#Paranoia amirite?

[searsage]

This heavy feeling of scrutiny persists and at some point when she was washing her face she could have sworn she heard something unceremoniously break the surface, and alarmingly close!

"Al-an..?" She calls blindly scrambling to wash the sudes from her face, opening her eyes to nothing but the still dark water around her hips, further more her call was met with silence..so she tries again.

"Ryley?" Had he beat her to the pools? Could she have accidentally intruded on his bathing again? God that would be so awkward.

But again nothing, still the unnerved researcher received no reply…

"Cyanocitta..?" She called out in a last ditch effort, wondering if it was her pet plant Al-an had given to her in apology and fondly named after the common jay.

The plant was far more independent then her architect, and often fled it's containment and liked to roost within the pool on occasion, but Cyanocitta was incapable of diving within water.. And as far as she could see there were no telltale blooming vines hinting to the mischievous plant's presence.

Something felt…it felt wrong, an oddly foreign but profound feeling, like something was not right, the sudden impulsion screamed that Robin was in danger.. it was heavy and foreboding enough a feeling to shake the warm fuzzy haze of her heated dream from her now alert mind as the researcher's instincts were thrown into overdrive as she scanned her surroundings..

But as time went on and her sharp eyes scanned the dark obsidian pool and found nothing but it's eerily clam surface undisturbed, the researcher started doubting herself..

Still, the odd notion was jarring enough that Robin's hand reached up to press firmly against the smooth black stone, typing a sequence into the unseen datapad, immediately the depthless pool began to drain, as the purification protocals activated, she stood a good thirty minutes watching the pool empty completely it's deep bed and the odd minirals sprouting from it revealed..but nothing seemed out of place.

Robin's brows furrowed in confusion, she had never felt so unsafe within the ship before, save for the intimidation of the transparent halls but even then it didnt feel..like that.

A shiver runs up her spine as hastily Robin towels off, hurriedly leaving the ominous obsidian pool behind to continue cleaning itself, perhaps her nerves were just getting the best of her, maybe she was simply imbalanced by Al-an's absence, he often was a beacon of stability…

[agnarid]

I have Schizophrenia so I decided to make Jon have it too.

[ikkosu]

PET-ABLE HIJINKS

warnings : domestic fluff + a bit of implied stuff (ehe ‘stuff’ amirite). part of MDM (my darling medic verse)

PHARMA

With Pharma, nothing is ever balanced. He’s an affectionate lover, much too affectionate you’d have to dart around the corner when he’s in view. If you’re too late Ambulon would have to pry you off his digits, dragging you back to the safe confines of your quarters and letting the poor human rest.

Psh, like the door is gonna stop him. He’s been through much worse during the war a mere block of wood is a minuscule minority. Seconds later, he ploughs through the door and you stare at the ceiling in defeat as he pounces on you.

For a well-versed doctor who hates physical touch with Organics, as he always preaches to be so, he’s got no sense of personal space whatsoever. So, you’re in your room one day, broiling up mischiefs and antics to get his smug face back and a little ding of eureka shrouds your waking thoughts. That’s it! A pet! You’re going to buy a pet.

And you’re going to make it count.

You wait for another week before deciding on what you’ll get. If you’re going to have a little ball of mischief walking around, it has to be a cretin that acts just like Pharma. And for the past few days you’ve been analyzing him with utmost scrutiny, you’ve decided you’ll get a cat.

Pharma gets a little uneasy while making breakfast. He notices you’re a lot more quiet these days, staring holes into his back whenever you could. His mind is stumped with prior memories of yesterdays and many days before. Did he do something wrong? Was he too much for you to handle? No, no. It’s just paranoia. He’s getting too worked up over this. He might not show it but if you’re planning to cut ties with him he’ll have to strap you down to the counter.

And you’re going to stay.

When you did get a pet without his knowledge, the little gremlin is the spitting furball of feline, cat Pharma.

Tabby was the name. A white Siberian floof of white fur. She’s a sassy, fiery little thing who loves to be showered with affection when she wants to have it. Nothing more, nothing less. The first time they both meet, he’s back from work and he’s appalled at the sight of you cooing at the thing like it’s some child. Of course he’s pissed. His darling pet, to ignore Pharma of all people and reduce your affections to that organic, feline, brat of a cat? Not under his watch.

First, it’s a battle between the two beings on who's able to take up much of your personal space, now it’s a battle on who’s able to piss off who more.

And neither gets the advantage.

In the early mornings, as you flop over to cuddle your Jet lover, you’re surprised to see he’s busy wrangling off Tabby who’s insist his faceplate was a better cushion than the bed. Sometimes, you’d walk into them punted into a staring contest : the jet’s wings flared up much the same as Tabby arching her back and sneering at Pharma.

Other times, in the garden, while you’re watering the flowers, Tabby would furl lazily on the plastic chair, grooming her paws and fur. The peaceful slumber of the evening air is shattered when Pharma comes in and dumps a whole bucket of ice cold water on the cat, turning on his heel later then heading back inside without another word.

Safe to say, the scratches the next morning on his newly added paint isn’t a coincidence. Hah! Like, that’ll do it. He’d get her back by pushing a chair against the trapdoor so she’ll won’t be able to come in after her nightly walks outside.

However, Tabby does have one advantage that pisses him off more than her tearing up his datapad and that’s — cockblocking.

You wake up with a gentle kiss on your neck, his cold metal hands — hard yet pliable — grasps your stomach and pulls you against his chassis. Sunlight seeps through the blinds, flaring his armor stark white as he peppers kisses down your shoulder and nape.

A lazy smile tugs your cheeks and you lean into his touch. He palms your thighs, then over to your ass, pinching it a little before tugging down your shorts and hiking the fabric aside. You sigh and brace, hearing the familiar hiss of his panel retracting when—

Something jumps on the bed. Before Pharma could react Tabby flicks her tail at his face and he edges the bed, stumbling to the ground, pulling the blankets along his tumble. That sudden thump sits you up with a startled blink of two, three times of your eyelids. Andrenaline wrangles the sleeoiness away. Tabby, however, doesn’t seem to mind the seething scrap of metal on the floorboard and licks your face affectionsly, opting to curl around your neck.

“That cat is atrocious.” He grumbles as he lifts you off and away from the pawing mewls of the cat.

“Put me down, I want to see my baby!’

“Absolutely not. You’re coming to bed.”

“But this—“

“Our other bed. The guest room bed,” He grits and hauls you over his shoulder. “One of these days, my dear I’ll lock that wretched thing outside the lawn and let it succumb to the unethical weather Earth has in store it. What were you thinking when you nabbed this feline cretin? Consider yourself lucky I have the patience to deal with such incessant tomfoolery.”

A giggle bubbles from your throat. At least, he’s got the taste of his own medicine.

[sea-dwelling-wizard]

some oc lore due to ✨popular demand✨✨

the popular demand in question

sharks. amirite. i love sharks

soo stalagmite!!!!!!! she's so unproblematic i swear <333 i think this is the first time i've talked about her here!

she's ourra's lab assistant, friend, and defense in the abyss- and also the main reason he hasn't crossed another breaking point.

ourra built her as a tribute for an important figure in his life. sharks were her favorite, and she would often pester him to spend his allowance on little shark trinkets <33

the shark stalagmite does not have a conscience or a soul like other popular robots. she functions on gear and mechanics alone. however, the abyss is ✨️ freaky ✨️

it interferes with her workings sometimes; chaotic magic takes control, and she becomes too alive. her music box starts playing randomly, she hungers for fish like a real shark, and she hunts without command. the time period of this possession depends on the fluctuation of magic in the trench. it can even go on for days or even weeks. its also a major factor for ourra's constant paranoia when it comes to stalagmite- he always keeps her close and never out of sight unless its something he wants her to find (like atticus in act 3)

ourra is extremely controlling over the places stalagmite visits. "pretty sharks never get scratches!"

stalagmite has 15 compartments for lab equipment, a music box, sight and touch sensors, and a rough metal skeleton of a real shark's anatomy tailored for smooth swimming! the music box contains tunes which were close to ourra before all went to hell; when he's frustrated, he listens to the music and tries to think a way out of the situation he's stuck in :D

thats about all i can loredump without major spoilers <33 thank you for all those who voted on the poll and those who read this looong post !!

[theendofuno]

the jester and his marionette

real infodump hours (tm)

all this text was sent on a few messages so i just did a rough translation on it, it may not be 100% accurate lore-wise bcs of that lol

i like to imagine Lass being Uno's guide on living, on how to "be" human, how to get rid of the strings from the past, he breaks Uno's strings and give him new ones

tho, Lass does not want to control Uno, he wants Uno to control himself, he wants him to create and change his own destiny, he wants Uno to be himself

Lass was a marionette his whole life, so he dedicated himself into helping getting another marionette on finally feeling human, he got rid of his own strings and he will guide Uno into doing the same, even if Uno isn't on a literal, actual circus, he's stuck in a mental circus

(i think you can assume why I choose a jester instead of any circus character for Lass amirite)

now for the clothing choices! for context these were my references: fearless clown & lifelike

Uno

i changed all the roses for forget-me-nots for obvious reasons, and i added eyes that look everywhere on his skirt as a representation to paranoia

i added tears into Uno's sleeves, and if you pay attention they're the most common places to cut yourself while self harming (i'll never be tired of talking about uno self harming but i wont get into details for today SDAUGDSGDS)

i added vines with spikes on a few clothing parts as a representating of being stuck, along with the actual strings

i changed the checker board pattern by asanoha, which is a meaning about growing stronger and without much help, and are commonly seeing in children kimono as a way to hope they grow strong and healthy, i also read it's supposed to protect you from harm and evil spirits :)

i kept all the strings white except for the neck one, who is red, and since his transformation form is all black/white except for the marking on his face and chest, neck is the mid-way between them, and is also the only string who is thigh and suffocating him, while the white ones can be easily taken off

the triangle pattern on Uno's bow is supposed to represent a few flowers petals growing

now for Lass

his clothing has a few Uno "motifs", such as the growing petals and his hat (im absolutely clueless on the actual english translation mb) has X and "loose strings" as a way to represent strings being taken off, being freed

i added his arm tattoo on his hat thingy :D it was originally stars but i thought it would look cute

(artistic fun fact hours: i shaded the blue part with red and the red part with blue)

i thought a lot about doing the clothing only blue or perhaps blue with yellow, but keeping the red seems to make him closer to Lupus, who is an important person on his life and is an important on his growth, and is someone Lass loves (even if he refuses to admit)

+ the lyrics translation (in order)

guess thats all god bless the wilde sibilings (salute emoji)

[duckapus]

Admin Gohma Headcanons

Her dialogue uses These Colors in that order, because it's the reverse of Byte's, like how Plurality's got reversed text colors from Lil Coding.

Got out of the Depths after leaving Marbled Gohma by possessing a nearby Deep Firefly and mutating it into something similar to the nasty fire centipede things in Dragon Roost Cavern in Wind Waker, though retaining the small size and rows or wings from its original form. Then she just flew up

Eventually got found by a Yiga Footsoldier who realized just what she was and offered up her body as a more useful vessel (fanatic cultists amirite?). So now Gohma's a sort of Hylian/Bug Demon hybrid. The only obvious tell when she's not actively using her non-Hylian features is that her usual big weak-point eye is in the dead center of her forehead

Surprisingly regal and well-mannered given what she is. She has been granted the title of queen at least once after all

Can use the abilities of any version of Gohma from any of the games. This includes the sillier ones like Gohmaracas

Can also assume the forms of any version of Gohma as her maneuver form, though she favors the crayfish-based form she took when she overrode Byte

Elevated her vessel to Code Entity status during the mutation process. She's not an actual Admin anymore (the Admins closed that backdoor real fast just in case) but kept the title as a point of pride

Is fiercely loyal to Ganondorf, in any form or time period she may find him in. The only reason she's even bothering with the Syndicate is because 80's cartoon Ganon is part of their group and the first Ganon she managed to find

Finds Tartarus's paranoia regarding her incredibly amusing

[voidicbismuth]

so paranoia amirite

...fuck i have to do dishes

[papirouge]

Regarding the last post you reblogged (American Christians not caring about Middle Eastern Christians); back when my country of origin finally revolted against the communist government a lot of western protestant churches started sending missionaries to convert people away from Orthodoxy. Not a lot of people wanted to convert so my parents have stories of missionaries offering to only financially support the poor who were willing to convert.

What's mind boggling is that these prots looked at all of the faithful who were persecuted, imprisoned, tortured, killed, sent to labour camps in Siberia purely for being religious and that wasn't enough for them to see us as brothers and sisters in Christ. Not that they could do anything against the communist government but it's funny that they suddenly cared for people's souls when THEY wouldn't have a chance of being persecuted for their beliefs.

"not that they could do anything against the Communist government" but don't Usamerican evangelicals have a pathological hate boner against Communism though? I mean, Communism have a know beef with religion as far as I know. Those protestants had the opportunity to match their action to their beliefs and take stance against communism and help their Christian brothers against Communism anti Christian dictatorship, amirite? 🙃

Anti communists always stroke me as pathological cowards, anyway. Like how can you be so obsessive and scared of some hollow political movement that hasn't been a thing since decades? 💀 This screams persecution complex and paranoia (there's no wonder they love labeling "communism" literally ANYTHING remotely critical of capitalism or liberalism: to make the threat of Communism bigger than what it actually is)

I always said that when God backed up people, they could really change the world. That's how Ghandi or MLK defeated the biggest empire of their generation by their non violent yet radical world changing actions. I genuinely believe God was behind the abolition/civil rights movement. That's what Romans 13 is actually about and that so little Christians conflate with passivity against government evilness (tbh very few people properly understand Romans 13)

Missionary selectively offering financial support has also one of the reasons colonialism worked so well in Africa btw. By offering "privilege" to specific ethnies or group accepting their offer for conversion they bred division and resentment between people. Stupid rightoids/racialist like to act like ethnic wars as the evidence that races aren't meant to mix/migration flux being the devil, but when you have a brain and look more thoughtfully into History you'll notice there are always economic/political reason to ethnic wars. 2 of the most powerful countries of the world are China and Russia and they are both constituted of a variety of ethnicities (because they took the radical political actions to fight against this division - whether people like it or not, Communism greatly helped on that aspect) yet it doesn't stop them to thrive. Don't say that to racialists and race essentialists - but I digress.

American evangelical are 99% of the time full of it, and my tolerance to their antics is becoming lower by the days....

[it-is-time-lads]

hey if u know me irl do me a thiccc favor and dont look on here and block me, thank u!! (includes the sideblogs)

[iwieldthesword]

I’m paralyzed with fear at how much just life in general relies on people liking you? Like your boss could fire you, your landlord/roommates could evict you, your mentors could drop you, your emotional or financial support system could just disappear... the list is endless. And as someone who ends up reliant on people who are both fragile and vindictive time and time again, it terrifies me to my core. Like, people can just wake up and decide that they want to fuck you over? And then you’re out of work or homeless or without support and you’re so, so fucked? 

Idk I’ve been struggling with my sheer vulnerability in the light of cohabitation and interdependence recently and it’s fucking me up big time. My ideation is uh, not great and it’s 4 am and I can’t sleep because I’m terrified of being dependent on people who will turn on me despite all my best efforts (inc. destroying my own health or violating my own boundaries/morality) to appease them, because that has literally happened multiple times in the last few years and it’s just ghastly. And being disabled and unable to work and broke is just making it worse when I’m functionally powerless to stop people from fucking me over if they just FEEL like it. I particularly worry about the ability to advocate/stand up for myself or set boundaries or express anger at my maltreatment when I could literally die if just a few people decide to screw me over as idk, vengeance, or a twisted idea of just desserts, or the perception of me as bad/dangerous/abusive/ungrateful and that fucking me over to the point of no-survival is just “what they have to do”. I feel trapped and forced into an eternal game of extortion of emotional labor and my impulse is to just YEET myself into the nearest river but wildly that would only add fuel to the fire. 

It’s fine. It’s gonna be fine. Nobody is out to get me and people are fundamentally good and caring and I’m not going to be homeless or without support or without healthcare. I have to trust in basic human decency winning out over others’ impulse to harm me because I’m vulnerable and they can justify it to themselves. But the sheer fact that my life dangles by a thread that a handful of people in my life could just SNIP is just petrifying.

On a lighter note I like poking fun at my terror by pushing the melodrama of it all. It’s like a Dickens novel! “Please sir, may I have a boundary? Just the one?” SEND THEM TO THE DOGS “But sir, my health!” THE DOGS I SAY

[cerealandchoccymilk]

re: last post, i keep forgetting the fact that im Actually Phychotic. like i Suffer from Psychosis but im like "eh. hallucinations are wack but its fiiine, doesnt count, sucks to have brain disorder genes" and then i see the occasional post and i Remember That Counts

[beth-t-prada]

Shonen Bat (Paranoia Agent)

[makubes]

rock voice: if i become a god then father will HAVE to love me

[woodsfae]

Babylon 5 S01E05: The Parliament of Dreams

First

Previous

ToC

Honestly, I’m surprised I’m this far into season 1 already...usually I’m much worse at binging shows. However! Usually I’m not trying out new shows while recovering from surgery with very little company, and I’m having fun, so, carrying on.

“You don’t understand, this is my ceremonial blade! [...]” “I don’t care if you’re the Easter Bunny, you’re not bringing this on the station.”

This made me laugh out loud. Dealing with tourists, amirite?

G’Kar, full of surprises. Singing about fishies and love while cooking?! He contains multitudes, truly.  He’s so upset to see Diplomatic Courier Tu’Pari and I for one hope that he is plagued by a nonstop stream of Diplomatic Narns who upset him greatly with their promptness, efficiency, and distaste for idiots in general and G’Kar in specific, the second he opens his mouth and proves himself to be a dick.

He was going to bite his dinner’s snoot off. What in the heck, G’Kar. You are so weird.

Snarky old associate, and postmortem death threats. Excellent. I deeply appreciate the melodrama of this assassination attempt. And a new aide who appears to one of my wished-for plague of Narn women to ramp up his paranoia! Also excellent.

Is Catherine one of Jeff’s exes?

More Centauri women with ponytails. I..still have no comment. Wow, the Centauri religious celebration of life doubles as a celebration of a successful genocide! Tasteful.

Ivanova is in a very jovial mood, which I assume means the Centauri alcohol is fabulous, abundant, and delicious.

Catherine is definitely an ex. The awkwardness is palpable. I feel awkward just looking at them. He’s really into women whose names start with C. Hope his next girlfriend is called Carrie or Chloe, keep the theme going. Or Catherine, since he’s on the rebound from Carolyn.

“This is how we get into trouble every three years...I’d give you my berth number, but I suspect you already know how to find me...commander.”

get it, Catherine.

G’Kar’s new aide is fantastic. Healthy self esteem, has no time for his shit, knows all the assassination rituals. It would be pretty amusing if she was the assassin after all - there’s the black assassination flower she mentioned!

Delenn doesn’t know that Sinclair knows she’s Satai Delenn of the Grey Council. Intrigues! I still don’t know if the Minbari wear headdresses or have funny skulls. edit: I’ve decided they must be funky skull appendages.

Oh! The Insectoid species are back! I quite like them. Very cool eyes.

Oo, tension between Jeff and his ex. It looks like they’re at Fresh Air, the same restaurant he took Talia to. Don’t reuse your date locations too often. It gets awkward with the waiters.

“I think about you in the summer.”

“I think about you in the fall.”

“We never could agree about anything.”

Cute. I ship it.

“It was always two parts passion and three parts teeth with us,”

what??

G’Kar is definitely feeling tortured. His old associate made a great plan. But where did the lace undies come from?

Catherine is rich now! And the assassination-crystal was sent by G’Kar’s new aid’s dad! the plot thickens.

“Don’t touch me unless you mean it.”

I’ve had break-ups like that. This longing is palpable.

Ahhh it was the courier all along! Nice bondage rig. And as always, I’m a huge fan of the lightning special effect.

Na’Koth recommends a physical beating to prolong G’Kar’s pain as much as possible, but only to kick the bondage pain gear off. I hope they’re very happy together.

Oo, Jeff and Catherine are going to date! Except...Jeff just maybe married Delenn during the cultural exchange.

Here in the 21st century, we don’t have a dominant earth belief system. And it appears that in the 23rd, it’s equally as diverse. That is a long long line of religious figures and really, probably the best way to go about it.

Next!

[ofoceansandtombsanew]

chapter list 🧣 next chapter

summary: believing your father's concerns as a black family living in the secluded mountains of Wall Maria to be simple paranoia, a you naively set out on your own to discover the world and what it truly holds. yet after encountering another family secluded in the moutains, the Ackermans, you realize that maybe his concerns weren't so unfounded in the terrifying yet beautiful reality you live in. befriending their daughter, a fellow survivor in what it means to be the last of their kind, you finds your path leading to the horrors of the fall of maria and the 103rd cadet corps.

tags: fem!reader, black!reader, canon typical violence and maturity, replies and reblogs appreciated, the reader is older than mikasa by one year, reader is also a hunter by family trade so if you don’t like that i wouldn’t read

a/n: and here we are to commence the very first chapter of this fic. Uba means ‘father’ in Hausa, Uwa means ‘mother’. that is the extent of my Hausa knowledge. this chapter is also brought you by the childhood naivety of believing that just because something isn’t that far by map, doesn’t mean it isn’t actually that far. dumbass kids amirite???

                                             || Chapter 01 ||

                                                 Year 844, Age 10

"I'll be gone a couple of days."

"I know, pop." You called over your shoulder, curled into a tight ball. You hoped your voice sounded like that of someone who was truly tired.

"I really don't feel comfortable leaving you that long on your own." Uba continued doubtfully.

You felt your stomach lurch. Slowly, you sat up before looking at him, blinking as groggily as you could. "Uba, you said we're low on food. You really need to go hunting."

Uba nodded taking heavy steps to your bed. "The hunting is always best when we're together." He said, reaching over to squeeze your left ankle gently. You made sure your wince and recoil didn't seem too extreme to be fake. It wasn't entirely, your ankle was still a bit sore from your staged fall a few days prior. "You promise me that you remember to stay inside, there's enough food for you to take care of yourself."

"Yes, Uba." You nodded.

"Don't answer the door for anyone if they knock." Uba continued in a more grave tone.

"I know, Uba." You repeated. It was like Uba didn't realize you knew his many rules inside and out already.

"Hide immediately, don't let anyone see you. And make sure-"

"To always keep the curtains closed, Uba, I know. I know!" How could you forget when it was like Uba made sure to repeat these nonsensical rules to you everyday like you would somehow forget.

Uba's expression was sharp and unrelenting like the earth itself, "I know it all seems like a lot, but it's all to protect us. To protect you. Your mother-" Would feel like you're driving her crazy too. But you decided to keep your disagreeable remark to yourself, lest Uba abandoned his hunting trip altogether to re-educate you about their ancestors. About how when the Titans first arrived, your family had been among the few to find refuge within the three Walls protecting them from the giant monsters roaming the world. "would agree too. Humans like us," Uba gestured to your matching dark brown skin. "you don't find many of. We might even be the last ones. There are many who would want to steal those like us away."

You stopped yourself from rolling your eyes, you had heard the same story all your life. The same one every year, and every year nothing happened. You hadn't so much had seen another person besides yourself and Uba in these mountains lest you went to town to sell furs.

"These rules might seem strict, but it keeps the two of us safe." Uba said yet again. "I'll be going now, remember everything I said. I'll be gone only a couple of days, you have the rifle if anything goes wrong." But nothing should. With that, Uba stood up and left your room.

It was only when you were sure an hour had past and that your father was most certainly gone did you finally toss the blankets off of you. You had only two days days, maybe three at most, to make good on your plan to put as much distance between your home as possible. Uba would be heading east down the mountains and you knew his routine by heart after so many hunting trips. Uba wouldn't turn you back home until they had as many as a few rabbits and a few ducks to spare. If you were especially lucky, there’d even been a deer or two. 

The ducks would be plucked raw, feathers washed and used for pillows. The deer would be skinned and most of the meet would be hung to dry. Then the furs would be sold for the extra income. Oko willing, the prey would be bountiful this season before the rain would arrive and there would be no chance you to run off.

You felt slightly guilty, rummaging through the kitchen for the loaves of bread. But there was still plenty of yeast for Uba to make even more bread for himself and he'd have plenty of meat coming back from his trip. Your ankle hurt with the dull throb of a sprain you’d given yourself by tripping over a hill. You knew this hunting trip would be too important for Uba to skip, it was the only opportunity you had to finally leave this place and go to the city.

Uba can't keep me hidden here forever. You willed the guilt to leave you. You would be going west to Leipmold, the closest town from where they were that you saw on the map of your father's study. You had traced it over many of time on your own parchment. You had always been indifferent to hunting, but now you appreciated the knowledge. You could hide your own tracks and hunt for your own food, then you would sell any furs you could skin herself in the markets. Only once you were satisfied would you go back home, maybe Uba wouldn't be as mad that you ran away if you brought back enough coin to make him forget that you had broken all of his rules.

You stuffed your blanket into your knapsack. You could sell rabbit fur, rabbits were always abundant in the mountains! You rubbed the back of your head, wondering if there was anything you might be forgetting. Your scalp was bare, Uba shaving it only the day before. He never allowed your hair to grow long. You couldn't even wear dresses. He said the pale-skinned humans would sell you off to do the unthinkable if they knew you were a girl.

You were sure that if Uwa were still alive that she would have let you wear dresses the color of the sky at dawn and let your hair grow wild and coiled. You felt a prickle of anger surge through her. You’d grow your hair out in the city and buy a dress. No more pants. Then when Uba realized he had nothing to worry about, he would let you do as she pleased.

You slung your rifle over your shoulder and packed the few bullets Uba had spared in your sack. In its place, you left a note.

Uba, I've gone to Eppelbog. I know you think that I'm just a kid, but I'm 10 years old. I'm going to sell our furs there and come back with money. Just wait here for me, okay? Eppelbog was south from their home and nowhere near Leipmold. When Uba decided to track you down in his fury, he would head there first and that would give you plenty of time to get to Leipmold before he realized that he was duped. If he realized. If was always good.

Heaving a deep breath, you opened the door. May Uwa be watching over you.

Uba is gonna be gone for at least 2 days, 3 if I'm lucky. Your pace was quick and you relished the sound of the grass crunching beneath your feet. You hoped Uba didn't suddenly realized he had forgotten something and turned back around and ended your journey before it truly had a chance to start. There's another mountain path I can take between here and Leipmold and I can get to it by tomorrow morning. Traveling through the mountain chains would be your best chance at throwing off Uba when he realized you were gone.

You had two loaves and a half of bread and around five bullets. A wineskin full of the freshwater you could spare without taking too much from Uba. This should be able to last until I get to Leipmold. Any rabbits you caught could be cooked completely, saving half the meat for the next day to stretch it out. You were sure that it would be at least a week before you got to Leipmold, the distance not seeming too far on Uba's map when you looked at it.

It would only take a few days tops, you were sure.

But it didn't take long for your optimism to vanish nearly a week later.

Your hands were paper dry and your feet ached.

The rabbits had been scarce and you only had a few chunks of bread left.

Your stomach growled but Akunna refused to stop and eat. You needed to save what you could until you could spot another goose. You’d seen one yesterday, but by the time your rifle was ready, it had flown beyond the opening of the trees and the hunger pangs kept you up most of the night. You would catch something today, you thought determinedly as you looked at your tracing of Uba's map. You’d been walking the path for a few days now, it couldn't be that much longer before you got to the base of the mountain. Maybe there you could find some berries or mushrooms to eat, you hadn't seen much that were edible on your trail so far.

Maybe you should have grabbed some of the meat they still had, after all. Uba was going to come back with plenty of food for himself, he wouldn't have noticed the leftover venison missing.

You sighed and put your traced map back in your bag and stood up, wincing at the aching sensation. Soon you’d would be at the base of the mountain, she reminded yourself. 

There’ll be less undergrowth hiding food and there'll be berries and mushrooms that aren't poisonous. It would definitely be easier finding rabbit burrows without all the shrubs. The path east that you and Uba took for hunting always seemed clear and kept in comparison to this wild path. Maybe Uba had been clearing it himself to make it easier to hunt. You at least wished there was a snake rattling somewhere in the bushes, it tasted alright. Uba caught a few a year and the taste was interesting and flavorful whenever he made it.

Your stomach rumbled again. No more thinking about food. You groaned.

It was then that you smelled apples and you stopped in your tracks.

You licked your cracked lips as the smell continued to waft through the air. Those were a rare treat back home. Uba had planted a few seeds on your land but their trees seldom had a good harvest making you treasure them whenever you could manage to get a good few. You followed your nose to where the scent was coming from. Your aching feet were suddenly easier to ignore.

It didn't take long for a small cottage to be seen through the trees. The back door was wide open and from where you stood and saw a window that was open with a pie sitting in the sill. No one else could be seen from where you stood.

Who on earth leaves a perfectly good pie unattended?

Your belly growled something fierce and you grabbed your stomach. You should just leave. Hungry as you were, your mother would curse you if you stole from someone.

But no one is even here. You argued with yourself. If the pie was that important, it’d be inside with the door closed. You licked your lips again but they somehow felt even drier now. You were like a fox stuck in a trap, starving, with its own paw starting to look delicious after days of not eating and the desperation to escape setting in. When your stomach rumbled again, your resolve solidified. Uwa might be upset you stole a pie, but she’d understand if you did it to avoid starving to death. 

With that, you dropped your bag and rifle behind a bush and stumbled out of the bushes, your pant leg catching on a few brambles and tearing at the fabric.

You would worry about that when you were finally in Leipmold. You’d eat as much as you could before running away, that would at least hold you off the rest of the day if you ate half. And if you really could eat half and could fold the tin over, you could carry it back to your bag. Two days worth of food. 

This meal could be two days worth of food!

You rushed up the few stairs leading into the house, weary of the creaking of your boots on the floorboard as you searched for the kitchen. You were glad that the cottage wasn't too big, only two rooms were in the hall before it led to the kitchen and dining room area. There was another door, you assumed was the front door. 

Even better was if the family was in front doing something else and would be distracted long enough for you to leave without much of a trace. Your guilt raised with each step, but so did the growls from your stomach. I’m really sorry!

You stood on a conveniently placed stool and grabbed the pie with ease, reaching for a spoon in the sink that looked like it had been rinsed off recently and dug right in.

You froze mid-bite of your third spoonful when you heard a soft gasp and you turned around so quickly you thought your neck cracked. Behind you was a girl your age, her hair long and with eyes nearly the color to match. The girl’s mouth was agape widely as she took in the sight of you. You in her kitchen, mouth full of pie.

You blinked.

You and the girl only continued to stare at each other.

You promptly ignored how your hands burned when you picked up the pie tin, you could feel bad about stealing this family's pie later.

Your actions caused the girl to break out of her stupor. "W-wait!" She cried, storming after you. "Stop, you pie thief!"

"Mikasa?" The voice of a woman approached closer and you felt her stomach and heart lurch. "What's going on?! Are you alright?!"

"Some boy is stealing our pie, Mom!"

When the steps leading to the back door came into view, you prepared yourself to jump over them. You’d just have to hide under a shrub until they gave up their search outright before you could leave. That was when a third person arrived, a tall man with blond hair, holding his arms out wide to prevent your exit as you skid to a halt in surprise before stumbling forward clumsily and crashing on the floorboard. You winced as your chin hit the wooden floor and your teeth clashed, the pie tin tumbling forward and landing into a crumbly and sticky mess.

"Oh no!" The young girl sounded disappointed and emotional. "Mom, your pie..."

"Mikasa, come back here." Her mother called after her. "Please be careful."

You groaned and clasped at your jaw. You struggled to sit back up, your vision was cloudy was from the hot tears welling in your eyes. "Ow ow..." You garbled but it didn't feel like anything was broken. However, that didn't mean it didn't hurt any less. You sniffed harshly, trying to blink away the watering of your eyes. You didn't want to cry in front of these people.

Your parents really had cursed you for stealing the pie.

Mikasa peered through the crack of the door.

Her mother and father had told her to stay in the kitchen after they had caught the boy trying to steal their pie, but she was still worried. She felt part disappointed and part angry looking at him as he clutched a brown hand to a swollen chin. That had been a pie she had helped her mother make and her first real experience baking and it was ruined. It wasn't often that her parents felt comfortable enough letting Mikasa fiddle in the kitchen.

To see it stolen so callously and then spilled onto the floor put a damper on her spirits.

Now she wondered what her parents would do next.

Brown suddenly caught gray and Mikasa flinched, ducking in order to avoid the boy catching her spying.

It wasn't really spying if it was in her own house, was it?

He was the stranger here.

She didn't feel brave enough to look up again, fearing she'd be spotted again instantly. Mikasa placed a small hand over her chest, hoping it would calm her heartbeat.

"I'm sorry about your pie." The boy's voice was soft and barely audible from where Mikasa stood. "I shouldn't have tried to steal it. I don't have any apples to give back. Please don't be mad."

"Where is your family?" Mother didn't sound angry, so much as she sounded worried. Like when she thought Mikasa had gone too far into the forest to play. She was always worrying about something, Mikasa's mother.  "What's a child as young as yourself doing alone in these mountains?" Her voice was gentle.

"Uba went to Eppelbog." The boy answered after a few seconds. "He wanted me to go to the Leipmold to sell furs."

"'Uba'?" Mother repeated, sounding as confused as Mikasa was. She'd never heard that word before. "Is that your father?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Father sounded surprised, "your father decided to send you on your own to Leipmold? That's at least two weeks away from here! How old are you?"

"10." That was a year older than Mikasa's 9 and he had looked so different from her and Father and Mother. He was slightly taller than her, maybe from the boots he was wearing, and his eyes were a bright amber in contrast to his skin that was the color of Ms. Penny's feathers, their oldest hen who died the previous winter. Mikasa felt her courage return enough to attempt her peeking once again. She'd never seen anyone with skin that dark before, maybe he needed a bath.

"10?" Mother brought a hand to her mouth. "Who sends their 10 year old to sell furs that far away?"

Father glanced at Mother with a reproachful look, "that isn't too young an age for some families to have their boys work, Shiori."

"13 is one thing." Mother argued, crossing her arms. "10 is another, Mikasa's only 9! He needs to be home with his mother, Abelard."

"Don't have one." The boy shook his head. "Uwa's gone, been gone since I was three. It's just me and Uba."

Mikasa shuddered as her eyes widened in horror. His mother was gone? She looked to her own parents, unable to imagine a reality in which either of them weren't with her everyday. No longer seeing her mother's embroidery or welcoming her father home when he was gone after a few hours of hunting, bringing back something that would make her heart jump as she tried suppressing the vague feeling of fear witnessing it.

"Is this your first time going to Leipmold on your own?" Father asked the boy who nodded. "Your father was irresponsible to send you on your way without enough food to last you an entire trip. You're going on foot the entire way?"

"I was supposed to catch rabbits on the way, I thought I could eat them on the way." The boy explained before wincing briefly. He rubbed his chin again tenderly. "There weren't a lot of rabbits though. I thought Leipmold was closer on the map Uba had in his study."

At that, Mother and Father both exchanged a look that Mikasa didn't understand. From what it looked like, neither did the boy whose expression was one of worry as he looked between the two of them. "Please don't tell Uba about the pie, he'll be mad." He begged.

"We'll keep the pie to ourselves if you answer some more of our questions." Father reassured him with a smile. "When is your uba going to return home?"

"A few weeks." The boy's answer was slightly muffled. "He has a lot to sell."

"And you're absolutely sure he'll come no sooner than that?"

The boy nodded.

"What's your name?"

The boy hesitated at that, looking elsewhere. Mikasa was prepared to duck again if he was going to look in her direction again. "It's alright, dear." Mother's voice was soothing as she spoke. "You can trust us."

"... _." The boy said after another moment passed. "_ Okoro."

"_." Mikasa's mother repeated, copying the syllables slowly. "That's a lovely name, did your uwa pick it?"

"Uba did."

"Well at least your father has a good sense to pick a decent name. The same can’t be said for his decisions about you working now..." Mother said, though it looked like she was saying it mostly to herself. "How about this, instead of going to Leipmold, you work here for us for a few weeks while your uba is in Eppelbog and we pay you for it. Then you can leave for home from here and we won't even have to mention the pie."

You blinked in surprise at that, hand falling away from his chin for once. "Really?"

Mother and Father nodded in unison. "It would be a lot safer for you to do this instead, I think your father would understand."

"The mountains are no place for a child to be traveling on their own." Mother continued. "We'll have no problems letting you stay here in exchange for help with the chores around here. And you'll have to get along with our daughter, of course." Mikasa bit her lip and had to stop herself just barely from shuffling her feet. "She can be a bit shy, so you'll have to be patient with her."

"I- um-"

Mother smiled, "you can call us Abelgard and Shiori. Please make yourself home."

Father looked at the door and Mikasa took a few steps back, but it was too late. "We know you're there already, Mikasa." He said with a knowing look on his face. Mikasa groaned quietly at the failure of her hiding place as she slowly opened the door, the creaking sounding ten times louder than normal. "There you are. Say 'hello' to _, he will be stay with us for a little while to make up for the pie, okay?"

Mikasa hid behind her mother to avoid looking you in the eye. "Okay." She grumbled quietly, hoping that would suffice.

"_ will stay in your room while he's here, okay, and you can sleep with Mom and Dad, alright?"

"Mmhmm."

"Um." You piped up awkwardly.

"Yes?" Father turned his attention back to their guest who would now be staying in Mikasa's room with her favorite dolls and the perfect view of the flower patch she had planted that was finally starting to sprout.

"I'm not a boy." You coughed as light glinted on your shining head from the window. "Uba just shaves it off all the time."

Mikasa looked from behind Mother to stare at the girl curiously in her dirty shirt and pants and shaved head. "Ow!" She hissed when she was pinched.

"It's rude to stare, Mikasa." Mother warned but her voice wasn't harsh. "Remember? We're supposed to be polite when someone is in our house."

I know that already! Mikasa looked down at the floor embarrassed to be scolded in front of someone so publicly. "Sorry." She murmured instead.

"We should get you some fresh clothes so you can have those washed." Mother looked back at you as if there were no interruptions. "Do you like wearing dresses, dear?"

"Um..." You just shrugged with no real answer.

"We can set out some clothes for you to pick between after you have a bath. Dear, you should get some water and heat it up over the fire for her in the mean time." Mother's attitude had shifted completely and Mikasa felt her embarrassment fade away as she watched in awe of how her mother seemed to command the room. Father had already given her a playful salute, leaving to do exactly as she asked. Mikasa could only hope that one day she would be just like her. Someone everyone could respect. "Mikasa, you should show our new guest to your room and maybe you can even give her a tour afterwards. Do you think you can do that?"

Mikasa nodded, not wanting to disappoint her.

"_, where are your belongings?" Mother asked.

You pointed out of the window. "I left them under a bush."

"Alright, then you should get those before anything else." With that, Mother clapped her hands together to signal she was done for now. "Go on now." She placed a hand on your back and gave you a few pats on the back to encourage the you to stand. "It shouldn't take but twenty or so minutes for your bath to be ready and the warm water should help with any soreness. Then you can relax for the day before you can help with chores tomorrow."

You stood gingerly on your feet. Your face was full of disbelief, but what ever you were thinking, you never said anything. You only left the room to get your things.

"Why would her dad cut her hair off, mom?" Mikasa asked when the girl was out of an earshot.

Mother only sighed, placing a warm hand atop her head gently. "I don't know, dear. And you shouldn't ask unless she tells you it's alright, she might be very sensitive about it. Her father might have his reasons for it. So we need to be kind until we're able to get her home safely, alright? Can you do that for us?"

Mikasa didn't understand completely, but she nodded anyway. "I can."

Mother smiled brightly, "that's my girl."

                                                          ~;’;~

You fidgeted uncomfortably in your dress and at how it felt strange to not feel fabric hugging your legs closely. The dress, one of Mikasa's, was pretty. A simple yellow, but it was nothing like how you’d imagined wearing dresses to be like. You spun around in the full body mirror the Ackermans had.

This dress didn't seem to be meant for someone with no hair, but Mrs. Ackerman had seemed happy enough lending it to you that you didn't dare take it off.

"Um..." You saw another face looking back at you in the mirror's reflection looking at you cautiously. "Mom asked me to give you a tour around our home right now."

Mikasa, Mr. Ackerman had said her name was. "Oh, um, hi." You replied, turning around to face the girl properly. You hadn't expected y ourattempt at theft to turn into this, but it was a lot better than getting in trouble and going to jail over it. And it was even better than immediately being taken to Uba who would be furious with you in more ways than one. Not only did you run away but you interacted with people he had always told you specifically to avoid, then to add to it, you tried to steal from them.

"You're Mikasa, right?"

The black-haired girl nodded, "and you're _."

An awkward silence past between the two of them before you spoke up again. "Thank you for letting me wear your dress, Uba never let me wear them before. It's very pretty."

Mikasa cracked a small smile at that. You were still sure that she was upset about the pie though.

"I'm ready for your tour now." You gestured to the door. The warm bath really did help out.

Mikasa led the way with her flats tapping nicely against the wooden floors, your own footsteps in her boots sounded heavier. But you both still made your way outside while there was still plenty of sun gracing the cottage. The air smelled sweeter now that you weren't stinking among shrubs anymore as she followed Mikasa to a small coop of chickens. "This is Eunice, Bonnie, Claudette, and Dana, our hens." Mikasa's voice was light with a small smile gracing her face as she pointed at the birds. "We don't eat them because they lay eggs for us."

"I like Claudette the most." You said after giving them a lookover, fond of the the black hen's speckled-with-white feathers.

Mikasa shook her head. "Eunice is the prettiest." She gestured at the burgundy hen with gusto.

"Claudette."

"Eunice."

You shook your head resolutely. "Claudette."

Mikasa only puffed out her cheeks before leading away from the coop to a garden area. "Eunice." You thought she had heard under the girl's breath, but Mikasa was made sure to get your focus on the garden. Your belly grumbled when she spotted the blackberry bushes.

You coughed. "Did Mrs. Ackerman plant everything?"

Mikasa shook her head and knelt beside a small patch of dirt separate from the main garden, small sprouts sticking out of them. "These are the flowers I planted." The girl said proudly, the sun beaming down on her. You knelt beside her as best you could without getting dirt on your borrowed outfit. "Mom let me do all by myself and she said they'll finally be flowers in a couple of months!" You knew you wouldn't be there long enough for that but you smiled anyway.

"Can you eat them?"

Mikasa looked aghast at the thought of eating flowers. "Of course not!"

"You can eat some flowers though." You pointed out. Like lavender, you knew Uba liked to use that from the wild plants that grew near their home. He would collect other flowers like chamomile for tea he would brew when it was especially cold.

"These ones are for being pretty." Mikasa looked at her plants proudly again. "Mom said we can make flower crowns with them and press them too and that I'll be able to keep them forever that way." She stood up, dusting what few specks of dirt managed to get on the bottom of her dress. "The rest here are vegetables Mom grows and the berries are still okay to pick too." As if to prove, Mikasa plucked a berry right off the bush and handed it over. "You can try it, if you want."

You took it all too eagerly, relishing the sweet taste on her tongue. "Can I have another?" You asked, but Mikasa was already picking more. 

Despite the rocky introductions, you were sure you were going to like working for the Ackermans.

[tallblondasian]

So uh either the vision is just created by the drug mixed with mc's paranoia or mc's demise happens off-screen amirite

*SPOILERS FOR SERGIO ROUTE OF HtLaL AHEAD*

It’s weird because some of the stuff that happens in the dream visions definitely seems to be canon to the story: like Val helps you uncover more clues about the murder in the vision where you turn in Sergio and those clues seem to be true to what happened in real life. And Sergio still seems to love you even 40 years later after you reported him and he went to prison.

THEN in the other scenario where you DON’T turn in Sergio for the murder we get THIS

It’s extra unnerving because though this betrayal is just a dream/vision it still seems to be implying that this is what would actually happen if you revealed to Sergio that you were going to turn him in after he’s married you. This murder scenario happens after your wedding so maybe Sergio is just waiting until he has a legal right to your money to kill you and get all of it? Kind of puts a damper on the happy ending we get in chapter 15 when maybe Sergio is now just plotting to kill us too 😂😭