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#He simply doesn't care if he lives or dies or if bad things happen to him
luffyrose · 1 year
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Oh Brother....s?
I had the most brilliant mini-idea while raging at video games because my parents suck at em. Anyway, there's really no correlation there, but the idea!
So we all know the whole "Danny is related to (Batkid) and he was give away because blah blah" or "he died and blah blah". We know those, and we love them, but what if, hear me out, Danny is related to MULTIPLE of them.
Danny is the child of Willis and Talia.
Now he was definitely not planned or anything, it just happened during a random mission and Talia couldn't bother to deal with it much. She decided that if the child lived she'd give it to Willis, a sort of test. It's not like she needed the baby, Damian had been born a little while before. Talia is one of those mothers who doesn't LOOK pregnant even when she's about to have the baby so basically, Danny does end up being born but is a really sickly kid, like REAL sick.
Of course, she really couldn't care less about the kid so baby Danny was given to Willis, who just gave Danny to Jason and Catherine. He's like 8 or so, so he isn't Robin yet, and he is SO happy to have a little brother. Except he's terrified for Danny, whose name was originally something else with Daniel being his middle name thanks to Jason (also why he kept the name Danny and not his original first name), but he doesn't want Danny hurt. After a few years, just before he becomes Robin, he gives a barely like 4-year-old Danny to a shelter or something with a blanket and a note.
Everything goes the same with both of them from there. The reason why Jason is easier on Damian compared to the others? He kinda looks like his baby brother, not identical but like, there's a resemblance, and he kind of finds it uncanny. Reason Talia even gave the time to help Jason? Well, he's technically the older brother of her younger child, and after having Damian for a while she does feel a little bad. Even if she doesn't want to meet the kid, she figured helping his older brother was a good enough way to apologize.
Danny remembers his older brother. How he looked and his name, and how he always took care of him. It's why even when his new adoptive parents neglected both him and Jazz he doesn't think anything is wrong. Jason had raised him. Now Jazz was. It was simply normal to him. He's just got major parent issues honestly.
The only people who know about his older brother are Jazz and Tucker though. His parents never were told because they'd been too busy to learn about it. Jazz had helped him on the earlier nights when he cried for Jason. And Tucker had learned when they first became friends as kids. Even if he was close to Sam, he never mentioned Jason though, it kind of felt like something he shouldn't touch anymore. It'd been years and even if he still had that star blanket, the note he vaguely remembers with it had been taken and put with his papers...and well he didn't know where those were.
Jason had already died and come back when Danny had the accident, so neither was aware of the other still. Danny does the whole hero thing for about 3 years before everything came crashing in for whatever reason, and he has to run. With no plan, he just follows his core and ends up in Gotham but he doesn't know why. Gotham herself is THRILLED to have him back because Jason was hers and this was Jason's little brother as well as her king! So she's trying to help the disoriented and hurt boy to his brother.
Cue shenanigans and angst though and it take a good MINUTE for Danny to even meet the Bats, let alone Jason. I'm thinking everyone meets him in one way or another before Jason is getting something from the cave while they're talking about this meta kid who LOOKS kind of like Damian but not at the same time, so they need to figure out if it's a clone or what. Jason sees the picture and is frozen, not even noticing the fact that he started crying while the whole fam is freaking out.
It's Damian, who looks between Jason and the picture, that notices the subtle differences that had them thinking it was still familiar were from Jason. And dun dun dun, it's Jason's little brother. He never knew who the mother was and after someone gets him out of his like mini-panic from knowing his brother was close by, he just bolts to his bike to go find him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I actually think I may make this a one-shot series. If anyone else wants to use this idea though feel free as well! Just tag me or smth :D
I honestly do think this is gonna be another thing I write though, I kinda love this idea a lot XDD
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love-toxin · 10 months
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File 11 - Miguel O'Hara
plot: as much as it hurts, he knows you were meant to be together, even if you don't remember the man you once loved.
cws: miguel pov, fem!reader, atsv spoilers, smut mentions, interdimensional romance timelines, lovers -> strangers -> lovers, casual hookups, kids/pregnancy talk, angst + fluff, denial of feelings (man's got it so bad), mutual pining, character death mentions.
word count: 2.8k
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Every morning he wakes up without you is torture.
Plain and simple. Torture. Pure, unadulterated torture that cripples his heart each morning he cracks open his eyes and finds the place beside him empty. It's cold even on the hottest nights, bristling the back of his neck no matter how much he sweats in the long summers. It's always been terrible–ever since that day that you, your daughter, and his whole world ceased to exist, Miguel hasn't truly found peace even in passing moments. Eating his favourite meal from the commissary to finding a breakthrough in his plans for the spiderverse, it just doesn't feel right.
And while he'd long gotten used to that feeling, the dull ache has soared into a sting now that he faces you each day he comes into work.
It's not "you" per se–not his version of you–but the you that stands in front of him each and every morning has your face, your smile, your laugh, your cheeky sense of humour, everything. You have everything. Everything except a memory of him, even a shred of it, because as much as he wants you to see him and throw yourself into his embrace, you have no memory of him. You don't see him as a husband, a father, a friend, you see him as Miguel–not to say that you don't also consider him your savior, which you certainly do. He rescued you from a dying dimension that some other hero screwed up, and broke his own rules in doing so because he just couldn't watch you die twice. He still can't bear watching it replay in his mind every time he falls asleep, that first time when he truly wished he had just died alongside both of you to spare himself the pain. To spare himself from hearing your screams and your daughter's terrified sobs as his world disappeared from within his very arms.
Somewhere in the back of his head, he wonders if there was a Miguel in your own dimension. If you loved him or were destined to love him, but you never got the chance to live out your life together. Maybe he was just a normal guy. Not a hero, not a spiderman, not anyone. Just some average joe with a crush on someone he never imagined he could actually settle down and have a family with. Maybe there was–and maybe nothing ever happened because he just simply can't have anything good last in his life.
That's why, despite how heavy that ring feels on his left hand, and how much his heart aches at knowing that you're right there, Miguel goes to bed every night alone. In the beginning he rebuffed you, shut down any ounce of flirtation, didn't even take it when you made lighthearted jokes or someone else did in your place. He can't go through those losses again, but more importantly he can't put you through those losses again. That dimension was one thing, but what he's built here can't be replaced or broken down. He's mapped out the avenues and deduced that if he pursues you, he loses. So instead of allowing himself those simple pleasures of being close to you, he pushed you away so frequently he could tell it was starting to wear on you. You wondered if you even belonged in the society, your delicate self with nothing but a wristband that still didn't always keep you from glitching on occasion.
But that all changed just a few months ago. It's still burned into his brain, that first time–his muscles still itching for the feeling to meet them again. The feeling of you.
It hadn't hit him until then just how long it'd been since he'd taken care of those needs. He'd spent so many long nights with the company of no one, or the satisfaction of nothing but his hand, that the promise of being with a woman again both frightened and exhilarated him. But it wasn't just any woman, because he's well worn out that mat, it was you. You who might not have remembered him, but you remembered the way you two always made love because it came to you so naturally. You pleased him like it was a second skin, did it without even trying and when you did try it was nothing short of heavenly. You were and are godlike in every which way, your body so soft he worries he'll cut you on his own hard, jagged frame, yet so pliable it's second nature to press your knees back to your shoulders and pipe you like you're a pretty little milking cow and he's a raging bull in heat. There's been times he genuinely couldn't help himself and just gave in to his desires to breed you, his cock straining for your deepest, most vulnerable spots that you gladly gave up the moment he begged to knock you up. Yes, begged–he was at your mercy even in his rawest moments, and he wouldn't have it any other way. Even if the conversations afterward were awkward and filled with cheap laughter as you both sobered up from your lustful haze.
God, you felt so good. Every occasion is better than the last–every chance to feel you pressed against his skin is nothing short of a blessing.
"Mr. Miguel?"
His hand twitches at the interruption of his thoughts, his cup tipping off the desk but stopping with a quick shot of his webs–luckily for him his instincts are still rather crisp, or else he'd be making a mockery of himself in front of the very object of his desires and spilling water all over his floating monitors.
"Mh? Yes?" He turns his head, and there you are in all your radiant glory. Pen tucked behind your ear, outfit of the day clean and prim, eyes sparkling as they always do even when you look at him with concern. How precious. It's just a cup.
"O-Oh, sorry! Nice catch," You add rather hastily before holding out a stack of files, each one labeled and organized by name just as he asked you to do since you started. "Here's the paperwork for the newbies. Do you want it anywhere specific, Mr. Miguel?"
"Set it on the counter there, I'll have Parker look it over. Might busy him and May for awhile." He grumbles that last part under his breath, finally turning around completely from his screens and rolling out his shoulders from hunching so much over them. Fully facing you now is a problem…it's always a problem with how tight this suit can be.
"Oh, you love her, don't even lie." Lie. Lie. Lie. For god's sakes, just lie.
"I tolerate her presence in my workspace."
"Isn't she just adorable, though? She gives me baby fever like mad–don't you feel it too?" One look at you, one shared glance is all it takes in that moment for him to crack.
"...Maybe. Just…a little bit, though." And you just grin. That big, dumb, pretty grin that has him turning away from you in a hurried bid to hide the restlessness stirring beneath his spandex.
That first time was barely memorable in clarity not because of your performance or his, but because you were both drunk out of your minds after Peter's birthday party and couldn't peel yourselves off of each other when he took you back home. You'd gotten on top of him, he'd tugged your dress off, you kissed and the rest was history–rough, drooling, heart-pounding history as you rode his lap and whispered things into his ear that to this day he wishes he had recorded. No precautions, no inhibitions, no worries about your lives as they would go on, just the two of you getting yourselves off and spilling out some foul compliments on the way there. How he loves the way your eyes roll back when you cum and how good his tongue feels inside you, how you want him to finish inside you, please Miguel-
"Don't forget to eat, Miguel. You're still human, you know–not just a worker bot." A pat on his shoulder, a whiff of your perfume, and you're gone again. A wisp of memory that mingles with the heated sweat trickling down his neck as he remembers what you looked like on your knees.
In reality, it's been more than that one time, more than twice or even three times. For a couple months now he's found comfort in you after hours, had his needs taken care of completely by the person that so embodies who he was in love with not so long ago. It's taken him awhile to accept it but he knows for sure that you are that person–you and her are one in the same, the only difference being that you haven't yet fallen for him and started your family together. Well, maybe you have, for all he knows. He can't get his hopes up….not quite yet, at least.
Could you be pregnant already? The idea passes over his head and the mere thought of it pools a heat into his lower stomach that he's quick to drown with a sip of water. It's possible, that's true, but…well, you've certainly forgone protection together a couple times after that first encounter. You could be. But if you are, he's got a whole world of problems coming his way. But it would make him so happy. So would Parker, he'd have a friend for Mayday to play with–but he has to shake it from his mind with total urgency, because that's not his purpose and it's not what he should be focusing on at all. You're a coworker and a fling. Nothing more. A piece of meat to sink his teeth into when he feels the urge, a bloodbag to drink from when you so graciously allow him to, an assistant to shut up and do the work he demands of you without question.
He's trying so hard to convince himself of that that he can barely keep his eyes on the screens. Because the moments where he feels you twitch around him and when he sinks his fangs into your throat during the heat of the moment don't nearly affect him as much as those other moments; the softer ones, the ones where he brushes some hair from your face and you laugh at his cheesy attempt at a joke, when you fall asleep in his arms and he cradles you close like he did when you were married, when he lays awake and ponders not taking you back to your room but keeping you under his arm all night. Warm. Safe. Here. Not just in his memories, but in real life.
Maybe if you did fall in love, and if you did get married, and if you had his child, he'd even get to see his precious Gabriella again. His life. His love. His fingers flicker towards the secure files on his hard drive without him even noticing, and in moments he has those videos up and playing like he hasn't watched them a thousand times over. Those darling smiles and that precious laughter…he would just die to hear it again in real life and not through his speakers, and who's to say it wouldn't happen? If he'd allow himself a moment to indulge, how could he be sure that you wouldn't have Gabi in your lives again if you tried for her? Would you even object if he told you the truth and showed you these videos as proof? You have such a kind heart, he'd struggle to believe you wouldn't offer to give him his dream if you knew it even existed.
But a better question is; is the fate of the spiderverse worth it? Would his act of subverting destiny again ruin even more lives than the ones in his own dimension? Is it worth…..no, it's not worth the risk.
With a sigh, Miguel closes the videos and, for the umpteenth time, hovers his fingers uselessly over the delete key. Those memories of you and her are all he has to cling to, but as always, he's reminded of the cost of dwelling too far on times he'll never get to relive. Gabi's gone, you are gone, and no matter how often he entertains it in his mind he'll never have the life he wants back. Ever. It's just not possible, and it's not fair to expect the sacrifices of every other hero in these dimensions while avoiding his own. He has to be a pillar of strength, even though it feels like he'll always be worthless as his hand lowers and he moves the files back into his storage. Gabi's voice crying out "Gotcha, papi!" on that last video as she smushes her dessert into his face, his gaze halting as he watches his past self and his daughter laughing while you hold the camera. You're so beautiful you transcend your own image; your mere presence is absolute beauty and the thought of you is as pure as the joy in those videos.
"She's adorable, too."
In a split-second, Miguel's head whips over his shoulder and he locks eyes with the one person who he swore he could never let see these videos–you. You, who clearly didn't leave when he thought you had, and had casually wandered up behind him completely unnoticed as he got wrapped up in the past. Like a man possessed, he throws his hand out to slam the pause command on the hologram and stop you from witnessing any more, because if you realize that it's you that's also in this scene, then…well, he has no idea what to do, then.
"Y-You weren't supposed to–puta madre–I thought you left, what're you doing sneaking around?" A twinge of guilt hits him at the rejection that dims your eyes, but you lighten up almost as fast and skirt around him to peer closer at the video, still paused on himself and his daughter propped up on his shoulders.
"Nothing. Is this your daughter?" You ask it so casually he almost falls victim to offense rising inside him, up until he reminds himself that the you he's talking to isn't Gabriella's mother. You have no recollection of her, and it…it's very difficult not to want to talk your ear off about her like she's still here, and he's still her papi.
"I…yes, this is–was–my daughter-"
"Gabriella?" Your eyes flick up towards the file name, something unusually placid about your gaze.
"Yes…Gabriella. Gabi."
The silence beckons him into anger, to turn to rage in the absence of a proper answer to this predicament. But instead of raising his voice and shouting you away, he waits and watches you watching the hologram because it isn't moving, but there's something there. Dare he consider that the depth of your gaze is because there's some flicker of recognition in your eyes? This video is, after all, from your perspective, so would it be so far-fetched to think that maybe you might be seeing yourself in that little girl that shares your smile?
"...Y'know, I miss people from my world, too." You finally turn your head to look up at him, your head full of clouds like always. "It's not all bad to reminisce, Miguel."
I know that. That's what he wants to say, how he wants to react; with a bitter amount of snark that would turn a lesser companion away. But for now, for once, he just shuts his mouth and turns his eyes away. He can't bear to meet your gaze no matter how much he wants to bask in it.
"Are you busy tonight?"
"I…I don't think I have plans." Those words choke themselves out of him by force but they don't turn you off. The heat on your skin, the furrow of your brow…somehow you're only dialed all the way up.
"Mmh. Sounds good. Let's hang out, yeah? I'll help you loosen up." You pat his shoulder with more impact this time, you actually mean it this time as you step down to take your leave. But you're not gone yet, you still linger for him to wish you were and weren't all at the same time. When you look at him, as conflicted as he feels, all he sees are stars in your eyes. "....Gabriella, right? It's a really cute name. I like it."
Maybe you know. You giggle just as sweetly as the you in that tape–maybe if you don't know, it's just as good. Regardless of who he was and who you were before all this, despite everything, he still has you. That's more than he could ask for in any world, and in any lifetime.
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wutheringskies · 7 months
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everyone is like: if wei wuxian told everyone he gave his core to Jiang Cheng, all of this wouldn't have happened!
me: if he told jiang cheng, it would be WORSE.
consider these points:
Jiang Cheng was a newly appointed sect leader, hell-bent on revenge, finally surpassing others. He would emotionally break if he finds out it's all because of Wei Wuxian's core. He wouldn't want to lose it; but Wei Wuxian holding that over his head will make it terrible for him; rage, tantrums; in that war-time would have literally robbed him of his senses.
This is a war. If some people find out Wei Wuxian doesn't have a core, what's stopping the enemy from finding out? Even so, there would be people who wish to kill the ever-powerful son of a servant. The hundreds-hole curse could only succeed because Jin Zixun had low cultivation. Think of how many enemies (Wens, and the others) Wei Wuxian had. They don't dare curse him because 1) they believe he has superior cultivation and 2) if he comes for revenge with his stygian tiger seal and chenqing, it simply wouldn't be worth it. So, high risk and low reward. but in actuality, if someone did curse him, without a core to cleanse him, it would be fatal!
As the "son of a servant" and "wielder of immense power," his place in the cultivation world was already unstable. If they find out he doesn't even have a core, he cannot stay in the cultivation world! If he leaves, then there's no protection guaranteed for him from those who wish to claim his power anyway!
Literally, the only ones who would genuinely care would be Lan Wangji and Jiang Yanli. And what could they do? Lan Xichen would be sympathetic, but when has sympathy saved lives when there's no follow-up action? Nie Mingjue would commend his sacrifice, but will he save the Wens? Nope. Nobody would magically go like, "oh, let us help wei wuxian who doesn't have a core tragically."
Among the general public, would anyone look at it as anything other than a grand sacrifice for his superior? "Wei Wuxian is really loyal," and when he saves the Wens, it would go down the path of, "Can't believe he betrayed the Jiang Clan."
The only one who wished to know the why's and the how's and the reasoning behind it all was Lan Wangji. Lan Wangji, who would try his utter best; but Wei Wuxian himself was so powerful. Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan were powerful. Wen Qing and Wen Ning were also powerful. All the righteous people had tragic ends - if Lan Wangji was allowed to know, he would push harder at Wei Ying. But will Wei Ying accept it? Will he feel a certain disregard of respect? A lack of trust from Lan Wangji because they dont have the fundamentals down?How can it magically make things alright, when their issues go deeper than Wei Wuxian being on an "unorthodox path"? So, who's to say, even if Lan Wangji realized it all, somehow forced himself into Wei Wuxian's space when Wei Wuxian did not want it with some OOC syndrome, but even then what can he do? In the end, rather than just one, both would die. The odds are bad when it's 1 vs 3000, but is it much better if it's 2 vs 3000?
Wei Wuxian's arrogance protected the secret that would've signed him out of the war, out of the cultivation world. The fear people had for him protected him. Even after his death, they only noticed the annihilation of minor clans because "oh no yllz is here to take revenge!" If he acted weak and approachable and sad, just how few would hold true empathy compared to all the many that would see an opportunity to strike? Whoever wields power, speaks out, and is from an unproveleged background yet sitting among the gentry is already an outcast.
The only way he wouldn't have died were if he were someone who bowed to servitude, if he kept quiet, if he counted his losses and gains like Jin Guangyao. Will this harm me? Yes. So I cannot do it.
That's not Wei Wuxian.
"Let gains and losses remain uncommented upon." If the whole world wishes to kill innocents to satiate their own hatred then the whole world is wrong, and he won't stand up for it - whether or not, he has a romantic relationship with Lan Wangji early, or if he's actual siblings with the Jiangs (like actually adopted.)
Whether he wields a sword or his flute or nothing at all; whether he's loved or hated, he is bound to be resented by those who are hypocrites. The loss of his golden core won't shake them with empathy, but mockery not just towards him, but towards Jiang Wanyin as well.
"Congratulations, Jiang Cheng, for killing the man who killed your entire family (false, but you know) and was unrighteous!"
"But isn't the Jiang Clan only alive because of Wei Wuxian's core?"
"Jiang Wanyin is such a loser; he took his servant's core."
That would be a fucking literal nightmare. That is why, Wei Wuxian doesn't say a word or whine or cry. He probably thought he could wait until Jiang clan is in a better spot and tell only Jiang Cheng, but by then, he'd already been caught up in the Wen's situation.
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thetragicallynerdy · 5 months
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Okay so, I made a thread about this over on twitter, and thought I'd drop it here too. OFMD Season 2 spoilers ahead. An idea that I've seen a few times and felt I needed to yell about is the idea that OFMD is now ableist, and that it is wrong to like and enjoy it as a show. As a queer disabled person, it's something that pisses me off so, so much. I'm not going to defend everything that happens in OFMD. But I am going to say that it is one of the best shows I know for showing both a broad range of disabilities, and presenting those disabilities in a largely neutral light. We have multiple amputees, multiple people with chronic pain , multiple characters with mental health issues, and more. We have Pete's speech impediment, Wee John's back, Lucius' finger, Jackie's hand, Ed's mental health, Stede's mental health - and yeah, Izzy's leg. The way that these disabilites are presented is important to me - because they're just another part of the person, not good or bad. There are obviously impacts and things to work through - Ed's mental health being one, Izzy's leg being another - but they ARE worked through. Ed's suicidality - which spans over two entire seasons - is addressed. So is the moments of Izzy's. Izzy gets support and a prosthetic, Lucius gets support and a prosthetic, we see Wee John sitting down in most scenes which would support his back. Disability isn't just ignored, or played off for laughs, but neither is it made the entire plot point. Izzy is just as much of a badass as before. Lucius' finger doesn't stop his work. Jackie's hand doesn't make her less fearsome. Ed's mental health (and Izzy's, and Stede's) don't make them less deserving of love. None of the character's disabilities do. In fact, we see two disabled characters - Lucius and Pete - getting married at the end of the season. And that's important. It's so important!!
If you're sad and upset that Izzy died, that's incredibly valid. But to say that it "shows that disabled characters have nothing to live for" - when his death wasn't related to his disability at all - is so incredibly offensive. I am permanently disabled, to the point that I cannot work full time. I have seen posts about my disability saying that it would be better to die than to have it. But nothing - NOTHING - in OFMD suggests that it would've been better for Izzy to die than to have an amputation. Instead he is supported, encouraged, and loved. He is given a carefully crafted prosthetic, and given space to learn how to use it. He gets support, and his mental health improves. He is given a beautiful life. And then he dies. But his death is not about his disability. I'm going to repeat that - his death is NOT about his disability. Nor is it about being queer. It's shitty, random luck. I'm sure there are people who are going to say that the writers, simply by having a disabled queer character die, are ableist and queerphobic. But nothing we see in the show supports that. They show queer joy and delight and love and happy endings over and over again. They show care and support of disabilities, over and over again. And they specifically show queer disabled people living beautiful lives, over and over again. One character's death doesn't undo that. I'm sorry that your favourite character died. I really, truly am. It's a devastating feeling. I'm sorry that it hurts. But if you're taking it as a sign that the show is saying queer disabled people have no right to live? Then you're ignoring the rest of the show.
You're ignoring all the beautiful queer disabled characters we see, and the messages that the show tells us about them. You're ignoring the beautiful life and redemption that Izzy got. And yeah, you're being offensive as hell to queer disabled people. Sorry, you are.
And if you're queer and disabled and can't see a queer disabled character die - that's incredibly valid. I understand. However, that doesn't mean the show or writers hate you, or hates us, or wants you to die. They've shown us over and over again that actually, they love us.
Also - would you be this pissed if it was any other disabled character who died? Probably not.
I think it's also really important to have stories where disabled people are treated like people. And yeah, that means that sometimes we die. Because that happens in life, too. Same with queer people.
I don't really have a satisfying conclusion to this. I'm just queer and disabled, and really tired of seeing it said that it's now morally wrong to like this show. It's not. I'm queer, disabled, and I see more disability pride and support in this show than most others.
So yeah, thank you to OFMD for beautiful representations of disability, and queerness. It's a show that makes me feel seen - and that's really important.
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transmutationisms · 7 months
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sorry to go back to the succession asks, but what do you make of the fact that a major part of the horror of what kendall did to the waiter is that he got away with it? i‘m never quite sure what to think, especially in reference to the real not real and making him fundamentally unable to be as much of a person as everyone else of it all + him ultimately denying it ever happened and this sort of dooming him in the finale
dodds dies because kendall, like the other characters of his social class, doesn't view those below them as real people with lives that matter. after the fact, kendall certainly experiences regret and guilt, but as long as logan is alive, kendall can't come clean (publicly) and so he can't get the catharsis of punishment. this is why he compulsively shoplifts in season 2. fundamentally the tension here is between the class position kendall was born into (culminating in ascension to the ceo position) and the idea of respecting or valuing waitstaff (& other service workers). kendall can do what his father demands of him to become ceo, or he could radically upend his life by, say, confessing to the manslaughter---but he can't do both. so, for seasons 2 and 3 he's walking around with a tormented conscience, though ofc not tormented enough to take precedence over his desire to impress logan and ultimately become ceo.
after he confesses to his siblings, we see in season 4 that this seems to assuage his guilt: if they can forgive him, he must not be that bad a person (again, this goes back to how he values the opinions of others in his class over the actual life of a waiter). so when shiv finally brings up dodds in the finale, it resurrects the old conflict: what she's saying is that kendall did a bad thing, and that this should prevent him from being ceo (this also shows how shiv has faith in the morals of capitalist institutions & power). kendall's response finally settles the conflict. he can't be a person who seeks the ceo role and also be a person who wrestles wirh the moral weight of having killed a waiter; it's a crossroads for him. he sides with his class, throws his hat in the ceo ring, and finally disavows any care or compassion for dodds by simply blocking out the merest acknowledgment of his death.
big-picture, the suggestion here is that no one can become ceo of waystar (which is ofc a metonymic position) without embracing & benefitting from the sort of calculus kendall makes: capitalists' lives matter, workers' lives do not. thus, the roys' persistent mistreatment or (at best) invisibilisation of their staff, servants, &c throughout the series is not some kind of unique moral failing of theirs---it is simply an outcome of the structural factors that create their massive wealth. waystar, which again is standing in for capitalism more broadly, can exist only as a consequence of labour exploitation and expropriation, which is to say that devaluing the lives of workers starts long before kendall's chappaquiddick incident. as long as kendall keeps his class position he will get away with the killing, even though he loses the ultimate crown of becoming ceo. there is no way for kendall to be 'moral' and retain his social power and privileges, because that arrangement is predicated on exploitation and the social logic that rendered dodds disposable in the first place.
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turtle-steverogers · 9 months
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Okay so I've have this idea ever since I watched Endgame and I can't figure out how to make it work pothole wise but I have to share with you.
So you know the part where Tony and Steve go back in time to the 1970s? Ever since I watched that I was like "What if something goes wrong and they accidentally end up in Steve's childhood instead??" I know you like A+ parenting from Joseph Rogers and I can't stop thinking about Steve and Tony's tumbling on top of a scene between little Steve and angry Joe Rogers.
Just imagine, first they're simply standing in front of like, a run-down building and they're both kind of confused of why they're there but then they see this little tiny kid playing with marbles or something next to the street. And Tony is busy processing the fact that they're in the wrong year and that the kid looks like Steve and that he looks so small and thin.
So he doesn't realize that Steve tenses up when they hear a shout from the building. And they look up to see a burly man come out looking mad and maybe a little bit drunk and little Steve scrambled to pick up his marbles but Joe grab him first and is yelling at him with his fingers in a vice grip around his arm.
And Tony looks at Steve and Steve is pale as a sheet and doing that thing where you revert back to how you were in that time because you haven't processed any of the feelings you had then, and Tony figures out what's going on in a horrifying abrupt flash of realization.
(And then maybe Tony steps into confront the dad, despite knowing it's going to influence the timeline. I don't know about that though because it will just cause more problems for little Steve once they leave so maybe he tries and then big Steve is like no don't! And then they have to talk about it.)
Like I said I can't figure out how to write this scene because it doesn't make any sense for both of them to somehow land in the 1920s and also how on Earth are they going to get to the '70s if they run out of Pym particles etc but I don't care because I want to see it so bad.
Oh god, logistics be damned, because i’m just picturing the scene
-
“Ah, shit--”
“What the hell?”
It happens so fast that Steve loses his footing, crashing backwards and nearly bringing both him and Tony down as he’s yanked bodily into an alleyway. He stumbles, straightens, blinking hard against the blood rushing from his head before Tony’s grip on his arm tightens hard enough that Steve winces. 
“We’re in the wrong place,” Tony says.
“What?” Steve is certain he must have heard him wrong. He must have, because the city is loud around them and cars are whirring by in what has to be afternoon traffic, children yelling down the street, some kid hawking papers and kicking up a flock of pigeons as he shouts, “Paper! Getcha paper! Family dies in horrific car accident, went straight offa the Bridge! Two cents!”
And it’s a lie. Steve knows it’s a lie, because he used to lie to sell papers for the entire two years he hawked them back in ‘25, because his dad was blowing all their money on whiskey and gin and they needed to eat. 
“Oh god.” He turns, head on a slow swivel, looking around. 
He knows this alleyway. He knows this street, the buildings, tall and laden with clotheslines, running from fire escape to fire escape like veins bleeding life into the city. 
They’re in the wrong place. They’re in the wrong time. 
He looks at Tony, who looks just as stricken as he looks back. 
“We messed up,” Tony says. “Big time. Except we totally didn’t mess up, because I am positively certain that we put in the right date and time and this isn’t New Jersey, this definitely isn’t New Jersey.”
“No, it’s not,” Steve agrees, and he looks at the street. Dares to look, because he knows if he angles himself just right, he’ll see his old building. The one he lived in with his ma and dad, then just his ma, then eventually Bucky and--
He squeezes his eyes shut. He needs to think. About the mission, about the Pym Particles that were evidently wasted when someone or something sent them to the wrong place and time. Not about the familiar smell of the city street. Dust and motor oil and the faint scent of boiled corn. Not about ghosts that are drifting around him. Not about the fact that if he cranes his neck just so…
“We need to-- I don’t know what we need to do, but we need to do something. Fuck, what year is it even? We’re-- where are we? I don’t even know where we--”
“Brooklyn,” Steve says, opening his eyes. He can’t quite breathe, the reality of the situation settling in. Tugging at his ribcage. He’s going to vomit, he thinks. Maybe. “I don’t know when, but we’re in Brooklyn. Sometime around my time.”
“Okay, so this is definitely targeted, because that is way too specific to be a random mistaken coincidence,” Tony rambles, tapping frantically on his Time-Space GPS. 
It’s no use. Steve knows it’s no use, because they’re out of Pym Particles. Collectively. And there’s no way of letting the others know about their predicament. 
They’re stuck. They’re well and truly stuck. 
Steve should feel more panicked, he knows that, but he’s stuck, incapable of moving. Of feeling anything other than abject horror as he finally gives into the urge to shift his gaze, lean slightly to the side, and look around toward his old building.
Kneeling on the front steps is a little boy, knobbly knees folded on the ground as he leans over, rolling some marbles around on the ground with great focus. His blond hair is dirty, falling in front of his eyes, which he reaches up to push out of the way, and Steve recognizes his clothes-- the brown, wool shorts he liked to wear and a ratty gray button up pulled out of the waistband. He’s barefoot, because it’s warm out, and it never mattered if he was wearing shoes or not when it was warm out. In fact, it made his leg braces easier to wear, which are fastened around his legs at an uncomfortable angle.
“1924,” he says.
Tony stops his rambling, and Steve realizes he's been talking to him. 
“What?”
“It’s 1924.”
Tony frowns, looking at him. “How do you know?” He follows Steve’s gaze, then freezes next to him. “Oh my god, that’s not-- is that--”
“Yeah,” Steve says, feeling like he might pass out as he watches his little self shift around, tugging at the straps of his leg braces, trying to stop them from digging into his calves so hard. His fingers flex at his side, and he can almost still feel the dull ache in his knees. “That’s me. Fuck. Oh my god.”
And he remembers this. Remembers the way the marbles felt in his hand, remembers being sad because Bucky had been out of town with his family that week, so he had no one to play with. Remembers what’s about to happen next--
“Fuck, there you are, boy!” 
Steve can just make out the words over the throng of the city, knows people are looking, but it’s not out of the ordinary for the time, so no one is stopping. No one in the city ever stops. Not for business that isn’t theirs. 
“Oh my god,” Tony says next to him, and Steve’s eyes are glued on the scene as a man comes barreling out of the building, burly and tall and looming, going straight for the little boy on the steps. The stuff of Steve’s nightmares, all wild eyed and sweaty. He’d been real mean that week. Work had laid him off when he failed to show up for the millionth time, too drunk to know up from down, and Steve and his marbles had paid the price. “Is that-- who’s that?”
Steve swallows, tastes biles, makes his throat work.
“My dad.”
There’s a pause. They’re both still watching as his dad yanks on his little self’s arm. The marbles slip out of his grip. He starts crying as a few tumble down the drain, and he tries to yank himself away, tries to go after them, but he’s too little. 
“I thought he died in the war.”
Steve sways. He doesn’t know how he’s still standing. All the blood has rushed away from his head, pooling in his stomach, making it churn. He hasn’t thought about his dad in years. Hasn’t let himself.
“Yeah,” he says. “He might as well have.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah.”
His dad is dragging him up the steps, slapping him hard across the face when he starts to wail.
“That fucker,” Tony spits next to him, taking a few steps forward, and he sounds angrier than Steve has heard in a while. It startles him, and he reaches out, grabs Tony’s bicep.
“Tony, wait-- what are you--”
“Shit, I can’t just let him--”
They tussle for a moment as Steve manages to drag Tony back. He can’t let him go out there, can’t let him mess up the timeline.
“You’re gonna fuck this up worse for us if you go out there,” Steve says, backing them both further into the alleyway. 
He doesn’t need to look to know he’s gone deadweight, crying on his way up the steps, his dad wrestling with him to stand up, quit crying, quit being a goddamn sissy.
Tony’s expression is stricken, eyes wide and tight and Steve kicks himself, remembering that Howard had not been kind either. At least from what he’s gathered. He has never considered him and Tony to be much the same in any sense, but maybe they share more pain than he thought. 
“Besides, if you go out there and try to help, he’s only going to-- he’s gonna--” Steve stops talking, mouth too dry. 
He remembers the time George Barnes had tried to intervene after Bucky had told him that Steve’s dad hit him sometimes. The beating he’d gotten that night for messing with his dad’s reputation had been debilitating. He’d had to miss school for two days, and Bucky had cried when he saw him next, apologizing for getting him hurt.
Steve had hugged him, and they’d been okay. But no one had ever tried to intervene again.
Tony studies his face, and Steve can’t look him in the eye. Abruptly, he lets go of Tony’s arm, lungs compressing. He never wanted anyone to know, and it feels like his entire soul is on display, all old pains and exposed skin. Hand-shaped bruises and cigarette burns on the ghost of himself.
He’s told himself it’s fine. War had been worse, watching his home get ravaged by aliens had been worse. But he’s learning that there is no worse. No quantifying pain. Not when it raised him.
“Okay,” Tony says, his tone quiet. Understanding. “Okay. I’m sorry.”
Steve shifts, looks down at the ground. 
“It’s fine,” he says, then clears his throat. He needs to focus. They need to focus. “We need to figure out how to get the fuck out of here.”
Tony shakes himself, even though he still looks deeply disturbed. 
“Right,” he says, looking down at the Time-Space GPS. “Okay, right, okay.”
Steve turns, casting one last glance to the stoop of the rundown building. It’s empty now, and he closes his eyes, letting the tears well. He’s scared, he realizes. As scared as he was in that moment, confused why his dad hates him and sad that he lost his marbles. He wants to cry for that little boy. He wants to pull him into a hug and tell him that he’s not dirty or bad. That the pain will wane, then wax again. 
That he will survive, and keep going, just like he always does. 
-
They find the glitch in the system, the diversion sent from some future version of evil to throw them off the scent of the Pym Particles. It’s easy enough to maneuver their way through Camp Lehigh and get more, once they make it there, then the world ends again and Steve watches his friends nearly die and his shield breaks.
It’s hell. Concentrated, fast moving hell.
And then the world is still again.
He’s tired, he thinks as he sits on Tony’s dock. The rest of the team are inside, celebrating another win. Celebrating him passing a new shield off to Sam-- one Tony had graciously crafted him once they made it back home. 
He’d slipped away some time after toasts were being made, waving Bucky away when he tried to follow. He needs to be alone, just for a bit. He needs to breathe, to watch the water ripple beneath his feet and listen to dragonflies buzz over the water.
It isn’t often that he’s taken the time to slow down. To breathe, and appreciate the world as it is, whole and teeming with life. He thinks maybe now that he’s retired, he ought to do that more.
Maybe he’ll take up hiking. Or something. Maybe Bucky will join him, always being one for adventure himself. Rolling up his jeans to wade out into the waters of Coney Island, just so he can feel the sand between his toes, Becca on his back, kicking the water and splashing Steve, who’d been following close behind. 
“Spangles, I thought I’d find you out here, looking all morose and contemplative.”
Steve looks over to see Tony approaching him, limping, his arm still in a sling. It had been a near catastrophic feat, using his own gauntlet to snap Thanos out of existence, but he’d done it and made it out alive.
“Yup, that’s me, morose and contemplative Steve.” He shifts over, letting Tony sit. 
It feels final in a way. Like they’re finally past whatever barrier kept them at odds for so many years. It seems that this time, the world ending had finally cemented their trust in each other. 
“Saw you slip away from the party,” Tony says. “You okay?”
“Yeah, just needed some quiet,” Steve says. They’re sitting close enough that Steve can hear Tony’s heartbeat with his enhanced hearing. It’s a comfort. “How’s your arm?”
“Oh, you know, a little achy, a little crisp. I still haven’t been able to truly wash it, aside from sponge baths, so it’s definitely a little ripe, too, but it’s getting there.”
Steve snorts, long since used to Tony’s chronic oversharing.
“Well, I’m glad it doesn’t hurt too bad?”
“Not too bad, no,” Tony says. It’s quiet for a moment, and they watch a gray heron land on a log. Steve takes a mental picture of it to draw later. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Was your dad like that a lot?”
Steve sighs. He’s been wondering when this would come up. They didn’t talk about it after the fact-- there hadn’t been any time-- but the space between them has felt thick with the unsaid, even with everything going on.
“Yeah.”
“Shit.” He hears the shake in Tony’s voice, and looks at him. “How old were you when we were there?”
“Six,” Steve says. “It was three days before my birthday.”
“I’m sorry,” Tony says. “Did anyone know?”
“Bucky did, but no one else. He died when I was nine, and I told everyone after that that he’d died in the war. It messed him up good.” 
“Damn,” Tony says. “Look, I know we’ve had our moments. Like, really tough moments, but I care about you, yeah? I give a damn, even if I’m still learning the correct ways to show that.” He shakes his head, licks his lips. Steve watches him, holding his breath. “Just… I’m here for you, okay? I know what it’s like having a shitty dad, and mine never-- never hurt me like that, but he messed me up plenty good in other ways. So if you ever, I don’t know, want to talk about it, or just need someone who you don’t have to explain yourself to, I’m here.”
It’s the most vulnerable they’ve voluntarily been around each other, and Steve reaches out, placing his hand over Tony’s on the pier. The one that isn’t injured. His skin is warm. They’re both here, broken parts of a whole. With an exhale, Steve feels like they’ve finished a chapter, ready to start a new one, on the same page.
“Thank you, Tony. I’m here, too.”
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potahun · 5 months
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AU of mysterious lotus casebook where lxy is not poisoned by bicha 👀
!!!!!!!
thanks for this!!!!
one thing about an AU where there is not bicha poisoning is that the outcome of the donghai battle could have been completely different and the changes could have started as early as 10 years ago :O
i wonder if w/o the Bicha acting up, Li Xiangyi would have been so desperate to have Di Feisheng cough up Shan Gudao’s location right there and then? Would he have tried to stop the battle when he realised that something odd was happening at the same time as he was fighting, with the simultaneous ‘bombing’ of the Sigu Sect members and Jingyuan Alliance members? Would he press on and win? Would Di Feisheng LET him stop the battle?
The reason LXY fights DFS is also due to a ruse that frames the Jingyuan Alliance as SGD’s murderer. The reason DFS doesn't clear up that misunderstanding is because he doesn't care about being the Bad Guy, and this is making LXY fight him at full power. He only has to shut up for LXY to come at him! Great!
But if DFS might be okay with losing Jingyuan Alliance members to finish his fight with LXY, I doubt LXY would be fine with Sigu Sect being collateral for this fight. It's not huge, but I think there is a chance that, w/o the poison acting up when it did, LXY might be able to stop the fight and force DFS into a temporary truce. Alternatively, they could also fight to exhaustion without death, and at the very end, when they both wake up on the beach, LXY gains some sanity and thinks "wait a minute. something wasn't right with this fight. there is something I missed".
Either way, for the sake of this AU, let's presume such a truce happened. So here come the five facts of the AU!
1. LI Xiangyi doesn't die. Even when he still loathes himself for the losses the Sigu Sect incurred because of him, he doesn't die. And Di Feisheng is there the entire time to see that he sticks to it.
2. For DFS too, there is a question mark. We know he used the Jingyuan Alliance and power ultimately to achieve more personal goals, and 10 years ago, those goals weren't achieved yet. At that stage, he would not accept the possibility of traitors in his ranks, or members with personal agendas. DFS is also very, very capable of lying and acting to cover up his intentions. I think there is a good chance for DFS and LXY working together semi-covertly in investigations to (i) find what happened with SGD (for LXY) and (ii) clean up the Jingyuan situation (for DFS).
3. There is a huge mess to clean up in terms of violation of the Peace Treaty and a lot of agendas to hide...but with LXY alive, the Sigu Sect still stands. No one, however, understands why LXY suddenly wants to let the Jingyuan Alliance off the hook for now. What about SGD?? There are awkward meetings where DFS is caught in LXY's quarters and everyone is just "??????????" about it. A LOVE AFFAIR? (cue Sigu Sect becoming more and more unstable in terms of internal politics, but also, LXY prefers this if it means he gets to investigate without alerting the enemy)
4. Some years after the Donghai battle, teen Fang Xiaobao starts showing up to Sigu Sect to train and LXY himself receives a ton of hate mail from He Xiaohui and her husband threatening him to tear the sect apart if they accept her son. There is a huge amount of FXB camping in front of the Sigu Sect gates, shenanigans with a younger FXB failing to bribe LXY with candies even though LXY postpones training him simply because he wants to solve the SGD business and other episodes.
5. Fang Xiaobao gets to know Li Xiangyi as Li Xiangyi, but their prolonged contact humanizes him into a Li Lianhua-style of Li Xiangyi. This would be the story exploring how, w/o the bicha poisoning, Li Xiangyi could combine Li Xiangyi and Li Lianhua and whatever comes after Li Lianhua, into himself, and live.
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sidyashchiy-na-plakhe · 5 months
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Flame – the most overrated WoF character
I will probably anger a lot of people with this opinion. But I do not care. WoF fandom, you made me think that Flame is a good character at first, but it turned out to be false. Flame is terrible both as a character and as a person. He doesn't deserve the love he gets from fans. And here's s why:
Flame...has no development. In a bad way. Throughout the story, he doesn't change at all. He is constantly angry and offended by the world, it’s not even clear why. He behaved simply disgustingly towards other false dragonets of destiny, especially towards Fatespeaker, although she was very kind to him. Flame was not at war, he lived in a relatively calm environment with Talons of peace. He had food, water, a roof over his head, and a loving mother. At that time, dragonets of destiny lived in a cave, without the opportunity to communicate with anyone or even fly normally. Unlike other dragonets, Flame knows his mother, who loves him, and she most likely lived with him. The only good thing about Flame is that he loves his mom. For which I respect him. But that's where his good qualities ends! Unfortunately. Flame is very selfish. He helps Starflight and Fatespeaker escape due to the fact that he could have died. Also, Flame almost killed Stonemover because he did not want to fulfill his wishes. Flame is like Zuko from Avatar, only without the development and good qualities. And the fact that fic-writers made “candy” out of “shit” does not make the canonical Flame a good character. Yes, he has good potential for development, but this development will probably never happen, and fan speculation does not count. In general, characters like Fierceteech and Icicle are more likable than Flame, but in the end they are the most underrated in the WoF fandom.
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griffin-girl-r · 6 months
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Coming home (Part 3)
Created: 12.02.2022
Finished: 03.05.2023
Edited: 18.09.2023
Age: 16
Word count: 2,000
Warnings: None
Request: No
Part 2
Six months.
That's how much time had passed since your death. And no one was over it yet.
Your uncles tried to focus on the thing that each knew how to do better, to distract themself from your loss.
And your mother... Well... She was in the worst shape from all of them. She looked nothing like the woman she was six months ago.
Natasha is pale, she barely eats or gets out of her room. She cried all the time and the spark in her eyes died with you.
Clint took her to his house once, thinking it would make her feel better.
That was such a bad idea, because as soon as his kids jumped to hug their aunt, she burst into tears again and Natasha didn't stop until she fell asleep.
Clint learned his lesson.
Today, the team had a big mission and they needed all the help they could get.
Taking down a Hydra base wasn't easy.
But for Natasha, was again one of those days when she would just lock herself in your room and cry, so no one dared to disturb her.
Little did they know that this mission would become the most important mission in their lives.
As soon as they returned everyone snapped into action, Thor went to Asgard to give the news. Bruce, Tony, and Steve headed to the medbay and Clint sprinted to tell Natasha what they had found and brought back.
Natasha didn't even flinch, when Clint literally took down the door with a huge smile on his face.
She just continued to lay on your bed, hugging a picture of you. Her face was tear-strained but her eyes were empty of all feelings.
"Nat, you won't believe what we have found! You need to hurry up and see it too." Clint yelled
"I don't care." She simply said in a very low voice
"When you see what it is, I bet you're going to be interested in it." Clint's voice was sounding too tempting
From one quick move, he lifted her from the bed and threw her over his shoulder, the assassin making no move to protest.
Ever since you had died, she just doesn't care what happens to her anymore.
"You are going to be so happy. So happy." Clint beamed up
"That's not possible for me anymore, Clint." Natasha emotionlessly clarified
"I doubt." He challenged
Once inside the medbay, Clint put Natasha down and motioned to her to turn around.
When she didn't, he turned her around himself.
Natasha's eyes widened and she blinked a few times, waiting for the illusion in front of her to disappear.
"You look like you've seen a ghost, Romanoff." Tony laughed
In fact, she was seeing one.
"This can't be." She muttered "What type of sick joke is this, boys?!"
"It's not a joke." Steve assured
Natasha took a step forward, afraid to do more.
If she was dreaming, then she never wanted to wake up.
There, right in front of her eyes, sleeping on a bed, was her baby. The one she believed dead. The one she never hoped to see again. Or stopped mourning.
Her little girl's chest was rising and falling steadily and the monitor beside her bed, showed a heartbeat.
"Y/N..." Natasha whispered
"It's her, Natasha. She's alive! Do you understand? Your daughter is alive!" Clint was almost crying from happiness
He was so happy to know that his beloved niece was alive and safe back home with her mother. He'll have to call Laura and the kids later. His children will be so happy to have their cousin back.
He looked at his best friend, who was crying silently, but still made no move.
"It's her." Bruce finally spoked
That's all it took for Natasha to throw herself at you and hug tightly to her chest, your unconscious body.
She could feel your warmth and soft breath and that made her beyond happy.
She feels like she's in heaven.
Maybe she had actually died and that's how she got to see you again.
"H-How?" Natasha asked, too afraid to let go of you
"Turns out Hydra held her hostage all this time. We don't know what they did to her. She was already unconscious when we found her, but I'm running some tests to see if she's okay." Bruce softly reassured her
"I-I s-saw her... her..." Natasha couldn't bring herself to end the sentence
"We know. But Steve has a theory." Tony pointed to Steve "Cap?"
"Shapeshifters." Steve stated
Steve's theory wasn't that hard to believe. They had actually dealt with them a couple of times before.
"We think that, instead of killing her, Hydra took her and kept her in a coma-like state. Most probably to use her against us when the time was right." Clint explained "You know that if a shapeshifter is killed while it has another form than its original one, they would not change their appearance. That's why we found a body. They replaced her."
Natasha just nodded and focused once again on you. This was actually real. She could feel you, hold you, kiss you. She could do again all the things she only had dreamed about in the last six months.
And she just sat there, enjoying the fact that she could hold you in her arms, until Bruce cleared his throat.
"It seems that they hadn't done anything to her and as soon as the effects of what they gave her wears off, she'll wake up. I don't know when. Now we'll just have to wait."
"I'll wait as long as needed." Natasha declared with confidence, sounding a little like the Natasha the team knew
And how the boys missed that Natasha.
Your mother was more than happy to wait as long as needed for you to wake up.
She was dying of excitement at the thought that she would see your beautiful green eyes again. That you would open them and look at her. That you would smile at her and make one of your jokes.
So she waited.
The whole team did. It took you two days to wake up but when you finally did, it was like your mother's soul came back to her. And the joy returned between your uncles.
Natasha was just staring at your face, holding your hand, still not believing that you were alive. That's all she did for the past two days, ever since your uncles brought you back.
She would only leave your side for a few minutes to go to the bathroom and that was it.
She seemed glued to your side.
She was afraid that if she was gone for too long you would wake up and she wouldn't be there to greet you.
It was almost midnight when Natasha fell asleep, while looking at you, her head falling over your left arm. The others were already asleep in their rooms.
One hour later, you slowly opened your eyes and looked around you.
You were in the medbay, the light was low and the tower was silent.
You felt some weight on your hand and you turned your head to look at what was on your arm.
A big smile spread across your face when you saw your mom, soundly asleep, her head turned towards you.
You frowned when you tried to remember what happened to you. The last thing you remember is saying goodbye to your mom and then nothing.
Are you not dead? How are you alive? Who saved you? How long have you slept?
Worry grew over you when you took a better look at Natasha.
She had drastically lost weight, the bags under her eyes were extremely big and she looked so fragile.
Was she sick? She looks like this because of you? Did someone hurt her? What on Earth happened while you were sleeping?!
Shaking your head slightly, now wide awake, you reached your free hand to caress Natasha's cheek and lightly stroke her hair.
Natasha shot her eyes open when she felt a hand over her face and she froze in place, tears gathering in her eyes again, when she saw you looking at her.
"Hey, Mama." You weakly smiled at her, your voice barely above a whisper
The woman stopped breathing for a second, trying to figure out if she was dreaming or not. But when you looked her dead in the eyes, your green eyes full of life, she jumped forward to hold you close to her.
"Oh, my baby." She cried out very loudly "My sweet baby. My little girl."
You wrapped your arms around her and held her tight.
You thought that you would never see your mom again or hug her, so you were so happy to be with her again.
Little do you know that your mom is over the moon, for the same reason.
She breathed in your smell. How she missed it. How she missed you and everything about you.
When she finally pulled back, Natasha took your face in her hands and rubbed your cheeks with her thumbs.
"I can't believe you here. I can't believe you're alive." She breathed out
"What do you mean?" You asked confused
Natasha proceeded to tell you everything that happened since you went on that mission.
At the end of the story, Natasha was crying so hard, that you had no idea how to make her stop. So you just let her cry on your shoulder.
She had really suffered in the past six months.
And you felt guilty about it.
Maybe you are guilty?
When she eventually calmed down, she lay beside you on the bed, her arms wrapping around you as she kept kissing your head.
She asked F.R.I.D.A.Y. to wake the rest of the team up.
Even the A.I. sounded happy when she greeted you and told you how good it was to have you back.
Your uncles burst through the door in their pajamas, fighting over who should enter first.
They were really funny.
As soon as they saw you awake and in your mother's arms they hugged you and ruffed your hair, telling you how much they missed you.
"It's great to see that you're okay, kid." Clint ruffed your hair, for the tenth time in two minutes
You just stared at them confused, then at your mom, and then again at the men.
"Who are you?" You asked pointing at the men
Everyone shared a worried look and you felt Natasha shift beside you, panic taking over her.
"You don't remember us?" Steve questioned very hurt
After a few seconds of silence, you gasped.
"I do remember you, guys." You pointed to each man "You're the Old man also known as Capsicle, Hammer boy, Green Doctor, Metalhead, and... Katniss Everdeen!" You finished with a surprised look, in Clint's direction.
Everyone burst laughing, even Natasha.
She had missed your stupid jokes so much.
"Language." Steve almost yelled
"Wow, Steve. You really are an old man." You teased
After a few hours, the team left you and Natasha alone again.
You yawned and tried to fight back sleep.
"It's okay now. You can rest. I'm here and I'm not leaving." Natasha traced your newly defined facial features with her fingers
"Stay with me?" You asked sleepily
"I promise. I'm not going anywhere. I'll be here when you wake up." She promised
You smiled as you lay your head on her chest, hearing her heartbeat "I think we should take Uncle Clint's offer and move to the farm. It's big enough. Besides, I want to spend more time with my cousins and I think that it would also do you good to have Aunt Laura as company. I think it's time to retaire, Mama."
"I'd love that." Natasha smiled and slowly started to fall asleep with you in her arms
You were with her again and she wasn't planning on letting go of you too soon.
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riizebabie444 · 6 months
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𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙣𝙘𝙩 127 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮 💸
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ʚɞ taeil
finances in general are quite burdensome to him. the theme of money in his life has been a prominent one for some time and he wishes he could be less concerned with money, but in the end it's in his mind to think about, more often than he wants. i believe he also wishes he could simply make his own money rather than having to earn it as a group. it's not that he doesn't want to be in the group, but he feels it would be easier, that he'd have more control over how much he could earn if his avenues of revenue didn't come from a group effort. he can also be quite greedy or protective of his money, not willing to share it easily. what he earned is his and he doesn't feel entirely comfortable just giving it away. i believe he is building up for his future, maybe a family also. perhaps that is why he feels so burdened, he's worried it's not enough for the rest of his life. he generally feels a bit hopeless and confused about money, he definitely wants to earn more and save more but he doesn't know how and doesn't have many options other than to just deal with what he's been handed, since it was his choice to live the type of life he is living. but it isn't so bad that he feels depressed over money, it just causes him some worries.
ʚɞ johnny
overall, he seems pretty confident about his financial situation and money in general. he knows he needs to work hard to earn a lot, so he's willing to put in the effort despite how tiring and draining his job can be. he cares more about his job rather than the money he earns, and he always tries his best to not let the money and fame get to him. of course, he spends and indulges in comforts with his money, but he can always recognise when he's getting too high from the money and brings himself back down to earth. money isn't too serious of a matter for johnny, but in the back of his mind he is regularly reminded of his goal to be able to provide for a partner and/or a family. he knows there is some sense of delay, such as waiting until his career dies out to get married or start a family, so in the mean time he is comfortable focusing fully on working hard and earning a lot of money so he can be a provider. he knows the world is in the palm of his hands, everything he wants will come to him eventually and he is content being patient until new things come into his life. though, he can sometimes be a bit brash with his expenditure, and maybe a bit overbearing when pressuring others to also spend their money like him. but he also knows when to surrender. like i said, he doesn't let the money get to him, he'll catch himself before he goes to far.
ʚɞ taeyong
i honestly feel he has a very motherly approach to money. he feels like a mother hen watching over his bank accounts regularly. it's a little bit obsessive but not in a negative or unhealthy way for the most part. i believe he may have some frustrations which are caused by money. such as, there being delays in payments which might explain him constantly checking his bank account, to see if the money is there. for some reason, i think there may have been a financial mistake in the past, for example, his paycheck getting sent to the wrong bank account or it came as a late payment and he really struggled that time. so even though all is correct in the current day, he still worries about the same thing happening again, so he obsesses over it almost. he needs to separate himself from his finances but he struggles to do it. he tries to be healthy about money and not get depressed over it, but it is difficult for him. i think it is because he is financially inexperienced. however, his obsession leads him to being prepared for any financial emergencies and spend efficiently. he can be ambitious with his expenditure but still practical. he uses it to spend on things he is passionate about, he spends intuitively, spending it in ways which will help him grow as a person, and maybe even invest to help his money grow. he aims for abundance and luxury and he knows he can have it. but he also knows he needs to be sensible.
ʚɞ yuta
first of all, i am seeing that he likes being a financial white knight. he wants to act as and be seen as a person who can be relied on financially. i think donating to those who are less fortunate is very important to him. he probably gives a lot of his money away to charities and social causes. but he's also the type of person who will help someone with their rent if they are struggling. it's like gift giving and acts of service combined, he would be happy to give someone money but only in ways which will make the person almost reliant on them, if that makes sense. like above, paying rent for someone instead of buying gifts. i think it's because he's a little controlling over his cash. he also does his best to not let the outside world affect his spending decisions. if he sees his friends all buying something, he may be tempted but will not buy it unless he really needs to. he doesn't get easily influenced. subconsciously, he is fearful of losing money or not having enough money, but overall, he is calm about money in general. he's also mature when it comes to money. he might spend intuitively. he may also want to be respected with his money so he could invest, not just in growing his money but in financial knowledge and etiquette. he also believes he has the potential to earn a lot. he's enthusiastic when it comes to earning money, and money inspires him when he needs motivation.
ʚɞ doyoung
it was difficult to draw cards for him compared to the other members, so i believe he is very protective over his money. possibly even secretive. he doesn't feel comfortable sharing his financially information with others. it's one of those things that he believes is a private matter. so even when others might brag about how much money they make etc, he does not seem like the type of person to disclose much about his own earnings. overall, he is a go-getter. whenever an opportunity arises to earn money, he takes it. i'm seeing that if it is a good way to earn money or a "bad" way, it doesn't matter. he wouldn't do anything illegal or the sort but say if he had the opportunity to earn more at the cost of another member missing that opportunity, he would do it. at the end of the day, everyone is trying to make a living and it's all down to a game. and if he wants to earn a lot, he needs to play dirty sometimes. he may feel very vulnerable about money. he doesn't want to rely on others so he tries hard to support himself. i think he may have some repressed financial trauma, emotions that are strongly connected to money but he avoids confronting those issues. he's scared to lose money. what matters most is financial stability, and abundance. money is also power to him. the more money he has, the more powerful he feels in himself. he can sometimes feel insecure and bored, and this is when he is most likely to use money to satisfy himself.
ʚɞ jaehyun
surprisingly, his feelings about money and finances in general are quite messy. he's someone who tries to stay humble, and on the outside he seems like the type of person who doesn't let money get to his head. but in reality, he struggles with it. he feels having lots of money is a burden, that it risks him not staying true to himself and he sometimes wishes he didn't have so much money and fame. however, he is a creative person so he uses creative outlets to get in touch with himself when he is struggling with his identity, as money can affect his perception of himself. i sense some instability. he feels his finances are more unstable than they actually are, and that leads to him feeling unstable and restless in general. he can sometimes be quite greedy also, sometimes being selfish and egotistical when it comes to money. he also seems quite judgemental of others and their relationship with their own money. but he doesn't like it when someone comments on his financial situation or habits. his ego is strongly tied to money, which means he can sometimes neglect his true personality in favour of what makes him attract more money. but he is still enthusiastic and wants to do what he loves to earn money, which is music and performing. overall, he is optimistic about his financial situation and always embraces success, but he struggles to have a healthy relationship with money. i believe his relationship with money is karmic, it is something he needs to learn from and overcome.
ʚɞ jungwoo
right now, i believe he is in a financial recovery. he may have had bad spending habits in the past, such as blowing his entire paycheck in two days or making irresponsible purchases. but there is the sense of maturing. i believe he has realised what is important and is letting go of those bad spending habits and beginning again. he's learning and it is hard to break habits when there is strong temptation, but he does his best to reject his past relationship with money and work towards a healthier financial situation. in all honesty, i think he realised what is important. that it is not just him who needs his money but also him from the future needs his money as will his family in the future. so he is making efforts now to ensure the future version of him and his family are provided for. he is giving emperor energy, feeling more structured and patriarchal, like he needs to be the man (or the provider). he also enjoys the power and success that comes with having lots of money. he transitioning from simply being rich to being wealthy. there is a difference and he is realising that. he wants to be the latter. he is enthusiastic to make more money but may be lacking opportunities, which leads him to regret his past actions. but he is positive and looking to the future, accepting the challenges that come his way. he's committed to bettering his financial security. i believe he may also have someone who is financially dependent on him, which could have contributed to him maturing over money. he is responsible.
ʚɞ mark
overall, he feels quite stable with his money. his relationship with money is balanced. he has good control over his finances and feels secure. there may be something he is waiting for, such as a delayed payment or maybe just something more than money. he believes he has more than enough money and is wishing for something more in life. still, he is quite protective over his money, he guards it well and never spends too excessively because he believes he will need his money for the future. rather than focusing on his money and trying to earn more, he goes with the flow, embracing all the opportunities which come his way whilst also ensuring his creativity is always nourished. his job is more important than his money. he feels so fortunate, like, insanely fortunate. it's sometimes overwhelming for him knowing he has so much money when others in the world have nothing compared to him. he does good with his money, such as donating. it helps him keep those tricky feelings at bay knowing he is helping others. he is very responsible with money. i believe many people would go to him for financial advice. he's someone others look up to because he is so responsible with money. there is so much balance in his relationship with money. and he is also the type of person who will never take credit for everything that he has. he would always give his thanks to god or the universe for giving him so much abundance. i definitely think he has positive karma with money, like it was his destiny to earn a lot of money because he uses it responsibly.
ʚɞ haechan
one of the most enthusiastic about money. money makes him excited, it inspires him to be ambitious, to work harder because he like raking it in. which can be dangerous because he will push himself harder than necessary and refuse to take breaks when he's sick because he wants to work hard and earn more money. he can be a little bit obsessed with money in that way. his money controls him rather than him controlling his money. it also doesn't help that he's a perfectionist, so he can get really picky about money and spending money, but he can sometimes be a bit irresponsible with his money, creating financial setbacks which makes him frustrated, so he works even harder to earn more. it's a vicious cycle. however, a positive is that money gives him clarity, it helps him focus and feel inspired to reach new potentials. in general, i think he is quite efficient with his money. but he may tend to overspend in certain areas of his life, such as relationships. he may be a big spender with a partner, such as giving lush and expensive gifts. as a boyfriend, he wants to seem like the rich, generous boyfriend so he spends more money on both himself and his partner and can get carried away. he may also find pleasure in giving money to his family. he loves buying gifts for his mother and spoiling her. he's generally secure over his money, but can often put money before his own health and well-being.
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kramaku · 21 days
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I've heard people say that Izuku is too naive and annoying with his will to save Shigaraki. Let me tell you he's not. (Manga spoilers)
First, he will never ever try to befriend Shigaraki or even just forgive him for all the atrocities he has done like Izuku did for Lady Nagant. He knows that Shigaraki is a monster that needs to be stopped at all costs, so no he won't use "the power of friendship."
Second, when Izuku says he wants to save Shigaraki, he's talking about his soul, not his body. The heroes have already decided that All for one is such a powerful villain who tortured and killed thousands, probably millions of people, that he needs to be killed. Pulling him in prison like they did last time won't do so you think they'll simply keep Shigaraki, who is stronger than All For One, locked up? No way. Shigaraki needs to be killed too. There's no doubt about that. Now, Izuku saw a crying child (Tenko) in the vestiges and will try to extend him a hand, to save his heart before he dies.
Before talking about what I mean by that, let me analyze Shigaraki- no, Tenko's trauma a little.
Tenko killed his entire family with his quirk. After that, he ended up as a homeless starved sleepless kid who needed help but didn't get any. Until All For One arrived and saved him. Tenko was so traumatized by the events that he even lost his memories, but he did remember one thing: feelings. The anger he felt when he was abused, and that feeling of pleasure and peace he felt when he finally got rid of his dad. All for one being the manipulator that he is, he understood that Tenko's brain voluntarily suppressed his memories not to feel guilty toward himself and told him to direct the anger he had for his dad towards the society of heroes, who is apparently all faked and hypocrite, full or selfish people, people who abandon their families. Tenko here is putting the blame of his trauma on the heroes (like Nana bc she abandoned her son, who abused his own son, Tenko, because he wanted to be a hero) because blaming others is always easier than blaming yourself. Now, All for one also told him to become stronger, encouraged him to kill the people that hurt him, and so AFO fed Tenko's addiction for destruction. Since he's so obsessed with the rage that keeps growing, he never feels any positive emotion which is very self destructive for a brain, so as a coping mechanism, he searches for that satisfaction he felt when he killed his dad (since it was mixed with rage, it's a pleasure that became compatible with his anger), killing again and again: his quirk became his own source of serotonin. (that's also why he often smiles while decaying)
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Shigaraki doesnt have plans for the future. He doesn't care what will happen of society or anyone, even himself. He even said the league can just do whatever they want.. he just wants to destroy. He only lives in the present moment for that feeling only.
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What he needs is someone (Izuku) to tell him that heroes aren't all "bad" (nana had her reasons so she's not really a bad person :/) but more at the source of the problem, that he didn't deserve any of the abuse and that it's not his fault his family died. The accident wasn't the heroes fault, it wasnt his own fault, it was nobody's fault (okay it was AFO's fault since he actually transferred decay to a quirkless Tenko but the awakening of a violent quirk could've totally happened naturally and Tenko wouldn't have the blame either).
Tenko doesn't have to feel guilty about that accident. He needs to hear that.
Now I dont know how things will go on, and even how Izuku may possibly adress Shigaraki's trauma, but in my opinion the best death Shigaraki could have would be after Izuku managed to save the sad, scared, guilt rotten child in the vestiges, as Shigaraki would finally feel at ease, relaxed, kinda comforted. No anger for a very long time, I imagine his death to be very peaceful. He could even chose to be the one to kill himself actually with decay, the quirk that started it all and would end it all. He would give up on life because he had been so filled with anger for so long that he'd just feel like there's no point in living anymore if he doesn't destroy. He'd just feel like an empty shell. His peaceful death would kinda remind me of a certain demon's towards the end of demon slayer, if you read the manga you know who I'm talking about.
So yeah, I really want Izuku to reach Tenko. I'm sure he will. But he'll definitely put an end to Shigaraki's destruction at the same time.
thanks for reading, I love mha so much
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mslanna · 4 months
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Nooo it's completely fine if you dont write things you don't like or simply don't want im sorry I didn't want to come of as rude or pressuring
But since its ok to share ideas with you how about this:
You know the night where mizora comes to punish wyll and tav decides to just attack her because they care too much for their companions. And I'd guess that mizora is quiet powerful since she's a devil so before mizora strikes tav down, raphael just pops up and protects tav by letting mizora punish wyll and holding tav down so that they don't get hurt by mizora.
I'd actually like it more if raphael just destroys the contract and kills mizora but since he himself is a devil and he doesn't have the crown yet he has to hold back. That's why tav is so mad at him that he promises her that he will make her pay and then he hugs tav and reassurs them that he'll take care of it and perhaps tavs so frustrated of the fact that raphael just held them down so that at first their too angry with him to talk
Sjskskksiaja sorry for dumping this idea on you and I hope it's understandable since English isn't my first language haha
Have a nice day 🌻
I think I mangled the promt somewhat, @shyminnie07 . here's hoping you still like it. 😅
Paying Forward on AO3
When Mizora comes to punish Wyll for letting Karlach live, Tav intervenes. It doesn't go well and they need (and get) a little help from another cambion…
Camp was quiet and Tav watched the fire burn down. They forced their thoughts to follow suit, slowing and mellowing. The last days had been a whirlwind with nary a moment to breathe. Now, with their new friends retreating for the night, the evening stilled and a cool wind brushed over Tav's burning mind soothingly.
They tried not to think about what lay ahead. Tomorrow came anyway. Better to make use of the break while they could. The moment felt like a drop of quiet sandwiched in between two maelstroms.
"Oh no." Wyll's voice came from across camp. "She's coming."
His worried tone urged Tav into action. They grabbed their gear and hurried towards their companion. "Who is coming?" They snapped the last bits of armour into place. "What is happening?"
"My patron," Wyll replied and took hold of Tav's arm. "She won't be happy we spared Karlach."
"She can't have her." Tav's grip tightened around their war hammer. "Or you. She'll have to go through me."
"She's a devil, Tav! Don't get yourself killed on my behalf."
Tav didn't say that getting killed in the line of duty sounded pretty sweet. They'd have done their part and died blameless. Compared to the mess of life, it didn't sound like a bad deal. But before Tav managed to say something stupid, the oily blackness announcing hellfire pooled on the ground before them. Fire shot up and revealed the shapely form of a female devil. Uh oh.
Don't get distracted! Tav told themself to a little avail. The devil knew she was gorgeous and accented all her best features accordingly. Not getting distracted was a quest unto itself and one Tav felt themself losing.
"Wyll," the devil purred in a tone Tav felt not only in their bones. "You've been naughty. And you know what happens when you're naughty."
"And who the fuck are you?" Tav asked just before remembering Wyll said the devil was his patron. Well, patron wasn't a name.
"Call me Mizora," she answered, the disdain for Tav's crude choice of words audible. "I'm Wyll's patron, the fount of his power. My pet's been unruly. And his leash needs a yank."
The devil stretched out a hand, pulled at the air and Wyll stumbled forward as if an actual leash held him around his neck.
"Leave him be!" Tav stepped between the two and felt the invisible leash cut through their chest.
"Wyll and I had a deal." Mizora scanned Tav dismissively. "But Karlach is still breathing."
"You told me devil's only," Wyll spoke up. "She's a tiefling. Not a monster."
"How precious." The devil was unimpressed. "The little pupster's found its bark. Clause G, Section Nine: 'Targets shall be limited to the infernal, the demonic, the heartless and the soulless.' Karlach meets the criteria, pet. Trust me on this."
"I said, leave him alone," Tav repeated and readied their weapon.
"He broke his contract. I am not at fault here."
"Your wording is vague." Tav held their position. "You could have been lenient, but chose not to. I take offence to that."
"And what do you plan to do?" Cold, calculating eyes settled on Tav.
"Wyll won't have to worry about his contract if there is no devil he's beholden to."
"Don't be a fool. What do you think will happen to his powers?" Mizora laughed.
"Wyll is more than his powers," Tav spat. "And he can find a new patron should he want one."
"After you attacked me for not liking the terms of his current contract?" The devil scoffed. "I think not."
But Tav thought back to the devil they met, almost eager to to excite them into a deal. And from the corner of their eye, the paladin spotted the small shadow of Raphael's warlock lurking in the night just outside the camp again. He had his eyes on them. He was an option. Tav shifted their weight back, weighing the war hammer in their hands.
"Tav!" Wyll cautioned, but to no avail.
"Get out of my camp." Tav raised their war hammer. "Now!"
When Mizora failed to leave, the paladin surged forwards and the head of their heavy war hammer connected hard with the devil's soft waist. It was a shame to maul such an exquisite body, but nobody messed with Tav's new friends. Only friends. New friends. Nobody!
Mizora staggered and Tav struck again, cutting across her legs at knee height. A nauseating crunch echoed through the camp. But whatever Tav hit didn't slow Mizora down the least. The devil came at them with incredible speed and a slap of energy stopped Tav in their tracks. Mizora's hand came down and though Tav ducked a way, one of the nails left a long red line down their face.
That couldn't stop them. Tav realigned to their target but Mizora wasn't there any longer. Tav blinked and readjusted their grip on their weapon. A glance at Wyll and Karlach ascertained the devil wasn't bothering them. Despite everything, Tav hoped they scared her away.
But no such luck. After a minute, Mizora returned, looking no worse for wear. "Are you really going to do this?"
Tav didn't bother with an answer and threw themself at the devil again. Just before their hammer connected to infernal flesh, Mizora vanished again. Something whacked Tav on the back of their head and sent them stumbling to the ground. The paladin picked themself up once more, looking for the elusive devil.
As before, Mizora appeared again momentarily. This went on for a while and Tav grew tired and annoyed. Every time Mizora vanished, she added injury to insult, slowly grinding Tav down.
If she had stayed vanished, Tav would have relented, but Mizora kept popping back, ogling Wyll who tried without success to talk Tav down. Not that a little bleeding, scrapes and bruises could top them. Tav was determined to protect their friends.
"Do stop," Mizora sighed after appearing to Tav still leaning heavily on their weapon. Dusts and dirt coated the human's hair and armour. It mixed with blood on their skin. "You cannot win this fight and I am losing interest."
"I will stop when you stay away," Tav ground out. "Leave my friends alone."
"Such misplaced loyalty. An admirable trait, no doubt. But I do not have time for this." Mizora pointed at Tav and laid a full fire ray on them.
Tav stumbled under the onslaught. Most of the heat bounced off the armour but the metal turned uncomfortably hot. They almost dropped their hammer as they pressed on to reach the devil. Mizora languidly repeated her attack. This time, it sent the human sprawling.
Though Tav again deflected most of the fire ray, their shoulder bristled with the heat and their face was singed. They stumbled and got mowed down by a ferocious sweep from the devil. Tav's skin blistered and broke as they skittered over the rough ground. They spat out dirt and blood before propping themself up, ready to return to the fight whatever the cost.
But somebody stepped between them and their target, towering and with wings that obscure Tav's sight. Unthinking, Tav clawed at the newcomer with a low growl.
"Now, now. None of that," came a familiar voice. Tav looked up and found Raphael's black-hole gaze levelled onto them. "Where are you manners?"
"She came into my camp and wants to hurt my friends." Tav struggled to stand. "Over my dead body."
"Yes," Raphael drew the word out into a complete lecture. "Unfortunately, you body is still needed alive."
His arm snapped out before the Tav when the paladin made for Mizora again. They crashed into it, surprised by its unyielding strength.
"How good to see somebody with actual decorum in this – derelict place." Mizora put herself back into order with a curt gesture. "This was all rather tedious."
"I won't let her hurt Wyll," Tav insisted.
"And who are you to decide that?" The devil spread her wings in a subtle threat.
"We can certainly find a solution that involves a minimum of bloodshed," Raphael intervened.
"If it is her blood, maximum is also acceptable," Tav hissed.
Raphael wrapped a wing around the angry human, trapping them in place. "Come, little mouse, calm down. We can settle this like civilised people."
The devils exchanged looks over Tav's head.
"Of course," Mizora agreed with a greedy glint in her eyes. "Wyll, today is your lucky day. Come here pet."
Wyll approached warily until he stood before his patron.
"You know I can't let this slip. But luck intervened on your behalf to let you off lightly." She gestured along her client's body who winced as if a large hand had suddenly taken hold of himand squeezed tightly. Horns sprouted from his head accompanied with the prominent ridges of devils.
"There we are." Mizora turned to Tav. "No pain, just punishment."
Wyll patted down his now features, shock etched over his face. "What have you done?"
"A promise broken, a Price paid. You know the terms," Mizora replied carelessly. "Get used to the new form, pet – there's no going back. Some magic, even I can't undo. Oh, and Wyll? Don't forget. Our pact still stands."
With that she turned to Raphael. "It has been so good to see you again." Each word dripped insincerity. "Until later." Mizora vanished in another flash of hellfire.
Tav peeled out of Raphael's hold and turned to the remaining devil. "What was that?"
"Just a timely intervention, little mouse. I do hate to lose a future client."
"I am not making any deals with you." Tav took a step away.
"Perhaps." The devil shrugged, wings following the motion of his shoulders. "But for now you owe me." With a snap of his fingers, Raphael transported them to the House of Hope. "Now let us discuss the terms of my timely intervention."
"I owe you nothing!" Tav spat.
"You'd be dead without me now."
"Maybe I'd rather be!"
"That can be arranged." Raphael's had closed around Tav's upper arm like a vice and he dragged them deeper into the House. "Maybe a small taste of death will help you appreciate what I just did for you." He bared his teeth as he spoke.
Tav followed because letting the devil drag them was even less dignified. Still they had to scramble to keep up. The devil wasn't in a magnanimous mood any longer.
"You'd have accepted the debt from any of your companions," he hissed. "Time to understand that it applies to me as well. "
"My companions aren't after my soul," Tav countered.
"Is that your worry?" Raphael stopped and Tav ran into him face-first. Black and gold eyes looked down at them as the devil curled his hands around their shoulders. "That I will take your soul?"
"What else could you want?" Tav did their best not to lose themself in the roiling coronas burning over them. The smell of smoke and cherries didn't help.
"Oh, my little pet, there are so many things I want that you can't even begin to fathom." He smiled dangerously. "Of course there are only so many you can grant."
Raphael slipped a finger under Tav's chin and regarded their face for a while. "What is equivalent to the worth of your life?" When Tav didn't answer, he continued: "maybe your own words will have the best result here. No one life is worth more than any other. A flawed assessment, all things considered, but for now it will do."
He leant down and Tav braced for belittling or insult as his breath raked over their skin hot enough to singe Tav's heart. "So this is my proposition, mousling. Your life for mine. A simple deal and easy to fulfil. If you ever find yourself in a position where you are about to take my life, you will not. If you see my life in danger, you will intervene as I did for you."
Tav bit their lip looking for the trap. It had to be one, coming form a devil, especially since it felt innocent enough. But after today they'd go on with their life. They knew where Halsin was and he'd resolve their tadpole problem. They'd never see Raphael again. A relief, that made their heart stutter.
How many devils had they met before this? None. So that was a good prognosis of how many they'd see once rid off their tadpole. Tav regarded the devil towering over them, black eyes, hot breath, sulphur and cherries and all. Once they were back, once they found Halsin, he was a thing of the past.
Speaking over their racing heart Tav held out their hand. "Deal."
"A deal indeed." Raphael gripped their hand with his, never taking his eyes of Tav. His fingers slipped far enough around to dig their sharp tips into Tav's soft flesh. "Now, back and to bed with you. You will need your wits about you in the journey to come."
Before Tav could reply, they found themself back at camp. Their new friends were relieved to welcome them back though worry spread when it became clear that Tav couldn't speak about the nature of the deal they made.
It took a wile for Tav to calm everybody down. They'd never make a deal for their soul and they had not. This much they could say. Whatever transpired was secret but harmless. In the end, Tav crawled into their bedroll slightly confused but feeling overall safe and appreciated.
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ladynicte · 10 months
Note
Not hostility. 2. He had been stuck in a dungeon for a while partially because Nico lied to him. 3. Where? 4. Leo never knew Nico before and didn't know anything about him. Plus Nico was giving creepy vibes to everyone partially on purpose. 5. Where? 6. That's not what happened. 7. Again, Nico creeps pretty much everyone out partially on purpose. 8. That ESPECAIALLY never happened.
Oh so you do want me to keep going nice✨
Either way putting this whole answer under read more so it doesn't clog up anybody's dash cuz it got really long
Dude I don't know where your idea that he was being purposefully creepy comes from. He's literally denoted to smile at them a bunch of times even though Nico later one describes that emoting at all is difficult for him. If anything I would say that denotes he was trying to be friendly and it just didn't work.
He was for sure trying to stay away from them because Nico has a very hard time with living people plus living people who specifically seem to dislike him and only him.
But trying to keep your distance from a bunch of older kids you don't even know after you went through the most traumatic experience of your life plus the guy you are in love with just went missing together with his girlfriend isn't the same as purposefully going out of your way to creep people out just because
1. How the hell is not hostile to hope a child who was supposed to be under you special care dies a most painful death simply because it isn't convenient for you and your oppressive system that he lives. Maybe it's not personal but it sure as hell it's hostile.
2. Nico was said a dozen times to had been tricked by Hades, which he had no way of knowing he would have been tricked because yet again he's like 12 at this point Hades is his dad and prior to this had never lied to him.
Also love how you don't even bring up my point about Percy trying to hurry Nico up and wishing he could throw stuff at him so he would stop groaning while Nico had just gotten out of the jar. Funny
And yet again the point was to show hostility, it doesn't matter what motive there was for the hostility the only point was to show hostility against Nico, which I would argue pointing a sword at his neck it's pretty hostile.
3. Here
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4. So what? That's not the point. First of all Leo did know Nico, not personally but he for sure saw how desperate to save Nico, Hazel his friend and a girl he was supposedly into, was. Also even if Nico was a complete stranger, he was literally a war prisoner, who couldn't even speak for a while, and actively needed his sword to even be able to walk.
I don't know about you but if I see a kid who has been kidnapped actively starved and literally went through hell, even if I don't know him, even if he's "Purposefully creepy" as you put him I'm still not gonna go out of my way to showcase to him how much he creeps me out and how much I don't like him, you know. Cuz basic human decency and all.
5. Yet again, here
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6. First the screenshot
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Yes Jason wanted to leave Nico in the jar, and you can say it was a strategic move, he was still abandoning Hazel's brother to his own slow demise. And that's still a bad thing to do, hell it breaks Hazel's trust in him to the point she starts thinking, what if I'm no good for the mission and he abandons me next.
He denotes that being a child of Pluto was hard enough as it was which means he does see being the child of one of the Chthonic Gods as a reason to be mistreated, and he's making the effort to not do that.
Which good for him but you know no other demigod gets that treatment it's only specifically the children of the king of the dead.
So yes that's literally just what happened.
7. Love how you don't even try to say that didn't happen because it was like straight up three chapters of that.
But so what? He's being creepy on purpose therefore he deserves to get chunked into water and left to his own luck? Really that's your point here?
First of all Frank is a good few years older than Nico, hell Frank has an almost three years gap with Hazel (Which don't quote me on this but I'm pretty sure before the reckon when Nico himself was younger than Hazel it was a full three years) so why is he having beef with his girlfriend's scrawny brother.
And Nico's not even being creepy on purpose. But hell even if you think he was being creepy on purpose to Jason or Leo to keep them away, when was he ever creepy on purpose to Frank.
Frank and him already knew each other previously, and Nico never had any issue with him, it's only said that he likes to tease him sometimes.
And right after Frank is done talking about how pissed at Nico he is, Nico literally tells Hazel he likes her boyfriend.
But Frank was already reluctant about Nico even from back when they were in Camp Jupiter while he wasn't hostile like he got during the Quest, he did denote that Nico wasn't like Hazel, which in turn got Percy to defend Nico.
So yeah, so what. I don't get your point yes everybody is creeped out by Nico. Nico doesn't like creeping people out.
But the whole point of that answer was to say yes everybody is creeped out by him and reacts hostile to him, you just saying yes they are all creeped out by him is honestly just telling me I am right.
It doesn't even matter if he does it on purpose after being on literal Tartarus, but he's not even doing it on purpose mate.
No not even partially, he's aware he does that, doesn't mean he's doing it on purpose.
8. I will say The Camp becomes a better place for Nico post-Solangelo but before that no not really.
Nico actually sorta has some friends in Camp Jupiter, and Hazel says they just look at him as a travelling oddball, on the other hand in Camp Half-Blood, Nico never once felt comfortable or like he belonged, he was always leaving because he always perceived hostility against him.
The only times that Nico's life in Camp is described as anything else than hanging in the shadows and running away is after he reunites his Divine family to go battle against Kronos together, and stop the world from ending.
That's said to us by Percy who is denoted to be a pretty unrealiable narrator especially towards Nico so who knows how trustworthy that information even is
But we know that doesn't last very long from Nico saying so himself, plus the fact that right after that book we come back to Nico having left yet again, and Annabeth the only remaining Camp as we are told the Camp literally falls apart if neither Percy or Annabeth are there to attend it 24/7 during TOA, only briefly mentions Nico as yeah the dark creepy kid who's gone right now.
So yeah I don't think he was super popular there neither, but I think it's pretty telling he felt comfortable in Camp Jupiter after being there for less than a year, and never managed to feel accepted by Camp Half-Blood even after three years
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hidanstitties · 1 month
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11 and 12 ehehe -jaguarys
11. is Itachi a martyr, a victim, or a perpetrator?
He's a victim and a perpetrator, but "victim" has a really big asterisk. It's definitely important to his character that Itachi was only 11 when he joined the anbu--the youngest anbu member ever. Danzo and Hiruzen used his youth and his naive desire for peace in order to manipulate him. He was crafted as a tool in order to further an oppressive regime.
But I think that's where his victim status ends because at no point did Itachi express any kind of remorse or self-awareness of his role as a violent tool. He supported the Uchiha genocide until his death. Plainly, there is a line between a victim used to perpetuate things and a simple perpetrator. I think that Itachi crossed that line.
And it's difficult to use the reasoning of "he did it to protect Sasuke" because. Lol. He made Sasuke watch his parents die over half a million times???? I can understand if Itachi, at age 13, might have thought what he was doing was the only thing he could do to protect his brother, but Itachi at age 18 was still tormenting him and perpetuating the cycle of abuse by trying to manipulate him into a protector of Konoha.
To me there were 2 ways to go with Itachi's characterization. One is have him gain some kind of awareness at the fact that the state that he loved so much, that he killed for, was simply using him. This would actually make the whole "he was still secretly allied with Hiruzen/Konoha but was spying on the Akatsuki" thing more interesting. He'd have to wrestle with the cognitive dissonance of being forced into a contract against his now-realized morals because it's the only way to keep his brother safe after everything he has already done, all of which he now sees in a new context. The other is to keep his characterization the way it is, loyal to Konoha until the end, but then not try and frame him as a tragic hero. What he did was certainly tragic--but not heroic.
12. who should've died in the war arc?
A lot of people, but most obviously Hiashi/Hinata in place of Neji. Hiashi makes the most sense thematically (by showing that the Hyuuga clan is actually changing beyond just words, that he felt remorse for his past actions, that the truly loved his brother, etc.), but Hinata would make the most sense plot-wise, and it would raise the stakes of the arc. Readers care about Hinata more than Hiashi. Naruto cares more about Hinata than Hiashi.
Speaking of raising stakes, one of the Kage should've died, particularly at the hands of Madara. Madara is shown as a real threat by being able to easily wipe the floor with all 5 of them, but it kind of cheapens it when all of them are able to magically heal. Imo, it should be Onoki because he had a direct connection to Madara, and he's the oldest, so it would symbolize a death of old politics.
It doesn't make sense that Gai lived after the 8 gates because it was literally foreshadowed back in the chunin exams that someone would end up dying from unleashing all 8 gates. Gai living once again shows that for how big and bad the Ultimate Villain is, nothing bad will ever really happen, so there's no reason to really get invested in anything. I think that this is an overarching problem of the series that got really bad after the Akatsuki Suppression Arc, but it really rears its ugly poor-storytelling head here.
And finally, I think someone from team 7 should've died, either Yamato or Sai. I feel like it wouldn't have been possible to kill off anyone else with how central they are to the plot (including Sakura), but it would have made the War Arc feel a bit more apocalyptic. Not saying that we need to go full Shibuya Incident, but someone close to Naruto should have died.
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toxooz · 2 months
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So uhhh...how ruthless and dark can lilac be?
me seeing the name Lilac in my ask box tbh pfft😭
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UM boi its been a minute and all my love for Lilac resurfaced i gotta draw him soon AAAA(and honestlyy redesign him a bit) but anyway I'd say Lilac is a pretty kind spirit but at the end of the day he's meant to represent the whole notion of nature, life, and the innerworkings of ecosystems and how that must stay balanced by any means necessary and, from the human perspective heavily influenced by empathy, may seem cruel and uncaring at times but it is simply his duty as a spirit of that world. Like in this world nature may seem cruel ei. a male lion killing any male lion cubs to prevent future competitors, or a mother stork throwing her own young out of the nest because it's chances of survival would be hindering to the rest, a monitor lizard biting prey and following it as it slowly dies from the infection, how typically large prey animals Will obliterate Anything that it feels threatened by, the list goes ON and on but that's simply how life works on this planet and how certain animals are designed to live and survive in their own way. Lilac may assist and can create life ( his specialty is plants, more complex organisms are a little more complicated for him) and can take life away, but he typically keeps his hands off and lets nature do it's own thing. Any territorial battles amongst harpies he *usually* stays neutral since in his eyes it is merely territorial disputes which again is natural as certain territories can cycle through with time. If there is a species that is overrunning the ecosystem Lilac will eliminate however many members of said species until it is balanced again, if there is a forest fire from a lightning bolt he will reside in that area and help the harpies rebuild and survive until it's as if it never happened that's just How He Is. So ig he can be as ruthless and dark as nature can be, in fact Valon's main resentment toward Lilac is that Lilac shows no outward remorse for how Valon got his cards dealt- Valon was the runt of the nest, as a result was bullied and singled out by his siblings(even tried to be killed by them) and was ultimately thrown out of the nest whenever difficult times arrived, but managed to survive the fall and grew up carrying that bitterness of 'why didn't you care enough to help me live you were just going to let me die a miserable death if it meant 'keeping the balance through natural selection??'. He hates that he can't get a reaction out of Lilac when it comes to that topic which ultimately leads to him only half accidentally waking up Gracrux and surprise surprise throwing off the entire ecosystem with the mass destruction from Gracrux's wrath which all that lore abt the harpies n such can be read here>> X
Even if Lilac does feel bad for Valon or any other creature that doesn't make it, the bottom line is it is what it is and there are a multitude of reasons why he cant help every single harpy out there just because he feels bad so he prefers to stay stoic and unwavering about it. However if anyone from any other world discovers the harpy portal and Lilac finds out he Will be as cruel as a territorial hippo if he must😳 so Cinder better watch his everlovin asssss lmfao
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avelera · 1 year
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Hello love!! ♥️ Any thoughts on We Are Going Down together by Dove Cameron and Khalid as anti-dreamling song??? It‘s a beautiful ballad and I keep imagining Hob and Dream singing it together and believing that it’s what they could do/ be for each other!?? That they could give up everything to be together because they love each other so deeply, but we as the reader know that no matter how far they’re willing to go for the other one they ultimately could never give up who they are at heart (which.. v healthy tbh, although co-depended feral lovers has always been my fav trope). Imo Hob would die to protect dream in a fight but he would never give up his immortality to love him and Dream would equally do everything to ensure Hobs safety and comfort, but could never abandon his responsibilities to the dreamers and his function to love him. The song just screams I WOULD DO EVERYTHING FOR YOU, but the tragedy is that they truly couldn’t??? Agree? Disagree? I chose to scream at you specifically because you have an understanding of these characters and wrote different versions of them in totally different emotional states and general vastly different situations and yet they’re the same at the core?
No strong opinion on the song, honestly, I'm not familiar with it ^^;;
As for the idea though, of Dream and Hob having limits to their love even if they wish they didn't... I'd simply consider that mature, adult human behavior? Even as I'm sure Dream for all his romanticism would love to devote himself 100% to a lover, I don't think he'd ever include "sacrifice the Dreaming" in that bargain, just as Hob would never include "sacrifice my immortality" in that bargain, just as I don't think most people would/could/should include "sacrifice my life's work" or "literally die for you" in any relationship??
But I don't think that's a bad thing? Honestly, I wouldn't ship them if I thought they would? I actually find it quite important that Hob would never die for Dream, because the last thing Dream needs in his life is someone who gives even a whisper of an inch of justification to suicide ideation. I think what Dream needs to hear, far more than "I'd die for you" is "I'd never die for you, are you crazy? That's nuts. I will live for you and do my damndest to make sure you live as well but people aren't stories and dying for someone should never, ever have to happen??"
I think Dream seeing himself as a story (I know we get very meta with that since obviously he IS a story but let's accept the premise of being in-universe for a second, Hob doesn't live his life like he's a story) is how he martyred himself to his role as the Dream Lord and never managed any sort of healthy existence. IMO it's why he wishes so badly for a lover to give him something else to care about that much, because as a romantic he thinks only love can be worthy of being the singular focus of his life outside his task, but of course, no one single relationship can do that, nor should it. But I think someone like Hob, who wouldn't martyr himself for anything but can understand having a purpose in life and a life's work would maybe begin to help disentangle Dream from this like... deeply unhealthy martyrdom to his function and complete inability to like... admit he's a person with needs?
Just as a final note on the song, or at least that sort of message from a song, I could see them listening to it and Hob being like, "Well that's ridiculous nonsense, I'd never ask someone to die for me, that's crazy, isn't that right, Dream?" and Dream being all... distracted like "Gosh I wish that were me," about it until Hob slaps him upside the head like "No. Bad. If I died and I found out you died for me I would PHYSICALLY HAUNT YOU or better yet, reincarnate until we're in the same life again so I could shake the drama king out of you. We do not DO THAT in this house, Dream!" And maybe, someday, Dream would come around enough to realize that's Hob's love language but also just, y'know, sanity, and you can love someone, indeed love them more effectively, when you focus on living for someone instead of relying on self-destructive grand gestures like dying for them?
Christ, Dream needs therapy so badly...
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