#//character death

[its-dari]

To the Heart of It

Pairing(s): Alternate! Cesar Torres X Gender Neutral! Reader

Summary: You try and tell yourself that you didn't lose the love of your life, you just have to keep believing that... But why is the alternate letting you believe your own lie?

A/N: Down the rabbit hole I go, I guess. I wanted to explore this idea so here, I probably won't be writing for the Mandela Catalogue again tho - I won't be taking requests.

(I also again do not have a blog for this, so I'm just posting it on my main.)

Warning(s): Angst. Mentions of Suicide and Character Death. Obsessive/Possessive Behavior. Body Horror.

When you came to see Cesar, worried about his lack of correspondence, you didn't even consider the alternates as an obstacle. There would be nothing getting in the way of you seeing him. Come hell or high water.

Bursting into the nearly empty house, you called his name over and over in search. Close to sobbing at the stabbing of anxiety every second you went on without knowing of he was okay.

Cesar's voice was low when it called to you, quiet as your name came from the end of the dark hallway.

You sprinted towards him without hesitation, arms swinging ariund his body. Enough to make him stumble and grunt in surprise.

Sobbing into his neck, you whisper, "I'm so happy..."

He was motionless before he cradled you in his arms.

You knew then that he wasn't Cesar.

Not quite anyway.

His voice would distort and shake between his sweet nothings.

His form, while sharing his face, was different depending on the day.

He'd come back smelling like blood.

But he always came back, always spent his time with you. Reciprocating your affections and "sleeping" in your arms, taking the time to run out to get supplies and make sure the house was stocked.

His laugh was the same, his voice was still gentle as it spoke to you.

He cradled you in his arms like you two were the only people in the world.

He still wasn't your Cesar Torres.

Just a monster wearing his skin.

It was nice to pretend.

But one winter night, tucked in the chest of the thing you knew killed the man you loved...

"I know you're not actually him." You whisper, staring at the swirling darkness at the edges of the room.

Still sleepy, even as the being behind you twitched.

"What do you mean?"

He almost sounded... Nervous.

"I know you're an alternate... I've known this whole time, the minute I heard you speak." You were so tired "... Why did you play along? Let me pretend?"

There was silence, oppressive and heavy. Lanky arms, that were much too powerful, curled tighter around your body.

In the whole of your heart, you couldn't call him an it.

His voice was fragmented, others interspersed between his soft tones.

"I was curious."

"Knew humans do a lot for their loved ones."

"Wanted to see why he loved you so much."

"Wanted to experience what it was like to be loved."

There was an extended silence and the whispers quieted.

"Cesar's" voice came, lips pressed to your ear. His voice was quiet, "Do you still love me?"

You peer into the shadows, your eyes welling with tears. Feeling very alone at the prospect of being left, arms like a vice around you. But he's still here.

He hasn't let go.

You would not cave to dying at your own hands.

Not when you seeked out the answer.

He knew that.

You turn.

His eyes were black as the void, dark and deep.

Your fingers curled around his cheek.

"Are you going to leave if I tell you that I do?" Your voice shook, fingers sweeping through his dark hair.

He shut his eyes, seemingly enjoying the feeling. Sighing quietly, though he is not breathing anymore. As there was no need to do it for show now thst you knew.

"No." His lashes were as dark and pretty as his hair having used photos to make sure he was close as he could be. "I don't think I can anymore."

Lips still soft as he kissed you, murmuring against your mouth. "You're mine now dearest lamb... I won't let you be taken by anything else. Other humans... My own kind... No one, not even yourself."

You whimpered against his lips but it's stamped out as he kissed you deeper, pressing you into the mattress.

"You've given... me a taste of love, made me... burn for you." He said in reverence, voice stalling occasionally "... I love you the way he did."

His face twisted a bit above you, stretching the features of the man you adored into frightening proportions. Smile stretched wide across his face.

"Will you still call me Cesar, dearest?... Can you still love me knowing I am not him?"

You peer at him.

Unafraid.

Just seeing this bastardized version of him should have broken you.

Should have driven you MAD, finally ready to run instead into the arms of death to see an afterlife with the real Cesar.

In the end, you fell in love with this creature.

All because he donned your boyfriend's face.

Cesar, the real one, might curse your name until you died and went to hell. For falling for the creature that killed him and wore his skin.

But as you lived and breathed, it was still love.

Your hands wound around his neck and you kissed his grotesque features, peppering his face.

He sunk into your affections like a cat.

You only smile.

"Do you have another name? Or will just petnames suffice?"

His cold, thin fingers stroke away your tears while his face morphed back into familiar territory.

"... Keep calling me Cesar until we'll pick a new name together."

You hummed, gently drawing him back under the covers. Body curling comfortingly around you.

Protective.

Solid.

... In the end, you still get to be with the man you loved more than anything so you were happy.

And now... So was he.

#mandela catalouge cesar #mandela catalogue #mandela catalouge x reader #cesar torres #tmc cesar #cesar torres x reader #gender neutral reader #angst #//suicide mention #//character death #//obsessive behavior #yandere alternate #alternate cesar #reader insert #tmc x reader #alternate cesar x reader #alt cesar #alt cesar x reader #x reader #x reader insert

[aurora-ze-aquarius]

Love Story (ft. Francesco's Parents)

First ever songfic babeyyyyy. Also the words don't fit the timing of the beat so like- *shrug*

Inspired by @carsgeek24 's headcanons (X) || AO3 version

—

We were both young when I first saw you...

I close my eyes and the flashback starts,

I'm standing there...

On the balcony of summer air...

She remembered her first ever victory. Standing on the podium after taking first place in Monaco. A winner. And on her debut year.

To celebrate her victory, Rosalia's father threw an extravagant party that could light up the whole night. Sponsors, business partners, even competitor teams were invited. Though she was grateful for her family's support, it felt tiring talking to all these older rich men and she was ready to slip away into the night.

That was until, she saw him.

I see the lights, see the party, the ballgowns

See you make your way though the crowd and say, 'hello'...

Fernando approached her with a warm smile. Rosalia lit up, returning the gesture as he walked towards her.

Fernando Bernoulli, he was quite different from all the other racers. She was charmed by him, seeing as how he was the first one to speak up on his fellow racers' undesirable comments towards her. Seeing how he treated her fairly, just like any other racer. It's what any lass would've wanted really.

"Congratulations!" He said, sincerity in his vibrant blue eyes. With a bow, he asked her for a dance.

Rosalia playfully rolled her eyes, accepting the offer. The two began dancing into the night.

Little did I know...

They took the dance floor. Eyes found their way towards the two, whispers and rumors began to circulate. Fernando seemed worried, but Rosalia cared less about their whispers. She never liked hoaxes by the media in the first place anyway.

Though they didn't know it at the time, a spark began to ignite.

That you were Romeo, you were throwin' pebbles

And my daddy said, 'Stay away from Juiliet!'

However, by the end of the night, as gossip began to spread, Rosalia's grandfather was unhappy about this. He didn't want his future Formula 1 champion to be associated by the likes of a lowerclassman like Fernando.

So by the end of their dance, Fernando was pulled away, and was told by Rosalia's grandfather to stay away from her.

However, little did he know, Rosalia heard them. She heard it all.

And I was crying on the staircase

Begging you, 'please don't go..!'

"But what about what your—"

"Who cares what my grandfather thinks?!" Rosalia exclaimed, brows furrowed in frustration. "Who is he to try and keep you away from me? The most admirable rival of mine on the track?"

Rosalia has stormed off, and sought to grab a drink, leaving behind a flustered Fernando on the balcony.

And I said

Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone

I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run

And so, despite her grandfather's wishes, Rosalia still stayed friends with Fernando. They both kept on racing each other.

Sometimes Rosalia would win. Other times Fernando takes gold. And other times, neither of them would win. But that's okay.

You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess

It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"

By the end of the day they were still friends. And that's what matters to them.

So I sneak out to the garden to see you

We keep quiet, 'cause we're dead if they knew

So close your eyes

Escape this town for a little while, oh oh

Soon enough, it was clear that the two were falling deeply for each other. There are times where Rosalia would sneak away from her meetings to go see Fernando.

For a while, they both kept their relationship a secret, not wanting to stir up any unwanted eyes from the press.

Surprisingly or not, it was quite scandalous for racers to date each other.

'Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter

And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet"

Their secrecy didn't last long though. A little slip, and now the whole world (or at least for those who follow the Formula series), now knows. Rosalia's grandfather was furious.

They got into a heated argument, arguing whether or not they should continue with the relationship.

Her grandfather then proposed an ultimatum. She can continue 'sleeping with the bastard' (they've never been that intimate, both faithful in their God), and he'll end his support for her, or she can leave him and be with a 'better' man.

But you were everything to me

I was beggin' you, "Please don't go, "

"But why?" Fernando asked, puzzled, confused. "Your grandfather and his company are one of your biggest sponsors and yet—"

"Yet I chose to reject his foolish mindset." She said, giving her partner a tender kiss, whispering softly to him, "I don't care about where you came from, whether you're from the lower class means little to me.

"Ti amo mio caro."

And I said,

Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone

I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run

You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess

It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"

The media went wild with this information. They chased them down every chance they get. Blowing what would've been any regular little thing out of proportion. Still, the two did their best to keep things normal. The public's persistance would not mess with their love in any way.

Romeo, save me, they're tryna tell me how to feel

This love is difficult, but it's real

Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess

It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"

After Rosalia chose Fernando over her grandfather, true to his word, he dropped as her sponsor. Rosalia's team struggled for a while, but that would not stop her from doing her best, and taking spot in the top 10s.

I got tired of waiting

Wonderin' if you were ever comin' around

My faith in you was fading

When I met you on the outskirts of town,

Despite her leaving her grandfather though, Rosalia was still upset at him. Why couldn't he accept Fernando? He was one of the best racers she's ever raced against. Not to mention, wouldn't he be glad that she's with a man who would treat her like a queen?

After the whole fiasco, Rosalia's parents both assured her that no matter what happens, they'll stick by her, and support her decisions.

Romeo, save me, I've been feeling so alone

I keep waiting for you, but you never come

Rosalia won the title of her first ever World Champion in Monza, and was crowned with the name 'Lady of Formula 1'.

It was her third year racing, and she finally won a world championship, hopefully first of many.

After a hectic meeting with the fans, Fernando took her to a private restaurant, with a spectacular view of the city's landscape. It was perfect. And it only had to get better.

Is this in my head? I don't know what to think

She could not believe it, Fernando, after getting over his nerves had finally done it.

He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring

And said, "Marry me, Juliet

You'll never have to be alone

I love you and that's all I really know

I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress

It's a love story, baby, just say..?"

Rosalia nodded, happy tears streaming from her eyes.

"Yes."

They eventually got married and had a beautiful baby boy named Francesco. Despite having a child, they continued racing. It was something their family loved deeply.

Sometime down the line, Francesco made it to Formula 1, just like his parents, and won his first race.

"I would like to dedicate this to both my Mama... And my late Papa..." A sad smile appeared on his face, longing for his father to see how far he's come.

Rosalia would assure him that Fernando would've been so proud of him. She also secretly hoped he was proud of her too.

Sometimes, it's as if she could hear his soft whispers from the afterlife, telling her how much he loves her, and how much he loves Francesco.

Rosalia never regretted her decisions that led her here.

'Cause we were both young when I first saw you...

#//character death #it was inevitable I'm sorry- the fandom collectively agreed Francesco's father went byee #pixar cars #cars fandom #pixar #francesco bernoulli #mama bernoulli #papa bernoulli #they can be either humanized or cars #it's up to you ✨✨ #cars 2 #cars 2 (2011) #btw!!! it's not grusome or anything- just mentioned in passing #🌌✍️ #songfic even though the words don't match up exactly #this would've been an animatic but I can't animate sh #wgp racers #rosalia bernoulli #fernando bernoulli #🌌🏠

[scorchedhearth]

characters who dig themselves out of their graves (whether literal or metaphorical) are at the top of the list. nothing beats a character who should have died but didn't and comes back to haunt their own life and the world around them, benevolent or violent it doesn't matter, it's enthralling either way

#realizing that many of my ocs follow that pattern #as do other characters i fixate on in a strict or loser definition #its so.... <33 #to live beyond death

[mpekamitzii]

Tfw your shapeshifter friend forgets how to turn back into a human and has a crisis

#Allergies straight up kicking my ass rn but I'm thinking about them #Death strands #original character #art #drawing #Digital art #Comic #Original story

[basketcasemp3]

this doesnt seem like a popular opinion on here but sometimes i like when characters die. sometimes its needed to raise the stakes and sometimes its the end best befitting of the character and sometimes its needed to move the narrative forward and sometimes its the only way a character would believably leave their story behind and sometimes it just spices things up a bit. sometimes its fun to watch characters die . sorry

#text #personal #if death is done badly dont get me wrong. i hate that #but every day i see posts complaining abt characters dying and no offense but. for why

[ochibrochi]

🐣 ok we are so back………..

#damian wayne #batman and robin #batman #dc comics #i just found out damian is still the character i have have drawn the most to this very day 🤡 #i just finished replaying arkham asylum #i am playing arkham city #i just spent $81 to finish my B&R n52 collection #when i say we are so back i mean it #but for how long????????????????? #too scared to read the new stuff bc apparently they put damian on trial and sentenced him to character growth DEATH

[stromblessed]

Mizu, femininity, and fallen sparrows

In my last post about Mizu and Akemi, I feel like I came across as overly critical of Mizu given that Mizu is a woman who - in her own words - has to live as a man in order to go down the path of revenge.

If she is ever discovered to be female by the wrong person, she will not only be unable to complete her quest, but there's a good chance that she'll be arrested or killed.

So it makes complete sense for Mizu to distance herself as much as possible from any behavior that she feels like would make someone question her sex.

I felt so indignant toward Mizu on my first couple watchthroughs for this moment. Why couldn't Mizu bribe the woman and her child's way into the city too? If Mizu is presenting as a man, couldn't she claim to be the woman's escort?

However, this moment makes things pretty clear. Mizu knows all too well the plight of women in her society. She knows it so well that she cannot risk ever finding herself back in their position again. She helps in what little way she can - without drawing attention to herself.

Mizu is not a hero and she is not one to make of herself a martyr - she will not set herself on fire to keep others warm. There's room to argue that Mizu shouldn't prioritize her quest over people's lives, but given the collateral damage Mizu can live with in almost every episode of season 1, Mizu is simply not operating under that kind of morality at this point. ("You don't know what I've done to reach you," Mizu tells Fowler.)

And while I still feel like Mizu has an obvious and established blind spot when it comes to Akemi because of their differences in station, such that Mizu's judgment of Akemi and actions in episode 5 are the result of prejudice rather than the result of Mizu's caution, I also want to establish that Mizu is just as caged as Akemi is, despite her technically having more freedom while living as a man.

Mizu can hide her mixed race identity some of the time, and she can hide her sex almost all of the time, but being able to operate outside of her society's strict rules for women does not mean she cannot see their plight.

It does not mean she doesn't hurt for them.

Back to Mizu and collateral damage, remember that sparrow?

While Mizu is breaking into Boss Hamata's manse, she gets startled by a bird and kills it on reflex. She then cradles it in her hands - much more tenderly than we've seen Mizu treat almost anything up to this point in the season:

She then puts it in its nest, with its unhatched eggs. Almost like she's trying to make the death look natural. Or like an accident.

You see where I'm going with this.

When Mizu kills Kinuyo, Mizu lingers in the moment, holding the body tenderly:

And btw a lot of stuff about this show hit me hard, but this remains the biggest gut punch of them all for me, Mizu holding that poor girl's body close, GOD

When Mizu arranges the "scene of the crime," Kinuyo's body is delicate, birdlike. And Mizu is so shaken afterward that she gets sloppy. She's horrified at this kill to the point that she can't bring herself to take another innocent life - the boy who rats her out.

MIZU'S ONE MOMENT OF SOFTNESS AND MERCY, COMING ON THE HEELS OF HER NEEDING TO KILL A GIRL TO SPARE HER THE WORST FATE THAT THIS RIGID SOCIETY HAS TO OFFER WOMEN, AND TO SPARE A BROTHEL FULL OF INNOCENT WOMEN WHO ARE THE CASTOFFS OF SOCIETY, NEARLY RESULTS IN ALL OF THEIR DEATHS

No wonder Mizu is as stoic and cold as she is.

And no wonder Mizu has no patience for Akemi whatsoever right before the terrible reveal and the fight breaks out:

Speaking of Akemi - guess who else is compared to a bird!

The plumage is more colorful, a bit flashier. But a bird is a bird.

And, uh

Yeah.

I like to think that Mizu killing the sparrow is not only foreshadowing for what she must do to Kinuyo, but is also a representation of the choice she makes on Akemi's behalf. She decides to cage the bird because she believes the bird is "better off." Better off caged than... dead.

But because Mizu doesn't know Akemi or her situation, she of course doesn't realize that the bird is fated to die if it is caged and sent back home.

Mizu is clearly not happy, or pleased, or satisfied by allowing Akemi to be dragged back to her father:

But softness and mercy haven't gotten Mizu anywhere good, recently.

There is so much tragedy layered into Mizu's character, and it includes the things she has to witness and the choices she makes - or believes she has to make - involving women, when she herself can skirt around a lot of what her society throws at women. Although, I do believe that it comes at the cost of a part of Mizu's soul.

After all, I'm gonna be haunted for the rest of this show by Mizu's very first prayer in episode 1:

"LET" her die. Because as Ringo points out, she doesn't "know how" to die.

Kind of like another bird in this show:

#blue eye samurai #mizu #akemi #kinuyo #bes #women are birds okay they are BIRDS #the let me die line is so SCARY AND SAD like a part of Mizu wants death but she cant? she doesnt know how?? excuse you show??? #when all these other delicate birds are dying all around her #akemis character gets more and more gutwrenching upon subsequent rewatches because whenever she says her life is in danger #NO ONE BELIEVES HER - certainly not other women #because shes rich and pampered and that means shes safe and is worrying about nothing right? right????? #and it turns out that all of akemis instincts were right and she was in danger the ENTIRE TIME #also I need to make a post just for kinuyo because I am sad

[bloominflowers]

The Duke 🐺⛓

#i love him so much sos #when characters look scary but then are actually really sweet - the reason for my death #wriothesley #wriothesley fanart #genshin impact #genshin impact fanart

[lackadaisycal-art]

Family Recipe

#art #illustration #character art #artists on tumblr #original characters #cooking #generational #family #generations #mixed family #kids lit #mourning #death #life after death #Procreate

[themightyhumanbroom]

It's always risky killing off a character but if you have to, you must have them HAUNT the narrative. Let their death and absence be constantly felt at some level.

#writing advice #creative writing #writing process #writing #writers #writers on tumblr #writeblr #character death #narrative #character writing

[jakejeffreyperalta]

sally jackson is literally the only person ever. she's so amazing. she's perfect. she's so kind it makes people cry. she listens to nirvana. she's beautiful. she fought a bull. she can cook. she's everyone's mother. she's a writer. she sings sad songs and applies them to her life and cries. she killed her abusive ex husband and sold him to get money for an apartment. she used to work at a candy store and bring percy samples of his favourite flavours. she shot a monster with a police gun in the middle of a war. she started making food blue because she's petty and she knew it would piss gabe off. she's an icon. she's the moment. no. 1 milf. no one's doing it like her.

#when i say she's literally the best character in the pjoverse i really really mean it #shes everything. everything #i love her to death #ALSO SALLY JACKSON MIXTAPE DROPPING WHEN I LOVE HER MUSIC TASTE SO FAR #COME AS YOU ARE WHILE MAKING STIR FRY??? JEALOUS GUY BY JOHN LENNON. OK QUEEN #pjo #percy jackson #percy jackson and the olympians #the chalice of the gods #chalice of the gods #sally jackson

[firedragon1321]

#writing #writing memes #writing community #character death #i was just listening to a song for vibes #and then #PLOT TWIST PLOT TWIST PLOT TWIST #don't mourn for that character she had it coming from a book ago #tw gun #and ofc this is the fallout of a battle i didn't write yet yay

[tossawary]

Listening to someone else watch the original ATLA again, just starting season 3, and there's this line where Aang suggests that it didn't just look like he died, but he DID actually die and Katara brought him back. And look, I don't know much about the lore introduced by TLOK, but this sounds like a really fun place to start an AU inspired by "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"'s take on the temporary death and resurrection of a cyclical chosen one: Aang is brought back to life and is STILL the Avatar, but his temporary death still also causes another Avatar to be born into the Southern Water Tribe (or Swamp People or refugees on some southern island, whatever).

Like, I know the Avatar is a reincarnation thing, but weird things can happen with spirits! Maybe this glitch in the cycle causes the spiritual equivalent of mitosis to happen to the Avatar and the spirit attached to them, so there's just two of them now! Maybe having two Avatars has some spiritual downsides, maybe not, it's up to whatever path you choose to explore in this AU.

I just think it would be really funny for post-canon 21yo Aang (and the Gaang and the White Lotus and all the spiritual / religious orders on the planet) to suddenly be confronted with a 10yo water tribe kid who is ALSO the Avatar.

A water tribe couple shuffle awkwardly up to Sokka, like, "Sooooo... we think our 10 year old daughter might be the Avatar...? She can, uh, bend all the elements and all that. Look at this shit." And Sokka is like, "Fuck, Aang is dead?!" Before he's like, "Wait, I saw Aang last week, this kid is way too old?!" And he has to hastily contact Aang like, "Hey, buddy, you're still alive, right?" And Aang can only reply, "Uhhh, last I checked, yes?!?!"

It's probably Sokka and Katara who put the pieces of the timeline together and figure out what caused this, because all of the other Avatars are probably initially like, "Yeah, I have no idea what's happening here. I'm you and you're me, but I'm also her and she's also me, and you and her are kind of the same person, but you're obviously different people now? Wow! Good luck figuring all that out, kid! You're really going places none of us have gone before! A real groundbreaker!"

Aang, through gritted teeth, "I am really not TRYING to do that, thank you!"

#tossawary atla #fic ideas #spoilers #aang #korra #sokka #katara #character death

[morganpdf]

Lost my fucking mind at a red light today

turning off reblogs bc im tired of terfs in my notes. anwyays trans people are sooo much cooler and sexier than cis people but especially terfs. bye

#morgan.pdf #oh i forgot to tag SORRY </3 #suggestive // #i fucking SCRAMBLED for my phone. i read it and went 'that doesnt really say that does it' #havent checked this on desktop where i have shinigami eyes but this is breaching containment #if u reblog this post u acknowledge that trans people are sooooooo swag #yeah ok terfs are touching this post now. die 1000 deaths (shinigami eyes on for free blocklist<3) #5k #10k #20k #banger.pdf #edit: i only respect the person who tagged this with a transformers character. thats so funny holy shit

[ulgapodatkowa]

i said it once before and I'll say it again: queer community. the calypso's birthday episode is fucking pride man. and for izzy, oh for izzy, to be able to finally be free like that? he doesn't understand wee john's 'look' at first but he knows how it makes him feel, so he gets one as well. and for such a repressed queer man to be able to walk out in drag it's huge. AND he sings a love song!! la vie en rose, that's a staple of love repertoire. so izzy feels comfortable, at home enough to be able to go on the deck and show himself as a queer man that loves. he finally accepts that about himself enough to show it. he kisses wee john's hand. he puts on a show. and the crew loves it, sings along with him at the end. one more song indeed, cocksuckers!

#my brain after i finish an episode: people must know how strongly i feel about izzy #the level of 'comfort' this tiny character holds #ofmd #ofmd spoilers #our flag means death #izzy hands #con o'neill #wee john feeney

[harbingerofsoup]

there’s death of the author and then there’s whatever the fuck is up with danny phantom

#danny phantom #death of the author #most of the lore is fan made #a decent chunk of the fandom hasn’t even seen the show #one of the most beloved side characters isn’t an actual character #because we made him up based on a like 2 second clip #he’s not even the only widely accepted fan made character #because we spawned more from him #and we ba sing se-ed ourselves about phantom planet #dannypocalypse is also a thing #it doesn’t have anything to do with death of the author #but it’s important to me that we’ve pulled off a successful fandom apocalypse #every year since i think 2017