#(ta da

[tinykittygardencat]

ta dah - here iz tiny me

[emtrobarasalaplatja3]

[animanightmate]

Today I learned that the French term for ADHD is Trouble De l'Attention et Hyperactivité.

Yep. The French call the condition

Ta-DAH!

I'm furious and tickled pink at the same time. Outrageous.

[skyward-floored]

Whumptober 2024 Masterlist

Here's the list of fics so far this year, I'll try and keep this updated as I go! And as always, you can read all of these on ao3.

Day 1 - (Race against the clock, panic attack) feat. Wild & Twilight

Day 2 - (Role reversal) feat. Wind & Legend

Day 3 - ((bloody) fingerprints) feat. Warriors & Time

Day 4 - (Hallucinations, “You’re still alive in my head”) feat. Wild, Sky, Twilight and Warriors

Day 5 - (Sunburn, heatstroke) feat. Four & Hyrule

Day 6 - (Healed wrong, “it’s not my blood”) feat. Legend

Day 7 - (Only for emergencies, magic with a cost) feat. Time & Legend

Day 8 - (sleep deprivation, forced to stay awake) feat. Sky & Warriors

Day 9 - (Broken window) feat. Wind & others

Day 10 - (Passing out from pain) feat. Hyrule

Day 11 - (Seeing double) feat. Wild & ...Wild

Day 12 - ("Just a little more", (starvation)) feat. Warriors and Sky continuation of day 8

Day 13 - (Multiple whumpees (familial curse)) feat. Twilight & everyone

Day 14 - (Shivering (left for dead)) feat Hyrule & Wild

Day 15 - (Moment of clarity (childhood trauma)) - feat. Wind & Four

Day 16 - (Swamp, "No, I can't feel anything") feat. Hyrule & Time (+ others)

Day 17 - (Venom, “we had a good run”) feat. Sky, Twilight, & Warriors

Day 18 - (Revenge) feat. Legend & everyone continuation of day 10

Day 19 - (Blood trail, abandoned cabin) feat. Four, Wild, & the Colors

Day 20 - (Emotional angst, Shoulder to Cry On, Giving Permission to Die, “It’s not your fault.”) feat. Time, Malon, & Epona

Day 21 - (Spirit possession) feat. Wind & Sky

Day 22 - (Bleeding through bandages, "oh that's not good") feat. Time & Twilight

Day 23 - (Forced choice, secrets revealed, (public display)) feat. Warriors & Legend

Day 24 - (Equipment failure) feat. Four & the colors (Vio)

Day 25 - (Surgery) feat. Wild & Time

Day 26 - (Nightmare, regret) feat. Legend & Hyrule (everyone) continuation of days 10 and 18

Day 27 - (Voiceless, "I have no mouth and I must scream") feat. Wind + others

Day 28 (No-holds-barred beatdown, exposure, used as bait) feat. Twilight & everyone continuation of day 13

Day 29 (Fatigue, “Who said you could rest?”) feat. Warriors & Legend continuation of day 23

Day 30 (Recovery) feat. Twilight & everyone continuation of days 13 and 28

Day 31 (Making amends) feat. Time, Hyrule, Wild and Time

[ahecen]

requiem for the living

3.3k words

botl | angst | rating: T

summary: Percy is alive after Mt St Helens. He and Annabeth talk about it.

“Did you think I was dead?”

“Never.”

“That eulogy said differently.”

He barely heard anything at all. Annabeth was going to say a lot more, though she didn’t know what. Thinking of Percy in the past tense made her stomach twist so uncomfortably that she barely had the first sentence written before she abandoned the speech completely.

read on ao3

[shoujo-dump]

Hotaru no Yomeiri

[eleadore]

omg you are so right about the draco thing. SO RIGHT. like when in fics he becomes the virgin mary martyr version and starts BEGGING on his knees to, for example, ron and hermione, but also to harry, “i’ve been so bad, i’m so sorry, you can spit on me if you want, you’re so much braver and smarter and better than me”. OK NO. i can believe into a redemption arc, but up to a certain point. you can’t make him into someone he’s not.

i mean you actually can and other fic writers can, y’all are amazing and can write anything you want in the world. but it’s a no for me lmao

yeah that's a big no from me and the reason actually has nothing to do with characterization. i just don't want to see groveling in my love stories. it makes me intensely uncomfortable.

with draco and harry specifically, i feel after the end of the books the cards are stacked against draco wrt - family, friends, status, future, etc and i'm not interested in seeing harry who already has the lion's share of the power in this dynamic have even more. it's not compelling.

also draco has done far worse things to other people, so it makes little sense to me to have his redemption centered around whether harry forgives him / harry finds him worthy. forgiveness in general is a tricky concept bc no one's entitled to it no matter how much they repent and work for it, so it can't be the thing you base your growth and self-worth around. that has to come from where you're headed, but still, out of all the people he's hurt... harry's not even near the top of that list

the inverse of "draco needs to be better in order to deserve love" is "harry needs to do shitty things to draco in order to put them on even ground" and another one of my big nopes

[ghosttotheparty]

a mess of holy things (preview) cw: (soft) dom/sub; mentions of god & church; nsfw

“You’ve ruined my spirit,” Steve giggles, dodging Eddie’s hand as it whips out to tap his cheek. “Defiled my soul!”

“Don’t say it like that,” Eddie laughs, snatching a pillow up and hitting Steve with it as Steve laughs, trying to catch it. “Like I’ve corrupted you.”

The word does something to Steve, who falters as he grabs the pillow from Eddie and hits him back. Eddie hides his face, laughing in that way he does, his nose scrunched, eyes squeezed shut. Steve looks at him, hesitating. 

“...What if I’m… Like. Into that?” 

Eddie looks at him, flicking his hair back and raising his eyebrows. Steve’s face flushes with embarrassment, but it fades after a moment when Eddie reaches for the pillow and tosses it aside, pushing Steve back against the armrest of the sofa gently, leaning over him. 

“Well, in that case,” he says slyly, smoothly, leaning down to kiss Steve’s lips chastely. Steve’s chin tilts up, and his eyes flutter for a brief moment. He looks up to find Eddie gazing down at him, eyes shining, lips curved into a small, soft smile, and after another moment Eddie kisses him again, his hand lifting to hold the side of Steve’s face as their lips part. Steve reaches to hold his waist, fingers tightening on the fabric of his shirt.

They’re both panting when they part, lips wet, and Steve opens his eyes to look at him.

“You like that I fucked you up?” Eddie asks softly, and Steve squeezes his eyes shut for a moment, nodding. 

“Yeah,” he says breathlessly. “Yes.”

Eddie smiles at him, caressing his face. 

“I want…” Steve trails off, eyes trained on Eddie’s lips, his heart pounding. Eddie nudges their noses together, still smiling. 

“What do you want, baby boy?” he whispers. “Tell me.”

“I…” Steve shifts, and Eddie lets him sit up, leaning back to sit across from him. Steve looks at the sofa between them, his fingers tangling anxiously. “I want…” He takes a short breath, closing his eyes as he exhales, finding his words. 

“I wanna belong to you,” he says slowly, still looking down, “the way… the— the Church thinks I belong to them.” He pauses, biting his lip, cheeks hot. “That doesn’t make any sense,” he mutters almost to himself, but Eddie interrupts before he can apologize. 

“That makes sense,” he says, his voice light, gentle and quiet. “...Look at me.”

Steve is helpless to obey, lifting his gaze to meet Eddie’s, throat suddenly tight, and Eddie’s expression is soft, head tilted. He reaches out to touch Steve’s cheek, running his fingertips down to his chin to lift it as he leans in to kiss him softly. Steve melts into it, shoulders slumping. 

“You know you don’t have to be ashamed of what you want from me,” Eddie says gently, still holding Steve’s chin. “Right?”

“Yes, sir,” Steve says weakly. Eddie’s smile widens a little. 

“Good boy,” he murmurs. “Now look at me,” he says more firmly. “And tell me what you want.”

His hand falls. 

Steve’s eyes flick back and forth between Eddie’s, and he takes a deep, slow breath, pausing for a moment. His fingers are still tangled in his lap, and he wants to reach out and hold Eddie’s hand, but he can’t make himself reach out to him. 

“I w—” His voice cuts off, and he looks away as he swallows nervously before he meets Eddie’s eyes again. He sees the brief shine of approval in Eddie’s expression, a slight smile and a nod. “I want you to… to remind me that I’m yours.”

He takes another breath, and Eddie waits. 

“And no one else’s,” Steve adds, his voice soft and weak. “…Not even God’s.”

Eddie blinks at him, quiet. 

Steve’s heart is beating so fast it might jump out of his chest, and he can’t really catch his breath, even when he inhales slowly and deeply, it’s like his lungs don’t quite fill all the way. After a moment he realizes Eddie’s eyes are shining like he might start crying, and Steve’s chest tightens even more, aching as he leans a little bit closer, longing to reach out and touch him. 

Eddie beats him to it, hands raising to Steve’s face, holding his cheeks as he leans in and kisses him hard, their mouth crashing together as Steve gasps. It’s a lingering kiss, softening after a moment, and Steve finally touches him, lifting a hand to hold his wrist. 

Eddie presses their foreheads together when they part, breathing hard, and then he lifts his head, looking at Steve. His eyes are still shiny. 

“I want you to go to my room,” he says quietly, firmly, “and get naked. And I want you to wait for me. I’ll be there in a minute, okay?”

“Yes, sir,” Steve breathes, eyes falling to Eddie’s lips as his brain fuzzes. Eddie smiles softly, kissing him again before he lets his hands fall. 

“Go on,” Eddie says, lifting his chin in the direction of the door, and Steve exhales, leaning in to kiss him one more time before he stands shakily and leaves the room. 

His hands shake as he lifts his shirt over his head and folds it before setting it on Eddie’s desk chair. His chest still feels tight, but he can still feel Eddie’s lips on his, Eddie’s hands on his face, Eddie’s whispers ghosting over his skin. And it all makes him feel better. Makes him feel like God isn’t glaring down at him. Makes him feel right. 

He shivers when he’s bare, making sure his clothes stay on the chair before he looks around the room, pausing, unsure of where he should wait. He eyes the bed for a moment; it’s made neatly, the blankets smooth, pillows organized, but after a second his gaze falls to the floor next to it. 

He kneels. 

The wood makes his knees ache, but he sighs in relief, closing his eyes, hands folding over his lap as he waits for Eddie. The skin of his thighs is warmer than his fingertips. 

He opens his eyes when he hears the floor creak outside the bedroom door, a slight shift in weight, and Eddie is coming in, eyes trained on Steve. His hair is tied up now, and his sleeves are pushed up to reveal his inked forearms, and Steve feels his blood rush. Eddie closes the door behind himself like they need privacy from the rest of the apartment, and something about the way he does it makes Steve’s head feel too light for his neck. He exhales slowly, lifting his chin to look up at Eddie as he approaches him. 

Eddie touches his face, holding his chin, sighing softly. 

“Did so well waiting for me,” he murmurs. 

“I like being good for you,” Steve says without thinking, his voice slow and sleepy. Eddie smiles down at him, and then he’s moving down to the floor, kneeling in front of Steve, their knees touching. 

“I know,” he whispers. “‘S why you’re my good boy, right?” Steve is nodding before the last word is even out of Eddie’s mouth, and Eddie’s smile widens, his eyes sparkling. “Always so perfect,” he adds, murmuring, his hands touching Steve’s face. Steve’s eyes close. 

They open when Eddie’s hands disappear from his face, desperately looking for him even though he’s right in front of him. Eddie is pulling off his flannel, eyes downcast, and his shirt rides up his stomach a little bit as he reaches up to set the flannel on the bed. Steve’s eyes get stuck there, gazing at the strip of pale skin, at the whisper of dark hair and the tiny bit of visible ink, and then Eddie’s shirt falls again, hiding it. Steve’s eyes fall to Eddie’s lap, to the bulge under his jeans. His face flushes with heat, with want and something he can’t name. 

He swallows when he finally lifts his gaze to meet Eddie’s. Eddie is looking at him, half-smiling, and Steve feels even more bare than he is. He can’t hide the way Eddie is affecting him, not when he’s naked like this. And Eddie’s eyes keep scanning his body, sliding over his spotted skin like he wants to eat it. (Steve would let him probably. Eddie tends to make him feel a little crazy.) His eyes linger on Steve’s lap, and Steve’s cheeks burn with shame. 

Eddie’s smile grows and he moves close. Reaches to touch Steve’s face with a feather-light touch that makes Steve close his eyes, makes him turn his face into Eddie’s hand. But Eddie’s hand doesn’t linger, slipping over his throat teasingly, over his neck, to the back of his head, where it buries itself in Steve’s hair and tightens. Steve’s breath catches in his throat as Eddie pulls gently. Steve’s vision blurs when he opens his eyes, looking at Eddie’s face longingly as Eddie leans closer.

His voice is quiet, dangerous, tender, when he whispers, his breath on Steve’s face. 

“Do I tempt you, Steve Harrington?”

And Steve nods dumbly, eyes stuck on Eddie’s mouth, lips parted. 

“Yes. I…” He shivers when Eddie traces a line over his jaw with his other hand, then a line on his cheek, connecting two moles that Steve knows are there, that he knows Eddie looks at a lot. “I want you.”

Eddie leans closer, and their lips brush, and Steve keens, closing his eyes as he aches with it, with the desire. It’s in his bones, hot and molten, making him melt against Eddie’s body, falling against his chest, and Steve knows his own heart is pounding, but now he knows Eddie’s is too, and he suppresses a smile when their lips brush again. Eddie’s fingers tighten in his hair. It hurts. But Steve just sighs, lifting his head into Eddie’s hand, and the next words that come from his throat are weak and breathy and fucking desperate.

“I need you.”

-----

Steve is from a small town; less than 3,000 people, and he's been lonely all his life. When he leaves for college, his parents warn him against the heathens of the rest of the world, but his eyes find someone interesting, someone his parents would hate, hide from, pray for. And Steve finds that he can't really bring himself to care what they'd think. As his faith fades, so does his loneliness, and something else takes their place.

permanent taglist: @estrellami-1 @theplantscientist <3 (comment to be added to permanent taglist or taglist for this specific fic when i start posting it)

[amethyst-crowns]

anyone watch Saltburn?

[arthursfuckinghat]

His back against the earth, cushioned by grass, oh how much Arthur longed for stars above to reach out and ask,

"What do you yearn for?"

He envisions their silent presence, with all burdens they store.

Perhaps they have a haven where his secrets sleep, only to be awoken when the yearning's deep.

But with no stars to ask, his heart remained back, tucked away in the confines of inked pages, bound by leather and secrecy.

𑁦𐂂𑁦

[year2000electronics]

If you can’t make it in Luxgoode’s casinos, most people will tell you it’s time to pack it up and go… but there are some who don’t listen. Every big city has a dark underbelly, and Luxgoode is no exception. It’s a lawless land of people trying to get by in other ways that aren’t gambling. Ring pop salesmen, bounty hunters, you name it… the self-appointed “Queen” of the underbelly is, of course, Barb. Ruthless and wicked, Barb’s a bit of a double-edged sword… she can help you out, so long as you make it worth her while. She’s also the reason JD wears a mask around Luxgoode- she gave him that nasty scar while trying to hunt down his bounty.

[moonymelly]

HEY YOUUUU YES YOUUUUU

YA WANNA MAKE BIGGERLER ACCURATE ART OR WHATEVER YOU WANNA DO??

WELLLLLL

HERES THE BRUSH IVE BEEN USING FOR HIS BLOG!! IDK!! TA DA!!

[julesart04]

Jegulus Spiderman kiss!! ☀️✨🕸️

[skyward-floored]

Little tiny fic with Eveni (Midlink kiddo) and Link who’s refusing to admit he’s depressed!!

(Spoilers for true form AU if anyone even cares)

So this is after Midna leaves. Link is still a mess, he’s refusing to work through his issues, and he can’t stay in Ordon because it just feels too stifling and small. So he leaves, and wanders around with Eveni for a while, apart from the occasional issue Zelda needs his help with.

————————————————————

Link trudges up to Zelda’s quarters, boots tapping on the stones the way they always do. His stomach growls loudly as he ascends, and Link sighs, ignoring the twist in his middle. He hasn’t eaten anything since before he cleared out the monsters by Lake Hylia early this morning, and it’s nearly dark out now.

Fortunately he just has to hand his report of the incident to the princess, and then he can go figure out something to eat.

And pick up Eveni, of course.

Link shakes his head to himself as he continues to climb, still a bit in disbelief at what had happened. He’d been... more than surprised when the Queen herself had offered to watch his son while he took care of the monster infestation. The kingdom’s knights hadn’t gotten anywhere in eradicating the beasts, and Zelda had asked for Link’s assistance, which he’d easily agreed to, and he’d been prepared to take Eveni along as usual.

Zelda had looked at him in disbelief when she’d realized he was going to bring his son, but it wasn’t like he was going to take Eveni into battle with him. He was used to traveling around with a toddler, and he’d done this several times, tucking Eveni securely on Epona’s back, and sending the two of them plenty far away from the fighting.

And he hadn’t wanted to leave Eveni so far out of his reach.

“Link, he’ll be far safer here,” Zelda had said gently when he’d declined. “I know you have your methods, but you’re still taking Eveni into a battle. If you leave him here you won’t have to spend your energy worrying about him, and I’ll need your report of what happened afterwards anyway. If he stays here, you don’t have to make any extra stops for him. You can merely come back here when you’ve finished, and then go as soon as you’d like. I know you don’t prefer to linger around town.”

The queen was right of course, (was she ever not?), and Link had hesitantly agreed. He’d gone on his way, but not after a long goodbye, and a tight hug for his son.

He’d never been away from Eveni for such a long period of time before, and found himself hurrying as he trodded up the stairs, worried thoughts drifting past his mind.

Yet... he wasn’t too worried.

Something about knowing Eveni was with the woman who’d helped him shoot arrows at the incarnation of hatred itself did help ease his mind. Other than his family and the folks in the Resistance, Zelda was someone he trusted above all else, even if their relationship was a bit awkward at times. Partially because of her character and how she was his friend-acquaintance-occasional-employer, but also in part due to an innate sense that he could trust her with his life, and he’d follow her anywhere.

...That was probably just the triforce connection though.

Link nods at a guard as he reaches the Queen’s quarters, and enters her rooms with a knock. An orange head shoots up in attention the moment he passes through the door, and Link can’t help the swell of relief at the sight of his son, safe and sound.

“Papa!” Eveni squeals, toddling over to him and waving his ever-present stuffed cat. Link hurried over and scoops up Eveni in a tight hug, noting Zelda standing up from where she was seated nearby. Eveni nestles up to him, and Link gives his head a kiss.

“Hey buddy, me and Epona missed you today. You have a good time?” Link asks with a smile, lifting Eveni and eliciting another happy squeal. His son laughs and squeezes Link’s neck, nearly choking him, but he merely adjusts him so he can breathe better.

Then he shifts his attention to Zelda, and gives her as much of a respectful bow as he can with a toddler clinging to his neck.

“Thank you, your majesty. I hope he wasn’t any trouble.”

“He was wonderful, Link. No thanks are needed, I was glad to spend some time with him again,” Zelda says with a faint smile. “He’s gotten so big since he lived here. I barely recognize him.”

Link’s smile dims at her words, the reminder of the brief time he and Midna stayed at the castle after Eveni was born still painful. It truly was one of the happiest times of his life, but the memories are more bittersweet now than anything.

Fortunately he’s gotten rather good at not letting it show.

“Yeah. He’s shooting up like a weed these days,” Link replies, looking down at his son. “Growing faster than I can handle sometimes.”

Eveni’s still clinging to his neck, but when he catches Link looking at him, smiles widely, and waves his cat around.

“Elda read! Oggy oggy!” he babbles excitedly, and Link looks over at Zelda to see if she has any clue what he’s talking about.

“I read him a bit of a tale with a wolf in it, he was quite enraptured,” she said, the same faint smile playing around her lips. “I suppose it runs in the family.”

Link almost rolls his eyes before he remembers it’s the Queen of Hyrule he’s talking to, and quickly refrains. He may know Zelda pretty well, but he at least tries to keep his manners in check.

So instead, he reaches in his pouch for the report he’d quickly scribbled up about the monster situation, and hands it over to the Queen.

“Everything went well,” he says simply, avoiding Eveni’s waving hands. “The road is passable again, monsters won’t be taking residence on the bridge again anytime soon.”

“That’s wonderful news Link, you have my thanks,” Zelda says gratefully, taking his letter. “Those bokoblins were causing all sorts of problems, and nobody seemed to be getting anywhere in removing them.”

“Well they shouldn’t cause any more problems now,” Link says, unable to stop the satisfaction from leaking into his voice.

He stretches his arm a little, grimacing when an ache ripples up his elbow. He hadn’t been seriously injured at all, but he had been hit by a few clubs, and they weren’t severe enough to merit use of a potion. There would doubtless be multiple bruises coloring his skin tomorrow.

“May I offer you a seat?” Zelda says when she notices the face he’s making, and Link hesitates, then nods, the thought of sitting a welcome one.

“Just for a little while,” he relents, and settles on one of Zelda‘s chairs with a small sigh of relief. He hadn’t realized quite how tired he was until he’d sat down.

Eveni shifts so he’s in his lap instead of clinging to his neck, and starts talking about Zelda again. Link listens to him as he recounts his day, mostly understanding his babbling words. Zelda does as well, and occasionally chimes in with an explanation of something that doesn’t quite translate.

But eventually Eveni’s chatter trails off, replaced with sleepy yawns, and Link looks out the window, the first few stars beginning to twinkle in the sky.

“It’s getting late,” he hums, and Zelda nods, setting down the tea she’d been sipping at.

She’s about to reply, but then his stomach lets out a horrendous gurgle of hunger, cutting her off and making Link flush with embarrassment.

“Link... did you forget to pack any rations?” Zelda asks in a stern voice, and Link shrinks under her stare. There’s a spark of amusement in her eyes when his stomach growls again, but she’s still giving him that look. “You were out all day Link, you can’t just not eat.”

“I ate breakfast,” he points out, ignoring the fact that said breakfast was a single piece of fruit. Zelda sighs as his stomach gurgles even louder.

“And obviously nothing since. Seeing as you’ve already here, I suppose you could... join me for dinner?” Zelda suggests, and Link pauses. “You and Eveni. You can take some time to rest and eat, and you can tell me of your eradication of the monsters at Lake Hylia yourself, and I can skip the report. If you’d like to of course,” she adds on, almost a little hurriedly.

“We really ought to be going...” Link trails off, and while Zelda doesn’t say anything, she knows just as well as he does that he has absolutely nowhere he needs to be.

He’s just... not in the habit of sitting around and talking to people anymore.

He looks down at Eveni where he’s nestled in his lap, a thumb in his mouth. Eveni’s head is resting on his shoulder, and his eyes are starting to close, but he’s still awake for now, and smiles when he sees Link looking at him.

“Papa hungy?” he asks with a tug on his collar, and Link smiles.

“Yeah, papa is hungry. And I bet you are too,” he says as he pokes his tummy, and Eveni giggles.

His son nestles up to his arms again without replying, and Link looks over at Zelda, still patiently awaiting his answer.

He’d planned to be out of here as quickly as possible; merely drop off his report, pick up Eveni, and be on his way. Avoid unpleasant memories and people he doesn’t want to talk to or answer probing questions from. Go back to wandering Hyrule just like before.

And yet.

Sitting here with Eveni secure in his arms, talking with Zelda and for once not having to worry about his son’s safety...

He doesn’t... want to leave.

He meets Zelda’s eyes, a shade of blue some might call cold (he knows better, he’s seen them light up with a warmth as bright as a summer’s day), and breaths out, giving her a hesitant smile.

“That would be wonderful, Zelda.”

[loganslowdown4]

Logan: There are 10 types of people in the world. Those that understand binary code and those that don’t.

Patton:

Virgil:

Roman:

Patton: Did you just make a joke?

Roman: *starts giggling*

Virgil: *smirks* Didn’t think you had it in you, L.

Logan: Wait, you all understood why it was funny?

Roman: Well yeah, Teach, we understand what binary code is. *keeps smiling at him*

Patton: We’re so proud of you!

Logan: Oh.. uh, thank you. It’s… it’s nice to be understood. *smiles*

Virgil: Wow.

Roman: *whispering* Is this your influence?

Patton: Nope. This is all him. *getting teared up*

[mushroompollution]

Jabberwock

part one || part two

Day One:

Leo stands in that open field, fists clenched, weight rested on one foot. He takes a deep breath.

"Now remember," Vincent instructs. "Your voice is going to have to punch through reality to reach Abyss. So you're really going to have to give it your all."

"i know," Leo grumbles.

"You're usually pretty softspoken, so--"

"i said i know!!" Leo snaps. He takes another deep breath.

Another.

He unclenches his fists and then balls them again.

Another deep breath.

He raises his knee to stomp his foot, digging his heel into the soft grass with determination as he shouts its name.

"JABB-ER-rrr-- wock..."

Though his voice starts strong, he quickly falters, his confidence fading as his volume does. There's a long stretch of silence, before he buries his face in his hands and ruffled sleeves.

"Mas-- Mmllllll-- Leo!" Vincent calls. "Are you okay?"

"No!!!" Leo's response is muffled. "i got embarrassed."

"......What???""

Leo looks up suddenly, starry eyes narrowed and cheeks red. "i said i got embarrassed!!!!"

Day Three:

Their trek through the forest to the house had brought them briefly through a limestone canyon. Leo recalled being awed not only by its splendor, but by the stillness along that trail. His interview with Vincent had paused, their voices reduced to hushed whispers while they passed through.

Now, Leo stands in the depths of that canyon. His shouting, screaming, and begging echo off those massive stone walls, building into a cacophony that leaves the canyon feeling eerie as stillness seeps in once again.

As they hike back, Leo decides he really hates the outdoors.

Day Four:

Leo wakes to an awful, raw burning in his throat.

Vincent is terrible at making tea.

Really. What kind of lazy, spoiled rat can't make tea?

Day Six:

"A mirror could work," Vincent suggests. "Black mirrors are used for Pandora's Carceres because it imitates the Abyss. I don't know if there's a way to create something like that, but any old mirror could work.... Maybe?"

imitates the Abyss, huh?

if it's a mirror anyway--

Leo stands suddenly and marches into the bathroom. As he slams one palm down on the counter, he uses the other to push back his bangs. The counter presses into his gut as he locks eyes with the person he hates the very most in that moment. Forcing himself to look past the dancing lights, deep into the shifting clouds of violet and indigo, he screams its name until he's spitting out blood.

Day Eight:

His throat hurts again.

He doesn't feel like eating.

Day Nine:

He hits Vincent a little harder than he means to. For just a second, he sees that same hateful, ice cold look in those red and gold eyes and thinks

do it. please.

But once the brief flash of malice passes, Vincent just smiles that fake, digusting smile.

Leo hits him again.

Day Ten:

Leo braces himself against the bathroom counter, blood dripping from his knuckles. He sobs as the shame of his latest impulsive mistake sets in.

The shards of his hopes crunch under his feet along with the shattered mirror.

Day Eleven:

He doesn't get out of bed.

Day Thirteen:

Christmas Day. A fact the two realize with heavy hearts. Though the holiday had never really meant much to either of them before, it still stings to realize.

Would Elliot get to have a nice evening with his family, at least?

Leo sits in the window sill, watching snow fall outside. They had decided not to try today. To take it easy. Leo's voice is still hoarse, anyway.

There's a quiet knock on the doorway behind him, and Leo slowly turns just enough to see Vincent holding a bottle of brown liquor.

"It's a holiday, we might as well have a toast," he offers. When Leo doesn't respond, he tries again. "A little whiskey can soothe the throat, you know."

After a moment, Leo sighs and rolls out of his seat in the window.

Leo looks suspiciously at the glass in his hand while Vincent gets a fire going. "I wouldn't poison you," Vincent chuckles, moving to join the other on the couch, a surprisingly respectable distance away.

And so, with a little help from the bottle, the two begin to talk about the things they could never tell anyone else in their lives.

Most of Leo's story is out there already. The lights, the whispers, his mother, and that orphanage. As he talks about that rainy day, when those kids had wandered into the crater and he had made the fateful decision to prolong Elliot's life against his own knowledge, Leo begins to cry.

It's an annoying sound, that makes Vincent finish off his drink.

He wants to excuse himself. He's never known what to do when someone else cries. It always makes him want to torture someone, to give them something to really cry about.

Instead, he pours another as he starts to talk as well.

He tells Leo about his life before, over one hundred years ago. He and Gilbert had been abandoned by their parents and ostracized from society, stealing and humiliating themselves to survive. All because of Vincent's damn red eye. A Child of Misfortune, he had been dubbed.

It was all his fault that Gilbert had suffered.

It was all his fault that they had gone to live at the Baskerville estate.

So, it was all his fault that Gilbert had been chosen as the next Glen.

And it was all his fault that the Abyss opened up its great maw and swallowed the city of Sablier, too.

"unbelievable," Leo says quietly. "you're just like me."

Vincent wears an uncharacteristically vulnerable expression as he turns a confused look toward his sworn master.

"your very existence hurt the person you love most."

In that moment, Vincent isn't sure what he's feeling.

"is that why you want me to erase your existence?" Leo asks.

Vincent makes a strange sound, some kind of choked little laugh. "Of course," he looks down at his glass as he speaks. "That's why I've spent my entire adult life ensuring that no one will miss me, or grieve me. No one mourns the wicked, right?" He pauses to glance at Leo with a sad smile.

"If I'm despised enough, if I'm withdrawn enough, if I never have a life to live in the first place, then I can't possibly change my mind. I've made sure there's nothing else for me. Because none of it will matter when I'm gone, and my brother can live the happy life he always should have."

"that's stupid."

Leo's blunt response leaves him dumbfounded.

"i already gave you my word. if that's what you really want, then i'll do whatever i can to make the Will of the Abyss erase your existence. but i think it's stupid. and Elliot would, too."

"Elliot will hate me when he finds out who I am."

Leo goes quiet for a moment, watching the fire.

"you might be surprised. he's not like us. he's a really good person."

Their conversation winds down as the fire does too, and Leo finds himself dozing off against the taller man's shoulder.

Day Fourteen:

Leo's throat feels better. But they decide to give it another day's rest.

Day Sixteen:

Maybe they should talk about what happens if they're wrong.

Maybe they can't break through. Maybe no one will find them here. Maybe this is the rest of their lives: a quiet lakehouse in the middle of nowhere, well fed and inebriated in the quiet serenity of nature.

No lights.

No whispers.

No ghosts.

Maybe that wouldn't be so bad.

After all, there are contingency plans in place. That last resort. That enchanted earring, and that magic crystal. If they can really save him from the brink of death, then Elliot should be safe.

Right?

If their precious leader is trapped in another world, then it won't matter if the Baskervilles break those Sealing Stones or not. They'll have no purpose, no direction, no reason to drag the world into Abyss.

Right?

Day Eighteen:

Vincent watches from a window as Leo sits alone on the edge of the lake, knees hugged to his chest. A thin layer of ice coats the surface of the water, reflecting a black, starless, new moon sky. It feels hollow, like the darkness of the void threatening to swallow him whole.

Suddenly, Leo stands.

His heart pounds in his chest as he stares out at the black, still water before him.

Black mirrors are used to imitate the Abyss.

Leo takes several steps back.

All he's ever wanted was a simple life.

Somewhere peaceful and quiet.

Surrounded by nature, with lots of interesting places to sit and read.

but not like this.

Not here.

Not when Elliot is still in danger.

Leo clenches his fists and takes one more step back.

And then, he runs.

One foot in front of the other, he runs faster than he ever has before. Across the grass, down the little dock with no hesitation.

He summons all the strength, all the wind inside his tired little lungs as he leaps.

"JABBERWOCK-----!!!!"

He crashes easily through the thin ice, plunging deep, deep into the depths. As those dark waters fill his mouth, they taste like blood and feel like chains wrapping round his throat.

He doesn't know how to swim.

It doesn't matter.

He forces open his eyes, only to find the piercing white eyes of the beast staring back at him.

More of those chains bind him, wrapping each wrist, tight enough he swears he feels them break skin.

He doesn't flinch.

His delicate hands clench into fists, grabbing hold of the chains that bind him. He feels the cold metal bite into his palms as he pulls them toward him, even as his body desperately fights and struggles to stay alive.

He has to save Elliot.

He has to at least try.

His name is Leo, the current Glen Baskerville

and he will not die here.

Vincent had come running outside the moment he realized what was about to happen. Now, he kneels at the end of the little dock, calling Leo's name over and over in desperation. Does that little bookworm know how to swim? Because he doesn't.

His panic builds and builds as the waters calm and the bubbles cease.

No.

"No, you can't leave me here," Vincent gasps. "You promised. Please, please, please, ohhh Leo, come on, you have to erase me, please--"

Suddenly, those waters errupt.

The great, black dragon bursts from below the surface, sending a pillar of water crashing around Vincent on the dock. He watches in awe as it soars straight up, climbing higher and higher until it disappears against the darkness of the new moon sky.

Then, it dives at lightning speed. Vincent has no time to react as he's swept up by one of the dragon's massive claws and dragged into the cold, black Abyss.

Black water spills from the towering Gate, depositing the two on a cold, stone floor. Leo coughs and sputters helplessly, gasping as his lungs struggle to function. As he manages to push himself up to his knees, he can feel those ghosts surround him again. They stare down at him, their watchful eyes narrowed in hostile disapproval, their shadows threatening to drown him again.

"--eo! Leo!" The voice calling his name seems so far away. Leo jumps as a hand grabs his shoulder. Though the ghosts disappear from his sight, he can still feel their gaze beneath his skin.

"Are you okay, Leo?!"

Leo looks up at a soggy Vincent through his soaking bangs, his breath still labored. He doesn't answer. Instead, he looks past the other man, trying to take in his surroundings. A large, round chamber, with a towering high ceiling and walls lined with ornate pillars and arches, with only darkness beyond. All obscured by those glistening, golden lights.

"wh-where are we...?" his voice comes out hoarse.

"The Baskerville Abyss Gate," Vincent says in breathless wonder. "Leo, you did it."

Leo brings one hand up to his chest. The burning ache had blended in with the pain in his lungs, but now he thinks

that must be the sting of the Incuse.

He allows Vincent to help him to his shaky legs, trembling as the cold air chills his wet body.

"The Baskervilles have a safe house near here. It's inside the crater, so Pandora's men won't find us," Vincent offers, wringing out his own soaking hair. "We can dry off and figure out what to do next. Can you walk?"

Silently, Leo nods. Vincent pauses a moment, a look of something like pity crosses his face, before he turns to lead the way. But as he does, Leo suddenly grabs him by the sleeve.

"Leo?"

Leo hesitates a moment, his face hidden by the long, unruly hair that clings to his face and clothes.

"do you have those scissors on you...?"

Vincent blinks in confusion. "Of course."

"...then. i want you to use them to cut my hair."

Vincent's eyes widen. He reaches out to brush those wet bangs aside, revealing a look of determination in Leo's starry eyes.

"i want to look Elliot in the eye when i tell him what i've done."

Now, Vincent's expression softens into a gentle smile. And, well. He can't refuse an order.

"As you wish."