#sam the kind of guy who stops to make a power show so he can look strong and ignites the end of the world

[ahsokasforce]

i’m currently on s4 of my rewatch and i forgot how fucking annoying sam is from the beginning to the very end. “i have demon blood inside me nobody understands 😭 > wait i want to start drinking MORE demon blood actually > dean’s weak i’m the one who needs to stop this > i can do anything because i’m strong and i have powers > i WILL try to kill lilith with nothing but my demon powers that pamela, cas, dean and half of the characters warned me not to encourage and yes it will work 😃 > i will blindly believe a demon” and knowing that by the end of the season reality will slap on his face so hard and he will start the apocalypse and almost kill his brother in the process… he had it coming i fear

[bet-on-me-13]

Danny may be a Ghost Baby who feels like an Anicent, but his friends don't.

SO, we all know the Ghost Baby Headcanon by now right? The idea that Danny is literally a Toddler by Ghost Standards, but because of how powerful he is everybody else believes that he is an Ancient or a God who is hogging the Mortal World to himself.

But what about his friends?

They were right there when the Portal opened. No Hazmat Suits, no Cover, no Protection from the Dimension of Pure Energy that had just been opened right in front of them.

That has to have some kind of Side Effects!

And actually, we do know of a Character who was just standing in front of a Portal when it opened and still got affected by it. Vlad.

While Danny was turned into a Halfa instantly, his friends would be more similar to Vlad in that they are slow to transform.

It takes weeks, but eventually they become mini-halfas themselves. Except they didn't have an entire Dimension of energy pushed into them upon fully forming, so their Ecto-Signatures actually feel like the babies they are supposed to be.

So imagine this from the Ghosts perspective.

They meet this guy called Phantom, a Halfa who is Extremely Powerful, but nobody has seen him in centuries. He was known as a very powerful Protector Spirit for millennia, randomly showing up across history, but always helping others. And then he just vanished one day, not seen again for centuries.

Until recently, when he showed in the Mortal World, stopping any other Ghost from fulfilling their Obsessions with Humans. And by his side are 2 smaller Halfa's that feel like they must have barely formed. You can see where this is going.

They think Sam and Tucker are Danny's children.

It makes sense! A Powerful Ancient, known for protecting people, suddenly disappears for centuries and then shows up again with 2 baby Halfa's in tow? That sounds like a Protector Spirit who lost his will to fight, decided to settled down in the Mortal Realm, and then found out that 2 baby Halfa's were formed when a Portal was opened!

He isn't selfishly holding the Mortal Realm to himself! He's protecting the Fledgling Haunt of his 2 Babies! They must still have living Family, that's why he is so adamant that they don't hurt the Civilains in their battles!

Now they just feel like assholes for attacking the Baby's dad when he was just trying to protect their stuff.

Danny finds this both extremely infuriating, and also agonizingly hilarious.

[little-pondhead]

Wanted to hop in on the supervillain Danny au questions! Do we think Valerie would have any interest to get in on this? Between being a pawn for Vlad as Red Huntress and her "friends" ditching her as soon as she stopped being rich, I like the idea that evil billionare mastermind is her general vibe. Heck, maybe she and Tucker flip roles and she becomes the guy in the chair, not being a front line powerhouse and actually coming up with elaborate plans.

And on that note, do we think that if Vlad somehow found his way into this mess, he'd see the whole thing as a fun little game of "opposite world" and try his hand at being a hero? Because I for one think that would be hilarious, I actually don't have ideas for that because I can't imagine a heroic Vlad.

Amyway, that's all I got for now. Love your work!

You're one of the vertebrae creatures who keep hoarding all the brain wrinkles, aren't you??

---

[Okay, so I lost your ask, wrote this shit, then found it again so it's not exact but I'm trying here.]

Let's start with Valerie, or keeping up with the trend, Gray in the DC universe.

Valerie is so tired. It's a different kind of tiredness that has a grip on the others. Danny is tired of being a hero, Sam is tired of her parent's expectations, and Tucker is tired of being unable to protect his friends. Jazz is tired of being the bigger person, and Dani is tired of not having someone to rely on. The DC universe is their escape, and honestly, it's doing wonders for their mental health. Valerie notices. She has a shaky truce with Phantom and his crew, but she can't just let him get a leg up on her, can she? So Valerie follows them, through town, through the portal, through the new world they popped up in.

There, she stops. Phantom is now Fenton, and doesn't that make sense? Many things click into place and Valerie starts to understand as she watches the others from the shadows. She's surprised they haven't noticed her, but a little green sticky note on her visor says she had a little hand in her reconnaissance. So when she's done, she returns to her dimension. Back to Amity Park and back to her bed. Valerie lays there for a while, staring at the ceiling and fingering the sticky note, committing every detail to memory.

And you know what? Valerie gets pissed. How come Danny and his friends lovers? and family get to just visit other dimensions whenever they want a break and have no repercussions whatsoever? Just because hero work is hard?? She's a hero too, dammit!

Obviously, someone out there apparently agreed with her because, in a quick, dizzying moment, Valerie finds herself suddenly in the Ghost Zone, plopped down on a ratty blue couch with a very old ghost sitting across from her. He introduces himself as Clockwork, the ghost of time, the regent of the king, and Danny's guardian. Mentor? She wasn't sure; ghost speech always gave her a headache. Either way, Valerie found herself exceptionally calm and somehow struck a deal with the Ancient. To her chagrin, Clockwork informed her that Valerie was well and truly Liminal now, despite her best efforts. (What did she expect? Her suit was practically drenched in ectoplasm.) As part of the deal, Clockwork extended the same courtesy to her that he had to the others. Anytime she wanted, Valerie could have free reign and access to the DC universe and could do anything she liked with no bad consequences. And because of her liminality, he was able to grant her just enough power for her to create her own portals directly to the other realm.

[What did Clockwork get out of this deal? Well, that's up to someone else who's not me.]

So Valerie goes to this new universe. She switches her name to Gray, as if to mock Fenton, who had no idea she was there. She does not try to become a supervillain. And what's this? Outfit analysis time!!

In the show, I've always liked Valerie as a character, and whether it was intentional or not, her design seems to fit her attitude and actions. They were in high school in the early 2000s before her dad lost her job; Valerie was very popular, from what I remember. Her family had money. Other kids expected her to keep up with social norms, so her outfit looked more stylish than practical. She wears yellow, which is most commonly seen as a happy color. Her hair is slicked back so people can see her whole face. She has nothing to hide. She's confident and youthful, ready to lead, and overall enjoying her lot in life. Then ghosts start appearing, and we all know her backstory as Red Huntress. Her suit is tight to her skin, bright red, and overall she's armed to the teeth. Everything about that screams DANGER! Valerie is a threat now.

Her civilian outfit also never changes, which is understandable because this is a cartoon from 2004. But it's secretly genius because yellow is often considered a cautious color. It turns from being a happy color to a warning. Yellow is also associated with anxiety, betrayal, and even egotism, which is something both she and Danny experience during their interactions. She's uptight and constantly on edge. She feels like she has to provide for her family and is quick to anger.

Now for the opposite of that? Valerie is tired of being angry all the time. Rather than go apeshit on a bunch of poor heroes and villains-been there, done that-she treats this whole thing like an actual vacation. Gray wears a soft long sleeve, sweats, and fuzzy slippers. Her hair is relaxed and in a bun, with her bangs hiding half of her face. It takes some pressure off of constantly keeping her expressions in check. People also can't see how she's silently judging them. She lets the stress melt from her shoulders and lets herself curse like a sailor whenever she feels like it. Her clothes are dimmer colors, which don’t stand out or demand attention. She lets herself be not perfect.

Although, just because this is a vacation for her doesn't mean Gray can't just lounge around doing nothing. She has no money! So Gray, after shuffling through a couple decades of this world's history and discovering that Craigslist is universal, applies for the first work ad she sees. In short, Gray joins the Goonion. She ends up making a deal with the guy who hired her. And her new boss. And her new neighbor. And-

Gray very quickly becomes the John Constantine of the criminal underworld. She brushes up on her people skills and learns to talk rings around other people, getting people to owe her favors as much as she dishes them out. Balance is the key here, as she’s learned from Danny. Gray is never tied down by too many IOUs at a time, and her tight grip on her companions and team quickly earn her a questionable but reliable reputation. She presents a morally-gray character, if you will.

Gray’s quick climb to power-that was definitely sped along by Clockwork-earns her a powerful position in the Goonion. If she plays her cards right, Gray doesn’t have to do any work at all. She just leans back and enjoys being paid for wearing pajamas all day and occasionally signing some paperwork. She siphons away bits of her own paycheck to a dimensional bank account she threatened asked Technus to set up, and Gray is finally able to slip more than a few tens into her father’s wallet when it’s time for him to pay his rent. It’s a good life.

Now, Vlad? Oh, he's fucked. This can work for whatever redemption au you want. He can be exactly like he is in the show or working towards bettering himself as a person. I imagine him being halfway to a redemption plot, and in an effort to gain the Fenton's trust, he starts hanging around with the family more. Jack loves this. The others do not, but what can they do? Everyone is just trying to be civil to each other in an effort to make Jack happy. Since old habits die hard, Vlad very quickly notices Danny's improved state of mind and is attuned to the Zone enough to feel when Clockwork stops time on their end. He starts to purposefully rile up Danny and realizes that the time stops happen right after Danny leaves the room in a fit of anger. Then the boy comes back all smiles and sometimes doesn't even remember what Vlad had said to him in the first place.

So he puts his ear to the ground. Whispers are floating around about a new portal that's been opened near Phantom's Keep. A natural one. A permanent one. No one can investigate due to its location, but the young king and members of his fraid have been seen frequenting it more often than late. Not suspicious in the slightest, Danny would have protested. Vlad goes poking around. Entering the Keep uninvited felt like millions of bugs tugging at his skin, but turning human helped ease the sensation. It was laughably easy to slip between the cold stone walls of the Keep, avoiding Fright Knight's walking path and sticking to the shadows. The portal was in the courtyard, under the watchful gaze of two stone gargoyles leftover from Pariah's reign. Right before Vlad can investigate further stick his head in and see what happens the world warps, and suddenly the older halfa is sitting on his ass in front of a very old ghost.

Looks like Vlad fucked around and found out.

Basically, Clockwork yoinked Vlad to his side of existence right before he entered the portal. Even if all he wanted to do was relate to Danny in an effort to mend their relationship, The Master of Time wasn't okay with Vlad going off into the DC universe all willy-nilly. Oh no. Letting Vlad loose in this world would lead to bad things regardless of his intentions. Even if Vlad promised to play by all the rules and pretended to be human, he was bound to slip up and cause trouble.

So there were two courses of action Clockwork could take here. One, he could pull in a few favors and wipe Vlad's memory, sending him back to his own universe until he inevitably went sniffing around again, and this whole song and dance continued. Or second, he could equip Vlad with similar ghost artifacts Manson and Foley possessed and temporarily seal away Vlad's powers while he was gallivanting around the DC universe. He'd be on Clockwork's payroll, so to speak, and could only act on the older ghost's instructions. Clockwork presented these two choices to Vlad. The older halfa chose the second option after weighing the pros and cons. He didn't want to be controlled by Clockwork, but he also didn't want to lose his memories (over and over again, from how he worded it.)

This is how Vlad's hero persona is born. I'm unsure if he should stick with his last name, Masters, or take on something different to distance himself from Fenton and his family. Let's stick with Masters for now.

Clockwork has this drowning little rat man on a rehab program and uses some fancy ghost jewelry to inhibit his halfa abilities. He doesn't make Masters do much, just drops him in here and there when the DC timestream needs a little nudge. It's not like Clockwork will have Danny deal with it; the kid already helps out with every other timestream when asked. Masters can help out here. And since his halfa abilities are blocked, he gets to do everything as a human, which brings its own set of challenges. The idea is that by throwing Masters face-first into a new world filled with people who could end his existence and be forced to win every fight or else, he'll come to appreciate what Danny goes through on a daily basis.

The JL Dark becomes very familiar with the mysterious Masters, who doesn't seem to have any powers but still fights like he does. The man can be extraordinarily clumsy and short-tempered but still graceful and light on his feet when it matters the most. More than once has someone caught Masters muttering under his breath, cursing out gravity and a 'purple-cloak wearing bitch.' Masters always shows up out of the blue at the most random times. He is literally just there, and sometimes even Masters himself looks shocked about his sudden scene change. But he's always suited up and ready to go, so not many heroes question it. They usually need the help anyway.

In the DC universe, Masters is wearing four magic bands, each engraved with the words Dominion of Time on them. Several bands made from tungsten were buried deep with Clockwork's Tower in an old wooden box made from aspen and diamonds. Each band was a blank slate, glowing slightly from magic long past. Clockwork had simply selected the four he needed, engraved the spells needed in ghost speech, and handed them over. Vlad grumbled and tried to find a loophole in the artifacts, but ultimately accepted his fate and wore them whenever Masters was needed.

Vlad's new outfit for this outfit is similar to Valerie's; it's loose and uncomplicated. (Actually, there are a lot of parallels between these two.) In the show, Vlad always wears a tailored suit and dress shoes. He's well-groomed and his hair is slicked back. He always tries to show off his wealth and power by having full control over his appearance. In layman's terms, he's the walking cliché trope of a rich billionaire villain in every superhero media to ever exist. After all, in a kid's show with a teenage protagonist, what's more intimidating than an adult nemesis who has their life together?

As Masters, Vlad is forced to throw all that out the window.

The hero outfit he wears was literally picked up off the street. If glowing metal bands were not adorning his arms, some would assume that Masters was a homeless man. The top was dug out from a dumpster behind a costume store, and the sandals were given to him by a woman who couldn't wear them anymore. His arm sleeves were sewn together from some blackout curtains he found at an old housing demolition site, and the pants were just some sweatpants that were a tad too short. The mask was bought from the corner store, his belt salvaged from a junkyard, and his scarf was actually a gift from Jack-not that he'd wear it around the oaf. The only 'expensive' things Masters wore were the four magic bands, a handful of large glass beads hanging from his belt, and the sharp metal claws he wore on top of each finger. The claws were bought on a whim years ago when Vlad was building his fortune, and boy, was he glad for them now. They were the only real weapons Clockwork allowed him to carry for some reason.

In other words, Masters is exposed. With his loose hair and flowing clothes, Masters is forced to trust the others around him to have his back. He's humbled every time someone covers an obvious blind spot of his that he's not used to compensating for. He gets dirty and messy, fighting to survive against enemies he knows nothing about. His outfit symbolizes his efforts to change. Masters is re-learning what it's like to be truly vulnerable in a world you don't understand with no help whatsoever. Clockwork has no issue pitting him against demons and ghouls even John Constantine would hesitate at, and his narrow victories quickly earn him an invitation to the Watchtower.

The Justice League is puzzled by this walking lump of wet spaghetti. He disappears so easily into the background and doesn't stand out at all. Every once in a while his eyes scrunch up like he's confused about something, but he won't admit that he's lost the conversation. Masters will offhandedly say weird things and turn as if expecting someone to be there, then suddenly stop himself with a soft flinch. He refuses any form of payment. He can stare down Batman. His appearances are random and the man carries no form of contact. Masters often has an aura of resignation and regret around him, as if he didn't want to be there in the first place. He's awkward around kids but fiercely protective of a few teen heroes. (Mostly Conner.)

It finally starts to come together in the JL's mind when Masters becomes more widely known in the world of supers. One of the higher-ups in the Goonion hates him. Dani held a gun to his head. Manson screeched bloody murder when she saw him. Nightingale declared herself his official nemesis. The final piece was when, after a long and exhausting fight, Masters temporarily removed his mask to wipe away some blood around his mouth.

The Flash, who was sitting next to him, nearly let out a squeak.

Masters' blood was bright green.

Masters' teeth were shaped like a shark's.

Masters was another fucking Fenton, wasn't he?

[spacedace]

hey in your tags you mentioned a “batfam leverage au” can u explain what that is

Happily! :D

So I'm not sure if you're familiar with the show Leverage, but the quick summary is that it's about a group of "bad guys" (a hacker, a hitter, a grifter, a theif and the mastermind that directs them all) that help people who have been hurt by the rich and powerful by using their skills to pull heists and cons on the bad guy of the episode to ruin them and get back whatever was taken/right whatever was made wrong.

It's an amazing show that I can't recommend enough, very clever, very funny, big found family vibes and an OT3 that's *this close* to being canon (and has been supported by the writers). The heists are amazing and it's all around an AMAZING show.

Anyway, the BatPham Leverage Au is basically just: a collection of DP & BatFam members join together to make a robin hood heist team like in the show Leverage. I have a couple versions of the BatPham Leverage AU rattling around my head, but most fleshed out right now are:

Business of Family - the Uncle Oz AU (Penguin Adopts Jazz & Danny): My plan for this story is for Jazz and Danny to decide to start running heists in Gotham on the people in the city that tend to fly under Batman's radar but who are still very much doing a lot of harm to the city and it's people. The Leverage AU part of this story is going to have Jazz as the Mastermind, Jason as the Hitter, Tim as the Hacker, Danny as the Thief/Maker (basically engineer), and Elle as the Grifter (shapeshifting Elle for the win lol).

Another Leverage AU I've been thinking about for awhile but that I haven't turned into a story yet is one where Team Phantom (Danny, Jazz, Sam, Tucker & Elle) are tasked with finding and returning various Infinite Realm artifacts that have ended up in the mortal world. And for some reason Gotham has just so many Infinite Realm artifacts in it. Like most of the artifacts in the world are in Gotham for some wild reason (it's Gotham there doens't need to be more of a reason).

They're on the run from the GIW/Fentons, so they're trying not to advertise any ghostly/liminal powers if they can help it, so they largely do heists without powers (minus Tucker doing all his hacking and everything from the Ghost Zone and some occasional invisibility/intangibility when it's called for, but they really do try and keep any power use to a minimum).

In this AU, Jazz is the Mastermind (again, because I love that role for her haha), Tucker is the Hacker, but that's when I can't quite decide who should be who.

I love the idea of Sam being a Hitter, but I think she'd be able to play Grifter pretty well knowing the rich as well as she does, Danny would love being a Hitter and being able to fuck some assholes' shit up while being completely feral but he could also still be a good Thief. Elle could go either Grifter again, but I like her as a Theif in this one, maybe running into Damian in the vents while she's trying to get into a vault or something lol. (I think it'd go with Danny: Hitter, Sam: Grifter, Elle: Thief, but I have no idea if that'll stick if/when I ever write this lol)

Whatever the team looks like, because there are so many artifacts in Gotham & because they can't just use their powers willy-nilly to grab them and run, they're going to be in Gotham for a long time, possibly years. Which means they need some kind of side hustle to pay the bills, which leads them to doing more heists, but this time on various rich assholes that deserve to lose a bunch of money.

Eventually they get on the Bats radar, and there'd be some fun cat & mouse back and forth with the BatFam trying to catch the Phantom Crew (Danny shouldn't be allowed to name things, but he already told Red Robin that was their team name before anyone could stop him). Eventually the GIW do show up and things start getting even more complicated (and maybe someone activates an artifact, resulting in a powerful entity being released in Gotham that they all have to team up to fight).

I have no name for this au other than the DP X DC Leverage Au, but I do know that'll have plenty of Anger Management, Brain Dead (or really Brain Dead + Everlasting Trio, don't know what the ship name for that is), Serious Chaos.

It'll also have Batman aggressively trying to adopt them all because he doesn't actually have anything against them stealing from these assholes as long as they don't hurt anyone. They're acting outside of the law yes but they're doing it in order to give justice to those who have been made victims by the system and he's all about that (the real final battle of the story is between Bruce & Selina who both want to adopt the Pham, who would like to know if they get a say in any of this - they don't).

[kings-paintbrush]

❗️Avengers Mission Ideas for you to use to your hearts content❗️

My all time favorite, an absolute classic in my opinion is the Deep Cover Mission! But my specific favorite is having to play house in deep cover! there’s so many different combinations, Sam being the Dad, Natasha being so short that Fury thinks she can pass as a child, it can just be so funny. Like in my DR, The Young Avengers have this mission (Kamala, Kate Bishop, Yelena, RiRi Williams, Wasp, America. Theres more but they’re added later) and, Kate and Kamala had been fighting for months over who’s team leader. So they’re naturally arguing over who’s gonna be the dad 😭 (it escalates to the point they’re trying to decide who looks better in a tie)

POWER SWAP!! Ok technically it’s not a mission but there are so many marvel comics villains it’s had to have happened ONCE. It could happen before or during a battle, some crazy guy swaps your powers around! Same thing with Body Swap which is basically the same thing. I just think it’d be funny if Tony swapped with Natasha (but Natasha had Thor’s body or something) And you’d all have to stop fumbling over yourselves and train to master your powers!!

also for your Marvel DR- GIVE YOURSELF YOUR OWN TEAM OF VILLAINS!! ITS ICONIC!! Spider-Man and the Sinister Six… uh… nobody else but like Spider-Man is iconic

on this note: you have your own Vigilante/Anti-Hero Ally! That is if you aren’t a vigilante already.

this one’s a lot more specific but there’s this Fourth Wall Breaking Villain (that I initially saw in X-Men 97) called Mojo! (Look him up his design is… something) and he’s obsessed with TV and ratings. Basically he sends you all through a bunch of different show and Movie Genres, trying to get you all to fight eachother or kill monsters! (And drama, that’s good for ratings, he’ll try to get under your skin) until you all, of course, eventually defeat him! If any of u are confused the X-men 90’s show episode he’s in is: Season 2 episode 11, MojoVision

another one stolen from the X-Men show: you and the avengers (also these apply to any team, I’ll add some space-y ones for the uhh Guardians shifters and more neighborhood ones too!) You all decide to go on a nice, normal vacation! Fun in the sun or a nice winter cabin! Even better, everyone is so friendly!… that would be it if they weren’t trying to kill you, a battle ensues, you reign victorious but uh- those swimsuits or skis sure did go to a waste :[

another semi deep cover but I listened to “Sway” by uh Micheal Buble I think and “Masquerade” by siouxxe sixxta. You’re like the key to the mission, playing as a preformor of some kind, you’re all at a party amongst criminals, and it’s all your cue. (Points if you keep singing or whatever while fighting like dance fight!!!)

A spacey one!!! You have to make a pitstop at a notoriously violent planet, known for its scary inhabitants. And… they’re literally the cutest guys ever. Like… those guys from Star Wars, The Ewoks!!! But they’re being hurt/hunted by a big scary alien thing so you defeat that and also earn a new ally!!

my personal favorite (I could write like 2 pages of headcanons off of this) as a team building exorcise/community support booster, you all have to babysit a class of kids for the day!! I hav SO MANY IDEAS FOR THIS. Like Peter Parker just getting trampled and bullied by a bunch of 6 year olds, Natasha would definitely get along with all the kids, if the Guardians were there… Drax would be so good with them like I’d Cry. Quill would get kicked in the balls (it’s inevitable) Gamora would be disgusted at the tiny things at first but warm up to a kid that reminds her of herself, Groot would be a playground and Rocket WILL be put into a dress. I feel like Thor would do something really dangerous for “fun” 😭 (IM A HUNDRED PERCENT WRITING A FIC ON THIS)

another idea!! A Carmen Sandiego type mission! Stealing from a museum and returning the artifacts back to their cultures! And just interfering heists and going against the government sometimes.

some Villains I think would be cool to fight: Modok, Big Wheel, MasterMind, Rat King and Beyonder (Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur), Morlun, she’s not a villain but imagine getting your ass beat by the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl… even avengers have to be humbled sometimes.

A Halloween Special! With everyone dressed up, it’s hard to tell who’s the villain! But when a big crime goes down, it’s Trick or Beat (that wasn’t funny I’m sorry 😞)

Some Quickfire ideas: You all get turned into Animals! You get sent to the ✨future✨ (or the past) and make allies and have to find your way back. Having to be a bodyguard for a celebrity. Fighting a villain who can clone themselves. Getting over your fear in a mission (fighting clowns or something like that).

ok ok… Istg I’ll stop with the deep cover missions BUT two more: You and your Comfort Character getting set up together and having to pretend to be a couple for a mission. (Bet it was Maria Hill who set you two up I love her sm)

Going deep cover into a cult, a few of you. And the weakest link starts falling for the cult’s tactics 😭😭 (Plot taken straight from MLP season 5 but I kinda love it tbh) I feel like uhh Peter or Kate bishop would be like “I dunno guys, it’s so sweet and everyone is sooo sweet!” @oliver-shifts @shiftingwithhale @florashifting @achilleslefttoe @romanoffshifting

I have so many more like character specific ones!! One I forgot was a Scooby-Doo type mystery on a boat with Bucky and Sam, they both get super scared and paranoid abt the local legends of a ghost pirate or lighthouse ghost, something like that, but you’re all heroes and have to brave thru it.

[call-me-mrs-winchester]

𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐀 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 - 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒

PAIRING : dean winchester x original female character

STORY SUMMARY : in series masterlist

CHAPTER WARNINGS : age-gap. pining. fluff. angst (kind of.) concerned sam. typical bossy, in charge dean.

A/N : finally getting some dean pov in this chapter! feedback is always appreiated. ~a big thank you goes out to everyone who asked to be tagged, your support means so much. check out the story masterlist if you missed previous chapters!

Maricela's POV

My eyes shifted towards Sam once the others went their separate ways to begin their tasks.

He nods in the direction of the adjacent area. "I'll show you your room."

Nodding, I move past Kevin to follow, but not without rubbing his shoulder. He gave me the tiniest smile before I walked down the stone steps into the Command Room. My legs carry me toward the war table so I can swipe my duffle bag and throw it over my shoulder. I jog into the corridor to my left to find where Sam had disappeared, only to see him walk further into the bunker. My feet quickly shuffle to catch up, and once I do, I set a pace to match his lengthy strides.

"It's really good to see you, Mari," says Sam. "But are you sure you're ready for the big leagues?"

A short huff escapes my lungs. "Sam, you act like I haven't worked with you guys before. I think I more than proved myself to you, Winchesters, that I can be of value to the team."

"Of course," he agrees but noticeably hesitates. "It's just that... You know we worry about you hunting by yourself. And now, you'll be hunting with us, which is great..."

"But...?" I stop abruptly, planting my feet firmly on the ground as I cross my arms.

Sam turns around, his face falling when he sees my blank yet expecting expression. He frowns to himself before glancing away from me. His hazel eyes scanned the hall, taking in every detail of our surroundings while taking a moment to gather his thoughts. Despite his attempts to avoid it, he struggled to convey his concerns. Finally, he exhales a deep breath before his eyes find mine.

"I'm just worried something will happen to you. The people closest to us always get hurt or end up dead." He admits. "And I don't want that to happen to you."

His concern brings me a smile. "Sammy, you're so sweet to worry about me. But as long as I'm with you boys, I'll be safe."

The youngest Winchester simpers, but it hardly reaches his eyes. I can tell my words don't bring him any sense of comfort. Yet, it's the truth; I wouldn't trust anyone else with my life. We begin to walk down the cold halls again, this time in silence. We stand in front of door number 16 before he pushes it open. Sam holds his hand out, gesturing for me to enter first. I walk in, glancing around the bare room. It wasn't so bad; it came with standard furniture like any other bedroom and more. It, by far, beats any motel room I've ever stayed in.

"Make yourself at home," I place my bag on the bed before turning to Sam, standing before the doorway. "My room is number 21, Dean's is 11, if you ever need anything."

"It's great, Sammy." I motion around the room, smiling happily. "Thank you guys, this means a lot."

He returns my smile, and this time, it feels genuine. "I'm glad you're here."

"Me too."

"Come on, I'll give you a quick tour of the rest of the bunker," He says, but judging by the size of this place, 'quick' was an understatement.

"Yeah, Irv. Fallen Angels," Dean says into his phone as I stroll into the library. "Well, trust me, they're just monsters with good P. R. So, if you run into one, torch his ass with holy oil."

I settle beside Sam, placing my computer on the table. "What can I help with?"

He assigns me to the 'demon-y' part of the research while he continues with the angel portion. I press the power button, bringing the laptop to life. The familiar hum of the machine fills the room as I eagerly await for the desktop to load. Once everything was up and running, I began to scour through various news articles and sources relating to anything abnormal in the hopes of finding promising leads. A silence fell between our group as we focused on our tasks. Besides the gentle tapping of keyboards and the occasional rustle of papers, the eldest Winchester's smooth voice danced in my ears.

His words reassured me why I had chosen this life: To help others. Knowing that I get to save people while ridding the world of monsters is what fuels any hunter. However, there were many times when I wondered if I had made the right career choice. I used to imagine how different it would've been if those two gorgeous strangers hadn't walked into my life, all because of that damn Lamia. Maybe Luke and I would have ended up together. Or I would've been in college, planning for my future. Better yet, both. No matter the limitless scenarios, the ending was always the same: Life without the Winchesters. And that alone scared me more than all the monsters I have ever faced.

The vibration of my phone drew my attention away from the endless and exhausting disappointment of no leads. Despite my pursuit to find any demon activity, it had become apparent there was a complete absence of their presence. Reaching into my back pocket, I grab the rectangular device to check the caller ID. A frown creases my face, and my brows wrinkle as I stare at the name. Hesitantly, I slide my thumb over the screen to answer the unexpected call.

"Hello?" I greet, getting up to walk away from the group.

"Hey, Mari. How ya been?" He asks hurriedly.

"Oh, you know—still kicking," I lightly joke before my tone turns serious. "What's up?"

"You still do weird, right?" He questions in a hushed voice. "'Cause I got something that seems up your alley."

Bingo!

Dean's POV

My thumb taps the red 'End Call' at the bottom of the phone screen. Gazing over my shoulder, Maricela approaches the telescope, phone pressed against her ear. Her back faced us as she spoke quietly, making it hard to eavesdrop. I watched intently, trying to decipher what kind of call it was with each movement made. She delicately entwines her fingers with her chocolate-brown curls, running her hand through her hair before letting it fall in a soft wave to the middle of her back. After a moment's pause, she turns slightly, allowing the light to catch the natural red undertones in her hair.

Without taking my eyes off her, I nudge Sam. "Who's she talking to?"

Casting a quick glance in her direction, he then refocuses on me and nonchalantly shrugs, "Not sure, I didn't ask."

Mari turns toward us, then thanks whoever was on the other line before hanging up. Her combat boots lightly thud against the wood floor as she walks back to the group. She tosses her phone on the table, allowing a sigh to escape her perfectly full, pink lips. Her russet brown eyes met mine, instantly holding me captive. The sense of time had lost all meaning; the only measurement was the quickening pace of my heart the longer I stared.

The ends of her mouth curled with delight as her cheeks flushed a scarlet hue. She tore her gaze away, breaking my trance, only to steal another glance. Embarrassed, I fixate my attention on the floor, trying to shake the strange flutter inside and get to business. Come on, Dean, I thought. What are you doing? I straighten my posture, standing tall at the foot of the table.

Nodding at her phone, I inquire, "Who was that?"

Her soft yet sharp eyes shifted from the table to me, to Sam, sharing, "That was my cousin, Miguel. He's a Captain in the Army and coincidentally knows I'm a hunter. A friend of his just informed him of an unusual and new case—so new that the media hasn't even covered it yet. And, from what he told me, this could be a case."

"Really?" Sam asks, sitting up in his chair. "What'd he say?"

"Three civilian bodies were found dead in a city bus located on a Naval Special Forces Base in San Diego. The craziest part is that three soldiers boarded the bus, only to exit moments later with their bags left behind but the driver alongside them."

Sammy and I exchange bewildered looks.

"We've hunted on less," says Sam.

I nod before looking up at Mari, giving her a pleased smile. "Good work, kid."

She beams but subtly tries to hide the excitement from my gaze. "We should get going. It's a long drive, and we gotta make it before they clean up the crime scene."

"Why don't you hang back? Sam and I will check it out, see if it's our kind of thing." I speak up, wary of her coming along.

The younger hunter scoffs, shaking her head.

"No way, Winchester. I'm coming with." Before I could protest, she finishes. "It's my lead. So either I'm going with, or we don't go at all."

My eyes divert to my brother, expecting a little help. He closes his laptop before scooting his chair away from the table, standing to meet my height.

"Her lead." He concurs.

And so it begins.

Sam walks past me, going to his room to change into his Fed suit. A smug grin sits upon Maricela's face, only adding to my irritation. I cannot resist rolling my eyes at her sudden surge of confidence. It only took a few hours, but as predicted, they both overruled me. Having the final say was easier with Sam, but with Mari's stubbornness involved, it proved to be a little bit harder.

She picks up her laptop, resting it against her hip before walking towards me. I avoid eye contact, refusing to look at the objector. Her taunting chuckles echo in my ears when she notices my pout. My breath hitches when her fingers wrap around the placket of my overshirt, pulling it towards her. As if she were Wonder Woman using her lasso to hypnotize me, I helplessly surrendered my attention to her.

"We agreed I was here to help, so let me do my job."

I briefly gaze into her eyes before shutting my own. With a cautious but definite nod, I convey my agreement and acknowledge the validity of her point. "Yeah, you're right."

"Oh—I'm sorry," She lets the fabric go before cupping her hand around her ear and leaning forward dramatically. "I don't think I heard you right. Kev, did you hear him?"

She turned to Kevin, who was watching us with a playful smirk. "I don't know... Say it again, Dean."

"Shut up." I roll my eyes in exasperation before moving past her to change into my uncomfortable costume.

She laughs, following after me. "I think you said I was right."

"Don't get used to it," I grumble, expecting to be annoyed.

Instead, a slow and unexplainable smile spreads across my face.

Maricela's POV

"We stopped for that?" Dean asks, annoyance laced in his words. He gapes at the uniforms as I climb into the back seat.

"Of course! What'd ja' think? We would stroll onto a military base and pretend we were the FBI?"

"Yes, that's exactly what we're going to do." He answers in a monotone voice.

On the way to California, I had Dean stop at a friend's house so I could pick up Navy Fatigues for us to wear. My entire plan revolved around the uniforms. I knew from experience that there would be some pushback from the boys—i.e. Dean—but it was a great plan.

"The MPs aren't just gonna let a couple of Feds sniff around their crime scene. It happened on a military base, automatically making it theirs, not federal." I explained. "Now, these fatigues will be our tickets onto the scene, no questions asked. And if they do, I have a safety net."

"I don't think so," Dean argues. "We know how to do our jobs. You're not just going to come in and change what we've been doing for years."

"That's not what I'm trying to do. I'm just thinking sensibly here. We're talking about military police—"

"Maybe she's right, Dean. It's a little different than our usual gigs." Sam speaks up, thankfully agreeing with me.

"No, no!" The older Winchester's voice raises. "We're doing this my way. End of story."

I sit back in my seat, huffing with frustration. Sometimes, I forget how stubborn this man-child can be, and he never has a problem reminding me. None of us talked for the rest of the ride there. Since Dean wasn't the only one who was obstinate, I quietly got ready to change into the uniform. I traded out my glasses for contacts before slicking my hair into a low bun. After untying my bootlaces and shimmying off my jacket, I wait for the perfect time to slide on the fatigues.

When we arrived on base, local and military police flooded the area. Upon doing additional research on the way here—freak thunderstorms and every cow dead within three miles—it was concluded this was a demon-related case. And, as per usual, I was side-benched!

"All right, stay here," Dean mutters before he and Sam exit the car.

Once the doors were closed, I wiggled on the uniform, careful not to be seen by any passersby. My fingers moved at an unparalleled speed as I tied my laces, surprising even myself. Stealthily, I slipped out of the Impala with my cap firmly on my head. As I anticipated, it wasn't going well for them.

"Agents," I call over to the men. "I'm guessing D.C. sent you?"

They turned around, recognizing my voice. Their eyes scan me up and down, taking in my uniform. Sam stares with curiosity and amusement while Dean's disapproving glare says everything he couldn't out loud.

"Yes, ma'am," Sam plays along with a sly smile.

I halt next to Dean, his gaze fixed on me while the soldier across from us firmly asks, "And you are?"

My eyes scan over her name tape: Bates. Confidently, I introduced my cover, "I'm Corporal Maricela Ramirez."

Her eyes narrowly take in my youthful appearance—clearly doubting, she remarks, "You look a little too young to be a Corporal."

"And you look a little too Army to work on a Navy case." Without regard, I sass back. "Sorry, what's your rank?"

Her arms cross over her chest, staring me down. "I'm a Sergeant."

"Well, Sergeant Bates, my Captain ordered me to meet these agents and make sure they got to see the crime scene. So, if you could just let us pass—"

"That so?" She interrupted, her attitude smug. "Then maybe he and I ought to have a chat."

I could feel the boy's eyes on me, waiting for my next move. Ignoring them, I say with nonchalance, "Not a problem. Then, after, I could have a conversation with your Commanding Officer."

"Oh, yeah? About what, exactly?" She challenges.

"How sloppy you look," I say with fake disgust. "Maybe I'll start by telling him how you wear your hair: In a looong braid. I'm sure he'll remind you that when in uniform, if a woman's hair falls below the collar, it must be neatly and inconspicuously pinned, fastened, or secured to the head. Or, I can begin by asking why his officer thinks she can address herself as a higher rank than the first-class private badges she wears. But, hey, if you are telling the truth—no harm, no foul. Right, Sergeant?"

She uncrosses her arms, her demeanor growing softer. My hand reaches into the pocket of my fatigues, pulling out my phone. I extend my arm to hand her the cell phone, asking, "You still want to call him?"

Bates stares at the device, internally weighing her options. I glance up at the Winchesters, each holding their nervous breaths. The tension in the air was palpable as we waited for her response. The officer and I locked eyes, trying to read the other's thoughts. After what felt like an eternity, Bates shakes her head. The corners of her mouth barely lifted into a bitter smile as she exhaled in defeat before walking away. I drop my arm to my side, grateful for the win.

"That went well," Sam was the first to speak as we walked around the transit.

"Thanks to yours truly," I tease, stepping onto the high-floor bus sandwiched between the Winchesters.

"Well, sweetheart," Dean mutters into my ear. "Guess you're more than just a pretty face, after all."

As I swallowed his words, I swallowed back the knot in my throat. My mind raced, trying to make sense of the ambiguous remark. I should have been offended that he reduced my role within the team to mere objectification, and yet, when he pressed his back against mine as he purred the idiom, I was left feeling stupefied. Was what he said meant in a demeaning or complimentary way? Instead of dwelling on it too long, I suppressed the ambivalent thoughts to concentrate on the case.

The forensic photographer was toward the back of the bus, snapping various shots of a victim who was slumped over a few seats. My feet carried me further into the bus and away from Dean before stopping to examine the blonde woman's corpse. I gently lift her blouse and instantly see two scars: one on her lower abdomen from a blade and the other near her ribs from a bullet. A second gunshot scar was accounted for over her left breast, aimed toward her heart. I pulled her shirt back down before standing up straight.

"Her wounds are old—like completely scarred over—old. " I murmur, trying to puzzle the pieces together.

"So is this guy's," Sam adds.

My eyes wander over to see his victim's shirt pushed aside, exposing a similar scarred bullet wound over his chest.

"Hey," Dean walks over. "Anything?"

"Yeah, this guy was shot in the heart." Sam answers.

The older Winchester inquires, staring down at the victim. "That what killed him?"

"Maybe—15, 20 years ago." Sam points at all the victims. "Every one of these bodies has a fatal wound or two or three, but they're all old."

"So, we're looking at meatsuits?" Dean asks rhetorically. "The bodies took a licking, and the demon inside kept them ticking."

"Probably. I think they were possessed, and now those soldiers are." I say, looking at the lifeless bodies discarded around the public transit.

"Hey," Dean's gruff voice utters in a low tone, alerting us. He nods behind Sam toward the front of the bus just before Sergeant Bates steps on.

"Excuse me, agents," Bates says as we turn to give her our attention. She approached with a tablet in her hand before proceeding to share, "We pulled this off a security camera. You might want to take a look."

She gives the device to Sam, crossing her hands in front of her, and waits for us to watch. Parking Lot 4 surveillance begins to play; the soldiers walk off and away from the bus before the driver follows as if nothing had happened. Sam pauses the footage and zooms in on the driver, only to show the woman staring at the camera, smiling sinisterly. I glance at the younger Winchester as his eyes widen, and his mouth slightly falls in surprise. My vision blurs Sam out as it focuses on his brother. Judging by his same reaction—with a hint of anger—they knew who she was.

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[ellestra]

Going in circles

There has been a lot of talk about how Gen V is about social media and stage parents but the underlying theme of this season is the cycle of violence that leads to abuse and revenge cycles. It's a positive feedback loop that makes .

Since Gen V is inspired by The Boys comic arc that was a parody of X-Men this is something that was, of course, always staple of X-Men comics/movies/shows. But X-Men stories in their core tend to be optimistic/aspirational. The Boys universe is much more cynical than that. In the end bad guys win or they at least spin their loses their way so they can hold on to power.

Marie, Jordan, Andre and Emma really believed in the ideas sold to them by the marketing team. But the humans they were trying to save were exactly the ones who never treated them to people. Ones who perpetuated the cycles f abuse - from the moment they were given Compound V to all the stages of deciding who is and isn't valuable. They aren't the ones who lead Vought when it all started but they do the same thing again and again because it's profitable. And when it comes to bite them they try to weasel their way out of any responsibility by appealing to the better nature of those who they abused. And so, so many real life abuses seem to use this to escape culpability. Using the "be better than those who wrong you" as the most cynical way to save their own asses.

It doesn't mean that the rest of the non-powered humans don't have a reason to blame supes. Both the Boys and Shetty are not wrong in the assessment that supes always will a leave a trail of blood behind them - both intentional and accidental. From powers manifesting in the disastrous way, through accidents while using them to abuses of power to avoid consequences and finally malice. Supes are human and do exactly the same things but their impact is so much greater and so is their body count. It's gets horrifying because she's not blaming Vought who created this whole problem. Instead she's uses Vought's own torture factory to try her hand at genocide. It's hard to really feel bad about Cardosa and Shetty's death when we just saw them killing some kids in even more horrible way.

Cate was betrayed by every human she trusted. And the worst was that even though Shetty loved her she still drugged her to dampen her powers (those blue pills reference even more clear after latest Matrix movie) and then used her to help with genocide of her own kind. So she gathers all other abused supes and they all go on a rampage because how you can ever trust any one of them if they even corrupt love like that. Being one of "the good ones" didn't really work out. And because this is the time where the ultimate power of Vought propaganda machine lies with a supe it's all swept under the rug by Homelander.

He's done appealing to mudnon-powered people . The one place X-Men doesn't really go in stories like that is the people who go against their own interests because the ideology allows them to feel superior to another group. And they think they'd be spared. It's the voting for Leopards Eating People's Faces Party all over again. Homelander knows now that there are humans who still will follow him (steeped in American exceptionalism and dreams of ubermensch as he is - BTW I don't think it's a coincidence that both Cate and Sam are the kind of Guardians of Godolkin Stormfront would approve of unlike original versions). He just needs supes who think the same as him instead of believing things like non-powered humans are human too. Someone who is not going to bulk at thing he wants to do.

And the boys would do anything to stop him. I'm pretty sure the virus is not out of the picture yet. Between Neumann container and Butcher finding the infected bodies there still might be attempt to use it. After all it's still in pre fully genocidal form. And Marie surviving Homelander's blast may have taught Neumann she might have enough time to pop Homelander's head - especially if he's a bit sick.

In this cycle people who try to stop it are also part of the problem. It too often leads to letting those in power stay in power so the injustices can carry on. Marie uses the system that was designed against her to stop the massacre and it hurts her too. Andre risks brain damage saving helicopter coming to rescue Vought Board. Jordan almost gets overwhelmed and mind controlled protecting them. And Vought will continue doing what they did to babies and any supe they deem faulty product. Believing the heroes will come and save them gets them locked in a doorless room.

We see how appealing to their opponents better nature doesn't work. Maverick cannot break mind control. Sam chose it over conscience. All Emma gets for trying is being made to feel small.

In the end all trying to be heroic got them is being labelled as traitor and scapegoated. And I don't think it's an accident that of this group only Emma is white (although it's nice that the only couple that survived this in neither includes white people nor is straight).

And so the cycle goes. Non-powered humans abuse supes and supes abuse those humans and each sides has a list of atrocities perpetrated on them they use to justify to atrocities they commit. While the people who caused and profit from it this stay in power.

This is even made even more relevant by real life events reminding us about the real, horrible human toll of such cycles hatred. The real excuses that are used to justify violence against innocents by feeding populations a revenge fantasy dressed as justice aren't all that different. And so isn't using it to keep power and gather more assets. But in stories we can hope good guys will eventually win. History teaches us that, in real life, it always ends with those having power behind them getting all the spoils. Everyone can count themselves lucky if they get a half-assed apology too late to count for anything.

[chaos-bringer-13]

Tumblr deactivated my account but I am back. And I brought you some chaos.

Now, hear me out. Danny Phantom x Frozen crossover.

Just Danny being somehow teleported to Frozen world and meeting Elsa. They bond over royalty problems and ice powers (and their initial struggles with controlling their powers), and Danny uses his Phantom form to match Elsa's white hair, and they complain to each other about how they were hunted for who they are, and Elsa says something about how she's scared that her powers can hurt people after that time when she froze everything and Danny goes "Me too! A version of me once destroyed the world and I had to prevent that from happening!", and Danny's reaction to Olaf is just "It's like when hotdogs come to life in my house but friendly, so cool!"

* runs out of breath, pauses *

And Danny and Elsa both have red-headed sisters who at some point dated not-good-for-them guys. And Anna was frozen before being brought back to life and what if she's a halfa now? She had her hair turning white like a ghost, and she sort of died, right? She should be at least liminal! And Elsa actually could be some kind of Infinite Realms entity, with that whole fifth spirit thing from the second part.

And then Danny shows this cool new world to Jazz, and Elsa introduces Danny to Anna, and now Jazz bonds with Elsa over having chaotic younger siblings who want to save everyone. And when Dani joins, she immediately goes to explore and cause chaos, and she meets that giant snow monster (did you know that his name is Marshmallow? Adorable) and for no particular reason they form some kind of friendship, so now people can see Dani being carried oh so gently by this living mountain. Well, when she's not out of kingdom, of course. She might be starting a revolution in some authoritarian country, don't mind her.

Danny thinks that Sam probably wouldn't like Anna and Kristoff much because they're just such naive sunshines and Sam is, well, goth. Sam tells Danny that if she hadn't liked naive sunshines, she wouldn't have befriended him and Tucker, and proceeds to have a long conversation with Anna about how being from a rich family sometimes makes having any relationship so much harder. She then starts talking with Kristoff about animals rights, and Danny thinks that maybe he unleashed a power he wouldn't be able to stop.

Tucker probably doesn't find anything that really catches his attention in this world because there's no cool tech, but maybe he tries to apply his tech knowledge to magic and gets some crazy results (what do you mean you can't use "water has memory" thing for phone/computer memory? Well, watch him make this new cool computer that can make pictures out of ice and is even capable of making 3-dimensional ice sculptures images! How? Well, some ecto, some runes that Dani found for him in this world, some science... He's just that smart, yes.)

There are unconfirmed sightings of very confused Dan surrounded by trolls. They might have accidentally adopted this sad angry boy to show him love and affection.

[box-architecture]

Dream is Spiderman, but he's lime colored. I didn't wanna have to do powerset stuff or anything for him because the point wasn't about the mechanics, it was about Awesamdream

so he's Lime Spider Man.

Don't Worry About It.

He and Sam are co-workers who work in a lab of a Big Science Building, and because of an accident at work, he gets bitten by a spider and sent to the hospital. Sam Has No Emotions About This Whatsoever He Promises (He becomes Doc Ock because his co-worker/crush was Hurt and In Danger and wanted to protect him and also be evil apparently)

Dream meanwhile realizes he has spider powers now and that the lab that they work in is owned by The Evil Cooperation, yknow, the usual, so he becomes Spider-Man.

and does not tell Sam that he's spider man

who does not tell Dream that he's Doc Ock

this is normal and fine.

Sam is sort of vaguely aware that the company is Evil but like, Sam has no morals. His priorities are: confess to crush and go to dinner maybe, make cool gadgets with the money he gets with his sweet lab gig

Sam has a crush on Dream and thinks Spiderman is Rude and Evil and Awful and A Threat

Dream has a soft spot and thinks Sam is a little naive but well meaning and thinks Doc Ock is going to murder him if he doesn't dodge right now

Spider-Man works to stop the Evil Cooperation while trying to find solid proof that its evil so he can show Sam that they need to quit their jobs, while also pretending to be a bedridden Dream because the explosion/accident should have left him unable to do much of anything. He's on paid leave right now and wearing bandages as a civilian.

Meanwhile Sam is anxiously trying to look out for Dream's well-being, not realizing the spider superhero he's throwing into a car is his crush, because I think its really funny.

Sam gets him flowers and frets over him at home and is really bad at flirting but he's earnest and sweet and Dream is thinking poor guy, he doesn't even know our bosses are planning to throw the entire city underwater today.

Sam was aware he just also planned a relaxing cruise for him and Dream to be on while that was happening and is mad that Spider-man kind of ruined that plan. He is RUINING the ATMOSPHERE. How DARE Spiderman stop him from having the perfect date for Dream and saving all those lives in the process.

(he assumes that his bodycount would make him look more impressive.)

It gets to the point where Dream tries to change into spiderman in an alleyway because crime is happening Right In Front Of Him only for Doc Ock to see Dream running through the crowd and grabs him in a panic because you could get hurt!! and Doc Ock ends up fixing the crime so he can get Dream home safely because Dream Wants To Help

Dream gets used as bait for Doc Ock at some point and it goes poorly. You kidnapped spiderman and didn't even like, put him in a real trap because you thought he was a civillain. He has to let Doc Ock grab him because he sounds so fucking distressed and Dream feels bad. He Is Once Again Escorted Home And Told Not To Strain Himself.

It all comes to a head when Dream goes back to work. He's spying and doing detective work now, trying to take them down, while Sams noticed how cautious and withdrawn he's become since coming back. He doesn't want Dream to feel unsafe :((((( he'll definitely protect him. So he takes Dream to a private room and shows him the Doc Ock suit, is blushing and embarrassed as he admits it was him all along.

Dream is. Kind of freaking out, because he's just realized Sam is Ock, Ock likes Dream, Ock hates Spiderman, and Sam Has Killed People, He's A Villain. Not a fun time to realize someone you care about wants you dead. So the obvious solution is to Back The Fuck Up and Leave.

Sam's also freaking out and upset because Dream won't look at him and he's ruined it and he needs Dream to stay, but he's barely halfway to pinning Dream against the wall before Man Evil Destruction Is Happening.

So Sam tells Dream to stay there in the box room where it's safe while he investigates. Dream quickly becomes Spiderman and the Evil Villain CEO nearly destroys the world. Same old same old. It gets taken care of, Dream manages to save the day, except for the part where he gets unmasked.

And Sam. Is horrified. Because he's been hurting Dream. Dream is hurt and it's his fault. Dreams been dealing with all his injuries alone where Sam hasn't been able to help, fighting and in dangerous situations unprotected, nearly killed. And so much of it at Sam's hands.

Obviously the solution is to kidnap Dream and hide him in his evil lair so he can figure out how to fix this, remove Dream's powers and keep him safe and inside where he belongs, instead of Out Where The Evil Is.

But also Listen. Dream's face get's revealed, Sam saves them both from a collapsing building, and hoards Dream in his Secret Evil Lair, where they now Both Are Aware Of Each Other's Identity. Dream is desperately trying to Escape while Sam is freaking out over his injuries and trying to catch him But Gently, until finally he gets frustrated after a few minutes and grabs Dream a little too harshly with his claws, slams him to the floor to keep him there.

And then he's immediately up close and personal because Dream is hurt and what if he made it worse while Dream thrashes and panics, trying to hit Sam only for more claws to pin his hands down. He's bargaining, pleading, and Sam can't hear him over the blood rushing through his ears as he pulls up the shirt of Dream's suit to check for wounds. To check the scars from Dream's accident and find them ugly and raised but healed far farther than they should be for a baseline human. Along with fading bruises from the building that nearly collapsed on top of them both.

Yknow, normal things.

Listen I just want Sam to be incredibly invasive because He's Just Like That he has no concept of boundaries and especially not when Dream might be badly injured. And Dream usually doesn't even register Sam's up close touching and feeling behavior because Dream at heart can't help but enable his friends behavior, can't help but let Sam do whatever he wants, doesn't even register the invasiveness of it because That's Just How Sam Is in his mind.

And to some degree that's even true here. Dream is pink in the cheeks at his torso being exposed, but like, its not really on his mind as being sexual, he's more severely stressed at the person he cares about has been trying to murder his superhero persona and now has no idea what Sam's current feelings on him are and the bodysuit is durable enough that removing the shirt could allow for easier murder.

Also he discovered Sam was Doc Ock only an hour or two at most before this so he's pretty fucking scrambled right now. Getting hit with a building does that to you.

Sam relaxes after seeing Dream is relatively fine enough to not need hospitalization and then instantly the tone changes because Dream is beneath him, saying his name, pinned down every which way and his hair is partially out of it's bun and he's touching Dream's chest and wait.

And then Sam has to be really abnormal and keep touching Dreams chest because Its Sam, which causes Dream to pause. And then Sam brings his hand up to cradle Dreams face (he has a black eye he's been fighting past his limits Sam's fault Sam's fault-)

Listen they fuck. Sam rips Dreams suit a lot because he's petty and blames all his problems on The Suit and then he makes Dream take tentacle cock while Dream begs for reprieve but enjoys every minute of it. He wraps Dream up and let's Dream attempt to futilely grip Sam's suit while he gets railed within an inch of his life.

And Sam doesn't let up for even a moment because he's wanted this for over a year, he's prepped things for it, he had a nice cozy apartment area for Dream in his underground bunker later so they could cuddle and hang out once he finally revealed he was Doc Ock. He's got everything he needs to have Dream and he doesn't want to let go for even a moment, not at the risk of Dream leaving and losing the one person he's been trying to connect with.

Because Dream is friends with everyone, he's an extrovert, he's fun and silly and wonderful

And Sam isn't good with people and says all the wrong things and doesn't do morals and social stuff very well, but Dream never thought badly of him for being bad at that. (Admittedly they're going to have a long talk about the murder at some point) And Sam wants !!!! He just wants Dream to smile at him and tell him he did a good job and also cry out for him on his cock. Pretty sunshine boy should personally shine with tears on his face, begging for more, begging for less, begging for everything because Sam wants to be wanted so badly it hurts.

He is going to put his dick in Dreams mouth and curl a tentacle around him to Keep Him Up so he can use another to piston into Dream until he can feel the vibrations of Dreams moans around his cock.

And even if Sam feels nothing from Dream pumping the dildos attached to his limbs it's still incredibly mouth watering to watch him serve Sam's limbs, Sam's robotic arms. He's able to essentially gangbang Dream as a single person and it's a fucking prize unto itself.

-

I have an assortment of thoughts about how cDream is a sunshine boy that lost so much of his shine as time went on, but also how Dream and Sam are a bit too Abnormal to be any sort of typical happy/moody dynamic, especially in Canon, where Dream completely loses his shine by the end of prison and Sam isn't necessarily introverted so much as he's driven away the one reasonable person in his life (Ponk) and surrounded himself with More Enablers and people who won't question him or can't question him

They're not easily definable by that typical optimistic-grump dynamics in canon, but Dream in spiderverse has been able to keep a lot of the optimism and hope he so desperately needed in dsmp due to Spiderman getting to be a hero and being able to consider himself a good guy in comparison to the dsmp where he couldn't even get to be the hero when he wanted to be, whereas Sam here is more willing to accept the label of Evil because he doesn't equate it with being Bad because Morals Aren't Real Only The People You Care About

I thought about this over dinner because Dream and Sam are too alike in canon to be pigeonholed in the dynamic so I initially regretted using the term Sunshine Boy and Extrovert for Dream, but ultimately that isn't even necessarily what Dream is, he's too complex for that, but Sam puts Dream on a pedestal even in canon in these really weird ways that tends to turn Dream into an Idea moreso than a person. Sam sees him as sunshine, so he is. Of course Dream is friends with everyone, can do everything Sam can't, it's Dream.

And in this moment when he's ripping off the suit he's seeing Dream as the fully dynamic person he is for the first time, and it's upsetting, it's different, it's hard to cope with, but he has to because if he has to choose between a fantasy he never gets or Dream, a full fledged reality bouncing on his cock, kissing him in the mornings while they eat breakfast, holding hands, despite the imperfections?

Letting go of Dream isn't an option, so he adapts

And that's how he and Dream ultimately meet in the middle, as characters. Letting go isn't an option, so they change to become the thing they need to be. The world changes them.

-

[cashandprizes]

Top 5 Redacted Quotes (BA Edition)

My darling @gingerbreadmonsters tagged me so lovingly <3 And I initially was like "oh I don't know what my favorites are" until I decided I realized no one can stop me from doing my favorite moments in BAs that had me keyboard smashing (usually at Lexi) at all hours of the day.

So, without further ado, quotes from Redacted BAs that have made me so furiously feral I black them out of my memory to function.

Tagging some of my discord buddies <3 no pressure!!! @calicostorms @bratty-telepath @bicyclepainting @horrorscoupes @angelnoodlesoup @just-call-me-angel

NSFW/NSFT under the cut, MINORS DO NOT INTERACT

Starting off with my Number 1, which is the shortest but somehow most powerful of all:

Sam BA "You fixin' to bounce on this cock?" Stop. Stop everything. I about DIED. I have text receipts of me texting Lexi furiously screaming about this whole audio BUT THIS LINE? There is no salvation, only damnation and I run to it.

Number 2, a very close race:

David Hot Boi Winter/Proposal BA "Because every thread in my body is screaming for you, to have you. I wanna dig my teeth into your skin. I wanna fuck you into this bed so hard that the frame breaks underneath us, and then fuck you into the floor even harder." LITERALLY WHAT THE FUCK. OH MY GOD??? LET ME LIVE??? This audio was made specifically for bitches with their monsterfucker license who love possessive feral primal play (it's me I'm bitches). I had to relisten to this because I completely blacked out listening to it the first time because I was so feral and relistening was... words cannot describe. Help.

Number 3, the audio that birthed my url:

Milo BA illegal that it is the only one "Yeah? You want me to use this mouth of yours? Whose mouth is this? Good. [...] Kiss it first. Just kisses. Yeah, he's happy to see you." Milo Greer WHAT THE FUCK. I was only going to use the "yeah he's happy to see you" because that line is the kind of hilarious deviant shit I like, bUT WHOSE MOUTH IS THIS? Sir. I was minding my black business how could you do me like this?

Number 4, probably one of my all time fave audios

HuxDami Confession BA Can I just... "[Insert SS tier nefarious neck ultra high-quality throat goat noises]" "I'm made of tough stuff too Hux... and I like it rough. I'll tell you if it's too much. [...] Now show me what that body of yours can do, big guy." "Bet." "More." "Oh fuck. Oh god. Alright, you want more? I can give you more baby." This audio is so revolutionary I couldn't pick one quote. As a Damien kinnie who has gotten at least two five star Yelp reviews for my head game, real recognizes real. That was some the rent is due tomorrow vortex neck and like... I can't even describe how much I love this audio. The "bet"? ofaoiefoss. "More" was the moment where I said "oh god is this ME?" Damien Throat Goat Hours <3

Number 5, straight from the boy Lexi used as a WEAPON to drag me into this fandom:

Lasko Hot Boi Winter BA “I’m thinking really, really hard. I’m definitely not just, um, not, not just, a fucking puddle of precum, and very almost actual real cum.” “I’m a good boy. Good boys hold it in. Good boys hold it in.” Lexi knew that if they dangled a subby, flustered nerdy boy in front of my face I would be helpless and goddammit I am. I blacked out and wrote like 2k words of smut continuing the sextember audio just to make him cry. THIS? It was so funny and cute and just so.... sfsofspojfswe hot omg Lasko is just so whiny and whimpery that I become so fucking feral...

Honorable mentions!

Sextember Lasko BA - "I’m not gonna have a brain by the end of this! I’m just gonna be some drooling, crying, humping mess pulling you around like I’m in heat or something. No that’s not hot, that’s cruel! What do you mean that’s what makes it hot?!" Lasko Hot Boi Winter BA - "you're evil, you're so fucking evil, it's okay! It's okay!" Sam BA - "You wanna ride your cow- You little… Get over here. I oughta whoop your ass for that one, you menace."

I think I might do another one of these but JUST for meme quotes because I need to do my url so badly. It's maybe the funniest thing Milo has ever said.

[jennay]

Dance with Me (1)

An: I think there will be a part two. Let me know what you think or if you’d like to read more. I’m kind of into doing shorts right now. Thank you at @lma1986 for helping me with my writers block. 😘

Gentle blue eyes peer across the crowded bar, watching your every move. Jamie feared if he looked the other way, you’d take it as an opportunity to run off, and he would lose sight of you.

He was lucky you showed up at all. This was not your scene. These were not your people; you didn’t belong to this tribe, and you knew you didn’t fit in.

You could feel the looks and stares of people who often thought Jamie kept you around to make him seem like he was just your average regular guy.

Jamie would make jokes with you about these women who had more power, more money, and even fancier clothes but still glared at you with envy. You’d brush him off and tell him he was insane; there wasn’t anything to be jealous of.

Jamie always made it a point to remind you of how amazing he truly thought you were. You stood out in crowds no matter where you went. It wasn’t because of your clothes or your tattoos. It wasn’t the tiny scars in your ears from when you gauged them, but how authentic you are. You never tried to be something you weren’t; you wore your heart on your sleeve and reeked of love and kindness.

Jamie thought that everyone lucky enough to glimpse at you should thank the stars. You were a pure soul to be admired.

You, on the other hand, hated some of those qualities. You wanted to be rough around the edges, mysterious and dark, but even you knew it didn’t suit you.

Jamie continues to watch you from the bar while he sips a cold beverage. You attempted to mingle with his friends and be excellent for his sake, but he knew you didn't want to be here. He knew you wanted to be at home curled up in a ball on the couch, reading a book, or watching one of your favorite shows.

He pushes himself from the bar stool, finally mustering the courage to move through the crowd and come to your rescue, but stops when his brother has already locked his arm around yours and drags you to the opposite side of the building. He lost his moment to be your savior.

Jamie found himself wondering where Sam was taking you. His eyes remained glued as you disappeared toward the dance floor. He laughs, knowing you would murder Sam when no one else was around.

"This isn't a good idea." You harshly whisper to Sam. "I'm in high heels, and I can't dance."

He grabs your hand and forces you to move in rhythm with him. "You just have to move your body. Nobody will notice your shitty dance moves." Sam teases. "I think the only one watching us is Jamie." His eyes shoot to his brother, and he gives a small wave putting Jamie at ease.

He knew he didn't have to babysit you, but you were his closest friend, and you often stepped out of your comfort zone to do what he asked. The least he could do was make sure you were feeling safe. If his brother was with you, he knew you were in good hands, and it was ok for him to mingle around and catch up with new and old friends.

"My feet hurt!" You yell to Sam, who is dancing worse than anything you've done. "I think I need to sit down."

"Oh, come on, (Y/n)!" He laughs and reaches his hand out for you to take. “Fine! Let’s go get a drink, Ms. Fussy pants.”

You slip your shoes off and hand them to Sam, who rolls his eyes but grabs them anyways. “K, now carry me.” You tease him.

“I care for you but not enough to carry you around.” He rests his arm around your shoulder, and you wrap yours around his waist. “There, you can lean on me.”

You dramatically sigh as you plop down on a stool, “I’m ready to go.”

Sam orders your drinks, and you scan the room, wondering where Jamie went. You, of course, couldn’t leave until Jamie was ready. He insisted you drove with him. It was a trap to make you stay longer, and you knew it.

“I'm so glad you're here. I don't know any of these people." You sip your vodka cranberry, slightly cringing as the alcohol slides down your throat. "And what are they playing?" You gesture to the loudspeakers. "You aren't supposed to play slow-dancing music at a birthday party."

Sam doesn't warn you that Jamie is walking up behind you. Instead, he keeps your attention forward. "You're just mad no one wants to dance with you." He jokes.

You gulp down your drink, "You danced with me!" You jolt when you feel hands lay on your shoulders, and Jamie's face is next to yours before you can respond. "Wanna dance?"

Your shoulders drop. "Not really." You admit.

Too bad." He gently nudges you off of the stool. "You danced with Sam, and now it's my turn!" He pulls your arm, and you quickly set your drink down, nearly missing the counter. “I don’t even have shoes on!”

Jamie shrugs his shoulders, stares down at his feet briefly, and slides out of his shoes. “There, now we’re both shoeless, darling. Come on; the song’s almost over.”

The dance floor is full of couples holding each other close and whispering sweet nothings to one another.

"Shouldn't you be dancing with someone you're actually interested in?" You rest your arms around Jamie's shoulders, swaying your hips to the music. "You're getting old, Jamie. I’m getting worried. Should I start giving out interview forms to all the ladies here? Date my best friend before he dies alone?"

Jamie's grip tightens on your hips, and he pulls you a little closer to him. "You're truly an asshole." He laughs.

Smiling, you say, "Thanks. I learned it from you.”

Jamie’s laughter is music to your ears. He rests his forehead against yours and holds you close to him. Your eyes shut, and you hum to the music enjoying this moment with Jamie.

“Thank you.” He quietly says. “For coming.”

You softly pull away, tilting your head to meet his eyes. A smile drapes his lips as he watches you smirking at him.

“You know I’d do anything for you.”

[goldenbloodytears]

Please do make some about Danny and Sam.

👍👍part 1 who is Superman

Superman part of the analysis:

Superman as a character is complex, but also really sympathetic when wrote right, rarely he if sadly. He is seen as simple good two shoes, boring and hypocritical for a lot of people.

Can see he imagining a perfect world were superman job is just help in emergency and natural disasters and the rest of time he can be just Clark together with everyone doing the best for everyone. In his words superman is what he can do not who he is.

In my opinion the best of Superman comics are the ones were the point is not a fight but finding different ways to stop the situation and don't cause damage, his whole life is damage control, even his powers make him the perfect first attended.

In a comic Superman and Wonder Woman are talking about how he needs training in fighting and he responded saying that he doesn't want to be good at it, that he feels he it's wrong to do so and he only fights because he knows someone needs to and he is usually the more strong and durable around, read earth.

That makes his deal with Lex Luthor interesting because Lex is in the center of humanity in a way, he's in the vanguard. Tech, politics and even media, Luthor is in the scene soo every time he deals with him, Superman gets throw in the public eye.

On a justice league animation, I think, he says how he can't wear a mask like other heros because he's already suspicious to humanity with his face laid bare and alien origin confirmed, he always on thin ice.

He safety lies on how long he can go unnoticed and insignificant to most people.

Clark can only be a person only when nobody knows that he can be superman. The moment they do he is alien man no legal rights McGee, and he can never lay low or just be again in the best of situations and be a thing to be dissected, and torn a part to study on the worst ones, making braniac gimmick of completely studying and then destroying everything a personal nightmare turned reality.

The more you learn about superman lore the more you stop thinking of him as a space Jesus and start seeing him as some weird guy just trying to make it in America, like he wasn't born there but he sure was raised as one, he saw the best humanity can offer, and he just giving back all the kindness he had received growing up.

Some of my favorite comics shows he growing up, learning himself as and being perceived as weird or creepy and still beeing loved and accepted, in fucking Kansas. Some comics the whole town of Smallville is in on it, like yes that's just the Kent's child, he is a little different and could juggle tractors like they weighted as much as air, but he is so polite and meek and kind, and the Kents, such a nice couple, always helping everyone in town, they always wanted kids, but they weren't able to conceive, they founding and raising Clark is like a fairy tale coming true.

The Kent's used to be hippies, then the high school sweet hearts settled down back were they grow up , in a farm living of the land, found a baby that come to them from the stars, took one look at him and decided that they were his family, the watched a shit ton of sci Fi movies and tried preparing him the best way they could for this world.

A lot of importance is given at his father teaching him, both the alien one teaching him about his home planet, their down fall, all the greed and desire to consume and conquer and and just thinking about what you want now and never about what others will need in the future. How he is the last of then, how he must uphold their culture, their existence and never let their mistakes repeat.

He doesn't know krypton, didn't even know that is what he is from until adulthood in some stories, he was different, but that was it, growing up he just knew what he wasn't.

Now a hologram of a man he doesn't even know appears to him like a Shakespearean ghost telling him he is his actual dead and he is indeed all alone in the universe and said universe is also kinda in his shoulders now, And Clark a kid with no past become a man with a mission, and so much more questions than before.

When Zod appears determined to conquer Earth, Clark has no choice but kill him, is his duty deal with kryptonian affairs and keep Earth save. When he can't find a peaceful solution he does kill, he hates it but he knows that is the option with less death in the end.

He already lost a home once, he will do everything to not lose another, be it fighting and even killing foes to recycling and always using the public transport.

But his other dad also was a big teacher, Jon is a strong man, the good kind of strong, the type to always help when they can and see the good in every one, a hard worker who refuse to take advantage of others, so different to that white collars from big cities that are destroying this world. Someone always looking out for the underdog.

He wants to be a hero that saves people but he doesn't want to fight much less kill.

Oooh yes, I can see what you mean—I’m always enthralled by how much superman is commentary on the immigrant experience, makes sense when you consider the Jewish origins of the comics. I do feel like it’s forgotten about when not thinking very in-depth about the general story/mythos/etc. very interesting!

Honestly he’s kinda relatable.

[weirdtrashpanda]

Hazbin Hotel Songs Analysis

Aka Rei has a new hyperfixation and has to talk about it or he will explode

Since I basically grew up on Musicals (it's in my blood) and I do appreciate a hell centered cartoon/animation, of course my new fav is Hazbin Hotel.

Since the first episode I can't stop listening to the songs and well... my theorist brain is doing overtime. So here's a layman analysis of the music.

I will get to my theories about the story and such at some later point.

Let's go! Spoilers ahead, duh.

First of all: Sam Haft is a genius. Alex Brightman is amazing. And every character has a genre or at least signature instrument. And obviously a lot of my own opinions.

Happy Day in Hell

We basically get hit in the face with a classical Musical Number and get to know Charlie's dream and her musical style. Plus some small hints at Vaggie's background.

The music and the style is very reminiscent of Overtures from modern Musicals, which is very fitting.

Hell Is Forever

Already a callback to previous songs, but fast. Once Adam starts the genre switch to rock, which is Adam's signature style.

Before his guitar solo is a pretty nice reference.

The message is basically "Fuck you, I do what I want bitch"

Stayed Gone

Ah yes, the sexual tension /hj

The beginning is very rhythmical, controlled and straight (ha). Once Vox gets going it gets more swingy with repeated patterns. The quick parts show what a talker he is.

Alastor slides in and slowly takes the song over like in Hells Greatest Dad. Also the piano gets a bit more present once Alastor joins.

In the end Alastor completely took over.

It Starts With Sorry

At first this song seemed so random, but well. Now it makes sense.

When Sir Pentious starts singing, in the background there's a guitar mimicking snake Rattles.

Again a very Broadway song. I cannot get over that this again is Alex Brightman!

Respectless

I love it.

Carmilla's theme is obviously Latin with a Spanish guitar. And Velvet's Hip Hop or at least something similar, not sure because not my type of music.

Zestials small part shows how adaptable he is.

Whatever It takes

Hopefully we get more songs with Zestial.

Again it starts with guitar, and turns into a amazing power ballad. It shows Carmillas passion and devotion to her family.

Veggies part on the other hand is so "weak". Which totally makes sense, since she is still so scared. We also get some hints again. In the background you can hear a kind of glockenspiel.

The duet makes now more sense. Daphne Rubin-Vega is crushing it, amazing voice.

Poison

Ah yes, the controversial song. Tbh stop, listen again and start thinking. Chill.

EDM seems to be Angel's genre which is so fitting.

The lyrics are heartbreaking. No, he is not glorifying his abuse, he doesn't know another way. Angel has given up, he is trapped. So the least he can do is have fun. He's already in Hell, so fuck it.

The last chorus. Ah! This is not Angel Dust, this is Anthony breaking down.

Loser, Baby

No one was prepared for this. Keith David could fuck me just with his voice, respectfully.

Husk's style is kinda idk, brass ig. But don't quote me on that.

The lyrics are perfect and so relatable.

Fun Fact someone on TikTok pointed out: Husk offers Angel his hand and only pulls him along when Angel takes his hand. We stan a gentleman.

Hell's Greatest Dad

Electro Swing! The title alone shows Lucifers Pride. And how much he cares about Charlie.

Again Alastor butting in to take control. God, he loves being that guy.

The violin solo, such a nice reference.

Headcanon: Mimzy waited for the perfect time to bust in.

More Than Anything

Ah yes, the midpoint dramatic ballad duet.

It's so boring but sweet. They harmonize so nicely. Who doesn't love a good healthy bonding song.

Also harmonies in this song a peak.

Welcome To Heaven

I know this voice! Blaine from Glee went to Heaven!

The style is so clean and fake, perfect. Also organ.

The lyrics are low-key petty. Also Molly?!

You Didn't know

Such a dramatic song, very musical end of act 1.

Love the switch when Lute starts singing, again with rock but much more controlled than with Adam.

Emily's theme is also very mousy in the beginning.

The callback to Hell Is Forever is so nice, the harmonies though...

Big reveal at the end. Adam is a Dick. (Hehe)

Out For Love

Heck yea! Carmilla centered song.

Very Latin and passionate, love it, still with a modern flair.

Tbh Carmilla is underrated.

Ready For This

You go girl! Again very Broadway.

Once the cannibals join in it gets more old-timey, which fits the period the Town is in. Really sounds like a cheery war song.

Rosie and Alastors dynamic is amazing, just two queer besties being their true self.

This song also gets us excited for the final battle and stills shows Charlie's anxiety.

More Than Anything (Reprise)

This was torture. Normally a Reprise is very telling, example Hamilton.

I was so scared for Vaggie. Still amazing song, good representation.

Finale

What an ending! I was in tears.

The little callbacks amazing, Lucifer being there for his daughter. Everyone supporting her now. It's really a perfect Finale song.

Vox and Valentino being gay and their usual self.

Alastor's part reaks of foreshadowing. No, Alturist is probably not his surname. And no, he doesn't really care about Charlie and Co, he is there for power.

Conclusion

Amazing music and storytelling. Perfect for the mental ill 18+ theater nerds.

The Living Tombstone are amazing! Listen to their music.

Looking forward to the next season.

[mlobsters]

supernatural s12e22 who we are (w. robert berens)

i don't usually read the summary on netlix (or elsewhere) but "undying trust" had my brain snap into focus in no time flat.

working with their torturer, whatever man. no worse of an offense than the whole bmol plotline 🤪

SAM I mean, I've read half a dozen purification rituals in the last hour. If we used one of those on – on our blood... DEAN Then what? Revirginize it?

was thinking too about that whole born again virgin episode (9x08) because of course they've done that before!

DEAN You know, it wasn't long ago, I thought we had it made. We saved the world. We got Cass back. We had Mom back. I mean, it wasn't perfect, but still, we had 'em. And now... SAM Now they're all gone. And Mom, what they did to her... I just fell for their company line. Man, I... I saw what they were doing, and I – and I thought, Hunters on that scale, working together... how much good we can do. And once I was in, I... I just followed. 'Cause it was easy. Easier. DEAN Easier than what? SAM Easier than leading.

the relief of letting someone else make some decisions is a big one, if you can do it. the idea of leading feels a little out of left field though since it's basically just him and dean on equal footing and occasionally working with other people? being independent contractors vs employees

SAM Is this how you pictured it? The end? DEAN Oh, you know it's not. I always thought we'd go out like... Butch and Sundance style. SAM Yeah. Blaze of glory.

never not gonna dwell on how dean actually goes out.

good for dean, finally gets to use his boom stick

and good for us, this exchange of looks. surprisingly cute and sweet

and tada look at that our heroes are safe at the last moment all wrapped up in ten minutes. on to next drama, stopping mary from killing jody and the rest of the hunters. old mom not allowed to kill new mom

JODY When she clocked me out of the blue, I thought she was a demon. I had no idea that brainwashing could be so thorough. DEAN Jody, she... I'm so sorry. JODY It's not your fault.

man, i really have come to love jody and her dynamic with them. within the story, bobby obviously played a bigger role for them as a parental figure, but for me kim rhodes is so good at connecting with them and playing up that kind of particular familial teasing/bickering/fondness - she makes me believe that she really is family to them. not just the, we like you, so we're adopting you thing they do with everyone they come across these later seasons.

❤️

samantha smith also doing a job at being creepy killer mary, so serene

TONI The Mary that you know, the good Mary, she's hiding behind impenetrable psychic walls. And I'm afraid these walls... Well, they can't be torn down with grenades. Your mother can't be saved.

if cas could pick out the hallucifer from sam's brain, surely he could fix mary's brain too. especially with a baby lucifer powerup, right. (oh no, come to edit, we're doing it with the power of love!)

WALT Well, damn. ROY We haven't seen you guys since – DEAN Since you killed us. No hard feelings.

awkward. in the flashback they just show them getting both shot in sequence, i'd forgotten they killed sam and then argued over leaving dean alive, decided against it and went ahead and killed him too. 5x16. me thinking is dean glancing at his chest remembering how he got shot 🥲

well sammy's getting a big, "he's a leader" speech

SAM Um, so my – my brother and I, we – we, um... No, you know what? I called you here because people... um, our people, are being slaughtered. And we're next. The British Men of Letters, they came here because they thought they could do our job better than we could. And they hooked us with their flashy gear and their tech. Most of you had the good sense to turn 'em down. I didn't. They said they wanted the same thing we wanted, you know? A world free of monsters. That's not what they really wanted. They want control. They want to live in a world where they can sit in some office and decide who gets to live and who gets to die. And they've killed people. They've killed innocent people just because they got in the way. They think the ends justify the means. But we know better. We know hunting isn't just about killing. It's about doing what's right, even when it's hard. So we go by our gut, right? We play by our own rules, and that scares them. That's why they want us dead, 'cause we're the one thing they can't control.

all right. at least the music wasn't too much. the words though? it's just too much.

SAM I want you to follow me. Take the fight to them. To hit them before they hit us. We go in fast and hard and we fight and we beat them down until they give up or until they're dead. Look, they're well-trained and well-armed. Some of us might not make it back. But we will win. We will take down the bad guys because that's what we do. They're scared of us. Yeah. Good. They should be.

by this second part, i started giggling. so out of nowhere and cliche

and today, we celebrate our independence day or perhaps but the waters receded

my brother in sweat, poor jared. jensen slackin on towel duty. wonder if he struggled with the scene or just that it's a long speech so more time to be sweating visibly

DEAN No, my leg busted up the way it is, I'm no good in a fight. SAM I-I'll take a jacked-up Dean Winchester over any 10 other Hunters any day.

aww, sammy

DEAN Yeah. I saw you. You're ready for this. You show those sons of bitches who's boss.

this separation is a little contrived but okay, not going to complain that we get a nice moment out of it. the very special episode where sam gets to slip into a leadership role and succeed and dean gets to be the proudest brother/partner

DEAN You got this. Come here. You come back. SAM Promise. DEAN Bitch. SAM Jerk.

well that you come back / promise is what made me cry. and wasn't in the copy of the script linked on the wiki (production draft). so thank you to to whoever brought that about

oh no they've deployed a sweet little chunk for sam now i'm really going to cry. also know a conversation that's coming since i've seen gifs of it many times

they made this bmol bed so maybe a big dumb shootout action sequence was the only way to lie in it but it sure is a lot less... compelling, compared to what dean's doing. course, every time we're in the old house with mary (2x20, 5x16) it's in an episode i sobbed my way through. so. that's doing some of the work for them here too

DEAN You lied to me. I was a kid. You promised you'd keep me safe. And then you make a deal with Azazel. Yeah, it saved Dad's life, but I'll tell you something else that happened. Because on November 2, 1983, old Yellow Eyes came waltzing in to Sammy's room, because of your deal. You left us. Alone. 'Cause Dad was just a shell. His perfect wife? Gone. Our perfect Mom, the perfect family... was gone. And I... I had to be... more than just a brother. I had to be a father and I had to be a mother, to keep him safe. And that wasn't fair. And I couldn't do it.

💔

DEAN And you wanna know what that was like? They killed the girl that he loved. He got possessed by Lucifer. They tortured him in Hell. And he lost his soul. His soul. All because of you. All of it was because of you.

(i know this isn't the point, he's just trying to get through to her, but my little hand mentally raises like this was all far beyond any of their control)

DEAN I hate you. I hate you. And I love you. 'Cause I can't – I can't help it. You're my Mom. And I understand...'cause I have made deals to save the ones I love more than once.

trying to think of when he's done it for someone besides sam.

DEAN I forgive you. I forgive you. For all of it. Everything. On the other side of this, we can start over, okay? You, me, Sam. We can get it right this time. But I need you to fight. Right now, I need you to fight. I need you – I need you to look at me, Mom. I need you to really look at me and see me. Mom, I need you to see me. Please.

jensen did good with this one. later seasons he seems to not quite get there as intense with the emotions all the time like he did in early seasons, but he definitely got there in this one. and that was a long speech too

glad we didn't need to face any more redemption arc with torturer lady, killed ignominiously offscreen (ok i had to look up the spelling/definition to doublecheck and realized in my head i had dropped an entire syllable AND listening to the pronunciation had it way wrong. good thing i've never tried to say that out loud lol at best i think i was thinking ig-NO-muss-ly instead of ig-no-MIN-ee-uss-ly)

here at least is a throwdown that i can get behind, we've got many reasons to hate this dude and wanna see dean beat the shit out of him

get him, mary

huh. interesting they had jody kill evil bmol dr hess lady too

! elusive triple hug. sammy's having a real moment

SAM Mom. You don't have to be scared of me. (Sam walks over and hugs Mary. Dean walks over and places a hand on Sam's shoulder) DEAN Glad you're back, man.

no bonus winchester packed hug in this script either

well. that had a lot of good family hurt/comfort for me personally, and pretty light on the hurt. thank you, show. i will take it and jam it all in my pockets.

so are they gonna wrap up lucifer next episode, or is that setting the stage for next season? i have very little idea of what happens in these late-late seasons. vaguely, that a kline descendant is involved. not much more than that

(yikes just scrolled to the top of this post, this is very long)

[antigonewinchester]

13x15

It is weird, having seen so many takes on the later seasons, to watch this ep and see Dabb & Singer lay out their underlying themes and “thesis” of the show in a very obvious & explicit way. Obvs there’s the benefit of hindsight here, being able to put this ep in the context of Dabb/Singer’s ending, but you really can see a ton of the rest of the story here, up to the series finale.

SAM So, this is what we’ve come to? Thieves? DEAN Hey, you want the blood, right? Well… besides, the thing’s already stolen. SAM Really? That’s your rationale? DEAN Hey, I’m not perfect. And by the way, neither are you, okay? Oh, so, what? Now you’re above a little, uh, chicanery? Look, this isn’t a perfect world we’re trying to save, okay. And if I’m not perfect trying to save it, then so be it. Come on. You with me or not? … DEAN Yeah, well, the world’s a screwed place, padre. What are you gonna do about it? FATHER LUCCA Change it. DEAN Yeah, good luck with that. FATHER LUCCA It’s not about luck, son. It’s about effort. All the time, I hear people saying the world’s not perfect. And they’re right. It’s not. But do you use that as an excuse? Do you use it to excuse your own sins? Your failings and your laziness? Do you use it to give a bad man power, because the world’s not perfect? Or do you work? Do you try and improve things in whatever way you can? Guys, the world will never be perfect, but if good men do good things, it can be better. Every day can get better. [SAM smiles as he listens.]

In Dabb and Singer’s framing, Dean and Sam represent opposing ideas: Dean = the world’s screwed up and that won’t change, Sam = the world’s screwed up and it can get better. The show validates and believes Sam’s view, both in this ep (Sam convinces Dean to help Father Lucca and he ends up being a “most holy man,” meaning they can take his blood to use in their spell) and ultimately in the show as a whole (Jack becomes God and changes the world for the better: making it so Heaven is a place where everyone can be together instead of trapped in their memories, or that everyone gets what they “deserve” instead of being dragged around by Chuck). The whole, “bring characters back so they can redeem themselves” also fits into this schema, in terms of the ‘everyone can do better’ idea.

13x16

The show’s exaggeration of Dean’s characterization - funny horny hungry guy! - does better in cartoon form than live-action, at least.

13x17

DEAN Jinkies! [Sam looks disgusted at the Scooby Doo reference, but Dean raises his eyebrows, clearly pleased with himself.] SAM You’re going to stop saying that eventually, right? DEAN I don’t know. Probably not. Look, (he claps his hand in enthusiasm) Let’s go!

Why doesn’t Sam like Dean’s jokes more? Or why don’t the writers write Sam liking Dean’s jokes more, I suppose. I get Sam being annoyed by Dean’s post-it notes, but why not have him being amused by Dean’s Scooby Doo joke? It makes Sam feel like he has a stick up his ass in a way I don’t think is intended. Let the brothers goof with each other :(

ASMODEUS Do you? Because you say you have this code, this Men of Letters code, handed down for centuries. But wait. Wait a minute. You work for me. You act like you’re this cold-blooded killer. [Asmodeus crouches down in front of Ketch.] But you know what I see when I look in your eyes. Fear. And regret. And pain. I see your chewy middle, boy. You want redemption, but you ain’t never gonna get it. Your kind -- our kind -- we can’t be redeemed. All we can do is spread out pain around. So no, you don’t know who you are. But I do. Which is why no matter where you go, no matter what you do, you’re mine.

Thinking about how Dean & Ketch were foils in S12... this dialogue here is revealing, I think, for how the writers saw Dean in later seasons. From what I know, there’s a very “redemption = death” take in later seasons (w/ Gabriel in S13, and then Rowena & Ketch in S15, and what a coincidence, Dean dies too at the end of S15, too, doesn’t he) and there’s the set up for that here w/ Ketch. I’ve seen a lot of talk of the writers “hating” Dean, but I just don’t think the writers ‘hating’ Dean really gets at why they characterized him the way they did. It’s been frustrating to sort thru, because I do have issues w/ the characterization/framing for both Dean and Sam (since they’re so interconnected as characters) but I’ve also never seen an analysis of later seasons that seems to fully get at what’s going on w/ the characters, themes, etc. I guess. Hmm. It’s like fandom either totally denies what the text is saying -- Dean is OOC in later seasons, he’d never do that!! -- or they make it 100x worse -- Dean is a sadistic abusive person, he loves killing/revenge!! -- and neither of those are right to me.

Gabriel with his mouth sewn shut, I see that reference to Loki/Norse mythology. Creepy & effective.

13x18

The show “bringing back” characters as Apocalypse World characters is a pretty cheap trick, huh.

SAM Gabriel, you have to dig yourself out of this hole. Look, I know you think it's safer inside. No more torture. No more pain. No more expectations. I've been there. You were nothing like your family. You sure as hell weren't like your dad. Me either. And just like you, I got out. Or I-I thought I got out. But then... then my family needed me. And this is my life. No matter how many times I tried to fight it, this is what I was put here to do. This is where I make the world a better place. And sure, yeah, hookers in Monte Carlo sounds great, but your family needs you. Jack, your nephew, needs you. The world needs you. We need you. [pleading] Gabriel, I need you. So, please, help us.

Mmh. Speaking of how later seasons characterizes Sam, well. Like earlier from S12, the way Sam is framed here makes sense when looked at from S8 onward, and not as much going earlier than that.

Also I am cackling at how the Sam - Gabriel dialogue mirrors the Dean - Cas crypt scene from 8x17. The talk about family, the “We need you. I need you.” Were the writers aware of the Sabriel shippers/how popular it was in fandom at a time?

[notafunkiller]

https://x.com/not_a_funkiller/status/1838326895206695184?t=KH2V8AhIDjY294zVGVikmg&s=19

PREACH. Please, I am so done with this idea. He is good but he is not an angel. Civil war in Romania, dropping those guys on the stairs, for example, and Steve being done with him. Or TFATWS scene where he fights with a super soldier after holding back for so long: Stay there. Or with the woman he helped while he was controlled by Hydra at the beginning of the show. He actually enjoyed... not hurting her, but playing with her and taking back her power. As Sam said he was avenging.

(Bucky: I've been making amends.

Sam: No, you weren't amending, you were avenging. You were stopping all the wrongdoers you enabled as the Winter Soldier because you thought it would bring you closure. You go to these people and say "sorry" because you think it'll make you feel better, right? But you gotta make them feel better. You gotta go to them and be of service. I'm sure there's at least one person in that book who needs closure about something, and you're the only person who can give it to them.)

He does not k!ll or hurt for fun, but he can make the difference between good and bad... or well most of the time bad and worse, as you said before on Twitter.

He is a grey character. He is very good and kind and amazing AND ALSO has a darker side. He is not scared tl to get his hands dirty and he is used to it, especially for a great cause.

He was the greatest sniper before Hydra... he even saved Steve.

Idk why they think being a grey character is bad. Human beings are not 100% good or 100% bad. We have good and bad traits, we do good and bad things, we make saceifice, we have to sacrifice our morals sometimes...

That does not make Bucky less heroic, good and amazing.