#still working on my versions of them unmasked

[eletainart]

My favorite boy and his most favorite thing Used pictures of possums with bananas as a reference XD

[localgremlinboy]

I have been sitting on these for a long time because I wanted to have some more varried stuff but I haven't had time to write anything! So here's what I've got! Honestly these are some of my favorites

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

- Whenever he's kicked out of an area or event, Oswald proceeds to start shoving anything not taped down into his pockets. He doesn't need the stuff, he just likes to be petty and ruin it for everyone else

- Bane has done a series of infomercials for various products & services that only air on late night product channels. Alfred is the only batfamily member who knows, he was doing laundry late one night and nearly lost it

- Mr Freeze writes restaurants/companies when they wrong him. Like nice formal letters, signing them and everything

- The Joker has an imdb page. Actually a lot of the villains do but like the Joker has one he updates with fun facts. Who says they're accurate but they sure are fun

- Riddler freaking hates puppets. Their soulless eyes say it all. He refuses to or "work" with puppets. That being said, Scarecrow has chased him around with Scarface once or twice "for science"

- Scarecrow has and still does write letters of recommendation for his ex students. He freaking still has Gotham University letterhead paper and everything. Honestly some of his students have gotten the job from his letter alone (maybe it's out of fear but like it's still a win), and they 100% send Jonathan thank you gifts in Arkham. He's got one of those dorky teacher scrapbooks where he keeps the thank you letters. One of his students even crocheted him a little plush scarecrow. It's like, they don't love his crimes but you know that was ol kooky professor Crane for ya

- Harvey kind of has a soft spot for sitcoms, he used to watch them with his mom growing up. One of their favorites, ironically, was night court

- Bane has a famous chili recipe and he makes one batch a year. It's fucking delicious! He makes an edition with meat and a vegetarian version too. Of course consults Ivy for home grown excellent quality vegetables and she gets first dibs in return

- the Joker has not one but TWO released albums. One is essentially a mash up of all the serenades he's made Batman listen to over the years and the other one is called "The Holidays with the Joker: Christmas selects edition"

- Scarecrow's car is a mess. He's got a work truck of course but his main car is like a wood panel sedan that he's been driving since he was a professor and refuses to get a new one. It's a fucking mess, he has like clothes, papers, garbage all over the place. He still has term papers he forgot to grade under the seats. Riddler HATES his car, with a passion

- Riddler has gone through the pain and suffering to teach all the rogues how to use discord, he had once hoped it would make their crimes more efficient. They have a group chat but it's mostly suffering on his end as all chaos ensues

- Scarecrow owns a Halloween train village he has set up in one of his lairs. It plays instrumental versions of Halloween songs as it goes around the track

- Joker will push open cups off of tables because he can. He's got the chaotic energy of a cat awake at 3 am

- Riddler and Scarecrow's friendship starts like super formal and co worker like but after like a year and a half, evolves into a weird symbiosis. Jonathan points at random ass objects or books and goes "you" when he's with Edward. Eddie has a habit of fixing or picking debris of Jonathan, usually when they're crimeing. Also one time, they were both startled so bad by Batman that Scarecrow jumped into riddler's arms like Scooby & shaggy, except they both held onto each other for a second before toppling over. Robin then unmasked them like scooby doo

- Harley & Ivy are frequent Panera customers and often get pick up orders there under "codenames" given by Harley. All the workers know who "Plantmamma" and "the quinnanator" are but like they tip great and everyone should get to enjoy soup

- Bane has one CD in his car, it's a 2010 greatest hits CD that someone accidentally left in there. Who you ask? He has no idea

- Harley has a getaway playlist preloaded in her phone for car chases

- Riddler and Scarecrow watch reality tv/game shows together. They binged all of survivor and the amazing race in a year. It was a joke at first but they both got really into the shows. They have both applied to be on amazing race together and unfortunately haven't been called back

- Joker still uses cassettes (and vinyls probably) except he mixes them himself and labels them all stupid titles like "Birthday bash #9", "Baty's mix", "what's the deal with airplane food?", "etc". But he also has a tape recorder and makes notes to himself and labels those ones too, so he gets his personal notes mixed up with his music jams all the time. He goes to put on some epic clown music and instead it's a twenty minute recording he made of himself eating fruit loops

[androxys]

Task Force What? An Incomplete (Yet Still Very Long) Guide to Some of the DCU’s Government Groups [Part 2]

Welcome back to my writeup on 13 of the DCU's government organizations. Recognizing that everything in Part 1 was a ton of information to parse through, here’s a rough timeline of some of the groups’ movements and reorganizations. This time, I’ve put important people’s names in bold so you can track them. Again, much thanks to my editors and beta readers.

Part 1: Organization Descriptions and Histories

Part 2: Timeline

Part 3: Reading Suggestions

1940s-1980s

During WWII, Squadron S earns the nickname “The Suicide Squad” due to its high morality rate. Rick Flag Sr. is brought in to turn the squadron around, eventually making it a highly decorated and effective unit.

Senator McCarthy tries to force the Justice Society of America to unmask. They refuse, instead choosing to go into hiding.

Without the Justice Society to protect the U.S. from “extraordinary” threats, the President authorizes the creation of Task Force X. This group consisted of two wings: Argent and The Suicide Squad.

Rick Flag Sr. is killed in action during a Suicide Squad mission. This version of the Squad is disbanded.

Control, the leader of Argent, kills someone involved in JFK’s assassination. He subsequently directs Argent to go underground.

A new version of the Suicide Squad is formed, led by Rick Flag Jr. This version disbands after a mission in Cambodia. Flag’s supervisor reveals that the Squad was ultimately doomed anyway due to budget cuts.

At some point during the Cold War, Spyral is formed by the U.N., led by Otto Netz.

Project Cadmus is founded.

Sarge Steel becomes a leader in, if not the director of, the Central Bureau of Intelligence.

Katherine Webb Kane becomes Batwoman to try to uncover Batman’s identity for Spyral.

The Agency is founded by Valentina Vostok. The Agency’s work includes Project: Peacemaker.

Roy Harper joins the Central Bureau of Investigation. He meets Jade Nguyen through his work with the CBI.

Katherine Webb Kane is apparently killed by Ben Turner, the Bronze Tiger, while he is under the control of the League of Assassins.

Otto Netz is revealed to be a double agent and is imprisoned.

Mr. Bones is a quasi-member of Infinity Inc., legacy heroes springing from the Justice Society. 

1980s-2000s

Amanda Waller presents her plan to reactivate Task Force X. This new Suicide Squad will use supervillains for high risk, covert missions. The Agency will be brought into Task Force X and subsequently reorganized as Checkmate, though Project: Peacemaker remains independent.

Rick Flag Jr. is made field leader of the Suicide Squad. Ben Turner, seeking atonement, becomes his second in command.

Sarge Steel is officially the Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Harry Stein is made King of Checkmate.

Amanda Waller and her Suicide Squad discover the remenants of Argent. With the majority of its members gone, Argent is officially declared to be disbanded.

The Janus Directive occurs. Massive reorganizations happen. 

Task Force X is dissolved as an umbrella organization. 

Amanda Waller is left in charge of the Suicide Squad. 

Harry Stein remains as King of Checkmate, but they are forced to relocate. Project Peacemaker is incorporated into Checkmate. 

Sarge Steel is made the Director of Metahuman Affairs, and is the direct supervisor for all other metahuman related agencies. He continues to oversee the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Amanda Waller disbands her Suicide Squad.

After the death of Superman, Project Cadmus tries to clone him. This results in the creation of Superboy.

Project Cadmus fires “mad scientist” Dabney Donovan.

A “clone plague” begins to affect Project Cadmus creations. This is revealed to be the creation of Dabney Donovan, who kills Paul Westfield.

Mickey Cannon becomes the new head of Project Cadmus. He keeps Dabney Donovan as an imprisoned scientific advisor and brings in geneticist Serling Roquette.

Harry Stein resigns as King of Checkmate. Phil Kramer and Kalia Cambell are made King and Queen, respectively.

Roy Harper leaves the CBI.

Mr. Bones is made the Director of the Department of Extranormal Operations.

Cameron Chase joins the Department of Extranormal Operations.

The Department of Extranormal Operations subcontracts A.P.E.S members Donald Fite and Ishido Maad for a recovery mission.

Lex Luthor becomes president. 

Amanda Waller replaces Sarge Steel as Secretary of Metahuman Affairs in the Luthor Administration.

Knightwatch, a more militaristic branch of the Department of Extranormal Operations, protects the U.S. President from metahuman threats.

Director Bones manipulates the Justice Society into going against Kobra on the DEO’s behalf. This is not well received by the JSA.

Lex Luthor starts the Human Defense Corps to try to build a non-metahuman response team to extraordinary threats.

The Central Bureau of Investigation is absorbed into the Department of Extranormal Operations.

Sarge Steel becomes the head of the Department of Metahuman Affairs, a subdivision of the DEO.

Sasha Bordeaux is recruited into Checkmate by Jessica Midnight.

David Said is promoted to King

Helena Bertinelli is blackmailed by David Said into accepting a position as a Queen in Checkmate.

Lex Luthor leaves the White House. Amanda Waller subsequently leaves her position as Secretary for Metahuman Affairs.

Director Bones and Cameron Chase recruit Kate Spencer, the Manhunter, to work for the Department of Extranormal Operations.

Maxwell Lord becomes Black King of Checkmate.

Infinite Crisis happens. 

Maxwell Lord kills Ted Kord once Kord uncovers Lord’s plot to use Checkmate against metahumans. 

Sasha Bordeaux sends Batman evidence of Kord’s death, leading Lord to activate the OMACs to try to exterminate all Checkmate agents and metahumans on Earth.

Maxwell Lord is killed by Wonder Woman.

One Year Later

After Checkmate is rechartered as a U.N. organization, Amanda Waller is made White Queen. Due to her involvement in the Luthor White House, the U.N. only agrees to let Waller into Checkmate if she does not run operations. This means she cannot run any operations. The other initial leaders of this new Checkmate are Sasha Bordeaux, Alan Scott, and Taleb Beni Khalid.

Wonder Woman joins the Department of Metahuman Affairs in her new identity as Diana Prince.

Alan Scott resigns from Checkmate, tapping his Bishop–Michael Holt–to be the new White King.

Despite being prohibited from running operations, Amanda Waller reactivates a Suicide Squad and begins Operation: Salvation Run.

Once other Checkmate officials find out what Amanda Waller is up to, she is forced to resign from Checkmate. However, by that point, most supervillains had been deported via Operation: Salvation Run.

Squad K is developed out of the Human Defense Corps to specifically deal with Kryptonian threats.

After the events of Brightest Day, Maxwell Lord returns to life. He erases most of the world’s memory of him and begins a discrediting campaign against Checkmate in an attempt to regain power.

Talia al Ghul creates the Leviathan Organization. She frees Otto Netz from his imprisonment so that he can assist Leviathan.

Batman Incorporated begins to move against Leviathan, clearing the organization out of St. Hadrian’s Finishing School for Girls.

Damian Wayne kills Otto Netz to save Batman from a trap.

The New 52 Happens

Spyral takes control of St. Hadrian’s

Katherine Webb Kane reveals that she faked her death to lead Spyral in secret.

A.R.G.U.S. is founded to support metahumans at the federal level.

Dick Grayson is unmasked as Nightwing, and is recruited by Helena Bertinelli to be an agent of Spyral.

Bertinelli and Grayson leave Spyral. Tiger becomes the new Patron of Spyral.

[pxper-cranes]

Meddling Kids Redesigns

It took a while, but I finally finished all four designs of the main gang. There are still some tings I would change if I were to redesign them again, just by seeing all the other ones on tumblr.

I'll do some headcannons here, and maybe draw them again with plot ideas for a fictionalised series I would make with them.

Fist of all, they would start out as high schoolers, then go into univertity after. either way they would all be adults when the film starts

None of these guys are cishet or neurotypical sorry slays but you cant tell me otherwise

Thirdly, these guys are FRIENDS. they CARE about each other. some have been besties for years others were hard and fast ride or dies but they all really care for one another

They would initially start out unmasking people in monster costumes, but there would definitely be an overarching plot that is defiantly supernatural. by midway through season two, the monsters of the week would be real more often than not, and the gang has to turn to more spooky ways of dealing with them

Aight so

FRED

This man HAS to be nice, and reasonably stupid. He was a himbo Blueprint and we must make sure he stays that way

I want to make him into theatre tech and stuff, which he uses to debunk the monsters and point out all the techniques in the 80s horror movies he likes to watch with the gang.

I'd also say he was a prolific camper and scoutgoer as a child, and intends to work as a camp counsellor once he graduates for a little while

because of this hes pretty much a survival expert and gets pretty intense whenever they find themselves in the woods.

while he is strange himself he still is a leader for the group, and plans a lot of their moves on cases.

He and Daphne start the show dating and they are madly in love with each other, and are the bestest of friends. Fred is the more puttogether in the group though, and regularly has to stop daphne from comitting crimes like breaking and entering or simply trying to beat the monster over the head with a bat

DAPHNE

This version of Daphen would just be a pretty unhinged girlboss. she is the part of the gang who is just itching for a fight half the time, so shes been designated team muscle.

Her family is extremely rich, and while they don't really like her pastimes of going out and solving mysteries, but those funds are the thing keeping the gang going, and funding their trips, as well as bail when they get caught investigating some abandoned house or something.

She is really into fashion, specifically 70s style clothes, and spends a lot of time at home making her own clothes and things for others.

alongside that she is really into journalism, so much so that she practically runs the school newsletter when in high school, and runs it through her brilliant people skills. she intends to go to university to do a media and communications degree.

but shes also regularly unhinged and the fisrt one in the gang who would get into a brawl with a monster if given the chance. shes like a black belt in karate at least, and can definitely ride a motorbike.

I think she would encourage Fred's traps in their cases but if she was left alone she would just use a crowbar to solve her problems.

VELMA

This Velma is a todal dork. she is such a nerd its funny, bun in a way ehre the audience laughs with her. let her talk endlessly about her academic interests and cut back to everyone else dumbfounded.

Also my version of Velma isn't mean in any way. While she can be dry, witty or packed with smart comebacks, she is rarely intentionally cruel.

She doesn't believe in the supernatural at the beginning of the series, but she desperately wants to believe in everything. Cryptids, monsters, aliens etc (She was one of the kids that cried when they made Pluto not a planet anymore)

because of her eagerness to investigate she is practically uncarable, and more interested in anything spooky than she is frightful, which could be used for some good gags, especially since she never realises that she is ever out of her element

Velma brings out the nerdier side of all her friends too. she gets Fred talking about traps and survival skills, Daphne on about fashion and law, and Shaggy talking about food and films.

SHAGGY & SCOOB

Scooby doo is Shaggy's assistance dog, and that's how he is allowed to go wherever the gang does.

I've got some lore ideas about how he talks and stuff, which is basically the same as mystery inc plus some inspiration from the Magnus Archives but I'll probably talk about it another time.

I was thinking it might be funny if he talked kinda like puppycat from Bee and Puppycat, but that's just a thought, all I'm going to say is that's not a normal dog.

Shaggy also comes from a wealthier family but nowhere near as rich as Daphne. His parents really tried to shelter him as a kid after something happened in his childhood (IDK what but it was spooky) and ever since he's craved the independence that he gets with the gang

He has been friends with everyone the longest. I assume he went to a summer camp with Fred when they were little, met Velma at some kind of convention and lived close to Daphne.

He has tons of random skills and knowledge about pretty much anything. hes a trivia god and there could e a running gag that he went to a bunch of summer camps too, but for weird and niche things. he's also the kind to binge read wikipedia articles at 3am

I think we would be really into films, specifically horror and pulp films from the 70s - 90s. He probably has an interesting relationship with horror, scaring easily but still doing it for the thrill.

He also implores that in their mysteries, pointing out a bunch of the technical clues with Fred. He probably really likes mystery solving because it gives him that reassurance and control when they finally unmask them. I'm sure he starts to crack a little once they start going up against real monsters.

Hes also a really good cook and makes great playlists.

[anhed-nia]

I'm sorry about this post. It's really long and I don't know if I had a point to make! But I didn't realize I was maybe just torturing myself and others until I was neck deep in it, and now I feel obligated to post it due to sunk cost fallacy. Sorry again. I guess this is how you find out who your real friends are.

In the pursuit of my masochistic project of understanding the enduring Phantom of the Opera phenomenon, last night I spontaneously went to a rep screening of Joel Schumacher's Oscar-nominated 2004 adaptation. This was a singalong audience participation type of thing, which I would usually avoid at all costs especially for something I have no emotional investment in, but it was just too strange that it was randomly happening while I'm in the middle of this assignment, so I went! We all got fake roses and Phantom masks and rubber bracelets that say OPERA GHOST and little artificial candles to light up during the big chandelier scenes, and there was a singing contest before the movie started and I almost had a panic attack, but I managed to maintain my sense of humor. Apparently the climate control was totally broken and it was oppressively hot in the house, to the point that I wound up sitting there in a painted-on Uniqlo undershirt for most of the movie, and I couldn't bring myself to get dressed again for about half an hour after it was over. I walked down to the bar attached to the theater where the queen running their drag bingo night and the bartender were laughing about how they should leave the heat blasting because everyone was buying a lot more drinks. The bartender quizzed us drinkers about which theaters were we in and were they hot; I said "This is not an outdoor shirt!" and everyone laughed. I'm so glad I wasn't wearing a weird bra.

Anyway.

It would be too much to say I had high hopes for the Schumacher PHANTOM, but I had a certain amount of optimism about it; he seemed like a really good choice for this irredeemably kitschy product, but the truth is that the movie is completely neutered. It really needed some of that BATMAN FOREVER juice, but the whole thing just has no energy. Apparently Andrew Lloyd Webber had "complete creative control" and I think it really shows, it's very limp and undistinguished, and simultaneously pretentious and stupid. Sometimes things can be described as "lavish" because they are so exquisitely realized, and sometimes they are "lavish" on account of the fact that they are just extremely busy, even though no single detail rises to the surface as memorable or remarkable. Even the chandelier, which is as much a staple of this story as the mask, is just not that impressive. There it is, a big old chandelier, it's round and it's shiny and you know exactly what's going to happen to it.

Any comparison with the 1925 Lon Chaney version is inevitably unflattering; the costumes are bad, the staging is boring--I mean there is just no excuse for a big Hollywood production to NOT go ham on the masquerade ball, WTF?!--and of course, the Phantom himself is really uninspiring. The most important part of any Phantom iteration is the unmasking, and this movie has TWO (2) whole unmasking scenes and both of them suck! We all know that no Phantom design has been remotely as good as Chaney's nearly 100-year old version, but still, Joel Schumacher has worked on movies with some really freaky makeup effects, he should have given us something better than this. The whole thing just feels like they were trying as hard as possible not to surprise or offend anyone. I blame ALW.

I see this image and I hear wind whistling through their ears.

The problem with the unmasking sceneS here (besides the lack of visual impact) is that they both feel really unmotivated. Actually, this is almost ALWAYS a problem. It's the biggest moment in the story and you shouldn't be asking yourself WHY it is happening. Plus, the reason why it is happening lies with the heroine Christine, and if your main character's motivations for doing something so outrageous are unclear or uncompelling, then your whole story is in trouble. As a viewer you can tell yourself that she does it because she is overwhelmed by curiosity, or overpowered by a compassionate urge to see the Phantom as he is, or that she sees the unmasking as a way of defanging her captor...but you shouldn't have to tell yourself all that stuff. The movie should tell you. And who the fuck is Christine anyway, shouldn't we know? In other versions Christine is so devoted to her career that she readily sacrifices her love life and embraces the absurdity of a sort of spirit of opera communicating with her and guiding her path. Some versions dramatize the conflict between her monastic commitment to opera and her desire for real relationships. In the AWL version, Christine is chiefly devoted to getting attention. She falls in love, from minute to minute, with anyone who looks at her long enough. She's in love with her dead dad, so she's just frantically in search of a living boyfriend and she seems pretty indiscriminate about it. It's kind of gross and pathetic and it makes it really hard to care about her or the burning question of which boyfriend will she choose.

I've never said this before in my entire life, but Minnie Driver is the best thing in this movie--followed by the old queens who take over the theater, followed by all of the bit players, followed by, at the very bottom, the main cast. None of the leads are really inspired casting choices, but it's hard to blame them for their output because there is nothing they could possibly do with such empty roles. Who is Christine? The girl who has to pick a boyfriend. Who is Raoul? The guy who wants to be Christine's boyfriend. Who is the Phantom? The other guy who wants to be Christine's boyfriend. I mean there's this brief, grotesque excuse made for what the Phantom's problem is, but it comes far too late and explains too little. It just boils down to ye olde "not getting laid drives you nuts, so we should be afraid of ugly people." There are no personalities to be found here, and casting generically pretty actors of no distinction really hurt things in the characterization department.

Full disclosure though: I'm very faceblind. I have a lot of trouble identifying actors, and sometimes I can't even tell people apart within one movie. So, because I didn't look up very much about this production going in, I was sitting there for at least 90 solid minutes constantly thinking:

Is that Patrick Wilson? That's Patrick Wilson. It is, right? Patrick? Wilson? Yeah no it definitely is. Like for sure. Right? PaTRICK? WILson??? Pa.........Wi........

At a certain point after I finally accepted that it was probably him I just started laughing every time I saw him. But to be totally fair to ME, this presentation barely resembles a real live person:

And that hair is unacceptable. I'm sorry, Patrick Wilson. It's not your fault. I really liked the INSIDIOUS sequel you directed even though no one else did, so I'm sure we can be special friends.

The main effect of the Schumacher/ALW PHANTOM was...making me really aware of how much I like the Menahem Golan one with Robert Englund. Really! I thought I didn't like it. I know I saw it when I was young, when I had major league Freddy Kreuger fever (worse than now, somehow), so it would seem like if it didn't get its hooks in me then, it never would. But now that I have sat through...many Phantom iterations, I have become aware that it is genuinely one of the better attempts on the story. It has a lot of personality! It's trashy and juicy and a lot of fun. It even looks pretty good sometimes! I fondly remember specific costume details, which I cannot say about the big expensive ALW one. I'm not here to tell you that it's a great example of cinema or something, but it is vastly more entertaining than much of what's been done with this story by more reputable people. You'd think it would be hampered by the lack of a proper mask, but the gory unmasking scene is spectacular, AND it gets around the question of why Christine unmasks the Phantom which has not been answered satisfactorily by almost any movie. I was pining for the Englund edition for all 2.5 hours of this ALW debacle. I was even pining for Jill Schoelen as Christine! Not that I have a problem with Jill Schoelen, she's very charming. It's just that I hate POPCORN, which she stars in and which is itself a kind of Phantom adaptation. I'm not watching it again, though, no matter what. My agita.

[serenofroses]

What backstory do you imagine for your Jadus?

thank you for the ask, anon. I wasn't sure whether to answer this or not after my self-doubt with my creativity.

but, I want to remind and emphasises that my version of Jadus are strictly canon divergent. some elements from canon ingame are also adopted into mines. but I'm afraid my ideas for characters are.... underwhelmingly undeveloped.

my design of Jadus (unmasked & masked). she/her and they/them pronouns.

Jadus is is half pureblood, half zeltron. Born as a legitimate and middle child to the Sith Emperor and an unnamed Zeltron bride. Their mother, alongside with two other brides, was unknowingly killed when they were a child. This makes Jadus one of the three Heirs with royalty blood but their gender was hidden from society (except Marr and Ania).

Jadus is also a (Force) Vampire. (rather than Eldritch horror being, sorry guys, I really tried but nothing screams out to me based on my preferences on what I looked for).

worth mentioning to above as a Vampire that one of their darkest ability was to force to drain the energy out of their opponent to channel their power or force them to feel exhausted and summon the shadow tendrils to restrain their opponents.

I headcanon them being a mixture of both Assassin and Sorcerer wielding double bladed lightsaber and mastering the skills of stealth, teleporting and shadow essences.

Spent their childhood and early adolescent years on Nathema. Why? Because dear old father fears them more than their sisters. The Sith Emperor was deeply afraid of their immense powers for a reason. It was revealed by the Servants that Jadus was considered the strongest Sith.

Jadus had more claim on the throne than their older sister, which caused a rift between Acina and Jadus as the two did not get along. Lachesis had tried, and again, get them to cooperate so they can dethrone their father altogether but Jadus knew better despite their claims they were not loyal to their father.

Their time on Nathema while growng up was... not pleasant. They were a victim of being subjected to tortures and abuse by Sith Overseers and zealots. There was implications that Jadus had killed a few of them after tapping into their dark powers.

A Sith oracle oversaw their trainings and encouraged them to embrace the darkness. Though, the only reason they had a pale skintone was due to the dark side corruption and exposure to Nathema's horrors, which had also enchanced their powers.

Transitioned with a top surgery before they became Darth Jadus.

Met Marr on the Sith Fortress while completeling their trainings. They two sorta became acquainted and known each others' identity.

Fast forward couple of years, Jadus had worked from within the shadows, favouring their time and attention on Intelligence. The Head of Imperial Intelligence had taken an interest in Jadus and choose them as their assistant. There, Jadus began to slowly plot and scheme against their father and his loyalists.

They ignored the suitors asking for their hand in marriage. Jadus killed them as the result of it. Though, many civilains and Siths were skeptical whether Jadus was married or not rumours despite Acina and Lachesis were married. // this was something I'm still debating about. if so, Jadus would had been put through Force Marriage by the Sith Emperor's doing by having the Dark Councillor for Imperial Intelligence as their spouse. Jadus was peeved about this. Though, the marriage was short lived.

Before Sacking of Coruscant, Jadus was approached by Overseer Ragate about a Sith tomb promising secrets and visions. Out of curiousity, Jadus went to seek out the tomb within the Korriban wilds. They soaked themselves in a bloodbath and received a vision that foretold them of a future that they claimed the Sith throne with a young sith hybrid agent with red hair by side supporting their ideals and goals to change the Empire.

Around the same time as Treaty of Coruscant formed and when Ania got accepted into Intelligence academy, Jadus poisoned the Dark Councillor, who was loyal to the Sith Emperor, and ascended a seat to the Dark Council. At this time, Jadus was distant with the Dark Council while also searching for the agent they saw in their vision.

five or seven years later, varying on my timeline revision, Jadus finally found Ania, being a new member of the Intelligence and analyise her, they secretly began to hand out assignments to Keeper reserved for her before they can meet her properly.

one of their hobbies was to attend Sith Opera and/or masquerade ball as a pasttime. They found.... comfort in it. we can't explain why.

cue the snippets I've written so far. Jadus became the tertiary main character of Imperial Agent and one of the legacy's main characters.

end. // this is as far i have got for them and my brain is mush on other details i'm missing.

... i hope this does the ask justice on the backstory I imagine for my Jadus. (sweats anxiously)

[ethicallysourcedhumanmeat]

I think a thing I've never really considered, as an ND person, when it comes to masking and maintaining close friendships is like there's sometimes a selfishness to being completely myself.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, we all deserve the safety and freedom to be ourselves! I think that there is maybe still like a level of conderation that, for myself at least, I need to be aware of.

I've been sort of overanalyzing a friendship after a kind of situation arose because I noticed a pattern. I always like to address situations and be aware of what is causing an issue and like how to correct it from either end.

It's a really dear friendship and we have struggled a few times in different but similar ways and I think in the end it comes down to me and being totally unmasked and as a result there’s a sort of selfishness that happens that I need to be more accountable for.

I don't know really if I have exact words for it but I think like, yes masking is self preservation but I know when I mask there’s a level of awareness I dont possess otherwise and I started thinking that rather than thinking of it like putting on a mask its more layering for cold weather.

So perhaps instead of removing all my layers just because I am safe with someone I think maybe I should consider that person and if it's respectful of Them or their situation to remover all my outside layers.

like I vocal stim, but I mask that with most people. If I'm with a safe person who may have a sensory issue with a sound I should leave that layer on because thats respectful.

I think in a childish way, and without intending to, I've left responsibility on friends I'm comfortable to be with unmasked that's unfair to them. Like an unconscious expectation to be reminded of plans. With work or school or other things I'm more likely to immediately set reminders but I think with close friends i relax/don't rush because 'they'll remind me if i forget the reminder' and that's not super fair if forgetting is happening 50% of the time.

I guess the catalyst to this thought process was thinking about the 'mental load' conversion around wives and husbands and weaponized incompetence bc sometimes the symptoms of my adhd will mirror that and I think there is a bearing of a mental load associated with caring for someone with executive dysfunction at the very least and like what's the solution to that.

because its seems unfair to just expect that from a person you care about but the reverse seems unfair also so what's the happy medium and I think personally its less thinking of my ND as 1 mask i put on and take off and rather each trait is a separate layer, and paybe something things come in pairs like boots and gloves.

So I started to think, if I'm safe with this person and I can take off all those layers with them, they've even said so. Maybe they've even offered to turn the heat up if Im cold so i can take my sweater off.

But maybe I notice they're uncomfortable with the heat turned up, even tho they offered so next time i just keep my sweater on and maybe some days i make an excuse to keep my hat on you know?

Because yeah it's nice to pull all the layers off but it's not always respectful or necessary (or even fair) to expect people to take on that version of me 100% of the time. Even if they say its ok.

I guess all that to say I think as a neurodivergent person that the key to maintaining friendships is the ability to be completely yourself with someone but being respectful of the middle ground and trying to find the balance between them.

[toxicanonymity]

is there anything u wont write about?

Great Q, thank you for asking and I'm kinda figuring that out as I go.

I may not respond to all asks or I may be slow to respond but it doesn't mean I don't like your idea. Please think of it as more of a suggestion because I can't do them all - i wish I could 😞 I may not do it and if I do, it could take forever or be soon. There are many factors. But I promise i still took a moment to appreciate the fact that you would ask me. It means a lot. 💕 What I AM into

NO GO LIST for requests ⬇️

(very unlikely to write upon request for various reasons)

Fluff, Emotional hurt/comfort

Slashers in relationships, Michael Myers talking, Michael unmasked, fluffy pre-slash Corey

Threesomes, group sex. They're just too time consuming :(

Animal hurt/death

Long fics / elaborate ideas with lots of plot or details. I have to get in a natural flow and rarely even use an outline of my own lol.

Specific reader qualities (like body type or fem/masc).

Giving a joel a specific fetish or revolving a whole character around a fetish. (adding this bc high volume and I do a small % of them)

Period sex because to me it's no different from regular sex.

Songs, unless I happen to already know it and be into it.

Niche stuff that doesn't strike my fancy or that I don't know much about.

Characters I don't have interest in, ability, etc

Characters (or their actors) that feel too young for me to write. I'm in my 30s (i saw MCR live in 2004).

Pedro himself (includes HCs/speculation) or other contemporary real people. I need to be able to get into a character's head and make it my own.

Pregnancy, babies, children

ABOUT

I wish I could do more of them, y'all have sooo many great asks.

It's not first come first serve. my writing approach is intuitive and i can't force it. I work on requests that fit what i'm in a good headspace to write. I also may prioritize based on ease; how hot it is to me; appeal to the rest of you; whether the fandom is oversaturated with it; whether i've already done something similar

You should read through my library before requesting to make sure you're okay with the type of stuff I post because I could take your request anywhere.

If I have requests that are similar OR that I think would work really well together (like make each other hotter), I might combine them so make sure you follow me in case yours is answered as part of another one.

I love that I get so many asks for my existing versions of chsracers / joelkémons, but if I do it, it's not always going to be the Joel you ask for.

Why I still welcome asks despite having more than I can do

A hot ask can come in at any moment that's such a good fit that I can jump right on it and bang it out. These may be "easy" or especially motivating for me personally. Examples: free use, movie night, Instagram (spawned stepdad!Joel), thighs out (bf's dad), Aches. . we wouldn't have any of those if I did asks first come first serve or had closed my inbox to catch up.

An ask may come in that gives me inspiration on an "old" one, and I can do them together. This happens regularly.

Some of the asks in my inbox are ones where I either haven't gotten inspired or haven't figured out how to do it without making it long w/ significant effort and sacrificing our ongoing stories.

I appreciate y’all being so supportive and trusting me in where to focus my effort. I strive to do ones I think y'all will like & that I can do well.

Did you get my request?

Where's my request?

Why don't you put more detail in everything?

[static-sulker]

The Process of Drawing all Nine Mercs (engineer and medic)

Im currently working on a new study for the characters, Im not done yet but I just wanna make sure Im not just dead quiet for a bit. I've gotten Sniper, Spy, Medic and Engie kinda sorted down to designs I really like. Im currently fixing up my Scout, Pyro and Solider drabbles, which I'm pretty confident with in Solider's case. Pyro is a bit harder with the face shape and the idea of the unmasked version which I really want to get right. I'm then probably going to do a study on Demoman and finally Heavy, which is the one Im not as excited about. Demoman does seem pretty enjoyable with how cosmetics make his hair but heavy is my fear right now. He has a very specific head shape and overall model for the face that I want to emulate in my style which may be pretty hard to get through with how I work with anatomy. While I'm taking my break, I wanna talk a bit on my hopes for the designs and overall notes on each of their designs. (I also will be making a big reference sheet for them all when I'm done with all 9 mercs).

Engineer

I adore Engineer and with him being my favorite character in the series, I wanted to get his design very specific for me. I wanted to create a model and almost a story for Dell in a way that emulated his character in a good way that wasn't too overdone or simple. One of the only "issues" I had to work with was the jump with hairstyling. I work with big hair and normally have characters gain mullets or longer hair when I flavor them (COUGH sniper COUGH) and the common choice of no hair for Dell is something I wanted to keep. It was easier after I formed and worked my art style into something that could work with a bald character, I think. My big piece that changes my design of Dell from others is his scars. If you couldn't tell from my work, I love drawing scars, and each of my final designs for each have very specific scars or bruises that really enwrap the character they sit upon. His main scar is his right eye having been caught in a severe explosion from an enemy demomans shot on his nearby sentry. This falls into the bond and story I want to give between both Ludwig and Dell, being one of their main bonding moments in my own personal canon. That scar in my opinion really personalizes his design in such a way that It can make him stand out from the original design but still showing his personality. His rather bubbling passion in battle that keeps him on the enemy line, with his sentry being placed in the perfect position to attack. He needs modifications, he needs upgrades. He cannot just be simple. He needs to be perfect, but that is always settled by his own personality and humbleness. I like to think he has a cracking, explosive point that breaks his normal attitude into something darker in battle, which I really like the idea of. Moving on from the main scars, I have a few other things that I like added to his design.

two slashes on his lower chin that creep up his lip. Spy encounter.

He has a series of soft freckles around his body, which appear more on his arms that face but still are apparent to a keen eye

READING GLASSES! He wears them sometimes, normally substituted for his goggles, but he wears reading glasses and I adore it

A lil tooth gap or a snarl tooth, which I really enjoy...It's a guilty pleasure to give all my characters teeth gaps(undecided if either one OR both)

Medic

Medic is another one of my really top tier characters, and I just love everything about him. His voicelines and overall demeanor that he just radiates is such a sinister and interesting energy that I needed to get down on paper. The issue for medic was probably his maturity. Less on his actually maturity, but in his overall body. My older style didn't focus on older or middle-aged characters all that often, radiating on a more softer and youthful body shape. The shape of his face was something I really needed to master, and I really enjoyed my time getting his overall silhouette. A LARGE shoutout to @archiarthur in being one of my biggest references to get his overall appearance and a lot of my reference besides his actual game models! It was a major help and I love your work :D! Anyways, back to medic. Ludwig overall is one of the designs i've gotten very comfortable with. His main design is good enough as it is, and really depicts exactly what I enjoy from him. The design is something I didn't want to falter with too much in my tranfer from screen to paper. He has a very specific smile that I wanted to bring over, making my usual flavor for teeth impracticalities like chips, dents, or any form of misshapen become harder to get across. I went more into the clothing or situation for the real flavoring when it came to my medic drawings, and how he held himself. I wanted to give him more moments with his birds, and with the power of art, I get to make infinite amounts of moments with his lil babys. Besides context and overall clothing hes not too overly flavored, just given a bit more hair, sometimes given larger or chained glasses which overall is never a permanent addition to his design, and some smaller things? His design isn't too overally added on but I do love drawing him and gotten into a real good groove with the design so uh yippie!

[travlersjoy444]

Revelations (pt.6)

 TOH Hunter/Golden Guard x reader

 Masks and Bets part six, in which...things happen.

Masks and Bets (Part 1)

Masks and Beasts (Part 2)

Masked and Beat (Part 3)

Masked (and Unmasked) On the Seas (Part 4)

Word count: 4k

*******

The Golden Guard was holding my hand. 

  Well, someone who looked like me. Same mask, same hair color, same height and body type… 

  “(Y/N), please. The Emperor is dangerous, you have to escape with me!” He begged.

  …What?

  “Adam, we both know I can’t. The curse is getting more powerful, and besides- if we leave, he’ll just- make us again. And again, and again, and again…” Not-(Y/N) answered. 

  (Who’s Adam?!)

  “Well- we can save them!” He said, pulling away. “Somehow.” He paused. “Actually, I don’t know if we can. I hate kids.”

  Not (Y/N) snorted. “But regardless of the theoretical future Grimwalkers, I’m still cursed, Goldie.”

  “We’ll find another option!” Said the Golden Guard desperately.

  “What other option do we even have?!” Fake (Y/N) snapped. “Do you think I haven’t already tried?!”

  Adam hung his head, leaning against the wall.

  Fake (Y/N) softened, reaching towards him. “Hey. I know you want to leave- I do too. We just need to…to find another way. Somehow.”

*******

  My eyes flew open. A dream.

  A really freaking weird dream, but not too weird considering the events of yesterday…

  ‘It all starts with Adam, of course....but we'll get there soon.

  Hi, I’m (Y/N) (L/N), and I think I know too much.’

  That journal. 

  Wait, I remember the journal! Terra’s tea…didn’t work?

  I stood up, head spinning. ‘Adam’. Adam, Adam, Adam…’It all starts with Adam’.

  Yeah, my life just got a little stranger. 

  I sighed, throwing on my cloak. It’s time for some answers.

  Y’know- when I have time. I’m a busy witch! The agenda for today was shockingly another mission assignment. I was supposed to go hunting for palismen with the Golden Guard….

  I frowned as I adjusted my outfit, skipping out on the red lipstick in favor of a mauve-y gloss. Adam was probably one of Goldie’s predecessors, an old Golden Guard. But who the heck was that….version of me? As far as I knew, my job wasn’t a position with predecessors, and plus- why did that (Y/N) look and sound just like me?! Heck, why was that witch literally named (Y/N)?!

  ‘Theoretical future Grimwalkers’...Grimwalkers?...I recognized that term, but couldn’t remember what it was!

  “UGH!”  I yelled in frustration, leaning back on my bed frame to tie my mask. This was so confusing….

  Oh wait. Terra’s tea. 

  It didn’t work this time, as I remembered yesterday’s events clearly, but…who’s to say I didn’t find out some other time only to forget? What if I did know about these witches only for Terra to make me forget?

  The door swung open. 

  “Thorns, are you okay?!” Goldie gasped, running into the room. He grabbed my shoulders tightly, looking me up and down as if to make sure I hadn’t lost any limbs.

  I looked up. “....Yeah? ….Why?”   He shook his head. “Sorry, I just heard you yell and thought…you know what, you’re fine.”

  I smirked. “You were worried about me, weren’t you?”

  “No, I- I was not! I just thought you were probably the only one incompetent enogh to get injured while getting ready in the morning.”

  I grinned. “What can I say, it’s part of the charm. ‘Buy one (Y/N), get unlimited injuries free-’ I’m the total package!”

  He snorted. “Well, Total Package,  you think you’ll manage to get to the other side of the castle without ending up in the infirmary? Because if so, then we might have a chance of getting to the airship intact.”

  “It’s certainly worth a shot.” I said, nodding. “Let us go forth and find out.”

*******

  I sat on the airship, scrolling through Penstagram. Well, I tried to scroll through Penstagram. I kept getting distracted by the questions from earlier… The old Golden Guard, fake (Y/N)...

  The current Golden Guard stood next to where I was sitting, steering the ship and whistling an oddly familiar song.

  He paused for a moment- “Hey, (Y/N), do you think Belos will forgive me for failing our last mission if we’re successful with this?”

  I set down my scroll, looking back at him. “He might.” I lied. “It’s possible, but even if he doesn’t, I think you did well. Regardless of what he says.”

  “That was…oddly sincere.” Goldie said, seeming to smile. “I…Thanks. I appreciate that.”

  I gave a short nod. “Of course, I do still think you’re a loser. You’re awesome, funny, and great at what you do, but you’re an absolute loser.”

  He snorted. “I don’t know if that logic fully lines up.”

  “Screw logic.” I said, returning to Penstagram.

  He shook his head, returning to whistling.

  “Hi-yah!” Yelled a voice.

   I dropped my scroll and reached for my potions bag, facing the threat.

  “...Luz?”

  Goldie turned towards her. “Huh?”

  Shoot- Luz got him with a fire glyph!

  I grabbed his hand tightly, only for the both of us to be rocketed off the ship. I tried to grab the rail, but I missed- Thorns, THORNS!

  Goldie pulled me a bit closer as we fell. “Hey, it’ll be fine.”

  He waved his staff, red energy crackling over us- And we were back on the ship. I sighed in relief, recognizing the dashboard.

  Luz stood at the control panel, right in front of us. “Okay, how do I land this thing? Huh.”

  “Oh, you just pull that cord above your head.” Goldie said. I could practically hear the smirk.

  Luz nodded. “ Thank y- eh?!” 

  Goldie waved. “Hiiiii~”

  I hopped off the dashboard, untangling myself from his cloak, and cast a quick spell- I felt a bit bad for having to tie up Luz, but I’d make sure that she was safe in the end. 

  Luz gasped as the ropes wrapped around her. “Wha- Hey!”

  “Miss me, Noceda?” I teased. She ignored me, glaring at Hunter 2.

  “Why are you stealing palismen, Golden Guard?” She growled.

  “ Frankly,” He shrugged, teleporting over to Luz, “You should be more concerned about yourself. For the crime of rocketing me and (Y/N) off of our own ship, you'll be locked in the dingiest cell in the Conformatorium, for the rest of your sad little life. If I weren’t so skilled, (Y/N)- or me, I guess- could’ve gotten seriously injured! Then you’d be in real trouble, human.”

  Luz scoffed. “Whatever. I’ve  broken out of there like, twice. And I wasn’t even trying to get (Y/N)- I was aiming for you, loser.”

  I smiled. “Then we'll just zap you to dust and throw you into the sea. That better?” I ruffled her hair condescendingly. 

  Luz pouted.

  Goldie nodded. “Good.”

  He returned to steering the airship, pulling me over to stand by him.

  “Are you okay?” He whispered, grabbing my hand.

  “Yeah. How about you?”

  “Thank titan. And yeah, I’m fine.”

  “Good.” I nodded.

  “Say, how did you get back on the ship so fast?” Luz said loudly.

  “Staff.” Goldie grunted.

  Luz grinned. “Cool.”

  A column of ice rose from the ground next to her- an ice glyph, smart move- And knocked the staff off the ship.

  Goldie gasped. “No!”

  Luz smiled smugly. 

  Goldie chuckled sarcastically. “Human, it'll take more than that to thwart our mission-”

  “Do you think that counts as more?!” I said nervously- There was a dragon curling towards us at lightning speed!

  It landed on the ship with a roar.

  Luz jumped back. “What is that?!”

  The dragon began to rip the airship's balloon.

  Shit! I swallowed. I was feeling pretty thwarted.

  Goldie grabbed my hand again as we plummeted towards the ground below…

*******

  “Wake up!”

  I jumped. What was going on?

  I tried to take in my surroundings- Luz was in front of me, and my mask…my mask was gone. Someone was next to me-

  “Wha- you!” Goldie. He was still clutching my hand.

  I turned to face him.

  Oh thorns.

  “C-Cinder?” He said, staring at me wide eyed.

  It was Hunter. My Hunter.

  Same ashy blonde hair, same magenta eyes, same tooth gap…

  He was my Hunter. 

  “Shh!” Luz hissed, putting her hand over his mouth. “Listen. You are a bad person, and I do not like you. But Kikimora is trying to kill you and unfortunately, I'm too nice to let that happen!....Ugh, are you licking my hand?!” She shoved her saliva-covered hand into his face. “I'm trying to help you!”

  “Thanks Luz.” I said shakily, trying to act neutral. 

  Hunter scowled, stepping in between Luz and I. “Why should I believe you?!” He said, shoving her away.  

  “Because…”

  “Just trust her, okay?!” I snapped.

  “Why should I trust her when I can’t even trust you, ‘Cinder’?! How long were you lying to me?!” He said, his voice breaking.

  “Guys! I don’t know what the titan is going on between you two, but Kikimora's dragon is coming!” Luz interrupted.

  Hunter shrugged off his cloak as a diversion, before darting towards Latissa. 

  Luz and I made eye contact uneasily, but followed him.

 *******

  “What’s going on with you two? Last time you guys worked together, you were all finishing each other’s sentences and stuff, but now….Is he mad at you?” Luz frowned. We were in Latissa. Hunter was a few feet ahead of us, mumbling things under his breath, while Luz was looking for answers.

  “It’s a long story.” I scoffed, glaring at him. “But the bottom line is, Goldie and I are in the same boat- but instead of accepting it, he’s being a baby.”

  “Wow, that…doesn’t tell me much!” Luz said weakly.

  I shrugged. I was still a bit too busy thinking about Hunter and Goldie and Cinder to pay attention.

  “I’ll write you a letter about it. Later.”

  Luz nodded. “Cool.”

  I shook my head. “Enough of my drama- have you ever been to Latissa?

  Luz smiled.” Well, I haven't been outside Bonesborough that much- Latissa is so cool!” She paused to see Hunter running ahead. “Wait! Where are you going? Hey man, I just saved your life, the least you could do is tell me your name.”

  He glared at her, scoffing.

  Oh. He was headed over to Police Precinct 206.

  Goldie approached the coven members. “Scouts! Direct us to your communications room. I need to contact the castle immediately.” He slid down his glove, showing the scouts his coven tattoo.

  The taller scout snorted. “Cute. I didn't know kids your age were still into temporary tattoos.”

  The second scout nodded. “Yeah, show us your badge number.”

  Hunter huffed. “I am your superior, and I can prove it!” He turned to Luz. “Staff.”

  “Hmm?” She said, hiding the staff behind her back.

  Hunter stared at her, mortified.

  The shorter scout sighed. “Isn't it a little late for you kids to be outside?”

  “Yeah, go home before we call your parents.” Said the first scout.

  I nodded, ignoring the sounds of Luz and Hunter fighting behind me. “Yes sir. Sorry for my…um…friend’s idiocy, I told him it was dumb- but teenage boys, y’know? So stupid.”

  The scouts laughed. “Well, it certainly makes the job more interesting, kid. Keep your friend out of trouble in the future, ‘kay?”

  “I’ll do my best, sir.” I said with a salute, before I turned to catch up with Luz and Hunter.

  By the time I reached them, Luz was teasing Hunter with his staff from her perch on top of a building.

  “Come on, Golden Guard. Don't you know any, like, levitation spells?”

  Hunter glared at Luz, but looked away.

  Luz pointed at his staff, almost confused. “Are you…powerless without this?”

  He looked back at me helplessly. 

  I crossed my arms immaturely, refusing to help him out. He was being immature, so I’d be immature right back!

  He rolled his eyes, and lept onto a few nearby objects to reach the rooftop. I followed after him, just to see if I could- I reached the top slower than he did, considering I was a bit more cautious, but I was faster at actually pulling myself onto the roof…

  “...You don't tend to think things through, do you human?” 

  I reached the duo, only to see Hunter threatening Luz. I cringed.

  “Goldie, look at the dragon-” I interrupted, pointing past him. Kikimora was perched atop it.

  “So Kikimora was after our catch.” He realized.

  “Seems like none of us want her to win right now.” Luz shrugged. “So, let's work together to take back those palismen.”

  “I’m with Noceda on this one.” I nodded, accepting her handshake. 

  “Then what?” Hunter frowned. “You think we'll just let her walk away with them?”

  “Maybe you won't have a choice!” Luz  grinned, spinning his staff around. “I'm more formidable than you think-” She nearly dropped it over the edge, but caught it again. Hunter looked pissed.

  He rolled his eyes. “I doubt that, but fine. A truce till then.”

  Luz extended her hand, smiling. “Truce!”

  Hunter gave a long sigh, but reached to shake her outstretched hand. She immediately took it away, running it through her hair instead.

  “Too slow.” She smirked, running off with a gremlin laugh. I snorted. Luz was awesome.

  Hunter scowled. “Let's just get this over with…”

*******

  “Hunter,” I hissed as Luz drew her glyphs. “We need to talk later, okay?”

  “Hmm? Is someone saying something? Funny, I don’t hear anything.” He said loudly.

  “You’re not very nice.” I scoffed, flicking his hair.

  He scoffed, and grabbed my shoulder. “Look. I’m kind of mad at you right now, so maybe-”

  I rolled my eyes. “But I didn’t do anything to make you angry!”

  His eyes widened. “You lied to me!”

  “I didn’t know, genius! All I did was change my name to spend time with my friend, how was I supposed to know that my friend was you?!” 

  Hunter froze. “You…you didn’t know?”

  “Of course not!” 

  “Oh.” He said, staring blankly. “Okay! Um…”

  I sighed. “A ‘Sorry’ would suffice, Goldie.”

  He blushed. “Oh- I’m…I’m sorry for getting mad and stuff. I was wrong.”

  Luz looked back to us. “Ooh, are you guys gonna stop being angry now?”

  Hunter scoffed. “None of you business, human-”

  I cut him off. “-I think so, yes.”

  Luz nodded. “Cool. And… I think I’m done drawing these.”

  Hunter looked at the glyphs. “Huh, I've never seen magic like this. What will it do?”

  Luz grinned, happy to explain. “Well, we don't want to spook Kikimora's steed, because it might drop the nest and hurt the palismen! So, using these fire and ice spells, I can command the glyphs to produce a thick mist!”

  “And the sleeping nettles?”

  “They're essential! Combined with the magic mist, it'll create-”

  “A sleep-inducing smoke, forcing Kikimora to land.” Hunter finished.

  Luz and I stared at him in surprise.

  Hunter blushed. “Oh, um, I…I-I read a similar spell in Bones to Earth-”

  “-A Study of Wild Magic! Eda once pickpocketed the guy who wrote it.” Luz grinned.

  “I've never seen glyphs before, but it seems very similar to the elemental magic practiced in the Savage Ages.” Hunter said, studying the glyphs curiously.

  “Really?” Luz said excitedly.

  Hunter grinned. “Actually, not many people know this, but…” He paused. “No. No, no, no, no. This stuff is restricted for a reason. You should forget about it before you're hurt.”

  “Uh huh... Other than Lilith, I've never spoken to someone inside the Emperor's Coven. What made you guys want to join?” Luz asked.

  Hunter sighed, and leaned against the wall next to her. “You were right before. I'm a powerless witch. A lot of my ancestors were. I never thought I'd have a future in a world like this. But then, Belos found me and gave me a staff with artificial magic. He said the Titan had big plans for me.”

  I sat next to him, shrugging. “And I got injured pretty badly about four or five years ago, which caused me to lose a lot of my memories. Belos said that my family had died in the accident, and that he would have his finest scout train me- y’know, Lilith. I’m not sure how much of the story I believe, though…not that I have any reason not to.” (Well…other than the fact that I know Belos is wrong and obviously lying about something.)

  Luz sighed. “Well…At least you guys have your futures figured out now.”

  “At least you can figure out your own.” Hunter responded.

  I raised an eyebrow- I had never heard him express any sort of resentment before- Oh wait. Hunter had always told Cinder that his job was stressful and high-pressure… I guess he had shared it before. Indirectly.

  “Hey!” I jolted up to see Hunter scooting away from a little red bird palisman. “Stop, get away from me!”

  Luz frowned. “He's just being friendly.”

  “I don't care! These things are made from wild magic. It's dangerous.” He hissed.

  The bird, to its credit, looked pretty harmless. It hopped onto his leg, chirping.

  “And does he look dangerous to you?” Luz smiled.

  My eyes widened as I spotted the dragon in the distance, the palismen strapped onto it’s cargo.

  “Guys, I hate to break up this bonding moment, but I think it’s go time.”

  Luz followed my gaze. “Masks on.”

  We pulled up our fabric masks.

  “Once they're surrounded by the smoke, we'll need to stay close to see where they land.” Luz instructed.

  Hunter and I nodded, and to my surprise Luz offered the staff back to Hunter.

  He paused. “Are you sure?”

  “Just take it!” Luz said, shoving it at him as she began to activate the glyphs. The three of us hopped onto Goldie's staff, ready to go after the dragon. 

  The fog began to pour in. “I think it's working.” I muttered.

  Luz activated a light glyph to lead Kikimora in our direction.

  “Stop!” Kikimora yelled, pulling the dragon to a halt. The dragon crashed onto the ground and fell asleep, and Kikimora fell off the saddle and landed on the ground. 

  “The palismen!” Luz exclaimed, hopping off the staff to run towards the cargo.

  “Nice!” I grinned, pumping my arm as she ran ahead.

  “(Y/N)...” Hunter sighed once she was out of earshot, tugging my sleeve. “It’s time.”

  “But-”

  “We need to take her down if we wanna get these to Belos. We both know that, so…don’t make it harder than it has to be.”

  “But- Luz-”

  “(Y/N)...” He stared at me pleadingly. “Do you really think this human is worth whatever punishment we’ll get? You’ve only known her for…what, a few hours? A few weeks if you count the encounter in Simmering Shoals…”

  I sighed. “Hunter….I…I can’t hurt the human. I’ll take the blame with Belos, you’ll get off scot-free. Just don’t stop her.”

  His expression hardened. “I’m afraid I can’t let that happen.” He said evenly, turning towards Luz and the palismen.

  Luz turned to see the staff pointed at her… “Right, I didn't think this through.” She whispered. “Again.”

  She slowly stood up. “So you're really gonna do this? You're just gonna hand all these innocent little guys over to Belos? I know what he does with them. I thought you might've been a good guy. But I guess that was just wishful thinking. You're not my friend, you're just the Golden Guard.”

  Hunter stood there for a few seconds, staff still at the ready, until he stepped away from Luz.

  “My name is Hunter.” 

  “Hunter, look out!” I yelled, raising my fists. A bolt of energy raced towards us, and Hunter blocked it in the nick of time.

  “I can't tell who's there, but I know I've got you!” Yelled the half-asleep Kikimora. She continued to shoot red bolts at us.

  Hunter jumped in front of Luz, blocking another energy bolt. I cast a quick spell to shield myself as I stole Kikimora’s dragon whistle, tossing it to Luz. As Hunter and Kikimora fought, I levitated the palismen back towards the dragon, with Luz following after.

  Kikimora raised her hand to fire at her, but Hunter shoved her back.

  “This is treason against a Coven official!”

  Hypocrite!

  Hunter patted out a tiny flame in his hair, and I used a plant spell to pull her to the ground with vines.

  “I will have your head!” She shrieked.

  A piercing scream cut through the fog- the dragon whistle, I figured. The creature rose into the night sky with Luz on board. 

  With a final counter attack, Kikimora was knocked unconscious. 

  I sighed, watching Luz fly away with the palismen…

  “Belos is gonna be disappointed in me…” Hunter breathed.

  “Hey, we’re in the same boat, Blondie.” 

  “That makes it worse.” Hunter muttered. “I’d really prefer if you didn’t get punished, actually.”

  Oh. ….Oh yeah.

  “Well….The feeling is mutual.” I mumbled.

  He looked back at me, his face reflecting all the nervousness we shared.

  Tonight might not go very well.

*******

  Hunter knelt  in the Emperor's throne room. 

  I stood by his side, prepared for the worst.

  So, you return with nothing.” The Emperor rose from his throne. “Is this the thanks I get for taking you in?”

  “Of course not. I want to help.” Hunter said quickly. “A-A-And if you told me how wild magic did this to you, I might be able to find a-”

  A sharp spike shot through the air, barely missing Hunter's ear. 

  I moved in front of him, spell circles raised, but Hunter gave me a sharp glare. I sighed and moved aside.

  “My apologies. I spoke out of turn. It won't happen again.” He mumbled. “And please ignore my colleague’s…impulsiveness. (Y/N) doesn’t know any better.”

  Belos glared down at us, his eyes resting on me for a bit too long to be comfortable.

  “These outbursts are painful…and so is watching you fail. I know you can do better, Hunter.” He turned towards me again. “And (Y/N)...I think you need a lesson in minding your own business.”

  “Sorry, m’lord. I was kinda busy…y’know, being worried about your abusive habits, sir.” I coughed.

  “(Y/N)...” He said, a dangerous edge to his voice. “Get out.”

  “Gladly.” I spat, as Hunter dragged me towards the door. “And sir-”

  “Shut up (Y/N).” Hunter muttered. “Please.” He shoved the door open, and we exited the throne room.

  “Golden Guard? (Y/N)?” Said a voice as we entered the hallway. Kikimora. “Y-You're alive! I mean, I heard about the crash in Latissa…”

  Hunter smiled smugly. “Luckily, some travelers picked us up out of the wreckage. So we’re actually doing great!”

  I smirked. “Looks like you had a rough night though.”

  Kikimora seethed as we walked away, much to my amusement. 

  Hunter and I reached his room, and he wordlessly let me in.

  “Sorry about…you know, interrupting back there.” I said, standing in the doorway. “I didn’t want him to hurt you.”

  “It’s the curse.” He sighed, flopping onto his bed. “I could help him, if I just knew a little more…”

  “I suppose…”

    There was a chirping sound. Hunter and I turned towards the window to see the palisman from earlier at the windowsill.

  Hunter grabbed it. “Palisman!” He exclaimed, clutching the red bird.

  “It followed us?” I said curiously. 

  It chirped again, and Hunter loosened his grip. “Oh! Sorry.” He frowned, petting its wooden head. “You shouldn't be here. It'd be bad if Belos saw you…”

  “It likes you.” I smiled. 

  Hunter blushed, but shook his head. “It shouldn’t be here…it’s wild magic.”

  Light flashe, and the palisman turned into a staff. It fell into Hunter's hands.

  “Oh!” He jumped. “I was…not expecting that.”

*******

Author's note: Oh Flapjack, we're really in for it now...

Taglist:

@vievi

@generousdoodleforillustration

@harlanfalcon

@ronipiamka

[purplalien8]

🎭 ♾️MIRRORBALL by Taylor Swift is about Autistic masking, struggling to keep up with expectations, kissing up to the neurotypicals and it’s AUTISTIIIIIIC 🙌🏻♾️✨ - warning I fell into a very chaotic mood brace yourself

I will order my evidence from most to least evidence (sort of):

🎵I can change everything about me to fit in - Masking

🎵 I've never been a natural, all I do is try, try, try - MASKING

🎵 I'm still on that trapeze - OMG masking HAAARD

🎵 I'm still tryin' everything to keep you looking at me - MASKING YOUR BUTT OFF FOR SOCIAL APPROVAL u don’t need it Taaay😭

🎵 (For background, don’t @ me) - And they called off the circus, burned the disco down - Disabled people in general were taken to circuses as “freaks” and people would laugh at them. But then they also burned disco, idk maybe they’re just so normal they hate fun😤

🎵When they sent home the horses and the rodeo clowns - YES GO AWAY

🎵I'm still on that tightrope - Nooooo Tay😭😭 She’s still buying into the idea that autistics deserve ridicule because we’re “too dumb” & that we should also try so hard it feels like we’re doing acrobatics in order to MAAAASK

🎵You are not like the regulars - “Wait you’re not ‘normal’ either”??

🎵The masquerade revelers - Love interest is not like the bastard NTs who’d rather see autistics mask💕💕

🎵Drunk as they watch my shattered edges glisten - Either the mask slips (you accidentally don’t mask something) or she’s just hurt from something & it shows because we can’t lieeeee

🎵I'm still tryin' everything to get you laughing at me - MASKIIING to get love interest’s attention BUT I THOUGHT THEY WERENT LIKE THE MASQUERATE REVELEEERS🥺

🎵And I'm still a believer, but I don't know why - She’s thinking a) Maybe I can’t keep up masking, it doesn’t always works, & I might burn out and/or b) What if I don’t need to mask and I was lied to?🤔

I want you to know

🎵I'm a mirrorball - She masks by MIRRORING PEOPLE, ITS A THING & Discloses her autism like “You know that Normie personality you thought I had? Nope it’s just a conglomeration of everyone I’ve ever seen. I’m not like that at all😤😤”

🎵Hush, when no one is around, my dear - Anxiety over people finding out :( Aw Taaay

🎵 Hush, I know they said the end is near - Neurotypicals saying we can’t ever keep a relationship

🎵 You'll find me on my tallest tiptoes - WALKING ON TIPTOE IS A SIGN OF AUTISM

🎵I'll show you every version of yourself tonight - mirroring/imitating as a coping mechanism for masking

🎵I'll get you out on the floor - aka work my brain so hard to get the social & timing right enough for you to actually follow me even though I’ll get an ACTUAL headache

🎵Shimmering beautiful - masking as a Grill (girl)

🎵And when I break, it's in a million pieces - hypersensitivity & emotional regulation, meltdowns

🎵Hush, I know they said the end is near - people thinking YoU cAn NeVeR kEeP a ReLaTiOnShIp

🎵But I'm still on my tallest tiptoes - unmasking bc she’s being vulnerable??

🎵 Shinin' just for you - NO U DERSERVE IT TOO

🎵 Hush, when no one is around, my dear

🎵 You'll find me on my tallest tiptoes - TIPTOOOOE

🎵 Shinin' just for you - NO TAY, LIVE FOR YOURSELF NOT JUST FOR THEEEEM

🎵 Hush, I know they said the end is near - MAYBE ITS NOT

🎵 But I'm still on my tallest tiptoes - YES GIRL YES

🎵 Spinnin' in my highest heels, love - DO IIIIIT

🎵 Shinin' just for you - N O🔥 you were literally almost there Tay!

🎵 Because I'm a mirrorball - BECAUSE I MASK

🎵 I'm a mirrorball - I MAAAAAAASK

🎵 And I'll show you every version of yourself tonight - I MIRROR IN ORDER TO MASK

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 *yippeeeeeee*

[theartoflovingthomashunt]

Farewell to Hollywood U #8 : A Night to Remember

Art by the lovely and talented @/irdeinfierno (Instagram)

Characters: Thomas Hunt x Alex Spencer (F!MC / OC) Book: Hollywood U (Art from Hunt Date #01, drabble takes place around Date #10) Word Count: ~550 Rating/Warnings: General (fluff) Prompts: @choicesmonthlychallenge HWU ; @choicesaugustchallenge : “you were always going to realize what I am.”

Synopsis: While moving in to his their house, Alex finds a small curious box with something familiar.

[All Thomas Hunt x Alex Spencer Masterlists] [HollywoodU]

"You kept it!" Alex marveled. Her fingers glided across the familiar silver mask in the black velvet box she had discovered while unpacking her stuff in their bedroom. 

"Of course," Hunt stated, joining her in looking at the masquerade mask. "I anticipated there would be future masquerade galas to attend and thought I could utilize it again."

"Is that so?" Her eyes narrowed at him, her lips curling up in a knowing smirk. "I've never seen you wear it since that night."

"No—" He smiled, meeting her gaze. "I suppose that night was one of a kind."

"A night to remember," she agreed.

"You were utterly enchanting." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "You are enchanting. You captivate me completely."

Her finger traced down his strong jaw. "It took you a while, but I knew sooner or later that you were always going to realize what I am.”

His hand cradled hers, holding her there. Something he wished he could have done that night. "And what is that?" 

"Your perfect match!" She chewed her lower lip. "Your...soulmate."

A subtle smile tugged on the corner of his lips. His head shook to the sides. "I never fell prey to the concept of soulmates or 'the one'. The thought that two people could be perfect and completely suited for one another is implausible.” Before she could protest, he continued. “However, with you—I don't know what to say or how to describe it—with you, I feel complete. With you, I met my match. We were never perfect on paper. So much was against us, and so many people said we couldn't work, but here we are. You're the best thing to ever happen to me." His strong hands cupped her face. "Whether it exists or it's a romantic myth, I choose you to be my one." 

Her eyes misted over, but his thumb caressed away each tear as it fell. "I choose you, too. Today and every other day. No matter what obstacles we face. You are my one. Now and always."

Hunt closed the gap between them, kissing her softly. "I love you, Alex, more than I ever imagined possible."

The warmth of his confession tickled her lips as he rested his forehead against hers. "I love you too, my Thomas." She closed her eyes, letting the moment linger, their lips a breath away from one another, but this was enough. Just lost in the comfort of being together. Their noses brushed together as they gazed down at the box still open on the shelf. "It's missing something."

"What?" He questioned, turning to see what she meant. "It looks intact."

"No, not that. Hold on!" Alex quickly shuffled through some boxes, digging through her still-packed items. "Aha! Here it is!" She pulled a blue mask from a satin bag and set it beside Hunt's silver one. "There. That's better."

"A perfect match." Hunt's arm looped around her waist, pulling her in. He brushed a kiss on her temple as they both looked at the masquerade masks, letting the memories of that night dance in their thoughts. "I'll have a new case made to store them both together. They shouldn't be apart."

She interlaced her fingers with his, “and they never will be.”

The lovely artist who took this commission was kind enough to not only give me too backgrounds (one from inside the Masquerade Ball and one on the balcony from the end of the date) but she also gave me the unmasked versions as well! For your viewing pleasure :

Thank you so much for reading and viewing this art. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! Thank you to everyone who likes, comments, and reblogs. I feel like a broken record at this point, but it does mean the world to me. Thank you! 🙏

[wolfgirlguts]

Can you tell us more about your girlfriend? I remember a while ago you said how there is one person who is a better future for you than consuming the world

How did you two meet for example? Do you have any fun stories to share too?

(Unless those are too personal, in which case bonus question: what do you think about keeping items/parts of your prey around after theyve been used up?)

Ah, that would be Aife. She's a beautiful doe, stark white fur and taller than me even if you don't count her antlers. How we met is a funny story, and one I've been meaning to write for a while. I'll get around to it one day. But I can give you the quick version.

See, I'd been smitten with her since before we ever met in person, but that's nothing special. I'd seen her on tv, on the covers of magazines, that kind of thing. She's a celebrity, globe-trotting socialite, way out of my league, you know. Not someone I'd expect to ever meet. But I'd just been hired on at this museum, working security. And she came to a party commemorating a new exhibit. And I was awestruck. Pictures don't compare to the real thing. She really is all she's made out to be and more.

I didn't talk to her at the party, of course. No, I didn't actually meet her until later that night.

She still teases me about it, but I swear I could've taken her. I just got so shocked when I managed to unmask her. I mean, how was I supposed to react? I thought I was wrestling with some random thief, but it was her. And she only needed me stunned for a second to turn the tables.

I think she was flirting with me, even then. She tied me up where I had a perfect view of her while she worked. I watched her deftly disable layer after layer of security like it was nothing. And the way she smiled when she had her prize at last filled me with a longing of my own. I fell in love right then and there.

Anyway, I lost my job after that. Museum couldn't have anyone thinking their state of the art security system was fallible, and with my record it was easy to point the finger at me, say I may have been some kind of inside man. I might've gotten back in my boss's good graces if I told him the thief's true identity, but even if he believed me, why would I want to work for someone willing to throw me under the bus like that? I didn't owe these people shit. And even if I thought I'd never see Aife again, even though our only meaningful interaction had been hostile. . . It still would've felt like a betrayal to give her up.

It was about a week later when she got in touch. Guess she figured we could trust each other after that. She told me she could use some muscle for her next job. And it all just kinda . . . went from there?

To answer your bonus question, oh yeah, I do that ALL the time. Clothes, bones, and various accessories. I've got 'em organized, too. It's a whole system! I don't keep something from everyone I eat, that would be WAY too much. But I do keep something from most of my actual dates, or friends who become food. Especially if I'm asked to. A lot of morsels go down easier if they know I'll hold onto something to remember them by.

[thatadhdfeel]

hi do u have any tips for unmasking?

ive only just been diagnosed (at 20yrs old) and i realised ive been masking like my whole life basically and it’s really negatively impacted my mental health

for me personally it came along with confidence building. i still have to do it sometimes, but i try to be loose in situations where i can. i don't really mask at work, but others kind of see it as endearing and part of my fun personality? lol. there are people that will accept the genuine version of you. and the ones who dont, fuck them, they dont matter. i don't think you can force a change all at once, but perhaps take small actions in your day-to-day that go against the brain-grain. sorry if this doesnt make sense i just had to take 2 lorazepam for a mixed bipolar episode. love and light

[enigmasong]

As much as I enjoyed watching that trainwreck, god, I mourn Overwatch.

That was a game I had so much fun with for so long, years even, and the first game I ever got that into.

It had a great and interesting cast of characters that were mostly fun to play and swap between; what seemed at the time like a potentially engaging epic story (big RIP there); beautiful maps that were... definitely video game levels but they gave a very good impression of a fully realized world; and just a very satisfying casual gameplay loop that just worked very well for me.

Yeah, it had its problems back in the day - loot boxes were a bitch, but take away the push towards gambling addictions it was an ideologically acceptable game mechanic (it's basically the same kind of mechanic that is one of the core Animal Crossing gameplay loops and I like Animal Crossing) - but nothing that truly detracted from it until matchmaker fucked me over a few years in.

And I was on the Xbox version, so you know I didn't have to deal with the toxic side of the playerbase.

And to watch it go down in a Greek Tragedy, sacrificed on the alter of the bottom line, yeah, it's been entertaining as I'll get out, but it's also deeply painful to watch. The broken promises, the kowtowing to authorian governments, the abuse all the goodwill: it hurts. It hurts more than Harry Potter (for me).

And what hurts most of all is knowing that it's us, the people who had no control over the game's murder - the players who poured their time and love into it, the actual game devs whose hard work made the actual game and side content people enjoyed, and the characters themselves (yes, I'm counting this) who may never truly get to have their stories told now - are the ones who suffer over this and the ones who sunk the ship - the investors and higher management who only serve their mindless, soulless god of wealth in disconnected hope feeling something - will get to cash out their checks before the boat they were never even on to begin with and go buy their fifth mega-yacht to pretend their happy.

So pour one out for Overwatch: a pretty good, if sometimes controversial PvP video game that met a terrible fate at the hands of the very system it sought (at least by some interpretations) to unmask.

May all the missteps and disasters it fall squarely under the legacy of Activision-Blizzard, the villains who actually made this shit show happen.

And may Overwatch's own legacy, the one the hard working people who actually made it wished to give us, be its core philosophy:

Never accept the world as it appears to be, dare to see it for what it could be.

That one line truly impacted me when I first heard it. And despite my struggles with my personal life and my inability to crawl my way out of the heap of unwanted toys this twisted society threw me in, those words are still locked into the core of my personal philosophy.

And the world I can see is one where people aren't forced to give their creativity to the lowest bidder and be worked near to death with only the strained hope of their hard work being loved by strangers they'll never meet only see that blood, sweat, and tears left abandoned on the cutting room floor, deemed 'unprofitable'.

A world where everyone can experience art on this scale and every other, and everyone can make it and freely share it with the world without stress.

Because I can see a world where people are allowed to exist as people who can eat and work and love as they please and actually build their communities as is beneficial to them and not just be tools to run a machine that's only function is to keep its tools working.

And as bleak as things look from my lonely bedroom, I know if we can find a way to come together, that world is still very much in grasp.

Yes, we are entering desperate times for it. Yes, at the end of the day, we will likely have to sadly forsake necessary personal morals to depose the cruel cultural morals that rule over us.

But we have nothing to lose but our chains and a whole world to gain.

So I have just one thing to ask:

Are you with me?

[forgetful-river]

Oh. I like writing Arajade with a lot of bantering back and forth because they both read as autistic to me.

Its about being able to trust each other so much that you can let the mask slip and say the smarmy/blunt thing and know that your partner has learned your mannerisms and communication style enough to read it as the playful banter it is and volley back. Jade's masking seems a lot more ingrained bc, ya know, Alternia was much more encouraging of antisocial behavior than human society, but I think you see it slip with Karkat to some extent for other reasons (he's just really good at making people loosen up bc it's like talking to an 11yr old emo when you've reached adulthood, you're able to easily see through the posturing and it puts you at ease. You know they're not actually dangerous bc real, actual dangerous people aren't this loud about it because that's a shit method of reeling in victims) (also he's such a funny little dude. Like how is it this easy to get you in a tizzy???? He makes it so fun to poke him). She's able to be less selfless and aggressively accommodating with Aradia because she can trust Ara to not think badly of her if she's selfish and asks for things from time to time. It's about trusting the other person to still love you if you let your less convenient/meaner personality traits show. It's about letting go of anxiety, not having to worry if you're nice enough or doing enough or saying the expected things.

I always kinda read Aradia's cheerfulness as not exactly fake, but more like an exaggerated version of herself that she slipped into after being freed from her induced depression (being a ghost & robot) as a response/assurance to herself that she doesn't have to live like that anymore, like being able to be that cheerful is very tangible proof that she can actually feel emotions again. Also Aradia being autistic feels really obvious. Like. Look at how absolutely unphased she is by everyone getting weirded out by her love of death and funerals. She's not even registering that everyone else is uncomfy, she's too busy talking ab her special interest. So her being able to relax so much around Jade that she unconsciously unmasks around her is just asjgqjksgakslhdgwjadggal. That's the fuckin dream. They're autistic 4 autistic your honor!!!

Anyway. I'm so sorry I've had Rosemary on the brain lately bc I've been working on a comic with them on and off for a month or two, once I finally finish it you'll get more of your regularly scheduled Arajade content! Also finals have been kicking my ass because of course they have. College can never be easy, even if I'm getting a fine arts degree.