#I just think they also deserve to be happy sometimes

[howlsofbloodhounds]

imagine if Colors very existence slips from peoples mind when not directly observed. Forgotten until he is there.

~Musical Anon

Yes, I love that. It’s the opposite of Muriel from the Arcana too, whereas Color’s is a horrible curse forced on him—possibly a sign of the Void’s lingering presence in his new life—Muriel wished for his ‘curse.’ That people would forget him and his existence as soon as he left their sight, only able to remember him if he allowed it via gifting them something—I believe it was a type of flower?

Also similar and in contrast to Killer himself, who if it wasn’t for Nightmare’s intervention, was perfectly willing to erase himself and allow his existence to be forgotten—believing that Papyrus doesn’t need him, and deserved to have a happy ending without him.

I also think the Void should have more effects on Color, too. Like maybe with time his “color” started to grey out, making him have a more monochrome like look—and maybe he still appears to have patches of lost color or something like monochrome on his body even after his escape.

Maybe sometimes his appearance flickers when people look at him—as if he’s not something of this world, and doesn’t truly exist in it. Or shouldn’t exist in it.

Maybe if he had stayed long enough in the Void, he would’ve even lost most if not all of his physical form—similar to the way that Gaster has a floating head in the Void.

A moot of mine even had a headcanon that, sometimes people look at Color and see something ethereal and otherworldly, whereas others look at him and see their greatest fears; something horrific and monstrous. In a blink and you’ll miss it kind of way.

I’d imagine having six human souls inside him, allowing a body that should for all accounts and purposes should be dust by now, to move and talk, definitely wouldn’t help the sense that people get that they’re looking at or talking to something that is not on the same reality or plane of existence as them.

Especially if Color himself sometimes doesn’t seem to be mentally on the same plane, either. Or at least often seems lost in his own head. For example, as if time doesn’t seem to mean much to him for a while, or as if he’s looking beyond and seeing something that others aren’t.

Some probably just write it off as trauma, the impact of having been separated from people and society for so long, others may be more suspicious or even knowing of any possible supernatural aftereffects that the Void could cause. Maybe something around that one quote, “stare long enough into the abyss, the abyss stares back,” something like that.

Could also be interesting to either or also go a more mental, emotional, psychological route. Color feels and fears that his existence slips people’s minds and he is or will be forgotten again if people do not directly look at, perceive, or speak to him—forgotten and discarded until someone looks at him again, until they want or need something, until it’s convenient for them to remember him.

[no1whippedcreamenjoyer]

i love this domestic shadownilla au. its freaking adorable!

THANK YOU!!!

Yeah it lives in my head mostly but a lot of it is just that I think Candy Apple and Black Sapphire deserve better.

Pure Vanilla tries to be a dad to them, and even though they're both rough around the edges, really just wants them to be happy.

He'd do almost anything for these kids.

Black Sapphire loves rock music- so Pure Vanilla, who helps organize the Summer Soda Rock Festival, calls in a favor so his kid can meet Bassist Cookie. Black Lemonade comes too- but Black Sapphire's favorite is Bassist Cookie.

Candy Apple's best grades tend to be in Chemistry and Alchemy because of her syrup obsession. She starts selling syrup jewelry and accessories in the cafeteria and they quickly become the student body's favorite new thing.

This leads to Pure Vanilla having many late nights putting hairpins and necklaces together while his daughter gets some sleep.

Pure Vanilla's retired- and he's so, so thankful for that. If he had to be running a kingdom while trying to spend as much time with his family as possible- let's say he Already doesn't sleep enough.

But it isn't like he's not doing anything! He's still volunteering to help organize events, he's on the PTA board, he likes to help Blueberry Pie in the Archives, and he has a new favorite kind of date night to take Shadow Milk on

Couples Cooking Classes! Pure Vanilla's been wanting to teach Shadow Milk to cook for forever- but he also hasn't made anything without raisins in it for the past 50 years.

Since weekends for theatre tend to be full of extra rehearsals and shows, they've had to make sure they can do something on the weeknights, and couples classes are usually good for that!

They're busy, and sometimes school and work can be tough- but they're all so much happier now that the worst things that can happen are bad grades and spoiled friendships.

[farfromstrange]

Heya Lizzi! Happy early bday to u 🥺❤ I think it's amazing that you give away presents when you should be the one getting them!! But I do hope this can be fun for u, too: So, for my bouquet, I would love some peonies and daisies with the prompt "This is the best uniform a good lawyer could ask for" and HEAR ME OOUT: gn!reader is an artist that has been feeling down for a few months - mental health stuff, you can do whatever here - and stopped drawing, painting, doing pretty much anything for a while. so to get back in track they try out a new form of art - sewing, embroidery, and pretty much anything fashion related. What if they start by... Maybe embroidering small flowers and hearts inside the sleeves of Matt's suits or maybe a little sun in a hidden corner of his tie? Until they turn into more elaborate designs such as flowers with different sizes and shapes (Matt obviously being able to feel the patterns made with thread and needle and discern them) and he just realizes happily his partner is back to making art again... I know this is a VERY specific ask and I'm so sorry 😭 you don't have to write it if you don't want to 😭 but it would make me really happy too bc... It's sort of a self insert there to be honest... Well anyhow SORRY FOR THE LONG ASK (and for my poor english) and again HAPPY BIRTHDAY QUEEEEEN!!!!

— 🌞

AHHH this was such an amazing idea to write! Thank you so much for your request, Sun! This ask was so incredibly detailed I was scared of doing it wrong, so it took me a few days to finish. But don't ever apologize for telling me exactly what you want because getting this request was honestly a joy. I know that feeling of not being able to, in my case write because of my mental health, sometimes for months on end, so this was personal. It makes me all giddy that you trusted me to bring this idea to life. In this house, we support self-indulgence! I tried my best to stay true to your request, so I hope you enjoy! It turned from a Drabble into a whole-ass One Shot, but honestly, you deserve it. (Also I love how you signed off as a sun and wanted me to incorporate embroidering a sun into Matt's clothes, which led to me using that word a lot during this fic. I don't know it just makes me really happy).

Of Suns And Flowers

Event Masterlist | Matt Murdock Masterlist

Pairing: Matt Murdock x GN!Reader (no pronouns or physical descriptions used)

Request: A bouquet of… peonies and daisies.

Warnings: Fluff, mentions of mental health issues (depression, anxiety, but nothing explicit), struggling with creativity due to said mental health issues

WC: 1.2k

(This also marks the last request for this event. Wrapping things up with a sweet little treat.)

You haven’t been yourself lately. Depression. Anxiety over being depressed. Work. It’s a toxic cocktail that poisons you from the inside out. When it happens, you retreat into your shell like a scared turtle to somehow survive the million thoughts rushing through your mind. 

Matt doesn’t need you to say the words to know. What hurts him most is sensing the light leave your body whenever the demons take over; they turn every brightly colored aspect of your character and paint them dark. 

The art you usually burn for lies discarded in a box in the closet. Brushes, pencils, empty canvases, and even the expensive collection of oil paint he got you for your birthday remain untouched. 

Matt is aware of how guilty you feel when you can’t create, but every time he asks you, “You want to do some pottery together?” Or anything else that would tickle the light out of you, you just smile and say, “I’m sorry, I’m busy. Maybe tomorrow.” But tomorrow is always the same. 

He knows you’re not fine. Your inspiration has died, and he doesn’t know what to do. He can hold you as you cry. He can try and put out those fires of doubt that consume every fiber of your being, and he can love you, but he doesn’t know how to bring the art back into your life. 

One morning though, when Matt adjusts his tie back at the office, he notices something different. He traces his fingers over the intricate design on the inside of the fabric. At first, he can’t make sense of it. It feels odd, almost, an amalgamation of thread in the shape of a sun. He can’t remember it being there when he first bought it, but he doesn’t question it further—until the strange sensation finds him again on the inside of his suit jacket a few days later. A flower, he’s sure of it. Most of his suits are as old as his law degree, so he’s sure it wasn’t there before. 

To study the sudden appearance of these designs further than the one thought in his mind telling him exactly what he wants them to be, he decides to pull Foggy into his office one day and ask him, “Can you look at something for me?”

His friend raises his eyebrows. “You know I don’t mind helping you, buddy,” he starts, “but I’m not a doctor.”

Matt sighs. “That’s not–” He opens his suit jacket to demonstrate. The thread is now carefully placed right where his left chest pocket lies, in the shape of what he assumes to be a bouquet of lavender, poppies, and daisies. “Here,” he points to it, “See that?” 

Foggy gasps, and he bends down a little to observe the design. “Oh, wow! That’s awesome. Where’d you get that?” 

Still not sure if his senses are betraying him, he runs his finger over it again. “That’s the thing. I don’t know.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know?”

“I don’t know how it got there. It wasn’t like that when I bought it.”

“Well, they’re flowers,” Foggy states. “Embroidered flowers. Poppies, lavender… and I think those are daisies.”

“Embroidered?” Matt asks.

“Yeah. If you ever find out who did this, tell them to send me the pattern. It’s amaze-balls. Marci would love it.” 

Huh. Embroidery. It doesn’t take him long to put two and two together, and his lips curl into a smile. A broad one, not a smirk. It’s like the sky has opened up and the sun is shining down on Hell’s Kitchen again. On him. On you. And the weight on his shoulders seems to fall off almost instantly.

When he comes home later that evening to find the air smelling of his favorite Indian takeout, he drops his bag by the door and makes his way toward the sound of your heartbeat. It’s getting steadier, he notices it. Your breaths weigh less heavily in the air. The one thing he wanted to be true seems to have actually become true: you’re creating again. 

“Hi,” you greet him with a smile, albeit a little exhausted.

“Hi,” he smiles back, not wasting a second to wrap his arms around your frame and press a chaste kiss to your head. “I missed you.”

“Missed you too. How was work?”

“Lots of paperwork. How was your day?” 

“Same,” you say, “but I picked up dinner on the way home.”

He hums. “I can smell that. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

You reach for the cutlery to set the table, but Matt catches your wrist mid-action. “Actually, I have something to ask you,” he says.

You swallow. Your pulse starts to race. You’ve been waiting for this moment, he can tell, trying to figure out how long you can get away with this, and once again the sun comes out. 

“Someone’s been tampering with my suits.” He reveals the embroidery on the inside of his suit jacket as if it were news to both of you. “They’re flowers, I asked Foggy, and somehow every item of clothing I own suddenly has one. You have any idea who could’ve done this?”

Blood rushes to your cheeks. “I am so sorry,” you ramble. “I got this new embroidery set, and I got really into it, so I wanted to try out how they’d look on different fabric, and… well, your tie was kinda just there, and then I moved on to your jackets because why not? You know, and–”

“Baby,” Matt laughs, cutting you off with his hands on your shoulders, “Baby, breathe! It’s okay. I’m not mad.” 

You shut your mouth. “Oh.”

“I just… you haven’t touched your arts and crafts in, what, weeks? Months?”

“I felt like trying something new.”

“And you have no idea how happy that makes me,” he says. “These flowers… They feel amazing. Beautiful.”

“They’re a bit crooked,” you try to argue.

He shushes you, his forehead now resting against yours. “You’re making art again. That’s a big deal. And crooked or not, they’re beautiful to me.”

You melt against him. How can you not when the thing you were most insecure about turned out to be a good thing?

“I missed you,” his voice is barely above a whisper, “and I am so proud of you.”

You take his hands off your shoulders and into your own. “Thank you.”

“I mean it, sweetheart.” He kisses your forehead, your eyes, your nose, and then finally, he reaches your lips. The kiss is soft, chaste, but it conveys those three little words he doesn’t even have to utter anymore. 

I love you. 

“You really don’t mind?” you ask then, uncertainty still gnawing away at you. 

“Mind?” he says, almost offended you would ever think that, and he places your hands on his jacket. “This is the best uniform a good lawyer could ask for.”

From that day on, Matt flaunts every little (or big) piece of embroidery on his clothing. Even long after you have crawled your way out of that slump, he keeps flaunting the fact his partner is such a talented artist in everything they do, and when you forward the pattern to Marci, Foggy soon enough joins in on the trend. 

[spelllingandthemysteryschool]

I’m scrolling through your blog and im so sorry u can ignore this if you’d like, but how do you make friends? How do you find love and persist? Even though your 20s are hard you seem to have a wonderful support system of friends (I’m the same age as you). It feels so lonely here, and I can’t help but reach out and ask how you do it. I wish I had your strength.

hi! i’m so sorry for leaving this ask unanswered for a little bit. you have nothing to apologize for! 🤍

it’s true that i am lucky enough to have a number of friends i know i can turn to! for a really long time i didn’t, though, and sometimes when i think about all the people i care about who care about me in return i am genuinely stunned. i don’t know what your life looks like but either way it comes down to a few things: luck and consistency, i think. and believing genuinely you deserve the love and connection others want to give you.

when i say luck i don’t mean waiting around for people to find you. like sometimes that works! but most of the time it’s about creating the conditions for you to meet new people. if you’re still in school maybe this looks like attending club meetings or going to an interesting-sounding lecture or sitting down with the group of people you always see hanging out on the lawn. if you’re not in school maybe it means showing up to a movie screening at the local indie cinema a little early to chat and mill about, or getting a membership at a pottery studio, or going to an event at a game store near your house. if you create the circumstances in which u might meet people you who share your interests and values you probably will! so it’s not reaaaally luck, but it kind of is, only because you don’t know who exactly you’ll meet in these spaces. there are lots of opportunities to come across new people if u look into it and though it can admittedly be kind of nerve-racking if you’re not accustomed to going places alone before you have people to go with, but being a part of the world is almost always worth it.

consistency on the other hand is just about fostering the relationships that come out of these chance meetings or brief conversations until they come naturally to you. when you stumble across someone you think u could be friends with, keeping in touch is so important even if it’s mortifying to like. message someone that you’d love to hang out again or specifically reach out to suggest doing something together. but it really is that simple! i reconnected with some of my elementary school best friends who i hadn’t spoken to in years recently, and we all ended up chatting so much we decided to get brunch together to catch up, and then consistently stayed in contact to an extent where we have periodic meet-ups even though our lives have diverged so much. it’s been really nice and it was completely worth the sense of vague embarrassment and shame i felt at first putting in the effort to regularly reach out because they were also looking for company and happy to hear from me!

i will also be super honest about the fact that oftentimes you get nepo baby’d into having more friends! like for me, i got back in touch with a high school friend of mine (now my girlfriend of two years) back when we were in university together, met their friends who soon became my friends, and ended up joining a big group of people we all continued to invite new friends into. friendship, once you foster it, begets more friendship. if someone cares about you they usually will want you to meet the other people they care about too.

anyway. i don’t think i’m a very strong person at all, but i’m grateful you see me this way. i often fail at reaching out when i know i should and when i’m doing poorly i tend to try and push people away on purpose because i talk myself into thinking that i’m a burden and that my friends deserve better. but they love me anyway and are sad when i do this! so really it’s not about inherent strength, it’s just like. about. trusting that you are someone worth knowing and being around even when things feel hard, that your friends choose to hang out with and stay in your life because they value and love you. it takes time to believe it even though it’s true.

sorry if these thoughts were really scattered! i hope i made sense. i know that it’s so much easier to say these things than actually do them, but i’ve been in your shoes before and i’m still really delighted and surprised to find that i have a community to lean on. i hope that eventually you’re similarly able to find people who will love u for a long time and that life grows easier to bear both because nice things happen and because you’re sharing it with your loved ones. i’m wishing you so well!

[luigilore]

hi, so in relation to your post about physical touch when you’re someone who’s used to being touched clinically and stuff.. i wanted to tell you that it moved me a lot, so thanks <33 i’m the anon who wrote a few days ago abt chronic pain, idk if you remember

but it got me thinking about how when you’ve lived most of your life in pain, your perception of sensations is so messed up. enjoying basic things like touch can be a very difficult task, and it sort of feels like you have to unlearn so many pain patterns just to be able to feel certain stimuli normally. like for me, i’m just a girl w a lot of issues in my pelvic area, and just speaking from experience, it was so hard to learn to tolerate and later enjoy sexual sensation and touch, just because your body is so used to pain there. and that’s kind of what moves me so much about lu, just the fact that i know he understands. cause pain in those areas is so stigmatized and isolating (for men and women, i think), so it really takes someone who really cares for you to work with you through it. like i just really hope there was someone in his life who he could trust with that, who was gentle with him and patient and touched him with care. it just got me feeling this strong (very emotionally charged) urge to touch him so gently and softly that he can doze off. to just touch and hold him with so much care that he can release all the tension. could be sexual or not, it doesn’t matter. just being close to him and taking care of him however he wants. kind of breaks my heart a little bit :(

ah omg hi dear im so glad to hear from you again! ofc i remember you!! i'm very sorry i have been moving at snail pace answering ur request (and this ask), i just really want to do it justice! i so appreciate your kind words from last week <3 and i am so happy that you enjoyed it, that feeling was def drawn from my own personal experience...

you really put it in such a lovely and eloquent way, you have a way with words!!! you articulated a lot of feelings i've had but struggle to express... when i got a massage earlier this year, i realized how adverse i am to touch now and it was so unenjoyable like i was tense the entire time bc im so used to expecting pain! (so that inspired that blurb)

and ugh yes... my heart... i also sooo hope he had someone like that (as i would love someone like that in my life lol)!!! but yes i think like something im so stuck on w lu is just physical (and emotional) intimacy with him in particular would be so important in ur relationship and something i think he would really value... maybe he didn't even know he valued it until he met you but...

you always seem to just know and if you don't, you always gently ask, you're patient and soft but your touch is never tentative, it's always entirely filled with love. i feel like he would struggle at the beginning of ur relationship to be this vulnerable physically bc he's never had that opportunity before, like feeling so safe/comfortable in someones arms that he can fall asleep?? i think he really craves this closeness even taking chronic pain out of the equation but yes, the layer of your patience and kindness and softness with his back would mean sm to him... i think he would sometimes get in moods where he feels like he doesnt deserve u (tbh kind of relevant but after learning about stoicism in class i totally see how he went down that rabbit hole as a man with chronic pain) i think he would struggle to articulate his needs/wants ESP related to his pain but ur so good at reading him that that's honestly okay... u can always tell when he grits his teeth or furrows his brows, or subtly rubs at his back or hip....

but i think the trust and love would just be really beautiful... and the communication; being there, listening to him, just validating the existence of his pain and struggle... <//33 my heart

sorry this is all over the place... anon i promise i am writing something about lu and chronic pain... it started off as hcs but i have sm ideas that i am currently drafting/writing an actual fic! i used to write like 5-10k wc fics so i am dipping my toes back into that hehe <3 but also i might end up posting some hcs too! thank you again for ur asks and kindness, it's really great to connect with someone else with chronic pain! <3

[amanitacurses]

":P"

[punknerdmusings]

Hera design for that game I'm making. She's still a rough sketch technically, but I'm also not the most experienced in pixel art 😅 Especially at this size (150 by 200 was original canvas size). Hilariously, smaller is sometimes easier.

Her hair is one of my favorite details, it's braided close to her head but the ends are left loose to be a hair sculpture reminiscent of peacock feathers.

@creatingblackcharacters Thought you might enjoy this one!

[spotaus]

New Age AU (Obtaining Killer)

Hey guys! Through with a bot of stuff for the day and I have a sneaking suspicion that this stress headache will not leave me until I finish some projects for work, so I *may* be m.i.a. for a hot second until they stop.

In the meantime, I want to drop this! (Unedited, unrefined, raw off the slab style)

Andddd @ancha-aus and @papiliovolens ! Hello! (Mutzelputz if u see this, the tags weren't working for some reason, I apologize.)

Hope y'all enjoy!

Ccino had convinced him to leave the castle. After nearly a year had passed since his last true public appearance. Since he'd stolen the apple from his brother. Nine months had passed since he'd sent Dream away. He tried not to think about it.

Nightmare had been finding out a lot about his magic. How it made him jittery, and how he felt like he understood so much more. How it made him deeply paranoid, quick to react.

How it made people listen to him.

He figured it was because he was scary now. The negative magic condensed over every inch of his bone wasn't exactly appealing, and the extra limbs which had sprouted from his spine now acted like his own personal weapons. If someone didn't listen, didn't give him an answer he liked, the limbs moved without him even thinking.

It had taken time to learn to better control them. Even now, they writhed in his wake. His nerves expressed through their lashing and twitching as they hovered just above the ground.

The streets weren't exactly crowded.

Upon word of the King's arrival to this small providence, Nightmare had found that many people fled from his path. His travel party of several soldiers, and himself on horseback. He'd always wanted to ride horses. The traitor twin was someone that every citizen wished to avoid.

Ccino had coaxed him outside with promises of fresh air. Apparently there were promising young members of the city guard that Ccino swore would be wonderful future knights. Young warriors for him to bring up loyally under his name, no fear of betrayal.

It had made sense, at the time, but Nightmare hadn't chosen to recruit any of them.

It wasn't to say he didn't want to. Several of the humans and monsters were very talented, and he did his best to give them praise, but he could tell. None of them wanted to work under him. They didn't like him. Rejection and hatred that had pierced him immediately, he could practically taste it.

Ultimately, they would do better here in their hometown. A place they were passionate about protecting, and with people they cared for. Night would not try to mold promising soldiers into his perfect guard. No matter how smart of an idea it may have been.

And so he'd moved on.

Night had visited several smaller shops, onces which couldn't afford to refuse him, and he bought some fabrics, a trinket, some small thing from each place he stopped by. He payed exactly the price he needed for each thing. He wouldn't bribe his people, either. The best he could do would be to remain neutral.

He did discover, against all odds, that he was enjoying this day out. Ccino was, in fact, usually correct about this sort of thing.

The travel had been enriching. Almost exciting. He'd never gotten out of the castle much at all, this was all new and excitingly mundane.

Good things do not last forever.

It was almost sunset when he noticed it. Torches being set up, a platform prepared. A crowd gathering.

An execution, came the mutter from one of his soldiers. Though he recognized the set-up, Night had never been in attendance to an execution. He was morbidly curious. The crowd held such a contempt. A broiling hunger for blood.

He wished he'd wheeled his horse away when a few people were ushered out of a nearby building.

The prison, maybe?

There weren't many of them. Nightmare dismounted his steed, and much to the dismay of the soldiers at his side, he found himself sinking. Into the growing shadows cast by the dying sun.

He re-emerged beside the stage, where the few people were lined up. Ready for death by hanging.

That trick wasn't one that Nightmare quite understood yet, but he was always drawn to feelings of intense negativity. He knew that, now. Something about these prisoners were bothering him, even at a distance, and he found himself more curious as he stood before them.

His guards, at the back of the crowd, hadn't seemed to figure out where he had gone. He had the time, now, to loom over the small group of prisoners.

The city guards, the trained ones, had likely seen him earlier at their headquarters. They did not speak even a word against him as he stared.

Nightmare stared at these faces.

A dog monster, scrappy and scarred, black fur clashing against a few patches of white. One of her ears was missing.

A pair of humans, both men, one with long, curly red hair and another with short-cropped red hair and the beginnings of a beard. Maybe they were brothers?

A skeleton. His sockets dripped with black magic, and his soul was a piercing crimson, just infront of his chest.

A flame monster, small and stout. Their flames a flickering green and purple. One of their eyes had a patch over it.

Nightmare was not great at determining emotions yet. He was hardly versed in his own feelings, but there had been improvement recently. Understanding new emotions had been coming more naturally to him.

Sometimes it hurt, but he was learning.

Now, past the blossoms of a headache, he felt a bit baffled as he subconsciously picked through the negativity these monsters exuded. Their fear. Their pain. Their loss, and their anger.

Oh.

"Only one of you is guilty."

He'd said it without thinking, practically announcing it with a voice that still felt unnaturally deep. A voice which rattled his ribcage and seemed to force past the barrier of darkness around him.

The group before him seemed startled. Confused.

Well, all but the skeleton, who seemed to only raise his skull slightly. As though just noticing Nightmare was there.

"How could you have possibly been jailed in the first place?" He muttered a bit quieter to himself.

He knew, deep down, that there were many, many rules in place for situations like this. Laws which he could challenge. People he could speak to. He could appoint members of his court to each of these people and try to earn their innocence through the rites of the law.

Then again, he remembered the rage of the crowd. The frustration of the people waiting to see these killings take place.

He didn't know what to do.

Now the prisoners, especially the two humans, were staring at him hopefully. He'd managed to shatter the negativity a bit. He believed them. He knew this was wrong.

"I don't know..."

The mutter came again unprompted.

These people would not have the means to repay him for his help. He couldn't just waive fees, or risk his court turning against him. He couldn't afford enemies being made so close to his inner circle.

He couldn't just leave them, though. Not after he'd seen the injustice of it all.

Stuck in his own thoughts, he was drawn out of it by a snickering laugh.

"Just set them free." A voice followed, "You are our King, aren't you?"

Nightmare then found his eyes drawn to the skeleton.

The others had eased themselves away from him. He stood, now, almost alone. He seemed unbothered by speaking up, his sockets held in an almost lazy posture. Tension going completely un-held.

He grinned up as the King, and seemed to watch contentedly as the thought settled in Nightmare's skull.

He could do that. Simply waive their charges. Pardon them. He could do that, surely. Many royals had done it before him for less certain terms. His mother had plenty of times.

"And you are guilty. You'll still be hanged. You know this, don't you?" Nightmare asked.

That was when the Skeleton's lazy sockets seemed to tighten with a sort of glee. Some hidden joke Nightmare wasn't privy to.

"Hmm." This was a poor choice. This was a bad decision. "Tell me, quickly, how you came to be here. Before I proceed?"

Nightmare didn't know why he was asking. He was... curious. Just like he had always been.

Very few people would ever speak straight to his face. Ccino, that was the only one who'd done it since his change. Since the prophecy. This skeleton had done it. He'd spoken when no one else could muster even a plea.

The silence he seemed to bring to every room. Broken, just briefly.

The skeleton stared at him a moment.

"Name's Killer, your majesty." The tone was mocking. "A while back a buddy of mine got into hot water, and I decided to help them out. Now, plenty of bodies later, I'm the one stuck on death row."

Simple. An admission of guilt.

Nightmare stared at him some more.

Finally, it seemed his frantic guards had noticed him. Found him. They rushed to his side, though not as fast as he would've liked. He could feel the frustration seeping from each armored body around him.

"You don't have an aversion to it," Nightmare voiced, "Killing, I mean."

Killer nodded. Unashamed.

It felt strangely calm, still. Perhaps it was because the crowd was still chattering. They likely hadn't noticed Nightmare at all.

The king turned to the city guard, still stood on the steps. "Free these four people. My judgement decrees them as not-guilty."

And, before any time could pass in the slightest. "Killer, I would like you to accompany me, before you abscond."

He'd noticed it. Killer had undone his cuffs before their conversation. Completely freeing himself from his weak imprisonment.

Killer seemed amused at the concept of sticking around to chat.

"If you would, I would like to recruit your services at my castle. I need a man who is willing to kill. And kill swiftly." Ccino said to establish an image. It was obvious now that his reputation would remain in the gutter, no matter what choices he made. He was not Dream.

Killer's sockets narrowed.

"And what would I get for being your little hunting dog?" Again, it was bold. It was new.

Nightmare was sure his expression hadn't changed since he'd come before the group. That same angry glare that sat permanently along his skull. The magic had an image to project.

His tendrils flicked, slightly.

"Payment, room, Fresh meals, and any other amenities you may like, so long as it does not break our treasury." He replied, "All I ask is that you simply obey me. And Me alone."

Not true. He'd probably ask for him to listen to Ccino as well. Once he knew for certain he'd stay.

Killer seemed to be thinking. He eyed they king, up and down. He looked to each of the guard around the king. The ones who were back in position now, though Nightmare could feel their annoyance. Their confusion.

Then Killer turned.

Then he turned back.

"Mm. Can't be worse than the ol' noose." Killer replied. "Funny way to run a country, my king. Hiring the first murderer you spot?"

Nightmare didn't humor that with a response. He was honestly shocked the skeleton had even agreed.

Though, all of that negativity had been swapped out for a glee. Something deep in Killer had changed during their brief interaction. A hope. Night could barely grasp the edges of its existence with his subconscious. But it was there.

.

He ignored the crowds as they grew confused. He ignored the worry pouring from the criminals as he had them released and informed them of their pardon.

He did not ignore when his guards told someone to keep their distance. He glanced up. Killer was standing beyond the guards, looking bored.

Nightmare, trusting fool he was, didn't even ask a guard to watch him to ensure he stayed put.

"Stand down." He ordered the guard, who begrudgingly allowed the skeleton to smugly slip past.

His tendrils kept the monster at a distance Night preferred all on their own. He seemed to take the hint.

"They're all gonna be dead by morning, you know." Killer voiced easily.

Nightmare turned to him, confused. What did he mean by that? He'd pardoned them?

"Are you deaf? The crowd wanted us dead, especially me." He chuckled, "Leaving them here is definitely going to get them killed. If the crowd doesn't rip them apart the second you leave, then it'll happen at night. There will be no witnesses."

Oh... Night hadn't fathomed that these people could turn on the innocent once declared. It hadn't even crossed his mind. Did they have a home to return to? A family they put at risk?

The noose was a fast death, but being murdered? That would've been so much worse.

He could tell, by the way they evaded looking at Killer, that he was right. Nightmare would be sentencing them to a new sort of death if he did it like this.

But he didn't have time for a trial. Or several. The sun was going down, abd Ccino expected him back. The castle needed him present, or they might revolt.

Someone might hurt Ccino.

Oh, he was such a poor ruler. He did not know his people well enough. How he lamented the lessons Dream had taken about crowds and current issues abd how to be likeable.

Night didn't know how to handle this. He was still learning!

A trembled in his hand. He tucked the limb quickly away from where it had been lightly clutching his tunics thick fabric, now hiding it beneath his cloak.

"Killer is right. It won't be safe here, for any of you." He spoke. Thank the gods it didn't sound as shaken as he felt. "I extend an offer to you all. You may stay here, or you may come take up positions among my staff back at the castle. Unlike Killer, I do not expect any crime from you, but you will be paid and housed."

The offer was met with a roar of frustration from the crowd, Nightmare chose to allow his guards to handle it. He watched, carefully, as the four looked between eachother.

The brothers agreed first. (They introduced themselves as brothers as they knelt in thanks.) Then the Dog. She said she had no family left to watch over, starting a new life would be for the best.

The flame refused, saying they would leave town by morning, and try to stay safe.

And so, Nightmare left the town with four new party members. Each had been provided a horse, each tied to one of the guards. Aside from Killer, whose steed was held personally by Nightmare.

He figured Ccino would chew him out for this, for bringing criminals into the castle when he was sent to collect soldiers, but Nightmare had a good feeling about these ones.

They did not hate him. Or fear him. He was helping them. And it felt good.

[sysig]

Family ♥ (Patreon)

[youmakethelight]

I need scenes where Daryl explicitly shows that he loves Carol for all of who she is as a human. I know we know it, even though that feeling has been fading since the spin-off and even in parts of season 11. But I reallyyy need at least one scene where Daryl catches Carol doing something distinctly Carol and looks at her for a *prolonged* time with unambiguous love all over his face. And then he actively shows and tells her. Like the scenes where Aaron and Rosita see Carol putting herself through pain to kill the horse to feed Alexandria. I need to know that Daryl sees that in her. And I need to see him radiate intense love in her direction because she fucking needs it.

[pesedjet]

i think nephset is very fun to think about and analyze because nephthys basically revolves around seth (and seth to nephthys in a similar vein) (minus the whole "being hypnotized by osiris and forced to carry their baby (anubis) and lying to seth about it. which is not really her fault) (also i dont care what anyone else says anubis is seths son) but i find it very odd that when present day nephseth is brought up especially in the newer chapters theres this. pushback to it. and the reason why really feels like its because she gets in the way of the yaoi rather than it being the fact that they probably would not work together anymore

like dont get me wrong. i currently believe that seth and nephthys cannot come together again without it being really awkward. it has been awkward for so long and their relationship has been strained so much by seths insanity that it definitely does not work. if it were to work they would need intense couples counciling (that would also not exist). however i feel like most people struggle to realize you can both ship/like/think about nephseth along with horuseth and it doesnt devalue the latter at all

[khachmaxo]

one thing about frank furter and elizabeth sparkle is that they do NOT play around when it comes to their homunculus creations that they harbor complicated feelings towards.

[volivolition]

wiggles my fingers at you ouuuu… you want to tell me about solace so bad…

HKJGG wiggles my fingers back lovingly!!! i really do, i fuckin LOVE solace :3 hey did you know i really like making fake skill descriptions?

SOLACE

Follow the north star. Find light in even the darkest places. Cool for: Optimists, Recovering lost souls, Sweet summer children

Solace is the skill you tucked away long ago, at the bottom of Pandora's box. The little one that tells you: despite it all, there is still hope. It needs a lot of nurturing -- and it's far from being the most helpful for police work -- but taking care of it is basically self-care. It enables you to find the glow in yourself that you often ascribe to gold lungs or brilliant halos in others. It encourages you to wake up and watch the sunrise, to play board games with someone you love, to forgive yourself and let yourself be a gentler kind of animal. Constantly looking forward to a brighter future, it also helps shield your morale from damage.

At high levels, Solace gives you a heightened sense of childlike optimism - which isn't always the sense to lead with in this precariously harsh world. Always looking for the bright side will blindside you with naivety. At low levels, however, you may just extinguish whatever keeps your soul alight. You've already lost her once. You may not survive the desolation if you let her disappear again.

[somegrumpynerd]

Okay to the person who left the idea about Epic in my inbox, I spent like all day drawing a thing for it and just now decided I can do a better job with it so I'm sorry, your ask has been delayed like a train we apologise for the inconvenience replacement bus service etc.

[neon--nightmare]

forest fire by ajj is SUCH a loveball fresh song to me bro

[skrunksthatwunk]

im exploding into a million pieces i found a reddit thread about butches in video games (specifically looking for them) in hopes that there was some kind of lesser known dream daddy-esque butch dating sim or SOMETHING cute like that and guys the fucking crumbs we have to live on you're actually killing me. im withering away why are there no kissable butches in video games im going to throw up and kill everyone. nobody wants a butch dating sim apparently. im gonna go weep in the fetal position