#My obsessive housemates are dead?!

[theealbatross]

kiss me (s.s.)

Plot | You fought, kissed, and made up. But it could never be that easy.

or, Sebastian took two steps forward and three steps back.

Tags | insecurities, social pressures, obsessive tendencies, slytherin!reader, dark!seb and reader if you squint, but not really, underage drinking (theyre all 16-18 in this), they're just crazy about each other and can't tell anyone, kissing (duh) nothing too PG, happy ending?, read 4k words and figure it out, if the end made you scream say 'aye'

[ 6th Year ]

“Spin that fucking bottle!”

If you had known what absolute monstrosity you would create when you introduced muggle sleepover games to your housemates you would’ve gone to bed early.

But now, you were surrounded by drunk, nosy, Slytherins that were dead-set on exposing each other’s most embarrassing secrets. No one was safe.

“Imelda!” Everyone cheered, Grace quickly hooked her arms around the other girl’s neck when she tried to escape.

The party had long since been over, most of the students from other houses had already retired to their own rooms but those who had friends in Slytherin (like Poppy and Natty) or were too drunk to journey back to the spiraling staircases of their houses safely (like Everett and Samantha) decided to sober up for a while in the Quidditch Grand Champion’s common room.

“Are you actually as mean as you pretend to be or do you just not know how to make friends,” Natty slurred, pointing and wagging a finger at her.

If she was in a better constitution, she would’ve been able to brush off that accusation easily and with confidence but a dozen of improved (thanks Garreth) Firewhiskey shots later and the ever-guarded Imelda flushed in embarrassment to the surprise of everyone. The small circle burst out laughing, Imelda pushed Grace away in annoyance.

“It’s okay, ‘melda. We love you as you are!” Poppy was definitely still hammered.

“Next, next, next!”

The bottle spun and spun but your eyes were at the boy who had just returned from tucking Ominis in their shared dorm. You smiled up at him as he sat in the reserved space available just for him right beside you. “Omi?” you mouthed.

He squeezed your hands, silently letting you know your lightweight friend was now safely tucked in his own bed and ready to welcome the worst hangover he had ever known tomorrow.

“Well, well, well! Our brilliant, beloved, beater!”

It was when you turned your eyes back down on the ground that you saw that the mouth of the bottle was now undoubtedly pointed at Sebastian.

“Mate, I just got here!”

The crowd booed, Sebastian receiving light punches and playful jeers. “It’s the rules, Sallow!”

Everyone looked at you expectantly, the false inventor of such guidelines. You smirked, shrugging, “Rules are rules.”

Sebastian gaped at the betrayal. He gave you a look that lets you know he’ll get you back for this, even secretly poking your waist sharply. You didn’t like the way your housemate’s eyes glinted at the small interaction. Oh no.

“Alright, Alright,” Garreth shushed the crowd with two outstretched hands. “I have the million galleon question! I’m sure everyone will praise my genius for it!”

“Get on with it already!”

The Gryffindor threw a drunken glare at the voice from the back of the common room. “Now, I’m sure our dear Sebastian, despite receiving many letters of admiration and flutters of pretty lashes –”

“Gross,” Imelda grumbled.

“—has yet to officially court someone!” Garreth announced, arms stretched wide like he was a ringmaster about to start his greatest show. Everyone oo-ed and ahh-ed and cheered.

You didn’t like where this was going.

Sebastian, for all the eyes that were on him, managed to maintain the small smile on his cocky face.

It was true. You were not blind to the … physical developments he had undergone the last two years nor to the attention it had garnered him. The boy you had sneaked around Hogwarts with in your fifth year had disappeared and was replaced by a man. An unfairly tall, tanned, attractive man. You damn near walked past him again if he had not pulled you to his side on your first day during your 6th year.

You weren’t ignorant of it, nor were you dumb enough to deny your attraction to your friend.

But you are a lady. And his friend.

His most trusted, beloved friend (his words not yours).

You’d rather not risk your lifelong connection if he won’t. You know how to read between the lines as blurry as it had become. He’s lost too much and you refuse to become another scar in his soul. The both of you have had enough of that to last you till the next lifetime.

“So, my question is,” your eyes widened when you felt two hands on each of your shoulders, in your deep reverie you have failed to notice Garreth sneaking behind your back or that all conniving eyes and raised eyebrows were now on you.

Sebastian smiled.

“Kiss, Marry, Kill.”

[ 7th Year ]

It was by incredible luck that your 7th year of Hogwarts called for the Triwizard tournaments to be held in Hogwarts.

You were prepared to enjoy the event in relative peace. Happy that for once you would be the spectator of all the action instead of being the one in the middle of it.

Life just can’t make it that easy for you.

You did not even realize that Sebastian of all people had thrown his name in as consideration until he had been called and your dreams of a quiet last year in Hogwarts were shot to the depths of hell. It was the first time in a while that you felt true fear, the type that froze all your blood solid.

The fight that followed in the Undercroft was explosive.

“How could you be so reckless, Sebastian?! People die in these games! Why would you do this?!”

Just the thought of it makes your stomach sink. Sebastian will be front and center of this bloody battle of pride that is broadcasted to the entire wizarding world. It was different when it was the two of you jumping through all types of danger – this time you won’t be able to help him. He will be alone.

Yet, when you had expected a valid explanation and a plan out of all this madness he instead looked at you with such anger and vitriol that you physically flinched.

“Because I am sick of being just your friend!” Even Ominis pushed himself off the wall he had been leaning on. Foreseeing a tragedy about to uncontrollably unroll. “I’m constantly surrounded by you two! Ominis Gaunt, the scion of the purest bloodline in the wizarding world, the Heir of Slytherin who could do no wrong! How brilliant!”

He cackled a laugh, he looked like a man at the brink of insanity. How long had he been holding on to these thoughts?

“And you!”

“Sebastian enough –” Ominis tried to cut through his mania but he wasn’t having any of it. Once the words were out, there was no taking them back in. He was cursed – he will have to see it through.

“Famed Hero of Hogwarts,” each word was dripped in poison, the insecurities bubbling inside him caused him to lash out at anyone and everyone who dared question his decision. How could they understand? How would they understand a nobody? “Do you know how tired I am of being in your shadow?”

He felt the sting before he heard it, the slap drowned the Undercroft in silence. Then, the weight of his grave words sunk in. The green haze in his head cleared just to see the boiling tears falling down your distraught face.

What has he –

“Then let me free you of such shadow, Sebastian,” your face crumpled, physically pained by such cruelty from your dearest companion. “You’re on your own this time.”

That had been months ago, aside from the few classes you had together he had not even seen you anywhere else. Not even in the first game when he had sent you an owl begging you for a chance to apologize and dedicating his win to you. The victory over the other contestants tasted bitter when he couldn’t find your face in the celebrating crowd.

And the pit in his chest turned into a black hole when he caught Ominis at the edge of the celebration shaking his head. She didn’t come. He’s lost her.

Ominis refused to help him – not that he deserved any. In retrospect, it was ... silly – the insecurities he had been shamefully hiding. He knew his friends had never seen him short of an equal but it’s difficult to see the good when the entire world is looking down at you with cruel, disapproving eyes when your back is turned. Cruel whispers they made sure only he could hear.

“I thought he’d live somewhere more posh.” “Sallow? Dating her? That’s preposterous he’s an orphan with barely a galleon to his name.” “Why do you think they keep him around?”

It was stupid and irrational and he handled it in the worst possible way. Lashed out at the one person who least deserved it, who went through hell to drag him back out, then benevolently tended to all the wounds and scars in his humanity till he was himself again.

“Let me free you of such shadow, Sebastian.”

He slammed his head on the wall he was leaning on, the heartbreaking image of her distressed face was a nightmare that had chased him awake or asleep.  Sebastian may deserve this but you most definitely didn’t. He never deserved you.

Yet, here he was, sitting on the floor of the Ravenclaw Tower with a wilted bouquet of wildflowers he had picked before breakfast, hoping he could catch her somehow. He ignored the giggles, snickers, and confused questions thrown his way no matter how embarrassed he felt. He wasn’t moving from this spot until he can apologize – the silent treatment was torture worse than Crucio. And he had been hit with one.

At the first sound of the walls transforming, he was already up on his feet, his hands instinctively brushing his hair as if looking presentable would even out his chances of repairing his most treasured friendship.

The door opened and finally, your eyes met his. The tension was something that would choke even the greediest puffskein. Your eyes were wide, unblinking and your lips were pursed in a fine line that communicated how much you loathed being in his presence. He hopes you know that you could never hate him as much as he hated himself at this very moment.

“For you!” It was only when it was being offered to you did he realize how abysmal the dying bouquet he had been carrying in his hands since this morning looked. But it was too late now, she was already here, looking at the flower then back to him and all the lines he had practiced flew out of his head.

Instead, he just fell to his knees, prostrating, tears already threatening to fall down his face. He had never been an honorable man. “Sebastian! Get up!”

“I will do anything you ask me to,” The feel of her touch made his skin tingle. After months of not even catching your eyes or hearing your voice and it was more than worth it to suffer through all this humiliation just for this moment. Even if you may never forgive him at least he could apologize. He’ll have a better last moment with you than your fight. “I’ll win the games. I’ll quit. I’ll drop out of Hogwarts if that’s what you want just, please … forgive me.”

He felt your arms wrap around him but he was too distraught, barely comprehending that you had somehow pulled him back into the room until the two of you fell on the ground and the door of the room slammed shut. Still, he continued sobbing in your arms, his arms wrapped tightly around your waist as he drenched your neck with his anguished tears. “I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

Sebastian wasn’t playing fair but your forgiveness was a prize he was willing to cheat to earn. There would be no point of honor if he lost you – anyone else but you.

“It wasn’t anything you did. It was me,” he sobbed. “I just – you and Ominis became such incredible people that I realized it was me who had not become anyone. I am a nobody!”

“Sebastian that is just not true –”

“It’s moronic I know! But I just thought … if I could win these games … if I could stop being just myself and be a champion then I can finally earn the spot beside you.”

It was embarrassing to admit all that, the deep insecurities that had festered inside of him the moment he was finally faced with the reality of the world. That he was surround by great people who has and will achieve great things and he was … him. A failure, a murderer, a burden.

“Don’t make me slap you again,” your cold voice woke him up from his self-lashings.

He sniffed, nodding, finally finding the strength and shame to sit up on his knees in front of you. “I … I really am so sorry.”

He pinched his eyes shut, preparing himself for the worst. His nails digging in his palm in an effort to stop it from shaking. However, it took one touch of your palms to break through all his pretenses. “I forgive you.”

He crumbled in relief, jumping into your open arms in a mess of tears, snot, and even more apologies.

“I know, I know,” you shushed him, hands tight even as he soaked your shirt through. “Ominis talked to me and … Sebastian you really are so silly. What do you mean you're a nobody? You're the top student in our year! So much so that all those Ravenclaws have declared you their enemy. You're the greatest beater in our generation that even I have been receiving owls begging me to somehow convince you to play for their team when you graduate! I can't even imagine how many times I would have gotten in trouble or straight-up died if it wasn't for you! I swear you're so fucking daft sometimes!”

He nodded eagerly, taking any jabs you may have if it meant you were talking to him. Even if it was still difficult for him to accept that any of those achievements you dictated could ever surmount to what you had achieved he knew it wasn't smart to try and correct it now when you had just forgiven his transgressions. “Stupid, stupid, boy.”

It was there in that room that your fractured friendship was mended with a bunch of dead flowers and Sebastian’s tears.

To celebrate, you had produced a couple of leftover Hogshead Brew for the two of you to enjoy till you were tipsy enough to forget the past horrible months without each other and were now giggling to each other’s face as if to make up for all the laughs you were owed in the months of silence.

“Lay back down, your eyes are going to be swollen shut.”

He’s been crying so hard for so long that he was too tired to do anything but follow your words, laying at the center of the bed you’ve conjured and sighing at the warm cloth you pressed on his eyes that miraculously stopped the world from spinning.

If he thinks too hard about the shameful faces he had shown you, he fears he’s going to combust, instead he focused on the rake of your nails on his hair, the familiar scent of your perfume he had given to you as a gift for your birthday last year, and the weight of your head as you laid on his stomach while the alcohol coursed through his body.

“You shouldn’t quit.”

He folded the cloth in one eye to take a peek at you. You giggled sweetly, clearly taking the drink harder than him, and gods above did he miss it. His happiness was cut short however when you crawled over the length of his body and instead plopped next to him, your head resting on his outstretched arm.

Physical affection wasn’t new to the two of you – after what you had been through hugs and holding hands were something the two of you found comfort in, a reminder that despite everything, the two of you made it out together – but after a few months without it he was faced with the realization of how unconventionally intimate your friendship truly was.

“Like I said, Ominis explained to me how you’ve been feeling – only another man would ever understand a bruised man’s ego. And if this is what’s going to make you feel better then I will support you till the end.” He turned his head so he can look at your eyes. When you cupped his face he felt his gut curl on itself from adoration. “But make no mistake Sebastian, the two of us have always been equals. We’re kindred spirits, remember?”

Kindred spirits, he thought. He remembers the first time he called the two of you that -- something a little cheeky for the first witch who didn't sneer in disgust at the prospects of his less than favorable past time. The curiosity in your eyes then was one he had seen in his own, even then he had this funny feeling that you were going to get along very well.

If he only knew how right he was, he would've thought he was a prodigy in divination.

A tear once again pebbled at the memory but just as he closed his eyes ready to wipe it away you were already sitting up, throwing the wet cloth and pressing a kiss on the edge of it. Sebastian sucked in a breath, blinking to see you hovering over him now. He’s never seen you this zealous. The passion in your eyes is almost mirroring his own.

It would seem whatever was in that brew had smashed through your inhibitions and his pride as he let you continue peppering kisses all over his face.

“You are very precious to me,” she whispered fondly, her gaze soft, drunk and adoring then it turned dark, an emotion crossed your face that he’d only seen when you had been fighting the meanest of foes. “I’d blow this entire school up before I let any of them think they could take your place in my life.”

Sebastian shuddered, his entire body burning under your gaze.

Leaning over again, you pressed another kiss on his other eyelid. “I won’t allow anyone to take you away from me.”

On his forehead. “And you are not allowed to leave me. I forbid it, Sebastian.”

As pathetic as it was, the words were everything he needed to hear. The possession healing over all his insecurities like a balm.

He has always been a selfish lad. His parents and everything he had ever known were ripped away from him at too early of an age that it made him realize that he needed to protect Anne because she was all he had but even that exploded spectacularly into a tragedy.

And then he met you and finally, finally, he met his person. Someone who was seemingly made just for him. Someone who understood him for all his secrets and flaws and still called him a friend.

However, it would seem that he was cursed of a cruel fate. Because the one person who was supposed to be just his turned out to be the most sought-after witch of their generation with the type of magic that had not been seen in centuries. At first, it didn’t matter, he was confident of his place in your life. But as the two of you grew up, the reality that your position in society were skies apart was when his insecurities began to painfully blossom.

But this … it was nice to be claimed like this. To be able to hear and see the crazed obsession he had only seen in his own reflection be mirrored by the one person he needed it from the most. The whole world can laugh behind his back, it didn’t matter anymore. The most brilliant witch in history is in this bed with him, kissing all his insecurities away and branding him as hers.

He chuckled but was cut short when you pressed a softer kiss just by the edge of his smile. His heart threatened to pound out of his chest, his ears failing to hear anything else but the next words out of your mouth. “Do you understand me, Sebastian?”

It has never been clearer: she is his.

“You are mine.”

With her final words, Sebastian’s brain seems to finally function again. A surge of alcohol and courage caused him to raise his limbs to cup your face, pulling you closer and closer so he could finally do what he had been dreaming about since your first duel.

A kiss. A promise. The final bind that would lock your souls together forevermore.

You gasped, smiling through the kiss before you plopped your entire body on top of his, your body finally getting overwhelmed by the alcohol and all that has happened in the past hours – knocking you straight into a dreamless sleep.

For the first time in a long, long while, he was at peace.

The two of you may never remember this moment but he’ll know it in his soul. In this dim room, surrounded by her scent, and her skin, and her kisses – he has finally found where he belongs and who belonged to him.

He pulled you into him – tighter, closer. It didn’t matter, you were his.

Only his.

“Guess we made up?”

When you woke up Sebastian was already lounging in the ottoman by the end of the bed, casually reading a book while you were crawling towards him with your blanket over your head and suffering through a hangover.

If not for the redness in his eyes you would’ve thought you hallucinated his teary apologies.

He was quick to open up his form, grabbing a decorative pillow for you as you laid down on his lap dramatically. You don’t remember much but you knew enough that the big fight was forgotten and forgiven.

“Guess so, darling,” he chuckled nonchalantly, back to his cool, charming self as if he hadn’t been a crybaby in your arms just yesterday.

‘Darling’? That’s new.

You grinned, letting him pet you. You weren’t complaining, not being friends with Sebastian felt wrong and it was a miracle you stood your ground as hard as you did.

“Aren’t I so gracious, dear?” you teased, poking his stomach to make him flinch. The two of you laughed. “What happened after I popped out that blasted poison from Hogshead?”

When you try to comb through your memories your headache fights back with a vengeance so you had hoped he would supply the blank pages in your mind.

He stared at you for a beat before sighing, looking truly as miffed as you. “I wish I remembered, I’m in the dark as much as you.”

And as much as he knows it was wrong to not try to remember, he also knew he wouldn’t be able to live through the embarrassment of what he might’ve been telling you while he was drunk and emotional again. It was a mistake but he was more than happy to let those blank memories remain blank. What’s important is that you are friends again.

“Let’s focus on the future now, hm? No sense digging through what would definitely be an embarrassing moment for me,” he groaned, pinching your cheeks when you gave him a teasing smile.

You hesitated, biting your lip but then nodded. “If you say so.” It was in the past after all.

Sebastian was glad you let it go. (He will regret this in years to come.)

“Speaking of futures, I had wanted to ask you,” he played with the short strands of your hair, heart full of adoration as he looked down at your face. “Go to the Yule Ball with me? Gotta have a pretty date for this year.”

You dramatically gasped, “The Future Triwizard Champion asking little old me? Also, I was your date last year, scoundrel!”

He burst out laughing, you jumped into his arms, pressing a kiss on his cheeks.

His lips tingled, his head ached as it begged him to remember. But then you flashed him that bright smile and nothing else mattered.

“I would love to.”

The two of you were back to what you had once been. It would just be greedy to ask for more.

Right?

[xoxo-ren-xoxo]

Hermitcraft / Life Series Fic Recs

Because I love so many of them...

I'll split the fics into completed and updating fics, and try to only recommend currently updating fics (i.e., not abandoned). I'm going to write a little about why I like each fic and what the general vibes are - so this is also a kind of review I guess?

I've tried to @ the authors if they have a public tumblr. Sorry to anyone who didn't want to be tagged, I can remove any @ if you ask (or if I have embarrassingly tagged the wrong person). Anyway, enjoy, and I appreciate reblogs because I want as many people to see these fics as possible!!

This ended up being incredibly long so I'm putting a divider here. Click to keep reading!!! Also, fair warning: shipping ahead! Some fics will have mild sexual content, please read the tags if you are unsure <3

Updating Fics

I have already recommended Help Me To Breathe, lost in the dark (he's got a heavy heart), and There Are Monsters Nearby in this post, so I won't explain why I like them a second time, but definitely check them out!!

Death's A Good Gig by @mawofthemagnetar is probably going to be finished by the time this post gets to you, reader, but I'm putting it here anyway. It's short and sweet, one of my favourite representations of Zedaph (or, Zedeath) I've read, and just a joy to experience. If you like grim reapers and discussions of unions, this one is for you. Also I need more Zedaph in my life.

Look, I'm Sorry, Please Stop Scaring Everyone by @cat-in-the-desert reminds me a lot of a particular TV drama I liked when I was younger, which followed a similar premise. This fic follows Mumbo (vampire) and Grian (ghost) as they get up to various housemate shenanigans and meet their local magic-expert and salesman Scar. This fic is fun, but still includes a nice amount of Feelings and hinted-at Angst which I really love. It's lighthearted, but never boring.

It Hurts To Hope by Inquillitory is my favourite of the "Grian crash lands into Hermitcraft and causes problems for everyone" genre. Seeing how many fics there are with that premise, I think that says a lot. It handles Grian's weird Watcher stuff really well. Honestly, I just want to know what happens next!

killing the boy in the tv by @raspberrystruck is like a sickfic on steroids. If you want Grian with so much past trauma he forgets how to function in society, this is basically the fic for you. I really love how hybrid traits affect the characters' interactions in this fic, and how everyone is kind of messed up because of the imbalance Grian brings. It is wonderfully descriptive in all the right places!

Love Me Like I'm Dead by @daniofcrows is such a gem. You know how hard it is to find good Xisuma whump? It's impossible. I absolutely love how Xisuma and Evil X are characterised in this, and I am obsessed with the unique take on hanahaki disease which I have never seen handled in this way before. The balance between flashbacks and present day is maintained wonderfully and I cannot wait to continue reading this one. Wow.

Oh, you wanted me to do a verse? by @bugbbear is... kind of indescribable. It's horror. It's comedy. It's the apocalypse. It's boatem. Scar eats someone. One of the most interesting and unique apocalypse stories I have read. Slowly updating but worth the wait, in my opinion. This one NEEDS more attention.

So Much For Stardust by @a-plethora-of-peters is basically one of my all-time favourites. Which is a damn good achievement seeing as I don't usually read ZITS fics. Like, ever. In this fic, Skizz is a human abducted and hurt badly by aliens, now recovering in the care of good aliens who don't know how 'sentient' he is. Every update of this one makes me smile, it is wonderful. I love how the characters are written and how the different perspectives are shown. It is just great.

Solar Waltz by @raspberrystruck and aroundtheclock is a brilliant and very very sad regression fic. I love fluffy regression fics as much as the next guy, but this one just... hits different. The hurt/comfort levels are off the charts. Grian is so damn cute the whole time, while also being harrowingly complicated and sad. I am so ready for whatever comes next.

Tango's Castle of Cards by @evilrat-sabre is the one where Tango is a BUG. He's just a little guy (horror). This one is so beautifully written, with poetry-type interludes and perspective changes that really make everything feel so much more impactful. Finding out your buddy is a murder bug isn't the easiest thing in the world. I love this so much.

Traveling Thieves {Dark Fantasy AU} (series) by @amethystfairy1 is basically one of the series of all time. I know I keep saying that but it really really is. I love a good fantasy au, and I love an au with hybrids even more. In this world, hybrids are treated like slaves, but it isn't all doom and gloom for the main characters of each installment. There is a lot of hurt/comfort and the different stories feed into each other in really interesting ways. I try to read as much as I can, though I've missed a few because my emails are buggy. Definitely worth reading these fics, especially since now they're all starting to come together!

Completed Fics

Solving Counting Sheep by @theminecraftbee might have rearranged my brain chemistry a little. Another strong contender for 'fics that inspire me to kill Grian', this time with a more concrete notion of "replacement". Three is my favourite fucked up living weapon. It's so rare to find Evo fics in this day and age, too. This fic had me immediately clicking on every update as soon as I got the emails.

Rescue Fire by @imaginethat0327 is one of the most unique takes on a fictionalised life series game that I have ever read. The whole concept is explained in a realistic and easy-to-follow way, as we learn what's happening with the characters. There are several brilliant storylines happening in this one, but my particular favourites are Jimmy & Tango, Joel, and of course Scar & Grian. This fic is full of whump and, well, read the tags, it isn't always pleasant, but those are my favourite things ever. Definitely worth checking out this fic and its currently updating sequel.

don't you know about me? by takenbadgering is a wonderful comedy of errors with just the right amount of angst for a realistic setting type of fic. If you enjoy polyamory miscommunications, rave aesthetics, kandi, school teacher dynamics, and a lovely blend between grumbo, cubscar, and mumscar, this is the one.

Eventually the Birds Must Land by @milo-hypno follows a polyam ship I would have never thought of, and I cannot believe how much I loved it. This married-as-friends fic premise is wonderful, and captures the main trio (Grian, Mumbo, Impulse)'s personalities so well, while balancing them with the incredibly terrifying descriptions of the Watchers and their power. There's a lot of angst here, but it is ultimately hurt/comfort to the maximum degree. I loved reading it as it updated. Yay for gay marriage!

From The Archives (series) by @sixteenth-days was the absolute inspiration for my own Comms AU, and I will never forget its influence on me. As someone basically unfamiliar with TMA, I thought this series might be hard to follow, but it was not! I read all 57 parts in the span of two days, and I think it altered my brain chemistry. Please read it, even if (especially if) you don't know anything about TMA. The Cleo and Grian storyline lives in my head rent free. I mean it. This is horror at its finest. Also there's an audio series of this fic being released rn, which is very cool.

SUPERCRITICAL by @masque-of-plague hits different. It is such a wonderful take on the superhero/HotGuy trope, and it gets so super dark at some points! This one really takes swings at it's fictional government, which of course I love, while at the same time building this brilliantly emotional relationship between Scar and Grian. I do enjoy a bit of enemies to lovers, but the actual plot mixed into the story makes this one extra special. It is thrilling, with action that I don't get to see too often! Great work.

I am weary with contending! is one of the mumscarian fics of all time. From 'this house has people in it'-type horror, to magic gone wrong, to childhood trauma, to attempted assassination, to gender fuckery, this fic has it all. Usually I don't go for convex siblings, but this one is good enough to get a pass from me. Amazingly detailed worldbuilding alongside a brilliantly creative story.

It Spreads by @foxxology may not count as a fic, actually. It's a comic. But it's posted on ao3 so it counts. I was obsessed with this one as it was updating, honestly. It rocked me to my core. The art is phenomenal. The writing is brilliant. I love sculk.

Luck of the sea by Sleepy_Duck is a lovely take on mermaid and human interactions, with Grian as a marine life conservator and Scar as a very neglected mer. This one takes us emotionally in all sorts of directions, and offers lots of hope for the future of the characters. I heavily enjoyed this fic - if you like mermaids and marine biology, check it out.

there are many downsides to being a marine biologist by donnerstag is another mermaid fic but with a pretty different vibe. First of all, it follows what I would consider a rarepair Doc/Martyn. Second of all, reading this as it updated was a thrilling experience that nearly made me cry at certain points. I love how the relationship builds in this fic. It is honestly amazing. The whole idea of experimenting on a sentient sea creature, learning that he can communicate, then losing funding and having to save him from being dissected?!?! It's crazy. I love it.

Thus concludes my fic recommendations. I hope you enjoy at least some of these, and consider reblogging to spread these wonderful fics around <3

[nifreti-ii]

My sweet housmate!:

Nothing like your cannibal husband offering you a leg :P 

Something about dead-eyed barely emoting men gets me. His dead eyes captivate me~ also BUY IT! BUY THIS GAME! IT IS SHORT AND SWEET AND SEUNG-MIN KIM IS POOKIE, HE IS HUSBAND MATERIAL!! By buying this game you will directly support online obsession, and i want to play that GAME. (no seriously tho, I was so excited for the 1 quarter of the year cause game but the creator is adding EVEN more goodies than the trailer showed. Buying My sweet housemate helps with funding.) Also it’s just a really fun and pleasing-to-the-eye game, WHO wouldn't WANT TO PLAY A GAME WITH SIMILAR/BETTER GRAPHICS. Also ya know, Seung-min is a silly I like. :3 Check out my Masterlist for my art and (limited) writing! }:>

[celestialprincesse]

YES!! YEY!!

so yk how like nerd!readers usually have collections? yes, collections. i have obsessions over a lot of things. im a "nerd" for dinos, coffee, dark romance books, cats, bla bla. yes. im a handful. hah.

then how they usually dont sleep. how I usually dont sleep lmao. then he comes home to reader studying or completing work, thesis, reports you name it. or maybe back to reader just waiting for him with those almost dead,baggy eyes. like "oh hey, fuck im sleepy". oh my ive been there. had my friend coming over and she saw me flopped on the floor, papers everywhere, highlighter in mouth while my empty coffee mug had crunched papers haha. also, 3 days of thesis(s)

then reader binges a lot. on books, series, documentaries, anything that keeps them away from being loneliness. i love crime and history oh hell yes. usually watch them war docus haha. then the crime ones are addicting. or for fun, id watch cooking shows, thanks to that habit, im a pro chef (lol) im an ambivert, thus, yes i can socialise. i had my housemate come with me shopping. she's a pilot so she's rarely home. she followed me to the mall, nearby cafe's, some local shops and i was saying high to all the shopkeepers. she was like, "you know everyone?" "yep, get pretty lonely :D" yea..i could imagine Simon just watching in confusion haha. i have..adopted 2 cats to keep me entertained...sorry Simon :D

hehe, i have more but this is all for now love! <333 i wanna know how it is on your side :DD

Honestly, it's pretty much the same for me. I'm big on collecting things too, mostly books and jewellery and the occasional kitschy antique I stumble upon at my local thrift. I also sleep a lot (but always at weird times) because my brain keeps me up at night whirring about the most random nonsensical things.

I like to think that Simon sort of takes charge of he and nerdy!readers relationship when they're working on a big research project because they just entirely forget how to function. I'm talking hoisting them over his shoulder to get to bed, plugging in their laptop so it's fully charged in the morning. He asks them questions about their interests just so that he gets the opportunity to shove a granola bar or some berries into their open mouth, otherwise they'll get so focussed they forget to eat. He'll drag them to the gym or on a walk with him just so that they can get some fresh air and exercise, because sitting at a desk for all hours of the day for weeks isn't healthy, despite how much they try and convince him it is.

Honestly? I also think that Simon would be super pro his partner getting a pet. He's down to do basically anything that will give them a break from freaking out over their studies, and he'd really like them to have some company when he's away on deployment, so at least if they don't leave the house, they won't be entirely alone.

[ribbibbledibbles]

I am a massive fan of zombie media. Have been for years now. I binge watch zombie shows/movies all the time, having exhausted Netflix' UK cataloge. I listen to any zombie-flavoured podcast that comes along, read any undead based books I can get my hands on, hell I even did the whole Zombies! RUN! thing for a little while. All of this to say, it's a big part of my life.

And I think I've figured out the root of it.

I'm the youngest in my household, meaning my mother was rather lax with rules, and I has unrestricted access to the internet. Which included such delights as BBC iPlayer, the driving force behind my, now crippling, zombie media addiction.

I was scrolling through iPlayer one day, hoping to find something to watch. I was a big fan of game shows, regularly watching the Challenge channel on TV, so I was perusing the game shows on hand.

Then it showed itself.

I Survived A Zombie Apocalypse.

A definitely rigged (in hindsight, not to my 12 year old mind) game show in which contestants had to survive several days and challenges in a zombie infested shopping center. Think Zombieverse but British and about a decade earlier. It was due to be taken off iPlayer soon, so I watched it over and over again. It wasn't overly gorey, but gorey enough that I knew my mother wouldn't let me watch it if she knew, so I have kept it a secret for the last 9 years.

I wanted more, though. Game shows wouldn't cut it anymore, I needed zombies to scratch that little itch in my brain. Not long after ISAZA was taken off iPlayer, I began my search. That's when I found the masterpiece that would kick my zombie obsession into overdrive.

Dead Set.

A limited zombie series aired on E4 in 2008, made specially to run after episodes of Big Brother in the run up to Halloween. In the work of fiction, the zombie apocalypse breaks out during an eviction night on big brother. The housemates face tricky dilemmas and life or death situations.

If you have not watched Dead Set, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO SO. It's such a great show and holds such a special place in my heart. I've watched it countless times, and it'd utterly brilliant. There's funny bits, thrilling bits, and the overall craftsmanship of the show is just gorgeous for the time.

It also has zombie Divina Mcall. What more do you want from a zombie show?

I, again, watched that in secret for years Finding new shows along the way. That was it, two shows and my zombie mad self was changed forever.

What show started your zombie fever?

[aro-ortega]

i dont know what i originally followed you for but idc. i would love to know who/what sidestep and fh are. it seems super cool and you really like it so i'd love to know!!! the art you rb and tag it with are always bangers so i'm def interested

fallen hero is so so fucking good. i convinced one of my work/housemates from my archaeo field school to play it and she instantly became obsessed, it is amazing

sidestep is the main/playable character in fallen hero (rebirth & retribution) which is a video game choice of games interactive fiction smart choose your own adventure book. sidestep was a hero/vigilante 7 years ago, but then an incident caused their "death" - only they didn't die, and now they are back with a vengeance, this time as a villain

the first game follows sidestep finishing their preparations for their villain debut, and the second game follows the first year or so post villain debut

oh also, when they were working as a hero they were working with the Los diablos rangers - most noticeable charge, aka ortega. ortega has believed sidestep to be dead for the last seven years and sidestep has made no efforts to contact them - but their paths happen to cross so sidestep is also dealing with this ghost from their past, and being dragged back into the rangers circle, just as they are getting ready for their villain debut

also also. this is a relationship game - friendship, romance, or rivalry, your choice. there are two romance options in the first game (and ortega is one of them) which carry over into the second game that adds three more romance options

these games are so so good, literally everyone who plays them becomes obsessed you have got to try them out

[samcybercat]

Supernatural Characters That I Liked :D

On 2nd April 2023, we finished watching all 15 seasons of Supernatural. My history with this show is that I didn't really know it was a thing while it was popular and then by the time I joined Tumblr it was "that series people on Tumblr like that I don't think would be for me". Up until late 2021, the only things from Supernatural that I'd seen were the Destiel Confession (TM), a short scene of Dean telling Sam & Jack that Castiel was dead and the montage of Sam dying from the final episode. Beyond that, I genuinely knew nothing about the show But in 2021 (I think?) my housemates and I had finished BBC Merlin and were looking for a new long series to try, which ended up being Supernatural. Our set-up was that Gemba had seen up to Season 12 (and thus had to endure us asking many questions about it), but Amber and I had never seen any of it Now, no one needs me to review Supernatural. Enough other people who know more about it than I do have done that. But it's been a long ride and I wanted to do something to celebrate it. So instead of picking apart the good and the bad, I thought I'd simply make a list of the characters I like. This is not an all-inclusive list, as in over 15 seasons there are bound to be a few fun one-off characters who I'll forget. But I tried to include as many characters as possible Starting off with my beloved - everyone's favourite Supernatural character whose name begins with the letter C...

...Crowley! (Don't worry, Castiel is also on the list lol)

I cannot understate how much Crowley kept me going with this show. We'd just come off the back of the Trickster dying and I was bummed about that, but then Crowley came along with all his yelling and his bisexual villainy and I was won over immediately. Everything about Mark Sheppard's performance was a delight and all his interactions with the rest of the main cast were so fun. When Crowley ended up on the path from enemy to frenemy to begrudging ally, it never felt like character-derailment at all. Though having said that, I also fully understand and respect Sheppard's choice to leave because he was disappointed with how Crowley was being written - as much as it was a big miss for me to see Crowley go. Crowley is my blorbo for this show He is also incredibly shippable with Sam

Next up is Sam, Mr. Skrunkly Himself and the greatest shipping bicycle I could ask for Now, some of you who I have talked to about Supernatural might remember me saying that I didn't like Sam, which certainly was true in the earlier seasons. I just feel like in the beginning, Sam's stick-in-the-mud attitude needed a bit longer to bake until he became the absolutely endearing, doe-eyed giant that he would become later on. I also think that Sam becoming a better character ended up lining up quite well with Dean becoming... less of a characters that I could enjoy, so that worked out nicely. I'm sorry that I was a non-believer to start with, Sammy, but I'm 100% a Sam Girl now lol

You're on tumblr, you know who this is I now definitely understand why this website was so obsessed with Castiel. What could've easily been a throw-away character was turned into a series main-stay and I'm sure that a large part of that was due to the clear love that Misha Collins had for the character and poured into his performance. Every time Castiel was around it was always great and, like a lot of people, my biggest problem with Castiel was that they didn't use him enough. They (probably accidentally) wrote one of the best autistic characters I've seen in a while and also, his Dadstiel scenes with Claire and Jack are one of the few times I've really enjoyed seeing a character take on the role of a parent Castiel is also incredibly shippable with Sam (sorry Destiel shippers, I'm Sastiel through and through)

Queen of my heart, Rowena! The treatment of female characters in Supernatural is another topic with not a great reputation, but you've got to believe me when I say that Rowena is a brilliant character, one of the best and most-fun female villains. When she was introduced as Crowley's mum, I knew we were in for a great ride and, sure enough, every episode she was in was charming. Ruth Connell really ran with the concept of "vengeful Scottish witch". My fears for Rowena had been that she would be killed off shortly after Crowley's departure, but I was delighted to see that she continued to be a main-stay for most of the show, ending with her destined death scene with Sam, before being triumphantly crowned Queen of Hell Rowena is also incredibly shippable with Sam, though I've also gotta give a shout-out to my short-lived OTP of Rowena x Gabriel

Speaking of Gabriel, the Trickster was definitely what kept me watching at the start of the series. In the beginning, Supernatural was a bit dry for my taste and he injected that shot of fun into it that it needed to keep me interested. His episodes were few and far between, but just knowing there might be a Trickster episode on the horizon always kept me going until Crowley came along to take the mantle from him. I was glad to see Gabriel return later on, even if I feel like they didn't really use him or play to his strengths quite as much as they did in the early episodes The Trickster is also incredibly shippable with Sam

The best baby boy, Jack! On paper, the concept of Lucifer's son joining the team felt like a desperate attempt by the writers to show a new, younger audience that they were still hip and relevant, but that ended up not being the case. From the moment Jack appeared, he was wonderful, bringing the same energy as Castiel, but with that child-like optimism attached that would lead to him ultimately saving the day and making a better world for everyone. Seeing the trio raising a son was also brilliant and actually the perfect kind of fanfic-fodder the show needed. My biggest regret for Jack is that he came along after most people stopped caring about the show, so he didn't receive the appreciation I think he deserved

I actually feel bad that it's taken me so long to get to Bobby, as he's one of my big faves, but in my defence he wasn't in the later seasons very much. Bobby went from being "Guy who tells the brothers where the monster of the week is" to the actual perfect father-figure they deserved. There was a reason why when Dean gets to heaven it was Bobby waiting for him and not John, and it wasn't just because getting Neegan back was probably expensive. Bobby is another underrated autistic icon imo and excellent boyfriend-material for Crowley. Even though I was sad when his time on the show was cut short, he was one of the few characters who I felt was given the right amount of fanfare for his send-off

Ketch! I love Ketch! He's our fave in this house. After the very dull Darkness season, I had my hopes low and was rolling my eyes when the British Men of Letters were introduced, but then they ended up being so cringe that it cycled back around to being funny again. We would cheer every time Ketch appeared

Yes, I like Bela and think she was fun in her appearances, you're all just mean about her :(

This version of Meg specifically was wonderful and top-tier shippable with Castiel. It's no wonder that she was the one they called back to play The Empty all those years later. Meg's flirty banter was the perfect foil for Castiel's serious cluelessness and I would always look forward to scenes with both of them

I'm gonna be real with you: most of the season-long villains were very hit or miss for me, but Zachariah was one villain who I thought was excellent. It's a shame he was so early on, so I don't remember too much about his specifically, but I do remember enjoying him and how powerful he made the angels feel

Pamela or, as she was known in our house for a long time, The Woman Who Was Fine About Everything. When Pamela first appears she's like "Two brother? Awesome, let's have a threesome!" ...Then she gets her eyes blasted out. When we next see her, Pamela is totally cool with being blind and is even using it to help her work. ...Then she gets killed off. But when we next see her in the afterlife, wouldn't you know it, she's totally cool with being dead. Even when she later appears as a figment of Dean's imagination, she's fine with that, too. So here's to you, Pamela. Wherever you are, I know you're totally cool with it!

Kevin Tran and his mum. These two characters are the absolute example of deserving much better from the writing, especially Kevin. At least his mum got some cool scenes when she tried to rescue him, but poor Kevin was basically the Wincester's hostage who then died to give Dean more man pain. Which is a shame, because Kevin was great and I really wish we'd been given more fun scenes with him

Hannah (Agent Stone version) ...Look, it's Lee Majdoub, the guy who plays Agent Stone in the Sonic Movies! Turns out he had a brief role in Supernatural as one of Hannah's vessels. I wish he'd stuck around, but as a big Sonic fan I'm glad he moved onto other things :')

Claire Novak - I never expected the kid from Castiel's vessel's old life to come back as a full character later on, but Claire filled the role of the vengeful daughter who grew to respect Castiel so well and I definitely wish we'd seen more of both Claire and her short-lived relationship with Kaia. I also had the exact same Grumpy Cat plushie that Castiel gave to Claire, so I was very endeared by that

Both the original Death and Billie who came after him were excellent! Both very different and strong personalities who filled every scene they were in - when these two appeared, you really knew Dean had to sit up and pay attention, because shit was about to get real

Another one of my top faves, Eileen! Imagine my surprise when Supernatural of all series introduces one of the very few portrayals of a deaf character I've seen and she ends up becoming a recurring character and love interest to one of the main characters. Eileen was annoyingly killed off-screen, but then they made up for it by having Sam go to such lengths to bring her back. She had an adorable relationship with Sam. ...Then they killed her off again and left us to only assume that she must've been returned to life by Jack, but never actually showed that. Oh well, I will choose to believe that the blurry woman they showed with Sam in his montage in the last episode was Eileen and they got the happy ending they deserved

Rufus went from having a somewhat subdued first appearance to being Bobby's partner in crime and that was when he really shined. Another character who was killed off far too early, wasting his potential, but I enjoyed the few Bobby & Rufus episodes that we did get

Garth was just a nice guy and I wanted good things for him. After his short, but successful, role as The New Bobby, I'm glad that Garth was able to retire and live with his werewolf family without becoming yet another victim of characters dying by association with the Winchesters

Becky went from being a very fun nod-to-the-fandom character to having that... one very uncomfortable episode with Sam... to disappearing for a long time and finally coming back to be shown living her best life with her family and thriving. Screw Chuck for killing her off, but I choose to believe that she came back

Crowley having a son who was brought to modern day from ye olde Scotland and then let loose into a park somewhere will never not be funny to me. I liked Gavin for the few episodes he was in

...And I'm bored of looking for screenshots now, so I'll cap this off by also giving a shout-out to fan-fave, Charlie, who they once again killed off before they should've done but at least had some good episodes, Balthazar, who was the idea friend for Castiel and gave me big Dionysus Hades Game vibes, Metatron, who really grew on my from his initial introduction as villain to reluctant frenemy, and to Chuck, who was a character who really annoyed me for most of the series, but then once they started playing him as a straight up villain it felt like he was the perfect way to sing the series out. Amara also got a lot better in later seasons from her unfortunate first appearance and it was a shame about her hand-wave ending I have mixed feelings about Dean. Goodnight

[ttylcore]

god. so many things have happened recently. ever since i relapsed, i’ve been acting absolutely insane. i’ve slept with 5 people and now i’ve started injecting mdma. i say started, i’ve been doing it for a couple of weeks. i’ve lost so much weight. but my hair is falling out and i’m weak all the time and don’t have an appetite and i have some sort of liver damage from when i tried killing myself by overdosing on 1.5 packets of 40mg citalopram, where i ended up in hospital on a drip. i don’t know how i’m still alive. i feel relatively good today, considering how bad yesterday was and the past week. i’m going to stop drinking, or rather stop getting drunk. because i got a huge wake up call yesterday when my best friend went absolutely sick at me for getting drunk at his house and being a dickhead to everyone and then sleeping with his housemate. everything’s quite complicated in that regard because i still have feelings for my best friend. it’s just a tough one.

i’m scared i’m going to end up homeless on the 30th because i still don’t have anywhere to live and that’s when my tenancy agreement ends. i don’t really know what to do but i’m going to have to try and find a house in the next couple of days otherwise i’ll be in a really bad position. i’m hoping and praying i’ll find somewhere to live.

i’m also scared about how much i enjoy injecting. the veins in my arms are fucked and it’s escalated really quickly. i think if i take care of myself more and take breaks from doing it i’ll be okay. the thing that gives me the most euphoria about it is that i know it’s making me lose weight really quickly. that’s one thing that’s stopping me from quitting everything again altogether, i’m obsessed with losing weight. but this isn’t the way to go. i’m going to end up dead if i don’t slow down or stop soon. anything could happen.

anyway, i’ll be posting on here more often because i’m not using my private stories to vent anymore because of issues that it’s caused in my relationships. i need to start keeping things to myself.

[bubblesandgutz]

Every Record I Own - Day 763: Modest Mouse The Lonesome Crowded West

I started listening to Modest Mouse after playing a show with them back in ‘96. In the nearly 27 years since then, my attention span with regards to their output has ebbed and flowed. They were a prolific band back in the day, releasing double albums in both ‘96 and ‘97, while also releasing five EPs and singles in that two-year period. I was a broke college student at the time, too poor to buy any records, so my fandom really just consisted of listening in on my housemates’ spins of their records. I loved some of those early 7″s and I loved the debut album, but when a copy of The Lonesome Crowded West wound up in our house, I found myself retreating to my basement room to throw on His Hero Is Gone or whatever else it was I was obsessing over at the time. 

This wasn’t a deliberate slight on The Lonesome Crowded West. The barked vocals and mangled guitar work on album opener “Teeth Like God’s Shoeshine” should’ve been right up my alley. But I was generally more drawn to their fractured down-and-out pop songs, and the new album seemed more like drunk and rowdy indie rock. It would be a few years before I heard a new Modest Mouse song that drew me back into their world. 

But The Lonesome Crowded West was the album where the band went from being local heroes to national darlings of the bespectacled sweater-clad punks. If you lived in a college town or a decently hip part of a bigger city, you probably heard Modest Mouse in coffee shops and bars. Friend’s houses. Record stores. Over the PA between bands at venues. 

I bought this 2xLP when it was reissued in 2014 because I had heard bits and pieces of it out in public over the years, and its charms were beginning to grow on me. I loved the ominous spaghetti western twang of “Cowboy Dan” and the bittersweet nostalgic pop of “Trailer Trash.” It was still a daunting record in length and it still felt a bit more ferocious than what I ultimately craved from the band, but I was glad to have the album in my collection.

I’ve now thrown on The Lonesome Crowded West more since the passing of Jeremiah Green than I ever did in years past. It’s been scratching a very similar itch to Dead Moon, a band that’s been sorta unavoidable here in the Northwest the last few decades. Dead Moon always seemed like they belonged to a different, older crowd. But once I started listening to their albums on my own a few years ago, I realized how many of the songs I recognized from hanging out at the Cha Cha Lounge or record shopping at Singles Going Steady or waiting for the next band to go on at The Comet. It sounded like being young and living in my first apartment on Capitol Hill. Like Dead Moon, The Lonesome Crowded West wasn’t a part of my private soundtrack, but it was certainly a part of my public life. 

Nostalgia can be a poison, but it can also keep us tethered to some aspect of our youth. And that reminder can help keep us in touch with some side of ourselves that isn’t quite as cynical or browbeaten by the world around us. At the very least, it can remind us of a time where we didn’t worry about our peers passing away in the blink of an eye. We were young and careless and going through the growing pains of entering adulthood, and while I don’t want to pretend that they were easy times, they certainly weren’t without a sense of wonder, freedom, and possibility. 

[grub-s]

my new obsession is monique clare who i saw perform twice this weekend and cried at both times and i will see her again for her album launch in melb in march and i will cry again then and i’m tempted to try and save up all my crying for then but now that my housemate has her album i might use it like a pressure release valve to cry in bits and bobs until then. her merch for sale was the album, the album songbook if you wanted to learn the songs, and beautiful blank journals to write your feelings down in. she ripped my heart out and gave it a little kiss and put it back in Twice with two different set lists and i’m dead now, bye

[minted-midas]

Yo, thanks for tagging me! 🥰

Last song: I WANT YOU- Carter Vail (been really digging his stuff lately, his entire brand is uncannily me. Honourable mention to The Blade by Aurora)

Fave color: Somewhere between orange and yellow. Let's call it amber.

Currently watching: Dead Boy Detectives! Very fun, highly recommend. My housemate and I are also watching David Attenborough's Planet Earth III because of course we are.

Spicy/savory/sweet: Savoury!

Relationship status: Wouldn't you like to know, weatherboy

Current obsession: Yeah, look it's still minecraft. I'm deep in that Hermitcraft/Life Series wormhole and I ain't escaping soon. IRL though I've been on a big ol' caving kick (for better or worse) and have been trying to get back into rollerskating!

Tagging: @sparticus2000art @radio-tiger @sparklyspacekitty @sketchingdeer (if any of you wanna, no pressure)

Nine people i'd like to get to know better:

Tagged by: @bell-of-indecision, thank you so much for tagging me <3

Last Song: Gmfu by Odetari,6arelyhuman

Favourite colour: Dark red, violet, pink

Currently watching: Death note, ep6

Spicy/Savoury/Sweet: Spicy

Relationship status: Single

Current Obsession: Mbti types and cognitive functions.

Tagging: @somin-yin @a-cloud-for-dreams @axepen @hinsaa-paramo-dharma @basic-bitch-alkali @rhysaka @blackknight-100 @squishywizardd @reykalot

[new-kanon]

EXTREME SPOILERS BELOW FOR THE WEB SERIES MY POLYCULE & HOUSEMATES & GODDAUGHTERS WILL BE FILMING! IF YOU WANT TO UNCOVER THE SECRET LORE IN TIME WITH EVERYONE ELSE ONCE IT'S RELEASED DO NOT VIEW!

We begin with our brightly colored Jewish/Rrma paranormal investigator played Alford, a pastel grunge softboy on his way to investigate the source of the strange and bloody past of this forgotten Bay Arean neighborhood. Does he have a personal interest or just curious? Hmm.

The "Black Miasma" has plagued this town for generations, the spiritual dark force that causes the many disappearances and serial killings, supposed stemming from the mansion uptop the hill. Where an Intersexed half Native witch Bride and their satanic Husband made human sacrifices before being entombed within its walls by the villagefolk. Yet that's only half true.

Now inhabited by immortals, who through black magic and dark science, cheated death: a Romani witch assassin and her German Mad Scientist husband, taking refuge here after fleeing Europe for their human experiments. Together, they nursed a Southern werewolf, Seb, and Jewish/Arab vampire, Ali, back to health after finding them fighting till exhaustion near the boundary line - and can not tell if the two are enemies, exs, or a romantic couple in a long standing fight to this day. They more or less adopt the two.

Upon the arrival of Alford, who is welcomed warmly, the wall behind the painting of the Bride's corpse-like face (originally a beautiful portrait, a la Dorian Gray), is identified as the source of the Miasma. Upon removing a bricked up wall, akin to The Cask of Amontillado, the they find Bride, now a Vessel to their husband's Eldritch God, having been sealed away alive and now white-of-hair + technically a corpse animated by possession - who reclaims the estate as their own.

Upon releasement, the most recent victim of the Black Miasma, a slasher of the neighborhood, a lovestruck outcast who was killed in a prank and buried in the woods near the Estate a year ago, turns from his final girl, who's fake date with him caused his death, and walks towards the House Upon The Hill, to heed his Mistress and Master's call, now their obsessive lover & religious devotee.

Bound by a Priest of the True Sevenfold God, the Black Miasma took and fed without care, as it's master was locked away. Now, those under their true influence are dark vigilantes, fed by the lingering consciousness of the Vessel's Soul, wanting revenge for how they were wronged by man and false romantic promise at a very young age, feeding upon the flesh of abusers.

Together, the pastel punk paranormal investigator, more or less held hostage here, the Roma witch, her German Dr Frankenstein wannabe, their Muslim vampire & Texan werewolf adopted idiots to lovers, & the Eldritch + their new Yandere Proxy hunt down bad folk among the neighborhood, aid in protection on both sides of the Mundane and Supernatural.

The Pastel Jewitch is more than just a Sillycore Bluejay in a found family of Corvids. Ultimately a "Happypasta Proxy" in the making.

Ali is immune to most traditional vampire banes as they stem from Catholicism.

Almost everyone is a cannibal. Most are technically unalive. Everyone is queer.

The Twins (played by my German and French Ginger Goddaughters) are Redrum-esque psychic followers of the Eldritch one, killers in the making. Pusgley & Wednesday coded, but goes both ways.

The Vessel's consciousness is still lingering & its a slow burn with Eldritch emotionally dead bitch & lovesick clingy stalker slasher, causing their heart to beat again.

Someone is a traitor, in league with the historical Villagers' agenda & the True Sevenfold Church, out to snuff all magic out.

Slice of Life ultimately meets Monster of the Week meets Apocalypse.

[cosmo112]

My obsessive House Mates are dead?!

Yandere Ghost DSMP x Reader

1/??

TW: unnerving content, mentions of death, just overall Spook!

You lived alone. In your Great Grand parents Home. Basically a very very Victorian style house. 

Did I tell you your GrandParents where killers? :/ yeah uh. That’s kinda important. You inherited the house because it was in both wills that YOU specifically get the house, and when you where younger you and your Grandparents made a code.

You hummed at your desk trying to read said code, it was music notes, the house was absolutely cleaned out. So no hints there even if they where carved into the walls. Everything was patched, and cleaned, and basically brand new.

You shoved the desk away and got up and started making some food. You hissed at the sudden cold and checked the AC. It was running fine, and a hot day in summer so maybe just chills from the floors? You sighed and finished some basic leftovers from a burger place. 

I shuffled down back into the office and groaned looking at the paper. You looked again and gasped. 

“Look under the Stairs.” 

I got up and ran to the stairs and grabbed the old note in HUMAN WRITING THIS TIME! I recognized Grandpa’s Writing. 

“Knock 3 times on the basement, the door will unlock.” 

I walked to the locked basement, not even the police could get in here. I knocked three times and the door slid open. I walked down the stairs, and called the Chief’s Number to tell ask for a clean up and search. 

I turned on the light and froze. I heard the cops and ran up the stairs and the door slammed shut. I looked back at the translucent male with glowing Brownish eyes with a phantom Green glow. 

He was clearly British, with curly brown hair and charming glasses. Light passed through him as his corpse sat there rotting. The police knocked 3 times as he let go of my leg and vanished into the vase. 

The steps came down as the police gently helped me up. “I unscrambled the note, and it lead me to the rotten smell down there. My grandparents wanted me to find his body. Which makes me wonder if there’s more.” You said at the table, your Lawyer nodded. 

“Their Body cam shows that their telling the truth officer Jorden.” I perked, “you guys where recording me?!” The officer sighed, “yes Y/n. We had to to get more out of the house, it’s been live streaming, our guys already took out the cameras but please report anymore hidden bodies.” 

You sighed and sat back down. You nodded as your Lawyer drove you home after the lengthy Interview, you looked out the window. “Y/n be safe please?” You laughed “of course Alex. You too.” You walked inside and was tackled. 

The Ghostly Brit held you to the wall, a dark look on his face. “You. You, why didn’t you report me? Just my body? How did you find me! Your related to them why did they kill me!” He hissed slamming you back into the wall making your head spin. 

“Uhhhgggh.” You groaned as he let you go apologizing. “Your quite bi-polar, and I have no clue for any of those questions. I’m- I’ve gotta lay down.” You mumbled as he followed. 

You tried slamming the door on him go change but he melted through and looked at you with puppy eyes. You waved him away as he just snarled suddenly. “Fine I don’t wanna hang out with you either.” He vanished and your light flickered. 

“I’M CHANGING YOU IDIOT!” You yelled and hoped he heard you as you changed.

He appeared again as you slipped on your shirt and hugged you. “I’m wilbur! Wilbur Soot! You must be Y/n L/n! Oh your Grandma spoke about you so much after I died you sounded wonderful and nothing like them! I’ve been alone for a looooong time.” 

He nuzzled into your side as you sighed and laid down. You felt him get bigger? Lankier? And hugged you from behind and spooned you. 

You huffed and tossed the blankets over yourself lazily and fell asleep. You can deal with your Ghostly Roomate later. Right? Not like there’s anymore. . Right?

TAGGIESSSS WEHEHEHEHE ask to be tagged these guys just like my writing I think :/

@nightmare-sam @kasumi-prenami @i-tradio @aike-dbunny

[trollbreak]

Uhhh I def have more! I like making guys* who r fucked up and evil tho so these are characters who r someone’s direct villain or just made for villainy

List of characters under cut plus some!!

Up there in the images we got uhhh

Ichour Whisps, she’s dead and a ghost now but. Not normal abt gore and violence. Now she’s scary on purpose

Wynric Savant, um. Mostly evil due to icky making them worse lmao. But they do a lot of crime and murder and vague gesturing

Hetham my guy Hetham. He’s also involved in the crime scene but um. He’s just here to be theatric and also for adding to his blood collection :3

Uhhh n1ghtm4re is so in progress but. Hey what if a guy that’s fucked up and monster and controls u

Um. Unnamed fleet like. Inspector isn’t the word but like he checks trade ships. Is petty as fuck and will get people in trouble for the simplest shit. Yk very holier than thou abt everything

Um! Doctor lady. Trauma lastname, she’s stealing dna and using it to play with genetics. Functionally she tries to help the fleet like. Deal with them less. But her pet project is ‘hey how funky can we get with it’ ma’am that’s people you’re making

Jester! He just sucks lmao. If u have a he/him big bad jester Is lusting over him. Villain in a cartoon who’s reoccurring and a Problem but the second the heroes start winning over his boss he’s like ah! Jumps ship cutely

Variah who’s so much less big of a bad than intended but um. There’s still Very Much a Thing abt her just. Glossing over people’s autonomy

Speaker Maldyn, has a god in him that’s got a thing for blood, and um. He’s got a thing abt control and also is gonna be a Lot abt his clown church sacrifices

Echo, she’s obsessed with ^ that guy

And some that didn’t get pictured here

Bladed Revant fucked up guy beloved

Phenga Arionn is an ex-bad, now she’s just niceys and only kills people who suck

Remnis Verith, um. Small bad, tried to end the world, would do it again. Is pointedly ignoring housemate making him normal

Doctor Crimes! That’s her legal name lol. She um. Technically is helpful to mutants but also. There is a lot of unethical practice happening at that lab.

Carver Fathom used to b a serial killer who had a whole Thing abt recording it, now she just murders but it’s less fun for him since he can’t see it

Uhh we’re down here a ways so I can say mawris :P no surprise I’m sure but um. They’re fucked up abt it. I wanna get into it so bad but I’ve got a whole ass other character to make abt it and I don’t have the vibe for her lol

Uhh honorary mention for Beastly. He was supposed to be a bad, but he said no thanks. Still kills and eats ppl tho. He’s just more humane abt it

you should.. consider… PERHAPS

showing me your bads.. i’m partial to big bads, but i can love a minor bad to

i would like to see and perhaps learn of them?

show them to me..

[geeky-politics-46]

Hi again, I love your stories and I loved how my last Request turned out it was awesome, thank you, I was wondering if I could Request another one, like the reader and sinister had a bit of an Argument like nothing big but they both needed space, so sisters idea of space is going back in time to Visit his lover when she was younger like 5, just to spend time with her, he doesn't Do anything to twist time or anything and cause like destruction just some cuteness, like Hide and seek and tea parties, and than he comes back and the tow make up.

In A Different Light

References to my story "Actions Speak Louder" but can be read alone.

Pairing: Sinister Stephen Strange x Reader

Summary: After a fight with you he goes to quite literally see your point of view, & comes back with a new understanding.

Warnings: Minor argument & some angst w/ a happy ending. Some relationship red flags. Fairly Disney-esque level fluff.

Again I'm embracing fluffy Sinister Strange. I'm obsessed with him. I wouldn't call it a toxic relationship, not super healthy still, but use your own judgement.

Something good and pure in you had served to balance the evil and corruption in him. That was why you had been the one to fall into his universe. Even after he had fallen prey to the Darkhold the fates had decided he deserved a chance at redemption. That was why you saw a silver lining where he only saw a dead end. It made you an odd couple of sorts, but you brought out something in him he had thought died long ago.

You balanced each other, and you balanced the cosmic scale of the crumbling universe around you. Instead of continuing to devour the city piece by piece, the world had found a sort of homeostasis. It was something he had only noticed after that day when he gave you his sweatshirt. When you had fallen asleep in his arms. After he let his affections for you show.

Not long after that your relationship began to bloom in something beyond incidental housemates. First into friends, then slowly moving towards lovers.

Pieces of the world slowly stopped crumbling away. Day after day he had grown used to looking out the large window of the Sanctum only to see a new building that had fractured in two, or rubble where a building had been just the day before. It took a few days before he realized that nothing was changing anymore. A hunger seemed to have been satiated in the maw of the incursion. 

As the hunger of the cannibalistic world faded, a hunger grew inside him. An emptiness that yearned to be filled. He wanted to change too. He wanted the emptiness in his heart to be filled by you. By your love.

The first time he kissed you, really kissed you, was the first day you saw the sunshine since you had been there.

The whole thing came to a head the first time you got him to slow dance with you. It was to an old country record you were surprised to find in the Sanctum at all. It was "In A Different Light" by Doug Stone.

It was a song you had spent hours hearing your parents dance to, when you were growing up. It was their song. Of all the things to find here, at the literal end of the world, this seemed like such an odd thing. Even Strange said that he had never seen it there before you found it. Not that it was exactly his style of music anyway he could easily have looked right past it. 

You essentially had to beg him to dance with you. All you were asking was one slow dance. After some arm twisting and making your best sad face he finally relented. Secretly pleased when you giddily ran over to put the song on.

He extended one hand to you to grasp and reached to wrap his other arm around your waist. He tried to hold you at a slight distance, to keep his frame stiff and formal, but as he heard your sweet voice sing along to the song softly he started to let himself melt against you. Pretending for a moment you were just another couple dancing in your home. There was no incursion and no crumbling building, you were just normal and you were happy together.

"You know in a weird way this song is perfect to describe us. I see you as such a different person than who you try to be. I really like that person Stephen. I like it here, with you." 

Your confession pulled him from his fantasy and he became crushingly aware of his own fate once again. This was his punishment, he was doomed to be miserable. It was something he was sure of. At least he was sure of it, before you. Now he didn't feel so sure of anything. This had to be some sort of joke. You couldn't be happy. He couldn't be happy. 

"Why do you insist on trying to project some happy fantasy onto your life here?! You are trapped here with a monster! With the man who did this! You should hate me with your entire being! Why do you insist on trying to love me when all I can do is cause pain and suffering?! I cannot save you from this place!"

His suggestion hurt you. You had truly started to care for him. You saw the cracks in his cold facade. You were falling for the man who let you see beneath the surface. He wasn't about to shut you out again without a fight. He had to know that you would fight for him. For he man who likes it or not, somehow, someway did something to bring you there. 

"Who says I want to be saved?! I'm not some damsel in distress Stephen, and I don't see you as some broken toy to fix either. I have never asked you to be anything other than who you are. Who says I'm not happy here exactly as things are, you and I?"

"You can't be happy here! You just can't!" He screamed as he pulled at his hair in frustration both at you and himself.

The best thing to do was remove yourself from the situation. You were both letting your emotions get the best of you. You were both angry and upset. So you removed yourself from the situation. 

"We aren't doing this right now. We will do this once we can talk about it without screaming. I'm going to be in my room, and I need to not see you for like 2 hours. So I can calm down. Okay? Come find me when you're ready." 

He stood in stunned silence. Once again you managed to take him by surprise. He wasn't used to fights that didn't just continue to dissolve until things started being thrown and things were said that could never be taken back. You waited to walk away until you saw him give an almost imperceptible nod.

You stayed away from each other the rest of the day. At opposite ends of the Sanctum, or at least you tried. You could feel his presence when he would come to your side, just to make sure you were okay, even though you knew he thought you couldn't. He liked to underestimate you. 

You hated how cold the room felt when you curled under the covers of the bed you hadn't slept in in months. In the bedroom he said was yours when you first arrived. You had grown so used to snuggling into his side, feeling him go stiff at first be relaxing into your touch. You knew you had to let him come to you though, he would tell you when he was ready to talk. 

He cracked open the door of your room when he knew you were sleeping soundly. He felt so lonely even with you just that far away. He had to understand what made you so confounding to him. He had to understand this idea of love that you had. The image that had been set for you in your mind all those years ago. 

He wouldn't mess with anything. He just wanted to see. So he grabbed and pursued the books of the Sanctum in the dark of night looking for the one he needed to take him there. The one that would allow him to turn back the clock and see. 

As he cast the spell he watched the decayed Sanctum melt away to the sight of greenery and fresh smell of cut grass. It was early evening and the noise of crickets starting to sing could be heard over the sound of the radio. On the porch stood your parents arm in arm in their own world dancing and singing to each other. Laughing when one of them would be horribly off key or step on the other's feet. 

"Are you a prince?" 

A small girl with pink cheeks and a pure curious smile had snuck up behind him. Dressed in a shimmering princess dress and crown. He recognized her smile immediately. It was you. You were maybe 7 at the time, but it was without a doubt you. 

He was surprised not only at your question, but at the fact you could even see him. He had taken care to magically  cloak himself. It must have worked as your parents were clearly none the wiser to his presence. They weren't far away from where you had been playing. So why could you see him?

He didn't want to frighten you, but he desperately didn't want to disrupt the timeline and return to the Sanctum to find you now erased from his life. He decided to just get out of the situation as fast as he could. Pretend he was a new neighbor dropping by, or a salesman. Something innocuous. 

"Far from it actually. I was hoping to see your parents, but I don't want to interrupt. So I'm just going to leave and come back later."

He started trying to back away from you and move towards the street. Once he was out of eyeshot he would portal back to the Sanctum. Before he could get far though you lunged forward and grabbed both of his large hands in your small ones without a hint of hesitation. If you noticed his scars it didn't show. How his appearance hadn't terrified you he didn't know. 

"Wait! You seem sad. Will you dance with me? Dancing always makes me smile, and you seem like you need to smile." 

It was very apparent to him at that moment that you were still the same person you were all those years ago. You had always had an optimism and a curiosity that even in his best days, before the Darkhold, he never had. The pureness of intent was the same. You just wanted to help him. It wasn't about making him into your perfect Prince Charming. It was just about wanting to see others happy. Even him.

"Who am I to say no to a princess?"

So he let you lead him as you turned and side stepped together, around in a small circle. He thought about all the ways the world had jaded him even before he succumbed to the evil of the Darkhold. 

That what had brought him to the moment you came into his life was a desperate search for somewhere he was happy. Where he could have the love he felt he had been so cruelly denied. 

He thought about the question Christine had asked him on her wedding day; 'Are you happy Stephen?'

He had given up long ago on ever even thinking he would approach that feeling, but as he thought of you he realized. You made him happy. He was happy when he was with you. That's why he pushed you away earlier. He was being given the thing he had wanted more than anything, and it scared him. 

He wasn't miserable with you there, he was happy. Finally, He was happy. He wasn't just happy, he was falling in love. That's why the universe was repairing itself. The very thing it had been fractured to find was blooming inside its broken pieces.

As the song ended, a genuine smile was no on his face as well as your small cherubic one. He had to get back and apologize to you. He had to make things right. He let your hands fall from his and took a bow.

"Thank you princess. I feel much better now."

Your mother suddenly called your name and he immediately worried he had been found. As soon as you turned away he vanished himself out of your world and back to the Sanctum of his own universe. Immediately going to make sure he hadn't changed his own world beyond salvage once again.

You were still there. Still asleep. Holding the light blue sweatshirt, his light blue sweatshirt, close to your chest and cuddling into it as a substitute for his presence. He fought the urge to go pull the garment from your grasp and slide into its place, his place, next to you. 

For once he wanted to do things right though, and the right way to say he was sorry wasn't to slink in under the cloak of darkness.  He wanted to make a grand gesture. To show you how much you had changed him. That he may not be a good man by the standards of most in the multiverse, but he would be a good man for you. You made him happy.

So he worked for hours to make everything right. He cleared out a space to use as a dance floor and surrounded it with candles. Then he put on your parents' song loud enough for you to hear in your room and waited for you to wake up. 

When you wandered into the room you were clearly confused and still half asleep. Hair disheveled and wearing your favorite old baggy t-shirt and ratty pajama shorts he had magically recreated for you after you arrived. You still managed to take his breath away. 

You slowly wandered over to him, about to ask what was going on. He went ahead and beat you to the punch. The longer he waited to speak the greater the chance he would over think it and chicken out. 

"I've never been good at saying the words 'I'm sorry', so I hope that this will help show you that I am sorry. I didn't mean what I said. I got overwhelmed. I'm not used to having someone else here. I'm not used to caring for someone or having someone care for me. So… will you dance with me?"

You smiled at him softly. While he spoke you continued to walk towards him. So instead of answering first with words you reached out and placed his arms around your waist. Yours looping around his neck and pulling him to the center of the floor. 

"I'll always dance with you Stephen. All you have to do is ask."

As he held you in his arms and started slowly spinning you around the floor of the Sanctum a flick of his hand illuminated tealight candles floating in the air above and around you. It almost looked like you were surrounded by fireflies. That alone had you speechless. When he started to sing you had to fight not to cry. It was barely audible at first, but you recognized it immediately.

I see you... In a different light

Your hair falling down With love in your eyes

In my mind... You're a beautiful sight

I see you in a different light

Just the way I saw you, last night

"I'm sorry for being such an asshole. I just... You know I've been here alone and I've done some terrible things... I don't think you're capable of harming a fly. I just don't deserve you, someone as irredeemable as me doesn't deserve someone so good, but I want to deserve you. I want to be better... for you, because of you. You make me happy and searching for happiness is what got me here. I  just forgot how to let myself feel happy. A villain isn't supposed to get the princess and live happily ever after. I'm scared, but I'm happy… because I'm falling in love with you."

"Stephen, I understand how hard it's been for you here. I also know that something you did caused this, and in time I hope you'll tell me everything. Truthfully. To me, it feels like I was brought here to help you, not to change you. So all I want is for you to be the man you want to be. Know that I will always see you in a different light than the one you cast yourself in. A princess doesn't have to find a prince, Stephen, they just have to find someone who makes them happy. You make me happy and I'm falling for you too."

You danced in silence for some time before you finally spoke again. 

"I remember you by the way. It took me a bit of time after I got here, but it hit me one day. When you thought I didn't see you watching me. That day in the backyard. My parents were convinced I had made you up and that no one was there. That you were some imaginary friend I created, but I knew you were real. I don't know how, but I knew. That's why I believe in you. That's why I love you, because I always have. Even if you aren't a prince."

You tilted your head up to his and he let his lips melt into yours. You stood surrounded by the flickering lights and for a moment the decayed facade of the Sanctum faded into what it once was. You looked up to see Stephen actually smiling down at you. 

"Stephen, before either of us says anything to mess this up, take me to bed please. Make love to me."

He lifted you up bridal style and kissed you once more before he started walking toward the bedroom.

"Who am I to say no to a princess?"

--------------------------------

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Let me know if you want to be tagged in stories for everything or for a specific charector. It's currently a lot of Strange & Bucky ❤

[firesofdainix]

October 15: Dragon | Storm

aaaand my queue runs out! i swear once i finish tomorrow’s piece i’ll write more. anyways, not meant to be character bashing. au for a reason.

@morrotober

AO3 Version

*

Green Kai AU

*

"Woah, says here that rainfall is prevalent this season," Morro tells Lloyd as he places a hand past the rooftop to feel the incoming drizzle. The clouds were almost gray, darkening the entire sky as it blots out the sun from its ever-welcome presence. The clouds were moving in a rampant pace, as if they were racing to shroud the entirety of the continent in a prolonged darkness, accompanied only by the soft or wild rains that would happen.

Thunder roars, its presence heard throughout the sky, as if it was, perhaps, mad at Morro for stating the obvious.

Lloyd, too, looks quite irate and serious, contrasting the attempted look of cordiality and friendliness on the Master of Wind's face. He gives the older boy a baleful look, as if Morro had done something that was considered a tragic crime to him. But, he's become accustomed to these looks and expressions; three years languishing in a household who only sees him as a replacement for one of their friends can do that to him. He's seen every single look shot at him since he was integrated into the team; at best a calm, neutral look as they acknowledge him as their colleague. At worst, they either give him pernicious glances if he either does something reminiscent of their old friend or distancing himself from said dead friend, pretending he doesn't exist unless they are currently in an episode where they must acknowledge him. He brushes it off, knowing it was fine and that, simply put, they were still processing the grief of losing one of their comrades.

(He was lying. To hell with them and the way they look at him as if he was a mirror.)

The blonde looks away, and Morro bites back the urge to scream at him. He was not Kai, and he will never be. He's only wearing the red gi because it was both the only thing available for him and Master Wu insisted he wear it. He didn't wear it to mock Kai Smith himself. He barely even knows the guy.

The only reason he knows too much about him like an autobiography is because the others fondly love talking about him when they believe he's not listening. But the thing is, he's a good listener. A great one at that, too.

And, well, let's just say that what Morro concluded from all the stories he's been told of Kai Smith, the alleged Green Ninja, was that no one should become as obsessed as he is over a position. Morro can feel bad vibes from the way they tell his story, clear hero worship blinded by grief. It is one of the times he pities his colleagues. (They aren’t his friends. He attempted to forge platonic bonds, but it feel flat. They were just housemates.)

"... It is the rainy season," Lloyd replies in a forced politeness, as if he was willing to endure through the most torture-filled minutes of his life. Was Morro just such a boring company compared to Kai? "So it isn't any surprise that it's going to rain."

Morro lets out an awkward laugh at that, averting his gaze and running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I also heard there was a storm surge in this area coming right now." First Spinjitzu Master, strike him down right now for having the worst conversation openers. Trying to talk to his teammates saps his energy. It was not even his fault his relationship with the others was horrid and strained. They were living in the past, while he was leaving this stagnant present.

"I heard as well."

They stand in silence, and Morro curses the day he was born into this world. Why, out of all the families that chose to adopt him into their humble abode, he had to pick this one. It was not because they were practically abusive, that was a preposterous concept, but… it is something else entirely.

They see him as an imperfect copy of their dead teammate. And that makes him insane. Not only does he have impossible expectations to live up to, but he is also constantly reminded that, in another timeline, he was brandished out of the picture, and Kai is placed in all of the locations which Morro is now currently occupying. It was both an overwhelming and pressuring task, having to formulate the shape of their fallen comrade whilst also dodging anyone comparing him to Kai; how can he compete with a ghost? He is gone, only a memory, but Morro lives on.

Something which the others cannot accept.

Something that is ingrained in Morro, having to accept it as the sad reality he must now live in.

Too unworthy to be a proper member of the team. Resembling too much of a man who died foolishly to defy the destiny he is not supposed to have.

Morro, so badly, wants to scream at Lloyd— out of everyone on the team, aside from Nya (which he can somewhat understand, but his patience for her is thinning, too), he was the most alienated and detached from the young man. At least the others occasionally interact with him with the motivation of assistance (even when he doesn't need it), even if it is under the guise of trying to be accustomed to him. He ignores the fact he's been their teammate for over three years, if that can actually pacify them into, perhaps, treating him with respect. And, to Morro's extended appreciation, not utter Kai's name as he does any form of action that frankly reminds them of Kai, because he is getting tired of being the reflection to the man who could've been. The thing is, he's gone, and Morro is present.

They should treat the living with respect the same way they treat the dead.

But they do not seem to heed lessons as personal as those; so, with his pride on full display, and the hurt he feels is currently feeding on him growing as time continues to pass, becoming a ravenous and thick vine is something he has kept hidden for so many years, under lock and key.

No wind wishes to be trapped in obscurity for long. The wind is not stagnating, it stagnates. It will blow and blow, until the only thing standing in its way is itself.

But, he supposes he can now excuse Lloyd's actions; his father had been banished to the Cursed Realm, where his former companion also inhabits. It was a sour reminder that the Realm has, once more, taken another of their friends. The complete panic and depression in Lloyd’s eyes as he had no choice but to expel his father from the living Realm, too, was something Morro finds pity in. He did not know what awaits in the Cursed Realm, but seeing their faces pulled into horror, he can assume it was not pretty. This was an occurrence which worsened the household's welfare, and to think they were doing so well, finally acknowledging that Morro was a comrade.

Morro lets out a deep breath as the downpour starts. The wind is, uncharacteristically, wild and unforgiving once the rainy season begins. While it still was not developing into a storm that can claim many lives, it is starting to look that way. He wishes the wind can blow him away someplace else.

For now, he's stuck trying to hide the fact he hates being treated as the replacement. The black sheep.

The young man turns to Lloyd, who had a pensive expression on his face. He's been having these certain kinds of looks since they defeated Chen. Morro chooses to ignore it.

The drizzle turns into a whole downpour, blanketing their surroundings with a misty gray and the sounds of rain colliding with roofs. The smell of petrichor hangs on the air, smelling sweet yet bitter at the same time.

Morro loves this time of month; especially now that he would not be suffering with any kind of sickness anymore. Especially when the winds were cold and gentle, touching his skin like any mother would.

He forgot why he and Lloyd were standing underneath the location of the bus stop, in the first place. He looks at Lloyd, who was one jump away from dozing off. The way his head drops to the side, lolling around, his eyes slowly drooping… Morro can empathize with him.

He fights the urge to let Lloyd fall down on the bench, and helps him up. No matter his grudge with the Green Ninja, he is first and foremost his teammate going through mourning right now.

So, with a resounding huff, he summons the wind to cushion Lloyd's fall before he disgracefully ends up hitting his head on the metal pole. Lloyd awakes with a snort, regaining his energy, before feeling the cushions of the wind arising from within him. Glancing at Morro with a blank look, he regains his composure, balance, and energy by standing up straight again.

"Sorry," he says, clearing his throat, averting his gaze. Not even a thank you? "I'm feeling down about the weather."

Morro can clearly smell and sense the bullshit wafting from the way he speaks about it. It is clear that his father’s banishment is affecting him, but, like the self-sacrificing great ninja that he is, prefers to keep it under wraps.

He did not want to pry, really; the two of them are not close at all, and Morro, too, did not want to be caught in the middle of the rain with Lloyd Montgomery Garmadon.

But, it is clear that, for all his faults, Lloyd needs a thorough break from it all.

The only reason Morro was tagging along with him is that he was — forcibly — asked to go with him to Ninjago Museum on the summons of the officials over a certain robbery. They had specifically asked for the Green Ninja, which Lloyd was ready to come and take, but Wu had Morro accompany him. He did not know why either; he was a cryptic old man.

“Look, Lloyd,” Morro says after a long sigh. The mentioned boy whips his head to face him. “I know we don’t see eye to eye over a few things—” More like Lloyd doesn’t see eye to eye with his existence, “but I know you’re still upset over the whole… banishing your dad to another realm thing.” Morro doesn’t like keeping it implicit. He was always blunt with what he said, after all.

Lloyd scowls at the callousness of his response, but to hell with it all. Morro has already figured out that he will always be considered the outcast. He may not be fine with that, but it is all he will ever be.

“I guess I am,” he replies derisively, but Morro doesn’t care. As long as he gets out of Lloyd’s way.

“I’ll take over your task today,” Morro says.

The blonde turns to look at him with a face of shock. It was as if he was seeing the young man for the first time. “Really?” He asks airily.

This was the first time Lloyd’s expression wasn’t unreasonably cold towards him.

There was a ghost of a feeling and a chance that, perhaps, things would get better.

Morro nods, waving off that hopeful feeling. He’s hoped for years, but in the end, it was all a scam that lulls him to make a fool of himself. “Yeah. I think you and Nya should have a good day today. It’s better to be with friends than with policemen who want you in for questioning, right?”

Lloyd thinks for a moment, then sighs, nodding. His expression returns to the baleful but relieved looks he’s given to Morro. He can feel his heart breaking as another one of his lost hopes become even more lost. “Okay. I think… I can live with that. No one is going to notice, right?”

“I mean, they all know I’m the Red Ninja, but I’m sure the authorities won’t mind.”

Lloyd visibly cringes over Morro’s ill attempt to placate the fact that he is technically the Red Ninja, but he nods, although this time it was less energetic than before. “Yeah. Sure. I’m going to find a bus that can take me back to our village. Is that fine by you?”

More than fine, Morro wants to say. He doesn’t trust his words so, he nods.

Five minutes later after calling a bus to come pick Lloyd home (neither he nor Morro bid any farewell), Morro was left alone in the rain. He does swear when the bus that was carrying Lloyd drenches him in rainwater, but he supposes it’s better than spending his time attempting to please Lloyd. It is clear that he didn’t want to be pleased.

No matter what Morro does, they will never be pleased.

So he starts his long, liquid walk toward the museum, regrettably musing about how he forgot to bring an umbrella. He pins the blame on Lloyd as he walks towards the street to the museum, languishing over how, for the first time since coming to this city, it was astoundedly quiet. There were flashes of lightning and the sounds of thunder roaring through the sky, and the pitter-patter of rain as it clings to his skin, making it sag and grow heavier as time passes. The gray skies were dark, almost mimicking the night sky. He continues on in this frigid, somewhat depressing weather, no anymore caring if he will obtain a flight from this reckless attempt of crossing the rain. The sound of it, the smell of petrichor, is enough to make Morro forget all of the bad memories and the way he was treated as a glass mirror.

When he reaches the museum, his gi was heavy, he was cold, he was wet, and he was hungering for some bowl of warm, hot soup to melt the icy throes in his heart. He frowns at the sight of the museum’s front doors; filled with police tape, with only darkness inside the interior. Did a murder happen?

Well, he is here to find out.

Stepping into the museum — relieved that the torrential rainfall would not bother him any longer — he finds himself shrouded in darkness. He did not know if this was better than being doused by the storm.

A flash of lightning ahead, and he uses it to glance at the room to find the authorities who wanted Lloyd.

Morro’s eyes narrow.

There was no one there.

The silence continues to loom ominously.

However, he does feel the unsettling feeling that someone was watching him and his every move.

His gut so badly wants to turn around, to run back and head for a bus…

But he was a ninja.

Taking a breath, coaxing down his strange feeling of anxiety, he makes his way down the halls. He’s particularly ingrained all the halls, rooms, and exhibits in his mind, so, even in the dark, he traverses this area rather smoothly. The only thing he hears are the muffled rainfall outside, the crack of thunder and his footsteps reverberating over the smooth, marble floors. He’s checked everything, even left signs of his dripping footprints everywhere.

There was nothing.

He frowns, feeling irritation flooding into his core.

Was this all just a prank?

Gritting his teeth, he summons his wind to dry himself up. He could have done that when he entered, but due to the frigid air of his surroundings, he was not willing to risk some form of mild hypothermia.

“Hello?” He tries to call for someone. Anyone, really. It feels as if he is being set up in a macabre horror film now. “Is anyone there? Did someone literally just prank call us?”

No response, but the wind flows in his direction.

He ignores the intensity of someone’s eyes boring into his back.

Morro finally has had enough of this. He was tired, he was cold, and the entire museum has no susceptible electricity, so, he decides to just get out of there.

Turning around to find the exit, that’s when he hears it.

The sound of someone, flicking a match and lighting up a fire.

Morro skids to a stop, as he feels those eyes watching him gaining a human shape.

He feels flames around him.

He wonders how that was even possible, when he can only pinpoint one location where—

Morro’s eyes grow wide, his green-gold irises shaking with something akin to fear and a sick kind of wonder.

Standing before him was a ghost— a specter of a human, phantom and translucent and green.

And he was carrying a fireball in his hand.

“You’re— you’re an Elemental Master.” He wonders why that is the first thing he must say to the young man. It is clear that he was not here for any form of maintaining cordial relationships. The fire flickers, but it continues to burn bright in this dank, cold room, radiating the warmth Morro truly never obtained during his years with the other ninja. He was separated from them with an ice wall. He lets out a deep breath as the young man — or ghost? — steps closer, the darkness obscuring his face. But the fire brings forth secrets never truly buried properly. “Yet, there is only one known Master of Fire.”

And he died ten years ago.

Indeed, he can immediately see who this man is, only observing his appearance. Spiky, unruly hair, long and untamed; a scar on his right eye; the ruins of a red gi clutching to him in an ill attempt to cover how green he is; and the red-orange eyes, dirtying his ghostly presence.

Morro was in front of Kai Smith, long deceased Elemental Master of Fire.

The man of many myths. The man of many stories. The man of many regrets.

The one to who they keep comparing him to.

Their greatest regret.

Morro doesn’t know what to think of him; he was always taught to treat Kai with respect. He’s never formulated an opinion that was not about his lesson being a cautionary tale to the world.

The ghost in front of him (holy FSM, Morro just realized this man was a teenager when he died) scrutinizes his appearance, looking at him up and down. He then scoffs, turning away from Morro. “I was supposed to take Lloyd. I specifically requested for him. Why did you have to show up?!” His anger was brimming in his tone like a spark turned to a flame. For a dead man, his flames were alive, wildly dancing around his fingers as he attempts not to extinguish them.

Morro’s breath hitches. He reminds himself of the stories he’s been forced to listen to multiple times, to the point it has already been ingrained in his head like a catalog.

Morro was told he perished after accidentally opening a rift to another Realm.

It turns out that they weren’t lying— he did die. He became Cursed.

And now, he is confronted with Kai, who was neither a human nor a very welcoming ghost. Morro knows Cursed Ghosts; their humanity is all but stripped off them, like their skin and bones. While he didn’t like Lloyd, nor the others, he is sure they didn’t want to see Kai turned into all the things that were bad about him. And he was playing it strategically here; if he unleashes Kai into the general populace, what then?

He backs up. “What do you want? Why are you here?”

Kai sneers. “Garmadon should’ve made sure that I didn’t escape so fast. Now he’s trapped there as I roam free.” His fire grows closer, and Morro stumbles backward. He would’ve believed he humiliated himself if not for the utter urgency of the situation. “You’re not Lloyd, but you’ll make do as a replacement. That’s why you’re wearing the gi I’m supposed to wear since the son of Garmadon took my proper one, right?”

Morro’s heart starts to beat at the implications of his words, as his entire vision starts to swim.

Kai’s hand reaches for him, and he can feel burning hot flames leaving his skin.

Morro realizes one thing in this debacle, before Kai takes his body as his.

“No matter how much you try and change yourself, to remind everyone that you and I aren’t so different… you will always be a second choice. You will always be a replacement.”

Morro doesn’t fight Kai any longer as he could feel his body getting invaded by the man who controls fire, burning embers to the ground.

He will always be a replacement.

He is nothing to them.

And, perhaps, that’s where his story will always revolve around in.