#i used to see him as my third fav but now? ever since i've read and seen characters who get heavier more in depth plots?

[yuriyuruandyuraart]

Opinions on Dream? :^

SO many feelings about him omgg rant under cut please forgive me

okay so i don't really talk or draw him much cause honestly,,,most of the times i just think he's a bit....boring? or more accurately plain? not in a mean way either but just in a 'fades into the background' type of way like don't get me wrong!! he's a really nice friend to his peers, his feelings about his powers and aura making his relationships harder to navigate and trust along with his whole conflict with nightmare and morality about what's good and bad IS very cool!! and i love it whenever they write him to be complex and not on this black and white mentality or when he's just straight up following along his friends with no free will or with a dubious purpose without ever addressing his issues or feelings! it's just unsatisfying to me :')

or when they're making him the 'naive' and oblivious, (sometimes childish?) character being marked as the obstacle and villain along with the other star sanses from the fic's pov, always talking about doing good things while fighting his brother and not hearing him out about the balance, (and for weak reasons most of the time. like it's been so long and you STILL haven't sat down with him when he's, generally, basically begged you to just have a talk? guys please :'( ) or when they go for the victim sad dream always missing the old nightmare, where corrupted nightmare is the incarnation of evil, with no sympathy or emotion except anger and sadistic glee, killing and hurting everyone and dream's just trying to protect the multiverse and dream's always been in the right. such extremes!!!

LIKE!! i hope i'm not the only one that thinks a 500+ year old should have had enough time to idk. learn things? about people and manipulation and deceit? after knowing what the villagers did to night? about the bad things in the world and how there's a lot of grey areas in life and that he maybe reflected on his past enough to process and ask himself if there should to be a convo to settle his differences with nightmare (and you can make nightmare the stubborn one too! or have them BOTH be petty and imperfect and have some things wrong and some right at the same time like why do i always see the good guy vs bad guy cliché with these two when they're the perfect example of why positivity doesn't have meaning without the negativity!! as long as there's a satisfying evolution or growth that doesn't leave me empty i'm good yknow?)

plus i believe dream really isn't as dumb as people view him. i do get some of you saying he probably can't read or write since that's actually a pretty interesting idea to explore! but in general please let him have emotions other than pure sunshiny happiness or endless sadness like he's gotta have more depth than that! let him make mistakes, have flaws that don't just make him the bad guy that's always in the wrong by default, and be angry or suspicious or jealous or bitter or battling his mental health problems/depression or malicious or smart or witty or mischievous and silly or sarcastic or ANYTHING dude i just want him to be put into different scenarios where he can be serious or lighthearted like it doesn't even have to be long or perfect but make him feel real.

it could definitely be that i don't read or see much art about dream or really look for it hard enough but also i just. i feel bad for even saying this fr and i wanna be honest about why i don't enjoy most stories about him cause he always gets the worst treatment along with ink!!! especially ink omg the poor guy has it the worst i think like wow do they mess him up :'(

always one dimensional in non shippy fics, or too plain or easily replaceable by other, more entertaining people in the significant other's life in most of his ships like man. i have read fics out there that made me genuinely FEEL and root for him and love his character so much it restored all hope for me!!! but i can only name one on top of my head and the others? it's been so long i don't even remember their names i just legit feel terrible cause i love him still and i can't find many headcanons that fit my interpretation of him yknow?

not to say people who write him very happy, mislead or sad are ruining him like that's silly- if i see something i don't like i just. move on bro i wouldn't force people to feel or think the same way i do about him cause anyone can have whatever headcanons they want!!! just talking about what i personally look for in him and why i can't exactly find it since most of the stuff out there just isn't my cup of tea :')

hopefully i didn't set anyone off with this rambling opinionated essay i just pulled hhh xD i know i know he's a popular character and i know a lot of people like dream so *sobs* please please recommend me artists and fics about him that you think is good it's been so looong since i've read or seen anything new that makes me attached to this little guy aughg<33333

#ask #rambling #delete later? #probably xD i just wanna love him SO much but sometimes he's just *sigh*...forgettable #i tried to explain myself but also it's like 4 am and i skimmed through the proofreading so don't take this too seriously HHH #like really even when i do read good fics about him he's not on the forefront of my mind and it's painful to me :'( #i used to see him as my third fav but now? ever since i've read and seen characters who get heavier more in depth plots? #i can't say it with as much confidence :') and dream lovers out there i am not bashing your choice or even your headcanons #to each their own but i really wanna hear someone be passionate about him in my feed or askbox like TELL me about him #i've seen ink rants out there that are FIRE like so true!!! but where's the dream defense team??? #maybe it's just me tho :') btw i still like cream but not the same way as before if i'm being real #it feels the same...all of it and it makes me wanna bite something ARGHGG #i know i know i ship some stuff that's basic too hhh but dream and cross are always written the same and dream is too innocent #and nightmare is too weird in some of these fics like if MY brother ever tried to literally attack my hypothetical partner???? #i wouldn't give him the :'((( sad face and weakly tell him to 'please stop...you're hurting him'' like NO girl they're TWINS #they're the same age i would tell him to BACK off and not insert himself in my love life after years of ignoring and fighting LIKE #especially since most of the time cross is actually good to dream and all- so he doesn't have a good reason to disrupt his bro's dates #UGH i just have so many opinions but basically i would love him a lot lot more than i do now if they also let him be more flexible #and shake things up like with shattered and stuff! gimme alternate versions of him even if it's too ooc like we do for all the other sanses #jaa i am SO sorry you had to read all that dude thank you so much for passing by :'D

[catty-words]

So, I was scrolling in your ao3 profile for the thousand time, as one usually does, and playing with the filters to see if there was any nhie fic I hadn't read before or if I was in the mood to reread any of my favs, when something kinda surprised me: apparently you wrote 34 nhie fics and devi is a character in 29 of them and ben is a character in 30 of them, even though you claim devi is your fave. Just wanted to point that out cuz it made me laugh, especially bc my mind immediately pictured them bantering about it like ofc they would bicker even about who is the most featured character in cori's fics xD

so many points i want to respond to. first - someone suggesting that my bestest blorbos, ben and devi, would care about being the most featured in my fics is possibly the cutest thing ever said to me. top contender, for sure!

second - gahh, i know, i haven't posted anything since last fuckin year, and even then, late last year was pretty quiet on the fic front. i haven't been reblogging prompt games or indulging any of my 'quick' one-shot ideas because inspiration has been very touch-and-go for the last year and i am stockpiling it for 'a lie away from getting you into the mood', the longer installment of the bitty spark 'verse. at the pace i'm moving now, there's a reasonable chance i'll start posting around june. which probably sounds like a long ways away to you, but will be a monumental feat of will on my part - if i pull it off.

thank you for reading my work. thank you for rereading my work.

third - the implication that devi being tagged in fewer of my fics than ben points to her not being my favorite character is reductive. the context matters.

that said, the opportunity to be obnoxious about my fic catalogue is invaluable to me. again, i thank you.

forth - let's get obnoxious!

fics tagged ben but not devi:

- double vision, in a rose blush (three times ben unexpectedly finds himself in the middle of a daydream about devi and the one time it makes perfect sense to him)

- birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it (howard gross does two things right: eats pussy and gives useful sex talks)

- (you have become a) constant (without headphones and a proper distraction for the bus ride home, ben compiles a list of weird things he easily might have said to devi while drunk on grigio)

fics tagged devi but not ben:

- are you sure you want to delete this photo? (cute af daxton prompt fill)

- meet me where you are (on top of the world) (another prompt fill, one that asked for kamala & devi, but then mr. k spilled all over my inspiration)

fics not tagged with either of them:

- the two fabiola/eleanor ficlets i've written

what does it mean what does it all mean: devi's still very much a part of both 'double vision' and 'constant', but she's not tagged because the version of her that we're seeing doesn't exist outside of ben's head. i mean, that's truer of 'constant' than 'double vision', she honestly could have been tagged in the latter, and the devi that lives in ben's head is still very much a real aspect of devi. but since she's not devi on her own terms, it felt/feels disingenuous to tag her as a character in either fic.

so, that makes 'birds do it, bees do it' the only ben fic in my catalogue that doesn't have anything to do with devi. both of the devi-not-ben fics have nothing to do with ben.

if we're going to take away anything from this exercise, though, let's appreciate how my first fic ever, my entry into writing for the show - 'constant' - is about examining devi from ben's pov. it felt/feels most comfortable to me because i'm just as in love with her as he is. because she is undeniably my favorite character.

#*mic drop* #but also i am kissing you on the top of your sweet sweet head anon #anon #replies #my fic #devi x ben #never have i ever

[sci-fi-pony]

Action Comics #1051 is finally here!! 🥳🎉 My life is complete. My heart is full. I could not stop smiling while reading it.

~ First, the art is gorgeous. Kudos to Sandoval and Herms, they did a fantastic job

~ That intro panel with the whole fam made me so indescribably happy 🥰

~ Kon and Kenan playing video games together!!!!!!!!!!! This is everything I've ever wanted in life. Thank you, PKJ, with all my heart

~ John and Natasha being included in the family dinner night <3

~ Kara being such a good aunt 🥺

~ Really love Jon's new design. Just wish it wasn't so similar to Kon; it's kinda hard to tell them apart now

~ Kon called Kara "cuz"!! <3

~ Clark and Lois getting another chance to be parents finally! (Please please please, DC, just let them have this. It'd be so mean to take it away from them a third time.)

~ Kara's hair is gorgeous in this issue

~ Let's not forget the backup stories! Seeing the White Farm again had me so emotional. That was such a good era :')

~ Ranger! Is! Back! (Seriously though, where DID he disappear to??)

~ Power Girl and Nightwing! Two of my favs in one story, what more could I ask for?

~ LOVE the art in the Power Girl issue as well. It's so whimsical and fun!

I think my only real complaint was the whole thing with Jon apparently not being on board with the new siblings. It's just odd that Clark and Lois didn't think to sit down and have a thorough discussion with him about it. But I'm assuming they'll revisit that plot point later in this story arc, so I'm not too upset. (I'm actually really hoping Kon will be the one to notice and talk to him about it, since he's been through a similar experience of being "replaced" first with Chris and then Jon. It might be a good way for them to bond as well.)

Also, Kenan's new haircut looks so weird to me. I understand why they did that — his usual hairstyle looks too similar to Jon and Kon — but it will definitely take some getting used to.

Anyway, I'm just happy to once again be adding Action Comics to my pull list. Feeling very hopeful for this new direction for the series, and I can't wait to see more of the Superfamily in March. ❤

#superman #action comics #i need to write a real review for the website but wanted to scream my initial feelings first lol #superfamily #superfam #dc comics #comic spoilers

[homielander]

Bestie I followed you for Outer Banks so that one for the ask game

you- you followed me for outer banks? i am so sorry

the first character i ever fell in love with: pretty sure i started liking all of the pogues at about the same time? but i believe it was pope since he was introduced as the Nerd and i was immediately in love

a character that i used to love/like, but now do not: i really liked ward in the beginning! it was fairly apparent from the get-go that he would be the villain (i think it clicked for me in his third scene or something) yet he was still charming enough for me to appreciate him. but it quickly became clear how awful he was to his children and that made me :/ i can excuse murder but i draw the line at child abuse

a ship that i used to love/like, but now do not: can't think of any for this show

my ultimate favourite character™: jj maybank, light of my life and actual human disaster. but also pope, rafe, and kiara

prettiest character: i have thought ever since i first watched that both sarah and kiara look like the very two moxie girls dolls i had as a kid. they're so pretty

my most hated character: limbrey's brother. not relevant enough for me to remember his name. what an ass

my OTP: jjpope and jiara! 

my NOTP: i've seen a lot of people ship rafe and kie and like, aside from the fact that they've had a total of three scenes together... he’s also attempted to murder her in 2/3 scenes? what is wrong w y'all why do you hate her so much

favourite episode: oh my gosh. 2.10 was fantastic! it was so fun!! i loved all the boat shenanigans, i loved seeing cleo again, i loved that rafe and john b scene where rafe came off as a slasher film villain, i loved poor wheezie just wanting to play a game with her sister, so on and so forth. and i also adore 1.06 (where they go to the spooky mansion to extract the gold). it's scarier than so many horror movies and i love the moment of celebration that the pogues have at the end. it gives me... i think they call it serotonin?

saddest death: peterkin! listen i rewatched s1 after the second season came out and tbh, she was a little bit corrupt. but ultimately she had the best interests of the kids at heart and i was so sad when she died.

favourite season: definitely liked season 1 the most. god i honestly miss early quarantine so bad and obx1 was a huge part of that for me.

least favourite season: season 2. it was still a fun watch, don't get me wrong, but i think at times it prioritized high-thrill action sequences over authentic character moments. i read something about how obx is very unique in that it managed to capture a large male audience (around 50% of its viewers), and maybe that's why? however, i think the first season managed to be lowkey but also high stakes and i do believe they'll try to replicate a similar vibe for the third season. i just miss my kids chilling at the beach ya know?

character that everyone else in the fandom loves, but i hate: can't think of anyone. the main cast is very likable

my 'you're a piece of trash, but you're still a fav' fav: RAFE CAMERON! it took me so long to accept that i liked him because i was so upset about peterkin, but they gave him so much depth in the second season and drew starkey delivered such an excellent performance. and when i rewatched the first season i ended up just feeling awful for him :( he needs jail but also therapy

my 'you're a beautiful cinnamon roll who deserves better than this' fav: jj. kiara. pope. sarah. john b. they all deserve better i will protect them with my life

my 'this ship is wrong, nasty, and makes me want to cleanse my soul, but i still love it' ship: not going to lie i kind of fw rose and ward. it was just so unexpected to me that she ended up being more cold and calculating than ward himself and helped him rein it in when he was freaking out about another murder he'd committed. power couple that needs to stay far away from their three kids <3

my 'they're kind of cute, and i lowkey ship them, but i'm not too invested' ship: jarah! to be honest their buildup was SO GOOD but everything after that first kiss fell flat for me which is disappointing. i feel like both of them lost a lot of personality after getting together. i still want to see them be happy and in love, but i would also really like for them to spend some time apart in season 3 (not necessarily broken up, just not on screen together)

#my one and only original obx post is also my most popular post #and it was so low effort too #which frankly is kind of hilarious and really speaks to how dead my main fandom is #but i appreciate you for continuing to follow me anon!! i still love my gold-hunting children i promise #even though i never post them #also thank you for the ask!! #outer banks #asks

[xaori]

fic writer review

I wasn't going to do this until tomorrow, but I couldn't wait. The fantastic @defaultjane asked me to answer, so here I am. I won't tag any particular writer, I'll just forward her invitation to do it if you feel like it ❤

1. How many works do you have on ao3? Eleven. Now ask me how many I have on Ffnet lol It's fifteen.

2. What’s your total ao3 word count? 

624573 words. Not bad for someone who started writing chapters no longer than 2K hahaha

3. How many fandoms have you written for? 

Officially, just one: Resident Evil. But I used to write some The Legend of Zelda/Pokémon Crossover stories (including self inserts) when I didn't even know that fanfiction was a thing. Thankfully you will never get to read that lol

4. Top 5 fics by kudos? 

Family Portrait

Just Friends

Merry Un-Christmas

Inside, Outside

A Third Chance So happy this one made it on the list, too hahaha

5. Do you respond to comments?

Always! There was just one comment I never replied to and it came from a troll. I will be forgiven. I also used to respond to replies to my own comments, but I'm getting pretty lazy lately LOL

6. A fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending: That's a hard one. My fics always have flowery happy endings. I guess the one with the angstiest ending so far is Secrets.

7. Do you write crossovers? 

No Crossovers since the TLOZ/Pokémon thing, I swear ✋🏻 

8. Ever received hate on a fic? 

Not sure if I would call it hate or braindeath, but I received very creative troll comments on Family Portrait chapter 22. They even wrote a scene about me being raped by Wesker and Chris and posted it in the comment section. I was so proud lol

9. Do you write smut? 

Yes. Fluff and smut is basically all I write.

10. Have you ever had a fic stolen? 

Yes! Drake Oskars stole Inside, Outside and published it on Amazon. He even copied the A/N with all the messages to my readers. Thanks to all the people who helped get this shit removed. I seriously hope nobody ever paid for reading it LMAO

11. Ever had a fic translated? 

Sadly no, but I've been asked very often to translate my fics into Spanish 😊

12. Have you ever co-written a fic? 

I have many helping hands, but no co-author :)

13. All time fav ship? 

I'm almost sad to say that my favorite ship doesn't involve my favorite character, Claire Redfield, but I'm sure that my all time fav ship is Valenfield ❤

14. WIP you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

The only valid reason for me to leave a fic unfinished forever is death.

But there are some sequels I promised to write and which will probably never see daylight.

15. Writing strengths?

My fabulous beta says that my writing improves when it's smut. I believe him lol My strength is smut.

16. Writing weaknesses?

Everything but smut? Lol. Dialogue, probably. I hate when people have to talk.

17. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in a fic? 

I did that a couple of times myself. I'm not against it as long as there's no important content locked in a foreign language. I'm the kind who goes to Google Translate whenever there's something I don't understand anyway, but it shouldn't be a message of importance.

18. First fandom you wrote for? 

I mentioned the Zelda/Pokémon thing, right? 

Resident Evil!

19. What’s your fav fic you’ve written so far? 

Too much, never enough. It probably needs a rewrite, but it's a super solid idea I'm ridiculously proud of and it NEVER got enough love. 

#xaori writes stuff #xaori always forgets to tag

[sineala]

Hey! Since you're one of the sources of comic knowledge, I have to ask. Has Marvel ever permanently killed a superhero? Also what are the chances that Marvel would be willing to kill Tony or Steve? Bc your fics among others made me curious about reading the comics but I don't wanna get into that if Marvel is just gonna end up killing my fav character (I've heard a lot abt the current Tony being not real??). I have had enough of that from mcu

Hi there! I am glad you are curious about comics (and sorry to hear about your MCU-related sadness), and I'm sitting here trying to think of a good way to answer your question, because I think you're presuming something about comics that isn't really true. It's not really like other fandoms.

Basically, the deal in comics is that you should never, ever expect anyone to die permanently. But the corollary to this is that comics have been around for so long that it may take a while for someone to get brought back, but eventually it's probably going to occur to someone at Marvel that their story would be a lot more fun if only So-and-So Man were in it, and then they contrive a way to get him back. Take Bucky as an example. The saying used to be that "nobody in comics stays dead except Bucky, Jason Todd, and Uncle Ben," and, well, two-thirds of those people came back. No one thought Bucky was ever coming back, until Ed Brubaker started writing Captain America, and he'd apparently wanted to bring Bucky back since he was a kid, and well... that's what he did. (And then he killed Steve, but I'm pretty sure no one thought Steve was going to stay dead.)

Even heroes whose death has been given a lot of weight still get to come back. Take Mar-Vell. He got an entire Death of Captain Marvel graphic novel, very tragic, very moving -- and yet, they've still brought him back at least twice. He's currently dead now, but I'm sure if they wanted him alive, they could bring him back again.

So when you ask if they've ever permanently killed a superhero -- I mean, sure, there are characters who have died who haven't come back yet, but given how the comics universe works, there's nothing saying Marvel can't eventually come up with a way. I think non-powered characters are more likely to stay dead; for example, Happy Hogan's been dead since Civil War, and there are no signs he's coming back any time soon, but Marvel can always surprise me.

Both Steve and Tony have died more than once each, but they are popular enough -- they've both had an ongoing presence and their own solo (and/or shared with each other) comic since the 60s, enough that I think it's really, really extremely unlikely that Marvel will kill either of them off permanently. They've been in comics for decades and I don't see why they'd stop now. I am pretty sure there's going to keep being Captain America and Iron Man comics, because they keep selling. (You can contrast this with a character like, say, Doctor Strange, who has gone long periods of time without a solo book or even any book.)

However, the other thing you should know about comics is that sometimes... there will just be a lot of comics you don't like. And that's okay! It is the case now that most of Steve/Tony fandom, as far as I can tell, is generally not enjoying much about Avengers, Captain America, or Iron Man. But there are always old comics to read and write about (don't worry, no one expects anyone else to have read them all), and I suspect Marvel is going to end up totally ignoring or writing around "Tony Stark isn't real" after Slott leaves the book (because, seriously, it makes no sense) and the promo art for the Empyre event shows what is probably him on the team as Iron Man anyway.

Being into comics is about learning to pick and choose the parts of canon that you like and ignoring the rest, because honestly there's a lot of it and it all contradicts each other. You can generally expect to see continuity within one writer's run on one comic; if you are very lucky, the people writing the comics at the same time will talk to each other and make sure everything lines up, but unless an event is happening, mostly they do not. This is why (1) Steve and Tony are both current active Avengers, (2) Steve is currently on the run and hiding from the law because he broke out of prison, and (3) Tony is currently on the run and leading the robot revolution. Somehow all of these things are true. Comics are a mess. Don't let it bother you. But if any storylines sound fun, feel free to hop on board and try reading some. There are actually plenty of fun comics out there!

#shitistanstank #replies

[bluboothalassophile]

hello, how are you? i'd like to say that i've read all your fanfics, they are so amaziing, i love your writing, my favs are the ones w/ raex, they are so much fun! well, and i hope that it's ok if i could request you a fic w/ raex & the batfam, it would be possible, if not to trouble, for one where the batfam are going split their time with Raven (in each in different ways, even Bruce & Alfred) and Jason is, kind of, the last one, but the important one! Thank you so much!!

Hello, 

I’m holding up, how are you? I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the stories so thoroughly, they are fun to write. I hope you enjoy the following. =)

Sacrifices…

The team-up had been unlikely, and whatever the pair had reallygone through before this moment was an unknown.

Dick had known Raven since she was twelve, and he’d knownJason since he was twelve, they hadn’t ever really been close but Dick knewJason had liked Raven. Raven was easy to like, except her bitchy phase when shewas seventeen, but Jason had been going through his revenge phase at the timeso…

It could be overlooked.

Anyways, the mission which had landed him sitting at hisbaby brother’s side in the glass of the League’s ICU was a team up betweenJason and Raven. An alien force had attacked the Titans and the Outlaws; they’dbeen after Kori, Raven and Jason had somehow managed to slip their attackersand ended up teaming up to come save them.

Now Dick was sitting with Jason staring at his littlebrother, who’s condition was critical but nowhere near as bad as Raven’s.

Raven had taken on a full assault of Kryptonian lazar eyes,which had nearly severed her in half, and since she’d shielded Jason, Jason hadgotten a good brunt of the attack too. Not to mention the power punches they’dtaken from the teams while the teams were under the mind control of theirenemies. Thankfully Raven’s empathy, and her reflection of hers’ and Jason’sjoint pain had shattered whatever hold the enemy had had on them.

However, the damage was done by that point, and it had comeat the cost of Raven and Jason, and now he was just sitting here, waiting, fornews on Raven’s condition, her magic was not making the surgery easy.

“You know, you and Raven could have called the League, noshame in needing help,” he informed Jason’s unconscious form. Two fractured vertebrae,a shattered femur, broken humerus, a collar bone which looked like gravel, sixbroken ribs, a cranial bleed, fractured cheek, fractured jaw, third degreeburns, blood loss, burns, and bruises, all this made his younger brother looklike a pale, yet colorful version of himself.

“The whole family will be here soon,” Dick promised, notwilling to touch his little brother in fear of break him at this moment. “WhenBruce gets here I’ll go sit with Rae, you, just… you focus on not dying.Raven’s only family is Cy, and he’s off world, so don’t think I’m ditching you,just she’ll need someone too.”

No response aside from the rhythmic sounds of the machineskeeping his brother alive.

Dick sighed and wondered how Raven and Jason had survivedthis long, and if he should thank them for saving his and the teams asses, orif he should yell at them for nearly dying. If they woke up he’d decide then,no, not if, when, when they woke up. Both Raven and Jason were too stubborn fortheir own goods, and right now that would be their blessing. Dick stood whenDinah appeared trembling.

“The Bats are here, and Raven’s stable, but she’s lost toomuch blood and we don’t have a compatible blood type for her,” Dinah saidsoftly. It was like a punch to the gut.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Tim hadn’t been involved with the Titans, and Outlaw’sattack, he’d been off with Bruce on a case at the time. Which was why when heskidded to a halt and looked at Jason’s prone form.

“Where’s Nightwing?” Tim asked in a gasped out noticing thattheir eldest brother wasn’t there then and Dick wouldn’t leave Jason alone unless…

“He’s with Raven, she’s on different deck, two up, and fourdoors from the right,” a passing League nurse answered and Tim looked at Jasonwith Bruce, Cass, Alfred, Kate, Barbara, Damian, Stephanie, and Duke before hebit his lip.

Raven’s only family was Victor, and Vic was… Tim had no ideawhere Victor was, but he wasn’t here.

“Go sit with her, RR, we’ll watch Red for a bit, Robin willbe up to relieve you and Nightwing,” Barbara supplied. Tim nodded and bolted ashe ran through the space station for the deck where most magic users were putwhen they were injured. Skidding into the room he saw Raven hooked up to azillion different machines, covered almost head to two in bandages, her shortpixie cut hair was matted and her face looked horribly disfigured.

“Did you… you know, call Cy?” Tim asked hesitantly walkinginto Raven’s room slow with how he saw her black energy cackling around her, onguard, on attack.

“I called, no answer, but I left him a message,” Dickanswered in a strained tone.

“Hey Rae, it’s me,” Tim greeted her as he pulled up a chair.“Um… I don’t…I’m sorry this happened to you, but the League’s got greatdoctors, they’ll have you fixed up in no time!”

His sickly pale, gray friend did not respond as her chestwas forced to rise and fall with the aid of a machine to breath.

“There’s no blood matches for her RR,” Dick muttered, Tim’shead snapped up.

“What!?”

“Yeah, aside from Etrigan there’s no demons here really, andRaven’s never been…” Dick gestured helplessly to Raven’s broken body. “She’snot good. Not good at all.”

“How’d this happen?” Tim asked tiredly. Oh, Tim knew how,but he mean how had it gotten this bad that Raven and Jason had teamed uprather than call the League and they’d both nearly died in the process. Andthey still might.

“We should get her to earth, keep her close, her and Red,B’s with Red right now,” Tim supplied for Dick and his elder brother nodded.

“I know, I wouldn’t have left him if B wasn’t with him,”Dick said softly.

“Arrow and Supes still want to arrest him?”

“Yup.”

Tim scowled but didn’t argue this point, Jason had known hismethods were frowned upon, but he stood by them.

“If you want to go be with him, I’ll sit with her, for a bit,”Tim offered.

“We’re going to take rotations, Zatanna thinks she’s toolethal to be left alive,” Dick said.

Tim nodded as Dick stood and tiredly walked out.

“You and Red are the two dumbest people I know, next timecall for help, Rae, I’d have come,” Tim stated to the unconscious woman.

No response.

Not that he was expecting one.

~~~*~*~*~~~

It’d been two weeks since the ‘incident’, honestly, no onewas calling it a battle, because that would imply that both chances had stoodan equal chance. Raven and Jason had stood no chance, but they’d still comecharging after them.

There’d been no word from Victor or that team as of yet, notthat it would have done any good at this moment.

No, it would not matter because Bruce was taking his sonhome, and Dick had already dictated that Raven was coming with. Richard, Timothy,and Damian had all agreed on the matter and presented a united front in thematter. Bruce hadn’t cared though because he was taking the young demon withthem either way. Constantine had even come and prepped a room with the properseals for her. Alfred had gone about collecting all the proper equipment even.Bruce was currently sitting with the young demon as he awaited the aid ofConstantine and Dr. Fate.

Bruce was reading AnnaKarenina to the comatose girl because that was the book Dick had found onthe top of her nightstand.

Honestly, Bruce had never actually bothered to meet thisyoung woman, he had never really wanted to, and Raven had never come to Gotham.She was a friend of his sons and outside of the collected reports he had on herhe could honestly say he knew nothing about her. It was saddening since she washeld in such high esteem with Dick, Tim, and Damian; the youngest being themost difficult to impress.

There was a broken whimper from the bed which had his eyessnapping to her from behind the cowl.

“Wh’r… red?” she rasped, her eyes were barely slits andBruce was up as he leaned over her.

“Safe, you’re both safe,” he answered softly, in a tone hereserved more for his girls than his sons. The young woman’s swollen lips weremoving slightly but what she was whispering was a mystery for he didn’t thinkit was a language they’d ever catalogued.

“You saved your team, you’re safe, you’re coming home withus,” Bruce said softly, he hesitated a moment before he touched her shouldergently. The young empath sighed.

“Safe,” she whispered.

“Yes,” he assured her and her eyes fluttered shut as shebreathed. She’d been breathing on her own for about a day now, but the youngdemon seemed so terribly weak.

“B, we’re ready,” a voice had him looking up at Dick and Timboth standing there solemn. “Black Canary, BG, and Robin have Red, we’re herefor Rae now.”

Bruce nodded as he stood to hurry after his son. The onlyreason he hadn’t been with Jason was because Raven had no one and Tim hadinsisted they take shifts, keep Jason out of custody, and Raven out of harm.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Duke was new to the Wayne family, he was still technicallyin training, and he had never met a Titan before. Hell, he hadn’t really metthe ‘super’ community outside the Bats. And yeah, he knew of Jason, but hedidn’t know him. Which was why he’d volunteered faster than any of them to lookafter Raven.

Bruce would want to see to Jason’s care personally, andRaven didn’t really have anyone outside of Dick, Tim, and Damian, and thatdidn’t seem right. Her brother would be here as soon as he could be, but untilthen Raven had no one. And Duke knew what that felt like which had him sittingwith her.

“So… um… yeah,” he muttered to the unconscious woman. Shelooked to be about Jason’s or Tim’s age, or there abouts. “I know we’ve never…”

“I’m Duke,” he decided. She didn’t reply, she was still, andsilent. “Yeah, I guess you could say I’m new to the whole vigilant thing… I’veheard awesome things about you, and I’ve seen you on the news occasionally.It’s cool.”

“She likes books, Duke,” a voice interrupted him and Duke’shead snapped over to Dick who swaggered in, stuffing his hands in his pantspockets.

“Books?” Duke asked.

“Yeah, aside from maybe Little Wing, I don’t think there’s abigger bookworm on the planet,” Dick grinned a bit.

“You mean she likes Shakespeare and stuff?” he balked; hecould suddenly see how Raven and Jason might get along. Duke was not overlyfond of Jason’s tastes in books.

“Yeah, but she reads modern stuff too, do not read her Twilight, that’ll have her magicblasting you out of the country faster than you can blink, just read to her,”Dick suggested.

“Huh,” Duke managed as he looked over at the gray woman.

“I gotta go, take care of her, and Rae, don’t blast my newbrother, he’s still learning,” Dick said as he jogged out.

Duke looked over at the woman, her black energy swirled and dissipatedas the room cooled. He pursed his lips for a moment then smiled a bit. “How doyou feel about music Raven?”

No response, not that he expected one.

In less than an hour he had a system set up, and some of thebest tracks he’d brought with him playing.

“I’m not much of a book guy, but music, I got you covered,”he grinned smugly, as the music filled the room. He figured she liked it ordidn’t mind it, she hadn’t zapped him into the Atlantic yet. He hummed along,and noticed the occasional shadow bobbing with him. He was betting Raven waspretty cool when she was awake. For now, though, he just watched the shadowsoccasionally dance as Gotham’s rain fell outside the window.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Barbara was working in Raven’s room, there was a peaceemanating from the demon which had cleared her mind, Duke’s music was a must,he insisted Raven liked piano, classical, symphony, or jazz; she apparently alsoliked John Legend. Not that there was much of a way of gaging Raven’s tastes inmusic with her unconscious state.

Not that Barbara was complaining, the music was soothing.However, she was mostly here because of the peace Raven was radiating. Neithershe nor Jason had awoken from the attack in four weeks, neither showed signs ofstirring other than their brain activities.

“You know, when Dick first met you he would not shut upabout how cool you were, an antisocial jerk from time to time but he said you werethe coolest,” Barbara blurted out.

Actually, Dick thought Kori was the coolest ever, but thathad been a sore spot for Barbara.

“He likes you, a lot, so does Tim, and Damian, and do youknow how hard it is to get those two to even like the same things let alone thesame person!? It’s a miracle, and I think if you wake up you and Jason wouldget along,” Barbara admitted. There was a slight stir in the air, but Barbaraignored it as she sipped her coffee.

“I wonder if you have girl friends other than Kori, Dick’snever said anything, and aside from Donna the Titans are either younger thanyou or guys. When you wake up I suggest you come and hang with Steph, Dinah,Cass and I, it won’t be a mushy girl’s slumber party either. We’ll get pizza,beer; Dinah insists on that, pop in a movie, and grill you up for some juicygossip on the Titan’s latests,” Barbara grinned.

The unconscious woman said nothing, but she hadn’t woken upaside from once with Bruce and asked about Jason.

“You know, I’m curious, do you have a crush on Dick, or Jay,or Tim? Dick I’d get, he’s charming, hot, honest, and amazing; don’t tell him Isaid that. I think you and Jay might hit it off, not sure though, he’s surly,and you strike me as surly too, so maybe… and Tim, Tim’s just the sweetest guyever. Then again, I’m told you dated Garfield, but that was years ago, I didn’tkeep up with Titan’s gossip.”

There was a flash of shadows, which had Barbara smiling. Oh,she was in there, Barbara saw it now, she could see what Duke had seen.

“Okay, so maybe we could chalk that mistake up to teenageidiocies? I mean you’re what? Nineteen, eighteen? Yeah, that’d be a stupidmove, a teenage flameout. They happen, I dated this guy once, and let me tellyou, for as great as he looked he had the personality of a rock, stupid teenagehormones though…” Barbara sighed and continued her typing.

The shadows dissipated and Barbara was a bit disappointedwhen they stopped moving. Raven was in there, somewhere.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Stephanie was not the best visitor, and she’d admit it. Shecouldn’t stand seeing Jason hooked up to so many machines, or listening toAlfred and Leslie talk about the rehab on if he survived. They’d all had ascare the other day when Jason flatlined, then Raven had, it was weird.

After getting both Jason and Raven; who were flatlining, tothe cave there was a power surge, and then all the glass shattered pitchingthem into the blackness. Then Jason’s monitor had beeped, Raven’s hadn’t. Brucehad scrambled to fixing Jason, who had stabilized, Leslie and Dick had beenfrantically working Raven over to bring her back. When Raven’s heart hadfinally started again, after six minutes of just flatlining, all the power wasrestored.

Something had happened between Jason and Raven, somethingweird. And now the two were in rooms right across from one another. J’onn hadbeen called in to consult, but he wasn’t here yet.

Tim had asked her to sit with raven, because after the otherday none of the Batbros wanted to leave Jason, but at the same time they didn’twant Raven left alone. Not that Steph blamed them, the witch could probably dosome serious damage if yesterday was a display of anything. Cautiously sheapproached the unconscious bandaged form of Raven.

“So… I don’t think we’ve ever properly met,” Stephanieblurted out, she honestly had no idea what she was supposed to say right now.“I’m Stephanie, Stephanie Brown, but you probably know that already…”

“Okay, completely serious here now, can you tell me aboutTitan Tim? I mean he’s so… Tim, so what’s it like with him as the leader? Is hecool or something? Oh, Dick said you like books, I like thrillers myself,things with horror and scares in them. And have you ever tried a shwarma, Imean what is that? Is it a drink or a dance or a food? I can’t decide, if Iever figure it out, and you’re… you know, alive, we’ll go try it.

“Oh, you’re supposed to be like super smart, I need a tutorin my statistics class, don’t tell Tim because he won’t let me hear the end ofit. Maybe you could help me out with that, I mean you’ve got to be smart tohave kept up with Dick, and Tim, now you deal with the bat brat… you deserve amedal. I mean aside from Jason you’ve dealt with all the Bat insanity dramasince you got to earth… Then again they could have suckered you into think allthis was normal, they’ve brainwashed and corrupted you! I will have to speak toyour ‘big brother’ about this,” she giggled and she just let herself babble.

It was kind of fun, she’d have sworn the lights brightened abit, and the shadows danced, however, it was seven weeks since the fight andneither Raven nor Jason were waking.

Yet.

“Don’t go, yet,” she whispered. “I’d like to meet you, andget blackmail material on Tim and the demon brat.”

~~~*~*~*~~~

Cass had been an ever vigiliant sister at Jason’s side,however, her brother had gone in for another surgery he needed, Raven had justreturned from hers’, so Cass was perched in Raven’s room watching the grey herointently. If anything went amiss she was to get Bruce or Alfred immediately.

However, the demon did not wake, or stir, she just breathed.

Slowly Cass crept forward, peeking over the end of the bedat Raven. The woman didn’t react. Carefully Cass climbed onto the bed andgently traced the young woman’s bandages. This was the woman who had saved herbrothers, who had nearly died shielding Jason as best she could. She was fullyaware of Raven being found atop Jason, shielding him, and Cass could onlyimagine the pain she must be in with these burns, and with these injuries.

Slowly Cass looked up at Raven’s indifferent face.

Raven was one of those people who was indifferent, Cass hadsought out the minute signs, the slight tells, the little indications ofRaven’s intents, however Raven was stillness. Cass could remember the firsttime she’d seen Raven, and how still the young woman had been. Of course Ravenwas stillness in chaos, the Tower was chaos, and Cass remembered how calm andstill Raven was. It was baffling, and a challenge to read.

Gingerly Cass moved Raven’s hair off her brow, the othernever stirred.

She was pretty, Cass decided. Not traditionally orexotically pretty, but there was something beautiful about Raven, a stillnessCass couldn’t describe. Perhaps that was why Tim had chattered on and on aboutRaven, perhaps that was why Damian blushed, perhaps it was what had stabilizedDick. The peace, the calm Raven radiated.

“Thank you,” Cass whispered. She could quite explaineverything she was thanking Raven for, but there was much to thank the Titanfor. Cass had seen the photos, heard the stories, even studied the footage, sheknew Raven was an important member of the Titans.

“Your brother’s coming, hang on,” Cass whispered. Eightweeks since the fight, and Cass had heard the frantic shouts over the phonefrom Victor Stone to Dick, or Tim, that he was coming he’d be there, but theLatern Corps were not making it simple.

There was no emotions or stirrings of shadows then, just awarmth which filled the room and had Cass smiling a bit. She reached over andgingerly tucked an errant strand of hair behind Raven’s ear before slipping offthe bed and back to her post as she sat sentry duty over Raven until one of theothers came to relieve her.

Not that she minded.

This woman had saved her brothers, she would watch overRaven for as long as needed. For now though she just watched her carefully,hoping nothing went wrong with the demon’s healing body. She had to live, shewas important, she was serenity.

~~~*~*~*~~~

The day Damian visited Raven was the first time since sheand Jason had simultaneously flatlined, and he glared at her. Raven was neverlike this, J’onn had something about Raven and Jason being on a differentplane; Raven’s doing, and that they were linked until one woke up. Stalking upto her bed, Alfred the cat and Titus on his heels he glared at his teammate.

“You cannot die! That is reckless and irresponsible!” hesnapped.

She didn’t reply.

He scowled. “I’d expect this recklessness from Todd, you aresupposed to be levelheaded and responsible. You are not supposed to justblindly follow Todd into a fight you could never win! I do not understand howyou could be so careless!”

He felt a dampness in his eyes which had him biting hischeek hard as he kept the emotions he was having at bay then. Raven was hisfriend, she was of the few he could claim as a friend who did not belong in hisfamily. She was a good friend too, solid council, and she had been sure ofherself. Damian had always admired that about her. But right now… now hedidn’t. He wanted to scream at her, to demand answers, to demand that she andTodd live; because as J’onn had described it, if one died, so did the other. Atleast, until they were awake.

“Why did you do it? I cannot figure out why you would dothis! You and Todd stood no chance, so why did you come? Why did you let ushurt you? You should have gotten the League, you should have stopped Todd, youshould have…” he trailed off.

Raven wasn’t going to answer his demands, he knew that, buthe didn’t like this as he sat on her bed then. She wouldn’t mind. Damianscowled as he remembered his last words to Todd before the attack had happened;it’d been months prior to the attack since Todd was not around that much. He’dcalled his elder brother ‘a good for nothing stray unable to be tamed’, Jasonhad sort of left after that altercation. And he remembered his final words toRaven before the attack; ‘an untrustworthy, genocidal demon’, and how hurtshe’d appeared; indifferent Raven had actually looked like he’d stabbed her.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered after a long time. “I did not meanwhat I said, I was just… I was so angry, and I did not mean to lash out at you,and I did not mean what I had said to Todd either. So you can’t die, I will notallow it!”

There was something soothing in the room as he curled upwith Titus at the foot of Raven’s bed. Nine weeks since the attack, and neithershe nor Todd appeared to be waking anytime soon. Whatever was going on hewished it would stop so they would wake and come back. He could not stand thethought of losing people anymore.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Kate wasn’t really here for any other reason than the Batswere spread thin with how Jason was injured. Seriously, the fool could havedied! But she wasn’t going to stand there and bitch about it to a comatose boy.

Also, she wasn’t with Jason at the moment, no, she’d beenasked to stand in over Raven while Dick slept, and Alfred handled Jason’sbandages, and the family was on patrol.

Now, Kate hadn’t ever met Raven, hadn’t ever encountered thedemon, and had never really cared about Dick’s, or Tim’s, or Damian’s storiesregarding the Titans or this demon. No, it wasn’t personal, just Kate had herown problems and quite frankly she wasn’t interested in the stories of a groupof teenagers. But now, she was standing in a room, with Duke’s music playing,drawings from Damian scattered about, a pile of books Tim and Dick had broughtin, Stephanie’s homework, and Babs’ computer set up. There were other odditiesin the room, signs of Bruce, and of Alfred being here, a lot. Sighing shewalked in and flopped into the seat.

The young gray woman didn’t respond to her presence at all,Kate had heard a lot about the expressiveness of the shadows, but tonight,there was nothing.

“I’m only here because Alfred said he wanted privacychanging Jason’s bandages,” Kate informed the girl. “It’s not like Jason hassomething I haven’s seen before, but I guess the guy likes his privacy. I getthat, I mean he’s got a zillion safe houses.

“And then there’s you, and I’m informed Alfred alreadychanged out your bandages. Is your skin always grey? Not to be rude oranything, but you’re the first demon I’ve ever met. I bet that would havereally messed with segregation big time. Are you white? Or are you black? Iguess that’d be a grey area, no pun intended.”

Kate sighed as she looked the young woman over, she lookedso tired, serine, but exhausted. It was like there was a whole other battlegoing on, and it was one they couldn’t see or know about.

“You know, I don’t know anything about magic or stuff, butyou look like hell right now, and I don’t think that’s normal. Perhaps when youwake up you should take time off, go see a movie or something. Sorry, Dick saidyou were a book girl, so maybe go to the beach or something,” she shrugged.Kate honestly had no idea what the demon would find fun. “Do demons even likethe beach?”

No response.

“Well, if not, go try it, it’s cool. And you don’t look likea demon, I’d expect you to have red skin, glowing eyes, and horns or somethingon your head. Grey skin and a human look, it’s not very demon like,” Kateshrugged.

She hated dealing with the injured and strangers. She pickedup a book at random, the Iliad,opening it up she started reading it aloud.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Alfred had diligently tended to Miss Roth and Master Jasonas best as he could, and he was starting to feel the exhaustion of it. Elevenweeks since the incident and neither had woken up. Jason’s body was healingfaster than a normal human’s; Alfred had thought that to be remnants of the Pitthough. There was a slightly pained noise from the young woman as he examinedher wounds then, and he looked up to her face and his breath caught.

Staring back at him, for the first time in twelve weeks werethe alert, dark, open eyes of Miss Roth staring back at him. He was so startledhe dropped the gauze in his grasp.

“Where am I?” her voice rasped in the monotone she was knownfor speaking in.

“Wayne Manor, the boys… they insisted we bring you and Jasonhome,” Alfred answered as he walked up to be better in her line of sight.

She winced as she nodded.

“Alfred! Jason’s awake!” came a shout, which had Alfred’sheart stopping, he’d have run for the lad had the young woman not bitten herlip as she hissed out in pain.

“Miss Roth…” Alfred started.

“Go, your grandson is a pain,” she smiled weakly, Alfredlooked at her unfinished bandages but he needed to see Jason himself.

“I will be back swiftly, Miss Roth,” he assured her as hestrode with purpose out of the room. Jason was sitting up, dazed and a bitconfused, and Alfred’s heart stopped at the sight.

“Shit! Where is she!?” Jason shouted, there was no way thelad should even be up, but Jason was furiously trying to detangle himself fromthe lines.

“Master Jason, calm down,” Alfred intercepted his chargethen as Dick and Bruce frantically tried to calm Jason.

“No! She’s being stupid and going to die if you don’t stopher!” Jason shouted.

“Whatever do you mean Master Jason?” Alfred started.

“Someone knock us out! Now! Raven’s stupid empathy!” Jasonsnapped, but it was too late, there was a surge of blackness through the house,as everything shattered, and Jason; who should not have been able to move atall, was up and out of the bed.

There was a lot of blood on Raven’s body, and Alfred’sbreath hitched seeing it.

“What happened?” Bruce demanded.

“The damn thing we were fight about,” Jason snapped. “Sheused all her empathy on fixing me up.”

The young woman’s heart monitor showed her heart was weakeningas they pulled her down to the cave to fix this.

Alfred could only thank her for saving Master Jason, but hewas now frantically trying to help Bruce stabilize the demon as the boysgathered round and someone called for Leslie. There was a lot of blood comingfrom the young woman’s recently healed wounds. However, his eyes flicked up tosee Jason standing there perfectly alright, and he could not be disappointedwith Raven. He just didn’t want her to die from saving Jason.

~~~*~*~*~~~

It’d been a week since Jason had woken up, and the way heexplained it was that the final blast had had Raven tearing their souls fromtheir bodies before they could be killed as she unleashed her empathy attack.Since then, she and Jason had been stuck together in a state where they werealert to everyone and everything around them; meaning they’d both been aroundthe entire twelve weeks they’d been unconscious; and watching. Raven had keptJason from ‘walking into the light’. The week they’d both simultaneously flatlinedwas apparently the day a fight had erupted between them and Jason had walkedinto the light, Raven had dragged him out only to be stuck in it herself untilthey had shocked her heart.

Now Bruce sat with the demon and stared at her, wonderingjust how much she and Jason had gone through these past months that no one hadbeen aware of or privy to because they had been souls and Jason wasn’t talkingabout it.

Now, the young woman was comatose, her body more damagedfrom the stress of her healing all of Jason’s injuries, and she wasunconscious. Again.

“Victor is coming,” Bruce said to the young woman. Dick hadbeen talking to Victor since the start of this, and it was apparent the twowere close. Victor had nearly started an intergalactic war trying to get here,but the Lantern Corps were detaining Victor so he didn’t do somethingrecklessly stupid.

“How is she?” a small voice had Bruce snapping around to seeJason’s eyes glued to Raven.

“She is suffering, the stress of her powers has reopenedsome of her internal wounds, but she is healing. More rapidly than before, butstill, slow,” Bruce said. He had half a mind to call Constantine for help now,but he refrained. Until this was too much, he would try to handle it.

“Is she going to live?” Jason asked.

“I don’t know,” Bruce answered. Jason nodded and remainedsilent for a long time.

“You know… when I met her, before I died, she was… she wasgood to me. Tried to help me with my anger, not that it worked,” Jasonshrugged. “And I don’t know, I guess, I guess it always stuck out to me,because when I attacked Tim at the Tower, I couldn’t hurt her. Funny isn’t it,could damn near kill my brother, and beat the shit out of his friends, but Icouldn’t hurt her. And now, I might have killed her.”

“This is not your fault Jason,” Bruce started.

“Yeah it is, I was so mad when those things hurt my friends,and when I ran into her… I fast talked her into getting them back Bruce. We’dhave never gone after them if it was Raven’s plan we’d follow. And after allthe months of arguing with her about life and death, she did that…” Jason shookhis head. “It’s my fault, I took her there, I got her hurt, I nearly got uskilled, and she’s been fixing the problem since then.”

There was a flicker of shadows then and Bruce blinked, Jasonwas gone, and he just didn’t know what to say to what Jason to make him seethis wasn’t his fault.

~~~*~*~*~~~

The day she really woke up, her eyes fluttered opened as shefelt the last her broken bones finally heal which had her staring at anunfamiliar ceiling. She blinked, then opened her mouth, nearly gagging at thecottony feeling in her mouth before she tried to shift and move.

“Miss Roth, I am pleased to see you’re awake, again,” avoice had her looking over wearily to the man. Alfred Pennyworth; a man sheknew to be an imposing force and she’d only met a few times because of Dick andTim.

“Jason?” she rasped, there was a cup brought to her lips asshe was slowly helped up.

“He’s quite alright, Miss Roth,” Alfred’s voice was sure andsoothing.

“Good,” Raven winced when the cup was finally taken awayfrom her lips. She was propped up in the bed, and noticed the obscene amount ofmachines she was hooked up to for the first time since waking and then shesoftened remembering the past months, and how she’d seemingly acquired a fewnew friends from the looks of things around her.

“I wanted to thank you, Miss Roth,” Alfred said suddenly.

“What?” she blinked up at the old man who sat suddenly, shewas trying to blink away the sleep and grody feeling in her eyes then.

“You have been a very loyal friend to Master Richard, MasterTimothy, and Master Damian, and you nearly died saving Master Jason. And Iwanted to thank you for everything you’ve done for the lads over the years,”Alfred said.

“That’s nothing,” Raven started monotonously.

“On the contrary, it has meant a great deal, and I dobelieve it is time to thank you for your kindness to them,” Alfred said.

“They saved me first,” she dismissed. Raven didn’t know whyhe was thanking her for common kindness, and she believed that one should bewilling to go to Hell and back for friends, and she would continue to believethat. Raven was never going to let them down; even at the expense of her life.

“Thank you, Miss Roth, and you are welcomed her always,”Alfred said. Suddenly there was a crash outside the room and Alfred frowned.

“Excuse me Miss Roth, it appears that the young Masters arehaving another disagreement, I will be back, think you could stomach some tea?”

Raven nodded unable to really say yes or no because she wasa bit baffled at the warmth she was receiving from the older man. Once aloneRaven sighed as her head fell back, she grimaced a bit feeling sticky, butshe’d shower and be on her way in a bit. Suddenly there was a cracking of thedoor which had her head snapping up as she stared at the intruder.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Jason saw Alfred leave and slipped silently into the room;he’d been visiting Raven when he was sure no one else would be there. Heblinked in shock when she stared back at him for the first time since he’dwoken up.

“You’re awake,” he whispered more to himself than her as heslowly approached.

“Yeah, and you’re alright,” she smiled slightly then.

“You’re a moron,” he snapped.

“You’re alive, and no rehab,” Raven countered. And he sat onthe bed to glare at her.

“I didn’t need you to do…” he started.

“Shut up now Jason, because I chose to save you, you didn’tmake me, you didn’t do anything wrong, I chose to save you,” she said firmly.He looked down at his clasped hands then.

“Why?” he whispered, not that he wasn’t grateful to her ornothing, but no one ever saved him without something being attached to hisrescue. Talia, Bruce, Dick, everyone, no one ever saved him because he was him.

“Because… you’re Jason Todd, you deserve a chance to live,you beat death once, and you’ve fought it every step of the way. Also, I kindof like you, and would be sadden to lose you when I’ve come to consider you afriend,” Raven answered. He blinked twice before he looked up at her.

“What?” He blinked, aside from Roy, Kori, Artemis, andBizarro he’d never had many friends.

“Yes,” she answered. “We were stuck together for Azar knowshow long, so I think of you as a friend.”

“I nearly got you killed, twice, and you think… you thinkwe’re friends?” he asked in bafflement.

“I chose to follow you, I knew what I was doing, and as toeverything else… shit happens,” she shrugged.

“Really? The angelic demon is saying that?” he smiledslowly.

“Yes, now, help me get off these machines!” she pleaded. “Iwant a shower!”

“Okay, okay, no magic attacks please, I still am stiff afterthe past months,” he warned her as he helped her get off the machines.

“Why would I blast you? I need you to get me to the shower,I don’t have the energy to blast you,” she sighed. Jason had pulled off mostthe wires when Alfred appeared.

“Master Jason!” Alfred’s voice had him twisting around tolook at him.

“Uh…”

“I want a shower, I’m sticky,” Raven stated.

“And you have a catheter in, so unless Master Jason wishesto aid you in removing it, wait a moment for assistance,” Alfred chided.

“He’s got a point,” Jason informed the demon.

“I hate being injured, next time we do my plan,” shemuttered.

“You’re implying that there’ll be a next time.”

“With you, I put the chance of having another mission orteam up together very likely,” Raven said with such authority he didn’t havethe heart to argue with her.

“You’re not bad demon.”

“I just want a shower,” she muttered indignantly.

#bluboothalassophile #fanfic #one shot #raven #jason todd #bruce wayne #damian wayne #timothy drake #richard grayson #alfred pennyworth #barbara gordon #stephenie brown #cassandra cain #kate kane #duke thomas

[ts-indonesia]

FTC - OPENING STATEMENTS

ANABEL'S OPENING STATEMENT:

JESS' OPENING STATEMENT:

INTRO.

So first of all, I would like to thank the hosts Alex, Ali, and Jones for hosting this amazing season! I also want to give a big huge congratulations to both Trent and Anabel because you both crushed it. To the cast this season, I just want to start off by saying a big thank you to each and every one of you for making this season what is was: amazing. Lastly, I want to once again thank you all because whether you liked it or not, each and everyone of you has played a part in getting me here today.

Now before I begin, I acknowledge that I've played a game where I had to lie, backstab, and hurt people I've grown to care about. I know this all got messy and that I left off on the wrong foot with some of you. With that being said, the moves I've made are in no way an indicator of how I feel about you as people. They were in my own self-interest. All I ask is that you all take the time to read what I have to say and consider voting for me to win.

I truly believe I played a fairly well rounded game in regards to three aspects of Survivor (Outwit, Outlast, Outplay) aka: Social, Strategic, Physical.

Physical.

Contrary to popular belief, I have never been great at challenges. So being a challenge threat this season was an unusual role to play. However, I tried my hardest and gave it my all in each and every challenge this season. This resulted in 3 individual immunity wins (the most out of everyone). I don’t think I necessarily needed to win these immunities for only for safety (although it was nice)..I knew regardless (apart from the final 7 vote) I would have the numbers to ensure my own personal safety. Honestly, I won these immunities to ensure those who I wanted out didn’t have protection. However, winning final 5 did allow me to make a move against Michael without being voted out.

Social.

Coming into this season I had a unique perspective that I believe no one else could relate to. My first season was ironically a “Fans .vs. Favs” season where I played as a fan. With my prior “newbie” perspective in mind, I knew I could use this to my advantage and empathize with the newbies while playing as a vet. These prior experiences became stepping stones I could build onto in the future.

Throughout this game I was socially connected to various people. However, as the game grew so did my target. As seen in “Touchy Subjects” I was labelled someone who people WANTED to see win in the end and someone people trusted. As “flattered” as I was at winning these titles, I knew that people’s perceptions of me were just exposed and I could potentially have to play defense. Therefore, I relied more and more on my social game to keep the target off of my back as it could have easily blown up in my face. 

I used my social game to receive information about people’s advantages within the game. I used the information I received strategically to not only to further my own game but to establish build trust with people. For example: Olivia’s idol, Anabel’s, Stoner’s “possible idol clue/advantage clue”, and Trent’s idol. With this knowledge, I knew that information was a currency that everyone sought in the game and therefore I used it as a building block to build stronger connections. The risk of this all blowing up in my face was huge however, I was able to do this without repercussions of a potential flip against me.

Although, my leaking did cause a bit of a show at final 7 it wasn’t the only thing that happened.

As most of us know.. Trent was the original target. However, my name was also thrown into the mix due to my threat level. BUT the relationships I had built were strong enough for people to put aside their established plans to save ensure my safety. This vote is crucial as it solidified the numbers I had moving forward and giving me a split majority at worst at Final 6 (3 with Anabel and Trent/ 3 with Michael and Olivia).  Being in the middle of an alliance of 5 was a CRUCIAL part of my game. It allowed me to use my social relationships I have built throughout the game with everyone to control my own destiny and ensure my spot at Final Tribal Council.

Strategic.

Now I know I have already dabbled a bit into my strategic game however, I do firmly believe I had a good grasp on the strategic aspect of the game. 

I do admit my strategic moves might not be perceived as your classic “flashy” moves. As someone who has played two seasons of Tumblr Survivor I can appreciate those who make big moves and especially each and everyone of you who attempted one this season. However a common theme this season was: big moves got people sent home that same round (Owen, Matt, Stoner etc..). Therefore, making a big unnecessary move early on would be almost sacrificial for my game. So the way I made my moves (which were subtle) occured in the way I positioned myself throughout this game. Most notably, my position within the majority alliance. Although, I can’t take credit for starting it I was arguably the glue to it. When push came to shove, I was able to sway which ever way I saw most fit for my way game. Whether it was pre-merge (Dylan and Isaac) or when it got down to the 5 (Olivia and Michael) I was able to choose my own destiny and make moves that were best for my game. My biggest moves and my hardest moves were the final 5 and 4 votes. I had been positioned in the middle at this point to where I believed I had a chance at that final 3 with both “sides” of this alliance. I saw too many similarities to my game with Michael’s and Olivia’s and I knew in order to have a fighting chance at the end, I had to vote them both out.�� My position and relationships throughout this game allowed me to go without any votes until Final 7, be labelled the “most trusted” and “who would you like to see win at the end” during “Touchy Subjects” all while being arguably one of the biggest threats.

In conclusion, I put my heart and soul into this game. I may not have played it perfectly or “ethically” but I played it from the start. I put in the work from day one to ensure I was in the best position going forward (round after round) and I think I achieved that. I made bonds and relationships with people, won a couple of immunity’s along the way, and later took some huge risks to ensure I was in control of my own fate. I’m an open book and I will answer everything you throw my way open and honestly. Ask me anything and I will try my best to deliver. I look forward to hearing from you all! Once again a big congratulations to both Anabel and Trent! And thank you for the amazing season!

TRENT'S OPENING STATEMENT:

Hello everybody. I just wanted to first thank you all for an amazing season. I truly have enjoyed getting to know you and being able to play this season with you. This was my first REAL survivor game and I am glad I got to share that with you.  When looking back at this season I feel like I have earned my spot in the final 3 and the title of Sole Survivor. I have played not only a strategic game but a very social one to outwit, outplay, and outlast.

I honestly feel that I’ve done more than anyone else to really affect and influence the overall course of this game. I was on the minority twice, once with Nuchaya after the swap where vets outweighed the nebiews, and then once at merge when both Nuchaya and newbies were the minority group. I was able to survive both times and flip to become the majority once. I did this through a couple of very strategic moves. One big strategic move I made was during the first merge vote. I was stuck in a very tough spot. I could either vote with my all newbie alliance or my Nuchaya alliance. I decided to take this opportunity to weaken the side that had two previous winners (Nuobor). I wanted to find a way to truly break that side so they would not work together in the future. I did this by saying one thing and doing another. I convinced Owen (who passed the word onto Stoner) and the other newbies (Chris O, Leigh, and Lorelei) that I would vote alongside them and vote Matt out, when I really was voting Lorelei. This ensured that not only they lost one of their numbers (Lorelei), but they’d lose a second member of Nubbor (Matt), due to the fact that they just tried to vote him out. I knew that if I would have just told Owen and Stoner I was voting for Lorelei, they would have switched their votes as well allowing them the opportunity to work with Matt in the future. But doing what I did, I ensured that Nuchaya now had 6 (Nuchaya plus Matt) votes against 4 (Owen, Stoner, Chris O, and Leigh). This is just one example of the many strategic moves I made this season.

The next major aspect of my game was a strong social game. Even though I would get caught lying about who I was voting, or who I heard the target was, people still believed me the next round. This happened time and time again. People still came to me and told me what they heard, or who they were voting, even though I just had betrayed their trust the previous round.  Even after I won best liar, most likely to back stab, and biggest villain in touchy subjects, people continued to trust my word. This was due to my strong social game and being able to bond with people when not talking about the game or the future vote. I was able to make connections and fix any broken relationships. Each round I was able to lead a successful blindside because of the bonds I made with people.

I am proud to say that throughout the entire season I was never the target of the vote and I was never in danger of leaving the game. I have received 3 total votes the entire season, and all of those were a single throw away vote, 3 different times. I have never received more than one vote in a night and I have not received a single vote since the night Chris O went home, which was the third merge vote. I have known exactly what was going to happen with every single vote. Even though I would be caught playing the game hard and caught lying I was able to flip the attention away from myself and onto another target.  I always had a target and was always able to get that target out. I even won one immunity challenge, ensuring my target would not be given the safety of immunity at tribal. I had an idol from very early on in merge and never once felt the need to play it to guarantee my safety.

In summary, I have played a very strategic and social game all season. Yes, I have lied and manipulated in this game to control a vote and get an outcome I preferred. I came into this season ready to play the game. I have never once made this game personal and anything I have done; I’ve done it for the game, to get myself to the end, and to win this game. I’d love to get your vote tonight, and I feel like I’ve earned my way here and played every facet of the game. I have played strategically, socially, even won immunity once. I am ready for your questions and I am ready to explain my game.

--

And that's all for opening statements! To the members of our jury, it is now your time to ask any questions, voice your comments, concerns, etc. You have until 9:00 EST on October 9th to submit your questions, let us know if you need an extension or anything of the sort!!

#whenyourfiresout