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coldshrugs · 1 year

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in this state

characters: io laithe / estinien varlineau, alisaie leveilleur word count: 1400 rating: M; descriptions of injuries, language. note: very vague endwalker spoilers. io's friends wait by her side while she's unconscious.

She looks like shit, their Champion.

Battered and bruised, Io lays on a cot in front of where Estinien sits. Her bottom lip is torn, and shallow cuts weave across her bare shoulders and chest. Crusts of dark blood peek through the stitching, and her flesh swells around the wounds.

There is blood in her hair, in the wisps around her face, in the long strands that drape over the cot’s edge. Blood under her nails, too, grotesque in the stark fluorescent light of this room, against the crisp white sheet where someone has neatly folded her arms in feigned comfort.

Her breathing comes slow and shallow, aided by a machine the likes of which he has never seen. It whirs and some mechanism inside pumps, pulling air from the ship's interior and delivering it to her lungs via clear tubes entering her nose. Another contrivance beeps, counting each pulse. Estinien counts too. The starship Ragnarok offers little in the way of distraction, so he keeps track of each feeble breath and endures the pauses that stretch like infinity between the beeping.

They say she will wake soon. That it is only a matter of time. They say she will make a full recovery once her aether has time to replenish and she’s rested…

Not even the Fury herself could grant him enough patience for this.

Alisaie sits across from him, eyes ringed red, gripping the metal cot in place of Io’s swollen hand. She has been here longer than he has, staring down at Io, greeted only by her still face. Occasionally a tear falls between the beeps and whirs, sounding sharp against metal or solid against skin.

Does she realize he stayed behind when the others could no longer bear looking at Io in this state? Does she care that he watches them in silence?

He wishes she would go, just for a few moments. What he would say or do is a mystery–it is not in his nature to plan for something like this. Still, he needs the opportunity to be alone with Io. The girl, however, will not be moved.

“Wake up, damn you,” Alisaie whispers. She inches that much closer, hovering. Aching in a way Estinien feels, too, for her friend to show any sign of progress. “Wake up and tell me what happened to you.”

Estinien lets his head roll back, and it meets the wall with a soft thud. An engine thrums somewhere far off, vibrating softly through the cold metal. He closes his eyes and exhales. It is almost enough to distract him from the repetitive sounds, the nauseating light.

Almost.

“You’re still here.”

He opens an eye. Alisaie looks up at him with the threat of fresh tears. She sniffles.

“Aye.” He crosses his arms. For one brief moment, he considers asking her permission to stay, but he glances down at the still figure between them, and his heart lurches in his chest. No, he will remain at Io’s side until she wakes.

“You care for her, don’t you?” Alisaie asks.

Estinien scowls at the very specific emphasis in the question. He cares about a great many people, Alisaie not least among them. He cares for their causes and their well-being. But that is not what she is asking.

It hasn’t needed a name before now, this feeling. Most often, it is in his chest, unfurling softly each time Io smiles, or rests her head against his shoulder, or speaks kindness to a stranger, until he can feel nothing but her warmth. Other times it shoots up his spine, a radiant pride that strengthens his arm and steadies his aim. It is the knowledge he would follow her anywhere because there is no one he trusts more.

And now it lodges between his ribs, sharp and stinging.

He answers after a long moment.

“Aye.”

Alisaie’s eyes grow wide as if she didn’t expect his frankness. She wipes her tears and sits back. “You could’ve cleared your throat or something instead of letting me blubber all over her like a fool. It goes without saying that this better stay between us, or so help me–”

“I won’t say a thing,” he chuckles quietly. “But I’m not leaving.”

She nods and stands. “Fine. I’ll go see how the others fare. Perhaps there’s some coffee on this godsforsaken ship.” Her steps toward the door are hesitant, eyes sliding between Io on the cot and Estinien seated next to her. “If she wakes…”

“You’ll have returned before then.”

She forces a tight smile and leaves looking a fraction more hopeful.

With the room clear at last, Estinien’s focus returns to Io. Her ragged breathing, her lacerated skin.

He leans over her, a forearm on the cot, and lifts his other hand to her head. His thumb sweeps across her forehead in a delicate arc, careful to avoid the cut near her hairline. He soaks in the warmth of her skin under his hand, the softness of her hair. His fingertips trail down her face, tracing the ridge of her tattooed nose, the curve of her cheek. He burns all of it into his memory, in case–

In case.

“Come back, Io,” he says, too quiet to be heard over the machines. “Don't you want to laugh at me baring my heart to you? We are both in a state.”

And finally, finally, she moves.

Her head turns, settling into the cradle of his palm. Her mouth pulls into a pained grimace and she inhales sharply, a near-silent hiss. The machine counting her pulse speeds up. Estinien's heart beats in his throat, waiting for her eyes to open, but Io stills again.

Except for one word.

One name, scratching its way out of her parched throat.

“Zenos.”

His love, honed to a sharpened point, twists in his ribcage. He fights the urge to recoil lest he worsen her pain. Why, after all this time, after all they’ve been through and the bond he knows they share, is that name the first thing to break her silence?

Estinien hangs his head. “Not what I had in mind."

Perhaps he got ahead of himself, saw more between them than was actually there. Aymeric has, fondly, called him impulsive more than once over the years, and he is not blind to his own recklessness. Perhaps...

No. His instincts have always been strong. His feelings for Io, the signs she reciprocated them, have grown around them for the better part of a year. He is too deeply entangled to let one mention of that bastard make him second-guess what he knows to be true.

Io will have an explanation when she wakes. He is sure of it.

And he will give her time.

“Knock knock.”

He turns to the door, where Alisaie stands, a white ceramic cup in each hand. Her expression is soft as she enters, her eyes locked on the point where Estinien’s hand meets Io’s cheek. He moves away as delicately as he can and leans against the wall.

“Thought you could do with a warm drink. I forgot to ask how you take your coffee, so I just made what I like. Apologies if it's shit.” She presses the cup into his hands. “Did anything happen while I was away? Did she–”

Estinien is not a skilled liar, but Alisaie would worry more than she already does. And for Io, he can keep this secret. He shakes his head. “No. We’re still waiting.”

Maybe it's the coffee or the company, but Alisaie is in higher spirits as she returns to her vigil at Io's side. She sips her drink with a little smile, eying Estinien from behind her cup.

“What?” he asks.

“Oh, nothing...” She trails off with a smile and looks away. It is only a second or two before she turns back to him. “You will tell her how you feel, won't you?–” He groans– “She’d be absolutely thrilled, you imbecile. For reasons beyond my understanding, she thinks the world of you.”

She’s pleading now. Eager to be part of something happier than the sight between them. Even with the quiet rasp of Io’s last word ringing in his mind, Estinien cannot help but smile. Intrusive as it is, her brand of encouragement is endearing, and he can but hope she speaks the truth.

“One day,” he says, and means it. When Io is well again, when things back home have settled, when the last traces of him have been dredged from her heart. “When the time is right.”

He takes a long drink of coffee, hums a noise of surprise at how similarly it matches his own tastes. Not bad.

Alisaie shoots him a conspiratorial smile. “I’ll hold you to that.”

#azia writes #io laithe #io/estinien #this is very pre-relationship still #aka what if i took all the confidence i give estinien when i write him. and just. shook it a tiny bit #also i just. love alisaie so much #anyway. io would 100% be stoked to wake up to estinien doting over her. but she just fought you-know-who #and hasn't had a chance to tell the gang #so she's not confusing estinien's touch for zenos' but just saying the name of the last person she remembers seeing :>#if only anyone knew that :>#also i listened to please by noah kahan way too much and the bridge always ALWAYS makes me think of this scene

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theluckiestlb · 10 months

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as a self-identified adrienette girlie....kinda miss them, ngl.

#miraculous ladybug #ml #mlb #wish we got a bit of post reveal pre relationship #been thinking about this lately #they dropped each other rather quickly???#rewatching the eps has given me whiplash #there still exists a fondness of course #but something's not the same #upon reflection I've always written/characterized adrienette as ladynoir with a coat of adrienette paint #prpr my beloved #seeing marinette heal from past relationship trauma is wonderful and all #and adrien has been very sweet and supportive #but ladynoir was always the heart of the show #a playful tenderness #there was something unique to them #the depth of their bond #shouldering burdens teenagers should not #like the new york sewer scene #chat blanc was a ladynoir episode at its core #ladrien...adrienette..marichat #HER chaton #HIS lady #all roads kinda lead to ladynoir #I really wanted that post reveal build up #learning to trust one another again after their identities are recontextualized #the friendship and banter #ladynoir #cough chatonnoir is correct imo cough

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8cfc00 · 7 months

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Okay but linc is such a good character??? His development this season has been amazingly consistent and COMPELLING... PLUS, hes not only a good character on his own, but the way he adds to the other teens' arcs is. so good. i think thats why hes shipped with literally almost every other teen... its because his relationships with each of them is just so unique and interesting.

#dndads #relistened to a bit of s2 and im actually so impressed with how clearly linc developed #matt is. very good at his stuff.#linc and scary have had many great emotional (AND FUNNY. SHES NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN THEREEEEE) moments #linc and taylor is always hilarious- their friendship is so gay and so tight #linc and normal arent very close but they also knew each other pre canon and normal has a lot of jealously in relation to linc which #makes it kind of interesting too #Linc and hermie.... they werent friends at first but SOMEHOW THEY STILL ENDED UP W A COMPELLING RELATIONSHIP #GARAHJSSHAJSH LINCCCC my beloved

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storfulsten · 3 months

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Whitty And Bf Personality Swap? Lovely Art By The Way, Truly Inspiring. ( ´ ∀ `)ノ～ ♡

hm I guess k, not feeling the most creative but here lol

idk lol

mostly based on this bc idk thought the vibes looked fitting in theory lmao:

#bombeep #whittyxbf #not the shippiest but eh still endgame so still tagging lol #personality swap sort of #couldn't think of much so just general silly vibes I guess ha #based on a very early point in time relationship-wise pre-friendship and all #like right after whitty'd reluctantly accepted bf's offer to stay at his place off the street at least for a lil bit #but still wanting nothing to do with him in general #while bf'd just try his best to make him chill out and relax with his charm and positive vibes but not succeeding very well just yet lol #so ye just imagining that scenario but swapping their places more or less vibe wise while they still look the same as usual counts right?#am not very creative sorry hope it's still passable lmao #bg kinda dumb but felt empty without any I guess so general vague shapes it is #yes I know bf looks too small scale-wise for it and whitty's probably way off too but at this point it's too much work to go back sorry ha #so yea sorry for general wonkyness lol #take it or leave it #enjoy or don't #whatever floats your boat #fnf au #fnf shipping #boyfriend #whitty #bf #I draw what I want #thanks for the suggestion #sorry that it's like 4+ months late ah well here it is anyways lol #stay groovy friendo

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pansyfemme · 4 months

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i mean. if people are uncomfortable with main characters cheating in fiction i do need to clarify that the ocs i draw all the time. do cheat on eachother. that is a main part of their storyline. so you do you but just know that is something that goes on

#also lots of semi-manipulative public mental health episodes #they do get help and work things out and re-establish bounderies #and a lot of the cheating is closer described as non properly established polyamory guidlines but over time they do find ways to deal with #things and their relationship is strengthened but it is messy to begin with #but i find kidd and noam’s story very based on self improvment for people with pre-established severe mental health conditions #where it is very much working around a lot of obstacles and finding ways to better yourself while knowing you have caused harm in the past #even if unintentionally or through a period of deluision #kidd and noam are important to me because they both have very different mental health issues and are activly flawed because of them #but still have to find ways to redefine their relationship to eachother while understanding that doing so means undergoing major changes in #their lives and their behaviors because neither can continue forward without seeking serious help

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sporkberries · 1 year

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Some Bat(and bat related ) characters as Mitski songs( THE CORRECT AND OBJECTIVE LIST)

Dick Grayson- Drunk Walk Home(or Brand New City)

Barbara Gordon- Working For The Knife

Helena Bertinelli- Crack Baby

Jean Paul Valley- Abbey

Jason Todd- Why Didn’t You Stop Me

Cassandra Cain- A Pearl

Tim Drake- First Love / Late Spring

Stephanie Brown- GoodBye My Danish Sweetheart( or Love Me More)

Damian Wayne- Class of 2013( AUDIOTREE VERSION)

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lavampira · 7 months

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LAST LINE TAG

thanks @jillvalentinesday for the tag !! and tagging @hythlodaes @coldshrugs @impossible-rat-babies @scionshtola @galadae @durues or anyone who wants to share things 🖤

“Tell me, then,” Sidurgu says, easily falling in stride with her. Damn his long legs. “What noble cause is it this time that brings you headlong and unprepared into a snowstorm?”

“I don’t have to justify my actions to you.”

“Aye, you’re right. But I have known you for a time now—reckless is not your way. Foolishly merciful, mayhap, and bloody impulsive by half, but never so thoughtless. Much less masking your true reasons for throwing yourself on the sword for another.”

“A rich statement from you,” she snaps. “How often has Rielle had to pull you back together in your vengeful gallivanting under the guise of protecting the helpless and downtrodden? And Fray, before that?”

The bite of the cold pales in comparison to the guilt that crawls up her chest as soon as the words leave her mouth. His step falters before he stops in his tracks, falling quiet in that stewing, contemplative way about him with his jaw clenched taut and face hidden from her, and as she follows suit beside him, she almost expects him to turn on his heel in mirrored anger. But he doesn’t move, only cranes his neck to gaze at her again through the swirling snow.

#sidalia fic 2 has been kicking my ass but i’m still chipping away at it 🫡#i’ve been trying to wrangle this longer section of dialogue with the tension #how alia withdraws herself and pushes others when things are out of her control #and sid’s U Good? way of worrying that is very upfront and abrasive and caring. because he gets it.#ANYWAY fun pre-relationship stuff in the HW patches and unhinged mindset rolling into SB you know how it is #dani.txt #wip tag #oc: d'alia liveq #alia/sid

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wavesoutbeingtossed · 1 month

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The issue of power is so interesting (or something) to see because yes, from an economic perspective Taylor undoubtedly has more sway -- she's one of the most famous people on the planet, she's a billionaire, her every move is followed, etc. So I can almost sort of understand the concern, in another scenario, where some people may expect that she could crush her detractors (For instance, I'm thinking about how Harvey W. silenced his victims as a Hollywood mogul, or how corporate titans silence whistleblowers which I feel are analogies some people may turn to. Or maybe we've all just watched too much of the Roys on Succession.)

I said this in the tags of a post the other day I think, but I think some of the discourse is kind of conflating power with platform. And yes, Taylor undoubtedly has a bigger platform, again by virtue of her fame and position in the media/industry. But part of that is that she's visible in these areas, and her presumed subjects aren't, of their own choice. If any of these subjects ever chose to spoke out, or make art based on their experiences, or pursue opportunities in the media/public eye, they would absolutely be given a platform for it. (Going way back, think of how JM used the media to give his side of the story through his music and his interviews after their split. And I'd argue he was probably way more public/direct about it than she ever was.)

If any of these people decided they wanted their side of the story out there, it would be and it would absolutely be turned into a story. (And arguably that may already be starting but that's a whole other thing.) And this is just my opinion, but given that the subjects of these topics are often privileged white men, I'd argue that their sides tend to carry (more) weight regardless of their economic status in relation to her. If JM or JG or JA or HS wrote a book or a song or a script about their experiences, even only insinuating about her, it'd be the conversation. And not to be a cupcake about it, but the media seems to always want to find something to knock her down a peg about (which, sure, journalism's job is to hold people accountable, but that's not what always happens here and we know it), so they would absolutely give this the time of day, if they chose to put anything out there.

The thing is, I do see in a superficial way that there is there is a clear difference in their socioeconomic/celebrity status, and perhaps that's perceived as a power imbalance, but that's implying that she's dictating a whole host of entities out of her control, and I just don't think she holds the sway of those that some feel she does. Don't get me wrong, she's absurdly wealthy and has influence, but so do so many other people around her, including those who don't support her. (That's the wrong word for it, but I just mean, people who aren't in her circle/sympathetic to her.) And as I've posted about so so so many times before, THESE OTHER PEOPLE (men) ARE WEALTHY AND IN THE PUBLIC EYE TOO. They are all in careers that entail celebrity and involve their own influence in the media. These are not shrinking violets in private civil life who are like, grocery store checkout clerks. They're actors and musicians and media personalities who play the same game. And even the "poorest" of these subjects for the most part are millionaires who are far, far wealthier than any of us will ever be in our lifetimes. They may choose to stay off of social media or the press when it suits them, but they could absolutely make art or give interviews about their experiences and they would command their own kind of influence. (I'd also argue that they would be given a platform thanks to Taylor's platform, but that's another thing.)

I don't want to dismiss the influence of her wealth and stature in the entertainment industry, and I feel like that's kind of where the perceived "imbalance" comes from, but to be frank, I feel like if any of these other subjects spoke out, the media would be so quick to raise their stature in the press for the sake of clicks/controversy/what have you. Critics claim that Taylor can crush any story or person who goes against her, but I think given the breadth of stories out there about her at any given time (the NYT op ed, the jet stuff, the DM stuff, etc.) I don't think that's true; I think the publicity/clicks outlets get for covering stuff, even if salacious, outweighs any concerns over upsetting her or burning bridges. (Not saying that may have not happened, but... I think it would be more obvious if it were a regular occurrence these days.) If anything, 2016 through rep kinda proves that she doesn't have the "control" of the media that some claim she does.

But most importantly, THE ALBUM ISN'T OUT YET. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LYRICS ARE. Taylor gets accused of writing diss tracks, but she rarely does, and I don't think she's written an outright callout song since her Fearless/Speak Now days when she was a teenager/very young adult. Just about everything since Red on has been about her own feelings, experiences, etc. and not a literal "you did x and y and z and you're stupid and i hate you" song. She's not calling people out by name, and truly only chronically online fans are going to deduce who songs are about; five years from now, people discovering the music will just know they're bops (or depressingly sad breakup songs, as the case may be).

I don't know where I'm going with this, i'm talking in circles, it's just interesting how things are being interpreted or assumed so far. I fully acknowledge I'm a cupcake so I'm generally not going to jump to the worst conclusion about Taylor, but there's also curious sociological/gender stuff happening in these conversations. I absolutely think that if the roles were reversed and her exes were billionaire household names and she was an indie artist, nobody would ever talk about power dynamics. I think it's all moot because like so many people have said, I don't think the album is going to be what some think it's going to be, and I think it's going to be way more introspective/vulnerable/dark than what they assume a breakup album is going to be, though obviously I don't know anymore than they do. It's just funny because you never hear about this with other people. (Like, was there a big fuss when Kelly Clarkson wrote a breakup album about her ex-husband? I know she's not as wealthy as Taylor and her ex was probably wealthier than Taylor's exes, but she's someone with sway in the industry and is on TV everyday, but everyone kind of said "lol her ex was a jackass wow she writes sad banger ballads" and moved on.)

Anyway I don't want to start shit or anything, but I'm just giving my two cents about my observations of the whole media landscape stuff.

#my personal bug bear is some faction painting J*e as a poor street urchin who was plucked from obscurity hunger games-style #yes his life undoubtedly changed from associating with her but HE'S AN ACTOR WHO'S BEEN IN OSCAR-NOMINATED FILMS #HIS FIRST MOVIE WAS WITH AN OSCAR-NOMINATED (winning?) DIRECTOR!!#I'm not shitting on him or anything in this case -- I'm saying he was pursuing a career in a very high profile industry himself!#it may not have panned out for him like he'd hoped or planned but as far as we know it's still what he's pursuing #he comes from a privileged background that i'd argue mirrors taylor's own pre-fame #and even now (thanks to royalties) will be financially secure for life #he's not the most famous man in the world but if he decided he wanted to speak out he would be for 15 minutes #and the media would absolutely eat it up and i'd even argue give his side more weight than his 'power' would indicate #i'm not saying he should or needs to but i'm just saying he's not powerless in this situation #also putting this in tags but it seems in private there was often a power imbalance in her relationships & not in her favour iykwim

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zerozeroren · 5 months

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~ Hands up baby hands up baby your heart gimme gimme your heart gimme gimme ~

2020 vs 2021 vs 2023

#my art stuff #I like 2021 the most because it's lively and because it reflects their personalities best #But then again 2021 is them a good couple of years into dating and 2023 is pre relationship where theyre still adjusting #So stiffness is very much deliberate #Anyway HANDS UP BABY HA~

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three-bunnies-in-a-trenchcoat · 10 months

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Hate it when people say aoc when they mean pre-calamity. Like sir no they are the same yes but they are also very different! Even before Terrako's intervention things were different!

#aoc zelink this pre-calamity zelink that um you do realize that their dynamics are completely different right?#like. im replaying it now and im up to the calamity's return and zelda has shown no resentment towards link at all #meaning their relationship with each other would be very different to botw's #link was just previously a very good soldier and even after he drew the master sword zelda showed only frustration with herself #they were actually FRIENDS (or as close as they could get to friends)#meanwhile botw zelda very clearly did not want him (living reminder that so far she's failed in her part of sealing ganon) anywhere near her #like i suck at this type of stuff and i can still tell its very different #mb's two am rambling #hw aoc #loz aoc #botw #loz botw

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kuroshirosb · 8 months

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pokemashe sinnoh trio relationship chart ft two joke ones

#pokemashe #dawn lyre #trainer dawn #lucas aquila #trainer lucas #barry cygnus #rival barry #scarfshipping #kind of #this is pre forming their polycule and theyre kind of sort of very different people by the time its actually formed #being forced to face your own creation at such a young age traumatizes you (on top of other stuff)#so of course they'll never be the same people they were at the end of the journey and the dynamic would change #they still would do incredibly destructive things for each other by the time they do form it though #theyre each others constant. theyve been through everything together.#without the other two just a single one is incomplete. and its vice versa #their relationship still has silliness to it though i promise #6 years later and boom theyre in kalos trying to research the life and death but also theyre on vacation for their first year anniversary #theyre horrifically in love with each other they talk with Serena about their partners with each other for like a second #and she's horrified at how head over heals a person could possibly be for their partners #(especially for dawn. she didn't seem the type at first to Serena but no she's just as bad as the other two.)#they still both pick on barry though but in a friendly way that friends do (but in this case lovers)

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redrobin-detective · 2 years

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love grows where it is planted

"Oh shoot, I’m all out of hot pads,” Ma frowned looking at the feast she had made. “Temperature doesn’t bother you boys, can one of you bring the corn out to the table?”

“Got it,” Clark said, reaching for the pan.

“No sweat,” Conner said at the same time as he also reached for the pan. They stared at each other with near identical eyes, each of them with one grip on the handles of the dish.

“I said I got it,” Clark demurred politely, pulling the corn a little closer to him.

“Yeah and you already took out the potatoes so it’s only right that I bring out the corn,” Conner said with a frustrated frown. He tugged the dish closer to him. Clark was older, more responsible so he was supposed to be the bigger man and not roll his eyes and sigh. But it sure was hard to resist.

“Oh for goodness sake, you two,” Ma groaned, grabbing a thick towel off the stove and pulling the pan out of both of their hands. She bustled with it to the table and set it down with a mighty thunk. “I worked hard on this meal so I don’t think it’s too much to ask you two to behave.”

“Sorry Ma,” Clark apologized, seating himself at his usual spot at the dining room table. He never felt more like a kid than he did sitting here, the same table that somehow survived all through his childhood misadventures. Conner mumbled something to Ma before sitting down in a defeated slump. Clark raised an eyebrow, would it kill the kid to sit up straight for dinner?

“Right, it’s so nice to have both of my boys home,” Ma beamed between the two of them. “It’s been too long since we’ve shared a meal together.” Something that probably wasn’t a coincidence. Clark tended to announce his visits ahead of time only to arrive and find Conner had ‘business’ to attend to with the Titans. Or just Tim if Batman’s grumblings were anything to go by. Clark spent very little time with his clone and it seemed the feeling was mutual. So he must say he was a bit surprised when Ma asked him to fly down for dinner only to find Kon and Krypto playing in the field.

“Thank you, Ma’am, it smells amazing,” Kon said with a grin. He had his fork and knife in hand, clearly ready to get started.

“Conner, I’m no less your Ma when Clark is here so please stop it with that Ma’am nonsense,” she sighed. “And don’t wait on this old lady, dig in boys it’s not getting any warmer.”

Conversation proceeded well for the first part of the meal. Ma spoke of what the neighbors had been up to, how the corn had been doing this year. Clark explained the latest story he was researching, what trouble Lois was getting into and a funny story involving Jimmy the other day. Kon went into the details of a Titans mission, one Clark had gotten a briefing on last week. Clark waited for Ma to stop him but she seemed engaged, asking questions about the mission and the other teens. They looked so at ease together.

Clark stabbed at his porkchop. It would be stupid and petty to say he was annoyed of how well his mother and Conner got along. Ma had always been so strict with his powers growing up and, even as an adult, she didn’t like hearing about cape stuff when he came to visit. But Kon had been using his powers on and off all evening and, from the way it sounded, kept Ma up to date with his superheroics. The double standard just irked him, maybe this was why Bruce’s many, many children were always bickering.

“Alright, I hope you boys saved room for dessert. I made your favorites, apple for Clark and pecan for Conner,” Ma said, shuffling back into the kitchen, leaving Clark and Conner alone. The room fell into silence.

“Didn’t know you liked pecan pie,” Clark said awkwardly. “It was one of Pa’s favorites but I’m not a fan, Ma hasn’t made it in a while cause of it.”

“Oh I mean, all her pies are good, y’know?” Conner shrugged, playing with his fork. They didn’t speak again until Ma came back with two heaping pie slices for each of them.

“I can’t stomach another thing right now so I’ll just grab a coffee but I wanted to talk to you kids about something so stay there,” Ma said, talking as she poured her coffee. “It’s nothing bad I promise but it is important.”

“It’s about the farm,” Ma said finally as she settled herself down at the table. “I’m not going to live forever so I wanted to talk to you boys about what to do with it.”

“Ma,” Clark said, the apple pie turning bitter in his mouth. Losing Pa had devastated him, he didn’t even want to think about his mother...

“Put those big, wet eyes away, Clarkie,” Ma said sternly but softly as she gripped his hand. “Hopefully it’ll be a long ways off but it’s still something we need to discuss as a family.” She glanced over at Conner and reached for him with her other hand.

“Now right now, Clark gets everything: the house, the farm, the money, all of it. Course that will was made before Johnny died, before you came along, Conner.”

“Yeah but that shouldn’t make a difference,” Conner muttered, his shoulders hitching up to his ears. “I mean, Clark’s your kid, I don’t see why he shouldn’t get it. I really appreciate you letting me crash here but I’m just-”

“My grandbaby,” Ma interrupted squeezing his fingers. “I don’t care that you came from a test tube, you’re mine just as much as Clark is.” Clark averted his eyes so he didn’t have to see the soft, vulnerable look in the other’s eyes.

“Clark, you haven’t lived on this or any farm in a decade. You come out and help during the harvest but it’s not the same as running a farm full time,” Ma said turning back to him. “You’re a city boy now and I’m proud of you for finding your place so I can’t ask you to pack up and move back to Smallville.”

“I-” Clark started to defend but, once he thought about it, he thinks she was right. He loved this land but did he want to give up everything in Metropolis, his life with Lois, for it? Maintaining a farm wasn’t something that could be done part time.

“I’ve been thinking for a while of leaving the farm to Conner,” she continued.

“What?” Kon screeched, leaning over to choke on his bite of pie.

“Oh don’t act so shocked, you’re a natural,” Ma laughed. She glanced over at Clark with proud eyes. “Took him a bit to get the hang of it but he’s got a good sense of the land, of where to plant, how much to water. You don’t have Clark’s special touch with the livestock but you have the heart of a farmer, Conner Kent.”

“I don’t know,” Conner laughed awkwardly, flushing visibly from the praise. “I just did what you showed me to do. I mean I do, like it I mean. It’s peaceful, quiet, I like seeing the results of my work but I uh,” he looked down at his plate. “I don’t know if I could run this whole place by myself.”

“Well not even Superman can operate a farm even a small one alone, which is why Clark would help you,” Ma smiled. “He could still come down and help with the harvests, take over for a few days when you’re busy with you hero business. You would have the land and the house but maintaining it would be up to both of you.”

“I could help, tell you what my Pa taught me and work the land with you,” Clark said slowly. “If that’s what you’d like, I’d much prefer you to have it than to sell.” Conner was quiet across the table, Clark looked up was surprised to see the boy hunched over with his elbows on the table looking like he was doing his best to fight back tears.

“Oh baby,” Ma said, standing up and placing her hands on his shoulders.

“I’ve never had any place I really belonged, nothing that was mine,” Conner said thickly. “This land, it’s got a lot of love and history in it. You’d trust me with that?”

“Of course, Conner,” Ma leaned down and hugged him from behind. “A farm doesn’t care who you are or where you come from, all it cares is the love you give it. And I’ve seen you honey, you love these fields, these skies. God I wish Johnny had lived to have met you, you two would’ve gotten on so well.”

“Kon,” Clark said, the boy lifted his wet eyes to him. “This is your home, as much as it was mine. I love it too but it wasn’t what I needed but maybe it could be what you need.” Conner didn’t say anything just nodded his head and went back to looking at his plate. Ma stroked his hair a moment longer before giving him some space to clean up the plates.

Conner and the farm. It would have seemed unbelievable a few years ago but this boy seemed very different from the young clone Clark had first met. He’d done a lot of growing when Clark hadn’t been watching, become someone his father would have loved. Clark was sorry he missed that.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to convince Tim to move out of Gotham,” Conner said after a few minutes.

“What’s Tim got to do with this?” Clark blinked, Conner blushed again and ducked his head lower.

“You know I love Timmy but I’m telling you as your Ma; you wait until you’re out of high school before you put a ring on his finger, you hear?” Ma called from the kitchen. Now it was Clark’s turn to choke. He hadn’t realized Tim and Conner’s relationship had progressed so much. What else had he missed in Kon’s life while he was too busy feeling strange about the whole thing?

“I wasn’t gonna-” Kon blushed harder. “Yes, Ma.”

“Good, well I’m glad we had this talk. We’ll keep going over the specifics but I’d like to get that will changes sooner rather than later. That’s not something I want to leave to chance.” Ma smiled from the kitchen eyes landing softly first on Conner then on Clark. “Alright, lets get these dishes washed and dried so you kids can go for a little flight while the sun’s still up. Clark’s known these skies a lot longer than you, hun, I’m sure he can show you a few nice spots.”

“Yeah,” Clark smiled. “That’d be nice. What do you say, wanna go out for a spin?”

“Sounds good,” Kon smiled back shyly.

“You can tell me more about Tim,” Clark waggled his eyebrows. “He’s always so polite with him but Bruce acts like he’s some sort of gremlin. Who knew we’d both have tastes for trouble causing brunettes.”

“Clark,” Conner moaned, burying his face in his face.

#i have very strong feelings on the nature of kon and clarks relationship #both feeling too awkward and weird about each other to have a solid bond #and also about Ma and Kon's relationship #of him wondering if he really belongs with the Kents and Martha unbashedly thinking of him as her grandson #Kon also gets a pass on some of the super stuff bc a) grandkids get it easier but b) kon is doing stuff teen clark wasn't #he NEEDS to talk out some of those issues and to not feel so trapped and isolated #i a l s o have strong feelings on farmer kon #listen 2019 YJ comic sucked overall but I love that they made Kon a farmer on gemworld #he can be a punk farmer raising his crops in between missions #i think he'd all be into woodcarving maybe with his heat vision #just making something on his own something that's HIS #I think he'd be happy staying in smallville not 24/7 but as his main base #ofc I was sad most of this fic bc I purposefully wrote this pre-infinit crisis aka when Kon dies #bc imagine you just get the will changed for Conner to inherit the farm when Ma dies #only for him to pass before ma and clark #that loss of potential that what if especially since clark never really got to know Kon #ofc Kon comes back but the implication still makes me sad

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