#“did you forget to reset your protection spells while you were gone”

[ohbeffinitely]

I enjoy that you can go back to Lorath's cabin while he's chilling with his Horse at Firebrand Manor and just... Do Pest Control 🤔

[rootiebaga]

nobody asked, i know, but heres my departments thus far! (with nicknames, of course)

note! i do use mods, one of them being the ultimate fashion corp mod from reddit, a mod that lets you keep your employees after you reset a run, and some other useful ones

also its under the cut because uh- long

control team! (aka the OGS! (because control team is the first department people unlock when starting a run))

morty (former employee)

-may the brave fool rest, gone, but not forgotten.

rootieee (captain)

-its, its my self insert what do i have to sa

paul

-the most boring in the facility (and the most sane one in the department,)

-just wants to do his job correctly.

-not much to say about him, really

maxim (morty’s replacement after he died, rest in piece morty, you were a brave hero, yet a little dumb after trying to fight a green dawn in the early runs i had)

-morty’s big bro, a little sad that morty died but he didn’t know all that much in the facility,

-takes his job too seriously

-usually chills in the main room alot,

shao

-an absolutely innocent baby, even if they some horrifying abnormalities, they would still think of them as cute

-just, likes being here, many friends for them!

-they also like hugs!

igoree (rip)

-the sleepy employee has come back! wowie

-still sleepy and also hungry,

-the one who doesn’t work all that much

-..”how did she.. die? did she just want to? what in the world happened there? is it because of that behaviour adjustment thing?”

“just forget about it and keep working,”

“but, paul im curious-”

“quiet.”

eden

-woooooo returning!

-one of the calmest people in the department

-probably wouldn’t even be phased by the effect [CENSORED] gives her if we had it

“hey uh, eden? i got something to tell you..”

“go on shao,”

“didn’t... something happen to you? h-how are you even-”

“hey hey, dont worry about that! just, make sure you stay safe, alright?”

information team! (aka the threeks! (named by tom, who is dead, an idiot, and couldn’t count))

tom (dead)

-an idiot

-okay moving on

ryn

-the only one with aleph gear, seriously (edit (draft edition): hes the first one with aleph gear after i got nothing there’s gear, the second being daniel)

-chill once you get to know him,

-likes protecting others with his gear, since, you know

mason

-usually anxious, he doesn’t mean to be though!

-”alright calm down.. never mind this is not the time to calm dOW-”

-probably likes ryn??

eugene

-a little bit crazy, yet kind nonetheless! 

-hi

-just wants some friends, unfortunately not many people are willing to befriend her due to her kinda crazy nature

-basically someone who cares for everyone in the facility, y e e

(also whats known as a “bow kinnie” to the control team captain) /j

emma

-looks really kind until you try to talk to her, shes an asshole is what im trying to say

-likes to bite things with the sharp teeth she has, because why not

-absolute chaos

ray

-i dont know why she exists, shes just there

safety team! (aka the wind wielders (named by isabel, cause he likes flutes))

isabel

-brother of gregory

-the second innocent bean,,

-likes playing the flute whenever hes done for the day

-i accidentally gave him crumbling armour’s gift

gregory

-brother of isabel

-prefers acting over playing instruments,

-a bit more serious,

neville (prefers nelville)

-an absolutely tired employee, they just like waiting till everyone is done for the day to go home

-they’d be at home if they weren’t forced by their friend to work here

-hates everything right now

ramirez

-the joyful friend

-wanted to work here because of the people here, so many unique faces!

-likes all things unique, she usually loves trying different things that look nothing alike from the things she tried before

khanna

-the mute employee in the facility, uses notes to communicate

-another sane one, yet still kinda nervous

-a bean

training team! (aka “nobody here is fine” (named for the fact that almost everyone is very nervous, and then we got firenze))

hana

-the one thats sad most of the time

-really helpful for when it comes to working on abnormalities!

-gregory has a crush on them (why would you say tha)

sobin

-before you think of him as edgy, hes not all that edgy personality wise, he just likes the aesthetic

-hes just a really chill and friendly dude

-yes, he can see more with the e.g.o outfit hes wearing, it is pretty strange to him though

firenze

-the narcissist, he really thinks hes the king of this department

-hes wrong its actually hana thats the captain of this department

-nobody likes him

daniel

-actually used to be a clerk! the face was a little different then before but hey, thats fine

-the third pure bean

-hes a really good friend to have!

susan

-what can i say about her?

-well i mean

-shes susan

central command team! (aka where is everyone? (due to there being not many agents here))

geminiano

-the most sane one in the facility (while being the dead inside captain)

-really good when it comes to tech

-”oh sh** did anyone check on mika?”

charlotte

-the bald employee, doesn’t mind being bald, that just means she can take care of the “your bald” abnormality

-”ignore the second mouth i got on my armour, please”

-plays vibe games on roblox

mika

-absolutely. chill

-doesn’t know where he’s going most of the time

-the one that works on child of galaxy everytime

gimtteol

-really bad sight, she doesn’t mind it

-kalm

-nobody can spell her name right

arang (prefers ayang)

-you thought sobin was the edgelord huh? think again

-easily annoyed.

-also was a clerk before

john

-the newbie!

-hes trying okay?

-hes still a little nervous but thats fine!

disciplinary team! (aka f**k (also nicknamed “why do we have red” due to me choosing little red riding hooded mercenary every run where theres disciplinary))

ara

-angy

-another person that takes their job way too seriously but doesn’t mean to

-not really that rude sometimes, but most of the time she can be a bit of an asshole, probably because of something that happened in the past, nobody wants to talk about it though

-lesbian

camille

-has a slightly torn snake tongue, it makes them not able to speak, they mostly make noises like growling,

-nobody knows why their like this, they just are, but dont be afraid to talk to them if you need anything! they usually write what their trying to say

-the expert, especially at finding things, even if they cant speak

tim

-another returning employee! wooooo

-still dead inside, but feeling a little bit better!

-might be the oldest out of everyone

welfare team! (aka “sleep tight” (nobody knows why its called that)

space

-very calm, most of the time doesn’t mind anything, but still does get a little nervous at times

-nobody knows why her eyes are always closed, (ara specified that her eyes look like a galaxy that can only be opened for a couple of seconds because if she opens them for more than a few seconds they’ll start to glitch, when others see it happening, it looks like the galaxy is becoming more like an image other than a real galaxy, parts of the galaxy become misplaced and reverted back to their original place quickly repeatedly (kinda like the select thing in paint, usually in the shape of the rectangular selection though) and parts of the galaxy turn into static and back very quickly and repeatedly. we she sees it happening her vision becomes the same as how other people see the galaxy when it starts glitching, randomly shifting from original place to different place, or from static back to normal, some ominous, glitchy sounds have been heard when this is happening aswell, (i thought of this because of a small dream(?) i had when i was in a certain state of almost about to fall asleep, maybe i was napping i dont really know, it was a strange dream, i dont remember much of it which is expected, i think it was something about discord and some sort of strange thing that had a little timer on it, and after it was done the thing it was in started glitching, the background it was in and even the button that used to be the timer was glitching, i heard some sounds that were glitching a little (it looked like those screens you see when someone’s streaming something on there,) and then i woke up, yeah kinda weird,)

-like eugene, cares for everyone! especially ara, since space herself is the one who helps ara through tough times

courtney

-gets bored alot, just wants to work on the difficult abnormalities

-really snarky

johnson

-a smartass

-yet still a little friendly if they trust you

-i’ll upgrade them soon dont worry (i have upgraded them/him dont worry)

,

woop!

i’ll probably update this soon, but in the meantime have this, sorry for being dead lately, on both this and my sideblog

[join-the-joywrite]

Time After Time -- 6

a boy a girl a time turner

when a time turner is shattered in a small fight, it’s up to the unlikely pair to figure out how to survive until the end of the war. it’s their only shot at breaking the loop.

masterpost prev || next

Chapter 6 - When Hermione told Ron

Hermione tore her gaze from the deceased couple. It broke her heart that she couldn't save everyone. She looked up at Fred. "Do you know where he is?"

Fred gestured to the front end of the hallway.

"Thanks," she said softly, stepping around the family to calmly walk down the aisle. By the time she reached, Draco had sent the girl, Ellie, off and turned to face Hermione. "You're still alive, then?"

Draco smiled. "Pity."

Hermione tried to smile back. "It's like I've just realised you could die. If you die too close to dawn . . . If we blow by my time of death, there is no reset. Even if I die, it won't matter as much as knowing that we saved so many more people because of you and you don't even get to live."

"If you die," Draco said, fixing a serious stare on Hermione, "and there is no loop, I'm not staying here."

"You can't do that!" Hermione cried.

"I mean it. I'm not living in a world without the only person that looks at me like I'm a person. I won't do it. I can't do it. You won't die alone."

"Malfoy. . ."

"There's nothing you can say that's going to change my mind, Granger," Draco said, turning away.

"Where are you going?"

Draco gestured around. "Nothing's going to happen for a while. A lot of them need attention." After a moment's pause, Draco held out his hand. "I'll teach you the spells if you want to help."

"Hermione!"

Hermione glanced back to see Ron walking up to her.

"Or maybe you should try talking to Ron about the loop."

"I. . . okay."

Draco smiled. "It's almost dawn, Hermione. Get some rest, yeah?"

Hermione nodded slowly. As she turned to walk to Ron, Draco headed down the aisle in the other direction.

"Wait, let me get this straight," Ron said, frowning. "You broke a Time-Turner a couple of hours ago, and now you're stuck inside a time loop?"

Hermione nodded.

"And Malfoy is stuck inside it with you?"

Hermione nodded again.

"Blimey, Hermione. How many times?"

"What?"

"How many times have you died?"

Hermione scrunched up her nose as she stared at the crumbling ceiling. "Seventy-five," she said slowly, turning to look at Ron again, "that I recall."

"That you recall?"

"Malfoy says he tried to save me about ten times before the Time-Turner broke. That would make it eighty-five deaths."

"Blimey," Ron said again. "Does anyone else know?"

Hermione laughed. "Who would I tell, Ron? It's a war. Everyone is fighting for their lives. I can't--" Hermione broke off, shaking her head.

Ron was silent for a moment. "Have you ever. . ."

"Have I ever what?"

"Have you ever killed yourself on purpose? To do it over again?"

"Oh, yeah. Loads of times. It was a bit strange and frightening the first time, but I guess I just forgot that death is permanent for everyone else. I got so used to waking up in the same place every time I died, I forgot that there might come a point where I'll die and that'll be it."

Ron didn't want to know what Hermione meant by that. "What made you realise?"

Hermione sniffed, suddenly realising that she was crying. Angrily, she wiped at her eyes. "Um, Malfoy, he -- he saved Fred from a falling wall. But he died under it instead. We were down at the boathouse and I felt this -- this crushing pain. When I got to the hall, your family was waiting for me there. Where he was. Fred told me that he kept saying my name. He said -- he said he was sorry."

Hermione tried for a laugh, resulting in some kind of choked sob. "He was just laying there and -- and you know his hands see normally cold, but it was like ice when I held it and -- and -- and I just realised that he could've died and never woken up."

"So you reset," Ron said. It wasn't a question, he knew he was right. Obviously. Draco was still there.

Hermione nodded. "Yeah."

"What's it feel like?"

Hermione shook her head, glancing at the stones on the steps below her. "Nothing. It just -- it just happens. I die and then immediately, I wake up in the cottage. I don't-- there's nothing in between. Nothing."

"Is there anything I can do?"

Hermione looked at him sadly. "I don't think so, Ron," she whispered.

Ron leaned towards her, dropping his head. "I'll tell you one thing, Hermione, I think he loves you."

"What? Ron, that's--"

"Just as much as you love him. Maybe more."

Hermione fiddled with a stone for a moment before raising her gaze back to Ron. "Is it that obvious?"

Ron shrugged. "Do me a favour, though. If you happen to reset again, tell me about it again?"

"I will. Thank you, Ron."

Ron nudged her lightly. "Anything for my best friend," he said, smiling. "Have you kissed him yet?"

"I did, the first time I reset after he saved Fred. I was just so happy to see him alive and he'd still saved Fred. I just. . ."

"Why'd you reset again?"

"Oh, I panicked. You and Harry were coming over and well, it's not like I'd told you about the loop."

Ron stared at Hermione. "You're right. You really have forgotten the weight of death. Honestly, Hermione, just five minutes. That's all it would've taken to explain."

"Ugh, you sound exactly like Draco."

"Ew."

Hermione smiled. Then she laughed. Ron smiled with her. "You love him a lot, don't you? Far more than I can tell."

Hermione shrugged. "I mean, he's not that bad."

Ron shrugged as well. "I guess rewinding time around ten times to try and save you is a good enough reason without the loop."

"Shut up," Hermione said, giving Ron a light shove. But she was smiling.

She turned around when she felt someone's eyes on her. "Harry."

The two of them stood up as Harry approached.

"Where have you been?" Hermione asked.

"We thought you might've gone to the Forest," Ron said.

"I'm going now."

The pair erupted into shouts of protest.

"I have to!" Harry shouted over them. "It's meant to be."

"What is it?" Hermione asked softly.

"There's a reason I can hear them -- the Horcruxes. I think I've known why for a while now. I think you have too."

Hermione's face fell. "No. I'll come with you. I--"

"Let him leave."

The trio turned as Draco stepped out from behind half a remaining pillar, eyes downcast.

"He has to do this alone."

"No," Hermione said, "I'm not letting you to him alone. You -- you could die! I can't--"

"Hermione," Draco said firmly, staring at her. "Let him leave."

Harry studied Draco. "Do you know? Who told you?"

"Doesn't matter. We'll get the snake, all right?"

"Nagini? How do you know about her?"

Draco raised his eyebrows at Harry. "Are you seriously asking me that?"

Though Hermione knew Draco had already lived the war no less than ten times, she found it amusing that Harry would forget who housed Voldemort for a year. Her amusement did not last long.

"Let me go with," she began.

Draco sent her a fierce look and her voice died in her throat. He turned back to Harry. "The Elder Wand cannot fully harm its true owner. We'll be here when you get back."

Harry nodded. Before he could leave, Ron attacked him with a hug that threatened to suffocate Harry.

Draco slowly walked up to the pair. Absently, Hermione laced her fingers with his. "Be careful, Harry. We'll be waiting, okay?"

Harry nodded. He'd gone down a few steps when Draco's voice stopped him as he called his name.

"Yeah?"

"Good luck, mate."

Harry nodded. "Thanks . . . Draco."

///////////////

Hermione pushed a little boy's hair from his eyes. She offered him a bright smile. "There we go, did you even feel it?"

The child, whose name she didn't even know, smiled back. He shook his head. "Thank you!"

Hermione's smile remained as she helped him off the table and watched him walk off, sans his earlier limp.

"You have a wonderful bedside manner," Draco said as he stood up. "He'd have never sat still for me like that."

Hermione's smile stretched as Draco joined her on the bench in front of the table. "Yeah?"

"Oh, yeah. Absolutely. When this is all over, you should come with me to St. Mungo's. You'd be my official assistant Healer."

"Assistant Healer?"

"You know, like those Muggle whatcha-call-ems. Nurses."

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Really? A nurse?"

"Why not? You've already demonstrated supreme bedside manner with kids and with people your own age! Even a few professors and Order members! You'd make a great nurse."

"Uh-huh. And why do I get to be your assistant Healer?"

"Because we make a great team," Draco said, putting his hand over hers and holding tight. "And if we work together, then there's just more time that I get to spend with you."

Neither brought up the fact that they weren't sure if Hermione would even live past 5:45 am.

Hermione sighed. "When I was younger -- much younger -- I thought I was going to grow up and become a doctor. I never imagined that I'd be here."

"No one ever does, Hermione."

"I used to think I'd be sewing up stab wounds and reversing toxicities and all of that, not throwing violent spells and mixing poisons."

"Do you miss it?"

"What?"

"Ignorance."

Hermione pursed her lips. "I don't know. I'd like to not be part of a war but . . . this is where I'm meant to be, you know? I feel at home surrounded by all this magic and -- and I'm kind of okay with the ways I died. If any one of those had been my last moments, I would have died doing something to save someone else, to help end the war."

Draco sighed as Hermione leaned her head on his shoulder.

"If I die after the sun comes up, will you plant flowers at my grave? Daisies and marigolds. Will you visit every day?"

"You know I won't," Draco murmured.

"Maybe I won't even have to take the knife. Everyone's seen how you've fought for Hogwarts, how you've helped here with all the injured. Maybe they'll protect you from harm the way they did for Harry against Pansy."

"Maybe," Draco said softly.

"Eugh, just because I'm okay with the relationship, doesn't mean you can get all mushy in front of me."

Both looked up and gave Ron a smile.

"Come on. Everyone's heading out. They say Voldemort's army is approaching."

Draco stood up very suddenly. His grip on Hermione's hand was almost painful and his expression had never been more serious. "Promise me, no matter what happens, you stay put."

"What's going to happen, mate?"

"Both of you. Don't even think about-- Oh, shit, Ginny!"

"Malfoy!" Ron yelled as Draco let go of Hermione's hand and broke into a sprint.

He and Hermione shared a glance before sprinting after Draco. They broke into the light of the rising sun as the army drew nearer. Hagrid was with them. He took slow, exhausted steps.

"What's he carrying?" Ginny's voice broke the silence.

Draco was pushing through the students, accidentally shoving some down to the ground. Hermione and Ron followed.

Ginny realised that it wasn't a what that Hagrid carried, but rather a who. Hermione froze as she saw Harry's body cradled in Hagrid's large hands. "No. . ."

Hermione's soft whisper was echoed in Ginny's cry. She broke from the crowd, prepared to cross the expanse between the two sides. Draco reached her just as she'd taken her first step and pulled her back, tripping over his own feet and stumbling to the ground. He did not let go of Ginny.

"It's not real," he whispered to her.

Ginny stopped fighting Draco. He let go of her and left her to Hermione as Ron offered him an arm up.

"What do you mean?" Ginny demanded from the safety of Hermione's arms.

Draco held a finger to his lips. Though his expression was stoic, there was a small twinkle in his gray eyes. Hermione couldn't fight her smile.

Harry Potter was still alive.

prev || next

[treatian]

The Dark One Chronicles:  The Dark Curse

Chapter 2:  An Assessment of the Sexes

Their tavern was just as sad as the rest of their pitiful little town. There was nothing special or unique about it. It was exactly the same as every other tavern he'd been in since he'd become this creature. Which was how he knew it would be the perfect place to meet a stranger who claimed the Dark One had need of him. The dark and dampness of the business at least gave him some bit of comfort as he strolled over to a private table farthest from the door and sat down. Vultures. All barmaids were vultures, and they were on him as though he'd only just died yesterday.

"Sir, what can I…"

He removed the cloak from his head, and instantly she choked on her words, eyes rounding at the sight of him.

"What…what can I get you?" she asked in a much softer tone.

"Ah…nothing for me, Dearies, but my company, if he arrives, will have some of your strongest ale!" he pronounced. Alcohol wasn't good for much, but a loose-lipped meeting was certainly better for him. Besides, he'd only be throwing away his money if he got something for himself. He'd noticed since losing Bae that alcohol had little effect on him in this form.

"Are…are you sure?" the barmaid asked, suddenly getting the courage to offer a small smile and tilt her hip in his direction. It reminded him of Ava, the woman who had once tried to seduce him so he'd make her his "queen". "Is there anything else I can help you with." It sounded like something Ava too. But he was quite sure that he didn't need what the wench was offering — filthy town.

"Quite."

She left with only a single glance thrown back at him over her shoulder. Women. He understood entirely why half of them shrank away from him in fear, but he was clueless as to why the other half eyeballed him like he was a roast turkey, and they were starving. He hadn't a single interest in what they were after. Not at the moment, at least. Not until he got back to Baelfire, then perhaps some of those old desires might be permitted to come to the surface again. Although, after a year of searching for his answer, he was positive that getting to Baelfire also meant surrendering his power; that meant gaining a limp. He couldn't be sure that women would continue to look at him this way when he was no longer the Dark One, weak and nearly as pitiful as this tavern.

Many people came and went as he sat there in that tavern contemplating the mind of the "fairer sex", but he knew the second the man he was looking for came in. Timidly he looked around, and when his eyes finally fell on him in the back, he noted the swallow that made his throat bob up and down. As he got closer, he smelled distinctly of fear, just like so many did when they came into contact with him for the first time and weren't prepared for the sight of him.

"It really is you," he stated with wide eyes as he sat down at the table. "The Dark One, in the flesh. Or…whatever that is."

He managed to restrain himself from rolling his eyes only by keeping them cast down at the table and avoiding Smee's gaze. He'd been looking for him so long, that was the best he'd come up with? He had a hard time believing this man had anything he could ever want when he approached him with stupidity like that.

"You've gone to a lot of trouble to meet me. You better hope I agree it's worth my time."

"I've heard you'd been looking for something. And, as luck would have it, I'm a man who trades some hard to find objects."

Perhaps he'd been wrong about the man. He'd spoken quickly just now, but it didn't have the same cadence that fear had. It had the tone of necessity. He'd spoken to move things along. And better yet, as the woman from the bar brought a stein of ale toward their table, William Smee got suddenly silent. A quick glance told him Smee was eyeing her with suspicion and unwilling to talk in front of her. Perhaps he'd underestimated him. It seemed the man knew how to hold his tongue around others. At last, someone with a brain. That was a lifesaving skill in his line of work.

"Like a bean?" he muttered, once the woman moved away. He'd whispered it really drawing his head closer to his own and cupping his hand around his mouth to block the sound from even potentially getting out into the crowd. "A magic bean that can transport you between worlds."

He had his attention before out of curiosity, but now he possessed it out of necessity. The Dark One was an experienced deal maker. He'd been doing it since long before even his own parents had been born and he knew that sometimes offers were false and even worse, sometimes they were traps. That he should be summoned to a strange woman's hut and told of this man's need to meet him, and that he had the one thing in the world he needed more than anything, was suspicious all on his own. The phrase "too good to be true," came to mind. He couldn't seem too interested.

"I've been told, they no longer exist in this land," he pointed out.

Smee leaned forward, his eyes wide. "Not in this land, no," he admitted. "But the ships that dock here often return from far off lands with treasures they don't always understand."

"And yet, you do?" he mocked. This man with a red floppy hat…he understood what they didn't? It was difficult to believe, and yet here he was. It was for Bae. Anything else and he would have left already. But if there was hope he could get him a bean that could take him the Baelfire, what choice did he have but to stay and listen?

"It's my job. As is knowing the rumors of who might pay the highest price for said treasures."

Rumors indeed…he'd been incredibly careful not to let many know what he'd been searching for. The fact that this stranger knew what he wanted most of all without any familiarity with him was disturbing. He'd have to find the source of these…rumors. If they were true, of course…

"And what rumors could they be?"

"That you were once a great coward, but that you became the Dark One to overcome that and protect the, uh, son who you lost, despite all-"

He had to summon his magic and use it to limit the air getting into his lungs to stop him from talking. A fool's brain buried beneath a wise talker. He should have known. William Smee must have had some kind of familiarity with his former village. That must be where the rumors he'd heard had come from because he could think of no where else he'd get information like that. He'd have to do something about that. And about…this.

"It's not nice to spread rumors!" he snapped loudly, so the entire bar could hear him, just in case a single person had heard him. Best to stick to business! "The bean – where is it?"

"I don't have it," he rasped out, with his own hand around his neck as if it could help him in some way. If he'd just lied to him, there was nothing that could help him. "But I can get it, I swear!"

He was begging. But he'd also said the magic words. And so with that, he relinquished his hold on Smee's throat and sat back, trying to look just as disinterested as he had when they'd first started. All the while, inside, he was nearly leaping for joy. He had a lead on a bean, an assurance they did exist! Forget the curse he'd been worried about finding; he was about to prove that Blue Bitch wrong and join his son!

"You haven't heard my price," Smee commented after the coughing fit he'd barely noticed had passed.

Price. What was that word to him anymore? He'd heard every other rumor about him, had he not heard the one about gold?

"I spin straw into gold. Price shouldn't be a problem."

"I don't want money," he insisted quickly. "I want eternal life."

He let out a loud, obnoxious laugh that he hoped passed along the message of just how ridiculous his request was. Smee knew what he wanted, he'd give him that, but he didn't want it enough. He wasn't desperate for it, and that made him no threat to his blade, only his comfort. There was no spell for eternal life, not one that wasn't a curse at least. There was a spell to keep an individual young, which could go on a lifetime, but it needed to be repeated and reset constantly. That would require keeping Smee in his life forever, and if he got the bean and he left, he wouldn't be able to fulfill the deal. But there was something else, something close to his request that a man like Smee might accept.

"Only the Dark One has life eternal. So, you want more, son. What I can do…what about youth? Spin the clock back till you're a little boy again?"

He could see his mind working behind his eyes. It was reassuring. If he was considering the bargain, then he'd been right. He wanted eternal life for the novelty of it, not out of necessity. He had nothing to fear of him.

"Close enough. Deal!" he agreed just a bit too eagerly. He wasn't desperate enough for eternal life, but he was betting that he would be desperate not to meet an untimely fate. A little motivation for getting that bean couldn't hurt.

"But remember – you fail to deliver, I spin the clock forward, and turn you into dust."

He understood. He could see it in his eyes, and in the way he pulled his hat on and rose from the table to get to work. "Thank you. Thank you!"

He was gone quickly. He liked that. His assessment of William Smee was that he wasn't exactly the brightest burning candle he'd ever met, but he seemed to be a savvy enough businessman and he had managed to get the butter blossoms for the old lady. Probably he was good at his trade and little else. But he knew better than to get his hopes up. After all he'd had more than a few leads on magic beans since Bae had gone away, and each and every one had failed. He knew better now than to count his chickens before they hatched, or in this case, count the beans before they were sitting in his hand.

"You sure you don't want anything?" the barmaid questioned, coming up to him but staying a safe distance away.

He'd been about to vanish, to simply leave her staring at his empty chair when he heard a voice that rang out in his ear and grabbed his attention. It was a familiar voice. Someone he recognized but couldn't place until-

He glanced over in the direction of the sound, and the glance became a shocked stare. Black clothes, earring, elaborate beard…he recognized that voice, and now he knew why. It was because the last he'd heard that voice he'd been quaking so hard in his boots he hadn't been able to move and watched helplessly as he stole away his wife. Killian Jones. The pirate who'd taken Milah.

He watched now as he walked into the bar without fear of conviction like so many pirates in this town did after they'd paid the lawmen. "Where's my beer?!" he questioned with a joyful smile on his face. A joyful smile…a joyful smile like the one he had stolen from Baelfire when he'd taken his mother. If he'd never taken Milah…

"You know, I suddenly find myself quite thirsty," he explained to the barmaid, who happily set one of her mugs of ale before him and marched off to take care of the new guests. Rage simmered beneath his skin and he allowed it. Let them drink. Let them gorge themselves on food and drink. His thirst was much more murderous. It would only be satisfied by blood. For Baelfire.

For Milah.

[theoriginaltvdsweetheart]

Finding Ourselves: Mending the Soul (Chapter 2)

Davina sat at the bar until it closed. A little while after Elijah left, Marcel rejoined her. He sat on a barstool saying nothing at first. When he finally spoke, he apologized. "Sorry for reacting like that. It wasn't that I wasn't glad to see you. It's just…I'm like Josh, I couldn't believe it." "Yeah, well, I'm here." She used a straw to play with the ice, not looking up at her father figure. She didn't know how to react to seeing him again. Davina felt very little and she just didn't know what to say. "And, I'm glad you're here. I missed you every single day. Look…" He pointed to a picture of her that was right beside one of Cami. "I didn't forget you." Davina gave a short laugh, finally looking up to meet the gaze of Marcel. "It's not that I thought you forgot me, or anything like that. I…I'm not ready for a reunion. Not with you. Not with Kol. I can't. Not yet. Because, I don't know. I just don't know, okay? I don't know who I am. I'm definitely not the same person I was and I need time to figure it out before I reunite with people who are gonna expect things that I don't know if I'll be able to give them." Marcel nodded, crossing his arms. He wasn't mad. It was just a gesture. "I get it. You need time." He got up and stepped back. "I'm here when you're ready." Davina nodded and looked back down. He didn't leave the bar until much later, but Marcel kept his distance. When the bar closed, Josh walked over to his friend. "So, Elijah thinks it's a good idea for you to stay with me. I agree. Could you imagine living with the Mikaelsons or something like that?" He laughed. "So, you ready to go?" Davina didn't put up a fight and stayed with Josh, maintaining a low profile while doing so. To her surprise, she didn't need spells or incantations at all. Her soul was repairing itself, a little at a time. Though, if she used dark magic, it was like a reset button. So, she refrained until it was completely fixed to the way it was supposed to be. Davina didn't expect to see Elijah again. He'd made up for killing her by bringing her back. So, he owed her nothing. But, he did in fact check in on her. He didn't let her know usually. The first time he did, it startled her. He walked up on her studying a spell. She could feel someone behind her. Her defenses went up, but as she turned her head, she found Elijah staring over her shoulder. A smile immediately took shape of her lips. "Are you seriously spying on me?" "Spying? No. More like observing. I am quite delighted to see such a familiar sight. Didn't think I would ever see you touch something magical again." He remarked, walking around and sitting in a chair across from her. "Not that I would mind you throwing away magic. You tend to be trouble." Although it was true at times, he was only teasing her. "Well I've got to do something to prevent me from going insane. And, I'm only trouble for you Mikaelsons." She teased back, the smile growing brighter on her face. "So, what do I owe the pleasure, Mr. Mikaelson?" Elijah gathered his thoughts. "I've actually come to warn you. Klaus has demanded we return home. Kol is back in the quarter, too. It won't take long before..." He didn't finish his sentence. "Prepare yourself." "Oh..." She suddenly looked downward, her mind running rapid. She knew there'd come a day when it would happen, when she'd see Kol again, but she was hoping she'd be completely 'better' by then. Davina managed to avoid it, putting it off for weeks until Kol showed up at Rousseau's. The minute Kol caught a glimpse of Davina, she felt eyes piercing through her. Davina sat at a table, nursing a drink. Looking up, she discovered that those eyes were Kol's. Davina smiled and turned her attention back to watching that gay friend of hers. She had debated on going over, but thought better of it. Elijah told her to be prepared for a reason. She found out as she kept him in sight, careful not to get caught, staring. He was cocky, demeaning, and soon left with a girl. She figured it was to feed since he wasn't allowed to do so in the bar. Kol did in fact feed. He'd been in a mess since they'd returned, feeding and fucking almost anything in a skirt. Yet, after he saw her, he didn't kill the girl nor did he fuck her. He simply let her go and returned home. As he got there, he slammed things around to the point that Elijah confronted him. "Is something wrong, brother?" The older Original asked. "She's alive." Kol expressed to Elijah. Elijah didn't say anything before Kol asked, "Has she been alive all this time?" Kol didn't direct the question at him, necessarily, but Elijah spoke up. "No." Kol glared at his brother. "How would you know..." He searched Elijah's face, putting it together. "You knew and didn't say a word." He didn't allow his brother to speak before he was storming from the house. He went back to Rousseau's. Davina was still with Josh. He stopped at the table and grabbed Josh's shirt, pulling him up and sitting down. "Hello darling. A long time I suppose. Were you just going to continue to let me believe you to be dead?" Davina's eyes narrowed into a cold glare when he picked Josh up, but she managed to keep it together. Leaning back in the chair, she crossed her arms over her torso. "And if I was? I mean let's face it. It's not like you were actually concerned because if you were then it would've been you." She spoke in a monotone voice. "But it wasn't." Kol tilted his head. "What would have been me?" Before she could even attempt to respond to him, Elijah came over. He flashed his eyes from Davina to his brother, realization crossing his expression. "Ah, so that's it. That's how he knew. He had you resurrected. Well, let us not forget he killed you in the first place!" Kol snapped. "That is quite enough, Kol." Elijah pulled him up. "Let us leave without a scene." Kol scoffed. "You didn't give a damn about her and now all of a sudden you care. That's quite ironic." He pushed his brother. "What? Are you trying to use her again? Is that it? Or are you just trying to torment me?" Elijah let out an annoyed chuckle. "Yes, because it was all about getting to you. That is why I boasted about it… Wait...I didn't do anything of the sort, did I? I know that it is completely out of this world as you'd believe it, but I actually did care for your witch. And I did feel guilty. So, I corrected it. It had very little to do with you. And, as far as using her is concerned, yes, I did act inappropriately in the past and manipulate her for my personal gain to protect my family. But...I have done nothing but attempt to right my wrongs. It was you who didn't. You claim to love her, but love knows no bounds. There are many witches that would still line up to help the great Kol Mikaelson, but it was I who took the time to do it while you were out ravaging through the human population since we awoke." Elijah finally broke. He, then, left Kol standing there, looking like an idiot. Davina sat there, an amused smirk teasing her lips with the encounter between them. "Now that we have that out of the way, was there something you wanted?" Davina asked Kol once Elijah was gone. "If not then no, I wasn't going to let you think I was dead for much longer. There's just something I've got to finish then all will be as it should. So see ya next time? Perhaps without a scene?" A smile crept onto her lips as she pulled her eyes from him and walked out of the bar to return home, Josh following after her.

[diamondsareapearlsbestfriend]

Sans/Toriel 30 Day OTP Challenge: Day Two

(On AO3)

day two: realization

prompt: “The first time a member of your OTP realized they had feelings for the other.”

It was probably a couple of timelines ago that most of Sans' life stopped feeling real.

Learning just how fragile your existence really was did that to a guy, he'd discovered. You saw the same people every day, and maybe they talked and acted the same, or sometimes they'd be different – but you couldn't count on them being there, one way or another. You'd open your eyes and be right back where you started, but maybe they wouldn't remember you this time around, or you wouldn't remember them, or they wouldn't even be there at all. So there was no point getting attached – that just meant you had more to lose, when time and memories kept slipping away and you weren't even sure what actually happened or didn't, what you knew, who you were any more. It made it harder to protect the people who really mattered.

Papyrus mattered, of course – Sans would have given up everything, fought with everything he had as many times as he had to if it meant his little brother had a shot at being safe, and happy. But with everyone else, it felt like he was just kind of...passing through. He'd still hang out with the gang at Grillby's, still smile and crack jokes and abuse the hell out of his tab, and occasionally he'd even spot a cute monster across the bar, and very occasionally they'd even look back at him and smile. And just for a second, Sans would think hmm, maybe – but then he'd remember, and turn away again.

He tried not to wonder if any of it could ever have been something more – maybe it was, somewhere in another universe or timeline, one where he had good friends and people he wasn't afraid to care about. But Sans remembered – he didn't remember who, or when, or how, but he knew deep in his soul that once there'd been someone, someone else who mattered. Somehow, he'd lost them, and maybe he'd never remember what happened, but he knew somewhere back when he'd promised himself that he wasn't going to let it happen again.

(After that, Sans promised he wasn't going to make any more promises, even to himself. And then he broke that promise, but hey, pobody's nerfect.) 

Somewhere along the line, though, that had started to change. Things started to get...well, real again, when he'd go back to Snowdin Forest and knock on the door, and not only was Door Lady still there, she remembered him, and the corny jokes they'd told yesterday, and the day before that. And then Door Lady became Toriel, and Toriel was something he'd never counted on seeing in any timeline: their queen, standing protectively in front of her child, her human child, with her arms outstretched and fire blazing in her hands and her eyes. Something about seeing her then, for the first time, made Sans want to try harder, do better, not give up. Like maybe that happy ending everyone dreamed of, the one he hadn't believed in as far back as he could remember – maybe, if they all tried hard enough, they could actually make it happen.

And now they were free – at least in theory. They hadn't had a reset in a long time, and maybe that didn't make the creeping dread that it could all disappear at any moment completely go away, but Sans had to admit it sure made it a lot easier to deal with, seeing everyone so happy on the surface. Now he didn't have to worry whether Papyrus would come back when he announced he was heading out on patrol (which now really just meant "hanging out with Undyne") and he could just take it easy – so pretty much the same as he did in the Underground, but just better. Especially now, when Toriel's name flashed up on his phone and he felt that long-missing flicker of intrigue as he reached for it.

The text read: "help"

That got Sans' attention, as he bolted upright from where he'd been sprawled on the couch, but before he could reply another text came up: "helo Sand".

Then: "srdty I mesan".

Sans frowned down at his phone, about to text back something like you ok tori, until Toriel's smiling face filled the screen as it started to vibrate and sing: "Spooky scary skeletons send shi-"

He took the call. "Hey, Tori. What's going on?"

"Hello, Sans!" She didn't sound like she was in any immediate danger. "I am sorry about those texts. I was trying to say 'hello', not 'help'! I hope I did not worry you?"

Sans smiled with relief, relaxing back on the sofa. "Nah, Tori, it's cool. Just glad to hear you're okay."

"Oh yes, thank you, I am quite well! Well, except for this phone..." Toriel sighed, her frustration audible. "You see, I wanted to text Frisk to ask how their school trip is going. But I just cannot seem to make the right words appear! The letters are too close, or perhaps my hands are just too big." After a pause, she continued, hopefully: "Alphys did say she would modify it for me, but she is not working today. If you and Papyrus are not too busy, then I don't suppose you might be able to...?"

 "Sure, Tori, anything you need – I mean, Pap's out, but I'm pretty much always here." Sans must have been more bored than he realised, because that came out way more quickly than he meant it to. "Want me to come over and take a look?"

"Oh, would you? Thank you so much, Sans – you are a lifesaver! Is that how they say it? No, please, you relax and I will come to you. I have always been quite curious to see inside your house anyway," she added with a light giggle. "In that case, I shall see you soon!"

"No problem – see ya." Sans glanced around the room as he hung up – they'd been over to Toriel's for dinner a few times, and he felt a little bad that they'd never returned the favour, but you know, he also wanted her to live. He just about had time to kick most of the mountain of dirty socks under the sofa before three familiar, expectant knocks sounded at the door.

As Toriel stepped inside, greeting him with a warm smile, Sans couldn't help but think how weird it was seeing the queen in their house – and yet somehow also totally natural, like she'd been coming round her entire life as she looked around.

"Oh, so this is your house! What a lovely little place. I would say it suits the two of you down to the bone." Toriel shot him a sly wink, and Sans smirked back with a nod of approval as she glanced down at the rock on the table, which was liberally sprinkled with chocolate drops. "And is this...your dinner...?"

"Nope, that's Roxie. She's kind of my pet – Papyrus usually feeds her when I forget to," Sans explained. "Which is always, because she's a rock and doesn't actually need food. But, y'know, I think he secretly likes the responsibility." 

"Naturally." Toriel nodded like it made perfect sense, and she actually petted the rock. "Hello, Roxie. How lovely to meet you – I am glad to hear you are being properly cared for."

"Heh." Sans smiled, watching Toriel pet Roxie carefully with one finger – he couldn't remember when or where he'd picked her up, but Roxie had somehow become one of the more reliable things in his life. If he woke up and she was still on the table, covered with whatever they had in the fridge, he knew something had gone right, so it was nice to see her getting so much attention. "You know, Tori, I think she likes you.”

"Oh, you do?" Toriel beamed down at Roxie as though she expected her to jump up and lick her. "The feeling is mutual! And I am sorry for implying you would eat such an important family member," she added, looking back at Sans with a wry smile. "I just wondered if perhaps skeletons ate rocks."

"I mean, personally, I don't have the stomach for it," he shrugged, and was rewarded with a snort of laughter as he sat back on the couch and patted the space next to him. "So, you wanna figure out your phone?"

"Ah, yes, of course." Toriel took her place next to him, denting the cushions a little so Sans slightly fell against her side as she held her phone out to show him. "I try to text, but as you can see..."

Sans nodded along as Toriel prodded at the keypad inelegantly with her thumbs, spelling out nonsense words. He was suddenly very aware of his bare tibia touching Toriel's leg where his shorts ended – did she always feel this warm? They'd probably just never sat this close before; actually, it had been a while since they'd hung out without Frisk or Papyrus or anyone else between them. Not that it was exactly unpleasant – she smelled faintly of cinnamon, the tip of her left ear brushing his skull as she attempted to spell out Frisk's name, and he kind of wanted to fall asleep against her, just lean back into all that soft, warm fur...

"...do you think so, Sans?"

"Huh?" Sans blinked, snapping back to reality as Toriel looked down at him expectantly, and he flashed her a sheepish smile, hoping he hadn't zoned out for too long. "Oh, uh – sure, Tori, I see the problem. Hmm, maybe try using your claws?"

"My claws?"

"Like this – uh, here, let me..." Sans reached out and took one of her hands, gently moving it to each letter so she tapped it with just the tip of her claws. Her smile widened as, with Sans' help, the words started to appear on the screen.

"Oh, yes, that is much better! Why did I not think of this sooner?" Toriel didn't move her hand from Sans' as she took it off the phone, grabbing it in a grateful squeeze that sent an unexpected – but not unpleasant – tingle of electricity through his bones. "Thank you, Sans! Now I will just text Frisk, and..."

She started texting – very slowly, frowning down at her phone as she tapped out the words, the small pink tip of her tongue sticking out with concentration. Sans inclined his head towards her to watch as she tapped lightly, then again harder when the first letter didn't appear, and then harder on the 'delete' button when the original letter came through three times. 

"Tori, you know what?" he interrupted, after it had stopped being cute and the wait was bordering on painful, and she was still only on the third word. "Why don't I text Frisk for you this time – you just tell me what to write. Might just be a little faster."

He hoped he hadn't offended her or anything, but Toriel nodded eagerly as she handed him the phone. "Yes, perhaps that might be for the best," she admitted with a sheepish grin. "I am several hundred years behind the times, after all. But indeed, I have always believed it is never too late to learn!" She cleared her throat. "Okay, how about: 'Dear Frisk'...no, perhaps that is too formal?"

Sans started to type "hey frisk" as a kind of compromise, but Toriel immediately shook her head. 

"Proper capitalisation, please! You are setting a bad example for the child," she scolded him, but with a playful twinkle in her eye. "Perhaps this, then: 'Hello, Frisk! This is Toriel. I hope you are enjoying your field trip to the human ruins. Remember to wrap up warm and eat your lunch pack! I have included an extra slice of pie in case you want to share with your friends, as well as some dried snails in case you are hungry later on. See you soon! Love, Toriel. Happy face.'"

"Got it." Sans finished tapping out the message as she spoke – capitalisation and all – and showed it to her. "This okay?"

"That is wonderful! Except, hmm...could you possibly make the face look a bit more like me? I want it to feel like I am actually there, smiling at Frisk." 

She smiled at him as if to demonstrate, and Sans was pretty sure there was no symbol that could express how it felt to be the focus of that smile, those wide, bright eyes sparkling with joy as though he was her favourite person in the world – even if that was really for Frisk – so he just grinned back and added a '}:-)' to the end. "How's that?"

She peered over his shoulder to look, then nodded in satisfaction. "Why, the resemblance is uncanny! Thank you, Sans. I am truly grateful for your help."

Toriel pulled him into a hug he hadn't quite been anticipating, so Sans ended up kind of falling into her arms, his face pressed dangerously close to her chest for a second before he scrambled upright, shuffling onto his knees on the couch so he could return the hug at a more respectable level, placing his arms around her shoulders and awkwardly patting her back, hoping she didn't notice how blue his face was turning. "N...no problem, Tori. Anytime."

"You must let me repay you," she insisted when they separated. "Perhaps, as you have taught me how to text, I could show you how to bake sometime? Papyrus told me about your famous, ah, 'sweet quiche'."

"He did?" Thanks, bro. "Seriously, Tori, you don't have to do that. It was nothing – what are friends for, right?"

"Indeed – and surely, friends cannot let friends bake sweet quiches, can they not?"

Sans laughed. "It was a pie. Or...pie-like. Maybe a pie's second cousin twice removed, or something like that. But fine, you've twisted my arm – I guess I could stand to bone up on my cooking skills."

Her face lit up. "Well, it would be my pleasure to provide you with a...tu-Toriel." Sans could tell she'd been waiting all day to bust that one out , judging by how proud she looked when he pointed an approving finger-gun at her. "In that case, I shall text you! Or...perhaps I could call you some time?" Toriel's smile softened at the edges, fading into something a little more wistful. "This may sound foolish of me, and of course I wouldn't trade the freedom we have now for anything, but...I do miss the Ruins, sometimes. And all those days we used to sit telling jokes through the door, before all of this. I hope you will not think this strange, but – it would be nice, to talk again sometime. Like we used to."

"Those were the days, huh?" Sans had seen a lot of different futures, but whenever he thought about it, this one still got him. It was still hard to believe sometimes it was real – but at the same time, he felt more real, more alive than he could ever remember back in the Underground. "Tori, we're buddies – you can call me anytime. Hey, if you want, I'll come sit outside your door and tell knock-knock jokes, just like the old days."

Toriel giggled. "Well, I would not go that far. Of course you are always welcome at my door, but now I think I would prefer you tell them inside, where it is warm, with me."

Right then, Sans couldn't think of anywhere he'd rather be. "Sure, Tori – whatever floats your goat," he said with a wink, and she snorted again, clasping her hands together in delight.

"Oh, that is a good one! I must remember it to tell Frisk later," she exclaimed, flashing her teeth in a final, dazzling smile that Sans couldn't help but return as he walked her the short distance to the door. "Goodbye, Sans. I will see you soon!"

"Bye, Tori. Text responsibly, okay?"

He stayed there for a moment after she'd shut the door, already grinning to himself thinking about baking with her and how she was just so...so Toriel, with her kind eyes and her bright smile and her amazing laugh. How she still laughed just as hard at all their terrible jokes as the first time, and the easy, natural way she'd lean her head against Sans' when they laughed or place a reassuring hand on his shoulder, and he'd feel her warmth right through his bones. And how everything just seemed...brighter when she was around, like just seeing her smile was enough to make him feel that maybe, this time, everything really was going to be okay. Like maybe he was...

...oh.

Oh no.

"Welp, girl," he sighed out loud, reaching out for Roxie on the table and running his fingers over the same spot Toriel had touched earlier, absent-mindedly flicking a few chocolate drops off her head and watching them fall to the floor, "looks like we're boned."

But Sans was still smiling, and he hated it.

[displacer-beasts]

#and apparently the bottles in the front yard are gone too?? good job old man#finding purpose in your life and stuff#but yeah just kicking out demons with a broom#“did you forget to reset your protection spells while you were gone”#“there were demons in your flour sacks”

Oh wow that's actually something answered in the Book of Lorath! Neyrelle stopped by Lorath's house before setting off on her journey and poured out all the bottles and left him a letter. She says she 'doesn't want him to fall into bad habits.'

The demons are also probably a side effect of her visit since she's carrying Mephisto's soulstone. That's so cool that Blizzard made the game reflect the events of the book.

I enjoy that you can go back to Lorath's cabin while he's chilling with his Horse at Firebrand Manor and just... Do Pest Control 🤔