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nami-writes · 1 year

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[ an apple | a day | (keeps the doctor) away ]

and the trilogy is complete!

content warnings: starvation, begging, panic attack, bad caretaker (but he's trying!)

They’re out.

After spending an hour painstakingly convincing Villain to swipe the keycard off the doctor, speeding through the city as far as they could get from the Heroes’ headquarters, they finally step into the apartment, Guard securely locking and deadbolting the door shut behind them.

Villain looks distant, not quite grounded in the reality of his newfound freedom. His knuckles are turning white from gripping the keycard so tightly, as if letting go will put him right back in his cell. He stands by the door motionless but just the sight of Villain in front of a wall not made of drab concrete makes Guard finally realize how far they’ve gotten.

They did it.

“We did it,” he says aloud just to let it sink in. “Holy shit. We did it.”

Villain’s eyes stare blankly ahead and he fidgets with the keycard, turning it over in his trembling hands without ever looking at it, bending it harshly. He doesn’t even seem to notice until the card snaps apart.

“Sorry,” he mutters, the first word he's said since they got in the car. “I’ll… I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“You don't want dinner?”

Villain starts toward the couch. “No, sir.”

One day Guard has to tell him he doesn't need to call him that. Today, though, Villain’s malnourishment is the bigger issue. “You look like you're going to collapse any minute. You need to eat.”

Villain doesn't respond as he lies down.

“I'll start dinner and let you know when it's ready.”

He comes to the table when called but only sits there staring down at his food, poking idly at it with his fork. He doesn’t speak. He doesn’t excuse himself from the table. Just sits there.

“What’s wrong?” Guard asks.

“Nothing.” Yeah, he expected as much.

“Come on. You’re finally getting a good, non-prison food meal, and you’re not eating it but nothing’s wrong?” He crosses his arms. “I don’t buy it.”

Villain’s fork stills. “Sick,” he mumbles.

“You still feel sick?”

He gives a small nod. “‘M sorry. I’m… I’m wasting your food.”

“No, I don’t mind. I get it, you’re still used to tiny rations of prison food,” he says. “The only thing I have a problem with is the lying.”

Villain shrinks into himself, head hung pitifully. “S-sorry. I’m— I’m sorry, sir.”

Maybe he should’ve saved this conversation for later. Confronting him now is just making him more anxious than he needs to be. “It’s fine. I’m not mad. I just… don’t like being lied to when I’m trying to help you, you know?”

“Yes sir,” he answers shakily. “Yes sir, I understand.” He manages to fork one bite of food into his mouth like that’ll be enough to satisfy Guard. “Can, can I go now?”

Villain can’t possibly be full but Guard has caused him enough anxiety tonight. “Yeah. Sure. You don’t need permission.”

“Thank you, sir.”

He doesn’t look up once as he makes his way back to the couch. Guard doesn’t end up eating much of his dinner either.

—

Guard wakes up to the sound of the door jiggling and his first instinct is to jump out of bed and rush downstairs. Someone’s trying to break in. He should’ve changed out those millennia-old locks ages ago, he knew they wouldn’t have held up much longer.

When he flicks on the lights, however, the supposed burglar turns out to be Villain, frozen in place as Guard stares him down.

“What are you doing?”

“I-I’m sorry,” Villain stammers, taking a step away from the door. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to try and sneak out, I didn’t, I just, I—”

Sneak out?

Guard steps forward but Villain stumbles back, hands searching behind him for somewhere to hide. What he finds instead is the shelf in the corner that holds Guard’s video games. “Please,” he says on the verge of tears, “please, I’m sorry, I-I should’ve, I should’ve asked permission, I s-should’ve—”

His breathing grows erratic and Guard realizes— he’s hyperventilating. “Hey. Shit, hey— it’s fine. It’s fine. I’m not mad. Slow down, breathe, it’s fine.”

He steps toward Villain but Villain only steps backward into the shelf, seeming to not even notice the wooden ledges digging into his back. It’s only when he finds nowhere else to go that he makes a run for the stairs.

“Villain!”

Guard starts to chase him but Villain yanks a chair behind him and clumsily jumps the dining table, knocking the vase on top over with a crash before scrambling up the stairs. Guard only stares at the mess of ceramic shards and water.

God damn it.

He’s torn between going after him and cleaning up the mess to avoid either of them slipping or getting hurt, but only for a moment. Upstairs he can hear frantic footsteps and a door slamming. Now he’s mad. It’s two in the fucking morning and he has neighbors and now a mess to clean too, but that’s not going to help calm Villain down and if he doesn’t calm him down he might just hurt himself.

This is stupid. He should be asleep. But he still sidesteps the broken vase and the chair on the floor and dashes upstairs to the only room with a closed door.

It’s blocked off. It opens maybe an inch but something heavy on the other side stops it. “Villain, I know you’re in there! Move this out of the way, I just want to talk.”

Villain sniffles between sobs on the other side of the door. Footsteps patter back and forth. He’s pacing. A bang sounds out, something hitting the wall. Mumbles Guard can’t make out.

“Villain, come on. I’m not gonna hurt you. Promise.”

There’s a loud, plasticky squeak and Guard realizes— this room has a window.

“Villain!” He bangs on the door and tries to shove whatever’s on the other side away. “Villain, I’m serious! Don’t do whatever I think you’re about to do! Villain, I swear—”

Silence. Almost so much that Guard thinks Villain really jumped out until he hears a sniffle behind the door. Wood drags on wood and the door falls open with Guard’s weight. He catches himself just in time.

The window is open and Villain is nowhere in sight. Guard has to turn around to find him cowering on the floor behind the closet blocking the door. He’s trembling so hard Guard can see it from where he stands and his face is hidden in his knees.

“Jesus,” Guard breathes. His heartbeat begins to slow with relief. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“I-I’m sorry.” He doesn’t lift his head but his voice shakes with fear. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

He doesn’t stop apologizing, almost robotically. Like he thinks if he proves he’s sorry enough he’ll be spared whatever punishment he thinks he’s going to receive. “Look, just— don’t worry about it. I accept your apology. You’re good.” He grits his teeth only a little bit. He’s just tired, he tells himself. “I was just scared you were going to jump out the window.”

Villain doesn’t stop apologizing. “I shouldn’t have run, I, I’m sorry sir, I should’ve, should’ve been g-good, should’ve… I’m sorry, I’m s-sorry…”

“Did you hear what I said?” he asks. It comes off as snappy but he doesn’t mean for it to. Maybe it’s good, though— it catches Villain’s attention fast. “I accepted your apology, okay? That means you don’t need to apologize anymore.”

He lifts his head just the tiniest bit. “...You’re not mad?”

Guard considers lying. It won’t do either of them any good, though. “I am mad. I’m upset that you made a mess in my kitchen and woke me up and probably my neighbors too.” He can see how much Villain tenses. “But I’m also tired, and it’s not that serious. I’m just worried about you and I haven’t slept enough to have my shit fully together yet.”

“...Oh.” He stares in disbelief. “I, um… I’m sorry. Sir. For making you worry. I-I’ll clean up the mess downstairs, I won’t do it again, I’ll be quiet even if you— if you punish me now.”

“No punishment, Villain. It’s not that bad,” he says. “Just get some sleep. If I’m tired, you must be exhausted. I’ll clean up.”

“But I made the mess. I… I b-broke your, your vase.”

Guard frowns. “Cleaning up isn’t a punishment for either of us. I just don’t want anyone to slip or get hurt.”

“Then I’ll help,” he perks up, then hesitates. “If— if you allow it. Sir.”

“You sure? You can go to sleep if you want. I won’t be mad at you for that.”

He nods. “I’ll help clean up.”

—

“Can I ask something you might not want to answer?”

Villain looks up from where he’s cleaning up the spilled water. “Yes, sir.”

“Were you really trying to sneak out?”

He averts his eyes back to the wet paper towels on the floor. “I, um…”

“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. I just… want to know if something’s wrong. So I can help.”

“I’m sorry, I… I didn’t mean to lie about that, sir,” he mumbles. “I just— I was s-scared, I didn’t, I didn’t want to be, um, in t-trouble, for trying to…”

“I get it. It’s fine, I’m not upset,” he says. “It’s just that I don’t understand why. It’s not safe for you outside. Why do you want to leave?”

Villain wipes up the water. He pretends to be too focused on the task at hand to answer just yet. Finally, he shrugs. “I’m still a villain.”

Oh.

It's guilt.

“Where were you going to go?”

There’s only one possible answer to that question. Only one place would ever actively want him. Villain doesn’t even need to answer.

“You can stay here as long as you want, you know. You’re safe here.”

Villain doesn’t respond so Guard leaves it at that. A reassurance of his safety. He empties his dustpan into the trash can, ceramic crunching as it falls, and leans it against the wall with the broom. “You gonna be okay finishing up on your own?”

“I guess.”

“Okay.” Guard picks up the fallen chair and makes his way to the stairs. “Call for me if you need me, okay?”

Villain nods. “Yes, sir.”

“Night.”

#writing #original writing #whump #cw starvation #cw begging #cw panick attack #cw bad caretaker #didnt know how to end this im ngl #but the concept and the dynamic are really interesting to me #would come back to this in the future but uhh i'd have to figure out the legal ramifications of #guard literally breaking out a citywide threat directly from the heroes' hq #we'll have to see if i feel up to that

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dragondawdles · 1 year

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the beastie <3

#totk spoilers #<- (? yet another schrödinger's spoiler she shows up during the beginning sequence but uhhh just 2 be safe)#totk #light dragon #the light dragon #totk light dragon #loz #tloz #zelda #id in alt #dragon doodles #(I don't know the TAGS for this fandom grrgrhgrgrhg I'll decide eventually)#hiiiiiii so the uh new zelda game was good. I beat that after 140 hours like a week ago (explode emoji)#and now I'm brainrotting zelda HARD which means I have feelings about like 17 dudes all at once #we'll have to see if that means I'll bombard you with characters!! lately art's been blah but I've got some stuff cooking hopefully #hey I'm happy with this tho!! happy with tha beastie :]#this worm is my best friend

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welcometogrouchland · 2 months

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[ID in ALT] I've made posts before about Talia/Dick co-parenting Damian moments (will never happen but let me dream) and this came to me in a vision. Took me ages to finish for some reason 😭 and then even longer to post

#dc comics #dc #damian wayne #dick grayson #talia al ghul #batfamily #dc robin #nightwing #anyway. yes im a self-indulgent ''dick as damians secret third parent'' truther #like i DO think it's way more complex and nuanced than the schmoopy affectionate fan portrayal of it #they're brothers they're father and son they're partners they're the dynamic duo except only in past tense etc etc #but consider! I'm not immune to schmoopy affection in fanworks. it compells me despite itself #anyway it's technically not that crazy when it comes to dick and damian. they hug! often! at least they did #it's not as big a leap to these types of scenarios #also talia ''somewhat absent for complex reasons on both her and damians part but very loving and loved by her son'' al ghul #you will always be famous to me #son of the demon origin...bwahhh #anyway. someone made a comic kind of like this/like a post i made abt this topic #but way funnier bc dick and talia starting trying to beat each other up #so go look at that as well #anyway. it's been a somewhat difficult few weeks so I'm. desperately trying to take it easy #i got some reading with me (first vol of kevin smiths GA run that i found second hand and jaimes BB run vol 2!)#so we'll see how far i get through those. considering there's demons in my head telling me to re-read things (LET ME OUT!!!)#when i finish GA and BB i do plan on rereading robin 2021. as a treat to myself #it's a run I've really warmed up to as time went on #I'm keeping up w/ the current b&r run even though it is. admittedly very slow w/ some weird dialogue #i read it for the damian content more than anything. also nikas back so that's neat :]#idk I have a feeling that after absolute power shakes out we might get some more creative team switch ups #so if anyone at dc is interested in taking over the reigns on b&r...that could be very neat #mine

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b4kuch1n · 2 months

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podcast people in my phone

#sherlock and co #s&co #sherlock holmes #john watson #mariana ametxazurra #been messin around with this piece for like over a week now. I think this is just mostly to have a general pointer of their design in my #''proper'' style. literally named this file cover.png in my folders lmao #I feel like it isnt as candycore as the chibi version. but its still at a level of colors Im happy with. thats good for me #love giving john watson the default medium-size v-neck when canonically he wears like exclusively merch tees #(maybe its under the v-neck lets all believe that)#anyways. things are moving! lotsa stuff I cant show anyone but my coconspirators... but Im sitting on. Some stuff #gettin there with work... settin up stuff... being insane in march.... da whole package #gonna be having. a real interesting week soon. we'll see what comes of it!#but for now. I sleep. have a good night lads! look both ways before crossing the street

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knaccblog · 9 months

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We all know that when Crowley says, "You can't leave this bookshop", what he's really saying is, "You can't leave this life we've made together", but he's too scared to include himself explicitly in it, right? It's like in the fight about Gabriel where Crowley says he wants Gabriel "nowhere near the precious, peaceful, fragile existence he's carved out for himself" but we all know he's just talking about Aziraphale because whenever he's actually talking to Jim or himself, he's only worried about what will happen to Aziraphale, not himself in the slightest. Worrying what will happen to himself is a facade he pulls up in front of Aziraphale to deflect from how deeply he loves him.

On the other hand, when Aziraphale says, "Oh Crowley, nothing lasts forever", he's really saying, "I love you so much that I am willing to give up all my most precious worldly possessions to assure that you are given the treatment and reinstatement you so deserve." His tone of voice and his face are both all love even.

Like it's just so amazingly sad that what Crowley is reading as rejection, as "you're not good enough as you are", is almost definitely Aziraphale saying he loves him more than everything else and thinks he's the most truly good soul he knows?

#good omens #good omens meta #ineffable husbands #ineffable partners #aziracrow #aziraphale #crowley #good omens crowley #GOS2 Spoilers #good omens season 2 spoilers #My GO Thoughts and Feels #these two have to stop talking in subtext I'm begging them its for their own good #like this is a master class in how to have two characters talk past each other #it's soooo messy emotionally but really great writing #today we're being brave and posting another one #we'll see if I keep this up lols

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finncakes · 1 year

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mothafuckin' tanks bitch!!!! 💥👊💥

redraw of photo under the cut

#critical role #bells hells #deni$e #denise bembachula #orym #orym of the air ashari #ashton greymoore #deni$e bembachula #cr3 #I LOVE THESE THREE #orym & the two barbarians that are so so charmed by him #all their interactions have been excellent #that conversation between orym & deni$e is living in my head rent free #and ofc 20 ep later still thinking abt ep 40 boat conversation #pls reach out orym....or ashton check on him :((#they've been nonstop i feel like team wildemount had like. a lil more of a chance to talk abt their feelings and stuff before uthodurn #anyway realizing there is a likelihood that when they finally scry they will just see chetney stealing #cause they only have stuff that links to him & if it's during the whole thing with umudara (sp?) then he is not with the group LOL #we'll see ! cause i'm sure matt is keeping track of the days and how they're lining up #anyway this is my long-winded way of saying i want it to be thursday already #feel bad that i'm more pumped for this group than i was for wildemount...but look #two out of three of my faves are here. the ship i'm routing for is together. the guests are all my brands (and AMIEE).#there's also no background wondering how the other group is doing and once this is done we're back to the full group #and ALSO high likelihood that hishari stuff will show up....and i have been WAITING #HISHARI I LOVE U #i have so many thoughts swimming in my brian this is where i release them #GOD OK AND ORYM THOUGHTS. SO MANY ABT HIM I AM SEEING MORE PARALLELS BETWEEN HIM & ASHTON THEY NEED TO TALK.#AND ASHTON ALMOST START /THE CONVERSATION/ THEY'VE BEEN AVOIDING ABT THE HISHARI BUT QUICKLY STOPPED #GIRL TALK TO HIM !!!!!!!!!#OK if you read all this thank you i love u byeeeeee

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static-radio-ao3 · 1 day

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@jegulus-microfic // may 22 // prompt: control // words: 1169

“We should eat soon. Do you have any preference?” James asks as he glances into his rearview mirror.

“No, I'm easy,” Regulus replies. He swipes at his phone again, mindlessly opening the calculator before closing it again. He's been alternating between the calculator and the weather app for the better part of an hour no, nothing else to do on his phone and a deep reluctance to have an actual conversation with James.

He looks up at James when there’s no response. It takes a second for his own words to register and with a sigh he adds, “I meant easy to please.”

Again, the double meaning snatches James’ attention. “I'm just not picky,” Regulus grounds out.

“Yeah,” James scoffs. “I can tell.”

Regulus drops his phone on his lap, turning his head to give James his full attention. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” But evidently it is not nothing, because James waits barely a second before continuing with, “It’s just that you barely waited for the bed to get cold.”

“Excuse me?” Incredulity bleeds into his voice.

“I heard that you went out a lot.”

“With my friends.” Late nights wallowing on the couch were only accepted for so long until they started tugging at him with impatient hands, dragging him out of the house and into this club, then that one.

They told him that the best way to get over someone was to get under someone else, but Regulus never did take anyone home. Any pair of hands that didn't belong to James made his skin crawl.

“And we all know how your friends feel about you,” James says harshly.

“Okay, seriously, what the fuck is your damage, James?” Regulus twists in his seat, staring holes into James’ side profile. His messy hair and wire-frame glasses. His cheeks are flushed with anger, but Regulus doesn’t think James has anything to be angry about.

“What's my damage?” James asks, eyes flitting over to Regulus. “What are you, twelve?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Do I?”

Regulus laughs, short and joyless, before dropping back into his seat. His eyes fall shut as he lets his head thud against the headrest. “And I remember, suddenly, why this didn’t work.”

“Yeah? Was it your incessant need to be in control?”

“No, actually. It was your complete and utter inability to listen.”

“Oh, I think I hear you loud and clear,” James scoffs, and Regulus resists the urge to just crawl out the car window. He’s slight enough, he thinks he could fit. As a matter of fact —

“Stop the car.”

“What?”

“You heard me, stop the fucking car.”

“Regulus, you're not walking all the way to Sirius' house. We still have three hours to go.”

“I don't care. Stop. The. Car.”

“What's your damage?”

“My damage is that I'm stuck in a car with you with nowhere else to go!”

It's silent for a beat. Then two.

“Well, I'm sorry you feel that way,” James says eventually, before harshly turning the dial to turn up the volume.

They drive to the roadside restaurant in silence. Or well, as silent as can be with the music playing loud enough that Regulus can’t hear himself think. Just as well. He wasn’t thinking anything nice.

James makes the executive decision to pass by a drive-through, probably to prevent having to spend more time in each other’s company than strictly necessary. Regulus can’t say that he minds.

No words are exchanged as they eat, but when Regulus reaches for his drink in the cupholder, James speaks again.

“Do you still like vanilla milkshakes?” He inclines his head toward the cup in Regulus’ hand. James always teased him about choosing the most boring flavor, but vanilla is a classic and Regulus stands by it.

Regulus has the urge to make a snide comment, but he swallows it down. Glances over at James, tense in his seat, both hands on the steering wheel. It unnerves Regulus a little, seeing James like this. He is supposed to be loose limbs and easy smiles. Not… this.

“Yeah, do— do you still like those cherries?” Regulus asks, holding out his cup for James in case he wants the maraschino cherry that sits on top of the whipped cream. James plucks it out of the swirl with ease, like they never stopped doing this.

“Do you still go to the diner down the street?”

They used to go often. The 24/7 diner, red and white tiles on the walls, cracked leather in the booths. They spent late nights there, when studying took priority over cooking and everything else was closed. Appearing again on a Saturday morning, soaking up the alcohol that still lingered in their systems. Salty and sweet kisses shared next to the jukebox.

“No, it—” Regulus catches himself before he says something embarrassing like it hasn’t been the same without you. “It’s been a while,” he says instead.

“I see.”

Regulus squeezes his eyes shut, black spots swimming in his vision. Then, before he can chicken out, he asks the first thing that comes to mind.

“Does your mom still collect those novelty plates?”

James laughs at that, the sound of it comforting and familiar, and he seems to relax in his seat. Even if just a little.

“She’s actually moved on to novelty shot glasses. My dad had to get rid of five plates he’d bought in advance. I still have them, though. I just know she’ll return to the plate thing soon enough.”

They pass the time like that, dragging up memories and habits, questions flowing between them. Regulus finds that he likes it. He’d missed James’ easy nature, his way of telling stories. He also finds that he is secretly relieved that James hasn’t changed a lot in the time they spent away from each other.

Do you still? Say yes, say yes.

Do you still forget to clean your glasses? Do you still keep a picture of you dad in your wallet? Do you still like your coffee the same way? Do you still—

Say yes, say yes.

“I got the internship, by the way,” Regulus says at some point. He’s not sure how much time has passed, but stretching fields of green are slowly giving way to houses again. “The—”

“—one at the publishing house?” James cuts in excitedly. His head whips to the side to look at Regulus, joy evident in the little crinkles around his eyes. “No way!”

Regulus’ heart stalls and stutters. A heavy beat in his chest. Say yes, say yes.

“I can’t believe you remember that,” he breathes.

Silence stretches between them and for a moment, Regulus thinks the conversation has died down again. It was nice while it lasted.

But then, so soft like he hoped Regulus might not hear, “I remember everything about you.”

Do you still? Say yes, say yes.

“James. Stop the car.”

“What?”

“Stop the car.”

Say yes, say yes.

Thankfully, James doesn’t need to be told a third time.

#exes jegulus! brought to you by the fact that i wanted them to say “what’s your damage”#not to be confused with the messy exes jegulus microfics #which is a different universe #sorry for the car setting #it’s the talking on the ride home effect #anyways do you think they got arrested for public indecency?#feeling kinda tempted to write a part two where they mess up the backseat #but we'll have to see if the smut fairy visits me #do you guys remember when i wrote a whole pwp? i can't believe i did that #anyways!! tags!!#regulus black #james potter #jegulus #starchaser #jegulus microfic #mil's microfics #mil's writing

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crystallizsch · 1 month

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*kicks down door* ehehehe it's luxe couture yuusha and rabbitwear yuuna :3

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spectralbugs · 1 month

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goofball boys being goofballs (and also in love)

#these are inspired by some slightly older doodles i drew for shits and giggles. just for funsiez #the ones in the post are the serious mode to the sketchbook one's basically #might clean up some more sketchbook stuff actually.. i have some stuff that i like but i think theyd look cooler if i digitalized them #as opposed to just posting as is #wtvr we'll see what i feel up to l8r #the owl house #hunter noceda #edric blight #huntric #goldric #chet scribbles

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raynewolfegirl · 6 days

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Meta Jazz, the Arkham Intern Therapist Pt 2.2

Note: Part 2.2! The Bane Incident from Kon's POV! 😁

~*~*~

Two days later, Kon was back at Arkham undercover again. The Bats had caught Bane nearly 12 hours earlier after Red Hood showed up midway through the fight, lept off the overpass, and landed a blow directly to the top of Bane's head with a metal pipe on the way down. The behemoth of a man had crashed hard into the cement, immediately unconscious, and been taken directly to Arkham's medical facilities as soon as he arrived. He'd been checked over and cleared to head to his usual room in less than 15 minutes once he woke up the following afternoon.

Kon found out all of this afterwards.

He was headed back to the briefing room for his nect assignment after lunch when he spotted four senior guards, Collins, Ryans, Dorr, and Miles, escorting Bane from medical to his usual cell. He stepped into a doorway to let them pass by before continuing on his way. Kon had spent a productive lunch break chatting with Jasmine "please don't call me Fenton" while she waited for Dr. Rylie before he had to head back to the guards room so he wouldn't be late. He'd have to make sure to catch up with Dr. Rylie on the way out at the end of the day instead, Kon mused.

There was a shout behind him. Two bodies slamming hard into the walls on either side of the hall. A rush of fabric sliding across fabric. Rapid pounding footsteps.

Kon spun letting out a gasp as he saw Bane grab Jasmine's upper arm and yank her hard enough to make her stumble. The large man turned to face the guards behind him as he pulled her firmly back against his chest. Kon had the dart gun in his hands and leveled at Bane before he even realized he was moving. Dorr and Ryans had also already done the same. Miles was scrambling to his feet, drawing both his dart gun and baton. Collins slid to the ground, right shoulder visibly dislocated from hitting the wall at the wrong angle but he drew his tranquilizer dart gun as well.

"Weapons down or I'll snap her skinny little neck." Bane growled out, shaking Jasmine as emphasis. Her braid swung from the force of it.

Kon expected her to panic. He was panicking; a full grown, fully recognized superhero. Of course, he expected her to panic.

But Jasmine didn't.

Her expression smoothed out turning from barely-there surprise to blank calm in the span of a few seconds. Her breathing stayed deep and even. Her heart beat steady was steady. Was she in some kind of shock? But he had never heard of someone reacting like that to shock before.

"Back up! Let him through!" Dr. Rylie shouted to Kon and the other guards from where he had pressed himself against the wall on the opposite side from Bane. He must have been just a few steps ahead of Jasmine.

"She's my student! Let him through!" Dr. Rylie screamed again. His voice high pitched with fear for his intern.

Kon didn't know what to do. From the way Ryans and Dorr were exchanging looks, he wasn't sure they knew what the best approach was in this situation either. Of the five of them, Ryans was the most senior guard but he wasn't one of the six guards trained for hostage negotiations either. None of the scenarios they had trained for would work here. Jasmine was too similar in height to Bane for a good shot and a single tranquilizer wouldn't knock him out anyway. They couldn't possibly circle around behind him in this narrow hallway either.

Kon could practically taste the panic building in the air. The tension was rising. If he didn't think fast someone else was going to make the first move and Jasmine would get hurt and -

She sighed.

Long, heavy, and disappointed. It felt like every muscle in Kon's body locked up suddenly.

"Mr. Bane, remove your hands from my person, please. I will give you to one to comply." She said voice calm and heavy like - like she was disappointed in him?

Kon's stared at her bland expression in shock for a moment before his eyes darted back to Bane. The rogue looked momentarily stunned then started laughing.

"Five." Jasmine said, ignoring his laughter. Kon felt himself paling. His colleagues were shifting, white faced with fear as they traded glances again.

"Four." She continued. Bane snorted derisively at her.

"Did you really think that would work?" He asked. His arms tightened around her. There was no way Jasmine was getting out of this without bruises.

"Three." She said ignoring Bane's question. Holy shit. Had she lost her mind?

"What can you even do if I don't?" Bane mocked with a rabid gleam in his eye. He's going to kill her, Kon realized faintly, even if we let him go now he's going to snap her neck for this.

"Two."

"Jasmine..." Kon whispered pained and horrified by his realization. Loosening his grip on the dart gun without meaning too. She met his gaze across the hall, eyes resolved.

"One." She finished, brows furrowing slightly in concentration as her lips thinned, pressed together. Bane gave a derisive snort.

And then the massive man was airborne.

"Holy shit." Miles breathed out.

Kon stared at the crater in the floor. Collins and Dorr were absolutely silent, hearts racing in their chests. Ryans took a half step forward, heart stuttering - Kon really hoped the man wasn't about to have a heart attack because he could rush him to medical right now. Dr. Rylie was half collapsed against the wall he'd been pressing himself against a strangled sound of shock coming from his throat. Bane was embedded in the floor breath wheezing as Jasmine half knelt on top of his neck. Oh wow, Kon registered, Bane's arm is fucked.

"Now, do you know what you've done wrong?" Jasmine asked looking down at the giant.

"Yes, Ma'am." Bane choked out.

"Fucked with the wrong HBIC." Collins muttered under his breath faintly still stunned.

"Jasmine for president." Miles whispered back automatically.

"Boys," Dorr scolded as he half lowered his dart gun, shifting his weight at the same time.

"Won't be making her angry around that time of month." Ryans mumbled to himself softly enough that Kon was the only person who could have possibly heard him.

"What did you do wrong?" Jasmine pressed. Collins choked back an inappropriate hysterical giggle at the question. Bane appeared to panic when he realized he'd have to respond.

No wonder, Kon thought, the man literally grew up in Santa Prisca's prisons. Did he even know how to respond to -Kon choked on air - a maternal scolding?! What the ever loving fuck? He bluescreened. Stood there in the hallway, absolutely stunned, completely unaware of his surroundings as he struggled to process the fact that Jasmine was giving Bane a maternal scolding in the middle of an Arkham hallway right in front of him. Maybe I've finally gone nuts? Kon wondered.

Jasmine gestured vaguely towards the group of them without turning to look and Kon snapped back to the present.

"Kyle here is going to take you to see the nurse and then back to your room then. I'm sure you'll behave for him?" Oh shit, that's me she's talking about. Kon walked towards her still a bit numb.

"Yes, Ma'am. I'll behave." Bane answered her. Kon watched as Jasmine stood up carefully and backed away from Bane far enough for him to pull himself out of the crater in the floor. Once he was on his feet, Kon led Bane back towards medical realizing as he did that there had been four other guards behind him this whole time.

Two of them darted forward and scooped up Collins, probably to take him to the guards medical ward along the outer wall patrol route. The other two fell in with Kon, Dorr, Miles, and Ryans. As they walked away Kon could hear Jasmine talking to Dr. Rylie.

"I'm fine, really. My mother was an extremely skilled martial artist. I've been learning from her since I started to walk." She explained honestly, trying to sooth the frazzled doctor's nerves. "I didn't know he was heavy enough to break the floor though!" Jasmine laughed.

That - heart beat uneven, vocal cords tense - that second part was a lie.

#Meta Jazz Arkham Intern Therapist #Meta Jazz #Arkham Intern Therapist #Meta Jazz AIT #AIT #MJAIT #dc x dp #dcxdp #dp x dc #dpxdc #Jazz/Kon #Feel free to add on #Not sure if I'll continue this or not #We'll see what happens #If I do it will still be under the same tag though so if you follow it you'll still be fine.#You have no idea how hard it was coming up with all these names #Most of them are the result of auto-correct saying no lol #If there's another part it will probably be either Jazz or Tim POV #Jazz might confront Kon about his super strength because she is hardcore judging him rn #Tim because when he hears about the Bane Incident from Kon he can definitely tell his friend has a crush #Kon hasn't realized it yet #Jazz has though #If Tim's POV Danny will definitely turn up #I have so many ideas ya'll #But like #No time to write #save me

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spacedace · 9 months

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Had an idea, thought I'd make it a prompt, 3k+ words later realized this wasn't a prompt anymore but a ficlet 🙃

Anyway, here's the first almost 2k of Talia being a good parent and deciding to not go with either Bruce or Ra's and go off and do her own thing and raise Damian and oops she got attached to Jason while checking in on Bruce and saved him from dying in Ethiopia. & now has 2 sons lol

When her Beloved and her father demanded Talia make a choice, of who she would choose, she didn't hesitate.

She chose neither of them. She chose her child. She chose herself.

Outwitting both Ra's al Ghul and Batman was no simple feat. They were both brilliant, relentless and with endless resources at their command. It was why their clashes were as devastating as they were. Immovable objects and unstoppable forces the both of them. If there was something they wanted, it was something they would have.

But not her.

They would not have her.

She had her own networks, her own people, her own keen intelligence and sharp cunning. It took time - time she really didn't have - and a great deal of pain and loss, but she slipped them eventually. Shrugged off the shroud of who she had been - who she was made to be - and stepped confidently into her new life.

Her son was born nine days after her freedom had finally, fully been assured.

He was small and perfect in every way. Soft and warm cradled close to her chest, unblemished by the cruelty of the world as he slept soundly in her arms. Even as exhausted as she was after such a long labor, she couldn't bring herself to sleep. Her attention narrowed down entirely on his every quiet breath, his downy soft hair, his round peaceful face.

In the weeks that followed his eyes would shift and change from a newborn's blue to her own green. It would take years before she could know if he inherited any of his father's features, but that was fine. He was hers and hers alone.

She named him Damian.

In another life she would name him with her father in mind. That her son would rise as Heir to the Demon and conquer the world. That he'd stand as ruler of all.

In this one, she named him with hope in her heart that what he would master was his own life. That he would never be forced to bow to the will of anyone else. To be made to act as servant or puppet. Let him tame his fate into something good and kind and happy.

She did her best to give him the life he deserved.

Lavished him with all her love and affection. Gave him everything he could ever want or need. The friends she began making for herself - not just trusted allies, but friends - laughed that she would spoil him rotten. It was probably true, but she didn't have it in her to care.

Her son would have the childhood he would have been denied if raised raised in the home of either of their fathers. Her father would have demand harsh lessons and frightened obedience and impossible standards. Damian's would have tried - she knew her Beloved would have tried - but his heart would always be for his city first and all else, even his children, second.

Talia kept tabs on both of them, covertly. Ensured she always kept a healthy distance from anything that involved her father or his people. Gathered stories of her Beloved's exploits to share with her son when he was old enough to hear them.

It gave her insight on just what choosing her Beloved would have meant. Reassured her that while not choosing her father had been the right choice, choosing her Beloved would have been the wrong one.

Bruce Wayne was a good man. Brilliant and driven with his kind heart and admirable goals. Breathtaking in his skill and ability.

Disappointing in his parenting skills.

Talia knew she was lacking as a parent herself. That her own upbringing had left its scars and that try as she might she'd undoubtedly end up doing the same to her own child over the years. But she always pushed herself hard towards improving, in making herself better for the tiny boy that she loved more than anything else. And she felt satisfied that in the very least that when presented with options on how her and her son's life would be, she'd made the one that was best for Damian.

Not the life of an assassin or a vigilante, but the life of a child.

A child who was taught some of the skills of both the worlds she'd turned her back on, admittedly, but only ever for his own protection. Damian was safer knowing how to hide, how to escape, how to fight. She had done her best, but there was always the looming threat that they might be found one day. She needed to be sure he was ready, if that time ever come.

She didn't teach him the way she was taught.

When her son fumbled or failed she gently corrected him. Walked him through what he'd done wrong, how he could improve. Made a game out of the experience so that he came running up to her on toddling feet with bright eyes begging that they have a lesson. His excitement and delight in it all made him a better student then her fear and desperate need for her father's approval and affection.

There was a day she caught sight of him, all of four years old, tiny face scrunched in a look of concentration as he practiced the form she'd taught him the day before with his small, wooden practice sword. Some of his father's features lingered at the edges of his face, but he'd deepened his resemblance to her by picking up her mannerisms and expressions. Her son, going through the same steps and motions she had when she'd been his age, little body wobbling as he turned to fast before plopping on the ground with a tiny oof.

Talia had small silver scars on the back of her hands, so thin and so old as to nearly be invisible anymore. They burned all the same as she recalled herself stumbling in nearly the same way. Stomach churning as she remembered the terror she'd felt as her instructor had snatched her up by her hair and drug her over to a low table, holding her hands in place with a massive hand. The way she'd bit her lip hard enough that her mouth filled with blood as he struck her with the thin lash, knowing that if she cried the punishment would be all the worse.

Damian only blinked his big green eyes and scowled the same way she did whenever something of minor importance didn't go the way she wanted it to. Then he saw her standing there in the doorway watching him and his face lit up, bright as the son and just as beautiful as he jumped to his feet and darted over to her. Tiny hand clinging to the loose fabric of her pant leg as he begged her show me again Mama!

It was moments like that where she knew beyond any shadow of a doubt she'd made the right choice.

Her father would have broken her brilliant, kind hearted son. Would have done to him what was done to her to forge Damian into a weapon.

Her beloved...

He would never hurt her son like that. Not the way her father and his loyal followers would. But she couldn't ignore the fact that Damian would still be hurt all the same under his father's tutelage.

Talia knew the man she loved well. Adored his strengths, but was not blind to his flaws. He kept his heart well guarded, hidden behind imposing walls of silence and razor wire of words he didn't truly mean. Still kind, but horribly distant when it came to those he cared for most. It shielded him some, perhaps, but it left those who loved him feeling lost and alone.

She saw how Dick Grayson had grown over the years. Tall and clever and lonely and bitter. Fighting for independence, for acknowledgement, for his father to speak words of love and respect. Things Bruce felt but almost never said unless he thought things were dire.

She saw too how the heavy weight of her Beloved's priorities weighed up on his second son.

Young Jason Todd who saw magic in the harsh world he'd been drawn into and desired to be the protection for others that he never had growing up. She saw much of herself in him, though he faced the world with far more hope than she had at his age. He was a bright boy with a good heart that had weathered a harsh upbringing that Talia could sympathize with. There was a familiar anger in him too, broiling just beneath the surface, flaring up and burning him as much as everyone else when triggered.

Most of all though Talia could see the desperate loneliness that had marred her own life in the boy. The soul deep fear of abandonment. The painful desire for love from a father that always seemed to stay at arm's length who spoke rarely of affection and often of missions to be completed.

She kept a close eye on her Beloved's second Robin.

When he left for Ethiopia, searching for family in a stranger that had already given him up, she'd followed.

Jason only ever wanted family and love. A good boy, bright and fierce and brave. A boy Talia saw a lot of herself in, who faced the world with such determined brightness in spite of the pain and hardship he'd known.

Shelia Haywood took that boy that Talia had grown so fond of, took his trust and his love and crushed it beneath her heel. Callously handed him over to the Joker without a second thought. As if he was disposable, as if he was nothing more than a puppet to use and toss away when it suited her.

Talia had risked everything when she'd decided she would not choose either her father or her Beloved. She'd turned her back on her entire life, everything that had ever been and ever could be on either side. She spent months running, hiding, fighting and killing, in orchestrating a plan that could outwit and outmaneuver the two most brilliant men she knew. And she'd done it all so that her son could live free, as master of his own life.

Jason Todd had come to Ethiopia looking for a mother.

Talia, with blood on her hands and a burning warehouse behind her as she carried his broken body to safety, made sure he found one.

#batman #batman au #talia al ghul #damian al ghul #damian wayne #jason todd #talia al ghul is a good parent #good parent talia al ghul #protective talia al ghul #jason doesn't die #Talia ends up catching Bruce's adoption habit oops #Bruce isn't a bad parent in this exactly #he's just not a good parent either #he loves his kids but his priorities are fucked up and his communication skills are worse than a literal rock's #I just have a lot of feelings about the abstract parallels that you could find between Talia & Jason #And about how Talia could be the mother that doesn't abandon or betray him #believe it or not I think I make this a dpxdc thing #got ideas about introducing Jazz to this whole mess lol #we'll see what happens #Jason - terribly concussed coming to in a private jet with Talia casually reading across from him #Jason: Am I being kidnapped?#Talia - gently and reassuringly: Oh no no no #Jason: Can I leave?#Talia: No.#Damian is gonna lose his damn mind over getting a big brother #Jason was gonna try and escape and go back to Gotham but Damian is just so cute? And loves him so much? And Talia is being so nice?

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wikiangela · 23 days

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tease tidbit tuesday/wip wednesday

tagged by @thewolvesof1998 @theotherbuckley @tizniz @diazsdimples @dangerpronebuddie @spotsandsocks @exhuastedpigeon @underwaterninja13 - tagging y'all back for wip wednesday 💖💖

doing two in one bc it's technically wednesday already idc lol - started a new wip I mentioned before (inspired by this video lol) and rn I'm rewriting what I wrote yesterday bc the past two days words were not wording and I hated everything I wrote, but I think I'm happy with it now haha I hope I'll manage to write it like I want to bc it's sooo good in my head istg haha

(wasn't gonna post until i have more but i need validation before i drive myself crazy over this lol)

___

It started as a random idea, more like a throwaway thought, really. Tommy was just checking the weather for the next few days – his hot pilot boyfriend always likes to be prepared – while they were hanging out, and he casually mentioned that “it’s gonna be nice on Saturday, perfect barbecue weather,” which got Buck to mention how they often have family barbecues at Bobby and Athena’s. Somehow, the conversation spiraled, and Buck’s not sure who threw out a more concrete idea, but here they are now, standing side by side in Tommy’s kitchen, preparing food – Buck’s currently slicing veggies for a salad, while Tommy takes care of the meat – for the barbecue where they invited way too many people than Tommy’s backyard can probably fit. It really is nice weather, the sliding door leading from the kitchen to the backyard open and letting in warm sunshine and a soft breeze that makes the air feel cooler. They work in pleasant silence, the only sound is quiet music playing from the speaker, and Buck can’t help a fond smile when he hears his boyfriend hum along, so off-key Buck’s not sure he even knows the song, but it’s still adorable.

The silence is disrupted by the doorbell ringing, and before Tommy can even move, Buck is dropping the knife on the cutting board, wiping his hands, and sprinting towards the door, shouting an “I got it!” over his shoulder. He’s followed by an echo of Tommy’s fondly amused chuckles. So he’s a little excited, sue him – they haven’t had a family day like this in a while, and there was only one he brought Tommy to, all of their schedules not so easy to align. And today his whole family will be here, including their spouses and children, and Tommy invited a couple of his friends and their families, too, and it’ll be just a big, loud, chaotic get-together that he’s hosting with his boyfriend. Buck never hosted one of these before, and he’s really enjoying it so far, and he just wants everyone to have fun.

___

no pressure tags: @elvensorceress @thebravebitch @shortsighted-owl @eddiebabygirldiaz @watchyourbuck

@eowon @loserdiaz @evanbegins @ladydorian05 @wildlife4life

@diazpatcher @lover-of-mine @monsterrae1 @weewootruck @loveyouanyway

@spagheddiediaz @rainbow-nerdss @epicbuddieficrecs @pirrusstuff @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove

@nmcggg @rogerzsteven @hippolotamus @bidisasterevankinard @giddyupbuck

@sunshinediaz @honestlydarkprincess @911-on-abc @jesuisici33 @steadfastsaturnsrings

@buddieswhvre @fortheloveofbuddie @your-catfish-friend

@daffi-990 @hoodie-buck @aroeddiediaz

#tease tidbit tuesday #wip wednesday #wikiangela writes #bucktommy fic #fic snippet #my writing #my wips #911 fic #911 abc #bucktommy #tommy kinard #evan buckley #buck x tommy #bucktommy wip #fireflight #firepilot #tevan #bucktommy barbecue fic #the beginning was fighting me for two days but I think (hope) I got it now #pls tell me it's okay bc the first version was *rough* lol #istg i spent like an hour today on the opening sentence and then ended up writing something totally different #this fic will be pure fluff bucktommy + 118 family feels bc buck wants his bf to hang out with his fam #im also giving tommy some friends from work (and having way too much trouble making up names lmao)#(also lots of tommy with kids bc that'd be adorable and he gives me the vibe of the kind of person kids are just drawn to lol)#idk we'll see how it works out haha

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daftpatience · 3 months

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one thing I have learned about being poor is that you cannot for a moment stop thinking about it

#theres no peace #every little thing reminds me we are poor #seeing friends having electricity wifi heat food gas. it all costs money. and bills and fees and charges happen all the damn time #im constantly worried that i am measing up somehow or im not keeping track of my finances properly #the person handling our disability assistance application keeps coming back with question after question about my job #and i have so much doubt and fear that ive made some mistake in my answers that will disqualify us from support #and theres this sick backwards stupid thing where applying for and being on disability support is discouraging me from trying to make money #because the more i make the less likely we'll get support but i need to make money to live #its just fucked. and once we're on support i have to make monthly reports of my income so ill feel like im explaining myself all the fuckin #time #cus the system isnt built in a way that makes sense for self employed ppl who have business expenses to account for #sorry for the ranting i cant sleep #truly truly i think poverty is making me a worse persin #more anxious more resentful more jealous more miserable more spiteful #i have so little and there is so little i can do to help it #i want things in a more desparate and even childish way than i used to eant things #spend a lot more time fantasizing about magically having expendable income #not to mention the constant exponential guilt that comes from asking for help or recieving help. its guilt i need to unlearn but i feel it

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slocumjoe · 2 months

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Anyway do you ever think about how piper is given weight in the main plot only to be shoved into a ditch to make way for Nick Valentine Synth Detective, who has large presence in the main plot + a personal quest + a whole ass DLC

#shes there to introduce you to DC #she's implied to be a good lead/source of info #which she kinda is? just not utilized #and then nick is like (oh no kellogs dead. guess we have to go to piper)#then you go to piper and then she gets maybe one sentence out before nick is like (wait no actually we'll just use kellogs brain matter)#and then you never see her again #like Nick and Piper are very much set up as like. the main plot companions (everyone else is rogue or faction)#and piper is there for maybe 20 minutes #beth can you PLEASE let your characters DO SHIT #beths fallout and skyrim are similar in that sometimes i feel like im playing with barbie and ken dolls #and not participating in a world where shit happens beyond the player character #this is an issue with all of them but idk #where are my hijinks bethesda.#CAN WE GIVE THE OTHER COMPANIONS CONTENT.#COMPANION REHAUL DLC WHEN

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feroluce · 24 days

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So I mentioned in the tags of this post about Sampo's character design the other day that looking at his splash art made me realize something sneaky about the bg and oh my god I thought I already couldn't possibly love him any more than I already do but this might just prove me wrong JAKSLFJKDLASJFK

So this is maybe? old news by now but I remember when Sampo was first leaked to be in Penacony, some fans were excited saying that it must be Penacony shown in his splash art, and not Belobog. And tbh I was trying to avoid story leaks, so I just kinda ignored it and didn't think about it any further...until I was looking at it to look at his chains.

But I think it IS Belobog shown here because if you look closely, you can see what looks to be a pile of snow in the bg, and even some on the rooftop! And snow isn't present on Penacony.

There's also the huge moon shown behind Sampo. And we never get to see the Belobogian night sky, but even in the hours that are locked in permanent nighttime, Penacony noticably lacks a moon. The buildings all look like they match Belobog architecture, too.

This one is a bit more questionable tbh, but. There's also this long horizontal structure in the bg-

-which I'm not 100% sure what it even is, but it doesn't look like any specific part of Penacony. But it DOES look like the official art of Belobog (everyone say thank you to @/the-astral-express-archive for these pics; dude you're a lifesaver orz)

And if you will notice. The only place up high enough to look down on those structures,

the only thing taller than all the rest of the buildings in Belobog,

is the one establishment set dead center; Qlipoth Fort.

Which means this little asshole is shamelessly, gleefully breaking into the most important government building on the whole planet right in his splash art KFJLJSADKLFJKLDSJ

#hsr sampo #hsr sampo koski #sampo koski #honkai star rail #hsr #HE'S SO SHAMELESS I LOVE HIM SO MUCH FJKSLAJKDLJD #I feel like I should include down here that obviously none of this is technically 100% guaranteed of course #Penacony has 12 hours and other areas as well- we don't know for SURE that none of them will have snow or a moon or odd structures #and we know that Sampo will appear more later in the plot- I feel like we'll probably go to Epsilon and see him there #but still! I certainly think Belobog matches more closely than anywhere else haha. Like I don't see anything to the contrary.#I was actually looking stuff up because of another Sampo post I saw and there is actually a recipe description that maybe lends credit-#-to the idea that Sampo can and HAS broken into Qlipoth Fort before. More on that tomorrow maybe fdlksajfd

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