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fractualized · 3 days

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A while ago I got under someone's skin for referencing Joker's surprising delayed reaction to killing Jason Todd, and since then I've been thinking it's worth digging into as an interesting element of Joker's characterization.

Of course, first thing's first: Jason's murder in Batman (1940) #427, as originally presented in 1988.

Jason has just reconnected with his biological mother, Sheila Haywood, at a famine relief camp in Ethiopia— and he's discovered that Joker is blackmailing her with information about her criminal past. She gets him truckloads of medical supplies to sell on the black market, and Joker restocks the trucks with toxin. While Bruce races to stop a tampered truck, Jason decides to help his mother on his own. When he discloses he's Robin, however, Sheila betrays him to Joker, not only to stay on Joker's good side but because she's actually been embezzling money from the organization she works for this whole time. She's afraid an investigation prompted by Batman and Robin's appearance would expose this fact.

So Sheila stands by as Jason is felled by Joker and his goons, and then the crowbarring starts.

It's bad! When we return later, Jason is presumably dead.

While Joker isn't shocked that he's murdered a child, he does have an unexpected reaction to Sheila's point. He hadn't really been thinking about what he was doing, implying that he hadn't intended to kill Jason. He just got carried away, whoopsie! He didn't do this to get at Batman; he wasn't thinking about Batman at all. Now, however, he's concerned about how Batman will react.

Joker thinks Jason is already dead. The purpose of the bomb is to get rid of the evidence of his involvement, including Sheila. Joker is not broken up about what he did, but he does have a sense that he's gone a step too far and he doesn't want Batman to know about it. At least for now!

In the end, while Jason wakes and he and his mother try to save each other, they're trapped in the warehouse when the bomb goes off. Bruce makes it back only in time to find a dying Sheila, who tells him it was Joker. When Bruce finds Jason, Jason gets no last words. He's already dead, and Bruce is devastated.

A clue from Joker leads Bruce to the United Nations in New York, and there, infamously, Bruce learns that Joker has been made the ambassador from Iran. Joker is now protected from prosecution, and Batman going after him risks an international incident. Bruce still very much wants to, but Superman stops him.

Well, mostly Superman. I recommend reading Batman #429 to see Bruce's full thought process on this. He is furious and constantly thinking about finally ending Joker— but he also questions his mental state. He still wonders if he can hold Joker responsible if he believes Joker is insane. He uses phrases like "what happened to Jason" like it was a natural disaster, not murder. He even confronts Joker to give him one last chance to turn himself in to Arkham Asylum. Bruce is in a kind of denial, still grabbing at how things usually go.

But back to Joker. Evidently, he's no longer worried that Batman will find out he killed Robin. Joker admits to it immediately.

I assume Joker realized there was no point in denying it. Is Batman going to think it's a coincidence that Robin got blown up when Joker was around? Though Bruce does say it's Joker's taunts that 100% confirm for him that the clown was responsible, pointing again to Bruce still grasping for reasons to not break his rule in his grief.

By the end of the issue, Joker has naturally tried to kill the entire United Nations assembly, which instantly made him free game. So Bruce pursues him to a helicopter, and an in-air scuffle ensues in which Bruce explicitly prevents Joker from being killed by friendly fire, evidently so he can decide how Joker will die. Bruce jumps out of the helicopter, abandoning Joker to a fiery crash. However, despite Bruce's (supposed) intentions, Joker's body is nowhere to be found. The clown lives!

So that's it, right? Joker felt some unease about killing Jason initially, but in a short time, he was happy to gloat about it to Batman's face.

But when Joker reappears in Batman #450, in 1990, he is not triumphant. He's holed up in a dilapidated building, where he learns someone is impersonating him.

How often do we see Joker upset by murders? When the story returns to him, we learn more about his mental state.

With all of Joker's cackling glee at the things he's done, coming close to actual death in the helicopter crash has jarred him— and not just the crash, but the murder that led to it. He recoils from the memory of what he did to Jason. It's why he can't see the joke anymore. It's set apart from his previous crimes. It's too far.

Which is not at all to say that Joker is completely broken up about Jason. By the end of #450, he rallies and sets out to go after his copycat and restore his reputation to his liking.

In Batman #451, though, Joker is still plagued by doubts along the way.

Even when he overcomes those doubts, claiming the mantle as the one and only Joker when his copycat dies by falling into acid, Joker challenges Gordon to finally kill him. It's reminiscent of The Killing Joke, the first time Joker went too far. But like TKJ, Gordon and Batman decide to get Joker back to Arkham against their more vengeful instincts.

Joker's also decided Arkham is just what he needs. Outside, he's plagued by the reality of what he's done; in Arkham, he can settle back into his insanity and stop caring about it again.

So after that, Joker has no second thoughts about killing Jason, right? After all, he largely references the murder in callous terms. In-universe this makes sense as Joker revising history in his own head, particularly as more stories portray his effort to be more monster than man. Monsters don't have qualms about murder! But this is comics, so we can also presume that not all Joker writers know or remember #450/451, which I think is a shame. I find stories in which Joker expresses even just a degree of vulnerability to be more interesting than those where he's just mwahaha evil.

I have seen a few other bat stories bring some nuance into Joker's perception of Jason's death, though.

First up is the particularly nuanced "Fool's Errand" in Detective Comics (1937) #726, published in 1998. Bruce visits Joker in Arkham to get information on how to find a kidnapped girl who's running out of time. It just so happens Joker arranged this kidnapping for a particular day.

I strongly recommend this issue for batjokes fans, as it revolves around Joker talking the case through with Batman in his cell to help him figure out more clues to a crime Joker himself planned. Even with Bruce beating Joker up, the conversational tone feels almost friendly. They're just doing their usual thing.

Well, sort of. Bruce has already said he's not in the mood, and he interrupts their conversation to say so again.

Joker could insist that Batman stay and keep playing the game, and needle him for being unwilling to merely talk to Joker to rescue this child. Instead, Joker gives up her location.

And Bruce does come back as predicted.

So that was Joker's nefarious plan. He wanted to restore some hope to Bruce's cynical soul to be sure that his future failures would hurt even more. But it sure seems the middle didn't go the way Joker expected, when he recognized Batman just wasn't going to play the game as usual.

Joker doesn't jump into taunting. He doesn't answer Bruce at first. He's withdrawn and reflective. He's got something else on his mind on this anniversary of the second Robin's death, and he knows that Bruce does, too. Perhaps not forcing Batman to play was a small gesture, acknowledging the difficulty of the day, remembering how things changed. And what does that gesture cost Joker when he still gets the outcome he wants?

Second example is actually also called "Fool's Errand," this one from Robin (1993) #85, published in 2001. This is a fun one in which Joker discusses his interactions and frustrations with the Robins.

But while Joker indicates more than once that he wants to fight Batsy alone, after he talks about killing Jason, this is the next page:

Joker does not then say he was relieved when another Robin showed up, but still. He's acknowledged again that when he murdered Jason, things were not right. As angry as the birdies make him, they're a key component in the game.

Then we come back to "Once More, With Feeling!" in Harley Quinn (2000) #25, from 2002. Harley's been playing double-agent against Batman with Joker, and she and Joker have this exchange.

Joker typically makes light of murdering Robin, but it seems that when he's with just about his only confidante, he lets other feelings about it burst out.

There's also a flashback to DitF in Batman: Gotham Knights #44 in 2003. We get an exchange between Bruce and Joker before Bruce jumps out of the helicopter.

Joker laughs as the helicopter dives, ready to die, but before that, he seems resigned. He doesn't throw in a real dig about murdering Jason, and he doesn't gloat that he's finally gotten Batman to kill him. He acknowledges he crossed a line.

Lastly, there's a 2006 exchange between, well, Joker and Jason himself in "All They Do is Watch Us Kill, Part 2" as part of Under the Red Hood in Batman (1940) #649. Jason has kidnapped Joker as batbait, and when Joker needles him, Jason needles him back.

Joker regularly extolls his own crimes, but suddenly one of his victims mockingly accuses him of putting up a front, of not being as coldhearted and untouchable as he wants to seem. Maybe Joker does doubt what he's doing and retreats under the cover of madness so he doesn't have to think about it— just as he did in Batman #451.

I'm not sure if there are other examples of Joker expressing anything but mocking glee about Jason's death. I do know of times he's shown a sort of fondness for Jason (such as in The Man Who Stopped Laughing #4, Gotham War: Red Hood #2, Suicide Squad: Get Joker #3), but that's not really the same thing. Joker could've seen Red Hood as his and Batman's Frankenstein child without feeling any squeamishness about killing him in the first place.

But if anyone knows of any other moments where Joker does not act like killing Jason is absolutely his most favorite thing he ever did, do share!

#joker #jason todd #my jibber-jabber

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yandereunsolved · 2 days

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Could you please make a headcanon about the Links reactions to the readers' cooking, please? ( part 1 ) ( @sweetlicorice )

yandere Links present: Cal, Four, Hyrule, Legend, Ravio, Sage, Sky, Time, Twilight, Warriors, Wild, Wind

cw(s): yandere themes, mentions of food drugging, self-deprecation

Cal: Cal is astonished for a moment as he takes his first bite. The melody of flavors mixed in his mouth. It's safe to say that he is always giving you possessive glances whenever you make food. He swallows it down so vigorously that you fear he's about to choke. It doesn't matter if you have the cooking abilities of a royal chef or a Bokoblin. He just loves it because you made it.

Which means he's always first in line. He's ever so anxiously bouncing his leg. It's barely noticeable—just a miniscule amount of movement from his rigid body. You are still able to tell. He gets extremely upset if anyone but him gets the first plate. Time allows Cal to always get the first plate, just for the sake of keeping him calm. Time nearly has to tear Wild and Sage off of Cal as they fight for their position in the food line like a bunch of rambunctious children.

Four: Four always makes utensils and various kitchen accessories for you. He gets elated when he sees you using them. He has a smirk on his face; the hours meticulously spent shaping the metal into the correct shape were worth it. That also means he gets to be the first to taste test things.

Both Wild, who helps you cook, and Wind, who sticks near your cooking, are always noticeably upset. Wind will always try to steal the spoon out of Four's hand so he can try it first. However, this has only led to you feeding Four the first bite of whatever it is you have made. Every single Link is outrageously jealous of this. Four just looks up at you with innocent doe eyes and states, 'Mhm'.

He always gives honest feedback about how good the food is. If he is a little harsh, then he'll always make sure to craft you something to make up for it. He doesn't mind his bluntness around the other Links, but he wants to be softer towards you.

Hyrule: Hyrule thinks about drugging your food a lot. When I say a lot, I mean a lot. He enjoys every one of your dishes. He just wants alone time with you. If he put some sleeping potion in your ingredients, then he could have you all to himself. He could even kidnap you if he wanted.

Besides those thoughts, he's one of the Links who prefers helping you pick and gather ingredients instead of just watching you cook. Wild is naturally skeptical of Hyrule just wanting to 'help' you gather ingredients. It has led to many arguments between the two of them.

That doesn't stop him from picking berries and mushrooms with you. That doesn't stop him from lighting up when he sees you using the shared variety of fruits you both have gathered. That doesn't stop him from wanting to wipe the small amount of left-over food from your face. He wants to kiss you. He wants to kiss you when you cook for them so badly.

Legend: Legend's reaction to your food always gets him in trouble with the others, especially Time. He always has some snarky remarks. He always rolls his eyes and eats it begrudgingly. He couldn't get all soft on you yet! He hates the hurt look in your eyes. It looks like he just kicked a puppy in the stomach. Yet he has to do it. He has to stand out. He can't just be another one of the lover boys trailing at your heels. You have to earn his soft side first. You have to choose him. So until then, he'll continue to act aloof towards your cooking.

It doesn't change the fact that he's the one who always steals the leftovers before Wind or Sage is able.

Ravio: Ravio pops in and out to try your cooking. He's always bringing you odd ins and outs that may help you cook. Most of them are enchanted, and occasionally a cursed object slips in there. Ravio always ends up getting attacked by the entire group when that happens. It isn't on purpose! He just sees an item that is slightly kitchen-related, and he gets so excited because he wants to give it to you that he forgets to check if it is cursed or not.

Ravio is the outsider Link, as always. He has a menagerie of skills that outclass multiple Links. Which makes him a greater foe amongst the infighting of Links.

He always gets super giddy when he gets to try something of yours. He always softly inquires if he can take some home. He just wants to feel your food fill him. It'd almost be as good as if he were the one filling you.

Sage: Sage is in the middle of Legend's and Wind's reactions. He does his best to stay calm, but he still ends up clinging near you when you cook. Even if he has to set up camp, he still stays near you. He'll sit on a log and fiddle with something passively, acting as if he isn't staring at you with an all-consuming obsession sparkling in his eyes. If someone asks him to help with something, he doesn't say a word or move. He grunts and just continues to absent-mindedly do whatever he is doing. He may not outright compliment your cooking, but he'll smile towards you a bit and give you a satisfied nod.

Sky: Sky always compliments your cooking. He's always respectful and uses his manners. He may throw a light-hearted sarcastic remark or two in there for good fun. It never has anything to do with your cooking abilities. They are just subtle digs at the others.

He is confident that he will win your heart in time. He's just happy to be warmed up by your food.

There is a sense of possessiveness toward what you cook. He guards his plate the way Twilight guards you at night. He doesn't want one of the others trying to knock his food on the ground or eat. That's a common occurrence. When you aren't looking, the others may try to steal another Link's dinner just so they can have more and the other Link can have less.

Time: Time makes sure that none of the others are overwhelming you when you are making their meals. He uses Twilight to drag the other Links off if they are making you uncomfortable. His trademark disappointed stare always works very well.

He always has a very dad-esque reaction to whatever you made. He smiles and either ruffles your hair or pats you on the back. His heart palpitates in that moment. He feels as if he is going to lose you if he lets you out of his sight for a single moment. He desperately wishes for two eyes so he can see you in your full beauty. You'll never have to worry about missing any ingredients for your dish or dishes that you are making.

Daddy Time has got it. He'll go into the deepest depths of the most accursed Hyrules to get the ingredients himself. Fierce, or Malon, is always willing to help them. They may be more obsessed with you than he is, considering they don't get to interact with you as much.

Twilight: Twilight feels his hylian ears twitch whenever he hears you cooking. His body becomes alert to it. His pointed nose was taking in the delicious aroma. His mouth waters to the point where he is almost drooling. He is able to continue doing his assigned task, but he is also thinking about chowing down on the food that you made.

When eating it, he continuously looks at you. You'd be such a good mate. You can cook and help take care of the ranch. He can cook sometimes and also take care of the ranch. You can pet him and scratch right behind his ears, where he likes it. He doesn't even realize that he looks a bit unsettling as he unblinkingly stares through your soul while casually munching on what you cooked.

Warriors: Warriors always stays away from you when cooking. So many of the other Links are trying to bother you. He doesn't want to be a pest to you. He doesn't even think he should get too close to you. Your food is like a gift from the heavens. It feels so homely and safe. It reminds him of something he has been deprived of. He doesn't love being in love; he hates it. He doesn't want to eat your food, yet he always cleans his plate and praises you.

H-He's from a non-canon game? He hears from you once, under your breath, while preparing some unfamiliar dish from your place of origin.

He begins to grow anxious internally. Is that a bad thing? Is he a bad protector? If you reassure him enough, then he'll get a little closer and watch you cook. He still prefers to stand guard, though. Only the goddesses know that the other Links are so whipped that they can't see any danger until the danger comes toward you.

Wild: Wild always makes sure to master the recipe you are making on the first try. He begins to panic and self-depreciate. You have to keep him from spiraling quickly. He is incredibly territorial about your cooking time with him. He's ready to pounce on whomever gets too close to the both of you. Even a simple update on camp being set up will have him harshly handling the ingredients, an angered blush spreading across his features. Pray to the golden three for Wind. Wild would definitely have killed the little pest by now if it wasn't for you. Wild just gets so clingy and insecure. He wants all of your attention. That little pretend pirate can go drown in the Great Sea for all he cares, actually, he'd prefer it.

Wind: Wind gets very excitable and also distracted when you are cooking. Whatever he was previously doing has now left his mind. He curiously looks around at the cooking prep you are doing. Wild is right next to you, glaring masterswords at Wind.

He always ignores Wild and just asks you a bunch of questions. He wants to know everything about the dish you are making. Is it from your homeland? Is it a delicacy or a simple meal? Is it hard to make? Can he touch it? Can he touch you? Can you be his? Can he take you away from The Chain and make you his pirate spouse? His thoughts often get away from him. His ADHD brain can't handle the stimulus overload.

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maddragon15 · 2 days

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Finalized design for my version of Etho for hermitcraft s10!

Warning long infodump ahead about the decisions made and general lore

So I've had this idea that redstone is like uranium. Powerful, can be used for energy + various machinery and scientific discoveries, used to increase the value of the everyday lives (uranium girls ref) but with the major cause of life deletion/life altering affects. I believe that it would cause more mutations within redstoners over the course of time they are exposed to it and the varying degree that they're covered in it. But redstone is a fairly new resource that has been discovered in the world of minecraft/hermitcraft. So the research behind it isn't as strong nor as known as it should be. Therefore every effect that happens to the pioneers of redstone is completely new and unheard of. Which might be the reason why some builders like Grian, Scar, Ren, Gem, etc are hesitant to fully learn redstone mechanics due to the unknown nature of it but still aren't fully opposed because of the benefits it has. In my world of hermitcraft for season 10 it's built off of the fact that there's quite a few people leaning into that cybery, technological, sci-fi theme. Like the Punks, then Ren's Gigaverse and of course the nature of Doc in general. So the main story is that this world of hc2410 is that it's a world that was much similar to earth. It went through the usual set of technological feats bit by bit, culture by culture. For a long time their main power source which fueled everything was glowstone, a semi renewable material exported from the Nether and harvested from blazes and the blaze rods. Blaze rods were grinded down then compressed into glass like bilets which were then heated, strained, and forged into various forms that were needed. For a while it was small 2x2 inch cubes mainly used in lamps and later 6x6 foot cubes for lighthouses. But as the age of the iron wore on technology looked much like the era of the vacuum tubes.

Thus began the swap of simplified forms of glowstone into the complexities of tubes and the requirement of more materials and longer time to create these specialized parts. Though that didn't stop what pioneers were part of that era, these guys being Etho, Tango, Doc, and Mumbo. It took long and multiple days worth of work to even produce what would be a 4 part machine now with the era of the glowstone tubes but they were young and confident that things could and would be optimized. Now these guys were very basic hybrids, Etho an arctic fox, Tango a nether born blaze, Doc whom was a rare specices of creeper, and Mumbo who was actually just a human. Glowstone in itself was a relatively safe material to work with unless of course consumed, if consumed it would wear down the lining of the stomach, cause holes in the intestines, and heat the user to an unbearable degree akin to the infamous iron bull method of torture except it was your insides and only your insides being subjected to it. To the person that found this out would never be credited and largely forgotten in most history records. So when Etho was working on the mines with his crew and discovered redstone there was a guess and perhaps a hope that it would be as safe as glowstone. Therefore safety percautions that were handled with materials like obsidian and diamond were thrown out the window. Instead it was instantly collected into glass cylinders and brought back to the workshop to be played around with.

With Etho being the main guy who really played around with it and pretty much like at it like ate it like it was sugar was thee very first to experience the mutational effect of redstone. At first his left eye would begin to flicker with rapid involuntary movement, then followed a set of what would be dubbed "chromatic abberation" (etho would be the only one to experience this and no one can confirm what he saw was accurate due to the mental state he was in), and the onset of vision loss. But this wasn't the first and last effect, he would begin to develop a second tail and unusual pelt coloring akin to the color of the newfound material. Much like the later steps of his changes the second tail development was not a pain free one. As the months continued his mental state worsened, this was due to the psychoactive effects of redstone and already altered vision. He would begin to see things that weren't there in a translucent red glow often accompanied by intense localized migraines behind the left eye. It would get so intense and unbearable that in the middle of developing the infamous etho hopper clock he began to claw at his left eye but the fingernails weren't enough and instead used a screwdriver to try to get it out. However Doc and Tango would find Etho moments before a prosthetic eye would take the permanent place of a redstone scarred eye. Although Etho did wear a mask during the initial stages of redstone development and technology it wouldn't be enough against the sheer intake the 4 went through. Therefore under the careful guise of Xisumavoid, who'd later become the main caretaker/medic and manager, and Doc they would make several changes to how redstone was regulated. Making a mandate that all personnel, consumer, mechanic, and who ever else would have to wear a respirator and gloves during the usage of redstone. You'd think this would be easy to get the crew to swap into using respirators at the very least but it was met with much hesitation and backlash due to the blukiness that came with them. It was already tough to pack around the canisters of redstone, glowstone tubes, and iron baseplates and now they also had to squeeze into tight spaces with a clunky mess? But again Doc and Xisuma found ways to make sure that each member found a way to have their own variation of resperation based upon needs. It wasn't too hard to make one for Etho because he already had a mask but his stubbornness rivaled Doc, and took a near fatal pass out due to lack of blood production, aka just more extreme anemia, and bloody nose to convince Etho to finally add that respirator onto his mask. Despite however the apparent dangers of redstone it sent the world of hc2410 into a new world of technology seemingly overnight, from clunky 60s-70s style tan and heavy clunk switches into an age more similar to thin touch panels and streamlined designs of now but with the flair of the iconic synthwave/cyberpunk style deemed by the 80s-90s. Yet it was met with strife due to how time consuming redstone was even with several engineers helping out on one project and most innovations were only available to the richest before being thrown out for the latest and greatest.

Thus the reason why for most parts of hc2410 many will be seen with previous and malfunctioning innovations or straight up tech from the glowstone era. One of these people is Mumbo who still uses comms from the glowstone era as a way to keep his small hometown economy running because any way to help Big Ron was a win in his book. Pearl is also another example user of older innovations or at least less redstone heavy variations. Rather going into the world of solar, and botany side of technology dubbed leafstone. Other variations of older innovations would also have to be old port towns who used wind and small hydroplants to keep their town running and connected with the rest of the world such as Gem's & Grian's hometown.

Also you may recall, if you've made it to this point, that I mentioned that the 4 were basic hybrids. Well much like Etho the effects on the rest weren't simple nor painless, and varied quite differently from each other. But those will be covered once their designs are finished.

Edit: I also want to include that one of the main design inspos is actually Snakeyes from Gi Joe because that man is absolute gender to me. So why not combine my two favorite guys into one character.

I thank you if you've made it this far and I'll see you on the next hermitaday posts! :3

#hermitcraft #hermitcraft fanart #ethoslab #etho fanart #par art #par hc

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knmaskitten · 1 day

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pets !!

pairing— Kenma Kozume x afab!reader

summary— you decide to get a kitty without Kenma's approval.

warnings— none.

notes— I love writing for Kenma, enjoy my first drabble.

You and Kenma have been living together for three years now. After college, you two worked really hard to achieve your goal. It was exhausting but, at the end, rewarding. Kenma didn’t like to put too much effort into things, but you were another story; you were his lifeline, keeping him at bay. So naturally, he didn’t care if he had to get tired just to please you.

You two lived in a very compact but beautiful apartment, It had enough rooms so Kenma could have his gaming space and you could have your own working office. And what drew you to that place in the beginning was the acceptance of pets. You weren’t big on the idea of a family, but you definitely wanted pets.

Kenma used to always argue with you about this, mainly because he thought you couldn’t keep your attention fully on a pet. He said (and this made you very indignantly angry) that you were so absent-minded that you wouldn't notice if the cat left. So you were set on proving him wrong and also satisfying your need for a company animal.

Lucky you, your friend Yukari was giving her cat’s babies away and you begged her to put apart one for you. You decided on a tiny male gray kitten. You were head over heels with him. It was such a sleepy and low-energy cat that it reminded you of how Kenma behaved.

When you went to pick your kitty up, you did not tell your boyfriend; you decided it was going to be a forceful decision in which he didn’t have the right to argue.

So, on a sunny Tuesday afternoon, you arrived to your apartment with Taro. You heard clicking and the light pressing of keys alongside the faint voice of Kenma; you instantly knew he was live streaming and thought it was a good time to tell him, with hundreds of witnesses. You left your shoes on your entrance, put your slippers on your feet, and started walking with the little Taro asleep on your arms. His office door was ajar and you knew this meant you could enter if you needed to, so you knocked and heard a tired “Come in.”

“Kozumeeee.” You chanted as you entered the room. Looking around the room, you saw he was playing a game named Omori on stream. The lights in the room were dim and purple, there was no sunlight coming in, just as he liked it.

“Sorry about the interruption; here is my girlfriend.” He said while rolling his eyes, a little bit amused.

“I have a surprise for you, a cute little surprise.” You said, hiding Taro behind your back.

“You’re scaring me.” He then turned to face you, ignoring the fact that everybody in chat saw the cat before him.

“Don’t be mad.” You plead before carefully placing Taro in front of him.

Being with Kenma meant he had few big reactions; he was never a guy who smiled often or got angry often. His reactions were scarce, and you cherished every single one, whether it was anger or happiness. So when you saw him open his cat-like eyes and look directly at Taro, you went silent. He just stood there, making eye contact with the cat. Five seconds passed, and he chuckled loudly.

“I knew you were scheming something.” He said, giving you a lopsided smile.

“His name is Taro.” You replied, giggling mischievously. You let Kenma hold him.

“Hey chat, this is Taro. My girlfriend brought him home without telling me.” He bluntly stated, giving you a side-eye. “He’s cute.”

You walked closer to read the comments; they were saying you were in the right and that the kitty was cute. You thanked everybody for the support and then took Taro in your hands and showed it to the camera. You beamed. Kenma found this whole ordeal incredibly adorable and thought he loved you so much that he didn’t care if you brought a cat home as long as it made you happy.

He got closer to your ear just so you could hear him.

“I love you; you look so pretty when you are happy.”

This made your heart flutter, you had to remind yourself you were live so you didn’t do anything embarrassing or out of place. You thought that this went so well that you might as well get a second cat just to get more reactions out of him.

Gosh, you loved Kenma Kozume.

thank you for reading <3

masterlist and more.

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artbyblastweave · 3 days

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Curious if you'd say you've ever seen a superhero work that genuinely deserved the alt-history genre classifier, and otherwise at what point its even possible to use it vs going 'this has decades of in-universe history but doesn't deserve to be called alt-history for [REASONS]'

Only one I can think of off-hand that has enough granulated timeline-development would be Wild Cards, but curious if you think others qualify and/or if you think WC doesn't qualify

I can't really comment on Wild Cards extensively (haven't read that much of it) but I can comment on a few other works. To briefly be the guy who talks about the same three works all the time:

Watchmen I think totally qualifies- Nixon is on his fifth term, electric cars are ubiquitous due to Dr. Manhattan's ability to synthesize lithium, Vietnam is the 51st state, the zeitgeist is consumed by pirate comics, and everyone in New York got murdered by a giant fake squid. And superheroes are real.

Unfortunately I also have to note that The Boys flirted with this; among other things, superheroic "intervention" resulted in the Brooklyn Bridge getting destroyed during 9/11, Prescott Bush and some of the other Business plot guys got wiped out during an attempted superheroic field test in World War 2, The War on Terror is being fought primarily in Pakistan, and Dakota Bob is president because George Bush Jr. killed himself playing with a chainsaw. The fact that none of this really pans out into a tangibly different society is deliberate, as part of the comic's drumbeat that superheroes, while roundly bad, also fundamentally don't matter, and are at best able to make things bad in different ways without really changing the shape of the structures that produced them.

Worm is in kind of a weird spot here- it objectively is an alternate history, countless things are different, whole nations are gone, we see a lot of alterations to the culture- but it gives limited airtime to a lot of the specifics of how things got to where they are, beyond the broad clusterfuck generated by the parahumans. To some extent, the fact that the world is radically different is downplayed until the back half because society at the start of the story is Stepford-smiling through an immanent apocalypse- and, you know, the immanent apocalypse is ultimately kind of the relevant difference from our world. But on the whole, I doubt there's a really tight worldbuilding document documenting all the ripple effects on the dramatis personae of history. The story's pretty vague about, for example, what the American presidential lineup has been since Reagan, what electoral politics look like in a world of Capes. It's vague about basically everything else in that nitty-gritty, concrete-details vein.

I do think that all of these, Worm in particular, highlight a major issue you're gonna run into when trying to do alternate universe stuff with capes, and it's that, first of all, doing really robust, thoughtful and fleshed-out alternate history is already really fucking hard, requiring a strong command of the history and culture of maybe up to the entire world, depending on the scope of your project- and superhero stuff already suffers from really strong American provincialism, so the depictions can get stupid fast if you aren't careful. Then on top of that the nature of the cape genre is that you're going to be following a pretty pared-down central cast; authorial and audience bandwidth will be tied up with what's going on with these specific guys over the course of their story, which can get in the way of a birds-eye view of their world, unless you're specifically structuring the story in a way to dodge that issue (which, you know, I get the impression Wild Cards did.)

I also think a commonality in the above works is that a lot of the alt-history changes are instrumental, included not as the result of the author trying to hyper specifically model falling dominoes from a specific point of change, but because they help the work to make its point. I doubt Alan Moore has a one-hundred-page forum thread detailing the fallout of America winning the Vietnam War, but such a thing would be beside the point- which is that God being an American Agent would fuck shit up geopolitically, regardless of the specifics. I mean a lot of this is vibes-based already, right? In objective terms the MCU has been an alternate history for years, but it doesn't claim that label, doesn't market itself as such, so it isn't. I think it comes down to whether you decide to wear that outfit on the runway, and how well it hangs on you once you've opened yourself to judgement on those grounds.

#thoughts #meta #anyway if a World War Z style mockumentary about the superhuman age doesn't exist I'm gonna have to write it #ask #asks #worm #watchmen #parahumans #the boys

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moments-on-film · 14 hours

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Moments on Film: Carmy IS The Bear - Opening Scene Analysis

Hello friends. I hope your year is going well. If we have interacted or you’ve read my work before, hello again! If you’re new to my blog, welcome!

This is the final part I’ve been building to in a 3 part character analysis series I have written about the character of Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto from The Bear. In the first part, I analyzed how 🔗Carmy doesn’t know who he is yet because he’s never had the safety and freedom to discover who he really is by connecting with his true passion, art. In part two, I analyzed 🔗Carmy’s true purpose and how I believe his destiny is to set everyone up for success, leave the kitchen behind and step into his light.

I have rewatched The Bear multiple times, but nothing ever captures the wonder, intrigue, and immediate empathy I felt for Carmy after that fascinating opening scene in the pilot episode. I have been thinking about it since I first watched it and it has stayed with me.

Since the first time I saw it, I have always believed Christopher Storer wrote the opening scene of The Bear to provide a portal into the entire arc for Carmy’s character. Let me explain.

Think about what Carmy is doing in the opening scene. He’s approaching a bear trapped in a cage. He speaks to it softly and gently, shushes it, empathises with it, coaxes it out and unlocks the cage. Look at the words used in the script:

Trapped, locked away

Whimpers, cries from inside

Emerges

A mass of dirty, matted hair

Mouth bleeding and ill

Shivers

“Shhh…..shhhh…it’s okay…”

Sad, abused eyes

There was a cute animal in there once

“Come on….go….”

“I know.”

Why is The Bear so personified in the script? Why is Carmy talking to it like it’s a person? Carmy looks into its “sad, abused eyes”, and tells it,

“I know.”

In my opinion, in the pilot episode, Carmy encountering the Bear is more than a dream, it’s a premonition because….it is Carmy talking to his future self.

Think about everything we have seen him go through so far and read the scene below:

I think Chris Storer has given us the arc of Carmy’s character in the form of a fevered dream Carmy has while watching over a slow cooking pot of gravy while he sleeps on the metal counter.

Carmy is the bear in the cage. S1 set the trap, by the end of S2, Carmy has fallen deep into it, and I think in future seasons, Carmy will suffer greatly, then will make great attenpts to heal, get in touch with what he really wants and will set himself free.

The fact that the opening scene in the series takes place on the State Street Bridge is an indication that Carmy saving himself—letting himself out of the cage—will save his own life. This is the same Bridge where his brother Michael, trapped in the same cage he is caught in now, separately, but somehow together, saw no way out and took his own life. The symbolism is striking. The Bridge is the connection between the two realms, and the difference between life and death.

I also think that the words used to describe the bear mean that things will get so much worse for Carmy before they get better. Season 1 ended with Carmy committed to opening The Bear. Season 2 ends with Carmy caught in the walk in freezer of the restaurant, a literal bear trap of his own making where he is buried alive by his unprocessed trauma, and inability to thrive in the very place he was supposed to lead, and crippling pressure to turn a profit to pay off his debts. This is because in my opinion, the restaurant, his cage, is not his natural habitat. This is why everything in it always seems like such a struggle and so painful, forced and joyless.

I’m worried to see how things will get worse for Carmy than they already are. In the script, the bear is described as tapped, locked away, crying, whimpering from the inside, a mass of dirty matted hair, mouth bleeding and ill, shivering with sad, abused eyes.

From the moment I saw the drawing on the wall in the pilot episode, I said, wow, look at the bars, it’s a cage. Of course, I didn’t know until 2x6 that Carmy himself drew the sketch himself, as a Christmas gift for Michael, who was trapped in a horrible cage of his own at the time, which makes it all the more telling and poignant. There’s a reason why Carmy drew the sketch this way, even if it was subconscious, with the same bear trapped in a cage, which we see again in his dream.

Photo credit: moments-on-film (me)

At the end of season 2, Carmy is trapped, pacing the cage of the walk-in freezer.

I’ve been so worried about Carmy as a character since the first episode because it is so clear that he’s sick and badly needs help that he’s not getting. He has undiagnosed PTSD, and inner trauma that manifests physically in the form of nightmares, trouble breathing and terrible panic attacks that ravage his body. This has been so visceral to me throughout S1 and S2 that I wrote an analysis post about 🔗Carmy’s Vital Signs, and how they are dangerously visible on screen through Jeremy Allen White’s exceptional acting. The Bear in the pilot script is described as whimpering, crying and ill. If I am correct, this is where Carmy is headed before it can all turn around.

One other little clue that Carmy is metaphorically the bear from the opening scene, is the physical look of Carmy’s hair. From the pilot episode, Carmy’s hair has bothered me. He’s a 3 Star chef, trained with the best, and worked under the abusive chef in New York who must have had him and his hygiene under a microscope. It never made sense to me that his hair at times looked dirty and unkempt while his shirts were immaculately clean, pressed, and white. Below is a quote from an article where Jeremy Allen White talks about his hair as Carmy:

"I also wanted Carmy to always look just a little dirty. There’s a sink on set — everything was functional — and before most takes, I would get water in my hands and run it through my hair to get it looking kind of greasy.”

This always stuck out to me. He’s playing not just any chef, but, in the words of Sydney, “the most excellent CDC at the most excellent restaurant in the United States of America.” A chef who clearly cares about cleanliness, who gets on his hands and knees to scrub the floor more than once with just his hands and a washcloth. Why would he want him to look dirty? But thinking of it now, if he too knows the arc of Carmy, which he has said Chris Storer has shared with him, then he understands that where we are headed is to witness him as the bear is described, emerging from the cage, “a mass of dirty, matted hair.” The slightly dirty hair is a physical clue into the journey he is on as a character.

I think in future seasons we are going to see a great deal of guilt and therefore self flagellation from Carmy to over correct his mistakes from S2 that is going to further impact his mental and physical health. As I mentioned in a prior post, just like his tattoo, he is constantly dancing on the knife’s edge, and literally putting himself in life threatening danger.

I also have predicted in prior posts that Carmy is going to push himself so hard that he has a major health incident that might finally force Claire (if she’s still around) to actually take note of how sick he actually is. I’m not sure if she’s going to be prominently featured in S3, but I would not be surprised if a health emergency forces Carmy into her life somehow. It never made sense to me that her (then) boyfriend is sick, she’s an ER Doctor, and doesn’t seem to really notice or care.

As I mentioned in my last post, Carmy’s True Purpose, I ultimately believe that Carmy needs to get out of the kitchen and into a life where he can be happy and healthy, and connected to his true life’s purpose. I do not believe that this means Carmy will abandon his found family, or that he will do anything to betray Sydney. I believe she’s his shining star and he will do anything and everything in his power to make sure she gets hers. I also believe they will be in each other’s lives forever because they are truly soulmates. This isn’t about anyone else, though, I think this is about Carmy coming to terms with decades of abuse, unspoken thoughts and feelings, buried passions, his precarious health situation, which is in fact, eating him alive, and letting go of his long held mantra to 🔗 “just keep going”, before it kills him.

Perhaps there’s a way to marry art with the restaurant. That doesn’t solely mean he is only drawing. Maybe what Carmy really should be doing is creating, planning and designing menus, traveling the world to discover new flavors and finding inspiration that can help the restaurant, and provide him with much needed creatively, peace and, yes, joy. Maybe the restaurant will become seasonal and he and Sydney can spend the off time traversing the globe and creating menus together. Maybe down the line he can get out of the commercial kitchen, and he and Sydney’s can revamp her catering company and they can create together is a different environment. I must believe we are headed for somewhere healing, positive and beautiful, despite the valley of despair that ended S2.

The character of Carmy honestly breaks my heart. In him I see someone who so desperately needs a breakthrough and help on so many levels. He so badly needs to discover who he is and what actually makes him happy before it’s too late. I think Carmy is subconsciously very connected to this. His dream, which started the series, continues to haunt me.

One great thing about Carmy’s life are the people who now surround him. In my opinion, he needs to be very careful about how he treats them moving forward. He has people who genuinely love him and who I believe have his best interest at heart. If he pushes himself to the brink and then decides to leave the kitchen for the sake of his health, I believe everyone would ultimately understand. However, no one can take the reins of his life and fix it for him. Only he has that power and create his own reversal of fortune.

If I am correct, for his character to follow the arc of the opening dream scene, all Carmy ultimately has to do is unlock the cage and set himself free.

How he will arrive at that point is the journey of The Bear.

©️moments-on-film 2024

#the bear #the bear fx #the bear hulu #carmen berzatto #carmy berzatto #carmy x sydney #sydcarmy #jeremy allen white #scene analysis #the bear meta #character analysis #moments on film #my thoughts

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c-u-c-koo-4-40k · 17 hours

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Recalling Gold

Warning: Nsfw Brief description of fingering, Night terrors, neck injury but its a dream, panick attack, Khopesh doesn't understand how to comfort, he's doing his best though. Hurt comfort

Tags: @kit-williams @bispecsual @egrets-not-regrets @bleedingichorhearts @gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan @barn-anon @sleepyfan-blog

Another follow up this time to Saving Water, which itself is a follow up to Severe Miscalculation. Both found here.

After a Massive acceleration in your relationship with the neighbor's Nightlord, you have to come to grips with some painful memories.

After Khopesh had thoroughly "cleaned" your insides...

You groaned as your Nightlord went from petting your damp flesh to pumping three fingers inside your gummy walls. "! Khope-AH!!" It was so wonderful! But also too much, causing you to wriggle and squirm against Khopesh's unyielding chest.

He took exceptional glee in watching you convulse between grinding on his hand, and trying Desperately to get away from the overstimulation.

"MmmMm....ahhhp." He laved his broad tongue up your neck, sampling the taste of your skin dappled with water.

"Mm-MM! T-too much I-"

He nipped at his Lullaby's earlobe, Just sharply enough before pulling the soft delicate flesh into his mouth.

His actions sent tremoring shivers down your body as his fangs and tongue continued to lavish it inside his hot wet mouth!

"AH!" The tremors enhanced the pleasure rippling out from his fingers, and you reached your peak.

Breathlessly whimpering with a voice only he could hear, the tension in your body reached its apex. Your muscles straining and trembling against the hard wall of muscle and flesh behind you, as the aftershocks slowly ebbed.

As you lay there panting, with the overstimmulated half numb sparks still twinging from you core, Khopesh languidly removed his hand from your thoroughly used insides.

"Hmmm~" The Nightlord hummed, bringing the hand up to his face.

Tired as you were you did Not want him to smell it. The thought made you mortified with embarassment. "Please don't-"

Too late, but not the way you thought.

Khopesh proceeded to run his long tongue over the three fingers he'd just fucked you with, as if he was licking stray icing and not the acidic natural lubricant your body produced.

You were too drained to argue. So you settled for letting out the most disappointed embarassed groan you could muster while laying against the living mountain behind you with a huff.

"You're so gross..."

"Pfft," Khopesh snorted, but took no offense, instead gingerly lifting you from the floor, and finally turning off the shower.

You'd been hoping to get more time with him, but your raisin hands told you that you'd probably need to choose a less...wet setting for your next encounter.

Or at least one where your family wouldn't be footing the water bill.

"I am merely returning the favor." He stated, as if it was the simplest thing in the world.

He strode out and placed your limp spaghetti body on the toilet. He then snatched fluffy towel, and wrapped it around your body, followed by another coming over your head.

"Besides..." He spoke softly, using the towel to frame your face like curtains as he brought his face close to yours.

"What kind of man would I be if I flinched from my Lullaby's scent? Not like I would anyway, your odor is not terribly pungent compared to the air of Nostromo, in fact it mostly smells like protein and flesh."

You felt his...compliment?? Scent description?? Reassurance?? But it also caused a new blush to erupt over your already heated skin.

His intense focus and proximity didn't help.

"D-dont just say that kind of thing!" You squeaked, pulling the sides of your face towel in and cutting you off from his dark eyes.

Not like it helped you could still feel his twinkling amused gaze and hear his low chuckling as you flusteredly dried your hair.

You both settled into bed. Not your regular twin, but the larger guest bed that could accomidate the both of you. (You texted your father to let him know you'd be sleeping in here, and wouldn't panic when you weren't in your normal room. You...simply omitted the full reasoning for it.)

Though you said he needn't feel compelled, he Insisted on remaining at your side for the night.

"Isn't Gary going to be home soon? I'm sure he'll wonder where you are..." Gary and Nancy being your elderly neighbors, one of whom was on a trip to see family.

Khopesh's expression took on an...exasperated air. "Vada has left on an overnight fishing trip with an old acquaintance...who's own space marine is apparently ludicrously territorial." He huffed. "And Muti's travel plans could not accomidate me easily. She preferred I stay home to watch over things...and make sure you did things properly." He added the last bit, with just a slight snide edge.

"You sure they didn't make you stay just so you wouldn't spook their company into cardiac arrest?" You responded dryly, knowing Full well Khopesh's propensity for pranks.

The ceiling drop voice mod combo that got you into this track of events being his favorite tactic.

You actually saw his cheeks darken a bit. "N-no! I would be perfectly behaved if either of them brought me! There was simply things to tend to here!"

"Like pranking then fucking me in a stall?"

"As if!" Khopesh harumphed. "That was not a duty, it was a pleasure." He growled pulling you closer. "A surprise one at that. One of the few boons of being stuck here alone."

Alone...ah, that made sense.

"Well," You adjusted yourself a bit. Honestly surprised this much physical contact was coming so naturally. "Just be careful when dad gets home. He'll probably be here late, but he always checks on me. I want to introduce you two....properly."

You could see the gears turning in his devious head.

"And No, you are not allowed to scare my dad."

"I wasn't going to..." He assured followed by a much quieter. "much."

You narrowed your eyes.

He averted his gaze, then sighed. "...Fine."

You let the disapproving look melt of your face. Replacing it with a slightly smug. "Good boy."

You saw another slight blush raise in his pale skin and he grumbled before turning out your light.

He kept one arm on you, and despite not sleeping with others often, (Most recent time you could remember was your mother comforting you during a panic attack, and you didn't stay the whole night.) You slotted yourself into his side, and the exhaustion from the days excitement was quickly pulling you under.

Your last thought was that you'd wished you'd grabbed some of your comfort items from your bedroom. But that was quickly forgotten as you drifted off.

...

You often dreamed.

Sometimes you didn't even remember what occurred when you woke.

Other times it came like fragments, all shifting colors and odd nuances from the day previous. Manifesting as brief glimmers of realities where you could be fully clothed at an aquarium one minute, then exposed in front of an auditorium of people where you were accepting your PhD in Medieval Weaponry the next and Nobody seemed to notice.

However, even those stress dreams paled in comparison to your true nightmares.

Odd landscapes where logic dictated you run through an obstacle course to earn points that would extend the life of a beloved pet, only for the mechanism to stop working and you watched helplessly as the numbers ticked down.

Only able to hold your sweet friend, and cry, until you woke and remembered they'd passed months to years ago, leaving you to actually start weeping.

Grief, trauma, it was funny like that.

Funny in how it could manifest despite years going by.

Especially if something lay...unresolved.

You were outside, fixing a leaning fence panel with your trusty elven rope, hay twine.

Your mother, who was somewhere in your peripheral, had always told you how she loved hay twine. How like elvish rope in stories it would hold strong, but could always be untied.

At least...you should be able to. This patch was giving you trouble.

Sweeeeetiebiiiiiiird

Your moms nickname, she was calling you, you swiveled your head around. It sounded like it was coming from the house but you couldn't be sure-

Something bright in the distance caught your eye, something that twinkled and reflected the light of the sun.

Sweetiebiiiiiiiird

Your mother's voice called again, slightly more insistent, definitely coming from behind you. But where?

'Mom?'

No answer...

Dread filled your soul as you frantically looked for your mother.

You glanced back to the field, you saw the silhouette behind the sun's glare, it was coming closer.

'No!...NO NO NO! MOM! MOM!'

You cried but your voice was hollow and dry. You wanted to run, but your legs felt like they were sinking into the earth, your hands now tangled and bound in the rope that was your tool.

Trapped, as the golden beast strode closer and Closer!

Sweetiebird? Come on, dear, we need to go...

If you don't come I'll have to come find you...

What!? No, NONONOON O ONONONO!

'He's here! He'll kill you! Run, run away! RUN AWAY!!' You begged with your ashen, volumnless voice, trying frantically to turn, to move, anything anything but this!

Crack!

A sickening sound echoed and your gaze fell to the ground below. Everything going sideways.

You saw your body slumped to one side. You smelled burning ozone and static.

You saw a pillar of shining gold, standing like an obelisk, in each massive hand it held one of your parents.

Strung like dolls, held by the necks like hunting trophies.

It's soulless red gaze turned to your removed head.

And you saw its golden helm split into a horrific grin, filled with sharp nashing mutilating teeth, and dripping half coagulated chunky blood.

Then you felt the ground below what was left of you give way, as the monster spoke.

"The Emperor Loves You."

"GASP!"

You shot up.

Which greatly confused the Nightlord residing on the other side of the mattress.

Beneath you was the spare bed. The pressure both comforting and smothering, the familiar contours of your guest room met your rapidly adjusting eyes.

But you still felt...you felt-

You needed water.

You clambered out of bed much to the surprise of Khopesh.

Your hands trembled as you ran the cold water. Cupping and splashing some onto your face.

Applying some to your neck, even splashing some up your arms and rubbing them up and down as you tried to regain control of your breathing.

"It was just a dream...just a dream..." You repeated, over and over, splashing water and running your hands over your neck. "Just a dream, you're alive, you're Fine, it was Just a dream..."

"Lullaby?"

You whipped your head around to see the huge figure of Khopesh still in the dark hallway.

Even without his armor you marveled at how you hadn't heard him move. But that thought was quashed when you saw your frazzled state in the mirror.

Red faced, still trembling with hard breathing, dripping with water and sweat.

You were a mess.

"Ah, I'm- I'm fine!!" You quickly tried to pull yourself together. Grabbing a hand towel to both dry and hide your face. "I just...had a bad dream. You don't have to be worried."

Khopesh did not look convinced. He leaned down to meet you at eye level, and his gaze was disturbingly serious.

"I do not believe you." He said flatly. "And I do not Like liars."

Embarassment burned and you felt frustrated and slightly hurt tears budding at your eyes.

"I'm Not Lying!" You shot back, your voice totally not wavering or cracking at all. "Maybe I just don't want to tell you about the awful shit I just had to relive-"

"SNRK-KK-Kk"

Khopesh whipped his head with a barely suppressed snarl on his lips at the interruption.

You recognized the sound and immediately hissed "Shut up!"

The Nightlord was stunned by your abrasive tone. But you continued before he could retort.

"It's just my dad, you idiot! Haven't you ever heard somebody snore before!?" You chewed him out at a whisper, before pushing past him and into your parents room.

Inside your father slept, naturally keeping to his side of the bed, even without your mother present.

"Snk! Kr krk krk kk..." You felt your coiled awful tension slowly unwind as you examined your father's breathing.

It was fine. He was fine.

Khopesh meanwhile was confused. Had you not told him to Avoid being seen by your father together?

You had to know he'd follow you, but...you seemed utterly distracted by something else.

Ever since you woke suddenly.

You strode past him back to the guest room and picked up your phone. Scrolling through the recent texts you saw one recently from your mother to the group chat for your farm.

She was fine, you were Fine. You finally let a shaky exhale leave your mouth, and slumped to sit in a heap on the bed.

Khopesh meanwhile stood awkwardly in the hallway, unsure of what to do next.

But seeing you look so...small, so alone in that room...he felt compelled to follow.

He took a seat next to you, and waited.

...

"...i'm sorry..."

Khopesh cocked his head, why were you apologizing?

"...i shouldn't have called you an idiot." You explained, meeting his dark gaze. "But I Wasn't Lying. I had a bad dream. Then I had a panic attack. It happens sometimes..."

The awkward silence drew out as Khopesh thought over his next words.

"I...was not referring to that." He responded.

Now you looked at him with confusion, he elaborated.

"You said you were 'fine' when you clearly weren't. I did not like that you were trying to hide your pain from me."

Khopesh brought his large pale hand to your face, gently thumbing the tear tracks still present.

"How am I to care for and protect you if you are not Honest with me?"

You-You felt the awful scrunching sensation in your face. The one that always preceeded tears that you did Not want seen.

"Snff! I just...I don't like people seeing me cry...I'm-im supposed to be the strong one you know?" You gestured vaguely, as he brought your face into both hands.

The floodgates were opening. "I've got to keep this place going, and my actual job, and housesitting and its tough! But...I love it! I wouldn't trade it for anything! You know Maybe I'd like some extra help..."

"But what really scares me, is that I almost Lost it all. I just...I just want my family to be safe..."

Safe?

"What do you mean?" Khopesh asked, this place was exceptionally safe, and that was not him shooting his own bolter, though he did contribute.

When he first came he faced veiled threats from no less than three white scars, outright threats from an Iron Warrior, And disturbing riddle speak from a wandering Death Guard.

It was only his devotion and bond with his Vada and Muti that gave him a pass.

His Lullaby averted their gaze, he may not be the Most emotionally intelligent, but he could tell when someone was recalling something discomforting.

"Something...bad happened." They said simply. "It was before you came here. And it involved...a Custodes."

Khopesh saw and felt your shudder.

A Custodes?

When he'd first arrived he'd made it a point to at least learn the basics of the different factions that were beyond his time period and scope of knowledge.

But even the most well traveled of his fellows had only cursory knowledge of the Emperor's golden elite.

He knew they were powerful, dangerous, but if one had caused problems there shouldn't Be any neighborhood left.

What in the Blasphemous Bowels of Nostromo had happened?

"Snff." Khopesh was pulled from his pondering as he noticed your fear and turmoil were ebbing into exhaustion. "I just wish it'd never happened...I don't understand Why it happened. It was so...senseless. And even though I know it wasn't my fault, in the back of my mind I'm still scared that someday he'll come back and...next time I might not be the only one who gets hurt..."

"He hurt you."

You glanced up into your Nightlord's face, and your heart iced over.

His eyes, they were completely still and dark. A sneer pulled at one side of his mouth exposing his sharp teeth.

He was furious.

Khopesh felt a bubbling growl form in his chest, building up with the incredible amount of rage boiling in the dark pit of his soul.

"Khopesh NO!" You cried.

"SNRK KR K kk kk"

You both froze until the snoring died down. Your hands had flow up to pin his own where they held your face.

As if that would stop him.

But he allowed you to hold him in place. Even as his rage was seething.

"You can't!" You hissed into the quiet.

"Why not!?" He growled back.

"Because you could die!"

"Death is not something we Astartes fear." Khopesh responded smoothly. "But your assailant Should fear...oh yes...he should fear pain...the pain of flaying, of burning, of gouging, of bones snapping-"

"ENOUGH!" You snapped.

"But-" He started.

"No! Just...no..." You sighed, and again he was reminded of your exhaustion.

Now you took his face in your hands, forcing him to look into your eyes.

"Please, please...promise me that you won't seek him out." You plead, your sincerity forcing his flame of vengeance to calm.

Only a little, but it was enough.

He sighed, clearly deflating. "Fine...I will not attempt to hunt the Custodes who hurt you..." He promised, which seemed to sooth your worry. Probably because you didn't hear the barely audible breath of "for now." That followed.

"Good...good..." You sighed. Still clearly a bit wired, but your fatigue was clearly winning out.

But you could clearly still see his dissapointment.

"Look...as far as I know, he thinks I'm dead. Or maybe he's dead. Or got zapped back to wherever he came from." You explained, trying to sooth him. "Whatever the case, he's never come back. And...and I hope he never does."

"You shouldn't have to sit still and Hope." Khopesh growled.

"You're probably right," You agreed. "But sometimes thats just how life is."

Khopesh let out a dissatisfied sound, and pulled you into his lap.

Being this close to him, pressed to his scent and his skin, hearing his multiple hearts, it was soothing. You found yourself beginning to drift again.

"Do you need to go?" You figured he'd have laid back down with you.

"We only need four hours of sleep. I have rested enough." He replied, pressing his lips and running his fingers across your scalp.

"You're going on patrol then?"

"Hmmhm," He kissed your crown. "Yes, I'm feeling the urge to do so.

"Okay...be...safe..." You requested. "And...can I go to...my own bed?"

Khopesh smiled at the adorable request. "Oh course my Lullaby..."

He carried you gently, laying you down in your own bed and linens, he wished this bed was large enough for the two of you.

It had a much nicer lingering scent, and various soft items that were also clearly well loved.

He tucked your limp form in, and settled one of your soft toys into your arms. Even asleep you snuggled into the stuffed rabbit.

Next time he'd be sure to bring his helmet so he could snap pictures of this sight.

For now he silently removed himself from the house, no matter how badly he wished to stay. Even the animals didn't notice his departure.

Truly he'd inherited his Primarch's stealth and speed in such spades.

He made it back to where he'd left his armor, and found something interesting upon activating his vox.

A message from his nearby battle brothers. Apparently one of their own from out of town was visiting while his human was visiting family nearby.

It had been a while since he last visited his Claw, And meeting another battle brother from far away could prove fruitful for information.

Not to mention Fun, as most of his nearby brothers had grown wise to his favorite tricks.

As he now stand in his full armor Khopesh glanced back to the house where his Lullaby slept. He felt a mix of emotions. Longing, apprehension, fear...

Rage.

But that could wait for later. For now he began his patrol.

He had even more to protect now.

#space marine husbandry sentience #warhammer 40k #space marine husbandry #c-u-c-koo anon #oc: khopesh #smut

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