#original? demoman au

[alasoi]

more fast sketches of em.

(Chimney spy's limbs confuse me). Uses his fingers to stab, and maybe also to dig up insects (insp: the Aye-Aye long-fingered lemur)

[plushpyromoved]

18.7 hourz playtime of my yuppie psycho replay >O< ive gotten all endingz and 47/48 achievmentz !!! last achievment is a 'run through the game without saving' one so ill do that one later but!! almost done my completionest run!!

[gracefireheart]

Once again, did some fanart of @lenny-link TF2 x SU AU, but tried making more fusions! :]

First one is Andalusite [Heavy + Medic] (who I've drawn before already), second one is Iolite [Cheavy + Medic], and the third one is Ametrine [Demoman + Soldier].

[Below the keep reading line, I'll show off the fourth fusion I drew as well, but ended up just-- disliking to hell and back o(-( Also, some notes and such about each fusion]

First off, here's the fourth fusion I did, which was Cat's Eye Tourmaline [Scout + Sniper]. (Side note: I picked out Tiger's Eye as Sniper's gem)

After looking at Steven's fusions with other gems (since Scout's a half-human half-gem in this AU fusing with Sniper who's a full gem), I did notice that basically all of them (besides Obsidian) had some kind of oddity to them. Like Smokey Quartz has three arms instead of four or just two, Rainbow 2.0 is the first gem with male pronouns and has a tad bit strange legs, and Sunstone isn't as humanoid as the other (non-corrupted) gems and fusions.

So I wanted to show that off here, but uh, I just ended up giving up on it in the end o(-( Mostly 'cause I had no clue how I wanted to color them based on the Cat's Eye Tourmaline gem, but also 'cause the overall design ended up leaned a bit more towards Sniper's design than I intended it to do.

Anyways, onto the notes for the other fusions.

Andalusite [Heavy + Medic]:

The duo that imo would probably fuse the most out of the TF2 crew, whether for battle or to just relax together (like reading a book or whatever). So with that, Heavy and Medic would have had plenty of time to refine how their fusion would look like, and making sure both of them like how they look together.

For their fusion weapon, I was thinking about them either having something like Garnet's upgraded gauntlets (the ones with spikes jutting out of it's knuckles), or letting the gauntlets have claws or something.

Iolite [Cheavy + Medic]:

I mostly did this one 'cause of one of the drawings in Lenny-Link's original piece, which made me thinking of Lapis and Jasper fusing into Malachite and all that, which lead me to this. I wanted the design to 1. Make it look chaotic due to the two people that are fused here, but also 2. Make it lean a tad more towards Cheavy's looks to make said guy think that he's the one mostly in control of the fusion, only to have Medic take over take over and do something to trap the fusion and/or get them the hell away from the TF2 crew. Something something angst idk lol

Decided to make Cheavy a [blue] Topaz. Since Heavy's a Topaz as well. I don't have any other reason than that :') Also, I placed his gem on the side of his right shoulder.

The eye goggles change color depending on who is in control. If the two weren't fighting for it, it would be one eye blue and one eye magenta. But since they are, whenever Cheavy's in control, the eyes are blue. And whenever Medic's in control, the eyes are magenta.

Ametrine [Demoman + Soldier]:

Originally, I was going to have them be a Morganite, but decided on Ametrine instead as it fit their color scheme more. Also originally, I was going to give them a knight helmet, but I wanted to draw their hair, so I instead gave them a bandana covering their possibly one eye. Possibly.

Assuming Soldier's helmet (with or without the horns) is Soldier's gem weapon like Jasper's helmet, I thought it would be neat if their fusion weapon [(horned) helmet + sword] would be something like a Morningstar, which they would be able to duel-wield without much trouble.

I've got other lil' ideas as well for this AU, like how Jeremy/Scout was the one that gave these gems their nicknames (Spy, Sniper, Engineer, etc.), how Medic grew a fascination for the organic lifeforms of Earth and how exactly they healed/was able to treat their wounds, and how- instead of Spy being all dead and gone Rose Quartz style when Jeremy was born- Spy is a lot weaker than he should be due Jeremy getting half of his gem. But uh-- I don't wanna go too overboard when this ain't even my AU :')

Either way, I'll probably go and relax a bit before drawing some regular TF2 stuff. But I might do some more fanart for this AU whenever I feel up for it. 'Cause genuinely, I love this AU sm <3

[lenny-link]

In regards to the SU x TF2 AU:

I have been racking my brain over here trying to understand the decision to make RED Spy a ruby and BLU Spy a sapphire. Nothing about his portrayal seemed to line up with canon depictions of rubies or sapphires, and RED Spy's gem isn't even faceted like a ruby. Also the obvious joke of making him a Bixbite, like the corrupted gem who was a giant crab, seemed obvious. Then it dawned on me.

He's a color-change sapphire, isn't he? That's why his RED version has a sapphire cut despite supposedly being a ruby? And also potentially why he's the only one we've seen RED and BLU variations of (though I get the impression that's also so one can be paired with Scout's Ma and the other with Engie) when all the others have been RED(-ish) isn't it? Or am I completely off base with this theory?

i LOVE your theory i wish you shared your thoughts before i elaborated the ‘lore’ of the au

but since ive had lots of questions about details id like to mention that:

1. i originally had not planned to make any story behind the su au, so if there’s things that dont make sense, don’t align with canon and stuff, it was not planned soo im working with what i have :p

2. i was hoping no one notices the mistake i made of swapping the gems ruby/sapphire lol its because at first i had drawn Blu(sapphire) Spy in that page, but i thought it was confusing since there was RedSpy x Scout’sMa and Scout next to him, so i just changed the colors and i didnt change the gem bc i was lazy :P

3. the main reason i put both Blu/Red Spy was to create fusion, i thought to add an extra merc with a blu color would be cool for the fusions that isnt from ClassicTeam, and idk i couldn’t think of a better merc to have as a pair than Spy and i thought there is more potential with 2 Spies to work on a story than any other merc idk

(yes i didnt put garnet as the fusion so as not to make confusion with Demoman being a Garnet, and we don’t have an Amethyst anyways so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )

4. it is IMPOSSIBLE to align each TF2 character with a SU character, there’s nothing in common between the two medias whatsoever, so the dynamics that im gonna be making for the TF2 au are gonna be a bit mixed, for example: RedSpy and BluSpy having Ruby/Sapphire’s dynamic (kinda), but also they have the same dynamic as Rose/Pearl, for the part where Red would go with a human (Scout’s Ma) and Blu would be jealous (just like pearl), HeavyMedic also would be having Ruby/Sapphire dynamic (the part where they fuse for the first time just like Ruby/Sapphire in the show, im still working on comic about this btw)

5. also im mixing with well TF2 canon story + trying really to make an original story too, soo its a whole mess ik :p im trying just bear with me ^^"

but thank you for pointing that out, it makes me happy knowing people actually pay attention to details thats super fun! ill make sure to not miss any details next time! :D

[darrowfire15]

TF2 x TOH AU Info

This will have BIG Spoilers for both TOH and TF2, so I suggest at least reading all the TF2 comics and watching TOH before proceeding.

Also, this is a very, very long post, so I suggest to strap yourself in.

Main 9 Mercs

Scout 

A half-witch, half-bipedal demon hybrid. Forced into Illusion magic, but wants to do Bard magic like his Ma. Grew up in Bonesburough and went to Hexside. He’s the first of the group to verbally speak out about the Coven system. 

Branded?: No

Palisman: A hare named Knucklehead.

Soldier

A witch who practices Beast Keeping and Abomination Magic, but mostly a Wild Witch (emphasis on “Wild”). Lived in the forests of another carcass before being brought to the Boiling Isles. Considers himself Merasmus’ best friend. 

Branded?: No

Palisman: A raccoon named Lieutenant Bites. 

Pyro

A bipedal demon who is a Wild witch. They are very skilled with fire magic, but was put in the Conformatorium for only using fire magic. They were released when the Mann brothers were looking for a pyromaniac. 

Branded?: No

Palisman: A unicorn named “Hudda Hudda” (no known translation)

Demoman

A witch who practices Potion magic and owns the biggest Apple Blood factory. Originally wanted to practice Bard magic, but was denied by his father. Was the first to create small portable exploding potions. 

Branded?: Yes

Palisman: A macaw named Aberdeen.

Heavy

A towering bipedal demon from the Knee who practices Abomination magic. Was forced to be branded when he accepted his job for the Mann brothers. He learned Abomination magic to keep his family safe. 

Branded?: Yes

Palisman: A bear named Sasha. 

Engineer

A Grimwalker of Radigan Conagher who practices Construction and Healing magic. His family has been working with the Mann family since the Savage Ages. He eventually helped make the technology to remove sigils.

Branded?: No

Palisman: None, built an artificial staff and uses artificial magic.

Medic

A witch who practices Healing magic, but is not part of the Healing Coven after some unethical experimentation. When Cmedic mysteriously disappeared, they reluctantly allowed him to become a Coven Head. He eventually helped make the technology to remove sigils. 

Branded?: Yes

Palisman: A dove named Archimedes. Sacrificed himself to heal Medic after Cheavy killed the witch. 

Sniper

A Titan under the impression he’s a Bipedal demon. Practices Oracle and Potions magic, but mostly a Wild Witch. He found out he was adopted when his parents died and found out he was a Titan when he went to learn more about where he was taken from.

Branded?: No

Palisman: An owl named Sir Hootsalot.

Spy

A bipedal demon who practices Illusions and is working for the Emperor's Coven. He goes undercover and locates Wild Witches to brand. Changes his appearance so Scout doesn’t suspect they’re related. Misses his palisman every time he sees everyone else use theirs. 

Branded?: Yes

Palisman: N/A

Emperor's Coven

The Administrator

A human who came to the Boiling Isles back in the savage ages. She leeches off other witches magic so she can live longer. Established the Emperor's coven. The Day of Unity was to give her eternal youth by draining everyone’s magic. Their "Belos", if you will. She tries, and fails, to drain the Mercs of their magic before the Day of Unity. 

Miss Pauling

A witch who works under the Administrator and is in the Emperor's coven. Very amused by Scout's flirting, but gets tired of it quick. She has no idea about the Day of Unity’s true plans. Didn’t have a palisman, just went straight to working for the Administrator. 

Branded?: Yes

Palisman: N/A

Administrator’s Messengers

Witches who work for the Administrator to deliver messages. Many of these messages are threats to known Wild Witches, but others are to just to send messages to the mercenaries. When they return, the Administrator drains them of their magic. 

Branded?: Yes

Palisman: N/A

Coven Heads

CHeavy

A bipedal demon. Head of the Abominations Coven.

CMedic

A half-witch, half-bipedal demon hybrid. Head of the Healing Coven.

Bea (CPyro)

A Beast demon. Head of the Bard Coven.

Virgil (CSniper)

A witch. Head of the Oracle Coven.

Fred (CEngineer)

A witch. Head of the Construction Coven.

Greg (CScout)

A witch. Head of the Plants Coven.

Ross (CSoldier)

A bipedal demon. Head of the Beast Keeping Coven.

CSpy

A Basilisk. Head of the Illusions Coven.

CDemo 

A bipedal demon. Head of the Potions Coven.

The Mann Family

Zepheniah Mann 

A witch who died in the Savage Ages and gifted his sons his land on the Boiling Isles and other titan carcasses. 

Branded?: No

Palisman: A German Shephard named Gravel. Gravel lives with the Bat Queen.

Redmond, Blutarch, and Gray Mann 

Three of the most powerful witches who have been alive since the Savage Ages. Redmond and Blutarch helped create the 9 main covens while Gray secretly backed the support of the Emperor's coven. Gray eventually killed his brothers and gained control of all the other covens. 

Branded?: Only Gray was branded. 

Redmond’s Palisman: A cardinal named Carmine. Carmine was taken by the Administrator. 

Blutarch’s Palisman: A blue jay named Azure. Azure was taken by the Administrator. 

Gray’s Palisman: An eagle named Silver. When he dies, Silver leaves to live with the Bat Queen.

Olivia Mann 

A young witch who lives in the Emperor's Castle and is Gray Mann’s daughter. She wants to learn Plant magic. 

Branded?: No

Palisman: N/A

Other Characters

Saxton Hale

A big burly Bipedal demon who has a goal to fight every known beast demon. Specializes in Beast Keeping Magic (somehow) and wants to hunt down all the Slitherbeasts. Lost his backing from the Emperor’s coven when he declined a Witches Duel against Olivia Mann. 

Branded?: Yes

Palisman: A lion named Leo.

Scout’s Ma

A witch who is the mother of 8 boys and practices Bard magic. She is a well known singer in the Boiling Isles, but wanted her sons to find something they like instead of following under her popularity. 

Branded?: Yes

Palisman: An oppossum named Rose.

Mr. and Mrs. Degroot

A pair of witches who ran the Isle’s most successful Apple Blood Factory. Mr. Degroot practiced Potion magic while Mrs. Degroot practiced Oracle magic. When Mr. Degroot passed, Tavish inherited his palisman.

Branded?: Yes

Palisman: Mrs. Degroot’s palisman is a bat named Squeaks. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mundy

A pair of bipedal demons who took in Sniper when finding his egg. Mrs. Mundy practices Plant magic and Mr. Mundy practices Beast Keeping magic. They lived on the left thigh of the titan on a farm until their deaths. 

Branded?: Yes

Palisman: Mr. Mundy is the only one with a palisman, a sheep named Woolly. Woolly went to live with the Bat Queen after they passed. 

The Titan

Sniper’s real father, the Boiling Isles himself. He’s been watching his son since the Mundys took him in. He hopes that someday he’ll be able to say hello to his son face to face. 

Radigan Conagher

A witch who worked all of his days behind the nine covens. He created the first artificial staff with artificial magic, as well as other great inventions. Unintentionally helped make the sigils stronger. When he died, Fred made a Grimwalker from his corpse and named him Dell.

Branded?: No

Palisman: A coyote named Ruth. When he died, she went to live with the Bat Queen. 

Heavy’s family

A family of Bipedal demons who escaped the Conformatorium after their father was petrified for going against the Coven System. They live on the Knee and hunt down beast demons to eat. Heavy stole palistrom wood and helped his sisters carve their palisman like their father did with him. 

Branded?: No

Palisman: 

Heavy’s mother lost her palisman when escaping the Conformatorium.

Zhanna has a wolverine named Fyodor.

Bronislava has a snowy owl named Swift.

Yana has a borzoi named Eva.

1850’s team

The first witches who bore an early version of the sigils. It left them paralyzed and they died in the snow on the Knee. Their palismen were taken by the Administrator and drained of their magic. 

Merasmus

A trapped Collector who lives in the skull of the Titan and aided the Administrator in perfecting the sigils. Sniper was the one to free him from his prison in exchange for the draining spell to stop. 

Branded?: No

Palisman: N/A

Spell Circle Colors

Red

The Administrator (Artificial Magic)

Medic

Redmond Mann

Greg

Orange

Pyro

Demoman

Mr. Degroot

Cheavy

Yana

Yellow

Saxton Hale

Scout

CDemoman

Mr. Mundy

Lime

CSpy

Merasmus

Green

Olivia Mann

Ross

Bronislava

Mrs. Mundy

Cyan

Engineer (Artificial Magic)

Spy

CMedic

Heavy’s mother

Radigan Conagher

Blue

Sniper (Titan magic)

Soldier

Blutarch Mann

Fred Conagher 

Scout’s Ma

Purple

Miss Pauling

Virgil

Zephaniah Mann

Mrs. Degroot

Magenta

Heavy

Zhanna

Bea

White

Emperor’s Coven

Gray Mann

Administrator’s Messengers

Storyline

Thousands of years ago, Titans roamed the demon realm and did as they pleased. Until the Collectors struck. They drove the Titans to extinction, the last Titan hiding his egg and capturing one of the Collectors named Merasmus. He captured the Collector before dying and decaying. That decay became the Boiling Isles. 

Life began to blossom on the carcass, along with the creation of magic within those creatures. These beings separated themselves as witches and demons. 

During the Savage ages, a human named Helen had stumbled in the Boiling Isles. She learned that by absorbing the magic of witches, she could stay young and beautiful. But her greed and crimes caused her to be run out of every town. To hide her identity, she went by the name Elizabeth and hid herself deep in the Isles. She drained any witch that crossed her paths. When traversing in the skull, she stumbled on Merasmus’ prison and promised to release him in return for an easier way to drain magic. 

One wealthy witch, Zephaniah Mann, would come to have three sons. One of the babies, Gray Mann, would be kidnapped by a Griffin. His remaining sons, Redmond and Blutarch, would grow up to be great witches. Of course, they always fought for everything from their father. 

When he was nearing his deathbed, Zephaniah split his lands between his two sons. Around this time, Elizabeth had heard about the brothers’ feud and snuck into their operation. Once he died, she approached the brothers and proposed a Coven system that would aid in their feud. Blind to her real intentions, the Mann brothers both supported her idea with enough Snails to make it happen. She gained the title “the Administrator” as she was head of the project. 

With Merasmus and the Mann Brothers, she began her work to stay young forever. Her first version of the sigils were attempted on the 1850’s team when their fighting term ended, meaning any casualties wouldn’t be a complete loss. The first version failed, but she still drained them of their magic and took their palisman. She didn’t have the right materials, but someone else did…

Radigan Conagher, a smart witch, was hired to begin working behind the scenes for the 9 covens. He talked to the Administrator about the use of the Sigils and helped perfect them, making them stronger so that magic would be cut off indefinitely. 

The Classic team was hired after the 1850’s team’s deaths, when the sigils were perfected. Because of the Mann Brother’s influence, witches slowly began getting sigils. After the Classic team’s fighting term for the Mann Brothers ended, they were promoted to be Coven Heads for the 9 covens by the Administrator. 

Another Coven, the Emperor’s Coven, soon came into play. It was promised to the Mann brothers that it would give them dominion and power over the other residents of the Isles. In reality, the Administrator was the one getting all the power secretly. She hid her work so well that not even someone from the Oracle Coven could see it. 

As time went on, the law on the Isles grew stricter to make sure that most witches had a sigil. Those who didn’t conform were called Wild Witches. They would either be sent to the Conformatorium and coaxed into getting branded, or publicly petrified if they fought back. Many Wild Witches were petrified early on just to instill fear, even when they agreed to being branded. 

Present day, the battles for the lands continue with a new group of mercenaries. Each from different backgrounds and abilities from the Covens. One of the mercenaries, the Scout, began to question the Coven System. Secretly, he began to look into the creation of sigils with other Mercenaries, the Heavy and Sniper. Their research was constantly vandalized by the Spy under the Administrator’s orders. But even he began to question everything.

Scout eventually explained his thoughts to the other mercenaries in private, away from the Administrator. Eventually, with more digging, they found that the Day of Unity was a disguise to drain everyone’s magic. They didn’t know to where though, just that magic was to be drained. 

When Redmond and Blutarch died at the hands of their brother, Gray Mann, the Mercenaries scattered by the command of the Administrator. He had been the one backing up the Emperor’s Coven financially. Publicly, he took over his brother’s positions, but the Administrator was still quietly in charge. 

As the Day of Unity approached quickly, the Emperor’s coven became more uptight about Wild Witches being branded. They commanded that everyone who had magic should be in a Coven or be thrown in the Conformatorium. All of the split-up mercenaries kept in contact with one another about how to stop the Day of Unity. Their letters would be intercepted eventually and shown to the Administrator.

Figuring that the mercenaries were close to discovering her true intentions, the Administrator sends out the Coven Heads to track them down and hold them hostage for the Day of Unity. Working for them unknowingly, Miss Pauling was also sent out to collect the mercenaries under the guise that they would be “extra protection” for the Day of Unity.

Medic was brought in as a replacement for CMedic, who mysteriously disappeared. He hid his palisman, Archimedes, from the Administrator so she wouldn’t take him. Despite the other Coven Heads knowing, they don’t tell on Medic because they want the Day of Unity to go smoothly. 

As Miss Pauling rounded up the mercenaries, the Sniper would discover that he’s a Titan when his parents passed. He would learn more when he convinced some of the rounded up mercenaries to join him to an uncharted island. As they explored the island and the tower, the Classic team cornered them and injured Sniper. 

The Classic team locks everyone in the Conformatorium, sending Sniper to be patched up by Medic. Secretly, Medic hatched a plan to fight back against the Coven Heads and told Sniper. A while after Sniper was in his cell, he broke out with the other mercenaries and ran out to face the Classic team. Medic joined as his mask around the Coven heads broke. 

Grouped together again, the TF2 Mercenaries have a confrontation with the Classic team. The Classic Mercenaries would get picked off one at a time, except Fred, who would run to return to the Administrator. During the fight, Medic dies at the hands of CHeavy and Heavy fights for his revenge. Archimedes would sacrifice himself to heal Medic just as the Classic team is beaten. To solidify their victory, the Classic team is petrified together. 

With no back-up Coven Heads to complete the draining spell, the Administrator decides to lure in the TF2 Mercenaries and Miss Pauling. She would use them as stand-ins, to finally have her eternal youth. 

Angry at the Administrator, Miss Pauling and the mercenaries make their way to the Emperor’s Castle. On the way, Coven scouts ambush them and knock them unconscious. When they come to, Sniper and Engineer are nowhere to be found. The mercenaries who weren’t branded before suddenly had sigils on their wrists. 

Engineer is taken to the side to study Sniper since learning he’s a Titan. He hastily creates a plan and tries to execute it as the hours count down to the Day of Unity. 

While he creates his plan, Engineer finds out that he’s a Grimwalker of his grandfather, Radigan Conagher. His father’s writings tell him everything he needs to know. Unfortunately, Fred finds his son going through his work and they have a tussle. During the fight, Fred brands Dell with the Oracle coven’s sigil, completing the set needed for the draining spell. 

Taking place in the Skull, the Day of Unity is about to commence and the Administrator forces the mercenaries to participate. Of course, they retaliate, but the draining spell activates before they can do anything. All of the Isles attempts to escape the Skull, but faint and/or pass out before they can. 

Sniper escapes from his cell as the spell begins. He finds Miss Pauling and, surprisingly, CMedic, and releases them both. CMedic was silenced after learning of the Administrator’s plans, but couldn’t be petrified quickly. All three travel to the Skull and find Merasmus, who is waiting to be freed by the Administrator. He recognizes Sniper as the last Titan and makes a deal; the draining spell stops in exchange for his freedom. 

Merasmus is freed by Sniper and he stops the draining spell with the snap of his fingers. Everyone survives, the Administrator disintegrates via Mother Gothel style, and the Isles is saved. But Merasmus immediately begins to change the scenery, stretching out his ability after being captured for so long. He forces Sniper to help him rule his new kingdom and creates a castle in the Skull.

The mercenaries, CMedic, and Miss Pauling flee the Skull with the other Boiling Isles residents as Merasmus expels his magic to the land. Miss Pauling brings them to a secret hideout underground so they can work on a plan to stop Merasmus. 

Meanwhile, Merasmus makes Sniper his Second in Command for his kingdom. He wants the power of the Titan all to himself to further his kingdom’s power. He also captured the residents of the Isles and as them either working or held in cells. No one is spared. 

Figuring he needed protection, Merasmus took some of the petrified Wild Witches and reversed the effects. Some of those witches were the Classic team. All but Greg and Ross were resurrected. 

As the months continue, Engineer continues to deal with the fact that he’s a Grimwalker, Medic is grieving from his palisman’s sacrifice, and those who were branded are trying to adjust to their confined abilities. Sniper sneaks out of the castle to meet up with them in secret. 

One day, after careful planning, the mercenaries and Miss Pauling decide to infiltrate the castle. Sniper had given them a map of the inside and drew out where they should go. Unfortunately, Merasmus caught on to what Sniper was doing. When he returned next, he held the Titan in a cage and prepared himself to fight the mercenaries. 

The TF2 team and Miss Pauling fight their way through the castle, taking down many wild witches before having one last confrontation against the Classic Team. CMedic tries to reason with CHeavy, but it’s no use and the Classic team gets beaten again. They run to the throne room and confront Merasmus. 

Miss Pauling tries to reason with Merasmus, standing between him and the TF2 team. While she talked, Merasmus created a ball of flames in his fist and threw it at her. To save her from the blast, Scout jumped in the way and tries to shield her. He gets hit and slowly turns to stone until he dies, disintegrating. Spy, in a fit of rage, attacked Merasmus head-on, setting off the other mercenaries. 

Drifting in the in-between, Scout meets the Titan himself, Sniper’s real father. He and the Titan talk about the Administrator and Merasmus, choices they made in life, and what could’ve been done. The Titan cannot remove the sigil on Scout’s arm, but he does trust the man to go back and fight against the Collector. Before Scout is revived, he asks if the Titan has any words for Sniper. Once he told the witch, the Titan revived him. 

Scout is resurrected and infused with the Titan’s magic as the mercenaries are progressively losing. Merasmus took Sniper and fled the throne room, leaving the others to briefly admire Scout’s new look. They split up in two groups; half would go and free the Boiling Isle residents, the other half goes after Merasmus. 

Medic, Heavy, Soldier, Miss Pauling, and Engineer go to the cells to free everyone. They escort everyone out of the castle as quickly as possible and Heavy reunites with his family. 

Scout, Spy, Demoman, CMedic, and Pyro run after Merasmus and Sniper. On the way, Merasmus set up some obstacles to slow them down. Spy and Scout have a father-son bonding moment as they blast away the obstacles. 

When they finally corner Merasmus, it’s on the room of the castle. Pyro and Scout distract the Collector while Demoman and Spy release Sniper. Scout used the rest of his power, combined with Sniper’s magic, to cast Merasmus out of the Demon Realm and deep into space. Once that’s done, Scout is returned back to normal as the Titan magic is used up. He tells Sniper what the Titan told him and Sniper feels content with the answer.

With the defeat of both Merasmus and the Administrator, the Boiling Isles started to slowly heal. The future few years change with the mercenaries as they find new occupations to busy themselves with.

Heavy begins a palisman carving business as the palistrom trees are replenished. He would carve Medic’s new Palisman, another dove named Hipparchus. 

Engineer, Medic, and CMedic work together to create a devise to remove sigils, which prove to be a success. Scout is the first to have his sigil removed. 

Spy and Scout are learning each other how to wield other magic types together. Spy has also acquired a palisman from Heavy. 

Soldier is in charge of a rehabilitation center for injured Beast Demons with his wife Zhanna. Pyro is his only other employee. 

Demoman’s Apple Blood business blooms, as well as his side job playing the piano in bars. He also has a business in selling Elixirs. Mrs. Degroot is still unpleased.

Sniper and Miss Pauling go off to discover more about Titans on other carcasses. They still come back to occasionally visit everyone. 

The Classic Team (those remaining) retire from their mercenary work and help rebuild the Isles.

Saxton Hale is still off fighting every Beast demon, venturing off to new lands for the thrill of nature. 

Gray Mann is petrified after trying to incorporate the Coven system in the new era. Olivia Mann lives as a normal witch studying both Plant and Potions magic.

[what1is1going1on]

Tf2 delicious in dungeon au

The setting is still 1972 but with delicious in dungeon races n magic

Spys n elf, 334, 6'1, he uses illusion magic for his disguises but still uses devices for other things

Medic n elf also a wolf beast man, 214, 6'3, uses and experiments with healing magic but mostly still the same medical stuff

Engineer half goblin n dwarf, 120, 3'0, knows like two healing spells and that's the end of his magic knowledge

Demoman tall-man, 58, 6'2, all of his stuff is the same

Heavy oger, 45, 6'8, same stuff

Soldier eagle beast-man kobold, 39, 5'0, he's an eagle with a bit of kobold soul, he can't fly using his wings but thinks he can

Pyro kobold, 23, 4'7, knows fire spells and sense mana, but no other magic

Scout half elf n half-foot, 22, 3'3, he is supposed to be gods gift to spellcasting so he has a shit tone of mana but never learned magic

Sniper New Zealand, 20, 5'2, new Zealand is race that live to 30, average hight is 4'0 but because sniper lived in Australia so long he got tall

Explaining soldier and medics beast-man thing

Medic is an elf with a bit of wolf soul in him like lycion

Soldier is like izutsumi originally an eagle then mixed with kobold soul

[coolfireguy73]

Cryptid AU masterpost

Here you can find all the links to everything Cryptid AU related

Cryptid AU Context

Character descripions:

Sniper's description (original post)

Spy's description

Medic's description (Medic redesign here)

Heavy's description

Engineer's description

Demoman's description

Scout's description

Pyro's description

Soldier's description

Territoires, speed and strength

Story

(If I continue this one day I will most certainly rewrite this so don't take it too much in consideration)

Story part 1

Story part 2

Story part 3

Story part 4

Story part 5

Story part 6

Story part 7

Additional art

TF2 achievement style

TF2 comic style Demo

Heavy smash comic

Engi's hideout

Sniper (tw: bugs)

Spy

Spys

Sniper + Engi/Scout bounding

Q and As

Where does sniper lives ?

How does Spy kill ?

Which merc would you come across first ?

Does Engi keep notes ?

Is there a way to turn them back ?

Would Engi use his buildings ?

Can they talk ?

Approaching spy with a weapon

Scout's trust, Saxton and the respawn system

Giving food to Scout

If the first person infested wasn't medic...

What would happen if they get cured ?

Would spy and scout recognize scout's ma ? Also would Heavy recognize his family ?

why does spy leave scout alone ?

[tf2heritageposts]

There is: (i got too excited and it's a bit long sorry)

What kind of brazillian foods/drinks the mercs would like the most

Scout:

He would love any kinds of street foods, his favorite ones would be coxinha, a fried snack stuffed with chicken; Hot dogs in the São Paulo way, they usually have mashed potatoes, corn, peas and shoestring potatoes above (with ketchup and mustard, of course) and pastel, a fried dough (the texture is similar to a puff pastry) that can have many kinds of fillings, the most usual one is mozzarella cheese. He also would love eat this while drink sugarcane juice (it's a classical combo).

Soldier:

This one is funny, bc in my head all the other mercs had to lie to him that they were getting 100% american food so he could at least try some, and he keep eating it without knowing the thruth. His favorite ones would also be ones of the most iconical ones, by irony of the destiny, such as feijoada and pão de queijo. He would also love farofa (is made either with corn or cassava, braised with oil and can have diverses other igredients too) but since Soldier is build diferently, insted of eating it as a side dish he just cook a huge ass pan of farofa and eat all of it with a spoon.

Pyro:

He would love brigadeiro, because is sweet as him (awwn). He would love churrasco (brazilian barbecue), so much that he, engineer and sniper would be the ultimate churrasqueiros of the team (however only engineer and sniper are alowed to touch on the grill since the incident). From the many things that can be made in a churrasco, Pyro likes garlic bread the most (because it gets burned at outisde really quickly but still ok to eat). The last thing from his list would be cuscuz paulista, recipe that blend corn flour and many other igredients, and that people from other brazilian states keep saying its ugly but THATS UNTRUE YALL JUST DONT KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT - me, a sad paulistana.

Engineer:

As said before, he would love churrasco, and any kind of red meat should be his favorite (picanha, striploin…). He would also like the local beer options and condensed milk pudding (pudim). No special rasion on the last one (besides giving all the mercs at least 3 itens).

Demoman:

He would LOVE drinking cachaça (alchoolic drink made with sugarcane) and caipirinha as well (drink made with cachaça, lime, sugar and ice). For eat, his favorite food should be torresmo (pork skin with fat cut into small pieces and fried until crispy), that is also a good side dish in brazilian bar's.

Heavy:

His first favorite option would be estrogonofe, wich is actually a brazilian version of a russian recipe (stroganoff), with some alterations. He would also enjoy virado à paulista (plate composed of a beans and cassava flour mix, together with pork chop, tuscan sausage, fried egg, braised cabbage and a piece of breaded banana), it's a really big meal to a really big guy. Finally, he would go for "caipiroska" for drinking, with is a caipirinha variation but with vodka in the place of cachaça (wich i didn't know existed until i started writing this kkkkkk)

Medic:

Cuca de banana (a cake with bananas and a sugar & cinnamon on top) would be one of his favorite desserts (it also has a germanic origin i also didn't knew kkkkkk). He also would like specific foods from Bahia, such as Acarajé (dumpling made from black-eyed pea dough, onion and salt, and fried in palm oil, can be stuffed with shrimp or other options of filling) and cocada (candy made with coconut), but I can't specify why yet bc it envolves a headcanon/AU i'm still making and i want it to be a silly surprise, i'll edit here once it's done.

Sniper:

The last one of the ultimate churrasqueiros, his favorite item would be chiken's hearts. Aparently pumpkings are very used in australian culinary, so i like to imagine he would also like doce de abobora (dessert made with pumpking). Finally, i guess tapioca (cassava gum, can be fried like a pancake and stuffed to taste, among other uses) just suits him idk.

Spy:

He would love Carolina (looks like a éclair, but is smaller, rounder, and filled with dulce de leche) and sonho (fried dough, usualy filled with vanilla cream and with sprinkled sugar above. The name of this recipe translate to "dream" in a literal form btw kkkkk). Ending this list, Spy would enjoy queijo com goiabada (a slice of minas cheese thogeter with a slice of guava paste).

Thank you for reading until here, and sorry if i made you fell hungry hihihi

holy shit this is so good

also i want carolina that looks so good

i also want the sugarcane drinks, please god i’ll do anything

[zargontari]

HELL AND YOU

(intro, I suppose)

(thumbnail art of my sona done by @batstabb; go check it out!)

Hi there! My name's Zargontari, though I also go by Skippy, if that's easier to remember. I'm twenty-one, nonbinary, and probably the most rabid objectum you'll ever meet.

My blog is generally SFW, though there may occasionally be a suggestive reblog or sex joke. There also may be artistic gore. I primarily reblog, without much original content except for the occasional bit of writing, or general raving about whatever interest I'm into at the time of posting.

Ask box is open, and so are DMS! I adore interaction, and won't ever be bothered if you pop up out of the blue to say hello. Even if you just need to talk to someone and you feel like there's no one who will listen. I'm your guy. I'm chronically online and have little else to do besides work and look at my phone.

Currently, my biggest interests are: Expeditionary Force, Rain World, Mass Effect, Venom (movies and comics, though I have gotten nowhere in the latter as of yet), Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon, and dragons in general, really. Feel free to chat with me about those or anything else!

I don't often tag my posts (a bad habit, I know), but here are the common ones I use when I do!

#tblr bm: Tumblr Bookmark! Self explanatory; I want to keep whatever I saved to look at later. Another bad habit, really. I never look at the tag. Alas.

#through to the tether au: this is a big one. This tag holds all my nonsense and shenanigannary about my Expeditionary Force AU, Through to the Tether. The whole thing is convoluted right now, but there may be a larger text post about it later. I plan for there to be a fanfiction! Truly, though, no one knows. Especially not me.

#forsake everyone but demoman: demoman TF2 posting. I don't have to explain myself to the likes of you

Quick QNA:

Why does your blog look so fucking ugly?: This was the layout that I created whenever I first made a Tumblr, didn't understand how it worked, and assumed I would never use it. I will not ever change it. My sideblogs can be pretty but this bastard child won't ever be.

When are you most active?: On and off throughout the day, though early in the morning (USA-EST) and late at night are when I really crack down on that delicious screen time.

You reblogged something problematic. What do I do?: I would always prefer to be told if something I've done, said, or associated with is wrong. Contact me in private to let me know, and all will be well.

[stormvanari]

imagine a tf2 and toh crossover...which magic track(s) would the tf2 mercs pick?? what do you think??

i’m down to see how the TF2 mercs can survive in a magical world since they have experienced Merasmus’ chaos in Scream Fortress, and at least many of the magic users on the Boiling Isles aren’t too chaotic like Merasmus himself.

right?

RIGHT?

Scout: Becomes a “LORD OF ALL (wild) MAGIC!!!” because fuck the Coven System all the way

-Gives the Emperor’s Coven a living hell by pranking and putting them in a marathon across the Boiling Isles to the point the Golden Guard, Lilith (before Young Blood, Old Souls), or a Coven Head is involved. But the Golden Guard serves as Scout’s main competition until Hollow Mind.

-Always lands in the Detention Track and Scout doesn’t even care! What kind of moron says using one magic is legal, yet doing all kinds of magic is illegal?!

Soldier: Abomination

-He surprisingly got into the EC and is currently a Captain. But Sol primarily specializes in Abomination magic the most because think of the army he would summon and yell commands Pokémon trainer-style

-Soldier wanted to take on all, yes ALL, of the Coven Heads at once cause he heard they are the “most powerful witches on the BI”

Pyro: Bard, Illusion, and Potions

-There are a few Coven Scouts that report feeling frightened by their encounter with this wild witch (and the Scouts even compared Pyro to Hooty but like. without the bad Mickey Mouse voice impression. just an almost silent “cryptid.”).

-Pyro doesn’t agree with the idea of using only one type of magic, even though they primarily specialize in three certain types of magic the most. The merc wants to have fun in this magical world, y’know?

Demoman: Potion

-Conjures magical potions of mass destruction

-Amplifies his scrumpies to boost his attacks, such as his Demoknight Charge ✨🍾✨

-Frequent visitor at Grimgrub’s Pub

-Is a member of Salty’s crew and Demo fought numerous sea beasts with his bare hands

Heavy: Construction

-They say his strength matches that of Mason’s, but those that share close connections with this merc say Heavy’s strength is greater than the Construction Coven Head’s.

-In fact, he was petitioned for that title but Heavy denied the offer and chose to focus on his family’s needs instead

Engineer: Abomination

-Engineer would eventually do Construction and Bard magic post-S3

-One of the EC’s main defense suppliers

-He’s inspired by Alador’s inventions

Medic: Healing (ofc)

-Well. Things are gonna look....splendid when Medic meets Hettie on one of his work days at a Healer House (this isn’t an official name for clinics during Belos’ reign btw)

-Archimedes becomes his palisman in this AU

Sniper: Beast-Keeping

-Some half-bird demon

-Works as a Demon Hunter (which is kinda ironic for Sniper’s species in this crossover AU, but least he got the job due to his sharpshooting skills)

Spy: Illusion (ofc)

-Was doing rebel work on his own, and sees Adrian Graye as an “embarrassment to illusionists everywhere” after Labyrinth Runners. Prior to the Hexside invasion, Spy originally saw Graye as a “close second to the deadliest illusionist I know,” due to the latter’s Coven Head status.

Although the two have not properly met each other, Spy would consider Gus as a “close second.” The merc still considers himself as the deadliest illusionist on the BI.

-On the other hand, Spy would commend Darius’ fashion sense. Those two would get along pretty well.

Speaking of which:

i did in fact made TF2 x TOH dubs before! ⬇️

[kidfortress]

| KID FORTRESS AU | -------------------------- A little project I've been working on is finally released!

a series of webcomics about TF2 that I've started working on lately, dealing with the life of the mercenaries in a close but far from canon / original way. each story will be about each mercenary, I hope you can enjoy it soon! (Artist / designer / writer / creator) @s3ka042 -------------------------- - Meet the kids - -------------------------- HEAVY:

-------------------------- DEMOMAN:

-------------------------- PYRO:

-------------------------- SOLDIER:

-------------------------- ENGINEER:

-------------------------- ZHANNA:

-------------------------- MEDIC:

-------------------------- SNIPER:

-------------------------- MISS PAULING:

-------------------------- SCOUT:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[alasoi]

Hm. Thank for advice!

Are there any other monsters/monster mercs that are friendly and can be tamed or friendly?

Monster Anter Heavy is sort of nonchalant about humans. But if he thinks a small creature needs help e.g. Climbing up a tree, he will help. And sometimes he misunderstands your intentions: you wanted to climb down but he thought the opposite

You won't see Monster Chimney Spy cuz he's already camouflaged. If you don't have good intentions to be there, he will most likely backstab u w his fingers

Monster CentiMedic finds humans interesting so he won't outright attack you. He'll observe you for a while and then goes to do his business or if he's compelled enough, he'll grab you

Monster PangolEngie may look friendly and harmless but that's his way of attracting prey OR he's cursed to look harmless so he gets unwanted attention from humans therefore he will defend his privacy by attacking you

Monster Woodchipper Soldier will either charge at you or observe you as if he's confused ( @mumrikhenry woodchipper is a great name)

Monster (Reptile) Iguana Scout will either hiss at you and be ready to attack or run away

Monster Marine Pyro has one cute googly eye to attract prey or to seem harmless

Sea Monster Demo will stare at you, observing, Hauntingly. The younger individuals may act unsure, esp. when encountering another monster of similar size? They try to show to the older individual/parent that they are capable and worthy. The other species, Monster Hazelspine Demo, won't give a crap about u unless u trigger him

Monster Bristle Sniper usually don't seem to give a crap, may stare or keep you in his line of sight if he has suspicions. Might chase for the fun of it or stomp you.

Heavy is most certainly 'friendly'.

[ao3feed-tf2ships]

The Day I Die

read it on the AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/58527841

by Kadthor

"Is this the last day of your life? Why not live it over and over again?"

Or Ludwig/Mikhail Groundhog Day Detective AU

Words: 9658, Chapters: 1/9, Language: English

Fandoms: Team Fortress 2

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: M/M

Characters: Medic (Team Fortress 2), Heavy (Team Fortress 2), Spy (Team Fortress 2), Scout (Team Fortress 2), Sniper (Team Fortress 2), Pyro (Team Fortress 2), Engineer (Team Fortress 2), Demoman (Team Fortress 2), Soldier (Team Fortress 2), Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s)

Relationships: Heavy/Medic (Team Fortress 2)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Detectives, Alternate Universe - Detectives, Red Octoberfest, Crime, Slow Burn, Mystery, References to Drugs, Inspired by Groundhog Day, Inspired by Happy Death Day (Movies), No Sex, Scout Knows Spy Is Scout's Parent (Team Fortress 2), Hurt/Comfort

read it on the AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/58527841

[hankwritten]

A Tavern Named Keep [3/6]

Demoman-centric Modern AU

[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

In a small uni-town in New Mexico, DeGroot Keep serves liquor and succor to an eclectic yet loyal group of patrons, and has for many years. The Keep owes its success to its equally colorful owner, who always seems to know what you need—whether that be a stiff beer or a word of advice. But, between setting up his patrons or sifting through his friends’ problems, will Tavish remember to take care of himself?

Above the façade front door of DeGroot Keep is an unreachable third floor, its purpose assumed by those who walk the streets below to be some sort of attic or perhaps storage space, if they wonder about it at all. What Tavish conceals above the stairs in the back of the kitchen is actually, in fact, his apartment, boasting one room and a claustrophobic little bathroom added sometime during the 20th century. It’s space enough for him: there’s a desk computer, a bed, a half-sized bookshelf crammed with fantasy paperbacks, and a tinkering table whose purposes are better left undisclosed. (Privacy is not the only reason the kitchen stairs are hidden. Such is the lot of men with less than legal hobbies.)

If you were to ask if he wants for anything, he might complain that he isn’t able to move the coffee maker upstairs, but requests for further elaboration would be met with a dispassionate shrug. The kitchen isn’t so far, and what he lacks in elbow room he makes up for in convenience; everything he needs in the morning is only an arm’s length away. The way Tavish usually starts his day is by getting his shower in, shaving, and dressing all within the span of a half-hour, barely moving outside a few cubic meters.

The way Tavish does not usually start his day is with the unhallowed ringing of the landline he uses to make international calls to his mother every Saturday. The digital clock reads 6:46 in the watery light from the circular attic window, but it could be the witching hour for all Tavish wants to get out of bed. But out of bed is the only place he can silence the infernal thing, so up he gets.

“Hello,” he grumbles his barely contained contempt into the receiver, rubbing rheum from his eye.

On the other side, there is heavy breathing.

A sterner man would have assumed he was being punked. A less stern man would have gone and grabbed the rosary from his dresser drawer and warned that he feared no evil spirits and he was well trained in the art of dispelling the profane. However, Tavish merely lapses, standing there in the middle of the room wearing nothing but his boxers, listening as the heavy breathing is intercut by the occasional apologetic mumble and several egregiously incomprehensible attempts at explanation.

The cold floor is biting him through his socks. He sighs, and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Just tell me the station number, I’ll be there in a few.”

There is a grateful keening noise, and the morning is sacrificed to a long and troubled drive that does not help the barkeep’s ever-present hangover. He’s been told once or twice that a businessman shouldn’t sample his own wares, but in all fairness he’s been an alcoholic a lot longer than he’s been a bar owner. On the ride back to the Keep, he hushes Pyro several times, assuring them he’s not mad and can we just save the explanations for when we’re back home, aye?

However, as soon as they reach the tavern Pyro chooses that moment to clam up entirely.

“Oh come on now duck,” Tavish tries to coax. “We’re already bleeding Mayor Piggycorn dry here, the least you can do is tell me what went wrong.”

Mayor Piggycorn—originally named for the construction paper horn taped to his head, and then renamed by the sticky note saying ‘Pyro Bail Fund’—still has a few quarters jingling around in his belly, but only just. Tavish slips the bank back onto the shelf.

“I’ll tell you what went wrong!” Jane, present when they’d arrived despite the fact that both people with the authority to open the bar had been gone all morning, says as Pyro futzes with their hands. “Your cook lights things on fire when they’re in a bad mood, and they also light things on fire when they're in a very good mood.”

Accuracy notwithstanding, this is clearly not the time, and Tavish shoots Jane a withering glare. To Pyro he asks, “can you at least tell me what sort of property you damaged?”

They mumble something. It sounds like ‘dumpster’.

“Ah well that’s not so bad.”

Silence hangs for a few seconds. Jane is right though, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out this isn’t a good mood sort of burning.

“Pyro,” he says firmly. “What’s eating you.”

As though the words can’t contain themselves anymore, it all bubbles out, hand waving and muffled cursing like this morning’s phone conversation. They quickly grow frustrated with the inadequacy of this mode of communication, and switch to sign language.

“<It’s Scout! He’s been avoiding me and I don’t know what I did wrong!>”

Tavish sighs. It’s a sighing sort of day apparently. He should have known Jeremy would be the source of more Pyro troubles.

“<He’s just stopped…hanging out with me. Whenever I go home and he’s there he pretends he doesn’t see me unless I say hi first. And then he’ll say hi but he’ll just go back to playing whatever and he never invites me to join anymore and I feel really awkward asking for a ride so I’ve just been walking everywhere.>”

They take a moment, shoving their hands in their armpits as they try to calm down. Tavish walks over to put an arm around their shoulders, glaring at Jane until he looks properly abashed.

When they’re breathing steadier they try again. “<Last night I asked him if he was mad at me. If I had said something to make him angry, and he got really defensive and said nothing’s wrong. When I said all that stuff I just said to you, he did get mad, and said that he needed to…Think about things? And then! He just left! He went out and didn’t come back to the apartment last night and I was pissed at him for lying to me but also scared that he’d never come home and so I went to the Lecture Valley Dolphin Shack and set their dumpster on fire.>”

Tavish shares a look with the outside of Jane’s hat. “Ach, well…it wasn’t right of him to lie, but sometimes we tell our loved ones nothing’s wrong when we don’t want them to worry.”

“<That’s stupid.>”

“Aye, but Scout’s a stupid kid.”

Pyro looks at the ground. “<He’s my stupid kid. I just want things to be normal between us and not weird and awkward.>”

That phrasing clicks something into place in Tavish’s mind.

“<I don’t want to go to class today,>” Pyro admits after a while.

“That’s fair. Why don’t you go sleep it off in the back room, alright? I’ll bring you something in a bit.”

Pyro collides with his stomach, wrapping him in one of their famous hugs with a muffled thanks Tavish to his chest.

“Ah, no need for that. Off you go.”

Pyro does, and Tavish sets about making the forcibly delayed breakfast, though now for three. He may not have his chef’s talent, but there are plenty of things a bachelor can make that can’t be screwed up too badly.

“…You come away from that thinking the same thing I did?” he asks, cracking six eggs into a well-oiled pan.

“Unless it is a composition of the national anthem as sung by the Western Meadowlark, I find that unlikely.”

Jane, who’s followed him into the kitchen, leans against the countertop. The place is neater than Tavish left it last night, the man to blame playing with the raccoon-shaped salt & pepper shakers as he waits for the eggs to cook. Every once in a while he breaks into the Keep—the untidiness of Tavish’s ‘fortifications’ apparently driving him crazy—and attacks the place in a frenzy until it can pass muster. It was disconcerting at first, but after a few times of finding the back of the bar perforcedly reorganized, Tavish figured that it was worth the small security flaw. Plus, Jane always hangs around after. Tavish pities any real burglar that tries to storm the place.

“I mean Scout and Pyro,” Tavish says, pushing down the toaster. “You remember how Scout went with them to that club the other week?”

“My memory is that of a hippopotamus, but I do not see the relevance.”

“Just thinking.” Tavish idly chews the inside of his cheek, a habit his dentist has railed against on more than one occasion. Tavish’s reply is always that moriscatio buccarum is probably on the kinder end of things he does to his body. “Scout went on a lark it seems. I can’t imagine what would drive a wedge between the two of them, you know how they’re like together.”

“Hooligans, bordering on hippie-dom.”

“I mean they’re affectionate,” Tavish says. “Do you ever get the feeling…maybe there’s something more there?”

Jane shrugs. “Possible, I guess.”

“And he said he needed to go think about something,” Tavish muses. Now that he’s on this train of thought it’s hard to stop. “Ah, poor kid. Must be rough thinking you’re straight this long and then suddenly discovering you’re in love with your best friend.”

Soldier grumbles something that Tavish misses. Before he can ask him to repeat it, the toaster pops, and Tavish runs over to arrange the finishing touches. When he slides the platter in front of Jane, the ranger immediately attacks it with the salt.

“What?” Tavish balks, the highest offense in his pitch. “You’re nae even going to try it first?”

The accusation is met only with a grin. Jane lifts the peppershaker (a black raccoon with white stripes, to differentiate it from the saltshaker’s white raccoon with black stripes) and proceeds to upend it over the eggs as well.

Tavish huffs, then turns to where he knows he’ll have at least one connoisseur with taste.

“Feeling better, duck?” he asks, sliding a plate and a glass of orange juice on the back room’s lone folding table.

They mumble something through blankets and gasmask. Nothing will get better with Jeremy gone, it seems.

“Don’t worry mate. I know just what’s got to be done.” With that, he leaves so that Pyro can eat in privacy.

Jane narrows his eyes as soon as steps foot in the kitchen. “What’s got to be done? You better not be up to what I think you’re up to! That crap with Mikhail and Ludwig was supposed to be a one time thing.”

“Ah…overheard that did you.” Tavish resists the urge to rub the back of his neck: he’s got nothing to be ashamed about, this is a good idea. “Well it makes sense, doesn’t it? They love each other to bits, maybe they just need a nudge in the right direction.”

Jane still looks unconvinced.

“At the very least you got to admit this time is important!” Tavish says in exasperation. “Pyro’s heartbroken, Scout’s gone rogue, and I’m not resting until I get them to make up.”

“…”

“Nothing you say can convince me otherwise!”

Soldier dips his toast in yolk.

Tavish makes a noise of disgust, and leaves to get his tavern ready for another night of romance.

The first, and most important, preparation is to get Jeremy to show up. He shoots the boy a text, aiming for the weakness that he knows all college students in general—but athletes in particular—share: the promise of free food. There is technically an event happening at DeGroot Keep tonight, and Jeremy can have the leftovers if he comes. None of it a lie, per say, but Tavish fails to mention that the event in question is a date between him and his roommate.

“This looks familiar,” Dr. Ludwig says as he sits at the bar and marvels at the candles. “You’re not setting up another pair of your patrons, are you?”

His chuckle dies on his lips as Tavish quickly passes him his beer and says nothing.

“You are? Mein Gott. You never let up, do you DeGroot?”

“Oi, it worked out for you, didn’t it?” Tavish says. In a careful change of the subject before Ludwig can ask which patrons, he adds, “where is Mikhail, anyway? You two are going somewhere tonight, right?”

“Indeed we are.” Ludwig puffs up. “We’re heading to see the opera in Las Vegas.”

“…Las Vegas?” Tavish raises an eyebrow.

“Fine, you caught me. Las Vegas, New Mexico.”

“I take it the opera was Mikhail’s idea?”

The offense on Ludwig’s face is clear. “I happen to quite enjoy opera music. We planned this together.”

“Didn’t mean anything by it, Doc.” Tavish holds up his hands. “It just seems like neither of you would have the, er, temperament for it.”

“Then perhaps you know less about us than you think.” Outside, a pair of headlights flash. “Ah, that’s him. Auf Wiedersehen DeGroot, good luck with… whatever the hell this is.”

Shaking his head, Tavish is just about to scoop up the doctor’s empty beer when Pyro tugs on his shirtsleeve.

They look despondent, their mask-lenses are one step away from drooping like a cartoon character. A finger points at the kitchen, then at the side door, the universal expression of, “I’m heading out now.”

Tavish glances at the (limited edition, Birds of the Southern United States) clock and sees that it really is getting late. But Jeremy still hasn’t shown, and Tavish rushes to stall.

“…Actually, I was hoping you could run the lower bar for a bit? Just to take some of the pressure.”

Somehow, Pyro’s shoulder’s drop further, and Tavish fends off a wave of guilt. But, loyal soul that they are, they plod down to the street-level.

Only needed on truly busy nights, the inventory of the lower bar is locked up tight since it can’t be watched from all angles. Usually Broderick, (Tavish’s authentic DeGroot heirloom suit of armor) mans the area, which means Pyro has to shove him aside in order to unlock the liquor cabinets. They do all this with the grace of the mortally condemned.

This isn’t going well. Tavish checks his phone to see that Jeremy never even responded, not even one of his indecipherable emojis. Before long he’s become glued to his screen, checking it every thirty seconds as the hour hand slowly moves towards the Belted Kingfisher, and one by one the late stayers trickle out. Tavish has never had a problem with barflies, (it’s not the most lively part of town), but for once he very much wishes he’d have some sorry slob that he can’t unstick from the bar with a spatula, if only for the excuse.

But enough time ticks by that Pyro approaches him again, and the bar’s now empty enough that he can’t deny them their request. They slink out the door, and a blue pick-up truck rolls to collect them.

There has to be some way to fix this. After closing the tavern he retreats to his quarters, desktop illuminating his face as he fails to turn on any other light in his bedroom. He hunts for Jeremy’s Facebook, though right away he can tell it won’t bring him any luck. The last post was months ago, a captionless picture of he and Pyro with their arms slung around each other’s shoulders. They look happy.

He sends a you alright lad? text. Though, when he sees the timestamp reading 3:01 AM, he realizes that’s an auspicious statement. He lies in his bed and fails to go to sleep.

Whatever time the knocking starts is far too early. Having only gotten a total seven hours of sleep the past two days, he’d been planning to open the Keep late to recuperate, but another repetitive auditory signifier of modern home living has thrown that out the window. Speaking of windows. Tavish’s mood is not improved when he looks out the porthole and sees that the knocking is coming from a lone police officer at his stoop.

“Christ, what did they do now,” he murmurs.

Hair of the dog, he reminds himself. Hair of the dog. He pulls out a spare scrumpy bottle from underneath the bed.

“Not even at the right door, there’s a bloody sign- canae help you, officer?” Tavish yells out the true entrance. He’s still in his raccoon slippers (he’s known Jane for many Smismasses now), and he has no interest in going outside. If the idjit wants to ignore perfectly readable advisories, that’s his business.

The officer sticks his head around from the front. “Excuse me. Are you the owner here?”

Owner? Probably wouldn’t be asking if Pyro had gotten themself in trouble again. Keeping his general distaste for coppers out of his voice is easiest done with one word answers, so he says, “aye.”

“We’ve received complaints about an improperly parked vehicle on your premises. It appears someone is illegally habitating within it.”

Tavish feels habitating probably isn’t a word, but he’s already getting worked up. “Complaints? Is it that Classic Rock ‘n Roll bar down the street? Bloody goat-humpers. Those Classics have always had it out for me and my lads.”

Whether it’s the fact that Tavish burps halfway through his tirade or the volume of the denouncement, the officer looks quite pained. “We’ve had complaints from a variety of sources, sir.”

Tavish grumbles something about pain trains in station town, before the cop’s opening line finally catches up with him. “Someone’s living in a car in my parking lot?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“What in blazes-”

Slippers or no, Tavish charges into his rarely used back lot, usually traversed only by delivery trucks and the odd trash collector.

In it, is a camper van.

“Oi, open up!” He slams on the camper’s door. “I don’t know who the hell you think you are but if you’re going to squat at my house-” With the creaking of someone swaying the suspension with each footstep, the door opens. “-Then you- Mick?”

Mick Mundy does an adequate impression of Tavish a few minutes ago, and blinks groggily. “Yeah?”

“What are you doing in that thing?”

Mick looks behind him briefly. “Livin’ in it.”

“In my yard?”

The cop cuts in, “Sir you can’t take up residency, regardless of the nature of the vehicle, on businesses lining Main Street or Teufort’s six main thoroughfares."

“Really?” Mick asks. Tavish facepalms.

“ ‘Fraid so,” he continues, surprisingly straight-faced. “With the exclusion of national and state parks, parking an RV for more than 48 hours is similarly not allowed.”

“Hm,” Mick nods. “Guess I’ll go to one of those then. Is a camper van after all.”

Tavish facepalms with the other hand.

He can’t even bring himself to chew Mick out before he packs up his van and leaves. The incident with the traffic cop was hardly a good start to his morning, and it doesn’t improve with the opening of the Keep’s doors. He goes for the harder, close-to-paint-thinner stuff he keeps in the custodial closet just to stave off the mounting stress of dealing with law enforcement. Jeremy has texted him at some point in the night, a noncommittal assurance he’s fine. Tavish again asks if he wants to swing by the Keep tonight, to which he gets a yeah sure, whatever.

There’s little time to plan. Tavish has to make sure things go right this time, has to make sure Pyro stays long enough, has to get Jeremy to stay long enough, has to also find a way to get Jeremy to admit his feelings. Which, easier said than done. It depends entirely on whether he’s come to terms with things or not, and if he’s just shutting down and shutting everyone out it might not even be possible.

Too many variables. All these unknowns are killing him.

Jeremy didn’t say when he’d swing by and Tavish has finished off his good stuff. The candles are back, and Pyro’s mopily tending the kitchen, but-

Fuck. Someone’s vomited on the bathroom floor. He doesn’t have the heart to ask Pyro to do it, even with the wonderfully convenient rubber suit, not when he made them stay late yesterday for basically no reason. So instead he has Pyro take his place at the main bar and goes to face the music.

It smells awful. The bathroom’s décor is one of his prouder works; it’s all vintage advertisements, wallpapering not only the walls but the low, sloping ceiling as well. Normally it’s a pleasant little place to have a pit stop, but right now it’s just-

Eugh. Words don’t do it justice. It’s-

Guh-

Very difficult to breathe in. His head is starting to feel light and the mop keeps slipping out of his hands as the booze rises to his cheeks-

Tavish wakes up.

He is in his bed and the blinds are drawn and it seems like it could be anywhere in that ephemeral hour between the end of sunset and the beginning of sunrise. He can, after all, see and he can most certainly feel, and what he feels is pain.

“Ach, me head…”

The voice that says these words is coming from his head, the central locus for all his pain. It was a mistake to say them, for any reaffirmation of the self is overshadowed by the revelation that his throat is also worthy of commentary.

“Here.”

Jane is handing him a glass of water. The time to question is not now, because Tavish has never seen anything more beautiful than the glass he flimsily takes out of Jane’s hand. The cool rush of water does a little to ease the pain. His mind can wander now, to realize that he’s wearing the same pair of pants but a different shirt, and the only reason he can assume is that he threw up on himself. That or he landed in the other drunkard’s sick. He doesn’t want to think about the latter.

“I’m guessing that was a real bender I had just now?” he dares to ask once the water is gone.

“If by ‘just now’ you mean ‘last night’.” Jane’s mouth is a thin line, and Tavish groans. In an attempt to reassure, Jane adds, “we cleaned and closed the tavern up. You don’t need to worry about anything.”

Nothing but the loss of income from a night’s work, but even Tavish knows that’s too bitter to fling at the man who helped his sorry arse through a binge, especially when any outgoes are his own damn fault.

Memory does come crashing back to him though. “Damn it, urch, did- did Scout come in last night?”

“For a little.” Jane’s frown only deepens with this line of questioning. “He left with all the hubbub going on.”

“Damn it all,” Tavish groans. “I’m still trying to fix things with him and Pyro. If I can just get them in a room together-”

The feeble attempt to sit up is cut short, Jane moving the short distance to the bed and pushing until he falls back down. The firmness in his voice is unmistakable when he says, “this is not a nudge.”

“I…” But that’s all Tavsih can muster. He averts his gaze guiltily.

They’re still like that for a moment, frozen in the orange-tinted light that now more obviously asserts itself as dawn, Jane with one knee on the bed and Tavish knowing that he’s right.

“I just want everyone to be okay,” he admits finally. “That’s not so wrong, is it?”

Jane retracts his hand, but now won’t look at Tavish either. “I know you do. Dammit, it’s impossible not to know that you want to make everyone around you happy, with your smiles and your jokes and doing everything in your fucking power to light up the whole damn world. I know you want to solve all their fucking problems. But you need to remember to take care of yourself too.”

Tavish hesitates. He takes care of himself plenty, doesn’t he? At least as well as he always has; it’s not like this particular scenario of drinking himself to unconsciousness while on duty is all that unusual.

He doesn’t want to entertain that that’s exactly what Jane means.

“I will,” he says because it’s the path of least resistance. “But you can’t tell me this whole situation isn’t an issue.”

Jane growls, but acquiesces, “…I don’t like seeing Campfire all put out. It’s a bad look on them.”

“So I need to find out what’s up with Scout. If only to get my cook back from blues town,” Tavish reasons.

“Then why don’t you just talk to him,” Jane says, throwing up his hand. “Don’t bring Pyro into it at all! Damn it Tav you’re good at talking to people, it’s what you do all damn day. Just ask him what’s wrong.”

Again, Tavish hesitates. “Do you really think it’s that simple?”

Jane shrugs. “Could be. If anyone can make it simple it’s you. Not as evidenced by your actions today, private.”

Oh hell, now out come the privates. That’s Jane’s equivalent of a mum using your middle name when you’ve gone and done something dumb.

“Alright, I’ll try it.” He tries to sit, and is pushed back again.

“Not now,” Jane tells him. “Now you are going to catch up on sleep, and open the bar late. Am I understood?”

Tavish grumbles, but there’s no arguing with him. “Understood.”

He does feel monumentally better the next time he wakes up, though it’s nearing noon by the bedside clock. Jane’s gone, but he has several messages from Pyro asking if he’s alright, one from Dell who probably who heard from Pyro, and one from Pauling saying she’ll be dropping his cook off at six. Tavish rubs the bridge of his nose. As though he needed the extra guilt, somehow Pauling’s been roped into this as well. Poor lass has enough on her plate.

However, there’s one person Tavish needs to check in with more than anything.

Jeremy’s hoodie is uncharacteristically disheveled as he comes peering in through the front door, not the least because it’s still far too warm to be wearing such outerwear. He checks around each individual corner, making sure they’re as alone as it appears they are. Maybe he really is avoiding Pyro.

“Ey there lad, you’re looking glum,” Tavish greets when Jeremy finally slinks up to the bar.

“Mmm. Yeah.” He folds his arms and rests his chin on them.

Well, it’s better than yelling nothing’s wrong and running off into the night. Tavish slides a drink toward him. “Something new I’ve been working on. Tell me how you like it. Oh, I almost forgot.”

Next to the club soda he keeps several cans of room temperature Bonk!, which he saves when he knows Jeremy needs a pick-me-up. After pouring a toxic layer on the top of the drink, Tavish adds a crazy straw (the straws are technically Pyro’s, but Tavish knows which of the two of them enjoys them more.) Blithely, Jeremy eyes the concoction before him. Then he slides his whole body to meet the crazy straw and slurps.

“Hey, pretty good man,” he finally concludes, and to Tavish’s relief there’s a bit of warmth back in his voice.

“Glad to hear it.”

“Yeah it’s like…spicy. But not like hot spicy, more like uh…”

“It’s probably the ginger beer.”

“Oh yeah, yeah that’s it. The ginger.” With the termination of this statement, his thoughts catch up with again, and the contemplative half-smile is chased from his face. Instead, he lowers his gaze to the mahogany wood beneath his palms, and begins to trace patterns in the condensation rings.

“…Okay lad, you got tae tell me. What’s eating you?”

Jeremy flinches. “Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“Nothing’s wrong. Nothing that…nothing that I want you to know about anyway.”

Tavish dries a glass. The squeaking of water on wood continues. He tries, “c’mon lad-”

“Stop,” Jeremy hisses. “Just stop with the lad crap. It’s. Freaking hell it’s too much to talk about all at once. And I can’t even think when you keep…”

“Just start at the beginning.”

“Okay, fine. You know what? Fine. So Pyro’s gay president or whatever and they finally get me to come to their stupid school club and…I meet people there. Lots of people, and it was kinda weird at first but then it got easier and this one girl started talking to me and it turned out she was really cool.”

“And you, what? Have a thing for her?”

In the fastest turnaround, Jeremy’s eyes narrow, staring daggers into the barkeep. “What the fuck man? Just because I make jokes sometimes doesn’t mean I’d actually ever step out. Jesus. I ain’t that kinda-” He makes a frustrated growl. “Anyway, don’t be an asshole, alright?”

“…I have to admit, you’ve lost me.”

“How could I have lost you? I started from the beginning like you said!”

“For one thing I thought this story was going to end with you realizing you have feelings for Pyro.”

To describe it as ‘incredulity’ would not be doing it justice. It was more like Jeremy had just walked into his home only to find that every single piece of furniture had been nailed to the ceiling and a group of cats were asking him what he was doing in their house.

With the cautiousness of a person who senses they’re being tricked, Jeremy says, “Pyro and I have been dating for six months.”

“I…what?”

“How did you not freaking know that?” Jeremy sounds as flabbergasted as Tavish feels. “You helped us move in together for crying out loud.”

“Move in to be roommates, I didn’t know it was a…” Tavish makes a vague gesture.

“We do all the couples shit, though. We’re always hanging out, and going to movies together, and I drive them to work, an’-” Ticking them off on his fingers, Jeremy stops abruptly, guilt wrinkling his features. He shoves his arms back against the bar and buries his face in them. “An’ I run out on them. And I’m an ass who yells at ‘em when they’re just trying to help.”

As delicately as he can, Tavish says, “I’m sorry lad. I guess I er…didn’t understand the situation as well as I thought. But hiding from me isn’t going to help either.”

“Psh. Ain’t you just proved you don’t know anything?”

There’s some mild indignation at that. “Well when Pyro takes you to meet their gay friends and you come back with an identity crisis, what am I supposed to think?”

Jeremy grits his teeth. “It’s not a sexuality thing.”

“Then what the bloody hell else could it…”

When Jeremy looks up, there is jaggedness, laced by the angry tears that are pricking at the corner of his eyes, and once again Tavish realizes what colossal idiot he’s being.

“Oh,” he says. “Oh.”

“Yeah, oh.”

There are many sounds Tavish has grown used to when tending the Keep all alone: the tick of the clock, the water heater jumping to life every now and again, the various strung-up seashells that rattle sometimes even though there’s no draft. Now, midday light filtering through the frosted windows, he hears a drip where the kitchen tap hasn’t been turned all the way, and the scrunch of Jeremy running his hands fruitlessly through his hair.

Tavish throws aside the rag he was using to clean, and makes the long walk around to the other side of the bar. He slides a stool closer, wraps an arm around Jeremy’s shoulders, and squeezes them together.

They don’t shake. Or if they do, it’s with frustration.

“Freaking…” Jeremy croaks eventually. “Freaking unbelievable. Like I can’t be, for fuck’s sake. You’ve met me. I can’t be, you know. That.”

Tavish does not want to upset this, not when the walls are just starting to come down. Gently, he asks, “and why can’t you be?”

“Because everyone would freak!” Jeremy lurches to a sitting position. “Everyone I know, all my classmates, my family, the guys on the team…oh fuck.” He groans and rubs his face. “I didn’t even think about that. I…I can’t get kicked off the team. I’d lose my scholarship, and my grades are slipping and Ma already threatened to sick my dad on me if they didn’t pick back up and-”

“Hey, hey calm down…mate,” Tavish is quickly realizing dropping haphazard lads into this conversation hasn’t been helping. He squeezes a little tighter. “That’s all a bunch o’ maybes right now. Don’t think that far ahead. Just breathe.”

Jeremy does, out slower but shaky. “I can’t. I can’t not think about it. The more I think and the less I’m sure and…would they even let me play on the girls’ team? Ah Christ.”

His hood has come down at some point in the panic. And his face may never have gotten to the point of true tears, but his eyes are still red. Still furious.

Tavish squeezes him tighter, and to his surprise, Jeremy hugs him back, snapping on like a barnacle. “I’m usually better at not thinking about whatever I don’t want to think about. Shit, what’s wrong with me?”

“Nothing’s wrong with you mate. You can work through this. You got lots of people who want to help.”

Jeremy draws in a breath. “…Yeah.”

“Why are you avoiding Pyro?” Tavish asks. “I don’t mean to be cold, but all things considered they’d have much more insight into a gender crisis than I would.”

“That’s…that’s the problem. Shit.” Jeremy draws back, retreating again to guilt and a focus on the tavern floor. “This…this is going to make me sound like a huge asshole okay but, when they first came out to me I wasn’t…I’ve been a real shithead at some points in my life, you know? Not always this cool and awesome ally and stuff. When that was first going on I said something like ‘haha me too’ and then like…fuck I don’t know. Made an attack helicopter joke or whatever.”

“Attack…helicopter?”

“Never mind,” Jeremy waves him off. “Anyway when all this started I didn’t want them to think I was…making fun of them again. Somehow. Or just playing around.”

There’s a beat. When it’s clear that he isn’t going to continue, Tavish says, “no offense mate, but that’s total malarkey.”

Jeremy grimaces.

“You’ve been friends for how long? And you’ve changed a lot in that time, they know you’re not that person anymore. If you talk to them, really talk to them instead of pushing them out, they’re not going to abandon you during something this serious.”

“I know, you’re right, I know.” Rubbing his face, Jeremy finally straightens his shoulders. “I was just scared. Not that I’m scared now or nothin’!”

At the return of the more familiar bravado, Tavish chuckles. “O’ course. The Scout I know isn’t afraid o’ anything. If I were from where you’re from I’d be dead, ‘n all that rot.”

“That’s right.” A bit of a smile passes across Jeremy’s face. Then it twitches, spinning more contemplative. “And…as long as we’re saying things about being Scout…uh. Just um. Just don’t call me Jeremy right now. I’m still like figuring things out, but since you guys always call me Scout anyways…”

“Can do. Anything else I should keep in mind?”

“I…no. Not yet. If that changes I’ll let you know. But you can spread that first thing around, tell the other guys and stuff. I’m sure they’ll…”

Tavish claps a hand to his shoulder. “I’m sure they’ll understand,” he finishes the thought.

Scout smiles, and Tavish makes him promise to go talk to his partner before they start moving on to burning whole restaurants.

[thecozycamper]

Rules/Regulations!

↳ this is a SFW blog! and will not provide any content of NSFW, or interact with NSFW content. ↳ this is a 16+ blog (mun is 18)

↳ this blog is LGBTQ+ friendly! and will not tolerate anti-LGBTQ+, rascism, or any other problematic content!

↳ shipping is allowed with Sniper! preferred/allowed ships:

• Bloody suit (sniper x spy)

• Swordvan (sniper x demoman)

• Trucks’n’vans (sniper x engineer)

• Speeding bullet (sniper x scout)

The only ship I’m generally against is Sniper x Pyro… however these only account for canon ships, I’m completely fine with canon x oc as well!

↳ this blog is AU, OC, and Crossover friendly! and encourages all blogs of any fandom or original content to interact^

↳ more to be added!

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[undertakermedic]

Clockwork Sunset (Chapter 1)

Ao3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46789069/chapters/117848515

Word Count: 8.7k

Fandom(s): Team Fortress 2

Relationships: Heavy/Medic, Soldier/Spy, Administrator/Sniper, Demoman & Soldier, Scout & Spy, Heavy & Medic

Characters: Heavy, Medic, Sniper, Soldier, Demoman, Spy, Scout, Administrator (+ more)

Tags: Alternate Universe - Fallen London Fusion, Post-Apocalypse, Temporary Character Death, Canon-Typical Violence, Complicated Relationships, Scout Doesn't Know Spy Is Scout's Parent, Minor Original Character(s), Developing Friendships, Swearing, Blood and Injury, Bilingual Character(s), All Major Character Death Is Temporary, Other Additional Tags to Be Added            

Summary:        

It's 1900, and the world ended thirty years ago, at the hands of one Gray Mann and his army of automatons. When he vanished shortly thereafter, he was presumed dead, and the remnants of humanity continued on in underground cities, such as Teufort, New Mexico. Many born after that day have never even seen the sun.

However, in this thirtieth year, the Administrator is made aware that Gray Mann is still alive, and planning something terrible for this year's Doomsday anniversary. After Sniper fails to deliver his head, she plots to create a new team--one which will surely kill him before he has a chance to unleash his new horrors upon the world.

 A FALLEN LONDON-inspired AU.