#*oliver blackwell

[citruswriter]

Hogwarts Masterlist

Hermione Granger 💚

Harry Potter 💛

Ronald Weasley 💛

Ginny Weasley 💚

Fred & George Weasley 💛

Seamus Finnegan 💛

Oliver Wood 💛

Pavarti Patil 💚

Everett Goldhorn 💛

Gregory Goyle 💛

Draco Malfoy 💛/🩷

Vincent Crabbe 💛

Blaise Zabini 💛/🩷

Pansy Parkinson 💚/🩷

Tom Riddle 💛/🩷

Mattheo Riddle 💛/🩷

Theodore Nott 💛/🩷

Lorenzo Berkshire 💛

Adrian Pucey 💛

Lucian Bole 💛/🩷

Padma Patil 💚

Cho Chang 💚

Michael Corner 💛

Luna Lovegood 💚

Neville Longbottom 💛

Rowan Silverthorn 💛/🩷

Cedric Diggory 💛

Lucas Blackwell 💛/🩷

Ernie Macmillan 💛

Anthony Bitterwood 💛

Susan Bones 💚

Aura Silverthorn 💚

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Multiple/Unspecified

Hogwarts Cast + Fancasting + Other Characters - Pt 1

Hogwarts Cast + Fancasting + Other Characters - Pt 2

Hogwarts Cast + Fancasting + Other Characters - Pt 3

Hogwarts Cast + Fancasting + Other Characters - Pt 4

Harry Potter Characters Reacting to You Singing a Song at Them

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Hermione Granger

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Harry Potter

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Ron Weasley

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Ginny Weasley

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Fred & George Weasley

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Seamus Finnegan

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Oliver Wood

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Pavarti Patil

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Everett Goldhorn

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Gregory Goyle

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Draco Malfoy

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Vincent Crabbe

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Blaise Zabini

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Pansy Parkinson

Character Sheet

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Tom Riddle

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Mattheo Riddle

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Theodore Nott

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Lorenzo Berkshire

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Adrian Pucey

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Lucian Bole

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Padma Patil

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Cho Chang

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Luna Lovegood

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Neville Longbottom

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Michael Corner

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Rowan Silverthorn

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Cedric Diggory

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Lucas Blackwell

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Ernie Macmillan

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Anthony Bitterwood

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Susan Bones

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Aura Silverthorn

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Polyamorus Fics

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[goldenboyreturns]

THIS BEACHHEAD EARTH!

[ikemen-trifecta]

I'm very proud of the last one. –Edi

[ciaossu-imagines]

Ikerev & Zombie Apocalypse?

Of course, anon dear! I'm so, so sorry this took forever to get back to you but if you're still reading, I hope you'll enjoy the headcanons I thought of for this AU!

Okay, so we're going into this with me forewarning everyone. By it's very nature, a zombie apocalypse AU is going to get dark, gritty, angsty, and probably a little fucked up and as I love getting the chance to get angsty and dark, you know things might get fucked up here and there with some of these headcanons. If that is not your cup of tea or something you think might bother you, it might be better for you to stop reading.

So now that we have that out of the way, if you're still reading, let's get this all started. So, in my head, this AU is less of an actual alternate universe. I still very much see this set in Cradle, with the same universe existing of Magic and the Magic Tower and the different armies. However, I don't see the armies as still really fighting each other - they are at peace and the Magic Tower, though definitely still shady as fuck and definitely still up to no real good, isn't thought of as an absolute threat. Everything seems good and peaceful and that's part of the real set-up of this AU.

So, to get to the real meat of this AU. So, everything is nice and peaceful. Life seems idyllic. But then things start to change. The Magic Tower, still headed by Amon Jabberwock, is doing what the Magic Tower always does - experimenting with the Magic Crystals, seeing what can be done with them. Their latest experiment is working with the crystals and humans to see if, by ingesting bits of the crystals and thus integrating them into the human body, they can enhance the boundaries of what a human body and mind can do. The experiments seem to be well-meaning, are sold as looking to find cures for aging, for disabilities, for anything bad that can possibly happen to a human body or mind. What they're really after, or at least what Amon wants them for, is to create his own army of superhuman soldiers to conquer Cradle, though not even his followers are really privy to that fact.

Too bad the experiments seem to be failing. Most of the humans experimented on are dying…and then things seem to change. Things start to appear to be going well and the Magic Tower rejoices and gets inspired to really test even further limits of the experiment. The long and short of it though - these new Crystal infused humans? They're super-strong, seemingly impervious to all harm except complete decapitation to sever the connection of brain and body, with superhuman senses…oh, and they all go insane. Like, their brain goes bad - all limiters are taken off and they start to act solely on impulses and basic desires instead of any rational thoughts or logic. They're extremely violent if threatened at all or if something stands in the way of one of their wants. They experience extreme hunger at points and if food isn't readily available….well, humans are a source of meat too. They crave sex, food, shelter, warmth, liquid. Some of them retain enough of their personalities to have cravings for things they especially loved before the experiments as well.

The worst thing? Though they start as mindless, they quickly seem to link up into some sort of hive-mind and they start enhancing their numbers. If they don't outright kill, they forcibly turn others into beings like themselves by forcibly feeding them crystals. If the person survives this, they join The Hive.

It starts in the Tower. Amon willingly joins The Hive, makes himself the Head of it. Dalim, being a Disciple of the Tower, is in this initial first attack by these creatures. Terrified and no longer trusting in Amon, Dum does do the right thing in the end and tries to ensure that the experiment dies in the Tower, that none of the infected escape the Tower. He helps get other Disciples out but unfortunately, he succumbs to an attack by several of the infected and gets forcibly recruited into The Hive.

The infected surge out of the Tower and it's not too long before the peace of Cradle is completely shattered and things become a full out 'zombie apocalypse'. The armies each do their best to fight The Hive and protect the citizens but still steadfastly refuse to join forces with each other until much later on in the story.

I see Jonah as being one of the first to die. It's not because he's not strong and more than a capable fighter. It's because he's just genuinely someone who doesn't have a lot of common sense. His death comes in the first wave of the infected out of the Tower. He chose bravery and doing his duty but, after seeing other soldiers downed and even seeing some be forcibly infected, his ego and lack of common sense really did him in and he gets slaughtered and eaten.

Though he'll last throughout most of the story, I do see Lancelot dying. It's his death that inspires the two armies to join forces and come together, actually. The thing is, as a magically strong person already, the Hive (and Amon, their leader) didn't want to kill Lancelot. No, they became almost obsessed with changing him, with making him a part of the Hive. Though Lancelot was strong and clever enough to hold them off for a long time, while saving someone else whilst in the midst of battle, he was left vulnerable for long enough to be force fed what was needed to ensure he would eventually turn. Though the only one who was aware of this was Kyle, who steadfastly maintained that they would find a way to save Lance, Lancelot knew what needed to be done. He told Sirius and Harr the truth of what had happened and begged his two best friends to do what needed to be done - to kill him.

Sirius was the one to actually end up doing the deed. He'd already lost most of his family and by that point, had seen enough other people die. He'd been so strong up until that point and he'd inspired so many people to keep going with his never give up attitude, his optimism that things would get better, and his hard work. But after that, after being forced to kill one of his oldest and dearest friends? He sure kept trying, so hard, but the fact of the matter was that after that, Sirius really started to give up. Another major story event really did him in and he almost recklessly charged into the next major battle with The Hive and was taken down. Those close by at the time said he seemed almost relieved as The Hive killed him.

That other major story event? It has to do with Harr. Harr was a Magic Tower Disciple who had abducted his position the second the Tower started experimenting on humans. It was just something Harr could not handle, could not get behind, so he left. He did his best to keep his eye on things with the Tower though, worried about what might happen. When the worst does happen, Harr feels immense guilt for not having done more to stop this from happening. He becomes obsessed with finding a cure for those infected, with stopping this with as little bloodshed as possible. Loki helps him, as does Kyle, who also becomes obsessive about finding a cure.

As the days and weeks go by though and they seem to be getting nowhere, Kyle starts drinking harder and harder and becoming more and more reckless in his efforts to learn more about the infected. He needs test subjects and by the time the armies manage to trap and transport an infected person to him, not only have they suffered major casualties, but the infected in question is normally dead as well. Kyle becomes tired of seeing people die and being helpless to stop it and he directly goes out into the field. Dead infected specimens aren't helping; he needs a live one and becomes bound and determined to get one. While trying to do so, Kyle gets captured and changed.

The newly infected Kyle is feral and attacks his former comrades, killing Loki. Between Loki's death and Kyle's change, combined with watching Sirius kill Lancelot just the day before, Harr cannot handle things anymore. It's too much and his brain just can't deal. Harr takes a dive, head first, from the place this all started - the Tower itself. He's dead upon impact with the ground, quick and painless, but dead nonetheless.

Because the idea, while horrible, was too delicious to resist…I really do see Dean being brutally savaged and beaten to death by his own infected brother. The sibling rivalry had carried over enough in the infected Dalim's mind for the need to kill his brother to be a major desire of his.

Now, I have always kind of headcanoned that Mousse has narcolepsy. Obviously he doesn't have a route so I don't know for sure if that is canonically true but I see that being his undoing in this AU. He gets infected in his sleep very early on in the story.

Oliver becomes very useful though. He devotes himself to making weapons and traps and fortifying buildings to become shelters. Though he doesn't go into battles himself and is very protected, he's such an important and integral part of everything.

I do see Edgar, Fenrir, and Seth becoming rather famous as front line warriors against the Hive. All or any of them alone become major targets of the Hive because of how many infected they take out and how integral a part of survival in this new world they become.

After Lancelot's death, Blanc and Ray become co-leaders, trying everything they can to gather and ensure the safety of all non-infected individuals. Blanc keeps an eye and really dedicates himself to ensuring the non-infected are safe and taken care of and that shelter, food, water, and basic needs can be met for everyone while Ray leads the more military side of ensuring continued life and safety for the survivors.

Zero ends up specializing in rescue missions, in getting groups of non-infected people to safety, and really ends up becoming Blanc's second in command. Luka, meanwhile, stays under Ray and does fight…Luka's biggest regret in everything though? That he couldn't save his brother. So he becomes foolhardy and reckless at times, taking risks he shouldn't, because to him, if he can save even just one more person…maybe that will take some of the guilt away, absolve him even a little. Even just a smidge.

[hardcore-direwolf]

Matt Blackwell As Beck Oliver

"Go sit on the steps."

[corpiote]

*gnawing at the bars of my enclosure* doing my 2nd run of ray's route totally haven't been avoiding it for more fenrir content

[moviesandmania]

AS WE KNOW IT (2023) Reviews of zombie slacker comedy

As We Know It is a 2023 American romantic comedy horror set in the ’90s.  Slacker James Bishop is dealing with a complicated breakup with the help of his best friend while trying to finish his book before the impending zombie apocalypse. Directed and co-produced by Josh Monkarsh from a screenplay co-written with Brandon DePaolo and Christopher Francis. Also produced by Daniel Cummings, Joshua…

[fearsmagazine]

AS WE KNOW IT - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Buffalo 8

SYNOPSIS: “Set in Los Angeles in the late 1990s, struggling writer James Bishop grapples with the emotional shrapnel of a recent breakup with his longtime girlfriend, Emily. As James holds up in his Hollywood Hills home with writer's block, his eccentric best friend Bruce shows up with bad news. The city has plunged into chaos by an unusual zombie outbreak, courtesy of tainted soy milk, wreaking havoc on James' semi-charmed kinda life. With the streets of Los Angeles swarming with the undead, James, Bruce, and Emily come together to barricade themselves in the house while reconciling their personal struggles. And occasionally, letting in the only food delivery service still operating, Abracadabra.” -Press Release

REVIEW: Josh Monkarsh’s film feels like a play as James’ home is the main setting and much of the story unfolds in the living room, kitchen and bedroom. The limited locations add to the feel of a 90’s sitcom, from “Seinfeld,” to “Friends” and the late 90’s “Freaks & Geeks.” Clearly these characters are in their mid to late 20’s but their lack of maturity make them seem much younger.

Monkarsh, DePaolo and Francis’s script is jam packed with 90’s references and bits and gags that rely on period as well. One of the jokes between James and Bruce is their love of “Waterworld,” which they watch on a laserdisc (yes, I still have a player and a collection of laserdiscs). It is clearly a love letter to that period of time when life was simpler and complicated in different ways before the advent of the smartphone, tablets and laptops. The absurdity of the zombie plague being caused by tainted soy milk takes a back seat to the relationship between the three characters, and Rory, the delivery person who happens to be an old acquaintance of Bruce, makes for a nice distraction.

The film has a rather dry pacing, and even Bruce’s chaotic moments come at a slower pace. There is an overall malaise that you would expect from the zombies. Somehow it all works and becomes engaging. Each actor brings elements to their performances that make for likable and sympathetic characters, even Bruce. It’s a great ensemble cast, but I have to say actor Danny Mondello creates this memorable character that could have easily been cliched but comes off fresh and memorable, like an early Joe Pesci performance. Actor Chris Parnell received a nice amount of screen time, with an additional scene during the credits, and it would have been nice to see a bit more of Pam Grier.

I enjoyed the cinematography, costumes and production designs that captured the period. The editing sustained my viewing engagement. The zombie make up and designs are simple and effective, as well as the special effects, with nothing too gorey. I liked Michl Britsch’s score. It enhanced the comedic tones of the film and added slightly more energy to the film.

AS WE KNOW IT is a relationship comedy set against the backdrop of a zombie outbreak taking place in Los Angeles. The film is kind of a 90’s American slacker reworking of “Shaun of the Dead,” with a tone similar to Jim Jarmusch’s “The Dead Don't Die,” but without some of the film’s more bizarre moments. A fun and mildly funny trip down memory lane with some likable characters who take center stage over the zombies. Monkarsh does a nice job with the material but given his film credits to date I’m not sure when and if will see Monkarsh venturing into the horror genre again soon.

CAST: Mike Castle, Oliver Cooper, Taylor Blackwell, Chris Parnell, Pam Grier, and Danny Mondello. CREW: Director/Screenplay/Producer - Josh Monkarsh; Screenplay - Brandon DePaolo & Christopher Francis; Producers - Daniel Cummings, K. Asher Levin & Joshua Fruehling; Cinematographer - Stephen St. Peter; Score - Michl Britsch; Editors - Yvonne Valdez & Rebecca Weigold; Production Designer - Lorus Allen; Costume Designer - Zoe Poledouris-Roche; Special Effects - John McConnell; VFX Supervisor - Kevin Vanhook. OFFICIAL: https://asweknowitmovie.com/ FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/-0U1pgXaygk?si=MqlxM792N7xDsdPX RELEASE DATE: Nov. 10th New York City, Chicago, Seattle; Nov. 15th Los Angeles; Nov. 17th Boston; Dec. 1st Calabasas.

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[k-musing]

tag dump.

[ragyragd0ll]

whoa

What if Alice Never Fell to Cradle?

No one asked for this.

Basically, the Red and Black armies do go to war. However, Lancelot does try to find the crystal storage Amon kept hidden. Unfortunately, however, he was unsuccessful, and so, the war ended up starting.

It ended with the surrender of the Black Army. However, due to Lancelot’s betrayal, Amon puts Lancelot in a coma-like state, trapping him in a utopian-like fantasy. His memories were erased to ensure he stays.

The next day, the Red Army was panicking over the absence of their leader. Amon storms in, announcing that the King of Hearts is dead thanks to him. The Red Army tries to attack him, but many soldiers fell from the magical attacks of the sorcerer.

Currently, Amon rules Cradle, but a small group of people are preparing to overthrow him.

Basically, the characters (after Amon takes over Cradle)

Black Army

Ray- currently an experiment in the Magic Tower, as well as experiencing trauma from seeing his best friend die in Amon’s hands

Sirius- killed in war by the Red Army; his death majorly influenced the Black Army’s loss because they lost a good tactician

Luka- died through execution from Amon

Seth- hid as a Disciple; he is in communication with the rebel group led by Harr

Fenrir- also died through execution from Amon

Red Army

Lancelot- currently trapped in a fantasy created by Amon with no memories, except for one

Jonah- forced to serve Amon, since Cradle is held hostage with the crystal reserve. Amon knew his competency as the Queen of Hearts and knew how much he meant to Lancelot. Currently experiencing trauma from witnessing Luka die and regret from not telling Lancelot his romantic feelings towards him

Edgar- saved himself, Kyle, and Zero from Amon by sneaking away. With the rebel group formed by Harr and Loki, who are now in hiding in another nearby town. Sometimes goes to Cradle disguised as a Disciple to communicate with Seth

Kyle- also joined the rebel group. He’s their doc

Zero- also with the rebel group. Really wants to kick Amon’s butt

Neutral Characters

Blanc- he and Oliver are in hiding in the Land of Reason, as Amon is hunting him down for all his records

Oliver- with Blanc at the Land of Reason

Loki- made a rebel group with Harr and was the one who brought Edgar, Kyle, and Zero to Harr

Harr- formed the rebel group. Plans to find the reserve of crystals and destroy them so Cradle is not held hostage.

[movienized-com]

As We Know It

As We Know It (2023) #JoshMonkarsh #TaylorBlackwell #MikeCastle #OliverCooper #PamGrier #DannyMondello Mehr auf:

Jahr: 2023 Genre: Comedy / Horror / Romantik Regie: Josh Monkarsh Hauptrollen: Taylor Blackwell, Mike Castle, Oliver Cooper, Pam Grier, Danny Mondello, Chris Parnell … Filmbeschreibung: Ende der 90er Jahre verarbeitet James Bishop mit Hilfe seines besten Freundes eine komplizierte Trennung, während er versucht, sein Buch vor der drohenden Zombie-Apokalypse fertigzustellen…

[authorracheljoy]

Rules: Bold the flaws that apply to your character.

Character: Oliver Blackwell

absent-minded | abusive | addict | aggressive | aimless | alcoholic | anxious | arrogant | audacious | bad liar | bigmouth | bigot | blindly obedient | blunt | callous | childish | chronic heroism | clingy | clumsy | cocky | competitive | corrupt | cowardly | cruel | cynical | delinquent | delusional | dependent | depressed | deranged | disloyal | ditzy | egotistical | envious | erratic | fickle | finicky | flaky | frail | fraudulent | guilt complex | gloomy | gluttonous | gossiper | gruff | gullible | hedonistic | humorless | hypochondriac | hypocritical | idealist | idiotic | ignorant | immature | impatient | incompetent | indecisive | insecure | insensitive | lazy | lewd | liar | lustful | manipulative | masochistic | meddlesome | melodramatic | 💰-loving | moody | naive | nervous | nosy | ornery |  overprotective | overly sensitive | paranoid | passive-aggressive | perfectionist | pessimist | petty | power-hungry | proud | pushover | reckless | reclusive | remorseless | rigorous | sadistic | sarcastic | senile | selfish | self-martyr | shallow | sociopathic | sore loser | spineless | spiteful | spoiled | stubborn | tactless | temperamental | timid | tone-deaf | traitorous | unathletic | ungracious | unlucky | unsophisticated | untrustworthy | vain | withdrawn | workaholic

[triforcevillains]

100 Bloody Acres (2012)

Zwei Brüder, die am Land in Australien wohnen, verdienen ihr Geld durch die Herstellung von Dünger.

Durch Zufall gerät einer von ihnen an drei Hitchhiker, die er bei sich aufnimmt. Zunächst ahnen die Drei nicht, dass er versuchen wird, sie zu ermorden. Sie erfahren im Laufe ihrer Gefangenschaft in der Lagerhalle der beiden Brüder, dass das Erfolgsrezept ihres Düngers menschliche Überreste sind. (6/10)

[ask-the-attorneys]

*Meanwhile, at the house coda and Oliver lived at. Arpeggio was currently helping out Chiara with her homework, when a knock came by the door. When arpeggio went to open it, he saw Blackwell and Erin woods standing in front of the door.*

Arpeggio: “……can I help you two?”

Blackwell: “are you by chance the person who has recently adopted Chiara?”

Arpeggio: “well coda adopted her, and I’m currently taking care of her, why do you ask.”

Blackwell: “I have received a request that Miss woods wants to talk to Chiara again. As to what, I don’t know.”

[Erin]

I just want to talk to my kid again...

[Chiara]

? Who's at the door...?

*It's clear she knows Erin, but doesn't know Blackwell at all.

[badass-at-fandoming]

!!!!!!!!!

For those not on Twitter:

here is the link to the survey: https://jp.research.net/r/MXT3WLJ

If you're like me and can't understand Japanese, DeepL Translate will see you through: https://www.deepl.com/en/translator

Happy voting!!!!

WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT

[writing-whump]

Feverish part 2

Everything was hurting.

The world was a mess, his skin felt fragile and itchy at every touch—even the blanket was too rough, too much.

His brain was sluggish and slow and Hector welcomed the relief and oblivion of sleep.

Until Olive asked about calling Isaiah.

Hector could not imagine a worse thing happening. He also desperately yearned for him since the idea came up.

The fever and the pain and this haze...it reminded him of the time he came back from the appendix operation. Isaiah held him through the rest of the day and the night, tolerated his bity remarks, shushed him and reassured him.

Despite managing to say something terrible at the wrong time back then as well, Hector felt so close to him. All three of them back together, like they could count on each other against the world, like their bond was back to being unconditional and unbreakable.

He didn't want Isaiah there now and the realization pained him just as much as the anxiety. Because Isaiah would come, surely he would. He would pick up an emergency call at night even if he didn't pick up any during the day.

Dutiful, responsible and moral, he would rush over, all obligated concern and softness. Hector could fall apart knowing Isaiah wouldn't bring up anything difficult until he felt better.

Cause that's how it's always been. Isaiah, seething quietly with that ridiculous childhood obligation, this need to suffer for them and at their presence. Created by their father, the impossible circumstances and Hector's incompetence.

Hector couldn't take one more day, hour or even a second of that ever again.

His shadow had been still during the fever, but it was stirring at the turmoil at his chest. His stomach hurt, his chest hurt, his lungs collapsing into themselves. The air was too thick, his skin prickled, his throat was rough and burning.

Hector rolled over to the side, retching over the floor. It was dark, a mess, he couldn't tell up from down. Like drowning in the sea all over again.

He coughed and gagged empty. His shadow rose up like a wave, disturbed by the claustrophobic sensation. Trying to help. Hector needed a second to remember why that was a bad idea.

This wasn't his bed or his room. He was at Olive's. Hector didn't pull up his shadow at Olive's. He had never pulled up his shadow around her at all.

The panic increased, making him woozy and horrified. He stumbled down from the bed, more like rolling onto the ground. There was a hole in his chest, a chasm, consuming him along the heat. His shadow was a giant whirlpool of black around the room.

Hector went by taste, on his knees and hands, into the farthest corner in the room. There was a spot between the bed and the wall he could fit right in, curled into a ball. Clawing at his shadow to step down, to fall back, to not scare the softest person in his life.

The thought of Olive finding him like this—his shadow raging, fever-driven and unhinged—made his stomach flip. Even if it was just a fear in his head, the idea of her being scared of him was unbearable.

Hector gagged, then heaved, whole body rolling with the force. A productive wave of vomit rushed out this time, hot as boiling water against his throat. It covered his front and his jeans in the remnants of his lunch and breakfast. Once he started, he couldn’t stop—more vomit surged up, watery and bitter, burning his throat.

Hector shivered in the corner, curled up into a ball over the stinking mess of his clothes, whimpering softly as his shadow slowly faded back.

...

Whose brilliant idea was it to call Matthew Blackwell to anything involving upset shadows and Hector fucking Wolfson?

That was so Isaiah's job. It was made for him, in fact. Matthew wasn't to be trusted with shadows—or his shadow around shadows, for that matter—nor scared crying girls with huge deer eyes on the phone.

But they were asking for him, as rare as that was. And Matthew had never not answered when called.

Olive was crying her eyes out at the kitchen, when he arrived. "Thank you so much for coming," she managed between sobs, hanging herself on his shirt.

Matthew stepped back in shock at the contact, shadow curling at the back of his head with the touch. He knew her, but not well enough for this closeness.

"He is so sick and he can't stand and I can't lift him up and he is throwing up from the fever-"

"Alright," Matthew said, gently pulling her wrists away from his shirt. "Get the water started. I'll go get him."

Olive nodded, too distracted to notice or too kind to take offense at the gesture and ran off.

Matthew shook himself off into concentration, following the smell of vomit through the short hall to the only other room.

The room was a mess. Hector was curled up in the corner instead of on the bed, which was strange. There was vomit covering his front and lap, but he was basically limp against the wall.

The biggest problem was his swirling shadow. Matt rubbed the back of his head, considering what to do. His shadow liked fights and it liked Hector, but he wasn't sure it would understand the nuance and not attack on sight.

He pushed it further to be sure, slowly stepping closer. Hector's shadow had his carrier's temper—it turned towards him, suspicious, snarling,...protective.

Matt could relate to that. "Hey, Hex. I'm gonna...I'm gonna help you with the fever, okay? The shower is running and I'm going to lift you up and get you cooled off and then you can sleep. Sounds good?"

He talked as if the wolf was conscious, which seemed to be the right move. Something of Hector was aware, was alive, his shadow moving and watching...then slowly retreating. It didn't disappear completely, but it evaded Matthew's feet, when he came closer.

Matt kept his voice quiet and steady, describing everything he was doing. Hector's shoulder over his neck, dragging him up, moving them both towards the shower. It was a shame there was no buthrub in that mini-bathroom, the toilet cramped right next to the shower area.

The two large wolves barely fit in. Olive had to step out to leave them space.

The shower head was running, when Matthew came closer, his clothes sticking to the vomit on Hector's side. The blond was still scarily out of it, though his eyelids moved and he whined here and there. Not completely unconscious then. Small wins.

Matthew contemplated the shower for a couple of seconds before deciding, fuck it, stepping inside with Hector. He put the stream to the max, letting the mild water wash over them both.

When the water touched his skin, Hector jumped up with a yell.

"Okay, hold on, cowboy. You are okay. I'm helping," Matt emphasized so Hector wouldn't reach for his shadow and break the tiles.

Hector jerked in his hold, the water running down his back and shoulder. A sudden heave jolted them both, Hector projectile-vomiting between their feet. The wave was impressive and thick, followed by a burp and another large gush.

"Get it up, man. It's okay," Matthew patted his back awkwardly, stomach-turning queasily at the sight and smell. He had to balance Hector's weight with one arm, while steering him away from choking on the water.

...

Hector was much more awake after the shower experience. He and Matt were both sporting dry clothes and were back at the room. The problem was that Hector refused to get back in the bed, crawling back to his corner like a scared child.

"Keep her out of the room," Hector ordered Matthew. Weak as he was Matt felt the power and assurance behind a command that a pack leader would give. It had an interesting pull.

"No way," Olive said. Her eyes were red and puffy, but her lips were set like a warrior's. "I'm staying right here."

Hector hid his face in his hands. "I'm not in control of my shadow. Stay away from me. Please."

Matt could see the waver in Olive's resolve at the word.

Hector's shadow wasn't on full display like before, but it was certainly active, growling under the bed and covering the edges of the room as if to reinforce the walls.

"Matthew," Hector said meaningfully.

Understanding what he wanted was one thing, but Matthew wasn't about to touch a human girl without her consent. He had been scary and wolf-like enough in his life to go against someone's will.

Olive gave him an angry glare, watching if he would move. Matt was double her size and towering over her very much like Hector was. But he stepped aside, making room for her.

Hector curled even more into himself as if Olive was the scary one, whining at the proximity.

"Hex," Olive said, kneeling down next to him. Slowly. "Look at me. You are not going to hurt me."

"I can't gu-"

"You won't hurt me," she repeated, gaze drilling into his head until he lifted it hesitantly.

His eyes were shiny, his face so open and scared, Matthew suddenly felt very out of place. Like walking in on a prayer whispered in the dark—something too private, too sacred to be seen.

Olive took Hector's face in her hands, not looking away. There was absolute trust in her eyes.

Then Hector winced and crumbled towards her and suddenly she was wrapped around him like a coala, his face buried in her back.

Hector's shadow faded away that second, as if all danger passed.

Matthew watched that scene with wide eyes, heart in his throat. Nobody ever believed in him like that until Isaiah. The older wolf always told him he could do it and how much he trusted him to manage by himself until Matthew did. Was that the trick? Was believing you could solve the issue?

Thinking back about his sisters hiding behind doors from him, Matthew felt his eyes prickle, brushing something moist from his cheek.

...

Around dawn, Matt woke up to Hector putting sleeping Olive into the bed. His movements were wobbly and unsteady and he quickly shuffled back into his corner after.

But he was far more awake than before, amber eyes reflecting the sunrise in the dark room.

"Why are you still here?" The blond wolf growled.

Matthew shook his head, back against the opposite wall, copying Hector's position. "You called for me."

"Tsk. I didn't think you would actually show up. Just wanted her off my back."

"You were dying and had no one to call," Matt countered. He hesitated before continuing. "Why not Isaiah, though?"

Hector pressed his lips together, looking away.

"You know that he would come," Matt said softly.

"Yeah, I know," Hector said bitterly. "All eager to do the noble right thing."

"So what? Just because he feels obligated to do it lessens the work?" He gave Hector a critical side-eye. "This fight is on you. You should make the effort."

There was a thump as Hector slammed his fist against the floor. "What else am I supposed to do?! I stepped down the university territory, didn't I? I pulled back when I could have pushed it. Does that not count for something?"

Matthew took a deep breath as he realized what Hector meant.

"It doesn't work like that."

"What?!"

"Isaiah," Matthew said, pulling his knees closer to prop his chin against them. "He doesn't put those two things together. He is an Executioner outside and Isaiah inside. He can't be both all the time or he would go crazy from the clash of interests."

Hector tilted his head at that, listening.

"He would have insisted on the territories, whether you were best buddies or not. When he comes home, he never talks about the Executioner's dealings or meetings. He never asks for our opinions, so we never give it. At the events, he doesn't talk to us about private things. If you pay attention, he is like two different people."

Hector huffed in disbelief. "What kind of bullshit is that?"

"It's his way." Matthew shrugged. "You have to admit that he can't be your brother when he is dealing with other packs. Nobody would listen to him if he seemed biased in your favour."

A sharp intake of breath. Then silence.

"I was doing that for Arnie," Hector said after a long while, stirring Matthew out of the beginning slumber. "Didn't he realize?"

"Arnie is in the same building and faculty as the Executioner. Both studying law. If he isn't safe there and that close to him, we might as well let the system collapse and go wild at each other."

Hector curled up his lips, leaning his head back. "I keep ruining things with him. He won't talk to me. He won't let me fight him with shadows. The kid and you are fine, though!" The blond met Matthew's eyes over the room. "You have to admit that isn't normal."

Matt took his time with the answer, weaving together months of observations and guesses. Feelings more than anything he tried to put into words before.

"Isaiah is drawn to people in trouble. Unruly shadows, wolves at the edge of madness, strays, outcasts. That's why he let me in. That's why he is glued to Rip right now. That's why he will never leave Seline—as an unpracticing witch, she will always be a temptation to wolves." If she was to live a free life without pack obligations and magic protections, she needed wolves and Isaiah was willing to be that for her.

Hector was scowling so deeply the lines looked engraved into his face.

Matthew huffed out a laugh. "You should actually be happy. What he does to you is a sign of admiration."

"Admiration?"

"You are strong enough to not need him. He respects your strength and your abilities. And that's why he pushes you away. The more...independent, capable, the more equal to him you become, the more he distances himself." Matthew’s voice lowered, almost as if confessing to himself. "It’s what he’s doing to me right now. And I... I’m not sure how to stop it."

"I don't understand. He is much closer to you than me."

"True. But that's because I started out such a mess. He didn't mind me seeing him up close after that. But once he stops feeling needed, he feels like a burden. Like he should get off before infecting you with his presence. I don't know if this is his Executioner thing or a pattern from your childhood. Did he have any friends growing up?"

"I- yeah sure. Marek who could tell lies apart with his shadow...or Shawn Minz and Roy Stark...but they..."

"Grew apart?" Matthew guessed. "Pushed away? They were too strong, they could see too much into what he was hiding."

"So he is pushing you away, but he let you closer because he...didn't respect you?" Hector scoffed. "That doesn't offend you?"

"I don't think he is doing it on purpose." He smiled at Hector. "You and Arnie don't seem to realize, how broken and wrong he feels. He doesn't think highly of himself, but if he feels needed, he can keep going. But Isaiah can be wrong about things. He gets things wrong, in fact, he does things unintentionally, he messes up."

Matthew pushed his shoulders back, narrowing his eyes at Hector. "That's why you and Arnie storming over, ignoring when he asks for a break or when he feels off because of his heart, doesn't help. He can't be the same as he was before the operation."

Another tense pause. Hector squirmed uncomfortably, dragging his fingers through his hair. He clutched at the roots as if grounding himself. "That doesn’t make any damn sense. You’re saying he respects me, but also pushes me away because of it? What kind of logic is that?"

Matthew met his glare head-on. "It’s not about logic. It’s about how he sees himself. He doesn’t think he deserves to be around people who have their shit together."

"And in that worst time of need, when he had wanted and needed to be with you both the most, he left. To protect you, but still. It had broken him," Matthew realized as he spoke. "That was when his heart issues started when you put the timeline together."

This was why Hector saying Isaiah had done that for his own sake, felt like the worst kind of betrayal. Like blaming a soldier for abandoning his post when he’d been dragged away bleeding.

Hector seemed to have realized it too, cause he snapped his eyes open, looking horrified.

"Isaiah told me once the pain was so bad he couldn't get up from the bed," Matthew continued. "He would just get sick over and over. Wouldn't leave his room for days on end how sick he felt. It lessened a little after a few months, but the attacks kept coming. For six years until the heart attack last spring."

Matthew took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts. Hector was still sitting in the corner, shoulders hunched, fingers digging into his hair as if the pressure could keep his mind from spiraling.

The room was quiet, except for the faint hum of the early morning outside the window and Olive's breathing.

Matthew watched Hector's pained grimace, eyes pooling with emotion.

You realize it now, you idiot? Do you realize what it means to him, so he doesn't have to tell you next time?

He relaxed against the wall, utterly exhausted. There was nothing more he could do right now.