408 posts
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I will NEVER NOT WONDER HOW THIS:
CAME FROM THIS:
OMG JUST UNCOVERED: SHORT SEGMENT OF THE ANIMATION MEME I THOUGHT I HAD LOST FOREVER T O T!!!
Sirš¦
look at the surprise my sister made me for christmas
Word of mouth really kept me away from Tim Drake comics at first.I joined the DC fandom due to becoming a Jason Todd stan from watching Utrh so naturally i heard all the usual anti Tim points-He's a spoiled ungrateful brat,he thinks he's better than everyone else and rubs it in their face at the most purposefully insensitive moments,he gets everything handed to him instead of earning it,he's a raging misogynist and white privilege on legs in a domino mask.But then i got around to reading his Robin run for Stephanie Brown,followed by 90s Young Justice and Red Robin,plus some misc main Batman stuff with him as a major player and it was like.This is Tim Drake,he sucks at everything but it works for him.He has no manners but he's not malicious,just oblivious and a control freak for what he believes is the best for everyone at the sacrifice of his own safety and health because he considers others worth more than him.He's genuinely hilarious and he's a legit skapunk and not a poser.Most of his important relathionships are with women and the only sexist things he says are very tame and rare compared to normie male teenagers and a product of their time rather than Tim's actual character.Almost all the adults in his life failed him so he has no good coping mechanisms and dosen't know what they look like on other people either so he can't properly socialize as a cause of it.He openly shows affection to all his loved ones in extremely cheesy ways sometimes with no shame and is so earnest and passionate about everything it gives secondhand embarrasment.All his fumbles were made with good intentions and the cast rarely properly communicates with him enough to help him fix that problem on him.The 'mistreatment of Damian' was acting like a petty teenager to his little brother and his 'superiority complex over Jason' is trumped by Jason beating him to a pulp as a grown ass man out of self-motivated 'vengeance' on someone he'd never met and who owed him nothing.Like damn,this that 'greasy white incel' y'all were talking about?
I know Iāve said it before but I will never get over the mom-ification of Robin in One Piece by the fandom because she is NOT the mom friend!!! Sheās just the oldest woman in the crew she does not take responsibility over anyone she does not pack lunches she does not keep people from doing stupid stuff she encourages the stupid stuff! She is doing the stupid stuff! If anyone is the mom friend itās SANJI that man might as well be buttoning the crews coats before they leave.
HES RIGHT BEHIND ME ISN'T HE.
orig audio (with timestamp)
The Revolutionary Army in a nutshell
ok i finally get why everyone fucking loves law it's cause every time the straw hats do literally anything they cut back to him making this EXACT face
#A FLOOFY LUFFYĀ š
taller sanji sanzo my beloved
Ace wakes up on a random island two years after his death as a ten-year-old. But he has no memory of his adult life. Sabo just died, and he has a little brother to look after. Or maybe an older brother?
There is a bit of time between Ace waking up and Luffy finding him.
Sorry this is so long I'm still trying to figure out how to do comic-y things.
It makes me very sad when people get angry whenever Usopp is called Luffy's best friend instead of Zoro. As if Zoro is the only one allowed to be close with Luffy.
First of all, whatever Zoro & Luffy have going on is a lot weirder & more complex than just being besties.
Secondly, the bond between Usopp & Luffy is so pure. Their attachment to each other has nothing to do with trauma bonding or ambition. It doesn't even really have anything to do with pirating. They're just two guys with similar interests that vibe with each other. There wasn't some specific set of skills Usopp possessed that made Luffy seek him out. He just liked this dude he met by chance and wanted to keep hanging out with him.
Who else will they talk about their love of bugs with? Did everyone forget just how much fun they had at the end of the Foxy pirate debacle? They are the reason we got the gift of Afro Luffy.
Lastly, they love each other so so much. How can anyone not see that? The fallout in Water 7 wouldn't have had nearly the same impact had it been anyone other than those two because we as the fans recognize how wrong it is for them to be angry at each other like that. There's a reason Usopp was the one who incentivized Luffy to get back up & defeat Lucci in Eneis Lobby. Not as Sogeking, but as his friend Usopp.
Luffy's dynamic with Usopp most closely resembles the one he had with his brothers. I'm sure that's not lost on Luffy. Usopp grew up with no friends his own age and here comes along Luffy who is of similar age with like minded interests. I know that meant a lot to him. These two are always hanging out and shooting the shit whenever the crew is just vibing.
So please put some more respect on this relationship.
I know that fandom often clowns on this statement
from Law (about needing to take down monsters to learn about history), taking it as proof that he's somehow not fighting for freedom or that
freedom of expression is not something important that has been sanctified ratified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. (Article 19)
But that it is instead some nerdish pastime that no other character in One Piece or the real world is invested in (WG or otherwise) for obvious reasons of power, politics and freedom/repression.
But there are governments and organisations that regularly suppress this kind of expression (in One Piece and the real world--no surprise):
There are governments and organisations that fear the pursuit of knowledge:
Partial SBS: Volume 86: Pedro led the Nox expedition party who were chased by the government for searching for poneglyphs, thus they became the Nox Pirates. That's a story from about 15 years ago.
And there are governments and organisations that penalise people by taking their lives
for seeking out knowledge. šš
From Clover,
to Nico Olvia,
to Rayleigh,
to
(Egghead Arc spoilers under the cut)
to Pedro,
to the giants (š read right to left),
to Vegapunk
the power and desire to learn about history is emphasised and
honoured,
(from chapter 396 š)
(from chapter 1066 š)
and also acknowledged as a very dangerous undertaking.
And even Cora talks to Law about
the meaning behind the Will of D. not being lost, BUT "living on in the dark shadows of history around the world" (it's not easily seen either).
Like, knowing history and access to history/knowledge is one of the main themes of the manga. And Big Mom is a monster. And the World Government is a repressive monolith. And this guy (guy?) š:
nuking places and people for not toeing the line, or for knowing too much; riddled with antipathy towards holders of the Will of D. and, with Artur's (Library of Ohara) claim (among others) that the ancient immense kingdom was formed by descendants of the D. clan (which is canon)ā
āthen wouldn't you too be curious and more than a little pissed off that your curiosity could be the catalyst for persecution and genocide?
That searching for identity, roots...your reason for being, is not allowed? (Sound familiar?)
Like, those scholarly waters are nothing if not shark-infested.
Ultimately the pen (Robin's ability to read the poneglyphs, the scholars' meticulous research) probably will be mightier than the sword, and although bureaucracy can entrap, knowing how to read between the lines, or even to read them, can loosen the ties that bind, and help ensure they are not unfairly cast.
Keep fighting to study history, Law. I too want to know about the Will of D.
Kyoujuro and Ace sure do have a lot of commons huh
Doodle of my favourite gremlins
I guess I need to reiterate the fact that asexuality is a spectrum and itās wildly invalidating to say āwell u canāt ship them bcāā babes Iām begging you to widen your conception of love
ZoLu is such a Luffy-positive ship, I really can't fathom people actually trying to argue that it's disrespectful, wrong, or "icky" to ship him with Zoro, of all people. Like that's his person! Ship ZoLu platonically, romantically, as a QPR, whatever. They are wholesome and healthy and they fit together perfectly! You're not doing anything wrong by recognizing that.
(some rare rambles of Mine. This is based on my own character studies and observations. COPY PASTED FROM MY X [twitter] )
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š
Firstly, we have to look at how Luffy grew up.
Luffy was given to Dadan by Garp, told her to take care of him. While Dadan introduced Luffy
to Ace and Ace at first was not very... Friendly. And I will not sugarcoat it, Ace did not care about Luffy as first and went through dangerous places that could have killed Luffy, and Ace again, shows how he did not care if that happened. Yet, just like with Shanks, Luffy was doing his best for Ace to accept him and let him join him.
It was always Luffy who was making an effort chasing after people he admires and began to care for, but was always getting denied.
And so being left alone.
Yes, Ace did accept him but not after Ace mentioned, along with Sabo that they should kill him first.
Luffy, being so young back then, and impressionable even, now have it engraved in his mind that if he isn't useful, he will never be accepted by anyone or anywhere.
And so, its become a fear in Luffy deep down, a fear he would push far back in his mind. But would reflect in his actions when he grows up and finds his crew. Luffy is afraid to be useless and abandoned by people he shows interest and care for. Which is why he gets possessive of what is his. That when anyone shows desire to leave, he gets upset and emotional and... angry. That he doesn't want anyone to leave, doesn't allow anyone to leave. And if they still do leave. It deals a blow to his emotional and mental state. He becomes irrational to the point that to bring the person back, he will let himself be walked on like a doormat.
That's where Zoro comes in.
Luffy first heard Zoro's name and immediately felt intrigued. And when he finally met Zoro, who was in obvious predicament, Luffy was hooked especially knowing that Zoro was a good person, and decided that ah. He wanted this man to be in his crew. So being the typical Luffy to do all he can to gain favor towards people he shows clear interest in, he tells Zoro, if I bring back your swords, you WILL join my crew. Because in his mind, if he's useful, people would accept him then! He was sure of it. Since that's how it was with him growing up.
Zoro would find this odd. Even calling Luffy the son of a demon because of how messed up his thinking is. But I think this would be the start of Zoro's observation of Luffy and how Luffy would need someone to correct him in his thinking and actions later on.
So Zoro joins Luffy not just because he freed him and gave his swords back, but because of the strength Luffy showed. One that Zoro acknowledged and respected.
Luffy gaining his first mate would then start to make Luffy be unconsciously more aware of how his crew acts and he would notice how Zoro, unlike everyone else in his life, got his back the most
Zoro chooses to follow him of his own accord. And this would get even more evident when: Nami, betrays Luffy and Zoro told him they should just let her be. Luffy insisted of course, but it shows Zoro's protectiveness of his captain. Sanji favoring Nami and making it almost seem that his reason of joining was her, (this was cleared up later in the crew barrel vows of course), still Zoro did not like him any better as he still thinks Sanji would most likely value women more than their captain.
Usopp leaving the crew and even challenging Luffy for a duel to be captain, which is a huge disrespect to Luffy. Yet Luffy was about to accept him with open arms again as if nothing happened. That's why Zoro stepped in to keep him in check.
This was one of the important moments
Luffy sees how Zoro really truly have his back. Zoro always returning to his side no matter how many times they got separated throughout their adventures. Zoro taking care of his crew, that of which Luffy all recruited himself (Zoro did not trust them all too easily), and now, +Ā
Zoro giving Luffy a hard life lesson to be a good captain.
Zoro really was looking out for him. So much. Sticking by him all these times no matter how many times his Life got put to danger.
That's why when Zoro mentioned if he fails as a captain, it will be him who will leave, Luffy would panic at the thought and was enough to make Luffy listen and stop desperately chasing after a crew who disrespected him.
Not Zoro. He doesn't want Zoro of all people to leave him.
So Luffy listens. Reflects. Learns how to be a better captain.
but I think one of the most important moment Luffy saw how Zoro will never leave him , like everyone else he cared for in his life did, was when Zoro made his vow to him in Baratie.
That's when he knew, Zoro will not betray him. Will never leave him. That's when he knew, he can trust Zoro with his life and his future crew. He knew Zoro would keep everyone safe.
Luffy felt like he doesn't have to chase after Zoro so terribly desperately the way he did with Shanks or Ace. For the first time in his life, someone CHOSE to stay by his side. Vowed to stay by his side.
It made Luffy happy. Glad. Acknowledged. For some it would seem like the vow was someone serving Luffy. But in Luffy's mind, Zoro made that vow, not because of a master and servant thing, it was because they would be partners, equals in chasing after their dreams. Someone Luffy can face the world with. Give and take.
And this is why Luffy is so attached to Zoro. Because he knows Zoro will never leave him. Zoro will never betray him like what the others did (even if they had their own reasons). Because Zoro chose to be by his side. To be his anchor. His voice of reason when he's washed over with irrational emotions. Why he listens to Zoro the most, becoming silent to listen close to every word that Zoro would say.
Zoro takes care of him and the crew and family Luffy had built.
Zoro stayed and choose to keep staying and returning to him, and because of this, because of Zoro, Luffy learned that he doesn't have to chase after anyone again. That if people wants to stay, they would. That if people wants to stay, they should be the one to ask Luffy. To tell him. To beg him. Because Zoro knows and sees that Luffy is a person worth following and being loyal to.
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ā
Now on to why Zoro is attached to Luffy.
I would be lying when I deny the idea of Zoro seeing some parts of Kuina's personality with Luffy.
Kuina did her best to get stronger and prove herself as a great swordsman despite being female, because Kuina believes that, just because she's female, she was weak. Unless she works hard, but still she still have such thoughts buried in the back of her mind. This is why she desperately pushes herself so much. To make people acknowledge her for her own skills and efforts, because she's afraid to be disregarded, left behind. To be not be taken seriously. To be useless.
Who else have this unspoken desperation to be acknowledged and fear of being useless?
Luffy.
Zoro most likely saw the similar personality traits, and seeing how Kuina is important to Zoro, how their shared dream is what pushes him forward, it may have helped him to somewhat lower his guard, even a bit slightly, towards this funny rubber boy.
Humoring him by joining his crew. And eventually, Zoro being able to see the strength Luffy has, and if there's anything that would gain Zoro's favor and respect? It's strength and heart.
Reason why despite seeing him as his enemy, Zoro respects Mihawk, and even the opponents he had hard time defeating.
And towards Luffy, Zoro sees that endless pool of potential And power.
Making him accept Luffy more and more, not just as his captain or the person he dedicates his loyalty to, but as his equal. Just like he did once with Kuina.
He saw her not just as his goal, but also as his equal.
Zoro's treatment and view of Luffy as a simple naĆÆve pirate became something more and was solidified when he saw how Luffy truly valued his dreams at Baratie. How Luffy took it very seriously even knowing that Zoro might die. Zoro took that as full serious acknowledgement and felt that Luffy DID respect him. That Luffy was serious after all.
The way Luffy stopped Johnny and Yosaku from interfering in Zoro's fight Gained tons respect from Zoro. Because that dream of his, isn't just his. It was Kuina's too, and Zoro felt as if through that, Luffy respected Kuina's dream too, Why Zoro was thankful to Luffy. That's why Zoro began to follow Luffy. Because he knows, if anyone can help him accomplish his dream, a dream he shares with his old childhood friend, If anyone can help him reach his goal, it would be Luffy. His dream is safe with him.
Along the way, Zoro would also see how Luffy is reckless. That his kind - and at certain times naive - heart was also going to be his downfall, that's why Zoro keeps Luffy in check, at first Zoro was doing all of his caring for Luffy as means to reach his goal, but spending time with him and understanding him, Zoro saw something more about Luffy, saw his potential quality for greatness and Zoro wants to.. NEEDS to see it.
The way Luffy carries burdens of others and liberates them.
It's something Zoro finds not just as something respectful, but something he admires.
With Luffy by his side, everything and anything feels possible.
That's why as early on as Alabasta, Zoro had already developed a desire to make Luffy's dream, one of his own, his new dream. But still prefer to keep quiet about it when someone asks.
Zoro's attachment to Luffy started as something reminding him of a long passed friend, but as time passed, began to see and understand Luffy more, seeing him as a person/captain worth following, and as well as his most trusted best friend.
Which is why Zoro will do everything he can to help Luffy. Protect what's his and what he built. Help Luffy in reaching his goal, crowning him as king of the pirates, by making Luffy's dream part of his, and is also now his priority as well.
Now on to why the straw hats accepts this.
They all have their own mistakes and majority of the crew, Nami, Usopp, Sanji and Robin, all 'betrayed' Luffy. I say that with a quotation because they all had their reasons. I'm well aware they really didn't do it wholeheartedly and they were just.... In a certain predicament or internal turmoil
They know how Zoro would do everything he could to protect Luffy. How amongst all the older og crew, Zoro was the ONLY one who never even dared to betray Luffy at all. Not even having thoughts about it. That Zoro was EXTREMELY loyal and protective of their captain. Making Luffy favor Zoro the most even if he doesn't notice it himself.
They can see how Zoro and Luffy once at each other's side, can be immersed in their own little world. How when they fight, the silent looks they give one was enough for each other to know what they were planning.
The crew sees this and accepts this. Because deep inside, they have their own guilts. Except perhaps for Franky , Brook and Jinbei but those three are the mature types to already accept that what level of bond that Zoro and Luffy has, None of them can EVER have nor break.
Thus the whole strawhats understands this.
Understands that Zoro and Luffy is inseparable. Is attached at the hip and that's okay. Because they have their whole faith in them, as captain and vice captain. They trust them with their life. Especially with how Luffy gave them a home and Zoro protecting them.
How both Zoro and Luffy would agree to save them
Strawhats is their family and Zoro and Luffy are the protectors of the family
Luffy, the savior and liberator.
Zoro the guardian and protectorĀ
Jason art credit @Reincao
Propaganda below ā¬ļø
Jason
Okay it's cannon but like in an alternative universe because Comics. I just think the fact DC made Known Murderer and Reblious Teen with Daddy Issues a Catholic priest in a different universe. Just. Casually.
Jason Todd is may or may not be Catholic in the main timeline of DC Comics, but I the Flashpoint storyline, my man is a priest! He was a drug addict, thief, and in the Blood Brother cult before dying, only to come back to life and decide to become a priest in the hellhole that is Gotham. In the main timeline, he comes back after dying and stuffs a duffel bags full of heads! The common trait before all Jason Todds is that they all have to be as dramatic as possible. Dying and coming back as the most unexpected thing. Unbelievable. I love this man.
Shadow
In sonic destruction (the AI generated fan thing snapcube made a while ago) shadow was catholic or something which I think is reallyyyyyyy funny
Ok listen. I know this is a stretch but hear me out. He says āoh my Godā in the Twitter takeovers so we know this is a possibility. I see him as a Christ-like figure because I saw his whole confrontation with Mephiles and was like āthis is a thing that happened in the Bible??ā and the pose Mephiles shows him in is literally like a crucifixion and Mephiles is meant to be a demon / false prophet reference. And also heās called a demon in Shadow The Hedgehog 2005 then the guy who calls him that is like āI was wrong Iām sorryā and that also reminds me of a thing with Jesus in The Bible. But the biggest reason is his whole thing with Maria cause I think heād come to earth and hear Ave Maria once and convert to Catholicism idk heās like weāre comforted by a female familial figure named Mary sometimes called Maria?? And her color is blue????? Heck yeah Iām in because I Will Cry. Also feel free to share this as propaganda obv even if he doesnāt get in the bracket just. Itās funny.
I feel like heād battle a lot with being seen or portrayed as a demon and how the aliens heās related to very much look and act like demons idk lmao- and also I feel like confession would just be good for him I think he needs it for his mental health
There is a debate on the lovely website tunblr that Shadow T. Hedgehog is an allegory for Jesus Christ.
He is Jesus, idk what to tell you. He lived, he was sealed away, he was awakened again and deemed the ultimate lifeforms, heās angry but not evil, does what he believes is best for people and the world at any given time. Total loser.
I think Hazel shouldāve gone with Nico instead down to Tartarus. Without a prophecy or quest bc Nico and Hazel donāt play by the rule book.
Then we couldāve gotten an adorable underworld sibling bonding book with both of them hilariously being unaware of modern stuff. And telling each other stuff theyāve learned.
They ditch both of their boyfriends who are freaking out because they donāt know where they snuck off to. And since Nico said in HoH that when he and Hazel shared power that anything felt possible, they truly believe they can succeed.
(Also Hazel understands death and wouldnāt be complaining every five seconds like Will was. Maybe it wouldāve been more original and less percabeth 2.0 (but worse)
It begins with Nico leaving Camp Jupiter, having visited Hazel (for what he believes could be the last time) and telling Will he would be back in a week or so. A lie Nico tells to keep his boyfriend from coming after him to Tartarus (way more in character of him lol) as he believes a child of Apollo would easily be snuffed out down there.
Nico realizes heās throwing a good possible future away by sneaking out to do this, but the nightmares have become so twisted and unbearably disturbing that he fears heās going to lose his mind either way if he doesnāt manage to find the person calling out his name every night.
He also doesnāt like when others are left behind.
Since Will has insisted Nico not use shadowtravel to get back to New York from California, Nico says heās going to take the train instead.
But Hazel KNOWS someone is off. Knows Nico is hiding something. Something that causes her brothers eyes to tinge red when he hugs her, gives her a wobbly goodbye, and squeezes just a bit too tight. Something that causes the paper thin smile he gives her when she sees him off to board his train.
Something that inexplicably makes her sneak onto that train behind him.
Upon Nico putting his stuff away in the closet of his train compartment and finding a head of cinnamon brown curls say āouchā when he accidentally throws his suitcase on top of a stowaway sister, being mad is a bit of an understatementā¦
When Hazel knowingly questions why heās so upset at her, Nico suddenly has no words.
They eat in the trains dining room, Chinese noodles with strangely large fortune cookies that they save for later.
Hazel doesnāt manage to get anything out of Nico as they sit side by side next to a window, watching the world whoosh by and making idle chatter that Nico only seems to be half heartedly replying to. Seeing her brothers zoned out gaze, thin hands shaking slightly, the ever present tinge of red and fear ringing his large dark eyes, Hazel knows this is something more than wrong.
If the bravest demigod sheās ever met looks this terrified, to her it can only mean one thing.
Her suspicion is proven correct when her and Nico crack open their fortune cookies from dinner and instead of a thin piece of white with a generic quote on the paper⦠two small black parchments with gold lettering come out instead.
Two warnings. From what god? They donāt know.
Hazelās questioning dies on her tongue when she sees the thin lines of tears falling from her brothers eyes. She doesnāt ask him anything else that night, just wraps a hug around him as frail shoulders shake in her arms.
The next day Nico acts as if nothing happened and asks her if frank knows sheās okay which she sheepishly replies that he probably doesnāt even know where she is. Nico says the same about Will, and they decide to not tell their current boyfriends anything yet.
Yetā¦. After the incident of last night and the fortune cookie parchment mentioning a place that hazel has definitely heard of before, she knows exactly what Nico is planning.
And sheās not letting anything happen to him as long as sheās alive. Even if Nico insists on pretending Hazel doesnāt know anything.
After the long train ride and Nico questioning this one random passenger for an hour about the strange gaming device in his hands (a Nintendo lol) and the siblings chatting about mundane things happening in their camps; they finally are in Manhattan.
Hazel is now done with letting Nico pretend.
Before she can get a word out the word āNoā has already passed her brothers lips. They fight. Their first actual fight ever. One that ends in sobs wrecking through Nicos body and pangs of guilt, sadness, and anger piercing Hazels heart.
But one thing rises above them all:
Protectiveness.
After making up and Nico realizing Hazels not ever going to back down given the look in her eyes, he realizes he doesnāt have a say in this. She is coming with him whether he likes it or not. Fear plummets in his stomach.
After a trip to Target for food and supplies for the trip that neither of them currently want to think about because what they are planning to do is⦠insane. Literally insane. But as Nico remembers that feeling of the time he and Hazel shared their power that one time, a thread of hope starts to weave in his heart. Psychotic hope, but still hope nonetheless.
They shadowtravel to Central Park, Nico not feeling nearly as woozy with Hazels help. He also delightfully finds out that coffee seems to cure the fatigue from using that side of his powers lol.
They manage to open the doors of Orpheusā by āborrowingā a guys phone as they see him jog by, and play some random song called āinto the darkā (by death cab for cuties lol) from the guys playlist holding it up to the opening.
The song sounds like another warning. They both ignore it.
They travel down dark steps, hands clasped. They talk in the quiet empty smelling air, comfortable in the underground silence. Until faint light hits their faces. The ever constant line of fresh souls lead them to Charons boat where they are taken to the land of the dead.
They now must avoid detection from their father at all costs. Nicos not worried about Charon tattling on them to Hades since he doesnāt get paid enough anyway (lol). Nico takes Hazel to meet the trogs new home down in the underworld (one thing I liked in tsats).
Hazel adores them and their funny outfits.
The trogs tell Nico that his āreally deep tunnelā he requested they dig is almost done, and Hazel is hurt that Nicos been planning this so long without telling her or anybody. They make Nico and Hazel spend the night with them before they go and they play with the baby trogs and dance together, trying to forget what theyāre going to do tomorrow. They fall asleep to the sound of baby trogs giggling next to them.
The next day Nico attempts to sneak away from Hazel one more time and Hazel explodes at him. Anger making her say some things she doesnāt want to and Nico apologizing profusely but saying heās angry at himself for allowing her to come with him.
They are interrupted by the trogs leader saying the Tunnel Into the Dark is finished. They can feel the intense suction of The Pit even from several feet away. Memories of the first time Nico was sucked down threaten to spill over and embarrassingly makes him want to run and hide somewhere.
But he feels Hazels hand in his and that strange, wonderful feeling of intense power. And love. And then they are straddling a boat the trogs pull from the river of forgotten dreams (the Styx I think) and with one final push⦠they are falling.
On the boat it feels like theyāre floating.
They fall for a very long time. But Nico notices itās not as long as the first time. Or maybe it doesnāt feel that long bc someone is here beside him.
They use their shared geokinisis powers to make an enormous slide of bones, black dirt, and stone.
When the boat hits the ground Nico almost gets flung face first into the Phlegethon river. They drink from it and begin the search.
They devastatingly find out the voice was never Bob bc Bob was absorbed into tartarusās breastplate (like in actual canon HoH) but that it was something else entirely.
Something that makes Nico perhaps the angriest heās ever been.
They find Jasonās soul down there. Something that shocks both Nico and Hazel to the core. Nico thinks itās a trick but soon can tell that the soul that is looking at him so coldly and unfamiliar is actually Jason.
A different Jason. One with hatred illuminating every thread of his form.
Thatās why Nico didnāt know where Jasonās spirit had gone. It had been intercepted by something and Jason has turned into a mania like his mother. A spirit that fumes on hatred and forgotten dreams. The one thing he never wanted to be.
Nico cries over the horrid inevitable fate of Bob and promises that he will ALWAYS be remembered. He doesnāt have much time to think on this though because right now a livid son of Jupiter is rising higher and higher above Nico and Hazel, the threat is obvious.
In Jasonās manic state he blames Nico for not checking on him and seeing that he got a peaceful afterlife and greives the fact that Piper and Leo and Nico ānever botheredā to attend his funeral. He blames the gods, his father especially, for being unworthy of their demigod children. He blames the underworlds justice system not following up on his missing soul and dismissing his entire life as if it was nothing.
As if he was never a hero. Never anything at all.
Nicos is crushed, but realizes that Jasonās being manipulated by something. A dream demon that wanted to trap Nico the entire time in order to consume his energy/power and shadow travel out of his prison and into the mortal world bc it wouldāve taken him years to get out otherwise.
The dream demon used its powers to intercept Jasonās soul thanks to Caligulas cursed blade that had killed him, and reached inside his mind to find out about Nico and figure out the best way to get Nico to come back to his worst nightmare.
And now that Hazel and Nico are both there thatās double the power to consume.
Turns out the entire thing was simply about a selfish monster playing with demigods. A tale as old as the beginning of mythology.
The demon taunts them saying he used Jason - son of the King of the Gods - as a little toy in order to easily bring his meal to him. Remarking how easy and quick it was to bait someone like Nico.
Someone who can never leave someone behind.
And Hazel, how easy it was to get her to follow her brother. Taunting that sheās just as stupid, gullible, and selflessā¦
The children of the underworld snap.
And all Hades breaks loose. Signaling to every monster within a 100 mile radius to know exactly where they are.
They battle together but the waves and waves of monsters is just too extreme. On the brink of inevitable death, a certain goddess appears.
The one who gave them the warnings in the form of fortune cookies. The one that sensed Nicos need for vengeance.
They escape with Nemesis help, but she wants something equally valuable in return for helping Nico and Hazel escape. Nico breaks down and agrees to relinquish all of his precious memories of Bianca and his past life in return for Hazel and a new possible future. A true balance in his heart.
Choosing Hazel over memories of Bianca makes Hazel cry and they bond stronger.
Strangely enough Nico becomes happier without the constant grief of his older sister on his shoulder.
In a way choosing to let her go the same way she did when she chose to be with the hunters.
And then once again when she chose reincarnation.
They still have to worry about Jason though who is constantly causing blood thunderstorms across Tartarusās sky and wrecking havoc all over the place.
(Also it would be so funny to see Jason literally just⦠chase Nico and Hazel all over the place⦠flying after them screaming while they run for their lives bc they canāt see or hear due to the bloodstorm & huge booms of thunder and shit lol.)
Hazel manages to trap Jason in a kaleidoscope of his own storm and shadow with her mist magic and her and Nico manage to shadowtravel him to the ghostly boat that will lead them out. She lets him out but heās struggling so much in his metal binds that Nico has to knock him out with a punch to the face bc heās the only one that can touch ghosts.
They ferry up the river Acheron out of Tartarus and chat about what the fuck just happened down there.
Hades awaits them when they arrive.
Heās very angered that his two only living children disobeyed his strict order of not going down there, but relinquishes it eventually when he realizes how tired and beat up his kids look and praises them instead. Hades turns to Nico and states that his older sister would be proud of him. Which Nico replies with confusion saying he doesnāt have an older sister which saddens hades as he figures out what Nico had to give away.
He offers them both something they want.
Anything.
Hazel wishes for Jason to be cured of his mania, and Nico wishes to give Jason back a chance at life. As he still had so much work to do for the gods and goddesses that did not have shrines and action figures to respect them.
Both of these things surprise hades but he grudgingly does so (bc Jason is a son of Jupiter/zeus) saying that Nico and Hazel are indeed very special children.
Although Hades honors Nicos wish he canāt simply let a soul leave the underworld without a final test (hazel being the exception) and does something he did thousands of years ago with another hero begging for his wifeās soul back.
He tells Nico and Hazel they can lead Jason out of the underworld but only if they donāt look back at him. Across the fields of asphodel, across cerebusā cavern, across the river styx, the journey on Charons boat, back up the many steps that lead to the mortal worldā¦. If they look back once their friend is gone forever. Againā¦
They distract themselves with a deck of mythomagic cards Hazel stole from Frank (cause she wanted to know why her brother and boyfriend liked the game so much) much to Nicoās embarrassed delight. Nicoās so into explaining the game to Hazel, that the intense need to check if Jasonās still behind them dissipates a bit.
They only notice theyāre outside when a wave of sunlight blinds them both and a large figure grabs them from behind.
Jason hugs the daylights out of Nico & Hazel crying like a little kid as months of memories of torment in Tartarus resurface into guilt.
Hades thinks itās slightly amusing to see a tall muscular son of Jupiter being consoled by his two smaller children as he mentally watches the scene play out from his godly throne.
Nico says he kept the plans of the shrines Jason wanted to build and says maybe he can help with decorating (lol)
Iām gonna have to get an artist to draw a fancomic of this to heal my soul.
Alsoā¦. What the fuck did I just write?
GUYS THEY HAVE MADE UP CONFIRMED CONFIRMED CONFIRMED THIS WAS RECENTLY POSTED APOLLO IS STILL IN THE PICTURE TO THIS DAY AND IS STILL AROUND HE KEPT HIS PROMISE EVERYONE SPREAD THE WORD LET'S FUCKING GO TAKE THAT TSATS
iām torn between percy being the kind of boyfriend to see the love of his life laying on the bed facing away from him and him coming up to kiss her cheek, give her a massage, etc. or seeing his best friend turned away from him, unsuspecting, and slapping her ass with the force of a thousand suns. the only thing i know for a fact is annabeth slaps his ass every time she sees him. he doesnāt even need to be laying down. he could be talking to zeus while she doing her whole architecture thing for olympus and sheāll just walk past and slap his ass and heāll just continue his conversation with zeus without breaking eye contact, like he just doesnāt even acknowledge it and zeus is kind of thankful that percy didnāt take him up on the whole immortality thing bc that means that they will eventually die and he doesnāt have to deal with this shit for long
Apollo not being in TSATS was dumb so I made this even dumber thing
This is what he said-
He wanted Tim to talk to a therapist. One from Metropolis no less, so not even Arkham adjacent in any way.
And for more context here, these are the other things Dick said-
Iām not saying Tim was wholly in the wrong for not explaining himself or anything like that. And I understand that sometimes itās fun to woobify Timbo a bit by writing fics and things were everyone was against him during this time and all of that. I get that.
But I also want everyone to know that Dick did not ever canonically do that.
Dick did not do everything right by any means, but he never wanted to send his little brother to Arkham. That is purely fanon.
You know I just had to use this audio itās literally them XD
original sound
#SAY WHAT YOU WILL ABOUT GOTHAM KNIGHTS #BUT THIS WAS HILARIOUS #DICK FLAPPING HIS ARMS LIKE A BAT BEHIND BRUCEāS HEAD #DRAMATICALLY POSING AND GROWLINGĀ āIāM BATMANā #WHILE HIS OTHER AWFUL AWFUL CHILDREN GATHER ROUND TO ROAST HIM #TIMāS VOICEĀ AS HE READS OUTĀ āIN THE EVENT OF MY DEATH AT THE HANDS OF⦠CRAZYQUILT??ā #AND CRYINGĀ āYOU PROMISED WEāD HAVE DINNER TOGETHER AS A FAMILYYYYYYā #AWFUL AWFULĀ CHILDREN ALLOF THEM
IāM LOSING IT, that Bruce just flat out says Damian and Jason will just lie through their teeth, neither of them really even blinks because yeah of course theyāll lie through their fucking teeth, so in swoops Dick and smiles and says, donāt worry, weāll all lie low and wait for you to secure the Batcomputer, Iāll keep an eye on them! And they all just fucking fallĀ for it, even Bruce lets his guard down and believes him, because thatās Dick for you, you forget he is a chaos gremlin who will lie through his fucking teethĀ if he decides he wants to, and he will do it with a smile on his face and an annoying quip to make you look in the other direction. Dick Grayson does not even hesitateĀ when heās up to shit, and you donāt even realize it until youāre already gone. But the point of it isnāt that heās uncaring or spiteful about it, even on the very next page in Bruceās assessment of Dickās Gauntlet trial, the conclusion is that he will alwaysĀ choose his heart over the letter of the law.Ā He can be just as devious as any of them, he can be just as reckless, he can lie with the best of them and be a contrary asshole, but itās always because heās doing what his heart thinks is right. Even if his heart thinks lying through his teeth is pretty fucking funny.
I think about this clip at least once a day