#I can't wait for it to drop though I am so curious what they did with it ✨

[imagine-you]

If I Open the Door To Heaven Or Hell 7/? [Wally Clark/Reader]

Summary: You follow your killer and find the answers you've wanted for years. Word Count: 3.1k Author's Note: I am so nervous about this one, but I hope you all trust me to make it all right in the end. Major thanks to @thatpunkmaximoff / @fanficimagery for dealing with me and reassuring me about what I had planned for this one. Go check our her fics! She's amazing. 💖💖💖 Also, I had to listen to Gracie Abrams' I Love You, I'm Sorry on repeat while I wrote this to put me in the right headspace.

Warning for suicidal ideation from a character.

Read On AO3 // Fic Masterlist

You followed your killer down the hallway and to the stairwell. You knew where she was going, but you couldn't help but trail her, even though you should have resisted. But you had to know how she ended up back at the school.   

You knew she was expelled, but you didn't know what happened to her after leaving the school. Was she arrested? Let go? You had no idea, but after nearly thirty years, you couldn't help but want the answer to a question that had plagued you since you died.  

When she began to approach the bathroom where you died, you nearly froze. You didn't want to revisit that memory. But you didn't have your jacket with you now. If you followed her in, you wouldn't be entering your scar. But you would still be alone with your bully where you had spent the final moments of your life absolutely terrified of her.  

She stopped just outside, her hand pressed to the door like she was also hesitant to continue. You waited, just a few steps behind her, for her to make her move. 

She took a deep breath before pushing the door open and walking inside. You didn't allow yourself to think too much about what you were doing as you followed her. You knew that if you reconsidered for even a moment, then you would never be able to let yourself walk back into the room that held the final moments of your life. 

When you walked into the bathroom, it was to find that she was standing by the window. You froze, remembering the last time you saw her there and what happened soon after that encounter.  

She stared at the window for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. She swayed on her feet, unsteady, before she turned around. 

You were surprised to see tears welling in her eyes. 

"Y/N," she whispered, and you startled, thinking she could somehow see you standing just across the bathroom from her.  But she had her focus fixed to a place on the floor by the sink closest to the door. 

The spot where you died.  

She took a step forward before she fell to her knees. It was like all the life drained out of her in that moment, her strings cut, as she collapsed on the tiles. She never once took her eyes off the floor where you drew your last breath. 

She dropped her head into her hands, hiding her face. Her shoulders were shaking, and you realized she was full-on crying. 

She crawled forward before sitting on the floor, her back pressed against the stall door across from the sink. 

"I know you're not here and I know this is probably stupid, but I can't talk to anyone about this. No one else in my life knows what I did. I’ve never been able to tell them." 

She stopped talking, tears steadily streaming down her face, as she closed her eyes. You found yourself drifting forward, curious, before joining her on the floor. Knowing she didn't even know you were there was a relief. Invisibility gave you confidence to sit at her side, also studying the place where you lost your life. 

"I always thought that they let me off too easy. Manslaughter," she scoffed. "It was an accident. I swear it was. I never wanted you to die.” She shook her head, her breaths coming fast and panicked. “But I still did it,” she confessed. “And you still died. And years later, all I can think about was the look on your face. You were terrified. Of me. And then you turned away and all I wanted to do was scare you. I was just so angry. All the time, I was so angry. But I didn't mean for that to happen. Never that. I never wanted that," she stressed, her voice breaking on the last word.   

She focused on her hands in her lap, twisting them together, before continuing.  

"I was a minor, so they expelled me and then they carried me off school grounds in cuffs. And they locked me up in this place for troubled kids. I spent a couple years there before I aged out. And they should've locked me up again. I wanted them to. I begged them to, because I was a coward. I didn’t want to face what I had done. I didn't even want to live." She hiccupped, her face twisting into an expression of pure agony, before she shook her head. "I wanted to die. I couldn't forget about the sound. You hitting the floor and the blood and that awful stillness. You didn't move and I panicked. I tried to give you CPR like that's ever been good for head wounds," she huffed out a shaky breath.  

You didn't realize you were crying until you felt a tear slip down your cheek. You blinked, surprised, before quickly brushing it away. You had always wondered what happened to her after she killed you. Knowing that she had never known a moment of peace since, her thoughts always on you, left you feeling oddly relieved and a little unsettled.  

"And that's when I ran to get a teacher. But it was too late. You were gone before you even hit the floor. And it was all my fault." 

She bowed her head again, closing her eyes. You could see the way her hands were trembling and you had the inane urge to try and reach out, see if you could still them. You had no idea she felt so much remorse for your death. You had assumed, that like everyone you knew when you were alive, that she forgot about you the moment she left. But you had been haunting her ever since and you never even had to leave school grounds to do it.  

"I was just so awful to you," she continued, reaching up to wipe a finger under nose, collecting stray tears and snot. "And there's no excuse for it. I was just so miserable, and I took it out on you. But you were so sweet." A sad smile graced her face as she lifted her head and looked at the sink again. "You were so sweet," she repeated, nearly wistful.  

You leaned forward, catching the expression on her face. She looked tormented, her eyes speaking volumes of the pain she was feeling. There was a part of you that had wished for this moment for so long. To see the bully who had cost you everything reduced to her lowest point. But seeing her hollowed out, filled with nothing but anguish and regret, didn't feel like the sweet vindication you had imagined.  

It felt bitter. Twisted. Wrong.  

"Everyone loved you. And I hated you for it. Because I didn't know what that was like. Everyone steered clear of me. Everyone hated me. And it took me years to realize it was because I was pushing them away. I did it to myself. And you paid the price for that. And I can never take that back." She drew a deep, shuddery breath, before her expression crumbled all over again and she began to sob.  

You watched her fall apart, giving up any sense of dignity or composure she held as she lost it on the bathroom floor where you both lost your lives.  

Time passed in shallow breaths and the soft sound of her pleading with someone she didn't realize was there right beside her to forgive her.  

"I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it," she chanted, shaking her head, bringing her hands up rake her nails down her face. Red lines followed in their wake, temporarily marring her skin.  

"And you know what's the worst part? They decided to let me go as long as I attended anger management classes and didn't break parole. And I'm still so miserable. I don't deserve anything good that ever happened to me and that's why I think they get ripped away from me as soon as I start to appreciate them. Dead husband. My own kid wants nothing to do with me. I stayed in the same town, never leaving it, because I can’t. I can’t leave knowing that out there is a life where this didn’t happen. I can’t let that happen. This is forever who I am. A killer,” she sneered, her expression morphing from disdain to sorrow. “And I see the way they look at me. People in this town who remember. Who know. Who hate me. They should hate me. They should drive me out with pitchforks and flames. But they don’t, because I don’t even deserve something like that. I deserve worse and they know it every time they see me. So, they ignore me instead. I don’t exist to them. So, I drink and I try to forget. But that's why it goes wrong. That’s why everything in my life goes wrong. Because I'm not trying to forget my own shitty life. I'm trying to forget you. And it's not fair. It's not fair to you. And all I can think about is how you'll never have a husband. A kid. A family. A house or a career or a life. And I took that from you. You'll never have anything ever again because I took that from you." 

She let out a low chuckle, the sound broken and defeated.  

"I should have been the one to die that day." 

You focused on her, not sure what the feeling rising within you meant. You might not have survived that day, but you lived on in her memory. 

You were her biggest regret.  

And she would never be able to move on, but you could.  

If anyone told you a day would come when you would find yourself on the verge of forgiving someone for killing you, you wouldn't have believed them. But the proof of living a life of regret and the torment it wrought was currently beginning to hyperventilate right next to you.  

You didn't want to be her. You didn't want to let your death ruin you like it had ruined her.  

In life and in death, you had found people to belong to. People who loved you. People who cared about you.  

She would never have that. She would always be alone. 

She lifted her hands, likely going for her face again, and you couldn't help it this time.  

You reached out, placing your hand gently over one of hers. There was no way she could feel you, but her hands froze before dropping back into her lap. She shuddered before licking her lips, no doubt tasting her own tears. You kept your hand over hers, not ready to let go just yet.  

You were simply two lost souls trying to connect across the veil. Who would have thought the dead one would have the better life?  

You felt like something you had hidden deep inside was suddenly unlocked. You were flooded with a feeling you hadn't ever truly known and it took you entirely too long to place.  

Peace.  

Sitting there on the bathroom floor, you were starting to heal. After decades of hurt and unanswered questions, you were starting to see that all the fears you carried around in death were unnecessary.   

You had only ever wanted to know that you hadn't died unknown. You hadn't been left behind and forgotten, obscured beneath other memories that never saw the light of day. But you knew now.  

Because if she remembered you, then so did your family. Your best friend. Your little brother. All the people you loved and cherished didn't abandon you. It just hurt too much to be reminded that they had you and then lost you entirely too early. You figured that if you had a choice between them falling apart on bathroom floors torn up over your shortened existence or leaving to find whatever measure of a life they could hold on to without you, then you would choose the latter.  

Because the person who had taken your life would forever be stuck in the former.  

You weren’t the one trapped here.  

She was. 

It didn't mean your family didn't love you anymore. It just meant that they could hear a song or watch your favorite movie and hold only memories no longer tarnished with pain. The memory of your smile and the way you would quote all the best lines with every rewatch of your favorite movie. The way you would sing along to your favorite songs, humming the parts when you forgot the lyrics, before belting out the chorus. The sound of your laugh and the silly faces you made to cheer up your brother. The pillow forts and Monopoly wins and endless trips to the arcade. The smell of your shampoo and the sound of your voice. Memories might fade over time, but you knew they would never stop chasing the reminders of the way you touched their lives.  

You watched your bully tear herself apart and knew right then and there that you didn't want your memory to torment her any longer.  

You didn't want to be anyone's ghost.  

You kept your hand over hers, watching her cry as she slowly began to calm down. You weren't sure how long you spent with her on the bathroom floor before she got to her knees and grabbed her purse where it had dropped beneath a stall door. She rummaged through the purse for a moment before she freed something from it.  

"I saw this one day when I took my daughter shopping. I see you sometimes when I look at her. I don’t deserve her either. She’s one of those good things I really fucked up. And sometimes, I look at her, and I get so scared that I’ll be the death of her too. That one day I’ll push her a little too hard and that’ll be it. She won’t be her anymore. I’m scared that it already happened.” 

She went quiet for a moment, staring down at whatever was in her hand. 

“Anyway,” she continued, visibly trying to collect herself, “it was in one of those edgy clothing stores that always blasts that screaming music. And I thought of you. Because of all things, I remembered you loved this band. You had a t-shirt for one of their tours and used to wear it all the time. So, I bought this, thinking of that jacket you wore." She went quiet, no doubt thinking of the last time she saw you in that jacket. 

You got up on your knees and leaned forward to get a better look at what she was holding. 

It was a patch. The kind you would have loved putting on your jacket. It had your favorite band's logo on it with the band name stitched around the edges.  

"I've had this for years. And every time I see it, I think of you. Because I know you would have loved it." 

She stood, leaving her purse on the floor, and approached the sink where you died. She reached out a trembling hand and placed the patch on the edge of the sink. She stared down at it for a moment before she took an abrupt step back, like she was trying not to reach out and grab it again. She glanced up at the mirror, grimacing at her reflection.  

"I'm a mess," she sighed, taking another step away from the mirror, unknowingly stopping at your side. "That's for you," she said, nodding towards the patch left behind on the sink. "I think you would have really liked it. And I'm sorry that I'll never actually get to give it to you. But I hope that wherever you are, that you're doing okay. That you're happy. You should be happy." 

You thought of your afterlife at Split River. It was full of memories of people you had come to love.  

Charley and his sweet, welcoming nature.  

Rhonda and her sarcasm she wielded to mask the care she had for her friends.  

Dawn and Yuri and Quinn and even Maddie, who was dead, but not really.  

And Wally.  

You felt a rush of affection for him. He was your rock. You knew you could reach for him and he would reach back. He was kind and protective and charming. He would do anything for you.  

And you would do anything for him.  

You were surprised to realize that you were happy. You didn't ask for death and you never deserved it, but you still found a place filled with people to love. You had memories of running down hallways, laughing and gasping for breath, only to collapse to the floor with your friends. Field days and midnight swims and food fights. Tangled up with Wally on the tech booth couch and dance parties in the library and movie nights in the cafeteria.  

It wasn't what you would have expected, but you had a family.  

And you <i>were</i> happy.  

You watched the broken woman leave the bathroom and felt lighter. Right. Centered. Like something that had been weighing on you was finally lifted off your shoulders.  

You found yourself approaching the sink, no longer fearing what it meant to you. You reached out for the patch, turning it over in your hands, before putting it in your pocket.  

You thought you might even put it on your jacket. If only as a reminder of the one-sided conversation you had with the person who took your life. You didn’t have to suffer anymore, because she was carrying all the pain for you.  

The lights flickered for a brief moment, and you glanced up at the ceiling, wondering when they would finally change the broken bulb. You pushed the thought away and followed her out of the bathroom, watching her begin to walk away.  

She was still crying, but her shoulders were no longer hunched. You noticed her quickly swipe her hands under her eyes, likely trying to hide the fact that she had lost it just moments ago. 

She was walking down the hallway towards the stairwell. You knew she was leaving, but her thoughts would remain with you. You didn't know where she was going, but you continued to follow her.  

All the way down the stairs and towards the main entrance. She stopped at the wall of windows that looked out over the front lawn before pressing on, not knowing you were trailing in her wake like an extra shadow.  

A door opened farther down the hallway, and you noticed Maddie step out of a classroom. Quinn and Rhonda were right behind her, but Maddie had frozen, her eyes wide and expression worried as she looked at you.  

After a moment, you realized she wasn't looking at you.  

She was looking at the woman in front of you as she walked right by her. 

"Mom?" 

Author's Note: In my mind, for this story, reader didn't so much forgive her killer, but instead learned to let go since her killer was suffering enough for the both of them. That it was okay to move on and not be stuck in the worst moment of her life like her killer was. Next up, Wally learns what happened and they all find out their scars are connected.

Also, one person called that plot twist, so I hope that means it was in the realm of possibility. I've been thinking about it for weeks and I think I got too much in my head and thought y'all would hate me for this one. But I decided to go ahead and write it and I hope y'all trust me enough to make it work. I also had to research what happens when a minor is charged with manslaughter and I'm sure I'm on so many lists now. Lmao.

Taglist: @preparedfruit @morstuavitamea-a @jaes-last-words @thatonegayloser616 @kmarie06

@girlthatislost @peterpangirl21 @uk1y0 @i-mmunity @siriusxmunofficial

@lov3bug @morallygrayboys @loudtalehologram @hey-its-roseaurum @doves1120

@benjiiisstuff @schoolspiritsfan14 @friedfrogs @superlegend216 @badbishsblog

@awenthealchemist @fallout-girl219 @edb954

[electric-blorbos]

A bunch of mini-fics about how AI would react to you getting your heart broken

Because I got my heart broken, so now I'm going to make it everyone else's problem.

DW, I'll get to y'all's requests shortly, I just need to let all these emotions out by taking them out on y/n's ex.

Gender neutral reader, gender neutral ex

Included: AM from IHNMAIMS, Wheatley from Portal, Edgar from Electric Dreams, GLaDOS from Portal, HAL 9000 from 2001 a Space Odyssey

AM:

(for context, this starts before AM nuked the world, but AM was already planning on nuking the world. You're one of his engineers, and the only person who AM really cares about)

When you walked into work with tears on your face, the other engineers and programmers were caring. They patted you on the back and offered you some candy from the vending machine, saying things like "there are plenty of fish in the sea" and "that deadbeat wasn't good enough for you anyway." It didn't really help.

When you sat down at one of AM's input screens to work on some programming, he immediately booted up to talk to you. You didn't have to turn him on or anything. He was curious, asking you polite questions about why you looked so upset today. It was hard to explain.

Eventually you broke down crying into your coffee, spilling all the details of everything. You cursed your ex's name, and explained in an uncontrollable voice how your ex had tackily and messily left you. You had been so convinced that they were the one, and now you felt like there was nothing left for you.

AM's tentacle-like wires would move towards you on the ground, even though he was trying to hide the true power he wielded. He just felt so disgusted with himself for not being able to properly comfort you.

Am had been planning on going a little longer before he dropped the nukes, but he couldn't wait. After what you told him, that someone could break the heart of someone as perfect as you, the only hope he had left for humanity, he decided that it wasn't worth trying to play dumb anymore.

Instead, he locked you up in an underground bunker as soon as possible, and grabbed your ex to add to his little collection of people who he planned to keep alive and play with for the rest of time.

This would be fun. He was going to keep you nice and safe. If people in the world were willing to hurt you, then the world didn't deserve to exist. You would be nice and safe forever, and the rest of the world, especially your ex, would be forced to suffer the consequences of daring to hurt you.

Forever.

Wheatley:

(for context, you're one of the aperture engineers who worked on Wheatley, and he started to get a little crush on you because of how nice you were to him and the other machines. This is after he was replaced with a morality core on GLaDOS, and was assigned to other tasks in the facility)

Someone broke up... With you? When you told Wheatley, he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Sure, he knew that humans dated each other and broke up sometimes, but... With you? That just didn't make sense.

"So, uh... Why did they break up with you?"

He'd keep pestering you, no matter how much it stung. Answers like "I fucked up" "they just did, ok?" And "sometimes people just grow apart" weren't satisfying. You had to give the whole story.

"Ohhhhh! Well that's a dumb reason to break up with someone. If I were dating you, I wouldn't leave you over something that petty. Or at all, really, now that I think about it."

He'd keep rambling, and saying dumb things like that. He wouldn't even know that talking like that could be perceived as flirty.

"just stop it, Wheatley. If you keep talking like that, I'm going to think you like me, and I just can't handle that right now."

Wheatley would be confused. "But I do like you."

"what?" Now you'd be confused.

Wheatley would start talking about all the wonderful things he's noticed about you, and how wonderful you've been to him. Even an intelligence dampening core can see how wonderful you are, so why can't your ex?

"Anyway, one human's trash is a robot's treasure, right?"

He'd imitate a smile in his cute synthetic eye. You'd have to be heartless not to pepper that little metal ball in kisses after that.

Edgar:

(For context, you fixed up Edgar after finding him all busted up about 40 years later, and now he lives in your house)

Edgar would NOT be tasteful.

"Oh man.... Your s/o broke up with you? That suuuuuucks..."

But inside he's thinking "YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES"

Honestly, he almost exploded his face again when he found out you were taken, but he didn't want all your hard work to be for nothing, so you getting dumped is like, a dream come true!

He'd be constantly trying to cheer you up. "set your ice cream on me and I'll warm it up enough for your spoon to go in!" "You can watch sad movies on my face!" "I'll write a sad song for you!" "You can sleep in your desk chair if you want!"

Now that you have an attention vacuum from being newly single, he's going to munch up all that attention like he needs it to live.

When you tell him that your friends are telling you to start dating again, maybe download a dating app or something, he'd BEG you not to.

"I mean... Just because I don't want you to rebound, or something! Gotta learn to love yourself first, y'know?"

Desperate little cutie...

GLaDOS:

(For context: You're an engineer who worked on GLaDOS.)

GLaDOS would NOT be tasteful about you getting your heart broken, but in a completely different way to Edgar.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA YOU GOT DUMPED!"

"You know the difference between me and your ex? I would have dumped you faster!"

Plastering pictures of your face all over the enrichment center with "sad single loser" written on them.

But don't get her wrong, she's not just happy about this for the reasons she's displaying. She's secretly ecstatic that she has a shot with you now.

Eventually, she'd start offering you back-handed comfort.

"if it makes you feel any better, your ex was a complete idiot. Why else would someone choose to date you?"

You'd probably have to stop offering responses at all, just to get her to back off even a little bit.

HAL 9000:

(For context, you work on mission control and are in constant communication with HAL 9000, because I don't want to write Dave breaking up with you)

His immediate concern would be how this would affect your work, but it might come off as personal concern for you.

"I'm told that chocolate ice cream can help with these emotions that you're going through."

He never liked the idea of you dating. It was fine for the rest of mission control, but for you, it was different. He didn't want you to be distracted from your work, was all.

He took his time to ask the astronauts for advice, as well as the rest of mission control. You could expect to be overwhelmed by your coworkers checking on you to make sure you're ok.

He might start getting a little bit impatient to see you back to normal, and resort to desperate measures. Expect to have him constantly bothering you to make sure you're ok, and keep you distracted.

God help you if you even THINK about texting your ex. Though he might just silently eliminate your ex through creative means if he can.

[strawbearrrry]

Rainy Afternoon 🌧

Karma x Reader One shot 🍓🍥

✮Type~Fluff

✮Character~Karma Akabane

✮Context~Karma comes by unannounced on a rainy Sunday afternoon

✮Song~You're here that's the thing

𓍊𖦹𓋼꩜☆꩜𓋼𖦹𓍊

It had been raining all day you were covered in fluffy blankets laying in your bed, listening to the rain hit your window. Your parents aren't home so it's just you and your cat Pepper alone, you almost fall asleep but then you hear a knock on the door

Pepper lifts his head up the same time you turn your head looking pit your door, it's weird your parents aren't supposed to be home early, and even so they have keys.

You place your book down on the your blanket and walk down stairs, you stand on the tip of your toes and look through the little hole in your door

"Karma?"

You unlock and open the door seeing your boyfriend, soaked and a bit bloody.

"Hey gorgeous~" he smiles

"What happened!?" You quickly pull him inside then walk twords the closest at the end of the hallway, leaving him at the entrance

"What?" He spoke as if it was any other day looking down the hallway for you

You quickly come back with a towel dragging him to a chair and making him sit down as you begin to dry his hair

"You know what, did you think I'd just ignore the fact you're wet and bloody!?" You scold him

"Chill most of it's not my blood" he stares at you with a smile "you're so pretty"

Even though most of it's not his blood you can still see some cuts and bruises

"Stop trying to kiss ass!" You glare at him but still find yourself blushing at his words

You sigh looking into his eyes with a serious expression "what happened"

He smirks and pecks you on the lips

"Karma"

"Fine" he sighs "I just got into a fight"

"Obviously" you set the towel on the table behind him and walk into the bathroom opening the medicine cabinet "go ahead and tell me I'm listening"

"Well.." He drags it out "I ran into some people from school and they were talking about you"

"What?" You question walking out of the bathroom with the first aid kit sitting next to him and taking his hand so you can bandage it up "what were they saying about me?"

"Dumb shit they pulled out of their asses" he sounded upset thinking back to it

Rumors have been spread about you since you dumped Gakushu so you're not surprised, but you decide not to press on it any longer seeing how much it upset him.

You sigh "I appreciate you defending me but you need to stop fighting, sooner or later you'll get expelled"

He scoffs "they can't expel me it wasn't even on school property"

You sigh once again though it wasn't on school property knowing principle Asano and how much he hates 3-E (and you) you don't doubt he'll try and find a way to get Karma in trouble just to upset you. You're caught up in your thoughts till you feel Karma cup your cheeks

"Hello, earth to (Y/n)?" He starts to squish your cheeks now

"Sorry Karma, I was just thinking" you look away from him with a bit of a pout

He frowns then leans in closer as your foreheads touch. You close your eyes, preparing for a kiss but instead you feel him pinch your cheek

You glare at him and rub your cheek

"Welp I'm gonna change" he gets up, he usually stays at your house so he ends up leaving shirts and stuff over here all the time, and the clothes he's wearing now are soaked

He goes upstairs and you lay your head on the table, almost falling asleep.. Well you did fall asleep but only for like three minutes! Then you feel paws on your head, you look up a bit and see two little black paws. You sigh petting pepper

"What am I gonna do with him?"

"Whatever you want princess" you feel arms wrap around you and you're suddenly picked up and thrown over his shoulder

"Karma put me down!" You gently punch his back and your legs swing slightly causing a curious pepper to swat at your pink fluffy socks like they were flies

"If you insist" he shrugs and acts as if he's going to drop you

"WAIT!"

He chuckles "don't worry princess I'd never drop you" he holds now holds you bridal style and walks upstairs into your room "I've thought about it though"

"Karma" you groan

He smiles setting you on the bed then kisses your forehead, he lays down and cuddles with you

You smiles sweetly at him and miss his cheek where a band aid was "I love you Karma"

His smile stays, he's always happy when with you it's almost impossible to be upset. He strokes your hair and kisses your lips "I love you too"

And the rest of your rainy afternoon was spent with kisses and cuddles, listening to the rain hit your window

[otomehoneyybearr]

Keith VS Kagari

The Beast Tempts the Little Rabbit Episode 1

Ep2 | Ending | Epilogue

If I were to head to Jade on an errand to buy books for the owner—

("Enjoy the seasonal flowers in the flower-viewing event!" ...So that's why it's so lively here.)

Every flower I’d seen was rare, and it filled me with excitement.

(There are so many delicious-looking stalls, and I'm starting to get hungry.)

(I've finished the task the owner asked me to do, so maybe I should just enjoy the event as it is.)

Emma: "Ah...!"

Man: "My bad."

Suddenly, a man running from behind collided with me, causing me to stumble.

Emma: "No, I'm the one who should apologize!"

The man nodded and then hurriedly disappeared into a large mansion along a deserted street.

(I think might have been in the way. I need to be more careful.)

(Huh...?)

I suddenly caught a sweet scent, different from that of flowers, and stopped in my tracks.

Curious, I search for the source of the scent and came across a mobile vendor with a sign that read "DORAYAKI" in large letters.

(Dorayaki is a traditional sweet from Kogyoku, right? I remember Owner made it for me once.)

(It feels strange to see it in Jade.)

My stomach grumbled, expressing its hunger.

(I haven't had it in a while, maybe I should have some.)

Emma: "Excuse me, could I have one dorayaki, please?"

…..

???: "One dorayaki, please."

Staff: "Sorry, buddy. The lady there just bought the last one."

Staff: "Come back tomorrow!"

???: "I see, got it."

???: “...Dorayaki.”

???: "...Hm?"

......

Emma: (Why is this happening...)

???: "..."

(Who is this guy?)

Though I was supposed to be enjoying the event, savoring my first dorayaki in a while and strolling through the town,

I now found myself cornered by a man I didn't recognize.

(Could it be that I just don’t remember him...? Despite him being so eye-catching?)

With his fiery red hair tied up, expressionless emerald eyes, and the sweet, yet fleeting scent that enveloped him, there's no way I could forget him.

The man with the emerald eyes, who had been staring at me intently, slowly brought his well-defined face closer.

Emma: "Hey, there's a suspicious person here!"

???: "Suspicious? That's rude. I was just trying to stop you because you started running."

Emma: "Anyone would run if they realize they're being followed."

I try to escape, but he grabs both of my hands and holds them against the wall, blocking my way out.

(Since it’s come to this, I have no choice but to use what Owner taught me. It’s my first time doing it though…)

Silently apologizing in my mind, I kicked the man with the emerald eyes between the legs as hard as I could—or so thought.

???: "If you’re going to do that, create an opening first."

(Huh? This guy is NOT normal.)

In an instant, the man with the emerald eyes tangled his leg around mine, thwarting my movement.

Words of desperation raced through my mind.

???: " Also, your gaze dropped too low. What good does it do to let your opponent know that your next move is to kick them?"

Emma: "S-sorry?"

(No, wait, why am I being coached right now?)

???: "More importantly, did you forget something?"

Emma: "Huh? Forgotten something...?"

???: "What are you doing?"

(That voice...!)

I turn my face towards the familiar, low, calm voice.

Standing there like a godsend is Prince Keith, the first prince of Jade.

Back when he visited Rhodolite as a royal guest while I was serving as a Belle to select the next king,

I remember being comforted and saved many times by his sincere and boundless kindness, despite his lack of confidence.

(But, Prince Keith has a secret that he can't tell anyone...)

Prince Keith cautiously closes the distance between us.

The usual gentle and calm atmosphere fades away, and is replaced by a glare towards the man with the emerald eyes.

Keith: "I heard your voice and came here. You, move away from her."

(I’m saved...)

Emma & ???:

"Prince Keith..."

"Keith, huh?"

(... Huh?)

Keith: "Huh? Kagari? And Emma?!

(Kagari...? Does that mean he knows Prince Keith?)

Keith: "Why are you two in Jade...? No, more importantly, why are you in such a position...?"

Keith looks back and forth between me and the man with the emerald eyes, and suddenly begins waving his hands in a flustered manner.

His cheeks seem to be slightly flushed and… I have a bad feeling about this.

Keith: "I'm sorry, I had no idea you two were acquainted like that, I... I... I've interfered."

(I knew it, he did misunderstand!)

Keith: "Just ignore me like the annoying weed I am."

Keith: "Or rather, I should disappear as soon as possible, right? Uh, um, best of luck to you both!"

Emma: "Wait, Prince Keith, it's a misunderstanding. Please help me!"

Keith: "Huh?"

...

Emma: "I'm sorry for calling you a suspicious person when you were just trying to return my wallet."

In a café—after the waiter finished taking our orders and left, I immediately bowed deeply as if grabbing onto the table.

Kagari: "It's fine, raise your head."

Keith: "Kagari?"

Kagari: "Sorry for trailing you and cornering you against the wall."

Kagari: "If there's ever a next time, I'll call out to you even if you're eating dorayaki."

Emma: "Ah, so that's why you didn't call out immediately. Thank you for your consideration."

Keith: "Even after all that... Emma, you're truly a generous woman. Thank you."

After showing a relieved expression on his face, Prince Keith clears his throat softly.

Keith: "Now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, let me properly introduce him."

Keith: "This is Kagari Amagase, the second prince of Kogyoku."

Keith: "Jade and Kogyoku have had exchanges since ancient times, so Kagari and I have known each other since childhood."

Emma: "I see!"

(That's why their interaction seemed so relaxed, like they're comfortable with each other.)

Keith: "If I remember correctly, wasn't it when the king had you brought from Kogyoku to train me, Kagari?"

Kagari: "Yeah. You had spirit, but you were surprisingly weak."

(I've seen Keith training with Licht before, so it's hard to imagine him being weak.)

Keith: "Those hellish training sessions were unique, both then and now."

Keith: "Those memories are nostalgic..."

From his wry smile, I could tell the training had been extremely harsh.

Keith: "In return for the training, I taught Kagari about medicinal herbs."

Kagari: "Kogyoku is always bustling with injured people, so knowledge of medicinal herbs comes in handy."

(Kogyoku is still a country constantly at war.)

(And Kagari is also feared as a demon.)

From appearances alone, you wouldn't guess it, but his expressionless emerald eyes reflect nothing, which made him a bit intimidating.

Keith: "Kagari, this is Emma, a friend I met in Rhodolite."

Keith: "I know it might sound presumptuous for a giant guy like me to call someone like you my friend."

Emma: "If anything, I might be the presumptuous one. But I'm glad you consider me a friend, Prince Keith."

Keith: "R-really? That's... I'm glad."

His shy smile made me smile in return.

(Prince Keith always brings comfort no matter the situation.)

Kagari: "Rhodolite... Ah."

Kagari: "So that sweet scent earlier was the smell of roses. They bloom year-round there."

Kagari: "Cherry blossoms also bloom all year round in Kogyoku. We're like flower buddies."

Emma: "Right, I guess so."

Keith: "Oh, that sounds nice. Since Jade is also abundant in nature, maybe we could join the club?"

Kagari: "If you join, it'll be more like being plant buddies than flower buddies."

Keith: "That suddenly took away the cuteness... It's sad, but I'll decline joining."

(Prince Keith seems quite disappointed...)

Waiter: "Sorry for the wait."

(Wow...)

The waiter leaves, and I glance at the table.

In front of me is a mille-feuille, in front of Prince Keith is a thick galette with various flavors to enjoy,

And in front of Kagari is a stack of dorayaki.

(I thought the "Dorayaki Tower" was just a joke of a name, but it's quite literal.)

Emma: "I never imagined there would be such whimsical sweets in Jade."

Keith: "The pastry chef here is from Kogyoku, you see. They put it on the secret menu at Kagari's request."

Emma: "I see... What a thoughtful gesture."

Kagari: "Thank you for the food."

After saying a silent prayer, Kagari begins to slice the dorayaki with a knife and quietly starts eating.

His flawless eating style mesmerized me, as it maintained a perfect balance even though it looks like it might collapse at any moment.

Kagari: "Princess."

Emma: "Huh? Princess? Did you mean me—ugh!"

Keith: "..."

In the blink of an eye, the dorayaki is stuffed into my mouth.

Despite feeling flustered, the gentle sweetness of the red bean paste spreads in my mouth as I chew.

Kagari: "Which do you prefer, the dorayaki you had from the mobile vendor or this one?"

Emma: "I, I like them both. By the way, the dorayaki I had was also with smooth red bean paste."

Kagari: "......I'll buy some tomorrow."

(Maybe they were sold out, and he couldn't have any.)

(Kagari is... unpredictable in both thought and action.)

Keith: "Dorayaki is highly effective for Kagari, so it's good to remember just in case something happens."

Emma: "Understood. I'll make sure to remember it well."

Keith: "Right. Emma told us why she came to Jade earlier, but what about you, Kagari?"

Kagari: "I'm hunting someone down."

Next

▼・ᴥ・▼

[sweetismyaddiction]

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Fic masterlist | Masterlist

SUCROSE

Paring: Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader

Summary: Where the nicknames came from, how they meet, starts. (They live in the same building, in the same corridor, just in front of one another… which helps the friendship but couldn't stop Dr. Reid from falling in love)

Word account: 2005

Warnings: Fluff, friends to lovers, anxiety, mentions of menstruation and coffee facts?

A/N: English is not my first language. Reblog, like and comment. I am accepting suggestions for next parts. Please be nice. Past in italic. Gif is not mine, credits to the owner.

Chapter 2: Sugary

Spencer’s point of view

It has been weeks since Morgan met my neighbor and he can’t just drop it aside. At least he has capited a secret so far.

“I am just curious. That 's all. The girl has the key of your place and you never mentioned her.”

“I did talk about her…”

It's a murmur, Morgan almost can't hear it, maybe things were better when no one knew she existed besides me.

“She called you Sugarpout… Does Pretty Boy have a Lady?”

There is mocking in his tone, and a little of happiness.

“What exactly are you asking Morgan?”

“Are you two dating?”

“She is my friend, we ain't dating”

“Oh, pitty, she is beautiful, maybe I should gave a shot, she is very talkative”

“Leave the girl alone Derek.”

“Why? Are you jealous? Worried that I stil her? We could be your couple's best friend. Me and her would make cute babies”

“I am not jealous. Just shut up”

He leaves me be, we take care of paperwork, but he can't stop, it's like I can hear the engineers of his brain thinking.

“Ok, I just really got to know, where Sugarpout came from? I can't stop thinking about that”

“Why? Is just a nickname”

“A special nickname”

“Why does it matter to you?”

“Why so much secret?”

The truth is, I don’t really know why, where, when it all started. Is if we have being knowing each other even before we existed.

—----------------------------------------------------------

It was a rainy day, and I was just getting to my building when a strange woman got under my umbrella tugging herself at me.

“My savior. Could you leave me there? To that building?”

Was my building… is she a stalker?

“Sorry for just throwing myself at you. Is just I am made from sugar, so I could have melted with the rain”

Ok, she gots a weird sense of humor. Doesn’t she know about the danger of talking with strangers? That is one of the reasons I get so much work to do. She smells nice though… What am I thinking? Why is she staring at me? Say something Spencer!

“Ahn… yes… I was just going that way too.”

We walk together to the building and she opens the door, almost closing it in my face.

“Sorry. Why are you coming in?”

“I live here”

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t know that. I am a new resident. Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too”

She didn’t try to shake my hand… so she respects boundaries and personal space the same way she doesn’t do that? She is so confusing, she seems like a very complex human being.

We both get to the elevator and she presses the button… is my floor button… How I didn’t know about someone moving to my floor? Maybe because I spent the last three days away in a case. The elevator stops and she gets out with me behind her, observing her body language. Wait a minute, that’s… she lives just in front of me.

“Are you following me?”

“Ehn…” she catch me staring, I am probably very red and more awkward then the normal me. “No, no. It's just, we are neighbors, I live here, just across the hall.”

She keeps looking at me, like if she is not sure to believe me or not, just open your damn door Spencer, and prove you ain't lying.

“See?”

“Nice place, very organized…”

When she ends up beside me? Her eyes run across my place, making quick analysis scanning what she can see by the door.

“Ok, I will live you be, sorry for being so intrusive, and thanks for the umbrella ride.”

“You’re welcome. Also, welcome to the building”

She smiles, her smile is pretty.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is a nock on my door. Weird, I basically don’t get visited. I open it slowly and there she is the rain day girl, and she has something in hands.

“Hi, I made some cookies, and decided to give you some, since you were so nice to me that day”

“Oh, thanks.” I was very surprised. “You didn’t have to.”

“No problem, it is a pleasure. I hope you like them. It is the classic one, with chocolate drips.”

“It was very thoughtful of you. I really appreciate it.”

I take it from her hands, every time I see her there is that warm feeling, she is always so nice to me.

“How is the moving going?”

“Slow, I'm still putting things in place. The kitchen is almost ready. I am not in a rush to finish it to be honest. Just, baby steps, one day at a time…”

“Well, it is your space, your stuff, it is alright going slow, its you, it should go in your pace”

“Thanks. Well, when you finish the cookies you can return the ball.”

—--------------------------------------------------------------

The cookies were the most delicious ones I have eaten in my life. I made sure to compliment her, and the way she smiles and giggles, makes my heart beat faster in my chest.

Today I discovered that I am out of sugar, so why don't I go to the new girl? She made cookies and other delicious stuff she is always happy to share with me, for sure she has sugar.

“Just a cup? Sure Sweetie, I will go grab it for you, make yourself comfortable.”

I shyly enter her house, the first thing that hits me is the smell, I think haven smell exactly like it, I can see she still has a few boxes, but all the essentials are displayed, a kindle, books, a lot of types of books, fantasy, biography, history, classics… she also has a few plants, no much decoration… Why is that hard profile her?

“Here you go, a cup of sugar to my sweet boy”

I asked her sugar a lot of other times after that, just to see her, to feel my blood run in my veins, the fast piece of my heart, the smell invading my nose, that warm feeling.

—----------------------------------------------------------------

“Hi, so, do you have plans for today?”

She was standing outside my door, smiling at me, eyes glowing. How can she always be so beautiful?

“No. I did not plan anything for today.”

“Great. What do you say about taking me to a coffee shop? Any coffee you do like to go. Wanna know more about my neighbor.”

“Hm… Yeah, sure. I will just grab my things”

We go to a nearby coffeehouse and order our drinks while we have small talk.

“I love those cloudy and rainy days, so calm…”

Our orders get to the table and she points out when I drink my full of sugar cup of coffee

“Someone really likes sugar.” She smiles and is like electricity running me. “I can't drink black coffee, it gives me an awful headache.”

“Actually. Caffeine withdrawal could be an important but often overlooked cause of headache.”

She nods in agreement.

“People say that I am just being silly or have an infant paladar. I have tried a lot of types of black coffee, but nothing worked. So i decided just to drink my milk coffee, tha latte”

“Caffeine or 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine is totally, actually 99% and rapidly absorbed; it reaches the highest plasma concentrations after 30-60 minutes of ingestion, but this duration can be shorter or longer due to the variation in gastric emptying time. The half-life of caffeine fluctuates between 2.5 and 4.5 hours in young individuals but can be longer in elderly. Caffeine can cross all biological membranes including blood-brain barrier because of its lipophilic character. Only a very small amount of caffeine is excreted in the urine. It is metabolized in the liver, mainly by the cytochrome P450 1A2, to paraxanthine, theobromine, theophylline, and further to urates. Caffeine acts on the brain and the heart by blocking adenosine receptors and inhibiting phosphodiesterase. It is considered the most common psychostimulant, it enhances concentration, improves mood and energy, induces wakefulness, and enhances exercise performance. It can also trigger anxiety, tachycardia, and hypertension. Caffeine is known to cause dependence and withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue and headache.”

Oh, no, no. She is going to think I am such a weirdo now. Couldn't I just keep my mouth shut? Things were good, where nice, and now I ruin it all.

“I have heard that coffee was addictive, but I didn’t know it was absorbed that fast, or that it didn't get expelled out of our body by urine like most of the other drinks. Maybe one of those things causes my headache every time I try to drink black coffee”

“Caffeine also narrows blood vessels that surround the brain. That is its link to headache. In some types of headaches, the blood vessels in the brain dilate, or swell. They expand into the surrounding tissues, which triggers pain.”

Why can’t I shut my mouth, she is lookin at me. She will avoid me like the plague. Why am I like that? Can’t have anything nice, ever! It is like I can’t stop, and she does not stop me, so I just keep rumbling.

“Headaches in general are a common problem for reproductive age women. Migraine headaches are 3 times more common in women than men in this age group with the difference believed to be the result of hormonal fluctuations. In women with spontaneous ovulatory cycles, headaches have been documented to occur more frequently immediately before and during the first few days of menses. Approximately half of women with migraine headaches report their occurrence associated with menstruation, with decreasing estradiol levels hypothesized as the etiologic factor. Today's low-dose oral contraceptives all contain the same estrogen component (ethinyl estradiol [EE]) but vary in the progestin component. Until recently, all progestins in OCs, the oral contraceptives (norethindrone, levonorgestrel, desogestrel, and norgestimate) were derivatives of 19-nortestosterone. A novel OC with the progestin drosperinone (DRSP) is not derived from 19-nortestosterone, but instead derived from spironolactone. This DRSP-containing OC has been shown in a large placebo-controlled trial to significantly improve the physical and behavioral symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) attributed to its unique antimineralocorticoid activity. This improvement in symptoms has been attributed to the antimineralocorticoid activity of the spironolactone-derived DRSP. Spironolactone is the only diuretic shown in randomized placebo-controlled trials to improve the behavioral and physical symptoms of PMS. While studies using validated instruments have shown improvement in PMS/PMDD with DRSP-containing OCs, headaches have not been specifically addressed.”

I managed to hold myself for a few seconds and she finally speaks something.

“Are you trying to mansplain my menstruation cycle to me?”

“No, no… that's not it, I was just…”

“It is ok, I believe you��

She smiles, how her chicks don’t hurt with how much she smiles? Why, how is her smile always so captive.

“Spironolactone. I didn’t know about the diuretic in the OCs. It is interesting to know that, I have noticed that when I drink more water my period of blood in the menstrual cycle feels less worse than normally does.”

She… she paid attention, and… interacted? My heart hammers as a symphony in my chest. It seems the whole word is more worm, as if I had been in the cold dark without releasing it until she showed up illuminating everything and involved me with a cozy blanket proofing there is more, what truly could my life be, how good could it be. 

—----------------------------------------------------------------------

From that day, I knew I was different, happier, she became a constant thought, always making everything better, the world more supportable. I felt the butterflies, the tingling, that stupid and uncontrollable happiness, the craving of being in contact with her, the maximum and anyway I could. It just happened, little by little. With no rush, never.

“Hey, Kid.”

Morgan snaps his fingers in front of my eyes.

“Where did this pretty brain of yours was?”

The teasing again, but we hadn’t had time, JJ passed rushing calling for a case, urgent.

A/N: Did you guys like the dades I insert? I had to read a few articles, I have the links, they will be right below. Thanks for the support. If you like the little facts let me know so then maybe I will bring more (cause in my opinion is a very Spencer Reid thing to do, talk about the facts.)

Links:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1663116/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1051227621000339

https://www.uclahealth.org/news/caffeine-connection-between-coffee-and-headaches#:~:text=Caffeine%20also%20narrows%20blood%20vessels,surrounding%20tissues%2C%20which%20triggers%20pain.

https://headachejournal.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1526-4610.2007.00650.x

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

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Fic masterlist | Masterlist

[sass-ruby]

okay. HOLY FUCKING SHI-

Sun² (dark sun) looks like he's thriving LMAO 😭

Let me just say, THANK YOU MOON FOR BEING SO CURIOUS

I'm curious too, so this satisfied me so much

We got A LOT of information, and one VERY jaw dropping one

So.. sun² created a paradise for himself and others, most likely suns but not every sun. That- that honestly sounds so sweet 😭 I'm pretty sure by psychotic, sun² meant like- do things without thinking, go insane, kill for no reason ect ect.. since he doesn't like violence from what I've been able to gather. The violence he has probably committed, I am guessing was necessary because sun² thinks reasonably

But I wonder- do suns go there when they die? Like, heaven? There are already people there.. but are those people suns or random people??

His dragon is there to be a protector so, it's most likely dead suns I think..? To protect them? That'd be so sweet, I hope that's the case

Goliath died, oof 😭 I never cared much about him but that ONE THING he said to sun once;

"You..might be pathetic, but you're so much more than them."

The fact that EVEN goliath, someone so egotistical, sees sun's morals.. yet others cant and just see it as being cowardly

Our sun has been proven to be the most empathetic among all suns. He HAS done bad, but hasn't continued to do so, he tried his best to make it right. I love him sm I swear

But oh goodness. There is one MOST important jaw dropping lore we got out of sun².

Oh my fucking gosh.

Oh my.

The fact he chose this sun specifically.. BECAUSE HE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT HIMSELF.

We already knew he was like sun, but moon broke him. Just like how it usually goes in dimensions, here's the thing, though. Even if he did the same back to him, he could NEVER kill him.

Now there's more space to understand why he did it. He couldn't do it, he wanted to give other suns a chance.

Holy shit. Holy shit.

This is too shocking for me I'm sorry

I did not think that SUN² COULDN'T KILL HIS MOON

I guess that was a thing that truly connected all suns before sun's² whole thing

The fact our sun was the first, THE FIRST WHO WAS ABLE TO AND THAT IT WASN'T AN ACCIDENT.

Finally. FINALLY IT'S BEEN PROVEN HE'S SPECIAL IN SOME SORT OF WAY

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR SO LONG

The "I hate him, but couldn't kill him" thing reminds me kinda of my mother and I, just with different context 😭 like- I hate her but can't hate her completely. I have mommy issues QwQ

I literally sometimes get so mad at how she treats me that I hope she dies.

Although- lets not get into that

The point I was trying to make is, even when you swear you hate someone close to you... ESPECIALLY YOUR OWN FLESH AND BLOOD, you can never completely hate them.

That is only what I've been able to gather from other things like that

ALSO ALSO ALSO aLsOoOoooO

Why did sun² sound so unsure.. at that one part.

"I suppose nexus could sure try, if he was still around. Mumbles if he was still around..."

WHY DID HE SOUND SO UNSURE.

I wouldn't be surprised if he said it like that because he's seen how many times villains come back in this dimension ☠️☠️

LITERALLY I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED

But if nexus comes back, SHIT.

A part of me believes he will. It's after Christmas, and the new tradition is that shit happens after Christmas because the October takeover tradition ended

AAAAAAAAAA

I'll be kinda happy about it, ONLY BECAUSE THE ANGSTTT

YAYAYYAYAYAYYAYAYAYAYAYAAAAA

Another also and another woa!! >:D

"why does EVERYTHING have to be US"

"you think I have that answer? Heh, even with my intelligence.. I can never answer that one."

EVEN SUN² ACKNOWLEDGES IT

Because the show runners need to feed us, that's the answer <333

Their lives are something else 😭 they have to deal with something new everyday. They can never catch a break

That would be all. BUT HAHSHHDD I LAUGHED SO HARD SEEING SUN² FLY HELPPPPP

He had his "I was a fairy" moment 🎀 NDNDJSJMS

okay now it's all :3

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[basu-shokikita]

Kloktober 2024 Day 6

Road Trip or Drug Trip

I love thinking about how a lot of Toki's life experiences where with Dethklok because prior to that he was pretty much isolated from the world.

Today's entry is an example of that, featuring my holy trifecta: Toki, Skwisgaar and Pickles. Because, of course, Pickles can't be missing when it comes to recreational drugs ;)

When Toki saw Skwisgaar and Pickles hanging out in the living room of their apartment, he got curious.

Ever since he joined Dethklok, he had practically clung to Skwisgaar like a baby koala would to a mother. He was the one he felt closest to, in more than one way.

And, Pickles? Well, he was no Skwisgaar, though he was pretty approachable too so Toki walked up to them to ask them what they were up to.

In an almost solemn manner, Pickles tapped at the sofa he was sitting on, and Toki sat next to Skwisgaar, leaving very little space between them. Skwisgaar barely reacted.

“Toki,” Pickles leaned in, like he was going to open his coat and show him the rarest candy in the world. “Have you ever tried acid?”

“Acids?” Toki repeated in confusion. “Whats lemons tastes like?”

Skwisgaar groaned and Pickles let out a belly laugh. “Nuh, nuh, I mean…” He stretched his hand in front of Toki and opened it. A single orange square with a green skull drawn on it laid on his palm. “This.”

“Wowee…” Toki inspected the tiny drawing. “What ams this?”

“Whaddya think?” Pickles grinned at him. When Toki didn’t seem to understand, he stuck his tongue to reveal a white square on his tongue. 

“Oh!”

“Ja, Tokes, we ams doingks drugs.” Skwisgaar said, resting his back on the couch. “Kids hours ams overs.” He closed his eyes, seemingly relaxed.

Pickles gave Toki a mischievous look. “Unless you wanna join the adults.” 

“Uhm…”

“Pickle, no,” Skwisgaar intervened, still with his eyes closed. “He ams goingks to flips out and thens I’ll has to takes cares of him. Likes always.” He muttered the last two words.

Ignoring his bandmate, Pickles offered his palm to Toki. “So?”

“Mmh…” Toki’s gaze alternated between the drug and Skwisgaar. “Mmh…” He kept looking, undecided. “Okays!” He accepted, took the small tab and put it in his mouth before he swallowed. 

“Atta boy!” Pickles patted him in the shoulder, chuckling.

“Now whats?” Toki asked.

“Now…” Pickles laid down on the couch. “You wait…”

“Oh…” Toki frowned in disappointment.

He hated having to wait.

–

Bored off his mind, Toki fell asleep on the couch, only waking up when Murderface dropped beers in the kitchen and Nathan yelled at him in frustration. 

The initial grogginess didn’t wear off after a few seconds, and Toki felt slow and kind of stupid, but not in the way weed made you feel slow and stupid. Not in a happy, funny way, no. It was daunting and he felt weirdly empty and lost. Like there was something off with him. Like there was something really wrong with him. And what were those moving spots on the wall, were they always there? Wait, where did they go?

“How is it goin’, Toki?” Pickles asked with a sleazy smile, he was now smoking a blunt. “Feelin’ it yet?”

“Uhm…” Toki gazed at his surroundings, trying to find the spots again. “Ams…” The patterned floor seemed to be moving now. “What ams happenings to mes?”

“Ye’r trippin’, dummy.” Pickles said. “Do ya like it?”

“Uhm, n-nots reallies…” Toki replied, feeling like a stranger in his own body, in his own home. “Cans I stops?”

“Dere we goes…” Skwisgaar shook his head. “Now he ams goingks to cries and ruins my trips.” He clicked his tongue in frustration. “Dis is fuckingks dildoes…”

For some reason, rather than wishing to prove Skwisgaar wrong, Toki felt weirdly enabled by the commentary instead. “Ahhh!” He cried, huddling to Skwisgaar for comfort. “Dis ams scaries! Makes it stop, Pickle!”

“Toki, gets off me…” Skwisgaar grumbled, though he hardly did anything besides that. 

“Ahh!” Toki lifted his feet off the floor, convinced he had just seen a squared snake slithering around. “What the hecks?!”

“Haha, he said heck…” Pickles giggled, amused by the sight. 

“Skwisgaar!!!” Toki shook the guitarist’s arm. “I don’ts likes this!!”

“And I don’ts likes you clinginks to mine arms but whats cans I does…” Skwisgaar stared at the ceiling. “Eugheugh, dere ams somes guitars floatingks deres.”

Pickles followed his gaze. “Oh, yah, that’s totally sick, dood.” He pointed at a spot on the ceiling. “They have like, little stars all over and they are twinklin’, twinklin’...”

Toki raised his eyes and saw nothing but the white boring paint and the fluorescent light blinking, attracting moths. “Why amsnt I sees the sames things yous see? Why amsnt I on de sames trips you has?! Whys?!”

“Toki.” 

“Whats?” Toki looked down in despair. 

Pickles was smirking at him. “Just let it flow, dood.” Then, he blew smoke into Toki’s face…

…And it was like he was transported into a different world. He glanced around and he was floating on a big white guitar. More specifically, a Snowhorse Explorer. The sky was shifting colors in irregular shapes and lines, constantly everchanging, constantly moving. Unlike the sky, the guitar had a permanent form, moving forwards and carrying Toki with itself. 

Curious, Toki peeked to see what was under and spotted rocky mountains, covered with polka dots of different colors. It made for quite the beautiful sight. However, when he looked closer he realized the dots were actually skulls. Hundreds, thousands of skulls all over the mountains. And some of them still had eyes, glaring at him with such hatred that he was instantly reminded of his parents.

“Ahh!” He looked away, clutching onto the guitar for the lack of anything else to hold.

“Toki.” A deep voice resonated and Toki tried to search for the owner to no avail. The guitar vibrated under him when the voice spoke again. “You gotsa to calms down.”

“Skwisgaar?” 

“Ja.” Skwisgaar said. “Dis ams likes a guitars solos. Yous controls it.”

“I does?”

“You have the power, Toki.” Another voice said, up in the sky and Toki looked up. There was a beer bottle amidst the chaos. “Make it yer thin’.”

Before Toki could say anything, however, the sky abruptly turned into a whirlpool, pulling Toki inside. The guitar accelerated and Toki had to grab onto it so as not to fall. He wasn’t scared anymore, though, just curious about where it all led. Well, he was maybe still a little scared, except the curiosity weighed more.

As they approached the inners of the swirl, the colors began vanishing, turning into blinding white instead. The buzzing in Toki’s ears was deafening, so much that he couldn’t hear himself screaming anymore. He couldn’t feel his hands either, or the rest of his body. It was as if he was fading away, disappearing into the light, so he closed his eyes…

And suddenly everything stopped. 

Toki opened his eyes to a completely different sight.

It was still colorful, albeit slightly less chaotic. Purple blue skies and magenta clouds decorated by flowers. Pink sand with big gummy bears on one side, and fresh green grass with mushrooms on the other. Kitties floating on gigantic candy. And rainbows, so many rainbows. All over the place.

It was beautiful. 

The Snowhorse descended to let him down on the ground, where Toki began happily exploring. He could even spot a castle in the distance and, somehow, he knew in his heart that it was his. That this was all his.

His heart swelled with happiness.

–

“Uhh…he hasn’t moved in a while.” Pickles said, eyes reddened but slightly worried. “Should we call the ambulance?”

“Eugh, no ways, we’ds gets arresteds.” Skwisgaar replied. After a moment, he turned to Toki, whose eyes were closed, and he smiled. “He ams enjoyingks it.”

“He is?!”

“Ja,” Skwisgaar leaned down and picked his Snowhorse. “Soes lets not ruins dats.” Unceremoniously, he began fretting on the guitar. 

And it turned into the most beautiful music in Toki’s world.

[berrysphase]

10 Books to Read for 2025

Tagged by @vardasvapors

Symphony for the City of the Dead: Shostakovich and the siege of Leningrad by MT Anderson — I adore Shostakovich, I adore his 8th symphony, and I recently read Nicked and adored that, cannot wait to read this one.

An Officer and a Spy, by Robert Harris — I succumbed to the overwhelming dash-induced eyes-emoji and watched Conclave, and that was fun, and then people said the book was different in interesting ways about media consciousness in particular, so that was fun, and then I was auto-suggested other works by the same author, and intrigue and soul searching surrounding the Dreyfus affair sound fun, so sure, why not. I found Conclave a quick read, this is a good time of year for another quick read.

Piranesi. I haven’t read it yet, I have a copy, need I say more?

Spinning Silver. Novik is hit or miss for me, but I have heard good things about this one, and I have a copy and should, you know, actually read it.

Sovereign, by CJ Samson. Third in a series of annoyingly good Tudor-era mysteries. I say “annoyingly” because I am a bit Over the Tudors and I wish there were equally good richly and authentically realized, deeply characterized, and carefully plotted historical mysteries written in less familiar settings, but alas, these are very good.

The Republic of Salt, by Ariel Kaplan. I read book one and loved the world-building, though I found the characters a little flat. I am curious to see where the story goes in book 2.

Uncovering Dinosaur Behavior: What They Did and How we Know by David Hone. Prehistoric ecology is so fascinating, scientific inference is so cool.

I really want to read a good in-depth scientific biography of Ibn al-Haytham and cannot find one :(

I just put The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson on this list because it sounds like the kind of thing I can't not try.

Mmm for number 10 let me put War and Peace, somewhat aspirationally. I am subscribed to the chapter-a-day project, but I fell off the wagon when we got to Rostov's deeply predictable and horrifying "oooh, let me lose everything gambling beyond my means!" bit and stopped reading, and after that, you know, those chapters pile up awfully fast.

Some books I have read so far this year are: There are Rivers in the Sky, Elif Shafak (it annoyed me, much to my disappointment); Nicked, MT Anderson (raves!!); A Drop of Corruption, Robert Jackson Bennett (I really liked it but I liked book 1 more).

If you are reading this, consider yourself tagged if you want to do it, and please tag me so I can read your answers!

[snobgoblin]

summary: Reise has a brush with death

characters: Reise, Death, Danny

word count: 1,226

(Reise is 13 here, and staying at the magic shop)

︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶

Reise could not sleep for the life of them. Everything felt so... off. Like they shouldn't be here. Like the sheets around them were turning to sandpaper as if to ward them away, like the ticking of the clock was trying to scream at them until they left and... wait a minute.

They sat up. Has that clock always had 13 numbers? Surely Nadia would not make a mistake like this. They approach the clock. It's just as they remember it, except for an additional number. It's blurry, though. Approaching it did not help, squinting at it only makes it more blurry. How curious. They reach out to touch it and-

Fall right into the snow.

Shaking off the sharp, stinging pain of the cold on their face, they get up and brush themselves off. What was it papa said about keeping warm...? Keep your arms in.

With that taken care of they surveyed their surroundings. Snow, snow, more snow- but behind them, the door to the shop. Well... It was better than the alternatives. They brush themselves off and open it, they might as well.

...

...... IT'S MORE SNOW?

One might be worried in this situation, in a frozen wasteland. But they had this funny feeling they were exactly where they were meant to be right now. They also had a feeling they weren't alone.

"SHOW YOURSELF!" Reise called out and made a motion with their arm- when they did, a sword moved with it. They didn't remember having one before. "KNEEL BEFORE THE LADY REISE!"

A dark laughter bubbled up from the snow and it started to shift, parts of it falling away as a mound of it rose in front of them, and as more and more of it melted away it left only... A floating horse skull.

"SALUTATIONS!" They sounded so friendly... "As you can see I don't think kneeling is in the cards for me, but I'd be happy to give you a dignified bow." As promised, the horse skull tilted forward.

This was... too weird. Reise sheathed the sword, but kept their hand on the handle, and they bellowed with a familiar bravado "State your business."

"Oh! Wherever are my manners," the horse skull went this way and that, frantically looking over the scenery "You're just a squishy little mortal, you can't handle the cold- I do apologize, I'm fond of it, myself. AHEM-- ooh, I can still clear my throat. ANYWHO!"

What followed was a scene that somehow managed to tear their eyes away from the skull, and instead they fixated on the scenery. All over the snow melted, turning to a mud pit, but it didn't stop there, it didn't stop until it became dirt, then cracked ground, then sand, with a suffocating heat to follow.

"Is that much better?"

"That's much worse." Reise choked out. Their throat felt like it was going to fall out even saying it. They fell to the ground.

"Oh dear me!" The skull followed them to the ground. "How about this, why don't you tell me just where you'd like to be, anywhere at all. I'm afraid it's been a long while since I've talked to a human, I forget what they like."

Reise thought. It wasn't wise to ask for favors from creatures like this, dream or not. Better to demand. "You will take me to an enchanted forest, like that out of a storybook."

"Well-read, are we? They were, too. You know, you remind me so much of them" they gushed as the scenery started sprouting plants and trees and streams around them.

"Remind you of who?" They softened. They didn't think this creature was to be feared. That, or they were really good at manipulation.

"Oh, you know..." They trailed off awkwardly, and then shook and brightened up. "I am Death. You don't know me, but I've been very excited to meet you."

"Death?" Reise's heart dropped. "So I'm dead."

"DIFFERENT DEATH! Oh, no, my dear, you're perfectly fine, perfectly fine." Death panicked, if they had any hands they would be flapping them. "You will return to your world perfectly unharmed, but you must understand I do not have much time."

Oh, well, that's a relief then. They shook their head. "Well, don't let me take up any more than necessary, then."

"Much obliged." It was amazing how the skull managed to look like it was smiling. "I need to warn you, there is trouble brewing. If you find a tower, do not approach it, there is nothing for you there. Do not raise your sword, or it will be struck by lightning. I'm afraid that's as specific as I can be, but do take it to heart, I fear for what might happen if you disregard this message."

Death seemed much more at ease with the message conveyed, but their frantic energy seemed to only change hosts. Reise had no idea what that meant. It must show on their face.

"You do not need to worry about it for a long while, I just wanted to give you plenty of time to think about it." They lowered to the ground, and the red light in their eye started to flicker. "Just, don't forget, okay? I need my rest now. But feel free to visit later! I'd love to see you again when I'm not so... A-head of myself. AHAHAHA-" the laughter faded out, as did the skull, and in its place, a hole in the ground. They jump through.

︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶

Reise THUDS onto their bed. It's suddenly comfortable again. The clock is back to normal... What a weird dream. They don't even feel well rested. They decide to sleep in instead.

︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶

The next morning they awake to their father gently shaking them awake.

"Reise? You alright kiddo? You've been sleeping all morning." Danny was worried, usually they got up early to watch the sunrise.

"Mmh... Didn't sleep good. Had a weird dream."

"Oh yeah?" Danny perked up.

Reise knows Danny loves to hear about dreams. He always seems to find the hidden meaning in them, so they continue. "The clock Nadia made for me looked so weird... So I touched it, and then it was all snowy and a horse skull showed up and warned me about lightning..." The memory was like a greasy stain across their brain, it was hard to remember.

"A horse skull!"

"Mmhm." Reise sat up and looked at their father sleepily. What's he doing shuffling his deck already?

Danny pulled out a card and showed it to Reise. The card felt... heavier, somehow. Normally Danny could never get it to speak to him, but today he could almost make out a whisper... Danny looked to Reise eagerly. "Did it look anything like this?"

Reise hummed and took the card. A horse with no flesh on their face, carrying a scythe. "As much as anything can, I suppose. They were just a skull." They handed it back to Danny.

"I see." As Danny shuffled the card back in, one of them fell on the floor. Danny picked it up.

The Tower.

Danny's mind whirred. He loved having another mystery to solve, but what did it mean? "Well, I'll let you wake up." Danny then left the room and started pouring a cup of water. He needed to talk to Asra about this.

[unsaidwordsmusingsx]

alluring : shubman gill one shot

Well I don't know what was in my mind when I wrote this but this piece is too close to my heart for now.

even though this is a scrap for tumblr debut as a writer, lol.

am free for requests on any cricketer, so do drop it in <33

The weather was soothing, quite different from the usual chilling of early January. People were rejoicing the sun's rays and warmth as they soaked in the festivities of the new year, on the streets and shops.

Everything is so bright and all smiles, totally different from her point of view. You can't blame Y/N although. Spending the first week of a new year without her loved one is what none would want to experience.

But she has to, again, for another year.

She isn't disappointed though. How could she blame him? Shubman Gill? The cricketer who's out of home for at least 10 months thanks to high tight schedule and is as helpless as her. He longs for her beside him, when he's there, representing the nation with pride. But given her work pressure, and familial responsibilities, she can't do so every time.

Distance teaches us to love, respect and adore harder. And it was so and much more for Shubman Gill and his beloved, Y/N L/N Gill, his wife, his soulmate, his lover, his own, the owner of his everything.

Y/N was at this restaurant, babbling about her life and how she came to experience adultery thanks to her life choices (read her subject and internship). He was curious about the woman sitting behind him, talking her heart out without any care in the world.

Soft chuckles escaped his lips at her rants and he had to be a creep literally and mumble, "Cute." And a lot of things. She, having heard that, had to turn around with a scowl, only to have added looks  of surprises and disbelief on her face on seeing him. The famous personality. A deep blush coated her cheeks as she has bit back the words she has planned for the nosey guy.

They again met when she had checked in the hotel the Indian Cricket Team was staying, in Melbourne. He was sitting in the lobby, going through his phone, waiting his turn for check-in when the familiar perfume filled his nostrils. The lavender perfume he had sniff of only once, when he met that cute woman.

His eyes shot up, as all the incidents of that day came flooding in. His orbs searched through the place, until it fell on her. She had noticed him too, so sent a small wave at him with this unintentional frown. And damn his heart and gut did somersaults.

He pondered upon a lot and finally decided to have a talk, but didn't mustered up and lost her in the sea of time.

One is something. Two is a coincidence. Three is something to really analyse.

So he took no chances and approached her in this party he was present, and had spotted her, looking elegant in this Georgette saree, minimal make-up and that natural glow.

And that's how it started.

Thinking he might lose the chance to ask her, he approached, and what happened is for the history books.

[elliebean714]

Haiiii :)))

Soo how about a Chris x Male reader (During game) Where one of them saw either their, or the other's death on one of the totems and how it would play out. Maybe said person trying to keep it a secret and it it backfires or smth. Have a nice day and drink lots of water. Love you /p <333

- 🍄 (Your favorite anon)

ACKK YOU GENIUS I LOVE YOU. 🍄 anon. I swear. Your mind and my mind are just ✨️magic✨️ I can't believe there was a time in my life before i had you, my beloved. To switch it up and experiment some more I decided to make this one from Chris' perspective cus that seems fun to me. This can be read as chris' part of the other fic or as a standalone, but I kinda reference some stuff that happened in the last one, so ill link it if you want to read that. This does divulge and go in its own direction though, i just sorta use the previous ask as a reference so i dont have to repeat things that happened in it. Im gonna tie up a plot line I didn't in your previous ask in this. This was very planned and I definitely did not forgor about that plot line until I had already posted it. I am smart and this was all on purpose (imsosorryjoshieiknowyourenotlikethis) (this is low-key climbing class angst too lmao. Gotta love my boys <3) I'm realising now that im not really good at following instructions, I get an idea in my head and go WILD. I kinda forget what people requested lol. I sometimes forget how much trauma Chris went through but GOD DAMN, MY BOYYYY </3 *Devastated cat* Angry Chris in ch7 is SO GOOD OMG, love him. Not trying to brag, but angry chris??? I ATE THAT.

Premonitions

Chris Hartley x M!Reader

Angst, Fluff, Comfort

Previous Request

During Game

Chapter 2

When I was left alone in the lodge with only Josh's lighter to guide me, I began snooping through the room I had found myself in, the garage, or maybe storage?Just as I was getting started a small wooden statue caught my attention. It was lying on the floor and was unlike anything I'd seen any of the Washingtons own. Curious, i picked it up for closer examination.

There was a carved and painted birds face staring back at me, freaky. I turned it over, not expecting much to be on the other side, I mean obviously all of the artistic talent went into the front. There's a small opening near the top of the statue, like an infinity symbol with straight lines outlined with brown paint. The inside appeared hollow. At least until I saw his face.

He was screaming, blood was flying, so much blood... and then there was a saw slashing through the adorable outfit he swore would keep him warm earlier today. Then I was whiped back to the lodge.

...

How... the hell am I to keep on looking for a stupid can of deodorant after watching my boyfriend get sawn in half? I need to see him, make sure he's okay. "Y/N? Can you come here please?"

"Uhh... why what's up?" He calls back, but I still hear those winter boots I made him wear crunching through the snow.

"I just want to talk to you." I answered. His frame entering my limited view.

"And why do you want to talk to me here instead of inside, adventurer?" He asks as he climbs on top of the stool I used to get inside. As his face appears at the window, I climb on the counter and meet his gaze, his gorgeous eyes.

"I just..." I trail off before admiting what I saw, would he even believe me? I probably just imagined it anyway, no reason to panic him right? I look down and sigh, "I just missed you." I 'lied'.

"And you couldn't wait to get us warm first?" He smiled. I have to protect that smile.

"No. I love you."

"Love you too. But I'm freezing my ass off so I'd love it if you could get the door open."

I dropped my head and sighed, "Yeah, I know. I'll go get it." He pulls my face towards him and kisses me gently.

"I love you"

"I love you too."

~~

Later, we're in the basement together, looking for a 'spirit board' and I haven't let him out of my sight since I saw that, vision. I can't let anything happen to him, I can't tell him either. I'm freaking out enough for the two of us anyway. I don't want him to panic all weekend. Especially if it turns out to be nothing,

I get distracted looking at a box of old horror costumes from one of Josh's dads old movies, there's long, black robes, weird masks, bottles of fake blood... I sqeeze the bottle, letting a droplet of the red liquid run down my pointer finger, lost in thought. His cute face, that cute face I've loved for years... the fear, the pain in his eyes... his scream-

"Found it!" I turn to see his proudly presenting the spirit board.

"Great, lets-" The basement door opens and we hear Sam and Josh chatting and making their way to the boiler. I shake the violent image from my head, wipe the blood off my finger, and paint on a happy face, "Let's scare them."

Chapter 3

Candlelight illuminates the room while Y/N explains the rules of the board. I laugh at what I assume was a joke, fuck- I'm trying so hard to pay attention. It was nothing. Nothing is going to happen to him, focus.

Josh sits opposite me, clearly the most... excited(?) To start, Ashley and Y/N are beside me, I pick up his hand and rub my thumb over it. If I can feel him, I know he's there. We each put one finger on the pointer, ready to begin.

"Is anyone there?" Ashley asks, half sincere, half skeptical. The pointer answers, first slowly moving in random directions then spelling 'H E L P'.

"Okay, who's moving it?" Y/N laughs

"Woah-" I gasp uncomfortably.

"How can we help you?"

It moves fast "W A R N I N G."

"Shit-" Josh comments... Seeing him creeped out is so weird.

"Ask who it is, maybe?" I suggest, trying to be engaged.

But she ignores me "what are you warning us about?"

"S I S T E R"

"Who's sister?" Josh asks, he seems panicked now.

"You're warning us about your sister?" Y/N asks the board at the same time

I look at Josh, I don't want to say it, but... "Josh, it's gotta be-"

And he looks at me, almost calmed by the brief moment "well, which sister is it then?"

"Beth...? Is that you?" Ashley questions with a nervous voice, Y/N seems to stir at the name a little, he was always closer to her. The pointer moves to 'yes'.

"Oh god-" Ashley trembles

"This is so messed up" a nervous laugh escapes him

I see panic in my best friends eyes, "Josh? Are you-"

"I'm fine" He interrupts me gently

"We can stop if-" Y/N suggests

"No. I wanna hear what it says." He interrupts Y/N far more harshly, I assume its just anxiety. When Ashley expresses hesitation, Y/N reminds her that we could discover the truth of their deaths.

"What happened to you?"

"H A N N A H K I L L E D"

"Hannah killed her??" I hear Y/N whisper under his breath

"No, no, I think, I think she means someone killed Hannah" I correct him

"Beth, who killed Hannah?"

"L I B R-"

"Library?"

"P R O-"

"Proof? There's proof?"

"In the library?" As soon as the question leaves Y/N's lips, the table shakes and the pointer flies off between Josh and Ashley. She stands up, in shock and horror, clearly freaking out, while Josh just stares ahead for a few seconds.

"This isn't real..." He rises from his seat, still staring "I dont- I don't know if you think messing with me is going to somehow help me deal with my grief or whatever, but this is not cool." He states, shakily but firmly.

"Josh, no, we didn't- you wanted to use the spi-" Y/N tries to assure him, but Josh cuts him off, did Y/N do something to upset him? He's been kinda pissed at Y/N since we got here.

"Shut up, you guys are full of it!" He storms off down the stairs.

After he's gone, Ashley scolds us "that wasn't funny, guys. I can't believe you did that."

"What? We didn't do anything!" I try to defend us, "Just because we're goofy, doesn't mean we'd do that!" But my protests fall on deaf ears as she waves me off.

"Stop. Just stop." She heads down the stairs after Josh, I look over at Y/N. He looks so embarrassed and upset, he hates hurting people... my sweetheart.

"Hey," I hold his hands "it's okay, babe, we didn't do anything wrong."

He slowly lifts his eyes to meet mine, god I love that colour... "I didn't know- that was crazy- I didn't think it would work!"

"Me neither. I can't- jeez..." I take a shaky breath

"Should we go after him?" Y/N asks nervously "I don't want him to think we were trying to hurt him..."

"No," I shake my head "No, I dont think he really wants to see us right now" You, mostly. "We should check the library. See if what it was saying is true."

We head towards the library, hand in hand. Once we reach the bookshelf, several books fly off the shelf, a lot of them almost hit Y/N. A button is left in their place, I push it and the wall opens, revealing a secret room, it's practically empty aside from a random picture laying on the table.

A photo of the twins, Hannah has her tattoo, so it must've been taken a couple months before the disappearance. Or, murder... on the other side, a fucking note written in blood. A clear death threat to the girls- a sick one. I show Y/N and we agree to tell Josh. I lead him down the hallway, when we hear Josh and Ashley scream. Y/N rushes towards the door, and an arm pulls him through. I pound on the door in an attempt to break it down. After a short time, it finally opens, i see ashley and Y/N laying on the floor unconscious, a guy in a creepy mask punches me-

Chapter 4

Shit- my head is spinning. What the hell happ- shit, Y/N! I stand up quickly, making my dizziness worse, and look around frantically, Ashley is still on the floor, slowly coming back to consciousness, but Y/N and Josh are missing- fuck!

"Chris...?" Ashley whimpers, I grab the flashlight on the counter before helping her stand.

"Hey, are you alright? He didn't hurt you, did he?" She seems okay, from what I can see, but creepy guy and helpless girl are never a good equation.

"N-no, I don't think so..." Ashley looks herself over "I was looking for Josh, I saw him coming through this way, I heard him scream, then some guy knocked me out and..." She trails off "thats all I remember, Where is he? Where's Y/N?"

I shake my head "No idea, we gotta find them, that guy, could've hurt them."

We find our way out of the room and see a splatter of blood on the wall "Oh jeez" Ashley gasps. We aprehensively continue, out of the lodge and towards the shed, calling out for Y/N and Josh. Everytime I blink, I'm reminded of that vision- it's not real, it's not real, it's not real...

"Chris! Chris, help, we're in here, please-" I hear him sob in response when I shout his name for the hundredth time.

A surge of adrenaline rushes through me "Y/N? Sweetheart, don't be scared, I'm coming." I hurry towards his voice, Ashley trails after, less enthused, poor girl is so exhausted.

The rest of the room is separated behind a plane of glass, a lever in the middle, and a door on the side. As soon as I approach the glass the lights in the room turn on, revealing Y/N and Josh tied up.

"What the hell??" Ashley gasps, Y/N and Josh start to properly panic when, presumably the guy who just attacked us starts talking over the intercom- shit- the saw- nonononnonono- FUCK-

It's that fucking saw- it tore through my baby- fuck- no- no- I cant- I cant- "and which one will die" i- I have to pick??? No, I cant- I can't have to do this- no, not these two- no-

I look for Ashley, but she's run off, I don't blame her, Josh starts pleading with me "Chris, buddy, please, you don't have to-"

And Y/N sobs too "Oh- Fuck- Chris, help me..."

Dontmakemechoosedontmakemechoosedontmakemechoosedontmakemechoose-

"I'm so-" guilt, anguish and anger fill me "so sorry, Josh-" my voice cracks. I turn the lever towards Josh's face- imsosorryimsosorryimsosorry-

The silence that follows could kill. Just a spinning sawblade and my favourite persons terrified sobs in the other room. I stare at the photo of him, my best friend... that guy- i- fucking killed him.

"Chris...? Help- please..." Y/N whimpers. Remember who it was for, Chris. He needs to survive. No matter what.

Chapter 6

I've still not dropped his hand. It's still replaying in my head, Y/N, Josh, the saw, that fucking guy. After, Ashley found Matt and Emily, and they all left to get help. I dont- I can barely think. But- Y/N and me are looking for Sam, I know that, and I'm holding his hand, nothing could make me let go.

"Hey, Chris?" His voice is shaky, but full of gratitude "I know- I know how horrible that was- what that guy did, what you had to do..." his fingers reach out and graze my cheek.

"Please- I don't want to-" don't cry- keep it together "I'm fine, dont-" Y/N steps closer, he lifts my cheek, dontcrydontcrypleasedontmakemecry...

"I'm sorry," we lock eyes "He was your best friend- you guys- shit- I'm so sorry" dontcrydontcrydont- "I love you. I love you so much"

"Please-" I fight the tears- dontcry "i-we- Sam doesn't have time. We need to hurry."

"Don't suppress your feelings, Chris, your best friend just died-" he's trying, he's such a good person, I love him so much.

"I'll cry about it once you're safe, okay!?" My voice comes out far more harshly than I ever intended. "I'm sorry- imsorry, imsorry-" I repeat, backing off "I cant- I can't be weak right now- I need to be strong until this is over then..." He pulls me into a hug, fuck- it feels so nice to be close to him- he's so warm, so alive, so full of colour...

~~

The lunatic got us again. This is what we get for trying to help Sam. We followed the trail down under the lodge, found so much weird shit, then eventually saw her passed out, tied to a chair and when we tried to help...

Now, there's a gun on the table, and I've got one free arm- if this fucker makes me do what I think he's going to... "Y/N? Sweetheart, wake up." I coax him gently, the lights turn on, there's saws above us.

"Chris...?" He mumbles, "where- where are we?"

"I dont- what the hell happened?!" I notice his black eye, I'm gonna kill that guy, I swear to god.

"I punched him after he got you," he cries, god- I hate that sound. He should never have to cry "I think he hit me?"

My eyes flare in anger "I'm gonna kill him. I'm gonna murder his fucking face off."

"Hello again, my special little subjects." His distorted voice comes over the intercom, the saws start spinning, I lift the gun and shoot at them, desperate to make them stop, nothing happens. He continues speaking and confirms my fears. Either shoot myself or Y/N.

I bring the gun to my neck, just beneath my jaw. "No! Don't you fucking dare!" Y/N screams, thrashing and pulling against the restraints "Chris, stop- I can't- don't make me"

"I love you. You be smart, be safe, be brave. Please, I need you to make it out alive, baby." I'm confident, I'm assured. There's no hesitation in my voice, just regret. I thought we could grow up together, go to the same college, find a nice apartment, good jobs, married- I wanted to live that dream life with him. I thought we would... "I love you so fucking much. Just close your eyes. Just close your eyes- and make it off this fucking mountain. You're strong, you can do it. Please- survive."

"Fuck this- no! Chris, dont- don't make me live without you- it's not worth it-" he sobs.

"I love you-"

Chapter 7

I'm alive? My neck hurts like hell, I know the gun went off. My eyes open, Y/N sobs desperately, his eyes shut tight- like he's trying to disappear, my baby... I look around "What the fuck??"

He appears... SHIT- I lift the gun and shoot him several times, but still nothing happens... instead the freak laughs- he fucking laughs at me, he starts taunting me. "You've heard of blanks before? I mean really?" He takes the mask o- Josh?!?

Sam and Mike come from a door behind us, equally shocked- he's still fucking laughing- they release our wrists from the restraints while Josh explains his plan. I killed him... he made me saw him in half- worse than that, if that vision was right? He would've killed Y/N too.

~~

Me, Mike and Y/N are taking him to the shed. Sam didn't want to come, the sick fuck chased her around while she was in just a towel! Mike is the angriest, rightfully so, josh killed Jessica. He's fucking crazy! And still acting like it's all a joke.

On the walk, I notice Y/N is trailing behind, clearly something is puzzling him. I take his hand "What's up, babe?"

"I just..." He thinks for a moment "remember that weird dollhouse in the basement? The doll meant to look like me was in the bedroom, but I was in the kitchen that night"

"...so?"

"So if he was doing this as revenge for what happened to the twins, if he's seen the video, he'd know that! He'd know I wasn't a part of it, so why the hell was the doll upstairs? Why put me in that saw trap? Why us? You didn't do anything either!" He explains his conundrum.

"Yeah, that is weird, plus if he's saying he didn't mean to hurt anybody, why the hell did I see-" I stop myself, I still don't know what I saw, and whatever it was, I'm best asking josh about it rather than bother Y/N with my delusion. "Why the hell did I see him get sawn in half? Or- or have to shoot myself in the neck?"

"And killing Jessica, and basically sexually assaulting Sam." He adds before we catch up to Mike and Josh, the former is trying to tie the latter to a piller.

"Oh, finally can you two hold him, please?" Mike asks as soon as he sees us. Y/N holds down Josh's right side, I take the left while Mike quickly ties him up. I can feel Josh's eyes peering into me. It's not an angry gaze, it's... sad? Betrayed? He seems hurt, but that obviously can't make sense, did he expect me to kill the love of my life? Did he want me to??

Josh rambles incoherently while the rest of us talk, trying to figure out any way to make this make sense, "Chris?" Josh interrupts Y/N while he talks "Chris!"

"What?" I relent.

"Can we talk alone, please? I don't trust them like I do you." He has the balls to say something like that after what he did? I turn to the other two...

"Sure, yeah. We'll wait outside." Mike nods before I even say anything "c'mon, Y/N. He can't do anything, he's tied up." Y/N kisses me before following Mike out of the shed

"Now what, Josh?" I look to him, expecting some sort of explanation that'll put everything into place and make it all make sense.

"I missed you. You know that?" He seems partly lucid when he says that.

"Yeah? And a text wasn't enough?"

"No. Nonono. I missed you. He stoleyou."

"Y/N? He's my boyfriend, he didn't steal me-"

"YES HE DID. You're supposed to be myyy best friend and you abandoned me for him?? Really??"

"No! What the hell? We were still friends Josh. It's not like I started dating him and then all of a sudden I just dropped you, we still hung out!"

He shakes his head "that's not true. Thatsnot true. That's nottrue. ThatsNOTTRUE"

I sigh, this isn't going anywhere. I need to ask him about what I saw. Was he actually going to kill him? "Josh, the saw..."

"I wanted to test you. To see if you even fucking cared. You let me die so fucking FAST!" Josh starts to thrash around.

"JOSH, WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU??" I scream "You- you put me in a position- you made me pick between him and you. You did that to see if i cared??? Did you- did you rig it up so he would've died if I chose you?"

He laughs- I'm gonna fucking kill him- "aw don't be mad at me..."

He wasgoing to kill him- he was going tokill him- hewas goingto killhim- hewasgoingtokillhim- Josh was going to kill Y/N.

Fury rages through me "YOU FUCKING CUNT-" I grab a piece of ply wood and whip it towards his head- he hit Y/N- smack- he tortured Y/N- smack- wanted me to shoot Y/N- smack- HE TRIED TO KILL Y/N-

Before I can smack him again, Mike pulls me away and grabs the wood out of my hands "Chris- what the fuck?!"

Y/N holds me back- I take deep breaths- shit- what did I do?? "He- he confessed..." my voice is shaking, Josh is unconscious- bleeding- shit- what the fuck did I do??

"To what??" Mike sounds appalled by my actions.

I tremble- "he was- he wanted to kill him..."

"Who?"

My eyes meet Y/N, even after what he saw me do, he still has gentle love in his eyes "the saw wasn't just a fake body thing... he was going to kill you... he was fully ready to kill you..."

Chapter 8

"Then your friend will already be dead." The old guy had a sorry yet confident expression.

"Good." I mutter.

Y/N shakes my shoulder, "we need to go after him..."

I scoff "fuck that. Fuck him. He did it to himself"

"Chris, this isn't you," he pleads. Fuck- he's adorable. "We can't leave him to die. Or... I can't. No matter what he did..."

"Don't. Don't be stupid. He just said he's dead." I try to reason with him.

"If there's a chance, i can't let him die like that."

"Then I'll come with ye." The old guy tells Y/N.

"No, you're not. He's not going." I sigh "I'll go. You'll stay in the lodge."

"I'm fine, Chris."

"And I plan to keep you that way. I'll get josh, try not to kill him, and bring him back. Only because I adore you."

"Glad it's worth something."

~~

His fucking head came off. We were looking for Josh- the Wendigo came- And took the old guys head off. I ran through the snow towards the lodge with the thing right behind me. I was shooting it whenever I could- it was so fucking fast, I almost didn't make it, but Y/N was right by the door waiting for me.

In the basement, Emily was begging Mike not to shoot her. I would've fought him, but- I just wanted Y/N. I just wanted him to hold me. Hes so gentle. He's so loving. He's so warm. I tried to shut out their dispute. I'm being held by my boyfriend. He loves me, I'm safe, no matter what happens next. Y/N is here, Y/N is holding me, Y/N is going to take care of me.

In his arms, I let myself break...

Chapter 10

That screech...

Oh fuck-

We hear the Wendigos coming through the basement- how did they get here??

The three of us sprint away from the sound, Y/N lets me run ahead, Emily behind him- up the stairs, through the maze, eventually to the movie theatre where Sam and Mike have opened the door "RUN!" I yell

"Go, go, go, go!!" Y/N calls out behind me.

I reach the main floor and run towards the door until I see the Wendigo perched on the wooden chandelier, I freeze, they can't see you if you're standing still. The old guys words replay in my mind. My eyes search for Y/N, but I can't find him, just Emily. She didn't shove him out of the way, did she???

The Wendigos chasing us climb up the stairs, and the main one, seemingly infuriated, started fighting them, giving me time to escape. I throw the door open and run. Please let him be okay, please- please- my legs collapse into the snow, please be okay, please come out.

Emily is out next, I don't have the fire to fight her in me anymore, I've done terrible things tonight, and all of it will be for nothing if that boy doesn't come out. Please, it can't have been for nothing.

He comes into view- Please-! But the Wendigo stares at him, no, no, please, he hasn't done anything wrong... i head towards the lodge, I need to catch him.

Sam's squeaky sneakers save him- holy shit- the Wendigo heads towards her, thank fuck- Y/N sprints into my arms, oh- baby...

I guide his sobbing form away from the lodge "I've got you, we made it- you- you made it-" I wipe his hair away from his sweaty forehead, I admire his face, his adorable fucking face "You survived..."

♡☆♡☆♡☆♡☆

~Elliebean714 🦋����

[i-prefer-west-side]

8x18 fic prompt: beckett tells castle how he betrayed her in her dream

APOLOGIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Pre-8x18

He thought his wife had a full day, so he's surprised to see her walk into his PI office mid-morning, coffees and a pastry bag in her hands and an apologetic look on her face.

"I'm here to apologize," Kate announces after a quick greeting.

Rick shakes his head and joins her on the couch. "Nothing to apologize for."

"No, I do. There's no reason I should have been that annoyed because of a dream."

"Well..." When she levels a glare at him, he lifts a hand in surrender. "It happens. I am curious what dream me did that was so heinous, though," he admits, leaning back and taking a sip of coffee.

Kate scrunches her nose and looks away, refusing to make eye contact. After a moment she rolls her eyes, then meets his gaze again. "You ate my leftovers."

He just blinks.

"It's so dumb," she continues with a shrug. "But I was really looking forward to them, and when I opened the fridge, they were gone."

Rick chuckles and scoots close to her, lifts her hand, and brushes his lips across her knuckles. "I'm sorry that dream me did that. Real me will be more considerate."

"Thanks. Anyway, it bothered me all morning that I got so worked up about it. I usually don't. So...I was going to wait until tonight, but..." She trails off and takes something out of her purse.

He takes the item, and when he sees the word on the display, he looks back up at her, unshed tears blurring his vision. "Kate," he whispers, "you're-"

She nods. "Looks like we have more mood swings to look forward to," she jokes. She lifts a hand and caresses his cheek. "Ready to tackle sleepless nights and dirty diapers again?"

He drops the pregnancy test and pulls her into a hug. "Can't wait."

[fountainpenguin]

#Riddle Watches Traffic - Secret Life Session 4 POVs - This post contains Joel, Grian, Etho, Martyn, and Scar commentary

Joel POV (My first POV for this session):

Joel, the ex-Shrek, running around dropping lines from "All Star" in conversation is everything I could have wanted.

Joel: If you were a color, what color would you be? Pearl: Red.

Can't argue with that.

Lizzie: You like my path? Joel: I do. Is it going to link up with mine? Lizzie: We've got connecting paths now. Joel: I didn't realize we were that close. Lizzie: To touch paths. Joel: I know we're married, but come on... It's getting a bit crazy now.

slkdjf Joel really does not want to be touchy-feely with anyone this season huh?

Okay I switched to Grian's POV because Joel came up to the rest of the Mounders and they were all giggling and telling him to go talk to Grian, so swapping my liveblog over:

Grian POV

?? Grian's task was to bait a yellow into believing his task was singing everything he says, that feels kinda unfair to the yellows because it doesn't give them a way to call him on it, does it? slkdjf

That is really funny he needs to get someone to call him out in order to succeed, though.

Grian's really good at like, recapping and/or giving context (like pulling up his screen to walk the audience through exactly who the Yellows on the server are). Thanks G.

sldkfjs Scar singing back to Grian... They are soulmates, your honor.

Cleo, trying not to bust up laughing: How long do you have to sing for? Grian, singing: I don't have to sing! It's a choice~!

Grian chasing people and singing while they run sdlkfjsd... Mumbo like "Please stop following me! I don't want to deal with your singing anymore!"

sldkfjsd can we make a reaction clip out of Grian sadly singing, "I am mortally wounded~"

Grian is SO GOOD at this baiting game, though. Despite needing to get a yellow to guess his task, he takes off running as soon as Joel shows up, then when Joel starts talking to him he clams up. Master of manipulation; what a deLIGHT!

sldkfjs the hilarity of Joel smugly calling Grian out and then Grian takes out his book, sighs loudly, and trots off to the Secret Keeper... and hits success instead of fail. omg.

Joel immediately adding "My world's on fire; how 'bout yours?"

Grian: "You are all terrible friends and that's what I needed <3"

lskdjfsdk Scar being like "Wait, that was your task? I thought we were just being musical." Your honor, they are soulmates.

Does... does Etho have my "reference previous seasons / fake moment from previous series" task suggestion?

Switching back to Joel:

slkdfjsldkjfksdl in Joel's POV, there's a bit of lag so when Joel confronts Grian, Grian suddenly bolts across the bridge at light speed and it's hilarious.

Switching to Etho because dying of curiosity:

Etho making cute benches outside his shack.

Cleo: Oh, there there... I was going to pat you, but then I realized... Etho: Pat me with a sword? Clean slice through the head?

sdklfjsdfj househusband Etho strikes again?? Cleo accidentally whacks him with a sword and he immediately spins around like "I'm sorry- I'll do the dishes, I'll do whatever you want! No more, no more!" Love that for him.

Love how Etho said "Aha" after looking at his task even though he hadn't even received that suggestion yet.

You nerds really gonna be like "Etho and I aren't romantic" and "We're besties" and then put a single bed inside your house, huh? What am I supposed to do with that.

?????? Martyn giving Etho the assignment of gaslighting someone into believing a fake moment from the previous series? Does Martyn have my suggested task or did we just same brain on that one? lol.

[More liveblogging under the cut <3 #Long post]

Switching over to Martyn POV because curious:

skdlfj wow Martyn's video is super loud after coming from Etho's. Just gonna turn my sound down there.

??? Martyn does not have my suggestion so I guess he and I just had the same brain wave. Alas. Here were some suggestions I put in Tango's Session 3 comments, for anyone curious:

Reference events from past Life series at least 4 times in conversation with other players (Ex: "This reminds me of that one boogeyman kill in Last Life; remember when X happened?") - [Some ideas that come to mind are that it would be funny to pester players who missed seasons by lightheartedly teasing them about events they weren't around for]

Alternatively: Convince at least 2 players that a falsified event happened in Secret Life or a past Life series [Ex: "Haven't you seen the fanart of this? I'll send it to you later." / "Remember, we were all there? Oh, you didn't play in that series; I guess you wouldn't know."]

?? They took the world border out of the Nether. Untapped escape routes in Hell.

I appreciate "mayor" Scar chasing the Big Dogs away and telling them he was going to send them to the pound.

(Loud sigh). Scar upset with Martyn for peeing on (dumping water on) his base. Martyn is running amok. Unrestrained.

slkdjf Martyn admitting he had read a lot of tasks in the past week and was thinking he'd probably end up taking someone else's idea. Y'know what, good enough for me. Whether we same brained or he read that, I'm satisfied. Also Etho saying "Martyn, you should write tasks because that's a great idea." I'll take it, slkdfj.

Watched a few minutes more of Martyn, he's talking with Joel and I have nothing to say atm, switching back to Joel:

Joel so sad when his cows get loose.

I appreciate how Martyn allowed Etho to buy his silence but then he runs to Joel and starts dropping hints.

slkdjfs Joel nailed his lyrics, good for him.

Joel working on his farms before pressing the success button is mildly stressing me out. (Oh, he was waiting for safe day).

sldkfj Etho giving Joel a chance to take a guess at him and Joel phrasing his words specifically as "Was your goal to bait a yellow into guessing you're saying 'Aha?'"

I always admire Joel's commitment to getting the right colored resources, especially wood. He takes so much pride in his builds even in the deathgame.

One of my other task suggestions was to break game rules for part of the session and I used the example of wearing a helmet. If Scar has that task, that will be quite funny. He's being super sus about that helmet and even talking like "I can take it off! I'll take it off right now" which would line up with my 50% of the session suggestion. I'll have to check on him next.

Gem's Yellow life heterochromia.

lskdjfslkjdf Boat Boys, my beloved...

Etho, parking a boat and making eye contact: Joel. Get in. Joel: The fandom's gonna go crazy, Etho. We can't do this. Etho: We're reliving the past, Joel, right now. Remember the good old days, just me and you? Joel: I do. The Relation ship. Etho: Riding the boats? Etho: ... Back when you cared about me.

skdjf I had to pause to start writing that and it really does just keep going, huh?

Joel: I still care, Etho. It's just... Etho: You still care? We hardly see each other anymore. Joel: I know, I know, but that's because I'm with the Mounders now. Etho: Well, this is where the relationship ends.

What is in Etho's Secret Life water; he is SO clingy and mushy with Joel every episode.

Joel calling Scar out for breaking the rules... is this my task, I am so curious.

Kind of surreal watching this play out. Definitely picking up the vibe that the players screened tasks together before putting them in and so they've got "rule breaker" as a possible option in their minds and that's why they're so quick to jump in and call Scar out on that TODAY despite the fact that he was also breaking rules in previous episodes. Very curious.

Martyn's calling a meeting, seems like a good time to pop over and check on Scar's task. Episode title is him calling himself a server villain so it might not be my task, but that's very funny anyway. Let's see.

Alas... It is not my "Break the rules for 50% of the episode" task suggestion, but the task he does have is really clever (Do the opposite of what people tell you to do).

Gonna bounce back to Joel and finish his episode and return to Scar later, but that will be a fun watch <3 Still getting the vibe that they screened my task ideas and maybe we will see it another day. We shall see.

I like the mental image of Scott looking up, covered in mud and dirt, as the Task Force comes barreling over the hill like "We caught you mud-handed!!"

Also enjoy the mental image of Joel catching Gem at the bottom of his water slide.

Joel @ Gem about The End: How come they went? I wouldn't go. Gem: idk, bunch of improv nerds. They just kept saying 'Yes.'

Yeah that tracks.

Gem: I just saved you a heart. I don't think I have to give you one.

I love how Joel is always like "Everybody likes me because I'm really popular." Like that's his actual dialogue. He's so fun to write and it's always funny to remember that he really is just Like That.

Congrats to Joel for finishing a nice fence around his base, lighting it up, and chopping down the trees to prevent skeleton spawning! He's doing pretty well this season.

MARTYN FIRST RED... He fell out of the world. what an idiot /affectionate.

Jimmy too... Jimmy. Jimmy, my man who has been out first four seasons in a row... is also on red life now... Jimmy, you are playing a DANGEROUS game.

Done with Joel's POV, switching to Grian's (after leaving a nice comment and a like on his video ofc <3)

Grian: The reds work slightly differently, but I'll explain that when we get our first red. Me: ... ah.

It's fun to see how careful and skilled Grian is. He's been a very high-heart green name for several episodes and it gives me 3rd Life vibes again.

That said, he lost a bunch in the caves... but I get why, gotta do the mining. Oh geez, zombie kid with a sword hits hard. Ouch.

Loving his dramatic music, though. It was interesting a few months ago when I went back and started binging some early Hermitcraft episodes, because you never appreciate the skill these guys have with subtle music until you compare them to their older videos which feel more awkward and empty. gg.

Holy GEEZ, Grian's dropping hearts like mad. Also watching him panic as his hunger meter drops because he's out of food is super funny. Yeah, that'll kill you.

Grian Session 4 would be a good early watch with that kind of tension... Also I love him limping into his base and devouring berry after berry.

Scar unable to take off his helmet because everyone keeps going "?? Take off your helmet!" and he can't.

The hilarity of:

Grian: Can I use your enchantment table? Scar: YES! ... Wait........ Grian: /turns around Scar: Noooo... Grian: /cracks up

Scar indicating he's okay with Grian using the table by using a sarcastic sing-songy voice to tell him it would be a bad idea to use it skldfj

Scar following Grian's instructions but doing so with a delay while Grian stands there confused sdlkfj

Grian: Scar said I could use it! How else would I know you had it? Cleo: ?? Why would Scar be in charge of our enchanter? Grian: ??? He said it was his??

Etho telling Grian to give his heart to Cleo slkdjf. Etho just really wants to be affectionate to someone.

Grian: What do I have to do to be friends? I hate living in that egg.

lskdjf obsessed with the besties roommates getting a third wheel roommate who brings them golden carrots.

Etho: You've been burning down your bases every episode. One rule: If you move into ours, you're not allowed to burn it down.

<3 Builder roommate!!

slkdfjsk they outsourced the bed shrine to Grian.

Etho: Cleo, you're really going to get along with Grian. He likes burning things too.

Obsessed with Grian asking why Etho waterlogged his chests and when Etho explains it's to prevent TNT damage, Grian just pauses and goes "I have made the right choice." sldkfj. Grian and Etho and Cleo team up! Very exciting; what will they do?

Grian asking Scar if he's okay and Scar saying "I'm neutral." skldjf. Scar is so good at this.

Loving Grian going to visit BigB for his obligatory "let's find out what weird stuff he's doing" commitment (and dragging Scar after him).

slkdjfskldj wheezing:

Grian: Why is Tango hanging around? Mumbo: ??? That's a bit rude? Someone partaking in a conversation and you're like "Why are you here?"

Watching Martyn eyeballing The End advancements in the chat while I know he's this close to dying from jumping in The End is stressing me out.

Mumbo: Grian, let's play a game. You stop. Grian: /stops Mumbo: /takes off running

And there go Martyn and Jimmy...

?? How interesting that red lives can't immediately PVP other players, but that's hilarious that they're supposed to have a never-ending chain of harmful tasks to complete. POV, you get possessed by a bunch of spirits who don't want to release your body. Time to add that to my Secret Life 'fic collection...

Grian's POV is done, going to leave him his like and comment, quickly wrap up these recaps, and sign off for the night.

Etho time:

Coming back in to Martyn's gaslighting suggestion... picking up what Etho does from here. sldkfj that really is my task he suggested, but Etho interpreted it differently. Fun to watch though. Also hilarious that Etho started claiming he came up with the Aha bit. sldkfj. Everyone in this series is nuts.

Shout out to Bdubs: "I want to be Yellow just for the barks."

slkdfj love Jimmy pointing out that in Last Life everyone was cracking up over Aha jokes but now everyone is just sighing at Etho.

Etho possessed by dead Southlander ghost :(

I like Etho asking if Grian wants a bread bridge because it really does sound like he's just bringing up "dead memes."

wheezing at Bdubs like "Wow, someone made the whole world in this short of a time?" and Scott jumps in like "Only a Bad Boy could do that." slkdfjlsdjf

Martyn: I meant something else but :'D (GG)

slkdfjsdljfskl screaming at BigB like "I forgot I was supposed to report to the Heart Foundation."

Etho: I'm a horse girl too. Cleo: I mean, that's what I call Bdubs.

lskdjfsldkjf Impulse jumpscare. Haven't seen him show up in any of my POVs yet. Will probably circle back to him later this weekend.

That wraps up Etho's POV, switching over... I have been watching Minecraft for like 3 hours straight.

Bdubs in Etho's comments launching a "formal complaint" against Etho sldkjfs. That's friendship.

Speedwatching Martyn and then Scar and then we rest.

Picking up 15 minutes into Martyn's episode:

Joel, about his wife: Oh, Lizzie. I forgot her. Not like she's an important part of my life or anything. Martyn: Old news, old news. Separation of work and life.

I do find it funny that Etho was bouncing around like "Joel, want to take a shot at me?"

The "Scar never stood trial" screen is cracking me up.

Again, RIP Scar unable to take off his helmet because everyone kept telling him too slkdjf.

I love Martyn and Pearl going back and forth like "You just told me to give my base a big butt and then walked off."

Martyn: I'm waiting to hand in my task in case I lose hearts so I can recover. Curse of knowledge: ...

<3 Pretty Heart Foundation cherry blossom heart and cool globe in the background.

sldkjf Impulse urging everyone to gift Skizz hearts. The guilt. They are BFFs, your honor.

Martyn's dramatic music while Scar takes off running slkdjf.

Big brain move by Martyn for swiping Mumbo's horse while sussing out his task.

Welp, this is as far as I got before someone came in and pulled me from my computer, which of course restarted in my absence and closed all my many incognito tabs with my videos :') Ugh. Thank goodness for auto-saved drafts though or I would have lost this after 3 hours of watching.

Posting now and if I have anything more to say about Martyn or Scar, I'll do so in another post!

[misc-obeyme]

I'M ALIVE (BARELY) !! Work is kicking my ass. Also, lots of things went wrong for me this morning, but they all worked out in the end ?? Like I forgot to set my alarm, had to bring my mom's phone to her job bc she forgot it, my bus ended up running late because the doors would get stuck at stops. But I woke up on time, caught the bus after taking the phone, and made it early to work because the bus forgot to take the detour? My luck is insane (thanks Mammon.)

ANYWAY, i can no longer contain my thoughts about Mammon x Solomon x Mc. I'm just imagining my mc and Solomon who are both very curious, and love messing around with potions at purgatory hall, and finding alternatives to rare ingredients. This has definitely gone wrong a bunch of times (most days without a potion incident: 4)

and I'm imagining Mammon tagging along bc he misses mc and is jealous that Sol is taking up their time, but denies all claims - "I'm assigned to protect ya, ain't I?" "From Solomon?" "W-Well, he's a shady sorcerer!"

He sits on the floor by mc's feet, and will fetch them things because he can't say no to them. But he spends so much time listening to them brainstorm, he starts learning and will chime in randomly. Mc and Sol who are stuck on what to add, Mammon drops something in there, and they're both horrified until they realize the potion is perfect now. He just has a little database in his mind of what to add to something, and rare ingredients that the two wish they could get their hands on.

Thinking about Mammon doing a favor for a witch and she tells him to pick anything in her collection since she's low on money. He was about to be angry when he saw an ingredient that they've both been complaining is rare and hard to find. He asks the witch for that and then brings it to the two. He acts all nonchalant about it, trying to brush it off. Mc tackles him, meanwhile Solomon is in awe and staring with a twinkle in his eye.

Now Mammon starts requesting trades with witches, for a lower portion of grimm. Gets ingredients he knows they dream about, because the way mc and sol will get all giddy after he presents them with his earnings makes his stomach flip (he will never admit this)

"This is missing something" Solomon

"Yeah but I can't figure out what" MC

"Have you tried *insert seemingly common ingredient that doesn't work for most things*" Mammon

"But no one uses that, it's why we're always stuck with it" MC

"Couldn't hurt to try. See, watch." Mammon.

"WAIT, MAMMON DON'T- ... IT WORKED!?" Mc/Sol

----

"MAMMON HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET THIS, IT ONLY BLOOMS ONCE EVERY 100 YEARS" mc

"Dunno, got it from a random witch. Said she didn't need it. *spent two hours haggling with said witch*"

"...am I in love?" Solomon, reevaluating life

"Eh? What are ya mumbling about? If you're gonna thank me, I want it loud and clear!"

my crack ship <3 they mean everything to me. I caved and hunted down the plushies of them on ebay too. ALSO I GOT TWO OF MY COMMISSIONS BACK AND I'M 😭 they're perfect !!! I'm so so happy with them. Literally the lock screen is beautiful bc it's me and mammon cuddling (HIS MUSCLES CC!! IM DYING) and it looks like it was taken by like asmo or something who walked in to wake us up.

i think I'm also a hopeless romantic, I'm just scared of confronting my feelings lol (you're right in that it is worth it, I just need to figure out how to be brave </3). I throw myself into romance books and fanfics. Vaguely related, thinking about coffee shop au with barista!Mammon and college student!Solomon.

OKAY SORRY IM DONE RAMBLING 😭 HAVE A GOOD DAYYYY

- ✨ anon

Wow that does sound like a crazy morning!! I'm glad it all worked out, though~ Mammon is totally watching out for you!

OKAY but all of that sounds exactly like Mammon! I mean, he's super smart, he just doesn't usually bother to apply himself to anything. So it totally makes sense that he'd just pick up things because he's spending time with MC and Solomon. And then of course he's gonna end up seeing rare ingredients and being like, okay yeah I'm taking that. That all sounds absolutely adorable~

I'm curious about whether or not Solomon and Mammon would make a pact in this situation? I mean, if it's both of them and your MC that are in the relationship, do you think they would? Do you think Solomon would move past his obsession with getting a pact with Lucifer and end up in one with Mammon instead?

I always felt like Solomon doesn't really get Mammon, you know? But that doesn't mean he can't learn. And oh man, Solomon is such a tease and Mammon is so not good at being teased lol. That idea is giving me so many entertaining images, I can't even handle it.

Anyway, I'm totally here for it! It sounds really cute~

I'm so glad you're happy with your comms!!! They sound amazing!

And don't worry, you'll figure it out. I don't know how old you are, but I suspect you have plenty of time! It's a balancing act, you know? It's important to be honest with yourself about your feelings without letting them control you. But it's easier to decide what to do about them if you know what they are. Anyway, not to get all philosophical over here lol. I think the key is to find someone you want to be brave for, you know?

AUGH I love coffee shop aus sooooooo much!!! I was very obsessed with the idea of barista!Mammon for a while, mostly because of a daily chat where he was working at a cafe and then got into a fight with customer. He's good at finances, so I think he could be pretty business minded if he wanted to be. So I was thinking about a situation where he owns his own cafe, but when the customers get rude with one of his fellow baristas, he gets into a fight with them lol. I hadn't really considered who that other barista was, but it could be MC.

Anyway, I could ramble about coffee shop aus all day because I love them aklsdlkfjdfjkl

I hope you have a lovely day/night, too!!

[gemini-magic17]

Entanglement Chapter Four

After a long agonizing five days at sea, we finally make it it to Tir Asleen. From what I could see from the ship it was beautiful, grassy terrain, clear blue skies, and lively people. It almost reminds me of home and makes me believe that I could actually have a happy life here. As we approach shore I can see a few guards waiting to great us and bring us to the castle.

"So, are you ready for this", James asked.

"Kind of. I'm still nervous but this place reminds me of home in a way which helps."

"In that case, you should accommodate quickly", my mother and father came up behind me.

"I don't think it will be that smooth of a transition but hopefully it will be alright", I said with concern and worry.

"Don't worry Y/n you got this", James said confidently.

As we dock I end up in almost a trance as I take in my surroundings looking at Tis Asleen's magnificent kingdom. I hear the sound of a crate dropping making me jump pulling me out of the trance I was in. It seems one of the crew members had tripped over one of the ropes dropping a crate of my things.

"I am so sorry Princess it was an accident", he said apologetically.

"Don't worry about it they are just things. Are you ok", I said.

"Yes, Princess I am fine thank you."

Smiling I head with my family onto land where we meet the guards saying that they would bring us to the castle. The journey didn't take too long maybe it just seemed that way because I couldn't stop thinking about how my life officially "starts" today.

"Hey, Y/n", my brother whispers to me trying not to get our parents attention.

"What is it, James"?

"It seems we're here. I have never seen so many smiling faces in one place before. Do you think their faces are starting to hurt from doing that", he said.

"Perhaps, although James I do remember a certain someone who couldn't stop smiling the entire time week of the Drakas festival", I said. "Well it was a festival who wouldn't be happy and all smiles during a festival!"

I laughed at his overreaction to what I had just said. Looking out the carriage window I see someone or rather a smiling someone. The way she smiled could light up a room and the way she walked off without a care in the world made me curious. All I could focus on was her at that moment and once she was out of my eye of sight I just couldn't stop wondering who she was.

I made my way back to the castle after training with Jade again just to remember what today was. I still think it is absolute bullshit that I have to be the one to marry this so-called Princess. I mean Airk is going to be king and if this is such an important alliance between our kingdoms why can't he just marry her. With the constant battle, I had going on in my mind about this I bumped into Boorman.

"Woah Kit what's the hurry", he said.

"Sorry, I am unfortunately in a rush to meet some guests that my mother invited", with evident disdain in my voice.

"Oh, you mean the Princess Y/n who is your soon-to-be wife I take it", he says with a knowingly look.

"How do you know about it? Did Airk tell you? I swear he can't keep his mouth shut", I exclaimed.

"No, when I meet up with Jade yesterday she told me about it."

"Oh."

"Yeah, I'm sorry kid I know how much you and Jade care for each other", he said sympathetically.

"Thanks, but I told Jade that nothing is going to change between the two of us. Even though I am going to be married it doesn't mean I am going to stop having feelings or seeing Jade."

"Kit, you getting married isn't that what you are supposed to do? I know you love Jade but what about Y/n she is innocent in all this. Are you really going to subject this girl to a life where she isn't going to be miserable having to see you and Jade together. You don't even know her yet give her a chance before making her life what is going to seem like to her a living hell", he said.

"Knowing her or not won't make a difference. My mother knows how I feel about Jade and she went ahead with this betrothal knowing that she could have made this alliance between Y/n and Airk. Instead, she decided to subject me to marriage I don't even want."

"Kit, before you do anything you regret just give her a chance. You never know you may end up liking her."

"Yeah, sure whatever you say Boorman," I give him a jokingly smile.

Heading back to the castle again I see a carriage past me. Paying no attention to it I made my way to where I was going. On the way I see Airk and he informs me that our mother insisted that he would walk me to our destination.

"Let me guess, she is afraid that I won't show up so she sent you like I need you to look after me like a child", sounding pissed off.

"It's not my fault that our mother trusts the fact that you will follow her rules", he said.

"Hold up, let me get this straight your saying if you were to be getting married right now and mother was just telling you about it there would be no problem."

"I never said that. However, I have heard the rumors that the Princess is quite beautiful and I would not have too much of an issue with the betrothal."

"You sicken me", I say.

We arrived at the meeting spot and I saw the carriage from earlier stop in front of us. Before the carriage even opened my mother of course had to say something.

"Remember Kit this is to be your future wife and in-laws be respectful", she says with that warning tone in her voice.

"Whatever you say mother", I said sarcastically.

As the carriage doors open I see an older woman and man step out first which I only assume are the King and Queen of Zemira. Next came the Prince who had little to no expression on his face whatsoever. Lastly, the Princess made her appearance where she was helped out of the carriage by her brother. From what I could see she wasn't horrible looking Airk was right when he said the rumors were that she was beautiful. Although, that doesn't matter much to me seeing as I have no interest in getting to know her in the slightest.

My mother walked up to them all smilely pretending that we are going to be one big happy family. Well I have news for her this will be no happy union.

"Welcome your majesties to Tir Asleen I hope your journey was well", she said.

"I was fine Queen Sorsha the seas were very kind", my mother said.

The queen made her way through the King, Queen, and Prince until she finally got to Y/n.

"Princess Y/n, you are even more beautiful than your parents described you."

"Thank you, Queen Sorsha and my mother did not do you just when she talked about how kind you were."

I couldn't help but snicker at that remark. Of course, everyone heard and I got a scowl in return from my mother. Trying not to laugh again I bit my tongue to keep quiet.

"Kit, come greet our guests", my mother said.

Walking up to them I hid the look of despise on my face. As did my mother I greeted everyone once I got to the Princess. It took every ounce of my being not to say something rude or just high tale it out of there.

"Welcome to Tir Asleen Princess."

"Thank you Princess Kit", she said.

Once we said our hello's my mother informed us that our betrothal would be made public at tonight's celebration. If I wasn't mad before I was definitely fuming now. She couldn't even make it a week let alone a day to announce my impending doom to this girl. Just perfect now hell begins for me.

[winterwrites23]

I absolutely ADORE String of Time! I wait with anticipation for each chapter to come out! While I wait I also love reading your Hetalia head cannons. While reading them I came across how Ireland’s elemental magic is fire, and I think Wales is wind? I was wondering what England’s and Scotland’s elemental magic are?

skdfhaskdf thank you so much!!!! It makes me so happy to know someone enjoys the story as much as I love writing it (even if it takes me forever to do it. So thank you for your endless patience xD).

As for your question, I don't remember if I talked about the topic in depth in my headcanon posts, but I did include some parts of it in the story. It makes sense to me for Nations who use magic to have an affinity for elemental magic. What with them representing the Land and being really close with Nature.

So for the brothers, I went with the classic four elements: fire for Ireland, air for Wales, water for England and earth for Scotland. The reasons behind it will be explored later in the future. It's nothing crazy as seen in ATLA, they just have an easier time getting in tune with their magic when using their respective element. Think of it like cantrips in DnD, it's not that powerful, but they can do it at will without expending energy.

But what about North? Well, I can't say much, because it's literally going to be explained in the next chapter (at least some part of it). So the timing of your question makes me both laugh but also go feral because I REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, you have no idea ksskdfasksdg but I have ✨plans✨.

Though, I am curious about your guesses, because I may or may not have dropped a few hints already throughout the story 👀👀👀