#Exit Cleaning Blue Mountains

[sexlapis]

# TAINTED FLOWERS

nanami x student!sorcerer!reader

synopsis: you were fed misleading details about the mission you were given. nanami is late to the scene.

gender neutral reader, angst, death (not of reader or nanami), hurt/comfort, descriptions of death, blood, dead bodies & gore, protective nanami, mentions of haibara, can be read as platonic or romantic

wc: 2k

a/n: in a sad mood, i miss nanami & i wanted to write something a little dark so here ^_^

posted on ao3 here

masterlists

*

uneven gasps leave you mouth, your chest heaving heavily with each breath. blood soaks the blue colour of your uniform as you sit on your knees, staring at the aftermath of the chaos which ensued minutes before.

what once was lavender-coloured, fragrant flowers and fresh, verdant grass, were now painted crimson, tainted and sodden with the blood of your ally, who lay mere feet away, still, limp and unmoving.

regretfully, you look to where she lay, hoping that by some miracle, she is fine and well and victorious.

the sight of your friend has you heaving.

well, what remained of your friend.

whatever lower body she once possessed, was gone. ripped and essentially disintegrated. what it left is a deep puddle of red that pools around her widely. her patent, mary jane shoes stand in the puddle and her ruffled, previously white socks rest in them, dripping and soaked in her own blood.

her face. her face. her face.

it was barely recognisable. it was hardly even there-

acid falls out of your mouth and onto the grass on the ground, burning your throat and mouth. your clammy hands grip your thighs as the last remnants exit your body. droplets of sweat litter your forehead as you quiver, your limbs weak. they feel weighed from the battle and the fast loss of adrenaline.

you have the instinct to check on her. to make sure she’s dead or to check she’s alive, you don’t know.

but you know. deep down, you know.

mushy, salmon flesh is sprayed upwards from where her head is, the most is piled up at her “skull”, like a mountain of slush. an eyeball bulges in the middle of it all.

tears stream down your face before you even realise it, in shock, fear, despair, anger and disbelief.

low risk mission, they said.

it won’t be too dangerous, they said.

you will both be able to handle it, they said.

lies. lies. lies.

you hear faint shouting, your mind far, far away from earth at this point as you look at what was a friend of yours.

you hear running on the grass, and the yells becoming louder and louder, the ringing and screeching in your ears coming to a closing halt as you finally hear who is calling out for you.

“_____!”

nanami.

turning your head to the side slightly, you watch nanami sprint towards you, the fastest you have ever seen him go, stopping a few metres away from you, weapon in hand ready to fight. you look back to your friend.

nanami stops, breathing steadily as he takes in his surroundings. he spares a glance at the body of your peer, now not even a body - just flesh waiting to be consumed by the birds of death, who clean away the morbid remains of the dead and let the cycle of life repeat itself.

the way she died, the way her body is, reminds nanami of-

he brushes such thoughts away quickly, focusing his intentions on you.

when ichiji had rushed up to him, stammering and panicking over two fairly new fourth grade students who have somehow accidentally been sent to a handle a first grade curse, nanami prepared for the worst.

and the worst it was.

you jump and twitch uncontrollably, not even acknowledging nanami’s presence. you gulp, mouth dry and lips cracked and sit on the ground, clothes now sure to be stained with soil and grass markings at the knees.

nanami approaches you carefully, not wanting to startle you when you are in a clear state of consternation and distress.

“_____,” he whispers, kneeling down beside you. he reaches out, wishing to examine you for injuries but you flinch wildly, yelping, almost falling over yourself.

“hey!” nanami stables your, putting both hands on your forearms, “it’s just me. nanami. your mentor.”

that seems to snap you out of your lost stupor a little. you blink at him.

he sees blood splattered on your face and doesn’t know if it’s yours or not. you don’t know either.

nanami takes the opportunity to scan your body for any serious injuries and comes up empty, only seeing your blood-coated uniform and hands. he finds your eyes, red and watery.

“are you alright?” he asks. he knows it’s a stupid, stupid question as soon as it leaves his mouth, but he’s not sure what to say at this moment, to someone who just watched their friend be killed by a monster right in front of their eyes.

heavy breathes leave your mouth along with incoherent mumbles, looking around almost frantically, you’re on the edge of hyperventilating before you find his kind eyes again.

you blubber, going to turn your head to your friend’s body. “she-she’s..she’s-” you gasp in crescendo, words unable to leave your mouth, still in shock.

nanami turns your head back to him delicately, “don’t look at her.” you don’t want to see that more than you have to, he knows that well enough.

nanami waits, letting you fumble and stutter and trip over your words, still holding your arms, before you’re falling forwards into his hold, crying and weeping into his blazer, screams muffled by the fabric which you will most definitely ruin.

nanami starts at the sudden action, shocked but at the same time, knows that your behaviour is not surprising.

he was prepared for dead bodies, blood baths, life-threatening, powerful curses that he had battled before.

but somehow, nanami was not prepared for this. to comfort a person who has just lost their friend in a slaughter.

you head lay solid on his chest, wetting his clothes, but he doesn’t even bring himself to care about that. nanami envelops you in his arms, pulling you closer, cradling the back of your head as he holds you to his chest. the soft gesture simply makes you sob harder, wrapping your arms tighter around his waist as he rocks you gently.

“it’s okay, it’s okay, it’s over now.” the words tumble out of his mouth, like he knows what to say in this situation, like he’s being the person that he himself needed. “shh, shhhh, it’s okay, it’s okay.”

the sky is inked with marigolds, the tender, honey colours of the clouds and sun shine a contrast in the mood and what you have just experienced.

blood glitters on the grass and flowers, shiny and slick.

you and nanami stay there just like that for a long while. long enough to where you bawls, screeches and grieves turning into sniffles, whimpers and hiccups.

nanami moved back a short distance, still holding you. “we need to leave, now.” he states. he inspects your face and body once more, “can you stand?”

you don’t respond for a few moments and nanami is patient. with a weak nod from you, nanami begins to rise from his kneeling position, clasping your hands in his own as he helps you to your feet. your legs are shaky, unsteady like a new-born lamb.

he supposed that’s what you are in a world like this. a lamb who had no idea what they were walking into.

you stumble a little and nanami holds your hands tighter.

licking your lips, you glimpse behind you, back to the deceased. “wh..what about h…her?”

“…someone will come to get her.” there’s no gentler way nanami can put that.

you hum and nod again.

arms crossed and still quivering in your bones, you blink away tears. you just want to go home.

then, nanami is shrugging off his suit jacket, and placing it around your shoulders, the size of it dwarfing you, the fabric warm and comforting, protecting you from the harshness of the world and reminding you of the protector that nanami is.

he wraps an arm around your shoulders, guiding your forward and away from the bloodbath.

footprints of vermillion are left in your wake.

*

the journey back is quiet.

when arriving at the car, ichiji goes to say something, but is silenced with a quick glare from nanami.

nanami opens the door for you, helping your inside and sits in the back with you. he puts your seatbelt on, securing it around your body before doing his own.

you’re looking down, at your hands that are dry and splotched red, occasionally snivelling and breath hitching. you felt cold for some reason, even in nanami’s jacket and the summer heat your leg bounces continuously.

as nanami looks at you in the corner of his eye, an unconscious but truthful thought floods nanami’s mind.

even after all these years, after all his time away from jujutsu society and slaving away in the grand rat race, one thing has always been clear.

nothing will ever change. and nothing he does will change anything in the grand scheme of things. he could dedicate his whole entire life to serving jujutsu and it wouldn’t even crack a dent in the system.

haibara’s smiling face and bronze, crinkled eyes come to mind. then follows, the reminder of his untimely, brutal death, how he died because of a mistake an adult who should have known better made, how his death meant nothing then and means nothing now, how his bloody torso was all that remained of him and how he lives on only in nanami’s memories.

nanami groans.

why did i even come back here?

he hears you sniffle and clear your throat. you let out a breath and he looks down at you. you’re still staring ahead, but he can tell you’re about to say something.

“will…will i..be in trouble?” you croak out, a small sob escaping your mouth. “i..i did everything, i-” more cries interrupt your sentence, images of minced, pink flesh coming to mind once again, and you cover your face, gasping as your shoulders shake.

nanami is reminded of your youth, your inexperience and desire to please the adults around you with that question alone. you, who just witnessed the death of a friend, are afraid of disappointing an adult who you probably do not even know of.

his heart beats a little faster and he exhales a little, not angry at you, but at the inevitable circumstances that this “job” has on one so young and, for lack of a better word, innocent.

“_____,” he sighs, quite a sad sound. he removes his goggles and leans down a little to get a look at your face. you continue to cry. “look at me, please.”

you whimper and do as he says, your face clearly hot, eyes drowned in tears, the skin around them matted with wetness, and nose running and sniffling. your eyes had a far away, distanced look, one of devastation, destroyed childhood dreams and a permanently changed life.

“you are not in any trouble, _____” he tells you, his brown eyes filled with sympathy, reassurance and another trait that you cannot quite place. “and you will not be in any trouble. i won’t let that happen.”

you hum sadly in response, closing your eyes and shaking your head as a few more tears fall from your eyes.

nanami cups your face with one broad, gentle hand, catching one of your tears with his thumb and erasing it into the soft skin of your cheek. he caresses your shoulder with the other. “i won’t…” he trails off, speaking more to himself than anybody else.

choking on a cry, you shuffle closer to him, resting your head on his chest, ruining his blue shirt even more. he doesn’t hesitate to hold you in his arms, something that seems so natural and familiar to him.

nanami thinks this is so unlike him, to comfort a student so closely, but he does not stop. you need this. it reminds him of why he took this job in the first place and why he left and why he came back once again.

why he keeps going, going, going when he is more than able to just stop.

“i won’t…”

*

next week, you are appointed to third grade sorcerer level and your eyes are blank and your heart is empty.

a/n: this turned out darker than i expected tbh lmao 😕😕😕

[marrkopolo]

A Wise Man Once Said

Precious lost its ring in the scrap yard with no metal detector the lavender pussywillows hide the trolls

Hong Kong wheel of fate UW spinned it first Knights of Templar slaughtered at a mass concert of bloody crimson tide

Tithe on a full moon for 2x the glee The crash of waves against the rocks, like bodies slapping against each other during sex blood shooting through veins Hot heat, sticky, in Iceland together I too, know of these lands

Tax season says the King! blue knots on a tent red food buckets hung like death #four crosses in a foreign land alone is no place to exist

An underwater welder lying on the blue tarp, is like a union of troops led by a zebra.

Flying flags at Disney welcome to the world of water failed regret, emptiness and betrayal tattered flags get left to rot sew it in with the others together and the quilt becomes strong and scintillating

Crush you with your own history headless horseman and halo hair dark horse donuts This is as good as it gets!

Red-lipped lipstick cracked porcelain face You can't hold a candle to this

King of the Hill My pool stick is clean now true Kings swim in the swimming pool together King of the Hill Jack of Spades went with the stolen crown and robots learn to volunteer.

Pledge to a sanitizer salute to a gong beat your chest it's loud and strong Love at first sight or sounds like a good idea Wisdom of the crowd or individual motivation?

A rabbi with the yachts Fortified lamps sees all UFOs, telekinesis and even explosive lingerie. One denarius for a days work Why they get more? Stand while another sits. Then switch roles and you'll see why.

What sees with three eyes? The melatonin-like parental bond, third eye awoken, Moksha.

Insane Luke has a scar red dots that kill. Baldie takes biosphere crown the bald animal is cutting loose again Is doraphilia still fun to you?

I attempt to transform but the tea is too strong my hands have small heart Lying down a tiny raindrop falls into my ear swirling into the cochlea My whole world has changed!

Eczema stealing make-up twice North Face go north Racks of weapons are not enough this time

My mask is old but gold bars had paved my fortunate path …a fortunate path(whispering)

Tik Tok vault one exit is enough The eagle has docked into spray-painted madness. Not to fret I hear a falcon cry Jump when the law is bent it will help you fly

Six shooter Six pack 3 sewers 3 fires Twin-spirit 1 spacesuit

Mountain top king of the hill climb Nepal Hajj pilgrimage princess climbs like a pirate piggyback down the wedding aisle

Opposites attract

One fell to its doom down the abyssal void towards the bottom and a ghost ship lost in the Bermuda Triangle with Pandoras Box Lazarus

Gunpowder in shoes Footprints in the sand Jesus did not tap

Short and tall fat and thin Lookalikes Soundalikes Smellalikes the hunt of touch and taste What double currencies create the ultimate Yin Yang effect? AI said to cure pride and competition, exchange abacus rubik-cubed calculators instead of cash.

Echoes and reverberation voices become lightning WATTS= AMPS X VOLTS

Float your payloads into the troposphere with skinny vertical structures of contained saltwater Heat a planet with a satellite asteroid belt

A call for help QR codes morse code gun flare smoke signal what are your coordinates? R-E-B-O-R-N

Some ancients say gunpowder only made flee then gun made to kill Oil spills from bronze age to silicon chips flood the market cut the mall castle cake in half Zangief on a segway You win.Perfect.

Lawrence Groves copyright©2024

[ichangedmycornyahhname]

Spider-man!Hobie Brown x Reader

Side note: I did my best to keep reader gender neutral for everyone 🫶😍. Also made it more friendly than flirty. 😔 sorry y’all. (Basically more platonic, BUT if I make another I may make it romantic.)

Summary: Just reader and Hobie hopping dimensions and taking out bad guys.

Warnings: None? A little violence ig. Just reader and him bickering. Not proof read 🙁 I got lazy as hell.

“Yo Hob, where’s my mask at?” You asked as you watched yourself in the mirror. Your tooth brush sudsy with toothpaste as you quickly brushed at your teeth.

Crashing with Gwen and Hobie was certainly a risky decision to make, but with you always traversing the multi-verses you never stayed anywhere for too long. Which is why you were staying with the two. Well, staying with Hobie. Gwen was currently out on the hunt for a new anomaly, and you were eager to get to work with her.

“Didn’t you leave it on the couch?” He responded as he slipped his ripped leather jacket over his shoulders. The man was already geared up and ready to go. “I don’t know, that’s why I’m asking you.” You retorted with the roll of your eyes. You soon rinsed your mouth out with water and tossed your toothbrush into a cup. As you went to exit the bathroom, you took notice of the lack of toilet paper (courtesy of living with two other people), and sighed. “We need more toilet paper Hobie, we’ve already run out.”

He peeked his head throw the doorway, taking a glance at what you had mentioned and laughed. “Ain’t that something. We’ll buy some from a different universe, I’d rather not provide to this crappy economy. Now hurry it up mate, we’ve already got a mission.” You scoffed at his stubbornness as you headed towards the cluttered living area. Per-usual, it was a mess. But you didn’t have time for that now. You dug under piles of junk and gadgets until finally you got your hands on your mask. “Ew..” You grumbled as you stared at the ink stain on the side of your mask. Shooting a look towards Hobie, he only returned it with a grin before pulling his mask over his face.

“We’re cleaning this place up when we get back. Now let’s go.”

The two of you departed, a portal appearing in front of you. The dynamic shapes and colors had grown to be something of a norm to you, though you couldn’t say the same as you hopped through it and shot through the tunnel. It still managed to twist and turn your stomach up.

-

“I believe this is the place.” Hobie chimed as the two of you clung to a building side. “Ya think?” Hobie only chuckled at your sarcasm, having already grown quite used to it.

The evening sunset was almost as mesmerizing as the large mountain of houses. They followed along a road that spiraled all the way down to where they stood. It was like staring up at a giant version of the Aztec temples. “Sometimes I forget how different these universes can be. Alright Hobie, you know who we’re looking for so lead the way.”

He gave you a pat on the back before shooting out a web and pulling himself in the air. You could only smile at his playfulness and follow his movements, now swinging yourself towards the top of the mountain. The area was vibrant with warm colors, reds, blues, and green accenting the bright gold of the buildings. You’d been to plenty of universes, but none quite as beautiful as this. Smells of food, and seasonings flooded your nostrils, as well as the chattering of the busy streets. “Cool innit? Went here once with Gwendy, was a little preoccupied though.”

“With?” You questioned as you worked your way to the top of the mountain.

“This wild variant of the lizard. He was huge! More of a crocodile I’d say.” His enthusiastic attitude seemed to infect you, another smile creeping it’s way onto your face. “That sounds cool as hell. Yo is that who we’re looking for?” Your eyes widened as your spider sense raised your alert. Up ahead stood a large statue, though unlike usual statues, this one was moving. It worked at ripping a large jewel that stood at the very top of the mountain. Hobie, who had been swinging backwards, spun around, the lenses of his mask widening. Then they narrowed. He pulled his guitar from over his shoulder, holding it in one hand as he swung himself towards the golden statue. “Taking that as a yes.”

You webbed the side of two buildings, tugging at the webbing and slingshotting yourself towards the chaos. “I’ll get its legs, you- do whatever. I know you don’t like to listen.” You huffed out.

“You know me so well, love.” He said as he went to taking out the giant. You went to do the same, now swinging your webs around the statues legs. While at first your idea was working, the giant seemed to have a mind of its own. It ripped the webbing in half, but in doing so lost its balance. It tumbled, falling backwards and heading straight for the edge of the cliff. You tried not to panic, and Hobie was now joining you in stopping the giants potential destruction of the golden city. You worked at making a canopy between two poles, the wide wall of webs ready to catch the giant in its grasp.

Hobie stood at the top of a building, webs shot out to slow the giants fall. He strained, pulling back at the web lines. And it worked. The giant was caught in their web.

The two of you met up, now standing in the orange dirt with a victorious look. Then you glanced at one another. “High five?”

Their hands met, the sound of victory ringing in their ears. “High five. Hell yeah Y/N!” His arm found its way around your shoulders, tugging you closer as he spouted jokes. However, you interrupted, “We still have to clean up when we get back.” Hobie’s jubilant expression turned unamused, and he sucked his teeth sighing at your seriousness.

“We really gotta loosen you up love. Now let’s get this guy back in his universe.” His thick accent made it difficult for you to comprehend at first, but once you did, you nodded. The two of you had completed your mission, unscathed, and with time to spare. You were certainly impressed with your efficient work.

[17ghostsinatrenchcoat]

Here’s a story I made, it’s quite long, hope ya like it

Title : the one that got away

“So what are you doing for dinner?” I asked my friend as we walked down the street. “I don’t know, mac and cheese maybe?” We proceeded to walk down the street, the shops soon ended and the neighborhood began. As we walked further Jack's house came into view “see you later” he blurted as he jogged back to his house, my hand slowly raised and slightly waved “bye” I said quietly. As I walk a little longer to my house the sun starts to go down and the yellowish lamp posts flicker on, one by one illuminating the streets, when I get to my house the sun has already gone down, I pull out my copper and silver keys attached to a silver ring, they make clunking sounds as I lift them to the door. I hear the door unlock as the keys rotate, I twist the handle and pull the door toward me, my dirt embedded shoes stepped through the door frame, I kicked off my shoes, one landed upside down, and the other hit the wall leaving a light brown scuff.

I walk to my room, it has a large bed, a dark blue blanket and pillow, fake vines draped across the ceiling twined with string lights, and at the corner of my bed there is a small mountain of stuffed animals. I walk to the edge of my bed and face plant into the pile of toys, I roll off them and into the open part of my bed, I pull out my phone and go to texts “whatcha doin” I text to Jack, a small buffering symbol popped up on his side “eating mac and cheese” he texted, “what are you doing” he asked back “nothin much, just laying in bed” I replied. “Noice” he replied, I chuckled “wanna hang out tomorrow” I asked “sure” he replied, I put my phone on my light stand and went to bed.

In the morning I slid on my dirt embedded shoes under the scuff on the wall “I’ll clean that up later” I said as I slid on my sweatshirt, I pulled out my keys and I fumbled them but caught them before they fell, I exited my house and locked the door. I was in an upbeat mood as I went to Jack’s house, once I got there I knocked on the door, there was no reply, so I knocked again, but still no reply. I walked to the side of the house and looked through the window, the lights were on, there was half eaten food on the table “where was he” I thought impatiently. I slid the unlocked window up and hoisted myself through the window, I walked along the wall and turned on the lights, I wandered around the unfamiliar place looking for Jack, I opened one of the doors along the hallway, I’m pretty sure it was Jack’s bedroom so I went inside “Jack? Jack, are you here?” I loudly whispered. I walked around the small bed, my eyes widened as I let out a sharp gasp, I started to get light headed, I stumbled back in fear and fell to the ground, I pulled myself slightly back away from what I saw. I covered my mouth with my hand as I let out sharp breaths, tears gathered in my eyes, my vision went blurry as tears poured down my face and puddles on the floor.

What I saw was horrific, it was Jack, lying lifeless on the floor, a puddle of blood gathered beneath him, and a kukri point knife dripping with blood stabbed deep into the wooden floorboards next to him, the shiny silver was being suffocated by the thick, dark red blood. I pulled myself farther back as my face turned pale and covered with tears, and my hand grasping at my mouth as I gasped for air, I choked on my tears as I pulled myself up on Jack’s bed and stumbled out the door, my legs started to feel weak when I tried to get out of the room, I gagged and felt like I was gonna throw up, I went to the trash can and started to throw up brownish yellow chunk filled slop into the plastic trash can.

I stood up and wiped my mouth of the remaining throw up and then I heard a siren, slowly getting louder, I looked out the window next to the door and saw a flashing red and blue light getting brighter and the siren getting louder, I flailed to the open window that I opened earlier and lowered myself out of the window, I stayed as still as I could as I watched the police bust down the door from the window “we know your in here, come out with your hands behind your head” they shouted as they wandered through the house, I watched them go into Jack’s bedroom “in here” one shouted as the others ran into the room to see, one slipped on the floor and fell onto the others and pulled them down with him “marshal watch where you're going” one of them shouted while punching the shoulder of the one that slipped.

I slowly lowered myself all the way out the window and ran to the back of the house and ran across the many backyards of the neighborhood to get to my house, I slipped on one of the freshly watered lawns and let out a loud wheeze “I heard something over here” one of the police officers said as a flashlight flew behind me, I ran faster to get away from them, then I heard the sirens again, I turned my head to the street and saw the cop car speeding after me. I turned to the left and I run as fast as I possibly can, I glance back and I see flashing red and blue lights as the siren got quieter, I look forward and I trip over a giant log, I tumble down a hill “AAAAAAAAHHHHH” I scream as I am unable to stop myself as my arms reach out and flail around.

I roll down the hill as sticks and thorns claw at my shirt and pants, I can barely see the world spinning by me as I tumble down the hill, suddenly I hear a loud thud then darkness, I lay on the moss and pine needle covered ground. A little while later I sat up “what happened” I asked myself as I rubbed my head, I winced as I rubbed my forehead, I pulled my hand away quickly, I touched my forehead again, and I winced once again. I grabbed the tree that I hit and propped myself up, I felt light headed for a moment but then it stopped, I looked around, this place was unfamiliar and dark, the sun was starting to rise to my right, the light was a golden yellow as it seeped through the trees and resting on the mossy ground.

I looked around for anything familiar but nothing looked recognizable, I must of gotten mixed up when I fell down the hill, I wandered around toward the sun because I remember the sun rises in front of my house so I kept walking and walking, soon I stumbled into someone’s backyard, a loud deep barking came from the yard, I looked up and saw a large bulky, short haired dog, with dark gray fur and brown paws, I backed away from the dog and went to the front yard, I looked to the left then to the right, I jogged across the street to the local coffee shop and ordered a medium coffee with milk and two sugars. I sat down at one of the tables and took a sip from the steaming hot coffee, I sighed as I put the coffee down.

Someone came over and sat down across from me. I looked up, she had very short hair, it was sorta messy and flowed back, she had lovely hazel eyes and had wire rimmed glasses. She was looking down at a news paper, I saw my face on the back, I tried to hide my gasp as I read the headline “brook is wanted for murder and is still at large” with my picture below, the girl turned the newspaper over to read the back, her eyes widened and she slowly looked up, she raised her hand and pointed at me “y-y-you… YOU'RE A MURDERER!!” She shouted, and other people in the coffee shop looked at me “I’M NOT A MURDERER, I DIDN'T DO IT, I WAS FRAMED!!” I blurted as I ran into the glass door, I pushed on the door again but it didn’t budge, I tried again but it still didn’t open, then I looked at the knob, it was a pull door so I pulled it open, I felt ridiculous as I ran out the door.

I ran to an abandoned warehouse to hide from the police if the people in the shop called any, I went to a low window with a large crack draped across it and I elbowed it until the crack got bigger and more cracks appeared, then I slammed my elbow once more into the window and it shattered, broken glass blanketed the floor. The sun glistened on the shattered glass as I jumped up through the window, I walked across the floor and the glass crunched and cracked under my feet. I walked around the abandoned warehouse for a while, I looked in a large room with boarded up windows on the opposite wall, I walked in and found a desk, lined with paper and dust, I went to the back of the desk and found a partially open drawer, I wrapped three of my long slender fingers onto the dusty handle and pulled it open to find a piece of paper with pictures of kids with their names listed below, one was a girl named Isabella Johnson with pigtails and a crooked tooth, and on the picture a big red X covered the girls face. I looked along the page, more kids, and more X’s, then I looked to the left of the page and I saw Jack's face with a large X covering it and under it it said Jack Aklinn, lucky I wasn’t on the list but I had to stop whoever was doing this.

Suddenly I heard a sound, the tapping of shoes slowly walking down the hallway, I bolted to the closet across the room and hid inside, from inside I could sort of see the person but I couldn’t see their face. They walked toward the desk then stopped and slowly walked to the back of the desk, they looked at the still open drawer then looked up and looked around “Hey!” They blurted “I know someone is there, come out now” they looked around as they slammed the drawer. I could barely move in the cramped closet, I looked around for anything I could use to escape, then I saw it, a cold small black handgun, with a fully loaded chamber and some extra bullets next to the gun. I picked it up, my hands wrapped around the cold metal of the gun, my finger slid over the trigger, I examine the small gun, then I lift it up to the door right where I could see the other person, my finger slowly puts weight upon the trigger “I couldn’t possibly do this, I’m a good person,” I thought as I started to sweat “but if I kill this one person they will stop killing people” I closed my eyes and looked away as I pulled the trigger, BANG, I heard the person collapse to the ground in a loud thud.

I opened the closet door to find the person laying on the ground, with a bullet hole spewing blood right near their collarbone, he started to tremble as they looked up at me, their pupils shrunk as their eyes widened, they coughed and blood poured out of their mouth and they coughed again and it splattered across the floor, they sat up and leaned against the desk “why—“ they coughed again “—why did you do this, who are you”. My hand trembled and I dropped the gun, the cold metal of the gun collided with the stone floor as it made a loud clattering sound, I started to tremble as I stumbled backward toward the closet door, I leaned against the wooden door, it creaked as I put pressure on the door. I looked at my trembling hands, still cold from the cold gun, I glanced up toward the person I shot, I started to feel lightheaded and I collapsed to the floor into my knees, I grasped my hands around my head as tears poured from my eyes, the tears patterned quietly on the floor below me as I choked on my tears.

“Are you okay” a soft voice groaned, I looked up to the person I shot, I sniffled “what do you care” I said in a raspy voice “you seem troubled” they said as they coughed again “I’m sorry, I’m sorry” I whispered “don’t be” they said “by the way what’s your name, mines Jasmin” I sat up and wiped the tears off my face “mines Brook”. “I don’t feel so good” said Jasmin as they coughed and fell to the floor, I rushed over to them and grabbed their hand “No no no no no” I said “please don’t go, I didn’t mean to” I pulled their hand to my head and rested my head on their hand, tears started to pour from my eyes again. Their hand got cold and went limp, I let go of their hand and slowly put it down next to Jasmin. I looked at their face, a smile was draped upon their face, a smile slipped onto my face choking back tears.

I stood up, my legs felt weak as I tried to walk, I slowly went out the door, I turned around and looked at Jasmin’s lifeless body, I felt as if someone punched me in the gut, it felt like I was gonna throw up. I exited the abandoned warehouse and walked around with my hood over my head, I kept my head low as I walked around the street, I took a deep shaky breath trying to hold back tears. I started to head back to my street where my house is, but suddenly rain starts pouring down and the sky went dark, as I got closer to my street I felt hands wrap around my eyes and mouth, then I started to feel drowsy and I realized the hand around my mouth held a scrap of fabric doused with chloroform, I started to panic so I lashed around trying to break free but soon I felt drowsy and passed out. When I woke up, I was in a dark room on the floor, my hands and feet were tied together with a thick itchy rope, digging into my skin. I wiggled my hands trying to loosen it but it stayed tight “Help!!” I shouted but I didn’t hear anyone “Help!!” I shouted again hoping for a reply, but it was only followed by silence.

Tap, tap, tap, I heard tapping coming down what I think are stairs, the light from the top of the stairs illuminated in front of me and shined ever so slightly on me, a tall slender figure stepped slowly down the stairs casting a shadow over me, their long arm reached to the wall and flipped a switch and a fluorescent light illuminated above me, I squinted from the bright light and waited for my eyes to adjust, after a minute or so my eyes adjusted and I could nearly see the tall figure. The figure walked into the light, it was a man, he had dirty blonde hair, and green eyes. “Well well well, isn’t it our murderer” he said while kneeling down in front of me “I’m not a murderer” I said gritting my teeth, “of course you are, you can’t trick me” they said while lifting my head upward so I made eye contact with him, I pulled my face away and snarled at him “wow, a fierce one you are” commented the man while standing back up, he raised his hand and put it below his chin, he paced around, then looked at me “so who else are you planning to kill” he asked “like I said, I’m not a murderer” I replied, he started to get on my nerves for not believing me. He looked at me again but he looked disappointed “so, we can do this the easy way or the hard way” he started “the easy was is you confess your crime and go to jail, the hard way is you don’t say anything and we force you to confess” I sighed leaned against the wall, I started to chuckle “what’s so funny?” He asked “well no one knows where I am, or even cares I exist, and people who did care are gone now” my chuckle transitioned into sobbing, tears fell down my face as I slid down the wall to lay on the floor, a puddle of tears grew under my head.

“Oh dear” he muttered “what am I gonna do with you” he put his hand to his head and rubbed it, I still laid on the floor and my tears stopped but the small puddle of tears remained. He walked over to me and pulled me up by the collar of my shirt “HEY” I shouted as he lifted me up then pushed me against the wall while releasing my shirt. My legs laid out in front of me, he kneeled down and started untying my ankles, once he was done he threw the scratchy brown rope to the side “Stand up” he said in a stern voice, I stood up and he grabbed my shoulder and turned me around, he started to untie my wrists “there” he said as he took the rope off my sore wrists.

I rubbed my wrists as a small red ring remained on them, I glared at the guy “woah” he exclaimed and took a step back, my clothes still wet from the rain, sticking to my skin, I walked past the man and out the exit, I bolted out the building to appear in a damp dark alleyway and it was night, I elbowed into the wall and pushed myself forward off the wall and ran forward into the street. I looked around and saw two bright yellowish white lights speedily getting closer, I reached my arms in front of my face and flinched back, I heard a loud honk and a screech of the tires, I lowered my arms and opened my eyes to see the dirty white car in front of me honking their horn. I trotted to the sidewalk and out of the road, this was an unfamiliar road as my eyes darted around but all I saw was a local drug store and a restaurant ‘dine in and out’ was in red fluorescent lights. I walked around town looking for anything familiar, then I saw it, the abandoned warehouse where I shot Jasmin, I started to feel sick and almost threw up, I entered the warehouse, it was still dark and silent. I went to the room that Jasmin was in, the heavy metal door creaked as I shoved it open, I look in and see the lifeless body laying in a puddle of blood, it was so dark the blood looked black, I walked into the silent room and looked around then I heard something, I don’t know what it was but I heard something my eyes darted around.

My eyes adjusted to the darkness and I found the source of the sound, it was a rat underneath the desk, it scurried to the door as my eyes followed it. My eyes started to water as I remembered what I did to Jasmin, I wiped my eyes and looked around for the gun, I sweeped my hands across the cold stone floor. My hand bumps into the cold gun and I wrap my hand around it, I pick it up away from the floor, my warm hands wrap around the cold trigger and muzzle of the gun. I looked for a gun holder in closet that I previously hid in, I couldn’t see what was in the closet because it was very dark so I reached in and glided my hands across the items wishing the closet until I came across a small fabric pouch, I grabbed it and took it out and slid the gun in, it fit like a glove, I clipped it onto my belt and left the premises. The sun started to rise from the horizon, as I walked around the corner of the building “if they think I’m a villain might as well be one” I muttered quietly to myself.

I walked the dark streets of the town as the light from the sunrise seeped through the cracks of the buildings and trees, the sun started to pull across the sky and lit up the town as I walked to the park. I came across a few people early in the morning, going for jogs and stuff like that. I walked over to the pond, free from ripples and untouched. I looked down into the water to find myself, dark bags underneath my eyes from lack of sleep, my eyes were also droopy and slightly sore as well. I splashed some water from the pond into my face and wiped it off, it felt very refreshing and cold, my slightly wet hair stuck to my forehead as I stood up and headed to a breakfast restaurant. I went to the door of the restaurant and slightly pushed it but it was locked, next to the door was a schedule of when it was open, I believe it was wednesday and it didn’t open until 7:00 AM, I had no idea what time it was because I lost my phone, I haven’t realized I lost it before and frantically checked all my pockets but no sign of it.

I went over to one of the few people awake. “Do you know what time it is?” I asked a runner. He stopped and took out his phone “it’s 6:53” he told me and then proceeded to jog around the park. I went back to the restaurant and sat down at a wooden bench, it was white but the paint started to peel to reveal tan wood, I started to doze off at the bench then I fell asleep, the sound of people walking by woke me up. I headed into the restaurant and ordered some pancakes, it was a couple minutes and the food still hadn't arrived and I could hear my stomach rumbling. Then the waiter came by my table and carefully set down the large plate with golden pancakes layered in thick brownish-gold syrup. I slid my fork and knife into the fluffy pancakes and cut them into small squares and started to eat them. They were so delicious I finished them very quickly, and the waiter came back to my table “so how was your meal?” She asked “it was really good” I answered “so how will you be paying? Cash or card?” She suggested “oh, umm” I stuttered, I bolted up from my seat and ran to the door “sorry, gotta dine n’ dash” I blurted as I ran out the door “HEY YOU GOT TO PAY FOR YOUR MEAL” the waitress shouted.

I ran out of the building, I didn't know where to go other than my home, I made my way around town toward my house, the sun was directly above the town now and I was almost at my house. My neighborhood started to come into view and I could see my house, and jacks house, but jacks house had the lights on and I saw someone inside, I ran to jacks house and saw Jack, he was fine “fucking asshole” I mumbled to myself “he faked his death and I got blamed for it” I thought. My face naturally went into a scowl. I went to the front door and raised my hand to knock on the door but I stopped myself. "Should I confront him?” I questioned myself in my head, suddenly I started to feel light headed and the world started to black out and I collapsed onto the door. Well that’s what I get for skipping sleep for a couple days. My body started to feel cold, numb, and stiff and I was nearly able to move. I sat in front of a small open closet but inside the closet was nothing but the abyss, I looked into the darkness wondering what was inside, then something bolted out of the darkness, a hand. The pitch dark hand came out and wrapped around my arm as I still couldn’t move, more hands bolted out of the abyss slowly suffocating me in the inky darkness, some wrapped around my mouth and I was unable to shout for help. I bolted up, a cold chill went down my spine and I was covered with a cold sweat, it was just a dream. I thought while relaxing, I looked around and I was on Jack's doorstep, the lights were off in his house. How long was I out for, I thought as I rubbed my head and sat down on the doorstep.

I felt marcid and drained, I stood up but my legs refused to hold me up, I’m way too exhausted to walk. I pulled myself up on his door and twisted the copper handle, I fell inward as the door swung open, I looked around for Jack but I realized the house was completely empty except for me. I pulled myself up on the dining table and I heard the wooden floor creak ever so slightly, I could barely stand let alone walk, my eyes were so tired they could barely stay open and my eyes were burning and started to tear up and I could barely see. I patted down the walls in search of a light switch, then I heard a click and the lights flashed on, I rubbed my sore eyes until they cleared “Jake?” I questioned as it echoed through the empty house “Jake?” I said again but slightly louder, I stumbled around the house in search of him but had no luck. I collapsed back onto the untouched couch and put my palm to my head and groaned in pain, I think I was having a migraine but I don’t know because I never had one before, I slumped across the couch a and laid across it, I was extremely tired and I think I fell asleep for who knows how long, but when I woke up it was dark.

When I got up I was sore, like really sore, I walked out the door that I forgot to close, when I got outside it wasn’t cold or hot, it was kind of humid out but I proceeded to go back to my house, I could nearly walk on account of how tired I was, i stumbled my way back to my house down the street, i almost toppled over a couple times but managed to keep steady. But then everything went dark, and a high-pitched ringing was in my ears, and I felt myself hit the ground hard, then I heard a faint siren and red and blue lights. My eyelids were too heavy to keep open so I shut them. It's been awhile and i was still unconscious but I could hear everything that was happening, I heard people talking to one another on radios, with a static sound when they finished their conversions, I heard a heart monitor, beeping every so often. Where it smelled weird but good, like medicine and sanitizer. I opened my eyes and took a quick look around was wearing a strange thing blue gown, and there were two nurses beside me holding a clipboard with a paper on it and talking to each other, then one of them pointed back to me without turning around “this patient was found a couple nights ago passed out on the sidewalk, they didn't have any licenses on them when we found them, but they did have a gun. When we found them passed out we did a drug test to see if they were drunk, but they were clean. Were not sure the reason for the pass out” she continued to talk and talk about me, and if i was ok, then they started to turn around and i quickly closed my eyes to pretend I was still passed out, my heart started to pound faster with fear, the heart monitor started to beep faster which made my anxiety spike and my heart beat even faster, the two nurses rushed around my bed to check on the monitor, one tapped the glass and i tried to slow down my heart rate, very quickly it went back to normal “must have been a malfunction” one of the nurses said “yeah probably” agreed the other nurse, they walked back around the bed and left the room.

Soon later the lights in my room turned off and the hallway lights dimmed, a pale yellow fluorescent color. I waited a bit to make sure no one was in the hallway so I could make my escape. I sat up slowly and craned my head to the door then to my arm, it had four different needles in it, fastened on with a fabric like tape, all of them were attached to different thin tubes, i peeled the tape off and pulled out the needles one by one, it stung a little bit but once they were out, small drops of blood started to form at the hole in my skin where the needles once pierced, i wiped the blood away and stood up out of the bed, i felt dizzy and i had to grab the metal bar on the side of the bed for support, my head started to spin and i almost passed out, i felt winded and exhausted “how long was i out” i muttered to myself not expecting a response “you've been out for a couple days” said a soft calm voice from behind me, it was an young girl, it looks like she got her left forearm amputated, i nodded and stumbled my way out of the dark room and clung to the wall so i wouldn't collapse to the ground, the hospital seemed empty, no nurses in the hallways, or patients. My head slowly started to stop spinning and I could walk without the wall. I tried to be as quiet as possible so no one would know I was leaving. Soon after I got to the door and left, I had no idea where I was, who knows how far away I am from my house, how I would get home, I have no money, no friends, or family. “I'm a murderer” i whispered to myself, i sat down on the cold pavement, the sun has been down for a while, the cold wind bit at my skin through the cheap gown, i curled up and dug my face into my knees to hide the tears “what will i do now” i said while tearchoked “what do i do, i have nothing, i killed people, and for what” i could feel my eyes starting to burn as more tears flooded down my face and as i started to hyperventilate.

I felt a warm hand lay on my shoulder, i got startled and jerked away, i could barely see them through the tears, my shaky breath started to calm, and my tears started to stop “c’mon lets get you back inside” said the person, it was a female voice, it must have been one of the nurses that were in my room, she grabbed my hand and pulled me up. I wiped my tears from my eyes, then wiped my wet hand onto the gown and it left a salty tear stain, she lightly pulled my hand wanting me to follow her so i did, we went back through the sliding doors at the front and passed the main desk, there was still no one there, probably out for lunch or changing shifts. My tears fully stopped but my eyes still burned. She brought me back to the room i was in before with the girl, The nurse hooked up the the needles and tubes back into my arm where a red crusting smudge mark lay, a bubble emerged from the semi-clear bag attached to a tube that attaches to my arm “hmm” i hummed as i looked at the bag. “Whatcha thinkin bout” the nurse asked “what” i said because i was not paying attention to her “what-” “oh me” i said before she asked me again “just thinking” i fully answered, “about what exactly” she asked as she sat down at the foot of the bed “nothing important” i lied and looked in the other direction away from her but she was still in my peripheral vision, i could see she was worried about me, she stood up and the bed creaked ever so slightly without turning around. I watched her as she flipped the lights of and turned left down the dim lit hallway, soon the clock in front of me that was hanging on the wall turned its hands to 11 pm, it was starting to get late, when can i go home r if i ever go home, i began to get even more worried, my breaths became shallow and my eyes jumped around the room looking for an object that doesn’t exist, my heart beat slightly faster and my breaths got shallower and shallower to the point i couldn't breathe, my heart beat faster and faster, the beeping from the machine sped up, ‘what was happening’ i yelled to myself in my head, i couldn't speak, my throat became dry and scratchy from the breathing soon becoming raspy. The two nurses busted through the door in a rush to get to me but then everything faded to black, I heard yelling, and alarms, and people barking orders to one another ‘was I dead’ I thought to myself, I don't feel my heartbeat, i am calm, finally at peace. Then a flash of light blinded my eyes, soon later adjusted back to the hospital room as i bolted up from the bed, a cold sweat running down my back, “thank god, just a nightmare” i muttered as i wiped the sweat off my face and lay back down ‘but what if… nah it's stupid’ i thought ‘but what if it wasn't a dream, and i could have died’ i lay there staring at the off white ceiling… thinking.

The next day the nurses came in with my clothes “you are free to go” one of them spoke while the other came over and detached the needles and tubes from my arm, the other nurse put the neatly folded clothes at the middle of the bed near the edge “you can change, then sign the paperwork” she set down a clipboard with a piece of paper on it with a pen on top of the folded clothes “and then you're free to go” she finished, they both left the room and shut the door “it's nice you're getting out early” the voice startled me then i remembered the the girl next to me was there, her grayish maroon curtain made a wall around her bed, i stood up and started to get my clothes on, they smelled clean without a particular sent, but they also felt clean, they felt nice, still warm from the dryer. I sat on the edge of the bed and pulled over the clipboard but as ii did the pen fell on the ground with a light click and rolled partially under the bed, i bent down while still sitting on the bed reaching under the bed for the pen, but then i felt something it didn't feel like the pen, it felt like wood, i grabbed the wood object and pulled it out, it was a small antique wooden box. i held it in front of me on my lap and observed it, it was a mostly gray box but still had tints of brown from the aged wood, i turned the box around and found a tiny flip lock keeping it closed, i wedged my finger under the thin piece of metal trying to open it, whoever put it here must have put this here a long time ago, then my finger with a lot of force slammed the small lock onto the top piece of the box. I opened the box, it had a small note on it, the outside of it written on it said ‘for my love’, i folded the note open, it was frail and old, it was crumpled and ripped but was filled with love ‘dear my love, by the time you find this it will be too late, and i would have disappeared forever, it's not you it’s me, i've done many wrong things i'm not proud about, i hope you will still love me, because i still love you. Someday I hope we will find eachother again whether the earth crumbles or we bump into each other at the mall. I sure hope you can understand I will never stop loving you. Your dearest, jasmin’ tears swelled up in my eyes, jasmin can never find the one she loves ever again because of me, it's all my fault, my throat swelled and i began to choke on my tears, he will never know that she loved him. I signed the paperwork and grabbed the box then left. I sat at the empty bus stop waiting for the bus to arrive, tears still streamed down my face as the bus arrived, I wiped the tears and sniffled a bit, the doors of the bus swung open waning me to step inside. ‘Maybe I can start anew, be a different person, live a better life’ I thought, but then I realized that won't stop me from being a wanted criminal, that won't bring Jack back, it won't solve anything.

I sulked on the busses itchy fabric seat, alone, no one here but me and the driver, but it was nice to look out the window and look at all the good things in life, but maybe, just maybe i could be a new person, but i also didn't want to change i liked being wanted, you don't have to listen to anyone, you can just be free, but it fills me with dread when i think about the people i hurt like jasmin, but thinking about jack makes my stomach tie into a knot and i feel like i need to throw up, i remember his lifeless body draped across the floor as a bed of blood lies beneath him, and the knife, brutally stabbed into the floor. I wish that it never happened, i wish that jack never died so i wouldnt be a murderer, a fucking wanted criminal. This was the worst couple weeks of my life, everyone who cares about me is fucking dead, i wish i never existed. I stood up and pressed the button to let me off the bus and the bus halted to a stop, it was near the cliff of the town, the most popular attraction to go to, its where our founder founded the town, no one really visits it anymore, it's become gray, dull, and depressing, i walked for a couple minutes to get to the cliff, i stood atop and placed the wooden box beneath a nearby tree, the town draped across the valley like a pond “i can't do this anymore” i whispered to myself “I CAN’T FUCKING DO THIS ANY MORE” i shouted, i stepped closer to the edge, single tear fell from my eye, my stomach tied into a knot, i looked across the town one last time, gazing as the sun set, pulling the dark night sky over the town. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, i stretched out my foot over the cliff side “at least i saw the sunset one last time” i said to the darkness, i leaned forward over the cliff, waiting to fall, but then i felt two tender hands grasping the back of my shirt, and pulled me away from the cliff, i was choking on my tears “just let me do this” i push them away and i walk back to the edge, they wrap their arms tightly around me, and i kneel to the ground and they follow “please don't do this, you don't deserve it” they told me “NO I DO DESERVE IT” i yelled at them trying to squirm my way out of the hug but they only tightened their grip, i felt tears drip through the back of my shirt, they were crying, i stopped trying to get out and just accepted the hug. I started to cry more, i haven't had any love in so long i forgot what it feels like to receive it “th-than-nk y-y-you” i said tearchoked, “t-th-thank you” i muttered quieter to them. I started to quietly laugh, oh boy how i missed this, how i missed affection, i never want this to stop “i never want this to stop, i wanna stay like this forever” i croakaly said “dont worry im not going anywhere” said the voice calmly “its ok” they reassured me, i turned around and hugged them back, i never wanted to let go. They hugged me and i hugged them for awhile, this is the best i have felt in years, i wiped the tears from my eyes but they just kept coming, after my tears started to clear up i got a clear view of the persons face, it was the bus driver, they saw what i was gonna do, and they cared enough for a stranger to save their life, i have never met anyone like this… except jack, he would always care for others, and always helped people, the busdriver loosened their hug but i kept mine tight and firm “thank you jack” i whispered, i don't think the driver minded that i called them jack, just as long as i was safe “thank you” i said one final time.

[gayforink]

WIP Wednesday: November 20th, 2024

Here are all my three sentences for my SFH WIPS. This was really fun!

honey, you're familiar: mjjw

Tagging: @kallisto-k, @somefishycat :)

A bridal dress for her all-seeing eyes, as though she doesn’t know the exact brutality of her decisions. 

She purses her lips, the sleeves of her robe curling up as she pushes them back. She pushes the photos aside, picking up the dress with sharp nails. Underneath them all lies the one thing that matters, the one thing that her boy really wanted her to see. 

In Seo Moonjo’s usual scrawl lies just two words, heavy with meaning. 

Proof, halmae. 

2. growing black irises: mjjw

Tagging: @zyrafowe-sny

It’s late now, the sky dark and polluted blue, but the heat lingers, wrapping around his skin from the moment he stepped outside. Moonjo–if it weren’t for the clammy warmth in his hands, Jongwoo would’ve thought he was an alien by the way he stood, unbothered by the heat of summer. He doesn’t know how Moonjo’s functioning in that sweater; Jongwoo would’ve walked outside naked before he wore a sweater like that one.

3. femslash mjjw

Tagging: @quietly-sleeping, @saiditallbefore

Finding a residence is easier said than done; the search is tedious and long. Jiwoo feigns smiles and appreciation at expensive cages; drinks bitter coffee and makes a clean exit when the subject of rent comes up. She had made a list before coming, but the list soon revealed itself to be a growing mountain of unaffordability. Sweat soaks the back of her t-shirt as Jiwoo pushes her suitcase in front of her after the fourth residence. She can smell it, the weight of her exhaustion.

Jieun still hasn’t called back. Jiwoo left multiple messages, but doubts if her estranged friend would see them. A familiar bitterness works its way into Jiwoo’s mind, scratching against her throat.

4. cut clean from the dream at night: jongwoo character study, implied mjjw

Tagging: @twyrewolf, @tamsinswriting, @oriharaizayadividesintoslytherin

He’d been a liar–that’s for sure–but he had not lied about this. 

Perhaps that was because 304 had never told Jongwoo about his house. (Or really, he might have–Jongwoo’s memory was hardly the one to trust.) A house that 304 had bought shortly before Jongwoo’s arrival in Seoul. Fairly close to his clinic; an apartment. Decently sized and expensive. The events at Eden had put all of 304’s possessions into focus; the clinic was boarded up, the apartment building as a whole gained a bad name. You don’t expect a friendly neighbourhood dentist to turn out to be a vicious murderer. Eden and 304 were the talk of the town for many of the months after.

[vee-beeee]

(Part one) Robo Road Trip

HIIII

This is PART ONE BABY (edit I FINISHED COOKING right here)

Okay the last dbh post was KINDAA giving depression so heres a FLUFFY fluffy one thats been bouncing around my brain for a couple days, part one as im going to make a continuation that shows what camping is like with the boys.

Premise: Road Trip to the West coast with Conner, Nines and Sixty

Imagine those roads with trees surrounding them, thats the vibe

Also first time writing for SIXTY whoooo hope im not trash, he acts like a smug dramatic guy so idk

Conner, Nines and Sixty x reader

I believeee this is around 3k lol i went ham

Warnings: maybe a bad word because sixty, fluff with a capitol F, part one

I also recommended listening to ANY Lord Huron song while reading this, that is basically the road trip music

(Hey sidenote, I know some of the ecosystem is TRASHED in dbh but lets pretend thats not happening LOL)

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You were so happy to get out of the city.

And into the car for a 35 hour drive.

You really wanted to show your boys the mountain you would always camp at when you were on the West Coast. They all hadn't been outside of Detroit, being made to do one job IN Detroit, but now they were all deviant.

And you wanted to show them a taste of the outside world.

It took a while for you all to get packed, the droids really wanted to try experimenting with their wardrobes on this trip. They sought to explore their inner human as much as possible.

You all needed the appropriate gear, so you guys went on a little shopping spree to find a tent and basic camping stuff. Hank had actually tagged along to coach you guys on what to get, having gone camping a couple times himself. (he mostly talked with you and Conner while sending glares to Sixty and Nines)

You ended up getting a pretty fancy tent that was big enough for all of you, and some essential equipment for cooking and cleaning. You also snuck in some board and card games, even though you knew they would beat you. But you could probably win ONE time...

Right??

After buying the gear, you guys got planning. You could only stay camping for 5 days, as the station didn't necessarily enjoy losing 4 cops. Especially 3 of the 4 being advanced detective androids. But it had worked out, (the boys having saved an astronomical amount of sick days) and you planned on going sometime in the fall. You decided on a week and you remember hurriedly running to your calendar and circling the date and also drawing a bunch of small doodles around it. The boys had all watched you fondly, getting excited themselves.

It all lead up to this moment, where Conner sitting next to you in the driver seat and was setting the location in his new GPS, Nines and Sixty where packing the car, and you were making a road trip playlist. (Hey that's very important!)

"Hey Conner?" He hummed in response and didn't look at you, too busy trying to figure out a new gadget he got for his car.

"Do you like Lord Huron?" You were trying to decide what the perfect music to play was and realized that Lord Huron existed. You weren't really sure how androids experienced music so you thought of asking. He huffed out a sigh directed at the troublesome device and turned to look at your phone, where you also had your eyes glued.

"I don't really listen to music as such, but Hank has introduced me to heavy metal. Is it like that?" You giggled remembering Hanks music taste

"No its more gentle, relaxing. It reminds me of walking in the woods." Out of the corner of your eye Conner looked away, LED blinking amber and blue. He looked back at you with a soft smile and this time you met his gaze.

"That sounds delightful, my dear. Perfect for this occasion" You flushed at the nickname, and he chuckled seeing your reaction. He leaned in and kissed your cheek before exiting the car, hearing Sixty's call that they were almost done. You sat in the vehicle, skin heating, and raising a hand to graze the place he kissed you. You loved when he did that. A steady knock at the window startled you and you whipped around to see a familiar face (sixty) smirking at you, seeing that you were flushed. You stuck your tongue out at him and he reciprocated, sticking his tongue back at you.

"If you two would stop behaving like children, we would be done much sooner." A booming voice cut through your contest with sixty, and you watched him roll his eyes and face an annoyed Nines. You got out of the car to go help the RK900 with what he was carrying. He was still grumpy so you smiled softly at him and mouthed an apology. He relaxed slightly, but still shot a glare at sixty, who chuckled and went back into the apartment and get more bags. You then took the time to appreciate Conner's awesome Bat Mobile car. It had a huge trunk that managed to fit all of your stuff, tent included. It was truly a miracle machine.

You walked over to the car and gave the suitcase to Conner who situated it nicely in a perfect space. You were also lucky to have android boyfriends who were amazing at managing tight spaces and fitting things into them.

After a couple of minutes, Sixty emerged with the last of the bags. He informed you all that he locked the house up and engaged the security systems. The final step. You were really going.

You all piled into the car, both Nines and Sixty insisting you take the front seat. You accepted, but promised to swap with them when you got to the next stop. Most rest stops would be for you, needing to get food or use a restroom. The droids didn't need anything but told you they needed to get up and stretch their legs once in a while ( but you think that was just their excuse so they could follow you around and make sure you were safe at suspicious gas stations.)

After a while of driving through the city, Conner was getting on the highway when you announced that you would be playing a Lord Huron song and see how everyone liked it. You turned on "Meet Me in the Woods" and leaned back to look out the window.

"I took a little journey to the unknown,

And I've come back changed I can feel it in my bones

I messed with the forces our eyes cant see

Now the darkness got a hold on me

Oh, the darkness got a hold on me"

You had closed your eyes and started to quietly sing along, and realized you should see what the others thought about it. You turned your head slightly to Conner staring out at the road ahead, his LED blinking yellow and blue. He had a soft, lingering smile on his face and his posture was relaxed.

Sixty had his eyes closed, leaning his head all the way back on the seat and seemed to be absorbing the music.

Nines was also leaning back, arms crossed. He was staring out the window with his LED a soft, stable amber. He turned slightly to just catch the end of your gaze and his lips twitched in a cute, endearing way. It was a Nines smile. You smiled back at him and turned around to look out the front windshield. It was raining slightly, and you were just leaving the city and into the unknown. It was perfect.

After the song had finished, you tore your eyes away from the road

"Did you all like it?" you hopefully gazed at each individual and noticed they all looked at peace. Conner spoke first

"Do you have more music of that energy? I think I enjoyed it."

"I agree. More please"

"Indeed"

You looked around to see everyone nodding their heads and you beamed. And so, your playlist made it past the android enjoyment test. You settled in as it started the next song, feeling content. You could totally do 35 hours.

(4 hours in)

Update: why would you do this to yourself. 35 hours? Were you crazy? You loved road trips as much as the next guy, but you were dying. You guys were currently stuck in traffic, and the boys had gotten involved in a pretty intense "dad stuck in traffic" fight.

"Nines, going on I90 would have taken us to the heart of Chicago, do you want more traffic?"

"No it wouldn't if we took the round about. Whose the more advanced android here Conner."

"Woah, low blow"

"Be quiet Sixty"

This started as Nines getting mad at Conner for taking them down a road that had high traffic at that hour, and Conner defending himself. Sixty had no argument, he just liked being included.

"I took 294 because I knew it would keep us out of the worst of the traffic. No matter what, traffic is inevitable."

"It could have been avoidable had you followed my instructions"

You were sitting in the passenger seat, eyes squeezed shut listening to them argue. It was infuriating.

So you did something.

"Guys I'm going to jump out of the car and sprint down the street like a crazy person if you don't stop arguing. I'm dead serious" You snapped and stared them down. Or a least you tried, because your face betrayed you and you broke out into a smile giggle.

Conner looked guilty at first, but saw your grin and started chuckling, envisioning you running down the street like a madman. Nines bristled, still annoyed. Even if your giggle made his lips quirk. You made eye contact with Sixty and he was smirking at you, taking out his coin to mess around with.

You eventually sighed, a couple minutes having passed. You turned around to address Nines.

"Traffic was inevitable" then you turned to Conner "No arguing". You took Conner's hand in yours and held it. Another smile broke out onto his face and he turned to look out on the road. You felt a hand graze your neck and you twisted around to see Nines reaching out. He moved forward to peck your temple and then quietly apologized to Conner.

Mission Successful.

But that was mission one. Mission two was figuring out how to go to use the bathroom. Because you were currently stuck in traffic. That wasn't great. After a couple minutes of fidgeting your legs, Conner took his hand away from holding yours and looked toward you. His gaze was steady, as his LED blinked and you knew in the back of your head that he was scanning you.

"Do you have to use the lavatory?" You gasped and shoved his shoulder, watching him bite back a laugh, and then started sinking in to your seat.

"Conner! That's so embarrassing."

"Did maybe someone tell you to go before we left? Oh wait, that sounds like something I would say" Sixty spoke up from the back of the car. You turned around to gape at him, and he just sat there looking smug. You could hear Conner and Nines subdued chuckling behind the music that was playing.

You ended up holding out, absolutely refusing to go in the woods by the road, insisting that someone would see you. Conner pulled over at a gas station and you all but flew out of the car and bolted through the store until skidding to a stop right outside the bathroom.

When you got out, Sixty was buying your favorite snack and you saw Conner and Nines fueling up the car out the window. They were seriously so thoughtful.

After Sixty was done paying, you came up behind him and hugged his middle. He laughed and held your hands still on his middle, and spun you. You squeaked and he laughed harder. He stopped and unwrapped you to kiss your head and hand you your prized snack. You pecked his lips and left, both of you saying good day to the amused employee working there.

(17 hours in)

It started getting really late so you guys stayed at a motel for the night. You guys all relaxed on a fluffy bed, all party's included were happy to stretch their legs. You and Nines had been switching front seat and back seat, and Sixty had repeatedly old you he was fine where he was. Nines had revealed to you later that Sixty just wanted to sit next to you.

You got up from the bed first, eager to get ready and sleep. When you came out 30 minutes later, Conner was laying still under the blankets, staring at the celling. Nines was also under, and had rolled over to face the window. And Sixty had apparently, at some point while you were in the bathroom, been knocked off the bed. He was currently face down on the floor. You giggled and nudged his side. He rolled over, clutching his heart.

"They, (fake coughing) their so mean. They shoved me off the bed" you shook your head and leaned down on your knees to kiss his cheek. He accepted and rolled back over on his face. Conner then spoke up from the bed

"I wouldn't kiss his face, this floor is filthy." You stood up and laughed, making your way to the bed and crawling over him to slip between him and Nines. Nines stiffened until he got comfortable, and Conner wrapped his arms around you to spoon you.

"Just say your jealous she kissed me Conny" came a voice from the floor. Conner scoffed and replied with another rhetorical comment hidden in a nice tone. Nines joined in just when you started slipping into sleep, and the last thing you heard before you left to dream world was Conner whispering goodnight into your ear.

In the morning you woke up covered in androids. Very snugly droids. You all then got packed up and set off. During the drive, You found out Sixty had crawled into bed after you and shoved Nines off when he was in rest mode. Nines woke up very alarmed, and decided to continue his rest in one the the chairs in the room the motel provided. You had felt so bad afterwards, but he insisted it was fine.

You guys were driving through North Dakota today, and you were currently knitting. The boys were discussing a case that was giving them a hard time. You would have joined in but you believed in not talking about work on your precious vacation time. You were sitting in the back seat now, Sixty at your side, and it was very domestic. You felt a hand wrap itself around your knee and you smiled, continuing your stitch.

(30 hours in)

You were totally knocked out. The boys wanted to continue driving to beat traffic, and were currently talking through their android Verizon service (using their minds) as to not wake you up.

But you still accidently woke up with a start when Sixty had rolled his shoulder, unintentionally dropping your head off him. You had apparently drifted off resting your face on his soft puffy jacket.

To which he did NOT mind.

You squeaked awake, being surprisingly shoved off your pillow. Sixty immediately said a quiet apology, but it was too late. 2 angry droids turned there seats around to glare down the accused RK800.

"We told you to stay still" they said that almost in synch

"I was reaching for a blanket! I didn't know a small movement would wake her!"

You sleepily giggled at their little argument and passed out against him once again.

When you woke up for real, you were informed that you guys were almost three hours away. You breathed a sigh of relief, but still begged to pull over so you could get some air. You were in a beautiful parts of the woods and you desperately needed a stretch after sleeping on Sixty. No offence, but snuggling with androids is like snuggling with a very sturdy pillow. Your happy for it, but its not very squishy.

Nines had chuckled at how desperate you looked and obliged. You popped out and basically ran halfway down the road and back. You were huffing when you came back to the car. Conner rolled his window down, eyebrow raised. You wheezed

"Sorry, needed to run" He nodded in understanding, and actually got out himself to stretch his android joints and put on his cute little beanie. Sixty got out and straightened his tie, and Nines choose to stay in the car and work on coordinates. Sixty walked around the car to join you and Conner, and looped his arms around your waist. You yelped as he picked you up slightly to sling you back in forth.

"How are you enjoying the road trip?" He punctuated each word with a swing of your body. You were laughing when you responded "Good, but I'm excited to get there" Conner had been watching you fondly when he stated

"Nines says its 3 more hours, but we might get delayed depending on traffic." you nodded and Sixty set you down. You then went up to go hug Conner, making sure he wasn't missing any affection.

After more standing and stretching, you got in the front seat with Nines next to you, setting the car to auto drive. Conner and Sixty were sitting in the back, playing one of the card games you brought and starting to get very competitive with each other. You beamed and turned back to look at Nines. His eyes weren't on the road, however. He was staring at you with an expression of absolute love. You both sat and stared at each other until he leaned over and grabbed the back of your head, threaded his fingers into your hair, and kissed your temple. You shivered as his fingers rubbed your scalp and he grinned against your temple.

(5 minutes away from campsite)

You were bouncing off the walls excited. It had been years since you visited this spot, having been to far away after moving to Detroit. The boys had been enjoying the scenery outside the city, but now the were enthralled. The woods were huge, and the air was fresh. Moss hung from the arms of the trees and you could see your mountain peeking over the top of the forest. You guys were waiting in line at the entrance of the campsite to check in, and you were gushing about how pretty your spot was. It was nestled in the corner of the campsite, leading into a trail into your own personal forest. Complete with a little stream.

The androids were amused watching you talk about the park, but they were almost as excited as you. When you were sleeping, all they talked about was this new experience, and how happy they were to share it with you. It was interesting seeing all the new environments and experiencing what its like outside of the city. Detroit was so advanced, and they had never really been deep in the woods.

After patiently waiting, you finally got all checked in and remembered to buy some firewood.

Then, you were off.

Starting your very first camping trip with your wonderful android boyfriends

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PART ONE YALL

Hope its okay, had to really crack at this one to fit all my ideas in. Its also hard to write the dynamic between 4 people LOL

Hope I managed to capture their personalities okay

Part 2 is all about them camping so stay tuned

It might take a bit so hang on and let me cook 🔥

Sorry for plot holes or if this has been done beforee

[abuseken-tournament]

The following songs will be included in the tournament, please let me know if I missed any (or repeated some!)

Kill

Let's Clean Up

Iesu

Iesu (remix)

Christ

Christ (Karma a Dharma)

Albino

Moths and Mayflies

Dogdog

That Whale is a Villain

Double Suicide

Syuno Keru

King

Firewater

Summer of Frostbite

Blue

He is a Ghost

Abortion

Menthol Tear

iKill

God, Please ( ) Me, a Monster

Don't Kill

The Wedding Celebration

The Wedding Celebration (Karma a Dharma)

Goodbye My Country

Want to be Cremated

Ignite I

Dear Suns

Tomato

Flower War

Judas

Judas (Karma a Dharma)

Ignite II

Flowers, Mountains, and Funerals

Hanamuke

Bush

Bush (vocaloid demo)

Identification

Buglitch

Kattarura

Laundromat

Smoke and Rain

Capital Punishment

Night Light Train

Kujira

Heart Attack

Morgue

Root Provisional Law

Spring Will Kill

Krampus

Jack Was a Bad Guy

Heathen at Heart

I Bit My Tongue at a Street Seller

Woman First and Woman Second

Yes Yes Yes

Caught Caught Caught

Arukari

Equations and Kafka

Polysentimental Object Syndrome

Innocence

In the Blanks

In the Blanks (2018)

Eugrom

Seiharu

Worst Night

Snake

Snake (acoustic)

Monkey

Wan Wan Wanderer

Distoartion

Shinjuku Jack

Calsi and the Old Man

It's Called (Platonic) Love

Ren-kun

Ikebukuro Night West Exit 20240623

Untitled (Dog pic cover)

Horinouchi

Trust Me

Dogdays

Kumaroshi

ikill2

River Rafting (Demo)

Moveaway

Gasoline Bridge

Sorry to Bother You So Late at Night

A Very Pleasant Day in May

Iluvmusicilovefurry

Buy a Gun

Ma • ga • i • mo • no • kan • zen • tai

>>4 I’m On My Way

A

The Call of the Beast

Bullet (Miku Demo)

Cum (Miku Demo)

Porn, Movies, and Melonpan (Miku Demo)

Let Snakes Become Dragons

Untitled (White Karma a Dharma cover)

Ignite III

Ignite_ (check)

Killo

Water Balloon

Reversible Gochujang

Siiim2

Siiim2 (2024 remaster)

Rakuraku

Sink Into the Dead of Night

Futtekuru

Dead Stock

Shokishodo

Bye Bye Mushroom

Nostalgia

Runaway

Small Freedom

Bye Bye

Iron

[townofcadence]

He's made good progress the last two days. That was how it went when he really dialed into a project. It was almost like the times his uncle too him on trips for contract work. It was... a little less enjoyable all by his lonesome, but that just made him work harder. It was meditative too, cathartic, to be busy, to be fixing something, improving the space. It was good to be useful, and see progress.

Since he'd been here too, he'd managed a lot. He'd cleared out the backyard of the maze of brambles and disenchanted the glamours to open up the garden with the fountain. He'd weeded the area and tilled a patch of fresh earth, and set up a compost, and built an enclosure and housing for animals. He'd fixed up the well for drawing water, and tested it to make sure it was safe to drink (which it was, unsurprising. It drew from a water table up here that ran beneath the mountain where there was little to impact it).

Inside, the kitchen counter had been repaired. He'd tiled the wall, and replaced the fridge's heat coil with another he'd refurbished from the junkyard at his uncle's shop. He'd restored power too, from the source that powered the whole house. The lighting above helped at night, and the fridge could now run and get cold. He'd fixed up the ovens too, both of them. There was an assortment of pots and pans and cutlery that had been left behind, as well as a pretty fancy spice rack and a few appliances. Everything was in great condition. It made sense. The kitchen was hardly touched by Lament, and kept in perfect order by his counterpart. This was where he'd really started to learn to cook, beyond what he'd learned in the Rivera-Flores kitchen. How many recipes had he prepared on this stove? On the thick wooden cutting board in the cabinet next to the fridge?

He chooses not to think about it, because the memories are bittersweet. And really, the kitchen had been the least of his concerns when it came to renovation. He just assumes it'd get used often, so it was one of the first places he really focused on tackling. The rest of the house.... was a bit more work. Or at least, a few rooms were. Most of the manor on the second floor was fine-- there were far too many rooms for just two people, and most of them were never even touched on the blue side. Breezing in and dusting out the space was all it needed. The red-pink rooms, he simply removed the broken furniture that he couldn't fix, and swept and cleaned them up. They could be filled with whatever in their own time, maybe.

The more difficult spaces... were the rage room, and the attic, as well as the basement. And the yellow room on the pink side. He-- started with the rage room. It was easy to take care of. He removed all the splintered remains of what was once furniture. He fixed the drywall where holes had been punched into it, and painted over them. By the time it was done, it was like the anger never existed. At least, to most eyes. The anger and the memories lodged into the walls of this space tasted like hot spice on his tongue and prickled the back of his neck. But if he was the only one who felt it, that'd be fine. It was like... the memory of the space this used to be. A memory he wanted to keep. But still, he wanted the space to be useful, too. Find new purpose. A kinder one, maybe.

The basement was next. He found one of his letters stashed in the plush lining of the coffin, and read it again. It sent a welling sensation into his chest. But-- he pushed it away. Getting the coffin out of there would've been difficult, had he tried the stairs. But instead, he moved it into the cavern connected to the house, the secret exit. The garden had a burial marker, but the last pieces of his friends would stay here, like a shrine not to forget them, even if the house changed. He placed the letter beneath the pillow when he had it in the room, a space he was the only one left to know about. That would change...but not for now. He leaves it there, rich blue satin insides almost empty, ebony and silver inlaid wood sealed shut. There's a hoard down further below, but he'll deal with that later.

Next to last....the attic.

He starts with the window. The one he'd climbed on the roof through forever ago, still broken. Not that it had been him. It hadn't been him who used thing, not him who stood up on the shingles, not him who leapt off... But it had been a frenzied leap through the window by Error that'd kept him from hitting the ground. It had been Error, who'd pulled that thing out of him while Lament kept him pinned.

He shakes his head. He sweeps leaves and debris from the floorboards that'd gotten in through the window, and seals it up for now with a temporary cover. Getting the glass to replace it would take a bit of time, but it wasn't going anywhere. So now, it was the attic itself. The last room. It's.... cluttered, full of things that were hoarded over years. Mostly trinkets or--- sentimental objects. It would take a while to go through everything, probably more time than he really had. But he could at least get started. It's easy enough clear a space near the bed up here, a large loft bed built more like a next. He cleans it out of any lingering items, leaving them in the rest of the piles he'll need to sort through. The most sentimental of objects, are brought to the basement and stored together.

The yellow room he hardly has to bother with. It was his, once upon a time. There isn't much in there, in his room beside the attic stairs. He takes the time to collect some of his things and store them here, as spares for anyone that might need anything. A lot of his old clothes are too loose on him, so they might as well get some use here. Anything worth treasuring is stored in his bag for now, but it doesn't take long to empty this place of memories. He'd done so once before, when he was leaving it behind.

For now, though, he only has a few days left. He'd need to gather supplies and ingredients, and.... he has one last project, for the attic. He has all the materials on hand now, so it's just a matter of finishing before Sunday. Easy enough when he had nothing else to do. Then he'd focus on celebratory part. All of that was just about finishing up a few loose ends.

He.... really hoped this went well.

[mondaymelon]

the only one. (albedo x gn!reader)

warnings! fluff, albedo is a bit possessive, kaeya tries to ask reader out

(a/n) another gift for kyoi... the things i do....

˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚

"...Do you understand?" Albedo's voice is soft as he looks up from his test tube and glances at your confused expression. "No matter. I'll explain it again."

"Th-There's no need to..." sighing you let your tired figure slump. "I understand the bare minimum, but it'll have to do."

"Very well then." He hands you the glowing fluid gingerly, gloved fingers lightly brushing against yours as he does so. He doesn't seem to acknowledge it, but you do, instantly flinching before quickly snatching it from his hand and barely keeping the contents inside the bottle.

Clearing your throat awkwardly, you resume the experiment, keenly aware of the platinum blonde male watching you intently at your every movement, his expression unchanging.

He was always a hard person to read. The fact that you had horrible social skills certainly didn't help, either.

"Good job. I can take it from here." He moves forward, gesturing his hand to the space beside him. You did as such, handing the vial to the man once more, face still a bit red from the previous incident. Standing beside him eagerly, you watched the male finish the rest of the procedure flawlessly.

As he poured the last drops of blue liquid into the larger container, a small mushroom cloud forms rose up smokily into the air. Glancing at Albedo, you saw that his gaze hasn't changed one bit, but he made a little "tsk" sound before waving the particles away. "Another negative matchup. That's all for today, then." He glanced at you, teal eyes softening just by a fraction. "You can head on home. I'll clean up."

"Oh, no, I couldn't leave you-!" You shook your head frantically.

"I don't need help." Seeing his gaze harden, you sigh in defeat, before grabbing your bag and belongings off of one of the tables and giving the man a small wave.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then?" You let a smile cross your face as you glanced at Albedo.

"Yes."

"Oh- And-" About to exit the warmly-lit cavern, you paused at stared at the alchemist with a questioning look. "...Kaeya and I are going to Cat's Tail tonight for a drink. Would you want to come along- Ah... you're not the type of person to enjoy that, are you... Nevermind! F-Forget I said anything-"

"I'll go."

"...What?"

"I'm going. Is there something wrong with that?"

"No- but-" Something about his voice... almost scared you. "I just didn't expect you to agree, is all..." Grinning, you beamed. "But I'm glad you'll be coming along!"

"Alright."

"It'll be tonight, let's say... 8 pm? Kaeya and I have some things to discuss so we'll be there a bit earlier."

"...Okay."

With that, the two of you parted ways, the stern man not saying another word, not even one of farewell. You, on the other hand, were in a state of visible confusion. It was a shock that Albedo had agreed to leave the mountain, let alone participate in anything that made him have to talk.

When the time came, you arrived at the tavern, greeting Diona briefly before taking your seat at the designated table. The blue-haired man arrived not long after, his uncovered eye twinkling with excitement. Sliding into the empty chair beside you, he propped up his elbow on the table.

"Long time no see, sweetheart." The upturned glint in his eyes doesn't fade one bit as he smiles at you. "How have you been?"

"I told you to stop calling me that, Kaeya." You responded in turn, glaring at the man. "Besides, it's not going to be just the two of us today. I brought along... a friend."

"Why so mean, all of a sudden?" Kaeya faked a whine, sighing dramatically.

"What did you want to discuss with me today?"

"Straight to the point, are we?" The male let out a deep chuckle, grinning. "Very well."

"So?"

"Well, the thing is..." He paused for a moment, before continuing in a manner that was not of his character. "Haha, there's no subtle way to put this, is there?"

"Spit it out, Kaeya. I don't have all day." You gestured towards the waiter, telling her your drink of choice, as Kaeya followed up with an order of red wine. As the woman walked away, the male glanced at you. He stayed quiet for a solid minute, examining your confused expression, before finally speaking.

"I'll put it simply then. Go out with me."

"...What?"

You hadn't expected this.

What Kaeya was to you... a troublesome drinking buddy and unfortunate coworker... and nothing more.

"Well then, what will your answer be?"

"Kaeya- I-" You weren't sure how to respond at all - all of this was too sudden, and you felt like your head was spinning.

"What's going on over here?" Another voice, one softer and more gentle, entered the conversation as the platinum-haired man himself, Albedo, pulled up a chair to the table and sat down, arms crossed as he stared at the two of you.

"...Is this the friend you were speaking of?"

"That is correct." Nodding, you sent a look that read discomfort to the man, hoping he could decipher it.

"I'm sorry for the interruption." Albedo subtly bowed his head before giving the male across from him a blank smile. "It's nice to see you again, Calvary Captain."

"Haha, I could say the same. I haven't seen the Chief Alchemist for quite some time. Spending all of your time holed up in Dragonspine, are you?" If Kaeya was upset, he concealed it well.

"You could say that." Albedo glanced up as the waiter came back around, this time carrying a tray with yours and Kaeya's drink atop it. He quickly relayed his drink to the waitress, who placed the two cups on the table before bowing and taking her leave. "If I may," he began, once he had decided that the waiter was a suitable distance away. "What were the two of you conversing about before I got here?"

"Just some casual chitchat, the usual," Kaeya responded quickly, almost too much so. He managed to make his voice nonchalant, at least."

"I see."

"So…" You started, trying to alleviate the tension. "I suppose the two of you are acquainted, then?" The silence that followed your question only added to the forced nature of your conversation.

"I only know his name and profession," Albedo responded after a short while. "I wouldn't go as far to call him an acquaintance."

"My, my, as much as I agree with you, that really was quite harsh!" Kaeya let out a little laugh, grinning. "That aside, Albedo, would you mind stepping aside for a moment? I have something to finish talking about with your friend over here." He smiled, but that was the extent of his hospitality, and his expression had an air of coldness.

"Something that I can't hear?" He raised his eyebrows questioningly, showing no intention of moving from his seat.

"It's something… personal."

"I see. Carry on, then." He scooted his chair back 2 inches, and nothing more, his arms crossed as he stared at the two of you.

"So?" Kaeya had lowered his voice to a hushed whisper as he glanced at you expectantly.

"No."

"…Oh dear, but wouldn't be a shame if a nasty rumor got out that poor old you over here turned out to be a murderer that killed their own spouse before coming to Mondstadt?"

"Kaeya- You can't-"

"Who says I can't? You may not know this, but I'm actually quite popular. Who do you think they'll believe?" His voice had gone even softer, but there was a dangerous edge to it.

You couldn't bring yourself, nor did you have to, as Albedo rose from his chair and stood.

"Kaeya. It would be wise of you to stop."

"Stay out of this, Albedo.''

"No, I don't think I will."

Grabbing your hand and taking it in his, he tugged you from your seat and up and out the tavern door. Kaeya made a sound of protest, one that Albedo seemed to care little about, and merely continued to drag you along, only pausing when you stumbled over a rock in the path.

"A-Albedo...!"

"Quiet." He pulled the two of you into an alleyway, gloved hand cupping over your mouth as to keep you from making noise. Your head was pressed against his chest, close enough to hear his steady heartbeat thrum.

From where the two of you were hidden in the shadow of stacked cargo boxes, you saw the shadow of Kaeya flicker across the ground, before pacing on. Albedo stayed silent for a while longer before his form finally relaxed by just a fraction, and he released his hold on you.

"Are you alright?"

His gaze was watchful, teal eyes piercing. You nodded slightly, face red from all the contact. "I-I'm fine." When he stayed silent, you glanced up at him. "How much did you hear?"

"As much as I needed to know to do this."

And just like that, with unimaginable ease, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against yours. His skin was cold to the touch, but nevertheless it brought bursts of warmth that spread throughout your body. His eyes remained trained on you as he moved, his movements calculated. All you could hear was the rush in your ears, and all you could see was him, his face and his hair and his everything. And in that moment, it was as if the surroundings had faded away and that you two were the only things that existed in this universe.

Then he pulled away, and the sparkling feeling faded, while your throbbing heart remained. When he finally spoke, his voice came as a whisper.

"I want you to be mine. I want to be the only one."

"Albedo, you already are."

masterlist✩

[younmexreaders]

~~ Makonoid x Reader ~~

Makonoid and Reader Become Friends

You head out to explore a mostly abandoned reactor and find that they're making monsters there! Eeek! You leave but something follows you and wants to be your friend.

Gender Neutral Reader & Shiku the Makonoid | 1.2k words

Includes:

Shinra's usual bullshit

Platonic Stalking? He follows you home

Shinra was an evil, monotone building standing tall above the slow river of blue-blooded humans. Simply surviving was a task civilians struggled to achieve. Shinra created so many abominations unto nature that it was hard to keep track of them all. They often times just hid their creations away in the mountains, for the poor people of Nibelheim to stumble upon. You were one of those poor people.

While hiking in the mountains near the reactor, resting at the manor since you knew exactly where to break into, you decided to visit the tall, stone grey, metallic death chamber and see what treasures you could find. You brought bolt clippers with you, whistling a jaunty tune without a care and breaking the chain on the door. You slipped inside, looking around the eerily brightened place, quieting your song.

Bright blues danced on the walls like the shine of a swimming pool, mako streamed below your feet making use of the name "lifestream". You looked around for any shiny things you could salvage for money. Strange tubes filled with mako lined the stairs up to the door leading to the inner reactor. You peered into the tube.

Is there anything actually in there...? You asked yourself. You wiped the dust off the glass and hummed, stepping back when you couldn't find anything.

"This place is surprisingly clean..." You hummed.

The sharp sound of steam releasing startled you into a jump. You hid behind the tubes, glancing over the glass to the tube that was falling open, holding a weird, humanoid form as it slept. You waited many moments, slowly standing.

The creature was asleep, its jaw was exposed with teeth sharp enough to tear meat right off the bone. His claws and body were a beautiful shade of blue, his calfs changing to an odd goldfish orange. He blinked awake, slowly rising and rubbing his eyes.

Aww~

He got to his feet and started jittering energetically. He acted like he had just ingested 400lbs of pure caffeine. He looked around the room, racing to the other tubes and tapping on the glass, hissing growls exiting his teeth questioningly. You forgot that you were standing, tilting your head as he focused on you.

He tilted his head back.

"Uh... hi." You muttered. He ran up to you, startling you onto your ass. He snickered in his weird voice, pulling you back to your feet. Still holding your arm, he twisted you around, studying you and prodding your soft fleshy sides.

"Ow! Hey, quit it!" You whined.

"Hhh..." He hissed. He let go of you and returned to the tubes, tapping the glass, annoyed.

"What? Do you want to wake them up?" You asked. He glanced at you, then to the tube, tapping. You went to the tube and knelt by the side, checking for any switches or buttons to open it. Seems there was none.

"Sorry, dude." You shrugged and stood back. He growled, hitting the glass now. "Hitting it isn't going to help, maybe it releases when you're ready and not forcefully?" That seemed to get through to him, he sat beside the tube and folded his legs to his chest, almost vibrating with all the energy he had.

"You should probably expend that energy." You suggested. He looked up at you, letting a hiss and shaking his head.

"Alright, bye then." You turned to leave. A sudden and large weight snagged your leg, tripping you. You yelped as you fell, landing on your face.

"Fuck, why!?" You glared at your leg. He was hanging onto you, whining.

"What do you want from me?"

"Grrurr...."

"Speak English!" You barked, frustrated. He flinched and let you go, retreating aside like a wounded animal. You rolled your eyes and left the reactor as quickly as your feet would take you. The creature watched you from the door, twitching.

"Grrurr....?"

You haven't returned to the reactor since, nor have you seen of the odd humanoid. The citizens of Nibelheim continued to travel up the same mountain but they haven't seen the creature either. At least no one you asked did.

You were strangely curious what happened to it, gathering your things to head back to the reactor. There was a knock at your door.

"Right now? Uh... Okay." You went to answer it. You stared at the blue scales of someone familiar.

"Reactor dude?" You wondered, craning your neck in order to look at him.

"Shiku." He answered, somewhat stilted.

"You can talk now?" You hummed.

"Learned... Why leave?" He asked you, upset. You sighed and leaned on the doorframe.

"Because I have a home?" You huffed. He frowned, stepping inside your home. You growled, trying to appear dominant despite your obvious lack of height. "Hey! I didn't say you could come in. Out, out, out!" You barked, pushing his shoulders. Shiku whined, totally confused why you were being so aggressive.

"But I...!" He started as the door slammed.

"Fucking animal..." You growled. He bellowed at the door, clawing the wood helplessly. You covered your ears, trying to block him out.

But it kinda hurt. Not your ears, but it stung inside. He had no one, his family is still undeveloped, so you're all he has. You groaned and opened the ragged door. Shiku lowered his claws, splintered wood still trapped in them.

"Friend...?" He mewed. You allowed him into your home. He sprinted inside, looking into everything and scattering pillows.

"Calm down, Shiku." You muttered.

"Friend has nice nest." He hummed, putting everything back in its place and crouching by the potted plants. You sat on your couch and watched him study your home. Shiku made himself as small as possible.

"Friend is angry..."

"You noticed?" You sarcastically shot back. He nodded, laying his head on the couch beside you. He studied you closely, pushing himself up onto the seat and sitting beside you.

"Friend Lonely?"

"What makes you think that?" You wondered. He sniffed the air, picking up a picture from the side table. It was one of your family in Wutai, the ceremonial garments were brightly colored. He could tell that those humans don't live there if they did there would be more scents.

"Only you in nest."

"Brilliant deduction. What do you want?" You returned to the initial question at hand.

"Alone too."

"Well you aren't staying here, you're leaving as soon as I can get you out." You folded your arms, glaring at him. Shiku snorted at you, nudging your shoulder with his cheek.

"Friend mean..." He sighed, laying his head on your lap. You stiffened, watching him suspiciously. He stared back at you. He had no intention other than resting his horned head. The horns prodded your legs uncomfortably, his breath hissing over his teeth. His eyes flickered over your face, hands folded together calmly. His energy has subdued this meeting. He wasn't jittery this time, you wondered if that was just a "first-day" thing. Your hesitant hand graced his horns softly.

"What are you doing, Shiku?" You sighed. He tilted his head slightly.

"Doing?"

"You keep acting like a sad puppy." You giggled softly. He closed his eyes and tapped his claw to your temple.

"Friend lonely. Angry. Shiku help." He folded his hands back together. "Friend help too." He rolled onto his side, letting an arm hang off the side of the couch. He started snoring, breathing calmly and keeping you warm. You sighed and shook your head.

"Fine, friend will help."

[paigenoelchas-blog]

Mountaintops and Other Dangerous Terrain:

01: Escape

next

"The road back was long, full of ups and downs, but I kept on, because I knew that, eventually it would lead me back to you." **

He stood at the top of the mountain, his shirt bloodied and torn. Ash and sweat covered his skin cloaking his appearance in the night sky. One shoulder stung with pain, yet despite all of this, he relished the fact that his face was free to feel the cool air as his mask, the one that made him feel safe for so long, had been lost in his escape. Though fire filled his lungs, he would not be deterred on a night such as this. Somehow, the the air never felt as fresh as it did in this moment and as he tried desperately to replace the poisoned air with the crisp, clean oxygen that the mountaintop provided, he could only wonder how the stars had retained their magic after sitting for so long in the night sky. He could only see the words she had texted only a few hours ago. He could only feel the swelling of his heart at the sight of them.

As the events unfolded in the valley, flashes of police lights and the commotion of those below filled the horizon. Everywhere there were lights, red and blue, and smoke billowing to the heavens. He watched the glow of flashlights enter and exit the cave, their brilliance swollen by the mist. He wondered how long it would take them to find his escape route. They were looking for him in the midst of the fire and the situation with Richy and Hannah. Alan had been on his track before the terrible events unfurled themselves and he didn't think Detective Bloomgate was a man to give up easily.

He should be nervous. He should be moving with cold calculation and a sense of urgency. Tonight however, there was a calm place in his heart that had been missing before. The lights which should be a warning that he needed a plan and fast, reminded him of Christmas and the times he had shared before his mother had passed, of the times he hoped to share with Macie. It was because of the warmth that she had filled his heart with. It would be the end of him if he couldn't regain his focus.

Things had not gone Richy's way and the group would all have to suffer from that man's poor choices. He should be angry, or saddened for them, and really, at the depth of things, he was, but all that he could feel was love and joy in the realization that she was the one who brought feeling back into his empty soul.

She had told him that she loved him. She had meant it and he had too. That had changed everything... in an instant.

She was only girl that had made him laughing a very long time, the one that broke down his walls, challenged him, and the one that would fight for him actually loved him. She had typed those glorious words and his heart started beating with hope for the first time he could remember. Was it possible that the stars really shone brighter in the night sky? Was it possible that the moon was bigger and brighter than it had been before those words came out of her mouth?

He knew that he still had to escape and find a path to freedom. Soon, he would have to move his thoughts from her and focus on the task at hand. The path ahead wouldn't be easy or fast, but he would get to the end of it for her.

He would find her. He had to. He made a promise to he and he was not a man to neglect a promise nor would he be a man to neglect her or her love.

The crowds were full of uniforms and flashing lights. Steam from the fire and the residual effects of an explosion clouded the air as he searched for her. He was about to stop looking, believing it to be too far away, when he saw one lone figure staring in his direction, right up the mountain. Right into his soul.

His heart leapt. If there had been any doubt that it was her, the increase in the beating of his heart was evidence of her identity.

He wanted to believe that she had seen him too, that somehow, despite all of the smoke and the sirens and the people, she could see the man who held her heart. He wanted to tell her many things, all of the things he had carried inside for so long, but his phone had been lost in the fire and there was no time for such a call. He wanted to run to her and hold her in his arms, let the world burn around them, but it was too dangerous and didn't offer a permanent solution. He felt his eyes lock on her figure and he couldn't look away. She stared into the darkness and he felt alive, knowing that she had chosen him. It didn't matter if she saw him or not, He saw her and knew that they would find each other sometime in the daylight.

He whispered lowly into the air, hoping that somehow his words reached her heart. "I love you. I am safe. I am trying hard to get you. The promises I made will come true. I am a man of my word and I can not be separated from you. Give me time, my love, and we can be together in all the ways that we dream of. You are all that I need or want and it is my mission to be by your side."

Jake took a deep breath and then broke his look from her.

Turning around to walk away was one of the hardest things that he ever had to do, but it would ensure their future, so he walked away as quickly as he could, one leg dragging behind him a little bit. Jake was in pain. He didn't have a safe place yet, but he would find one soon. Their future depended on it. A future with her was something that he was no longer willing or able to sacrifice. A smile grew across his face as he thought of her and their shared life, one full of love and other things he thought he would never again possess.

His lungs were scarred and the fog was cold, he had several unidentified injuries and he was almost positive that his leg had been seriously damaged, but he had never known the air to smell as sweet and the night had never seemed so comforting as it did right now. Her love wrapped him in hope and comfort.

His escape seemed possible because of his belief in her love.

He gave one last look over his shoulder and then he was off to find a place to heal, to find a new phone, and to find a way to be with her. There was only looking forward because she as there waiting for him at the end of this adventure.

** The quote is from an anonymous source. I documented it here in the first chapter as it will be the lead in all of the chapters.

[deer-thing-iz-cool]

I made a story, it’s kinda long, you will no doubt cry

“So what are you doing for dinner?” I asked my friend as we walked down the street. “I don’t know, mac and cheese maybe?” We proceeded to walk down the street, the shops soon ended and the neighborhood began. As we walked further Jack's house came into view “see you later” he blurted as he jogged back to his house, my hand slowly raised and slightly waved “bye” I said quietly. As I walk a little longer to my house the sun starts to go down and the yellowish lamp posts flicker on, one by one illuminating the streets, when I get to my house the sun has already gone down, I pull out my copper and silver keys attached to a silver ring, they make clunking sounds as I lift them to the door. I hear the door unlock as the keys rotate, I twist the handle and pull the door toward me, my dirt embedded shoes stepped through the door frame, I kicked off my shoes, one landed upside down, and the other hit the wall leaving a light brown scuff.

I walk to my room, it has a large bed, a dark blue blanket and pillow, fake vines draped across the ceiling twined with string lights, and at the corner of my bed there is a small mountain of stuffed animals. I walk to the edge of my bed and face plant into the pile of toys, I roll off them and into the open part of my bed, I pull out my phone and go to texts “whatcha doin” I text to Jack, a small buffering symbol popped up on his side “eating mac and cheese” he texted, “what are you doing” he asked back “nothin much, just laying in bed” I replied. “Noice” he replied, I chuckled “wanna hang out tomorrow” I asked “sure” he replied, I put my phone on my light stand and went to bed.

In the morning I slid on my dirt embedded shoes under the scuff on the wall “I’ll clean that up later” I said as I slid on my sweatshirt, I pulled out my keys and I fumbled them but caught them before they fell, I exited my house and locked the door. I was in an upbeat mood as I went to Jack’s house, once I got there I knocked on the door, there was no reply, so I knocked again, but still no reply. I walked to the side of the house and looked through the window, the lights were on, there was half eaten food on the table “where was he” I thought impatiently. I slid the unlocked window up and hoisted myself through the window, I walked along the wall and turned on the lights, I wandered around the unfamiliar place looking for Jack, I opened one of the doors along the hallway, I’m pretty sure it was Jack’s bedroom so I went inside “Jack? Jack, are you here?” I loudly whispered. I walked around the small bed, my eyes widened as I let out a sharp gasp, I started to get light headed, I stumbled back in fear and fell to the ground, I pulled myself slightly back away from what I saw. I covered my mouth with my hand as I let out sharp breaths, tears gathered in my eyes, my vision went blurry as tears poured down my face and puddles on the floor.

What I saw was horrific, it was Jack, lying lifeless on the floor, a puddle of blood gathered beneath him, and a kukri point knife dripping with blood stabbed deep into the wooden floorboards next to him, the shiny silver was being suffocated by the thick, dark red blood. I pulled myself farther back as my face turned pale and covered with tears, and my hand grasping at my mouth as I gasped for air, I choked on my tears as I pulled myself up on Jack’s bed and stumbled out the door, my legs started to feel weak when I tried to get out of the room, I gagged and felt like I was gonna throw up, I went to the trash can and started to throw up brownish yellow chunk filled slop into the plastic trash can.

I stood up and wiped my mouth of the remaining throw up and then I heard a siren, slowly getting louder, I looked out the window next to the door and saw a flashing red and blue light getting brighter and the siren getting louder, I flailed to the open window that I opened earlier and lowered myself out of the window, I stayed as still as I could as I watched the police bust down the door from the window “we know your in here, come out with your hands behind your head” they shouted as they wandered through the house, I watched them go into Jack’s bedroom “in here” one shouted as the others ran into the room to see, one slipped on the floor and fell onto the others and pulled them down with him “marshal watch where you're going” one of them shouted while punching the shoulder of the one that slipped.

I slowly lowered myself all the way out the window and ran to the back of the house and ran across the many backyards of the neighborhood to get to my house, I slipped on one of the freshly watered lawns and let out a loud wheeze “I heard something over here” one of the police officers said as a flashlight flew behind me, I ran faster to get away from them, then I heard the sirens again, I turned my head to the street and saw the cop car speeding after me. I turned to the left and I run as fast as I possibly can, I glance back and I see flashing red and blue lights as the siren got quieter, I look forward and I trip over a giant log, I tumble down a hill “AAAAAAAAHHHHH” I scream as I am unable to stop myself as my arms reach out and flail around.

I roll down the hill as sticks and thorns claw at my shirt and pants, I can barely see the world spinning by me as I tumble down the hill, suddenly I hear a loud thud then darkness, I lay on the moss and pine needle covered ground. A little while later I sat up “what happened” I asked myself as I rubbed my head, I winced as I rubbed my forehead, I pulled my hand away quickly, I touched my forehead again, and I winced once again. I grabbed the tree that I hit and propped myself up, I felt light headed for a moment but then it stopped, I looked around, this place was unfamiliar and dark, the sun was starting to rise to my right, the light was a golden yellow as it seeped through the trees and resting on the mossy ground.

I looked around for anything familiar but nothing looked recognizable, I must of gotten mixed up when I fell down the hill, I wandered around toward the sun because I remember the sun rises in front of my house so I kept walking and walking, soon I stumbled into someone’s backyard, a loud deep barking came from the yard, I looked up and saw a large bulky, short haired dog, with dark gray fur and brown paws, I backed away from the dog and went to the front yard, I looked to the left then to the right, I jogged across the street to the local coffee shop and ordered a medium coffee with milk and two sugars. I sat down at one of the tables and took a sip from the steaming hot coffee, I sighed as I put the coffee down.

Someone came over and sat down across from me. I looked up, she had very short hair, it was sorta messy and flowed back, she had lovely hazel eyes and had wire rimmed glasses. She was looking down at a news paper, I saw my face on the back, I tried to hide my gasp as I read the headline “brook is wanted for murder and is still at large” with my picture below, the girl turned the newspaper over to read the back, her eyes widened and she slowly looked up, she raised her hand and pointed at me “y-y-you… YOU'RE A MURDERER!!” She shouted, and other people in the coffee shop looked at me “I’M NOT A MURDERER, I DIDN'T DO IT, I WAS FRAMED!!” I blurted as I ran into the glass door, I pushed on the door again but it didn’t budge, I tried again but it still didn’t open, then I looked at the knob, it was a pull door so I pulled it open, I felt ridiculous as I ran out the door.

I ran to an abandoned warehouse to hide from the police if the people in the shop called any, I went to a low window with a large crack draped across it and I elbowed it until the crack got bigger and more cracks appeared, then I slammed my elbow once more into the window and it shattered, broken glass blanketed the floor. The sun glistened on the shattered glass as I jumped up through the window, I walked across the floor and the glass crunched and cracked under my feet. I walked around the abandoned warehouse for a while, I looked in a large room with boarded up windows on the opposite wall, I walked in and found a desk, lined with paper and dust, I went to the back of the desk and found a partially open drawer, I wrapped three of my long slender fingers onto the dusty handle and pulled it open to find a piece of paper with pictures of kids with their names listed below, one was a girl named Isabella Johnson with pigtails and a crooked tooth, and on the picture a big red X covered the girls face. I looked along the page, more kids, and more X’s, then I looked to the left of the page and I saw Jack's face with a large X covering it and under it it said Jack Aklinn, lucky I wasn’t on the list but I had to stop whoever was doing this.

Suddenly I heard a sound, the tapping of shoes slowly walking down the hallway, I bolted to the closet across the room and hid inside, from inside I could sort of see the person but I couldn’t see their face. They walked toward the desk then stopped and slowly walked to the back of the desk, they looked at the still open drawer then looked up and looked around “Hey!” They blurted “I know someone is there, come out now” they looked around as they slammed the drawer. I could barely move in the cramped closet, I looked around for anything I could use to escape, then I saw it, a cold small black handgun, with a fully loaded chamber and some extra bullets next to the gun. I picked it up, my hands wrapped around the cold metal of the gun, my finger slid over the trigger, I examine the small gun, then I lift it up to the door right where I could see the other person, my finger slowly puts weight upon the trigger “I couldn’t possibly do this, I’m a good person,” I thought as I started to sweat “but if I kill this one person they will stop killing people” I closed my eyes and looked away as I pulled the trigger, BANG, I heard the person collapse to the ground in a loud thud.

I opened the closet door to find the person laying on the ground, with a bullet hole spewing blood right near their collarbone, he started to tremble as they looked up at me, their pupils shrunk as their eyes widened, they coughed and blood poured out of their mouth and they coughed again and it splattered across the floor, they sat up and leaned against the desk “why—“ they coughed again “—why did you do this, who are you”. My hand trembled and I dropped the gun, the cold metal of the gun collided with the stone floor as it made a loud clattering sound, I started to tremble as I stumbled backward toward the closet door, I leaned against the wooden door, it creaked as I put pressure on the door. I looked at my trembling hands, still cold from the cold gun, I glanced up toward the person I shot, I started to feel lightheaded and I collapsed to the floor into my knees, I grasped my hands around my head as tears poured from my eyes, the tears patterned quietly on the floor below me as I choked on my tears.

“Are you okay” a soft voice groaned, I looked up to the person I shot, I sniffled “what do you care” I said in a raspy voice “you seem troubled” they said as they coughed again “I’m sorry, I’m sorry” I whispered “don’t be” they said “by the way what’s your name, mines Jasmin” I sat up and wiped the tears off my face “mines Brook”. “I don’t feel so good” said Jasmin as they coughed and fell to the floor, I rushed over to them and grabbed their hand “No no no no no” I said “please don’t go, I didn’t mean to” I pulled their hand to my head and rested my head on their hand, tears started to pour from my eyes again. Their hand got cold and went limp, I let go of their hand and slowly put it down next to Jasmin. I looked at their face, a smile was draped upon their face, a smile slipped onto my face choking back tears.

I stood up, my legs felt weak as I tried to walk, I slowly went out the door, I turned around and looked at Jasmin’s lifeless body, I felt as if someone punched me in the gut, it felt like I was gonna throw up. I exited the abandoned warehouse and walked around with my hood over my head, I kept my head low as I walked around the street, I took a deep shaky breath trying to hold back tears. I started to head back to my street where my house is, but suddenly rain starts pouring down and the sky went dark, as I got closer to my street I felt hands wrap around my eyes and mouth, then I started to feel drowsy and I realized the hand around my mouth held a scrap of fabric doused with chloroform, I started to panic so I lashed around trying to break free but soon I felt drowsy and passed out. When I woke up, I was in a dark room on the floor, my hands and feet were tied together with a thick itchy rope, digging into my skin. I wiggled my hands trying to loosen it but it stayed tight “Help!!” I shouted but I didn’t hear anyone “Help!!” I shouted again hoping for a reply, but it was only followed by silence.

Tap, tap, tap, I heard tapping coming down what I think are stairs, the light from the top of the stairs illuminated in front of me and shined ever so slightly on me, a tall slender figure stepped slowly down the stairs casting a shadow over me, their long arm reached to the wall and flipped a switch and a fluorescent light illuminated above me, I squinted from the bright light and waited for my eyes to adjust, after a minute or so my eyes adjusted and I could nearly see the tall figure. The figure walked into the light, it was a man, he had dirty blonde hair, and green eyes. “Well well well, isn’t it our murderer” he said while kneeling down in front of me “I’m not a murderer” I said gritting my teeth, “of course you are, you can’t trick me” they said while lifting my head upward so I made eye contact with him, I pulled my face away and snarled at him “wow, a fierce one you are” commented the man while standing back up, he raised his hand and put it below his chin, he paced around, then looked at me “so who else are you planning to kill” he asked “like I said, I’m not a murderer” I replied, he started to get on my nerves for not believing me. He looked at me again but he looked disappointed “so, we can do this the easy way or the hard way” he started “the easy was is you confess your crime and go to jail, the hard way is you don’t say anything and we force you to confess” I sighed leaned against the wall, I started to chuckle “what’s so funny?” He asked “well no one knows where I am, or even cares I exist, and people who did care are gone now” my chuckle transitioned into sobbing, tears fell down my face as I slid down the wall to lay on the floor, a puddle of tears grew under my head.

“Oh dear” he muttered “what am I gonna do with you” he put his hand to his head and rubbed it, I still laid on the floor and my tears stopped but the small puddle of tears remained. He walked over to me and pulled me up by the collar of my shirt “HEY” I shouted as he lifted me up then pushed me against the wall while releasing my shirt. My legs laid out in front of me, he kneeled down and started untying my ankles, once he was done he threw the scratchy brown rope to the side “Stand up” he said in a stern voice, I stood up and he grabbed my shoulder and turned me around, he started to untie my wrists “there” he said as he took the rope off my sore wrists.

I rubbed my wrists as a small red ring remained on them, I glared at the guy “woah” he exclaimed and took a step back, my clothes still wet from the rain, sticking to my skin, I walked past the man and out the exit, I bolted out the building to appear in a damp dark alleyway and it was night, I elbowed into the wall and pushed myself forward off the wall and ran forward into the street. I looked around and saw two bright yellowish white lights speedily getting closer, I reached my arms in front of my face and flinched back, I heard a loud honk and a screech of the tires, I lowered my arms and opened my eyes to see the dirty white car in front of me honking their horn. I trotted to the sidewalk and out of the road, this was an unfamiliar road as my eyes darted around but all I saw was a local drug store and a restaurant ‘dine in and out’ was in red fluorescent lights. I walked around town looking for anything familiar, then I saw it, the abandoned warehouse where I shot Jasmin, I started to feel sick and almost threw up, I entered the warehouse, it was still dark and silent. I went to the room that Jasmin was in, the heavy metal door creaked as I shoved it open, I look in and see the lifeless body laying in a puddle of blood, it was so dark the blood looked black, I walked into the silent room and looked around then I heard something, I don’t know what it was but I heard something my eyes darted around.

My eyes adjusted to the darkness and I found the source of the sound, it was a rat underneath the desk, it scurried to the door as my eyes followed it. My eyes started to water as I remembered what I did to Jasmin, I wiped my eyes and looked around for the gun, I sweeped my hands across the cold stone floor. My hand bumps into the cold gun and I wrap my hand around it, I pick it up away from the floor, my warm hands wrap around the cold trigger and muzzle of the gun. I looked for a gun holder in closet that I previously hid in, I couldn’t see what was in the closet because it was very dark so I reached in and glided my hands across the items wishing the closet until I came across a small fabric pouch, I grabbed it and took it out and slid the gun in, it fit like a glove, I clipped it onto my belt and left the premises. The sun started to rise from the horizon, as I walked around the corner of the building “if they think I’m a villain might as well be one” I muttered quietly to myself.

I walked the dark streets of the town as the light from the sunrise seeped through the cracks of the buildings and trees, the sun started to pull across the sky and lit up the town as I walked to the park. I came across a few people early in the morning, going for jogs and stuff like that. I walked over to the pond, free from ripples and untouched. I looked down into the water to find myself, dark bags underneath my eyes from lack of sleep, my eyes were also droopy and slightly sore as well. I splashed some water from the pond into my face and wiped it off, it felt very refreshing and cold, my slightly wet hair stuck to my forehead as I stood up and headed to a breakfast restaurant. I went to the door of the restaurant and slightly pushed it but it was locked, next to the door was a schedule of when it was open, I believe it was wednesday and it didn’t open until 7:00 AM, I had no idea what time it was because I lost my phone, I haven’t realized I lost it before and frantically checked all my pockets but no sign of it.

I went over to one of the few people awake. “Do you know what time it is?” I asked a runner. He stopped and took out his phone “it’s 6:53” he told me and then proceeded to jog around the park. I went back to the restaurant and sat down at a wooden bench, it was white but the paint started to peel to reveal tan wood, I started to doze off at the bench then I fell asleep, the sound of people walking by woke me up. I headed into the restaurant and ordered some pancakes, it was a couple minutes and the food still hadn't arrived and I could hear my stomach rumbling. Then the waiter came by my table and carefully set down the large plate with golden pancakes layered in thick brownish-gold syrup. I slid my fork and knife into the fluffy pancakes and cut them into small squares and started to eat them. They were so delicious I finished them very quickly, and the waiter came back to my table “so how was your meal?” She asked “it was really good” I answered “so how will you be paying? Cash or card?” She suggested “oh, umm” I stuttered, I bolted up from my seat and ran to the door “sorry, gotta dine n’ dash” I blurted as I ran out the door “HEY YOU GOT TO PAY FOR YOUR MEAL” the waitress shouted.

I ran out of the building, I didn't know where to go other than my home, I made my way around town toward my house, the sun was directly above the town now and I was almost at my house. My neighborhood started to come into view and I could see my house, and jacks house, but jacks house had the lights on and I saw someone inside, I ran to jacks house and saw Jack, he was fine “fucking asshole” I mumbled to myself “he faked his death and I got blamed for it” I thought. My face naturally went into a scowl. I went to the front door and raised my hand to knock on the door but I stopped myself. "Should I confront him?” I questioned myself in my head, suddenly I started to feel light headed and the world started to black out and I collapsed onto the door. Well that’s what I get for skipping sleep for a couple days. My body started to feel cold, numb, and stiff and I was nearly able to move. I sat in front of a small open closet but inside the closet was nothing but the abyss, I looked into the darkness wondering what was inside, then something bolted out of the darkness, a hand. The pitch dark hand came out and wrapped around my arm as I still couldn’t move, more hands bolted out of the abyss slowly suffocating me in the inky darkness, some wrapped around my mouth and I was unable to shout for help. I bolted up, a cold chill went down my spine and I was covered with a cold sweat, it was just a dream. I thought while relaxing, I looked around and I was on Jack's doorstep, the lights were off in his house. How long was I out for, I thought as I rubbed my head and sat down on the doorstep.

I felt marcid and drained, I stood up but my legs refused to hold me up, I’m way too exhausted to walk. I pulled myself up on his door and twisted the copper handle, I fell inward as the door swung open, I looked around for Jack but I realized the house was completely empty except for me. I pulled myself up on the dining table and I heard the wooden floor creak ever so slightly, I could barely stand let alone walk, my eyes were so tired they could barely stay open and my eyes were burning and started to tear up and I could barely see. I patted down the walls in search of a light switch, then I heard a click and the lights flashed on, I rubbed my sore eyes until they cleared “Jake?” I questioned as it echoed through the empty house “Jake?” I said again but slightly louder, I stumbled around the house in search of him but had no luck. I collapsed back onto the untouched couch and put my palm to my head and groaned in pain, I think I was having a migraine but I don’t know because I never had one before, I slumped across the couch a and laid across it, I was extremely tired and I think I fell asleep for who knows how long, but when I woke up it was dark.

When I got up I was sore, like really sore, I walked out the door that I forgot to close, when I got outside it wasn’t cold or hot, it was kind of humid out but I proceeded to go back to my house, I could nearly walk on account of how tired I was, i stumbled my way back to my house down the street, i almost toppled over a couple times but managed to keep steady. But then everything went dark, and a high-pitched ringing was in my ears, and I felt myself hit the ground hard, then I heard a faint siren and red and blue lights. My eyelids were too heavy to keep open so I shut them. It's been awhile and i was still unconscious but I could hear everything that was happening, I heard people talking to one another on radios, with a static sound when they finished their conversions, I heard a heart monitor, beeping every so often. Where it smelled weird but good, like medicine and sanitizer. I opened my eyes and took a quick look around was wearing a strange thing blue gown, and there were two nurses beside me holding a clipboard with a paper on it and talking to each other, then one of them pointed back to me without turning around “this patient was found a couple nights ago passed out on the sidewalk, they didn't have any licenses on them when we found them, but they did have a gun. When we found them passed out we did a drug test to see if they were drunk, but they were clean. Were not sure the reason for the pass out” she continued to talk and talk about me, and if i was ok, then they started to turn around and i quickly closed my eyes to pretend I was still passed out, my heart started to pound faster with fear, the heart monitor started to beep faster which made my anxiety spike and my heart beat even faster, the two nurses rushed around my bed to check on the monitor, one tapped the glass and i tried to slow down my heart rate, very quickly it went back to normal “must have been a malfunction” one of the nurses said “yeah probably” agreed the other nurse, they walked back around the bed and left the room.

Soon later the lights in my room turned off and the hallway lights dimmed, a pale yellow fluorescent color. I waited a bit to make sure no one was in the hallway so I could make my escape. I sat up slowly and craned my head to the door then to my arm, it had four different needles in it, fastened on with a fabric like tape, all of them were attached to different thin tubes, i peeled the tape off and pulled out the needles one by one, it stung a little bit but once they were out, small drops of blood started to form at the hole in my skin where the needles once pierced, i wiped the blood away and stood up out of the bed, i felt dizzy and i had to grab the metal bar on the side of the bed for support, my head started to spin and i almost passed out, i felt winded and exhausted “how long was i out” i muttered to myself not expecting a response “you've been out for a couple days” said a soft calm voice from behind me, it was an young girl, it looks like she got her left forearm amputated, i nodded and stumbled my way out of the dark room and clung to the wall so i wouldn't collapse to the ground, the hospital seemed empty, no nurses in the hallways, or patients. My head slowly started to stop spinning and I could walk without the wall. I tried to be as quiet as possible so no one would know I was leaving. Soon after I got to the door and left, I had no idea where I was, who knows how far away I am from my house, how I would get home, I have no money, no friends, or family. “I'm a murderer” i whispered to myself, i sat down on the cold pavement, the sun has been down for a while, the cold wind bit at my skin through the cheap gown, i curled up and dug my face into my knees to hide the tears “what will i do now” i said while tearchoked “what do i do, i have nothing, i killed people, and for what” i could feel my eyes starting to burn as more tears flooded down my face and as i started to hyperventilate.

I felt a warm hand lay on my shoulder, i got startled and jerked away, i could barely see them through the tears, my shaky breath started to calm, and my tears started to stop “c’mon lets get you back inside” said the person, it was a female voice, it must have been one of the nurses that were in my room, she grabbed my hand and pulled me up. I wiped my tears from my eyes, then wiped my wet hand onto the gown and it left a salty tear stain, she lightly pulled my hand wanting me to follow her so i did, we went back through the sliding doors at the front and passed the main desk, there was still no one there, probably out for lunch or changing shifts. My tears fully stopped but my eyes still burned. She brought me back to the room i was in before with the girl, The nurse hooked up the the needles and tubes back into my arm where a red crusting smudge mark lay, a bubble emerged from the semi-clear bag attached to a tube that attaches to my arm “hmm” i hummed as i looked at the bag. “Whatcha thinkin bout” the nurse asked “what” i said because i was not paying attention to her “what-” “oh me” i said before she asked me again “just thinking” i fully answered, “about what exactly” she asked as she sat down at the foot of the bed “nothing important” i lied and looked in the other direction away from her but she was still in my peripheral vision, i could see she was worried about me, she stood up and the bed creaked ever so slightly without turning around. I watched her as she flipped the lights of and turned left down the dim lit hallway, soon the clock in front of me that was hanging on the wall turned its hands to 11 pm, it was starting to get late, when can i go home r if i ever go home, i began to get even more worried, my breaths became shallow and my eyes jumped around the room looking for an object that doesn’t exist, my heart beat slightly faster and my breaths got shallower and shallower to the point i couldn't breathe, my heart beat faster and faster, the beeping from the machine sped up, ‘what was happening’ i yelled to myself in my head, i couldn't speak, my throat became dry and scratchy from the breathing soon becoming raspy. The two nurses busted through the door in a rush to get to me but then everything faded to black, I heard yelling, and alarms, and people barking orders to one another ‘was I dead’ I thought to myself, I don't feel my heartbeat, i am calm, finally at peace. Then a flash of light blinded my eyes, soon later adjusted back to the hospital room as i bolted up from the bed, a cold sweat running down my back, “thank god, just a nightmare” i muttered as i wiped the sweat off my face and lay back down ‘but what if… nah it's stupid’ i thought ‘but what if it wasn't a dream, and i could have died’ i lay there staring at the off white ceiling… thinking.

The next day the nurses came in with my clothes “you are free to go” one of them spoke while the other came over and detached the needles and tubes from my arm, the other nurse put the neatly folded clothes at the middle of the bed near the edge “you can change, then sign the paperwork” she set down a clipboard with a piece of paper on it with a pen on top of the folded clothes “and then you're free to go” she finished, they both left the room and shut the door “it's nice you're getting out early” the voice startled me then i remembered the the girl next to me was there, her grayish maroon curtain made a wall around her bed, i stood up and started to get my clothes on, they smelled clean without a particular sent, but they also felt clean, they felt nice, still warm from the dryer. I sat on the edge of the bed and pulled over the clipboard but as ii did the pen fell on the ground with a light click and rolled partially under the bed, i bent down while still sitting on the bed reaching under the bed for the pen, but then i felt something it didn't feel like the pen, it felt like wood, i grabbed the wood object and pulled it out, it was a small antique wooden box. i held it in front of me on my lap and observed it, it was a mostly gray box but still had tints of brown from the aged wood, i turned the box around and found a tiny flip lock keeping it closed, i wedged my finger under the thin piece of metal trying to open it, whoever put it here must have put this here a long time ago, then my finger with a lot of force slammed the small lock onto the top piece of the box. I opened the box, it had a small note on it, the outside of it written on it said ‘for my love’, i folded the note open, it was frail and old, it was crumpled and ripped but was filled with love ‘dear my love, by the time you find this it will be too late, and i would have disappeared forever, it's not you it’s me, i've done many wrong things i'm not proud about, i hope you will still love me, because i still love you. Someday I hope we will find eachother again whether the earth crumbles or we bump into each other at the mall. I sure hope you can understand I will never stop loving you. Your dearest, jasmin’ tears swelled up in my eyes, jasmin can never find the one she loves ever again because of me, it's all my fault, my throat swelled and i began to choke on my tears, he will never know that she loved him. I signed the paperwork and grabbed the box then left. I sat at the empty bus stop waiting for the bus to arrive, tears still streamed down my face as the bus arrived, I wiped the tears and sniffled a bit, the doors of the bus swung open waning me to step inside. ‘Maybe I can start anew, be a different person, live a better life’ I thought, but then I realized that won't stop me from being a wanted criminal, that won't bring Jack back, it won't solve anything.

I sulked on the busses itchy fabric seat, alone, no one here but me and the driver, but it was nice to look out the window and look at all the good things in life, but maybe, just maybe i could be a new person, but i also didn't want to change i liked being wanted, you don't have to listen to anyone, you can just be free, but it fills me with dread when i think about the people i hurt like jasmin, but thinking about jack makes my stomach tie into a knot and i feel like i need to throw up, i remember his lifeless body draped across the floor as a bed of blood lies beneath him, and the knife, brutally stabbed into the floor. I wish that it never happened, i wish that jack never died so i wouldnt be a murderer, a fucking wanted criminal. This was the worst couple weeks of my life, everyone who cares about me is fucking dead, i wish i never existed. I stood up and pressed the button to let me off the bus and the bus halted to a stop, it was near the cliff of the town, the most popular attraction to go to, its where our founder founded the town, no one really visits it anymore, it's become gray, dull, and depressing, i walked for a couple minutes to get to the cliff, i stood atop and placed the wooden box beneath a nearby tree, the town draped across the valley like a pond “i can't do this anymore” i whispered to myself “I CAN’T FUCKING DO THIS ANY MORE” i shouted, i stepped closer to the edge, single tear fell from my eye, my stomach tied into a knot, i looked across the town one last time, gazing as the sun set, pulling the dark night sky over the town. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, i stretched out my foot over the cliff side “at least i saw the sunset one last time” i said to the darkness, i leaned forward over the cliff, waiting to fall, but then i felt two tender hands grasping the back of my shirt, and pulled me away from the cliff, i was choking on my tears “just let me do this” i push them away and i walk back to the edge, they wrap their arms tightly around me, and i kneel to the ground and they follow “please don't do this, you don't deserve it” they told me “NO I DO DESERVE IT” i yelled at them trying to squirm my way out of the hug but they only tightened their grip, i felt tears drip through the back of my shirt, they were crying, i stopped trying to get out and just accepted the hug. I started to cry more, i haven't had any love in so long i forgot what it feels like to receive it “th-than-nk y-y-you” i said tearchoked, “t-th-thank you” i muttered quieter to them. I started to quietly laugh, oh boy how i missed this, how i missed affection, i never want this to stop “i never want this to stop, i wanna stay like this forever” i croakaly said “dont worry im not going anywhere” said the voice calmly “its ok” they reassured me, i turned around and hugged them back, i never wanted to let go. They hugged me and i hugged them for awhile, this is the best i have felt in years, i wiped the tears from my eyes but they just kept coming, after my tears started to clear up i got a clear view of the persons face, it was the bus driver, they saw what i was gonna do, and they cared enough for a stranger to save their life, i have never met anyone like this… except jack, he would always care for others, and always helped people, the busdriver loosened their hug but i kept mine tight and firm “thank you jack” i whispered, i don't think the driver minded that i called them jack, just as long as i was safe “thank you” i said one final time.

love it but my my English teacher is crying rn/j. The dead body descriptions remind me of the book “the book thief” for some reason.

(ooc)

[wellthebardsdead]

Fools prayer pt2

Part 1 here

———

Vivec: *laying on the filth ridden streets of the settlement of Mournhold, a blade to his throat held by a handsome caravan guard with sharp but gentle blue eyes* I’m sorry alright! Let me go!!

Nerevar: *lifts his chin with his blade as he leans down to meet his gaze, the sky behind him turning red and hazy with smoke as his face begins to sag and peel off* Are you? Are you really sorry? Vehk-

*BANG! BANG! BANG!*

Vivec: *jolts awake to the moonlight peering through the cracks in the roof of his current ‘home’, and the bashing of armoured fists against his door* … *rises up off his bed mat and quickly covers his face and hair with his scarf and mask as he opens the door* hello? *blinks seeing three ordinators standing there* what is the meaning of this?…

Ordinator 1: we got reports of strange activity in this building. Random people coming and going at odd hours. We’re here to ensure there’s no illegal goings on. Skooma dealing, prostitution or the like.

Vivec: …These odd hours wouldn’t happen to be breakfast, lunch and dinner. Would they?

Ordinator 1: I- um-

Vivec: and these random people. Do they look well dressed enough to afford either of the two things you’re accusing me of dealing?

Ordinator 1: They- they look-

Vivec: Homeless? Because they are. I open my home for those who seek help and feed those who have been forgotten. *pushes open the door letting them see inside the small space* I’ve nothing to hide. *steps aside* go ahead. Turn over all my belongings. Break as much as you want. You ordinators seem to enjoy kicking the less fortunate while they’re down, the temple will pay you regardless.

Ordinator 1: *scowls and gets in his face as the other two enter and begin searching* You dare speak ill of the temple s’wit?!

Vivec: I speak Ill of those who’ve abandoned their people. They gather wealth to line their pockets while their people starve, what will you do? Arrest me? And take more hope away from those who have nothing?

*crash!!*

Vivec: *turns his gaze to see the bucket filled with dirty dishes and water now tipped over in a puddle of soapy water and broken pottery* … *looks back at the ordinator* I doubt I’ll be compensated for the damages as well.

Ordinator 1: you smart mouthed little-

Ordinator 2: nothing here sir. He’s telling the truth by the looks of it.

Ordinator 3: *trying to clean up his mess by tossing what he thinks is a rag in the puddle not knowing it’s Vivec’s bed mat* n-nothing here sir it just looks like dirty dishes-

Vivec: *sighs* well now the dishes I feed the downtrodden with are shattered and my bed is soaked. *looks back at the first guard* if you’re satisfied, kindly leave.

Ordinator 1: *huffs* fine. *tilts his head gesturing for the other two to leave, waiting for them to exit before approaching the door too… pausing as he takes in the dunmers figure beneath the long robes and mask* actually. I’m not satisfied. *steps forward making the other elf back up slowly*

Vivec: What else could you possibly want evidence for? *steps back, his gaze shifting from the ordinator, to his ‘fishing spear’ in the corner covered by a net*

Ordinator 1: *steps even closer* Take off your mask. What are you hiding?…

Vivec: I’d rather keep it on. My face and body were disfigured from the eruption of red mountain. Exposure to the air hurts my skin.

Ordinator 1: is that so then? Then you won’t mind proving it by showing me- *grabs Vivec by his wrist, pulling him in to grab his mask only for the other Mer to punch him in the face with strength no mortal could possess, sending him flying into the wall* GHHGH!!

Ordinator 2: S-sir?! *hurries in through the door and freezes seeing vivec laying on the ground seemingly pulling his robes back up, being very careful to show only part of his bluish grey skin* I-

Vivec: Y-you d-dogs!! *grips the wall pulling himself up, making it look as though he’d been assaulted by the other guard* you come into my home- you destroy my belongings and you force yourself upon me!?

Ordinator 3: I? Did he-

Vivec: *screaming loud enough now for others outside to hear, the windows of the slum buildings lighting up with candles and oil lamps* Does it get you off hurting those who have nothing?!

Ordinator 1: *pulling himself up to his feet* h-he’s lying! He punched me! He refused to show me his body!! He’s hiding so-

Ordinators 2 & 3: *both shackle him and pull him from the building as a crowd forms in the street, all of them staring at them with disgust and anger, that they’d harass the one kind soul left in the city who cared for all of them asking for nothing in return*

Ordinator 1: I?! Unhand me!!! You idiots he’s lying to you!! HES LYING TO YOU!! *screams as he’s dragged away*

Vivec: *steps out of his dwelling seeing the crowd gathering around him with concern* It’s alright friends… I’m okay… but… to those who can, bring your own plate for your meals tomorrow… I only have a few left in tact…

*meanwhile*

Nerevar: *kneeling before the shrine of Azura within the Mournhold temple, the room dark and silent, illuminated only by the large oil lamps at the feet of the lady of twilight* the first oblivion gate opened at dusk. Our men felled mephalas forces with great loss. If this is only the beginning I fear we won’t survive her onslaught. Not without your aid my lady… *places his hand to the shrine, the silence deafening* how much of your power did she steal?…

“Seek. The betrayer…”

Nerevar: *jumps and looks up at the shrine to see it gone, and only a withered, transparent husk of the form Azura once blessed his eyes with* The betrayer- oh my lady…

Azura: *voice weak and soft, eyes heavy and fading, the influence over the dunmer people not enough to heal what Mephala stole from her with the cutting blow of her ebony blade* Vehk Lives… seek the betrayer… for he was betrayed by her…

Nerevar: I- vivec?! He- why would I wish for his aid? After what he did to me! To the temple to you-

“Mephala made him murder you.”

Nerevar: *turns to see the shadows twisting behind him, holding aloft cracked bones and blistering red eyes in the hollowed sockets of a skull* my dark lady- Boethia- what did she do to you?!

Boethia: *voice hissing with vitriolic anger that her partner, her mate, lover and more could betray her like this. To so mercilessly rip her very soul asunder and leave her a shambling husk of what she was* Lies. She told him lies. That you were a threat to us. To our people. *slithers over him, the mass of shadow and bones moving like a snake* She told him you and your retainer, your most trusted, Voryn Dagoth, wished to use the heart for yourselves. To harness its full power to your own gain, to overthrow us…

Nerevar: but- isn’t that what he did? What the tribunal did-

Boethia: *coiling slowly around azuras shade* Yesssss… once he realised he’d been tricked. Tricked into being a mere pawn for her plan. Tricked into removing you and Voryn from guarding the heart. He convinced Almalexia, and forced Sotha Sils hands to strike the heart. Weakening it.

Nerevar: …So Mephala couldn’t obtain its full power for herself. But why?… why pose as gods? Why overthrow the temple, you?

Boethia: Mephala lied to us as she did him. As she did you. We would never believe the words of your whore over hers. He knew of the threat she imposed and sought to remove her influence, to weaken her… but I’m doing so Azura and I had to fall as well… *suddenly swallows azuras shade whole into herself. Keeping her fellow prince safe and allowing her time to rest with her as a shield*

Nerevar: *grimaces hearing vivec referred to as his whore, despite the sour blood the living gods actions left him with, a love deep within him still ached at her words* where is he?…

Boethia: He walks amongst his people in the city of blacklight. In plain sight for all to unknowingly see.

Nerevar: his people? My lady they’re your-

Boethia: No. *shifts towards him slowly, the jaw of the skull opening into a gaping maw where in a vision shines. A masked figure cloaked in heavy garb, tending to the homeless and abandoned with gentle hands* They are his.

Nerevar: *eyes wide taking in their figure, and the unforgettable eyes behind the sockets of the mask* vivec…

[casspurrjoybell-19]

Does it Matter? - Chapter 60 - Part 1

*Warning Adult Content*

The rain finally stopped after two long days.

On the morning of the third, Maric stepped out of their tent into a world washed clean, the sun shining brightly in a cloudless sky.

Some of his men were already up, moving around the campsite, packing things away.

Brayan emerged from the tent minutes later, already dressed for the day, then did an about-face back into the tent.

When he sat down next to the campfire with Maric to eat some breakfast, no longer in his uniform blues, a subtle yet perceptible shift swept through the camp.

Without a word from Brayan, the message was clear.

By the time the camp was dismantled and everyone stood ready to depart, the colour blue had vanished from sight.

Once they crossed the border into Ticia, being recognised for what they were would be a very dangerous thing.

Brayan even dusted Luce with some of the region's reddish soil, though it didn't do much to disguise his fine breeding.

There wasn't much that could be done to disguise the quality of the men in their group, either.

They weren't very convincing as a ragtag group of merchants or mercenaries.

As they began their ride, Hudson gave the other men lessons in how to slouch and look undisciplined.

He'd clearly spent the last few days working on a particularly unsightly beard that Maric had to admit made him look quite unlike someone who ought to have a place in the prince's guard.

Riding out toward the valley's winding exit, Dara and Bug fell into lively chatter in Eulan.

Brayan observed them with a rare serenity on his face, as if trying to piece together a puzzle.

Brayan had always been the eye of the storm, calm, collected but Maric was beginning to realise that he'd never truly been at peace with himself.

Maric wasn't one to judge, he had been walking the same tightrope, draped in duty, yet feeling distant from its heart.

They were meant to be beacons for the border soldiers, a morale boost in what appeared to be an endless, joyless tug-of-war.

For Maric, this role was a convenient escape from his father's shadow, a space where he didn't have to confront their strained relationship.

Just thinking about his father made Maric tense up.

The idea of any reconciliation was unthinkable now, especially after what had happened to Dara but it wasn't just about Dara.

Maric had always harboured resentment towards his father, believing it to be a private issue that inadvertently bled into his duties because he couldn't detach his feelings from his responsibilities.

Now, he understood it was more than a family squabble.

His father's actions had taken the brother of one of Maric's own men from him.

Maric would make sure he answered for that and for the many other wrongs he'd done to many other people.

The misery of Maric's childhood was the least of those but these were heavy thoughts for another time.

For now, Maric allowed the cool mountain breeze to soothe his spirit as he led his men along a narrow, rugged trail towards the unknown.

********

By midday, they reached what could only be described as the saddest excuse for a border marker Brayan had ever encountered, a barely discernible, faded red cloth tied to a weather-beaten stake in the ground.

Dara gracefully dismounted and assisted Bug down, their hands clasping as they theatrically stepped across the boundary.

Standing now in Ticia, Bug's face lit up with a radiant smile, turning towards Brayan as Cassie, ever attuned to the group's emotions, danced excitedly around them.

"Let's take a short break here," Maric declared, watching the scene unfold with a softness in his eyes.

"Savour this moment. We'll need to be even more vigilant once we move on."

Bug, lingering by the modest marker, silently beckoned Brayan over, clearly reluctant to cross back over.

With a nod to Raedon, who took Luce's reins, Brayan walked over.

"Can we go for a walk to the top of the hill during the break?"

Bug asked.

Brayan's gaze followed the path winding up the hill into Ticia.

It wasn't particularly steep nor distant but he knew Bug's stamina was limited.

"Wouldn't it be wiser to rest now?"

"Well, maybe but... please? We can rest once we're up there."

Brayan let out an indulgent sigh.

"I'll get some food."

Bug waited patiently and once Brayan had gathered some dried meat and hardtack, they set off together.

As Brayan watched Bug struggle to haul himself up the short distance to the top of the hill, he was tempted to just pick him up and carry him but he didn't want to rob him of his dignity.

Reaching the summit of the hill, modest as it was, seemed to infuse Bug with a renewed vitality.

He spun slowly, absorbing the expansive view of the arid landscape that unfolded around them.

There was a smile on his face as he turned to Brayan, and Brayan found himself mirroring it.

"This is the moment," Bug said, locking eyes with Brayan.

"The one I was shown. What the thing in my head promised me to get me to stay."

"And has it lived up to your expectations?"

"It's surpassed anything I could have dared to hope for. I'm glad I trusted it."

"Was this why you wanted to come up here? Did you know?"

"I had a feeling," Bug admitted.

"But even if my hunch had been wrong, sharing this moment with you would have been worth the climb, don't you think?"

"If you're willing to use your energy for this, I won't object but once we're back on the road, you're sharing my horse so you can get some rest."

Bug's eyebrows lifted.

"I'm not sure you have the authority to give me orders on this side of the border."

Brayan faltered.

"I didn't mean..." he paused, choosing his next words carefully.

"You're right. That came out more like an order than I intended. I apologise."

Bug's smile softened the moment.

"I was teasing. You're right, of course and I welcome the rest. If you're offering, I'd be glad to ride with you."

"Even so, your point stands," Brayan said as he extended a piece of dried meat to Bug.

"I don't have the right to command you and I must be mindful of that. I imagine it doesn't help that my own father was very much the head of our family but you're not a woman. You're just as much a man as I am."

"Oh," Bug said.

"I guess the Eth are a little different. My parents ran our household as an equal partnership. For us, that's normal."

Brayan mulled over Bug's words.

"I suppose I have no strong feelings on the matter. I think there's value in hierarchy but I've come to see that assigning someone a leadership position by default has its flaws. Perhaps it is stronger for two people to negotiate that role between themselves. To balance that power in a way that supports a more levelheaded approach."

Bug offered him a fond smile.

"I never really thought about it as a matter of power. They were just my parents. We loved one another and lived a quiet life with our goats."

"My father had high standards for me but I wouldn't be where I am now without them. Without a prestigious family name, I had to outperform at every turn to secure my position. We were comfortable, yet in circles where titles weigh more than talent, I was an outlier. I'm lucky that Maric is the kind of man to overlook such things but I also put in the work so that I could confidently say that I am the best choice for the job."

"I was never very ambitious," Bug admitted.

"I was quite happy just... living. Raising goats, making cheese, doing a little hunting and of course, fantasising about the man from my dream. I hope my lack of drive doesn't disappoint you."

"I value who I've become, Bug and I aim to be a good partner for you but trust me, no relationship needs more than one person like me."

Bug nodded, a thoughtful silence falling as he began to nibble on the dried meat Brayan had offered.

[shimmerbeasts]

👑 + Swain or Sarah Fortune

Testing Muses You Suggest||Accepting.

WOULD I: YES / MAYBE / NO

HAVE I EVER BEFORE: YES / NO 

ICON & WRITING SAMPLE (IF YES TO EITHER PREV. QUESTION):

A flash of crimson appeared in the corner of his eyes. The Grand General of Noxus turned around just in time to see one of his ravens, the physical manifestation of Raum's demonic powers, stagger across his heavy, wooden table before the animal collapsed into his gloved hand. Sticky, dark magenta blood pooled around his leather. The raven had been shot through its chest. The bullet must have exited through the back. A death sentence for normal animals, however, Raum's willpower easily kept the extensions of him alive to find their way back to the master, who now controlled that very same will like the reigns on a horse.

Scooping the corvid up into his hand, a thumb lifted up its chin so that six scarlet eyes met Swain's steel grey gaze. "Show me what happened", he commanded, even if those words were not necessary. His ravens did their duties with the same diligence and swiftness of his great mind. Unlike men, they knew no defiance, only servitude and his burning will. The only reason, Swain commanded them to do anything verbally, was born from a force of habit. After all, visions needed a voice to describe them to the common folk.

Images filled his mind, zooming out of the shadows, from high above like the pictures on a film. Swain could make out fractured details. A puddle of green chemicals on cobbled streets, a pipe, steaming with fume, the blue flashes of Arcane energy, and then he could finally look down the barrel of the same gun, the raven had faced.

It was being wielded by a small, sleek girl with skin so white, Swain could practically pull the diseases, she had weathered out of her pores. Her braids were cobalt blue and her punkish, crude attire marked her out as a classical Zaunite.

But it was the eyes, which bore themselves into Swain's mind. Radiantly glowing purple with a cruel savageness, wild and untamed. Animalistic violence as opposed to the clean manufactured cruelty, Noxus bore. They took the boiling desires of the blood and they sharpened them into blades and sledgehammers and axes to cave in the skulls of their enemies and snap the spines of their opposition!

The raven dissolved into smoke and feathers as it finally could not hold its final breath. Swain turned his scarlet glowing, scaly hand inward and flexed claws, sharp enough to cleave out your eyes. As he let the memories of the raven become part of his collective mind, of Raum's massive collection of memories, he suddenly froze for he had caught a shadowy figure behind the blue-haired girl just as she had fired her weapon.

Swain waved his gloved hand and forced the image back out into the open. Steely eyes locking onto the shadowy figure, his thin, silvery grey moustache twitched as his finely curved lips pulled into a smile. Oh, she really was thinking that by merely manipulating a little girl into shooting down a few crows, she could slow his advances down! Silly LeBlank! Swain had dealt with problems like this before. There were so many ways to utilise just one ability. If she wanted to make a little Zaunite her puppet, then Swain would respond accordingly.

His wings unfurled from his back, trembling in the dry, hot air. Swain stared up at the full moon with eyes glazed over in scarlet. Raum was coursing through his body, shifting through the fractions of images in search of the blue-haired girl. Such a striking appearance was playing into his hands. It made investigating the last mountains of memories, his ravens had delivered to him a breeze.

Next time, he snooped around Zaun, he would target this... Jinx directly.

[abuseken-tournament]

Round 1 Matches

Finished Ongoing

Christ vs Christ (Christ original)

Iesu vs Iesu (Iesu original)

Bush vs Bush (Bush original)

Judas vs Judas (Judas original)

Wedding Celebration vs Wedding Celebration (Wedding Celebration original)

Siiim2 vs Siiim2 (Siiim2 original)

Snake vs Snake (Snake original)

In the Blanks vs In the Blanks (In the Blanks official)

Want to be Cremated vs Dogdog (ends Dec 24)

Flower War vs Flowers, Mountains, and Funerals (ends Dec 25)

Dear Suns vs God, Please ( ) Me, a Monster (ends Dec 26)

Firewater vs Ren-kun? (ends Dec 27)

Distoartion vs King (ends Dec 28)

That Whale is a Villain vs Let’s Clean Up (ends Dec 29)

Wan Wan Wanderer vs Shinjuku Jack (ends Dec 30)

It’s Called Platonic Love vs Hanamuke (ends Dec 31)

Goodbye, My Country vs Don’t Kill (Dec 25-Jan 1)

Abortion vs Calsi and the Old Man (Dec 26-Jan 2)

Summer of Frostbite vs Identification

Bye Bye Mushroom vs Shokishodo

Deadstock vs Iron

Yellow Papa vs Nostalgia

Runaway vs Believe it

Small Freedom vs Horinouchi

Bye Bye vs River Rafting (demo)

Moths and Mayflies vs Blue

Syuno Keru vs iKill

Menthol Tear vs Tomato

Albino vs Holy Springtime of Life

Double Suicide vs He is a Ghost

Heart Attack vs Yes Yes Yes

Jack was a Bad Guy vs Smoke and Rain

I Bit My Tongue at a Street Seller vs Buglitch

Kattarura vs Worst Night

Kujira vs Arukari

Ignite I vs Heathen at Heart

First Snow vs Capital Punishment

Morgue vs Spring Will Kill

Night Light Train vs Innocence

Krampus vs Woman First and Woman Second

Eugrom vs Caught Caught Caught

Root Provisional Law vs Polysentimental Object Syndrome

Equations and Kafka vs Ignite II

Laundromat vs iKill2

>>4 I’m on My Way vs Gasoline Bridge

Killo vs Reversible Gochujang

Moveaway vs Ignite III

The Call of the Beast vs Horinouchi

A Very Pleasant Day in May vs Dogdays

Untitled (white cover) vs Untitled (dog cover)

Futtekuru vs Trust Me

Ignite_ vs Porn, Movies, and Melonpan (Miku demo)

Buy a Gun vs iluvmusiciluvfurry

Bullet (Miku demo) vs Ma • ga • i • mo • no • kan • zen • tai

Let Snakes Become Dragons vs Cum (Miku demo)

Rakuraku vs Sink Into the Dead of Night

Sorry to Bother You So Late at Night vs Ikebukuro Night West Exit 20240623

Water Balloon vs Kumaroshi

Low Pressure, No Limit vs Falling

A gets a free pass