Apollo flashing into camp to spend time with his kids only to find himself stunned and lovestruck at the sight of Percy Jackson mothering the campers around while also holding one of the younger Apollo kids by his hip.
Cassandra: YOU ARE ALL GOING TO REGRET THIS SO MUCH YOU DONâT EVEN KNOW.Â
Odysseus: Regret it why?
Cassandra: You wonât believe me if I tell you. If I prophecy, nobody believes me. That is my curse.
Odysseus: ⊠Iâm Nobody. Fill me in.Â
*A couple of months later*Â
Odysseus: HELLO PENELOPE, I AM HERE PRECISELY ON TIME AND NOT YEARS LATE incidentally I rescued and adopted a Trojan seer while I was away, sheâs great, got me home really fast, Cassandra this is your new mother whoâs not going to treat you like shit.Â
Penelope: ⊠Iâm going to need more details, but okay, sure.Â
First, the yellow ring powered attacks, and now the fear gas! Jazz would have an aneurysm if she ever found out how high he's gotten in the past week alone.
Now, if only he could shake off these pesky green lanterns and the giant bat guy.
Haunting this dimension seems like promising bonding activity between him, Ember, Kitty, and Johnny!
He really should hunt down that yellow lantern guy, tho, that stuff was great quality.
Gal stared in horror at the sight before. On the one hand, the yellow lantern was very distracted. And currently unable to attack. Which would usually be a good thong. On the other? The reason for this state of affairs? Is a teen, eating the yellow constructs. And getting high from it!
Said teen has powers reminiscent of a green lantern at that! But, what species were they? He couldn't think of any of the top of his head that could eat constructs! What was he seeing right now?! The yellow lanterns? Fled, presumably to avoid being detained. And he would give chase. Except, well. Extremely high teen. He wasn't trained for this!!! What was he supposed to even DO in this situation?!
Danny: itâs keeps getting bigger and bigger like someoneâs stretching a giant piece of taffy, you know like in those old cartoons with the talking animals
Hal: okay Earth reference is helpful
Danny: is this what spaghettification feels like? Is the universe being sucked into a big black hole and getting spaghettified?
Hal: Iâm not sure kid how about we go back to your home planet or something
Danny: I wish I died from spaghettification that would have been such a cool way to die. I just got a dimension open up on top of me. Being a piece of spaghetti would have been cooler
Hal: *into comms* hey guys I think Iâm gonna need some backup here
Danny: now I really want some spaghetti, do you know where we can find some spaghetti? Some with those fist sized meat balls and garlic knots
Hal: wait guys just a second the kids talking to me- uh spaghetti I guess the closest place would be earth.
Danny: yeah that sounds like a good idea letâs go to Earth.
Hal: *into comms* okay we are going to need a pick up- and he just opened up a glowing green portalâŠ.. yeah Iâm really going to need some back up here.
Hal: Look. There's a teen who glows. He just ATE a Yellow Lanterns constructs. And I'm pretty sure he's high right now. And he just opened a portal. Hey! Kid! No portals while high! We can take a nice slow flight back ok!
Hal, not panicking as the teen is halfway THROUGH the portal: B-Besides! You don't know what restaurants have REALLY good spaghetti! I do! We'll go to this place I know, my treat! Best garlic knots you've ever had! Spaghetti for days!
Danny,drifting backwards like a plastic bag: oooooh. That's sounds NICE. Let's do that! ........Anyone ever tell you your atoms feel funny?
Hal: not concerning in the slightest! Pasta night ahoy! *on the phone with the Tower* Get the BEST fucking pasta and Garlic Knots the Speedsters can recommend. We got problems. Incoming. I need back up here.
ohhhhhhhhhh noooooooooooooooooooooo. DONT DO THIS TO ME (also damn that was the most beautiful use of that Ichigo gif I have ever seen. Just. That LOOK combined with the comment. XD)
But ohhhhhhhhhh nooooooooooooo donât do this to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeâŠâŠâŠâŠ..
(Itâs too late here have some headcanons for this verse)
@north-peach @akaluan @thefringeperson
-Ichigo isnât quite sure how it happened, but look. Look okay. Time travel sucked. Time Travel back to the far distant past? Not cool. And to top all of that- he ended up in the past but AFTER the whole Aizen Hollowfied Everyone thing. So he couldnât save them
-Ichigo ends up teaching the vizard. Itâs just as strange as he never would have imagined but VENGEANCE. PETTY VENGEANCE.
-He ends up getting Younger Kisukeâs attention by fighting hollows in the town. This is ALSO how Ichigo figured out when he is- HatNClogs before HatNClogs is weird.Â
-Kisuke came down to see what shinigami had gotten so close to his hide out. He did NOT expect the male to be able to TRACK HIM okay. And then he figures out that Ichigo is hollowfied as well and that-
Well thatâs INTERESTING. And useful.
He DEFF didnât expect Ichigo to GROW on him okay.
-Ichigo ends up traveling around Dealing With Things that Need To Be Dealt With.
And who does he know that can usually ALSO deal with those things, or can Genius his way into creating a way to deal with things??
Kisuke.
Things like diseses heâs got contained and needs to Disappear
-Things like strange hollow pieces, stray shinigami blades, old ancient kido scrolls that he Doesnt Know What To Do With, but Kisuke is LOSING HIS MIND ICHIGO DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS
-On that note THIS is how Ichigo figures out not only did he TIME HOP but he jumped like six universes over and thereâs THINGS out there that he DID NOT want to deal with all kinds of things,Â
(Did you really think you were the only supernatural thing out there?)
But it;s Ichigo PROTECTOR IS LITERALLY MY NAME Kurosaki so you bet your ass heâs right in the middle of it, protecting stray children and probably Espada that follow him home
-(Oops Ichigo starts a Kisukeâs Home for Wayward Weirdos.). Kisuke would be mad but this is SO INTERESTING SDGDGDSFSFSDADSÂ
Ichigo finds the Best Things. (and people)
-Kisuke isnât the slightest surprised that whoever this random Shinigami currently unconcerned in the slightest with Seireitei and Central 46 is a Shiba.Â
-He can absolutely see the resemblance and that eases his suspicions because Shiba.Â
-On the other hand, Ichigo is just a bit too perfect and heâs lacking in common knowledge, not only from Soul Society but the World of the Living.
Which is alarming.Â
Kisukeâs a fugitive here, along with a bunch of newly Hollofied former captains and vice-captains and Shihoin Yoruichi, the Clan Head, Tsukabishi Tessai, the Captain of the Kido Corps.
Former, anyway.
-Ichigo is way too relaxed with them, isnât surprised at Yoruichiâs cat form-
Oh, Shinji dropped by while Ichigo was visiting and apparently this is their new instructor because, oya oya, heâs also a Hollowfied Shinigami?
-Kisuke doesnât understand Ichigoâs quirks. His familiarity with several things most people have never heard of and his complete non-familiarity with several things everyone has heard of.
-Kisuke is at first confused by all the things Ichigo brings by.
-Some for him to get rid of, some for him to look at because, hey, Urahara-san, this look interesting, do you know what it is?
-Then Ichigo drops by one day with a striped hat that is in no way Japanese along with a set of very traditional very Japanese clothing. And geta.Â
-Kisuke gets used to being called âGetaboushiâ like itâs an inside joke he isnât aware of even though heâs the one being called this nickname?
âŠthe outfit is very comfortable though.
-Ichigo never mentions his age, and Kisuke doesnât ask, but there are times when he struggles with the simplest things that leaves him with the impression that the orange haired man is older then Kisuke, and other times when he thinks the complete opposite.
-Kisuke has no idea why Ichigo brings home interesting Hollows like nothing is wrong with that. Kisuke also has no idea why he never refuses all the flat out weird and strange people Ichigo brings to his little shop.
-Last Kisuke heard, Quincies were extinct and a whole family from Germany just moved to Karakura. He suspects Ichigo had a hand in it.
 OKAY I AM GOING BACK TO WRITING FOR A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FANDOM, LIKE I WAS DUTIFULLY DOING BEFORE YOU GUYS HIJACKED MY LIFE.
Do you see what happens when you leave me alone with North????????
-Shiba protectiveness is a Thing Of Legends. Everyone knows about it. Everybody talks about it.
Kisuke still did not EXPECT it.
-Ichigo is a Power House, capital letters required, holly shit, he basically took on an army of assassins for them???????? Second Sqaud did not see him coming.
-One day Ichigo shows up with a dirt on his face and clothes, a secretive little smirk on his face, and a fan in hand. It matches the clothes and hat.
-Kisuke did not expect to get along with Hollows. Or any of the other strange people that Ichigo brought over. What is his life.
-Ichigo is smart as hell. Kisuke is fascinated okay? Ichigo has to explain some of the terms he uses for things- he always looks surprised like everyone should know what the Thing he said is- heâs centuries ahead of Living World with the knowledge he has and if Kisuke didnât know any betterâŠâŠ
-There are Kami.
Ichigo befriends them, because of COURSE he does. So now Kisuke some how finds himself with a little shrine near his home that always has offering on it.
-Can Kisuke just say, he almost CRIED when Ichigo got Inari-samma to bless the wards he had already put up??? ITS SO INTERESTING. DIVINE POWERED WARDS OF HIS OWN DESIGN.HE HAS SO MANY QUESTIONS.
-Kisuke gets used to white foxes darting in and out of his shop, and he keeps little bits of food around for them
-Ichigo got in a fight with a demon, because of COURSE he did, Kisuke almost had a heart attack when Ichigo crashed through the wards dripping blood everywhere, and swaying on his feet with a slurred âHey Getaboushi, can you help?â on his lips, like Kisuke wasnât already reaching for him with his heart in his mouth and hands glowing green with kido.
-Kisuke may have, possibly, on a totally unrelated note, also declared a blood feud and gotten into a fight with that same demon completely by accident of course.
Hey, I just made one comment with a couple of GIFs! Â Still, I suppose since Iâm catching so much blame/credit, itâs my turn to really contribute, rather than just cheer from the sidelines?
- Ichigo can duck into and out of Seireitei the easiest, because no one knows him there but he is (as Kisuke observed) very obviously a Shiba, which all of the Shibas are happy to confirm any time.
- So anything they need from Soul Society, heâs the one who gets it. Â Including all their own stuff that they didnât have time to get before they had to escape to Living World.
- He might or might not also be leaving itching powder in Aizenâs bed every time he makes a trip.
- Ichigo point-blank tells Kisuke to give the Hogyoku to one of the foxes to pass on to Inari-sama, because the kami will appreciate the shiny thing and keep it safe, but is already a kami so the power-boost isnât going to be much of an issue.
-Kisuke doesnât think Ichigo is joking when he casually mentions that time he broke into Hell and was crowned king.
-When Ichigo stops dead in the middle of fighting some vaguely skeleton demons and loudly shouts, âHey! Thatâs my armor!â and the demons, to the last one all stop and kneel, Kisuke is done.
-It is apparently the physical manifestation of Hellâs Will and it dissipates when that Will is carried out and apparently the armor that vaguely skeleton demon was wearing glows gold when Ichigo approaches.
-Has Kisuke mentioned how fascinating Ichigo is?
-His manner is considered rude, heâs blunt and doesnât hesitate to leap into a fight. Yet, heâs compassionate and kind. No matter how he scowls and how fear still pricks at his spine when he pulls more firmly on his Hollow side, that one thing that Kisuke can say that Ichigo is, is very kind.
-He brings home- and since when did Kisukeâs shop become home for the both of them???- demons and spirits and ghosts that donât quite fit with Soul Societyâs facts and this-is-how-it-is and heâs mentioned the Divine Blessing of the Fox God, yes?
-Ichigo builds so many shrines around Karakura and the people that live there end up accepting him as a minor deity of protection and remembrance.
-The spiritually aware all respectfully bow when they catch a glimpse of vivid orange hair, a fluttering black shihakusho and the two blades only he wields.
-Kisuke doesnât know if Ichigo is aware of this, but heâs leaning toward no.
-The months turn into years, years into decades and a city rises from that once small village. Ichigo goes where he pleases, but he always returns and Kisuke- Kisuke-
-He never asks, but Kisuke finds him speaking anyway. Ichigo doesnât run away. Doesnât flinch back in fear and he doesnât seem the mind the blood that clings to Kisukeâs hands.
-Ichigo is strong. Very much so, especially with all the blessing on his person and the belief of several tens of thousands of people who deeply believe that Ichigo is a minor kami that protects both the living and the dead and remembers both when theyâre lost.
Several generations have grown up with memories of an orange haired man who found them when they were lost and lead them home. Who came to reassure them that their loved one passed on.
Some remember the warmth of his whispered words that spoke of the deadâs last wish.
-Kisuke knows that Ichigo can take care of himself, but sometimes there are moments when Kisuke takes up Benihime and she sings.
-In the future the fairy tales of Japan will include two men, one painted in the colors of a sunrise and stained with the darkness of a moonless night, a kami of protection and remembrance.
The second is golden adorned in green and his presence of announced by the clack of geta and when he departs, there is death and blood in his wake.
The story goes, these two are entwined.
How? Nobody knows, but the stories continue.
-When Ichigo finds out, he scowls murderously as Kisuke laughs merrily as red creeps up into his cheeks.
-Kisuke doesnât know what he would do without Ichigo.
i am a liar and i regret nothing.
ONE gif and this is all your fault, @thefringeperson. Blame and credit is the same thing though.
WE ALL BURN TOGETHER @north-peach @akaluan @thefringeperson
-Ichigo is Oblivious (capital definitely needed) to his Godhood. Heâs always watched over the town, itâs only luck that he just so happens to be there at the right time, âItâs Inari guiding his steps, itâs chance, someone called his nameâŠ.
-Kisuke kind of wants to cry about it, but also itâs HILARIOUS???? To be a fly on the wall when Ichigo figures THAT one out.
-Ichigo has always been horrible with names, but it doesnât really dawn on him that heâs starting to remember those who have no one else to remember them, those who wander on paths best left alone.Â
He doesnât notice when he starts responding to calls  prayers  that no one else can hear, all he cares about is that someone called out to him for help and he heard them, so heâll help
-Ichigo is beloved by his people, who he has never abandoned, not once, not over centuries of time, who the people honor and remember for his diligence and kindness
He has his own shrines, built at the four corners of the town, meant to help Ichigo keep watch over the space. Ichigo doesnât realize theyâre his even though he passes them all the time
-Kisuke leaves offerings at them all the time, the people grow to know him through this, they see him at the edges, always watching over them all, one step behind or beside Ichigo, and he doesnât realize it at first, but his status is upgraded to minor god as well
-Kisuke DOES pick up on it long before ichigo though. That the people call him a minor Kami of protection and war, of creativity and invention.
He even knows when it happened- a century into Ichigoâs worship and his town had been invaded.
Unlike every other Kami, Ichigo had interfered on his peopleâs behalf and Kisuke had been right beside him.
And the people remember. They remember how the dual blades had danced, how the shop keeper who never aged but was always with their protector god had gone to war for them, how the green and gold one had danced to the beat of their protector and left blood in his wake.
They remember how that same set of gods had walked among them after and helped them recover. How Kisuke had whispered of amazing things that could help them, showed them how to make those things.
-The town doesnât question why the gods still walk among their town. They believe it is due to their still honoring them
-Ichigo of course, is there for his friends families throughout the centuries, and is even there when his friends- just born- are brought home. He doesnât know why their parents offer the children up and ask for blessings, but he humors them
And later, if he can hear his friends voices so clearly they might as well be standing at his shoulder no matter where he is wellâŠ.
- the visored, Yoroichi, and everybody at the Shoten watches worriedly when Ichigo just kind of keels over laughing. Â This is Not normal behaviour.
- Ichigo manages to gasp out âGodâ and âAizenâ and âdidnât need a Hogyokuâ
- a week later, Ichigo is coming back to the Shoten with a very carefully packed suitcase full of bioweapons for Kisuke to very carefully dispose of or find cures to.
- when Ichigo âmeetsâ Isshin, he calls him Goat Face, and then makes a quick trip to Seireitei with a pocket full of photos of the man to pass around to everybody who thinks heâs dead and is mourning him.
-So Karakura becomes a town that the kami still walk among them. Itâs not a secret, everyone knows about it. Just not very many people who migrate to this town actually believe it.
-Until, you know, Ichigo barges into their lives in a very dramatic way, a golden haired man, dressed in green, wearing geta and hiding a smile behind a fan trailing his steps.
-Bullying? Nah, the yakuza help take care of the foxes, the elderly and the orphans.
-Crime? Yo, thatâs waaay down and foreigners learn pretty quickly their kinda shit doesnât fly in Karakura.
-Suicides? Nothing like literal kami who have been around for years telling you how to cope with trauma and life and emotions, who actually care about you and want you to live.
-Education? You have Kisuke who whispers things to peoples ears, who will sit and speak, if one but asks. The Karakura schools are somewhat strange, thanks to Ichigoâs very western learning style of the future and Kisukeâs experience of the Shinâou Academy, but they cover a wide variety of topics and extra curriculum.
-Thereâs that one family that moved in some years ago whose kids always win the archery tournaments.
It is suspected that some kind of divine being married in to their family and has bestowed their blessings on it.
Some people claim theyâve seen everyone from this family manifest bows that  glowed blue and slay evil spirits.
Actually, that family does tend to linger in dark places and unexpectedly stop in the middle of conversations and just run out the door.
-Sometimes, children will catch Ichigo in the park and demand stories. Ichigo, who raised his two baby sisters, will always make time to sit and speak.
Orihime, a kami of healing, Sado, a kami of defense, Tatsuki, a kami of strength, and Uryuu, a kami of archery because very popular in Karakura.
Ironically, thatâs when people first hear the name of the golden man in green.
(Itâs Kisuke)
-All in all, Karakura is a pretty great place to live. You just have to put up with the strange people.
Only, everyone always says, theyâre not people, not really.
The natives never really clarify to the outsiders, not unless thereâs been an encounter.
Then, then, they say, the kami still walk on Karakuraâs streets.
-In the shadows, a band of demons lurk, the Masked Ones, but the kami of Protection leashed them and offered them a chance to live in peace. They were wronged by an Evil One, who pulled them from Grace, and still seek revenge. Our kami of Protection holds their loyalty and that is why, even though the Masked Ones are terrifying and you should always be respectful and careful towards them, they wonât harm you for fear of his wrath.
-The Masked Ones get there own little offering too, because they might be demons, but their gods of Protection accept them, and really they have a good of war walking among them. Just always remember to be respectful
-Karakura is strange in that the natives (and those who move in and stay long enough) are ALL spiritually aware. Nothing like having kami to jolt your bodyâs power awake yeah?
-Hollows like to try and invade a lot due to that, but there are MULTIPLE kido wards backed by MULTIPLE godsâ (including all the major gods Ichigo somehow befriended) blessings, backed by a collection of âpeopleâ who WILL go out and fight anyone that tried to touch the town. All those shrines on the edges of the towns? Very handy âcall boxesâ of a sort to grab their Kamisâ attentions where needed
-Everyone kind of thinks that one family from Germany who Ichigo brought in is likeâŠhis priests or something, Itâs part of the reason âforeignersâ are so easily accepted aside from the fact that Ichigo likes to collect strays as they all know (thereâs a REASON Ichigo is considered a god of lost souls okay)
-speaking of lost souls, sometimes Ichigo has to fight things that no one else can see (isnt THAT familiar) as a kami that protects these souls b.c there are things out there that want souls for power, for use, for all sorts of things really, and when they call for help, for guidance wellâŠ.
-All of Karakura remembers the one time Ichigo was truly, honestly angry, A rival god- jealous of the power and belief in this collection of minor kami who would soon grow to Greater Kami with the belief and power behind them, while his own power base and belief waned- attacked the town
If you want belief and worship than work for it! No one is going to trust a god that doesnât have their best interests at hear and shows them that! A god is made by its people it isnât a right! Do your duties if you want belief so much!
The god threw a fit- as gods do- and went after those who called Karakura home.
Ichigo Did Not take that well.
At All.
And well- thereâs a reason Ichigo was the one everybody left the âgodsâ defeats to, a reason that hellâs guardians themselves had seen fit to hand over their Will to him.
Heâs a one man army in and off himself, powered with protective rage, and an entire town that believes in him,â
Not that he has to do anything alone- an entire band of demons stands at his sides, and a god of war and protection, invention and creativity at his back.
-Ichigo wins of course. And OOPS thatâs actually how he ends up upgrading himself to Major Kami, a Greater Kami, the effects rippling outwards through the celestial realms,
-Where Ichigo goes, the others will follow of course. Itâs only a matter of time
So this went from âFriendly Neighborhood Shopkeeper is friends with a vigilante who brings suspect âgiftsââ. to âthis is Ichigo and Kisukeâs relationshipâ, to âIchigo accidentally went back in time to before Kisuke (Mostly) Gets His Sh*t Together, but after the Vizoriods get Hollowfiedâ + âActually, it was dimensional travelâ, to âKisuke is confused by Ichigoâs Everything, but puts up with it because its intrestingâ, to âIchigo is Over Powered, Over Protective, and accidentally becomes a god->Minor Kami->Major Kamiâ.
-Kami Ichigo runs into Kurosaki Masaki. Two people with very similar shades of hair, one a Quincy, one a benefactor of their Clan.
-He spends the entire day with her, talking and simply enjoying her company, missing his own mother.
Maybe it ends in tears, maybe it doesnât, but he blesses her with protection when she leaves. As strong as he can manage.
-He goes to Kisuke and weeps, because itâs been a century. Thatâs his mom. But itâs not. He misses his people, he misses his family.Â
-Kisuke still doesnât know Ichigoâs origin, but he gets the grief, he understands he mourning something, but he doesnât ask. He just lets Ichigo curl into him and cry. He cards his fingers through vivid orange hair and murmurs soothing words and contemplates the source of this emotion.
-The foxes linger around Ichigo for the next several weeks, as Ichigo tries to pull himself together.Â
-When it rains, he wanders the streets, the edges of the river and remembers how this all began, so long along.Â
-Heâs there when his mother marries his father. (He can even see the Red String that binds them)
-Heâs present when they have their first child. Itâs a little girl. With orange hair. Named after him-
Ichigo Kurosaki lives again
-this habit of wandering the river is how he witnesses Grand Fisher show up, and his tiny female namesake tries to âhelpâ the little girl she sees.
-FemIchi has seen spirits wandering the town for ages- their Gods walk among them after all- and she knows its not a human she goes to help. The thing is- a Hollow had never made it into the town before. LilIchi has no idea she needs to be wary of one, though all the kids have been made aware of them and to call out to their gods when they see them
-Masaki realizes what it is and rushes to save her kid. She cries out for the god that had blessed her, who has blessed her line, who had told her to call for him if she needed anything, and she throws herself onto her daughter anyway.
-The Call allows Ichigo to appear that much quicker, and the throws himself between the tiny female version of him and his mother and Grand Fisher.Â
He bleed for it, golden blood of the gods dripping down his chest where he took the hit and then his power surges.
He eradicates the beast, his power rippling over the town and EVERYONE knows their God is furious.
-it does not end in tears- or it does, but thatâs just Masaki happy crying into Ichigoâs chest and tiny child ichi crying into his stomach, pinned there by her mother- but Ichigo BURNS with the need to find out WHO opened that rip and planted Grand Fisher there.
- Ichigo canât, wonât, be in Karakura when his parents meet. Â Because he has too many emotions attached to his mother and if heâs there, then heâll save her before she meets his dad, and that means his little sisters wonât be born
- So heâs not there. Â But Kisuke is. Â Kisuke has very specific instructions on how to handle that particular situation.
- Everybody else has instructions too, because Ichigo isnât in Karakura but itâs his town, so heâs not going to leave it unprotected just because he canât be there while this is happening.
- When Baby Ichigo is born, Kami Ichigo watches from a distance. Â Kisuke is allowed to hold the baby, and that is honest awe on his face.
- Later, he teases Kami Ichigo about how big heâs gotten, and how heâs grown up so fast.
and also because i saw your name in there, @aspynerd
-Ichigo is wreathed in the blazing fury only a god can manifest, as his wrath draws clouds over Karakura, not raining, but the promise of it in the air, and the blackened clouds and rumble ominously.
How dare Aizen sent his experiments into his town? HOW DARE HE?!
-Kisuke was cast out of Seireitei, out of Soul Society because of this man. Ichigo became this because of this man. Itâs been 100 years, more for Ichigo since this all began.
Since Masaki and Isshin met a completely different way, because Masaki isnât infected with a Hollow, Isshin never sacrificed his powers to save her, heâs actually a father, so Ichigo thought Aizen got the hint.
-Aizen is very fascinated with Karakura, which is why he both stays away and monitors it so closely. Grand Fisher was mostly there by its own decisions.
Mostly.
-Ichigo informs Kisuke that he will be heading to Soul Society. Immediately. Thereâs golden fire flickering around his form.
Kisuke smiles and reaches for his Benihime.
-Above Seireitei, the sky bursts open in a blaze of fire. The flames are golden, are orange, are red, are black and they spread across the sky.
Itâs midday, the sight catches the attention of every single shinigami, and of everyone within a hundred miles.
-Yamamoto-soutaicho-dono opens his eyes and shunpos to his balcony, his reiatsu rising. The Shihoin Clan, as one people, stand to their feet and look to the sky. The Shiba, and the Kuchiki follow.
-From the flames emerge two beings, one, vaguely familiar, arrayed in green and crowned with gold, with flames of a deep crimson wrapped around him. His presence brings the rank and file shinigami to their knees, a feminine voice crooning whispers of blood, death and the darkness that will take them away.
-The other is auburn, orange, the colors of a sunrise, decked in black, yet behind him sway nine foxtails of a burnished gold, a shade or two lighter then his own startling vivid hair.
-They vanish in a wisp of smoke and from the Fifth Division, the flames rise and dance.
-Yamamoto hasnât felt an actual honest Great Kami since long before he was a bandit king
-that doesnât mean he doesnât KNOW what heâs looking at. Doesnât mean he KNOWS even as he rushes forward that there is nothing he can do to stop these kami from whatever they are doing
-as it turns out he doesnât even need to catch up with the kami, as they both show back up, perched on the execution hill (the stand canât hold up under the pressure, it denigrates)
-Ichigo has never been one to show off, to mantle, or draw attention to himself. He was the god who laughed and played with kits, who changed to his fox form and was utterly pleased to give the kids brave enough to ask rides across the sky, who fell asleep in his temples and in the park, by the river and woke up with small children snuggled into his fur.
-Standing on the Hill he had once saved Rukia on, he pulls himself up, released the hold on his power, brings every single shinigami to its knees, spreads his tails wide, ears up and alert, eyes glowing, the faint cackles of Shiro echoing over the air
Ichigo watches as every single captain, every lieutenant and every seated officer all the way down the line falls to their knees in front of he and Kisuke. Even Aizen. He is there, in his mortal flesh, not an illusion, but real.
Ichigo feel his fury, his anger and oh. Gin reeks of joy and malicious glee.
He smiles.
Then he speaks.
âI am Ichigo, Kami of Protection, of Remembrance of Lost Souls.âÂ
His voice is Divine, it resonates deep in these mortalâs bones and conveys much of his emotion, of his being. Kisuke is only a minor kami, he doesnât have as much power in his voice, and he is a know entity here. So Ichigo is the one who speaks.Â
He doesnât turn, when he continues with introductions, but he can feel the way his flames blend with Kisukeâs presence. gold, red, black, orange â
âHe is mine,â Ichigo Declares, in ringing tones, âa Kami of Protection and War, of Creativity and Invention.â
He canât quite make out Soi Fonâs expression, actually, he canât quite make out any of their expressions, but he canât help but wonder if they recognize Kisuke.Â
Benihime is partially manifested in Kisukeâs aura, singing hymns or blood, of death, of war and he knows they can all feel it.
Ichigo waits patiently, as Yamamoto-jiji gathers his composure and steps forward, his hands white around the disguised handle of his zanpakuto.
âKami-sama, by what reason, what purpose have you come to Soul Society?â
Oh, points for politeness and an actual sign of respect from the old man!Â
Ichigoâs smile widens into a grin. He can feel his elongated canines press lightly against his lips.
âThere is one among you, who stands apart and plots your demise,â Ichigo states as fact, watching as his words unsettle them and as Aizen stills in his entirety. âThere is one among you who follows him devotedly, in the name of justice, and they have trespassed against me and mine. Thus-âÂ
Ichigo pauses, allowing his words to settle in the air, watching carefully as the shinigami reacts to his words and allows a greater portion of his aura to press down heavily on both Aizen and Tosen.Â
â-I have decided to either take those two and punish them as I please, or you can keep them and I will burn Seireitei to the ground. Or rather,â Ichigo continued, ignoring the reactions of the people in front of him to turn to Kisuke with a gentle smile. âI would let Kisuke decide, considering his origins as a mortal shinigami.â
Ichigo pulls in as much of his aura, still allowing the glow around him, but safe enough for the shinigami to move in his presence, although carefully.
He pulls Kisuke along with him, allowing them to manifest several feet in front of Yamamoto.
âAnd considering,â Ichigo says, entirely pleasant, with only a hint of teeth, âThat Aizen and Tosen are responsible for the circumstance surrounding he and his peopleâs exile in the first place, along with your Central 46, I think I would be a nice gift to my partner. To give him some closure.â
Beside him, Kisuke raises his head, allowing the full features of his face to be clearly seen. A cheerful grin stretched his lips.
âItâs been a long time, everyone!â
 Blood red flames lick gently at his form and Aizenâs face contorts into a furious snarl.
And oh, Ichigo knows it has to burn, for Aizen to see one he has pinned the fall on, standing here, alive and the god that Aizen fashioned himself to be. A god in truth. Ascended and earned.
Ichigo smiles, canines flashing, sharp so very inhuman. His aura ripples in warning, and he sees many flinch. But they are not his concern, no. Instead he watches this shinigami who wishes to pull apart The Balance.
Kisuke basks in the shock he feel ripple across the many souls in front of him. Benihime singing her songs of war and blood, of promise, of a predator waiting for the perfect moment.
âCome now, Aizen. You didnât think you would get away with it did you? Framing myself and my own for your experiments?â
Aizen flinches, and many eyes are pinning him in place.
In a moment, the facade falls. He knows he cannot lie when a Great Kami lays his sins out for all to see. He straightens, pulls his glasses free, and sneers.Â
âWhy are you considered a kami, when you deserve so little, when I have worked so long for it?â
Kisuke laughs, and it ripples through the air, like the screams of battle, the moans of the dying, the sounds of war drums in the air.
âYou have not earned your place. You who wish to rip The Balance apart, who wish to see this world end. We will not allow it.â
Aizen snarls, a hand snapping through the air âWhat has the Balance you speak of done for anyone?! What kind of world lives like this? It is wrong! And I will change it! I will be your god and make this a better place!â
A flash of eyes meeting and Ichigo speaks, his voice ringing with Power, bringing Aizen to his knees as his power focuses on him âNo Aizen. You will not be. The Balance follows Fate, will shift as it is needed. You are Interfering child and it is time to stop.â
Shen Yuan is actually a cuddle bug. Had a ton of Luo Binghe body pillows back home not just for the merch reasons but because he needs something in his bed to squeeze when he's sleeping.
Since he started having weekly planning (boozing and bitching) sessions with Shang Qinghua, he sometimes accidentally sleeps over. After he's finished his paperwork and started on some of Qinghua's, sometimes the wine gets to him and he's just so sleepy. Or, sometimes, Shang Qinghua will let the other read some of the short stories he had written early on in his transmigration when fighting to not lose his mind. Shen Yuan would critique them, before harassing him to publish them anonymously.
("Oh, so you are capable of writing more than papapa trash."
"Aw, you like it?"
"...it's good." đ)
But by the time he finished them, it would be so late, and it didn't make much sense to leave when a bed was right there. And Shang Qinghua had custom ordered goose feather pillows and blankets, which was so unlike his porcelain pillows, and Shang Qinghua himself is right there. Therefore. The man himself becomes his new object of comfort when asleep.
At first, Shang Qinghua used to just wave it off. Then he started to playfully complain and tease about how clingy Shen Yuan was in his sleep, and Shen Yuan would grumble and turn bright red and turn his back on him... only for them to wake up with Shen Yuan basically curled around the other like an octopus in the morning. And then it just became normal because, of course, they really only had each other, so like why not? It brought them both comfort and two people could totally cuddle platonically.
Before long, more than half the week, Shen Yuan was spending the night over, and some rare times, Shang Qinghua goes to the bamboo house. Shang Qinghua learns when to give up his piles of paperwork when his friend starts getting tired and to get more fucking rest himself. Otherwise, Shen Yuan will just walk in, curl up on his lap with his head resting on Shang Qinghua's shoulder, and fall asleep there.
("Really? I ordered those extra stuffed pillows for you, you know. Go to bed, I'll be done in a minute."
"Ugh, shut up, sleeping isn't the same when you're out here ordering new fighting posts for Bai Zhan Peak for the 5th time this month. I'll just wait here for you to finish."
"In my lap...? That's kinda gay--" đ
"Qinghua."
"Shutting up and finishing the work." )
Those of An Ding Peak, being the peak that was basically the backbone of the entire sect and kept it running through sweat, blood, and some other bodily fluids, knew how to keep secrets from other peaks. You don't become a disciple there without knowing how to keep your mouth shut when outsiders are around. But between each other, whispers abound.
"I don't think Shen-shibo has left in two days," one disciple murmurs to another when they see Shen Qingqiu flouncing around yet again, ordering one of the disciples to bring some two small meals to their Shifu's rooms for a late dinner.
"Do you think they're... you know?" Another asks quietly after delivering some new contracts to their Shifu. The door to his bedroom had been slightly ajar, and through the cracks, green leaf-pattern outer robes were on the ground.
("I'm not sleeping in these, okay! You should have written in pajamas while you were busy adding in chocolate, and whatever else doesn't exist in Ancient China, to PIDW!" đ
"Oh my god, just sleep in your inner robes, then! Better yet, borrow some of my clothes. But you're sure as fuck not sleeping naked on my silk sheets, bro!")
The disciples on Qing Jing Peak certainly notice when the bamboo hut isn't occupied for the night. At first, they just thought that their Shizun was extra silent in his house now, but once, Ming Fan had to go to Shizun for a small issue late in the evening, and he wasn't there. Nor was he there the next night, or the next. They're not sure where he is, or what he's doing, but he's always there in the morning, so they don't worry too much.
On the fourth night, Shizun was home, but Shang-shishu was also there. And... stayed there. The lights went out, and the disciples who were sent out to spy came back and reported that Shang-shishu had never left.
("He... is Shang-shishu still in there?"
"I think so. M-maybe he stayed in the extra bedroom?"
"..." đ
"..." đ)
The disciples eye each other and simultaneously agree to never let those outside the peak know about this. When crossing paths with A Ding disciples, there are discreet looks and nods of understanding, and they pass each other by with not a word.
(Shen Qingqiu and Shang Qinghua?)
----
One bright and sunny morning, Liu Qingge slams his way into Shang Qinghua's office. He is followed by Mu Qingfang, and Yue Qingyuan, all needing to speak with Shang Qingqua to figure out Shen Qingqiu's whereabouts. He wasn't in his bamboo hut this morning, nor was he anywhere else that he typically frequented.
Mu Qingfang because it was time for his bimonthly check-up to ensure that his treatments with Liu Qingge were progressing as they should. Yue Qingyuan due to peak matters (though, technically, he could do it on his own, but if he got to see Xiao Jiu--). Liu Qingge because the beast that he had dropped on his doorstep yesterday afternoon had yet to be removed, which was odd. And also, he had ordered new fighting posts a week ago, and usually they would have been delivered by now, which was also odd.
Wei Qingwei and Qi Qingqi also follow along because they could smell drama. And also they were a tiny bit worried about their shixiong. Whenever he disappeared for too long, it was likely that he had gotten kidnapped or poisoned. Again.
Shang Qinghua scrambles out of his bed chambers with hastily thrown-on outer robes, blurry-eyed, screaming "Whoosit!?" He barely has time to open his mouth before he is instantly bombarded with several requests, most of them pertaining to the apparent missing peak lord. Liu Qingge also asks about his fighting posts, which Shang Qinghua pretends not to hear.
"We've not seen him in a few days," Mu Qingfang says to him over the noise, with an apologetic smile for waking up his overworked shixiong. "I know you two are somewhat friends, so if you see him soon, please tell him he really needs to come to Qian Cao for his next physical."
"Wait, who's missing? Ah, please don't touch that." The last part is directed at Qi Qingqi, who is combing through his shelves.
"Shen Qingqiu is apparently missing, according to this bunch," Qi Qingqi says, smirking at him. She pokes the figurine he told her not to touch. Oh well, she'll realize why he told her not to touch it soon enough.
"Shen Qingqiu? What do you mean, he's--" Shang Qinghua instantly closes his mouth, hoping that no one heard that. "I-I mean, yeah, I'll let you guys know if he stops by! No problem, will absolutely send him your way--"
"What was that?" Liu Qingge narrows his eyes at him. "You were about to say something. You know where he is. Tell me."
Shang Qinghua begins to sweat immediately. "Whaaat? No, you must have heard wrong. Seriously, I'll let you guys know if I catch him. Now, if you guys can be on your way--" He starts trying to herd people out.
Unbeknownst to him, his bedroom door cracks open and a figure, eyes barely open, shuffles out and heads towards him. Wei Qingwei, idling in the office, is the first to notice the person wearing another set of An Ding Blue outer robes over soft Qing Jing Green inner ones. His jaw drops.
"Qinghua?" A soft, sleepy voice murmurs in his ear, arms circling around his waist and a head laying on his shoulder from behind. "It's too early, come back to bed." A small yawn.
Shang Qinghua can feel himself freeze with a nervous smile on his face.
As well as countless of others from the AI generator community. Just talking about how "inaccessible art" is, I decided why not show how wrong these guys are while also helping anyone who actually wants to learn.
Here is the first one ART TEACHERS! There are plenty online and in places like youtube.
đșHere is my list:
Proko (Free, mostly teaches anatomy and how to draw people. But does have art talks and teaches the basics.)
Marc Brunet (Free but he does have other classes for a cheap price. Use to work for Blizzard and teaches you everything)
Aaron Rutten (free, tips about art, talks about art programs and the best products for digital art)
BoroCG (free, teaches a verity of art mediums from 3D modeling to digital painting. As well as some tips that can be used across styles)
Jesse J. Jones (free, talks about animating)
Jesus Conde (free, teaches digital painting and has classes in Spanish)
Mohammed Agbadi (free, he gives some advice in some videos and talks about art)
Ross Draws (free, he does have other classes for a good price. Mostly teaching character designs and simple backgrounds.)
SamDoesArts (free, gives good advice and critiques)
Drawfee Show (free, they do give some good advice and great inspiration)
The Art of Aaron Blaise ( useful tips for digital art and animation. Was an animator for Disney. Mostly nature art)
Bobby Chiu ( useful tips and interviews with artist who are in the industry or making a living as artist)
Sinix Design (has some tips on drawing people)
Winged canvas (art school for free on a verity of mediums)
Bob Ross (just a good time, learn how to paint, as well as how too relax when doing art. "there are no mistakes only happy accidents", this channel also provides tips from another artist)
Scott Christian Sava (Inspiration and provides tips and advice)
Pikat (art advice and critiques)
Drawbox (a suggested cheap online art school, made of a community of artist)
Skillshare (A cheap learning site that has art classes ranging from traditional to digital. As well as Animation and tutorials on art programs. All under one price, in the USA it's around $34 a month)
Human anatomy for artist (not a video or teacher but the site is full of awesome refs to practice and get better at anatomy)
Second part BOOKS, I have collected some books that have helped me and might help others.
đHere is my list:
The "how to draw manga" series produced by Graphic-sha. These are for manga artist but they give great advice and information.
"Creating characters with personality" by Tom Bancroft. A great book that can help not just people who draw cartoons but also realistic ones. As it helps you with facial ques and how to make a character interesting.
"Albinus on anatomy" by Robert Beverly Hale and Terence Coyle. Great book to help someone learn basic anatomy.
"Artistic Anatomy" by Dr. Paul Richer and Robert Beverly Hale. A good book if you want to go further in-depth with anatomy.
"Directing the story" by Francis Glebas. A good book if you want to Story board or make comics.
"Animal Anatomy for Artists" by Eliot Goldfinger. A good book for if you want to draw animals or creatures.
"Constructive Anatomy: with almost 500 illustrations" by George B. Bridgman. A great book to help you block out shadows in your figures and see them in a more 3 diamantine way.
"Dynamic Anatomy: Revised and expand" by Burne Hogarth. A book that shows how to block out shapes and easily understand what you are looking out. When it comes to human subjects.
"An Atlas of animal anatomy for artist" by W. Ellenberger and H. Dittrich and H. Baum. This is another good one for people who want to draw animals or creatures.
Etherington Brothers, they make books and have a free blog with art tips.
đAs for Supplies, I recommend starting out cheap, buying Pencils and art paper at dollar tree or 5 below. If you want to go fancy Michaels is always a good place for traditional supplies. They also get in some good sales and discounts. For digital art, I recommend not starting with a screen art drawing tablet as they are usually more expensive.
For the Best art Tablet I recommend either Xp-pen, Bamboo or Huion. Some can range from about 40$ to the thousands.
đ»As for art programs here is a list of Free to pay.
Clip Studio paint ( you can choose to pay once or sub and get updates. Galaxy, Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Android, or Chromebook device. )
Procreate ( pay once for $9.99 usd, IPAD & IPHONE ONLY)
Blender (for 3D modules/sculpting, animation and more. Free)
PaintTool SAI (pay but has a 31 day free trail)
Krita (Free)
mypaint (free)
FireAlpaca (free)
Aseprite ($19.99 usd but has a free trail, for pixel art Windows & macOS)
Drawpile (free and for if you want to draw with others)
IbisPaint (free, phone app ONLY)
Medibang (free, IPAD, Android and PC)
NOTE: Some of these can work on almost any computer like Clip and Sai but others will require a bit stronger computer like Blender. Please check their sites for if your computer is compatible.
So do with this information as you will but as you can tell there are ways to learn how to become an artist, without breaking the bank. The only thing that might be stopping YOU from using any of these things, is YOU.
I have made time to learn to draw and many artist have too. Either in-between working two jobs or taking care of your family and a job or regular school and chores. YOU just have to take the time or use some time management, it really doesn't take long to practice for like an hour or less. YOU also don't have to do it every day, just once or three times a week is fine.
Hope this was helpful and have a great day.
"also apologies for any spelling or grammar errors, I have Dyslexia and it makes my brain go XP when it comes to speech or writing"
Boosting this in case any of the programs and books suggested are useful.
All the photos on this tumblr ad the animal photo reference site I run is another resource available for artists to use!
As long as youâre not using AI to create your art, you can reference / trace / draw / recombine / make any sort of art you want, with any of the photos, for free.
There's also MORPHO, a really good book series on anatomy by Michel Lauricella, with very clear explanations and sketches!
And for pose references, there's @adorkastock who shares a ton of them for free, with different models and props, and her website is amazing <3 you can also buy pose packs from her.
Heartbreakingly, My baby Qais could die at any moment, and this is not drama or exaggeration. If he dies, remember your silence. I will never forgive those who saw my posts and kept scrolling away.
I sit beside his fragile body watching his wound worsen, counting breaths instead of blessings, praying the next moment is not his last. Please donât let my child fadeâshare his story and donate now.
Please, I am begging youâyour donation can bring Qais back inside those doors and save him. Donât let money decide whether my baby heals or keeps suffering in silence.
I repeat this with a shattered heart: I will not forgive anyone who sees my post and keeps scrolling away. My baby is fading. Pleaseâshare and donate now. Donât let your silence be the reason Qais disappears.
Please donât let this become a goodbye. Share his story. Donate whatever you can. Your support today could be the thin line between my babyâs life and an irreversible loss.
The film repositions this for comedy, but in Return of the King, thereâs this scene:
Gandalf, outside the door: oh hang on, just a sec. for reasons I wonât explain; this is about to get super geopolitical. Try not to spill too many beans in front of Denethor.
Pippin: Do I have that many of them?
Denethor: right, you ignorant child! Under my skilled interrogation I shall force you to spill the beans.
Pippin: I know three things about beans and will share them (under skilled interrogation, discourses for a full hour on beans, the preparation thereof, the cultivation thereof, and the Shireâs various thoughts on beans in general)
Gandalf: (pretends to be annoyed) denethor if you wanted SENSIBLE discourse on geopolitical beans I am RIGHT HERE
Denethor, fascinated: no! I already know everything youâre about to say and Iâm NOT accepting criticism at this time. And I genuinely have no idea what this guyâs going to say next - do you have ANY idea how fun that is for me
Pippin: now the classic market share of baked beans inna tin belongs to Heinz, but I myself am a Branston man, because - referencing my previous statements - if you want beans, you do NOT need to faff about with a tin opener. The decision to retain the pop-top -
Gandalf: this is unbelievable. denethor, can we -
Denethor: BZT! â let him cook
(Later)
Pippin: are you mad at me for talking about beans for an hour
Gandalf: it was, in a weird way, the best move on the chessboard, and so politically savvy that it furthered three of my agendas, and was also really funny to listen to. Denethor has the long sight; he is accustomed to reading the minds and hearts of men at a long distance, these long years. Actually, maybe this has jaded him as much as anything else. To meet a mind whose umwelt, whose very nature, he has not already fully plumbed is not just an act of political obfuscation on our part; for Denethor himself, could such fresh provocation burst his stagnant social bubble, and save him from being so terminally fucking online? Might we have uncovered the potential of a Theoden thematic parallel? Much to ponder. The only unfortunate bit was that you kept freezing up and looking guilty when Denethor asked you about containers
Pippin: you said not to spill any beans and I was worried heâd trip me up
Gandalf: it is, as ever, like talking to a fucking genie with you people
Cigarettes in this world were different. Odd, I guess. I had never really paid attention to the smell of cigarette smoke, before I ended up here, but I knew it hadn't been? Exactly... well, pleasant? I guess? Not to say that all the ones that existed here WERE, mind you. It was still smokey. The cheap ones an overwhelming incense. They called it "stepping out to pray" for a reason. You ended up smelling like you spent hours in a temple during prayer.
But the smell that lingered here? Clung delicately to cloth and the walls? It was more of a... warm spice. I could never place which ones. There was, yes, a smokey undertone, but? It more or less added to the complex almost taste scent of spices and tea. Dark and rich. Lingering. The sort of thing that takes time to develop.
The entire house was like that. Well, compound really. Austere and ageless, time did not seem to touch the inside of these walls. Did not seem to dare try. It was a blessed relief. A place of respite. All soft, dream-like edges and beautiful gardens. Meandering halls and tasteful, understated art. Peaceful company. Good food and tea.
A lingering smell of smokey spices.
My sister was up to her Protagonist shit again. It was... exhausting. I knew, intellectually, I should be back home. Playing my part. The ever supportive Big Sister archetype. Endlessly kind. Endlessly patient. Supportive to a fault. Smiling and smiling no matter WHAT bullshit nonsense that child pulls. No matter HOW she shames our house or causes trouble I must undo.
But honestly? I can't. I just... can't.
The idiotic little shit SLAPPED A PRINCE. Thank the heavens it wasn't one of the Emperors favorite sons or we'd all be dead, but still! Who the fresh hell taught her that was acceptable?! No. Just.... No.
Let Father deal with this for once. If he insists on spoiling and infantilizing that child? HE can reap the rewards. Her MOTHER can parent for once, instead of sitting around being generically "perfect". I am not there. This is beyond my pay grade. Frankly? I don't even HAVE the power to smooth this over. I could, technically. But not at any cost I'm willing to PAY.
Not for my sister's "she not like other girls", "oh? How interesting", fucking MOMENT.
No WONDER the Elder Sister character disappears in the later half of the royal route, only to turn back up in the palace. She's a freaking Consort! To a letch! Powerful one, yes. But STILL! And all just to protect a sister who not only doesn't notice? But doesn't even attend her wedding?
No.
ABSOLUTELY Not.
I lift the (frankly beautiful) cup of tea I was served to drink while I wait. Breathe in it's rich, soothing scent. Let the steam curl against my face as I stare out the open sliding doors at the fall garden. It borders on too cold for this... but not quite.
The tea is warm. The snacks are warm. I was brought a beautifully embroidered blanket to rest across my lap. Have a robe draped over my shoulders. It is... meditative, almost. Just me and the quiet sigh of vibrant leaves on the breeze. The world muffled. Warm dispite the cold. Ah... the garden really is... so beautiful....
I let it soothe me. Drain away my anger and frustration at the world. Running water, birds in the trees, insects. The silence is so wonderfully full. Alive. I have to keep my mind from bitterly comparing it to constant dramatics filled mess of the gardens at home. Focus on the here and now. This is NICE. Focus on this.
Quiet, near silent footsteps approach. Gait even and steady. Most men his age meander or shuffle, but like the home he keeps? Kaito seems almost untouchable by time. As though not even the Gods dare. I honestly don't blame them. He can be quite commanding when he wishes. Good thing he's rather laid back.
"Come to escape the treasonous?" A modulated voice teases. Wry and dry as salt mines. "Your fool sister is aware that actions have consequences, yes? Or has that idiot father finally succeeded in spoiling her back into infancy? Traditionally, we do not let such young children wander."
Kaito's voice isn't terribly high or husky and low. It is... smooth. Controlled. Like running your fingers across fine fabric. I could honestly listen to him read a phone book and be pleased. He would have made a killing as a voice actor, in my first life. Or reading audio books. Something.
"No retort? Witty defense? Oh dear. You are exhausted, aren't you, my friend?" He noted, dropping the teasing edge. Stepping inside the viewing room and calmly sliding the door shut behind him, I could almost feel him observing me. "When was the last time you slept? Properly. You're a mess, my friend, look utterly exhausted. Has it become that bad?"
Worse actually. They keep doubling down. Doing stupid "girl power!!!1!", poorly thought out, works in a 21th century DEMOCRACY but sure as shit NOT HERE, so called "power moves". I was? So, so fucking tired. Legitimately scared for the servants at this point. Because, honestly? Let stupid reap it's own reward. I TRIED. I was dismissed and ignored. Taken for granted.
Accused of JEALOUSY!
Like? Oh, HELL NO. I know exactly where THAT train of thought ends. I've read enough of the Genre to cut THAT shit off at the pass. Not Today, Satan!
So? Fuck um. I Tried. But I REFUSE to set myself ablaze to keep the ungrateful warm. Especially when they have both coats and just want to roast marshmallows. But... the SERVANTS? They are innocent. Wrong house, shit masters. Half are basically indentured! Much to my outrage.
We HAVE the funds to pay them better. But do I control those funds? Dispite doing ALL THE WORK? Managing the House? No. Of course not. THAT would be Protagonist's mother. And we really need that money for more jewelry and pretty outfits for her daughter. Fuck the household, I guess.
Things are... likely to get bad.
Because I have made the painful, painful choice? To let GO.
I can't keep holding up the house. I am NOT Atlas. Was not granted a second chance, just to throw it away. But at the same time? The servants. Not the enabling, vindictive, lapdogs that circle my family like vultures. The ACTUAL servants. Gardeners, cooks, maids. The no one's that they will not remember.
Somebody has to protect THEM. It must be me. Or no one else WILL.
I'm hoping Kaito will help.
Please, heavens, let this be enough to help. Then... THEN I can figure out how to protect myself. Hopefully. Maybe. Though I am probably running quickly out of time.
"Dear one, are you with me? You are drifting. I need you to come back. Focus on me. The sound of my voice. Can you hear me? Do you see the leaves? Focus on their color. See the reds and yellows beyond them. Like fire, is it not? Can you smell the tea? Dear one, what kind is it? Come here. Back to your body. That's right..."
Smooth and soothing. Closer then what felt like a blink ago. Huh. Yes. The leaves are quite lovely, aren't they? And... and this is red cliff, first harvest, right? Ah. I'm still so bad at telling certain types of tea apart. How mean. He knows this.
.....my brain feels mushy. But back in my body. I manage to scrounge up the edges of a smile. Gods, I am so tired. Worn so thin. But I... I can't rest. Not yet. Kaito kneels beside me, too dignified and reserved to show the full weight of his concern. But it practically howls from his body language. The sheer closeness he has allowed. I must have truely scared him there.
I would tease him, about using my notoriously bad memory of frankly near identical teas against me... but I just... just can't.
There isn't enough energy left in me. I think the soothing nature of his home, his company, has been my undoing. My brain has finally declared me safe enough to break down. Ha ha... perhaps that is why I've been avoiding coming here for so long. I knew I would break down. Would not want to leave.
Unspeakably rude of me.
"The rumors have not done the situation justice, it seems. You seem at your wits end. My dear, you cannot continue like this. Please, let me help. I realize it is overstepping any number of boundaries... but..." the weight of his concern; the words he was struggling to find, to phrase the unkind more palatably, hung between us. "Please, my friend. You are struggling. I can not bear it."
I felt exhausted tears well up. Days of being overwhelmed. Threatened on all sides. Wondering if today would be the day, that the royal gaurds kicked down our gates and executed us all. Struggling against the blindly arrogant and willful actions of my family. The very SAME family that treated me as more of a secretary then as any kind of kin.
Where would I be? If I had not met Kaito, all those years ago? Visiting his cousin, who was marrying a friend of my cousin. Even then, I was desperately trying to keep the name of our family from being filth. My father could not tear himself away from the whims of my sister or his pretty new wife. My grandmother somehow uncaring, tyrannical and doting, indulgent and yet strict.
I was the ONLY ONE who could and WOULD bother to represent us.
Was called frivolous and silly for it. For "seeking parties" to go "play at". As though it was not stressful. As though it was not far beyond my training and skills. Only the concerned eyes of cousins from other houses and guidance of matriarchs from BETTER houses, let me survive at ALL.
Grandmother still does not understand why she no longer gets invitations. Why her name is mud in the eyes of other elders. They did not take kindly, to her abandoning her granddaughter to do HER and HER DAUGHTER-IN-LAW'S job for them. But... there I was. Doing my best. Decorated like a little doll, uncomfortable and quite.
Kaito didn't even need to speak to me. Would never have approached such a nervous, unchaperoned child. Forget being simply a young unmarried girl. I was quite LITERALLY a girl. A child. He never would have so much a acknowledged my existence normally. It simply wasn't done. He was after all, an unmarried man of considerable power.
Still is.
But he needed to speak with his cousin. Who, quite rudely, would NOT take a hint. Too wrapped up in his new bride. Thus forcing Kaito to come over. Bless him, he still tried to politely ignore me. So as not to put pressure on a nervous child. But, once again, Cousin Dense As A Brick struck. Introduced us before merrily swanning off to go talk with friends, taking his wife, my cousin, and ONLY CHAPERONE with him.
We were both baffled and aghast. Horrified. It was the sort of gods awful that somehow found its way back around to being funny. Granted, only because we were in a highly visible location surround by other part goers. But still. Why don't you just? Pick me up and dump me in his LAP next? Good gods man.
Needless to say? The roasting was merciless and immediate. He escorted me to a friend of his. Terrifying woman. We had a grand time roasting terrible behavior and I learned SO MUCH. They were Hilarious. Clearly appreciated having an audience who could actually grasp their sense of humor. I left with letter buddies.
Acquaintances that became friends.
Kaito became my single BEST friend. A refuge, a mentor, a confidant. I trusted... TRUST, the man more then any single soul I've ever met. It helps, I guess, that he meets me where I AM not where he assumes I SHOULD be. Doesn't baby me. Infantalize me. Nor does he treat me in any way that would set off a "creep" alarm in my head. He's just... Kaito.
All cunning eyes and slight smiles, dry humor and cutting wit. Ever the rougish yet refined strategist. Bad boy of the highly polite. All the high court ladies still sigh over him.
Grey eyes that bordered on black filled my vision. That whisp of soft silver hair that never wanted to stay put, forever falling across his brow. My view of the garden cut off. When had he moved? Had I drifted back into my head again? It seemed so.
This close, I could not help but notice his eyelashes were still the rich dark of his youth. Few strands of silver yet touching his eyebrows. He'd had a beautiful shade of black hair it seems. It was rather striking....
A pinch on the back of my hand. Bright pain lancing through the fog. Kaito's hands cupped mine, kept me from jostling my cup. Stopping me from dropping now cold tea into my lap. Taking it from me gently, he set it aside. Thumb rubbing the skin he had abused. His face was apologetic.
"And that marks the second time you've drifted away on me, dear. I'm afraid I'm no longer asking. I'm will be helping. This is entirely unacceptable. What in the gods name have those idiots done to you?" His voice was soft. Attention focused on me. I felt... felt so very fragile.
Not weak. Fragile. Like glass under strain. Bones near their breaking point. That final support beam struggling with weight beyond its abilities to bear. He was treating me like I was wounded. Was I? Perhaps I was. I certainly felt that way.
I just... just wanted someone ELSE to take care of it all.
Just for a bit.
Was that so wrong?
I was TIRED. Felt the tears coming back. Here I was, coming to a dear friend, about to ask him to take on a burden for me. Risk enraged royalty just to protect the innocent. Being unspeakably emotional and RUDE. And I... and I... I just....
"Shhhhh. None of this. You've done so much. Have been so, so brave, my girl. No more. It's alright. I'm here. I'll take care of everything." He soothed. Soft and unbearably kind. All I could do was nod. Agree. "There we are, good girl. You'll stay here for now, all right? No more stressful journeys to that house. I'll send someone to gather your things. We can have everything dealt with after a rest."
His hands, boldly, came up to cup my cheeks. I found I didn't care. It felt nice. His palms warm and dry, gently cradling.
I wouldn't be able to stay. He knew that. I knew that. It simply WAS. We weren't related, weren't married. I had brought no chaperone. I... gods, I wanted too. Badly. But I couldn't. I just needed help with the servants. Told him as much. Words rambled disjointedly between us as I struggled to get them all out.
"Ah, but the solution then is simple, isn't it?" He said, looking almost amused. "You just need to marry me."
Blinking, the thought didn't quite process. My confusion clear enough on my face for him to continue.
"Every time I see you, you are suffering some fresh new indignity from that house. Some brand new insult. Isn't it better here? I know you enjoy it. The servants adore you. I adore you." The hands on my cheeks shifted, just slightly, barely daring to let their thumbs stroke just slightly."
"I would give you everything, dearest."
This... did not feel political. Nor some ploy to just protect the servants, offered by a dear friend. When... when had things changed? I knew for a fact, he held no such interests in me as a child. I'd seen him kill a man over the mere suspicion of such things. Yet... it's also not like I'd grown UP in front of him. We talked mostly over letters.
It was harder to remember my physical age through those. Since I didn't exactly talk or write like the child I had appeared. And talking to each other, being friends with each other, for going on a decade... certainly WAS a good foundation for a relationship, wasn't it? I didn't know any more. How old... how old even was I?
His hands were so warm.
Felt strong and reliable, cupping my face. A reserved and refined (if a bit mischievous), pillar of strength that I could finally lean on. Offering up a tempting dream world where I wouldn't have to think anymore. Wouldn't have to deal with troubles or reality. Just... just endless, beautiful, painting-like peace and serenity.
No more drama... ever again.
Wouldn't that be nice?
Didn't I deserve to rest?
Who else, really, could I even see myself marrying? Realistically? Some untested lout? Character suspect and temperament unknown? What prospects, what LOYALTY, could they even offer? Would they even respect my boundaries? Could they ever hope to match his knowledge of my likes and dislikes? Could... could I ever hope to TRUST them? Like I did, Kaito?
I felt my expression soften. Decided to be a little bold too. Leaning forward, I let my hands come up to lightly grip his arms. Still so corded with muscles. The man never did skip out on his training, be it archery or swordsmenship. My forhead rest lightly against his, that wayward strand tickling my skin just a bit. His breath smelled of those smokey spiced cigarettes while his skin, which I had never dared take note of, smelled of daily things.
He held so perfectly still, as though afraid to spook me. Seemed startled by my boldness. How cute~
I couldn't stop the grin if I tried.
"Yes, yes, mock the old man. Impertinent minx. So scandalous!" He teased, finally unfreezing after gathering his thoughts. That plotting spark back in his eyes. "Whatever shall I do? My guest takes advantage of me! Oh dear, oh no~ I fear for my honor! You will have to make an honest man of me, I'm afraid."
The laugh burst out of me, feeling a lot like relief. Gods, I'd missed this. Just... just sass and light hearted teasing. Droll humor and wit. No nightmare politics or angry royals. No trying to manage the unmanageable. Not responsible for any but myself. Yes... yes this was exactly what I needed, wasn't it?
Honestly? FUCK the Plot. FUCK the Protagonist and her nightmare social blunders! I was gonna get OUT of that house. Live for ME. Marry a nice, reliable man. Have a beautiful home. Maybe get some pets. Eat snacks! Laze about and enjoy the gardens! Have some gods damned PEACE for once! It sounded perfect.
I told Kaito there were no take backs. Congratulations on the terrible idea! I was HIS problem now. Have fun with your new, future in-laws!
Laughter was the best thing I'd felt in weeks. One of the maids I liked was already on standby and ready to lead me to a guest room. We bickered light heartedly, him groaning in exaggerated ways about his TERRIBLE fate of having to deal with IDIOTS! Oh, Darling, how COULD you?! Ha! Suffer.
It... gods, it was beautiful. Dreamlike. A perfect, story book solution to my woes.
Really, if I did not TRUST Kaito so much? I would have been suspicious.
But I did.
So I left with the maid, a smile on my face. Relieved. Happy. Engaged to a "good man". The most TRUSTWORTHY man I knew.
Thus, did not see, like a mask, his expression slide away. His open body language close off, like then slamming of a crypt door, locking the dead back inside. The warmth draining from the room as I left it, as though I had taken every trace with me. Leaving only the cold, cold THING behind. One that wore the face of a man.
A handsome man, yes, but an empty one.
One that was Not Pleased.
"I distinctly recall," his voice cutting the silence like an assassin slitting a throat, sudden and violent yet just as impersonal. "That I ordered her not to be bothered. For you to get rid of that... thing, in a timely manner."
Shadows dropped from the roof. Then too their knees. Kneeling, loyal unto death, before the one that commands them. Many are injured. They do not shake, for all that they have failed. Will likely die for it.
"Give me one good reason to let you live. A single one." The empire's spy master, the Winter Ghost, asks the room at large. Picking up his beloved's tea cup, considering it as he talks. He almost wants to destroy it. So no one else can ever use it. Touch it with their filthy hands. "Well?"
His assassins continue to kneel. Silent. There is no defense for their failure.
Three die instantly, the rest are not so lucky.
He decides to keep the cup.
Running his thumb along the rim where her mouth touched it, he steps out, closer to the garden and slides the door shut. It truely is a lovely view. Behind him, his servants behind the familiar work of cleaning up. Kneeling in the dirt before him, the next set of assassins.
"Let me make my self clear this time. I don't care how you do it, how painful or how slow, but they are to be gone by the time I am wed, understood? If that useless chit or her idiot father darken my door, you will long for the mercy that is death. Get out. And do not DARE fail me."
A quite chorus of confirmation, then like leaves... scattered on the wind.
He was named winter victory. For his mother's success in seizing control of her poor, late, husband's house. Born into the cold, it has always remained. Is it any suprise he covets warmth? In any form he can have it. Every form.
A pity though... that he won't be needing his plans.
Hello, my name is Nadin. Iâm from Gaza. Iâm a graphic design graduate, a wifeâand now, a mother.
I finished my design studies just before the war began. I had dreams of starting a small studio, of creating art that told stories. I used to think about colors and fonts and the future.
Then, the war came. And the future became something we tried to hold onto, moment by moment.
On October 22, 2023, I learned I was pregnant when a missile destroyed my husbandâs family home, killing 25 membersâhis mother, siblings, nieces and nephewsâentire branches of our family in seconds.
We were displaced twice. Everything was goneâhome, safety, routine, rest.
A few weeks later, I gave birth to our daughter. There was no crib, no celebrationânot even stillness. But she arrived, quietly and beautifully. In her eyes I saw something I hadnât felt in weeks: life that still wanted to grow.
Now, our days are shaped by decisions that could dismantle the future we are trying to build together.
Today, Israelâs government is discussing plans for a full military occupation of the Gaza Strip, including Gaza City and southern regions. The stated aim: to eliminate Hamas and later hand governing control to allied Arab forcesânot Israelâbut with no clear path to peace or normalcy.
The humanitarian fallout is devastating. More than 61,000 Palestinians have died in this war; hunger and malnutrition are rising sharply. Hospitals in north Gaza have shut down, and 193 people have now died of starvation, nearly half of them children.
Aid remains blocked, water is scarce, and many risk dying of hunger or disease long before future promises arrive.
We Donât Know What Comes Next
Thereâs no clear path forwardâonly uncertainty for our daughterâs life and our ability to survive another day.
My name is Nadin, and Iâm a mother from Gaza.
How You Can Help
Iâm asking for supportânot for comfort, but for survival:
Help us meet basic needs so we can breathe, heal, and preserve a world for our daughter.
Support us as I try to stand again on my own feetâeven a glimmer of stability matters.
If youâve read this far, thank you. If you can giveâthank you. If you canâtâjust sharing this post is a lifeline I will never forget.
Oops, I never uploaded this one to Tumblr (which I only realized when someone else did, but then was kind enough to tag me, thank you)!
This is the comic that kickstarted my obsession with telling stories with as few panels as I could (usually 10-11 haha), so itâs got a soft spot in my heart.Â
Danny has shapeshifted into many different animals, and creatures. From Dragons and Cats, even a Deer.
So, why not an Alicorn?
Danny has watched My Little Pony - loved the show, he still does. Jazz loves it too, even his parents. So, as Danny being the Ghost King, he was curious if he could shapeshift into an Alicorn.
And he did! It looked generic, so every tiem Danny had Free-Time, he would go and practice his shapeshifting. He was effectively making his own Ponysona in real time. And by then, he really looked like a King of the Dead in Alicorn Form.
And as he was busy admiring himself, he felt a pull of a summoning.
Well, shit.
^-^
When Danny finally gets summoned, he instantly recognized the usual Cultists asking for the end of the world, or something. Honestly, he's more surprised there was a Cult summoning. He got summoned every day, and he hasn't been summoned for like, 2 months.
Although, he recognized a few figures wearing costumes and he's been summoned in front of Batman and Robin.
... okay, he can work with this.
Danny deals with the Cultists with ease, before turning to Batman and Robin. Batman shifted, seemingly ready to fight. Danny was ready to pretty much flee and then disappear, only to be stopped by Robin.
"Father, I desire to bring the Alicorn home."
... okay, that was not what he was expecting. But, Danny "Little Shit" Fenton sees an opportunity to screw with the Batman. And well, he liked Robin. He may as well have fun with this!
He isn't called Danny "Commit to the Bit" Fenton for a reason!
I've seen many of the "The Bats think the the Pha/Fentons are the four horses of the apocalypse" idea and wanted to put my own spin on it. In my take the bats are completely wrong about it, the Fe/Phantoms are NOT the four horses, but coincidences start lining up, and they really don't like it.
This is a long one because it takes a WHOLE lot of explaining for how mine is different, and how the bats see them as the horses of the apocalypse through sheer coincidence at first, before the Pha/Fentons Commit to the Bit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Danny arrives first of course. He tried to be white with black mane and blue eyes, choosing not to have his Alicorn form mimic the colours of his Ghost form, but of his living form, but he is simply too powerful in his ghost form to have that kind of fine control yet. His eyes are green, his fur is a pale white-green and his hair is a dark grey-green, all his choices tainted with the excess power of his ectoplasm. He arrives through the summoning of the cult, Damian asks to Adopt the big Alicorn pony, and Danny rolls with it, deciding that since he hasn't talked yet, he won't talk at all.
When Dani hears of what's happening, of course she wants to join in and meet THE Bats. She transforms herself into an Alicorn, Much smaller than Danny with white fur on black mane with green eyes, as she see's herself as more Ghost than Human (having been made to BE the "half-Ghost" Vlad would raise) but still want's to be clearly recognized as related to Danny (to keep the Bats from trying to kick her out, not knowing they'd literally never do that).
She comes through a portal Danny makes for her straight into the Batcave. She Arrives right as the Bats convene for a debriefing after a patrol night. She's there all of ten seconds before Damian swoops in to introduce himself and acclimate the new Alicorn to him.
Dani quickly attaches herself to Damian as "her" Bat, because he's extremely attentive of her needs and she's realized that that's something she had never truly experienced before. (Can we blame the other Fe/Phantoms though? Danny was busy with protecting Amity and then being Ghost King, Jazz was busy being the attentive parental figure Danny never had as well as trying to study psychology, Dan/te was not around at all, and Vlad is Vlad, not a Pha/Fenton)
Jazz and Dan/te come to the Cave together, Jazz came because she wanted a first hand look at what Vigilante's psych's are like without the conflict of interest of being directly related to the vigilante, and Dan/te followed her because Jazz is his "parole officer" since he's still going through rehabilitation. Unlike in others interpretations of this setup, Jazz doesn't come through as the red horse of war. She comes through as Famine, Black furred and "Red" (Orange) maned. She wanted to keep her hair colour, and since she was the only reason Dan/te was coming, she let him pick the colour of her fur. Dante is the Red horse of war. after choosing Jazz's Fur colour, he decides to simply be an inverted colour scheme to her, thinking that Danny/Dani had also been inverted colours of each other. (he was wrong, woops.)
When Jazz and Dan/te arrive, Jason is the first one to make the connection that they might be the Four horses of the Apocalypse, and the reason they "arrived" out of order is because "Death" was summoned by the cult in place of the "king of the dead", instead of arriving on his own.
Most of the Batfam brush this off because the first one to arrive on their own, Dani, hasn't really portrayed any real "Conquest" or "Pestilence" like attributes since her arrival. Bruce still calls up John Constantine to come by to take a look/offer his expertise because he's the most versed direct contact he has in this realm of knowledge, and he wants to be sure. Bruce is still doubtful at this point, so he doesn't try and rush Constantine.
The day after Jazz and Dan/te arrive, the Batfam get a mild shock at the fact the hay they had first put out for Danny when he was brought home has actually been eaten. Danny and Dani hadn't touched any yet, because they're able to sustain themselves as half-ghosts with the ambient ectoplasm. Dan/te is also perfectly capable of this since he is full Ghost.
Jazz? Jazz is liminal, sure, but she's still fully alive and needs to eat, and being transformed by outside power has taken a bigger toll on her than she thought it would. She's started eating hay simply because she knows that Dan/te had watched MLP before going evil and is really good at using his Ectoplasm to shape things and goes all in on whatever he's doing, so she figures it won't hurt to try. She's right of course, and she does indeed eat things a proper pony would. Seeing the black horse (Famine) being the only one to eat, REALLY makes Jason smug about his idea that they are the Four Horses, and Bruce quickly calls John again to try and hurry him over.
Within a few days, before John can arrive, The Bats see Dani "sweating" Ectoplasm and Danny lending his own Ectoplasm to keep her stable. She's pretty stable these days, but she's still a clone that was (never)born unstable. Holding an Alicorn form is rather draining on her, so she needs some help keeping herself in the form. She's been doing this since before Jazz and Dan/te arrived, but this is the first time the Bats have seen her "sweating" (melting) and Danny helping her fuel back up her core. When Jason gets told this he becomes so extremely smug. Then Bruce realizes, Dani was both the first to come willingly, AND the first to choose a "rider" in Damian.
At first, The Bats can't figure out how Damian could possibly be the rider of "Pestilence" but Tim, in his studies, realizes that the commonly known "Pestilence" label for the first horse was a revision to the original Conquest. Dick points out that one of the first things Damian did when arriving in Gotham was try and kill Tim to "claim" his "rightful place" as Robin. Dani might be showing attributes of Pestilence, but she "chose" a "Rider" that has definitely shown the mind and willingness to attempt to conquer.
All of them hear these talks and ideas of course, but brush it off at this point. All of them except Dan/te however. Being the perfect mix of Danny "Stick to the Bit" Phantom and Vlad "I made my Ghost form look like a vampire for the show of it and stuck to the bit even before I knew I had to play it for another half-ghost" Plasmius, decides that, he is totally the Horse of War. Before the Bat's can even think about if they're simply looking too far into this, Dan/te Trots his big red "war" horse self over to Bruce, and plops his head down on him as a very clear "This is mine" gesture.
"War" choosing Bruce shocks the Bats in attendance at first, and they ponder over how that could possibly make sense. Dan/te made that choice because he has memories of Batman fighting so hard and long against him in his own timeline, and he sees no one else worthy of the title of "war" than the one human outside Amity that truly gave him a fight. It's Alfred that points out that Bruce is the one that "started" the "War for the soul of Gotham" when he made his debut as The Batman and that's what convinces the rest of the Bats that this is real, happening, and they're witnessing the omens of the apocalypse. Dan/te is thrilled at their worry and fear about this.
When John shows up, he doesn't even stay long enough to remember that the Bats are worried that the Apocalypse is on it's way. He simply steps into the cave, see's the Ghost King chilling, and gets the fuck out of dodge before he can be suckered into some shitty deal he isn't looking for right now. This, of course, sends the Bats into a panic. The "Occult Expert" who had tricked demons without so much as a single sweat drop was so frightened by the mere sight of the horses that he left before he could say anything past the initial greetings in the manor.
The Bats worry who Famine could possibly choose, and if it would even be any of them at all. a few weeks pass with no "Chosen" rider for "Famine" when Cass mentions that during her time in the cave, whether it be her returning to the cave after patrol before everyone else or simply a night off, she had seen Tim researching what he could for this issue (as well as working on the investigative work for cases) at the Batcomputer and that "Famine" (Jazz) had always been sitting nearby, seemingly just...watching.
Jazz was doing this because she was here to be with her siblings and to have first hand experience behind the mask and psych of vigilante's, and Tim just so happened to be the one in the Cave the most, which made him the most accessible due to his research into the issue. This "Choice" is a pure coincidence, but the Bats paranoia don't let them see it as a coincidence at all. They rationalize this choice of Rider because Tim has always been the worst outside Bruce at taking care of themselves, and are simply extrapolating that Tims refusal to sleep for weeks at a time is the "famine" Tim represents.
Jazz almost breaks character at this point, wanting to ease the minds of the people her families basically been bumming off of for what's been at least a couple months at this point. Danny, Dani, and Dan/te all stop her, and convince her not to though, as doing this would change the dynamics of what she's been watching and basically completely ruin her study into and any of the data she's gathered about the Psyche's of Vigilante's. None of them really care all that much about her data or study, but they've all decided to commit to the bit now, and are going to drag Jazz kicking and screaming into it.
After the revelation that "Famine" had chosen her "Rider" the Bats worry tremendously about how close the apocalypse is. Everyone in the family agrees that Jason needs to stay as far away from the cave as possible at this point. There's no other possible choice for "Death" than Jason. He's the "Robin that Died". He's the one that clawed his way out of the grasp of death, and the only Bat that will kill regularly and on purpose. Danny agrees with their reasoning, and decides to simply wait until the next time Jason shows up to "choose his rider".
A month passes with no sign of Jason at all, and it's getting really hard to continue convincing Jazz to stay committed to the bit, especially since it's clear that everyone that does frequent the Cave is rather unhappy with how Jason won't even show up for family dinners anymore. The Bats had been working on the families relationship with Jason and had made real progress, but the "Looming Apocalypse" had really stalled their healing journey.
Jazz decides that it's been long enough and that she was going to reveal that this has all been a prank that the other three had decided
to play and had coerced her to go along with when the Bats get back from patrol that night, screw her study and data, she was helping cause harm to this family. Danny, Dani, and Dan/te all convince Jazz to give Danny until the bats came down to the cave the next night before patrol to go out and find Jason, so he can drag Jason to the cave and they could all give the Bats one last spook before revealing the prank. Jazz reluctantly agrees and Danny wastes no time simply flying straight up through the ceiling of the cave to get out into Gotham.
Danny passes straight through the manor, right past where Alfred is. This is another coincidence, but Alfred fully believes that Danny is Death, and he just saw "Death" leave in a hurry. Alfred immediately lets everyone on patrol know that "Death" has rushed his way out of the cave and manor. All of them realize this can only mean one thing, Death is choosing it's rider, and the Apocalypse will soon come. This causes Bruce, Damian, and Tim to start rushing back to the cave, hoping to be able to use the Zeta-tube to simply go to the Watchtower and avoid the start of the apocalypse until they can gather everyone in the JL and JLD to figure out how to put a stop to the Apocalypse.
Jason isn't on Comms tonight, and he doesn't even know what's coming until Danny simply flies onto the roof he's using as a vantage point on a stake-out, and slips under him to pick him up and fly them both back to the cave. Danny can tell where Jason is due to the corrupt ectoplasm in him that is "Lazarus water". This is just another coincidence, Danny's ghost sense leading him to Jason, but Jason is sure that it's because Danny is Death, and he is destined to take the roll of the Horseman of Death. This even "helps" Jason understand why he still has the All-Blades, even if he never uses them anymore. He has them so he can kill all the things that he normally wouldn't be able to.
Jason and Danny are back at the cave before the rest of the Bats are. Jason is visibly panicked, even through his helmet, and Jazz simply can't handle being part of this anymore. She spills the beans to Jason before the rest of the bats arrive, hoping to calm him down. Jason does calm down, and after the shock of it wears of, and hearing from Dan/te how Jason's insistence that the four of them were The four is what convinced Dan/te to "choose a Rider" and keep the bit going, causes Jason to plow straight through the dying panic and building rage, straight into a laughing fit. Jazz is worried at first, thinking this might be Jason having a bit of a mental break at the stress of it all, but Jason puts her fear to rest quickly when he mentions just how hilarious it all is in hindsight.
When Bruce, Damian, and Tim get back, Jazz is the one to tell them that it's all a prank that went too far. Once Jason knew he wanted to keep it going for a little longer and let the others panic a bit more before revealing it, but Jazz put her foot (Hoof, hehe) down and told them as soon as they got out of the Batmobile. After a short talk, many apologies from Jazz, and a rather forced set of apologies from Danny, Dani, and Dan/te, Bruce lets those still on patrol know that there is no Apocalypse, the Alicorn's they've been housing are actually capable of speech, and that they should call it an early night so they could come in and have a long overdue talk with their guests.
Now this? This is a GOOD ONE. They aren't actually the Horses of the Apocalypse, those are literally just coincidences and make for an amazing prank.
By the time the Justice League, and the Bats all realize this is a prank - as in, they're all in the meeting room with the Phantoms, still in Pony-Alicorn Form.
With Jazz frantically apologizing to them for the prank, with Batman managing to hide but still looking like he just aged 100+ years from the revelation of the prank - all while she is magically holding all 3 of her younger siblings hostage.
As in, yanking their ears and forcing them to apologize.
All the D's just wanted to have an amazing laugh and give everyone a heart attack, but Jazz being the only responsible one, finally reveals the prank.
Everyone just sags in relief, whilst Constantine just stares on in shock. As he just witnesses who is apparently the older sibling of the Ghost King reprimanding him like a small child.
Dan and Ellie are not excluded, with Dan complaining and Ellie pretty much whining out apology after apology to get Jazz to let go of her small cute pony ears.
This is the master list of the Phancomics Iâm making based on @nerdpoe and @spidori prompt ideas that Dannyâs master plan to hide his ghost identity is to pretend to be a meta. But not just any meta. He somehow makes 10 different Hero Identities based on his various ghost powers and named dp for/inspired by his various ghost friends/mentors.
Original Inspiration Post
Photo OP
The Ticket Part 1
The Ticket Part 2
Danny has the Vote
Stage Names
Seeing Things In a New Light
Chibi Herosonas
Family Meeting
Demands for Enlistment
Perception of Time
When Trouble Comes⊠part 1
When Trouble ComesâŠpart 2
When Trouble ComesâŠpart 3
When Trouble ComesâŠpart 4
Holidays
TikTok
Sunday Morning Conversations
Iâm also adding the questions/messages Iâve gotten about this AU to this masterpost. I love to get these questions because it gives me new brain ideas to expand on these guys. So please if you have a question/headcanon/idea, please please please tell/ask me! I love to hear it!
ASK AND ANSWER âCANON BITSâ
How would the league react? ByTrinoxtrinox
How does Dark Prince Fit? By Charlietheepic7
Sudden influx of white haired boys? By Plague-daisy
Leagues Favorites? By Freshmiraclecheesecake
Leagues Favorites? Pt 2 by Freshmiraclecheesecake
Banshee/Siren singing for Canary? By Freshmiraclecheesecake
Flash and StopWatch? By Freshmiraclecheesecake
Flashâs Invite? By Freshmiraclecheesecake
Valerieâs Reaction? By Freelancerofthetriforcekeyblade
Where is Danny? by Anonymous
Is Danny a Separate Person? By bet-on-me-13
Superhearing? By Frayazicat
Where is Danny? By Regonold
Elpis and Wonder Woman? By Freshmiraclecheesecake
Jazz Bonding Time? By Freshmiraclecheesecake
Danny and the Personas coming Together? By itsthing2
Due to Ao3 being down, Iâm posting my DP x DC fic here!
Chapter 1
Tim wasnât sure what about the new kid caught his attention. Maybe it was the black hair and blue eyes, or the fact that he seemed to be as sleep-deprived as Tim considering the deep eyebags. Tim figured it could also be the numerous red flags that somehow keep appearing the more he gets to know Danny. The unnaturally cold hands, slower than usual heartbeat (discovered by Connor), or the fact that Danny used the lunch period as more of a nap time instead of actually eating. To put it lightly, Tim was concerned. So was Connor, but less in a way of âhey this kid probably needs helpâ like Tim was and more âhey this kid might be dangerousâ.
But the kid was nice. Tim could see that Danny was a good person. Every morning at school since Danny started showing up- halfway through the school year, which was another red flag- heâd talk to Tim before their class started about everything and anything. Tim learned that Danny liked astronomy, wanted to meet Martian Manhunter someday to ask about space, he had an older sister Jazz and a younger sister Ellie, both of whom he hadnât seen in a while. Tim didnât press, but he was pretty sure Danny was living on his own. He just wasnât sure why.Â
there's this old meme on my country's tiktok that's basically a pre/pos glow up thing and it's SO LESTERCY to me
basically Lester would post a pics of his before looksgoing "thanks to my girlfriend who started dating my "blueprint" (aka ugly) version and it's still here now that the construction ended" and then post pics of his post glow up looks, now his natural blond and post acne glory
I'm love to see the comments on a post like that lol skwjwkwowk
"Ho, did you steal that boys' life?" - Comment #1
"Does your girlfriend do lottery predictions?" - Comment #2
"This gave me hope for my glowup" - Comment #3
"Drop the skincare routine...or the satanic ritual you did, whatever comes first" - Comment #4
"Hey bestie, next time put a trigger warning â€ïž" - comment #5
"I'll show this video to everyone who says girls only date hot guys" - Comment #6
"Witch! đ«”" - Comment #7
"God, I've seen what you've done for other people" - Comment #8
"Ok, now I have no excuse for being single" - Comment #9
"You girlfriend's a Saint â€ïž have you ever taken her to the optometrist though?" - Comment #10
dailybridgerton
titsay
gummygunk
yousharknotpass
prguitarman
areudirty
snowghoul
romaincrisis
