Hi there, I'm Fairy (also go by Zeta) and I guess I've gotten into all this deep enough that I want to have a sideblog devoted to my Phantom (crossovers) posting?? Cuz while I'll be fandom on main, I'm a lot more nervous about putting writing on main. Even if it's shitposts. Uhh, given that it's dpxdc that got me here I'll rb stuff from those fandoms too but I'll try to remember to tag that as DC. Just know that you're getting into a crossover space.
I've got an art blog too over at @fairyarmour, which for the sake of consistency any phanart of mine will get posted there first and then RB'd here rather than splitting it across two blogs. Cuz that's totally less confusing. Unless it's a doodle reply to something maybe. Anything I've made or written, even if it's rb'd from one of my other blogs, is tagged #mine
Anyhow, hi. This introduction might get improved later when I'm not writing it at midnight.
First chapter || << Previous chapter || Next chapter >>
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"The zoo?"
Jazz didn't wait for Jason to answer, already rushing off the bike and taking her helmet off. She barely registered her boyfriend's chuckles in the distance, eyes fixed on the entrance of Gotham's Zoo and Aquarium.
She looked back, blinking away the tears building up on the corners of her eyes, refusing to let her make up be ruined so soon into their date.
Jason was watching her carefully. "You like animals and fish... right?"
Somehow, his question made the feelings bubbling in her chest rise to the surface. She laughed, the type of laugh that makes your whole body move, and nodded. "Yes! I like fish. And zoos. And sea lions! I've never seen one in real life!"
He smiled, grasping her hand in his calloused hand. "Well," he licked his lips, "I've heard there's a sea lion show in about…" he checked his watch "half an hour. And then every two hours."
She made a sound that definitely was not human, excitedly jumping on her feet. "I wanna see the sea lions!"
He, of course, knew she would. Danny told him about the sea lions when he texted him — via the special app they installed on his phone— and about how Jazz would try to hide the fact she thinks monkeys are cute and watch out for signs that she gets dehydrated. For that one Jason didn't need a warning, he knew how Jazz forgot to take care of herself when she was too focused on something.
"Then sea lions it is," he chuckled, totally okay with being pulled inside and quickly shuffled through the entrance by a very excited Princess.
He had previously studied the layout of the Zoo and Aquarium, so he didn't need a map to guide her towards where she wanted to go. She never asked how he immediately knew where to go or when he offered her a water bottle or complained when he deemed it was time for a snack.
Jason was happy enough to let her run around and talk about the animals and what she knew or didn't know about them. It was… domestic. It was normal, the kind of normal he now understood she craved when she moved to Gotham, the kind of normal both knew their lives would never be. If they had this stolen moments to remember to be human, he was happy to stand the looks they kept getting from other Zoo guests.
He hoped Jazz was too deep into her excitement to notice, because people didn't know how to keep their looks and whispers down. He was used to it, specially when he was outside The Narrows, and even more when he was around "polite society" — a big man with scary eyes and visible scars was not exactly family friendly. He tried to ignore it every time a kid froze in front of him before they were scooped away by concerned parents.
He chuckled. Narrows kids no longer froze when they saw him, even in his suit. A few shameless ones even asked for help doing homework.
A cold hand took him out of his thoughts. "Everything okay?" Jazz asked.
"Yeah," he nodded, enjoying her concerned eyes and soft touch, gently rubbing his hands in a thoughtless manner. "Just thinking."
"About?"
"Kids." Jazz lifted an eyebrow, her cheeks turning slightly red. Mortified, he realized what it could be interpreted as. Jazz didn't need to, mistakenly, think he was considering having kids. Not that he ever considered such a thing. "Not like that."
"Then what about kids?"
"There's a reason I don't take jaunty walks on the park, darling. Apparently parents and children alike think I'm up to no good." He shrugged. It wasn't that big of a deal, even if it stung a little every time.
She looked around, finally noticing the safety bubble of space the rest of the people seemed to be giving the couple. Some people kept giving Jazz glances, clearly written on their faces what they thought about them together.
"Well that's stupid. You are like, the nicest boyfriend I've ever had."
"The bar for that is in hell, darling."
"Well. I mean, yeah. But still." She smiled up to him, patted his cheek a couple times and then pulled them into the aquarium area. "Let's go! I read they have some sharks here!"
The rest of their day was a blur — Jazz "dragged" him around to check all the animals and an educational video or two, they took plenty of pictures of both animals and themselves, and Jazz puppy-eyed him into buying a themed drink that she seemed to enjoy.
This dating shit was easy. Why didn't he think about it before? It felt ridiculous to keep wondering about being inadequate to be with her, specially when she smiled and giggled so much. He promised Danny he would keep making her smile, and he was doing a pretty good job if he say so himself.
Soon it was time to grab real food, so they made their way to the overpriced Zoo restaurant and grabbed a table on the outside area. Jason offered to get their food so he left her behind as he went inside the restaurant, ordered what he thought sounded like something Jazz would want, and checked his phone while he waited.
"Hey there, handsome."
He looked up to find some kind of biker chick who was trying to get his attention. First thing he noticed was her bright and voluminous green curly hair framing her face and bouncing down her shoulders. Even if he was not supposed to, he couldn't turn the vigilante brain off, so he took notice of the out of place outfit the woman was wearing — definitely not family friendly either.
"Can I help you?"
She smiled, leaning closer to him and placing her hand on his chest.
Oh well. She was one of those, huh.
"Oh yes, you can definitely help me with something, handsome."
Jason had half a thought to push her away from him, but he didn't want to make a scene. This date has to be a success.
Instead, he grabbed her hand and kindly put it back on her side, careful not to touch the exposed skin between her short red skirt and her black top. She huffed.
"I don't think I'm the kind of man you are looking for."
"And what kind of man is that?" She kept trying, batting her brown eyes, knowing she was beautiful.
"Single." He straightened his back and glanced at the restaurant's order screen, noticing their order was ready. "Desperate."
Instead of insulted, the woman threw her head back and laughed, attracting a lot of attention. Weird woman. He wanted nothing to do with her.
Quickly, he grabbed the tray with the food and walked towards their table, finding Jazz having a hushed argument with a man. She clearly knew him by the way she didn't seem wary, and was rather comfortable enough to lean into his face to hiss something between her teeth. The man's body language was relaxed, one gloved hand reaching out to brag Jazz's shoulder, and she let him.
"Hey." He said, unable to actually said what was going through his head. Stop touching my girlfriend? Who is this man? Is he bothering you? "I got food."
He didn't take his eyes off the strange man, so he didn't see her face when she noticed him approach, but he noticed how her body language relaxed immediately at his presence.
"Hi, I was— What the hell are you doing?"
Jason finally looked at Jazz, frowning at her upset face. Then, he felt it. Cold hands reaching around his chest and a cold body pressing against his back. By the dark skin and red leather jacket he new it was the same woman from before.
"Look, I don't—"
But she wasn't talking to him. "Kitty, if you don't stop groping my boyfriend we are going to have problems."
The woman chuckled, but let him go. "Just teasing, Princess. No need to get so serious."
Princess. So these people knew who she really was.
He ignored the building argument to turn his attention to the man still sitting on the table, one hand flat on the surface and the other used to hold his head as he watched the other two argue with an expression he was sure he displayed when Jazz was involved. The man — ripped pants, leather coat, fingerless gloves — was romantically involved with the biker woman. They knew Jazz as a Princess, so either they were ghosts disguised as humans or they were some humans that were let into the secret.
The blond man noticed he was being watched and turned to look at him. He smirked, blue eyes flashing green for a second.
Ghosts, it is.
Jason huffed and sat down, giving up on everything. He was hungry. Food was getting cold.
"Jazz." He called. She stopped arguing with the woman, Kitty, and sat back down. "Care to introduce your friends?"
"Yeah, Jazzy, introduce your friends." The biker man purred, and Jason felt him nudge Jazz with his steel-toed booted foot.
"Don't call me that." She huffed. "Thanks," she said to Jason when he pushed her burger in her direction. "I don't see why I have to do anything when you guys are not supposed to be here."
"Here?" Jason asked.
"In the Mortal Realm." She chewed angrily. "Out of the Infinite Realms. Where is safe." She added the last part with a pointed look.
"We had to come see by ourselves," Kitty shrugged, taking the last available chair. "See if the rumors were true."
"What rumors?"
The man gave Jason a pointed look. "Word on the streets is that our dear Princess found a suitor." He lifted an eyebrow.
"Danny." Jazz growled. Of course.
"Don't be too hard on the kid, Jazzy— Ouch!" The man rubbed his shoulder, where he got punched.
"Told you to stop calling me that." Jazz huffed again. "And crashing my date is your worst idea so far, Johnny."
"Aww, a zoo date?" Kitty cooed, stealing a fry. "My Johnny doesn't take me anywhere nice anymore." She fixed her eyes on Jason, who noticed they were now brownish-red. "Good job, Mr. Boyfriend."
"Jason."
She smiled as she stole another fry.
"I had to come check, beautiful." Johnny kept talking to Jazz. "You know I have to."
"There's no such thing as 'first boyfriend duties', Johnny. We talked about this."
Whatever the guy said in response, Jason didn't hear.
First boyfriend.
This was the guy! What was that Jazz said? He tried to kill her to resurrect his girlfriend? When she was sixteen? He looked at said girlfriend, Kitty, who was watching their partners argue with a delighted air. She noticed him staring and winked at him.
Looking at them you'd never know the story behind — they argued like old friends more than petty exes, and both ghosts felt too comfortable in the presence of their ruler.
"I don't need—"
"I know! I know!" Johnny lifted his hands in a placating manner. "But I had to."
Jazz blinked, noticing the charged tone. Jason looked between both, watching as his girlfriend's expression morphed into something more… vulnerable.
"I had to, Jazz. After—"
"Well, it's different." Jazz didn't let him finish. "He's different."
Jason pretended he didn't mind the two ghosts' dangerous red eyes glancing at him. He understood where this came from, now. Jazz had no idea how many people cared about her, did she?
He watched Johnny trying, and failing, to keep a light tone as he kept justifying their actions, specifically Kitty trying to seduce Jason, understanding that this was more than just a social call. After what Jazz went through, they just wanted to make sure Jason was not a sleazy guy. He could respect that. Wished they didn't ruin their date, though.
***
"Are you… Nevermind."
"Hm?"
Jazz shuffled in place, nervously looking at her feet.
Back home from their date, which was salvaged after they were rudely interrupted, he was attempting to check all the boxes and leave her safely at her door with a goodbye kiss.
"Attempting" was the key word.
"Yes?" He insisted when she didn't continue, and just bit her lower lip.
He watched as she took a fortifying breath. "Are you breaking up with me?"
Scratch. Stop. Roll back the tape.
"What?"
"Was this a last nice memory or something? I had a lot of fun, and I—I—I understand if—"
"What the fuck are you talking about?"
She tilted her head. "You are not?"
"What? No! What makes you think that?"
"I don't know?" It sounded like a question. She was looking anywhere but his face now.
He grabbed her shoulders. "Hey, look at me." He shook her until she did. "I love you but you are not making any sense right now."
"I know…"
"So?"
"So what?"
He sighed, letting her go. "Are you gonna tell me why the hell you think I'm calling it quits? After being the perfect boyfriend today?"
He called it a win that she chuckled. "You were perfect today, yes." She pulled her hair behind her ear, sheepishly looking away. It was so fucking cute. "Too perfect, maybe."
Okay. This was not as hallway conversation. "Why don't we go inside for a moment?"
She nodded and opened her door, welcoming them to the familiar inside of her cozy apartment. Ignoring everything else, he guided her to the couch and made her sit down with him so they could talk.
"Ok, start from the beginning. What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong." She said too quickly.
God, making this woman talk about what upset her was like pulling teeth. He glared at her and refused to engage until she talked.
Jazz sighed, looking at her hands. "You've been… distant. Lately. After Danny and your family, and with all that's been going on, I thought…" She rubbed her hands together. "I guess, I— And Duke said, and I overheard the others talk and I don't know…"
Jason had to use every calming technique at his disposal to not stand up, grab his guns and rush the Manor to find the motherfucker who made Jazz think they should break up. Jazz needed him here and now.
"What are you trying to say? You think I'm mad at you?"
"No? Maybe? Yes?" Her shoulders came up to her chin. "I guess I haven't been very present either. Between work and patrols and investigating the Lazarus Pit."
He gave her a minute to elaborate, but she didn't add anything else.
"If I wanted to call it quits I wouldn't be a coward about it, Jazz. Today was a date. You deserved one, a real one, that doesn't end with me dying."
"There's still time."
He chuckled, enjoying watching her giggle as well.
"And whatever the others have said about me doesn't matter. They don't know me. You do—" he grabbed her hands between his warm ones — "and that's all I care about."
Her eyes watered and her lip was back between her teeth. Oh no. What did he say?
"Oh, Jason. They truly don't know you. I was— Duke said something and I didn't notice but once I did I couldn't unsee it. Is like— like— and is not like they are mean and that makes it worse—"
He squeezed her hands, frowning at the tears went down her cheeks. "Was anybody mean to you?" He thought everyone behaved, she seemed happy, but maybe he does need to kick someone's ass after all. His money was on Bruce.
"No!" She grabbed his hands instead. "They've just— I'm sorry I didn't believe— I didn't understand."
"What are you talking about?"
"Duke said— I don't think he meant it as a bad thing, but he kind of implied I fixed you, that I had somehow mellowed you." More tears gathered in her eyes, "He described you as something I know you are not—"
"Angry? Violent? A mindless killer?"
He understood now. They got comfortable and opened their useless mouths to feed her the crap they threw to his face from time to time. He wondered what Jazz thought about that — after all, they knew him at his worst, and it was different to read about his exploits when he arrived to Gotham than to hear first hand experience.
"They don't know you!" She leaned in, claiming his attention. "Jason, you are the sweetest man and I love—"
"Jazz, you know there's some truth to what they said. I am a killer. And violent."
"And I love you anyway!" He blinked at her sudden fit of fury. "But they said I changed you, that I fixed you. Like— like some kind of pet project," she shook her head, disgusted, "like it is a good thing, something to encourage, that your girlfriend changes who you are."
He pondered her words, realizing it's been a while since the last time Bruce or Dick looked at him with pity. Like he was a broken, prodigal son that needed to return home.
"Well, you know the truth, and I know the truth." He shrugged. "Fuck them."
She held his gaze, searching for something. "Aren't you mad?"
"Oh I'm furious," he smiled, all teeth, "but I don't give a flying fuck if they think your love magically cured me or whatever. They don't know me, and I gave up a long time ago." He got one of his hands free so he could wipe her tears away and brush her hair back from her face. "I love you," she smiled a little, and it was adorable, "and you changed something, but not for the reasons they think."
She tilted her head. "What?"
"I wasn't sure, it isn't like I was keeping track or knew what was happening until it did, but," he pulled on her hands so they were touching his chest, "I can feel something has changed. My head is clearer. Since I was revived, the first time, I've had this… it's like my emotions were out of control, like sometimes I was swept away by rage or anxiety that turned into violence and paranoia and there was no way to stop it."
"The corrupted ectoplasm." She gasped in realization.
"That's what I think it was, after reading your reports." He nodded. "After you brought me back that second time, I've felt in control like I haven't in a while. So thank you." He lifted her hands and kissed her knuckles, smiling when she giggled.
"That's why you've been distant, too?"
He looked away. He couldn't lie to her, he didn't want to. Not after everything they went through. "Remember when we first met? There were some kids and you got hurt?"
"Yeah! Did something happen? Are the kids okay?"
"Kids are fine, I've been checking on them from time to time," he didn't miss the relieved sigh, "but the guys we fought, well. I let them live."
"And that's… bad?" She tried to follow.
"They went running to their higher ups about a redhead woman who helps Red Hood. They saw your face."
Jazz blinked a couple times. "And that's… worse?"
He chuckled. Jazz unfazed by a gang upset with her was definitely one of the things he liked about her. "Usually I would take care of this. Not my first gang, etcetera, but the Black Clovers are sneaky and a well organized and a pain in my ass. I've tried to chase them off for months. They deal with child and sex trafficking."
She frowned. "That's definitely bad."
"Hm," he agreed. "And a group with their firepower and logistics are going after you. Latest reports from my lieutenants is they are seriously looking for you. Apparently you are my 'weakness'."
"Cliché." She rolled her eyes. "Well I don't see the big deal. Just let me help you."
For a moment, he considered it. He shook his head instead. "These people are not ghosts, Jazz. You are still mortal. As strong and resilient as you are, you can still die. And that's not something I'll allow to happen."
He saw her wanting to protest and insist she could take it. He knew what she could do, he had no doubt she could defend herself; but all she could think of was Jazz staring down the barrel of a gun right when he jumped in the fight. Maybe his feelings for her were clouding his judgment, but if there was still a chance she got seriously hurt, he didn't want to take it.
"Just— Let me take care of it, ok? Please."
She wanted to argue with him. He knew that look. Still, he watched her breathe and nod carefully.
"Fine. But keep me in the loop?" She bit her lip. "I thought— I was scared you were thinking I was too much and was second guessing or something."
"Oh I did some of that too. But your brother set me straight."
She seemed confused for a second, then remembered. "The Batburger." She huffed, leaning back on the couch. "I knew something happened."
"It was fine. I needed to hear what he said."
Jazz was considering asking, but after a couple of heartbeats she nodded and let it go. Good, because he had reached his limit on this emotional talk business.
"We good?" He asked, hoping for a quick yes.
"We good." She smiled, leaning in to kiss his softly on the lips. It felt good.
"Great, because I'm hungry." He very dramatically slapped his thighs as he stood up. It made Jazz chuckle. "Do you have actual food in the fridge or are we depending on my leftovers?"
When he didn't hear an answer he turned to look, surprised to find her right in front of his face, smiling. Jazz grabbed his shirt and pulled him down to kiss him, and he obliged. After all, today he was the perfect boyfriend.
---
First chapter || << Previous chapter || Next chapter >>
other superheros get training from their mentors, from the super secret society, from alien tech,from the monks or they have some kind of military background.
phantom, on the other hand, got training from the firefighters in his town after he crashed on their cases one too many times and they decided that "yup, if your gonna try to help, might aswell give you some training so you could be useful.", he got training from the paramedics because they were worried he wouldn't know how to help an injured human, he got training from his local town detective who smokes too much and gives him cookies when he can help with his Ghost senses and figure out if this was a human crime or a ghost crime.
... owob enjoy : D This one did not come out how I planned out. But It works. I think I'm just rusty XD
Hopefully the build up came out right ;3 (also think I make posts too quick is why the link think doesnt work XD =w=b)
Read full Chapter on Ao3
Here's little excerpt below, the rest will be on ao3.
Danny found himself occupied by swinging his feet that dangled off the bar stool. After many arguments, Sam and Tuck finally relented on a place to eat. It was a cafe in one of the better neighborhoods near the college. Reason for the high chairs and tall tables. He had to climb up into the seat, like the monkey bars at school. Tuck had offered to help, but Danny shot him a look that made Tuck chuckle- calling Danny “Mini Sam”.
Watching his red shoes go back and forth. That nickname itched at him. Mini Sam? What did that mean? Danny would shoot Tuck looks all the time when he disapproved. He just didn't do it as often. His eyes glanced back towards Tucker who started to scroll through his phone. He was watching videos, letting out little chuckles or 'Oo's' of excitement.
Danny leaned over to glance at the phone. Videos of new tech reviews, building computers, fail compilations, various people eating large portions of food, and-
Tucker turned off the screen of his phone pushing it aside with a nervous laugh, “A-ah ha! Maybe don't look at that one.”
Danny squinted, confused. He knew Tuck liked girls that were into dressing up as animals. They DID grow up together, at one point. It wasn't worse than his wallpaper that was on his phone. Sam and Jazz threw a fit about that one. Was that it?”
“Food's ready, dorks,” Sam said as she dropped a tray in front of them. It had their orders.
Since it was a small cafe, Danny didn't get the burger he wanted. He did get a bagel cheese and ham sandwich. Sam had ordered his drink, a sweet tea. Not normally what he would go after, but he'll take anything that wasn't the weird matcha drink Sam had going on. And at least his tea was sweet.
“You almost sound-”
“Tuck, if you finish that sentence.”
“You didn't know what I was going to say! Sheesh,” Tuck grumbled biting into his own ham bagel sandwich. An iced coffee sitting in front of him.
“Too much bread.”
Sam rolled her eyes, while pushing herself into her seat. She smirked unwrapping her plastic fork for her vegan pasta salad, made with zucchini noodles.
“You know, you COULD have ordered a salad.”
“Overprice rabbit food? No thanks.”
“Have you even seen Rabbit food prices?”
Danny started to tune them out as they went back to their friendly bickering. Most would have assumed Tucker and Sam hated each other, but that's how they chose to hang out. It gave them something to fight. Even if it did go too far at times. Tuck didn't even hate vegetables as much as he claims.
Danny eyed as Tuck reached over with a fork to steal a bite of Sam's food, while they continued to argue. Only for his hand to get smashed by Sam's.
He hadn't since he accidentally ate one of Sam's meals while raiding her fridge. He started to experiment since, though his pride never let him drop the act. Especially while Sam was still adamant about changing their diets. Or well, Tuck's diet. She's hadn't been on Danny's case for a long time.
He looked at his sandwich. The bagel was too much. It was bigger than his mouth, and not as tasty as a burger. However, he couldn't blame them for picking this spot. It was one of the few places that didn't have easy to squeeze condiments, with only cream/cottage cheese, jam, or olive oil to moisten the bread. Small too.
“Me and Sam discovered this little place while college was overrun with those goons. The wifi is awesome,” Tuck smiled at Danny.
Danny blinked, looking up at him.
“Came to hide from the ass-butt wipes, but stayed for the matcha!”
“YOU stayed for powdered grass,” Tucker corrected.
“And YOU stayed TO goon.”
“Its the algorithm! Its rigged based on my age and gender!”
“Yeah right, Tuck. I'm SURE its ALL based on that. Kind of funny, Trent doesn't get that?”
So a few years back I was working on this half master’s study half moody fanart and hit a wall in terms of what I could accomplish. I only posted a small crop back then and then put it on the shelf to return to when I could be less precious about it. A couple weeks turned into a few years real sneakily, since time serves no master, and for a while I felt it’d been too long to return to it. Then I figured that’s stupid and I wanted to finish it up now that I’m finally coming out of an irl slump so here we all are.
Inspired by/studying the painting Herd Boy Playing the Flute Among Ruins by Albert Tschautsch
Danny: Oh, this? My boyfriend let me borrow his jacket. Looks great right?
Sam: Who the hell is your new boyfriend?
Danny: What do you mean?
Sam: Danny, that jacket costs forty-five thousand dollars! Its brand.
Danny horrified whisper: I wore this on the subway.
Tucker: Danny, pal of mine, brother from another mother, take it off, slowly, fold it, and put it in your bag. Did you notice anyone following you?
Danny: I don't think- I mean I dont know-am I in danger?
Sam: Well, you did just walk across the most dangerous city in the country with a jacket that cost almost as much as a car, and no one mugged you. Maybe people here don't know brands? In any case, give it back to your rich boyfriend as soon as possible.
Danny: Okay.
Tucker: But seriously, who is your new boyfriend? How you did you meet?
Danny: His name is Tim, and we met at my summer internship-
Sam: Wait. You met this Tim at Wayne Enterprise, right? What's his last name?
Danny: Ugh....he told me but I couldn't hear him since my Ghostly Wail shot my hearing the day before then I was too embarrassed to ask and too much time went by and then he asked me out so....I don't know?
Tucker: Dude, how can you not know your own boyfriend's last name?
Danny: We've only been dating two weeks! Plus its not like we were assigned the same department at W.E. He was in administration and I was in research and Development! I saw him on occasion in the same building and-
Sam: Is this him? *Shows phone*
Danny: Yeah? Why do you have a photo of my boyfriend? Do you know him?
Tucker: Let me see- IS THAT TIMOTHY DRAKE!? YOU BAGGED TIMOTHY DRAKE!?
Sam: Keep your voice down!
Tucker: Sorry, sorry, its just- dude how im the world did you manage this?
Danny: I ran into him the hallway, dropped all the coffee I had on myself and took off my shirt to wash it in the bathroom. He stood guard at the door for me. I think he has a thing for losers?
Sam: Danny, you have a six pack.
Danny: So?
Tucker: Dude, for the last time, you are the hot one in our trio. Sam is the pretty one and I'm the handsome one. We may have been sevens in Amity Park, but here? Where the water is undrinkable? We're tens!
Sam: I say we're more like a decent eight point five-
Tucker: TENS. WE ARE TENS.
Red Robin in the ceiling: AMEN BROTHER
Sam: What the hell was that?
Danny: You heard him too? Oh, thank god, I thought I was going crazy.
their royal menace @ghostadjacentfae - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
