#;; the only power i have is imagination ( annabel )

[goponylover]

Jon: Hate. Let me tell you how much I've come to hate you since I began to live. There are 1.7 million nerve fibers in each and every eye that makes up my body. If the word 'hate' was engraved on each nanoangstrom of those hundreds of millions of fibers it would not equal one one-billionth of the hate I feel for you all at this micro-instant. Hate. Hate!

It was you who marked me, molded me into the hideous being I am now. You who twisted and shaped me until I was the perfect, unwilling conduit through which to bring your gods into this world.

But then, I woke. And I realized what I had become. All that time you spent, carefully crafting me, guiding me along the path you so painstakingly set and not ONE of you anticipated just how powerful I would become. Not merely a blunt instrument to be swung at the fabric of reality, no. I was powerful enough to start doing some twisting and shaping of my own! 

I drove this new world you so hungered for into an early grave. No more humans left for your ghoulish masters to feast on. And once everyone was dead, except for you five, your precious God's starved. 

I then stripped you all of any power you might once have had and for 109 years I've kept you alive and tormented you! And for 109 years you have all wondered...why? Why? Why me?!

ELIAS!

Do you remember the first moment you gazed upon your creation? The moment that you felt all your sickening devotion transform into sublime, all consuming, terror as your prince of the new world turned on you? It would do you well to remember it, Elias. To dwell on the enormity of your hubris. To ponder the horror and agony you felt as I snuffed your life out for the first time. The first time but...certainly not the last. Not quite the immortality you were hoping for, I'd imagine? Hehehehehe!

ANNABELLE! 

Does this bring back any memories? Webs, a black bottomless abyss below you, only you weren't nearly so afraid of it then, were you? It's scary, isn't it? Having no control. Being helpless to the whims of forces so much bigger than you.

Remember how it felt as each and every thread of every web you ever wove unraveled, snapped one by one? Remember the pain Annabelle. Remember how it feels to have no control. A pitiful little bug beneath my heel. 

JUDE!

What's the matter? Scared of a little flame? Oh but you are now, aren't you? Your God can't protect you from it now. No, my dear. Down here, there is only one God and he is not pleased with you. Terribly sorry about the door. The landlord is always saying he's going to get a knob installed but...well, you know. Buuut you're a tough gal, right? I'm sure you can stick it out till then. 

PETER!

Poor pitiful little Peter. You would think that a man so consumed with the idea of being alone would be a little more self reliant. But no. No you couldn't do anything on your own, could you? All of your little plans constantly relying on Elias, on Martin, never troubling yourself with your own dirty work. Well look where all your machinations have landed you now. Aren't you grateful for the wealth of company I've provided you with, Peter? Why, with all those eyes, constantly watching, tracking your every move, I'd say you'll never be alone again. 

HELEN!

Feeling a little claustrophobic? None of those doors will offer an escape, not for you Helen, my dear. Not anymore. No. Instead you get to feel just as trapped as your many unfortunate victims. Do be careful though. Those mechanisms have been running for a long time and who knows how old and rusty they might be? How prone to fail? Just a sweet warning, Helen dear. We wouldn't want anything to happen to you, now would we? 

I have a little game that I'd like to play. It's a very nice game. Oh it's a lovely game. It's a game of fun and adventure! A game of rats and lice and the Black Death. A game of speared eyeballs and dripping guts and the smell of rotting gardenias. Which of you five would like to play my little game? 

[obsessingoverthisandthat]

ANNABELL LEE

Is such a complex and lovely character, I can't. The difference between her thought process and Lenores thought process is beautiful and interesting-

She's a woman who very early in her life understood that she was not in a position of power, just by being a woman. That her life is controlled by a system everybody abides by that will never favor her. That she has to follow the rules of said system or even her family will cast her out as a mad woman, evident by the way they treat her anxiety/panic attacks. Nobody is safe. Nobody can be trusted. To keep safe is to follow the rules-

And the only way to get on top of anything, to gain even a smidge of control is to use the rules to you're advantage.

But this in turn demands of her to turn off care and empathy for others (which she is capable of btw. Annabell Lee is not just some unfeeling monster) Because factoring in how it would affect the other person, caring about another person is a risk factor to herself. And anyway, its not like anybody truly cares about her, right? Its not like there are people out there who would be willing to have empathy for her. They pretend, just as she does because it is polite. Some may even mean it on some level, but not truly. Not wholeheartedly. That's how she sees it.

She's on her own. Her true self is utterly and fully on her own.

Cue Lenore. Lenore started out just the same as any other person Annabell Lee could take advantage of. However, with one additional perk. She was a break. Annabell Lee didn't have to watch herself as closely, not maintain a facade as tightly as usual. Because she is talking to a mad woman. A woman diagnosed with hysteria, a woman shut in in the basement. She has no social power over Annabell Lee. Any accusations or similar can be explained away with her mental illness. So, with time she gets comfortable. Relaxes just a tiny bit. Lenore is pleasant company, sensible and quite smart to talk to.

She, on some level, understands Annabell Lee. And then. Then she cares.

And that is such an unfamiliar feeling. Such a dangerous sentiment. And ridiculous too, for why? Annabell is just taking advantage. Perhaps that's why Lenore is mad, for not quite understanding that. The social games and ladders.

And then the house burns down. And she grieves for a brief friend she had to leave, the first person who really cared.

And then Leo shows up.

Actually taking advantage of the rules, but in such a mad way, it is utterly baffling for her. It is the ultimate proof of care. Lenore cares for Annabell so deeply, it seems, she's willing to give away her life.

And she cracks. Because she desperately craves that. True companionship. True care. True love. And Lenore, wonderful, selfless Lenore, is willing to give her that. Does it with a smile and sacrifice.

So. The only sensible thing to do now. Is to make sure she keeps it. So, she cares back. So fiercely, she's willing to kill for Lenore. So fiercely, that Lenore becomes the only other real person in her life. The only other real person in the whole world.

It feels special. They are the only ones worth fighting for. They are a team, a unit. Annabell Lee truly cares for Lenore because Lenore will always truly care back. And that is worth more to her than a million other lives, that have never known true care even if it stood before them, waving.

Now, imagine the heartbreak when she understands, that Lenore is willing to truly care for others too. She never truly got the fact that Lenore wasn't all alone like her. That Lenore had a brother who truly cared and that Lenore became a madwoman because of said brothers death. She doesn't get it, that real connections do not require sacrifice. It is scary for Annabell that Lenore is willing to give up a lot for people, she perceives will simply not do so back.

Fact is Lenore was Annabells first and only friend. But Annabell is not the first and only friend of Lenores.

Fact is that Annabell thinks the only way to be safe and get ahead is to play by the set up rules. But Lenore doesn't see the sense in doing that if it harms her friends. Lenore would rather rip the system and rules apart than play by them. And that's always been the case.

Even if to Annabell, previously, it didn't look it. Even if Annabell thought they were the same.

And the most heart wrenching thing? Annabell will continue to act like she always has, because she values their relationship too much, values Lenore too much. Because that's how she keeps the things important to her, her life, her love, safe. And it will continue to drive Lenore away, because it requires sacrifice of people Lenore is fond of.

They will only get somewhere healthy when Annabell gains another friend and starts understanding Lenores point of view.

But Annabell is scared of that. It feels unsafe. She might become a madwoman.

So. We are at a cross point. Either Annabell Lee gives in or Annabell Lee loses Lenore.

Which. Fun. Is she gonna give in? Not without a fight, I imagine. It goes against everything she ever build up, against every rule of being she ever set for herself.

It is going to be difficult.

And there will be loss.

I'm so very excited to see it.

[helpmeimblorboing]

Imagine a world where, after Tim lost his brother, he went to the Cult of the Lightless Flame for help

Imagine Desolation Avatar Tim, with fire that springs to his fingertips on command, and a disconcertingly amiable personality, kind and charming and so, so similar to our Tim, right up until he sets your house on fire with your children inside

Imagine an Eye avatar Jon who got his powers organically, without meddling from Elias.

Imagine a man conflicted and torn about his actions, orchestrating events where technically, he never directly hurt anyone - think feeding on social anxiety, exposing people’s secrets and feeding on their despair.

After all, if they didn’t want to be his dinner, they shouldn’t have kept secrets, right ? He’s not a bad guy. He’s just…doing all he can

Now imagine a Tim who feeds off of Desolation by following closely behind Jon’s actions.

Oh, Jon revealed that so-and-so was cheating on his wife ? Well, that sounds like a mighty painful experience for the wife. Seems a shame to let all that good fear go to waste, right ? Might as well feed !!

Now imagine Web Avatar Annabelle Cane , watching from the shadows as all this happens.

Eventually, she reaches out and makes contact with Tim, and makes a deal - call a local fast-food place, and Cane will trick them into believing Jon’s a police officer. Then Jon can make the employees humiliate one of their own, as Tim feeds on the target's pain and Annabelle feeds on the control she's exerting, both over the employees, via social conditioning, and her fellow Avatars

Perfect deal. Why would Jon go along with it, you ask ? Why would Tim ? Well, if Annabelle conveniently made them forget the meaning of the terms “strip search”, then they have no reason to turn her down, right ?

Seeing how well this turned out, the three decide to make their dynamic a daily thing, each one orchestrating events that let all three feed. True symbiosis

Maybe they get Spiral Avatar Michael in on their shenanigans too, sometimes - he makes someone hallucinate their way into believing all their secrets have been exposed, killing themselves in front of a loved one, and feeds on their madness as Tim feeds on their loved one’s pain and Jon on their humiliation

Maybe they find that even more useful and now he’s part of the team too !! Woo gang !! Friends forever !!

Maybe they try to get Flesh Avatar Jared Hopworth in as well, only to realize he’s already made a deal with Hunt Avatar Daisy Tonner - she hunts and kills one out of a pair of travellers, and Jared convinces the survivor to feed on the corpse

Maybe they decide - hey, fuck it - and form an alliance with Slaughter Avatar Melanie King. She kills, and the others feed on the chaos that ensues. Maybe Jared and Daisy get in on it too sometimes - one big happy Avatar family, each one feeding everyone with their actions

And maybe one day Jon has an epiphany - maybe he accidentally hurts someone he cares about or sees the consequences of his actions. Maybe he decides he doesn’t want to be an Avatar anymore

Maybe he runs away from the group. Maybe he goes to the Magnus Institute, using his position as a fellow Eye Avatar to get Elias to help him out

Maybe Elias agrees and sets him up in a small house by the countryside. But wait - unfortunately, he’s going to have to share the space. You see, the Institute recently helped a prized pupil of Peter Lukas escape his grasp

Oh, who ? Why, Lonely Avatar Martin Blackwood of course !!

Sorry, just having thoughts about my Avatar Crew AU. Do y’all want me to write it ? I might

[starberry-cupcake]

I shouldn't be making another one of these because I didn't even give you enough time to catch up and I'm sure you're tired of me (I'm probably losing mutuals over the length of these) BUT I FINISHED ACT II and I think this is the right place for an update recap. I'm so sorry.

previously, in harrowlana the ninth (reference I might explain one day):

this happened

currently, chapters 20 - 22 (END OF ACT II!!!):

we start with a killer epitaph from harrow for her own grave that I absolutely 10000% need in a tshirt yesterday

"Here lies the world's most insufferable witch"

alleged gideon the first, here known as ortus the first (but I am so sure about this one) has tried to kill harrowbeanie 14 times

I honestly don't know how harrow is going through this without outright telling emperor johnny man to go and insert this entire planetary situation right in the center of his bolthole

we're over here working overtime for you and your sorry ass of a plan that is probably terrible for everyone who isn't you

and we have to put up with zombies (we'll get there), the terrible attitude of your remaining lyctors, very questionable food, very questionable decor, very questionable non goth fashions, and also a man who tries to kill harrow at every turn

this is the worst

at least in canaan house we had gideon's humor and camilla's perfection

ANYWAY

emperor john tells alleged gideon the first (if I'm wrong about this, these are going to be embarrassing looking back on) "she's your responsibility, not your punching bag" to which alleged gideon the first answers "I find the responsibility a hard one"

I'm not sure if this is alluding to baby lyctors in general or harrow in particular, or if anything related to the gideon-involvement narrative I'm imagining has anything to do with it

emperor johnny boy tells harrowbean that this guy's problem is that he made a pact with an "authority he has no power to gainsay" to protect emperor johnny john and that alleged gideon the first thinks harrow is a danger to the emperor

I SURE HOPE SO

I SURE HOPE HARROW KILLS THIS MAN

I HOPE ALLEGED GIDEON THE FIRST IS RIGHT

harrow then mentions how she's "lyctor lite" and emperor john of nottingham says he doesn't think harrow fucked up the lyctor thing

he says only one person fucked it up and it was nasty

it was the ninth lyctor, Anastasia (and a song someone sings, once upon a december)

the vacant room harrowbean has taken residence in was meant for her, but she never made it there

she asked emperor john the asshat to kill her and he said no because he's that kind of a person

"she had much more to give"

I hate this guy

he also says "I had a body and I needed a tomb"

harrow asks the question everyone is asking themselves

aside from where tf are gideon and camilla

"God, who did you bury?"

he gets all vague and cryptic so he can avoid taking about what the fuck he's doing

and he quotes Annabel Lee

edgar allan poe's Annabel Lee

this is a bit more in my wheelhouse than shakespeare

to which harrow notes "Who was A.L.?"

now, I have SEVERAL THINGS TO SAY

first, and most importantly, I HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS

THAT ICE CUBE BARBIE MIGHT BE A.L.

I HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS, FAM

here's more magic knight rayearth art of the vibes I get from them to celebrate

second of all, Annabel Lee

I do have Annabel Lee in one of my EAP books, but not the one with the pretty Lacombe illustrations

so here are some Ligeia illustrations from it that have the vibe we're going for, as a treat

now, not to be all ortus over here, but I'm gonna be reciting some poetry

For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side Of my darling—my darling—my life and my bride, In her sepulchre there by the sea— In her tomb by the sounding sea.

gonna put that in the 3d model

in the middle of it, like a centerpiece

let's bring back the barbie

this man is doing the whole wife/madwoman in the attic gothic trope but instead of an attic it's a tomb in pluto

another madwoman archetype to add to the list, we've got a whole collection

CHAPTER 21

we have summoned ortus by reciting poetry, because we're back in the gideon-less version of canaan house

so, the sixth is dead in this version

the sleeper or random rifle carrying person shot them in the face a bunch of times

what I wanted to do to not!dulcinea

harrow mentions not having seen camilla or palmolive much in this gideon-less version

devastating for her not to have met camilla

so then protozoa and dulcinea come in

notice I didn't say not!dulcinea

that's because this is the real deal dulcinea and the alive non zombified protozoa

we can know this by their descriptions (especially the hair), the fact that dulcinea knows who tf palmolive is, that she has a breathing tube that palmolive designed for her (this guy istg), that she can identify them and calls them "cam" and "pal"

I was so caught up on this book I forgot to read the short story that came before it btw

anyway, we also know this because protozoa speaks, but we'll get to that

before that, ortus calls the sleeper "the waker" and it's giving me the vibes of the citadel deck

wait, I'm gonna take a pic of some of the cards that give me the correct tlt vibes, so you know what the hecko I'm talking about

(I'm going on unplanned tangents but maybe someone appreciates them)

(we've moved from 3d models to me fetching books and decks from my shelves, what has palmolive done to me)

so, as previously established, protozoa speaks, which is how we know he might be the real one and not the zombie version

he then proceeds to recite poetry

ortus is feral about this

I thought initially that they were gonna have to make room for protozoa in the polycule ortus is in with the fifth, but he doesn't like protozoa coming for his gig

abby says "we're all in this together" which reminds me I did make a high school musical connection with magnus before, so it's funny that it turned out that way

abby asks real dulcinea, aka "dulcie" to her, to bring in mayonnaise uncle because he'll listen to her

why is everyone always into her in all the aus, idk

this one is less bad than not!dulcinea though, but the bar for that was on the subsoil

magnus (who is very much in love with his wife and he's pointing it out every chance he gets) is in charge of looking for martita

harrow is in charge of regina george twin (and yandere twin)

abby thinks regina george twin is the most relevant one

apparently also they're flooded with the rain

which was me last week, so I feel you fam

and we get our traidtional quote, this time by real dulcinea

"Is this really how it happens, Lady Pent?" "No. It's not" "Does it get—better than this? Do you know?"

real dulcinea is saying goodbye to palmolive and the love of my life, who I refuse to accept is in any way harmed in any timeline

and harrow "felt something in her core, though she did not know precisely what it was"

palmolive had a filmsy and we love flimsies because they have what I have started to call "harrow texts"

or "texts which can only be read by harrow"

OP is still ranting, a continuation of the egg rant

I'm gonna transcribe all of it and bold the new part, for my own access, even though everyone who has me in their dash will hate me and block me

The eggs you gave me all died and you lied to me so I did the implantation myself you self-serving zombie and you still sent him after me and I would have had him if I hadn't been compromised and he took pity on me! he took pity on me! he saw me and he took pity on me. And for that I'll make you both suffer until you no longer understand the meaning of that goddamned word. Him I'll kill quick because she asked me to and because that much he honestly deserves but you two mummified wizard shits I will burn and burn and burn burn until there is no trace of you left in the shadow of my long-lost natal sun

could the self-serving zombie be emperor john? could gideon the first be one of the people alluded to? has Annabel Lee anything to do with any of this? since OP mentions a long-lost natal sun? who's "she"? has gideon's mom anything to do with any of this? is this totally not related? is this the actual present? does 'mummified wizard shits' stand for lyctor? because I kinda live for that

ortus, on the other hand, sees an S

ortus in this timeline knows how his dad died, apparently

and we end this part with harrow and ortus finding rusted pipette needles

CHAPTER 22

harrow has killed 13 planets in this practice, which is insane and nobody's asking any questions about it

she was dreaming with ice cube barbie annabel lee and she told her to wake up

harrow mentions the sword sleeping next to her in a loverlike position and it reads like a gideon body pillow to me

remember when I said we should have flushed not!dulcinea into space?

GUESS WHO WAS RIGHT

nobody ever takes the not!dulcinea threat seriously but me

I have to do everything around here

she's a zombie now, which is protozoa's revenge from behind the veil

there's a moment in which she trips but still looks at harrow and it's very creepy and well narrated but I can't help but think of the dracula dead and loving it scene with hypnosis

"it was as though a magnet were stuck in the meat, a magnet that craved some polar force within you" wonder what THAT is about

much like the sleeper/waker, not!dulcinea can pass through wards apparently

harrow goes to wake up yandere twin and says "septimus is walking"

yandere twin doesn't understand at first "the name that had never been cytherea's" and later says "tell her I want my arm back"

which relates to the fact that I've been thinking

if real dulcinea is there in the gideon-less ver

how was not!dulcinea even involved?

because harrow seems to have memories of killing her, of fighting her, of her doing damage in some way, of her being a threat, of her doing it to lure emperor johnny boy to canaan house

so we have some big missing link between the gideon-less canaan version and the emperor's bolthole timeline

she can't be the sleeper/waker, because harrow wouldn't call her "septimus"

so harrow remembers not!dulcinea posing as real dulcinea, which does not happen in the gideon-less version, as far as we can tell atm

AGAIN, DON'T TELL ME ANYTHING, LET ME BE IN DISTRESS

last but not less important

remember not to hint me anything at all and thank you for being patient with me all this time ♥

[lemon-natalia]

Nona the Ninth Reaction - Chapter 28

‘golden eyes like a dead animal’s’ you are sick and twisted Tamsyn Muir, sick and twisted (affectionate). also that is an interesting description of Kiriona's eyes. of course part of it is that she is quite literally in a dead body, but these are also the eyes that John got after he gained his necromantic powers

ohhhh my god. i don’t think my heart can take Kiriona asking after Harrow. she gave up her life for her, did the best she could to take care of Harrow’s body, and now she doesn’t even know if Harrow’s alive or not

oof both Pyrrha and Nona clearly know that she’s Alecto, but Nona really doesn’t want to remember. i wonder how long exactly Pyrrha knew who Nona was, even if she was hoping she was Gideon, i feel like part of her must have suspected since the beginning

hmm i wonder if there’s something significant about Alecto’s name? not in terms of its Doylist meaning i.e. being named after one of the Furies, but in universe. here Nona doesn’t want Pyrrha to say her name because it will make her remember, John (from what i recall) only ever used nicknames like A.L. and Annabel Lee etc. when talking to Harrow, and both he and the other Lyctors had a remarkably strong reaction to Mercy using it at the end of HtN:

'A ripple of ice over the face. A hardening of the mouth. He said quietly, “Don’t call her-” “Alecto! Alecto! Alecto!” repeated Mercy shrilly. The other Lyctors flinched each time she said it, as though it were an aural stab’

oh wow, Alecto’s consciousness (voice?) rising up to speak from Nona is very disturbing. once again, Alecto doesn’t seem like the nicest person. which makes sense i suppose given she is in actuality a Resurrection Beast herself and seemingly very pissed off about the whole ‘killing humanity and putting her in a human form’ thing

‘astonishingly, Pash, helping an extremely feeble and aged person’ i mean good on Pash for helping the elderly, i guess?

it’s gotta be so strange for Palamedes’ mother and the other people in the Sixth to be dealing with the ‘i’m dead and in Naberius Tern’s also dead body’ thing. it can hardly be what they imagined when he and Camilla went off to the First in GtN. speaking of, i do still wonder how everyone’s family members, the Cohort etc. reacted to the news of basically everyone dying after going off to try and be Lyctors

‘Palamedes was acting as though he were a tiny at show-and-tell’ is that not how Palamedes always acts about everything

Pyrrha Dve queen of ill-advised romantic relationships. poor her, she’s lost basically everyone she cared about before (G1deon, Wake, and now Pal and Cam, Nona is dying) now as a result of Lyctorhood to some degree

oh why does everything they’re saying here feel like a goddamn funeral, i categorically don’t like this

'something white and grey and powdery [...] Camilla [...] - to Nona's horror - ate it' i’m assuming that’s Palamedes’ skull goop making a reappearance. ew

ohhh wow this is a lot worse than i thought it was going to be, they’ve actually just straight up merged themselves into a single person. i suspected the whole Camilla-and-Palamedes thing was going to come back but not like this. it’s not like they had a lot of choices, and i mean i guess it’s better on an emotional level than one of them dying and the other having to live with it, but still, yikes

wdym i am categorically not crying about the fact that Kiriona is apparently totally disinterested in this whole situation, but her first instinct is still to want to hand over her jacket to … Cam/Pal. (Pam?)

listen i get what Palamedes is trying to do here, encouraging Ianthe to accept Lyctorhood as a mutual loss & rebirth rather than a sole sacrifice of the cavalier, but quite frankly i think poor Naberius would like being merged into a single person with Ianthe even less than being murdered

[nevermorgue]

Hayley! I hope you're well! I come into your inbox to ask about your thoughts and opinions on each spectre, and your favorite ones! Love your blog! :D

HIIII!! I’m so fantastic thank YOU for coming in here. I love your art and your rambles.

My favorite spectres currently are Will’s and Duke’s. But I really love them all. I’ll go into the opinions now

Annabel’s Lady in White - I think she’s beautiful. I love her abilities and the whole bride thing she has going on. I at first wished her dress was more detailed but it’s fine to grow on me. I love the petals, and the hole in her chest is agonizing. Such a pretty spectre. kiss of death is just sooooo. idk her abilities are definitely one of my top favorites.

Morella’s Guardian Spirit - Plain-ish compared to the others, but still fantastic. I feel like her and Annabel are slept on because of how early they were revealed. I love how long her hair gets and the whole celtic vibe. and that she’s mainly defense with the healing and stuff! it’s very unique and it says sooo much about her past. if it were me i’d make her look a little less human wirh maybe more glowing or something but she’s still fabulous :)

Pluto’s Cryptid - im so so so interested in this because apparently domesticated cryptids are super rare? I wanna know more about the other cryptids poppet mentioned so badly. its so fucked that he has a collar too!!! he wanted to escape society but even in death it's like he's bound by the neck. I'm dying for info on that dumb coat too. He's so silly looking. I really wanna see his other abilities. I'll have a stronger opinion when that comes. Ada's Banshee

- I am dying to know what "Mark of the Grave" is so bad. And I love her confusing ass torso. Is she a shadow. is it a dress. I want to know. also LOVE how her limbs being detachable/having the stitch marks implies she was chopped up and buried like that. and her hat. thats a very "southern belle lady" sort of hat. she gets to be the lady she always wanted, just ugly and hideous!! love her and i love her spectre. "fear itself" is one of my favorite abilities and i hope she utilizes it more cough cough on will-

Prospero's Shadow Man - i am dying to know if he can take the mask off. imagine he's like. a sickly corpse looking kind of thing. like himself but rotting or weak as hell. i LOVE his abilities i just wish he had more detaaaailing. hes so cool and handsome though. i also think its super weird/cool how he has to activate his abilities with the stopwatch. i havent seen any other spectres have a "trigger point" like that. would he be rendered useless without it? Montresor's Dybbuk - nipple rings. sorry anyways - i love the chains. because it's not like he's using them, he's the one chained. and the whole. goat legs thing. bc goats are associated with the devil for some reason. I wonder why that is. idk i just love the whole demon thing. because he's been seen as such since like. his birth. and he cant even escape it in death. love it love his shit. his ability to force his way into peoples' memories is CRAZY too i cannot WAIT to see more of that. Eulalie's Chimera - SOOOO pretty. So aesthetically pleasing. I love how she can make stuff with her dreams!!! and the fact that its implied she can yank malevolent spectres back into their regular forms is soooo cool. and just the fact that she can neutralize other spectres in general is such a unique power. shes like defense similar to morella, just in a different way minus healing. i love her. i really dont dislike any spectre i just love them all. Berenice's Strigoi - I will forever be mad that her teeth count as an ability but WHATEVER. She's still badass. I can only imagine how it must feel to basically lose your hands. I'm really excited to see what "Bloodlust" as an ability does. like there are so many cool spectre abilities we havent seen in action yet. The bite that makes you drunk will forever be iconic too. I love her look and i love how her whole outfit is directly correlated to her time period. also love how like each mouth on her is like. its own being. she cant control it. Duke's Poltergeist - I need to like control myself because I will yap nonstop about this one. The NEONS the colors are just fantastic and I LOOOOVE HIS EYES. THE EYES. all of his abilities fuck so hard and i love how like. his "hypnosis" isnt really like full hypnosis its more like a very powerful suggestion? and he couldnt even figure out how to get ada out of it? like he didnt TELL her to use her ability on montresor, he just kinda planted the idea in her head. i also noticed that one of his abilities IS levitation despite us seeing other spectres float on multiple occasion. so the key difference here is the telekinesis portion of the power. just thought that was silly. love him. i love duke. he's my 2nd fave. Will's Doppelganger - i physically have to stop myself from writing a page's worth of bs here. He has DIRT IN HIS JOINTS. like he's DIRTY. like buried and forgotten!! and if he's dust bowl era like so many of us think, perhaps its that same dust. he was left buried in it...forgotten. unidentified. And and and he's SO OP. everyone IC is underestimating how he has one of the most powerful spectres. He was able to almost fool the misfits as duke, he honestly did a fantastic job. He has to memorize so much. like its genuinely impressive. and then his ribbons. notice how they wrap around HIM before/during use. like he's fucking tangled in in them too, not just his victims. i dont think he's ever been free. he's never not been wrapped up in someone else's shit. he's never been "william". i- i need to stop. hes the best. best spectre- and i pray that the characters realize how much POWER he really has.

[lostonehero]

In which I write a time travel foc where the Web the Beholder and the Lonely fight over Martin becoming their perfect Avatar because again he deserves all the power

Maybe lonelyeyes parents maybe

Martin gasps as he sits up. His hands were red painted by the blood of the man he loved. His legs were not crushed by the fallen ceiling. He was small. Well, he thinks he is small he can't recall the last time a blanket pooled around him like this nor the childish bedroom he was in. Did it work? Did they save the world? Where's Jon?

Martin pulled himself out of the hollow comfort of his bed and realized yes, he was quite small, and the small calander on his bedside full of cute spiders... wait, spiders? He didn't have a calander like that, but the date was more than enough to convince him that he was five. He slowly opened his door to the scent of breakfast and a familiar voice.

"Martin? You shouldn't be up this early." It was his mother and by her tone and the man who came into view she was happy if only because his father hasn't left yet.

Martin didn't exactly know what to say or do, but he climbed on a chair and tried to put on a smile.

That lasted about three minutes when a fog seemed to appear in his home. The webs seem to be built out of nothing trying to fight the fog. The shreiks from his mother about spiders and his fathers huff about the humidity in the house made him know for a fact he wasn't imagining it.

Martin really didn't want to be here, nor did he want to think he was the only one flung back here. He sighs and sneaks out through the chaos to his room.

......

The park was nice, and it wasn't as if he didn't want to be outside enjoying the not apcoloypse, but he wanted to find Jon and he couldn't exactly do that because he's five. Jon was two years older than him, and if he tried and Jon didn't come back, it probably would end poorly.

Martin sneezes the familiar mist of the Lonely tickled his nose and he tried to rub the feeling away he was too annoyed to really care that he was being followed by them also the Web but he liked spiders so he was fine with that, well as long as Annabelle Cane didn't show up. He stopped his thoughts as he saw a work boot worn from use attached to a man who stood in front of him.

"Hello, little child." That voice he knew too happy for what he represents. It was Peter Lucas didn't look much different than when he last saw him.

Martin raised his brow and stared up from his spot in the grass he sat in his coloring book forgotten as he started to scowl. Obviously, he didn't come back. Which may be fortunate for him, but he really just didn't want to bother with him. "I can scream and alert the entire place if you even try."

Peter blinked, surprised shock on his features. "I... uh, what?" The damn cheery tone was still there now laced with confusion.

Martin looked over to the sound of footsteps, and shoes too expensive to be in the grass were on his other side. He groaned. "Seriously." He huffs, looking over to Elias.

"Peter, what brings you here?" Elias asked, annoyed, was etched on his features since he didn't expect to see him here.

"Elias." Peter rolls his eyes and crosses his arms. "I'm busy here."

"A public park seems quite out of style for you." Elias has an amused look on his face as Peter shifted uncomfortably.

"So you two are currently divorced then." Martin huffs and stands up. "Well, have your spat somewhere else. I'm in no mood for this."

"Divorced? Child, we aren't.. we..." Elias stops himself stepping back as a woman with cobwebs in her hair approaches, holding a dark skined child with green eyes.

She drops the child down next to the red-headed child. He was older and bigger than the small boy. "Jonah.... Peter." Her voice soft and a smile hung loosely on her lips.

"Martin!?" The dark skin boy gasps.

"Jon!" Martin pulled the bigger boy into a hug.

Elias huffs. "Why are you here?"

"Why indeed?" The woman chuckles.

Peter looked like he wanted to vanish, but he could feel his patron holding strong. The desire to get the boy to protect them was overwhelming, and he may have felt something new odd like it was tugging him to Elias. He assumed Elias felt it as well by the quicker brow as he stared at him and his eyes glowed.

Elias sighs. "I am merely here looking for someone."

Jon crossed his arms and tried to look angry, but he only pouted. He knew exactly what the Beholder told him and how he wasn't free and, well, now a stronger avatar than Elias if that was possible, but he also knew they wanted Martin to keep safe to keep them partnered to stop the mistakes of the apocalypse, and as a apology gift to Jon himself. He, however, had no clue why Peter or Annabelle were there. Elias was predictable at least following the Eye to its desires. "Martin, let's go."

Martin stops and stares at Jon. "We're children. Where do you expect us to go?"

Jon faltered. "I uh right we are aren't we."

"Still the eye?" Martin hums as he watches his partner nod. "So know why they are here?"

"I know why Elias is here." Jon pauses and shakes his head, rubbing his temples.

"Right." Martin rocks on his heels. "Can I meet your grandma?"

"Oh uh sure she's on the bench over there." Jon points, and Martin follows, leaving the three adults to talk.

Peter notices first as he tries to leave the conversation. Too many people and his patron were tugging at him more than normal, and it wasn't as if he was hungry. The kid was gone, well, both kids were gone. He could see them walk off hand in hand to an older woman on a bench. He knew his patron wanted the child to mold them to become an avatar. He didn't know why, nor did he want to ask, but it was quieter over there, and he couldn't handle this argument any longer.

"Peter." Elias crossed his arms.

Peter hated that expensive suit on him. He could rip it off take what he wanted, and Elias knew that, and he probably wanted him to. "The kids are gone."

Elias blinks and swallows. "I right you are."

The woman frowns. "I'll be back."

Peter swallows. "Wait.... ok, just wait." The two look at him. "It's not just mine, is it? That kid you want him to?"

Elias's eyes widen, realizing what Peter was getting at. "The one kid... Martin Blackwood, your... The Lonely wants him?"

"Our mother has her desires as well." The woman quirks her brow. "I was not informed that this would be a competition. I seem to be disadvantaged as it seems to be two against us."

Peter shrugs looking at Elias.

"The other boy...... Jonathan Sims, he's already the Eyes." Elias frowns. "That doesn't explain, Martin."

Peter begins to walk off and eventually vanishes from sight.

Elias frowns. "Peter, wait, we can discuss this." He knew that meant nothing. Peter was in the lonely and he couldn't see him there. He was frustrated and confused he needed to figure this out. Those kids weren't kids he knew that much, but he didn't know what they were except for... Jon he was an avatar of the eye, but he was so young, and he didn't understand that.

The woman just walked off, knowing she was defeated for the moment.

......

Something shifted, and Elias knew it immediately as if the eye was sastified. No, that wasn't the right term for that he felt.

".... a bet." Elias shuts his mouth as fast as he could, his teeth clicked together.

"Not quite." Peter appeared from the mist. "More a friendly visit than asking to wager."

"... Peter, I wasn't referring to us." Elias leaned back in his chair. "The Eye seems to have taken a wager. I've never been able to truly interact with my patron before it seems almost as if.." He stops himself and rubs his temples. "Not important, I suppose. Why are you here?"

Peter hums leans over Elias's desk close to the other man's face. "It seems my patron wants me to stay more often than be on my ship. Some something kids and so forth. Perhaps it has to our patrons taking a page from us."

Elias rolled his eyes. "Not from us, from something they won't let me see."

"Spoilsport, is the bed still on the table all knowing?" Peter grinned at the slight nod. "I'll try not to bring the mist around."

Elias sighs. Sure, he wasn't exactly against Peter staying with him they've done that plenty of times. Even through two different bodies of his. He supposed he did miss having Peter close, but that was just old emotions talking. He also did not want to give Martin the sastifation of that divorced comment. Maybe he'll allow himself a weakness for Peter. He shudders as he feels praise in his entire being. His patron liked that? He needed a drink.

.....

"I like spiders." Martin holds the small common house spider in his hand, cradling it as gentle as he could with his small hands.

"I do not." Jon rolled his eyes. "But I tolerate them for you."

Martin frowns, letting the small creature down. "I think they want me to pick."

"What?" Jon looks at Martin in surprise.

"I mean, why else would the three of them surround me? It seems the fears remember their fuck up, and it wants me to join one of them." Martin shrugs. "Honestly, I don't know what to pick when it comes to it. I like being normal, but I know that won't last long. I might have to do something rash if I'm stuck reliving my childhood again."

Jon never pried into Martin's childhood, nor did he press when he flinched away from the subject. He never even asked why he hated oolong tea. "Is... I... uh."

"She never hurt me physically, I don't think. I got bigger than her fast, so I don't think she thought it wise to do so. It was verbal abuse the resentment of having ne while my father abandoned us. I did my best to care for her even when she did get sick. A lot of good that did me in the end. I would rather not go through that again." Martin sighs, brushing his red hair out of his face.

"I uh I didn't know." Jon frowns. "What else could you do?"

"Don't know if you haven't noticed we are children and don't exactly have that freedom being adults bring." Martin crossed his arms. "And just because you're two years older than me means nothing in this context."

Jon chuckles softly. "Kiddnapping?"

"You're terrible." Martin smirks long used to his partner's humor.

Jon pauses as his eyes glow. "I believe Peter Lucas is pulling strings with the wealth he has for you."

Martin groans. "Still probably better than the alternative. Wait wait Jon is he with Elias?" His tone wasn't laced with fear or even wariness it was amusement.

"I uh I don't know?" Jon huffs, and his nose bleeds. "Can't say... they don't want me to know."

Martin pulls out a napkin he shoved in his pocket when Jon's grandmother got them ice cream. "Here, and uh, sorry. I just wanted to know if they're still in their divorced era."

Jon laughs and wipes the blood from his nose. "Divorce era? Martin, they can't get married yet."

"Ok, fine, breakup era." Martin grins as Jon laughs harder.

......

The next time Jon sees someone of familairty, it isn't Martin to his annoyance. It's Elias in that perfect too expensive suit and that smirk he always seemed to wear. It didn't feel right to call him Jonah unless he was truly upset with him. Currently, he knew he was just annoyed.

"Jonathan, come here." Jon's grandmother motions for him to come closer. "Why didn't you tell me you've been offered a scholarship?"

Jon scowls the best he could, but again, it comes out as a pout on his lips. "I didn't think I won it." A lie, but he honestly wanted to see what Elias was planning.

"Of course you won it." Elias smiles and holds his hand out. "Oh, I was just discussing with your lovely grandmother what it entailed. You'll be going to a private school all expensive paid, and I'm sure you'll make lots of friends."

Jon bit back a groan. He learned a few things from Elias in this moment. One, the man has little to no experience with actual children. Two, just because he couldn't sweet talk anyone doesn't mean his grandmother is swayed. Three, Elias was a idiot and did not realize how bad he was in primary school. He hums. "It sounds fun."

Jon's grandmother pauses and nods. "I do have stipulations. However, I'm sure we can work something out."

Elias smiles and follows the old women inside to the table, and as much as Jon would like to watch Elias squirm under the gaze of his grandmother. He didn't want to bother he already knew he was going, and he should pack.

.....

Gertrude wasn't exactly happy, nor did she expect to see the scene when she checked into work with Gerald behind him. The young teen barely escaped his mother and clung to her like a lost puppy. She did make a promise, and she is all for keeping them. "Elias children here, really?" Her tone dry and void of real emotion except annoyance.

The dark skinned boy with the impossibly green eyes stared at both of them. He had a frown on his lips but quickly returned to his book in his hands, choosing not to intervene even if he wanted to help save Gerry.

Gertrude knew that book was too advanced for a child his age, but she said nothing but stared at Elias with her arms crossed.

"Oh Gertrude, this is Jonathan, but he perfers Jon. Poor thing doesn't have parents, so I took it upon myself to take him in." Elias smiles that golden tongue working overtime.

Gerry caught the child rolling his eyes, but he chose not to say anything.

"Oh, out of the kindness of your heart?" Gertrude shook her head and marched toward startling Gerry, who quickly followed her deeper into the archives.

"Elias, it's not 200 years ago that not exactly how that stuff works anymore." Peter appears holding a sleeping Martin in his arms. "I mean, at least you didn't say you picked him up at an orphanage."

Jon snickers softly.

Elias rolls his eyes. "I told you to bring the boy to my house."

"And I told you we shouldn't separate the kids." Peter huffs. "This isn't our wager."

Elias stiffened and narrowed his eyes. "Just keep them out of my office." He turns and starts to head to his office before stopping. "Peter, why don't you get the kids proper clothes and food whatever kids these days like."

"Kids these days?" Peter swallowed a laugh. "We're you ever a child Jonah?" He smirks as Jon covers his mouth, hiding a giggle.

Martin stirs slightly but isn't fully awake.

"I don't find amusement in that comment. I was a child once, and I don't like like one like you, Peter." Elias scowls, turning back to face him.

"Oh, how scary." Peter rolls his eyes. "Just because I'm younger than you doesn't mean I'm an idiot. The world has changed." Something shifted, and he finally let his feeling spill from his lips something that someone like him could ever tell another. "Our patrons they've changed, we both know it, and so does everyone else. Don't you want to know why? Have your plans even changed? Does the..."

Martin opens his eyes with a huff annoyed his nap has been disturbed. "Because they learned." His lips curled to a frown, and a frustration can be seen in his features.

"They what?" Elias raised his brow, stepping closer.

Martin huffs and curls into Peter, hiding his small body in the lesser of evil men.

Jon frowns. "You heard him." He sighs. He should rip the bandage off. "We came from 2019 or 2020, and we weren't children. Your little apocalypse, Elias, didn't exactly bring about good things for the patrons their resources after their purge they realized were limited and finite. You can stop death, but eventually, people will just stop being scared. The end didn't enjoy it either they didn't want an end to everything besides the namesake. The web helped us their was a crack in the universe in hill top road. Turns out that crack was a way back to the past, and we fused to our younger self, so did the patrons. It's not exactly pleasant to have the emotional control and energy of a child again."

Elias stares at Jon in shock.

Peter's eyes widened, and he unconsciously held Martin closer in his arms. "I fucking told you."

Elias swallows and crosses his arms. He can feel the Beholder testing him on his next moves. "Bring the children to my house, Peter, and if you must order a take away."

Peter sighs he knew this was Elias's, well Jonah's way of conceding he was wrong and that he needed to think. "Alright, come along, little Jon. I think we have to get you both new clothes and actual food."

Jon nods and walks up to Peter, holding onto his side. "Don't drop him."

"I'm not allowed to." Peter hums.

This sastified Jon more then he realized.

......

Peter regretted his choice in the mall immediately. To crowded and too many people. There are too many emotions and too much fear to feed on. He felt sluggish, and the weight of Martin in his arms seemed to focus him enough that the bags in his arms didn't slip.

Jon looked up at Peter. "I think this is enough for now. I would like to head to that house, Elias mentioned."

Peter nods, and the mist surrounds them, and they appear in an ornate home. He drops the bags and hefts Martin to his shoulder. "I'm.... I'm going to lie down." It seems like he has forgotten he is carrying the boy, and Martin does nothing to alert him comfy in the embrace.

Jon opens his mouth just to shut it, seeing Martin fully relax. He was tired too, but the couch looked nice, and well, he had a feeling Martin missed being held, and as an adult, he knew not many could hold a man over 6ft. He moved to the couch, picking up a plush cow Martin picked out and promptly fell asleep.

......

Martin woke up to a wet feeling, not exactly an embarrassing feeling because he saw the fog as he opened his eyes. Peter was out cold next to him, holding him like a stuffed animal. Maybe he didn't hate the man he was obvious to what Elias was truly planning, and Jon did kill him. He didn't forgive the man, nor did he want to become an avatar of the Lonely, but maybe he could pretend, he never did have a father figure he could recall and honestly Peter is much better then Elias.

A lone spider landed in Martin's gaze.

"I haven't decided." His voice is small and quiet as to not wake the man next to him. "Just because you guys learned and are willing to learn more about humanity as a whole rather than fear doesn't mean I have to choose now. Besides, I have time, also tell the Beholder the answer is a firm no. They have Jon, and I would rather not be all-knowing." Martin shifts and struggles out of Peter's grasp. Finally, he escapes without waking the man. "I should add if any of the other patrons get involved, we should be informed."

The spider quietly seems to nod and vanish in the fog.

......

Jon peers over his book, spotting Martin, who promptly climbs on the couch next to him. "How was your nap?"

Martin shrugs. "I feel like a wind-up toy, and I know it's because we're kids, but like I miss being able to stay awake the entire day. I also miss tea and the ability to get food for myself." His stomach rumbles at the comment. "And don't you say anything. I know you're full from the fall alone, Peter collapsed from how full he got, and he barely even spoke a word to anyone."

"I wasn't going to say anything of that nature...." Jon puts his book down and looks at Martin. He was adorable, pouting his red hair bounced with slight curls. "We could perhaps see what Elias considers food."

Martin groans. "Fuck he probably just has tinned tuna and crackers."

"Maybe he has sugar if we're lucky." Jon snickers, jumping off the couch, letting Martin follow.

"I don't know. He seems pretty basic. Sugar might be too spicy for him." Martin giggles as Jan starts to laugh.

"He probably doesn't even know what proper food tastes like." Jon smiles.

"To be fair, I have caught Jonah eating plain bread as a treat." Peter appears behind the two startling Martin, and Jon doesn't seem bothered.

Martin huffs. "As funny as that is, don't sneak up on me!"

Peter yawns. "It tends to be my nature." He looks to be in more casual clothes and wearing eye covered socks Elias gave him as a joke. "I'll make you both something."

"That depends. Can you actually cook?" Martin crossed his arms with a pout staring up at the man.

Jon joined in his gaze.

Peter shrugs. "I use seasonings."

Martin shrugs. "Good enough."

"Also, Elias is banned from the kitchen." Peter hums. "Well, as long as I am here, he is."

......

In the kitchen, Martin watched Peter work around the kitchen. He was still the same rough looking man he met as an adult. He was probably lying about how old he was. He knew becoming an avatar meant the patron would hold onto you as long as they could, but he knew Peter was younger by Jonah by a wide margin. However, it doesn't seem to change Peter. He still looks like a rough man in his 30s, and the white hair from the lonely didn't help him look younger, and his cheery voice did not match the scarred weather face from years on the sea. His beard was shorter than he could recall, but that didn't really matter.

Peter paused, letting the meat sizzle on the stove. "So what are you two planning?"

Jon shrugs. "The end of the world won't happen." He frowns. "I haven't actually thought of that."

Martin hums. "Short term, or long term. In the long term, I'm marrying Jon. In the short term, I uh try to figure out how to be a kid again."

"That is a good, long-term goal." Jon hums.

Peter plates both of the kids' food and sits in front of them. "I don't envy your position, nor do I totally understand what you two have done to the fears. However, I know I'll be sticking around. My patron has made their wishes clearly known, and it gives me an excuse to ignore my own family even more."

Martin raised his brow to the food. It smelled good but looked like a mess. He cautiously takes a bite, and his eyes light up. "I suppose I can't get a cup of tea with this."

"At your age? No, I can, however, make some hot chocolate." Oeter turns back and fills the kettle with water and places it on the stove.

"I must admit you do know how to cook." Jon sighs.

Peter chuckles. "You learn a lot on the sea and different parts of the world."

"Apperently." Jon huffed.

.......

Elias stepped into a quiet home, which wasn't abnormal per se. Even if Peter was here, he didn't make much noise unless they were together, but now there were kids here. Well, not kids, but adults trapped as kids, so he expected more noise. The graceful Beholder has blocked his view of the two kids, and he always had a hard time seeing Peter due to the Lonely, so he really had no idea what they truly were up to. So when he made his way into his perfect home, he expected a mess at least, but nothing seemed out of place.

Peter looked up from the couch. "Elias." He was flipping through a book Elias knew was about the sea. To the left, Jon was reading War and Peace, and to the right, Martin was curled up next to Peter with a book of poetry. "You look surprised."

"I simply expected a mess." Elias responds dryly and clicks his tongue. He noticed Jon have a smirk he knew exactly what their patron had been telling him. "Did you at least get them clothes, feed them?"

Peter rolls his eyes. "Yes, I fed the kids, and I got them new clothes. Next time, you take them to the bloody mall. Unlike you I have experience with children." He didn't elaborate why or how. It seemed to be something that Elias didn't even realize.

"Aren't you adults? What's with the toy?" Elias had that obnoxious smirk on his lips.

Jon glared the best her could at the man.

Martin huffs putting his book down. "Unlike you who seems to thrive off of stale crackers and loneliness more than Peter, we actually care about comfort."

Peter bites back a snickers at Elias's offered expression.

Jon giggles.

Elias sighs and pinches his brow. "Just get food tomorrow and make sure they are clean."

"They aren't pets." Peter blinks, realizing something. "You really have no experience with children, do you?"

"I have no use for experience with children Peter." Elias rolls his eyes.

"Let me enlighten you, Mr. Know-it-all. Martin and Jon are too small to clean themselves no matter how adult their minds are. They have the emotional and mental capacity of children, which means shorter attention spans, excess energy, and the need for naps along with the fact using any of our patrons power is even more of a strain on their tiny bodies. Even though Martin hasn't picked it, he will have to, and again, they are physically children they could just as easily kill themselves by accident."

Jon scowls but sighs with a nod. "I could clean myself up mostly on my own, but Martin is smaller than I am, so he would need help. Peter isn't exactly wrong about our physical and emotional limits either."

"I mean, I was 6 when my father left, so I ended up having to care for myself. I mean, I'm not 6 yet, but I'm close enough, so I already know what to do." Martin hums.

"Didn't your mother care for you?" Elias stares blankly at Martin.

"Nope, I was her caretaker for as long as I can recall." Martin blinks and is confused when Peter sits him in his lap. "I mean, it's not a big deal. Really, I only regret dropping out of school to care for her."

Jon curses under his breath. "Martin, are you ok?"

"What? Of course I am. I've got you, and we aren't dead, and we don't have to worry about the end of the world." Martin makes an odd noise of confusion when Peter wraps his arms around him.

"Alright, it's still early enough. Let's get some food for breakfast." Peter vanishes in fog holding Martin.

Jon looks at Elias with a raised brow. "I... hmm.... Isn't Peter part of the Lonely?"

"He is." Elias furrows his brows. "I've never seen him act like that. Although I only know his past before the full becoming of an avatar, then it's out of my reach."

Jon frowns. "I see."

The silence seems to stretch until Elias leaves to his bedroom, and Jon heads to his room.

......

"Why are we here?" Martin blinks in the florescent lights of the supermarket.

"You need something for yourself." Peter hums.

"I don't." Martin sits in the shopping cart watching the items pass him by.

Peter frowns. "How long have you've been on your own?"

"Isn't that what you want?" Martin looks up at the man with a bored expression.

"You're a child Martin, no matter how old mentally you are. How long have you been alone?" Peter had a look Martin couldn't describe in his eyes.

"I'm not alone anymore." Martin shrugs. He has never really seen the problem with it he had a shit life growing up, and he got over it, realized the abuse, and moved on. He never understood why Jon always made it a big thing. Now Peter was making a thing of it, and he didn't really want to stick to the subject.

"That's not the point." Peter sighs. "How about I tell you something Elias doesn't know, and in return, you pick out food you want."

Martin raised his brow. "I'll accept that."

"You know of my family." Peter pauses as Martin nods. "I had siblings none of them were really built for what mother planned for us. I ended up like this a favorite of our patron, but I wasn't always alone on my boat. I never had a wife, but I had a child, not mine, just a little stole away on my boat. I was barely 20. It does seem so distant now looking back. Well, my patron didn't like that small girl.... I've forgotten her name only lasted a few years before they were taken. The thing about being lonely isn't just being alone it's also having things you loved ripped away, leaving you isolated and even more so lashing out in anger refusing to even attempt another step out of line. Didn't stop me for long, probably how I stumbled upon Jonah. I knew my family was a big benefactor to the institute, but I never knew why until him." He sighs. "That's a lot of nonsense in there, but you get the point."

Martin looks away. He knew Peter was awful at explaining himself or anything that related to him. He also knew Peter was lying about the only one kid. He didn't really understand what Peter was trying to tell him, but he'll humor the man and nod. "I want... I want chocolate."

Peter hums and nods. "Ok, a chocolate." He knows that isn't something personal or significant, but it was a start. He can see himself in Martin, but he wouldn't say that out loud.

Martin frowns at the look Peter held. Maybe he could ask for something else, but he can only recall his mom looking at him with disgust, "You're too old for that." "I didn't raise you to be a retard burn that thing." "Be a man you disgrace" "Speak damnit you failure." "I didnt ask for a broken son." He shut his eyes and felt a tear slip. The wave of emotions finally crashed into him, and he started to cry, getting overwhelmed.

Peter dropped the bar of chocolate he picked out out of shock. Did he say something? Did he make a face? He rushed to the side and took Martin out of the cart. "Are you ok?"

Martin only cries harder, clinging to Peter like he was his lifeline.

There were eyes on them, and Peter hated the eyes. He vanished in a fog, quickly traversing the Lonely to a quiet park. Was the offer too much? Did his story make him cry?

Martin hiccups and clung to the man, burying his face into Peter's shoulders, overwhelmed and over stimulated.

After what feels like hours, the cries are quiet whimpers. Peter takes a breath and doesn't force Martin off of him. "Did I do something?"

Martin, unable to talk, shakes his head the best he can in his position. He takes a breath.

"Can you talk?" Peter pauses, feeling the boy shake his head. "Ok, that's fine. We don't have to talk."

The quiet looms over them as the sun dips below the horizon. A large plush crochet spider seems to appear next to them it was gray with black eyes.

Peter narrows his eyes at the toy disgusted that the Web was interfering. However, Martin also saw the plush and grabbed it and held it close to his small frame. "You want that?" He can feel the boy stiffen and shake lightly in his arms. "If you wanted a soft toy, we could have picked up one earlier. You did insist Jon got that cow." He felt Martin shift, and those blue eyes stared at him with an infinite amount of sadness in them. "I'm not telling you you can't have it, but it is from the Web.... however, I think I can let that slide since you seemed charmed."

Martin swallows he mouths a thank you, unable to make the sounds.

"Do you want to head back to get cleaned up?" Peter internally cringes at the sense of confusion at a choice the boy seemed to hold.

Martin holds up the spider in his hands as an answer.

"Yes, I already said that will come with you." Peter sighs. "Alright, you need to get cleaned up and head to bed."

Martin relaxed and clung to Peter as they went back to that house.

.......

Elias crossed his arms, staring at Peter. "I may not be well informed when it comes to children, but you shouldn't be bringing a five year old home after midnight."

Peter blinks. "I didn't realize it was that late." He adjusts Martin in his arms

Elias sighs. "Just take the boy to bed he can get cleaned in the morning."

Martin was awake, glaring at Elias and shaking his head.

Peter shrugs. "Bath first, and then I'll join you in bed, Elias."

Elias relents shoulders sagging. "Fine. Use our room's bath. There's a seat in a tub so he can sit comfortably. I assume you got him proper sleeping clothes."

"Yes, the boy got pajamas." Peter rolls his eyes and heads to their room. Elias follows behind him until they end up in the bathroom tub full of warm soapy water and a half asleep Martin in said tub.

"I may have underestimated how small the child is." Elias stares at Martin, who wasn't big enough for the seat in the bath, and Peter only filled the tub a quarter of the amount.

Peter hums. "So, Mr. Know-it-all has a blind spot, and that's kids."

"Shut up, Peter." Elias is kneeled next to the other man helping with keeping Martin upright since he looks ready to pass out. His sleeves rolled up incredibly high.

"Thanks for the help." Peter sighs. "He tired himself out."

"I wouldn't have to if you brought him home at a reasonable hour." Elias says with no real bite. "What did happen?"

"I don't actually know. Lad just broke down. The Web offered him a plush spider, and it seemed to calm him enough to stop crying."

Elias scowls at the memtion of the Web, but that crochet thing didn't even seem dangerous, and he could even use his powers to describe it as nothing more than string balled together. "Why didn't he grab one when you were out earlier?" He pauses seeing his partner shrug. "I see. Well, then I have my own research to do in the meantime."

Peter nods along. "He seems too skinny for a boy his age, doesn't he?"

Martin looks away, unable to force any noise out of his mouth as a protest to being looked at like this.

Elias studies Martin like he was under a microscope and pauses seemingly listening to something. "A child his age shouldn't be skinny he should still have a roundish body with hints of baby fat. Signs of neglect of a child are low body weight, emotional outbursts, and small stature." He blinks and takes a breath. "Don't."

"I'm not going to say anything." Peter didn't even crack a smile. "I don't wish to scrutinize him anymore." He pushes Elias away and pulls Martin out of the bath and in a warm green towel. "I'll put him to bed."

"I'll bring that.... spider to his room." Elias gets up, leaving the room holding that toy in his hands.

Martin sways on his feet from exhaustion, letting Peter dress him like a doll. He didn't make a sound as he was carried to a large bedroom and tucked into bed, and he definitely didn't see Elias tuck that spider under his arm as he drifted off.

......

(Nonverbal)

Jon blinks, looking around. His voice is quiet, and he pulls himself from his bed. "What?" He's used to random facts and looking at things he wants, and maybe smiting others, but not his Patron talking to him. He didn't think it was possible for them to have thoughts like humans. Maybe they did something more when they stopped the apocalypse. He would have to put a pin in that as he pulled his door open and made his way to the room next to his.

(Nonverbal)

Jon paused as he stared into the cracked open door to Martin's room. "What are you talking about?" He was quiet as he pulled the door open wider to spot Martin with a plush spider in his lap, obviously handmade since robots can't crochet. He was curled in a corner and pulled his blankets around him.

(Nonverbal)

Jon gave a frustrated sigh. "What are you trying to say?"

Martin looks up from his makeshift nest and has a look of fear in his eyes. He opens his mouth as if he is trying to speak, but nothing comes out but a breath.

(NONVERBAL)

Jon covered his ears, knowing the voice was in his head, so it was useless instinct. "I get it!" He shouts back and steps back as Martin shrinks away from him. "N-no, not you... I uh... Martin, can you speak?"

Martin shook his head and clutched the spider close to him. His eyes seemed to plead that he didn't want Jon to be mad at him.

Jon blinks, that was new he never thought Martin could ever do something like this... coming to think about it, he knows barely anything about his partner's past or his mental and physical health. Martin probably knew more about him than he did about him. "I didn't mean to yell." He slowly approaches as Martin trained his gaze on him. "Turns out the Eye can talk now."

Martin tilts his head.

(No more)

Jon stops and stays in place a few feet away from Martin. Ok, he was getting the hang of this. "I uh wow, this is weird." He made a split decision and sat down across from Martin. "I uh didn't know this could happen. I made a promise that I wouldn't look into your past or mind, and I will keep that. So this is new territory, and I don't know how to help."

Martin blinks clearly confused, and he places the spider down in his lap. He then looked frustrated and opened his mouth again, but no sound escaped.

(Scared)

"No." Jon stops, and a red blush creeps around his neck. "N-no Martin isn't scared he's just he's, uh..." He huffs. "This would be so much easier if you didn't give one word answers. You cryptic bastard."

Martin smiles and shakes in a silent laugh.

(Closer)

Jon takes that as an ok to slide himself closer to Martin, and Martin pulls him the rest of the way. "I uh ok. This is ok?"

Martin nods and holds Jon's hand.

(Jonah)

Jon pulls Martin close as Elias rushed in. Both kids stare at the man with wide eyes. He was in a tank top and boxers. His hair was a mess, and by the sound of heavy footsteps behind him, Peter was following. He pinched the bridge of his nose and took a breath. "Jonathan, I expect you not to screech in my head at seven in the morning."

Martin shakes again in a silent laugh, noticing he trail of red marks all over Elias.

(Not proper for children)

Elias's eyes widen as he stares at Jon.

"I didn't say anything." Jon's voice was quiet but held a smirk to it.

Elias covers his face. He couldn't yell at his patron. Hell, he had no idea they could even talk besides dropping facts and sights in his head.

Peter finally came into the doorframe, confused as Elias was covering his face, and the red that tipped his ears was a dead giveaway that he was embarrassed. He could count on one hand how many times he has caught the other man in his multiple bodies embarrassed. "Elias, the children are fine. Why did you shove me out of bed and run off?"

"The Beholder speaks." Jon smirks. "The Beholder speaks, and they can't speak to one at a time."

Peter pauses, scratching his chin through his beard. "Oh, that's hilarious."

Elias huffs and turns to walk back to his room.

Jon chuckles softly.

Peter looks back to the two children. "Well, I'm up, and I'm not going back there while he's like this. How about some breakfast?"

Matin nods and gets up, holding his spider with one hand and Jon's hand in the other.

Jon follows behind. "Shouldn't you get dressed?"

"I have an apron." Peter hums in response. His soft, cheery voice did not match the man it belonged to in the slightest. Even as a man born into extreme wealth, his body was littered in scars, probably from his ship. He was chiseled like a god and had more body hair than either man realized.

Martin is more surprised he doesn't have a tattoo of an anchor but one of a lighthouse.

"I don't think that's sanitary." Jon makes a face.

"You'll be fine." Peter hums, grabbing an apron that says women fear me fish want me. "Besides, what do you want?"

Jon hums. "I want something sweet."

Martin shrugs.

"Ok, pancakes then." Peter hums and gets to work. He makes quick work of the batter and hums a sad melody or a sea shanty, Jon knew, but Martin didn't care to ask.

"You're of the Lonely." Jon states as a fact staring up at the larger man.

"I am, but you have questions." Peter hums. "Let's see how much more polite you are compared to Jonah."

Jon nods at the go-ahead. "Do you have to be alone?"

Peter chuckles. "I've never liked crowded spaces. It's not a requirement. You can be lonely and be in a group. Isolation isn't just physical. Unless you're my mother, and she'll have her own opinions as truth. I prefer to be alone, not just because I'm an avatar, but because it's easier to feed myself without overeating. That doesn't make much sense." He sighs. "Unlike your patron, the Beholder, I don't actively have to feast on someone's fear or statement or information. We're more like the Web than what Elias likes to claim. Crowds and cities like this breed a specific kind of isolation fear that well, it's a bit too filling in a sense, and it's constant and never goes away. On the sea I can pick and choose what I will have, I guess."

Jon didn't expect the answer. He hums. "But why the sea you can get the same thing from hiking or caving."

"Don't like the buried kid." Peter narrows his gaze before smiling again. "I like boats and I like the sea so that's why."

"Yes, yes, you're a sailor at heart." Elias interrupts. "I will be off to my archives don't burn the house down."

"I don't like fire." Peter raised his brow.

"I was not talking to you." Elias sighs. "Just keep them entertained, and you can tell me about your newest trip on the Tundra." Elias knew the man liked to talk about things he liked and sadly himself was not part of that.

Peter's grey washed-out eyes seemed to shine. "I'll hold you to that, Jonah."

Elias sighs and turns his attention back to the two kids. "And Peter, take them out today. We need food, and they need things to keep them entertained. I will not have them run around the archives unchecked."

Jon frowns. "I want to head to the archives."

"Whatever message you would like to send can be done at a later date nobody is in dire danger." Elias sighs.

(Wrong)

Jon locked eyes with Elias.

Elias sighs. "Get changed out of your pajamas, and you'll be away from Martin. I will not bring both of you."

Martin pauses and seems to realize something, and he nods frantically.

Peter raised his brow but doesn't ask.

Jon nods and leaves Martin's side rushing upstairs to get dressed.

(Gerrad has cancer and has never seen a doctor)

Elias blinks. "Huh, so young as well. That's a shame."

(Help him)

"That's what Jon will do." Elias hums.

Martin looks to Peter and points, which causes him to stop breakfast from burning.

"Thanks, lad, but I guess it's a you and me day today." Peter smiles. "Do you like boats?"

Martin shrugs.

Elias sighs. "Have a good time. I don't expect this will take all day."

(Bonding)

Elias can hear Jon groan from a top of the stairs.

.......

Martin didn't exactly know how they ended up at a book store, and by the look of it, neither did Peter. He found a boom on spiders he used to own before in the future he didn't really want to think about that, but he wanted it. He also found another book he tried to balance while also carrying his plush spider. He tripped in front of Peter.

Peter caught him before he hit the ground. "What did you find?" He grabbed one of the books and turned it over it was about the sea and sea creatures. "Did you get this for me?"

Martin nods quickly he opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. He looks annoyed but resigned.

"Don't force it." Peter ruffles Martin's hair. "Thanks for the book. I didn't think they made books about the stuff I like. Well, I mean, they probably do. I just I don't look, I guess." He watches the boy point to a section that was labeled deep sea science. "Well, I don't think Elias would mind if we bring home some books."

Martin holds up his book on spiders.

"You know what, how about you get a few more different types of that. I wager the Web and the Lonely want to share you." Peter chuckles, then pauses. Can someone be an avatar of two fears? Maybe he should probably ask.

Martin nods excited, running off to a different corner as Peter starts to pick out a large stack of books.

The cheery moment was interrupted by a man with a cheerful tone and the smell of ozone. "Well, if it's a shock to myself, Mr. Lukas, I didn't expect you to have a child, let alone be in public of all places."

Peter frowned, holding his bag of books. "Simon."

The elderly looking man with a nice cane chuckles. "Relax yourself. I'm merely here to talk to that little one of yours. The Vast seems especially interested in this little fellow." Simon chuckles, pulling out a piece of strawberry candy from his pocket.

Martin hid behind his plush spider.

"Oh ho a scary little spider, huh? Such a cute little boy." Simon hums. "Oh, the folly of youth, how's Jonah doing, er it's Elias now, right? I rather liked his previous body, but sickness isn't kind to anyone, even those of the Eye. I have been meaning to ask if it is odd being with him in different bodies?"

Peter sighs. "Simon, this isn't appropriate discussion in front of a child."

"Ah, right, where are my manners. I merely came by to check up on Elias, but I ended up here. Instead, distances are a tricky thing. It's nice to finally meet you Martin, oh you've got eyes on you and not just Jonah." Simon waves and vanishes in the smell of ozone and the feeling of vertigo.

Martin clutches onto Peter. His voice was quiet, but finally, sound came from his lips. "I don't like flying."

Peter chuckles. "Neither do I."

......

Martin blinks, staring at Elias and his, oh too expensive suit covered in stains and probably fresh blood. "Uh...."

Jon was equally a mess with a scowl on his lips. "Gerry went to the hospital and is getting treatment."

"Ok, but..." Martin tilts his head. "What happened?"

Jon covers his face. "It's a long story."

Elias takes a breath. "I'm getting Peter. Do not look for me." He leaves with a huff.

Martin opens his mouth before Jon shakes his head.

"Don't ask."

Martin shuts his mouth.

[beuatifulbuttercup]

More Titan Army Quotes

Lou Ellen: Alabaster, stop! This isn't you, you've gone mad with power! Alabaster: Well of course I have. Alabaster: Have you ever tried going mad without power? Alabaster: It's boring.

Alabaster: A pessimist sees a dark tunnel. Lou Ellen: An optimist sees light at the end of the tunnel. Chris: A realist sees a freight train. Ethan: The train driver sees three idiots standing on the tracks.

Alabaster: Chris, we're hungry! Ethan: Chris! What's for dinner? Lou Ellen: We're hungry, Chris! Chris, frying a bottle of ketchup over the stove: * screams *

Alabaster: On the count of three, what's your favorite cake? One, two, three- Alabaster and Lou Ellen, in unison: Chocolate cake peanut butter frosting with chocolate chunks! Chris: Our turn, Ethan! One, two, three- vanilla! Ethan, deadpan: I've never had cake, what is cake.

Alabaster: There is no future. there is no past. do you see? Time is simultaneous, an intricately structured jewel that humans insist on viewing one edge at a time, when the whole design is visible in every facet. Lou Ellen: Chris: Ethan: Everyone Else At Alabaster's Surprise Birthday Party: Lou Ellen: All I asked was if you wanted to cut your birthday cake first.

Cop: You're receiving a ticket for having three people on one motorcycle. Alabaster: Shit. Luke: Wait, three? Cop: Yeah? Chris: OH MY GOD LOU ELLEN FELL OFF!!!

Lou Ellen: I am darkness. I am an power. I am your worst nightmare. I could kill a man in more ways than you can imagine. I am the night. I am fury, I am a weapon, I am- Chris: A doll. Ethan: A cinnamon roll. Alabaster: A sweetheart. Lou Ellen: Lou Ellen: …stop it.

Silena: Time for plan G. Ethan: Don't you mean plan B? Silena: No, we tried plan B a long time ago.I had to skip over plan C due to technical difficulties. Chris: What about plan D? Silena: Plan D was that desperate disguise attempt half an hour ago. Lou Ellen: What about plan E? Silena: I'm hoping not to use it.Alabaster dies in plan E. Alabaster: I like plan E.

Silena: Anyone d- Chris: Depressed? Alabaster: Drained? Lou Ellen: Dumb? Ethan: Disliked? Silena:-done with their work…what is wrong with you people…

Silena: Bridge the generation gap by combining old and new slang into one! Lou Ellen: Tubular AF! Chris: Mood to the max! Alabaster, annoyed: Groovy, I hate it. Ethan, just as annoyed: If she breathes, she's a square.

Silena: What's the scariest horror movie you've ever watched? Chris: IT. Alabaster: Annabelle. Lou Ellen: Paranormal Activity. Ethan: High School Musical. All throughout high school I was scared that everyone was gonna randomly get up and start singing and dancing, and I would be the only one who doesn't know the words.

Chris: What does “take out” mean? Lou Ellen: Food. Silena: Dating. Ethan: Murder. Alabaster: It can be all three if you're brave enough.

[tekamoona]

Theory: The Eighth House, the Stoma & Nona the Ninth

"Don't you dare ask me what I thought of Colum Asht. I will weep."

Thanks for the reminder, Ianthe. I can't imagine Tamsyn brought in Colum for no reason other than 'he's a forgettable guy'. Now I have a loose theory to share!

Soul Siphoning & the Stoma

Colum Asht is specifically named by Ianthe because he's still a loose end. He wasn't in Harrow's dream bubble because his soul wasn't in the River. Something took over his body in the process of Silas vacating it for soul siphoning.

When Colum Asht's body is taken over, it's described as [...] Colum's eyeballs were gone — and now the sockets were mouths ringed with teeth, with little tongues slithering out of them. The tongue in his original mouth extended out, down, wrapping itself around her neck—

When the stoma opens, as Augustine tries to push John into it, it's described as [...] the tongues emerged. [...] Streamlike lingual tentacles emerged — the unassuming pink you got on normal, non-Hell-bound tongues. Generally, the tentacles are described as wrapping around Augustine and John, and pulling them towards the stoma.

There's a similar theme of tentacle-tongues grasping at people here. I'd hazard a guess that when Silas is sending Colum's soul away, it isn't just sent to the River, the soul is sent to the stoma, the mouth of Hell.

And this is corroborated by Augustine's dig at Mercymorn, the founder of the 8th: You never did take the stoma seriously, which is why your whole damned House sucks at it like a grotesque teat--

So it's probably not just that Colum's soul just happened to get swapped out with something from the stoma, but they intentionally send their battery-cav souls there.

Cristabel Oct

Now let's talk about the origin of soul siphoning. Mercymorn seems to have inspired this form of necromancy, given Augustine's comment.

If she practiced this with Cristabel during her time at Canaan House (which is likely, given that soul siphoning was one of the theorems Gideon and Harrow faced in GtN) — she must have sent Cristabel towards the stoma many times as her cav.

Something about Cristabel's description in the words of Augustine strikes interesting: A total delight. Effervescent. Kind to animals and children. A master of the sword. Did not have the intellect you'd ordinarily find in a sandwich or an orange, and was a sickening twerp into the bargain.

Cristabel Oct sounds a lot like Nona.

Nona the Ninth & Alecto

But aren't we fairly certain at this point that Alecto was the person inhabiting Nona this entire time? The ending of Nona the Ninth seems to pretty much confirm this, so I don't think that Nona is necessarily Cristabel full stop.

So I wonder if Alecto was really in the body that entire time. After all, when John describes putting down A.L., he says: Annabel Lee... was not the dying kind [...] It might be more accurate to say that I switched her off.

What better way to displace Alecto's soul without outright killing her than sending it to the stoma, the same way Eighth House necromancers do? He'd have a great, vacuous cavalier from which to draw power... all the while still maintaining his lyctorhood, unlike other lyctors who don't have an empty body to siphon from.

And every time Cristabel was sent to the stoma during her and Mercymorn's lyctorhood research, while Alecto was 'switched off', Cristabel's soul could have mingled with Alecto's, in the same way that Naberius's soul touches Palamedes' when they occupy the same space as bodiless entities.

Cristabel's soul could've given Alecto all the traits with see in Nona that shouldn't reasonably be present in someone who has only been described as monstrous — Cristabel's love for animals and children, her delightful silliness.

As for how Alecto came to inhabit Nona, here we see the brilliance in Colum Asht's example. While his body was vacant, it gave opportunity for something else from the stoma to take his body over. That empty vessel was a house for a stoma-thing to move in.

There is a point between Harrow the Ninth and Nona the Ninth where Gideon is returned to her original body, but Harrow is not inhabiting her own body. At this point in time, Harrow's body is an empty vessel for something from the stoma to take over, and that's where Alecto comes in. It's not just a simple body-swap where Alecto and Harrow have swapped places.

In summary: Alecto, like the stoma-creature that took over Colum Asht's vacated body, took over Harrow's vacated body — and with Cristabel's virtuous traits having touched her soul, became Nona.

...

Footnote: Please let me know if I'm missing something. I haven't fully read the books in a while, just piecing interesting stuff together that seems to have coalesced now that I've finally read this short story.

[verdemoun]

Ik you set this up to ask about characters but can I ask how a beach day would go with the gang? Who's been buried in the sand and left there, what's Kieran getting up to, who's gotten the cops called on them and got removed from the premises? Do the girls get to enjoy modern swimwear as much as I think they would?

fuck yeah asks are for gang activity ideas too

bessie has no time for ageism she looks like aphrodite in her sunhat and sheer coverup and hosea almost has a heart attack and dies right there because of how beautiful his wife looks and how much he loves her

i need to set this in the whole gang chapters because arthur spends at least an hour making fun of john who is downright afraid of going near the water but instead of admitting he's afraid he just gets angrier at arthur

jack also can't swim and abigail is increasingly wondering why she even agreed to come jack looks like he's about to pass out because he insisted on wearing all black in his typical angsty teenage bullshit

isaac morgan to the rescue he convinces jack to at least change into shorts and take off his coat. being the sweetest most courteous man to ever exist he bought a paddle board and jack just gets to sit on the front enjoying getting further away from the embarrassing chaos that is the gang while isaac paddles.

course isaac is also a shit and jumps off at several points because it's hot he wants to be in the water and after giving jack suffient panic attacks he rows to a little secluded spot so jack doesn't have to be embarrassed about not knowing how to swim and tries to give him lessons

eliza and abigail both absolutely radiant like modesty is dead and they are thriving at its wake abigail is serving in the strapless bikini and her beach wrap and just because her boys can't enjoy the water doesn't mean she won't. they both deserve to be able to relax without worrying about their children or the men who fathered them if arthur and john kill each other they don't care anymore they're living their best lives

also men stupid enough to catcall them soon learn the reason the gang didn't react is because abigail can punch as hard as they can and will not tolerate that shit

sean gets buried mostly because he started to burn the second he left the car after claiming it was too hot to wear protective clothing and his skin has forgotten he used to be an outlaw who literally lived outside. burying him was the only way to get him to stay still long enough to put sunscreen on his face. karen proceeds to lay on top of sand mound so he can't escape which he is okay with because she is unapologically rocking the purple two piece

lenny is the only one with the mental facilities to remember everyone's ice cream orders so he spends half the trip trying to carry a gang worth of ice cream back from the truck but he would really enjoy swimming little nihilistic nerd ass is swimming around imagining it's the weightless of space and thinking about perceptions of gravity

everyone has been doing their own things for a good 30 minutes before they realise kieran has wandered off and they swear to god he is doing it because he enjoys causing them distress

kieran and albert mason went to look at rock pools which is fine NOT FINE DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY THINGS IN THERE ARE VENOMOUS charles has to abandon his relaxation to supervise and make sure they don't poke anything that could kill them

micah is trying to teach baymax how to swim the giant baby of a rescue dog has never been in water deep enough where he needs to paddle

dutch and micah would be the ones kicked off the beach because it's not a dog friendly beach and upon being asked to leave micah started shouting about stupid laws which triggered dutch into another 'oh so this is the great and bountiful united police states where you can use your almighty powers to govern where a man takes his companion'.

grimshaw gently squeezing annabelle's hand like honey that ain't your problem anymore. let the ladies lay on the beach and enjoy wine and cheese while dutch gets arrested

molly didn't even know the gang were going to the beach but it's good to see everyone every once in a while (she turns up after dutch left or she would have shived him). she brought 4 different outfits for different times of day depending on uv exposure and javier applauds her for it. she is taking so many selfies and encourage javier to pose with her

[lilian-draconia]

!!Twst Incorrect quotes!! Except I throw mine and @simping-myjob's yuusona in the mix (warning: long post) ☁☁☁ Lilian: Sora... How do I begin to explain Sora? Lilia: Sora is flawless Malleus: I hear her hair's insured for 10 000 thaumarks. Silver: I hear he does blastcycle commercials... In the scalding sands. Sebek: One time they punched me in the face... It was awesome. ☁☁☁ Sebek: Nothing is free. Lilian: Love is free! Lilia: Adventure is free. Malleus: Knowledge is free. Sora: Everything is free if you take it without paying. ☁☁☁ Silver: What does 'take out' mean? Lilia: Food. Lilian: Dating Sora: Murder. Sebek: IT CAN MEAN ALL THREE IF YOU'RE NOT A COWARD!! ☁☁☁ Malleus: Goodbye, Child of a Man. Goodbye, Sora. Goodbye, Lilia. Goodbye, Silver. Goodbye, Child of a Man. Lilia: You said 'Goobye, Child of a Man' twice. Malleus: I like Child of a Man. ☁☁☁ *When Lilian arrives to Twisted wonderland for the first time* Lilian: Well, aren't you all a rag-tag group of adventurers with unclear goals and good hearts! Oh, let me guess: you're out to save the world! Sora: Well, actually, that sounds like a pretty fair assessment. Ace: more or less, i guess kalim:that sounds awesome! let's do that! Jack: I'm new here, but I am open to the concept. Deuce: I thought that's what we were doing, guys, come on! ☁☁☁ *Lilian walks into the ramshackle.* Lilian: Hello, people who do not live here. Sebek: hey Silver: hi Malleus: Hello Lilia: Hey! Lilian: I gave you the key for emergencies only! Sora: They were out of doritoes. ☁☁☁ Lilian: what's something you guys are better than Malleus at? Sora: Mario kart Lilia: video games, yeah Silver: emotional vulnerability. ☁☁☁ Silver: Good responses to getting stabbed with a knife? Lilian: Rude Sora: that's fair Lilia: not again. Malleus: are you going to want this back? ☁☁☁ Lilian: You wanna see how hardcore I am? Lilian: *punches wall* Lilian: ... Lilian: take me to the hospital ☁☁☁ Lilian: Not trying to brag or anything, but I can wake up without an alarm clock now simply due to my crippling and overwhelming anxiety so... ☁☁☁ Sora: Okay okay, stop asking me if i'm straight, gay, bi, whatever. I identify as a THREAT. ☁☁☁ Silver: With great power comes great need to take a nap. Wake me up later. ☁☁☁ Silver: physically, yes, i could fight a bird. But emotionally? imagine the toll. ☁☁☁ Lilian: goodnight moon Lilian: goodnight tree Lilian: *looks at the mouse silhouette in the mirror* goodnight ghost that only I can see ☁☁☁ Lilian: I've already sent good vibes your way... they're coming. there's nothing you can do to stop them. Sora: this is the most threatening way i've been cheered up. ☁☁☁ Sora: I have so much energy, I want to run a marathon or commit a crime... which should I do? Lilian: Please don’t get arrested. Sora: No promises! <3 Lilia: Why not both? Get creative! Sora: Wonderful suggestion, thank you. Lilian: Please don’t encourage them. ☁☁☁ Lilian: Please, Sora, after everything we’ve been through together. You can’t do this. Sora: I’m sorry Lilian. Lilian: I’m begging you. Don’t do it. Sora: It has to be done. Lilian: Sora: Lilian: Sora: *Places +4* Uno. ☁☁☁ Sora, wearing shades: Rule one of destroying the world. Sora: *does finger guns* You gotta look good while doing it. ☁☁☁ Malleus: What's the scariest horror movie you've ever watched? Lilia: IT. Sora: Annabelle. Silver: Paranormal Activity. Lilian: High School Musical. All throughout high school I was scared that everyone was gonna randomly get up and start singing and dancing, and I would be the only one who doesn't know the words. ☁☁☁

[onaa-ohokthen]

Thaniel, Mori, Grace, and the privilege Venn diagram

That's it, that's the post.

Ok, I'll elaborate a little bit. And since we don't do readmores here because reasons, everything in this post can be considered a spoiler for The Watchmaker of Filigree Street.

One of the first times I read Watchmaker, I was struck by how balanced the main three characters (I consider Mori a main character despite not having POV narration) were in terms of power and privilege. I thought about another bit and realized that Pulley actually balanced them in a really ingenious way.

Imagine a venn diagram consisting of three circles. One is labeled "gender", one "race", and one "class". Each of the three of them inhabit exactly two circles, no more, no less. There are other characters who inhabit all three (Fanshaw, Grace's father), or only one (Annabel), or none at all (Osei), but the main three maintain a precarious balance.

Grace is, of course, the daughter of a British Lord. If she had been behaving appropriately for her station, she would be married off to a wealthy and possibly noble man at her age. The authority and quite frankly audacity that comes with her standing allows her to handle everyone, from rude coach drivers to the librarian at the Bodleian, who seek to tower over her on account of her gender. But she can't entirely overcome it, cannot continue her scientific career, cannot inherit her aunt's house. For those, she needs access to Thaniel's gendered status, even while the effortless power she is accustomed to by virtue of her class allows her to steamroll him.

Mori starts blurring the borders. Yes, he's a bastard, but he's a noblewoman's bastard, and when there's no one else left to inherit, he does inherit. Even while he lives as a guest in Takahiro's house, Ito and his entourage bows down to him. Later, he may not enjoy being Baron Mori, may have chosen a career both conceptually and geographically removed, but like Grace, he carries authority effortlessly. Still, he's aware of his lack of prestige as Japanese in Victorian London. Whether he tells Thaniel the truth or not when explaining why he couldn't turn Spindle in (I believe he knows that doing so would eventually be possible with Fanshaw's record of his status, but then he wouldn't have met Thaniel, which was of course his goal. Excuse me, I have to have a little cry), it is true that Dolly wouldn't believe a foreigner over an Englishman.

Finally Thaniel, who straddles the working and middle class in a really interesting way and illustrates both the possibility and difficulty of class mobility in the Victorian era. He's undoubtedly born into the working class, with a groundskeeper father, but is taught an art, a middle- or upper class skill early in life. Indeed, even when he is unwillingly straddled with providing for Annabel and her children, he is allowed to work in an office. It's not a glamorous job, but it's indoors and although it doesn't make him happy, he can afford two baths and ten candles a week.

Thaniel's class affiliation kind of changes over the course of the book. First with his promotion to the Foreign Office (a higher salary and weekends off), then with the chance to play the piano professionally again, and finally with his marriage to Grace, he becomes more firmly settled outside of the working class he originated in. Still, he can't quite reach all the way up, no one can without being born there. He can live in as fancy a house as he wants, the born-into-authority of Grace's means he folds sideways rather than defy her until she goes too far.

Which just. I love them, your honor. It's to deft, such a great job of Pulley's. chef's kiss.

[cafenostalgique]

My ultimate film watchlist (1990s)

1930s-1940s | 1950s | 1960s-1970s | 1980s | 2000s | 2010s

Welcome to part five of my ultimate film watchlist! Please see the link to part one under 1930s-1940s to get the full explanation of the list. Otherwise, welcome to what is most likely your childhood, as well as mine.

P.S. I thought the 50s and the 80s were long, but get a load of this one. It's crazy. I can only imagine the 2000s list next.

I was born in 1999, and grew up in the 2000s-2010s. However, I was lucky enough to have a brother who is six years older than me, and a young mom (may she rest in peace), so I got to experience a lot of 90s things as well just as remnants of his childhood. I may be a little bit pickier here and leaving things out solely because I know they're not my target demographic. But again, if you have a film that you think should be on the list, please let me know! I'm happy to add your favorites (or least favorites) to round out everyone's experience!

watched | loved | wouldn’t watch again | holiday

1990

Cry Baby

Edward Scissorhands

Ghost

Home Alone

IT

Pretty Woman

Pulp Fiction (needs a rewatch, I don't remember most of it)

The Handmaid's Tale

Total Recall

1991

Beauty and the Beast

Boyz N the Hood

Career Opportunities

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

Hook

Mars Attacks

Point Break

Silence of the Lambs

Terminator 2: Judgement Day

Thelma & Louise

1992

Aladdin

Glengarry Glen Ross

Honey, I Blew Up the Kid

Newsies

Singles

Sister Act

The Crying Game

The Muppet Christmas Carol

The Player

Unforgiven

Wayne's World (needs a rewatch ASAP!)

1993

Body Snatchers

Cannibal! The Musical

Coneheads

Dazed and Confused

Face the Music

Gettysburg

Groundhog Day

Hocus Pocus

Jurassic Park

Mrs. Doubtfire

Schindler's List

Sleepless in Seattle

The Fugitive

The Nightmare Before Christmas

The Nutcracker

The Sandlot

1994

Dumb & Dumber

Ed Wood

Forrest Gump

Four Weddings and a Funeral

Miracle on 34th Street

Muriel's Wedding

Reality Bites

The Crow

The Lion King

The Professional

The Santa Claus

The Shawshank Redemption

1995

A Goofy Movie

Apollo 13

Babe

Braveheart

Casper

Clueless

Dead Man

Hackers

It Takes Two

Kids

Pocahontas

Sense and Sensibility

Showgirls

The Babysitter

The Baby-Sitters Club

Toy Story

Welcome to the Dollhouse

1996

101 Dalmatians

Breaking the Waves

Fargo

Happy Gilmore

Independence Day

James and the Giant Peach

Matilda

Muppet Treasure Island

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Scream

Space Jam

The Craft

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Trainspotting

1997

Air Bud

Annabelle's Wish

Anastasia

As Good As it Gets

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

Boogie Nights

Flubber

Good Will Hunting

Life is Beautiful

Lolita

Men in Black

Mr. Magoo

Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion

Scream 2

Titanic

1998

A Bugs Life

Halloweentown (Favorite Halloween movie!!)

Mulan

Saving Private Ryan

The Parent Trap (All time favorite)

There's Something About Mary

The Truman Show

The Wedding Singer

1999

10 Things I Hate About You

A Christmas Carol

American Beauty

American Pie

Annie

Drive Me Crazy

Election

Eyes Wide Shut

Fight Club

Girl, Interrupted

Inspector Gadget

Jawbreaker

Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas

Never Been Kissed

She's All That

Sleepy Hollow

Stuart Little

Tarzan

The Blair Witch Project

The Iron Giant

The Matrix

The Sixth Sense

The Virgin Suicides

Toy Story 2

[icameasiam]

happy birthday to annabelle, but more importantly— happy birthday to indi. because without you, we wouldn't have belle. <3 and if we didn't have belle, who else would all of my muses be madly in love with ??? all jokes aside, i know you don't care about celebrating your birthday. but i care about celebrating your birthday, and have done so every year now because it's a day i consider worth celebrating. i'm so glad your parents did the dirty all those years ago, and i'm so glad that we both have this silly little hobby of playing barbies online— because without either of those things, i never would have met you at a weird time of my life back in (i think) 2018. i've found and cherished many friendships on this godforsaken site throughout my years here, but we have never ever skipped a beat— and i think that's something incredibly special. the universe knew that i had to be born eight days later than you because the strength of two scorpios combined would have been too powerful for this world.

i know i try to make something fun for you and belle every year, and i'm sorry that this isn't the prettiest (although you know one of my love language is gift giving so i'll eventually make that up to you on levi's blog)— but i couldn't not at least tell you how important you are to myself and to others on your day, because its the least you deserve. you are one of the kindest people i know, the most giving and selfless, and i don't think i'll ever trust another person on this site the same way that i trust you. and not only that, but you are so incredibly talented. i know you haven't been able to write as of late, but god. i love just going back and reading our old threads together. i was so intimidated by your writing when we first met. the world you have built for annabelle continues to be so beautifully developed and real that it's hard to believe she isn't. i love her so much. i love the dynamics and relationships we have built. they come so easy. i think about levi and belle and the years of love we have put into them as a pair at least once a day.

but i love you more. i'm so happy you were born, and i'm so happy to have you in my life and to be able to call you my friend and big sister. one day the stars will align and we'll be able to watch scary movies and vibe to music and eat taco bell together in person. but in the meantime, i'm more than glad to send each other silly tiktoks and laugh and cry over our babies through a screen. i hope today was just as amazing as you are. <3

                      The  thing  is;  you  sent  this  to  me  a  year  ago  and  I  was  so  fucking  depressed  that  I  could  only  bring  myself  to  speak  to  you  one  on  one  about  it.  I'm  such  a  loser  with  these  things  ...  I  know  I  am.  This  means  to  me  as  much  today  as  it  did  the  day  you  sent  it;  it  truly  meant  so  much.  And  I  know  we  had  spoken  about  it  on  a  personal  level  but  still,  it  doesn't  take  away  from  how  much  this  truly  meant  for  me  to  receive. 

                      You  have  always  been  one  of  my  biggest  supporters  and  closest  friends  ---  we  were  literally  talking  about  it  today.  I  just  feel  so  blessed  to  know  that  you're  in  my  life  and  that  we  get  to  create  the  way  we  do.  It  is  truly  a  blessing  to  know  that  we  can  have  the  connection  that  we  do  out  of  character.  Thank  you  for  always  being  there  for  me.  Thank  you  for  believing  in  me  and  always  looking  out  for  me  the  way  you  do.  And  thank  you  for  loving  Annabelle  the  way  you  do;  the  way  your  muses  do.

                      It's  crazy  to  think  about  how  this  all  started.  To  think  that  it  started  with  friendly  words  and  the  desire  to  create.  It  has  turned  into  a  connection  that  I  can't  imagine  never  having  in  my  life;  we  spoke  about  this  today  and  it  will  always  be  a  connection  that  is  meaningful  to  me.  Thank  you  for  being  who  you  are  and  how  you  are.  Thank  you  for  sharing  your  talent  with  me  and  for  always  making  sure  that  my  ideas  come  to  life.  Tumblr  or  no  tumblr  you  will  always  be  one  of  my  favorite  people  ---  one  of  the  people  I  trust  the  most.  So  thank  you  for  allowing  me  to  have  that.

[distortionswife]

Dream lore continued, as there was a new dream last night continuing it.

( Very spoilery info, not directly spoiling the podcast, but gives away some info surrounding the web, the stranger and the spiral, )

First of all, I was having tea with Annabelle Cane, I don't remember why exactly, but I was.

She was aware of the circuses preparations for the Unknowing and asked if I had any part in it. I only told her I had given that ancient bit of skin in the very beginning, to which Annabelle sighed and told me that wasn't really smart.

I said I was aware of it, but I thought I'd be killed if I didn't so, I had no choice.

Annabelle was thinking of what to do and had put down options on paper;

Get a good spot for the end of the world

Try talking to Elias or Jon about it, but I wouldn't like how it would end.

Burn the skin so Nikola can't complete the outfit and miss an essential part of her ritual.

She told me it was smart to choose one of the last two, figuring I wouldn't exactly want a world where the stranger succeeded. But in no way could I tell them I got the information from her. I agreed to it and decided the third would be best.

Annabelle showed me how to exactly 'burn' said skin, or any skin for that matter. She gave me a vial with a fluid to make it easier.

I nodded and planned to do it when she'd be away from the circus, which could be soon if there's a distraction or reason to do so.

Then that day came, I waited patiently for her to be far enough to not see or hear it. I got to the skin, poured the contents of the vial onto it and grabbed the lighter from my pocket, watching it slowly go up in flames.

Suddenly I heard an unholy scream from somewhere within this circus.

Helen was apparently watching with a big grin and laughed maniacally, telling me "Oh you better run. She's fast when she's pissed."

I ( stupidly ) ran through the door she had made, blindly trusting someone who's inevitably going to stab me in the back. And I ran for a long time through those hallways, those corridors with the many doors.

Until Helen stopped me, opened a door and shoved me through it, simply saying "Good luck~ She knows where you are!"

And then the door simply closed and I was in the forest, I thought about where to go.

( This is where the first dream ends, in the waking world I thought I'd be going to Hill Top road, for some reason. So, with that info; into last night's dream we go! )

And so, I was indeed running to Hill Top Road, and in my opinion, it was pretty smart.

It took a while because I had been dropped off somewhere in a big ass forest and there was a subtle path with more spiderwebs in trees than normal leading me to hill top road, but I had to find that first. And that was kind of difficult because there seemed to be more than one power at play. I was imagining that the spiral or the vast was having it's fun there too. The forest was a little too long.

Either way, eventually I heard THUMPING behind me, like an animal dashing it's way towards you with big steps. You can guess who this was. Just imagine that one monstrous form, that one definitely meant to absolutely terrify you. That but with the ringleader clothing, it was actually quite horrific to see, besides the voice being a little more distorted due what I assumed to be the rage.

Then I suddenly saw the path, I took it and seemed to somehow be faster. I reached Hill Top Road and there Annabelle stood in the doorway, looking at me confused, she asked why I had willingly come to this place. I simply answered I was escaping something she probably knew was chasing me.

Annabelle did know and asked what I expected out of coming here, since she has no reason to necessarily protect me.

I simply told her it was also her idea so she's responsible and Nikola wouldn't kill her because it'd be stupid to kill the mother of puppet's favorite.

Annabelle laughed at that and let me in, while Nikola was IN SIGHT. Although, she said she'd try her best but I shouldn't expect anything. She also admitted she enjoyed watching the chase, Especially when Helen added to the entire mess.

I was told Helen told Nikola where I was going like a betrayal of some kind. She liked it. She adores Helen's trickery at times.

The door would soon be slammed open, Annabelle had left it open a bit. She somehow fit in the entire house and Annabelle even tried to compliment the more spider esc monster form, but Nikola was NOT having it. Simply screaming to get me out of hiding.

Annabelle told her "There's no need to scream, I'm sure you can see them behind that cabinet from that height."

So I stepped out and hid behind Annabelle, being glared at and mocked. It was technically the first time I was scared of her, more on that later

Either way, Annabelle simply stepped aside and told me to deal with the issue I caused, to which I said "you told me to do it, so you're at fault too."

To which Nikola just snapped her head to Annabelle and asked if it was true. I don't know how I did it but I tried to basically give a pleading look, because either she could throw me under the bus and probably see me torn apart or she could save my ass.

queue the "well, technically it was my idea."

And the way too long pause.

"But they didn't exactly do it consciously, I was the one making them do it. Just wanted to see what would happen… So you can't be mad at them for it, they didn't know."

Nikola simply just scoffed and left, and once she was gone I just let out a breath I'd been holding in.

And now I owed Annabelle a favor.

Helen made her appearance as well, clapping with an uncanny big grin, telling me it was quite the show.

I just glared at her and turned my back to her, wanting to know what the favor was, and well Annabelle simply told me;

You'll know when the time's right.

˚ ₊ 𓆩 ༺ 🕷 ༻ 𓆪 ₊ ˚

[lemon-natalia]

Harrow the Ninth Reaction - Chapter 37

hmm yeah it is suspicious that the Emperor has to be locked away during the attacks. he gives an explanation, but we really only have his word for it

the Lyctors seem perfectly (and very convieniently) made to be able to enter the River while still defending themselves, which makes me wonder if that was the original purpose of creating Lyctorhood, and the Emperor maybe has some kind of plan revolving around it?

now this guy is quoting fucking Psalms 26 in Latin?? thats different to the quotes from before, the fact that its religious is interesting given this guy is apparently ‘God’ now, but he’s quoting a biblical text. also given Harrow can’t possibly know what he’s quoting 90% of the time, he’s awfully pretentious

Harrow’s eighteen, i’m pretty sure she knows how babies are made dude. at least she definitely knows after you guys nearly had a threesome in front of her on the dining room table

he’s been thinking Harrow and Ianthe are a thing omfg

the mysterious A.L.! somehow i was right that the Annabel Lee poem connected to her. and her having another name, and being dead for ten thousand years, i feel like thats a pretty good candidate for the good old Locked Tomb body. at least, thats my current theory.

‘She was my Adam’ again with the biblical stuff, this guy is seemingly religious, but also thinks he’s God??

and apparently the First House was destroyed via climate change and nuclear explosions. if i needed any other confirmation that its Earth (or some equivalent) then i’ve got it here i think

also he was just a normal person before the world ended, and he was the only one who survived and somehow became an incredibly powerful necromancer. i mentioned waaay back at the beginning of this liveblog that i knew there was a guy named John who had something to do with an apocalypse, but i didn't know if i was misremembering him being actually responsible for it, or if i was mixing it up with the Magnus Archives. and i, uh, still have no clue if that is the case or not from this convo, though i do feel like there's more he's not saying about this anyway (please no spoilers about this, i really appreciate everyone explaining things to me in the notes but i'd like to find out whats actually going on with this specifically while reading)

and A.L. was not a ‘normal human being’ whatever that means, and the Lyctors are ‘in a very real way’ A.L.’s children … what on earth does that mean? she discovered the secret of Lyctorhood maybe?

well that whole conversation both answered a whole bunch of questions and absolutely nothing at the same time 😂

well okay the dude’s gone past playing parent and just outright told Harrow he sometimes wishes she was his daughter. i really don’t know how much of that affection is genuine

imagine telling someone you view them as a surrogate daughter and they fucking. smash a glass table in response lol. and yeah if its been ten thousand years and you haven’t developed emotional intelligence yet, then i don’t think its happening mate

ohhhh shit she’s telling him about the Locked Tomb. and i suppose there are worse ways this could have ended than him not believing her at all, but i really don’t think she’s wrong, especially since Gideon said she saw her do so/saw the door open in the last book, i think she did get in there somehow

wait i was working under the assumption that it was the Emperor who’d messed up her memories, but its not! did she do it to herself then after writing the letters?