The Curse Of Hope
_
Danny is in another universe. He had a reason, but he doesn’t remember anymore. He can only stare, horrified and disgusted, at the sickest city spirit he’s ever seen. Shivering and swaying with every step, core exposed, and ectoplasm leaking from wounds that are decades old. A ratty blanket was thrown over their shoulders, barely hiding the spirit’s pale grey skin and protruding black bones.
The spirit didn’t even sense him until he reached out to touch its wispy shoulders. The spirit flinched, clutching at the dozens of trinkets hanging from their neck and tucking in on themselves like they were expecting a blow.
“Oh, shit,” He swore, floating back a few feet, hands in the air, to show he meant no harm. “I’m sorry. I promise, I’m not here to steal from you.” The spirit shivered again and rolled a pearl necklace in between their fingers. A nervous habit. “Uh, I like that pocket watch? It’s very nice.”
That got their attention. They peeked at Danny, and he saw that more tattered cloth was covering their eyes, blending in with the stringy hair that reached the ground. Their blanket fluttered weakly, revealing hundreds of thousands of tiny marks etched into their skin. Scars, really. Scars that wrote out curse after curse onto the spirit’s very being. They burned with evil intent, and even reached inside the spirit’s body and wrapped around their core.
Occasionally, blinding specks of color raced across their body, temporarily erasing the writing, but it always returned quickly. He watched, a little detached, as one particular line rewrote itself across their rough forearm, drawing fresh ectoplasm like someone was writing it with a thin knife.
“Are you…alright?” Danny stuttered. A stupid question.
The spirit cocked its head. He couldn’t see their eyes, but he felt their burning gaze as they pondered the question.
“The pain of others becomes mine own.” They rasped. “The lights of the city dim as rotten wealth clogs mine veins. Magicks long forgotten have eaten mine skins, pulled mine cloak, and darkened mine skies. Helios has refused to grace mine doorstep, and the seasons of the Earth have revoked their kindness.”
Danny held his breath. It felt like he was the one with the exposed core, not the spirit.
The spirit shivered once more. “Tell mine soul, little lamb. How could this Forsaken City know peace, when it was long since ripped from mine hands?”
Shit, he needed Frostbite. And maybe Clockwork. Now.
-Or-
Danny meets the spirit of Gotham City. The villains and rogues that have plagued the city for decades are literal curses that are taking quite the toll on Gotham, and honestly, Danny isn’t sure how much longer they can hold out. The heroes seem to be doing some help, and are probably the reason Gotham made it this far, but the poor city needs help from the Realms if they want to get better.
Luckily, Danny can provide that help.
But only if he could get Gotham to leave their city behind. Because recovery is going to take a very long time.
414 notes
·
View notes
Feeling absolutely normal about knowing Gale's mom is out there, back in Waterdeep, endlessly proud of him, rooting for him and wanting only the best for him while at the same time likely being entirely unaware of what Gale is going through in terms of Mystra and the Orb bc he insists on not burdening her with any of it and thinking he deserves to suffer in silence...
243 notes
·
View notes
my dad accidentally saw a picture of Fran Romero I had saved on my gallery and went “who’s that? the boyfriend you have that I’m not aware of?” YES DAD THAT’S RIGHT keep repeating that so you help me manifest him into my life 🙏
31 notes
·
View notes
We'll get sexually experienced Colin on the show and I've made my peace with that (kind of, still hate this supposed brothel scene because really...why? you can make clear he's experienced without showing me him fucking someone who's not his lead) but I'll admit I'm personally (because I need to make clear this is my opinion and I'm entitled to that, even if you think I'm dumb or wrong for having it), a little sad we won't get inexperienced Colin because that would've been cute and different than what we got on previous seasons (He really gave me major Demisexual vibes in S1, he seemed pretty reticent about romantic and sexual advancements without fully feeling sure about his feelings for the person in S1. As one myself I liked that, but alas). I'll skip the unamable scene and enjoy my babies recking havoc (and tearing clothes) in that carriage.
28 notes
·
View notes
You guys wanna hear a madney wedding idea that I keep thinking about?
So we already know chaos will ensue
But let's add some annoyance- outdoor wedding and rain- buck being the good maid of honor he is gets the dj/band/ whatever to switch to ironic by alanis morrisette (which buck would know she's a fan of) because I love silly little moments and call backs and silly little nostalgic songs
This post is bought to you by me spotting young Maddie wearing an Alanis morrisette t shirt
30 notes
·
View notes
I honestly think modern AU Milan and Cyrus should have had some (one time) rivalry going on when they were younger cause it would be sooo funny.
Like idk…. Boy Scouts enemies. Summer camp rivals…. Volleyball tournament finalists…. Fighting over a good spot for their tent on a hippie festival…. Something like that.
24 notes
·
View notes
I went to a wedding like a month ago and started a wip about a wedding meet cute with Bakugou that was supposed to be like 2-3k words but never finished it and I’m so mad bc it should be easy but school was so hard and UGH
but!!!!! it made me think about being friends with benefits with Bakugou and having just finished sleeping with him, rolling off of his chest as you both lay beside each other trying to catch your breaths. and you ask him if he’d like to go to to your friends wedding with you next weekend? that he doesn’t have to come, but you’d like to have some arm candy with you?
and at first, he doesn’t answer. gets kind of fidgety, scratches at his chest, murmurs under his breath that he’s not sure, he might have a shift, he’ll have to check later. and how can you not take that as a rejection? as a show of only being good enough for private time spent together, but unable to be seen together, publicly, as his date?
so you gather your things, quickly and embarrassed, stutter out that you were just joking, just fucking around and playing. you’re scurrying out of his apartment before he can stop you despite his pleading to hear him out.
and do you ignore him the entire weekend of the wedding? how couldn’t you, when you show up, dateless, with the memory of only being filled sexually but never emotionally? and does Bakugou regret it the entire time? how couldn’t he, when he was only tongue tied and nervous because he couldn’t believe the person he’s been in love with for months wanted to do more than just lie underneath him?
292 notes
·
View notes