Idk if it fits the format as much as inverts it but: Any & Any Guardianship & kid Dynamic ???
Clark and Barry both look pained for a moment, both of them sparing Kenley–and Kon, in Clark’s case, which Tim maybe unfairly did not expect, or maybe completely fairly did not expect–a concerned look. Tim still isn’t very optimistic about what either of them are thinking, either way.
Bruce still doesn’t look pained, or even concerned. And given that Tim is fully aware of how Bruce actually feels about kids who’ve been in shitty situations . . . well, that doesn’t bode all that well for their chances of Bruce actually being willing to treat Kenley like a kid, under the circumstances.
Or even consider them to be one.
“Look, let’s just–if nothing else, I think we’ve all absolutely learned the lesson about convincing a kid to live down to expectations by this point, yeah?” Wally sighs, dragging a hand back over his cowl and then half-eyeing the other League members. “So what’s the harm in Young Justice taking care of this one while we get ‘em checked out?”
“Do you want the list alphabetically or itemized?” Bruce asks.
I already processed my thoughts and feelings on discord but 🤞A distraction is what you need rn.
So to summarize: I was so very annoyed that I couldn't find fics tagged Velveteen Rabbit References in the Leosagi tag
Then I realized that thematically Leo would be the one to accidentally curse himself by objectifying himself (literally) and shedding parts of his personhood until he needs to be loved to be real again.
And I subsequently realized fixing that entire mess is more Princess Tutu plot adjacent than anything to do Velveteen Rabbit. (And my knowledge of canon and memory of PT is insufficient to fic atm)
🤞Hope this was sufficiently distracting!
hah, mostly what i needed was to go the fuck to sleep 😅 but that having been accomplished, it was VERY fun to wake up and see this—i think there’s very much some meat on the bones of leo as velveteen rabbiting himself (and i’m tagging @magicalspacedragon because that feels up their alley as well) though i’m afraid when it goes into princess tutu i know even less than you do! i do think it could work with usagi, thinking of the velveteen rabbit as a role—his backstory is so much a guy who is Bound By Role and position, and ultimately the reason he lives and doesn’t kill himself after Hikiji conquers Mifune’s territory is that Mifune have explicit orders otherwise and wanted him to live. out of love. idk there could be something!
Given what happened in Bloody Mist artificial wombs might be a tool of diplomacy. Also: workplace injuries that might make carrying to term a risky proposition.
Yes! There's lots of reasons that aren't specifically Shikako related for why an external womb via seal/tech would be desired.
You bring up a great point, damnsmartblueboxes, I didn't even consider them selling to foreign countries! Or offering it as a Konoha-controlled service, a la Grass' Blood Prison -- although I imagine the amount of multinational security/oversight would have to be SO EXTREME considering bloodline theft is such a huge problem in this world. Or maybe it's a specialized mission where a Konoha team of medics and fuinjutsu users are specifically deployed, with a second Konoha team of bodyguards/escorts, to the foreign country where the artificial womb is requested where they are hosted by the village/clan that hired them for the duration of the gestation and there is an extremely thorough sanitation process in which the Konoha team makes sure none of their seals/technology has been copied and the foreign country makes sure none of the genetic material is stolen, etc etc.
Also yes! Like if the artificial womb is... flexible? adaptable?... enough so that it doesn't require the full gestation to be done in it from the start, that's also a great use of it!
Honestly, there are a surprising amount of applications for it that it would be more surprising for Shikako NOT to have made(/been involved in the process to make) it even BEFORE her theoretical future pregnancy with Sakako. Although, like, that does then make that ficlet a little suspect given that... well... wouldn't she have transferred embryo!Sakako into the artificial womb before it got to that point? Unless it's another case of Shikako not having realized how bad it was getting if it was so gradual/she was already so sleep deprived and compromised that it took Yoshino bringing her to the hospital, to the team of medics/fuinjutsu users, in order to transfer embryo!Sakako so that Shikako can finally get some sleep.
The namechange sucks for me bcs 1 2 hit of: seBastion of the Law pun gone AND Eustace is one of those weird names that hits the do not process insert trombone noises button on my adhd panel in my brain. And the new surname is equally unmemorable at least end it with s! So now my brain is generating Euchre Bidding.
...that would actually be a great AA side character name, especially for someone who plays cards, maybe one of Phoenix's poker buddies or something. (thinks fondly back to some of the exorbitantly illogical calls I made back when learning to play euchre with my family, many of which paid off far better than they had any right to)
Honestly, I'm not surprised we got a name change, it was to be expected, I'm more... disappointed. AA has a rep for clever or at least amusing/cool sounding names, and Eustace Winner is just so... bland. It's a side character name, not what you call a primary antagonist to ally character. :/
All that said, I'm not actually that concerned about the crummy name they gave him, more excited that lots more people are going to get a chance to meet The Boy in his actual game. I'm not doing a lot in the AA space outside Saturation or the occasional AU anymore, and if anyone encounters him in my writing it's fine - they'll either Learn or decide it's not worth the bother and go somewhere else. Either way, as long as they are properly appreciating The Boy, I am content. :)
It's actually probably the oldest thing on the list! It's probably also never going to be finished because every new piece of the MCU kills my soul.
Mantis was one of a dozen hatchmates. But she was the only one who had been fertilized by Ego, so he had taken her from her brood, and brought her to his planet.
She was lucky. She was the only one who was allowed to survive, of all of Ego’s failures. Because she was useful, and because Ego was fond of her. He told her so, every time he had her take the bones of the children to the cave.
She was the only parasite that he had ever cared for, he told her, when he had her put him to sleep. And if she ever displeased him, she would join the bodies beneath his skin or, worse, be sold away.
Basically it's the premise of "hey what the fuck is up with Mantis and also what is space politics in the MCU" with a sprinkle of "hey so no one treats Mantis well" for good measure
There is a bike messenger who might give you a ride, you’ve probably seen her zip past in the middle distance–weaving effortlessly through obstacles. The bike whirrs like moth wings against a screen. Feel free to wave if she passes closer; although she probably won’t acknowledge you.
The bike is a strange little thing, sleek yet a jumble, a hodgepodge of magics and materials; willed together by someone who knew very well how a bike was put together. And yet– and yet it is out of sync with itself and the world: her legs pump, the wheels turn, the distance covered makes no sense. The only metal upon its frame is its brightly polished bell that rings out further than you think it should.
But bike riding may have come into fashion with the Gentry since the equestrian ban so you might need more identifying markers to know if it is safe to accept the ride. There are two pheasant feathers glued to her helmet with the ends covered by a mothman sticker. The messenger’s outfit sits on the boundary waters between business casual, the Tour de France, and the days of the velocipede.
When she offers a ride the smile will reach her eyes behind the heart shaped glasses. But it is a smile given by a person who’s had their humanity stolen; a person who lost the buffer between two destructive forces and held on to herself. A person who carefully filled the humanity-shaped void by training inhuman behaviors to fill in the gaps.
She offers you a ride because you will need it. It is an offer freely given but only once. You will sit or be towed behind her and no matter how bad of a rider you normally are you will not fall off. She might have to make stops to deliver messages to the Courts or other recipients–Do Not get off.
There is a wrap the color of a misty morning in her front basket. She will drape it on your shoulders. You have never seen her wear it. It is yours to wear for the duration of the ride. But remember to return it. If she offers it for longer–until you have arrived safely where a bike cannot go, or if it has slipped your mind, deliver it to the nearest lost and found.
If you have properly returned her wrap you can see her in rain, snow, and gloom of night on her messenger rounds–not always alone but usually. She will acknowledge you as she passes with a double ring of the bell.
She will not offer a second ride without you arranging it beforehand; you have already been delivered.
🚲🦋🚲
There is a merchant who will buy up bad debts….Not student loans but the dregs of deals gone sour when one party or another has reneged and disappeared completely. If you’ve traded a summer’s day for one more night to study and you lost your time but did not regain it, he might appear so he can offer you a deal.
He looks like a slice of the silver screen from the days when it was young and electric. His voice pivots from smooth to sharply urgent like a violin in a master’s hand. He moves like a storm swift and terrible yet gently roiling.
Expect kindness and cruelty in equal measure like the last coffee of finals week.It is a service not a sacrifice he is making. 100 years to call in a debt is a good investment, and finding two debts that cancel each other is a puzzle he is winning.
If you’ve returned from whatever disappearance that made it impossible to hold your end of the bargain and he shows up with a tarnished business card and says let’s talk. It is in your best interests to meet with him unless you want your debt to gain interest.
He is fair if not exactly just. He will arrange things so that you will be able to pay. But there are rules to business and economics, just as there are rules to Elsewhere and there must be at least observances of the rules.
If you have a bad debt you are eager to divest yourself from you’ll often find him window shopping in the Goblin Market. He rarely buys anything there, and will absolutely not discuss what he is looking for.
But he will stop and hear you out–with a level of patience that reminds you this person is not human and you aren’t quite sure what he is. If he is interested he will ask to arrange a second meeting. If not he will bid you a good day.
But, if instead you offer a bad deal or act like an entitled customer he will disappear like a cheshire cat with the hollow grin of a crescent moon. You might see him again kicking it on the back of a bike–but it’s best not to interrupt them. Besides, you’ll never catch up.
And he won’t give you a second offer, you no longer have anything he wants.
💸 📽 💸
There is an artist who buys out the bad habit vendor at the end of every semester. They are referred to as Victor. That is also the absolute worst day to ask them what they do with the bad habits.
The best days to ask them are in the midpoint of a break. The second best days are when you need one of the hoarded habits. You will probably learn a bit too much if you ask them what they do with the bad habits.
Victor is a regular at the Goblin Market and at nearby farmer’s markets, buying materials and selling art. They often run a face and body painting booth at local festivals. Victor also makes appearances at various art workshops no matter the discipline.
You might also encounter Victor in the wild dumpster diving and freecycling. They have a trike with an antique trunk in the back where they stash their finds. Some of it gets upcycled for their day job at Second Chance Goods, the thrift shop that they often are behind the counter of sketching and notating wildly in their workbook.
Victor’s charms are simple little things with clearly defined uses and drawbacks; sturdy, reliable, and functional. They can cursebreak with the best of them, but would rather refer you to someone who actively makes that their calling. But neither of those things are Victor’s chosen art.
So if you get a chance to ask Victor what they do with bad habits what will they answer? Well probably, Victor will infodump on the nature of habits and how they are tied to neurochemistry and culture and all the little memories tied to that habit that can remind a person what it’s like to inhabit a body.
Because some people do need reminding.
Victor builds bodies in their studio attached to the back of the store on the weekends. Each a unique blend of materials and magic that fulfills the needs of someone who needs a second chance.
Each one is a gamble for Victor; a chance not a certainty. A hope that each person will make enough of themselves to have enough to pay. A kindness that might be repaid or might be passed forward.
If you or your acquaintance needs to commission Victor go around the back of the store after hours to the studio, there is a bikerack with the trike chained to it. There’s an outdoor sitting area three matching chairs–do not sit there, you will be offered alternative seating.
You will be reminded of how painfully–awfuly human Victor is when they ask what you need. They will ask so many questions–answer them to the best of your ability. They will offer you a discount if you can source some of the materials. That offer is in good faith, but don’t be afraid to reject what you cannot risk.
You might see the bad deals merchant chat to Victor on their break from the store; he never seems to buy any debts from them. If you approach he will dance away with a wry grin and say something about not buying any debts in relation to Victor.
But know this Victor does not offer third chances; the life of an artist is a lean thing and there are always people in need.
🧰🧠🧰
There are three roommates who live in the apartment above Second Chance Goods. On the rare occasions when all of them are home you can hear inebriated enthusiasm accompanying the chorus to ABBA’s Take a Chance on Me. If you were to yell at them to quiet down you might see a messenger finally off her bike open a window and yell back at you to mind your own business; only for her to be pulled back in by Victor, with the window snapping meticulously shut.
I found something non spoilery! But it's just the vibes of found family/ a space becoming lived in, too bad no one has a strong fibercrafts interest because that would be an easy segue into the Secret Headquarters getting that personal touch, but I'm not sure how you'd fit that in format-wise either. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Hmmm... I wonder if that should happen in their current secret headquarters or if it should wait until they can take over the Leblanc attic or something? The current headquarters has the disadvantage that Kunikazu does theoretically live there and no one besides Haru is really eager to interact with him, and there’s the housekeeping staff can enter thing...
I should think about what everyone WOULD be inclined to contribute to such a shared space, though.
