#Hang in there ao3...

[jyou-no-sonoko19]

While Ao3 continues the fight against its DDOS attack, I do have offline backups of SoL in Ao3 format, as well as the AfM pdf, if anyone needs it.

[opera-is-not-cool]

fanfiction isn't enough i need every dialogue exchange of theirs etched into my bones and every scene of them together burned behind my eyelids until i know them better than i know my own skin, my hands, the sound of my name

[zurka-durka]

i'm not planning on discussing opm chapters here in the future but staying silent when THIS just happened

they actually acknowledged saitama's strength. i thought we'd be stuck in "must've been someone else" trenches forever

not only that they brought the possibility of him being some kind of a threat. which is my dream come true scenario

garou has mentioned it before and the idea never left me

[infinitify]

(art by @novalise1 on X)

HOW TO BE | AOT MODERN AU

EREMIKA & RIVETRA (MULTI-CHAP SLOW BURN)

Levi's taken it upon himself to raise his orphaned cousin, Mikasa. Devoted entirely to keeping her safe from the dysfunction of the Ackerman family, he strives to give her the type of life she deserved from the very start. Now depressed, emotionally damaged, and entranced by heavy eyeliner and sad song lyrics, seventeen-year-old Mikasa struggles through growing pains during her pursuit of happiness - all while being so hopelessly in love with a boy who sometimes can't keep his mouth shut.

Mid-2000's Modern/High School/College AU. Goth, angsty Mikasa and protective father figure Levi. Eventual Eren x Mikasa, eventual Levi x Petra.

CW: Graphic depictions of violence, blood, alcoholism. Attempts of suicide/completion of suicide. Mentions of molestation/attempted molestation (no graphic depictions). Dysfunctional family life.

NSFW content in the future.

✮ ✮ ✮

Hello there! I thought I'd finally share my story with the tumblr side of the AOT fandom, so if you're into character studies of your AOT faves, a ridiculous amount of teenaged angst, and horrifyingly tragic backstories, then this if the fic for you! Take a dip into the complex familial bond Levi and Mikasa share while you discover all the heart-wrenching pain between your favourite ships!

Big big big credit to @novalise1 on X for their amazing art that you're seeing above. They drew these a while before my fic was even conceived, but I stumbled upon them about a year or so later and they coincidentally fit the fic so well. I knew I had to show you all their talented art!

If you would like sporadic chapter updates, you can also find me on X @infinitify_ or feel free to shoot me a message in my asks here on tumblr!

But anyway, happy reading!

[livinpipedreams]

It's a devastating situation, but I honestly love the sense of community I get whenever I see thousands of people slowly lose their sanity when they see the website with their silly little stories go down.

[hothammies]

au art where mikey left carmy his daughter in his will (writing a fic for it called ribbons and scrunchies, it is sydcarmy + single dad carmy)

[psaikey]

Thoughts on “Death’s Door”

⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎

"Death's Door"; Levi Ackerman/ Reader fanfiction on Ao3 by SongsOfApollo

⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎

This is probably one of the most widely read Levi Ackerman/ Reader fanfictions, and after reading it, it certainly raised my standards. It begins by describing the life of a young doctor who then is forced to join the Scout Regiment as a military doctor. The attention to detail in terms of medical terminology, methods and general practice is incredible and so easy to follow.

The writing style is very refreshing and creative, able to convey the emotion behind the words. As for the pacing, this is a slow burn fanfiction, but it has the perfect balance. The parts without romantic interactions are far from boring, dare I say the best part of the story, and make the romance all the more exciting. The side story is seriously so interesting. The relationships built up in the meantime only add to the strong feelings and heighten the tragedies to come. The author has done this so well that I was literally rooting for Eld. Warning: you will cry.

Because of the new characters she introduces: I was in awe of all the character developments and their strong relationships. The new characters are not just supporting characters in the story, but have deep connections with the protagonist, which makes the later events feel all the more devastating. The atmosphere of the world very well portrayed that of Attack On Titan, with some heart-warming moments of peace sprinkled in.

Levi is soo well written and in character, as if you dropped in the AoT universe. The relationship between them is so mature and realistic that it will make you squirm. The protagonist is also very mature, driven and independent. Their romance builds slowly and will leave you wanting more.

The author is so incredibly talented, writing a book better than most conventionally published works!

In short, I'm in LOVE with this fanfiction, it has a sense of familiarity and tugs at your heartstrings. I really can’t wait for more to come!

[necrotic-nephilim]

what are your favourite batcest ships and why?

AAA i love this question so much. i'm going to limit myself to a top five, because otherwise, i'd just end up listing all of them. the true joy of batcest is they're all so good for such different reasons and there are so many unique dynamics you can explore.

JayTim - it's funny bc, before i started this blog, i don't know if i would've put these two losers as my number one. but because i've done so much deep diving into their dynamic and i write them the most, i think it'd be a disservice for them to be anything *but* number one. their canon dynamic is just. so fun to play with. i truly love all of their interactions, particularly pre-Flashpoint. the concepts of Tim holding such contempt for Jason while Jason is weirdly obsessed with Tim. i'm a fan of Hannibal and Killing Eve and well. if this isn't a Hannigram-coded ship idk *what* is. i like ships where love and hate co-exist and there's no real "happily ever after", just fucked up co-existing, where they crawl back to each other like a bad habit and really, this ship is that so perfectly. the themes of jealousy in the Robin mantle. Tim wearing Jason's Red Robin suit to punish himself. i will likely never shut up about them. even in the New-52, there's such a substance to them, though the dynamic is wildly different. they will always be so weirdly dependent on each other's existence. i love them.

BruDick - you can't outdo the doer, i fear. i think i like BruDick mostly for the history of it, yk. there's genuinely *so much* queer history seeped into the homoeroticism of Batman and Robin, these two have been a symbol for queer people for decades. but the ship itself has so many dynamics i love. problematic age gap, "are we family or lovers", "i can't be in a room alone with you without getting into a screaming match but if you called i drop everything for you". all of it. i especially favor 80s/90s BruDick when they were in their divorce era just because it's so messy. Dick has canonically said he would die for Bruce, even during their arguments. no matter what, these two will always be single-mindedly devoted to each other. there will be other Robins, but none of them will compare to Dick Grayson, for Bruce. it's a unique and complicated bond that has endless layers to peel back. they always crawl back to each other bc no one else will match their level of intensity.

DamiTim - years and years ago, when i was a teen trying to people-please with how i existed in fandom, i used to insist i didn't like batcest and found it icky and gross. but there was one DamiTim fic that was my exception. that fic was my fucking roman empire. i reread it like once a year even though it's not completed and likely never will be i do not care. so now that i've killed the morality police in my head and i let myself ship what i actually want to ship, this ship holds a top place in my heart just bc of that fic alone. but in general i do fucking love their dynamic. similar to JayTim there's just so much mutual hatred in these two that has endless potential. Damian's insistence to not see Tim as a Wayne and as a legitimate brother/heir to Bruce is something you can play a lot if you give Damian an angry, fucked up crush on Tim he doesn't want to admit to. they have so many reasons to dislike each other, so to try to get them to slowly fall in love is a fun challenge. they either have a long complicated forgiveness arc and end up a happy married couple or they are the couple that tries to kill each other once a week. no in-between.

JeanTim - there's like. one person here on tumblr who goes as hard for this ship as i do and truly god bless them bc they feed me. Jean-Paul is too underrated in the batcest scene. once i reread Knightfall, i will have to help popular this tag on ao3. i enjoy both a very fucked up version of this ship during the peak of the Knightfall arc, where Jean-Paul is deep in his murder Batman era and Tim is trying to stop him to no real avail, but i *also* think there's so much you can do with the ship afterwards, where Jean-Paul is trying to make up for what he's done and be a better person and better hero. they're the peak Batman/Robin ship, to me. they truly care about each other, but have a very complicated/bloody history and i just. man i love it so dearly. i've been meaning to write a fic where Jean-Paul goes to Tim post the Sword of Azrael (2022) arc to properly discuss and apologize for all his actions in Knightfall for his personal healing and they end up fucking. it could be sweet and cute or kinky fun bc what is the joy of a character with that much Catholic guilt if you don't give them a weird religious kink.

BruCarrie - The Dark Knight Returns got me into comics and i will defend it till the day i die. Carrie Kelley can be pried from my cold dead hands. i just really love these two? Carrie took one look at that cranky old bastard and decided she was his problem. and Bruce is at a stage where he should be very averse to the idea of having a Robin, he knows it's a bad idea. but he just. accepts her anyway. idk how to explain their dynamic other than she plunks herself in his lap and stitches up his wounds while telling him he's an idiot and he lets her even if he's grumbling about it. they have the biggest age gap of any Batman/Robin ship and for that, they should get like. a dead dove gold star no matter how rare the pair is.

also honorable mention goes to BruTim, because *god* do i love the concept of Tim offering himself up to Bruce as Robin in every way, knowing that there are likely sexual/romantic implications to being Robin. it's one of my favorite flavors of batcest to exist. i don't view them as a "happily ever after" ship, because Bruce will always go back home to Dick, but it's a fun lil dead dove moment.

[oneluckydragon]

✨🌸 Sunshine on your skin, flowers in my soul 🌸✨

🌊🫧Summary → In the midst of his reconciliation with Team Wish, Dusknoir begins coughing up flowers. This unfortunate brand of bad luck should be a cosmic joke. A spiteful punishment that the world has brought down on him out of malice, out of vengeance for his past deeds. A cruel, agonizing curse manifested with the single unjustified purpose of preventing him from realizing happiness, ever seeking redemption, ever righting his multitudes of wrongs and moving on with his life. But that's not true, and he knows it deep down. Knows it in the very core of his soul like the flood of petals building in this throat.

This is his fault because he is a coward, and that's all he has ever been. A backstabbing, lonely coward.

And now he is going to die because of it.

[AO3]

[CH. I -- Word Count -- 13,290]

🌒💫 Return → the act of going back to a place, person, or memory

[CH. II -- TBA]

[missd476]

Weapons World Chap 1 (A Rude Welcome)

Have you heard the legend,

about the seven stars?

How a giant sword fell from the sky,

and scattered them near and far?

Freakish soldiers forged from the king,

Poured from the gate.

They spread chaos across the land,

Made from iron and fueled by hate.

But the king had been opposed,

By a man clad in red.

With his little army of five,

Through the factory they tread.

An enormous explosion,

Blew through from the factory’s core.

And the king and his many heads,

Were no more.

The eyes of the factory,

Saw the battle unfold.

And now the heroes triumphant story,

Had now been told,

To the misfits and weirdos,

Of the kingdom lost and forgotten.

And it soon reached the ears,

Of another ruler, twice as rotten.

Their new agenda,

Now focused on the alien world.

Had planned something devilish,

A terrible scheme to unfurl.

And I think,

The time is ideal,

To tell you some stories,

From the kingdom of steel.

“Looks like another clear day… I guess I can go out for a walk or something. Still not sure yet.”

Mallow looked out the window from the statue room, leaning against its frame. It was yet another lovely day at Nimbus Land; clear blue skies, little to no wind, not too hot or cold. All the citizens were on the merry way doing their chores or engaging in conversations. Occasionally, folks from the Earth below would arrive and join in. Mallow always enjoyed meeting folks from all over the Mushroom Kingdom. Heck, there were even times when Princess Peach would stop by and he and his parents would have a pleasant time drinking tea and discussing important royal matters. (Or at least the adults would, Mallow was still trying to understand all the ins and outs of being a prince) There were even times when he would go to Tadpole Pond just so he can spend time with the Frog Sage. Even if they aren’t related by blood, Frog Sage would always consider Mallow his grandson, to which Mallow would always be thankful for him for.

But even then, he would have those days where he just felt bored.

It had been roughly half a year since that amazing adventure; defeating the nefarious Smithy Gang, and restoring the Star Road and all of the Mushroom Kingdom’s wishes. Now don’t get Mallow wrong. He was very happy with the life he had found. He was super happy he found his real parents. And he couldn’t be happier that things were at peace. I suppose the real reason he has these feeling from time to time is that he’s missing someone really important to him.

Mallow’s attention then turned to the golden statues that Garo made. All of them sparkled and gleamed from the sunlight through the windows. One statue in particular he focused on was the doll looking one. Facing forward, with a determined look on his face, the statue of Geno stood. Looking at it though made Mallow feel slightly melancholy.

Mallow is very aware that Geno had a duty to protect Star Road, but he couldn’t help but miss him dearly. He knows he can’t just pry Geno away from his job, as that would be a pretty selfish reason for doing so. But still, Mallow missed his wise musings, his amazing magic and guns, and how much of a big brother he felt to Mallow.

Just as he was about to leave and walk about the castle, a small flash of light from outside caught the corner of his eye. Mallow looked out the window again and scanned the sky. Finally he saw three small objects floating in the sky, or rather swimming in the sky? As Mallow squinted his eyes, the shapes started to remind him of the jellyfish near Seaside Town only… very odd looking. White and shiny, but their tentacles looked… inorganic, like flayed wires?

Before Mallow could even respond, the objects darted towards his direction at an unbelievable pace. Before he knew it, Mallow had ducked away from the window with his arms over his head, just as they crashed through the glass, spreading shards of glass and frame pieces everywhere. After the debris settled, Mallow looked up, only to see a trio of… very weird looking jellyfishes. Actually they looked akin to the small pieces from chess (Mallow wasn’t quite sure what they were called as never knew how to play chess, he was more of a checkers kind of kid). Their round heads sword left and right feverishly as they floated ominously, their red eyes emitting a red sort of light, as if scanning everything that came into view. Finally, all eyes and lights were on Mallow. They scanned… and scanned… until…

*BLEEP* *BLIP* TARGET CONFIRMED! *BLEEP* INITIATE CAPTURE! *BLIP* *BLORP*

Suddenly, one of the jellyfish lunged at Mallow, tentacles (that DEFINITELY looked like wires now) bared in front. Mallow panicked at the sudden intrusion and attack. He quickly grabbed some of the glass and frame pieces and threw them at the barreling creature. But it only managed to slow the thing down just a tad, but enough for Mallow to get out of the way. He looked around the statue room frantically. In the corner was his Sage Staff, the very same his Grandfather used when he was a child. With the robotic fish distracted, Mallow made a mad dash and grabbed his staff. Now full of determination, he aimed his staff towards the intruder.

“You better leave now! I got weather magic, and I’m not afraid to use it!” Mallow warned.

The warning fell on deaf ears, as the robot lunged at the prince once again. Mallow stood his ground and aimed his staff, unleashing a powerful bolt. It struck the robot, making is spasm and quake violently, but it quickly getting back up, frightening red electricity began to spark from the tentacles. It wrapped around Mallow’s wrist, and suddenly Mallow felt a painful burn. He yelped in pain as he tried to pull away, but the bot’s grip was pretty strong. With no signs of its grip weakening, Mallow chanted under his breath, unleashing a flurry of snow. The bot was caught in the chaotic wind and rolled up into a giant snow man. As the snow golem dispersed, so did the bot smacking against the wall, bolts and screws flying out of it in every direction. It slumped down and went silent. Mallow grunted triumphantly, but the feeling of victory was short lived as he forgot that there were more than one of those weird robots. He turned around, but they were nowhere to be found. Mallow felt his panic grew as he made a quick dash to the only open exit out of the statue room. He ran through the halls as fast as his little legs would let him with sweat beginning to form on his forehead…

“EEEEEEK!”

Mallow’s heart skipped a beat as he heard the familiar voice of his mother, quite clearly distressed. He ran towards the source; the throne room, and busted through the doors. He saw a very frightful sight: his father and mother tied up by the other two robots looking overwhelmed, the bots’ gazes darted toward Mallow, their tentacles now wielding syringes full of a grim looking liquid. Mallow was frozen in place.

“Dad! Mom!” Mallow cried out as he took another step forward, but he stopped in his tracks as the bots aimed their syringes closer to his parents, making the mother yelp in fear. Just then the pointed snout of one of the bots opened up, revealing a megaphone like device hidden underneath…

*kzzzrrt* “Now listen carefully, organic. These vials contain a powerful toxin that can kill within minutes, and will cause excruciating pain as it kills the victim. If you do no want me injecting this toxin into your parents, then you will do as I say.”

Mallow was quaking in fear as he listened to the monotone voice. The description of whatever was in the syringes and the thought of his parents getting injected with such a painful, deadly toxin nearly made him sick to his stomach. He weighed his options to the best of his ability…

“…what do you want?” he asked in a small, scared voice.

*kzzzzrrt* “Put down your weapon.”

Mallow did as the voice said and laid his staff down in front of his feet.

*kzzzrt* “Now raise your arms.”

Mallow was a little confused by this request, but to avoid possibly angering it, he did as instructed. He lifted his chubby hands to the sky…

*CLANG*

Mallow was caught by surprise to see his hands were now in chunky, sturdy looking cuffs. Not only that, but by the bot he could’ve sworn he destroyed in the statue room. (They were more durable than he thought they were.) 

*kzrrt* “Now you will let my bots escort you out.”

At the order, the bot placed a tentacle forcefully against Mallow’s back, as if to get him walking. Mallow looked at his parents worriedly, whom sere still tied up by the other bots. Mallow sighed in defeat, and let the bot lead the way.

“Please! What are you gonna do to him!?” His father cried.

*kzzzrt* “That is not of your concern.”

Mallow was taken back by how blunt and careless that retort was, but he had to obey that voice. He was lead out of the throne room and through the halls.

*kzzzrt* “And remember, if you try any funny tactics, I will not hesitate in giving my bots the order to inject.”

Mallow winced, he was thinking of attempting some lightning magic of sorts, but he couldn’t if that put his parents at risk. Pretty soon, he was out of the castle an in the courtyard. The bot tossed two strange looking spheres in the air, and within seconds they formed an electric square frame. A dark portal began to form within the frame.

…a very familiar dark portal.

Eventually Mallow was ushered through the portal.

The room he entered was dark and dimly lit with many flickering screens. The air felt cold and thin, and the walls were covered in pipes and metal plates as was the floor. Next to the portal stood a large panel with many buttons and switches, with screens flickering all sorts of graphs and numbers. Behind the panel was someone… or something. It looked like the castle piece from a chess board. It toward over Mallow with piercing white eyes.

“You have made a wise choice. Now follow me.”

The giant ushered Mallow towards the open entryway. It clutched Mallow’s head, rather tightly.

“And remember, my bots are still with your parents. I can still give the word if you try anything rash.”

They lead Mallow out of the portal room and through the metallic halls of… wherever they were. The halls, like the portal room, were covered in pipes and panels, with occasional button panels alongside the doors. The ceiling lights would occasionally flicker and sometimes he could hear the hum of electricity or air flowing though the pipes. Once in a while, Mallow would spot a window, but every time he looked out all he could see was the familiar dark blue fog. Eventually, they stopped at a big door. It slid open. The giant room was dimly lit in an ominous red light, giant screens covered the walls, some showing various old buildings, some showing graphs and walls of texts, and then some of them were showing images of him and his friends. Some with a giant ‘X’ over them or a giant ‘?’. Near the back of the room was another control panel, and something enormous hunched over it. Small wires emerged from it, wavering about and pressing random buttons or inserting themselves into screens.

“I have one of the organic perpetrators in hand, sire”

The castle creature pushed Mallow forward. Mallow winced at the sudden aggression and began to shiver a little as he saw a head peer over from behind the lurking form.

Then it slowly turned around.

Mallow jaw slowly fell as the bulking mass slowly inched forward from the shadows. It wore a fancy looking crown and was draped in white cloaks. Giant cables dragged the being forward, making him slither, almost like a snake standing up. Weird pieces of machinery stuck out of its hunched back and hummed and buzzed. Its small yellow eye pierced through Mallow, and then… his neck began to stretch out with his head moving closer to Mallow’s face, again much like a snake. Its head was only a few inches from Mallow’s face, which had begun to seat. The being tilted its head from side to side, as if curious, its eye growing and shrinking. Until finally, pulling back…

A cable hovered over Mallow and was carefully placed on his forehead. Suddenly, it began to glow, and Mallow began to feel a sharp pain go through his head, almost like a migraine. He groaned and seethed until the cable lifted up, and pulled what looked like orbs or light from Mallow’s forehead. Mallow yelped in pain as each orb left his head, until finally he slumped over backwards, dizzy from the pain. The mechanical mass held the orbs in its hand like wires.

“LIGEFORM NERFED. ADD THESE TO MY BISHOPS, PROFESSOR DERECHO.”

The other giant, who Mallow know knew was name Derecho, put a firm grip on top of Mallow’s head.

“What shall we do with him, sire?”

“TAKE HIM TO CELL BLOCK 3-14. WE WILL HAVE HIM TRANSFERRED TO THE IRON GRIP IN DUE TIME. HOWEVER, WE MUST KEEP HIM HERE FOR NOW. I HAVE OTHER PLANS FOR HIM.”

“Understood, sire.”

Derecho pulled Mallow towards the exit, to what he was assuming the prison cells.

Mallow was shoved into a dingy looking cell. Walls and floors made of concrete with a single lightbulb hanging from the ceiling, and a bed and sink in the respective spots. Before Mallow could turn around, the cell door shut behind him. Derecho placed her hand on the panel near Mallow’s cell. It blipped and bleeped until a locking noise was heard. Derecho then turned to Mallow, with a pen looking device in her hand, and then pressed the button.

“If it is any consolation, I am bringing back my Knights, so your parents are safe. For now that is.”

And with that, she walked away. Once she was gone, Mallow walked towards his cell door. All he could see were five floors of cell doors and stairs to each floor. The ceiling appeared to be made of glass, and still all he could see was the blue fog. Mallow grunted in frustration, now that his parents were safe, what was stopping him now? With that, he closed his eyes and began to concentrate hard, and then…

“Star Rain!”

…

…

…wait. How did it go again?

Mallow tried his darnedest to remember how to cast the Star Rain spell, but he couldn’t remember anything about the spell, only its name. The harder he tried, the more his head began to hurt. So for the time being, he decided on another spell.

“Snowy!”

…

…

…why couldn’t her remember that one either??

Mallow became frantic, trying desperately to remember any of his spells. But all he could remember was his simple Lightning spell. But why? How could he forget all his magic spells?

“LIFEFORM NERFED.”

Mallow remember that line from the big monster, and those colorful orbs of light that came from his forehead.

“Did he… did that guy take my spells??” Mallow muttered to himself. It seemed the case, the fact he was dubbed nerfed, weakened.

“That guy… he took my spells! I worked so hard to learn those and he just steals them in like a few seconds. That’s so… lame.”

Mallow slumped against the wall overwhelmed. He was in handcuffs in a prison with hardly any magic. This was more excitement than he would’ve wanted, now he just wishes he could take back what he wished for. Just then, her heard one of the many cell doors open. Mallow shuffled over to see what was happening, he saw another giant robot that looked like Derecho, but the gestures and postures seemed off, almost a lot more casual and relaxed. This might’ve been a different lackey. And they appeared to have more of those jellyfish looking bots who have just tossed someone in. Mallow squinted his eyes to make out who got imprisoned, and soon they became as wide as dinner plates when he saw who it was.

“Please! I wanna go home! I sacred!”

Gaz’s tiny voice rang from the cell across from Mallow’s. The little toad was sitting on the floor, clutching his doll for dear life, looking like he was about to start crying.

“I don’t know what I did, but I’m sorry! Can I go home now? Please??”

The giant slammed his hand against the cell door, making a sound CLANG.

“Shut your trap, kid! If you want your hiney in tact, you better start cooperating with us by telling us where HE is!”

“I- I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Gaz whimpered.

“Listen kid, the last thing you wanna do in be an inconvenience to us Rooks. We can snuff out chumps in a heartbeat. So you better start talking. Right. Now.”

Mallow could feel his anger start to bubble over. It was one thing to blackmail him into coming here, but now they kidnapped Gaz. Mallow banged his cuffs on his cell door.

“You leave him alone!” Mallow yelled “He has nothing to do with whatever this is!”

“CAN IT, COTTON WAD! I’M INTERROGATING HERE”

…

“ENOUGH.”

The Rook flinched at the sound of that voice.

“Ah… of course, my lord. My bad. I got a little heated back there didn’t I?”

“SILENCE”

The giant cable mass creature had slithered its way into the prison, alongside another Rook. It looked inside the cell, at Gaz. Its neck stretched out and closed in on Gaz, who was shaking in fear. Out of its back, a TV screen unfolded itself and faced Gaz.

“IDENTIFY.”

Gaz tilted his head confused.

“…WHO IS THIS?”

Mallow could see some wires fiddling around with the screen, after a few seconds Gas’s eyes perked up.

“Geno?”

“SO YOU KNOW THE IDENTITY OF LIFE FORM 0-3.”

The Rook next to the cable mass produced some thin strings with little suction cups at their ends. The wires attached themselves to Gaz’s mushroom head.

“STATE HIS LOCATION.”

“I-I don’t know, he left to get star pieces, a-and he came back like this! Honest!” Gaz confessed while showing him a very familiar doll. The mass turned to the Rook.

“CONCLUSION, APEGA.”

Whirs and blips can be heard until the Rook, Apega, muttered “Checks out, my lord.” It seemed like it was a lie detector test they did, and it seems like they were trying to find Geno. The second Rook groaned.

“Ugh! We’re still not any closer to finding this bozo.”

“PATIENCE, DR. MARROW. WE HAVE CAPTURED 3 OUT OF 5, WE WILL FIND THE OTHERS”

Mallow winced at the statement. Three out of five? He was part of a five man team. Who else got captured? And what was on that TV screen they showed Gaz?

The cable mass stretched out a cable arm and yanked the Geno doll out of Gaz’s arms. It blinked at the doll curiously, his eye contracting and expanding. And finally, handing over the doll to the Rook, AKA Dr. Marrow.

“PUT THIS IN STORAGE ROOM 24.”

“Why bother keeping a toy?”

“…”

“Ah right, sorry, my lord.”

Dr. Marrow quickly left with the Geno doll in hand. Pretty soon, all of the big monsters had left, and all that was left was Mallow and Gaz. 

“Are you OK, Gaz?” Mallow yelled from his cell, “They didn’t hurt you, did they?”

“No… I don’t think so! Where are we?”

“Uh… good question! But don’t worry! We’ll get out of here! …somehow…”

Although, that was a heck of a promise Mallow made. He wasn’t sure how to get himself out of his own cell, let along get Gaz out as well…

…no! No! He can’t think like that! There had to be a way.

Suddenly he caught a glimpse of a white gloved hand waving to him from his left side, 3 cells down. He heard a low *pssst*. The voice sounded pretty familiar.

“…Mario?” Mallow asked quietly.

The glove responded by giving a thumbs up. Mallow felt a spark of joy and hope, now knowing Mario was here, meaning there IS a way out now.

“I’m glad to see you! Uh… you wouldn’t happen to have a plan on busting out, would you?”

The glove tapped the cell door bar thoughtfully for a minute, then it began tapping on the button panel next to the door. Then began pointing at Mallow’s cell door. Mallow did his best to look at his panel. But he knew what Mario meant; they needed their codes. But how to get them… It was then Mallow noticed a much smaller bot walking along the cells on their floor, looking like another chess piece. Mallow wondered, maybe it knew the codes. Mallow pondered some more… does he still know how to do that spell?

…

“Thought Peak.” Mallow whispered. Focusing his magic onto the walking droid as it walk past…

“0123…6391…4921…3029… 9875… 1945…3176…2909…”

“Bingo!” Mallow thought to himself, and waited for the droid to float past them and make their way down the stair to the next floor under. Once he was out of sight, he typed in the code for his cell, and will a blip and bleep the cell door unlocked.

“Mario! 3029! That’s your code!” Mallow whispered loudly.

Mallow smiled as the door opened, and he made a quick dash towards Mario cell as the plumber typed in the code, and with another blip and bleep the cell door unlocked. Mallow’s grin grew bigger at the sight of one of his old friends. He wouldn’t hesitate in giving Mario a big hug then and there, but now wasn’t the time! They were on a mission to escape. Mario though sense his little fluffy friend’s enthusiasm, and gave his a gentle pat on the head, making Mallow smile a big ol’ smile.

“Come on, Mario! We gotta get Gaz out of here!” Mallow exclaimed as they both exited Mario’s cell.

“Fiddle sticks! All this trouble of sending knights through our portals, and for what? A measly wooden doll?”

Dr. Marrow mumbled to himself as he and a few of his knights walked to one of the many, many storage rooms with the Geno doll in his grasp. He approach a large safe with a round door, opened it up, and chucked the doll inside. Then he turned to his knights.

“You two! Guard this room! I gonna recharge with some olive oil.”

And with that, Dr Marrow left, leaving the two knights with the giant room full of steal plated boxes, important documents, and of course the large safe. Even so, it was quite a shame none of them, not even Dr. Marrow, noticed a small glow zipping and flying through the small crevices and into the safe. Suddenly, the two knights hear a strange sound coming from within the safe. They observe the safe door curiously until they, along with the dafe door itself, was blown away by a blast of blinding magic.

“OK, Mario. Just hold it still while I read its thoughts” Mallow said as Mario held the small droid still in front of Gaz’s cell. Mallow focused his magic on the droid and…

*DEET DOOT* DEETLEET DEET DOOT* “WARNING! TELEPATHIC POWERS DETECTED!” “DEPLOYING APPROPRIATE COUNTER MEASURES!”

Suddenly the droid’s head began to smoke something fierce, so much so that Mario had to let it go. And then the droid toppled over, unmoving. Mario gently tapped it with his foot, but it gave no response.

“Aw geez. I think he overheated himself.” Mallow said, “I can’t get the code from him like this.”

Mario sighed in frustration, as did Mallow. No code meant no easy way to open the door. Mallow shifted though his pockets to see if he has anything useful (that Derecho forgot to check, thankfully). He searched around and low and behold, he found his old Ribbit Stick. He nodded at Mario and forced his staff between the gaps of Gaz’s cell door. Then, he and Mario pushed against the stick with all their might, but the door wouldn’t budge. Eventually, they had to take the stick out, exhausted. Mario scratched his head tiredly, trying to figure out what to try next, and Mallow sat next to the door trying to catch his breath. When all of the sudden, they heard an explosion for afar. Mario and Mallow turned their heads curiously towards the direction, only to see the jail doors swing open with great force. Smoke bellowed out of the entry way, and a figure stepped out into view.

“Heh, they thought a simple safe could stop me.”

“Geno!” Mallow and Gaz exclaimed as the now fully grown star doll made quick dash up the stairs to their location. As he arrived, he looked at his familiar partners and smiled warmly.

“Although, it nice to see you guys again. I just wish it wasn’t under these circumstances.”

Mario could only chuckle at the statement and Mallow had a big smile on his face. Geno then turned his attention to Gaz, who was bouncing up and down at the sight of his hero standing in front of him.

“Are you alright, Gaz? Those fiends didn’t hurt you, did they?”

“Yeah, I’m OK. But we gotta get this door open!”

“I see. I got one idea, but I need you to step away from the door”

“You got it, Geno.” Gaz said as he made his way towards the wall. Geno took a few steps back and began to charge up another magic spell. And then, he unleashed a Geno Whirl towards the door. The spinning disc of light sawed thought the thick iron bars and into the concrete wall. Mario understood Geno’s plan, and kicked the bars out of place, making a small opening for Gaz, who was quick to run out towards Geno and tightly hug his legs.

“Geno, I KNEW you’d come back someday!”

“It’s good to see you too, Gaz” Geno said as he patted the little toad’s head.”But Mario, we gotta get out of here. They’ll be back any minute.”

Mario and Mallow nodded and the four of them exited the jail room.

Through the winding tunnels of pipes and wires and lights, the group ran and ran. With each turn, with each long stretch of hallways, they weren’t any closer to finding an exit. Mario stopped the group to look at a one of the walls. There upon the wall was a map, and from the looks of it they weren’t in a castle, but a giant aircraft with four giant towers and each side with propellors on the bottom of each one, allowing this behemoth the fly. Mario carefully studied the map, looking at every possible route, until he found a decent path that seemed to lead to an exit. After that, Mario lead the group down a straightforward path and towards a heavily bolted door at the end of the hallway. Geno nodded towards Mario and began to charge up for a Geno Beam…

“URGH!”

Geno felt a sharp pain from the back of his head, and could feel something getting pulled out as a couple of wires entangle in the same glowing orbs Mallow saw before, until they grabbed three orbs and retreated backwards. The group turns around and their blood runs cold as the giant living mass of cable stood in the hallway, blocking their only other exit and holding the orbs close.

“IDENTIFIED. LIFEFORM 0-3 CONFIRMED. LIFEFORM CONFIRMED NERFED.”

Geno, still grunting in pain, attempted to perform a Geno Whirl… but alas, he couldn’t remember how to do it.

“Geno!” Mallow cried out. “Our spells! It think this guy looks our spells!”

Geno looked at Mallow flabbergasted, then he turned to Mario, who sadly nodded in agreement. To demonstrate, he attempted to launch some Fireballs, only for nothing to happen.

“…you’re telling me we got nerfed?” Geno exclaimed.

“CORRECT. I HAVE CAREFULLY STUDIED THE SECURITY FOOTAGE FROM THE FACTORY.” The mass of cables said as it started to slither closer. “THE KING MIGHT HAVE UNDERESTIMATED YOU, BUT I KNOW ALL YOUR TRICKS NOW. I KNOW ALL YOUR SPELLS, YOUR TACTICS, EVEN NOW I AM STUDYING YOUR WORLD. FROM GROUND YOU TREAD, TO YOUR RELATIONSHIPS.”

That last part sent a cold chill up the group’s spine. If this guy was willing to hurt their loved ones just to get them imprisoned, there was no telling what else he would do to their world.

“FOR NOW THOUGH, YOU WILL GO BACK TO YOUR CELLS AND AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. DO NO FRET, FOR I WILL NOT KILL YOU.”

The mass lifted one of his more giant cables up and it began snaking towards the group.

*KABLAM!*

“WARNING! WARNING! UNIDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT ATTACK! PREPARE FOR COUNTER ATTACK!”

The entire hall began to shake violently, sending everyone wobbling from side to side. From outside the door, everyone could hear explosions and metal scraping against metal. A sudden blast hit the door and it ripped off its hinges and was blown away. The suction of the air caught everyone, pulling them towards the exit. Mallow was nearly sucked away, but Mario and Geno held his hand as tight as they could. Before he knew it Mallow was outside, as saw they were definitely NOT on the ground, but way up high in the sky, above dark blue clouds. He couldn’t see the ground below the clouds were so thick. And then he heard even more explosions, so he turned his head towards the source of the noise, and saw a familiar aircraft… or what was left of it.

It fired cannon balls frantically and every now and then, the laser would fire, but it seemed like it was doing nothing against the ship Mallow and his group were on. Not only that, but the smaller ship had fires breaking out in several spots, smoke billowing out of them. It looked like it was struggling just to stay airborne. Finally, another laser hit the fortress, pretty close to the group's location, causing the ship to tilt thus forcing the group out. Everyone was falling down to heaven-knows-where. Mario tried to catch up, but his leg got caught by the cable mass. It lifted Mario back up to the ship, and shot the falling trio a final glare before retreating back into the fortress. As they fell, the other ship eventually joined them to a descent into… somewhere.

[quillsandblades]

A Levihan fic based on the post by @devoteurheartlh

(I think I took the hand-holding too far)

With Us, it's Simple

‘C’mon Levi!’ Hange’s excited shout rises above the hubbub of the crowd, and he rolls his eyes. When will shitty glasses learn to behave in public? She sprints in the room as if she’s in a fucking amusement park and not her boss’s party. But maybe he can let it slide just this time as her boss also happens to be their best friend, Erwin. In an interesting turn of events, she ended up working for him almost two years ago and bringing the three of them together for the first time since their graduation. Levi was glad it worked out like that, he’d missed Erwin. 

Four-eyes shouts something about wanting to introduce him to all her colleagues and he internally groans. Why did he even agree to come with her in the first place? 

Without giving him a chance to backtrack, she seizes his hand and pushes him into the chatting crowd. He feels her hand wrap around the base of his palm, her fingers brace over his wrist, in a way he’s learnt that she’s feeling excited because her grip is tight but not too tight, like she’s carelessly letting her excitement seep into her actions. She drags him, he follows helplessly. Just like he has for almost ten years now. 

She stops in front of a sleepy looking dark-haired woman and introduces her as, ‘This is Pieck! We’re best buddies, Levi!’

He smacks her head, ‘Oi! Aren’t we best buddies?’

She laughs and leans into his shoulder, ‘Oh Levi, you’re jealous?’

‘Shut up. Why the hell would I be jealous?’ And he turns to walk away but she’s still holding his hand and yanks him back just as quickly. 

‘Don’t worry shorty,’ she winks at him. ‘No one’s taking your place. It’s special.’ 

And he feels irrationally warm at those words. But he doesn’t let himself mull over it; it’s simply one of the things Hange does and he’s come to accept the fact over the years that his body has a weird way to respond to her little statements and gestures. 

Pieck gives them a charming smile and her eyes flit to their connected hands, ‘So you’re Hange’s boyfriend?’ 

She drops his hand and barks out a laugh, ‘What even made you think that? We’re just friends, silly.’  

‘Really?’ Pieck arches a brow.

‘Yeah,’ Levi confirms. ‘For ten years now.’ 

The woman hums in a way that screams she would beg to differ, but if Hange notices she doesn’t dwell on it and Levi follows suit. Both women continue to talk and Levi throws in his own comments when Pieck mentions how challenging it is to work alongside Hange Zoe. She knows nothing. He’s been going through her shit for far longer, at this point he can actually consider himself an expert in Hange’s behavior and mood. And that’s saying something because according to everyone, she’s too damn unpredictable to be figured out, and whenever he hears that Levi allows himself a tiny whisper of a smile as he has her almost completely figured out. Almost completely meaning ninety eight percent. He’s still working on that two percent.

Soon Hange’s dragging him away once more, but her fingers now curl hesitantly around his in a manner that says she’s stuck over something in her mind. He jerks her back, ‘What?’ he asks. 

She gets him without needing much words, shrugs off the thoughtful look from her face and straightens her shoulders. ‘Nothing.’ 

She turns around and leads him to more people. 

The night progresses in more or less the same way, laughter tinkles and glasses of champagne clink, soft lighting of the room morphs around them.  Almost every person they come across mistakes them for a couple. They brush it off, they’re used to it. 

Erwin meets up with them soon. 

‘So, how’s the host doing?’ Hange asks, jabbing an elbow into his crisp suit. 

He chuckles and hands over some drinks to them from a waiter passing by. They sit and talk, about everything and anything and stuff friends talk about. 

‘I see you two haven’t broken the tradition,’ Erwin comments after a bit. 

‘Huh?’ Hange throws him a questioning look. 

‘Still going to gatherings as “platonic dates”?’ he makes air quotes at that, an expression that seems too uncharacteristic of him. To the outside eye at least, they both have known Erwin long enough to guarantee that the man has some unexpected sides. ‘When am I gonna see a real couple here?’

‘Oh come on, Erwin!’ Hange snickers. ‘Not you too. You should know, of all people, that we’re just really close friends. I mean, I’m the same with you and Mike.’ 

‘I don’t see you asking me out for parties. But you’ve been doing that with Levi since we were in high school.’  

‘Exactly,’ she points out. ‘He’s used to it. Besides,’ she nudges him playfully, ‘he’s more fun.’

Levi rolls his eyes. Erwin gives him a long, calculating look and he responds with his trademark bored stare. Sure his words made sense but Hange was right, there wasn’t anything like that between them. 

(He chooses to conveniently ignore all the instances when he felt his heart hammer in an odd way, or color rise to his cheeks, or had this weird, warm and giddy feeling in the presence of four-eyes that said he would be happy to stay with her, in whatever place they were together, forever)

‘You know I believe when we’re in love with someone, we try to read into all the miniscule actions, expressions and words of that person,’ Erwin sips his drink. ‘We learn them by heart, like a language. To the point we even know what a certain flick of their brow means.’ 

Levi is silent. Staring into the swirling gold in his glass. 

‘Are you implying something?’ He speaks up without looking at him. 

‘I think I’m in love,’ he replies softly. ‘You remember Marie? I met her again.’ 

Hange’s eyes widen, ‘Oooh, really?’ 

She sits by the edge of her seat, bouncing lightly, all excitement. Marie was another friend from High School. Erwin falling in love is new, so Levi pushes aside any doubtful thoughts to focus on their words. 

‘It turned out we live across from one another,’ Erwin is saying. ‘And she was just too eager to catch up when we met.’ 

Hange’s marveling at the way life throws people back at each other and giggling while thinking about how she can make Marie fall for Erwin. He laughs at her ridiculous plans and Levi feels a tug at his own lips as she chortles. 

While she continues to ramble, Erwin shoots him another look. One that says his previous words were certainly meant for him. Levi just looks away and drowns his glass of champagne. 

Erwin excuses himself after a while as he spots some people. Hange jumps up immediately, ‘Let’s dance.’ 

‘Hell no.’

‘Don’t be a grump Levi,’ she sings out and clamps her hand around his, insistent. She tugs, he resists. She tugs again and soon he’s out of his seat and they’re moving between bodies and Hange’s laughter is loud in his ears and her cheeks are red, a red that he wants to lean forward and brush his thumb over. She’s moving with the beats and urging him to do the same. He halfheartedly mirrors her and she snorts. 

Then the music shifts, gentle melodies twist through the air. 

And Hange pulls him close with the lull of the song. Her smile is radiant. Her forehead leans against his and she grabs both of his hands. Their eyes fall shut. Her thumbs rest softly around his own, the rest of her fingers encircle his knuckles in a gentle, unperturbed hold. 

She’s happy, he concludes. 

He knows it from the way her fingers press into his skin and wrap around his hand. He’s come to learn it all with time. 

She hums along as they sway, lost in the rhythm of their hearts. He feels her getting closer and snaking an arm around his waist. He pulls back his face and looks at her. 

Levi is pretty sure he doesn’t need glasses. Last he checked, his eye site was perfectly fine. So he doesn’t really understand why the lights, the colors and people seem to have blurred out around him and the only thing he can focus on is Hange’s face which holds an odd expression. 

She’s not quite smiling, not frowning either. It’s like her eyes are hanging between confusion and revelation. He can see the rapid color gathering in her cheeks. Her lips part to shape words she has yet to say, and Levi feels a knot of anticipation wind in his gut. Thoughts hang at the tip of her tongue but she hesitates ever-so-slightly. Then she says, 

‘Do you know Axolotls can regrow their limbs.’  

Levi blinks. 

He knows that’s the last thing she was gonna say. She’s no longer gazing at him, instead she guides them around other couples dancing. 

‘So can starfish,’ Levi grunts at her. 

She chuckles, ‘Yeah, but Axolotls are cuter. I wanna study their regeneration process once I’m done with my current project.’ 

Levi hums. There’s still something hanging between them, almost tangible. 

‘You know there are possibilities to enhance human tissue healing or regeneration through such studies. There’s a lot to discover in this direction.’

‘I’m sure you’ll end up finding some weird shit or other.’ 

‘D’you think Erwin will allow me to bring in live specimens to the lab?’ 

He shrugs, ‘Only if he thinks it’s worth it.’ 

He cuts off her next words by suddenly twirling her around, and maybe she’s had a lot to drink so she loses her footing and stumbles backward without warning, brown eyes wide. 

Instinctively, he leans to steady her, arm around her back. Their torsos crash against each other and he finds his face inches away from hers. She looks startled, mouth half open and glasses sitting low on her nose. Her face gets a deeper shade of red, or maybe it’s just the light playing upon her cheeks. He can feel the thrum of her heart in his chest. 

‘Hange . . .’ he murmurs, not sure what he longs to say. 

Her eyes glide over his features. She opens her mouth, ‘I . . . I—uh—’

She slips out of his grasp and crashes to the floor as someone bumps into them. 

‘Oi!’

‘Sorry!’ the man calls out over his shoulder. 

But Hange’s already standing up, dusting herself and moving in the other direction, ‘Sorry I—I think I need a glass of water,’ she mumbles hastily, and all but runs away from him. He sighs and makes his way to a quieter corner. 

‘Hello there, young man,’ a voice beside him makes him turn. An elegantly dressed, elderly lady is sitting on a sofa— probably someone’s mother. She smiles at him, ‘Hope you don’t mind asking me, but how long have you been married?’ 

‘Married?’

She nods, ‘Ah you see, I was just a tad bit awed at seeing how true love can be found even today. You were dancing with your wife just now, right? You both seem very fond of each other.’ 

He finds it hard to say it around the gentle look she gives him, but he pushes the words out anyhow, ‘We’re not married.’ 

‘Oh,’ her face falls. Then she smiles again. ‘But still very much in love, yes? I can see that at least, and I tell you my eyes never lied in the matter of hearts.’ 

Levi swallows, not knowing what to make of this. But that’s when he spots Hange in the distance. A tall blonde man is talking to her, but even from far away Levi can see how her posture is tense. He excuses himself and rushes to her side. 

‘. . . was thinking it would be a delight,’ the blonde was saying. He wore round glasses and his beard took almost half of his face. 

Hange replied something distractedly. 

‘Oi, where were you?’ he comes to stand beside her and lightly smacks her shoulder. 

‘Levi,’ she breathes it out almost like an exhale of relief. Then points at the Beard, ‘This is Zeke, we work in the same department. Zeke, meet Levi.’ 

Zeke offers him a neutral smile, eyes piercing into him. He nods in return. 

‘I’ve been looking for you for quite some time, Hange,’ the blonde turns his attention towards her. ‘I was starting to think you wouldn’t show up.’ 

Hange laughs out a fake sound, ‘I would never miss Erwin’s party.’ 

‘Of course,’ he smiles widely and his gaze travels over her from head to toe. Her hand creeps out to Levi, fingers lacing through his, pressing the tips hard into his flesh. 

She’s anxious. 

‘You look gorgeous tonight,’ The Beard murmurs. ‘Would you spare a dance for me?’ 

‘Um actually I—’ the pressure on his hand increases, a silent plea. 

‘We’re sorry,’ Levi cuts in, not sounding sorry at all. ‘But Hange needed some air after all the dancing. We’re just heading out.’ 

Zeke considers them for a moment, noticing their hands

‘So you’re dating?’ he asks. 

Before Hange can speak, Levi answers, ‘Yeah.’ His tone is rough, as if challenging him. 

When no one says a word, Levi pulls her towards the entrance and they step out into the cool night air. The noises from the inside grow muffled as they both settle on a wooden bench. There’s a wide garden spread in front of them, coloured dark in the shades of the twinkling night. Above them the stars gleam in the sleeping sky. 

Hange leans against his shoulder, ‘Thanks.’ 

‘That asshole works with you?’

‘Yeah, but he’ll be changing departments soon. He’s been trying to ask me out for so long, but honestly speaking, I don’t like his intentions. Plus, he holds some perpetual grudge against Erwin,’ she speaks quietly. 

‘You rejected him then?’

‘Yeah. but I guess he just doesn’t understand the meaning of no.’ 

They fall into silence. A breeze lifts his hair and Hange’s fringe tickles his neck. 

‘Everyone thought we were a couple today,’ She whispers. 

‘Not for the first time.’ 

‘It makes me think, Levi. Why don’t people say the same about me and Erwin or Mike, or you and Petra or Nanaba. We’re all close friends aren’t we?’ 

She faces him, still resting against his side. They’re in close proximity once more, closer than friends should be, but it doesn’t seem to bother either of them. His heart feels simultaneously restless and content—a phenomenon he associates with the presence of Hange Zoe alone. 

‘So you think we’re something more than friends?’ he asks.

‘Everyone says so.’ 

‘Everyone’s opinion doesn’t define what we really are.’

‘No,’ she agrees. ‘It doesn’t.’ 

Then she fully turns to him and he reads in her eyes, a question. He gives the affirmative—and really that’s just how simple it is for them, how simple they are. Clicking wordlessly into place like pieces of a puzzle.  

She tilts forward and their mouths connect in a perfect symphony as their eyes flutter close. He feels her press her lips softly to his own but with a certain pressure, takes a moment to note their chapped surface from the parts where she’s always pulling at them and the lines that map out their contours. She’s kissing him lightly, her movements unsure, almost shy. He can feel her joyful giddiness though, and the telltale lift of her lips curling into the smallest, most softest smile and he—

He just thinks he’ll let it happen for a while. He’ll get plenty of more chances to read into the press of her lips on his and translate what each kiss represents. Learn how she’ll kiss him when she’s sad, or when she’s happy or angry or any other thing. 

For now, he’s at peace with knowing that she loves him. 

She tells him that herself: in the way she holds him close, in the way she laughs against his mouth, and how she touches him. 

And he knows because he has her figured out already. 

[quarter-lif3crisis]

The sun (in your eyes) by @wisteriagoesvroom

[quinn-is-victory]

(Starts reciting the story for @flipflops-n-bones)

I had just turned 13, and I was excited because, first of all, it was Cresent's birthday soon, and secondly, I would be getting a quest soon. But then, they 2 overlapped. The quest came too close to her birthday, and I started to hang out less with Cres, trying to prepare the surprise I had for her. Then, a day before my quest, she found out and we had a fight.

(ooc: this is also going to be used for writing purposes in my fic, so it might be very wordy and detailed)

[hero-of-the-wolf]

Enabling you to yap about some headcanons you have for the chain (or any animal facts that you have in store. You always have some fascinating facts)

Time and Lullaby were childhood best friends that grew apart as they got older. They start to reconnect again later in life, when Time joined the war effort against Ganondorf and the Gerudo.

(and then he dies)

Time and Malon have a little girl together 🫶

stealing this from @crazylittlejester but Time’s joints are kinda messed up after transforming so often (esp when he was y’know still growing) so his joints will pop out really easily and get really sore

Time is the OG animal lover. Where do you think Twilight got it from?

side note— I love the idea of Malon becoming something More after her death. You can still hear her singing at night if you listen very closely, mysterious bad things happen to people who hurt horses, Twilight strangely never feels alone, that sort of thing :)

Warriors was very close to his mother. She passed away during the war, and he didn’t find out until after he returned home 💔

(my first thought is that she died from disease, which always runs rampant during war. but maybe, perhaps, Wars’ home village was razed by monsters 👀)

Warriors had two close friends during the war. One died in his arms. The other one betrayed him and directly led to him getting captured by Cia 💔

depressed Twi 🫶 anxious Twi 🫶 Twi with chronic pain 🫶

Hyrule gets chronic headaches and dizzy spells, esp when he overuses his magic :)

Hyrule’s dark world form is an opossum 🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶

Legend enjoys knitting!! it’s a nice calming activity that helps him destress, and he really enjoys working with his hands :)

LEGEND MADE THE DOLLS FOR HYRULE. LEGEND KNITS AND HE MADE THE DOLLS AFTER HE WENT BACK HOME BC HE MISSED RULIE AND THEN HE IMBUED THEM WITH MAGIC AND HID THEM AROUND FOR HIS SUCCESSOR TO FIND

I also hc he has a lot of chronic pain 🫶

[stars-and-birds]

Happy new year guys have a self indulgent wenclair fic i wrote instead of sleeping :D

“Tonight’s the night.” Enid declared, slamming down her red plastic cup next to the table where Yoko sat, some odd mixture of orange juice and vodka sloshing at the impact. Yoko looked up, flashing lights dancing across her pale face and dark eyes.

“Tonight’s the night… you what?” She asked, twisting around in her chair to face a confident and possibly slightly drunk Enid.

“The night I tell her. Wednesday” She replied breezily, plopping down into the chair next to Yoko. It was New Year’s eve, and Xavier Thorpe was throwing a huge party at his house. Well, ‘house’ was a stretch. More like a mansion. Enid had gotten lost at least five times (and stumbled upon three couples making out) on her way to the main room, where a disco ball flashed almost as loudly as the blasting music. Alcohol and drunk teenagers splashed across the room, dancing and cheering. Half of Nevermore had to be there.

“I’ll take her aside and confess. I’m telling her I like her.” Enid said confidently. She’d played the scenario over and over in her head, she wouldn’t be surprised if it had seared itself onto her brain. For months now she’d been worrying, trying to find some way to tell Wednesday she had feelings for her. Two very different possibilities played like a broken record in her brain, looping over and over. Number one, Wednesday harshly rejects her with a cold glare and their friendship breaks apart, Enid moves in with Yoko, and they never talk to or see each other ever again. This was bad. Worst case scenario. Scenario two, and the unfortunately less likely one, however… included holding hands, dates, kisses…

“Earth to Enid. Testing testing one two three.” Yoko said, snapping Enid out of a daydream that had spread a huge smile on her face.

“What?”

“Can I tell you what I think will happen?” Yoko asked, snatching up Enid’s drink like a cat and taking a sip.

“What?” Enid said again, somewhat irritated.

“You’ll work up some nerve and then chicken out like a little bitch. Like at the Christmas party. Or the Halloween one. Or even— ”

“Yeah okay I get it.” Enid interrupted. “But this time will be different! New year, new me.”

“Technically it’s not the new year yet.” Yoko pointed out as her girlfriend, Divina, stumbled up and sat next to Yoko too, leaning her head on her shoulder. Enid rolled her eyes.

“Whatever. Oh, there she is!” She said excitedly, spotting Wednesday’s goth aesthetic sticking out like a sore thumb. Her signature braids hung behind her head, nearly blending into her midnight black dress that spilled over her shoulders like a waterfall. The light caught her face for a second, flashing her black eyes so bright Enid could see it from across the room. Enid’s heart beat a little faster.

I’msogayi’msogayi’msogay

Enid took a deep breath, smoothing the colorful jumpsuit that she had slipped into for the night.

“WEDNESDAY HI!!!!” Enid yelled, making her way through the crowd and raising her voice over the music rattling her feet. Wednesday turned to face her, her face softening a little at the sight of Enid wiggling her way through the horde of sweat and vodka breath.

“OMG you look great!” Enid squealed, clasping her hands together as she finally reached Wednesday and Thing, perched like a bird on her shoulder, signing hello at Enid.

“You look…” Wednesday glanced Enid up and down like a cat stalking her prey, silently judging. “Revolting.”

“Thanks… I guess.” Enid gulped a little, a lump of nerves sliding down her throat.  

Okay Sinclair. Stay cool. Just act normal.

“SO! Wednesday, I wanted to talk to you.” Wednesday’s eyebrows creeped up her forehead.

“You are.” She deadpanned.

“I know! I know, I just… about something specific.”

A beat.

“About…”

“YEah! About… um…” God, why was this so hard? Just get it out there.

“Do you… I… um. Do you want a drink?” She blurted out. Ugh. Nice going Sinclair.

Wednesday’s eyebrows raised a little higher. “I suppose.” She conceded.

“Great! I’ll go get you one.” Enid scrambled off into the crowd. Ugh. Of course Yoko was right, of course her nerves had overpowered her and she’d chickened out. No. It wasn’t too late. She’d get the drinks, come back, confess… and no matter what happened, hope it would quel the raging storm that thundered in her chest whenever Wednesday looked at her. It was a storm, yes. But it was also a flower that had slowly grown, unknown to Enid at first. A flower that glowed when Wednesday complimented her, that bloomed when they touched. A flower that Enid had unknowingly nurtured until she’d found herself with a flower bigger than she’d ever imagined. She reached the refreshments table, grabbing two plastic cups and scooping some punch in, contemplating the situation. Of fucking course she had to fall in love with Wednesday fucking Addams of all people. Wednesday with her deadpan drawl, cold glares, beautiful eyes… Something sticky and wet hit her hand, and she looked down to see that she’d overfilled the cup she was holding. Ugh.

Five minutes later she’d successfully partly cleaned up the mess, and was making her way through the crowd again, this time precariously balancing two glasses of punch. Okay. Okay. Okay okay okay okay. She got this. She’d walk up to Wednesday, tell her she liked her and then… heartbreak or kisses. Probably heartbreak, she thought bitterly.

“Okay Wednesday,” Here we go. “I got your drink, I…” she trailed off. Her heart plummeted into her stomach. There, right where she had left her, Wednesday stood in front of Xavier. The boy was holding roses. Black roses. Black roses that Wednesday’s hands were closed around, hands that dropped to Wednesday’s side at the sight of Enid standing there.

Oh.

The punch cups clattered to the floor, but all noise was muted in Enid’s ears.

Something new bloomed in Enid’s chest. Not bloomed. Withered. Withered and stung, dead branches prickling her heart, closing in and suffocating it. The feeling slowly creeped up her chest, closing up her throat, thorns stinging her eyes. Tears, hot and wet and gross and—

“Enid.” Wednesday’s voice. Her voice, which had soothed Enid’s nightmares and comforted her through her pain. Her voice that cut through Enid’s thoughts, that shocked her out of her trance.

“I… I'm sorry. Sorry. I… I have to go, I—” Enid’s words tripped and stumbled over themselves, not quite finding footing and forming complete sentences. It didn’t matter, as something else drove Enid’s legs away. Away from the shocked boy with the roses and the stunned girl who had stolen her heart. Away, away, away. Away down the confusing endless halls, which seemed to close in on her every second. Away and into the nearest door, away and stumbling into the closet and bumping into the brooms and mops and falling to the floor, sobbing. Tears soaked her thoughts, blurred common sense. Why was she crying? It’s not as if… it’s not as if she ever expected to get together with Wednesday. She didn’t expect a fairy tale ending, so why did it feel like she’d been cheated out of it? Had she read too far into the brushes of hands and passing glances that she’d feebly convinced herself she didn’t think meant anything more? Her heart felt like it’d been ripped out of her chest, tossed aside carelessly. Why did it feel like she’d handed Wednesday her heart, fragile and on edge from all the times it had been broken and dropped. Why did it feel like Wednesday had taken it from her and set it aside, doomed to inevitably fall again. Why did it feel so wrong?

She wasn’t sure how long she sat there, just her and her broken heart. Stupid stupid stupid. Her mom’s voice stained her thoughts. She had no reason to be upset. She was overreacting, being overdramatic. Afterall, Wednesday didn’t know about Enid’s feelings for her. It wasn’t fair to Wednesday. And maybe, Wednesday did know and just… hadn’t cared. Decided Enid wasn’t good enough. It wouldn't be the first time Wednesday had tossed aside someone’s feelings for her own benefit. It wouldn’t be the first time Enid was abandoned for being not good enough. A shadow from behind the door tore away the flashing lights that had crept through, cracking open the door slowly. Enid kept her head in her arms, sniffling. The shadow —whoever it was — carefully set itself down next to Enid, brushing against her in the small closet.

“Enid.” Enid would recognize that voice anywhere. Even through her usual bored tone, Wednesday still managed to sound… caring.

“Enid, I need you to talk to me.” A pause, a mini void filled only by more sniffling from Enid.

“Why are you upset?” Her voice wasn’t demanding or accusing. Only curious. Like her voice that first night on the roof, when she had asked why Enid was crying. She’d said because she was upset. Maybe Wednesday understood that now, that crying meant that Enid wasn’t okay, that she needed comfort. Enid let the silence hang for a few more moments, trying to collect her stray thoughts and fish out an excuse.

“I… just. Sorry. Must’ve had too much to drink, haha.” Enid hated the way her voice sounded, weak and scrawny like a newborn chick.

“I can’t help if you’re lying to me.” Wednesday stated so matter-of-factly, turning to face Enid. Her eyes were so beautiful, a betraying part of her brain couldn’t help notice.“Is this about Xavier?” She continued. “Do you… like him?” Her eyes were like milky black pearls. Or a void staring endlessly back at Enid… wait. Wait what.

“What? No!” Enid wrinkled her nose. Even the thought of getting together with that… emo wannabe made her want to gag.

“Then what’s wrong?” Enid looked away again, resting her head in her arms.

Click

She looked up, startled. The closet door had slammed shut, and she scrambled to her feet, jiggling the door handle. It was locked. Wednesday had stood up too, pushing Enid aside to try it herself.

“Thing, if you do not open this door I will flay you alive.” She said, tone so sharp you could use it to slit someone's throat. No sound from the other side of the door, save for the soft clicks of manicured fingers padding off.

“Thing!” Wednesday growled. Enid shoved her back aside, trying to channel some werewolf strength to open up the door. Wednesday pushed her back, and soon they were shoving each other back and forth in the tiny closet.

“Enid, stop moving.”

“Give me some space!”

“Stop moving!”

Enid froze, eyes barely registering anything in the total darkness. A moment later, a light clicked on. Wednesday had found a lightbulb, and the cord to turn it on along with it. Speaking of Wednesday… after a moment of adjusting to the light Enid noticed.. They were very close. A tangle of limbs, they’d somehow ended up eye-to-eye, barely a foot between their faces.

Oh god

Enid could feel herself turning red, her cheeks flushing as Wednesday mumbled something about Thing never seeing the light of day again. She looked… really hot. Which was a very weird thing to think about the sweaty girl with a death glare you were trapped in a closet with, so she was going to stop thinking about it along with the ever growing urge to kiss Wednesday Friday Addams.

“I was jealous!” Enid blurted out. She wasn’t sure where it came from. Maybe she was tired of hiding it. Wednesday was looking at her, dumbfounded.

“…What?”

“I was jealous.” Enid continued, squeezing her eyes shut so she wouldn’t have to see the disgust that would inevitably flush the other girl’s face. “I was jealous of Xavier. Because I know he likes you and you like him and I…” She trailed off, bowing her head as more tears stung her eyes. “And I like you.” The words hung heavy in the air, a long held secret finally released.

“You like me?” Wednesday’s voice was a whisper, a ghost. But Enid heard it. Liked her? She more than liked her, really.

“I—”

“TEN!”

Enid was cut off by a chorus of voices from outside the closet. She pulled up her apple watch. 11:59. The countdown to new years had begun.

“NINE!”

“Enid, listen.” Wednesday's voice rang out urgent and clear.

“EIGHT!”

“It’s okay, I get it. You don’t like me back.” It was hard to keep the spite from creeping into her voice.

“SEVEN!”

“No, I… I don’t like Xavier. We’re not a thing. I rejected him”

“SIX!”

For a moment, Enid’s voice was stolen from her.

Wednesday didn’t like Xavier.

“FIVE!”

“But… I don’t understand. The flowers…” Something cold creeped up Enid’s face. Wednesday. Wednesday’s hands cupped her cheeks.

“FOUR!”

The space between them had gotten smaller, the air a kind of heavy that made Enid’s chest seize up around her heart and catch her breath.

“THREE!”

“I don’t like Xavier. I like you.” Wednesday said softly, so close that Enid could feel her warm breath mingling with Enid’s own.

“TWO!”

“Me? But… I don’t understand.” Enid’s voice was shaky, trembling. A million things were going on within her, panicked screams and breathless gasps. She was pretty sure she was having a heart attack.

“Then let me help you understand,” Wednesday replied, the determination in her voice reflected in her eyes.

“ONE!”

Faster than Enid could prepare or process, Wednesday kissed her. On the lips. And after an incredible moment that lasted for an infinity, that she would carry with her for the rest of her life, Enid kissed back. She couldn’t see the fireworks outside, but she had a pretty good idea from inside the closet. The boom was her heartbeat, so quick and so loud. The heat was Wednesday’s lips against hers, warm and welcoming. The lights… the lights were the faint blush that graced Wednesday’s black and white cheeks, the shine in her eyes when they opened as they broke apart. Wednesday's hands were a chilly vine, receding from Enid’s hair, tracing her chin.

“HAPPY NEW YEAR!” The crowd from outside screamed, laughing and talking before breaking into a chorus. Wednesday’s eyes never left Enid, her brow furrowing.

“You taste like alcohol.”

Enid couldn’t help it. The flower in her chest had bloomed again, and something in her was just so… happy. She broke out into giggles, doubling over. She’d just kissed Wednesday fucking Addams. She’d just kissed Wednesday!

“Pffft. Happy New Year Wednesday.”

[sinukiyo]

Girl you gotta show us a Pinterest inspired aesthetic board of what the characters were wearing at the party. (If you have it)

Okay, this took a while to answer because I did not in fact have a Pinterest inspired aesthetic board of what the characters were wearing at the masquerade.

But when I saw this, I thought, “I should make aesthetic boards of what the characters were wearing at the party.”

And so here we are!

1. Mikasa

When describing her dress in this week’s chapter, I didn’t describe it as clinging to her body which means it was a flowing dress. It did have a slit too. Mikasa also had matching gloves and a mask. Sasha did her makeup!

2. Eren

Eren didn’t attend the masquerade to have fun or anything. He wanted to sneak into Rod’s home. He didn’t have time to think of what color would look nice and what wouldn’t.

So he settled for all black like the emo kid he is.

This board features that annoying glass of non-alcoholic wine Armin gave him.

3. Armin

Armin was going for a more classy, casual look so he went for a white shirt and black pants. He also brought along a jacket incase he (or anyone else) got cold and accessorized with rings so he wouldn’t look too plain.

At the masquerade, he ate a concerning amount of chocolate-hazelnut cookies

4. Sasha

Sasha attended the masquerade to eat good food but that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to slay while doing it.

5. Connie

For some reason, green just seems like Connie’s color to me. He didn’t want to go for a regular mask so his only covered one side of his face. He also added some really cool rings to Sasha and Mikasa’s cart when they ordered their gloves.

6. Jean

Jean, I imagine already had his outfit lying around. He just slipped it on and managed to look cool in it. The highlight of the masquerade was definitely his dance with Mikasa so that was included in this board.

7. Historia

You may see Historia’s dress and ask me, “how the hell did she fight Eren in that?!”

And the answer to your question is, “she’s simply a badass princess.”

8. Erwin

Erwin had the audacity to attend the masquerade looking as hot as an angel on earth and ask Hange why everyone was staring at him.

The last two characters weren’t present in this week’s chapters but there was no way I was going to make mood boards for others and not them✋🏽

9. Hange

Hange wore a regular face mask unlike everyone else and still managed to look like the coolest person in the room. They also spent a lot of time at the open bar in an area separated from the ballroom chatting with Levi.

10. Levi

There was no tea at the masquerade but somehow, Levi found a cup. He didn’t really want to be there but Erwin managed to convince him to go and Hange bought a mask for him.

And that’s it for now! This was fun to do actually so thank you @mslizsteele-stories for this ask. If there are any other characters you would like to see, let me know using the ask button!

For those who may need context, Read “A Thousand and One Lifetimes” today✨

Thank you!❤️