#Humans controlling other Humans...very ironic. do you not think?.... Then again. It is not unheard of...

[lilybug-02]

A Shivering Realization.

#HAPPY HALLOWEEN #Humans controlling other Humans...very ironic. do you not think?.... Then again. It is not unheard of... #I have always been fascinated by how Deltarune and Undertale treat the game with the situational irony that players are human. #Chara hates humanity and yet here we are. #Kris does not like the very idea of humans. And yet here we are. Watching their every step. #And Frisk.... sadly.... what are they but a vessel to us? Albeit it is a very tiny and cute vessel. #Anyways. 4th wall breaks are some of my favorite comic concepts and MAN was I happy to be able to implement this into a comic of mine. <3 #chara #my art #art #bread #deltarune chara timeline #chara dreemurr #undertale #deltarune #tw gore #tw horror #tw scary

[marvelsbetch]

Peter Parker’s field trip part 2

March 7th

Peter's POV

I woke up peacefully to Friday playing Highway to Hell and telling me it was 6:30am and I needed to get up for school. Concerned for Wade's sleeping I quickly told Friday to be quiet and that I was up, I obviously didn't want to wake him at such a cruel hour.

Stumbling out of my room in a sleep filled haze, almost walking into the door frame and tripping over my shoes, I made my way to the kitchen to find Pops trying to cook breakfast and silently arguing with Thor who put his hammer in front of the fridge yet again, Loki really is a bad influence on the God.

"Uncle Thor please move the hammer so I can have breakfast. Please." I requested giving him my puppy dog eyes knowing he can't resist them.

With a small grunt Thor moved his hammer and set it on top of the kitchen counter out of people way. Pops sent me a grateful look before pulling eggs, milk and cheese out of the fridge to make Captain America's famous omelette. I smiled slightly and moved to sit on one of the bar stools at the island counter and watched slowly as all the Avengers plus Loki, T'Challa and Shuri were woken up by the amazing smell. All but my boyfriend who could probably sleep through an earthquake, hurricane and tsunami all at once. It's a gift.

-1 hour later-

After breakfast I got ready to just come back here, grabbed my back, kissed my now awake boyfriend goodbye, hugged my Dads goodbye and made my way to the car with Happy prepared to take me to school. On the way Happy gave me a lecture on how I was basically representing Dad and SI so I should be on my best behaviour. It was boring and in all honest, I'd heard it before on the field trip to the zoo we have last month, that didn't end well in all honesty. It's better left saying some monkeys escaped and it totally wasn't my fault.

"Right Kid. We're hear, I'll pick you up tomorrow from here so message me when you're on your way back to school." He told me, I could tell he was going to miss me but I could also tell he was looking forward to the extra one hours sleep he was going to get tomorrow from not needing to drop me off.

"Bye Happy. Tell everyone I'll miss them. See you tomorrow and I'll give regular update and text you if anything happens." I told him before exiting the car and walking up to Ned who was waiting outside the bus ready for me.

"Hey man. You looking forward to the surprise field trip?" Ned asked as we stepped onto the bus.

"Not really. I'm gonna miss everyone at the tower. Wade arrived last night as well so I'm not gonna see him for like another two days." I sighed as we sat down next to each other in the middle of the bus.

"Hey penis. I know what the field trip is and you're gonna be in so much shit." Flash tainted as he passed us.

"Steve wouldn't be happy with your language." I mumbled so only Ned heard. We both giggled a little but everyone was soon quietened down by Mrs Robbins shouting at us.

"Okay so before we leave we must take role call to see who's here." She explained and started reading names off of her sheet. Everyone responded with a simple yes miss and everything was going well until she got to my name.

"Patricia Parker!" She yelled and looked directly at me. I simply ignored it and continued to stare out of the window until she shouted it again louder.

"Come on Penis just answer. Don't try and stall this." Flash huffed from the back of the bus.

"Fine. Peter Parker is here." I told her emphasising the work 'Peter'.

"What ever." She grumbled going back to role call.

-30 minutes later-

As we were driving I noticed a lot of places, it took a few seconds until it finally clicked as to where we were going. Stark Industries. Over night. Oh dear.

“Right kids. We're going to be there in roughly 5 minutes so please get you begs sorted, make sure your areas are clean and you have everything with you." Mrs Robbins told us from the front of the bus.

"I bet you'd recognise this way from your internship, if it was real." Flash sneered as if it was going to affect me.

Soon we pulled into the visitor parking lot and exited the car. I was slightly shaking with anxiety especially when Happy and two other security guards, Johnson and Stone (I don't know their first names) walked over to us and started running through the security guidelines.

"And finally and type of bullying or intolerance towards anyone inside this building with not be tolerated and the person doing it will be kicked out immediately. That could be in 10 minutes or at 2:00 in the morning. It will not be tolerated." Happy finished giving me a look that said 'I know something you don't know I know'. Shit.

"Okay now that that is out of the way with, follow us." Happy said leading us inside the lobby of the building by swiping his security card.

“Okay we're gonna give you all access passes. These are the lowest of the 10 levels you get get so basically all you can use them for is the toilet. We have a strict no re-printing policy and a display policy. In other words you must always have your pass on display on your outer most layer of clothing, if it's lost then you will be searched and escorted out of the building if it is not found. Let that be a warning to everyone." Johnson explained as Stone started handing out the passes, glossing over me, Ned and MJ of course, until everyone had them.

Me, Ned and MJ all had to pull out our avenger themed cards. Mine was half and half Iron Man and Captain America cause there my dads. Ned's was a combo of everyone's as he couldn't decide which one he preferred. MJ went for Nat cause MJ liked the fact that she, and Pepper, could control all of us and was the only girl original Avenger. MJ admires her as a icon for women.

"Okay everyone scan your passes as you walk through the scanner like this." Stone demonstrated as he scanned his pass and walked through the scanner with his hands out.

"Logan Stone. Security level clearance:8. No unauthorised items." F.R.I.D.A.Ys voice announced.

"Now all of you do it." Happy instructed.

Everyone started going through the scanner, Flash being the most smug as his level 1 clearance was announced, until it got the the final three. Me, Ned and MJ. MJ decided to go first, F.R.I.D.A.Y announced her name, level 9 security clearance and the fact she had no unauthorised items with her. Next was Ned, F.R.I.D.A.Y announced his name, level 9 security clearance and the fact he had no unauthorised items. Next was me, I was dreading it.

"Come on Patricia, just admit your internship is fake now and save us all the trouble." Flash shouted over everyone making Happy stop and glare at him. He was about to make a move towards Flash but I put my hand out and stopped him.

"Just leave it Hap. He's not worth cancelling whatever Dad's got planned." I told him in a low voice trying to be unheard.

"He says one more thing and I'll knock him out." Happy threatened.

"I have no doubt you will." I sighed and decided I stalled enough. I quickly scanned my card and walked through the scanner with my hands up like everyone else.

"Peter Stark-Rodgers, level 10 security clearance. No unauthorised items. Mr Stark-Rodgers has already been informed of your arrival. Thank you for using the front entrance." F.R.I.D.A.Ys robotic but slightly sarcastic voice announced.

The tour started off normal. One of the actual interns, Owen, greeted us and me separately. We were quite good friends as he was one of the people to help me when Wade asked me out, I will be eternally grateful to him.

"Okay, our first stop on this tour is the avengers museum. You will be allowed to take photos but please refrain from touching anything as they could activate. Everything thing in this room is the real deal except a few things. We will also be trying to lift Thor's hammer in this room with him there of course." Owen explained. So, this is where Dads plans begin.

We walked into the museum and was greeted with 3 main area. Original Avengers, later added Avengers and Avengers associates. Then, I saw a red and blue display. Spider-Man has his own display IN THE LATER ADDED AVENGERS SECTION. Did this mean Dad wanted me to be an Avenger? What's going on? Did Fury know about this?

Ned grabbed my hand and led me to the display cases where I saw my old suit and computers next to replicas and photos of my current ones. This is so cool.

“Spider-Man is the latest mighty hero to join the Avengers in their mission to protecc the Earth and Asgard. Spider-Man has been described my many to be funny, witty and charming. He the only Avenger to have not revelled his identity yet but we are sure he will in due time. Fun facts about Spider-Man:

He is afraid of Spiders ironically,

He's a complete Daddy's boy,

He made his first suit himself,

He lives with Tony and Steve Stark-Rodgers,

And finally, he can rival Tony Stark-Rodgers levels of Sass." Ned read from the information

I silently groaned at the second fun fact knowing full well Dad was just trying to boost his ego. Oh well, it's kind of hard not to be true.

"Oo Penis Parker checking out the exhibit on his 'friends'." Flash sneered putting air quotes around 'friends'.

"Right, come along people. We have an exclusive lecture with Dr Banner on Gamma radiation and how it affects the human body. Everybody make and orderly que and and we can make our way there." Owen informed and instructed.

We all qued up with me and my friends at the back and started to walk towards the elevator to go to Bruce's lab. Once we found ourselves outside of the lab the reality of the situation set in, we're going to be talking to my Uncle Bruce. While no one in the class knows he's my Uncle and I'm with my Bully and Transphobic teacher. I dread to think what's about to happen.

"Okay kids. Be very polite and respectful, we don't want a code Green." Owen instructed before knocking on the door and waiting for Bruce to open it as Owen didn't have high enough clearance to open the door.

After a minute of waiting and no sign of Bruce Owen knocked again but to no avail. I knew that Bruce was working on a new project last night so it's highly likely he's asleep so I stepped forward, security card in hand and swiped it for entrance.

"Peter Parker, access granted." F.R.I.D.A.Ys voice sounded from above the door way.

I opened the door slowly and saw Bruce asleep on the couch. Motioning for everyone to give me a minute I creeped into the room to gently wake him up.

"Uncle Bruce, you have to give my class a lecture. Uncle Bruce wake up." I said softly and gently shook him awake.

"What? Peter? Aren't you supposed to be in school?" Bruce asked slowly sat up.

"I'm on a field trip and you're supposed to give a lecture to my class. They're all outside but you fell asleep." I informed him.

"Oh my god I'm so sorry. Ask them to give me a minute and I'll be mostly ready. Thanks Pete." Bruce replied scrambling to clean up a little bit and get sorted.

"He'll just be a minute." I informed my class while exiting the room waiting for Bruce when I heard Uncle Clint shifting in the vents. Oh no, this has been planned.

“Hello Midtown. Sorry for the delay, life of a stressed scientist. I'm sure most of you know what that's like. Come in, take a seat and please excuse the mess." Bruce greeted and opened the door wider for us to enter.

We all shuffled into the highly cluttered room and sat down in one of the fold out chairs set us in the centre of the room infront  of three dry erase boards. Uncle Bruce started his lecture but I soon tuned him out as I had heard it all before.

"Peter!" Clint yelled popping his head out from the vent with a grin on his face.

"Barton." I said in a monotone voice to hopefully convey my disinterest in whatever he was planning.

"I was asking if I could go into your room to borrow some silly string. Tony fucked with a few of my arrows and I'm not happy about it. I was literally shocked!" He shouted the last sentence making me wince and cover my ears.

"Yes you may but only one can. I need the rest for Loki cause he's the only one out of all of you that hasn't had a string attack yet. Hopping to change that soon." I informed.

"Cool. I'm taking the blue one. Bye, see you later." He waved before disappearing back into the vents and crawling away.

"He has this all planned doesn't he?" I asked Uncle Bruce signing slightly.

"Sorry kid." He smirked and continued with his lecture despite people only being focused on gawping at me.

Soon after that his lecture was finished and we moved on. Owen took us to a more general development lab where people started their testing to see if it was possible and worth perusing. As soon as we entered I was greeted with Shuri running towards me and hugging me tightly.

"Shuri, you literally saw me last night. Why are you hugging me so tightly?" I asked smiling slightly.

"I still missed you. Brother has been boring but these labs are very interesting, still they would be more so with you here." She told me pulling away and looking at my astonished class.

"Hello children of Midtown High School. I am Shuri Princess of Wakanda and this is my brother, the king." Shuri introduced smiling at everyone's shocked faces.

"I can introduce myself sister." T'Challa told her.

"Now you know how I feel." She told him smirking before walking off to see one of the experiments happening in the room.

We looked around the lab for a little while, I helped a few people with equations and how to improve their testing. Shuri and I shouted memes and vines at each other from across the room. Flask and Mrs Robbins glared at me any chance they got.

"Right Children, it's time for lunch. You've been privileged enough to have lunch on the level 7 balcony right near the landing pad. Please be calm and sensible and respectful of the employees eating there." Owen explained and lead us up to the eating deck.

Once there I immediately noticed Uncle Thor and Loki waiting around the corner obviously looking for me. They truly planned this. Anyway, me, Ned and MJ all walked over to an empty table and they took out their lunches when I noticed I left mine in the kitchen this morning. Shoot.

"Peter!" I hear Thor yell as he and Loki walk around the corner with his arms out.

"Hello Thor. To what do I owe the pleasure?" I asked jokingly formally.

"Does one need a reason to visit his favourite nephew?" Thor asked bringing me into a hug, possibly crushing everyone of my ribs in the process, while Loki stood awkwardly to the side.

"If your all going to embarrass me can I ask you a favour in return?" I asked the brothers.

"Of course Peter! Anything for my nephew!" Thor all but yelled and clapped me on the back.

"Yeah, I left my lunch on the kitchen counter today. Could you possibly run up and get it for me please." I requested when a flying object fell from the sky.

My lunch.

"YOUR WELCOME!" I heard Sam yell from above us.

"THANKS BIRD BRAIN!" I yelled back at him and sat back down as the table, Thor and Loki soon following.

"Peter, I was wondering later if you could help me with my magic. I've been trying to work on my long distance aim and I think you'd be the perfect person to practice with." Loki asked shyly, he still isn't comfortable with all of us yet but he's made loads of progress.

"To hit or to avoid?" I jokingly asked earning a slight laugh out of the giant.

"To miss. I'll place the object I want to hit next to you and 'throw' a spell at it. If you're next to it it gives me more motivation to not hit it." Loki explained.

"Yeah sure I'll do that. What time were you thinking?" I asked.

"Well, you're class is staying the night and tomorrow day so maybe we could find time tonight or tomorrow night." Loki said making me realise my entire class has witnessed this entire encounter. For frick sake.

"Peter!" The deep voice of Bucky yelled from the doorway to the balcony.

My entire class looked in shock as I hugged good bye to the Gods and James 'Bucky' Barnes walked over to me with a bag and an apron saying 'Kiss the cook' on it. Once he was within range I could smell the contents of the bag. White chocolate and caramel cookies. My favourite.

"I made cookies and thought you might like some while they're hot." He explained handing me the beg witch I immediately accepted and took a cookie from.

"Thank you Uncle Bucky." I said but it was muffled by the whole cookie I shoved into my mouth. Classy.

"Hey you said you'd wait for me!" I hear my boyfriend shout appearing at the doorway and running towards me with his arms spread.

"I said I was leaving in one minute and you could come if you wanted. I never said I'd wait for you cause I know how long you can take." Bucky complained to Wade who crushed me into a hug and kissed my lips briefly.

My entire class and teacher were stunned at this point. Every single jaw, except Ned and MJ's, was on the floor. When Wade kissed me I could faintly see from the corner of my eye my teacher so red and angry. Close minded female dog.

"I've not seen you all day how are you?" Wade asked pulling away.

"I'm fine, you saw me less than a few hours ago. Not much changed." I told him smiling a little and pulling him into another kiss. I did this to annoy my teacher but mainly because I just loved to kiss my boyfriend. Sue me.

"I know but anything could happen while I'm not there. I love you too much to allow anything to happen to you." He said to me after a solid 40 seconds of kissing.

"Right well, I'm gonna go back upstairs. Wade, you can stay with Peter as long as you keep your hands to yourself." Bucky warned before walking off back into the tower and Me and Wade sat down with me on his lap.

After a few minuets the shock wore off and people started whispering and pointing at me and Wade. Nothing I didn't expect if I'm honest but it's a lot more annoying than I thought it would be.

“I love you Wade." I said putting my head on his chest and eating my cookies.

"I lub you too Pete." He responded making me giggle a little. "And you're ass that will be mine tonight." He whispered seductively into my ear and gently grabbed my ass.

"You two make me want to be sick." MJ joked making a disgusted face at us before continuing with her lunch.

"Right everyone, we have ten minutes before we need to move on." Owen warned.

To be continued...

#peter parker field trip #trans peter parker #adopted peter parker #bi peter parker #gay peter parker #domestic avengers #super family #older brother sam wilson #thor #loki #falcon #deadpool #spidypool #pansexual deadpool #headcanon #bucky #captain america #steve x tony #gay steve rodgers #stevony #steveony

[rachelbethhines]

Tangled Salt Marathon - The Return of the King

So we’re back to the quasi-filler stuff. This episode does set a few things up for the finale, like bringing Edmund to Corona, but none of those things are actually good and it’s still mostly filled with irrelevant shit alongside the more important stuff. 

Summary: King Edmund arrives in Corona to see his long-lost son, Eugene, and to give him the royal sash of their bloodline. Eugene wants nothing to do with him, but Rapunzel invites him to stay. Later, the sash is stolen and a ransom note is left behind. Edmund and Eugene decide to go and retrieve it. Meanwhile, the Stabbington Brothers plot revenge on Eugene as they are both viewed as a joke by the other criminals.

So How Did the Stabbingtons Escape the Prison Barge 

Last we saw them they were stuck on a prison barge along with Lady Caine and all of the other season one villains. How did they escape? Did Lady Caine or anybody else make it out? If so then where are they this season? 

We’re not going to get any of those questions answered are we? 

Man this is just sloppy continuity. Which ironic, because these two were only brought back this season because of continuity. They need to be “redeemed” so that they can be at the wedding. I guess it just sucks to be you if you’re an original villain for this show and not named Cassandra. 

Why Is This Deserving of Ridicule? 

Like...We’re talking about a world renowned thief and adventurer and his magical royal girlfriend who are well known enough outside of Corona to be mentioned and there for no doubt people know how they both defeated monsters, daemons, and several criminals besides just there two guys, right? 

This plot point makes no sense. 

You could just kick these dumbasses butts and be done with it. I doubt they’d bother picking on you again if you did.  

Did we really need even more motivation for them to want revenged against Eugene?

Rapunzel is Back to Being Her Bossy Self 

Rapunzel has not earned the role of “wise administrator” yet. She’s only been out of the tower for two years now and she has yet to prove to the audience that she has managed to learn anything since then. By jumping the gun and forcing her into a role that she hasn’t grown into, and by ignoring that this whole show started out as a coming of age story, it just makes Rapunzel unpleasant to be around. All her “advice” is just her ordering people about with a veneer of chipperness to try and mask her controlling nature. People who should know more about their own lives than she does and have no reason to listen to her.  

So We’re Showing Rapunzel Being Responsible... By Having Her Avoid Responsibility? 

Part of why the writers made her “acting queen” for the first half the season was to get her to grow into the role of becoming full time queen. However they screwed this up by not having her actually learn anything and having her avoid the real duties a queen preforms. 

What Rapunzel is doing her is just being a socialite busybody. The only administrative thing she does is approve some low-scale building plans for a small business. A thing that would have been handled by a lower official in an actual functioning government.   

Once again Rapunzel is being selfish and doing what she like, ie bossy people around while having them kiss her ass, as the real work of running the kingdom is left to someone else. This isn’t being responsible, it’s being hypocritical, but don't expect anyone to ever call Rapunzel out for this. 

Pointless Action Scene is Pointless

At this point, the low stakes action sequences are just cringe. Like is this an adventure show or not people? Stop forcing crap like this and give us some real conflicts instead.  

How Did You Get Here So Fast Edmund?

It took Rapunzel and company nearly a year to get to the Dark Kingdom. Even if Edmund wasn't delayed with pit stops like they were, it would have still taken him several months to get here by horse. 

Did he take a boat, or have four to six months already past since Rapunzel’s Return? 

I would argue that this episode was aired out of order and should have been later in the season, but Cassandra’s appearance at the end of this story, and Hamnuel’s appearances in later episodes, would suggest otherwise. 

Crap like this is why season’s three timeline doesn’t work unless you stretch everything out to two years instead of one. 

Read the Room Rapunzel

One could argue that Rapunzel is just trying to be polite, but that doesn't really hold water. 

For starters Eugene is clearly upset and has every right to want to set boundaries between himself and Edmund. Ignoring that is incredibly rude and if my significant other ever did such a thing, well they wouldn’t be my significant other for very long. 

Secondly, Rapunzel could have offered other accommodations if she felt pressured to be polite to Edmund. Not only are their lots of inns in a port town known for trade, many of which are probably well-to-do, but there’s also that convent that was mentioned back in season one. It has to be somewhere in Corona itself and as the so far only mentioned major religious organization in the country it would no doubt have stately quarters for when royalty and nobility would visit. 

So not only would it be a suitable place for a visiting king to stay in, as it would be made for such things, but it’s also far enough away that Eugene wouldn’t feel like his space is being invaded but close enough that Edmund could come and go as he pleases. 

By that point it’s still between Edmund and Eugene and Rapunzel can stay out of it, like she should. 

Eugene is Right

These are all valid reasons for cutting someone out of your life. Furthermore, you don’t even need a reason. If you don’t want to associate with somebody then just don't associate with. It’s your life. You don’t have to justify how you choose to live it and people who actually care about you should respect that. 

Unfortunately no one respects Eugene.  

Not Edmund, not Rapunzel, and most certainly not the writers. 

Then Why Don't You Get Closer to Edmund, Rapunzel?

I understand Rapunzel’s viewpoint here. Edmund is the only person she’s ever met who has experienced the same isolation that she has. He’s one of the very few people whom she can empathize with. 

However that doesn’t give her the right to force her views upon her boyfriend. If she cared so much than she could just befriend Edmund herself and leave Eugene out of it. 

Trying to encourage a child to have relationship with a parent who neglected them is super tone deaf at best and outright disrespectful at worst. It’s also highly hypocritical seeing as Rapunzel cut Gothel out of her life for similar reasons and Eugene only ever supported her for it. 

No really, flip the situation. If Eugene tried to encourage Rapunzel to give Gothel a second chance everyone would be slamming him for it. So why does Rapunzel get a free pass? 

Shorty Already Did That, Eugene. Don’t You Remember? 

I mean, you were literally right there when it happened. Are we forgetting season two the same as season one now? 

So Why Are Stan and Pete Suddenly Back, But Not Cap?

I mean we went through all that trouble in Rapunzel’s Return to write them out of the narrative and here they are without any explanation. Why are simple set ups so dang hard for this show? 

Rapunzel is Overstepping Her Bounds Here

Ok, giving Edmund a place to stay is one thing. Suggesting to Eugene that he should give Edmund a chance is not appropriate but still forgivable. But this? 

This crosses a fucking line! 

Eugene is not Rapunzel’s subject. He’s her boyfriend, and a prince in his own right. Rapunzel can’t just volunteer him for crap without his consent. That’s just indirectly ordering him about like she would a servant.  

Once again, flip the script. If Eugene tried to force Rapunzel to work with Gothel everyone would be up in arms. Why is this then deemed okay? 

This is Coercion

Not only is Edmund and Rapunzel trying to guilt trip Eugene here but she even fucking elbows him!

Like this isn’t “cute couple bickering” here. That kind of stuff is reserved only for inconsequential shit. 

This a woman trying to strong arm and guilt trip her husband to be into having a relationship with his abusive father! Because guess what? Neglect is still abuse! 

Rapunzel has zero say in Eugene and Edmund’s relationship. It’s none of her fucking business! Trying to force her into this plot just makes her look like an asshat. 

I mean look at this smug smile! The fucking bitch is proud of being a shit human being and a terrible girlfriend. 

And of course don't expect the show to call out this behavior as wrong because of out of date sexist double standards. If you think any of this is okay then just role reverse Eugene and Rapunzel here and then tell me its still alright. 

The Show Missed a Real Trick By Not Naming Him Horus Instead

Horus, the sun god, would have been a nice bit of irony and given meaning to the name while keeping the joke virtually unchanged. You could have had both lore and a punchline. 

And I would argue that the joke as is, isn’t even funny. Horace is indeed a lame name, but not for the reason that the show gives. It’s lame because it’s not unique enough. There’s already a Disney character named Horace and I’m sure there are real people out there with that name as well since it’s not completely unheard of. So the joke falls flat and winds up insulting anyone with that name. 

Don’t Expect Any Pay Off for Eugene’s Identity Issues This Season

Yeah the show makes a big deal out of Eugene having a mid-life crisis through out season three, but then never resolves it in any meaningful way. 

Edmund Is an Asshole 

I don’t care how “crazy” he is. Calling someone by a name they don't wished to be called is just plain rude. Acknowledging someone’s preferred name is just a basic common courtesy that is expected of everyone. Once again, this isn’t funny, quirky, nor charming, just unpleasant. 

So the Animators Wasted a Model on a No-Named Character Who Only Appears Once

Someone said this little girl appears in season one, but it’s not noticeable if she does. She also doesn’t have a name and this is her only speaking role. What a waste of money. Just have one of the braided girls from the movie instead. You already built models for them and haven’t really used them. 

And before some mentions race here, this is poor rep already cause the character has no impact. 

Turns Out, Varian Didn’t Even Need Those Truth Serum Cookies

Not only does this dumb down Pete to a ridiculous degree, but it also invalidates everything Varian went through in The Alchemist Returns and the grief he got from everyone for using the truth serum. 

Oh, and it’s also lazy writing and a plot contrivance.  

That’s Not Figgy Pudding!

This is Figgy Pudding.

It’s a boiled “pudding” that’s more like a cake with dried fruit in it. During the 14th through 18th centuries such bread puddings were made to be carried around in ones pocket or knapsack for eating on the go. They’re nothing like the creamy custards we call puddings today. 

It also looks nothing like what’s shown on the screen below. 

That’s like a half eaten loaf of wheat bread?  

That’s jelly filled .. apparently...?

Once Again, If You Have to Make Everyone Else Incompetent to Make Your Hero Useful to the Plot Then You Need a New Plot

Rapunzel has zero business in this plot. She doesn’t even need to be in this episode beyond a cameo. Trying to cram her into the protagonist role in a conflict that doesn’t involve her is just a disservice to everyone.  

Winnie The Pooh Is More Mature Than This Show

More of that meta commentary I was talking about last episode, and it just as full of shit as ever. 

Seriously Find Her, Keep Her is the best script I have ever seen in any show. It’s perfectly balanced so that anyone of any age can relate to it. It’s real and heartbreaking and perfectly suitable for small children to understand. There’s no shock value, no darkness, no modern satire, but its far more mature and complex and deep than anything TTS has tried. 

Also Rabbit is a far better father than any dad in this show, while still being cut from the same trope. There’s no shame in being a children’s show when its done well and this now 30 year old kids show runs rings around what ever mess Tangled is trying to sell. 

Eugene Isn’t Exaggerating Here and I Don't Know How to Feel About That

Turns out Eugene did grow up with these guys the same as he did with Lance. It’ll be confirmed only two episodes later. That just recontextualizes everything. He didn’t just betray some rando guys that he held no feelings for, he betrayed people that he’s known and worked with since childhood. 

Now just because he’s known them doesn’t mean that they were family to him like Lance, but like the fact that he keeps claiming then as such through out the episode would suggest that perhaps they were like siblings. 

That’s ... ingenious. That makes Flynn Rider retroactively an even worse person and gives the Stabbingtons real reason for vengeance. 

Only the show doesn't do anything with this!  It just makes Eugene an even bigger jerk in the movie for zero reason. 

Let Me Reiterate, Edmund Is an Asshole 

Just like with Frederic, Cassandra, and Rapunzel the show uses framing to try and make the audience side with people who do unforgivable things. 

Edmund is an abuser. He neglected his own son for 25 years. But the show presents him as “funny” and “quriky” and “look at his pouty face, he’s so lonely”.... 

No!

Edmund isn’t deserving of anything and how he treats Eugene here is garbage. 

This show is utter crap writing wise but boy does it know how to gaslight its own audience into siding with bullies and abusers.  

Eugene Is One Thousand Percent In the Right Here, But Don’t Expect the Narrative to Acknowledge That

There’s nothing you can do to make up for that. 

Eugene might forgive him. Eugene might move on from it. Eugene might decide a relationship it still worth having with Edmund. But the horrible thing still happened and it happened because Edmund allowed it to happen. There’s no going back from that and everything going forward has to be on Eugene’s terms alone. 

But the narrative won't allow Eugene that agency. 

Even as he makes his grand proclamation about being done with Edmund the cameras chooses to focus on Edmund and his feelings. The story is already priming the audience to prioritize Edmund over Eugene so that when the forced and contrived forgiveness scene comes we won't question it. But it only comes because Chris doesn’t deem Eugene as individual person with thoughts and feels of his own, but as an avatar to fulfill his wishfulment fantasy regarding his own personal daddy issues. 

Rapunzel’s Characterization in Season Three is Just....Off

Ok, even ignoring the major stuff, like not recognizing what she’s done wrong, putting her into roles she’s not meant to carry, and making her a shitty girlfriend suddenly, Rapunzel just behaves contrary to her character all through out season three even in small subtle ways like here. 

On the surface this seems like a clever call back to Great Expotations, but lets examine more closely, shall we. 

On one end we have yo-yos; an invention that’s been around since ancient Greece and is so wide spread across the globe that the word “yo-yo” itself is theorized to come from Indonesia and the Philippines.

On the other end there is Rapunzel. A woman who spent 18 years isolated inside of a tower, because of this she is both ignorant of somethings and insatiability curious and eager to learn.  Or at least she was, until striking out onto a year long road trip, and having now been out of the tower for only two years, claims to know better than the entire fucking world about this object who’s existence she didn’t even know about until only a year and half ago! 

Like what kind of sense does this make? Why would you abandon the core of her drive and motivation, to learn, explore, and grow, and then call it “development”? 

How Did Edmund Get Beat By These Guys?

Edmund took out Adria. The Brotherhood is suppose to be the best physical fighters in this world and Edmund is supposed to be best out of all of them. Yet he’s taken out by two random, mediocre dudes who didn't even jump him. They gave him time to respond and he stood up to fight them. 

Was all his physical prowess tied into that axe? Is the axe magic? 

If you characters have to be depowered for unexplained reasons for the plot to work than you haven’t a good plot. 

This Isn’t as Heartwarming as You Think It Is Show

If Edmund knew where Eugene was this whole time then he could have actually provided for his son. He could have arranged adoption with someone by letter, sent money, food, clothes, ect, maybe even wrote to Eugene directly and kept up a long distance relationship to be there for him emotionally. 

There is literally no excuse anymore for Edmund to hide behind. He literally neglected his duties as a parent, just cause. 

Finding these things shouldn’t make Eugene happy. Finding these things should piss him off even further because that’s how any logical adult would respond to this bullcrap. 

I sure know I’m angry. I’m angry that Eugene is a pawn for the creators’ writing wank-off rather then being treated as human being; as an actual character. 

“Nice” Isn’t the Same Thing as Kind, Rapunzel

One could argue that she’s not even superficially nice in season three, but the real problem here is that the show, and by extension Rapunzel herself, doesn’t understand the difference between being “pleasant” and actually being a good person. Outwardly polite people can stab you in the back, can kill you even, and not care, as Rapunzel has demonstrated repeatedly since season one.   

Do They Have to Be “Family” for Eugene to Give a Damn? 

Can’t Eugene just do the right thing, because it’s the right thing to do? People don't need to be friends and family to care about each others lives. Kindness isn’t transactional. Empathy and true charity doesn’t come with strings attached. If Eugene’s whole arc is about becoming a better person, then making the Stabbingtons “family” kind of undermines this. 

Don’t Reward the Dude for Doing the Bare Fucking Minimal 

No seriously. Edmund forfeited the right to ever be called “dad” by Eugene a long fucking time ago. He doesn’t get to be called that now just because he stopped being a piece of scum and showed the bare minimal of human decency. Even if Eugene decides to have a relationship with Edmund after this, it doesn’t mean that�� he has to be recognized as his dad or that that relationship will be a parental one.  

Eugene, and by Extension the Show, Places Rapunzel Upon a Pedestal to  the Detriment of All

Only 4 villains out of 20 get redeemed in this show. Four, and yes I’m counting the Stabbintions as one entity here. That’s 16 times Rapunzel failed to give someone a second chance just cause she didn’t feel like it that day, and even here she did fuck all in trying to give the Stabbingtons any sort of chance. That was all on Eugene. 

The more this show goes on, the more it looks like Eugene is just in love with the idea of Rapunzel rather than who she actually is as a person. It’s a disservice to both their characters but it damages Rapunzel most of all because the show perpetuates this over idealization to everyone she interacts with. 

It’s really sickening to watch and terrifying to know that some uphold this selfish brat as a “role model” for little girls. There’s nothing empowering in being an inhuman “goddess” who can do no wrong....even as they do several wrongs and never gets called out on it.    

This Isn’t “Cute”

Eugene can’t even have an opinion on a fucking toy!

Look if you still like New Dream despite how horribly written it is this season, then good for you. That is completely understandable, especially since this is mainly a problem with season three and not really in the first two seasons and certainly not in the movie. 

But if you try to deny that they aren’t toxic in season three, that people who do have problems with how they’re written aren’t valid in their concerns, than you’re either someone who hasn’t been paying attention or someone who has gross double standards for women in relationships. 

This Scene Is A Waste of Time

This doesn’t tell the audience anything. It contradicts what was previously established concerning her powers without explanation and then just throws the creepy girl voice in there for a lazy hook. It doesn’t work at foreshadowing since we repeat this info all over again in the next episode and it doesn’t expand upon neither Zhan Tiri’s nor Cassandra’s characters.

 In fact it kind of contradicts Cassandra’s characterization in the last episode as well. Is she a remorseless bad bitch or a vulnerable woobie? She can’t be both. Not in the way show is going about it anyways. 

It’s poor time management and poor storytelling. 

Conclusion

It was mildly better than Rapunzel’s Return, but that’s not saying much. Everyone’s character is still circling the drain and there’s no escape line in sight. 

But before I close out, here is a real world update. I had to quit my job at Amazon for personal reasons and am currently job hunting. I’m not hurting right now, I do have money saved up to cover me for at least a month and I’ve been doing commissions here and there, however despite having more time technically to write these reviews, I’m now having to juggle it along with artwork and job hunting. 

If you would like to support my reviews and other personal projects you can send me a tip over at Ko-Fi and more public commissions will be opening soon over there as well.  

https://ko-fi.com/rachelbethhines

#eugene #anti-rapunzel #anti-tangled #tangled #tangled the series #rapunzel's tangled adventure

[makbarnes]

A/B/O Bucky

“All I am asking is for you to stay with me in the lab today little sister, Don’t you remember the great times we used to have down in my lab at all hours of the night. You always eating cookie dough by the tub.” Tony pulled out a big spoon with a tub of chocolate chip cookie dough and you chewed her lip in excitement. Tony for some reason wanted to keep you in his sight at all times today. You brushed it off as you ripped the lid off of the container and watched Tony work. Omega Siblings were rare but not unheard of. In fact some people would consider it to be a miracle that Stark had two Omegas with super human smarts then two Alphas with a taste for blood. Tony always protected you and since he had joined the Avengers, you had earned a strong Alpha brother in law, new friends and the safest place in the world to live. It helped that you got to save the world. Tony had come up with the Iron Man suit to secure his spot on the Avengers. You always saw him working on new equations with Banner or going off to Steve about how his experiment went wrong. You remembered the night Tony found out about your abilities. They became apparent when your first heat came on. Things flew all around your room and burst through the walls. Your life changed that night and from then on you was an Avenger. Tony and Steve helped train you and Natasha helped focus and not let an Alpha enemy take advantage of her in the field. You smiled reminiscing over memories of you and Tony side by side in the field.Taking down enemies and guarding each others back.

“{Y/N}?! Hello!?” Shaking your head you knocked herself out of the memories you saw  Tony holding his hands under her mother’s picture. “Reminsining again?” You shook your head in response and took another spoonful of dough into your mouth. Purring happily on top of Tony’s desk you watched him intently as he typed a new code into a screen and went over to run a simulation. As you adjusted your oversized tee around your neck and dug deep into the container for a chocolate vein that ran down into the middle. 

“I’m gonna go grab a soda.” Tony rushed over to the door and stood in front of you. 

“Why don’t I ask...uhm...Adam to get us some hmm?” Tony tapped the glass and you saw a scrawny suited agent go up the stairs. Huffing softly towards him you went back to the dough for another spoonful. 

“Tony?” You stabbed the spoon into the dough and walked over to his table. Tony’s eyes darted back and forth and you took in a deep sigh. “I need to know why you are keeping me down here.” Tony blew air past his lips and asked you to hand him a wrench. “Do not change the subject. You are usually all over Steve at this time, I can’t even leave the room? And when have you ever willingly given me a sugar rush?” Tony ran his fingers through his hair and leaned against his desk. “Fine. But you are staying away from him. Steve’s old friend Barnes is moving in tonight and I don’t want you near him. He killed our parents.” You rolled her eyes and threw up your hands.

“Ever wonder why I don’t have a mate?!” Tony shrugged his shoulder in reply as you growled loudly next to him. “You never let me. If I want to get knotted I'm damn well going to. This isn’t about who it is, its about me being an Omega and him being an Alpha. Mom was the same way, you got to go out with guys but no your sister has to stay home and learn how to do things around the house for her Alpha. Tony can go spend the night, Tony can go to the mall, Tony can do this. Even when I did get to do things, its Tony watch your sister, Tony keep her safe. Even now on missions, I’ve noticed it.I was very reluctant to move into this place. You let me have freedom and I didn’t think this was still an issue. I thought you saw me for the grown Omega I really am. Excuse me!” You rushed out of the room and up the stairs to your private room. Hearing Steve coming around the corner you quickly moved into a dark corner and waited, Ready to give Tony’s Alpha a piece of your mind. Seeing his shadow come across the floor you got into an attack position. Holding your breath you saw his broad shoulder come over the edge of the wall and threw your hand out to catch his shoulder but your throat was met with a metal hand clenched around it and your head made a dent in the concrete wall. Hearing a low dominant growl in your ear you felt a shiver go down your spine and felt your instinct take over. The smell of Peppermint, Cinnamon, Rose clouded your mind and you purred instinctively.  

“Buck! Put her down! That’s {Y/N}. She’s Tony’s sister and isn’t supposed to be here.” Steve shook Bucky’s shoulder but his eyes were connected to your own and you felt as if you were flying. Feeling your feet fill with pressure, You caught the wall and shyly smiled. You could feel Bucky’s stare as you froze in place. Peering your eyes up, you chewed her lip at the controlling look in his eyes. You felt Steve pick her up from the floor and you could soon feel Bucky’s hot breath on your face. 

“Omega.” His deep voice sent a heat between your legs and you pulled them together. 

“Alpha.” You flirted back while inhaling deeply and felt yourself melting at his scent.Your  knees felt weak and you could feel your breath getting caught in your throat. You felt the world stop and it was just you and Bucky. His crystal like eyes bore into your own and everything slowed. 

“Steve! I said keep him away!” Steve gripped Bucky’s arm and dragged Bucky away from your sight. You cleared your throat as Tony moved you towards your  room.. Feeling the rest of the world come back into view you could hear Tony’s complaining. 

“You stay here. I yelled at Steve to protect you and if he asks I’m blaming you!” Tony slammed your door and heard him punch in a keycode in locking the door from anyone but him. 

“You can’t keep me locked away like some princess who needs rescuing!” You sighed as you flopped back onto the bed and thought about Bucky’s scent that was stuck in your nose.Keeping yourself busy Your mind kept thinking about how ripped Bucky was under the black tank top he had stretched over his muscles. You felt his scent leaving your memory and quickly hit out a little hole you had in the wall behind your headboard. Taking out a small welding pen you sawed through the bolt that was holding the door to the wall and quietly caught it. Looking closely at the doorway you  noticed two similar dots and snickered under your breath. Tony was always so predictable. You hopped over the threshold and followed the way you remembered Steve pulling Bucky in. Tapping your watch you checked the main areas with F.R.I.D.A.Y.S cameras and smiled as you found Bucky curled over a pillow rocking back and forth next to Steve. You quickly checked your surroundings and made your way to the bottom floor lobby. You could smell Bucky’s scent from the end of the hallway and felt your eyes dilate as if it was instinct. You controlled a little metal decor square off of a back table and threw it down the hall for Steve to leave the room. As he heard the thump he motioned something to Bucky and left down the hall. You took your chance and quickly moved into the room and jumped over the back of the couch to sit next to Bucky. Sniffing near him your felt your eyes roll into your head and bit your lip hard. Bucky didn’t move but you could tell he was holding himself back. 

“Hi.” You cleared your throat and watched his muscles relax a bit.

“Steve said you were Stark’s sister?” Bucky’s voice was breaking from how hard he was holding back his instinct. Your scent of Honey, Rose and Lemon clouded Bucky’s senses and he couldn’t help but growl softly towards you. 

“Does that matter?” You adjusted yourself closer to his neck and held your breath while your dark hair flowed over his shoulders. Bucky’s metal arm reverberated as he clutched the pillow. 

“I killed your parents. Tony would kill me. I can’t!”

“Yes you can.” You moved closer to Bucky and saw his jaw clench. 

“I don’t want to hurt you.” 

“You won’t…I promise.” You pulled his face to look at you. Moving his hair out of his face you smiled brightly and slowly moved the pillow away from his arms. 

“We share a scent…” Bucky pulled you closer to him as his eyes flicked to black. You moved until your lips were just inches apart. Watching his sight flick between your lips and eyes you sucked in your bottom lip and grinned. 

“Do you want to kiss me, Bucky?” You held his shoulders with your hands and felt his arms come around your hips. His flesh hand came up to cup your face and you leaned into his palm. He pulled your lips against his own and it felt like a fire had been lit in your soul. An immediate feeling of comfort and destiny filled you internally. You twisted your lips to catch a breath before returning. Adjusting your hips to rest on his lap 

“{Y/N}? Get out of here!” You gasped as Steve stood near you with crossed arms and rolled your eyes.  

“To the lab!” Tony clicked a button and the window closed on her wall. She changed her clothes quickly to get rid of any of Bucky’s scent on her and hurried down to the lab. Rubbing her eyes to make them look irritated and tired as if she had just woken up. Throwing her long hair in a bun she messed it up a bit as the door opened and she cleared her throat. 

Yawning as she entered the lab she stretched through the doorway to an obviously up-duped Tony. Steve adjusted his stance while she made her play and yawned in front of Tony as she took a seat. 

“What’s up bro? Need a smart brain to help you?” You avoided eye contact with Tony as she saw Steve come behind her. Tony snapped his fingers and she made eye contact with him. 

“I know that little stunt was to piss me off but you seriously have Barnes messed up. He can’t have such a strong Omega near him right now and We knew you could set him off.” Steve moved around the chair she was sitting and grabbed her brother's shoulders.

“Well that’s bullshit because I overheard you referring to Natasha training him tomorrow. So nice try. I’m guessing that you ran my biology with his own and tested how we would affect each other. Then you developed a plan to keep me down here and Steve stay with his “Best Friend”. Well Tony should have thought about bringing down some drinks beforehand or something or not forgetting that usually since Tony was born nine minutes before me I'm the youngest which also means I get what I want.” Makayla crossed her arms and turned away from them while smirking under her breath. She heard Tony growl with a quick reply from Steve, and felt the room's mood change and felt unsafe. 

“You two are mad I get it. Look I will stay away the best I can but he is going to have to deal with it because I live here too.” Tony nodded in agreement as she stomped away from the lab. Pouting her lips together and tapping her foot while she waited for the elevator. Scratching her head she felt her heart sink as the elevator doors opened and a shirtless Bucky with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders was revealed. She quickly checked behind her and moved in beside him. As the doors closed she heard his breath get heavy and his metal arm adjusted again. 

“Look, Tony said I have to stay away from you. I will do my best for a bit but I live here too and you aren’t about to change that.” She smirked his direction and suddenly felt herself pinned against the elevator wall. “F.R.I.D.A.Y. stop the elevator, cut the surveillance, Order by 32895.” She adjusted her breathing and chuckled down at him. 

“I don’t want you to stay away from me.” Bucky brushed his nose by her scent gland and she shivered against his hot skin. 

“I can’t hurt Tony like this. Bucky we are going to have to learn to deal with each other. You are intoxicating to me and I want to say yes...yes so fucking bad.” She cleared her throat as Bucky brought her feet to the ground and hovered over her face. His hair shielded most of the light from the lights and it was like the two were in a different world. She touched his stubble and he leaned into her touch. He nudged his nose along her neck and felt her knees buckle against him as his heavy breath hit her neck. She leaned her head over to open her neck to him wider as he buried his nose into her scent. “I want you.” Bucky clutched her tighter as F.R.I.D.A.Y alerted her to an elevator request from the Lab. She chewed her lip as she quickly hatched a plan. 

“Steve is going to check on you again, more than likely. I can send an alert to your room when the coast is clear and take my watch in your pocket, I can guide you to my room.” Gripping his face and whining into his hair, Bucky slowly released her as the elevator quickly shot up to the rooms and the two departed ways. Going to her room she quickly tossed some clothes away and made her bed. Grabbing her phone she setup a playlist over the speakers and kept it on pause. Checking her stock of contraceptives she shot yourself with a special contraceptive Tony had invented and winced at the pain of the needle.She relaxed back as she carefully watched the time pass by slowly. Sending a quick message through her watch she couldn’t help but worry if Bucky received it. 

(In Bucky’s room)

“Bucky you understand why you can’t engage her in any way. Tony will kill you” Bucky huffed as Steve explained the struggles.

“Why the fuck should he care. He’s already bonded. What, I can’t be happy?!” Steve sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck. 

“Buck you know it’s not that. {Y/N}, she’s not for you. You can’t handle her like the Omegas in the past.” Bucky pushed Steve away and growled. 

“Those Omegas were bitches compared to what I sensed in the few shorts seconds I had.” Bucky felt his pupils dilate and he slammed his fist into a wall.  Steve growled towards him as a warning to calm down and he slammed himself against the bed. Steve smelled the gust of air that Bucky’s body had pushed towards him and he sighed in disappointment. 

“Where did you see her?” Bucky ignored the questioning Steve as he felt her small watch in his pocket start vibrating. He covered it with his hand and avoided looking at Steve. “Buck? Come on.” Steve leaned over him and heard a small beeping sound. “Bucky, you realize I hear that right?” Bucky shrugged his shoulders and Steve took matters into his own hands. Pushing Bucky’s hand out of his pocket when he saw her small watch band fall out of his closed hand. Steve ripped it away from him and asked for F.R.I.D.A.Y to call Tony to Bucky’s room. 

“You two are treating us like horny teenagers and I’m sick of it! {Y/N} is a consenting adult. I am a consenting adult. You two need to keep your dirty noses out of it.” Steve ignored Bucky’s comments and waited for Tony to knock at the door. 

While her watch had been discovered she had changed into a bright red silk robe with a black lace bodysuit. Chewing her lip she hit her phone and sent an alert to her watch. She unlocked her door and signed into the cameras facing next to her room. She adjusted herself in her hanging chair and watched Natasha, Thor, Sam and Wanda go into their rooms. She noticed Tony coming out of Bucky’s room. ‘Great he got yelled at too. Thanks for the ramming tonight then brother.’ She adjusted her hair while she watched the time speed by, she had yet to see Bucky come out of his room and wondered if Tony was really that scary. Sending another alert to her watch she pouted as there was no movement in the cameras. Everyone had gone to sleep it seemed and you were raging mad at Bucky. Was he ignoring your calls? Did something happen? Was he just trying to rut with me?  All of these thoughts clouded her mind until she cried herself into slumber. She doesn’t know what possessed her to cry, she just felt empty.

Let me know what you think and I can definitely post more.

#Bucky Barnes #alpha bucky #protective brother

[dearcat1]

Guardian Tsu and his sky Xan?

This is somehow far longer than I was expecting... I was trying to do something different than the multichap that I have plotted hahaha hope you like it.

Story:

No matter  what other people think, Xanxus is a Sky. Despite their willful ignorance, he's actually the Sky with the most experience with Clouds. After all, if they're to be mafia one way or the other, the Varia tends to be the more palatable option. Xanxus has no interest in parading them around like show ponies, no need to leash them to his castle. As long as they take the required number of missions and complete them, Xanxus gives zero shits about the rest. 

Which means that when they're aware of the option and it's given to them, most Clouds flock to him. Not that any of the old men would ever recognize that little fact. It also means, however, that ten years later, when he finally sees Sawada again, he sees it. Xanxus was set to dislike him, had decided in his mind already but once he notices it, there's no ignoring the fact and Xanxus can't stop watching.

Reborn thinks his student is a cloudy Sky, possessive and territorial but nothing that can't be overcome with a little conditioning, a little pushing. Xanxus takes one long look at Sawada reigning his temper in and he realizes that's not the case at all. That's a Cloud, with a damn powerful Sky secondary. It's not until later, however, when Xanxus witnesses Sawada losing his temper for a fraction of a second  that he understands.

First, Sawada is the most powerful, most in control Cloud that Xanxus has ever seen. Second, Reborn and Timoteo are buffoons. What do they know about Clouds anyway? They've been trampling over Sawada's instincts for years, attempting to curve his tendencies instead of working with who he is. They have given Sawada no time to rest, to collect himself. He has no territory, no sense of belonging because of that. Third, Xanxus could sit back and enjoy the explosions. No matter how calm Sawada is, everybody has a breaking point. 

And yet… Fourth, Xanxus wants him. It had only been a moment, certainly not enough time for much other than to see Sawada's Flames briefly lash out from under his skin but it had been enough. But it had been more than enough. Xanxus is picky, he wants only the best of the best and Sawada is the best Cloud in the mafia. 

He starts small. Where all the other Skies in Vongola impose themselves on Sawada with casual disregard, Xanxus makes a point of respecting his cues. When it looks like Sawada is about done with people, Xanxus covers for him. If it's only the two of them in the meeting, he waves Sawada away, tells him to come back when he feels like it. When it's with their old men, he provides a distraction just long enough for Sawada to collect himself. 

Soon enough, Xanxus becomes the one Sky in Vongola who can guarantee Sawada will show up to their meetings instead of sending Gokudera or the baby swordsman to replace him. 

One morning, Xanxus wakes up to Vongola as a collective losing their fucking minds. Sawada is, apparently, missing. Unlike Timoteo, Xanxus doesn't worry. The little Cloud will come back when he feels like it and not a moment before that, Hyper Intuition will see to it. Vongola begins search parties. Xanxus finishes dressing and strides into his office. When he finds Sawada sprawled on his couch, napping with a manga on his hand, Xanxus doesn't react.

All he does is sit down and tackle the paperwork.

Sawada wakes up some time later but loses interest in his book after a while, watching Xanxus silently. It's predatory, almost considering. Xanxus keeps working. Sawada stretches with a hum, slow and lazy. "What are you doing?"

"Courting you."

"Hmm," Sawada takes that in, nods once and turns back to his book. 

The Cloud disappears for ten days,  there one moment and gone the next. Xanxus sits back and watches the chaos, secure in the knowledge that Timoteo will simply assume Xanxus is sadistically pleased. He ignores the sad disappointed looks and continues on with his life. If you want a Cloud to stick around, Xanxus knows, you better store away the leash.

Sure enough, the night of the tenth day, Sawada shows up once more in the Iron Fort, shoes covered in mud, a streak of it on his cheek. But he looks calmer, more settled in a way that makes Xanxus's lips twitch up and the brat's tutor stop. Sawada endures his guardians fuzzing with grace, pretends to listen to Timoteo's scolding about responsibilities and duties. Xanxus buys him boots and gives them to him during the next meeting.

When Sawada takes them from him, he blinks, "uh. Thank you." But he puts them on right there, looking pleased with the way they fit. "They're nice."

Good, the sooner Sawada forms his territory and settles, the sooner Xanxus can actually make strides in his courtship. He makes no mention of just how much those boots cost. He just ruffles Sawada's hair, "good. Lets get back to business."

It becomes something of a routine. Sawada disappears for a day or two, always coming back a little muddy but happy. Timoteo hates it, his guardians try to tag along, Reborn is at a loss on how to curve it and Xanxus covers for him, encourages it. Whether Sawada disappears to unknown places with no warning or does it after a nap on Xanxus's couch, Xanxus buys him time and offers him a calmer welcome when Sawada finally turns away from his usual committee.

Xanxus still twitches in place when he finally realizes where exactly Sawada is creating his territory. That little shit. He strides to the very edges of the land behind his castle, carefully stopping right at the start of the lush forest-like garden and waits. But there's no answer, no acceptance or rejection. So Xanxus steps in, careful to step only on grass. It takes him almost two hours but he does find Sawada, laid on a branch of a tree. 

How big is this thing? Xanxus crosses his arms and arches a brow, "really now?"

Sawada opens one eye, smug and mischievous. "Do you like it?"

"Very relaxing," Xanxus nods. Slowly, he lays on the grass, under the shade of the tree. Sawada doesn't react, watching him silently. 

The next time Xanxus shows up at Sawada's territory, he brings along a box full of seeds. He says nothing when he gives it up. Sawada takes it from him with a delighted little hum, disappearing between the trees. Xanxus watches him go and doesn't follow. It becomes something of a tradition, Sawada will disappear every now and then and Xanxus will go back to his castle, find another variety of seeds and walk to the edge of Sawada's territory with his offering.

It's a learning curve, slow and steady. Xanxus learns just how far in he can get without an explicit welcome, where to wait for Sawada to come greet him and even how far in Sawada will allow the rest of his elements. Which had been a bit of a touch and go thing, Xanxus had never seen Sawada as angry as the moment Belphegor had carelessly stabbed one of the trees. On the bright side, the prince now has a healthy fear of Sawada. On the other hand, however, it had taken Xanxus almost half a year to get to the point where he was trusted enough to bring somebody else. 

Which is why he's so relieved when he walks in, Squalo a step behind him and Sawada doesn't come to fend them off. If he ended up being back to square one, Xanxus would have put the damn Storm back in the medical wing himself. 

"Voi," Squalo murmurs, looking around, "this place is a fucking forest."

That much is true. The plot is big enough for it and Sawada has taken advantage. Between the space and Sawada's apparent green thumb and random planting, the land has lost any sort of connection it had to a garden to become a forest instead. Full with life, wild animals included. And yet, not a human soul but them and Sawada himself. If that doesn't speak of Sawada's preferences, Xanxus doesn't know what will. Even Hibari's territory, for all of his short patience, is full of 'herbivores' to herd. 

Xanxus guides them to the clearing and settles down under the tree for a nap. Sawada will either show up or he won't. At this point, all they have to do is wait. 

When he wakes up, hours later, it's to the rhythmic sounds of Squalo cleaning his blade. He opens his eyes to find Sawada watching curiously from where he's laying on top of a branch. Xanxus watches him instead. Sawada turns to look at him and Xanxus hums, stretching an arm up with the box. Sawada jumps down, sitting cross-legged  beside Xanxus as he takes the box.

"What's this?"

Yawning, Xanxus turns on his side, "signal yammer. You can leave your phone in that." So that you don't have to keep smashing them when you disappear, Xanxus doesn't say.

Sawada perks up, touching the engravings on the metallic surface. It's handmade, Xanxus made it himself. "Come on," Sawada pulls on Xanxus's sleeve. 

It's not unheard of but it's definitely strange for Sawada to invite Xanxus deeper into his territory without Xanxus himself asking. And doing so while leaving Squalo unattended on his territory is a very big sign of trust. So Xanxus stands, letting Sawada guide him around by the sleeve of his coat. They go deeper than Xanxus has ever been, Sawada letting him stop and stare every now and then. There are streams running through the ground, a small lake, a cave system. "How big is this?"

"Big enough," Sawada shrugs, happy and still full of mischief. "It took you forever to figure it out."

Xanxus snorts, "yeah? But then it wouldn't have been ready when I came."

That makes Sawada stop, like the thought hadn't occurred to him, and then pout. "It was ready, though."

"Hmm," Xanxus takes the place in. It's a small house, carved inside the cave system with tools and flame. Nothing too luxurious  but impressive all the same. They're inside of what seems to be the bedroom, there's a small dresser, some shelves with some assorted random objects, one of them dedicated only to Xanxus's gifts. The rest of the bedroom is just a giant bed. Pillows and blankets on the ground, enough that it's impossible to see the stone underneath, all in a soft colorful chaos, small led lights hanging on the ceiling like a messy spider's web.

All in all, very cozy. 

Sawada is looking at him, shy and expectant. So Xanxus walks closer, ruffles his hair. "It's nice," and Xanxus hope's he's not misunderstanding. "Your bedroom?"

"Yup," Sawada puts his hands on Xanxus's pockets, walking backwards and then letting them fall. He's caging himself between Xanxus's body and the pillows, "ok."

"Ok?" Xanxus's breath hitches. No matter Iemitsu's despairing remarks or Timoteo's gentle condescending suggestions, Xanxus is a Sky. He's greedier than most. His elements are his and Xanxus will have them in every way he can have them. 

"Uh hu," Sawada presses closer, forehead against Xanxus's shoulder.

Xanxus lets him, shrugging his coat off and maneuvering it onto Sawada's shoulders. "Next time," he promises, kissing the crown of Sawada's head, "next time, I'll have you. Next time, I'll be ready. How do you like your breakfast?"

His Cloud makes a tiny sound of surprise, turning them around even as he slips his arms on the sleeves of Xanxus's coat. It's too big on him. He presses Xanxus down, moving blankets and pillows around them until he's happy they're both comfortable and warm. Xanxus lets him use his chest as a mattress, hand rubbing gently on his back. "I don't have a kitchen," Sawada offers.

"I'll figure it out," Xanxus reassures.

#fanfiction #khr #xanxus #katekyo hitman reborn #sawada tsunayoshi #ask #lady-hallowtide #wilful blindness

[imagine-loki]

Between pages

TITLE: Between pages

CHAPTER NO./ONE-SHOT: One-shot

AUTHOR: fanfictrashdump

ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine Loki always carries a book. Not because he’s reading 24/7, but because he likes tucking flowers from the bouquets you make and leave in the shared kitchen in between the pages. 

RATING: T

NOTES/WARNINGS: There is fluff in my soul and I will not apologize for it. Language, extreme awkwardness, and unlikely friendships ahead. Let Loki be soft 2020.

=

Loki, God of Mischief, Prince of Asgard, Rightful King of Jotunheim, Odinson was a master sorcerer. His talent was unmatched in the Universe, and he was capable of feats that were previously unheard of in all the Nine Realms. He could defy the laws of physics, of imagination. He could bend the very fabric of the Universe and arrive at a different planet with merely a step in any direction. He was awe-inspiring and nightmare-inducing in equal measure.

So, how in the fucking hell did some silly flowers become his ruin?

Groaning pathetically against the plumpness of his down-filled pillow, he contemplated escaping the Tower. He had run away from more dangerous places before. Surely, walking out of Stark’s prized building would be little more than child’s play to a sorcerer of his caliber. However, any time he reminded himself that he was, indeed, a sorcerer the wound on his ego would split and bleed fresh, once more.

It would have been so easy to explain away. There was a reason they called him the Silvertongue, but he just stood there. Like a moron. He just… he just handed it over, and now…

He groaned again, teeth bared in a half-snarl as the memories flooded his mind.

There were few things in this little, mortal trash heap of a world that intrigued Loki. The supersoldiers held his interest for a moment or two, until he had all but uncovered the secrets of their endurance and had promptly become bored. The spies were fun to watch, if only to watch Barton squirm under his intense gaze, thinking he had another plot to put him under mind control. Banner was… well, he didn’t mess with Banner. Or Stark, for that matter. They were on an unspoken truce upon which his very survival was pinned. After all, Loki was nothing if not self-serving in his quest for continued breathing.

Then, there was the mutant; the plant witch.

The five-foot-nothing little imp who he could not seem to put the fear of god in, no matter how much he tried. The mortal had talked back, disobeyed direct orders on the field, sassed, hugged, and blackmailed him over a hobby in the course of less than a year. Loki would be impressed at her ruthlessness of character if he wasn’t utterly annoyed at her existence.

Well, that, and the fact that he couldn’t, for the life of him, figure out how her powers worked.

And that was the source of his current anguish.

Lily, the little mutant, had a predictable daily routine. She would wake up with the sun, make breakfast for the whole team, go to the gym and be back in time for the meal. Once she set the table, she would always conjure a handful of flowers in the vase in the middle of the table. It was never the same arrangement, twice, and it was never the type of arrangement the mortals would overpay for at the local flower shops. Wild variations of popular flowers, bits of flowering tree branches, weeds–wildflowers of all types that brought in butterflies from the open balcony windows and delighted all.

At first, he thought she simply picked them outside and coaxed them into bloom. It wasn’t until one morning, when he had been up uncharacteristically early that he had been proven wrong. He watched her kneel on a chair at the table, hands held aloft around the vase before every vein visible pumped a fluorescently-bright green. Like seedlings, the flowers grew from tiny roots until they overflowed from the jug. Loki had walked over, almost reflexively, watching how the petals bent under his fingers and how the cool stems still felt like they were thrumming with life as if freshly picked.

Fascinating.

Loki, while talented in his own right, had never been able to conjure a flower that looked so much like a flower. They usually looked too perfect, almost artificial–like a painting of a flower brought to life. He plucked a bud and tucked it between the pages of the book he had been reading (ironically, it had been Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman). He decided that he would study this specific specimen and figure out her secret. Surely, it would be easy to conquer the skill that a mortal wielded.

He had been horrendously wrong.

That first failed attempt at replicating her craftsmanship prompted him to grab a few more samples, the next day. And the next. And the one after that, too. After a while, he had all but given up on learning how to conjure these life-like flowers, with their slightly irregular patterns and charming blemishes. But the habit had stuck and he still collected them.

Every morning, like clockwork, he would go to the kitchen for a glass of water, pull a bloom and press it between Whitman’s promises to return to his beloved dirt. The team had started making jokes about his current inability to put down the poems book, everywhere he went. They wrongly assumed that he was simply enamored by the mortal’s views of humanity or that he was learning what being human really meant. In reality, all Loki was doing was carrying the vessel for his preservation and lying in wait for the opportunity to be all on his own to snatch another souvenir.

He’d be loathe to admit that his theft was now out of pure admiration. Flowers were always his mother’s thing and he never really cared much for gardening, but he could appreciate the intricacies of every subtly veined petal and rough leaf. His fingers often ran the length of the stems and leaves, gathering the light coat of dew that glistened on the greenery, smiling to himself all the while. He supposed he had never found the need to conjure a flower or anything of the sort meant to be a soft gift–it wasn’t really his style–but the fact only made him all the more awestruck.

“You like today’s bouquet, Lokes?”

He nodded, a little distracted, having just pressed the most perfect daisy, with a little notch in one of the petals into the book. The small, leather-bound tome rested beside him on the table, golden lettering catching Lily’s eye.

“Oh my gosh, I love Leaves of Grass,” she exclaimed, and Loki had mindlessly handed her the book for her to peruse before he even had the good sense to panic. “I know. Surprise, surprise, plant babe likes plant-themed title of book, but I truly loved it when I read it in high school. It’s sad, but a good type of sad, if that… makes… sense…”

It was her trailing voice that had made Loki blink away from the flowers. Green eyes trailed from the vase, to his empty floating hand, to the table. His book was no longer there… and he was the reason for that. When his shocked gaze flickered up to hers, he found her dainty fingers trailing over a perfectly dried dandelion that Loki had chosen because it had a singular freckle amidst a canvas of soft yellow.

Loki had disappeared before she even looked away from the keepsake.

“Maybe I should just take my chances in the dungeons. I’m sure Father dearest would rather see me in a cell,” he moaned petulantly before he stiffened.

There was energy crackling in the air, making it smell like ozone and magic. Loki sat up in bed, retrieving a dagger from under his pillow and noiselessly stepping onto the carpeted floor. Beneath his feet, the carpet felt odd. With a frown, he glanced down, finding the floor covered in green and yellow–a blanket of buttercups. By the door, Lily smiled shyly, her body slumping slightly against the wall as the green faded away from her veins.

“You’ve overtired yourself,” he remarked, drily, ignoring the fact that his cheeks burned in a way that told him that he was flushed crimson. His feet shuffled beneath him, grounding him to reality and allowing him to resist the urge to bend down and run his fingers through the blooms.

She shrugged. “I’ll feel better after breakfast.” There was a tense silence between them for several more seconds. Lily held the book out in her hand, but Loki hesitated crossing the landscape to retrieve it. “You always pick the iffy ones.”

His brow pinched in with confusion. “What?”

“The flowers. You always pick the ones that aren’t perfect. Spots, notches, missing petals or stamens–”

“It makes them real,” he interrupted. “The flaws make them real. Machines can make flawless flowers.”

“I agree. I just… didn’t peg you for the type who could appreciate that, y'know?” Lily sighed, trying to suppress a grin. “Then again, I didn’t peg you for the type who pressed flowers, either.”

Loki glanced at his feet with a frown. “Everyone likes flowers,” he muttered under his breath, just shy of defensive. He managed to will his feet forward, relieving her still reaching hand of the book without glancing at her.

He swore that he hadn’t been this pathetic before he moved to Midgard.

Lily cleared her throat awkwardly, tipping a golden flower back with the toe of her trainer. “Would it be OK if I brought some flowers for your room, every once in while?” She gave him a hesitant smile before adding, “I-I need the practice,” in a rush.

“Don’t you think the others would be more deserving of them?” Loki hated the fact that he sounded somewhat bitter.

She giggled under her breath. “The others won’t really appreciate them, will they?” Before he could offer a witty retort to try and dispel the awkwardness he felt, Lily had grasped his wrist and tugged him along out the door. “Come on, we’re late for breakfast,” she remarked, conversation already forgotten.

#Loki #Others #Submitted one shot #submission #between pages #Fanfictrashdump

[maryroyale]

The lovely @curiouselfqueen tagged me on this one. (Thank you! I love these things.)

Uh. I have *feelings* about these? I have no idea why I feel so strongly, but... uh... there you go.

deep violet or blood red? Both? Not at the same time, but I love both. Purple and red are both power colors, but they convey very different things. Old ladies are allowed to wear both because they have the power to pull it off.

sunshine or moonlight? Oof. My default answer is moonlight? Some of the medication I’m on makes my eyes super-sensitive to sunlight. I’m like a damn vampire. Even on cloudy days I need sunglasses. I like seeing the sunlight through the trees when I’m in the woods? It’s pretty and far less painful.

Don’t get me wrong—I do love the moonlight. It’s so beautiful. Winter moonlight and summer moonlight are gorgeous.

80s music or 90s music? How dare you! Don’t speak to me or my 874 music genres ever again. Seriously though, I really love music. I listen to a wide variety of genres and some artists span decades. I love new wave and synthpop, but I also love pop punk and the swing revival. I can’t say one decade is better than the other.

orchids or dahlias? I like to garden, and from a gardening standpoint it’s dahlias all the way. Orchids are a wildly diverse species (over 25,000 types), but the pretty, delicate orchids they sell in stores are not hardy and require a lot of intensive, specific support. They’ll die if you plant them outside where I live. And the garden outside is what makes me happy and brings me joy.

garnet or ruby? These are such different stones. It’s almost like asking if I like chocolate milk or cola. Yes, they are both brown and you can drink them—but they’re really not similar.

Garnet— it’s semi-precious, plentiful, in use since antiquity. A decent go-to stone for jewelry. Like any gemstone, the color is determined by the type of impurities, so garnet can be almost any color. Blue garnets are the rarest. The Mohs scale for garnet depends on those same impurities because some can actually strengthen the hardness of the stone. Generally 6 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale.

I like garnets. Depending on the talent of the jeweler you can get lovely pieces set in silver that won’t cost an arm, a leg, and your soul. It was also my mother’s birthstone, so there’s that.

Ruby— Occasionally confused with spinels, rubies are pieces of corundum that contain the impurity chromium. Corundum that contains the impurities iron, titanium, vanadium, or magnesium are usually blue and referred to as sapphires. (Pink sapphires are actually poor quality rubies that the jewelry industry decided to rebrand to dupe the public. Similar to “chocolate diamonds” and other attempts to sell gems that don’t meet the criteria for their type.)

Corundum is a 9 on the Mohs scale. They highly sought after, have a rich mythos surrounding them, and feature prominently in history.

It seems like a lot of hype to me? They’re sturdy pieces of jewelry, not prone to breakage, but they ought to be for the price you pay. They’re pretty, I’ll grant you that.

moths or butterflies? Well, one is nocturnal and one is diurnal. One is fuzzy and stocky and one is smooth and slender. One is drab and one is brightly colored. I feel like I should picks moths on principle. I love Luna Moths. But butterflies are so very, very pretty. Moths I guess?

Aphrodite or Athena? Okay... so, um, here’s where it’s going to get heated. I apologize. I am *specifically* addressing how Athena and Aphrodite were worshipped/treated in Greek myths. I’m not looking at proto versions from Minoa, Mycenae, or Phoenicia. I’m also not looking at later syncretizations with other cultures e.g. Rome. It is the Greek myths that matter here because those are the myths and attitudes that were directly incorporated into Western culture. We’ve learned a lot about their origins, but *those* myths and attitudes were *not* incorporated into mainstream Western culture.

Athena was either born from Zeus’ head or his thigh. Either she has no mother—Zeus is her only parent—or Zeus swallowed her mother Metis (wisdom, prudence, counsel). This is critically important. In Athenian law, the father was the only legal parent. Mothers had no legal rights to their children at all. Athena is a very real symbol of that.

She is often portrayed as the goddess of wisdom, handicraft, and war. She is a goddess of industry (wine and olive oil). The thing we must ask is what kind of wisdom? What kind of war?

Plato argues this in Cratylus— that Athena’s wisdom could be a number of things from divine knowledge to moral intelligence. I think it’s important that Plato, one of Greece’s most celebrated philosophers, and more important one of the philosophers most embraced by Western Culture praised this choice of “moral intelligence.” [see Plato’s stance on poets in The Republic.]

Athena’s war is not the war of Ares, which is tied to passion and emotion. Ares represents the brutal aspects of war where humanity gives way to cruelty and inhumanity. Athena’s warfare is rational and “just.” Athena makes war on behalf of the city-state. Athena makes war to defend the government.

Athena’s purpose in myth and in poetry and song is to support the government. She is the shield of the king. She upholds and enforces the status quo. Look at her role in the Orestes trilogy. She supplants the Erinyes [the furies originally hunted and tormented ppl who committed matricide]. She decides that Iphigenia’s murder didn’t matter. Clytemnestra (Iphigenia’s mother) didn’t have the right to revenge for her daughter. Orestes was *justified* in murdering his mother because she killed his parent, his father.

Aphrodite also has a motherless birth, but it’s more incidental and spontaneous. Kronos cuts off his father Uranus’ genitals ( like you do ) and tosses them into the sea. Aphrodite is born from the sea foam. There’s a different feel to Aphrodite’s myth. An independence almost. Yes, a male god was involved because it’s a Greek requirement for any child, but it’s in such an incidental way. There was no purpose or intent on Uranus’ part. He had no control over her birth.

Aphrodite is an incredibly independent goddess. She owns her own sexuality and has autonomy over her own body. She is often referred to as the wife of Hephaestus, but in both the Iliad and Hesiod’s Theogony, Hephaestus has wives with different names and Aphrodite is unmarried.

A goddess with this kind of freedom and power in her own right—not tied to a husband or male family member (sorry Artemis!)— is almost unheard of. It makes Aphrodite unique and interesting.

TLDR: I prefer Aphrodite.

grapefruit or pomegranate? Pomegranate. For so many reasons, not the least of which is it’s associations with death and fertility. It’s a lovely contrast and a reminder that death brings forth life e.g. Nurse logs.

angel’s halo or devil’s horns? Oof. This is another rant, guys. Horns as a symbol of divine power are used throughout history and throughout the Indo-European culture. From Egyptian gods like Amun and Isis to Hindu gods like Śiva to Canaanite gods like El and Yahweh, horns have been used to show their power and might. Moses has most famously been depicted with horns due to murky/difficult translations of the Hebrew verb keren/qaran, which can mean BOTH “to send forth beams/rays” and “to be horned”.

There was a concerted effort to associate horns with the devil/evil/bad. Horns are also used to imply fertility/abundance, and that may have played into the perception of horns as devilish. Moses with horns was used as a jumping off point to demonize Jewish people during the Medieval period in a variety of European countries and cultures.

Halos, too, have been used across history and cultures as a symbol of divine power. Sumerian literature talks about a bright emanation that appears around gods and heroes. Chinese and Japanese Buddhist art shows Buddhist saints with halos.

I choose horns because I choose to reclaim that divine power. I reject the idea that either symbol is wholly good or wholly evil. I reject the idea that sexuality by itself is evil/wrong.

sirens or banshees? Both!!! I must admit a partiality to Sirens that is based wholly on my preference for the sea/ocean.

lorde or florence + the machine? Both!!! I love both groups and I’ve listened to their albums so many times. I will admit that I end up listening to Lorde more often when writing.

the birth of venus or the starry night? Huh. I’m going to assume that you mean the painting by Boticelli, even though there’s more than one Birth of Venus.

Honestly, Venus Anadyomene (Venus rising from the sea) is my favorite. It’s her origin myth and anyone could paint it, draw it, write about it, and put their own spin on it. It is malleable because it is myth. It lives on and changes and grows with us. Boticelli’s version is particularly lovely.

Starry Night (1889) belongs to VanGogh. No one can really recreate it without copying his style or his vision. Verschuier’s The Great Comet of 1680 Over Rotterdam could never really be confused with Starry Night. Not even Munch’s Starry Night (1893) could be confused for VanGogh. The two paintings are wildly different in subject matter despite the fact that their subject is the night sky.

I doubt any modern painter would dare. O’Keefe called hers Starlight Night, and I can only guess that others would follow that naming pattern of not quite using the title Starry Night.

Boy, I bet @curiouselfqueen is regretting tagging me now... sorry?

[concentratedbitterness]

The Partnership

Hell: Late Neolithic Period

They’re laughing at her.  This is the thought that echoes in the demon’s mind as she makes her way down the halls of Hell’s infamous Manufacturing Department.  She is somebody now–freshly promoted just over every other shitstain in the Pit, perhaps, but rank is rank all the same–and by all rights these dungeon trolls should be groveling at her feet as they do for the other procurement personnel.  Except that they do not fall to their knees, no, they slap them with laughter.  She cannot blame them.  They all know why she is here.

Nybbas has thrust her atop a burning hill of shit and bade her build a kingdom from the ashes while the flames still rage.  It is a fools’ errand, and one he means for her to fail.  Her superior has set her up only to take the fall for him.  Given the insurmountable task, that is precisely what the entire Monarchia expects will happen–Quotas missed, contracts lost, and someone’s head must inevitably go on the chopping block–but Mara refuses to accept her likely fate without a fight.  She always has felt some masochistic drive to find a silver lining, after all, and what sparkles through the coals is the large swath of Nybbas’ territory that she now, technically, controls.  Mismanaged and neglected for countless millennia, it is a veritable desert of overgrown crossroads and yet…perhaps, with enough hard work and a healthy dose of ingenuity, there is a sliver of a chance.  

But she cannot do it alone, she knows this.  To hold fast to even the faintest hope she requires a lieutenant; a partner to watch her back, guard her meager territory, and facilitate her contracts.  Given her circumstances, however, it is not a promising proposition–she has already been turned down by every capable soldier this side of the Pit.  Hence, she has ventured here, to the racks, vying for some freshly carved scrap of a damned soul that is ignorant enough of the ways of Hell to sign their own death warrant.  Most demons churned from the bowels of the Pit are quickly claimed for the legions of far more powerful commanders than she, but maybe she will stumble at last upon a stroke of luck.  She’s about due for some.

“You there,” She says to the first torturer in the row as she draws to a halt, gaze settling upon his blade as he draws it down the belly of some poor fuck on his rack.  “–Where do they keep the unclaimed?  I…”  Her words trail off, and suddenly Mara feels as small and lost as she must surely look.    

Not often someone gets lost around the racks. Technically, no one much comes down here unless they’re strung up. It truly is a terrible place to be. That’s the point of it, after all. To one who has survived the Pit, of course, it feels half like home, but demons are made to be most comfortable in discomfort.

The old demon is up to his sleeves in metaphysical blood when he hears the voice behind him. Not that he appears bothered; he finishes his slice, blade tinged in red. “Y’don’t want them,” he says, attention on his work. “They’re all paranoid.  Sadistic.  More like hellhounds than competent soldiers.” The thing on the rack splutters and pleas. The noise is interrupting his conversation, so he sinks his blade into its lungs. Now, all it does is hiss, and he turns to look at Mara.  “I’d know,” he adds. “I made them that way.”  

The younger demon nods, swallowing thickly.  She took her turn here years ago, just like the rest, forced to toil in the Pit after what remained of the human blight on her soul had been cut away.  A distant past, perhaps, but it is not something easily forgotten.  Leaving the racks behind had seemed a step up at the time, though servitude under Nybbas is not altogether incomparable.  She was not made to be a soldier or a torturer–not in the sense that this demon was.  Some were simply meant for sales.  Hell is nothing if not a grand machine, and every cog has their part to play.  

Her eyes settle not upon the poor, decrepit soul writhing in agony on the rack, but rather on the creature attached to the hand doling it out with such practiced ease that he almost seems bored.  He’s old.  Ancient, if the power wafting off of his true form is any indication–easily a relic from a time when Hell was not so crowded as it is now.  Most of the demons who are old enough to remember such times sit comfortably atop the hierarchy–leaders; respected and feared–and yet this one seems content to do the same dirty work as the fresh grunts.  “Beggars can’t be choosers.” Mara admits, and then his words play again in her mind.  

“–You made them that way?” The crossroads demon echoes absently, gaze shifting back to the thing wheezing and hissing on the rack.  There is not exactly a standard protocol where torture in Hell is concerned–suffering is suffering and each soul requires a unique touch to divest it of human weakness–but in the end the goal of the Manufacturing Department is to produce as many viable demons from the souls procured as possible.  “It seems a waste of raw material…”

And suddenly, something occurs to her.  A spark, but it is enough.

“…A waste of your talent.”  She looks up at the other demon–really looks at him–and she can see it as clearly as the discontentment written on a human soul come to call at the crossroads.  He may be overqualified tenfold, but he is directionless; passing time waiting for something that will never find him here in the wretched squalor of the Pit.  

It is as futile a notion as reaching for the stars, but she reminds herself that even if they remain firmly swirling through the Heavens one will get a nice view, a good stretch, and perhaps even a low-hanging apple for the effort.  “I…I have a proposition for you,” She ventures, a tiny smile pulling at the corner of her lips, “How do you feel about a challenge?”

He smirks, and Mara wonders if it’s not the first time someone so low in the hierarchy has dared so much as to speak to him, let alone offer him a proposition.  “A challenge?” he says, throwing her words back at her with a mocking note. “Ain’t that a little above your paygrade?”  

“Isn’t carving duty a little below yours?” Mara retorts without missing a beat.  In truth, he is not wrong.  It is practically unheard of for someone like her to have ever been promoted to command in the first place–she’s certain the other demon knows as well as she does that it is only a technical mantle, so that when the Monarchia rains down punishment for Nybbas’ failure he will have her to offer up as a scapegoat.  Still, rank is rank, and as long as she’s got a slippery grip on this rung there is still half a chance to hold fast…perhaps one day to climb.  Let go, and she will be lucky not to find herself strapped to one of these racks again.  It is nothing if not tremendous motivation to succeed.  

The old one rips the innards out of the thing on the racks, tosses them to the ground with a wet slap. The soul’s eyes go cold and blind and that’s his cue; he steps away.  After all, breaking things is easy. Taking things to the very brink of collapse and then pulling away right before they shattered…that required a little more finesse.  Task complete, he turns all of his attention to the demon in front of him now. “You’re Nybbas’s bitch, right?” No need to mince words down here. “I like your grit, but you don’t got anything to offer me.”

She takes a small step back as a tangle of entrails drops unceremoniously to the floor, blood and ichor splattering her toes.  The gore does not perturb her, but she will need to shed this host before venturing back to the sales floor lest Nybbas’ hounds catch the scent of fresh meat upon her.  It is of little consequence–the younger demon has never possessed one long enough to grow attached; that is a custom reserved for those who have achieved success.

“Best you not let Nybbas hear you call me that,” She warns, “–He will take the comparison as an insult to his dogs.”  This is not news to any demon who knows of her superior or his two ferocious hellhounds.  There is a flicker of defeat in her eyes when the older demon seems to turn her down, but there is too much riding on this chance and she wills it away quickly.  “That was not a ‘no’,” She points out hopefully, clearly not ready to give up.  “It is true, I haven’t much to offer.  Yet.  But I will.  If you help me, I will.  In the meantime, it costs you nothing to step away from this…” She waves a hand absently at the mutilated soul, “…The Damned will still be here.  How many eons have you stood tethered to these same racks; trying to find some new way to hack on these same tired souls?  If you pledge service to me I will have leave to take you Topside; to the mortal realm…to a territory that has not known what it is to fear a demon in over a thousand years.  Yours could be the face in their nightmares.  I won’t lie to you, the work will be long and grueling, but you are not afraid to get your hands dirty, are you?” Her gaze flicks to the bloodsoaked hands in question, “Take a chance on me, that is all I ask.  Let me show you what I can do.  You have nothing to lose if I fail, but if I succeed you have everything to gain.  We are not so different, you and I.  We have nowhere to go but up.”

“Topside, huh?”

Clearly, she has his attention. “Topside,” She confirms with a nod.  Short of a formal summons, the only way a Pit demon goes Topside is in the service of a salesman.

Mara can feel him sizing her up, deciding perhaps whether or not to devour her on the spot.  She has no doubt that he could.  He glances away, considers it for only a second, and then he finally says, casually, “Alright.  I’ll pledge five years Topside to you.  Then we’ll reconsider.”

Her eyes go wide when the old demon nonchalantly pledges five years to her.  He’s teasing me, she thinks at first, but then it becomes obvious that he’s serious and it is all she can do to stand there dumbly before him.  And then, before she even realizes it, she’s laughing.  Five years is not much, but for her conundrum it is ironically more than necessary.  “We only have three,” she tells him, any trace of amusement quickly fading.  

Three years to turn around a territory that has not been quota compliant for centuries.  The demon steps over the pile of entrails at her feet, poking a finger at the other demon’s chest as she peers up at him, “I make you this promise–It will not be easy; you are going to work harder than you have ever worked, we will struggle, we will not rest, and I don’t care if I have to suck every cock in the territory to do it, I am going to get the contracts I need…and in three years time you will stand by my side as I throw a sales report in Nybbas’ face that will make his head spin.  I will not fail, I swear it.  I won’t forget who helped me do it.  And you–” She doesn’t even know his name, “–You will not regret taking a chance on me.”  She rolls up onto her toes to press a chaste kiss to the old demon’s lips, sealing their business contract.  “Get your things.  We have so much work to do.”    

#[muse tag :: mara] #[file :: drabble] #[file :: headcanon] #[relationship tag :: lucius]

[nightingalefeminist]

Scars

Dean barely recognized himself. His body was twisted and wrecked, unrecognizable even from just a few years ago. Hell, even a year ago Dean’s knuckles weren’t so scared up he couldn’t flex his hand without feeling the knots between the bones. His bathroom mirror needed to be cleaned, it was smudged with toothpaste and flimy water but it reflected his new self perfectly well.

His face was surprisingly intact although if Bobby or Charlie saw him they might do a double take. There were small lines of white criss crossing his throat; rivers of muddy pinks, and whites, and browns. His left nostril never grew back quite right after being flayed open by a werewolf’s claw and his right eye didn’t open a hundred percent of the way anymore, but besides that there was only one other visible scar above his neckline. The piece de resistance. A puckered canyon that ran from his left ear all the way to the corner of his mouth. Cas always said it was a miracle the hell hound didn’t rip off his beautifully bowed lips.

Dean couldn’t help but smirk as he ran a thumb over the peaks in his upper lip. “Those lips and lashes of yours,” Cas said once, “they keep your face frustratingly dainty.” He’d been pissed at the time because Cas said it in front of Sam and Rowena but later, when they were lying in bed, Cas kissed his eyelids and lips so softly it made his ache. Even with the tenderness the angel’s hands were never afraid to grip and scratch his scarred skin when rough is what Dean craved.

Leaving the bathroom with a freshly washed face Dean padded back to his empty room and tried to psych himself up for getting undressed. Every year it got harder and harder to move in certain ways, one of them being lifting his arms over his head to take shirts off. His largest scar, a mass of gnarled white webbing that branched out from a disc of smooth hard skin, sat just beneath his right shoulder blade. It made it hard to lift that arm above his head without the feeling of skin unzipping. He had to bend over at the waist as much as he could, without falling over, to shimmy out of the shirt, which was also hard because there was a newer scar on his lower back that pinched when he did.

They never seemed to hurt in the moment, with claws and bullets and god only knows what else coming at you, the adrenaline took care of the pain, but afterward… Dean shuddered and finally slipped the shirt off. He fell with a whump onto the bed behind him. If Cas was with them on the case he would just heal them, but there was always times when they were away from each other for too long, like if guilt-ridden idiots were doing stints in purgatory or something, and angel mojo didn’t heal scars.

Dean rubbed the divot in his upper thigh through his jeans and winced when phantom pain shot through his groin. He was sure a scar couldn’t hurt after this much time had passed but every once in a while he get a flash of pain. His second biggest scar, from purgatory, which he got right before meeting Benny. A Leviathan had sliced a good chunk out of him, exposing the shiny muscle underneath. A few days later, when Benny saved him, he felt fine, but a few days after that and the vampire noticed Dean was lagging behind. When they opened the flap in his pants they saw a severely infected wound. So, with Dean biting down on a piece of tree bark, Benny cut away as much bad skin as he could before sewing everything shut using thread from their clothes and a needle made from a plant thorn. The parts that couldn’t be closed were wrapped in large fronds and secured as tightly as possible with stips of Dean’s flannel. He honestly didn’t know how that wound hadn’t killed him. He was delirious with a fever for days after the patch job and at time they had to sit for hours on end, Benny keeping watch, while Dean hallucinated Cas, mumbling his name over and over.

After a few months it finally started scarring over, having spent countless hours dressing and redressing it, peeling leaves and bark off sticky skin. The skin remained bright red for a long time and his inner thigh muscle dipped sharply inward. Like he needed more bow to his legs, which is what Benny said before taking the last dressing off. It had made Dean laugh so when Benny did what he did next he was at ease despite the surprise of it. Many times during the redressings, a few weeks after the initial wound of course, Dean became hard while Beny worked on him. For a vampire in purgatory his finger oddly gently and soft. By the end of each session all he’d wanted was for Benny to put his hands on him. He got his wish when Benny took the last dressing off, after making his joke about Dean’s legs, when his fingers probed the almost fully-healed wound and then continued to caress up his thigh until they hovered over his crotch. Benny hesitated there and looked Dean in the eyes, asking a silent question. Dean remembered being scared of his own arousal but sure he wanted the handsome vampire to do something about it. The pain in his thigh was nothing to the feel of Benny’s hands and mouth around him. But even in those moments his mind wouldn’t let go of Cas.

Dean stood again, not very easily, and undid his belt, dropping his pants to the floor and stepping out of them. At least that part was easy. He sat and looked down at that chunk of leg missing and marveled at how he was still alive, how Cas and him were able to reconcile afterward. When they found Cas and he confessed to fleeing Dean had been utterly hollowed out. In order to feel something, anything, again he turned to anger and the anger bloomed grotesquely into resentment. The reason he could no longer run as fast or move as swiftly, the reason he almost died, had willingly abandoned him. When Cas saw the scar for the first time, while Dean attempted to wash the tattered remains of his clothes, he was overcome with shame and tears poured from his eyes. An angel sobbing was unheard of, but Cas stood there in front of him with his face twisted up painfully and tears cascading down his cheeks and it only enraged Dean more. Dean didn’t speak to him for weeks after spitting all the nastiest things he could think of at the weeping angel. Most nights, when Cas kept watch close by, him and Benny would fuck, neither of them trying to stay quiet.

Even now those memories made Dean’s gut get so cold it burned. It was guilt and regret that rotted inside him and if he thought about it too long he’d start to spin out. The angel did what he thought was the best thing to keep Dean safe and when the angel saw that he was wrong Dean took that raw, quivering vulnerability and cut it to pieces; intentionally doing  as much damage as he could. Of course Cas didn’t come back with them then they found the portal. Why would he? All the angel knew of being vulnerable in front of Dean was being punished for it. 

“Being in purgatory was easier than being around you,” he told Dean after miraculously turning back up. Some months later Cas told Dean it wasn’t true anymore, that he couldn’t imagine being without his closest friend. That time, when tears fell from Cas’ eyes, Dean held him and told him he was right there and always would be.

Dean stretched out his legs and started counting the scars in front of him. He stopped after a dozen. Too many times he’d been without Cas to heal him. Too often they were too far apart. His body was ravaged with thick, uneven tissue because of it and his soul was something even demons shied away from, not able to distinguish one piece of it from another, so knotted and ufsed together it must’ve been. Cas didn’t look away though. He rebuilt it back when he pulled Dean from hell and he knew what the true shape of it was under the scar tissue.

He lay down onto the bed and with a groan swung his legs up. He flexed his toes and noted that he still felt the pinky on his left foot even though it was gone. Dean sat up and looked at the foot and then once more at the map that was his skin. It reminded him of those bumpy topographic maps they used to play with in school, the mountain ranges rising like messy Braille to meet their fingers. His forearms and hands were the worst. His left palm was even etched with scars to the point where he couldn’t lay his hand out flat without a lot of discomfort. Why they always cut their palms he never bothered to question in the moment. Guess it was easier to squeeze blood into cauldrons that way. Man, if he had a penny for every time he’d bled over a cast iron pot or an open grave…

Dean huffed and found the Mark of Cain lightly outlined among a nest of more prominent scars. If anyone saw all these twisting veins of white they’d probably assume he self-harmed, which wasn’t very far from the truth. Most of the scars on his forearms were self-inflicted in the name of provins his humanity or giving up blood for a spell. Some, like the one that ran down the back of his right hand and ended in what would have been two missing fingers, were from pure stupidity. Luckily they’d gotten out of that goblin quickly, cutting into the stomach of the asty fucker that had bit them off, and hightailed it to the nearest hospital to get them reattached. Cas had been called but at that point he didn’t have a working set of wings and had to drive. Some of the scaring did go away and he ended up getting full control of his fingers back when the angel finally showed up to work his magic. Thank god for that at least. He wouldn't have cared so much as far as monster hunting went, if he could still pull a trigger or grip a knife he was fine, but being able to have all his fingers working when he fucked Cas was something he’d never take for granted.

The air in the bunker was still but it wasn’t stuffy. Dean held his breath and listened for a while but it was dead quiet which meant Sam was already asleep. EIther that or he was in bed reading all the news articles he could get his hands on. It was a good thing the kid was good at hacking into things or half of their fake credit card debt would be online subscriptions to newspapers.

He sighed and rubbed at the stubble on his chin. Anything to drown out the silence. How had they gotten here? How had he ever convinced Sam to leave his life in college to do this shit? If anyone had more scars than Dean it was Sammy. Most of them weren’t visible, which was saying something because his overly stretched body was riddled with the ones you could see. Plus Sam was actually missing two fingers on his left hand for cryin out loud. Another stroke of luck that it hadn't been his right considering it was his trigger and middle fingers. Dean would never get tired of making hang loose jokes whenever Sam started talking with his hands. Too bad he hadn’t lost the ring finger as well.

Utter stillness hung in the air. A small shiver went up Dean’s spin. He detested the silence. Slipping under the covers he reached for his headphones but not before checking the bottles on the  nightstand to see if any still had beer. No luck. He settled for the old iPod Sam had loaded up with his favorite music. As soon as the first note was struck his nerves settled back down. Hell is For Children. He reflexively reached for his favorite but most faded scar.

Dean didn’t know why the handprint was almost completely gone now when at first it was so raised and knotted pink, like a fresh burn. Maybe as hell faded into the background the handprint did too. Cas used to say it wasn’t really a scar because it was made by angelic grace, which was, at its core, a benevolent energy. But Dean knew that wasn’t entirely true. He’d seen some of the worst things imaginable done with angel mojo.

He placed his hand over it and felt the slightly different texture under his fingertips. On most days he couldn’t see it unless the sun hit it just right and the shiny layer of skin would reflect briefly, like a silver coin at the bottom of a brook, winking as cool water flowed over it. When Cas gripped him there it put him into a kind of trance. Awareness would blue and warm around the edges; loose and floating just out of his reach. 

Cas had done it in the middle of sex once on accident, grabbing Dean’s shouldn’t for stability has he moved hard above him. Dean can only remember the feeling. A non-memory of the euphoric release of pressure as everything he ever felt came rushing to the surface.

Dean touched that place on his shoulder with the tips of his fingers. It was hot but when he wrapped his hand around it, not nearly as big as Cas’ faded print, it was almost clammy.

Sometimes, if he closed his eyes tight, he could think on Cas so intensely that he could swear he materialized in the room. The cross between a half-dream and a hallucination; it paralyzed him with longing and for a few moments he might even feel the pressure of Cas’ arms around him. Every once in a while he’d curl up and bring on the fevered visions just so he could fall asleep. Tonight, with the music blaring in his headphones, he thought of the last time Cas held him and fell, barely, into fitful sleep.

From somewhere deep within his nightmares he felt the warmth pressed against the entire length of him and knew Cas was there--finally there-- before he even fully surfaced. The angel’s hands were cold and Dean gasped when they slipped under the blankets to find the scar on his thigh. He’d push them away, to be officially offended and all, but they felt so good on the hot skin there. Instead he receded in his angel’s arms as much as physically possible, to the sound of Cas chuckling in his ear. Those deep, mirthful notes were almost too much for Dean to handle. Almost. He slipped back into sleep and didn’t dream again until he woke. 

#destiel #fan fic #there's also an A03 post for this if you don't like reading fics on tumblr #but yeah #I'm going to sleep now

[lawfulpride]

Back by popular demand! A conversation between Davos and Thor, Part II.  Thor played by @honourablebravery.

captaincoffee07/25/2020

Thor, never the best at 'reading a room', is not foolish enough to be entirely oblivious. Good at this? Nah, probably not. Oblivious? Not so. The slight crease in his brow furrows further and further inward, before he moves to seat himself beside Davos-keeping a good forearm of space between them so Davos doesn't feel crowded in. "Well, you scarcely know me now, generally I have learned that speaking with someone on friendly terms can change that." They clearly have some sort of shared ground, and Davos seems to burn with the need to speak. Perhaps as Loki, he's forever been unheard Thor thinks, a pin-prick of bitterness touching his heart. "Is it something that you would wish to discuss? I am no wordsmith, but I have a gentle ear, and the ability for pragmatism."

Hopeful07/25/2020

"It's . . .. . " Davos ducks his head. He's been working on this: hard.  But revelations of his personal struggles remain shameful terrain he was trained for 28 solid years to keep to himself.  "It's. Not." He sighs, and looks up.  "It's not seemly.  For someone like me.  I am. I am still learning that I have the right to be." He blinks. "Well. Human."

He gives Thor a long look. " . . . the person I put all my faith and trust in was my brother.  When we turned 28, we were the two final contestants, out of all the monks in our temple, to go to trial for the most prestigious title--and responsibility--of my homeland.  I was winning.  Winning, but I couldn't kill him, even though that was the custom, so I begged him to yield. He was losing badly, but he still wouldn't listen to me, he kept fighting.  And I kept winning.  And then the light passed over the windows of the temple, and blinded me for but a moment. And Danny . . . his name is Danny, Danny Rand . . . .you've surely heard of him, he is as rich and at least half as famous as Mr. Stark . . . . he took the advantage and disarmed me, and won."

"In that one moment everything I had ever wanted, everything I had ever dreamt of becoming, was gone." He grinds his jaw. "But I was still willing to stand by his side as he took the Iron Fist . . . .the title and the duty of which I spoke.  And he thanked me by abandoning us. Abandoning me."

"Coming back here. To play white Kung Fu hero to a city full of reprobates."

captaincoffee07/25/2020

Something about Davos not even being 30 yet both startles and alarms, Thor's brow knitting continually, until it's nearly a flattened line of scrunch. "Siblings are not forged in blood alone, family is family, a lack of a blood bond means little when the pain is so true, the experiences so raw, and the moments so introspective, sharp and clear. Birth right can only account for so much, it's what we know and experience that makes a relationship. This man, Danny, he is your brother, in the truest of it's definition. And you have bene hurt, both by his betrayal and abandonment, and by he effectively sneering in the face of your love and accomplishments." Thor blinks, seemingly startled by how much he's said. "Of course..I can only know this from an outsiders view' He says, quickly. Aware that-regardless of what Davos currently describes, he'd probably not appreciate Thor actually insulting the man. He knew that feeling all too well. "Davos..if I may..what is it you wish to ask him? Can it even be quantified in singular statements? What drives you now?" He saw Davos was indeed human, but he keeps this quiet, not sure how this moral complex is for the other, or what about it disturbs him so. He hasn't enough information yet for that.

Hopeful07/26/2020

Davos folds his arms across his chest.  As he is wont to do, he listens closely to Thor's ruminating.  The god clearly speaks from experience.  "Of course." He looks up suddenly, eyes bright with a different kind of light, one not altogether gentle.  "Your brother is the sorcerer who attacked this city in 2012."   He would love to do battle with such a formidable creature, but he also knows that to say or even think such a thing toward this good man's beloved family member is unkind.  " . . . . as for your question, I don't. I don't know."

"I cannot imagine what I would say."

captaincoffee07/26/2020

There is anger there. Thor can sense it. What he cannot discern is it's direction, and he is not about to make the situation escalate by asking. He feels pain, but he doesn't know quite why he feels pain. For a moment, he wishes he understood people, emotions, nuances better. He tries, and he hopes that is something. "Yes,  Loki attacked New York here..in 2012..he was..unwell..very very unwell, that is not..I wish to not make it sound as if I'm excusing him, but much has come to light, since that moment." He chuckles, fondly, almost, reaching for his ice coffee. "You know.' Having a small sip. "It's entirely possible you won't know until you are within five inches of Danny's face that you'll know exactly what you wish to say"

Hopeful07/26/2020

"it might be unwise for me to ever see him again." Davos looks down at his right fist. He flexes it, over and over, slowly, as though something there is missing: the hand that, briefly, held the Iron Fist, when for a time he stole it from Danny.  A twitch of muscles, that meditates on what might have been. "I have spent many months rebalancing my chi, recovering my self-control and my....clarity...in knowing right from wrong.  Seeing Danny makes me violent and irrational."

"...it did not used to."

captaincoffee07/26/2020

Thor nods, slow, steady, and hopefully with understanding. "Unwise..yes, but are you settled?" He asks, "If you think that it would be possible to never see him, to never have that moment again and carry out your life with something else on your mind, could you do so? I would never advise anything that could hurt you, but I only ask, does it feel wise to you?" He continues, a little quickly. "You seem a man whom carries burdens like brands, Davos. A man who will always feel the burn of things that fester, that he believes wrong, because not having the resolution to something you believed in so deeply..I don't know if you'd be content, letting it go..because to you, it'll always feel like some slow moving knife taking pieces from your spine until someone yanks it back out." He could be wrong, and he truly has little clue where this babbling he speaks comes from..maybe Davos had a way of making everyone more introspective.

Hopeful07/26/2020

Davos sets his jaw.  He stands, and moves to the door.  But he pauses, and turns. His hand tightens into a fist at his side. He turns it and examines his palm. And he returns to the couch, and sinks back onto it.  "You are right."

captaincoffee07/26/2020

He worries for a brief moment if he's said something upsetting, but then Davos just..sits back down. "I cannot speak for you, nor your best interests, Davos..but..I do..I cannot say I do not worry. Your energy is very..intense"

Hopeful07/27/2020

The Steel Serpent looks at the Thunder God in his gauging, serious way.  "I was born to protect, and I must find something to protect, or I will run mad."  It's a confession, a tacit agreement.

captaincoffee07/27/2020

Something to protect. It seems there could be a double meaning to that..but it feels..rude to ask. He's not sure how to respond, precisely. "What about protecting yourself..and what you believe in? It may..I feel that there are causes, things you sympathize with, perhaps, if devotion is what drives you..looking somewhere to it?"

Hopeful07/27/2020

"That is why I am a shifu at several training centers now."  He rubs a palm down the back of his scalp, and inclines his head toward Thor in a single nod. "That is what I seek.  Truth to my purpose.  To be devout, to the people who need to learn to protect themselves. Some of them are children. Some women battered by the pigs who have abused the sanctity of marriage. Some teenagers."

"It's only...Can you miss the person who abandoned and betrayed you? I fear that is my dilemma.  Yet I don't trust myself to speak to him without reverting to shameful ways."

captaincoffee07/27/2020

Norns, what a loaded question. And such a question does not have a simple response-it cannot, at the heart, have any response not loaded and situation-based. He decides to hone in on the most simplistic part of the question (or what Thor thinks is the most simple) "Yes, I think you can' He says, gently, 'But you and I both know there is more to it than that..is there not?" The set up is a clear opening I can expand upon this should you desire it. You are safe in my company.

Hopeful07/27/2020

"Please explain."  Davos takes the opening, finally sipping his nearly forgotten tea.

captaincoffee07/27/2020

"Betrayal..is not a black and white issue, and it of course, determines on the type of betrayal." He's hesitating, but it's clearly in result of thinking how best to word what he desires to bring to the table here. "And how badly you are hurt by said betrayal. I think that, if one is to look for forgiveness after a betrayal has occurred, then context is utterly crucial."

Hopeful07/27/2020

"I don't want forgiveness, I want him to beg it! And I want to still tell him to go to hell!" Davos speaks ferociously but his whole body tightens, trying to regulate the emotions he keeps too constantly locked up in the dark.  "I want him to have never left, I want us to be home! I would have gladly yielded him the honor he was bestowed if he had just taken it seriously!"

A long pause and he draws out a shaky exhale. "Forgive me, I should not have raised my voice."

captaincoffee07/27/2020

Thor's first instinct is to reach out, he's tactile, after all. But he doesn't have consent and he's not sure what a man like Davos thinks of such things. Knowing full well some individuals hated touch. His fingers flex against his own leg, a slight inward curl, "Anger is not always something shameful" He points out, gently, "Sometimes it is good to let it out..lest it consumes us." Unless Davos believed anger a shameful thing, "You are not..." No He puzzles, then tries again, "This is a safe haven, Davos"

Hopeful07/27/2020

"A weapon does not know anger." The words are hollow and come from a dead place behind Davos's now shuttered and lightless eyes.  "A weapon does not indulge in emotions.  It is dangerous.  I do not think you unsafe. On the contrary, you are .....you are quite kind."

"I want him to have valued me...as much as I valued him." That's the root of it all. That's the bottom line.

captaincoffee07/27/2020

"You're a human first, Davos" He lets that sit, a moment. 'I was not always good...maybe this is why I make such an effort now..maybe I always had goodness inside, but could never access it..or..something." Words are not his strong suit. "You know the truth that you cannot force him to value you...Davos, it hurts..but Danny's blindness is not because of you, but him, and whatever has completely clouded his mind, his vision, his everything."

Hopeful07/27/2020

Davos bites his tongue halfway to saying "I know that!" because. Does he? Intellectually, perhaps, but not in his heart of hearts. "I have never been exposed to what...the Western world, I believe, refers to as 'positive reinforcement,' but I shall attempt to believe your words are true."

captaincoffee07/27/2020

"In truth..I do not quite grasp that concept either. My..my father's belief to me..was that..as long as you did what he claimed was 'good' then..it meant something. But it had to align with his personal visions. Order, regulation, he saw the future, did he? Maybe he claimed such, not sure...but I was so brash, so arrogant. And after years of encouragement from him to be so, he tells me no, it is too much, humble yourself..and I do..but it still did not align with his beliefs" "Loki suffered worse for it. He saw right through him at points..he always was to clever.."

Hopeful07/27/2020

Davos lifts his head from where it's been resting, in his hands, and studies Thor perceptively.  "My parents are like your father.  It's exhausting. I'm very sorry. The price of being the model pupil, always, is steep.  But I succeeded often in being what my mother and father...mostly my mother, demanded. It was just that it was never quite enough.  I could always be more perfect. And when I was not, I did not exist."

captaincoffee07/27/2020

"And I, to you, I am sorry..but if I may?" He has no idea how to preface it, simply launching himself head-long into words and hoping it sticks "I have learned, and I cannot claim this to be universal, these parents of ours..they have ideas, they want things accomplished. My father wanted a King, and he molded me to be just that, but when I started to eek from his mold, he punished me. He had two sons..well, Loki is Loki, but we grew up..side by side..and he made it seem as if the throne was allowed to both of us, but he deliberately kept the truth at bay. I was to take the throne, Loki not, and in his eyes we both failed because of what? Because HE couldn't be arsed to communicate openly? Because he treated fatherhood like putting pieces into a puzzle? Adding sealant to a sculpture? How can we do wrong or right when to him, sharing his thoughts was not..we were never worthy of his true voice, only spiels I have to wonder were rehearsed, he even banished our sister and told NOBODY." Now Thor is raging, that tell-tale fiery personality that still lingers beneath the surface, even to this day, rising like an encroaching flame. "She was too powerful..for him..' he scoffs, 'Imagine.." Lies, lies, deceit. Half truths. "Davos, we..we could never live up to what our parents desire, because their desires are not tangible, they are unrealistic, they always were. To the offspring are a means to an end, a continuation in a storyline they've crafted and could never finish, because we have agency. If they wanted someone to carry out legacies, whatever, to their exact specifications, make models, or something, do not expect that people with brains and feelings and hearts are blank slates waiting to be guided about like dogs!"

Hopeful07/27/2020

Davos watches Thor storm around his own lodgings, his inspirational words turning into a blaze of still unresolved emotions.  The Kung Fu master blinks slowly once. He then smiles, a small soft smile, almost modest in nature. This is so familiar. Danny has a temper like this, too.  Danny likes to rail against injustices, too, albeit a bit more sanctimoniously than this Thor fellow does.

Something about it is as comforting as the commiseration, the empathy, within the words themselves. He stands and walks over to the ranting god, and lays a hand on his bicep. "Are you alright?" he asks, and it's clear he actually cares. Davos isn't much of a deceiver.

captaincoffee07/27/2020

The touch does not startle him, it is both welcome and relieving. "..Are you?" He asks, quietly. "I.." He chuckles, 'I am a Thunder God for a reason, it appears." Aware that the moment is radiating tension, but comfort in the same shared space. 'Our lives seem oddly similar, Davos, in some ways."

Hopeful07/27/2020

"I am, in fact."  Davos huffs a laugh through his nose, and nods. "Perhaps we are."

captaincoffee07/27/2020

Thor's grin turns downright radiant, pleased with the good discussion, moving to turn himself more fully, his own wide-palmed hand loosely grasping  Davos's shoulder. "I am glad, to have given you some chance to alleviate some burdens, and I would be honoured to have you as a friend."

HopefulToday at 2:17 PM

Davos reddens.  Particularly his cheeks and ears.  They aren't especially large ears, but with his shaved head, they become prominent.  He could face down any foe with his fists, and with his keen wits, he could navigate nearly any delicate intellectual scenario as well. But being told by a friendly behemoth that he wants to be his friend, that it would be his honor? That's intimidating to someone trained to disregard emotional attachments altogether, save those which pertain to loyalty, and to devotion. "I." Oh, but it's very good for him, this scenario. "I would also be honored." He grasps Thor's shoulder, in return. He has to stand on his tiptoes.

#Interactions: Thor Odinson #ic #Davos #Davos Iron fist

[justlurkingintheshadows]

@nutsandvoltsweek Sorry if this is bad I'm not a writer as much as I'm not an artist, I at least have some more experience with writing though, I know it's not perfect but oh well. I also know it's technically late for my timezone but it's still gonna be the 10th February somewhere.

This is my attempt at a role reversal Nuts and Volts for day 2

Humanity and Ferality

Word count : 2,150

Content tags : Role-reversal, Scientist!Tyrian, Feral!Watts, blood, implied cannibalism, implied self-mutilation/experimentation 

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It wasn't exactly unheard of, the story of the Atlesian who went mad and lost his mind, in his unhinged rage it's said he brought down an entire lab and then disappeared, presumed dead, but now Tyrian knew the truth. Before him stood a ragged man, truly disgraced, soaked in blood that had previously resided inside the team Tyrian had gone with to an unusual site where people complained of moving shadows and nose curdling smells that kept even the Grimm at bay.

It was clear the heaving form wanted to finish off the last one and drag him too away to wherever he had stowed the other bodies, the only evidence that someone had been there being the blood splattered around after a vicious attack, Tyrian wasn't about to let him but he was curious, he supposed the poor guy had to have survived off something all this time, the thought would have made him shudder had he even cared at all. He simply watched the man carefully, neither daring to move, their foe was unpredictable yet somehow they had each other figured out - as long as they stood there like that no one was going to do anything, it was a stalemate of two men frozen purely to wonder if either was going to move first which they knew wasn't actually going to happen.

"Well, this is certainly something I never expected..." said Tyrian in a careful tone hoping his sudden speech didn't kickstart a sudden death, the figure flinched a bit, not used to his victims having any other vocal capability than a scream of terror. Though vision wasn't clear Tyrian was certain of something, it just made sense to him somehow, "Arthur Watts. The illusive one man catastrophe, thought to be dead, but of course that's only because no living soul has actually had chance to escape and tell anyone." The figure flinched again, it was more of a twitch, and Tyrian almost found it amusing, this man was more feral than a Sabyr, more animal than human, he wasn't even a faunus but simply a man who had nothing to lose. It was an ironic comparison to Tyrian's own self. Doctor Tyrian Callows, the scorpion faunus who managed to hide his feature his whole life and aid Atlas in great science feats becoming one of their most trusted with barely any challenge, he was almost more human now, it was hard not to follow their ideologies even if they involved the theory that Faunus were lesser and only useful for labour tasks which the humans were too good for, at one point Tyrian almost found himself hating his own kind because of how truly the humans believed they were in the right, they always thought they were right, and he had loved to prove them wrong. They could try to take everything from him yet he would still have the knowledge he'd come to accumulate and with that knowledge he'd almost brought their empire crumbling down as easily as a flick of a tail, that's what caught the attention of a certain goddess, she'd known he was perfect for the job and must have realised he actually barely needed her as he'd almost achieved what she intended solo, yet she still offered him a place and picked him up off cold bleak streets to give his terrifying, sly and genius mind a sturdy platform from where he could orchestrate a new wave of armageddon; His goddess had sent him on this mission with a group of, what Tyrian could only describe as, thugs (Tyrian thought very little of them and so their fates weighed insignificant in his mind), but he had to admit the ease at which this husk had dispatched them was impressive and showed really the potential danger he should find himself in.

It was perhaps not an insignificant detail to note that had Tyrian not just so happened to turn around at that exact moment the deranged creature would have been upon him hacking away at his aura with all the brutality and speed of a Beowolf, it was quite surprising that anyone could be so far gone that even the Grimm have no desire to come near, Tyrian himself had witnessed the creatures circling the area intending to prey on the mindless drones of a team Tyrian had with him, at first he'd thought they were responsible for the company gradually dwindling but he never once saw them dare to close the distance, they always stayed out there, away, and one could only wonder why. Now it made sense. One by one his lackeys disappeared and there was barely noise of a struggle, perhaps a new type of Grimm was a thought at first but there was never any evidence to back up the claim, it wasn't obvious to assume there was something or someone else lurking around picking them off one by one, leaving the best for last or perhaps just because Tyrian refused to be slowed down and so was at the lead of the group and it wasn't so easy to grab him, especially since he came most prepared for an encounter of any kind as Tyrian always calculated it was more worth it to over-prepare than to be left in a situation with no ability to get out.

He began to wonder if this new monster could even speak lest his humanity have slipped away altogether, but that was soon answered for him. The demented fellow had been watching this odd stranger in his territory, seemingly frustrated by the fact he'd been seen before it was too late, like an ambush predator once he was spotted he didn't quite know what to do, he'd been spending all these lonely crumbling years attempting to hone his skills to cause as swift an aura break and kill as possible, it hadn't been easy and he'd suffered a lot but he was sure he was better than this and it angered him that this invading doctor had simply turned around and halted his entire strike. He had to at least be thankful that the poor lighting and obscured distance still offered some veil, he was not the 'man' this pest had identified him as any longer, he left that behind long ago.

The voice that came from the sketchy silhouette wasn't clear, but it also didn't completely lack all intelligence, he was aware of that. "I intend to keep myself invisible to anyone who it matters to" came the sound, a bit scratchy and with a little wavering in tone almost to display the insanity, Tyrian had to admit it surprised him to hear sound come from such a thing but he smiled, and, perhaps acting a little too cocky for his own good, made the decision to move towards the crazed mess in an attempt to get a better look, this caused an almost growled "Back off" in response, the tone was chilling but Tyrian couldn't help being thrilled by it, messed up things was what he loved even if it was uncivil of him he couldn't ignore his true natural desire for such.

"You don't have to live like this anymore you know, I have a way to help you if you would accept it. Figures from your past don't even have to be aware of it, unless of course you wanted them to be" offered Tyrian, still keeping his tone careful, he would like to have this mission end well and not with any significant death, he wanted to please his Goddess. He was regarded by cold green eyes that clearly wished to inflict the most painful of harm on him.

"You dare to offer me anything, I have nothing valuable to you, how dare you come here and expect me to comply simply because you asked!" The voice was still broken from disuse, it still brought amusement and intrigue to the curious doctor,

"I didn't expect anything, until a few moments ago I was completely unaware of your existence-"

"And I would like to go back to that" interrupted the corrupt tone, Tyrian ignored him,

"Yet while I find it most fascinating at your sheer ability to eradicate your immediate enemy I find it hard to believe you wouldn't want to exact revenge on the very society that cast you out, what's a few 'immoral' experiments when you're clearly capable of more right? They didn't want you so you tried to destroy them, but you didn't succeed completely. You probably are aware that I think you might be-"

"Helpful to you? Easy to use? Manipulate? Control?!" This was more than a growl, this was a snarl, it caught Tyrian off guard and actually made him jump, it was becoming increasingly obvious that talking simply wasn't going to be enough,

"What would it take for you to find some way to trust me?" Asked the curious scorp almost softly, itching with anticipation of an answer. It took a while for his opponent to respond, it wasn't clear if it was because of outrage or simply no idea of how to react.

"I… to trust you?" Came an unsure sound, "Why would I want to trust you? Why would you want me to trust you? Trust requires closeness and closeness ultimately ends in parting."

Tyrian smiled again, "You're something else, something unique, if even the Grimm fear you just imagine what chaos you could cause with the proper footing to launch yourself from, we're not all that different you and I, while at the same time we're complete opposites. I know of somewhere there'd be a place for you, you'd have to leave this behind of course but you'd be rewarded in time with the exact opportunity your seething twisted soul desires" he could see this was perhaps sounding worthwhile. The reply didn't take long.

"I am not the man I was, I'm not sure if I'm much of a man at all… but you seem to believe I'm useful to you… how so?" The question was unsure almost cautious, it made Tyrian think there wasn't as little humanity left as they both thought, but he was all too happy to answer;

"I'm glad you asked, you see I work for a force this world will never be able to defeat and she only grows stronger with the aid of people like me, and perhaps even more so with you." He was always ready to jump at the chance to mention his Goddess, but took the opportunity to mention his own story, his own achievements, most particularly the ones under Salem's guidance, he exclaimed much glee at recalling events, he especially made sure to add in a little bit of how perhaps the addition of someone like the distorted disgraced ex-doctor Arthur Watts could possibly have influenced the outcome and made it so much easier, he mentioned the research he'd done on him and how he'd lamented at the belief the once great man was now apart from this world in attempt to play right into how he once thought of himself as an esteemed innovator. It seemed to work like a charm, not surprising, if Tyrian Callows knew anything it was how to use a person's own self against them for better or for worse. Eventually the newly revitalised man that was once a husk seemed to smile and said with as much attempt at contentment as his shattered voice could offer,

"Perhaps you are right" and that answer made Tyrian grin, but he continued "however I still feel like I am better off staying lost in the shadows of ruins, I would recommend you just leave" he seemed downheartned at having to say it and Tyrian simply had to ask,

"I cannot allow you to simply stay here, perhaps you could do me a favour" he had a glint in his eye which was observed by Arthur, who seemed perhaps a little uncomfortable and didn't want to ask what favour deciding it be best not to know. That didn't stop Tyrian from asking anyway. "Please step into light, so I may see you properly"

Arthur scoffed "So you can see what's become of me?"

Tyrian simply answered, gently, with a "Yes"

It appeared this was not the expected response. However unable to provide much more of an argument Arthur reluctantly, slowly, carefully, and in every way cautiously, moved closer. As soon as his body was bathed in light Tyrian caught himself being captivated, in awe.

The oddly shaped outline he'd been looking at this whole time was much more distinguished now. He was able to make out all the foreign non-human devices. The recognizable form of a man who in his own despair attempted to make himself into something else. He wasn't just less human in nature, but also in appearance. And Tyrian found it beautiful.

#The quality of being feral #rwby #arthur watts #tyrian callows #Nuts and Volts week #My trashy fanfic? #Role-reversal #Scientist!Tyrian #Feral!Watts #blood #implied cannibalism #implied self-mutilation/experimentation #If I didn't tag a trigger I'm sorry #I was high on sugar when i started to write this #It gets worse as you read on #I made an attempt #Yes its called humanity and ferality #Not 100% sure ferality is a word but I'm rolling with it #Wiktionary says it is #It's the only was I can describe this version of Watts #He feral #i don't know what this is

[creator-zee]

118

       I watched from the shadows as supernaturals of all types (minus vampires) mingled at the party hosted by the triumvirate of wolf-shifter Alphas. Wolf-shifters weren’t the only shifters that favored a pack setting, but they were the most powerful. Many shifters were solitary or only travelled in mated pairs of families. Witches formed covens, and werewolves (not to be confused with wolf-shifters) tended to stick together, if only so that they could consolidate their holding cells into one spot on the full moon. I had snuck in through an open window, and so far no one had noticed me, probably because I was currently perched in the rafters of the large hall. Vampires weren’t forbidden, per say, from the mating ball, but considering the triumvirate held a hatred for us, we tended to steer clear. Unless you were trying to crash the party, or in my case, stop the vamps trying to kill a bunch of innocents. I noticed a group of three tall lanky figures weaving through the crowds. I noticed several similar groups in different areas across the party. They were here. Time to rumble.

       I grabbed a wooden stake out of my belt and tracked the closest group of three. They were maybe ten yards away and had stopped moving. I could make that. I launched myself off the rafters and landed on one of the three’s chest. I hesitated less than a second to confirm the vampire nature of my target before plunging the stake into the vampires chest. The two other vampires stared at me in shock along with all the nearby guests. I took advantage of their shock and used the same stake to kill another. The third finally reacted pulling an iron dagger out of their suit. Iron worked moderately well on all supernatural, but wasn’t very effective on any. I had wood, a vampire's weakness. It wasn’t a fair fight. They were dead in seconds. The other supernaturals had begun to react as well, but I ignored them, launching myself back into the rafters to to spot the other groups. I kept through the rafters before attacking the next group. Rinse and repeat until the last vampires body was limp under mine. Many of the shifters had shifted now and caught onto my plots. I found myself surrounded by a ring of fangs as well as a few still in human form. Birds swooped overhead, blocking my escape. 

        One tiger started towards me growling.

       “You’re going to need more than just those teeth and claws to do me in.” I remarked.

        “Something like that stake in your hand or the daggers at your waist.” Someone said, the crowd parting before them.

         “Yeah, something like that.” I said, eyes locking on the tall figure. One of the Alphas, judging off scent.

        The were now standing in front of me. The tiger had backed up. I leveled my gaze with the Alpha. Without looking away I tossed them the bloody stake.

        “If you so badly want to kill me then go ahead; punish the person who just stopped your little party from ending as a massacre.” 

        They just continued to stare at me. Someone from the crowd shouted.

        “You’re not a person, you’re a vamp.”

        The expected anger, I wouldn’t give it to the. “Fair enough. Still, kill me and you do no one any favors.” I smirked. “If you even could kill me.”

        The Alpha seemed to unfreeze, and tossed the stake back to me. “I’m not going to kill you, but I would like you to come with me. We need to talk.”

        “That doesn’t sound good.” I shot them a wry grin. “Are we breaking up?”

        I got one pitiful laugh, but a chorus of growls and groans. The Alpha just leveled me with an unamused stare.

        “My compatriots will take care of your mess, while I decide what to do with you. We don’t like vampires in our territory.”

       “Oh, really? I hadn’t noticed.” I said, voice dripping with sarcasm. “I thought this was just good old wolf-shifter hospitality.”

        “You’ve got quite the tongue for someone with their life on the line.” The Alpha commented, an edge in their tone.

       I matched their tone. “You only think that because you’re not me. Your little display of power is of little concern to me.”

        “Cocky too aren’t you?”

       “Maybe...”

        We reached the doors and the Alpha led me down a path into the forest.

         “What’s your name?” They asked. I guess the questioning was beginning.

        “Some people call me Slayer.” I answered. “What’s yours, Alpha?” I returned saying the title flippantly.

         “Vivian.” They said shortly. “And I’d like your real name.”

        “Uh let’s see other names... there’s Tachel, Sammy, Vic, weirdo in the corner, crazy lady with the stake, bloodless, betrayer, oh and the occasional idiot, dumbass, bro, and dude.” I listed.

        “Dear goddess,” she sighed. “What do your friends call you?”

        “Idiot, mostly, sometimes with a dumbass thrown in for good measure.”

        “Your family?” They tried again.

       “Oh that ones easy, betrayer.” I joked, enjoying their irritation.

        “Goddess, I give up.” They muttered. They collected themselves and started again in a normal tone. “I didn’t actually bring you out here just to talk about the fact that you snuck into a party and murdered twelve vampires. That ones a pretty simple, sweep it under the rug, give you a firm warning to not come back and try more funny business and then we all go on our merry way, human governments be damned we have our own systems.” They paused, looking at me trying to gauge a reaction.

       “I brought you out here to tell you of some, well, something strange. Vampires traditionally aren’t allowed at the party because it’s almost unheard of for a shifter to mate a vampire.” They continued.

       I didn’t like where this was heading.

      “Unfortunately, unheard of doesn’t mean impossible, so this is rather complicated. You see, you are my mate, which means I would prefer to not just send you away with a pat on the back and a slap on the wrist.”

       I didn’t have a witty, or not so witty comeback, I was silent. This was unexpected. Vampires don’t have mates. It's a common belief that vampires are incapable of love because they sold their soul to the devil in exchange for their powers. 

       “What are you going to do?” I asked, softly. “The other two won’t be happy that I’m your mate.”

       “They will understand. Mates are outside of our control.” They said, with little confidence.

        “Then why drag me out here to tell me, why not just say it in there?” I pressed. 

       “I didn’t want to risk you doing something crazy and causing a riot.” They explained. “Vampires have been the enemy of most supernaturals for a while.”

       “And yet I still decided to save you from that extremist clan.” I pointed out.

       “We would have been fine.” Vivian argued.

       In a flash I had them pinned against a tree, an iron dagger to their neck. “Oh, really? Half of you would’ve been dead before you even started to fight back.”

        I released them and sheathed the dagger.

        They rubbed their neck. “Point taken. You vamps are just too damn fast.”

        I shrugged. “Don’t take it too personally, I’m faster than most. We gain more power the longer we go without feeding, as long as we can control our hunger and stay sane we can get stronger and faster.” I glanced at them. ���I haven’t fed in years.”

        “How do you control yourself?” They asked, awed.

        “Practice, don’t worry I barely even notice it anymore.” I reassured them. “But seriously, what are you going to do?”

        They shrugged. “I don’t know. A vampire is hardly qualified to join a pack, much less become Luna. We certainly can’t take the traditional route. Perhaps something a little more unorthodox.”

        “Such as...?”

        “We could date... like in the human sense.” They offered.

        “Sure, but only if you ask me out proper.”

        They laughed. “How can I do that if you won’t tell me your name?”

        “It’s Vic.” I said.

        “Well then, Vic, will you go on a date with me?” They asked.

        I smiled. “Sure, just tell me when and where. You have a phone right?”

       They nodded, pulling it out. I pulled out my own and opened up the contacts handing it to them.

        “Put your name in.”

       I did the same on their phone and we switched back. I got a text on my phone. ‘Hey.’

        “Perfect.” I said, backing away from them. “Looks like it worked. Text me with a few days notice and I’ll be there.”

        “Right. See you then.”

        “Yep.” I waved and ran off in the woods towards the friend I was staying with.

118.1

       I received a text a few days later. 

       Hey, this is Vivian, texting you to ask you out, assuming you gave me the right number.

       She texted awfully formally. Oh well. I responded with a short text. 

       I did

       I waited for her response.

       Well then how does Friday at Red River Park at 5 sound?

       It was Wednesday, which meant I had two days. Could I make it back to that town, Redsville, I think, in two days? I had had a job across the territory, and I had taken a few in the Albany territory. I could probably make it back into the Lorang territory well within a day, but to make it all the way Redsville, which was in the Deep South of the territory. Albany was north of Lorang, so I was really pushing it to get there in two days. I did have until five. Maybe. I sighed and texted Vivian back.

       Might be a bit late

       She responded quickly.

       Why?

       I’m like 50 some hours away

       What

       I’m in Albany

       Why

       Work

       She didn’t respond and I sighed. I pocketed my phone and began walking. Looks like I had to get started. I reached the outskirts of the town and broke into a run. I quickly reached a sprint, well, a sprint for a human. I didn’t have the same endurance problems they did. I could keep this pace up for as long as I needed, which in this case was just over two days.

        My phone buzzed.

        Do you want to reschedule?

        Nope already on my way

        I pocketed my phone again, and kept running.

118.2

        I slowed to a stop as I entered the park. It was a rather large park that stretched along the river that marked the border between the two kingdoms. I wasn’t out of breath, not even tired really, from my run, but I was mentally exhausted. Running can get boring when you do it hour after hour for two days, and although I didn’t need sleep as often as humans I still like it. I glanced at my watch. 4:45. Perfect. A few minutes to spare.

       I pulled out my phone and texted Vivian.

        I’m here where in the park do you want to meet?

        I waited for the reply, leaning against the railing of the cliff that overlooked the river.

        Just stay where you are. I’ll find you

        Right. Scent. I pocketed my phone and turned to watch the river. 

        “I’m surprised you actually came.” A voice said from behind me.

         I turned to see Vivian. She was wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans.

         “I said I would.”

         She joined me leaning against the railing. “How was your trip?”

        “Boring.” I groaned. “Running gets really boring when you’re not being chased.”

         “You ran here!?” She turned to me in surprise.

        “How else was I going to get here?” I asked.

         “I don’t know. Drive.” She suggested. 

        “I don’t have a car.” I pointed out.

        “So, you just run everywhere? Isn’t that tiring?” She asked.

        I shrugged. “I don’t feel physical exhaustion.”

        “Really?” She seemed surprised.

        “I haven’t fed in years remember.” I shrugged again. “I guess it’s an evolutionary thing. Make us stronger to get blood more easily, but I haven’t wanted to feed in years.”

        “Well that’s good, although strange. Most vampires I’ve met are fueled by their hunger.” She admitted.

        “It is... well... hard to get over. The feeling can be quite... intense. It takes a long time for the urge to fade.” I said, not wanting to remember the first years after I was turned.

        “I can’t imagine. And I thought shifters had it bad.” She chuckled.

       I raised my eyebrows. “I know shifting isn’t that painful.” I paused. “Oh... you’re referring to your heat.”

        I smirked and turned to look at her. “Is that why you asked me to come all this way? Needed help satisfying your deepest urges?”

       “What? No?” She shoved me away. “It’s not even the full moon. Besides, wouldn’t that be moving a little fast?” She spluttered. 

       I laughed at her embarrassment. “Maybe, but shifters don’t tend to move at the same pace as everyone else, what with all the soulmate business.”

        She punched me on the arm. “Shut up.”

       “Going to have to hit me harder than that.” I smirked.

        She shook her head. “You are impossible.”

        I shrugged. “Maybe. But, you’re the fool who asked me out.”

         “Goddess knows why.” She groaned. “Come on, let's go for a walk. Then we can watch the sunset.”

        I chuckled and followed her down the path.

#werewolf #vampire #shifter #mates #yes I know this started off very similar to another one #they aren't related #writing #not edited

[things-we-used-tc-share]

In The Woods Somewhere

((Look honestly I might just start a new blog for my fae!Sides fics because I’m not going to be stopping anytime soon))

Warnings: Mild distress

Ship: Prinxiety

Plot: Virgil hears a scream in the woods and goes to follow it. (Winter Fae!Roman)

Based on this song. 

--

Virgil heard a scream in the woods. He’s spent years living beside the iron gates and he’d heard the rumors of what lay on the other side, but he’d never dared pry to the voices that talked. Today, however, he wondered if this was the day he ventured to the other side. The noise seemed unheard by anyone else of this village but he knew that sometimes these neighbors could be strangers when the time called. 

He climbed over the iron gates and began to walk along the path, his ears straining for the voices or the scream. He got both at once and his throat ran dry. “Run, Human, run,” The voice whispered desperately “South, follow the pine trees,” Virgil obeyed as the sound of laughter fills the air and his legs carry him into the trees. 

He hears the scream again and his head whips around “Ignore it, it’s a trick,” The voice calls again. The blood hammers in the green-eyed boy’s ears and his legs take up again, he wonders if he should look over his shoulder, he hesitates “Don’t look back,” He feels breathing on his neck, he hears laughter in his ears and his legs bolt and adrenaline takes its course whilst his flight reflex takes the controls of his brain.

“It’s a hunt,” The voice guides him “Look back and you die, Human, you’re almost there,” The human feels like prey to wild animals as his lungs gasp and seize and pains shoot up his ribs and sides, he feels as though he may be drowning but tries not to pay mind to the agony. The breathing eases off and he hears multiple voices talking at once. 

“He’s in the Winter territory now,” “Roman,” “We can’t go further,” Virgil doesn’t doubt that he has many questions, he’s just not sure what his questions are right now. He collapses in a clearing encircled with snowdrops, frost covered this area in a perfect circle despite the previous summer warmth. His heart tries to catch up with him and his breathing is made in gulps as though he’d never breathed before. 

“You’re safe now Human,” The air shifts and the Human looks up to meet the eyes of a man crouched in front of him. The term ‘man’ is used loosely here as Virgil startles and falls backward. The eyes of what Virgil assumes is a confirmation of the stories are crimson, and his hair as white as the frost that coated this clearing. Winter territory, he recalls the voices saying, this was a Winter Fae. The hair, long and pulled back from his eyes with what looked like snowdrops whilst still tumbling down his-her-their shoulders. What were the pronouns for an ethereal and slightly murderous being? Was it rude to ask a fairy for their pronouns? 

“You think too loud Human,” The creature smiles through teeth that don’t look quite right-not particularly pointed just, sharper. “You may address me as a male, and I will address you as an idiot,” He moves and tucks a loose strand of hair behind pointed and pierced ears before standing and offering a hand to Virgil. “Coming into Fae territory midst a hunt at the witching hour was not the move of a smart man,” 

“You can...hear my thoughts?” The purple haired boy takes the hand and is pulled to his feet in a swift motion.

“Dear lord yes, you think so fast and loud how do you cope with all those words in your head constantly?” The young man blinks and he really wants to say he doesn’t quite know either, or that quite frankly he does not but he knows no matter what the Fae will hear his thoughts and speaking seemed like a stupid Human tradition now. “Some surface things I can hear anyway, the more private things such as your name I will not be able to find, those are things that must be given,”

“Oh...right, yeah the power of a name and all,” The Fae bows his head in agreement “I’m uh...grateful for you directing me to safety,” The Fae straightens and looks back through the clearing with a somewhat angry look in his eyes. 

“The Summer Fae see Human life to be a game, they forget all we do is in the name and preservation of Humanity, the Winter Fae see no such pleasure in their hunting games,” A sigh blows cold air from his lips and it’s only now that Virgil realizes the other’s lips are a very pale blue. “You don’t have to divulge your name, and never give a Fae your full name no matter how well you think you trust them, but do you have something in which I could call you? Referring to you as Human feels more clinical than it should,”

“You can call me V,” Virgil offers a smile because it’s all he can do even though his head is spinning but he’s still surprisingly calm. “And you?”

“Roman,” He replies “Prince Roman actually,”

Virgil’s legs give out on him then, as it dawns on him that he may be in the presence of one of the most powerful Fae in this forest and if he wanted he could definitely murder him with a flick of his wrist. Roman looks offended and Virgil wants to apologize but all that comes out of his throat is a choked form of words. 

“I understand this may be overwhelming for you,” Roman kneels beside him “Meeting a creature more powerful than you can always feel disorientating and leave you feeling powerless but you have more power in you than Humans realize sometimes,” Virgil wants to ask when Roman has felt like that but he also doesn’t want to know what is more powerful in this forest than the Prince of the Winter Fae. “You underestimate the powers of the right words, you underestimate the powers of mundane magic and you underestimate the powers of love,” The Fae sighed “We can feel love sometimes but many feelings are earned here not just willingly felt whenever the situation calls,” 

Virgil’s eyebrows furrow because yes he’d underestimated the powers of all of those things but also, the Fae could not simply feel as they do? He can’t tell if he’s feeling sorry for Roman or envious of him. “None of those things could defeat a horde of bloodthirsty fairies,” He mutters and sits down properly whilst clutching his head where an ache was forming. 

“We prefer Fae,” Roman corrects “Fairies is seen as a derogatory term, we create the boundaries of nature of the Earth, we don’t wave magic wands and have sparkling glittery wings,” Virgil apologizes tiredly but Roman does not appear angry. “And you would be surprised which words you could choose to defeat us, there are many words when said in the right order and at the right time would have the Fae walking away from a hunt,” 

“I don’t suppose you intend to tell me those secrets?”

“If I could, I wouldn’t, but no-one is that Holistic, some things only the Universe herself decides,” The green-eyed man does not have a particular response for that, nor does he actually understand what Roman means. His head really is hurting.”They’re trying to get into your head and find your name, distract yourself and the pain will ease but they cannot harm you here, here you are protected until the Sun decides to rise,”

“Distract me then,” He doesn’t mean to snap but he thinks the Fae only finds this amusing as a small smile crosses his lips. “Is it true you can like...grant wishes?”

“I can yes, but I rarely do, they require contracts and agreements and there is always price, it’s very rare I will take on a Humans wish, even should they capture me I am not a normal Fae and can easily escape the usual tricks of the trade, others may not be so lucky,” Virgil nods and looks down at his hands. “Did you want a wish granted?”

“That would depend on the price and whether or not it’s even possible,” The Human’s eyes waver slightly and divert from Roman who appears curious. Despite his differences, he was still a Fae, curiosity and the impossible were the specialty of his people. He indicates that Virgil should continue. “Since I was younger I’ve always had this feeling,” He gestures towards his chest “Anxiety, about everything, everything scares me,” The Fae’s eyebrows furrow and his head tilts to one side “And I want to get rid of it,”

“No,” He says “It is possible but I will not do it,” Roman holds out a hand, asking for permission, curious Virgil takes it. “Anxiety is a very Human thing without it you will become either arrogant or lack the drive to do anything, and I think perhaps V, you may have already been learning to defeat it,” The younger goes to protest but is cut off “Would a man driven by anxiety to the point of no return climb outside of his protections to save the source of a scream in a forest? With his bare hands and no protection?”

His mouth opens and closes. Roman is right and he hates that. “You’re right,” He pauses “Do people ever ask you what you wish for?” The white-haired man blinks and stares as he is for once at a loss for words. 

“No, they don’t, it’s not really in the job specification,”

“Well, I wish to know what you wish for,” Roman can’t help the smile, this boy was learning quickly the powers of his words and how to use them. “Or maybe I should wish for your wish to come true?” A short laugh escapes the crimson-eyed man and he shakes his head. This Human was something else for sure. 

“Very well, V, I wish that one day I will find true love,” Virgil laughs, not unkindly as he’s not mocking Roman, he’s simply surprised. “I think Humans in that respect got the better deal, the Fae don’t know love and it’s a rare occurrence, nor do many of us chase it, we have a mating cycle as does every species but we do not fall in love often and it is my dream to do so, it’s also an impossible wish to make as with many things, love is not something that can be manipulated not even by us,” 

“The Universe decides it?” Roman nods in agreement “Well I made a wish, but we didn’t decide the terms,”

“I never accepted it as a wish, otherwise we would have a contract and I am too weary today to procure such things,” Virgil thinks perhaps Roman doesn’t want to pull him into a binding contract for a reason. 

“I think you feel more than you think, like with my anxiety I never notice when I’m getting better but others do, but you’re displaying kindness and that comes from love- a different kind of love to the one you’re pursuing but it is certainly love,” Vermillion eyes meet his and for a moment Virgil thinks the other may be blushing under his pale skin. 

“Perhaps you’re right,” He looks up to the sky “The sun should rise soon V,” Sure enough in the distance light cracks on the horizon “But I have a favor to ask of you, one that is not a binding contract and one you are able to reject, you are not obliged and I cannot force you to do anything against your will,” Curiosity is a dangerous thing for Virgil as he leans forward, interested. “I ask of you only one thing: A kiss,” 

Virgil blinks, it had not been the ask he’d thought he’d get off a Fae, he’d always imagined should he ever interact with one he most certainly would be dead by now. He tosses the thought over in his mind “No shenanigans?” Roman laughs because the word is so very Human and...silly, he thinks it is silly. “This won’t force me to remain here forever or anything will it?”

“No, no shenanigans and you know I cannot lie and you know I cannot force you to do anything without your name, not that I find such things an amusing pass of my time, it is simply a question I wish to ask and no matter the answer you will walk away unharmed,” Virgil nods. 

“Okay sure, why not?”

Roman’s hands are cold and almost icy against Virgil’s cheek. The Fae thinks the other to feel so alive under his fingertips; his skin is pale but flushed with pinks and reds and colour...this Human is so colorful. His eyes almost glow as the sunrise alights them. His lips are cold too but they seem to warm under the Human life breathed against them. It’s quick and gentle and Virgil had never in his life imagined a Fae to be kind. 

The touch disappears and by the time Virgil has opened his eyes, there is no Roman to be seen. Only a snowdrop lay in his hand, a thin layer of frost clinging to it in an attempt to preserve it. 

He looks around but finds no shadows nor a person in sight, the sun rises and Virgil can’t help the sinking feeling in his chest as the sun rose higher. 

He takes the Snowdrop and walks in the light by the pine trees back to the iron gates.

--

@analogical-mess //  @unikornavenger // @mycatshuman // @creativity-killed-thekitten //@theresneverenoughfandoms //@charmingprincey //@aclickonapostwillchangeyourlife//@heck-im-lost //@k9cat //@stilljittery //@romansleftshoulderpad //@sanderssideslibrary //@max-is-tired//@therealmoshar//@punsterterry//@trashypansexual//@miserykillme//@demigodnamedathena

Add yourself to my taglist:  Sanders Sides/Thomas Sanders

#sanders sides #prinxiety

[bffhreprise]

Entry 275

 :There goes our day.: pouted Mai as we watched a messenger enter the room through my eyes.

 “This is outrageous!” exclaimed Lady Pendreigh, letting her displeasure show.

 The messenger instantly went from being a picture of dignity to a terrified child, desperately clinging to what he held.  We couldn’t blame him.  Those who knew of our Lady’s reputation without knowing her couldn’t realize that she was still in perfect control, despite venting a little.  Of course, the house could be incinerated, and she’d still only be venting a little.  The heat pouring off her wasn’t good for the computers.  We hoped she was protecting them.  Doing so ourselves at the moment might be one annoyance too much.

 As James took the letter and lifted the man to his feet, Lady Pendreigh started expounding upon what she would like to do with the one responsible for this affront against her.  Ever calm, James took the messenger out.

 Lady Pendreigh still hadn’t finished her speech when he returned, so she rounded on him, saying, “You know what this means, don’t you?”

 “I’m being challenged again?” he questioned dryly.

 Sighing and shaking her head, she said, “James, he’s trying to make us miss the wedding!  When I find out who this upstart is…”  Her fist clenched and fire erupted around it until she visibly calmed herself.

 “Wouldn’t Adelmar delay things if you asked?” suggested James.

 “Of course not!” she snapped, looking slightly apologetic just after she spoke.

 “I thought he was invited.” continued James.

 “Yes, but he was never actually going to attend.  Ai and Mai don’t warrant his attention.  He’s not likely to even attend Duncan’s wedding whenever that will happen.”

 James glanced at us, so we shrugged.

 “Duncan’s getting married?” he questioned.

 “He must eventually.” she explained.  “He wouldn’t be allowed to let his line end.”

 “But Ai and Mai…” he started, motioning to us.

 “They wouldn’t be allowed to inherit his position.  Izumi would see about having another child before she let that happen.” she retorted.

  :Okaasama is such a stickler for keeping the ruling line ‘pure’ of outside influence.: stated Mai.

 :Yet she still sold us out.  I wonder what she was promised.  She wouldn’t tell just anyone about our link.:

 :We have a powerful enemy meddling with Lady Pendreigh’s affairs.: agreed Mai.

 “Time to go, boss-man, sir!” exclaimed Aaliyah.

 My sister and I glanced at one another.  Neither of us had noticed her enter the room.

 “Go!?  Where could you be taking him now?  You, of course, realize what he’s holding.” accused Lady Pendreigh.

 “A letter of challenge from one Hyun-woo Imugi.  The boss-man needs a weapon, so we’re going to go pick one up.” replied the tiny assassin.

 :How could she know who the message is from?: I questioned.

 :How does she know a tenth of the things she does?  Her information network must be incredible.  There’s always the possibility that this Hyun-woo attempted to hire her: suggested Mai.

 Our thoughts became distracted as we noticed the shocked expression on Lady Pendreigh’s face.  We weren’t surprised that she knew the name, but who could he be to warrant such surprise?  Our great family constantly bickered.

 “You didn’t work it out yet?” prodded Aaliyah.  “Who else would have that kind of pull throughout Asia?”

 “But he’s never even shown interest of anything outside his country.  He’s practically retired.  I never thought… Well, his age…” whispered Lady Pendreigh before pursing her lips in a thoughtful expression.

 “Doesn’t look it, does he!?” exclaimed Aaliyah with a grin.  Aside to James, she whispered “He’s forty-six.”

 I felt that my sister suddenly looked slightly more pale.  Of course, I did as well through her eyes.  Someone from our family aging slowly usually meant their generation had close ties to a Slayer, possibly even a descendent.  Typically, a descendent such as our Lady would take on a quiet, background role in the family after two or three decades, so as not to interfere with the current head.  Directly interfering with the affairs of the current generation was practically unheard of.

 Taking the letter from James and handing it to Lady Pendreigh, Aaliyah said, “You can hold onto this.  We’ll be back soon!”

 Lady Pendreigh nodded.

,,,^._.^,,,

  “Father…” whispered my son before falling to the ground.

 My heart was wrenched inside of me.  No man should be forced to kill his own son, but here I had.  Who was approaching me now without the slightest regard for my position or grief?  I quelled the impulse to lash out.

 “You there.  Think not that you can hide from me.” I warned.  I pulled the sword from my stomach and tossed it back to my fallen child, but the transformation was coming.  I fell to my knee, unable to remain standing with this new battle waging inside me.  How many had died today, following my treacherous son?

 The boy who approached was very tall, handsome, and completely foreign in dress.  His clothes were obviously made with incredible skill, but that style was unknown to me, which shouldn’t be possible.  Even now—with my inner battle—the minds of thousands were within sight and none knew this man or his dress.

 “What manner of dress do you wear?  You are no servant of my son, Amr?” I questioned, surprised at the boy’s calm demeanor as he studied me.  How many wars had he fought to look upon so many fallen with only a passing sorrow?

 “No, I am not.” he replied, his Welsh sounding as a well-bred native.

 I believed him.  There was no sign deceit on his face, and though he moved as one trained to fight, his stance wasn’t the least aggressive.  Who was he?  What was he?  He obviously wasn’t human, not with such flawless skin.  “Will you fetch my sword from my son’s chest?  No spell can touch that blade.”  I trusted Caledfwlch to judge this man’s character.

 The man looked at the sword residing within my son and grimaced ever so slightly.  Did he know of this blade’s power, or did he truly find such a task distasteful?  Perhaps he was merely disinclined to follow the order of another.   “I see the hesitation within you, but know that my son wanted to usurp the throne for himself.  I could not ask his elder brother to face him, not when his greed was my own folly.  Please, grant me this wish.” I urged, knowing I might have to stop resisting the change to kill this new threat should the sword prove him a snake.

 A chill shot through me as I saw the brilliance of my sword in this other man’s hand.  Caledfwlch wouldn’t even release a glimmer of its light for an average man.  The truly just might make the blade glow to the eye.  For me, the sword blazed into a light most could not look upon.  In the hand of this man, the chimaeras’ fire washed the blade in light to rival the sun, a light that washed as an aura around the man’s body as well.  He looked as an angel of destruction, here to make known its terrible will.

 “Who are you, stranger?” I asked, ashamed at the unsteadiness of my tone.

 “James.” he replied, handing over my sword as if Caledfwlch were a trinket.

 “Are you here to take the throne before my son?” I asked, fear giving my voice an edge.

 “No.  Definitely not.”

 Sword in hand, I felt no deceit from him, though I felt Caledfwlch’s longing for him.  Who was this man?  Forcing myself to speak, I said, “But you are worthy, despite standing while a king kneels.”  Was this man a danger?  If so, could I actually save my world from him?

 The man knelt and said, “Sorry, your majesty.”

 “Perhaps a gift then, your majesty, to protect this traveler on the road.” came a voice I knew well.

 Standing there, clothed in her gown of stardust, was the Lady of the Lake, creator of Caledfwlch.  Despite her guise as a woman of incomparable beauty, I knew she was a creature  of unmatched power.

 “My lady…” I started, my voice shaking in those two words.  I took an iron grip on my emotions and asked “Have you come to reclaim Caledfwlch?”

 “No, Arthur.  I merely want to see this young man protected, and know you to have weapons enough.” she replied, seeming to float more than walk over to me.  She knelt at my side and crooned to the sword.

 Not daring to argue with her, I took the dagger from my waist and handed it to the strange man, saying, “Here then, lad.  Carnwennan has served me well.  May it serve you now.”  When he had the dagger in hand, I told him “Leave me now.  I feel the change coming and know not how long I can suppress it.”

 “Kyduan searches even now.” whispered the Lady.  “If you can last a minute more, you will see him again before you leave us.”

 My face took on a smile that was surely a pale comparison of the Lady’s, but I had hope of seeing my firstborn before the change forced me to leave this world.  Still smiling, I watched as the Lady guided the man away.  Whoever he was, he had a great destiny ahead or she would not be with him.

,,,^._.^,,,

 “You weren’t gone long.  Aaliyah give you something she had lying around the condo?” questioned Lady Pendreigh when James returned minutes after he had left.  “A dagger?”

 Our eyes locked on what he carried, trying to discern its worth.

 “James, where was that hidden?’ questioned Lady Pendreigh with obvious excitement.

 “I can’t say where I got it.”

 “But… do you know what that is!?” she asked excitedly.

 “Carnwennan, which once belonged to a man called Arthur.”

 Our eyes bulged.

 “King Arthur.  The King Arthur.  That dagger has been lost since his death!”

 James didn’t react to the information, save for a slight sadness in his eyes.  Did he love the tale or feel pained at having another secret?  James was very strange in many ways.  We wondered if he had the slightest clue of the power in that small blade.  If not, he’d find out soon enough.

#Best Friend For Hire Reprise #Best #Friend #For #Hire #Reprise #Jovial Times #Jovial #Times #Fantasy #Fiction #Story

[dotsonabrahamsen63-blog]

Remembering Stan Lee: The Amazing Origin Story Of The Marvel Comics Scribe

Remembering Stan Lee: The Amazing Origin Story Of The Marvel Comics Scribe

Strangely enough, Lee said he would cast himself as the opposite of all that in his own imagination, drawing a comparison to the cynical, Stan Lee Thank You For The Memories Shirt uncompromising newspaper editor J. Jonah Jameson. “I’m very frustrated that by the time they made the movie I was too old to play the role,” Lee said. “I modeled him after me. He was dumb and loudmouthed and opinionated. Of all the characters he helped create, Peter Parker remained his favorite. “In a way Spider-Man is more special than the others,” he said. What made him Lee’s favorite? “Nothing ever goes right for Peter. I think for most people in the world, nothing ever goes right. He hates people he’s never seen — people he’s never known — with equal intensity — with equal venom. “Now, we’re not trying to say it’s unreasonable for one human being to bug another. But, although anyone has the right to dislike another individual, it’s totally irrational, patently insane to condemn an entire race — to despise an entire nation — to vilify an entire religion. Sooner or later, we must learn to judge each other on our own merits. Sooner or later, if man is ever to be worthy of his destiny, we must fill our hearts with tolerance. For then, and only then, will we be truly worthy of the concept that man was created in the image of God ― a God who calls us ALL ― His children. 2.99. Available in North America and Europe. Oscorp Search & Destroy Pack - In The Amazing Spider-Manvideo game, Spider-Man has his own smartphone to help navigate around Manhattan, locate missions and challenges and fight crime. With this pack, Spider-Man's smartphone will feature two mini-games inspired by classic arcade fun. 2.99. Available in North America and Europe. Lizard Rampage Pack - The notorious Lizard is on the loose again in Manhattan! Take on the role of Dr. Connors' terrifying alter ego in a race against time. Go berserk through the streets using his devastating stomp attack and tail swipe to defeat Oscorp guards and earn mega points.

Lee knew his work was different, proudly noting that stories were drawn out over several issues not to make money but to better develop characters, situations and themes. He didn’t neglect his villains, either. One, the Moleman, went bad when he was ostracized because of his appearance, Lee wrote, adding it was “almost unheard of in a comic book” to explain why a character was what he was. Lee’s direct influence faded in the 1970s as he gave up some of his editorial duties at Marvel. But with his trademark white mustache and tinted sunglasses, he was the industry’s most recognizable figure. The Amazing Spider-Man is getting a whole bunch of DLC today, including a few different packs that will have you playing as people other than the titular wall-crawler. The Lizard Rampage pack will open up a level where you play as the Lizard, along with a new Spidey suit to wear. 49.99 on Steam, including complete integration with Steam achievements. A Nintendo 3DS demo is also now available in the Nintendo eShop. Rhino Challenge Pack - Take control of the massive, genetically engineered villain Rhino and rampage around Manhattan in an exclusive gameplay challenge of pure destruction! As Rhino, players will be able to unleash his formidable powers to destroy anything and everything in his path in a timed event full of speed, combo streaks, and of course, a ton of things to break! The Associated Press in a 2006 interview. Lee considered the comic-book medium an art form and he was prolific: By some accounts, he came up with a new comic book every day for 10 years. He hit his stride in the 1960s when he brought the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Spider-Man, Iron Man and numerous others to life. His heroes, meanwhile, were a far cry from virtuous do-gooders such as rival DC Comics' Superman. The Fantastic Four fought with each other. Spider-Man was goaded into superhero work by his alter ego, Peter Parker, who suffered from unrequited crushes, money problems and dandruff.

XXX in the world of comic books were awesome. I happen to think they’re not exactly what a lot of people think but I don’t doubt their size and endurance. I knew him since 1970, worked for him a few times, talked with him at length and fielded an awful lot of phone calls from him asking me questions about comic books he worked on. He really did have a bad memory, if not when he first started telling people he had a bad memory, then certainly later on as he turned more and more into the Stan Lee character he’d created for himself. That’s all I’m going to write now. That’s where it begins and ends with me. To those of us who have been so deeply affected by the humanity of his imagination, the understanding of reaching beyond our potential and the necessity of tapping into our immeasurable imaginations, we thank you and are forever indebted. Rest In Peace Dear Stan. You made our time here a better one. What a man. What a life. When I first broke into Hollywood, he welcomed me with open arms and some very sage advice I’ll forever take to heart. A true icon who impacted generations around the world. Rest in love, my friend. I have to say I am deeply touched by the passing of Stan Lee… I always looked forward to seeing his cameo parts in all his great movies. 1 - Maybe you haven’t noticed, but there is a spiritual quality in all the Stan Lee movies… always the good guys win. Eventually, not always right away, but eventually. And his movies most of the time ended on an upbeat thought… that allowed us to ponder our existence. 2 - Stan Lee was also a man who could have been a musician but he was not good at music at all.

Legendary Marvel Comics co-creator Stan Lee — famous for giving the world beloved superheroes including Spider-Man, Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk — died Monday. According to TMZ, Lee suffered a number of illnesses over the last year, including pneumonia. His daughter J.C. told the site, “My father loved all of his fans. Lee was born Stanley Martin Lieber to Romanian-born Jewish immigrants in New York City, spending much of his early life in Washington Heights. He returned to Timely Comics in 1945 and married wife Joan two years later. In 1950, Timely Comics publisher Martin Goodman tasked Lee with creating a new superhero team to rival DC Comics’ Justice League. “Let’s lay it right on the line. Bigotry and racism are among the deadliest social ills plaguing the world today. But, unlike a team of costumed super-villains, they can’t be halted with a punch in the snoot, or a zap from a ray gun. The only way to destroy them is to expose them — to reveal them for the insidious evils they really are. The bigot is an unreasoning hater — one who hates blindly, fanatically, indiscriminately. If his hang-up is black men, he hates ALL black men. If a redhead once offended him, he hates ALL redheads. If some foreigner beat him to a job, he’s down on ALL foreigners. Stan Lee, the comic book mastermind who changed the landscape of the superhero genre, has died at age 95. Lee revolutionized the comic world by creating Marvel Comics superheroes such as Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four and The Incredible Hulk. An attorney for Lee's daughter, J.C. Lee, said the creative dynamo who revolutionized the comic world by introducing human frailties in superheroes such as Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four and The Incredible Hulk, was declared dead Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. In a statement to Fox News Shane Duffy, CEO of Stan Lee’s POW! I think everybody loves things that are bigger than life. I think of them as fairy tales for grown-ups," he told The Associated Press in a 2006 interview. "We all grew up with giants and ogres and witches. Well, you get a little bit older and you're too old to read fairy tales.

How long would this superhero movie thing last? He didn’t know. He was glad to be along for the ride. Happy to see the old characters he helped create being brought to life onscreen. We began talking about the origin of Spider-Man, born in 1962 after a string of other successes had made Stan Lee a powerhouse scribe at Marvel Comics. He had started working there when he was 17. Back then, Marvel Comics was known as Timely Comics, and he was known as Stanley Lieber, son of Jewish Romanian immigrants from the Bronx. His dream was to become a writer. But before any of that could happen, he earned cash by working a series of small jobs. As a theater usher, his first claim to fame was tripping and falling while showing Eleanor Roosevelt to her seat. “Are you all right, young man? Remember, this was six years before Iron Man and the launch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The films were not yet interconnected, not that there were many to string together. Stan Lee cameos were not yet a phenomenon. He had played a beachside hotdog vendor in the X-Men film. That was it. (“You missed me?” he teased. “I was like the lead of the movie! ] idea was, I was selling sunglasses in Times Square and I was talking to this little girl, showing her a pair of glasses as Peter Parker walks by,” Lee recounted in his gruff, nasally voice. Think about the incredible characters that derived from the mind of this man. Iron Man, the X-Men, Thor, Daredevil and Dr. Strange. These are characters everyone knows and loves. Look at this list of Stan Lee's creations and think about which ones have gone onto success in other media as well as had very successful runs in comics. Every single one of them almost. Granted, a lot of that success is due to the efforts and contributions of those writers and artists who developed the characters through the years. But Stan Lee's fingerprint is on each and every one of them and will always be seen and felt. Can you name one single creator in comics that has contributed as much in terms of longevity, creativity and uniqueness? You can't because there are none. There are plenty of creators that have made great contributions and have written or drawn amazing characters and stories. But none can say they changed the face of the industry quite like Stan Lee can. No matter what happens from this day forward; no matter what superstar creators land at the Big Two. Stan Lee, Marvel Comics' own living legend, stands head and shoulders above the rest. LOS ANGELES (AP) — Stan Lee, the creative dynamo who revolutionized the comic book and helped make billions for Hollywood by introducing human frailties in Marvel superheroes such as Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and the Incredible Hulk, died Monday. Lee was declared dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, according to Kirk Schenck, an attorney for Lee’s daughter, J.C. As the top writer at Marvel Comics and later as its publisher, Lee was widely considered the architect of the contemporary comic book. He revived the industry in the 1960s by offering the costumes and action craved by younger readers while insisting on sophisticated plots, college-level dialogue, satire, science fiction, even philosophy.

[unholyhelbiglinked]

The One with the Blood Bank

CHECK OUT MORE TRIPLE TREBEL ONESHOTS HERE

[NSFW WARNING] 

The once scarlet blood didn't' carry the same vibrant color that it always had. In the dull grey light, it was more of a rustic brown. One that Beca Mitchell had never considered as pretty, or even tolerable. But it was necessary, even with her stomach churning over the deep metallic scent.

She had lost it the first time she was forced to sink her teeth into the warm flesh of another. His skin was salty, but the overwhelming sound of a rapid heartbeat was enough to lull the young girl into finally piercing the vein. Once she had- it was unbearable. The taste strong and unforgivable as it spilled over her lips and dripped against her chin.

Now, after years and years of practice, it was easier for her to contain her mess. To dull the sexual tension that would present itself each time she let out a primal growl at the scent.

Beca ran her tongue haphazardly over the two puncture wounds that she had created, breathing in a deep huff as she pulled away. It was gentle, in the form of a thick pain that would subside with an edge of arousal. Another primal snarl pushing past her silent edge.

Aubrey watched with conviction, her arms crossed over her chest as she cocked her head to the side. Her eyes were deep with lust, and maybe even something more. Feeding was a highly sexual process, to begin with- bridging on trust. That's why she never really condoned these banks. But it kept Beca human to a certain degree. Kept her sane.

"Fuck," The girl mumbled, sitting back on the large white couch. The thought was ironic, a white couch in a place made exclusively for drawing blood. They were comfy, the little vampire would give them that. Regardless, she tried to not make a mess. Dripping her thumb against the corner of her mouth to quell some of the liquid.

The redhead cupped her hand around the wound that graced the edge of her shoulder. She was sore, but not sore enough to reap the undeniable bliss that pushed through her whole entire body. Her chest was heaving up and down, palm pressing greatly to stifle the residual sting.

"Are you okay?" Beca panted, closing her eyes against the dull lighting in the little room that the three of them had holed themselves up in.

"I don't think you're supposed to ask me that." She stated dryly.

"She's not." Aubrey scoffed, a stickler for the rules.

Beca had never heard her speak before- had never worked with her at all, if she was being honest. The younger woman would pass her in the hallways at Barden every once an awhile with her deep electric gaze and kind smile. She was an activist, one that would do anything to help- anything to give back to the community. But this? This wasn't the type of charity she would expect to see the ginger involved in.

"Right," Beca laughed, happy to see that sunny disposition she held dulled by the experience the two of them shared. "I'm sorry, Chloe."

"You know my name?" She asked, knitting her eyebrows together as she flashed her stare over at Aubrey, parting her lips. She looked pale, considerably so. Despite the overwhelming feeling of contempt that came along with feeding, there was a certain aspect of lethargy.

The brunette ran a hand through her hair lazily as she put both feet on the floor, grasping the large pitcher of water that was filled to the brink with vibrant mint leaves and large spheres of lemon. It was a calming combination that made the room smell fresh and natural.

Chloe watched her carefully as she poured a bit of it into the glass- large chunks of ice filling the crystal. It was loud for all three girls, a headache pressing against the side of the gingers temple.

Instead of settling back in her seat with the glass, she handed it to Chloe, who accepted it gratefully. "Most of you… how do you know my name?"

"Let me guess," She leaned back into her original sitting position, letting her ankle hit her opposite knee as she spread her arm over the back of the couch. "You never get much conversation in here, do you?"

"Not really, no" She whispered, dragging large gulps of the water into her mouth. She was thirsty, devastatingly so. Her eyes flicked over to the gorgeous woman on her right- her angelic blonde hair just as show-stopping as the dark green eyes she possessed.

Wordlessly, she sunk into the seat on the opposite side of Chloe, the redhead swallowing down the residual water as she produced her wrist, raising her eyebrows as Beca cocked her head to the side.

"No, thank you." Aubrey wrapped her cold fingers against the girl's skin, lowering it down with little resistance. "I think you've been through enough today."

A wordless confusion passed over the young woman's features. She hadn't been doing this for long- maybe a year at this point. It started out as a simple blood drive, something she wanted to do before she committed to getting a little ladybug tattoo. She never did end up getting the tattoo, but instead had a different type of marking to round out the night.

Chloe Beale had grown to despise the Red Cross, or more like the nurse she had met that day. The one who had convinced her to go out for a few drinks and forget about the pint she had just been drained of. The one who dug her canines into her neck later that night and introduced her to a feeling that was stronger than anything she had ever experienced. One that made her eyes roll back in her head and crave more. Crave that hot feeling and that rough come down.

"You don't want to push yourself too far little one," Aubrey said, wrapping her arm around the girl's shoulder and pulling her back into the plush edge of the white couch. Even someone as meticulous as the blonde could admit when a business made a fowl choice, and this color was a safety hazard.

Despite herself, Chloe relaxed into the woman's touch. She had seen the two around here before. They stuck to one another, but the blonde woman never bared her fangs. She wasn't sure if it was the over-abundance of self-control or the lack thereof that Beca possessed.

The brunette let her palm rest on Chloe's knee, her touch cooling through the denim fabric. A few drops of blood had wicked it's way into the light color over time, but neither seemed to notice as another wave of calm passed over Chloe. It was an effect that they had deep within, not quite mind control, but it was enough to coax the young girl into a dull and lazy intimacy.

"You must stop this," Aubrey said pointedly.

"It's humane," Chloe shot back, her voice tired.

"Well yes," Beca spoke up "I suppose it is, but a girl with a bright future like yours can't go around being a human blood bag."

Aubrey drew in a sharp breath as if to object, but she knew her girlfriend was right. Chloe was beginning to rely too much on the odd and charming sensation that came with the prospect of feeding. Even now, the two of them could see past the aging scars that more had created, some sloppier than others.

Chloe was dressed in a thin black tank-top that exposed enough skin. Her sweatshirt was draped across another tacky chair with an abysmal floral pattern etched against it. Something told both girls that she dressed for winter even in the dead of spring.

"Why do you," Chloe cleared her throat, voice strained "Why do you two care, if I'm not being too forward?"

The blonde let out a simple chuckle, extending her fingers as she placed them so gently under Chloe's chin. It drew an oceanic color to such an earthy one. Damn, the stranger was alluring just like most of her kind, but it felt almost like something more.

"You, little one, are so innocently captivating without offering up your veins like a tap." It was a low whisper, Aubrey's breath hot and iron-filled despite not having drawn from Chloe in the first place.

"I uh-"Chloe swallowed thickly as the woman ran her thumb coolly over her cheek, the blood rushing to them in a red heat. "You're very forward."

Beca squeezed the girls knee with slight pressure. Signaling her presence, but also affirming that she wasn't going anywhere. The two women were drool-inducing, dangerous and so powerful that they drew a certain act of submission from the usually strong-willed Chloe Beale.

"Only if you want me to be," Aubrey purred. It rumbled against her chest as the ginger let out a slight squeak in response. Her eyes widening at the choice that was given to her.

She hadn't lain with a demon since the woman who had pushed her into this lifestyle in the first place. Now here she was in a sealed off room with not one, but two, seductive vixen's.

It wasn't unheard of- usually, vampires accompanied the act of feeding with some sexual activity, but Chloe had never partaken in that herself. Not with like this. Not with the two of them creating such a strong effect on her. She quickly realized why Aubrey hadn't fed on her in the first place; just the act of watching Beca sink her teeth into the smooth skin was enough to make a hot edge radiate from her core.

Chloe flicked her gaze towards Beca's swarthy stare. It was wracked with lust. The danger that the woman possessed countered the regal edge that Aubrey carried heavily with her. Again, a deep surge of electricity rocked through the girl.

The second Chloe took action her brain was on fire, lips pressing hungrily against Aubrey's as she let out what could only be rattled off as a primal growl. One that shook her chest and made the blonde succumb to the sudden touch. Humans had never been this accepting before- this rough. Beca raising her brows as a sly smile moved past her own expression.

"Fuck," She evoked for the second time tonight as her cold touch moved closer to the inside of Chloe's thigh. Lust and desire in her mind as the redheads pulled swollen lips away from Aubrey- the vampire out of breath from even the slight fire filled touch.

She didn't' waste much time as she adjusted her position slightly, letting Aubrey press her hungry mouth back against hers- muffling any type of moan she was sure to emit. Beca leaned into the cushion, adhering her own lips to the pressure point that was sure to be at Chloe's throat.

"How attached are you to this shirt?" She mumbled as she peppered kisses down the woman's jaw. Aubrey leaning back slightly as she let the young woman draw another cool breath into her lungs.

"Not very," Chloe responded voice heavy with lust.

"Good." The brunette rumbled, moving quickly so she was straddling Chloe's midsection, the girl half edged on the couch as cold hands hastily grasping the tank-top at the collar. The fabric tore quickly, a rough snap moving through the room as Chloe arched her back, allowing the piece of material to be discarded completely. The shorter woman let her eyes wander over the girl who craved both her and her girlfriend's touch with complete admiration. She was beautiful, she is beautiful.

"I'm still covered," She said.

"Relax, little one" Aubrey chided "be patient, we've got all the time in the world."

"Some of us do," Chloe pointed out as lips moved back to hers, this time it was Beca- Beca who was hasty compared to the soft touch of her counterpart. It was hot and heavy, making her mouth burn as she tasted the edge of her own blood sweep close to her taste buds.

"Mm," Beca moaned through a laugh that tore at her vocal cords. She like the humor this one possessed. She didn't tip-toe around anything. She savagely spoke her mind and it made that very lust rise in the woman as she started to trail open-mouthed kisses down Chloe's toned mid-section.

Aubrey leaned heavily into Chloe, instructing the girl to lift from the back of the couch as she unhooked the deep pitch bra that still shielded her. Beca shifting midnight eyes up as the fabric fell away, exposing an equally as stunning chest. Aubrey pointing her eyebrows as she turned attention to Chloe's breasts.

She attached her lips, biting down softly on the sensitive area as the ginger let out a deep and sensual moan, moving her own hand up to her lips as she bit down on her palm, stifling the loud noise.

Beca smirked yet again as she easily unzipped Chloe's jeans, having moved down to the edge of the couch as her knees rested on either side of the woman's legs, the fabric hot an unnecessary as she snarled "Chlo, lift up."

The girl did as she was told quickly, allowing Beca to pull her pants and under ware away from her sex. The scent was sweet and intoxicating- Beca admiring the smooth stretch of skin before nipping slightly at the inside of the woman's thigh, dragging her nails over the girl's legs as red lines marked ivory skin.

"Do you want Beca to fuck you?" Aubrey hummed.

"Please," Chloe said as Aubrey's other hand palmed her breast, the woman's tongue once more pressing past her lips as she ran it over the roof of her mouth, mixing her metallic edge with a soft one.

"You heard the woman, Bec" Aubrey smiled into the kiss.

The brunette didn't waste much time as she traced the edge of Chloe's slit with her fingers. Sending shivers up the woman's spine. "God, you're so wet."

"Stop teasing her." Aubrey mumbled into the kiss "It's cruel."

Beca couldn't argue with that. It was cruel. She didn't give much warning as she plunged two fingers into Chloe's wetness, the girl bucking quickly against the touch as she inhaled with such sharpness it was sure to burn her throat. The gasp fading into a drawn-out groan of satisfaction as Beca quickly pulled in and out of Chloe. Aubrey continuing to work against the woman's breasts.

Beca had tasted Chloe, she had felt the warm sensation of the girl's blood drip past her lips and coat her throat- but she needed more- her tongue finding Chloe's bundle of nerves as she teased the woman more than she had before. The shorter girl inserted a third finger, feeling the ginger tighten so roughly against her touch as she stifled a moan against Aubrey's throat.

"Fucking hell" She mumbled, breath hot against sweat covered skin as Beca sat back on her heels, cocking an eyebrow as if looking for some type of praise. She didn't need any- the noises Chloe pushed past her lips was enough insurance that she had done her job well.

The girl was coming down from a high as Beca lifted herself back up on the white colored couch. Placing her hand on the now bare knee to her right. She squeezed it comfortingly again, Chloe's fingers entangled in the fabric of Aubrey's shirt as she dug her head into the blonde's neck, panting like a dog on a hot day.

"So you stop this?" Aubrey mumbled, voice low and sad, in a way. "No more."

"No more," Chloe agreed, not sure if it was the general senses that came to her, or the strange need to be touched after such a long time. But whatever Beca had just done was way more appealing than the deep feeling of dread that filled her after every session. Every feeding that took so much energy away from her. "I promise."

The silence of the moment was interrupted by a slight chuckle from Beca, one that made Aubrey's eyes snap up to her girlfriends with confusion and a bit of ignorance. "What?"

"You went out with a bang." Beca was full on laughing now, almost doubled over as she snorted against the chuckles that pushed past her lips. Chloe rolled her eyes as Aubrey grasped one of those awful white pillows, aiming right at Beca's face.

And Aubrey? Aubrey never misses.

#Beca Mitchell #Chloe Beale #Aubrey Posen #Fanfiction #oneshots #triple treble