#I NEed the rest if then now too hhhh

[noodles-and-tea]

Obsessed w clay in gym shorts from the concept art

[victory-cookies]

I have finally received $100 of the $300 I was promised as a birthday present from my various grandparents. it is nearly two months late 😭

[court-jobi]

Aquarium Date

Pairing: Hawks x reader (gn!reader)

Words: 3.1k

Rating: G~

Warnings: fluff hours, y'all. Mentions of PTSD but nothing deep, dark, mysterious. Just taking care of my sweet, sweet flyboy

Summary:

You've been introducing little spots around the city to Keigo, slowly reintroducing him to the public per his increasing interest. As much as he prided himself on coming up with the best date ideas, you flip the script and come up with a surprise for him today: high time the prince of the skies gets to experience an aquarium for the first time~

A/N: Here's the long-awaited poll result!! it's been a minute, but I've been polishing up some drafts and finally have a breather to begin posting them! (Also started seeing someone which oddly enough cuts into my writing time, oops) But thank you all so much for reading; I've loved reading all the comments and tags!

For my My Hero Academia Masterlist, check it out here!

Read on Ao3

Quilted mornings greet Keigo's weekends now. Every Saturday, he sleeps to his heart's content- or at least until he rolls over with an indulgent stretch to find you already sitting up, nursing some coffee.

This morning, you return your mug back to the side table the moment you catch that telltale creak of his voice trying to wake itself up. It’s a careful move not to spill, but you're also bubbling in anticipation of what's coming next:

Without fail, Keigo will crack open his eyes, fuss against the light, moan how you've moved too far away, and *army-crawls* on his tummy until he can drape an arm across you again. To watch his shoulders work as he moves is still a handsome sight… even without his wings.

As he tries to sneak in a bit more shuteye, you stroke Keigo lightly, wherever you can reach. It's mostly his hair that calls out for your hand’s touch, though as you lay some light scritches down between his shoulder blades, Keigo rustles more. When you stop, he jolts his shoulder up in a nudge.

'More, please.'

"Good morning, GoldenEye~" you greet him.

Laying a groggy kiss to nowhere in particular (just an absent press of the lips on your midsection where he could reach), Keigo trills lazily but with a smile on his face. A wakeful state rests behind still-closed eyes; he talks before willing them open,

"Gmornin', bay’bird.."

Kei's morning voice should come with a warning– if you had no bills to pay or the human need to eat and drink, you'd never leave this bed with him in it like this.

He wrenches a little pout, a scrunch of his shut eyelids, "nnngh.. -wha’ times’it?"

To answer Keigo's drowsy twists and turns under the covers, you pull up the confirmation email on your phone with bidden excitement,

"Right about time for you to start getting yourself ready, babe," you greet softly, "we've got somewhere to be today."

An accented eye finally chances a peek up at you, "-where?"

"It's a surprise~ I'm taking you out. Up for a little adventure?"

"Adventure, huh?" Keigo cracks a smile with teasing interest, groaning into your side as he stretches yet again, "MMMMFH-hhhh.. now what's my baby got in mind f’me, huh?"

You've been introducing little spots around the city to him, slowly reintroducing him to the public per his increasing interest. You were nervous at first, but by Keigo's healthier mental balance between work and play now, you follow his lead and try to make outings fun for him.

Online, you'd come across a locals-only ticketing deal that was too good to pass up and thought to treat him to an excursion he'd likely never gotten to do in grade school... Since when would assassin training allow for field trips like most nine-year-olds get to go on?

Without giving anything away, you merely gave Keigo a small kiss on his forehead and left him confused while you urged him to get up once again. A frisky swat on his butt atop mountains of covers got him into action soon enough, chasing after you with roguish excitement.

“Guess it’s a bit late to ask if I should have changed into a wetsuit?”

“I don’t think you’re supposed to be in the enclosures without permission, Kei. Hero or not!~”

“Cmon, you can’t swim with them?”

“Some folks do, but they get paid to do that! The rest of us get to watch how it’s done.”

“Sheesh, where’s the fun in that?” 

Giggling at his ridiculous notion, you find your darling’s interest in the building's flashy backlit signage  holds more depth, like he’s reading every word for the first time.

"Y'know, I always passed this place," Keigo emerges from the car, with a set gaze at the fish captured mid-breach, "but never went inside. Couldn't risk the wings getting too wet while on the job, y'know?"

"Thought as much," you rejoin him, pocketing your keys into your coat and all but biting your lip in excitement. "Wanna see?"

"Lead the way, pretty thing~"

So the two of you entered Kyushu's newly renovated aquarium center. It's renown as one of the loveliest in the world with a seven story high observation deck, prized for its integral underground facilities with access directly to the waterways through man-made tunnels and bayfront access. Quirk specialists who bear similar biology to nature's most wonderous aquatic life find their ‘home away from home’ here at the conjoining lab complex, and aid in conservation efforts alongside the scientists.

But out of all the inner workings listed on plaques and donor standees lining the walls of the lobby, Keigo fixates on one feature above all others the minute he steps in the door-

"They have PENGUINS?!"

You mute your giggles, cringing at his unintended echo through the ceramic walls and floors.

Merely nodding, your hush guides him to not make such an outburst again, taking ahold of his bicep and threading your arm through to keep him close.

"Surprise!" You whisper adoringly.

You feel the equivalent of a parent’s pride on Christmas morning, watching Keigo take in a sight like this as if he weren't twenty-plus years older than you were when you first came to visit one.

Unafraid and completely enraptured by the dark halls and den of water ahead, Keigo is stepping out strong with your hand in his, forgetting altogether that this is a paid attraction and he can't just spurt ahead of his own two feet.

A hard habit to break, going too fast for his own good… but your linking of fingers in his softens the sting of having to wait to show your tickets first.

Inside changes Keigo's demeanor entirely. From giddy interest comes a deep, profound quiet he was still very much capable of. You took the lead, enlightening him to all sorts of creatures which -you'd come to learn today-  he'd never seen before:

Shrimp were little marvels Keigo had only ever seen sauced up and on a skewer, so to watch them mosey about in their natural state brought a funny tweak of regret to his lips. Jellyfish were the 'roadkill of the beach’, to him. Never before had he seen how big they could get or how beautifully they migrated out in the open ocean. Fish with spikes, eels that glow, creatures with tails longer than their entire bodies, whipping around their cratered homes all set under interchanging lights… it all rendered Keigo nearly speechless.

So speechless, he didn't pay a single mind to a few nearby kids who were whispering to their moms if the man over by your side ‘is who they think it is’... 

You'd catch their eyes, mocking a little hush of the lips and sending a wink to their guardians- an unspoken word between you promised to let everyone just explore at their own peace and pace. 

These are the beautiful times you are gifted to spend together; now more than ever. While you wish under every star in the sky that Keigo Takami’s newfound free time was not at the expense of his hero work, you are grateful for the perks his rehabilitation period offers you now. In this time of healing, your relationship has flourished; not unlike the sea life around you.

Much like the aquatic life you walk by from enclosure to enclosure, the far-off vision of these sights in the wild remind you that so many beautiful things can exist under the surface of turbulent waves. From the skies, ‘Hawks’ in his larger-than-life glory became drawn to you just over a year ago: rooted to the ground as you were. Now grounded himself, It’s here that -once again- you amaze him with a new perspective, this time sharing marvels with him that exist far under both your feet, under the sea. By his awestruck reactions, you’re proud that you can enlighten him to something he’s never experienced. So many times, you’re so sure that he’s seen it all… but you still manage to surprise him. 

As he rightfully deserves. You’d give Keigo the world if you could.

Though for now, his complete joy seems to stem from checking out the baby penguins, half covered in the fuzz of their infant downy feathers. For a split second, your chest pangs when he makes an offhand comment about how they’re just like him, flightless. But Kei settles any subtle concern you hold, because his laughter is far to giddy for you to worry that he’s self conscious. 

Had you not known what horrors and traumas he’s gone through with his quirk, you’d think this is the funniest sight to see a grown man revert to child-like excitement. But now, it means so much more to see him so happy and carefree.

It’s not that you’re desensitized to such creatures, mind you! While you’d been taking candid photos of Keigo for your own private collection, a couple birds suddenly squawked an internal debate, demanding the attention of you both. It’s clear a race had been cast, because the penguins then slid right onto their bellies to a quick, friendly speedrun to the bottom of the slicked, icy slide into the water. When one emerged from the pool ‘laughing’, Keigo wheezed and started a cheeky round of applause for all bystanders to join in on.

Birds of a feather, you assume, and they love a good race– whether in the air or not, I guess!

"Can we-- maybe go back again?” Keigo paused before you could veer off to one of the last passageways before the end of the museum, “Wanted to see something again ‘fore we get to far ahead."

So you backtrack through the exhibits, and return to ‘The Great Room’.

At his lead, you're back at the tank the resident whale shark calls home, but you're caught off guard by where he chooses to settle– watching Keigo walk right up by the glass- not quite a foot away. In the middle of the feature wall, sitting down criss-crossed, the man you’ve loved in and out of the spotlight makes himself the whale shark's newest neighbor, smack dab on the floor.

Five-year-old Keigo has arrived, and your heart could break at the sight.

Looking over his shoulder for you, he's got a boyish look on his face that's a little hard to read. By his posture, he's relaxed as ever, but a hidden story sits behind his eyes like a mist. His scar pales into the rest of his cheek under all these watery refractions of light, to the point where you forget for a moment it's there.

At his pat on the ground, you mirror his seating arrangement and join him. No one else is in the room at this moment, but even if it were jam packed with chiding eyes around you both, you'd never refuse him.

Keigo looks back up through the glass when you curl up next to him- staring off everywhere and nowhere at once. For once, a lost look across his face doesn't make him look haunted. He's just overcome.

"I feel... small."

"Small?" you ask.

"Mhm. But in a good way," he follows the third lap of a long, spotted fish, surrounded by the tiniest minnows in a cloud around it. "It's different when you're down low, when you've always seen things from up top."

The perspective he holds has been completely inverted. You worried this was a hurt he likely carried around unspoken: not being able to fly. 

"They probably think waves are like the sky to them," Keigo looks up to where he sees the residual bubbles of all the wildlife rising to the surface. The light and the overlook banisters above casting their shadows highlights the tiny pockets of air, “n’to think like that card back there said, you can’t even see the surface when you’re on the bottom of the actual ocean floor. This is– just incredible.��

You’re glad to see him so happy, to have given him something new to discover. 

Keigo is quiet for a while, until he grows softer still in his normally unwavering voice. Seems now he’s not just found his ‘inside voice’, but the one he keeps special just for you. 

“Yknow that feeling where you gotta scratch your eye, but no matter how many times you try, the itch is still there?”

You follow, with a hum.

“That’s how it feels sometimes.” Keigo doesn’t look at you, but you can read his wistfulness through the first panes of glass in front of him. “I don’t necessarily think of it every minute of every day… but man. When it itches, it really itches. And nothing settles it.”

You rarely bring the war up on your own– reminding Keigo of such fresh events would be cruel, you thought. You only respond with your thoughts whenever he asks for them in a formal, work-related capacity, but you know it’s affected him in every way regardless of how quickly he appeared to bounce back. It’s also a sensation you’d never have an equivalent to share with him. In terms of support, you often weren’t always sure what to say to console him on the days he appeared the most down; it’s not that you could ever truly relate.

Robbed of his quirk– robbed of the air. To feel as weightless as the creatures in the water, unbound by gravity.

“But these guys–” Keigo looks up again with a smirk, “--they don’t even gotta worry about things like blinking. And anytime they get caught by some seaweed or something- look how the others take care of ‘em. Look how happy they are.”

You seek out the pod of fish he’s been tracking. Expert eyes, he’s still lightyears ahead on you with his eagle eyes. They are far away now, murky due to distance from the foreground… 

…it’s not about the fish anymore. 

It’s about his healing. Finding his place in the world. Keigo feels like a fish out of water, now– even in his new role as President of the Hero Public Safety Commission, but he’s confessing a key part of his journey now: the after, and how it’s maybe not so far away as you expected. 

It took Keigo a while to sleep shirtless around you, after everything. It was physically hard to do so, first of all… but more than practically, the act of baring himself in any way was tender in more ways than that of newly supple skin. He’d grown used to his entire torso being wrapped up for so long… his true emotions concealed and lying deeper still. 

Even longer, he spent a month wearing constant compression -like a tight fitting bodyglove or even a too-small hoodie- as it was more comfortable than strutting around bare-chested as he once did. Healing was more of a never-ending action plan, rather than a passive point of rest like most would picture. There were therapies and tinctures and salves and appointments that all guided a former hero like him back into a state of truly feeling better and treated as a normal member of society- civilian. 

That title, still so strange to him. Alien. Another reason he’d wanted to keep layers on while he accepts his own skin. Over midafternoon tea one day, Keigo had grumbled on a grim day that he’d worried he’d never be considered ‘normal’, even if he completely healed; that some wounds were too deep and he’d never be seen as anything other than a hero- even a failed one.

However, the page turned one day- Keigo coming to you quickly after getting out of a shower to snuggle up to your figure washing the dishes. The telltale warmth of his chest hit the back of your shoulders, same as the arms which wrapped around you snug and close. Kisses along your neck served to try and distract you from your tasks, but the bigger surprise remained how vulnerable he stood behind you: he was shirtless once again.

The thought made you smile, your darling love finally embracing you in a fully relaxed state... Content, happy- or at the very least assured enough to turn you around, begging softly for some more kisses in that saucy way, and sheepishly requesting a backrub 'like you used to'. 

Maybe it was healing for you as well, getting the chance to cover Keigo in restorative love. It's always been a source of pride for you, and served to give you connection in ways the rest of the world didn't see– a place to put your care and attention in new ways for the man who gives his all to everyone else.

He's still so beautiful, like this. He's got spark to his chatty tongue again, a lift to his cheeks, and lingers for your every touch, melting on the spot even without a single feather to hint at how he feels. He doesn't need them; his eyes do all the talking for him.

You'd always care for the hero inside him- those instincts will never die, truly. Hawks' brilliance lives through his natural leadership and street-savvy command as head of the HPSC… But to nurture the sleepy, tired boy who is still finding his feet on the ground, who works every day to make the world a better place than the one he was brought into, and who missed out on so much… he’s your top priority.

You sink onto his shoulder, met by his craning atop yours. Though the reflection of the glass, Keigo doesn’t look at you, but bears the most content smile while resting with you, sneaking your hand and twisting the pretty rings adorned on it. He’d gifted you most of these, anyhow. 

"They're sure not in any rush,” Keigo coos after the floating, drifting life ahead of him. 

The swarms of sea life, ebb and flow of plant life, and the simulated tides created all washes over you two in quiet beauty. The way each group of fish move in their own current is the most relaxing sight and -yes- drifts along at an unhurried pace.

You hum your agreement.

"Slowing down's not such a bad thing, huh."

"No, not at all."

Eventually distracted by your own lazy watching, you check on Keigo again as he’d turned his head to kiss your temple while still entranced by the aquarium. In a soft voice, he asks with a pining whisper,

“How long we got in here, sweet’eart?”

“I think it closes at four today~” you share, but make the mental note to upgrade your passes to the annual membership before you leave…

[theshslpumpkinghost]

My predictions for the rest of DRDT!

(mostly my general thoughts after this ep)

(Spoilers for Ch2 Ep16!)

Okay so- First off, Levi’s fate!

If he doesn’t die from this, then he’s almost certainly going to die from trying to assists somebody else. As mentioned in the voice trailer, he’s willing to do anything to help his classmates, even if it involves him getting hurt. I can see him dying without anyone specifically targeting him, or someone being targeted because they know Levi will save them. Although that might not be so reliable depending on the recovery time needed…

Okay, next up Arturo- He’ll probably finally leave J alone, busy with making sure Levi doesn’t, y’know, die- Plus the whole breakdown he had in the trial, and his secret being revealed.. He’s gonna need some time, I think-

Teruko! Ohhhh my god where do I even start with her- She won’t die, obviously. She’s told us that multiple times, we’ve seen the proof, there isn’t a way that she can die. And that’s her curse, more than the bad luck is. So she could hypothetically get away with murder, although I don’t think she will actually kill somebody. She could get away with it, since she’s like- one of the only competent people in trials, and all it takes for Charles is for him to either be murdered or witness a murder, and he’s unable to assist. So Teruko is the only one the people here are relying on, which leaves them vulnerable if she is the blackened. Also- Teruko finally broke down and cried! It makes sense, after what she’s seen, and what she’s ended up inadvertently causing- The voice actors for Teruko and Ace (and levi) this ep >>> The new Teruko sprites were so cool, and I’m pretty sure I saw one that mirrored Min-

And now- MonoTV!! I don’t know if my theory about there being no mastermind is accurate, but after this episode- It could be! And so I’ll take that- Wasn’t expecting it to sound like Mai, at all, but that’s really interesting- Pretty sure XF caused this killing game, or at least created MonoTV-

Whit! His new sprite is fascinating considering he has no other serious sprites- And his concern for Charles, too! (..also, more fuel for the time loop theorists?) If Charles dies next chapter.. Whit will either completely break, giving up the happy persona he has, or, he ends up going so far into coping that he ends up going manic in the trial- Either way, fun development for a guy who’s only really made jokes or known a concerning amount of things about hanging-

Charles! He- isn’t doing well right now, since he saw Levi’s injury- Whit did attempt to shield him from that at least, so points towards the Charwhit (platonic or romantic, whatever you prefer) dynamic developing further! If someone like Teruko was going to commit murder, she’d probably go for Charles first. Since he is the only one besides her that really helped in the trial, and if he hadn’t gotten involved after ep11, everyone would have been executed by now. Definitely the biggest threat if Teruko is the blackened. But she might not even want to take him out if she commits a murder, because after all, she won’t die from an execution-

And finally- Ace Markey! The blackened himself! hhhh oh my god where can i start with this- Ace still cares about Levi! He knows that it’s pointless, he was searching for any reason to be mad at him, even if it made him a hypocrite for condemning another murderer. But, even after that was revealed- He was willing to get executed so Levi wouldn’t die. He yelled at Arturo for saying that he couldn’t save Levi, for being a coward, and isn’t that ironic- Also! His friend’s name gets (re)revealed! After the QnA where his name was first revealed was deleted, Taylor’s name makes an appearance on one of the gravestones in Ace’s execution! I loved the fact that his execution was themed around his fears, since he was established as a guy who had, well- a lot of fears, since the first episode he appeared in. Definitely more interesting than the cliche of ‘horses’ (not that there’s anything wrong with that idea at all-) Uh- I have a lot of thoughts about Ace rn but I’m way too tired rn to type them all out- I’ll probably add it to my p2 of this!

Okay so- I’ll probably put the rest of my thoughts in another post, since it’s 2am for me right now-

(i will be so surprised if anyone reads all this im so sorry it’s long-)

[flowercrowngods]

why must i think of prisoners Ranger!Steve and Bard!Eddie so constantly and why must they be so tender and why hhhh

Steve’s whole body is made of pain, and has been for the past few days. His feet are aching and raw from trying to keep up as they were bound to horses and dragged along. His skin is chafed and bleeding where the unforgiving rocks have managed to destroy his clothes after one too many falls, and every smallest of cuts feels like his body is nothing more than a pulsating mess. 

Worst of all, though, is the dizziness. He doesn’t know if his head is still bleeding or if the wetness he can feel running down his temple is his body’s testament to the unfamiliar heat, but it wouldn’t make a difference anyway. 

There’s only pain. And nausea. His eyes are open but he needs a second to understand what he’s seeing — and what he’s seeing is a ceiling made of sand coloured stone. Distantly, he hears a door clanging shut, but that might just as well be a memory. 

He’s going to throw up. Tough luck when you don’t even know where up is. 

A groan leaves his mouth as he tries to take a deep breath and fails miserably. Instead, he can add two broken ribs to the list of misery. 

Gods above — whichever of them are listening — he’s tired. But he fears that if he closes his eyes, he might not open them anymore for the sheer release that would bring. He can’t sleep, can’t rest, not when— 

“Easy now,” a gentle voice interrupts his less than coherent thoughts and just moments later, a tender hand is combing through his blood-crusted hair. “You shouldn’t move, my friend. There’s nowhere to move to anymore.” 

Steve frowns, his brain trying and failing to provide any information at this point. The hits to his head must have been worse than he thought if his short term memory refuses to work with him anymore. 

“We have reached Capital City,” the voice continues and Steve has to blink the fog away to make out its owner. When he does, it must show in his eyes, for the worry in Theodore Munson’s eyes makes way to the briefest of smiles before returning even stronger than before. “Do you not recall?”

Steve just stares up at him. That’s all his wrecked body and mind allow him to do right now. That’s all they want to do when gentle hands comb through his hair and chase away some of the pain. 

It is then that reality slowly comes back to him and he realises where he is. Where they are. What is at stake if they fail any more, if they decide to torture information on Elanor and William out of them — out of him. He’s not sure how much he can take. They have been held prisoner for weeks. Steve has been hurting for even longer.

Shame rises in him and he has the urge to apologise to Jim, to explain, but moving his head to the side, he sees that his old master isn’t any better off. He appears to be sleeping, his face bruised, and a teary-eyed Maxine is wiping blood away from his face with a piece of her cloak. 

Steve blinks once, twice, and takes in the man who practically raised him, watches the steady rise and fall of his chest and listens, beyond the pulsing rush of his own blood, that his lungs are not rattling. Shame makes way to satisfaction when he sees that none of their party has taken as many hits, kicks and punches as himself. His distractions have worked, then. 

That’s good. Now if only they didn’t make him so nauseous. So tired. So…

“Don’t fall asleep, Steven,” Eddie demands, and the world tilts slightly, which makes everything worse until… soft. It’s softer now. 

Eddie has moved him so his head is resting in his lap now. 

“You don’t look too good, Ranger. Sleep is dangerous in your state, no matter how badly you might need it. Give it a few hours, please.” 

A beat passes where Steve tries to process the words that are just too many. Since when does Eddie talk with him so much? 

“Lies,” he says after a while and with greater effort than should be necessary.

“Lies?” 

“I look very good. You just can’t see it under all the blood and the bruises.” He tries to crack a smile, but even the huffed breath jolts his head too much. 

Eddie does him the favour of a brief chuckle, and Steve feels better for it. Lighter. Light is good, he finds. Maybe all he has to focus on is Eddie and his hands working out the clumps of dirt and blood from his hair, maybe all he has to to is make him smile and the world will be a bit less painful. 

His world narrows down to all the ways Eddie is close to him and it does keep him occupied, but it also gets his mind wandering, the adrenaline of the past days wearing off. 

“Keep doing that and I will fall asleep,” he says after another beat of silence. Fall asleep and dream. Dream of what this could mean. Dream of smiles that make me feel lighter. 

“Keep doing what?” Eddie asks, and Steve senses a trick to just keep him talking, no matter how slurred his speech is. He needs a moment to remember what he said.

“This,” he says eventually, and Eddie only hums. Finding words is hard. He tries. And tries again. “Being gentle.” 

Another smile, and Steve wants to close his eyes to keep it there to hold on to. “I’m afraid I can’t do that, my friend.” 

“Can’t not be gentle?” He’s losing force on the consonants. The pain is getting stronger, his nerve endings more frayed and his vision blurry. This is familiar. He gives himself another quarter of an hour at most before he will lose his consciousness, no matter how hard he tries to stay here. With Eddie and his wavering smile. 

“Not with my friends, no.” 

This time it’s Steve who smiles at the word friends. He likes to be Eddie’s friend. The man, as it turns out, is admirable, he’s strong, he’s wise when he wants to be and gentle with young Maxine. He’s kind, he’s quick-witted and patient, and his hands are impossibly soft. 

“I know you said not to sleep, and I’m not normally one to deny a well-respected bard’s command, but…” He swallows. Words are hard. He’s not sure they come out as planned, but he perseveres. “I’m afraid I have to prove to you now just how stubborn the Queen’s Rangers can be.” 

Another hum from above him and Steve opens his eyes he hadn’t even noticed closing. The world is fading, but still Eddie is at its centre. 

“I’ll be here when you wake up, then, stubborn Ranger.” 

Will you smile at me still? Steve wonders. 

“Always,” Eddie says, but before Steve has time to wonder if someone else has said something, darkness has swallowed him whole.

[wri0thesley]

I'm completely lost in the idea of Welt "showing" reader (who is a new crewmember of the Express) the "ropes". He's just *slightly* strict with them, reminding them to be respectful of their fellow crewmembers when they get a bit too breathy and moany... #floorpuddle

hhhrgh. hhhh. cw: fem reader, 'good girl',

"You're not quieting down," Mr Yang's voice in your ear is faintly amused and faintly reproachful. "Everyone else is resting, dear. You don't want to interrupt that, do you?"

His hand slides down your front, curving over your chest, tugging and pinching at your nipples until you whimper and he chuckles again.

"Mm. If you want to get along with the rest of the crew, you ought to learn to keep your pretty mouth closed." He pinches again, a little harder, and you bite into the inside of your cheek to stop yourself crying out as pinpricks of pleasure spark down your back. "That's right. Good girl."

To punctuate his praise, he slots his crotch against your rear - lets you feel how hard he is through his slacks, though your own garments have been pushed down to your ankles already and it is your bare sex that his stiff length presses against.

"Ahh-- Mr Yang--"

Your voice is a breathless little whisper of air, but Welt clicks his tongue and 'tsks' at you even so.

"What did I say?" He coos to you, his mouth close enough to your ear that it makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, brushing across the delicate shell, deep and calm and composed. "Do I need to find something else to keep those lips of yours occupied?"

"Please," you whimper out again, and the hand palming at your chest slides upwards, calloused fingers brushing your collarbones, your throat, until he rests his index finger against your half-open lips. You cant your hips helplessly backwards, grinding your wet sex against the prominent bulge. "I'll be quiet. Mr Ya--mmpf--"

Your words are lost to the warm haze of air surrounding the two of you as he presses two of his fingers into your mouth. His other hand slips between you, cupping the globe of your ass, fingers digging into the soft skin there as he moves himself back just enough to get at the zipper of his trousers. You feel his cock slap against your bare skin, hot and slick and stiff, even as he pushes his fingers down against your tongue.

"Come on," he says to you, the ghost of a laugh in his voice, his lips curving into a smile. "We talked about this. You have to keep quiet. And if you can't . . ."

He slides his length between your thighs, letting your cunt drool arousal onto him. You whine, but the words are caught by his fingers. You must look a mess right now; bent over his desk, clothes all in disarray, lips parted wide and skin flushed hot and sweat-beaded. The tip of his cock nudges cruelly against your clit.

"Well, my dear . . . you'll just have to learn."

[instarsandcrime]

Returning the Favor (2/4)

Thank you again for the wait! I tried not to put too much fluff into what came next, but my brain ended up doubling down instead. I hope you enjoy more Sick!Husk featuring Alastor and his shadow-- as well as a few little details at @onetrickponi's request. Which admittedly was a bit of a challenge considering how I write this absolute freak of a deer man! Also Lucifer helping in his own awkward, unintentional way. 🫡

Enjoy!

---

The world came back to Husk slowly, in pieces. He twitched his aching joints. He massaged a pounding head. He inhaled– to no success– through a thoroughly clogged nose. All the while hushed voices came and went like the tide. Glitched, warped, brushing his ears like smoke on the water, a fog just barely touching the surface. Then it thickened, increasing in speed until–

“Gah!” Husk gasped, suddenly face to face with the outline of a figure that sat heavily on his chest. He scrambled in a panic, world tilting beneath him as he hit the carpet. Curiously and completely unbothered, the monster simply craned over his fallen body. Alastor, but not quite. The fragmented reflection of him.

His shadow.

“Ugh…” Husk put a hand on his chest, unable to stop a few coughs from slipping out. “Wh– kaff! What– koff kOFF!” His chest crackled painfully as he spiraled into a fit. But cool hands rested on his back, delicately creeping under his armpits to drag him back onto his soft mattress. 

No– they were couch cushions. That’s right, he closed his eyes in the parlor to rest for a second and then–

“How long’ve I– snff! How long’ve I been out?” He rasped out.

The shadow simply swirled through the cracks in the fireplace, returning not a moment later to hold a pocket watch from…somewhere. Briefly, absent-mindedly wondering if its owner wouldn’t miss it too much, considering how the twisted apparition eyed it with a sparkle. 

“What the fuck? How did I sleep through the fuckin’ afternoon?” Husk breathed, watching the pendulum swing back and forth, quick heartbeat pounding in time. Shit, maybe he really did need the rest. Wait, he’s right next to the lobby. Why is the lobby empty? Where was everybody? All mysteries were unraveled as he nearly jumped out of his fur. The back of another hand rested on his forehead, and he yanked it away by the wrist. “Will you fuckers stop doing that?! I said I…I-I’m fi…fi…”

Shit.

“F-fih!…hhheh…” He scrambled for a tissue with none to be found. His pockets were empty. Shit shit shit!

“Hhh…hhhHHH–! No, nhhh- no…don’t…don’t you fuckin’ sneeeh–!”

Holding back was completely useless, nose twitching too irritably to stop. Between a thin film of tears there was a sudden blur of movement, and with a flourish Husk could see the shadow present a tissue box. Muttering small thanks under hiccuping breaths, he finally let the torture end.

“HUT’TSHHHOOOO! HUP’SHHHHH! H-huhhh..! Hhhh…hghhh…snff! Ugh.” He let loose a gurgling nose blow. Then another. And another. Until he raised his pounding head to find the shade stare back at him expectantly.

“Alrighdt, fide.” Husk huffed, tail slapping angrily against an armrest, “I’b a liddle sigk, so whadt? I…I’b subbosed to be adt wor– snrff! adt work ri’de nuhhh…now…HAT’SHHHUH!”

And the shadow continued to stare as a blush flared behind his tissue.

“...I’b ndot subbosed to be sigk. People nehh– need– HET’SHHHHhhuh…ugh, snff! need someone to talk to, y’know? Don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there’s a lot goin’ on right now.”

Finally, like the mere mention of its presence guided it, the lanky thing outstretched its hand, pointing a gnarled finger at his chest.

“Me? I’m fine.” Husk shrugged. His boss’s companion narrowed his eyes and pointed again.  No way of getting around it now, he supposed. Charlie and Vaggie were testament to that. For some reason. “Other than the, uh…fever, I guess. I jus’ need more rest or somethin’. I don’t– what?”

The shadow looked expectantly.

“What? What more do you want? A written confession?” Husk huffed.

And slowly, carefully, he traced the shadow’s eyes to the tissue box.

“Oh.” Husk flushed a little brighter, “I don’t need anything, trust me. ‘Preciate the offer, though.”

A pause.

“...You’re really not gonna leave me alone ‘till I need somethin’, aren’t you?” And all at once the shadow fully sprung to life, spine ramrod straight, ears pricked high.

Husk threw his head back to swallow a frustrated groan. “Fine, fine! I’m a little hungry. But that don’t mean I–”

Too late. In an instant the shadow zipped away, then back again, a steaming bowl of oatmeal and glass of orange juice placed on his lap. “Uh. Thanks.” 

He needed to apologize to the poor guy who’s breakfast got stolen too. But still.

“My head’s, um.” Shit, why was this so hard, “Kinda killin’ me. Do we got any meds to take the sting off?”

A blur passed by his eyes, met with a few blue, translucent pills. And despite the hot embarrassment that traveled down his neck, he grew just a little bolder. “A blanket would be nice too. Something soft.”

In an instant a warm, fuzzy comforter was wrapped around his shoulders. Fuzzy and pink, freckled with glitter. His brow furrowed as the fluff tickled the tip of his nose.

“Wait, is this Angel Duhh…D-Dust’s…! W-wait, hhh…hhholdoHHHN-!”

Another tissue pressed into his palm just as he bent at the waist, “HET’CHHHMPHH! HUH’MMPHH’HHOOoo…” Husk breathed out a sigh of relief when the disaster seemed to fade–

“My, that sounded dreadful!”

–and immediately proven wrong, jumped in place. “Jesus, fuck!”

“Why Husker, I’m wounded!” Alastor hovered a hand over his chest, “Don’t you recognize me? Your beloved radio host, now in spectacular technicolor!”

“Yeah.” Husk deadpanned, eyelids falling to half-mast. “It’s a real honor.”

Humming softly, The Radio Demon strolled to his caregiver, shooting his runaway a displeased glare. “Ah, there you are! I apologize for the interruption. I didn’t realize my shadow had ventured its way so far from home.”

“What? You didn’t kick him outta your room or somethin’?” Husk asked.

“Hardly.” Alastor sniffed dismissively, “I sent him on an errand and it seems his mind went elsewhere. Exploring our new home, most likely.”

“I. I don’t. What?” Even over Alastor’s shoulder in the empty space, he could see strewn belongings from exercises and art classes pressed between the cracks of a quiet lobby. Charlie’s dream fully realized and fully uncleaned. Wait. Where the fuck was Niffty?

“Now now, come here. Let’s not bother our pet any longer.” Alastor cooed, tapping the heel of his cane on the ground– shockingly, to no effect. And for just a split second, his smile nearly cracked. He cleared his throat, biting back a wince along the way. The shadow simply stood there, by the attempted entrapments.

“What the–” Tap. “Of all the nerve–” Tap tap tap!

And much like waking up, everything started to come together in pieces. The emptiness of the hallway that gave him peace and quiet. How Alastor’s shadow spoiled Husk without him even knowing it.

“Holy shit.” Husk huffed out a disbelieving laugh, “Are you worried about me?”

Alastor froze before another summon could be cast, cane’s heel hovering just centimeters above the floor. On a good day, Alastor was a closed book– wrapped in thorny lies and rosy promises. But ever so subtly the overlord’s scarlet eyes darted, a trapped animal looking for an escape. Before clearing his throat a second time, whirling around on his heel with a more composed smile– knuckles undoubtedly ashen under his taut gloves. 

“Ha! Husker my good man, you flatter yourself! You’ve proven to be very useful to this hotel, it’s true! Useful to it and myself– despite the fact that you’re a complete and utter failure of a man!” He hovered over his prey until he was inches from its face. Basking in the sudden chill that shook the lowly thing to its core. “But please, do pretend I care. I’d love to see what ridiculous delusions you…y-you…”

The air filled with static. The eerie glow of The Radio Demon’s eyes brightened, akin to a deer caught in headlights. 

“Boss?” Husk muttered.

And all too suddenly The Radio Demon’s speech was interrupted, scrambling for the handkerchief in his breast pocket. 

“Eschhh’hhhew! Et’chhh’hhew.”

Behind him the shadow curled up, wrapping tightly around Husk’s own dark reflection. An echo of a sudden loss of control as Alastor pitched helplessly again.

“EP’Sschhhh’hhew! Hehh..het’KSHHZZT!” With the itch finally satisfied The Overlord cursed, turning to dab at the mess he refused to show.

Oh.

Ohhhh.

For the first time in a long, long time, Husk had never felt more in control.

“Stop that.” Alastor protested, muffled by a slowly-soaking fabric. “I know what you’re thinking.”

“C’mon, enough already. You caught my cold from hoverin' over me and it’s showin’ how sappy you really are.” 

“You smug, arrogant, flea-bitten mutt!” Alastor snarled, whirling around to flash his fangs. The cracks in his teeth beading with blood. The sound of bones cracking as his body grew just a little taller. Antlers towered like an elk’s crown. “You don’t know who you’re talking to! You think you know everything. You think you know everyone! But you’re not as perceptive as you think you are. And if I hear one more word out of you I’ll pluck out each and every one of your vocal chords and feed the shreds to the…the streets of…of C-cannibal Tuhh- town…!”

“Your shadow’s sneezing its head off. You know that, right?”

The monster’s transformation suddenly faltered, face dusting slightly pink. And with an offended scoff, the radio demon retreated into the hallways. But not before one more damning sneeze wracked the walls and short-circuited the lights and setting off the soft jazz of the radio nearby.

Somehow, absent-mindedly, Husk wondered if he should buy the stubborn idiot a drink.

The next time Husk opened his eyes he was curled just under the roof, tucked somewhere between a balcony, its shadowed nook underneath, a steaming hot toddy, and a half-empty tissue box. Wings fluffing as he ripped a cluster of tissues apart to pitch helplessly. 

“HET’SHHHHOO! HEP’SHHH’HHOO! HEH! H-hehhh…nhhh…”

“Oh! Fancy seeing you here!” An anxious voice chuckled.

Husk jumped in place, twisting his torso to look up at The King of Hell– who looked just as surprised to see him, touting a smile so anxiously sharp that it could cut glass. Though that seemed to be the only thing in character for the royal hermit. His clothes were askew in ten different ways. His bowtie was crooked, and–

Husk’s damage report was halted with the snap of his fingers, and with a flash of golden light everything was back in place. Still. “The fuck happened to you?”

With a scandalized huff, Lucifer sat beside Husk, and with the flick of his wrist appeared a cigar. “Well I’ll certainly tell you what was supposed to happen. I was supposed to have an interview.”

“An interview?” Husk echoed. With another snap, a ruby hellfire sparked the tip to life. “Didn’t you show up at the bar two days ago, tellin’ me that you wanted some peace and quiet?”

“Ughhh, if only! Charlie bounded up to me, these adorable little stars in her eyes, saying it’s good publicity and, well. What else can I say? Sure, fine, now I’ve got an interview I know I’m gonna regret. But then He,” Alastor, by the murderous tone. “caught wind of who was doing what godforsaken deed. We got into a small debate. A simple argument that should not have happened because no, stepping into Vox’s studio does not mean I’m ‘giving him what he wants’!”

Inhale. Puff. Exhale. Ribbons of smoke trailed lazily in the wind.

“And no, I’m not going to blackmail the hotel if I show up with a few stories!” The strong scent of tobacco was bitter against Husk’s already battered nose, and it only took a moment for the itch to burn just a little brighter.

“And no, asshole, I don’t care if you can stand just fine, you should be resting because you’re--” 

“ET’SHHH!”

Lucifer clutched his chest, rant abandoned at the sudden outburst. “I. Uhh. Goodness, bless you!”

“Sure. Rembind mbe why you– snff! Ugh, sorry– why you didn’t tell Charlie how you felt about bein’ in the spotlight again?” Husk’s lips curled playfully, rubbing a knuckle under his nose, wincing when it squelched awfully.

But despite the sudden show, a mere mention of The Devil’s daughter suddenly and unsurprisingly got him back on track. “Are you kidding? How could you even think to disappoint that face?!” He bemoaned, throwing his arms heavenward.

“Oh lemme tell ya, it’s possible. There’s a word out there that’ll get anybody to stop in their tracks. Don’t know if you’ve heard’ve it, but it’s just one word. Starts with an N. Ends with a Fuck Off.” The old, wise bartender said, very tentatively ignoring the spare cards still stuffed deep in his back pocket. 

“Hey, it’s not as easy as it looks!”

“Oh, yeah?” His tail snaked around Lucifer’s back, “You may be the Lord of the Lies to every soul on Earth. But here? With family?” The tip knocked Lucifer’s hat askew, revealing wild hair sticking up like the pin feathers of a poorly preened duck. “You ain’t shit.”

Lucifer’s face flushed gold as he scrambled to catch his top hat, opening his mouth to protest– and quickly moved to cover his pointed ears as Husk took a sharp breath.

“ET’SHHH’HUH! RSSHH’HHUH!…snff! Ugh.”

“Yeesh! Bless you again.”

“Sdnff! Thaggs.”

Another drag of smoky tobacco. “Soooo…you come up here too.”

Husk sighs. “When you’re too sigk do be ady helb do adybody?”

Lucifer winces, exhaling slowly. “Or avoid an important conversation?”

They look at each other for a moment. Husk busies himself with a few well-timed nose blows. Lucifer lights his hand with magic to gel back mussed hair.

“Nah.” They chorused.

“Charlie says I should be working on my pride and ask for help. I’m trying, I really am! I know how important it is to start changing today, not tomorrow. But…it’s hard to do that when you’re the embodiment of your own kingdom, y’know?” Another puff. Another irritated sniffle.

“Same. I ain’t the livin’ symbol of it, that’s for sure. But I can– sdnfff! Guhh, ‘scuse me– definitely attest to bein’ stubborn.” 

“Selfish.” 

“Borderline– snff! Sdnfff! m-mahhh…maso…masocihhh.” A pause. “ESHHH’HUH! ET’CHHH’HUH! Guhh…masochistic.” He mumbled tiredly into his tissue. 

“Mm.”

“...Hey, I know this sounds kinda weird. But, uh. Thanks.”

“Thanks? For what?”

“For bein’ miserable.”

The demon king paused, blinked owlishly before bursting out in a fit of laughter. Wisps of tobacco-laced smoke pouring from between his fangs.

“No, no, I’m serious!” Husk chuckled back, looking back out at the ruby-rimmed skyline, “There’s so much good happenin’ around here. Demons are gettin’ happier. More confident about climbing those pearly gates. And yeah sure it’s good. Great, even. I'm happy for your daughter. But it’s…too great, y’know? People’r changin’ for the better and it hasn’t…” 

His smile waned, “I can't catch up. It hasn’t come to me like it’s done to the others. ‘Specially Angel Dust. I’m not really good at this open, mushy shit. So thanks. For not pushin’. For bein’ yourself.” He nudged Lucifer with an elbow, “For bein’ as miserable at this whole redemption bullshit as me.”

“Hah! The feeling’s mutual…”

“Dad!” A voice rang out.

“...The- the feeling’s m-mutual.”

“What? You said we should work on it starting today, right?” Husk elbowed him with a snicker, watching the Demon King’s pallid face turn somehow paler.

“D-did I– did I say that?” He stammered out, “You must– you must have misheard me.”

“Daaad! Come on, we can practice together! I made flashcards and they have pictures!” Charlie sang from below.

“Did you?” The cat demon’s smirk only grew, “I dunno, now that I think about it you’re right. Because right now? All I hear is the big, bad King of Hell acting like a fuckin’ coward.”

“Well what do you want me to do about it?!” Lucifer whisper-shouted, face flushing angrily, “Go up to my little girl and let her down?”

“Maybe.”

The king opened his mouth to protest and–

“HUUUSK!”

“Niffty?” The bartender breathed out sheer disbelief, attention snapping to the street.

“You’re sick! You gotta get cleaaannnnn! Come onnnn! I spent all day setting up the bathroom!”

Oh.

So that’s where she’s been.

The two quieted, exchanging glances.

“Tomorrow.” Husk whispered.

“Tomorrow.” Lucifer nodded, “Yeah. Yeah, we’ll start tomorrow! Tomorrow’s good.”

[linksthoughtbrambles]

A Man on its Back

Part 17 of Adventure Log+ (sequel to Link's Thought Brambles - best to read in order, also on ao3). Warning for strong language, violence, and suggestion of character death. Trigger warning for intense fire. Disclaimer: The content of this chapter is fiction only, and is not intended to contain advice or instructions for surviving hazardous conditions involving fire. Edited 11/29/24 for clarity in a few places.

Oh no, her eyes- I must look awful. Even more awful? Pretty sure I’ve looked like rot melting on toast since the first ReDead.

“Kh.”

Spin-no no no no, Link. No spinning. Not allowed.

You are not yet fully oxygenated, master.

I figured.

Her hands-

No, no no no you don’t have to do that- you don’t have topain- quiet, Link, I’m fine I’m fine, no really, let’s move even though I love your hands relief they feel like relief- looking everyone else over, too, okay, but we’re fine enough, painnot great, which is kind of the point, let’s move, even though Varniro’s even more burnt than I am, still have to get out of here- we can sweep the rest of the north for survivors though realistically probably none, there’s no one is there, they all at least tried to leave- huh? What’s that hard look for?

I just- don’t feel up topain whatever that is. Did I do something wrong again? I thought she was relieved to see me.

Bite it back bite it backpain, more important things than your stupid heart right now, your stupid chest tightening up-

Breathe, master.

Yeah, trying, I’m trying, I really am-

“Link.”

Voice good. Face bad- oh? Holding my hand?

.

Pain. Back. Don’t- don’t think. Hot.

She waspain about to say something.  Why didn’t she? Just some side-eye for the others?

Oh. I get a little smile. An eyeless one though.

There’s another hotlook. It’s not paintears.  But-

“Khh- hhhh- khh- hh.”

Terial?

“Sit, man- yeah.  Rest it.”

“Khhh- hh.  Ahhm.  Yeah.”

“Sir Terial?”

“Sorry P- prihhncesskhh.  Was- t-hhhrying not tohoo.”

S$%^. S$%^, I shouldn’t’ve taken him in with us. “Water.”

“Indeehkhd. Link, come regardless- the well.”

“We- already-“ hot

“Something else.  Kh. Khh.”

Hot hotter BLAZING now we’re in the through-street holy s$%& we made itpain even worse. The lynel. More heat, more flame and spreading SPREADING- “Z- Princess, we- have to move, and fast.”

“In- indeed.”

It’s howling, absolutely howling, and I’m shakinghot already, physical limits, hotlimitspain

“Khhh- hhahh. Phh.”

I only have one body and it’s limited no matter how much I want it not to bepain and it needs a hotbreak- dehydrated, way too hot- burnt, wonder how bad it looks from the hotback and how much worse it’ll hurt when I peel what’s left of these clothes off and how infected it’s going to get and I’m so glad she didn’tpain go there with us.

Maybe the heat will’ve bought me some time?

Master-

“We found Huiru down here. See?”

Down there? See what?

Oh?pain “Mushrooms?”

“Heh- hehe khhhh kh hh- hhhkhhkhh-“

“Z-? Zelda?!” I’ve got you I’ve got you

“Khhhhhh- gh-“

Lookhot around Link

“HH. Hhhh. Hhh.”

eyes peeled, everyone else’s are too at least except Terial, he’s just trying to painbreathe normal and Huiru’s inching this way not sure what he thinks he can do to help with a hotcoughing fit but ”We have to finish up and leave.”

“Agreed, but- Link- not the mushrooms. What they’re lighting. Mpkeh.”

That’s somepain look exchanged with Huiru, what’d he see down there?

Hard to see.

Water… duh. It’s a well.

“KhhHHHH- HHH- khhhHHHHhh.”

We really have to get Terial out of hothere- oh- oh!

“Yes. You see? It’s a stream-“

“They’re connected.”

“Yes.”

Duh, Link, ultra duh, if there’s a stream it’s flowing both to and from somewhere

“HHhhh-khhh. Mgheh.”

not that the somewhere has to be somewhere a person could pass through, it could just bepain a dead end air-wise and the water flows just totally against stone but the people living here probably had at least some idea where it led to. “They went down.”

”HhhHHHHhhhhkhhhkhhkhh-hhh- khhh.”

Terial, man, breathe.

“Quite khh- likely. Huiru- relayed having seen some dead.”

“I also felt wind.”

That tracks. Alright then, it’d be cooler and a lot safer down there then, right? “Are we going down?”

MASTER

“What?” Zelda blinkies sorry did I not get it-?!

Under no circumstances should you venture below!

“Why not?” Oh good she’s lookingpain-

What you think of as air has layers. The fire is producing large amounts of suffocating gas, master. This gas is heavier than the air you breathe. It may build up and kill you below.

Oh no.

“Khh-hh.”

Oh no, but Fi, all those people-

Your Sheikah companion found bodies below.

We don’t know how they died, though-

Plunging into a death trap behind them is futile, regardless of how they perished. They are lost already, Master. If some were fortunate, there was sufficient fresh airflow from elsewhere to sustain them- or they were able to exit quickly. Moving in that direction is not worth the risk—it will not change the outcome.

What if monsters followed them? If the air’s alright, the monsters couldpain breathe too.

“Listen.”

“Zelda?”

“For sounds from the well.”

…That’s a pointhotter. Fighting down there anywhere nearby? Screaming? We’d hotterhear it echoing. “Yeah. Yeah, I don’t hear any, but still, I...” Look at her looking at you, Link, she knows you want to go anyway, how could I not want- WOAH!!

“HOLy!” “Whhfft?” “Sir!” “Princess!”

EXPLODING HOUSES

“Indeed, we go!! Northwhahh- west! Now!!”

DEFINITELY NOW YES but not down apparently

“Northwest?! What of those who went below, Princess?!”

Zelda agrees with Fi and I- am really, really supposed to follow her orders

“T-hhoo follow directly would be most- khh- unwise, Huiru.”

Goddess- Goddess forgive me-

“But we can’t-!”

And oh no you DON'T! “Obey the Princess! Isn’t that supposed to be your thing?!” If I have to, you do too and oooh- temper lost, lost, Link, and he looks PISSED but everyone’s moving- moving away

...Speed. Speed, speed, we go as fast as we can.

“KHHHHhhh-hhh!”

We- can still sweep for anyone still alive

“Come on man, come on-“

and then we f^*#ing RUN, Link

“KhhhHHHHh- co- cohhming.“

by all that’s good and holy in this world fire does not have any mercy in it to show oh and look at that, embers above you high up it’s going to light the treeline, just a question of how long “SPEED!”

“Yes SIR!” “YES SIR!”

Her hand- holding me back?

“Kh- hh.”

She wants me here with her. Streets narrow anyway. Daile can take front.

“Khh-hh- SHOUT FOR SURVIVORS!”

“YES PRINCESS!”

“TO US!”

She’s right

“TO US!”

monsters’ll hear us

“TO US!”

too buthot we can’t stop to hotcheck houses

“TO UUUS!”

“Hhh- hh-“

there’spain no time, they have to come to us

“SURVIVORS-”

and RUN if they’re hereWH-?!

“TO US QUICKLY!” “Holy HYLIA!” “Goddess have mercy!”

Another explosion, south, doesn’t seem that far just keep running

“S- survivors- here, HERE!”

HOTit's not about you, Link. It's about Zelda-

“MOVE, TERIAL!”

-and Terial

“I AM!”

It is also about you, master. Oxygenation level 94%.

That doesn't seem so badpain.

It is quite low for you.

At least I'm not spinning.

“ANYONE?”

And it's about them, too- anyone left has more chance than they did when the lynel could hear them

“ANYONE-”

toohot or us

“TO US!” “Khh- kh-hh.”

at least a better chance

“AH!”

“Margil?!”

of not being murderedpain

“I’m fine, go!”

but dying in a wildfire? That chance just went up even moreSH!!!

“TO US!” “What the hell’s blowing up?”

“Don’t KNOW!” We- couldn’t leave that lynel there

“ANYONE!”

but we’d’ve beenhotHOT safer if we’d snuck away

“RR-GH!”

Moblin, knew THAT would happen “TAKE IT OUT-” ARROW to an eye already

“HAH!” “AAAAHH!”

and there’s about five swords heading for its throat

“KhHHHHhhh hhhh khhh.”

wow we surprised the s$%& out of it, it’s the painvolume, it’s loud, the wind and fire howling it’s down already only a red did the others run did the smart ones run whenhot we did or even before or are thereANOTHER BOOM

“Hhh- hh!” “Hell hell hell-“

a whole lot of them waiting for us

“Hell hell HELL.”

in the treeline like we thought there’d be?

That scenario is quite likely, master.

Glad we agree. Not glad what we agree ABOUT, but at least we’re ready.

“T-TO US!”

hottoohot

“T- To- US!”

hotterHOTTER

“MO-oah- khh-hh… Move NORTH!”

Yes next street away away definitely, the “Khh-“ smoke damn. Damn the smoke, the cloth’s helping less it’s like- like acid-

“To- UHHHS!” “KhhHHHHHH-hh.”

“NORTH! WE’RE MOVING NORTH!”

Cohl’s got a pair of lungs on him

“FOLLOW! FOLLOW!” “Khh-hh-hah. Khhh”

Cool down please please less smoke Terial and Zelda need-

“GRKH- RR!”

ANOTHERpainMOBLIN

“Hmph- huh!”

Daile, man- good duck and ANOTHERBOOM MY GODDESS I FELT THAT ONE SEAR THE AIR “ZELDA?!”

“Khhhahlrighthh-hh!”

Daile’s sword’s through it already Reida just slicing it on her way past and she just keeps going wow

“Khh- hh.” “HH- KH.”

Varniro, Genenko and Cohl, too it’s down Zelda-? Good, I’ll just LEAPpain and SWIPE for good measure, that would be its neck it’s not getting up not getting up, deadhot or soon will be just keep checking keep checking “Khh.”

“Khhhhkh.”

I think Margil’s

“KhKHHH-kh.”

Started to have a hard time “YOU OKAY?”

“ALRIGHT SIR!”

Alright is relativesweat relative

“Khh-HHHHHHH-KH-“

TERIAL “WooOAH!”

“Sokhhrry, sohrry, Sir, go, justKHH- just-“

“NO WAY NO SLOWING NO STOPPING”check! clearbehindpain “YOU’RE WITH US COME ON! COME ON!” He's not coming “KH-hh-“ his arm then Link, pull him pull him with you “PRINCESS-“

“COHKHNTINUE NORTH!”

No more northwest, no morehot, if there’s anyone there we’ll miss them- ! “LIFF KHCAN YOU STILL HOLD THAT SHIELD?”

“YEHHS SIR!”

Is he sure he didn’t try it yet oh there he goes-

“AH! Fff-“

“WOAH WOAH” it must be so hot “LET IT KHH GO!”

“I’VE GOHHT IT!”

Wow “BANG IT THEN!” please don’t sear your painskin off

Check behind!

“Khhh-hh. Hhh. Haaah.”

Clear ”kh“ clear

“KhHHH-HH-hhh hhhkhh.”

Liff’s getting burntpain isn’t he?

All we can “Kh-hh“ do, make noise

“HH- kh.”

maybe if there’s anyone they’ll follow it but at thishot point I don’t think there is, not at all

“Kh-hh.” “Kh- khh.”

they’re either gonepain or deadTHATWASCLOSERSOHOT sohot somethingwrong seemswrong

“Mmm-hh-hhhehhh-hh.”

Beraya?

“Khhhhhh-hh-gh-hem.”

And Margil

Margil’s wavering but “khh- hh-“ it’s the smoke

Beraya, though, her facepain, I can’t tell

“Khah- khhh.”

if she’s sweating or crying I’m so sorry Beraya, I’m so sorry, your family

“Khh-“ “Kh-khh-khh-kh-khhh.”

And with that racket Liff’s making painnow we have more reach but the monsters will absolutely

“Khh-hh-hhh! Khhhh-hh.”

one hundred percent know we’retoohot coming. Toward the trees. “Khh-kh.” They're close now. “READY!”

Link.

“KHhh.”

As if they weren’tpain ready alreadyBLAST!

“S-sir!”

“KEEP RUNNING!” Aree’s scared she’s scared I can’t say I blame her you can’t fight a fire there’s nothing to kill and not a soul- not a single soul joined us here. No one. And we didn't follow below, didn't send-

Master, to do so-

Would be stupid, YES, I get it, doesn't mean it won't eat me alive paininside for the rest of my life and Goddess forgive me, I don’t have time to mourn it now, not now, save your air for running, LinkCoOOHL-

“GH!”

Fire chuchu- no, DEAD fire chuchu, wide berth

“KHH.”

give it a WIDE berth wide and YANK Terial, his head’s not great is it he’s woozy not good not good AH! HOTBLAST back there HOT no more ENOUGH HEAT

“KhHHHhh-!”

as if we needed morehot fireISEEIT. The tops of the trees. “Princess?”

“I-hh- ahm ready.”

She is. Bow out.

“KhhhhhHHHHHH- hhhhHHhhhh.”

But those two do NOT need to drop back like that-

“Huiru, Reida, ahKHHs stealth and speed are your advantages, I direct you to f-KHh- flank the front. Cihhrcle around any monsters we approach and strike quickly.”

That’s some look they’re giving-

“We are sworn to protect the royal family.”

“We all are! Obey the Princess!” I had to say it AGAIN?!

“We would leave our Princess vulnerable!”

"Ffffffffffff…"

Is Reida HISSING at me? “MargilKHH-, Beraya, flank the Princess!”

“Yehs-“ “Khhess, sir!”

“That IS an improvement.”

Wh-?!

There she goes, rushingpain to Daile’s left, but she practically spat that at me. What the hell is her problem? An improvement? Over what? Huiru, too, to the front right like he should now. “…Terial, man, I’m gonnahhkh let your arm go but you STAY WITH US, got it?”

“YKhHHHHhh- Yehs- sir.” “Khh-hh-khhhh.”

Getting cooler north better “Stay with the Princess.”

He’s nodding but look at Aree so she knows, she knows she has to drag him along if he stops. “Aree, you too. Genenko, bring up the rear.”

“Yes, sir.” “Khhhhhhh. Hhh.”

Sorry, man. “Khh-kh.” I know I’m being kind of a jerk, but your bad arm means the front isn’t the greatest spot for you.

“Khh-hh-hh-hh.”

To the front with me instead. Right in the damn middle. Spearhead.

It’s getting dark-er…

No. No, there’s less fire, but the sky’s lighter? I think I see it through tiny gaps in the leaves… smoke messing up the view. So BE READY, Link. That treeline? It’spain right on top of you.

You know what?

If there was anyone alive here, they know we’re here by now. “ENOUGH, LIFF!”

“Yehs SIR!”

He sounds pleased about that.

The air got a little better

“Khh.” “Hh.”

but there’s stillpain no one moving to join us. No one-

No one moving.

Don’t look too hard, Link.

That’s a body, isn’t it? Crumpled right in front of the trees. “Varniro.” Point, just- he sees.

“Kh- Oh.”

And he’s speeding up speeding, sliding, checking. Checking.

Hand up, slow, just a moment Link, wait for it.

“Khh-hh-hh-hhhhHhhh.”

He’s shaking his head.

“KhhhHHhhh- hh.”

Dead.

We go – come on!

Hylia, please – please, let those people have made it out. Thepain well system.

“KH-HH-hh-HH-KhHHh.”

Where does it let out?

“KH-hh. Terial?”

Where does the water come from?

“OhhhHH-kay KH- P- rincehhss.”

It’s got to be Salari Hill or Lindor’s Brow, right, or both?

“KHHHHhhhh.”

The plain’s so flat, anywhere the water goes has to be further off

“Khh-khh-hh.” “KHH-hh.”

into the distance or it painjust stays beneath- or- the canyon? But the canyon’s dry.

“HhhHH. Uch.”

The kids.

“Kh-HHY- yeahHh.”

Just waiting on the plain to the east.

Don’t, Link. There’s nothing you can do yet, and they, unlike you, currently have horses and that’s another body, Link, you checkpain this time

“Kh- hh, another…”

more in your path-

Dead. Very.

Unclench your muscles, Link, your empathy can stuff itself into yourpain nightmares instead.

Did I hear Cohl pause, too-?

“Kh-hh- better- better here.”

 I did. And getting back up, another body rubbingpain ignore

“A- KHHhhH- little, Princess.”

Must be must be monsters near, look-?

“Khh-hh.”

Everyone’s still there. Keep moving.

Grip.

Front.

Search.

No shield, kind of idioticpain in this position, thanks for breaking it ridiculous yellow bokoblin I could’ve used-

“KRRGGH!”

“MOBLIN TEN O’CLOCK!” NO TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT veer and you know what Link you might as well SWITCH HANDS and slide and let this bastard have it in the gut UNDERITSGUARD THROUGH kick upPAINPAINSTUPID THROW IT BACK couldbedeadalready butcouldn’tseecolor flip upPAIN, back and no need Beraya’s sword in its throat already-

“RR-“ “KKROOGHH!” “KWEYKEWEE-R-“ “GHAKKHR!” “RRRRHHGR.”

Wewereright they’rewaiting foranyonerunning

“KGR-“ “HAAAAH!”

That was Liff

“Kh- there, fire!”

and that’saBLACKMOBLIN

“Khhh- kh- khhhh-hh-” “KRFHHGHHH!” “Kh- there!”

WITHONEARROWINITSEYEALREADY IT'SREELING swing your sword like a club, Link

“Mmm- Gah!” “Support, Aree!”

 you might get lucky and SLICE

“I have it, Princess!”

WOW cleavedhalfwaythroughribcage stillstanding?!

“We-ekhll- done- there!”

Stronger-? DODGE!missedme niceclubbutSTRIKESTRIKESTRIKESTRIKESTRIKESTRIKE

“I- I’ll hit Cohl!”

my sword’s nicer and it’s STILL NOT DOWN tough tough skin I hear the clangingothers clangingoccupied and this one’s recoup-NO!CATCHITLINKCATCHTHESPEAR HOLYS$!^

“Princess!!” “Ah-Khh!”

OFFCOURSE I KNOCKED ITOFFCOURSE

“Fire!”

DOWNPAIN!! leavestwigs SHARPsplintersPAIN BaARK”Ah-hh-“

“L- hink!”

Hervoicesoundsoff Idon’tlikeitpain butatleastshedoesn’thaveaspearinherchest but THROWSPEAR themoblinwill

“KHHH!khh-“

does

“hhhhhh”

more arrows, good, finishitoffpain

It’sdead wherewho-?Cohl!

“Khh-hhkhh-“ “P-rincess-“

HelpCohlSPRINT

“I- am well- khh-“

strugglingGOGOGO hisownsword athisthroat

“-enough, Margil.”

“Gr-Rgh!” STRONGanotherblackboko rare theseuesdtoberare baaaackPUNCHyourFACE yes MORE STOMPchest down DOWNSWORDTHROUGH THROUGHAGAIN

Dead

One came up behind Huiru but he has it, Cohl’s sword back, good, quieter, dead Moblins or dead us?

“AaaAAH!”

screamVarniro! FIRE firechuchu BIGone NODON’TKILLITYET ”HOLD! HOLD!!!!” F&@# REIDA ARE YOU SOME KIND OF F&@#INGMORON?! SAVEHIMSAVEHIMLINK REACHHIM HE’SBURNING INCAPACITATEDCONFUSED “VARNIRO NOW!” HISARMPULLPULL “NOOOW!”

“SIR-”

DOWN!!!!

“SIR!” “NO!” “LIH-NK!”

PAIN!! OHSWEETHYLIABURNING

“Princess, stay back!”

THEBOOTSTHELEGS VARNIRO TOO BOTHROLLING GOOD OUTfine butpain

“Oh- Ohkhhh- khh-“

dealdeal painfine he’sgettinguptoo hearhim painpanting?

“Mmm- hmm-“

That’s a bit of a whimper toopain and flames more hotsohotflames as if we needed thatpain and I see more lights in the dark they’re lighting the brush the leaves and the fire behind us it’ll catch up-!

There are more of themhot, aren’t there, up there, unlit “ARCHERS!” point yespain they get it shoot them before they land and lightpain MOVELINK chuchu rain FOUL and WHERE DID SHE GO- “REIDA- FF!“ technically she did what she was told butFIRE! MOVE!- keepmoving “EVERYONE NORTH!”…but holypain HELL slashing it like crazy with Varniro still there for it to blow up in his face, and those big ones blastpain FAR, that’s just stupid, stupid stupid

…Stupid.

Ohhh.

Oh, Link

Oh f^$#

F^$#pain

No, Link. YOU are stupidpain.

Painpain playitcoolwhereisReida? There- “HEY!” …She’s looking. “BE MORE CAREFUL!”

…Just a bitpain. Just a bit stupid, Link, but you’re a little smarterpain than you were a few days ago.

Play it cool, play it cool and painwatch them WATCH THEM while we keep running don’t let them get behind you not behind, Zelda’s dark look right before the well, hotsticky the well system connected, is that where Huiru had disappeared to? Then he just happenshot to painpop up right where they were? Cracklingcracklingaboveus was she trying to tell me he waspain following them? Staying hidden- MORE “BOKO, MOBLIN!”

“QUEKWEYEEE!” “KRRRGH-GHR-GHR.”

Good, GOOD you quite-possibly-yiga-asshole, glad you’re on the left to get monster-smacked, keep you busy whilethecanopysmolders, Daile’s going to help her though, of course he is, and embers and-!

“QWEAHEHRE!”

BOKOTACKLED FALLINGBACK"AaAAHF-HH!"F$&%INGHURTS GETOFFME“RrrrrRR!” BACKGODDESSHURTS KICKKICKOFF“Ah!” YES! Cohl-

“HAH!”

good stabbing but Huiru’s RIGHT BEHIND HIM FLIP UPPAIN LINK nevermind how muchpain it hurts

“P-rincess?”

just make sure Huiru sees you looking

“Yes, Aree!”

and try not to give away you werepain wondering

“M-my bowstring!”

whether he was going to stab the boko or Cohl

“I know- kh-“

that’s right Huiru back off return to position, keep moving

“The heat!”

Hot hotter monsters?

“Tahkhe care! Use it only when necekhh-ssary!”

Dead already arrows in them, Reida back in position am I overreacting, being paranoid?

“KhhhHHHHHhhh- hh- hh- hh hoh.”

Move move move back to running.

Zelda didn’t dopain what Huiru wanted. Didn’t go down the well, Then she sent them embersaway from her, sent them as far to the front as they could get.

“Khh-hh. Kh.”

They botched just about everything they could on the plain. Messing with the Princess’ line of firehotEMBERpain, the other archers, too. They practically herded those bokos toward Zelda.

“KhhhHHHhhh. Khhhh.”

They didn’t help us prepare for the fire.

“Fff- s ss-“

Varniro- he’s hurting. That was a pain-hiss.

Was Reida trying to keep us inpain the smoke longer? Pretty s$(^^y plan if so. She was in it too.

And that- arrow earlier- nearly hit me, would’ve if I hadn’t noticed and it could’ve hit Zelda, too. Thought it was that boko but what if it was Huiru? He could’ve picked upembers a monster’s bow.

If it IS them… then this must be what Yiga do. They wait

“Khh-“

hiding in plain sight

“Khh-hh.”

until a chance to strikeEMBERpain unseen. Carok guy neverhot intended for us to see him fire. I turned because I figured it out… just in time. Vayden thought he’d get away with killing me ‘by accident’ in the melee.

Fi???

I detect nothing, master, but that means little.

No repression fields.

None I know of.

But you couldn’t tell with not-Erl, either.

Precisely. I recommend extreme caution.

Extreme. Strong wordembers.

Keep eyeing them, Link. Eyeing…

S$%#pain, I don’t really know Varniro, Terial, Aree, Liff, or Cohl, either. At least I’d seen them before, but Vayden- it’s not like I hadn’t known him, too, at least a little...

Their actions thus far appear unsuspicious. Why have you excluded your associate Daile from this list? He, too, is not well-known to you.

He- no wayembersEMBERpain. Not with how we fought together. If he wanted me dead, he had many chances, and he instead helped every single time. He kicked ASS. And he had Jeralt’s full confidence.

Then I suggest you apply this reasoning to the others.

Embers we need to hurry I don’t know what Jeralt thinks of them.

“KhhhHHHHHHhhhh-hh.”

I advise taking the first possible opportunity to find out.

Goddess knows when hotthat’ll be and if I’m too paranoid I’ll be a horrendous commander- I should’ve takenpain the time to grill Purah on these two. Did she know them well? Were they new? Did they volunteer to go or were they assigned?

You don’t… REALLY know for sure. But it’s off. WAY off.

Carok Bridge.

Not at all far from the lab.

Coincidence?

Embers thicker, behind- orange-

They’re still both at the periphery. Right where she told them to be.

Another way to see it, though, is that they’re flanking us.

That line of monsters wasn’t as bad as I was expecting. We’re making good time. So is the fire. But we’repain ahead. The heat’s making plenty of wind, but eastward earlier, right? The prevailing wind?

“CHHH- CHHF.”

What- what was that-

“D- ah-fffff- did you hear?”

“Yeah, Varniro.” Daile? I see him running, but it’s still too dark and there’s too many hottrees, can’t see his face. To see if he also thought ‘lynel but weird.’

I didn’t want Zelda anywhere NEARembers a lynel.

And if that’s what it was, it has most definitely heard usFIREFIRE!!!!! “RUUUUUUN!!” IN A COLUMN IT’SACOLUMN COMINGTHISWAY “GOGOGOGOGOGOOO!”

“Rightward RIGHTWARD!”

“Princess!!!” “N-OO!” “AHH!” “FF-KHH-FFrrR!”

DODGEDLink but my Goddess the wall of fire behind you, and the ‘no’ what was the no for?! SEPARATED! “BERAYA, AREE! GENENKO!”

“HERE!” “HEERE!” “WE’LL CIRCLE!!”

It’s how they turned they turned the others still with us “FAST EVERYONE MOVE, MOVE- ANOTHER!”

“Ah-hh- ahh- fff-“

It’s west it’s west no southwest the angle the way the FIREBALL’sGOING ZELDA? STILL WITHUS STILL FIREBALLPASSED- MYGODDESS “TERIAL!!”

“KHH- ca-n’t- GO HHHHkhhh-“

NO ZELDA DON’T STOP DON’T HELP-

GOOD GOOD GOOD MAN MARGIL BUT

ANOTHER ONE AND MARGIL YANKINGHIM TOOSLOW NO NO ZELDA NO ONE NO ONE FLANKING DROP BACK DROP BACK, LINK, OHS$#^ “COHL! VARNIRO! TO US!”

“YES SIRRR!”

“L- Link-“

Oh s$%^ did I give the game away

“Hhh-hh-“

I didn’t call Huiru-

“hhh-hh- kh-h-“

play it play it Link “HUIRU, ON POINT!”

Not Liff not Daile want them to see his back see it, Reida, where is she? Look- Margil he has Terial they’re coming they’re coming slow though slow “COME OOONN!”

NO! “ANOTHER, ANOTHER!” She’s slowing, Link!! Help her, help, bicep- why is she?!

“Khh- HH- Hhhh!”

She’s not getting full AIR THEFIREBALL right behind us, missed usDAMMIT MARGIL TERIAL- “CIRCLE!!!”

“YES SIR!!”

Not good not good dividing dividing usEMBERS

“Hh- Ff- f- ff-“

and Varniro he’s slowing down he’s so next, it’s the burns, he’s painhurting, running, friction- “COME ON MAN STAY WITH US!”

“J- UST GO!”

My Goddess withEMBERSpain Zelda slowing too and it must hurt, the embers, her too, she's not crying out, but air, air, her and Terial can’t get enough

“Hh-tsss- sss- rr-”

Hylia SERIOUSLY?! You make your champion super strong but with fragile painlungs?! Are you fricking KIDDING me?! WHO DO I COMPLAIN TO ABOUT THIS?!

IF THE ANSWER IS THAT S$&^^Y GLOWER-PRIESTESS AND HER COPPER-INFUSED POOL TORTUREembersPAIN I WILL BE SO PISSED OFF BECAUSE I COUD EASILY IMAGINE MAYBE COPPERY STUFF BURNING IN THAT FIRE AND SCREWING HER UP I DON’T KNOW IS THAT A THING??!!

And why is Liff turning left, why? Daile- Daile, too- are they thinking to engage?!  “LIFF! DAILE! DON’T ENGAGE!”

“Ah-“ “Yes, sir!”

Good- goodpain- Huiru- turned more that way too-

And they’re still veering that wasn’t what they were thinking “HARD NORTH!”

“It’skhhh- Reida.“

Justpain loud enough for me to hear I’m not wrong, she’s thinking the same thing just nod, nod, Link-

“I can seehhh her- pulling west.”

They’re following her. Because they don’t knowembers not to trust her and they can’t TELLpain exactly which way is north can they and it’s RESHAPING OUR FORMATION “VEER RIGHT!”

YES, now theyFIREBALL!!!!! CLOSERCLOSER RUN RUN RUN RUN ZELDA FASTERHOTHOTTTTTT

“AHHhhHH! KH- HHH- hh!”

TOOCLOSE “You’re alright, you’re alright, I have you!” HAIR singed, Link, her hair- just- a little- and WE’RE OUT OF THE TREES lighter sky lighter sky hope but we lost Varniro didn’t we? He was slowing slowing he’spain behind it somewhere dammit dammit dammit dammit where the hell is the fire coming from?

Oh my Goddess-

They’vecutthemoff DaileandLiff they’renotontheplain muststillbeintrees it’sjustusandCohlandtheSheikah pain becausewewerefaster andthewaytheyturned tacticalerrorLink youcould’veyankedherback behindthenextone’spath butnononono youcouldn’t- the FIRE incredibledangerfromthefireitself cuttingusoff playitcoolplayitcool canstillseethem stillseethem bladeright straight out everythingintotheblade theydon’tknow theydon’tknowwhatIcando do they? Andthey’renotlooking

“Sir?!”

COHL“SH-”NOW! HE ALMOST GAVE IT AWAY BUT HUIRU’S painBLOWN FORWARD AND HE KNOWS WE KNOW HE KNOWS LET GO OF ZELDA SO SHE CAN-

“Kh- hhh- hh! Hh- ah!”

“AaAAAHH! FF-“

Knee shot

“G- GGr!”

wait, did she mean to do th-

Cohl veering way off! I think I scared him sorry man I’ll explain later but REIDA’STURN doitagainpain doitagain makesureit’shertoo everythingintothesw- FIREBALL!!! DON’T YELL JUST PULL JUST GRAB HER FORWARD FORWARD OTHERWISEWE’RETRAPPED FIRE ANDWHATISTHAT HE’STHROWING GLINTINGGLINTING DODGE!

“AHH!”

Daggermissedmeasshole oh no I yankedherhardpain issheokay?

“PRINCESS!”

GuessCohlsaw, almostthere do I do this do I kill Huiru- redSMOKE!!

“LINK!”

PUSHHER, BACKFLIP, REIDA JUST LIKE VAYDEN JUST LIKE HIM YIGA THEY’RE YIGA HERSWORD’SSTUCKINTHEDIRT WHEREIJUSTWAS ZELDA’SPRONE DOITLINK GODDESSDON’THESITATE CAN I DO THIS CAN I

FIREBALL “ZELDA!!!”

“HH- hh!”

SCRAMBLING I HAVE HER “GO GO GO GO GO!”

 “NOOO- AAAHH! HHH- EEHHHH!” “AAAAAAAAHHHHHH! AAAAAAAAAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAA!”

Don’t listen don’t LISTEN don’t feel bad for them what's this face you're making, Link? They’re here to kill you both

“Khh-HH!  KHH.”

they deserve itpain and MORE FIRE- “ZELDA!”

“Ye- hs!”

Whereisit mustbeanotherlynel wasintrees? I have to engage it FLAMEsohot neartoonear she made it I have to killit it’ll drive us to the canyon

West- I go west! Let her go and SPRINT!

“NO, Link! We- khh- stay together!”

“I have to kill it!”

“WE shall kh- khill it!”

“You’re not well!”

“Dead- is worse!”

“EXACTLY!”

“We are mohre lhikely to KH-hh- prevail together!”

Goddess I hope that’s true because I see it coming out of painthe trees way far off its range must be incredible the fire!

It doesn’t look right what what what whatpain what white but not right doesn’t look right where’s its mane FIREBALL “BOTH RIGHT!”

“YES!”

We can’t split it’ll split us up if weHOT let it but she’s not as fast as usual I have to slow down again, don’t leave her- or- or- “To my right!”

“I- Uhhkh-nderstand!”

We slow we slow a little, it aims, we both speed, keep it easier, a little easier, but how smart are these things, will it catch on, and what’s that is something on its back?

Its-

“Link- Link, it’s- it’s-“

That eyebrow crease

I can hear it in her voice

What the hell, it’s a skeleton isn’t it, like the stalnox, the white is bone, it’s alreadypain dead how do you kill a Lynel that’s dead already?

Oh my- is it the same ONE?

Why is it-

Why would it be back?!

This creature is unknown to me, master.

FIREBALL“Move!”

“Ye- hs!”

It’s fine, it’s fine, we’re well past it, the way we were moving, but we’re getting paincloser on purpose and “I have no idea how to kill it! Fi, do I go for its head?!”

Severing it would be a prudent start, but the Princess is not-

“Link?”

“Yes!”

“There’skhhh- a man- on its back!”

"A man?"

.

Master—run!

---

Part 18 coming soon (I hope).

Follow this link to return to the chapter list.

Follow this link for my masterlist.

[kuregure]

spoilers ons chapter 138‼

okay I read the last chapter of seraph of the end and yeah, Guren is obviously not dead! it would have been too simple

of course, I panicked a little at first lmao but I'm okay 🤚

anyway let's go for some screens where I had things to say

Honestly, in this picture Mahiru scares me, look at her expression. But this image is quite powerful, I feel the vibes of Mahiru and Krul. Also, the fact that Krul turned Mahiru into a vampire 8 years ago and now the fact that Krul dies by Mahiru (and Ferid/Guren), is quite interesting. I wonder how they must feel you know.

Then we have a cool and dedicated Guren who makes it clear that he will keep that promise. I was very happy when I saw these two images. Despite all his suffering since cat16, having Krul turn his former crush into a vampire, he continues to keep the promise of bringing humanity back to life including Krul and her brother. He's been wanting to do it for 8 years so obviously he's going to keep this promise.

I hope he makes it and Krul and Ashera say "thanks" lmao, a little sweetness wouldn't hurt for the end!

THEN

THIS ☠☠☠

I'll be honest I raised my eyebrows seeing Mahiru say "sorry, we didn't promise anything". Like, bro wtf??? Guren just said he will keep their promise and you come and say you didn't promise anything?? please listen to him 🤨 idk, I think I need to sit down and think about all this to try to understand her maybe, but I was pretty pissed at Mahiru for that one.

I mean, maybe they didn't promise anything directly but implicitly, Guren wants to resurrect humanity including the dead vampires? so it's similar to a promise. I don't know, I need to reread because I may have forgotten things.

But given what Mahiru says next, I guess she's insinuating that she always did everything she did as what others wanted. Like, with Shikama Doji? The fact that she was being manipulated by him from the start and everything? If it's in that sense, I understand what she means 🤔 lmao I'm thinking at the same time as writing.

So she doesn't clearly say that she will keep this promise because she no longer wants to do things the way others want her to, maybe?

Okay I think I understand but still Guren wants to do it anyway for Krul and Ashera. Anyway, Guren continues to do things for others (because of his guilt and also because he is simply like that, putting the interests of others before his own hhhh) while Mahiru seems to try to detach herself from what others want. Mmh that’s interesting!

Then this. Guren literally looks dead inside, it pains me.

And obviously he doesn't respond to Ferid's joke which is pretty much the same as Noya's joke like 50 chapters ago lmao. bro doesn't have time to laugh, he's busy and in pain

Hmm do you think there will be a Ferid VS Guren/Mahiru fight??

Also, Guren does not seem surprised by Ferid's betrayal. If we can say that Ferid reveals that he betrayed his partner ofc, we will see that in the first chapter.

If there is a fight, I wonder how it will go and if there will be a winner? If there is a winner, who will win?

Oh and I'm quite disappointed not to have seen Kureto and Guren's friends. I miss them together 🤚😔

And also, rest in peace Krul. You will return with your brother as humans, don't worry. Guren is someone you can trust. ❤

[foxett]

What's the swingset AU. I am hellbent on this AU rn and like pls yap about the lore 🙏

Aha.... Buckle your seatbelts this will take a while. (TW for mentions of s*icide, s*lf h*rm and death in general under the cut. Also omori spoilers. But that's probably to be expected)

Swingset was first an idea. Probably around early 2024??? I'm not sure but!!! I didn't actually plan to write anything about it until I got the idea for it and started writing the fic my last week of school (so it updates every wednesday)

The au itself... Hhhh yeah. Basically, the incident happens as normal, but Sunny doesn't have headspace and whitespace to slip into in his mind, and is fully aware the whole time Basil is doing the hanging and stuff or Mari. Sunny decides it's for the best and kills himself, hanging himself on the same tree Mari was already hanging on only like. Minutes later. (First chapter). Basil leaves before Sunny does that so he doesn't know it happens.

The rest of the gang (+ Basil is dragged along) and they find Mari and Sunny!!!! Yay!!! (Sarcastic yay) Anyways in short they react badly but Kel probably has it the worst because he's a little delulu in this au. Basil is close behind tho.

Kel twists the incident to Mari and Sunny making a swing and. Yeah. Au name!!! He also makes up fake versions of Sunny and Mari (and also everyone else, because the group fell apart) to hang out with. In other words, Kel needs a schizophrenia diagnosis. Everyone copes horribly (Basil. Well. Self harms. And generally is probably going insane.) (Hero bedrots like in canon but longer) (Aubrey bullies Basil at first but they make up and form a sorta sibling bond!) (not gonna spoil the exact thing but Aubrey will be traumatized further)

There's!!! A lot of stuff going on. Kel has all his fake friends (before the group reunited because of a certain incident!) - and also ghost Sunny and Mari (who age like ghost Mari does in canon because i said so) exist but they're not too important outside of the good ending.

I don't keep count but i think there's a total of 8 something's total. Canon something (Mari something, Maris hanging body), Sunny something (Sunny's hanging body), canon something (Mari at the bottom of the stairs, Basil's something), Noosething (Basil's extra au something (tying the noose which leads to Sunny's own suicide), Basil something (Aubrey's extra something. Not spoiling it for now...), Kel something (bad ending) and hero's very hd quality something's (he looked at the bodies too long ig)

Everyone has the sunny and mari somethings. Basil has 4 total. Hero and Aubrey have 3 (sunny, mari, their own bonus) Kel repressed his two but they still show up in the shadows sometimes :)

Basil is. Where do i start. He actually is completely delusional. Completely. More than Kel kinda. He also hears voices. He almost kills someone trying to kill himself (spoilers), and overall almost kills himself like. At least thrice. He doesn't take care of himself. At least Aubrey's there to help!

On a sorta wholesome note, everyone gets their hair dyed!! They do it to 'help' Kel to snap out of his delusions (it makes it worse) (kel does snap out of it at some point! But it might just be too late for it by then :) )

For the fic itself it's 11k ish words and 4 chapters at the moment.???? I have 20 chapters planned total plus two bonus ones so. Ouch. that's gonna be fun to write. I take the au itself seriously but the extra drawings i do for it... Ehhh not so much.

I have this gem of a doodle (vision basil and real basil) i frankly don't remember when i drew this. I probably was half asleep and it was like 2 am.

I plan to rework the old reference sheets i have and hopefully do the fifth chapter today and tomorrow! I don't actually wanna spoil much but definitely keep an eye out for some post!!!

Yippie! Read below ↓

mind the warnings (although since you made it this far, you probably don't care!!)

[theangrykimchi]

13 for the ask 💕

Hhhh I had to stop myself from making an entire one shot of this but Thor grabbing any chance he gets to kiss his brubber bc he loves him <i>so much</i> is such a soft thought 🥹 thank you for the prompt! I hope you'll like what I came up with 🥰

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1.

The weather was wonderful today and Thor had itched to get out since he woke up. So he rounded up his brother and his friends at breakfast and suggested they all go out on a small camping trip. Not too far. Just a couple hours to the east, where the mountains rise high and evergreen.

Loki grumbled a little, tried to get out of it, saying he had a lot of Prince-related stuff to do but Thor persisted and in the end his brother gave in with a tired sigh. Thor looked all around him, at his friends looking at their breakfast, discussing with each other, flirting with the servants and, at a moment he knew all of them to be distracted, held Loki's hand in his and raised it to his lips.

"Thank you," he murmured against soft skin, Loki's hand gripping Thor's for a moment before he slowly pulled away.

2.

Thor's and Loki's horses always had neighbouring pens. The wooden wall separating them had been replaced with a low fence long ago since they both got frustrated when they couldn't see each other. They had been raised together, Tordenvær and Skjult, just like their respective owners and sometimes it seemed like each other was the only company they needed.

As Thor readied Tordenvær, the red quilt looking rich and soft over her silky caramel coat, she bumped his side with her head before reaching over the low fence to where Loki was readying Skjult, vying for the bag hitched around his hips where she knew he kept their treats.

"You already got one. You'll have to be patient, dear," he laughed, taking a moment to scratch her nose before returning back to securing the black saddle over Skjult's deep green quilt.

"I don't blame her. You always have the best treats," Thor said, looking at his brother as he finally succumbed to Tordenvær's pleading and retrieved two treats from his bag, one for each horse.

"I just make sure I got wells of incentives for when they get stroppy."

Thor laughed.

"You mean when <i>Skjult</i> gets stroppy. Tordenvær is the best little girl."

Now it was Loki's turn to laugh.

"I do apologise, I obviously meant when Skjult gets stroppy and Tordenvær starts acting like a bullhead." With a smirk towards Thor, Loki added: "Just like her person."

Thor smiled and bit his lip—Loki looked gorgeous like this; in his dark riding leathers and his eyes sparkling with mischief. He looked around. The doors of the pens were both open and directly across him was Hogun, who was readying his own horse. Steps were coming down the narrow corridor and this all was very risky but…

Thor reached over the fence and pulled Loki towards him, giving him a quick kiss on the lips before pulling back. Fandral poked his head inside, looking at Thor first, before his eyes settled on Loki who looked surprised and was still half-leaning over the fence.

"Hey, Thor, Loki. Leli and I will be outside," he said, his expression doing something funny before returning back to its usual amiable daftness.

3.

They've been riding for more than an hour now, through open fields and under the Asgardian spring sun and even though he was just beside him, Thor felt as if he missed his brother.

They had fallen a little behind, the two of them, discussing softly and taking well-meaning jabs at each other, the rest of their party a good few yards in front of them. Sif was bickering with Fandral and Volstagg was laughing loudly at their back and forth while Hogun stayed silent but no less amused.

The itch in Thor's heart grew and grew until he couldn't take it any more and he led Tordenvær closer to Skjult's side. Wrapping a hand around Loki's forearm, he pulled him close, catching his lips as soon as Loki's head was turned towards him. It wasn't as easy to kiss while they were both on top of different horses, but their cantering was nearly synchronised, so it wasn't much of a hindrance.

Loki's lips were a bit chapped, a light sheen of clean sweat clung on his upper lip, but he still tasted like the sweets he'd been eating earlier, like brother and affection, and Thor would have continued kissing him if not for a loud guffaw breaking through their spell. Loki's gloved hand grabbed Thor's, still on his forearm. He pulled back, correcting his stance on the horse and looked at Thor half-scoldingly.

"What's got into you today, fool? Do you want them to find out?"

"Let them find out, I don't care."

Thor pulled him back into another quick kiss before he leaned back and away.

When he checked, their friends were still caught in Sif and Fandral's flirty bickering. They continued their journey to the east in silence, Loki looking at Thor in consideration before he reached out, took Thor's hand in his and kissed the palm of it tenderly. They didn't stop holding hands until they reached their destination an hour later.

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Read on AO3

[caelanglang]

AH POOKIE HONEY SWEETHEART u scared me when u were gone i hope u got the epicest rest there is fr??? anyways you can chillax as much as u want btw you dont need to rush or anything and now im estatic

omgg I’m sorry for worrying you ><;; the rest was helpful! thank you for worrying <3 dw I’m doing my best to manage everything! I hope things are going well on your end too! tbh idk what to post first from my pile of accumulated stuffs hhhh x’D

[goodfully]

what another insane cliffhanger... my goodness, okay finished with the second book!!!! i just need to ramble a bit.

since i just finished it, i have thoughts on nino.. tbh i was quite fond of him initially but then he got increasingly unbearable haha the way he... says to lenu that since childhood he imagined a life where he, lenu, and lila would be together, and then.. uhm wow..! where the hell does he go! hahaha well maybe ill feel differently about him in the next book.

ngl tho, esp during that part with the elena/lila/nino drama, i was so stressed.. it just kept going!!! and kept feeling like so much!!!! wow. i had just kept thinking that theyd all best sit down and be honest with their feelings for each other and then form a poly relationship and run away together or something idk hahaha

okay i think one of my most favorite things about this book is how important every character feels. obviously we have lenu and lila, but like the rest of the cast?? they were not just some random childhood friends mentioned in the first book, they all are growing up too and are experiencing lives of their own. i think this book, more than in the first book, showed a lot of parent/child relationships, mm like how much we fear to become our parents.. to be inevitably trapped in the same fate as theirs. its in my mind a lot, about how much the things that happened to my own parents affect me. ahh elenas relationship with her mother.. despite how badly she wishes to not become like her mother, i think she does see her strength and her care for her... (oh god, like when she was sick and her mom comes out of nowhere?? and i think she was torn between feeling embarrassed by her and how capable her mother really was) oh and things like both antonio and ada becoming in different ways like their mother, stefano resembling don achille, lila fearing her son will be stupid, etc and ofc also just... the weight on all of their shoulders to.. hurry up and grow up? ahh. ///tw death tw suicide/// for the peluso siblings to witness their father be literally dragged out their house in front of them for allegedly murdering another man, hearing about his death in prison, busting the door down and seeing their mother hang herself. for the cappuccio siblings to only have their mother, who needed her children to care of her and her mental state more than she could take care of them. hhhh

that reminds me, the whole book i was hoping for more enzo content hahaha we really barely know anything about him at this point but i adore him. and he is there now! altho i wonder how much more we'll hear of him in the next books.

oh yeah, lila talking crazily about educating all the children to make a change starting with their generation... just like me for real... this is pretty much the main reason i studied early education hahaha its silly now when i think about it, but i used to feel like my skull was breaking from how much i felt i needed to find a way to take care and educate of all the children in the world in order to make some sort of difference... to find a way to get every single child to experience love and care from a loving and caring family... god. anyway i mean i still do believe that taking care of and educating the young ppl of our generation can change the world somehow, but it was just rather.. sad? seeing lila go crazy about her son and her very real fear for her son, that he might become like her and her family, unable to escape violence and poverty.

all this talk about a book centered on elena and not a single word about lenu yet ahhh my bad! oh i want to talk about her years at the university, and... gosh. just knowing you just lack something that your classmates from a rich family and background have that youll never have... even tho she quite literally graduated with top scores, she never felt fully capable? never felt enough? the need to work so hard to suppress herself in order to be okay in that city?? aghfh

alright, the ending! with her realizing that her novel (that she described as something that was truly hers to pietro) was basically born out of and deeply connected to lilas blue fairy book... god!!!!! what the hell!!!!! my goodness. she quite literally describes how theyre soulmates, how theyre connected by an invisible thread, how much they mustnt lose each other anymore. and when they finally met again and she finally realizes that "in the world there is nothing to win, that her life was full of varied and foolish adventures as much as mine, and that time simply slipped away without any meaning, and it was good just to see each other so often to hear the mad sound of the brain of one echo in the mad sound of the brain of the other." sobs. i think throughout most of the book, i so desperately wanted the two of them to just... be okay and stop being in constant war with themselves for each other.. but anyway wow, even tho for this second book the two of them arent with each other most of the time, the way their relationship is so hhhhh described so well and is always relevant, its so real wow its so real.

okay done... mm i was thinking that lenu is probably the more relatable character, but i think i identify a lot more with lila? not really bc of her life or the way acts, but the way she thinks maybe? the way she feels about ppl? idk actually, but its probably affecting the way im reading the series. mm starting tmr i wont have as much time as i do now to read, but im hoping i get through the next two books before the end of next month at least!

[kuu-stuff]

Remnants of our memories part 1 - Review

It's time for me to work on ROOM again, and since it's been a few months, I have to re-read it to put myself in the ambiance again. So since I have a blog now, I'm gonna write it down for ... professionalism ! Here is is. ➵➵➵➵➵➵➵➵➵➵➵➵➵➵➵➵➵➵➵➵➵➵ Oh yeah, the comic is rated as mature now, right right... Personally, I wouldn't have, but Webtoons made me answer questions like "is there any mention of alcool ?" or "Are there swear words that are not censored ?" And of course "Is there any mention of self harm or suicide ?" so I was like ... I don't know what I will write so I will answer yes to all so I don't need to worry about it and BAM. Also I say that but yes it mention not only suicide throughout the whole series but also self harm because of Trout so .... well yeah .... Alright, moving on~ HHHHH this is so embarrassing to readddd. Even more so because I wrote that. Poor Faye, getting caught is the most vulnerable moment like that... But Trout had no information on where she could have been before that and he couldn't show up at the place she was living at because he hoped to stay unnoticed. Oooh he's so sad for her too. HHHH I'm so sorry for making you read this !!! Faye's there like "Okay weirdo, I'm gonna go somewhere else" but Trout is ready to attack ! >:0 Let's gooo ! Nooooo he was ready to give up. Well not exactly, but he felt like Faye wouldn't follow him, what makes him sad because he's used to be close to her, poor baby. In the restaurant Trout has the time to think and fully realize that he will die soon now. He knew it of course but he didn't yet had the time to settle the thought. Now all he has to do is to make sure Faye won't do it again, in case the same thing will happen again. Argh and Faye wanted someone to be there. So even if it's a stranger and it all seems shady to her, she still want to talk to him.

Surprisingly, I like the art. It's emotional enough and looks clean for something I drew as fast as possible, I think that most of it is direct sketch, I barely cleaned those. Oh I just remembered that I wanted to paint over some of those panels for some reason. I'm glad I gave up on the idea. Overall it makes me physically cringe to read but it is also very cute. I will read the rest of it tomorrow~

[coughdontfeelwellcough]

Sicktember - 'But if you stay, you'll get sick too."

Fandom: my ocs Sophie and Casper.

Words: 2116

Author's notes: Final part of the trilogy with these two. I really enjoyed writting these characters so I think they'll make a return in the future. I hope you've enjoyed them :)

Part one, part two

Rain hammered against the window, a storm had been raging for hours but it wasn’t the sound of the wind howling that woke Capser. He rolled over in bed, coughing harshly. He’d gone to bed feeling a bit run down and tired only to be woken up with a cough and fever. He shivered, pulling his duvet up around his ears, his throat felt like he’d swallowed knives and he couldn’t breathe through his nose. He knew the flu had been doing the rounds and he’d meant to get his flu shot but Christmas was a busy time for the bookshop and he’d forgotten about it. Now he was regretting it, along with every decision he’d ever made that led him to this moment. 

“hh..HHh-HGHT-Hew… hh..HH…HHhh-HGHHST-Hhw…Ew…” Casper sneezed into his cover and sniffled thickly.

He thought about trying to go back to sleep but his body had other ideas, forcing him to sit up as he coughed productively into his sleeve. He groaned, his head felt like it weighed a thousand pounds and his joints ached like an old mans, still he forced himself out of bed. Pulling his blanket with him, Casper stumbled to the sofa in search of his phone and for the first time ever he called in sick. Mr Ludwig was a good boss and even asked if Casper needed anything before telling him to get some rest and they’d speak when he felt better. Casper then too tired to crawl back to bed, curled up on the sofa still coughing and tried to sleep.

Sophie opened Wildcraft as usual, serving her normal batch of early morning customers and noting Capser wasn’t among them. They’d grown a little closer since the laryngitis incident and Sophie found she looked forward to their daily conversations.  As the clock ticked on she started to feel anxious, Casper wasn’t normally one to be late and she kicked herself for never bothering to get his number.

She tried to continue as normal though when the clock struck eleven, a full two hours after The Nook would usually open its doors and no one appeared, she decided she couldn’t ignore it anymore. 

Sophie put the ‘back in ten minutes’ sign in the window and started the walk to Capser’s flat. There was a alleyway to the right of the chinese restaurant that led to a set of stairs and then a door, Sophie could only assume it was Casper’s. She knocked at the door and waited. A few minutes passed but no one came. 

“Casper? Casper, it’s Sophie,” she knocked again, a little louder. 

There was a shuffling behind the door before it opened a crack and Casper peaked out. Even through the gap she could see he was ill, he was pale, eyes glassy with fever and his nose and cheeks were flushed.

“Soph? What’re doi’g here?” His voice was so stuffy it was almost inaudible. 

“I came to check on you and Jesus, you sound awful.”

“Thigk it’s the flu..” he had to stop to cough productively into his arm, thick and chesty. 

“No kidding, can I get you anything?” she asked. 

“I… hhHHHHH-HTGHHT-HWW… HH..hhhHH-HGZZHT-HHWW..” He sneezed harshly and shivered miserably, clutching his blanket around his shoulders.

“What I am doing letting you stand here? Go sit down before you get any worse.” 

Casper considered her for a moment, debating whether to let the almost stranger in his flat before shrugging and shuffling back to the sofa. 

Sophie followed, closing the door behind them. Casper’s flat was small but inviting, it had a little kitchen diner with one chair at a table, a bigger living room with a large sofa and a hallway which no doubt led to the bathroom and bedroom. He collapsed onto the sofa with a stuffy groan, wrapping his blanket around himself. 

“Sorry about the mess,” he croaked. 

“No, no, don’t worry about it. I’m the way who invited myself over… Sorry about that, I just got worried when you didn’t show up for work.” 

“Called in sick, first time ever. Feel like ‘m dying.. hhHHhhH-HTGZH-TSHH… HTGZHH-TSGHH… uuHUH-TISSHHEW…” Casper sneezed wetly into his sleeve which triggered a coughing fit, forcing him to upright as harsh coughs tore through his chest. 

“Oh you poor thing,” Sophie sat beside him, patting his back as he struggled to calm his breathing. 

“Well, that hurt,” Casper rasped, pushing his sweaty hair out his face. He looked so pitiful that Sophie’s heart went out to him. 

“Can I get you anything? Tea, soup, medicine?” she asked. 

“I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me.” 

“Too late for that, I’m already worried about you. No offence Cas but you sound like death.” 

Casper raised a tiny smile and coughed lightly into his fist. “Some tea would be wonderful.” 

“Okay, just try not to die while I’m gone.” 

It took a few minutes to locate everything she needed in Casper’s kitchen but she managed to make the tea. She’d used the largest mug she could fit, it was shaped like a dinosaur with the words ‘Tea-Rex’ on the side. 

“You found my favourite cup,” Casper croaked as she passed it to him. 

“Well, it was definitely the best one in the cupboard.” 

“Thank you Sophie, for everything but if you stay, you’ll get sick.” 

“Don’t worry about that, I should be getting back to the bakery anyway. I just want to make sure you weren’t dying.” 

“Not dying, just sick.”

“Are you sure you don’t need anything else?” she asked. 

Casper shook his head, sniffling. “I think I just need to sleep it off.” 

After an extra five minutes they’d exchanged numbers and Sophie was on her way back to the bakery, a queue of people had assembled outside and she had to make some lie about needing more coffee. 

For the rest of the day Sophie couldn’t get the sick man out of her head, she tried texting him at lunch time to see if he was awake but got no reply. Hopefully that meant he was sleeping. Though when the time finally came to turn the sign to closed and lock the door she still hadn’t heard from Casper. She’d tried texting him a few more times but it all came to nothing, she even tried calling but it just went to voicemail. 

Now it felt like something was definitely wrong. When she’d left him he’d taken no medicine and god knows the last time he’d eaten. The anxiety washed over her and before she knew it Sophie was out the door and on her back to Casper’s. 

When Casper woke up he somehow felt worse. It was like all his symptoms had ganged up on him. He’d fallen asleep on the sofa not long after Sophie had left, hoping it would make him feel better. Seemed he’d been wrong. His head swam as he pushed himself up and coughed miserably into his fist. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so ill, probably when he’d had pneumonia in college and his mum had forced him to go anyway. He’d ended up spending nearly two weeks in the hospital. 

“hhHH-HTSHH-UHW… HHhhHSH-UGHHW…” Casper sneezed and reached for a box of tissues he could not remember buying. In fact his coffee table was filled with medicine that was definitely not there earlier. It was only after blowing his nose he realised that his kitchen light was on and despite the stuffiness in his ears he could hear singing. Casper dragged himself to his feet, pulling his blankets tightly around his shoulders and trudged toward the light. 

Sophie was standing in his kitchen, a pot on the stove boiling as she chopped up some veg. She hadn’t heard him approach and may not have done if he hadn’t started hacking up a lung. 

Sophie was at his side in a second, helping him over to a chair as he continued coughing, each one feeling like it was coming from the very bottom of his lungs. 

“Shh, just breathe. I’ve got you.” She fetched him a glass of water and patted his back until he was finally able to breathe though his chest felt like it was on fire. 

“Oh honey, you’re so sick aren’t you,” Sophie stroked the sweaty hair from his forehead, feeling his fever. 

“No offence but what are you doing here?” he asked, trying not to lean into her cool touch. 

“Sorry, sorry I keep barging in like this. It’s just I texted you to check you were okay and when you didn’t reply I came over. I knocked but the door was unlocked, you must have forgotten to lock it after I left and you just looked so miserable I thought I’d get you some things. I hope that’s okay..” 

She was rambling but Casper found himself smiling. “So you broke into my flat to make me soup and give me medicine?” 

“Hey, it’s not breaking in if the doors are unlocked!” 

Casper chuckled, coughing lightly into his fist. “Thank you Sophie, this is all very kind of you. No one’s ever bothered to take care of me like this before.” 

“What, never? Not even like your mum?” 

Casper shook his head and sneezed miserably into his elbow. “hhHHISH-THEWW… hhUUHHS-GSHTTW…” 

“Bless you,” Sophie passed him a pack of tissues and he blew his nose though he did little to clear his congestion. 

“And no, my mum sucks. She made me go to school even when I had pneumonia, she only relented when I passed out and ended up in the hospital.” 

“Jesus Casper, that’s terrible. I’m glad I’m not the only one in the mum sucks club though,” 

“Oh, you too?” 

Sophie nodded, turning the soup off before it boiled over everywhere. “Mine fucked off when I was four, turns out raising a kid was putting a damper on her partying.” 

“Oh shit..” Casper cleared his throat, coughing a little. “Sorry Soph,”

“It’s okay, it was a long time ago. Now how about I get you some soup? I bet you haven’t eaten today.” 

It turned out that as well as being a great baker Sophie was also an excellent cook. The chicken noodle soup was delicious, it helped clear his sinuses and sooth his raw throat.  

“That was so good, I can’t thank you enough,” Casper said, running a hand over his nose. The heat from the soup had made his nose run. 

“You’re welcome. How are you feeling now? Because you’re still looking very pale and clammy.”

“Okay, but kinda hot and sweaty,” he replied. 

“Is it okay if I take your temperature?” she asked. 

Casper nodded, coughing into his elbow. He expected her to get a thermometer but instead he felt her cool hand on his forehead again then his neck and finally his cheek. It took all his strength not to lean into her. 

“You’re still burning up, let’s get back to the sofa and some medicine in you.” 

Casper let himself be guided back to the sofa, curling up in his pile of blankets as Sophie poured him doses from various bottles. 

“Sophie, can I ask you a question?” Casper asked as she passed him a cup of medicine. She had one for everything, his cough, his fever and even one to help him sleep. 

“Sure.”

“Why are you being so nice to me? You barely know me.” 

Sophie sighed, sitting down beside him. “Maybe because in the last two years I look forward to seeing you every day, you’re one of the few people in my life that seems to care about me and isn’t just making small talk waiting for their next train. Because maybe I want to be your friend or maybe more than that? I guess I want to figure that out, if you do.” 

Casper’s heart was in his throat, it felt everything in his life had led up to his moment and he was too sick to properly enjoy it. 

“Sophie, you’ve been the best part of my day for two whole years and… hhHH-SGXHT-uhh.. hi..hii-HITX… Ew sorry, I just mean it would be an honour to be your friend or maybe something more.” 

Sophie leant over and kissed the top of his head, bringing him in for a hug. “I might like you and all but if you give me this flu I will kill you.” 

“It would have been worth it.” 

Sophie laughed and kissed his forehead, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. It certainly the meet-cute that either of them had imagined and it wouldn’t be the story they’d tell their grandchildren, if they ever got that far but it was the start of something, maybe, hopefully. 

[spacedoutwitch]

So, uh... Yeah, this year's round of Art of August is not off to... the best start? On August first, drawing was a Bad Idea, and on August second and third, Art Fight was about to end, and I prioritized finishing my revenges for that, since the deadline was so much closer. My arm didn't feel too bad after the fact; like, it wasn't great, but it seemed like not drawing for maybe the rest of that day or the day after that at most would be fine. But it is not fine. It has improved barely, if at all, and just scribbling this out made it worse. So now I'm five days into August with no art for any of my FFM stories. Which.... hhhh..... Fingers crossed that things improve soon enough for me to catch up somehow? But if I'm not able to make significant progress, by, like, the tenth, or something, then this round of art may need to be delayed. Not cancelled! I don't wanna do that! But like, delayed until October, or something to that effect. Which maybe means Art Fight stuff will go here in the interim? Might make more sense, since people usually upload that stuff during or soon after the event... But hopefully I can catch up!! I'd much rather do that! Fingers crossed!!