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#I LOVE DAMIEN SO MUCH HE DID NOTHING WRONG !!!!
dizzybevvie · 5 months
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forever fighting the people who watched wkm for the first time, identified that Damien looked a lot like Dark, and instantly concluded he was "pretending to be good"
#LIKE NO!!!!! >:[[[#Damien my beloved. he just wanted his friends to be happy :(((((#ik we dont get a whole bunch of time with him but like he never witholds information or is aggressive or ANYTHING#the most upset we see damien get is when he has an argument with William over how much he WANTS him to CARE that his friend died!#And hes totally right! yes william has super valid reasons but we and damien dont KNOW that#Like Damien Will and The Actor have been bffs for years and suddenly one of them drops dead and the other doesnt even seem to CARE???#I LOVE DAMIEN SO MUCH HE DID NOTHING WRONG !!!!#if we're gonna call Dark amoral also which. we dont really know if he is? then its. its Celine BFNSVSJSVS#Celine has very questionable morals in wkm. very relatable morals! but not exactly righteous#Shes just tryna take care of her brother and i get that but she fucks people over in the process#she walks in the house and immediately has control of the situation. she tells people what they wanna hear and then singles you out#and then chastises Damien for wanting to help her#I love celine btw i think shes so interesting but like. damien is a good person and Celine is a moral debate#when in “DAMIEN” Celine's pocket dimension is cracking the mirror she tells him that if he goes through with the first choice hes-#ever made (life IS ours to choose) that he will be changed forever but Damien is OKAY with that#Damien is OKAY with being a bad person from now on if it means Celine gets to rest#I LOVE DAMIEN WKM !!!!!!#Is Celine still asleep?#if White Suit Dark is a DIFFERENT universe Dark could he possibly be Celine piloting the body??? I DONT KNOW#the fact that mark has never tried to give us Celine-Dark makes me so rabid like PLEASE#although#Dark's whole thing is being cryptic as shit and i think Celine-Dark would just Have A Gun#wkm#this is a nothing post. sorry BFKSVDKSDB#beverly says stuff#who killed markiplier#damien wkm#celine wkm
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chaengluva · 1 month
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Fear Me, Love Me
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I was inspired by Regina in the all black outfit to write this
Regina George x Reader: 2.2k words: Masterlist
Requested: Yes/No
Regina rides a motorbike in this :)
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Everyone knew when Regina George was coming to school, they could all hear her coming, which made everyone tremble in fear.
Almost everyone, except for one girl that was, Y/n 'Imi'ike, which happened to be you. When you heard the sound of you girlfriend coming into school, you got excited and rushed out to greet her instantly.
The loud sound of Regina's famous motorbike engine made the ground vibrate and the school freeze in fear, then there was you, a drama freak, (Lowkey a dork) Smiling brightly as you waits for Regina to park her motorbike.
As soon as she steps off the heavy vehicle, you run after her, giving her a hug before she can take her helmet off, making her jolt back in surprise before chuckling under her breath, hugging you back, "What a warm welcome." Regina says happily, removing her arms to take off her helmet, but there is something that's stopping her.
"I missed you." you smile, still having your arms wrapped around her, which makes the taller girl giggle. "Baby, move your arms away." You do what she told you, moving your arms so she could take of her helmet, as soon as she does, she leans closer to give you a kiss, her hands wrapping around your waist to pull your body closer.
When she pulls away, she takes off her gloves and reaches out her hand, silently asking for you to hold it, which you do, the two of you were so lucky to have homeroom together, the whole class knew about your relationship with the queen bee, no one would dare question it, but everyone was wondering how did you end up with Regina George?
For more context, let's back track. You have always been a loner, being the younger sister of Janis 'Imi'ike already set your reputation low with everyone as soon as you started at North Shore.
Everyone thought you'd be crazy obsessed with art and they were surprised to see you were hopeless at the subject. You were talented in other things but you're main focus was musical theatre, you thought this would stop everyone from calling you an art freak but you were wrong, they still did.
After musical theatre, you're favourite subject was Maths, you were doing AP Math which resulted people calling you a nerd, it didn't hurt your feelings, but nothing would prepare you for what happened on April 12th.
You nervously held your books as you walked to the theatre, you were just praying that you would get the lead, Heathers as your favourite musical and your dream role was Heather Chandler. As you got closer, your nerves grew stronger as you saw the crowd around the door, Janis and Damien said that you were definitely going to get this role, but you still had denial.
You pushed through the people to be able to see the paper, you read over the names and a bright smile landed on your face as you saw that you got your dream roll, you screamed, texting your sister. Then happily walking away to your locker.
You were taking your stuff for first period, you felt a tap on your shoulder that was a little aggressive so you turn around to face one of guys on the football team, James Brown. "Hi James, what do you want?" You say with a bright smile on your face, still feeling happy about what happened earlier.
James wasn't happy, he had an angry expression on his face. "You stole my Girlfriends role!" He yelled, shoving you into the locker, you groaned in pain, "I'm sorry, I don't understand?" You say, confused with what he was so mad over, "My girlfriend's dream role was Heather Chandler! And you stole it! You're not even talented! You can't sing!" He yelled, making you flinch.
"I'm sorry but I don't know who your girlfriend is.." You say in a calm voice, hoping it would calm him down. Spoiler alert, it didn't, "Jessica Dove. She's much more talented than you, the only reason you got the role is because the directors want to fuck you!" He yelled, you tried not to take offence to what he was saying, you knew he was just trying to offend you.
As soon as she noticed you weren't taking offence he threw a hard punch to your face, you were taken back by what he did and was in to much shock to fight back, even if you did have fast reflexes, James held both your wrists preventing you from hitting back, he hits you in the face a few more times.
You can see he reaches up his arm to throw another punch, you squint your eyes, waiting for it to happen but it never comes, when you open your eyes, you see another hand, covering James' hand, and throwing him back.
You see that his facial expression turns to frightened and he rushes away, you don't know who saved you, before you can take a look at the figure, everything goes black.
You wake up in a different place, you panic, rushing to sit up because you don't know where you are, strong arms are on you, pushing you down slowly, you turn to look at the girl, you gasp and you're heart stops, you see the girl you have had a crush on your whole high school life.
Regina George, the name you have heard from your sister but you still couldn't help follow along with everyone else and liking the tall blonde. "R-Regina? What are you doing here?"  You ask, voice slightly breaking, "I saw James hitting you and I couldn't allow it to continue," She said, voice sweet as honey as she runs her fingers through your hair, you look to the side and see a mirror, you see that your face is ruined, a black eye and many bruises and even a bit of dried blood covered your face.
"My face is ruined. I won't be able to do the musical." You say, turning around, not wanting to face the mirror anymore, Regina George shakes her head, still playing with your hair, "No. I spoke with my Dad and he called the school, they agreed to postpone the musical."
You open your eyes and smile at the girl, leaning in to give her a hug, she giggled at your cuteness, when you pulled away, the two of you looked into each others eyes, you thought she was about to kiss you but you shook your head, "If I'm being honest I thought you would just leave me there." You say, slightly giggling.
Regina grabs your hand and looks at you with a shocked expression on her face, "I would for some normal losers but you're different Y/n." She smiled, looking into your eyes, then back to your lips.
Then it happened, the thing happened that you have been wanting to do since 9th grade, you felt her lips against yours.
So that's how everything happened, Regina skipped to stay with you in the hospital and you came back wearing some of her clothes and her arm wrapped around you possessively. No one expected the relationship, but it mostly a shock to your sister. When she first saw the two of you, she was in heavy denial and thought it was two people who just looked exactly like you but as she got closer, she realised it was you and Regina.
It took a while to get used to and she is still grossed out but she has never seen you this happy to go to school so she's fine with it, but if Regina ever does anything to hurt you, she won't be afraid to mess up Regina George's life.
That brings us back into the present time, Regina was holding your hand very tightly and couldn't help to notice how tired you looked, when she sat down, she grabbed your waist before you could sit down and dragged you to sit in her lap, none of the other students said anything because this was normal for them.
"What time did you get to sleep last night baby." You stay silent and don't say anything, she looks at you with her scary eyes, which always makes you spit the words out. "I didn't" You whisper very quietly, "What was that?" Regina asks, because she couldn't hear what you said, "I didn't get any sleep." You repeat louder, followed by a big yawn right after. Regina looked at the smaller girl in concern, you were always rehearsing or studying, she felt bad that you had no time to sleep, she allowed you to sleep on her chest for homeroom, you feel asleep quickly.
When she knew you were asleep, she pulled out her phone, texting Janis if its okay if she takes you home and looks after you, Janis said the Idea was perfect and that you needed the rest, Regina gulped knowing that she would have to do a lot of convincing for the next part. So she called Janis, thinking that it would be easier.
Janis picked up, wondering why Regina decided to call her, "What's up Regina? Are you taking Y/n home?" She asks, "I am but.. I came here on my motorbike." Regina says, Janis nods like Regina can see her, "Yeah that's fine but-," Janis slowly processed what that meant so she stopped talking, "Do you have a helmet for her? and safe clothes to wear?" Janis asked, Regina quickly answered with a smile on her face, "Yes! I bring a spare one everyday just in case." Janis hesitates before saying, "Okay."
The tall blonde girl smiles brightly, hanging up the phone and waking you up, she doesn't say anything she just garbs your bag and her bag and holds your hand and walks out of the school, you were to tired to process what was happening, when she brings you to her motorbike and just stands there, your worries go up high, "What are we doing? We have school!" You yell, starting to panic, the blonde pulls you in for a hug, calming you down.
"Your sister agrees that you need rest, so I'm taking you home." You frown, not even denning the fact that your so tired, she puts on your helmet and your motorbike clothes on, making sure that you're very safe, you have ridden on her motorbike before but it was scary every time. She put on her helmet and helped you on before she got on herself, you wrapped your arms around her tightly, not daring to let go once.
When you got to her place, she took you to her room right away, allowing you to rest on top of the blankets and she ran a bath for the two of you, it had only been 10 minutes but when she was done setting up, she came back to you sound asleep, she almost felt bad waking you up.
It was worth it, she woke you up and guided you into her on suite bathroom, you looked at her with happy puppy eyes when you saw what she did for you, she lit the room with candles and the bath was filled with warm water, bubbles and flower petals.
Regina undressed herself first, taking off all her clothes until she was completely stripped, you started at her for a few seconds but brought back to reality when Regina clicked her fingers and started to help you out of her clothes, Regina hoped into the bath first, she allowed you to come in after her, your back against her front with you in between her legs.
She started to wash your hair, making sure to massive the scalp, her fingers were so relaxing, you ending up falling asleep, while you were asleep, she cleaned your body, trying her best not to wake you, 30 minutes later, she had to wake you up, she lightly shook you causing you to let out a whine. "It's okay baby, you can go back to sleep soon." She whispers, helping you out of the bath.
She dried you up, giving you some of her clothes to change into, guiding you to the bed, she knew you wanted to get under the covers and sleep but she had another plan. She lied you down on your stomach after she took off the shirt you were wearing, putting some cream and oil in her hands she started to massage your body, starting at your shoulders, you were so stiff she made sure so massage every muscle to make your body less tender.
When she was down she put your shirt back on and pulled the covers over you, walking down stairs to set up another surprise for you, when you woke up, you felt happy, you felt stress free, you weren't thinking anything other then, "What is that amazing smell." You got up quickly and rushed downstairs, smiling when you saw your tall girlfriend, cooking you some pasta.
You walked up and wrapped your arms around her waist, still feeling slightly sleepy, she smiled at your cuteness, bringing you turning around to pull you in for a hug, "How you feeling baby?" Regina asks, hugging you tightly, you look at her smiling, "Hungry." The blonde girl giggles and nods her head, serving you and herself some pasta.
When you were finished you put your dirty dishes in the dishwasher and rushed up stairs, you were excited to get back to sleep but stress came back when you realised you had school tomorrow, but all stress went away when you felt Regina's arms wrap around you and you felt calm.
This goes to show that even the motorbikes don't hide how soft Regina George is for you, and everyone knows it.
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nobodyfamousposts · 11 months
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Another Miraculous Crossover Nobody Wanted (DCxML)
In the midst of so many Batfamily/Miraculous crossovers, the thing I feel so many people forget is that the Waynes are...well...themselves.
Sure, they're awesome vigilantes. Trained in martial arts and with great mental fortitude to help them against the likes of Scarecrow's fear gas, Joker's venom, and Mad Hatter's manipulations.
...the problem is that Hawk Moth is a whole different ballgame.
He doesn't target their fears or dreams. He targets ANYTHING. Like petty annoyances. Frustrations. Sleep deprivation. Obsessions. Things the Batfamily generally try to ignore on a regular basis.
If he can akumatize and reakumatize the same man over his love of pigeons and people who feel they've been wronged over silly reasons, there's SO MUCH that could come from the complete dysfunction/emotional constipation that is the Wayne family. Remember, ANY frustration or annoyance or upset counts. 
Meaning Ladybug and Chat will be having their hands full with the Waynes until they leave.
And given that Hawk Moth comes up with the silliest costumes and powers...
...the others would never let them live it down.
...
It was a beautiful day in Paris. And an absolutely wonderful vacation to the City of Love, where everything was peaceful and nothing was wrong.
Dick stood at the window looking out over the city.
Tim was on his computer doing some reports. Possibly Wayne Enterprises work, but more likely mission work.
Damien had apparently gotten tired of grumbling and was focused on sharpening his sword—which Bruce really shouldn’t have let him bring. But given the situation, he couldn’t argue against letting Damien have something that would help him stay calm.
Cass had found a magazine to occupy her time, though she seemed somewhat confused as to the male teen model that kept appearing in nearly every line.
And Jason…
…he was grinning. And watching Bruce with such anticipation, looking downright hopeful as he waited. Not helping was that he was holding what appeared to be a brand new camera, fully prepared to start recording.
Bruce knew why.
But he would not give him the satisfaction.
Because nothing was going to happen.
Absolutely nothing.
Bruce twitched.
SNAP!
And his pen cracked from the sheer amount of pressure he was putting on it. Which was admittedly an annoyance, but wasn’t that big of a deal…
…if it wasn’t the 15th pen he’d broken in the past three hours.
It was fine though.
Nothing was wrong.
He was calm.
Calm.
Calm.
A muffled voice could be heard from outside despite the room being on the seventh floor of a building. Which of course was a coincidence and not because someone was actually right outside the room….and the building.
And perhaps if Bruce tried really hard, he could convince himself was just someone singing a line out of “American Pie” and not someone talking about butterflies.
No.
Because there were no butterflies outside. Because he was fine!
Not the slightest bit upset!
At. All.
“That’s thirty-three…” Dick counted.
…Dammit.
Bruce sighed.
“Did she come back to the roof?”
“Actually, she never left.” Tim confirmed, not even looking up from his computer. “She stopped leaving after the last incident and has just been standing there for the past couple hours now, catching them as they come.”
A long pause.
“How…?”
“Her partner has been bringing her water and snacks. And keeping watch whenever she has to leave to hibernate or use the little bug’s room.”
Bruce groaned.
Why couldn’t it be a villain? Or a fan or stalker? He could deal with those. He dealt with them all the time.
It was the well intentioned young superheroes that he had a harder time dealing with. The ones that wanted to help but were misguided in not understanding that their help wasn’t necessary.
“Gotcha!”
“Thirty-four.” Dick droned.
…no matter how many magical butterflies implied otherwise.
“Maybe we should do what the nice Ladybug hero asked and finish up our business in Paris?” Tim suggested.
“I refuse!” Damien shouted, jumping to his feet. “This villain has made a mockery of us and it must not be allowed to stand! I will not leave until he has been caught and my sword has tasted his blood!”
“Damien, we don’t kill, remember?”
“I wouldn’t kill him.” Damien said, looking away with a pout. “Just…dismember him a bit.” He frowned, consideringly. “Maybe cut off his arms. He can’t continue villainy then, right?”
Tim sighed.
“So that’s a no on going home early then.”
They heard a noise from the roof.
“Is she leaving?” Bruce asked, trying to hide how hopeful he was.
“Nope. It’s her catboyfriend back again.” Dick replied, blithely.
Bruce sighed.
“Do you think they’re dating?”
“Dick.” Bruce warned.
“Because the city seems to be really hamming up the romantic angle between the two and it’s kinda hard to not see.” Dick continued. 
“Dick.”
“Even if it is kinda weird that they’re essentially shipping teenagers.”
“Speaking from experience there, Dickie Boy?” Jason cut in, cheekily.
“Stop it. Both of you.” Bruce ordered. “The goal of coming to Paris was supposed to be to deal with the emotional terrorism from Hawk Moth.”
“A little hard with all your emotional constipation there, B.”
Jason smirked.
“Or should I say ‘Justice Man’?”
Bruce twitched.
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phoenixgrl1412 · 8 months
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Jazz is Damian's bio sibling, not Danny
I see tons of Demon Twin AUs, and I love them, but I started to wonder about what the universe would look like if Jazz was Damian's sister.
Not sure what her birth name in this AU would be (Yasmin? Yasmina? Something else) so I'm going to just refer to her as Jazz.
I'm thinking that Jazz was attempt #1 at getting the perfect heir, and for whatever reason, she was deemed to be inferior. Is there something actually wrong with her? No, but Ra's is an asshole. If you'd like to go a more sexist route, Jazz could be unworthy because she's female (in this AU, Ra's keeps Talia around to make an heir, not to be the heir).
Despite not being the perfect child they wanted, Talia and Ra's train Jazz until they are able to try again. She's taught as if she was the heir, even though everyone knows she isn't, because there isn't a better choice at the moment.
When Jazz is three, Damian is born. Damian is her little brother and she loves him as best she can, but Damian is raised to treat her as inferior, and it shows. Everyone looks down on her, especially Ra's, and that attitude is the example Damian follows.
Jazz is still trained, because if nothing else she could still be an assassin, but no one holds out much hope for her. She isn't as talented as Damian, even though she's older. She's not as strong or as stealthy or as cutthroat. She is more clever, but she is older than him, so it's brushed off. Besides, good assassin soldiers don't need to be clever, they just need to obey.
But where Damian excels in the physical arts, Jazz excels at the mind arts. Solving puzzles, recognizing patterns, psychoanalyzing her opponents to predict their moves - that's what she's good at. It's clearly inherited from Batman (no one can explain her red hair, though).
When Jazz is eight and Damien is five, Jazz flees the League. Why and how is your choice. Maybe Damian is supposed to kill her in a show of superiority. Maybe Talia helps her fake her death and escape as a final act of motherly love. Maybe Jazz flees on her own, wanting to be something else even if she doesn't know what.
Jazz makes it to America, and then to a little podunk town in the middle of nowhere, Illinois, called Amity Park. She meets the Fenton parents and their almost six-year-old son, Danny. And somehow, they take her in. And for a while, it's the family she wished she had, with loving parents and a little brother who didn't want to stab her.
Danny isn't Damian. He isn't a replacement. She knows that they aren't the same. They are radically different, even if they both make her want to cuddle and love them (at least Danny doesn't try to stab her for doing it). She can miss Damian and what could have been while embracing what she has found.
And for a while, she's happy.
Sure, she didn't expect her little brother (Danny is her Little Brother, Damian is her Baby Brother, there has been and will always be a difference to her) to die and come back, but she's seen weirder stuff when she was in the League.
She also didn't expect Danny to use his newfound powers to become a hero, but it's his choice, and she's going to support him. At least she has her League training to fall back on, even if she's a bit rusty.
And yeah, she was hoping that her adoptive parents would take Danny's halfa status a lot better than they did, but she'd always known it wasn't going to end well. She's always been good at recognizing behavioral patterns, and theirs said nothing good. But she'd hoped, for Danny's sake, that she would be wrong.
She never thought she would flee for her life for a second time, but here she is, driving a stolen car with her unconscious and bleeding brother in the backseat, heading towards the one place she swore she would never set foot in: Gotham.
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waywardducks · 8 months
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Dick Grayson Angst
I'm in a mood and I just really needed to write some angst. I have found a depressing shortage of Dick angst. There is so much angst for Jason, Tim and even Damian but I feel a deep lack of Dick angst. As the oldest child in a large family with a dead brother, I feel it is my duty to provide (he just like me fr)
I can't spell very well bc of my dyslexia, I do have Grammarly on but it misses some things so I can't promise that everything in this post will be legible, I just really needed to get this down.
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TW: oldest child/good child syndrome, mentioned noncon, death, canon typical violence, (I'm sorry to all my can-do-no-wrong Batdad fans but I’m sticking to canon Batman here) child abuse, emotional/physical abuse.
• Dick is the oldest, that much is a given. But as the oldest he was the “guinea pig” or the “experiment” child of the family. He's seen it all. Bruce had no idea how to raise a child so any parenting skills, good and bad (mostly bad) were tested out on Dick.
• It's no secret that Jason was the favorite Robin out of the two of them. Dick knew it. But come on! Jason came from the shittiest of situations, he was a street rat, and his mom was an addict. Of course, he was happy when Bruce took him in. Bruce was probably a Saint compared to the things Jason had lived through. Dick on the other hand came from a loving family. Two parents who would do anything for him, showering him with love and praise. So when he was suddenly taken in, taught to be a vigilante by a man that would hit him, yell at him, was cold, showed no emotion except rage, pretended to love him unconditionally in front of the Press, show him little to no love behind closed doors. Do you really think Dick was going to just be happy-go-lucky?
• Dick sees each one of his younger siblings as his charge. When he gets a new one, (whether he likes it or not) he takes over as big bro immediately, feeling like it's his responsibility to raise them in areas bats never could. I feel like he wants to be a shield between his sibling and their father. Most of the newer kids will never know about the man Bruce was when it was just one Robin. Cold, mean, unforgiving. But he would show them lobe in places where Bruse was still lacking.
•He probably resents Bruce in some way for it. He can’t show it though. The man took him in when he had nothing. But if Bruce is capable of loving the family he has now. Why couldn’t he love Dick then back when he needed him the most? Of course that doesn’t change the fact that he will *always* come back to Bruce. It doesn’t matter how much shit Bruce puts him through, he would never leave Bruce forever. He loves him more than anything and would always but Bruce first, right along with his siblings.
• Dick has a problem with putting his sibling needs first. You will rarely catch him being sad or vulnerable in front of his family members. This is funny because he’s always the one encouraging his family to feel their emotions and let things out when they need to. He's always there when they need to vent, ready to listen and to be a shoulder to cry on.
• He can’t be sad though. He the happiest person, he has to be happy to help navigate the angst. He’s the glue. The strong hold of the family. When there’s a fight (mostly between a sibling and their emotionally stunted father) Dick will play the mediator every time.
• I feel like Tim reminded Dick of Bruce a little too much. So, yes, Dick loves Tim. Of course he does. But Tim is also pretty emotionally stunted. Meanwhile Damien is a ball of rage. Damien is so obviously autistic (I have much reasoning for this one but I can get into another day) and needs so much patience and love. Dick threw himself wholeheartedly into his youngest brother. Their dad was “dead” and he had nothing left so he used raising the boy as a way to cope, even if it meant leaving Tim in the shadows.
• He regrets leaving Tim the way he did. But he just couldn't handle it at the time. He would later believe himself to be turning into Bruce. The thought alone causes Dick to break down. He hates hurting his sibling more than anything, he would die for anyone of them and it hurts him to know they hurt.
• Dick has a problem with wanting to fix everything and everyone. Even his own friends and team members. He probably doesn’t even recognize it, but whenever he is forced to come to grips with the fact that he can’t help a certain person it eats at him.
• He uses sex as a coping mechanism. It’s no secret to anyone that he has slept with *a lot* of people. He thinks sex is the only way to get people to love him because he doesn’t really understand what a healthy relationship looks like. It gets him into situations that he doesn’t want to be in. But he believes he deserves it when those things happen because it means he’s loved. He's only ever had Playboy Bruce to truly base a relationship off of, not remembering his parents relationship well enough.
• Leading off of the last point, he doesn’t know how to say no. He will agree to even the worst of things because he craves the validation that comes from doing things for people, no matter the cost to himself. He will end up piling favors on top of favors until it becomes so overwhelming he breaks.
• He probably breaks in manic sort of way. Like, he will go out of his way to deny that anything is wrong and let everything build for weeks to months until it bubbles over and he just goes nuts. It’s mostly a self destructive sort of nuts though. He might panic and clean his apartment until his fingers are raw from cleaning chemicals, maybe he will throw himself into a fight he knows he can’t handle just to get beat up. He might throw out everything he owns before panicking at what he’s done and go back in search of the things he just tossed. But all the while he would go out of his way to make sure no one knew what was happening.
• Being Robin, being the “oldest”, being the one to raise his younger siblings, to create a path for them to follow while also guiding to follow their own paths. He lost who he was. Who is Dick Grayson if not a vigilante? Who is the person behind the mask? He doesn't know. It's why he left. It's why Bruce was so angry. Dick was supposed to be his protege, but that isn't the life Dick wanted. And when Jason died, the only piece that Dick had of himself, that part that was a brother, the last that finally had a *close* friend, died right along with him. Even after Jason came back, Dick never really found that piece of himself again. Dick left to Bludhaven to finally find himself. But the cowl would forever remain a piece of him that he could not shake.
• Bruce is probably trying to be a better parent/person. Dick is proud of him, but he still doesn't fully trust it and Bruce knows that. But Bruce won't do anything, especially not apologize for the things he’s done to his eldest. But Bruce will tell him he’s proud of the person Dick has become. That probably tears Dick to pieces for reasons he doesn’t understand. He probably has been waiting for the praise his whole life and now that he has it it makes him sick in a way he can't comprehend.
• There are days that he is almost %100 sure that the only reason he keeps going is because of his family. Not his precinct, not whatever one sided relationship he’s found himself in (until Barbara that is, but even she counts as family) not his job, not his friends, not even himself. He’s living for his family. Even when his family is falling apart at the seems, he is still living for them. It’s tiring, sure. But he does it because it’s all he’s ever known. Living for Bruce for years, living for Jason and Alfred and Barbara then for Tim and Damien, then Steph and Cass and Duke. It’s what he does. It’s what he knows.
I can keep going but this is getting kind of long and it's late and I have to be up early in the morning. Let me know if you want more or, anything specific! I want to write more so ask me anything!
🌼🐛
He's bringing you a flower 🥹
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bookwormlover10 · 3 months
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look i love people talking about Terry, it's nice to have some more people in the fandom. But what REALLY rubs me wrong is how people are treating the Epilogue Clone Son Twist like it's Everything about Terry's character. You would Not introduce Harley Quinn as an anti-hero with her gf Poison Ivy. You would go into her PHD and history with the Joker first. I don't like how the "Batfam" fans just gloss over and "blorbo-fy" Terry into "poor widdle baby clone" and "sassy Future bat #7". His FAMILY and his attempts to keep his relationships stable despite being Batman ARE the things that make him stand out in the Batfamily. His past as a gang member and his acknowledgement of his mistakes with his repayment IS important to him - stop making him Damian but Better! or Jason but Better! He's Terry! he's a 90s child with all the cringe that goes with it!
Yea I agreed with you on somethings. Even though I personally don't really like the half clone twist, in the Grand scheme of things. The whole clone thing was only in one episode of justice league unlimited and they never brought it up again. It was never batman beyond itself. I don't read much comics but from I know the clone thing was Recon in comics. But that what people remembered and when people hear about they forget everything else that is interesting about his character! Which makes me not really liking the existence of epilogue. Even Thought I think the the episode fine on it own ending the cadmus ark
For the blorbo thing. It something that I noticed in a lot of fandoms. I just learned to ignore most of it.
For the Damian but better! Is something I don't really see. Because Damien was raised by literal assassins and Terry had a normal childhood. Don't really see how Terry could be Damien but better..... There origins or nothing alike.... There anger issues maybe. But that a common trait with bat boys. Like dick has it and Jason has it. So that not special. The only thing that I could think of that they have in common is there sperm donor and that their both future batman. Thought I personally think that there dynamic has potential
Jason but better is something I understand with giving how similar they are in a lot of things. Even fashioned tastes. But Terry was rocking the brown leather jackets and red bat symbols longer than Jason did... But seriously though with the simulator organs in some places. Terry was still a kid with a normal childhood was both his parents. He only started acting out is cause he couldn't handle his parents divorce and was a really bad kid. ( And from from what I know Terry is in the middle class) For what I know ( don't at me I haven't read a lot of comics) in his post crisis ( his second one) organs Jason only act up to survive. But overall was a good kid. ( For the most part. I think from my research...) I'm not going to continue this part before I butcher something. Their morals quiet different to. sent I got interested in Terry first I compared Jason to Terry. This that they would have an interesting dynamic.
For the sassy future batman is something I could see. Thought me personally I see Terry like a spider man like Batman.( Maybe because I'm bias and I like Spider-Man) Terry organs has things similar to a spider man story. ( But people have talk to death about that.) Terry also has that spider man humor. Thought he is seared when need to be. ( This is just me rambling at this point)
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destinygoldenstar · 4 months
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My Final Ranking Of The TD2023 Tier List Now That The Season Is Over
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I must stress that Season Two REALLY changed some of these for me… mostly for the worse.
I made a post about how I did not like Season Two’s last 5 episodes.
I can safely say Bowie is my favorite of the cast as a result. Cause he had a very consistent story and personality in both, got development, and reached a satisfying end despite not getting far in Season Two.
Julia is a runner up though, but I don’t put her in favorites because of the last 5 episodes. You’re gonna see that a lot.
I originally had Damien a slot higher and was considering putting him in Favorites depending on the last 5 episodes and what they would do with him.
Yeah, that led to absolutely nothing of value, was a slap to the face for all Damien fans, and basically said “Yeah, this character is useless to the story.”
I can’t say Season Two ruined Damien… but it got him a tier lower now that it’s apparent to me. At least Zee DID something that impacted things.
Priya is a case where the last 5 episodes ruined her. I get it’s in character. You’d think she’d have learned something by now. But instead she became really toxic and stupid for no reason. I was digging her story too. Shame.
Wayne is also a tier lower than Raj now. Because at least Raj got something to do outside of Wayne. But Wayne could’ve had the same with some of his qualities in Season 1. But no, none of those were there in Season 2.
In a strategic focused season that’s all about strategies, and how strategy impacts relationships, you’d think someone with those morals learned throughout the season would win. But no. The only thing is that Wayne played fair and hates cheating. Okay. So does Raj. But at least Raj became upfront about the cheating and called it out and was an influence towards such. And it’s a character arc Bowie had about not cheating.
Caleb didn’t cheat technically. He just played the game. There’s a difference.
It just rubs me off the wrong way.
Ooh Millie… she used to be in Love for me. I really liked her character in Season 1. She wasn’t my pick to win, but she was one of my favorites to follow in Season 1. I’ll explain why in another post where I talk about all of these guys in detail.
But basically, I can’t like her character anymore. Season 2 absolutely ruined her.
Let’s just reset her satisfying character development back to square one as though nothing happened. Let’s make her an attempted murderer and then NOT have her see it as a bad thing until she got compared to Ripper. Which makes her whole apology extremely selfish because what’s stopping me from thinking all she cares about is being called good again.
No. You’re a bad person. And you never got better. At least in Season 1 you were realistically a faulty non-self aware being, but not an attempted batterer!
So yeah. It legit made me like Millie’s character a whole lot less. And I’m starting to look back at Season 1 Millie more negatively, KNOWING she never changes as a person. Disappointing.
I wanted to make a post defending you girl. Now I can’t.
Ripper actually got higher on a different note. He wasn’t as annoying this time. That’s always a plus. I know that’s not saying much, but I cant really say I hate Ripper anymore in either season. Cause at least his character is pretty consistent while also just having better jokes.
I’ll make a post where I talk about all of these guys in as much detail as I can.
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all-de-fandoms · 3 months
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MEAN GIRLS MUSICAL MOVIE LESGOOO
I literally just found out about this today and- yeah yeah yeah I know the musical got a lot of hate but genuinely I adored it (and it was one of my go-tos whenever I got dragged to a scary horror movie!). So to find out that they're making a movie out of it..... I mean yes, I've got some mixed feelings, but mostly I'm excited!
I've listened to the movie album on Spotify already, and held it up against the original. I have lots of opinions.
Cast Performance
Erika Henningsen vs Angourie Rice as Cady Heron: I’m sorry Angourie I’m sure you’re great but Erika really put her soul into her Broadway performance. So much emotion, so much energy and personality in her voice. By comparison, Angourie mostly seems to be singing to sound good rather than to communicate parts of the story in the musical. (I will say however that she did do pretty good in her last song, “I See Stars”.)
Taylor Louderman vs Renee Rap as Regina George: Renee! She did actually play Regina on Broadway after Taylor Louderman. Truth be told, I love Taylor’s version (lol) the best but Renee’s is nothing to sneeze at either. 10/10, no notes.
Ashley Park vs Bebe Wood as Gretchen: Ashley Park did it better. Bebe’s songs are.. okay. But they did cut a lot of Gretchen’s lines in the MG 2024 Spotify album, so that does affect her rating.
Kate Rockwell vs Avantika as Karen: I can’t choose, they both did a good job with their roles. I feel like Kate’s Karen really echoed Amanda Seyfried’s Karen in the original movie, but from what I could tell in the Spotify album, Avantika’s spin on Karen sounds equally good. I do wish they’d given her more songs/lines!
Barrett Wilbert Weed vs Auliʻi Cravalho as Janis!! OH MY FUCKING GOD you guys. If Renee gets a 10/10 Auli gets an 11/10 from me. Auli'i definitely did her homework. Amazing, amazing, amazing.
Grey Henson vs Jaquel Spivey as Damien: There's absolutely nothing wrong with Grey's version of Damien, it's a very good match for the movie one. But Jaquel’s Damien? He had such a beautiful voice, he really went above and beyond for Damien. My vote’s for Jaquel all the way.
The Songs
I won’t be listing them all because that would make this post much too long but here are my highlights:
They cut “It Roars” for “What Ifs” in the movie. Booo. “It Roars” told a good story, “What Ifs” is forgettable, in my opinion.
Auliʻi Cravalho’s version of “Revenge Party” is awesome. She absolutely killed it (/positive) and although I’m not one to usually approve lyric changes, I love the enhancement to Janis’ character by making the song more bloodthirsty.
Renee Rap nailed “Someone Gets Hurt” but I expected no less of course.
They changed some of the lyrics in some of the songs. Some of the lyric changes were just one line, or shifting around of roles ("Apex Predator").
“Meet the Plastics” got pared down in the movie album. Actually, a lot of songs got pared down for the movie album, or just moved altogether. I guess it was to adjust for time, and also to accommodate Angourie Rice’s vocal range. Aaron apparently has no singing roles at all.
"What's Wrong With Me" is another one that got pared down. The original song from the Broadway version tops this one, hands down. Had more plot and characterisation to it, this one was. Not it.
They cut Karen's funny lines in the beginning of the song "Sexy" which. Again, is such a shame. Avantika did amazing though.
They changed parts of "I See Stars", but I'm not mad at it tbh
Final Thoughts
I think my main gripe with the movie (from what I can tell based on the Spotify album) is that Angourie Rice is just not built for the powerful belting songs that Cady sings in the musical. That’s not bad, but I just. Surely they could have found another actress to play Cady? One who could actually perform in a musical? I’m a little tired of people being cast in a movie musical and still singing as if they’re trying to record an album. They’re two different things, people.
I guess they were trying to communicate Cady’s innocent and naïve personality in the original movie? but they cut out the rest of her personality in the new songs, making her just. So flat. This is particularly noticeable in the Broadway version of “Stupid With Love” vs the movie one. We were also robbed of Cady's growl in the line "watch me shake my mane" from "Apex Predator" (which is one of my favourite parts of the musical!) It’s tragic, is what it is. I don’t think this is necessarily all Angourie’s fault- mostly, this is poor writing and/or directing.
Similar gripe with Christopher Briney, Aaron’s actor in the movie. Apparently, he didn’t even want the role when he found out it would be a musical, so they cut out Aaron’s singing parts for him. Like?? Just? Hire someone else? It’s a musical, they ought to be committing to it.
Auliʻi has such a freakin beautiful voice, and as far as her singing performance goes she is the perfect casting for Broadway-Janis. Her performance is on parr with Barett’s in my opinion. She is the perfect example of someone who almost certainly did her homework: she understands the role, she puts in the attitude, the grunge, the “fuck you” attitude that made Barett’s version so damn good. I freakin love her.
Honestly from what I can tell I do love most of the people in this album (Jaquel Spivey!!) except for Cady and Aaron. Which is kind of a shame.
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3rddimension · 8 months
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Answering the other anon’s question about Saige and Damien with what I’ve gathered from the internet…heads up, this is long! Sorry in advance!
First, I need to preface this by saying, this information is provided to satisfy curiosity only. This new community being cultivated seems to keep discussions to themselves and leave the Smosh cast alone, which is awesome. When this stuff first happened, Saige stans and Damien stans took sides and started being toxic and spreading rumors and misinformation. Really don’t want that to happen here. Warning done? Cool!
Saige started working at Smosh at the beginning of 2021. Damien stated in a stream that he quickly developed a crush on her. It’s not clear when they first started dating but by November 2021, they had moved in together and confirmed their relationship. They made regular appearances on each other’s streams (clearly in different rooms of the same residence). They did couple’s costumes in Halloween and in his end of the year post for 2021, Damien called Saige the “love of his life”.
Damien bought Saige concert tickets to a show she wanted to see, they would show snippets of their outings (a picnic, the Ren faire), and they travelled to Italy together.
Professionally, SmoshGames partnered with Twitch in the fall of 2020. Saige had started PixelCircus at the same time but it was just beginning so I think she agreed to be hired by Smosh to help with their Twitch content. I think the streams did modestly. There was some drama about how it was clear SmoshGames was just in it for the money versus “normal” streamers being in it for the community. (I think at the end of the day, any monetized channel is in it for the money but that’s another story.) Speculation also arose around doing things live on Twitch causing issues for the cast and scheduling. Regardless, what happened was SmoshGames ended their Twitch streaming in March 2022. Saige started appearing in less content although she still went with Smosh to Vidcon 2022. I don’t think she was as visible as everyone else though. Matt Raub left Smosh in July 2022. This is speculation but I assume he had something to do with hiring Saige so with him gone and the Twitch gone, I think Smosh decided not to continue with Saige. They also hired Angela, Chanse and Arasha at this time.
Saige didn’t get an official departure notice, but people started to notice she wasn’t in Smosh content. She confirmed only in October 2022 that she no longer worked for Smosh. In the meantime, I think her content creation and viewership with PixelCircus picked up. She was going to more tabletop conventions and whatnot. At one point, she had to quarantine from Damien because she caught something at one of them.
Their exact breakup date is not public. Presuming that Damien is a supportive partner, it’s telling that he liked all her IG posts before September 12, 2022 and nothing after. Again, it’s not confirmation of anything but it’s likely they broke up some time after that. Saige also mentioned in her fall 2022 streams that she was moving. (This is much later but they completely unfollowed each other on social media by May 2023.)
When Saige confirmed to her fans that she left Smosh in October 2022, I assume some of her fans thought something was wrong with Smosh. Saige fed the flames by stating in her discord that while she didn’t say anything that “isn’t lawyer approved”, “everything else is a guess or logical conclusion of an intelligent community”. This wasn’t great but what really stirred things in up was a fan making accusations about Smosh being toxic except for Damien in November of 2022 and Saige LIKING that tweet. At this point, I think the bridges were burned and connections severed.
You can leave a company but you probably shouldn’t support someone calling your ex, your former workplace and his coworkers/friends toxic if you want to maintain any sort of relationship. From that point on, I think they just don’t acknowledge each other. Damien and Saige were both at GenCon this year even and promoted completely separate events.
So, that’s what I know. Mostly pulled from Twitter, some Tumblr and IG sleuthing. Saige and Damien did seem happy so I’m sad they didn’t work it out and this is how the relationships, both personal and professional, ended.
It’s not really clear why Damien and Saige’s personal relationship ended. It might seem like it was because she stopped working at Smosh but we’ll never really know. In my personal judgement, from afar and definitely with incomplete information, it does seem like Saige is a bit immature. Maybe a bit of a narcissist. Around this time too, Damien started to experience some breakthroughs and epiphanies about his neurology and mental health, so that may have helped him realize if he was in any unhealthy situations. (Since he’s neurospicy, kind and socially awkward, I think he was probably easy to take advantage of.)
Anyway, hope this answers the previous anon’s question. At the end of the day, I hope both of them continue to improve their mental health and find happiness. It just won’t be with each other.
Dang. That's a long one! Thanks for all the info anon. Also don't forget that this already happened for quite awhile now and all of them already moved on. I can see both of them already happy with the way their chose and i'm happy for them.
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zaceouiswriting · 2 years
Text
Loving the oldest of four brothers
Character: Dick Grayson x male reader
Universe: Somewhere in DC
Warnings: Mostly fluff
You never thought being in a relationship could be a full-time job aside from your already stressful life. But you were defiantly wrong with that one. The moment you came together with your current boyfriend, hopefully soon fiancé, it became almost laughable how little time you had for yourself.
Not because of him, he was a heaven-sent, extremely patient, generous, lovable, yes, also a massive flirt who is always trying to find ways to make it seem like you guys aren't together so he could 'try again'.
The problem was his family, more precisely, his three brothers. Almost as soon as you walked into his home, a massive mansion overlooking the city, they mistook you for them.
Just like they are doing right now. You knocked on the door, and Alfred opened it, as usual, a beaming smile crossing his face when he saw you, "Master (Y/N), a welcome face."
„Alfred, it's nice to see you too. The three goblins aren't waiting behind the door, are they?" you asked him in a whispering voice. His smile turned more and more into a grin.
“No, but I think if you speak a little louder, they're coming from wherever they are," an almost mischievous glow arose in his eyes. He knew exactly what he was talking about. You couldn’t forget it yourself.
"Is Grayson in his room? I would try my luck running up to it.” Alfred only could nod his head. Now it was on you to smile widely. Sometimes it might seem as if you do not like the three gremlins. Under the surface, though could be seen that you love them deeply, as of they were your own brothers.
Which wasn't difficult because a few years ago you lost your family while studying abroad. Someone killed yours off; it devastated you for a long time. To come into a house filled with so much life made everything better.
You tried to be sneaky at first, tiptoeing through the house up the stairs, always the eyes of the friendly butler on you. Once, you turned around and winked at him to show him that you finally managed to get to the top without at least one of them snagging you.
It was notably weird with Jason because he was a grown man. Despite this, he still acts like a kid around you who needs his father's attention, which is most likely true since his adoptive father was little more than an asshole.
Tim's behavior was understandable. He was still a kid, although close to adulthood, but nothing strange there yet. He's just a sweet kid. Most people can't get him off his monitors. You don't even have to try. He jumps up no matter how long he's awake. If it is about you, he has enough energy to come over and hug the daylight out of you.
Most of the time, you feel like a father, a feeling you love very much. And hopefully, you would get kids later on with your boyfriend.
And then there was Damien, the most clingy one. He was the only biological child of the house owner but did not get any attention from him either. Besides his cute face, he was hard as a rock. To get him to warm up to you and not threaten your life was a hassle. But one night, when he got sick, you cared for him. He became soft as a marshmallow.
All these thoughts about your boyfriend's brothers get you to make one false move. One of the planks in the upstairs hallway is loose. Most times, you get over it without any problem, except this day.
Jason looked out of his room first. Jumping up in happiness as he saw you and ran directly at you. Jumping on your shoulders, laughing while doing it, „Jason, you get heavier every time,“ you laughed with him, just so able to hold your both upright.
„Yeah, bulking up. Your boyfriend should try it too sometimes, just like us.“ He flexed his arms while talking. Flirting with you, just like your boyfriend always does. He comes right after him. 
You were probably the only person able to see that Jason idolizes your boyfriend to no end. It was kind of cute, even his attempts at flirting with you.
Unfortunately, since Jason spoke as loudly as he usually does, the other two came out of their rooms shortly afterward. Damien held onto you like a koala, and Tim jumped around your back. Damien was short enough, so you wouldn’t have any problems of walking further.
„I love you guys, but could you get down so I can walk normally?“ After asking that question, all three of the brothers, without so much as looking at each other, shook their heads in unison.
With a heavy sigh, you carried all three of them to Dicks room, which you opened softly after knocking on it, „Hey Grayson, I have a special delivery of three gremlins. Could you set your signature here?“ You pointed at your lips as you spoke to him.
Perplexed, he looked at you for a moment before he began to grin from ear to ear. Directly getting to you to give you a small kiss on your for him lustful lips. „Okay, I threw your special delivery.“ Without waiting, you grabbed Jason from your shoulders. He landed a moment later on Grayson's bed, followed by Tim. Only Damien did not want to let go of you.
„You are a cutie, like a puppy, but if you believe that I won't jump on the bed with you under me, you are mistaken,“ you jokingly threatened the little guy hanging from your front. With his big eyes, he looked up at you in defeat. He slowly raised his arm, so you could grab him and throw him between his brothers.
All of you smiling, nothing more than happiness, „If our children would be like this too? What do you think, Babe?“
Dick said nothing, so you kissed him. With shock on his face, he took a step back, „Bro, not in front of the kids!“
„Bro?“ you asked, irritated. Until you saw the smirk on your boyfriend's face, „Dude, don’t call me bro outside of the gym locker rooms before getting on your knees for me!“ you warned him loudly, getting gagging noises from the bed.
„Dude, what the fuck?“ Jason asked disgustedly. 
„You'll know if you have a boyfriend or girlfriend of your own, whatever floats your boat, man," you said, still smirking, to the oldest of the three goblins.
He and Tim quickly left the room after this. Only Damien sat still there, confused at the interaction. You were bewildered for a moment yourself until you finally understood that he had no idea what was going on.
„Hey buddy, how about I bring you back to your room? You even can get on my shoulders!“ Without wasting a second, he jumped up and directly on your shoulders. Dick obviously wasn't the only one in the house, who was flexible, and you'll try your boyfriend's flexibility again after you've gotten the last gremlin away.
Life with this family could never be lonely or boring. Hopefully, this family will soon be yours as well; if you ever get the courage to ask Dick to be your husband.
[Masterlist]
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theknightmarket · 1 year
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Okay, okay. Hear me out. Damien...during his college days. Long before the events of WKM. Maybe he didn't know what he wanted in life yet, maybe he did but was struggling to keep himself on track. That's where our dear reader/future DA comes in.
- Alexandrite
P. S. I appreciate the love! Hopefully I can start out on that project soon 💜
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“What if I just sit here and die?”
In which Damien is plagued by indecision, and the only hope in sight is one confident stranger.   
[This is a two-parter, since this has been in my inbox for a while, and I really wanted to get something out. Here's the second part!]
TW: cursing, self-deprecation
Pages: 16 – Words: 6,000
[Requests: OPEN]
Mid-life crises were common in the university. So much so that you could expect every fifth lecture to be cancelled due to the professor’s collapsing mindset. Was this worth it? Would it lead to anything more? Or was the crumbling of the bridge catching up to you? These were questions that every member of staff asked themselves when they stepped foot onto the campus in the morning.
Mid-life crises were less common among the actual students. For one, most of them were not halfway through their lives, and, secondly, they had nothing to worry about. Half of them would have tracked down future employers, a quarter just waiting to get in on daddy’s company, and the final group filling out the few details on an army enrolment form. Really, crises weren’t only uncommon, they were near impossible to find, like tracking down a fish that didn’t know how to swim yet. Either they were rooted out at the very beginning of the year, or they learned to battle the tides – the only other option was drowning under assignments and expectations. 
And that was what made it so much worse for those select students. Their rarity left them completely alone in the educational world, fleeing from commitments as fast as they could make them. Another reason why they were hard to find was simply because they never left their rooms. They’d wake up, go to class, and then return to their homes while everyone else was out living life with the security of a life after this. It was horror to watch out the window, and torture to hear all of the pushing and nagging from the few friends they might have had. 
Damien was in this unusual group of students, and William was the friend. Go figure, they were in Damien’s dorm room, the man himself staring out the blue-stained glass at a distant football game, while Will tinkered with the knick-knacks on his shelf. If there was one detail that Damien did not fit into, it was that his friend was not pushing and nagging him. Instead, he seemed more interested in the random assortment of objects scattered around his room. 
Placing down a broken slingshot, Will sighed, “I don’t know why you’re so high-strung about this.” 
Damien could do nothing more than sigh; he wondered that too, more times than he could count on two hands. It was an unfortunate routine he had trapped himself in, one that left him in this very position after each and every lecture. He just… he found it hard to understand what everyone else found simple. The professor would say some mumbo-jumbo, a phrase he was sure the guy made up on the spot, and his classmates would nod along, like doing laps in a kiddy-pool. Meanwhile, he was left up a creak without a paddle. Eventually, it would get to be too much, and he’d flop down face first into his pillow and hope to wake up when he could get it. 
The only thing that he actually woke up to was William pounding on his door. He opened it, Will barged in, he asked what was wrong and, not long after, they were in this scenario. The third one this week, if Damien was counting correctly, but he couldn’t be sure that he was able to, at this point. 
“It’s only my entire future and wellbeing,” he replied, barely able to get the words out without straying into the fog of his thoughts. 
Will’s only response was a simple, “Exactly,” – and one that had him falling into the creaky chair beside him, still in view of the field but supported, as if thinking about this dilemma was taking a physical toll on him. 
“What if I just sit here and die?” he muttered. Really, it looked like a better option than worrying all the time. 
“Then you will be sorely missed.” 
William plucked a stack of cards from one of the shelves across the wall and flicked through it like a picture book. A few times they and their friends had gotten together for game nights, but Damien had only won once, and that was when half the group was drunk off their heads and the others too busy stopping them from hurting themselves to notice his crumbling poker-face. After that, he was the designated underdog in poker nights. 
So, gambling his way into fortune was out of the question. 
“It’s better than suffering here.”
The bed to his left dipped down as Will practically threw himself on top of it. The cards exploded out of his hands and across the sheets, as if he were spreading seeds throughout a garden. He was lucky that nothing fell on the floor, or Damien might have opened that window and thrown himself out of it. A bit of an overdramatic reaction, but what else was he supposed to do? There was only so much he could take, and anymore trouble was liable to push him over the edge, be it spilt cards, extra projects or students coming down the hall just slightly too loudly. 
Will didn’t seem bothered by it, though; he blew his moustache away from his mouth and started to collect the cards again. “Then you drop out,” he answered lackadaisically, “or you stay in, who cares? It’ll get you to stop worrying, at least.”
From his spot by the window, he watched as the university football team emptied onto the field. He didn’t know any of them personally, but, from where he was sitting, it looked like an easy life. Throw a ball, then get tackled for it - laugh along with your peers without a care in the world, except for who had the thing next. If only his days were that simple.
“I have to get this degree.” 
“Says who?”
“Every possible employer.”
Technically, this degree was a bit of a stretch. Most of the law offices just wanted any Bachelor’s, but Damien had already switched twice at the start of the year, experiences that had made him too scared to set foot near that block of offices again. He had landed on a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management, which was a mouthful, for one reason and one reason only. 
It was the one that his dart hit when he chucked it at the board. 
Finally having all the suits in one hand, Will huffed, “Ah, what do they know anyway? When I was your age, you only had to walk in with a smile and can-do attitude to get a job.”
Damien blinked. “You’re younger than me.” Not to mention that the only career that was possible in was, go figure, the military. Sometimes he questioned if his friend would be able to get any other profession, but there was no other choice than being a raging, gun-wielding madman willing to die for a badge.
“What I’m saying is,” Will shifted to sit up straighter on the mattress, “this degree should not decide your future, but you’re letting it.”
“No, I’m not,” Damien sighed back.
“Are, too!”
The image of William staring at him with a pointed figure, a bloodhound that had caught his unfortunate scent, was getting on his nerves the second it appeared. He wasn’t letting the degree decide anything, because he could barely make a decision, as is. If it were to make the choice for him, the better it would be for everyone. For him. 
Damien looked back to the football game.
“Either you get a grip on the situation, or you don’t.”
They seemed to be having fun.
“There are so many other jobs out there that you’re suited to.”
Sure, some of them were hurt, but the comradery seemed worth it.
“If you want to be stuffed in an office all day, you could be an accountant- ah, no, you’re terrible at math… Damien, are you hearing me?”
Maybe he should join the football team.
“Damien?”
God, no, he’d hate that. 
“Damien!”
He whipped his head to face Will, ready to give him a piece of his mind, but stopped short of letting it all out. He was only trying to help, he reasoned to himself, even if his ‘help’ was anything but at the moment. 
So, instead, he let his shoulders drop and eyes cast to the floor. “You wouldn’t understand, Will.”
He didn’t have the same reservations about snapping. “Like hell I wouldn’t!” William yelled, “I’ve listened to you go on and on about this course, I should think I know what you’re going through by now.” 
Now, Damien’s parents were always very hesitant to visit him, or get in touch with him in any other way – ever since he had moved out for university, they had preoccupied themselves with finding Celine a husband. He was empathetic, of course, but there was a larger part of him that was relieved for their attention being off of him. In this moment, however, he realized just how relieved he should have been. The hands on his side, the near scowl, the suspenders. Will looked like the poster boy for disappointed fathers, and Damien was not a fan of this role reversal. 
He shook his head and leaned forwards, lacing his hands over his mouth, “I’m the one talking, and I barely know what I’m going through.”
“Look,” Will pat his shoulder, “the worst thing you could do it drop out entirely, so why not stick with it, eh?”
“But what if it’s all a waste of time?”
“Then it’ll be a waste of time. Hell, you could always come join me in the military.”
This forced a laugh out of Damien, something he was thankful for, but confused at his sudden joke. Hadn’t he just been chewing him out? He chocked it up to wanting to change the mood. “Very funny, Will.” 
He didn’t laugh. 
“Are you serious?”
That’s when his cold façade wilted, and he pounced forward to grip his friend’s upper arms. That old smile was back, and a large grin paraded onto his mouth. There was practically the sparkle of a thousand stars in his eyes as he spoke with such enthusiasm that Damien would have thought he was recounting a moment of heroism. 
“Oh, think about it! We’d go into battle together, whip out our gats, and get shot in the chests by the enemy—” a wistful sigh escaped him, “—can’t you just imagine it?”
With a chuckle more nervous than before, Damien removed his friend’s hands and placed them back on Will’s hips. It was a weird movement that he was surprised he let happen, but the man was more focused on Damien’s words of, “I think I would prefer something… less life-threatening?”
A pout. “You’re no fun.” After he moved to return the playing cards to the shelf, giving Damien time to breath in his personal space again, he bounced back to the bed. “And a career in law isn’t life-threatening?” he partially joked. 
“Not any more than a battlefield.”
A deadpan look overcame Will, a slow blink, and then he counted on his fingers while replying, “Political violence, riots, assassinations…” 
Damien threw his head back with a groan, some of his hair coming askew.
“Ah. Sorry, friend.”
He really knew how to cheer a guy up, huh? Why he even called on him anymore was beyond him, but who else was free to listen to his lamentations. He was becoming a broken record, though he wasn’t happy with it, and he had all but exhausted the rest of his options. Mark gave up after his first crisis, and Celine told him the cut and dry without a second opinion, leaving William the only one to actually hear him out, even if his advice was less than good. After him, the only thing left was talking to the wall. 
Not that he needed to resort to that, because, seconds later, there was a knock at the door. Damien squinted at his friend, suspicious of some ambush he’d orchestrated, but he looked just as surprised to hear the sound as he was. So, while he watched, Will moved to swing the wood open. 
“Ah, Celine!”
God, no. 
“Is Damien in there?”
Why did she decide that now was the best time to check up on him? His inner complaints didn’t matter; at Will’s chipper reply of, “Yep,” she shouldered past him and glared down at her brother, even more disappointed than Will had been. 
Celine had always been an oddball, and he could say that, because he had spent the first sixteen years of his life tied to her hip. Whenever their parents told her to do something, she would ask why, and when they answered, she would ask why again. To the point, she was curious and determined, a combination that the locals thought discouraging for a woman. Of course, she didn’t care. The snide comments rolled off her like water on a duck’s back, and she went about her days doing whatever she wanted to. Even now, she had invested her life into the dark arts, one of the hobbies that separated her from the rest of her family, but Damien never saw reason to stop her. He was worried for her, granted, but that was only because of certain… events that proved it was a dangerous practice. He was just glad to have her in his life. 
Although, at that moment, he regretted sticking so close to her. 
“What are you doing?” she demanded the second she stopped within two inches of him, a glower clear on her face. 
“Wallowing.” 
“Why?” 
“I don’t know what I’m going to do with my life.” 
Surmising the last half hour in two sentences put things into perspective, but that just made him fall deeper into the pit with how much time he had wasted. 
Celine, expression as blank as a mannequin’s, answered bluntly, “You’re going into the law sector.” 
Damien could do naught but sigh. That much was easy to get, it was just the next months that were going to be tough. “I know, but…” he trailed off, trying his best to avoid her scornful eyes.
“Not ‘but’. You’re going to do it, and that’s final.”
“How do I get through the year?”
Celine looked at him like he was dumb. “You do the work, take the exams, get the degree.”
“You say that like it’s simple.” 
He hadn’t realized that the ‘you really are stupid’ look on her face could intensify, but, apparently, it could. “It is.” 
Damien hated it when she looked down on him – literally and figuratively, and, this time, the combination of the two exchanged his sorrow for something else. The way she spoke boiled his blood, she hadn’t even gone to university, and there she was, talking to him with sure-fire confidence that was going to get her into trouble! Damien loved his sister, he really did, but there was only so much advice and simplification that he could handle. Will, who was standing idly in the corner with a notebook in one hand, had loaded him with the bags, while Celine added the last straw that broke his back. 
“You know what?” he huffed, shooting to stand up straight. His eyeline met Celine’s, passed by to glare at William, and then returned to his sister. If they really wanted to give out unnecessary opinions, they could commentate that football game. “Out.”
“Damien,” she spoke, simple but stern, but he wasn’t having it. 
“Not ‘Damien’—” he pushed at her shoulders and guided her towards the door again, Will standing to attention beside her, “—leave my dorm room. Go on, out you go.”
Halfway through the doorway, Celine called over her shoulder, “You’re going to have to decide sooner or later.”
“Oh, I thought you’d decided for me.”
“Dam—”
She was cut off by Damien yelling, “Goodbye!” and slamming the door behind the two of them. He felt slightly bad when one of his photos collapsed onto the floor from the shaking of the wall, but he himself was shaking too much to care. To ensure he wouldn’t be bothered again, he dragged the wooden chair away from the window and lodged it underneath the door handle, falling onto it within the next second. 
His group of friends were pushy, stressful and beyond annoying in the best of occasions – but they were his friends, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. He just… wanted some time to talk through his knot of thoughts without comments or advice or anyone trying to convince him to do anything else. Yes, he realized that he had no clue what he was doing, but he didn’t need anyone coming in, uphauling his life and telling him what to do with it. He only wanted to be okay. 
That got incredibly harder to do when yet another hit against the door caught his attention. All of his thoughts of peace and calm smashed out the window like frantic doves, while Damien himself all but chucked the chair back where it came from. Not even a second into his break, and someone had to interrupt him! He swore that if it were Celine and William again, he would break something. 
“I told you—oh.”
Except it wasn’t them. In fact, it wasn’t anyone he had spoken to before in his life. 
You were practically a stranger to him. 
That was a regrettable fact, due in no small part to you having shared a class for the last year and a half. Despite Damien not speaking up in class a lot, there was the odd moment that he would hear you answering a question or posing a problem to the leading professor. They always had the ability to make him more secure in the knowledge that you asked about, but it didn’t help when you understood something completely. Hell, sometimes he’d be on the brink of walking up to you and getting the answer from you directly but chickening out at the last second was a fond habit of his. To conclude, he knew nothing of you and you nothing of him. So, that begged the question: why were you standing outside his door, fist still raised in the air and a shocked look in your eye?
“Uh, hi?”
“Hello.” 
You visibly swallowed. Had he made a bad impression already? What was he saying, of course, he had. 
“I’m, uh, I’m new- well, new to the campus, I mean,” you laughed lightly to stave off some of the awkwardness that permeated the space between you both, “I’ve been here a while, and I just wanted to introduce myself to the people around my dorm.” You sent a glance over his shoulder and, presumably, spotted the toppled chair. “Sorry if I disturbed you?”
Damien rushed to answer, “No, no, not at all. I just had some visitors.” He could feel the heat radiating off his face, no less sure that it was doused in a fire-hydrant red. 
Nodding slowly, a smile crept over your mouth. “Okay, well, I’m just down the hall in 53. I’ll be seeing you around?”
Damien, too, nodded, but with double the speed and triple the nervousness. He was terrible at socialising, and the icing on the cake was when he, barely conscious of his body, outstretched one hand. Etiquette training from his parents really paid off, huh? He’d made a fool of himself in the first minute of meeting someone, probably even less if you’d heard his yelling. Maybe this was a sign that he should switch university entirely, get away from this horrid introduction with one of the only people willing to be friendly with him. And, great, he must be flailing in the interaction because even his hand is blushing now!
Or going insane, if him forgetting that hands don’t blush was anything to go by; in reality, you were just shaking it back. 
Your hand was… warm. That was the first thing he noticed, the second being the style of your handshake – it was firm and definite, but not mean-spirited. Analysing it might have been weird, but it was the only thing he could do to stop himself from spiralling or squeezing too hard. 
The pressure left quickly, though, and while your mouth moved to say a formal goodbye, Damien didn’t hear a word of it. He was too focused on the possibility of someone to talk to who wasn’t a childhood friend. It both excited him and had him biting back panic. 
As calmly as he could, he closed the door after you’d moved down the hallway. God forbid you or anyone else see him such a mess. He made it a half-step in front of his bed before he collapsed dramatically overtop it. He would have to tread lightly in lectures now, even more than he had before, and that was not something he was looking forward to. 
That following morning, when he shuffled out of the floor of students and into the classroom, Damien was prepared. His plan was set in stone; to get to his desk, set out his books, avoid any and all eye contact with you or anyone associated with you until the class was over, and then leave, possibly to never return, but that was par for the course. He had just about completed the first part of his plan when you arrived, followed swiftly by a couple of your friends. 
Damien dared not look up from the wood as you situated yourself, in your usual seat and ready to get started. He appreciated your enthusiasm, but it didn’t stop at the requirements of electoral candidates. No, unfortunately for him and his steadily cracking stone, it extended to your social skills. 
Once your eyes caught his, you didn’t miss a beat in stalling your conversation with a friend to shoot him a smile and wave. Damien could feel his heart in his throat even after you had looked away. That spark in your eye – it was so mesmerizing, like a firefly that he wanted to put in a jar for safe-keeping. It was a weird feeling to suddenly want to learn about something, be engaged in the present, just because you were. It almost made him laugh; it took you two seconds to do what all of the guidance counsellors on the campus couldn’t do in two years. You really were something, huh? 
While Damien was busy flipping his brain on, you were barely awake. To be honest, you hadn’t slept well the night before, and a class as early as this one was bound to make you none the better. Upon stepping foot through the room’s door, you had been ready to call it quits right then and there – but who did you see but that guy, the one with the dark, combed back hair and alarmingly striking eyes, sitting on the opposite side of the room to you. Damien, if you remembered correctly from the first day on the course. Back then, you had sat at the back, and watched as everyone told the professor their name, his reactions, their reactions to those reactions, and so on, and so forth. It was an exercise in futility because you almost immediately forgot everything you had paid attention to. Or you thought you had, completely and utterly blown from your mind. 
But then there was Damien. Now, you hadn’t said a word to him in the time you’d been in a class together and you hadn’t even known he lived on campus until yesterday. It was a turn of fate that the room George Jacobs had vacated was down the hall from him, and that he was the only one still there to answer the door. 
Everyone else had been down watching that football game, cheering on their selected team. However, you had no sentimental attachments to anything yet, you didn’t care which team won or lost or got injured or called out unfairly by the referee. You were more concerned with the people who would be around you for the next couple months, though your worry went uncomforted because every door that you rapped upon was empty. Either that, or they heard you coming and vowed not to open up. 
You made your way down the hall, shined shoes reflecting the lights of torches on the wall. Even though it was only just getting into autumn, the nights were getting darker, and the days were getting shorter, and you were wondering if investing in fluffy jackets was the right thing to do. As you waltzed across the clean rug, you let your eyes wander. The decorations weren’t half bad; a bunch of old but pretty paintings spread across the walls, and plant pots lining certain doorways. A golden fire extinguisher hung worryingly used at the end, but before you could get to it, you stopped. 
From out one of the rooms, 61 or 62 from your point of view, two people exited. Exited was a general term, really, because they looked to be more shoved out than leaving on their own accord. They exchanged a few words before the darker haired one grabbed the other’s hand and dragged them down the corridor opposite you. Neither spared you a glance before they were out into the stairwell, but that was fine by you, because you were more focused on the door slamming closed after them. 
Anyone else might have been put off by such a clear sign of aggression, but you were far from anyone else. This, to you, only showed that someone was home, and that was someone you were going to introduce yourself to. Besides, you had come out here to see who you were going to live near, and a nameless student with at least two friends and anger issues was a hell of a way to start. 
So, with more of a bounce in your step than before, you jogged up to the door. It loomed in front of you, the peephole practically staring daggers into your soul, until you raised a fist and knocked a rhythm against the wood. Barely a second had gone by before a crash slipped around the hinges and the door whirled open. 
“I told you—oh.”
Your eyebrows jumped halfway up your forehead, registering a slightly familiar face and a completely unfamiliar reaction. It was unexpected and had you pressing your backfoot into the ground in surprise. You’d noticed Damien once or twice in the back of the class, the guy who was always present and presumably ready at the start of the lecture. Thinking back on it, you don’t think you’ve seen that classroom empty. He’d never taken a sick day or been late, and that left you with a somewhat skewed impression of him, not that you knew it was sorely incorrect. 
But all in all, you’d thought that the silent, collected bystander in the class would be the last one to burst out with such a tone. You were left subtly speechless while he looked on in apparent disbelief. 
“Uh, hi?”
“Hello.”
And the conversation continued – if you could call it that – in relative awkwardness. You tried to be nice, introduce yourself as your family had taught you to, but you couldn’t help but think that something was… off about the interaction. Maybe it was the timing, maybe it was you, or maybe it was just dumb luck that Damien didn’t look like he wanted to talk then. The interaction was quick and efficient, the worst combination for a good chat to be, in your opinion. It left you wondering if you should apologise and start again, maybe during work hours when you weren’t intruding on his personal time. 
While the whole moment was lacklustre, there was one take away that had you looking forward to the next day; Damien had shaken your hand, not something you had expected, but it gave you some information, all the same. A handshake was indicative of someone’s personality, and this time, you were very interested in the results. First of all, Damien had initiated it, so the leading theory was that he was confident when in his own space, when he had the most control. Second was something that contradicted it, though, since his barely-there pressure hinted that he was not sure in his social skills but that he still had them. Likely engrained in him from an early age – like singing a song, but not understanding the lyrics. Finally, and this was your thought as you began to walk back to your room, you were the one to let go. You weren’t a shrink, not by any means, however, you thought yourself good at reading people. It seemed that Damien’s impulse to shake your hand might have started from tradition but continued with the physical touch of your hand. That look in his eye was far-away, the pupils locked onto your handshake, and a faint scattering of red along his cheekbones. People in the university often desired closeness, and you had a feeling Damien was no different. You almost apologized when you let go. 
To conclude, Damien, confident in his area, well-taught but timid, impersonally romantic, and, although it was something you didn’t catch from his handshake, handsome to boot. To say you were intrigued would be an understatement. 
And that was exactly why you found yourself checking the clock and walking up to Damien’s desk. You had to manoeuvre around a lot of other tables, giving him plenty of time to notice you, but he was still staring distantly at his notebook when you came to a stop next to him. 
You cleared your throat. “Hey, there.”
The second that the first syllable made its way out of your mouth, he looked up in surprise, like you’d just told him the president had died. His expression was almost horrified, which wasn’t the way that you wanted to start this interaction, but you could adapt. 
To ground yourself, you leaned back on the desk behind you. The wooden legs creaked and bent under your weight, though they stayed upright while you collected your thoughts. You didn’t want to scare him, far from it, you just wanted to get to know him a little. You weren’t the best at making friends, most of the people you spend time with being the people from down your street when you were a child, so this was a new, but welcome, challenge. 
But first things first, you had to make sure he wasn’t going to run away at the first sign of you being anything but what was expected. 
“I’m sorry if I came off weird last night,” you started, edging your bets with a small chuckle. 
Damien’s eyes darted around your face, looking for something of which you had no clue, but it wasn’t long before they landed back on his notebook. “Yeah, no, it wasn’t… you’re fine.”
“Thanks, I’m, uh, not normally like that, I guess it was just weird being in a new place without any family.” 
“Well, that’s not always a bad thing.”
Your eyebrows furrowed with this new information. It was a comment you hadn’t expected from him, but you had a feeling that it had something to do with those people coming out of his dorm room. After all, thinking back on it, that first one had the same dark shade of hair as the man before you did. It wouldn’t hurt to take a chance.
“Were the people last night your family?”
This encounter was going swimmingly, since he, apparently, hadn’t expected that from you either. This was a lesson in not judging a book by its cover, huh? 
It took him a second to realise that he was still in a conversation, but Damien’s answer came a moment after. “One of them, yes. My sister, Celine, my twin, actually.” 
“Oh, is she at the university, too?”
“No, no, she isn’t a fan of mass educational environments. Will isn’t either, but that’s what make them a pair.”
“Will?” 
By this time, a fuzzy feeling was rising in your chest, the same kind that you’d get when you clutched a hot water bottle close to you on a cold night. This was a conversation – you were having an actual conversation with someone you’d just formally met! You would have pat yourself on the back had you not been in public, but you noted it down for future reference when you were alone again. 
“Yes, he’s my friend. I’ve known him for years, ever since he accidentally shot a slingshot through my bedroom window.”
That drew a laugh from you, one that surprised the both of you as it came out. Etiquette be damned, that was funny, so you let your true feelings show. 
Your sudden chuckling brought forth Damien’s own few mimics, only interrupted by you shifting your arm to gesture towards your own group of friends. 
“That one’s James,” you commented, ‘that one’ being a blond, more on the shorter side, guy, heavy-set with an ironed shirt that he was nearly bursting out of. You moved your hand to the left, now pointing at a laughing woman, who had an arm wrapped around another boy’s shoulders. You supplied, “Kate and Michael,” before nodding at the last person sitting around the conglomeration of desks, “and Edward.” 
“They seem, uh, nice.”
It hadn’t been a joke, and yet you laughed anyway. You stopped yourself before it attracted any more attention than you had already garnered, and muttered, “Yeah, they sure seem it.” 
“I mean it,” Damien replied, grasping for his pen in the wake of a steadily rising blush. 
“I know you do,” you replied, humour clear in your voice, “but just you wait until you meet them.” 
Meet them? Damien’s redness shot out of him like a bullet as his eyebrows furrowed. You wanted him to meet your friends, or did you mean in general? He weighed the options and found that he’d rather you introduced him, not even considering the fact that you would be introducing him. 
“Unless you don’t want to, of course,” you rushed to say when you noticed he looked almost conflicted.
“Oh, no, I do want to!” The words fled from him before he was aware that he was thinking them. It was only when he you smiled a bright, contagious smile, that he started to fiddle with the cap of his pen once more.
“Great!” You might’ve been embarrassed to admit that your heart beat slightly faster, your hands started to sweat, and the urge to scream tapped at the back of your throat. “We’ll get it set up, then, shall we? I was thinking maybe tomorrow at 12, or, if you’re busy, we—” 
“Can everyone take their seats?”
Your head snapped up on your shoulders, spine straightening, and your attention directed to the suddenly full classroom. Or, rather, not suddenly; you’d been too enthralled by getting Damien to talk to your friends that the students filing into the room flew under your radar – not even the person who normally sat in the seat you were occupying cared enough to ask you to move. They, notably, had set themself up where you normally would sit. 
The one time the class was actually full, and it was the time you were definitely going to embarrass yourself for it. 
Ignoring the brightening of your face and choking down an awkward laugh, you met the eyes of the professor at the front. He had this very specific look that you never thought you’d see directed at yourself, but there was a time for everything. It was almost smouldering to look at, and you weren’t sure if it was your face burning from your blush or from his glare.
“Oh, sir, I’m not—” you rushed to explain. 
The glare worsened. You swallowed. 
“Everyone, take your seats.”
You shuffled into the wooden chair of the desk you had been sitting on, confident in only one thing; that you’d made a fool of yourself. The impulse to slam your head through the table was strong, but you fought it if only to avoid further attention. Sheepishly, you cast a smile towards Damien, who offered back a smaller, but still genuine, grin of sympathy.
You could do this. Totally. Why wouldn’t you be able to? It was just sitting next to a potential new friend who had seen you mess up thrice now. 
What could go wrong?
 
[‘Hey, Alexandrite :D
Woah, two two-parters in a week?? Seriously though, apologies for the wait, exams have been kicking my ass. Also, this is a two-parter mainly because I think I just really like writing Damien’s dynamics with his friends. I’ll definitely be getting the second part out after exams all finish, though, so I hope it’ll be worth the wait]
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karlenandgail · 2 months
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The Prince meets THE QUEEN....
“Tell Abriella that Gail’s Prince has arrived in New Orleans and is currently having coffee with Armaund and I.” Watching Thenasus’ eyes widen almost had Jean Pierre chuckling.  “If she could please come most expeditiously, we would appreciate it.  He is…touchy…and a bit impatient to see his redhead.”  Jean Pierre smiled.
"I'm sorry did you say…" Thenasus leaned towards Jean Pierre, his eyes narrowing slightly; he was sure he had to have heard wrong.   He hadn't even had a chance to work with Gail to obtain any information on her supposed Prince, and yet he had somehow found Jean Pierre in New Orleans?  
"Oh yes, an actual Prince too, of Uffern no less.  Youngest brother of King Kellen, although I can say that they seem nothing alike, thank the Source." Jean Pierre's smile didn’t reach his eyes and was tight.  Both he and Thenasus had encountered Kellen in the past, neither wished to again.  "I was at one point a tad worried for Armaund's safety.  It seems Prince Karlen is rather touchy and the possible insinuation of her dead, I mean she IS in Hell, just about had him exploding.  Thankfully he does have more composure and restraint than his elder brother."
"Lovely.  I am sure Abriella won't be able to contain her excitement for that kind of response." Thenasus said with so much sarcasm that the air was rife with it.  The tall guard had a feeling that this could explode if handled wrong, on both the Uffernian and Imperium fronts.
"He is at least ready to relinquish title and royal standing so he can come to the realm.  Not even a blink when I mentioned it." Jean Pierre noticed Thenasus was as shocked at this as he'd been.
"I'll tell Abriella.   As soon as she's available, I'm sure she'll be down.  We’ve had an interesting day or so, you’ll have to have Anna fill you in." The guard shook his head.   Had the Fates decided no one got to sleep or peace in the realm for the foreseeable future?  Between the disaster at breakfast with Yael, the arrival of Kaylin and Asher, the expected oncoming conflict with Damien, the idiot spectre who almost got his…wife? killed the night before and now this, he wondered how much more could go wrong.  That had all happened before midnight the previous day.  Now this one was starting with an Uffernian Prince wishing an audience with the Queen.  What next, a proposal from…no, he was going to not even think anything of the sort.  The damn Fates would probably make it happen, at this rate, and trying to contain Cruz if one more thing went upended would be…a headache.
****
“Prince Karlen, I have been informed that you wish an audience with me.”  Abriella gave no notice before she appeared in the antique shop, where Armaund and Jean Pierre were quite sure that they would soon become tea leaves, from how much they were going through waiting for her to show up to handle their guest.  She was dressed in an elegant suit and anyone not in the know might mistake her for a powerful business woman.  Powerful she was, but her business was normally death and warfare, not paperwork and money making.
Karlen, for his part, rose and bowed to the Queen.  He knew she held the key to seeing Sophia, who he had learned went by Gail when awake.  “Queen Abriella, I did.  However, please, I relinquish all title and standing, as I understand that our realms are not, nor have ever been, allies, so I am no longer a Prince.  I come before you as a humble demon, wishing to enter your realm in search of the woman I’ve loved and searched many realms and worlds over for three hundred years for.  I know her as Sophia, but I know in her waking hours that she can go by other names.  If it pleases, your highness, I would just like the chance to finally be with her.”  For the first time in his long life, he was truly nervous.  His voice was sincere, and there was even a slight pleading sound to it at the end.
If she did not believe him or refused him, he did not know what he would do.  If his Sophia was truly friends with Abriella then declaring war on her realm to get to her would be the exact opposite of a good thing.  The Queen was far more beautiful and composed than even the rumors that had reached Uffern had stated.  Possibly his brother, Kellen, could negotiate something if this endeavor failed.  Karlen would not be deterred, he had worked too hard and for too long to just give up.  
“I was informed that you were willing to do so.  Your powers will be partially bound till you have proven yourself trustworthy within my realm.  I have been advised of the previous relations between your family and my grandfather.  While he has made some…changes…in his demeanor, I cannot allow war to break out. No does your brother have a diplomatic relationship with my reign.  I am sure you understand my position.”  Abriella had a soft smile and inclined her head.  Gail had no clue she was there, nor that Karlen had been found.  Truthfully she didn’t trust him, and until it could be confirmed that he WAS her dream Prince, suspicion would reign supreme.  There had been enough upset in Imperium in the last twenty-four hours to last her for a long time.  When she returned she still needed to have her conversation with Leandre about the upcoming visit she was going to make to Damien.
“Your Majesty, I shall agree to any provisions required in order to be with Sophia.  If there are any tests that I must endure, I shall agree to those too.  I have anticipated this day for centuries, I will let nothing stand in my way if I can eliminate it easily.” Karlen’s expressions and voice were resolute, but not confrontational.  While trying not to sound as desperate as he felt, he did want to convey that he was not going to challenge her in any way regarding the requirements to be a guest of Imperium. 
“Orpheus, Andronicus?”  From the shadows stepped two of Abriella’s Royal Guard.  Both dressed in their more regal gear, they were being tasked with “babysitting” the Prince until it had been determined whether he could be trusted.  “These two guards will be with you at all times.  If you try to leave the realm with Gail, it will be considered and act of war, and you will feel the force of all four of the Horsemen upon Uffern.  If you are being honest regarding your intentions, then within time we can make changes to these requirements. We are still chasing the beings that had Gail enthralled and I will not allow her to be endangered because of your obsession with her.”  Abriella’s chin was lifted, but her voice was not confrontational.  At the moment, she was walking the fine line between a friend and the regent of the realm.  It was not a comfortable one for her.  She knew that further separation from Karlen, should he prove to be the one Gail had described, would only cause the sweet woman more pain.  
“You will have no argument from me, Your Majesty.  I will follow whatever rules you lay out to be able to be able to see if what we have experienced over the centuries in dreams can come into the waking world as well.”  Karlen nodded in deference to her, grateful that he wasn’t being chained, literally, in some kind of dungeon or jail.  His brother was not known for his friendly relationships with other realms, so that he was no met with outright hostility was at least a step in the right direction as far as he was concerned.
“We are not going to have you meet Gail directly.  You will have a conversation with your guards and Gail’s guardian within Imperium will bring her by the open doorway.  First we will see if she recognizes your voice, then we will move forward from there.”  Abriella, Cruz, Olly, Arch, and Thenasus  had all discussed how to handle things before she had teleported to the antique shop. They all felt it better not to bring them together directly until they had more indication that he truly was who she had dreamed of.  In this way they could avoid further trauma to her.  “Now, let’s be away.”
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nyxnygma · 2 years
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Pfffft Nerds ~Marko&Paul
[Marko x Fem!Reader x Paul]
Summary: After finding out that your type is the complete oppisite of them, Paul and Marko get jealous when you introduce them to your nerdy friend
Warnings: cursing, sexual innuendos, jealousy, pet names, poly relationship,teasing
!!NOT PROOF READ!!
A/N: I kept nearly making Y/N very northern English (like me) so I will definitely be writing a headcannon with this. I also need a some sort of fruity fic as I’m lookin hella straight.
Masterlist
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“Hey Babe,” Paul grinned as he stepped through my bedroom with ease, Marko right behind him.
“Jeez Paul,” I huffed, the loud thud of my window opening frightened me. “One day your gonna give me a fucking heart attack.”
He giggled mischievously in response as he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me into a kiss. Once Marko was also in my room he gave me a wink before kissing my cheek and pulling me into a hug. I was to busy loving Marko to realise Paul found my diary from two years ago.
“Dear Diary. Damien is so cute with his fluffy chocolate hair and nerdy glasses. All I want in life is for him to rant about how Mr Cahill is getting the Science equations all wrong to me all night long,” He was trying so hard not to burst out in a fit of hysterical laughter as he read from the pink fluffy notebook in his hands. “Your grammar is shite in this, Y/N”
“Paul..” I said embarrassed about him finding out about my old crushes. “Gimme the stupid diary.” I let go of the curly blond and started to walk to towards my other boyfriend.
“Hang on a minute!” Marko stepped in front of me. “I would love to hear more about this.”
“No you don’t,” I crossed my arms.
“Wait hang on Marko,” Paul eyebrows shot up in shock, “there’s other people here that babe had a thing for. By any chance did you like the nerdy people?”
My face turned a bright shade of red. It’s true. Marko and Paul were the complete opposite to those I usually go for. They wear leather jackets, flirty, charming, ride motorcycles, listen to rock and have a lot of confidence whereas I usually fall for the dorky, fluffy haired, glasses wearing geeky nerds.
“You really strayed off that path, huh?” Marko commented as he swung an arm around my shoulder and kissed my cheek again. “I know nothing about science except there is a guy called Einstein.”
What I failed to mention was who were my friends.
The next night the three of us rode up to the Boardwalk with Dwayne and David, who we then ditched to snoop around some shops. We were walking out the vinyl shop after successfully finding an old Kiss ‘Dressed to Kill’ album when we bumped into a handful of my friends.
“Hello Y/N!” A short girl with orange curly hair greeted as she spotted me.
“Alexa? Hi!” I reciprocated the greeting. “Oh Paul, Marko, meet Alexa, Violet and erm..” I paused as I looked at the six foot tall brunette guy in front of me who was currently pushing up his glasses, “Damien.”
I saw my boyfriends face drop as they stared at the boy in front of me. From the passage in my diary I think they were expecting a acne covered short boy who wasn’t even that attractive but instead they were faced with a tall handsome man in a sweater vest. I didn’t still have a crush on my good friend, it only lasted about a month and I then moved onto this other nerdy person, but I know how jealous the boys can get.
“Hello,” they both responded, obviously trying not to rip the poor boy apart. My friends all smiled and smiled aged back.
The thing is my friends don’t exactly know I’m in a polyamorous relationship, I’m scared on how they would react, and Paul and Marko know about them not knowing and they used to be fine with it but I think they changed their minds after learning about Damien.
“I’m glad your here!” Damien blushed, “I’ve been meaning to get back to you on that book you learnt me and your right, The Damnation Game is such a good book!”
“Yeah. I knew you would like it,” I grinned. Paul wrapped an arm around my shoulders as he looked up at his much taller opponent.
“Wanna go get food with us? Marko and Paul can come along to,” Violet smiles.
“I would love to!” I replied before looking to my boyfriends, “do you wanna tag along to them.”
“Yep!” Marko smiled. Something was definitely off with them.
We all walked along the Board walk until we got the burger place, the blonde boys sticking to my sides like glue. When we are inside I sit next to Alexa expecting Paul or Marko to fill the seat beside me but instead I was met my Damien. I caught a glimpse of annoyance in my boys’ faces as they instead sat in front of me beside and awkward looking Violet.
“So how has your been? It feels like it’s been ages since we all hung out together,” Damien chuckled, stuttering slightly. I don’t blame him for acting scared when there was two bikers staring daggers at him.
“It’s been good, thanks,” I smiled back at him.
I spent the evening laughing and talking with my friends but Paul and Marko were almost silent all night, which was highly unusual for the energetic pair.
We were about to leave the diner to go on some last minutes rides when I asked them to wait for me so I could use the bathroom.
When I was done I exited the room to be faced with Damien looking nervous. “You alright there Damien?” I asked.
“Erm.. I have something to ask you,” he nervously stated as he pushed up the glasses on his face. “Will y-you go on a date with me? Maybe? It’s okay if you don’t want to but-”
“Oh I’m sorry Damien!” I interrupt. “I’m kinda already going out with someone. Believe me, if you told sixteen me I would have said yes but your a bit too late buddy.” I tried to laugh it off.
“Oh-” he began to speak again but was interrupted by to blondes walking up to us.
“Hey Babe,” Paul calls for me.
“We’re came to see if you were okay,” Marko smirked suspiciously as I blushed a bright shade of pink as he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me into a passionate kiss. I was about to give them an angry glare, because they knew what was going on, but was caught on my Paul also pulling me into a kiss.
Afterwards, I looked at the poor boy in front of us who was between us with a shocked face. “I-I’m so sorry. If I had known that the three of you were.. y’know, I wouldn’t have asked.”
I could tell the boys were enjoying watch him panic. “Oh it’s fine don’t worry about it,” I smiled reassuringly. The boys weren’t helping the situation with them both touching me and smirking.
“I-I’m gonna go catch up with the girls,” he smiled sheepishly as he tried not to run out.
“God. Did you really have to do that?” I turn around to look at them.
“Your precious nerd was trying to steal you away, baby,” Marko pouts.
“You both are just a pair of big jealous babies, huh?” I sigh.
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marshallmallows · 11 months
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doing my annual perfect match replay and it just reminded me how much i love this book. the characters, the storyline, and just the intricacies of everything!!! AND the polyamory??!! perfection. pb has made no book better and i hate to say it but wtf happened with their new books 😭 nothing tops old choices i fear
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the variation! if you didn’t previously romance hayden or any of the other love interests and suddenly do so in book 2, you receive special dialogue and an achievement. it makes it so personal and throughout the book the weight of your decisions really shines, especially with the love interests and the variants of dialogue!
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AND THIS i’m sorry this is turning into a hayden young appreciation but IDC I LOVE THEM SO MUCH
each of the characters are so fleshed out and human. especially hayden, where their main storyline was about finding themselves and reforming their identity. love interests like these are a rare commodity with pb, with so many of the new books featuring love interests that have brains full of sex. (nothing wrong with smut books if that’s your jam, but still. where is the depth???!!)
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even damien, and his difficulty opening up and healing from past trauma. but he did it, he made it, and he is happier than ever. and don’t even get me started on the dames and damien switch, no plottwist in choices can ever top it
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and SLOANE!!! i love her so so much, she truly grows into her own throughout the series and her ending fits her so wonderfully. helping rehabilitate the matches and give them the life they’ve always deserved? having her guilt for creating them assuaged because she can do good in the world? AMAZING. plus she’s adorable and badass and just everything
tldr perfect match outsold every other book go home <3
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gnar-slabdash · 1 year
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Leverage Mark Showdown -- Second Heat Contestants
Where the nominator left comments (or fun extra descriptors), I'm including their comments, cause those are way better than what I'd come up with. Where they didn't leave comments, you'll have to settle for mine :P
Jack Lattimer The Radio Job, The Last Dam Job (also sort of most of Season 4) Hes a background guy, just barley staying relevant but also managing to be a pain in the ass to Nate and the crew, but he's not as much of a threat as Damien Moreau, but still stays in the background disrupting htings and giving the crew a hard time purely beciase he wasts a few extra bucks. Hes a bad gys that feels realistic an investor who found a way to cheat the system to benefit himself.
Jimmaaay Jimmy Jimmy Ford The Three Card Monte Job go grandpa
Dr. Anne Hannity The Inside Job That cocky/confident shit is hot... Except for the part where she manufactures a famine. But every time she thought she had a trump card she was sexy af
Dalton Rand The Future Job he's the worst kind of loathsome esp bc he's the most directly confronted with the harm he's doing and is totally blase about it
Nicky & Heather Moscone The Wedding Job They're both great caricatures and I like that they double cross each other.
Alan Foss The Two-Horse Job He’s one of the most well-sold “cartoonishly evil immature dickbag“ characters  we encounter. I love his arrogance, his uber-hateable sexism, and the over the top reactions he makes are so much fun to watch him get angry about. Damien Moreau, "IF WE MUST" The Big Bang Job, The San Lorenzo Job - specifically for the bathrobe and flipflops and being carefully staged to not look like everyone around him is normal human size, bless him - silly charming terrifying bastard man. can't believe this hasn't been done yet.
Retzing & Sons The Snow Job Dysfunctional crime family getting synergistically worse the more they try to deal with each other. Also I get excited every time I see my boy Jonathan from Buffy
Meredith The Lonely Hearts Job Man, she actually almost did our heroes in, didn't she? I love her grudging respect for Sophie, like she is genuinely into the art of grifting and willing to acknowledge being bested
James Kanack The First Contact Job He could have just been another rich and successful asshole. But no, that wasn't enough for him. HE HAD TO TALK TO ALIENS.
Mitchell Kirkwood The Studio Job Dude was a charming psycho, I'd let him murder me for my songs 😍 Plus watching his face break was 😚 Divine 😚
Hugh Whitman The Gone Fishin' Job Yeah, you know, let's do some regular debt collection fraud and also fund an entire militia out in the woods behind the bank, that seems normal, right?
Larry Duberman The Reunion Job what if there was a nerd who had sometbing sooooooooo wrong with them. also his actor was in big eden i got really excited when i recognized him
Wendy Baran The Gimme a K Street Job - okay I cave, you got me with this one. You're gonna have to send some propaganda, cause the nominator didn't say anything and i literally remember nothing about this character except she thinks breaking teenage girls' necks is a fun way to make money - Update! The nominator says: - Okay I said Baran bc I hate her so very much -  And she’s a girlboss (derogatory)
Andrew Grant The Miracle Job Love the energy, love the way he threw a wrench in their plans by being even more of a sleazy money grubber than they expected (and more creative about it!), and yeah, he's another one that I actually feel kinda bad for cause playing on his anxiety was LOW.
Irina Larenko The Stork Job She was such a ditzy cunt, I hated her but I loved watching her on screen. Kinda cute in a way idk plus her main muscle was kinda unfff
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minnesota-fats · 2 years
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Also its okay that the DP x JL x MLB isn't your cup of tea, so whenever I ask about what I'll call the Halfa-Siblings au ( heh ) it'll just be in the JL x DP world.
With that out of the way, I was reading reading family reunions but at the worst time au, and I wondered about how that must had went down in the Dark Dan timeline 😬.
Because despite being willing to kill his own family and friends again to ensure his existence, I'm sure when Dan found out that his bio dad was Bruce Wayne, he was stunned because to him, Jack is his dad, full stop. And Maddie isn't the type to cheat, how how did this happen?
Also, if he found out as a late teen, then he might jump to the wrong conclusions and because of bad experiences with Vlad, thinks that Bruce could have taken advantage of Maddie, since he is a powerful rich man and then gave his family hush money, and if they complained, who will believe them?
*The part that got Vlad's intelligence thought that maybe he could be a baby from an open relationship but that thought never took root because despite being evil, there are things not even Supervillians want to think about what goes on in their parents bedroom, thank you very much*
And the JL would have tried to stop Dan at one point since he's causing so much damage and getting more powerful, so a fight had to happen( and they probably either lost horribly or even died, ) Dan finds out about Bruce being Batman because that tech is expensive and he'll need money and connected the dots, and blows up at him, revealing that he is his long lost son that he never even cared about and how he treated his mother like a used toy.
If Dan did kill Bruce with the League, the Batfam, including Damian would tried to get revenge. Dan sees they he has a younger half-brother and goes ballistic and yeah I don't see that ending well for them either.
Maybe Damian did get away and he was leading some resistance out there, and he and Dan despite knowing their blood bond, hate each others guts.
What do you think went down during that Father-Son confrontation? And what did the Dark Dan timeline Bruce think about Dan, and then finding out that's his son?
—I made a short bit of how i would write that interaction cuz I couldn’t help myself cuz I LOVE angst at the best of times!—
Dan held the man by the throat and glared up at him, teeth bared, “what do you have to say for yourself?” Bruce—even while being held like this—looked down at Dan with sad eyes. He was confused and in pain and this young man who was going to kill him was another son he knew nothing about. “I asked you a question, old man!” Dan growled, tightening his grip ever so slightly.
Bruce gargled before finding his voice, “I’m. Sorry.” He says softly, “I didn’t know about you. If I did I would have done everything in my power to have met you…” Bruce’s vision began to blur, “I failed you, son….”
Dan stares up at Bruce, eyes wide and full of dangerous human emotions. But it didn’t last long, Dan throws Bruce onto the ground and puts his foot on his head. Dan looks up at Bruce’s family and smiles wickedly before putting pressure on the man’s skull and crushing it beneath his foot. The screams of anguish that came from his so-called siblings was music to his ears.
How dare they live here and be happy while I had to suffer, how dare they call him a monster when the world made him this way! Dan stalked forward like a wild animal walking up to its corner mes prey. “Now what to do with you brats?” He asked, looking at all of them bound by his ecto energy.
Unknown to Dan however, Jason managed to free himself and was working on freeing Damien. But in typically Damien fashion, the kid jumps up and tries to attack Dan. Dan sidesteps the kid and smirks when he hears the other bat kids gasp and shout for Damien to just run away. Dan picks the kid up by the scruff of his robin suit and growls when he can’t see the kid's eyes. He rips off the kids domino mask, expecting fear. But he froze when he saw looking up at him with big green emerald eyes so much hatred. even with tears falling like waterfalls Damien glared at him. Frozen in that moment, Dan could only look at this kid. So similar to him—his human half— lost so much in a single day and it was only going to get worse from here on out.
Jason took the opportunity to rush forward and deck Dan in the face, causing him to drop Damien. In one fluid motion Jason houists Damien onto his shoulder and runs out of there. The whole time Damien cursed and demanded to go back, calling Jason a coward and screaming at how he was going to kill Dan. Dan smiled and watched them go, Dan had made a decision and he was excited to see how this would play out. But for now he turned to look at the remainder of the bat clan and smiled a fanged grin before he began ripping into them like a wild animal.
This whole scenario gives me JLD: Apokolips War vibes! If you haven’t seen it I recommend it! Its about the JL fighting Darkside and losing and the whole movie takes place after a two year timeskip where Constantine and the remaining JL band together to fight Darkside.
But if you dont like gore dont watch it! Its SUPER dark and there are many on screen deaths, such as: Nightwing getting impaled protecting Damien, Koriand’r getting ripped in half and so on!
(It also has Dami throwing Dick into the Lazarus Pit and it not working like it did for Jason and Dick comes back wrong and insane!)
Anyway, moving on!
Damien resents Jason and will call him a coward for the rest of his life.
Jason couldn’t care less, he was just glad he was able to save one of his siblings.
Damien will try and run off on his own but Jason isn’t far behind.
After the fall of humanity they are left in the wreckage until they find Amity Park the last city still standing, protected by a tall shield that northern Jason or Damien could get through.(because of the Lazarus pit)
Valerie and Damien bond over losing people they care about (he doesn’t tell her that mother he nor his brother can’t go through the shield after she explained that Dan couldn’t get in because he was a ghost)
Damien and Jason decide that they will go around the world to see if they can find any survivors and bring them back to Amity Park.
Jason becomes a better big brother and takes care of Damien (similar to how Jazz took care of Danny)
They meet Vlad who almost has a heart attack cuz Damien and Danny look so similar.
Dan appears and asks how his toys are doing (because he is creepy like that!)
Damien tries to kill him again but is yeeted into a wall and Dan leaves cackling.
Vlad tells his story
Damien nearly beats the shit out of him before Jason can stop him
Vlad believes he deserves it and moves on
Vlad offers them some weapons that work against ghosts
They take them cuz yay weapons!
Vlad helps supe up their suits with ghost tech like Valerie’s suit and makes an ecto dampener so they can go into Amity through the portal.
—10 years later—
Amity Park falls and Damien, Valerie, and Jason are all that’s really left.
Past Danny comes to the future to stop Dan and he meets Damien (who almost kills him but is stopped by Valerie when she finds out phantom is danny)
Damien explains that they are half brothers which throws Danny for a loop.
Meets Vlad again who nearly cries when he sees Danny. (Danny clocks him in the face and Jason is like, “I like this kid”)
Damien and Danny bond over fighting ghosts. Damien actually starts to like Danny as a brother
Danny finds out that he is technically the older brother and is like “I’m an older brober!” And Damien tells him to shut up and Jason and Valerie laugh! Cuz holy shit Dami is a baby!!!
When Danny is about to go back in time and Damien pulls him aside and is like “it was nice knowing you kid! But if you fail I’m gonna go back in time myself and kick your ass!”
Danny hugs him and Jason, and promises that he wouldn’t.
Then some happy bittersweet sibling banter and Damien warning Danny that if he ever meets Damien like, “bother be warned, if you ever meet me in the past, he will most likely try and kill you.”
Danny laughs thinking it’s a joke and Jason is like, “no seriously! He was raised by assassins for the first 10 years of his life.”
And Danny gets sent back to the past with SO MANY QUESTIONS! Like what the hell
Danny will have a heart to heart with his mom, calming that he just had a feeling and she will then explain everything to him (including his parents open relationship)
And Danny wanting to meet Damien and Jason again goes to meet his bio dad because he wants to be a good big brother!
(This is just a random thought but what if future Damien and Jason are brought back in time too and are tasked by clockwork to look after Dan in the GZ as the more human than ghost protector’s, just a fun thought!)
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