Your gateway to endless inspiration
so I wanted to make a little thingy
It probably started when someone was flirting with Barty and he wanted to get away and went: “shit I got to.. go see” *tries to think of something, mind goes to James* “my boyfriend!” (??). Then he keeps it going for shits and giggles, and then he panics when ppl ask him about it cause he doesn’t know why he thought of James out of everyone
———————————
A Ravenclaw: *flirting with Barty* so crouch.. I heard a little rumour that you fancy people with brains..
Barty: [who would rather be anywhere but there]
Barry: uhhh.. yeah I do, did you know Gryffindors are quite smart too? Like uhhh.. James Potter, for example, like his my boyfriend yk? and all-
Ravenclaw: ..what?
Ravenclaw: Oh. That’s cool I just thought- ykw nvm.
Barty: yeah you didn’t know that? We’re dating
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Hufflepuff: so Barty..
Hufflepuff: [flutters eyelashes, smirks and puts hand on Barry’s thigh]
Hufflepuff: what do you do even Quidditch is on? Do you go back to your dorm.. because I could tag along..
Barty: no, I don’t. I actually uh, I normally go hang out with my.. boyfriend, James Potter. Yk the one who your team lost to? The captain and prefect? The one-
Hufflepuff: .. I’ll go.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Doesn’t even make sense cause James would either be playing or watching all the games, but Barty wasn’t thinking)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marlene: Barty!
Barty: what?
Marlene: what is it I’m hearing ‘bout you and Jamie?
Barty: ..
Barty: uhh, where’d you hear that?
Marlene: I was near some Hufflepuffs and heard a mention of it
Barty: why you snooping near Hufflepuffs?
Marlene: don’t change the subject. What’s the deal?
Barty: I needed an excuse to get away from ppl so yk.. I used him as an excuse
Marlene: why James tho? Wouldn’t Evan be more useful, cause you see him daily
Barty: .. James was just the first person I thought of
Marlene: ..
Barty: I guess
Marlene: ..alright then-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dorcas: Barty.. why?
Barty: ‘why’ what? I didn’t even do anything!
Dorcas: Oh, so running around saying your dating, Potter? Is nothing?
Barty: you heard that did ya?
Dorcas: of course I did, I hear everything. May as well call me “Rita fucking Skeeter”
Barty: okay I did! People were annoying me and I just said “My boyfriend needed me” and just threw Potter’s name in there so people would shut up and leave me alone!
Barty: god do people ever stop and leave me alone? Stop asking me about it god!
Dorcas: ..
Dorcas: okay.. my bad then
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Talia (singing, talking to Jason on her phone): Have you forgotten the lessons I taught you? He's still a threat until he's dead! Finish it.
Batman (connecting the dots): Are you the reason he does that?!
Talia: What are you talking about?
Ra's Al Ghul (smoking): Yes. I have a bunch of videos of them singing together.
Batman snatched the phone away making Talia angry and almost made Ra's attack, but Talia held up her hand to stop him.
Batman: Don't!
Jason (raising his sword for the kill but stopping himself): Oh shit, you're here too.
Talia: I enjoy musicals as well, what of it?
Batman: I knew it! WHY DO YOU ENCOURAGE HIM!
Ra's (in Arabic): La tasrakh ealayha! (Don't yell at her ass!)
Batman (speaking back in Arabic): Autlub minha 'an tatawaqaf ean altaathir ealaa abni! (Tell her to stop influencing my son!) Yeah I learned the language, jackass!
Ra's wanted badly stab the man, but walked off in a huff.
Talia: Don't blame me for him being a talented singer.
Talia held up her hand and walked off ending the conversation.
Batman (into the phone): Don't kill him!
Jason: But... I wanted to. I had a song for it and everything.
Batman (regrettably singing): What good would killing do? When mercy is a skill more of this world could learn to use. The blood we shed, it never dries. Is this what it means to be a warrior of the mind? I hated all of that, but I'm doing it for you, remember that!
Damian on the other hand clapped making his father more embarrassed.
Jason: The bastard sung to make me stop. Damn it, fine.
Okay, I have drafted a prologue for the Xiyao fic I threatened earlier today. My friend likes it, so I took a second glance at it, smoothed out a few wrinkles, and now I'm throwing it here.
I have no idea if this can function because I have yet to read the books, so I can't tell for certain if I will use it all - and if I do, it might not be the prologue so much as part of a chapter, all of that is written in the stars. But since Ao3 doesn't allow placeholders (nor should it) and I don't know when I get to write the whole thing (although that I will write it certain), I'll at least put this fragment of questionable permanence here for the time being. I will announce when I post the actual fic to Ao3.
No Bonds Can Hold Me
‘Maintain your own discipline. Train your body and your mind. Store your inner wisdom deeply.’
Second nature. All of this was second nature to a man who had lived by these rules his entire life. Now discipline eluded him, his mind refused to focus on what mattered, and his inner wisdom was torn to shreds. There was almost nothing left of the man he had been … before. And if there was nothing left, what was the point of him? ‘Do not act impulsively.’ That rule had saved his life several times over recently. To what end? He had broken so many others: ‘Do not grieve in excess. Do not bully the weak. Do not associate with evil.’
Am I the evil? The voice that existed in his thoughts only perforated his meagre attempt at meditation again, stripping away another layer of his strength.
Seclusion had done nothing to erase the guilt and the pain and the grief, to silence this voice. It lived in his heart as constantly as its beating. It hadn’t helped compose his mind, hadn’t let him accept that what was done was done. Every time he started out asking himself, ‘How could I have acted any differently?’ the question quickly degraded into the much simpler and much more destructive, ‘How could I?!’ The blood on his hands and clothes was long gone, but he could still feel it sticking to his skin any time his eyes closed, could smell its cloying scent, so much, so much of it.
‘Be gentle and content in adversity.’
Slowly, Lan Xichen opened his eyes. It was, indeed, done, and yet he knew there was one path not yet taken. ‘Do not act impulsively. Do not fall to evil.’ But was an act he had chewed over time and time again for more hours than he could count impulsive? Was saving a soul evil?
He hadn’t allowed himself those thoughts at first, but now that he did, he felt calmer. ‘Have a strong will and anything can be achieved.’ His path was laid out before him and he would walk it openly and with determination. He needed help, and he wasn’t afraid to ask for it. Beg for it, if he had to.
‘Don’t be unreasonable.’ What was one more rule broken anyway?
The voice in his head that kept repeating his name like a broken mantra could only be assuaged by returning it to the real world. It was his fault that it had been silenced, so it had to be him that did all he could to restore it. (‘Uphold the value of justice.’) And if that proved impossible, he should earnestly consider following it into oblivion, the way he had been prepared to.
Lan Xichen stepped out into the darkness. (‘Venturing out at night is prohibited.’) He had tried to silence the call that only he could hear, but now he welcomed it, let it guide his steps and fuel his spirit. Lan Xichen, Lan Xichen … ‘Yes,’ he thought, conscious of the cool air surrounding him and the light breeze rustling his robes, ‘I still hear you. I’m not grieving for you. I’m coming for you.’
bit of steddie ghostface au anyone?
Nancy thought she was holding her trembling back well, but it was hard to have any confidence in the face of those dead, blank, masked eyes. Two pairs of empty holes staring up at her, waiting. She felt more trapped than they were.
Which was certainly not true, as she was stood quite freely next to a news camera supported on Jonathans shoulder, hooked up to the stolen reporter van situated to their left. Meanwhile the masked figures were tied thoroughly to the two metal chairs at both the arms and legs.
But…there was something in the slight tilt of the left persons head, like a confused dog waiting to see what would happen next. It was getting to her. Making something deep and old inside her uncomfortable and restless.
But she couldn’t look away, not now. With one last look towards Jon and a confirmation nod, she approached the figures.
“We are live across Hawkins news stations ,there is no getting out of this. Everyone will know who you are.” If the duo had any thoughts on her comments, they didn’t show it. Masks unmoving. “I need you to look into that camera knowing the families of your victims are watching.”
And that got a reaction, a small jump of the shoulders. A weird motion to place without being able to see a face, but Nancy could tell. It was a little laugh.
Any fear she had was stripped away to red hot anger, she ignored Jonathans call of ‘wait, Nancy-‘ as she reached for the mask, ripping it off with a harsh movement that made the persons head snap back slightly. And then it was done. She was holding it. She would know. They watched as the bent over stranger, who’s face was still obscured by a mess of hair, began to shake.
And the horrible, cold dread of truth seemed to weigh down on Nancy as she realised…she knew that hair. She knew that expressive body language. Knew why she could tell he was laughing, because she had seen it a thousand times. The head lifted to reveal Eddie Munson.
Local freak, dungeon master and…Nancys friend. An older sibling figure. An idol to her brother. He sat, body obscured behind a robe and looking far too pleased with himself. She was going to be sick. The mask dropped from her hand as she took a shaky step back.
“Aw Nance, I told you I had plans tonight didn’t I?” His voice was clear and calm, teasing and playful. Like he was teasing her the same as all those times before. She had to…she had to get out of there. She couldn’t even speak.
She jumped as a hand landed on her shoulder, vision spinning as she turned towards the new danger. But it was just Jonathan. He had small tears in the corner oh his eyes, but his face was twisted in determined anger. The trembling through his body seeming to end just before his arm supporting the camera, keeping it steadily fixed on Eddie who was back to tilting his head at the lens. The hand grounded her, reminded her that this wasn’t about them. That she’d have plenty of time later to scream and cry and ask ‘why?’ to an empty room.
But for now, she had to show Hawkins who they had to blame. She still had to unmask the killers-…Eddie’s accomplice. Before she could though, a movement from the right caught her attention. A full body shake seemed to have overtaken the remaining masked individual.
Eddie turned to look at his apparent partner with a look of…distain? Annoyance? Nancy didn’t know, but it confused her enough to approach the second person. When she did, she noticed the shaking was accompanied by a laboured breathing and was that…sniffling?
What the fuck was going on? The body began to sway aggressively, a panicked movement as if trying to get out of the bonds holding them there. The mask darted from side to side, as if looking around in confusion. The sight was equal parts terrifying and baffling.
Nancy hastily got a grip on the persons head from behind to steady it which earned her a panicked shout, before she grabbed the underside of the mask and pulled. And the feeling of her heart shattering seemed to line up with the echoing sound of the plastic hitting the floor.
It didn’t matter that she was standing behind him. She knew exactly who that was. “J-Jon? Man what is happening here, please you have to help! I dont, I dont know where I am-“ The terrified, shaky voice of her ex boyfriend filled the room.
His pleading fell on deaf ears, as Nancy supposed the ringing in Jonathans head must be as loud as hers. But somehow through the mess of emotions, her brain latched onto the only easy to comprehend information. The only thing she could try and deal with. What was he saying?
He…didn’t know where he was? He wanted help?
Immediately she swung to the front of him, kneeling down in front of the chair and taking his face in her hands. She turned it from side to side, as if looking for a clear answer. “Steve, Steve you need to calm down.”
“I don’t know what’s going on or where I am and I can’t breath Nancy I can’t breathe what’s happening you have to help me I can’t breath oh my God what’s happening I can’t-“ a pained gasp around tears. “I don’t understand I don’t understand I don’t-“
“Steve!” She shakes his head slightly. “Steve, listen to my voice. I’m here, Jon is here. You’re okay. We will figure this out, okay. But first I need you to calm down.” He shakes her head at her but noticeably stops swaying. His breathing evening out slightly as his eyes
Take her in. She sees him purposefully take a few deep breaths before looking up at Jon to confirm he was still there. Still stood above him. That seems to remind him of his situation. “I don’t…” He exhales a pained breath. “I don’t like this. Nancy, why am I tied up?”
“Steve…”
“I…Trust you. But I can’t handle restraints Nancy, you know that from…from last time. I don’t know what’s happening, please…untie them.” She stares up at him for a few seconds, searching his wet eyes as her hands naturally reach to undo the rope around his ankles.
But something stops her. A deep, gutfeeling prevents her from moving any further. Like something in his eyes was telling her…she shouldn’t.
“I’m sorry, not now. We will figure this out, but I cannot do that.” A look of betrayal washes over his sunken face, and she almost regrets her choice. Until she hears a little laugh from beside her. Breathy and mocking.
“Man, that was so pathetic.”
But before she can turn to look, a twitch at Steve’s mouth catches her attention. Like another mask was ripped away from him, his demeanour falls apart.
Like the shaking crying man was never there. In its place was the Steve she knew, in the worst way possible. He looked fine. Just fine. Happy, even. Like he was joking around with the kids. A genuine smile on his face as he looked over to Eddie, not caring for Nancy at his feet.
“Awe come on, I almost had it there.”
“You didn’t have shit sweetheart, your big eyes are too expressive. You’re not supposed to look happy to have apparently been at my mercy for weeks.”
“Well, we both know I’m more than happy for-“
“What the fuck is going on?”
Both of their heads swivel towards her. And she isn’t sure if its the perfect sync or the cold, dead eyes that make her freeze up and wish she hadn’t spoken. She needs to…needs to back up. She can’t be on camera for this anymore.
They both snicker at her clear retreat before looking towards each other as if to, what? Get their stories straight. In any other situation she would scoff. It’s not like they had any way to talk their way out of this one. When Eddies eyes finally return to het his look is positively taunting.
“Is it not obvious, Nancy Drew?” He tacks it on in the same tone he would tease Mike in, it makes her feel sick to her stomach. “I mean, I don’t think there is a more conclusive way to catch two masked killers. You have your big Scooby Doo moment already.”
That gets a laugh out of Steve, a real laugh like a girl twirling her finger around a phone cord while talking to her crush. She isn’t sure why it makes her want to punch him in the face. The anger helps. It lets her pretend. Put on an act for the broadcast.
“So you admit it?”
“Admit what exactly, Nance? Need some specifics here. You know I’m an idiot.” The thing wearing Steves face jeers at her .
“You killed them. You killed Fred, and Patrick. Jason and Andy. You killed…you killed Chrissy.”
Eddie makes a humming noise and opens his hand into a fist where it peeks out from behind the chair.
“Let’s see let’s see. So we have Fred first of course. Easy one really, took you all a while to notice that.”
“Yeah poor kid, you guys were really cruel to him.”
“Right? And Next we have Andy. Steve took that one for the team-“ they both giggled at the pun. “Cause I can’t take on a basketball member.”
“I don’t know, you fared pretty well against Jason.”
“4 years of repressed anger baby, absolute magic.”
“Shame about Chrissy though.”
“Yeah, nice girl. Just bad luck really, the one time she wanted some drugs was when I was halfway through her boyfriends skull…”
“It couldn’t be helped.” Steve gives him a comforting look.
“No, no you’re right. Had to be done.”
Nancy waits for them to continue but they just…don’t. They leave it there.
An eerie silence takes over the room, but the two seem quite content to stare into each other’s soulless eyes.
And it seems to piss Jonathan off just as much as her because he finally speaks up.
“And Patrick?” His voice is scratchy with held back tears and vitriol.
“What about Patrick?” Eddie cocks his head again.
“Which one of you…killed Patrick?”
Both of the men look at each other, then slowly back to Nancy and Jon. Before landing on the camera lens.
“Well, we can’t take credit for everything can we?”
And with that, the lights in the warehouse shut off.
Nancy jumps, trying to hold in the little scream as Jon drops the camera to the floor and yanks her towards him, their heavy breaths the only sound. Waiting.
“Nancy…” Jonathan whispers.
She can’t speak. Can’t open her eyes or her mouth. Can’t keep up, can’t breathe. So she nods against his chest.
“…Robin said she had plans tonight.”