#subject: cain and abel

[meli-meliai]

Angel!Marshmallow x Seth goes HARD

down bad Seth (?

[jollmaster]

(re)design trivia: Alastor's mom

her name is Matilda, and Alastor looks a lot like mom

french creole; white enough not to be subject to Jim Crow laws

below-the-knee skirt, what a shame!

adores red color so much

comfortable leather shoes

jewelry which looks like hunting trophies

the fact that this lady gave birth to Alastor is just a small part of her biography lmao

ran away from home at sixteen with half-black musician, wasn't married and gave birth out of wedlock, — no one would have registered interracial marriage in 1890-1900s,— supported suffragettes, went to jail for a while once (for handing out leaflets), worked as a gigolette for two years, taught son to dance and speak louisiana french, died during spanish flu epidemic, dwells in Eden

neither gentle nor defenseless; smoked, cussed, knew how to stand up for herself, loved son very much

Alastor, my moon and star, why the hell did I carry you for nine months you little dumb fawn

CHARLIE'S GANG: Charlie, Vaggie, Angel Dust, Niffty, sir Pentious (and egg boiz), Cherri Bomb, Husk, Alastor (+ gang as humans)

HEAVEN: Adam, Eve, Lute, Emily, Sera

ADAM AND EVE'S CHILDREN: Cain, Abel, Seth, Awan, Azura

HELL: Lilith, Lucifer, Seviathan, Helsa, Razzle and Dazzle, Baxter

SINS: Asmodeus [Lust], Beelzebub [Gluttony], Satan [Wrath], Mammon [Greed] (and Fizz), Belphegor [Sloth]

LUCIFER'S WIVES: Eisheth Zenunim, Naamah, Agrat bat Mahlat

VEES: Vox, Valentino, Velvette

OVERLORDS: Zestial, Rosie, Carmilla Carmine (and her daughters, Odette and Clara), Flaming Skull Guy

FRIENDS AND RELATIVES: Mimzy, Arackniss, Molly, Alastor's father

[sepublic]

Another thing I’ve noticed about Wittebane fans is that they would really rather speculate on an unseen dynamic and how codependent it was, or on Belos having religious trauma or being a socially awkward child (despite this conflicting with him being a confident, silver-tongued politician) over like. Discussing Belos’ character as he actually is onscreen.

And onscreen Belos is about Christian colonialism, he IS the religious trauma. He’s the white saviorism, the racism, the genocide, the arrogant delusions of Puritans. These are actually onscreen, and darker and deeper than like, the Wittebanes being Cain and Abel or Saturn devouring his son because what are you actually discussing here that’s topical?

But fans don’t want to talk about that, they don’t want to talk about what makes Belos his own character and what makes his writing work. They want to make Belos and Caleb into a racist, less interesting version of the Nocedas, Clawthorne sisters, Collector, etc. And when Belos doesn’t measure up to these standards because he’s a square peg being put through a round hole, fans get angry at the writers. It’s alienating to those who want to discuss Belos, the actual Belos.

And I think it boils down to fans being discomforted by topics such as colonialism and genocide, and facing just how intertwined Belos is with depicting it on a large and personal scale; He isn’t even a metaphor at this rate, but a literal example of a Christian white man from a 1600s American colony. These subjects are not something fans can romanticize, so they focus on the dynamic with his brother, on being codependent or tortured or suffering from religious trauma, etc.

It’s very faux-deep, it’s pretentious in a Dark Academia way, Cannibalism as a metaphor for love. It reminds me of fans who claim to love Dark Fics and can handle dark topics, but then implode when you ask them to discuss critical race theory. They think they’re being subversive and even punk but it’s just white guys in the end. It thinks itself deeper just for being ‘darker’ but it’s not even that dark compared to other things, it’s just edgy. King and Steve’s conversation as a stand-in for Dana’s ruminations on God are genuinely deeper than every Cain-Abel Wittebane fic.

There’s a Vtuber who just did an Owl House marathon and while she didn’t pick up on a lot, the discussion on Belos by fans who are explaining it to her is so refreshing, because there’s no mention of Caleb! There’s no mention of Belos being repressed or feeling abandoned. It’s all about how he actually is onscreen and is presented and what he does onscreen. It’s about the delusions and evil of those who practice Puritan ideology. And the actions that have far more impact than killing his brother.

And it makes me think, this is another reason why we don’t see Caleb; Because the writers knew fans would use him as a distraction from the actual things they’re discussing and satirizing through Belos. They would use him as a distraction from the true motives, the banality of evil, as Belos does; And Belos himself doesn’t even do it that much, he’s upfront about how he thinks witches are inherently evil and need to be killed in the name of God so even he is avoiding factoring Caleb into the discussion! Alas, the writers underestimate just how far fandom will go when they get even a scent of a possible white guy.

Can we talk about the Wittebanes as they actually are instead of retreading other characters’ old ground? The tragedy of the Wittebanes isn’t about some lonely orphan just wanting to be accepted by his community, being unable to handle the thought of his brother leaving, and not knowing any better because that’s just how things were back then; It’s about seeing your kid brother embrace the alt-right pipeline because white supremacy makes him feel special, and no matter how many years you spend trying to change his mind, he eventually, finally turns on you too.

[roguelov]

Omg just imagine Morpheus softly watching his wife (newly turned immortal human soulmate) interact with the residents of the Dreaming, like she’s super sweet and smiley, and all the residents absolutely love that she’s their Queen. She has a sweet friendship with Lucienne and Matthew, and has bonded with Hob as well, and she honestly just has Morpheus wrapped around her lil human finger 🥹

This is too fucking cute and I’m melting 🥹🥰

You who immediately jumped into the role as queen and was giddy to help. You ask Dream what you can do and although he wasn’t hesitant at first he slowly gave you some of his responsibilities. You help Lucienne almost everyday and talk for hours as you both restock and reorganize bookshelves

You who visits Fiddler’s Green for picnics and having a one sided conversation telling Fiddler about the day and new things in other parts of the Dreaming. Having tea with Cain, Abel and Goldie and they love with you come around (they also love gossiping a bit and Matthew always swings by because he can get all the juicy details and stories). You getting close with nightmares and dreams alike (Corinthian 2.0 becomes a good friend)

When Hob visits you show him all your favorite spots and you both share stories of your immortal lives (and tell funny stories about Dream but don’t tell the king or he’ll be a little upset)

And every time Dream sees you interacting with the Dreaming and his subjects his heart melts. His shoulders definitely don’t feel as heavy now and he has you to thank. When it’s just the two of you he’ll kiss your temple and whisper ‘thank you’ which confuses you at first but you smile and say ‘you’re welcome’

[crystal-moon-101]

For those who don't know, I made a Hazbin Hotel animatic! It's about Adam and Eve, or at least my take on them with the song First Burn. Please check it out if you want to learn more about my take on Eve, along with reading the Youtube Video's description where I wrote an outline of their story.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk2OXFr7mKs

I also wanna put some notes here to expand on Eve, and my own Hazbin Lore/theories/ideas. So enjoy!

Notes:

Adam and Eve had four children. Their eldest twins, Cain and Abel, followed by their daughter Aclima, and then their youngest son, Seth. Given Cain killed his brother, he was their only child to go to hell, while the other three followed their father into heaven. Cain and Eve have mended their relationship, and he actively helps to take care of her and is protective of his mother. Still hates his father though. Abel is the only child that still actively talked to Adam fairly often, being a kind spirit who doesn't want to abandon his dad. Aclima used to be a daddy's girl, until seeing the things her father did after helping in the creation of the Extermination and cheating on Eve, and now has gone no contact with Adam. Seth is low contact with Adam, and spends most of his time with his sister.

Abel was the first to die in the family, followed by Adam, then Cain, then Eve, then Aclima and then Seth. All their deaths were untimely.

Eve doesn't really like her wings all too much, often keeping them wrapped around her body. When she gets emotional, they often react because of it. Most of her powers do, and very few have seen her true demonic form. Those being Lucifer, Lilith, Cain and Charlie once when she was little. It seems something in that apple never left her after taking a bite out of it.

Eve has indeed slept with Lucifer. After breaking up with Adam she realized she hasn't had any other relationships outside of him, and wanted to experiment. She has also slept with at least two other members of the seven deadly sins, but she won't state who.

Eve was originally hostile towards Lucifer and Lilith when they first found in her hell, even as they helped her. No one could blame her though, as they did screw her over with the apple. As time went on though, they've come to have more peaceful terms with each other. Eve will never forgive them for what happened in Eden, but Lucifer and Lilith understand that, and they are all at least friends.

Charlie considers Eve to be her aunt, as Eve helped the royal couple out a lot due to her experiences having kids, being the best babysitter Charlie ever had. Even if it pained Eve to watch Charlie grow, reminding her of her own babies she hasn't seen in years.

Adam doesn't like talking about his wife after their break up, often shutting down if someone brings her up and changing the topic quickly. During weaker moments for him though he has talked about her, mostly to people like Sera, Lute or Emily. Eve threw her ring into deep storage, while Adam keeps his in his pockets.

Eve is a grandmother at least, her son Cain having married a lovely imp woman and becoming a stepfather, along with adopting a few other hellborn children here and there. They all love grandma Eve.

Lute has met Eve once, and never wants to be alone with that woman ever again.

Eve is a little into arson now.

After Adam and Eve bit the apple, they were both granted knowledge, but they used it in different ways. Eve was the more classic smart knowledge, being quite educational. Adam on the other hand was the more art knowledge of the two, delving into painting, writing and music playing, all of which he originally used to gift Eve with romantic gestures.

Eve is aware of the hotel, as Charlie likes catching up with her whenever she can. Charlie has thought about inviting Eve a few times, but Lucifer warns her not to. He suggests they wait for a better time, given the sensitive subject behind what the hotel is.

In the early days of living in hell, Eve was a guest within Lilith and Lucifer's house. They eventually got her a manor to live in, one that lives a little away from most of the cities to give her alone time from the world. After her break up with Adam, she started isolating herself even more, rarely leaving it, and only accepting close friends and family to visit her.

A part of Adam fears that one day Sera and the other angels will go after Eve, having heard rumors and whispers from them for a long time. A few believing that killing Eve might remove all evil and return the world to what it was suppose to be like. Even though Eve dumped him, Adam can't bare the thought of her being killed again, and does everything he can to keep the angels away from her.

Eve has a pet duck creature, gifted to her by Lucifer. She calls him Goldie.

She is aware of Adam's death at the hotel battle, having seen it on the news. She hasn't stated anything on the matter, being quiet about the whole thing, and no one has the strength to ask her about it. Even if she is mad at Adam, she still loves him.

Eve might know something about what happened to Lilith, but she is well trained in keeping her mouth shut for many years.

[cursedbycain]

melody - Cain x Lane

tagging: @rc-catalog and of course @kazu-naito who inspired this because she finally wants her doll to have a piece of joy

synopsis: learning something new is always fun

tw: none! rated G

wc: 2k

Being back in Rotkov is unsettling, to say the least. Lane once again sits in the church to work on the translation, her fingers tracing the pages as dust dances in the slanted beams of light filtering through the stained glass windows. It's odd, being back where it had all started. So much had changed and yet everything had remained untouched, preserved in the amber of time like a perfect, haunting memory.

“Are you cold?” Cain doesn’t wait for an answer, gently draping his jacket over her shoulders. The worn fabric carries his distinctive scent, frosty fresh and mixed something ancient that she could never quite identify but that reminded her of starlight on a winter's night. She tears her eyes away from the Book to look at him for a moment, catching the way the cathedral's ethereal light haloes his tousled blonde hair and casts intriguing shadows across the sculpted planes of his face.

They had left Abel at the estate, under the General's reluctant watch. A weight had seemingly been lifted from Cain's chest, his shoulders no longer bearing the invisible but crushing burden of his brother's presence. The tension that had coiled around him like a serpent had loosened its grip, leaving behind a man slightly more at peace with the cacophony of his eternal existence. She wanted to touch on the subject, suggest reconciliation, but she knew the immortal would come to his own decisions. He was still angry, which didn't help his already tense demeanor, the centuries of resentment etched into the very cells of his body. Something was coming. She could feel it, and Cain could as well, a premonition that hung in the air like the metallic tang before a thunderstorm. Still, they attempted to bury their heads in the sands of whatever was between them, this fragile, unnamed thing that bloomed like spring flowers.

"I'll be right up there." He gestures to the organ, its bronze pipes gleaming in the diffused light. Lane knew he had missed playing while they were at Adam, his fingers often drumming absentmindedly on any available surface, repeating silent symphonies only he could hear. It was the reason he had been so eager to visit the church in Rotkov the second the wheels of the plane hit asphalt.

"I'll come with you." She doesn't want to be too far from Cain. It always left her feeling unsettled when he wasn't around, like a compass needle separated from true north, spinning aimlessly in search of direction. As if something terrible was going to happen and they wouldn't be together for it, left to face the darkness alone in a world already shrouded in shadows.

He picks up the stack of books she had been leafing through, walking next to her as they head over to the organ. Their footsteps create a gentle rhythm against the worn stone floor, polished smooth by countless faithful feet over centuries. She almost feels like she's back in university, making her boyfriend carry her books for her, a slice of normalcy in their extraordinary lives that warms her from within like honey-sweetened tea on a bitter winter morning.

Boyfriend?

She isn't sure what to call Cain. It's not like getting married in the apocalypse was at all possible, with civilization crumbling around them. There was also the issue of his immortality, a river of endless time separating them. But he had told her that out of everyone, out of all the souls he had encountered in his endless existence, he had liked her. So, maybe that was all she needed to know, a confession more precious than any vow spoken.

Cain sets the books on the end of the bench, sitting down to play. He pats the empty space next to him and she sits down. His leg is warm against hers, a steadying presence in the cool air of the cathedral where their breath forms clouds in the chilly atmosphere. Opening the Book, she attempts to focus on the words as Cain begins to play. The ancient text swims before her eyes, each symbol a mystery waiting to be unraveled. She peaks around the cover to watch his nimble fingers dance along the keys, each motion precise and practiced, like a hummingbird darting between flowers.

His eyes are shut so she watches him unashamedly, studying the thick sweep of his eyelashes against his cheeks and the peaceful expression that softens his usually guarded features. The angel was always beautiful. That was obvious, his otherworldly perfection both intimidating and mesmerizing. But he was especially nice to look at when he was at peace, the weight of eternity temporarily lifted from his shoulders. His face transformed in these moments, the hard lines melting into something almost mortal, vulnerability peeking through the cracks of his immortal facade. Something twisted in her heart seeing the way he relaxed as he played his favourite melody, the notes rising to the vaulted ceiling like prayers.

She doesn't notice when his eyes open, too focused on the way his hands move, creating magic from ivory and air. When she glances up to admire his face once more, his bemused expression makes her press her lips together, caught in the act like a child with their hand in the cookie jar, a blush warming her cheeks.

"You play beautifully." She notes, her voice barely audible above the continuing melody that fills the space between them like liquid gold. His playing slows as he regards her curiously, his gaze caressing her face with the same tenderness his fingers show the keys.

"I had a lot of practice." He says casually, the understatement of hundreds of years hanging in the air between them. Taking the Book from her hands, he shuts it and sets it aside, the ancient binding creaking softly.

"Do you want me to teach you?" He offers and excitement at the prospect of learning something new runs through her.

"Depends. Will you smack my hands if I mess up?" She teases lightly and he grins, a rare full smile that transforms his face like sunlight breaking through storm clouds.

"No. Sit here." His arm snakes around her waist, easily pulling her into his lap as if she weighs nothing. She twists to look him in the eyes, raising an eyebrow in silent question. He answers the unasked question with a shrug, the movement rippling through the muscles beneath his thin shirt.

"It's easier this way." His toned chest is pressed against her back, radiating heat like a fire on a winter's night. Lane starts to wonder if she'll be able to retain a single thing he teaches her if they stay in this position, her thoughts scattered like autumn leaves in a gust of wind.

"Relax," He whispers, his breath warm against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine like melting ice, "Just follow my voice." His lips brush against the shell of her ear, soft as butterfly wings.

"It's hard to focus when you're distracting me." She can feel his quiet chuckle from the vibrations against her back, the sound rumbling through his chest and into her own.

"I'm not distracting you. I'm helping you." His hands gently cover hers as he adjusts her fingers against the keys, his touch cool and assured. He brings her index to the middle of the board, gently pressing on a key, the note ringing clear and true in the sacred space.

"This is middle C. You base everything around this key." His voice is low and melodic, a teacher's patience wrapped in velvet tones. Swallowing thickly, she manages a hum in acknowledgement, her throat suddenly as dry as sand.

He goes through D, E, F, G, and back to A and B slowly enough, each note distinct and pure, hanging in the air like crystal ornaments. His cool hands never leave hers as she begins to memorize the movements, the weight and resistance of each key becoming familiar beneath her fingertips. She manages to mostly tune out the feelings his body pressed against hers inspires, focusing instead on the melody, though her heartbeat provides an erratic counterpoint to the structured music.

"You're a natural." He mumbles, pressing a soft kiss to her shoulder that burns through the fabric of her shirt. She smiles, grateful for the fact he can't see how the compliment has affected her, warmth blooming on her cheeks.

"I have a good teacher." She turns slightly to look at him. He's smirking, eyes blood red like crushed rubies. The look used to make her nervous, but now it makes excitement twist in her gut, wild and primal as a storm-tossed sea.

"Let's keep going." He comments. Quickly turning her face away, she rests her fingers on the ivory keys once more, cool and smooth beneath her touch.

"Teach me something else?" Her voice is surprisingly steady, betraying none of the chaos whirling within her. His hands cover hers once again, chin hooking over her shoulder to look at the keys as he positions her fingers.

"This is C major." He presses her fingers down. The chord rings out in the quiet church, harmonious notes blending together and rising to the rafters where ancient beams cradle the sound. He goes through a few more chords before pulling his hands away to rest on her thighs, the weight and warmth of them seeping through her jeans like a promise.

"Now you try." Oddly, she doesn't feel the urge to play without his hands covering hers, missing the gentle guidance of his touch. Half heartedly, she taps out a few chords, the sound hollow and incomplete compared to the music they created together. He taps her waist, leaning in to look at her face, brows drawn together like storm clouds.

"Are you alright?" He looks almost concerned, vulnerability flashing across his features. For a moment, she feels bad for worrying him all because she missed his touch, his constant presence her anchor in the storm of their chaotic world. She nods, sighing tiredly. A heavy weight had settled on her chest, an odd feeling of stress that she just wanted to get rid of in any way possible, like fog pressing down on a valley at dawn.

"Will you play now?" Lane rests against his chest, hands falling to his thighs. He doesn't say anything in response, leaning impossibly closer to her, enveloping her in his presence like a protective cloak. His mouth is pressed to the back of her shoulder, tip of his nose barely peeking over, his breath warm and steady against her skin like a metronome. The immortal looks painfully focused as he plays a slow melody, each note deliberate and meaningful. It's wonderfully calming, like watching snow fall in silence or waves lapping gently at a moonlit shore. She shuts her eyes, letting the music envelop her, wrap around her like a cocoon of sound, sheltering her from the harsh realities that wait beyond the church doors.

She's not sure how much time passes. Maybe hours, the minutes stretching and blending like watercolors on wet paper. But eventually, Cain ceases playing and very gently nudges her, the silence following the music almost tangible in its emptiness.

"We should get back to the estate. Before the others worry we've flown off." He smirks as if the thought had crossed his mind, his eyes glinting with uncharacteristic mischief. In all honesty, she had considered it as well, the temptation to escape with him to some forgotten corner of the world where they could exist in their own bubble of time, outside the constraints of duty and destiny.

"We'll come back tomorrow. Maybe you can teach me more chords?" She suggests, tucking the Book into her jacket, the weight of it against her side a constant reminder of their mission, the burden she carries.

"I'll definitely be teaching you more chords." He smirks, resting his arm on her shoulder and pulling her close, his presence solid and reassuring as the ancient stones beneath their feet.

Maybe being back in Rotkov had its perks.

[archivedblog16]

No same Anon about Lilith and Eve.

I agree that at this point, I don't expect anything from Vivzie's female characters. I know I'm going to be disappointed, I'll just take what I like and rewrite them.

Now, the fact that Anon threw out is wrong: Lilith does not belong to the Bible. It belongs to Jewish folklore (Torah) but more as a legend since its origin is Mesopotamian.

Thanks to a medieval satirical text, Lilith was considered the first woman and wife of Adam.

Of course, the second fact that I throw is true: Lilith in her myths is far from the feminist figure with which the image of Lilith is popular. Unlike "Lilith who does not let herself be bent" in the original myths, she is a demonic being who kidnaps babies and rapes men. She does this together with Naamah, Agrat bat Mahlat and Eisheth Zenunim (this is more from the Zohar).

The idea of Lilith as an "empowered figure" is thanks to the creator of Wicca, Gerald Gardner. A very controversial subject, very controversial. I will not go into the debate if the Wiccans are considered a kind of pagans or just imitators of paganism who want to feel special because of the esoteric of the whole thing, but it is due to them that the figure of Lilith was bleached to look like this "rebel" being. And recent popular culture pushed that narrative further.

The same example is HH: Lucifer and Lilith are in love, Adam is evil from minute 1. Lilith did not bow to Heaven and Adam, she rebelled with her love Lucifer and now she is the queen of Hell.

When in reality several myths tell us that the one who did not overcome her ex was Lilith:

In one version we are told that Lilith transforms into Eve and has relations with Adam.

In another we are told that one night she enters Eden and rapes him.

In another we are told that, after Cain and Abel, Adam and Eve separate for 140 years due to the horror of the affair. In this myth there are 2 versions: again, Lilith has relations without Adam's consent (here Naamah, Agrath and Eishet are included). And the other is much calmer where Adam accepts to be with Lilith during those years.

What is made clear is that in all versions they have descendants: the lilims, the succubi, some vampiric beings, and sometimes it is even said that Asmodeus is the son of these two.

(In other versions, Asmodeus is the son of a mortal and Naamah, in other versions he is simply the husband of Lilith).

So for the first time, if Vivziepop puts Lilith as an evil being, a bad mother and so on... well, she would be the only character that is close to the original source.

And don't get me wrong, I'm not against reinvention or looking for a different route to the established (I have Adam x Lilith as the endgame in my rewrite and of course I've had to tweak some things) but Vivzie is criminal to the point that I'd rather she didn't touch Lilith and Eve because they're going to be at the mercy of favoring Lucifer. Do I want to be wrong? Yes, I want the show to tell me "You know what? Actually the conflict of these two doesn't revolve around Lucifer or Adam, neither are they going to become lesbians, nor are they going to have that kind of "I'm better than you because..." fight; no, their conflict is going to make Lilith feel guilty because she realized that she ruined two people's lives by imposing herself before what she thought was right, becoming the very thing that she complained about Adam and Heaven. And that Eve's conflict is that for a long time she felt this complex of being the replacement, that she should imitate Lilith because she was "the original, what a woman should be" as well as sticking to what "a wife should be", even putting that Adam let her be her own person because he was worried about how bad Eve was getting because of her own existential crisis. He as Lilith can ask Eve for forgiveness, but Eve cannot accept it. Thank you for saying so, but Lilith and Lucifer's actions doomed many and in horrible ways."

Am I going to get it? No, but I have accepted that I will live with it. There will always be a fanfic, a video, a new series, something, that really wants to explore all these characters beyond the original versions or the cheap tropes surrounding them.

Sorry for the big text, I needed to get it out of my system.

Yeah, I don’t blame anyone for having super low expectations regarding the Hazbin Hotel women especially with Lilith and Eve. Since in Helluva Boss, the women are demonized, one-note, and super side-lined. The women in Hazbin Hotel so far are mediocre anyway.

You good, Anon. No need to apologize and thanks for the clarification regarding Lilith. The version you mentioned about Lilith transforms into Eve is interesting because Vivziepop is planning some big plot twist with Lilith, Eve, Rosie, and Roo. Something about one being the other.

[fallenhunnyapple]

@ilikelookingatthings left a very long and question filled essay about Angel!Lu AU in the replies so now its time to delve into More Info about the AU! @fallenguitarhero is my Adam so I got his input for all the Adam-related parts of this. Under a cut because.... this is Very Long LOL (bonus art at the end)

I'm going to just Copy-Paste the answers I got when we discussed it

I do think that Adam actually subconsciously shifts blame to Lilith because he's very black and white in his views. He hates devil Luci but he thinks he can prevent angel Lu from going down that path if he just keeps them apart. Lute also believes this and ngl her view of Lilith is like...really awful internalized misogyny type shit. Both of them think its better the two never meet and Lute outright threatens Lilith to stay away. Adam is too possessive to try and shift Lu to someone else but he does like... try to push Lu back into friendship type feels. Adam is a dumbass about sexuality so he thinks if he brings Lu to do Masculine and Straight things it will fix this. Instead he ends up just spending even more time with him and making it worse. As for his trauma... yeah Adam tries to hide it. Mostly by changing the subject and acting like an asshole tbh. I've thought abt Lu finding out about Cain and Abel p much by mistake (maybe saw artwork of it, all the hell related stuff is hidden but they wouldnt think to hide art of Adam holding Abel's body or Cain's exile) and it breaking his little baby heart. Adam def has moments where like... his mind is busy w something else like a bad day or a nightmare and for a second he sees the devil instead of his angel. Adam always like... 'shit, sorry, i thought you were someone else- fuck, don't look at me like that, c'mon.' There are other issues he just... doesn't realize he needs to hide. They're right about Adam being cynical and like... telling himself Lu doesn't really love him. Even once they date, he's still insecure. At that point i think he'd tell Lu about Lilith leaving him for a friend of his (whose name he never gives) and his marriage with Eve ending badly. He avoids details. He prob talks way more about his kids and prob even introduces Lu to them... Lu being around might encourage him to work on his relationship with them. Adam's body dysmorphia is such a contrast from the Adam Lu knew before... i do think that with him hiding so much from Lu, he tries to make it up to him by making sure his life is perfect. He goes out of his way to keep his angel happy and his attitude spreads to his exorcists who accept Lu into their flock. tbh Adam's dynamic with them prob becomes way healthier over time due to Lu's influence. i think Adam does tell the truth about some things but leaves out the details. Like he says evil found earth and destroyed Eden but says it hurts too much to talk about it (not a lie) and tells Lu that it's why the exorcists exist, they protect heaven and the dead humans from it. Which is what the official story is anyway! i think Lu prob has the same info the average low ranking Heavenborne and winners do. If Lu pushed him too much Adam might admit there are things he can't tell him but frame it as a military thing - there are things only Michael, Adam and the high ranking exorcists can know. He feels a lot of guilt about lying. it weighs on him a lot. that and the stress of protecting Lu from his brothers honestly makes Adam act more subdued and tired than canon Adam. His eyebags are awful. It prob becomes obvious as time goes on that Adam is Not Well. He keeps his mask on for a looong time after the first time bc it helps him hide his feelings and self-regulate but when he finally takes it off it's obvious to Lu from how he looks that Adam is struggling mentally. Comparing him to how he looked in Eden makes it so clear.

For Lu's part of things. Of course he'd ask about Lilith. Especially after finding out that so long has passed and Adam is here, so Lilith is probably here too, right? I feel like because he missed... So much, the concept of Death to him still doesn't really sink in. Like even with the Sins, it's basically like he just Knows he can't See them again. So with Lilith its like Adam has to just lie the same as with Anyone else from Hell. And Lu is definitely heartbroken about Lilith being Gone.

And like, at the time, Adam isn't lying so he doesn't feel Guilty about it, he just feels bad seeing Lu so upset. The timeline of this is kinda indeterminate but it definitely is Earlier than the 7 years of Lilith being in Heaven. So when he first Appears, she hasn't left Hell yet. Who knows, Charlie may not have even been born yet at that point. There's no Solid point in Time for Lu to have appeared in Heaven, it's just... Earlier. He doesn't think to Look for her because he knows that if she's Not Already There, then she's Inaccessible. Otherwise Adam would have told him, he's sure of it. (Adam has no obligation to tell Lu when Lilith does get there and for the reasons stated above + the fact that the Elder Angels probably would try and deter any interaction between the two. he's left in the Dark about her arriving in Heaven. He doesn't know Adam has even made a Deal with anyone) He still misses her because Adam is Truly the only friend from When he's from left.

And tbh the mixed signals are what keeps Hope Alive for Lu. As much as he tries to be okay with friendship, he still wants more because he's In Love and Adam is the only thing that makes him feel Normal when his entire life and everything he knew was entirely up-ended. It's why he's so passive about it. He doesn't want to make Adam feel bad, but he sees Adam being so Conscious of him now and it makes him happy. He doesn't wanna Push it, but he still likes seeing that Adam is Aware of him like that now. Especially because it's not in a way where Adam is trying to push him away, Adam is actively spending more time with him!

The longer time passes, the more discontent Lu grows. Knowing he's being lied to/that things are being hidden, even by Adam, he is Curious and he wants to learn more. But he also isn't going to be reckless about Learning More. The thing is also he Doesn't Know what questions he should be asking. He could ask Winners things and get answers, its not like anyone would stop him from Talking to Winners, its part of his Job. But like... How would he even start to figure out what's Missing in his knowledge?

Also Lu is definitely Aware of how different Adam is from his Eden self. Like just Visually, it's so easy to separate them because Adam wears his mask. But when its just the two of them and Adam is maskless, Lu may be more susceptible to treating him like that. But he's also very aware of the fact that actually their Knowledge Base is completely flipped. Lu hardly knows anything and Adam knows Everything.

And like.... Lu Knows that being kept in the dark is probably 'for his own good' but as stated, the person who fell is Still him. So now instead of resenting/being upset that Humans were kept in the dark, now it's himself. There's no Fruit That Will Fix Things for him though. He's just left frustrated at his lack of agency in this. And honestly, what keeps in line Most is Fear. Since coming to this time, his family has been Nicer to him, he's actually getting along to some degree with his brothers who used to ridicule him (or worse) and he Knows it's only because he's 'behaving' now, now that Creation is over and Life Has Existed. And he's scared or what will happen if he steps too out of line. He doesn't have the refuge of going to Eden to visit the Humans if things go south with his siblings. He isn't allowed on Earth, he's confined to Heaven, so he would just be stuck with the same sort of things that ultimately drove him originally to commit the Sin of giving Eve the Apple (not that he's Aware of how it culminated) And Also he has Adam. He doesn't want to know what the consequences would be if they were to decide that they shouldn't be allowed to stay together. It would absolutely break him.

If Lu were to find out about the exterminations, he'd be just as Appalled by it as Emily was. Lu doesn't know about Sin, what that entails, how Sinners destroy everything. He hasn't had to live with it so he can't see any contempt or justification for their destruction. Lucifer hates them because they came in a ruined the world he tried to build in Hell. Lu doesn't have any such associations with them. He would just see them much like Charlie does, souls who made mistakes and who should be given the chance to Do Better and make up for it. (That's sort of what he is, in a way, too.) He would absolutely be upset and scold the fuck out of Adam and Lute if he knew what his besties were REALLY doing once a year-

As for the sexual stuff, Both Lucifers started without having a concept of sex or sexuality, so both of them are specifically shaped by their partners (literally in a way). So the Lucifer who learned and explored with Lilith is going to be completely different from the Lucifer who learned and explored with Adam in terms of How they have sex. It's a skill they learn by doing, so it's not the Same.

Thank you for sticking it out this long, have a doodle for your troubles 🙏

[prehensileforeskin]

Swansea killing daisuke was the ultimate act of mercy, and the hardest thing to do. Swansea is the unappreciated hero of the story. despite his failings, he did the right thing in the end. His moments of kindness were genuine, and not at all self serving like they were for jimmy and anya.

I think he and daisuke were a foil for jimmy and curly.

As Curly's friend, Jimmy should have put Curly out of his misery. Putting him in the pod was a way out of taking responsibility for his actions. if jimmy was found, he would be suffering from the consequences and guilt. But he got to feel good in his last moments by "saving" curly, who will likely die anyways if found or subjected to debt after many surgeries that would never give him any quality of life. Jimmy was constantly betraying his friend. They had kind of a cain and abel thing.

Swansea didn't care how the guilt would affect him. Daisuke would have been in agonizing pain and likely would die anyway. The ultimate act of love was doing the hard thing and killing him. (Maybe why his name was daisuke?) Swansea was more of a man and more of a leader than Jimmy and Curly could ever be.

[tumbleringismycopingmechanism]

It's probably glaringly obvious but Dream's subjects all represent aspects of him

Lucienne = his love for stories/books (although maybe Lucienne her love for books in common with Dream (seeing as she used to be a raven and is thus not entirely formed by Dream), instead of being specifically made of that part of himself; or maybe that part of himself became a part of her when she was reshaped from a raven into a librarian)

Mervyn = stubbornly doing his duty, however much he hates it

Corinthian = the part of him that is Nightmare, but also his ache to taste humanity and to impact their waking lives as well as their dreams

Gault = his desire to be better, to not hurt everyone he touches and to make their lives happier

Fiddler's Green = the part of him that comforts, that is a respite for the dreamers from their waking lives, but also once again his love for books and his desire to be among the dreamers in the waking (though here a bit more passive; less a wish to shape their waking lives and more a wish to simply be a part of them and to see the world as they see it)

Cain and Abel = his feelings for his siblings, a constant push and pull of hating them / wishing to hurt them / wanting to be left alone by them and loving them / forgiving them, however big their betrayal / seeking their company

Ravens = his loyalty and (again) sense of duty (while they are not made by Dream and a huge part of their personality comes from their waking life, I would argue that they do at least get a deep sense of loyalty with their raven body. I can't quite imagine someone like Matthew, being self-proclaimed "not the best person when he was alive", otherwise having this deep loyalty to someone he barely knows, or such a strong sense of duty / wish to please The Boss)

[wishesandstars]

a story unchanged and yet slightly altered

Cain says to Abel, Brother come with me to the forest, I have something I want to show you.

Abel almost says yes. But then he notices the rock hidden behind Cain's back. And he remembers that Cain always calls him Abel. Never brother.

The rock behind Cain's back is both an omen and a prayer, both holy and bitter, it is a baptism of saltwater, a broken piece of a much larger stone.

The shake in Cain's hand foretells the moment of invention. The moment of creation. Abel does not realize he is Cain's first test subject. Right now, Cain does not realize it either.

If Cain got to choose, would he choose his brother? Does Cain fully understand what will happen when he leads his brother out into the field and bashes the rock against his head?

Does anyone?

In that moment, Abel does.

He does not know what death is, and yet he is sure he is going to die. That whatever he is experiencing will soon have an end. That it will be Cain's fault.

I am tired, Abel complains. Because he is worried. Because for the first time in his life, he is afraid. Stay here with me. Let's not go into the forest.

Cain replies brazenly, If you will not come with me, I shall go alone.

There are very few things Abel gets to choose. His brother is not one of them. The answer to Cain's reply, however, is.

I'll go with you, Abel says and he is afraid. He does not show it. Let me go with you.

Cain follows Abel's gaze to the rock behind his back. Why? To Cain, his words sound vicious. To Abel, his words sound small.

Where you go I follow, Abel tells him. The rock is sharper now, digging into Cain's palm like a thorn.

But why?

Because you are my brother. Abel says it plainly. If I am not your keeper, then who is?

If Cain got to choose, would he choose his brother?

When Abel got to choose, Cain was the only option.

[theamazingdigitalraceway]

What is the cast's roman empire/thing they think about a lot.

(Bonus question):

(Whats your roman empire? ',:3)

A/N: MY Roman empire is this AU. I am haunted by this plotline that won't write itself for some reason 🙄 what do you mean I have to actually write it???

CAINE: Entertain. Distract. Deflect. Humans can be happy here. He can keep them happy. It's the one thing he was made to do. However there is a certain racer that has made him feel like maybe he could be more.

POMNI: Escape. There must be a way out. There must be. However, she's recently been distracted by a curtain pair of dentures.

RAGATHA: ANYTHING that isn't her current situation. She welcomes any distraction. If she thinks about where she is...she won't last.

JAX: Abstraction. It's always in the back of his mind. He can hide it and lie to himself and the others...but he's afraid. All. The. Time.

GANGLE: Her art projects. From OCs to changing the color on her kart, she's got art on the brain.

ZOOBLE: Their appearance. They avoid mirrors. They avoid the subject. It nags at them. They think about it whether they like it or not.

KINGER: Bugs. All the bugs. Big bugs. Little bugs. Bugs that aren't insects. BUGS.

GUMMIGOO: Racing. It's his first real identity, being a racer. He's still figuring things out but Racing takes the forefront of many thoughts.

LOO: Living. She wants to experience as much as possible. She doesn't mind being an NPC, she gets to live so many different lives.

SETH: Mango. He was in love with her, to the point he wanted to marry her. He still has the ring.

ABEL: Vengeance. It's all he's obsessed over for twenty years.

[tigrewithglasses]

An Analysis of Jorel and Jorge (Natal Macabro)

I think most of us can agree that Jorel and Jorge are the "catalysts" of all that happened in Natal Macabro. The first (technically second) group was tricked into going to the campsite by Jorel in order for him to find his brother Jorge. What's interesting about Jorel doing this is that it doesn't seem that Jorel and Jorge get along. Jorel is the "black sheep" of the family while Jorge seems to be the typical golden child. This dynamic is particularly interesting to me because of the religious motifs throughout the spin-off.

The fact that there were 12 initial players reminds me of Jesus and the twelve apostles. While I don't believe that there is a clear "Jesus" within the players, it's obvious that the "Judas" of traitor of the group is Jorel because he became the Caçador de Gente. This would arguably make Jorge "Jesus" since Jorel was literally following him and then betrayed him. However, I don't think that necessarily is the dynamic that Jorel and Jorge are retelling. Rather, I think that they are supposed to be Cain and Abel.

The story of Cain and Abel is a tale of two brothers, the first two sons of Adam and Eve. Cain murders his brother Abel out of jealousy because God had no regard for Cain and his offering to God but did so for Abel. Cain and Abel are framed as complete opposites. Abel is presented as the righteous brother and is believed to be the first martyr having been murdered due to God rewarding his faith. Cain on the other hand was rejected, ignored by God and doomed to live a life of suffering.

The difference between Jorge and Jorel is immediately apparent. Jorge dresses in a way similar to 1950's sportswear, a clear indicator of some sort of wealth. His appearance is extremely neat, making him appear like a Ken doll. On the other hand, Jorel emulates a grunge/punk aesthetic. He wears extremely casual, ill-fitting clothes, has multiple piercings and painted nails. Whether Jorel's way of dressing is considered "unusual" is subjective, but it is largely considered so by society. In addition, Jorel's "imperfection" is characterized by his own body; he has gap tooth, a broken arm, and some sort of injury on his nose- contributing to his appearance as someone "broken". Unlike Abel, Jorge is not a perfect person; however, what makes him Abel is not his purity or righteousness, but rather the blind truth and faith that he has in his brother. Jorge confidently hands Jorel the mask with little to no precaution, only warning his brother of the power that the mask holds. Jorge does not do this out of concern that his brother will put on the mask, but rather out of concern that the mask will harm his brother. Even after Jorel kills Melissa, Jorge still has complete confidence that he can plead with his brother, that the man that without hesitation put on the mask and shot their ally is still his brother who he can trust and love. It is this faith in his brother that get Jorge killed- just like it did Abel.

[seiya-starsniper]

For the hurt/comfort prompts

I'd like 14 with Morphenne or 4 with Hobrintheus, please. I'm excited to what you would envision for either of them.

14 - "Thank you for sticking by my side." - from the Hurt/Comfort Prompts

This wip is MONTHS in the making, and I'm so happy to finally be able to share it! Big thanks to @sandman-rarepair-fest for giving me the motivation to finish it 😄 Go check out the other fics people are posting for the event!

Rating: General Status: Complete Chapters: 1/1 Words: 2,958 Warnings: No Warnings Apply Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Hell Invasion, Post-Battle, Feelings Realization, First Kiss Summary: Hell invades the Dreaming, and in the aftermath, Lucienne is always there for Dream. But who will be there for Lucienne when she needs help?

Read more below, or over on AO3: Hopelessly (I'll love you Endlessly)

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

When Hell makes its move on the Dreaming and attacks, aiming for a complete invasion, there are thousands of casualties in the ensuing battle. Some injuries are fatal, and Dream feels each last breath, every agonizing scream, as their brief lives blink in and then out of existence. Each death is a wound, more painful than any direct cut to Dream himself, and Lucifer’s demons know it. So they aim for the weaker dreams first, those easiest to kill, to maximize the quantity of injuries they can inflict on the Dream Lord before they eventually move to target the more powerful dreams who actually have a fighting chance. 

Fiddler’s Green devours a hundred demons before his pastures are burned to ash, Gault’s wings are torn from her back as she takes on a high ranked demon lord, and Cain for once does not get to kill his brother Abel, for another demon guts him first. Cain, in revenge, takes out three upper level demons before he too falls to the rage and brutality of Hell. 

It does not take them long to breach the outer walls of the castle. More dreams and nightmares fall. Dream cries in agony with each new one, and Lucienne grips him tight in her arms, her and Matthew’s presence the only comfort in the otherwise cold emptiness of the throne room.

Dream wants to fight, wants the demons Hell and Lucifer themselves to pay for what they’ve done. And they will. He is ready for them. They are ready for them.

What the demons of Hell do not know, what Dream has been carefully guarding since his return from a hundred years imprisonment is this: that the Dreaming has been refortified so that it may never fall to ruin in Dream’s absence again. Or in an invasion, such that the current situation is.

In each of the denizens of the Dreaming, Dream has placed a small piece of his power within them, effectively turning each and every one into a dreamstone, forever connected to their lord in such a way so that Dream will never be cut off from his realm again. Through this deepened bond with his subjects, they will always know where he is, and he, in turn, will always be able to call on them.

The deepened connection, however, has its drawbacks. Each new death feels like a cut directly to Dream’s body, to his soul, and he cannot help the torrent of grief that engulfs him every moment another dream perishes. But at the same time, their deaths are simultaneously a balm, an injection of power that revitalizes him. Each and every dream fallen in battle has not actually died, but instead, their essences have been called inside his body, providing Dream with a limitless supply of power and energy. Their wills too, lie intact within him, and Dream is filled with their hopes, their pain, their fury.

Only when the doors break down and Lucifer’s army spills into the throne room, does Lucienne release her hold on him. Dream can feel her smile at his back as he transforms into his Nightmare form, channeling the pain and rage of each and every fallen dream into one unrelenting attack after the other. The demons of Hell don’t stand a chance.

Lucifer flees, abandoning their own people to their deaths, when they see what Dream has done. What he has become. Dream chases them as far as the gates, and then roars in victory when the Lord of Hell disappears over the horizon. The message is clear. Dream of the Endless is more powerful than ever, and any that wishes to prove otherwise shall be met with the full strength of his power. 

Invoking such a power, however, has its own set of consequences.

When the last of the demons fall, and the Dreaming is once again safe, Dream collapses onto the floor of the throne room, crying in agony as he tries to soothe the pain of death for more than a thousand different entities residing within him. The dreams are loud in their sorrow, and it is so much grief, so much heartbreak, it is all too much. 

Fiddler’s Green is the first to be resurrected, and then Gault. It is all he can manage before Dream is reduced to a sobbing, useless mess. 

Lucienne holds him throughout the night, whispering words of comfort to Dream, and all that reside within him. It soothes the ache by the tiniest fraction, and he is grateful for her embrace. 

With each day that passes, Dream brings another dream, another nightmare, back to life. With each life revived, the agony fades, but the memories of their deaths, their feelings in those moments do not. Dream had accepted the risk of this when he had asked for the denizens’ permission to imbue himself even further into their lives. Each and every resident had given their consent, some more freely and easily than others, but all had agreed that not knowing where Dream had gone for the last hundred years was worse than what Dream was asking them to give him. 

Lucienne and Matthew stay by his side, holding vigil as Dream wrestles with the tangle of wills raging inside him. 

Eventually, Dream expels the last of the dreams from his body, and soon the only voice residing inside his head is his. He allows himself a short reprieve to rest and recover, then sets to repairing the damage to his castle. 

“No offense, boss,” Mervyn tells him days later, when Dream is feeling more himself, “but I never want to share a body with you and everyone else in here ever again.”

Dream laughs, despite himself, but when Mervyn is gone, he sobs into Lucienne’s arms, unsure why he is still feeling so emotionally fraught.

“You took on a lot to keep us all safe,” Lucienne tells him, her voice soothing and low. “You have never infused yourself so closely with us before. Of course it would overwhelm you.”

Dream knows this, and yet, still he feels like he is drowning in a sea of unending grief.

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

After he finishes repairing the castle, Dream takes some time to wander the Dreaming to assess the full extent of the damage done by Hell’s forces, Lucienne follows his lead, taking careful notes of all the things that need to be repaired, while also making sure that Dream does not take on too many restoration efforts in one sitting. Mervyn helps with some of the smaller repairs, however the large majority of fixes to the realm still fall to Dream to complete.

Dream expects Lucienne to eventually return to her librarian duties, once Dream is mostly recovered and well enough to fully dedicate himself to restoring the Dreaming to its former glory. But even after the majority of the realm has been recovered, Lucienne does not leave his side. Instead, she continues to keep vigil over Dream, never straying more than a few paces from him, when she can help it. In the days immediately after the attack, Dream had grown so used to her constantly being within his peripheral vision that it takes him some time to remember that this was not always how things had been between them. Even Matthew, who has never been more than breath away since he had become Dream’s raven, does not keep nearly as close of a watch on Dream these days. Because Lucienne is always there. 

“You do not need to be my shadow any longer, Lucienne,” Dream says one afternoon when they are alone together in the throne room and reviewing Mervyn’s latest reports of needed repairs. Most of the remaining items are small, with the exception of the Sea of Nightmares, which seems to have grown quite restless in the past few days. Though Dream would prefer to get the rest of the small repairs over and done with, so he can focus solely on the Sea of Nightmares, Lucienne has forbidden him from exerting any more of his powers for today. 

Lucienne purses her lips at his words, her eyes kind even as she frowns at him.

“I am where I am needed, sire,” she replies. Dream sighs. He had expected this.

“Lucienne, you have many responsibilities to attend to, and I am well enough to hold my own without your aid,” Dream says. 

Lucienne shakes her head. “You may need me, sire,” is all she says in response, before she returns back to reviewing Mervyn’s reports. 

Dream hates himself for not trying harder to keep Lucienne at bay, to insist that he is fine. But the truth of the matter is that Dream is tired. He is tired of his function, tired of having to defend himself and his realm time and time again, tired of carrying the weight of the entire universe and its unconscious minds on his shoulder with no hope for reprieve. 

The only time Dream feels even a modicum of relief is when Lucienne is there. Lucienne, who places his hand in hers and squeezes it to distract him from his maudlin thoughts. Lucienne, who takes stock of all the restored dreams and nightmares, ensuring that they have fully recovered from their ordeal with Hell’s minions. Lucienne, who still hums a lullaby in a long dead language from a long dead planet, in the quiet of the throne room, knowing that the sound soothes Dream’s ever fraying nerves.

So Dream does not press further when Lucienne insists on keeping watch over him, even as he feels as though she is treating him like a piece of fragile glass that could shatter any moment.

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

When Dream finally ventures out to the Sea of Nightmares to assess the damage Hell’s forces have done to its waters, the waves rush up to meet him, and Dream braces himself to be pulled within their depths. The Sea has been temperamental ever since the battle with Hell, and Dream knows it is likely questioning his competence. It is just another thing he will have to weather, another challenge to be conquered. He is prepared to remind the old nightmares that dwell beneath that he is still their master, that the battle with Hell has only made him stronger, not weaker.

But the waves of the Sea crash just past him, enveloping Lucienne instead and pulling her down into the cold dark depths.

Dream does not think twice before he follows, desperately diving in after her.

The Sea of Nightmares is vast and infinite, containing the collective fears of every being within its waters. Dream feels his own insecurities rise to meet him, threatening to swallow him whole. The Sea recounts each and every death that Dream allowed to happen, all of the pain his subjects had to suffer at the hands of Lucifer and their demons. It reminds Dream of his century long imprisonment, of how he let his realm fall to decay. It recalls how Dream has scorned and hurt those closest to him, from Nada to Hob Gadling. How he continues to hurt those closest to him. Especially Lucienne. 

Lucienne.

Dream’s eyes snap open, clarity piercing through the darkness of the Sea, as he remembers the reason he’d jumped into the water. His goal recalled, Dream starts to swim in the direction of Lucienne. Though he cannot yet see her, he can feel her, and he will not let his rogue creation take her from him.

He spots her not far south from his current location, and Dream dives downwards to reach her. As he swims closer to Lucienne’s location, Dream realizes the Sea has shifted. It is no longer showing him his deepest fears and insecurities.

No, he realizes with a sense of growing dread. It is showing him Lucienne’s.

Lucienne had always been steadfast in her devotion to him, and Dream had always believed they had an easy understanding of one another, a shared goal to keep the Dreaming alive and well, a sense of honor and duty. As Dream reaches out to grasp Lucienne’s hand, however, he realizes the depths of her devotion. Not only to the Dreaming, but to Dream himself.

The Sea shifts again, this time revealing to Dream Lucienne’s deepest fears. It shows him the countless lonely nights spent waiting at the Gates of the Dreaming, waiting, hoping, praying for Dream’s return. Another wave shifts the image to the sight of Dream, bruised and broken, as Lucifer’s minions invade. Yet another shows Dream, alone and surrounded by nothing but death and chaos, clearly prepared to sacrifice himself to some yet unseen force.

What Lucienne fears most, the Sea seems to whisper to him, is losing the one she loves most. Losing Dream.

Dream feels wretched. Undeserving. How had he not noticed that she carried these feelings for him all these years? He had always been perceptive, able to easily glean even the most carefully guarded secrets, and yet, this one has gone beneath his notice.

Or perhaps, he thinks to himself, he had simply refused to see it. 

Dream’s despair threatens to pull them both deeper into the Sea of Nightmares, to drown both he and Lucienne in the cold, cold, dark, but Dream will not let it. The Sea of Nightmares is still his subject after all, and it will heed the call of its master. Of Dream of the Endless. 

The Sea heeds his call and releases them. Dream takes Lucienne and then swims to the surface.

He breaks through to the surface just moments later, gasping for air and clutching Lucienne to his chest. She is unconscious, likely due to the shock of the Sea’s attack on her. With a single thought from Dream’s mind, they are both transported to his private chambers, and he lays her carefully on a wide bed with dark satin sheets, before replacing both of their wet clothes with dry ones. Then he fashions himself a chair to sit in and waits. 

Lucienne gasps as she wakes an undetermined amount of time later, coughing fitfully as if her body were trying to dislodge the water from the Sea of Nightmares from her lungs. But she is a creature of the Dreaming, and so there was never a true risk of her drowning.

“My lord?” Lucienne says once she’s caught her breath, turning to him. “What—what happened?”

“The Sea of Nightmares is still yet unstable,” Dream answers. “It stole you beneath the waters.”

“I—see,” Lucienne replies, her brow furrowing. “And you— you rescued me?” she asks, widening her eyes as shock then worry crosses her features.  “My lord, that was a dangerous maneuver. You could have been greatly hurt.”

“I could not lose you, Lucienne,” Dream says simply. It was true. Lucienne has always been an instrumental part of the Dreaming, of Dream’s function, but she had truly become invaluable to him when he had returned from his imprisonment at the hands of Roderick Burgess. Lucienne had shone a light on Dream’s weaknesses, had helped him see past his own pride as he struggled to adjust himself to a realm that had rotted away in his absence. She had shown Dream that change need not be a terrifying thing, that it could be beautiful, not just in his creations, but in Dream himself.   

“My lord,” Lucienne argues, “it is still not worth the risk—”

“You are worth every risk, Lucienne,” Dream interrupts her, cutting off the thought before she could finish it. “There is no one more valuable to me than you,” he adds, and realizes he means it. Lucienne had become wholly irreplaceable to him, and that could only mean one thing. 

“I have been negligent in saying so in the past,” Dream continues. “But I would like to thank you. For staying by my side for all this time. For believing in me, even when others had given up. For giving me—” he pauses, then takes one of Lucienne’s hands in his, raising it to his lips. She inhales sharply, caught off guard by the intimate gesture. “Something I still do not think I deserve.”

“My lord?” Lucienne asks, breathless.

“Lucienne,” Dream murmurs, his lips ghosting along the knuckles of her fingers. “I do not yet believe I am worthy of your love.” He looks up at her, hoping that she sees that he is serious about his declaration. “But I would like to be, if you’ll allow it.”

Lucienne’s eyes widen, then crinkle as she lets out a small huff of laughter. “I would respectfully disagree with that assessment sire,” she replies, turning her hand in his to squeeze it in return. “You do not see yourself as I do,” she adds, her voice soft and fond.

“Clearly, else I would have noticed your affections sooner,” Dream replies, feeling his own lips quirk upwards as he returns her smile.

“Perhaps that is only a testament to how well I know you, that I kept them hidden for so long,” Lucienne teases. Dream barks out a laugh, and it echoes loudly in his chambers, but he does not care. Lucienne has heard him laugh many times in the past few thousand years, so he is unashamed to let her hear him now. 

“Perhaps,” he allows. “But now you are no longer permitted to keep those feelings secret. I would have all of them, immediately.”

Lucienne rolls her eyes, but still stares at him, fondness clearly etched across her lovely face. 

“You have always been greedy with your lovers,” Lucienne answers. “But I suppose I do not mind that about you.”

Dream’s only response is to pull Lucienne into a deep, breathtaking kiss. 

[things-arent-what-they-seem66]

Swap AU with Adam being the King of Hell and Lucifer leading the Exterminations as an order from Sera

Lucifer is generally prideful and an asshole yet none of the archangels can do anything because he was God's most favored angel (much to Michael's and the other angels' dismay).

Adam becomes king after falling as punishment by disobeying God's orders and Eve falling with him and becoming the queen, but she disappeared 7 years ago after an intense fight with Adam about... something.

When the final battle at the hotel (the idea of the hotel was by his sons, Cain and Abel) takes place, Adam comes to help his sons fight and they do exceptionally well, until Lucifer jumps in and kicks Adam down while he's distracted.

Adam: Wasn't Eden enough for you, asshole?! You couldn't even leave my fucking kids alone even when I made our deal specifically clear?

Lucifer: those little shit stains wanted to fight first! But hey, since one of your daring little subjects messed with one of my top girls... now I am going to FUCK YOU!

Everyone, including Adam, is confused and surprised.

Lucifer, noticing his mistake: I meant fuck you UP! Fuck, d-don't look at me like that, you fucking wh-!

===== HOURS LATER =====

Lucifer after having non-stop sex with Adam: ... Wow.

Adam, smugly grinning: Told you my ass was the best~ You couldn't even stop at just one round, couldn't you? Didn't know you had it in you, short king.

Lucifer, grumbling: Shut up...

Adam, yawning sleepily: Also, I hope you don't mind being a father...

Lucifer, looking up from his pillow to see a sleeping Adam: Wait, what? Adam?! Adam!

Relax Lucifer, but really you should have known he was extremely fertile.

I love this!!

[sailorspica]

i still don't think it's necessary or worthwhile to write out a comprehensive close reading of AoT (just know i'm in line with this essay that predates the VICE one) so instead i offer some basic tools from bertolt brecht, who made art in and fled nazi germany, for how to watch and make something that feels bad

(bertolt brecht tr. john willett c. 1936, "theatre for pleasure or theatre for instruction?" in brecht on theatre)

e.g., an author can write and an actor can portray a character who they disagree with, and sympathizing with a character is not the same as sympathizing with their beliefs. this is the very basic plurality of the word sympathy! the emotional use of pity, or the political use of affiliation or agreement. it's down to you to figure out which one you're looking at, which is a big ask for this website

all this is to say i'm quite sure most villain enjoyers are adults who approach fiction with a healthy dose of alienation. ironically, it's far more fascistic to give into your first feelings toward a character than it is to draw yaoi with said character, and the most fascistic to make a blacklist over said yaoi, a blacklist being exactly the thing that drove bert brecht out of germany and later hollywood

you can criticize a work, but first and foremost you need to criticize your own reaction. the talking point that "x media is bad because it humanizes a murderer/rapist/dictator/war criminal" betrays that the speaker thinks humanity is inherently good, ergo those who deviate are not human, which is so puerile and dangerous and exactly the attitude fascists point at the subjects of their violence. i'm not saying it's easy, and it's difficult by design:

("a short organum for the theatre", 1948)

i get that not everyone is into art or reading for a challenge, but i can't even recommend like, the bible for the sort of moralistic fiction people seem to want from AoT because genesis gives us more time with cain than with abel