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pelorsdyke · 6 months

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ronancetober - day nine: free day [west wing au]

“What the hell was that?”

When she enters Nancy’s office, the woman in question is scribbling furiously on a yellow legal pad, books and highlighters surrounding her on the desk.

“Good morning, Nancy, it’s nice to see you, Nancy, oh, thank you so much, Robin, it’s nice to see you too.” Nancy replies, not looking up from her task. Robin rolls her eyes.

“Good morning, Nancy. What the hell was that?”

Nancy’s pen runs out of ink and she switches for a replacement, tossing the old one into the wastebasket at her feet. Still, she doesn’t lift her gaze, though whether it’s purposeful or just a symptom of Nancy being deep in her work, Robin doesn’t know.

“I did my job,” Nancy replies, and her voice is sincere, if a little ticked, “you know, the thing where they pay me human money to make sure the President doesn’t get torpedoed by a bunch of idiots?”

“Yeah, well, you also directly undermined me to the press corps,” Robin reminds her, still thinking about the way Vickie Stewart pulled her aside after the briefing not ten minutes ago. “You know,” she mocks, “the thing where they pay me human money to make sure the White House has consistent and accurate messaging?”

At this, Nancy looks up.

“I didn’t undermine you,” she says, instant, and her gaze remains locked on Robin’s. Robin scoffs and Nancy shakes her head, repeats herself. “I didn’t undermine you, Robin.”

“Then what the hell is the Post doing asking me about the Speaker of the House?” Robin replies, and Nancy frowns, considering for a moment. It’s one of the woman’s best qualities, especially given her job description, but sometimes it really pisses Robin off. Sometimes, like right now.

“Speaker’s not elected yet, Nance,” Robin reminds her, and Nancy shoots her a look, I know that, idiot clear across her face.

“What’s Stewart claiming to know?” Nancy asks, and if Robin didn’t know better, she’d think the tone in Nancy’s voice on Vickie’s name is jealousy.

“You don’t know it’s Stewart,” Robin says, just to be difficult.

“Nobody else at the Post would tell you,” Nancy fires back, “they’d just print the story and make it your problem at the next briefing.”

Robin bristles. She feels, honestly, a little protective over the journalists in the press room. She knows there’s staff that think she’s too friendly with them, but it’s important to her job to not be antagonistic as much as it’s important to her personally. There’s a non-zero number of people in the White House who consider the press and politicians to be permanently at each other’s throats, and Robin believes that’s a terrible way to run a country. Journalists are, as much as they’re occasionally pains in her ass, an extension of the American people.

“What’s she saying?” Nancy repeats, and Robin shoves her hands in her pockets, desperate for something to fiddle with.

“That Byers is trying to prop up a Democratic candidate to lessen the pressure during the impending investigation,” Robin says, quoting Vickie directly. “Special prosecutor not withstanding.”

Nancy rolls her eyes. “The President is supporting a candidate from her own party for a position in government. The horror.”

“That’s not the problem and you know it,” Robin replies. “We’re staring down the barrel of an investigation that could make or break the presidency— based on accusations of something she did in fact do, in case you’ve forgotten— and people are starting to suggest it could shift toward impeachment.”

“It’s not gonna shift toward impeachment.”

“It will if you’re an idiot about this!”

Nancy’s eyes narrow. “Choose your next words very carefully.” It’s times like this that Robin remembers she’s the least powerful senior staff member, that Nancy is leagues beyond her.

“There’s discussion of attempts on behalf of the presidency to defraud the American people,” Robin holds up a hand when Nancy begins to cut in, “whether you agree with the assessment is not the point, the point is that it’s the conversation being had. Now this kind of thing, maybe she gets a censure, has a black mark on her presidency. Fine. Not great, but not the end of the world. But there’s been talk for a while now about conspiracy.”

“Conspiracy toward what end?” Nancy sputters.

“Conspiracy to win a presidential election,” Robin replies. It’s another thing she’s quoting verbatim, though this time not from Vickie. “Lying to the American people, it’s tantamount to manipulation in some people’s eyes.”

Nancy sighs, drops her head into her hands.

“So tell me, Nance,” Robin says, gentling her voice, “what the hell you were thinking supporting Byers’ move here.”

“The same thing she was thinking,” Nancy replies, lifting her head to meet Robin’s gaze again, “that the investigation is primarily politically-motivated bullshit from a Republican Party that hates her guts. That they’re trying to tank her chances of re-election. That the special prosecutor is a good guy, but we’d rather have someone on our side in his ear.”

Robin considers her answer for a moment. It’s times like these when she really wants to smack everyone in the cabinet over the head with something heavy. Their instinct to not include her in these discussions is typically built on a not so terrible foundation, she supposes, with the idea that if she doesn’t know something, she can’t tell the press, but it’s also unbearably stupid. She’s the president’s first line of defense, the person who’ll get the questions about it, and it’s not a good way to build trust with the public to have your press secretary be an idiot who doesn’t have a clue what the administration is planning to do. Case in point, Vickie Stewart from the Washington Post suggesting that at the next briefing, she intended to ask Robin a question about the president’s push to elect a Democratic congressperson to be Speaker of the House. Robin had laughed, actually, at first, when the reporter had said it.

It also removes her ability to tell them the actually useful thing to do, media-wise, in times like this.

“Okay,” Robin says, sliding into the seat on the other side of Nancy’s desk, “imagine this. There’s three ways this goes, one of which is a Democratic-led investigation against a Democratic President, which ultimately leads— regardless of if they find her guilty or not— to questions of if we put our finger on the scale.”

Nancy wilts, a little. “You can’t be telling me you want to put Republicans in charge of an investigation into the sanctity of Byers’ election process.”

“I’m not telling you what I want, I’m telling you what we have to do. I’ll tell you, I’ll tell Hopper, I’ll tell Byers, I don’t give a damn. It’s not about what I think, it’s about what the American people think.” Robin pushes on. This is one of the reasons she’s gotten to where she has in her career: not only is she smart, people listen to her when she talks. And she talks a lot.

Nancy quirks an eyebrow, permission to continue.

“Number two,” Robin ticks off on her fingers, “is that the special prosecutor, who, by the way, is well-respected across party lines, runs this case independently. Here, you’re just tossing the coin up in the air. You know that, it’s why none of you were backing off on Speaker candidates. I’m not saying it’s pretty, but it’s politics. You know as well as I do that if he runs a clean investigation with nobody’s help, Byers is looking at a loss.”

Nancy sighs. “I can’t believe she didn’t tell anybody.”

“She told Hopper,” Robin says, though she knows it’s futile, and Nancy scoffs.

“And he did bullshit with it, so that’s not exactly helpful here.” Nancy replies, and Robin has to concede that point. “So then, the third way is…”

“Republicans, yeah.” Robin cuts in. “Don’t look so thrilled.”

“Just seems like we’re asking to get our ass handed to us,” Nancy says, and Robin can’t help chuckling a little.

“We are,” she replies, smirking when Nancy’s brow furrows with confusion. “We’re absolutely asking for them to fuck us over, Wheeler. Keep up. I’m a member of the American public, watching the proceedings, thinking about who I’m gonna vote for, and I see a bunch of Republicans taking a break between their trips to Fox to sit on a panel for forty-five minutes and talk shit about Byers to run a politically-motivated trashing against her from Congress, during an election year?”

Nancy’s jaw drops open a little in surprise, but she quickly swallows down the emotion, the corners of her lips twisting up into a smile instead. “Christ, Buckley,” she says, after a second, “you’re fucking terrifying.”

“Oh, stop,” Robin replies, pleased as punch, “you’re gonna make me blush.”

#hey anybody watched the west wing MS storyline in this house or what #hopper is Leo and Nancy is josh btw <3 #yeah this is one of my longest shut up about it!#robin buckley #nancy wheeler #ronance #stranger things #mine #ronancetober #west wing

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reggies-eyeliner · 1 year

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THE CLASSIC & PLATONIC MATCHUP - 🐛anon!

-> THE "TAKE-MY-JACKET-IT'S-COLD" COUPLE<3

& THE "WHY DID YOU FORGET YOUR JACKET" SQUAD

[ ANON / STEVE HARRINGTON || ANON & ROBIN BUCKLEY, DUSTIN HENDERSON, ERICA SINCLAIR, STEVE HARRINGTON ]

#now playing ... "SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW" by keane

he falls for you when you're patching up his wounds. he falls for you when you gently caress his hair as tears fall down his face because he's so so tired. he falls for you when you ramble for hours about your interests; when you're the only one who points out the remarkable designs on the stairs of the house they've newly discovered can be linked to the upside-down. you made it so easy for him to fall in love and he is both terrified and at peace with that (begins to sob on the floor bangs fists on the table oh my GOD)

it's during the scariest of times that he'll start cracking a dry joke just to lift your spirits, or he'll let you talk about mythology to calm yourself after a rather stressful mishap. he'll be the first to tell you that you did your best, and that's all anyone could ever ask for. his breath will be taken away when he sees you dressed up for the first time, even when he's already speechless when you show up in casual clothes.

robin + steve + you, the trio that stays out to play badminton until late in the night, only to hear something in the woods as you both scamper in doors, sheltered form the cold as you turn on a film (as background music for your conversations) and talk until the sun rises. the trio that'll have unscheduled, mutual therapy appointments for hours, to talk about all of the deep things that are hard to talk about, but talking about it with each other makes things so much easier.

dustin and erica continuing to look up to you, even when you fail, knowing that you always get up and try again no matter what, but also reminding you that you can ask for help. dustin seeing you and steve as parental figures in a sweet, yet a bit sad, way.

robin being completely chill about you and steve's relationship, she'd assumed that you two had been dating previously, when really you had only gotten together after a particularly life-threatening moment that separated you two, and after that he didn't want to waste a single moment without you

dustin sees you as an older sibling in a sense, he's always asking questions because he wants to start conversations with you, and he's genuinely there to listen to you talk whenever you need it

erica absolutely loves your hair and will ask you to do hers !! (begins to sob and curl up into a ball) you two are so so iconic, erica will stop at nothing to ensure your safety, contrary to her behavior around others. she enjoys your company a ton, and will usually be on your side, no matter the circumstance

steve harrington, who learns how to really feel his emotions around you instead of keeping them bottled up, who lands gentle kisses on the forehead while patching up wounds, who is always the first to ask how you're doing

RANDOMIZED TROPE + INCORRECT QUOTE

" FOUND FAMILY "

-> robin: guys imagine if someone handed you a box full of all the items you have lost throughout your life erica: oh my god my childhood innocence?? how fun, thanks! dustin: i knew i lost my potential somewhere! steve: my moral code, is that you? you: oh man, my non-perfectionistic views? robin: damn i was just gonna show you this cool trunk my mother left me but do you guys need a hug?

a/n: oKAY THIS ONE WAS SO FUN TO WRITE HOLY SMOKES. WOW. i wrote this and went thIS COULD FIT SO MUCH HURT/COMFORT AND FOUND FAMILY AND OH MY GOSH?? i hope you're doing well anon + THE PICKUP LINE IM CRYINGFFSHCSC THANK YOU SO MUCH HELLO ?? anyways please take care + remember to hydrate lots and eat well! get plenty of rest! :-)

REQUEST A MATCHUP HERE!

#ellie's.matchups<3!#stranger things matchup #stranger things #steve harrington #robin buckley #erica sinclair #dustin henderson #steve harrington headcanons #stranger things headcanons #steve harrington x reader #platonic #SKCHHSCHJSCHTAKE CARE!!

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cissie-queen-jones · 2 years

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Ollie and Kon for the ask game

Ollie

What made me like them in the first place

Tbh I don’t remember but I think it might have been his sheer dad energy

Who I ship them with

Hal and Dinah….and also kind of Eddie just because I think it’s funny

Random headcanon I have about them

Ollie whistles the song from Disney’s Robin Hood all the time. Drives his family nuts

My favorite moment of theirs

Only one?? Uh…chili is God’s perfect food. Or any time he hugs his kids. Or making gay marriage legal as his first act as mayor. THERES TOO MANY

Plotline/story I want to happen

I just want him to be treated well again and to be an actual shouty leftist again

Any issues or insecurities I think they have

SO MANY HES SO INSECURE but mostly I think he just has a timer counting down to when he’s going to disappoint everyone that they’ll abandon him

Favorite quote

Once again. God’s perfect food

Kiss, marry, hug, or kill

Hug. I think it would fix me

Random thing that reminds me of them

Cabled sweaters

Any talents I think they might have

I think he can sing really well

On a rate from 1 to 10 how much I love them

What I think about their family

Love them. They’re all great

Who I think should be their bff

Eddie. Uh tbh I personally can’t think of anyone he gets along with other than Hal and Dinah and I ship them so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

What animal they would be

Honestly a fox. They’re both clever and fixes can also scream so they have the loud factor. And the Robin Hood reference is right there too

Three songs that remind me of them

Land of the Free by the Killers

Welcome to the Black Parade by MCR

Archers by the Ballroom Theives

Favorite episode/issue/thing centered around them

Grell run. I’ve heard good things about JLU but I need to watch it

How badly they need hugs

1000000000/10. He needs hugs always

Favorite thing about their personality

He’s an asshole (affectionate)

Favorite thing about their appearance

The goatee. It would look dumb on anyone else but it’s Ollie’s source of personality

Why I love them so much

We are very similar in a lot of ways but also in some ways he’s who I want to be. Also he’s dad

Kon

My boy!! I don’t talk about him enough! This is specifically about 90s Kon. I don’t acknowledge t shirt Conner

What made me like them in the first place

I actually first saw Kon in the animated Young Justice cartoon and I latched onto him like a baby duck as soon as he came on screen. @thequiver can verify. There really wasn’t a reason, I just went “that one” and it stuck. Then I read his comics and it got even worse

Who I ship them with

No one. Kon dates a lot in his solo comics and there’s a lot I could say about it but pretty much they’re not good relationships. So I’d really rather see Kon be single and become more comfortable with himself than see him in a romantic relationship

Random headcanon I have about them

He has Lex’s eyes, so he wears the sunglasses to cover them because he’s insecure about it.

My favorite moment of theirs

This is a good one I have saved

But I also just love every moment he’s on page so. All of them?

Plotline/story I want to happen

I want 90s Kon and Jon and Chris sibling bonding

Any issues or insecurities I think they have

Kon also has a lot of them, mostly centered around living up to the Super name and being related to Lex.

Favorite quote

The scene from YJ98 where he gives the quote from Peter Pan about dying being a great adventure hits hard. It’s not technically a quote from him but it so quickly shows you how much of his personality is a front

Kiss, marry, hug, or kill

Hug and kiss on the forehead

Random thing that reminds me of them

Sunglasses, undercuts, red pants

Any talents I think they might have

Can quote any Buddy the Vampire Slayer episode at the drop of a hat. 90% of his brain space is dedicated to TV from the 90s. I also think he’s pretty good at geography

On a rate from 1 to 10 how much I love them

Also a 10

What I think about their family

The Supers? Fantastic, love them. Lex sucks and so does Dabney, though Dabney can occasionally be funny

Who I think should be their bff

Literally all of Young Justice. I love they.

What animal they would be

Dog. Im trying to think of a specific breed and I’m blanking rn. But something fluffy and eager to please but also able to be scary

Three songs that remind me of them

I Don’t Care by FOB

Some Nights by fun.

Numb by Linkin Park

I have a playlist for him here if you’re interested

Favorite episode/issue/thing centered around them

The Reign of the Supermen movie. It’s one of my comfort movies

How badly they need hugs

So, so badly. Let me hug him, DC. Please.

Favorite thing about their personality

He’s funny!

Favorite thing about their appearance

Uh everything? I have a lot of gender envy for him and am trying to put together a cosplay for him

Why I love them so much

Idk, he just hits the right buttons. I like his personality and his look. He blorbo shaped

Game here

#ask game #anon #green arrow #ollie queen #kon el #Superboy

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seehowsupplethespineis · 2 years

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Let Yourself Fall Apart

(Jon Kent rapidly became one of my favorite superheroes recently and, like most of his fans, I hate that DC decided to age him up. What really bothered me was how no one acknowledged how traumatic the circumstances by which he grew were. My boy was literally trapped in a volcano for five years, his sole visitor a sadistic version of his dad. No one who has worked on Jon since bothers to address this in any meaningful way, too intent on shoving Jon into the Superman role. Even aged up, I think he should have remained Superboy a little longer. Anyway, this fic seeks to remedy this disservice to Jon! Take that, DC!)

(Summary: Painful memories send Jon spiraling during what was supposed to be a peaceful evening. Expecting his father or Damian to come comfort him, Jon is taken aback by the shadow of the Batman looming large in his doorway.)

(Warnings: Panic attacks, crying, yelling)

(Note: This fic will directly reference the events of Superman and Robin #1 as well as a quote from Superman (Volume 5) #32. Also, the safe house the Kent family is staying at was established in Superman: Son of Kal-El #10. As of the date I am posting this, Clark is still off world and also died in Death of the Justice League along with Bruce. I obviously don't know how all of that is going to be resolved, so let's just say it was a happily-ever-after situation so they can all chill at the Kent safe house. Cool? Cool.)

(AO3 Link)

The stars twinkled brightly high overhead. Out here, on a mountain in the middle of nowhere, the sky remained untouched by city lights. It was a view Jon was used to, having grown up on a farm and visited space many times. Still, it never failed to comfort him; with the whole world constantly watching his every move, the vast cosmos served as a gentle reminder of how small he really was. While others might find the concept unnerving, sometimes it was the only thing that allowed him to sleep at night.

Not wishing to dwell on that last thought, Jon forcefully returned his attention back to the earth. Absently, he wondered what the citizens of the world would think if they knew that Batman, Robin, and two Supermen were currently sipping hot cocoa while seated around a campfire. Would knowing that their heroes engaged in such mundane activities comfort them? He liked to imagine so.

“...masterfully, we coaxed the creature to trust us and guided it back through the portal. Child’s play,” Jon just barely caught the end of Damian’s story. Raising an eyebrow at his friend, he tried to stifle a smirk.

“Actually, if I remember correctly, I was the one who did all the coaxing. The creature would have torn your hair out if not for me.”

He was rewarded with an annoyed glare from the boy wonder. Out of the corner of his eye, Jon caught their fathers sharing an amused glance.

“Yes, well, I did most of the Nazi butt-kicking,” Damian huffed, “And I was the one to suggest we wear the armored suits.”

“Sounds like a solid team effort,” Jon’s father broke in, “Right, Bruce?”

Wayne side-eyed his comrade and nodded, “I’d say so, Clark.”

Jon beamed at the praise. Damian dipped his head, though not before Jon spotted the small smile playing at his lips.

For the first time in a while, Jon felt at peace. With his father back from space and his best friend returned from his own adventures, he felt tension he hadn’t realized he’d been carrying ease off. He didn’t like being separated from his loved ones. He imagined that was a universal feeling, though it was especially poignant for him.

He went to take another sip of his drink when the fire crackled loudly. Sparks erupted from the flames as the fire leaped. It was hot- too hot. It burned his cape. He patted it down frantically as eruptions continued around him. The magma pooled about his feet. He tried to leap away but it was no use. He couldn’t fly. He was trapped. He was alone. Everywhere, there were only the flames.

His super breath could topple buildings, and yet he couldn’t even catch a breath. As his vision blurred to a haze of red and orange, someone spoke to him. He ignored the voice, knowing full well who it was and what he had to say. He’d heard it all countless times. Ultraman’s sobs landed on deaf ears.

Except, as he listened closer, there was definitely something different. There was a note of…concern. It sounded like…

He snapped back to reality as his dad prompted him again.

“Jon, what’s wrong?” Worry shone in his father’s wide blue eyes. Jon grounded himself in them and in the solid earth beneath his feet. The campfire continued to roar, but it was only a campfire; he wasn’t there anymore.

Suddenly, he could breathe again and inhaled shakily. Three sets of eyes bored into him. Damian wore the same anxious expression as Jon’s father. Wayne’s gaze was entirely inscrutable.

At last, Jon managed to stammer out, “N-Nothing, I…I just…need to use the bathroom.”

Before anyone could say anything, he’d scrambled to his feet and hurried back to the house just a hint faster than a normal human could go. He told himself he just needed some time to calm down. No matter how hard he tried, though, he couldn’t force the memories from his mind. He didn’t understand what was happening to him. He’d been fine just a minute ago!

The front door slammed behind him as he made a beeline for his bedroom. This house was larger than the one he’d grown up in. It was a Justice League safe house paid for by Bruce Wayne, so that was to be expected. He was grateful for the size right now; it meant he could easily slip past his mother’s office and his grandparents’ bedroom unnoticed. As much as he ached for his family, he didn’t want them seeing him like this.

When you came back to us, somehow you were the same compassionate, selfless, outgoing, happy kid you were when you left.

Jon clung to those words like a lifeline as they echoed in his head. He wanted to - needed to - believe them. He could still hear the pride in his dad’s voice.

The resilience that must have taken, Jon. It defies all understanding.

In the safety of his bedroom, Jon allowed himself to collapse to his knees as sudden anger swelled within him. No, his father couldn’t begin to understand. He couldn’t even understand it himself.

Five years. He’d languished in a volcano for five years. Everyone believed he’d somehow bounced back from that; good old dependable Jon, as chipper as ever, like nothing ever happened. Agreeing with everyone’s praise had been so much easier than admitting how broken he was inside.

At least this way, his parents could remain proud of him.

A shadow fell across him. He hadn’t even noticed the door open. At first, he assumed it was his father (the last person he wanted to see right now). The heartbeat was different, though. The steadiness reminded him of Damian, but it was too loud to be his friend’s, meaning it could only belong to one other person. Stunned, he turned around slowly.

Wayne’s broad shoulders filled the doorway. He stood with his arms crossed and his gaze turned down toward Jon. The same unreadable expresson of before sized him up.

Unsure what to do, Jon only stared. His vision swam and he realized - with a start - that there were tears in his eyes. He turned to wipe them away and Wayne seemed to take that as an invitation to come inside.

Wordlessly, the larger man removed something from his pocket and offered it to Jon. It was a handkerchief. Jon took it mechanically as Wayne seated himself on his bed, forcing Jon to look up at him.

The silence that ensued was maddening. Eventually, Jon couldn’t take it.

“Why are you here?” he asked icily.

Wayne didn’t react to the tone, “I assume you were expecting your father or Damian.”

Jon simply glared down at the floor.

“Would you rather they were here and not me?”

Yes, Jon was about to snap, when he stopped himself. If he was being honest, he really didn’t want to see either of them right now. They were two of the people he loved most and who loved him in turn. If they saw him like this, all they’d want to do was tell him everything was okay. They’d say he could get through this, that he was strong enough to get through this. Right now, he didn’t want to hear blatant lies.

“No,” he whispered at last.

Wayne nodded, “I figured.”

Jon felt his nose start to run. Without thinking, he blew into the handkerchief, before realizing his mistake.

“Um, sorry,” he said sheepishly as he folded up the snot-soaked cloth.

“That’s what it’s for,” Wayne replied gruffly.

Jon bowed his head awkwardly, still not sure what was happening. Everything just felt like too much right now. Too many unpleasant memories crowded in his brain; he could feel a headache coming on.

When Wayne spoke again, Jon merely listened, unwilling to meet the gaze of the Batman.

“Your father and Damian wanted to check on you. I told them to give you space.”

Jon didn’t look up as he repeated his question from earlier, “Then why are you here?”

“I’m giving you space,” Wayne replied simply, “To talk.”

That last bit made Jon glance up, “Talk?”

Piercing blue eyes met Jon’s watery gaze and the teenager did his best not to look away. Satisfied he was paying attention, Wayne continued.

“I heard about what happened to you,” he stated plainly, “Clark and Damian filled me in.”

Swallowing thickly, Jon resisted the urge to duck his head, “Okay?”

“Five years trapped in a volcano, alone but for the occasional visit from a twisted version of your father.”

It was strange to hear someone relate his own story back to him. His lungs started to seize again.

“No hope of rescue. No hope you’d ever see your family and friends again.”

His breath came in ragged gasps. Every agonizing moment flooded back to him. The loneliness, the despair, the fear-

“Trapped for the rest of your life.”

“Stop!” The whine escaped Jon unbidden. As soon as the word left his mouth, Wayne stopped. When he could gather enough air to speak, the teen rounded on the vigilante.

“Wh...Why are you-?!”

“I need you to understand how traumatic that experience was.”

“I know how bad it was!” Jon felt his eyes heat up as his laser vision kicked in. Despite the imminent danger of getting blasted to bits, Wayne didn’t flinch.

“I don’t think you do,” Wayne shot back sternly, “And neither do your parents. Not even Damian.”

Jon had to forcefully keep his power in check as he hissed, “And you think you do?!”

“I’m not afraid to understand,” Wayne gritted out, “Unlike the rest of you.”

He pressed on before Jon could take drastic action, “None of you are willing to process what happened. You all act as if you simply aged into a seventeen year-old within three weeks.”

He leaned in closer. If Jon let loose the lasers pulsing behind his eyes, Wayne wouldn’t stand a chance.

“Jon,” his tone was quieter now, yet somehow more intense, “You were gone for years. You were trapped in a volcano for years. None of you can keep pretending that never happened.”

By now, Jon had to squeeze his eyes shut against the energy beams, “Why not?! Everyone’s happier this way!”

“You’re not,” Wayne stated plainly, “I saw you back at the campfire. Clark and Damian might not have picked up on it, but I did: you were suffering a post-traumatic stress induced panic attack.”

There was that word again: traumatic. Jon hated it.

“I’m fine!” his voice rose to a shout, “I…I was fine! It was just…just a fluke...”

Even as he spoke, he didn’t believe himself. This hadn’t been the first of his so-called “flukes.” While this last attack had certainly been more intense, it definitely wasn’t the first time unwanted memories had intruded on his thoughts.

Wayne’s silence spoke volumes; he knew Jon was lying.

Still, Jon felt the need to defend himself, “I’ve been around fire since…since that experience. I helped someone with fire powers without freaking out!”

There was a low exhale before Wayne responded, “Traumatic memories often resurface when we let our guards down- when we feel…relaxed. You didn’t feel relaxed in that situation, but you did tonight.”

With his eyes cooling off, Jon could at last face Wayne again. There was something incredibly open in his gaze, and Jon felt some of his anger dissipate.

“How do you know so much?” he murmured wearily.

It was Wayne’s turn to bow his head, “I’ve known a lot of hurt kids…myself included.”

He glanced up after a moment’s pause, “Everyone keeps telling you that you’re strong- that they’re proud of you for being strong…but even the strong need to be weak sometimes; it’s the only way they can keep being strong.”

With his eyes now cooled, Jon felt tears well up again. There was a pressure in his chest and throat that craved release. He tried to swallow it down, but that only made it worse.

His voice was high and shaky when he could finally speak, “I…I don’t…” Tears trickled freely down his cheeks, “I don’t want them to know…”

Closing his eyes, he buried his face in his hands, “I just want to be a boy again.”

The confession was barely a whisper and yet it reverberated in his ears. I just want to be a boy again.

He wanted to clutch his dad’s cape as they soared through the air. He wanted to lie in his mom’s lap while she typed and stroked his hair. He wanted to patrol with Damian and bicker about nothing. Everyone always lamented that they’d missed him growing up. None of them paused to consider that he’d missed it, too, and maybe they should stop feeling sorry for themselves and just let him be.

“I don’t want to be Superman!” he sobbed, “I just…I just want my dad.”

There was a telltale whoosh and suddenly another figure appeared in the doorway. Jon looked to Wayne, who now got to his feet. He planned this. He had gotten Jon to open up knowing his dad would be listening in. It should have angered him, but right now, Jon was too spent to care. Slowly, he turned to face his father, readying himself for the disappointment he expected to see.

Instead, watery blue eyes met his own. Superman was crying. Just like that, the pressure within Jon exploded.

His father was beside him in an instant. Strong arms enveloped him in a tight embrace. It felt as if all his emotions were being squeezed out of him. His sobs were harsh and desperate, like they couldn’t stand to be cooped up any longer. He thought he might break apart from the sheer intensity. Footsteps thudded in the hallway and soon his mother was at his other side, with Damian and his grandparents crowding into the room behind her. They said something but Wayne urged them all to silence.

“Jon, what’s wrong?” his mother asked urgently. Jon only buried his face in his father’s chest.

“I’m sorry!” he found himself babbling, “I’m sorry!”

“Shh,” A large, warm hand moved to cup the nape of his neck as his mother’s delicate fingers carded through his hair. It felt so impossibly right yet so out of place.

“It’s okay,” his father murmured into his hair, “You’re alright.”

“No, I’m not!” he fairly screamed. A hush fell over the room, broken only by Jon’s continued sobs. He hated the quiet, but it was better than meaningless comfort. If he imagined hard enough, he could pretend he was a kid again and his parents were comforting him after a sad movie.

It’s over now, Jon, they’d say, Let’s get you to bed.

The hand at his neck moved to cradle his face. A gentle thumb scraped a tear-stained cheek.

“No,” The agony in his father’s voice made Jon’s breath catch, “You’re not. You’re not alright.”

It sounded like it broke his heart to admit it. Glancing up, Jon went to say something, though he wasn’t sure what. His dad’s next words forestalled whatever they might have been.

“And that’s okay.”

Jon couldn’t breathe, though this time it was for an entirely different reason.

“You…You don’t have to be okay,” his father reiterated, his voice wobbling, “I sh-should never have expected you to be. Jon, I…I’m so sorry.”

The apology was choked by a sob. Jon couldn’t bear to see his father this way.

“Dad,” he began, “It’s-It’s okay. I know you-”

“No,” His father shook his head viciously, “There’s no excuse. I…I d-didn’t want to…to think about what happened to you. It was selfish and I…I’m sorry.”

He had to pause for air, during which Jon’s mother spoke for him.

“We’re sorry,” she breathed. When Jon turned to her, there were tears trailing down her face. The sheer remorse reflected back at him made another sob escape the teen.

“Oh, Jon,” His mother pressed closer to his side. By now, his parents were the only thing keeping him upright. Exhaustion weighed heavy on his shoulders. He closed his eyes with a shaky exhale.

“I don’t…I don’t want to grow up,” he whispered.

“No rush, kiddo,” His dad planted a kiss on the top of his head, “Take all the time you want.”

“We’re here for you,” his mom added, “All of us.”

A small hand rested on his shoulder as his grandparents moved to either side to join in the embrace.

“We’ve got your back,” Damian pledged.

“We love you so much,” his grandma enthused.

“You’re never alone,” his grandpa promised.

Surrounded by so much love, Jon couldn’t help but cry more. No one tried to stop him. No one told him he would be alright. Instead, they allowed him to fall apart, knowing full well they’d be there later to pick up the pieces.

Lulled by their loving presence, Jon began to slip into a warm doze. As his awareness faded, he just barely noticed that Wayne still hadn’t left, though he was keeping his distance. Shrouded in the corner of the darkened room, his silhouette was instantly recognizable to Jon, making it all the more surprising when the Batman smiled.

#DC Comics #DC #Jon Kent #Bruce Wayne #Clark Kent #Lois Lane #Damian Wayne #Jonathan Kent #Martha Kent #Superman #Writing Entity #TW Panic Attack #I know the majority of our followers probably aren't into comics #(at least other than Transformers)#but to heck with it!#I'll explode if I keep hiding my greatest passion any longer!#COMICS!!!

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daedalusdavinci · 1 year

Note

hey. another character for t hat ask meme. do killer croc. waylon <3

send me a character and ill tell you…

What made me like them in the first place

ohh man. so in the late eighties (robin jay era) there was this one comic where waylon was living in the sewers w a group of homeless people, and he literally sacrificed his life to try and save them. i cant remember the comic very well at this point or the context around it all but i just remember how much he cared about them and how hard he tried to protect them and i just. sobs. ive loved him ever since

Who I ship them with

dcs not in the habit of giving waylon rlly good canon relationships that last more than like, one issue, afaik, so no one really

Random headcanon I have about them

nothing rlly that i can think of off the top of my head

My favorite moment of theirs

the aforementioned comic or the whole two seconds he existed in lonely city for before they KILLED HIM

Plotline/story I want to happen

dc should give up the stupid fucking cannibal thing and stick w protector of the homeless waylon. also i want him to have friends. please.

Any issues or insecurities I think they have

lol. lmao, even. i dont have to answer this its too easy

Favorite quote

dude that fucking panel where he tells a judge like "hey let me go" and the judge is like "ok" and he sits there like ._. wait

Kiss, marry, hug, or kill

hug

Random thing that reminds me of them

n/a

Any talents I think they might have

i dunnoooo im tireddd

On a rate from 1 to 10 how much I love them

8/10 i love him but not enough to go through all of his comics the way i do for others im obsessed with, and like, half the time hes in a story hes barely even treated like a person which is a bummer

What I think about their family

i dont even know if he has one in canon??? like i said i never went through all of his comics obsessively or anything so

Who I think should be their bff

idk abt bff but i did love he and selinas relatiosnhip in lonely city. im always crying about lonely city waylon

What animal they would be

...

Three songs that remind me of them

n/a

Favorite episode/issue/thing centered around them

umm see: favorite moment

How badly they need hugs

SO badly look at hiiiiiiiiim <3333333333333333

Favorite thing about their personality

the way he cares so much about the people no one else gives a shit about

Favorite thing about their appearance

he dresses like such a fucking dad. loser <3

Why I love them so much

hes just SOOOO <333333333 look i have the biggest spot for characters who are made to feel monstrous and wrong and go out of their way to defend other people that society discards. its the like. maybe theres something wrong w me but i wont let them convince you theres something wrong w you and the maybe im a monster but ill try to be a good monster even if no one sees it

#ashysiashy #asks

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kilannad · 9 months

Text

As the Stars Burn On Chapter 32

Masterlist. Ao3. Discord.

The Thousand Sunny

The party swung to life with a roar. The Galley-La company had an outdoor pool behind their headquarters and decided that with the funeral over, it was time to celebrate the living. Besides which, Luffy ordered a victory party, and none of them would dare mutiny. With Robin back, everyone awake and as healed as they could be, they had no more reason to delay.

Not even Luffy bitching about them all getting tattoos without him could ruin the good mood. Lucy wished she could be surprised, but in the aftermath of Enies Lobby, she thought they all wanted the reminder of where they belonged. Zoro had gotten his stretched across the left side of his chest, reaching over to cover part of his arm; Nami’s was on her left thigh and Robin’s on her right calf; Chopper and Lily had both gotten it on their chests, so that it’d stretch when they shifted forms; Usopp, taking a cue from Lucy, had put his on his arm, just under the shoulder; Sanji had put his on his right hand. Luffy was highly offended they hadn’t waited for him to be up so he could also get a one, but the fact that they’d need seastone in order for him to get any tattoo anyway seemed to calm him down. He was determined to get one at the soonest opportunity though.

The water felt good against her skin, washing away the stress and tension. Usopp was singing some god-awful song about Sniper Island, Zoro and Sanji were arguing, Paulie was bright red and complaining, loudly, about Nami's bathing suit. Lucy cut through the water, coming up not far from where Robin was lounging, smiling quietly as she watched the crew. Her locket hung around her neck, the carved tree glinting in the sun, the last heirloom of Ohara. Lucy stopped at the edge of the water, sending a splash up.

"Dereshishi!" Robin laughed. "I suppose I deserve that."

"There's nothing to forgive," Lucy told her. "But if I can ask...why didn't you tell me, when you found out about the Stone Keys?"

Robin sighed, rubbing the necklace. "That last moment, the only time my mother hugged me, she pressed it into my hand and told me it was the heart of Ohara and for as long as it was safe, our legacy would live on with me. I...I should've given it to you. I nearly did, on Skypiea."

"It's alright," Lucy promised. "I can understand wanting to protect the last thing your mother gave you. Hóu said you kept good care of his Key. I think he'll be glad to meet you, when you're ready for it."

Robin swallowed heavily, nodding. "Thank you."

"Whatever you need, Robin."

"Well," she drew out, "Since you're offering...Care to explain what's been happening with the dragons while I was gone? They seem to be getting very friendly."

Lucy's face went red and she lowered herself deeper into the water to hide. It only earned another laugh from Robin. Sensing drama was happening, Nami seemed to appear from nowhere.

"Oh, this has to be about Laxus and Gajeel."

"Do you two ever stop?"

"Will you ever stop hiding and sleep with them?" Nami shot back.

The thought--the idea of being in bed, with both of them, naked--made steam come out of her ears. Lucy wasn't ashamed about still being a virgin, but she would be a liar if she said she hadn't considered it. Often.

"You know sex isn't the issue," Lucy complained.

"Lucy," Robin soothed. "I have lived many years in many places, and not once have I seen people who cared about each other the way those two care about you. If you'd only try, I think you'd find them very much in your reach."

It eased something in her, some curled up fear left over from days as 'Lady' Lucy. She was so used to people wanting her for her body or her fortune that even though she knew Laxus and Gajeel cared about her, it was hard to remember, sometimes.

"We want you happy," Nami told her. Then, smirking, she added, "And just to be sure; I told Franky that you three needed a room together."

"You what?!"

"Don't worry. He said, I quote, 'I ain't dumb, I planned the soundproofing for their room first'. So, you know."

"Does everyone think we're already in a relationship?"

"Yes."

Lucy splashed water towards them, then dived away to cool off. They were right. She knew they were right but...for all her confidence she was nervous. Anxious. She'd managed a handful of dates during her year in Magnolia and had never met the same person twice. She was too awkward, too unsure of how to handle a normal relationship. At the end of the day, she'd been raised an heiress and hadn't been taught dating; she'd always expected for a match to be made for her, all the way up until she ran away. Besides, the three of them were so entangled already, she didn't even know how to approach the topic.

She came up, gasping for air and wiping water from her eyes. The sun was starting to go down, the party tipping away from 'fun celebration' and toward 'drunk crowd'. Lifting herself up and out, she spied Gajeel stepping behind one of the corners where she knew some chairs were tucked away in the shade.

At her side, Aquarius's Key seemed to glow spitefully.

"Yeah, yeah." Lucy pressed a towel to her face, trying to think calming thoughts. She knew they'd say yes, no matter what she said. She did. She just...might combust before she got that far.

Moving before she could over think anymore, she patted herself dry and dumped the towel on a table. An arm bloomed, giving a thumbs up before vanishing in a flourish of petals. With no plan but as ready as she'd ever be, she wove her way through the crowd.

It was quieter in the back, a handful of beach chairs tucked away in a corner out of sight and in some semblance of peace. Gajeel was laid out across one in his black swim shorts and nothing else, his piercings still dripping water. His eyes were closed, but when she stepped closer he snatched up her wrist without looking and tugged her over until she stretched out next to him.

Despite herself, his touch eased her tension and she was glad for him pulling her close. Nami could tease her for it all she wanted, but Lucy was always calmer these days in Gajeel or Laxus's arms.

"What's wrong?" he murmured.

"Who said anything was wrong?"

"I can smell your stress, Bunny." He cracked an eye open, the slitted pupil wide in the shadow. "Is it your bounty?"

Fuck, she'd almost forgotten about that. She'd never heard of an 'only alive' bounty and she couldn't fathom why the number was so high. "There are Emperor Commanders with lower bounties than me," she admitted. "I just don't get it."

His arm tightened around her waist, drawing her closer against him. She buried his face in his shoulder, feeling the steady beat of his pulse. "We'll figure it out, Bunny."

She trusted him, but she didn't know if it would be that easy. There were too many things lately; her bounty, creating a Key, the mark on her back. She needed a distraction or she'd start spiraling.

"What do I smell like?"

"What?"

"You said you can smell my stress. What's that like?"

He chuckled, twisting his head to take a deep breath of her hair. "Normally, you smell like eucalyptus and spearmint--your soap. Then there's the layer of hormones and things that everyone has; that's what lets us know your emotions. If it's sour, you're afraid; bitter means stress or anger, depending on the situation; if you smell...sparkly, then you're about to cast."

"Sparkly?" she teased. "What do sparkles smell like, exactly?"

"Don' know, but you manage it, Bunny. It's just what your magic smells like to us." His gaze went a little distant. "It was so thick when you saved Merry I could've bitten into it. Like a physical thing pressing down all around us."

She swallowed, pressing a hand to his jaw to draw him back to her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you."

"You did, Luce. Just...be careful what magic you call on."

"Okay." She bumped their foreheads together. Trying to lighten the mood, she said, "What about sweet? Do I ever smell like that?"

Instead of laughing like she expected, his nose flared as his pupils dilated further. His voice roughened, dropping down as his hand clenched around her hip. "Only smelled ya sweet once," he murmured. "When we first met up on Water 7."

It didn't take her long to put together the pieces. Of course two dragon slayers could smell when she was aroused, she didn't know why she expected otherwise. It certainly explained Laxus's smugness afterward, though by Gajeel's voice she guessed it did as much for them as watching them fight did for her.

It was a peculiar kind of power, she realized. The ability to make two of the strongest, most controlled people she knew get distracted simply by her scent. The knowledge that they wanted her the way she wanted them. That--knowing they were equals in this in every way--made her next question so much easier.

She tilted her head, pressing their noses together. Beneath her hands, Gajeel went perfectly still, eyes tracking her every twitch without daring to move an inch, lest he go uninvited.

"Kiss me?"

Gajeel dragged a hand slowly up her arm, fingers gliding back into her hair and gently tugging her head back as he leaned down and finally--finally--kissed her. He kept it gentle and sweet, giving a single nip to her bottom lip so she'd let him in. She moaned against the first swipe of his tongue, hand gripping at his shoulder and feeling the flex of his muscles. Lucy pressed closer, flicking her tongue against the sharp point of his canine; he growled, fingers digging in as he shifted their angle, going deeper and harder. Her head spun, every inch of her attention falling on the points of their bodies, the glide of his tongue, the taste of his lips.

Another hand, larger and hotter, prickling at her skin with almost-static, dragged up her back. She shifted, baring her throat and whining despite herself. Laxus pressed kisses up her back, nipping at the pulse in her neck when he'd found his way there.

Gajeel pulled back, eyes flicking across her face then over her shoulder. "Don' break her skin," he warned. Lucy was too far gone to understand what he was asking, but Laxus hummed an assent.

Lucy leaned back, finding Laxus hovering over her, panting and wide-eyed. His tongue flicked out, chasing something on his lips. "Can I-?" He didn't finish, but she didn't need him to. She pulled him down until he was close enough, arching back and up to kiss. Gajeel dragged his lips down her neck, her collarbone, her chest, his canines leaving hot trails, just a touch away from painful.

Laxus had none of the patience of Gajeel but all of the same skill. He kissed hard and deep, leaving her desperate for air and completely unwilling to part. Gajeel shifted them, hauling her up until she was straddling him and more able to twist and meet Laxus without hurting her back. For a long while she lost track of herself, falling into the warm sensations of their touch.

☉

Lucy curled deeper under the covers, the soft sheets dragging across her skin as she buried herself into Laxus's chest. Behind her, Gajeel shifted closer, his arm a hot band across her stomach. She was vaguely aware that there was sun shining from somewhere and she should probably get up, but she was too warm and comfortable, her limbs heavy and loose, even in the places that were sore.

Distantly, she heard a door open. Gajeel lifted his head, giving a short, menacing growl that reverberated through her back. The door closed.

Through the walls, audible even to her human ears, she heard Usopp shout, "Alright, who had money on during Water 7?"

"Ha!" Nami yelled. "I knew it!"

Lucy groaned but decided to ignore them. She could be mad about them betting on her sex life later.

☉

"So it's true you're building their new ship," Paulie breathed, walking up alongside Tilestone and Lulu.

"What are you idiots doing here?" Franky demanded.

"What, you think we'll let you make a mess of their ship after they got revenge for Iceburg?" Paulie snorted.

"When was the last time you built a ship?" Lulu demanded. "And this is a rush order, you'll need help."

"You think I want help from some two-bit shipwrights?" Franky spat, glaring at them all over his glasses.

"We studied under Iceburg," Paulie said, lighting his cigar. "He'd be here himself if he could."

They were right and Franky knew it. With Iceburg and Tom dead, Kokoro was the only one who knew his dream from all those years ago. Iceburg had laughed, but Tom, as always, had simply told him to do it with a gusto. And for all that he loved his guys, Franky knew none of them could build something this complicated. They were having enough trouble fixing the Franky House from the damage left by Aqua Laguna.

"So," Paulie demanded. "Where are those blueprints?"

"Fine but if you fuck this up, I'm SUPER tossing you into the ocean."

☉

"Do you really think it's her?"

"Who else?"

"Then this era is more dangerous than any other. We must be vigilant."

"We have withstood for eight hundred years and we will withstand for another thousand. One Heartifilia couldn't stop us then, and she won't do it now."

☉

Kuzan pushed off from the wall, having seen all he needed to. For years, he'd wondered if Saul had been right, always questioning Justice and how he served it. Now, it seemed he had his answer.

Nico Robin would live her life for those who came before her and those who protected her now. Her choice had been made.

Now he just had to make his.

☉

Jonathan leaned against the railing of his ship, considering the distant figure of G-8 raising from the ocean. His showing in helping evacuate Enies Lobby had bought him time, but little else. More than ever, he had to consider what he served. Nico Robin continued to haunt him, and likely would for days to come.

☉

"Don't you want to see them, Koby?"

"Of course, Helmeppo. But I'm not strong enough yet. I'm a marine and he's a pirate; one day, I'm going to have to arrest him."

"You think you'll be strong enough?"

"Yeah. One day, I'm going to be an Admiral. Then I'll be able to arrest the Pirate King."

"You're crazy Koby."

"If you don't want to-"

"Oh I'm staying. A crazy bastard like you? I've gotta watch your back."

"Heh. Thanks."

☉

Lucy breathed deeply as the breeze passed over her. The air was getting colder as Water 7 headed towards their winter season, the water still choppy. Aqua Laguna may be the worst storm they'd get, but it marked the beginning of their rainy season. Out here, on the little scrap of land that they had first docked at, the world felt strange. It was the same land, if still a little muddy. The same ocean pushing against the shore. Yet somehow, everything had changed. Her back prickled each time she reached for her magic, her bounty hanging over her head. Their crew had publicly declared war on the government and now had a collective bounty over 2.1 billion berries. There were New World veterans who didn't have a bounty that high. They'd tasted that sort of strength against Aokiji and been thoroughly outclassed; she couldn't even win against a Vice Admiral.

In her hand, Merry's Key seemed to vibrate. Lucy didn't know what form she'd take, or what powers, if any, she'd carry. There were no stories to guide her and no memory of her mother whispering in her ear. Only the newly forged Key in her hands, a fresh constellation created in the night sky, and the bubbling strength of her magic in her chest. Laxus had explained Second Origin to her and she could feel the edges where her magic had gotten deeper, bigger. It'd only grow from there.

Behind her, Usopp shifted in place, the whole crew present to watch and say hello once more to their nakama who had given her life for them. Lucy figured she should stop making them wait. She stepped into the ocean, the water cold against her ankles.

“I am linked to the path to the world of Celestial Spirits, now! O spirit, answer my call and pass through the gate! Open, Gate of the Klabautermann, Going Merry!"

Her magic tightened, almost hesitant, then channeled through the Key. It was like summoning a Gold or Stone; a Spirit she knew, instantly, was unique and special and the magic demanded a price for the exchange. Merry wasn't nearly as strong as Loke or Aquarius or even Mă, but there was a weight to her energy, a strength so at odds with her struggling in her final moments. In the water just in front of her, a gold circle appeared, and in a shimmering light, the first Wood Spirit materialized.

Merry as a Spirit was both just like herself in life and yet so different. Short and slim like her Klabautermann, the hood of her yellow raincoat was pushed off, revealing a puff of white hair with two curling horns and a wide, bright smile. Her eyes were completely black, as if her pupil had fully taken over and she wore striped red leggings and a black shirt, a wooden mallet hooked on a little tool belt around her waist. She sank into the water, kicking her feet to make it splash as she laughed long and loud, just like their captain did.

"Shishishi! Glad to officially meet you, Lucy Heartifilia!"

Lucy had to press her hand over her mouth, tears welling up before she could stop them. The blood and injuries she'd carried in life were gone, leaving her looking like nothing more than a happy, if strange, little girl. If it weren't for the connection to her magic, Lucy could almost believe she was still alive. Almost.

"Merry!" Usopp rushed forward, sweeping her up into a hug and suddenly the whole crew was there, passing her around for hugs and pats, as many tears flowing now as when she'd gone down at sea. Lucy couldn't stop crying, no matter how hard she tried, caught between the joy of Merry's existence and the cost it would come at. She knew, better than anyone, what price Spirits paid for their immortality. Several of her Spirits had served Layla, only to watch her die. Aries had been horribly abused, and she had no doubt the rest had their fair share of cruel masters. Merry would be protected for as long as Lucy lived, but inevitably, there would come a day she'd die, as those before her did. When that happened, she could make no promises about Merry's safety.

Luffy kneeled down, gripping Merry's thin shoulders. "I'm glad you're okay, Merry. You were the best ship we could've hoped for."

"Thank you, Cap'n," she saluted. "I'm ready to serve whenever called on." She dropped her hand, grinning sheepishly at Lucy. "Uh, if you want to make a contract with me, that is."

Lucy couldn't help but laugh. "I think that's meant to be my question." She stepped forward, offering a hand out. "What do you say, Merry? Want to keep sailing with us?"

"More than anything," she swore. She gripped Lucy's hand, brow setting into fierce determination. "I may be the newest, but I've been caught up to date by the others. My power over ships is yours, Lucy Heartifilia, for as long as the stars burn on."

Something about the words stuck out, more than they usually did. She'd had the thought, what felt like years ago, that Mă was more formal than the Gold Keys and it'd held true for all the Stone Keys. Now, having created a Key herself and having met her ancestor, after a fashion, she wondered what secret was hidden in that phrase. She felt like she had a hundred piece puzzle scattered around her, but couldn't see the picture. Maybe she wouldn't until she was at the end of the world.

Lucy wavered on her feet, Laxus cursing as he balanced her. "I told you it was too soon," he muttered. "Now will you please get some rest before doing any more serious summoning?"

She grimaced, but had to admit he was right. For all that the well of her magic was bigger, it hadn't finished refilling in the aftermath of Enies Lobby. She was already exhausted again, like her magic was taking a physical toll. Merry waved goodbye as her Gate closed, leaving the crew gathered at the edge of the sea.

"Thank you," Usopp said, wiping his face. "Thank you for saving her, Lucy."

"I didn't," she had to admit. "Not really. I just...gave her a second life. She won't ever be able to go back to how things were."

"That's alright," Luffy decided. "She's still with us, and that's what matters."

Even Lucy had to admit that was fair.

"Oi!" From the edge of the city, Zambai waved them down. "Oi, Straw Hats! Come on. Your ship is ready!"

☉

It didn't take them long to rush to Scrap Heap Island where they'd been thoroughly banned. Franky had told them it wasn't right for any of them to see the ship before he'd completed her and since he'd announced his intention to build their ship, none of them had seen him except during the party. The eleven of them gaped at the sight of the massive tarp covering something in the water, Paulie panting on the ground in front of it. Groaning, he pushed himself to his feet.

"Gotta admit, I thought he was nuts when I saw the blueprints." He lit himself a new cigar, hands shaking. "But nuts or not, we got it done."

"Where is he?!" Luffy demanded, vibrating.

"He took off," Paulie said. "Went back to the Franky House, I think."

"Did he still need to pack?" Chopper guessed.

"So you have invited him to join. I figured you might."

The crew looked at him, each with various levels of 'are you dumb?'.

"He's our shipwright," Lucy pointed out.

"Duh," Gajeel agreed.

"It's fairly obvious," Lily added.

"Why would I need to tell him that?" Luffy finished.

Paulie gaped for a moment, before shaking his head. "That's on you to deal with. I'm just here to show you this." He grabbed a fistful of the tarp, grinning at them. "He did tell me to say one thing though. 'If you're going to be the King of Pirates, then it's only right you have the King of Beasts!'"

The tarp fell away and all of them were left gasping at the ship--the masterpiece--before them. It was huge, to start, over three times as big as Merry, long and sitting low on the water, with three square rigged sails. The most massive, in the center, was painted with their jolly roger, their flag flying in pride of place on top of all three masts. Painted red and white, the two anchors in the form of massive yellow paws. The figure head, a smiling lion--or possibly sunflower, it was hard to tell--was immediately claimed by Luffy as his new seat. On the side, there was a round wooden piece painted with a black '1'. When they boarded, Lucy found the deck covered in actual grass, Nami's tangerine trees planted on the uppermost deck in the back. It had a full library, huge bathroom, workout room in the lookout, five-star kitchen, an aquarium and lounge, an infirmary with an attached room for Chopper and a space for experiments, to say nothing of the bedrooms. While Chopper had a bed for when he needed to spend the night in the infirmary with a patient, the women's room consisted of two sets of bunk beds, with a walk-in closet. The men's quarters were similarly outfitted with a dozen beds, plus a set of hammocks that descended from the ceiling when required. Nami hadn't been lying either; there was a separate bedroom on the bottom level, tucked away at the front of the ship and away from everyone else, for Lucy and the dragon slayers which involved one truly massive bed, and plenty of space for their things.

In every aspect, it was a ship built for them in every way, the love and care put into it a physical thing. Usopp was in tears over the work room on the bottom level (an extra room for Franky attached) and drooling over the series of cannons and guns lining each side.

"It's a man o'war," Paulie explained. "Bigger than we usually make them, in case your crew expands some more, and with several modifications Franky designed. She'll be faster than any ship I've ever seen though; Adam Wood is lighter than almost anything I've worked with."

"She's perfect," Nami breathed.

"Now we just need Franky," Luffy decided. "Ne, Nami? Which way to the Franky House?"

☉

Meanwhile, running through town, a naked cyborg was chasing after his thug underlings to get his speedo back. Sadly, this was not the start of some joke, but rather the initiative for many parents to start therapy funds for their children.

"You idiots!" Franky roared. "I ain't joining that crew."

"Get to the ship!" Zambai called. "Just one of us needs to make it."

He tossed the speedo away, caught by one of his brothers just as Franky ran him over. The chase continued, twisting through the entire city, the most memorable game of keep-away that the island had ever seen.

On one of the roofs, Luffy waved at the Franky Family. "Oi, toss it here!"

"Luffy!" Franky yelled as he caught the speedo. "Did you see the ship?"

"Yeah she's perfect," Luffy called back. "But we can't sail until we have the full crew."

"I'm sorry I can't come," Franky said, honestly apologetic. Luffy laughed in his face.

"You will."

☉

Lucy had never wanted to see what recruiting a naked cyborg in public looked like, but she could now cross it off from her bucket list and put it squarely on her 'never again' list. With Franky properly blackmailed into joining, the crew could finally set off peacefully.

"We've got trouble!" Sanji announced, running up the gangplank. "Luffy, your grandpa's back and I don't think he's leaving peacefully this time."

Or maybe not, because Lucy was cursed.

"Drop the sails!" Nami ordered, sending Chopper up to the helm as Zoro and Sanji began cranking the anchors back up.

"Wait!" Franky stopped. "We can't sail until we name her."

A cannonball crashed into the sea a few meters away, sending the ship rocking. "Can't it wait?" Lucy demanded.

"A maiden voyage without a name is cursed," Franky insisted.

"I got it!" Luffy announced. "Bear! Polar Bear! Lion!"

"That's awful!"

From the distance, projected over a den den announcer, Garp yelled, "Luffy! Sorry kid, but Sengoku got mad and is demanding I bring you in."

"Is that Aokiji on the ship with him?" Gajeel called. "Will this guy ever fuck off?"

"What about Monsieur Sunflower?"

"That's just as bad!"

"If we want French, we should go with Etoile Filante."

"You're all terrible," Usopp complained.

"Well then what would you name it?"

Zoro leapt into the air, slicing a canon that Garp had casually tossed to pieces. "Can we speed this up?"

Usopp hummed, staring at the sunflower--lion--figurehead. He snapped his fingers. "I got it. The king taking us across a thousand seas, for a thousand sun rises, for all of our dreams. I present the Thousand Sunny!"

"Wow," Lucy whistled. "That's...actually really good."

"The Thousand Sunny," Luffy grinned. "Shishishi, I like it!"

"I'm so glad," Nami gritted out. The marine ship, with a massive dog figurehead, was closing in and Garp was visibly contemplating which of the thousand well polished cannonballs to toss next. "Can we please go now?!"

"Sure thing," Franky assured. "Just raise the sails and leave it to me."

"Are you nuts?!"

"Don't worry, big sis." He flipped his glasses up, grinning. "Ain't nobody know this ship better than me."

Trusting in his plan, the crew rushed to lift the sails, Lily and Zoro knocking cannons away as they did. Just as Garp hauled out a massive ball and chain, the size Merry once was, the ship began vibrating under their feet. Laxus tilted his head, before wrapping a hand around a rope.

"Franky says to hold on!"

The back of the ship, where a massive round tube was just slightly sticking out, began to glow; then stronger, the whole ship shaking. "Holyshit," Lucy breathed.

From beneath, she could just make out Franky shouting. "Ready for the SUPER escape plan; COUP DE BURST."

The sky went dark under the titanic cannonball just as the energy released with a roar of power and the Thousand Sunny, making her maiden voyage, flew into the air and away from Water 7.

#as the stars burn on #one piece fanfic #fairy tail fanfic #laxus dreyar #lucy heartfilia #gajeel redfox #laxus x lucy x gajeel

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grelleswife · 2 years

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1, 3,4,5,7,8,9,12,13,16,18,19,20,21, 22, 23, 24,25,26,27,28,30 [INHALES] for the man the myth the legend himself SEBASTIAN!!!! 🎉🥳

1. My first impression of them.

One of my earliest memories of the Phantomhive butler is hanging out at a friend's dorm during undergrad and seeing a Season 1 poster on her wall...with O!Ciel in the Little Robin dress and Sebas in his tutor's disguise, tilting the boi's chin up. At the time, I wondered, "Why the heck is that creepy man looming over that poor little girl?" Oh, for the days of my lost innocence. 😭 However, once I learned a few years later that the fujoshi nonsense surrounding the series is (thankfully) not canon, and due to my soft spot for pretty, morally bankrupt anime men, I was intrigued by the bastard. A demon thot who murders people with butter knives? Sounded like a concept I could get behind! And the rest, as they say, is history.

3. A song that reminds me of them.

"Villain" by Stella Jang

4. How many people I ship them with.

Grelle, Agni, Mey Rin, Wolfram, Hannah (sometimes). I also envision Claude and Sebas as hostile exes who parted ways after a bitter divorce.

5. My favorite ship of them.

It depends on the ambience I’m craving. If I want a ship that comforts like eating a warm bowl of soup prepared by someone who utterly adores you, or nestling into a cozy sanctuary of blankets while the rain gently falls outside your bedroom window...an eternal devotion whose magnitude shatters the paltry constraints of time and before whose radiance even the dark inevitability of death must cower...I turn to Sebagni. If I need forbidden romance woven from bloodied ribbons and the taut, knife-sharp threads of animosity transmogified into an impossible love, dancing like a capricious flame in the space between poetry and prose...I go for Sebagrelle.

7. A quote of them that you remember.

"And not even a devil or a god can bind the heart of another in the truest sense of the word." And, of course, his "one hell of a butler" catchphrase is indelibly etched into my memory. 🤪

8. Your favorite outfit of them.

This pop idol attire!

I also have a soft spot for this outfit that Nina made him wear because it showcases his pretty waist. :3

9. Your least favorite outfit of them.

Sir, I love you, but what is this apron? 😆

12. Sexuality headcanon.

Pansexual! A demon's attraction transcends gender; Sebas just falls in the love with the person.

13. Your favorite friendship they have.

His relationship with Agnj. Yes, I'm aware that Yana said Sebastian views the khansama as just another mortal grasshopper (albeit a highly competent and exceptional one), but he's also one of the few humans Sebastian genuinely respects. The demon treats him like a peer, listens to his advice, is deeply impressed by his achievements...and cradles Agni's body in his arms with one of the most poignant expressions we've ever seen on his face after he and O!Ciel discover the khansama's been murdered. Not to mention that Agni was the first mortal to call Sebastian his friend in the all the centuries the demon's lived through! Yet another reason why I ship them—what's more beautiful than getting to be in love with your best friend? >w<

16. A childhood headcanon.

Already answered here!

18. How do you think they were as a kid?

I headcanon that demon babeys tend to be feral beasts, running amok, attacking and devouring those weaker than them, and trying to avoid annihilation at the hands of more powerful devils. Sebastian's first few decades of life were pretty brutal, relying on his own wits and strength in order to survive and be deemed worthy of acceptance by mature, adult demons. Soft fanon Dadbastian tries to make sure that his human foster son doesn't ever need to endure that kind of hardship.

19. The most random ship you've seen people have with them.

The Sebastian/Teletubbies fics still haunt my dreams, oozing into my subconscious like Tubby Custard, and I incurred irreparable psychic damage from Sebastian/Obama.

20. A weird headcanon.

Sometimes, when Sebastian decides to treat himself to a luxurious bubble bath (because sweet legions of hell, he deserves one), he'll keep his hooker boots of glory on even after he gets in the tub. It's about the ✨ vibes ✨

21. When do you think they were at their happiest?

In a perverse sort of way, I think canon!Sebastian is probably at his happiest while eating a soul. He's put care and effort into seasoning it with pain, misery, wickedness...now it's time to reap the rewards in full. For fanon!Sebastian, it would be when receiving love and acceptance even after people were aware of his true nature, whether those affections were platonic or romantic.

22. When do you think they were at their lowest?

I imagine the immediate aftermath of the Campania really set him back on his heels. Sebastian's well aware that he's capable of being killed, but it wasn't until Undertaker stabbed him with his death scythe that this painful reality sank in. The demon was pushed to the precarious edge of exhaustion, rattled by the stark realization that he might have lost his young master if luck hadn't tipped in their favor. The whole incident sent spiderweb cracks running through his veneer of confidence.

23. Future headcanon.

Regardless of his protests to the contrary, the demon never fully recovers from the bereavement he feels after ending his contract with the little earl. Whenever another human summons him to strike a Faustian bargain with the devil, he quietly insists that they call him Sebastian, and refuses to answer to any other name, because he simply cannot bear to let go of the last vestiges of his identity as Phantomhive butler (yes, I'm being sentimental and foolish here, no, I do not care).

24. What do you think is a secret they have that they have never told anyone?

Deep down, Sebastian has always felt inadequate, though he overcompensates for it with perfectionism and inflated arrogance.

25. When do you think they acted the most OOC.

*glares at Season 2*

26. When do you think they were being "themselves" the most?

During scenes with O!Ciel like their first meeting after he was summoned, their terrifying confrontation during the Green Witch arc, etc., when there is no butler's mask to conceal the horrors that lurk behind his servile smile.

27. If they could meet a character from another show/movie/etc., who would be the most fun for them to meet?

I know next to nothing about Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, but based on my superficial impressions of that universe, I could see Sebastian fitting in quite nicely there due to how melodramatic he is!

28. The most unnecessary thing they ever did?

Be rude to the other Phantomhive servants. 🥺They're doing their best, you bastard! 😖

30. The funniest scene they had?

The scene from the start of the circus arc where Sebastian leaps into the circus ring like a dork to fawn over Betty the tiger, and she proceeds to chomp on his head. 🤣

#kuro asks #kuroshitsuji #sebastian michaelis #thanks for the ask!

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rax-writes · 3 years

Text

Love Letters

Fandom: Stranger Things Pairing: Steve Harrington x Reader Warnings: None Notes: Once again, I thank @mxgyver for the inspiration. It appears that we’re both suckers for mutual pining. ♥

As you waved goodbye to your two best friends and left Scoops Ahoy, Robin watched Steve intently. She took note of the goofy, love-struck smile on his face, and the way he blatantly stared at your ass as you walked away, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Steve asked, redirecting his attention from you to his coworker – but only after you were completely out of his line of sight, not wanting to miss a second of his opportunity to admire you.

“You’ve got it bad, Harrington,” Robin observed, still chuckling.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Steve said, shrugging with feigned nonchalance as he leaned against the counter.

“Sure you don’t,” Robin responded sarcastically, rolling her eyes. “You need to just ask her out already.”

“Why? Do you think she’d say yes?” Steve asked quickly – a bit too quickly – which caused Robin to start laughing again. “Hey, I’m serious! You’ve been friends with her for way longer than I have. If anybody would know whether or not she likes me, it’d be you. So, come on, spill the beans.”

Steve wasn’t wrong. You and Robin had been best friends since middle school, but you had only recently befriended Steve, after you’d both gotten wrapped up in the Demodogs / Upside Down situation last fall. And yes, she definitely knew how you felt about him – specifically the ginormous crush you’d developed on “King Steve.”

Before now, Robin never would have pictured the two of you together. You used to be more of the nerdy type, preferring to keep to yourself and your few friends, whereas Steve was one of the most popular kids in high school. But now that she knew Steve outside of school, and from seeing how the two of you interact with one another – she thought you were the perfect pair.

“Well, obviously, I would be a terrible best friend if I were to, as you say, ‘spill the beans,’” Robin began, using air quotes to reference his previous comment.

“So there are beans to spill,” he noted, sounding excited.

Ignoring him, Robin continued, “However, I will say this: You remember that teddy bear you gave her earlier this year? That tiny, little red one?”

“Yeah,” Steve said, smiling warmly at the memory. “She wouldn’t admit it, but she was kind of sad because nobody sent her one of those dumb, anonymous carnations on Valentine’s Day at school, and everybody else had gotten at least one. So I ditched last period to run to the store and get her something, and that bear was pretty much all they had left. It wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, but she seemed to like it. She’s probably thrown it away by now, though.”

“She sleeps with it every single night.” Robin watched as Steve’s eyebrows raised slightly in surprise. “And the carnation you got? With the little note that said “I think you’re perfect”? That was from her.”

“What?!” he exclaimed, his jaw dropping. “There’s no way! I thought – I hoped it was her, so I compared her handwriting to the note, but it didn’t match!”

“That’s because she had me write it for her, so you wouldn’t know it was her.”

“Why didn’t she want me to know?” Steve asked, sadness tinting his voice. “I’d have asked her out on the spot.”

“I asked her the same thing, but she was adamant that you didn’t see her that way at all. She was worried that things between you would get weird if you knew the note was from her, but she still wanted to get it off her chest in some way, even if it was in secret.”

“Wow,” he murmured, staring at the ground in shock. “She’s the smartest girl I know, but she’s somehow so clueless…. I’ve been in love with her for months.”

“Well, I’ve said too much already, but I’ll reiterate: you need to ask her out already,” Robin stated, and Steve just nodded, lost in thought as he continued to stare blankly at the tile floor. After a couple seconds, he abruptly looked up at her, and she could practically see the lightbulb going off in his head.

“I know just the thing.”

Steve called you right when his shift ended at 4:00 PM, and asked you to come pick him up, claiming that his car wasn’t running and he needed a ride home. When you got there, he was waiting for you outside the mall, having changed out of his work uniform into a sweater and jeans (and touched up his hair, of course). He jogged over to your car just as you parked, and waved for you to roll down your window.

“Hey, before we go, would you mind coming in with me? There’s something I want to show you.”

If it had been anyone else, you might have said no, that you're tired and you'd rather just go home. But this was Steve, and he was looking at you with those big, brown puppy-dog eyes. So, you smiled and nodded at him, then got out of your car to follow him. He took a second to double-check the mall map just inside the front doors, then grabbed your hand, saying, “Come on, it’s this way.” You were really glad that he was busy navigating to wherever the hell it was he was taking you, because that meant he didn’t notice how red your face got.

The fact that Steve fucking Harrington was holding your hand dazed you to the point that you weren’t paying attention in the slightest as he led you through the mall. Eventually, he stopped in front of a store, which was evidently your destination. You looked up to see a sign saying ‘Build-A-Bear’ atop the doorway. Steve just grinned at you, excitement written all over his face, as you raised an eyebrow at him.

“Uh… are we at the right place?”

“Yep!” he answered simply, before pulling you inside. You tried to hide your frown as he let go of your hand, before he placed his hands on your shoulders and spun you to face the wall of... what appeared to be empty stuffed animal carcases. “Alright, pick one.”

It finally clicked then: he took you here to have you make one as a gift. You turned to him with a bright smile, “Really?”

“Yes, really,” he answered, mirroring your smile. “Whichever one you want.”

You spent a good ten minutes figuring out which you liked best, before deciding on a soft, dark brown bear. You told Steve that you just thought this one was the cutest, but really, it was the fact that its color reminded you of Steve’s eyes, and its fluffy fur reminded you of Steve’s hair. (And yes, you’re well aware that that’s super cheesy.) The employee smiled kindly at the two of you as you brought the bear over to her for stuffing. She gave you the same spiel that she’d have given a child – such as instructing you to place a kiss on the tiny felt heart before she put it in the bear’s chest, so “she’ll always know how much you love her!” Steve watched you with adoration as you followed along with all the steps, before the lady asked if you’d like to record something on their little gadget and place it in the bear’s paw, so that whenever you squeezed that spot, it would play.

“Yes, yes we do,” Steve interjected, and you glanced at him. He ignored your confusion, asking the woman, “Is it okay if I borrow it for a minute? I want to record something, but I don’t want my friend here to hear it just yet.”

The lady handed him the device, and he shot you a grin before holding up a finger to signal that he’d be back in one moment, then jogged outside the store. After about a minute, Steve jogged back in and returned it to the lady. You continued to look at him with a raised brow, but he ignored you, standing silently next to you as he watched the employee. She was careful to not press on the device, which would ruin Steve’s little surprise, as she placed it in the bear’s paw, then added your desired amount of stuffing to the bear with their fancy machine, sewed it up, and handed it back to you. She guided the two of you over to the register, where Steve paid for your bear, then walked with you out of the store, heading back to the parking lot.

“So when exactly am I allowed to listen to this super secret message?” you inquired, glancing up at Steve, who just smiled slightly. Wordlessly, he took your free hand, just as he had on the way to Build-A-Bear, and you held the bear tightly to your chest with your other arm. The same blush from before crawled its way up your neck and onto your face.

“You can in just a minute, when we get outside.”

You nodded, then cleared your throat and started speaking about the first thing that came to mind, to try and distract yourself so that the blush would fade. Unfortunately for you, what you ended up rambling about only caused you more embarrassment, and the blush worsened.

“I forgot to say it earlier, but thank you so much for getting this for me. It was an awesome surprise. This is probably kind of dumb, but I, uh… I’ve still got that one you gave me on Valentine’s Day. It’s getting kind of worn out, so –” you cut yourself off, realizing that you almost admitted to sleeping with the damn thing, which would probably sound super weird to him. “Well, I mean, it’s just sitting up on a shelf or whatever, so it’s not getting worn out, just… dusty. Yeah, it’s getting dusty. Um, anyway, this is a nice upgrade from that one, and I appreciate it.”

Steve chuckled as he nodded, then responded sincerely, “It’s no problem. I’m glad you like it – and I’m glad you kept the one from Valentine’s Day.”

He held the door open for you as you exited the mall, and headed back over to your car. The anticipation began to bubble up inside you, as you started to seriously wonder what in the world he would have said on the recording. Steve remained silent as you maneuvered through the parking lot, and both times you glanced at him, he looked almost… nervous? Must have been worrying about what’s wrong with his vehicle or something, you thought. Before you could ask, you’d arrived at your car, so you quickly leaned against the hood and faced him.

“Can I listen to it now?”

Steve took a deep breath, then gave you a worry-laced smile and said, “Yeah, go for it.”

You practically squealed with excitement as you held the bear in front of you and squeezed his paw, then you heard Steve’s voice through the tiny speaker.

“A little birdie told me that you’re the one who sent me that carnation on Valentine’s Day senior year. And I just wanted to say… I think you’re perfect, too. And I love you. Will you be my girlfriend?”

You felt your heart stop and your breath catch in your throat. You stared at the bear for a few moments, before you determined that yes, the recording had actually said that. It wasn’t a figment of your imagination. Steve Harrington just said that he loves you and asked you to be his girlfriend. Holy shit. Holy shit.

“So, um…” Steve began, snapping you out of your stupor. He cleared his throat and shoved his hands in his pockets. “If you don’t feel the same way, that’s totally fine. I mean, Valentine’s Day was months ago, so I get it if your feelings have changed or whatever. I just… I don’t know, I wanted to give it a shot, but you don’t –”

Without even thinking, you lunged at him, wrapping your arms around his neck and pulling him into a kiss. You poured as much warmth and passion and love into the kiss as you could, and relished in the feeling of his arms wrapping around your waist, holding you tightly against his chest. It felt like the kiss lasted for an eternity, but it still wasn’t long enough before you pulled away slightly to catch your breath, and respond how you should have responded a few minutes ago, if you hadn’t been stunned to silence.

“Nothing has changed, Steve. I definitely still think you’re perfect. I love you too, and I want nothing more than to be your girlfriend.”

“Oh, thank God,” he muttered, then let out a loud exhale. “You got so quiet after you played the recording, I was scared shitless.”

“I’m sorry,” you said, chuckling at how visibly terrified he was. He just smiled at you.

“It’s okay. The most amazing, beautiful, intelligent, kind-hearted woman I’ve ever met is my girlfriend now, so I’d say I’m doing alright,” Steve quipped, then kissed you again, slower and sweeter this time. He abruptly pulled back a bit, “Oh yeah, by the way, my car is fine.”

“So this was all just a clever ruse to get me here, to Build-A-Bear?” you asked, grinning. Then a realization dawned on you. “Wait, Robin told you about the note?!”

Steve burst into laughter, then nodded. “Don’t be mad at her, though! She only told me about it to convince me to ask you out. Just like you with the carnation, I’ve been terrified to tell you how I feel, because I was scared to make things weird – or worse, lose you as a friend.”

“Hate to break it to ya, but you’re stuck with me, Stevie,” you stated, giving him another quick kiss. Steve smiled down at you, his eyes full of adoration.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

#steve harrington #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x you #steve harrington fanfiction #steve harrington fic #steve harrington fan fic #steve harrington fanfic #steve harrington fan fiction #steve harrington fluff #my writing #stranger things

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kaizokuou-ni-naru · 3 years

Text

The Voyage So Far: Alabasta (Part One)

east blue (1 | 2) || alabasta (1 | 2) || skypiea || water 7 || enies lobby || thriller bark || paramount war (1 | 2) || fishman island || punk hazard || dressrosa (1 | 2) || whole cake island || wano (1 | 2)

(this is a repost, i deleted the first version of it by accident cause im Idiot)

the entry into the grand line is such a great sequence. it feels like such an ending- a triumph after they’ve spent pretty much all of east blue struggling to make it here, and at the same time the beginning of a new adventure, the biggest yet, one that has yet to end a solid two decades later. they all look so happy to have made it here- it makes me smile.

whiskey peak is one of my very favorite short arcs, and i think of the whole first half of the baroque works saga its the one that hits and maintains a tone best (almost certainly because its so short, admittedly, but still). i love the repeated shots of the moon, the reveal that the cactuses are actually covered in graves, the way everything seems far too good to be true at the start and the sense of suspense that creates.

zoro’s extended fight scene in whiskey peak is so great- it’s so creative and so dynamic and the odds are stacked so high against him and yet he’s clearly having so much fun. i do miss this sort of scrappy, improvised fight, cause its largely absent from later one piece but its SO much fun to read- zoro cutting holes in rooftops for people to fall through or shoving ladders to the ground as bounty hunters try to climb them.

i’m a huge fan of fight scenes that use the environment to their fullest, and this is such a perfect example of it. it makes the fight feel a lot more real and exciting, in my opinion.

i’ve never liked zoro and luffy fighting at whiskey peak, its always struck me as frustrating and contrived and kind of out of character for both of them, but i will say that i do like how on the same page they are even when they’re trying to kill each other.

the entire first half of the baroque works saga basically serves to introduce and endear us to vivi so we’ll be invested in the alabasta conflict, and that starts here in whiskey peak, when we get our first glimpse of her actual personality rather than the act she was putting on as miss wednesday, when she bites her lip hard enough to bleed in order not to break down at igaram’s apparent death.

watching robin’s actions with the added context of later one piece is one of the great joys of rereading alabasta. she does a fantastic job of appearing to be crocodile’s most dedicated and capable and dangerous employee while quietly but consistently sabotaging his efforts; saving luffy, sparing pell, sparing igaram, not telling crocodile anything about the strawhats despite meeting them here at the very start of the saga.

little garden has some really cool and striking panels that really put the scale of things on the island, the dinosaurs and giants alike, into perspective, and i love it.

i’m a huge fan of the depth of in-universe lore one piece has. just having little details like this, quotes from books written in-universe, go so far towards making the world feel like a real and wondrous place with mysteries to be solved and details to be uncovered.

i still think sanji is firmly at his best when he’s being a sneaky bastard, and i will never cease to be delighted by how thoroughly he manages to fuck crocodile over with nothing but a phone and some quick thinking not once but twice.

i really like dorry and brogy! for minor characters who’ve only appeared in one relatively minor and inconsequential arc so far, they’re not only very fun and memorable but also leave a hell of an impact on the story, not only in usopp’s new dream of eventually visiting elbaf but also in how they and their crew just keep coming up, first in enies lobby and then even further down the line in dressrosa and whole cake island.

i’m really excited for when we eventually get to reach elbaf, because this plot thread has been so thoroughly and subtly built up over such a long time that i can’t wait to see how it ends.

this is one of my favorite little moments to really drive home how much the strawhats care about each other. they all fell asleep on the floor rather than leave nami alone.

the whole introductory scene to drum is a really good summary of who vivi is as a person and how she contrasts with luffy, and it’s something i’ve written extensively about in a past meta. here ill just settle for saying, vivi is chronically selfless, and always the sort of person to sacrifice herself for others, and these traits which save the strawhats here are the exact same ones that bring her and luffy to blows later on in alabasta.

a good thing to remember when writing characters is that traits aren’t really inherently good or bad, they’re just traits and can have positive or negative consequences depending on the situation, and i think oda is really good at this. vivi’s selflessness, usually a positive thing, becomes reckless self-sacrifice when she’s pushed to her breaking point.

‘kindness begets kindness’ is a pretty consistent theme throughout one piece, though luffy is most often on the other side of it. someone (rebecca, law, tama, etc.) does something for him without really expecting anything in return, and gets paid back a hundred times over. this is a case of the opposite- luffy helps someone offhandedly, and is later saved by their gratitude.

i think luffy wearing his fingers bloody as he climbs the drum rockies is the only time one piece has ever made me cringe back from the page. this sequence is absolutely brutal, and it’s so well-done.

the way luffy decides chopper should be his crewmate is precious, and also reminds me a little of his recruitment of sanji (ironically, given he’s talking to sanji about chopper here). in both cases he sees someone do something good without even really knowing the full extent of their abilities and makes a snap decision that they are awesome and are gonna be part of his crew, no matter what they have to say about it.

i really, really enjoy the way the drum island flashback is set up, with the cutaway right as luffy is about to punch wapol’s lights out. the cut back to that punch finally hitting when the flashback ends is by that point infinitely more satisfying, since you’ve just read chopper’s backstory and therefore have a deep and abiding desire to see wapol eat shit.

hiriluk’s final speech is definitely one of the best and most memorable quotes from one piece, and effectively the crux of one of its biggest themes. one piece is all about inherited will. all of our main cast and a solid percentage of the supporting cast bear the legacy of at least one forebear on their shoulders, from kuina to corazon to otohime. the entire setting of the story is defined by roger’s legacy.

all those people are dead, but they’re sure as hell not forgotten- how can they be, when their legacies are actively shaping the world as a direct result of their lives and influences?

i really, really like the use of flags in one piece. flags are how you declare loyalty or war in equal measure, and flying a pirate flag is a declaration that you’re choosing freedom, come what may, over the laws of the world government. it’s just a really excellent running motif, and a great symbol of what one piece’s definition of piracy means.

this scene is also one of the ones that gets even more extra weight behind it when you know luffy’s full backstory with sabo, which i love.

chopper’s recruitment scene sums up one of the reasons luffy is really great. he just doesn’t care about a lot of things other people would normally take notice of. occasionally that gets him in trouble, but other times it leads to him responding to a situation exactly right, like here. chopper is listing off all his insecurities and reasons he can’t go with the strawhats, and luffy just flat doesn’t care. he wants chopper on his crew and he knows chopper wants to be on his crew, so as far as he’s concerned, there’s no issue at all.

it really is wild that the will of D is named this far back in the story, and has consistently been referenced and built up ever since in very slight ways, through comments by characters like robin and corazon, and yet we still know basically nothing about it.

and a toast to a new crewmate!!

continued in the next post, which covers alabasta arc proper.

#the voyage so far #arc: reverse mountain #arc: whiskey peak #arc: little garden #arc: drum island #one piece #opmeta #not japanese #long post

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fridayfirefly · 3 years

Text

Bruises

Read Bruises on AO3

Masterlist

Written for Maribat March Day 30 - Goodbye

Bruce picked up his phone on the second ring. It wasn't unusual for him to get phone calls at eleven o'clock at night - he was a busy man, after all. What was unusual was the fact that the call was from an unknown number. Bruce very rarely gave out his personal number. "Hello?"

"Bruce?" a tiny voice questioned through the phone.

"Emilie?" Bruce recognized her voice, even though it had been ten years since the last time he spoke to Emilie Graham de Vanily (now Emilie Agreste). He never knew what had happened to her, just that one day she stopped answering his emails and her phone number was disconnected. Bruce wanted to reconnect with her, but at the time it seemed like Emilie chose not to speak to him on purpose.

"I'm sorry for calling so late at night. I know we haven't spoken in a long time, but I'm in Gotham and I need your help."

Bruce didn't hesitate for even a moment. "What do you need?"

Twenty minutes later, Bruce pulled up in front of Gotham International Airport. He didn't recognize Emilie at first, not until he got out of the car and she called his name.

"Bruce!" Emilie had changed. What surprised Bruce was that the first thing he noticed was not the black eye that marred her face, but the little blonde boy who stood at her side.

"Hello, Emilie," said Bruce, pointedly ignoring the fact that she hadn't told him about her son.

"Hello, Bruce. This is Adrien," she introduced.

"Hello." Adrien greeted Bruce quietly, his eyes trained at the ground. The white cast on his arm was decorated with little doodles. Bruce assumed that Emilie had drawn them with the pen she tucked behind her ear.

They all got into Bruce's car with little fanfare. Emilie sat in the passenger seat. Adrien sat in the back and was asleep before they left the parking lot.

"Did your husband give you that black eye?"

Emilie didn't waste words explaining the situation. "Yes."

"What about Adrien's arm?"

"I told Gabriel a long time ago that if he ever touched Adrien, I would leave him. Either he forgot or didn't believe me. I'm keeping true to my word. In the morning I'm going to a lawyer to file for divorce papers and a restraining order, and to press charges for Adrien's arm."

Bruce nodded, "I have a whole team of lawyers that you can use." He kept his eyes fixed on the road even though all he wanted to do was stare at her. It had been ten long years since he had seen her face to face.

Bruce first met Emilie during his junior year at Gotham University. He'd been a mess before that. He could barely stay sober long enough to go to class, and his grades were a testament to that fact. Emilie Graham de Vanily came to Gotham University as part of her study abroad program, in which she would spend two semesters at an American university, then return to Paris to finish her degree. She was Bruce's exact opposite: no-nonsense and dedicated to her studies.

The first time Bruce met Emilie, she slapped him in the face. It was the first day of the semester, and he was incredibly hungover. He only showed up to get the syllabus so he knew what the best days to skip were. Bruce sat down next to Emilie Agreste and started flirting with her, an action he had gotten very good at over his years at Gotham University. Emilie told him three times to knock it off, getting increasingly less polite until she eventually slapped him across the face and stormed out of the classroom.

Emilie must have slapped some sense back into Bruce because decided to apologize. She didn't forgive him immediately, but after a few weeks of sitting together in class, they decided to study together. By the end of the semester, they were meeting up every weekend to hang out. Bruce stopped drinking so much, started going back to Wayne Manor on the weekends, started talking to Alfred again.

Bruce asked Emilie out at the beginning of her second semester. To Bruce's disappointment, Emilie declined, but with a gleam in her eye that let Bruce know that there was a chance that their relationship could become more than platonic. They spent the semester together, sharing meals and inside jokes, study rooms and secrets. Bruce was certain that when he asked her out a second time, as they both stood in the airport, waiting for Emilie's flight to Paris to board, she would say yes. Instead, Emilie pressed a kiss to his cheek and told him, "Third time's the charm, Bruce." Then she got on her flight and they never spoke again.

Bruce found out three months later that she was recently engaged. He was never sent a wedding invitation. He tried his best to forget her entirely, after that.

"We're here," Bruce broke the silence as he parked the car in front of Wayne Manor.

From the backseat, Adrien rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Maman?" he mumbled.

Emilie got out of the car and opened up the backseat, helping Adrien to his feet. "Tu es en sécurité, mon fils," she whispered to him, assuring her that he was safe here.

Alfred opened up the front door and welcomed Emilie and Adrien into the house, offering to escort them to their rooms. Bruce was suddenly reminded of the time difference between Paris and Gotham. 1 AM in Gotham was 7 AM in Paris - early morning. It had been at least 24 hours since Emilie and Adrien last slept.

"Are you sure we should go?" asked Emilie, yawning through her sentence.

"Of course. I'll get everything for the lawyers taken care of by morning."

Emilie nodded. "Thank you, Bruce."

Emilie and Adrien left the foyer, following Alfred. Bruce made his way to his office and got to work.

Some time later, Alfred entered the room. “Miss Graham de Vanily and her son have just gone to bed.”

“Thank you, Alfred.”

“You should go too."

Bruce shook his head. "I have too much work to do. I need this paperwork ready for my lawyers in the morning." At the top of his desk were divorce papers for Emilie, papers for the termination of parental rights, and two restraining orders, one for Adrien and one for Emilie, both against Gabriel Agreste.

"What you need, is some sleep. You'll be no use to Emilie and Adrien if you're dead on your feet tomorrow morning."

Bruce sighed, casting one last glance at the half-filled forms. "Alright."

----------

At the breakfast table the next morning, Adrien and Dick had become fast friends.

“If you were a superhero, what would your name be?” Dick quizzed the younger boy.

“That depends on what my powers are.”

Dick wrinkled his nose in objection. “You don’t need powers to be a superhero, you just need training.”

Bruce was certain that he had said the same thing to Dick at one point. Dick heeded the words like gospel - now he spent most of his free time training to be Batman's partner. Though Bruce had already told Dick that he wasn't allowed to fight crime until he was thirteen, Dick seemed to think that enough skill might make up for the two-year difference.

"Okay. What would your superhero name be?" asked Adrien

“I would be called Robin, after Robin Hood.”

“I’ll be called Peregrine. Did you know that the peregrine falcon is the fastest type of bird? They can reach speeds of up to 240 miles per hour. I learned that from one of Mom's movies."

Bruce could recall that Emilie narrated a few nature documentaries in her rather brief film career.

Emilie walked into the kitchen, her black eye hidden by a thick layer of concealer. "Good morning, boys." She looked a bit startled, and Bruce realized that he hadn't told her about Dick.

"Emilie, could I talk to you in my office?"

"Sure."

As they made their way down the hall, Emilie remarked to Bruce, "You didn't tell me you had a son."

"I was.... distracted, last night. I adopted Richard a few months back. I was there when his parents died and he reminded me of myself when I was his age."

Emilie nodded. "I'm glad Adrien has someone to talk to here."

They continued down the hall, stopping at the door to Bruce's office.

"So what is it that you wanted to talk about?" asked Emilie as she entered his office.

Bruce held up the forms on his desk. "Divorce papers, restraining orders, termination of parental rights, and a police report for the injuries he caused. I wanted to know which papers you wanted to be filed and when. "

"I want them all filed, as soon as possible." Emilie's voice was hard.

"Are you sure?" Bruce didn't want to ask, but he felt the need to double-check.

"Bruce, I spent ten years of my life with Gabriel. I let him manipulate me into thinking that he was a good man. And he had his good days. There were days when I remembered why I fell in love with him in the first place. He was so passionate..." Emilie's wistful voice turned cold. "But passion turned to obsession, love turned to hate, and he couldn't stand me but he couldn't let me go either. I was willing to give him second chances when I was his only victim, but I can't let him get away with hurting Adrien. If I don't leave now, if I let him get away with even one of the bruises he's given me, then Adrien and I will never be free of him."

Bruce nodded. "We can get to work on these after breakfast."

"Wait." Emilie gently grabbed his elbow. Bruce turned to face her. "Once the divorce is finalized..." Emilie paused and took a deep breath. "Remember what I said at the airport, when we were both young?"

Bruce nodded and quoted her, "You told me: 'Third time's the charm, Bruce.'"

Emilie gave him a small smile. "Third time's the charm. If you still want me, ask me again."

Bruce knew that Emilie had been through a lot these past few days. He didn't want her to make a decision she would later regret. "Are you sure?"

"I've said goodbye to you one too many times, Bruce. I never want to say goodbye to you again."

There was a deep, earnest honesty in her eyes. Bruce knew that there was no longer anything holding her back. There wasn't anything holding him back, either. "Whatever you need, Emilie, I'll give it to you."

Emilie smiled, a hopeful look on her face. "Tell me I can stay."

"Forever."

@maribatmarch-2k21

#maribat #bruce x emilie #bruce wayne #emilie agreste #MaribatMarch2021 #my work #miraculous ladybug fic

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astralis01 · 2 years

Text

I posted 26 times in 2021

19 posts created (73%)

7 posts reblogged (27%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 0.4 posts.

I added 44 tags in 2021

#dc - 8 posts

#dc comics - 8 posts

#robin - 5 posts

#jason todd - 4 posts

#tim drake - 4 posts

#red robin - 3 posts

#incorrect dc quotes - 3 posts

#incorrect batboys quotes - 3 posts

#nightwing - 3 posts

#red hood - 3 posts

Longest Tag: 55 characters

#my friends think ii’m a criminal though because of this

My Top Posts in 2021

Percy Jackson X GN!Reader: Hold Me Tight

Could you do a Percy Jackson x Gender neutral reader where Percy has recently come back from Tartarus and he has really bad nightmares and as a result, hates sleeping alone so the reader ends up staying at his place regularly and they end up cuddling/sleeping together and that really helps with Percy’s nightmares? by @bi-ranger-energy

I’m really sorry for this one also but apparently writer’s block has finally lifted and I’m writing again. Sorry for the wait. Can be taken as platonic and romantic both.

G/p= Godly Parent

S/n=Sibling name

Percy woke up from his sleep again. The scene in his dreamland, too vivid to be unreal, too vivid to be a dream. He woke up gasping for breathe and rushed for the bathroom for a cold splash of water on his face so that he could ground himself, to remind himself that he was in his bed, in his cabin, in Camp Half-Blood and not in Tartarus.

It was his nightly habit. Wake up gasping for breathe, tumble into the washroom to splash his face with water and then try to catch a few hours to sleep. But today, it was too vivid to be unreal so he looked towards the exit door of his cabin.

Grabbing his sword and he threw a fresh shirt over his head and moved towards the door and rushed towards G/p’s cabin. He knocked on the door, a pattern that Y/n and he had come up with in case they needed something.

He had to wait for a few minutes but the door opened and their stood Y/n in their PJs and a nest of birds hair with a yawn coming up and they asked, “What happened Perce?”

Percy did not say anything, just wrapped his arms around Y/n, trying to anchor himself and Y/n softened his posture letting Percy wrap his hands around their frame while they did so to Percy too.

“A nightmare, huh?”

Percy nodded, not trusting himself to speak out those words loudly.

“You can sleep here today. Come.”

Percy was going to say no but he didn’t think that it was a request, more like an order and a small smile crept onto his face.

Y/n dragged Percy to his bed and pulled him down with them and placing the cover over them. They then tried to snuggle into Percy chest but then said, “Uncomfortable,” and turned around.

“Hot” Position changed.

“Way too uncomfortable.”

A grin was making way to Percy face and he said, “Why don’t I show you a comfortable position.” With that he wrapped his arms around them, pulling them in a sleeping hug and Y/n was quick to fall asleep.

Percy closed his eyes too, hoping there won’t be any nightmares.

———————————————————————————————————

Y/n woke up the next morning with sunlight falling on their face and the sound of the giggle of S/n. They slowly turned around to see what was funny and then remembered yesterday night’s event.

They looked at Percy. He was sleeping peacefully. His face angelic and drool slipping out of his mouth and so Y/n shooed away S/n and let him sleep for a while and feel asleep themselves.

106 notes • Posted 2021-06-07 16:33:57 GMT

Damian Wayne X Sibling! Reader: Annoying

Y/n: Don't you ever leave your room?

Damian: I do leave my room.

Y/n:

Damian: To annoy Timothy.

Y/n: For five minutes at most!

Damian: Yeah he can't stand being around me for too long.

147 notes • Posted 2021-06-07 16:41:02 GMT

Tim Drake X Reader: Dinner

Request: Tim x male reader . Tim bring his bf to the manner for a family dinner and crazy shit happening in that night.

Requested By: @imgayandilikeit

“You know Master Tim, you should bring your boyfriend to meet us tomorrow,” Alfred said as the whole Wayne family had sat down to eat dinner. A blanket of silence encased them broken by Dick who exclaimed, “Wait, Timmy has a boyfriend?”

Tim looked at his plate and then glared at Dick and said, “Yes, I have a boyfriend. His name is Y/n and he’s very nice.”

Cass signed from the other end We are happy for you while Stephanie slapped him on his back and exclaimed, “I knew it you had it into you to confess to him.”

Bruce, who was sitting silently at the table then said, “Why don’t you bring him over as Alfred suggested. We could meet him tomorrow.”

Damian glared and then smirked and said, “Oh yes, we have to see how much is Drake paying him to act like his beloved.”

Tim got up and screamed at him, “Oh you little-. Wait, I’ll just call him to give you your peace of mind Demon.”

Dick spoke up, “Timmy, you don’t-”

Tim glared at everyone as if daring to object and said, “No I do. Anyway, I need to ask him about the dinner.”

Tim dialled Y/n’s number, still glaring at everyone when the rising stopped. A soft voice was heard from the other side and Tim’s face softened. “Hey Timmy, you fine?”

“Yeah, thought I’d call you to ask something. You free at 8 tomorrow night?”

“Yeah, what about it?”

“Well, my family is insisting on meeting you. You okay with that?”

“Oh yes. Wait, a minute Timmy.” There were some shuffling sounds heard on the other end and then the voice rang out, “Noice, noice, noice. I’ll be there. Wayne Manor, right?”

“I’ll pick you up.”

There was laughing at the other end and then the voice said, “Dude, I know how to drive and Wayne Manor is the big, famous building. I’ll reach there.”

“You drive like a maniac.”

“No Timmy. I drive like someone who knows to live life to its fullest. We die wild.”

“Please don’t.”

“I’ll try to. See you tomorrow then. Bonne Nuit.”

“French today, huh. Well, then Bonne Nuit to you too.”

And with that, the voice was cut off and Tim said, “Well, does that satisfy you all. Now, let’s eat.” His voice did not leave any room for argument.

Cass signed You two are very cute.

Tim sighed and ran his fingers through his already messy hair and said, “Thank you.”

——————————————————

The next day was a tense affair. At sharp 8, there was a knock on the door. Tim practically skipped opening the door. There stood Y/n, in all his glory with a container in his hands.

“Hey, Timmy. I brought some of my lava cake for you guys. Hopefully, you all do like cake.”

Dick barrelled towards both of them and said, “Oh we do love cake, especially chocolate cakes. Please come in.”

See the full post

239 notes • Posted 2021-06-07 14:27:34 GMT

Bat Family X Batsis: Karen

“Hi! Idk if you do requests, but I’ve had this idea and I’m not the best writer. So can you do a batsis reader where she skateboards and she’s out with her brothers (like Jason would prolly skate I think) and they’re giving and they get confronted by a Karen™️ and she does typical Karen things and the batkids just roast her? Idk what this is it’s funky. Thank uuuu” by @amurderofcrowsinatrenchcoat

I’m a horrible author but here goes nothing. My knowledge of non-fandom related vines is as less as my pen nip. Ok, I think canonically it’s Tim who’s the skater boy™️. I’m really really sorry for this being sooooooooooo late.

“Y/n you promised us that you would go out with us to the park,” Tim whined at his sister who was trying to do her level best at ignoring everything around and completing her work.

“Yeah you said that it was gonna be good for family bonding between the two of us,” Jason said while standing and holding Damian’s book above his head so that Damian could not reach it.

Then Damain gave up and stomped Jason on his feet and said, “Take them out. No one would be able to work in these circumstances with both of them whining.”

Y/n banged her head on a nearby pillow and closed her computer with a huff and said, “Grab you skateboards Timmy and Jay. We’re going to the newly opened skateboard park in Gotham.”

Tim got up and ran for his room to grab his skateboard while Jason handed Y/n’s skateboard to her. She raised her eyebrow at him but accepted it and all of them headed out as soon as Tim was done.

———————————————————————————————————

As they reached the skate park, they got busy. With Jason showing off his crazy skills and Tim almost falling asleep because he was comfortable, Y/n was plenty busy to hold them all together and making sure they don’t hurt anyone when Y/n accidentally almost crashed into a blonde-haired woman but steered clear of her at the last moment.

“What are you trying to do?” The blonde-woman screamed at her. Y/n frowned but keeping her tone polite said, “I’m sorry ma’am but-”

“You hooligans try to hit us innocent people who are just walking past,” she screamed at her.

Till Jason and Tim had heard the commotion came to the aid of Y/n and Jason said, “Lady, you are walking in the wrong area. This area is only for skating.”

The woman blinked twice and took in Jason’s huge stature and the way he was standing in front of Y/n and said, “I don’t need your boyfriend to bad mouth me. I was talking to you.”

Y/n blinked at the woman and looked around and pointed to herself and said, “Me. I’m their sister.”

Tim stepped forward and said, “Please leave this area, preferably before you lower the IQ of the whole park.”

The blonde-woman turned red in her face and said, “I was telling your sister-”

“Miss, I’m pretty sure if you could read then you would see that it’s written that it’s a skate park over there, on the sign,” said Y/n.

“Also if you could see, you would see that there are kids having skate boards all over this area,” Jason continued.

The woman then screamed and said, “I’m going to call the security. Stay here.”

How much trouble do you think we are gonna get in with Bruce?” Tim whispered.

“Zero if we make a run for it,” Jason said.

“Minus if we stay here and you guys keep shut,” Y/n whispered furiously to them.

It wasn’t much trouble and the woman was escorted out of the park and they were left alone.

———————————————————————————————————

“Best bonding activity ever,” Jason exclaimed as they entered the manor.

“Who was put in jail?” Bruce said in his tired dad voice, with a mug of coffee in his hands.

339 notes • Posted 2021-06-07 16:04:53 GMT

Bat family x Reader: Cards

Dick, setting down a card: Ace of spades.

Damian, pulling out a mythomagic card: Dionysus, Plus fifty attack points.

Y/n, dramatically placing a Pokemon card: Charmander, I choose you!

Jason, pulling out a reverse: Go live and make me proud.

Tim, trembling: What are we playing!?

699 notes • Posted 2021-05-10 13:21:16 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

#my 2021 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

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shirtlesssammy · 3 years

Text

6x22: The Man Who Knew Too Much

Then:

I will never forgive the show for this pain

Now:

Sam is running for his life and pops into a bar to escape the cops. Duma The bartender tells him to leave and grabs a bat, but Sam begs and she relents. She asks him his name, but he doesn’t remember.

She tries helping him retrace his steps. He doesn’t remember anything before two cops finding him and him taking them down before running. She tells him that he needs to go to the doctor. He refuses. There’s somewhere he has to be --something he has to stop.

Sam sees a HP Lovecraft book and has flashes of Bobby and the Nite Owl Hotel. The bartender makes one final push to take Sam to the hospital, but he needs to get to that hotel. She offers to drive.

Once there, Sam instinctively knows to go to one room. They break in to find the room one giant murder board. She also finds his fake IDs.

Sam has another --longer-- flashback to Bobby, Dean, and him finding Eleanor in an alley, dying. She tells them they know how to crack Purgatory open.

They plan on opening the door at noon --a solar eclipse.

Cas flaps in and apologizes.

Dean wants a fight, but Cas is beyond that. He tells them to go home and just let him stop Raphael. ”I wish it hadn't come to this. Well rest assured, when this is all over, I will save Sam, but only if you stand down.”

He then breaks Sam’s wall.

In the present day, Sam remembers his name, and doesn’t want to tell Robin (she has a name!--had to look that up though) because it would be crazy. Sam remembers Bobby --but only finds his address. Robin decides it’s her time to bounce. Sam decides to drive his car --his car the Impala --his car-- to Sioux Falls.

Robin tries stopping him from doing that though. He might not like what he finds.

Sam’s spidey sense kicks in and he tackles Robin to the ground as the window to the Impala gets shot out. Sam gets back up again to see himself aiming a gun at him.

Wherps. Sam’s actually comatose in the warded room in Bobby’s basement. Bobby comes in and they recap how royally boned they are.

Dream Sam and Robin start driving. Robin starts freaking out about their situation. Dean flashes a light at Sam’s eyes, and suddenly it’s day in Sam’s world. “It was night, and now it’s day.” Robin is DONE. Sam hears a noise and convinces her to get back in the car. He grabs a shotgun and heads into the forest. His other self stalks him behind a tree.

The other Sam breaks down what happened --and reveals that he’s Sam without a soul. He wants to take charge in Sam’s noggin. Sam takes off running and they engage in The Most Dangerous Game until our Sam outsmarts Soulless Sam and shoots him in the back. “If you think I’m bad, wait until you meet the other one,” Soulless Sam says, and dies. His essence is absorbed into Sam.

Sam returns to the car, with many memories restored.

For DAMN She’s Fine Science:

Unfortunately, one of the memories Sam retrieved was of a monster who was using her as a shield. Sam shot and killed her, Soulless Sammy style, to get her out of his way. RUDE. (I totally forgot about this during the later Amara soulless arcs - I don’t know why I keep trying to hold Sam up as this peak virtuous character?) Robin poofs away, having fulfilled her role as the ghost of Christmas past.

At Bobby’s, Dean drinks and IS SAD.

Balthazar flaps in to mock Dean and Bobby - but also reassure them that he’s still on their side. He hands over Cas’s whereabouts and flaps away.

Meanwhile, Crowley hands over the Purgatory spell mix (a jar of blood) to Cas.

Castiel looks contemplative, and quietly informs Crowley that he’s re-negotiating their agreement. He refuses to hand any souls over to Crowley. Cas advises Crowley to either flee or die. And I’M SORRY but I’m into it. Crowley zaps away.

Sam sneaks his way into a seriously over-dramatically lit room. SAM, your mind XD. The drama llama who decorates with a hundred candles turns out to be none other than Sam Winchester, victim of hellish torture.

For 80’s Angsty Music Video Science:

Dean leaves the address Balthazar gave them by Sam’s head and bids him farewell. Mournfully. Just before he departs, he gently lays a gun on Sammy’s bed right next to the note. DEAN WINCHESTER, that’s not safe gun handling. Smh

Sam’s goth self tells him that Tortured Sam has to be reabsorbed before Sam can wake up. Sam trades his gun for a knife - for extra drama apparently - then stabs himself and sucks in all that extra soul whammy. In the bunker, he flails dramatically on the cot.

Balthazar flaps in to meet Cas, who is deeply concerned that Dean’s on his way. He notes that he’s been betrayed and orders Balthazar to root out the mole. Balthazar is a TERRIBLE LIAR the entire conversation.

“I’m doing my best in impossible circumstances,” Cas says. Still, he’s being plotted against and he finds it super frustrating. Balthazar continues to bluster away, confident that he’s fooled his friend. Flapping behind a poorly dissembling Balthazar, Cas stabs him. Balthazar burns away. Noooooooo!

Dean and Bobby pull up to the building and find it’s fully guarded by angels. They’re grousing about their odds when a massive cloud of demons swoops in. The demons upend the Impala and assault the compound while Castiel pours over the spell. Crowley flaps in to meet Cas, who immediately moves to smite him.

“You can palm me all you want,” Crowley flirts, but he’s got a new BFF. Raphael flaps in. Crowley and Raphael chastise Cas for his power overreach. It looks like the end for our hero! Cas tosses the jar of Purgatory blood to Crowley and flaps away.

Crowley and Raphael perform the Purgatory gateway spell. (Side note: hey, remember when Michael just snapped his fingers and made a door into Purgatory in the last season? Good times, good times.) Dean and Bobby claw their way out of the Impala and sneak into the ritual. Unfortunately for them, they’re found out immediately and flung across the room.

A worse-for-wear Sam stumbles past the Impala, and then heads for Crowley’s lair.

Crowley finishes the spell with a flourish only for...nothing to happen. Cas flaps in holding a half-empty jar. He had the real blood all along! Castiel glows with power, and Rave!Cas is born? “They’re all inside me. Millions upon millions of souls.” Crowley flaps away, which is smart...because Cas snaps his finger and explodes Raphael.

He smiles serenely at Dean and Bobby. Okay, just kidding. He ONLY has eyes for Dean, who counsels him to send the souls back to Purgatory before the eclipse window...er...eclipses. Castiel is not on board with this plan! He needs to visit holy rage upon Raphael’s followers in Heaven.

“We were family once. I’d’ve died for you,” Dean tells him. “I’ve lost Lisa. I’ve lost Ben. Now I’ve lost Sam. Don’t make me lose you too.” Cas hears it and...tosses it aside. And then he tells Dean the REALLY BAD NEWS. They’re not family!

Oh, also, he’s declaring himself the new god and he’d really prefer their flannel-clad shoulders to be prostrate before him. We end on stacked zoom footage which reminds us that yes, Robert Singer sure did direct this episode.

I Am Your Quotes Now:

I love what you've done with the place. It's very Beautiful Mind meets Se7en

I am all filled up on crazy for today

You will bow down and profess your love unto me, your Lord. Or I shall destroy you

Want to read more? Check out our Recap Archive!

#spn recap #dean winchester #sam winchester #castiel #cas #bobby singer #crowley #spn 6x22 #the man who knew too much #supernatural season 6

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stardustryewriting · 3 years

Text

Original Plans

Law’s original plan - to die on Dressrosa - didn’t work out. Luffy’s original plan - to make Law accept his friendship - did work better than expected. There are just some bumps along the road.

Also on AO3: here

When Torao first proposed an alliance to him, Luffy was elated. An alliance was basically a friendship and you could never have enough of those. Also Torao was a good guy, no matter what his other crew members said about him. They don’t call him the surgeon of death for nothing, Usopp had argued rather urgently and Luffy had brushed him aside. The Marines had called Luffy chaotic, completely nuts and even dead before, and none of that was true either. (Maybe he was a bit chaotic, but the other things were lies.)

Pirate alliances are marked by betrayal, Nico Robin had said, always the wise one of them, and so Luffy had asked Torao if he planned to betray them. He denied and really, that was enough for Luffy. If Torao had wanted him dead, he just didn’t have to show at Marineford. While Luffy wasn’t sure why he did show up at Marineford - Torao never gave simple answers to his questions, and thinking about what Torao gave as answers for too long made Luffy’s head hurt - he was sure that Torao wouldn’t have been there if he wanted Luffy to die. He did risk his own life and his entire crew on top of it. You don’t just do that out of a simple mood.

So an alliance it was. While Kaido was arguably the Emperor he knew the least of, he was still a better target than Shanks was. Maybe taking on Big Mom first would have been smarter, since he already started an argument with her on Fishmen Island, but Big Mom could wait. He would take her down eventually anyway and if Torao thought it would be smart to go after Kaido first, than Luffy would trust his judgement. Torso was smart after all. Also this seemed oddly personal to Torao. At least the part of the plan that involved Doflamingo did.

It turned out, Torao didn’t betray them at Dressrosa. At least not in the way his crew thought he would. He did try to end the alliance and by extent their friendship, which counted as betrayal in Luffy’s book. But he was unsuccessful, because Luffy would have never ended their alliance at this point anyway. There was a time and place, when they would have to part ways again, eventually. But it wasn’t on Dressrosa, not when Torao looked like he was ready to die and not when he tried to protect Luffy. (There was someone, in a somewhat distant past, who lost an arm to protect Luffy and someone, in a not so distant past, who did give his life to protect Luffy. He wouldn’t let it happen again.)

So no, Torao was not allowed to end the alliance. Which annoyed him, of course, but Luffy didn’t care. He could defeat Doflamingo without the elaborate plan Torao had made. He didn’t even remember most of it anyways, and he was somewhat sure, that the plan had failed the moment Luffy entered the coliseum in an effort to get Ace’s devil fruit back. Plans never worked out for him anyway, not in the way they worked out for Torao. He had a general idea of what he had to do and he would get it done. Somehow.

Maybe the Marines weren’t so far off, when they had called him chaotic.

But Luffy wasn’t upset now, because Torao betrayed their friendship. They would have to talk about that eventually, but it wasn’t the main issue. Torao was prepared to die in Dressrosa. He expected it, he probably even had his death integrated in his plan somewhere. (Maybe Luffy should pay more attention the next time a plan was presented to him.) And that was the most upsetting thing that happened to him since they entered the New World. Because Torao didn’t lack trust in Luffy or any of the Strawhats. He pretended he thought their were idiots and he looked like he lost hope in humanity when Luffy, Usopp and Chopper had fun on deck, but he really believed in and trusted them. He was confident they would still follow his plan after his death after all.He just didn’t think Luffy could defeat Doflamingo.

I would have been insulting, if Torao was any less scared about Mingo.

He never told Luffy why he was scared, he never even seemed scared. (Not like Usopp and Nami and most times even Chopper did.) But he was. He was scared and he went up against him anyways, fully prepared to die and Luffy hated everything about this.

„Why are you brooding here?“, a voice snapped him out of his thoughts and surprisingly, it was Torao. He would have thought if anyone came looking for him it would have Usopp. Zoro would have also been a likely candidate, if there were any less alcohol. But the drinks were flowing, so Zoro wouldn’t miss him for a while. Luffy wasn’t exactly a drinking buddy, he rarely drank alcohol as it was and that made him an uninteresting companion for Zoro at parties. Not that he minded, there were plenty of other people he could do plenty of other things with. Just Torao wasn’t really on the list.

„I’m not ‚brooding‘“, Luffy used his fingers to make air quotes, „I’m not you after all. I was just thinking.“

„That’s new“, Torao answered, sounding way more surprised than he had any right to, in Luffy’s opinion.

„I can think“, he protested, crossing his arms in front of his chest, while turning away from the other. And then, for good measure he slightly lifted his chin and added: „And my thinking doesn’t end in me dying either.“Which was probably something he shouldn’t have said out loud. Not like that. But it was also true and something he wanted to discuss with Torao anyways, so Luffy couldn’t find it him to regret saying it. (He did regret the way he said it, later, when he’d calmed down.)

„My survival wasn’t essential for the plan“, Torao informed him professionally. The same way he told Luffy not to exercise too much after he’d woken up on the submarine. The way he told Jinbei to keep an eye on Luffy, if he didn’t want the Strawhats to die. The very same way he told Rayleigh, that Luffy’s training would have to be postponed for a few weeks or else his stitches would tear. It made Luffy sick.

„Your survival was important for me“, he argued and Torao looked like wanted to say something to that too.Except that he didn’t. His mouth opened but no words came out and then Torao closed it again. Luffy waited a few more seconds, in case there was something to say after all. Makino might not have succeeded installing manners within him perfectly, but he knew the basics. He always let people say their piece. (Unless he was distracted by something.) When it didn’t seem like Torao found something he needed to say, Luffy talked instead.

„We’re friends and I like you. Usopp says you’re scary, but you’re really not. You saved my life at Marineford - “

„There’s no need to thank me for that“

„You saved my life at Marineford and I liked you ever since. You have awesome tattoos and a really cool bear in your crew and you’re really nice.“

„I’m really not“, Torao denied, but he sounded like he’s already given up that argument. At least he was learning. Slowly, but he learned. Luffy knew that that argument was just for show anyway. A reputation to uphold, or however Zoro phrased it. Not that Luffy had ever cared about reputations, his or those of other people. But if it was important enough for Torao to put in the effort, Luffy could respect that. So, no need to remind him that he did help all those children in Punk Hazard. Law still remembered it anyway.

„You’re my friend.“, Luffy said instead, because really Torao was very slow on the uptake on that. It didn’t matter that he didn’t want to call them ‚friends‘, they were friends anyway. Because Luffy said so and because he really liked Torao and because Torao seemed like he needed a friend. „Even though no one can say your last name“, he added as an afterthought, because a great as Torao was, he had the worst last name.

„Literally everyone but you can. And I’ve told you to just call me Law“, Torao shot back, tho it lacked any real fire. Like he was tired of arguing and was just accepting his fate. Good, he was Luffy’s friend no matter how often Luffy needed to remind him of that.

„I really like you“, Luffy told him, once again for good measure. He didn’t get a real answer from Law on that, but his cheeks got a light color, like Sanji’s cheeks did, when Nami or Robin complimented his food. Sanji was always really happy then, so Torao had to be really happy now. And Luffy just called him his friend. Which apparently Torao needed to hear that they were friends way more, if it made him this happy from just hearing it once.

„I really like you, too, Strawhat-ya“, Torao mumbled and he couldn’t even look him in the eye, but that was alright with Luffy. If Luffy brought it up in front of his crew, Torao would probably deny ever having said that, like Zoro denied being worried about Sanji, too. But that didn’t matter, because Torao had said it and that made Luffy happier than almost anything in recent memory. (Sabo still being alive was a big thing, that made him happier than he ever remembered being, but that was the only other thing. Even Sanji’s cooking didn’t come before this and Sanji’s cooking was perfect.)

„Okay, so no more plans that would have you die. You’re too important for me to just let you die. Okay?“, Luffy insisted and Toraos eyes glazed over like he remembered something very important and very far away. Luffy knew that feeling so he allowed Torao the few seconds he very obviously needed, before he inquired again: „Okay?“

Torso seemed like he was abruptly thrown out of something rather intense, but he didn’t seem mad. One side of his lips quirked upwards, as if he wanted to smile, but it didn’t become a real smile. Which was another problem that Luffy would tackle eventually. (He’s seen Torao smirk plenty of times but he couldn’t remember one genuine smile.) For now, Torao’s insurance that, yes, he wouldn’t bet his life this easily again would have to be enough. He didn’t want Torao to promise to survive. Not like Ace did, not again. But he wanted Torao to do his best, to see him become the pirate king. Torso smirked again, at that, and mocked Luffy for being too sure of himself.

„What if I find the One Piece before you do?“, Torao asked, clearly not as serious as he pretended to be. But he was lighthearted again, the tension in the air completely dissolved, so Luffy could humor him. Torao had asked an important question, after all.

„You won’t. But I will still really like you, even when I’m King of the Pirates.“

And somehow, Law seemed really happy about this. Maybe, liking Torao more than originally planned would work out for Luffy, after all.

#lawlu #lawlu fanfic #trafalgar law #trafalgar d water law #one piece luffy #monkey d luffy #luffy is luffy #luffy is people smart #law isnt #but we knew that already #heart to heart #law is bad at feelings

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iturbide · 3 years

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Seeing the Sumia breakdown reminded me no one asked about Chrom, so... Chrom character breakdown so the whole trio is together? :D

You know what, you’re right, we do need the whole trio together

How do I feel about this character?

He’s just. So amazing. I didn’t go into Awakening completely blind, but I had no idea what Chrom was really like when I started, and within basically five minutes I knew that I wanted to marry him. (This was a problem because I went with the beanpole on my first run and was playing the game straight, meaning I had no gay romance options; I consider this a travesty and it may have contributed to Future Built). I showed a friend of mine the opening movies, and when we got to the one with Chrom and Lissa, right after Chrom helped Robin up off the ground and smiled she said, entirely unprompted, “I feel like I’m being seduced.”

And what’s so amazing about him is that it’s entirely uncalculated. He’s not trying to charm people, he just has that way about him: he’s open and earnest and wants to help people, even if that means getting into dangerous situations -- and on top of that, he wants to trust people even if he’s told he shouldn’t. He and Lissa might make fun of Frederick and his wariness, but honestly the man has a point; the fact that Chrom would rather let Frederick watch his back for him and give people the benefit of the doubt, rather than letting that mindset infect him and distrusting strangers, is so heartening to me, and one of the many things I really do love about him.

He’s also flawed, though: he’s by no means a perfect person, and is susceptible to doubt and anger both. Even if the game doesn’t give it the attention it deserves he has conflicting legacies that he’s trying to measure himself against: his father the warmonger, who he doesn’t want to be like but fears he’s becoming...and his sister the pacifist, who he wants to live up to but fears he’ll never manage. It makes a fascinating internal character conflict and helps round him out further into his own person, rather than being just another generic blue-haired Lord.

Who do I ship this character with romantically?

ROBIN. From day one it has always been Robin, because the entire game revolves around the bond between these two people. Even if you don’t marry Chrom, the fact is that he and Robin trust one another implicitly, such that Lucina’s herself knows that the person he trusted most in the world took his life; she might not immediately put the pieces together, but it speaks volumes for their relationship. And honestly, the way it’s built, especially in the M!Robin supports, is so incredible: the trust and care between these two people who want to help each other and who can and do rely on one another is incredible, and makes a rock solid foundation for romance down the line. They’re just amazing together and I love it.

Also I wholeheartedly ship him with Sumia because she’s wonderful and brings an entirely different set of skills and outlooks to the table that I think can and would be very useful to the halidom as it continues to grow under Chrom’s watch. And yes, it’s improved 5,000% when he’s with both Sumia and Robin together (because I stand by my OT3).

Who is my brOTP for this character?

Sully, hands down. I’m pretty sure in their supports they talk about how they’ve known each other since they were kids, and I really love the idea of these two growing up together, training together, becoming super tight as friends and being constantly ready to have each other’s backs. Sully also makes a fantastic wingman for Chrom, let’s be real here. Vaike is another that I really enjoy, because the idea of them having this friendly rivalry where they’re constantly sparring and trying to one-up each other is really fun. Having them be just a chaos trio together is one of my favorite things and I really need to find a place to put that in because it’s arguably hilarious to think about Chrom getting terrible advice for how to flirt with someone from Vaike and getting smacked upside the head later by Sully after failing spectacularly with it.

What’s my Unpopular Opinion™ about this character?

He’s really not that dumb, you guys. Fandom loves to play up that one line from Gaius’ support with Olivia about Chrom eating an unpeeled orange (which may not even be true, it could have just been Gaius trying to make Olivia laugh), and conflating it with the idea that he’s dumb as a box of rocks. There is very little that frustrates me more than the whole “moronsexual” joke that runs around fandom with regards to him and Robin, and it’s just not fair to Chrom as a person. He’s not an idiot: he can do dumb things, like most people, but he is also a very capable and considerate person, and an accomplished fighter: if he were really as stupid as fandom likes to play up, he’d have been dead before getting any kind of proficiency with a sword. Just because he can lose focus and mess up doesn’t mean that he’s a hopeless idiot.

What’s one thing I wish would have happened with this character in canon?

Okay so this is probably weird but I honestly wish that he’d tried to talk to Grima in the end. Most of the conversation after Validar’s death at the Dragon’s Table is between Robin and Grima, and the final battle starts with the call to arms rather than any attempt to engage with the Fell Dragon; basically Chrom writes Grima off as unreachable and a force that needs to be destroyed based solely on Grima’s words, Lucina’s news of the future, and Naga’s insistence that it has to be done...even though Grima doesn’t actually hurt them at any point before the final battle.

Do you see how weird that is? Grima could, logically, have gone ahead and shot Chrom through the heart with a Thoron at the Dragon’s Table, since they state flat-out that they were the one who killed Chrom in Lucina’s timeline and that they share the same Heart of Grima with Robin, so it arguably would have fulfilled the same purpose regardless of whose hand summoned the spell -- but they didn’t. They talked a big game and the giant dragon came back but Chrom at no point took fire from Grima -- heck, even after raising the dragon form Grima lets them go, flying off past Origin Peak and letting them parley with Naga.

Considering the fact that Chrom made an attempt to talk Walhart into a laying down his arms and forging an alliance, and willingly engaged twice with Validar in good faith (once after the events at Port Ferox, once after returning in hopes of acquiring Sable), it seems bizarre to me that he wouldn’t do the same with Grima. He’s been trying so hard to hold true to his sister’s virtues of peace, of trying to talk rather than going immediately to arms the way his father would have, that it feels like he’s backsliding in the final battle when his quote facing Grima in combat is literally “I come to end you.” I just wish he’d remembered Emmeryn’s ways in that moment, and at least tried; even if it failed like it did with Walhart, it would have been a powerful reminder that he’s still trying to live up to the best influence in his life.

Give Me a Character

#answered #unsuspecting-person #meme #fire emblem: awakening #chrom #wow this got long #i have a lot to say about chrom apparently #but then he is pretty great all in all

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