#justice for ruby matthews

[rainbowmoonstonestories]

Let Your Dreams Be Your Wings | Chapter 2

Chapters: 2/? Fandom: The Sandman (Netflix 2022, minor content from the Comics) Rating: Explicit Relationships: Dream of the Endless/Morpheus x F!Reader Characters: Dream of the Endless/Morpheus, Lucienne, Matthew the Raven, Mervyn Pumpkinhead, Hob Gadling, Death, Rose Walker, The Corinthian, other minor Sandman characters, Original Characters. Warnings: 18+ content (upcoming, minors DNI), explicit sexual content, POV switching, very long chapters to read (you can skip parts if you think it is too much). Summary: You always dreamed of becoming a successful Fashion Designer, sharing your creations with the world and making your father proud. But with him being very ill and so many costs solely weighting on your shoulders, things didn’t go as planned and you had to take a different path instead. An interesting offer led you to the elder Alex Burgess and you were hired as a new housemaid for a very good pay. However, your kindness and outstanding empathy convinced the man to give you an additional task for a doubled compensation; gaining the trust of Dream Of the Endless, held captive into the basement for over a century. Despite the shock of finding such an ethereal entity stripped of all his clothes and contained into a confined space, you had to accept for the sake of your father. But the more you got to speak to the mysterious anthropomorphic personification who didn't utter a single word, the more you were lost into his eyes that, conversely, seemed to contain the entire universe. A deep connection formed between the two of you, separated only by a thick layer of glass.

Little did you know, what started like a simple housemaid job was about to change your life forever.

Credits: The moon dividers were made by firefly-graphics.

Chapter 2

The end justifies the means. Or does it?

In the past 106 years, Morpheus had seen nothing but demands and the worst side of humanity. The dastardly Roderick Burgess’ whims had pestered him for a very long time, asking for gifts that were not in his power to give, nor they were for mankind to receive. When Roderick departed from this world, his son Alex inherited everything that was in the Magus’s possession, included Dream himself.

He desperately tried to offer freedom in exchange for his and Paul’s safety. Dream could have accepted at the time, to be finally set free and resume his duties as the King of Dreams and Nightmares into The Dreaming.

Sadly, there was no forgiveness in his heart.

Alex Burgess had killed his raven, Jessamy, right in front of Morpheus’s eyes. He could still see her blood and innards splattered over the glass, her unrecognizable body twitching on the floor before it stopped completely. They took her away from him like they stole his helm, his ruby and his pouch of sand. They ripped his essence into pieces, stripped him of everything he was and expected to see their wishes granted in a snap.

Alex wanted an answer, Morpheus had nothing but silence to give.

And so, more years passed with him trapped into the sphere and sealed away from his powers and his realm. He refused to accept any offer coming from a weakling who first did wrong under the influence of a monster, then persisted in keeping things unchanged and following the man’s legacy.

Since getting old and ill, his captor’s visits in the basement had decreased considerably, but from time to time, Alex still showed up to try again and again, requesting an answer he knew would never come. Two guards were sitting in the cellar most times, especially at night, to watch his sitting form from afar. They occasionally stood in front of the main door at the upper floor as well, leaving him alone in the darkness of his prison.

But one night, something unexpected happened; a beautiful human girl appeared before him out of nowhere, visibly suffering from the coldness of the basement and shivering with exposed arms and bare legs due to a uniform that did not do her justice, in a place she didn’t really belong to. For the very first time after so long, he received compassion and kindness from a mortal who recognized him for who he truly was and understood the importance of his presence in the Universe for humanity’s sake. There was something in her eyes, in the way she looked back at him with so much pain and worry flowing into her heart. Something he got really curious about and wanted to further inspect.

He knew he would see her again sooner rather than later, anyway. Alex had offered her a conspicuous amount of money, mentioning her father’s illness and how much she would need it to sustain his medical care. Humans were easily corruptible, Alex Burgess knew exactly were to strike to properly use the woman for his own gain.

But Dream wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. If he had to stay trapped in that cage for many years to come, then he would make sure that Alex suffered until the end of his days. For Jessamy. For not standing his ground when Roderick put that rifle into his hands. For never apologizing for what he’d done and expecting Morpheus to simply forgive and forget.

Nevertheless, he found that woman utterly intriguing, curious and fascinating. Very much so.

You were used to tossing and turning in your bed every night before finally falling asleep, but this time it wasn’t just your insomnia keeping you wide awake.

How many people knew about Dream? Were you the only staff member allowed to set foot into the cellar? Anyone in your shoes would pack their things and run out of the front door at once, and to be quite frank, for a moment you considered that option yourself before shaking the thought away completely.

Your instinct had kicked in since the day you took the job. The rumors were one thing, you had your doubts about their truthfulness at least until they ventilated the possibility of having some kind of strange creature locked into the basement. But you also remembered how you felt upon entering the house for the first time, the air was somehow a little eerie despite the cozy atmosphere and the delicious smell of old wood. And then there was that inexplicable pull you had towards the cellar, the strong desire to get involved into something you had no connection with and you may have regretted with all your might (in part you did).

And then you saw him, Dream. He was perfection personified, you saw his eyes glowing unnaturally, his pale skin almost reflecting the light. The energy you felt when your eyes met, when you touched the glass, when he shifted in the cage to move closer to where you were standing.

You grabbed your phone from the nightstand, tapped the screen to unlock it and performed a rapid search as your fingers trembled. You selected the first highlighted link, which led you to an old newspaper page from the Daily Mail printed in 1926:

𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐏𝐘 𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒: 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐏𝐄𝐃 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐒, 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍 𝐁𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐄𝐒

Since the illness hit the first victims in 1916, some people begged for sleep that wouldn’t come, whilst others lived as perpetual sleep walkers for a long time. Later renamed as Encephalitis Lethargica, it was described like an unknown pandemic that took place during the course of World War I and also coincided with the widespread sickness and death caused by the Spanish flu. However, while it seemed to have been viral, its original cause was still unclear in 2022. You suffered from insomnia since you were a child, seeming to also have trouble remembering your dreams when/if they even occured. Considering The Sandman was still trapped into Fawney Rig, you could finally come up with a proper explanation for your affliction, as not even the prescribed medications worked for you.

You browsed through different threads and discussions posted online. Some people were convinced that EL was a bad consequence of the Spanish flu, others believed there were demonic forces involved and nothing about the illness was natural. No evidence could confirm, nor deny those theories, but you knew the second one was at least based onto real facts.

You were horribly conflicted now; what were you supposed to do with Dream from that moment onward? Refusing the offer wouldn’t bring you to a full dismissal, you figured, since that was not the original scope of your contract and firing you wouldn’t be in their best interest. The salary was already more than you could ever ask for, receiving such a high compensation for dealing with an imprisoned being would go against your principles and sense of just. Dream’s face was imprinted into your memory and you couldn’t bear the thought of knowing, yet pretending it wasn’t really happening.

Your frustration was devouring you from the inside, all your tiredness long forgetten. You put your phone back and moved the sheets out of the way, standing from your bed and reaching for the bag placed on the small desk in front of the window. You took out the notebook and pencil from the contents you had in it, moving the chair out to sit down and switching the table lamp on.

Sketching was the only thing that could always calm your nerves and you barely had enough time to make a phone call or even eat. Thankfully, the next day you would be off from work and visit your father after two weeks of distance and lack of communication.

Your hand travelled along the white page with racked up inspiration, as the pencil traced line after line and your vision started to take form. The clock on the wall was ticking, its sound creating a stable, relaxing rythm that went along well with the light scratch of graphite on paper.

But then, you found yourself lost in thought and your hand stopped moving. The page was turned, the unfinished draft of a dress you had fantasized about for months now set aside. The pencil resumed its work, sliding around without control. You let the image flow from your mind, using your fingers to smudge and blend shapes together. 50 minutes later, your drawing was complete.

In the middle of the night, you stared at your finished creation with a sense of warmness filling your entire body. If you squinted just enough, you could almost see the patterns dancing on the page like the original source. You let the pencil fall from your grasp, your blackened fingertips lightly brushing over the drawing and tracing the lines with newly acquired fondness.

You got sucked into your faithful representation of one of Dream’s eyes, your heart pounding and filled with an emotion that you didn’t know how to describe.

Despite your lack of sleep, the next day you woke up astonishingly early. The sky was still partially dark, deep blue merging with the orange and golden tones of dawn. The moment the rest of the crew got ready for the day, running back and forth and resuming their usual activities, you were already out of the house and on your way to your father’s. The trip back to town, between the taxi ride and the route on foot, didn't take you more than an hour from Fawney Rig.

Your father was lying in his bed, face lighting up upon seeing you as he extended his arms out to give you one of his outstanding and well missed bear hugs. For a sick man he still had a lot of strength in his limbs, much to your delight.

The nurse was taking good care of him in your absense; the man was properly fed and kept busy with chess matches, a lot of reading and different cheesy movies all week, which happened to be his favorites. You had the impression that he lost more weight since the last time you saw him, but his general conditions seemed as stable as they’d been in the previous weeks.

The family doctor, Mr. Mills, joined you around lunch time. He gave your father his daily dose of medicine and allowed the two of you to catch up in his room as he took a sit on the couch, documents at hand and laptop ready to be set.

“You look tired sweetheart,” your father noticed, sitting more comfortably against the pillows. “Is your job keeping you that busy?”

“Sort of, I didn’t sleep well last night.”

“Insomnia as always?”

“Yes,” you lied. “Just my insomnia.”

Keeping secrets was not exactly your forte and thus your emotions transpired with your gritted teeth and knitted eyebrows.

“Something’s troubling you, though. What is wrong, Y/N?”

You forced a smile. “It’s nothing dad. I just have a lot on my mind these days.”

He gently took your hand in his, thumb making circles over your skin. “I know you don’t want me to worry. But please, if there’s anything serious going on, whatever it is, don’t keep me out of it.”

As persuasive as he could be, you had to keep your resolve intact for his sake. Worrying him and worsening his physical conditions was the last thing you needed on your list.

“Dad, I promise, everything’s okay. I’m just concerned about you and I have a lot to take care of at work.”

Well, that wasn’t really a lie, after all.

“Sweetie, I don’t want you to think that I do not appreciate your efforts, because I do. But I am the one who should take care of my daughter, not the other way around. You are wasting so many chances, when will you start living your life the way you deserve?”

Your eyes stinged with tears. “You took care of me since the day mom left us behind. You will always be my priority, I owe you as much.”

He sighed. “This job you are doing? A housemaid for a rich bastard with questionable reputation? Jesus Christ, I strongly disapprove.”

You laughed. “Said reputation is more about his father actually… and he pays me really well. This benefits you too, in case you haven’t noticed.”

“Do you know what else I’ve noticed? That you are so dishearteningly unhappy, my dear. You have dreams and an enviable creative talent that is literally going wasted.”

Dreams…

Your mind immediatly went to Dream Of the Endless, curled up naked into that sphere, all alone and mistreated for over 100 years.

You pushed that image out of your head. “My hopes and dreams are long gone, dad. For the time being, you come first whether you like it or not.”

“Y/N, do you have a moment?”

Doctor Mills called you as you stepped into the lobby, coat already buttoned up and bag set on your shoulder.

“Of course. Is everything okay?”

He looked particularly distressed, his hair was disheveled and the tie around his neck got partially undone.“There’s something I need to show you.”

Silently, you followed Doctor Mills into the living room, countless documents and medical records were scattered over the coffee table. You sit on the couch with wobbly legs and aching chest, loosening the first two buttons of your coat for the temperature suddenly increasing and you knew the heating was currently turned off.

Doctor Mills took place next to you. “I’ll go straight to the point. Your father’s been taking the same medicines for quite some time now and while they have kept his general conditions stable until recently, they are no longer working as they should anymore.”

Please, no.

“What does it mean?” You asked.

“It means that we need to try a different approach. Again. He lost a few pounds although he still eats regularly, this means that his stomach is not properly assimilating and his latest blood test confirmed it. He doesn’t know it yet.”

You wanted to cry, but you couldn’t allow yourself to break down in front of him. Or anyone. “What kind of approach should we try this time?”

“This is what I really wanted to discuss with you,” he took his laptop and typed something on it, then he clicked on a PDF document and showed you its content displayed on the screen. “It is highly experimental and not yet distributed on the market. I cannot make any sort of prediction, but the performed tests with this medicament have shown amazing results. There might be some unwanted side effects, not gonna lie, but there also are huge possibilities for him to recover.

You bent down to take a closer look at the file. All you could see was a list of codes and scientific terms that you barely comprehended. “So, what you’re saying is, with this specific treatment he may get back to a normal life?”

He looked through the various sheets on the table, some even fell on the carpet for his restlessness, but he didn’t bother to pick them up. “Yes, this is what I’m saying. It may take some time to see an actual effect, but it could work. Unfortunately, there is one problem.”

Oh no.

“Here,” he pointed at a raw of text on the paper he collected from the mess. “As you can see, it is extremely expensive. The money you sent me not long ago was enough to pay off the current medicines, treatments and 24/7 care. But, as you can see, it wouldn’t suffice to cover all of it in the future, not with the new treatment added to the package.”

You could feel your insides twisting, your ears painfully ringing and your head throbbing violently. The indicated figure you saw written on the paper was literally double your current salary at Fawney Rig.

“I’m not asking you to do this for free. I will pay you for your service, twice the monthly amount I’m already giving you, in fact.”

“I already pinged you with countless emails in the past few months and I know you are doing all you can. It is admirable, really. I wouldn’t suggest this to you if it weren’t the only chance we have left.”

The only chance left. In other words, if you didn’t agree to this new treatment, you’d directly sign your father’s death sentence and he would be done for.

You weren't ready to see him go yet.

Your bottom lip quivered and you had to appeal to all your willpower not to burst into tears right on the spot. Everyone says that life is made of difficult choices, you never had to pull your hair as much as you were now.

You hated this. You hated what you were about to say.

“I just got a new tast at work. I will pay for this the upcoming month, if that’s okay.”

Doctor Mills was dumbstruck, clearly he wasn’t expecting such a positive answer from you and rightfully so. Before leaving your old waitress job, he had to constantly chase you to remind you of the payments that were still due. “Oh… oh wow! That is wonderful news indeed!” His enthusiasm was heartwarming, but your emotions at the moment were all over the place. You didn’t know whether to be happy for that new glim of hope, or dreadfully worn-out for what you needed to do in order to let the miracle happen.

“Then I can proceed and begin with the administration next week?”

Your hands closed into fists, nails scraping the skin underneath.

You turned to him again with a feeble smile. “Please.”

The voice in your head was screaming and your heart was completely torn apart. You believed that everything happened for a reason, but how could you give your father his healthy life back, if in return you had to cause even more misery to someone who already dealt with so much suffering for way longer than you existed?

You refused to believe that Dream’s presence had no other meaning, that you had to take advantage of his captivity to save the only family you had left. Anyone would remind you that the end always justified the means, but you never believed in that saying as it sounded more like a loophole. To you, there was no such thing as ‘justified means’ when your actions could potentially damage another person. Endless being or not, Dream was still a living creature, just like you. Just like your father. Just like Alex and Paul.

Thinking about it, somehow, you didn’t have the slightest sympathy for Mr. Burgess on that regard. While you recognized the complexity of it all and fully understood the fear of being annihilated by Dream’s vengeance, it was clear from the Endless’ expression they chose not to reveal the rest of the story. Furthermore, leaving him into that cage for centuries wouldn’t be a proper solution, even more so if your theory about the Sleepy Sickness was correct. His imprisonment was seemingly affecting mankind as much as it was hurting Dream himself, even after a century.

You pinched the bridge of your nose and sighed in frustration. Maybe you were the first person showing him the good side of humanity after so long. You knew how stupid it was to fool around with magic spells and summonings you wouldn’t even be able to suitably control, but Roderick Burgess wanted to cheat Death and dictate his own conditions, when he was nothing but a mere mortal with delusions of grandeur. Dream only needed to be given hope for once, a real one… yet he was destined to only receive futile requests and more extortions, stuck into a cycle that didn’t seem to get a proper conclusion.

Even from you, apparently. The end justifies the means, you repeated in your head, but the more you tried to convince yourself that you had no other choice, the more you wanted to throw up.

You looked out the window from the backseat of your cab. The sun was starting to come down with dinner time impending, the traffic in the rush hour had the car stationary for quite some time, but you certainly were not in a hurry to go back. Your fingers curled around the fabric of your bag, you could feel the sketchbook contained inside, filled with ideas that never really came to life. You thought about your father, so strong and brave, yet so fragile and with death looming over his shoulder. You thought about Dream, more beautiful and heavenly than a God, sorrowing over a fate that had been forced onto him by a man with no heart and prolonged over time.

A tear fell from your eyes, but you immediatly brushed it off. Just what were you even doing with your life?

You sit on one of the leather couches, holding a small glass of liquor and eying the real stuffed lion that had its gaze on you. The silent and still roar was positively unsettling, as any other animal in the manor embalmed with its natural pose, or simply standing with a blank expression. Always watching you whenever you passed by.

The ones who liked killing animals for sport, exhibition and money, deserved to burn in the fires of hell.

May Lucifer have no mercy on their filthy and corrupted souls.

As you took a sip from your glass, you heard the sound of footsteps approaching from the corridor and Paul’s familiar voice politely dismissing his guests taking their leave for the night. He stopped midway when he entered the lounge, eyes meeting yours and checking your sitting form as if you were some kind of unexpected visitor.

Breaking the awkward silence threatening to fall between the two of you, you greeted him with a smile. “Good evening Mr. McGuire.”

The man’s eyes softened. “Good evening Miss Y/LN. It is good to see you.”

Did he believe you had run away for good to never return? That you had abandoned your job and your responsibilities in the house without a word?

“You are quite an early riser. You were already gone when I woke up this morning.”

Evidently, he did.

Your main intent was in fact to avoid them for the entirety of the day, but they didn’t need to know that. “I had planned to visit my father and I find morning traffic sincerely aggravating. I thought that leaving at an early hour would be more beneficial.”

Paul nodded, and with discernible uncertainty, took a sit on the other couch in front of you. He was distressed, that much was obvious, assailed by guilt for what you had to witness and the unconventional role his husband had offered (or rather imposed) you.

When you remained silent, Mr. McGuire let out his hoarded tension exhaling deeply. “I was wondering if you were doing okay after last night? Alex didn’t listen, I told him you had nothing to do with our family affairs. I owe you an apology for what he put you through.”

You emptied your glass with a gulp, savoring the bitter taste of the little Whiskey you could handle. “I was the one getting myself involved, actually.”

“But you didn’t know, of course. How could you have known?”

Right. You had no way to know they were keeping a living being, who was practically a God, imprisoned into a pathetic fish bowl look-alike cage since 1916.

“Even so, you shouldn’t feel responsible for this, Mr. McGuire. I snooped into a matter that had nothing to do with me. If anything, the fault is mine.”

A part of you wished you had never discovered the truth about Dream, that you could spare yourself the excruciating remorse you were so desperately trying to extinguish from your heavy heart. But there also was another part that couldn’t stop thinking about his eyes and unworldly essense engraved into your spirit.

“Alex shouldn’t have done that anyway. You see, he’s been obsessing over Dream since he failed to convince him that we meant no harm, that we could free him, only if he wanted to.”

‘Only if he wanted to’?

Your fingers twitched against the glass, which you were absently twirling between your hands. “I doubt he wished to remain imprisoned for another century,” you said.

“Naturally.”

“So, what is it that Mr. Burgess is planning?”

He couldn’t really expect that, after 106 years, Dream of the Endless would suddenly accept his terms, or plead for mercy to be released.

“What he said last night is true; he wants nothing more than setting him free. But Alex is afraid, Miss Y/LN, he is not to blame for that.”

“I get it, I really do. But the question is, why me? How am I supposed to convince him, when not even you have succeeded in years?”

Did they want you to lie, to make false promises that you knew you wouldn’t be able to keep?

“One thing we noticed about you, Miss Y/LN, is your compassion. You are kind, you listen, you always know the right thing to say.”

Even if you could regret it a moment later, apparently.

“I am still against the idea of sending you down there, but you’re giving Alex hope. If you could… I don’t know, consider it… that would really mean a lot to him.”

You put the glass on the coffee table and brushed a strand of hair behind your ear. “You know this is awfully wrong, right? That you cannot keep him stuck in there forever?”

He looked down at his own hands. “Yes.”

“And you also know there is no guarantee he will trust me, that he will even talk to me. That everything might remain as it is and you will gain nothing again, except for wasted time and money.”

His mouth tightened into a thin line. “I do. But something changed last night, I'm sure. The way he was looking at you... I don't know, it was just different.”

In that moment, you understood what it was that you saw in Paul’s expression and you couldn’t immediatly interpret; exasperation. Just like you, he used to be a regular worker for the manor, doing his duty in the garden as love bloomed between him and the Magus’s son. He also didn’t know what marrying Alex Burgess would entail and yet he stayed, close to his lover’s side, accepting the man’s burdens as his own.

He was tired, worried, drained out. With Alex sick and spending most of the day in bed, Paul had to take care of everything on his spouse’s behalf. And on top of that, the man he loved was getting weaker every day.

“You are a good man, Mr. McGuire,” you told him with complete sincerity. “You love your husband and I’m sure seeing him in pain is tearing you apart. I understand what you’re going through, that’s why…” You hesitated, heart going rampage as you had to come to terms with your decision. “…That is why, I’m going to give this a shot.”

There was no turning back now.

Paul’s attention snapped back at you, mouth agape. He looked at your face in silence for a few seconds, your chest was burning in part for the liquor, in part because of how awful you felt about yourself.

“You are…? Really?”

You squeezed your eyes shut. “I'll be frank with you: my father’s conditions are worsening. There is hope, an experimental medication that may finally help him recover, for real this time. But, it has a grave downside: it costs a lot of money, more than I could afford at this time.”

You saw tenderness in his smile. “So you will do it for your father.”

You felt so bad, so dirty, so evil. “I don’t really have a choice.”

“Just know that you can get out of this anytime,” he clarified. “If you don’t want to do it anymore, we would never hold it against you, I promise. Alex will understand.”

Will he, though?

You didn’t feel any better despite Paul’s reassurance and gentle words . You knew you were condemning yourself, as the knot you felt in your stomach was bound to expand and deepen your anguish to the point of no return.

You put all your energy and anxiousness into work, cleaning every nook and cranny, cutting grass into the garden, polishing ornaments and just doing more than you were supposed to accomplish in one shift. Nobody complained, if anything, the staff was using your resourcefulness as an excuse to take breaks from their own tasks, lighting a cigarette in a quiet corner and taking a walk in the open air.

You didn’t care. You needed to bury yourself into anything that could keep your mind occupied, preventing it from wandering in places you didn’t want it to go. You wanted to forget, at least for a few hours, that you had to humiliate an Endless, using him for your own lucre without practicing what you had preached.

And then, in the blink of an eye, another day had passed and you found yourself in front of the basement door, which looked like it was part of the wall design, a hidden portal to another dimension. In a way it felt just like so, were it not for the fact that the underground reality was anything but a fairy tale.

Paul brought you a small jar of pills without any label on it, dropping it into your palm. “They’re stimulants,” he explained. “Our guards have all taken them for over a century, it is recommended to never fall asleep, nor appear tired in Dream’s presence. He may be able to break through and manipulate your mind.”

“I thought he was binded to the circle, “ you said. “That he no longer retained any of his powers.”

“Someone said you can’t really take away all his power, not even with all this. He’s constantly under watch for a reason.”

Someone who? Not even the binding spell and the glass sphere were enough to fully contain Dream’s energy? Good to know, you thought.

“Do you want me to come with you?” Paul was still feeling uneasy for what they had convinced you to do. “The guards will be there should you find yourself in need. They’re already informed.”

The guards you had seen around didn’t exactly inspire you safety, but you did not perceive any sort of danger that would require their intervention.

You smiled. “I’ll take it from here. Thank you Mr. McGuire.”

He was reluctant to leave you unaccompanied, but eventually, he decided to trust you enough to let you descend on your own. “Good luck Miss Y/LN, have a good night. And please, take one of those tablets as a safety measure.”

You stared at his back as he walked away, passing in front of the antique showcases containing urns, statues and ancient armors. You waited for him to disappear around the corner before shoving the jar of pills into your pocket without even touching the lid. You had enough trouble sleeping without the stimulants and with no Dream of the Endless nearby, worsening your predicament for something that wasn’t a concern to you was unnacessary.

You carefully opened the slim door, it creaked when it moved and you could already feel the coldness from below touching your skin. You decided to wear a long jacket that covered your arms and part of your legs, but you didn’t have the time to fully change into something more comfortable.

This time, you went down the stairs instead of taking the elevator, careful not to trip with your heels on the high steps. When you reached the bottom, passing through the open gates and entering the cellar, you once again forgot how breathing worked. Dream was right there, in the same position you left him the night you found him; head down, arms crossed over his bent knees, a body language that showed defeat and affliction, but also kingliness and determination.

The knot in your stomach tightened even more and a huge lump formed in your throat. His head raised when he sensed your presence, meeting your watery eyes without even blinking.

You wanted to get closer, but your feet didn’t budge. You felt as if someone had casted a spell on you for how dumbfounded you were by his perfection.

“Did you come speak to that Old Dracula?”

A female voice got your attention from the table on your left. A woman and a man in uniform were respectively holding a magazine and newspaper in front of their faces. She had her hair tied in a low bun, a pink lipstick and quite a sturdy body structure. The man had puffy cheeks, short wavy hair and an equally large build he could barely fit under the table. They were the same guards who eyed you strangely when Mr. Burgess brought you there for the first time.

You looked puzzled. “Dracula…?”

She shrugged, getting back to the magazine as she crossed her feet. They both looked tremendously bored, stolid and impatient to leave.

The Endless was unmoved and still settled on studying you. It was hard enough to face a caged entity when you wanted nothing more than taking him out of that bowl, you couldn’t deal with those two evesdropping on you from their location and gossiping about it the day after.

No, that wouldn’t do. If you wanted to speak to Dream the right way, you had to make them leave. Somehow.

You didn't have the authority to kick them out, but you could at least try to persuade them. “Can you leave us, please?”

As expected, the guards stared at you as if you were out of your mind. “Not a chance, Missy,” the man responded. “We are on watch duty, can’t leave our post.”

You cursed under your breath. “Look, I can’t do this with you here. Please, just give me a few minutes with him, unless you want me to tell Mr. Burgess that I couldn’t do what he asked because you interfered?”

There, you had done it.

They remained silent and exchanged a look, the woman threw the magazine on the table and her colleague folded the newspaper under his arm, pushing the chair out. The female guard didn’t seem particularly trustful as she stood in front of you and narrowed her eyes, but you held her scrutinizing gaze without faltering and waited for her to lose the staring contest.

Finally, she complied. ““Alright, just don’t do anything stupid.”

You noticed her hand brushing along the gun secured into the holster, a subtle admonishment to let you know they were not playing games and wouldn't even hesitate to use it.

“As stupid as calling him Dracula?”

You didn’t mean to say it out loud, it simply escaped your lips without realizing what you were doing. The woman looked offended, snorting and making a face while stepping backward. “We’ll be upstairs if you need us.”

You could barely contain the satisfaction when her face turned red. “Yes, Ma'am.”

You heard them stomping out with heavy footsteps and the squeak of the door at the upper floor. It didn’t shut, signaling they were just keeping it ajar, prick-eared and ready to return at any moment.

No matter, you got what you were hoping for and now it was time for business. So to speak. Easier said than done, really.

When you turned around, your mouth felt dry. Dream’s position had slightly changed and you could swear you saw a fleeble grin lifting the left corner of his mouth. But when you crossed the suspended bridge and set foot on the painted ground with the binding circle, his expression was back to normal, serious and mistrustful.

You thought you had the situation under control, but now that you were in the basement with him, completely alone, keeping your cool turned out to be the hardest trial you had ever encountered. You kept your eyes over his face, holding yourself back from dropping them to the rest of his body. Although he was strategically covering his modesty, the fully naked, gorgeous man in front of you, wasn’t exactly leaving you unaffected.

And at the same time, you hated it. They left him there without any clothes on like some sideshow, stripped of everything he had and put in full view for anyone to look at.

Your throat felt close, shortening your breath. “Hi,” you whispered. “I’m Y/N Y/LN. I would say it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Dream of the Endless, but the circumstances are not particularly favorable.”

He remained silent, of course, so you went on. “You know why I’m here.” It wasn’t a question, he undoubtfully was aware since Mr. Burgess made it all clear in his presence. “And I owe you an apology. I am yet another mortal coming here to make you talk, to negotiate with you, convince you they mean no harm.”

And yet, here he was, physically unscathed, but ravaged by a century of seclusion.

“How many times did they promise you they’d let you go?”

Dream looked down, his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. Words were unneeded, you already knew the answer from the alteration in his expression alone.

And it broke your heart. “I wish I could tell you that I am different, that they constrained me to do it. They’re paying me for you, Dream… and I didn’t turn them down.”

Your insides burned as you openly admitted it. The Endless didn’t react, his eyes were still lowered, set on his own feet as he sat there and listened.

You wanted him to understand, to know your motives, to trust the nature of your actions albeit regrettable. You wished for him to be set free, but your hands were painfully tight and the figurative rope was cutting through your pride. “My father is ill. The only thing that may truly offer him the chance of living, is financially out of my reach. He wouldn’t survive without it.”

Alex Burgess got you exactly where he wanted you. The question now was, where did you really want to stand?

Dream’s blue orbs returned on you, their coldness pierced through your form and had you completely immobilized. Your heart was racing, your fingertips felt numb and the voice in your head was shouting again, begging you to stop. You would essentially become an accomplice, exploiting him for your needs and throwing even more mud at his nature.

The end justifies the means, my ass. You couldn't do this, it would just convert you into an inhuman beast.

Getting back to your senses, you were embraced by a rush of bravery. Your fingers closed into fists, so strongly that the nerves and tendons in your wrists were painfully tensed.

You sighed, making up your mind. “Don’t talk. No matter what happens, just don't say a word.”

You noticed his sternness melting away, being replaced by astonishment and confusion for your unexptected recommendation. You offered him a honest, warm smile... the kindest you had ever gifted. “I’ll buy some time for you. I’ll tell them that you’re listening, that you’re trusting me. If I manage to keep their fear at bay, maybe I can convince them to let you go. Don’t you ever talk, Dream. Not even to me.”

Alex Burgess needed your help with the Endless just as much as you needed his money. You could turn the tables and reverse the cards for your own benefit, allowing Dream to retrieve his dignity back and finally break free from the magical constraint.

Or at least, you had to make it work at all costs.

“I am truly sorry. I'm but a mere human myself, and if I were you, I probably wouldn't trust me either. For what is worth I can tell you this; I’ll do all I can to help you.”

His features softened and his rigid posture seemed to subtly relax.

“You've been left in this prison for so long, I could offer you some company in the meantime. No requests, no demands, just... me. As I am. I want to be a friend for you, if you will allow it.”

Maybe you were asking too much, as he was a higher being and you couldn't even compare to his greatness. After all the false promises he received, trusting a mortal was clearly the last of his options now, least of all befriending one.

As you did the last time you discended into the cellar, you placed the palm of your hand against the glass, pouring all your feelings into that simple gesture without breaking your smile, nor the eye contact. Dream watched you in silence, but what transpired from his gaze now, was hope.

End notes: In this chapter, I wanted to highlight Reader's inner conflict. I also have a huge respect for Paul, as he totally seems like a sweetheart in the show and I can see him taking us under his wing. Alex, however, is quite a different story. In the Netflix adaptation, he is a lot better than his father and it is clear he truly felt bad for Morpheus and wanted to set him free. However, you can't just promise someone that they can trust you and you will let them go, only to kill their freaking raven a moment later. Like yo, your father gave you the rifle, he told you to get rid of the bird, but you were the one pulling the trigger, it was your choice. Come on man.

#sorrynotsorrystillsaltyforjessamy

It may take me two more chapters before reaching the part of the escape. Since I have to cover a couple months more of staying in the house, you'll see a lot of breaks between parts and time jumps, because I have to leave out a bunch of unimportant and irrelevant descriptions/dialogues (don't want to get boring, I need to get to the juicy part y'all).

And I'm sorry, you may need to get used to long chapters from me... 😅

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 (currently reading) Go to Chapter 3 ->

Read on AO3

[writtenbyerna]

The Sandman more like The Sadman. (Review)

Listen, I wanted to put up 10 things I like about The Sandman kasi may 10 eps siya, but I don’t have enough words and energy to create a cohesive list of how much I love this series.

 The Sandman is an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s comic with the same title, and it tells the story of Lord Morpheus a.k.a. Dream a.k.a. The Sandman (he has a lot of names so for my sake, we will call him Dream.) Dream was imprisoned by mortals when he went outside his realm, The Dreaming, to follow a nightmare that is creating havoc amongst humans. He spent a century living in the cellar of Roderick Burgess and his son. When he had the chance to escape, he has little power because his helm (helmet that looks like a black plague mask), his sand (black pouch full of sand that enables him to travel??), and his ruby (which makes dream come true) were taken away from him. He went off to look for it and when he did a new problem arose. A dream vortex is born. Dream cannot catch a break istg.

 I could list a lot of reasons why you should give The Sandman a chance but it all boils down to the fact that The Sandman is a wonderful piece of art that explores humanity, and every facet of it. It is about humanity at its core although the main character is an anthropomorphic personification of dreams. If you want to watch how powerful hope is, you should give The Sandman a try.

    My thoughts (that I wrote) while watching:

- Dream has the bone structure of Brendon Urie and the paleness of Gerard Way. In short, he looks like an emo kid.

- His spine can’t be that natural??? He looks like he has a spine of a bird.

- Jessamy, baby I’m so sorry.

- The Palace is seriously so pretty, is that a dragon???? HE HAS A PEGASUS???

-  Ahhhhhh, Dream as a cat!!!!

- Dream is a prick. An idiot prick.

- Lucienne, I love you so much, tell him he’s stupid.

- Justice for Gregory!!

- Cain and Abel! The First Victim and the First Murder.

- Ethel Cripps, ma’am your necklace eats people. Get help.

- Corinthian, you don’t have eyes???????????????????

- I want a gargoyle.

- JOHANNA CONSTANTINE! I love every version of Constantine because they don’t listen to anyone, it’s hilarious.

- Matthew, you are perfect.

- Johanna asking if Dream has any ex-girlfriends and Dream shutting up immediately.

- Constantine said gay rights babes

- “You want your sand back to save humanity, well, here she is!”

-  Ethel babe how old are you again????????? 116????

- Ep 4 is a stress-inducing episode. This is why we do not talk to strangers.

- The fact that Dream manifests differently depending on what people believe in is beautiful. Dream is Kai’ckul. Dream is whatever people believe.

- Morningstar is iconic. She looks like an angel. So perfect for her role.

- This is a pokemon battle. I cannot.

- AHHHHHHHH Dream’s last move!!

- This is not a Diner.

-  “Not lies, John. Dreams” “Their dreams inspire them.” “Their dreams kept them alive.”

- Dream is so pretty and kind. I love her.

- Death came and massacred my boy, Dream.

- Bread.

- Death and Dream exude so much sibling energy. Dream is a pouty pouty boy.

- Kind death.

-  Hob Gadling. I love you.

- Love the idea that there is someone living out there for hundred of years because Death and Dream decided to prove something.

-  Are they in a relationship? They are.

- William Shakespeare met every kind of celestial being and that’s why his stories are still remembered until this day as a headcanon is something I can live with.

- ROB IS JEALOUS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE I CAN NOT HAHAHAHA

- Dream said do not even attempt at slavery, babe.

- Constantine is so prettyyy

- The Devil and the Wandering Jew meet once every century.

- “I am no Devil” “I am not Jewish” they are so stupid

- When Character A fights people while Character B sits prettily on the side, is a dynamic I will always love and adore.

- They broke up but they didn’t.

- Dream isn’t coming Rob :<

- “I’ve always heard it is impolite to keep one’s friends waiting.” The character development ohmygod.

-------- end -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------too mad because Dream cannot catch a break

[bcntbouquet]

who’re your wanted opposites?

// These are just some fcs I would enjoy writing against— This is by no means a comprehensive list, nor does it mean that a fc who is not on this list won't interest me just as much/more—

Females

Jenna Ortega

Ruby Cruz

Elizabeth Olsen

Sadie Sink

Melissa Joan Hart

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Alyson Hannigan

Eva Amurri

Sofia Carson

Katie Douglas

Melis Sezen

Anya Taylor-Joy

Lana Del Rey

Males

Theo James

Rory Culkin

Kieran Culkin

Finn Wolfhard

Joseph Quinn

Rider Strong

Shawn Mendes

Matthew Mcconaughey

Michael Provost

Drew Starkey

Justice Smith

John Simm

David Tennant

Bryan Dechart

Evan Roderick

Leigh Whannell

[cononeillbreastingboobily]

Okay but imagine Adam and Ruby in Ruby's living room, dancing, jamming and absolutely YELLING the lyrics to Olivia Rodrigo's good 4 u sometime after the season 3 finale

[lularose]

To be honest, I'm SO disappointed, but I'm more mad at myself for thinking they'd actually do this right, because after what happened with Elite I should have known better than to trust Netflix with anything ever in my life.

[wespeakquitesimilarly]

season 2

otis: i don’t think i’m in love with you.

ruby: sure you don’t.

season 3

ruby: i love you

otis: oh that’s nice I STILL DONT LOVE YOU

[laufire]

Please give us your unsolicited sortinghatchats opinions 🥺

LOL. Okay. I'm going to take this as an oportunity to post my TEMPORARY Top 5s of each sorting. Emphasis on temporary, seriously. I keep meeting new / sorting old faves that take precedence xDD

-Double Lion AKA "The Revolutionary". 🦁🦁

Current candidates, in alphabetical order, are Bonnie Bennett (The Vampire Diaries), Elphaba (Wicked), James Flint (Black Sails), Lizzie Saltzman (Legacies), Rosalee (Underground).

-Lion Snake AKA "The Robin Hood". 🦁🐍

Cato Powell (Underground), potentially Chuck Shurley xD (SPN), Elizabeth Swann (POTC), Lyra Silvertongue (HDM), Toph Beifong (ATLA).

-Lion Bird AKA "The Lawman/Vigilante". 🦁🐦

Bruce Wayne (DCU), Hercule Poirot (Agatha Christie), Jesse Flores (TSCC), Mulan (Disney), Ruby (Supernatural).

-Lion Badger AKA "The Linchpin". 🦁🦡

Adelle Dewitt (Dollhouse), Castiel (SPN), Fire (Seven Kingdoms series), Madi (Black Sails), Marcel Gerard (The Originals).

-Double Snake AKA "The Trickster". 🐍🐍

Bela Talbot (SPN), Mr. Scott (Black Sails), Nikita Mears (CW's Nikita), Root (POI), Selina Kyle (DCU).

-Snake Lion AKA "The Lancelot". 🐍🦁

Buffy Summers (Buffyverse), Caroline Forbes (Plecverse), Cersei Lannister (GOT), Dutch (Killjoys), Meg Masters (SPN).

-Snake Bird AKA "The Mastermind/Villain". 🐍🐦

Judy Robinson (Lost in Space), Max (Black Sails), Naomi Nagata (The Expanse), Noah (Underground), The Machine (POI).

-Snake Badger AKA "The Lover". 🐍🦡

Angel (Buffyverse), Jack Kline (SPN), John Silver (Black Sails), Will Parry (HDM), Zoe Smith (Lost in Space. Ours is a fraught love-hate relationship xDD).

-Double Bird AKA "The (Mad) Scientist". 🐦🐦

Jack Rackham (Black Sails), Rosita Bustillos (Wynonna Earp), Rowena MacLeod (SPN), Tony Stark (Marvel 616), Will Robinson (Lost in Space).

-Bird Lion AKA "The Grail Knight". 🐦🦁

Harley Quinn (DCU), Kendra Young (BTVS), Raven Reyes (The 100), Sam Vimes (Discworld), Tony Stark (MCU).

-Bird Snake AKA "The Artist". 🐦🐍

Camille Belcourt (Shadowhunters), Darla (Buffyverse), Eleanor Shellstrop (TGP), Esmerelda "Granny" Weatherwax (Discworld), Priya Tsetsang (Dollhouse).

-Bird Badger AKA "The Survivor". 🐦🦡

Billie (SPN), Gregory House (House M.D.), M'gann M'orzz (Young Justice), Vincent (The Originals), William Hill (TIU).

-Double Badger AKA "The Peacemaker". 🦡🦡

Billy Bones (Black Sails), Chrisjen Avasarala (The Expanse), Greer Norwood (Reign), Maroon Queen (Black Sails), Scott McCall (Teen Wolf).

-Badger Lion AKA "The Protagonist". 🦡🦁

Claire Novak (SPN), Daisy Johnson (AOS), Faith Lehane (Buffyverse), Idelle (Black Sails), Jason Todd (DCU), Louis Litt (Suits), Paige Matthews (Charmed), Sameen Shaw (POI). Yes, these are more than five, but I need to order and choose xD

-Badger Snake AKA "The Advisor". 🦡🐍

Aang (ATLA), Dean Winchester (SPN; like with Dr. Smith, there's a complicated relationship here xD), Emori (The 100), Veronica Mars (Veronica Mars).

-Badger Bird AKA "The King/Mob Boss". 🦡🐦

Bree Van de Kamp (Desperate Housewives), Don West (Lost in Space), Katrina Bennet (Suits), Michael (TGP), Nolan Booth (Red Notice).

[andrewmoocow]

Steven Universe Alternate Future chapter 31: Love Like You (originally posted on October 25, 2021)

AN: At long last, the second to last stop on this Final Fantasy VII Remake/Zack Snyder's Justice League-inspired ride before it's all over. I feel like I've said this way too many times, but it's been an honor entertaining you all and addressing some of your complaints about Steven Universe along the way. But now, we are just about ready to stop, for now at least, and see where the epic anime-inspired final battle against Black Rutile takes us.

Synopsis: Everyone comes together to save Steven and the Earth.

Cast:

Zach Callison as Steven, Ultimate Steven

Estelle as Garnet

Michaela Dietz as Amethyst

Deedee Magno-Hall as Pearl, Volleyball, Yellow Pearl, Blue Pearl

Tom Scharpling as Greg

Grace Rolek as Connie

Shelby Rabara as Peridot, Squaridot

Jennifer Paz as Lapis, Laz, Zuli

Uzo Aduba as Bismuth

Kimberly Brooks as Jasper, Cherry Quartz

Dee Bradley Baker as Lion

Lauren Ash as White Topaz

Noël Wells as Black Rutile

Della Saba as Aquamarine

Charlyne Yi as Eyeball, Ruby

Erica Luttrell as Sapphire, Padparadscha Sapphire

Larissa Gallagher as Bluebird Azurite

Lin-Manuel Miranda as President Eduardo Suarez

GZA as Major General Wade Grant

Wendie Malick as Vice President Theresa Maxwell

Tim Curry as General Lloyd Waller

Patti LuPone as Yellow Diamond

Lisa Hannigan as Blue Diamond

Christine Ebersole as White Diamond

Susan Egan as Pink Diamond, Rose Quartz

Sarah Stiles as Spinel

Aparna Nancherla as Lemon Jade, Nephrite

Matthew Moy as Lars

Enuka Okuma as Rhodonite

Ashly Burch as Rutile Twins

Kathleen Fisher as Fluorite

Christine Baranski as Hessonite

Olivia Olson as Citrine

Ron Perlman as Negative Steven

Jinkx Monsoon as Emerald

Kari Wahlgren as Pyrope

Melissa Fahn as Demantoid

Kate Micucci as Sadie

Indya Moore as Shep

Ian Jones-Quartey as Snowflake Obsidian, Bixbite

Michelle Maryk as Larimar

Auli'I Cravalho as Orange Spodumene

Tara Platt as Heaven Cubic Zirconia, Earth Cubic Zirconia

Tara Strong as Grossular Diopside

Kimiko Glenn as Blue Chalcedony

Phillipa Soo as Chrysocolla

Anika Noni Rose as Watermelon Tourmaline

Aimee Carrero as Moonstone

Amy Sedaris as Teal Zircon

Featuring Susanne Blakeslee as Pietersite

And Jessica Nigri as Orange Moonstone

--

Little Homeworld was in total disarray. What was once a peaceful, lively town for Gems on Earth to live in peace in was now crushed to near pieces by a rampaging monster that dashed across the settlement, and its inhabitants were left to help each other out and pick up the pieces.

"Hello-ooo, Cubic Zirconias!" Teal Zircon yelled as Cherry Quartz and Snowflake Obsidian picked up rubble to help her look for Gems scattered from the monster attack. "Just holler if you haven't been poofed!"

"We're stuck over here!" the Heaven Cubic Zirconia yelled for help.

"Please, someone get us out of here!" the Earth Zirconia added.

"Don't worry little guys, we're coming!" Snowflake exclaimed, racing over to where she last heard the tiny Gems and lifting up some wood that the two were buried under before scooping them up in her hands. "How's it snowing?"

"Terrible." The Heaven Cubic Zirconia groaned. "Sometimes I wonder why even bother staying on Earth if we're always in danger."

"That's what I want to know too!" Emerald replied as she and Pyrope helped carry Laz and Zuli away from some wreckage, followed by a Flower Buddy straggling behind. "Just what was that monster? I don't think Black Rutile ever mentioned one during my time as her advisor."

"This must be one of those Gem monsters the Gems fought back in the day!" Zuli deduced. "We gotta help them!"

"But where did it come from?" Demantoid asked before Bixbite's claw burst from the remains of Bismuth's forge, giving the green Gem a scare before the crab-like Gem cut away the wreckage she was buried in.

"I don't know," Bixbite replied. "You think Black Rutile might have something to do with it?"

"Possibly." Emerald answered. "She already did betray most of her rebels, so chances are she sent out the beast to get rid of us for good."

"Regardless, we have to do something." Squaridot said. "I'll try and send a message to Lars and Hessonite. Hopefully, they can give us some help." As the Peridot began to search for a communication module, the other residents of Little Homeworld began to gather up and make a plan.

"Okay, so we're all in agreement that we're headed to Beach City to give the Gems a lift, right?" Larimar suggested.

"Yeah, pretty much." Orange Spodumene declared. "But I don't think any of us either fought in years or fought at all."

"We'll do it." Laz declared with Zuli, Emerald, Demantoid, and Pyrope behind her.

"Black Rutile left us behind," Emerald started.

"So I think it's time we get a little payback." Demantoid finished for her taller comrade.

"Blue and I will stay behind in case any more trouble comes." Yellow Pearl bravely stated.

"Just go and save the Earth." Blue Pearl added.

"Thanks, Pearls." Orange Spodumene nodded to the former servant Gems. "Come on Gems, for our new home!"

"For our new home!" the other Gems cheered and raced off for the inevitable battle.

--

Meanwhile outside Beach City, its citizens were having their fair share of tension. They've gotten used to their fair share of Gem-related activity, but the giant monster and the government coming to arrest their alien neighbors got them wondering if the Gems can still be trusted.

"So let me get this straight," Shep said to Sadie. "the Crystal Gems are a bunch of alien criminals that started a war with their home planet's oppressive regime and have been living on Earth for thousands of years since?"

"It's a lot more complicated than that." Sadie proclaimed. "Steven's mom, Rose Quartz, was once a member of that oppressive regime, but she got tired of being looked down on by her fellow oppressors and really grew to love Earth. You still following me Shep?"

"Yeah, I'm with you." Shep nodded before they noticed a crowd of Gems in the distance. "And those Gems walking up over there, what do they have to do with this?"

"Wait, what?" Sadie stuttered as she finally noticed the Little Homeworlders behind them, as did the rest of the townies. "What do you guys want?"

"We came here to help the Crystal Gems stop that monster!" Grossular Diopside exclaimed, hopping up and down.

"Where are they now?" Watermelon Tourmaline asked.

"Oh, they've just been accused of wanting to destroy Earth and were held hostage by the government for a bit because of that Black Rutile who really hates them." Shep rattled off.

"That's all we need!" Chrysocolla exclaimed. "Let's go!" Suddenly, a dark shadow cast itself over Beach City, followed by a massive pair of pink legs descending to the Earth.

"Hey, just what Squaridot ordered!" Blue Chalcedony exclaimed while Lars, the Off-Colors, Hessonite, and Citrine disembarked from the legs.

"Never thought I'd be back here again." Lars mused, taking in the sights of the town he hadn't seen in so long before he looked at Sadie. "Hey Sadie, long time no see."

"Lars!" Sadie exclaimed as she raced up and hugged her old coworker. "I never thought you'd be back so soon either!"

"Hey, Lars." Shep greeted the space hero.

"Hey, Shep." Lars replied. "Now, Squaridot said something about a monster problem?"

"Yes, it stampeded right through Little Homeworld!" Squaridot exclaimed. "I think the Crystal Gems might need all hands on deck for this one!"

--

However, the Crystal Gems were going to need the help more than ever now, as a revenge-crazed Black Rutile had them, the Diamonds and President Suarez cornered while Bluebird Azurite, now un-fused into Aquamarine and Eyeball, stood on either side of her.

"I wanted to make Homeworld great again, I wanted to save it from monsters like you who think forcing peace and love down everyone's throats would make everything better!" Black Rutile ranted. "But you all took it away from me! YOU TOOK EVERYTHING! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

"Wait!" Eduardo cried and stepped up to the mad Rutile. "Before you try and commit genocide against the human race, I just want to ask. Why are you doing this? These Gems are some of the most wonderful people I've ever met, and yet you believe they're the bad guys?"

"You don't know them like I do, human emperor." Black Rutile growled lightly while summoning her Bowie knife behind her back, with every intention to kill the president where he stood. "That monster was once a dumb little boy who brainwashes everyone he meets into bending the knee towards him, and always flies off the handle whenever things don't go his way. We have conquered this entire galaxy in our glory days, and yet Steven's no better than they were thanks to telling one stupid joke that brought the mighty White Diamond to her knees and forced her to become a braindead doter!"

White just gave a nervous shrug.

"When I become the rightful ruler of Homeworld, I will force all the Gems he bullied into compliance to return to the old ways and enslave the galaxy that should be rightfully ours to control!" Black Rutile continued before showing off her knife. "And guess what? Your planet will be the first to fall!"

Black Rutile prepared to strike Eduardo down, but before the deed could be done, she barely heard a "Watch out Eddie!" and instead stabbed Lloyd Waller in the chest, who had raced towards the two and served as a shield for the president just in time.

"Lloyd, no!" Eduardo yelled.

"No need to worry Mr. President, I think she stabbed me in either one of my lungs or my kidneys." Lloyd shakily assured. "Either way, I need help badly."

"Get this man back to Washington!" Eduardo bravely ordered a few soldiers while running away from Black Rutile. The soldiers carried Lloyd away in his wheelchair to the nearest helicopter and soon flew away.

"You won't win this Black Rutile!" Jasper declared.

"Oh sure, just like how it's always been your fault we keep on losing!" Aquamarine declared. "Once we're finished with all of you and there's no more hope of Steven returning to the same obnoxious, sanctimonious brat we despise so much, we plan on fusing him and all your remains with the Cluster so we can use it as our tool to destroy our enemies once and for all!"

Just then, the rampaging Steven felt something grab at his ankle. From cracks in the seafloor, the Cluster's hand popped out and tried to keep Steven from running. But unfortunately, Steven proved to be stronger.

"And we have you to thank for all those years of abuse you weighed on him." Eyeball grinned sadistically.

"They're right." Pearl realized in shock. "Deep inside that monster, Steven is in there, and he's so angry at everything. At us."

"It was pretty obvious something was going on." Amethyst stated angrily. "Ugh, why didn't he just tell us sooner?!"

"If we don't get through to him, Steven will be like this forever!" Sapphire began crying hysterically and grabbed onto Ruby for comfort, but her red wife began sobbing as well.

"Yeah, I guess we all are pretty awful." Lapis admitted sadly.

"Oh look, the first one to admit how toxic you all are is the resident abuser of the group." Black Rutile taunted. "Ooh, look at me, I wasn't looking where I was going six-thousand years ago and got stuck in a mirror like an idiot, that gives me an excuse to be awful to everyone!"

"Hey, you leave her alone!" Peridot yelled in Lapis's defense. "Can you not be stuck in the past for once?!"

"Come on, Steven's just as stuck there like me, and yet I'm the bad guy here?" Black Rutile proclaimed. "Fine, now I'm the bad guy."

As the core Crystal Gems, the Diamonds, and Spinel began sobbing over how Steven's condition was their fault, Greg just kept on looking scared & shocked at Steven before Major General Grant stepped in front of him.

"Sir, it's best you leave the area at once." Wade informed Greg. "Black Rutile seems to be a massive threat to humankind, and we don't want any more casualties."

"NO!" Greg yelled at the major general. "Every time Gem stuff happens, I'm always told to stay out of it! But that's my son stuck in that monster because of her, but he also has every right to be angry because I didn't protect him!"

"You didn't protect him from us, though!" Blue Diamond cried. "He's like this because of us!"

"We're the reason Steven does nothing but suffer!" Yellow Diamond sniffled.

"Oh sure, you only now feel sorry for the lives you ruined because of some brat you barely know." Black Rutile rolled her eyes without a hint of sympathy for anyone. "You've all gone soft Diamonds, not just because of Steven, but Pink too."

"This is all my fault!" Spinel cried as she loudly blew her nose with her pigtails.

"Don't be silly Spinel, everyone is like this because of me!" White Diamond replied.

"No, it's because I let Black Rutile made me wipe his friends' memories!" Spinel corrected sadly. "I was just another toy for her to throw away while Steven was left dying on a barren world!"

"But that was because she took advantage of how Pink hurt you, and because of how we hurt Pink!" White continued. "Like how I hurt Yellow, Blue, Steven, and everyone else in this universe! It's all my fault!"

"So, this is how much of an effect Steven's had on everyone?" White Topaz gasped in realization.

"Yes, apparently so." Black Rutile answered her former bodyguard. "But enough about him, let's kill you!"

"Yes, it's all your fault!" Connie exclaimed, stopping the crying as she sat atop Lion as the sun began to shine again.

"Oh goody, Little Miss Silent Treatment once again declares herself superior to everyone." Aquamarine sighed.

"Yes, you all hurt him, but this is no longer about you guys!" Connie made a grand speech to everyone, while Black Rutile, Aquamarine, and Eyeball mockingly glared at her. "Maybe Steven would care about how sad you guys all are because he always puts everyone's feelings first!"

"Kind of like how he put himself above us all!" Eyeball jeered, but Connie paid her no attention.

"But he can't do that right now, because this time we have to return the favor!" Connie continued, angering Eyeball. "We all had Steven when we needed him the most, but the only person Steven never had was himself! He's always been there for us, so what can we do to be there for him now?"

"Wow, she really could fill your shoes one day." Theresa whispered to Eduardo, who responded with a sheepish grin and a giggle.

"I got an idea!" Black Rutile suggested by holding Pearl at swordpoint. "How about we get rid of all of Steven's abusers first?!"

"Like you?" Lars boldly retorted as he, Hessonite's crew, the Off-Colors, Sadie & Shep, and the Little Homeworlders revealed themselves to the remaining three rebels, saving Pearl from certain death. "Sorry to keep you all waiting, Squaridot had to get us up to speed."

"Lars!" Connie cried. "I don't know when you came back, but we need everyone's help!"

"She's right." Garnet said upon Ruby and Sapphire fusing again, materializing her shades with a wave of her hand before everyone turned to watch Steven wrestling with the Cluster. "And I know how."

"What do you mean Garnet?" Lemon Jade asked the fusion.

"We don't have any time to waste!" Garnet shouted. "Yellow, make me as big as a Diamond, now!"

"Understood." Yellow obliged.

"Blue, lift everyone up." Garnet then pointed to Blue.

"Of course." Blue replied.

"You got it." Greg declared.

"We'll stay behind to monitor your progress and call out advantage points." Wade declared.

"And Black Rutile is mine." Jasper declared. "It's all because of her I've been shattered, and it's time I returned the favor."

"But don't you need a little help?" White Topaz asked Jasper while thumbing over to the Lapides, Emerald, and the Garnets behind her as the Gems and humans left to deal with Steven.

"No, this is my battle alone." Jasper stated. "She'll probably try to get rid of all of you."

"So, shoving away others so you can fight your own battles?" Black Rutile smirked while turning her knife into a sword with a big blade that normal men would find too hard to carry. "In that case, allow me to send out my friends to fight mine."

"At last we meet Jasper." Eyeball declared as she stepped forward and pulled out her flaming chisel. "But I feared it would be like this."

"Do I know you?" Jasper raised an eyebrow at the Ruby who idolized her, who immediately broke down in tears at the thought of her hero not recognizing her.

"Weak." Aquamarine snarked and launched bubbles from her wings at Jasper, but they were quickly popped and the blue Gem was grabbed & tossed aside.

"I don't need either of you!" Jasper yelled at Black Rutile's remaining minions. "My real fight's with her."

"Well, took you long enough." Black Rutile said sadistically and charged at Jasper, and her sword clashed with the horns of the ultimate Quartz's crash helmet. Black Rutile then swung her sword at the beach house, causing Jasper to crash through the giant hole in the front hall and into the kitchen, destroying much of the area and creating a massive dent in the support beam above her.

Seeing an opportunity, Jasper grabbed the damaged support beam and decided to use it as a weapon against the Rutile, whacking it against Black Rutile's head as soon as she charged into the house. A few whacks later, however, Black Rutile sliced the beam in two and punched Jasper in the face. However, Jasper retaliated by grabbing the Rutile by the neck and tossing her through the roof into the conservatory.

As soon as Jasper jumped after her, Black Rutile responded by tackling Jasper and pushing her down into Steven's bedroom before pinning her against the wall.

"Playing dirty, aren't we?" Jasper purred with a grin. "Never realized someone so skinny could be so strong."

"I'm far stronger than you realize." Black Rutile boasted. "You may be the strongest Jasper there is after popping out of the ground, but I worked hard in all my thousands of years of living. Constant training, studying, and conquering to exceed White Diamond's expectations, and I have not let them go to waste at all!"

"Well, can all that training prepare you for this?!" Jasper roared, preparing a mighty slap that sent Black Rutile flying out of Steven's room, out of the nearly destroyed house, and onto the sand. Jasper smirked while looking out at her foe from the massive hole she had created and curled up into a ball to charge at her.

However, Black Rutile thought quickly and revealed one of her gadgets from her gem, a holographic shield device that defended her from Jasper's attack and sent her flying into the temple statue's face, leaving a big Jasper-shaped hole in the statue as Jasper fell and crashed into the conservatory.

"Had enough yet?" Black Rutile asked.

"Fire!" Private Eric commanded his troops to start pelting Black Rutile with energy blasts from their anti-Gem weapons, but they proved ineffective as the Rutile turned her shield to guard against the gunfire.

"Your human weapons are completely useless against me." Black Rutile coldly said. "Besides, you'll all die along with the rest of this pitiful planet anyhow."

"Quit hiding and fight me!" Jasper bellowed as she burst out of the conservatory and charged again, only this time Bluebird Azurite was there to block her.

"My Rutile!" Bluebird yelled while unleashing a massive bubble that exploded as soon as it hit Jasper, knocking her out and sending her flying to the sand. "You are finished, Jasper!"

"You know Jasper, I've come to realize that we aren't as different as either of us believed." Black Rutile mused while standing above Jasper with her sword pointing at the bigger Gem's gem. "We both refuse to move on, only you want to stay in the past while I want to create a better future for everyone."

"No, you're wrong." Jasper defied harshly. "You're no hero that wants what's best for everyone, you're completely insane!"

"I'm insane? I'M INSANE?!" Black Rutile yelled, becoming angry enough to prepare to stab Jasper in the gem and once again kill her. "YOU ABANDONED ME, YOU ABANDONED YOUR PEOPLE!"

"Yes, do it!" Bluebird cheered her master on.

"LOOK INTO MY EYES!" Black Rutile demanded with an utmost burning hatred for her soon-to-be deceased foe. However, Jasper refused to back down even when shattering was again a possibility, and braced herself for the release of death. At least until she had some unexpected help.

"NO!" White Topaz cried out, trapping Black Rutile in a bear hug from behind, tossing her aside and punching Bluebird away before helping Jasper up.

"What are you doing?" Jasper asked the Topaz as she was lifted off the ground. "I thought I told you to stay out of this!" But when Jasper tried to let go of White Topaz's comforting grasp, she instead fell on the ground. "Why are you helping me regardless?" Jasper asked while propping herself up on her fist.

"Because we're friends now. You don't have to fight alone anymore." White Topaz smiled warmly and offered a helping hand, which Jasper finally accepted after much hesitation. "Now, let's end this together!"

"Oh look, how touching." Black Rutile jeered at the pair. "Looks like you found someone to replace me with, Topaz."

"Someone who'll be an actual friend too." White Topaz retorted. "And maybe something more, if you want Jasp."

"Wait, what?" Jasper did a double-take. "What did you just call me?"

"What, you don't like the nickname?" White Topaz giggled.

"No, I just-" Jasper stuttered awkwardly. "I mean, we're in for the fight of our lives, this isn't the time for being friends and giving each other cute nicknames Paz!"

"Aw, you even got me one!" White Topaz cooed and pinched Jasper's cheek, much to the latter's embarrassment.

"Um, I'm standing right here!" Black Rutile complained. "You're supposed to be fighting me!"

"For once, I agree with you." Jasper stated. "Topaz, we must fuse if we need to stand a chance against her!"

"Whoa whoa whoa, fusion already?" Paz exclaimed, looking back and forth between Black Rutile and Jasper. "Then again, it's the two of us against technically three Gems, so I don't see why not." With that, she extended her hand to Jasper. "May I have this dance?"

"Whatever." Jasper blushed, turning her gaze away from the Topaz while taking her hand and beginning a graceful waltz, much to their enemies' shock.

"They're actually doing it, aren't they?" Bluebird muttered as the two bigger Gems danced like they were a beauty and a beast in a ballroom.

"Looks like we must even the odds." Black Rutile deduced and began to make plans as Jasper and White Topaz's gems began glowing and they merged into a tall & muscular Gem wearing a wrestling singlet with grey and white diamond patterns on the chest, burgundy gloves with spiked fins coming out the sides & matching boots, wild yellow hair that seemed like a mix of the components' hairstyles, an orange mask with lighter orange stripes, and a visor over her eyes.

"So, what do we call ourselves?" the new fusion muttered, gazing at her massive, gloved hands. "Hm, how about Orange Moonstone? That seems pretty catchy."

"Well, two can play at that game!" Black Rutile proudly announced before saddling Bluebird on her back like giving a piggyback ride and the two merged into a large mass of light. The result was an equally tall four-armed & legged Gem with a slenderer frame, black skin with splotches of orange and brown, a brown bobcut, a short-sleeved black jacket with a high collar over a red and blue bodysuit, and liquid gold wings emerging from her back. "Bear witness to the majesty of Pietersite!"

"The only majesty I see is the majesty of kicking your butt once and for all!" Orange Moonstone gave a toothy smirk and motioned for Pietersite to bring it on. The other fusion gave no reply other than pulling out two swords from Black Rutile and Eyeball's gems, and she charged while shrieking loudly, forcing Orange Moonstone to do the same as well.

--

Meanwhile deep within Steven's mind, an equally great battle was taking place between Steven, Rose Quartz & Pink Diamond against Negative Steven in the hot pink mindscape that was once a sitcom setting. Although Steven and his mothers had their own natural abilities to use in battle, Negative Steven had an equally powerful weapon. Words.

"You keep Ronaldo around even though he's nothing but a brainless tool!" Negative Steven roared, flying around and firing laser beams from his mouth at the trio. "You condoned Sadie forcing herself onto Lars on that island!"

"Hang on Steven, I got you!" Pink cried as she generated bubbles from thin air to juggle and throw them at Negative Steven.

"It's because of you that your best friend suffered for thousands of years under White Diamond!" Negative Steven let out another laser roar aimed at Pink. "And you let her get replaced too!"

"It was an accident!" Pink yelled when Rose came in to defend her with her shield.

"Accidents happen, and we don't let them control our lives!" Rose declared.

"This coming from the Gem who allowed countless soldiers to die!" Negative Steven continued critiquing.

"Sheesh, he's doing nothing but yelling at us for our faults." Steven groaned in disgust. "Then again, he is my negative qualities taken form."

"And he can't seem to be stopped." Rose deduced. "Every attack we throw at him, he hits back harder with an insult at our expense."

"If only there was someone who could give us some inspiring words to back us up!" Steven exclaimed.

"I know what you want to do Steven, saying it out loud won't help at all." Negative Steven growled and prepared to fire another laser from his mouth. "Now all three of you, hold still."

"Yes, you all hurt him, but this is no longer about you guys!" Connie's voice echoed throughout the mindscape for everyone inside it to hear. "Maybe Steven would care about how sad you guys all are because he always puts everyone's feelings first!"

"That's Connie!" Steven yelled elatedly.

"A friend of yours?" Pink asked coyly.

"The best!" Steven replied.

"Oh great, her." Negative Steven groaned. "Does she believe everything will go her way by just talking?"

"Isn't that what you've been doing?" Rose said. "Thinking we'll just bow down because you do nothing but complain about us?"

"I do not complain!" Negative Steven roared angrily. "You are horribly toxic, there is no changing that! But once I take control, I shall reveal you for what you believe yourself to be!"

"But he can't do that right now, because this time we have to return the favor!" Connie continued her speech from the outside. "We all had Steven when we needed him the most, but the only person Steven never had was himself! He's always been there for us, so what can we do to be there for him now?"

"The hope, the kind gesture, it's so sickening!" Negative Steven began trembling and fell to the ground. "Everyone is supposed to be against you! How is this even possible?!"

"Because even in the darkest of times, there's always be a light that will never go out!" Steven declared triumphantly with Rose and Pink behind him as their gems began to glow in sync.

"The darkness inside may be strong," Rose added. "but with at least one true friend by your side in the bleakest of times."

"You can pull through anything!" Pink concluded before the trio merged into light, which turned Steven into a taller version of himself with long, bright pink hair, a shining white jacket, his old pink shirt, and a glimmering pink aura.

"So, this is what you abruptly decided the end to be, light versus darkness?" Negative Steven scowled. "I don't see why not, but I hope you realize that everything that happens from this point will seal your fate. If you win, you shall be free to earn your happily ever after. Otherwise, you shall perish, and I shall take control at last."

"Let's go." Ultimate Steven, the fusion of Steven and both sides of his mother, replied before condensing his aura into an energy blast that clashed with Negative Steven's roar.

--

Going back to the waking world, the epic clash between Orange Moonstone and Pietersite was in full swing. The two fusions fought violently above Beach City, bouncing between the sky and the town and causing mass destruction in their wake. Thankfully, the townsfolk were safely watching the brawl from a very safe distance while Lawrence Abrams frantically commentated on the battle in a report that could be seen from all over.

With a single double ax-hand, Pietersite was slammed into Dewey Park, the resulting impact turning the area into a massive crater with debris flying everywhere.

"Blast you!" Pietersite yelled as soon as Orange Moonstone touched down, and dashed forwards with her swords drawn, but the other fusion fought back by summoning boxing gloves to punch her in the face.

"RAAAAAAAAGH!" Orange Moonstone shrieked while punching Pietersite in the face multiple times at rapid speeds, so fast that her arms seemingly vanished into thin air. "What's the matter, not going to fight back?!"

"Don't get cocky!" Pietersite grinned before she suddenly zoomed away and reappeared behind her more muscular opponent, followed by grabbing her by the hair and swinging her around in a circle before letting go, making Orange Moonstone fly towards the water tower. Once she crashed right into it, the structure began to tip over before falling on top of the Crab Shack, destroying the restaurant.

Orange Moonstone's hand burst from the wreckage and pulled herself out before making a mad dash back to Beach City, stopping at the rooftop of the Big Donut.

"I'm not one to back down so easily!" Orange Moonstone grinned, ripping the donut shop's namesake sign from its stand and heaving it at Pietersite's direction. Unfortunately, Pietersite sliced it in half and grabbed Orange Moonstone by her face, picking up the bigger fusion and pushing her towards the Funland Ferris wheel, slamming her back into the attraction and causing it to tip over into the ocean.

"Now fall!" the thinner fusion loudly commanded, letting go of Orange Moonstone's face and dropping her into the water after the Ferris wheel.

As the carnage continued in town, Laz, Zuli, Emerald, Demantoid, and Pyrope watched the battle nervously, unsure of whether to obey Jasper or step in and help.

--

Back in Steven's mind, Ultimate Steven's fight with Negative Steven has become far more brutal than Steven would've wanted it to be. Ultimate Steven kept on punching Negative Steven in the face, pulling at his wings, smashing him through houses, and causing him much pain.

Likewise, Negative Steven kept taking big bites out of Ultimate Steven, pulling his arms, firing more lasers from his mouth, and throwing more bad memories at his opponent's way.

"This could've been different Steven." Negative Steven declared. "I could've been the devil on your shoulder you needed so much, one to tell you what's wrong, but you just couldn't listen because you're such a pacifist baby!"

"Stop calling me that!" Ultimate Steven cried and pinned his darker self to the ground. "Stop acting like a child!"

"One of the things I embody is your childishness, what's your excuse?" Negative Steven inquired, struggling to break free from Ultimate Steven's grasp. "Besides, the way you're fighting me right now, it's perfectly unlike you! You refuse to fight, yet here you are beating me senseless!"

"Wait, really?" Ultimate Steven exclaimed before looking down at his free hand, contemplating how violent this battle had made him, but then he made a realization. "No, this is all your doing. You and Black Rutile kept driving me mad, and I always let you guys control me. It's time I be the bigger man."

"Meaning?" Negative Steven raised an eyebrow.

"Here, let me show you something you and I should both remember." Ultimate Steven replied and conjured up a new memory to show his evil half.

--

"About time we finally got this opened." Amethyst exclaimed while helping Steven move a treasure chest from out of Lion's mane into the living room. "Feels good to tie up this loose end at last."

"But what could be inside?" Steven wondered, setting the chest on the floor.

"That's for you to find out Steven." Pearl answered before producing a skeleton key from her gem. "And who would've guessed this key was hiding under the floorboards this entire time?"

"Well, this is it." Garnet declared, handing Steven the key. "Open it."

Steven nodded awkwardly and inserted the key into the lock, turning it and pushing the top part open. But when the Crystal Gems expected something important to Rose that she left behind for Steven to discover, they instead found nothing.

"That's it?!" Amethyst complained. "There's nothing here?! All that theorizing over the past few days meant complete jack!"

"Have to say, quite a subversion of expectations." Garnet smirked, coolly adjusting her shades.

"Then why would Rose leave an empty chest in Lion's mane for so many years?" Pearl wondered aloud.

"Maybe it's supposed to be symbolic or something." Steven theorized. "Like, the real treasure is me and how much I've grown up until now! Like, I'm the secret ingredient in the secret ingredient soup!"

"Not sure what soup has to do with this, but I agree." Pearl stated and gently stroked Steven's face. "You've grown so much since we first met you. And I'm sure Rose would've been so proud too."

"Thanks, Pearl." Steven replied, giving Pearl a hug before she hugged back, followed by Garnet and Amethyst joining in.

--

In the present day, the Steven monster began charging at the battle between Orange Moonstone and Pietersite, and he would've caused even more destruction to Beach City than the fusions were had Lapis not stepped in.

"Sorry Steven, I need you to stay here!" Lapis cried while summoning a wave to splash the pink beast with to keep him distracted while everyone else ran towards him.

"STEVEN!" Connie screamed, riding atop Lion while Peridot flew on Bismuth's back, Greg, Pearl, Amethyst, Lars, Sadie, Shep, Volleyball, the Off-Colors, Hessonite, Squaridot, Citrine & the former corrupted Gems rode on one of Blue Diamond's clouds, Spinel saddled on Yellow's shoulder as the Diamonds ran behind the group, Eduardo, Wade & Theresa were on a helicopter, and Garnet led the way.

"STEVEN!" the Diamonds added.

"STEVEN!" the Crystal Gems roared before Garnet leaped into the air, revealing that she was now the size of a Diamond.

"STEVEN!" Garnet boomed, taking the monster by surprise as she dropped down and gave him the tightest hug she could offer. "Steven, when I fell apart, you were there to put me back together." She soothingly reminded Steven, recalling when he first met Ruby and Sapphire on the hand ship. "I'm here Steven. We're all here."

"It's working, he can hear us?!" a teary-eyed Lapis cried and began joining the hug. "STEVEN!"

"I can't believe it, it's working!" Eduardo yelled eagerly, watching everyone else join the biggest group hug he had ever seen.

"Those Gems really are something else." Wade grinned.

"That's probably the second biggest hug I've ever seen." Theresa added. "Hey, you're all doing great you guys!"

"I'm here Schtuball, and I'm sorry for making you mad the other day!" Greg apologized while clinging to Steven. "Whatever you need, I'll do it! You hear me?!"

"Steven!" Peridot added. "You never gave up on me when I felt guilty for getting you kidnapped, among other reasons that I don't understand, and now let me do the same for you!"

"I know you feel bad, dude!" Amethyst began crying. "Believe me, I get it! Sometimes you'll just never be able to like yourself, but it's still possible man!"

"You saved us, and now we'll do the same!" Teal Zircon exclaimed, struggling to keep her balance as the corrupted Gems held onto Steven's stomach.

"Hey Steven, you can hear me, right?" Lars cried out. "I just wanna say thank you for helping me become my best self!"

"Ditto!" Sadie smiled.

"I already helped you during that dome incident, and I'm more than happy to do it again!" Shep grinned.

"I just wanna say Steven," Volleyball said. "getting the help I needed to get over Pink meant everything to me. But now, let me do the same for you."

"Us too!" the Off-Colors cried.

"We are going to save Steven!" Padparadscha Sapphire declared merrily.

"And me!" Citrine exclaimed.

"Steven, I know it's awful to keep secrets for so long to the point that it'll start hurting others!" Pearl began tearing up. "You didn't want me to hide anything from you, so now you don't have to hide anything from us any longer!"

Soon, even the Cluster began to reach out and take Steven's hand.

--

Pietersite shrieked like an animal as she tossed a car at Orange Moonstone, only for the vehicle to be punched in half by the other fusion's sheer strength alone.

"I won't let you destroy everything you touch!" Orange Moonstone roared as her fists locked with Pietersite's.

"Fat chance, because everything I destroy is nothing more than food for my hunger!" Pietersite yelled back. "My hunger for unlimited power!"

Just then, two silhouettes were cast over the warring fusions, and they turned to discover the Lapis twins controlling massive water figures much like the one Lapis nearly used against them on Aozul 2, while Emerald and the Garnets stood below them with weapons at the ready.

"Filthy traitors!" Pietersite snarled. "How could you turn against me at a time like this?!"

"Because you left us to get poofed back during the invasion!" Emerald said while summoning a spiked club from her gem. "And as much as I hate to admit it, I'd rather stay on Earth than go back to working for a depraved maniac who'd throw out her minions without hesitation!"

"You may believe we have been brainwashed as you feared, but this planet does have its positives." Pyrope snidely declared with her face behind a fan.

"Like for one, protecting it from the likes of you." Demantoid added, jitte in hand. "Now Lapises!"

"Right!" Laz and Zuli exclaimed before throwing their tridents down at Pietersite, and they would've come close to poofing her had Pietersite not cut the tridents to pieces before throwing her swords at the terraformers, stabbing and poofing them.

"Oh no!" Demantoid yelped as the Lapides' gems fell into her hands. "I'll admit, I should've planned this better." Unfortunately, Demantoid didn't have time to say anything else before she got poofed as well.

"Demantoid!" Emerald and Pyrope yelled when they were suddenly decapitated, causing them to be reduced to just their gems as well.

"Once I am finished, I shall rip your gems apart!" Pietersite boomed, picking up Emerald's gem, and was about to crush it in her hands, but she forgot one thing. Turning back with gritted teeth in frothing rage, Pietersite only had a few seconds to react by pulling out her swords once again before Orange Moonstone picked her up and sent her flying into the air before jumping after her.

"Why do you fight for a planet that has brought you nothing but pain?" Pietersite asked, gaining some momentum by flapping her wings while firing bubbles from her gold wings to knock Orange Moonstone down, but to no avail.

"Because this is Pink Diamond's planet!" Orange Moonstone replied, stealing Pietersite's swords from her hands and stabbing her in the head. "And you have no place on it!" With a mighty, bestial roar, Orange Moonstone slowly cut Pietersite down the middle with her own swords, only stopping at Black Rutile's gem before grabbing her by where she cut and ripping her in two, causing her three components to un-fuse and fall to the sand.

"We did it." Orange Moonstone gasped and slowly fell to the ground, un-fusing back into Jasper and White Topaz as soon as she hit the ground.

"We did it?" White Topaz asked, turning her head to the panting Jasper.

"Yeah, we did it." Jasper grinned triumphantly, happy that Black Rutile was finally defeated once and for all. And all that was left was to save Steven.

--

"We're doing great here folks!" Theresa declared, watching the big group hug take place. "But what could be missing?"

"I think I know." Wade answered. "Connie, now!"

On that note, Lion jumped through one of his portals and Connie leaped upon Steven's nose to give him some kind words of her own. "Steven, you must've been so afraid to show us this side of yourself." She sighed. "But we're not going anywhere, we're all going to take care of you the same way you took care of all of us. I don't have your powers, but…"

Connie then gave Steven a kiss.

--

A pink tear suddenly appeared near Ultimate and Negative Steven during their fight, shocking one but empowering the other.

"What?" Negative Steven gasped in surprise before Ultimate Steven touched his darker counterpart's chest, launching a pink blast that destroyed his monster form and returned him to normal.

"There, now will you leave us alone?" Ultimate Steven declared before un-fusing into Steven, Pink, and Rose.

"It seems I might've been wrong." Negative Steven realized solemnly. "Nobody is truly beyond redemption. Seeing the ones I have demonized so much come to your aid in your darkest hour made me realize that yes, you are still loved no matter what." With a defeated smile, Negative Steven began fading away back into his dominant self's subconscious. "Farewell, Steven Universe. Seems I am no longer needed anymore."

With Negative Steven's disappearance, so too did the dream world begin fading away, Pink and Rose slowly joining the rest of the mindscape's inhabitants.

"Well Steven, it's time to wake up." Rose said to her son. "Anything you want to say?

"Yeah." Steven declared. "I'm going to tell them everything, especially about what happened here. Which reminds me, am I actually seeing you, or are you just more creations by my subconscious?"

The two Gems shrugged at each other before turning back to Steven.

"That's for you to decide," Pink answered, giving Steven a coy wink. "But I know one thing that's real." She then cleared her throat and began to sing. "If I could begin to be half of what you think of me, I could do about anything. I could even learn to love like you."

"That song!" Steven gasped.

"Yes, I specifically wanted Greg to sing you that as a baby once I passed on." Rose revealed before she started singing as well. "When I see the way you act, wondering when I'm coming back. I could do about anything; I could even learn how to love like you. Love like you."

"I always thought I might be bad, now I'm sure that it's true," Steven joined his mothers on the lullaby. "Because I thought you were so good, and I'm nothing like you."

"But look at you go, we just adore you. We wish that we knew," the two manifestations of Steven's mother harmonized while hugging their son. "What made you think we're so special."

"If I could begin to do something that goes right by you," Rose stated before she began to fade in full. "I would do about anything, I could even learn how to love."

"When I see the way you look, shaken by how long it took," Pink added. "I could do about anything, I could even learn how to love like you."

"Love like you." The two sides of Pink Diamond finished their part of the lullaby as they completely disappeared, leaving Steven alone.

"Love me like you." Steven said, bursting into tears as the world around him began to fade into white.

--

"Huh?" Steven muttered as he slowly opened his eyes, finding himself rusting on the Cluster's hand, wrapped in a blanket and surrounded by all his friends and family, absolutely relieved that the crisis is over and he's finally safe. "W-what happened? Did I hurt any of you?" he stuttered. "I'm so sorry."

However, Steven's worries were quickly quelled as Lion walked up and began licking his face. "Lion!" Steven laughed while tightly hugging the big cat. "Lion!"

Steven's joyous laughter at seeing everyone again didn't last long, as the laughing quickly turned into tears as every last bit of his emotions started pouring out with each sob. He had a lot to talk about and was more than happy to do so. But first, Steven needed a good, long cry.

--

God, what a chapter! But the story isn't over yet. There's still so much I could've done like giving Emerald and the Garnets more screentime to justify them deciding to fight Black Rutile, but I'm sticking to my goal of 32 chapters. This has been such an experience for me to share with all of you, but now it's finally almost time to say goodbye.

[we-eternal-rp]

can we have some more mwfcs? also when will more wcs be posted?

—  ☄  anon !

absolutely, nothing i love more than flexing on all the FCs i adore and would love to see here. i’ll also shout out to the MEMBERS to reply with suggestions of their own. on the topic of WCs, another one will be posted in the coming hours.  now, to the beloved FC suggestions ...

lucien laviscount

sasha luss

magot robbie

samuel larsen

lee jung-jae

daniel ezra

john boyega

chase sui wonders

mimi keene

quintessa swindel (gnc!)

luka sabaat

brigette lundy-paine (gnc!)

amandla stenberg (gnc!)

ruby rose (gnc!)

nychaa nuttanicha

kofi siriboe

nijiro murakami

rahul kohli

hunter schafer (trans!)

benedetta gargari

nico tortorella (gnc!)

rami malek

maxence danet-fauvel

tati gabrielle

golshifteh farahani

asia kate dillon (gnc!)

yaya dacosta

aslıhan malbora

indya moore (trans, gnc!)

sophie thatcher

juno temple

justice smith

bradley cooper

jordan alexander

carlos miranda

philemon chambers

esme creed miles

sydney park

jorge lópez

matthew daddario

[sbmln]

Shirbert scenes I would’ve loved to see if we’d gotten a 4th season

- Anne telling Ruby, Tillie, Josie and Jane about Gilbert and all of them just gaping at her at first, and fangirling about it afterwards + Anne double-checking if Ruby is okay with it.

- Anne and Gilbert sending very long love letters to each other

- Some parts of the letters narrated in the voice-over as Anne and Gilbert live their lives and use each other’s words for inspiration do to the right thing, be the best version of themselves, and overcome struggles

- Gilbert visiting Anne ‘in the parlour, only on saturdays between 2 and 4’ but them obviously breaking the house rules bc they’ve missed each other so much and 2 hours is not enough :)

- Bash being the biggest Shirbert stan and joking about how they are really sending love letters this time + Gilbert just rolling his eyes and smiling like a softie in love

- Diana grinning everytime Gilbert is mentioned because her ship has sailed and she’s the captain

- Anne and Gilbert returning to Avonlea to celebrate Christmas together with Matthew, Marilla, Bash and Delphine + Anne and Gilbert being domestic parents with Delphine

- Gilbert being jealous of Roy Gardner but not for too long bc they have been through enough sh*t goodbye

- Gilbert and Anne telling/writing each other EVERYTHING and supporting each other in pursuing their dreams

- Dropping each other off at the train station when the other has to go back, with really long hugs and deep kisses

- Shirbert picknick with a nice aesthetic because... why not

- Competitive jokes and teasing (they’re still nerds afterall)

- A bunch of season 1–3 parallels because I’m a hoe for that stuff

- Not shirbert related but justice for ka’kwet

Feel free to add!

[terrainofheartfelt]

awae for the ships thing!☀️❄🌺🌻🍁 ily❤

thank you jo love!!

otp: oh it's anne x gilbert, my childhood otp, ever since I read the novels many moons ago...

favourite canon pairing: GERTIE X JO! this show really did give us a sapphic domestic period drama pairing PURELY through reminiscence via dialogue and I lapped up every bit of it! and Bash x Mary of course.

worst pairing ever: ohhh probs Anne and that one kid who said women who think too much are barren - oh but I AM literally watching the Justice for Josie Pye episode rn...Billy Andrews can kick rocks! oh and Prissy and the abusive schoolteacher, girlfriend made the right choice there

guilty pleasure pairing: I mean I don't feel guilty about it but Anne x Diana. Harold. They're bosom friends.

a pairing you want to see more: Ruby x Moody. they're cute. I like that little banjo playing boy. and. I wish we could see where Bash x Miss Stacy was going...I like that potential...two wounded hearts finding each other...Yeah.

that pairing everyone likes but you’re like “lol no”: I'm not sure there are any? but I think if any ships involving Matthew or Marilla came up I'd be like...why?...

favorite non-romantic pair: well, there's Cole & Anne OF COURSE, and Anne & Matthew's friendship is very dear to me, as is Gilbert & Bash

put a fandom in my ask and i’ll give you my ship opinions

[zingiberis]

Reasons that Netflix needs to bring back AWAE for another season:

-Justice for Ka’kwet

-Diana and Jerry sorting themselves out

-Shirbert pen pals (romantic letter voiceovers)

-Justice for Ka’kwet

-Tillie having a new suitor in the parlor every Friday afternoon

-Rachel Lynde and Marilla shutting down old white men on the daily, mentally high-fiving each other every time they do it

-Some resolution for Winifred

-COLE GETTING A BOYFRIEND

-Bash and Muriel falling in love - without forgetting Mary, as the show has been really good about that so far - and raising Delphine together

-Matthew sweeping the next county fair for every single award

-Justice for Ka’kwet

-Elijah showing that he’s been reformed

-Mr. Phillips dying off-screen in a horrible manure cart accident, reported in the papers

-Gilbert bringing curatives he learned from the Mi’kmaq people to the U of T, not taking credit but using his privilege to try to elevate their healing skills to broader society

-Ruby kissing a suitor for the first time and practically busting a lung with anxiety/excitement

-Cole and Aunt Jo roasting everyone over their poor fashion sense

-Josie finding a suitor who loves her and respects her boundaries

-Anne discovering she’s bisexual (big shocker), though she and Gilbert remain in a happy, committed relationship because they’re too fucking cute

-More scenes with the girls wearing flower crowns and being chaotic, beautiful forces of nature, more scenes with the girls just being friends and being there for one another

-JUSTICE FOR KA’KWET

[ask-the-six-human-souls]

Basic: 2 and 6 (With all the souls)| Appearance: 5 (With all the souls)

Basic- "2: What does their name mean? Why were they named that?"

((As a side note, I'll just say that the orginal idea I had for their names, was to try and name them after the first letter in their trait (Pate, Patience, etc). However, I couldn't do that for all of them!

Anyway!!

Pate: Apparently the name Pate means 'head' or 'skull'. I'm not sure how this exactly fits her personality in any way, but its kinda cool! And I named her this cause...well...theres an animal crossing animal named Pate, and it was the only girl name starting with a P that I could think of at the time!

Matthew: (Other than his name being a book/disciple in the Bible) his name means 'gift'. Tbh, I really like the name Matthew and while the meaning of his name doesn't fit his personality that well, it still sounds pretty fitting!

Amy: Her name means 'beloved'! Which is pretty cute, I think! Also fun fact...apparently at one point I thought about naming her 'Indy' instead of Amy. But, again, I like the name Amy a lot! :)

Lucas: His name means 'bright' or 'shining'! Which actually kind of fits, since he is bright, in a knowledge sense! I named him Lucas because, again, I like the name, and it just sounded fitting for him!

Kaden: I think I covered this in a different ask...but! Kaden's name means 'companion'! However, I've also seen it mean 'fighter' which is ironic because hes the complete opposite of a fighter, lol!

Justin: Justin means 'just', 'fair' or 'righteous'. Wow, thats not surprising! But, its a very fitting name for him! Of course, I named him this cause it sounded the most like Justice!

___

Basic- "6: What's their zodiac/element/birthstone? Do they think this holds any significance?"

Pate: Zodiac: Sagittarius, Element: Fire, Birthstone: Turquoise. I think she'd find it fun and interesting, but probably not very important.

Matthew: Zodiac: Leo, Element: Fire (Haha, fitting, also his element is the same as Pate's!!), Birthstone: Peridot/Sardonyx. These things probably don't interest him much at all :/

Amy: Zodiac: Taurus, Element: Earth, Birthstone: Diamond (Aww, I like that!). She probably finds the zodiac and horoscope a little silly, as its not always true or accurate, but I'd say she'd still think this is all pretty neat!

Lucas: Zodiac: Capricorn, Element: Earth, Birthstone: Garnet. He probably believes it can be accurate or significant in some ways, but not all the way!

Kaden: Zodiac: Taurus, Element: Air, Birthstone: Emeralds (fitting, cause theyre green, usually!). He probably doesn't see it as significant, but he does think its interesting, and fun!

Justin: Zodiac: Cancer, Element: Water, Birthstone: Ruby. He probably doesn't see it as important, but it is interesting.

___

Appearance- "5: Do they have any physical ailments or disabilities?"

None of them are really blind, or deaf, or anything like that, the only person that has anything close to something of a disability or ailment is Kaden, since he had asthma while he was alive.

[cononeillbreastingboobily]

Do you have any predictions about Adam's story in season 4?

I wouldn't call them predictions per se, but wishes more like?

And so:

• Mr. Groff finally reaching out to Adam. I'm fully expecting a very cathartic scene in which both of them honestly say how they feel. Given that in s3 both of them have gained some psychological tools and have gone through massive inner transformations, I think they would definitely be able to meet somewhere in the middle - which won't be able to happen unless Michael actually apologizes to Adam for all of the years filled with neglect and abuse. But, if they do air out what hurts both of them the most, I'm honestly very hopeful: both of them are characters with hearts full of warmth, and if both of them make an effort, I think they will be able to carry on, healing their relationship with each other, treating each other more like equals.

• on that note, I'm really hoping for a scene in which Adam comes out to his parents, whether to both of them at once or separately. I just really need him to say the words "I'm bisexual" because let me tell you, we were robbed of that in s3.

• I want to see Adam being surrounded by friends: we know he's besties with Ola, and I would LOVE to see more scenes with the two of them. Also, the unlikely friendship with Ruby? Give me those two jilted faves watching KUWTK with their dogs napping between them. Perhaps the three of them together, even? That would be an interesting dynamic to see, I think. Especially given that the three of them are now exes of two twats that are best friends. Oh, imagine the gossip!

• this goes without saying, but I really want to see Adam get closer with Rahim. They were definitely setting something up in the latter half of s3, and this is a dynamic that I never anticipated I would absolutely adore. They would make a lot sense to me romantically - neither of them clicked with Eric the way they do with each other already, when it's still platonic. I think they would be one of the best relationships on the show if they did become canon and stayed together. Seeing how much they both value honesty and communication in their relationships, and how despite their best efforts the last relationship they were both in ended in disaster, I think they would be a very healthy couple, who would strike the balance of putting their own wellbeing first, while making sure that their partner feels adored completely and listened to at all times.

• on the topic of Rahim, I think that a big part of Adam's healing post-s3 would be connected to his expression of queerness. In his relationship with Eric, Adam was made to feel inadequate for many things, and that included the fact that Adam didn't express his own queerness the same way Eric does. Must I bring up the thing with going to the nightclub?

And so, think about it. Eric and Rahim are both gay, but the way they present is nothing alike. Eric opts for vibrant colours, makeup, nail polish, and Rahim doesn't. And that doesn't make him any less gay! I think that a big part of Adam's journey going forward would be learning that there is no "correct" way to be queer, to present yourself as such. So perhaps he would strike closer friendships with the queer characters he knows from school - Lily, Cal, perhaps even Anwar? All of them present themselves differently, have different queer identities, and are 100% valid in them. I think Adam would benefit A LOT from learning how many ways there are to be queer, and finding his own way to present himself, one that feels most authentic and comfortable to him.

• I'm hoping Adam would continue working hard when it comes to his schoolwork. It's clear to many people by now that the boy has a learning disability, so perhaps getting professionally diagnosed would be in the cards for him? I think it would be very important - it could result in him feeling not good enough again, but hopefully the wonderful people around him would make sure that he knows that he isn't a failure, that he's loved no matter what, that everyone has his back no matter what, and that a diagnosis like that isn't the end of the world.

• given his success during the dog training contest, I think he wouldn't drop the topic. I think he would try to enter more contests like that, having more and more support from the audience as more of his friends and loved ones would join in on cheering for him and Madam.

• and given that it's his last year of school, I do wonder what he's going to do once he graduates. I think that a wonderful career for him would be connected to dog training: perhaps he could teach classes on doggie training to dog owners who would come over with their own pups? I think he would be fantastic at something like that.

I think that's it? I think I've covered all of the bases I wanted to. But whew, that was A LOT of words. Didn't even realise I had so many in me, at least on this topic. Although, Adam is my favouritest, most specialest boy, I love him sooo dearly, so I do want to see him be happy and loved.

[patrondebris]

It's been an age since I posted anything on this platform, but maybe the pandemic is the time to bring blogs back along with things like baking bread at home. 

I made this graphic for a recent genre discussion hosted by the Massachusetts Library Association's Readers' Advisory section. If you're new to the genre of Science Fiction but want to get started on some recent titles, this might provide a starting point. As I said in my talk, many of the books below could be placed in a variety of the subgenres I've arbitrarily listed, this is not a comprehensive list, it's purely subjective, etc. Link to the graphic here.

Titles and authors:

Space Opera

Behind the Throne, K.B. Wagers

Unconquerable Sun, Kate Elliott

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, Becky Chambers

Chilling Effect, Valerie Valdes

A Memory Called Empire, Arkady Martine

Military

Vorkosigan series, Lois McMaster Bujold

Ninefox Gambit, Yoon Ha Lee

Fortune's Pawn, Rachel Bach

Dystopia/Post-Apocalyptic

Moon of the Crusted Snow, Waubgeshig Rice

The Record Keeper, Agnes Gomillion

American War, Omar El Akkad

Afro/Africanfuturism

Broken Earth series, N.K. Jemisin

Who Fears Death, Nnedi Okorafor

An Unkindness of Ghosts, Rivers Solomon

Artificial Intelligence

All Systems Red, Martha Wells

Robopocalypse, Daniel H. Wilson

Ancillary Justice, Ann Leckie

Aliens

The Three-Body Problem, Cixin Liu

Rosewater, Tade Thompson

Lilith's Brood, Octavia Butler

Annihilation, Jeff Vandermeer

Time Travel/Alt-History

Here and Now and Then, Mike Chen

To Say Nothing of the Dog, Connie Willis

This is How You Lose the Time War, Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Romance

The Agent Gambit, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

Ice Planet Barbarians,  Ruby Dixon

Rulebreaker, Cathy Pegau

Polaris Rising, Jessie Mihalik

Climate Fiction

New York 2140, Kim Stanley Robinson

Gold Fame Citrus, Claire Vaye Watkins

Humorous

Redshirts, John Scalzi

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams

Space Western

Serenity: Those Left Behind, Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews, Will Conrad

Dark Tower series, Stephen King

Superhero

The Mighty Thor v. 5, Jason Aaron, Walt Simonson, Russell Dauterman, James Harren

Heroine Complex, Sarah Kuhn

Graphic/Manga

Saga series, Brian K. Vaughan, Fiona Staples

Pluto series, Naoki Urasawa

Steampunk/Cyberpunk

Parasol Protectorate series, Gail Carriger

The Black God's Drums, P. Djèlí Clark

Young Adult Science Fiction with Adult Appeal

Illuminae series, Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Not Your Sidekick, C.B. Lee

The Marrow Thieves, Cherie Dimaline

Warcross, Marie Lu

Ship Breaker, Paolo Bacigalupi

Proxy, Alex London