#trust me if i was there i would've killed myself at that point

[gojosbf]

it still baffles me to this day that one night of shibuya was worth three years of trauma

[sensitivegoblin]

Vent

[gravelsong]

I call this the "what if I overanalyzed the HELL out of the Arcee and Carly interaction" post because this scene was really good

Before this, the ONLY time we've really seen them interact is when Arcee saved Carly from falling. They're still on unfamiliar terms, probably only knowing each other through name. Arcee's come over to see Carly, being curious about her, wondering what she's doing, or both. Carly clearly doesn't give a shit though, responding in a very short, and clipped answer.

Okay, so she doesn't seem to be that thrilled about Arcee being over there. That's okay, Arcee will simply ask what Carly's doing instead of beating around the bush, which Carly ALSO responds to with a short, sarcastic answer. Her answer doesn't really help Arcee work out what's going on all that much, so she asks for further elaboration, both wanting to know more and also learn something new about Earth.

Carly gives another vague answer ("gotta start somewhere") so Arcee offers to join her in her activity, maybe hoping that they can connect more and she can learn further about what's on Carly's mind. However, Arcee's blaster causes a solid amount of damage, but it seems to catch Carly's attention and even makes her smile, impressed with the sight.

With Carly seeming more open, Arcee talks a bit about her own skills, her own history with weaponry. She IS a very impressive shot, as vouched by Optimus, but with her time spent fighting in the war, she's mournful over this, as her skill with a blaster adds to the carnage and horror she's seen (the flames in the background serving as a reflection of her memories, what she's witnessed through her talent).

Carly, who just recently lost her father to Starscream, is baffled by this statement, saying that Arcee's skill would REALLY help with killing decepticons (as she seems to have missed the point with what Arcee was trying to say). Carly even specifies Starscream, which makes it clear that she's practicing specifically for revenge purposes against Starscream (great news Carly, Soundwave already took care of that problem). Arcee recognizes this desire for revenge, and states her thoughts clearer: that she can see how Carly's falling to her rage, that her hurt is driving her to future pain (with Arcee probably reflecting on her familiarity with her own hatred).

Unfortunately, Carly is no longer open to listening, switching back into being angry and annoyed. She knows that Arcee's analyzing her, thinking that she knows better than her (also Carly is a teenager, and hurt teenagers tend to shut themselves off to focus on what they think is best for them). The remains of Arcee's shot also look like a burning inferno behind Carly, used as symbolism for her own feelings, her own rage.

("I apologize. It's just... you remind me of myself, when my gears were beginning to turn. I had a teacher then.")

Arcee isn't using subtle dialogue or small talk anymore, she's outright telling Carly of her own history, of how she was the same way. Of how she had someone she loved and trusted so dearly, but he died (ALSO MAGNUS IS DEAD AUGHH) because she allowed her hatred to control her. She was so focused on revenge, she lost another loved one. Even now, Arcee's reflection on her journey of healing is that her hate costed her far more than helped her. It's a painful memory for her, and she doesn't want to see someone else go down the same path she did.

But she's too caught up in her desire for revenge to really hear what Arcee's telling her.

Hell, even in the scene afterward, Cliffjumper is berating himself for not killing Starscream, and that Carly isn't even speaking to him anymore because he couldn't kill Starscream. Jazz tells him that there's no shame in pulling the trigger, but if that was true, then why does he feel so awful (he feels awful because he feels like he hurt Carly right there and then. Also, Starscream immediately grabbed her, and would've killed her if he hadn't been crushed. Cliffjumper is feeling guilty over not taking the shot because it could've killed Carly, and even though she survived, a part of her was still killed in that moment.)

[frickingnerd]

the assassin & his beloved target

pairing: goro akechi / crow x gn!reader

summary: akechi is hired by shido to assassinate you. but while he tries to gain your trust, he ends up falling in love with you. and you end up finding out the truth about akechi…

the number one rule for an assassin is to never get too close to a target. never allow yourself to get attached. and under no circumstances at all are you allowed to develop feelings for them!

akechi thought he was above that rule. that he could get close to you and still finish you off, without ever getting attached to you.

and then he fell in love with you.

“you weren't supposed to find out like this…”

akechi had a firm grip on his revolver. it was aimed at you, but his fingers were nowhere near the trigger. but to the untrained eye, it would seem threatening nonetheless.

“how long have you been lying to me…?”

you stood completely still. you didn't dare move a single inch. you never thought akechi would be able to hurt you. but here your boyfriend was, gun pointed at you, after you just found out he's been an assassin all along, working with the prime minister to get rid of you.

“you already know that, don't you?”

of course you knew. you had seen the messages between shido and akechi. and then there were those files. everything pointed to akechi having lied to you since the very start.

“then…” you paused. “why did i have to fall for you? you should've just killed me right away, instead of letting me believe you actually cared about me…”

“i did care about you–!”

akechi's hand trembled.

“i do care about you…”

he sighed, lowering the gun. he didn't want this! he didn't want to kill you! he wanted you to live. and to be able to live by your side.

“so… you weren't just pretending to love me?”

you relaxed a bit, as akechi lowered the gun. slowly, you stepped closer towards him, expecting akechi to raise the gun again any moment. but he didn't. he merely flinched, as you took the first step.

“it might've all been an act at first… but it's not an act anymore. i truly care about you. and i hate myself for it…”

you stopped in front of akechi, gently cupping his cheeks. he was clearly conflicted about his feelings for you. but so were you.

you should hate akechi for what he did to you. for lying to you all those months, for holding you at gunpoint and even thinking about killing you! but you loved him more than you could ever hate him.

“and what are you going to do now, goro?”

akechi raised his head, looking at you again.

“are you going to finish your job and kill me? right now would be your last chance to do it…”

“don't even joke about that–!”

akechi raised his voice, glaring at you.

“you– you know i can't do it!”

“then just stay with me”

akechi huffed and shook his head.

“if i don't kill you… then someone else will! shido will find someone else to do his dirty work and he'll have you killed either way…”

“that's why you need to stay with me. to protect me, from shido…”

you smiled softly, aware of how messed up this situation was. your life was in danger, no matter what you'd do. but you trusted akechi enough to lay your life in his hands.

“you are insane…” akechi shook his head. “you shouldn't trust me! i– i'm not a good guy, alright?”

“if you were as bad as you believe yourself to be, you would've killed me a long time ago. but you didn't. you didn't, because you're a good person. because you could never hurt someone you love”

akechi took a deep breath. for a moment, he remained silent, a million thoughts running through his head. then finally, he put his revolver back in its holster and brought one hand up to caress your cheek.

“you've won” finally, akechi smiled a little. “i'll protect you, no matter what it'll cost. shido can send as many men as he wants after you, but he won't get to you. things were never supposed to be like this, but… if you trust me with your life, then i'll protect you with mine.”

“don't.” you shook your head. “i don't want you to die for me, akechi. promise me, that we'll both make it.”

akechi slowly leaned in, his eyes glued to yours. then finally, he pressed a gentle kiss on your lips and pulled away again, smiling softly.

“it's a promise.”

[basil-does-arttt]

I see a lot of people (including myself) tend to think Nero was accidental. That he wasn't planned on either Vergil's part or Nero's mom's part, he was just a byproduct of circumstances or whatever and thats why he was abandoned by his mother in the orphanage.

But what if he wasnt accidental at all?

What got me thinking about this was Vergil's line in his ending in DMC4SE; "Soon they shall know this devil's power. The power of a son of sparda".

Theres no way he would've been talking about Dante. By that point in time he likely assumed Dante was either dead or long gone off on his own thing, and he probably wouldn't be meaning himself either because he's leaving fortuna in this cutscene. That leaves one option: Nero.

Vergil wanted to follow in his father's footsteps. Thats why he was in Fortuna in the first place, to learn more about Sparda and the life he lived, what he did and accomplished, etc. Sparda had two sons, and you probably know where im going with this by now.

Maybe thats why Vergil did too. He wanted to follow in his dad's footsteps, and being the misguided and naive teenager he was, he couldve thought that was the next step in his journey. (Then promptly realized he either didnt want or wasnt ready for a son and fucked off)

"Soon they shall know this devil's power. The power of a son of sparda".

Not just any son; His son.

Another thing that makes me lean into this theory is how he reacted to the revelation of Nero being his son from Dante in DMC5. He didnt sound all that surprised, if you ask me.

His reaction comes across to me as if he knew of this "son" ready, but of course since he had never met Nero in his life, he didnt know who this son was. He knew he had a son, he just didnt know it was Nero specifically;

Nero, who he'd just spent basically an entire game relying on and trusting his fate to (and dante ig but thats not the focus here) as V, Nero who he ripped the arm off of to regain Yamato unknowing of who he really was - only that he had Yamato - and Nero who he'd just abandoned yet again to fuck off to the top of the Qliphoth where he intended to meet one of two fates to his battle with Dante; death, or survival, and neither of those involved his son at all.

And now that he knows who his son is, now that he's met and has known his son for a while now actually, he's left to deal with the guilt of abandoning him and leaving him on his own for the last 25(ish) years. For hurting him, mutilating him, damn near fucking killing him as Urizen. This son who he never had any intention of knowing, ever, not even once.

This son who he now has to learn to love, or at least accept as a part of him and his life, whether Nero himself accepts it back or not.

(And yknow, i think things will work out fine for them if capcom ever decides to make another entry into the timeline. Nero seemed pretty set on keeping his father alive after all, why would he bother if he didn't care? And Vergil seems to be making an effort - albeit an awkward one but its still an effort nonetheless - to be present in Nero's life at least to some degree judging off that main menu screen of them sitting together in the van in tense silence.

And he does care about Nero, way more than he lets on. Gifting his book to Nero is clean proof of it, that book which represents his heart. His love, his soul, his being.

So yeah. I think they’ll turn out okay.)

[karniss-bg3]

Now this is just a pure theory but I'm wondering what you think of it. It was actually what you wrote that helped me think about this. There is a book in General Thorm's room called Attractive Drow Exiles. And it talks about the plan used to drag in unwilling Drow members by using a man (presumably a Drow) called Xilvre (sounds like Silver) to go down and stir up some trouble. He was described as very loyal but annoyingly enthusiastic. If this was Kar'niss before he was changed, it does answer a lot of questions. The book says he was probably killed, but the book was written before the event took place. It would make more sense that the Drow would punish Xilvre by changing him into a Drider for going against his kind and Lolth. And it shattered his mind in the process. And when he came back, they gave him the task with the lantern.

This is an interesting point you bring up. I was first alerted to the existence of that book by an anonymous ask and @novarex who made a post about it here. After I read it I asked myself "Who was Xilvre?". I didn't delve into it deeper than that at the time but this could be a lead.

The first thing to note is this book lists Xilvre as "True Soul 113". The definition of a True Soul according to the wiki is as follows:

True Souls are Followers of the Absolute who have been infected with an Illithid tadpole that grants them psionic powers similar to the player. They serve as commanding members of the Absolute's army. True Souls almost always have a Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen that can be looted from their bodies if killed.

When Kar'niss dies he doesn't have a parasite on his body that can be looted, nor is there evidence that he is in charge of any army within Moonrise. He acts as a guide but beyond that he follows commands more than I'd say he gives them. On the list of True Souls in Act 2, Kar'niss isn't listed as being one. When he first meets the player he does acknowledge that they are a True Soul, but he never suggests that he is one also, or that they have common ground in that regard.

The counter argument I'd make is the definition of True Soul says "almost always" when it comes to mind flayer parasites that can be looted. This leaves room for doubt that even though he doesn't have a parasite the player can take, it doesn't mean he is without one as a whole. Furthermore, certain dialogue trees and failed DC checks insinuate that Kar'niss can tap into and read the players mind, suggesting some sort of psionic link; Thus, a tadpole being present.

This leaves his status a bit open ended. If Kar'niss is Xilvre, perhaps he was titled as a True Soul to start. The drow captured him for being a heretic and turned him into a drider. When he slinked back to Moonrise he was demoted as a True Soul and given the job as a guide as his transformation made his mind too broken to be useful. He or someone else changed his name and he started life anew.

The one glaring issue I see is that if the drow, or Lolth, discovered that one of their own was planning to not only turn against the spider queen but also sabotage their very way of life, I don't think he would've gotten off as easy as he did. Betrayal of that magnitude would be a death sentence and it's likely why Ketheric foresaw Xilvre's demise. I can't imagine if Lolth saw a threat to her domain she wouldn't lash out to the fullest against any who supported the notion. Driders are made as a result of failure, weakness or displeasure. What Xilvre was tasked to do dwarfs all three. Xilvre would make an excellent example to those who turned against Lolth and no doubt his end would've been a messy one. There is a chance he could've been spared but it'd be an unusual mercy.

What I think could be more likely is that Kar'niss was part of the warband lured out by Xilvre's antics. Driders are known to work with and fight alongside other drow despite how thin the trust can be. He was ambushed alongside the others and dragged in to become part of the Absolute's forces. Either that or he overheard what Xilvre had done or said and curiosity led him out of the Underdark in search of a new Goddess to follow, perhaps a cure for his affliction.

It's all good theorycrafting fun. There is some overlap between Kar'niss and Xilvre. Even the name sounds like something that could fit Kar'niss with the pronunciation of "silver". That and the description of being a "tedious enthusiast" does describe Kar'niss fairly well, at least how we know him now. It'd be quite the plot twist if true!

Thanks for the ask!

[beoneofus]

quotes I think would look good in a lost boys fan fiction part two

++

1

“ why should I believe you? ”

- “ if I really had the intention to kill you, I would've done so already. ” (dwayne)

2

“ yeah right, as if I'll believe you're a vampire. ”

- “ does my incredible looks not give it away? ” (marko)

3

“ don't call me babe. ”

- “ why not? It's not like you're not into me. ”

“ is that what your inflated ego told you? ”

- “ no. I told myself that. ” (paul)

4

“ why do you feed on human blood? why not animal blood? ”

- “ that's disgusting. ” (marko)

- “ do you want us to get food poisoning? ” (paul)

5

“ you're so... beautiful. ”

- “ thanks, baby. but you should look in a mirror. you're the only gem worth buying. ” (paul)

6

“ I wouldn't call you a genius... ”

- “ I've met einstein. I think that should give me some pointers. ” (marko)

7

“ no brownie points for you. ”

- “ what about muffin points? ” (paul)

8

“ riddle me this. why should I trust you? ”

- “ well, I did just save your life. ” (david, dwayne)

9

“ so, you're not into the whole... limbo, thing? ”

- “ my reflection is transparent. Imagine explaining that to someone who can see it in the window of the flower shop. ”

“ that happened? ”

- “ yes, actually. ” (michael)

10

“ please don't make me beg... ”

- “ have you met me, sweetheart? I love that shit. ” (any of the boys)

[kokitschi]

AITA for getting two of my classmates killed?

Okay, okay, I know the title sounds bad but hear me out first.

So we're in this (involuntary) death game, right, long story. Basically the goal is to get away with murder but if you get caught, you get horrifically executed. Fun stuff.

Anyway, so this whole situation kinda takes a toll on me, but I keep it lowkey. Well, actually, my strategy was to act like I'm really enjoying this whole game, get chummy with the game master and stuff like that. I was apparently very convincing, even though I kept dropping hints that I'm not having a good time. So everyone was convinced pretty early on that I'm some psycho who gets pleasure out of watching people suffer, which admittedly I can't fully blame them for. But they were literally convinced I was satan incarnated before I ever did some heinous stuff just because I wasn't very nice and friendly and didn't want to pretend like we can just friendship-is-magic our way out of this. They literally got upset at me for freely speaking about the death of our classmates and trying to warn this sweet naive fucking idiot about being too trusting and the consequences of cooperating under these circumstances. No, I was not nice about it. But like, get real. They just didn't want to face the reality of the situation and that's fucking dangerous.

Anywayyyy, time passes, people get killed, everyones on edge and depressed and shit. Despite what I just said, I didn't actually believe that we all shouldn't cooperate under any circumstances. I just thought we shouldn't do it so openly. So there were two people I mainly cooperated with, let's call them G and M.

G is the aforementioned sweet naive idiot, he also happens to be an absolute mountain of a man. I saw potential in him, I knew he wasn't actually that dumb, he was just, naive and trusting and he really really wanted to protect people. I thought that was a dangerous combination. So I took him under my wing and we did spend a lot of time together.

M is... well, she's a dumb fucking bitch. Obnoxious as hell. But she's also pretty brilliant in making stuff. Like, inventions I mean. VERY USEFUL. We didn't get along much, but I knew how to handle her and we ended up collaborating on several creations and gadgets.

It was really powerful stuff, y'know? I was sure we could use these to take down the game master. I said as much to her. But she... was unsure. Actually, I guess it would be more accurate to say that she was scared, if not terrified. She didn't believe that we could win this way because she thought our classmates would definitely betray us! Can't blame her for thinking that, I guess. It was still pretty discouraging. It would've been fine if the issue had ended here, probably.

But then... long story short, I found out that she was trying to kill me. :')

I would've laughed but it really wasn't that funny, was it. I thought we had at least a truce, you backstabbing fucking bitch. Haha.

I couldn't let this happen. Of course I didn't want to die, but I did also think that if I die here, everyone else will also die. Even if she didn't get away with it, which is debatable because there would've only been about 1.5 competent people left alive to figure it out, I had plans to properly end this game. I couldn't die here.

I had to eliminate her first. She was simply too big of a threat. Not only was she actively planning to murder me, after we've literally created another possibility, she was also emotionally very unstable. It was too risky to solve this another way. Even if we had managed to pacify her now, she was still the biggest risk factor.

I had probably squeezed out all the valuable uses out of her anyway at that point, hah.

So yeah, I decided to strike her down before she could strike me down. But I didn't want to risk either getting everyone killed (because obviously I could've planned a murder I could get away with, duh) or getting executed myself. That would kinda be against the point of ending this game with more than 2 people left alive.

G had grown very depressed over the course of the game. He's always had a tendency to self deprecate and he's been offering himself as a meat shild since the very beginning but especially lately. So I thought I would be so kind and take him up on his offer :)

You guys don't know just how much he's been begging to be used, be useful, protect someone. Literally.

I planned the murder. I manipulated G, convincing him that this was the way to save everyone and he executed my orders. He killed her. I didn't have to get my own hands dirty. He even bought in his own ideas to cover up the murder scene!

The only information I hid from him was that I never planned to let him get away with this. He still chose to kill her, yknow? I didn't force him to do it. I did push his buttons. I knew he would do it if I just said the right words. But if I hadn't manipulated him like this, someone else eventually would've. And he would've done it for them too. Maybe it was always gonna happen!

Anyway, G got executed. Despite some hiccups during the trials, we unraveled the murder and well. He's dead now. My classmates are very upset with me hahahaha :')

But I didn't have a choice. What was supposed to do? Is it wrong of me for wanting to live? For thinking about the situation realistically? For thinking I was more necessary to end this game than either of them?

Edit: I've usurped the game master. Surely me officially ending this game will prevent people from murdering any more. :)

[mayhemakinguser]

Sarcasm × Ghost x GN! Reader

Here we go, take this ghost x reader while I go to write task force 141 part 3-

You've always managed to get under the lieutenant's skin. He couldnt stand you. You drove him mad, yet he couldnt get enough of you.

Reader is gender neutral and your call sign in this one is Komodo :)

Reader is also Australian because I says so

Really no warnings, maybe beside a lot of Pent-up emotions, anger, blood/gore, perhaps some fluff

Enjoy~!

<story begins yippee>

Something about you irked him.

Perhaps it was your smug attitude, your recklessness, eagerness to get into trouble, the fearlessness towards Ghost even when he was pissed the f*** off. Even if it was apparent that he was going to put his hands on you if you didn't shut it, you just kept on going until Price had to stop you both from killing each other.

His gaze shifted to you, scanning from your seated position down and then up. Your form said you were relaxed, weapon in arms as the vehicle bumped up and down the road. You were staring up at the ceiling, a blank expression with eyes full of thoughts.

For some reason, an image of you naked flashed through his mind.

What a cyanide surprise you've left for my eyes

If I had common sense I'd cut myself or curl and die

Ghost shook his head to get the inappropriate image from his head. Bloody hell, the heat must be getting to him.

"Losing your nerves, Lieutenant?" you drawled, causing his gaze to flit back to you.

Ghost scoffed. "More like losing my patience."

"Ha!" you barked a laugh. "Good one, Ghost Boy."

"Ghost. Just Ghost," he growled.

"Ah, arc up, are we? Gettin' angry?" you responded, throwing in some Aussie slang. "Never would've thought."

"Knock it off, you two," Price snapped, causing you to lean back and Ghost looking back at the weapon sitting in his lap. "This isn't the time nor the place to be doing this. Our objective is to grab the intel one our spies said was existant, an' get out. Understood?"

"Yes sir," everyone said in unison.

"Good. Brace yourselves, because our stop is comin'."

The ride came to a slow stop and the back door slowly drew up. Soap hopped off first and the other members of the Task Force 141 followed suit. As you passed by Ghost, you stuck your tongue out. He fought the urge to grab it between his gloved fingers and yank.

"Expect a heavy amount of guards at the base. We'll split up for now. Soap, Gaz, on me. Ghost, Alejandro and..." Price trailed up, realizing that you two would be together, but at least Alejandro would be with you both. He sighed. "I can trust you two would solely focus on the mission and not on anything else?"

"Yeah nah yeah," you answer, waving your hand in dismissal.

Price's eyebrows drew together. "I'll take that as a yes."

"We'll be fine," Ghost assured him. "I'll make sure Komodo doesn't get into any trouble." This earned a "tch" from you. Alejandro bumped your shoulder and gave you a pearly white smile. You grinned back.

Price nodded at all of you. "Alright. We'll rendevous to point A, as previously discussed." He and his smaller team disappeared into the trees.

"Let's go," Ghost said gruffly, turning abruptly to the left and disappearing himself into the forest.

You and Alejandro trotted after him, Alejandro on one side of him, and you on the other.

"Why in such a hurry?" you purred, looking up at him with innocent eyes. "Tryin' to get away from me?"

You pollute the room with a filthy tongue

Watch me choke it down so I throw it up

"Komodo," Ghost warned, a growl tinting his voice once again.

"Ghost," you replied breezily, staring at him without blinking.

"Okay lovebirds, enough," Alenjandro said with a roll of his eyes. This makes the two of you back away from each other.

"Him?!" You exclaimed as Ghost grumbles "Ha. Never." This just proves Alejandro's point.

You eyed him from the new distance. Ghost looked straight ahead, eyes dark. You've always wondered what was hidden from plain sight--not his face, you didn't care about that, you were sure it was a face of an arrogant drongo-- but behind those stone cold eyes of his. Swirling, endless. You could lose yourself in those mysterious eyes.

Two voices caught your attention and you instinctively pinched Ghost's sleeve between your fingertips. He and Alejandro pause and Ghost motions to hide.

You quickly ducked behind a tree and peered over the side. Two soldiers patrolling and chatting. You glanced at Ghost who nodded.

You shot towards one and unsheathed your knife, grabbing the taller from behind and slitting his throat with ease. Ghost stabbed the other in the side, covering the scream and stabbed him once more in the chest. You and Ghost dragged the corpses into the bushes as Alejandro scouted the land ahead.

"All clear," Alejandro's Mexican whiskey voice crackled over the radio.

"Not bad Ghostman," you mumbled. He didn't make any movement to confirm that he heard the compliment. You sighed in exasperation and kept moving.

"Have any of you met any sort of retaliation?" Soap asked over the comms.

"Just a few soldiers, two to be exact. Why?" You answered, performing a sweep every few meters.

"Us too. Hardly met any challenges."

"It's quiet. Too quiet," Gaz said.

"Trap?" Alejandro guessed.

"Fair dinkum? But what about the spy?" You glanced at Ghost for an answer to your inquiry.

"Could've been false," he voiced his idea.

"Could be. But don't let this keep your guard down," Price responded.

A couple of more dead soldiers, and all of you had already met at the rendezvous point. Your skin pricked in uncertainty. This didn't feel right.

"Sir..." Price looked over at you the moment he noticed the skittishness that coated your tone.

"It's alright. Quick in 'n out." You nodded, but that didn't stop the wracking feeling of your nerves.

"Losing your nerves?" Ghost asked, amusement notable in his voice.

"Aye. This just don't feel right," you said, eyes darting back and forth. No clever quip. And your instincts have proved to be correct over the course of the missions you've been on together.

Ghost's gaze stopped on you, taking in details of your worried face. Your eyebrows furrowed, mouth slanted into your cheek, hair framing your face. He didn't know how exactly to comfort you, so he dropped a heavy hand on your shoulder. You glanced up at him and gifted him with a tentative smile. His heart skipped a beat, to his dismay and his hand retreated.

Price ordered to move in and the members obeyed. You stayed with your smaller team to enter from the side. Price and his team would be entering from the back.

It didn't take long like they usually do on other missions. Your instincts screamed as you met with the rest of your force. Gaz had the aquired Intel in his hand, looking disgruntled.

"Captain-" you started before gunshots began ringing in the building.

"Move!" Ghost yelled and everyone scattered.

You slid behind a wall, aiming and shooting at the enemy soldiers entering. It wasn't hard until they breached the front as well, trapping all of your team in the building.

"F***! They're coming in on all sides!" Soap cursed, reloading swiftly.

"Stairs! Stairs!" Alejandro shouted over the gunfire, pointing to a staircase not too far away from his position.

You threw a grenade on your side and rushed to the stairs as well as the rest of your team who surged forward. Ya'll clambered up the stairs and Gaz searched for an exit.

"We could drop from a window! The ground isn't that far away!" Gaz suggested.

You fired into the staircase along with Alejandro. "It don't matter, mate let's just leave before we all f***in' die!"

Price snatched the rope from his gear and got to tying as the rest of the team defended his rear.

"Let's go, move!" Price bellowed and Soap dropped down first, followed by Gaz and Alejandro.

Ghost was still shooting and he ordered, "The hell are you waiting for, Komodo?! Go!"

You gripped the rope between your hands, one foot out the window and dropped down. The others had already retreated into the safety of the woods. Soldiers awaited you as soon as your feet touched the dirt and you didn't hesitate raining hell upon them. There wasn't a lot anyway, and you could wait until Ghost slid down.

Ghost grasped your bicep and dragged you. "Didn't I tell you to run? Why in bloody hell are you still here?"

"Wanted to make sure you didn't die, Skully," you remarked.

"Worry about yourself before you worry about others!" Ghost hollered, shoving you forward.

You turned around to give him a retort when you noticed a soldier behind you both, training on Ghost. Without thinking, you shoved yourself right into him, making him stumble as a hot pain blossomed in your shoulder. You cried out in pain, falling to the floor.

You felt hands grip the back of your vest and drag you into the woods. You groaned in pain, clutching a hand to the bullet wound in your shoulder.

Ghost cursed, dropping you for a moment and for a second you thought he was going to abandon you. Two arms right under your legs and your back lifted you up with ease. You squeaked and the pain in your shoulder doubled, making your vision white.

"Komodo, stay with me. We're going to find a place to hide until the fire dies down," Ghost spoke, looking down at your contorted face.

"Mm," you moaned out, laying your head against his neck. You felt him tense up, but you were in so much pain that you didn't care.

"Ghost, what's your status?" Price asked.

"Komodo is injured," Ghost responded, jogging at a pace that wouldn't cause you pain. "Where are you?"

"We're some place safe. Just you find somewhere you can treat Komodo's wounds and then report back to the original point."

"Aye," Ghost rumbled.

At some point, you blacked out.

You awoke with a start, your brain firing off and surveying your surroundings. A cave. Pretty deep. Your assailants?

Your eye caught on a dark figure. You went still, wondering if he saw your erratic movement. Nothing.

"Calm down, it's me." Ghost's Manchester accent whispers. For some reason, that sent up shivers up your spine.

However, a dull pain distracts you and you hold a hand to the injury. It's all wrapped up.

"You... you patched me up?" You asked.

He nodded.

"...Thank you." He nodded again.

You rounded your shoulders and crawled over to him, sitting right next to him. You noticed he didn't stiffen this time.

"Why did you do it?"

"Hm?" You hummed.

"Throw yourself into harm's way."

"You mean, save your arse?" You snorted. "I did it because I wanted to."

His silence met you. It was clear he wanted a further explanation.

You sighed. "I didn't want to see you hurt. Especially if I could've prevented it. That happened to an old comrade of mine..." You stopped, thinking about the dark part of your life, before you joined this team. "Anyway, I just don't want to lose another ally again."

"Even if it's me?"

"Of course," you said softly. Too softly for his liking.

"Pull a stunt like that again and you'll face the consequences," he suddenly snarled.

This hot and cold conversation started to piss you off. "What? So you'd rather me let you take the bullet? That shot would've pierced your chest! That could've killed you!"

"It could've killed you too!" Ghost shouted back. "I didn't ask you to take a bullet for me!"

Don't mind us we're just spilling our guts

If this love I don't wanna be loved

"You didn't have to! It's called being team mates! It means I care about you!" you screamed back. "Don't you get it?! Goddammit Simon, you are such an-" You dug the heels of your hands into your eyes. "Don't go crook on me for wanting to make sure you're safe."

He went silent at the use of his real name. You let the anger simmered below the surface.

"Komodo."

You didn't look up.

"Y/N."

You look up now. His eyes bore into yours and you instantly are aware of the proximity you two share. It makes your breathing go almost silent. The way he was staring at you. Like he was actually seeing you for the first time. It made you breathless.

"I..." He sighed, breaking away from your gaze. "I just don't ever want your blood on my hands again."

This statement almost made your heart stop. "Heh. You care about me?"

"More like I don't want your death on my subconscious."

"I have an effect on ya?"

"Yeah, you do," Ghost muttered under his breath.

"P-pardon?" You sputtered.

He jerked his head towards you, wide-eyed. He didn't respond though.

You studied him for a moment, and give another sigh. You leaned your head on his shoulder and he froze. He didn't move though.

"You're hopeless, Riley. But I like ya," you mumbled, pawing at his gloved hand.

Ghost, without thinking, turned his hand over so his palm faced up. You placed your much smaller hand in his and intertwined your fingers in his.

"Never would've thought this would be occurring," you whispered, body warm from his.

"Me neither," Ghost chuckled.

"I like this side of you," you said softly, snuggling into him.

"Komodo, Ghost, come in," Soap's voice called from the comms.

Ghost shifted to press the button on his radio. "Soap?"

"Are you both okay? How is Komodo?"

"'M fine, Johnny," you said into the radio.

"That's great! So you guys are on your way?"

You and Ghost exchanged gazes. You both immediately get up.

"Yep. On our way. Meet you there?"

"Aye, LT."

You give Ghost a smile. And you could tell, somehow, he was smiling back.

If I could be the devil, you could be the sinner

You could be the drugs and I could be the dealer

Everything you say is like music to my ears

<end of this long arse story yayyyy>

This was inspired by a song I was listening to, Sarcasm by Get Scared ! The lyrics are from that song and I had to write this 😅

hope u enjoyed this! <3

This hasn't been proofread yet so I pardon some mistakes lmaooo-

[worldsquietestjojosfan]

FMK 3zun

Alrighty

OK so for this game I'm gonna treat them like they're real

Lan Xichen - least likely to cause me harm out of these 3. If I didn't know him, at least I have faith that the clan rules will deeply shame or prevent something from happening. Yes yes "Lan clan are hypocrites" but look at the alternative options. His uncle is hot, his brother is hot, hes hot. I have faith his genes will pull through. Marry.

Jin Guangyao - his goals and interests are most in line with mine. Or so it would appear. I'm not smart enough to figure out his true agenda so I wouldn't trust him for anything based on just that. We have similar needs but my social class starting point is still higher than his so just based on the environments we grew up in, our basic understanding of the world and what we're ready to sacrifice will not be the same. If he loses everything, he starts back from the beginning. He knows his way up from there. If I lose everything, I won't be able to recover. I would not ever put as much effort into achieving equal standing with my peers like he did. Because im kinda fine being a little less. He was a lot less. He needed it bad. Also like yeah, I've read the novel but if I didn't, I'd have no way of finding out if I'm about to get screwed. His goals are very ambitious and if he falls, he falls to hell. And if we were married, id fall with him. If we fucked, it would make great blackmail material against me from his enemies. Also this is based on what i know about him from the book. If i didnt know that, im not smart enough to figure out what kind of people hes fine with killing/using/sacrificing. But then that implies i have some sort of high intelligence to even know this. This is why my dad always said never to trust people insanely inhuman levels smarter than me. If he was only smarter than me, id have my dad take a look. If hes like 20x smarter than my dad, its better to just stay as far away as possible. If his smartness level is double digits x more smart than me and everyone in my family combined, im not having it. Kill.

Nie Mingjue - Saber spirit. If not for that, honestly I'd like to marry him. Nah not really. He has a strong personality and some of his values are the same as mine. Unfortunately some of them are a direct contradiction. He would not back down and I would also not back down. Again. It's a class difference. He doesn't know how I've lived and I don't know how he has lived. He's thinking about the good for the people but he's superimposing his life onto others. Me? I care about myself and a better life for me. My methods of achieving this are not compatible with his strong ideology. I probably would've stood by him in another lifetime. Unfortunately in the random series of events I was given for this run, I have formed my own standards. Also how Huaisang was? Too spoilt. Imagine if my younger siblings saw huaisang and got inspired to be lazy ass mfs. Teens at that age are always looking for ways out of taking responsibility for their future and thinking about the consequences of their actions. While i do 90% of it and hound them into making good choices like not doing crack and doing the studying, i dont need bad company around them to influence them otherwise. When you marry, its not just you. Its a whole family kind of deal. Huaisang failed school like what? 3 times? No. Hes old enough to know better but he doesnt do better. Mingjue still hot tho. Fuck.

[rahleeyah]

who had "genderbent olivia benson" on their "things that make leah feral" bingo card

under a cut bc it's a lot, tw: at the beginning for brief discussion of SA wrt Serena and Olivia

this is cut and pasted from discord so forgive the way it jumps around but:

Sorry I just distracted myself with "Olivia would've been a man" bc like. Can you imagine them doing the "I'm the product of a rape" storyline for a man? I really can't see anybody doing that bc the challenge that would present to the character's masculinity is so complex I can't see anybody having the balls to do it

(god but the alternate universe in which Olivia is a man and Elliot falls in love with him anyway.... I'm vibrating at a frequency that could shatter glass) 

Bc in many ways Olivia internalizes her mother's trauma and acts as a victim, as if she herself has been raped, she empathizes as a woman, as a fellow member of an oppressed class, but if it's a man, and he is of the same class as the person who hurt his mother, he can't claim her injury as his own and instead of taking the place of the victim he takes the place of the perpetrator which is also fascinating wrt the Serena/child relationship

He would not be named Oliver also I'd have to sit with this for a minute to come up with an appropriately elegant and literature inspired name for him lmao

And he is still doing penance, by joining svu, not bc he has inherited his mother's pain but bc he has inherited his father's shame

Ooof and when he meets Simon.....

Oooof and when Elliot wakes up from a dream about [his name] sucking his dick

...kathy being less threatened because its another man tho

kathy being like 👀

I'm losing my mind about this actually closet bisexual Elliot Stabler who struggles to form solid attachments with men (if you think about it he works best with women and that goes back to Joe and Bernie) developing this intense codependent relationship with another man for the first time and Kathy is at first just happy he has a friend but as time goes on she has. Questions. Especially when Elliot starts preferring to hit from the back 

God Kathy trying to tell him he's in love with this guy and Elliot having an existential crisis

Ok but what is his name. Some suggestions:

Alexander (the great)

Patrick (bc she couldn't call him Patroclus)

Jason (and the Argonauts)

Marcus (Aurelius)

Or maybe she went generic. Sean/Ethan/Evan/David

oh i like Marcus

And maybe he goes by Mark but Serena always called him Marcus

YES.

Maybe Elliot switches back and forth between Marcus and Mark

But Marcus at one point killing someone or hurting someone and being like "I'm just like him!" meaning his dad and Elliot grabbing him by the back of the neck and being like "you're nothing like him" all fierce

fj;sldfj;sladjfsalkfj;sdf FUCK

what if its mark most of the time and "Marcus" when Shit Gets Real

YES EXACTLY

Also "you're nothing like him" making Elliot realize Mark is nothing like Joe. That Elliot has approached almost every man in his life as if they are his father - dangerous, not to be trusted, not safe to be vulnerable with - and then realizing he is safe with Mark

Oh wow I am on my knees at the moment thinking about their physicality actually like. Still touching too much still standing too close still finishing each other's food and sentences, but also some hand wavy plot excuse for them to get as close as EO did in the "are you ready for me daddy" scene and also. Since they're both men. Way more seeing each other shirtless/naked in the locker room and what that does to Elliot

The question is tho what does Marcus look like 🤔

Still dark hair and big dark eyes I think

God what if Marcus is like an out bisexual (he still fucks both Alex Cabot and Trevor Langan) and the way that would force Elliot to confront his own desires and the way the lightbulb would go off in his head when he finds out about Trevor and realizes Marcus is Available and Elliot wants him to be and what that does to Elliot. The shame and the desire

Closet bisexual Elliot Stabler is very important to me. Elliot lying awake at night thinking about Trevor and Marcus and when he imagines it he keeps replacing Trevor's face with his own

And Olivia is really interesting bc so much of who she is is tied up directly in her relationship to womanhood (and the audience's response to her is deeply connected to the audience's perception of womanhood, either as women themselves or as people observing women)

So what does that do to us when Olivia is no longer a woman?

[lediz-watches]

Hazbin Hotel: Season One

Because I basically implied I was gonna do it.

I have watched the first season. If you've found my fics you know I had a lot of fun with it. So now let's talk about it for what it is... so far. Because Alastor's semifinal scene... -gestures vaguely in mild frustration-

That annoyed me more than the end of Squid Game season one, now I think about it. But let's come back to it after we talk about the show as a whole.

Because I did really love it!

So the basic story, as per the pilot, is that the Princess of Hell is sick of Heaven killing her people every year, and so dreams up a rehabilitation centre, with the idea that sinners can redeem themselves and get into Heaven. But unfortunately, Heaven has their own agenda, and has actually decided to completely wipe out every sinner instead. The first season covers six months as the princess desperately tries to prove her hotel works before the next time Heaven's exterminators arrive. Spoiler that isn't a spoiler because the trailers said so: she does not.

And the fact that's not a spoiler is ultimately the flaw of the show. In eight episodes, they couldn't afford for that to be a spoiler - it was just an inevitable fact.

The long and the short of it is that the story of Hazbin Hotel's season one should have been at least eighteen episodes. I'm not saying that as a hater - I understand that this show was a risky, expensive sell, and eight episodes would've been tough to convince anyone to produce. They did great with what they got.

The animation on this show is genuinely amazing for its style. They skip the details in weird sections, but there's movement when it matters, there's character work, there's gorgeous little DETAILS. The soundtrack is great. There's only a few songs I didn't love, and the actual voice work is amazing. This was a well produced show.

But it was too short for what it was doing.

We needed an episode for each individual character, instead of sharing each one between two. I actually didn't mind Alastor not being in half the episodes, because of his whole deal, but when he was, we should have learned more about the overlords and gotten more foreshadowing. But we just didn't have TIME. So we got these snapshots of amazing characters and I just honestly couldn't bring myself to care about them.

Like Sir Pentious. I actually loved his story, and especially his final episode, but I'm pretty sure we spent like ten minutes with him IN TOTAL, so like... who the hell cares?

And I said in my post about the pilot that the show was going to hinge on Charlie for me, and... it didn't. It really didn't. Because she's... not developed enough. I simply didn't understand her motivation - or perhaps the word is 'believe' her motivation. She's this all-loving princess... from Hell. She loves her people... and wants to kick them all out of her kingdom? Not once in this series did I genuinely see an example of Charlie LIKING Hell. She LOVES Heaven when she goes, and she SAYS she loves her people, but... frikking show it, woman.

And the annoying thing about that is that because we didn't have enough time to develop her character, I don't know if that was intentional. Because there are a couple of instances that make me think it WAS. There's a subtle sort of cruelty in Charlie that could have been very, very interesting if I could trust that it was intentional. She rakes Angel Dust over the coals without noticing, she lovingly goes along with Alastor tearing strips off her Dad's already fragile emotional state, her way of saying that Heaven is going along with her is to gleefully point out "they're at each other's throats!", she's got nastiness in her, and... yet no one mentions it. So maybe it's not supposed to be cruelty, maybe it's just the writers are kind of nasty, and maybe I'm just looking for something outside her physical form that marks her as the princess of Hell.

Instead, I was sold on Hazbin Hotel by Vaggie, of all characters. Who in the pilot, was just THERE, as far as I was concerned. But her story of redemption and being saved by her ability to love, and having to confront who she was versus who she wants to be? That was lovely. I bought that. I would have liked more time with her to see how she used that love, but it was beautiful for what it was. I enjoyed Vaggie's character.

Husk and Angel were a nice little love story, but as I said in the other post, I wasn't there for it. I respect their episode, it was technically amazing, and I am in awe of everyone involved in the creation of the Poison sequence, while Loser, Baby has joined multiple of my spotify playlists, but... yeah, that's all I have to say about them. Enjoy, fandom, I know you love them. But I don't care. Their contracts are way more interesting to me than their characters, I'm sorry.

Niffty, the little darling. I love her. I love what she did. But she's comic relief and that's it. I have no further feelings about her. I am actually okay with that, as long as that's all the show wants me to feel about her.

But then... Alastor.

Oh, Alastor. You fucked up sacrifice to Heaven, Hell, and Fandom.

I mean, obviously I love him. Amir Talai is amazing, Alastor's design choices are fascinating, and the titbits of legitimate character we get from him, verbal or not (THOSE STITCHES) are sweet ambrosia, but... But.

I wouldn't mind if Alastor wasn't actually important. If he was just there to provide world building - if his whole deal was just sitting in the radio tower to introduce and close off each episode like the Greek Chorus, occasionally descending to connect the characters with people outside the Hotel, I would be very happy.

I would also be happy if he was actually a main character, working either for or against Charlie. I loved his scenes with Vaggie, and Charlie, and his duet with Lucifer was amazing, BUT.

He's NOT. EITHER. OF THESE THINGS.

As of episode eight, I'm not even convinced Alastor is actually a character! At this point I wonder if Alastor isn't actually a mask that Eve, of all people, is WEARING, and the man we think we've been getting to know sold himself to her to protect someone he cared about and hasn't been sentient since the day he died. GOD I hope that's just a crackpot theory borne of frustration because I AM FRUSTRATED with the hints and bits and pieces. And THAT is how I left the series as a whole. Frustrated.

Because just as the show IS amazing despite its pacing, Alastor IS a great character. I love Chaotic Neutral chaos goblins that save the universe because they're one of the idiots that live there. But by episode eight, I wanted some kind of closure. By the end of that episode, I wanted to be sure of whether I was rooting for Alastor to knock Hell out from under Lucifer's depressed feet, or for Charlie to save him from himself.

And like I said, right now, I'm no longer even sure he's REAL. And if all this just turns out to be Charlie's legitimately good intentions against Eve's revenge scheme... That's... egh.

That's less interesting to me. That's not a story of choice and redemption, that's just yet another love conquers all story and guys, I grew up on Sailor Moon too, but... can we try a new one?

Give me Charlie being confronted with her own motivations, and learning how to actually LEAD. Not just... repeat Vaggie's story of fighting for the people she loves on a grander scale.

(Oh god... I just realised how much that would cheapen Vaggie's story. Oh god, please don't do that!)

There's a theory that I saw that I'm a little in love with, about Alastor actually having been sold to Heaven AND Hell by his mother and father respectively, and that his arc is legitimately about him trying desperately to free himself from both. And THAT is an interesting story, and an interesting way for Charlie to grow, as she has to learn to realise that sometimes you get put in crappy situations and you can dig, and fight, and struggle, and all it does is drag you down deeper. Recovering from THAT is rehabilitation.

And that's the story I want at this point.

And I just don't think we're gonna get it in another eight episodes. Not when the Huskerdust nation must be appeased and Lilith's whole story needs to play out, and...

But. Whatever. I did love this series, and I will be watching it again, and if they release the soundtrack on CD I will be buying it, and if the show gets a DVD release I'll be buying that too.

But yeah. It was not long enough to be deep enough, and I end it frustrated.

...I'm gonna go listen to the soundtrack again.

[silversiren1101]

💎💎💎 for giliys?

[I was hoping for this you have no idea]

"First, I suppose I should ask who put you up to this." Minovae smirks. "Everyone that knows Giliys has their own, strong, opinion on him, and it wouldn't be wrong to say they're probably more similar than not. Was it Theo? I know he worries about anything jeopardizing his healing relationship with Regill, and I can easily see him agonizing over the respective spouses not getting along."

She chuckles, and shakes her head.

"You know there's something to be said about Derenges and their chosen partners being so very unlike them! Still, he needn't worry. Against everything that says I shouldn't, I actually like Giliys. Or, well", her brows furrow. "It's hard to describe. I like him, but also I don't. He's abrasive beyond words and somehow more aggressive and angry than a vrock, but he's also... kind. He's generous, too. Just look at him with his and Theo's kids! Actually, he's so many contradictions folded on top of each other because of the things he's gone through, and it would be so very wrong and hypocritical of me to condemn him for what he had to do to survive it all."

A sense of sadness pulls down her smile and dims the light in her eyes. "He... the things that make him up at his very core are the same ones that make up any other good soul. His sense of right and wrong is amongst the strongest I've ever seen, and it's a crime that such an innately just and bright person has been shaped into what he is now. Society failed him. So many people failed him. His justice has been turned into retribution, all his goodness twisted to be in the name of survival."

"You know", she continues, "I truly, genuinely think he would've made for a knight the likes Avistan has never seen had he not been crushed and pushed to the breaking point like he had. It's just...", she sighs, "It doesn't excuse some of the things he's done, and I admit I might have executed him myself if I had caught him mid-act of some of them, but he's trying. I see it. It might only be because of Theo but that doesn't diminish that he's trying to make amends. I see it, and I see where he's come from and I see the frayed pieces there of what could have been and I see what could still be..."

She hums, low and mellow, musing further on it. "So yeah, he's awful and mean and has done some truly heinous things and yet I would say in full honesty that I would trust him with my life. I'd trust him with my family, too. Even if we didn't know each other, if we weren't 'family' as tenuous as that word is, if he saw me fall protecting Jess and I begged him with my last breath, in my unmistakable Hellknight armor and he just the nearest person I locked eyes with, to take my daughter and get here out of there, I know he would."

A sharp, dry laugh cuts through her thoughts. "Actually, Giliys might be the greatest Hellknight there never was. He definitely would've been an incredible paladin, though I'm not sure which god he would've pledged himself to, and none of them deserve him anyway. I'm under no impression that he might kill me for saying that if he finds out, though", she smiles sheepishly.

"I'm under no impression at all that he doesn't hate me, period, make no mistake of that. I'm everything he despises, and I know it. I'm a proud Hellknight, and one who joined to escape the horrible life I had because of what I am. He sees me as a traitor in that sense, another 'slave who picked up the whip themselves.' And the thing is? I can't blame him. I can't blame him at all. He's the exact person I became a Hellknight to protect and advocate for and yet... here he is... as he is. We didn't help him."

[distort-opia]

Heya!! It’s me again, lol.

I’m curious (so I’m just gonna throw these questions at you); are there any changes or directions you would like to see regarding Batman, Joker, and/or Batjokes in the mainline comics?

What are some aspects about Batman and Joker that you feel are ignored or neglected by writers, if at all? (Is that even a reasonable question to ask? I’m always so worried I’m missing the point. These characters are so complex, which is great, that’s a reason why I love them, but the complexity muddles my brain at times and I’m not sure of what questions to ask and if they are valid in the first place).

Actually! That’s a perfect transition to this:

When writing Batman and Joker, what are some key things to consider regarding their individual traits and of their relationship?

I’m so sorry for the interview-esque ask. Not trying to shove questions down your throat! I hope that you’re doing well, please take care.

Hey!! First of all, thank you for the ask, and for all the kind words you always leave in my tags. I'm baffled at the support and I'm really glad you enjoy my rambles. All the love to you <3

Since these are three questions, my answer did end up long, so I will put it under the cut.

As to the first question... uh. That's complicated, I guess. I am quite disillusioned with DC as a whole, so even though I have specific storylines I would like to see, I wouldn't trust them to get them right. However, to be fair, it's not entirely their fault. It's the nature of the medium too. I might want to see a story in which Bruce actually and genuinely gets to heal from his trauma, but that will never be the end. Batman's too popular for that. Like Sysiphus, he'll have to exist again and again, in countless versions and universes. He'll be reinvented and revived until there's no more interest, probably -- and it's the same with Joker. That said, there are stories I would like to see. I feel like Batman Who Laughs was such a missed opportunity for a genuinely cool psychological story, for instance. That whole chemical thing was a cop-out, when we could've gotten Bruce killing someone either by accident or by losing control in some way (sort of like TWOJAR but without anyone stopping him and with more... in-character circumstances). Then, it would've been so interesting to see Bruce's psyche break down to the point of him killing Joker, and becoming the villain he always feared turning into. As to Joker, I'd give a kidney for a genuinely nuanced story about him facing his past, because his character is literally defined by running away from it. You've got Going Sane and White Knight as variations on 'hey what if Joker became sane' but they're not at all what I mean. In Going Sane, Joker simply fabricated and assumed a different identity -- he doesn't deal with his memories or his former self in any way. And do not get me started on White Knight, because I hate the idea of some pills just erasing Joker's so-called 'insanity' and with it, his love for Batman. Those pills basically turn him straight for Harley. Yeah that's a great way to imply gay love is obsessive and turns you insane, thank you DC. To be honest I'm pretty sure DC will try... something with Joker's former family at some point, because they had Jeannie and Joker's son be alive in The Three Jokers (which I also hated). And thing is, it could be an interesting story! But I'm like 90% sure it'll suck, because they treat Joker like a one-dimensional evil cardboard cut-out of himself these days. (I did actually start writing a story about Joker more realistically facing his past myself, in Falls the Shadow. Be the change you want to see in the world, I guess.) And when it comes to Batjokes... a story where they team up would be cool. Like that Deadly Duo comic they were planning and that never panned out, apparently. Also, I'd just really find it funny if Joker got kidnapped by aliens or something in full view of the Justice League, and everyone's like "...Yeah, that's cool. It's fine. Him off planet is actually great." Meanwhile Bruce is like "It's a sacred human life! He has to be rescued! I'm going after him!" Basically him being just as stupidly incapable of letting Joker go as in Devil's Advocate, but to an even bigger scale :)) I just think it'd be hilarious to see Bruce dragging Joker back from some remote planet like something of his that got misplaced while everyone is facepalming.

The second question is a perfectly reasonable one to ask! Don't think you're missing the point in any way; and I fully agree these characters have so much history and are so complex it gets headache-inducing sometimes. Aspects of Batman and Joker that I feel are neglected or ignored... well, when it comes to Bruce, it bugs me that Bruce displays character development a bunch of times, but the next writer just bulldozes over it. Again, this is also due to the nature of comics as a medium, and everyone trying to put their own spin on the character, but still. It gets very frustrating. You're like, "Ah, he's finally self-aware about the bullshit he puts his kids through! He's trying to change! He's trying to prioritize his own happiness over his Vow for once!" and a couple of issues later it all gets undone. Sigh. Though for Joker it's a lot worse, I feel. What gets ignored and neglected when writing him is 100% his humanity. There's more than one comic showing more humane sides of him, outright spelling it out that he's not just the Evil Psychopath most fans are eager to believe him to be. But these sides of him -- having emotional breakdowns, not being able to find 'the joke', empathizing with children and trying to help an abused one, having so many comics imply he had a horrible childhood full of physical and even sexual abuse, having some sort of genuine affection for Harley -- are pretty much ignored in more recent depictions. He's just purely unapologetically 'evil', which takes away so much from a very complex and interesting character.

As to the third question, regarding writing Batman and Joker and what to keep in mind... uh. That's complicated, once again. Whenever I write for a fandom I basically bathe my brain in content until I feel I have a good grasp on the characters, and then I just write. They do the work themselves afterwards. Sometimes I might really want to explore something but then the characters won't let me. It's an unconscious thing for me that's hard to break down into components. But in general, there's one thing I believe is essential when writing Batman and Joker in any iteration, and that's the fact they're equals. Sometimes fan depictions of Joker... woobify him a bit too much, turn him into a desperate emotional mess only craving Batman's attention. This takes away from the balance of power between them, in my opinion. Not to say Joker isn't obsesed with Batman and vocal about it; but he's also spent decades fighting him and harming him. Him giving up his entire identity that he so effortfully created in order to deal with his trauma (which is half-Batman related, half entirely not) just for Bruce's romantic attentions feels OOC to me. Not to mention it gives Bruce too much power over him, and the guy has enough problems with that as it is. He doesn't need another person he can control, he needs someone who can withstand his controlling tendencies and fight him on them.

I hope you found my answers interesting! Thank you again for the interest, and no worries. Don't know if there'll ever be a time when I get asked to rant about Batman and I don't jump on it. Hope you're doing okay, and take care too!

[heavensbeehall]

"Mockingjay", Chapter 16

Part 2: The Assault

Chapter 16: Katniss comes back to consciousness (again!) after being shot and remembers the "Stay with me"/"Always" exchange with Peeta from the second book. Johanna Mason--what a queen--shows up to steal some drugs from Katniss. Johanna is addicted to "morphling" now, but in a fun way. Katniss and Gale fight about killing people but District 2 is now in Rebellion hands. Even though she lost a spleen, Katniss is made to return to work. Plutarch talks about "Panem et Circenses" for all the English teachers in the audience. Annie and Finnick are getting married! Katniss is stunned when the cake is wheeled out and it was obviously made by Peeta, who has been getting better after his first breakthrough. At midnight she goes to talk to him (and I have questions about why the staff at 13 is all around at midnight but they are not addressed. Perhaps they wanted a good Hanging Tree reference for this uncomfortable encounter). Peeta is pissy which I will allow since she was tortured for weeks. He sees Katniss through a new lens. She thinks it's "the truth" because she hates herself and is depressed and clearly needs medication--not to the responsibility of a rebellion. But it's more like he sees her through Snow's eyes now. (That women are not to be trusted and love makes you weak.)

Thoughts:

-- This book depresses me a bit and my own mental health hasn't been great lately. I should remind myself there is more Johanna. Because I really do like the part where they are roommates.

-- When Johanna calls Gale "gorgeous" and then laughs, it makes me think she is messing with him the way she did with Katniss in book 2. But I don't know if she is messing with Katniss or Gale, actually.

Quotes:

"You should have been the Mockingjay. No one would've had to feed you lines," I say. "True. But no one likes me," she tells me.

Given that Suzanne Collins has said they have tried to use previous victors (she particularly cited Finnick) as a rallying point for rebellion, I wonder if she says this from experience. The way Johanna won--by pretending for the camers--is actually quite smart. She used the game against the Gamemakers. Her "act" would be mostly in things we know Snow added to the Hunger Games--the interviews, the betting odds etc. If they had just thrown her into an arena, like 1-10th, then this would not be possible to do. Nor do I think crying or being sad to fight to the death is abnormal. We have seen Lamina (also a female tribute from 7) portrayed as somewhat weak during her Games but be mentally tough. I imagine it was easy to dismiss Johanna. But then when she won, it seems (as with many reality shows) she was not lauded for her cleverness but instead portrayed as a liar and a bitch.

Does anyone have strong headcanons about Johanna? For some reason, I assume she had siblings that were killed. Possibly because of how she interacts with Katniss and Finnick, like she is used to having someone close to her who is her age. But that person or persons is gone now.

Somehow staging some perverse wedding between Peeta and me. I haven't been able to face that one-way glass since I've been back and, at my own request, only get updates about Peeta's condition from Haymitch. He speaks very little about it. Different techniques are being tried. There will never truly be a way to cure him.And now they want me to marry Peeta for a propo?

I read a fanfic about this once. Anyway, you will note that Katniss instinctively assumes Plutarch will use her the same way Snow did which doesn't reassure me much about Plutarch's vibes.

... the music is provided by a choir of children accompanied by the lone fiddler who made it out of 12 with his instrument...

We think this is Clerk Carmine's fiddle, yes? I don't know where you would buy a new instrument in 12.

Sure enough, Greasy Sae grabs Gale by the hand and pulls him into the center of the floor and faces off with him

Get it, Greasy Sae! (I do not necessarily hold to the theory that Lucy Gray is Greasy Sae, but I do think--since she sells her wares at the Hob and has been around awhile, she would probably know the most about the Covey. I'd love to interview her for my fictional documentary about the history of the Hunger Games.)

"I must have loved you a lot."

I would like to think that Peeta need not be "in love" with Katniss to give her some bread. It's very "Snow-like" to assume that he would only do that if he was in love with her, and the love was like tricking him into something (which I think is how he comes to see everything he did for Lucy Gray, as some grand manipulation) when it's just normal to not like seeing someone else suffer.

[houseofpendragons]

Thoughts on Teen Wolf the Movie while watching it pt.4

Not Eli just crouching in the corner

"Remember Simba" 🦁

Damn imagine that's how Derek introduced Eli to the pack💀 took him to the look out place/point? and held him up like Simba but he's a little wolf pup🐺 "and all the dragons roared as one" (srry I've been watching alot of Hotd)

Really fucked up of you to have Derek stabbed like that infront of his son who has no way of knowing his dad's not actually dead

Why'd they fall down the stairs?

nah grl ur fam got themselves killed

How poetic of Nogi 📜✒

"I can do this" or not

I stand by the idea that the only reason Eli didn't pass out was bc there wasn't a mirror around 😂

Poor Malia, she obviously cares about Eli very much

Oh, so we just out here stabbing ourselves now? Interesting development in our tale

Also that's the rock I'm talking about, the one where Derek could've brought baby Eli😂

"Can't we just call Stiles?" Is what he was going to stay

why is Jackson eating in every scene😂

...

....

🎶walk him like a dog, sis, walk him like a dog🎶

Second hand embarrassment 😳 Peter why they got you on the floor like that😭💀

I'm weak. Yes, Peter we can see the blood 5 feet infront of you, and you would've seen it too if you had been STANDING

What happend to that scene where Peter was reprimanding Malia "can you at least try to behave more human" We just throwing that out the window😭

Okay I'm done now, I swear

Jackson amd Malia both not understanding a word out of Lydia's mouth😂 (bc they were supposed to be the same person)

Anytime Scott opens his mouth Allison like *pokey stab* *pokey stab"

"...the moment you stabbed me" sir you stabbed urself 🤦‍♀️

If its all mountain ash then why could Malia, Parrish, and Jackson all walk on it?

Scott: "You remember" Allison: Bitch *kicks*

Malia and Parrish aren't bad, but one I don't think Malia should be in a relationship and two idk there's no background for it

Ahhh Victoria 😱

She is right, history does have a shit ton of handsome killers. So what have we learned? don't trust pretty people😂

I mean, personally I think Kate deserved it. Plus it's not like she stayed dead, so no harm done🤷‍♀️

Wonder how long Derek's been tryna wake Eli up 🤔

Just an illusion... I'll come back go this plot point later

Ew Scott put that thing away🤢

You know what Allison, if you think he's lying why don't you tell us how you think you died hmmm

Derek still being 🥇 supportive dad for Eli when they're in a hostage situation 💀

Hikari sounds so annoyed at this whole thing, I love her, she just wants to go back to her Ramen restaurant😂

Ain't nobody told Melissa about the devine move last time?

Nah, the other one Parrish 🙄

Boy it's been a recurring thing for years, you've just been too busy in London

Poor Isaac, did he get anything?

um Jackson, and Lydia, and Stiles. We just said his name sweetie

Well shit that's not his problem that you don't remember

"There's no such thing as fate" "There's no such thing as werewolves" why did you do this to me😭😭😭

If your a werewolf hunter shouldn't you know what ur supposed to do to help with wolfsbane

I'd be the same Eli. Gonna get a zillion diseases from his evil nasty ass hand🤮

He's trying, stop shaming him Nogi🙄

oop- Derek said I think the fuck not you trick ass bitch, here me roar

He has bad memories with road flares😬

"Scott you're my brother. So if you're gonna do this...your just going to have to take me with you then" ooooh now I just made myself cry😭😭😭

glowsticks😁

Derek: "Eli, did you see that? Did you see your eyes" Eli: "How the hell am I supposed to see my eyes, they're the things i use to see" 🤣🤣🤣

That is the best line! The best line!🤣

Damn Nogi why you so loud, it's not that deep 😒

That was kinda simple to bring Allison back to less homicidal

Oh we playing chess again, cool. Still don't know how to play😬

Scott got drampled by a herd of deer, Eli got trampled by a heard of hormonal, halfwits (lesser known Peter line) I'll take the deer thanks 👍

"I'm still in love with you" awwww 🥺❤ we know Scott, we know

So how could Jackson able to even touch the mountain ash? Is it bc he's a chimera even though they were supposed to be impossible unless they were genetically altered by the dread doctors?... Jeff explain.

Ow, poor Eli, now he knows the struggle😂

ahahaha Adrian woke up and chose violence lmoa

The main reason this is so funny to me is bc Mr. Harris was always so nice to Jackson wtf happend

How does he know about everyone? Oh well Monroe. But still, I like to believe he was a failed emissary & for people complaining about Harris "being back from the dead" they never actually found his body. I kept waiting for the series to finish that plot line but they never did so I'm pleased that he's the villian (which I predicted he was😁) I'm just confused on his motives and wish they explained it better

How did they ruin your life? And um didn't jennifer choose u herself 🤨 also I seem to remember you saying you helped crazy darach lady so u made ur damn self a loose end🥱

he's right he was in London 🇬🇧

but uh jackson honey, for future reference maybe don't talk when there's a man with a loaded gun, just you know, just in case he decides to shoot u👍

I say we yell fire 🔥

So what's the other layers and their purposes? Is the Nogitsune actually in their layer of the illusion bc remember when Scott, Stiles, Lydia, and Kira were in an illusion with the "Nogitsune" but he was just another illusion bc he was really outside w/ Derek and the twins🤔

Poor Derek, hasn't he been through enough, now he's afraid he fucked his son up by protecting him

i will add to this thou, I've seen a few people say that Derek is too much like Clarke Kent and that he would have a completely different parenting style and while I do somewhat agree we have to remember that people tend to act different around their family and especially with their kids than they are with other people. It's also been a lot of years where he has changed alot to fit having to raise a child by himself (who tf is Eli's mom and where is she?; Jeff said he wanted to explore that in another movie) plus he had to change, S2 Derek would be a terrible father and Eli would've been so fucked up

That cute little wave and the smile back 😊

Wish Stiles would've popped up, he could've been in Jackson place being threatened at gun point (it would make more sense bc Harris hated him) he didn't know why Lydia left, and he would've been the one to tell her it was just a dream

Even if it was a premonition (which I don't think it was, I think fear is a powerful thing and it manipulates you and when you've spent your whole teen years like them just constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop, well...) you can't outrun fate

They wail in grief 😔

*clink* *falls to the ground with dramatic gasp* 💀

I still wanna know who the hell Greenburg was

Also calling Scott Greenburg still would be like 30...

Yea ur sons on the field 😁👏👏👏

Flashes to when Stiles was scoring all thos goals in season 2 and everyone was cheering for him🥺👏👏👏

"My dad was actually right. I'm actually pretty good" 😎

omg not him forgetting about his currently hostage father😭💀

Wonder how Derek feels listening to all this 😂

well no shit it's not over, did you forget that ur dead ex ain't the problem anymore smh

Pt.4-5