#LBWrite

[lorablackmane]

It's time for ghosts y'all!! I wanted to make this post once I finished a chapter or 2 of my AU's fic, but I've talked about these lil fuckers so much w/ Teal in the past month I figured it might be best to make a post b4 that so ppl aren't confused in the future.

The premise of this AU is after the night after the King is defeated, everyone is celebrating! ...Until odd things start to appear in the House. A giant bloodsplatter in the Death Corridor and a trail of blood leading from it to the King's room. A shattered shelf and knocked over pot missing it's contents in the kitchen. A frozen body near the storage room.

One by one, ghosts created from the breaking points of Siffrin's wish start to appear, and they're here to stay! For better... or for worse.

Below is how each ghost was made, their wishcraft's scent (I put too much thought into this info so I'm adding it), and a bit about them!

(Cw for the ghost's stories below: death, suicide, allergy attack)

The Stoned - Created in Act 1 - Smells like Copper and Sugar

(This one will get a proper ref later bc this doesn't fully capture him)

Despite their looks, The Stoned is the calmest out of all of them, even though their death was one of the most painful. It happened so quickly and also messed up enough that the Wishcraft couldn't fix most of their body after the boulder disappears... so he can't feel pain anymore. He can't really feel much honestly there's... there isn't many nerves to feel with anymore. The additional lack of bones is a detriment to their ability to move, making them have to crawl around and continuously shift so they won't lose their balance until they get items like crutches and a wheelchair to help.

The Stoned doesn't know the horrors of the House and so are innocent in a way even Bonnie isn't. They never even it made it to the second half of the first floor! So a lot of the things the others talk about fly over their head. The others don't leave them out of talks about the House though! ...Not that the Stoned... really speaks - but it's the thought that counts!! They have their buddy to speak for them, anyway.

Just like how Loop's Wishcraft made their body unique, each ghost has their own lil quirk due to the Wishcraft that powers their bodies. The Stoned has the oddest one: due to their lack of most their bones their body is almost completely powered by Wishcraft that is activated by the air he breathes in. Because of this, he can actually almost flatten himself by releasing all the air inside themself, and will stay that way until he breathes back in. He can't move like that, but it does sometimes come in handy - by releasing some instead of all the air they can make themself slightly more compact to get into tight places!

The Silent - Created in Act 2 - Smells like Saltwater Taffy

The Silent is a fearful one, they remember the pain the House offers but cannot feel it. They only truly remember up to Bonnie accidentally pushing them, however they know so much more. Each time Siffrin touched a tear he gave them the memories of that run, but to the Silent it was less like a memory and more like watching a play. Detached from themself... yet the fear is there. They aren't like Stone who only remembers his death, they know the blessing was a curse wrapped in a pretty bow and the thought that what they see is only a fragment of the loops Siffrin went through... it makes them retreat into themself, especially bc they see their existence as unneeded bc well... Siffrin already exists. They don't need another to bother them.

It's much easier to stay put, to let them become one with the House as the tears intended. They don't need to breathe, to eat, or anything really so it's quite easy for them to do so! For them to just... exist. Hiding in plain sight, like the books hidden on shelves of the House written in their mother tongue. So this is where they stay, until one day maybe people can hear them speak once more. They do occasionally move, mostly when they hear that the Housemaiden's need the area they're in, but only when they're certain no one is looking.

When it comes to fight, flight, or freeze they choose freeze every time... which isn't helped by the quirk of their body's Wishcraft. The Silent can freeze anything up to the size of a medium bowl if they hold it for long enough. The Unseen will sometimes use this to pull pranks on people who upset them, stealing their umbrellas and placing them in The Silent's hold. They find this very petty... but they don't like moving bc a Housemaiden might see them and it is funny so they don't stop the two from doing so.

The Unseen(Left) - Created in Act 3 - Smells like Candied Pineapples

The left one is similar in personality to the Stoned as when they were created Siffrin knews that something was wrong, but still had hope that things were okay. They are an odd one: they see their accidental death as nothing in the grand scheme of things considering how many deaths already happened before them. If anything, he sees his death as a vital piece of showing their love to their family oddly enough! His memory is spotty, but the answer to Bonnie's question is forever engraved upon their skin so none of them will ever forget (even if most cannot see them anymore except outta the corner of their eye). There is a great sorrow in them though, after meeting their counterpart and discovering that there was so much pain afterwards - that like them this fact is engraved into their counterpart... but they'll stay with them, and maybe... they can bring some joy back to the right.

They help keep their counterpart's pranks in check, as unlike the right left remembers how fragile people are and doesn't see them as actors or dolls. Most of the pranks they plan are leaving lil letters with terrible puns around the House. Like you go into the bathroom, there's a letter tied to the handle of the sink. You open it and it says something like, "water you doin, handsome?" Stupid stuff like that, that makes them feel like the funnyjokespunperson they were before everything. A way to reclaim what the loops took from them both.

The Lonely - Created in Act 3 - Smells of Sugar and Moldy Cloth

This ghost is the culmination of so, so many fragments Siffrin left in between those walls. For a long time they did not remember anything besides the motions to get to the King, yet they could never defeat him. They couldn't survive his major attack, no matter what they did. It feels like at one point he could though... wasn't there a way? It isn't until the ghost event that they remember what they lost and while it felt absolute euphoria in that moment, after that the loneliness became soul crushing. The hunger for someone, anyone to be with them hurt so much! ...It made them remember why they forgot their family the first time.

The Lonely's quirk unlike most of the others isn't seared on their skin. No, the Lonely's ability is actually only really useful for dealing with The Unseen - anytime one of the others is in danger or about to do something dangerous they sense it. The Vengeful is constantly ringing this mental alarm, but it can't do anything to help due to it constantly moving so they don't even try with them. The Unseen though, it is often seen dragging them by the ears before they do something like unleash a barrel full of marbles in a hallway.

The Vengeful - Created in Act 4 - Smells of Steel, Salt, and Sugar

It is the culmination of the King's cruelty and Siffrin's agony, a beast made of anger, pain, and sorrow in equal measures. It hates the King both bc Siffrin did and bc it sees him at fault for it's creation as it doesn't know of Wishcraft as it was created right on the line between 3 and 4. That is why it tore his right hand off and stole the gauntlet upon it - a punishment for the action that created it and a trophy for it to wear as proof that, even after such a horrid deed, he didn't win. It runs away from the House and it's former family because of this memory - it cannot confront the people it feels it failed even with the knowledge they survived, that it's sin wasn't permanent. In it's eyes it will always exist. It's eye will sometimes gleam with the same shade as the one that appeared when the world was breaking!

The Vengeful is the only ghost no one is completely sure the location of due to it throwing itself out of the first available window after completing it's mission. It mostly stays in forests or caverns where it can easily hide, only going near towns if someone reminds it of the King. Once it has dealt with said person however it views it needs to, mostly by scaring them, it returns to it's current hiding spot. The Vengeful is a lonely one, but it's not ready to be near people for long periods of time. It's afraid that due to how it was created it'll bring bad luck to those it spends too much time with - how couldn't it? It was created from a person trapped in the middle of an hourglass until they drowned in the golden sands and by a man who saw his will as absolute, who caused so much agony. One day, though, it'll realize that isn't true... but it'll be quite a while.

The Unseen(Right) - Created in Act 4 - Smells like Steel and Sugar

This one is the closest in personality to Loop. It mocks even though it has no voice, they play with the people around it to remind themself they're real. Without the left the right Unseen would be much more dangerous as it is so desensitized to death they have forgotten what is actually dangerous and so some of their mischief has to be tempered by the left one to avoid killing those around them. For a very long time they view others, besides left, as merely actors in a similar vein as Loop, only referring to others via titles if it needs to interact with anyone and left doesn't control the writing pen. As time passes this trait slowly disappears, as the days show more changes like rain upon the rooftops or snow in the gardens, things it long forgot.

Together with their counterpart The Unseen are the ones who were left behind through actions seen as small, but were greater than thought. The ones who cannot be seen without drastically changing the views of ones most loved by the person they once were. And so they stay hidden from sight by their own Wishcraft... but that is a lonely way to live they discovered. The two of them alone cannot satiate their need 4 company. And so they do little things that are easily noticed so they can be seen without breaking their rule: walking around with open, stolen umbrellas or pulling little pranks.

Most Housemaiden's don't talk to them, because they never get an answer they assume they don't like talking. This isn't the case though they cannot tell them that... neither can speak. The left's throat is closed up and the right's is... well u can probably guess why theirs wouldn't work even if they had a mouth to speak with. The Lonely though does speak to them often - it has a chalkboard in the room it lives in inside the House for them to write lil questions or answers on.

[digital-chance]

; Last Sentence Tag

ty for the tag @pb-dot!!

Rules: post the last sentence you wrote and tag as many people as there are words in it.

“Perhaps, darling, you shouldn’t be so trusting with your personal space,” The villain murmurs, wickedness flickering in their eyes.

words: 20 (oops)

gently tagging: @inflarescent, @kae-luna, @sam-glade, @pumpkinsplots, @fire-but-ashes-too, @bluberimufim, @fleurty-girl, @delusionisaplace, @elixiosxd, @juwni, @leisoree, @another-white-void, @toribookworm22, @magicicada-lbwrites, @avocado-frog, @mjparkerwriting, @rmgrey-author, @all-write, @karolinarodrigueswrites, @bricky-brikson

[mundanemoongirl]

Tag 9 People You Want To Know Better

Thank you @lostpasswordreturning for tagging me!

Favorite color: Purple

Currently Reading: I just finished Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland and I'm about to start Children of the Alley by Naguib Mahfouz

Last Series: Dr. Stone

Sweet, savory, or spicy? Sweet!

Currently working on: My linguistics homework

I'm soft tagging @fatexweaver @at-thezenith @miles-style @elean0rarose @fleurtygurl @yesireadbooks @dragonedged-if @magicicada-lbwrites @silviathebard

[xxxtosoxxx]

15 Questions for 15 Friends

tagged by: @celestialcrowley

1). Are you named after anyone? Yes, it was done as an appeasement.

2). When was the last time you cried? Today, I have the Big Sad.

3). Do you have kids? No

4). What sports do you play/have you played? I do not play any currently, but I have played basketball, softball, soccer, track and cross country, and skeet shooting.

5). Do you use sarcasm? I don't know the meaning of the word.

6). What is the first thing you notice about people? Their audacity.

7). What's your eye color? Brown.

8). Scary movie or happy ending? I'm a sap, gimme a happy ending.

9). Any talents? I can write and overwork myself.

10). Where were you born? ArkanSASS

11). What are your hobbies? Reading, writing, zoning out, listening to music, brushing up on my tarot, now exercising and walking a lot.

12). Do you have any pets? A puppy who is more princess than anything.

13). How tall are you? 6'

14). Favorite subject in school? English because I could get away with reading and writing more than doing my classwork, which I did before they told me to anyway lol

15). Dream job? Stay at home reclusive writer. I love the pharmacy jobs I have now where I help people behind the scenes and at a mental health hospital, but I'd really like to rarely leave my house. That is my all time favorite dream.

No pressure tags: @vipper73, @rhyaxxyn, @pinxreaperwrites, @carolinedhavernas, @cosmo-lexies, @abbieswriteblr, @magicicada-lbwrites, @nemedian-smut-scholar, @tiredwriterscorner, @melissabreen, @bil-daddy, @lavanderrstarr

[deanwax]

Ten First Lines

I have not played this game before, so cheers for the tag, @pertinax--loculos

No-presh tag 2 @dyrewrites, @bardicbeetle, @enne-uni, @charmija, @garthcelyn and @magicicada-lbwrites

Here's some of the Impressions of Aure first lines that aren't two-word statements lol

Chapter 3

At sunrise, I am awoken by the most ungodly wail I have ever heard in my short life. 

Chapter 8

I chose a night to do it when Landon came to stay again, for it quickly became taken for granted by both Matthias and the rest of the staff that when that man set foot in the manor, I would vanish into thin air.

Chapter 13

I awaken to a single scream; a sharp, shrill shriek that barrels up the staircase and spreads through the stately halls.

Chapter 19

There is a man between my thighs but I am not afraid.

Chapter 29

I chose a metal wastepaper basket because that seems to be the way of doing things for people like us; the way of burning papers.

Chapter 38

With a white-knuckle grip on the banister, I managed to descend the staircase with some semblance of dignity.

Chapter 39

I’d had the answer all along, from the very first day I clambered up the stairs like a beast.

Chapter 49

Having crowned myself king of the invalids, I find myself sitting on the edge of my bed with two acolytes at my feet, so to speak.

Chapter 56

When enough pressure is applied to the dermis, or skin, an effect named blanching can be observed.

Chapter 67

It is the smell of coffee, rather than any sound made, that alerts me to Rigo's presence in the parlour.

[avocado-frog]

WIP files game

Thank you to @littletaxitt for the tag

Ok so instead of doing all the individual chapters like i usually do, all I'm going to do for this one is the actual wips and a couple of other things because I have the tabs open. Basically they're the wattpad stories that i don't post on wattpad and i know i say this a lot but i want to make it clear that's just where my drafts are please-

Rules: Post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, & then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! Tag as many people as you have WIPS.

-----

Forget me not drafts

Dahlia drafts

Rosemary drafts

Backstory timeline

Character timelines

Outlines

Backstories

Ghost AU

Worldbuilding hell

Playlist organizer

Canon timeline

Full timeline. Listen when your chapter names are dates you've got to make sure the timelines match

Flower symbolism stuff

Sage AU

Black rose AU

Sunflower AU

Zinnia AU

Iris AU

Red spider lily AU

Asphodel AU

Marigold AU

Lily of the valley AU

Satisfied AU

Time loop AU because I think it'd be very silly

Nothing happens ever AU

Zombie AU because the last of us has me in a fucking chokehold

Fish in a birdcage AU

Villain Leo because I think that'd be neat :)

Rosemary alt ending

Forget me not alt ending

Dahlia alt everything

Jaxon befriends a rat which is at this point an AU

Behind the scene moments to use as little flashbacks

Our word AU (???)

Gladiolus AU concept

-----

Tags if you want

@hrmkingizzy

@toribookworm22

@junypr-camus

@regalserpent

@steh-lar-uh-nuhs

@magicicada-lbwrites

@leisoree

@elizababie

[scrybe-scott]

Joy List!

RULES: Make a list of all of the things that have made you happy recently! Then, tag as many people as you want that you think may need it to keep the positivity going ✨

Thanks to @thesoftestofpetals for the tag!!! This was one of the joys!!!

My list!

I had a nice cup of coffee this morning!

Getting asks and tags from people! It’s so fun and I really love interacting with you guys.

Getting DMs and stuff geeking out about worldbuilding and our OCs! (Seriously, if you ever want to do this PLEASE I AM BEGGING YOU DO IT)

I bought a bunch of Dragonlance books for like $5-6 a pop! I’m so happy to go back and read the Chronicles and then continue the story.

BALDUR’S GATE 3

I started my annual watch of Lord of the Rings this week, and they make me more comfy than any other movie.

I have a phone interview for a new job tomorrow! I’m excited.

I finally feel inspired to write again! Thank you to everyone here for being so unabashedly passionate about writing and stories.

Gently tagging @writernopal, @captain-kraken, @eccaiia, @fayeiswriting, @on-noon, @halfbit, and @magicicada-lbwrites! And of course, anyone that sees this! Yes, you! Do it!

[digitalsatyr23]

Tag 9 people you want to know better!

Thanks @magicicada-lbwrites for tagging me!

Favorite Color: You know, every time I get asked this it feels like my answer changes, but when I do answer, it's a genuine one. I don't know why my favorite color seems to fluctuate, but I will say I really like black.

Currently Reading: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (you cannot fathom just how annoying book Lex is until you listen to the old audiobook read by William Roberts).

Sweet, savory, or spicy?: I like savory... And I like sweet... And sometimes I like a little spicy with my savory. Sometimes I like all three in combination. I would say that on average, though, I like savory the most, because I really like meat.

Currently working on: Bebop Bayou Tales #2: Red on Black. This is the story that introduces Scarlet into the mix. She's purposefully made unlikable in the beginning but by the end I hope that my readers will root for her. <:

Gently tagging @sketchquill, @xolta, @space-writes, @cheesytrishy, @writing-moth, @acfan120, @gravegrime, @cranberrysoap, @aortic-inkwell. If you're not into this kind of thing or if you've already done one of these recently, it's perfectly fine to ignore this. Hope you all have a good day. c:

[papier-ciseaux]

A Loveless Fairy Tale

This is kind of a personal project of mine! I wasn't sure if I would ever publish it, but I also really want feedback on it. The main idea was to create a fairy tale with an aromantic character as the protagonist, and make it relevant to the story.

So I made up this little tale about love, beauty, and understanding.

Details are left ambiguous since the goal was to write a fairy tale, also known as something easily reinterpreted and transformed while maintaining the core intact. I wrote it in one go about a year ago and I tried to correct some mistakes before putting it out there, tho some may have slipped under the radar.

A warning before you read, there is some arophobic comments.

Long ago, there existed a beautiful place where riches and splendours lined the walls. Many sought it out, looking for fortune, fame, and sometime love, as the place was rumoured to be inhabited by the most beautiful creatures you could lay eyes upon. But despite all its allure, the place was cursed, few returned alive and even fewer sane. For this place was a trap, laid by a deity that was fueled by mankind's adoration of itself. Trapped in luxury, surrounded by splendours and even the shadows of past loves, they willingly stayed in the illusion, feeding the creature and making it's power more potent. With time, the reputation of this place as cursed settled, and instead came warriors seeking to defeat the beast lurking the walls. None succeeded, tempted by what the deity offered them.

One day, a warrior came to seek the deity. They remained unfazed by their illusions and trickery, and finally confronted the entity. They had not come here with the intention to fight it or rob it. But to negotiate, to free its victim and end its reign. The deity was intrigued by this strange person. They had not succumbed yet, but it was only a matter of time as its power was great and it appreciated a challenge. It had corrupted the mind of many already, this one shall be no exception.

It tried appealing to their greed, but the warrior had been a simple labourer, happily satisfied with what few they owned. It tried appealing to their sloth, but they couldn't imagine a day where they wouldn't want to create and make things on their own. it tried appealing to their lust, but they remained unfazed as the entity showed them beautiful men and women aplenty. It was growing impatient. It was beauty incarnate, and no one could not love it. Adore it. But it had a trick even the strongest mind could not resist. Invading their mind, it saw the people they cared about, the people they loved. And it took their form. Before the warrior's eyes, people from their simple life started appearing. Their parents and neighbours, their childhood friends. But the warrior saw through its tricks. For it had rendered them beautiful, perfect, hollow.

It grew frustrated, trying everything in its power to sway them, but they did not falter.

"I AM BEAUTY" it screamed, "and I will make you adore me"

"You are not. You're hollow. You do not understand true beauty" spoke the warrior.

The deity grew angry at this, and it considered trying to kill them and be over with it. But it's ego was great, and it had been hurt. How could somebody not love it? Surely they must be a heartless monster. But it wanted, no it Needed to be Adored by All. and so it talked with the warrior, asking them about what they found beautiful. The warrior explained how they found imperfections beautiful, how the quirks of something rendered it unique. They talked about the beauty of actions, of landscapes, of words, of arts. And so the entity tried to lure them with what it had learned they found beautiful. But it never worked.

The deity started following the warrior, obsessed at the idea of making them love it. The warrior was happy with this, as others were finally freed from its reign. Slowly, it became more agreeable, nicer, focusing on actions and words rather than appearances. It took the form of a plain person instead of a magnificent one. It began noticing imperfections and appreciating them instead of trying to get rid of them. It was learning how to love, and it was starting to fall in love with the warrior. They had spent months together, and the deity had fallen completely for them. It had become beautiful in a true way, and people started adoring it for what it was. It did not need traps and illusions to get what it wanted. But one thing still resisted its beauty. The warrior did not desire it. It tried everything to make them love it, but they never would admit to it, and it never felt that they loved it the way others did. It grew frustrated again, being loved by all but the one it loved.

"I am beautiful now"

"You are"

"Then why don't you love me?"

"I do not love anyone, not my parents, not my neighbours, not my friends, and not even you."

The entity got scared. It had been right.

"You must be a heartless monster, not loving anyone like you do."

"I do not love people, but I find them beautiful. I enjoy their company and their presence, their impact on the world and how they make it even more beautiful by existing."

"Then you do love them"

"I do not. I appreciate them in my own way. Many do not understand how, I don't expect you to"

"I want you to appreciate me even if I don't understand you"

"I already do"

And so the deity started noticing how they had been treating it, the gestures, the gifts and the time they had spent together, and it saw that they truly did appreciate it, in this special way that they refused to call love. And it was happy.

They lived happily ever after, spreading kindness and beauty wherever they went.

The end! For now.

[litebritewrite-blog]

The Future of The Things We Left Behind. Pt 1

>pwd 

>> home/litebritewrite/SPN/FANFIC/

>cd ..

>mkdir FAN_ART

>>cd FAN_ART/

++++++++++++++++++++++++

While my New Year’s Resolution was to do more creative writing, until the 300th episode, I’m going to take a brief hiatus from the fanfic. Instead, I’ll  be working on a SPN fan art project. {hence the title... I didn’t expect this blog to become intertwined with my graphic art} 

The other night I was rewatching some SPN and I was trying to differentiate between Cas’ jacket in season 4 and season 13 (post “The Empty”). It occurred to me that it’d be fun to make a collage of his iconic outfits through the seasons. 

Originally, I thought about doing something of an abstract-variety. But there are enough subtle differences among his coats/outfits, I’ve decided to take a more ‘comic-illustrative’ approach. 

My goal is to finish this in time for the 300th episode... but unsure that will happen, but going to give it a shot! 

(Having pretty recently come out of a bit of a depression-slump, I’m jazzed to be excited about things again, so here we are... pursuing a very random project. )

The two completed squares will probably get some additional edits. 

I’ve counted 12 (main/primary) wardrobe costumes for Cas. 

Hopefully I haven’t forgotten any! 

Much Love and kindness,

LBwrite

[lorablackmane]

Incident 2

At around 22:51, the sound of something coming down the steps to the second floor were noticed by two Housemaidens heading back to their rooms. The two upon seeing the ghost fled to find Euphrasie. Despite their screams and the screams of those that stumbled across the bloodstain in the Death Corridor, the entity continued on their path unbothered. Whether this is because it didn't notice the sound or they were ignoring it we're unsure of as they haven't answered any questions. They eventually arrived to the Infirmary alongside their 'buddy.' They are completely focused on the health of this buddy, who's closed fractures, while almost the same in terms of body area, are luckily not on the same scale of the entity's many compound and comminuted fracture which are... concerning. I am unsure how they're moving frankly. They're currently refusing to listen to anyone who tries to move them. We're waiting for the other to wake up, as they might be able to answer our questions.

Everyone say welcome to The Stoned! Bc of their nature their 1st art piece is below the read more so it doesn't catch someone by surprise. I hope u enjoy!

(cw: broken bones (some sticking out), blood)

[lorablackmane]

A Step into the Final Path

Listen, I think I speak for all of us when I say I wish we could tell Ben the truth. That being said (pulls out a mallet-). Anyway enjoy and don't read this if u haven't gotten past the fishing minigame!

Consciousness came to Cursor slowly alongside wave upon wave of pain. They wanted to go back to sleep, ignore it. Stay laying wherever they were despite how rough it was... 

Wait... where were they? That felt important, but why- 

Oh. Oh... that's right, the lake! 

Nelson!! 

Cursor jumped up, looking around for their companion. However... he was nowhere to be found. And somehow they were no longer in the depths of the lake: they were back at Nelson's home, on his pier. There wasn't any boats nearby - which meant Skye wasn't here, a small blessing. 

...But then, how did they get here? Was he okay? He must be - they couldn't have pulled themselves onto the pier, and those fish were vicious. Maybe he pulled them up and went inside his home to grab something that he could use to defend them? 

If he did, then... then Cursor would help him! They could fight too, and he'd rescued them: it was up to them to repay the favor. 

Their mind made up, they cautiously crept towards the front door- 

Only to immediately feel their heartbeat skyrocket once more. 

The house was destroyed, and after checking both the living room and bedroom the only traces of the frog were bloody bandages heading towards the front door. The glass that'd once been centralized to the cabinet was now littering the entire floor... along with something else? Cursor couldn't make it out, so they moved closer and pushed some of the glass off of it. 

It was a photo of Ben, Nelson, and... someone else - maybe Skye? Cursor couldn't tell as a part of it was missing. Feeling compelled to pick it up, they hid it by tucking it next to the lining of their thumb. 

Nelson probably wouldn't want to return here, especially since Skye knew this place. Cursor would keep this safe until they met up again. 

Family was important to him after all. 

After exploring the upper room again and grabbing the lantern, they took one last glance around before setting out into the forest. They had to find their friend. 

♧--♧ 

Tears obscured Ben's vision, making the forest blurry as he tried to navigate home. He knew it'd be best to pause and take a breath, let his emotions center themselves so he wouldn't be distracted but - but - 

He'd always been terrible at that, it - it was dad who would help him. And! And now he was gone, Ben would never see him again-!! 

"Aah!" 

A tree root he hadn't seen tripped the young frog. 

The foliage didn't stop him as he rolled down, down, down and further into the forest. The branches kept trying to tear at his skin which left burning, itchy lines across his limbs. Leaves found their way into his hair and holes the branches left some even finding their way into the scratches to make them worse. It felt like it'd never end... but eventually he stopped. With a yelp he landed on his face, which wasn't fun. It was better than if he kept rolling though, he guessed- 

Krkrtch 

Ben tensed, turning towards the tall grass near him. There... was there something there? 

Krkrtchkrctk! 

There was and - and it was getting closer. Ben stumbled to his feet, attempting to make himself bigger despite how scared he felt and the pain jolting through his body due to the fabric of his clothes rubbing against his scratches. He remembered his dad said some creatures in the forest wouldn't hurt you if they thought you were the scarier predator. 

Hopefully this was one of them. 

The brush parted... 

And the white glove popped out. 

Oh, well now he felt so stupid.

Getting all worked up because of a glove. He glared at them though - just because he fell on his head didn't mean he forgot they didn't do anything to help dad. "What do you want?!" 

The glove paused, then turned palms up towards him. Their thumb kept what was in their palm trapped, but Ben couldn't tell what it was besides being made out of paper. 

He didn't want whatever it was though. He wasn't going to let them manipulate him again. He shoved them away, only for them to push against his arm again. His blood boiled and he growled out, "I don't want-!" 

His voice left him as he made out the figures in the photo. 

It was... it was the photo Skye took when they first met her. A chunk of it was missing, the remnants stained somewhat red... but it was still that once treasured memory. With shaky hands he took it from the gloves grip. "W-where... where did you get this?" 

They started making symbols with their hands... but Ben had never seen them before. He thought he recognized an 'o,' but it could've been an 'a.' He spoke, "I'm... I don't know what you're trying to say." 

Grabbing a stick, the glove started pushing it into the ground. The stick got a 'y' down before it broke with a heavy snap!

They weren't disheartened though, instead grabbing a new stick to try again. After a few moments, there were words engraved in the forest floor. Your home. Skye lied to us. 

His eyes widened for a second... then Ben scoffed. "So what if she lied to your group of Handy Pals? She killed him and you-!" 

They shook themselves rapidly, distracting him from what he was about to say, and continued. Not Handy Pals. Your dad & I. She said she'd let you go if I lived. 

She didn't. She hurt us. 

O-oh. 

The dam was starting to crack. He wouldn't let it though - he couldn't trust them. With a shaking breath Ben heard himself speak, "You... you really tried to help him? How - I don't- how am I supposed to believe you?! What if you're lying just like her?!" 

They jumped back with the same force they would've flown if Ben had slapped the glove away. He felt bad for a second, but it faded quickly. He knew better than to trust someone to have his best interests at heart now. Why wouldn't this glove lie if it meant they could use him for something like they did at the house?! 

They seemed to think about it at least. Let me prove it then, by helping you. 

Ben sniffled... then got up, "Alright then, prove it. Help me get home, glove." 

It was more forceful than was allowed in polite conversation, but the glove did as they were told. They led him across the river, zipping in front then returning once the glove had made sure there was nothing hunting on the path. The first time they'd done it he thought they were leaving him. By the 3rd time he'd been painfully reminded of how his dad would sometimes do hunts with Ben, so he shoved it out of his mind and paid the little piece of velvet as little attention as he could. He only started focusing on it again when they were almost to his home since the glove finally did something strange. 

It paused before the bend... then motioned for him to cover his eyes. 

He wasn't sure why, but he did as they asked and covered his eyes. Maybe he thought they'd finally show their true colors and leave him and he'd resigned himself to that fate. Or they'd give Skye some signal and she'd stab him in the back, ending his pain, as little as that made sense. Maybe.. maybe a part of him did believe they had his best interests at heart, and trusted them that whatever was on the other side of the turn was something he'd regret seeing. 

Whatever the reason was subconsciously, he hadn't expected the glove to grab the hand that wasn't covering his eyes. Once it had his hand they started leading him along the last leg of the journey to his home. It.. it felt surprisingly good to trust them like this.

Like they had in Sky- in her music room. The feeling was probably fleeting... but Ben found himself keeping his hand over his eyes longer than he needed to keep the feeling a little bit longer. It was only after he felt the first step against his knee did he finally remove his hand.

Though he knew if the glove hadn't brought him here he would have never trusted them; Ben found himself wishing they didn't come. 

The house was a mess. 

Bandages with bloodstains and glass shards littered the floor, and the windows had hastily thrown up boards covering them. The once happy home, where he'd learned how to clean a fish and had cooked stew with his dad's watchful eyes over his shoulder... it was gone. The house he entered was lifeless, more like a carcass. He couldn't bring himself to go in, instead standing in the broken doorway and wishing this was all a dream.

...It wasn't of course.

At some point the glove had left. He wasn't sure what they were doing, too distracted by his own anguish, but he heard the sound of metal hitting dirt over and over. Eventually they came back and he let them pull him outside. He wasn't sure where they were going until he noticed the pile of dirt next to where the lake met the edge of the forest clearing their home was built on.

He didn't understand why it was there... until he saw his father's hat and a stone sitting upon the pile. 

A grave. 

They'd made his father a grave next to the water he loved so dearly.

Like an overwhelmed dam, this little action finally made Ben truly break.

With a wail the boy fell to his knees, grabbing the dirty cap and holding it with the last photo of his shattered family. His cries echoed through the forest, a sorrowful melody whose strength was so great not even the most monstrous creatures within go near. He cried, and everything fell around him - even his companion's attempts to comfort him as he wept. 

The moon watched over the two until it couldn't anymore, and with it, his cries slowly petered off. His companion continued to rub his back and remove leaves they found in an attempt to bring him even a single modicum of reassurance.

"...There's nothing for me here, is there?" 

They paused their comforting ministrations for a second. They stayed like that for a while, Ben found himself wishing they were as easy to read as- 

No. 

His grip tightened.

No he wouldn't think about him. His glove friend tapped his shoulder, then pointed down to the ground where something was written. ...He hadn't even seen them write, which was a bit worrying since it was right next to his feet. But he'd deal with that later. One problem at a time: wasn't that what the hunter believed in?

He knelt down to read the message a bit easier in the low moonlight. What about your other family members? 

"...I don't know where they are." He had been so little when they'd last met. Hi... his father said he was thinking of bringing Ben to visit in the summer, so he'd know where they were in case something happened. 

He wished his father hadn't put off the trip now. The glove (it seemed mean to just call them that, after all they'd done for him, maybe Lil Buddy would work?) seemed to think about this for a moment. They rubbed their thumb against their palm before jumping up and grabbing their stick again. You can join me! : D 

"W... would your family really be okay with that?" 

Lil Buddy stopped... then wiped across the ground. They slowly wrote out one simple sentence with their stick. 

No family. 

...Oh. 

Now that Ben thought about it, he'd never seen a Handy Pal like this one, had he? All the ones Skye had near her were garden gloves like the pair she wore. 

...Did she kill their family like she killed the one with a silver ring? Did she find this one afterwards on it's own, knowing they were the last member of their family, and decide to take it in? 

It must've really hurt how she betrayed them then... just as she had with him. 

His grip on the photo and the hat tightened, remembering the gentleness of his Lil Buddy. He'd been so mean to them; yet they stayed with him. They brought him this last remnant of his father and made sure he didn't have to see what Skye did to him. They'd made sure his dad had a proper grave. Lil Buddy made sure he was okay no matter how scary things were. 

Yet, they had no one to do the same for them. They... they were both alone here. "Then... then let's be our own family!" 

He jumped up, and headed towards his room. It probably scared Lil Buddy, but he was too focused on his mission. 

There wasn't much left for him here, but there was something he needed to do before they left. And it involved an old gift. 

The lens was cracked, but luckily he had a handful of spares his... his father had given him for his birthday a few months ago. With practiced ease he switched them out. Then Ben placed the strap connected to the camera around his neck as the glove entered the room. "Hey, Lil Buddy, can you stand there for a second?"

They jumped up, then settled against the ladder. His hands were shaky, the reminder of her still heavy in the air... but he had to do this. 

Click! 

The flash was blinding, so bright it even seemed to mess up Lil Buddy despite not having eyes! He almost lost the picture, though luckily they recovered faster than he did and caught it. 

"Thanks Lil Buddy." With the final component, Ben got to work. Shaking the film, he grabbed some tape from his bag. The photo was a bit blurry, and the lighting was rough; but it was perfect in his eyes. Now that he had everything else, there was just one more piece he needed. Bringing out the photo Lil Buddy gave him he set it on his dresser. 

He moved the other photo until Lil Buddy was where Sk... where she had been originally. Once satisfied, he taped them together and held the finished product between his fingers. 

It was messy, and a bit crumpled, but... it was their family now. 

"Okay, let's go Lil' Buddy." 

[lorablackmane]

Homebound AU

Hi there, welcome to my silly lil Welcome Home AU! It's a pretty simple little au, but it's one I've had a lot of fun with.

Essentially the idea is: what if Home & Wally were actually the same character? After another neighbor moves out of Home it gets the brilliant idea to make a neighbor to be it's resident. Something as we know from Frankenstein is a pro gamer move with no consequences!

...I'm lying of course it had consequences and those were it accidentally trapped itself in the body it made from the rug. Eventually they figure out how to switch between the two but it takes a moment bc the bodies are fundamentally different. I made a lil edit below the read more of em (the pic was bigger than I realized)!

Home!Wally fun facts:

Home!Wally's pronouns are he/they/it

This Wally didn't originally have anything on it's shoes - he saw how Barnaby's paws would leave lil hearts as he walked and rlly liked that so one night he added the apples so he'd leave his favorite thing (besides the neighbors of course!) everywhere it went

This Wally loves apples not only bc they were some of the 1st things he ever got from the neighbors, but they also come in a lot of the colors it does. A lot of the books he's bought from Howdy are about orchards or different apple types

His ribbon is actually originally part of the rug it made this body out of, he added the strings of beads later with each color representing one of it's neighbors.

All the colors besides his skin tone comes color picked from Home, the skin tone was taken from the main Wally drawing on the website

Wally often talks to himself, a trait from when it'd spend months without anyone staying with it

While they stay in the Wally body often, if they aren't feeling up to interacting or just want a quiet day they'll stay in it's Home form

They love music because it makes them think of their neighbors! A lot of the records in their living room were ones left behind by the others, and they'll play them and sing along while making something for whatever neighbor left that record behind.

Home!Wally sometimes uses mobility aids like canes, especially near the start of having their Wally body since moving was hard for him. 

Despite their flower accessories Wally actually has pretty bad hay fever. It was a common joke that Barnaby's fake water gun flowers could even cause his hay fever to act up 

They have a pretty large catalog of potpourri recipes in their head. No it absolutely doesn't help their hay fever - especially when they add things like cinnamon. Yes they'll still make them in spite of this fact because they smell nice!

They like reading books in both forms! Sometimes they get worried about how little they know about things, but luckily the Bodega has a lot of books for sale. As home they push the pages with their drapes

They're not very good with art, but they try their best. He instead opens episodes with books connected to whoever's teaching the lesson they're learning (ex. a book about Shakespeare when he'll be going to Sally or a book about beetles or another insect when visiting Frank). Each friend has their own shelf of books!

That's all I have for now! I do have a fanfic written for it, but I need to finish editing it so it'll go up tonight. Thank ya for reading: have a boi.

Special thanks to @kindestegg for drawing this silly lil version of my boi!

Here's the edit because I didn't realize how big it was before making this post:

[scrybe-scott]

9 Lines 9 People

Thanks for the tag @mayivytalksperhaps!

Rules are that you share 9 lines from your WIP and then tag 9 people.

These are from my latest session of writing The Silver Circle! It was mostly retooling chapter 1, but there’s a few later bits in here, and hey, progress is progress!

The Ular shifted. Something was wrong. "Funny, isn't it?" The man in black smiled, revealing a curved blade at his hip. "We were thinking the same thing." "Listen here, you bastards! Anyone comes near my brother, I'll kick your teeth in!" Bran fell to his knees. He felt the screams clawing at his brain, raking the insides like a lion tears its prey apart. It did not want to be taken. "NO!" The wizard's scream rang through empty halls, devoid of anything and anyone that might have heard him. "If by 'off on the wrong foot', you mean 'our only lead is possessed by a lich king, and it's all your fault', then yeah, I guess we got off on the wrong foot." Ashe winced. Whatever this poor sap had done to deserve this, it must have been horrible. “You will not have him.” “And what use is the word of a Bright Prince where the light no longer shines?”

Gently tagging @captain-kraken @akindofmagictoo @magicicada-lbwrites @thesoftestofpetals @writernopal @scribe-cas @halfbit @rickie-the-storyteller @rhikasa

[avocado-frog]

Meme monday but it's tuesday and like a month later

tagged a thousand years ago by @the-stray-storyteller hi

If you look up meme generator the first link is what i used. also pinterest screenshots

Leo:

Tagging no pressure + open tag: @leisoree @breath-of-eternity @blind-the-winds @magicicada-lbwrites @words-after-midnight

[scrybe-scott]

Get to Know 9 People Game!

Aaaaaa thank you for the tag @thesoftestofpetals !!! This is so cute!

Favorite Color - Aqua? Like whatever my profile currently is

Currently Reading - Dragonlance, The Dresden Files, and the Kirby/Lee Fantastic Four stuff. Also listening to Andy Serkis reading Lord of the Rings on my walks to work. That’s ADHD in practice right there.

Last Series - Mythica! They’re a super cute indie fantasy series that my best friend in college introduced me to. If you can get past the appearance of Kevin Sorbo, they’re pure campy fun!

Sweet, Savory, or Spicy - I really do love them all but gun to my head I’ll go with sweet

Currently Working On - Writing The Silver Circle, grad school applications, and I have a job interview on Monday for a really cool new position! Lots of very exciting things.

Lovingly lobbing a tag the way of @captain-kraken @writernopal @magicicada-lbwrites @squarebracket-trick @akindofmagictoo @on-noon @halfbit @rickie-the-storyteller and @sithbelle