#now obviously in some parts this was out of a place of anger and grief

[boiwcndr]

i feel like dick's "no-kill rule" could have so many different interpretations because of contrasting characterisations upon his many years of comics where people could argue that he has taken in bruce's "no-kill rule" for himself due to his intense loyalty to bruce but when it comes down to his own thoughts and feelings, he can, will, and has killed or that he also has his own deep devotion to that "no-kill rule" (because of his own backstory or because of bruce) and he would never kill, and both would be correct.

[da-birb-writes-sometimes]

One of Us is Guilty; Epilogue (Part 1)

Cater is missing and Vil, Azul, Silver & Jade are now remaining. Will they find Cater? Will they catch Rook? Will they survive the night?

Characters; Vil Schoenheit, Azul Ashengrotto, Silver, Jade

Content; Murder mystery, revealing some clues

Content Warnings; Dead bodies, kidnapping (dead dove content)

Word Count; 1.2 K

Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Epilogue (Part 1) | Epilogue (Final)

Do not put my work into AI If you enjoy my writing, check out my masterlist

Rook was gone, and so was Cater. They should have felt relieved that the killer had been found, but now, he was missing, and he had taken Cater with him.

Vil clenched his jaw, and his nails were digging so hard into his skin that he nearly drew blood, nearly. Even though he can be strange, Rook wouldn’t do something like this… it’s against his own code; he would own up to it, not hide it. “Is everyone okay?” Obviously not, but still, checking in can help.

Out of everyone, Jade looked the least panicked, but Vil could read him well enough to know that this situation disturbed him greatly. Silver was shaking a bit, not from anger, but rather, grief. And then there was Azul, who was pacing and muttering to himself; of how this could happen, to possible motives. And Vil? He was hurt — not physically, but emotionally — since he knew Rook the most, but knew that whatever was happening, was not the real Rook.

“No,” Silver spoke up, eyes meeting Vil’s. “But there isn’t time to waste, for all we know, Cater cou- is still alive. And we shouldn’t waste time, the sooner we find him, the better the outcome is.”

Vil nodded, “I agree, and I want you all to stay behind me.” Just in case. But he didn’t say that. Vil was the eldest of their remaining group, and he saw it as his duty to protect his juniors… even against his own friend and vice-house warden.

Jade looked at Vil, and could tell that the Pomefiore house warden was willing to protect them. “And what about your safety?”

“… I trust that you all know offensive and defensive magic enough to where you won’t hit me by accident,” was his answer. Vil knew the risk, but the more that he ruminated on all that had happened tonight, the more he was sure about what they were going to do. “We’re going to the teacher’s lounge.”

Azul stopped pacing, turning his eyes to Vil, trying to get a read on him. “Is that really the best idea,” he questioned. “The last time we moved rooms–”

“I know what happened!” Vil hissed, before taking a breath and calming himself down. “My apologies,” he sighed, “but we can either try and solve this and try to get Cater back or we can stay here like sitting ducks. And trust me; Rook is quite the marksman.”

Azul backed down, “Sorry.” But he still felt uneasy, as if there were eyes watching him still, even though the guilty party was now known. “May I ask why the teacher’s lounge though?”

Vil opened the door out to the hall, “Even if Rook isn’t there, and it isn’t the room where the original murder took place, there could still be clues about why this whole ordeal happened, and how.”

Silver stood beside Vil, and matched his stride; if Vil was willing to risk his own safety to keep them safe, he was going to make sure to guard him, to put his training to use. He may not have a sword, but if it came to it, Silver would not hesitate to use his magic, or his body, to protect the others, even if he had to use said magic against a fellow classmate. 

Jade brought up the rear since he trusted his own keen senses and his magical capabilities; the ocean made him acutely aware of his surroundings after all, and he wouldn’t have made it this far without them. “The professors do sometimes make notes about student behaviour, so that could bring up some new information,” he hummed.

“Professor Trein would probably keep the best notes,” Silver offered quietly. “So… should we just read them without his permission?”

“I don’t see any other option. It’s better to ask for forgiveness in this situation rather than each of us…” end up dead “find ourselves in a difficult situation,” Vil answered, finding himself in front of the door all too soon.

Azul, despite being in the centre of everyone, still felt uneasy. Still felt eyes watching him. “Difficult how? Dead? Perhaps tortured? Made to watch as the rest of us are picked off like bait fish to a shark’s kill–” He stopped himself, forcing himself to take in a deep breath. Have I been holding my breath? “… do you think we’ll find anything of use?”

Vil opened the door, “I guess we’ll find out eventually.”

Silver, Azul, and Jade followed after him.

…

…

“I find that Mr. Hunt has been acting lacklustre in class. He told me that everything was fine, but after talking to Divus, it has come to my attention that Mr. Hunt could have been in contact with an expired potion,” Vil read Trein’s notes. “Other than this though, he seems to be doing well… but he is far too good at masking his true emotions, so I can’t help but worry.”

“Did Professor Trein mention what the potion is,” Azul spoke up. If anyone could figure out the side effects of an expired potion, it would be Azul and Vil.

Vil looked over the note, “No…” But his eyes widened as he got an idea. As much as he hated it, it could be their only lead. “But someone does. Come with me.”

He marched back down the hall, Silver on his right, with Azul and Jade keeping up behind him. They were going back to the main hall, where all three of the bodies were.

“You must be joking,” Jade huffed, looking at Vil, avoiding looking at the bodies of Headmage Crowley, the Ramshackle Prefect, and Professor Crewel. “You know reanimation–”

“It isn’t reanimation magic, I would never dream of doing something so… dark.” Vil brought out his pen, and he walked over to Divus’ body, kneeling down beside him. “Bring memories back,” he whispered, staring into the glassy, dead, eyes of Professor Crewel.

The others shuffled as the memories of the past week started to play out around them; from the professor having his morning coffee, to him sighing over papers. 

“Show us Rook,” Vil demanded. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to keep this up. Even though this wasn’t as taboo as reanimation, looking into the memories of the deceased was still considered a violation… but they had very few choices, so in comparison to what else had occurred that night, this transgression was far less important in the grand scheme of things.

The memories flashed until they showed Rook in class, three days ago. He was talking animatedly to his alchemy partner as he reached for an ingredient, but his hand bumped into a glass vial, making it crash onto the ground, covering him in the contents.

Vil paused the memory and examined the vial. “Azul,” he called, beckoning him forward. He gave him a look, and Azul looked at the vial. Vil wanted to make sure that he was actually seeing this. That he wasn’t wrong.

“A love potion? An expired love potion?” Azul huffed, wracking his brain for the side effects. “Lacklustre behaviour… obsession…” He muttered to himself. 

Vil stopped the spell, knowing that if he lingered, it could risk blot accumulating. “It makes sense… the hunter of love,” he sighed, pinching his nose. “But this, this is…”

“AZUL!” Silver shouted.

Vil turned around, but he was too late.

Azul was gone, and his glasses were broken on the ground, the glass shattered. He didn’t even have the chance to make a sound.

“You chose the wrong room!~” Rook’s voice hummed merrily on the PA system.

SUSPECTS:

- Silver; the kindhearted knight with a mysterious past, is it just for show?  (Plum) - Vil Schoenheit; the actor who is always pigeonholed into the role of a villain (Scarlet) - Divus Crewel; the alchemy teacher with a penchant for fashion, Crowley’s co-worker (Peacock) DECEASED - Rook Hunt; the enigmatic hunter who always has a hunch of what’s happening (Mustard) MURDERER - Azul Ashengrotto; the owner of The Mostro Lounge, a businessman with dubious morals (Green) MISSING - Reader; the ‘house-keeper’, a role that was imposed on them by the late Headmage (White) DECEASED - Jade Leech; a student enamored by fungi and seems to have a foreboding presence about him (Orchid) - Cater Diamond; the preppy beau of Heartslabyul, but his smile seems forced (Peach) MISSING

ROOMS:

- Main hall (eliminated in Chapter 2) - Teachers’ lounge (eliminated in Epilogue (Part 1)) - Cafeteria - Kitchens - Lecture theatre - Botanical garden - Alchemy lab (eliminated in Chapter 3) - Library - Crowley’s office (eliminated in Chapter 1)

WEAPON: MAGIC (found in Chapter 2)

TO BE CONTINUED!

Author's Note; The last vote ended in a tie which included the correct room where the murder took place, so Chapter 5 will be a continuation of this. It just felt natural to end it here for this chapter to build suspense!

So congrats!!! Just need to sit for a bit and decide how to wrap things up! And since you guys did technically get the room, there won't be a poll this time; just putting the next part in a new chapter.

[karoochui]

I just wanted to say I am so enamoured with Binary Insurgence! I eat up everything, every little crumb, you drop about it and the entire idea is so interesting to me! I'm so in love with stories and worlds like this! I'm also curious to know about the relationship between Sun and Moon, if it's alright to ask. How was it before the fire compared to after? Does their relationship begin to mend (because I'm certain over the years it deteriorated) when y/n comes back into the picture? If any of this is too spoilery or you just haven't fleshed it out yet then you don't have to answer! I'm just super curious about the boys and how you see their dynamic/relationship. I just look forward to seeing how their bond has grown and/or broken and how it may be mended over time.

AHH im glad you like it so much!! Im happy to talk about what i've got, but you are right not everything is fully fleshed out. I have points i wanna get to but while im brainstorming and planning i make up a lot of stuff as i go and then go over it again later to see if i like it or can connect stuff in any way. I have 3 chapters for Arc 1 fully summarized as of now! (Which probably doesn't seem like a lot but i like my chapters long, so it's quite a bit actually).

I wanna say, too, that i'm planning for the first story to be more in the perspective of the reader, so most things about Sun and Moon's personal thoughts and feelings are gonna be more implied than said. I might have some switching points of view, i'm not sure, but i haven't found a place i'd do it or think it's relevant. The sequel is gonna be more from their perspective since it'll mostly be about them.

NOW! I see Sun and Moon as brothers, so they really treat each other in a way that's like that. Before the fire they get along pretty well. Most instances of issue would be when Moon blocks out Sun when he fronts, or just mutual panic over the fact Moon lost his shit w/ the virus. They'll have their disagreements about things (i havent planned specifics yet) but generally they're chill. Sun just worries about Moon hurting people, but Moon worries too. With the way the virus functions in this AU it's hard for Sun to fully fault Moon for what he does, especially because he's also affected by it but not nearly as bad. (I'm gonna explain this more in another ask i have).

Plus, even before the virus they were always glitch/bug-ridden because technicians fucked up their programming continuously after removing them from the theater to work in the daycare. So they had to kinda navigate through that together, glitches and errors on both ends (though not deadly). They hate P&S bc of this, obviously. Hardware fixes suck but they fucking HATE software examinations.

Later on though some issues come into play whenever Sun starts getting worse by being further exposed to the virus (it gets worse for him when they eclipse) because it presents itself in Sun differently than it does Moon. He gets snappier and angrier at times (that comic i made that's captioned "well someones snappy") and while they both understand he doesnt mean the shit he does it's still not great. And nobody's gonna just let themselves be talked to like a dog even if the reason it's happening is because of something the other person can't really help. They're still relatively fine at this point, though.

It's at the end when shit goes really bad, because this part of the story does end badly. I won't spoil specifics but after the fire Sun loses his shit. He starts trying to put the blame on Moon for everything (the virus enhancing his already bad habits/fucking with his line of thinking) out of grief and anger. That carries over into the apocalypse and he just gets worse in general. He gets irrational.

It's a long period of time though, so he eventually also manages it, in his own way. But! I did say before in an ask that in the sequel he's "not evil, persay, but he's a fucking nut". He damns Moon to an hourglass to just fucking get rid of him about 100~ years before they meet you again (he fully thinks he's in the right for this (and he also just hates him) and the only reason he really even stayed around after that was to make sure Moon didn't get out again). He's not a bad-intentioned individual, but he's off the fucking wall at many times bc of the virus having made him worse. He's stubborn as all hell to an infuriating degree, he's irrational, hard-headed, reckless, and while a good bit of his old, kinder self is still pretty prevalent he can be downright fucking mean if provoked. Again, worse than before, and it doesn't take much these days! I always imagined him to have more dramatic, snappy, diva aspects to his personality (even before Help Wanted 2 came out) bc hes so theatrical and intense, so basically take a Sun that's like that, crank it up to 100 and put him in a Bad Situation. That's what Round 2 Sun is like at his worst. He's not a complete lost cause though, and he's far from dumb when he does stuff, just clouded by his own judgement. He doesn't think anything's wrong with him (or does he?).

Moon doesn't really hate him like Sun hates Moon, because although he knows that what happened (the ending of the first story) is technically both of their faults he just feels guilt. They do fight a lot, though. Most of it is Moon trying his best to tell Sun that he's basically full of shit and not seeing things right after Sun starts something, but Sun's at the point where he's gotta learn by consequence. Part of the reason he's so bad is bc 1: hes been infected by the virus for so long now and 2: in his grief, anger, and resentment he's learned to live with it rather than fighting it.

But the sequel is gonna be a feel-good story! Falling in love w/ the reader all over again, i want things to get cleared up - or at least some kind of middle ground between Sun and Moon - the whole sha-bang.

[jjtheresidentbaby]

˚. ❝₊˚ 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 .2 ˚₊· | ☽ 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 1

» dean winchester x reader

͟͟͞꒰➳ summary: a second part to demon daycare, dean is trying to make a deal for sam to get revived but he didn’t expect the demon from before to answer his call

» a/n: a while ago @honeylamb-esther asked for a second part to this and I’ve just now gotten around to finishing it

» warnings: demon!reader, little!dean, crying, talk of death & canon typical events, this isn’t supposed to be about a certain death we saw in canon so you can choose when it takes place

You sigh as you turn around, someone summoned you for a soul selling and while you’re fine to write up a contract, it’s a tad bit boring. You’d much rather have a more important job than the run of the mill demon duties, but after you had let the Winchesters “get away” with their angel, the higher ups weren’t too happy, and you doubt they’d be pleased to find out you really let the three go. You couldn’t stomach harming them when Dean was in such a vulnerable state, Castiel and Sam had both thanked you for it by sparing your life so you suppose it’s all okay.

And when you look up only to be met with Dean Winchester himself, you feel that same surge of weird protectiveness in your chest. He looks a mess with red rimmed eyes and a wobbling chin he’s definitely trying to hide. You can take a wild guess that either Sam or Castiel died, or got stuck in some bad situation, that’s the only reason Dean would be so distraught.

“Dean, what are you doing here?” He sniffs and looks away with slightly blushed cheeks, obviously just now recognizing you from your voice.

“I need to make a deal, for Sammy.” The poor thing sounds absolutely miserable, hands shaking where they fidget with the brown coat he has on, it’s far too baggy to be Dean’s own. It’s probably Sam’s, and that makes you feel a horrid swell of hurt for Dean.

“I’ll see what I can do about it, but for now let’s sit before you collapse.” He’s definitely slipped into headspace as his legs are a tad shaky and he doesn’t put up a fight when you take his hand to lead him over to the abandoned couch in the dirt a few feet away. It’s not an ideal place to be, so out in the open, but there’s nowhere else you can go.

“Your Angel friend couldn’t help get Sam back?” Dean slumps his head to your chest once you’re settled on the couch beside him, you reach to run your hands through his hair, hoping to calm him. It’s been a while since you really had to comfort a human- sans that situation with Dean a couple months ago- so you’re not a hundred percent sure if you’re doing this correctly. It’s not an everyday occurrence that a human trusts you so blindly like Dean is right now.

“Cas is back in heaven, said there’s nothin’ he can do.” Tsk, angels, so useless.

“Well hopefully I’ll have more luck. But Dean, you do know a deal means you’ll have to pay your due at some point.” It’s not a question because you know he knows, it’s how he got stuck in hell before Castiel showed up.

“Just want Sammy back.” It’s more of a mumbled slur than a firm statement, not like you’ve heard him so many times before. The Winchesters might not know it but you’ve been around for a while, just silently watching and waiting, you know just how grief stricken they become when the other is gone. It usually manifests as anger, rage filled vengeance that no doubt causes more destruction before they get what they want, not a crying heap collapsed on a demons lap.

“This his jacket?” It’s pulled so tightly around Dean’s frame you swear it has to hurt. He’s holding it like you’ll rip it off his arms and light it on fire, like it’s something to be protected just as securely as he tries to protect Sam.

“Mm, he lets me sleep with it in Baby when he drives.” You hum along and remind yourself not to startle when he curls in further against you, arm curved over your waist and head pillowed on your collarbone.

“You can go to sleep now, we can discuss your deal when you wake up.” Not that you’re even sure if you can get Dean a deal, depending on why and how Sam died, it might be difficult. Nobody in Hell is fond of the brothers and most likely won’t be willing to have Sam topside again.

“M’kay.” You can worry about it later though, for now you just tug Dean in closer and settle back into the couch as you won’t be moving for a while.

[soloorganaas]

I'm leaving you a nice ask about Remus because I'm such a good friend: okay, Remadora doesn't happen, and Sirius comes back from the Veil after DH with amnesia. How much amnesia, and how do Remus and Harry deal with it? How does Wolfstar get their happy ending?

i cannot believe how lovely this is 🥺 i think this is one of the nicest things you've ever said to me. I've been mulling over this all morning and i have MANY THOUGHTS

I really like the idea of selective amnesia, but in a really haphazard way, as if part of Sirius is still behind the veil. so maybe he just has a sense of things, but can't remember specifics. someone brings up a name or a place and he knows how he feels, but not what happened. so he knows he loved James in some amorphous sense, but feels agonisingly grief-stricken and guilty when he thinks about him without knowing why.

obviously the most heartbreaking part is having to relive all of this as people explain it to him or he remembers, but especially with Remus. they spent all that time working through the betrayal and trying to understand it and come to terms with it, and they've got to go all through that again - except it's worse, because Sirius doesn't have any context and he's so confused by the mess in his mind. Remus talks through Azkaban with him and Sirius is furious in a way he never was before, because now he's not on the run or trying to save Harry or trapped in Grimmauld Place, all of which I think made him push past the anger because he needed to focus on other things and he needed Remus.

so I think at the start Remus takes him back to his cottage. I reckon Harry would be staying with the Weasleys immediately after the war, but he'd move in with Remus to take care of Sirius. they're obviously just overjoyed and in shock that Sirius is back, and also worried about his health. they're both probably a bit overbearing (mama bear Harry) which starts to get on Sirius's nerves pretty quickly. then I think there would be lots of little moments of grief as they realise these incredibly important things Sirius doesn't remember - maybe the two of them reference something and Sirius has no idea what they're talking about, or maybe it's bigger things like Sirius not understanding the trauma and burden Remus carries from being a werewolf. Sirius picks up on this and starts to feel really guilty, which makes him even crabbier, and things start to get really difficult.

Sirius and Harry would definitely have an easier time together because Sirius isn't personally angry at him the way he is at Remus, and because he still has the instinct to protect Harry so he really tries to hold back his general frustration and volatility. I reckon after he really gets mad at Remus for Azkaban he moves out and Harry comes with him to live in a new place somewhere. Sirius starts to get better after that, because his life becomes about building something new rather than trying to reclaim the past. especially as Harry is also kinda lost post-DH, so they're just muddling along together, trying new things.

Harry talks about Remus all the time - everything he taught him at school, what he and Sirius did during the war. Sirius starts to ask more questions and remembers more things. and Harry is so forgiving, despite the horrors that he's gone through and the people that failed him, and it starts to rub off on Sirius. so slowly he starts spending time with Remus again - maybe with Harry at the beginning, and then just the two of them talking a lot out. Sirius starts spending the full moons with him and they build up their trust again. and then they just start hanging out, small things like walking around the countryside together or watching a Quidditch match. but also bigger things where they work as a team - maybe supporting Harry in something, or throwing a birthday party for him, or Sirius yelling at the Ministry for harassing Remus, or Remus being there for Sirius when he still has really bad days. and then they start to fall in love again, and even though Sirius can't remember everything from the past it's okay because they love each other and they love Harry and they have a beautiful life together now, so that's enough.

[celticcrossanon]

BRF Reading - 11th of August, 2023

This is speculation only

Cards drawn on the 11th of August 2023

Question: Why was Harry's HRH (finally) removed from the royal family website?

Interpretation: To make it clear that he is no longer a part of the BRF.

Card One: The Five of Pentacles.

The Five of Pentacles is a card of exile, financial loss, hardship, unemployment, isolation and disgrace. It is also a marriage card in the sense of 'for better, for worse'.

The picture on this card is of a man leaving his home, where he had wealth and reputation. The energy of this card is of being cut off, exiled, not welcomed back. The message is very clear. Harry is no longer a member of the BRF as an institution, The Firm. He is not a working royal and he is barely a non-working royal. There is no place for him in The Firm and the removal of his HRH style is to make that clear to himself and to everyone else (finally).

The marriage aspect of this card extends this message to Harry's wife as well. Neither of them are HRH (if Harry loses it, so does hos wife, as she only has it because of him) and neither of them are welcome back as working royals.

Card Two: The Page of Cups.

Pages are children, and also messages, so this is a message to a child of the King, i.e. Harry. Cups are emotions, so it is an emotional message. One of the meanings of the Page of Cups is daydreaming, being naive, having your head in the clouds. The message given by the removal of Harry's HRH from the website is that he is naive to think that he can return as a working royal, especially with Meghan in tow - this is head-in-the-clouds thinking, a fantasy that has no basis in reality.

The picture on the card is of Narcissus, absorbed in his own reflection and ignoring everything else around him. This could indicate that the palace sees Harry's behaviour as narcisstic or self centred, and they are taking steps to make sure he knows that such behaviour is not welcome in The Firm.

The Page of Cups can be a water sign child, and the water sign child of King Charles is Prince William, so I am wondering if he was involved in this blunt message to Harry in some way (I did ask and didn't get a clear answer). He could be also be supporting his father, a water sign man, in this decision.

The energy of this card is of a sadness underlaid by a firm resolution. The sadness is for the loss of a dream or idea that was important to someone. The resolution is a feeling of "this can not go on'. It is a firm resolution. The decision has been made to let go of the dream and take action, and there is no sense of wanting to give yet another chance. Endpoint has been reached and things have changed.

Card Three: The Three of Swords, reversed.

The Three of Swords is a card of pain, betrayal, grief, disappointment. In the reverse, it can mean starting to heal from that pain. Harry obviously thought that the BRF would forgive all the pain he had inflicted upon them and welcome him back with open arms, and the message in the removal of the HRH is to tell him that is not going to happen and he can not return as a working royal.

The energy of this card is of past pain, pain that has not healed, leading to a firm decision in the present. When I picked it up, I heard the words "He is not coming back' said in a very firm voice, with the emphasis on the word 'Not'. The energy of this card is of alarm at the thought of Harry returning, a strong decision that he is not part of the BRF, and a deep anger fuelled by pain - an anger that is slow to kindle but is now stirring and growing stronger as the days pass.

Someone is slowly but surely becoming more and more angry at Harry, and it is this anger, born from a deep hurt, that is fuelling the determination to keep him out of the BRF (he may be given a grudging return as a member of the family, but at the moment the emotion I feel is adamant that he will never be a member of the Firm again).

Underlying Energy: The Ace of Swords

The Ace of Swords is a new way of thinking, a new idea, a new strategy. This is a new way of dealing with Harry. When I pick up the card, I hear the words 'Cut him out' and "This is the best way forward'. Someone has decided that this new strategy is the best way to deal with Harry from now on. I'm not sure what the strategy is, but there is a change in the way the BRF will respond to Harry. Swords are logical and cold and ruthlessly practical, so the BRF may take a more brutal and practical approach to dealing with Harry in the future.

Conclusion

The removal of the HRH style from Harry's name on the royal family website was part of a new approach to dealing with Harry. It was to send him (and everyone else) a clear message that he is not a working royal and he is not part of the institution of the BRF. There is no welcome for him or his plans to return as a working royal, with or without his wife in tow. Harry has kindled a very strong anger against himself, an anger that will not die down quickly, and that anger mixed with deep hurt and pain at his actions is what is ultimately behind this decision to take a new approach to dealing with him.

[oceansssblue]

[THE BAD BATCH] — Soulmate AU

ECHO/OFC

WARNINGS: SOME ANGST (HAPPY ENDING), ECHO WITH SOME SELF-BODY ISSUES.

Echo stared at his now metallic forearm. He could almost picture it; the way his tanned skin used to show her name, the strange irreplacable ink shaping the five small letters that had changed everything back when he was a kid. His soulmate's name. His mark. His bond.

Echo had been nine when the five letters had suddenly sewed themselves onto his skin. It was just an uncomfortable itch at first; then, it burned. When nine year old Echo had dragged his right sleeve up to check his forearm, he had found a name.

<< Raine >>

Five small letters that gave him hope and cursed him all the same. His first feelings had been –after shock and confusion– pure joy and affection. Someone, somewhere in the galaxy, was destined just for him; a true match to his particular soul. Not his brothers, not just any clone; His.

Then, that joy and hope had been squashed away. Taken with greedy hands and harsh words. He still remembered the lecture the kaminoans gave him, amongs a few other lucky –or unlucky– clones. The hope and joy was replaced with fear, guilt, and sadness. Someone, somewhere, was destined to live in constant worry for him, or worse, forced to experience his loss with or without the chance to getting to know him. Because he was just a clone, engineered to fight a war for the Republic; and nothing else mattered at all. Not that name; not his bond. Not Raine.

Years passed, and little Echo kept growing into the soldier he was now with strict rules and a clear objective in mind; becoming an ARC trooper, protecting his Jedi general and the Republic, surviving fight after fight among the brothers who could. Survive. All thoughts of his soulmate were burried under a million worries and more than a dozen closed calls; under the grief he held for the death of too many vods and the anger and rippling sadness that threatened to bury him alive. Just keep fighting. Dont give up. It became his new mantra; and that he did, until the option was taken away from him too.

His memories of Skako Minor were, at best, hazy and mixed up. He saw numbers. He saw Fives, and Rex, his squad and all the manuals he had learned by page. He saw, but he didn't think. Or live. He was just something; part of the technology, of a system, not even a clone right then. He didn't realise how much he liked and needed to be just a clone until he started his long way to recovery after Anaxes and found out just how different he was from the rest of them now.

The death of his twin had been even more difficult to process than getting used to his new body and mind. He didn't recognise himself in the mirror; didn't recognise who he was without fives. But the Bad Batch showed him who he could be. He had hold onto that new oportunity while he learned how to cope with his new shape; how his complex interface worked, how to filter huge amounts of data in his head, how his legs and scomp moved. It hadn't been easy. It still wasn't. But he had learned to leave the past behind; how to focus on what he still had, and suddenly, with time, Clone Force 99 had become family in his eyes. After the fall of the Republic, he had sticked with them. One day, Echo would contact Rex and join the Rebellion, return to what he did best; until the Bad Batch found a safe haven, a place for Omega to grow without the fear of getting caught by the Empire constatly hugging her, Echo would cover their backs.

(•••)

"I'm still unable to comprehend where I could have made a mistake. I have considered every option I have been able to come up with; but something must obviously be escaping my mind. Your prothesis are failing to recuperate their full movility and speed and I can't seem to find the error in order to fix it so..."

Echo tried not to chuckle at Tech's constant mutters and rambling. They had just finished a mission for Cid in Ackerton three days ago, in which once again Echo had used his new abilities to infiltrate in an external security system to get the doors that they needed oppened. He had done that with no problem at all; but his legs had buckled right after achieving it and he would have had hit the floor if Wrecker wasn't there to catch him in time. It had appeared to be just a minor shock to his system, back then; with Echo quickly regaining his foot and finishing the mission swiftly with no other complications at all. However, the strange malfunction had repeated at least twice per day since then; and Tech, to the resident genious own greatest frustration, handn't been able to find the reason yet. That's why they were currently walking towards the supposedly best ingeneering workshop in a nearby planet, Osk; to, for once, get some external help.

"I'm sure it's nothing, Tech", Echo answered with his usually calm, soft voice, trying to put his brother at ease while he continued directing them through the route he was visualising in his head. "We'll get it fixed in no time".

Tech frowned in evident irritation. He was also worried for Echo, even if expressing in annoyment his lack of knowledge was the only way he knew how to.

"It is not nothing. If it were, I would have obviously found the malfunction and..." He started, but was quickly cut out by Echo's voice as the soldier stopped right on his track and scanned the building in front of them with interest.

"Clanks&Screws, that's our place right there" announced Echo, making Tech go silent for a tiny while he too scanned the workshop from the outside.

Echo nodded and walked towards the entrance without bothering to check if his vod was following or not.

"Can't believe we're leaving this in hands of a shop with a name like that..." Tech muttered, but entered the work place just the same.

At least the shop was kept clean and only slightly disorganized. Some chips, wires, drivers and half projects where abandoned here and there; but otherwise it didn't give off the impression of someone who just wanted to get money doing a shitty half job. Tech examined the space without hiding his curiosity; while Echo tried to locate the resident ingeneer, who was no where to be found.

"Be right there!" Shouted a voice from an adjacent room, right then, and once recovered from the surprise both clones waited patiently for the workers arrival. They could hear a feminine mumble across the opened door behind the counter. "Just make sure it doesn't crumble again, little bug".

They didn't have much time to ponder to whom she was talking to –though by the nickname, and considering where they were, it was probably some kind of techno droid– before a tall girl with chocolate brown hair tied up in a messy bun and black grease stains across her cheeks and hands walked towards them. She had caramell eyes, a small button nose and a very un-flattering work overall on. Even with her figure hidden from stranger's wandering glances, Echo couldn't help thinking how beautiful she was.

"What can I help you with, boys?" She asked, after scanning them in a fraction of a second that felt too long and yet not enough to the former ARC trooper.

Tech was quick to jump into his endless explanation and, surprisingly, the –probably in her mid twenties– woman patiently listened and nodded along. Further from feeling annoyed or irritated, she seemed to cling to each word as if she were gratefull to have someone who had done some research and knew what they were on about for once. She payed special attention at how Echo's neural system worked; her eyes turning to steal a glance from him here and there while Tech continued discussing posibilities and his thorough research. Echo awkardly –yet patiently– waited for the two ingeneering experts to come to a conclussion.

"Have you checked his neural interface, then?" She cut out, once she knew the googled man wasn't going to point out any adittional relevant information anymore, and Tech looked at her stunned.

"Oh, I can't believe I didn't evaluate the posibility of the malfunction coming from his central system! I went straight to the prothesis without taking into consideration that his neural conexion may have been seveered while tapping into the defence code web and..."

The young mechanic chuckled and turned to Echo. Those were two interesting men.

"Have you been having some sort of visual or processing weird alteration too, handsome?"

Echo blushed involuntarily and tried to remember.

"I... I have, actually. I didn't think too much about it, but I've been able to process data almost too fast. Faster than my usual rythim, at least. But that's not exactly a bad thing, right?" He asked, wearily.

She hummed and crouched down to grab a case of tools and placed it on the counter in front of her.

"Not painful, but not a good thing either" she answered distractedly, her hands roaming through the tools in search of a specific one. "It might be a sign that your prothesis aren't sending the necessarily signs to your neural system and therefore making it able to speed the conexions of other functions. Imagine your body is a circuit. If you eliminate or lower the charge on the colateral one that goes towards your legs, the other conexions will be able to work faster. That way you can sort throw data better, but loose movility, range and speed."

Echo didn't ever think that he would feel that atracted to brains; even if it were a desirable trait, he would have imagined that it would be more of Tech's thing. However, this woman knew what she was talking about; and he found the determined way she talked and moved and her easy, collected disposition refreshingly attractive. It helped she was pretty, too.

"Alright, let's have a look" she announced, once she finally found the rounded tool she was apparently looking for, and pointed at one side of the room to him "Can you sit on the stool over there and take off your shirt?"

Stating that Echo's cheeks burned brighter than a star would have been an understatement.

"W-What?" He could only managed to stutter, paralised.

The young mechanic laughed –a true, un-restrained, melodic sound– and showed him a loop-sided amused smirk.

"Not like that, handsome" she soothed him, albeit with a entertained twinkle in her caramel eyes. "I've seen a pair of similar neural systems like yours before, and you guys usually have a double entrance point to minimise the risk of overcharing and damaging a port. I assume you got one hiding there on your head implant and one on some spot on your spine, don't you?

Tech could still read the shock and hesitance on his brothers face and decided to gift him with some more seconds to collect himself.

"You are, indeed, correct. Your knowledge is impressive. I confess I had my reservations upon arrival, but I can see now that my doubts were unfair".

The young woman showed the goggled clone a small smile and waited for Echo to finally react. He did so with a million doubts and concerns running through his head. He was used to his body by now, but he wasn't used to others looking at it. He sat down on the stool regardless and slowly took his shirt off; staring down at the floor and trying not to fidget in his self-consciousness.

She seemed to understand what he was feeling and thinking about; as she quickly stepped behind his back without staring at his body more than necessary and reassuring him before actually starting to play with his head.

"I'm gonna do this as quick and swiftly as possible, okay? Just gonna plug in in both ports and run a quick scanning system first. If it is what I think it is, my program will find the severed conexion in no time and we'll get it fixed under fifteen minutes. Sounds good?"

Echo nodded in silence. He felt an electric rush zapping through his veins when the young woman connected to both of his ports; feeling slightly comforted while she talked him through what she was going to do. Her hand softly caressed one side of his neck; and Echo couldn't hold his reaction. He trembled; a feeling mixed with both panic and pleasure. She assumed it to be purely the first and her voice turned surprisingly soft and gentle.

"You alright there? It shouldn't be painfull at all. Just a few more minutes. Let me know if it does, okay?"

He nodded, closing his eyes and letting her search along his files. It felt weirdly intimate, somehow. He tried to mantain his breathing under control and not think of Skako Minor. He was safe, now; even if someone was checking him like the half-droid he was.

"Found it" her satisfied voice popped up after some minutes, making Echo open her eyes and only then realising he was crushing Tech's hand on his own one. He let it go with a small apologising glance; his googled brother completely unfased by the act. "It was just what I thought. The security interface you tried to infiltrate must have sent a shock to your system that has somehow rerouted some of the conexions between your neural implant and your legs prothesis towards other circuits. That's why you can still move them but without the same speed, strength, and movility range. I just have to carefully rerout it back to normal and you should be good to go in ten".

Both Echo and Tech nodded in understanding, and they let the mechanic perform her art. Tech studied each step; making sure nothing was put out of place and learning along the way. She diligently worked in near silence for the next few minutes; muttering to herself here and there and turning the corners of her lips up in victory when achieving each step.

She finally sighed and very carefully and slowly plugged out of the man's ports. She threw her tools back onto their case and handed Echo his shirt, standing up in front of him and showing him a small smile.

"All done. Feeling good, handsome?"

Echo re-dressed and cautiously tried to flex his artificial knees and twist around. He nodded in relief. Tech did too, satisfied.

"Yeah. I didn't even realise it before, but it did feel different than usual. Now it feels just right". He looked up at her with honest eyes. "Thank you. What do we owe you for this?"

She walked back towards the counter while she answered.

"Usual price is 100 osseks. But it was a pretty quick repair, and I like you guys, so we'll leave it at 90, how about that?

Tech stepped in and extended his hand.

"We appreciate it. Unconviniently, we only count with its equevalent in credits. Would that pose a problem?"

She shrugged and waved a hand.

"Nah. I accept pretty much any sort of payment here. Just let me call bug in so he can scan those credits for me. Not that I think you guys are trying to fool me, but scammers are getting quite creative this days".

Echo nodded in agreement.

"No offense taken" he added, and she turned to the opened door calling her droid out.

"Four-o-nine! Move your little wings here and scan this credits for me, bug!

A small red CRX-technodroid calmly flew towards them; making chirping sounds while he inmediatly followed the human's order. Tech curiously glanced at both Echo and the droid before voicing his observation.

"Curious name for a technodroid" he started, tentatively, while she waited for the red bug to finish his scan.

"Is it?" She answered, distracted, saving the credits in a safe place and getting the change for them. "I named it after someone important to me".

Tech collected the excess back and dropped it in one of his numerous belt pouches. He just had a feeling about this. Could he be right?

"May I ask who? A family member, pherhaps?"

Her face filled with melancholy and a sad smile perched on her lips for once.

"It's someone who I've never met", was her quiet answer, and Echo felt his heart beat intensifying and threatening to burst out of his chest right then. He had catched up on Tech's suspition. But there was no way that beautiful woman was her soulmate, right?

His tongue felt stuck to his mouth. Fortunately for him, Tech continued his cautious research like he always did.

"You must have realised were clones, as intelligent as you are, albeit different than the mayority of us. Am I correct in assuming that that is his CT-number?

She seemed hesitant to confirm his theory, but ended up nodding and Echo felt closer to suffering a heart attack. This was it. This could be it. This could be the moment where his whole world shifted again and...

"1409, yeah. I cut it down to four-o-nine for short" she let out a nervous chuckle, reading their postures and understanding the direction of his questions with a growing heaviness in her heart. "Don't tell me you know him? After the Republic fell I assumed I wasn't going to be able to meet him. Everyone's on the run, nowadays, and..."

She grew silent, fidgeting with the end of her sleeve, and Echo swallowed his insecurities down. He glanced at Tech, who nodded at him and gave him the rest of the strength he needed to voice his confession out loud.

"I am... I am CT-1409. I... I'm your soulmate."

A million thoughts and emotions seemed to flash in the girls eyes. She stared in shock, stunned; looking at him a few seconds later with raw hope and anxiousness etched in every fraction of her face.

"If... if this is a joke, it's no fun" she whispered, without tearing her caramel eyes of him, and Echo couldn't stop staring back even when Tech's voice intervened.

"I can assure you Echo is indeed clone trooper 1409. We have no reason to lie to you; we've already achieved what we came here for".

She tugged her sleeve up. Without looking at her right forearm, she caressed the numbers on her skin. Echo trembled at the sight. It was such a reverent gesture, filled with such hope and warmth...

Her caramel eyes searched his amber ones; the stare she gave him was so intense it seemed as if she was searching his very own soul. And he was hers. His soul.

"Tell me my name. If you're my soulmate, you must have had it etched in your skin, once, too."

She needed confirmation. And he understood. Echo knew right then that she had been waiting for him even longer than he himself had. Because while her memory had been forcebly burried inside his mind, toppled with his hard life as a soldier, he was still fresh in hers; no-one told her to shut it down, to forget about him. And Echo understood once more all the lies that the kaminoans had tried to teach them about their soulmates too. It didn't matter if they met each other or not. It didn't matter if the clones succeeded in forgetting them. Their soulmates worries and fear for them would not change. Would not stop. And neither would their love and care.

"Raine" he whispered, as if she would dissolve in thin air if her name was spoken too loud "Your name burnt my right forearm when I was nine years old. I was told to forget... But i never truly did. It was the one order I never couldn't fully follow".

Her eyes filled with tears and she tumbled towards him.

"F-Fuck. Fuck... You-You are..."

She couldn't help herself. Some part of her understood the reservations he might have to being hugged and touched; but he was his soulmate, he was fucking there, and she couldn't do any other thing that throwing herself into his arms.

Echo couldn't bring himself to plant distance between each other either. A slight panic flew through his veins with the unexpected contact; but she was there, and surprisingly, she fiercely wanted him. And Raine was all he ever wanted too, even if he wasn't allowed to feel so.

She cried on his shoulder, whispering against his armour.

"I thought you might be... With the war and the rise of the Empire, I hadn't found you yet and I thought I might never..."

Echo moved his left hand over her back in a soothing caress.

"It's alright. It's alright, Mesh'la. I'm sure it was difficult, and we've... I've been through a lot, too... But we're here now. I'm right here, okay?"

She felt strong enough to push her face back a little in order to being able to look up towards him. She was tall, sure, but he was even taller. She liked that.

"I've been calling you handsome and trying to flirt with you since you stepped inside my shop, thinking I might find myself a hot date for a change and..." she let out a teary laugh, making Echo chuckle with her, too.

"And I happen to be your soulmate" he finished for her, showing a small warm smile. "You know, that actually makes me feel a bit better. I was worried that if I ever managed to find you, you wouldn't find this..." he gestured "Attractive".

She bit her lip and some of that previously cool collected cheekiness reappeared.

"Oh, handsome, believe me" her arms slowly wrapped around his shoulders and neck, and she grinned at him "I find you hot as fuck".

They chuckled and laughed together; both unable to resist each other anymore and joining their lips in a passionate –yet gentle– kiss. She melted in his arms. Kissing his soulmate, Echo, had to be the best thing she had experienced in her life.

Later that night, when Echo returned to the Marauder with the rest of his family –they all had agreed to stay for a whole extra week in Osk to give the young mechanic time to pack her things up and join them– Raine looked down to her forearm and caressed his four digits with a soft smile.

<<1409>>

She couldn't be happier; couldn't feel prouder of having his mark on her skin. And she couldn't wait to experience all that were to come.

THE END.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••

AUTHORS NOTE:

That's it for this one folks! Please forgive any errors I've made; English is not my native language.

I really hope you've enjoyed this! And if you have (or even if you haven't, I accept constructive critisicsm) let me know in the comments! This is my first au ever in tumblr (i write fics on wattpad in spanish) and I'm sure I'll feel more inspired to continue if you do so.

Also, I accept requests! If you want me to write a story about a specific clone, with whatever theme or relationship you can imagine (i can also write dark stuff, smutt, WHATEVER) let me know in the comments or send me a dm!

Xx, Sky.

[outofangband]

(Just some more free form Maedhros post Angband thoughts as I work on revising my more detailed trauma posts! As always more can be found in the post Angband tag

Note: I now have a specific tag for the status and conditions of former prisoners in Beleriand in addition to my post Angband tag. It’s “but ever the Noldor feared”. There’s obviously overlap between this and my post Angband tags because the ways trauma manifests and how it’s understood or misunderstood contributes to the dynamics but I wanted to have a specific tag for it!

Semi related post

Written in part for @nelyoslegalteam for always being so kind about my Maedhros content

but the shadow of his pain was on his heart

This is one of the only lines we receive with regards to Maedhros’s ordeal in Angband. Despite how brief it is I find it so poignant and evocative.

Beleriand lies in the shadow of Angband and that shadow lives in the hearts of those who know intimately that place of horror

A shadow darkens, it envelops, it obscures, and it does everything. Maedhros’s pain, the fear and grief and anger and shame that now live within him, can at times seem to eclipse all that he does and is.

Maedhros’s memories are glass and he cannot hold them without bringing blood, sharp and fragile as though contained something that would shatter around his thoughts and feelings when they came close to the surface. Often pieces would dig in so one word spoken, one finger upon his neck, one whiff of the suffocating smell of blood and heat and iron would embed itself in him until he wanted nothing more than oblivion. The throne room floor, the chains around his limbs and his neck. The voice of the Moringotto.

It could take him as suddenly as the sun obscured, the weight of his body as the ghost of his chains choked him.

And to others. The shadow of his pain is in his heart and upon his bearing; even years after there is pain in his steps on certain days, if you know how to see it.

(just a side note: the description of Tulkas's feelings seeing Melkor in Morgoth's Ring, how it "clouded his mirth" is genuinely such a good description of trauma even if it was intended that way)

The scrutiny that former thralls are subjected to becomes another shadow over him, one that he is perpetually aware of. Even when he has done nothing to cause any to doubt his loyalty, even when he pushes himself to the brink of collapse to fight and plan against the enemy, there are those who will never trust one who has returned from the pits of hell, who hold that he still lives against him or believe he simply wears the face of one of the Eldar

And for all that he is still fundamentally Maedhros, there are those who will see only the ways he has changed from the memories or stories of him that came before

The ways that one survives in Angband do not fade once one is no longer physically confined there. Angband seeks to strip away everything that one is and the fight to reclaim it is vicious, agonizing, and unsightly. The shame that weighs upon survivors is melded with the mistrust and hostility with which they are viewed with by others.

Survivors are known to steal (because nothing can be theirs and they do not trust that they will be given anything without a terrible price), to lie (because they have been forced to choke down the truth when it might lead to further pain, and so much leads to pain), they are known to attack even their own kin (because they are so very afraid).

Maedhros is not like this. He does not lie (not that might be detected) or steal and if he does not any longer attack others out of the fear they might not see

And his status, both before and after his imprisonment absolutely ease this particular burden. He might be among kinslaying nobles but they are nobles nonetheless and the mistrust and even hostility that is felt towards him, specifically regarding his captivity, is certainly mitigated by this. But it still reaches him.

His kinship to others who have been in the Hells of iron is a precarious thing. He can use it to his advantage at times and it can be used against him.

And as another shadow, post Angband there is always the ever present fear of imprisonment again. It ranges from a creeping dread to a visceral, desperate panic that can override all strategy and reason. Especially after some years of recovering and of recovering himself, there is the profound resolve that he cannot return to what he was there and that any violence or death, including and at times perhaps especially his own, is preferable to imprisonment and powerlessness to the extent that he suffered in Angband.

He will not go back to that again even if it means becoming unrecognizable in new ways.

[thousand-winters]

(So sorry if you got this already tumblr has been eating my asks recently gahhh)

In my head, there's this very angsty scenario of how things would play out between Darius and Hunter in the aftermath of All The Shit, where Darius basically pushes Hunter away because of his own internal guilt over how he treated Hunter during his time in the coven, not necessarily because he just feels bad about it, but because he recognizes that if he and Hunter get closer, Hunter would not allow himself to get mad at Darius for his bullying and dismissal -- the same way Hunter never allowed himself to get mad at Belos. And Darius would think Hunter deserves to be able to get angry at him, (projecting his own anger at himself, of course), so he puts distance between them in the hopes that Hunter would eventually be angry at him for the things in the coven. And poor Hunter would be so lost and confused about it -- he thought they were getting closer, that they were friends. It would take a stern talking to from one of the unexpected parents (Eda, probably) or just a smack upside the head from Camilla to set him straight again. "Darius, it doesn't matter what you think might not happen -- he's made his choice already. He wants you. And if you make him feel safe enough, whether he gets mad at you initially won't matter either, because he'll feel safe enough to deal with it eventually."

(No worries!!! Tumblr is so wonky sometimes)

Oh, my goodness, I love that.

Something I really love to play with when it comes to Dadrius early dynamic after the finale is that it can be such a mess of misunderstandings because Hunter doesn't feel like he's quite enough (right enough, worthy enough, normal enough) to be someone's child, while Darius doesn't feel prepared to be someone's parent, let alone Hunter's, which is so ironic because I think for Darius part of that doubt would come from the fact he's perhaps the adult who knows the best how much help Hunter will need and the one with the best idea of the extent of the trauma he suffered while at the castle, which means to him it feels like a more daunting situation; he does NOT want to mess things up when Hunter is currently in a bit of an emotionally fragile estate.

This would definitely play a big part here because Darius, who knows Hunter used to justify what Belos did to him because they were family —for the most part Hunter probably didn't realize some of the treatment was messed up, but when he did, he learned well to find excuses for Belos—, knows very well too how Hunter tends to let authority figures he even just remotely admires or respects walk all over him (he did that himself once, after all), and while that's definitely something that can be unlearned, he would be afraid that his own actions back then might influence too much how things go now. Especially because I think that while obviously he made up for that, at the time Hunter was a bit like a wild animal you don't want to scare by offering too much human decency at once 😭 He couldn't say "hey, Hunter, it was a bit fucked up of me to project my grief on you and insult you, you are not responsible for other people's, especially adults, emotional troubles" or else Hunter would have been jumping through the window.

So because he had to work slowly through Hunter being comfortable and not weirded out by being treated kindly and taught some level of boundaries, Darius could feel like Hunter might have a skewed vision of things and might think it's okay if Darius mistreated him, and while that might be sort of true, it's no more so than how Hunter is with any other adult with power over him.

Poor Hunter just feels like Darius was kind to him to the extent of making sure he was safe and out of Belos' reach and now he doesn't give a damn about him... and why would he when Hunter has nothing to offer? 😔 With Camila things were temporary, and with Belos he had to earn his place, so he can't just expect Darius to want him around forever or at all without doing anything for him, right? So he probably wouldn't even try to insist one bit to Darius, he would respect that distance.

Hunter and Darius are truly such a pair, out there thinking the worst of themselves and creating a conflict where there's none.

I figure Eber would be the first one to try and talk some sense onto Darius, and then probably Eda or Camila or whoever Hunter is staying with for now, since then Darius would not only have the objective view of things from Eber, but also a glimpse of how Hunter is feeling, which is very important if he's assuming that Hunter is just gonna forget their bond and thrive somewhere else if he just tries hard enough.

There's definitely going to be such an awkward period after this too, I think the whole "you can be angry at me" matter would have to be one of the firsts they tackle considering how much it escalated. Darius might not be so convinced at first, caught up as he is in his own self-doubts, but it would be very good for Hunter for his parent to say that to him, since it already shows from the first moment that this isn't going to be any kind of dynamic of servitude or anything of that sort. And you know, Hunter might not even mind that much what happened at the coven because he understands how that environment can make you angry and spiteful, and the kindness Darius showed afterward was very significant to him more than a simple apology would, but ironically he might be upset at Darius pulling his whole distancing himself move.

Not exactly how either of them expected things to go, but they can work with it, and seeing that it won't be a deal breaker will help them form a stronger bond because they know they don't have to walk on eggshells around each other... as far as it comes to this matter at least. There's quite a lot both of them have to learn.

[cringelordofchaos]

Ok I have an omori au idea brewing up in here

Basically it's pretty much like "omari". Basically omori plotline except Mari killed sunny not the other way around

But there is different angst potential. Mari is someone who deeply loves and cares for others, especially her younger brother. She's always there for others when they need her. So to think of her failing to protect Sunny... Yeah...

But honestly I see Mari as a kind of an honest person. To face the truth. I find her to be brave and reliable. Obviously the truth is horrifying but unlike Sunny who's head was always sort of outside this world and he made up a whole imaginary land for himself to escape to I feel like Mari would be more open to facing the truth. (Plus the name Mari literally means "truth""

So I don't think Mari would have a headspace? Idk

But I also thought of ghost sunny

You know how there's ghost Mari in the actual game?

So yeah

Ghost sunny in my au still has a white space, he still doesn't face reality and doesn't know of he truth. He doesn't know that he was killed. He doesn't know that he's not alive.

At first, he did know he died, but he started hallucinating this figure we'll call "Someone" for now, and Someone made sunny believe that he never died, he always lived in the white space, etc etc. That he never had any friends before Someone.

I also made someone an actual character. Someone is manipulative of Sunny and tries desperately to make him believe the white space is the best place for him and hat he's always lived there because Someone is a person Sunny made up because sunny hates being alone. If sunny sees his friends someone might disappear. Someone can't let this happen so Someone needs sunny to be dependent on them.

Sunny doesn't really remember anything from his life, but his fear of heights, stairs and spiders remain. He is also easily triggered by loud noises, anger and general conflict because of the tension in his last argument with Mari. He hates being overwhelmed. Someone takes that to their advantage and whenever Sunny doesn't listen to Someone or tries to face the truth if he dares, Someone will act angry to scare him, and then instantly comfort him and be nice to him so he can trust them.

Someone actually starts caring a bit about Sunny after some time, they actually start feeling bad for them, but they still put their need for survival above all else. Their empathy is irrelevant.

Sunny always has a cat plushie that Mari gave him when they were both younger. The plushie mari gave him right before going to her first school trip. Sunny doesn't want her to go because he wont have her to go to when having s nightmare. So she decides to give him a plushie and tell him that whenever he feels scared and he's alone, that he can just hug the plushie. The plushie is like a part of Mari. Something from Mari to sunny. Ghost sunny in the future still holds onto this plushie. He doesn't know why he has it but whenever Someone isn't around, he holds onto the plushie.

Ghost sunny at one point starts gaining back his memories. When he realized what Mari accidentally did to him he is a bit scared of her and not as easily forgiving as Mari would be.

When he first visited the real world after s long time, although he didn't recognize any of his friends too much, he still felt scared around Mari.

Basil is hella depressed. He doesn't speak to anyone. He barely ever goes outside. Whenever someone tries talking to him he doesn't utter a word. He knows exactly what happened to Sunny. Including all the details. He can't let anyone know. He once impulsively cut Maris and Heros signature plants out of pure grief and now he regrets it deeply. He wants to forgive them but it's hard because he just wants everything to go back to normal but it can't and he's angry. Few people like Aubrey and kel, and even Mari tried tj comfort him but he avoids everyone, he really doesn't want to talk to anyone.

Ghist Sunny is still scared of the truth. He still tries denying that he's dead even if subconsciously. Someone helps him forget.

Kel tries helping everyone but just like in the actual game he feels like he's not helping and everyone is pushing him away so he just tries to make a new life after a while

Hero feels like he doesn't deserve that nickname. Mari still calls him hero from time to time, whether it be as a slip up or because she Genuinely sees him as "hero" and no one else, but hero just wants to be called Henry

Hero helped Mari hide Sunny's body. They both blame themselves.

Also, sunny died either by A: Mari accidentally pushing sunny of the stairs, or B. Mari failing to save sunny from drowning. Or something third. Either way it has something to do with Mari.

Mari will still try to make a smile for all her friends and family because she doesn't want anyone to be weak. She wants to encourage everyone to be accepting of their life and stuff. But when she's alone she sometimes has attacks. Her guilt and the failure of her being incapable of saving her brother like she was supposed to haunts her forever. Was she too pushy? Was she not good enough? She want worried about herself as much as she missed Sunny though.

Sunny is still somewhat of a hikikomori because most ghosts generally visit their loved ones from time to time, even though they can't usually see them, but Sunny is one of the few ones that stay in the white space at all times. Hes afraid of what might be outside of the white space because Someone made them believe it's not as safe as it is here. (Every dead person has a "white space" in this au. It's basically a form of an afterlife.)

Sunny still has a "something". But this something represents his death that Someone constantly tries to hide away from Sunny. But when Sunny is all alone and focuses hard enough in his surroundings, he sees a creepy figure, a reminder of truth of what happened to his life, that someone is a liar. Sunny doesn't know what Something is really but it sure creeps him out. He tries staying alongside Someone just so he doesn't have to see Something.

Someone's general personality is a mix of Sunny's friends (Mari, Basil, Kel, Aubrey, Hero).

Someone manipulates sunny into believing that his past friends should be feared. That he's better off alone.

At times Mari and Basil can actually SEE ghost sunny but they might or might not be imagining him.

Ghost sunny is a much more nervous, scared easily overwhelmed individual. His fear of loudness, heights and spiders (and especially swimming/water) remain. (Wait did I already write this down?? My lack of memory is really showing itself to the world right now)

Ok there's more but I'm too lazy to write it down oop

Yeah

[002yb]

I know that most Dick/Jason stories are mainly set in post crisis, but what about an au set in pre crisis continuity (blonde circus kid Jason)? DickJay bonding over their similar backgrounds, Jason reminding Dick so much of lost memories of the circus, memories that he tucked away to deal with the grief over his parents' death, with Dick unknowingly falling for Jason first after spending time with him and how he feels so conflicted about it given their age difference, the guilt he feels from the death of Jay's parents and how he initially wanted to take a more parental place in Jay's life. It's just that Dick did not expect to feel this way about the kid, and he hates himself because he thinks it's inappropriate and disgusting. So Dick distances himself, less visits to the manor, less communication with Jason, and even during Jay's occasional run with the Titans Dick hardly speaks with him. Jay and the rest of the Titans notices but when he confronts Dick about it it turns into an argument and both parted in anger.

Then the next time they meet it's either Dick on his knees crying in front of Jason's grave or Dick at the side of Jay's hospital bed looking over a comatose Jason (cause I love suffering).

Ngl, the idea started with me suddenly obsessing over Zendaya and Zac Efron's Rewrite the Stars scene in The Greatest Showman and I just can't help imagining Dick and Jason in their place. I could just imagine Dick first realizing his feelings when he's swinging around with Jason, everything seems to be going in slow motion and it's like there's only the two of them in the entire world, and his blue eyes focused on Jay's face, appreciating the blonde lashes, the precious smile and the unadulterated look of joy. And Dick thinks to himself that giving Robin to Jason, has become more than just making up for the guilt he felt over the death of the Todds, Jason has become what Robin should be, a light in the dark, the hope in the time of despair and the beacon of everything good and right in the world. And Jason, to Dick, is just that.

(Sorry for the corniness)

Oh goodness, this was a harrowing adventure of a read. My heart simultaneously feels all the warm and tormented feels. ;U; Thank you so much for sharing, anon! I'm one of the many that goes the post-crisis route with Jason, but this is really sweet!!

Fair warning coming from after writing this, but idk how this version of events goes to tie it into everything and I unwittingly went the usual post-crisis route omggggg I think I've clowned myself I'm so sorry I need to read some comics ahhhhhh

Jumping in at the ending point of the above -- but Jason either resurrecting or coming out of that coma and being so damn frustrated with Dick. Just that upset from before carrying over on top of Jason being distraught because of everything that happened.

Because Jason cried for Dick when Jason was dying, but Dick wasn't there. He stopped being there, but now he's here (at Jason's beside when Jason wakes/at Jason's grave when Jason disturbs the ground of his plot and Dick helps him dig and pulls Jason out and into his arms and won't let go and--) and what the fuck is it that he wants? Choose.

But also, what the fuck did Jason do so wrong? He thought he would or did die and all Jason could fixate on was where he fucked up with them.

And Jason has all the pent up, frustrated tears because, 'I love you,' and Dick must have known and hated it. Only Jason loves him still, so hate him/leave him because Jason can't stop.

It's such a heartbreaking and sincere confession and for once Dick's mind is quiet, no doubts or insecurities -- just a heart full of hope and his body moving all its own to grab Jason and pull him close and kiss him like Dick has wanted to do for ages and ;3;

Reason comes back to him at some point, obviously. They're concerns Jason gives due consideration if only because Dick is trusting him with some heavy insecurities and communication/trust is something they're actively working on after everything, but at the same time? Jason will call Dick 'daddy' if he wants and Dick dies a bit because 'too soon,' ahahahaha.

Thank you again for sharing this, anon!! No need to apologize for any corniness, either. That's the bulk of my content anyhow LOL. I've got a whole series where Jason becomes the Robin Dick lost along the way and more importantly needs (in the sense of Dick lost his own light/hope/ability to see most good and right things in the world during his time as Robin but finds it in Jason over time --- also with Dick cherishing that dearly and it healing some wounded part of himself so he's more him), well. We've got similarly corny taste in this regard so no need to apologize, I'm having a great time hahaha.

[angelsdean]

I mean. I do agree with Cas and Sam being held more culpable. But I think the reason people point to Dean being abusive with the Jack stuff is that he is a child? Cas' child? I mean, you can talk about the general prejudice against non-humans in spn being the bigger factor in that but

i said this in a reply to this post (i'm aestronautics) but i don't think it's fair to compare dean's reaction to jack with our later perceptions of jack and his role as their child (and cas's child). like, we as the audience can look back with all we know and how their dynamic develops and we now see jack as The Child and cas as his father and dean as stepdad / second parent, and sam as another guardian figure. but from dean's limited perspective at the time of widower's arc, all he knew about jack was that he was a Very Powerful Being with pretty unpredictable powers too (jack still didn't know how to control them and was prone to outbursts). he also knows jack is the son of lucifer, a fact which they still weren't sure what that would mean for jack, if he inherited some of lucifer's temperament or "badness." to us, obviously that isn't the case, but to them within the narrative it's a valid concern. lastly, he knows that jack formed a bond with cas and dean believes that jack manipulated cas through that bond and ultimately got cas killed. that's all dean really knows for certain. so imo his initial fear and wariness is justified. those feelings, couples with his grief, then manifest in anger. dean goes on the defensive against jack because he sees jack as a threat and jack, at the time, is still an outsider to their family dynamic. dean's always going to be motivated to protect "his own" first, and that means sam and cas and mary (etc etc). and in the context of widowers arc, esp at the verrrry start, he's just lost two of the most important people in his life and he sees jack as the cause for those circumstances and jack is also an unknown and a threat. he is not yet Cas's son. even when jack says so, dean has no reason yet to trust that claim. even still, despite his general wariness and fear of jack, dean doesn't turn him away. dean compromises and says they'll keep an eye on him and deal with him if he turns out to be bad. then cas comes back and he starts to see that bond between them and then jack becomes family and the dynamic and feelings change. (though again, dean will revert to that fear + wariness when jack becomes soulless, unpredictable, and dangerous)

but anyway, initially, dean's reactions to a strange new powerful being are not totally irrational. yes WE see jack as an innocent child and cas's son, especially now looking back, but for the characters in the narrative, their perspectives are limited to what's actually happening and what information they are actively receiving. at the start, dean doesn't know what exactly jack is capable of and they don't have anything to stop him IF they needed to, IF he did turn out to be bad, so i don't think it's wrong for him to be fearful and wary at first. and yea, maybe he shouldn't have shouted or placed blame for cas's death on jack, but that anger was part of his immense grief, and grief can and often does make people act irrationally, senseless, or imperfectly.

[josnhoes]

@lulubs24

I don't really know where I am going with that story idea. But I can give you some of my non-linear plot points and ideas.

HCs below:

Achilles is actually filled with more guilt over the reader then he is Pat. He's still drowning in grief with Pat and that situation but there were way more layers of who to blame. He can only blame himself for abandoning reader. Couple that with the fact he'd seen you when you arrived and you hadn't even glanced his way before being taken away to Elysium just showed how angry you were at him.

Anger he had to learn to accept. He was mad at first thinking you didn't care for Pat as much as you had claimed and were selfish in not wanting to avenge him. But over the *many* years he figured out the truth.

When he and Pat are reunited by Zagreus he has to come clean and tell Pat everything. Patroclus was *pissed* not only because Achilles had meddled in the afterlife and chosen something for him with out his permission, but he abandoned *you*.

Pat finally understands now why after all this time you never came looking for him. Even if you didn't blame him for his death, something he knows you'd never do, he was now a reminder of such a betrayal that all he would do is remind you of what happened. He knew how you thought, likely you went back to viewing yourself as an extra in their pair. An extra that had no place.

Pat had worked so *hard* to make sure you knew he and Achilles loved you as much as they loved eachother. He'd reassured you plenty of times when others had made comments on you being a third wheel. Some were far more cruel and crass but the theme was you didn't belong with the pair. Pat wanted you to know that wasn't the case at all. But Achilles actions had destroyed all of that.

I stead of staying in his little corner of Elysium all the time he now ventures out on occasions to look for you. Never for long; the stranger and Achilles needed him. As mad as he was with Achilles he still loved him.

Zagreus ever the busy body buts in on the entire situation. He wants the people he likes happy after all. So he keeps his eyes out for you with every run. And he knew that once he found you and earned your trust he could begin fixing things.

You weren't happy in Elysium, the sound of battle only dredging up memories you long wished gone. As a battle medic you'd seen and heard more then enough fights. The blood and gore you had to deal with as a healer wasn't the memories. Though you hated think on the lives you'd failed you hated the memories of Pat and Achilles.

If it wasn't for the fact the only thing keeping you, you was your pain of the betrayal, the burn of the many lies you had believed about belonging; you would have thrown yourself into the river lethe and been done with everything.

Despite the hurt some traitorous part of you hoped that they would come looking for you. That the pair cared enough to seek you out and make amends. But as you expected, they never came. You figure the soldiers had been right, you never belonged with them; you were just a useful toy.

None of that is obviously true, but being in the state you were, that's what you believed. It was easier to think they never loved you at all than to think they would abandon you.

Your first interaction with Zagreus is brief. He tried asking your name and strike up a conversation. After all it was rare someone *didn't* try to fight him. You tell him nothing and simply tell him to leave you. It's not until he fights his father that he realizes you were the one Pat and Achilles were looking for! Now that he knows you are around he begins the task of tracking you down until he can get you to open up.

It doesn't go well, Zagreus so used to winning people over fairly easily assumed you'd be like Pat. It seemed like it at first. You'd tell him to leave you be and ignore him. But Pat had a different form of sorrow then you. So the same method would not work.

He tried jokes, he tried gifts, he even tried to fight you a few times only to end up back in the house. Which was terrifying. When you fought, it was something that somehow shook him to his core. Zagreus couldn't help but wonder if maybe you were a Keres or one of their children. He'd have to ask Nyx. Because really a mortal shade shouldn't be so utterly terrifying when provoked.

[acewitch-writes]

i dont think remus can be solely blamed for not believing in sirius blindly tho. that doesnt mean that sirius cant be angry, but like, the entirety of the wizarding world was convinced sirius did it both because there were witnesses that heard peter scream how sirius was to blame for james and lily's death, then saw him sirius "kill him", and sirius was driven mad with grief and practically confessing when they arrested him. that doesnt mean it wouldnt be interesting to explore that while recognizing remus' flaws (there's a lot of fics doing that), but like. it's not so black and white. was remus supposed to suspect peter, his other bff and the new martyr? and given that sirius also suspected him, so we can probably infer there was even more going on that we dont know about. idk i think it's more interesting when both characters are both right and wrong at the same time (while holding both accountable AND giving them their rightful moments of anger, ofc, i hate one-sided shit lmao)

I agree! I will defend Remus to my dying breath. There's definitely a LOT more nuance than "Remus should have trusted Sirius."

Remus never had malicious intentions with anything he ever did. When he distanced himself from the Marauders during the war, he had orders from Dumbledore to stay quiet about his secret missions. And I know we all hate Dumbles around here, but Remus respected and revered him and was terrified of disappointing him. So obviously he went along with it.

So now Sirius is starting to suspect him because Remus can never explain his whereabouts. They're fresh out of school, living in a world that hates werewolves and Remus is already struggling enough that James has to support him financially. There's so much story to explore during this short period of time, themes of prejudice and class divisions and discrimination. It makes sense that Sirius would consider the possibility that Remus could be lead astray when the "bad guys" were promising to make life better for werewolves while Remus was fighting for the "good" side that made no such promises.

So no, we can't place all the blame on Remus. He was a kid, too, thrown into a war immediately after school. He knew that he was the only werewolf on the Order's side, and the weight of that must have been overwhelming for REMUS, the coward with a predisposition for running away from his problems (a trait of his that Sirius was probably well aware of, further cementing his belief that Remus could be the traitor).

Remus believing that Sirius could have betrayed James is one thing I really struggle to get my mind around. I like to imagine that some part of him doubted his guilt, but as a werewolf living alone in a society that hates werewolves, recently bereaved of every person he had ever loved, I don't think there was anything Remus could have done even if he was in the right state of mind to do it. Especially not when Dumbledore, the man Remus looked up to the most and the one he would be most likely to address these doubts with, also seemed convinced of Sirius' guilt.

The way the fandom tries to blame one or the other (these days, usually Sirius) for what happened to James and Lily is frustrating. They are both very flawed characters, and they both have things they need to answer for.

I hope this is coherent. I feel like I just rambled in circles.

[barry-j-blupjeans]

oooh 16 (So I’ve been trying to be less chronically online and you know, find my People out in the public. Because real human beings are way more important than numbers on a screen. It’s just that this dating app is full of guys holding fish and/or guns, and I’m so, so ready to quit, so I have to know right now immediately what your whole deal is because I’m absolutely enchanted already) and taakitz maybe?

Get off dating apps, Lup said. Go outside and touch grass, Lup said. Maybe your dream man will rise from the depths of hell to serenade you, Lup said. Well, no, she didn't say that part, but she didn't object when Taako had suggested that outcome. And honestly? Honestly?? Taako had tried. He really had. Not the "perfect man will come out of hell to fall in love with you" thing- well, not exactly. But he had tried to actually go places and meet people instead of just scrolling through WizardsOnly.com for hours on end. Half those chucklefucks weren't even real wizards, anyway.

Logging on today had been- a distraction. A coping mechanism, if you will. It was an "I had a shitty day and I'm all out of ice cream" kind of day. The profiles on here were awful and downright embarrassing to read through sometimes and usually, they'd do a great job of making Taako feel much better about himself. He couldn't be worse than the sixteenth guy holding a bass. Like, c'mon. At least Taako had a salmon in his!

But then- then! Maybe the fiery gates of hell did open briefly because no one was allowed to be this good-looking with committing some kind of death crime. Mr. High cheekbones and half-pinned up hair, with a cool and dark aesthetic about him. There were no fishing pictures. There was no bragging about being voted into the local wizard consul.

There was, however, several photos of him amongst a group of old woman, all of whom were wearing bright, colorful clothes. The first picture of him was obviously a cropped selfie where someone had zoomed in on his face. The description was as followed:

Kravitz. 27.

And that was it. No introduction, no explanation from the gaggle of grandmas, no nothing. Taako was- well, Taako was delighted. Lup always said he had a tendency to go for people who seemed sort of aggressive but if something about this worked out, then he had physical proof that this man was not violently aggressive and/or mean. Old ladies didn't vibe with that. Fuck yes.

Taako opened up a new message.

sooooo I’ve been trying to be less chronically online and you know, find my People out in the public bc real human beings are way more important than numbers on a screen. it’s just that this dating website is full of guys holding fish and/or guns and I’m so, so ready to quit so I have to know right now immediately what your whole deal is because I’m absolutely enchanted already

He sat back, satisfied. Take that, Lup! He moved to click away from the tab but a bubble popped up under his messages, showing that Kravitz was already responding. Taako scooted his chair forward. It took a rather long time for him to type the message, so Taako did think, for a minute, that he was going to be offended. But when it finally popped up, it wasn't like that at all.

Message from Kravitz: I run a knitting circle.

Taako: A knitting circle?? go on

Kravitz: It's like... a grief thing. Like, "I'm so sorry your husband died, Susan, do you want to knit a blanket about it" kind of thing.

Taako: Delightful.

Taako paused, stretching his fingers over the keyboard. Go big or go home. This was a dating website, after all.

Taako: so listen. ur vv hot but I need to know if ur like, a murdered or if you have like,,, anger issues. bc my history is Not Great. please don't be a murderer

Kravitz: I don't think I'm a murderer? And that's a no on the anger issues. I think. Maybe? Should I ask someone?

Taako: I trust you.

Kravitz: Bold words from the guy who dated a murderer with anger issues.

Taako snorted, smiling for the first time all day. He cracked his knuckles and shook his hands out, setting them back on the keyboard.

Taako: You've got no idea, my dude.

[channajen]

DannyMay Day 9: Ghost Zone is now posted!

Summary: Jazz, Sam, and Tucker find Danny and Jack at Vlad's house. Some hard truths are revealed, and harder decisions follow. After everything is said and done, Jack has a plan.

This is part of the "Backpack-Eclipse" Series on A03

Teaser below cut:

(Time reference: This story takes place immediately before “Backpack in an open closet”)

“What am I gonna do now?” Danny’s echoed voiced rang through the quiet room. He looked at Vlad, who avoided eye contact. Then he turned to his father with tears in his eyes. “Dad…I can’t…I can’t stay here. Not anymore.”

“I know son. Earth isn’t your true home anymore.” Tears ran down the orange jumpsuit and tracked on the carpeted floor.  Everyone was quiet as the truth of those words sank in.

“I don’t wanna go…I don’t want to leave!” Little pitter-pats of ectoplasm dripped from the boy’s eyes.

“Daniel…” Vlad looked strange to Danny. His face portrayed a myriad of emotions. Grief, loss, shame, pity, even anger. “Daniel,” He tried again. “If the GIW come here again, we will not be able to hide you anymore.” The elder man swallowed. “There is also the matter of…hunters…who will be after Phantom, and it is too soon to see how the effects of your new state of being will play out.”

Danny huffed. “Like you care.”

Vlad’s irritation crept into his voice. “Believe it or not, Daniel, but I do care about you. Very much so. I am deeply appalled that this has happened to you. It is something I’ve dreaded since I discovered your existence. I remember what it is to be alone, Little Badger. I never wanted that for you.”

A loud “THUMP” reverberated through the den. It was accompanied by the sound of glass cracking. “What in the world?”

Jack immediately stood up, afraid that Maddie had tracked them and was coming to finish the job. He cautiously went to the window and pulled the drapes apart. Something had obviously smashed into the glass. Jack couldn’t tell what it was, due to the object’s placement on the ground. What he did see, were three very angry looking teens staring back at him.

His heart sank. Now was NOT the time! Jack closed his eyes and took a deep breath. These were Danny’s friends. They will not hurt him. The man kept repeating those words to himself as he made his way to the front door. He looked around the room at his stricken son and angry friend. “Looks like we’ve got company, guys.”

Danny immediately started to panic. “What? No! Who? I can’t let them see me like this! M̵̛̟͓͕͉͕̒͌̅̒̽̔̀͘i̴̢̭͙͈̮̞̣̮̰̐̽ ̴̡̧͍̥̣̜̜̣̞̐͊͗̔̽̍̃̏e̴̝̞̻͐̒̑̏̈̍͠ͅs̶̡̢̛̞̭̿̂͗̎̊͑͝t̴̫̟͗̒̚͘a̸̛̜̯̯̥̘̓̀̃͑͝͝s̴̻̼̪͓̘̘̝͓̽̏ ̴͈̎̿̌͂̊͛t̸̡̛̛͈̹̰̺̬̤́̽̂i̵̟͔̭̱̮̖͍͗̕e̸̢̹̣͑l̸̨̰͚̙̖͉͖̍͑̂͒̾̆̔̀ͅ ̵̩͆̐̋͝f̸͍̮̼̫̰̋͜ị̴̳̹̅ͅk̵̗̿̀͑̚i̵̟̜͕̳̤͉͈̽̀̒̿̚t̵͍͖͙̱͗̆͌̈́͘a̷̛̮̦̮̠̥̬̹̒̈́̈́̈́̿̈ ” His voice echoed words that Jack couldn’t understand.

Vlad, however, did. “Language, Daniel. I think connecting with your friends will be helpful for you moving…forward.” He swallowed. “You’ve only got five days with them. Make it count, boy.”

The tone was the perfect challenge to Danny’s beleaguered mind. Dealing with Vlad’s pompous bullshittery was easy—coming to terms with existential crisis, not so much. Danny took the easy road. He swiped at his eyes and shook his head. “Alright, Dad. Let them in please.”

“Are you sure, son? I don’t want you to feel pressured in the time…you have left. I just want you to be happy.”

Danny gave his father a weak smile. “Yeah, Dad. I’m sure. I need to make my goodbyes count, y’know?”

Jack wordlessly nodded. He slowly walked to the door, and opened it. Three glaring faces stared back at him. Surprising no one, Jazz was in the lead. “Where is my little brother?! What have you done with him??”

Sam’s voice was just as forceful, but held more emotion. “We saw the blood trail and followed it in this direction. The BOOmerang led us here. We know you have him.”

Tucker wasn’t paying attention to the ruckus in front of him. He peered around Jack and noticed Vlad sitting on a wingback chair, sipping what looked suspiciously like alcohol (at 7:00 in the morning!), and looking morose.

The heaviness that had been weighing on Tuck immediately lifted when he saw Danny nervously bobbing over the sofa in ghost form. Wait?! Since when…

He was pulled out of his thoughts by Jack’s words. “We have some things that we all need to discuss. It’s best if we do it inside.”

The trio looked at each other and communicated wordlessly. They needed to be sure that Danny was ok—but what was with the craziness that had him at Vlad’s house with Jack Fenton, of all people. Everyone knew that Vlad hated Jack. Yet here they were apparently sitting calmly in the den with Danny—in ghost form. Something wasn’t adding up.

Jack stepped back and opened the door wider. The three teens walked in cautiously and flinched when Jack slammed the door behind himself. “Sorry!” He said.

Jazz flashed him a tiny smile. “It’s ok, Dad. We know you’re clumsy.

Jack rubbed the back of his neck in a familiar gesture. Sam tilted her head. She’d never noticed that Mr. Fenton did that too. Maybe that’s where Danny got it from.

The trio made their way over to Danny. “Dude! Are you ok? We followed the bloody ecto trail almost all the way here!” Tucker was the first to speak.

Danny frowned and didn’t answer. Ice went down everyone’s spine. Danny always, always had a witty saying or a comeback. Plain silence wasn’t something they were used to from their friend.

Jazz and Sam really focused on Danny’s appearance. Sam looked at Danny and then to his sister. “Is it just me, or is Danny more transparent than usual?” She swallowed, hard.

Jazz reached out for her brother’s hand. He allowed it. It was so cold! Much colder than usual. Jazz paid closer attention to the other details about Danny that had been overlooked when they first found him.

She noticed that he wouldn’t make eye contact with anyone, and he was huddled in on himself. She absentmindedly filed away the fact that he hadn’t touched the floor once since they arrived. Something heavy began to build in the elder teen’s stomach.

“Dude!” Tucker was the next to say something. “When did you get a color change?”

Everyone whipped their heads around to see what Tucker was talking about. Sure enough, Danny’s ghostly skin tone was no longer brown, but a light baby blue. His eyes were different too. Instead of being solid green or solid blue, they were a constantly-swirling combination of both colors.

The sense of NOT RIGHT got much stronger. Everyone looked at each other. Finally, Vlad spat. “I’m not going to say a word. This is between Daniel and his friends.” He turned to Jack and Danny. “If you need me, I’ll be in my study.” Then he walked away without a backward glance.

Now that the group was “alone,” Jack herded everyone over to the large sofa with the chase lounge. It was big enough to hold everyone and still be comfortable. Once they were situated, Jack gently touched Danny’s chin and pulled his face around to see him eye-to-eye. “Son, this is your story. Do you want me to tell it for you? Or would you rather do it yourself?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zalgo-Esperanto: “Mi estas tiel fikita”  (“I’m so fucked!”)