#like i get paying to have your art seen but a batman oc?

[edgybutnotveryedgy]

Oh gosh i was just shown a batman oc via blaze. Like im here for batman content always, and everyone should be allowed to create their own oc no matter what.

But i shouldn't have to look at it 😊🙃

[aliypop]

Invisible  (OC x The FLASH)

Word count : 1,468

Character Count : 7,942

Warning : Mentions of IV Drip. 

A/N: I really wanted to write something new for my Character Yonah and it seemed Justice League was the push for it.

"Just because you don't see something doesn't mean it isn't there. " Yonah mumbled, pouring a cup of tea water, first then the tea as not to scorch the leaves as Alfred had taught her. "Some of the best things in the world are invisible." she hummed: trying to get her father's attention was hard, especially after everything she had done. "You're not going..." He mumbled, looking up at her as he continued to try to fix the Kryptonian plane. "And why not..." she asked, taking the wrench that he had been looking for from under the table. In her arm was an IV drip that Alfred had made himself: after all, she had only been out of Belle Reve's prison for about a week and sober from any joker toxins and alcohol for six days. "Because I can't trust you..." he grumbled, 

"Oh sure, go by yourself to stalk a literal Speedster for your, Hey look Alfred; I can make friends, team." she sat next to him " I at least know how to talk speedster," she whispered, to say that Yonah was sassy was a weak outcry. Instead, she was stubborn as a mule, but so was Bruce.  "What makes you so sure you know what he is?" he mused, a wire in his mouth as a gust of wind blew past his face, an annoyed nod following. 

"So say you'll let me go with you?"

"You are just as persuasive as -" 

"Don't say don't you dare." She looked at Bruce.

"As your mother." 

"Can we just go visit this old hero guy..." she asked, trying to change the subject. Yonah had never liked bringing up her mother, unlike Bruce: who secretly clung to every memory he had left of her. For instance, her wedding ring, super suit, and a picture he kept in his bedroom. 

 Although the ride to Central City was long and mostly full of silence from Bruce, she still felt at peace with the midwest. "We're here." Bruce tapped her: he hadn't seen his daughter sleep so soundly since she was five, and it was disheartening. "Why train tracks..." she glared over at him, sleep still in her eyes.

 Bruce sighed as he opened her door, "Must you be difficult ..." 

"Must we sneak into a creepy old train shack like thieves?" Yonah laughed. Monitors decorated the place as both Yonah and Bruce ventured around. As the door creaked, Bruce sat down, trying his best to seem as natural as possible, which was usually hard for him to do. 

"Barry Allen, Bruce Wayne."  he nodded,

"You said that like it explains why there's a total stranger in place sitting in the dark in my second favorite chair. "

"Tell me about this?" Bruce asked, holding up a picture of the man before him, watching as he took it from him, "A man who looks exactly like me but is definitely not me..." he snarked back at the billionaire as Yonah only laughed. She could tell that he'd be a perfect fit for the so-called Justice League. Besides: he was brilliant and indeed attractive, "This suit is a work of art... If I had one made out of silica-based quartz, and fabric I'd be running everywhere..." 

"I'm sorry, who are you?" Barry turned back to face the young woman. 

"Oh, uhm, Yonah Shanel Wayne. " she smiled, 

"Look, whoever you're looking for, it's not m-" he paused, watching as Bruce threw a Batarang at him. Time had seemed to freeze as he stared at the black metal blade. "I'd suggest you catch it: one, of those to the face, is not fun..." Yonah whispered as she tapped him on the shoulder. 

"You're the batman..." He asked

"So you're fast."

"We're putting together a team of heroes, if you will, and I think you'd be perfect." she blushed. 

"I'm in." Barry smiled. 

Yonah looked back at Bruce as she only smirked, " Three points for me, zero points for you." she grinned as the trio walked back towards Bruce's car. 

"It's like this layer of dimensional reality ... I call it.."

" The speed force." Both Yonah and Barry said in unison as the two locked eyes, 

"You know about the speed force." 

"There's a lot of things I know about Mr. Allen." she gave him a small smile. "Can I get to know more about you," he asked, "Only if you're free to train me over a cup of tea back on the plane..." she suggested getting into the backseat. 

"Plane...wait, what are your superpowers again?" Barry asked, looking directly at Bruce.

"I'm rich."

"So, basically, my powers include fire, super speed, and celestial magic." Yonah smiled, sitting across from Barry as the two sipped coffee from their cups. "So, like, do you slay people and sacrifice them or what." his eyes still focused on her every word. "Incremindo Aviium..." she mumbled under her breath as butterfly appeared, "It's pretty simple." she giggled,

 "See, that was cool." he gasped catching, the butterfly. "So criminal justice major, what's that like..." taking notice of the books he left by his foot. Barry only sighed as if that told Yonah everything she needed to know.

 "It's uh exciting, I mean, it's what I want to do, I just..."

"Feel like you're failing at it... Like no matter how hard you try, you feel trapped." 

"How'd you know?" 

"I went to college to be a lawyer, graduated early, and I'm currently huge into detective work," she whispered, "But my dad wanted me to stick to law..." As the plane landed, Barry could only feel his heart skip a beat: after all, he was in love with a woman he shared a 2-hour flight with; 

Yonah had seemed to be this put-together woman as if her life was all figured out when she was alone in her own home living in the state of mind that she was invisible. 

"I don't need the IV ..." she looked back at Barry, who had a look of pity on his face. She knew that this was her fault, mixing into the wrong crowds and becoming a person she didn't want to be. However, it was the price she had to pay. " Your father finds it best if you used it." Alfred sighed, "You could relapse or worse..." 

"I could die, I get it... But maybe instead of just hiding me away like a monster, give me a chance," she asked as Alfred shook his placing the needle into her skin, 

"You should rest." 

It was late in Gotham as she sat in her bed listening to the commotion from the Batcave. She could hear the voices of Diana and her father. Nothing too spectacular, but she still wanted to be apart, "Hey uh... I wanted to know if maybe you'd want to talk or even learn Gorilla sign language ?" Barry joked from the other side of the door.

"Go away..." she sighed, her voice a bit raspy.

"See, I could go... but I can't let the first girl who talked to me slip away and..." he noticed that the door was wide open. "Look, I know we just met, but I'm worried about you..." he took her hand in his. "You're just saying that..." she responded, trying to walk away, "Everyone's worried about me, but they just push me aside." she took his hand away from his. 

"I'm not everyone ." he smirked, "I'm Barry Allen, the fastest man alive." 

"I bet you can't catch me then..." she teased, "You me one lap around Gotham first one back here has to kiss the winner." 

"Challenge accepted." 

Alfred hummed to himself as he dusted off the furniture. Seeing a streak of pink and yellow lightning, he knew all too well what was going on. Yonah had quite possibly found her equal, and he for once was happy about it: after all, almost having Roman Sionis as a dinner guest would have never worked in Alfred's book. 

"I won fair and square, Mr. Allen." Yonah laughed, watching as his cheeks puffed out. 

 "There's no way you're faster than me!"

"So you were just stretching back there then?" she asked, getting closer towards him. Barry could feel his palms sweat as his nerves took over him. "I... well... I.."

"Lo-" the very breath in her body halted as her hands wrapped around Barry's neck. The kiss wasn't something out of those corny romance movies that Bruce watched on his downtime, but to her, it brought life into her lungs and fire that burned brighter than the flames she could produce.

 "Would you ... do you want to be my girlfriend ..." he asked breathlessly.

"Take me on a date, and we'll see how it goes, Flash..."

"Flash... I like that."

[justcallmefox89]

Dishes and Dancing

It’s time for Jax’s first family dinner with all the brothers and Arianthi.  Arianthi and Mammon team up for some after dinner mischief and Jax winds up in the middle.

Written from the perspective of my non-binary OC Jax.

When I wake up my room has gone dark, I’m face down on my bed, and someone is pounding on my door..

“Coming!”  I shout, wiping drool off my face with the sleeve of my hoodie, then running my hands through my hair in an attempt to smooth it down.

“Hey Arianthi,” I say as I swing open the door.  “Sorry it took -”  

The words die on my tongue when I realize that it’s not Arianthi waiting for me.

“Hi Jax!”  Beel says, flashing an adorable grin. 

“H-h-hey Beel,” I stammer.  

Get it together.  You do not get flustered.  You do the flustering.  Oh god, does that even make sense?  No.  Maybe?  Possibly.  I’m a mess.

“Arianthi had to help Mammon with something so she asked me to come get you for dinner.”

I bet she did.  

“I appreciate you coming to get me.” I give him a small smile, then notice the blue haired demon standing behind him.  

Oh, he’s cute too.  

“Hey there.” I greet him with a wave.

The blue haired demon gives me a slight nod, clutching a cow print pillow to his chest.

Beel puts an arm around his shoulders, pulling him him for a quick hug.  “This is my brother Belphie.  Belphie, this is Jax.  They’re the new human exchange student this year.”

“Arianthi told me about you.”  I smile, trying to ease the awkwardness.   

“Did she tell you about the time I killed her?”  Deadpan.  

I laugh, then notice the tension in Beel’s face and immediately stop.  “I’m sorry, say that again?”

“We’re going to be later for dinner!”  Beel puts an arm around my shoulder and starts steering me towards the dining room.  

Holy biceps Batman.  And he smells like sugar cookies.  Why does he smell like sugar cookies?!  

I inhale deeply, savoring Beel’s delicious scent, and lean into his side a little.  I notice Belphie looking at me from the corner of his eye and straighten up, slipping out from under Beel’s arm.  

I make a beeline for Arianthi when we enter the dining room, sliding into the empty seat next to her.  

“You did that on purpose,” I hiss under my breath.

She gives me an innocent wide eyed stare.  “Did what on purpose?”

Oh, she’s good.  

“Asked Beel to come get me for dinner instead of getting me yourself.”

“Technically, I asked Mammon to ask him.”

“Don’t be draggin’ me into this,” Mammon mutters, sitting down on her other side. 

Arianthi grins at me.  “Did you meet Belphie?”

“Yeah, about that-”

“What did you think of him?”

“He’s cute but-”

“Attic sandwich!”  Arianthi and Mammon whisper in unison, snickering.

“Ok, you’re going to explain that to me later, but why did he say he killed you?”  I ask.

Arianthi looks over the table where Beel and Belphie sit opposite us.  “Belphie!  I told you not to lead with the murder story when you met them,” she scolds him.

He gives her a smirk and an unconcerned shrug.  “Oops.”

“Oh fuck me gently............. he was being serious.”  I put my head in my hands and take a few deep breaths.

She rubs my back in a soothing circular motion.  “To be totally fair, it was only the one time.  And Barbatos fixed it really quickly.”

“Not making me feel better Arianthi!” 

“Did you break Diavolo’s new human already?”  A new voice asks, giggling.

“They’re fine Asmo,” Arianthi answers.  “Belphie just startled them.”

“Hey Jax?”

I lift my head at the sound of Beel’s voice.  He’s smiling at me gently from across the table, violet eyes shining with kindness.

“Belphie’s not like that anymore.  I promise,” he says.

I nod, still in shock.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you while you’re in the Devildom.  Ok?”  Beel looks at me earnestly.

“O-ok Beel.  Thanks,” I reply, feeling the heat from my blush spread across my cheeks.

Arianthi and Mammon grin at me.  

“Not a goddamn word,” I mutter, keeping my eyes on the other demons entering the dining room.  

When the other four brothers are seated Arianthi begins making introductions while the food is passed around the table. 

Lucifer stares at me impassively for a moment, crimson eyes sweeping over me.  “I expect you to abide by the house rules, just like everyone else.  Do not do anything to make Lord Diavolo or the exchange program look bad.  Otherwise you will be punished.” 

He’s frightening.  

“Yes, sir.”

Levi is slightly better.  “Hey normie,” he greets me, barely looking up from his D.D.D. 

“Hi.”  When he doesn’t say anything else I busy my self putting some food on my plate.

I try again.  “So Arianthi said you’re really into anime.” 

“Yeah,” he says, narrowing his eyes at me.  “Why?  Are you?”

“Um yeah, I’m pretty into anime.  Have you ever seen Black Butler?”  I ask him.

He shakes his head.

“I brought it with me, we can watch it sometime if you want,” I offer.

“You wouldn’t mind hanging out with a gross otaku like me?”  He looks at me suspiciously.

“No?”  I answer, looking to Arianthi for guidance.

“I’ll explain it later,” she whispers.  I nod to show that I’ve heard her.

“Fine.  I’ll message you when I have free time,” Levi tells me.  “I have a lot of other anime to get through before I start a new one.”

Satan gives me a pleasant smile after we’re introduced.  “Arianthi said you’re an art student?”

Oh, he’s pretty.  

I find myself smiling back.  “Yeah.  Well, I was.  I just graduated university.  I’m spending a gap year here, then I have a job lined up when get back home.”

“Really?”  He asks, interested.  “What would you be doing?”  

“I’ll be designing character concepts for a small company that does special effects and prosthetic makeup for movies,” I answer, relaxing a little.

“I’d love to see your art sometime.  Arianthi has mentioned how talented you are.”  Satan smiles at me.

I blush a little.  “I don’t..... I mean yeah, I can show you some things sometime.”

Asmo is the final brother and he looks at me across the table, studying me carefully with citrine eyes.  

“Arianthi didn’t tell us you would be so attractive,”  he finally says, giving me a cheeky grin.

I smirk back at him.  “And she didn’t mention you would be so beautiful.”  

Why is it so easy to flirt with him, but I can’t even get a full sentence out around Beel?  I’m a fucking mess. 

“I can show you where my room is after dinner.  That way if you ever start feeling lonely you can come pay me a visit.”  Asmo bites his lower lip and gives me a playfully flirty look.

“I’ll think about it,” I say, giving him a quick wink.  

My eyes flicker over to Beel, and for just an instant he looks annoyed at my casual flirting.  He catches me looking at him and the look is quickly replaced with a small smile. 

Arianthi clears her throat loudly and I look over at her.  She widens her eyes at me and then shoots a meaningful look towards Beel.

I look back her and mouth talk later.

She gives me a stealthy thumbs up and resumes her conversation with Mammon.

Later that night Arianthi and I are in the kitchen doing the dishes.  She’s washing and I’m drying and putting them away.  Her old iPhone is on the counter and LP is playing softly while we sing along.

“So,” she says, carefully inspecting the plate she’s scrubbing.  “Flirting with Asmo huh?”

“Nooooo?”

She looks at me.

“Ok, maybe a little.”

She laughs and shakes her head.  “You were a lot smoother with Asmo than you were with Beel.”

I groan as I reach to put away some bowls in a high cabinet.  “Don’t remind me.”

Arianthi stop scrubbing and looks at me expectantly.  

“What do you want me to say?”  I sigh and lean against the counter.  “He discombobulates me.”

Arianthi laughs.  

“Really?  Laughing at my pain?”  I playfully give her a dirty look.  

“I take it discombobulation doesn’t happen to you very often?”  She plunges her hands back into the soapy water.

“Not really.  Talking to people has always been pretty easy.  Flirting with cute guys is fun, you know?”  

“Preach,” she responds, nodding her head knowingly.

I turn to put some plates away.  “Something about Beel is different.”

“Mmmm?  How so?”

“I’m not sure,” I answer, turning back around to see her furiously typing out a message on her D.D.D.  “What are you doing?”

Message sent, she sets it back down and looks at me with an innocent smile.  

“Mammon just had a question.”  She pauses.  “So Beel is different huh?”

“Smooth transition.  Real smooth,” I say.  

She just shrugs in response.

“He just seems really nice.  He’s so cute.  And he smells like - “

“Sugar cookies?”

“Right?!”

“Beel and Jax, sittin’ in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-”  She says in a sing song voice.

“You are a fucking child,” I retort, trying hard not to blush.

Arianthi puts a hand to her chest and gasps in faux shock.  “Me?  A child?  Never.  If I were a child,” she grins at me mischievously, “I would do THIS!”  

She lifts something from the sink and flings a glassful of water at me, soaking my shirt.

“You jerk!”  Laughing, I lunge at her and she drops the glass back into the sink before gleefully twisting away from me.  I dip my hands into the water and splash her back, landing a direct hit to the face.

She pushes her dripping hair out of her face and starts laughing.  She runs back to the sink as I circle around the kitchen island, cupping a handful of water and trying to splash me again.  I skip out of the way and the water barely touches my jeans.

“Too slow!”   I stick my tongue out at her.

She bursts into a fit of giggles.  “Who’s the child now?”

“You started it!”  Her giggle is infectious and I’m laughing along with her.

A new song starts playing on the radio, a cover of an old Divinyls song.  

I start swaying along to the music.  “I love this song!”

Arianthi grabs a whisk, using it as a microphone, singing the opening lines.

I love myself, I want you to love me 

I start singing along, choosing a spatula as my weapon of choice.

I search myself, I want you to find me I forget myself, I want you to remind me

“Oi!  What are ya doin’?  Why are ya all wet?”  

I hear Mammon’s voice behind us and I immediately drop the spatula, blushing when I see that Beel is with him.  “H-h-hi guys.”

Arianthi moves over to Mammon, smirking.  “We’re having fun goober!  Come dance with us!”  

She grabs the tie of his R.A.D. uniform, slowly pulling him to her, and swaying her hips seductively. 

You’re the one who makes me come runnin’ You’re the sun who makes me shine

The tips of his ears turn red, but he grins at her, rolling his eyes and placing his hands on her hips.  They’re soon in their own world, laughing and dancing together. 

“Beel dance with Jax!”  Arianthi calls out as Mammon spins her, then pulls her back to his chest.

Oh god.  

I look down at the ground, mortified, sure he’s going to say no.  When I risk taking a glance at him he’s holding out his hand and smiling, eyebrows raised, waiting for my response.  

I take his hand and he pulls me in, putting his hands on my waist.  I lace my arms over his shoulders and our hips start moving in time with the beat. 

When you’re around, I’m always laughin’ I wanna make you mine

Arianthi catches sight of me and Beel dancing and waggles her eyebrows at me before turning back to Mammon.

A fool could see how much I adore you I get down on my knees, I’ll do anything for you

Beel pulls me a little closer, chuckling.  “This is fun,” he murmurs in my ear.

I shiver a little at the feel of his warm breath on my ear.  I look up, losing myself in his violet eyes.  

“Yeah, yeah it is,” I say shyly.

I want you, I don’t want anybody else And when I think about you I touch myself 

Beel blushes a little at the suggestive lyrics and I’m right there with him.  But he doesn’t let go or pull away.  

Nice.  

I start feeling slightly more confident.  Until I hear a voice come from behind us.

“What are you four doing?”  Lucifer asks, sounding exasperated.

“Busted,” Arianthi mutters.  “Prepare for the lecture.”

“Arianthi, you and Jax are supposed to be cleaning up.  Mammon and Beel, what are you even doing in here?” 

“Lucifer sucks the fun out of everything,” Arianthi whispers, making the three of us snort in amusement.

Lucifer’s eyes narrow in irritation.  “You’re supposed to be setting a good example for Jax, Arianthi.  Not encouraging them to slack off on their chores their first day here and dancing around the kitchen.  And why are you both wet?  What would Lord Diavolo think if he were here?”

From what little I saw of him today........... probably join in.  

Beel gently bumps his shoulder into mine and smiles at me as we endure the rest of Lucifer’s rant.  

Yeah, I’m definitely going to like it here.  

Song:  Lauren Ruth Ward - I Touch Myself (Divinyls cover)0

[kuriquinn]

just because it ain’t broke, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be improved

I feel like a few things need to be qualified about the feedback culture discourse if it’s going to stay civil.

Feedback advocates ARE NOT demanding every single consumer leave feedback on every single piece of art or story every time they log on to the internet.

Consumer advocates ARE NOT suggesting that fanartists and fanwriters are not entitled to feedback ever.

Let’s not go putting words in each other’s mouths, that way inevitably leads to lurking trolls deciding to become keyboard warrior anons.  

Feedback discourse is not meant to shame anyone, consumer or writer, it’s to open a discussion about how the general culture could be changed for the better.

That said, fandom in general is in need of a change in how consumers and creators interact with one another. 

One of the main arguments I have seen in the past few days is that passively consuming fandom works (with the occasional outlying consumer occasionally or always leaving feedback) has always been the norm, is currently the norm and will always be the norm.***

Which to me boils down to, “we’ve always done it this way, why change it?”

(I doubt I need to give all the historical examples of where that kind of thinking has gotten us, or how it’s been challenged.)

Just because it’s normal practice now and everyone does it this way and supposedly always has done it this way, doesn’t mean we can’t strive for something better. Fandom creators and consumers are in a symbiotic relationship—without the consumer, we have no one to share our work with but ourselves and maybe a few close friends; without the creator, consumers don’t get access to new content related to their interests (or at least have diminished access). 

We need each other.

If tomorrow some law is passed that basically bans all fan created content from the web and some major purge happens just deleting everything that doesn’t belong or isn’t endorsed by the actual creator, what happens to the fandom? I can tell you right now, creators will keep creating—we just won’t be able to share it with anyone but our closest, real-life friends. And consumers might keep consuming fan-created content, but it will be in a much smaller capacity. 

Neither side wants this.

So why not discuss ways to make the fandom experience better for both sides here? Including listening to the parties in the relationship who are basically explaining something that is discouraging/damaging to them?

It’s a pretty simple equation: 

creators produce/share free content --> consumers enjoy free content--> consumers provide feedback--> encouraged creators produce/share more free content, continually improving over time-->consumers continue to enjoy free content

VS

creators produce/share free content -->consumers enjoy free content without providing any indication they care about the content-->creators still produce free content but at lower frequency/quality over time (months, years, etc.)-->consumers continue to enjoy free content without providing any indication they care about the content -->creators still produce content but not longer share their work or start putting their work behind a paywall--> consumers complain that so many favorite creators now want money for their creations

Obviously, this is a generalization and doesn’t speak to every single creator and consumer’s behavior, but as both a creator and a consumer, this has been my experience more often than not. 

Now, I know not every single person is going to provide feedback on every single piece of art or writing they encounter. But right now, the average fandom consumer defaults to the following behavior:

Consume fanfic/fanart + [leave likes/kudos] + move on to next

(At the moment, even the kudos is entirely optional, since a majority of consumers don’t even bother with that. )

We need to change this default behavior to:

Consume fanfic/fanart + did I like it? = No? + move on to the next

Consume fanfic/fanart + Did I like it? =Yes? + reblog/share [and/or leave a comment]

(I’d make a flowchart, but I’m doing this on my phone, so...kinda hard.)

It takes the same amount of energy to reblog/share a fanwork as it does to leave kudos/likes. So if you like something but don’t have the energy/confidence/interest to comment, the least that can be done is boost the signal and pay it forward.

We need to normalize this behavior instead of passive, entitled consumption.

Again, this is NOT a call to FORCE people to leave feedback.

It’s more like when you’re a kid and your parents teach your to say “please” and “thank you”. Obviously, their goal is that as you get older, you will automatically say those things in the appropriate contexts, such as when you would like something or are expressing gratitude.

Does that mean everyone in the world uses “please” and “thank you” when interacting with others? Not at all. We’ve all run into some real dickheads that are downright rude for the sake of being rude, as well as people who are unintentionally rude because they don’t think it’s worth their time to be polite. Would the world be a better place if everyone did use “please” and “thank you”? I like to think so.

The reason we’re talking about feedback culture now is because we want a better future in the fandom. We want a better situation than what we have right now.

And honestly, if we can have people start treating fan writers and artists better here at the unofficial level that is fandom, think of how that kind of change and discourse could change the way art and literature is viewed in the world at large? Because right now, we live in a society where funding for the arts is more often passed over for funding sports, business, military, etc. The only sectors of society that are treated worse than artists and writers are the teachers, nurses and retail workers (and don’t even get me started on the trend of female-dominated sectors of the economy rating lower than predominantly male-dominated ones!)

Personally, I think a lot of these disagreements could be mitigated by an update to Ao3’s feedback system.

Kudos is like a checkmark on a list. “Yep, read that...Yep, read that.” 

The only time I don’t leave kudos on something is if I didn’t finish reading it. And yes, that is my personal experience, but we’re human beings and we tend to frame the actions of others based on our own practices.

The kudos feature should be replaced with a new system either emojis (think Facebook) or canned comments (pre-written responses generated by a simple keystroke). For the simple fact that these can better convey the emotions of the consumer than a faceless kudo.

Having started using an emoji based system last year, I can tell you from experience that every week or two, I have someone comment to me how much they like being able to use an emoji to get their words across because they’re not good with words / their first language isn’t the same as mine / they’re still processing what they’ve read and can’t formulate a response yet/ etc.

TL;DR: The purpose of discourse related to feedback culture is to try to normalize leaving feedback on fanworks, instead of passively consuming—not forcing people to leave feedback.

_______________________________________________________________

***It has NOT always been this way. I have been part of several fandoms in my time— Lord of the Rings, Gundam Wing, Beyblade, Harry Potter, Inuyasha, Supernatural, Rurouni Kenshin, Doctor Who, Naruto, Batman/DCU, to name a few. And twenty years ago, people left way more feedback than they do today. Even on the really terrible stuff (and I say this as someone whose first fanfics were exclusively dedicated to horrible Mary Sue OC self-inserts), if you posted a chapter of something, within the next day you had a half dozen comments—more if you were writing a one-shot/completed fic. Ten years later, I noticed feedback started to be almost half of that; now it’s even less. The content hasn’t changed; the quality of writers hasn’t changed. However, the mindset of the consumer has definitely changed.

[melyaliz]

The Queen’s Knives

@milleniumxhan: Can you do an OC thing for Osward from Gotham?  

My name is Anshu and I’m 5'1, Indian, medium length black hair, middle part swept bangs (always in a ponytail), black cat eye glasses, average build. I’m very expressive and love art. I am also quite reserved and tend to live in my own head but can be very talkative with my close friends. I’m very curious and tend to question everything, however I do stand strong to my own beliefs. For a fun fact about me: I love anything vintage and historical. Thanks!

Become an OC! 

Notes: I haven’t seen Gotham so I had to watch a few clips. I’m sorry if I got it wrong. 

All Masterlists @melyalizarchive​

Connect with me! AO3 / Instagram / Pinterest

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Title: The Queen’s Knives 

Fandom: Gotham 

Pairing: Oswald Cobblepot x OC 

Facecast: Freida Pinto (I know I have used her before but I’m obsessed, she’s so beautiful) 

Genres: Dark Action 

Story Style: A sort of side story, taking elements of what is going on in the show but coming up with your own plotline. 

Summary: As Oswald climbs the ladder toward the King of Gotham he hires a killed called Knives. A ghost, a myth, someone he never even sees until his enemies have a knife sticking out of their back. 

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Open with Anshu serving tables at a small dinner in the heart of Gotham.

There have been grumblings about the rising gang violence, many from the patriots most of them have picked up work for said gangs and are now just coming in for some pancakes and coffee after a long night. 

Anshu is always so nice and listens to their stories while filling up their cups and making sure they get their regulars. 

One of the guys mentions her callus on her hands are weird for a waitress. She just laughs and tells him it’s from working out. “This body doesn’t just happen honey.” 

Oswald is having a problem with a rival gang and needs to end their leader’s life. But this means he will have to go through the ranks to get to them. 

One of his underlings mentioned Knives. No one knows him but apparently, he gets the job done. 

You pay  $29.50 with what you want. If they take the money they will leave how much you owe them and after you pay that they ask a week later that person is dead with a knife. 

 After dropping off the money Oswald stopped by a dinner for some coffee. 

He ends up staying, enthralled by Anshu and he ends up leaving her a huge tip which she stops him on his way out, “I think you forgot your change.” he closed her hand smiling, “Keep it.” 

His first kill is done so smoothly he quickly asks for the second and after goes to the dinner again to chat with Anshu. While he’s dining she motions to some rowdy men. “They were saying something about a plan to kill a penguin.” then she leaves. 

At the third when he asks for his third kill there is a note that has a note from another hire that wanted to kill him. Knives has written over it “A kindness for a kindness.” 

Oswald goes to the dinner and asks Anshu to be his eyes and ears. She says yes but she’s not going to risk her life over it. “If I hear something I hear something, My life is more important to me.” He nods “Fair”  

They soon are meeting up at the dinner and he starts having a soft spot for her. He likes that she is just normal. She doesn’t want to know about his plans and when he tries to tell her she tells him no. “I can’t say what I don’t know” and they end up just talking about books and music and culture. 

He continues to have the men he wants killed moving up the ranks toward the big boss.

 Then one day a ninja comes into his home trying to kill him. 

The ninja is about to kill him when the ninja falls over dead. A knife in his back. 

Anshu standing over him. She doesn’t say anything just leaves. 

 He meets her at the dinner asking why she didn’t that and she tells him she didn’t want him to die. 

“I want to hire you.”

“You already do.”

“But I want you by my side.”

“No, and if you tell anyone who I am I will not hesitate to kill you as well.” 

 No one knows how Oswald does it but his enemies seem to be laying at his feet. While he doesn’t have Knives on his pocket she will do most jobs for him. 

Bonus: As time goes on Oswald has been on both sides of Knives’s hiring. she will never take a job to kill him but has killed some of his men and has worked for both the Batman and other mobsters. 

But Oswald never tells anyone who she is. Not because he’s scared of her but because she’s his secret. All his.