#this whole idea in my head did lead me to developing the funny headcanon

[senblades]

Who are your fav persona 3 people!!!

[cracks knuckles] I'm glad you asked

So! I don't actively /dislike/ anyone in the p3 cast, but some of them definitely speak to me more than others:

First things first: Ryoji. Love that guy. He's so silly. And so tragic. And he makes me sad. (Like holy SHIT I wasn't expecting a reprise of his song in the stage play on December 31st but it TOOK ME OUT) (also Ryomina my love)

The whole Shinji, Ken, and Akihiko trio ALSO lives in my head rent free... two idiots and their son. love them. I've been desperately scouring for Akishinji content and between that, Ryomina, and Shuake, I've come to realise that my shipping habits seem to boil down to "doomed yaoi" HAHA

More on Ken, I have a LOT of thoughts about how he and Akechi would interact and (likely) get along. Whether that be in the p5 era or a situation a la Throw Away Your Mask. (Or, something I've yet to find: Akechi with no time travel shenanigins getting in on the p3 plot. You can bet THAT'S a longfic idea I've got rattling around) (Also the half-brothers headcanon is super fun. Especially when combined with Futago siblings. Congratulations, Shido! All your kids are persona users, and they all hate you! :D)

Aigis! She's just. Infinitely charming. She'll say something that will absolutely take me out and then turn around and say something devestating HAHA. I also think that her and Ryoji's social link and linked episodes respectively do a LOT of thematic work in the story. Death himself and the girl that can't die, both trying to figure out how to live (y'all that shit's METAL)

Strega are so interesting to me... I don't think they're perfect villains- I think their motivation is underexplored and a bit choppy, but ASIDE from that, I really like all three of them as characters. Idk why Jin is so funny to me LMAO he's so in love with Takaya and Takaya's just like "k. met your quota yet?" (But, also, some of Takaya's lines definitely imply that he cares about Jin too, but doesn't let himself acknowledge that at all due to his whole "attachments are weakness" shtick, another thematic point to contest his ideology, as he is actively denying himself happiness in pursuit of some idea of salvation)

Chidori- I like her well enough. Some of her lines really did make me smile, but I think she's another case of "underdeveloped" (I actually read Throw Away Your Mask before I played p3r, so that fic did a lot of the heavy lifting for my like of Chidori (and, by extension, Jundori) i think)

Which leads nicely into: Junpei! He's da man. Nuff' said. HAHA if you can't tell, I love Junpei. Awkward dudebro stuff aside (though it's occasionally part of his charm), I really love his development and personality in general. I really love how all the "bro" characters across the modern three persona games, while fulfilling the same archetype, are all distinct in personality and motivation and I love them ALL

Mitsuru is quite interesting to me, but I think she might be a case of "I wish her social link was about something else". Personal preference of course, but I kind of wish that it focused more on this intense guilt she seems to have for things that a) weren't her fault, and b) happened when she was 7 or younger. THAT is a super interesting mindset to explore, imo, though I did find her social ineptitude charming haha

Yukari... I think that she might grow on me more later. I can feel it in my bones. I suppose I'll find out with The Answer dlc! I know broadly what happens in it, but I haven't actually seem a playthrough of it, nor do I really know what happens to all the characters. I think my opinion of Yukari might have been tainted slightly by everyone having such strong opinions HAHA- I definitely like her, but I don't think she's clicked just yet. (I did really like her social link, though!) (also Yukamitsu I love Yukamitsu. The lesbians aren't doomed! Good for them)

Okay this is going to upset some people probably but Koromaru isn't really much of a character and I keep forgetting about him LMAO. uh. he's a good boy?

Fuuka... I really think that she's just underdeveloped. Her social link didn't really do her any favours in my eyes (I'm SO glad that atlus cut the "girl learns to cook" social link in p5 HAHA i really didn't like it with Yukiko either) Her social link obviously isn't just the cooking shenanigins, but it overshadows the bits of character growth that happen intermittently. I think that her SL really would have benefitted from being more about her love of electronics, if anything, since that isn't explored AT ALL and is more a plot device than a character trait. (Plus, the root of all her self-esteem issues go unadressed, which I think would have been a good character beat otherwise) (In saying this I think Fuuka/Natsuki is very cute. The lesbians stay winning in p3)

Makoto/Minato! Honestly, I was pretty neutral towards him from the majority of the fics I had read before playing p3r. I really like his characterisation in Throw Away Your Mask and The Twilight Wants Him Back, but those had been outliers in my mind. I started liking him more and more after playing p3r, and NOW, after having watched 1/4 of the p3 movies- oh boy. boy oh boy. I really like him now HAHA. Having his apathy actually effect his realtionships with SEES early on is super interesting and I love when it's done. (plus, I think Yukari hating him at first really strengthens their friendship later on)

Uh this post is already super long so for all the other plot-relavant characters and confidants I'm just gonna say "it's a secret" and melt into a bush or something

(tysm for the ask! You can tell I was waiting for an excuse to talk about this HAHA)

(btw y'all shoud read the fics I mentioned in this- they're excellent)

[hollowsart]

that scarface and ventriloquist post was lovely, i've been shipping them for ages and i've never seen any art of them as a couple. i love your art and i wanted you to know that you just made someone very happy today <3

Lol thank you, and you're welcome!

It's probably due to the fact most, if not all, people perceive Scarface as a real dummy that is either possessed/cursed or is literally subconsciously through a DID sort of deal being puppeteered entirely by Arnold Wesker himself as a means to deal with his past and his past traumas from a young age that caused the whole Ventriloquist thing from the start. More often than not people tend to stick closer to the actual canon of the characters, be it from the comics and/or cartoon media, but.. as for me? I like to mix and match and add in my own headcanons. Twisting the characters into something fresh and new! It's a lot of fun to get extra creative!

Meanwhile, with my Scarface, however: Scarface isn't possessed. He isn't a part of Arnold either. My Scarface is his own entity. he is just a living doll, but with minimal movement. When he isn't being held by someone-- Specifically Arnold, his voice comes out disembodied. If he IS being held (again, specifically by Arnold), then his voice sounds like it is coming out of the body instead of from thin air within the general vicinity of the body. (this leads to some really funny situations lol)

So.. He really is his entirely separate being and character as a whole. Arnold just happened to find him, take him in, become his handler. Thinking that he was just another dummy.. only instead to find that Scarface was a sentient being. Fixing him up.. I like the idea Scarface was found in somewhat disrepair and Arnold did some repairs to him without knowing that Scarface was sentient. Taking delicate care with repairs. The idea that Arnold tended to dolls for a time to help with his mental/emotional health is a good one.

Arnold and Scarface grew close together over time, Arnold taking very good care of Scarface. Helping to dress him and move him around since he can't exactly do much on his own besides move his head, jaw, and limbs one by one, focusing his energy on them to actually move. It's a very interesting case for my Scarface! It's fun to play with.

I would also like to give credit to @bunny-j3st3r who helped to develop and come up with the ideas and concept alongside me when we were discussing reworking some of the Batman rogues gallery. Arnold & Scarface is a favorite of ours :D

Arnold may be meek in nature, but he would not hesitate to fight back for Scarface's sake if anything happened to him. He grew too close and too fond of the little ventriloquist dummy, to not be close or know he's safe makes him like a ticking time bomb of exploding.

[kittylordinfinity]

The eternal tragedy of Sayaka being the only holy quintet member who keeps up with modern meme culture and therefore having no one but themself to make fun of them for having blue hair and pronouns 😔

[maskved]

hello, besties ! this is ami (she/her) and i’m probably late with this intro ! first i’m sorry for mass-liking every post but i’m already in love with all your lovely muses. also i must confess that i’ve only read the first book ( years ago ) and watched the show because i have an attention span of - 10 seconds.  but at least i’m a soc hoe, so we can scream about that ... please ... !!! so if i get anything wrong pls let me know or you can also not let me know and i’ll continue being embarrassing 😔. anyway, if you are interested in some juicy plotting pls LIKE this post or message me ( if you want to plot on discord we can also do that 💖). I’M EXCITED.

PINTEREST  . discor*d     six of hoes🔪#7888  //  YEVA

[ viktoriya zobova ], an [ twenty six ] year old grisha in the little palace. she is  a [ tailor ] and are known in the little palace as the [ viscerotonic ]. they are known to be [ resilient ] and [ elusive ] and vaguely resemble [ kristine froseth ]. 

death tw

- viktoriya zobova ( however, prefers to be called vika because every time one calls her by her full name she might as well be in trouble ) had never been more than average. born to average parents ( although grisha their powers pale compared to others ) into an average family and of course as the middle child, vika strived for more than simply being overlooked.

- truth to be told, she dreaded to be tested. to her it seemed like the final reminder that she was nothing special, average, merely an extra to someone other’s story. she even wished, she wouldn’t be a grisha, fearing that like her parents she’d belong to the lower ranks. however, if she turned out to be a simple human without any power, at least she’d be special within her family or could even try to make a story up that she was adopted or something ( i hate her -- ).

- however, the moment she found out about being able to alter people’s appearances with her ability *atla vc* everything changed - 

- truth to be told she knew she was considered to be lower rank among others but what really fueled her arrogance and the sudden feeling of self importance was her knowing that she possessed a rare ability. she didn’t care others treating her badly for her rank because “hey i can alter appearances and that is lit ( she probably didn’t say it that way - )

- ALSO ( here comes the moment i throw in my found family trope bcs i’m a soc hoe and this actually plays a big role in her story ) she’d found comfort in the friends she met.

- (lemme add my childhood friends trope bcs why not ) as vika was never close to her parents ( to be fair her being taken away for the training at such a young age did not really gave her the time to really bond with her family ) her little group of friends became her second family. they called themselves “blood is thicker water” ( gang ???) bcs 1) vika really thought the saying was blood is thicker water and not blood is thicker than water 2) they thought they were incredibly funny.

- they were pretty much known as troublemakers, especially with vika being a tailor it was easy to sometimes shift the blame on others. truth to be told, it only caused vika to be more frivolous. all the fun they had blinded her judgment and she viewed her ability as harmless.

- well, lets say vika becoming more reckless did not end up being the best character development (lmao). as usual , everything started out as a harmless joke. her friend asked her to change his appearance. however, this time they wanted her to change their whole face. not just the colour of their hair or eyes. vika was reluctant at first, she’d never done it before but in the end she agreed to it and much to her surprise she succeeded. she even bragged about it and told her friends ( of the bloody “blood is thicker water” gang (???) ) .

-  to cut a long story short, their friend ended up dying because of it. i have two versions for their death ( i haven’t decided on it yet *clown emoji*)

1) the person they changed their appearance into apparantly was involed in some shady stuff and had some pretty morally questionable people around him. they thought vika’s friends was that person they were looking for (bcs of the changed appearance) and killed them for some reason.

2) vika’s friend was supposed to be part of some mission they didn’t want to go to, thus changed their appearance to escape from it. however, ended up having to do another mission and ended up being killed. 

RIP nameless but vital character to vika’s bio 

- vika pretty much blamed herself for it and maybe her friends of their friend group as well. this incident also ‘humbled’ vika and now instead of being proud of it she hates it.

- right now, she doesn’t really know what to do with her future. she has this ‘oh so grand’ plan that one day she might be able to change her appearance (permanently) and then leave the little palace and live under a new name and lead a life where she wouldn’t need to use her abilities anymore.

personality ( i’m trying to keep it short i swear, i’m just adding a bunch of sentence here bcs i’m throwing all my ideas into this paragraph)

- she’s known to be pretty social. she loves to talk and honestly doesn’t know when to shut up. she can’t deal with silence because it forces her to think about things she doesn’t want to think about. although, her tongue is sharp and trouble seems to follow her, she also loves to dance around the issue, pushing her feelings away and replacing it with a witty joke instead. as if everyone does it the same way, as if everyone is supposed to understand. 

headcanons

- although she was tempted to change her own appearance many times. she never did because she is a coward and doesn’t trust her skills as much others might think she does.

- she views her ability as a form of art, perhaps that is also the reason she used to love to paint. honestly, she was never really good at it. average and above average with practice. her friend ( the dead one lmao ) used to paint with her whenever they could sneak away but with them gone, she doesn’t see a point in it anymore.

- she secretly envies the other grisha’s who can use their ability to fight. recently, she’d find herself trying to practice some punches so she doesn’t feel that useless in case of a dangerous situation. she also sucks at that so she’s probably in need of a training patner aka someone who is willing to train her or she has annoyed that much that they were willing to help her out ( wc ???)

- being personally trained by the darkling, one might assume that she’s loyal or even thankful towards the darkling. however, contrary is the case and she wouldn’t even grant him a dust particle of her trust. she doesn’t believe that he has the best interest of anyone in his heart and if she could, she’d probably spread rumors about him and telling others that he has some serious case of stanky breath.

wanted connections ( just some ideas, which can be changed ofc ! or some wcs can be connected ) 

(0/3) “blood is thicker water” friend group  : they pretty much grew up together. the death of their friend ( the friend needs a name - i swear...) caused tension within the group. while, one might have blamed vika for their death the other doesn’t and just wants them to be how they used to be. nevertheless, no one can deny that nothing was what it used to be). (( honestly these are just some ideas and we can plot wtv sddm )

training partner ( can be more than one ): connection mentioned in the hcs ! they help her a little out to become physically fit and level up her combat skills of -10. maybe they want something in return for it. help her out bcs they’re just nice or bcs vika annoyed the heck out of them etc.

person vika changed their friend’s appearance into: honestly we can do wtv with it. i just thought it’d be fun to play with the idea and having the person running around when they actually “died” and everyone belieed them to be dead until they found out that it was vika’s friend. might be angsty bcs it might remind vika of their friend.

angsty exes: listen, i love some angsty shit and i love to blame vika for all the problems. they might have dated before the whole dead friend fiasco happened. although, viktoriya acted as if she was fine after the incident ( which she wasn’t ),it only made muse a realize that vika and them weren’t as close as they believed and how much vika tied to hide from them.  BUT tbh anything would work i love a good angsty ex connection djddnd

random idea but i just liked the thought that this person once went to vika for some enhancing stuff. however, this day vika was not really herself, distracted, head in the clouds. so she accidenally might have gotten rid of some important scar or something.

enemies : lbr, vika might prbly be the type who has some enemies. she has no filter and might has stepped on someone toes because of it. (Also maybe gimme some enemies to lovers trope , adding this here quietly to not expose myself as a hoe for that trope )

HONESTLY GIVE ME EVERYTHING, gimme angst, fluff, tropes !!??? more friends, unusual friends, shippy stuff, platonic stuff, family connections djdsd GIMME 

[jason-todd-deserved-better]

High School Crush - Dick Grayson x Reader Headcanon

Summary: Dick develops a crush on you after verbally slaying a moron during lunch.

A/N: Oh wow two posts in a week, that’s new! Plus an imagine that's not centered around Jason, another first! Anyway, I got this idea last night and I couldn’t stop so here have this thing that nobody asked for XD. Send in some request amigos, I’m in desperate need and I don’t bite, I swear! Love you all and I hope you all enjoy!

Warnings: Cursing, and blood (Not much of it but just in case.)

~Okay so you guys hung out with many of the same people, but you never really talked to each other much, you were both popular in your own different ways.

~Dick was (what you assumed) was the typical dumb jock ever since you met him

~You got transferred into Gotham Academy before your Junior year after your parents decided to move up north for work reasons.

~You were one of those quiet people who others just seemed to be compelled to tell you their problems, and you really didn’t mind.

~In your head it was your small way to make the world a better place, not as impressive as Batman but hey you were at least doing something.

~You were a kind soul who people really did care for there.

~A couple of your close friends even came up with the protect (Y/N) squad.

~This consists of Barbara and Artemis, because you were way too nice for your own good according to the both of them.

~They just haven’t seen you get pissed off, you weren’t one to let anyone push you over.

~Like seriously people better run if you get mad or at least cover their ears (maybe even pull out their phones) because someone will be roasted.

~You may only know some basics on fighting (It’s Gotham, its kind of a necessity.) but your words can take a huge bite out of a person’s ego.

~Never had you been in need to use this power of yours but some person just didn’t get the message.

~On that fateful Friday, you were on your own at lunch(Barb was out sick, and Artemis left early to go visit her boyfriend in Central City.) and were doing homework that was due the next class.

~You were basically just minding your own business, when all of a sudden some guy sits ultra close to you and wraps an arm around your shoulder

~You automatically try to pull away, not in any mood to deal with that.

~When a second later he starts saying some stuff that really shouldn’t be said anywhere near food, you go off on his ass.

~Some insults included were;

~”Carpet-Cleaner”

~”Shitstick”

~and your favorite “micro-penis”

~The whole time a certain someone was watching with complete and utter surprise.

~Barbara may have texted him to keep an eye on you to make sure you were okay.

~Dick was about to step in when the guy was wringing his hand around your shoulder but he was on the other side of the cafeteria.

~By the time he got close enough you were already tearing this guy a whole new one and with the dude running with his tail between his legs.

~He was shook.

~Like Barb why does she need to be looked out for? She’s got a firm handle on things.

~Either way he didn’t expect that to come out of you, not that he minded, seriously might have found it kinda hot.

~Again surprised that he was thinking this, he never really talked to you, but he heard a lot about you from both Barb and Artemis.

~The bell for the next class rings and it turns out that you both were in the same class, which happened to be Chemistry.

~Hilariously, you guys were doing a lab today and the teacher decided to assign partners.

~Even more funny was the fact that the both of you were now lab partners.

~Dick didn’t know what to say or do.

~You were still clearly pissed.

~So he just wings it, “Hey I saw what happened in the cafeteria and you absolutely tore that dude apart, good job.”

~Not one of his smoothest starters but it did get you to crack a small smile.

~He decided that he really liked your smile.

~And the way your eyes crinkle at the edges when you do.

~Uh oh, he was getting deep.

~You guys finished the experiment early, so you guys just talked the rest of the time.

~When you guys started talking about your shared friends that’s when the spark really gets back into your being.

~And you find out more about him, like how he’s best friends with Artemis’ boyfriend.

~You had met him a couple times and he seemed ultra hyper but seemed really nice.

~He laughed at the “ultra hyper” thing, said that it was an inside joke.

~You just shrugged it off.

~The whole class period was spent with you guys just talking and getting to know each other better.

~It went by pretty fast and by the time the bell rung it was like you guys had known each other forever.

~When Monday rolls around both Artemis and Barb were so surprised that the two of you started talking like you’ve known each other your whole lives.

~Like how much could we have missed in just one day??

~The birth of a friendship is what they missed.

~Many months pass, summer is about to begin and you guys become attached to the hip.

~Seriously, you guys just hang out almost every other day, and everyone seems to think the two of you are dating.

~Including his family (basically just Alfred, and Bruce at the time.) and your own parents.

~Or at least that you both have the biggest crush on each other.

~Even yours and Dick’s friends are just about ready to scream, because how dense cAn YoU gUyS bE????

~Literally Wally was at the point of “borrowing” Dick’s phone and texting you to please go out with him

~Only problem was that he told Artemis.

~While Dick was in the cave.

~No one can keep a secret from the best detective on the team.

~Speaking of said team, you had absolutely no clue that all your close friends were freaking fighting crime as vigilantes.

~The only thing that always rubbed you the wrong way was that they’d never hang out at night, or they were out of town for weeks at a time, with all of them gone at the same time.

~Just seemed very odd, but you let it go, even though it seriously kinda hurt you, that the friends that you considered really close, didn’t want you around.

~You just gave everyone their space and held it all in.

~It caused a rift between you and everyone.

~You didn’t call as much and time with you became very scarce

~Dick was the first to notice the change and was seriously worried about it.

~Told Artemis, Barbara, and even Wally.

~Artemis and Barb automatically called you more and even made plans to go to the mall with you later that week.

~Wally was trying to get Dick to ask you out on a date

~You were happy to have your friends back, so you never told them what you were really feeling/thinking.

~A week passes, it’s a pitch black night outside and you were home alone while your parents were out on a date night.

~You were just scrolling through your phone when you hear frantic knocking on your window.

~Like a cat, you almost jumped a foot off the bed.

~Also the fact that THE FREAKING ROBIN was out bleeding outside your window, with his shoulder all scratched up.

~Shaking like a leaf you got him in, not sure what to do, you just asked what he needed.

~”(Y/N/N) can you get me a towel, please?”

~Nearly had a heart attack when he said your nickname.

~Only Dick ever calls you that most of the time.

~After getting the towel and helping disinfect the scratches, there was awkward staring.

~Your face could have been made out of steel that moment.

~”Look I need you to tell me how you know me.”

~He just sighs and rubs his face with his uninjured arm.

~After a really long pause, he looks up at you.

~”I’ll show you, but you have to swear not to tell a living soul.” And with that pulls off his mask.

~You felt your brain explode that very instant, and for second you were silent but,

~”DICK, YOU’RE ROBIN”

~Internally screaming turned into outward screaming.

~Things that were said were;

~”HOW IN THE ACTUAL HECK.”

~”WAIT, THAT’S WHY YOU ARE ALWAYS GONE!”

~”BUT WHAT ABOUT ARTEMIS AND BARBARA?”

~ArE tHeY sUpEr HeRoS tOo????”

~And most importantly after getting forced to sit on your bed by Dick (and a lot more quietly) “Oh my god, my crush is Robin.”

~Your eyes almost pop out of your head when you realize what you just said.

~So do Dicks, but instead of him trying to melt into the bed, now you are.

~His heart was going crazy, and he felt like he just heard the best news of his life

~You were now trying not to break down because the silence was deafening and you definitely thought that he wouldn’t feel the same way.

~You weren’t expecting his finger under your chin and him pulling your face to look at his.

~You sure as hell wasn’t expecting him to bring his lips to yours, in a short but sweet kiss.

~This lead to a heavy make-out session, with you two at the end smiling and laughing like idiots.

~Let’s just say that now you both knew that you liked each other, and a new chapter in your relationship just started.

~After Dick left (he said that he would call to you later tomorrow, so you guys could go out.) you automatically called Barb, screamed in her ear about the new relationship status/why the hell didn’t you tell me you were Batgirl?! You then called Artemis with both similar screaming and subject matter.

~Both were shook, but also happy for you/that they didn’t have to hide what they did anymore.

~While you called the girls, Dick called Wally.

~”Bro finally!!!!!!” He was super happy for his best friend.

~Either way, you guys were sure as hell now stuck with each other and neither of you minded.

[illuminating-dragons]

We Don’t Talk About It

Summary:  A look at Sam and Lucifer during season 11, with some missing scenes, headcanons, and Sam actually getting to face his abuser on equal grounds.

Read it on AO3

Chapter One: Devil in the Details

           The light faded and Lucifer was gone.

           Sam started shaking, his head ringing, black spots dancing in front of his eyes.

           “Sammy?” Dean was there. Dean.

           “Dean, get me out. Please, De. Please…”

           Dean pulled him up, and Sam groaned as his broken ribs were jostled. The two of them slipped between the bars of the fake Cage. He would never have been able to do that in the real Cage, it was more like a box, the walls so close together…

           “Sammy, you with me?”

           Sam gripped hold of Dean. He could hear a far off moan that was rising into a scream.

           “Sammy, it’s okay. I promise it’s okay. Cas, are you okay? Do you need help?”

           Sam couldn’t hear Cas’ response. The scream was getting louder.

           “Sammy, come on, it’s okay, little brother. He’s gone, buddy. You’re gonna be fine. I’m right here. We’re right here.”

           Oh, I’m the one screaming. That made sense.

           Sam tried to stop himself screaming, but it wasn’t working.

           “Cas, can you heal him at all?”

           Grace touched him and Sam screamed louder. “No!”

           “Sammy, Sammy, it’s Cas, buddy. It’s Cas.”

           Right. Cas. Friend. Not Lucifer.

           “Sorry,” Sam rasped, trying to clamp down on his screams. He was trembling in Dean’s arms, barely standing. Cas reached out again, and Sam gritted his teeth, trying not to fight the Grace healing his wounds.

           “What did he do to you?” Dean asked, still supporting Sam.

           Sam cleared his throat. Stop screaming. You don’t need to scream. “You only missed three or four punches,” he answered.

           “Are you sure?”

           Other than the words? No, he wasn’t going to think about that. Put it away, put it away... “Yes. De, it was him. It was him the whole time, in my head…”

           Dean swore loudly.

           “We never even considered that,” Cas said quietly.

           “Would never have gone if I thought…him.” Sam couldn’t speak any more clearly. “Wanted me to say yes. I didn’t Dean, I didn’t.”

           “I know.” Dean hugged him tighter. “I’m so proud of you. So proud. You’re safe now, and we’re going home, okay?”

           Sam nodded, blinking away tears. He looked at Cas. “Thank you for saving me. I’ve never been so happy to see you both in my life.”

           “You’re welcome Sam. Any time.” Cas smiled and put a gentle hand on Sam’s cheek. Sam held still, trying not to flinch.

           “Come on,” Dean said gruffly. He helped Sam stand straight, and when he swayed, put an arm around his shoulders. “Let’s go home.”

Chapter Two: Into the Mystic

           Lucifer was pacing through the Bunker one night—damn the humans for giving him an invitation to stay!—when he saw Sam doing something utterly strange.

           The door to his bedroom was open, and he was standing in front of a mirror, waving his hands. It didn’t look like any spellcasting Lucifer had ever seen. Maybe he was trying to develop some spells?

           Cas would knock, so Lucifer knocked.

           Sam spun around. “Hi Cas.”

           “What are you doing, Sam?”

           Sam ran a hand through his hair. Embarrassed, Lucifer mused. Why?

           “I’m practicing sign language,” Sam admitted. “It’s easier in front of a mirror.”

           “Why?” Could it be because of his and his brother’s impending hearing loss? Castiel had been healing the damage subtly for years, but there was only so much he could do for humans who insisted on firing off guns without ear protection.

           Sam blushed. “Well…it’s for Eileen. I want to get a bit better. It’s easier for her than lip reading.”

           “Right. Eileen. The hunter who is deaf.”

           “Yeah. She’s a Legacy of the Men of Letters too, and I thought if we ran into each other again, it would be nice if we could talk more, even though she can read lips just fine…”

           “You’re babbling, Sam. Do you…do you like this girl?”

           “She’s pretty great,” Sam admitted. “She’s amazing, honestly. I’ve never met someone like her. She’s so strong.”

           “Perhaps you should…call her?” Lucifer suggested. “I suppose that wouldn’t work. Text her?”

           The smile faded from Sam’s face. “I’ll text back if she contacts me, but I won’t initiate contact.”

           “Why not?” Interesting. Had Sam actually learned his lesson?

           “Because bad things happen to women I…I care about. I don’t want anything to happen to her because of something I might feel.” Sam took a deep breath. “I’ll be her friend if she wants it, but I won’t let myself love her.”

           “Maybe that won’t always be true,” Lucifer offered, trying to hide his delight. “Maybe this could be the one.”

           Sam seemed to struggle with that for a moment. “Thanks Cas, but…no.” He turned over the mirror. “I’m going to try and get some sleep.”

           “I think that’s a good idea. You look exhausted.” Lucifer couldn’t resist. He stepped forward and put his arms around Sam. “You’ll find happiness someday, Sam.” And I’ll take it from you.

           “Hope so,” Sam muttered. He pulled away. “Thanks, Cas. Goodnight.”

           “Goodnight, Sam.”

           “Cas?”

           “Yes?”

           “Is the heat down in the Bunker?”

           “I don’t think so. I was outside for a walk.”

           “Oh, that’s it. You just felt a bit cold.”

           “My apologies. I forget you feel temperature differently.” Stupid, observant boy.

           “It’s okay. Goodnight, Cas.”

           “Sweet dreams, Sam.”

Chapter Three: The Vessel

          “You can’t time travel.”

           “No, I can’t. Sam—” Cas was struggling to speak, Sam saw the effort in every inch of his body. “I have to—”

           Sam swallowed hard. “Okay, Cas. Hang on, okay? We’ll help you. Don’t worry about us.”

           “I’m sorry,” Cas whispered. Then his face shifted and Lucifer took back control. Sam could see the Graces changing places. How could he have been blind?

           Lucifer grabbed hold of him before he could move and threw him over the table. Sam landed on his shoulder with a thud and looked up at his worst nightmare.

           No, it was worse than that, because he’d never dreamed that Lucifer would ever wear the face of family.

           Lucifer cocked his head. “Say nothing,” he warned Sam, and then he vanished.

           Sam was trembling from head to foot. His soul was aching, his shoulder felt like it was on fire, and his heart was screaming. There was agony in every inch of him, and there would be more coming.

           He could obey. He could say nothing, and maybe Lucifer would let him and Dean live.

           But he knew that wasn’t true, and he wouldn’t let Cas be forced to kill them.

           Sam had a knife, and he slid across the floor just enough to get near to the wall. No, Lucifer, he thought. No.

           A flash, and Lucifer and Dean were back.

           “Dean, that’s not Cas!”

Chapter Four: Red Meat

           Sam’s prayer comes out of nowhere, and Lucifer almost ignores it.

           But it’s the first one he’s heard since leaving the Winchesters, so he listens.

           Don’t let me die!

           Now that’s surprising. Sam was more suicidal than any human Lucifer had ever encountered, and that included Nick. Why was he fighting for his life?

           It’s worth a look. Lucifer is bored anyways. Demons aren’t very interesting.

           He flies to Sam’s side and watches as Dean crouches above his brother, crying. There’s two other people; well, one woman and one new werewolf. Lucifer can see the marks on Sam’s neck, matches them to the werewolf. Interesting.

           Sam’s not dead, but it’s clear that his brother doesn’t realize that. He promises his brother that he’ll come back, and leads the other two out of the cabin.

           Lucifer paces around Sam’s comatose body. Werewolves, then, and a gunshot wound. It’s bad, and that combined with the strangulation is enough to kill Sam if he doesn’t get medical attention soon.

           Brother, please.

           Lucifer bats Castiel away. I thought I told you to shut up.

           Help him. Please.

           You have nothing to offer me.

           Please.

           Lucifer crouches down. Guess I missed a few million birthdays, didn’t I? Well, Cassie, Happy birthday.

           All Sam really needs is a quick jolt to wake up. Lucifer gives it to him, staying invisible as Sam wakes with a groan.

           There, Cassie. Your precious human’s going to live. Happy now?

           Thank you.

           Don’t thank me yet. We’d better follow him and watch. To make sure he gets back alive, of course.

           That’s not why he wants to watch Sam Winchester struggle through woods full of werewolves, of course. He wants to watch because it’s funny, and it will hurt Cas. And he’ll keep his gift going; Sam will get back alive.

           Maybe not before Dean kills himself to ‘bring him back’. But come on, Cas only gets one gift.

Chapter Five: All in the Family

           Sam stares, terrified, at Lucifer and God. Lucifer, still in Cas’ body, glaring at Chuck, once a prophet, a guy Sam remembered as harmless, confused. He’d pitied him.

           In a way, he pities him now. He remembers Lucifer glaring at him that way, glaring in his true form across the Cage…

           Sam winces, pressing his thumb to his palm. Not there, he orders his mind. Don’t go there.

           But it’s hard, it’s impossibly hard to hang on to what dimension he’s in. They’re in the Bunker, but Lucifer’s there, not bothering to use Cas to mask his Grace anymore, and Sam can’t stop looking at him, because the minute he takes his eyes off him the pain will come, and it will start again.

           Dean’s got his hand on his arm now, and Sam takes a deep breath. Chuck’s there. And this is his home. His place. And he’s tired, and he wants to go lie down. But he needs a shower first. A long one.

           Dean seems to read his mind, because he draws Sam away from the kitchen, slow enough to avoid drawing attention, quick enough to calm Sam’s rising panic.

           Then Cas—no, it’s Lucifer, it’s Lucifer—springs in front of them. Dean’s got a knife out, but Lucifer’s already taken hold of Sam, gripping his forearms. It doesn’t hurt, but Sam flinches, bows his head.

           “I just wanted to thank you, Sam. For saving me.” There’s no taunt in Lucifer’s voice, no lilt. Sam risks a glance up to his face and sees Cas’ gentle blue eyes, sees gratitude in them.

           And he wonders, for a moment, whether Cas has regained control.

           But no, the grip on his arms is too familiar. Even through the vessel, he can feel Lucifer’s power, strong and twisting.

           Sam takes a deep breath. “Anything for you, Cas.” Because that’s true. That’s always been true, and never more so than now, when he has to forgive his friend for letting his tormentor loose again. “Let go of me, Lucifer.”

           To his shock and relief, Lucifer does let go, and Sam leaves. He doesn’t run—he can’t run, Lucifer will chase him—but he moves as fast as he dares, darts into the bathroom and vomits into the toilet. There isn’t much in his stomach, but he heaves until the last is gone. He yanks his shirt off (he touched Lucifer, he touched him, he took him down from the rack and touched him, supported him out, got him into the car their car Dean’s car) and rushes to the sink, rinses his mouth with one shaky, desperate handful of water (their home and now Lucifer’s here, in their stable home, in Cas, and now when he has nightmares there will be three faces leering at him—Nick’s, his own and Cas’) and runs boiling water over his arms, grabbing for soap, ignoring the burn (what can he do, they’re not safe, this is their home)—

           “Sam.”

           Sam whirls, the water still running. Chuck stands in the doorway, his hands raised. “You’re safe, Sam.” He waves his hand, wincing as Sam flinches, and the water turns off. “I won’t hurt you, I promise.”

           Sam leans back against the sink, gripping it so hard he’s afraid it’s going to crack. “I—I know.” He remembers his manners. “Thanks. For getting us out of there.”

           Chuck smiles, but it’s sad, and Sam wants to run again, run from the being who called Lucifer his favourite, because of course he’ll take Lucifer’s side, and after all Sam did let him out again, it was his fault—

           “I never should have said that,” Chuck interrupts, and Sam can’t stop the whimper that leaves him, because of course Chuck can read his thoughts, and know everything, every terrible thing Sam’s ever done, every little detail about his life that would make him deserve this pain.

           Because deep down in his soul, that’s what Sam has always believed. You deserve this. You deserve to suffer. He sinks to his knees.

           There’s a pause, a long, terrible pause, when all Sam can hear is his own panting.

           Then Chuck appears right in front of him…kneeling.

           Sam gasps in a huge breath, because God is there, kneeling, and he wants to get to his feet, tell Chuck to stand, because why would anyone ever kneel to him? There’s something perverted in the very action.

           “Sam, stop.”

           Sam flinches away.

           “I mean…” Chuck sighs. He shifts so he’s sitting with his legs crossed, which is better, but he’s still lower than Sam. “Sam, I’m so sorry.”

           “Sorry?”

           Chuck leans forward and takes hold of Sam’s chin, tilting until their gazes meet. “You’ve been hurt,” he whispers. “You’ve been hurt so terribly, and I’m so sorry.”

           It wasn’t you, Sam wants to say. I’m fine. It’s in the past.

           But it isn’t anymore, and the Devil’s free to make the past present again anyway he chooses.

           “He can’t hurt you.”

           “What?”

           “He can’t hurt you. Or Dean, or Castiel. I’ve blocked that.”

           Sam doesn’t understand.

           “He can’t use his powers to hurt you,’ Chuck says, brow furrowing. “You’re safe. No matter what.”

           Sam turns that over in his mind. Safe and Lucifer don’t match. They never have.

           “I’m not lying, Sam.”

           “I will never lie to you. I will never trick you.”

           Sam flinches.

           Chuck lets go of his chin, and Sam ducks his head, staring at the floor. “He’s here.”

           Chuck doesn’t reply.

           “He…hurt me. He ruined me. And I had to go back.” Sam looks up. “Why didn’t you answer? Why didn’t you warn me?"

           “Because I didn’t want to fight.” Chuck looks ashamed. “I thought…I hoped…well, it doesn’t matter what I hoped. In any case, I guess I thought you might figure it out.”

           “I didn’t know he could do that,” Sam still can’t say the name. “If I had, I don’t know if I could have coped.” He’s too tired to lie anymore, too tired to remember to hide weakness.

           Chuck has tears in his eyes. “If I could undo this damage, I would Sam. But I…I can’t.”

           Sam closes his eyes. Of course not.

           “At least not right now,” Chuck says hurriedly. “With Amara here, I’m worried that we don’t have the time. Healing a soul…well. It’s hard. And I need to take time to do it, to make sure it’s done right. But when this is over, I will take that time.”

           Sam opens his eyes in surprise. “Really?”

           “I’ll do what I can,” Chuck promises. “I’m not…your brother’s right. I can’t just sacrifice myself. It won’t work anyways. We’ll fight, and if we win, I’ll help you.”

           “And if we lose, we’re gone anyways,” Sam replies. Before he would have embraced that possibility, the emptiness promised by the Darkness. Now, despite everything, he wants to survive. He’s not sure why.

           “Very true.” Chuck rises to his feet and holds out his hands. Sam takes them without thinking, shocked when Chuck pulls him up with no effort.

           “You need to get some rest, Sam. Don’t worry, he won’t bother you. Or anyone else.”

           “I’ll try,” Sam promises. He bows his head awkwardly.

           “Don’t do that.” Chuck’s voice is soft as he squeezes Sam’s hands. “You of all people don’t need to do that.”

           “Why?”

           “Because you still have faith, after life has given you every reason to give up. You are still good, despite all of the times you could have gone bad. And there have been more than you might think.” Chuck looks Sam right in the eye. “Hear me, Sam Winchester. You deserve to be safe. To be happy. To be loved. Do you understand?”

           Sam looks at Chuck helplessly. “I…I don’t…I can try.”

           “Try, then. Because you need to take some of the belief you’ve given to others and give it to yourself.”

           Sam blinks hard.

           Chuck waves his hand again and Sam’s in front of Dean’s door. He doesn’t bother knocking. Dean’s lying on his bed. There’s no headphones, no TV, nothing. He’s staring at the ceiling. Sam wonders if Dean knows that he’s crying.

           Dean stirs and looks at him. “Sammy?”

           “De.” Sam realizes he’s warm, looks down. He’s wearing his favourite pair of pajamas from college, warm and soft.  

           “C’mere.”

           Sam lies down next to Dean and puts his head on his chest. They don’t often take moments like this, when Dean shuts up about chick flick moments and Sam stops pretending that he’s fine, that he doesn’t miss the days when his big brother could fix anything.

           Sam throws his arm over Dean’s stomach. Dean takes Sam’s hand.

           “He’s got Cas,” Dean whispers.

           “I know,” Sam whispers back. “Chuck promised we’re safe, though. All three of us.”

           Dean grips Sam’s hand. “He told me not to go after you, that he would fix it.”

           You deserve to be safe. To be happy. To be loved.

           “He tried,” Sam answers. “I don’t think it worked all the way, but he tried.”

           “I don’t want that monster here,” Dean says firmly. “If it weren’t for Cas—”

           “I know, De.” And he does, really. Knows what Dean would do to Lucifer. That’s what scares him most—his brother picking a fight with the Devil, a bully he can never knock out.

           “Hey. I’m here, Sammy. I’m right here.” Dean bends, presses a kiss to Sam’s head. “It’s gonna be okay. We’ll finish this.”

           Sam nods, buries his face against Dean’s chest. Something pokes him in the cheek, and he can’t help but smile.

           Dean pulls the amulet out, lets it hang to the right so Sam can see. “Thanks for giving it back, Sammy.” I love you.

           “It’s been yours the whole time.” I love you too.

           They don’t speak for a while. Sam listens to his brother’s heartbeat, tries to match his breathing to it.

           “You gonna stay?” Dean asks.

           “If you don’t mind.” Sam doesn’t want to go back to his room. Doesn’t want to have a nightmare alone. Doesn’t want Dean to have a nightmare alone.

           “I don’t mind.” Dean’s voice is hardly audible; he’s crying again. Sam grips his hand more tightly and closes his eyes. “Night, De.” And he says it out loud. “I love you.”

           “Love you, Sammy.”

Chapter Six: We Happy Few

           Sam leaves Dean with Chuck and goes back down the hall. His skin crawls as he stands in front of his door again. His door. His room. And Lucifer’s playing loud music inside.

           He’s going to have to wash everything.

           Sam grits his teeth and bangs on the door. The music turns down.

           The door wrenches open and Lucifer glares at him, twisting Cas’ face into a familiar scowl.

           Before he can speak, Sam holds up a hand. “I’m not here as a messenger. I want my book.”

           “Get it later.”

           “It’s my room, asshat!”

           Lucifer blinks in surprise, then steps aside. Sam ducks under his arm, careful not to brush against him. His bed hasn’t been touched, to his surprise; in fact, nothing’s been moved. His radio is off. Had Lucifer conjured the music?

           Sam doesn’t turn his back on Lucifer as he moves toward his night table. He knows that Lucifer can’t hurt him; this is the first time he’s ever faced him knowing he couldn’t be harmed. Their dynamic has shifted, and it’s more unsettling than Sam likes.

           Lucifer looks uncomfortable too.

           Sam grabs the book.

           “Aren’t you monkeys still gung ho to save the world?”

           Sam considers for a minute, and decides to press his luck. “I mean we’re fucked anyways; Chuck isn’t strong enough to fight her without you. And you’ve already decided to be unhelpful, so I might as well finish my book before we all die.”

           Lucifer’s nostrils flare and Sam flinches reflexively, but nothing happens. He looks down at the book. To Kill A Mockingbird. It’s an old favourite; he’s read it hundreds of times. Lucifer knows that.

           Lucifer knows everything.

           “You know,” Sam says before he can think twice, “I never got to say goodbye to my dad.”

           John Winchester’s spectre looms for a minute between them. When Lucifer went through his memories in the Cage, picking out the most painful, he saw what John did. What he said. It prompted one of the rare moments of mercy.

           (Sam remembers them all, there aren’t many to remember. A stopping of the pain, a quieting of the Cage, even sleep a few times. An empathetic torturer, acknowledging a shared suffering).

           “I never got to talk to him,” Sam continues, his throat tight. “Never got to ask him why he did what he did, whether he had any regrets…and I still don’t know if he regrets not having killed me. If he would still want to.”

           “And your point?”

           “You’re a fucking idiot.”

           Lucifer moves then. They’re suddenly a foot apart, and even though Cas’ vessel is shorter—Hell, Nick was shorter—he still looms. But Sam can’t be hurt, so he keeps going.

           “You have a chance right now to talk to your dad, and you won’t do it?”

           “He can’t even give me an apology.”

           “Then take what he’s giving.” Sam takes a deep breath, tries not to lean away. “Take the chance of him being in the same room as you. Yell at him, fight, whatever the hell you want…but I never thought you’d pass up a chance to have something I can’t.”

           Lucifer steps away and turns his back on Sam.

           Sam gives up. It was a long shot anyways. He holds his book to his chest, walks carefully to the door, Lucifer still in his peripheral vision.

           “Sam?”

           Sam doesn’t respond, but he stops and looks back. The Devil’s face has an achingly familiar expression: Cas, when he’s baffled by a human custom.

           “What is it?” Sam asks. He wants to leave, wants to get out, and this is his room.

           “I thought you should know something.” Lucifer’s hands are at his sides, clenched into fists. “When Amara…had me, she…well, when it was only the six of us we didn’t really know about torture, and she’s been locked away for millennia. So she needed some inspiration.”

           Sam’s throat goes dry.

           “See she wanted…wanted to hurt me enough that Dad would come to save me, and she realized after a while it wouldn’t be enough to just keep smiting me. So she looked through my memories. Memories of you.”

           Sam can’t think, can’t speak.

           “She thought it was a kind of justice. Taking the ways I tortured you and turning them back on me.” Lucifer’s gaze is intense, but there’s no malice in it, just honest curiosity. “I was wondering two things. The first is…was it really that bad?”

           “Yes.” Sam hates saying that word to Lucifer, but it comes out without effort this time. He knows it’s true. Saw the look in Lucifer’s eyes when they came to save him.

           Lucifer just nods, as if he was expecting the answer. His next question surprises Sam.

           “Are you happy about that?”

           “No,” Sam says immediately, “because Cas got hurt too.”

           Lucifer laughs. “No, no. Amara might be a bit of a battering ram, but she can use finesse when she wants. Your precious angel’s just fine; I shielded him from the shrapnel as best I could, and she was really only interested in me.”  

           “You—you protected him?” That makes no sense.

           Lucifer’s eyes flick away, just for a second, and Sam understands. “You felt guilty,” he whispers, unable to believe it. “You hurt him, you put him in danger from one of the oldest forces in the universe, and you felt bad.”

           Lucifer glares at him, and the familiar look almost makes Sam feel better. It also makes him realize something.

           “And you feel bad about me. Some part of you does, anyways, because you just felt what the Cage was like for me. On your scale, not a human one. And I saved you from it.”

           Lucifer doesn’t answer. Rage is pouring off him, but there’s something else there.  Something so much more human that Sam knows he’s right.

           “And if I was happy you would feel better, because then you could still pretend you owe me nothing.” Sam clamps down on his anger, because damn it, this isn’t the time. “Well, I’m not. I guess I appreciate that you got to understand what you did to me, but…no, Lucifer, I’m not happy. I feel sorry for you, because I know how much that sucked.”

           Sam also knows how being pitied makes you writhe.

           Lucifer knows it too, but to Sam’s surprise the anger in the archangel’s face has faded. In its place is a grudging…respect? Is that it? It can’t be.

           “You can tell Dad I’ll talk to him.”

           “Really?”

           Lucifer waves his hand. “You’re very persuasive, Sam Winchester. Besides, I want to knock that bitch out of orbit.”

           Sam nods. “I’ll go tell him.” He leaves, almost expecting Lucifer to say something else, but there’s no further sound from his room.

           He makes about halfway down the hall before he collapses against the wall, shaking uncontrollably. He…talked to Lucifer. To Lucifer.

           And Lucifer…

           Did he apologize?

           No, Sam decides. But he acknowledged.

           That’s a start.

           Sam takes a deep breath, presses down on the mark on his hand, and goes to find Dean and Chuck.

[terezis]

k, n, p, s!

K - What character has your favorite development arc/the best development arc?

okay, so, my first impulse was to say taako. like, how he went from “simple, idiot wizard” to the guy who suggested the plan that ended up saving reality… the whole everybody’s dust thing, until they very much aren’t… it’s so fuckin’ good. i love it. i love thinking about him.

BUT ACTUALLY, MY REAL ANSWER. IS LUCRETIA. i feel like i don’t talk about her enough, but goddamn if lucretia is not the most complex character in the entire podcast. 

goin’ from a shy, nervous writer into madame director!! fuck!! she’s a survivor!! she’s so strong. she’s kind of stubborn!! i like when people write her stubborn. god. 

i’m not going to be very good at articulating it, but god, i love when female characters get to be morally grey like lucretia got to be. she knew what she was doing when she wiped everyone’s mind!! maybe she didn’t expect her job to take quite as long as it did, but god. she was so ready to shoulder the burden for everyone. she took their fates into her hands, and that’s kind of messed up!! i love it. i love her. I LOVE HER SO MUCH, YOU GUYS.

N - Name three things you wish you saw more or in your main fandom (or a fandom of choice).

HM. THIS IS HARD. U GOT ME.

okay i’ve mentioned this before, but i wish taako’s relationship with sazed was treated with more… nuance, i guess? like, nothing in canon leads me to believe that they were in a relationship, but i see it get treated that way a lot? like, it’s fine if that’s your interpretation, live your best life, but it’s hard for me to see the version of taako who thought he grew up alone just… straight up goin’ for it. he don’t trust like that. sazed idolized him, and that felt nice, but he was more of a… means to an end, i think? i have a lot of thoughts about what i think their dynamic was like, but this is going to be a long enough post as it is, LOL. hmu if you’re interested i guess???

OKAY. NUMBER TWO. UM. more content where taako does emotional labor in his relationships. make him learn how to have and share feelings. let him take care of his people, like kravitz. perhaps especially kravitz.

……………twilight au…………… i want it so bad. can we as a collective group start talking about it again it was so funny

P - Invent a random AU for any fandom (we always need more ideas).

i’m not going to be the one to write it, because i have at least three crossovers i should be (or want to be) working on, but please, god. someone write me the theatre au of my dreams. bonus points if they’re still in high school. ch’girl did stage crew for five years!! i miss it so bad!! here are my thoughts.

taako has a flair for drama and got pushed into doing an extracurricular because he was sick of waiting around for lup to get out of field hockey every day, doing nothing. maybe he also does costumes?

julia is head carpenter but she also does field hockey so when she’s busy magnus takes over.

kravitz is in the pit orchestra and also he falls in love with taako while watching him on stage.

lucretia is the student director. or maybe she’s god? i don’t know what the technical term for god is. the person who runs the show from up in the booth. that’s god. that’s who lucretia is. she also wrote the play. and angus is her assistant. he’s actually very insightful, despite his age. he is still ten in this au.

S - Show us an example of your personal headcanon (prompts optional but encouraged)

this post is getting obscenely long so how about… i like the headcanons where barry’s real name is actually sildar hallwinter. “barry ‘jeans’ bluejeans” is a joke that got taken too far… sildar > darry > barry… lup didn’t know his real name for such a long time. she is shook to this day.

WAIT CAN HIS REAL MIDDLE NAME BE GENE. (edit: or jean u right his middle name still starts with a j) HAHA. GET IT. 

I’LL SEE MYSELF OUT.