#Monster by Skillet starts playing

[bram-stoners]

can we bring back the whole reverse falls au and also the monster falls au

[busiest-bee]

Gotta stop having cravings man

[oldfnaf]

“.I am MoNsTeR-FNAF2.” by Alo-Inky on DeviantArt

[kaydenghostcomics]

Overwatch but every time you nanoboost someone a song fitting that character plays

[no-road-home]

Stewpot: Tales from a Fantasy Tavern on Backerkit now!

Stewpot: Tales from a Fantasy Tavern is a GMless one-to-three shot TTRPG based on games like MF0: Firebrands and The Sundered Land. It's a collection of 20 mini-games where former adventurers open a tavern together and reintegrate into society after a life on the road.

What happens after the adventure? What does daily life in a fantasy world look like? Stewpot draws inspiration from stories like Dungeon Meshi, Redwall, Frieren, and Bartender, as well as various aspects of D&D. It's a great way to wrap up a long-running fantasy TTRPG campaign.

Start a garden, cook monsters, run a festival booth, reforge old weapons, flirt with mysterious strangers, and more in a new version of the game with tons of art and new storybook-style layout!

(more info and full description of the mini-games in the read more!)

The structure of the game is based on characters having an Adventurer Job, with Adventurer Experiences that represent their abilities and powers, and a Town Job with Town Experiences. You can make new characters just for the game, or bring in old characters and recreate them with the existing Experiences or write your own.

As you play the game, you'll cross off Adventurer Experiences as you let go of them or let them fade into the background, and gain new Town Experiences that take their place. Along the way you'll upgrade your Tavern and give each other Keepsakes!

Games from the old Itch.io PDF version (0.41):

The First Step: Before you decided to put down roots here, before you found this group of friends, what were you doing? What was the first thing you learned about how to live in town?

NPC Sidequest: Your adventuring days may be over, but there are plenty of people in town that could use your help.

Wear and Tear: There’s always something to fix, or clean, or pay off.

Market Day: You never would have guessed how many things you need just to keep a tavern running. 

Homegrown: There’s something special about using ingredients grown nearby. Why not give growing your own a try?

Sliced: Sometimes supply routes get disrupted. Or maybe you just want to stand out from the rest of the taverns. Whatever the reason, you’re playing this game because you want or need to do one thing: cook with monster parts.

Romancing a Stranger: Someone in the tavern makes eye contact with you, and their gaze lingers a little longer than you’d expect. Your co-workers urge you on, and make every excuse they can to send you over to talk to the lovely Stranger.

Off the Clock: Where do you go after the tables are wiped down? Who’s heard every story you have about the worst people who have walked in?

A Friendly Tavern Brawl: Every tavern has its rowdy patrons. You know they’re good at heart, but sometimes when the ale is flowing and spirits are high, things get a little out of hand. How do you handle the situation?

Festival Day: Your town has a few festival days a year, and they’re some of your busiest. How do you prepare? How do you handle the influx of people?

A Bard's Tale: During your time as an adventurer, you accomplished many daring deeds. In fact, some of those deeds are retold to this day by travelling bards.

A Glass of the Gods: Sometimes a troubled adventurer will come in, looking for answers, and letting them drink themselves into oblivion is the wrong answer. It's up to you  to  mix the perfect drink, something perfect for the situation that can push the adventurer to look inside and find the answer on their own.

A Distinguished Guest: Someone important is in town, and they’re already almost here. The tavern has to be at its best for this guest. After all, they might leave a generous tip.

In the Rhythm of Things: Time passes. Rough edges are sanded down. Before you know it, life in town has become like breathing. You gather in your favorite part of the tavern and wonder where the time has gone.

New games for this crowdfunding campaign:

Shields and Skillets: Enchantments are volatile things, especially when they sit unused for long periods of time. You have to let go of your old equipment before it’s too late.

Shelter from the Storm: Early one morning, you feel it. A familiar ache in your bones. Something is coming.

A Funeral: As an adventurer, you said farewell many times. Sometimes it was only temporary. Most of the time, it wasn't. 

Retracing: You've left town for something: an errand, a vacation, an old favor. Suddenly, you recognize the route you're traveling. You've been this way before, during your adventuring days.

A Fleeting Memory: Something about the way the fire flickers lingers in your mind. The smell of hay and clover brings a tear to your eye. A fading memory resurfaces.

A Familiar Face: An old friend you haven't seen in a while has stopped by. Why not show them around the town and the tavern?

[zombfearer]

opening rift for monster by skillet starts playing

[dawnthefox24]

*Dev is looking at Peri and Irep but noticed that Peri is listening to music with his headphones helping him with his Homework* Dev:*looks at Irep* Irep do you know what kind of music he's listening to? Irep:*shurgs* No, also fractions. Do you know the fractions? Dev: Augh! No I don't pay attention in class, besides math is boring. Irep: *rolls his eyes but looked over at Peri before looking back at Dev*Alright I'll make a deal with you, we'll pause for now and since whatever Peri is listening to we can make fun of it okay. Dev: Oh God thank you! Peri:*looks over at them* Oh were taking a break? *Without warning Irep snatches the headphone before he plays the music out loud for them to hear* Irep: Sorry Cotton Puff we were curious and- Peri:*covers his face embarrassed as Monster by skillet is playing on full blast* Dev:*looks at Peri * Wow... Peri:*snatches his headphones back as he pauses the music* Oh haha, so funny and- Dev: YOU LISTEN TO ROCK MUSIC!? Peri: Y-Yes? Dev: I thought you were more of a...Well classical listener... Irep: How come I never knew this!? Peri: You would have made of me! Irep:*gasp and tries to fight off a smile* I-I reject that idea. Peri: *glares at him*Your grinning you prick! Dev: Shush Irep! Peri! Peri! How many bands do you listen to! Peri:*rubs the back of his neck* God well..I'm a Three Days Grace enjoyer. Dev: wow all these old bands... Peri: it was the 2000's Dev! Dev: I'm not saying that it's bad! I-I...*grumbles a bit* Peri & Irep:*now curious* What was that? Dev:*gets embarrassed* I-I never mind! Peri: No,no do tell! Irep: Yes please do tell Devin! Dev: *groans* I've listen to the late 2000's rock bands! Because I like it and Hazel introduced me to the Starset...And I told her I don't listen to that kind of music! But I lied! There a good band! Peri: Dev I love Starset! Irep: I must say you two have good taste and again Cotton Puff how dare you keep this wonderful information from me! Peri:*rolls his eyes* Okay enough about my music taste or whatever, we must continue work on the fractions! Irep & Dev: AUGH!! Peri:*sighs softly before getting an idea* Okay how about this, we do the fractions and then we can go to a concert to see Starset. Dev:... Irep: Really Peri...Like that's- Dev: FRACTIONS COME ON GUYS STOP BICKERING OR WHATEVER I NEED HELP WITH MY HOMEWORK!! Peri:*looks over at Irep and smirks* Irep:*looks at him and rolls his eyes before grinning* Such devilish work, alright Dev what's 1/3 + 1/5? Dev: *starts to show his work* 8/15! Peri: *rolls his eyes* Sigh...He did pay attention...

[wildissylupus]

Cassidy hates Monster by Skillet specifically because they literally played nothing but that during Blackwatch missions. It even got to the point where Moira has a distain for it. Doesn't match Cassidy's though, whenever he hears it he looks like he will murder whoever decided to play it (usually Genji cause it's still in his playlists).

On one mission he even started crying because they Reyes and Genji had played it 15 times, saying along things along the lines of "release me from this hell".

[averseunhinged]

it's finishing things time and oh yes. things will be finished. this week, it's the augustine au that's been languishing, because it's at the brackets and pronouns part of the process.

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“Gareth,” she exclaimed congenially, like they were old friends who hadn't seen each other in a long time, not someone who'd attacked her while she’d slaughtered everyone with him. “Gare. Gary. Gaz. Gazzy. Gazzer.” She laughed, bright and effervescent, and tilted to the side, clapped her hands together and brought them up to her chin. “Y'all have such fun nicknames. Just thinking about them gives me the giggles.”

Gareth showed his appreciation for her affability with a sudden flurry of struggling. The man holding him easily snapped Gareth's arm up and squeezed until he cried out, crushing his wrist. The long, slim knife he'd produced fell, useless, to the ground with a muted clang.

"Oh," the woman simpered. "That looks bad. So sorry about that. We usually try to make things quick, but you know how it is. Gotta keep someone around for a little chat. So many questions, so little time, and we're just dying to know the answers."

The woman paused and waited until the vampire holding Gareth said, "I don't think he appreciates puns, gorgeous."

"Aw!" she pouted. "That's no fun. Does Augustine remove your sense of humor when they hire you? A little brainwashing to go along with their other experiments?"

"You'd know all about our experiments, wouldn't you, Angel?" Gareth's voice was as vicious as it was hoarse and pained. His accent was faint, but recognizably Irish.

It was a poor attempt to antagonize her and only made her laugh, delighted. "Oh, you do know who I am! Yay! That's such a time-saver, you have no idea. So convenient when people already have some idea of what's about to happen to them.”

He spat in her face, but she dodged several feet to the side with supernatural reflexes, did a little spin, and retraced her path in a gleeful samba step, arms snaking in practiced ballroom precision.

“Nuh-uh, Gareth,” she sing-songed. “Bad boy. We know all your naughty, little tricks. Tell me, have you starting having stomach problems yet? A little gastric upset? We've noticed you buy a lot of Tums, so I'm going to go out on a limb and say you are. But it's not so bad yet. Right? Just a little discomfort and acid reflux.” She tittered again when he shook his head in denial. "There's so much vervain in your system; it's impressive you can eat anything at all. That takes fortitude. I admire that." She leaned in very close to him. "Sure, your spit'll make my skin sizzle like bacon in a cast iron skillet, but have you ever stopped to wonder what they've done to the herb they're pumping you full of?"

He was silent for a moment, the music's dance beat thumping with the steady, even breathing of the person holding the camera. “I don't listen to lying demons.”

She leaned back again and sighed. Shook her is manufactured disappointment. “Funny story. I'm the worst liar. Obfuscation, distraction, playing a character? That, I can do. But direct untruths? No way. I get so nervous and tongue-tied!”

“It's true,” the vampire holding Gareth confirmed. “You can always see the moment when she wants to lie, but can't quite figure out how. It's adorable. Makes a face like a disgruntled kitten.”

He let go of Gareth's injured shoulder and reached forward, his pointer outstretched.

“I will break that finger, if you use it to boop my nose,” she snarled. The giggly, ditzy sorority girl she’d been up until then was gone entirely.

“Someday, gorgeous. I'll get you to loosen up someday.”

“And maybe someday, you won't have brain matter caked in your nails, but I’m not holding my breath.”

“See?” he said to Gareth and poked him in the cheek instead. “Look at that face. Adorable.”

“I don't think Gareth agrees with you, do you, Gareth? No, Gareth thinks I'm a big, scary monster," she said and wiggled clawed fingers at him. "Your fanatical Dr. Mengeles didn't make me. Do you really think that's the only reason I'd give a damn about all of this? No, don't answer that. Of course you do." She stilled for a moment. In the background of the audio was a faint, but growing siren. Her voice was hard and hateful when she spoke again. "Sadly, we're out of time."

The man went to work then, letting go of the human's useless, shattered wrist and wrapping his arm under Gareth's shoulder, around his chest. The other arm was banded around his waist in an intimate hold. He leaned his head against the trapped man's temple and cooed like he would to a lover who had pleased him. "Brace yourself, darling. This is going to hurt."

[smurphyse]

Somebody to Love | Eddie Munson

Smurph's Masterlist | Zero to Hero Masterlist

Warnings: dream walking, bed sharing, mentions of past abuse, so many 80s song lyrics

Summary: You and Eddie make up after your fight. Later, he convinces you to share the bed with him, leading to a revelation

Eddie struggles to get anything done with this damned cane. The pain is unlike anything he's ever felt, and Zero still won't tell him where her grow patch is, so not even weed is going to help him. It’s gotten worse since she stomped off to the woods, and after finding out she was controlling it for him, he was hoping she'd come back sooner than later.

He felt bad for upsetting her earlier, though he still wasn’t sure what he did. Screech refuses to talk to him any more, so here he is stumbling around the kitchen trying to make her something to eat. The lights still haven't turned back on, but luckily he still has his lighter and the gas stove.

She's been gone for hours, but for some reason Clem has decided to keep him company. Or maybe she was keeping an eye on him, he wasn't entirely sure. 

Eddie found some of the same ingredients she'd been using for breakfast in the fridge, so he decided to save them since the power still wasn't on. Igniting the gas, he lit the flame and started cooking potatoes and peppers with some olive oil and spices he hoped would taste good together. 

Since Eddie lived mostly on Honey Combs and Spaghettios, he didn't know anything about cooking. Hopefully this was at least palatable or Zero would take some pity on him. 

Clem's tail thumps on the floor as he pushes the food around on the skillet. Eddie makes a face at her, "So, do you talk or nah?"

More tail wagging. No reply. 

"Am I even making this right?" 

She shakes her head this time. It's… weird, talking to this thing that looks so much like the monsters that ate his insides. After a bit of her following him around, Eddie was getting used to this shadow. She was even kinda cute, even though sitting her head came up to his shoulders. 

"Will she at least appreciate the effort?"

Now she nods. Eddie chuckles a bit, "Thanks, Clem. That makes me feel better."

The fairy lights suddenly come to life and the radio starts to play. Clem lets out a happy yelp just before the door opens and Zero walks through. Scratches litter her legs and arms, stray branches stuck in her messy ponytail. She looks exhausted.

"Oh my god," she groans, pinching her nose tightly between her fingers. "What is that smell?"

Eddie sheepishly picks up the pan and shakes it, "I was making dinner."

Zero scoffs and pads over to him. The pan jerks out of his hand and into hers. With a frown, she inspects it, then angles it toward Clem. "Would you eat this?"

Clem shakes her head, so Zero makes her way to the trash can and dumps his badly made food inside. 

“So, where’d you go?” Eddie asks, his hands buzzing with anxiety. 

“I was in a tree.”

Huh. Okay, then. "Explains the sticks in your hair." This weird girl gets weirder every day.

"I, uh, I thought I'd try to make what you did for breakfast this morning. I thought you'd be hungry when you came back."

Zero set the pan in the sink before leaning on her hip and cocking her brow at him, "Why didn't you just heat up what I made?"

"Oh, I ate that." Eddie stuffs his hands in his pockets and shrugs, "I'm sorry. I was starving and I didn't know when you were coming back."

"Did you throw it up?"

Now it was Eddie's turn to frown, "Uhm, no?"

"Good," Zero decides. Her gaze flicks down to his belly. "It means you're healing. That's good."

She trails off, biting her lip. Eddie squints as she tugs at the sleeves of her shirt. The lights flicker a bit as she frowns, but soon enough she steps forward, her fingertips reaching out to brush against his stomach. 

"Can I?"

Eddie nods, "Yeah, go ahead."

Zero leads him by his shirt to one of the armchairs she has set up in front of the fireplace, her free hand waving to produce a flame inside. She leans it back so his belly stretches for her inspection, then pushes up his shirt and Clem immediately bounds over to put her head in his lap. Her fingers are warm, making his stomach quiver with her light touch. Rough calloused fingertips graze the angry looking stitches and scars, but the pain eases as they pass.

"How am I lookin', doc?" Eddie asks nervously. He's starting to sweat from the tension in his shoulders, but he likes the feel of Zero's hands on him. It's comforting. She feels safe. 

"Like you're healing," she murmurs, but it has an edge to it, like she's not telling him everything. 

"You don't sound so sure."

Zero looks up at him with wide eyes, but quickly glances back down at his stitches. They're jagged and long, hurriedly put together as she pieced his body back into place. She smooths her palm until it's flat across him. 

"This is going to take time…" she says slowly, like she's scared of his reaction. "Longer than I think you want it to."

Eddie's heart drops, and he sits up on his elbows to watch her closely. "How long?"

"Months," she whispers. Her voice is wracked with pain. "There's a lot of damage. I'm doing what I can to manage your pain, but honestly if I wasn't here I think you'd die from the shock."

His lips part as his breath begins to pick up. It's like he's trying to breathe through a straw suddenly, his vision tunneling into a pinpoint until he can barely see. 

Warmth floods his cheeks, and when Eddie manages to blink he's staring into Zero's dark syrupy eyes. 

"But my friends…" he whispers tearfully, "my uncle Wayne. They think I’m dead. I can’t let them forget me."

"I'm sorry. The human body wasn't meant to survive things like this."

"Why can't you just come with me?" Eddie asks sharply, a strange anger taking over him. "Why won't you leave here?"

“You ask too many questions, Eddie,” Zero sighs. The bags under her eyes seem to darken with a weight he can’t see. “It frustrates me.”

Zero's hands fall from his face, and Eddie wishes he was brave enough to pull them back. She takes a deep breath, "I want to tell you something."

"What is it?"

Zero sighs and points to his forehead, "I can't… I'm not good at talking about this stuff. I haven't talked this much in years. I have to show you."

Eddie squints suspiciously at her, "Show me?"

"You don't like it when I go inside your head, but…" Zero taps his temple lightly, “It’s a memory.”

Eddie has to think about it for a moment. As much as he wants to learn more about Zero and her powers, she frightens him. She’s likely stronger than he can even imagine. After seeing what she showed him last time even with him fighting her, what would happen if he willingly gave his mind over to her?

Biting the inside of his cheek, he watches the exhausted look on her face. Her gaze is almost pleading, tired beyond belief. Finally, he opens his mouth and asks, “Are you this tired because you’re healing me or because of something else?”

Her jaw opens slightly in shock, lips stammering silently as she thinks of how to answer. Zero shrugs, “It’s complicated.”

“Will it hurt?”

“The memory?” He nods. Zero shrugs again, “You’ll feel what I felt.”

“And how did it feel?”

She swallows thickly but never looks away, “It was excruciating, but I survived. So will you.”

Eddie groans, "Fuck, fine. Excruciate me."

"Quit whining," she scoffs, but before Eddie can give a snappy reply everything goes black. 

The warmth from the Haven disappears in one fell swoop, replaced by a bitter cutting chill. The wind whips his hair, jerking at the scalp with its power. The world comes slowly into focus, and Eddie realizes he's on his knees. 

In the Upside Down. 

Before him stands a creature he'd only seen in drawings that Dustin showed him. Ones the Byers kid drew. With a massive angular head and six legs, Eddie trembles in terror as the sky booms and shatters around him. It's the Mind Flayer, and it's every bit as horrifying in person. 

"Mara!" he calls, a pleading scream. Only it's not Eddie's voice, it's Zero's coming from his own mouth. "Do it now!"

This is her memory, and he's living it as her. 

I'm sorry, a voice molds through his mind. 

The skyscraper of a monster lashes out, and Zero does nothing to stop it. No surprise flows through her as a vicious vine impales her stomach. She doesn't even look down, just keeps her eyes trained on the Mind Flayer.

Blinding pain like he felt when the first demabat began eating into his belly bursts through his veins. Heat flashes through him, so hot his limbs go cold. It's as though he's being ripped in two, but Zero doesn’t even flinch. Her body jerks forward as the vine rips itself from her middle, and Zero collapses onto the ground. 

Sticky wet blood pools into the ground beneath him in waves. His face presses into the dirt while the life drains from him. He knew from experience that Zero could have healed herself, but she refuses now. She was dying and it was her choice. 

A cold hand grips his shoulder, turning him achingly onto his back. Eddie finds himself staring into the eyes of Vecna, the ice blue eyes of Henry Creel himself. 

"Not so fast, little sister," that rumbling horrible voice boomed. His claws reached to grab his hair to hold him up, "I can't have you dying on me."

"Henry, please," Zero's voice pleads from his - her - lips. Blood spurts from his mouth as he coughs wetly. "I can't live like this anymore. I can't keep fighting you…"

Henry's face morphs from Vecna to who he was before, and Zero groans in fear. He smiles down at him, soft and sweet as he brushes back Eddie's hair. He can feel Zero's pain, both physical and emotional. She was right. 

It's excruciating. 

"You can't leave me, Zero. You're all I have left," he whispers, and somehow this monster's voice is laced with pain. "Big brothers protect their sisters. I won't let anyone hurt you, not even yourself."

Henry presses his palm to the gaping wound in his chest, and Zero's voice screams out in agony. It's a horrible sound, one he'll never forget, accompanied by tears and the sticky sound of gurgling blood. 

"Start healing," he commands softly. "Now."

Eddie's head shakes, "No. Just let me go. Please, Henry."

Henry sighs, and in a flash he reaches out toward the Mind Flayer. A biting scream rips its way through his mind, and Zero's voice calls out in return. 

"Stop! You're hurting her!" 

"Heal yourself!" he snarls back, his face angling with rage. The creature screeches once more, its giant body trembling to the ground. "I'll keep hurting her, and I'll keep hurting you."

Something ignites inside his chest, and Eddie feels the blood flow begin to staunch. Like his own wounds, it'll take time, but she begins the process anyway. 

"There you go, don’t be afraid," Henry coos. The Mind Flayer goes quiet in his head, and Henry pulls his claws from the wound. "Try and stay very still. It will all be over soon."

He drops Eddie to the ground, and the screeching of the Mind Flayer stops. Henry gazes down at him with what at first glance seems like sympathy, but he knows better even though in that moment Zero didn't. 

"I can't lose you, Zero. You can't leave me," he says softly, his voice full of pleading hope. "I need you, sister."

"I just… I just want to rest," Zero spits out, her lips soaked with blood. "I'm so tired, Henry, please."

"And you can, so long as you do what I say," Henry tells her. It sends a shiver up her spine, watching him kneel beside her broken body once more. 

Hope flickers in her chest, a sliver of a spark that could easily die with the rush of the wind. Henry cups her cheeks in his hands, his thumbs brushing her temples in an attempt to soothe. 

"Promise you won't leave me," he whispers, and Eddie can feel the moment Zero's love for this man morphs with her fear. It's…traumatic, two people bonded through violence. "And I'll give you whatever you want. You can make your home here, make another Haven in my Darkness…

"You can go to the real world when you need, but you have to come back. Live out your days growing plants and vegetables, reading your books." Henry smiles, and Eddie feels as Zero smiles shakily back at the thought. "I'll keep you safe, just don't leave me, sister."

"You'll keep me safe…" 

"Nobody will ever hurt you here. I won't let them."

Eddie's chin wobbles as Zero gathers the courage to say this out loud, "Papa?"

"Never. If he opens a gate, I'll make him wish he hadn't," Henry tells her, his voice going hard and deadly. "I'll punish anyone who comes inside, anyone who threatens my sweet sister."

Eddie’s head nods, but this is wrong. It's so fucked up and Henry is lying to Zero in a way she doesn't know. His hands come up to cover Henry's on her face as she tearfully squeaks out. 

"I won't leave you, Henry. I promise."

Suddenly Eddie is looking back into the eyes of Zero herself, gasping as her hold on his mind loosened until it was gone. He stares wild eyed at her as he catches his breath, but hers are dead, haunted. 

“I can’t leave because I promised not to,” Zero whispers, looking somehow empty and full at the same time. “I’m safe here. He’s the only one who ever protected me, even when he hurt me. He makes sure I’m safe here.”

"He…he lied to you," Eddie pants incredulously, "Not everyone who he hurt came through the gates. I didn't come here to hurt you, Zero. I came here to kill Henry."

Zero turns away and stands, heading into the kitchen. Her shoulders hang, her jaw tight. The lights flicker as she starts cooking dinner to replace the one he'd tried to make. 

"I appreciate you trying to cook," she says, pulling out some veggies to chop. "Next time just let me do it."

"Zero-," he begins, struggling to get out of the chair, but she holds out a hand to stop him. 

"I don't want to talk about this any more. Can we just…eat dinner and go to bed?"

Eddie wants nothing more than to tell her everything he knows, but so much of it is second hand… He's more than likely going to have to wait until she takes him home. Maybe he can get her to at least meet Eleven again. But to do that he needs to be on her good side…and alive. 

He taps the cane on the hardwood, nodding to himself, "I have a condition."

Zero scoffs and leans on one hip while she glares at him. It seems to be her go-to move. "What?"

"You have to sleep. In the bed." Eddie waves the cane toward the bedroom. "I'll take the couch."

"The last thing you need with internal injuries is back pain from that piece of shit," she tells him. "I'll be fine."

Eddie looks back toward the bed, then at the couch. It's a queen, and it belongs to her after all, but his mouth opens before he can think better of it. 

"Sleep with me."

Zero's eyebrows almost hit her hairline, but a coy smile plays at her lips as she watches him struggle to backpedal. 

"I just- I meant," Eddie stutters. His face flushes deep and hot, and he rubs a hand across the back of his neck and points to the bed again with the cane. "I meant… share the bed. A compromise, right? It's yours after all, you should sleep in it."

Zero eyes him for a second, and the amusement is clear as he stands there embarrassed. 

"Fine, but I sleep closest to the door," she decides. Zero turns back to the stove and waves a spatula over her shoulder. "And I don't want your morning wood pressing into my back tomorrow, either."

"Yeah, fair."

They eat on the porch, watching the sun go down. Clem seems to have become attached to Eddie, sitting next to his chair and resting her head on his foot while he's eating. Screech stays at a distance, but his eyeless gaze never leaves Eddie.

 Zero's cooking is amazing, mouth watering even though he finally realizes she doesn't eat any meat. When he asks her about it she chalks it up to it being a difficult supply to keep fresh here. What she's built here… it is amazing. The massive garden alone is impressive, but the remodel to the cabin and the pond make this her home. Eddie sees why this is her Haven, her place filled with books and puzzles and small things to keep Zero happy in a prison of her own making. If only she would listen to him. She could be happy somewhere else in the real world.

He decided to stop asking her questions. The lights were flickering too much for his liking. 

After working on the puzzle late into the night, Zero took Eddie's hand and led him back to the bedroom, careful to slow down for him and his cane trailing behind her. 

Eddie goes to sit down and slide into his side, but Zero points at his jeans, "Don't you sleep in your underwear?"

"Well, yeah," he stammers, frowning to himself. Eddie motions toward her, "I didn't wanna assume you'd… be okay with that."

"Eddie, how many times do I have to tell you that I've seen you naked?" Zero smirks, standing before him looking much too hot in her panties and flannel combo. "It literally doesn't matter."

"Fine," he snaps back, working at his fly. Eddie toes off his boots and pushes down his pants, waving his arms at her like an asshole as he steps out of them. For good measure he even takes his shirt off and tosses it at her, and Zero just catches it with a small smile as he clambers onto the bed. 

Her warmth bleeds into his side under the covers, their hips pressed together. The back of her hand is just out of reach from his, and if he twitches he'll be touching that too. It's a strange urge, to intertwine his fingers with hers. 

Settling into the pillows, he finds himself looking up at the stained glass she has dangling from the window. The plant doesn't reflect much now, just a glint of moonlight from the Haven, and Eddie points up at it. 

"Where'd you get this from?" He knows she hates his questions, but she's much more amenable if they're not about her powers or past. 

Zero smiles softly, her fingers reaching up even though she won't touch it. "A swap meet."

Eddie turns his head on the pillow to grin at her, "You go to swap meets? No kidding."

"You've been to one?"

"Oh, yeah," Eddie drawls with a chuckle. "My mom, she, uh, she loved ‘em. She used to make necklaces and we'd sell them out of the back of our van. She took me to them all the time. I think she'd like you."

Zero's knuckle bumps the back of his hand as her voice softens to a whisper, "Why's that?"

"She was a weirdo too."

"Was?"

The smile quickly fades from his cheeks with her question. Now he knows how she feels when he does this. His chest is suddenly quite hollow and too full all at the same time. 

Eddie licks his lips and forces his voice not to shake as he replies, "I don't remember much. She died when I was pretty young, but she was a hippie chick. Long curly hair, feathers everywhere… just trying to find a place she fit. We lived in the van, in communes, and in shelters sometimes."

"She didn't really know who she was, but," he trails off, staring up at the ceiling with faraway eyes. "She was always my mom. She always took care of me."

She says nothing for a moment, chewing on his words as he avoids her gaze. Zero nods out of the corner of his eye and decides to look at the ceiling too. 

"My mom liked swap meets, too. We found a lot of plants there. She was a botanist."

Eddie squints, "A… what?"

"She studied plants," Zero laughs lightly, "She taught me all about them. What they need, how they grow…"

Zero bumps his hand again, "She'd like you, too."

Eddie's smile creeps its way back across his face, "Why's that?"

"She always asked me questions. All the time like it was her job. I don't remember much about her. She died when I was young, too."

Eddie finds himself nudging her back, "What do you remember?"

"Well," she says quietly, with a soft grin playing along her lips. "I remember that she was so smart, and she was always teaching me something… she liked to dance in the kitchen…"

Zero waves a hand as a laugh bubbles from her chest, "She liked to make fun of my Papa and how buttoned up he always was. She loved music… all sorts, and…"

She took a deep breath, seemingly lost in a pool of her memory. Zero's voice trembled with painful longing as she said barely above a whisper, "The day she died was the last time anyone called me by my real name."

If Eddie's attention wasn't caught before it surely was now. He gets up on his elbows to gaze at her in the moonlight. Tears glisten over her eyes as they trail the slats of wood above them. Eddie had never thought of that before…that she had a life before the lab… and a name that was hers and not a number. 

"What is your name?" he asks softly, but Zero chuckles bitterly. 

"It doesn't matter. She died a long time ago." She swallows thickly and does that shrug that always accompanies her pain. "I haven’t been that me in a long time."

"Zero-."

"Goodnight, Eddie," she says firmly, turning on her side and away from him. 

Eddie watches her back, the way her shoulders tremble ever so slightly. It's all he can do not to wrap his arms around her so she doesn't feel so alone, but Zero seems to like being alone.

"Goodnight, Zero."

I wake the next morning to hazy sunlight pouring through the windows. It's a strange weighty feeling. I haven't slept deeply in a long time, and for the first time in years I find myself rested. 

Eddie's snoring softly in my ear, his nose pressed against my neck. I stiffen as I notice him, but his embrace melts me. It's like a cocoon, safe and warm. His hair tickles where it's tangled into my collar, his arms wrapped tightly around me. 

I eye his rings, revel in the rare feeling of another body pressed against my own. His hug the other day was the first real human touch I've had in so long, and a shock of fear runs through my belly as I realize that I don't want to get out of this bed when every day for the last eleven years I've gotten up without a backward glance. 

It's later than I normally wake. I can tell by the way the sun is hitting the walls, probably six in the morning. The music is even silent, and still the Haven stands. I'm safe even without the constant noise and lights. It doesn't even feel as dark without the fairy lights. I keep them on all the time so I don't feel like I'm back out in the Darkness, so I don’t have to think of my life before I created the Haven.

Sure enough, his morning wood presses insistently against my backside. His attraction to me is obvious, and if I let myself I'd admit I like the look of Eddie Munson too. It's just because I've never been this close to a man for this long…and I haven't had sex in some time as well. 

That's gotta be it, right?

Eddie squeezes me tightly, nuzzling behind my ear. I find myself holding my breath, fearful of breaking this spell, ruining the moment. His thumb rubs circles into my forearm, a soft groan escaping his lips and landing hotly on my neck. 

His eyelashes flutter against my skin, and my eyes clamp shut as he begins to stir. I don't know why I'm pretending to still be asleep, but something just feels wrong about being the first to let go. 

"Oh, shit," he murmurs, his hips immediately pulling away. Eddie slowly untangles himself from me, sweetly careful not to jostle the bed. 

He scoots to the end, clattering a bit for his cane before getting a good grip on it. His hand lands on my bare ankle, wide palm giving me a soft squeeze. He makes a small hmm before he lets go and stands. I hear him pick up his clothes, grunting with some pain, then letting out a deep breath. My eyes don’t open again until I hear the bathroom door shut, and I’m alone again. 

Sitting up slowly, the bed has no allure for me anymore. It left the same moment Eddie’s arms did. The chill that surrounds me seems colder somehow than normal, like the warmth of the covers clung to his shoulders and followed him out of the room.

I decide to get started on breakfast instead, padding quietly in the kitchen. The lights flip on as I enter, the radio picking up music so I don’t feel quite so alone and empty by myself. 

Can anybody find me somebody to love? Pours through the speakers. I turn to glare at the damned thing, cursing my own brain for pulling this song from the ether. Each morning I get up I die a little. Can barely stand on my feet.

“As much as I hate most of your music,” Eddie’s voice pops up behind me, making me jump. The dishes in the cabinets clatter and shake with my surprise, dying down as I turn to spot him lingering in the doorway. “This is a great song.”

“You should,” I reply, hastily plastering a smile on my face to cover up my embarrassment. “Queen rocks.”

Eddie scoffs, “You keep telling yourself that.”

Eddie sidles up beside me, leaning against the counter with a queer look on his face. His eyes are playful as he watches me, but by now I know Eddie's 'question time' look. 

"So," he begins. He crosses his arms over his chest, flicking one of his hands out. "Your name… we gonna talk about that?"

"I told you last night I didn't want to talk about it," I tell him, pushing the food around the pan. The peppers sizzle throughout my small cabin, filling up with the scent of breakfast. 

Ooh, somebody, please. Can anybody find me somebody to love?

"Uh, no. You rolled over and said, 'Goodnight, Eddie,' and went to sleep," he snarks back at me. A playful smile breaks out across his cheeks as he shrugs. "Which would be fine if we'd just had sex, but we didn't."

I open my mouth to make a joke about his boner, but he cuts me off, "Anyway, I've made an executive decision that you don't have to tell me your name."

My mouth snaps shut and I squint as Eddie chuckles, "I'm gonna guess it. I’m gonna be spending a few months here. Might as well have some fun with it, right?"

"Oh for the love of-."

"Betsy? No, Buela." Eddie's eyebrows raise as I shake my head. "It's Buela, isn't it?"

I can't help the laugh that bubbles from my chest, "No, it's not Buela."

“Irene? Mmm, too seductive,” he frowns. Eddie rubs his jaw with his knuckles before throwing up his hands, “I’ll get it, just you wait and see.”

“Are you done?” 

Eddie taps the counter, watching me for a moment. I watch back, unyielding as ever. He’ll cave, and soon enough he does. “Yeah, I’m done… Katrine.”

“Wrong again,” I tell him. I focus back on the food, using my powers to pour us both coffee from the carafe. Eddie toasts the air when he grabs his cup, but I decide to ignore that odd mannerism. 

“What’s the plan for today, Nina?” he asks, wiggling his brows again with the hope that he’s correct. He’s not. 

“First, breakfast. Then, I’ll check your stitches and we’ll do some physical therapy again,” I decide. It’s the regimen I’ve come up with for now. It’ll change depending on Eddie’s progress. He already looks bored, his eyes glazing over. “How’s that sound?” “Yeah, sweetheart, that’s fine,” he mutters into his coffee cup. He doesn’t seem to notice the pet name he threw out into the ocean between us, but I did. 

Sweetheart. He said it without much thought, like he said it all the time. Maybe he does to his girls in the real world. The tightness in my cheeks turns hot as I focus on cooking instead of looking at his big doe eyes.

I just gotta get out of this prison cell. Someday I'm gonna be free, Lord

“You wanna do a new puzzle tonight?” he asks, and it’s so domestic it constricts my chest. I haven’t done puzzles this much with anyone since my mother died. I forgot how much it meant to me.

“Do you like doing puzzles? We don’t have to.”

“Oh, I love ‘em,” Eddie smirks. “Wayne and I do them all the time. It’s fun.”

“Okay,” I say shyly, biting my lip harshly. I don’t like the way I’m feeling right now. If I get used to him here, it’ll be that much harder to give him to Henry.

“Hey, Kitty?” 

I glare up at him, smiling just enough to let him know I wasn’t getting irritated. This was actually kind of fun. “Yes, Edward?”

“Uh, it’s Eddie,” he glares back, just as playful. I laugh and he does too, but then Eddie points at the peppers in the pan. “I think those are cooked.”

“Shit,” I snap, pulling it off the burner. Sure enough, they’re burned beyond rescue. I angle it toward him. “I’m… showing you what not to do.”

Can anybody…

Eddie chuckles, “Sure thing, Clea.”

Find me…

“Fuck off, Munson.” 

Somebody to love.

Smurph's Masterlist | Zero to Hero Masterlist

Notes: *Sigh* I love bed sharing... I'd really appreciate your comments on this story! I have been feeling pretty self conscious about this one lately and it would mean a lot if you let me know your thoughts on it.

@tlclick73 @theloser007 @sadbitchfangirl @chaoticcancer  @harrys-tittie @assassinsasha23 @spacedoutdaydreamer @legendarytrashcopeclipse @notahappystan @kbakery

[klaus-littlestwolf]

Aemond Targaryen Playlist

This is a mixture of young and older Aemond

You’re Gonna Go Far Kid- Pierce the Veil

Brand New Numb- Motionless in White

Burn- 2WEI

For the Dancing and the Dreaming- Erutan

Dragon- Built by Titan

To The Sky- Owl City

Castle- Halsey

I See Fire- Ed Sheeran

Where No One Goes- John Powell

Rise- Katy Perry

Love the Way You Hate Me- Like a Storm

Soft- Motionless in White

Kill or be Killed- New Years Day

Killer in the Mirror- Set it Off

Animal I Have Become- Three Days Grace

Everybody Wants to Rule the World- Lorde

Run Boy Run- Woodkid

King for a Day- Pierce the Veil

Natural- Imagine Dragons

Surface Pressure- Jessica Darrow

The Devil Within- Digital Daggers

Can You Hear Me Now- The Score

Born for This- The Score

Burn it Down- Skillet

Paint It Black- Ciara

Fight Like This- Decyfer Down

Blood//Water- grandson

The Middle- Jimmy Eat World

Young God- Halsey

Echo- Jason Walker

Bad Mother Fucker- MGK

Hold Me Down- Halsey

Who’s Laughing Now- Jessie J

Been to Hell- Hollywood Undead

Broken- lovelytheband

Whatever it Takes- Imagine Dragons

I’ll Be Good- Jaymes Young

Demons- Imagine Dragons

Train Wreck- James Arthur

Warriors- Imagine Dragons

Cold Hard Bitch- Jet

Soldier, Poet, King- The Oh Hellos

Monster- Imagine Dragons

Seven Nation Army- The White Stripes

I’m So Sorry- Imagine Dragons

Outside Looking In- Jordan Pruitt

Start A Fire- Ryan Star

Lonely- Justin Bieber

MONSTERS- Shinedown

Monsters- Katy Sky

Cult Leader- KiNG MALA

Carry on my Wayward Son- Neoni

Leave Out All the Rest- LINKIN PARK

Black Betty- Spiderbait

Brother- Madds Buckley

Silence- Marshmello

Live Like a Warrior- Matisyahu

Wearing Me Out- Shinedown

Little Lion Man- Mumford & Sons

Family Portrait- P!nk

I’m No Good- New Years Day

Feel Invincible- Skillet

Red Right Hand- Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

I Hate Everything About You- Three Days Grace

Burn it to the Ground- Nickelback

Try- P!nk

Horrible Kids- Set it Off

Just Give Me a Reason- P!nk

Shapeshifting- Taylor Acorn

Human- Rag & Bone Man

The Good the Bad and the Dirty- P!@tD

Play with Fire- Sam Tinnesz

Dead and Gone- State Champs

Walk Through the Fire- Zayde Wolf

Could Have Been Me- The Struts

Run Boy Run- Woodkid

[unknown--author]

Random Heartslabyul Headcanons

Cater Diamond

Cater plays little games on his phone like the TWST equivalent of Candy Crush, Eggy Car, or the Dino Game to unwind

Adding a bit onto that, one of his happiest moments was when his family was busy on his birthday and he could eat spicy ramen in peace while playing his silly little games

In his mind, Cater thinks of people as trends; they come and go and won't stay around forever

(TW: Eating Disorder) After his hatred for sweets started developing, Cater started throwing up whenever he had them (Bulimia or some form of it). Had to eat a load of sweets for an Unbirthday party? "Sorry, I have to go to the bathroom. CayCay will be back in a minute!" Sisters stuffing his face with it again? "Mom asked me to tend to her garden. One sec, sis!"

Riddle Rosehearts

(Book 1 spoilers) After his overblot, Riddle uses mantras to calm down, sorta like Pepa from Enchanto. "I have a never ending supply of patience." "This has no effect on my life." "I'm relaxed and at ease."

Riddle also uses music as a way to destress. Singing along to Happy by Pharrell Williams? Nope. He's rocking out to Monster by Skillet.

At least twice a month, he sneaks in to the kitchen and steals a tart. Just sits on the floor and shoves it in his face. Trey doesn't care as long as Riddle brushes his teeth afterward (he doesn't, he forgets)

(TW: More Food Issues) (More book 1 spoilers) Before the trip to the bakery, Riddle had a shit relationship with food. He thought it tasted bland and found it hard to eat. The only reason he would was because of his mother watching over his shoulder. And after the bakery incident, his relationship with it got worse for a while. Though, as he knew that this was unhealthy, he eventually made a promise to himself. That he'd become the mage his mother could be proud of, so she'd allow him to have those breath-taking tarts.

Trey Clover

While baking, he listens to a mix of Nelly Furtado and Eminem. Specifically, Maneater, Promiscuous, Superman, Without Me, and Til' I Collapse.

Trey stuffs recipies in his fedora, like Vivo from... Vivo. At least, he did this when he first came to Night Raven to remember them.

Reminder: he was probably a nervous freshman once. Seeing that would probably be hilarious.

For his fourth year, Trey actually considered interning with Sebek's father.

Ace Trappola

He wet the bed until he was like 8; his brother still makes fun of him for it

His father was extremely close to beating Ace's ass when he found out how Ace treated the Ramshackle Prefect in the beginning. Ace's father is magicless as well and doesn't tolerate any bullshit

A few of his childhood friends go to RSA now, so he doesn't hold as much dislike towards the rival school

His mother is a sensitive topic, he usually doesn't bring her up unless he's making some sort of "motherless" joke. Ace usually only makes motherless jokes if he's made a similar joke about Deuce's dad (and if he's made a joke about an absent parent of Yuu's, if they have one)

Deuce Spade

Coping skills for his anger include: working out, listening to music, and arguing with Ace

He makes playlists not only for his friends, but for certain events in his life. Yes, Deuce did make playlists for the overblots (Riddle's included mostly songs about revolution

There was an inside joke about Deuce not knowing store-bought eggs aren't fertilized in his middle school gang, though he didn't realize it

(TW: Mental health issues) Deuce had little bouts of depression after he overheard his mom's phone call. Doubt would cloud his mind on whether he should stay and if his mother would be better off without him. He'd shake himself out of this thinking process by reminding himself that his mom would be alone if he wasn't there

This was made in the span of two 3am nights. Basically is went through three phases: I'm hungry, I don't like Trey, and I'm listening to Mama by MCR

[onthewaytosomewhere]

So, I have had this headcanon for awhile that Henry sometime in his later teens started listening to harder rock music when things were getting too much. He probably started with some very shouty metal and harder rock that he had heard somewhere since it would be far from something the crown would approve of and well a need for something that could be just for him. Like any of us who may have looked for rock music to scream our feelings out realized there were plenty of great rock songs that can help when things might be spiraling out of control. Of course, seeing how the piano has also helped him I like to imagine that he learned to play some of the songs on the piano so he could have his self-help rock right there under everyone's nose without anyone the wiser.

I finally found the time to put a playlist together of some of the songs I think he might have listened to synced up with events in his life that we learned about in the book, including the bonus chapter. Starting with 2015 and the death of his father and ending with well now, 2023, which based on Henry's chapter they came back from a trip at the end of summer to England for some royal duties, and he knows "He doesn't ever want to go back." So, abdication in the works currently, or at least a thought he will be moving on.

This week's RWRB Week seemed like the perfect time to get it finished and share 😊

@rwrbmovie & @rwrbsource's RWRBweek: Day #2 Song(s)

Scars – Papa Roach

Until the world goes cold – Trivium

Face Everything and Rise – Papa Roach

Cut the Cord – Shinedown

Angels Fall – Breaking Benjamin

Help – Papa Roach

Moving On – Asking Alexandria

Sick Like Me – In This Moment

Jekyll & Hyde – Five Finger Death Punch

Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart – Chris Cornell

Follow Me Down – Pretty Reckless

Wash It All Away – Five Finger Death Punch

Scars – I Prevail

I Won’t Give In – Asking Alexandria

Sound of Silence – Disturbed

Save Today – Seether

Still Alive – 3 Doors Down

Daft Pretty Boys – Bad Suns

Help – Papa Roach

Into the Fire – Asking Alexandria

MONSTERS – Shinedown

Bulletproof – Godsmack

The Mountain – Three Days Grace

Ghost – Badflower

Breaking Down – I Prevail

Save Me – Skillet

High Hopes – Panic! At The Disco

Far Away – Breaking Benjamin

Ordinary Man – Ozzy (Featuring Elton John)

They Don’t Want What We Want – Asking Alexandria

Dear Agony – Breaking Benjamin

Atlas Falls – Shinedown

A Little Bit Off – Five Finger Death Punch

Every Time You Leave – I Prevail

Black Eyes Blue – Corey Taylor

King Of Misery – Saul

World on Fire – Daughtry

Not Mad Enough – Smith & Myers

Soak Me In Bleach – Amity Affliction

Unforgettable – Godsmack

Waiting On A War – Foo Fighters

Only Love Can Save Me Now – Pretty Reckless

Lifeline – Bad Wolves

Breathe Again – Pop Evil

Heavy is the Crown – Daughtry

Call Me Little Sunshine – Ghost

Pawns & Kings – Alter Bridge

Daylight – Shinedown

Planet Zero – Shinedown

Rest In Peace – Dorothy

Lifetime – Three Days Grace

Afterlife – Five Finger Death Punch

Riptide – Beartooth

Dead Man Walking – Jelly Roll

Kill the Noise – Papa Roach

No Apologies – Papa Roach

A Symptom of Being Human – Shinedown

Watch The World Burn – Falling in Reverse

Cut the Line – Papa Roach

Numb - Sleep Theory

Might Love Myself – Beartooth

Victorious – Nita Strauss, Dorothy

[adelaide-lanshasaa]

Scenario 1 : Chef

A scenario I prepared for a single player that was going to joign the group for the "Old World Dissonances" campaign. They all had already played a scenario where all their characters met, so I wanted to let this player have a first scenario as well, where his Halfling would meet an important NPC. I wrote this part myself, I'll publish these stories in chronological order, so although it was played recently, these events happened before the first introductory scénario.

Part 1 : Adélaïde

The Halfeling had left Bögenhafen with a group of three soldiers that needed guidance for their travel to Altdorf, but unfortunately, one of them became ill, and Albrescht was forced to walk back to the city on his own.

As the night began to fall, the small man walked out of the road to prepare his camp between the trees. Of course, the roads of the Empire are unsafe, but he is quite small, and should be out of danger. As the fire started, Albrescht took out the mushrooms he had found on his way, and was about to begin cooking them when a noise caught his attention. He quickly hid between the roots of the large tree, when a large beastman and two mutants appeard in the small clearance. His heart skipped a beat when the beastman's glare met his.

"A nice meal for tonight, fellas. Get it !"

As the words resonated in the woods, Albrescht jumped out of his hidding place, running between the trees toward the road. He can hear one of the three monsters chasing him, but as he arrives near the road, an odd mist catches his attention. Something unnatural about it sends shivers down his spine, as a low whisper fills the air. A lean, horned silhouette appears in the thick fog.

The Halfeling decides to avoid the road and what's on it at all costs, and turns left, still running and still followed. He struggles to avoid the roots in the mist, and can hear something else running to his left. At least two of the monsters managed to keep up with him. He jumps out of the woods, into the misty road, and turns around, ready to face his opponents.

A mutant jumps out of the wood, a few meters away from him. Albrescht tried to hit it with his skillet, and a loud noise resonates as the iron meets the skull of the monster, but the attack barely harms him. In extremis, the halfeling avoids the vile creature's hatchet, as the second mutant arrives on the road, quickly followed by the beastman.

The latter looks around until his eyes locks toward him. In the meantime, both mutants froze, fear growing in their eyes. All three creatures remain still, staring at the halfeling, as a low whisper surrounds them all.

Suddenly, four dark and shadowy shapes fly from behind Albrescht, two hitting the mutants that yelp in pain, and the two others reaching the beastman. With a final cry, the large creature runs back to the forest, followed by the mutants, away from the small Halfeling.

Finally, taking a deep breath, Albresht turns around, only to discover a tall and thin silhouette right behind him, draped in the fog. The large horns belong to a deer skull on the humanoïd's head, and piercing grey eyes are looking into him.

"It's dangerous to travel alone." a liveless voice speaks.

Terror fills him, and he dashes on the road, jumping back in the woods, and quickly hids between the roots of a large tree once the fog seems thinner, and more natural.

After a few long minutes, he finally caught his breath. Carefully, he leans on the side of the large trunk, trying to see if the thing followed him. He sights in relief as he sees no trace of it, and leans back on the tree when he suddenly realises that it stands right next to him, as it crept by the other side of the tree, hidden from his eyes. He quickly jumps to hide on the other side of the tree, shaking.

"I won't harm you."

The tone in the thing's word is low and gentle. Albrescht takes a deep breath and comes out from behind the tree to face it.

It's a human woman, wearing long grey robes, and carrying a large stick with a snake skeletton twisting around it. She is quite tall to him, and seems very skinny, her cheeks sunken and skin pale.

"You're hungry ?" the halfeling asks, before grabbing the wizard's free hand to pull her behind him to lead her to his camp, his fear suddenly dissipating as he realises that this person saved his life. But he feels her stumble behind him with a moan. Did he go too fast and made her trip on the roots ?

For a brief moment, her face shows signs of pain, her mouth slightly twisted and her jaw clenched, but she quickly regains control of her expression, and the pained scowl fades. She slowly gets back on her feet, helping herself with her staff. Once up, she starts following him, but the halfling notices that she limps.

A good meal should do her good ! She's too skinny !

As he cooks in his improvised camp, he talks with the wizard. Her name is Adélaïde, and she is a shadowmancer. He explains to her why he was traveling alone, the attack of the monsters, asking her many questions blended together. Her answers are always brief and emotionless, but he is certain that she is very friendly. Since she is traveling to Bögenhafen as well, she proposes to remain with him, as he would be safer with a wizard then on his own. He accepts, eager to have some company, and asks about her limping, learning that an injury is the reason for it. Quickly, he comes up with a nickname for his new friend.

"Here, Bambi, try this !" he sais joyfully as he hands over a bowl to the young woman. She slightly tilts her head as she takes it, as if something had crossed her mind, but only opened her mouth to thank him. She takes a bite of his mushroom stew, and he freezes, anticipating her reaction.

Finally, her grey eyes look his way, and for the first time, he can see a smile spread across her face. In fact, it is very subtle, the corners of her mouth rising very little, but his heart warms instantly.

"It's very good, chef."

His eyes sparkles. She gave him a nickname !

"Yes, you're right, I'm Chef now !"

A few days later, the duo arrives in Bögenhafen, where Chef quickly finds a stray dog that he wants to adopt. He follows Bambi to the milicia, where she looks at some jobs opportunities, before registering herself. She also asks for an apothicary and where to find a jade wizard in town. After taking a room at the Three Barrels for her and the halfeling, she tells him about an announcement that caught her attention earlier.

"Someone needs an escort as they go invistigate the Bögen river. Would you like to come ?"

"Of course I do Bambi !!!"

Part 2 : Is the water really the problem ?

[throwawayblip]

Eyes turn black and flames appear in background as Monster by Skillet starts to play

“you’ve treated me like a fool for the last time”

HELP THE TIKTOK ABLEISTS ARE SAYING NARCS EYES CAN STRAIGHT UP GO BLACK⁉️⁉️⁉️

bro they think we're mythical fucking demons im done😭😭😭

[cherrys-diary]

11-13-2024

Odd block today. First hour was fine, third hour we didn't do much and I was able to be on my phone, but it was obnoxiously loud like always, fifth hour was alright, we had two digital book lessions and then free time in the gym, one of the guys in that class seems nice, kinda cute to, he's probably about 6 foot, definitely a lot taller Han my 5'4 ass, he has short, curly, kinda light brown hair and brown eyes, don't know his name even though he's in my class though. He was playing some kind of game with a soccer ball where him and the two people he was playing with were trying to keep it from touching the ground without using their hands, the ball kept bouncing into the bleacher row I was sitting in, so I kept getting to pass it back to him. He probably doesn't even think of me though. Lunch was good, I got to sit and talk with M again, they've gotten me to start reading the PJO series, it's pretty good so far, already hooked and I'm only on chapter two of the lightning theif. Seventh hour was okay, we got scolded as an entire class because most of the people act out, and I mean, sure it's last hour math, but we can never make it through notes. Some people I don't talk to asked me a question, not fun. The ride home was uneventful as always. Took a shower when I got home, like always, and then just decided to sit in my room, got yelled at for it, like always. For breakfast today I had the sausage pancake corn dog thing, it was good, I also had a monster, apple juice, and chocolate milk. Lunch was pizza, like the kind that is made on a long piece of bread, some skillet potatoes, lettuce and spinach, apple juice, and chocolate milk. Skipping in dinner today, gonna turn in early, maybe, I did have a bag of baked chips I saved from lunch though.

Good-night,

Y.R.M