#shed kill the world to save her children

[punkshort]

i know who you are | 7. the week

Pairing: Joel Miller x f!reader

Chapter Summary: Joel is on a mission to win you back. You struggle with your feelings and visit an old friend for some perspective.

Chapter Warnings: language, angst, pining, sad!Joel, amnesia, slow burn, physical violence, wounds/blood/injuries/gore, vague reference to suicide (Joel remembering his incident after Sarah), alcohol consumption, non-descriptive smutty memory, mentions of murder (adults and children), mentions of pregnancy (not reader)

WC: 7.7K

A/N: I took some liberties with the background of the Fireflies, it's not exactly canon.

Series Masterlist

Somewhere in Northern California

It took two days.

Two full days of freezing temperatures and frigid wind as he traversed up and down mountains, through snow covered forests with little to no shelter, but he finally made it. Right before nightfall, he approached the edge of the town you grew up in. The town your parents still lived in ten years ago. The town that holds a history of you and everything you hold dear.

It was too dark and he was too tired to enter the town and go any further, but fortune smiled upon him for the first time since he left Jackson when he spotted a dilapidated woodshed tucked into the forest. It was small, no bigger than a bedroom, but it would do. It would be the first time in two days he would get to sleep with a roof over his head, and he desperately needed it.

He grossly overestimated his ability to survive out in the wild. He did it before, of course, but life in Jackson made him soft. Made him complacent. Made him weak.

Time took its toll on his body. His age was an offensive reminder every time his knees creaked or his back twinged. He wasn't as fast as he used to be, nor as strong. But he was determined and stubborn, two things that would never change.

With hands trembling from the cold, he jabbed his knife into the lock and broke it with ease, a small triumph in an otherwise unforgiving journey. The shed was mostly empty, save for a pile of wood and an axe. Plenty of room for both him and the horse.

After he scattered some oats on the floor, he grabbed his rifle and marched back out into the snowy tundra to do a perimeter check, knowing he would fall asleep the moment he allowed himself to slow down. By the time he deemed the area safe, he retreated back into the woodshed and lit a fire in the tiny furnace to warm up a bit.

Once he got feeling back in his fingers, he cracked open some stew and ate it cold straight from the can, too impatient to warm it up and too eager to get some rest. The wind howled outside, practically screaming at him with every gust: How could you say that to me?

The horse nickered softly, her head lowered, one back leg cocked as she began to doze off. He laid on the wooden floor, partially resting inside his sleeping bag, ready to strike if there was an intruder. The back of his wrist laid against his forehead while he stared blankly at the ceiling, wondering for the umpteenth time if what he was doing was even going to work. If he would even be capable of finding your house in this town, let alone finding any pictures still in good enough condition to bring back to you.

But it was all he had.

You had mentioned to him when he was sick, after you saw the photo of Sarah, how you wished you had pictures of your family. You looked so somber and distant and he was once again reminded that even though you lost them ten years ago, in your mind you only lost them months ago.

He couldn't imagine losing Sarah twice. Waking up one day, thinking she was alive and healthy and late for school just to be told she was killed mercilessly ten years prior and died in his arms. You were so much stronger than him. You always were. You were told your whole world changed, your family gone, and then tossed into a house with him, pressured by everyone every damn day to regain your memories and become a completely different person when he knew deep down if the same had happened to him, his answer would lie at the end of a barrel. But unlike before, he might not flinch.

You really fucking hurt me, Joel.

He rubbed his face aggressively, the pain and anguish in your voice haunting him. This trip left him with too much time to get lost in his thoughts, too much time to wallow in his grief and replay every single painful memory from the past several days.

Sighing, he dropped his hands to his chest and tried to think about something else. Letting his eyes drift shut, he let his mind wander back to before. Before your accident, before he fucked everything up, back to a time when you were happy and stupidly in love.

"What's cookin', good lookin'?" he heard your voice behind him.

He grinned as he stirred a pot of sauce on the stove while you wrapped your arms around his midsection, burying your face against his back.

"My accent rubbin' off on you now?"

You giggled and let go, walking over to grab the bottle of whiskey and pouring you each a glass.

"Maybe."

You handed him his glass and clinked them together before taking a sip.

"How was patrol?" he asked, turning his attention back to the pasta.

"Boring," you replied, hopping up onto the counter next to him, swinging your legs back and forth. "Jesse has a lot of work to do. He's not seasoned enough to be out there without one of us."

He nodded thoughtfully and lifted the spoon up to your lips to taste the sauce. "Needs lemon," you said, licking your upper lip while he snatched a lemon from a basket in the corner of the kitchen and sliced it in half.

"Yeah, I know, but he's got potential. Just gotta get him to focus a bit more. Gotta be more aware of his surroundings."

You hummed and rubbed the back of your neck with a wince.

"You hurtin'?" he asked, but you shook your head immediately.

"Just tired."

"You sure?" he said while he strained the pasta. "I can rub your neck later."

"Oh, well in that case, yes. I'm absolutely aching over here," you said with a smile.

"Don't tempt me, baby," he told you, setting down the pot before wedging himself between your knees, his hands rubbing over your thighs. "Might not stop at your neck."

"Is that right?" you teased, pulling your lower lip between your teeth playfully.

"Mhmm. First it's your neck, then shoulders," he said, pressing a gentle kiss against your lips, "then your back," he dragged his hands up your back and pressed you forward, nearly pulling you off the counter.

"Then what?" you asked breathlessly, arms loosely draping around the back of his neck.

"Before y'know it, you'll be pullin' at my belt, tellin' me you got an ache someplace else 'n you need me to stuff you full of my cock." His hands dragged up and down your back, his mouth nipping gently at your throat as you tipped your head back with a gasp.

"You know me so well," you murmured, a lazy smirk spreading across your face when you felt the urgency behind his touch.

"Yeah I do, baby," his words getting lost against your skin, "know you like the back of my hand. Know what makes you tick. What makes you feel good. Know what makes you scream my fuckin' name." His lips slotted over yours urgently, the pasta cold and long forgotten as you wrapped your legs around his waist and pulled him close.

"Take me to bed, Joel," you begged after you pulled your head away, breaking the kiss and then quickly latching onto his neck. "Need you. I want - shit!" you cursed when one of you accidentally pushed a plate off the counter and it smashed into pieces against the floor.

"Leave it, don't care," he said, picking you up and pulling your attention off the shards of ceramic littering the floor. "I'll clean it up later."

His eyes popped open, the echo of your giggle from that night bouncing around his skull. It was almost laughable now, thinking he felt lonely before compared to how he felt in the middle of fucking nowhere with only a sleeping horse to keep him company.

He wasn't stupid. He knew he would need to do more than bring home some pictures to convince you to forgive him. But it was a start, and maybe, just maybe with time, you would come to understand what you meant to him.

And if he was really lucky, he might end up meaning something to you, too.

It was stupid and it didn't mean anything.

That's what you kept telling yourself ever since Joel left and you found yourself curling up in his bed at night instead of yours.

His bed was more comfortable. His room didn't store the bad memories of your fight. It was simply easier to sleep there.

It certainly didn't have anything to do with the way the sheets still smelled like him. Like the soap you both used combined with the outdoors and a hint of his sweat. And on the third night when you picked out a flannel of his from the closet and wrapped it around yourself, it was only because it was a particularly frigid night.

You didn't miss him.

Well, you missed having another person in the house, sure. But you didn't miss him on some deeper level. Maria and Ellie were wrong. They had no idea what they were talking about. They had no idea what was going through your head, what you were feeling, what you were struggling with.

There was no possible way you could have feelings for Joel. Not after everything he did and said. Not after the lies and the cheating and the deception.

But then why, when you were struggling to fall asleep at night, did your mind always wander back to the way he looked at you in the meadow, or the way his arms felt wrapped around you on the back of the horse, or the way he made you laugh when you played Monopoly?

And why did it feel like a part of you left with him that night?

"Pathetic," you muttered to yourself, pulling the sheets tighter and rolling over onto your side, his soft, worn flannel like butter against your bare skin. You squeezed your eyes shut, forcing the memories from your mind and instead, replaying what he told you about the hospital.

He almost killed you. He was seconds away from putting a bullet in your head and only after presumably begging for your life did he let you go, and then he had the nerve to keep that information from you not only once, but fucking twice.

He was protecting Ellie.

But he still shouldn't have lied.

With a groan, you rolled onto your back and stared up at the ceiling, sleep so far out of reach you didn't even feel like trying anymore. Then a thought occurred to you:

You weren't the only one he let live. There were two other people in Jackson who were there, who were shown mercy and didn't appear to hold any resentment towards him for it. In fact, they seemed rather happy with the second chance they were given.

You hadn't seen Ben or Lisa in a long time. The opportunity never presented itself for you to seek any perspective from them about that day.

Perhaps it was time to change that.

It took him a few hours to scope out the town and venture out of the woods, but by late morning he was heading down what looked to be one of the main thoroughfares in town, eyes squinting against the blowing snow as he tried to pinpoint the location of town hall.

All he remembered was your street name but he had absolutely no idea how to find it, so his plan was to break into the town hall and find a map. From there, he prayed Ellie's drawing was truly accurate enough to narrow down your parents' house.

He was freezing. His face was numb and his back was fucking killing him from riding so much, but he was so close. If he was lucky, he could find your house, get what he needed and head out all before nightfall. Maybe he could even spend another night in the woodshed. It wasn't so bad. At least he was warm.

As he continued to steer his horse down another road, he couldn't help but think Tommy was right about the storm. It was providing him some cover, just in case there were survivors around that wouldn't take kindly to his intrusion. He just hoped it would blow through in a day so his ride back would be clear.

After another thirty minutes of wind whipping at his face, the cold penetrating his coat and several layers underneath, he finally saw it. It was a smaller building than he imaged it to be, but the sign was clear. Hoping that the town size was as small as the town hall, he steered his mare down the drive and through the parking lot, making sure to take in his surroundings, confirming he was truly alone before he slid down from the saddle and trudged through the snow to the front doors.

He wiped away the snow from the window, peering inside before heading to another one and doing the same. It appeared to be empty so he tried the door, unsurprisingly finding it locked. He pulled out his knife and worked on the lock, his fingers stiff and his ears so cold he could barely feel them anymore. Finally, he broke the lock but when he shoved the door, there was something blocking him on the other side.

"Shit," he muttered, glancing around, kicking and dusting snow off the surrounding area, looking for a brick or a rock. Giving up, he grabbed his rifle from the saddle and angrily made his way to the nearest window, smashing the butt of his gun against the glass repeatedly until it shattered. He gasped for air, not realizing how much energy he was exerting before he continued, knocking out as much of the glass as he could.

Sticking his head inside, he looked around. The place seemed empty. It was quiet, covered in dust and debris. Untouched dust was good. It meant nobody had been there in a while. Human or otherwise.

He crawled through the window, taking great care to not catch on any jagged edges. He held his breath, ears straining for any noise that might give someone away, but all he heard was the howling wind outside. This is your fault. Still, he kept his guard up. He walked room to room, finding his way to the lobby and searching the front desk for a map.

"You gotta be fuckin' kiddin' me," he grumbled as he opened and shut each drawer in the desk, only pausing to snatch up an old protein bar and shoving it in his pocket.

With a sigh, he looked around the room. There were a couple benches, chairs that were moved and tipped over, papers scattered about but his eyes were drawn to the portraits on the wall. There were a few paintings of men he would never recognize, unknown sheriffs and mayors, and some framed pictures of the staff, but the one that really drew his attention was the large map on the wall next to the front doors.

It was a road map of the town. Simple, but it was all he needed. He rounded the desk and shined his flashlight over the map, studying it, searching for where he was before looking for your street.

"Grant Street."

"Grant?" he repeated, his fingers lightly skirting up and down your bare back.

"Mhmm," you confirmed, eyes closed, a small, satisfied smile tugging at your lips as you buried your face into his neck.

"That's funny," he said, his hand wandering past your waist and over your ass.

"Why's that?"

"Grant's my Mama's maiden name."

Your eyes opened and locked onto his. "Maybe it's fate, then."

Maybe it was.

Grant was only four blocks north. It didn't look like a very long road, either.

He could do this.

He was so close.

Lisa answered the door with the same look of surprise as before, although this time she was clutching needles and yarn in her left hand while the fire quietly crackled behind her.

"Hey," you said, arms wrapped around yourself as the snow storm continued to swirl behind you. "Can I come in?"

"Oh! Of course!" Lisa said, stepping back, "how rude of me. Can I get you something warm to drink?" She closed the door behind you and took a step towards the kitchen. "I just boiled some water for tea, it's still hot."

"Tea sounds lovely, thank you," you said as you hung up your coat and scarf, trying your best not to make a mess of melted snow all over her floor.

She told you to make yourself comfortable while she prepared your tea, so you wandered into her tiny living room, the space seeming a little larger now without your two imposing men.

"Where's Ben?"

"Working," she said, setting down a teacup and saucer next to hers. "I put a little sugar in it."

"Oh, thank you, that's perfect. I like it sweet," you replied, sitting down on the same couch as before and bringing the cup to your lips.

"I know, I remember," she said, and when she sat down and fixed her billowy top, you noticed for the first time the small bump protruding low on her hips.

Your eyebrows shot up in surprise and she followed your gaze.

"Oh, yes," her tone soft, "I'm due this spring."

"Wow. Congratulations, Lisa. That's wonderful, I had no idea. I thought I would have seen you from time to time at the infirmary," you explained, setting down your tea.

"Nick agrees to see me after hours, sometimes he makes house calls," she said, picking up her needles again.

You titled your head to the side. "Why do you want to be seen after hours?"

Her lips pressed into a thin line, eyes fixed on the yellow blanket she was making. "I still find it difficult sometimes to face some of the others in town, I suppose. I know I shouldn't but the guilt sticks with me."

"Guilt?"

Her eyes flicked up to yours and she shifted her weight. "I know Ben mentioned the Fireflies to you." She held out her wrist, showing you the small moth-like symbol tattooed there. "I'm not sure how much you know or remember-"

"Actually, that's why I'm here," you said, taking a deep breath. "Joel told me everything. About the Fireflies. About the hospital."

Her eyes widened, the needles abandoned in her lap.

"Oh."

"Yeah," you said, chewing on your lip and glancing at the fire. "He told me what he did there. Told me he spared us, let us go."

"Yes, he did," she agreed softly.

"Can you tell me more about that day?" you asked, dragging your eyes back to meet hers. "I'm having trouble understanding how I could have known this before and still managed to fall in love with him."

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

You laughed dryly and shrugged. "I mean he almost killed us. He killed countless innocent people, friends of ours I'm assuming, and I'm expected to believe I just looked past it? We just looked past it?" You motioned between the two of you. "He's a murderer, Lisa. He-"

"We're murderers," she corrected, and you fell silent. "We killed innocent people. We helped lead a revolution that resulted in hundreds of deaths, and where did that get us? Nowhere! People weren't any better off. In fact, they were worse. Friends and family killed, caught in the crossfire, tangled up in this idea of freedom and safety and giving their lives to an empty cause."

You swallowed as you watched Lisa's face, her eyes fiery and her tone hardened, transforming into a different version of herself before your very eyes.

"What Joel did..." she trailed off as she thought back to that day. "We did bad things. So did he, but he single handedly cut the Fireflies off at the legs. He stopped the insanity, stopped the war, stopped the ridiculous experiments and half baked ideas to save the world, regardless of the lives lost along the way. You don't remember, I understand, but allow me to explain."

"Please," you begged softly, "please tell me everything."

She rested a palm against her swelling stomach and leaned back. "We realized we made a mistake pretty early on," she began, "but we didn't have anywhere else to go. We had been living in the wild for so long. We were tired and hungry and weak and we fell for it. Fell for the sales pitch when they found us. We were told we wouldn't have to fight, but they didn't tell us what they expected us to do."

"W-what did we do?" you stammered, sitting on the edge of your seat.

"We killed people. Innocent people, point blank. FEDRA soldiers. Civilians who ratted out our location for extra food for their family. Children-" her voice wobbled a bit as she looked down at her stomach. "Children who were experimented on, vaccine prototypes tested on, who became horribly disfigured a-and screaming in pain, begging to be put out of their misery-"

"Okay," you said, cutting her off and taking a deep breath, unable to hear much more. It was becoming clear why Joel kept this from you, and although you had a right to know, you were beginning to understand his motivation. He was trying to protect you.

"Anyway," Lisa continued, flicking a tear from her cheek, "we planned on getting out. We couldn't do it anymore. Then, Joel showed up."

You held your breath, waiting for her to continue.

"We were doing perimeter checks. Loosening a spot in the gate so we could sneak out later that night. Then we heard the gunshots. And at first, we thought some infected got in. It was the perfect distraction, so we grabbed our gear and made a run for it."

She paused to take a sip from her tea, her eyes looking miles away.

"We almost made it. We were in the parking garage loading up a vehicle when he snuck up behind us. Told us to lay face down on the ground with our hands behind our heads. We never saw him and it wasn't until later we found out he was all alone. The whole time we were convinced it had to have been a group of men. It seemed impossible for one man to do what he did, but somehow..."

She trailed off again and cleared her throat.

"He gave us a second chance when we didn't deserve it," she said solemnly. "You and Ben dealt with the weight of what we did far better than me. I still struggle with the guilt, I can't..." she looked up at you, "I hope you never remember."

A chill went down your spine and you nodded.

"Try not to hold it against him," she said, offering you a small smile. "We've all done terrible things. It's not all black and white."

It ain't black and white.

"Yeah, okay," you replied quietly, standing up from the couch, your mind reeling. "Thanks," you added, motioning to the tea before she walked you to the door, "and congratulations again."

"Thank you," she said, rubbing her belly, her green eyes sparkling. "I'm glad you stopped by. The truth is sometimes ugly, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve to understand the whole picture." You nodded and bent over to shove on your boots. "Joel's not a bad man. I'm sure he was just trying to protect you by leaving some things out about our past. He would have told you eventually."

When the whole goddamn world ends and all you got left is one or two people you care 'bout, you'll do whatever you gotta do to protect 'em.

"Yeah, I'm starting to realize that now," you said, shrugging on your coat with a wry smile.

The whole way home, you practically kicked yourself for not visiting Lisa sooner. Maybe it would have made a difference, maybe not. But it finally felt like a missing puzzle piece was back in place and you could begin to make sense of your confusing feelings for Joel.

Ellie was incredibly talented.

He needed to make sure to remind her of that when he got home because even through the blowing snow, in near whiteout conditions, he was still able to figure out which house was yours because Ellie's drawing was so detailed, so accurate that it almost felt like he had been there before.

He was eager and impatient. He just wanted to get inside and get what he needed and leave, but before he did, he peered inside the windows and did a walk around the whole house three times, just in case. It was a small brick ranch and if the snow wasn't so thick, he would be able to see the black shutters framing the front windows, just like in the drawing.

He shouldered open the side garage door first, a pile of fluffy snow spilling over the hard concrete as he stumbled in and shimmied open the roll top door so he could bring his mare inside.

He pat her between the eyes, murmuring his thanks for being so damn tough and sprinkled some more oats on the ground before slipping inside the house.

The door from the attached garage led right into a kitchen, which, by the looks of it, was rifled through on more than one occasion. No doubt some survivors had come through over the years and turned the place upside down for anything useful, but that didn't matter to him. What he needed wouldn't be stolen.

Glancing at the fridge, he paused when he saw some photos stuck to the door. He leaned his rifle against the wall and shook his head, curls flinging melted snow over the dusty floor, then bent over to examine the pictures. Most of them didn't have you and he began to worry he was in the wrong house after all, but then he saw it: at the very top was a picture of four people, all wearing summer clothes and Mickey Mouse ears with the Cinderella castle in the background. A middle aged man and woman bookended a young man, lean but muscular with his arm draped around your shoulders.

You were younger, maybe still in high school, and your hair was longer and lighter, but he would recognize that smile anywhere.

He carefully plucked the photo from the fridge and brought it closer, his eyes raking over every detail of the picture, from the brightness in your eyes to the cotton candy pink sky behind you.

You looked so happy.

Nothing like the way you looked when he last saw you: broken and bruised. Ruined and dejected. Because of him.

You spared my life just to break my heart.

He blinked and pocketed the photo before turning around. The living room was in worse condition. It appeared someone must have stayed there at one point because the couches were shifted around, an armchair wedged in front of the door, cushions flung around haphazardly.

He had to move furniture out of the way, dig around a bit through broken bookshelves, but he managed to finally unearth an old photo album. Resting on one of the couch cushions with a huff, he took a few moments to flip through it, smiling now and then when he saw an especially cute picture of you. The wind outside was howling so loudly, the old house creaking with every gust that he couldn't hear when footsteps slowly crept up behind him and knocked him unconscious with the butt of his own rifle.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

He knew better. He should have scoped out the inside of the house before getting distracted. But he was too excited and too eager to get what he came for that he forgot his own rules. And he took for granted the snowstorm would hide his tracks.

Now he was hunched over on the living room floor, leaning against the wall with his wrists tied behind his back while five raiders went through his things.

"Hey man, don't you like peaches?"

"Fuck yeah I do, give it here."

Joel groaned, the back of his head throbbing, thick, sticky blood slowly trickling down the back of his neck.

"He's waking up."

"Hey, princess, how's the head?" one said with a sinister laugh. Joel ignored him.

"You got some nice shit. Wanna tell us where your camp is?"

Joel opened his eyes and glared at the man in front of him, wearing a leather jacket and leather gloves and a black bandana pulling his dark, wiry hair off his scarred face.

"Fuck you."

The punch came fast and hard across his jaw, making him see stars for a moment. The other men chuckled and got back to dividing up his things.

"You wanna try that again?" the first man asked, crouching down in front of him. Joel tugged on the rope holding his wrists together. The knot was tight but it wasn't foolproof. He just needed a little time to loosen it up.

"Don't got a camp."

"Bullshit," the man barked, spitting against the wall next to Joel's head. "Ain't nobody out here with this kinda gear and a goddamn horse roughing it all alone. Now, just tell us the city and we'll take it from there. We'll even let you live."

He heard one of the other men scoff but the rest remained quiet, and if Joel wasn't already convinced they were planning to kill him either way, he definitely was now.

"Boise."

"Boise?" he repeated, and Joel nodded, twisting his hands behind his back, feeling the coarse rope burn against his skin. The man in the leather jacket sighed and hung his head before landing another blow, this time across the mouth. Joel's lower lip got snagged on his teeth and tore. Blood trickled down his chin as he angrily whipped his head back towards the raider.

"I told you what you wanted!"

"You fed me a bunch of bullshit is what you did," he said, kicking Joel in the ribs. He gasped for air, doubled over against the wall, coughing and spraying blood across the faded floral wallpaper. He wondered if your parents did the wallpaper themselves, if your mom picked it out, or did the house already come like that?

Joel tugged harder on the rope, feeling it start to give. He needed to stay focused. He needed to make every move count if he wanted to get out of this alive.

The raider pulled a revolver from the back of his pants - Joel's revolver - and flipped it over in his hands. Back and forth, back and forth. Then he leaned forward and pressed the barrel against Joel's forehead.

"I'll give you one more chance, asshole," he said, his dark eyes boring into Joel's, "tell us where your camp is or else I shoot you in the fucking head."

"What the hell was he doing here anyway?"

"Shut up, Mike," the guy in the leather growled, eyes still trained on Joel.

"No, but seriously. There's nothing in this house worth taking. We've been through this neighborhood months ago."

The raider's eyes flickered around the room and Joel tugged harder on his restraints when he looked away. Then the man spotted the photo album lying face down on the ground.

"What's this?" he asked, lowering the gun and picking up the album. He began to flip through it and Joel felt the rope finally give. The raider let out a low whistle and slid a photo out to look at it closer. "Don't tell me you came out in the middle of a storm just to find something to jack off to," he teased, holding up a photo of you in a yellow bikini by a pool. He flipped the picture back around and grinned. When he went to stuff it in his pocket, his attention momentarily diverted, Joel took his opportunity to strike.

In the blink of an eye, he snatched the revolver from the raider's fingers and shot him in the temple, his body immediately falling limply to the side. Wet, sticky blood sprayed all over Joel's hand but he just tightened his grip on the gun, taking aim and bringing down another one of the men while they were still too stunned to move.

"Fuck!" one of the remaining three men screamed as they scrambled for cover. Joel ducked behind the couch and held his breath, straining to hear the scuffling of their boots, trying to pinpoint where they were in the small room. When he heard one of them accidentally knock against the kitchen table, the wooden legs scraping against the linoleum, he straightened up and took aim, taking out another man with a bullet right between the eyes, but unfortunately one of the last two men got a shot in as well.

The bullet grazed against his left bicep. Joel hissed and ducked back behind the couch. He would deal with it later.

"Come on, man, we can work something out," one of the men called out after a minute. "Let's just go our separate ways. Act like this never-"

Joel jumped up and shot the man in the cheek, the bullet traveling through his mouth and out the back of his head, leaving brain matter that looked like globs of gelatin dripping down the kitchen cupboards after he fell lifelessly to the ground.

Joel stepped towards the kitchen, now only one on one. He got cocky. He was feeling too confident with how quickly he took out the group. He didn't even see it coming when the knife lodged into his side, just above his hip. Without thinking, he yanked the knife out, twisted around and jammed it into the final raider's throat, watching as he fell to the floor, choking on his own blood, and didn't look away until he stopped twitching.

Adrenaline still coursed through his veins and he used it to his advantage, his left hand pressing weakly against his wound, the wound in his arm preventing it from being very effective while he searched the dead bodies of the men for anything useful. He had brought some first aid with him when he left Jackson but he was too far from home, he would need antibiotics, at least, if he was going to make it back.

Of course, he came up empty, so he snatched his first aid kit from the table and stumbled down the little hallway, searching for a bathroom. He knew it was a lost cause, the raiders already admitted to clearing the place out months ago, but he had to try.

He flung open the medicine cabinet with a grunt, the pain beginning to set in now. Pressing his bloody fingers against the stab wound as hard as he could, he rummaged around the cabinet, leaving paths of red everywhere his fingers touched, then tried the drawers under the sink.

Nothing.

"Fuck," he muttered, collapsing onto the cool tile floor as he began to sort through his first aid kit. There were no towels left but he was sitting on an old bathmat. He groaned in pain when he lifted his hips to pull the bathmat out, shook out the dust and dirt, then pressed it against his side, bringing his knee up to hold it in place.

With trembling fingers, he threaded a needle. He wiped the blood from his hands on his shirt, but they were stained red. Ripping open his jacket and flannel, he lifted the two other layers he had on underneath and lowered his leg to get a look at the wound.

It was deep and he was losing a lot of blood, but he was fairly certain the knife wasn't long enough to knick any organs. His stomach wasn't swelling, that was a good sign.

He only had a small bottle of antiseptic, so he used most of it to clean the wound and then the needle, saving a little bit to use on his arm later.

He took several quick breaths in, hyping himself up, then paused when he first shoved the needle through his skin. Tears sprung up, blurring his vision, but he blinked them away.

Focus. Focus. Focus.

In and out, in and out, he slowly stitched himself up. The angle was awkward and the stitches were ugly, but it got the job done: the bleeding stopped. His heart was hammering in his chest, sweat poured from the sides of his head, mixing with all the blood drying on his face and beard. He slumped to the ground with a pained groan, lying flat on the floor in a pool of his own blood, staring up at the ceiling. He just needed a moment to rest, a moment to catch his breath and then he would go.

Would he ever see you again? Would you ever even know why he came out there? Would you always wonder what happened to him? You told him you cared about him, but was that even true anymore? After what he did?

"C'mon, baby, gimme a sign," he whispered to himself, "gimme a sign that I still got a chance in hell 'cause if I don't, I'm not sure I got the strength to make it home." Tears welled up in his eyes again and this time he let them fall. He sniffled and waited. For what, he wasn't sure. Divine intervention? Genius to strike? A brilliant idea to form? But all he heard was the blowing wind outside.

The tile felt so cool against his burning hot skin. A small voice in the back of his head told him the longer he stayed there the weaker he would become, but he was just so tired. He rolled his head to the side, his eyes about to slide shut when he saw it: a dusty, opaque orange bottle rolled all the way against the wall underneath the sink.

Blinking a few times, he wondered if he was imagining it.

He wasn't.

Stretching his arm out, he slowly reached underneath the vanity and pulled out the half empty bottle. Holding it above his face, he squinted at the letters on the faded sticker.

Penicillin. Use as directed by your dentist.

His breath caught in his throat when he read your name on the label.

He finally got his sign.

"What happens when we die?"

"What?"

You rolled over onto your side to face him, wrapping your arm around his waist. He looked so peaceful, lying in bed like that. His eyes closed, face relaxed. You repeated your question.

"Don't know," he said, cracking open one eye to look at you. "Haven't died yet."

You giggled and he smiled, pulling you closer. He smelled so good. Like the rain and sex and smoke from the fire.

"I mean... do you think there's a heaven?"

He hummed and kissed the top of your head, his fingers lightly trailing up and down your bare arm.

"Yeah, I do."

You swallowed nervously and drew invisible circles into his skin, making him shiver.

"Do you think..." you trailed off and he froze, picking up on your tone.

"What, darlin'?"

"Do you think we'll make it? To heaven, I mean?"

His eyebrows pinched together. "Why wouldn't we?"

"You know why," you replied softly, "we've done bad things, Joel."

"Yeah, but we ain't bad people," he reminded you, then rolled over, pushing you onto your back so his arms caged you in. One knee slotted between yours and you spread your legs, hooking your ankles around the backs of his thighs.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," he said, dipping his chin down and pressing his lips firmly against yours. You sighed, your shoulders finally relaxing. "Besides, this is heaven right here," he murmured against your mouth, feeling you smile.

"Ain't nothin' better than this."

You awoke with a gasp, your heart fluttering wildly in your chest. That was the first time you had a dream about Joel, and something about it made you uneasy.

You had slept in his bed the entire week, wrapped in his clothes, and today was the day you had expected him to come home. Shrugging off the dream to no more than your subconscious fixated on his return, you forced yourself to get out of bed, fixing the sheets so it wouldn't look like you had been sleeping there and then headed to your room to change and freshen up.

The past couple days you had secretly hoped he would come back sooner but you refused to let it show. If Ellie or Dina or Maria asked you about it, you played it cool, or at least you thought you did. But every night you stayed up as late as you could, curled up on the couch all alone, waiting. Every time someone walked by, your body stiffened and your pulse raced, expecting to hear his heavy footsteps walking up the porch, but they never came.

But today was the day. The seventh day. His note said a week, and you knew if Joel was alive, he would stick to his word.

His absence afforded you a lot of time to think. Time you didn't realize you desperately needed, and now that you were able to process everything clearly without his overwhelming presence muddying the waters, you felt confident you knew what you wanted now.

All day at work, you were distracted. Nick had to call your name repeatedly to get your attention on more than one occasion, and by the fifth time you felt guilty. He didn't say anything, though. He understood. By then, most of the town knew Joel had left. Word spread like wildfire, especially once the storm passed through. It didn't take a genius to figure out how difficult it would be to survive all alone in those conditions.

Then the rumors started.

You tried to ignore them, but it was hard. When people began drinking and getting loud in the dining hall, it was impossible not to hear.

When you heard a man claim he saw Joel's horse frozen in a river during patrol, you stopped going to the dining hall to eat.

It was dark, it was just a deer, Tommy had told you later after he went out to the river to check, but it still shook you up.

When the sun set on Jackson on the seventh day and Joel still hadn't returned, the fear began to take hold. Your stomach churned, making it impossible to eat the following morning. You had hardly slept, the bags under your eyes dark and heavy. Nick begged you to take the day off but you insisted you needed to stay busy, although it didn't help much. On your lunch break you tried to casually walk by the main gate, the one near the stables, hoping to catch a glimpse of him returning, but you had no such luck.

So you went back to work. You kept your hands busy, tried to keep your mind occupied, but it was impossible.

I'll spend the rest of my life makin' it up to you.

You couldn't get those words out of your head. The guilt was weighing you down as you grew worried that was going to be one of the last things he ever said to you.

"Went on a date the other night."

"With who?"

"Cindy, from the kitchen."

Ricky laughed heartily and Andrew smacked his shoulder with the back of his hand.

"Shut up, man. We're on watch, we can't be giving ourselves away."

"It's the middle of the goddamn night and we haven't seen any infected in weeks. It's too cold for them, they're all frozen somewhere waiting to thaw in the spring," Ricky said, shouldering his rifle.

"Yeah, but still. You never know. There's more than just infected out there."

Ricky chuckled and shook his head. "Tommy telling you ghost stories again?"

"Raiders ain't ghost stories, asshole," Andrew shot back.

"And raiders never make it this far up the mountains, asshole," Ricky replied, mocking Andrew's tone.

Andrew grumbled under his breath and strolled away from the tower, towards the gate, his eyes scanning the treeline. He couldn't see a damn thing. It was pitch black and deathly quiet.

He turned on his heel and began the slow walk back towards the tower where he could see Ricky unwrapping a granola bar and pulling a paperback book from his back pocket.

Just as he was about to chastise him for letting his guard down, he heard twigs snapping in the woods. He whipped around, bringing his rifle up so he could get a better look with his scope.

"What the hell was that?" Ricky's whisper materialized in his ear.

"Dunno. Something's out there."

Ricky lifted his own rifle and scanned the trees as well, both of them holding their breath, waiting for another noise.

"Maybe-"

Then they heard more twigs snapping and pine trees raking against fabric. Louder this time.

"Fuck," Ricky muttered nervously, his palms growing sweaty inside his gloves.

"There," Andrew said lowly, and Ricky followed his aim. Something was approaching in the dark. Something big.

"I got it."

"No, just wait a second," Andrew said, squinting through the scope. Then his jaw went slack when he realized what it was.

"It's a horse."

"What?"

"It's a fucking horse, bro," Andrew repeated, his voice rising a little.

When it finally emerged from the forest, they saw the rider slumped over, covered in snow, their face buried in the horse's mane.

"Holy shit," Andrew said, slinging his rifle over his shoulder and racing towards the ladder. "Radio Tommy!"

"W-what do I say?" Ricky stammered, fumbling with the radio dial.

"Tell him it's Joel!"

Please follow @punkshort-notifs and turn on notifications for fic updates ❤️

#joel miller #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller fic #joel miller smut #joel the last of us #joel miller x reader #pedro pascal #joel miller fluff #pedro pascal characters fanfiction #the last of us game #the last of us hbo #the last of us fanfiction #the last of us #ikwya fic #joel miller fanfic #joel miller tlou

[gracieeegleegal]

Omg please do an angsty imagine where we are the daughter of some god (maybe Zeus or hades) and find out about Luke’s betrayal and he tries to recruit us but it only ends in arguments

Betrayals embrace - Luke Castellan

pov - Luke Castellan was the lightning thief all along and you the clueless girlfriend who never knew better.

Pairing : Luke Castellan !femoc x Zeus daughter

In the heart of Camp Half-Blood, under the watchful eyes of the gods, a storm brewed within the soul of y/n, daughter of Zeus. Her relationship with Luke Castellan, once filled with laughter and affection, now teetered on the edge of betrayal and heartbreak.

Y/n stood, tears in her eyes as she stared into the eyes of her lover, eyes that now held the truth of his actions and the haunting revelation that had shattered her world—Luke's treacherous plan to free Kronos and destroy the very gods they were supposed to honor and serve.

More tears pricked at her eyes as she recalled the countless moments they shared, the promises of a future together, now tainted by lies and deceit. She clenched her fists, feeling the crackle of electricity surging through her veins, a reminder of her divine heritage and the weight of responsibility that came with it.

She had trusted him, loved him dearly and all she got in return was the inexorable betrayal that had shattered her heart.

"Y/n," he whispered, his voice smooth like honey,a certain nervousness hanged in his tone. In the 10 minutes they had been in the forest, y/n stayed silent through it all. Not knowing what to say or do after Luke admitted to his actions.

That he tried to drag Percy into the pits of Tartarus. That he had lied about it all.

"Luke," she replied, her tone laced with bitterness and hurt.

Luke stepped forward, his eyes searching hers for any sign of wavering resolve. "I know this is difficult for you to understand, but we can change the world. We can free ourselves from the tyranny of the gods, create a new order where demigods are no longer pawns in their games. We can be free, you can kill your father after all the pain he’s caused."

Y/n shook her head, a humorless laugh escaping her lips. "And what of the innocent lives that will be lost in the wake of your ambition? Have you no conscience, Luke? Do you realize that if you go forward with this, you’ll lose your family here. You’ll lose me.”

His expression hardened, a flicker of anger betraying his calm facade. "You were always too soft, y/n. Too blinded by your loyalty to those who have treated you as nothing more than a pawn in their own schemes. Why do you defend him? After he killed your sister! After he killed Thalia. He could’ve stopped it.”

He reached out to her, his touch a cruel mockery of the affection they once shared. "Y/N, please understand. This is our chance to make things right, to rid ourselves of the gods who have only brought us pain and suffering."

But even as he spoke, the truth of his betrayal cut deeper than any blade. Y/N recoiled from his touch, her eyes filled with tears she refused to shed.

She backed up at his words, the sting of truth laced with venom. Memories of Zeus's indifference and neglect flooded her mind, a painful reminder of the fractured relationship she shared with her divine father. She was transported back in time when she had arrived at camp for the first time. A reminder of the sister she lost, the sister who sacrificed herself for her sisters.

A painful reminder that no matter what, the gods will never care enough to save their children. If they did, things would be a lot different.

But even in the face of betrayal, y/n couldn't bring herself to abandon her friends at Camp Half-Blood, the only family she had ever known.

"I may be the daughter of Zeus, but I am also a daughter of Camp Half-Blood," she declared, her voice trembling with emotion. "I will never betray them, Luke. I understand you better than anyone, I really do. But I can’t do that to them. I can’t, and you know that. "

Luke looked shattered, he would have thought that the girl would side with him. After all she was the one who understood him the most, understood his reason. “I didn’t wanna have to do this, y/n, I’m sorry. You have given me no choice.”

“We always have a choice.” Without warning, Luke lunged forward, his movements fueled by desperation and rage. Their clash was fierce and unrelenting, the crackle of lightning mingling with the clash of celestial bronze. Each blow exchanged was a testament to the shattered bonds of trust and love that once bound them together.

Luke’s attack got harder and harder, as their swords smacked together in the night. The fireworks covering the sound of the lovers fighting each other.

“Luke! You don’t have to do this!” Y/n struggled against his attacks. She didn’t want to hurt him, but Luke was so blinded by rage that he couldn’t seem to care that he was hurting her.

“Luke!” This time the screaming had come from another voice. Percy and Annabeth were running towards the scene.

In a moment of distraction when y/n turns her gaze towards the two teenagers, she feels pain in her abdomen. She glanced down, Luke’s sword had stabbed her in her stomach. She gasped softly, tears forming in her eyes as she held onto the sword that was still pierced in her flesh.

“Y/N!” Percy and annabeth screamed her name but her focus was stuck on the man that had betrayed her

Red was gushing from her wounds into her hands that were now touching Luke’s. The boys eyes widened. What had he done? The girl dropped to the ground, blood running everywhere. Her shirt was now tainted red, as well as her hands and her lovers hand.

In the end, it was y/n who lay battered and broken at his feet, her resolve unbroken even as her body screamed in protest. Through tear-stained eyes, she watched as Luke cradled her frame. Regret and sadness reflected in his eyes.

“Y/N..” he whispers softly, he gripped her body tighter. Not wanting to let go of the woman he loved. “I’m sorry. Im so sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

Percy and Annabeth after standing still watching the scene with tears in their eyes finally approached the couple. Swords in their hands.

Luke glanced at the couple, then back to the bleeding girl. “I’m sorry.”

With a heavy heart, he turned away, leaving her broken and bleeding in his wake. Percy and Annabeth running to her aid.

As darkness threatened to claim her, y/n whispered her final words into the cold embrace of the night. "I love you, Luke."

---

When she awoke, it was to the sterile scent of antiseptic and the gentle touch of familiar hands. Percy Jackson and Annabeth stood at her bedside, their expression a mask of concern and sorrow.

"You're going to be okay, Y/N," Percy reassured her, his voice a soothing balm against the ache in her heart.

But the pain of loss was a wound that ran deep, one that no amount of time or healing could ever hope to mend. With a broken sob, Y/N buried her face in the boys shoulder, mourning the loss of the love she had once held so dear.

And as the tears fell like rain, she couldn't help but wonder if somewhere, amidst the echoes of betrayal, there was still a glimmer of the boy she had loved, lost, and ultimately, forgiven.

#luke castellan x reader #percy jackson #percy jackon and the olympians #percy jackson x reader #luke castellan #charlie bushnell #luke castellan x you #pjo series #pjo tv show #pjo

[saraswritingtipps]

Ways to hit your readers in the gut

When it comes to writing, there's a profound and mesmerizing way to touch your readers deep within their souls. It's about crafting moments that hit them in the gut, stirring up intense emotions and forging an everlasting connection. Here are some techniques to help you achieve this:

1. Unexpected Loss: Introduce a character who captures hearts, only to snatch them away suddenly. Think of J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series, where the abrupt departure of beloved characters like Sirius Black and Fred Weasley leaves readers shattered, their grief a testament to the power of storytelling.

2. Sacrifice for a Cause: Show a character willingly sacrificing their own happiness or even their life for a greater purpose. Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games" portrays Katniss Everdeen's selflessness, volunteering as a tribute to save her sister, evoking empathy and admiration.

3. Unrequited Love: Explore the agony of unrequited love, where hearts ache and souls yearn. Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre" delves into the bittersweet and heart-wrenching tale of Jane's unfulfilled affection for Mr. Rochester, resonating with readers who have experienced the profound depths of unrequited longing.

4. Betrayal by a Loved One: Peel back the layers of trust to reveal the sting of betrayal. George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series delivers shocking betrayals that shatter readers' expectations, leaving them stunned and heartbroken alongside the characters.

5. Overcoming Personal Demons: Illuminate the struggle against internal conflicts, be it addiction, guilt, or haunting trauma. Anthony Doerr's "All the Light We Cannot See" explores Werner's moral compass during wartime, captivating readers as they witness his battle for redemption and personal growth.

6. Injustice and Oppression: Shed light on the injustices characters endure, igniting empathy and inspiring change. Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" reveals the racial prejudice faced by Tom Robinson, awakening readers to the urgent need for justice and equality.

7. Parent-Child Relationships: Navigate the intricate tapestry of emotions between parents and children. Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner" unearths the complexities of the father-son bond, evoking a myriad of feelings, from longing and regret to hope for reconciliation.

8. Final Farewells: Craft poignant scenes where characters bid farewell, whether due to death or separation. Markus Zusak's "The Book Thief" gifts readers with heartbreaking partings amidst the backdrop of World War II, leaving an indelible mark of loss and the fragile beauty of human connections.

9. Personal Transformation: Illuminate characters' growth through adversity, offering a beacon of hope and inspiration. Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" narrates Ebenezer Scrooge's extraordinary journey from a bitter miser to a beacon of compassion, reminding readers that redemption and personal change are within reach.

10. Existential Questions: Delve into existential themes that provoke deep introspection. Albert Camus' "The Stranger" challenges readers to ponder the meaning of life through Meursault's detached and nihilistic worldview, prompting them to question their own existence.

With these techniques, you have the power to touch your readers' souls, leaving an indelible impression. Remember to weave these moments seamlessly into your narrative, allowing them to enrich your characters and themes. Let your words resonate and ignite emotions, for that is the essence of impactful storytelling.

#writing #writing tips #character development #writer on tumblr #writerscommunity #writer tumblr #writblr #writing advice #oc character #writing block #writing habits #writing help #writersociety #fanfic

[morally-grey-girlbosses]

Propaganda under the cut.

Catra:

shes a girlboss plain and simple. shes an abused child who lost her closest friend and decided if she couldnt be the hero shed be the villain. she beat up her abuser and became the top commander of the evil army, just under its leader. she tried to kill her ex best friend sooooooo many times. she briefly found solace in the desert but everything came undone and she ended up activating a portal that would destroy the world. she lived briefly in paradise but things went wrong and she tried to kill her ex best friend again. these two are SO homoerotic just to be clear like its genuinely insane. she became consumed by her work and lost her few real connections in the horde. she sent her friend to beast island to die. she hired a hot shapeshifter who betrayed her and her abandonment issues only escalated. shes deeply compelling and sympathetic. she got abducted and joined the evil space empire. she betrayed them. she got mind controlled. her ex best friend saved her. she saved the universe with the power of kissing her gf who was dying of poison. she did a lot of atrocities while she was being the teenage commander of an army trying to take over the world. shes super girlboss. shes snarky as fuck. i love her deeply. vote catra

Did not give a SHIT that the evil invading force she worked for was evil even though she 100% knew. Instead of escaping she thought 'How do I make this worse for literally everybody including myself?' and then she did that.

She qualifies because she is the most morally ambiguous but she did it all out of love for the woman she loves. She's the best there is.

poor little meowmeow who tried to destroy reality bc she has mommy issues. deserves to win bc she is a lesbian and she is so so hot

Jasnah Kholin:

She was a teacher to another protagonist and took a practical approach to the philosophy lesson by baiting some murderers into threatening them and then proceeds to kill them by turning them into fire. She is a brilliant scholar, and a proud athiest in a very religious world. When fighting a war she argues that they shouldn't negotiate with the enemy but that they must all be killed (not just the men but the women and the children). She also becomes queen and one of her first acts is ending slavery.

#poll #tournament poll #round 3 #catra #she ra catra #spop catra #spop #she ra #she ra 2018 #shera #she ra and the princesses of power #jasnah kholin #stormlight archive

[darkonekrisrewrite]

Ochako is Different

(Current Chapter Spoilers) It’s a little early to make this but I had to.

‘If Toga still wants to talk to her, she’s willing to give her her own blood for the rest of her life.’

“I want to talk about love with you, himiko-chan!”

‘She won’t support everything she does from now on’

‘The world isn’t ideal (comfortable?) for people like her’

It’s almost exactly what I wanted, but it’s still totally perfect.

This Chapter is great for Toga and Ochako, and perfect for Ochako’s development.

In fact I’d say that this puts Ochako over the top of what’s been shown to be heroic in bnha.

Because while Ochako doesn’t really side with Toga fully, which is understandable from her point of view but she does pretty much say that Toga won’t be killed or locked up to rot because of the promise she makes to her.

This implies a long term plan/commitment and freedom, the first part obviously stated that neither Ochako or Toga herself want her death and the second part because there’s no way Toga would ever accept such a thing from inside a cage.

“Living Free” being an essential part of Toga’s character that wouldn’t just be ignored and doesn’t seem to be on Ochako’s viewpoint, with her saying:  ‘She won’t support everything she does from now on’

“From now on” implying Toga will have the freedom to choose.

This answer from a hero to a villain might really change things, or at least have the intent to change beginning here.

Ochako’s answer feels big enough for that, not only in her direct relationship with Toga but also on a much wider scale in her clearly stating that: The World isn’t ideal/comfortable for people like Toga.

This along with everything else she said makes her the best Hero in this series.

Even out of the Core Three Heroes.

Shoto Todoroki, a good, focused Hero, succeeding in everything he set out to do in bnha’s story, and also succeeded in becoming exactly the type of hero he wanted to be.

Be a Hero that puts others at ease? Nailed it.

Be like his friends who get mad and shed tears for others? Got it.

Protect his family and others? Even Dabi in a way? Total Victory.

A Perfect Score for Shoto, also his family, and all the innocent people that he saved.

But that’s it.

Shoto still hasn’t taken any kind of wider view on Dabi/Endeavor/his family or hero society, even though he’s had more than enough time to think about it.

He never came to the larger realization that: “Hmm, actually the fact that Endeavor was able to buy Mom like a broodmare, consult with doctors plainly about his intentions regarding his children, have one of them literally die, another be clearly scarred and his wife sent to a mental institution and yet despite all that…no one (Hero/Government/Civilian) says or does shit…that might be a problem too?”

Shoto is definitely a Hero; he’s just not quite seeing the big picture when he really needs to.

Deku on the other hand isn’t even close.

Because while he does inspire others, he has yet to actually help them himself.

Gentle criminal, Lady Nagant and Overhaul are all ‘Villains’ that Deku has interacted with and changed but, when talking about direct actions, he never helped any of them or even acknowledged their negative points about hero society other than giving a single platitude.

Gentle Criminal had heroic aspirations from the start, despite being hurt multiple times by hero society; he still chose to do the right thing.

Whether or not that really works out for him in the end is yet to be seen but he still did it, and on his own.

Deku never tried to help Gentle or even find out what happened to him or La Brava after their fight, despite emphasizing with him and their struggles.

Nagant was in some way, like Gentle, inspired by Deku, just in her case it was taken to a somewhat unbelievable degree.

“Extend a helping Hand” is not an answer to the fact that hero society was assassinating innocent people who threatened the status quo.

But Nagant is fighting on the hero side now so I guess it was answer enough for her.

But from a wider story perspective Deku didn’t address anything.

Overhaul is one of the darkest villains in the series, with what he did to Eri.

But Deku still made him a promise, to bring Overhaul to his ‘Father’ (figure) if he was willing to regret what he did.

He didn’t.

I mean, if we had jumped right into the next war in only a few moments after this point then I would understand Deku not having enough time to make good on his word but there was a lot of down time in-between.

Was Deku actually serious about the no-armed cripple Overhaul having to regret his actions before he was taken to see his comatose Father?

That’s kind of messed up when you really think about it.

Was Deku planning on doing it anyway, just at some undetermined point in the Future?

We don’t know, it was never brought up again.

It makes anything that Deku’s going to say to Shigaraki seem a bit Hollow because there’s no past foundation to hold up his word to, on a personal or societal level.

Vague promises on top of other promises that haven’t been fulfilled is not a good look for a Hero.

While it is true that this may change later, it may lack impact and believable commitment, coming in a bit late on Shoto’s part and with Deku’s loyalty to hero society at odds with everything Shigaraki is.

But Ochako isn’t like that.

Ochako

She recognized that there was a problem (though eventually) after seeing clear signs of it and looked at everything involved.

Toga’s Quirk and her tears, how she felt about love and the world around her.

Also with her experience in dealing with the “innocent” people at UA high and how they treated Deku.

Have to believe that too had an effect on her decision and reasoning to try to understand Toga, in how she was made a villain currently.

She may not really understand Toga in everything, but Ochako is still saying all the right things, addressing what she knows about Toga and how society has treated her.

No other hero has done that yet and followed through.

Because Ochako didn’t just say: “You have a point, but you know morality.” Then try to punch Toga in the face or overpower her into submission.

She said: “You have a point, but you know morality, so I will personally help you in the way you need.”

Immediately trying to do just that and saying she’ll continue to in the future.

‘If Toga still wants to talk to her, she’s willing to give her her (Ochako’s) own blood for the rest of her life.’

That’s a Hero. And what a real Hero would do.

It really was just that simple of someone offering her Blood, that specific someone showing that they cared and telling Toga that she wasn’t a monster or a deviant.

And Toga accepting Ochako’s feelings would make sense as this is everything she ever wanted-

BUT-

The only hang up is how Ochako would then deal with Hero Society after this, because they are definitely not going to be on board with her choice, even though it’s part of the only option/path forward that could save their world.

And with the inherent flaws/corruption in the hero system and the Quirk Singularity, Ochako’s choice is undeniably the start of the only path that could save bnha’s world.

So yeah Ochako is actually doing Amazing so far.

#bnha spoilers #bnha meta #Ochako Uraraka #toga himiko #himiko toga #mha spoilers #mha meta #uraraka ochako

[wrappedinamysteryy]

I find it extremely strange how the world, especially the Western media and social media, is constantly trying to hide the truth of the innocent blood that is being shed and the suffering that is being inflicted on the people of فلسطين.

What kind of heartless creature do you have to be to support the oppressors and turn a blind eye to the pain and injustice inflicted on innocent souls? To the mother who lost her child before it could hear the word "(أمي/ummi)," the pregnant woman who died with her unborn child in her womb, the father who had to carry the limbs and mutilated bodies of his children, the brother who could not save his sibling, the sister who saw the horror of her loved ones dying right in front of her eyes?

I highly doubt that these oppressors are humans. There is no way they can be called human beings. Do their hearts not shake at the fact that they are killing tons of innocent people? How do they sleep at night knowing that they have blood on their hands? They cannot be human beings. Their actions defy all comprehension of being a human being.

#free palestine #free gaza #save palestine

[vestaclinicpod]

Audio Drama Sunday - 24th September ✨

Happy Audio Drama Sunday, lovely listeners of audio drama. It must be coming in to spooky season because I’ve been getting my spook on this week! 👻

As always, spoilers!!!

🌲@hellofromthehallowoods (134) This episode has made me so excited for the hfth novels! If I’m not mistaken, there was reference to both Amaryllis and the LEM story! My heart felt so heavy listening to Friday try and save O’Connor, what an enigma that man is. I am ROOTING for Victoria, where is Yaretzi to help her shed this self-hate and embrace her sunlight?? 🥺 I also loved that Harrow and Victoria had a moment of power but let’s not forget that they are actual children, they left a friend behind in a burning building during that same moment … And OUGH Writing Desk! It’s so interesting to finally get a glimpse at his actual motives and how it may be too little too late!! 

📞 YAY @thespcpodcast is back!! I thought the premise of this episode was so interesting! Let the nice vampire do their good work! The exploration of how therapy needs has changed with time and how different age groups often seek different things was such an insightful bit of world-building. I’m so excited for more. 

🎞  Congratulations to Tiny Terrors on their release anniversary! I strongly suspect that it IS all connected and I can’t wait for more pieces of the puzzle! 

🤴 InCo (@itmeblog) Terraforming!! They’re terraforming!! And the late King said that the Galactic Union couldn’t have any tech they didn’t understand. Galaxy eyes = galaxy-brained. I didn’t think this story could get cooler!! 

🧛‍♂️ @re-dracula WHAT a week!!!! It’s SO good listening while knowing what happens next, it makes the mourning all the more bitter. This is what Van Helsing must have felt like. This week has also made me realise how much I’ve missed hearing Jonathan Sims absolutely killing a monologue. 

🥾@doyoucopypod (10) Mad respect to Frederick here, I would not have been as calm or as trusting if I stumbled into that situation. It seems like REDACTED is swimming in more guilt that was initially teased. WHO is SHE and why did redacted leave her behind???

🐬 @patterspod P Files #??? Man, this show is so funny. And SO weird. In the best way. Please listen to it. 

⛪️ I finished KILL FM! What a treat! I hope the teams involved in making this episode are really happy with what they’ve created - it’s so good!! 

🐟 New @kaneandfeels is always such a welcome delight!! Me: It’s Freaky Friday shit. Brutus: It’s Freaky Friday shit Me: 😲 The voice acting was so perfectly uncomfortable that when they were back in their own bodies, it almost felt like they were improvising - the chemistry was so immediately apparent. Also, the bit about the mars bars was so my brand of silly, it made me SO happy. 

I can’t wait for more Silt Verses and Moonbase Theta, Out next week! Hope you’ve all had a good weekend 🥰

#audiodramasunday #audio drama sunday #hfth spoilers #the supernatural protection company #kane and feels #finding pattersby #tiny terrors #inco #re dracula #kill fm #do you copy

[heliads]

So, Before You Go Chapter Two: Warnings of a Bygone Era

Hellas is gone; so too is your life as a cartographer. You and the Darkling must quell Alina Starkov’s attempt at an uprising in order to protect the Grisha of Ravka. However, your gods are not as dead as they seem, and that which you have taken for granted will soon prove to be quite unpredictable indeed.

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Centuries ago, when your mother was still perfecting her spells, a trickster named Odysseus fought in a great war of heroes. After all unnecessary blood was shed, he had to spend years on the open sea, encountering obstacle after obstacle slowing him down. That is what he gets for angering Poseidon. To incur the wrath of the gods is to have your entire life transformed into something even you can no longer recognize. Risking the might of the immortals is something no one should do. Even one of their own heroes.

The war has begun. You can tell from the ringing in your ears, the slow tilt of magic between your fingers, that the cascade of events has already been set in motion. You and Aleksander are already hurtling towards your intended fates, the leap of faith utterly dizzying but still everything you need to complete your mission.

In fact, you’ll be starting on that today. Although neither you nor Aleksander will truly know if Alina Starkov is alive until you lay eyes on her, the odds of her survival seem to be growing by the hour. Genya Safin hasn’t given up hope, you can tell that from one look at her. Then again, Genya believes a lot of things, and you’ve had reason to doubt where her true loyalties lie every day since you rescued her from the First Army. Genya says she believes Alina dead, but she says whatever will get her away from you whenever your paths cross.

Genya is lying to you, most likely. You can see it in her eyes whenever she looks at you or Aleksander, how the only thing she can identify in either of you is some horror beyond her comprehension. She’s not wrong to worry; you do want to kill her friends, if they’re still alive, and you will hurt her if she betrays you in anything other than thought. This is how change is made. Does the farmer think of the feelings of the stalks of wheat as he prowls through his fields with a scythe? No, only of the children he will feed with his bountiful crop.

So your motivations are different from hers, so you’ve had centuries longer than her to learn the consequences of letting your goals slip away from you. If you let the enemy get even one tenuous foothold over you, they’ll use it to choke you out. You want to shake her by the shoulders until she understands that. 

This is what happened to the Hellenids, can’t she see? A race of people blessed by your gods, and the rest of the world hunted them to extinction. There is no such thing as peaceful coexistence when the otkazat’sya hate Grisha to the point of burning them alive as witches. Either you establish yourself as enough of a threat that they dare not kill you, or you roll over and let them slaughter you in droves.

Genya does not comprehend the full extent of what generations of hatred can do to what seems like a prosperous society, however, and so she holds her breath and walks with light footsteps around you as if that will make the threat of your presence any less severe. It’s funny, the two of you talked quite frequently when you were still Y/N Stassov, former mapmaker and then-star oprichnik, but you suppose your transition from being Alina’s good friend to wanting her dead may have burned a bridge or two. In your defense, Alina stabbed you first.

Genya’s a false lead on information on Alina, then, and by extension, so is David. You found him not long after you saved her, and although you’re fairly certain that she’s been feeding him rumors on how you and Aleksander are utter monsters, he’s still here within the bounds of your camp, so there’s not a whole lot they can do to damage your movement. Not yet, at least.

What motivates you to believe that Alina may still be alive comes from Aleksander himself. He’s been having visions lately, brief snippets of scenes that solidified into real experiences. He sees her, he tells you. He sees her in places she should not be, with people he does not recognize. He could be mad, or, far better, David’s connection could still be fragile and present. She could actually be there.

The first thought you had upon hearing of his visions is that you wish your mother was still alive. It is something you have repeated to yourself several hundred times since she was murdered, but it remains true nonetheless. Hecate was a gifted witch, and who better than the goddess of magic to help you understand the relationship between Aleksander’s visions and the truth of what is happening to Alina at this very moment?

You have no doubt that were she here, Hecate would be able to reforge the connection in a heartbeat, strengthen the visions until Aleksander could appear by her side whenever he pleased. However, your mother is a ghost to you now, out of your reach until you cross the Styx for good and choose death over life once and for all. The only one who can help you with magic is yourself.

You do your best to confirm Aleksander’s rumors, but seeing as you are not the one with the stag’s connection, you can only pick up when his mind is briefly torn between locations, not what he’s seeing nor if they are real. The only thing you can do is seek out the other end of the connection. You have to find Alina.

Aleksander took a while to accept this when you first brought up the idea to him. He argued that both of you going on a wild goose chase to hunt down the Sun Summoner would risk the safety of your recovered Grisha. The answer is that only one of you can go, and seeing as Aleksander is the one who has known these Grisha the longest, you suggested that he stay here while you seek out Alina.

He had not liked that either. Whenever the two of you part ways, you have a habit of running away from him for anywhere between weeks to centuries. You had laughed when he mentioned that, and swore that you no longer wanted to be separated. Loneliness doesn’t suit you, nor him. At the end of the day, he agreed to let you go, but only after making you swear that you would hurry back as soon as possible.

Your scouting trip begins the next morning at dawn. Aleksander’s vision involved glimpses of the sea and churning waves, so you travel to the coast, borrow a boat from a First Army shipyard, and take off. You begin a tracking spell to scour the open seas for Alina’s craft. You watch ribbons of emerald magic soar from the bow of your ship, scattering in all directions in search of the Sun Summoner. Hopefully, they’ll get back to you soon, and then you can report back to Aleksander with the truth of her health or a dead body. Either works for you, you just need certainty.

As you travel farther from the Ravkan shore, however, the skies begin to darken, the wind kicking up with an almost unusual speed. Storms aren’t uncommon on the sea, but it is strange how soon this one descends upon you. You’ve had your fair share of seafaring time in all your centuries, having spent a good few years charting destinations from nation to nation as you reinvented life after life. You’ve seen storms. This one is unnatural.

Lightning flashes, a wave crashes over the railing of your ship and suddenly, you are not alone. The sky lightens enough for you to make out a silhouette standing on the deck, a figure where there had been empty wood before. You raise your hands in preparation to cast a spell as you realize just what it is.

There is a man on the ship. A man, but somehow not, translucent like a spray of water frozen in a human form. He looks at you, and you realize with a shuddering breath that you know him. This is Poseidon, god of the sea, and he died decades before your mother.

Yet here he stands before you now, perhaps not in corporeal flesh but still here, a spirit attached to a physical form. This should not be possible, but your eyes do not deceive you.

You incline your head quickly. “Lord Poseidon.” It may have been years since you have greeted a god, but that does not mean they will be any less willing to overlook the normal respects paid to immortals.

Eyes still fixed on the boards of your ship, you flinch when you hear him speak. It is his voice, the memory of it still lingers in your head even if distorted through water and sea foam. It rattles against your temples, trying to force its way into your mind like a spell. “Rise, child.”

You hesitantly raise your gaze, but Poseidon remains there nonetheless, refusing to vanish like a mirage into the waves around you. “How are you here?” You gasp out.

His gaze hardens. Poseidon was one of the eldest gods; you had forgotten what it was like to be so close to that much power. In one flash of his eyes, you can feel a tidal wave building strong enough to wipe out a city, an earthquake capable of cleaving the very ground in two. “You wished us gone forever, did you not? We have been trying to reach you for quite some time, daughter of Hecate. You refuse to listen to us.”

You shake your head slowly. “I mourned you. All of you. I prayed for you to come back, and you did not answer me then. I am making a new world, one that will not kill its heroes like it murdered you. Why would any of you have a problem with that?”

Poseidon stalks forward, dark brows furrowing. His visage is stony, as if cut from the very abyss of the ocean itself. He frightened you as a child, you remember hiding behind your mother whenever he came to pay a visit. He still has that effect on you now, but this time, you keep your back straight and eyes locked on his.

“You go about this the wrong way,” he spits. “You make a monster of yourself. All of the Hellenids are kept in place by you. Our memory rests on your shoulders. We wanted a hero, daughter of Hecate, someone to finally bury our legacy with all the glory we deserve. You are letting that son of darkness twist your mind.”

Your hands curl into fists by your sides. “You have no right to question my judgment. You died, all of you, because you stuck to the old ways. Maybe I’ve changed, but it’s what’s keeping me alive. If you wanted a better hero, you should have survived long enough to keep them safe.”

Posideon glares, great and terrible god. “You would do well to heed our warnings, Hecari. Even ghosts have power. Remember this.”

He raises his arm, and the entire sea comes to life around him. You watch with horrified eyes as the waves grow at a breakneck pace, reaching up so high you think they might drench the sun itself. All at once, they come crashing down towards you, an entire sea of water plummeting right on top of your ship. Your eyes close just before the water hits you, and the darkness swallows you whole.

It takes a while to open your eyes. Consciousness comes back slowly, running out before you like an athlete in a contest. You realize that you are lying down, and when you are able to carefully raise your eyelids, you recognize the scene around you as your room in Aleksander’s base. You have no memory of making it back from your ship to this place. In fact, you have no memory of surviving Poseidon’s message.

You look to your side and see Aleksander seated there, hands clasped as if in a prayer. You want to tell him that it is not worth the effort, but he seems too relieved that you’re alive to care about the nuances of trying to properly reach the gods.

He reaches out to take your hand. “How do you feel?”

You swallow to clear your salt-dry throat before speaking. “Fine. What happened?”

Aleksander sighs. “That’s exactly what I would like to know. My scouts found your ship a matter of hours after you took off. They say you were lying on the deck, completely unconscious and unresponsive to their attempts to wake you. They thought you dead. So did I.”

You can imagine that scene quite well. Aleksander in his study, already worrying about whether or not you would come back to him, only for his scouts to race in with a story of finding your fallen body. It would not go over well for anyone involved.

“So they brought me back, then,” you murmur, “that does clear a few things up.”

His grip tightens on your hand, but he forces himself to relax. “What did you see out there? Did she do this to you?”

You shake your head slowly. “No. No, not Alina. It was–” Your voice cuts off painfully, and it takes a few moments to regain your strength enough to continue. “I saw him. I saw Posideon. He spoke to me.”

Aleksander’s brow furrows. “Impossible. Your gods are dead. They cannot reach us.”

You let out a sound halfway between a laugh and a sob. “I know. That’s what I thought all this time, but I know what I saw. He was there, Aleksander. He was there, and he warned me that if I stuck to this path, I would risk the wrath of the gods.”

Aleksander seems just as confused as you are. “Why would he care? He abandoned you in death.”

“The Hellenids are a dead race,” you answer him. “They get their strength from memory, their power from their permanence in the cultural consciousness. If I ruin their legacy by making the streets run red with otkazat’sya blood, their image is tainted. That impacts how they live out their afterlife in the Underworld. It permanently alters their spirits.”

Aleksander’s voice is a low growl. “They shouldn’t have died, then.”

A weak smile tugs at the corners of your lips. “That’s what I told him, actually, but he didn’t take to that all too well.”

Aleksander glances at your interlocked hands, then back at you. “Forget him. If all Poseidon can do is issue threats from the Underworld, there is nothing he can do to stop you. We are remaking the world, my love. We are changing the progression of fate. We are better than your gods.”

“That we are,” you decide. “He can only offer advice. We will keep going. If he tried to stop me, it means Alina truly is somewhere out there and he was trying to hide her existence from me. We can train our troops, pursue your visions. Has David made any progress?”

Something dark flashes across Aleksander’s face, and you frown. “Has something happened?”

“David’s gone,” Aleksander mutters through gritted teeth, “He waited until you had left and tried to run. Genya led him out.”

Your eyes briefly flicker shut with disappointment. Genya had been smart to wait until she sensed a weakness to launch her escape. If both you and Aleksander had been present, there was no chance she could leave; there would always be at least one of you close by to keep an eye on them. With you gone and Aleksander subsequently distracted, of course she would seize the opportunity to make a move. 

You just regret that David was lost in the process. Although the Durast’s attempts at limiting the extent of Aleksander’s pain had been minimal at best, he was still a brilliant man, and you can only assume that he’s now in the hands of the enemy. You can tell by the newly darkened black lines cracked into Aleksander’s hands, as well as the faint residue of blood on the front of his kefta, that Genya has been subsequently punished.

Punishment will not bring David back, however, nor will it stop the rest of your rescued Grisha from noticing that perhaps the sense of loyalty amongst your soldiers is not at its strongest. Hope is a dangerous thing during a war, you’ve learned, too little of it could cause a hundred men to lose to as few as ten. You need your troops to rally their spirits, to believe in their leaders more than ever before.

You and Aleksander launch a few new assaults on First Army men, bringing in even more refugee Grisha than before. The numbers swell, the attitude at your base improves. That's all you can do for now. It takes everything in you to keep it together. You saw Posideon. You saw Poseidon. He should be dead. He is dead. Yet he appeared to you anyway, and with a warning no less. The gods do not like to be ignored. This is not something that you can shake all that easily.

Yet shake it you must. Your war is picking up steam now, a fierce wildfire unable to be put out. There is no stopping this, only shaping it, and you refuse to call it all off now. If you could not save your people, at least you can save Aleksander’s. The Grisha deserve a world that will protect them. If you must snuff out some of the nonbelievers, well, every war has its costs. This is yours.

series tag list: @britishbassett, @rogueanschel, @hotleaf-juice, @mxltifxnd0m, @kaqua, @nemesis729, @imma-too-many-fandoms, @cleverzonkwombatsludge, @yourabbymoore, @nemtodd-barnes1923, @heyyitsreign, @ponyboys-sunsets, @slytherinsssss, @fruitymoonbeams-blog, @lakeli, @darlinggbrekker, @rosesberose, @w1shes43, @fairyeunji, @cryinghotmess, @rainbowgoblinfan

grishaverse tag list: @deadreaderssociety, @cameronsails, @mxltifxnd0m, @story-scribbler, @retvenkos, @thatfangirl42, @amortensie, @gods-fools-heroes, @bl606dy, @auggie2000

#aleksander morozova #aleksander morozova imagines #aleksander morozova x reader #aleksander morozova oneshot #aleksander morozova series #the darkling #the darkling imagines #the darkling x reader #the darkling oneshot #the darkling series #general kirigan #general kirigan imagines #general kirigan x reader #general kirigan oneshot #general kirigan series #grishaverse #grishaverse imagines #grishaverse x reader #grishaverse oneshot #grishaverse series #shadow and bone #shadow and bone imagines #shadow and bone x reader #shadow and bone oneshot #shadow and bone series

[red-ropes-of-avalon]

They Can Live In My New World Or Die In Their Old One- Chapter 7: Dance with Dragons

Summary: You are known among the kingdom as The Mad Queen, a ruthless woman with a large military. Seeking to take your rightful throne, nobody who has ever seen you has returned before, all thought to presumably be dead. Your strength is unequal. Ser Leon Kennedy is a knight sent by King Graham to ask for a temporary truce. Hordes of monsters and the undead rising, the kingdom couldn't fight two wars. But how does one reason with a Mad Queen?

The Cinder Celebration was an occurrence whenever you won a battle. Your subjects had begun to prepare it when they saw the dragons leave North. Near the scorched grounds, tables had been laid out, one for the Queen and many for the common people. The Queen table was the closest to the scorched grounds. There were wooden beams set up, hanging small lanterns from them. Each light glowed softly, some having different minerals added to produce a beautiful color. The food was being prepared in the common homes, it was a celebration. The castle kitchen made food for all, but the people who wanted to were always welcome to add their own foods. 

The dragons landed on the scorched grounds, well acquainted with the routine. By the time they landed, you had collected yourself once more, the tears dried despite being hastily rubbed away at points. The horses had been gently placed down prior to landing, each horse in one piece, with no scratches despite the large claws of the dragons. “As I said, you can either stay for the celebration or leave. I will not force you to do either. If you stay for the celebration, you may stay in the castle after. The only reason I request you stay the celebration is so you may eat,” you addressed the group struggling to dismount Onraxes. Ada stood on the ground, while Chris helped Piers down. Leon had learned fast, 

“I’ll be leaving, thank you very much,” she swiftly moved to the horses, mounting one in a single motion. 

“I greatly appreciate the offer m’lady, but my daughter Rose is waiting at home for me. I greatly thank you for saving us and will tell tales to my daughter, but I must return to her and keep her safe,” Ethan bowed deeply. You waved your hand to dismiss the bow with a gentle smile. Ethan stood upright before walking towards a horse. A woman rushed forth with food for the knight.

“You should eat, take this for the road. It’s simple bread and meat, but it’ll keep your strength up. You won’t be much good to your daughter if you don’t come home to her.” Natalie had always had a kind heart and took care of a lot of orphans. Even if they were enemies, she always would tend to the weak and weary. Ethan took it graciously from her hands offering a weary smile. Ada didn’t bother with any pleasantries simply riding off from the gathering. Watching the two ride off you stood on the raised ground before the Queen’s table. 

“My dear friends! Today we bring a great victory, we have won the North back! For that, we may celebrate! Tomorrow our pact with the Kingdom ends, and our attack may begin! I have never made you fight before, and I will not make you fight now! If you choose to not fight I will ensure your safety! You all promised me my throne, every single one of you is reason enough for me to take what is rightfully mine! For a better tomorrow for each and every one of you! Tomorrow we will take the capital, we will shed no unnecessary blood! I will not be a queen of the ashes, my strength is not reason to kill an innocent! The evil men will die and the wheel will finally be broken! Are you with me?” A hush fell for a moment before the men began their cheers. The two dragons let out a great roar in their support. The women and children cheered, and with that, the celebration began. Food was plenty, every culture was perfectly represented, northern foods and southern food flowing freely between tables. No high and mighty titles, just people, all celebrating one joyous occasion. The guests sat at the high table, and while you did sit there when eating, you were more often interwoven with your people. The love overflowing in this large gathering, the vibrant smile present to all.

When the eating had finished the merriments began, a group of musicians began to play, and many of the people took to the scorched grounds barefoot to dance together. It was thought that being barefoot on it was almost sacred amongst them. The dragons rested on the sides, their tails meeting each other at the back to form almost a wall. Men danced with women, women danced with women, children danced with children, and men danced with men, no traces of judgment for partners. Luis had absconded with a man as soon as he had finished eating. 

Piers had locked eyes on the man as he laughed and danced like he hadn’t almost died in the North. The concept felt foreign, being able to be exactly who you wanted to be. No disconnect between a named official and a commoner. His eyes flitted over to Setanta, the bastard of a great lord, who was leaning over a smaller common woman, the same one he had seen give Ethan the sandwich. Kids were climbing up his back, hanging from his arms and the woman looked enthused. That sight elicited no emotions in Piers, it was fitting that the bastard raised to believe he was worth nothing would love a woman that gave every child a safe space. So why? Why when he looked at Luis did it ignite such anger? 

“That’s quite an upsetting look for a celebration something must be wrong?” Piers spun his head to face you, he hadn’t even noticed your presence.

“It’s nothing to worry yourself about, your a Queen, my matters shouldn’t bother you,” he tried to dismiss it. He’d rather just suffer alone than air it out to the enemy queen who invited them to the celebration.

“During Cinder Celebration there are no titles, we are all equally happy people, please I would not have a guest troubled here before me,” you were firm but gentle in your tone. You watched his eyes flick to Luis once more and a look you recognized crossed his eyes. “You’re jealous, aren’t you?”

“No…it’s wrong, I can’t be jealous of him,” Piers muttered quickly. His eyes shot down and you placed a hand on his shoulder. 

“It’s ok to love who you wish to. Man or woman, all love deserves to have a space. A safe space to grow and nurture, without fear of society striking it down,” you rubbed his shoulder gently. 

“It is wrong, I can’t love him. He’s my commander, and he’s a man. It’s a taboo, and everyone would think me awful if it ever came out,” his voice was barely a whisper in the sea of celebration. 

“People are free to live how they wish to, in my world, the new world, the better world, if a man loves a man, then he may wed a man. If a woman loves a woman, then she may wed a woman. The only one who can determine if something is wrong, is you.” With that, you dropped your hand from his shoulder and disappeared into the cloud of people on the ash-covered ground. As you wove out, the first Northern Lord, Lord Edrad Emur, asked your hand in a dance. 

By the fifth Northern Lord seeking a private moment, it had become bland, all of them had the same things to say. Thanking you for helping retake their home, ensuring their support in tomorrow’s siege, and of course, strengthening the bond between the crown family and their houses. Playing politics was never fun, but the Northern lords were honorable. They didn’t ask you to wed someone for duty to them, you did have a plan, however, to erase the current council, and install these honorable and loyal lords to the council. The Southerners had grown to trust the Northern lords, since the destruction of their own tyrannical lord house, it was a surprise to see them so endeared to these men. 

Leon was sulking towards the edge of the scorched grounds. His eyes easily followed your movements, and his sulking quickly morphed into broadening as every time one Northerner would leave another would swoop up your hand. He was towards the center of the front of the scorched grounds. It made it easier to track your movements and hopefully find you once more. The rest of the humans were all preoccupied and didn’t notice anyone beyond themselves. The 2 dragons, however, were far more observant.  Moonfyre’s large amethyst eyes were set on Leon, her tail flicking ever so slightly. If Leon didn’t know any better he’d say she was amused watching him. Onraxes followed Moonfyre’s eyes and snorted looking at Leon. The two dragons flicked their eyes over to you. Without much hesitation, Moonfyre dipped her head over towards Leon and nudged him towards you. He was reluctant to move, digging his heels in. In response, Moonfyre simply dragged him forward with her nose. Onraxes nudged the other side once he was before you to encourage him forward. 

When you met his eyes, you stifled a laugh, the sight of the knight who had been watching you all night being pushed towards you with his feet dug into the ground was rather entertaining. To add to that, both dragons working to get him over to you, truly was a funny sight. The Lord that was speaking also took in the sight, excusing himself from your presence swiftly with a knowing look. “It’s a pleasure to see you here Leon, though you don’t seem too happy to be here right now,” you laughed gently. 

“It’s not that I’m unhappy to be beside you, I just didn’t wish to disturb you,” he looked down at the ground. 

“Well now that you are here, and I’m free. Would you care to dance on this joyous night?” You extended your hand out to him.

“I never was much good, you’ll have to teach me,” but nonetheless took your hand. The two dragons cooed at the sight laying their heads down once more. A slow dance song began and you guided him through the dance. Feet moving slowly, hands intertwined, and bodies pressed together. The world around was a blur, for it didn’t matter, every dancing pair were alone in the world. Even with the few missteps, where his feet landed on yours, the smiles held by you two were present the whole time. As the music began to lull, you removed your hands from his and grabbed his face pressing a tender kiss to his lips. You pulled back, and he placed his hands behind your head, signaling you to continue. You pulled back in, passionately kissing each other. As you began the rest of the partners began their own kisses, Piers was hesitant but at the moment he felt courage. He leaned up, and Chris leaned down gently laying his lips on Pier’s own. 

“I’ve been dying to do that for a while now,” Chris’ voice was quiet, keeping the conversation private. Piers leaned in once more, and gentle kisses were exchanged once more.

When you and Leon had finished your own kiss, your hand wound into his own. The music became cheery and light, no longer for pairs but for large groups. Your girls, the ones that worked in the castle came giggling and running towards you. “My dear girls, what has you all in such high spirits? I haven’t seen you all night and yet here you are giggling like you heard the latest gossip?” 

“Well m’lady, tomorrow you get your throne. The true throne that is, not the makeshift one here. You’ve taken such good care of us, each and every one of us. We know typically when someone takes the throne, they have a coronation. We’ve been working on this for a while now. We made you a coronation dress, that we hope you’ll wear. It honors your ancestry and the symbols of those who follow you. We finished it tonight, so you can have it for whenever the coronation may be.” Elli had been the one to tell you everything, a soft smile on her face. 

“Oh my dear girls, I will most certainly wear it. Now go, enjoy the rest of your night. I promise I won’t take any peaks when I return.” There were small tears, you rapidly wiped away. Each girl took their turn hugging you before they all dispersed amongst the crowd. 

“They really love you, you know that right?” You had almost forgotten Leon had been beside you the whole time.

“I do, and I love each and every one of my people. I will fix all the injustices done by those who hurt them, my own ancestors included. I refuse to be another cog in the wheel, playing games with the lives of innocents. Just for being born into a position of power, doesn’t make you better or worse than another. Strength shouldn’t be the decider of what’s correct. I will fight, to give each and every one of them their rightful peace and life. Everyone, no matter their birth status, deserves a right to live happily. Bastard, commoner, or noble lord.” Your eyes caught his. Something had piqued his interest.

“What are your takes on bastards?” 

“I wish in my new ideal world, that the mere concept would be abolished. It is not the child’s fault for being born illegitimate. Take Setanta for instance, he’s born to ‘Great Lord Ulster’ except he treats him like shit despite the fact he himself is the most skilled and brings the house the most honor. Setanta is his rightful heir, but he won’t acknowledge him as anything besides a mutt. He’d rather watch him die, and went as far as to side with the King while he previously had been neutral, just to spite him. There are far too many unhonorable lords, it’s why I respect Northern lords, they legitimized all bastards they produced. They didn’t view them as less than worthy simply for not being born to their wife, for they were still of their blood.” 

“You are so remarkable,” Leon’s gaze was so soft and he pressed a kiss to the hand he held. “Previously when I swore myself to you, you said you only wanted me to kneel if I truly meant it. Now I can say without a single ounce of hesitation, you are the only Queen I will ever follow. My blade is yours, just as my heart is.” He removed his hand from yours and knelt down before you. 

“And you will be the only holder of my heart,” you breathed out before him, taking his face in your hands and giving a gentle kiss on his forehead. “Rise, as both a knight of mine and the only man to ever wield my heart.” He stood slowly, and the men around cheered. Big burly northern men clapped him on the back, shaking him a little. Luis had made his way forward to congratulate him on joining them truly. Everyone was so happy to have another join, they didn’t even notice the looks of betrayal on Chris and Piers's faces. They knew Leon and never expected him to turn against their King, to betray them. This woman, openly said she planned to attack their King and take the throne. She was a usurper and he was a traitor. Amidst the joy, they snuck off to their horses and took off riding, back to their king. They would have gone unnoticed except for Onraxes who roared at them as they rode away. Your head spun to see what had upset him and saw the knights riding away. Your grip on Leon’s hand tightened, a panic settling in your chest. 

“They’re going to tell them about the siege Leon. They’re going to make me kill the innocents…” your voice almost trembled. Leon gripped your shoulders grounding you. 

“We’ll figure it out, I promise.” He soothed, voice as even as he could hold it.

“Leon please, you have to go. They’re going to call you a traitor and call for your execution and the execution of your loved ones. Go, get back to the Kingdom, protect the innocents, or save the others you love. Please, as much as I want you by my side. I need you to do this for me.” You were pleading with him, tears welled in your eyes. You were even shaking, and as much as Leon wanted to protest, he knew you were right. Claire, Sherry, anyone he even so much as talked to in passing casually could be killed. 

“Ok…I’ll get as many of the citizens to safety in the catacombs below the palace as I can. Find me after before you sit on the throne, I want to see my beautiful Queen take her throne.” 

“I promise, I’ll find you before it,” you whispered. The promise was sealed with a deep kiss.  Onraxes moved lowering his neck to allow Leon on and fly him back to the castle, back to the horse that would take him away from you. He should have many questions, when did he become so accustomed to riding the dragons you commanded? Why did Onraxes, the dragon he never had ridden before, allow him so freely to ride him? But instead, all he felt was despair, leaving you and returning to the kingdom that no longer felt like home. You were his home, and tears freely flowed at having to leave you, even temporarily.

#leon kennedy #leon s kennedy #leon s kennedy x reader #leon kennedy x reader #leon x reader #leon x y/n

[megashadowdragon]

reddit comments

"RITSUKA LISTEN TO ME. YOU NEED TO STOP FUCKING EVERYONE. HALF OUR SUPPORT STAFF ARE MILFS NOW. WE CANNOT RUN THIS OPERATION WHEN YOU'VE DOUBLED OUR PERSONNEL WITH YOUR DICK. RITSUKA. RITSUKA LISTEN. YOU GOTTA LEARN TO PULL OUT. JESUS CHRIST."

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User avatar level 2 BobtheBac0n · 2 days ago "BUT THEY'RE ALL SO FUCKING HOT! WOMEN ARE AMAZING, AND THEY'RE A WOMAN AMONG WOMEN! I WANNA BE A GOOD FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, A GOOD HUSBAND, AND A GOOD FATHER TO THEM AND OUR KIDS!"

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User avatar level 3 Genprey · 2 days ago

Albrecht-face "FOR THE LOVE OF GOETIA, RITSUKA, THANKS TO YOUR STUNT, THE HALLS ARE CROWDED WITH FEMALE SERVANTS AND FERGUS WAITING FOR 'THEIR TURN'! WE'RE ALREADY GETTING GRILLED FOR SUMMONING ALL THESE EXTRA CLASSES, HOW DO YOU THINK WE'LL LOOK WHEN ONE MAN BREAKS ALL CONVENTIONS AND IMPREGNATES THE ENTIRETY OF THE THRONE OF HEROES!?"

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User avatar level 4 Zenom · 2 days ago Fergus: I taught that boy well.

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User avatar level 5 Suru_LovesHentai OP · 2 days ago First Cu now Fujimaru

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User avatar level 4 DiceCubed1460 · 2 days ago The children of half the historical and mythical heroes just running around in modern day bc Guda couldn’t keep it in his pants.

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User avatar level 5 Anadaere · 2 days ago Zeus: sheds tear We lost to a great rival. I'm so proud

Kirsch: And why are you a woman now? Zeus? ZEUS?

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User avatar level 6 MetroSimulator · 2 days ago DAYBIIIT, ZEUS TURNED INTO A WOMAN AND IS SEDUCING RITSUKA, DAYBIIIIIT

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User avatar level 7 AstralPamplemousse · 2 days ago He’s simply scouting the competition

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User avatar level 7 BlackMan9693 · 2 days ago Have this poor man's gold 🥇🪙 lmao. It's been quite a while since I came across a Kirsch panic comment.

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User avatar level 8 MetroSimulator · 1 day ago No worries I loved that joke, wanted more tho. 😉

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User avatar level 7 sorcerer86pt · 2 days ago Wodine, He's rizzing female ORT

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User avatar level 7 Hp22h · 2 days ago Batter Up! I mean, he turned into a bull and a shower of piss one time. Honestly, this is the least weird way he could have gone about it…

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User avatar level 7 ImRinKagamine · 1 day ago

Saber the only best blonde waifu. Sheeesh

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User avatar level 5 Embarrassed-Ad1509 · 2 days ago Wait, doesn’t that make Gudao the new Zeu-aaand I’m stopping myself right there.

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User avatar level 4 tsukaistarburst · 2 days ago I want Gudao to impregnate all the servants, honestly. Let's just make this the Danganronpa Bad End with more people.

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User avatar level 5 ozne1 · 2 days ago dead inside I give up restoring humanity, lets create a new one.

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User avatar level 6 Sherezade_III Cake day · 2 days ago :Okita: Okita fan-raptor Goetia: THAT WAS MY IDEA BUT NoOoOo ~ ! HE'S THE BAD GUY FOR DOING THAT, LETS F#$KING KILL HIM, AN THEN THIS ONE APPEARS AND EVERYONE WANTS HIS PENIS !

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User avatar level 5 Jovahexeon-Ranvexeon · 2 days ago

:Suzuka: Context to said ending?

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User avatar level 6 version15 · 2 days ago

"Welcome to my World" Basically the very few remaining students accept a life inside the school and Aoi gets knocked up multiple times lol. It's not really a serious ending though

I fucking love Davinci basically scolding her son for knocking up one of their best geniuses on their team, a part of the Chaldean family, and now they gotta raise a baby while also saving the world.

I can also imagine that, Ritsuka probably wasn't exactly given much choice to pull out given how many women in Chaldea have more strength than him or have access to strength enhancing magic

Da Vinci: YOU NEED TO WEAR PROTECTION FROM NOW ON

Ritsuka: But I used my Emergency Evade…

Da Vinci: AND LOOK HOW MUCH GOOD THAT DID

YOU THINK I DIDNT TRY?! SHE LEG LOCKED ME WHILE USING REINFORCEMENT! HOW DO YOU WANT ME TO PULL OUT?!

To be fair with how strong these girls are pulling out might not be an option, like can you imagine if it was Barghest or Kiara? You wouldn’t have much of a choice if they didn’t want you to move

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User avatar level 1 ShadowxDark87_Gaming · 1 day ago That's curious… Da Vinci (Rider) it's the servant with highest bond in my chaldea xD

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User avatar level 1 YuudaiJP · 1 day ago Ritsuka:Look! I'm like, what a 16/18 year old male, surrounded by beautiful women all the time. My hormones keep kicking in….. what am I supposed to do, Da-Vinci?

Da-Vinci : I don't know…..maybe wait until you're older or until the world order is finally restored.

Ritsuka: And how long do I have to wait until everything goes back to normal?

Da-Vinci: ahem…..

Ritsuka: Yeah! That what I thought. Now excuse I have to date with Jeanne right now and then at another date with Sith at 4 pm, and then I'm sleeping with Kiyo at 8 pm.

Da-Vinci: Wait, do you have a freaking schedule for this?

Ritsuka: pulls a long list Oh, this is just for today. Tomorrow, I have…..

Da-Vinci: STOP! I'm done. You can do whatever you like!.

Tomoe: Man, master you're life make a good/crappy VN, you know.

Osakabehime: or you're typical harem manga.

#fgo #fgo fancomic #gudao xsion #gudao x sion #ritsuka fujimaru #sion eltnam atlasia #clinickcase #kaze-clinik

[reyofluke-ocs]

OCs DESERVE BETTER -> Zelva Arkant'tar (Baldur's Gate 3)

"I don't remember anything but my name. But I do know there's this... darkness, in me. And I don't know how long I can keep it at bay."

Losing her entire family in a hate attack against drows, Seldarine Drow Nisha Arkant'tar became driven by vengence, earning herself the nickname 'Drow of Death'. She also turned to worshipping Bhaal, the God of Murder, and her efficiency earned her the attention of Bhaal himself. Looking for various women to have children to bring about his own ressurrection, Bhaal chose Nisha to be one of those woman. Months later, she gave birth to a baby she named Zelva. Knowing how vicious the infighting among drows were, and not wanting a repeat of the massacre that led her down her current path, Nisha travelled to Baldur's Gate and left her baby girl in the care of the Temple of Bhaal.

Being born the child of Bhaal himself, Zelva is afforded more leniecy than Bhaalspawn's, though she still grows up in the cut-throat world of the Temple, where anything and everything can be used against you as a potential weakness. Still, Zelva finds herself - against what is expected of her - developing a soft spot for various stray animals, and even taking one in. Only to find that same animal later dead in her room, and Zelva knows exactly who is responsible: the changling Orin, who despises Zelva for being a fellow child of Bhaal.

From that day forth, Zelva never kept anything - living or inanimate - for herself, knowing Orin would just destroy it. So when Zelva is chosen to be Bhaal's Chosen to put into the plan to create the Absolute, she is not surprised to find Orin betray her by stabbing her, infecting her with a Mindflayer tadpole, and leaving her for dead. What she didn't expect, was to be saved by Kressa Bonedaughter and experimented and tortured on until her mind broke and suppressed her memories in an act of self-preservation. Only knowing her name upon waking aboard a nautiloid, Zelva joins forces with a fellow group of tadpole infected individuals on a quest to find a cure before they become Mindflayers. Maybe, if she's lucky enough, she can find out why she has no memory but is constantly compelled to shed blood and kill.

thanks to @astarionbae for Zelva's mom's name as well as helping me with DnD lore to create Zelva's backstory! tagging: @endless-oc-creations@stanshollaand, @foxesandmagic , @hiddenqveendom , @arrthurpendragon ,@cas-verse, @eddiemunscns , @far-shores, @oneirataxia-girl, if anyone wants to be added/removed or I accidentally forgot, please let me know!

#ocappreciationtag #toalltheocsivelovedbefore #fyeahvideogameocs #bg3 oc #durge oc #dark urge oc #ocs deserve better #*mine #oc: zelva arkant'tar #she's a seldarine drow barbarian #and a gale ship but tbh i'm a simp for gale so not surprised

[cartoonfanaticmonsterrobotalien]

Solar Opposites: Solar Monsters (by @avaveevo)

Ch. 13

A few minutes later, Terry made to where Chimera David is wreaking havoc on the whole town as Terry gains a determinate stare and gets out of the bus while running to Chimera Joe in determination. Then, Werehog Cooke, Mutant Frankie, Werewolf Perez, Mutant Octopus Mia, Medusa Alice, Werefox Kevin, Weredragon Randall and Werelizard Janice catches up with him.

Mutant Frankie: Terry, we made it!

Werewolf Perez: Aw man, I don’t think we made it on time look!

Chimera David then starts killing and hurting people as Terry and the rest of the monsters gasp.

Werehog Cooke: Oh shit! Now what we do now?

Terry: What we’re really gonna do! Stop that motherfucking chimera and save the town! runs off

Weredragon Randall: follows Terry with the rest of the monsters Aw man, that’s more a goal than a plan, Terry!

Terry: I know!

But as Terry and the others try to get to Chimera David, Beverly stops them.

Beverly: Stop right there, Terald!

Terry: *gasp*

Mutant Frankie: God damn it!

Werewolf Perez: Not now!

Beverly: You really though thought I’d let you get away after EVERYTHING you did to me!

Werehog Cooke: No! We didn’t do anything to you! You and your crony FBI most wanted crook deserves it what you did to us!

Werefox Kevin: Yeah! Because of you, our life sources are these monster forms now! No we need to live with this! And we’re not gonna let you take them!

Mutant Octopus Mia: So back off you bitch cunt!

Beverly: I refuse to believe this! David is not FBI’s Most Wanted! He is a scientist that is gonna help the world! And I will not let a stupid alien stand in my way!

Terry: Grrr! You…you…

Korvo: Terry!

Terry turns and gasp in tears of joy as he sees his husband and kids with Cherie, Montez, Sherbet, Pezlie, Nova, Jamie and Darcy arriving and seeing him okay.

Terry: Korvo?!

Terry sees Korvo smiling at him with tears of joy in his eyes along with the kids as Terry shed in tears of joy and runs to his beloved husband and children.

Korvo: Terry! God, I’m so happy you’re okay!

Terry: Korvy!

Yumyulack: Dad!

Terry: Yumyulack, did you just call me dad?

Yumyulack: smiling Of course I did

Jesse and Sonya: Daddy!

Pupa: Papa!

Terry: I missed you all so much! Are you okay?

Sonya: Yes of course we are! We’re happy you’re okay!

Beverly: You?!

Yumyulack: That’s right! We’re here bitch! Now go Korvo! Go into the loving arms of Terry!

Korvo nods and kisses Terry on the lips. Terry and Korvo shed tears of joy while kissing as the camera orbits around them.

Jesse and Sonya: Aaaww.

Yumyulack just covers his eyes in disgust.

Beverly: It doesn’t matter you stupid sci-fi bitches! I have finally gotten what I wanted!

Korvo: smirking You do?

Terry grows confused by this.

Terry: Korvo, what are you-

Korvo winks his eyes at Terry, which helps tell Terry that Korvo and the others secretly have a plan!

Darcy: You really did? You really won?!

Jesse: What do you mean?!

Cherie: smirking Do tell Beverly…

Sherbet and Nova nods at each other, and then Sherbet got out her phone and presses a strange button. Then suddenly, the whole screen in town started broadcasting a live video stream throughout town of Beverly and the Solars. Jesse even chuckles quietly with Sonya and Yumyulack quietly.

Beverly: Huh?! Nevermind! It’s too late. Nobody is ever gonna believe you

Montez: Oh? About what?!

Beverly: What? That I was really the one who send those hellhounds after your two friends? That I was the one who told David about the mug who thug Terald at the beach? That I framed the stupid Principal just to get all of you off my tracks? Ha! Lucky!

The crowd gasp in shock, and so does Dr. Schroeder. Beverly realizes she was being live streamed as she looks up at the screens.

Beverly: Huh?!

Yumyulack: Not so smart now, are you, Beverly?

Beverly: angrily looks at Korvo You! What did you do?!

Korvo: Let’s just say there is a thing called Engineered Public Confessions for a psycho, like you!

Yumyulack, Jesse and Sonya: Ha!

Beverly: That’s it! I have had enough! If you all are gonna make me and a wonderful scientist look like fools, then I am not gonna take it any longer. And that is why you must give your beast within Terald!

Terry: Wh-what?

Korvo: Leave him alone, bitch!

Beverly: No! It was Terald’s fault this whole thing started! If he hasn’t let us kill him, none of this would’ve ever happen. He’s a monster and always will be a monster and nobody love that! So, Terald, you just make the right decision here…

Terry: I don’t need to. I’m keeping it.

Terry gasp, but then he looks at Korvo who is shows him a genuine smile, knowing his beloved husband will make the right choice. Then, Terry looks down at the reflection of his wedding ring and smile as his eyes starts glowing orange as he made his own choice. The right one for his family as he shed a single tear of joy as it falls down. Terry then grasp his fists as he began to transform with bravery in his glowing orange eyes shown.

Beverly: Wait? What the fuck did you say?

Terry growls as he starts transforming as he grows bigger and muscular as his clothes and shoes tore apart and his skin turns black.

Terry: I said… I’M KEEPING IT!

Terry transforms into Mundane Terry and roars. Korvo then sheds tears of joy as he smiles and couldn’t be any more proud of his husband.

Jesse: Yeah! That’s my daddy!

Yumyulack: Alright, Korv!

Korvo: On it! transforms into his Super Shlorpian form and roars as he rips apart his robe Much better!

Mundane Terry: Looking sexy as always, Korvy.

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Yeah. I feel sexy too. Is that a good thing?

Mundane Terry: Of course it’s a good thing Korvy

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Thanks, my darling!

Super Shlorpian Korvo and Mundane Terry then kiss.

Beverly: ENOUGH OF THIS!

Suddenly, some roaring was heard offscreen as the others turn, it turns out to be from Cherie, Montez, Darcy, Jaime, Nova and Sherbet have transformed into their monster forms.

Hellhound Darcy: What do you think guys?

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Pretty sweet guys! Now, let’s go-

Suddenly, Yumyulack starts to have a panic attack as he starts transforming as he turns black, his head grows horns, his eyes and inside of his mouth starts glowing purple, he grows bigger and muscular as it rips entire clothes and boots into pieces and his purple bat wings pop out of his back. Super Shlorpian Yumyulack then roars before panting and crying.

Mundane Terry: Oh no. Yumyulack…

Super Shlorpian Korvo sees Super Shlorpian Yumyulack crying and flies up to him and tends to him by hugging and soothing his son.

Super Shlorpian Korvo: It’s okay. Ssh. Ssh. I know it hurts.

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack: D-dad…I’m so scared… what happened to me…?

Super Shlorpian Korvo: You’re alright. It’s just painful. It’s not really that bad-

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack: BUT IT IS! What if I lose control again?

Super Shlorpian Korvo holds Yumyulack close.

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Oh Yumyulack, you are not gonna do it again. Because, I know that this brave little Replicant, that is my special little guy, have enough willpower and courage to that… because he is still here on the inside.. and he is my son…

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack: Dad…I…

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Shh… I know honey… I know… but I know you got this… come on son… breath and let go… for me…

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack breathes in and out but doesn’t change back.

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack: Okay. Let’s do this!

Sonya: Hey, wait!

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Yes dear!

Sonya turns into her werekraken form and giggles.

Jesse: Alright! That’s my sister!

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Oh my god. She looks so fucking precious.

Mundane Terry: That’s our girl! Alright guys, let’s end this nightmare once and for all!

All except Jesse: Right!

Cue epic battle scene with Warriors by Imagine Dragons playing in the background:

Jesse: Okay guys, I’m gonna hide myself behind the trash bin so I won’t get hurt!

AISHA: appearing from out of nowhere Good idea. I’ll hide with you!

Jesse: Glad to see you too AISHA!

Super Shlorpian Korvo: AISHA?! How did you get here?

AISHA: Hey! You guys are my family! I always go and track wherever you guys go! Because, I love you guys! Now go kick that monster’s ass!

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Thanks AISHA! flies up

Then, Super Shlorpian fires his ice breath to David, who falls to the ground. Chimera David gets back up, but then Werefox Kevin and Weredragon Randall pummels, only for them to get thrown off, but luckily Werewolf Perez bites him Then, Mutant Octopus Mia grabs Chimera David with her hands and throws him a building. Then, Werehog Cooke pound shim to the ground while Mutant Frankie gets finally manage to weaken Chimera David with her Wolverine claws.

Werehog Cooke: That’s my girl!

Mutant Frankie and Werehog Cooke then kiss. While Mutant Vampire Jaime and Hellhound Darcy fights off Beverly, Jesse wonders what she can to help as she looks down in worriedly. But, then her Mundane visions starts act up and she starts breathing in and out. Mundane Terry notices Jesse.

Mundane Terry: *gasp* J-Jesse?

As Jesse kneels down and the floor, AISHA began to grow concern. Jesse starts crying.

AISHA: What’s wrong baby girl? Are you okay?

Jesse: NO! IT FUCKING HURTS!

Then Chimera David sees Jesse and tries to fire his breath at her, only for Super Shlorpian Yumyulack and Were-Kraken Sonya gasp and gets in front of Jesse to protect their beloved sister!

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack: Sis!

Werekraken Sonya: Are you okay?!

Jesse: breathing in and out and starts crying

Seeing how scared their sister is, Super Shlorpian Yumyulack and Were-Kraken Sonya growls at Chimera David while gaining courage.

Were-Kraken Sonya: Yumyulack, fly up behind him!

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack: You got it! Nobody messes with my sister!

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack uses his fireice breath that knocks Chinera David down while Were-Kraken Sonya uses her laser eyes that blast Chimera David to a hill.

Chimera David: You little—

Suddenly, lava came through a crawl as it lifts Chimera David up to the sky and he falls on the ground again. Mundane Terry and Super Shlorpian Korvo then see what their kids did and grows proud of them as they head over to them.

Mundane Terry: Sonya, I am so proud of you!

Super Shlorpian Korvo: And I am so proud of you too Yumyulack!

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack: Thanks dad.

Were-Kraken Sonya: Thanks daddies, but where did the lava came from?

Mundane Terry shlyly smiles and shows the his glowing hands, which revealed where the lava came from.

Were-Kraken Sonya: Terry? How did you do that?

Mundane Terry: I don't know. It's just part of this form I guess. chuckles

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Well, I think it’s really amazing.

Mundane Terry: Aw, come here you big stud.

Super Shlorpian Korvo and Mundane Terry kiss, only to see Chimera David recovering on that hill.

Mundane Terry: Oh shit! Korvy, quick! Fly me up!

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Got it!

Super Shlorpian Korvo grabs Mundane Terry and the two fly up while Mundane Terry calls out to the others.

Mundane Terry: Guys! David's not dead!

Werehog Cooke: Oh shit! Come on guys!

The monsters go to confront Chimera David. Back with Jesse, she continues crying and breathing in pain as her vision starts to flicker in midnight pink while AISHA comforts her.

AISHA: Okay okay. Just calm down Jesse.

Jesse continues breathing and out, until she sees Beverly and hid. As Jesse looks closely, she sees Beverly holding a dagger behind her back as Jesse gasp. Jesse covers her mouth to avoid making noise. As Beverly heads towards the hill, Jesse despite breathing in and out because her visions flicker into midnight pink, develops determination and runs off while following Beverly to save her family. Jesse eventually finds her family, but then hides behind a rock while the Solar Monsters prepare to finish off Chimera David until Beverly interrupts.

Beverly: Stop right there Opposites!

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Leave us alone!

Goliath Cherie: Yeah! You have done enough harm in our lives!

Beverly laughs like a maniac, scaring everyone.

Beverly: Oh silly fools. It’s too late David has everything now. And, it’s all thanks to me…

Sweets Demon Sherbet: That’s because you are becoming the same person he is. The kind who wants to harm innocent civilians!

Goliath Cherie: For power!

Mundane Terry: And I will defeat you!

Super Shlorpian Korvo: No, Terry! We need to-

Mundane Terry starts growling as he began to go up to Beverly bravely, but this time more peaceful

Mundane Terry: I'm not scared of you anymore. You hear me? I will fucking destroy you.

Beverly: What?

Mundane Terry: Please! Think about what you’re doing! It is turning you into a real monster! Because, you got manipulated by a criminal that is most wanted and dangerous.

Beverly slaps Mundane Terry in the face.

Beverly: Don't you dare try to redeem me! I've made my choice!

Super Shlorpian Korvo then gasp and punch’s Beverly to the ground.

Super Shlorpian Korvo: NOBODY FUCKING HURTS MY HUSBAND YOU BITCH!

Beverly: pulling out the daggar I don’t care what you monsters say! That old man is gonna help people! And if that means destroying Korey’s life so be-

Suddenly a slash and a scream of teenage girl is heard as the Solar Monsters gasp in horror where it came from.

Mundane Terry: JESSE!

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Oh my God! Sweetheart!

Beverly: You?! Grrr!

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack and Were-Kraken Sonya: SIS!

Mundane Terry, Super Shlorpian Korvo, Super Shlorpian Yumyulack, Were-Kraken Sonya and Pupa huddle around Jesse in concern as she continues to cry out in pain as her midnight pink vision flickers.

Jesse: Terry...it hurts...

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack: Oh God…

Were-Kraken Sonya: tearfully; voice breaking Jesse!

Super Shlorpian Korvo: We're here, Jesse! Let us help!

Jesse starts crying as she puts her arms around leg. Then, as Mundane Terry looks worriedly at his daughter, his vision then keeps flickering back to what happened 13 years ago back on Shlorp as it shows baby Jesse crying with another monster’s shadow, until it was revealed the monster that defended baby Jesse was none other than… Mundane Terry 13 years ago.

Mundane Terry: Jesse...

As Mundane Terry watches himself killing the monster, he then sees himself calming down after seeing Baby Jesse continue to cry. Then, Mundane Terry then sees doing a concern whimper as he heads over to baby Jesse as he slowly turns back to normal and comforts and sooth her. Then, Mundane Terry heard his past self say…

Past Terry: Oh no no. Don’t cry. Terry’s here. You’re okay. Shh.

Mundane Terry: Fuck...

Mundane Terry watches as he sees his past self soothing baby Jesse, who calms down and smiles at her father. Then, Mundane Terry shed tears as he watches his past self admiring baby Jesse’s strength. Mundane Terry looks down at his hands as a teardrop falls. He now knows the truth about his past. Suddenly, he heard and a sound and then sees something that shocked him for the first time.

Past Terry: Oof. Oh sorry. Didn’t see you there.

Past Korvo: It’s alright. walks away

Mundane Terry: gasp Korvo?

He watches as his past self develops an attraction to past Korvo, then as he looks closely, Past Korvo sees Past Terry walking to his apartment as Past Korvo blushes shyly and lovingly at Past Terry. Then, Past Korvo walks away while soothing baby Yumyulack, who is sleeping and cooing while smiling.

Mundane Terry: Oh...oh my god...

Mundane Terry then watches as Past Korvo leaves and smiles as tears of joy burst in his eyes.

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Terry?

The static then takes back to the present as Mundane Terry looks at Super Shlorpian Korvo and embraces him in a big damn monster kiss. Super Shlorpian Korvo is shock at first, but melts into the kiss.

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Mmm. What's gotten into you?

Mundane Terry: Korvo… I now know the truth…

Super Shlorpian Korvo: You do…?

Mundane Terry: I finally know… how I record this form…

Were-Kraken Sonya: How daddy?

Mundane Terry: I was being ridiculed too much, that I felt like I didn’t deserve to live but… I snapped and there was a monster and that is when my Mundane was finally unleashed because Jesse was is in danger, when she was still a baby and I had to protect her and…

Super Shlorpian Korvo puts a finger on Mundane Terry to silence him. Then, Mundane Terry look down at his left hand palm and then finally realized the real reason of why Mundane attack.

Mundane Terry: Because, my ancestors… were trying too hard, to protect their families… while forgetting… they’ve already been good enough to the ones they love…

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Oh, Terry...

Mundane Terry then looks at Super Shlorpian Korvo as he smiles at him. They then touch foreheads.

Mundane Terry: And that lead to me… seeing you for the first time my life…

Super Shlorpian Korvo cries as tears fall down his eyes.

Mundane Terry: After the attack, I ended up encountering the most beautiful shimmering blue Shlorpian I ever saw who is really kind, nurturing, smart and very protective of his sproutling while carrying a basket of darble fruit walking down the village.

Super Shlorpian Korvo starts crying and Mundane Terry becomes concerned.

Mundane Terry: Are you okay honey?

Super Shlorpian Korvo happily tackles Mundane Terry to the ground.

Mundane Terry: Whoa! What was that for?

Super Shlorpian Korvo laughs with tears in his eyes.

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Oh honey. I love you too.

Mundane Terry cries with happiness and the two make out. Super Shlorpian Yumyulack and Were-Kraken Sonya then covers the Pupa’s eyes in disgust.

Werelizard Janice: H’no you guys done now? punches Chimera David

Jesse continues crying as Mundane Terry then put his giant muscular arms around Jesse and comforts her.

Mundane Terry: Sssh. Sssh. It's okay.

Jesse then hiccups tearfully as Mundane Terry soothes her head softly and give sit a kiss on the forehead. Jesse then feels a strong pain in her head. But then, Mundane Terry didn’t even notice it because he notice Beverly coming out to them, but luckily Mundane Terry Bradbury her violently as she falls down and the daggar shatters. Mundane Terry then gets into a brave stance as he tries to defend Jesse.

Mundane Terry: That's enough, Beverly. YOU LEAVE MY BABYGIRL ALONE, YOU FUCKING CUNTBRICK!

Jesse: Terry...

Super Shlorpian Korvo: I got your back Terry!

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack: Me too!

Were-Kraken Sonya: I’m with you guys!

The four Solar Monsters get into a fighting stance with their friends joining.

Super Shlorpian Korvo: It’s over Bev! Call off this whole Chimera madness!

Beverly: Oh am I?

Suddenly, Jesse starts to feel her muscle tightens as her eyes and inside of her mouth glows midnight pink as she starts to feel pain and screams out to the sky as the sun finally sets.

Mundane Terry: Shit! JESSE!

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Sweetheart?

Were-Kraken Sonya: Big sister?

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack: Sis?

Suddenly, Jesse starts growing bigger and muscular as her dress and shoes starts to rip apart and she suddenly grows boobs while her skin turns black.

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack: blushing Holy shit...

Jesse: T-Terry… voice gets deeper and distorted It hurts…

Jesse then roars as her dress and shoes then rips into pieces as the pieces fall down and her lucky red bow falls off as she pounds her fists to the ground that helps her stand. Now a Mundane, Jesse roars as loudly as Godzilla as tears burst from her eyes, which made Mundane Terry gasp and faint.

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Darling!

Mundane Terry then groans and gasp upon seeing his daughter now a Mundane as she pants. Mundane Jesse snaps back to reality and feels her body.

Mundane Jesse: gasp I have BOOBS?!

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack: Let me touch them! touches the boobs

Mundane Jesse: Kyaa! Get of my boobs! slaps Super Shlorpian Yumyulack

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack: Sorry didn’t know what came over me.

Were-Kraken Sonya: Ya think?

Suddenly, Chimera David was about to pummel Were-Kraken Sonya until Mundane Jesse saw him and her whole vision goes distorted as something made her snap.

Mundane Jesse: GET AWAY FROM HER!

Mundane Jesse then gives into her Mundane instincts and roar as she pummels Chimera David down to the city. Then, as the Solar Monsters watch, Mundane Terry realizes something is wrong Mundane Jesse roars and slashes Chimera David on the stomach with her hand as it bleeds out.

Chimera David: You mother-

Mundan Jesse roars as she throws David to the window and violently throws him to the ground, as she has now lost her sanity and her mind, much to Mundane Terry’s horror. Mundane Jesse then pants before crying.

Mundane Terry: Oh no Jesse is losing it!

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack: We have to help before-

Mundane Jesse then goes savage again and throws Chimera David to a building.

Goliath Cherie: HOLY SHIT!

Were-Kraken Sonya: Hang on sis!

Suddenly, Mundane Terry stops them as he knows what to do.

Mundane Terry: Jesse...

Mundane Terry then heads down there, much to the others’s shock.

Werehog Cooke: Uh, what the hell are you doing?!

Mundane Terry: Talking to my daughter…

All: What? Huh? Really? I don’t know…Terry…

Mundane Terry: Don't worry. I'll be okay. She'll listen to me.

Sweets Demon Sherbet: You sure this will work?

Mundane Terry: Yes...

As Mundane Terry walks over to bravely Mundane Jesse, Super Shlorpian Korvo kisses him on the cheek.

Mundane Terry: Huh?

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Go save our little girl, you brave son of a bitch!

Mundane Terry: Oh, Korvy...

Mundane Terry and Super Shlorpian Korvo then kiss. Then, it cuts to back to Mundane Jesse throws Chimera David to the wall as she bodyslams him and roars.

Mundane Terry: JESSE, STOP!

Mundane Jesse then punches the Chimera David to the ground, that created a giant hol on the ground while Chimera David laying there. Mundane Jesse breaths in and out as she looks up at Mundane Terry and snarls at him savagely.

Mundane Terry: Jesse?

Mundane Jesse roars and walks on her legs and hands as she heads towards Mundane Terry like a wild animal. Mundane Jesse then stops when she realizes she's gonna hurt Terry.

Mundane Terry: Jesse, it’s me! Your dad! Please hang on! It’s okay! I’m here now! Everything is gonna be okay…

Mundane Jesse gasps.

Mundane Terry: It’s okay…

Mundane Jesse gets her sanity back and starts sobbing. Mundane Jesse then collapse on the floor while crying in her arms as tears fall down like a waterfall. Mundane Terry walks up to comfort her. Mundane Terry then lies down his daughter, put his arms around and comforts and soothes Mundane Jesse.

Mundane Terry: Oh Jesse…. Shh

Mundane Jesse: I'm sorry...

Mundane Jesse continues crying as Mundane Terry continues to comfort her.

Mundane Jesse: Daddy… what happened to me? Did it really happened for the first time?

Mundane Terry: It did but-

Mundane Jesse then starts breathing in and out as she kept weeping because she is scared.

Mundane Terry: Hey, it's not bad.

Mundane Jesse: But it is!

Mundane Terry: Oh baby…

Mundane Jesse: crying I lost my mind… and I-I went wild like an animal and, and… almost lost my memory of you guys… I’m a monster…

Mundane Terry: Shh.

Mundane Jesse continues to cry as Mundane Terry holds her close and continues to soothe her just like he did when Jesse was a baby.

Mundane Terry: Oh Jesse, you are not monster.

Mundane Jesse: Why do you think that?

Mundane Terry: Because, remember what I aid last night? How are you are always the sweet girl I know?

Mundane Jesse: Because you were there to help me.

Mundane Terry: No, because you were already brave to me. You always have been, ever since you were a baby. Because, like I said, it was because of your kindness and humility towards others. That makes you Jesse, on the inside.

Mundane Jesse sniffles but smiles.

Mundane Jesse: Thanks dad…

The two hug but then Chimera David rises. Luckily, Super Shlorpian Yumyulack shoots him down with his fireice breath.

Mundane Jesse: Yumyulack!

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack: Jesse! You’re okay!

Mundane Jesse: Yeah.

Then, Super Shlorpian Korvo and Were-Kraken Sonya arrives. Super Shlorpian Korvo picks up Mundane Terry and spins him around. The two husbands then kiss while Were-Kraken Sonya meets up her adoptive alien sister and hugs her.

Were-Kraken Sonya: I'm so happy you're okay, sis!

Mundane Jesse: Me too! Come here, you two! hugs her siblings

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack grabs Mundane Jesse's boob.

Mundane Jesse: Don’t even think about.

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack laughs nervously as he backs away, only to see Chimera David getting back up, so the family quickly hid behind a rock to come up with a plan.

Mundane Terry: I got it! We need to combine our powers!

Were-Kraken Sonya: Really?

Mundane Jesse: Wait? I have powers?

Mundane Jesse waves her hand and... her hand starts glowing pink.

Mundane Jesse: Hey! Cool!

Super Shlorpian Korvo: It’s our only shot! Terry might be onto something!

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack: No way! It's too dangerous! There has to be another way, right?!

Mundane Terry: I wish there was but...

Super Shlorpian Korvo puts his hands on Mundane Terry’s shoulder, then he smiles.

Super Shlorpian Korvo: We got this.

Mundane Terry, and the five monsters head over to confront David, one more time while their friends arrive and watched. Mundane Terry takes a deep breath and closes his eyes.

Super Shlorpian Korvo: You got this Terry!

Chimera David: You really think you can defeat me?!

Mundane Terry raises his hand, causing lava to appear. Mundane Terry then roars, which made Super Shlorpian Korvo and the monster kids smile as they get ready to use theirs. First, Super Shlorpian Korvo uses his ice breath. Next, Super Shlorpian Yumyulack uses his fireicebreath. Then, Mundane Jesse makes pink magic, which made fizzling lava rocks fizz towards David. And finally, Were-Kraken Sonya uses her laser eyes. Their eyes then start glowing. The blast combine ends overpowering Chimera David as he starts to disintegrate into ash as he feels his whole life source burning up with him.

Chimera David: NNNNNOOOOOOO!

As the whole screen goes white, it fades to what remains of Davis, a pile of ash that whisk away. Then, the fog clears where it shows Mundane Terry, Super Shlorpian Korvo, Super Shlorpian Yumyulack, Mundane Jesse and Were-Kraken Sonya emerging form the fog in triumph while their friends cheer. Mundane Terry then passes out and falls to the ground. Super Shlorpian Korvo then comes over to him and smiles once Mundane Terry awakens slowly.

Super Shlorpian Korvo: You did great, darling.

But then, Mundane Terry feels something that he wants to let it out, as he starts snarling and kneeling to the ground like a beast, while the others figure out what is happening and backs away

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Come honey, let it out!

Super Shlorpian Yumyulack: Heads up guys! It’s Terry’s crown making moment!

Mundane Jesse: Come on Terry!

Were-Kraken Sonya: Go Terry!

Mundane Terry then roars loudly as his eyes glow orange as he makes his crown making moment. He then starts breathing and out.

Mundane Terry: Woah.

Mundane Terry then shed tears as Super Shlorpian Korvo flies to him and lands near him as he soothe his face. Mundane Terry starts whimpering again, because he is scared of losing himself again, only Super Shlorpian Korvo consoles him by soothing his face.

Super Shlorpian Korvo: Shhh. It’s okay. You’re okay… I’m here…

Mundane Terry purrs. Then, the two monster alien husbands kiss, while everyone cheers. Then, the police are about to arrive, so luckily, the Solar Monsters retreat successfully into a hidings place where they can transform back. Beverly then awaken from her concussion and then two police guards caught her.

Police Officer: We've come to arrest you

Beverly: What?

Police Officer 2: We saw the livestream so...yeah.

FBI Agent: Beverly of GeenaDavisVille Labratories, you’re under arrest for frame up, the monster attacks, assisting one of FBI Most Wanted criminals and for the attempt murder of Terry and Korey Opposites!

Beverly: Damn it! No! You don't understand! They're monsters! I-

Human Terry: Be quiet, Beverly.

Beverly then turn and see the Solar Opposites, in their human forms and their friends back to normal as they approach FBI Most Wanted.

Human Korvo: Is there a problem sir?

Police Officer: We were just about to arrest this woman, Korey.

Human Jesse: Oh really?

Principal Cooke: shrugs What for?

Police Officer: For attempted murder and framing.

Miss Frankie: Oh thank goodness

Nova: Thank you for letting us know officer. I had no idea what came over Beverly

Cherie: Me too.

Beverly: You sons of bitches! When I escape, I'll-

Human Terry: Be quiet, Bev. I already know your little secret. I know it because I was with you with that godawful trigger test. I also know that my husband, my kids and my friends will always love me. And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing! It’s over’ You've lost any and all power over us. You're the real monster, Beverly. A real fucked up monster. Enjoy jailtime.

As soon as the Solars leave, Beverly looked on without a word and a sound as she gets taken away into custody. As the FBI and police drives away with Beverly, the human Solars and their friends watch. Then, Human Terry and Human Korvo look at each other lovingly as they touch heads.

Human Terry: Korvo… I love you so much… I am so sorry if I was really keeping my real self hidden away… but I know you will always love me.. and I will always love you too… and I’m not hiding the other part of me anymore… because it’s part of my life… but not just that… so are you and the kids… because I love you Korvy…

Human Korvo: shedding tears of joy I love you too Terry…

And with that, Human Terry and Human Korvo embrace in a passionate romantic orbital kiss while shedding tears of joy. Then, the kids came up and hug their dads. Especially with Human Pupa who is brought by Human AISHA who joins in on the hug while their friends watch as they smile.

#solar opposites #solar opposites au #solar monsters #mundane terry #super shlorpian korvo #super shlorpian yumyulack #mundane jesse #were-kraken sonya #pupa solar opposites #werehog cooke #wolverine mutant frankie #mutant octopus mia #werewolf ms. perez #final battle #i’m keeping it #werebat montez #werefox kevin #weredragon randall #goliath cherie #hellhound darcy #mutant vampire jaime #wererabbit nova #sweets demon sherbet #monster fight #Werelizard janice #Medusa alice #tervo #human terry #human korvo #human Yumyulack

[princesssarisa]

Character ask: Aslan (The Chronicles of Narnia)

Favorite thing about them: His infinite love and kindness. When he's first introduced, he seems like a remote, faintly frightening, awe-inspiring deity, but gradually he reveals himself as a truly generous-hearted figure, as he shows warm affection to his devoted followers, romps and plays with Susan and Lucy like a kitten in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and sheds tears of compassion for human grief (at King Caspian's death in The Silver Chair and at Digory's grief for his dying mother in The Magician's Nephew). Like his human incarnation, Jesus, he lets himself be tortured and killed as a self-sacrifice, but where Jesus did it for the whole human race, Aslan does it to save just one boy, which further reinforces the depth of his love for all creatures. And he rewards all good deeds done in the name of another god as through they were done for himself.

Least favorite thing about them: The harsher side of his character. The side of him that claws Aravis's back as punishment for leaving a slave girl to be flogged in The Horse and His Boy, and that speaks of the many people he has "swallowed up" in The Silver Chair. Since he's a deity of justice as well as kindness, it's only natural that he has a punishing, fear-inspiring side, but for a person who doesn't care for that style of religion, it's still slightly uncomfortable. I'm glad he leans much more toward love and compassion, though; in the hands of an author more fundamentalist than Lewis, it might not have been so.

Three things I have in common with them:

*I'm loving and compassionate, or at least I try to be.

*I'm sometimes more comfortable interacting with children than with adults.

*I'm serious when I need to be, but I can be energetic and playful too (as when Aslan joyfully romps with Susan and Lucy after his resurrection).

Three things I don't have in common with them:

*I've never created a world.

*I've never sacrificed my life and then been resurrected.

*I'm not Jesus Christ in an animal form.

Favorite line:

From The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, when he explains his resurrection to Susan and Lucy:

"It means that though the Witch knew the Deep Magic, there is a magic deeper still which she did not know. Her knowledge goes back only to the dawn of Time. But if she could have looked a little further back, into the stillness and the darkness before Time dawned, she would have read there a different incantation. She would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor's stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backwards."

From The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, his allusion to his earthly identity as Jesus:

"I am [in the human world too]. But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there."

From The Magician's Nephew, the words that complete his creation of Narnia:

"Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, awake. Love. Think. Speak. Be walking trees. Be talking beasts. Be divine waters."

From the same book, foreshadowing the events of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, after Digory confesses that he brought Jadis into Narnia:

"You see, friends, that before the new, clean world I gave you is seven hours old, a force of evil has already entered it; waked and brought hither by this son of Adam. But do not be cast down. Evil will come of that evil, but it is still a long way off, and I will see to it that the worst falls upon myself. In the meantime, let us take such order that for many hundred years yet this shall be a merry land in a merry world. And as Adam's race has done the harm, Adam's race shall help to heal it."

His speech to Digory about the latter's temptation to steal a magic apple to heal his mother:

Understand, then, that it would have healed her; but not to your joy or hers. The day would have come when both you and she would have looked back and said it would have been better to die in that illness... That is what would have happened, child, with a stolen apple. It is not what will happen now. What I give you now will bring joy. It will not, in your world, give endless life, but it will heal. Go. Pluck her an apple from the Tree."

His thinly veiled foretelling of the atomic bomb and the rise of HItler:

"It is not certain that some wicked one of your race will not find out a secret as evil as the Deplorable Word and use it to destroy all living things. And soon, very soon, before you are an old man and an old woman, great nations in your world will be ruled by tyrants who care no more for joy and justice and mercy than the Empress Jadis. Let your world beware."

And at the end of The Last Battle, when he reveals to Lucy and co. that they died on earth and will now live in his paradise forever:

"The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning."

brOTP: The Friends of Narnia (Digory Kirke, Polly Plummer, the Pevensie siblings, Eustace Scrubb, and Jill Pole).

OTP: None.

nOTP: Jadis the White Witch.

Random headcanon: All-knowing though he seems, he isn't completely omniscient: his father the Emperor Beyond the Sea (i.e. God) is the only real omniscient being. So when Aslan trades his life for Edmund's in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, he doesn't know for certain that he'll be resurrected. This explains his sadness as he goes to his fate, and why he "can give no promise" that he'll take part in the battle afterwards. He knows about the prophecy that an innocent victim killed in a traitor's stead will be resurrected, but he doesn't know fore sure if it's true or not, because it had never been put to the test before. (The 1988 BBC adaptation makes this explicit.)

Unpopular opinion: I don't blame him for Susan's being left behind when her whole family dies in the train crash in The Last Battle. Unless you think he controls everything that happens either in the real world or in Narnia (which might fit with some people's beliefs, but not with mine), there's no evidence that he causes the train crash or arranges for Susan not to be on the train. To me, it seems likely that the crash would have happened no matter what; Aslan simply brings his Friends to Narnia at the moment of their deaths, to witness its end and then pass into the paradise of Real Narnia. The reason why they were all together in the first place was to try to use the magic rings from The Magician's Nephew to send Eustace and Jill back to Narnia, so Susan's rejection of Narnia was the reason why she wasn't with them. Therefore, her survival while her family dies is just a consequence of her loss of faith, not a punishment for it. And I do believe that when she eventually dies, Aslan will bring her to join her family in his country – Lewis implied as much in a letter in 1960.

Song I associate with them: None to speak of. I hope that someday The Magician's Nephew finally gets a screen adaptation, so we can actually hear a version of the magical wordless song Aslan sings to bring Narnia into being.

Favorite picture of them:

This classic illustration by Pauline Baynes, even if it does get Lucy's hair color wrong:

This illustration by Ruth Korch:

These illustrations by Deborah Maze. Aslan with Peter:

And with Lucy:

From the 1979 animated version of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (my introduction to Narnia), his first meeting with the Pevensie siblings (minus Edmund) and the Beavers:

From the 1988 BBC miniseries of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, with the Pevensie siblings:

From the poster for the 2005 Disney/Walden Media film of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe:

#character ask #the chronicles of narnia #aslan #c.s. lewis #ask game #fictional characters #tw: violence #tw: death

[autisticsupervillain]

Complete Monster Near Miss: Evil Cole MacGrath

Disqualifying Factors:

Truly cares about his friend Zeke, risking his life to save Zeke on numerous occasions and screaming in anguish after his death. I can argue away all of Cole's other redeeming qualities, but this one stays even at his worst.

Genuinely thinks he's saving humanity by killing everyone without superpowers, though the fact that the only alternative involves his own death raises questions as to how altruistic his own motives are here.

Cole gradually sheds all other redeeming qualities he demonstrates throughout the series.

Qualifications:

Heinous Standard Met: Yes

Infamous 1

One of the strongest powers in his arsenal is the Bio-Leech, where he slowly and painfully rips the bio-electricity directly out of someone's brain to empower himself.

After discovering that Sasha's minions are innocent civilians mind controlled into serving her by her toxic tar, Cole continues to mow them down without a second thought, even forcing bystanders to infect themselves with the tar for his own benefit.

Upon realizing that Sasha's tar drains his powers, Cole destroys several infected water towers full of the stuff, infecting and potentially killing hundreds of civilians just to avoid getting infected himself, brushing off his girlfriend's horrified protests all the while.

Saves a train car full of innocent civilians on Moya's orders, only to start killing them himself when they don't appreciate his rescue.

Activates the Ray Sphere, a device that absorbs the bio-electricity out of everyone around for miles to empower the Conduit using it, as soon as he gets his hands on it. When a horrified John White tries to stop him, he gets inadvertently ripped apart atom by atom, to which Cole only responds with smug satisfaction that he got what he wanted. This act is shown to have wiped out half the remaining population of Empire City and permanently locks Cole into the Evil Karma alignment, leaving him incapable of redemption.

Is completely indifferent to The Beast destroying the world and is content to simply allow it to destroy humanity so that he can keep ruling Empire City, as he doesn't consider himself human anymore. He only changes his mind in the sequel after being offered new powers in exchange for his help and then to get revenge for the Beast beating him up and taking his powers.

Infamous 2

While he was shown to have genuinely loved his girlfriend Trish in the last game, to the point of swearing revenge on her killer, that redeeming quality is completely absent by the second. The Good Karma route makes a point of showing Good Cole still mourning her loss by refusing to start a relationship with Kuo, while Cole here eagerly jumps into a relationship with the muderous thrill seeker Nix without a second thought, never even mentioning Trish.

While he does seem to have a genuinely loving relationship with Nix, even comforting her on the loss of her family, that care evaporates as soon as she turns on him. His tone of voice when asking her to join him in destroying humanity is mocking and condescending, and he doesn't show an ounce of regret after killing her.

What standards he does claim to have are entirely hypocritical. He kills a militia member for expressing joy in killing women and children, despite eagerly doing that same thing himself and berates Kuo as a coward for joining the Beast under his breath before immediately turning around and doing the exact same thing. He continuously expresses the opinion the morals don't apply to him because he has powers.

Upon finding out that the militia has set up shop in a small fishing village, Cole blows up the entire village by overcharging the generator, killing militia member and innocent alike before leaving the wounded survivors to die.

Rams a militia stronghold with a burning truck packed full of explosives, killing several of their innocent prisoners and risking Kuo's life in the process, despite supposedly trying to save her.

Manipulates the rebellion into trusting him by disguising himself as a militia and going in a rampage with a turret gun in a false flag operation, slaughtering rebel and civilian alike while gleefully threatening to kill their children and pets.

Kidnaps several of Bertrand's swamp monsters to turn them into his own personal army, despite knowing that they're all innocent civilians that Bertrand had forcibly transformed into mindless, bloodthirsty beasts.

His idea of going on a date with Nix is to go on a rampage with her across the city, throwing cars at buildings and slaughtering civilians in mass.

Upgrades his Bio-Leech power to be even more deadly, allowing him to drain the life out of dozens of people simultaneously.

While his joining up with the Beast is mostly driven by him genuinely believing it's the only way to save the human race from the plague, the fact that the only other cure would kill him played a big role in his decision, despite the fact that said cure would not kill nearly as many people.

Slaughters all of his former allies when he joins the Beast, only showing regret when he kills Zeke.

When the Beast expresses regret for all the people he has and will kill, Cole urges him to keep going. The Beast grants Cole his powers knowing that Cole will see the mission through, allowing Cole to personally destroy all of mankind, leaving only superhuman Conduits left to rule the Earth. The final shot we get before the credits role is Cole preparing to vaporize a city as innocent civilians beg for their lives.

Played Seriously: Yes

While Cole is not afraid to crack jokes, he's still a power hungry monster who is completely indifferent to human life. The list of people he cares about is short and grows shorter whenever they inconvenience him and he's depicted as a barely human monster by the end of inFAMOUS 1.

No Mitigating Factors: No

See Above. Even after killing him, Cole still mourns Zeke's death.

@starmeadowsystem @bumblingbee1

#complete monster #cm near miss #infamous #evil cole macgrath

[mythicaldemigoddess-of-deltarune]

Hazbinrune AU: Chara Wants To Keep Vark...(2024)

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[Note: I plan to use this drawing as Cover for a Future Chapter over at Quotev, so it will be for both here and over there. also just in case some of the words that Chara and Toriel are saying are a bit hard to read, please make sure to click on the drawing to make it bigger. ]

Credit for Hazbin Hotel & Helluva Boss goes to Vivienne “Vivziepop” Medrano

Credit for Undertale goes to Toby Fox

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[Note-2: in case some might not be able to read the very small letters still, here is what Toriel is saying after telling Chara "No" about keeping Vark…" *sigh* Fine, we may keep him…at least for now, but if someone comes looking for him, we must return him. I can see you love this…Vark, but you must not put up a fight when he must go back to his family.".........I had to edit this in, in case that might be a bit too small even if the drawing is made bigger by clicking on it. but I hope some can still read those words even if they are a bit smaller than the other words that Toriel and Chara were saying to each other in this drawing.]

Chara's Sinner form is a little deer, and Toriel's Sinner form is a mix of what she originally looked like when she was alive, but also one of those demons that look like a goats with a candle on their head.

oh right, they are called Baphomet,

this would be a Bapho-Toriel, so yeah her Sinner form is a Baphomet which would be linked to why she ends up being a mix of her original goat form but a Baphomet version of it.

like depending on what forms Toriel, Asgore, Undyne, Alphys and Mettaton takes when they end up in Hell in a Crossover AU that has Undertale, Deltarune, Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss in it...

their forms will be a mix of their original forms, but also be a hybrid version that will be a mix of what type of sin they had in their life when they were just mortal monsters living on Earth.

and it would be likely that both Asgore and Toriel would become Sinner Baphomets.

and the reasons why Asgore, Toriel, Undyne, Alphys and Mettaton would end up be in Hell after the whole Geno Route...

might have to do with the Human Children, while in a True Pacifist Ending, those Human Children may have come back to life, because after Frisk wakes up after saving everyone from Asriel, you can go back to the basement and see that the coffins are all open.

meaning that the human souls went back into the bodies after the barrier was broken.

and if most monsters didn't end up trapped in the underground, then some of them could of married some humans much later on, and well zinged with humans if we think of it like Hotel Transylvania.

and some who were originally born human but have a human & monster parent, might go through some changes like how Dennis does in Hotel Transylvania 2.

Mettaton might end up becoming a hybrid version of his robot body, and a Incubus, having to do with his love and lust to be famous, like it being a mix of both a positive and negative.

Undyne wouldn't look much different from when she was alive, but her Sinner form will have her good eye have those swirls like what Chaz and Striker has, and she will end up having a shark tail in her Sinner Demon form.

still being a mix of her original form of course.

Alphys would likely not look all that different, still looking the same but she would still get a hybrid version of her original form on how she looked when she was alive, that will be translated into her Sinner Demon form.

Papyrus would of originally been send to Heaven, but chose to go and be where Sans is...

Papyrus never really kills the Player or Frisk in the game, he only damages them and the Player enough where we can no longer fight and sends us to the Shed.

Papyrus is a precious cinnamon roll who is too pure for both this world as well as Heaven and Hell, he must be protected.

I don't think Valentino's powers could work on Papyrus.

and even if Angel did hit on Papyrus, he would give off that adorkablee sweet cinnamon roll side...

so there is the Cinnamon Rolls Papyrus and Niffty, one that might seem dangerous but is really adorkable sweetheart, and another one is a cinnamon roll that would match the song "Crazy Chicks" by Ken Ashcorp. I like that song. :)

so yeah, Niffty does seem to match the song "Crazy Chicks"...

I'm still going to Fam her with Angel, and possibly Husk.

yeah him being protective her and how he made Husk look after her, makes me view Angel being like a Dad to Niffty, and to me, he still looked like he was being a bit like Helicopter Dad.

in a Poly-Ship that is also a Crossover, that is Blitzhusk with Angel Dust....they would be like Niffty's Three Dads.

Blitzwing from TFA acting like a Helicopter Dad to Niffty as well, would be interesting in a Crossover.

and yeah using the words "I Fam It" when it comes to Angel & Niffty, is better to use so it doesn't get confused for the whole romantic ships, which is why you never use "I ship it" on non-romantic ships or even call it a ship, it should still be a unspoken rule and should only be pointed out some times.

if Blitzwing, Angel and Husk did end up in a Poly-Ship together, even if Angel might stay in the Friend Zone and a Poly-Ship might not really happen...

the ship names for them would still be Blitzhusk, but also adding Huskdust but also the ship name of Blitzwing x Angel with their Poly-Ship name...

like Blitzdust along with whatever poly-ship name that might fit.

not sure if Angelblitzhusk would fit....maybe Dustblitzhusk

or maybe Angeblitzhusk...? or just let it be just their current ship names for now, which would be Blitzhusk, Huskdust and Blitzdust.

if Sari could tease Angel along with the help of Molly and Cherri, they would sing a parody version of "I wont say I'm in love"...

with Sari singing the part "who ya think your kidding, he's the Earth and the Well Of All Sparks to you." XD

I think I and some fans will possibly freak out if it turns out Huskdust is gonna be canon in the future, they do seem to be doing better and it's good that in the show, that Huskdust is starting out in the friend zone and being platonic and can work up at some point to romantic.

and yeah as weird as it might sound, the different ways Valentino speaks in the episode where Vox finds out that Alastor had returned after being gone for 7 years, makes me wonder if Valentino has a bit of a split personality.

and well if they do have pills to deal with split personalities, even for the semi type ones, Val could of stop taking his at some point.

we get like possibly three different sides of Val that is shown, and for all we know if it were true, the ones who knows about him having split personalities would be Vox and Velvette.

I mean I can't be the only one who notice how his accent seem to change in that one episode, which made that weird idea pop into my head, that he might have a slight split personality, and there being like more than just two, but one of them is the most dominant.

and well I think normally, one's accent changing between one and the other, wouldn't have to do with a split personality, but when it comes to Valentino, I can't help but wonder if he might actually have split personalities.

one being Jealous and Aggravated Val, the other being Sweet and Loving Val, and the other being Sassy but Harsh Val.

I guess each side of him could go by "Jealous-Val", "Sweet-Val" and "Harsh-Val"...

and well if it did turn out to be true, his eyes could change color depending on what personality comes out, which is of course I remember I had used that idea before, and well there was a friend who I think ended up using the same but for different ideas, but I think the whole different split personalities being used and shown through the different color of eyes, can be a multi-fan use thing and being for different ideas for anyone and it depends on what type and how many split personalities there are.

the color change to Val's eyes wouldn't be notice, because he wears his glasses that also possibly keep him from going crazy when in front of bright light...

like normal and dominate Val, will have his normal eye color, while his other personalities will have Jealous-Val's eyes go Green, Sweet-Val's eyes going into a type of Light Pink and well Harsh-Val could have the same color eyes as Val when he is in his dominate personality.

if Toriel had to troll Valentino, it should be with that song

"Does Your Mama Know?" that was in that first Mamma Mia Movie.

and her Sinner Demon form (which is a hybrid form of her original form) has a candle and fire, so Valentino would be the Moth to the flame that is Toriel.

I think it be funny if Chara could get Vark to keep Valentino from flirting with Toriel, even if Toriel can handle herself.

if Alphys did have a type of hybrid Sinner Demon form that is a mix with what she looked like when she was alive, she could end up having Imp horns, and maybe succubus wings and her tail mostly staying the same but with that spade shape at the end.

in a Crossover with Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss, Undertale and Deltarune...

when a Monster dies and does end up in the afterlife, they will be a hybrid version of their monster form where they will either be a Winner Angel or a Sinnner Demon.

and seeing as some of the Monsters (but not all of them) in Undertale are hypocrites when trying to take human children's souls...

they will end up in Pentagram City when Frisk goes down the Geno Route and in theory after they do so, the red soul could end up being taken by Chara and transmigrated to Deltarune's World.

and it could be possible some Sinner forms, would be because of a relation to a parent, so Chara's form being a Deer was because of them supposing to be the child of Alastor.

but the idea I have, he doesn't know and well I can try to work on the idea more when I can.

I hope I can work more on that magic spell I'm working on, maybe I can wait a few hours or so to work more on it.

and I wish I had posted this and the other drawings up much sooner around which would be yesterday now...

but when I went to lay down and ended up going to sleep, I didn't wake back up until around 10 Pm.

but yeah, I will try to get to the whole working on that magic spell when I can, and maybe I can try to write a healing and protection spell when I'm able to...

yeah I'm a Weird Earth Angel Princess, but I wouldn't be me if I didn't have my weird side, and it might be good that I'm not 100% like Other Earth Angels. plus my weird side would be their for me even at times when I feel not great, and have those days when I'm feeling down.

and if I want to try to make a spell that let's me take a type of vacation...that is my choice, even if it will need me to sleep, and well if it works how I want it to, the world I go to, using my Astral-Dream Body...

the time there should only have 9 months pass while in this world, it would only be 3 hours. that is what I want the spell to be program with and it is gonna be a very long spell I think...and there is still some stuff that needs to be added in.

Charlie and Emily standing up to those Eon-Boomers, would make me want to play The Song "That's My Girl" by Fifth Harmony.

and if it weren't for the fact I still believe there were other humans that came before Adam, which would of got the version from the Hazbin Hotel, off his high horse if he found this out...

Adam from Hazbin Hotel, would be technically a Eon-Boomer as well.

and if that version of Adam was real, I would want to punch him really hard in the arm in that court room.

and if he asks what that was for, I would simply say this...

"That is for being a Terrible Dad To Grunkle-Grandpa Cain."

Peepaw Adam should get a strong punch to the arm, as well as the cold hands to face punishment, it is of the will of the Embodiment of Weirdness. XD

I still want to give the Adam from our universe the cold hands to face punishment, and that goes for the Lucifer from our universe as well.

so help me if the Lucifer from Hazbin Hotel turns out to be Cain's Bio-Dad, which would end up making Cain the Older Half-Brother of Charlie.....I'm so gonna tease Charlie's Dad in the next fan-art where not only I will call him by that nickname "Adorkable Apple Goober"

but I will also add the word "Peepaw" which would make him "Adorkable Apple Goober Peepaw"...

but like in this universe no matter which Angel who is suppose to be Cain's Bio-Dad, the Adam from our universe would still be considered his real father even if not by blood, but doesn't mean he doesn't show how much of a Gray-Parent he was and both he and Eve had those moments they were kind of bad at parenting both Cain and Abel.

and plus no matter if it is Lucifer or even Samael, they ain't the boss of me.

get ready for the Feminine Revolution where some Earth Angels try to heal and protect this world when the Masculine Angels cross a line and go too far.

of course talking about a Feminine Revolution, made me want to listen to the RWBY song called "This Will Be The Day"

of course the whole Feminine Revolution, should be handled a bit more civilized, and not make the same mistakes as some Eon-Boomers. and I ain't gonna make other Earth Angels be a part of it.

if I have to go all solo on this with well, trying to pray to both the Heavenly Father and Earthly Mother for the Toxic-Masculine and even the Toxic-Feminine Energy not to get any stronger and for the Earth and the Feminine energy to heal properly, then I will do my best. but maybe with luck there will still be some other Earth Angels who will do the same, regardless if they read this or not...

and one of the problems that comes with Toxic-Masculine energies, shows in some Toxic-Religious people, like that guy that peeved me off and who I had talked about before which would be yesterday now.

after listening to the RWBY song "This Will Be The Day",

I decided to listen to "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" by Agnes, and I plan to listen to "Release Me" by Agnes as well.

it matches how I feel, how I want the Masculine energy to stop breaking my heart and for it to release me when it gets Toxic, well the Toxic-Feminine is still bad but like I said a few times or many times, it isn't as high or as dangerous as it's Masculine counterpart that has been around for centuries.

and Lucifer picked a bad time to do his little rebellion when that should of been fixed and tended to properly.

that is one of the reasons I want to give him the cold hands to face punishment, I mean if it were possible...

I don't care if it turns out he is taller than me, I would try to stand on my tip-toes to reach his face and put my hands on each side of his face, but only if my hands are cold.

anyway, besides that stuff...I can also believe there is life on other planets and there could be other life forms, like for all we know it could be possible that the species from the Halo and Mass Effect Game Series, it could be possible.

and anyway I will be posting a fan theory about who I believe is Grim Jr.'s Dad is from the Comic series called Grim Tales From Down Below, which is obvious for a mature audience only.

ya know, maybe it be a good idea to have the rating for Yandere Simulator be 18+, even if it wouldn't have certain mature elements in it....but maybe it could help a lot if those under 17, don't play it.

and well, maybe I can talk about my reasons on hoping the rating for the game be 18+, maybe either later today or maybe another time.

I will talk about the Grim Tales Theory about Grim Jr.'s Dad maybe in a little while, maybe after checking out some fan art and maybe grabbing something to snack on.

anyway if some want to draw Toriel in her Sinner form, that is in this drawing, they can, but make sure to give me credit...I'm saying this in case some like this AU version of Toriel, but the chances of some liking it enough to want to draw it, is probably very slim.

anyway I'm going to go and check out some more fan art and other stuff on here, and well then later I will post that theory that has to do with Grim Jr.

and I hope some like the idea about Chara wanting to adopt Vark as their pet, the idea just seems to fit for a Crossover AU even if it is not canon and it would be in a Fanon Timeline only. :)

#do not reblog without permission #crossover fanart #undertale fanart #hazbin hotel fanart #helluva boss fanart #vark hazbin hotel #chara dreemurr #chara undertale #toriel undertale #sinner demon #deer demon #goat demon #february 2024

[yes-i-am-a-genius]

S̸̖͍̈́C̴̞̑À̸̯̲Ŗ̵̣͂L̶̹̮̅E̸̱͗T̸͇̞̐ ̵̮̮̄̍W̵̩̟͋I̶̖͊̽T̷̜̩͗͠C̴͓͍̓̕H̵͓̏̈́

It was better. Pietro's murder was less painful and she was starting to find normality again. It never went away, you can't unsee your twin brother being shot by a mass killer nor can you forget the feeling of plunging a knitting needles through the shooter's throat.

--

Wanda sat across the room from her therapist, by now she'd found the pattern. This was the terms in which to avoid being indited on killing the shooter-- strange how one gets in trouble for being a hero.

"I'm better! I'm holding down a job at a local preschool, the kids love me and I love them. I've also met someone, he's really sweet." Wanda and the therapist started with her work, discussing if she felt safe in a school with the rising danger of school shootings. "I'd protect the children like they were my own." She said. Wanda noticed how the therapist took notes on it. "Of course I'd follow protocol, but their safety is my priority." There was no argument in that statement, rather, how Wanda would handle the scenario.

Wanda was less forthcoming with her new romantic partner. She didn't want to "Jynx it." She was a hopeless romantic and a bit superstitious.

"He's a behavioral profiler." She began, "I was working for a clinic that treated SMI patients and his mother introduced us. Kinda funny now that I say it out loud." She mused. They both talked about the twists of fate. Wanda thought it ironic she who'd blamed the United States government for her parents' deaths, now had butterflies for one of their agents.

Wanda casually thumbed a small crystal pendant she wore. Tuning out the therapist and thinking about her date later that night. She wanted to ask him to go steady, but, she was nervous. They were going to see a ballet later that night and she wanted to look her best. Wanda couldn't decide whether to buy a new dress or wear one she had in her closet.

--

As she drove home, Wanda couldn't recall the conversation with the therapist. She'd been lost in her own daydreams again; a safe haven from intrusive events that could trigger her. It wasn't uncommon for there to be gaps in her memories. She considered herself a bit more forgetful than others. Her thoughts of living in different realities, ones where superheroes like herself could solve the worlds' hardest obstacles.

In this "better world," she could have a family of her own and problems could always be solved without the lingering pain of grief and regret.

Wanda couldn't recall exactly when she started fantasizing these things. Gotham, her "better world" was her sanctuary. The place inside her mind was a home away from home. It wasn't real. As much as she wished it was, it wasn't. While conflict existed in her mind, Wanda always had a fantastical and Supers way of solving every problem. She could think of several ways to save Pietro from the mass shooting; with powers like hers, she could've simply made the gun fire flower petals instead of bullets or used her magic to detain or kill the shooter. There was always a way to overcome the bad things, here, it was too permanent. Here she was powerless to fight back.

Her eyes burned with tears, tears she didn't realize she was shedding. She quickly wiped them away and shook her head, confused by her body's reaction.

"You try to escape your grief rather than face it. You've suffered a serious trauma, Wanda, nobody expects you to just smile through it."

That's what Wanda remembered most from her therapy sessions. It was true, she never doubted the reality of her pain. But what good would crying do? It wouldn't bring Pietro back and it wouldn't have stopped the shooter who ripped him from her. She couldn't save Pietro but she stopped the shooter from taking more lives.

Wanda slammed on the brakes, her tires screaming to a halt as a car barreled through a red light and was heading toward her. She raised her hands as they ignited in a scarlet light. She hit the ground, rolling to a stop as metal smashed and roared behind her. She sat up, looking herself over with confusion, then up at her totaled car. Wanda took several deep breaths, piecing together how she got from her car then outside in a split second.

With her hands glowing she stood, her heart raced and nerves ignited in a torrent of adrenaline.

This was no accident. Woman emerged from the car, like Wanda there was only scrapes on her. She was one of them, a Gifted.