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emmiri-bumble · 1 year

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Fuck it, kinda Hiveswap-centric Family Collaborative Au

i am going to unhinge and talk more cohesively abut @3ternitymaze 's au (i have permission) where there was no game and earth was invaded and trolls realized quickly that you can make new grub cutches with humans. Putting alpha, beta, and hvswap casts together deliberately because its fun.

why not? its self indulgent. besides, what much else is there to think about concerning canon hiveswap (and to a less extent hstuk)? partially inspired to be vocal about it because of how much ive seen ppl are ok about karkat jr and other funky lil jr ideas. Partially because... idk maybe it'll give others ideas. So.............................................................. have Zebruh jr.

this isnt just a 2 person thing and kids will be credited to makers

disclaimer 1, reader gets written as afab here (usually she/they). your ideas of reader dont need to be influenced by this. disclaimer 2, this contains themes of human trafficking, abuse, sexual amorality, and other dark content (FOR THE PARENTS). Stop here if that is not something you should read. 18+ content, dude. disclaimer 3, poly even by troll standards. ------------------- Synopsis:

Humanity is overtaken by the Alternian Empire, humans are displaced on mass. Some luck out and remain on the planet, some become cogs in the Alternian machine, some unfortunately go into the human trade.

Many of he kids here come from the human trade, to some capacity. Its far more common for higher bloods to keep one or two humans as company. Their treatment varies.

It is very stereotypical for indigos to keep afab human company to sire progeny. And very common for seadwellers to keep humans merely as pets.

Some humans become parts of the grub-based-goods industry, often ones with/owned by lower bloods. Some retain a shaky autonomy and remain in charge of their lives Some are pushed into undesirable jobs across the empire. Some are pushed to perform for social media for the esteem of their troll owners.

Grub clutches incubated in humans are softer and more prone to duds. Lowblooded trolls can breed easily. it is likely impossible to breed past purple. Grubs from humans will be near perfect clones of troll parent except sex is not guaranteed to be the same as parent and some mutations may occur. This may result in conditions the troll parent did not have or phenotypes the troll parent does not show. -------------------

Some lead humans here: -------------------

Reader, swept into things as part of the human trade and for cosmic reasons, is auctioned off to Mallek's group of rebels. Rebels who will infiltrate auctions and attempt to win humans in order to free them. Was scared. Needed help. Eventually helps others.

Sunday, a young woman from New Mexico who had been pulled into the human trade and intentionally auctioned off at an exorbitant price to Zebruh as a dirty joke on the auction place's least favorite return-customer. Later, she will be forced to perform as a pop star as her voice is pretty decent. Actually wanted to be a parent.

Kleio, a young woman from Spain who was auctioned off to a very romantically insecure Horuss (+ to the zahhak caste in total) who at least wants someone who has no choice but to care about him. Has snacks on hand. Hazel, Art historian, retired ballet dancer, and just a tired mum. Immune to tomfoolery but will join in on it. Dancing is her love language but is besotted with what ever her husbands is trying woo her with. Chose of her free will to be an alien wife. why do the art majors and the stem majors have to fight when they can kiss? Unfortunately British They all friendships early on in different ways. Indigo galas + rebel intermingling

------------------- On to Human-Made Grubs pictured here -------------------

Reader's offspring, raised with Mallek: @3ternitymaze

Neesha Velyes- she/her An oopsie resulting from reader needing some g/d support. Has slightly wavier hair than Fozzer. Otherwise, is a decent mirror image of him as she grows. Has a neurological condition which affects her coordination. Definitely the leader. And also the oldest. If shes smiling, youre smiling. Or she'll push a smile onto that face. Strng vocabulary, not that strong of comprehension.

Emphar Maxlol- she/they A bit more deliberate. The absolute coolest kid in the hive. Chronically overcharged, too. Very much a sucker for Mallek's attention. Deeply loves all of the half siblings but wont be open about that. Family love is grody. Used to scream "NO BITE" when overcharged. "Mutated Hermod" as declared by Cirava.

Lergen Adalov- he/him Considerably more anxious than dad. Bright mind. hes just...very tired. Relies on emotional support Saturn to function. Burrito blankets all day. Wants to be a Rainbow Drinker or at least date one. Broke a lot of stuff just because he needed to know how things worked. All live between Adalovs and respective parents.

-------------------

Sunday's offspring, raised with Zebruh: @me

Zebruh "Junie" Junior- She/her A very VERY deliberately made wriggler. Dont call her Zebruh. That was a stupid decision on her dad's part. But also pretty smart because no laws prevent her from also owning everything that is his name at the same time as him. Thinks too much like her father but she actually means well. Keeps Farrus within reach for constant validation. Thinks shes the leader. Cant keep Neesha from bending her back in line. Points at earth zebras and yells "ITS GRANDPA"

Saturn Roixmr-He/him Oopsie baby. Chixie did not expect this clutch to be hers. That really was a one time thing, Sun, and she's sorry. She will love him but more like a close aunt. This is actually very beneficial to both of them. Named by Mommy Sun, hence the human name. Wants to do muscular theater. Will die if he cant help out.

Maxter Xoloto- They/them (to young in the image to understand gender, will later determine they're nonbinary) Were they an oopsie on Marvus's part? You can consider them a delayed consequence of collaboration (aka Zebruh's fault). Ankle biter grub grown up to be screaming adult. Feels rejected by clownhood and prefers to be indigo. Marvus is not absent, he is just too far away and in too dangerous of a place to raise a surprise grub. He visits. Loves his surprise kiddo. Has 0 parenting instincts and thats ok. Loves kid as much as he can. Max is insecure about it anyways. Decides to follow their parents and be a performer, too.

Due to imperial safety concerns (and genuine worry for Sunday's shaky mental health) Adalovs (and later Cirava) move into a wing of the Codakk hive early on.

------------------- Kleio's grub, raised on Zahhak ship: @3ternitymaze

Farrus Zahhak-He/him Principe no.1. His mom says so! Caste shouldn't be important but it still is. And he swears hes a reject of a reject. So he hides behind an indigo that is better in his eyes, Junie. Softer than his ancestry. Snacks a lot with Mom. Lovingly refers to the Darkleer as Abuelo. Wishes Equius was his dad. But it's Horuss. Learns how to control strength more easily since he has mentors. Will always be way too dependent on Junie and Mom. Interests beyond Mom's, Junie's, and Equius's?? what are those?

-------------------

Hazel's grubs, raised with Vikare, Kuprum, Fol, whoever Fol dates @super-stardust56

Wilbur Ratite- he/him will take apart household appliances to create his own Rube Goldberg machine. kicked out of the scouts for [restricted ] is first child and the first chair on flute.

Bronte Maxlol- they/them second child child squared Chittr artist. Is currently not take commissions They’re in the top 0.1% of Cirava's listeners will expect not criticism except from aunt Folykl ------------------- There are more, you can see the Makara twins, but that requires to much typing.

You'll see more of these kiddos, like it or not (unless if you block the tag. which is....pending). Because its fun! Maybe you have your own ideas from this. Who knows!

#ems little ocs #friends little ocs #au yet to have its own tag......#this au has existed for a few months #sorry for being flighty about explaining it i just wanna b open abut it but i also fear being seen as desperate for validation?

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riewritten · 2 years

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CHAPTER 2. VOICES ARE CONQUERING ME

EDGE OF THE PRECIPICE — DIRECTORY

ERWIN X FEM!READER, ERWIN X YOU, NO Y/N | hurt/comfort, angst, mystery, childhood friends, fake marriage, modern au, parallel universe, reincarnation, mentions of canon, pining commander erwin smith, trauma, manipulation, referenced child abuse, violence, psychological torture

SUMMARY: Aggressive land grabbing from the royal government ensue from one countryside to the other, all allegedly for the prophecy: a tree, vast source of power that'd bring great abundance and prosperity to mankind, is standing among their lands. As the said prophecy holds the answer to the tragic childhood you have no memories of, the guerilla's commander pulls out something he prepared for years to help. AO3 | FANFICTION

WORDS: 4.4k | Want to get tagged for the succeeding chapters? Sign up here.

The last night you had seen Furlan was one of the utterly terrible days.

You clung desperately to maintain your notion of normal life; that even if your boss was irrationally berating your coworker, you did nothing but stare down at the ground with trembling lips.

"Taking a damn leave just to attend those hearings. Bet those stinky bastards saw that coming in the first place," the old man—reeking of beer that night—spat at Petra who was on the verge of tears, "Y'know what I had learned for years I've been owning lands in the rural? It's not your fault if you're born poor, but it is if you die being one! The farmers are poor not because of land scarcity, it’s because they’re lazy! It's that simple and you—" he pointed at her temple and continued, "you damn scholars, instead of wasting the taxpayers' money, should just understand that much!"

"My father is one of those poor farmers being featured in those hearings, Sir. He was killed by private goons for speaking up against violent displacement during that time. He's the most hardworking person I've known!" she cried, "The royal family speaks of Eldia's prosperity whenever they seize lands, but what is there to prosper if the citizens are left with nothing?"

“Because it really is for Eldia's prosperity! It's only a matter of time until the royal family grasp the power of the tree, one that'd bring us the ability to conquer this world's abundances! I wonder if your father really was the victim here. I bet he was armed during the confrontation. What if you go back to that rotten province to think about it, huh? How ‘bout I get you back where you came from, huh?”

"I think it'd really be better if he was armed! So he wouldn't die like that! I think it's more understandable now why more farmers chose to take up arms after that!"

"Then go!" the old man banged the counter. Both of you flinched. "I'm not keeping a damned rebel nor their apologists here. Say that on my property again and I'll have you dead by the military police."

You're not sure if she must be considered lucky that the cafe just closed. If it was open, then Petra's shame would be glaring. But at the same time, there'll be no chance for someone to butt in and stop the commotion.

Because you couldn't do it yourself. Not even when you're close to her.

Petra stomped out of the scene without a word. The old man sneered as if he won. You were still frozen and trembling all throughout.

Why are you so desperate for normalcy anyways?

It wasn’t just because of your far-from-normal upbringing. It wasn't because you weren’t granted a normal family, a normal childhood, normal preschool parties, and elementary field trips—no, not at all. You’re over that phase.

You were seeking normalcy because recently, something terribly unusual was stirring inside your mind. There were voices—ones that you understand very well even if it speaks a language you don't know, ones that put scenarios that didn't happen to break your mind, ones that were asking you to kill Erwin. It's conquering your sanity. It puts you over the sharpest of edges and triggers your utter fear. The fear of yourself hanging at the end of the cliff, the fear of the tranquility inside you breaking. These were obviously far from normal, hence you clung futilely for things that you perceive as such.

You ran to the locker room. The least that you could do is apologize.

"Come on, don't think of it too much. I know it'll be hard to stand up when he holds the money we spend to live." said Petra. You stood silent with worried eyes but not long after, you started crying. "Oh no," your friend gasped in pity, "Did he do something to you as well? Don't tell me—"

"No, I'm just so terrible standing like that when I know I can—" no, you actually can't. "—can—" you tried again but you just can't utter something you don't mean at all—at least not to this pure-hearted girl.

She smiled and rubbed circular motions at your back, "That's enough for me, then. You know, apparently I can't—" then finally crumbled as her face crunched with tears as well, "can’t cry all by myself.”

Both of you spent another hour in the locker, weeping for things you couldn't do but should've done.

The boss left without a word afterward, leaving both of you to clean up and lock the cafe. Browsing through your phone while sitting on the outdoor chair, a text arrived: I'm on my way. Have you eaten already?

You totally forgot you were going to see Erwin. It's been a year, after all, and you have lots of stories to tell him. But the excitement was replaced with dread when you realized you don't have an appetite to eat and there’s no point in lying because he’s too sharp to miss such. You pondered if it’d be better to cancel but then he was already on the way. You reached for your mirror and attempted to conceal your swollen eyes until a hand landed on top of your head. He raised it up so he'd see your face.

Erwin didn't seem pleased with what he was seeing as well. He stayed still in his position: hand on your head, his bag on the chair, his face searching for more to point out.

"Why?" he asked gently. He doesn't even need to elaborate. You had to tell him what made your face like this, or perhaps who—which could be a little dicey if he'd get to know.

You've got nothing to say, really, so you just stood up and engulfed him with a hug, one he reciprocated in quite a surprised manner, "You lost weight, Erwin. Perhaps I must be the one to ask why."

He let out a strained chuckle and when he realized you weren’t going to tell him whatever happened, he just said, "You should've just stayed with us. You don't have to overexert yourself by living alone and shifting from job to job. Seems like you're not having quite a good time, too.”

"I told you, I want to experience the thrill of a responsible-college-girl-juggling-jobs-to-live trope. Just like in the movies." you joked with a grin.

He knew you were lying.

Luckily, the one who called for you from behind paused the impending heavy talk. "The great Isabel is summoning you as she apparently cooked something good. Are you coming?" Levi shot Erwin a short look, silently asking you if he should just go without a word or not.

"Sorry, I forgot. Here," you gestured Erwin to him, "this is my childhood friend, Erwin." and you pointed at Levi, "Erwin, this is the person who owns the dorm I've been renting, Levi."

"We know each other." Erwin mused, "Glad to see you're fine, Levi."

"Yeah, same goes for you." the shorter man nodded.

"Then why didn't you tell…" you trailed.

"Erwin said—"

"You didn't ask," he cut Levi off as he turned to you, "and I think we have more important things to talk about.” then emphasized his tone on your sullen face.

Seems like Levi wasn't alone, though. Furlan waved as he walked towards you with Isabel clutching his arm.

“The hell you made me go out for, then?” Levi scoffed at Isabel.

"Oh, these people are my—" you paused and squinted your eyes teasingly at Erwin, "perhaps you know them as well, hm?"

He let out a sneer, "Well, if you introduce me to them."

"Great," you said and proceeded to do so. Isabel was your first friend in college. Furlan was someone she introduced to you just recently. He asked you out for a date. You tried to consider since that’s what a normal woman your age would do, or so you thought.

It seems like Erwin remembered something that made his demeanor change quite a bit, "Are you the one related to the newly-appointed Commander of the Military Police?"

"Oh, Kenny," the meek man sheepishly nodded. "He took me in when I was young and I've been regarded as his second-liner ever since." then reached for a handshake, "I'm Furlan Church, a criminology student." then turned to you, "I've been friends with her for some time now."

"Friends," Isabel quoted with a scoff. Furlan nudged her hard, suddenly flustered.

Erwin glanced at you then—searching for confirmation—and you shook your head smiling. You were still considering, after all.

Erwin heaved a sigh, one akin to relief.

Why?

“Oh sorry, apparently Furlan doesn’t want people to know that he’s head over heels for my dear friend.” the redhead glinted devilishly as she slapped Furlan’s back, “Don’t you worry, she said they’re just friends.”

Luckily for Furlan, Petra finally went out with the keys to cut the topic off. "Oh, hey. Why are you all gathered here at night?"

"By the way, Petra. This is Erwin, my childhood—" you paused as you noticed her reaction. Her eyes stood so wide and her hand was on her mouth, "don't tell me you know each other as well?"

"Oh, no!" Petra chuckled nervously, "It's just that I-I'm a big fan of him." then reached for Erwin's hand as she introduced herself as well.

"Fan? I don't remember him being famous."

"Uh, back in my province, h-he went there during an outreach so—yeah." she looked down and it wasn't that hard to deduce she might be holding Erwin with affection.

The possibility sunk you, though.

Why?

Was it jealousy? There were times you could see him as someone potentially interesting to have as a partner, but your mind never saw the need to act upon it, at least not now.

"OR WAS IT A THREAT, PERHAPS, BECAUSE YOUR PURE-HEARTED FRIEND GOT ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH A PERILOUS MAN?"

Wait, what?

Your guts churned and your hands went cold. There it goes again.

"What do you mean by 'wait, what?'" Petra pressed with a playful glare.

"All of us might as well eat dinner together rather than stay out in this cold," Levi snuck on his sweater with slight shivers.

"I think I'll go first, though." said Petra, but now she's in a sullen mood again, "I don't have an appetite." then raised the hoodie on her head, "Have a good night, guys."

However, even before she could turn her back, you called her name, "Wait, Petra—"

"YOU'RE STILL FEELING GUILTY, AREN'T YOU?"

The foreign voice cut you off; you gulped it down in hopes of shutting it into silence, "I don't have an appetite as well, but—" then held Petra's hand, "a good cry must be followed with a pleased tummy, don't you think?"

The rest of the circle stayed silent, waiting for her confirmation. She had to fight back the tears again before answering, "Yeah, I think so." then she held onto your hand tight.

"SEE, LITTLE FLOWER, WE ALL HAVE OUR EVILS INSIDE. DON'T YOU WORRY, YOU'RE ONE OF THE FEW WHO'S WELL-VERSED IN HIDING IT.

AND YOU COULD STILL HAVE YOUR REDEMPTION.

BRING YOUR PURE FRIEND AWAY FROM THAT DEVIL.

KILL HIM."

He’s not a devil. He never was.

"Devil? Who?" Petra curled her eyebrows.

You didn’t notice saying that out loud again. With a now darkened face, you shook your head and massaged your temples.

Of course, Erwin noticed that. He always does.

Indeed, perhaps both of you have more important things to talk about.

After dinner, you sat outside for air; waiting for Erwin to finish his talk with Levi so you could accompany him to the waiting shed.

Kill him. Kill him. Kill him. Kill him.

Hands on your head, eyes on the ground, and when you realized that you've been saying it out loud instead, you covered your mouth with a gasp, "God, shut up. Please, shut up."

Just as usual, the only time you snapped out of it was when the blonde crouched down to your level and held onto your head again, his habit to calm you down.

"I knew something's up with how terrible you look when I saw you," he remarked. "What's the matter?"

The voices stopped.

You heaved a heavy sigh then stood up. He followed suit when you started walking.

Fortunately for you, the breeze was solemn. The crickets chirping and the old lampshades flicking at the empty pavements distracted you. You don’t have any reason to strain your composure. It’s Erwin.

"How are they?" you pertained to Carly and the others.

“Demanding me to grab you back home,"

“Tell Carly to quit calling me a flower anymore and I might reconsider.” you joked but even before he could tease you with that, you glared. “Don’t you even dare, Erwin Smith.”

“We were all accustomed to it. Since when did you even garner distaste for that?”

Partly because that’s what the voice calls me since it came.

“When I realized I'm a grown up woman already?"

“And it still suits you, apparently.”

“I am cutting all of you in my life.”

“Oh why, when you earned it?” he taunted, “You always run around the neighborhood plucking every flower you see, then send them as a gift to every household you come across—all of it on a daily basis.”

“I was young back then! I thought it was cute! Now I shudder at the thought of it!”

“It is cute.”

You were shut into silence then. The nostalgia might’ve been too sweet that you got suddenly flustered by the teasing praise.

But you're glad that moment was really real and not something probably subjected to you by the voices.

After the silence lightened you up, Erwin asked, "Are you happy?"

If not for the voices, you would be.

You nod at him with a smile, "Isabel is such a rowdy girl. And recently, Levi isn't accepting the rent I pay for him anymore. I wonder why."

"He said you always lurk around his house with Isabel and end up cleaning her mess along with the whole house. That's the least that he could do."

You sneered, "And yeah, Furlan is someone introduced to me by Isabel. He's such a good man, though he seems to be quite on the edge recently. Maybe because Kenny was just elected as the Military Police commander and that's quite a pressure as his second-liner."

"Do you like him?"

"I think I just like the fact that I feel normal whenever I'm with them. Normal college life, college friends, a fellow college holding me in high regard, that kind of stuff. Though I don't want to mistake such feelings in a romantic sense."

He hummed in acknowledgment, "Have you met Kenny, the one who took him in?"

"No, not yet, but I'm about to. Furlan said Kenny would like to know me personally." You felt Erwin tense up though so you asked, "Why?"

He loosened up immediately, "Well, it sounds like a father wanting to see his son's girlfriend."

"But Isabel had it too when they're in highschool."

"When are you supposed to meet?"

"Furlan just asked me about it. I said I'll consider but he told me it'll just be a short one."

"When?"

"Maybe he'll have us meet tomorrow after my class." When you shoot Erwin a look, it's quite an unreadable one. You weren't sure if it's reluctance or... grim? "Why?"

Instead of answering, he changed the topic smoothly. "So, if you're really in a happy place right now then what's happening with you earlier?"

“I’m having bad dreams lately. Maybe that’s why I look terrible.”

"There you go." he hummed, satisfied that you finally dropped it. “Tell me more about it."

“I thought the only thing I would struggle to remember was the fire decades ago, but now I'm having a hard time recalling events after that, too." you trailed slowly, "I'm glad you came here and brought about the flowers up. I was actually confused if it really happened."

"Expound your confusion while I'm here, then, or else I'll be forced to bring you back to Carly tonight."

"The time Carly and I left Mitras, it's because I saw the headline newspaper back in your house and lashed it out on you for reasons unknown, right?"

"That's right. It really happened."

"Then you came to us three years later since Carly told you I'm in a relatively better condition again. I was angry because nobody told me, but that's it. We got along again after that." You asked for confirmation again and he hummed in concurrence. "Then, when Carly was rushed to the hospital because some reckless driver hit her, you asked me to meet you at the convenience store and—" it took you a while to continue—eyes on the road instead of him, hands clasped tight in hopes to ease the worry.

"I knew it," he stood in front of you and stopped walking, "You were lying when you said what happened at the abandoned lot doesn't affect you anymore."

What even happened there?

"N-no, it doesn't."

"You lied about not being affected by it, so that those two kids who played around with fire wouldn't be sanctioned badly. Their recklessness almost got the three of you killed and now, look what's happening to you."

"Is that what really happened?" you shot him a begging look.

He widened his eyes, "Do you not remember it already?"

That question was your breaking point.

"See? Now I'm losing grasp on what happened there, too, even if it's just a couple years ago!" you released a heavy sigh to keep your emotions down, "What if the next day I wouldn't be able to remember who you are? Who I am? Heck, who am I, really? Besides being the headline news decades ago, who am I?" It's needless to say that Erwin's a bit too surprised with your revelation too. "Something bad is going on with my mind, Erwin. Something's conquering my brain. It'll break me soon. I'll snap and go crazy. I just know it will!"

He wrapped his coat around you and held onto your shoulders, "When did this get worse?"

"When I started living alone," and god you regret saying that.

"I'm taking you home with me tonight." he sternly remarked.

You certainly do not trust yourself being left alone with him. Not when there are voices lurking around, asking you to harm his life.

"No, I can manage."

"Cancel your plans for tomorrow. We need to go back to your previous counselor immediately."

"I'm going home now. The waiting shed is just at the corner of the road." then tried to turn your back.

He held your hand to stop you, though. You tried to get it back but you know better than thinking he'd settle with such a vague assurance. "Seriously, I can manage. I've been keeping myself busy lately so I won't think about it too much. "Petra needs someone at work as well. She's being bullied by our boss."

"You'll be with Petra tomorrow?"

"I'm on the morning shift. She gets the afternoon." you nodded resolutely, "Then after my shift, maybe I'll go with Furlan to keep myself busier."

He wasn't convinced, not at all. "What I'm seeing right now is you tiring yourself to death just so you'd escape what's happening in your mind."

"You don't need to get me out of this just like you did from those fires. We're not on those days anymore. I can protect myself from this."

No, you have to protect him from you.

"I didn't say that. I'm having you seek help for something you can't control."

"It'll be more uncontrollable if I'm with you!"

Oh.

"Is that so? Why?"

You shot him a horrified look as he waited for your answer. With the look on his face, he's most definitely not convinced to leave you alone.

"The waiting shed is just at the corner of the road. I'll be busy tomorrow. I'll just call you again the day after." and without another word, you ran away to get back home.

The morning after, you saw Petra at the cafe. She had something urgent to do in the afternoon hence she asked to exchange shifts with you. She looked troubled, to say the least, and there was no reason to deny her.

You called Furlan then, told him that you won't be able to meet him today.

He said it's okay. There'll always be next time.

Were you supposed to regret that? What if you came to him that day? Would he be fine, then?

It was night when he was reported missing. His body was found when another morning came. You were just about to open the cafe when you received the news.

While you were shaking badly in the locker room, Erwin called, "Didn't you tell me you're supposed to meet Furlan yesterday? What happened?"

"Petra exchanged shifts with me so it didn't push through."

"Where are you?"

"Opening the cafe."

"Are you alone?"

"Yes. I'm still cleaning."

"Lock the cafe from the outside for now. Don't let anyone enter until Petra or I arrive."

"What? We're supposed to open in an hour. The boss will kill me if I—"

"I'd like to see that bastard try," he spat, lacking patience. "Just do as I say. I'll explain later on."

"The least that you could do is tell me why."

"You might be in danger. Whoever killed Furlan was probably supposed to get you too. They might be even after you as we speak. Now stay still and wait for us."

You almost dropped the phone then.

Your life finally crumbled to you again. Conquered by another doomsday. Just like before, every attempt you make things stay this way always precede more unfortunate events.

"Who are they?" you gulped.

He didn't answer. You repeated the question. He still didn't budge, instead he just reminded, "Don't hang up the phone. I'm almost there."

"Are they the ones who caused the fires too?"

He didn't answer.

"Am I," you gulped, "going to die again?"

"You didn't die. You never will. Not on my watch."

Now, your panic subsided into dread. You muttered weakly then, "Back then, you told me that the precipice wouldn't crumble and things would stay this way. It really did crumble now, though. Even if we tried our best."

"Do you still trust me nonetheless?" You trust him more than you trust yourself. You don't even trust yourself at all. He called your name, pressing but gentle, "Answer me."

"Yes."

"That's all I need for now, then."

And thus now, the task of recollecting the fragments of your identity got more urgent. Since the precipice crumbled, you have to remember how to land to another one.

The voices stopped, perhaps it was aware that you'd shatter for good if it dare speak at a time like this.

"Since you saw the newspaper back then, how much were you able to remember?" Erwin was now sitting in front of you as a customer. Petra took your shift just easily.

"I remember the trivial things such as what our house looked like, how their bodies—except the faces—were shaped. I remember their name and I tried searching them up one step at a time. But then I always end up distressed along the way so I never really finished it. According to what I've got, my mother was a government clerk while my father worked alongside the military—wait," you almost gasped at the realization, "is that why Furlan was…?"

"Kenny and your father were notorious partners, both well-known henchmen of the Reiss. They handled even their dirtiest orders. Before your father died, both of them were working on a confidential operation which would allegedly bring Edlia into prosperity. If Furlan was tracked at the university and killed, they're more likely looking for you, too."

"More likely…?" you squint your eyes at him.

"Indeed, I'm just gambling around the possibilities."

"How would we be able to confirm it?"

"I set a trap," he sipped on his coffee. For some reason, he seemed too composed for this, "but for that to happen, you must—"

"How were you able to know that much?"

He looked sullen at the question, perhaps it was never easy for him too. "I investigated what really happened that day, at least when I got the ability and brains to do so. With such a sketchy background, I just know that they'll come for you soon one way or another. It's needless to say that I saw this coming. Apologies for not telling you earlier."

There you felt as if a cold bucket of water was thrown all over you.

All this time, while you were so desperate to seek normalcy and things that were deprived of you, Erwin's out there working hard—just so he'd be able to anticipate the day they'll come for you again.

"And I do hope you'd cease blaming yourself for things I didn't tell you." as if he heard your thoughts, he called your name sternly. "You did what you could to survive. I certainly didn't do this to have you blame yourself. Focus on the present right now."

"I know," and so you did. It took you a while to compose yourself.

Erwin had done his part. Now you need to know how to protect yourself from hereon. Avenge Furlan and confront those who might be after you as well.

When you shoot him a look again, it's now a resolute one. You almost saw him smile.

"What's that trap, then?"

Petra slid a paper on your table and whispered, "Route fixed. Underground. Stohess. 2 units standby." She was holding another order at the same time, as if to conceal the conversation.

"Good job," this time, Erwin's all set. His coffee is now empty, too. "Publish a release an hour from now; the guerillas now have Anna in their hands."

Anna?

You shot Petra a look of confusion but she wasn't looking at you in any way. She looks grim, as if on huge alert.

You never saw her like this.

"What was that?" you urged when she finally walked away.

He stood up and reached for your hand, "Do you trust me?"

"I just said I do."

"Well then," he reached for your hand and held it tight. "That's all you need to do for now."

prev | next

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captainkirkk · 3 years

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✩ WEEKLY FIC ROUND-UP ✩

All the fics I've read and really enjoyed in the past week-ish. Reminder: This list features any and all ratings and themes. Please read the tags and warnings before deciding if the fic is for you.

DC (Batman)

Only in Gotham: Craft Store Edition by carolina_batboys

Bowie Chandler is literally just trying to pay her Gotham U tuition by working overnight shifts at Gotham’s 24/7 craft store. That’s all. That’s IT.

Then the bats start dropping in, and her job gets a lot more complicated.

the grief wheel by dustorange

“I couldn’t save you,” Alfred whimpered, fingers slipping out of Bruce’s. “I could never—”

(Alfred gets trapped in a time loop of the night that Bruce's parents die. For Bad Thing Happen Bingo: Time Loop).

ATLA

Laundry Day by Hello_Spikey (+ podfic)

Shortly after rescuing Suki from Boiling Rock, Katara introduces her to the spectacle, the magnificence, that is Zuko doing laundry with his shirt off. Sokka has to explain to Zuko why the girls are even watching him. Zuko is remarkably slow on the uptake. Poor Sokka.

Star Wars: Original Trilogy

The Rod is Mightier Than the Lightsaber by Anonymous

In which Luke sacrifices himself on Cymoon-1 to make sure everyone else gets away, and Vader takes things too far before figuring out that this insolent young Rebel is his son.

Compromising by samvelg

Five times Admiral Piett misunderstands the nature of Luke and Vader's relationship, and the one time he doesn't.

Clone Wars

A Treatise on Breaking and Repairs by glimmerglanger

Obi-Wan Kenobi survives for three years on Tatooine before Vader finds him and takes him back to Mustafar, where Vader has already gathered members of the 212th. Things... don't go well for anyone.

OR: The oof!au. Heavy whump leading to an eventual happy(ish) ending. Please mind all the warnings. Written for the first 16 days of whumptober, so each chapter has it's own prompt, but they are an interconnected, completed story.

The Other Side by RobinRoost

There was a door in the bottom of the temple that was always closed. All the Younglings told stories about what was on the other side of it. For as long as most of the padawans and initiates could remember, it had been locked. No amount of slicing, prying, or force pushing could open it.

Anakin asked Master Qui-Gon about it once. His Master’s (though not the same type of master as before) face grew cold and distant and told him never to mention it again. What was behind that door was dangerous and a threat to the stability of the galaxy.

Obviously, he had to investigate.

What Friends Do by Trixree

“You have a choice,” Cody begins. “I don’t want any of you to think that you don’t. If you want no part of this, all you have to do is say so. But if I know any of you half as well as I think I do, this choice won’t be particularly hard to make.”

He takes a deep breath and counts his heartbeats against the reverent silence of the mess hall. “We may belong to the Republic, but we were made for the Jetti.”

And thus, the 212th Attack Battalion abducts their General. (It's for his own health, really.)

Displacement by missmollyetc (+ podfic)

A moment in the exciting lives of Waxer, Boil, and Adenn Squad. What could go wrong?

#weekly fic round up #my posts #fic recs #dc recs #atla recs #sw recs #you can tell i'm on holiday because this isn't several weeks late #it's actually a week round up for once!#i've been curled up reading a lotttt of fic before semester goes back

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kabira · 3 years

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like there’s no tomorrow ↯ collab masterlist

The end of the world could always be right around the corner, but that doesn’t mean it had to catch you with your guard down. All you need to do is keep your head down, follow the instructions, and abandon your emotional baggage at the train stop.

a dystopia/post-apocalyptic svt au hosted by moi.

FOREVER.

by @sakuracheol

pairing — seungcheol x fem!reader

genres — zombie apocalypse au, angst, thriller, arranged marriage.

synopsis — No one knew a day like this would ever come, a reality that no one wanted to see. A zombie apocalypse. How will Seungcheol protect his wife in all the chaos happening, will he be able to keep his wife and himself safe?

BIRDS OF A FEATHER.

by @kabira

pairing — jeonghan x fem!reader

genres — zombie apocalypse au, strangers to lovers, dystopian road trip au, humor, light smut, angst

synopsis — Number two on your List of Bad Things To Happen: waking up hungover on the eve of the zombie apocalypse, handcuffed to a sharp-tongued con who knows how to hotwire a car, but not how to shoot a gun. Number one on the list? Falling in love with said con.

CATCH YOUR BREATH.

by @hotgirlwonwoo

pairing — security guard!joshua x thief!reader

genres — post-apocalyptic

synopsis — The war is finally over and the world, or what’s left of it, has righted itself according to the standards of the United Nations (...with the stipulation of petty border feuds, bureaucratic corruption, and unstable economic conditions) but the UN didn’t account for people like you—people who were on the wrong side of the war in the eyes of the law, people who were displaced because of it. You’ve spent the last two years living on the run, stealing out of necessity and bitterness until one night you’re caught.

IS IT WRONG TO FIND SHELTER (IN YOUR ARMS)

by @lovequartz

pairing — enforcer!junhui x inspector!reader

genres — psycho-pass au, fluff, angst, suggestive

synopsis (tw: gore) — The body of the gun illuminated a bright blue and shooting out something that was more beam than bullet. It lodged itself into the target's chest and the skin of his arms bubbled until they burst, spraying blood all over the concrete beneath. His lower half, still intact, falls lifelessly at the center of the crimson eruption.

FEARFUL ODDS.

by @haechanblr

pairing — soonyoung x reader

genres — angst, fluff, smut, post-apocalypse au, enemies to lovers, rebel!soonyoung, spy!reader

synopsis — The final bell has been rang and the final song has been sung. Long after the empire was established, chaos reigns on the surface while a rebellion brews underground, and two opposing souls come to pay the price when they attempt to blur the delicate line between love and war.

ANGEL WITH A SHOTGUN.

by @justhao

pairing — wonwoo x reader

genres — action, angst, post apocalyptic au

synopsis — Jeon wonwoo thought he was like any other apocalyptic survivor out there; tired, alive, just trying to get by. Except, that all changed when a group of possessed cyborgs and a cloaked stranger decided to spice up his life on one fine afternoon.

ECLIPSE.

by @itsapapisongo

pairing — n/a

genres — action, angst, post-apocalypse, science fiction

synposis — Years after an alien incursion, repairman Lee Jihoon (Tech JH11-2.4) is among the survivors. He does the best to get by but when he finds the ruins of a spaceship and coordinates to a faraway refuge, the truth about the invasion makes him question his place within a fractured world.

TO BLEED, TO BLOOM.

by @minigum

pairing — minghao x fem!reader

genres — eternal winter au, tragedy, mild horror, with a dash of romance

synopsis — After a seemingly endless winter, spring dawns. but it is not the hope so desperately sought.

TILL THE END OF THE WORLD SEPARATE US.

by @aquamoonchaii

pairing — mingyu x reader

genres — fluff, angst, slice of life

synopsis — Impulsive stuff is your thing. Getting married against everyone was just a detail, but grabbing your husband and helping the world to be saved? That's crazy shit.

THE DOCTOR.

by @nottodayjjk

pairing — seokmin x reader

genres — cyborg au, post-apocalyptic world, romance, angst

synopsis — Dealing with body enhancing components has been a big part of the life you lead, ever since the great destruction. And it’s also the reason why you currently find yourself in a dark alleyway, surrounded by cold-blooded creatures that long only for your death. They barely leave you alive and breathing. but apparently, you have a guardian angel...

DANCING WITH TEARS IN MY EYES.

by @minghaocouture

pairing — seungkwan x reader

genres — horizon zero dawn au (spoilers for the game) angst, coworkers to lovers

synopsis — As the Faro Plague quickly drives all life on Earth to extinction, you are brought into project Zero Dawn and begin preparing for a future you will never see. You have all but lost hope, when you find a shining light in the darkness of your dying planet.

LOST IN TIME.

by @xiaopoet

pairing — n/a

genres — alien apocalypse au, angst, humor

synopsis — After an unforeseen attack from the ETA (Extra-terrestrial Association), a powerful, self-made unit of intelligent Venusians, a vast majority of the Earth is believed to be wiped out of existence. Vernon, one of the very few survivors, wakes up without much recollection of what happened and how. In his indisposed attempt to figure out why the world he used to know is now deserted, he meets three other survivors—Amethyst, Joshua, and Rose.

FOR WHEN IT’S OVER.

by @seokgyuu

pairing — dino x reader

genres — zombie apocalypse! au, humor, romance

synopsis — Just hanging out with your friends, a typical movie night, when suddenly all your phones go off and the channel suddenly starts to the news, telling you that a strange virus has broken out and that everyone is advised to stay home. You don’t think too much of it, until the camera on the news suddenly changes to a bunch of zombies storming the studio and basically eating everyone in it.

#caratwritersclub #seventeen #seventeen smut #seventeen fluff #seventeen angst #seventeen x reader #seventeen x you #seventeen fanfic #seventeen imagines #seventeen scenarios #svt smut #svt fluff #svt angst #svt imagines #svt x reader #svt fanfic

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primeemeraldheiress · 3 years

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Unmasked AU

The room was dark as she entered; the twins asleep in their bed. It was well past their bedtime. Padme sighed. That meeting had gone on far too long. Creeping on silent feet, she carefully shut the door between their room and the main room before turning the lights on low. She still had reports to read before she could turn in.

In the back of her mind, she could hear Anakin groan at her. Telling her she worked too hard -- too long -- and that she needed sleep like a normal person. She closed her eyes and let the memory wash over her. She could see him, chest bare and gleaming in the pale lights of Coruscant filtering in from the windows. That mischievous smirk twisting his lips.

She missed him so much.

She missed who he had been.

With a sigh, she flopped down on the chair and immediately rose, muffling a yelp. Looking down at the seat, Padme picked up the offending object. The sense of displacement rose. She looked around the room to remind herself where she was. When she was.

This was one of Anakin's toys.

One of the little things he'd made from spare parts and circuitry aboard his warship, scurried away in the voluminous pockets of his robes to hand out to refugee children. The small joys he handed out to the little ones. Minuscule comforts, he'd said, could mean the world.

Where had it come from?

A shape, tall and dark, rose at the back of her mind. Her suspicions gnawing at her heart. She bit her lip.

"Mama?" A sleepy head poked out of the room.

Padme shook herself and smiled at her daughter. "Leia, sweetheart, what are you doing up?"

"Thirsty." The little girl mumbled.

"Well, let's get you something to drink." The woman gently set the toy down on the side table and scooped up her daughter. She'd worry about it in the morning. There were more important concerns.

So I had an idea...

I came across that Empire Era story idea on Pinterest today -- the one about Padme surviving and thinking Anakin died on Mustafar yet rising the Rebellion, and Vader thinking Padme still died -- them being trapped somewhere and arguing -- Padme masked -- and Padme slinging something she had said as Queen Amidala or senator and Vader being like “Don’t you dare bring her up--” and Padme ripping off the mask and throwing in his face like “I’ll bring myself into this argument if I kriffing want to!”

anyway, I had ideas for that..

That Vader, in that instant that she throws her mask as him and tells him she'll use herself in her own arguments all she kriffing likes, thank you, his heart breaks all over again. The lies he's told himself shatter around him, lying in pieces. And he know that the rebel leader -- Padme -- hates him and that he deserves it all.

That he’s burned with his hate for her, too. Why she got to live when his angel died.

And now all his illusions are shattered and he sees the monster that he is. He falls to his knees. He would cry if he could but he can’t.

But he does not call her anything Anakin would call her; he doesn’t permit himself the privilege of that familiarity.

Instead he swears himself to the service of his queen.

Padme stands baffled over her greatest nightmare, holding a lightsaber that sings mournfully, familiarly, over the feeling of its own pain. And she's never told anyone she came out the other side of Luke and Leia perhaps a little more sensitive than she went into it.

What can she do but bring him home. In chains, of course, because she’s not stupid. They have cuffs to hold Inquisitors and dark force sensitives. They have ways of containing him. She doesn’t yet trust that she doesn’t have to.

But he makes not a single aggressive move, not even a snarky word, to her or the Rebellion personnel that come to rescue her.

When they make it back to the base, him in chains and her with her head held high, the twins rush to greet them despite the clear orders she sent ahead and he just freezes. Something in her freezes, too. She's kept their existence a secret all these years for a reason.

He wants, for a split second to believe that they are children from a second marriage or a later lover but the boy looks just like him and Vader mourns again.

Padme refuses to so much as look at him as he's escorted to the cells but the children peek at him behind their mother's limbs. Curious faces gleaming in the light of the hanger. Interrogation follows. Sometimes Padme, sometimes others, but he tells them everything he knows. He has no reason to hold it back. His angel is alive and he is hers. Has always been hers. He owes loyalty to no other.

Something happens. The base is attacked or the children are kidnapped -- pirates, not the Empire -- and Padme has no choice but to test the loyalty that Vader swears. The sets him loose and he proves it.

He is devastating.

Slowly they build trust -- and Padme's not stupid. The Emperor's right hand man doesn't just come from nowhere and swear their loyalty to her. She digs... and she doesn't like what she finds. Nothing. There’s nothing. There’s nothing more suspicious than nothing.

Little toys, made from loose parts and spare circuitry begin to pop up in Padme and the twins' quarters. The kind Anakin used to make for the children of refugees when they were on the Resolute, to keep his hands occupied, the kind he'd bring home absently, a couple in his pockets every time.

The children aren’t afraid of him. They sense that he won’t hurt them. When he’s sitting somewhere, meditating or just watching, they treat him like a jungle gym.

Suspicion blooms at the back of her mind. One day, as he’s leaving on a mission, Vader slips and calls her Angel. He doesn’t notice but she does and it’s all the terrible confirmation she needs.

When he returns, exhausted and hurt, and still in that broken down kriffing suit he won’t let anyone touch, she plonks the kids down in front of him and tells him to start their training.

Anakin panics.

"I can't teach them, I know only of the dark" And she argues with him. "Surely floating a feather can't be dark, Lord Vader. A little push pull a too light for you?" Padme taunts him into starting the twins off on their control while she goes to talk to medical and engineering about that suit.

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If anyone knows the original OP of the original idea, please tag me so I can reblog them.

#Empire Era #Padme Amidala #Anakin Skywalker #Unmasked AU #Emerald Blurb #Star Wars

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inspirashion · 2 years

Note

Your turn! Tell me about your favorite head canon or AU that you’ve been wanting to write or are most excited about but haven’t had the time/energy/whatever to actually get too.

*Clears throat*

Well, let's start with Kidge stuff.

One of the AUs I have planned is a short featuring their sons - Kelsey (11) and Kameron (9). Some Galran rebels kidnapped them as a way to get back at the Paladins and use them as bargaining chips. However, the children are rather savage like their parents (probably even worse) and the kidnappers end up begging the parents to take them back. But throughout all this, Keith and Pidge tear through the universe trying to find their children, leaving behind a trail of destruction in their wake.

Eldritch. This one is about eldritch beings living in what humans call The Forest of Abominations. It shows how the two races view each other - Eldritch beings view humans as monsters that they should stay away from, and that the lands outside of their forest is dangerous while the reverse is also true. Keith is a half-eldritch that lives with his mother and pet wolf, and he ended up stumbling upon Pidge, who's craft had crashed into the forest. Seeing how tiny she was, Keith thought she was a baby and took her home. When all is said and done, Keith helps Pidge to return to Plaht, but the journey is far from easy. I have most of this planned out with my co-writer, just need to put the flesh on and stuff.

Destined. This is a dimension-hopping fic. Somehow, at the end of a really rough battle, the Green Lion went offline and a dimensional rift had opened up nearby to her. Not wanting to lose her, Keith tried to save her, but failed. They end up in alternate dimension -as a matter of fact, they keep ending up in multiple dimensions before they find themselves back home. In each of these, they encounter their alternate selves -normal college students, celebrities, entrepreneurs, police officers, and of course, chaos, hilarity and shitstorms ensue. The reason this one isn't really written yet, my co-writer and I just can't decide which Lion Keith will be piloting. We love him in Red, but Black is so badass too...

The Sword and Shield. We've worked out roughly all of the major plot points, since it's a Shield Hero AU with lots of twists. Instead of Lions, its the Bayards and these weapons choose their wielders, no matter where they are in the world. Like Shield Hero, this world has to deal with the Waves of Catastrophe and the Bayards are the only things that can vanquish them. Altea is still standing, and Zarkon was never an evil asshole.

For the Naruto AUs

Transtemporal. his one is the second installment of our Displacement series, and a Time Travel (yes, total sucker for that trope) but the catch is, Kakashi died in the Pein attack and even though he woke up in the past, he woke up in his father's - Sakumo Hatake -body. Of course, he decides to give his younger self the childhood he wished he had, somehow managed to rope in Orochimaru and stop him from falling into that dark place, and deal with his younger self falling for Obito, and just, try to change the shit future he had.. Like, I'm super excited about this one. I've never seen this been done before, and I wanna see how well it'll turn out!

Moonlit Haze (name subject to change). This is a Sakumo/Kaguya fic, in which Kaguya O. is Kakashi's mother. Of course, the whole Naruto canon gets thrown through the damn window. Pairing is of course, ObiKaka

I think on these shits every day and while I manage to scribble down some stuff about them, to actually get writing...I haven't gotten the chance to. Plus, I gotta the characters in these AUs before I actually describe them in the fic....so Hopefully next year.

And thanks so much for the ask! As soon as I get some better breathing space, I'll be popping up in your DM! XD

#Fanfic Writer Friday #voltron au #voltron legendary defender #naruto au

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discordiansamba · 3 months

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also I was thinking about the displaced rebel AU and specifically about Keith from the peaceful reality and just the fact that he probably takes a lot of missions that end up with him doing longer stints in space. There's just something about being out in space that makes him feel more alive. He's not sure what it is, but he always feels it keenly whenever he returns to Earth. Like space is calling to some part of him in a way he can't explain.

#displaced rebel au #he ends up taking a lot of undesirable missions #transporting materials between their lunar and mars outposts SOUNDS like fun on paper #but it is not #but keith doesn't mind #matt <----guy who knows why that is but isn't sure if he should just like. say it

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the-hopefulpenguin · 3 years

Text

Stitches

Princess Kuvira AU! In which she’s arguing with Korra about why the Earth Kingdom needs airbenders, and indicating exactly how unpleasant her attempts to maintain order in the Earth Kingdom are. T/W for mentions of war, displacement as a weapon for war, and chemical defoliants. Indirectly inspired by @wishingforatypewriter‘s The Matriarch, a dark take on Suyin. “How many people do you think I’ve killed, Korra?” Kuvira asked. It was a simple question, and she said it conversationally - pitched to carry a little, above the wind whistling in over the airship’s top deck, but in every other respect, very normally.

As if it were a normal question.

It probably was, for her, Korra reflected. Princess Kuvira, the foremost general of all the armies of the Earth Kingdom. She didn’t read newspapers all that often; Asami was much better on that front; but she knew enough, and Kuvira hadn’t been shy about her role when she’d come to the island, back before the trip, to negotiate the issue of Earth Kingdom-born airbenders.

For all that, it was a wretched thing to say.

“Why do you ask?” Korra said, challenging.

Kuvira sighed, and stood from her seat, walking over to the airship’s rail with the air of someone who expected to be followed - and Korra did, which she didn’t like all that much. The forests of Gaipan State were unfolding beneath them, hills thick with trees in the bloom of spring growth, a hundred rivers and streams puddling, merging together into the Baiyi which glimmered blue and silver to the south.

“You asked why I was so committed to bringing the airbenders into the Royal Army,” Kuvira said, quietly, looking out over the landscape. “This is why.”

Korra looked from Kuvira, to the ground, and back to Kuvira. It felt didactic, patronising in hubristic style, Tenzin at his very worst. The princess was setting a trap; the only way out was through.

“I don’t follow,” said Korra, bluntly. “It’s just Gaipan.”

“Not if you know what to look for,” Kuvira responded, then pointed out to a village, the trees cut back around it. There was something glittering, catching the sun, on the edge. “See that? Settlement 1-17. We built it and moved seven local villages into it. Ringed it with razor wire - daofei can’t get in, civilians can’t get out.”

“You deported whole - “

“Destroyed is the better word.” Kuvira’s voice was steady and dispassionate. Perhaps even dryly amused, very faintly so, and that made it so much the worse. “Gaipan has a rich tradition with their rural communities. Displacement meant wiping away. It won us the war in that part of the state, though.”

Korra’s hands tightened on the rail, knuckles white, chi pooling in the pit of her stomach. She took a careful breath, making sure that flames didn’t crackle about her, before she said anything. “That’s monstrous.”

“I know.” It was an admission from Kuvira, and not one Korra had expected, throwing her off guard. A trap, a trick. A cage of words, almost as a certainty. “That’s the character of the task. It’s written all over the landscape. That stretch next to the river - there, yes - there’s no foliage because we bombed it with chemicals, made everything stop growing, stop living. Shut down an enemy supply route. Those contrails Ikki was admiring earlier? Rocket artillery. Each scatters bomblets across half a square mile.”

There was more, on and on. If her tone had wavered, or her eyesight flickered, it might have been a confession. As it was, it was a lecture. Dry voiced and dry eyed. Korra didn’t know what to do with it, what to say to it. Unalaq and Tarrlok and Amon had made great speeches, hoping to convince or vindicate themselves. Kuvira wasn’t doing that. She’d said she was a monster already.

“Why are you doing this?” Korra asked, eventually.

“Because the enemy is worse.” The response was swift, Kuvira turning to regard Korra properly for the first time since she’d come up onto the deck, eyes fixing and piercing. “Take Omashu. It rose in revolt nine months ago. The entire royal staff there were put to death. Men, women, and children. Seven hundred and fifty three. Most of them were non-combatants - administrators, surveyors, engineers. That sort of thing. The rebels killed them all, and it wasn’t quick.”

“So you levelled the city?”

“No. We reconquered it in three weeks. I snapped the ring leaders’ necks and hung them from their own walls. It took, I’m told, nineteen days for the carrion birds to render the corpses unrecognisable.” A pause, in which Korra felt stricken and wrestled down the urge to cast this woman from the edge of the airship.

Kuvira spoke again, at once more formal and rawer in aspect, the latter doing little enough to cloak the former. “I know who I am, Avatar Korra. I’ve spent five years answering atrocity with atrocity, brutality with brutality. Trying to stitch my nation back together. But the thread is failing and the wounds are gangrenous. The airbenders bring new capability. They are to be a symbol of the Kingdom’s might. And with them, maybe, we can finally staunch the bleeding.”

#lok #lok fanfic #legend of korra fanfic #kuvira #korra #korvira #if you squint #going over my notes on imperial counterinsurgency and it's pretty unpleasant #kuvira is kind of a bad person in this fic but she knows it #i have no idea how to write korra's voice

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eerna · 3 years

Note

Not any of the previous anons but if you like Socksock’s fic Displaced and it’s sequel than you might like their other fics.

K.K. Love Song is a modern AU where Hyrule is on lockdown because of a pandemic. It sounds super serious and a little too close to home but Link and Zelda meet through Animal Crossing and it’s actually stupid sweet.

Their other fic Bright is the Future is also really good but it’s more explicit than their other fics with the sexy fun times. Its a BOTW AU where 22 year old Link and Zelda have role reversals and Zelda saves Hyrule with a baby. The author called it “the front pack AU” it’s precious and bittersweet at the same time. It’s also finished.

Basically anything by Socksock is 👌🏻

A Bird in Your Teeth by rushvalleys is non linear and beautifully written. It’s sad and sweet at the same time. It’s a one shot and I highly recommend.

And finally… it’s not ZeLink buuuut the Rage Against the Calamity series by BCWill is really good and kind of precious in a weird sort of way. It’s about these specific group of monsters that manage to break free from Calamity Ganon’s grasp and make it their mission to rebel and free other monsters. It’s currently ongoing.

Ooo thank you for the details~ Socksock has been recommended so many times I'll have to check em out for sure, and the rest sounds sweet as well!

#eernask #returnofthajack #recs

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thenightlymartini · 3 years

Text

Special Headcannon Week! (#66) APHRarePairWeek2021

@aphrarepairweek2021

Day 2: Royalty

Headcannon #66

Kimchiburger: I almost wanna go Cardverse AU! with this. Like America is the King of Spades, and technically England is the Queen of Spades, but like they are similar to co-rulers rather than married? So, that leaves America as like, the most popular bachelor in the Spades Kingdom. And SK is just some musician that America finds while touring one of the towns near the border of Hearts and is just absolutely smitten with him. Like, he makes SK the court musician because he fell in love with the other’s soothing voice and wanted him around more. He basically fell in love on first meeting while SK is just flabbergasted that the King of Spades likes his singing so much that he got a job in the palace and is completely oblivious to America’s attempts at courting or hidden agenda when he specially requests love songs.

Everyone else in the court is both amused and aghast that the King took interest in some commoner just because he has a good voice. England is just more annoyed at America beating around the bush because even he realizes nothing will happen between the two if one of them doesn’t gain another brain cell soon.

RusNK: NK was the prince in a royal family that got overthrown when he was young, like maybe 10 or so, became the only survivor of said family (sorry, SK dead in this AU) and had been in hiding in another country plotting for revenge. Except, when he finally decides to act on it, he finds out that the rebels who overthrew and killed his family got overthrown themselves and a whole new royal family has taken its place, this being where Russia is the crowned prince of said new royal family. So he decides to infiltrate the new royal family and become the crown prince’s bodyguard, ‘cause he is technically the rightful heir and should be ruling, not this family.

Except, as he gets closer to Russia, develops feelings, and really examines the situation, he can’t help but to begin to question everything. Like, should he really fight for his right as heir? If he does, it means giving up on his feelings for Russia and eventually kill or fight him. Plus, he has to think of the people. They’ve been through too many uprisings and have finally found stability with this royal family. Should they go through more violence and instability just because of his ego and his personal belief in what is rightfully his? Not only that, but he would eventually learn that his family wasn’t entirely blameless and the rebels had a point in overthrowing them (there was rampant corruption and general neglect, but did that mean they had to kill even the children who had nothing to do with the politics and were mostly innocent?). It begins to dawn on him that perhaps he is fighting for something so antiquated that it has no purpose in the current situation, or even in the future for that matter.

He could give up on the idea of regaining the throne, but then where would he be? Who would he be? All those years of training, plotting, scheming, for what? Wasted? What would his identity be then? What purpose would he serve?

He could then just serve the new royal family, maybe, if he got lucky, he might even marry Russia, thus technically regaining the throne without displacing the stability. But what if he was found out? Russia wouldn’t take it lightly, since the whole reason the two would get close in the beginning was because Russia trusted him as one of the only people that wanted to be close to him without ulterior motives or planed on using him. He could easily see it as being used. Not only that, but the new royal family doesn’t particularly care for the old royals at all, having sided with the rebels in the beginning due to shared views. He would be a dead man if caught. So does he live even more of a lie? Always on the knife’s edge while aiming for the perfect solution? While aiming for potential happiness for himself and Russia?

Commieburger: This was really based off of Atlantis.

NK is the prince of a long lost civilization, and America is an archaeologist or anthropologist with a dig team and some mercenaries who just so happens to have the book that will lead them to the lost city. But instead of the whole team finding the city, America is the only survivor of a cave in, and the only reason why he is saved by NK is because NK (who had been following the group for a while) saw him as one of the only decent humans out of that group. Like the whole group was willing to use explosives on ancient pillars and trample their way through holy ground, and the only one to care about it was America.

So NK rescues an unconscious America and brings him back to the lost city, where America wakes up and is super confused and stupefied and generally amazed at what he sees. Come to find out, NK’s father, the emperor, is dying of some sort of illness and NK is poised to become the next emperor. The current emperor wants to get rid of America, preferably kill him so that their location and the people remained protected from the outside world, as that world played a part in their downfall and subsequent hiding. However, America proves himself useful by actively trying to help them recover a lot of their old culture and history that they themselves have forgotten about, from delving into dangerous ruins to retrieve old documents or artifacts to even teaching NK how to read his long forgotten written language thanks to his book that he had since the expedition.

Through all of these adventures the two’s relationship grows from strangers to a tentative friendship to even a romance. Like these two realize that their feelings are mutual without ever having to state it, they’ll hold hands or have more skin contact than normal, but will never kiss (get pretty close, but one or the other always holds back) or fully commit to a relationship due to understanding the circumstances and situation they find themselves in. Like, America understands that NK’s people are in a precarious situation where their culture is dying off and having contact with the outside world again could either save them or doom them. He wants them, by way of convincing NK, that the outside world isn’t what it used to be and that they could still be independent. But NK has to worry about his people, he is both fascinated and fearful of the outside world, and knows he has to be very careful with how he could be leading his people. He knows his father would keep them secluded, even at the cost of them dying off, because at least they will retain what little independence and cultural identity they have left. But with him dying, it’s up to NK to decide what to do. He almost wants to just keep America with them and forget about the outside world, but knows that really isn’t the best idea. Like, same sex relations are actually a normal thing in his culture, heck, even some past royals were involved in same sex relations or had same sex partners. It’s the fact that everyone sees America as the outsider to an extent even with his help in re-obtaining their culture and history; it would be too far out there. Not only that, but he understands that it wouldn’t be morally right to force America to stay, and America, in a way, doesn’t really belong in that world. Both of them fully know they don’t want to lose the other, but reality isn’t going to make it that easy for them.

#aphrarepairweek2021 #aph america #hws america #aph russia #hws russia #aph south korea #hws south korea #aph north korea #hws north korea #kimchiburger #rusnk #commieburger #im sang kyu #hetalia #day 2: royalty

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