#no but Pandora AU is one of the reasons I started drawing again

[jenzel]

sitting like she wants to attract women (Pandora AU Bernie belongs to @starrjoy and I am OBSESSED)

[magicofthepen]

Having put some amount of thought into similar concepts, I would very much love to hear about “Gallifrey BUT FANTASY”

Send me a WIP doc title (list here) and I’ll talk about it!

Thank you for asking about this one! It’s an idea that’s been slowly coalescing for at least a year and a half now – it’s never quite made it onto the active projects list because it’s a big one, and I keep having other big projects that I want to tackle first. But I love gradually coming back to and building this au, and hopefully I’ll write it eventually?

The general world premise is pretty straightforward: magic replaces both time travel and regeneration, so it’s a magic-based world instead of a tech-based one, and also the ability to do magic is only given to certain Gallifreyans (a Time Lords = mages sort of thing). Also in this world the different temporal powers/planets are different countries/kingdoms/empires. 

The story itself would be a series of three longfics that starts with a very narrow cast and gradually broadens to a more sprawling epic fantasy vibe as the series continues. A quick overview:

Fic 1 is a Romana/Leela Rapunzel AU (inspired by Tangled specifically tbh), ft. Pandora as the Mother Gothel figure. 

Fic 2 is the immediate aftermath of Romana’s return to Gallifrey and the "power struggle over the throne” conflict that emerges between her and Darkel. (Narvin and Brax show up in this one.)

Fic 3 is set some number of years after Fic 2. It’s a “Pandora returns” fic, but narratively it’s more inspired by the Time War. Devastating magical conflict, large cast of characters, but does have a hopeful/happy-ish ending. (Also: Romana/Leela/Narvin endgame.) 

Lots more rambling under the cut: 

Fic 1: Rapunzel AU

This fic is technically Tangled-inspired, but I should disclaim that I haven’t actually seen Tangled in many years, so my memories of it are somewhat vague? But there’s one scene from Tangled that inspired a scene in this fic, plus a certain similar enemies-to-friends-to-lovers vibe going on, and some inspiration for Leela’s backstory (if I’m remembering that movie correctly)? 

Romana is the Rapunzel figure, of course. The heiress stolen away from the kingdom as a very young child, so she doesn’t remember anything before being raised by Pandora. In this story, Pandora’s endgame isn’t to keep her trapped away forever – she’s grooming Romana to be able to possess her when the time is right and take the throne for herself. (Still need to work out a lot of plot details, including how much contact Romana has with the outside world, how Pandora is able to manifest without a body?? (because she’s definitely still a dark spirit of some kind in this world....), the exact nature of magic and magical rituals and how exactly Pandora stealing Romana and raising her benefits her endgame.)

(Also there’s an Etra Prime reference here, with Romana being trapped away from the world for twenty years. In this au, Pandora is also the stand-in for the Daleks – aka who/what Romana is most afraid of and traumatized by.)

Leela’s backstory is a work in progress, so I don’t want to say too much in case I change it, but at the point her life and Romana’s collide, she’s lived in Gallifrey before and it was not a good time. (On a side note: I feel like this fic may be a thinly veiled excuse to give Leela a sword.) 

This fic majorly focuses on Romana and Leela’s relationship arc, aka “extremely sheltered book smart mage who's been cut off from love and connection her whole life” meets “warrior who’s traveled a lot but has never really found a home anywhere and is (probably?) on the run from the Gallifreyan authorities for Reasons.” Short version: their lives collide, Romana gets tangled up in Leela’s plot drama (which is also mostly tbd) and ends up sneaking away from Pandora, they fall in love, just as Romana starts to see how much she’s been used and manipulated her whole life, Pandora tries to tear them apart and use both of them as pawns in her plan. Of course, they defeat her and all ends well (for now).

Fic 2: Struggle for the Throne

For Reasons (that will be uncovered later), the throne of Gallifrey has quite recently become vacant – just in time for Romana and Leela to show up in the capital city (they don’t ever go there in Fic 1). Romana just wanted to see where she was from after finally escaping Pandora, but in this world, Gallifrey has some sort of monarchy/inheritance of power thing going on, and Romana is actually the closest heir to the throne. The next closest is Darkel, who assumed she would take the throne, before Romana suddenly returns from the dead.   

Except Romana didn’t come back to take the throne. That was Pandora’s plan, Romana doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life and had no idea that she was walking into a power vacuum situation. But she ends up seeing how very terrible Darkel is, and how very terrible Gallifrey is, and starts genuinely wanting to be in charge so she can Change Things. She sees how terrible Gallifrey is to Leela (and other outsiders and non-mages) and wants to make this place better for her.....but over time gets swept up in the power struggles and the need to court favor with the other royals, which strains her relationship with Leela. 

Meanwhile, Leela’s dealing with returning to Gallifrey, a place where she already feels unwelcome (and probably is in some trouble with the law and needs to clear her name? again, lots of backstory details are tbd). And so she ends up struggling to decide if she really wants to be with Romana, if Romana’s going to end up in charge of this kingdom.....but she also hates Darkel and wants to help defeat her claim to the throne? I think there’s also going to be a plot thread in Fic 1 involving the village Leela was born in, and if so, this fic will also be dealing with the fallout of those events from Fic 1. (Keeping things vague because it’s all pretty up in the air right now.) 

And we finally meet spymaster Narvin, who is a main character from here through the rest of the series! I’m not going to get into his backstory in this au right now (because some things are still tbd, some things I don’t want to spoil), but he is not pleased about this young upstart heiress showing up out of nowhere and getting power handed to her without ever actually living in this kingdom. He doesn’t trust that she’s actually loyal to Gallifrey, especially since rumor has it she was raised and given/taught magic by some dark spirit – which goes against the long-standing Gallifreyan traditions of how magic is granted and taught and raises some major questions about how safe the kingdom would be in her hands. (These are also the prevailing arguments in general for tossing Romana’s claim to the throne.) 

Narvin and Leela also have.....a history. Not a particularly positive one. 

So this fic is also slowburn enemies-to-friends with Narvin + Romana and Narvin + Leela, as they gradually grow to understand and trust each other, and ultimately all work together against Darkel.

Brax is also in this fic? I am quite nervous about Brax being in this fic (I don’t feel qualified to write Brax! I usually avoid writing Brax for that reason!) But he’s the main “well-respected mage from an old family” who actually vouches for Romana and tries to help soothe the fears of the more conservative royals about supporting her claim to the throne. I’d also like to do a version of the “Brax as Romana’s tutor” thing, where he ends up working with her on developing her magic, since she didn’t go through the Academy system and is worried that her magic is tainted by Pandora. There may also end up being an almost-arranged marriage plotline with Romana and Brax, where certain people would be more willing to support Romana’s claim if she married someone respectable (and this is another thing that drives a wedge in Romana and Leela’s relationship). (She ends up turning him down, ultimately.) 

So it’s a fic about characters figuring out what they want in life and figuring out how to communicate better with each other and be better at relationships and friendships, all the while trying to stop Darkel from seizing the throne. 

Fic 3: Magical War

So there’s a significant time skip between Fic 2 and Fic 3 where the characters are going about their lives post-Darkel’s defeat and trying to make Gallifrey a somewhat less terrible place. 

But, however Romana and Leela defeat Pandora in Fic 1, it isn’t permanent. And when Pandora returns, it’s with an army of magical spirits (or something along those lines) that are slowly encroaching on the kingdom and poisoning magic itself (aka the Dogma virus But Fantasy). 

I don’t want to spoil too many of the plot details here, but this fic is a lot of “fantasy twist on specific events in the Gallifrey audios” – it draws some elements from the civil war, some from the Time War (especially because of that whole “Pandora is also Metaphorically the Daleks” thing), plus some other Specific Things from other audios. (Basically, I tossed the Gallifrey audios in a soup and stirred and made it fantasy?) 

Slow skirmishes and terrible attacks on the outskirts of the kingdom keep happening, Pandora’s forces draw closer and closer until they reach the capitol itself – and things go very wrong, and our main characters end up needing to wrest control back from Pandora (which may involve upending the entire system of magic in Gallifrey in the process? again, still figuring out how this fic is going to end – all I know is that unlike the actual audios, it will be a hopeful/happy ending). Lots of personal sacrifices are made, lots of old traumas need to be grappled with. Also re: Narvin/Leela and Narvin/Romana, this is the “friends to lovers” part of the “enemies to friends to lovers” slowburn arc. 

(Probably my biggest writing struggle for this fic is that I don’t really know what Brax’s arc is going to be. I’m not that familiar with Brax (I only know him from the Gallifrey audios), and I’m not strongly invested in his character, so I don’t feel like I’d do a good job writing him? But this is an ensemble fic and I can’t just ignore his character, so. it’s a challenge I don’t yet know how to deal with?)

But overall, one of the reasons I’m quite interested in this fic series is because it gives me the chance to write a version of these characters’ stories where things do get rough, but they do get a happy ending of sorts. (And more specifically, I get to write a version of Romana’s story where her self-sacrificing/suicidal tendencies actually get addressed, and she slowly starts to heal.) 

So that was a lot of rambling and vagueness, but thanks for giving me the excuse to talk about this au! It’s quite a daunting project (I have little experience with longfic and with plotty fic), but I’d really love to tackle it someday! (And I would love to hear about any fantasy aus you’ve developed!!)

[squidpro-quo]

Are you guys still working on the Pandora's tears au? It's fantastic >v

Oh my goodness, anon, thank you so much for the continued interest!  The Pandora’s Tears au is still near and dear to @qxiu, @sup-poki and my hearts, I have the next piece of the puzzle here and I hope you enjoy it! 

PROLOGUE|| Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3

Shinichi’s legs had been cramping ever since he returned to his proper form and Haibara had been less than discreet in commenting about the circles under his eyes. He didn’t like the insinuations she’d gone on to make afterwards of ‘connective tissue strain’ and ‘melatonin imbalance’ from his time as Conan. But it wouldn’t matter as long as he found the missing component and, historically speaking, he was one of the best at finding what was absent from a complete picture. 

And he knew someone who was an expert at acquiring things that nobody wanted to let go of. 

What he hadn’t expected to find was KID facing a gun with the kind of resignation that came with someone who had little left to lose, and the calmness of one who had been through the same rigmarole many times before. It painted a different picture of the thief than he’d always assumed; he’d somehow thought that he was the one who brought the dangerous element to their collaborations and to find that KID faced such kinds of threats alone tugged at something in his chest. 

The decision to take a leaf out of KID’s book had been impulsive but he hadn’t stopped wearing the watch or the bowtie so far, out of an understanding of their usefulness is what he tried to believe, instead of forces of habit that he hadn’t broken yet. He’d thought that KID would leave just as quietly as the other at the sound of the pursuit, had accepted the fact that he’d have to try again at another heist, but the thief had let out a faint groan instead and addressed him. 

“What brings you here, so late to tonight’s game?” KID asked, hand rising to tip his hat in a greeting, though Shinichi suspected it was actually to shadow the wince that flitted across his face. “I have no further interest in the Song of the Sea, you may have it. You missed the fun part, however.”

“I’d wager I caught the end of it.” Shinichi stepped into the cafe proper, slowly drawing closer to the thief who had edged towards the windows at his back. “I had a question to ask.” 

“Why am I unsurprised by your new appearance?” KID grinned, the flash of his old brilliance painfully brief and Shinichi wished he wasn’t about to ask him to jump into something else likely just as bad as what he was apparently fighting already. “The bowtie suits you. No glasses?” 

“That would be too much,” he admitted, remembering the contacts he’d struggled with that morning. Some things he couldn’t bear to bring along, and some things he wanted to ignore in the hope that it wouldn’t last forever. 

“Ah. Well, if that’s all, I can answer simply. Our circles have a sliver of overlap, not to mention I’d be a pretty shoddy excuse for a thief if I didn’t keep track of those who can keep up with me. Now then,” KID said, bowing as he came to the end and stepping up onto the sill of the window and drawing aside the pane to let the breeze play with the free-floating folds of his cape. It billowed behind him like the ethereal trail of a comet, ghostly in the pale light and Shinichi had the feeling that he was talking to someone who had already gone beyond the fade. 

“No, I wanted to ask you about… P4NDØ124?” As soon as the designation left his mouth, Shinichi knew the answer to his question. KID’s mouth thinned just slightly, if he hadn’t been watching so carefully for any sign from the tightly shuttered thief he’d have missed it entirely. 

“What does that have to do with you? Where did you hear that?” 

The defensiveness behind the questions threw Shinichi off his stride, unused to hearing the note of fear in KID’s voice. 

“I need it... to stay like this.” He gestured to himself, moving closer on the chance that that would keep KID from fleeing their conversation. 

“This isn’t permanent?” Kid asked, the eye clear of monocle or shadow softening. “How many times have you switched back and forth?” 

“More times than I should have. This last antidote works, but it’s incomplete.” 

“Why do you think I’d have any idea how to find what you need?” 

“I came to ask for your help, because while I might not be Conan anymore I thought you hadn’t changed.” He took a chance, risking the thief’s privacy on his hunch. “And I know there has to be a reason you return every jewel you take. You’re searching for something, I can help you in exchange. While there’s still time.” 

KID turned, putting his back to the open air outside and the moonless silhouette that now faced him was unnerving in its stillness. Shinichi had always thought he understood how KID thought, at least on a base level, but he was questioning many things tonight. 

“A little quid pro quo then, like old times. I’ve not yet had the opportunity to work with you without taking your place instead,” KID noted, his expression hidden even though Shinichi thought he sounded pensive. “You’re lucky, my great detective, that what we seek is one and the same.” 

The revelation was closely followed by the sound of the squad officers thundering up the stairs, having completed their search of the rest of the building, and this time their noise was not a fabrication. Shinichi started forward, hand outstretched, for what purpose he could only guess at but his fingers did brush the very edge of a sleeve. 

KID loomed over him even as he shifted out of his grasp, a glint of light the only disruption of the darkness he cast over the room and Shinichi felt fingers close over his wrist. 

“Find me, while there’s still time,” the thief whispered, abruptly letting go as he leapt from his perch. Shinichi was still standing at the open window when Nakamori reached him. While the Inspector and his men exclaimed in relief over the jewel hanging at his neck, Shinichi’s thoughts were occupied with the tremble he’d felt in KID’s hand, shaking even as he’d tried to hold on to him.

[soysaucevictim]

New Year, New Program (technically going to be a rerun.)

-

Jan. 2

I woke up around 2PM, today.

After a bit of the usual, I did today’s exercise.

First, today’s DD. 30 [deep] side-to-side lunges with EC. This was just about manageable.

Last, Chapter 1 of the Age of Pandora Program. I’ve been wanting to revisit this program a lot, given how much I remember liking it. Let’s just say, AoP wasted no time in kicking my ass, barely got through Level 2 today, I’m BUSHED - the killer were the half jack squats.

(Pffft, I wound up echoing my feelings from last time, too. Let’s see if overall I can do things a bit more intensely than last time, however. But no guarantees.)

After some dishes, I made today’s Hello Fresh Meal. Italian garden veggie soup. I personally rather like it. Worth a revisit, I think!

On top of some of the usual & chatting, I basically pulled an all-nighter setting up a masterpost for fandom blog. Been wanting to get that dealt wit h for awhile.

-

Jan. 3

I woke up after 1PM.

One of the fist things I got started on today was exercise.

First, today’s DD. 30 crunch kicks with EC. Just manageable.

Last, Chapter 2 of the AoP. First part, I managed Level 3, with the maximum rest. Jump knee tucks are pretty intense, but I could manage this okay.

Second part, I went for Level 3 too. Split the 4′ wall-sit time into: 2′ wall-sit + 2′ rest + 1′ wall-sit +1′ rest + 1′ wall-sit. Think my quads were pretty much done from everything I did the past two days. Or being somewhat sleep deprived didn’t really help matter. But this was no less a challenge.

(Looks like last time, I managed this in 2x2′. Ah well.)

I spent few hours finally getting around to updating my DD archive/log.

Then after/while doing some chatting, me and friend watched Pacific Rim together. Good movie.

The last thing I did that day was whip up a sketch of iZ!Remus I’ve been wanting to draw for the past few weeks.

Got to bed late and in the red zone, but earlier than yesterday.

-

Jan. 4

I woke up after 1PM.

One of the fist things I got started on today was exercise.

First, today’s DD. 30 jumping lunges with EC. Not super low/deep but no less ending/fatiguing.

Last, Chapter 3 of the AoP. I did both the rep and set number to Level 3 today (20 reps per exercise, 7 sets total), rested for the maximum 2′. I had a brief moment of self-doubt on whether I could manage this today, but I’m happy I could get through it alright. Split jacks are still probably not my favorite kind of jack (a bit too close to a dang jumping lunge, pffft.)

(This was a day I surpassed my first go around. Did Level 2′s rep count and Level 3′s set count. Which is basically half as intense as how I performed today, a nice little achievement!)

Did some dishes, made some dinner, and hit the showers after that.

Spent a good few hours working on and streaming that iZ!Remus drawing some more. Chatting throughout.

After a few more hours on the usual, I got to bed a bit later than yesterday.

-

Jan. 5

I woke up after 10AM.

One of the fist things I got started on today was exercise.

First, today’s DD. 30 single leg deadlifts with EC. This was pretty manageable, not much to really comment on.

Last, Chapter 4 of the AoP. Level 3, max rest. I might’ve been able to shorten my rest periods - given I think that this was a tiny bit easier than prior chapters. But ah well. Got it done.

After some of the usual, spent most of the day working on and streaming that iZ!Remus drawing some more. Chatting throughout.

I went to bed around the same time as yesterday.

-

Jan. 6

I woke up after 11AM.

After a bit of logging stuff (and unnecessary/mistaken appointment preparation), I went into today’s exercise.

First, today’s DD. 40 seagulls with EC. I did this 20/20 to be a bit easier on the elbows. But it was manageable.

Last, Chapter 5 of the AoP. 18 travel points taken, I went for Level 2. I did the 180 reps as high knees, in one go.

For the workout proper - I went for Level 3 (5 sets), with max rest. the 2x8 push-ups per set were getting a bit sloppy. But I felt it enough.

Bleh. And then the whole fascist coup attempt shit happened in the WH today. Just exhausting to even think about or process right now.

Forced self to get dishes done, making dinner, and finishing draw/streaming that iZ!Remus drawing. Got a bit grouchy with the process - in part not helped by Everything Happening. But screw it. Happy I got it done at all.

Got to bed obscenely late - later than yesterday (and later than I had any business to - did finish the drawing around 2AM).

-

Jan. 7

I woke up after 11AM.

Spent a good few hours on the usual stuff before doing today’s exercise.

First, today’s DD. 40 scorpion twists, with EC. A fun one, as usual.

Last, Chapter 6 of the AoP. This chapter wast the one to introduce one to the job system of the program. Had three different jobs to pick from and I decided to do all three. Took me a bit over an hour to complete these tasks:

Camp to Canis = 12TP | xLv2 (HK)

Canis to Bunker 201 = 19TP | xLv2 (HK)

[Chapter] - Bunker Job = 50 Push-Ups (5x10)

Bunker 201 to Camp "Mira" = 13TP | xLv2 (HK)

[Chapter] - Camp Mira Job = 200 half jacks (100+60+40)

Camp Mira to The Swamps = 21TP (HK; 11+10)

[Chapter] - The Swamps Job = 400 side-to-side backfists (1x400)

The Swamps to Canis = 43TP (HK; 10+11+11+11)

108 total travel point done at Lv2 as high knees. Split some batches of exercise as above. Earned 380 scraps for it - spent 80 superfluously.

Interspersed amongst the usual, I did do more dishes and writing for the iZ!AU today.

I got to bed really late, but earlier than yesterday.

-

Jan. 8

I woke up proper after 1PM.

After a bit of the usual, I did today’s only exercise - the DD.

First, today’s DD. 2′ tricep dip hold without EC. Split this inot 2x1′, with 1′ rest. Mostly due to energy levels. And trying not  to have chair dig into back too uncomfortably.

After a bit of YouTube and dishes, I made tonight’s Hello Fresh Meal. Chicken and guac burrito bowls. Reasonably tasty, i gave myself kind of a lot. Everybody liked it well enough.

(I really didn’t need to eat so much frozen pizza after that either, so I was groggy and overfull for basically the rest of the night.)

Most of the rest of my night was spent BSing. Got to bed obscenely late again.

[benvoliosantodomingo]

@portiaphan asked for / actually friends au  mentioned / @romroses 

the apartment of jack hawthorne, oxfordshire, england / before

the sound of his phone vibrating against the nightstand rouses bellamy from sleep. jack makes a soft sound that might be an acknowledgement that something is happening, but might also be nothing more than an exhale of breath, and his hand tightens where it’s gently curled around the skin of bellamy’s hip, before it relaxes again. he smiles, and for a moment he is keen to ignore the instance of the intrusion--he closes his eyes again and focuses on the warmth of the contact, of the body pressed up against his spine, and for a moment he is lost to the memory of the night before.

i’ll be the first to admit that it’s cliche, jack had said, his lips and teeth stained by the wine. but i think you’re the most real and present person that i have ever met. bellamy had rolled his eyes and declared that such phrasing was cliche, and that someone with the level of education that his boyfriend possessed was capable of doing so much better--and then jack had smiled, in that way he always did. open and inviting, and yet somehow teasing--as if between his lips was the answer to every question bellamy could ever think to ask, if only he could conjure the correct phrasing. he had smiled and pressed his lips to bellamy’s jaw, followed the curve of the bone all the way to his lips. no, he had said. i think terribly real is the best way i could think to describe you. warm to the touch in a way that no one else is, at home inside of the cathedral of yourself. the sun in constant orbit, perhaps.

he feels the corner of his lips pulling up in a lazy smile, and he has a half formed idea that involves rolling over and seeing what else he can conjure out of the mouth of the poet, when the sound of the phone going off again begins to register. he huffs out an annoyed breath, and brings the screen close to his face, in an effort to assist his still heavy with sleep eyes.

three texts from marcelo, ten from roman, a missed call from odessa, one from paola and henry a piece, and two missed calls from pandora.

he drags a hand over his face and exhales slowly, before pressing a kiss between jack’s eyes and somehow managing to bring himself to his feet, and subsequently the kitchen. the sun, or at least, what passes for sun in england, is just beginning to rise as he fills the kettle with water and carefully places it on the stove, and he comes to the conclusion that it is far too early, relative to the amount of wine he consumed the night before.

he leans against the kitchen counter and presses pandora’s name on the screen. it's best to begin the process of healing whatever new wound verona has chosen to deal out with a modicum of truth--before he makes his way to whatever fantastic recollection his two best friends will inevitably share between them.

“bellamy,” she answers, and her voice is rough around the edges--tired in a way she doesn’t normally allow others to glimpse. “have you talked to anyone else, yet?”

“no,” he immediately starts to feel the familiar mixture of emotion in the pit of his stomach--something like survivor’s guilt, mixed with sadness and something that might be residual anger at the life they were all thrown into, at the city that brought them into adulthood exhausted, sharp edged in an effort to draw attention away from each tender bruise. “you were the first call i made--is everything all right?”

she is silent for a long moment, during which bellamy’s mind begins the process of coming to terms with about a dozen horrible possible scenarios. finally he hears the sound of a long exhale of breath, as if his friend is attempting to steel herself for something. for as long as he’s known her, pandora phan has been afraid of nothing--what could she possibly have to tell him that would require so much courage?

“are you sitting down?” she asks, and bellamy groans.

“just tell me--if something happened--” he huffs out a breath and worries his bottom lip between his teeth. “i’ll come home, i’ll help in any way i can--just tell me, so that we can get the hard part out of the way.”

she pauses again, before she speaks. “i wanted you to hear it from me, first. roman and i announced our engagement last night. or well--damiano, and my family, announced it to roman and i. bellamy--” there’s an emotion in her voice that he can’t quite place, that he hasn’t heard from her before--he’s not sure, he’s too busy trying to decipher the meaning of the sudden roaring in his own chest. “bellamy, you have to know that we had nothing to do with it. we can’t just say no to these things.”

i’m sorry, he wants to say. i love you dearly, but i can’t really process this information right now. for some reason, it feels like the floor, perhaps the earth itself, has suddenly given way underneath my feet. can i call you back?

i’m sorry, he wants to say. i love you dearly, but i can’t. not when it's him. you understand, right? no? i don’t really either. does it feel like the miles of distance between us has suddenly compounded in the center of your chest, as well?

i’m sorry, he wants to say, for reasons he can’t quite articulate.

instead, he chuckles, and he’s certain that the sound is the furthest thing from genuine. “panda--i’m happy for you, really. i’m glad that it's you.”

he notices then that his fingers are gripped tightly on the edge of the counter, that the tea kettle has been hissing steam and making noise for long enough to draw jack out of the bedroom, wearing a pair of bellamy’s pajama bottoms, his bleach blonde hair sticking up in odd angles that on any other morning, bellamy would gladly take the time to smooth out with a gentle hand.

“damiano is throwing a party, about a month from now.” pandora says, though bellamy has trouble processing the words--the sound of her voice suddenly seems at odds with the life that bellamy has constructed for himself here. his life that’s filled with books, the sound of rain falling gently against a pane of glass, laughter followed by the honeyed words of a poet--verona seems like it should be on an entirely different celestial body from that life, not on the other end of a red string, pulling on his wrist. “we’d both like you to be there, if you can make it. bring your english boy with you--i know everyone would love to meet him. i’d love to meet him.”

he can hear her smile on the other end--he can almost see it too. determined, all teeth, only sad around the edges if you know to look for it. “of course i’ll be there--you’re two of my best friends. i wouldn’t miss it.” he smiles in return, and hopes she can hear it in the same way, hopes maybe she’ll imagine it happier, than it is in actuality.

“it will be good to see you. take care of yourself until then, bellamy.”

“you too, panda.”

he sets his phone down on the countertop, before accepting the mug of tea that jack presses into his hands. warm, but not quite real, at this particular moment in time. “what was that about?” his boyfriend asks, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

he hesitates--taps his fingers against the mug. it's emblazoned with the logo of a play they’d seen together on the west end a week ago--it's been bellamy’s favorite, ever since. he sets it down carefully next to his phone, and shrugs one shoulder. “two of my friends from back home just got engaged. i’m thinking about flying out for the party.”

jack smiles warmly, gently rests a hand on bellamy’s shoulder, before it moves up his neck, cards through the short hair at the base. “that will be the first time you’ve been home in a while, won’t it? i can come with you, if you’d like.”

bellamy shakes his head. “i’ll be fine. i don’t plan on staying.”

the home of damiano montague, verona, italy / before

damiano montague towers over his guests, an image that is almost comically opposed to the glimmering crystal of the champagne flute in his hand. its clear to everyone invited that he is proud of his son, of the woman they’ll welcome into their family sooner rather than later, and it's clear to everyone invited that the young couple are a good match for one another--surely the montague empire will only flourish, once the uncrowned king and queen of verona ascend to their rightful thrones, once the mind of pandora phan is united in matrimony and purpose with the charm and energy of roman montague. it hardly needs to be said, and yet damiano still smiles, taps his knife against his glass, and declares that he would like to propose a toast.

bellamy takes the opportunity to wrap his jacket around odessa’s shoulders, and make a half hearted excuse about needing some air.

he steps out into the massive expanse of the montague garden, which has been strung up with an innumerable amount of fairy lights for the occasion. the night air is cool, as opposed to the oppressive heat of people pressed together inside, and the setting is almost beautiful--but he can’t un-know what’s happening inside, behind the door he now has his back to. he can’t un-know how he feels about it, either.

once, he had known the exact number of steps it took to gain enough momentum to push himself over the gate nearest to roman’s room. once, he had known the exact number of steps it took to get from the other side of that gate to the trellis that just to happened to climb just underneath his best friend’s bedroom window. it had seemed vital then, to know such things--now, as he wanders through the foliage, yet again trying to stay hidden away from view, it feels half remembered, unimportant.

why would he choose the boy who had been so desperate to be close to him that he had memorized every detail of the process, to the point of it being damn near muscle memory?

he throws back what remains of his champagne, startles at a hand on his shoulder.

pandora smiles, presses a kiss to his cheek. she’s holding both of her shoes, and wearing a black zip up hoodie over her dress. “i--wasn’t feeling well.” he tries to say, in way of explanation. “didn’t realize how much time had passed.”

“it’s all right.” she says, in a tone of voice that is kinder than it has any right to be, all things considered. “i can’t imagine how overwhelming it must be, to suddenly be back in the belly of the beast.” she leans her head on his shoulder. “i’m glad you came, bellamy.”

he exhales, a shaky release of breath that suddenly feels trapped and hard to draw. “of course--it’s not every day that two of your best friends get engaged, after all. what kind of person would i be if i missed this?”

she shakes her head, wraps her arms around his middle. “one with self preservation instincts, bell.” he hugs her in return, presses a kiss to the top of her head. her voice is quiet, meant for only bellamy to hear, in comparison to her usual concise and cutting manner of speaking. “i’m so sorry. i see how you look at him. i know how he talks about you. if he had a choice--”

her voice trails off, and bellamy bites down hard on his bottom lip, until he can taste copper on his tongue.

“i should be the one apologizing to you.” he murmurs, after an indeterminate amount of time has passed. maybe an eternity, maybe only a few minutes. “i wish i could stop--but i think--” he chuckles, though it’s a hoarse sound, like sandpaper rubbing against brick. “i think i’ve felt this way longer than i’ve known that i have.”

he inhales and exhales slowly, rubs a hand gently over her shoulder. “i’m going back to england tomorrow, you won’t have to worry about me.”

she pulls away, in an effort to meet his gaze properly. “don’t be an idiot, bellamy santo-domingo.” she shoves at him playfully, before she rests both of her hands on his chest. “i am always going to worry about you. but you should know, that until--i don’t know, whatever happens--i won’t hurt him.”

she hugs him again, and he rests his chin on top of her head. “just--don’t stay away too long, okay? he misses you more than you know.”

she laughs, and lets out a long and dramatic exhale of breath. “if we don’t get back in there, people are going to get suspicious of the wrong thing.”

her offers her his arm, and together, they head back in the direction of the house.

[dvp95]

throw your head back laughing

pairing: chris kendall/pj liguori rating: teen & up tags: outsider pov, au, established relationship, idiots in love word count: 1657 summary: Cara has to wonder how much of it is performative. Of course she does; everything she knows about this game points to them being in a Scene of some sort. They seem to genuinely enjoy each other's company, if nothing else.

written for the LOVELY @jestbee <3 happy goddamn birthday jane!!!!!! you’ve been such a good pal to me and i hope i can make you smile with this stupid thing!!!!!

read on ao3 or here!

"Hello, welcome to -" Cara cuts herself off in the middle of her spiel when she looks up from the podium. Two men stand in front of her for probably the ninth time this year, matching grins on their faces as they watch the recognition wash over her. She smiles, closer to a real one than a customer service one, and gestures behind her. "Your table is available. Do you need me to escort you?"

"Thanks, love," one of them says with a wink, "but I think we can manage."

He takes his companion by the sleeve and makes a beeline for a table near the middle of the restaurant, the same one they always go for. Cara bites back a laugh as she makes eye contact with one of the waitstaff.

Nate makes a big show of sighing and turning back around to tell the kitchen at large about their arrivals. She can't hear it from here, but Cara knows that people who have been here long enough are either thrilled or frustrated, and the new hires are probably just confused. When Nate is looking at her again, Cara taps her glasses and holds up three fingers. He makes a note on his order pad. She wonders how big the betting pool is going to be this time.

The men are, as always, ensconced in their own little world the moment their asses hit the seats. Their long legs overlap under the table in a comfortable, familiar sort of way, and they talk to each other with such dramatic hand gestures that Cara wishes she could hear the topic that's got them so riled up.

Sometimes she makes excuses to walk by their table and eavesdrop. So far she's learned that they're passionate about science fiction, craft supplies, what specific colour the ceiling is painted, and gender expression. It doesn't seem to matter if they're talking about the sliding scale of acceptable femininity for men to show in public or how easy it would be to build a robot out of cardboard - they have the same amount of enthusiasm, every time.

Cara has to wonder how much of it is performative. Of course she does; everything she knows about this game points to them being in a Scene of some sort. They seem to genuinely enjoy each other's company, if nothing else.

It's always a strange atmosphere for the first half hour or so after they've been seated. They talk and they eat and they seem oblivious to the wary eyes of the staff around them, even though anyone with half a brain knows they're fully aware of the attention on them. The only time they left without anything happening was when the place was practically empty and there was no audience of unsuspecting patrons for their nonsense.

That had been a different sort of anticipation. Like the whole building had been waiting for a beat that never dropped. The men had left without fanfare, and every employee had gone home perplexed.

The general consensus, up to that point, had been that they did this for the free food and champagne, but their need for some kind of audience opened up a Pandora's box of possible motivations. Nate's convinced that they're doing some sort of social experiment, one of the line chefs thinks they must be YouTubers or something, and a very optimistic new waitress has been positing that maybe it's genuine every time.

"Maybe one of them has short term memory problems," she'd explained to Cara. "Or they're very on-again off-again."

Cara had nodded along at the time, but she's not buying it. It's the grins on their faces every time they meet her at the hostess podium that convince her they know exactly what they're up to.

As far as Cara can tell, they might just do it for the hell of it.

Forty-something minutes after the men are seated, the signs start to show themselves. Cara drifts over to Nate and nudges him, interrupting his bussing for something much more entertaining. He grins and turns around. Neither of them make an effort to hide that they're staring, because it's happened seven or so times before.

The man in glasses is twitching like he's nervous, all of a sudden, and keeps patting at the same spot in his jacket. Cara might find it sweet if she hadn't seen it so many times.

"Ha," she whispers. "Told you it was him this time."

"They don't have a pattern," Nate argues. He's always a little prickly when he loses.

"But only one of them is wearing a jacket," Cara points out. "So obviously, it was going to be him. Is it a 50/50 split again?"

Nate sighs and shakes his head, pulling out his notepad as the men start talking in low voices across the small table. "No, most people guessed the other guy. You're only splitting the win with two of the cooks."

"Nice."

It seems like Nate wants to whinge some more, but then the man in glasses is standing up. The waitstaff all pause in what they're doing and turn to look, prompting the other diners to look as well. With hilariously awkward movements for how practised Cara knows the motion is, he drops to one knee and takes his companion's hand in both of his own. Some of the diners gasp or whisper amongst themselves; the waitstaff mostly just seem annoyed to lose the pool.

"Christopher," the man starts. His voice trembles the perfect amount, and Cara is reluctantly impressed by how sincere they make this seem every time.

"Oh my god," Christopher stage whispers. Cara wonders if that's actually his name.

"We've been friends for so long," the man continues, "and I've been so deeply in love with you for most of those years - I couldn't believe it when you first agreed to see a film with me in a non-platonic sort of way."

Out of the corner of his mouth, Nate murmurs, "What the hell is that accent? I can't place it for the life of me."

"Not sure," says Cara. "He just sort of sounds like he's on telly, doesn't he? Like a presenter?"

"D'you think there are hidden cameras?"

"Surely we'd have seen it somewhere if there were."

"But why else -"

"Shh," says Cara.

They're all so familiar with this song and dance that she knows Christopher is going to fan at his face with his free hand and then start tearing up. Watching him cry on demand is her favourite part. They can argue about motivations once they've left.

Sure enough, Christopher is wiping at his eyes and grinning down at his partner in crime. "Are you serious? Of course I'll marry you."

The other diners applaud politely when the men embrace. Cara makes a mental note of those who aren't, those who roll their eyes and mutter things to their companions, those who look upset when Christopher tugs the other man into a short, sweet kiss. She's not sure if it's a perk or a curse to know which of their regulars hate her, but it's certainly useful to know who to sit by the loo.

"Better bring them their celebratory fucking champagne," Nate sighs.

"Every goddamn time," Cara says, unable to hide the fondness in her voice. She can't help but root for these idiots. "Don't forget to comp their food."

"That's not even why they do this," says Nate. He's whinging, but Cara knows it's not actually a bother to him.

Nate's right; the free food and champagne clearly isn't the reason they've proposed to each other a half dozen times in the middle of their restaurant, but it's probably a bonus. Just like weeding out the homophobes on the staff is a bonus.

When everyone goes back to their dinners and their jobs and the newly-engaged-again men are back in their seats, Cara approaches them.

"Congratulations," she says, tucking her hair behind her ear. She sees the way Christopher's eyes linger on her interlocked Venus tattoo. He holds tighter to his fiancé's hand and gives her the same shit-eating grin as whenever they ask her for a table.

"Thanks, love."

"I'm Cara," she says, tapping at her name tag. "Just so you know how to address the invitation."

The man in glasses laughs, loud. He still seems like he's performing in some way, but a look passes between them and makes his voice softer, less put-on. "I promise that we would," he says, "except that we got married eight years ago."

Cara bites back a cackle of her own and shakes her head, trying not to make eye contact with any of her curious coworkers. She's definitely keeping this one to herself - you never know when another opportunity to win a betting pool will present itself, after all - so she doesn't exactly want to draw attention to the conversation.

"Alright," she says. "I better go back to work."

"Don't you want to know why we do this?" the man in glasses asks, sounding a bit put out.

Cara shrugs. "For the hell of it, right?"

Another look passes between them, and Christopher tips an invisible hat to her. "Pretty and smart, eh? Do you accept tips?"

Technically, no. And while she thinks she probably deserves one for this, Cara knows she's got a good chunk of everyone else's tip money tonight.

"Do you?" she asks instead. "Because I've got a tip for ya. You should try saying no next time."

"Saying no?" Christopher echoes, grinning across the table.

"We haven't tried that," his husband agrees. "Not as much fun, maybe, but surely the sympathy from it will make up for that."

"Plus, I can cry more."

Cara snorts and heads back to her podium. As curious as she is, she thinks it'll be more fun to wait and see how it pans out the next time they wander in to shake things up.

[randomestfandoms-ocs]

For the send you a song ask, the entirety of Lover (each song for an OC) 💗 -lorettastwilight

Send me a song and I’ll tell you which OC(s) it fits bestOkay so the entire album gives me super (future) Amy vibes but I’ll try to list others too lmao

1. I Forgot That You Existed

Amethyst Adams in (If Not For The Lure Of) Darker Water - Okay so like I DMed you last night, this is the perfect song for this AU!  After the fight with Jughead, Amy joins the Ghoulies and doesn’t see him again until the first day of school, she walks in hot and happy and absolutely killing it and realizes that she hasn’t thought about him in months! - I forgot that you existed/And I thought that it would kill me, but it didn’t/And it was so nice/So peaceful and quiet/I forgot that you existed/It isn’t love, it isn’t hate, it’s just indifference

Bella Baxter to Reggie Mantle about the playbook and people finding out that she’s a Serpent - I forgot that you/Got out some popcorn/As soon as my rep started going down, down, down/Laughed on the school yard/As soon as I tripped up and hit the ground

2. Cruel Summer

The Romeo and Juliet references definitely give me major Aaliya x Jason vibes!!!  Especially thinking about the literal gate around Thornhill, with Aaliya sneaking in to spend the night with Jason - And I snuck in through the garden gate/Every night that summer just to seal my fate/And I scream, “For whatever it’s worth/I love you, ain’t that the worst thing you ever heard?”

3. Lover

While I’ve already made edits for Amy x Sweet Pea and Arianne x Scott (and it is a perfect song for both ships) I think it’s actually most perfect for Selena x Derek!!! - Can I go where you go?/Can we always be this close forever and ever? & My heart’s been borrowed and yours has been blue/All’s well that ends well to end up with you/Swear to be overdramatic and true to my lover

That being said, it’s still absolutely perfect for SweetA and is the song that Amy walks down the aisle to for their second wedding

4. The Man

Amethyst Adams (and Fallon Parris Jones and Astoria Topaz) about being the Serpent King - I’d be a fearless leader/I’d be an alpha type & I’m so sick of running as fast as I can/Wondering if I’d get there quicker if I was a man & They’d paint me out to be bad/So, it’s okay that I’m mad

5. The Archer

Also definitely Amy and Arianne, but Summer Sol!!! - Who could ever leave me, darling/But who could stay? & I wake in the night, I pace like a ghost/The room is on fire, invisible smoke/And all of my heroes die all alone/Help me hold on to you

6. I Think He Knows

Summer Simmons x Archie - Lyrical smile, indigo eyes, hand on my thigh/We can follow the sparks, I’ll drive/“So where we gonna go?”/I whisper in the dark/“Where we gonna go?”/I think he knows

7. Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince

Answered here - it’s pretty long so I won’t copy it all

8. Paper Rings

Arianne x Scott holy shit holy shit holy shit - I like shiny things, but I’d marry you with paper rings/Darling, you’re the one I want, and/I hate accidents except when we went from friends to this

Amy x Sweet Pea, another song from their wedding soundtrack - I’m with you even if it makes me blue & Honey, without all the exes, fights, and flaws/We wouldn’t be standing here so tall & Kiss me once cause you know I had a long night/Kiss me twice ‘cause it’s gonna be alright/Three times ‘cause I waited my whole life & In paper rings, in picture frames, in dirty dreams/you’re the one I want

9. Cornelia Street

Selena x Derek! - And I hope I never lose you, hope it never ends/I’d never walk Cornelia Street again/That’s the kind of heartbreak time could never mend/I’d never walk Cornelia Street again

10. Death By A Thousand Cuts

Fallon x Sweet Pea 100% - Saying goodbye is death by a thousand cuts/Flashbacks waking me up/I get drunk, but it’s not enough/Cause the morning comes and you’re not my baby/I look through the windows of this love/Even though we boarded them up/Chandelier’s still flickering here/Cause I can’t pretend it’s okay when it’s not

Pandora x Steve Rogers in First Avenger - you said it was a great love/One for the ages/But if the story’s over/Why am I still writing pages?

11. London Boy

Alissara Baratheon x Oberyn Martell - But something happened, I heard him laughing/I saw the dimples first and then I heard the accent/They say home is where the heart is/But that’s not where mine lives

12. Soon You’ll Get Better

Given the whole story behind this song, i feel very weird assigning it to a character. Stella Beauregard and Brinkley Brant each lose a parent to cancer but that’s as far as I’m willing to go with it at the moment

13. False God

Rosebud x FP - We might just get away with it/The altar is my hips/Even if it’s a false god/We’d still worship this love

14. You Need To Calm Down

Rosalind Flores during the List - And we see you over there on the Internet/Comparing all the girls who are killing it/But we figured you out/We all know now/We all got crowns/You need to calm down

15. Afterglow

Amethyst x Sweet Pea - I blew things out of proportion, now you’re blue/Put you in jail for something you didn’t do/I pinned your hands behind your back, oh/Thought I had reason to attack & Hey, it’s all me, in my head/I’m the one who burned us down/But it’s not what I meant/Sorry that I hurt you

16. Me!

Also Amethyst and Sweet Pea tbh - I know that I’m a handful baby, uh/I know I never think before I jump/And you’re the kind of guy the ladies want

17. It’s Nice To Have A Friend

Nikki x Peter - School bell rings, walk me home/Sidewalk chalk covered in snow/Lost my gloves, you give me one/“Wanna hang out?” Yeah, sounds like fun/Video games, you pass me a note/Sleeping in tents

18. Daylight

In a perfect bookend with I Forgot That You Existed, this is future Amy and future SweetA af.  Honestly this is exactly where I plan on ending Wayward Daughter for her arc, learning to leave the past in the past and finally look into the future and at the bright life that awaits - Luck of the draw only draws the unlucky/And so I became the butt of the joke/I wounded the good and I trusted the wicked/Clearing the air, I breathed in the smoke & Maybe I’ve stormed out of every single room in this town/Threw out our cloaks and our daggers because it’s morning now & You gotta step into the daylight and let it go & I wanna be defined by the things that I love/Not the things I hate/Not the things I’m afraid of/Or the things that haunt me in the middle of the night

Send me a song and I’ll tell you which OC(s) it fits best

[pandorafics]

A College Bartender Au

(( Well then 🙃 I'm still breaking my rules here. Psst @sk-1522. It' here. I want to thank @apologieslogan for dropping the initial idea for the fic so this is for them.

-Pandora

Fandom: Sanders Sides

Cw: I don't think so, not yet

Word count: 2,064

 “ Roman? Are you okay?” Patton finally questioned while he looked at his friend pouring over textbooks. Two empty coffee cups by the drama nerd's side. To the young baker… this was like seeing every world monument at once.  It was amazing. However, it was also frightening that it was possible.

    “No, I am dying. I have all this stuff to do, and barely any time. Mrs. Dominic is going to laugh at this exam grad, it's curtains for sure!”   Roman groaned dropping his head into the books in front of him with a sigh. Ro reached for his third coffee, he only raised his head when the cup was gripped tightly in his hand.

    “You never worried about Mrs. Dominic's class before and you typically pass. Which is impressive enough. She doesn't like anyone.”

    “Patton I have been bewitched by this handsome glasses clad fellow with a mind sharper than my sword.” Roman whined before taking a sip of his coffee, “ She actually likes him, Patton.  She is actually a human with him! I don't get it!  How! How does any one person get into a casual conversation with her? Debate with her. And then carry on as normal!”  He ranted in frustration his hands moving as he talked. However, his movements were more spastic since he was tired.

    The baker sighed his hand reached into his bag and pulled out two cookies setting them down on the napkin. The smaller man ignored the sounds of annoyance coming from others in the coffee shop. “ Logan?  He is just really smart. Mrs. Dominic has a lot of respect. For kids like him. I am sure he is not a snob just talk to him.”

    “No I will prove I am sm- oh there he is.” Roman silenced himself looking down at the multitude of books. As the nerd entered the shop placing his order.   Logan glanced around the boisterous shop before spotting an acquaintance of his, Patton (he hoped), gently patting the back of another student appearing to try and study.  

    Trying was the keyword in Logan's mind. The man was hunched over multiple books. His hair ruffled from shoving a hand through it repeatedly.  There we two empty disposable cups by his side and one griped in tight fingers while he stared at the same spot on the page from only inches away.  That settled it.

   “Greetings Patton, how are you today?”  Logan questioned as he walked over. He had time before his order was completed. Patton smiled at his friend waving.

    “Hi, Logan! I’m doing pretty good, what about you? “

    “Satisfactory, unlike your friend it seems, anything I can assist with?” Logan remarked in a seemingly neutral tone.  

    “I am fine!” Roman protested, in an offended tone. Logan hummed looking at the page he was trying to study, and then looked up to meet the brown eyes that were narrowed in a glare at him.

    “You're failing to study correct?” Logan said his blue eyes narrowed at the stubbornness of the other.

    “Logan, please. Just let him focus. This is important to him.”  Patton interjected looking between his two friends.

    “This is actually very important to me and I have it under control,” Roman added with a huff.

    “Then how about this. I'll ask a question answer it correctly without peaking at the page in front of you and I will let it go. If you answer incorrectly. I show you how to study properly.” Logan said calmly looking at the boys in front of him.  Roman looked at the nerd, who had the balls to talk to him like that.

    “Fine ask away to teach. I have been studying for hours I got this!”

    “ Alright.” Logan pulled a notebook from his bag and opened to a blank page. He wrote ‘Long-term Memory’ at the top.

    Patton sat to the side sipping hot chocolate with a small smirk, to avoid sighing at Roman’s mistake. Like it or not this was one of Roman's worst subjects. To Patton, Roman Just let his stubbornness dictate his actions.  

    Logan drew two branches one veering left and the other veering right. The branch on the right he left a two line gap then drawing a branch going down a line. Before stopping. On the left branch, he left a two line gap drew a branch going down another two-line gape and then two more branches veering right and left.  “This is the graph at the top of the page, fill in the subdivisions of long-term memory and what falls into those categories.”

    “ Logan Croft?” The barista called out, Logan stood up and looked at Roman.

    “One moment.” The nerd said before walking away Roman looked at the paper Logan had just drawn and grumbled. His pride kept him from cheating. However, Ro struggled to remember what he had read.  

    “You have got to be kidding me. I literally have been studying this page for an hour. I should know this.” He grumbled before naming the ones he kinda thought that he knew.  He was disappointed in himself, to say the least. However Roman kept trying. This nerd was not going to strip him of his pride.  

    Not when this nerd also charmed him.  He bowed his head trying to think. It was not working. Nothing was helping.  “ So, have you finished?”

    Roman huffed as the neutral tone spoke to him again. “ I huh- no I'm not.”   

    “Right… at any rate, I have twenty minutes to get to class and will probably not be able to wait until it comes to you. Here are my address and number. If you want the help simply text me when your coming. And please get some rest. It is important if you actually want to retain any of the information you have been haphazardly gorging on. Good day.”  Logan set a piece of paper on the table. A gloved hand holding his coffee as he walked away.

    The drama kid looked at his friend with wide eyes. “What the-”

    “ One more thing?” Logan called over his shoulder looking at the pair.  Roman swallowed nervously.

    “ Yes?”  

    “ Water helps the brain function more than coffee.”  The nerd said before leaving to his class. This time Roman waited until the ding of the bell before allowing himself to give a look of sheer bewilderment.  

    “ Did that really just happen?”

    “ Yes, I am so sorry Ro, he can be a bit-”

    “ I have a study date!  And it is something he has a passion for!” Roman sang out as if the spirits had just been lifted by guardian angels. Several ‘hushs’ were hissed out at the pair. It was early enough that nobody was ready for Roman Prince's version of extra.

    “ No no no. Roman this is bad. How do you intend to focus when you're sitting less than two feet in front of him. You couldn't even manage to keep it together in the same room as him!” Patton snapped hoping his hopeless friend would see reason.

    Another hush from the people behind them had Roman packing his bag. He wanted to sing and scream from the rooftop.  These people wanted to be boring and wake up for the day. Roman understood. As for what Patton said, Roman could only sigh. “ Patton I will take care of this don't worry.  I need to go, rest, bathe, and rejuvenate!” Roman standing as he adjusted his bag and moved to walk out the door.

    “Roman. His number. “ Patton sighed holding out the paper Logan had left behind.

   “ Oh, right, thanks,”  Roman stated rubbing the back of his neck. He walked back and accepted the napkin. The grin on his face so wide Patton thought the skin would tear.  

    Patton put on a smile, “No problem kiddo just try not to upset your roommate again.”  

    “Surly Temple will be fine. He is used to my antics that is if he is even there. The grouch usually leaves for work by now.”  Roman says calmly as Patton gathered up his own belongings. By the time Pat looked back up Ro had disappeared. Whatever happened, Logan better not break his friend's heart.

   Logan shook his head with a sigh as he went to class, that poor, huh, he hadn't even gotten a name.  That was… unlike him, usually, Lo would get to at least know someone before offering to help someone study. Yet, the young man seemed to be the exception. No matter. He will behave better next time. Granted coffee boy didn't think he was an asshole and never spoke to him again.  

   The twenty-year-old sighed softly when his phone buzzed twice, and then twice more, curious.  A flick of his thumb would show one text was His co-worker and friend Virgil, the other was an unknown number from presumably the coffee boy from fifteen minutes ago.  Virgil first, after all, it may be business related.

    ‘morning teach, hey we still practicing at noon? I really need to get away from the singing lunatic. He just burst in the damn door singing Queen and I can not handle it if I have work at four thirty. ‘

    Shame, Virgil was always having issues with the theater kid, and it was annoying  ‘ You have my apartment key, go rest there. Just try not to make a mess. And we will practice when I come home. Free pouring, hopefully, you won't plant me into the ground this time.  Your muddling needs work, desperately, so we will also make a pitcher of Sangria. Pop quiz: What does “with a twist” mean?’

    ‘ I'll take that as a good morning. with a twist is a ref to the garnish a piece of lemon to add flavor to the drink.’

   ‘ What is the form of lemon?’

   ‘ Lo, it is 7:43 in the morn. Lemon wedge I guess :/’

‘  “With a twist” is the addition of citrus peel used to enhance the flavor of a beverage based on the flavor profile. I will see you after class.’  

   ‘ Do you ever slow down? You just ran a 7-3am here it is 7:43 am and you're starting again? Ever hear of burnout?’

   ‘ If your free pour counts were as accurate as your astute observations of the clock. I'd be out of a tutoring job.’

    ‘ Uhh fuck you lo’

    ‘ I am not a fan of aggravated copulation rituals, therefore I am going to have to reject your… less than the kind offer.’  Logan responded a final time before walking into his first class of the day. His phone turned off and put away as the professor started the discussion with an air of expertise that Logan had always idolized. The confidence, and demanding presence.  The teacher didn't force people to pay attention to. His words were thoughtful and questioning prompting discussion from everyone while notes were written on the board.

Logan Croft loved to learn. it was his blood.

   Virgil shook his head at Logan's response, taken literally again. He had no clue if it was intentional or not at this point. However as much as it annoyed him, it was funny that Lo could be so smart, yet so dumb.  The rookie stood grabbing his bag and sauntering out of the door. Honestly, “ We Are the Champions, ” is a solid song even if it isn't his cup of coffee. However, there is a time and place dude.

   Roman undressed his eyes glancing at the scars, it was a liberating feeling.  The binding had never done his singing any good. Nevermind he was not the most cautious, but he could breathe deep now. Hold a note.  His eyes never looked below the scars, he couldn't.

      A half hour later he was in bed,  his fingers laced behind his nearly black hair.  Roman could get some rest, he had sent Logan a text that he would be at his place by 12:45. That would do for now. He could pack study supplies later.    

    Logan hadn't realized he had dozed off in class. He didn't even recall feeling particularly tired. Well at the coffee shop maybe, but the caffeine, sugar, and taurine( from an energy drink at work earlier) should have assisted him.  He was still out cold in his astrology lecture.

[borderlandscast]

sorry!! I was the one who sent the anon about the development, and yeah, I meant how their character changed as the story went on. but also, what were some things that changed from the initial starting point in the story?

okay, not a problem! let’s do this. my random three picks: zoeya, lalna, and parvis. i’ll think about maybe doing posts for the others but shoves that onto future self. thank you for clarifyingthis ask! it was a pleasure to answer, and apologies for how long this got.

zoeya

her role is basically a xenobiologist traveling to pandora to research fauna and flora. unfortunately, her assistants continued to ditch her given the dangerous nature of the work.

working solo, zoeya continued after many setbacks and was close to giving up after rythian left (for different reasons than what she’d assume though). and then teep showed up.

zoeya’s bubbly, sunny and talkative personality unnerves a lot of people since you’d think all that would be ground out of her at the end of the first day but nope. zoeya’s greatest strength is in her persistence. she never needed coddling, which almost everyone made the mistake of doing since they also assume she’s naive. she proves them wrong later since death (and to a lesser extent, suffering and pain) is a part of life, which is showcased often in her field.

that said, her greatest weakness is her self doubt and insecurities, whether it’s about herself, her job or her relationships. she has a lot of unspoken anxieties on a daily basis, which hinders her ability to function. she shows signs of adhd too; this is especially evident in the scene where teep shows up and her life is a big Mess, from the way she organises her paperwork, her constant clutter and chaotic workflow.

she has a positive impact on teep and vice versa. for the longest time, she couldn’t open up, and now she has this extraordinary assistant who can actually read her handwriting, is not a wimp about foreign bodily fluids, can handle threats without a blinking an eye, can follow instructions after being told only once; yeah, teep’s her dream assistant. problem: they’re stone cold and unreceptive to her ramblings...or so it appears.

zoeya brings the best out in people; she has a grounding effect. whenever i wrote her into a scene, i had to take a different mindset than say, one i’d have for rythian, rythian is cautious, and usually doesn’t do anything without a plan. zoeya, on the other hand, is free of these restrictions. she’s a very emotional person, which plays off nicely against a bigger backdrop of stoic, reserved and colder cast.

she was never intended as a ‘oh, i’m here for you, always!’ sidelines character which is a cliche role; she takes direct actions throughout borderlandscast, such as being the first outsider to see rythian’s mutilated back. she reacts with a little bit of horror, but ultimately reaches out with a compassionate hand. she also ran inside a burning building to get teep. she also is a frontliner in the bandit battle, at the cost of her hand.

losing her hand wasn’t intended until i browsed the old blackrock vids and hit upon the arc where rythian and co end up in the desert and she needs chocolate milk to survive, and uh, things clicked.

zoeya suffers a permanent consequence for her heroic actions in saving sanctuary hole. does she regret it? no! she does her best to move on, with the support of her loved ones. she may have been an anxious wreck throughout the whole event but she never let it stop her from doing the right thing.

lalna

lalna’s role was mysterious from the start to his companions; his concussion impeded his thoughts and rationality. slowly peeling back the real reasons how he ended up on pandora was part of the story.

he was always going to be rythian’s companion, and unfortunately, was going to betray him later. playing up to that was difficult, since i was starting from scratch in an au compared to blackrock where tensions preexisted.

lalna and rythian are both lonely people, and lonely people tend to gravitate towards each other even if their personalities are at odds. i didn’t detail lalna and rythian’s initial journey together but you can tell that they’ve gotten used to each other by the time nanosounds shows up.

i intentionally wrote lalna to be a scaredy cat but differently to nilesy, parvis and zoeya. normal people don’t cope well with being thrown onto a murderous, lawless place, let alone being stranded. lalna handles it reasonably well at first but then there’s the icing on the cake: killing other people.

thus begins lalna’s spiral into the sad mess that he becomes just before tlvh c12 happens. that ended all civilities between him and the main vault hunters.

negative character development where someone truly regrets their actions should be explored more often! lalna didn’t exactly redeem himself in the final battle but he definitely showed that he’s taking his first steps.

sometimes people try to justify doing terrible things because that’s a very human thing to do. lalnable’s own rigid moral compass was foil to lalna’s own weak, wavering one. it also provided another reason for the conflict where lalna nearly throttles him to death but chooses not to, since that’d violate his whole motive for backstabbing rythian.

lalna is driven by selfishness disguised as protective love for his twin. he’s one of the more selfish people in this au.

his loneliness likely drove him to build larry robert, a friend who’d never abandon him.

i don’t think lalna is an idiot; he’s secretly crafty and actually quick thinking, especially when it comes to his specialties. he’s impulsive though, and he doesn’t like to think about the consequences until the dust clears. this gets better closer to the end since he chooses to go back and help the vault hunters, after he provokes arsenal into beating the shit out of him. that uh, takes some serious guts.

he’ll heal his relationship with rythian eventually. where rythian would once have cut ties with lalna, rythian’s open to trying again, something that lalna is deeply grateful for.

parvis

parvis is interesting as a character since he’s so multi-faceted while still being recognisable as himself. i wrote him to be a bandit, but not a bandit, as paradoxical as that sounds.

he was designed to have every bit of confidence as possible or projecting as much; backstage, he dials back on the loudness and is a little awkward but cares deeply with all the finesse of a brick in a sock. he rivals ravs in terms of social awareness, which is how he easily picked up on will’s need for a friend.

his sewing hobby was added much later, it provides him a valuable skill since bandits probably tear up their own clothes often. plus, plenty of civilians and vault hunters could do with repairs every once in a while. being one of the friendlier bandits around, parvis has a secret reputation as a tailor. he only tries a little to deny it.

parvis intensely dislikes conflict but pretends he does, if only to keep the masses happy (his own lieutenants are bloodthirstier than he is, a rarity on pandora). okay, he might enjoy it a little but the consequences of getting hurt far outweigh the adrenaline rushes. he gets over this ridiculously fast when he’s out for blood in the name of a friend (as in the case of one will strife during the jailbreak), or if something he likes is threatened (like his precious stronghold).

as sparkles pointed out, parvis’ leadership capabilities and knack for keeping a whole bandit gang united under one flag (with a love of music, of all things) is pretty much peerless. parvis has a goddamned gift. it’s why he’s so well-liked by each of his ‘fans’, and why he’s so popular on the echonet. he gets to know all of them equally, and rarely plays favourites. he doesn’t let the attention go to his head, much.

the illliteracy part is common amongst bandits but reading sheet music doesn’t take much; parvis is very insecure and touchy about his inability to read and write, but lalnable helps him with that. he also helps parvis get over his fear of blood and pain in the most direct way possible. it’s voluntary on parvis’ part since parvis rocks up to the clinic on a daily basis since hanging out with lalnable is greater than getting nausea over drawing blood.

parvis really steps up to the plate in ‘the battle of sanctuary hole’. he has major self doubts abouts his ability to succeed in battles despite the bloody bandits’ amazing track record of occupying the dam stronghold against multiple attacks. his big, gay ‘crush’ on daltos may have factored into his decision to pick up his gun and finally jump into the fray.

the ‘crush’ part is parvis working through a complex series of feelings. as sparkles noted, parvis develops and abandons crushes very quickly (about as fast as he loses guitar picks; his one on ravs is one of his longer standing ones). it stems from wanting to get to know people; being famous fucks a lot with parvis’ ability to make genuine friends. he goes back and forth on relationships when his doubts surface.

parvis is aromantic and asexual but is grey on both counts. he doesn’t know what both orientations are called, and unless he has a ‘i like people but not in that way’ session with daltos (aro, bi), teep (aro, ace) or hybridpanda (aro, ace), he’s not in a big rush to find out.

he just wants to be friends with everybody, except for when he or they’re crossed; parvis has a big vindicative streak to him that’s a big bandit trait. fortunately, parvis is as revenge driven as panda or sjin is.

some things that changed as the story went on (off the top of my head):

length of the story and word count; did not anticipate on it spanning across six plus side stories and a main one, or over three years.

arsenal’s role in ‘the battle of sanctuary hole’; he fucked up almost as badly as daltos did, which accelerated the blitzkreig blighter’s quest for destruction and revenge. whoops. but he fixed that by diving in to save his bestue, and failed at that. nobody’s perfect! except boner.

minty! minty wasn’t envisioned until i needed someone to run concordia. martyn and turps weren’t available since they’re both land locked, but then along came minty.

elsa being a major catalyst for the complete destruction of pandora and the universe. it was a joke, but then it happened.

rythian’s relationship with the queen; he nurtured a close bond with her, which she broke when she tried to escape her vault once she got too jealous of freedom. if things had turned out differently, they could have been friends and the universe would have doomed another way.

nanosounds losing her left arm; i think i talked about this in a post a long, long time ago but the consequences of a siren losing her tattooed arm? hasn’t been seen yet, wanted to explore it.

the legendary that was dropped in the vault of the queen; its name is ‘enderbane’, and is currently in rythian’s possession after honeydew gave it to him, thus breaking the curse of ‘no vault hunter shall own a legendary’. he has no idea what it does since he hasn’t tested it out yet, and is a little afraid to do so considering it’s an eridian weapon. didn’t plan on including it as a drop but usually loot is good on a final boss, so there.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF BORDERLANDS 3!!!!!!! since borderlandscast is almost wrapped up, nothing will change content wise but since there’s a giant time gap that exists, we’ll see how i fit the epilogue in since that’s a big playground.

[pandoraspocksao3]

What Are You Reading This Week?  10/13/2018

I am a fanfic hoarder, so I’m not going to list every one of the 240+ fics I’ve subscribed to and/or bookmarked. What I will do is list some of the ones I haven’t mentioned that are new or that are updating. There is so much good stuff out there! I can’t begin to list it all, and I’m still finding new ones I want to get to later all the time. I’m going straight down my History list to put these up. 

Here are but a few of what’s on my radar right now:

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE (AU):

The Haves and The Have Nots by MissHarper on AO3. (She is @thedarkside-and-thelight here on Tumblr.)

College AU where Rich Boy Ben is a tutor for Poor Girl Rey. 

Crisp, clever, funny dialogue and plenty of sexual tension between Ben and Rey, slow burn

Tutoring is over literature and Greek/Roman mythology - bonus!

Demons Possession by DragonWhiskers ( @belovedunderwing on Tumblr). 

Demon Kylo Ren for some steamy action served Gothic Reylo style (and perfect for October! This updates tomorrow - I mean today - I think I need to finish doing the beta! (Love her work)

Don’t Feed the Bears by @riaria84

One of the funniest AUs I’ve come across, and I’m learning how to be an honorary Canadian because the setting is so immersive! Hockey figures in, and Rey and Ben are Canadian Mounties. Rey’s brother doesn’t know she’s dating Ben. I laugh my ass off every time I read the latest! 

RIA IS GETTING MARRIED TODAY!!!! (10/13/2018) If you know her or read her fics, send her some well wishes and love today! 

Dystopia by @cosmo-gonika

Steampunk AU in which a lethal killing machine android (think Terminator) with no feelings encounters Agent R (Rey) who is trailing him. Then, quote directly from summary,  “ Their meeting and cat-and-mouse game will unveil mysterious, dark secrets from the past.” Two chapters up on this one, but she’s updating once a week.

Accelerant by @3todream3

Firefighter Ben is severely injured in a heroic rescue mission right off the bat, and in hospital recovery meets Nurse Rey. Eagerly awaiting next installment! *I’ve also mentioned her other AU fic, The Lady and the Monster before, which is very good as well. 

The Orchard by @lilia-ula

Vampire AU! This is a short 2-chapter fic, but that makes it a wonderful afternoon read or bedtime read. 

Lilia is really gifted with verse; it’s almost more of a prose/poetry at times. 

But this story is SMUT/EROTICA and for 18+. This is a “bedtime story.” I’m not ashamed; I like my smut reads! I can’t write smut to save my life, but it doesn’t mean I don’t like a spicy read occasionally! 

And if you love that writing style, please click on her profile or subscribe to her user name and check out her other works. Especially This Way Lies Ruin, my favorite of hers. 

Meet Me In the Middle And We’ll Find Our Way Home by @geekmystic  

So fun! So good!  I really love how Ben Solo is written in this one, and Leia!! his mom is saucy - so much like Carrie!

Rey’s car breaks down in a small town and Ben is a mechanic with low self-esteem. I’m now up to the part where they are going to Finn/Poe’s wedding, I think. 

Fast pace and funny, but kinda tugs at the “feels” too, which is a nifty trick to pull off. Subscribe!!!

The Curious Tale of Vader and Millicent by @Saturninefeline 

This is the story of Ben’s cat, Vader, and Hux’s cat, Millicent. Need I say more? 

Kylo and Hux have this snarky at-odds co-worker relationship (set in Star Wars Universe - not sure if it should be in that category)

FUNNY!

The Desert Rose by @lastmouseleft

A favorite author of mine, this story may or may not be your cup of tea - please READ THE TAGS first.

My draw to this is the Jinns...I don’t want to get her background wrong, but Mouse is well traveled and her tales are like something out of Arabian Nights...but this one has a lot of #nsfw in it and Rey is in a harem - haven’t got that far, but she doesn’t use them for gratuitous scenes. 18+ ONLY - please don’t read a story that might make you uncomfortable if you are younger. I try to include a bit of everything for everyone, and I know I have some younger readers - would advise you guys not to read it.

Music to My Ears by Amybee

Completed story (38 chapters)

Classical music - highly rec’d y @nancylovesreylo

First chapter was great - amazing writing style. I think it’s probably pretty fantastic, but haven’t have the time to read it and find out. I trust Nancy though.

Creatures of Darkness by @bunilicious

A “Sleepy Hollow” AU, on my “to read” list! 

Bitter As Coffee, As Sweet As Sunshine by @pacificwanderer

Coffeeshop Au by a truly talented writer

Setting is Seattle

Fluff and humor

Reylo for the Soul!

STAR WARS UNIVERSE:

Hypothermia by @lucidlucy

Sex on a cracker. (No, not literally). Major guilty pleasure read with very long chapters, but she just updated the fourth recently. Great (ahem) bedtime reading!

Unbidden by @perrydowning

I know, DUH - very popular author, but for good reason. I mention this one because she’s settled now and updating regularly, and Unbidden is getting ready to wrap up, so it’s a good time to start if you haven’t and a good time to tune in if you want to read along with everyone else to the end! 

Songs of Innocence, Songs of Wisdom by @cosmo-gonika

Her brief break to finish up that pesky PhD thesis is over and she’s back and writing Songs again with a vengeance, so rejoice! This powerful fic uses great original characters as well. Very sexy as well as great action sequences. Reylo hot, but also Reylo tender with “all the feels.” 

Landscape with a Blur of Conquerors by Diasterisms @kylorenvevo

You’re probably reading it, too! If you aren’t, it lives up to the hype and has mystery, world building, enemies to lovers to arranged marriage to angst and humor - well, read for yourselves!

Glory’s Fray by @avidvampirehunter

Gladiator Kylo Ren - oh, I want to get back to this one and am sooooo busy this weekend! But the mystery and action of the first couple chapters I read was enough to hook me! 

It’s popular, but again, it deserves the kudos. Very well written from my limited start on it.

I have TONS more I’m reading or have read that I could add, but this is long enough as it is! You can always PM me if you are looking for a specific topic and if I know of a story that fits, I’ll tell you. 

My own fics aren’t listed here and I don’t read my own stories for fun, but if you want to check them out, you can see what I’ve written here.

But I admit I don’t hold a candle to the ones listed here! I just try to improve for myself and not to compete with others. Writing is fun, but so is reading! 

Further recs on stories if you want them can be found @thereylowritingden, and @nancylovesreylo reads a ton and relogs updates on her blog, so it’s a great place to see what’s just updated, and she gives great reading suggestions. And there is @reylofic and probably some others, and don’t forget just to search in the search bar on Tumblr using reylo fanfiction or Reylo fanfic. 

Okay, that was long - for all y’all bugging me to do another list, here it is! I don’t think I’ll have a Halloween rec list up, but someone will, I’m sure. 

Feel free to reblog the post and add on fictions YOU feel would be good reads. 

Thanks for taking the time to read all this if you in fact read this far! Isn’t it wonderful we have such a talented fandom with so many topics and writing styles to entertain us! 

Have a great weekend, everyone! I MAY update The Hypnotist this weekend, but we’ll see how it goes. Yikes, I need sleep!!!! 

Happy Reading!

`Pandora

[danvssomethingorother]

All The Progress That Lead to Me (sample)

Summary: Dean asks his dad something unexpected, for the notes on cloning. Rusty is hesitant to give them to his son but complies.

I have been wasting a lot of time on my successful Rusty AU just cause its really relaxing for me to write for some reason but I do have three other VB one shots I’m also working on. So like here’s a sample.  An unedited one but ya know, I try.

---

“Cloning?” his dad asked glancing over his shoulder seeing Pete and Billy looking just as nervous behind his shoulder, “That’s illegal Dean, I’m afraid I don’t---”

“Please cut the crap,” Dean hissed at his father making the three older men share quick glances at each other once more from their respective sides of the lab, “I just have to know ok? I already know I am a clone, so just cut the…you know…and let me have you and grandpa’s notes.”

“I don’t see the harm in giving them to him, Rust,” Pete mumbled rising from his spot at the computer and placing his hand on his father’s shoulder who had yet to react to response. His dad just nodded, swatting his friend away and gently putting his hand on Dean’s shoulder and leading up to the penthouse.

They passed by Hank and Brock lounging across the couch and Brock gave his dad an odd look and Dean caught his dad mouth to him ‘its time’ and Brock glared hard at him but didn’t try to stop him as he lead him into his bedroom.

“Cloning is still very illegal,” his dad began walking into his large walk in closet and popping open a step ladder, so he could reach the top, “These notes don’t leave this area. They don’t go to your school and if you want to play god, I will make you a personal lab somewhere, but you don’t do it at school and this damn well better not be your final project.”

“It’s not,” Dean grumbled testily but sighed, “I just need to know where we came from.”

His dad paused a moment, just standing on the step ladder staring at the boxes at the top of his closet but not really seeing them. He just kept pushing the same one back and forth as if trying to decide if it was the right boxes, if this was the right call.  

“I never wanted it to be this way, Dean,” his father whispered finally stepping down from the ladder finally with the box, “I always hoped I would be long gone by the time you stumbled on this like I had.”

“Why so I could just clone you?”

“God no,” his dad chuckled humorously, “Just…this is sensitive material. It can hurt you if you aren’t careful.”

He sat the two boxes next to where Dean sat on the bed and gently placed a kiss on his forehead and whispered he was sorry it had to turn out this way before turning to leave.

“I need to get back to the lab before White lets Billy play with the cocking gun again,” he said trying to play this off like it wasn’t eating him away inside, but Dean could see the pain clearly on his face.

“Just be careful Dean,” his father begged of him before shutting his bedroom door to give Dean some privacy.

Dean just stared at the boxes, not sure if he wanted to open it now. It was like looking at Pandora’s Box itself, he was about to unleash chaos onto the Venture family, but he needed to know why. Why did they do what they did.

He scooted closer to the boxes and was just about the one closest to him (that he noted was sealed tight and had a ‘I think you need to know the truth, Rusty’ note taped to it) when he heard a knock at the door, he hesitantly got up and opened it to reveal Brock’s stoic face.

“Hey,” Brock mumbled clearly not knowing what to say, “Yer dad tell you were a…”

“Clone?” Dean offered just staring at the body guard.

“Yeah, that…”

“No, Ben told me two years ago and his robot told me Dad was a clone too last night.”

That seemed like news to Brock and he did a quick glance over his shoulder but noticing no one was there, he said nothing. He was going to have a talk with his dad later it seemed.

“I just need to know why,” Dean said finally, “Why did they think this was the best option?”

“I can’t say much for your grandpa since I didn’t know him,” Brock said with a shrug gently touching Dean’s shoulder and leading him back to his father’s bed where he sat him down, “But I know why yer dad did it. He loved you and Hank and he just wanted you alive. He couldn’t stop the crazy shit from happening and even I couldn’t stop half of it, but there was always Plan B that guaranteed you would come back and well I think it drove your father insane.”

“Then why did he keep doing it,” Dean sneered, peeling the tape off the box he assumed had personal notes from his grandfather, the man who started this all.  

“Just listen to the tapes,” Brock sighed drawing his attention away from the box he had been opening and opening the second box and pulling out a stack of cassettes that were lined up neatly in what looked like a clear shoe box and had a post it note on them that read ‘please burn these, Brock’.  

“Have you listened to them?” he asked just staring at the tapes in his hand.

“I did,” Brock said uneasily just staring at them as well, “Yer dad had complied them through the years hoping one day you and your brother would listen to them to understand his reasoning on the cloning business…”

“Why did he want you to burn them then?” Dean asked angrily pulling the note off the box and practically shoving it in his body guard’s face.

“They aren’t happy tapes,” was all Brock said before he turned towards the box that Dean hadn’t opened yet and dug through it a little, finding a stack of cassette tapes inside along with stacks of research, all concealed behind beige folders with large red ‘classified’ stamps across them, he held the large stack of folders easily in his large hands and began skimming through the top one, flipping the papers and dropping a picture of Dean’s father as a small child from it.

Dean picked it up hesitantly and just stared at his dad’s haunted expression, his eyes were down cast and Dean noticed there were faint bruises on his father’s neck. He flipped the picture over and noticed red ink on the back that wrote out ‘Test Subject One: Thaddeus S. Venture, five years old, no adverse side effects yet.’

He set the picture aside not wanting to see his dad so young and vulnerable but Brock easily picked the picture up, glaring at it a moment before putting it back in the folder and shutting it once more.

“My dad never told you he was a clone?” Dean asked watching Brock’s face harden flipping through one of the folders.

“No and he isn’t exactly the same as you according to these papers,” Brock grumbled, “I don’t know if you should look through it, I don’t think your dad even read all this shit.”

“I want to know where we came from,” Dean replied curtly yanking the box back from his body guard who didn’t fight him but was giving him a warning stare.

“I think you are playing with fire going through all this by yourself so soon,” Brock told him gently grabbing his chin and making Dean look him in the eyes, “Cloning is illegal for a reason. I saw what it did to yer dad. I don’t think it’s the right time for you to start messing with this crap.”

“I’m not gonna make my own cloning farm,” Dean spat out, “I would never do something like that. I wouldn’t want to do this to someone else…”

“Yer dad brought you back cause you died,” Brock cut in firmly, “Your grandfather seemed to have hand grown his own son. You are both alive because of this research. What it did was bring three Ventures to life I have to take care of, but it took a lot from the men who dabbled in this shit.”  

“So you’re saying I should just be grateful and to not look into where I came from?” Dean sneered his body guard’s way.

“No, I am saying you are going to be reading about every one of your deaths, you are going to be listening to yer dad becoming jaded and learning who your grandfather really was and what he did to yer dad. Are you ready for that Dean?”

Dean gulped but nodded. He didn’t care what it did to him, he just wanted to know the truth. No more side stepping it, no more kid gloves, just the full truth of what lead their family to this point. Why cloning a dead person was the best possible choice. He wanted to know if he really was Dean Venture, if his dad really was Rusty Venture, where did they come from and what they should expect side effect wise in the future.

“You want to do this alone?” Brock asked taking a heavy sigh.

“I don’t want anyone here to change my mind,” he admitted staring uneasily at the pile of tapes collected before him, “I just ask for a tape player to listen to these. I want to go at my own pace.”

Brock nodded and dug in his dad’s closet, with the expert ease of someone who had spent a lot of time fetching things for his father. Dean sometimes had to wonder if his father and body guard were a little more than just employee and employer, but it really wasn’t his place to ask.

Brock pulled out a shoe box and opened it, Dean saw stacks of pictures in it that Brock easily pushed to the side before pulling out a tape recorder. He sat the show box on the dresser before handing the tape recorder to Dean wordlessly and left the room.

He just stood there glancing at the boxes and then awkwardly staring at the door. Was this the right thing to do?

(this is literally where I have left off at RIP me, I just keep writing more of my other AU but I wanna finish this too sometime)

[sunshine-captain]

Hi! I asked Phoenix (horsegirlharry) for fic recs about star trek tos and she sent me to you! I am a new fan and in desperate need for some good fics since I am having a hard time finding them. I would be very grateful if you could link me to some. Thank you in advance

Oh my goodness!!! Hello my friend! I’m honored Phoenix directed you to me, I really am! To tell you the truth, they’re the one that actually convinced me to watch TOS from the start. Welcome to the fandom!! 

To start off with, here is a lovely rec blog that is exclusively TOS (that I’m a mod on, so I am of course biased, but I loved the blog even before I was added, haha!) It’s not updated that often at the moment, usually just when I have some spare time, but there’s a lot of recs already added to look through, and there are plenty of tags to maybe let you look for tropes or genres that you like. :) 

Alright, here go the recs! 

Sha Ka Ree The year is 2258. Jim Kirk is a Lieutenant on the U.S.S. Farragut, Spock the science officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise. When the ships come together for a priority landing party, these two strangers find themselves fighting against the odds for a chance at life in an alien world, and the only way they’ll make it through is by relying on each other. This is a TOS fic that takes place seven years before the show begins. It’s one of my favorite fics ever, it’s beautiful and just perfect. It’s a lovely slow burn, and it contains one of my fave tropes: Jim (Kirk) and Spock crash on an alien world and get stranded there. So, so highly recommended! Honestly, that writer is amazing and anything by them I recommend.

Crash and Burn As the Enterprise’s celebrated voyage winds down, the tension between her captain and first officer escalates, and three days aboard Jupiter’s premier lunar station will change everything. Jim doesn’t handle change very well. Slow-build, character-study prelude to the Lost Years and TMP. Unhappy ending, but canon functions as a fix-it! As the summary states, this fic doesn’t end happily. But it’s basically an explanation as to why Spock does what he does prior to The Motion Picture (I’m not sure if you’ve seen the movies so I won’t clarify just in case you haven’t, haha!), which also means there is a happy ending after the events of the movies. I had it in my bookmarks under the tag I use for fics that hurt me (literally ‘ow’, lol) so apparently I found it pretty painful. ;__;

The Squire of Eros An old nemesis pays a social call to the Enterprise just in time for the annual Valentine’s Day party. On this occasion it’s Spock who draws the brunt force of his irritating personality. But when his holiday-inspired antics turn dangerous, it’s up to the Captain and crew to take him down, and Jim is forced to confront his long-evaded desires regarding his first officer. Written for the K/S Valentine Challenge at LJ, beta’d by purple_spock. This one isn’t even remotely as serious as the other two. It’s honestly just a lot of humor and lightheartedness for the most part. It features Trelane from TOS paying another visit to the crew. :D 

Definitions “We call it t'hy'la,” Spock says. This one is so beautiful. It’s a relatively short oneshot (under 10k) but it’s so romantic and in character and just perfect (this author is another one of my favorites, I would read anything at all by them.)

Pattern Deviations A mind meld is the most intimate of any possible connection – to know and be known, wholly and completely. Usually, melds are advocated for leading to increased understanding and empathy. Spock wonders what it means, then, that everyone he melds with is so repulsed by his mind… Until he meets James Kirk, anyway. This is by the same writer as Definitions; another lovely oneshot by them. I love it! 

And I Am Also Quite Blind In the aftermath of Spock’s blinding in Operation Annihilate, Jim tries to help him through his pain. A fic with premise that Spock doesn’t handily recover from his blindness in Operation Annihilate. Lengthy, painful, excellent. I try to avoid WIPs because I can’t deal with the pain of fics that are NEVER FINISHED, but I started reading this one when it was only halfway through and man, it sucked me in. Worth it! (And it has been completed now, so no worries, haha.)

Undone During first contact with the highly telepathic Nghians, an invasion begins on their home world. A powerful psychic attack cripples the populace–and Spock.Out of contact with the Enterprise and stranded on a planet at war, Jim must struggle to keep himself and his violent, unpredictable first officer alive. Another of my favorite writers! I love this fic. Lengthy, excellent, and that favorite trope of mine again (being stranded, heh), this is great. Please note the tags, though!

What I Am To You I say, “Ask me anything, Spock,” for perhaps the fifth time.This time, you respond, your gaze bright and penetrating, “Perhaps you could satisfy my curiosity in–one particular.”“Of course,” I say enthusiastically.You seem perfectly calm as you ask, “How long have we been lovers?” And I am certain I have heard you correctly, even as I struggle not to allow my astonishment to show on my face. Takes place after the events of the third movie. Spock tries to make sense of his and Jim’s relationship.

Spice It’s a question of biology. Vulcan biology.The problem with falling in love with a member of an insanely private species is that it just might take you the best part of a five year mission to work out that the feelings are requited. And then you might discover that he’s already decided that the two of you can never be together.And what are you supposed to do if he won’t tell you why? Honestly, I’m reccing this one with…some trepidation. I never did decide whether I actually liked the fic or not, but I know a lot of people do like it. It’s most definitely one of the longest fics I’ve ever read in this fandom. It’s the SLOWEST OF ALL SLOW BURNS, which you said you liked, and even though it made me SO ANGRY at one point that I almost threw my phone across the room when one plot twist happened, it’s well written and in character. The reason behind it all is…kind of silly, in all honesty, but it makes complete sense why Spock thinks it would be best if Jim wasn’t with him, just like him to be so overprotective. *sigh* I’d say definitely give it a try and see if you get sucked in!

Translating Ennoia Spock intends to resign his commission with Starfleet six months into the Enterprise’s mission. Then he meets Captain Kirk – his t'hy'la – and everything becomes infinitely more complex. This author again! This fic has lots of pining. I love pining. And I love happy endings and romance and watching Jim and Spock’s friendship develop, too, and this fic has all of that.

Dirty Laundry Jim keeps leaving dirty dishes in the sink and toast crumbs in the bed. Spock deals with the mess silently until an unfortunate ironing incident puts it all in perspective. Jim and Spock have to adjust to domestic life. Spock has to adjust to Jim’s messiness. Domestic Spirk is always wonderful, and I enjoy that in this one it’s not all perfect at first. They have to adjust and learn to actually live together.

Breaking Tradition Newlyweds James T. Kirk and Spock spend their Holiday shore leave alone together in a remote cabin once belonging to Jim’s grandparents. They learn more about each other and Jim introduces his new husband to the Winter Holiday traditions - even if he doesn’t quite understand why he take part in them himself. An unexpected event occurs that disrupts the couple’s newlywed bliss. Luckily, one of them has experience with taking charge of a situation. This one is sooo sweet. Jim just wants to share Christmas with Spock, but they have a mishap. But it’s okay, because Jim takes good care of Spock. (Features cold!Spock, one of my favorite things. :3 )

Ghost in the Machine Tom Paris stumbles upon a Pandora’s Box of loss and regret. This fic is the outlier in this list; it’s actually a crossover of sorts between TOS and VOY. I’ve not actually watched Voyager yet, but that doesn’t stop me from reading and enjoying the fic, so please don’t let that stop you! Let me tell you, though, this has to be one of the most painful fics I’ve ever read. It just makes me cry for Jim and Spock both. It’s so painful. But also really great. But I totally understand if you don’t want to read this one, haha! It’s not for everyone. It messed me up though, I kept thinking about it for days. Especially Jim as he is in this fic. Ugh.

Home Renovation Shortly before his first mission to Romulus, Spock buys a fixer-upper house with Jim. Although Jim is excited to begin renovating their new home, Spock worries it’s only a matter of time before his husband falls off a ladder and breaks his spine. Not to mention, the house’s derelict state is preventing Spock from enjoying his remaining time with Jim. Old Married Spirk, protective!Spock, perfection.

To Be Wed “With a human ruling alongside King Sarek, it makes sense that they would want a Vulcan to rule alongside you. Look on the bright side. At least it’s not Sybok."Prince S'chn T'gai Spock and Crown Prince Sam Kirk are pushed by their families into an awkward courtship, sure to become an awkward marriage. Meanwhile, the younger Terran prince just wants to make sure his future brother-in-law feels comfortable in his new home. But unfortunately for Jim, the road to hopeless, unrequited love is paved with good intentions. It’s an AU, obviously, and it’s by the same author as Sha Ka Ree (who as I mentioned is one of my favorite writers) and I just adore this fic, it’s so great! Pining, slowly getting to watch Jim and Spock falling in love even when it’s ill advised, Sybok!! I’m also just a total sucker for royalty AUs so that helps. 

In My Own Skin After the events of Turnabout Intruder, Jim is trapped in Janice Lester’s body indefinitely and has to learn to carry on with his normal life and duties trapped in this body. Established relationship with Spock, but things become understandably difficult as a result of Jim’s situation. Complicating matters even further, the Enterprise is assigned to a difficult diplomatic mission with a new member of the Federation. I don’t know about everyone else, but my brain definitely went “what if Jim was stuck in that body…” after watching Turnabout Intruder, and this fic definitely satisfied that urge to see that explored. 

Heat Trapped together in a cave until the storm ceases, Jim and Spock find some freedom outside the press of the ship and its responsibilities. Oh look….this writer again. :DDD You’re starting to notice a pattern here, I’m sure. This was written because of a prompt I gave, so obviously I’m a little biased, but it’s just SO perfect??? Cold!Spock, cuddling for warmth (another of my favorites, hello), and just so ROMANTIC that I almost can’t handle it.

Okay, those are all TOS, but now I have just a handful of AOS AUs:

Still, Like Dust Vulcans have been enslaved on Earth for more than fifty years. To Jim Kirk, 14, this is just one more chapter from his history book… until his uncle brings home a Vulcan boy to help on the farm. I know this fic isn’t for everyone, it definitely isn’t, but it really is a great read and I enjoyed reading it a lot. There’s a lot of pain, it’s true, but there’s also a happy ending, if that helps.

Inside The River Starfleet sends Jim a spouse and an oddly vacant honeymoon. Arranged marriage!AU, always fun, and an interesting mystery going on throughout. Great read!

That’s all I’ve got for you for now, this should be a start! Welcome again to the fandom, and I hope you find something in this list that you enjoy. :)

[8bityeol]

The Pest Across The Hall

Genre :  Roomate!AU Summary : If there’s one thing you regret the most in life, it’s letting Sehun become your roomate. (It’s a repost, sue me)

It's not like you didn't like your new roommate…actually it was. He somehow knew how to push all your buttons. Every single one of them. His name was Sehun and when you’d gotten that email from ohse@gmail.com it’d never crossed your mind that by opening that email all the horrors of the world would be unleashed into the world. You called the modern pandora box.

There were many things you didn’t like about Sehun and everyday the list seemed to grow in length. You’d even resorted to calling Junmyeon and asking him to take the bugger back in. Obviously and to your dismay, he said no. 

You could list many problems with Sehun but the longest and most trying one was the milk.

On Sunday mornings, at precisely 10 o’clock you rolled out of bed and hopped on straight to the kitchen. Although the air was chilly, and the tiles were frozen nothing could stop your bare feet from trodding towards the fridge. Sunday mornings were special for one reason only, cereal. In the normal week day you never had time for cereal due to work and all.

"Sehun!" You yelled. Your hands were shaking as you held the cold carton. “Get down here!”

You could hear the pit patter of feet coming down the stairs, down into the hall then stopping at the kitchen. He stood in the archway, face knitted with confusion. He was ever so oblivious, as always.

"What's wrong?" He asked, balancing his glasses on his nose.

You waved the carton around.

“What?” He asked and then it clicked,"Oh, the milk... I forgot."

You rolled your eyes, "You always forget, Sehun It's honestly not that hard to not put an empty carton in the bin.  Did you think i’d drink any empty carton?"

"No...but I promise it won’t happen again," He says, “Should I run to the store?”

"Just- Nevermind, Just go...you’re gonna make me have blood pressure problems by the time I’m thirty,” You muttered as you threw the empty carton into the bin.

“How about I make us some waffles?” he suggests. “Chocolate sauce and whipped cream?”

Although you were impartial to waffles, especially with chocolate sauce and whipped cream, you couldn’t back down. The milk matter was an important one, one that should not be put aside. A cause that had to be fought for!

“Maybe some other day,” You say, before grabbing a pot of yorgurt. 

“So today then?” He says. “I’ll call you down when they’re done.”

You grab a spoon and glare at him as he fetches flour out of the cupboard. “If that’s what you want.”

The milk you could forgive simply because he usually made up for it by waffles but, still it was a problem. A small problem but still, a problem. Onto more pressing matters. In the same way you were unable to resist the power of waffles with chocolate sauce, Sehun was unanimously impartial to women who had a disposition to linger longer than need be.  

Second problem: the girls

You'd entered your homely abode to find a pair of heels laying haphazardly on the floor. White with clear diamantes? They were clearly not yours. Knowing what would probably be around the corner, you weren’t surprised to find Sehun’s pants decorating your potted plant and a blue mini dress somewhere on the couch. The best part of all, the pink Victoria Secret bra embellished with sparkles and black lace. It was one size too small, therefore clearly not yours.

It’s not that you were a prude, but was it not  inappropriate to shed the clothes of your one night stand in a shared area? Especially if one knew their roommate was going to come home from a night shift.

“Good morning” Sehun said with a yawn as he emerged from his room. The strands of silver hairs of his were disheveled a contrast from his usual neat style. He’d gotten it styled last week. “How’s work?.”

“Same as everyday,” You sat down onto the couch, you automatically eyed the dress before flinging it at Sehun, “Keep the clothes in your room next time,” you said.

his eyes scanned the room, “Oh, i didn’t even notice.” without a strand of shame, he strolled over to your plant and grabbed his pants. “Things just happen in the moment.”

“Even if it’s the ‘moment’ you can still wait until you get to your room to start undressing!” You said, “Look, even her bra is here. I better not find a thong in the kitchen.”

He shrugged, “If you knew anything about being in the moment you’d know that sometimes you just can’t wait.” he said with a small smirk.

“Still, just keep your-”

Creak

You whipped around to find a girl draped in Sehun’s duvet, she stared with wide eyes at the both of you. “C-can i have my clothes?” She meekly asked.

She uttered a small thanks as you and Sehun awkwardly located pieces of her clothes dotted around the room. As soon as the door closed announcing her departure you turned back to Sehun with piercing stare.

“It won’t happen again.”

“As if we hadn’t heard that before.”

The girls can be forgiven although it was hard to  but let’s clear one thing up, you weren’t attracted to Sehun in anyway what’s so ever. Although Sehun wasn’t the main issue his mingling little friends were, somehow their sticky little fingers couldn’t stop digging their hands into Your chocolate ice cream

Third problem: The Chocolate Ice cream

There were days when you just needed one thing, and today was one of those days you needed chocolate ice cream. It seemed to be the only thing that took your mind off cramps and other things of a similar and painful nature. He was eating up without shame as well!

Because of this incident and many others, you’d begun to hide the chocolate ice cream, precisely behind the stack of frozen vegetables. Sehun didn’t like vegetables, so it was the perfect place to hide it.

Fast word to today, you had found yourself crouched down in the freezer pulling the draws with haste and terror.  The vegetable packets were missing and so where the ice cream.

Without wasting a breath, unlocked your phone and scrolled in your contacts until you reached Sehun. It rung a few times until you heard in infuriating voice through the receiver.

“Sehun...where’s my ice cream?” You asked.

“Uh....which ice cream?”

“You know the one.” You sighed into the phone.

There was a silence on the other end, “...the chocolate one?”

“...Noooooo, the strawberry one.”

“I thought you didn’t like str-”

“It was sarcasm and yes i mean the chocolate one” You cut in. “What the hell happened to it?”

“Don’t get angry-”

“I was already angry when i had to call you!”

He let out a loud breath before continuing, “Jongdae ate it- i told him not to though!”

You made a feeble attempt to suppress the shouting you wanted to unleash on Sehun, “Put him on the phone.”

You heard a rustle and the sound of a scuffle before Jongdae gave an apprehensive hello.

“Jongdae, did you eat my ice cream?” You questioned.

“It was an accident!” he frantically said, “Sehun didn’t tell me to stop.”

“I want the both of you to comeback to the house, two tubs of ice cream in hand and a packet of cheeto-”

“I didn’t eat any cheetos” he cut in. You could hear the sound of refusal in background.

You smiled, “It’s compensation for the stress you and noodle boy put me through.”

“Ok, we’ll bring those back.” He said.

You inwardly cheered, there was nothing more heavenly the combination of cheerios and ice cream, “Never eat my ice cream again- Thanks Jongdae, put noodle boy back on the phone.”

“I'm not bringing you cheetos back.”

“Do you want a bed to sleep in at night? Don’t forget you forgot your keys tonight.” You said before ending the call.

A/N

Hehe...I'm here once again, posting a fic that i've already posted on my old account...forgive me.

[brightstarblogs]

Pandora Park AU Part 3

(This is a re write of Pandora Hearts (Jun Mochizuki) with the South Park (Matt stone & Trey Parker) characters, I don’t own any either of these. I hope you enjoy it)

(Warning: There is a lot of blood in this chapter as well as a kiss scene (I wonder which characters ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) )which involves some blood so if you don’t like that you probably don’t want to read this chapter.)

In an abandoned church the Testaburger servant was enjoying some tea and cake. “The twittering of birds, sunlight shining in. This is the perfect setting for sipping tea, wouldn’t you agree?” He turned towards Wendy for an answer. She just looked back at him, annoyance in her eyes. “Do please finish up with your tea, Stan. You are being imprudent.” 

Stan laughed slightly. “Oh, I think it’s fine, Lady Wendy. We still have time until the ‘path’ opens.” Stan then turned to the brunette in the corner “And why don’t you come over here and have some candy?” Stan then produced a lollipop from his pocket. The brunette glared back at him, “….I’m good…” he mumbled. Stan just grabbed the bridge of his nose before saying “If you’re so tense you’ll even make a mess of things that come second nature to you..”

Wendy walked over to the brunette “The Testaburger family is undertaking this mission of it’s own accord. Even the organization doesn’t know about it, so please don’t blunder, okay?” She smiled warmly at him. He gazed at her “…Don’t worry, I have no intention of failing!”

Wendy then turned around “Then shall we begin the preparations? In order to rescue Sir Tweek Tweak with our own hands!”

Tweek was running for his life. Water was everywhere, covering the floor, splashing with ever step Tweek took. Tweek was having the worst panic attack ever. “What is this place. No matter how far I run the landscape stays the same.” Tweek’s stab wound stated to hurt again. He slumped against the wall, waiting for the pain to pass. He remembered the events that lead him to this moment. His mind especially went to the memory of Clyde. He hoped with all his heart that he was still alive.

Tweek looked up to see a floating teddy bear, his shakes increasing again “This isn’t a dream… That means that this is the Abyss!” Around him were floating toys, furniture and parts of buildings. Tweek stood up again, the pain numbed enough for him to start running again, before he started however he heard a demonic voice “I’ve finally found one!” Tweek turned around to see a monster, unlike the Guinea Pig this monster looked like a rag doll and had no eyes. It grabbed him and pushed him down. Tweek screamed. “It’s a yummy looking child!” 

At that moment a powerful blast hit the monster causing it to crumble away into nothing. Before it vanished it yelled “How dare you, Bas%&*d B-Guinea Pig!” What stood in its place was the boy with the blue chullo hat. “A ‘card‘ shouldn’t be butting in.” The boy pointed at Tweek “That’s mine!” Tweek gasped, instantly recognising the boy. “YOU’RE THE BOY WHO MOLESTED ME!!!” The boy flipped him off. 

“You’re so weak, letting a weak chain like that scare you.” The boy had taken Tweek to a more covered area. Tweek was confused again “Nugh What’s a chain?” The boy flipped him off again, Tweek was getting the feeling that it was a programmed response. “Chains are organisms that are born in the Abyss, and cards are the stupidest ones among them.” “Are Gah you a chain too, B-Guinea Pig?” The boy nodded. 

Tweek then remembered their first encounter where the boy strangled him. “Do chains always attack people? you tried to kill me when we first met too. Why’d you do that!?” The boy just stared with his cold eyes “What are you taking about? When we first met I rescued you from the reapers.” Tweek was confused again, he swore it was this boy who had strangled him. He wore the same outfit and everything. It must have been a dream then “Great, now my dreams are trying to kill me!” The boy continued “I don’t know who you’re mistaking me for, but you’re being rude.” 

Tweek opened the draw next to him, searching for food, and found a mug of coffee. “Oh thank god. Coffee you always find me.” The boy looked at Tweek. “How can you drink that stuff, and how do you know it’s not poisoned?” Tweek looked up at the boy. “Don’t make me panic again. This whole situation is just Nugh reminding me of the time I got kidnapped and I’m doing better than I was then. Besides, you’re not my enemy. You rescued me twice so you’d tell me if it was. Thank you for that by the way.” 

The boy looked at Tweek, his eyes softened slightly, Tweek didn’t notice though.

“Craig.”

Tweek looked up confused. “What?” “That’s my real name. Others called me the ‘B-Guinea Pig’, but I give you special permission to call me Craig.” Tweek smiled slightly “I wonder why that name feels so familiar to me?” 

Craig grabbed some flowers from the vase floating in front of him. “Before I forget, I rescued you for my own purposes, I didn’t do it because I care about you..” Tweek’s smile dropped “This guy really lacks emotion and empathy.” “The reapers went to the trouble of dropping you in here. I can’t afford to have you die.” “Why? What do you Hugh want with me? What’s this purpose of yours?”

Craig stood up, jumped, and landed on the draws in front of Tweek. “The same as yours. I want to get out of the Abyss too. That’s why I’ve been waiting for a person like you.” Craig crouched on the desk and lifted Tweek’s chin up so they were looking into each others eyes. Tweek blushed a little from the contact, he was invading his personal space again. “For a person who could become my ‘contractor’.“ Tweek was confused by what a ‘contractor’ was but Craig continued “Even you must’ve realized that this is no ordinary prison.” Craig stood back up again “The Abyss exists in a different dimension than the world you came from. A distortion called the ‘Path’ connects the two worlds. I’ll concentrate my power there and force open an exit.” 

Craig crushed the flowers he was holding and threw them over Tweek for effect  “Then, you and I can escape from here!” Tweeks face lit up. “We can escape! Even if its with him I’ll go for it, besides, aside from invading my personal space, I think his hearts in the right place.” 

Craig spoke again. “However, I have a limiter on me, so I can’t produce that much power. The contract will allow me to release that power. You only have to call my name and agree to take part in the contract, then we can leave.” Craig’s eyes lit up slightly. “There’s something I have to do once I leave here, and you want out too.” Craig held out his hand to Tweek “So that makes us allies, doesn’t it? Then why don’t we work together!” Tweek looked up and smiled. He was scared but he knew somehow he could trust Craig. He slowly lifted his hand to take a hold of Craig’s.

“NO! Sir Tweek!!!”

Light circled Tweek and suddenly he vanished. Craig panicked slightly. “God Dammit!”

Tweek opened his eyes and saw a girl in a purple dress with black hair holding his hands. ”Wendy!” “That was close Sir Tweek, he would have killed you if you had taken his hand.” Tweek was shaking again “Why are you here!” Wendy smiled. “Worry not, Sir Tweek. I came to get you.” Wendy held out her hand and Tweek took it, the two began to walk.

“After you were dropped in here the Testaburger family began hatching a plan to rescue you. When I heard about it, I could not sit still and asked that I be included as well.” Tweek was blushing again. “She’s doing this for me, that’s so sweet.” “A little farther down is a magic formation for escaping from here. Please hold on until we reach it.” 

Tweek was very happy to be escaping, but every so often he’d look back the way they came. “Are you worried about that B-Guinea Pig?” “GAHH, no….” Tweek couldn’t lie to himself though. He was very worried about Craig. Wendy looked at Tweek. “That is the most dangerous chain of all. That contract it mentioned is a ritual that is necessary for a chain to be in our world, since their existence is unstable.” 

Tweek remembered something that conflicted with that statement. “But he showed up at the coming of age cere-” “That time, its power was sent there only temporarily.” Tweek was shocked, for something that was temporary Craig sure had gone on a rampage. “Even before that incident the B-Guinea Pig always interfered with our world every time a ‘Path’ opened. And it has butchered every single one of its contractors. It probably intended to kill you in the end as well.”

Tweek knew he should be terrified with what Wendy had said to him, but for some reason he wasn’t scared at all, in fact he was surprised at even himself with what he said next “Is… that really true? He’s emotionless and scary but he saved me twice. I…. I don’t think he’s evil.” “I don’t know anything about him, then why do I feel this way?”

Wendy laughed a little. “What are you saying Sir Tweek?” “nugh.. yeah, you’re right I’m-” “Didn’t the B-Guinea Pig not point a blade at you and yell ‘I’ll kill you’?”

Tweek froze but Wendy kept walking. “And still you say it’s not evil?” Tweek stopped her then. “How do you know about that dream! I haven’t told anybody about it!” Wendy started to crush his hand “S*&t. I think I’m in real trouble now!” 

“Who the hell are you?!” Screamed Tweek.

Wendy turned around, her left eye was bulging and grotesque. “oopsie, Baby made a boo-boo!”

The chain taking Wendy’s form suddenly dropped its guise and transformed into a baby dolls head with spider legs coming out of it. Spider silk was coming out of it’s mouth. “Oh dear, I wanted to play with you a little more..” One of it’s legs darted towards Tweek to stab him. “It’s going to kill me!!” 

Tweek saw blood splash into the water. He looked up to see Craig, he was using both his arms to block the legs. The sharp ends dug into his arms causing him to bleed. Craig looked at Tweek “Do I have to do everything for you?” “GAHH YOU’RE BLEEDING!!” Craig didn’t acknowledge Tweeks distress, he just continued. “This is ‘Mad Baby’, it’s a chain that peeks into your memories and toys with you.”

Craig then glared at Tweek darkly “I’m still annoyed at you for hesitating to take my hand but you took that girls hand no problem…” Tweek hung his head in shame “I’m sor-”

Another one of Mad Baby’s legs started lunging for them. Craig grabbed Tweek and pulled him out of danger. He hid them behind some building debris. Tweek then grabbed one of Craig’s arms and looked at his wounds, tears started to form in his eyes. “Why are you doing this. I nugh don’t know anything about you! Why does it have to be me!?”

Craig pulled his arm away and flipped him off. “You’re right. I don’t know anything about you either.” Tweek’s tears streamed down his face as he shut his eyes. “However.” Tweek opened his eyes and looked up at Craig. “I heard the sound of that watch when I was struggling to escape from here. The melody was familiar to me, so I followed it and ended up finding you. That’s when I realized that you’d be the one to get me out of the Abyss!”

Tweek’s tears stopped falling as he heard what Craig said. “I don’t have any reasons for thinking that way.” Craig then smiled a little, not a smirk that Tweek had seen before, but a very small genuine one. “I’m only following the conviction born inside me.”

Tweek started to smile himself when the wall behind them crumbed away and Mad Baby started firing web at them. Craig shoved Tweek away and Tweek collided against the ground. When he sat up again Craig’s arms was bound to his sides with web and was being lifted up into Mad Baby’s mouth. “B-GUINEA PIG!” Craig turned his head to Tweek, pain covered his face. “God dammit, if I didn’t have the limiter on, I could easily….. I think this is it for me.” Tweek looked in horror up at Craig. “You…. run away before it gets you to.”

“Run… Tweek…”

Craig then disappeared as the chain’s mouth closed around him. Tweek glared at it. He broke off some wood from a nearby chain and ran at the chain. “What am I doing? Why am I not running away like he said? Why do I want to rescue him? I don’t even know what he wants or even what he said was true.” Tweek leapt up screaming as he buried the splinter into its face. The mouth opened to yell in pain. Using this he pried open the mouth and yelled “I WON’T LET YOU DIE! NOT WHEN I OWE YOU SO MUCH!”

One thought raced through his mind “I don’t know why, but I don’t want to lose him here!” 

Tweek saw Craig and without thinking he said the one thing he knew that would save them both.

“CRAIG! I AGREE TO THE CONTRACT!!!”

Craig’s head snapped up and suddenly a light emanated from him, blowing up Mad Baby and releasing both of them. Tweek was surprised he was floating but jumped more when Craig lased his fingers around Tweek’s own. “That’s not it, kid…” Craig then lifted the hand he had a hold of and while practically laying on top of Tweek, he used his other hand to cresses Tweek’s cheek. “I think you mean please enter into a contract with me, right?” The smirk was back on his face.

Tweek was angry now “No way, it was all an act!” Craig lifted up his left arm and sucked from blood from his wound and then pulled Tweeks head up.

He then kissed Tweek.

Tweek took a second to process what was happening but a bright red blush covered his face when he felt the copper tasting liquid and something else enter his mouth. Tweek tried to battle against the intruding object but all his strength left his body. In the end he ended up drinking the copper tasting liquid, it didn’t tase as bad as he thought it would. “I can’t think or resist it. It’s a power I can’t fight is overrunning my entire body.”  Craig laughed slightly “Be grateful that you can serve as my hands and feet, kid..” Tweek then lost consciousness. 

Tweek’s body twitched and his eyes opened, only now his eyes were pitch black with small white slits. He stood up and a smirk appeared on his face. “It’s finally mine! My own body!” Craig was now in complete control of Tweeks body. He lifted his head up and summoned his survival knife from thin air. “I can release my power now, I can finally escape from the Abyss!” Craig charged at the weak spot and it shattered.

Stan started to feel a strange disturbance in the air. Wendy looked at him with confused eyes. “What’s wrong Stan.” Before she knew what was happening Stan pulled her from where she was standing as a purple whirlwind formed in the exact same spot. As it cleared all three figures saw an unconscious Tweek laying on the ground. Stan laughed a little. “Well, well. What a surprise. He escaped from the Abyss on his own.” 

The brunette figure grabbed Tweek. “This… is impossible.” He uttered. Stan let go of Wendy. “Well things worked out all right in the end though.” Wendy leaned down and touched Tweek’s cheek. “Yes… They did. We finally have obtained the key to Pandora. There is no turning back now. Even if he turns out to be the Lucifer who will bring us to ruin.”

To be continued…

(Hey guys. Hope you enjoyed this part. We got a lot of creek in this chapter and even a kiss, though the blood made it a little gross. Tweek is now possessed by Craig, but I wonder for how long? Well you’ll just have to wait for part 4 to find out ^_^. Let me know if you have any questions or if you see any mistakes.)

[heresjeonny]

Fic Review: Feasible (Chanyeol AU)

Summary: You’re a work-for-hire girl - for the criminals and criminally rich. Your job is to threaten, steal from, frighten or hurt whoever you’ve been employed to - but your newest job involves a person you swore you’d never talk to again. Someone who brought you into this entire business - and tried to get you out. Someone who, should you accept this challenge, would open a Pandora’s box of disaster… 

Status: Series, WIP/Ongoing

Author: @yeolology

Link to fic: [Feasible] 

Okay. So.

Let me start off by saying that I’m The Worst when it comes to reading fics, for a few reasons. Lack of time, mostly. And I’m also a very picky reader – it takes a lot for me to be willing to invest my time in a fic. That being said, please allow me to direct your attention to an actual masterpiece (WIP) that is Feasible by my Tumblr child, Bee. 

Omfg.

It was the summary that caught my attention – y’all know I’m a sucker for crime/action stories (case in point: my own Mafia AU) – and so when I saw that this story was going to feature not only my bby Chanyeol but also a badass mercenary Y/N – I mean, damn. You got me. And then I started reading it.

I just…I’m emo because it’s basically the fic I’ve been waiting for. There are so many little (and big) things that perpetually draw me back in and make me smile into my hands as I race through the story.

1) The GRAMMAR. Listen, I’m not an English major and I know I’ve probably made and will make mistakes in my own writing (basically I’m not a grammar nazi), but let me just say that it makes such a difference to read something that has been spell-checked and edited for punctuation errors. It just makes the whole thing so much easier to digest, you know?

2) The prose. The prooooose. You can really tell that Bee pays attention to the details, and it brings the story to life and adds another dimension to it. Little gestures that Y/N does. Her thought process is so realistic and also believable for a work-for-hire character. Accurate characterization is my kink. Her descriptions are neither sparse nor unnecessarily flowery. It’s just enough, especially given that it’s being reported to us from the eyes of a mercenary who would notice everything but focus on only the essentials.  

3) The delayed reveal. I can’t tell you how deflating it is when an author tries to force-feed me a character’s entire backstory in one go, especially right at the beginning. Listen, I’m interested. Of course I want to know everything, but just like with strip-teasing, the whole fun is when you reveal things bit by bit. Make us wait for it, build our excitement. And Bee does this so well. SO WELL. She gives us just enough to spark our interest and then she dangles the juicy details, throwing us a little bit every now and then – at an appropriate time too. Not like in the middle of some random paragraph where a sudden memory really has no connection to the current scene.

I think the reason why I’m loving this fic so far is that Bee essentially treats it like an actual novel. She doesn’t half-ass anything, and she really tries to make this a complex and intricate story, all the while never neglecting things like formatting and detail.

So all in all, amazing. I cannot wait for more, and I’m so glad I stumbled upon this fic and actually decided to read it. Thank you for your hard work and effort, Bee. Tumblr mom loves youuuu <33

[yulicechan]

These past two months have been wild but a complete blessing. To my followers, new and old. Thank you so much for continuing to support my art! <3 You guys are the reason I’m motivated to keep drawing everyday ^_^ Thank you to the skk discord server, for making me laugh and filling my days with such warmth and kindness. I love you all so, so much.  I will continue to work hard for you guys!  がんばります~ (Individual shoutouts below the cut)

Individual shoutouts! Time to scream my love at you guys. This is going to be super long please bear with me... (In no particular order - I’m just following the spreadsheet -) @kyzurya - Kyzu, my precious midnight snack child. How many times have we sent you to French Pun Kitchen already? I wonder why. Also known as: stop taking incriminating screenshots of my conversations and calling me 12  >:(  Your drawings are amazing, especially Yasu-senpai <3!! and your chibis too, so adorable.  @adargo - Cat, my amazing writer and league senpai with the beautiful hair fur (I would kill to see your full Chuuya cosplay) Ahh I can’t wait to read your next fics *excited flailing*. Thank you for listening to me thirst over Fyo and rant about random things. I know we haven’t been playing as much but I’ll try to make more time in the future so we can traverse the depths of EU hell together XD Ophelia - We don’t really talk often, but thank you for being such a wonderful server mom and asking how we are and taking the time to help us with our troubles. You the real MVP ^_^ @ryethe - Emmi... I still can’t believe that I started talking to you. My goodness I’ve admired you for the longest time and and you’re so talented and sweet and omg your existence is a blessing. I really look forward to meeting you at a convention someday!! <3 @kurapls - Kura. My goodness. Do you have any idea how glad I am that I sent you that first message to talk to you about Ruination? AHHHH thank you for spoiling me with all your beautiful writing and oneshots. I don’t think I’ve been inspired as much by anyone as I have by you. Seeing your progress with your drawings, it won’t be long before you take over the world with your art and fics. Please continue to shower us with death and destruction and smut your talents <3 @mostladylikeladythateverladied - Hi Lady! We haven’t talked much but I just wanted to say that to this day, I still read that small oneshot you wrote for my art and scream to myself because it’s so perfect. As are the rest of your fics. Thank you again! @atarix - Anna!! Japanese senpai!!!! Also the only pure child of mine!! Thank you for helping me with translations all the time, you’re a real savior.  ;-; Ahh I’m quite concerned for your health atm, please take care of yourself and feel better >_< And good luck on all the events that are coming up for you! がんばって！ @miss-intention - Weng Qi, you literal prodigy. Your art and coloring never fails to amaze me. Thanks for being my chingchong squad companion and screaming about dead Break Pandora Hearts AU with me. May you be blessed with more beheadings in the future. @cinnamondazai - Albel, my lovely fyoya companion~ Thank you for spoiling me with your fics. I can’t wait to see more of your writing! By the way, please don’t think I would ever be bothered by you, I am always happy to talk to you ^_^ @onikushita - Oni! I saw you finally got a drawing tablet! I’m super excited to see what you’ll make in the future :D @ask-fancy-hat-chuuya - CHeeeeeeeeeeese my cute chibi drawing senpai~~~ Ahhhh I’m so excited to hopefully meet you next year, fingers crossed. Please continue to make cute art that I can rub all over my face and scream at <3 @myboynagito - WAIFUUUUU *launches myself at you* I’m so freaking happy I met you, you have no idea omgasldfjajewjfal Thank you for betaing my drawings all the time and ahhhh I love your art so much. I can’t wait to see Kouyou tarot!!! One day I’ll expand my French vocab to include more than 2 words so I can properly seduce you in French ;) I love you!!! <3333 @tykilavi - Ju, you’re so sweet and omg I wasn’t able to stay on your stream the whole time but I’m sure your drawing was beautiful just like everything else I’ve seen :) Please stream more! I’d love to watch hehe @arcticzuko - Vines, I will always remember and love you for that quote LOL <3 @curiouscat99 - Cat, owner of the angst chat, thank you for your angsty and inspiring theories. I know I can always count on you if I need a good dose of the Sads. Please have mercy on our poor hearts and on Chuuya and Dazai XD @insoukokuhell - Dianaaaa <33 I’ll always appreciate your memes and your selfies (you are very cute btw no matter how much u try to deny it :P)  @kiimone - Ami! I’ve always believed the people who can both write and draw are the coolest type of people. And you definitely fit into that category omg I love your art style so much. p.s. Thanks for being a good parent to Borb and thanks for letting me have her on Wednesdays :P  @soukoku-writes - Borb, *swallows all the insults that are just coming to mind* *ahem*. Borb, what happened you used to be so sweet and call me Satan senpai and you were so cute and WHAT HAPPENED OMG how could my parenting have gone so wrong. Lol but in all seriousness, thank you for providing your quality memes and insults, I know that I’ll always laugh my ass off when you and waifu are yelling at each other. And also, your writing is so advanced for your age. I know I give you shit for never finishing anything, but honestly, please take all the time you need lol. Good work isn’t rushed, and just know that I’ll love reading anything you write, WIP or not. Love you, biscuitshingle <3 @chvvva - Nics, I know I’ve told you this countless times already but your writing is pure art and it’s extremely fascinating to see you tie these words up so eloquently. I look forward to seeing more of your works! <3 @ch-ch-ch-chuuya - Rose, you angst queen. I’ll never forget the night I rolled around in my bed silently screaming at 2 am after reading your Kiznaiver AU. I’m sooo excited for your current work as well AHHH and I see you posting previews in the fic channel all the time and all the positive feedback so I’m sure it’ll be amazing. I usually don’t read previews if I know it’s going to be published in full on Ao3, but I can’t wait to read the whole thing ^_^ Please kill me with the feels.  @onelovelysin - Your art is so good. SO GOOD. Please teach me your ways. And you have a whole webcomic and you draw so fast and LWKEFJASLKDJAS senpai please continue to bless us with your talent <3 @star-tear - celestial NACLH2O, aksdj you’re so sweet and nice and you need to draw more often omg I loved your camellia drawing so much!! Thank you for continuing to love me even though I’m NoLongerPure(tm) @carlynagisa - Carly, ahh your fics are absolutely amazing and your cosplays too I fangirl so much whenever I see your new content :D @rosengoddess - Brina, thank you for writing me fyoya all the time ahh <3 I love reading your tiny writing snippets on twitter ^_^ Kami - please continue to supply us with your cute Poe drawings and Chuuya memes and omg just your drawings in general are amazing. And thank you for streaming it’s always super enjoyable to watch :) @karmajestic-kuroo - Kuroooo I LOVE YOUR FICS SO MUCH DO U HAVE ANY IDEA like I usually don’t search out authors and message them unless they really leave an impact on me but I seem to do that all the time for your fics which just says how much I love them. I get so happy whenever I see new fics from you on ao3, please continue to bless us with your writing!  *stretches* finally done Thank you everyone for talking to me and being my friend and inspiring me everyday. I love you guys <333333