#I was fully prepared to kill off a sibling that day

[charcoaldustonmyfingers]

Taco Crimes

Donnie would absolutely blow a fuse if someone ruined their books with how sacred he was to that mint condition comic, and I’m sure Mikey thinks cooking is an art. Cross either of them and it’s hell to pay!

I read a lot of book series that had been handed down to me by my siblings, but you could really tell whose they were before based on their condition. One sibling left foodstains and dog ears, another left spine breaks and ripped paperbacks, and the final would threaten my life if I so much as dented a page. Such is life with shared things

I guess you could say those books were well loved, for better or for worse lol

[harleyquilt]

Touken age gap hc (Kingneki × tg!Touka) 

Notes: Touka is 18 in this scenario. This is also an au of sorts, with some details being canon compliant, and others going off-canon. Main focus here is to make a scenario for the ship, so don't sweat the small stuff. Been a while since I've seen this hc so I thought I'd feed myself.

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Touka meets Kaneki after he proclaims himself the One-Eyed King and is introduced to him through Yomo. She's unimpressed, seeing how miserable he looks – his face gaunt, his body much smaller compared to other ghouls, and more concerningly, there is a distinct hollowness in his eyes. It is an emptiness that Touka decides is unfitting for the leader of ghoulkind, a title Touka immediately thought was obnoxious. 

That is until she sees him in combat. She joins Yomo, who joins Kaneki, in fending off some CCG investigators in the city, and it is then that she sees him unleash his kagune. The dense, dark tendrils slay the investigators with ease, blocking attacks and lashing back with twice the power of any regular rinkaku. Distracted, she's almost shot by a hidden Dove, but Kaneki, catching sight of him, shoves Touka out of the way and blocks the attack. Touka shakes away her surprise and shoots a finishing blow, killing the investigator. Kaneki thanks her and moves on, and Touka finds herself looking at him for a little too long…

A few days later, she's making coffee for Yomo, but when she enters his room, she sees that Kaneki is also there, discussing logistics. She gives Yomo his coffee and just as she turns to leave, Kaneki calls her name and praises her for her work in battle. She tries to come off as uninterested, but her heart flutters still. Something about his smile feels incredibly sincere to her…

The next day, she makes coffee for Kaneki. She struggles to suppress her immense embarrassment when she offers him the cup, insisting that she made this because he took a blow for her. He's touched, truly, and again, his smiles leaves her feeling warm and giddy. She curses under her breath and storms out, much to Kaneki's confusion. 

They start to talk more – not often, with how busy Kaneki is, but whenever they come across one another, they chat briefly. Every now and again, she even makes him coffee, and it seems to surprise him every time. Touka, meanwhile, tries to convince herself that she is merely being polite, that he's too soft with all of his subordinates, that she doesn't see him as anything more than a wannabe-leader…

One day, Kaneki and the others ready themselves to head out, having heard some alarming intel. Touka begins to prepare herself too, but, to her dismay, Kaneki orders her to stay. She demands a reason from him and Kaneki claims it's to keep her safe, telling her nothing more. Confused and angry, she follows them in secret, wanting to prove herself in some way. They must see her as weak, if they're keeping her in onr place. It's an insulting thought, one that spurs on her disobedience. Having followed behind, they eventually come across her brother, Ayato, being held hostage by Akira Mado. She's readying his, along with a few others, executions.

To keep things brief, Touka loses her cool and goes straight for the kill. As strong as she is, Akira has more experience, and is quick to strike Touka right in her abdomen. Kaneki and the others react swiftly, reaching Touka and holding off Akira and her team long enough to retrieve the Kirishima siblings and the other hostages. There are minimal losses. Touka is mostly ok, but with the food shortage, her healing is slow and painful. 

She's tended to by Yomo and Banjou, though she still needs time and rest to heal fully. Ayato, in the midst of the battle, is also wounded, and as much as it pains her, they'll have to wait a little longer for their reunion. Kaneki decides to visit once the others leave, entering her room with an apologetic expression. Touka stops him, telling him Yomo has already scolded her enough, and Kaneki sits by her bed, assuring her that it is his responsibility to keep her safe. She mutters that she doesn't need him to stay safe, and Kaneki is quiet for a moment, his eyes downcast. 

He then asks to see her wound. She's taken aback, at first, but eventually nods, pulling her shirt away from her bandaged stomach. Avoiding his eyes, she can't tell what expression he's making, but she does feel his fingers lightly touch the edge of the bandage – now red with blood. Now watching him, she can see that he looks pained, unusually so. He apologises again, confessing that, for a moment, he was worried that he was too late. She's confused, and without thinking, she scoffs and asks why he would care. Concerned, he meets her eyes, placing a hand over hers. He then tells her "I'd be sad if you died, Touka-chan." It's a simple, innocent statement, yet it reduces her to a squirmish mess. She pulls her hand away and thanks him, Kaneki leaving soon after reminding her to rely on him if she needs anything.

And that's when Touka begins to wonder…does she have feelings for him?

[furorsopher]

things i think we forget when talking about hamilton as a person (and that’s not necessarily a bad thing bc that guy lived 200 years ago, it’s good to keep distance sometimes)

hamilton was a real human being who had a personality, in jokes with friends and family, and varying emotions. and as a kid, multiple things occurred that would permanently affect and change a child.

he grew up in an town where abuse of other humans - specifically slaves - was a day to day occurrence, and since he lived close to the port and worked in trading, he had to have witnessed a lot of gruesome mistreatment of fellow humans. not to mention the tragedy of his mothers life, and the end she met.

he had to grow up and work to keep himself alive at 14, think about a cousin, or sibling, or somebody you know that’s 14, do you think they’re adult enough to sustain themselves? hamilton wasn’t some other species that matures sooner, he was still a child. but nevertheless he became fairly successful and then a natural disaster came and he had to endure suffering again, saw others die, families being separated never to be reunited.

all of that takes a toll on somebody. even one of those events would traumatise some people - especially children and teens - so bad they wouldn’t be able to live normally ever again. it’s pretty safe to say that hamilton was no exception to that.

his college mates described him as deeply depressed, he was so religious it stuck out at fucking king’s college, a very christian institution that required attending mass daily - even if it was simply routine to him and he wasn’t actually as religious it’s still quite the feat. his fleeing into his studies and prayer was his form of escapism. when he found his coping mechanisms in work, he was gonna work until he dropped.

that’s a pretty tell-tale sign of somebody with substantial issues. not to mention the shit that happened later in his life, his life in the army, the annual reoccurrence of the illness that killed his mother, the death of his closest friend, the death of his only even remotely positive father figure.

just because tragedy in childhood was something most people had - and have - to deal with, doesn’t make it any less traumatic. those were still people.

hamilton wasn’t of an overtly weak psyche, but not because “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”, but because he literally didn’t know anything else. and we can see that in how he reacted to other traumatic stuff that happened to him - or rather how he didn’t react. how he shut down, basically nobody heard from him after phillip died, he shut up and closed off after laurens died. his immune system was shit, he was susceptible to fainting spells. physical weakness is also a symptom of something wrong. he forced his oldest son into a strict schedule to get all his studies and life done in college. that’s a shit thing to do, but we can see how scared he was that phillip won’t be able to achieve something of his own.

and also we see how self destructive hamilton got, constantly overworking, throwing himself at the nearest parent-aged adult around, the symptoms of hyper sexuality often seen in trauma victims are also apparent in his time working under washington. that twink knew to get what he could by batting his eyelashes and he did exactly that.

and later, when he went to duel burr, he fully prepared to die then and there, spending time with his family the days before, being as affectionate as he could to his kid - specifically the one in a prime age to be permanently traumatised by a parent dying. the others were either older and more independent or too young to really understand what was going on. he was planning to die and had a hunch even before burr knew he was gonna kill him. he had been in like a dozen other duels and all of them settled without shooting. why would that time be different?

- though i don’t think that was his goal when provoking burr, that was just his actual opinion and maybe some repressed bitterness shining though, it was probably just an added bonus -

also: he was mostly atheist during his adult life, but turned back to religion and clung to it after phillip’s death - suicide was a sin (though not a mortal one like in catholicism which AHam actively hated on btw) in the anglican belief at that time i believe (correct me if im wrong) so maybe the duel could count as self murder over a corner or two.

hamilton was a person. an actual man who lived 49 very productive years and died after he had had enough. a person who was deeply effected by his experiences.

please don’t take any of this too seriously and everything with a huge grain of salt, i’m a 17 year old who likes history and trauma psychology, im not gonna get everything right - this is all highly speculative and probably not even relevant to most conversations abt the guy i just wanted to put my thoughts somewhere, no this isn’t proofread pls correct me on any mistakes ive made <3 have a lovely dayyyy :3

main source is Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow and various documents found in the founders archive

[vanillaxoshi]

Tanah's was a joy to write simply because theres some personal experience within it

Enjoy :D

––––––––––■––––––––––

In Tanah's opinion, he fully believes he isn't a petty person.

If he can avoid having negative feelings towards someone, he'll try his damn hardest

But he is the 3rd child of a sibling of 7; ex youngest, experienced older brother, and certified "mom" of the siblings. Most of all, he is a brother and BOI is he allowed to be petty to them

What got him in such a sour mood you may ask?

Wellllll lets just say he has not been having a very good day. And before you ask, yes it has everything to do with his brothers.

A scowl is formed on Tanah's face as he subtly clutches his stomach, he seems to be lost in his head.

Angin forcing him to try a new abomination (he won't even give it the dignity of calling it a "pastry") resulting in the countless trips to bathroom nation. His stomach still hurts and it has been HOURS, Yaya's deathly cookies are better than this..

...

Ok maybe not but hes spiteful right now

Api pranking him was not appriciated at all and HOW did he convince Shielda to help him is beyond him (you'd think she would be the responsible twin), no worries though because he already prepared revenge for him.

No he does not care that it was accidental and that he was not the supposedly "target" of said prank. It still happened.

Clearly this means war.

Daun and Cahaya blowing his EAR off did not help, look. He loves those two, he really does. But he did not need to hear 200+ remedies that can help sedate Angin's poison

Petir DITCHED him with these heathens that he has to call brothers

Now he was proud to be a very mature and level headed person.. but hes still a 17 year old

Air technically didn't do anything but his ignorance will be remembered that lazy panda bear, sue him for holding a grudge

..

..

'This walk has not been helping. For that, Remi you're also on my list'

Not only is his stomach killing itself, his legs are crumbling now too

'This day is just not my day'

Sitting down on the nearest bench he decides to distract himself with his surroundings before he starts planning murder. Looking around to fine other things to focus on

Like that dog covered in mud, boy he does not want to be its owner right now

Or that cowboy cat that's threatening a woman, now usually he'd help but hes compromised so best of luck lady you're on your own

The sun is really warm this evening, casting golden rays to the surrounding foliage, Mix with the wind thats blowing leafs around; it creates a beautiful artistry that he wished he could paint if he was an artist

'Maybe i should take up painting.. i could practice painting on my sculptures'

"Ta.. nah?"

That soft voice broke him out of his observation, looking to his side to find the little sunlight of the family.

As much as hes still annoyed by the younger's previous endeavors, he doesn't really have the heart to dismiss the little guy

'Trying to help shouldn't be rewarded by punishment'

Putting on a soft smile he looked to the little sunlight

"Hey bud, didn't see you there." he looks to the container Haya is holding, "what's this?"

Since Cahaya is holding the drink (at least he assumes it's a drink) he couldn't really write, his brow furrowed in concentration, Tanah could see the spark of hesitation and the troublesome look adorned on the youngest's face

Filled with renewed patience and understanding he went to grab the drink so Cahaya could write

"... its ca- chamo..mile green tea"

Surprise but also pride exploded inside Tanah, bitter feeling forgotten he pat the little sunlight's head as encouragement

"Good job buddy!" He praized, chuckling when he saw the ruby red shade that spread in Haya's face. "Why'd you get it though?"

Distress colors Cahaya's face this time, it seemed he'd reach his quota of words for today since he just shoves the drink unto Tanah's chest

Giggling even more at the youngest's display, fondness rose inside of him as he went to take the hot beverage out of the little sunlight's hands

"..for Tanah."

His hand stopped mere inches from the drink, shock adorning his face

'Did he just..'

It feels like an earthquake is happening through his whole body by how much hes shaking from pure joy

Though seeing Haya cowering and covering his face with the drink snaps him out of his cuteness aggression overload

'Dear God, i'm weak'

His face hurts from how much hes grinning, practically splitting it half

Showering the sunlight with so much praise and affirmation, screw whoever is looking at them weird; they probably have a sad loveless life

'He said my name, he said my name!' The only repeating thought he could comprehend right now

Looking around simply out of instinct to see if any of the other siblings heard, only for confusion and worry to consume him soon after

"Sunlight, thank you for the tea.. but why are you here alone?" Hugging the younger close, he looks around even more. "You're not alone are you? We've talked about this, why didn't you ask someon–"

Feeling the tapping on his side he looks to Cahaya who's raising his hand

He calmly points to a shop, a tea shop more specifically; the Jasmine Dragon

Narrowing his eyes he could barely make out the figure that seems to be in the shape of his 5th brother

'Oh right, him and Daun were talking about remedies for my stomach'

His whole body shook with how much love hes feeling. The unfortunate victim here is Cahaya, who is forced to accept the killer hug that he gives him

As he made his way to the shop with Cahaya leading the way, beverage in hand, he went to grab phone; a mission on his eyes for the perfect revenge presented itself on a golden platter

He might be the current "golden" child. But he's 17 year old with a grudge, and man is he petty

"Why does your face look evil, who's dying?" Daun questioned when they reached him. Sending the message, he beamed at Daun with practiced ease, "It's nothing don't worry about it, what have you two been up to anyway?"

Thoroughly distracted, the duo starts to go back and forth describing their day and how they tried to find the perfect tea to deal with his poison for him

Tea in hand and ironically stomachache completely forgotten, Tanah enjoyed listening with a fond smile on his face

.

.

.

✨️Old People Council✨️

"I win btw"

"WHAT"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"

"Congrats."

"Audio proof??"

"nice"

"I feel like i have a disadvantage this isn't fair >:("

"You all better pay up, you included Petir"

"Fuck."

This is such another sweet one

im guessing Angin is trying out new recipes but they turned out bad? poor Tanah, having to be the one to put up with everything, meanwhile, Petir's in college, just left him.

also old people council, is that their group chat and their group chat name?? ha-

loving tanah being mischievous, and petty, love those sides of him

the jasmine dragon reminds me of that tea shop from Iroh in ATLA is that what that is???

I could def imagine Cahaya's scrunched up face trying to answer, its adorable. and tanah, i relate to you with that cuteness agression.

[m4ndysk4nkovich]

there goes the loudest woman this town has ever seen, i had a marvelous time ruining everything - debbie gallagher character study

ao3

You wake up, hungover, alone, and an orphan.

It wasn’t like Frank’s death was unexpected, you’ve been preparing yourself for it since you were five, but it’s odd. Losing Monica didn’t feel this way. Losing Monica felt like a weight being lifted off of your shoulders. When you saw her dead body lying on the living room floor, you knew that it was the last time she would ever leave you again, and it was relieving. You hate to think that, and immediately after the thought comes to your mind, you run to the toilet and puke your guts out at the mere thought of your mother’s dead body.

…Well, it’s either because of your dead parents or because of the ungodly amount of alcohol you consumed last night. Probably both.

You knew that Heidi wouldn’t last and oddly enough, that’s what you liked about her. You liked how spontaneous and dangerous she was, you didn’t think she was your soulmate or anything. But still, her absence hurts. You expected her to be gone in a week or so, off to Texas (you still hadn’t decided if you wanted to go or not, but you were leaning more towards staying), but you didn’t expect her to be gone so soon. You remember last night at Mickey and Ian’s anniversary party, Heidi left you and Franny at the bar with no ride while you were too wasted to protest, and she wasn’t at the house when you woke up. You vaguely remember Lip driving you and Franny home.

What you’re feeling right now can’t be described with words. You don’t think it’s grief, you spent your whole childhood preparing for the day you became an orphan to the point where you’re convinced that you finished grieving at age thirteen. This feeling isn’t sadness, but it isn’t the same relief from five years ago when Monica died. You don’t feel anything except for lonely.

Loneliness is a feeling you know all too well. From being in grade school and not ever having a single friend, to a desperate teenager in need of some love, to a confused young adult with a kindergartner, you’ve always been lonely. It’s something you’ve always known, you knew it when nobody wanted to play with you in kindergarten, and you had it fully confirmed at six when your unstable, drug addict mother abandoned you. Loneliness is the only constant in your life, yet you’ve still never gotten used to it.

You wonder why your mother leaving you effected you so much. You know that you aren’t the only Gallagher with a bad track record when it comes to keeping a relationship (you learned your relationship skills, like you learned most things, from your big sister), but it seems so much easier for everyone else to just have someone. To have someone to love, to cherish, to be with. The thought of someone who you love loving you back and actually wanting to stay with you seems unfathomable. You know that right now your big brother and his husband are dealing with hangovers as well, and maybe your brothers hunched over the toilet just like you right now, and if he is, he probably has his husband with him. His husband is willing to stay through all of the disgusting things, through all of the hardships, his husband literally tried to kill for him and went to prison for him. Debbie can’t even get someone to want her for reasons other than her tits, Ian’s lucky.

There must be something truly poisonous about you. The fact that you could never make a single friend, that you couldn’t make your mother stay, you couldn’t keep your father sober, you couldn’t make a guy or girl want you, you couldn’t give your kid the life she deserved, and your entire family now views you as nothing but an annoyance. How do all of your siblings go on living and have friends, partners, connections, anything? You feel like your entire life, all twenty years, has just been a big failed attempt at getting the tiniest bit of love. You’re becoming desperate, you know this. You can see your siblings, the older ones who once changed your diapers and played with you, and the younger ones who once looked up to you, roll their eyes when you turn your back. You know that you’re the sole reason why Franny doesn’t play with anyone outside of school. You know that Heidi is probably driving to Texas right now, and in a day she’ll have a new girlfriend. You know that you were born alone and will die alone.

Your daughter is around the age you were the first time that you found yourself without a mother. She’s the age you were when you saw your mother cook meth out of your easy bake oven, the age where kids at school would run away from you, telling you that you smelled bad and that you were ugly. You’ve felt like a nuisance since you were Franny’s age, and it has just dawned on you how young you were.

Your daughter is lovable and sweet and adored by everyone in her life. If you couldn’t be that even at five years old, you know that it is something about you personally. You know that loneliness is your only option, it always has been, and it always will be.

[deliciousartfox]

Octonauts: Demon slayer au

Story I posted on Wattpad but wanted to share on here as well so here's the story and I hope you like it :)

𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕?

"Orson," a lady called out to her son. The boy, Orson, was preparing to head down the mountain to sell coal to the village.

"Your face is all black. Come over here. Because it's risky when it snows, it's alright if you don't go," the lady said while wiping her son's face. It was near New Year, and Orson wanted to sell some coal so they could have a feast

"I'll only go sell a little bit,"

"... Thank you," The door opened from the inside, and a girl, similar to the boy in both age and appearance, spoke up.

"Brother! Are you going to the village today? Let me come too!" Before she could step out, her mother(the lady) scolded her.

" No. You are ill and are in no condition to go out with your brother."

"But I feel better now, I can -" Before she could finish, her mother cut her off.

"No, Ursa, you were vomiting 2 days ago, and just yesterday you were coughing and sneezing left and right. You are staying home with me and your siblings."

"I'll buy you candy while I'm out Ursa, so just stay home and rest okay," Orson said while trying to convince his twin sister to stay home. After some bargaining, he left saying goodbye to his sister and mother.

Life wasn't easy, but it was a blessing. But, concerning life, it is like looking at the sky. It changes and moves because there aren't times when it stays clear for a long time. There also aren't times when it snows for a long time. Thus times when happiness is broken, there is always the scent of blood.

" Well, if it isn't Orson," a woman commented. Orson was prominent in his town, along with his family. They were known for helping people, and for working hard, there is not one person who hasn't at least heard of them.

"You came down from the mountain on a day like this, good work, but you'll catch a cold like this."

"I want to buy some charcoal!"

"Thank you for fixing up my door for me!"

"I also want to buy some charcoal!"

"AHHHHHHH ORSON I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE. CAN YOU TELL WHO BROKE THESE DISHES? PLEASE SMELL THESE!" Being a hard worker isn't the only thing Orson is known for. Orson is also known for having a strong, sensitive nose; They say he can smell anything from 20 miles away, maybe more if he pushes. Orson leans forward and takes a sniff of the broken plate.

"It smells like a cat,"

"Eh, a cat?"

"SEE I TOLD YOU IT WASN'T ME!!!!!!!!!!!"

The sun was setting, and the vibrant hues of red, orange, pink, and purple were a stage that Orson would never forget. It was getting late, and Orson needed to get home before the sun was fully set.

"HEY ORSON, ARE YOU RETURNING TO THE MOUNTAIN?" A voice shouted out

"You can't continue. It's too dangerous!"

"O-oh, it's ok, My nose can smell anything. I'll be fine -"

"I'll let you stay the night, just come,"

"But..."

"ENOUGH! The demons will appear..." And with that, Orson went inside.

"Since long ago, human-eating demons come out to hunt at night, and because of that, it's a problem to walk around at night. You'll get eaten, it's beat if you sleep here, wake up early tomorrow and return home," Orson was tucked in his futon while listening to the old man. If you were to ask Orson if he believed in demons, he would say no. Orson has ventured out during the dark and it safe to say, he has never seen a demon."

"Can the demons not enter houses?" he asked

"No, they can enter..." Orson wanted to scoff. He would have been home at this point. What difference did it make if the demon could just barge in the house?

"In that case... everyone.... would be eaten by demons..." the white-haired boy yawned before closing his eyes.

"...The Demons hunters kill the demons for us.... since long ago..."

He must be lonely, living alone since his family died. Next time, I'll invite my mother and sister along. Even though it's scary, it's okay since demons don't exist. Even though I'm certain that such man-eating monsters don't exist, our grandmother said the same thing before she passed.

The morning arrived, and Orson had just left the old man's house. The morning air was cold, but he would make sure to arrive home on time.

T̶i̶m̶e̶s̶ w̶h̶e̶n̶ h̶a̶p̶p̶i̶n̶e̶s̶s̶ i̶s̶ b̶r̶o̶k̶e̶n̶, t̶h̶e̶ s̶c̶e̶n̶t̶ o̶f̶ b̶l̶o̶o̶d̶ i̶s̶ a̶l̶w̶a̶y̶s̶ t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶.

Orson knew what to expect when he arrived home. He would see his mother awake, fixing up Breakfast, and his sister would most likely either be asleep or doing some other chores. His other siblings would also be helping around the house (except for the youngest, he could sleep all day if they let him). But what he didn't expect was for his mother and sister to be covered in blood just outside the door. His dear sister inside the arms of their mother, an image forever engraved in his head.

"WHAT THE- WHAT- HOW DID THIS HAPPEN-WHAT HAPPENED!" The scene inside was more gruesome, his 2 younger brothers, one cut in half and the other-he couldn't even recognize him; if only by his clothes, for his face was nothing but a mess of flesh and blood. Orson went and knelt in front of his mother, his shaking hands moving his mother's hair away from her face. That was until he felt something, -warmth-, not from his mother but from his twin sister. His sister was still alive, and with that, he picked her up on his back and ran back down the mountain.

Only Ursa had warmth in her body. If she sees a doctor, they might be able to save her. How did such a thing happen? A bear? Did a bear that wasn't hibernating appear? It was painful to breathe... the frozen air burned his lungs... but he knew he had to move forward... he had to move his legs faster.

They were still far from the village, he needed to go faster. He wouldn't let her die, he was going to save her no matter what.

"Your big brother will save you..." He felt Ursa shift behind him; her movement becoming more agitated before griping her brother's shoulder violently and growling loudly.

"GAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" The sudden movement caused Orson to slip off the cliff.

' SHIT ' Orson closed his eyes preparing for the worse, but the soft snow softened his fall. He lays there for a while before opening his eyes.

" ...I'm saved...the snow, I slipped and fell on snow- URSAA!" Ursa was standing there swaying side to side in her bloodied clothes.

"Ursa! Are you OK, you don't have to walk. Let me carry you down the mountain! Ursa!!!" It was Ursa, but she didn't look like her. It was her eyes, they no longer held compassion, they looked angry.

They looked hungry

She was fast. She jumped on her twin with murderous intent, the only thing stopping her from biting her brother was the axe he had on him.

"A demon!" The old man's words came to his mind at that moment. Ursa, a demon? No, that's not right, Ursa has been a human ever since she was born. But her scent was different. Orson knew, though, that Ursa didn't do anything as she had no scent of their brother's blood and was being protected by their mother.

"Oof!" Her body was getting bigger, and her strength was increasing.

"While I was sleeping comfortably, you were all suffering. You were all hurting. I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you."

"URSA! Try your best, Ursa! Try your best to hold it off! Somehow, you turned into a demon, Pull yourself together! I believe in you, Ursa!" A drop fell on the little polar bear boy. Ursa was now crying, muffled by the axe in her mouth. Too distracted by the situation at hand, neither of the two felt the presence of the intruder.

The two of them move out of the way just in time to avoid the sword. A man in a light blue lapis haori and black uniform attacked them with a sword. He had snow-white hair and blue eyes.

"Who was that...is that a Katana? "

"... Why did you protect them?" Orson snapped out of his trance and responded in a panic.

"YOUNGER, SHE'S MY YOUNGER SISTER!" She continued to growl, arms reaching toward the armed man.

".... I'm afraid she's no longer your sister..." He raced towards them. Abnormally quickly. Orson ducked his head trying to protect his sister, but he quickly realized that she was no longer in his arms.

"GYAAAHHHHHHH!!!" His sister was held with her arms behind her by the man in blue.

"URSA!" he yelled standing up abruptly.

"Don't worry, My job is to protect you against demons. I apologize... but I will have to decapitate your sister,"

"PLEASE WAIT, URSA HASN'T KILLED ANYONE! At the location of our home, there was another scent that I never smelled before! Whatever killed everyone was probably that! Ursa is different, I don't know why she's behaving like that but-"

"It's quite simple, If an open wound is exposed to demon blood, then you become a demon. This is how man-eating people multiply"

"URSA HASN'T EATEN ANYONE!" The swordsman was shocked by how persistent the boy was. He believed him when he said that she has yet to eat anyone, but he says it like it's always going to be that way.

"She was just about to eat you,"

"THAT WRONG! YOU CAN'T KNOW FOR SURE IN MY CASE! I WON'T LET HER HURT ANYONE! I'LL TURN URSA BACK INTO HUMAN, I'LL FIND A CURE!"

"I'm sorry, but there is no cure, there is no way to turn a demon back into a human."

"THEN I'LL FIND A WAY, I'LL FIND A WAY TO CURE HER SO PLEASE DON'T KILL HER! I'LL FIND THE ONES WHO KILLED MY FAMILY, I'LL TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING SO PLEASE.... PLEASE" His begging was useless. The man raised his sword toward Ursa's neck, ready to cut her head off. Everything else was taken from him, so in a last attempt, he went on his knees and truly begged.

"Please stop......whatever you do, please don't kill my sister...I beg of you..." He couldn't hold his tears anymore.

"I beg of you...."The man snapped, finally losing his patience.

"YOU CAN'T GRASP AUTHORITY OVER SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE AND DEATH." Orson raised his head abruptly with a shocked look, still covered in tears.

"DON'T GROVEL LIKE THAT AND GIVE YOUR ENEMIES A CHANCE TO KILL YOU. TAKEN AWAY? IN THAT TIME THEY WERE TAKEN AWAY, WHERE WERE YOU? CURE YOUR SISTER? TAKE REVENGE? IT'S HIGHLY RIDICULOUS! FOR THE WEAK THERE IS NO RIGHT OR OTHER CHOICES."

"ENTIRELY WITH FORCE, THE STRONG CAN MAKE OTHERS SURENDER, MAYBE THE DEMON KNOWS HOW TO CURE YOUR SISTER, BUT I DOUBT THE DEMON WILL HAVE ANY RESPECT FOR YOU. WHY DIDN'T YOU SWING YOUR AXE? WHY DID YOU SHOW ME YOUR BACK? IS IT OKAY IF I BEHEAD YOUR SISTER IN FRONT OF YOU?"

'Don't cry. Don't despair. Don't do these things now. I know that you were knocked down. Your only family left became a demon. It's painful, isn't it? You want to shout, don't you? I understand.'

'Half a day. If I had arrived half a day earlier, your family wouldn't be dead. However, time can not be reversed. Be angry. Say that it's unforgivable. A strong, pure anger. Let it become an unshakable driving force such that your limbs can't be moved.'

'Frail resolution will not save and cure your sister, it will not kill your family's enemy.'

"STOP!" It was too late. The swordsman stabbed his sister in the shoulder, earning him a painful screech from the demon girl.

"STOP!" Orson picked up a rock and flung it toward the Swordsman. Not like it would do much, as the man easily blocked the little pebble. Orson ran behind a tree, picking up another rock and throwing it at the man as he once again dodged it.

"YAAAAAAAHHH!!!" He ran up to the man with the blue haori. An attack based on emotions. But the boy can't win against an experienced swordsman. As he used the handle of the sword to knock the boy out, he fell on the snow before being fully unconscious.

"........ Where is the a-" Out of nowhere the axe came flying toward the man's face just bearly missing. Just before he hid behind the tree he threw the stone, then he threw the axe up. He hid the fact that he was unarmed with his charging posture because he knew he couldn't defeat him. He tried to bring him down after he got knocked out.

"GAAAAAHHHHH" Ursa kicked the man out of the way, making her way toward her now unconscious brother.

'Crap! He'll get eaten!' Ursa got to Orson.

'Ursa is different!'

'She doesn't eat people!' Ursa got in front of Orson in a protective stance growling at him

'A long time ago... There was a guy who said the same thing and was eaten. Demon in a "starving condition" would eat their parents or siblings. Fixing that wound would consume a lot of energy. Also, because turning into a demon requires a lot of stamina, without a doubt right now she is very hungry. She's going to want to eat anytime now but those defensive movements, it's as if she's warning me...' She lunged at him, ready to attack.

"Maybe something is different about these two"

And with just a single hit to the neck, Ursa passed out.

A mother and two brothers surrounded Orson in a pitch-black void, looking at him with sorrow.

"I'm sorry for leaving you, Orson. Take care of Ursa for us" Orson woke up gripping some cloth. The cloth ended up being Ursa's haori. She was sleeping with a bamboo muzzle in her mouth.

"Are you awake?" Orson tugged Ursa close to him in panic

" ... Go visit a man named Natquick Belov, who lives at the foot of the misty mountain. Tell him that Barnacles Belov sent you. Because it's cloudy it should be OK. Make sure the sunlight never touches your sister... And I'm sorry for my outburst, I wish you luck." He vanished too quickly for the eye to see as if he wasn't there in the first place. Leaving Orson and Ursa there all alone.

Orson went back to the house to bury his family. Orson prayed while Ursa stared off into the distance.

"Let's go" Orson grabbed his sister's hand and with one final look, they took off.

𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚐𝚘 𝚠𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚞𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚑 𝚋𝚘𝚢 𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚜

[prpletoast]

[Here's the Annabelle ref I promised!! Also uhhh... warnings for S/A; her old boss from when she was 16 was a pedophile 🧑‍🦽]

Name: Annabelle Irene Johnson

Age: 25

Job: Therapist

Noteable Conditions: severe anxiety (she's working on it I swear /j), vitiligo, Aspergers (basically tight-rope-walking between being autistic, and neurotypical)

Lore: Annabelle, or 'Annie' grew up in a lower working-class neighborhood for thirteen years of her life; her family barely scraping up enough money to make it by; with her and her two siblings. Due to her odd skin-condition; the poor girl was often shown off.

Nothing too significant/traumatic happened until age 16; when her parents forced her into modeling; desperate to make enough money to actually live a decent life. The company Annie was guilt-tripped into working for put her into outfits like these.

It actually got to a point where her former boss (almost) sexually assaulted her; the only reason she left with her virginity that day, was because an employee called the cops, and the cop happened to be Annie's older brother. So; let's just say a pedophile got put in prison!

With proper evidence, and video footage of what (almost) went on; her former boss was indeed jailed for 30 years. For sexual harassment, (attempted) rape, and pedophilia.

She went to therapy for the incident until she was 19; quitting her old job with a generous severance pay, as compensation for the bullshit she went through. Annabelle began saving for college to get a degree is psychology, so she could help people who suffered from similar issues. In fact; her newest job is how she met her (current) boyfriend Keiser.

Her and Keiser met when she was 21, and he was 20. She was shocked at his height, and was (understandably; due to trauma) a bit scared of him; due to his height. But once he revealed he wasn't going to harm her, she quickly warmed up to him. He has selective mutism, so she gladly communicated with him in sticky-notes; since she wasn't the best in sign-language at the time.

She actually really liked his voice; when he first trusted her enough to speak. A thick, and rather deep German accent came from his mouth; with a gentle chuckle, and a genuine compliment on how nice she was.

The two grew to be close friends; when Annie vented to him about her trauma.. Keiser was fully prepared to find the bastard that attempted to rape her, and kill him. However; only reason he didn't was because he was already sentenced to prison for what was left of his pathetic life.

She thought it was cute that every time she talked kindly to him; he gave her puppy-dog eyes. When she was 24, and he was 23; they officially started dating!!!!

DTTDTDC SCREAMSSX DASXSTTCTDCRX I LOVE AANNYYYY

[bitchfitch]

Idk, there's this one moment that happens immediately after Serapis gets Stella to kill him because he's desperate to escape being king for even just a few days. Where I'm extremely torn on what happens next.

Obviously Serapis is revived in the heart of the maze like he has been many times before, he's home and alive and has to swim to the surface of the blood red waters to breathe and climb back out onto dry land. And the heart of the maze is surrounded by the temple Aetius's family tends too.

I can't decide if it's better for Aetius to be on pool duty that day, for it to here the gurgling of the heart as someone is brought back and to prepare for them to emerge like it does anyone else. Only for it to be Serapis. It's hero and dear friend it thought it would never see again after they said their goodbyes. Aetius would tackle him back into the waters, too excited and ecstatic to wait for him to fully get out. They're both drenched and stained orange and red. And despite Aetius having been back for weeks already, it is only now that it feels it is home.

Or for Aetius to be off in the maze, guiding some other lost soul back to their own clan or colony. Taking communications or gifts or what not between some of the communities. Just doing its job as it has done its entire adult life. Serapis comes from the waters, he meets Aetius's family and they let him stay within their den while he waits for Aetius to return. Its been years since Serapis last saw the inside of the maze. He has no hope his own den is still unoccupied, but he won't leave the temple to return to his guard duties until Aetius comes to guide him home. And in this version, Aetius returns dusty and tired to the den it was born in and where its family has lived since they took up their duty tending to the heart of the maze. And Serapis is there beside one of the fires, talking to its siblings and looking so at home in its colony that it thinks it's dreaming this.

[star-going-supernova]

Prompt: mvp Vanessa verse

Ness is in the Plex with Gregory (brithday party or some such for one of his classmate's) and the virus takes over.

Figured I may as well kill two birds with one stone by filling this prompt for the first place prize of the poll’s civil war! No birthday party, but Gregory’s here! And it’s a real treat for y’all, being about 1,500 words. Congrats to the MVP!Vanessa voters, and I hope you all enjoy!

Prey

Quite frankly, Vanessa couldn’t believe her bad luck. Ordinarily, it was convenient to be in the pizzaplex when the virus was triggered in someone—saved her the commute. But not today, not when she had Gregory with her, and not when somehow, against all odds, two animatronics had bugged out. 

Worst of all, she hadn’t actually been with Gregory. She didn’t know where he was, if he was in or near the lockdown zones, or if he was safe on the other side of the building. This was the last time she let him go on ahead while she used the bathroom. 

Vanessa slammed through the locker room door and nearly ripped her locker open. She kept a spare crowbar here for just such occasions as this, though of course she hadn’t replaced her backup FazerBlaster yet after it fizzled to its death a few days ago. She just hadn’t had time to make the modifications on a new one. 

Cursing herself for not making the time, Vanessa charged back into the employee hallways, bee-lining to the nearest lockdown zone she’d been alerted to. Please, please don’t let Gregory be caught in it.

It was the indoor play area, which meant it was any kid’s heaven of foam pits, trampolines, slides, and all manner of climbable structures. Even Vanessa had fun in there. 

But there was no animatronic permanently assigned to that area. For this exact reason. It would trap countless kids with a murder robot. She tried to remember who the most common guests were���Moondrop, Chica, and Monty, she was pretty sure.

Had Gregory said he was going to the arcade or the play area? She couldn’t remember, not for the life of her. 

Frantically pressing her keycard to the blinking-red reader, she growled as she shoved into the room, fully prepared to be faced with screaming and crying kids. And blood. Potentially a lot of it. 

Instead, it seemed like business as usual. Laughter and chatter and children bodily flinging themselves into the foam pits. Breathing heavily, adrenaline primed for a fight, Vanessa scrabbled for her phone to double-check the location. If this was a glitch itself…

She didn’t have time to even pull it out of her pocket. Her Older Sibling Sixth Sense pinged, and her head shot up. Across the room, bouncing between trampolines with an urgency that most might read as an excess of energy, Gregory was leading Moondrop on a twisted chase. 

Oh, hell. Her brother was playing bait. 

Not just that, she considered as she took off at a speedy but not too conspicuous pace around the edge of the massive room. By putting up a front of tag, he was singlehandedly keeping the rest of the room’s occupants—easily over a hundred between the kids and their scattered parents—from even realizing anything was wrong. 

Vanessa caught his eye as she neared her destination: a door that lead into a large empty room where games with large groups were often played. Freeze tag, red light green light, they even had an enormous gym parachute. Today, she’d be playing piñata, featuring Moondrop. 

Gregory caught on without missing a beat and changed his zigzagging course to approach. Vanessa swiped her keycard and slipped inside without anyone noticing to ask if the room was open for use. 

It was beautifully seamless. Gregory hit the last trampoline just right and sailed onto the wide padded walkway that surrounded the trampoline area. It was a straight shot through the door, and Vanessa swung it open wide just as he reached it, yanking him behind it with her a moment before a gaining Moondrop could snatch him up. She slammed it—no matter how much she wanted Gregory on the other side, leaving it open any longer was asking for disaster to strike—and whirled with her crowbar raised. 

Moondrop skidded to a halt and spun to backtrack, and he got a face full of crowbar for his efforts. 

He went down hard, but he wasn’t out for the count yet. Following after him, Vanessa wound up again and sent the hooked end through the seam of his faceplate—this was why the crowbar worked so well. Bad enough bodily damage sent the animatronics into automatic shutdowns. 

Now was no exception. Her crowbar wedged in deep, and he went limp before he could even finish standing. She stepped back, breathing heavily. His eyes were dark; he didn’t move. 

Turning around, she said, “You good?” 

Wide-eyed and shaking a little, Gregory nodded. He inched closer, watching Moondrop intently. “He didn’t even touch me,” he whispered. 

Vanessa held out her arm, and he immediately crashed into her. “He’s out until they fix his face. We’re safe, okay?” 

He nodded against her. She squeezed him closer. 

“That was incredibly brave of you,” she said. “I wish it hadn’t come to that, but you… you did real good, kiddo.” 

“It was weird,” he said. “He spazzed out and then it was like his eyes were just empty.” 

“They go a little zombie-like, don’t they?” 

“Mhm. Slower, too. I know he’s fast enough to catch me when he’s really trying.” 

It was a silver lining, that they were just slightly less under the effects of the virus. 

“Let’s never do that again,” Vanessa decided. 

Backing up, Gregory didn’t even argue for the sake of it. “Yeah. Once is more than enough.” 

Vanessa tried to retrieve her crowbar, but it was thoroughly jammed. The repair guys always found that funny; they kept a tally of how many times they had to pry her crowbar loose with their own.

She gestured tiredly at one of the room’s side entrances. Adrenaline crashes sucked. “Let’s beat it, shrimp.” 

He led the way as she fished out her phone to log Moondrop’s defeat. The lockdown would lift in a minute, and a crew would hustle over to retrieve his body. Gregory pushed through the door as she tagged their location. 

“Roxy?” she heard Gregory ask. “What are you doing here?” 

Vanessa’s blood froze in her veins. She looked up with agonizing slowness, already throwing herself forward. Her phone fell to the floor with a clatter. 

She’d forgotten there were two glitched-out animatronics today. And of course Gregory hadn’t known. It had never happened before; he had no reason to be wary straight off.

Gregory gasped and stumbled back as Roxy lunged for him with her mouth wide open, teeth so, so sharp. 

Vanessa’s fingers snagged his shirt. She yanked him away from Roxy, eyes blazing with righteous, protective fury. It still wouldn’t be enough. 

She shoved her arm out sideways, in a defensive block pose—it was the only thing between Roxy’s fangs and her brother’s head. 

And Roxy’s jaw clamped down over Vanessa’s forearm, blood immediately spurting out from between her teeth. 

The slow motion feeling shattered with the sudden agony of her arm being shredded. Shrieking from part fury, part pain, Vanessa went down with a brain-rattling crash, Roxy’s momentum knocking both of them over. The weight of Roxy’s body slamming down on top of her punched all the air from her lungs. 

Roxy thrashed her head side to side without letting go, reminiscent of the wolves she was modeled after when they were trying to tear a chunk of meat off their defeated prey. Vanessa’s vision whited out. Her mouth hinged open on a silent scream. 

There was so much blood. She couldn’t feel her fingers. 

She’d been clawed before, she’d caught a stray tooth before, she’d been smacked around before. Nothing else had been as bad as this. This was the first time she thought she would finally die doing her job. 

She hoped Gregory was running. That he was anywhere but here. 

Vanessa should have known better. 

Roxy reared back, releasing Vanessa’s arm, presumably preparing to rip out her throat. But in that one moment when her bloody mouth was snapping shut between bites, Vanessa’s stupid little brother bodily threw himself at Roxy’s face. The animatronics got kinda tunnel-visioned with the virus—hence Moondrop ignoring all the easier prey after Gregory got his attention—so he truly took Roxy by surprise. She rocked backward from the force, and if Vanessa hadn’t been dry heaving from the pain, she’d have yelled at him for thinking that would help. 

But Gregory wasn’t done yet. Vanessa’s vision was too blurry for her to really understand how he did it, but Gregory somehow ended up clinging to the back of Roxy’s head like a monkey. Numb shock spread through her, both at the sight and as the trauma of her injury caught up to her brain.

Roxy flailed, her dumbed-down thoughts struggling to process the sudden child literally wrapped around her head. And the second he had a secure hold with his legs, Gregory was reaching into her eye sockets and yanking with a war cry. 

Both Roxy’s eyes popped out with the snapping of plastic and wires. Sparks jumped into the air. Her entire body seized and locked up, and with a great rattling crash, Roxy collapsed, automatically powering down from the damage. 

Vanessa’s body felt heavy, her thoughts slowing. It was so hard to keep her eyes open.

Gregory rolled free of Roxy’s still twitching limbs, dropping both eyes to the floor. “Vanessa!” 

That—that was her name. Gregory was saying her name. 

“Vanessa!” 

She… she should respond. 

“Vanessa!” 

Darkness rose up to greet her, and she lost consciousness before she could find the strength to.

[madrone33]

I'm so glad the PJO show stuck the landing. I've seen a lot of shows lately that have a habit of, uh, not doing that, so I'm really happy I liked the finale episode!

(Also because I watched it with my mum, and she hasn't seen anything but the first two episodes and my rambling recaps, so I'm glad my show didn't disappoint me in front of her lol)

MAJOR SPOILERS for the PJO finale past this point!

There are only two things I can think of that I didn't really like, and that Gabe's- whole thing, basically, soz. I get why they toned him down for the visual format, and I'm not trying to undercut the actual abuse that is still happening, I just personally like Sally turning her piece of shit abusive husband to stone and then selling his statue to get money for a degree lol.

And then also the dropped police plot line is a bit iffy. They probs cut it for time or smth, but it just felt weirdly unresolved. Like, they set it up so well, and then they don't follow through at all, just straight up don't mention it again. Idk, maybe they'll bring it back for the 2nd season? Not sure how that'd work tho. It's a minor issue, but it did feel strange to me.

The rest of it was very well done though, imo!

It starts with Luke saying The Thing but different?? Giving The Last Day of Summer from The Lightning Thief musical vibes fr fr.

The fight with Ares was hella cool, with the awesome wave, and the choreography was pretty well done to my completely inexperienced eye. The ichor looked cool, very handy that it's gold so they can show 'blood' on screen and still keep it PG lol. I was cheering Percy on so hard.

They did the flashbacks so well. Honestly, every episode's done the flashbacks well, but Luke? Oh yeah. As soon as he showed up on screen, helping Percy, preparing him, I knew the end of the episode was gonna hit so hard.

The trio is still amazing. They play off of each other so well, and all their actors are so talented!

The necklace!!

Ok, Percy had zero chill on Olympus. He straight up said his shit to Zeus, knowing he'd probably be killed for it and not giving a single fuck because that was his world and his friends and his mum that were going to be hurt if this stupid war continued, and he was going to make Zeus listen even if it killed him.

And then Poseidon steps in and surrenders and when I tell you I audibly gasped I'm not kidding. Like- The gods don't just back down when they're fighting, that's not how their power dynamic works, how the glory system works, how their pride and respect and status works. I'm probs not explaining it very well 'cause it's like 1:30 am rn, (I really should stop writing these essays at midnight lol) but yeah. Poseidon was giving up a lot. And he didn't care. Because that was his son, and his son was worth more than any glory could give him.

Also, funny side note: after they started speaking what I assume is greek, and then switched back to english, my brain for some reason decided to completely forgot my native language and just- didn't process english anymore. I kid you not, it just registered as sounds without meaning. Completely alien. I sat there without understanding the next four sentences they said until my brain clicked back in and I was like, ohhh, they're speaking english. And then I had to rewind and listen to it again lol.

Zeus smugly saying he'll announce his "swift and crushing victory" and Poseidon rolling his eyes was so sibling energy lol.

... So, does Poseidon yeeting Percy back to camp without answering mean he's too overcome by emotion to say 'yes' or that he's too guilty to admit 'no'?

I like how all the cheering and clapping is muffled out by the music at first, because Percy's still shocked that he's actually alive. It's only when Annabeth hugs him that he fully processes the fact that he's safe.

Gonna be honest, I'd completely forgotten that they thought Clarisse was the Lightning Thief. They did a good job of reminding me though.

Yeah, Luke's betrayal was executed better here than the books imo. First of all, the lighting is immaculate. The past episodes had an issue with night scenes and being super dark, but the fireworks lighting up selective scenes really works.

I like how Percy figures it out first, and almost challenges Luke to deny it. And Luke is- not prepared. He had a plan. He was going to ease into this. And it hurts all the more because Percy is scared and angry and betrayed and Luke never wanted to hurt him.

What's done so well is that you can see how Luke didn't want to fight- and then Percy mentioned Hermes and Luke just snapped. Trigger button. Wrong thing to say. Now, suddenly Percy wasn't the 12 year old kid Luke was trying to save and help, he was just someone who'd said the name of That Man and now Luke was just bitter pain and rage.

Also, Percy accidentally cutting Luke - with a sword that can't even harm him anyway - and immediately apologising, and then Luke only seeing a weakness to exploit and going in for the kill. That hurt.

Ok wait imma copy paste a small ramble I posted earlier to here because it stands true. Here we go:

A bit rambling, a might not make much sense, but had a thought about that scene when Annabeth saves Percy and reveals herself. There's two things that stuck out to me; she didn't let herself show any emotion but anger, and she'd been there the whole time but only interfered just then.

She'd been suspicious enough of something to go against the plan and follow them. She heard Luke confess his betrayal while invisible and alone. She heard his true feelings about the gods, about their parents, and now after everything - after Athena. After Percy - she understood him so much more and so much less at the same time. She'd been locked in shocked grief that froze her, and the only thing that snapped her out of it was seeing Percy beneath the blade of the person they'd both trusted, and the need to protect burnt away the numbness long enough for her to compartmentalise and lock away everything but anger so she could move.

Luke's face though. Oof. All I could think was "She's like a little sister to me." (Don't crucify me if that's not his exact wording, it's almost 2am now, I'm tiiiired.) But yeah, the fact that he probably could've taken them both if he truly wanted, but the moment he saw her and her betrayed, furious face, and then looked down and saw the kid he'd been about to kill- He just ran.

The parting of ways, with the trio at Thalia's tree, bright plans for the future, hugging and smiling and making a pact to come back to each other, no matter what- that was so toothrottingly sweet.

And then the cabin scene? Heartwarming af. The mother and son duo is just. You can feel their desperate relief and love for each other. It's so good.

A bit wary when Kronos showed up, wasn't sure if the whole prior stuff was 'just a dream' but I'm guessing Percy was just remembering how they reunited, and Kronos hijacked his nice memory. That was well done, too. Percy was just so Done with this guy, like c'mon, give the kid a break. And then him waking up with his mum again - like I said; they're so sweet. The fact that this happens often enough for them to have a dedicated book lmao. Also, him calling Kronos grandpa was on point.

It exits out of the window Sally was sitting on! And it's raining!! (Also, another side note, but whenever something exits with a window I just think of The Last of Us episode 3).

Ok so they have to make a second season. It's the law. They gotta.

Hmm. Think that's everything I can think of saying now lol.

(Thank you for everyone who worked hard on this! Even if I don't like some stuff, I know that so many hours of work was poured into this and I appreciate it so much!)

EDIT: OH WAIT I almost forgot Ares completely out of pocket line about Percy's mum, and yeah, no way was he getting out of that now, asshole. Also, the way Percy and Luke's parents are a trigger. The character similarities are similying~

[multifandumbmeg]

Started watching The Bear a couple days ago and it's fantastic but season 2 episode 6?! The Christmas flashback episode?! Holy fuck I have so many feelings. A fully functional horror film in a 45min Christmas special. Not to mention I was watching it with my mom and it was profoundly uncomfortable because she was like, horrified, and I was like... This is every holiday here, my guy, but you are not prepared to have that conversation.

The moment that hit me the hardest was Carmy trying to calm down his mom, to manage her emotions, and over and over she keeps saying nobody cares nobody loves me and I have to do all the work myself. And you can see it kill him quietly after he's spent the whole evening desperately trying to help her and putting so much work in just to have her completely overlook it and even call him the wrong name at one point.

Fuckin hey that hit home. The other worst bit was watching how Donna treated Nat, but I don't personally relate to eldest daughter syndrome because A) my older sister definitely did not fill that roll and B) I relate to Carmy so fucking hard it hurts.

To get so personal on main, no shits given- I'm the forgotten younger child who spent their childhood taking potshots from dad and their older sibling all while somehow regulating mom to keep her from falling apart so I could still get fed. Not to mention I was the gifted, unsociable, Autistic child who went off the second I graduated. Travelled the world, got a masters straight out of college etc. People were proud of me and lauded me, but those people were not my family. No, the family says you think you're too good for us. You just hate us because you think you're so special, huh? No, I overachieved because you never told me I did good and by the time I realized you never would, I liked that it kept me busy and provided external validation and kept me the fuck away from this toxic monstrosity.

Anyway, this show really is a masterpiece. It goes from hilarious to high art to heartbreaking to uplifting and makes it all look easy. And don't get me started on the restaraunt shit because with seven years experience working every position in them holy shit that's real. Somebody on the writing team actually knows their shit.

[sinemaveriteofficial]

My Life Story

I was born to a middle-class family in NYC in 1899, the second of four children. I had a quite normal upbringing; my parents were very kind and understanding, and I was close with my siblings despite our occasional quarrels.

I've always had some concept that I seemed to experience the world differently than my peers. My interests and preferred conversation topics were considered too advanced or boring to relate to classmates and neighbors. I did endure a bit of bullying in elementary school, but Lewis put a stop to that very quickly.

I did reasonably well in school, graduating high school in 1918. During my senior year, I told my parents about my discomfort living as a female, and desire to create a more authentic life for myself. My parents were wonderfully supportive of my wishes, and helped me as much as was possible.

In spring of 1919 I finally had everything prepared to move. Once I left, taking my new documentation we had created, my parents held a funeral for their eldest daughter. They buried an empty coffin in a grave with my birth name.

I wrote a lovely eulogy under my new identity, with the pretext that I was a man that the deceased had been courting, and my parents saw me as a son because of this, giving an understandable reason for us to maintain a close relationship rather than severing ties.

Knowing I wanted to pursue a career as an actor, I moved to New Orleans, Louisiana. The film industry was smaller there than in New York, but still a very viable opportunity for a young actor. The environment was perfect for me; lively, and populated enough that I could blend in with the crowd. I was able to rent an apartment on my own, finally fully independent.

However, with so many people packed so densely, there were always those who were looking to take advantage of the unaware. They lurked in every shadow, waiting for someone they deemed an easy target. Everyone knew they were there, and everyone sober enough to remember knew to avoid them. But eventually, in 1924, one bastard made the last mistake of his life.

I had spent the evening on the town, drinking and dancing with a couple of friends. Our darling Lily was quite the lightweight. She loved partying, but the girl couldn't hold her liquor no matter how much she tried. We had left her alone for a moment; I had gone to get another round of drinks while the others danced, leaving sweet Lily, too drunk to dance, to hold our table.

That was the last time I saw that gentle girl. When I returned to the table she was no longer there. I asked one of our companions to check the washroom while I stepped out to see if she had gone for fresh air, only to see her leaving in a taxi. I never saw anyone with her, so I assumed she was calling it an early evening and going home safely.

However, the next day, the news broke, her name in the headlines. She had been found by her roommate, assaulted and slaughtered in her struggle to save herself. The night after her funeral, I swore to all things holy and otherwise that I would make the bastard that did this pay.

And make him pay I did. He never harmed anyone again, after that. Neither did my next target, or the next after that. It was incredibly therapeutic, really. Their begging, their screams… It makes the results all the more satisfying, the more they fight to live.

I know, so many have said it's tragic, a waste of human life. But these pieces of shit were far more useful in death than in life. I promise you, I'm not one to be wasteful. I only left enough to identify the dead, as their families and victims should receive that closure. I allowed the first one to be found, though; that was a message, on Lily's behalf. It was the only warning I allowed for the others.

Unfortunately, it seemed that I began getting credit for deaths that were not my doing. There were announcements about a serial killer, listing off those I had killed as well as others I had not. Either the news was getting trigger-happy over every unconnected death, or I had a counterpart in the city.

I suppose it was inevitable, really. If I believed in a higher power I'd say it was fate. We first met in a dingy speakeasy, drinking and dancing the night away. We ended up dancing together, then talked for hours, into the small hours of the morning.

We parted at closing, presumably strangers never to meet again. I found my next dinner on the way out that night. He was incredibly bold, pressing me for a proposition in clear public. So, I decided to allow him to follow me home. He was a bit lean for my preference, but a poor dish is an small sacrifice to get him off of the street.

I was just getting started taking care of him, when I realized my window had been opened and someone had entered. I went to check on it, leaving the creep tied in my kitchen. When I returned after finding nothing, I saw the man from the speakeasy standing in front of the creep, holding a knife and smiling but looking rather surprised.

After several awkward minutes, I found out that he was responsible for the deaths that had been confused with my work, and vice versa. He stayed that weekend with me, helping me dispatch and clean up our shared interest. We found we had even more in common than we realized, and a friendship formed.

As I write this I find that it sounds incredible cliched and corny, but after that night he was always part of my life. Neither of us trust or care for others easily, so there were several months of tentative friendship and testing the waters. But within the year we were as thick as thieves. Be it working up a target, a night out on the town, or a quiet dinner at one of our homes, we found ourselves happy and comfortable together like neither of us had been before.

With all this given, is it really so surprising that we ended up in a committed partnership? We both knew that we weren't the romantic sort, but it was very logical to make the decision to work to maintain such a rare relationship as what we had. Eventually we moved into a nice little house together, a close pair of bachelor friends as far as any outsiders were concerned.

That arrangement worked beautifully for years, the closest thing to domestic bliss that a pair like us are prone to. But it came to a terrible end in 1933. He had made a kill, and left to dispose of the remnants while I cleaned up at home. He was always prompt, always precise, but that night he was late returning.

I waited, assuming that an acquaintance had stopped to talk to him on his way home. But as the hours passed my dread grew. I fell asleep by the door, still waiting and hoping to wake to him walking in with a smile and a cheery explanation of the delay. But that never came.

What did wake me was a sharp knocking, so harsh and unlike him. When I answered the door I was met by a policeman, asking to speak to me. He asked me questions about Al, about his work and his hobbies. Eventually the reason for his visit came out.

Al was dead. Found burying human remains, and shot by an elderly hunter in the dim light mistaking him for a deer. I never thought that one could experience heartbreak without romance, but I learned otherwise that day.

I carried on for years, always doing everything I could for his memory. I was more ruthless than ever. I kept my mask in place for my daily life, always the actor. But I was slowly losing control of myself in my extracurricular activities.

I believe the only reason I was never caught was because I had become so erratic. My methods changed so drastically that law enforcement assumed I had to be a different person. I made kills outdoors, picked up targets in far too public places, even left behind tools. But eventually I would rejoin my dearest in the grave.

In March of 1938, nearly 5 years after the greatest pain of my life began, I found my peace. I finally slipped up; I discovered too late that the target I had just killed lived with his police officer brother. The brother came home as I was beginning to work up the body, drawing his pistol, and… I woke up in a strange place, with a different body.

Once I realized I was in Hell, I was able to find Alastor easily enough as he was already making a name for himself as a rising overlord, a story most everyone knows well. There's little to tell beyond that; Hell has been much the same for the near century we've been here, the only real changes being the rise and fall of overlords as newcomers make their way.

Alastor made his way to the top, every new soul he owned bringing more power. At some point, I'm not sure how many decades ago now, we decided it ebe prudent to legalize our partnership as a failsafe in case misfortune were to befall either of us. As part of our marriage contract I signed him my soul, and took partial claim of those that he owned then and in the future.

We were once again content for many years, until his recent unannounced sabbatical. Again I found myself left behind, picking up the pieces of our life and managing a small empire without him. With him gone his souls and responsibilities fell to me, which I dare say I handled dutifully for the better part of a decade.

I was beyond ecstatic when he returned, however. I am not fond of being an overlord myself, and everything besides those responsibilities I had let fall away. I'm not ashamed to admit that I was a broken man, being the one remaining for the second time.

But, he did return this time. And together we are rebuilding our status, reminding the masses why we were so feared. We've also been investing a great deal of time into our new project, helping young Princess Charlie Morningstar create and run her Hazbin Hotel.

[therealsirsticker]

Op, I just wanted to tell you that I think about your fnaf au frequently.

thanks! i think about it a lot too. but to be honest, i haven’t had much interest in fnaf lately... i dont want to say that the au is completely abandoned forever but i havent really been working on it in a while y'know? i still love it and id love to finish it one day but i dont think that day is soon.

ill probably post an outline of where things were meant to go for a bit of closure, along with art i never posted and some new art as a farewell. back when i started it, i actullay set a rule for myself that i wasnt allowed to work on any other fics/aus so that all my focus was on the disasrous family reunion au until i finished it. i dont think that was a good move in hindsight.

it was a lot of fun! i wrote most of it while procrastinating on schoolwork during lockdown. i sort of based the afton kids dynamic off my own with my siblings. i was projecting onto MIcheal soooo hard. i never did anythimng near as severe as jamming my little brithers head into the jaws of an animatronic bear and nearly getting him killed, but i really wasnt the best older sibling.

i wont get too into it, but near the stART of the au, i realized this and that i wanted to improve. over time, i feel like i have gotten better. also on Micheal, hes just kinda pathetic and fun to ragdoll around y'know? also he s trans. i dont think i said it explicitly but i did imply it. i meant to say it outright later.

for charlie and liz, i,,,,,, was really gay pining for someone at the time and had to get it out my system somehow! and there are hardly any fics for them so i took it into my own hands. hey, fun little secret? i never actully read the novels. i read the graphic one for the first book, but everything else was me going off summarys given to me by brother who actully read them lol.

on christopher he was never my favorite. i dont dislike him! he was just never the most interesting to me. i was struggling to write him sometimes lol. i meant for it to take a while for him to get on good terms with micheal. i dont think i wanted him to fully forgivehim for what he did though. michea.l hurt him! he hurt him bad! its ok for him to not forgive him.

in the climax i did want william to get shot and called an egoristical slut. and then burn for good. i was always more focusd on the relationships between the main four than i was on like, the evil animatronic killing people stuff. i didnt ever have like a super concrete plan for the plot besides that, which is probably why writing it was so difficult in some parts.

but i feel like overall it gave me a better grasp on writing fics and aus and such! i now use outlines for one which i really should have been doing the whole time lol. id love to do an updating fic again, it was so much fun talking with people about it everytime i updated. but i think i set my ambitions a bit too high with it, and that led to not being prepared to write the full story, y'know?

anyways ill post more about it soon, but i think this post is long enough already. buh-bye?

[phantomenby]

Deliverance

For AnonJ, I hope brain.exe starts working again <3 and sorry this is a lil short

You laid them to rest where the daisies grew, where the sunlight would shine down on them once again.

You were a flower child of the 70s, always full of joy and buzzed out of your mind. Even though you were no longer human life still flowed through you like a powerful essence that carried your vibrant and free form throughout America.

Your chosen family were the same, though most of them were fully turned already.

Vampires. That's what you were, creatures of the night who hunted and killed the same mortals you traveled with. Hitchhiking made it easy to move around and stay satisfied.

Since '72 you had decided to settle down in an uninhabited part of the wilderness of Nebraska, where an old lodge built in the 1920s was situated, it was a dusty old thing but you made it your home and lived there for almost a decade.

You were happy, with your brothers, sisters, and all those in between. Hunting rarely and even going so far as to drink the blood of animals that you could hunt on your land. Even the people in town who you saw on occasion loved you all, knowing you for bringing in delicious treats for the market each month.

It was perfect. And now, it was gone.

You hadn't heard them, hadn't felt them. Hunters weren't as common as they were in the past, Silas had told you, he had been around since the dark ages and was always teaching you things about immortality and the supernatural that he knew were important to your survival. He was your big brother, your best friend, and here he was with a stake jammed through his chest, his body already decaying.

They had come during the day, while you were out buying seeds for a flower patch you wanted to grow in the garden out front, you were the only one of your clan to go out during the day. For some reason, the sun never tired you, her warm glow welcoming and reminding you of your youth in sunny Florida.

It felt odd to you, this burning hole in your heart, it had hit you as soon as the first blow was struck. Suddenly it was as though a cord had been ripped from your chest, a connection lost. It was your sister, Yen, being shot with a silver bullet coated in holy water. They didn't stand a chance, whoever had done it was good and knew more than you did. Silas was murdered in the forest, far from your home.

He must have noticed something. He must have realised.

Looking up at the tree beside his corpse you saw some branches were broken, as though something or someone had fallen against them, still smelling of something sweet. Blood. One of them had gotten hurt while they watched you.

How many there were you didn't know, they were gone now, you could no longer feel their presence and their scent was growing stale.

Nothing could have prepared you for this.

You mourned, days went by where you just sobbed as your chest ached mercilessly. Never feeling so alone before.

At some point you had begun digging individual graves with your hands, you were exhausted but wouldn't stop until they had somewhere to be buried. Choosing a field a small walk away that was open and full of wildflowers. Carrying each of your siblings and placing them down softly.

You laid them to rest where the daisies grew, where the sunlight would shine down on them once again.

That day you left your home, now burnt to ash and empty, it was nothing more than a scar in your memory.

-

Becoming a nomad wasn't easy, fortunately, you knew how to drive so you took the old burnt orange minivan you had stolen a couple of years back. Everything you could salvage was in it, some trinkets and jewelry along with a few pieces of clothing and Miriam's purple Ukelele.

Choosing to travel from city to town to some hidden corner in the middle of nothingness took your mind off of things. You worked small jobs and sold things you made to get by, not that you needed much more than fuel and a little food here and there. Being a half was hard too. The thirst burned your throat and tortured your weak mind.

You couldn't give in, you couldn't lose your sunlight. It was the only warmth you had left.

Longing followed you. The longing for a family, a pack, a clan. The nights were too quiet and left you alone with your thoughts. Simple touches you hadn't appreciated before were sought after in soft blankets and stuffed animals you won when playing games at fairs in the summer months.

Soon enough five years had passed and your hair grew longer, you had trimmed it once or twice and now the choppy locks brushed against the middle of your neck. Monroe had called you a chameleon one time, when they saw your wardrobe, you could wear almost anything and style yourself differently every day. Hiding beneath layers of cloth, cutting your hair different lengths, learning how to do subtle makeup with Saphiya.

Now you just wore jeans and t-shirts most days, it wasn't worth the effort to look nice, to express yourself. The gnawing in your chest persisted, even after you stopped crying, accepting that nothing you did would return them to you.

It led you across the coast, from East to West, the ache becoming lesser as you reached California.

Santa Carla wasn't familiar to you, but it felt almost homey. Warm and full of life, people dressed strangely, it reminded you of Florida. Something deeper bloomed in your chest and you hated not knowing what it meant, maybe fate was just leading you to somewhere new so you could take roots, somewhere that would welcome you the way a family should.

The sun was high in the sky as you drove alongside the beach, watching children run around laughing as their parents soaked up the sun's rays. Seeing signs saying 'no parking' you kept going, reaching a small campground that didn't have any fees attached. Some people clearly having lived there for a good number of years.

Choosing a spot further back that was hidden by trees before you shut the van off, leaning your head against the steering wheel as you breathed slowly. Being up for two days straight had taken its toll on you, but you felt watched back in Jacksonville and knew you had to get out of there fast. Fortunately, the van was already full of fuel and ready to go so you took the opportunity to zigzag between states, throwing whoever it was off of your trail.

You knew who it was. Those awful hunters, somehow they had found out about your existence after you had left your home all those years ago and had attempted to hunt you down. Hopefully the strangeness of Santa Carla would make you out to be just another young human who had run away from home.

Maybe the van was in need of a new coat of paint, and a new number plate. You would get the supplies tonight and sort things out tomorrow. For now you could rest up in your nest.

-

Hours had passed since you had laid down to sleep and the sun was going down, glancing at the clock on your dashboard you saw it had just gone seven PM. The perfect time for you to head down into town where the shops were, based on the signs you saw on the way in Santa Carla was a night town and stayed open fairly late into the evening.

You drove down, parking beside a motel and hoping you wouldn't get ticketed as you couldn't see any signs warning you. It would be a short walk to the mechanics where you could buy the paint you need, maybe even snagging a new number plate from an unsuspecting tourists car in the meantime.

Strolling down the front you relaxed, a soft smile gracing your features as you traipsed along towards your destination. You had high hopes for Santa Carla.

As you continued you were unaware of something else hunting you, something your soul had been leading you to.

-

They felt you before they saw you, for the past five years they had become different in one way or another, always on edge. Always expecting something. Loneliness had brought them closer, though it wasn't their own emotions that they were feeling. When they had gone to Max about it he informed them of what was wrong, their mate had connected to them in some way, and now they would feel them for every second of their undead lives.

He forbade them from seeking you out, binding them to Santa Carla, to him. Knowing the implications of discovering someone they would put before him. They hated him for it, hated knowing there was nothing they could do for you.

Tonight felt different like they were reaching a precipice, their chests thrummed with nervous anticipation. To the humans around them, they looked like any other delinquent who had taken something a little too strong and was now skeptical of everyone and everything in front of them.

Marko smelt you, god how much he craved that scent, fresh rain and wildflowers. It was freeing, like he was being led through a forest after the rainfall by a nymph. He raised his nose in the air like a dog, searching for where it came from. His brothers caught on quick, Pauls instincts were the strongest and as soon as he caught a whiff of you he was off like a bullet, the others following closely behind.

He led them into the main street, where suburbians went shopping after the workday was over, there were too many of them and it was clouding your scent. The breeze carrying small pieces of you everywhere. It was intoxicating.

They saw something flash around a corner, heading out of a mechanics shop and towards a darker area of town, following swiftly as the scent followed your form. Luring them to you.

-

It wasn't cheap, good quality paint never was, but you had chosen a soft blue colour and were excited to paint tomorrow. Indulging in some white paint so you could attempt some clouds around the sides.

Moving round the back of the shop you headed down the alley you had come through, wanting to return to the safety of your van. You spotted some cars parked in a side road as you walked, they hadn't been used in some time and were covered in leaves and waste.

Perfect

Kneeling down behind a slightly rusted black and green VW beetle you went to work, using your strong fingers to untwist the stubborn screws and slowly pull off the plate, placing it in your bag before moving to the front. This one was much worse, having been dented slightly and digging into the car, not noticing the four men walking behind you.

"Miss?"

Screaming as a hand was placed on your shoulder, dropping the plate and turning with your back against the car, hands held out in front of you.

"Hey, hey, c'mon little one we don't mean any harm."

Lowering your arms slowly, entranced by the honey-toned voice as you looked up at who had disturbed you, shaking slightly.

Your eyes met an ocean, deep blue orbs shining down at you.

The world melted away and it was just the five of you, looking at each other with a sea of emotions. At that moment you couldn't remember what it was like to be alone, the hole in your chest closed tight and warmth bloomed in your chest. Eyes tearing up as you stared at the men in front of you. Your mates. Perfect in every way and watching you with love.

You were home, you were safe and you would never be alone again.

[daryldixonsdoormat]

worst fears

The walking Dead characters worst fears 

Daryl Dixon: Fully committing to someone or something. Him and Merle usually didn't stay in one place. They were always on the move running away from their problems are find a place to make more. Early on Daryl really only thought that no one could love him the way Merle did. I mean they were siblings by blood and nothing could break that shared bond or love. But when you waltz into his life he didn't know what to think. When you approached him at the camp thanking him for going out and risking his life for the group to eat he scoffed at you thinking it was some kind of trick. Trusting people wasn't something that Daryl did easily hence the reaction. Eventually though (the prison) Daryl started to talk to you more than anyone else, he started caring for you more than anyone else. And that Was Daryl Dixon's worst fear being devoted to you means he was constantly worried about your well being non-stop. He committed to making sure you're alive and safe as possible. There was another aspect to the relationship it wasn't until Alexandria that it really started to worry him. What if you weren't as committed? So as crazy as it sounds he talks about it with you and ties the knot being married to his one true love. He fully committed to you in every aspect now much like you are to him. Walls meant safety. Daryl Dixon was always dealt the worst hand. 

“this is it. keep living for me Daryl”

he shakily answers back, “a life without you ain't worth living”. 

Rick Grimes: Losing his sense of Humanity. There has been some moments where Rick could be considered “inhumane” but I don’t think he would agree at all. Rick came into the camp with a seemingly level head and his plan was to find his family and continue living. Rick and Lori have been drifting apart even before the apocalypse so finding out the ‘affair’ was the end of their relationship. Whos gonna blame Rick for eventually loving someone else. His worst fear is losing his humanity and ultimately that is a common occurrence. But this fear triples when he has another person to protect from the world and maybe even himself one day. It scares him seeing you be scared of him (if that makes sense). Multiple events lead up to his ‘snap’ when he turned down Tyrese and his group at the prison it really made him question himself. After everything he has seen reaching Alexandria it makes it easier to know that he doesn't need to be head of command anymore. If Rick doesn't have to make the big decisions then his Humanity should still be intact. Then negan kills of his love when rosita tried to kill him. In your last moments he talks about the gruesome ways of killing Negan and all his subjects until you bring up his worst fear. 

“Don’t lose your humanity, love. Who am I kidding? I know you wont” 

“I promise you with everything that I have. I will never lose my humanity”. That promise held him together. 

 Glenn Rhee: Not being quick enough. During the apocalypse he was constantly told he was the quickest and the stealthiest. And it has forever sense been engraved into his mind. He was lonely until he met you, of course he was still his normal shy and introverted self. But that didn’t stop his heart from throbbing when he seen you doing something as simple as sitting by the fire. He wants to be close to you at all times for his own comfort and to make sure your always in arms reach. Glenn took pride in his skills and tried to have fun with it when he could. But while the group was on the move for months on end he because weary of what may have changed physically. If he isn't confident in himself how will he ever protect you?  After being at the prison for a considerable amount of time he was anxious of course a roof was a breath of fresh of air. But what if the time comes where he could save you because he wasn't fit enough or physically prepared. Of course that time does come and its breaks him. You were caught off guard and a walker snuck up on you from behind biting your shoulder. He was too late, so close to saving you but the bite mark proved he wasn't fast enough. 

“Glenn have I ever told you, how pretty you look when you run?” 

he will never forgive himself for not being fast enough to save you. 

Notes: I can do a Part 2 with more characters if it is requested I just dont know what other characters. I write for nearly all characters and women!

[singing-cicada]

Alrighty folks, it's here. I'm writing this off memory so I might come back later with better references to what I'm referring too, but for now, you get

The Meta-textual Meaning and Exploration of a Relationship Between Millie Thompson and Nicholas D. Wolfwood and What They Represent

So first off, I want to establish what these two represent.

We're all familiar with Vash's pacifism and what conflict that raises. We're all equally aware about Wolfwood being the opposition and foil.

But Millie, my sweet beloved Millie. She contains multitudes.

Millie is initially established as a sweet, naive young woman; someone cheerful and peaceful, despite her stature and the danger she chases after. One of most her notable traits is her love for her family. This is at first presented somewhat offhandedly; Millie writes long letters to her parents, 9 siblings, nieces, and nephews which will sometimes cause her to sleep in from how late she was up writing.

But this becomes important with Badwick and his parents and the farm/nature preserve. Earlier in the day, Millie saw him wave a gun at, and shoot a gun near his parents. This is the first time we see Millie get mad. She yells at him, brandishes her stun gun, is truly righteously enraged at him.

(I'll be referencing the TriMax manga for my next point to fully represent my stance, not just sticking to '98 canon.)

The second time we see Millie get mad is before the Fifth Moon. Zazie has just abducted Meryl as bait for Vash. But before Meryl knew Vash, she was Millie's senpai. As Vash and Wolfwood are preparing to rescue Meryl, we get this amazing scene:

Millie is ready to go in, guns blazing, with her non-lethal, heavy (with mercy) stun gun to save someone she loves. But all that love, all that courage, even that was not enough to steel her.

She panic. Of course she does, she's never face combat, let alone to the death.

But she lives.

She lives, and she remembers, and she grows. She doesn't magically become a stone cold badass who doesn't give to shits. And she doesn't recoil from violence, cowed and fearful of what could be.

Millie is the youngest of 10, raised on a farm, where she had years to grow into shoulders wide enough to fit her heart. All this to say: Millie has seen violence, she has come through it, and still she is kind. Still she uses a non-lethal weapon so she can fight.

She mirrors Vash accidentally. Wolfwood mirrors him intentionally. He watches and aim and his heart and tries, tries to copy him, to make something softer. A bullet can kill, but a gun can fire rubber bullets, too. It hurts like shit, but you can walk away.

Millie learns that some people don't want to talk, won't be appeased by a box of donuts, only by force. And Wolfwood learns how to tell people apart, the ones who will walk away, bruised and bitter but not killers, and the people who need to be stopped (either for others sake like Chapel, or their own like Rollo).

So the beauty is in the meeting of these two things. In the overlap of passivity and activity, offense and defense. Millie and Wolfwood both know the merits of force; gravity, propulsion, shock waves.

Millie does not hate Wolfwood, doesn't not revile his blood stained hands or haunted dreams. Wolfwood doesn't not condescend to her, does not shame the twinkle of her eye or the optimism she shares freely.

They both have calloused hands; one from farm work, one from weapons. They both know strength. And they both have learned how to use it, not just to fight, but to hold someone close.

Wolfwood learned how to curb his strength, how to redirect and ricochet. Millie has learned how to embrace it, how to brace and barricade.

They are the in-between, the place where optimism and pessimism meet. They are what Vash fears and dreams of. They are what is, what can be, and what someday will be.

Tldr: Millie represent passivity becoming active without becoming lethal (embodying Vash's ideal), Wolfwood represent lethality becoming passive, enacting action without purely causing death (embodying Vash's intent). A relationship between the two represents a middle ground, the acknowledgement of violence and the role it plays without glorifying or condemning it (something Vash has to come to terms with, and accept over the course of the story).

So, is anybody else going to talk about the meta-textual implications behind Wolfwood and Millie's romance in Trigun '98 or......