#one of those awkward family portraits

[weaponizedmoth]

The Venture Family Group Photo (Hank, Dean, Rusty, and Brock) 😁👏

Bonus with Mr. Reachy ;3;" (I have no idea for Adding this for the venture family photo ^^")

(I usually make these B&W but I wanted to go all out for this one).

[0ddbugs]

She is on the adoption squad for this reason -

and she secretly wants to pose for one of those awkward family portraits where every one has on matching sweaters and her giant face is super-imposed into the background.

tm(n)t: @nerves-nebula

@tmntaucompetition

[unicreamuwu]

The Little Batgirl (Yandere Platonic Batfam x Child Reader)

Chapter 1 - Welcome to the Wayne Manor

Warning: Yandere Themes and minor bullying from Damian

(Anything that reader says in a bolded text means she's in "thought of mind.")

The car stops in front of some metal gates.

Bruce helps Y/N out of the car, and she looks up at the giant mansion that is in front of her.

(Do NOT steal my art!)

Y/N looks up at awe as the mansion was right in front of her.

"So, this guy's rich! Can't believe this is going to be my new life," she thinks to herself as she stares.

Then, a butler comes out and bows in a respected manner towards the little girl.

"Greetings, Miss Y/N. Welcome to your new home, I hope you'll be happy here," he said in a kind manner.

"The butler knows my name, too!" She thinks to herself with wide eyes.

When Y/N goes inside, the first thing she sees is a young boy who looks a little older than her. Maybe about a couple of years.

For some reason, she felt an uneasy vibe from him.

Bruce basically pushed the young girl towards him and told him to help her look around.

The boy stares down at Y/N before he lends out her hand.

"I'm Damian Wayne, the only biological son of Bruce Wayne," he introduces himself in a cool tone.

"Um... hi? I'm Y/N..." She said in an awkward tone as she accepted his hand to shake.

Damian then walks around Y/N as he eyes her appearance up and down before his face was an inch from her's.

"Your hair is messy. I would brush it if I were you," he tells her in a cold tone before he turns his heels and walks off to lead her for the tour.

Y/N could only stare at him with a blank stare.

"Wow, what a rude boy..." she thoughts before she follows him.

~~~~~

While Y/N was walking around for the tour, she stopped to see Damian showing her a portrait of a strange looking family tree.

"This is the main batfamily line," he said as he showed the family portrait.

She examines it as she turns her gaze to Damian.

"What's the batfamily?" She asks.

"It's what we call ourselves," he tells her before he leads the way again.

"Also, that bat plush looks old and dirty. Get a new one or something," he tells her as he walks.

When he said that, Y/N stops to think about what he was talking about.

Then, she realized that he was talking about Batsie, her favorite and only plush doll.

"Hey! Don't call my best friend that!" She yells out to him as she jogs after him.

~~~~~

As Y/N followed Damian, she gets to see so many rooms around the mansion.

Then, he takes her to the batcave.

There, Y/N's eyes brighten with amusement as she looks around the enormous batcave.

There were so many cool artifacts, such as the world's giant penny.

"Where did you get that dinosaur?" She asks Damian as she points at a huge dinosaur model.

"Father built a time machine to travel back in time to get this," he tells her.

"Really?"

"No."

Damian walks out of the batcave, leaving Y/N all alone I her thoughts filled uup.

"So, does he have a time machine or not?" She asks.

~~~~~

After the tour and Damian basically calling rude names towards Y/N, she was trying to find her room.

When she finally finds a pink door that looks freshly painted, she goes inside.

In her room, there was a massive pink princess bed with pink and white covers and some fluffy pillows, and the shelves in that room had various kinds of books and basically almost all of the stuffed animals in the world.

Although the room looks beautiful and adorable at the same time, Y/N felt an odd feeling when she was inside.

However, it was all shrugged off before she flung herself onto her new bed.

~~~~~

As Y/N was technically jumping up and down on her bed, a pair of eyes were watching her.

Damian then moves away from the door and walks up to his father.

"Did you make sure that you put in everything she liked?" Bruce asks him in his usual cold tone.

Damian nods in response.

"How do you know that those were the dolls she liked?" He asks him which made Bruce chuckle.

Something about Bruce's chuckle sounded a bit darker than his usual laugh.

"I have my ways. Now, get everyone here. We're going to throw our new member a welcome party," he tells him before he walks off.

[cursedkeyboard]

Babies shouldn't grow up ☆ Jason Todd & GN!Reader (PT.5)

What does Jason do after he tries his best and fails spectacularly to keep his nosy family away from his kid? Make sure he is still your favorite when everyone starts spoiling you rotten, of course. [PART ONE ♤ PART TWO ♤ PART THREE ♤ PART FOUR ♤ PART FIVE ♤ PART SIX]

Pairings: Platonic Jason Todd & Child GN!Reader / Batfamily & Child GN!Reader

When everything was said and done, Jason explaining why he didn't want to expose you to more dangers by introducing you but also the reason why he felt compelled to be honest with you about their identities, the bats soon started to try and bond with you

Dick was the first one, as always, and introduced himself as "little wing's one and only older brother"

You giggled when Jason groaned at that, embarrassed, and Dick took that as a win

Dick's older bro charms 1 - Bruce's gloomy dad stare 0

After getting called out by you so directly and plainly, Bruce had been awfully quiet as everyone interacted with you

It wasn't every day he got called out for the worst mistakes he comitted

But he also was still reeling at the fact that he was a damn grandfather

Steph cooed at how small you were, pointing out how even Damian was taller

Which, in Jason's opinion, was totally unfair since you were only eleven while Damian was thirteen, going on fourteen, and had been trained for along time

Also, excuse him, only he could tease you

Dick would be asking Jason one and a million questions about how he'd been taking care of you, your education, health, etc

"Of course I– You think I wouldn't send my kid to school, Grayson?"

His kid, they thought, part giddy part dumbfounded

"Woah, woah, I'm just asking! Technically you're legally dead and the little angel over here doesn't exactly look like you."

Wow, for some reason that really pissed Jason off

He tucked you under his chin, squeezing you gently as you rested your head on his collarbone

"I signed the papers. I'm not fucking dumb, Dick, I've been the legal guardian for about a year now."

At that, Steph stopped trying to take pictures of you with her eyes alone and quirked one of her eyebrows

"Legally?"

"... For the most part."

No one said anything at that, it's not like any of them really followed the law, especially not the old man behind them

You huffed in amusement at that, making Dick and Steph's hearts warm up

Damn, not even an hour into meeting you and they were already feeling those fuzzy, soft feelings in their chests

Needless to say, it wasn't a casual evening but it wasn't what Jason had been dreading, not at all

There was no screaming about him being reckless, no one tried to take you away from him, Bruce didn't even say much

Damian was still a brat and tried to pick on you, judgy little shit, only to get the nastiest clapback that made Dick choke on his spit

They all knew he was just feeling jealous, like every kid feels when a younger, cuter child shows up in the family

Boohoo, Jason thought as he watched fondly as you and Damian bickered, the demon brat was never as cute as my kid

Bruce, despite his melancholic gaze and awkward nature, managed to talk a bit to the both of you

He'd tell Jason that if you ever needed anything, to just use his credit card, no questions asked

Bruce would always be a call away and with Cass slowly taking over the mantle, he had a bit more time in his hands when the League didn't need him

He'd support the both of you to hell and back, his own way of repenting, and all he asked in return was...

For Jason to visit more

Because he was still upset about not having all of his kids home for Christmas

And bring you with him

it was high time you met everyone and became an official member of the family, he already knew exactly where your portrait would go

And despite his hesitance, you wanted to be a part of Jason's entire life, not just a hidden piece

Jason could never say no when you did a terrible impression of puppy dog eyes

So this is how it started; the start of the bats spoiling the hell out of you

After a couple of dinners together, lunch, and a tour around the manor and the batcave, seeing all of their old and new suits, ("Tell me you didnt actually wear this." "Shut it, I was a child." "I'm a child and I'd rather die than ever touch this."), with you glued to Jason's side always, packages started showing up at the doorstep

At first it'd be cute and silly things like a plush of the newest Pokémon and matching scarves for the incoming winter

Maybe even their own merch, because they're all losers deep inside

Then it was Bruce taking over any kind of expenses you and Jason had because, in his words, he wanted Jason to focus on raising you instead of worrying about rent

–Not like he wasn't already using Bruce's money to pay for everything

But he still felt begrudgingly soft at having his dad care for him and his kiddo like that, though he'd never admit it–

And then Babs and Tim upgrading the cyber security all around your block in the chance of a villain attack or any creeps following you home

From Duke and Cass asking Jason to spend time with you for some bonding time to your entire wardrobe turning into designer and your school materials updated by Wayne tech

Fuck, you even had terribly expensive yet thoughtful action figurines from your and Damian's favorite animated shows

The brat tried to hate you for ripping everyone's attention away from him, for making Bruce and Dick all... gooey, but it was hard when you had Todd's knowing eyes and a developing charm that always cracked a smile out of him

Infuriating, like father like kid

But... he liked you, quite a lot

And, throughout it all, Jason was panicking bad

Look, Jason Todd was always a jealous person by nature

He never liked his things touched, never liked sharing his interests in case someone also got interested in it, and he was particularly possessive with the few romantic partners he had

So when your attention was suddenly split among all of his family, Jason felt a little upset

It's like when a cat that usually only likes you allows other people pet it

Jason didn't quite feel betrayed but... that childish fear of not being your favorite person was very real in his head

So he upped his game

Whenever any member of his family gave you a gift, he'd get something better the next day

If they took you to a cool place, say an arcade or the mall to hang out and get to know you better

Jason was already booking tickets to go to Universal and taking you out for nightly motorcycle rides

Damian was insisting on watching the new season of your favorite show?

Next weekend he'd have prepared the living room to look like a cinema, with snacks and popcorn, for a movie marathon

Babs and Steph got you interested in makeup?

Regardless of gender identity, you know Jason would watchevery YouTube tutorial known to man about makeup so you won't have to ask the girls about it

Bruce would grow all fond of you once you got past, but did not forgive nor forget, the things he's done to Jason and started interacting more with him

So once he's talking about how he learned multiple different languages growing up, during one of the monthly family dinners, Jason would already be Googling how to learn another language fast

And god forbid Dick messed with your hair

He was not above picking a fight with Nightwing for ruining the hairstyle he spent hours doing for you

Look, Jason wouldn't be as petty as to keep you away from his family

No, in the contrary, he really, really loved watching you be coddled and loved by some of the most powerful people on earth

Getting the childhood he had so desperately wanted

It allowed that restless part of his soul to settle knowing you had them looking out for you, always

But Jason also would always want to be your number one

Your favorite person

Your hero

You dad

Yeah, he could admit it now without fear, he's definitely your old man

How could he not be when he's cutting apples for your school snack and making sure you go to bed before nine?

Never mind his age, Jason even bought a grill so you two could barbecue on the rooftop, there's no other more dad move than that

So, after a few months of this real life sitcom, when you were both on the couch watching Pride & Prejudice (Jason's choice tonight), all cuddled up and cozy

You'd rest your head on his shoulder and sigh happily

"You don't need to do all this, you know?"

"Hm? Do what, kiddo?"

"Trying to one up everyone. It's funny and I'm not exactly opposed to being spoiled as hell–"

"You're such a brat."

"Shut up– but you'll always be my favorite, you know that, dad."

Oh.

Oh.

Ok. Wow. He was tearing up.

"Oh, fuck off, don't do this to me."

His voice would be a little wobbly as he hid his face in your hair, squeezing you gently in his arms

And you'd giggle and hug him tighter too, your face warming up nervously but no longer afraid of muttering that one little word that had been stuck in your throat for so long

You two were so, so similar in that regard, afraid of overstepping despite the bubbling emotions inside you, the overflowing love threatening to spill out

So much faith and trust, devotion, care, and adoration

And all it took was one sentence to make it all better

"I still wanna go to the convention next week, though."

And Jason would laugh, teary and almost breathless, and press a kiss to your forehead, feeling happier than he's ever felt

"Yeah, okay, you nerd."

Wonder who you got it from

That night solidified it for him, calming his anxieties and petty jealousy

Jason would always be your favorite person

And you wouldalways be his favorite little one

Nothing would ever change that

To be continued... for one last time.

[waspgrave]

uhm I want to hear about all three of the d&d characters in those cute portraits you shared but idk who plays the other ones so i'm asking you about all 3 pls

And I shall provide info! I don't know some backstory on them yet so some of this is going to be from my take on them based on interactions so far. I fully encourage anyone to ask the players about their characters, though because both are amazing and creative!

The first one is Caspian who belongs to @aztechnology. 12 STR. 14 DEX. 14 CON. 20 INT. 8 WIS. 15 CHA. Caspian a human chronurgy wizard that emerged from the Yawning Portal in Waterdeep with the help of an adventuring party. His past is a bit shady as he's extremely private and somewhat deflective about personal life. Sometimes his spells backfire and he might experience a magical mishap (like teleporting somewhere randomly). He's incredibly sweet, scholarly, comes across as meek sometimes but has that heroic kick and determination. He's also notorious for rolling and/or enabling the funniest nat20s or 1s. We started the campaign with him trying to get into the Blackstaff Academy as he was supposed to take part of a class - which something bizarre happened and everyone in that class went missing.

Next is Veil! They're my character! 8 STR. 17 DEX. 11 CON. 10 INT. 18 WIS. 16 CHA. Veil is a changeling circle of dreams druid/phantom rogue. She journeyed all the way from her home (Mosstone's druid grove) to Waterdeep for a reason that has yet to be disclosed - She's very vague about it. Veil has never been outside of the grove so just about every experience - good and bad - in Waterdeep is a new one, but she at least has family that lives there to make it easier. She loves mischief, napping, acquiring pretty things and trinkets, and occasionally gambling. We started the campaign with her sneaking into Blackstaff Academy (as a cat) to snoop around on info about her aunt, who sent her a message in her dream that something went wrong during her class.

Then Oliver! He belongs to @lapdogmabari ! 10 STR. 18 DEX. 16 CON. 16 INT. 8 WIS. 14 CHA. Ollie is a tiefling rune knight fighter/artillerist artificer. Noble boy with some saucy little sherlock holmes energy. He's from a very well-known noble family in Waterdeep. He also has asthma after having the plague as a child and he's very sexy about it. He also has a prosthetic arm that has knives and metal chain whips in it and is very sexy about that too, but has yet to reveal how that happened. He comes across as friendly though maybe a bit awkward since he did call Caspian 'Dirt Boy' on account of Caspian coming out of a hole. When corrected on this he asked if 'Cave Boy' was more preferable. We started the campaign with him being the detective to a mystery regarding Blackstaff Academy and he's already doing great with it.

[ozzgin]

What if prehistoric reader is so motherly and protective of Baki because back in her time when she was little, her mother dutifully cared for her until her awful demise by some predators and she wanted to give some love to Baki. So he won’t feel as alone and scared like she did. Until she met Pickle anyway.

At some point in one of the stories (perhaps pregnant or mother reader?) I had approached this idea of prehistoric reader being curious about Baki’s mother. She lacked the tools to question him about his family, but once she acquires a more complex vocabulary she begins probing for some background. Does he have a mother? If so, where is she? I’m picturing one of those classic anime scenes where both people slouch in neighboring swings in an empty playground on a late evening. Baki has a stick in his hand and is doodling in the sand, a clumsy attempt at a family portrait. He’s not quite sure how to explain all of the details. He points at the drawing of his mom and then looks up to the reddening sky and reader’s eyes widen in realization.

“Dead?”

“Dead.”

She can feel her chest tighten and immediately regrets intruding such sad memories. Baki notices her awkwardness and chuckles, reassuring her in a quiet, soft voice that it’s not a secret to be avoided. He returns the question and now it’s reader’s turn to point at the sky with a melancholic smile. Then again, even if she hadn’t died, she would be long gone by now. What a strange thought.

Learning the circumstances of the death are a completely different story. Reader is filled with wrath once she connects the dots and Baki has to hold her back and plead to allow him to deal with it himself. Safe to say that motherly reader will never look at Yuujirou the same. That man will feel her vengeance sooner or later. No sin goes unpunished. Not under her watch.

[randy-inks-writing-blog]

Lonely (Lucifer x Hellborn! GN Reader)

—————————————

Just some fluff with sad boi Lucifer for fun. Tell me what you think and what I can improve on!

Edit: You can read the fanfic on Ao3

—————————————

Succubuses and incubuses are known for their sexual activities. You, however, choose a distinct career path. Instead, you use your skills to comfort people. Give them a little massage, or a talk too. Many people are surprised to find lots of sinners have parent issues. On rare occasions, customers just want to pretend that their partner is still with them. Your coworker walked up to you with a smug smile. She stops at your desk and says “Guess who just asked for your services, (y/n)” you till your head, surely must be someone important if she’s bothering you. “Who?” you ask softly. The coworker smiles wide and answers; “the king of hell, himself!” Shocked at what your coworker says, you stood up and said “Lucifer Morningstar? Do you know what he wants? Oh, dear Satan, I gotta look good for him!” Your coworker grabs your shoulders and holds you still. “(y/n) chill, he just wants someone to talk to. Just wear something comfy, your appointment is at 3 tomorrow, ok?” You nod your head. That’s enough time to calm your nerves, hopefully.

You walk up to the doors of Lucifer’s manor, quietly you knock on the door. A small old imp opens the door for you. He bows his head and tells you to follow him to Lucifer’s room. As the two of you walked, you looked at all the portraits of Lucifer’s family. Most of them were of the missing queen and their daughter, Charlie Morningstar. The butler stops right in front of Lucifer’s room. You stop right next to the imp as he knocks on Lucifer’s door. “Sire, your guest is here.” You heard a response but could barely make any words out. The butler opens the door for you, and you slowly walked in. The room is positively a mess, rubber ducks everywhere as far as you can see. You walked over to the king’s bed and gave a small bow to him. Looking at the fallen angel’s face, he like his room looks like a mess. Small tears fall down the king’s face, looks like he’s been crying for days. You sat next to the king, being mindful of your wings and tail. Lightly, you place a hand on the king’s check and softly rub it. With caution, you spoke to the king; “Your highness, is there anything specific you need?” the crying angel answers back “call me Lucifer please. And no, I just- I just need someone to hold me like Lilith once did.”

Well, that’s a bit awkward. How long has the queen been gone for again? Seven years, who knew the king of all of hell was just a lonely guy? Hey, you’re not going to judge you’re the one who took this job. You laid down next to the king and pulled him closer to you. Lucifer’s head laid right on your chest as you wrap your wings around the king. The king cried into your chest. Good thing this is a gender non-specific fanfic. “I miss my wife; I miss her a lot. Why? Why did she have to leave me? Was I not good enough?” he sobs, making the situation more awkward for you. You ran a hand through his blonde hair with a smile before you whispered. “I think you’re good enough, Lucifer. Maybe you should stop thinking about the past and think about your future.” Lucifer looks up at you with hopeful eyes quietly he ask, “Like my daughter?” You nod your head yes, but Lucifer just looks away from you. “If only it was that easy. All I can think about is the past. I’m the one of the doom of all of humanity. I’m the one who convinces Eve to eat that fruit.” You cup Lucifer’s face and make him look at you again. “While that is true, you also help make hell, and without hell there wouldn’t be imps, hellhounds, succubuses and incubuses. And those loan sharks that have those weird Italian accents yet don’t know a single word from that language.” Lucifer listens to your talk, feeling a little better. The king nuzzles into your chest once again, finding your body heat comforting. You snuggle closer to the king; this is something you’re going to brag about to your coworker. “I guess you’re right, in a way. Thank you for doing this for me. I’ll double your tip when this is over.” Lucifer softy spoke, now feeling a little sleepy. You nod your head and lightly pet Lucifer’s hair.

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[solemn-marauders]

Personal Sebastian Sallow Headcanons (pt. 1/?)

◆ He's an October Scorpio - The characteristics line up so well and I really like the idea of him being one of the older students in his class ◆ Is the younger twin - Anne never lets him forget it. ◆ Sebastian's looks favor his father's - This plays a role in Solomon's hostility towards him. ◆ He’s Scottish and was born and raised either in New Towne Edinburgh or on the outskirts - Edinburgh in the 1800s was a foul place to live, at least in the city center, Old Towne. - I see his parents being drawn to Edinburgh. It has such a vast history and holds a lot of knowledge, but they knew they wanted to start a family and decided to settle down away from the city proper. - I don't see them having a grand mansion, more so a comfortable townhome ◆ His parents are published authors - The funds from this is what allowed them buy property in New Towne. - They left a modest inheritance to the twins that they will receive when they turn 17. ◆ After their deaths, Solomon sold the house and most of the items within to gather money to afford to care for two children. - Sebastian and Anne were able to stow away some of the parents' belongs, such as; their favorite books, jewelry, pocket watch, photo albums, and letters. ◆ His parents have portraits at Hogwarts - After the portrait versions of themselves learned of their real-life deaths, they asked to be stowed away when it came time for Sebastian and Anne to attend Hogwarts to avoid a possible unhealthy fixation on the paintings. (Imagine a scenario similar to when Harry found the Mirror of Erised and visited it every night to stare into it.) ◆ He's a virgin - Since I've given them an October birthday, the Sallow twins were 14 when Anne was cursed the summer before their 4th year. After she was cursed, the entirety of his focus and drive went into Anne and finding a cure. The only exceptions to this, pre-5th year, were his academic studies and his friendship with Ominis. - In his 3rd year, a 5th year girl took an interest in Sebastian and propositioned him to teach him the ways of physical pleasure. She was pretty, older, and he liked the attention. She thought he was cute and liked the idea of being the one in control. He was 14, she was 16. It never went past oral though. - Sebastian didn't like the idea of "ruining" (using era-accurate verbiage here) a girl because he would kill anyone who did that to Anne. - The 5th year girl played a role in giving him the confidence (charm, flirtation, etc.) we experience later. This led him to snogging other girls while in his 3rd year, but only those in years above him. He cringed at the thought of Anne hearing firsthand about his escapades from someone in their own year. - He had his first kiss at the age of 12 though. A traveling merchant's daughter who was the same age and visited Feldcroft for a few days before moving on to the next town. It was extremely awkward but also adorable. - Sebastian is canonically very well-read. That does not exclude literature on the topic of intercourse just because he's a virgin. He's read everything he's been able to find and has his own hidden copy of the Kama Sutra stashed away. ◆ He's naturally athletic - Working in the Feldcroft fields while growing up has kept him healthy and in-shape. Being an avid dueler has also helped. - He tried out for the Quidditch team his 2nd and 3rd years, but lost out to older students. He had planned to try again, but Anne's curse changed everything. ◆ He becomes a Beater for the Slytherin team his 6th year - You cannot tell me that this man doesn't become more broad and muscled as he grows. With shoulders and arms like that, his competitiveness/prowess, and his desire to impress Thea (MC), he becomes one of the best Beaters Hogwarts has ever seen.

[the-likeable-wizard-mack]

Modern Fantasy Monsters: Family Matters

A family line full of great magic users who's family tree is a literal family tree that grows old photos and letters from their branches. When a new family member is born a new sprot blossoms from said tree next to their parent and when an elder passes away their branch weakens falling off but, regrowing stronger than before so their memory can live on.

Halflings who's family gatherings are so large that it's always a large scale event that makes even rivals werewolf gatherings. They really know how to party and they are super close with each other.

Speaking of werewolf gathering, imagine a human who never had a close relationship with their own family marring into a werewolf family where they're all really close with each other. The human is an honorary pack member and they are overjoyed being apart of a loving family even if its not their own.

Alternatively a monster who never had a chance to understand the concept of a family being accepted into a human family with open arms being surprised yet super happy that they have people that they can trust other than their partner

Vampires who have family photos from every decade that they've lived through. Imagine seeing this proud ancient hand painted portrait of the family in decade old clothes next to the family portrait of said vampire family dressed in matching clothes doing on of those JCpenny's awkward family photos from the 80's.

A human with a child marring a magic user who also has a child creating a blended family of magic and non-magical customs. Sure the witch child will use their magic sometimes prank and tease their non-magical sibling but that doesn't mean they won't defend them when push comes to shove.

A giant couple adopting an abandoned human child along with their own child having those two grow up to be best of friends with the human sibling being the one to defend their MUCH larger sibling from bullies rather the other way around.

A young witch eagerly waiting for the day to get her powers so that she can be just like her parents when she's older. She counts the days until her birthday and her parents are happy that she's excited that they secretly got her a pet familiar for her birthday too to add to the surprise.

[podcastenthusiast]

Reflections on family (Or: I gave Astarion even more father issues which says nothing about me personally nope)

--

They are not unkind, the Ancunins, your still-living family. Stilted, formal, like you're strangers--which you suppose you are at this point, yes. But they invite you into their home knowing full well that you could not enter if they so wished it. A show of trust for which you are grateful.

If this were a bard's tale, they would lead you to a musty room unchanged for two centuries, a lovingly kept shrine to a past you barely recall, the promising young man you once were. You would unearth artifacts of yourself. They would embrace you as you are now, public reputation be dammed, because you were missed and you are valued.

But this is not that story, so instead you are taken to the parlor--with its faded carpet that reminds you unpleasantly of your former home--where you pretend to sip tea across from your aged father and younger brother. Conversation is awkward and strained. You can charm people almost effortlessly, but being here is like talking to a chasm; the silence fills an unbridgeable gap in time.

You're told your mother died fifty years ago of a weak heart. You saw her portrait in the foyer. Apparently you used to have her eyes. You get the sinking sense that they're relieved she did not live to see your monstrous return from the dead.

Your brother is the one to finally ask. How it happened. Where you were all those years you didn't come home.

You tell them about Cazador.

"This calls for something stronger than tea, I think," your father says.

"Please," you agree.

They struggle to look at you. Their expressions remain a careful mask of polite neutrality except for occasional flickers of sadness, fear, guilt, anger. Disgust.

Well, if they want to play it like that, fine. You can wear a mask better than anyone.

Your family are not warm. They are not outright cold toward you, either. Never cruel or pitying. You almost wish they were. The familiarity would at least make it sting less.

Two hundred years lost. How can there be so little to say to each other?

You don't blame them, of course. To lose a son or brother violently, to grieve him, must be an unspeakable tragedy. To gain a vampire spawn, well... that is nothing other than an ill omen to add to the family's already waning fortune.

It is exactly what you'd come to expect of the dark place Cazador showed you the world could be. All you thought possible before you saw the sun again and dared to hope for more.

You leave the manor feeling quite like an unwanted ghost exorcised from their lives. It's closure of a sort for them, you suppose. You are just an untended grave in their eyes. Never mind that you had been hoping for a new beginning.

You regret making this journey alone.

Soon, though, you return to the arms of your dearest love.

"How did it go?" she asks.

"It was..."

You think about your darling who saved you. You think about your handful of tadpole-forged friendships--Karlach, and Wyll, Lae'zel, even Gale. You think about your siblings, the other spawn, bonded through shared blood none of you chose.

"Astarion?"

"It doesn't matter," you say dismissively. "I didn't find my family there."

"Hmm."

She's writing something, a while later.

"Composing another ballad?" you wonder.

"No. I'm writing a letter to Dalyria."

"What? Why?"

You had no idea they even correspond.

"Because I think you need a hug from your sister."

Perhaps she isn't wrong, but still, it seems like a lot of effort to go through just for that. For you.

"She's very busy," you protest.

"Then she'll make time. That's what family does."

You don't know what to say. Something in your chest uncoils; you're filled with warmth like fresh blood, an emotion akin to gratitude. Something you haven't felt so strongly in a very long time.

You feel wanted. Loved.

[armoricaroyalty]

Previous | Chapter Start | Beginning | Next

author's note: @nexility-sims and I have been discussing this museum exhibit for nearly a year and working on the lot for weeks...so good to finally see it realized!

Transcript under the cut!

Crown Museum of Uspana // Armorican State Visit - Day 2

THEO | [offscreen] Your Highess. FREDDY | [in a tone of slight horror] ...is this a joke? You’re the one the Royal Foundation picked for this tour? THEO | The one your sister picked, actually. She insisted. FREDDY | [sighs] Let's get this over with, then. This is called a "painting." THEO | Wait. Before we start, can I apologize? THEO | I know this is awkward, but...I'd rather not have it hanging over our heads. I'm really sorry about how I ended things. I was a coward, and you deserved better than getting dumped via text. FREDDY | Geez, Theo…that was a long time ago. Ancient history. THEO | I know. But still... FREDDY | [pause] I appreciate it, Theo. THEO | Well, should we get started, then? Lots to see, lots to do... FREDDY | Sure. You’ve seen this portrait, right? THEO | I think every Armorican has. It’s the first official portrait your family’s released in a decade. It was huge news. FREDDY | Well, did you know that Everard II bought those pearls in 1896 for Queen Augusta? My mom hasn't worn them since my father's coronation. THEO | Really? If I owned pearls like that, I'd wear 'em every day. FREDDY | Yeah, that's not really Her Majesty's style. THEO | The whole thing painting isn't her style! I'd expect to see her outside, dressed more casually...did Roz commission this or something? FREDDY | Nah, Mom had full control. Just wanted to be queenly, I guess... THEO | Fair. It's a good likeness, at any rate...

FREDDY | So…what's new with you. THEO | Uh. Not much. Been busy, I guess? FREDDY | [laughs] Theo Adams? Busy? Say it ain't so! FREDDY | For real, though...how have you been? THEO | [sighs] I dunno. I might break up with my boyfriend. FREDDY | In person, I hope. THEO | [laughs] Oh, you asshole— FREDDY | Sorry, I couldn't resist. THEO | Don't be, I walked right into that one. THEO | Anyway, I'd ask about your life, but I already know all about it. FREDDY | Oh? [smugly] Didn't you once say that you didn't read about me at all? THEO | Oh, you wish! No, Josie tells me everything I need to know. FREDDY | Josie? Oh no...she only says good things, I hope. THEO | Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies. THEO | ...she says you're going to propose any day now. FREDDY | Wait, wait, wait...Josie's sating that I'm about to propose? Wet hell, is that where that stupid rumor's coming from? THEO | So it is just a rumor? FREDDY | Yes. I care about Em, but...we're just not there yet. THEO | It's good to know where you stand. You don't want to rush into anything. FREDDY | Thank you, that’s what I've been saying! You should tell her that. THEO | [laughs] Uh, no. Talk to her yourself, champ. I've got too much going on in my relationship to even think about getting involved with yours. FREDDY | Yeah, yeah, I'm just kidding...but d'you wanna know something? THEO | What? FREDDY | I missed you. As a friend. THEO | Yeah...we were good friends, weren’t we? FREDDY | Better friends than lovers, at any rate. THEO | Maybe we could try again? Y'know, since we'll be working together. FREDDY | I'd like that. THEO | Me too...and I missed you, too. As a friend. FREDDY | 🙂 THEO | 🙂 THEO | We're supposed to be talking about art, right? Tell me about this one. FREDDY | This? It's called a "statue." THEO | [laughs] You're lucky you're cute, you know that?

[wardencallings]

Codex Entry -- Hero of Ferelden

A portrait of the then Warden Commander Alym Surana taken in 9:32 Dragon, or approximately one year following the conclusion of the Fifth Blight. (art by: @kittyoperas)

Alym Surana was born near Lothering. His mother was an elven servant to a family of human corn farmers. Hope Surana, an eccentric woman known for her uncanny ability to diagnose and treat "abnormalities in the biles," refused to disclose the identity of her son's father. Many believed Alym's sire to be a man named E'lio, a Dalish hunter who'd visited the farm around the time of the boy's conception, but he was never located to confirm or deny the parentage.

When Alym was five years old, his magic manifested for the first time, and the templars were contacted to escort him to the Circle near Lake Calenhad. It is unknown how Hope reacted to her son's departure as she was away selling crops in Lothering at the time. While initially resistant to the idea of leaving his home and his mother, Alym very quickly took to the structure of living within the Circle Tower. He enjoyed his studies and the routine such a lifestyle brought him.

Alym is a talented and determined student. He has a particular proficiency with Spirit and Ice, but he manages well with other schools of magic. However, Alym is too lax on matters of the Fade. The boy does not fear possession of himself nor his peers. This may prove to be a problem someday. I will keep an eye on his progress and mentor him personally to avoid a potentially undue outcome. -- The personal notes of First Enchanter Irving, found in his office within Kinloch Hold

When Warden-Commander Duncan arrived in search of a mage to help fight against the emerging Fifth Blight, Irving recommended Alym to the cause immediately. Regarding his choice, Irving later explained to his colleagues that Alym had both the skill and the resolve Duncan was looking for in a recruit, and it was Irving's belief that time outside of the Circle was necessary for Alym's growth as mage and person. While anxious about leaving the Tower and his friends, Alym felt pride in being chosen for such an important task and looked forward to fulfilling his new role.

Following the tragedy in Ostegar, Alym, one of the only surviving Grey Wardens, began to travel across Ferelden, searching for support in ending the Fifth Blight. Commander Loghain declared all Grey Wardens to be traitors to the crown, but Alym and fellow Warden Alistair made use of the conflicting information regarding the events at Ostegar and the chaos brought by the Darkspawn to escape Loghain's soldiers and others loyal to him.

On his return to Lothering, Alym attempted to find his mother. Despite much hostility from the local farmers, Alym was able to discover that his mother and the family she'd served had been killed by the Darkspawn when their farm had been attacked. The Warden visited the site of his childhood home and destroyed the Darkspawn that roamed its property. He then buried his mother and the humans, taking only one thing for himself: an amulet Hope had worn every day, one she'd believed kept her healthy and strong enough to work to earn her keep.

I was actually there when the Hero of Ferelden came to Lothering! None of us actually believed he was a Grey Warden at first. I mean, can you blame us? He was this awkward, gawky elf who asked all these weird questions. And he looked so weak! But then he killed all those bandits and Darkspawn. We believed him after that. Lothering still fell, but we had a renewed sense of hope after we'd seen what he accomplished there. He helped everyone, even that Qunari our Chantry had left to die. None of us understood it at the time, but I think I get it now. Uhh, just don't ask me to explain it. -- A former citizen of Lothering who relocated to Amaranthine following its destruction

It was in Lothering that Alym met Leliana, an Orlesian bard turned Chantry sister turned member of his traveling party. Leliana claimed to have seen a vision from the Maker himself urging her to help Alym. Despite not believing in the Maker and worshiping the Elven gods (casually) instead, Alym welcomed Leliana to his party readily. Later, Alym would admit to being taken by Leliana, both in her beauty and her resolve, which supplied much of his motivation to believe her story and accept her offer of aid.

Of his companions, Alym was closest to Leliana, Sten, Wynne, and of course, Puppy, the Mabari hound rescued from the Darkspawn taint at Ostegar. Later, Alym would meet and befriend Zevran Arainai, an Antivan Crow, and Shale, a dwarf-turned-golem in Honnleath. Despite both being Grey Wardens, Alym struggled to connect with Alistair, finding it difficult to penetrate the humor that masked his true self. Morrigan, alleged daughter of the Witch of the Wilds, and Alym held an antagonistic relationship (mostly from her end), and Alym, despite later allowing his entry into the Wardens, didn't know what to make of the dwarf Oghren, recruited from Orzammar. However, in the wake of the Blight, Alym spoke only highly of his companions. Likewise, those who traveled with the Hero and could be found also spoke highly of him.

The Warden Commander? Ha, you mean Alym? No one calls him that but the kissass recruits who don’t know better. He’s a decent guy – can’t hold his liquor, but decent. We kicked ass together, and not just the blasted Darkspawn. I tell you, we made Orzammar almost tolerable by the time we were through there! Blighter talks too much about his woman, though. He’d probably hit me if he found out I called Leliana that. Heh, you won't tell him I said that, will you? -- An excerpt of a conversation between Warden Oghren and a journalist in Redcliffe.

In Denerim, things took a considerable turn for the worse for the Warden. While assisting Alistair with an undisclosed personal matter, Alym learned of a blood mage apostate wreaking havoc across the city. The mage was known as "The Surgeon," and he had founded a cult called The Free Acolytes that was quickly gaining ground in Denerim. To make matters more dire, Alym learned that Arl Rendon was aiding the cult, and in exchange, The Free Acolytes were assisting in the new Tevinter slaver foothold forming in Denerim.

When Alym began investigating both Arl Rendon and the dark trade occurring in the Alienage, waves of assassination attempts began to plague the Warden and his company. Eventually, with no choice but to seek the source of the cult, Alym hunted down the Surgeon, finding his lair among the derelict buildings in the warehouse district. When the two met, however, Alym was shocked to learn that the Surgeon, whose real name was Vacen Cyrahel, was in fact Alym's own father. Not only did the two look extraordinarily alike, but Vacen told him he could sense their connection in their blood, and he expressed a desire for his son to join him as a free mage, one who did not fear demons nor those who tried to control the mages.

Only Wynne, Zevran, and Sten were present for this meeting with the Surgeon, and Alym persuaded them to keep Vacen's identity a secret from the rest of their companions. Wynne urged Alym to speak to Leliana on the subject, but the Warden feared her reaction to learning of Alym's tainted heritage. Things reached a boiling point when Vacen arrived to camp one night, offering Alym a place by his side for when he killed Rendon Howe and forged himself as the new Arl of Denerim. Alym, embarrassed and ashamed, ran off into the night, hoping to draw Vacen and The Free Acolytes away from his friends.

Alym has left us, as I feared he would should his father make another untimely appearance. I am afraid for the boy's sanity and his well-being. I had tried so hard to convince him that telling the others was a necessity; and if not Alistair and Morrigan, then Leliana, at the least. He told me that he "feared how she'd look at him" when she learned of his father and his crimes. I reminded him that Leliana saw him as more than the blood of his absent father, but he had a wild, terrified look in his eyes. There was no talking sense in him, then. -- An entry in the diary of Wynne

After a few weeks, Sten, accompanied by Puppy, found Alym hiding in the Alienage of Denerim. While blending in with the other elves, Alym had learned where the Tevinter slavers were operating their trade. Sten, Puppy, and Alym killed the traders, freed those about to be sold as slaves, and returned to camp. Alym explained himself to the party, apologized, and began to make a plan to kill both Arl Rendon and the Surgeon. To Leliana, he swore that he'd never abandon her again, and as a sign of his dedication and devotion to her, he began to wear an Andraste's Grace within the braid in his hair, marking the official start of their relationship.

After rescuing Anora and killing Arl Rendon, the Surgeon arrived to the palace, intending to seize claim to the throne alongside his cult. A terrible and bloody fight commenced, one that ended only when Alym launched shards of ice into his father's throat, killing him. Despite knowing his father's death as necessary, Alym struggled with his demise. Arl Rendon was similarly dispatched, and the Landsmeet was called. Alym supported Anora as queen, pushing back against the suggestion of Alistair due to his companion's seeming disinterest in the position of king. Alistair killed Loghain in a duel and thanked Alym for allowing him to remain a Warden and finally granting justice for Cailan and Duncan.

After the Archdemon was killed and Anora formally made Queen of Ferelden, Alym was appointed Warden Commander. Alym strove to reform the Wardens as stronger and more prepared than ever should they be needed again. One of his first actions was to rebuild Vigil's Keep as a base for the Grey Wardens. There he met and conscripted Nathaniel Howe, Anders, Velanna, and Sigrun, reunited with Oghren, and killed the Architect, a sentient Darkspawn Emissary.

A couple of years after the Fifth Blight, The Hero of Ferelden vanished. He is believed to be searching for a cure for the Calling, the point in which Grey Wardens succumb to the Darkspawn taint.

You are very brave to reach out to Lady Nightingale herself to ask of the Hero's whereabouts. I will spare you much of her scathing words to your inquiry, but leave you with this quote: "Keep looking and the crows will have your eyes." -- A letter from one of Nightingale's agents in response to a curious journalist in search of Alym

[vryfmi]

POSTER ANALYSIS BECAUSE MY BRAIN REFUSES TO BELIEVE LOCKWOOD&CO IS ACTUALLY BECOMING A REAL TV SHOW

beware: a long post

- SKULL IS HERE SKULL IS HERE SKULL IS HERE honestly, after "the Golden Blade" character that really threw me off it's good to see this iconic bastard appear on screen. low key sad it's not pulling any faces (yet)

- “Hunt or be Haunted”. this one really took me by surprise. the change of tagline suggests that our smallest agency in London and their business is no longer the only focus of the story. it gives more of a feel of survival story rather then underdogs type of story tho. we'll see where it goes

- the logo is growing on me, it still looks too polished to me, compared to any of book logos which were, well, logos, and here it's just font. but it goes nicely with brutalism aesthetic, sPEAKING OF WHICH-

- yall see this? they are actually going with brutalism for their world?? not a sugar-coated London with beautiful scenery of old european city?? thank you l&co crew i love you for doing your hw.

<...> For a while any object even dimly supposed to have some kind of psychic residue was treated with terror and disgust. Items of old furniture were burned, and random antiques smashed or thrown into the Thames. A priceless painting in the National Portrait Gallery was hurled to the floor and trampled on by a vicar, ‘because it looked at me in a funny way’. Anything with a strong connection to the past was considered suspect, and a cult of modern objects grew up, which remains with us even now. <...>

there's nothing good in what past holds in their world. people are paranoid because no one knows where new outbreak will happen. of course there are blocks of concrete for flats, of course it's cold, of course it's surreal to see London like this. it's alternative London.

- i love these ghost lamps, they are my new fixation. they are so big and so out of place. obsessed even. ufo looking. my love. ghost lamp my beloved

- rapiers, you love to see those

everyone has a unique hilt. im so normal

- last but not least: composition. i think it ties nicely back to tagline change since, yes, it would be nice to see idk Portland Row being shown. but no, characters are in the middle of empty street, looking at something that we can't see. they are agents after all - seeing things outside regular person's comprehension is their thing. they are distressed but got their rapiers at ready. sky is getting dark, ghost lamp (my beloved) is on, quiet city is cowardly seen underneath. f i t t i e s i s b e h i n d e v e r y t h i n g

NOW ON TO THE CHARACTERS

they are all so awkward looking, my divvies

- SKULL my man got a nice looking prison, i like the handle, it's handy. now i see why Lucy will struggle while breaking this jar with poop statue. now waiting for his cast announcement :/

- Lucy got the biggest wardrobe update, kinda digging it. definitely more practical, but it's sad to see heavy boots go. but now everyone is much quicker on their feet, especially after seeing how fast these ghosts are. ARE THOSE FLARES ON HER BELT

- not to be that person, but Cameron was born for this role. really aching to seeing more of his acting and his way of bringing Lockwood on the big screen. also thank lord he's wearing trainers. he already has a safety hazard coat, if there was one more formal piece of clothing he’d died on spot- wait he still has a tie- credit goes to @lucyjcarlyle for pointing out Lockwood's ring, can't wait to find out it is a family relic and die inside

- George by Ali actually feels like George, right? baggy clothes, bag that weights him, something about his posture - all those things add to recognition of character despite differentiating from books’ description. it’s sad we didn’t get to see him in teaser

- and they all look relatively young! like this thumbnail really captures it

also, im not the only one who sees the iconic @doodlingraka's colour palette everywhere, right? because i dig it and i want more

in conclusion: it doesn’t look perfect, lets be honest here, but Cornish’s interview puts it all together in a perspective. this show is a love letter to horror movies of last century. they were clumsy, too, but they knew how to scare its viewer in a smart way. and that’s what books did, now it’s time to pay a tribute. at least i want to believe so

[bnhaobservation]

BNHA Observations, speculations and assorted info: Todoroki Mansion (Part 8: Butsuma room)

So, in order to write my fic, I spend much time observing canon scenes, comparing the manga and the anime version, take note of details, translations and info in them as well as finding out how are some things called.

Since what I noticed/speculated/found out can be of use for other fic authors I thought to share as well.

Canon resources:

Chap. 249 “The Hellish Todoroki Family” (地獄の轟くん家 Jigoku no Todoroki-kun-chi) Chap. 350 “Bound to a Fiery Fate” (エン En)* Chap. 356 “Regarding the Enemy” (敵について Teki ni Tsuite?)

Ep. 105 “The Hellish Todoroki Family” (地獄の轟くん家 Jigoku no Todoroki-kun-chi)

School Briefs V “Awkward Year’s-End Soba”

-* In Japanese the title is written in Katakana, making impossible to figure out to which Kanji it refers. The reading for ‘en’ belongs to the kanji that can be translated as “flame/fire” (the first kanji in Enji’s name) but also to the one that can be translated as “fate/destiny”, “bond/connection/family ties” and “hatred”. The English translation tried to put all those meaning together into a single sentence.

OBSERVATIONS, SPECULATIONS AND ASSORTED INFO:

For start, what's a Butsuma (仏間)?

It's the name of a room whose principal or exclusive function is containing a Butsudan.

Okay so what's a Butsudan?

Butsudan (仏壇 "Buddhist altar"), is a shrine commonly found in temples and homes which looks either a defined, often ornate platform or simply a wooden cabinet sometimes crafted with doors...

...that enclose and protect a Gohonzon (御本尊) or religious icon, typically a statue or painting of a Buddha or Bodhisattva, or a calligraphic mandala scroll.

Its primary use is for paying respects to the Buddha, as well as to family members who have died.

The Butsudan is commonly seen as an essential part in the life of a traditional Japanese family as it is the centre of spiritual faith within the household, especially in dealing with the deaths of family members or reflecting on the lives of ancestors.

Traditional Japanese beliefs hold the Butsudan to be a house of the Buddha, as well as of deceased relatives enshrined within it.

HOW ONE REACHES IT?

We don't really know but it seems to be on the ground floor and both the manga and the anime shows if you try to reach it from the kitchen you'll have to pass through the corridor on which you can see the round Shōji window of the dining room.

HOW DOES IT LOOKS LIKE?

We see very little of it but from what we can see we can observe some things.

The Butsuma in the Todoroki Mansion is a washitsu (和室), which means “harmony room” but which is the name used to mean “Japanese-style room”.

It’s a room characterized by a tatami flooring (Tatami (畳) is a type of mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese-style rooms)…

and sliding doors, be they Shōji (consisting of translucent or transparent sheets on a lattice frame) or Fusuma (vertical rectangular panels often painted)…

Specifically, this Washitsu has Shōji doors.

Generally, either the Butsuma is a small room connected to a bigger one or is the most formal reception room in the house.

In the manga the Todoroki seems to have a room specifically for it and they placed it on the right next to the entrance.

In "School Briefs" they refer to it as a side room.

The Todoroki Butsudan is a large and elegant wooden cabinet crafted with doors.

Its Gohonzon seems to be a painting of a Buddha.

Enshrined with it there's the memorial photograph or Iei (遺影) of Touya.

The Iei can be either a formal portrait or a snapshot of the deceased but normally the photo chosen is usually one in which the person is looking directly into the camera and if it's part of a larger picture, it is cropped to show only the head and shoulders. The landscape behind the photo is removed and replaced with a grey background. The chosen picture may depict the deceased as they wanted to be remembered, but more often than not depicts that person in a manner that reflects how the living wish to remember them.

We can see that's exactly the case with Touya.

By the way Touya is wearing a Gakuran (学ラン), which is the uniform for many middle-school and high-school boys in Japan. The colour is normally black, but some schools use navy blue. Touya's Gakuran is the one of his middle school.

The choice though might not be because the Todoroki wanted to remember him as a student but because the Gakuran is considered also a formal wear you can wear at cerimonies.

Anyway as it's Touya's photo that's enshrined there, for the Todoroki it means that the Butsudan is basically Touya's 'house', which is why in "School Briefs" Natsuo goes to the Butsudan and greets his brother and the story defines the room as "Touya's room" or why Enji talks directly with him when being in that room. To the Todoroki Touya is there.

The Butsudan should have been in the Todoroki house from PRIOR Touya's death as not only the Todoroki needed it for religious purposes before Touya died but, inside that room, there was also the photo of Enji's father, which is likely the photo that now is hung on the wall, near the Butsudan.

Long story short the Butsudan isn't placed in Touya's old room, proof is also that the doors are different from the ones which were in Touya and Natsuo's room and how it should be at the ground floor while the bedrooms should be all upstairs.

Along with Touya's memorial photograph, there should also be a Memorial tablets or Ihai (位牌) constructed of black lacquered wood.

I think it's the thing on the right, above Touya's photo.

The the vertically standing tablet in the Ihai is known as the fuda. The posthumous “precepts name” kaimyō (戒名) of the deceased is engraved in gilded calligraphy on the front of the tablet, with the age and date of death engraved on the back.

A person who has recently died is also referred to as a Hotoke (仏) and the living take care of it through offerings and regular interactions.

Offerings of food, flowers, incense and other things that the deceased might have liked (even beer, sake, whiskey, cigarettes, canned coffee, juice!) are regularly placed on the Butsudan, and candles are lit (though it seems it’s common to offer rice).

We see that Touya's butsudan has flowers and Enji brings him an offering of food, which in the anime seems to be fried chiken.

Canonically Touya didn't like fish but he might have liked meat, hence Enji offers it to him. In "School Briefs" Natsuo and Shouto will offer incense to him as well.

Eventually, after a number of years (commonly they range from 33 to 50), it is assumed that the Hotoke, no longer remembered by the living, is elevated to the status of tutelary ancestor, Senzo (先祖) and is believed to join the collective spirits of the generations of household ancestors and his photo is removed by the Butsudan.

33 years aren't yet gone by from when Enji's father died, so I don't know if his photo was removed from the Butsudan merely because Touya got the honor spot (the photo of the deceased can also not be enshrined in the Butsudan) or because they decided Enji's father became a Senzo early.

I'll go and assume they just gave Touya the best spot.

Enji's father is, after all, someone only Enji remembers, while Touya's memory is also alive in his siblings.

Next to the Butsudan we see that various objects are placed on a furniture (manga and anime of course not agreeing on the furniture's shape).

They likely belonged to Touya as objects dear to the deceased are placed near to the Butsudan. The manga has shoes, a toy car, a robot, a ball and plenty of books. Actually a couple of 'books are so tall they might not be books but canvas of paintings... though I can't tell for sure.

The anime keeps the car, the ball, the toy car... and I'll go and assume the blocks are meant to be books though I'm not sure. Still they're less than the ones in the manga.

From the drawing on the ball we can see it seems to be the same ball Touya and his siblings were playing with when Shouto was observing them.

"School Briefs" though, places that ball forgotten in a shed but hey, maybe the Todoroki kids had more balls (it can be each of them had one).

And well, that's all we know about the Butsuma.

[nashiriel]

You know, on the subject of Consanguinity…Luke being so blithely confident that Jace or Joffrey would marry him if Addam said no is actually really hilarious. Not least because they might have some awkward explaining to do if the baby pops out with white hair…

Argh, so sorry this sat in my asks for so long!

If Luke produced a Valyrian-looking kid with his brothers, Rhaenyra would simply be flicking those gaslights on and off again. How wonderful that her sons produced a baby that’s obviously the spitting image of Laenor! She always knew their father’s blood would prevail over their Baratheon heritage eventually; just FYI, this is clearly a sign from the gods that all that bastard talk was vile, vile slander-

(in all fairness, Luke and one of his brothers very well could produce a silver-haired baby through the power of recessive genes, not that Rhaenyra’s aware of that, so not technically a lie…)

But Luke is right to be confident that his family would bail him out no matter what, because all of the following plans in their crackish glory would have been tried before the Blacks ever conceded Luke being ruined:

Luke marrying Jace and being immediately heralded as Aemma’s natural heir as queen (Viserys enthusiastically agrees in front of an open court, which then gets used as major PR ammo when war breaks out)

Luke marrying Joffrey, who will with all a medieval preteen’s knowledge of sex education, blithely insist that he consummated with Luke complete with graphic and physically implausible descriptions of the act itself if any of the Greens hate themselves enough to ask

Luke marrying Rhaena and immediately going on a nine-month honeymoon tour of the Free Cities, during which Rhaena fakes a pregnancy and Luke conceals it. Awkwardly, Rhaena actually does fall pregnant before the first baby arrives, though she rather enjoys telling Aemond without batting an eyelid that the incredibly close gap between births is obviously down to Luke’s virility and insatiable passion for her

Corlys commissioning about 50 fetching portraits of Luke which he shops around to practically every eligible bachelor in Westeros (finally Dalton Greyjoy’s time to shine!), with an offer of doubled dowry if they marry ASAP. They’re a little surprised however to receive an enthusiastic reply from Daeron Targaryen…

Corlys taking Luke on a voyage to Lys in which Luke enjoys a whirlwind courtship and marriage to an incredibly handsome and 100% real nobleman, scout’s honour. Alas, his husband sadly perishes on the journey back to meet Luke’s family, but luckily the devastated (and now attractively widowed) Luke has a child to remember him by before he hits the dating scene again.

Sadly, Addam’s enthusiastic agreement negated any need for such scheming - but have no doubt the Blacks would have been entirely ready and willing to step up for Luke if required.

Which it very well soon will be-

[keyh0use]

Kinktober Day 6: Daddy Kink

Barry is soft in this, if you want rough sex, go to day 7

Music filtered in through the open patio doors, twinkling lights strung up along the towering trees overhead, lighting the makeshift dance floor as Ward Cameron twirled his already staggering wife around. It was the patriarch's birthday, and boy did he go all out. Every wealthy family was in attendance, moseying around the manicured lawn with their noses turned up at the south side servers offering adorable little hor d'oeuvres and sloshing glasses of red wine. Barry was amongst the snotty crowds—but he was far from fitting in with them. He humoured Rafe by wearing a deep blue suit that had been carefully selected, tailored and then laid across their springy mattress in a dry cleaner bag for him. The boy cared about showing up and showing out for these things, and Barry wasn't going to let his baby down, no matter how uncomfortable he was. So he wore the suit. And left his hair down, washed curls tickling his ears, just the way Rafe liked. Arriving together was expected, Rafe dragging Barry around by his hand as they made rounds, some partygoers much more friendly towards the drug dealer than others. But that was alright, Barry found it hard to be mad while his boy was pressed comfortingly to his side—until he wasn't. One minute Rafe was whispering in his ear about needing to go to the bathroom, and the next he was gone. That was surely a good ten minutes ago, and the older man was growing restless in the boring conversation he was unwillingly sucked into.  With some kind parting words, Barry made his way from the warmly lit backyard into the pristine white house, such a stark contrast it made his head momentarily throb. No photos adorned the walls, only paintings and large windows.

Walking the hallways of Tanneyhill always made the older man feel so sad for Rafe, growing up in a house instead of a home. The kitchen was full of staff and the living room full of servers, complaining about the guests quietly amongst themselves while waiting for their trays to be re-filled. No sign of Rafe, leaving Barry to wander around mindlessly opening door after door, searching for his boy.

When he passes by the overly spacious formal living room, a giant family portrait hangs over the decorated mantle and Barry looks up and his own smiling face stares down at him.  Barry can never look at the photo for too long, feeling an odd sense of belonging that makes his chest ache. So he moves on after scanning the space, glancing in a half-bath before pushing open a heavy door. It's Mr. Cameron's office, undoubtedly.

The drug dealer has spent a lot of alone time with Ward, being questioned about his intentions and family history and career goals and all that shit parents care about. It was always awkward and tense, but Barry powered through and eventually gained approval to marry the Cameron heir.

Which he did.  Yet, none of those treacherous meetings ever took place in Tanneyhill, so Barry had never set foot in the bleak office. The curious man can't help but move a couple steps inside, glancing around at the minimal furniture. Bookshelves, filing cabinets, and a desk at the far end. Barry figured Ward wouldn't care too much if he used the outdated phone lying beside a stack of papers to call his husband, having left his own phone all the way in the centre console of the pick-up. Dropping down onto the swivelling leather chair, Barry reached for the receiver and paused—a single photo was placed gingerly out of the way, Ward and Sarah smiling side by side. The sight had Barry's eyes squinting in annoyance. Sure, Rafe had a much better relationship with his father these days, but it didn't heal all the pain and pressure the patriarch caused over the years. Barry thinks the favouritism will always leave a sour taste in his mouth because Rafe is perfect, so deserving of all the love in the world. Damaged knuckles knock gently against the frame and send it toppling off the desk to shatter against wooden floorboards, tiny shards of glass skittering outwards and the lifeless photo lying face-down, the mans lips turning up at one corner.  Before he can resume his intended purpose of being in another mans office in the first place, the door is pushed open and Rafe storms in, looking ready to scold whatever idiot invading his fathers personal space within an inch of their life—only to stop short and stare, gaze swimming with confusion.  "What are you doing in here?" Rafe asks, turning quickly to close the door as soundlessly as possible.  With an easy shrug, Barry answers, "You left me."  "Shit, yeah, sorry." Gold rings shimmer beneath the overhead lighting as Rafe drags a palm down his tired face, going on to explain, "Wheezie spilled juice on her dress and started crying and I couldn't find another one she liked because...because purple doesn't go with her shoes, so she'd have to change the whole outfit...then we found something but when she put it on she felt gross?" Rafe ends the sentence like a question, brows drawn as he recounts the events of the last twenty minutes. "But then Sarah came barging in and pardoned me, so...her problem now."  Dark eyes rove over the powder blue suit wrapped around the boys lean body and the way perfectly slicked back hair has started falling loose from sweat, making Rafe look dishevelled. "Look at you, country club, bein' a good big brother. Come so far from the obnoxious little kook you once were," the older man compliments.  "Yeah, well, I'd say you're a good influence but that would be a lie," counters Rafe bashfully, trying to hide the nervous flush to his cheekbones by deflecting and turning away.  "I ain't corrupt that head of yours." Standing up from the comfy chair, Barry made his way over to his boy and pressed a lingering kiss to a red cheek. "You were more than ready to do a bunch of nasty shit from the beginning." 

Rafe fidgets with his sleeve, mumbling, "'Cause you look like that." 

"You sweet talkin' me, boy?" Barry drawls, gold tooth glinting when he grins like their matching rings. 

The kook does lean into him but otherwise is distracted, and Barry realises Rafe is anxious. There's the obvious pressure being at family events present, but it's more than that too, this amount of nervous fidgeting the direct result of Ward's belittling.

The older man can't even imagine how many despicable things were said to his baby in this very room. 

Smoothing comforting hands down the length of Rafe's body, Barry orders gently, "Get undressed." 

"What?" Rafe asks in disbelief, shocked eyes finally turning on the other man. "Barry there are people everywhere—" 

"Just outside," corrects Barry. "And I ain't asking, baby boy." 

Not one to disobey, Rafe's fumbling fingers start undoing the buttons on his dress shirt, worrying his bottom lip while Barry locks the door before crossing the room to take a seat in the big chair once more.  Palming himself while watching the boy remove each layer of clothing, Barry clocks the exact moment Rafe's skittish eyes land on the mess on the floor, freezing only momentarily before he's stepping out of his briefs and hastily moving around the desk.

"Just wanna make you feel safe, okay?" mumbles Barry. Rough hands curl around the back of Rafe's bare thighs to tug the boy closer, the older man leaning forward to press gentle kisses against his abs, tensing under the affection. Rafe sits his naked body right in Barry's lap, planes of unblemished skin on full display. He's trembling—just a little—when two fingers press into him, sinking in straight to the knuckles. It's only been a few hours since they had each other last and there's still come inside, hole still relaxed. 

Barry works hard to stretch Rafe out as quickly as possible, reminded they aren't alone every time footsteps pass by the door and dishes clink, thick fingers scissoring and pressing bluntly to the boy's prostate with skillful ministrations. 

"Take it so well, baby," praises Barry, leaning forward to bite at Rafe's pebbled nipples, making him arch his back and pant wantonly. "You wanna come?" asks Barry, receiving an eager nod from the boy riding his hand. 

"Yeah," the boy rushes out. "Yes, daddy." 

Brushing a trail of kisses across Rafe's face, Barry tells him, "What a good boy using your words." Retracting the digits, Barry wipes his spit covered hand on the leather arm of the chair and maneuvers down onto the floor between his parted legs. "All the lube you're gonna get tonight, pretty baby, go 'head." 

Rafe leans forward to press a firm kiss to Barry's stiff cock, straining against the expensive material of the dark blue suit. A firm hand weaves its way into soft blonde hair and the boy offers a rare sweet smile up at his man before diving back in to lick a long stripe along the throbbing length, settling in to suck greedily on the tip.  The kook practically makes out with his bulge, tongue coating the fabric with spit. It's going to look like Barry pissed himself but he doesn't give a fuck.  "Get it wet, baby, c'mon," urges Barry. 

And Rafe doesn't have to be told twice, dragging the zipper down on Barry's slacks and fishing his cock out, kitten licking at the beads of come pooling on his tip.  There's a knock against the door—or close enough it sounds like it—followed by a fit of giggles from a couple guests stumbling down the hallway, likely in search of one of the many bathrooms. Barry mumbles in a gentle tone, "No time for teasin," before guiding the boys mouth down his sizeable length with a punched-out groan. Rafe slid the shaft down his throat with little struggle, having spent years getting used to being on his knees and swallowing something so fat. Keeping a firm grip on the boys soft hair, Barry controls the pace Rafe bobs his head at, soft wet sounds penetrating the quiet room.

"Such a good little cocksucker," Barry whispers affectionately, watching Rafe choke himself through half-lidded eyes. "My precious baby, so good to me."

With his chest heaving, Barry rested his head back against the chair, curls starting to mat to his forehead. A sheen of sweat coats his tanned skin and he has to make a serious effort to keep quiet, biting his lip hard when teeth graze the underside of his cock. A gentle tug has Rafe pulling off, mouth agape and eyes glazed when he peers up at his man.

Barry says, "C'mon," softly while helping the boy to his feet, backing him up against the solid desk to kiss him. In one fell swoop, Rafe is lifted onto the workspace with ease, his man fitting perfectly between his legs.

Rafe turns a nervous glance towards the door with a harsh swallow, shifting uncomfortably. "I don't know if this is...if it's okay, if we get caught—"

"I ain't gonna let anything happen to you," promises Barry, kissing the frown off his boys face, possessive hands settling on pale hips. "Nobody else gets to smack you around or yell at you or be mean to you—just me. You know that, don't you?"

Their foreheads knock together and Rafe is nodding, trying to match Barry's breathing. The boy is pulled forward until his ass hangs off and then the older man is spitting in his own hand and slathering his cock, before guiding it to Rafe's twitching hole by the base.

When Barry is seated fully inside, Rafe breathes out, "Yeah, I know."

Rough fingers caress one flushed cheek as Barry's hips begin to pump at a steady pace, free arm wrapping around the boy's trim waist to keep them close.

"Protect you from anything," pants Barry. "From anyone."

Rafe nods in response, moans falling freely the rougher Barry's hips snap forward, shaking the heavy desk and sending a stack of files to the floor. Neither of them have the mind to care.

Circling Rafe's waist with both arms, Barry keeps him close and safe while they near the finish line together.

"You gonna come, baby?" asks Barry softly, his boy nodding with a whimper. "Go ahead, make a mess," he encourages.

Rafe trembles when comes, sticky ropes shooting over his belly and chest, soaking through Barry's dress shirt where they're pressed together.

The way Rafe arches, whines and squirms in the older man's hold is what does it for Barry, pressing forward until he's buried deep to still his hips and emptying his load.

He has to seal their lips together to silence the groan that threatens to rip out of him, muffling the noises into Rafe's mouth.

The cleanup is easy enough, Barry leans his baby back and licks up all the mess, before tucking himself away and retrieving Rafe's discarded clothes.

Sure hands dress the shaking boy, pressing kisses into flushed and tacky skin.

With a hand on the doorknob, Barry turns to Rafe and asks, "You wanna go home, country club?"

"Nah," Rafe answers with a shrug. "Feeling better now."

Sorry if the ending seems rushed, I'm at Thanksgiving dinner.