#I may be a bit evil. But we stay chill

[izzythedemigod]

I feel like, if given the opportunity too, I would do psychological warfare but I can't because what would my mom think :(

[so-long-soldier-writes]

He’s Like A Puppy

kai parker x reader

summary: an argument starts up when damon and bonnie return to the boarding house to find you and kai spending time together. it goes south when you start to defend kai against your friends' remarks.

≪ originally publishes on ao3: 2/24/23 ≫

tags: discussion of murder, cupcakes, small biblical references, fluff

word count: 967

“Don’t you see that he’s dangerous? You’re insane to think otherwise,” Bonnie scolds you, pointing at Kai in the corner.

Kai, who, at this very moment, is sitting on a stool with a cupcake, a bit of the frosting on his nose.

“Very dangerous,” you comment, holding back a chuckle. 

She rolls her eyes, “you didn’t see him in the prison world. You don’t know what he’s done.”

“Killed some people? Doesn’t everyone do that around here?”

“So you think it’s okay?”

“I mean, no, it’s not okay, but if we’re gonna declare Kai evil because he killed a couple folks, then everyone else here is, too. I mean, hell. Stefan’s been a ripper, Damon’s… Damon, Elena’s famous for turning off her humanity, Caroline’s temperamental.”

“Y/N, he massacred his family, there’s a difference.”

“Is there? Killing your family, or killing strangers who had lives and families that you know nothing about? And for all we know, maybe it was a Menedez’ brothers situation.”

“Okay, yes, I see your point about the strangers. But are you implying it’s okay to kill your family if they hurt you a teensy bit?”

“May I just say it was more than a teensy bit?” Kai interrupts.

“Shut up-”

“You shut up, Damon, I’m trying to hear all sides of this story.”

“Y/N, you’re talking crazy right now! He’s a liar. A manipulative, sociopathic liar. Besides, his name’s Malachai, for heaven’s sake! He said it himself, ‘it’s like his parents expected him to be evil’.”

You chuckle.

“What’s so funny about that?” Damon’s eyes narrow. 

“You do know that ‘Malachai’ literally means ‘angel’, right? In fact, it’s a Biblical name. Malachai was a prophet of… y’know that actually doesn’t matter. Regardless, you can’t tell that someone’s evil based on their name. Unless that name is literally, like, Lilith. Or Lucifer.”

“Whatever. You can’t trust someone based on their name, either,” she counters.

“Didn’t say I trust him off his name. Just said we should treat him as we do everyone else in this massive fucking house that’s killed a bunch of people. And how do we treat them? Oh yeah - with understanding, and reason.”

“He stabbed me in the gut, Y/N.”

“So has Damon.”

“Yeah, but I have the right to kill her because we’re friends.”

“Do you even hear yourself when you speak, or is it white noise in your head while a little mouse plays scrabble with sentences?”

“Uncalled for.”

“Was it?”

They’re left at a standstill. No one is sure what to say next. 

“Okay,” you carefully start, “whether or not you trust Kai, he’s here. And, for reasons I don’t know but I also don’t care, he’s been staying here, at the boarding house. Now, since I’m your out-of-town friend, I am also staying here, at the boarding house. So what’s wrong with us hanging out since we’re quite often, literally the only two people here?”

They, again, see the point in your statement, but continue to bicker about it anyway.

“He could hurt you.”

“Could, yeah. But we were chilling for two hours before you guys came back. Nothing happened.”

“Except he’s eating the cupcakes that Elena specifically made for the party tonight.”

“Maybe you shoulda labeled them ‘no touching’ or something.”

“Are you defending him over this now?”

“Well now I’m just pointing out the obvious.”

“I just… Elena’s going to be pissed when she finds her cupcakes gone.”

“Only one’s gone, she’ll barely notice.”

“I’ll tell her he stole it.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah, what’s she gonna do? Make him throw it back up?”

“One, gross. Two… maybe I’ll just let her finally kill him. That would solve a lot of our problems.”

You can’t help but smirk, “and we’ve come full circle. House of killers.”

Damon’s eyes widen as he realizes, “wait. No, wait. But it’s, ack, you suck. Fine. She won’t kill him. Just get him out of the kitchen.”

You shrug and make your way over to Kai, who’s now licking icing off his fingers. “Wanna go watch a movie?”

“Sure.” The answer is hesitant, but his excitement is given away with a sparkle in his eyes. 

“What? This was the original problem, Damon! They can’t be alone together! What if he snaps again?”

“Bonnie,” you take a deep breath, “he’s not going to hurt me.”

“How do you know that?”

“Look at him - he’s like a puppy. Just needs a friend and he’ll be okay. I’ll be fine. We’re gonna go get out of your hair, get out of your cupcakes, and watch a movie.” You state, taking his hand. 

“Call if you need anything,” Bonnie just rolls her eyes.

“Might need a grocery store run, but I won’t need help.”

“Whatever.”

◇◇◇◇

Halfway up the stairs, Kai looks behind him to face you, “why’d you call me a puppy?”

“Because you are one. Y’know, I mean what I said. I trust you, and you’re safe with me. You just need some company, Kai. It couldn’t have been easy being isolated for eighteen years.”

“So… you’re gonna be my company?”

“Is that okay?”

He smiles, his dimples showing on the sides of his face, “mhm.”

“Good. But two things… one, if you’re ever feeling angry or uneasy, come to me first, okay? I don’t want them to hurt you, so give me a chance to help you through it.”

“Okay.”

“And two, let’s not eat any more of Elena’s cupcakes. I know, pissing her off is fun sometimes, and they’re really good cupcakes. But we can make our own so Damon doesn’t kill us.”

“Fine, I won’t eat hers.”

“Sounds good. Thank you, Kai.”

“Thank you, actually. Um, for defending me earlier, and being a friend.”

“Of course. Now, let’s go watch a movie. I have Oreos in my room.”

[concussed-to-pieces]

Wolves At The Door; Part Three

Fandom: Resident Evil [Village]

Pairing: Eventual Karl Heisenberg/AFAB!Reader

Rating: Holy shit M.

Summary: "No." You whispered, your hold on the knife’s hilt tightening. "No, I-I don't want you to come any nearer."

A/N: FIGHT SCENE FIGHT SCENE! I'd like to thank you all for reading thus far, you're The Best <3 I will be taking a small break after this, due to a vacation. I'll see you all on the 11th! Enjoy!

Tag List: @spoopyredacted @cookiethewriter @amneris21 @topgirl17 @vodkafolie @stargazerofgoldenwords @a-smol-witch @baby-lisuga @clockworkmidnight @calwitch @silver-quinn01 @velvet-paradox @hijackser @mrs-wolfwood @nonstop-haikyuu @mic-sunderland @somethingthatsaysbubbles @fullofmoonsandstars @thirstworldproblemss @karlskitten @imthegreenfairy86 @nitrogennightmare @chunnies

Prelude

Part One

Part Two

[!TRIGGER WARNING!: This installment contains mentions of blood, canon-typical violence, gratuitous violence and graphic depictions of mental and physical duress. Stay safe!]

"You will regret this." The Duke warned him, his smile vanishing at Heisenberg's demand.

"I don't care," Karl insisted, his fingers still twisted into the larger man's shirt collar. "I can't keep going on like this, not without knowing if I'm-" broken a danger bad person "--if I'm someone who would…do something I shouldn't."

The merchant, for whatever reason, insisted on continuing, "This will not endear you to them, my Lord."

"I don't know why the hell you think I'm doing this for them!" Heisenberg snapped angrily. "I'm tired of not fucking knowing what I'm–I just feel like I'm always waiting, anticipating something awful. I've had enough."

A large finger landed between his brows, the Duke bearing an uncharacteristically serious expression. "I am sorry for this, Lord Heisenberg."

Darkness overcame Karl then, as well as a chill like the sun had been suddenly switched off.

…

"Mr. Duke! It's good to see you. I wasn't sure if you were alright, it's been so long since you've come by!" You exclaimed, still wiping your hands dry with an old towel as you made your way to the fenceline. "You'll have to fill me in."

The Duke, for his part, looked unchanged. A bit more sweaty perhaps, but that could be chalked up to the rigors of just existing in such a unique body. You saw his eyes dart to your houseguest and you got the sudden impression that you may have interrupted something. The large man staunchly denied this when you asked though, his laugh just as jovial as always. Maybe you had misinterpreted the situation?

If looks could kill, however, it seemed the Duke would be quite done for. Karl was glaring holes through the merchant, striking green eyes narrowed to angry slits. That look alone could make anyone nervous!

"I noticed my talismans have gone missing, my dear. Has something happened?" The Duke's inquiry was smooth, almost bland. 

"They just started crumbling one day. I guess the elements finally got to them?" 

The Duke's expression shifted strangely and once again his eyes darted to Heisenberg. But all he said was, "how curious," then started rummaging in the drawers that framed his corpulent form. 

"I'm sorry, I don't have-"

"I told you," the Duke interrupted, his smile a bit sharper, "it's all part of our first-class customer service!" He gestured vaguely with one large hand, placing the small bundles of herbs and flowers down on his thigh. "If nothing else, take these as my thanks for nursing the Lord back to health. He certainly seems a changed man from when we last met." You heard Karl growl, muttering something under his breath that made the Duke chuckle coldly. "Now now, let's not say things we don't mean. I'm being sincere! I am glad you and the Lord Heisenberg are on such good terms. Why, he's almost tame."

…

There had been a great shattering, a terrible rending in his mind the likes of which he had never experienced before. The stress and mania that had driven him doggedly onward collapsed in upon itself after Ethan's final assault, as though the strain of both his transformation and the fight was too much for his body and mind to handle. Karl could just barely recall feeling himself fraying, his soul being torn apart at the seams like he was an ugly garment in the hands of the world's most negligent tailor.

Miranda would love that. Let that bitch pick out every stitch so she could make me into something useful, something controllable.

Maybe it was that bitterness that kept him breathing. Bitter spite and hatred, a parasitic leech just as much as the creature that throbbed uneasily in his gut. Cadou, finally a name for the feeling, the tension, the parasite that clung to his broken body and demanded him to rise, demanded him to fight and kill anew to keep it alive. Karl was exactly what he had feared and suspected all along: a freak.

While the Duke sat there complacent, chuckling, Heisenberg could only seethe internally. The obese merchant finally leaned forward, his smile distinctly oily. "I'd advise the two of you to turn in early for the evening. A storm is coming."

"Thanks for the tip." Heisenberg said through gritted teeth.

"Do you have anything new to show me?" The excitement in your voice threw Karl off a bit, as did the Duke's smirking reply of, "Naturally, my dear!"

Apparently it had been a busy few months for the merchant, because he immediately started pulling out (allegedly) new trinkets to show you. Each item he proudly displayed, however, set Heisenberg more and more on edge. Crystalline objects, fragile and frail, covered in sharp edges and scenting the air lightly with decay. Something about them had that wrongness, that Uncanny Valley sheen, as well as a hideous familiarity. 

Finally Karl said faintly, "I'm going to head back in." His head was swimming, mind struggling to sort through lifetimes of memories and it felt like his entire body was throbbing with his pulse. "You two have fun catching up."

"But my Lord-" the Duke protested, extending the protective talismans to Karl with a guileless expression. "-I had hoped you would hang these along the fenceline for me. I would do it myself, of course, but it's been so long since I've had a customer to show my wares." His eyes twinkled with the silent joke; he knew damn well that touching those things was bad news for Karl. Go on, big man, the Duke's smug gaze seemed to say, go on and reveal yourself.

Karl's glare reached a nuclear temperature, his mood rapidly swinging from discomfort to infuriation at being toyed with. This colossal fuck knew exactly what he was capable of! As usual, the Duke's audacity was exclusively outweighed by his mass.

But you were smiling, you looked so excited to see what else the Duke would show you.

Damn it all to hell.

Karl dug around in the pocket of his jacket, pulling out his gloves and gracelessly yanking them on before holding out a hand to take the charms. 

The Duke's smile never wavered once.

…

"It is odd, seeing the change in him." The Duke commented, turning a human torso that may have been carved from quartz this way and that to show you how the light caught it. "You certainly did more than your share of work, my dear."

"I don't understand." You replied, a little confused. "It hasn't been too hard. Only issue was keeping bread in the house."

"Can we claim his essence restored by mere gluten?" The Duke fixed you with a look that made you uncomfortable, his normally good-natured expression gone serious. "I doubt that, but I am open to breakthroughs in science."

"Do you mean I helped raise his spirits or something?" When the obese man shook his head, you shrugged. "I haven't really done much except put that gunk that you gave me onto his wounds and endured his company. If anything he's been helping me out! Got to get a few things done that I couldn't manage myself." 

"Very curious," the Duke mused, his attention seeming to have moved on to the odd combination of gears and crystals that he was currently showing you. It looked almost like a half-metal heart encased in white crystal and you marveled at the craftsmanship of it. "Lord Heisenberg has allowed himself to be domesticated. The Lady Dimitrescu would have a fit if she were still around."

His words didn't register until a moment later, making your brow furrow. Unfortunately the large merchant didn't appear to be in an expansive mood, whatever further queries you had being easily deflected or outright ignored.

…

Miranda. 

Karl tried to focus on something aside from the fact that his entire left hand was going numb. 

The constant fury he felt at that self-styled mother's attempted manipulation of him would do, so he began to reminisce. Though his mind was not entirely whole, Heisenberg could still remember his disdain for the haughty woman. She had always looked at him with such blatant calculation in her eyes; he had to commend her for the consistency of that gaze. Karl wondered sometimes if she practiced it in front of the mirror. How his ‘siblings’ had never seen her manipulation…

"Sore loser," his own voice echoed back to him through his memories and he scoffed, yanking the knot tight on the twine. Another charm secure. The little talismans were made of monkshood and nondescript twigs of some evergreen plant, all braided together with a few stalks of what seemed to be wheat and then fashioned into a tidy wreath. The numbness in his hand vanished once he released the charm, now replaced by an unpleasant burning. He could see spidery black tendrils making their way up his arm from beneath the glove, following the path of his veins to spread that burning sensation. Aside from that, though, Karl felt nothing. Was his fury truly slow to come, or did he just not care anymore? 

He slowed to a halt, resting his weight on the fence as he stared down at it. He almost wanted to will himself to be upset, get worked up, something for the sake of familiarity. This calm…acceptance, it didn't seem like him. The Duke had said Miranda was 'taken care of'. No doubt Ethan had fistfought the feathery bitch himself.

Dimitrescu, then, Karl decided, she could always piss me off, that colossal cunt. The anger was so faint it was barely annoyance. The weird little doll? Indifference. Moreau. Pity. 

Pity?! 

Was his throat closing up?! He was either flashing over or having some sort of allergic reaction to the talismans, he reasoned desperately. That was the only explanation for his strange response. Heisenberg pulled away from the fence, taking a few healthy steps backwards. He abruptly felt the hairs raise on the back of his neck and the Lord reached out to grab the maul, realizing at that moment that he had left it by the cart. Come on!

A body crashed into his back and Karl almost toppled, only just managing to brace himself on a fencepost. Sharp teeth grazed his arm, the combined scent of wet dog and iron nearly strong enough to make Heisenberg retch. Without a second thought Karl yanked the charm off the post and jammed his entire fist into the thing's mouth, hearing it start to choke and gag right next to his ear. 

The maul arrived, flying through the air like the weapon of some old Norse god. Karl seized it with his free hand, swinging it around to pulverize the…lycan, lycan, shit, he had forgotten. Its skull caved beneath the maul's blunted edge and Heisenberg quickly shoved the body to the side as it twitched its last.

There were more of them. A lot more of them, a pack of mangled humanoids spilling out from beneath the trees to yowl and bay at him. The body at his feet began to crystallize, the familiar scent of death wafting up to greet him like an old friend. Memories started to bleed in at the sides of his vision: dark, wispy vignettes of the man he was, the monster he really was.

I think bare minimum I've done some real bad things. 

He had been so desperate for reassurance without even knowing why, groping unlit through the halls of his memories as a stranger. It had been better for a while, what was shoved into the back of his mind to let him play fucking pretend at being human, at this new life with you.

Just like Miranda with her fake little family.

Heisenberg drew himself up to his full height, narrowing his eyes and roaring "shut your fucking holes!", immensely gratified when the cacophony immediately quieted. 

Unfortunately, the uneasy silence was then broken by a scream. A scream of his name. And the lycans, obviously sensing Karl's momentary distraction, peeled away to head for the source of the noise.

…

"Karl!" You cried, the terrible din you had heard seconds before still ringing in your ears.

"Oh dear," the Duke remarked blithely, "I may have been too late." He shrugged after a moment, passing you another charm. "Well, I hurried as best as I could." The massive merchant then clicked his tongue once and the seemingly too-small horse began to pull the cart down the road once more. "Good luck, my dear. Remember what I said about the weather!" He called with a wave.

"You've gotta' be kidding me!" You yelled after him incredulously, the talisman clutched tightly in your grasp. All you heard in reply was faint chuckling. You gritted your teeth, turning on your heel. "Karl!" You shouted again, starting across the yard. You could hear muffled yowling coming from behind the cabin, out past the back fenceline, so with your heart in your throat you carried onward. You hoped and prayed it was just a bobcat that Karl had spooked, you're overreacting, everything is fine. You did make a brief pit stop to pick up your kindling knife from the basket on the porch, staunchly refusing to think about what you could possibly need it for. 

Upon turning the corner of the house, however, you came face to face with some…thing, some awful thing with sharp teeth and a hunched humanoid body. You froze and so did it, before it bared its filthy, blackened maw and snarled at you. 

Oh, it's going to kill me. The thought was so certain it almost surprised you. Really, what else could happen? Fuck, it's going to kill me. You backed away, holding the knife in front of you in a desperate bid to keep the creature at bay. For some reason it actually seemed to be working, the weird wolf-man snapping its teeth at the air in evident frustration. Well, it was either that or the Duke's charm that you had slipped around your wrist, but you weren't about to start questioning your luck.

A projectile whipped past your head from behind you, the mass of it disturbing the air enough to emit a faint whistle. It was the maul, its dull blade slamming into the face of the lycan and bending it nearly in half before it collapsed like a deflating balloon. 

"You stay the hell away from them, you mangy rat!" Karl spat, his gaze full of fury as he rounded the house coming from the other direction. It may not have been aimed at you, but his rage was still absolutely terrifying to witness. Your knees began to tremble, threatening to dump you onto the ground. Heisenberg suddenly seemed larger than life and extremely dangerous, voice booming and eyes ablaze with a malice you had never seen. The man tore the maul free with a sickening crunch, shaking some of the gore off. "You alright?"

You realized he was addressing you, still coming closer at that too-fast pace and you floundered to nod, opening your mouth to say something, yes I'm fine and don't come near me you're scaring me and what's going on. No words came out, though. When had he gotten so big? It was as though someone else had taken over his body, someone self-assured, someone…

Was this how he had been before?

Karl stopped dead two feet away, the man huffing out an irritated breath. "Oh, you've got one of those charms." He slung the maul over one shoulder, holding out a gloved hand. "Here, give it so I can close the loop on this fence." There were holes torn in the glove, ragged punctures. Bite marks.

"No." You whispered, your hold on the knife’s hilt tightening. "No, I-I don't want you to come any nearer." What did the Duke do to him? 

Karl's brow furrowed, but he soldered on, reasoning, "There's more of the freaks out there, sugar. We don't have the whole fence covered, I need that last charm." 

"Please, don't…look, I don't want to hurt you and you're scaring me right now." You got the feeling the blade you had was about as threatening as a butter knife to the large man, but you held firm. 

Cornered dogs bite. He had called you sugar, his voice low and urgent. Surely it was still him in there if he was using the silly pet name he had decided upon for you. This was all so confusing.

"The lycans don't give a shit about whether you're scared, sugar! They aren't gonna' wait around for us to sort things out, they're coming!" Heisenberg snapped roughly, glancing back over his shoulder. "Fuck's sake! I'm not at full bore and if something gets you because I'm out of it, I'd-" He hesitated, then huffed through gritted teeth instead of finishing the sentence. "Alright, fine, I'm not coming any closer, we'll just do it together then. Stay by me. Devil you know, right?" He instructed, that fierce gaze softening a bit. "Nothing will get you while I'm here."

What if you're the thing I'm worried about? you wondered privately. 

…

You were looking at him like he was a monster. You were looking at him like he was a horrible, terrible monster, that trashy Bowie knife you used to shave kindling chips clutched in your trembling hands, leveled at his gut. You're scaring me right now.

And Karl couldn't even deny it because holy shit he was, he had been, he might still be. Oh God, no wonder the Duke told him it was an awful idea. He wanted to throw up, but that may have been due to the closeness of the talisman. Anti-mold measures or just another silver bullet in the magazine?

At least now he knew, as crushing as that particular burden of knowledge was. At least he knew. It was oddly freeing to be that self-fulfilling prophecy for once. 

You ended up hovering nervously at his elbow, the proximity of the charm a constant, nagging throb at the apex of his spine. But he could keep track of you that way. 

"The lycans are wary." Karl informed you, not really sure why he did so. "They know who I am but they're not particularly good listeners." 

"Something you have in common." You retorted.

Karl shrugged, feeling his glove slide down his mangled fingers before he tugged it back into place. "I'd like to think I've improved." He glared at the forms he could see surging along the edges of the treeline, brandishing the maul in silent threat. Come on, you rabid little shits.

Not a single one left the safety of the woods, however they did keep up their noise. Howling and shrieking, the pack followed the two of you closely. They're waiting for us to place the last charm, Heisenberg realized, his brow furrowing. They'll strike then before we can get back inside the fenceline. 

"I need you to be ready to run once you tack down that last talisman." He muttered out the side of his mouth, relieved when you nodded. "Don't worry about me."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

His laugh was coarse and joyless. He had been a naive idiot to think he even had a chance at any sort of quiet life, but he was more irritated with himself over being so affected by the disappointment. Now was not the time to wish to turn back the clock.

You broke away from him by running ahead, your attention clearly fixed on the section of fencing that lacked an oh-so-familiar charm. Karl watched you slide the talisman off your wrist, and at the same time he could see the pack of lycans appear to muster themselves for a full-scale assault. 

Heisenberg's eyes narrowed and the man bolted forward, sending the maul ahead of him as he went. "It needs to go on the outside of the fence! I'll cover you!" 

…

You yanked open the gate with single-minded intent, only to see the maul go sailing into the teeming swarm of bodies in front of you, Karl close behind announcing that he would 'cover you'. As you turned to watch him go, a massive lycan broke away from the edge of the pack and headed straight for you, fingers clawing at the dirt for traction.

You fumbled to attach the charm, hanging it on the rusted nail still in the fence post and then smashing the top of the nail with the butt of your knife to fold it over onto itself. Mission accomplished, you rushed to get back inside the safety of the fenceline, but it was too late. A paw-like hand caught your ankle, tripping you up and causing you to strike your head hard on the gate.

The world swam in front of your eyes, a combination of reflex tears and being dragged along the ground by your leg at a dizzying pace. You began to struggle, kicking desperately at the face of the creature in an effort to free yourself from its clutches. The lycan dropped your leg, choosing instead to bat aside the kicks you aimed at it and lunge for your face with a garbled howl.

You didn't even have the time to think and so you slammed your eyes shut, bracing the knife you still held against your body in an effort to at least wound the lycan. 

But it didn't come. The weight of the beast on your chest just…vanished, its roar choking off abruptly.

When you dared to open your eyes again, you were greeted by the sight of Karl holding up the lycan by its throat, the man clearly crushing its windpipe. Judging by the way it was thrashing, it didn't have much longer. Heisenberg didn't say a single word, the man simply grunting with effort as he gave the beast a final shake to cleanly snap its neck. He then threw the body down, broadening his stance and squaring his shoulders with a furious grin on his face.

"Fuck off!" He roared at the remaining pack, now significantly thinned and yelping. "You stay the hell away from here, or I'll wipe out every last one of you!" The maul flew through the air and he caught it, swinging it one-handed. It was dripping with some kind of black fluid. "You won't cross that fenceline!"

After a few moments of what seemed to be a snarling back-and-forth with Heisenberg and one another, the surviving creatures sulkily limped back into the woods in defeat. They left nothing behind but crystallized remains of their kin and, as rain slowly started to fall, even those began to dissolve into the soil. 

Karl closed the gate, the man slowly latching it with the worn wire twisted around the post.

You were still on the ground, the knife pressed to your chest as you shivered and tried to catch your breath. You couldn't recall another day in your life that you had been so certain about your own death. Somehow all you'd ended up with was a few scrapes on your shin and a tender spot on your head from the gate.

Heisenberg swayed, propping himself up on the fence with one elbow. The maul dropped from his grasp as he panted for air, the man's scarred complexion gone so pale it was nearly green. He tried to say something, but ended up dry heaving instead. After taking a few staggering steps back from the fence, he unceremoniously collapsed onto his side.

You only hesitated momentarily before you scrambled forward, your caution thrown to the wind. It was as if watching him fight had somehow removed whatever threat you had felt before, the notion wholly gone from your mind. It was oxymoronic, but firmly embedded that the two of you were on the same side. He saved you.

The man gazed dully upwards at you or someplace past your shoulder, his breathing coming in sharp, hitchy bursts. "Hurt-" he managed to wheeze, shaking the glove off of his hand to display blackened flesh radiating from a tearing bite wound on the palm. He then gave a thumbs up with the mangled appendage, choking out, "--be okay." 

You noticed blood darkening a section of his trousers by his hip and you jerked his tattered coat back, revealing several more wounds. At least two of the lycans had ripped into the back of his thigh, like they were trying to hamstring him. The purpling, bruised bites ran down his leg and there was even a large chunk missing from the top of his boot. You hissed in dismay at the whole scene, feeling nauseous and terrified.

"We need to get you out of the rain," you said finally, your stomach in knots. Karl waved you off while pffting out a breath but you essentially ignored him, pulling his good hand to haul his arm up over your shoulders. "C'mon, use whatever's left of your legs." 

The man coughed out a laugh at that, then obliged you to the best of his ability. It was a struggle, but the two of you managed to get him upright. All there was left was the slow trek back to the cabin, and Jesus was it slow. Karl could barely put one foot in front of the other, the man dragging his wounded leg and the maul behind him as he leaned on you, nevermind your own legs still shaking from adrenaline.

"Why did you do that?" You asked finally, blinking the rain out of your eyes. 

"Whuh."

"You know what." The only reply you got was silence, followed by a clumsy little pat on the cheek. You supposed you would have to ask later.

…

The fresh talismans gave Karl the sensation of being in the eye of a storm. A maelstrom of energy swirled around the fenceline in a disorienting spiral, but it couldn't touch him in here. The drunken stumbling was more due to the injuries he had sustained, his steps unsteady and head hanging. This weakness was incredible, it was so similar to how he had been right after he had lost to Ethan. Laying there in the dirt with the rain pouring down on him, uncertain of what had just happened, where he was, every shattered breath in his body seeming like it could be his last.

"Come, my Lord. You seem to have fallen ill." 

You had said that the Duke was the one who brought him to you for aid. He barely remembered bits and pieces of the ride, only roused to consciousness from pain when he was jostled. 

His forehead knocked into yours and he slurred out an apology, realizing you needed him to walk up the porch steps. And walk up them he did, his leg already feeling a little less terrible. Parasite perks, the alliteration tickling him far more than it ought to have. He actually managed to hobble through the doorway unassisted, performing an odd skipping hop to do so and dropping the maul beside the doorframe. 

Once inside you collapsed on the couch, your whole body trembling. "Thought I was gonna' die." You finally said. Heisenberg continued to hover awkwardly on one leg, shoring himself up by placing a hand onto one of the ceiling crossbeams as you seemed to gather your thoughts. "I mean I thought that was it, game over. Holy shit, that was terrifying." You looked up at him, radiating incredulity as you asked, "how the hell did you just handle them?"

Karl shrugged, a bad habit he felt he could attribute to you. "It's all I've known for most of my life." It was a garbage explanation for all its truth and he knew that, but you weren't exactly in a fantastic headspace at the moment. Neither was he for that matter, he was still weak and a little queasy. Better to let sleeping dogs lie, let you calm down and regain some peace of mind. Lycans were normal to him, sure, but you'd only seen them in half light and hadn't even seemed to believe they actually existed until today. 

You put your face in your hands, exhaling deeply. You then moved to rise but Karl halted you with a hand on your shoulder, and he was silently dismayed at the fact that he could still feel you shaking.

"Stay put." He tried to gentle his tone, make it a little less gruff. "That was a lot. Just rest. You want some water?"

You hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah." You caught his hand before he could turn away, seeming confused. "How are you even walking? Your leg was-" "Something in me is real invested in keeping my body in one piece." Karl patted your hand, attempting to smile and failing miserably. "Lemme' get you that drink."

Part Four

[babiebom]

Stardew Characters as Euphoria Chatacters

A/N: I have been sick for the last couple of days but I turn 24 tomorrow!! So here’s a lil something from me <3 also a disclaimer I have not watched this show outside of edits and crack compilations so it might not be accurate lmao. Also also it’s not everyone just who I can see in the main roles that I know?? Also also also I would like to write something like euphoria for stardew but I think I gotta get finished with when you fall first and I’m not even nearly done with that because idk how I want it to end yet.

Tw:cursing, mentions of cheating, fighting, betrayal, euphoria things I guess?

Bc: at least 2-4 for each hopefully?

Stardew Masterlist

Haley-Maddy Perez

The hot popular girl who everyone either likes or fears or wants to be. Like we all know that Haley is kinda a bitch when you first meet her but she’s actually super sweet when you get to know her. And what I know of Maddy is that she looks put together but I’m pretty sure she has problems and while she looks like a mean girl she’s actually kinda sweet and funny. She’s in a toxic relationship because that’s what she thinks she deserves and will end up with. That sweet, pure, long lasting love isn’t something that she thinks she’ll ever get, and is something that she acknowledges won’t be enough for her in the long run even if it’s what she secretly wants.

All she really cares about is her friends, her family, and it used to be her boyfriend because yeah he was her future but that’s done with now. So she tries to focus on what’s to come. And unlike a lot of others, she’s more chill about people’s wrongdoings, like yeah you kinda pissed her off but that happens(as long as it isn’t betrayal) like oh you relapsed? That’s okay it happens sometimes babe, you’re more than just a drug addict and don’t you forget that. Sure she’s gonna go off the deep end eventually, but you don’t deserve that so remember she’s here for you and get yourself together.

Like yeah shes pretty and walks around as if she owns the place but really shes going through something fucked up with her ex who does seem to actually want to let her go despite not actually behaving as if he loves her. And sure she loves him, but she decided to walk away from the relationship for a reason so why is she sleeping with him again? Is it because he uses sweet words? Is it because she believes this is all she’s ever going to get? Maybe it’s the way he makes promises of the future like getting married and having kids while hurting her that makes her want to get back with him. But nevertheless she’s trying hard to stay away from him, to move on and learn to actually love herself and grow. Him basically threatening her life was enough for her, she knows that she deserves toxicity(does she tho?) but there’s a line that you do not cross and hopefully she learns what it is before it’s too late.

Penny-Cassie Howard

While Penny is a wholesome girl, I do think there is an underlying potential in how passive aggressive and fake she could be. Like yes Haley is the stereotypical popular girl, but if we look closely Penny seems like the girl who isn’t actually a girls girl but is a pick me that pretends that she’s so nice and friendly. Like is Penny actually like that? No but we are strictly speaking in what could be and who has the potential for what.

Like i can see Penny in high school changing herself for whatever guy she has her eyes set on, and falling in love with literally any guy that gives her the time of day. And yeah she might go for guys that are slightly toxic but Penny has daddy issues and mommy issues so it’s not really surprising is it? I think Haley is who Penny wishes she could be. Pretty, has a bit of money, has a very attractive boyfriend that Penny has set her sights on.

Yeah Penny is being kinda self centered, but y’know it’s not her fault! She has this way of justifying her actions, no matter how stupid, or petty, or mean, or evil they may be. And no one would really expect that of her. Like she portrays herself as a sweet girls girl that could NEVER betray someone that she considers her best friend. Like even though her friend confided in her about how toxic her relationship was, and Penny goes after the boyfriend anyways she’s still not in the wrong there were other variables that had to do with her decision she promises!! She hides things and pretends and finds the thrill of trying to get his attention, acting as if nothing is going on, and still maintaining the friendships that she kinda has no value in other than wanting to seem likable by befriending these people.

Shes going to get what she wants. No matter what. AND she’s going to play the victim throughout. It’s going to take a lot for her to realize she messed up but what can you do? Like sad for her but sorta inevitable. She brought it upon herself.

Maru-Kat Hernandez

From what I’ve seen Kat gives off very insecure vibes. Like she could be smart(I honestly don’t know) she’s pretty, just just what people call “fat” and while being fat isn’t a bad thing I think it’s an insecurity for her especially because her friends are all skinny. And while Maru’s body is up for interpretation(I do think she’s a lil chubby bc it’s cute) I think she’d be insecure in terms of anything other than her intelligence. Like sure she’s not ugly but she doesn’t put effort into her appearance like her friends do. And that doesn’t really get her any attention, not the attention she wishes she got, and having a father like Demetrius doesn’t help anything.

I do think it would take something drastic to get Maru out of her shell similar to Kat, and I do also think she’d be a good friend, like NO do NOT fight her!! Let’s calm down!! Type of friend. I do see Maru having a glow up type thing and coming out of her shell, but the personality she comes into seems kinda fake and as if she’s trying to act like her friends instead of being her own thing.

Maru gives off very follower type vibes, and again I haven’t watched Euphoria, and Kat is very….follower-y like she’s always around Maddy and is trying to be confident like her but really she’s just insecure and fears rejection.

Abigail- Jules Vaughn

Abigail would totally be the mysterious person that catches everyone’s eye when she appears. I mean personally when I first played the game I thought she was VERY pretty(until she annoyed me bc 1 heart convos are dumb and I found out she was paired with seb lmao) and I’m pretty sure literally EVERYONE (other than some people) is attracted to Jules.

Like she’s hooking up with people, dating, just being a very entrancing person and I think Abby could fit the role if she was more into the mysterious sexy vibe instead of the gothic(?) gamer girl vibe y’know? Like she’s there for the drama and laughing at it and she’s trying to not be a part of it until she’s breaking up with someone or sleeping with someone she shouldn’t

Sorry hers is short I just think the others fit more.

Shane-Rue Bennett

Rue is a teenage drug addict that is struggling to get clean, and honestly probably doesn’t even really want to because of how many mental problems she’s burdened by. Like I looked it up very briefly but I saw OCD, severe anxiety disorder, I think BPD like there’s a lot going on in her mind along with I’m pretty sure her father being dead. I just think she’s straight up not having a good time and while getting clean might be a good idea and the best road to go down, the fact is getting high probably feels better and is easier to do in order to deal with her issues. Shane is the same unfortunately, he’s an alcoholic that is just taking every day one by one but not very well. He works in a dead end job and lives with his aunt in a small boring ass town that probably doesn’t take mental health seriously seeing as the other alcoholic in the town was the towns bus driver before she crashed, and when the bus gets fixed they give her back the job instead of getting both of them help. Like they supply them with the beer and everything because making money is better than trying to rid them of their habits, and literally Pam and Penny live in a shitty ass trailer when literally everyone else(other than Linus) live in a good ass house. Like these two are similar with the fact that they are STRUGGLING and most people just see them as addicts instead of people who need help.

I also think that Shane would cause a distraction to get away from everyone trying to help bc it is too much to deal with at one time, like Rue and calling Cassie out about sleeping with Nate in front of everyone then taking off. I do think that Shane could be a very good friend outside of his alcoholism and is willing to get help. Also from what I’ve seen Rue might be high but she doesn’t lie(maybe she does idk) and I think Shane would be the same. Like yeah he’s drunk af and wants to die and he’s a little sarcastic but he’s not going to lie to you at all.

Elliott- Lexi Howard

All I know about Lexi is that she’s a writer and made a whole play about whatever was going on around her without anyone knowing, then putting it into production with the school again without telling the people it’s about. Like she’s just watching and taking notes and I think it’s funny. Because I feel like it’s something Elliott would do.

Is he a part of the drama? Nope! He’s standing back and watching everything burn while thinking to himself that this novel is going to be an absolute masterpiece because real tragedies are better than ones you make up. Also I do think he gives off that he would fall for someone that is the complete opposite of him, like how Lexi falls for a drug dealer(?). Like yeah his love life has to be something out of a book too. Nothing plain for him.

Alex- Nate Jacobs

I think this is self explanatory? Like who else would be Nate? Sebastian? Sam? HARVEY? Let’s bffr

Like Alex would be a popular guy in school(is he popular? Nate I mean?) and honestly while I don’t think Alex would be toxic and abusive especially bc of his upbringing, but I can see an alternative universe where he was raised by his shitty dad and became shitty in response.

Like high school football player who is toxic towards women as a result of his fathers influence and is probably obsessed with his now ex girlfriend and is trying to find what he had with her(even if it was fucked up) with someone who wishes they were her.

Like does he love the new girlfriend? No. But does he like the ego boost he gets from her? Yes. Dating someone who is so willing to change themself for him in ways that he this is comical and a little sad makes him feel good and somewhat fills the void. Especially when that person will let him treat them whatever way he wants including breaking up with them and getting back and everything he’s going to stay with them(I mean more like keeping them close to him) because he knows that he needs something that takes his mind off of how much he actually hates himself.

[aprocessionofthoughts]

It's Me

whumptober24 day 3- set up for failure, I warned you fandom- Danny Phantom TW- bad parents Jack and Maddie Fenton summary- Danny tells his parents

ao3 masterlist

Danny had finally come clean to his parents. And it had gone… okay. 

When he had told them, they had gone quiet and still. Then they had simply stood up and left the room.

Danny had panicked and flown to Sam’s unsure whether he should flee or not.

But a few hours later, his parents had called asking if they could talk.

Danny had agreed, much to Sam’s reluctance, and he had promised he’d call her afterwards. She finally agreed, saying that if he didn’t call back after an hour, she’d storm Fentonworks.

He entered the house through the door, not wanting to show off his ghostliness just yet.

His parents were sitting on the couch, they tried to smile at him but it looked more like a grimace.

“Danny…” His mom started before trailing off.

Danny shifted on his feet, biting his lip and looking at the ground.

“Danny, you’re still our– our son. Despite your… ghost side.” His mom said hesitantly. His dad remained silent. “But you also have to understand our worries. Everything we’ve seen about ghosts proves they’re evil. How can we know for sure you’re any different?”

Danny jerked back as if slapped. “Mom… that’s not… ghost’s aren’t evil. They’re just–”

His mom held up a hand to cut him off. “Danny, I know you may think that, especially considering your… status. But our research doesn’t lie.”

“But–”

“But nothing. You’re father and I have agreed to a test period.”

“A test period?” Danny repeated, his voice quiet. What did they mean? Were they going to… to lock him up? Or just kick him out? Surely, they wouldn’t experiment on him. He was their son! How could he be evil? He’d been like this for over three years.

“Yes, a test period.” his mom repeated, looking toward Jack. “Since, you’re only… part ghost, then the same traits might not apply to you.”

Might?

“So, we’ll have a test period. Prove to us that this hasn’t changed you, that it isn’t making you evil.”

“But I’ve already done good stuff! I help people!”

His parents grimaced. 

“What you’ve done is destroy a lot of property. And how do you explain that all the ghosts seem to want to attack you? Ghosts only know how to attack people.”

Danny wanted to argue. The ghosts fought him because he was trying to get them back into the Ghost Zone, and there was bound to be property damage after the fights. But he knew they wouldn’t listen.

“What exactly would this test entail?” he asked hesitantly.

“You no longer transform into Phantom, leave the ghosts to us. Show us that you aren’t reliant on the ghost side of you.”

Danny bit his lip. He wanted to cry. Phantom was part of him. He wished Jazz were here, but she was at college and he shouldn’t bother her with this. He only had 3 months left until he turned 18, then he could leave.

He looked down at his feet, fisting his hands on the edge of his shirt. “Ok.”

—---

At least his parents shut off the portal so no ghosts could come through.

Danny didn’t tell his friends exactly what his parents had said. He just told them that they were still nervous his ghost half was affecting him. But he had to keep making excuses as to why he wasn’t transforming. He would if he could get away with it, but his parents had taken his ecto-signature so that if it ever showed up, they’d know he had transformed.

And he did good for the first month, but then his core started to ache.

It was harder to stay awake and he suffered from tremors and a biting chill that wouldn’t leave no matter how many layers he put on.

And then he began slipping in and out of visibility and tangibility like he’d done when he’d first gotten his powers.

At least his parents hadn’t noticed.

Sam and Tucker were becoming more concerned, but he only had to push through for a couple more months before he turned 18. He could make it a few more months.

—---

It happened near the end of his second month. He was walking to school when the tremors caused his legs to collapse, his teeth were chattering and his chest felt like it was screaming. Everything hurt. His body felt like it was trying to turn itself inside out. 

His body felt so weird, he felt his transformation starting and it felt like a thousand needles piercing his skin.

He thought he screamed, but then he sank into blessed darkness.

—--

Danny woke up slowly. Everything hurt and it took him a moment to remember what had happened. 

When he did remember, he jerked up only to be tugged back down.

He opened his eyes. The green glow of ectoranium greeted him.

He was in a cage, and as he looked down he saw cuffs chaining his wrists to the ground and a chain connecting to a collar around his throat.

No. Nononononononono! This couldn’t be happening. His parents wouldn’t— They weren’t going to— This wasn’t—

His breathing started to pick up. This wasn’t happening. This wasn’t happeningthis wasn’thappeningthiswasn’thappeningthiswasn’thappening—

The door to the basement clanged open, and his parents walked down the steps.

“Mom, Dad, please! Don’t— I can— please!”

“We gave you a chance, Danny. We told you to keep your ghost half locked away, but you wouldn’t listen.” Jack said.

“I tried! It wasn’t—”

“We warned you.” His mother’s expression softened. “I know you can’t help it. That the ectoplasm in you is making you act like this, that’s it’s making you become more ghostlike, more evil. But you have to understand Danny, your father and I have devoted our lives to investigating ghosts to keep the world safe. We have to consider the greater good.”

“Please!” Danny sobbed.

“It’ll be okay, Danny.” his father said. “We’re just going to help you move on. Don’t worry. Soon you’ll be free of this evil influence.” 

There were tears in his parents eyes. They didn’t deserve to be sad. They were doing this to him! Why couldn't they just accept him, accept that ghosts weren’t evil, that he wasn’t evil!

He just wanted them to love him.

Why couldn’t they just love him?

[tacky-jack-with-a-hat]

May we have some Loui hc’s 👁️👁️

Of course, but I don't know what the eyes mean so I'll do hc from my list

🫂Comforting others

•Hugs. This man will cuddle others so tight that the stress pops out like a pimple. (Sorry for the imagery)

•For each state he has a different trick: for Florida gator walks, for Texas competitive bull riding (which he let's texas win most of the time), or for Tennessee he'll ask to see Dollywood and talk it out over there.

•Loui is the best state to talk things out with. He listens and keeps secrets, it's only a shame that no one can do the same for him as Florida and the other states have the loudest mouths when it comes to secrets.

•When a state is sick Loui stays with them, and makes sure they're comfortable. Bringing soup, hot water bottles, and a little bit of home remedies and spells, and making sure that they didn't feel alone.

Comforting them

•Loui hallucinates but isn't diagnosed because he believes he's been cursed or is being haunted by ghosts because what other explanation could someone born in 1682 possibly have for the things he sees that cannot be explained.

•The other states tried to help him but originally most of them lacked the understanding of how the brain works for centuries, believing either he was possessed or lying for attention. The worst part is that a lot of them blamed him for his episodes, delusions, depression and paranoia.

•Nowadays, the states try their best to undo the damage they had done and try to comfort Loui.

•In contrast, Florida never treated Loui differently for his mental health issues because after everything Florida has seen, he just assumed what Loui was talking about was real from the get go. Which comforted Loui, as someone else was treating his experiences just as seriously as he was.

•When Loui is really stressed, the states take it in turns watching him and providing comfort so he knows he isn't alone.

💔 Breakups

• Loui is a great boyfriend, but is closer to Florida than any of his partners. This creates confusion when his partners ask why Florida doesn't join their date nights and why Loui spends more time with Florida and not them. In contrast, some states think Loui is a serial dater who's just Florida's friend. The truth is Florida and Loui aren't defined which confuses everyone even more.

•Loui was once added to a groupchat of Florida's exes by accident (the chat was made by Florida)

•Regardless of the reason, his partners are all aware that Loui would do anything for his best friend including getting hurt, getting arrested, driving drunk because Florida was drunker, and at one point cuddling Florida on the couch because his "sha" had a stomach issues.

•After a while, Loui's partners get disillusioned to the others shenanigans and watching Loui get hurt over and over again whilst refusing to label his feelings for his friend. Often they'd even outwardly accuse Loui of cheating with Florida.

• Loui is pretty chill about his breakups, usually as a cover up to not alarm Florida. No matter how broken and angry he feels he rather not tell it to Florida knowing fully how his friend would react.

•Meanwhile Florida treats Loui's break ups with as much grace as a alligator-slinging-hurricane crackhead can. He will fight them with every inch of his life for making Loui sad. He'll commit vandalism and theft in Loui's honour. Loui doesn't like this gesture as it speaks to a louder problem with their relationship.

•Florida unintentionally sabotages Loui's relationship. He'll bring up every embarrassing and problematic story of their friendship. Accuse Loui's partners of not being good enough, or just call them evil and cruel. He'll argue with most of his partners about cultural differences and tease them until they break.

•Florida overheard a convo Loui and Texas had about him, with Loui stating that Florida is keeping him alone. Feeling bad, Florida tried his best to keep out of Loui's relationships but went to the other extreme of avoiding Loui which made them both depressed. It was only for a few months and the two slowly reverted into old patterns.

☠️ Random hc

•His favourite alligator isn't even his. Loui looked after Darth Gator for Florida when he moved to SoCal and Cali wouldn't let Florida keep a gator in the bathtub.

•Loui also taught him commands in french, but this is now a problem for Florida bc he never taught any rules to his gators-so now he just has a french gator.

•Somehow darth gator is now attracted to jazz music, and will bite people until he hears jazz music.

•Darth Gator is allowed in the house and at BBQs, louisiana used cook an entire state for him until a documentary said raw meat is better for a gator's diet.

•Louisiana doesn't let people know if he dislikes them, but if they're harassed by Darth Gator and Loui just watches- you would know.

•When Florida took Darth Gator back, he felt bad and now Loui and him co parent.

•A month later they found out Darth Gator was pregnant and both were confused.

[peachy-cheeks]

We Still Have Time (week two)

week: arrival | one | three

word count: 1,835 words

characters: gojo satoru x gn!reader

warnings: contains spoilers from chapter 222 and a generous amount of cussing... hurt and comfort kinda

a/n: Decided to make satoru a bit of a meanie here... been feeling kinda emo but this ends well i think

Satoru's voice tended to carry his words, occasionally even some of the harshest ones, with the undertone of a smirk.

"Stop lookin' at me like that."

"...Like what?"

"Givin' me those fuckin' sad eyes."

"What are you talking about…?"

This was not one of those times.

"Don't be dense… It's been over a week now and you're still moping around almost every second you're with me."

You stopped your motions and searched his face to confirm the level of upset you heard in his voice; unmasked and unmistakably genuine.

"Are you serious…?"

"Seriously. It's…"

Satoru's words trailed off, reading the growing hurt in your eyes. He loved you, he always would...

But he sincerely hated when you gave him that look.

"What, pathetic?"

His eyes broke away from yours.

"You said it, not me."

You gritted your teeth at his unexpected coldness. One sharp inhale.

"You know…I cried when you came back, but… I haven't since... I've been as focused and present… and as strong as you have."

Conviction rivaled the natural waver in your voice. If he were completely out of his mind he'd go ahead and provoke you further by saying, 'No, you haven't. You aren't.'

"You're supposed to be. That's what kept you alive this whole time, right? None of this is new."

He didn't completely believe you. Distress shows in so many other ways beyond tears. Besides, the skin around your eyes was telling enough.

But he knew— in some capacity— you were trying; regardless of the divine gifts bestowed upon you both, you and Satoru were still very human; emotions, reactions, and expiration dates wired into your bodies. In turn, it only makes sense that in this time grief would run through all of her stages, sparing neither one of you.

"No… it isn't new. I know. But it isn't fucking easy to deal with."

"Well that's fucking obvious… how do you think I feel?"

"Detached and above it all, you fucking asshole. How the hell do you think I feel when I've been here the whole time? You think I'm supposed to look at you and just be okay when my world's been turned upside down?"

The volume and anger… the worry… in your voices steadily rose.

Anger…

Years together allowed you to share all emotions…

And anger… but never typically directed at one another. Especially over how the other feels. For you and Satoru, that emotion was reserved for the pure evils of this world and for those who betrayed your trust.

So what was this?

"Do you see me lookin' at you like you're gonna drop dead tomorrow? It's defeatist, borderline nihilistic, and shitty to be around. Our jobs aren't done yet... and it's not just your world…"

His truth. He hadn't given you that same 'defeatist' look, despite how weak you may have felt in your own skin. He'd never intentionally exacerbate that feeling with his own.

But the unthinkable was happening; it had been, for weeks. To what you could imagine, his mortality was not immune to the new rules of this living hell.

"But... why are you acting like that can't happen… so many already have. The kids ar—"

"Stop talking to me like I don't know what this is."

"Why are you hiding behind your strength! Any of us could die at any point of this and that includes you so why are yo—"

"Shut the fuck up and do yourself a favor. Never compare yourself to me. You'll lose every time, especially sounding like that. Just do what you can and stay out of the way."

His chilling and authoritarian gaze broke you. A fast but weighty drag was felt across his face, immediately followed by a hot sting. The sound reverberated throughout the room.

"Fuck you."

Tears wouldn't come; no matter the heavy rise and fall of your chest from enraged exhales, the wide wildness of your eyes, shame and desperation in your stance and in the deep, downward corners of your lips.

Witnessing death and destruction only to be forced to carry on... or returning to pick up, rectify, and glue together the shards of its aftermath…

Which was worse? How could losing the same things… the same people… feel so different?

Maybe your fear really was pent-up panic. But this world had been so fucking cruel.

Maybe Satoru was right and wanted to curb your panic with the reality of the present. But why was he being so cruel too?

Was he afraid that you'd selfishly beg him not to go? Or was he afraid that he'd listen to you at the worst time if you did beg...

"I should go."

Your rage immediately turned to regret at the sound of his voice, decibels below where it had been. Still no tears, but he was at capacity for how much of your sorrow he could hold. And he was so, so, so sorry for it… but he could barely swallow his own, never mind yours. His footsteps sounded more and more distant.

"Please, don't fall apart on me. Or we're all fucked."

A slam of the door covered the whimper that escaped your lips. A paralyzing stream of tears trailed your cheeks, chin, and neck.

"You hungry?"

A universal, domestic, apologetic non-apology.

"No… not really…"

You were thankful to have your back turned to him if just for this small moment of rejection.

"...sorry, thanks."

'That's when he says sorry, huh?' His words floated around your mind though you tried to not take it personally. You grabbed two sets of utensils and the small picking of okazu to settle across from Satoru with. His head was propped up in his hand and covered his mouth, partially concealing his dejected expression.

A day had passed. Meals, conversations, trainings, stretches, cleansing, and sleep had all taken place apart from each other. From what you saw, he wouldn't look at you. To be fair, he kept his eyes on you only when you wouldn't notice.

Before digging in you slid the extra utensils to him. He accepted out of habit, betraying his previous statement of a lack of appetite. His fingers grazed yours, eyes fixated to the array of food between you two.

"…You remember... you asked what kept me alive this whole time…"

Satoru silently debated whether or not to engage.

"…In a rhetorical, dick-ish sense…"

'We wasted enough time already…' His regret was palpable.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Mm… You implied it was because I stayed focused but it wasn't just me burying my sorrow…"

"Mm."

"For a while, the thought of seeing your face again… a chance to talk to you again even if all I could say was goodbye. Just that idea kept me going. 's kinda selfish, I know."

"… I wouldn't say that."

He really wouldn't. He understood from experience, holding onto... begging for what the heart hopes for.

"… I know. But it is. I didn't even think of anyone else… the others… humanity… nothing. Just needing to see you."

He understood.

"Here I am."

You stopped aimlessly pushing the food in front of you around, finally locking eyes with Satoru who was still and firmly concentrated on your response.

"I fell apart the second I felt your presence return… because I missed you but… also because now you were in this nightmare too…"

'I was always in this nightmare…'

"One wish came true but I neglected and pushed down my sorrow until it found a home in me. I don't think I've been good at kicking it out… and it only ever comes out around you... and I'm sorry. That's not fair."

"Don't apologize…"

He understood.

"I'm sorry for reacting... and telling you how to react. Being locked up in a box for a month away from others kinda makes you a socially inept jerk..."

'You've always been that to be fair...' rings throughout your mind as you try to conceal a giggle.

"You're alive because you're focused, attentive... brilliant... strong. Because you're you. The whole in-love thing is a bonus for morale, but you... your consideration for everything... you aren't afraid to feel what you need to. I personally don't think that works for everyone... but I know that's really what's kept you alive. I see that. To not see it is a rejection of you... So... what happens now?"

It wasn't a question. There were only so many options and he, obviously, still stood deeply in his feelings about this. The nightmare wasn't over, and who's to say it would ever be? Satoru knew his limits and with so little time and so much to do…

...so much loss…

But for now… could you…

"I feel... but I can't keep falling apart. It really isn't fair."

"…None of us can afford to."

His hand shifted from his face to the surface of the table, eyes still on you. He reached for your hand, still occupied with playing in the steadily cooling food; asking permission to be held.

"Satoru… I shouldn't apologize for feeling helpless… but I'm sorry for overlooking you."

You weren't apologizing for wounding his ego, but for betraying your own faith in him. He made it back. Took some help, sure, but why couldn't he do it again with the same team?

Your hand found his.

"Can you promise me something?"

"What?"

"I know it won't be now… maybe not even after these curses are exorcised…"

You paused, thinking carefully on the wording of your request.

"…but eventually… when you're ready… can you share your sorrow with me?"

Like an arrow, your words pierced his consciousness. Immediately thinking of Megumi, then his prior years, he shifted his gaze to your joined hands. He did... and he wanted to. As a couple, sharing that burden was what you two did.

But being out of practice... your request was a simple reminder of what kept you two level as equals.

"Since you've been back, I keep putting my sorrow on you in hints or... bombs... thinking you'll just return the favor. But you were just fielding mine, reflecting it back at me. I nearly forgot that you don't operate that way or… you're a little more considerate than you let on."

Satoru let a half-hearted chuckle slip. He wasn't more considerate than he was confident about what he could disguise as strength. But you already yelled at him for that so...

"Please… don't isolate any more than you already have. It's hard to keep up with you, but I don't mind trying. Just as long as you know that I am… try to meet me halfway… I want to stay strong with you, for you. Not out of just not wanting to be a nuisance."

"You aren't a nuisance."

"Then let me in. We don't have to talk about this until we're ready but… just promise that you won't overlook me either."

Without permission, he reached for your chin, lightly tapping with his index finger to shift your vision to his.

"I promise."

[forgottenspring]

A whole new level to being the supposedly "closeted" gay cousin at Thanksgiving. I know this may not get notes/views, but I was reminded of this today. So I wanted to share a wild "Me the Gay Cousin at Thanksgiving" story from two years ago that felt right out of a 90s sit com special episode.

Since I'm spending this Thanksgiving chilling with a friend instead, I realized yall might like to hear this story.

In my family my sister and I are the only two of our age. The rest of the cousins are MUCH young than us. Us being young adults and our cousins being lil gremlin preteen boys. We're talking like 10 boys overall and our two lil bros, and two newly not toddler girls at the time.

So bc of this my sister and I always sit at the kids table bc our uncles and aunts didn't want us excluded and feeling we couldn't be kids. (I am now 25 turning 26 for context, so I was about 23).

So, I know my family is highly religious and horribly homophobic/transphobic. So lil pagan nonbinary lesbian cupio aroace me has been squeaking by bc I've been holding my tongue and refusing to date in Utah around family for years in the past. Unless it was a group date with friends and the guy asked me out.

So imagine my shock when me and my lil bros and dude cousins are chilling on the floor playing a board game (my sister was at a friend's house that year) bc I don't want to hear the adults say anything that will rile me up bc I really don't want to be outed this year.

And right after I finish my turn, my kid cousin slides over a whiteboard and I look down and freeze in shock. It says "R U Gay?" And I'm knowing his parents are especially homophobic. And what I was afraid of AKA I'm out of the closet and tired, I wrote "Yes" and turned back to the game. He froze and squeaked out a "What!?" And he whispers back to me asking if it's true, as if I just admitted I was insane. And I shrug, trying to play it cool as I realize suddenly the ramifications of it and freaking out now bc he's a blabbermouth. I see both my brothers make eye contact to make sure I'm okay, which I nod to them. I then whisper back to my cousin and go "Yeah" and he tells me that's wrong bc nobody's gay and if they are they're evil, it's a joke you ask ppl in school. And I realize I have to walk this back immediately before my aunt and uncle are told and I'm outed on Thanksgiving and I haven't even come out to my dad yet.

So I shrug tell him I know a lot of people at school who are gay and they're really sweet people. And lie and tell him I'm not gay that I was just playing into the joke. He seems shocked that gay people exist and I know them. But finally after a bit he nods thinking nothing of it, but at least he's cooler about the gay topic I guess and I just survived.

I go downstairs where the adults are hanging bc the boys are running around in the snow and I'm wanting to try being with the adults, since I am one, for a minute. And to nobody's shock after a bit of joking around and stuff, my dad, aunts, uncles, and grandma are raving about "These people nowadays pushing their politics and gay agenda." I don't know how to react, so after a few minutes, I turn around and go back upstairs realizing what could have happened that night.

Luckily I came out later on to my dad and my siblings have already known for years so I felt less bad. But overall it really felt odd when I was put on the spot like that and then hearing my family talk like that. Like-... It felt like something you hear about on TV shows and go "That's such a contrived scene that doesn't happen in real life." And in that moment I was processing the whole scenario and less if I wanted to come out or not.

So anyways probs going to avoid Thanksgiving moving forward for multiple reasons, but mainly for the fact that I can't stay in the closet anymore bc I've been out for too long and I WILL get into arguments over gay/trans rights without thinking bc I'm tired and bad at staying in the closet. And the few ppl in my family who know other than my sibs have reacted oddly to horribly. And I really would prefer not being ostracized from the family whose already pretty sure I'm somehow gay bc I didn't pray enough or something rn bc I'm tired and in an unstable place that if I need to stay with a relative I'd like not for it to be being hate crimed 24/7. But I live in a different state than my family now and much better for it.

I have a good group of friends that are family to me now and I know I'll be okay. And I'm happy and living my best life rn and enjoy every day I'm being myself around ppl who accept and love me. But it still hurts to think about some days y'know.

TLDR: My preteen cousin asked on a whiteboard "R U GAY?" two years ago and I nearly outed myself on Thanksgiving to my religious homophobic family, bc I didn't realize he was doing a middle school prank.

[petitelepus]

Hi, nice talking to you ♥️ could I ask for a normal matchup, please? I'm fine with any genders! No NSFW tho, please.

I'm an introvert but I'm chaotic, carefree and outspoken. I tend to have an optimistic view on life and I could say I'm very strong willed.

I'm usually pretty chill and can keep my cool, but I'm very rebellious and stubborn, I also turn very bad mouthed if provoked.

I'm very accepting and open minded, but sometimes it makes me look a bit naive. I joke a lot and comfort people by making them laugh.

I love doing physical activities and strive to be strong asf. I also like exploring new places and doing anything fun, I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie.

I match you with Sanemi Shinazugawa!

The Wind Hashira is glad you're an introvert because that means that you most likely won't get out and try and find Demons to slay.

He thinks that not everyone is made for hunting Demons and you and his younger brother are such people. Just retire and find a guy or gal to settle down with!

Prove him wrong, show him just how strong you really are and how much stronger you want to get!

Not only are you strong, but you don't mind traveling from one place to another in pursuit of evil Demons.

Your chaotic nature makes you unpredictable and your enemies have hard time reading your movements.

Nothing beats the rush you get when battling against a Demon... And Sanemi can understand that rush you have when dodging and attacking and finally killing the enemy Demon.

Sanemi can't understand where your optimists come from... But he is completely hating it. Despite everything awful happening, you try to stay strong and positive. Sure, it annoys him, but it's part of your charm that he kinda likes and admires.

You didn't hear that from me, he will stubbornly deny any attraction until something serious happens and one of you may be at death's door. Let's hope this man of yours comes to his senses soon.

You know Sanemi is harsh, stubborn, and has a temper, but you also kinda understand that he is harsh because he cares... But despite knowing this, you can also be stubborn and bad-mouthed when provoked enough.

"Quit Demon slaying!"

"I quit when you do the same!"

"Never!"

"Then..." You grinned, "Looks like we are stuck together then, huh?"

"Annoying little...!"

He really likes you and wants to keep you safe, but he has an awful way of showing it. So he tends to tag alongside you on missions to make sure you stay alive.

But once the Demons are defeated, he calms down notably and promises to take you to accompany him on his journey to travel all across the lands.

[gerrydelano]

4 or 5 for the writing ask game?

4. pick an alternate setting you would want to put either the main cast of your work or [specific characters] in— zombie apocalypse, medieval fantasy, regency era, office hijinks, etc. describe what it would look like and/or write 100+ words in this universe.

honestly? i have to come clean. the first AU we made for this story was a hunger games AU, and it actually helped us develop a shitload of stuff for the main story LMAO. some TW for under the cut of mentions of sex trafficking and exploitation, finnick style etc.

ask game

firstly i have to celebrate that it gave us osa, a bear shifter who is ayla's mentor for the games and in the original story is another captive in the fighting ring who helps her stay sane. osa is a big fat butch and she's hot and married and so fucking excellent i love and aspire to be anything close to half as cool as she is someday and also yes i am aware that her name means bear in spanish. would you believe me if i said we picked it as a name and made her a bear before we knew that. LOL.

but yes THG AU okay so. i also have to be upfront, when me and ren make THG AUs we tend to focus on the post-games finnick side of things because that's just the part of the story that resonates with us both the most and it's important to us to explore those kinds of stories, also like... life after the games is the bulk of the story until a revolution takes place, and not every AU actually contains characters who can slip easily into katniss' position so sometimes they're just existing and exploring that is the meat of what we tend to do sometimes until a revolutionary figure naturally comes across. moonstained already features a character (pruitt) being sex trafficked while ayla is Some Other Kind Of Trafficked With Hints Of Sexual Exploitation Because What The Fuck Do You Think Happens To Women In That Kind Of Underground Fighting Ring Setting In General so like. it's not far off to place them in that kind of situation in another universe, it's more true to them than pretending it wouldn't happen.

pruitt is the first to enter the games. he's in D1, and a career like his mother, lavinia, was. (she was reaped properly and no one volunteered for her. LOL.) but she's famous for being a very charismatic and lethal killer, so he's favored to be a legacy win, and that gives him trouble in the games with the other contenders. she actually convinced him to volunteer for someone a little earlier than he was supposed to, age wise, and it's a really fucked up situation to put him in. however! once he's actually in the arena, he mostly hides and doesn't kill anyone until the very end, at which point he takes on the last three careers when they come for him. canon pruitt refuses to kill for lavinia's evil purposes, but he does have a body count of 3 until the end of book one because he snaps and kills people who have actually abused him personally, or are in the middle of posing a threat to casey. sometimes those people overlap! a la first gunman in the alley. eek!

but there's a big nasty strangle-stabbing fight with the last one and he just keeps stabbing after the cannon fires and it's replay-material on the broadcast which is un-fun. but he's pretty and mysterious and quiet when he gets back and it creates intrigue, which leads to interest from weird people, which his mother has no small hand in facilitating because it probably happened to her too and she thinks it's normal/fine/even beneficial, and she has no problem exploiting pruitt in general to get what she needs: security and wealth. so pruitt just kind of lives this life and is primarily alone in it until a bit after ayla and casey each get involved.

ayla and casey are from D7, ayla's mentor is osa (butch bear<3) and casey's is sal (a guy from his support group in the canon story, who is a tiger shifter! also a big fat burly guy who is so fucking chill and excellent but he definitely almost killed his father who MAY HAVE killed his mother when he was 16 so that's a man with some rage in him. love you sal.) ayla's arena is a Colosseum, while casey's was an abandoned city block/urban jungle sort of situation.

they're a bit of a spectacle, too, because they're twins and were in back-to-back games. ayla had been reaped first, as a boy, because she hasn't come out yet in her district and to her parents but now that she thinks she's pretty much guaranteed to die anyway, she wants to do it as herself. she comes out during the interview portion of things and it's Intriguing and Interesting and Fresh and Startling and all those annoying things the capitol ascribes to normal ppl's lives, but it actually gets her some fans and supporters because it's also brave and different and makes her stand out.

when she's being interviewed she says something to the effect of, "yeah, it's funny coming here with secrets. if i tell you, do you promise not to tell anyone? [glances at the audience as they laugh]" and her stylist gives her a light cape on one shoulder and it's made so she can swish it off and pin it around her waist into a skirt. not a cinna-level dramatic quick change but a bit of fun and very attention catching.

so they pretty her up and she gets to live this tiny piece of her life in a way she never thought she would have access to in a million years and then she cries herself to sleep because it's all a dream, it's all temporary, it's not going to last because her life is slated to end so soon, but surprise! she's a FIGHTER. to a degree she didn't know she had in her. i think we ended up saying she bites someone's throat out (call to her hyena shit in canon) and later when she gets facial feminization surgery, they sharpen her canines without her consent for The Look and osa is SO PISSED. but she tries to vibe with it because at least she's getting resources here and she's finally some strange version of the self she didn't even dare to dream of back home.

but alas. even before i made her trans, it would have been a struggle for her to NOT end up finnick'd, but being trans actually cements that as a distinct risk because of the fetishization and exoticism that people pin on the backs of trans women, and she did a little too good of a job making herself special. the thing is, though, she's also just emotionally different after the trauma of the games; she's sharper, snappier, harsher, quicker to lash out. if she said the wrong thing to someone while getting used to her new station in life, there could be consequences.

and so casey is reaped, due to some rigging.

he relies on snappy humor and hijinks to survive and it actually works. he has a few replayable moments, too! shenanigans with fire escapes and such. he doesn't expect to win any more than she did, but he's also riding a bit on the tailcoats of her victory in terms of sponsors and it's a big fucking mess in general.

he doesn't know how to engage in the capitol parties and crap but ayla ends up doing party drugs and shit, and pruitt is like... weirdly inseparable from his mother until he escapes to drink a shit ton of alcohol just to get away from her and eventually one day casey sees pruitt and ayla laughing uproariously by a table together and they don't even remember what was so funny but it's a significant moment because until NOW, pruitt had seemed like some random untouchable piece of shit career like all the rest of them, but he's also just. so solitary and has sparklies in his hair and casey is the only person to really notice that his mother always has a hand on him somewhere and it's really uncomfortable actually.

there's more development and plot stuff going on but there is a scene where casey witnesses some abuse from lavinia on a balcony and pruitt is mortified but casey makes it a point to try and be closer to him after that because clearly every victor here is fucked up in some way and it's not JUST ayla and her obvious suffering (even though she tries to roll with it still) it's not JUST him and having to watch her suffer (and eventually deal with his own bullshit because Spectacle) it's just a phenomenon that cannot be denied and it needs to stop.

and then we have philomena.

she's in D13 originally, and she has infiltrated the capitol in some way on instructions from diana, the coin figure, to get information for the revolution. part of the revolution here is her bringing to attention that the victors are not happy with the arrangements they're stuck in and many of them want out just as much as some of them like the false sense of security. she's scouting for people who would be willing to help and manages to get them in contact with the movement and if anyone is the actual driving force behind anything, it'd be her probably. her or ayla. though me and ren like to have people kind of share the burden of the revolution rather than force it all onto one figurehead, especially since their stories all differ so much from katniss' like there's just a bunch of finnicks and they're adults by the time anything happens for real and it's wild.

we have more little extraneous details than that but i THINK i'm done for now LOL

[odysseywritings]

The Church

@flashfictionfridayofficial @howdywrites

(tw blood and gore)

The quartet of zombie survivors walked away from the struggle with bloodied wounds barely covered by bandages. They needed a place to hold out and recover and it certainly wasn't going to be out in the open as dusk approached. The bloody red sun overlooking the cruel southwest desert signalled the frozen chill of night creeping in. By serendipity, the sun was toward the direction of a church with lights still on.

"Yay, someone is still alive!" the pink dyed Gabi beamed.

"Finally," the large stetson wearing Rhonda grinned. "Was afraid Tess was gonna fly away with th' wind!"

"Hush it," the tiny, gray flanneled woman said. "This is holy ground, and I don't want y'all talking like heathens while we're finally blessed."

A long haired man wearing denim and brown leather observed the pile of zombies dead and impaled while posed in upside down cross formations.

"I love what they've done with the place," Ken quipped. "Really feeling the love of God here."

Tess groaned, "Lord, forgive them and their foolishness."

Gabi knocked on the door and yelled to say they were in need of a safe house. There was no coherent answer, only some mumbled sighs. She looked at the others who were also confused, yet the chill was grating on their skin, and they chose to enter anyway.

The cobwebs and chipped pews contrasted with the ornate church's stained glass filled with colorful hagiography that felt at home to Gabi and Tess, while Ken was impressed by the artistry, and Rhonda was apathetic to it all. They looked around to find the sound's source, a constant moaning that echoed throughout the building, causing Gabi to shiver and Rhonda to aim her shotgun. Tess found a separate room and found a kneeled woman in a nun's habit sulking.

"Sister? You're alright now. We're not bit."

Gabi stepped in to see the nun and bent down to comfort her, but Tess put her arm out in case it was a trap.

"What's your name?"

With a long exhale, the woman slowly got up and looked at them, and saw Ken and Rhonda enter as she ambled over.

"I am Sister Amanda. I am the only one who has been saved in this great judgement. I hope you four are not the Horsemen come to lay waste to me."

"Hell no," Rhonda barked as Ken raised a brow at the nun's words. "But if we were, I call War, because that's the most badass one!"

"Rhonda," Tess sighed. "Sorry, Sister. We didn't mean to intrude, but night's closing in, and we needed a refuge."

"I understand. But before I let you all stay, you must do me a favor, and that is to confess your sins. It is how I remained safe from this awful plague. I insist you do the same lest the horrible curse outside befalls you all."

Rhonda rolled her eyes while Tess and Gabi obliged with Ken out of sight.

"I don't mind, Sister," Tess said. "I ain't going too private since I'm with company, but... I did a kill a man before all this. A real snake who tried to get more than he deserved."

"I killed a few m'self, ya ain't that special" Rhonda chimed as Tess glared at her. "What? Y'all wanted confessions..."

Gabi twiddled her fingers and stepped up. "I... turned a blind eye to someone being attacked. I was just so scared and didn't know what to do!"

Tess put her hand around Gabi's and Amanda gave a small smile with hands outstretched.

"Thank you all. I know now what people you are all. How un-Christian and sinful you are."

"Excuse me," Tess stared daggers at her. "Then what was all that confession shit for?"

"Call it introspection," Amanda said with a sluggish smile and heavy eyes. "You will need it in this coming Rapture. Murderers and cowards need to be reminded of their guilt if they seek salvation."

"What are you even saying," Gabi cried in confusion. "We messed up but we're doing what we can! How dare you be sanctimonious!"

"I can beat that smugness right out of 'er," Rhonda cracked her knuckles.

"You may say your barbs, but I am protected, for my deeds are only to the evil and soulless you saw before trespassing on this land. You three-"

Her heart dropped and a chill went down her spine.

"Wait, there was a fourth one. A young man. Where did he go?"

"Ladies?" Ken shouted from below, causing the others to be concerned.

Rhonda grabbed Amanda by the arm and escorted her to where Ken was. He found a cellar hidden by tapestry and went down and saw a sight that rendered him speechless and cold. The others followed his path and saw what he discovered.

Bodies of slashed clergy and churchgoers were laid neatly in a row. Many were only recently rotting and three were smaller and younger than the rest.

Ken pointed at the limbs and necks. "No bite marks."

Amanda lost balance and felt her vision distorted and swirling. She retreated to a pew and rested on her side.

"The Lord will forgive me. He always will. He knows what I had to do. They all committed grave sins. To use the apocalypse as an excuse for impure and unholy acts. To abuse all of His love. To abuse all of His laws. To abuse all of His charity."

She rambled on as nightfall pressured them to throw her outside, in her nearly catatonic state, damning her to the outside world come Hell or high water. The group had varying degrees of guilt, with Ken and Rhonda feeling no sympathy for Amanda, Gabi feeling terribly sick, and Tess thinking about their safety in sleeping without a knife around their necks. They didn't hear her as they slept through the night and assumed she met her flock.

[canary0]

June 29th - Dracula 2023

Today is the day of my last letter. Time is up.

The Count went down the wall again like a lizard wearing my clothing. A disturbing image, like seeing into the future if I don’t escape. I wish I’d had a gun or something on that I could shoot him right off the wall. Honestly, though, I’m not sure it would even affect him. I didn’t wait for him to come back – after the hypnotism incident the other day, I didn’t want to risk it.

I went back tot he library and read until I fell asleep, instead. I swear, this is the most reading not for work I’ve done in years. Normally that wouldn’t be a bad thing, but it’s just a reminder of how isolated from the world I am. I want nothing more than to take out my phone and check up on everyone’s lives. I think I dreamt about them for a little bit before the Count awoke me, expression grim as a coffin nail.

He said, “To-morrow, my friend, we must part. You return to your beautiful England, I to some work which may have such an end that we may never meet. Your letter home has been dispatched; to-morrow I shall not be here, but all shall be ready for your journey. In the morning come the Szgany, who have some labours of their own here, and also come some Slovaks. When they have gone, my carriage shall come for you, and shall bear you to the Borgo Pass to meet the bus from Bukovina to Bistrita. But I am in hopes that I shall see more of you at Castle Dracula.” Was that the movers I’d seen outside? Either way, the events of the last few days and our interactions absolutely screamed that that was nonsense. Hope springs eternal, though, so I decided to test his sincerity. What an insult to the term.

“Why can’t I leave tonight?” I asked, blunt and to the point.

“Because, dear sir, my coachman and horses are away on a mission."

“Hiking would be good for my health, and I’d like to get home as soon as possible,” I returned evenly. I at least knew the general direction because of the GPS before it was destroyed.

His smile in response was the softest, smoothest expression I’d ever seen, with an edge of evil to it. The whole effect sent a chill down my spine as he spoke. “And your baggage?”

“It’s not that important.” Half of it was missing or destroyed during the course of my stay in this nightmare anyway.

The Count stood up and put on a show of courtesy that would have made him a shoo-in for an Oscar. “You English have a saying which is close to my heart, for its spirit is that which rules our boyars: 'Welcome the coming; speed the parting guest.' Come with me, my dear young friend. Not an hour shall you wait in my house against your will, though sad am I at your going, and that you so suddenly desire it. Come!" With that, we were on our way down to the door with the lamp. Halfway down the stairs he stopped, looked up, and said, “Hark!”

Practically right outside the doors the howling of wolves rose in time with the movement of his hand. Seeing how he commanded them before, I don’t doubt is the exact case. As if he hadn’t just down that, he went down and threw open the bolts and the door itself. The door, it seemed, wasn’t at all locked. Perhaps it was too heavy for me, or perhaps it’s some other effect of his. I don’t know what to believe about what he can do anymore.

The howling and growling of the wolves became louder and angrier, and they leapt at the door, all fangs and claws. I knew that just leaving then would be a certain death sentence. Some part of me felt sorry for the wolves – this is certainly not how they naturally behave, so they were just victims under his control. Like myself, the movers, everyone in his orbit except maybe those weird sisters.

The door kept opening, with only the Count between them and me… literally and figuratively, since he commanded them to come at me as much as he created a barrier between myself and them. I had tried to end the game early, and so it would be valid to end my life with it. Knowing that, I finally shouted, “Shut the door! I’ll wait until morning, it’s fine!” I clenched my fists and looked down as tears stung my eyes.

We returned to the library in silence – his triumphant, I’m sure, though he went ahead of me so I couldn’t see his face. Eventually I returned to my own room. He kissed his hand toward me like someone blowing me a kiss, and that was the last I saw of him. He stared intently with those red eyes as his did, as triumphant as I’d imagined before. He was enjoying this entirely too much. The final act of his little play.

I didn’t know if I could sleep, but I was at least determined to lie down. I needed rest. But I heard whispering at the door. Whispering I knew well.

“Back, back, to your own place! Your time is not yet come. Wait! Have patience! To-night is mine. To-morrow night is yours!" There was a soft laugh – the women from before – and I threw open the door. There they were, licking their lips. At my appearance, they laughed and ran away.

I slammed the door shut, but was left only with emptiness and horror. Tomorrow is the end. I knew that, in a way, after what he said. There was naturally a purpose in keeping me here.

Tonight is his, though, and I have something to fear in the mean time. Whatever he plans to do, I’ll likely be left alive for them in whatever state I’m in.

My eyes went to where I had hung the crucifix from the bed frame. Somehow it was gone. Where, I don’t know.

So I am here. Waiting in silence. All I have is my diary that I should hide before he gets here, and the lamp to comfort me.

Tonight is his, whatever that means. And tomorrow, one way or the other, it ends.

(A/N: It always struck me as weird that Jonathan wasn't freaking out about more stuff in that scene. So... yeah.

I honestly had a lot of fun adapting this section.

Also, hey, check me out getting a post out in a reasonable time frame!)

[boots-with-the-fur-club]

Happy New Year’s Eve! Here’s chapter 2 of Inverted Confrontation.

Raph groggily opens his eyes and a chill immediately hits him. He quickly starts panicking. Cold was never, ever something to mess with. Splinter drilled that into his head many times.

Unfortunately, he knows the signs are there already. It’s hard to keep his eyes open. Hard to think fully.

How did he get there?

What happened last?

Think Mind Raph! Where are you!?

He glances around and sees that it’s some kind of freezer. He also sees Mikey and Donnie there. They were still out cold.

“G-Guys! Wake up!”

He does his best to move past the grogginess the cold brought. He cradles Mikey close while trying to shake Donnie awake.

Donnie grumbles and opens his eyes.

“Ugh….Raph….what’s…?”

He sits up suddenly.

“Pizza Supreme….a Leo got the drop on me….”

Raph tenses and looks around again.

“Wh-Where’s Leo!?”

“He’s closer than you think.”

Raph looks back at Donnie.

“That was my voice but it wasn’t me-“

“It was me. Salutations my dear alternate brothers. To not further complicate the situation, you may call me Hyde. As you can tell, you’re in a storage freezer. Brumation is such a problem, isn’t it? Champion suggested it to keep you out of sorts. However, your brother has a mild concussion so he didn’t need to be in there with you. Champion almost insisted on it but I felt it went overboard.”

Hyde’s voice explained over a speaker.

“He has a WHAT!? Give him back right now!” Raph nearly starts growling.

“I told you he was close! Can’t you wait 5 seconds for a dramatic reveal!?”

The wall to their side lifts up to reveal a see through one. Leo was leaning on it, still, his eyes hazy.

“Leo!” Donnie feebly moves over to the wall.

Recognition comes back into Leo’s eyes.

“Don, ‘s everone ‘kay?” He slurs.

“Dumb dumb, we’re just cold. You’re the one hurt.”

Leo cringes.

“Cold’s bad, y’know that. Gotta get out.”

“We’re working on it.”

“Work as much as you want, there’s no escape! This temperature won’t send you fully into brumation, but it will keep you lagging until we need you. Cackle cackle.”

Donnie reached for his wrist tablet. It’s gone, of course. He reaches behind him next and feels that his battle shell is gone too.

Hyde cackles harder.

“Evil laugh! None of you have anything that can help! You’re stuck. Just stay there and eventually you’ll be let out.”

“L-Leo needs help! Y-You can’t just ignore him! M-Mikey isn’t waking up either!”

Raph pleads. He also tries to shake Mikey awake, only getting slight groans from him.

“You can’t trick me. The science is flawless. Champion confirmed it many times.”

Leo hears this and his eyes widen a bit. He taps the glass and Donnie looks at him again. He fumbles with his fingers to sign for Donnie to turn away from the camera. Donnie does as told and Leo follows suit. Their eyes turn red as their minds connect.

“Hey! What are you doing?” Hyde shouts.

Donnie can feel the dizziness and confusion deep in his mind. The cold was bad, and Leo’s concussion was not helping his focus get any better. He shook his head and tries to push his thoughts through to keep it together for the both of them.

‘Leo. Tell me whatever it is quickly.’

They didn’t have much time with Leo’s head injury. The mind meld wasn’t stable.

‘I’m going to pretend to get worse. He’ll come in here and check on me. I’m sure of it. If he doesn’t, try making fun of his tech. Please. Just trust me.’

‘Let’s do it.’

It was the only plan they had. They had to act fast.

They end the mind meld and Leo falls over onto the ground. Donnie sees him let his arm fall next to him for dramatic affect.

He hopes it is at least.

“Oh no! Leo! My dearest brother! He’s dying!”

Was he acting convincing enough?

“L-Leo? Leo!!” Raph screams.

“What? No, you’re lying. This is a plan to get out. I won’t fall for it.”

“You’re killing my-! My…ugh…my twin! You and your tech are wrong! You’ll get us all killed, your brothers will blame you for wrecking the plan!”

There’s silence at first. Then they hear scrambling. Donnie is sure it worked. He knew why Leo told him to make fun of the tech. That’s why he knew what else he could say to make this other him move.

They soon see Hyde rush into the room Leo is in. He looks panicked.

“I can’t be wrong, Champion can’t be wrong, you are not dying!” He leans over to check on Leo.

Leo grabs him by the coat and pulls him down onto the ground. They wrestle around and Leo ends up taking the whole coat off him and using the sleeves to tie him up. Hyde angrily thrashes around.

“You’ll regret this! You still won’t leave here!”

“Yeah yeah….’nough of the villain stuff….”

He rummages around the pockets of the lab coat and retrieves a remote control. Hyde looks even angrier.

“L-Leo! H-How did ya know he’d have that?” Raph leans on the glass.

“Don-bon’s too paranoid. Won’t leave his stuff out in the open. Always on ‘im.”

Leo presses a button and lowers the glass wall. The cold seeps into a room and he shivers, starting to feel even more faint.

Donnie was closer so he got to Leo first. He helps him stay steady.

“I’m not paranoid, I just don’t trust you guys not to break my stuff.”

“Ha….fair. Mind taking it?” Leo limply holds the remote control out to him.

Donnie quickly does as asked, then turns his shell towards Leo.

“Come on, don’t be stupid and let me carry you.”

Donnie can tell by the silence that follows the order that Leo is hesitating. Nonetheless, he ends up allowing him to give him a piggyback ride. Nostalgia hits them both, although Leo less so since he’s focusing on just trying to keep what focus he has. Donnie gave him piggyback rides a lot as a kid. It was mainly to establish dominance of the theory that he was the older twin.

“You won’t make it even if you do escape! We’ll find you again!” Hyde shouts angrily.

“We’ll deal with that when and if it really happens.” Donnie glares at him.

“Wait….we can’t leave him here. The cold is spreadin over on this side.”

“You are aware they’ve kidnapped us, aren’t you?” Donnie turns his look to Raph.

“I know, I know. I’m not sayin we let him go. I just think we shouldn’t let him go into brumation.”

“Sigh. I’ll never understand the empathy all of you have at times.”

Raph smiles softly and lifts Hyde up by the coat with one arm while still cradling Mikey with the other. It’s sort of like trying to keep a cat trapped in a blanket.

They all leave together and close the door behind them to keep the cold in. They end up in a very long hallway. There’s tons of doors leading to who knows where.

“We should find the room he came from. If he was watching us, then he may have cameras around this entire place.” Donnie shifts Leo up a bit higher.

“So we start searchin through rooms?” Raph glances at the numerous doors.

“We don’t have any better option and we’re down two people.”

“Hey, am right here.” Leo insists.

“You have a concussion, you don’t count.”

“Kay, ‘kay, I get it, lemme look at Mikey though.”

Leo let’s go of Donnie and leans back. Donnie scrambles to keep upright and has to let go of him. Leo lands sort of awkwardly on the floor then makes his way to Raph. Hyde glares at him. Leo reaches his hand out to check on Mikey, but quickly takes it back.

“That’s…..not Mikey.”

“What? Of course it’s Mikey!” Raph insists.

Leo glances at Hyde who avoids eye contact with him.

“It’s not! Drop em!”

Raph looks down at “Mikey”, only to see his eyes open before he kicks him in the face. Raph stumbles back, giving the alternate time to hop out of his hold and land on the floor a bit away.

“Aww, what gave me away?”

The look in his eyes was like a cat playing with a toy.

Ready to pounce at a moment’s notice.

Focused entirely on what’s in front of him.

“You’ve got paint on your hand, Mikester was using…..uh……crayons? Yeah! Crayons last!“ Leo points at the imposter proudly.

“Wow…..even with a concussion and you’re still smarter than your brothers.”

“Scoff, you’ve got your information wrong. I’m-“ Donnie gets cut off by Leo’s hand fumbling over his mouth.

He grabs it and tosses it away.

“Ugh, gross! Nardo!”

“He’s trying to push your buttons! Emotional manipulation by little brothers should only be reserved for getting out of chores and having the last slice of pizza!” Leo shouts, his words beginning to form together better.

Fake Mikey smiles widely at Leo’s words. His pupils noticeably dilate, making him seem even more like a predatory animal.

“This is going to be sooooo fun. But before we get to play, I’m going to need my brother back.”

“There’s no way we’re handing him over!” Raph tightens his grip.

“Okay! I’ll just take him then.”

Fake Mikey laughs as he does finger guns with his hands. He points them at Raph’s hand.

“Okay, real cute, but I’m not just gonna-“

“Put me down! Now! Dr. Rude, don’t you dare!” Hyde does his best to thrash around.

“Uh oh.”

Orange shoots down Dr. Rude’s arms and to his finger tips.

“Bang!”

He flicks his wrists and fire comes out at Raph.

He drops Hyde, allowing the fire to scorch the wall behind him instead.

“Mikey can do that!?” Leo gawks.

“If he could we wouldn’t fight nearly as much!” Donnie corrects.

Dr. Rude sticks out his tongue and closes one eye in concentration as he aims again.

“Scatter!!” Raph shouts.

They all begin running around like chickens with their heads cut off as Dr. Rude keeps shooting fire around.

Hyde rolls on the ground until he reaches safety behind his brother. He manages to stand up and wriggles against the wall, trying to loosen the tied together sleeves.

“Guys, he’s getting free!”

“And we’re tryna to not get cooked Leo!” Raph barely dodges another fire ball.

Hyde finally frees himself and Leo can vaguely see a key in his hand before he slams open the door closest to them.

“Let’s go!”

Dr. Rude hops in backwards, sending out a few more flames.

Hyde sighs and rushes in after avoiding said flames, shutting the door immediately after.

Leo runs to it and shakes the door knob violently when it won’t turn.

“No! We just lost our only chance of finding out where Mikey is!”

“Don, the remote thingy!”

He looks it over as Raph asks and starts pressing buttons.

No matter what he does, only one door opens, and it isn’t the door the evil duo went through.

“Why isn’t this working!?” Donnie keeps pressing buttons.

“Maybe it wasn’t supposed to work.” Leo comments.

Donnies eyes widen and he breaks open the remote.

“Only two buttons are actually wired!”

“What does that mean?” Raph questions.

“We were never supposed to go through any of the other doors. They wanted us going into that door without knowing anything.” Leo answers.

Donnie furrows just eyebrows as he looks towards the open door.

“That part was foiled, but they’re still corralling us into the room.”

“At least we know it before we go in. We get in there and make them tell us where Mikey is.” Raph starts walking towards it.

Leo grabs his shoulder.

“You know I love your go get ‘em attitude, but maybe we should have a plan first?”

“We have no weapons, no ways of getting past the other doors and even if we did we don’t know what’s in them, and no Mikey!” Donnie was tending up a lot.

“Take a breath, Leon’s got this. Mikey is probably okay. If they wanted us hurt they would have done it already. My bet is that he’s in that room. Whatever is going on, they’re going to use him as leverage. As long as you two are prepared for that, I’ve got an idea. You just have to trust me.” Leo gently rubs the top of Donnie’s shell.

Donnie calms down a bit, preventing him from getting more overwhelmed.

“You know we do. Let’s go save our baby brother!” Raph smiles confidently.

“Juuuust one more thing.” Leo walks over to the coat left on the ground.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but now’s not the time for a costume change.”

“As much as I would like to Don bon, it’s not for that. Trust, remember? Vamanos, mis hermanos!”

Raph heads in first, making sure Leo and Donnie are close behind him.

The room was dark, they could barely see anything, it was only made worse by the door closing by itself behind them.

“Don’t let go of me! They could be anywhere!” Raph shouts, holding onto his brother as tight as he could.

“They could, but we’re actually up here.”

The turtles turn their attention upwards to the only source of light in the room.

The light of TV monitors.

Stood in front of them was the other Leo, smirking with his arms folded across his chest.

“You! Where’s Mikey!?” Donnie angrily points at him.

“Over here.”

Champion pulls an office chair forward from the darkness behind him.

“Guys!! You’re okay!”

“Mikey!!” They collectively shout back.

He was tied to the chair with chains.

“If you hurt him even a little bit I’m gonna-!”

“Yeah yeah, classic overprotective brother speech. Get new material.”

Raph gasps in offense.

“Just get on with your whole villain backstory thing.”

“Leo, give us more credit than that. Monologuing? So you have time to think of a way up here after Raph’s plan inevitably fails? No, I don’t think I will. I’m going to get straight to the point.”

The lights all turn on, revealing that Champion and Mikey are on a platform that doesn’t have any stairs leading up to it.

It also reveals that there are several robots that had been standing there in the darkness.

Purple themed ones.

“Defeat these, don’t die, and you’ll be reunited! Fail, and well….I might have to clean up some orange juice.”

[randomcontentdude]

Alright alright alriiiiiight, Merry Christmas beautiful people of the internet, hope this post finds you in good health.

Let’s get this out of the way: yes, I texted gg blonde, I sent him a picture of a dead chicken and said it reminded me of him, then wished him a merry Christmas, he answered, that’s was pretty much it.

I went up to visit my aunt, and this was rather a bittersweet experience. My aunt is a very special being, some may say she’s got an evil nature and I wouldn’t go against that statement, that is not to say she is evil, she tries not to, she really does, she just doesn’t realise she is. Her son (5M) is a pain in the ass. At some point I considered I should’ve stayed in my town with my friends chilling and gone to visit my childhood friend earlier, or studied or whatever, ultimately, she tries really hard to show she loves me and that is something I truly appreciate, I’ve had family members not even trying, she is naturally evil even when she tries not to, but she tries, and she’s got a beating heart, and I appreciate her.

I spent a great Christmas overall, I met up with a friend from MUN that is studying at my aunts city and we grabbed lunch together, I was scared at first that we were forcing it by meeting and that maybe we didn’t get along g so well, then I remembered how it was when we had bumped onto each other before and how we could talk endlessly and that was that, we got along super great and she had so many crazy stories and it was amazing, we had an amazing afternoon.

On the other hand fellow country girl and I have been getting closer after the black eyed peas concert, we talk all the time even tho sometimes it feel a bit much.

I felt a little odd today when I went to visit monkey and equestrian friends, it seemed like something was off and they decided to make plans for dinner even knowing it was my only night in the city in two weeks, I didn’t say anything but I felt a little sad, I feel they are not as pleased to see me as I wanted, but maybe there was something else happening so I won’t look too much into it.

Cheesy friend was very happy to see me, he was a little injured but he was super happy to see me when fellow country girl and I went to see him to his place after climbing, him and Monkey friend got me such thoughtfully gifts, they remembered things I like but ig that’s easy because I’m very vocal about things I like.

I got them all litttle ceramic figurines of animals that remind me of them, I hope they like them, I’m super excited about giving them to my friends.

Now I’m a little worried because my mom sent me a bank transfer for my travel money and it’s not arriving and I’ll be abroad in less than 12 hours, I’m not too concerned yet due to the time zone differences.

Anyways, now I’m on my bus to the airport, I’m a bit upset about that because I wanted to take the metro but I left too late. Anyways! I’ll keep you guys updated

[blazichu]

I happened to write my thoughts down as I was progressing through Brothership, so here they are, in roughly chronological order. Definitely contains spoilers.

Oh. Well. I sure can do something with Maykit's song, now can't I.

I know people are probably comparing this to WW, but tbh, the bite-sized islands remind me of Phantom Hourglass, and traveling on a set path invokes Spirit Tracks. I suppose the visuals are sort of reminiscent of Wind Waker, but, if anything, it's the shading re: the WiiU version. Not everything set on the open sea is Wind Waker, but I appreciate the enthusiasm.

Oh good, I missed stomping on Francis.

Forgot the villains straight up have Antasma's face. Do we think that's actually going to call back, or is the new dev team just trying to tie into the last proper M&L game?

…why do they keep doing villains in this style? The guy just looks like Antasma again, or (with the top hat) a color swapped Count Bleck. The only real difference is the MSA style skull.

Don't know why, exactly, but I've had that post that goes 'this isn't a ouija board, it's a Luigi board' stuck in my head for about three islands, now.

I'm actually kind of happy to see Starlow again. I had a friend who really hated her, but she seems a lot more chill in this one. Wish they'd kept the sound for her old voice, though.

Pfff, so apparently this DID turn into Wind Waker after all. We've got a bunch of kids with swirly belts who decided to take the matter of people getting kidnapped by birds into their own hands. They even hitched a ride on a boat so they could travel to an island with high towers, where a giant bird roosts.

So the idea is that Zokket can't remember names because even that's a bond, right?

Just looked at the word 'Zokkarang' and realized how many ATLA ships that encompasses.

I actually really love Bulbfish so far, it's a great change of pace. Pretty obvious where it's going, but there's nothing inherently wrong with that. The game isn't big on subtlety thus far anyway.

I'm bad at dodging the Foopflies, but love seeing them, because their name is super fun to say.

Every time I have to go back to Heatfreeze, I obnoxiously go "BWAAAM BWAM BWA-BWA-BWAM" a la Hailfire Peaks.

...okay. Either they put the obligatory mid-game Bowser fight WAY later than usual, or I'm not nearly as far into this game as I'd thought.

Oh yeah. I totally believe you, game. This is 100% where things are ending. It's not like the UI suggests any differently.

I got the 'Auto Luigi' plug, and no lie, the first thing out of my mouth was: "What does that mean? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?"

Brothership out here saying that sharks are smooth as hell.

Okay, hang on. We got Shyguy Says earlier on, but was that an Eatsa Pizza gag just now?

Oh my god. The Extension Corps is just evil Sweet Cap'n Cakes. How did I not see it before.

One thing I really dig is that the game's logic stays consistent between plugs and Bros moves, and it's a neat bit of foreshadowing. I didn't think anything of the fire and ice plugs combining to be extra powerful until it became a story beat.

There's a real consistent design theory with these villains, huh. This one feels VERY reminiscent of Cackletta and Dimentio.

Look. I get what the game is going for with this whole 'isolate yourself and do what you enjoy without socialization' villain philosophy, but uh. Maybe know the audience. That's exactly what I've done in order to play this.

The number of times someone's gone "Let's-a go" at the end of a scene, only for me to mutter "let's-a not" and turn around to continue treasure hunting is kind of alarming. It's always capped off with "Now we may-a go" too.

What a coincidence! Conductor Connection is also MY most powerful move!

I called most of the bonds, but think it's odd that the game highlighted Bowser and the minions' being so important, but neglected to include them in this portion. I guess it would be kind of hard to make that work, when Bowser wouldn't ever hold someone's hand?

I've always really loved the fact that the M&L games are allowed to have a continuity between them. I said before, it was nice to see Starlow, but they threw in references to her being friends with Bowser, and then the chicken thing. Bowser still remembers Luigi's name after four games of calling him "Green ___". It's not just throwing in a reference here and there, like the Peasly, Shroob, Broque and Zeekeeper reefs; looking back on it, you can see actual character arcs, the most obvious being Luigi gaining confidence, and Bowser becoming more of a threat.

I just busted out laughing. We blew a hole in the wall to access the OTHER hole we already made in the wall.

So I went and looked up the last Zokket battle, because there was something I wanted to see again, and none of the people I looked up got glohmed? I freeze up and panic during enemy attack phases, so I'm terrible at dodging, and (at that point) didn't realize there was a Glohm Defense plug, so I got Luigi glohmed on the very first turn-- and that was what I wanted to rewatch. There's a nice little sequence where you have to counterattack a glohmed brother, but after he's unarmed, he stops attacking, and you can stop countering/he'll break out of it. It was really sweet, and I kind of think the people who are playing "well" are missing out in that regard. Chalk one up for idiots like me.

I'm only just getting into the Solitree, but I wonder if the game is trying to make a point with these new enemies. There's one that's a combination of three trooper types, a support enemy that heals/buffs its allies, and a seedle that just spent the entire battle disengaged because its partner seedle ran off. That's all really interesting, given the villain's mission statement.

Okay, now that I'm not constantly in battles, the Solitree's theme is giving me MAJOR Psychonauts 1 vibes. I think, specifically, it was a song that plays in the Meat Circus, just before fighting the Butcher? The 'The bunnies are safe, we're all safe' scene?

Update on the Seedlusa: apparently it changes forms when it's the only enemy on the field. This isn't helping the optics at all.

SEEDLUSAS IN THE OVERWORLD RUN AWAY FROM YOU. I don't think I've seen ANY enemies that do that, before this.

So just recently, I ended a battle with a bro down for the first time, and now I'm going bonkers trying to even their EXP out again.

I am not immune to Sudden Silence with Bird Song Ambiance.

Seems I haven't evolved since that first run of Partners in Time after all. I definitely just jumped this boss to death over the course of an hour.

Okay. Say what you will about the game, but "UGH. PEOPLE." have to be the funniest last words for a final boss to utter. (Turned out there was more, but I maintain this would have been best.)

Not gonna lie, I didn't believe this was a new VA and not Martinet until I saw the credits. He's spot on-- it's really impressive.

My final takeaway from playing Brothership: I think I need to get my eyes checked. My depth perception is. Bad.

For real, Brothership was a good time. There are definitely some issues I would raise-- like the soundtrack's comparative weakness, a relative lack of interaction between the title characters (which is something I have a habit of harping on), and the game itself having the subtlety of a flying mallet-- but it was still engaging, and there was a lot to enjoy.

I'm still kind of disappointed my prediction about someone getting glohmed as a result of hiding underneath a drain pipe didn't pan out a la bean fever, though.

[measuringbliss]

Spider-Man Read-Through 025: L to the OG (Clone Saga) (ASM 141-150) P1

MASTERPOST

In this batch! Mysterio! The Jackal's identity revealed! THE DEAD SPEAK! And a ton of angst, naturally. But more importantly...

To my absolute delight, the Spider-Mobile hasn't disappeared. I thought it was a one-off thing, but turns out it seems here to stay!

...At least, that's what I thought, until Spidey crashed his bungie in the New York Bay. Hmm! Wasn't there an alley there, instead of the ocean, Spidey and the readers wonder? Is this the tragic end of the Spider-Mobile?

Later, Peter falls asleep in class (very relatable), and Prof. Warren is there to try and keep him from sinking. I love his vest and tie combo by the way. Also, yeah, Peter still goes to university! His classes are so rarely depicted that you'd be forgiven for forgetting about it.

MJ's back, baby! And she keeps objectifying Peter, to our greatest pleasure.

We also get great scenery and gorgeous panels. Ross Andru was brimming with energy.

I'm sure nothing harrowing will happen in these issues. Don't worry about it.

We get a quick scene with Jameson looking strangely elated. I can only imagine he hired someone (probably Mysterio) to mess with our hero. Oooh, Johnny boy, you can't reach the level of the Jackal.

Spidey is famished and steals a poor guy's food, vaguely intending to send him bills before getting interrupted by----SMOKE! Not Felicity Smoke, but actual smoke! Mysterio's smoke! The showdown quickly begins.

Mysterio issues are always a treat, and this one is no exception.

However, this fighting style... reminds me of the Tarantula. The pointed boots, the agility...

Illusions keep piling up and...

Gorgeous art! That's something we've never seen. Oh, Andru, Conway, you know it, you're in your prime.

Ned needs a much better tie, but I appreciate the attempt. Peter going insane is a theme throughout this batch.

Onto #142! Stuff happens and May notably makes an evil face.

She keeps that trend for the next issue. She should chill out a bit.

Ross Andru is great, but his face are a bit much a lot of times. Romita Sr. had a softness that Andru just can't emulate.

Meanwhile, Betty tells MJ the big news:

(We later learn it's for August 27th, which means we might see it in about 30-50 issues or so.)

Because the cast really needs good, no, GREAT news in their life right now.

Coming back from the Bugle, Peter sees someone who looks like... *her.* Surely, it must be another one of Mysterio's illusions...

Peter's naturally very angry, because this one feels very mean. Oh, Peter...

He figured off-screen that Mysterio put a VR chip on his suit that basically shows him what Mysterio wants him to see. Thanks to that, he figures out where Mysterio's hiding and...

Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

In the end, he's arrested. He was just a buddy of the original Mysterio (who seemingly really died) and, as he's arrested, he warns Jameson to give him a lawyer. Jonah skips town instead! Not the most interesting issue, but it compliments the previous one well and does a very clever set-up.

#143 starts between Christmas and New Years' Eve. Spidey keeps seeing *her* everywhere, but Robertson asks him to follow Jonah to Paris.

Hahaha, I just saw the upper panels on my TL this morning. I still don't get exactly what she means, but who cares, they're kissing! They're official! And they look cute. Robertson obviously approves.

They're adorable, really. I'm on board!

Turns out Jonah's been captured, but Conway and Andru are more interested in drawing the monuments of France. That's understandable! The villain (Cyclone) also kidnaps Robertson and says Spidey has 24 hours to give him the money, or else...!

That's how this issue ends, and we're now trudging in the territory of issues I've already read (again). Feels nice to have context for... well, everything.

Ish #144!

We get an actual scene with May and Anna, who go out to see a movie (and secretly kiss each other, naturally), and May is sad that Gwen Stacy died, thinking it should have been her instead of Gwen... which is a reference to how May was supposed to die in her place (and I think it would have made for a better cast but oh well).

At least, it's a great scene.

The Cyclone and his goons spend the issue complaining about Americans, and it's very funny how his thoughts were probably a caricature at the time but resonate a lot today.

Anyway, the day's saved and Peter goes back home to find...

Oh my!

Good for her!

I was initially planning to stop here to make a second post, but I'm not doing too bad at restraining myself from uploading too many pics, so let's continue.

Ish 145! Peter lashes out at Gwen (?) and is soon confronted by the Scorpion. Just before that, a textbox helpfully informs us that Marvel Team-Up 33 happens, and I shall proceed to read a summary. It's ok, nothing groundbreaking.

After the fight (where the Scorpion escapes), Peter goes back to the hospital, and Gwen's there with everybody else. Ned confirms that not only this Gwen has the same fingerprints as the one who know, the OG Gwen's grave is also still full. Ooh, drama!

MJ's not sure she's liking this.

Ish 146 opens with the Jackal saying it's been two years since *that* death, and since the Jackal was born. By now, Conway has a good handle of who hides behind that mask. Interestingly, the Jackal shatters a head statue of Spidey, similarly to ASM #129 where the Punisher (in his first appearance with the Jackal!) shoots a full-body statue of Spidey.

One page later, Gwen says she's been dead for two years. Oooh! She's hanging out with Peter and asks him the big question:

She proceeds to slam her face in a revolving door, as is custom when you just got dumped.

The Scorpion attacks May after being advised by the Jackal, but Spidey catches him and we see the best panels of the issue just in time to close it.

Ish 147! The Tarantula is back and I'm very happy. While he escapes from prison (good for him), May and MJ have a heart-to-heart. MJ's not pleased that Peter's completely stopped giving her attention, and May advises her to fight for her man. It's pretty sweet actually!

Ned gives a file from the doctor to Peter, who learns Gwen is... a clone! Of course she is. It's the original Clone Saga, after all!

Spidey and the Tarantula have an actual fun fight in the middle of New York traffic (which reminded me of the Spot and Miles's first battle in Across the Spider-Verse) until the latter pushes Spidey into a bus... from which every civilian soon departs, afraid of the fight. In a fun twist, an apparently puppeted Gwen gets on the bus... and in a fun twist, the driver turns out to be the Jackal!

See what I mean when I say it seems just out of the Spider-Verse movies?

Eventually, they stop just where the OG Gwen died and the Jackal reveals HE'S the one who created Gwen's clone.

The Tarantula pushes Spidey, whose feet and hands are shackled, off the bridge... and that's where the issue ends.

In the readers' letters, they keep bringing up the fact that Peter's still in college. From my point of view, their complaints are completely uninteresting. But it's because it's 2023 for me, not 1975.

Ish 148! The textbox helpfully informs us of the following: "At this point, we're not even going to try to explain it. You'll have to pick it up as we race along, Tiger!"

It's funny, but also... yeah.

Spidey successfully stops his fall, but he knocks his head on the bridge. The Jackal reveals he hid a JETPACK on Gwen, and they all fly away in a quite strange threesome.

Spidey tricks officers into freeing him from the shackles, and he gets away. MJ's waiting for him, but he doesn't give her the time of the day.

I put this entire page because I'm thirsting, and I'm also here for the Ned/Peter Ho Yay. They actually make an incredible team on the next page, they reach together the conclusion that Prof. Warren and/or his assistant might be involved. Their conversation and comfort around each other is very strong in a way you really don't see. I don't know. I'm shipping it. It's an awesome page and it's just a conversation.

Turns out Gwen's DNA samples have disappeared from the college fridge, and Warren pinpoints his assistant, Anthony Serba (a name I never forgot all those years, I don't know why), as the likely culprit.

But at Anthony's place...

I didn't remember the Tarantula being so involved, but I'm here for it!

Spider-Man's sexuality is a subject we must briefly broach. He regularly says "handsome" to all kinds of men when he's quipping, however, here, he says to the Taratula, "Sorry, pal--but I only dance with girls."

This is just food for thoughts.

Spidey beats the Tarantula, but as he's dragging his body...

Hmm!

Hmm-hmm!

Check out the next part of this post!