

PS : In case you’re wondering, the baby mentioned at the end of the story is the one appearing in those fics : The Great Mall adventure, Master of Diaper, Shaky steps and bad teaching, Polichinelle, “Go away, you’re confusing my baby”, How do you make babies ?, What it means to be a big brother,  Wild Child 2, “We want them back” and After Batmom’s death

[scone-lover]

Happy Birthday to Holding Out For a Hero!!! ❤️

art by @subparselkie

I published the first chapter of my longest and most popular fic just about a year ago! And I bet you always wanted to see some shitty outlines. Right? Just giving the people what they want. My brain is chaos and now you all have to be subject to it. Strap in, boys. 😂 Everything’s below the cut!

Read Holding Out for a Hero on AO3

This fic was born because I saw a tumblr post about a hero and villain who are roommates and I just had to Snowbazzify it. I had so many random ideas in my brain, and I’d been engaging with fan content for the CO fandom for a few months now.

So I started off by opening a blank document and writing the Prologue, featuring Shep. I had a few basic facts in mind: Shepard’s a reporter, Simon’s a hero, Baz is a villain, Mage is an evil mayor. And that’s. Literally it. I made it up as I went along. I actually still do that with fics, even though I do try to outline in more detail now—I have to write a scene or two that’s been bouncing around in my head to get a feel for the story, then I can give it a direction.

The document is 337 pages on google docs, LOL. 

Here’s the first ever set of notes I had. I wrote this on March 29, 2020, directly after typing out the Prologue! 

Like I said, absolute chaos. The third Simon bullet point originally said something like “also I’m a superhero and only Penny knows,” then the following day I changed it to “but he’s so handsome? what do???” 

I didn’t publish the prologue until writing 5-6 additional chapters, but I think the only major change was going from Baz being “The Vampire” to just “Vampire.”

Chapter 1 was originally called “not a bloody avenger” before I decided to do the rhyming thing. I actually decided that because I wrote “counter spray and earl grey” down for chapter 2, unintentionally rhyming it, and then @ashspren-writes was like, “you should make them all rhyme”... so I did. 😂 For 25 more chapters.

I have a section labeled “quickie backgrounds” in which I finally sat down halfway through writing Chapter 2 (the blade/vamp fight) and said to myself, okay, maybe they should have backstories or something. Or like, reasons for being the hero and villain. Right, yeah, those would be good to make this into a coherent story. In the first version of that, Simon was a sports coach on the side, not a baker, and Baz was an English teacher. LOL. 

Once I had all that, I literally just wrote for four days. There’s a weird kind of magic to your first-ever fic for a fandom. All your ideas and thoughts and wishes for these characters comes to a head as you suddenly have an outlet for the first time. It’s why I think people’s first works are often their best or most creative or most profound. The first couple chapters took some time and a couple 1am epiphanies, but once I got into a rhythm it was quick going. I wrote a lot of it in a linear manner, but after writing the first Simon/Baz scene (watching the news together in the flat), I doubled back and added Simon going to Penny’s house after meeting the Mage so that I could work her in as a character earlier.

Fast forward to April 5, I had 5-ish chapters written? I thought this fic would have like... 10 total. And be less than 20k. Haha. Ha. I asked @ashspren-writes to beta read for me - I’d been bouncing ideas off her since the beginning - and then I started brainstorming titles. 

The list actually started with that second one. It took a whole 24 hours to decide on the final title. 😂 I thought it might be too cheesy. But hey, it worked out -- now I can’t open AO3 without the damn song getting stuck in my head. 

I worked a LOT with my friend @ashspren-writes on this fic - we were friends long before fandom, and she was the only person I knew at the time who had read CO and was involved in the fandom. I didn’t even have a tumblr at this point, I interacted mostly through Instagram and AO3!

On April 6, right before I posted, I realized that if I was going to actually put this on AO3 I should probably know where the story was going. So I made sure Chapters 1-6 were complete, then I wrote one bullet point per chapter up until 12 or so -- you can read those below.

Then I texted ashspren THIS mess:

Some silly notes:

Then I have a section that says “Why do they even have roommates?” because it was a few chapters in and I hadn’t justified richboy Baz and superhero Simon... living together. Cool cool cool

I also did this cool little writing experiment I want to share. Remember that line in Fangirl that’s like—“Once Cath wrote what she thought was a swordfight, and Wren turned it into a love scene.” (Or maybe it was the other way around? LOL.) Anyway, there’s swordfights in this, AND love scenes, so I wanted to do a play on that for two alternate ways Simon might figure it out.

I have a huge Deleted Section in which I wrote an alternate version of Simon and Baz finding out about their secret identities. I have one version where Baz figures it out first—it’s a very tropey yet angsty scene where Simon comes home totally wrecked from a fight, and Baz realizes as he’s helping with the wounds that he caused them. I actually like it a lot, but it ended up not quite fitting with the vibe of the fic (and I rather like them finding out through kissing better). :) I also had an idea where Simon figures it out because Vampire smells like cedar and bergamot, but it really just wasn’t interesting enough. 😂

Now onto... Outlines. 

I say that hesitantly because I think these are literally a disgrace to outlines everywhere. These are the baby ones I wrote on April 6 right before posting. Some are more detailed than others, clearly...

Gotta live up to my username somehow. 

We do love to see it. ​

I love this next one: 😂 CHAOS, SCONEY.

THEN, I wrote this as a very long text to ashspren, when I realized no sconey, this is not going to be under 20k words. LOL. 

And then I did A Dumb Thing and I put it on AO3, having absolutely NO CLUE WHERE THE STORY WAS GOING. 😂 

This is my favorite heading on the document.

Another one of my favorite notes in there.

This next part wasn’t even divided into chapters yet, it’s just a word vomit. I’m so sorry you have to read this mess.

Hahaha, once upon a time there was angst in this story. 😂 

And then I realized my true calling: bakery fluff.

Then and only then, I actually decided to divide into those things called Chapters. This is the point where I made the admission to mr scone (boyfriend, not husband lol, we just call him that) that I write gay fanfiction, whoops, and can he please help me because he’s a HUGE DC comics fan and knows everything. And of course, he was super chill about it, and he did. He really did. He’s the genius behind Egghead!!! And also the entire Mage-Humdrum-Supercomputer/Politics plot. I’m serious. I did none of that.

I can’t even say I’m trying anymore. “Flort”??? I AM LITERALLY NOT TRYING.

Why yes sconey, so very specific. 😂 

This is what qualifies as a “good” outline for me, that heading was just for my betas. Isn’t it fabulous to see that some of this actually made it in and I’m capable of planning in advance? 😂 

Get ready for the shock of your life, though -- I actually have a SUUUUPER detailed outline for the two finale chapters. Because, well, it’s the finale. Wrapping up loose ends does actually require planning, WHO KNEW. Also I’d been writing and posting for a couple months at this point and it had been several more weeks in quarantine so maybe I’d regained some sense of reality? It’s like two pages but still shittily written, so I’ll just share a couple tidibits.

That bullet point is extraordinarily cracky BUT actually, Baz shooting up from the cloud like an awesome fucking hot dramatic person was one of the very first scenes I envisioned for this fic :D 

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into my writing brain! It’s a terrifying place. I love all of you that say Holding Out For a Hero is a well-crafted masterpiece, but respectfully, no ❤️ 

(Though I swear I AM super, super happy with how it turned out - it’s still my favorite thing I’ve ever written. Read it here!!!)

[noordzee]

First ten days of April from my Book of Days series!

1- I had a plan for the day and then one project ended up dragging it all down. I also wanted to reference Poisson d’Avril postcards, which was a French trend in the Belle Epoque with odd little rhymes that generally involved fish. The design of the fish is a family injoke. 2- The goalposts finally moved close enough for me to sign up for a vaccine and this was my mood for the rest of the day, haha. 3- I don’t usually shop online much but I’ve been letting my control slip recently... :’D But hey, now I really do have a mug with the 90s Jazz print on it! 4- At the end of last year I started making tiny little cardboard houses. I haven’t posted any outside twitter since most of them aren’t finished (turns out I like cutting and building them way more than painting them). Anyway I decided to cut a few more that Sunday! Do you know how long i’ve been sitting on that title, haha... 5- My arms were NOT happy about the previous day’s activities. 6- I’d had a bad day, then a beautifully illustrated tarot deck my friend made (The Blood Moon Tarot!) came in the mail and brightened my day considerably. 7- It’s MY self-indulgent project and I get to decide the level of historical anachronism!!! Anyway my friend and I realized the local Thai place was open for takeout after their winter break and I got a delicious but messy Pad See Ew. 8- Just a really wordy day. (Part of the thicket: a really good etymology podcast called Words for Granted!) 9- Got my poke! Couldn’t resist designing a cutesy plague doctor for the occasion. 10- The fever and aches set in late on Friday and continued into Saturday. I drew the day’s art feeling all achy and sorry for myself, but by midday I felt fine, haha oops.

[oveliagirlhaditright]

I don’t know if I can properly do a review for Neo the World Ends With You. I can talk about the bullet points about the plot and how it’s the perfect sequel to TWEWY there, but other than that... I feel like it’s just going to me being like, “It’s good. It’s good. It’s so good” and gushing about my favorite parts. But you know what? Here I’m going to try it, anyway:

So, I saw someone complaining about how the artwork for Neo wasn’t original, because if you put it beside TWEWY (the Switch version), if you didn’t know any better, you might think you had two copies of the same game... And that’s because the creators tried to make this “TWEWY 2″ in every way possible, even with the box arts being so similar. And I just- I love that so much! 

I feel like Neo is almost moreso now an act two to TWEWY--the final act--than a sequel, per se.

But, like, a lot of us were theorizing from the beginning that Rindo’s mask thing might be tied to him not speaking up, like Neku’s headphones were tied to how he shut people out. And this was true. And, ahh. What a beautiful thing this was. To have such protagonists for the two games and to see them grow. And while I expected Rindo’s character arc, it was honestly a lot better than I was expecting. I grew to like him a lot more than I thought I would. And I loved him making the decisions to go back and try to save his friends, even though he knew it might make things worse, when before he could rarely make a decision on his own. I really felt his struggle here, and it was executed well and this was pay-off after everything that came before it.

TWEWY gave us Taboo Noise and Neo gave us Plague Noise. At first, this kind of bothered me. Because I thought if one could make Plague Noise, surely someone like Sho or Mr. H would have tried that in the first game, when they were trying to become Composer and save Shibuya, respectively. But now that I get what they were going for with it, I’m all for it. And TheDeliveryGod points out that they might be a reference to Covid with the “Plague” name and with Rindo wearing a “mask”, which I hadn’t thought about. I know they started coming up with some of this before that, but maybe. Edit: This all ties into Neku and Rindo’s character arcs, too. Originally, Neku didn’t want anyone to force their values on him and probably would have been happy if they all thought like him. But in the end, everyone IS thinking alike and it’s not what he wanted at all. In Neo, Rindo has a problem of speaking up and making decisions. And in Neo, this leads to people not being able to think at all.

Anyway, TWEWY had everyone brainwashed by the end and Neo had it so they couldn’t think at all. And oh my gosh, I did not think that Nagi and Fret’s psychs would come in to save the day (and Neku and Tsugumi’s as well), but this is another amazing payoff and I could watch this segment again and again. Eep! It was such a beautiful text bubble scene and cutscene!

And when I was first playing the game, I was starting to worry if they’d delve deep into the characters... and really explain everything, make me care about everyone and everything and add replay value. But they did. They really did. I never thought they’d make me care about the Shinjuku Reapers, but here we are. I feel so bad for that tragic family now. And ahh! Knowing that Shoka is Swallow now has so much replay value! ...And makes her and Rindo even more shippable, of course. I’ve gone back and played a few chapters and I can see it now. Ahh. And of course, the character development is spot-on. Which is what TWEWY is all about. I never should have doubted. I really loved all the flashbacks with our girl Shoka, too, and seeing her and Ayano’s relationship, and what she was like before she found herself with Gatto Nero.

Rindo gets pulled back into the RG similarly to Neku’s ending! And at first, you think that’s his happy ending, too! But all is not right, of course. But because Neku’s struggles (him finally letting people in) got the attention (a change of heart) of another higher being (the Composer, Joshua, and he gave Neku and the gang their happy ending), it does the same thing with the angel Haz. And can I just say... there’s something about this whole segment that is just sublime? I want to watch it over and over and over again. It oddly might be my favorite part of all of TWEWY now, and that is really saying something. But Neku’s story was about letting people in and he did that, so story out. But Rindo’s was about making decisions... and he has one more important decision to make--the biggest one--before he can get his happy ending, and Haz leads him to it, subtly. Sort of like how I think Joshua was subtly trying to get Neku to change his mind about destroying Shibuya in TWEWY.

Oh. And you finish off the big bad by doing a Fusion with your whole party again, and you all sort of land/flash on the ground afterwards like you did in TWEWY, too!

And I’ve rambled enough about the new NeShiki scene in my NeShiki posts since Neo. But that essentially being a continuation of their scene from TWEWY: MMM. My heart! It almost makes not seeing Shiki’s face all these years worth it for that moment. Almost.

And then the title changing to “The World Begins With You” again, but with Neo this time... is just the most beautiful and awe-inspiring thing they could have done and I can’t thank them enough for it.

And the sheer joy I felt when I realized that this game had Another Day, too.

There are other smaller things, too. Like I’m pretty sure shark Noise start appearing on the day they did in the original (the day Rhyme got erased). And how Transformation--a song that plays as boss battle music against Sho--plays when you first meet him in TWEWY.

Neo really is TWEWY2 through and through, even though the developers didn’t want to call it that (so newcomers knew they could play it without knowing the first game), and I can’t thank them enough for that. What a wonderful world this was. ^_^

Oh! And the ending scene with Rindo and Shoka playing FanGo was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen--the perfect ending, really--and felt like it came straight out of a Disney movie.

It makes me wish I could rewatch all of this in one-go... except I can’t. Haha.

Oh, and of course I love that we get a new menu art, ala what FFXV did, where the darkness is gone and we have Neku in the art, too:)

...

And now onto a few tidbits of some of my million favorite scenes: 

I love that Beat calls Nagi Pinny. LOL. I love everything about Beat in this game. Speaking of:

That one quest where that one guys becomes possessed with Noise and is fretting about his sister and you fix him up, and Beat says, “I love a guy who cares about his little sis.” :)

And when you’re exploring the urban legends (that is very Twilight Town KHII, I must say. Side note: Stealth Sneak from KH, I can’t believe you made it here, too), and you’re doing the stair ones, and Nagi falls down them and Beat’s like, “Yo, Pinny. You, ai’ight?!”:D:D:D

I think this was another part of the urban legend day, but when that guy imprinted on that girl to just end her friendship with all her friends, since she was stressing about friends growing further apart, so he decided to just cut her losses. And Beat was like, “How about I imprint you to stick your hand up where the sun don’t shine, yo?”

Or in Another Day, when Beat says to Neku, “We’re not getting much screen time,” and Neku replies, “Let’s let the kids have it. That gives us more time to...” Beat: “That’s right: Tin Pin Slammer!” Nagi: “Those two sure seem to have gotten themselves into something exciting over there.” Shoka (I think it was Shoka): “Oh, they’re playing that game that was super popular three years ago.” Hahaha. I also loved the reference to Reaper Creeper with Rhyme and Coco, and Nagi and Fret being like WTF is that?

All of the character interactions are wonderful, and you know I’ll be making posts upon posts about them. But I love that we passed the Bechdel Test with some sweet Shoka and Nagi moments.

That whole scene where Joshua helps Shoka and Rindo is just the greatest. I keep watching it over and over. I love that he helps her in such an asshole-y way. Everything’s a game to him (though you know what? Maybe it’s also a reference to Rindo and Shoka meeting and bonding through FanGo) Oh, Josh. But maybe that was the only way he could do it. The Neku and Josh scene is also wonderful (he tried to help Neku after Coco shot him. He did... even if it was to lock Neku in Shinjuku for three years, because he didn’t trust him to blab that Josh was the Composer? I’m kind of with Neku on that one, “Oh, brother”. But it all worked out in the end, and the following moment with Neku and Josh is really special).

Though I really am wondering why he didn’t help more, and why no one thought to get the Composer for help... probably because he couldn’t interfere. Got to get those secret reports to explain everything, I’m sure. You know what? I’m sure he was actually pulling some strings behind the scenes.

Adore all the stuff with Rhyme. I’ve gushed about that in other posts. She’s so cute now! Always was. And I’ve so proud of my hacker daughter!

Shutting up now. And expect a million more Neo posts in the future. What a game. What a series! So glad I can say that about TWEWY now.

Edit: And I’m so glad that angels were in here, and that that plot got expanded on from the original!

[paintedlight]

Supernatural Season 15 & Sufjan Stevens' “The Ascension”

Teaser: there’s a song on this album called "Die Happy” where the lyrics are just “I want to die happy” for 5 minutes and 45 seconds. yeah. yeah.

Disclaimer: yes it’s all a stretch and I’m overthinking it but also… am I? (yes) 

long post time! know that reading ahead may hurt you and yes it does get worse the further down the track list you get 💕 have fun kids

So just to start off, I think it’s funny that something Sufjan’s discography & Supernatural have in common is the 15+ years of the internet arguing if it’s gay or not, and the answer ending up being yes. PLUS there’s the obvious connection of American mythos + mythology + calvinist themes (I am hissing) + religious trauma prevalent in both. 

If you’re a fan of both like I am, it’s easy to connect them— notable connections being songs like “John My Beloved” and “The Owl and the Tanager” or even “John Wayne Gacy Jr.”, but I’m going to focus on Sufjan's 2020 album, “The Ascension” since even the arc itself seems so connected to season 15 of Supernatural, specifically. 

At least in my head it does <3 enjoy 

MAKE ME AN OFFER I CANNOT REFUSE

When interviewed about the meaning of this track, Sufjan explains that this song is about asking God, “what do you have to say for humanity?” That it’s about desperation, creation, and devastation. It’s about frustration with divinity. Also the vibes are 10/10. Need I say more 

RUN AWAY WITH ME

This song is beautiful, it makes me want to sit in some grass and stare at the sky. 

Some lines that make me Dean/Cas crazy are the two lines in verse 1 and verse 2 that mirror each other by being in the same place melodically:

Verse 1: they will terrorize us / with new confusion / with the fear of life that seeks to bring despair within

Verse 2: I will bring you life / a new communion / with a paradise that brings the truth to light within

Yeahhh so the words “Despair” and “The Truth” were mirrored in this song yes it was coincidental yes I’m clinging to it. It fascinates me 

But this song is about begging someone to stay with you.

sweet falling remedy / come run away with me / you’re all I ever need

VIDEO GAME

My first thought when I heard this song was about how it was such a song for enneagram 4s. If you don’t know what that means, I think Dean is a 4 and wrote a post about it here. 

AND @trapperjohnmcintyre also made the connection between these lyrics and Dean in this post, and honestly I don’t need to say much more than that??

The song is about feeling paranoid and angry that God is controlling your every move and you can’t escape it (aka hating the doctrine of predestination). Of course it’s also about not wanting to follow societal scripts. 

You just want to have an easier life instead of the weight of good and evil resting on your back!!!

I don’t want to put the devil on a pedestal / I don’t want put the saints in chains / I just want to make my life a little easier / I don’t want to play your video game

Also these painful lines, as a treat: 

I don’t want to love you if you don’t receive it / I don’t want to save the world that way

Oh, I almost forgot, also. At the end, the narrator gives up. He’s like well I guess I can’t escape. Gotta follow the procedure. Gotta be a puppet.

I don’t want it to go down that way / but in a way you gotta follow the procedure / so go ahead and play your video game

  LAMENTATIONS

I don’t have much to say about this one but this line always makes my heart ache idk:

I was only thinking of human kindness

TELL ME YOU LOVE ME

Here we gooooooo. Y’all aren’t ready.

Thesis: Tell me you love me despite the primordial darkness about to overtake me. And even if you don’t, I’m going to love you. 

15x18 Despair anyone?? 

I want to just paste the whole song but, here—

DIE HAPPY

Yep, "Die Happy" immediately follows "Tell Me You Love Me." Yes, the lyrics are just “I want to die happy” over and over for almost 6 minutes. 

First of all, the repetition mirrors the end of the song Fourth of July, from Sufjan’s previous album Carrie & Lowell, where Sufjan sings “we’re all gonna die” over and over.

Parallels, baby.

But I noticed something else about this recently though— in Die Happy, if you are listening to it in your headphones, there’s this weird sound that sounds like a wasp flying around your head (it made me uncomfortable which is why I noticed it, haha). After I felt unnerved for a moment, I had a realization— that this could be referencing one of Sufjan’s most beloved songs, “The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out To Get Us!!” (yes that’s a real song title lol)

The Predatory Wasp is about how Sufjan fell in love with his best friend at the Bible Camp he went to as a teenager. The wasp is a metaphor for internalized homophobia and also his love and how he fears his love will hurt the boy he’s in love with. 

So, Die Happy references an iconic song from Illinois (2005) with these notable lines:

Tl;dr: 

I want to die happy vs. I can’t explain the state that I’m in / the state of my heart / he was my best friend

Here’s an Despair photoset with Predatory Wasp lyrics via @toneelspeelster. 

ATIVAN

So your best friend has just died happy by being in love with you. You feel like the primordial darkness is on YOU now:

I woke up in stereo—I spent the day in vertigo / I could not get the spirit off my back

You’re once again tossed in the waves of thinking that God is fucking with you. But either way you just want to be tranquilized at this point. 

Is it all for something? Is it all part of a plan / tranquilize me, sanitize me, Ativan

Is it all for nothing? Is it all part of a plan? / make my death wish, mind my business / do the best I can with what I am

Ativan asks, was the true leading woman all this time… substance abuse?? 

Ativan / my leading woman

Long story short, you’re drunk on communion wine, asking the shadows to come back.

fill me with the blood of Jesus / clean my plate 'til he receives us / separate the colors from the black / ... / tell the shadows near us to come back

 URSA MAJOR & LANDSLIDE

Not a lot to say about this (even though I love these songs) so I’m gonna skip mostly, but the narrator has decided he wants to love you, he can’t help it <3 

GILGAMESH

Oh boy. 

I mean you kinda know what’s coming because of the title. The Epic of Gilgamesh is the world’s oldest piece of epic world literature, and Gilgamesh was “the first hero of human history.” 

In the world’s oldest story, The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh and Enkidu are “very close friends” (their relationship is very homoerotic and this is barely disputed). Gilgamesh calls Enkidu his brother, and they are mutually selfless towards each other but when Enkidu dies, indirectly because of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh has a breakdown and mourns him like that of a spouse and then has to come to terms with his own mortality. 

The meta level of this is so obvious I’m not even going to go into it. Anyways… here are lyrics that make me want to scream! 

the repetition of “my heart”... the concept of singing a eulogy.... saying your heart is chained to Your Angel............ it hurts

DEATH STAR

Star Wars reference my beloved. Like many of these songs this has Fuck You God energy.

what you call the human race / expedite the judgement day / it’s your own damn head on that plate

vandalize what you create / ... / witness me resist your fate / it’s your own damn head on that plate

 GOODBYE TO ALL THAT

This song is a bop honestly 

When the lyrics were released a bunch of Sufjan fans contrasted Goodbye To All That’s here I am alone in my car / hopelessly infatuted / and I’m driving to wherever you are to Sufjan & Moses Sumney’s song, “Make Out in My Car”.

Yeah, I know, we’re all thinking of this:

Make Out in My Car is basically where Moses gave Sufjan a horny car guy chorus and told him to write the verses, and Sufjan proceeded to write the most liturgical shit ever (and we love him for it). ANYWAYS… Goodbye To All That also reminds me of Dean’s depression and the weirdness that started in 15x19 and goes into 15x20. For some reason he makes it seem more upbeat and happy than it is...

Despite this song being a bop, the lyrics are depressing. He’s alone in his car. He’s hopeless. He realizes it’s too late to have died a young man. 

He’s going to try to move on, even though nothing is left of him, he’s begging someone to turn around and show me his shadow.

He also references substance abuse again—

love me / and leave me / intoxicated

  SUGAR

The music video? Iconic. The mom of a family is making a pie, or she’s trying to. She ends up rubbing the filling all over her face, crushing the fruits, the oven catches on fire. 

But she does it! She makes the pie. 

Meanwhile the other family members are in their rooms, overindulging in sugar in all its forms. And then as she and her family eat around a dining table, occassionally being seemingly marrioetted by some unseen force, she looks angrily over her family, they all seem to kind of lose it, then the house starts to come apart until the chandelier falls on the dinner table. 

It’s the making pie + overindulgence in sugar + marionetted family metaphors for me ❤️ 

Ultimately, the song is about begging for affection, being desperate for domesticity, but you feel doomed, you feel like your defeat is predestined, that you can’t escape it.

You just don’t want to be heartbroken & you don’t want to be angry anymore!!!!

  THE ASCENSION

So you may be asking… does this guy get the domesticity he’s longing for?? Does he get his love back?? 

No. He dies. :/

The Ascension begins with just that. He’s dying.

THEN Sufjan decides to rhyme “confess” with “confess”, in two lines that mean almost opposite things:

When I am dead / and the light leaves my breast / nothing to be told / nothing to confess / let the record show / what I couldn’t quite confess

So does this guy have something to confess or not??? 👀

Moving on… 

He goes back to thinking about how his life was predestined all along, and now after all that, he’s dying. So he thinks about all the times he was kind of like this Mythological Icon. That he always had to be the one to show what was right, to lead by example. That that had been his entire identity. 

And he realizes he needs to answer for himself. 

Then he is frightened— realizing he was always asking what everything meant, what it all was for, but that all along he was just angry and depressed.

But even though he feels a like he should have just resigned himself to meaninglessness, that he only thought he could change the world for the better… it strengthened him to know the truth.

And even through the absolute shit of it all, and even though God & others did things from a place of so-called holiness and hopelessness...

He did everything out of love ❤️

So then he dies 🙃

AMERICA

So, as the end of The Ascension asked, what now? 

The album ends on this long track, which Sufjan describes as a protest against all that America has been and has become. 

It’s a protest against capitalism, of destroying humanity for the sake of some cold machinery. 

I have worshipped / I believed / I have broke your bread / for a splendor of machinery

And in true Sufjan fashion, he makes this song about protesting somehow both horny and religious, god bless

I have loved you / like a dream / I have kissed your lips / like a Judas in heat

I have worshipped / I have cried / I have put my hands in the wounds on your side / I have tasted of your blood / I have choked on the waters / I abated the flood / I am broken / I am beat / but I will find my way / like a Judas in heat

I am fortune / I am free / I’m like a fever of light / in the land of opportunity / don’t do to me / what you did to America / don’t do to me / what you do to yourself

  to finish out, here’s a DeanCas post by @eggcessive with lyrics from America ❤️ I HOPE YOU ENJOYED MY WEBWEAVING :)

[ichika27]

TWEWY 11

Time to get to the final battles. (I forgot to take a non-spoiler screenshot)

Anyways, spoilers for the game below.

Inside the Shibuya River (the sewers, I guess), they find Minamimoto who couldn’t go forward anymore due to a barrier he can’t break. He then tells them where Konishi is (inside Beat’s shadow which the show had hinted last time) and the two reapers talk.

They make a deal: Konishi gets rid of the barrier and when Minamimoto becomes the new Composer, he’d promote her to Conductor. Minamimoto agrees and goes forward.

Our duo is now left to battle Konishi. (she looks like a furry-bait I wonder if a certain vtuber would think she’s hot lol).

They get transported to some kinda invisible platform in the sky where they proceed to fight. She’s pretty difficult to defeat though.

Beat, upon seeing Neku in distress and that they might lose, remembers Rhyme and how he couldn’t protect her. He resolves that he’d not let that happen again and attacks. This somehow lets him summon noise!Rhyme who immediately reunites with her brother.

Neku and Beat powers up Rhyme. I don’t think this powerup was in the game (I don’t remember much of this part). I do remember her pin being in use but this powerup, not sure. Pretty cool though.

Technically, Rhyme defeats Konishi feat. Neku and Beat lol. She might have become noise but she’s still badass.

I had to get this with the subs. Konishi, before she finally disappears, decides to tell Beat that Rhyme’s memories of her big brother is Beat’s own entry fee and not Rhyme’s. She says that maybe Beat wasn’t as important to Rhyme like he thought.

She then gets erased while Beat is having some sort of crisis asking himself what Rhyme’s entry fee might have been.

Shiki finally appears! She says Rhyme’s entry fee must be her dreams since Rhyme mentions not having any. (I don’t remember this detail completely but Rhyme’s entry fee being her dreams was just a popular fan theory back then as they never really outright mention it in game so this being included either meant it was right all along or they thought that the theory was okay and they should add it).

Neku and Beat realized that Week 3 is over, they won, and so Shiki’s back. Neku apologizes to Shiki as she became his entry fee and Shiki is surprised by this cause of the implications. Someone else pointed it out elsewhere that it’s strange that she’s surprised when she hasn’t disappeared yet when Neku was told that she’d be his entry fee. She disappeared in the game before Neku was told this so it makes sense she didn’t know in the original story. Did the staff forget or something? I mean, they kinda forgot they let Neku and Shiki have a keypin way back in Week 1 and then made Neku surprised that keypins existed in Week 3.

Oh and they also don’t visit Dead God’s Pad (the bar HQ of the reapers).

They find Minamimoto in the white void they’re now in and he’s impaled instead of crushed underneath a bunch of stuff like a vending machine. Is Joshua not capable of summoning vending machines in the white void?

The white void breaks apart to reveal The Room of Reckoning where they see Kitaniji waiting for them and he explains the Composer isn’t here.

Whose happiness though? Is it for himself? Cause Joshua doesn’t seem happy.

So Kitaniji tells them that the personality/mindset of those in Shibuya - like Neku’s and Beat’s - is going to be cause of it’s downfall so he’s gonna fix it.

And then he brainwashes Shiki using the red skull pin. It’s now a battle between noise!Kitaniji and Shiki vs. Neku and Beat. As if the game version wasn’t hard enough lol. They skipped battling them at Dead God’s Pad and just combined the first two battles by having Shiki be brainwashed after Kitaniji has transformed. The duo now has to face Kitaniji as some kinda giant snake plus a horde of Mr. Mews that can fly.

They win, of course, with a bit of difficulty since they don’t want to hurt Shiki. After the fight, the other two are passed out.

Kitaniji refuses to go down and in their exchange, Neku notices the timer on Kitaniji’s hand (which is earlier than in the game since they originally find this out when the whole truth is being revealed at the ending). He explains his plans using the pins.

Meanwhile, Neku gains an epiphany regarding the character development he had been getting throughout the Reaper’s Game.

Kitaniji slowly transforms in a gross way with his body slowly changing shape. They went out of their way to make it creepy.

Last battle with Kitaniji coming up next episode!

--

Joshua didn’t show up unlike in the game which makes this kinda weird. I always assumed Kitaniji got a more powerful form because he captures Joshua and hijacks his Composer powers but here, Josh hasn’t arrived and Kitaniji transformed on his own. He didn’t even capture Beat and Shiki so it makes me wonder if he just has another noise form.

Wait... does this mean the final battle would be Neku, Shiki, Beat (and Joshua if he arrives in the middle of it) vs. Kitaniji instead of just Neku (and then using some powers of the other three) vs. Kitaniji in the game? That actually sounds like a pretty exciting idea and they could showcase using multiple characters that will be the mechanic of NTWEWY (assuming that wasn’t their plan all along).

I wonder how Joshua will show up though? In the middle of the battle? Near the end when he’d join the four-combo attack? At the start and would go “No time to ask questions”? I’m excited haha. I though he’d appear in this episode though but I guess they’re gonna place the Composer reveal at the very end (even though they gave so many hints throughout Week 2 that Josh isn’t what he seems).

Oh my god... the finale is next week, isn’t it? I pray they’d use “A Lullaby for You” as the last ending song as they show the epilogue. I might end up crying if they did that. Are they gonna add Neku’s entire ending monologue? One of the things the anime does that I thought is nice is that they really make the dramatic scenes hit hard. How they’d animate Neku’s monologue might end up hitting me in the feels really bad if they do it right.

Are they gonna animate the secret ending? Gonna hurt me more by showing Josh is unable to be with Neku and the others? And before all of this... the final duel. We’re gonna see Neku cry next episode lol oh no.

I do hope Eri gets to be in the final scenes though. They gave her a bit more screentime in the anime so it’d be really cool if they show Shiki and Eri getting reunited. And Beat waking up to see his sister human again and they’re alive. They never showed those in the game so it’d be nice to end their personal arcs with those.

I’m excited and also sad. We all waited so long. It was a dream that TWEWY would one day get an anime and even a sequel but here we are. The anime is about to end and the sequel will come out next month. After all this time, it feels like it was just a blink of an eye and now it’ll be over.

*sigh* I should really save all of this for the actual last episode.

Either they’d have another episode for “A New Day” or they’re gonna have an OVA for that. Sad cause had that not existed, maybe there’s a possibility of “Another Day” getting an OVA. But then again, they took away tin pin for the main story.

Okay. That’s all for now, I guess. Next week is pain and also happiness. XD

[infini-tree]

FANFIC: against all odds - part 4

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Summary: Moments of relative ease while they were on the run.

A/N: alternate title - haha! i tricked you all into reading my personal headcanons on the pmd universe!

I feel like there’s a vague theme, but for the life of me I can’t put words to it. This has also been sitting in my drafts for a while. How much can I write for just the fugitive arc plot point? According to the word count, over 5,000 words.

_________________________

I can’t fight. You don’t know how to manage resources on the road. If I suddenly wake up in a dungeon or we’re in peril, then I’ll do everything to switch back to you, but you have to agree to switching back when we’re just traveling. Our survival may depend on it.

Guildmaster of the Jerome Horwitz Guild,

Krupp leaned back, inspecting the writing with a frown. Was it stupid to sign a note he scrawled in the dirt in his own pine needles? Perhaps. 

He signed it anyway. Listen, if he had to rank the absurdity of the events so far, this would be dead last.

The abomasnow shuffled to his feet. It was late night and this was the only time he would have to himself. He gaze shifted to the dying fire, to the two boys sleeping soundly. He lumbered his way over to the campfire to feed it a few more sticks and some fallen pine needles.

(Morbid as it was, they made excellent firestarters.)

Satisfied with the size of the flame, he made his hasty retreat from the heat. Back to the message he scrawled to the dirt. Well, it was now or later, and later happened to have the boys being awake and nosy.

How had those miscreants made him switch over? Harold managed it by making the static around him crackle in a specific way, but George--

He brought a thumb and finger together. Here goes... everything.

Snap.

_________________________

He didn’t like thinking about the day he evolved. 

Under most circumstances, it should have been a happy time; certain families would make a big show of it, or at least gave congratulations. The ability to do so was in constant flux along with the waxing and waning of major disasters, so everyone treated it as something unlikely and miraculous every time.

It had been cold, but then again it was always cold at the family orchard. All he could remember was being so angry, and if his heart hadn’t froze then, then the look his mother gave him completely iced it over to protect it. To salve the pain.

(But it was still in there, thawing the ice from the inside.)

The moments after that were a blur; the ice that made a vice grip around his heart made his way into his veins, to each needle, made him glow so bright that it could’ve caused snow-blindness.

And then he had the power to protect himself.

It was a strange comparison to make, but switching over to the other guy-- it felt like that rush of emotion and power. Instead of the cold and anger, it was... the only thing he could describe it was alive, the joy of it. The fierce determination to protect that. It was foreign and terrifying to him.

He came back to his blunt claws caked in dirt and strange markings. It took too long to realize that it was writing.

It looked so minimalist, what with its lines looking all the same. Even between the curves and the straight lines, there was no rhyme or reason to the shapes of the letters.

It took even longer to realize that he could read it.

Not to worry, Guildmaster!

_________________________

Sometimes, a part of him wondered if the other guy felt like turning to him was a disappointment-- if he felt this way when he switched over, then the reverse must be true.

He wasn’t sure how to feel about that, but he didn’t have much time to think about it as George and Harold were running headfirst into a mystery dungeon that was starting to form, he just looked away for five minutes--

(True to their agreement, he snapped his fingers. He jolted up in an unfamiliar clearing, in strange clothes, with the boys giving him concerned looks that it made something in his heart twinge.

And then, recalling that he left most of the supplies back at the previous camp when he ran in to catch them, and the something was doused.)

_________________________

Sometimes luck was on their side. Sometimes the dungeons were short, and sometimes there was swaths of apple trees at the end.

Despite all that, Krupp couldn’t help but be the pessimistic one-- someone had to be. Short dungeons meant they couldn’t stay for long; those hunting for them would bulldoze through the floors, no matter how tricky the dungeon was. 

Plus, he didn’t like the look of the trees here. Each and every one of them were identical-- it was a weird byproduct of taking root at the epicenter of a dungeon.

Still, food was food. He made his way over to the one the boys were trying to coax fruit out of. At first they tried to climb it, but the strangeness of the dungeon left the bark slightly less textured and with no footholds.

Now, they were trying to cut it down, taking turns tackling-- and in George’s case-- hitting it with iron tail.

The abomasnow rolled his eyes. “Get out of the way,” he grumbled. The needles on his back raised, and suddenly there were a quartet of ice shards.

George stared at him, crossing his arms. “If our attacks couldn’t do anything, what makes you think those little thing--”

The shards shot up the tree and wove through the branches. After a few moments, several apples with frostbitten stems fell down. One even managed to hit him in the head. The force was strong enough to impale itself against the pine needles.

Harold snickered before another apple hit him on the head. Considering the amount of wool, it was less of a hit, and more of a...

Well, it was lodged deep in the wool.

Krupp barked out a short laugh before realizing where he was and who he was. He clapped a hand to his mouth, attempting to play it off as a cough or-- or something else. Anything else.

His plan to scarf down one of the apples and feign choking quickly fizzled as the boys at each other in quiet disbelief, and then to him. They noticed. Of course, the miscreants who thrived off pranks, and by extension the laughter that came from it, noticed. It was stupid to think otherwise.

“Just,” he ran a hand down his face, hand outstretched towards the mareep. “Just hand the apples over so I can bag everything up and we can move on.”

From this place, from his stupid, stupid fumble.

Harold’s mouth quirked mischievously before he shook, sending the apple-- and everything else that was lodged in his wool-- flying.

(So that’s where they kept their comic supplies, he remembered thinking, before frustration took precedence over sated curiosity.)

_________________________

“How’d you do the thing?” George asked. 

The noonday sun was high and sweltering. This meant that the boys started their routine of what he liked to call We’re Not Technically Touching You So You Can’t Complain, where they would walk as close to him as they could get away with, before backing away before he noticed.

“What thing?” he grumbled, flicking away the meltwater.

“You know, the thing with the ice shards,” Harold offered. “The-- you know, whoosh, whoosh!” To emphasize his point, he jumped from side to side, pantomiming how it wove through the branches.

The words come out much easier than he expected, or wanted to. “You don’t grow up on an orchard without learning how to get the season’s stock off as quickly as possible.” He shrugged, sending some melting snow careening to the ground.

The boys thought about it. George looked off to the mountains in the distance, but Harold was looking right at him. For a moment he could have sworn that there was something he could only describe as recognition in his eyes, but he nodded and it was gone. 

“You know that’s not what we meant.” The snivy kicked a rock. It was sent careening off into the grass, and his shoulders dropped in slight disappointment.

“What, you want demonstrations now?” the abomasnow raised a brow. “You barely listened to anything at school!”

“Yeah, because no one’s teaching us stuff like that!” George shot back, raising his arms up to emphasize his point. “The most complicated thing Meaner’s ever taught us is don’t get hit!”

Krupp couldn’t help but wince. That might explain... a lot, actually. “I don’t know what to tell you, but that was just-- I don’t know, a thing.”

“How were you a Guildmaster for this long,” Harold shook his head, and he knew he was baiting him. They’ve been on the road long enough that the abomasnow could figure out their tells, how to tell the difference between staged theatrics and genuine emotion.

And here he was, falling for it hook, line, and sinker. 

The soil beneath his feet freeze-dried at every step. “Fine, you want a lesson?” He shrugged, and this time the snow and frost tumbled down with purpose before forming a few shards. 

“You either are naturally strong and can bulldoze through anything--”

“Like Captain Underpants!” Harold chimed in.

“Yeah, him.” He rolled his eyes. “Or you get creative with weak moves.”

He let the shards weave around the boys as they walked-- not too close, or else they would get frostbite, and not too fast, or they might get hurt if they moved suddenly. 

Just enough so they would stay cool.

“Maneuverability’s just a matter of endurance and concentration.”

He didn’t need to look back to see the boys make a face.

(In any case, Krupp considered this a victory. They wouldn’t need to huddle so close to him now, and hopefully that was enough to stop their prying questions regarding it.)

[solchongpark]

Bear with me while I gush, but I didn’t expect to have a complete 180 on this movie. Maybe it’s my increased appreciation for Laurence Fishburne, after having fallen in love with the Hannibal show, maybe it’s no longer having any of the expectations that the first movie set, maybe it’s that after growing up I no longer feel the need to impress people with my snobbery, maybe somehow as I’ve gotten older I haven’t gotten jaded and cynical and in fact quite the opposite, maybe it’s that I really miss dancing with crowds of people, maybe it’s loving that the cake scene in this movie is analogous to the steak scene (and haha steak and cake rhyme), maybe it’s realizing that the Wachowskis seemed to have been ahead of their time in terms of gender and race, maybe it’s also remembering watching this movie in the theatres and feeling the rush of the audience cheering when Morpheus falls backwards onto the hood of Niobe’s car, maybe it’s having watched the Matrix just a few months ago and feeling like Reloaded does a really great job of continuing the plot and themes (the first movie’s power trip was actually part of the Control), maybe it’s having played the game Control the word control has itself become very significant for me, maybe it’s after all these years I finally realize just how much work must have gone into the making of this film, maybe it’s that I appreciate kitsch more now, maybe now that I drive I appreciate the freeway scene even more, and maybe it’s when Morpheus who had unwavering faith was faced with the falseness of that dream he uttered, I have dreamed a dream and now that dream is gone, I was in tears.

[princewarmachine]

starscream for the character thing?? :3c

Don’t mind if I do

Favorite thing about them?

This is difficult to say. I love, like, everything about him. He's just been a huge part of my childhood and I mean, I loved him ever since I laid eyes on him. Sounds crazy, but it's like we have a strange bond. I guess I love how he can be super complicated, and even in the G1 series you watch how he acts and how he interacts with the world and think, "How did he get to this point?". Something about how he always seems to die, and be resurrected sticks with me. And just every time I see him, I feel so excited. It really breaks my heart when his character is written poorly or treated poorly with no rhyme or reason. There is more to say on the subject, but I have no idea how to put it into words. I love him, dearly.

Least Favorite thing about them?

It's really hard for me to dislike things about characters because I feel that most of the time, in a story, every element and character adds something and is in its place, even if it seems useless. So, really, I don't ever feel anger at a character. But I mean, I am highly empathetic when I invest into fictional worlds. I would say, I dislike how dead end or cut off his storylines seem most of the time. I'm also really tired of the trope of him being abused and getting no sympathy in the writing. Or no redemption arc, when he is clearly set up to have one. I guess I'm saying, the thing I least like about him is his wasted potential.

Favorite Line?

He has a lot of really good lines, a lot of them stuck with me as a child. I would say that a line of his that stuck with me that hardest was this scene in G1 , where he is screaming "I'm stupid! I'm stupid!". It really disturbed me as a child how Megatron was treating him, and the way Starscream was so scared made me really upset. I could never understand why people found it funny. Now I realize that it's probably because the scene and the way he begs mirrored the abusive situation I was watching my parents go through. Weird, right? Otherwise, I'd say my favorite line is "Wanna bet?" :). It's the first time on screen we see Starscream TRULY betray Megatron, and I think it's just fucking crazy.

BroTP?

Sounds weird, but Grimlock and Starscream. This is pretty self indulgent, because Grimlock is my sibling's favorite transformer, and Starscream is my favorite. Also, probably Alexis and Starscream from Transformers: Armada. It really showed an intense friendship, and Armada is just so fucking good. One of the best versions of Starscream I've seen, and Alexis is just such a sweetheart to him and he really becomes soft in their friendship.

OTP?

Well, since I mostly ship G1 characters, there are endless possibilities. The thing with G1 characters is that, anything seems to go. It'll most likely be cute either way. Sooo... most of my ships are crack ships. That being said, Shrapnel/Starscream and Optimus/Starscream. But also, I will probably find most other ships with him in them cute. :)

nOTP?

I'm not a big fan of Megatron/Starscream, unless it's in Shattered Glass. Which is sad, there is so little series where they have a GOOD and healthy friendship, or even dynamic. I'd love to see that change.

Random Headcanon?

Hmm, I always like to imagine that he was a very decent person before the war. He had friends, he had a career in science, he seemed content. Then, with war, he became a much, much different situation.

Unpopular Opinion?

Haha, well I probably don't have a lot of unpopular opinions. Probably the one that fits the most in there is that I don't think of him as having bad intentions/being evil at the start of the war. I very much like to think that he is a very groomed individual, but I think that applies to all the transformers, Autobots and Decepticons. When you look at how all the characters act after knowing what a fucked up situation the military is, especially the US military, it puts it in a bit more perspective how absolutely brainwashed everyone is. Though, I do think that since most of the characters, especially Starscream, did not leave the war, and he especially craved the power the war gave him, the Cybertronian war just consumed their being. I suppose what I'm trying to say is, I cannot sit here and positively feel good about my analysis of his character by just thinking "He's evil and a bitch". Though, I am adding a bit too much personal stuff on him, I will admit. Though, here's the thing! If you want to get a better idea on what I'm talking about with the corrupt military and such, you should listen to the podcast Eyes Left. It's two veterans who talk about their experience with being in the military, and why they became dishonorably discharged. For more perspective on how damaging being in the military is, I'd recommend listening to Jacob George's album 'Soldier's Heart'.

Song I associate with them?

There are a lot of songs, but I the first one that popped into my head was A Conversation with Death by Khemmis. I think it really captures some of my strange feelings to his deaths and reincarnations.

Favorite Picture of them?

Hard to choose, but here’s a funny meme @sasukes-divorce-lawyer made a while ago that I love to bits. I just giggle when I see it.

[quinintheclouds]

Thoughts on Putting Others First: SvS Redux as they come to me

AN HOUR LONG?!?!?! Y E S THANK YOU

I am LOVING this opening art style. The way it shows all the things Thomas could say and shuts them each down, the silliness tying in perfectly to the video game setting, the way we could SO STRONGLY empathize with Thomas despite him not saying anything. Well done!

“Eff friends, Patton!” Patton and I made the exact same gasp and noise at the same time in reaction to that dsjfhljdhg

Lookit Thomas’ lil vest awww <3

ROMAN WITH THE PUNS I LOVE IT APPRECIATE HIM

rhymes

rhymes

they’re rhyming is this gonna be

A SONG!!!

(Logan off somewhere watching all of this: “You guys are doing a RAP? Without ME? .....Unacceptable”)

Seriously poor Logan being left out BOTH TIMES despite clearly having excellent points on the matter

But I’m loving this Patton/Roman dynamic being explored in this way. They have a lotta similarities but the differences are really standing OUT so far and I like it! Also it looks like Roman isn’t gonna just shut up and do whatever Patton says out of fear that he’s a bad person/bad for Thomas this time. I’m glad they’re both getting a chance to talk cause they aren’t exactly taken seriously a lot of the time.

RETURN OF THE BLINDFOLD METAPHOR followed by Roman saying “in Patton’s defense...” so they like, KNOW what Deceit meant about the blindfold? Were they playing dumb? Or do they just suddenly get it now that it’s coming from Thomas?

Ok this Feral Cat Story of Roman’s is too specific for me to dismiss and now I’m convinced either Remus brought a shitton of cats home one day and they just flooded their house/rooms, or Patton brought home a bunch of cats out of love and didn’t realize he couldn’t take care of em...either way that’s an adorable anecdote

The car jump line that Patton took literally is just making me miss Logan even more :(

I’m glad they’re giving context to the relationship between Thomas and Mary Lee & Lee! A lot of fander questions and opinions circled back to “well it depends how close they were” so it was smart of them to fill us in.

“those baby-makin’ catholics”

6:45 Patton has clearly thought through a lot of possible outcomes to talking to Lee and Mary Lee before going to the wedding... he never brought them up, even when Roman did and then Deceit did. But he’s bringing up points no one had addressed, and I think that’s a great way to put more intensity to Patton’s apology to Thomas for lying back in SvS pt 1. He hid a lot more than he let on. Man, how much guilt is this poor man feeling right now? :(

“Talking about it could have been harmful” I’m very intrigued by the parallels between Patton wanting to keep things from Thomas’ friends to protect their feelings in this episode and SvS, and Deceit disguised as Patton in CLBG trying to get Thomas to... keep things from his friend to protect their feelings...

WOAH “But was it worth it? I don’t--” “No.” Thomas cutting Roman off with that much certainty DAMN Thomas REGRETS going to the wedding HARD and also is agreeing with Roman finally??

Patton: “sometimes you can make all the good choices, and still not get the good ending.” Thomas: “I’m not even sure there was a good ending to get.” Roman: “Mmmm, I’m pretty sure there was.” There is so much to unpack here oh my gosh.

WOAH WOAH WOAH WHAT??? DAMN THOMAS CAME FOR PATTON WHAT ON EARTH??? Patton: “I think we can all agree that you are a good fellow.” Thomas: Can we? ALL? Agree on that?” Patton: *sputtering noises*

Poor Patton... I mean they’re right but gosh I feel for him. He wants so badly for Thomas to be a good person and he realizes now how strict and unyielding he’s been, and wants to not do that but doesn’t know how to be more lenient without sacrificing integrity cause that’s his JOB and he doesn’t know how to do it better aaaa this is such a mood

MUSIC IS THERE ANOTHER SONG COMING?

Return of the bagel. Except this time it’s Roman guessing/wanting the bagel and Patton being like “what? no?”

ok not a song but video game style is back!!

“ugh you’re such a dad” I love it

Patton just made more puns and Roman omg “Like, you’re SUCH a dad that like it’s too much to handle sometimes”

I am loving this whole scene jdfhjadshg Patton ily and I relate

Thomas and Roman teaching Patton how to come up with imaginary scenarios skjfklsjdfh

Sondheim wrecking Leslie Odom Jr is such a hilarious visual

Ok all three of them are peak dumbass and I’m so here for it (like they’re smart and all but they’re peak dumbass)

Daaaamn Patton is letting out so much this episode. Like he’s been holding back but wowie. R: “Just like how you didn’t HAVE to give him a hotdog” P: *sucks air through his teeth* “I feel like you kinda do though?” YES PLEASE let’s discuss the concept of obligation in morality again!!! Where’s Logan when you need him? Or Deceit even? (I feel like D’s gonna show up later but I wanna hear Logan’s thoughts this time too)

Patton: You can disagree! But... it’d kinda be wrong?

LOGAN POPUP! Ok fine if he isn’t in the ep at least he pops up in a lil dialogue box on screen. Also he popped up to support Patton... neat!

“It’s just me, Logan. I’ve taken this form because I didn’t want to be too...invasive.” POOR LOGAN NO YOU’RE NOT INVADING ANYTHING YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE HERE! Also Roman getting scared by the popup while Patton just waves happily like he always does upon seeing Logan aww

Okay I am getting serious DOPAMINE from Logan talking. Like, he’s spittin’ FACTS. Something about the way he talks is so interesting and soothing and makes me so excited to LEARN. Roman mockingly mouthing ‘behoove’ had me snort though XD

LOGAN AND I WERE IN UNISON HELL YEAH! Patton was all like ooh you’re sharing your lil factoids! And Logan and I at the same time corrected, “Facts,” and proceeded to state the definition of factoids (we worded it differently but yeah as usual Logan is on my wavelength)

Logan’s sprite getting so disappointed at Thomas’ interruption joke jgdkjghks he looks so DONE

OML I LOVE LOGAN’S DIALOGUE BOX TALKING TOO FAST FOR THEM TO READ THIS IS SO ACCURATE

Oof Thomas finally feeling like he GETS it and Patton being like yeah but not if you’re doing it bc you want to feel  good tho... (also that’s the same argument Deceit made in SvS pt1??? I’m confused by Patton/Deceit’s functions lately and I’m very invested)

Oh ok Thomas just brought up that very point haha

“we all agreed the right thing to do was go to the wedding” um are u sure about that

“I was wrong” PATTON CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT?? I know Logan has the reputation of not being able to admit when he’s wrong (which isn’t true -- he doesn’t like to but he has done so countless times...well not literally countless but you understand my meaning), but Patton rarely is in a situation where he has to, so this is jarring in a hopefully good way. Istg if this is Deceit disguised as Patton again I’ll be so disappointed... I feel like the writers wouldn’t do that though

Patton: says smth deceit said. Roman: and you...agree? Patton: Definitely! I mean uh maybe? (WHAT IS HAPPENING INSIDE PATTON’S HEAD RN SO MUCH TURMOIL)

Roman: “I’m not an expert in the... moral medium” Thomas:  “Go ahead Roman, we wanna hear what you have to say.”  Patton: *halfhearted gestures and noises for roman to go ahead* jashfjdh he’s trying so hard

AWWWW they’re validating Roman so much I love it

“whomstsoever” ok I take it back roman’s not valid

I adore Logan’s popup fun facts, and him giving definitions for Roman’s vocabulary reminds me how much the two of them love writing and poetry and language aaaa

Patton trying not to be harsh is somehow 10x harsher than he normally is

oh wow that got real.

I know I’ve said this but I love logan’s insertions... but I do wish he got to say them out loud like earlier :/ Pausing to read them is less fun than hearing him talk.

oh wow that got real part 2

I want. So badly. To jump into this video and debate Patton on the nature of morality and what “the right thing is.” Roman you’re not being dumb, you’re bringing up excellent points and you’re valid again.

Oh no Patton... empathy is not morality... please please address that there are people who can’t experience empathy and choose to be moral and good

THE  TROLLEY PROBLEM HERE! WE! GO!

Logan’s popups bc he doesn’t want to “be too invasive” and making them optional to read hurts my heart :( He knows Patton, Roman, and Thomas aren’t reading any of it but he doesn’t want to be too much so he stays silent. Why?? Logan it’s okay! Why is this a thing now but not in the last 2 episodes? What happened to Logan :(

OOOOOOH Patton didn’t flip the switch :o Interesting! Daaaamn he’s arguing to let 5 people die rather than flip the switch so only one dies

LOGAN’S TEXTBOX WAS SO BIG AND FAST IT KNOCKED PATTON OVER I CANNOT BREATHE hang on I gotta read it

HE’S TALKING ABOUT DEONTOLOGY YES LOGAN THANK YOU FOR TELLING PATTON WHAT I PHYSICALLY CANNOT please tell me you’ll talk about utilitarianism and moral particularism next

Okay he used consequentialism but it’s close enough to utilitarianism that the outcome is the same. (Do you get it? Do you like my joke about how the outcome is most important? When we’re talking about-- oh you got it already? Good, moving on.)

DID ROMAN JUST FJCKING KILL LOGAN

“I’m okay, figment of your imagination, so.” Okay so CAN the Sides get hurt or can’t they?? Cause Patton clearly got bonked, roman got hit in the eye with paper and said ow, but logan got hit in the head with a throwing star and had his teeth ripped out and he was totally fine?

 Thomas is being so HONEST with himself so early in the episode, wow this is refreshing and I’m hype

AW YAY Patton called textbox Logan in to help with philosophy yay :’)

Logan: “Pity seems to be at the center of your idea of ‘putting good into the world’” first, Logan doing a voice impression of Nietzsche is GOLD, and second.... I wish they’d let him finish cause I was waiting for a “but” cause Logan siding with Nietzsche on this one feels... wrong? Like I could see Dee bringing it up or Logan using it in an argument only to continue with a contradicting philosophy but Logan equating empathy to pity... idk I thought he’d grown more than to think that :/ Actually I don’t think he ever saw it that way. It feels out of character but I’m guessing he had more to say to debunk that.

HOLY SHIT PATTON SKIPPED ALL THE REST OF LOGAN’S DIALOGUE AND YEETED HIM OFF THE SCREEN bruh he may have been right and he should’ve gotten to say it >:(

ROMAN ISTG DO NOT TRY AND MAKE THIS YOUR FAULT

I SAID DON’T

GODDAMMIT

sjfkdjgjsh okay aww Thomas good job, Patton too. Thank god they’re being nice to him

Patton is having a breakdown holy heckity about time

damn Patton is freaking HARSH

“I have a difference in opinion on this one, Patton” Thomas: *relieved sigh whisper* “ohhh thank you, Logan” YES APPRECIATE THE BOY YES YES I LOVE HIM why are they looking around like he isn’t making sense?

LOGAN YES! CALL HIM OUT! LET THOMAS VALUE HIMSELF AND PUT HIMSELF FIRST SOMETIMES! “Every point you’ve made in today’s discussion has contradicted that sentiment.” I love you but also you sound a lil like deceit... very lawyer-y and feels calculated like he’s been keeping notes for this purpose... I want deceit and logan to debate already damn it. Maybe it’s just that Logan’s inflections feel reminiscent of Deceit to show...something?

Ok can I just say that Logan gets so much rep for his strictness or high standards but he’s been SO GOOD about that lately and him teaching about the importance of leisure and self-care and freedom in your life and self-esteem and valuing yourself like you do with others... not even just this  video -- he’s been like this in the last few as well and these recent episodes remind me of early Logan (esp My Negative Emotions)  and that makes my heart so so happy.

Continuation of the above, compare this to how Logan acted in Why Bed? with regards to Roman. Roman advocated for leisure time and following dreams, while Logan had a schedule that optimized productivity and health. Now he’s taking a similar stance to Roman and asserting the importance of these things... WHY is so much of Logan’s character development OFFSCREEN?? I wanna know what made him switch on this! Maybe just cause he’s listening to roman from why bed?

Why is Logan being so abrasive? He sounds like his intent is more to disprove Patton rather than state what he actually thinks... not a fan of that but he’s not wrong

WOAH WOAH TOTAL PATTON BREAKDOWN WHAT HAPPENED WHAT THE FCK HE’S A LITERAL MONSTER IN THIS VIDEO GAME?

OH, MY GOD. If Logan didn’t step in and save them here this would have been catastrophic. I can feel my relief. I mean, he screamed, but it was a relief. WAIT IT WAS DECEIT THE WHOLE TIME??? Daaaamn good job on this one Deceit and I definitely like him more now but also WHERE IS LOGAN. Was it the whole time? That makes sense in hindsight and makes me feel better about some things he’s brought up but I feel like it really was Logan at the start, it wasn’t until he started calling out patton that his voice and inflection and stuff changed

Patton trying to attack Deceit   and hitting Thomas instead was  an EXCELLENT way to  showcase the effect SvS 1 and 2 are having

Deceit’s lil “A DUH DUH DUH DOY” looked and sounded just like Logan’s lmao don’t tell me it’s another switcheroo (I doubt it greatly lol)

REAL LOGAN REAL LOGAN REAL LOGAN

So wait what was the point that Deceit switched with Logan? Cause Logan’s saying “one more fact” so he was himself earlier right?

“Not that any of you care, but  I am unharmed.” Nooooo they care </3 “I will do you all a favor and spare you my company” okay OUCH

EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM YES aw he’s talking about him and patton working together yes thank you

Damn, Deceit is LOVING everything Logan says haha same

Logan and Deceit teaming up to teach Patton that it’s okay to care about yourself

DECEIT WHAT he’s being so supportive of Roman holy heck this is so genuine OH Roman’s arguing with it  this is a lot of stuff I didn’t expect roman to say out loud wow

THOMAS JUST SAID DECEIT THE CHARACTER ISN’T INHERENTLY UNETHICAL WOW this episode really said let’s make Deceit--

WAIT WOAH SORRY HIS NAME REVEAL!!! He’s Janice?? Is that true?

WAIT WOAH PART 2 BUT DECEIT JUST SAID IF IT WEREN’T FOR THE MUSTACHE HE WOULDN’T KNOW WHO THE EVIL TWIN IS BETWEEN ROMAN AND REMUS HOLY SHIT HE ACTUALLY LOOKED VULNERABLE AND THEN HURT AND THEN RIGHT BACK TO SNAKE

ROMAN’S GONE

fuck.... patton...roman....deceit....thomas....logan....I’m gonna go cry about all of them now

LESLIE ODOM JR IS HERE??????? oh there he goes

patton oh my god I love you  this ANGST are you trying to kill me?

Patton telling thomas he’s worthy of love I actually teared up

dfjdakjhfa deceit don’t push it

Wowie that was an EPISODE