#This causes in Dash having to think outside the box

[ten-shiriya23]

He's angry.

Definitely angry.

How come that the person who bullied him, shoving him into lockers get everything he only thought was a dream.

How come he gets the alliance and protection from everyone while he was scorned and hated even when he sacrificed everything he had to protect them.

How come he got help in his battles while he had to learn it all by himself.

How come he got this... This good version of Vlad when his version of Vlad tortured him.

How come he have the help of his parents when he was vivisected by his own.

He's glad he never suffered as he did.

He's glad he never had his childhood ripped away from him.

He's glad Dash never had to bear such high responsibility.

Danny is jealous and hates the Dash of this universe but at the same time he's glad Dash never suffered as he did. Danny hates Dash but he'd never wishwant him to suffer the same way as he did.

Follow-up to Halfa Dash AU

Believe it or not, Danny starts to get jealous of Dash. In his eyes, Dash got everything while he got little to nothing. Everyone in town knows Dash’s “secret” and work to hide him from the GIW or prying eyes. Valerie and the Fentons work together with him, and Vlad learned to let go of his anger a long time ago and isn’t in the picture.

When Danny helped in his universe, he was called a menace for accidentally causing property damage in ghost fights, half of which is caused by the other ghost attacking him and the other half is Danny being thrown at buildings or the ground, so he literally has no control over it! Even when he tried! He still tried to help the best he could, but it was never enough for the town.

“I gave all I could for them, and then some, but what did I get? Hunted! Torn open! I didn’t expect anything, not even a thank you!”

When Dash does it, he’s considered a hero, gets pats on the back, that kind of stuff. His fire core in still underdeveloped, but he warms up the area when he’s in ghost form. People love that, unless people are already hot and sweating, but no one lashes out. Danny’s ice core lowers the room temperature, and sometimes his body temperature. No one wants to hold hands that are cold.

As you can tell, Danny is pissed about this. He’s happy Dash doesn’t have to deal with what he did, but he’s still pissed.

As for Sam and Tucker, I have two ideas.

They went along with him to the alternate universe, where none of them existed, and all live and work together to get by and help each other out. There was no way they were leaving him alone.

The alternate Sam and Tucker like Dash. They think he’s a pretty chill guy, and they don’t understand why Danny keeps avoiding him or flinching. A part of Danny feels betrayed by this, even though he knows they’re not the Sam and Tucker he knew.

I think the last straw for Danny would either be Vlad or Lancer.

When Vlad comes into the picture, he’s not just… well, not a fruit loop, but he helps Dash! He helps him with his ghost powers, he teaches him, and Jack, and Maddie! He gives tips and advice on what to expect in the future and how to deal with it, and gives him his number incase he needs him!

Danny’s anger reaches a whole new peak.

If it’s Lancer, then it’s when he figures out that Danny has no parents and is living on his own. When he talks to Danny about this after school, he blows up at him. He goes on a rant about how Lancer thinks that he knows what’s best for him when he doesn’t know the full story. He lets it slip that he’s from another universe and had really bad experiences that made it hard for him to trust people and asks how he can be sure this isn’t a trap of some kind.

Eyes are glowing green, the room is freezing, and Danny’s cussing while trying not to have a mental breakdown and failing. He doesn’t want to be put into any adoption or foster care, especially with some strangers, and he’s determined to not let that happen. If anyone, he’d allow Frostbite to adopt him.

Surprisingly, this Frostbite and the one he first met are very similar and recognize him. It’s as if they’re actually the same! Like the Ghost Zone didn’t change, or at least, the Far Frozen didn’t.

Or maybe I can add the Nightingale Family from the PenPal AU! They’d be the one able to adopt him because he meets them all over again, and they’re some of the few people who are still the same. He knows he can trust them, so when they offer adoption, his answer is yes and a big hug.

I think that eventually, he and Dash might have a rivalry-type friendship. Ish. Danny’s constantly pushing Dash to get better with his skills. Dash likes to challenge him to a sparring match or race. Or maybe it’s like this closer to the start, but Danny’s genuinely mad under the mask. He’ll start to appreciate this Dash sooner or later.

[stone-stars]

a lot of people goof about murph being a hardass dm who tells his players no a lot, but like… he’s not, really. if his players are trying to make a creative move, to bend the rules to do something interesting, and even sometimes pull some goofs he will 100% work with them and even let them do extra things.

it’s just he draws the line at looney tunes bullshit, and sometimes the line isn’t even a hard line it’s “roll 2 nat 20s right now”

[russos-one]

Not my gif

Look at how cute she is in this gif I actually can’t 🤩

Vivianne Miedema x !Fem!MccabeReader

[I love you so much]

Can’t find the request but I combined it with another one a got hope you don’t mind

Act like Jordan never left and Leah Viv and Beth never got their yk what injured

Act like the car teleported to the stadium idk

Finally finishing this at 3am when I’m supposed to be sleeping

Not proof read cause I’m lazy

Warnings- mention of injury, Viv being the softest gf ever, pure tooth rotting fluff, protective Viv, Protective Katie

Word count- 1.5k+

Summary- Reader gets Injured in a away match against Tottenham and Katie and Viv go into protective mode

——————————————————

Today was the game against Tottenham. Unfortunately, it was an away match, so we had to travel to The Hive Stadium.

As Viv and I talked about the upcoming game while walking to the coach, Katie called out, “Wait up!” She ran to catch up with us.

“Hey, Katie!” I said, turning to her.

Viv echoed, “Hi, Katie!” with a smile. God, I love her smile. We continued our walk, and when we reached the coach, Katie asked, “Have you seen Caitlin?”

“Yeah, she’s just behind Stina and Cloe,” Viv replied cheerily. Katie quickly pushed past us and ran to find her girlfriend while we climbed aboard the coach.

Viv turned to me and said, “God, she’s whipped,” then turned back to watch Katie with a wide smile on her face. I couldn’t help but agree. We made our way to the back of the coach to sit together, holding hands.

I leaned my head on her shoulder, and she whispered, “You tired, baby?” I nodded against her neck. She chuckled softly and said, “Go to sleep, my Schatje,” running her fingers through my hair.

Three Hours Later

“Schatje, wake up,” Viv said, softly kissing my forehead.

“Five more minutes,” I mumbled, burying my head further into her neck.

“Liefde, we have to get off the coach and get ready for the game.” Reluctantly, I sat up. Viv happily grabbed my hand and helped me off the coach. As soon as we stepped outside, Katie turned around and said, “Keep it PG,” giving us a side-eye.

“Katie, we’re literally just holding hands,” I groaned.

“Still, you never know where that can lead.” She dashed off to catch up with Caitlin.

I sighed into Viv’s neck. “God, I’m sick of her.”

Viv chuckled. “She’s only joking, babe.”

“I know, but it doesn’t make it any less annoying.”

We rushed into the stadium and got ready for the game.

Thirty Minutes Later

Before the game started, we warmed up. Luckily, Viv and I were both starting, so we got to warm up together with the team.

The trainers instructed us to pair up for drills, which included one-touch passing, crossing balls to each other, and penalty kicks.

Fifteen Minutes Later

Fifteen minutes later, we lined up, preparing to walk out for the game. Viv stood behind me, massaging my shoulders, and whispered in my ear, “Let’s win this, baby.”

Kim called out, “Let’s win this, ladies!” We walked out, lined up, shook hands with the opposing team, took our team photo, and then dashed to our positions. As a midfielder, I linked up beautifully with Viv. I sent her long balls, and she skillfully navigated the defense to score.

The ref blew the whistle, signaling the start of the game. Right away, Caitlin passed the ball to me. I surged forward with my teammates at my side. As I was about to cross it into the penalty box, a Tottenham player harshly tackled me, sending me crashing to the ground. As soon as I hit the turf, most of my teammates rushed to my side—well, all but two. I glanced down at my ankle and saw blood. Looking back up, I noticed Viv and Katie screaming at the ref, demanding a card for the Tottenham player, arguing it was a clear foul.

“You alright, Y/n?” Leah asked, concern etched on her face.

“No, I don’t think I can continue. I’ll have to get subbed off.”

In the background, I could hear Katie and Viv’s escalating commotion. Though I couldn’t catch all the words, I did hear that both had received yellow cards for foul language and nearly starting a fight with the Tottenham players.

Kim quickly pulled them away from the ref and the opposing team and brought them over to me.

Viv and Katie crouched down beside me, and Viv asked, “Are you okay? I’m sorry for not coming sooner; I was just so angry.”

“Don’t worry about it. I have to get subbed off, though. My ankle is killing me.”

Katie was still giving the ref a death stare but was listening intently. Viv gave me a soft look while rubbing my hand. Katie quickly kissed my head, and Viv kissed my hand as Stina signaled to Jonas that I needed to be subbed off. Viv and Katie helped me off the pitch, and Victoria Pelova took my place.

Medics escorted me to the medical room, which thankfully had a TV, so I could still watch the game while the doctors checked on me. After some examinations, the doctors informed me that nothing serious was wrong with my ankle; I just needed to rest it for two weeks with ice.

As I watched the game, I saw Viv score an absolute banger and, during her celebration, blow a kiss to the camera, which made me smile.

Twenty-Five Minutes Later

It was half-time, and Arsenal was up by three goals.

Viv and Katie rushed into the medical room, immediately coming to my side—Viv on my left and Katie on my right. Viv took my hand, and Katie rubbed my leg, asking if I was okay and what the doctors said.

“The doctors said I’m fine; it’s nothing serious. I just need to rest it for two weeks and ice it twice a day to reduce inflammation, plus I have to strap it.”

“That’s good! We’re glad you’re okay,” Katie replied, smiling while still rubbing my leg.

Viv chimed in, “Did they say you can walk?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Wait, what do you mean ‘no’? The doctors said I could, just not to put too much pressure on it.”

“No, I’m carrying you everywhere.”

Katie nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I agree with Viv. You’re not allowed to walk anymore. Don’t want you injuring yourself further.”

“What? That’s not fair! The doctors are professionals. I don’t think you two are.”

Before I could say more, Leah entered, informing us that the game would start again in ten minutes, and they needed to discuss tactics.

Before I could respond, Viv kissed me on the head and mumbled, “Goodbye, love you. See you in a bit,” while Katie playfully messed up my hair before leaving with Viv and Leah.

I lay back on the medical bed, sighing, and pulled out my phone to inform my parents about my injury—totally not searching for Vivianne Miedema edits on TikTok instead.

Thirteen minutes later, I watched Viv score another incredible goal, and not two minutes later, Steph chipped the ball over the keeper’s head, bringing Arsenal’s score to five.

Thirty Minutes Later

The game ended with Arsenal winning 7-0, featuring a hat trick from the one and only Vivianne Miedema, a chip by Catley, an absolute stunner from McCabe from just over halfway, Kim Little scoring a penalty due to a handball, and a brilliant stoppage-time goal by Caitlin Foord.

Before I could even process it, the whole team burst into the medical room, dancing and singing. I sat there laughing, enjoying my time with my Arsenal family. Eventually, it calmed down, and Jordan asked, “Y/n, are you going to be okay?”

“Yeah, I’m going to be—”

Viv cut in, “No, she isn’t. She’s going to be bed-ridden and isn’t leaving the house for a month.”

“Excuse me? A month? You can’t be serious!”

“Just taking precautions, baby,” Viv said cheerily, making me groan and lean back against the medical bed.

“Someone’s a bit grumpy.”

“Shut up, McCard.”

“Rude.”

As Viv and I argued, I didn’t notice when she left and returned with a wheelchair. Katie burst out laughing, and the rest of the girls joined in.

“Okay, darling, let’s go.”

“Viv, please, you’re joking! I don’t need a wheelchair. It’s like you think my leg got amputated or something.” The girls continued to laugh.

“It’s not funny! I don’t know why you’re all laughing.”

Viv placed the wheelchair beside the bed with a wide smile. “Viv, please tell me you’re joking. I really don’t need a wheelchair.” The girls left the room to prepare to go home.

Viv scooped me up from under my thighs, whispering, “Let’s go, baby,” and sat me in the wheelchair. She pushed the door open and we made our way out of the medical room.

Viv quickly unlocked the car, lifted me from the wheelchair, and plopped me into the passenger seat. She placed the wheelchair in the trunk before heading to the driver’s side.

“You ready to go, baby?” she asked cheerily.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

Viv started the car, immediately placing one hand on my thigh, where it stayed for the rest of the ride.

After a while, I fell asleep, knowing it would be a long journey home.

Two Hours Later

“Y/n, it’s time to wake up. We’re home,” Viv whispered in my ear while gently shaking me. I slowly opened my eyes, adjusting to the light in the car.

Viv unbuckled her seatbelt, turned off the car, and opened my door, unbuckling me from my seat. She lifted me under my thighs, and I quickly buried my head into her neck, whispering sleepily, “I’m tired.”

“I know, my darling,” she replied, locking the car. She walked us to the house, unlocked the door, and guided me to the bedroom, where she gently placed me onto the bed.

“I’ll be back in two minutes, baby. I’m going to run a bath for you,” she said, running her fingers through my hair.

She quickly went to start the bath and soon returned to help me get there.

She placed me on the bench next to the sink and gave me a soft kiss on my forehead, making me smile contentedly.

She picks me up, places me in the bath and washes my body and my hair, after a while she takes me out dries me off with a towel, dries my hair and dresses me. She then brings me to the bed and gives me a kiss on the cheek and says

“I’ll be back in 15 minutes, love. I just need to take a shower.” I groaned and replied, “Hurry up, I want my cuddles,” a bit grumpily.

She chuckled, grabbed her clothes from our shared closet, and headed into the bathroom.

Seventeen minutes later, she emerged, looking fresh in her clean clothes with her hair still damp.

Viv walks over to our shared bed, lifted the blankets, and laid down next to me. I instantly leaned into her and whispered, “You lied.”

“About what, love?” she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

“You took longer than 15 minutes. Liar.” Viv chuckled and ran her fingers through my hair.

“How can I make it up to you, my love?”

“You have to give me a kiss, and then I might forgive you—if the kiss is good enough,” I replied smugly.

She lifted my chin and slowly leaned in, bringing her lips to mine. She kissed me slowly and sensually. Unfortunately, after a while, we had to part for air.

“Was that good enough, my love?” I leaned into her neck as she chuckled.

“Yes, it was perfect.”

“Good, only the best for you, my love.”

I sighed and whispered, “Goodnight, I love you so much.”

[astroa3h]

mercury through the signs ✨⚡️

Mercury in your birth chart is like the personal assistant of your psyche. It's all about communication, intellect, and how you process and share information. Think of it as the cosmic messenger, zipping through your mind with the speed of light, carrying thoughts, ideas, and words from one neuron to the next.

Aries: When Mercury dashes into Aries, it's like a verbal sprinter. Thoughts and words come out at breakneck speed. It's bold, it's brash, and it's as subtle as a sledgehammer. These folks don't just think outside the box; they set the box on fire.

Taurus: Then Mercury meanders into Taurus, and everything slows down for a leisurely stroll. Here, thoughts are thorough, words are deliberate, and decisions are made with a practicality that could be mistaken for stubbornness. But let's call it dedication, shall we?

Gemini: In Gemini, Mercury's home turf, the vibe is electric. Thoughts zip and zap like fireflies, and conversations can feel like a tennis match with words volleying back and forth. It's lively, it's stimulating, and it's... a bit scatterbrained, but charmingly so.

Cancer: Mercury in Cancer turns the mind inward. Communication is steeped in emotion, intuition guides thoughts, and words are wrapped in care. It's like every conversation is a heart-to-heart, which is sweet, though sometimes a bit clingy.

Leo: When Mercury roars into Leo, it's showtime. Communication becomes a performance, thoughts are grand, and words are delivered with flair and drama. It's confident, it's creative, and it demands attention — and applause.

Virgo: In Virgo, Mercury dons its glasses and gets down to business. Here, Mercury is Exalted and in it's Rulership. Thoughts are precise, communication is methodical, and there's a penchant for critique. It's efficient, it's analytical, and it's oh-so-picky.

Libra: Mercury in Libra is all about harmony. Thoughts are balanced, words are chosen with care, and there's a diplomatic flair to communication. It's charming, it's sociable, and it's indecisive. Like, can you just pick a restaurant for once?

Scorpio: With Mercury in Scorpio, the mind goes deep sea diving. Thoughts are intense, communication is loaded with meaning, and there's a knack for uncovering secrets. It's insightful, it's magnetic, and it's a little paranoid. Relax, not everyone is out to get you.

Sagittarius: Mercury is said to be in detriment in Sagittarius. Here, it's like a philosopher with a hangover. Thoughts are lofty, but scattered; it's adventurous, it's philosophical, and it's tactless. Honestly, sometimes you just need to put a sock in it.

Capricorn: Mercury in Capricorn is the CEO. Thoughts are strategic, communication is conservative, and there's a respect for tradition. It's ambitious, it's disciplined, and it's a bit of a bore. Loosen up, live a little, it won't kill you babe.

Aquarius: In Aquarius, Mercury becomes the rebel with a cause. Thoughts are innovative, words are unconventional, and communication is aimed at shaking up the status quo. It's intellectual, it's eccentric, and it's detached. Because who needs emotions when you have ideas, right?

Pisces: Mercury is said to be both in it's “fall” and its “detriment” in Pisces. It's like a poet who's lost their map. Thoughts are imaginative but directionless; communication is empathetic but vague. It's overly sensitive, and it's confusing. These are the people sobbing after one too many tequila shots.

xox astro ash ✨ Get your own Natal Chart Reading @ astroash.net

[starlit-crossing]

A Ghost of Yourself Chapter 1

Chapter 1 - A Feeling of Dread

Welcome and enjoy! All characters are of course owned by their original intellectual properties and this story is in no way canon.

- -      -

Danny wasn't sure what to think when his parents said they would be collaborating with the Guys in White for a contract. He knew nothing good would come from it. Jazz had even voiced her concerns, citing the times the GIW had tried to steal their work. His parents just brushed off their worries, stating the project was research focused rather than weaponry. It relieved some of Danny's worries, but he couldn't shake this nagging feeling.

"If its focused-on research how much harm could it cause?" Sam reassured as the collection of herself, Danny and Tucker settled in for movie night in Sam's home theater. The theater was in the basement, red curtains hanging by the large movie screen.  A few chairs and piles of pillows were strewn about for the group to chill on. There was even a popcorn and soda machine in the back of the room next to a few classic arcade games.

"Yeah, Danny, what if they finally find evidence to support your side? Y'know the fact ghosts are the same as people and there is good and bad." Tucker piped in as he plopped into the cushiony seat with a bounce, extra-large popcorn and soda in hand.

"I don't know, Tuck. They've found stuff like that before, and they always find a way to twist it to fit their view on ghosts." Danny rambled, running his hand through his hair. "I just hope they'll be careful around the GIW and maybe let some research spill at home so I can eavesdrop."

"You could always follow them." Sam suggested. She watched confused as the boys just stared at her.

"You think Danny should follow his parents into the base of a bunch of ghost hunters hired by the government to research and destroy anything undead?" Tucker asked. "Are you insane?"

"Sorry Sam I'm with Tucker on this one, I don't think I could get close without catching someone's attention, human or ghost." Danny sighed, "Let's just get the movie started, what's on the menu?"

"Femalien 2: Predator vs Prey, Terminatra 7: Back to the Present Again, or Nightmerica: Dreams of Terror." Sam listed off just as Danny felt a cold wisp of air leave his lips.

"FEAR ME! I AM THE BOX GHOST!" screamed the Box Ghost, the cry making its way in from outside.

"Raincheck you guys, boxy shouldn't take me too long." As a flash filled the room and Danny flew through the walls disappearing.

"Ten bucks says Skulker shows up before he can come back." Tucker bribed.

"You're on, we took out his suit last week. Meanwhile, Kitty and Johnny 13 have been fighting again." Sam accepted, starting up a movie knowing it would be done before he got back.

- -      -

The following weeks were surprisingly uneventful, a sign Danny took to heart. His parents had been extra careful not to leave out any notes or research in the house, not even in the lab. Refusing to give any hints as to what they were working on. Ghosts had been scarce, nothing except ectopuses and blob ghosts. The GIW agents had been the complete opposite, they were at an all-time high. You couldn't go more than ten minutes without spotting a white van. He was glad he didn't need to save anyone from those agents, but he had a really bad feeling that something was going to happen. School was his only time away from the ghost hunters it felt like.

"Calm down, Danny. So, you have had a few good weeks, you've caught up on homework and Lancer isn't on your back nearly as much." Sam soothed as they took a seat outside in the courtyard for lunch. The hustle and bustle of students drowning out any chance of being overheard.

"Yea, dude even Dash has been picking on you less. Though that could be due to the championship coming up." Tucker added his mouth full of sloppy joe. The bully in question was across the court passing a football with his teammates, Paulina and her socialites sitting on the table watching them. Dash caught Danny's gaze and gave him a smirk dragging his finger across his neck.

"Don't remind me, I still remember last year when we lost. Dash was bully all nerds on sight that week." Danny grimaced as he ate. "But my parents have been really excited this week. Apparently, something big is coming." As if speaking it into the universe the Fenton GAV made its way barreling down the street, some white vans in tow.

"Spoke too soon, dude." Tucker whispered as they watched the GAV dodge and swerve to miss any pedestrians. The vehicle finally came to a stop on the grass with Drs. Fenton and the GIW rushing out to follow a gadget in Jack's hands.

"He's here somewhere, I just know it! Come out ghost scum!" Jack exclaimed barreling straight to Danny. The whole group of hunters stared at the young boy and his friends. "Aww. It didn't work, Maddie. It’s still stuck on Danny-boy." Now that they were closer Danny was able to see the Fenton Finder in his father's hands. It looked like it had been upgraded, it was bigger with handles on the sides and no voice stating where the ghost was. The screen showed simple faces on the screen next to the GPS. The current emoji was a shocked face as the map was pointing and beeping at him.

"That can't be possible, we tested it on other simple ghosts. The upgrade to the Fenton Finder was supposed to show and locate the emotions the ghosts project in order to fool and feed on the humans around them. Even that simple ghost with the boxes was able to show signs of disappointment as he failed to scare his victims." Maddie explained, grabbing the device. With it in hand she fiddled with the settings of the device, swapping it between ghosts till it landed back on the name Phantom. "We had tested this last week; Phantom's emotions reflected his actions time and time again in a hostile environment."

"Well, there's no ghost here, probably still has a few bugs, right?" Sam offered, trying to distract them and keep the focus off Danny. Danny's mind raced with the implications of what was happening. Of course, his parents would find out that ghosts tend to be more emotional than humans and would twist the fact to fit their biased theory that all ghosts were evil. It’s not like ghosts were moody on purpose, when your entire being is based on your mental state emotions tend to play an important part. Not only with obsessions but when interacting with each other, being able to read the emotions of the ghosts you interreacted with was as important as social cues and body language with humans.

Sure, you could go without them and function as fine as anyone else, but they were still a great help with communicating if you were good at understanding them. With this they'd be able to tune into any ghost no matter the distance and translate it into coordinates. Not even the ghost zone would be completely safe as they could probably filter through the other emotions using the ectosignature of a previously known ghost. Danny's breath started to pick up, he could feel himself spiraling as he started to think about what that would mean for him in the hands of the GIW. They would never stop looking for him, they would be able to find him anywhere in the country.

"Look Mads, the ghost kid has to be near the emotion changed again." Jack exclaimed, jumping with excitement.

"I see that Jack and it would make sense with the transition of shock to confusion to panic. Though he's nowhere to be seen, Agent O do you have confirmation that Phantom isn't in the area?" Maddie turned, addressing the agents that had been standing by waiting for orders.

"Affirmative, there are no spectral entities in the viscidity on any energy spectrum. Could it be possible that the spectral entity is hiding among the student body? You said yourself that your device is focused on your son and that it’s a common occurrence. Could the ghost have caught wind of your contract with our organization and tried to find out more by hiding amongst your family?" Agent O suggested, eyeing Danny closely, the color draining from his face.

"That's preposterous, our family has ways of protecting ourselves!" Jack boasted, his voice carrying across the schoolyard. "Besides Danny knows not to trust any stinking ghost scum."

"Jack, honey..." Maddie called, eyes glued to the screen. "The emotion just turned to scared." Danny felt like all eyes were on him, going straight through him to his core. It felt like no one was looking at Fenton anymore, no matter where he looked, they all stared at him like they saw a ghost; like they only saw Phantom. Danny even had to look at himself to make sure he was still human. No gloved hands and red sneakers, he was definitely human still. Danny looked at Tucker and Sam, his best friends, looked at him with matching expressions. They both looked as shocked as he felt; they all knew they couldn't do anything, not with the GIW and student body all around them.

With everyone's attention on him, he could only think of his sister who wasn't even at school. She was shadowing a therapist and had a college interview later that day. She probably wouldn't hear anything till late that night. It's not like they weren't prepared for it, for Danny to have to disappear without a trace or a goodbye. So long as they were unable to control the narrative, Danny would have to disappear. Danny knew they always thought it would be into the ghost zone, he had allies in there. People he knew would keep him hidden if anyone came looking; that Sam and Tucker would be able to sneak in if need be. They could still see him, bring him homework and food. This, however, meant goodbye and he didn't know for how long.

"Danny," his mom smiled at him with worry filled eyes. He searched them for something, anything that showed she wasn't about to drag him home and put the specter deflector on him just to make sure no ghost was using him as a meat puppet. Her arms reached out to him, as the GIW surrounded their table ready for action. "You have nothing to worry about, sweetie. We're just going to head home."

"Yea, Danny. We'll help ya out, run a few tests and make sure you don't have any evil spook haunting you." His dad tagged on, wrapping an arm around his wife's shoulder. Of course they'd want to fix this, to fix the ghost within him. One test would reveal the truth, and everyone would know his secret. Then it would be more tests, biopsies, trying to cure him of his powers. That was if they still loved him after learning the truth. The thoughts surrounding the lab became darker in his mind, nightmares he dared not to tell anyone becoming fresh in his mind.

"I'm sorry, mom. Dad. Goodbye." Danny disappearing from everyone's sight as he turned invisible and flew off towards his house. His parents’ cries fading into the distance, a mix of worry and anger as the ghost boy stole their son. Tears stung his eyes as he flew across the sky, Sam and Tucker would know what to do. They would stall for him, as long as they could. The road raced past him, he went through cars and buildings not bothering to fly high in the sky. The less time he wasted the better. As he floated into his room, he had to take a moment. The reality of it all crashing into him, he felt another wave of stress come over him.

Choking on sobs he fell to his bed, clinging to the sheets. He had to calm down, he didn't have time to cry or pity himself, his parents were probably still tracking him. Which meant the GIW were still following behind, his parents he could one day convince, could one day explain how it all happened. The GIW wouldn't stop though, so long as they were getting paid and had the government's support he would have to run. He ran to his closet wiping away snot as he phased his emergency supplies from the wall. Extra clothes, a burner phone, and couple hundred dollars thanks to Sam's allowance all stowed away in a backpack. An extra belt with a Fenton thermos, ghost rays, and a pair of Fenton phones for any specters along the way. Finally, five letters addressed to Sam, Tucker, Jazz, Valerie, and his parents.

Sam and Tucker didn't know about these, he didn't know if he would ever need them but knowing his friends would drop everything to follow him, he needed to make sure Amity would be safe. Sam and Tucker's letters were a warning to not follow him, to stay and protect Amity at all costs, even revealing him to Valerie to gain her help if necessary. He couldn't trust his parents or the GIW to not torture any ghost that came into their hands. For Jazz, it was a letter to not look for him and to keep an eye on his parents. If anything changed with his parents, she would be the first to know. He needed her to be the fly on the wall, to make sure he still had parents at the end of it all. If there was ever an end to the running, he thought another wave of sorrow hitting him.

He swallowed the hurt and pushed himself to keep grabbing what he needed. Valerie and his parents were the only letters not mentioning his secret. Valerie's was from Phantom explaining he would be gone, and he didn't know for how long. She would probably be thrilled at the thought of Phantom going away, but if she saw anything that had happened today, she might try and follow him too.  He knows she cares about Fenton and would probably want him safe but if anyone could protect Amity while he was gone it was her. If she needed any help handling the ghosts she could call the number provided. It went straight to Sam and Tucker's burner phone. Only one for the two of them in case either of them had to hide it for the other.

 For his parents, it simply stated that he was sorry and that could explain everything if they ever became open to the truth about ghosts. He did not explain what the truth was or how he would know that they were ready. That was for Jazz to tell him with a single message, she held the final burner phone the group of them had. They would be confused, not sure why phantom would kidnap their kid. Their hatred would grow much to his displeasure, but maybe one day they would give up on hate. They would find him and just ask why, and he could finally let them know the whole truth about him.

As Danny left the letter for his parents on the kitchen table he heard the stomping of feet, the whine of ecto-guns and slamming of doors as his father led the charge into the house. He was gone before they even reached his room. Leaving with what letters he had left to deliver and flying away as quickly as he could. He stopped at Tucker's house first, then Sam's, Valerie's and then flew as high as he could into the sky. He looked down at Amity Park, his home, his entire life, and afterlife.

It always looked so peaceful from up above the clouds, he watched the GAV ram its way through the city. It was good to know there was a slight delay on the GPS, the emotions were able to update in real time but could only follow his trail not his exact location. They had moved on from Tucker's neighborhood and onto Sam's. He took one final breath and tried to steel his nerves. If they were searching for him with emotion, then he would just have to have no emotion. He wouldn't be able to think of home, his friends, his family, or he would start to miss them, an emotion.

He couldn't think about how close the GIW were to him, or he'd become anxious, scared or even angry that they had forced him to flee. He had to stay calm and focused on running, to where he had no clue. If he headed west there was a chance of running into Vlad and he didn't need all the emotional baggage that would come with that. So that just left heading to the East coast and hopefully out of the country. He'd have to stop using his powers at some point to make sure he was untraceable.

"Goodbye, Amity. Hello worst road trip ever." he spoke softly flying off into the night.

- -      -

Hello! Author here, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! It’s intended to be sort of a prologue and set up the rest of the story. This is a crossover, but I wanted to get some establishing chapters in focusing on Danny and why he is running. I am still very rusty when it comes to writing so feel free to recommend any fixes and critiques. Let me know if I miss any typos!

The goal is to try and update weekly on Fridays or Sundays, so if I don’t post on Friday that probably means it will go up the following Sunday. Thank you to those coming over from Tumblr, loved the hype for another Dannymay fanfic! I’ll be trying to get more stuff posted there!

Let me know what you think through the comments, even if it’s just a simple one word so I can know you’re enjoying the story! See you next week, byee!

Master post - Chapter 1 Prev. <<< Next >>>

[infrequent-creator]

Lovey Dovey

Sum: Cosmo and Wanda having some relaxing couple time at home <3

A/N: These two make me so happy & they're such nostalgic comfor characters I had to watch A New Wish ! So here's some fairy tickles for your brainrot. I wrote this in like 15 minutes so 😅

---

The tv played quietly in the background of Cosmo & Wanda's apartment. They were watching some slideshows of their 10,000 year vacation to distract Cosmo from Hazel being with her friends for the day.

"Wanda?" Cosmo was currently laying on the floor, neck against the couch to look at the tv.

"Yeah honey?"

"When does Hazel come back from Space camp?"

"It's not Space camp sweetie, it's day camp & she's only going to be gone for a couple more hours." Wanda sighed, leaning down to look at her husband.

"A few hours?! That's like...a few days! What are we gonna do without Hazel for a few days!" Cosmo curled up on the floor and sobbed loudly.

Wanda sighed again, she hated seeing her sweetie so sad. She thought the pictures would cheer him up like they usually did. It wasn't this time though, she had to think outside the box.

"Hey Cosmo~" Wanda cooed, sliding off the couch to sit next to his curled up, shaking form.

"Do you wanna make fairy cookie dough and watch a Romcom like humans do?" She placed a hand on his head to soothe him. He looked up at her like a sad puppy.

"Hazel loves fairy cookie dough and romcoms. Waahhhhhh!" The sweet green fairy sobbed harder, fountains of tears making water puddles around them.

"No Cosmo, you do sweetie. Cmon, it'll be fun!" Wanda sighed with a smile, picked up her crying hubby, cradling him in her lap. She loved her sweet, sensitive husband. He always was, that's one of the reasons she loves him so much.

"Cmon how sweetie, where's my happy hubby?"

"R-Right... heeehehere ahaha! Wandahaha!" Cosmo's sniveling suddenly turned to adorable giggling. Wanda's blunt nails were gently digging into his sides.

"Aww is he right here? Is he all giggly for me?" Wanda cooed in Cosmo's ear, making him scrunch up his shoulders as he laughed.

"AHAHAha! Wahahahndahaha! Dohohohont!" He kicked his feet as her fingers migrated to his squishy belly.

"Don't? Since when doesn't my honey bunny like his tickles?" She faked confusion as she squeezes his soft lower belly, causing him to squeal.

"NAHAHAHAT THEHERE! SWEHEHEETIE PLEHEHEASE!" Her hands grabbing and clawing at his hips, lower belly & even the tops of his thighs, driving her husband up the wall

"MEHEHERCY MERCYYEHEHE PLEHEHEEASE!"

She laughed herself as she slowed her hands to just rubbing firmly over the spots she attacked with her tickles. This helped with getting rid of the phantom tickling sensation that lingered on his skin.

"See, now don't you feel better, Cosmo?" She leaned down to kiss his cheek a couple of times, savoring the sound of his quiet tittering.

"A little.. I guess. I still miss Hazel though, you promise she's going to be back today?" He looked up at her, clearly still a little sad about their absent godkid.

"Of course she will honey, I promise." Wanda planted a final kiss on her husband's cheek, smiling down at the lipstick marks they left.

"Can we make fairy cookie dough and watch a romcom now?" He gave her a big smile, back to his bright usual tone

"Yes we can Cosmo." She smiled back at him as he dashed off into their kitchen, lightening speed. Baking ingredients tossed around like bomb shrapnel.

I love him so much, Wanda thought, staring at her husband as her eyes hearted.

The End!

[whereserpentswalk]

There was, in the days of generations now passed into the gates of hades, a spirit that guarded a road. He was a kind spirit; he had been in the place for as long as anyone can remember. They say he looked like a tall man in shining green armor, with the wings and arms of a mantis. Nobody ever saw the face below his helmet. He was a kind spirit in those days, a protector of the travelers and the wanders. Those lost in the night he would show the way. He would walk with those who needed protection. The shops on the side of the road would put out warm milk and meat pies for him, and he would award them with money and customers. And any church that preached that he was an unclean thing would find themselves restored by termites and rats without his dear protection.

They say one day, as he walked alongside a young woman as she made her way home through a cold winter's night, a man came up to her and tried to take her away at the point of a knife. The spirit was enraged, and melted the attacker's eyes from his skull, and closed the holes in his face under his body died from lack of air. It was a brutal fate, though a fair one for a soul who would have done worse to one more innocent. And from that day forth the spirit spoke that anyone who walked along that road would be protected by the spirit's magic, and anyone or anything, human or beast, spirit or cryptid, who tried to bring those who walked his road to harm, would suffer a horrifying fate.

Though the people were protected, the road changed. First slowly. Automobiles began to appear, fueled by the fossils of the dead, and soon stoplights to tell when people were permitted to walk. Soon what was once the edges of the road was sidewalk. The road was paved again and again. And soon there weren't trains and weren't trollies. And store after store closed down, for new stores to be opened, giant boxes owned by corporations, with massive parking lots outside of them, that would never think to leave out milk and meat pies. And then one day there was no stoplight, and no sidewalk, because any place where human feet could be permitted to walk had been removed. They called the road a highway than, and the humans' leaders were proud of it. It was too noisy for even the wyverns to fly over, and too barren for even werewolves to hunt. But the spirit was still there.

And then the spirit took up a new banner. When the last safe place to walk was gone, and the first human was struck and killed trying to cross the highway, he had dropped the banner of the seelie court and taken up unseelie way. Not out of vengeance but out of duty.

All who seek to harm those who wish the walk the road are caused by his law, and those new powerful machines called automobiles are no different. Cars that drive through the great spirit's road find themselves crashing into each other, or spinning randomly and flying around the road, or breaking down and never moving around. Mechanics can't figure out why, can't explain why there are always flies and worms and snakes and scorpions in every car that passes through that road. Even the drivers aren't safe, nobody who would drive such a lethal machine through the spirit's road is safe, they find their bodies bleeding, and skin dashed with cuts as if from an insect's claws, and minds filled with eldritch madness. And they say there are many cars that seem to lose their drivers, with only bugs or toads in their place.

Some still see the spirit's body in the dark of the night. He's changed now, his armor has turned night black, and its shape twisted from what looked like a knight's suit, to an insect's strange shell, his once slender body stretched to an inhumanly elongated and spindly build. His claws are now like great blades, and where his face was once only in shadows, now two glowing eyes can be seen from below his helm, like a dark pervasion of headlights. But he is still the same creature he always was, this is only another side of the same being. And those animals and jaywalkers who cross the highway, will never be hit under his gaze, even if a thousand cars burst into flames to keep them safe.

[from-izzy]

i'm home | tbz lee sangyeon

» ​PAIRING: tbz lee sangyeon x gn!reader (please tell me if i made a mistake!)​ » TROPE/AU​: established relationship au!, long-distance relationship au!, non-idol au! » GENRE​: loving boyfriend sangyeon, very supportive sangyeon, fluffy fluff, bit of angst (ok, maybe more than a 'bit'), comfort comfort and...comfort, reading blushes cause of sangyeon (hehe), boyfie sangyeon who's taller so that you can comfortably hide your face to his chest » WORD COUNT: 4625 » ESTIMATED READING TIME: ~17 mins » WARNINGS (lmk if i missed anything!): mention of religion once, proofread once, workplace hardships navi/masterlist!! ��� part of 'especially to you...'

i was a little bit nervous about posting this, especially since it was very rushed! sorry, i didn't plan this well 🥹 nothing came up till the last minute 😞 def didn't freak out or anything— 🤠 i'm gonna hype myself up and think this is fine considering i was racing against the clock (which i didn't manage to beat 😞) and have study to do (exams who? nov 9 who?).

but first of all to me: i know you rejected a lot of opportunities, drowned yourself in a lot of regrets, and i understand that planes are scary for you. i hope that you will find a reason soon to finally see the world like your younger self was dying to do. you were so close to doing it in july and i'm so proud of that first step. keep going, okay?

and! to you @winterchimez...i don't think there are any words needed. welcome home, soulmate! 🫂

Nothing will ever feel as much at home to you as Sangyeon could ever be.

You knew this the moment you told him about how you got the opportunity to work overseas. You remember when it felt like you were fighting endlessly with yourself. Around two years ago, after your weekly date, a loving kiss on your lips and the way Sangyeon would flash you that endearing smile, you thought that everything would be fine. You pushed, what you thought, to be a slim chance that you would be able to work overseas to the back of your mind. At first, you felt crushed about the video interview that you messed up, stuttering and using filler words while you internally scolded yourself for not preparing answers to simple job interview questions. Your head was overloaded with information between things to say and not to say, what would be the best answer and how to play your cards right. In the end, as soon as you pressed the red button on the video call interview, you reached out for your phone to call the first person on your call logs.

Sangyeon remembers that video call, the line of tears cascading down your cheeks as you vent your feelings out. He always waited for you to finish your sentences, nodding along to your words and giving affirming body language to show that he was actively following. Along your stream of words, you didn’t realise that Sangyeon stepped outside in the cold air, his phone at a new low angle and the lights from the buildings were the only reason why you were still able to see his smile across the screen.

“Wait…why are you outside? Where are you going?” You grabbed the new box of tissues from your bedside table, ripping the top part of the box with the dashed lines to help you retrieve a new paper instantly.

“Just grabbing some things.” Sangyeon leisurely answers, bringing the camera closer to his puckering lips, “I’m sure you did amazing, baby. Don’t worry too much, alright? And if you didn’t make it, then I’m sure God has other plans for you.”

You both continue talking over the phone, wiping your eyes, drinking a ton of water and burying yourself underneath the blanket as Sangyeon continues his little errand run. Soon enough, you finally understood why the phone was tilted upwards towards the sky and why Sangyeon didn’t show the things he bought—all the usual things that he would share with you during his random, night errand runs like this one. 

It was when he finally brought the phone up to be in line with his face that you recognised the familiar street background that he was walking in. You gasped, throwing your blanket to the floor, and opening the door suddenly to face your parents who looked at you with shocked eyes. They couldn’t even voice out any of their thoughts because you were out the front door as fast as you exited your bedroom door.

Knowing well that you found out about his plan, Sangyeon made a final sprint for your house, the contents inside the plastic bag ruffles and his earphones your excited laughs and words fill his earphones, mixed in with some of your still sniffling sounds from the devastating earlier events.

That night wasn’t the first time that Sangyeon would run over to you with no notice or hesitation but Sangyeon had been going through a tough time with his personal life and you didn’t know that he would still be able to have such energy to take care of you. It’s a miracle that you were able to still go on dates that these days would be impossible to plan. That night was a reminder to you, especially with the way that he lowered his lower body down, wrapped his arms around your waist, and lifted you as he buried his face into the crook of your neck, that you really love your boyfriend and that he has always been your number one supporter.

In his arms, with some final tears that Sangyeon wiped away delicately from your still-red cheeks, you were sure that everything would be fine. 

Your tears started because you were stressed but it ended with comfort.

But you got another huge headache about a week later when you got the final results of the interview. It could be the acceptance letter (that you were still sure you weren’t going to get), but you knew that you needed to at least open it, read it and accept whatever result it was to move on with your life. So, you tapped on the notification without much thought and you will forever remember this sentence: We look forward to working with you. You froze then and there, your jaw open in disbelief and your fingers went back to the main email page, pulling the inbox page down to refresh the screen. Lo and behold, you were faced with a challenge that you didn’t bother to think about.

You sprint to Sangyeon’s house as soon as the reality sinks into you. Once again, you left your parent’s house after breaking the news to the owners before leaving. Usually, you would have never been able to run that fast and long without a break. The adrenaline and anxiety took over your whole body, and you let your legs guide you to your boyfriend’s house. 

Sangyeon welcomed the news with open arms, his feet adorably tapping on the spot and a deep, soft kiss on your lips that still held his radiant smile. But unlike him, you could only stand at your spot in front of his house and give him a reluctant smile. To this, his smile drops and so did the arms that were in the air a moment ago to celebrate this new journey of yours. The vertical lines between his eyebrows made itself evident and you could only respond with a series of head-shaking and quivering lips.

“Hey…” He cradles the back of your head with one hand, the other on your cheek as he steps forwards towards you, “What’s wrong? You’ve always wanted this.”

Your arms surrounded Sangyeon’s lower body tightly, taking a handful of his sweater and your cold nose slowly became warmer thanks to his body temperature, “I know. But now that it’s happening, I’m having second thoughts.”

He continues to dig further into your thoughts, wanting to understand your feelings more and why you were having second thoughts about something you worked so hard for, “Do you want to elaborate further now? Or do you want to come inside first?”

“If I say the latter, will you cuddle with me?”

This is the you that he knows: the one that would always wish for a kiss, then a cuddle and then another kiss. You lift your face from his chest, increasing the distance between you both slightly. Sangyeon sees the sparkle in your eyes and the slight pout on your lips when you look up at him with a silent plea for a positive answer to your question. 

Who was he to refuse and break your heart like that? 

Plus…he wanted to cuddle with you as much as you did.

And so with the support of your loving family, chaotic friends and encouraging boyfriend, you packed up, headed onto the new country alone and started a new, independent life. Thankfully, you were able to find a place close to your workplace and the foreign place became your home quickly with your three kind housemates. Splitting the chores around the house, cooking, and establishing times to use the washing machine was never a problem. Living in the same house made it easier for you all to spend some time and get to know each other better, leading to routine Friday nights to be spent with each other, going on road trips and eventually overseas trips.

Your workplace has been rewarding as you found the same good qualities of your housemates in most of your co-workers. From day one, everyone has welcomed you to their lives with open arms and you knew for sure that these people wouldn’t be the reason that you would ever have to leave to go back home.

“It’s just so unfair.” It was the company, the workplace and the conditions that they put you in. The logic didn’t make sense: the place was understaffed yet they won’t hire any new people. Of course, there were many underlying factors around it, but after being so overworked, adapting to the new culture, being homesick and, your body trying its best to adjust to the new season changes that you would never have to deal with back home, it was inevitable that you were going to break down soon, “Why? Just why do they have to do that?”

“I’m so sorry you’re going through that.” Oh how much Sangyeon just wanted to jump out of the screen and hug you tight. When was the last time he ever got to do that anyway? He missed having you in his reach—his favourite love language not being able to be expressed for about half a year now, “Hang in there, baby. I know you can do this. Stay strong, hm?”

Through your blurred vision, you could still make out his sorrowful smile, his hand that just hovers the top of the camera on his phone as if to recreate the feeling that he was touching the side of your head.

Perhaps, the worst part of being away from home is your inability to ever interact with them in real-time. The time difference made it too exhausting for everyone on the other side of the world to communicate with you properly. Sure, there were rare days when they could, but the way their moon would rise when the sun said its greetings here made you swallow down your tears at night, forcing you to reassure yourself that ‘everything is going to be fine.’ Because of this, it was a routine for you to drown in your thoughts throughout the day, waking up with a heavy head and heart from the previous nights as you plaster on a weak but still genuine smile when you greet your coworkers. 

With the help of your housemates, your family and Sangyeon have managed to surprise you on both of your birthdays as well as some gaps between their schedules. Those memories would be the ones you would replay in your head as you cry your heart out in the middle of the bed that’s in the middle of the room, in the middle of the night.

Other than the visits and calls, the only things that would connect you to them are the daily pictures and videos. At the very least, they captured the lives of the ones you love back home. Unlike the memories that you could only see and keep for yourself, the physical evidence of their smiles is another big source of comfort for you, especially when all you wanted during your lonely walk home was just life updates from the people that you love most. Somewhere along the way though, the pictures and videos became too much for you, and you start to imagine what the picture would be like if you filled up the negative space within it. 

How would it be like to share that laughter, smile and experience of the atmosphere that the picture manages to capture? What was the air around there like? Humid? Cold? Warm? Aromatic? Or maybe perhaps, would you have been too entranced by Sangyeon’s presence that the only thing you could smell was his signature perfume mixed in with his laundry detergent? 

How would it feel just to have Sangyeon’s shoulder pressed up against yours whenever he has that habit of putting an arm around your back to grab the opposite side of your waist? To have his bigger hand securely intertwine with yours? To have him press a kiss on the side of your head after he whispers ‘I love you forever’ to your ears—knowing well that you were the only one in the world that he would ever confess that phrase intimately to.

How would it feel like to just have the familiar buildings of your neighbourhood, your city and the familiar murals or paintings in your life again? Would it be more comforting than the pictures of the same scenery on your phone? Would your heart be more at ease walking in the night even if all the lights were off or there were no signs of life?

As an answer to your thoughts, after two years of learning, gaining life experiences and missing the air of your home, you bravely decided not to pick up the pen on the table and sign your initials on the new contract paper. 

You decided: I’m going home. 

It’s been a really wild ride. A ride that you would never exchange for anything else. For one, you made friends from the other side of the world. Friends that you knew you could always hit up and visit if you ever come back. Two, it was real when people say that ‘the distance makes the heart grow fonder’. Sangyeon has always been the boyfriend who would cry and carry his burden alone but would always welcome your hardships into his life. Before, even though you could pick up some of the signs on some occasions, the limited video calls allowed you both to pour your feelings out, exchanging confessions and true thoughts. Had you not been across the world, you were confident that Sangyeon would step out of his shell eventually but you were thankful that the distance did its job healthily and your relationship with him strengthened with the tears and chuckles that he showed. 

When the time came and you finished training the new worker who would soon be taking your place in the company, you did your final preparations before stepping out of the house that sheltered you for two years. Final goodbyes, tears being shed, words of affirmation and promises for occasional updates were made before you drove off to the airport. Rolling down the car window, you twist your upper body to face the back of the car, your hand waving up in the air. 

The ride to the airport is bittersweet. You put your phone down after texting Sangyeon that you would call him when you pass through security. All you wanted to do at this moment was to look out the windows and take in the colours of the journey, half-scared that the scenery might turn monochrome soon if you didn’t pay close attention.

Keeping your promise, you connected your earphones and turned on your camera to be faced with Sangyeon leisurely lying in bed, one hand on the back of his head on the headboard, blinking his eyes to fight the sleep from his system.

“You should sleep.” 

Sangyeon shakes his head, straightening his back and sitting up. He takes a deep breath, his chest expanding in volume as he does so, “You only have a few minutes before you have to go anyway. I can stay awake and accompany you.”

“You’re the best, you know that?” 

Thankfully, you found a seat for yourself in the busy atmosphere. You place your backpack on the floor in front of you between your legs, being mindful of the other passengers in the busy airport who most probably had a long day before this, now having to spend overnight in a metal column.

“Love that hoodie on you. Where’d you get it?” Sangyeon wiggles his eyebrows playfully and you roll your eyes, “Good to know that you didn’t leave it behind.”

“I would be crazy to leave this behind.” You pull on the strings of the hoodie, fastening the circumference of the hood around the outline of your face, pouting cutely to your boyfriend who just laughs at you fondly.

“Can’t wait to hold you.” That sentence holds so many meanings and tugged on your heartstrings so much. It hurt for a bit to hear him say that, especially when his voice sounded so tired, “I love you so much.”

“I love you so much.” You whisper to the microphone, holding the tears that you didn’t want to show to your friends throughout the whole week, “I miss you so much. I can’t wait to go on physical, real-life dates again.”

“A few more hours.” He reminds the both of you, holding on just a little bit longer, “Everything will sort itself out then.”

That’s right.

A few more hours until you will both be able to be in the same space again. Just a little bit more before you’ll be able to steal a kiss from his lips whenever and wherever. 

You can’t wait to be back in the comfort of your bed, saying ‘goodnight’ to your parents and slipping out of your windows shortly after to meet Sangyeon at the convenience store. 

You can’t wait to spend some time with his mum—who he gets very jealous of sometimes—and steal more childhood, baby pictures of him. Along with that, you can’t wait for his mum to let you sneak into his room to steal some of his clothes. 

You can’t wait to see his blushing face as he freezes between the doorframe when his eyes land on how his sleeves would completely cover your arms, and your thighs and expose a little bit of your shoulders. 

You can’t wait for him to scoop you up in his strong arms, eliciting your series of squeals and giggles that he has fallen deeply in love with. 

You can’t wait for him to tuck you in bed, pulling his blanket up to your chin. He would then frame his larger body over yours throughout the night, making you sleep deeper and better. But your night, wouldn’t be complete until you delicately kiss him on his chin, cheek and lips. His night wouldn’t be complete either until he kissed your forehead, nose and lips, taking his sweet time on the last body part. 

Most importantly, the night wouldn’t be complete overall until your lips part each other and exchange ‘I love you’s.

As soon as you landed, the adrenaline of finally being in the same country, the same land, the same building knocked out the jetlag and you were suddenly wide awake. You felt a bit bad for the bottom of the seat in front of you and your backpack which was violently ripped out from its peace, but you would like to think that they would understand your sudden burst of energy. You race and slip yourself between the bodies of people who were most probably confused and amazed by how much your eyes were darting around the conveyor belt so quickly, trying to find your check-in baggage—but you didn’t care.

You care about is Lee Sangyeon.

Now, you passed through every security check, every random bag inspection, opening and relocking up all your luggage again one by one, your patience running out by the minute.

But it’s okay.

Because now, only one glass door stands in the way between you and all the people waiting on the other side. 

You watch from the distance as the automatic door opens and closes through other passengers. You were even able to catch a glimpse of some of your fellow flight passengers who spotted their loved ones immediately in the crowd, their hands releasing the handle brake of their trolley when they rushed into the crowd. Their loved ones cry and gasp at the presence that they have been so desperate for, their bodies swaying side to side to keep some of their emotions regulated in public.

Oh, how you know you wouldn’t be able to hold in your tears.

Exhaling and inhaling a couple more times, your hands grip the handle of your trolley, doing a final baggage check that everything is securely held in place and that you didn’t leave anything. Finally, you push the handle to release the brake and you start to walk over to the translucent glass doors. 

Time didn’t slow down. 

It just felt still. 

It didn’t stop though—it just felt still.

You could hear your heartbeat through your ears, your palms were sweating in nervousness and you could barely feel the ground that you were walking on with every step of your feet. The gush of wind pushes your hair back dramatically and your eyes water at the cooler air from the other side of the door. Metal barricades separate the arriving passengers from the crowd from both sides of your body and you force your teared-up eyes to carefully scan through the rows of the crowds and the signs that they held up. Your back straightens to accommodate your eyes’ effort in addition to your lips that move in the shape of the name of the person you miss the most. Unfamiliar faces fill your visual field and your feet finally take you to the end of the barricade, heart feeling heavy at the unsuccessful event to pick out anyone in the crowd that you know. 

But then…

“Found you.” 

His appearance explains why you were unable to quickly pick him out from the crowd if you didn’t focus on detail. Sangyeon grins at your shocked facial expression, watching your eyes slowly lift from the bouquet in his hands to the freshly black dye on his hair.

“Y-You—”

“What do you think?” His pointer and thumb raise to twirl a bit of his hair, his eyes still on you, “You always said that I would look good with black hair.”

“Good?” Oh, he knew what kind of effect this is having on you and he’s having fun with this, “Sangyeon, you—” 

His facial expression softens straightaway when the tears that you’ve been holding for so long finally drop to the ground and he strides forwards immediately as soon as he catches a glimpse of your quivering lips. Forget about the flowers, forget about the people around you, forget about how you were standing in the middle of the walkway. He sets his ‘welcome back’ gifts on top of your things, swiftly wrapping an arm behind your shoulders while the other one cups your cheeks. 

Sangyeon held your shaking body against his tightly, and it was good that he did, otherwise, you would surely be on the floor. You relished in the scent that you missed the most, purposely taking in deep breaths to ground yourself back to the present. The boy smiles at the realisation, letting your free cheek cutely rest on his chest. He hushes you softly, the swiping motion of his thumb on your cheek giving you a physical reminder of his presence—a reminder that he is with you at this very moment. Multiple kisses were pressed on your forehead in an attempt to calm you down and responded with a whimper as you tried to form words.

“It’s okay.” It really is, “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Your body responded to his affirmation, your arms finally wrapping around his waist, the tips of his fingers just barely intertwining behind his back. Your palms lay flat on his smooth leather jacket and your ragged breathing found a stable pace once again. The increased oxygen in your blood allows you to finally feel Sangyeon’s plump lips on your forehead and the blush begins to form across your cheekbones. 

“You’re really here.”

“I am.” You feel the way his chest vibrates at his deep chuckle. 

That’s all he said and it’s way more than enough. Eyes closed, in Sangyeon’s embrace, his familiar scent, his lips hovering on your eyelids to press kisses there—everything is starting to feel like home.

“You look handsome.” For the first time since you arrived, you finally look at this new hair colour properly. Your eyebrows furrow, almost a look of dissatisfaction and disapproval, “Too handsome.” This time, one of your eyebrows raised at the way he responded with a teasing smile, “How many people asked you out already?”

“Honestly,” He starts to act, tightly closing his eyes as if to think very hard. He prolonged his hum with the way you glared at him cutely, wanting to tease you for longer, “quite a lot.”

The answer made you scoff, tilting your head away and you started to pull away from his embrace. Sangyeon didn’t let you walk away fully though for he pulled you right back to his body. Your hands attempt to stabilise your body the sudden act by resting on the curves of Sangyeon’s shoulders. The playful look in his eyes disappears and the extra layer of moisture shows itself—it tells you that he has been waiting for the only person to ever see his tears to be within his arms again. Both his hands rest on your waist and your own eyes search for the emotions behind his, a hand wiping his lower eyelid. That act makes a tear fall before another one falls and it soon becomes a fountain of emotions for the older male.

“I missed you. So much.” The way that Sangyeon puts so much emphasis on the second and fourth words sent chills down your spine.

Your hand on his shoulder slides upwards to cup his face, the other downwards to do the same on the other side. With all the strength you have left in your legs, you put your weight on your toes, fluttering your eyelids close and lifting your body to press a longing kiss to his lips. You tasted his tears on the curves on his lips, but knowing well that it stemmed from love, made your heart slowly start to heal. Sangyeon reciprocates immediately, travelling his hands to the side curves of your body, stopping at your neck, gently tilting your face upwards to deepen the kiss. The kiss sweetly alternates with his own hugging your bottom lips, pulling away for oxygen, a little ‘I love you’ and diving back in to hug your upper lips.

This is what home feels like.

It’s not some building or some land that could be pointed out on a map. It’s not necessarily the photos and videos that you received, even though they comforted you on cold nights. It’s not necessarily the rushed talks and recounts of your lives because the second hand on the clock mocked the little time you would always have, even though you were thankful that you had that small gap to do so.

It’s actually experiencing all of the above, going through all those trials, all those confusing emotions, and still feeling love and support. It’s being able to just walk with defeat over the day’s work but as soon as you arrive back home, the feeling either washes away or you’re able to just vent it and cry it out. 

With the right people, you were able to let these experiences turn into lessons and precious memories—similar to how there are specific bricks to build the proper structure of a house. As those experiences build, so does the clear image and structure of a house. Sure, houses break down due to inside and outside factors but when it does, you’re confident that you can work it out and make it stronger. 

With those thoughts in mind, the corner of your lips tugged upwards and no words were needed for Sangyeon to know that the smile wasn’t mischievous, teasing or playful.

It’s one full of relief and happiness.

“Welcome home.” Sangyeon changes his words between your kisses.

You hum, waiting for the next time he pulls away to give a proper response.

“I’m home.”

navi/masterlist!! 🤍 'especially to you' tags (send a dm/ask if you would like to be here!): @deoboyznet 📢❤️ @k-labels 💙🤍 @k-films 🤎🎞️

[xxladyballadxx]

First Romance

♡ Summary: Surrounded by a bunch of street gangsters, a pro wrestler stepped right in to save you from them. It was the first time you met a young blonde man named Steve Fox whom you quickly became friends with but once you two got to know each other…

You and Steve became something else… ♡

♡ Warning: N/A ♡

♡ dividers: @saradika-graphics ♡

You dashed off to the middle of two buildings at the sides, hitting the dead end. You thought you would crawl your way out of this terrible situation, your hand slipping into your handbag revealing a pocket knife. Those guys managed to surround you, trapping you at every spot. “You think you can hurt us with that little thing, lady?” the bastard gave a mischievous smirk. You grunted as you swung your pocket knife towards him but missed when he dodged to the side and grasped your wrist, eliciting the pain from it as the pocket knife slipped out from the palm of your hand. 

Just about to hit you against the head, the guy got punched by that sudden someone who swiftly came in to pull you away from that criminal. You snapped out a gasp across your lips, noticing a young blonde haired man appearing. “Now, now…that’s not how you treat a lady, lad!”  His British accent had sent a shiver of surprise down your spine but not in a bad way of course. “Why you-” a young blonde man punched across that bastard’s jaw and beat up the rest of his gang unconscious while you just stood there in shock, observing him closely. The way he punches these guys and dodges at every punch they throw at him with such quick pace. 

‘He’s a boxer…’ you figured out, watching him strike those guys down to the ground with his strong-ass punches. Bloody hell, he’s quite good. 

His name was Steve Fox, surely you might have seen him appearing on the posters outside in public which you can’t seem to recall seeing a poster of him. Steve asked if you’re hurt anywhere, you gave him a reassurance telling him that you’re fine. Steve wanted to know the reason behind this chase, why those men were chasing after you. 

This is what happened: before you were heading to a store, a group of dodgy-looking men appeared before you, they were trying to lay a finger on you, flirting with you. You pissed one of them off by hitting across their head with your handbag. Making the situation a lot worse, causing you to dash away from them as they chased you. 

Steve was glad that he made it in time just to get those guys off your back. “Thank you..for saving me.” You thanked him with a short smile. “Don’t mention it.” Steve picked up a pocket knife from the solid ground and handed it back to you. “What’s your name?” He asked out of curiosity. 

“(Name (L/n) and you are…?”

“Steve..” He swift out his hand as you shook it, “Steve Fox..” this man has got quite a strong grip but good thing he’s not trying to crush your fingers. Otherwise you will end up at the hospital for days or maybe weeks. You wanted to get to know him so you asked if he drinks coffee or not. Steve didn’t seem to have any plans so he accepted your kind offer as you both walked to a café nearby. 

As you lift your cup of coffee to your lips, Steve begins to talk about his life in wrestling, the tournaments he went to, the wrestlers he fought against. Things like that. In return, you told him about yours. Your life isn’t exciting because you just work at the bakery store and read books at home all day. Steve figured out you don’t go out as much. However, he doesn’t find your life boring for some odd reason. 

The day ended with you exchanging phone numbers with the boxing champion Steve Fox, he offered to walk you home and the two of you bid goodbye to each other. 

⋆˙⟡♡⋆˙⟡♡⋆˙⟡♡⋆˙⟡♡⋆˙⟡♡⋆˙⟡♡⋆˙⟡♡⋆˙⟡♡

== Ten Months Later ==

⋆˙⟡♡⋆˙⟡♡⋆˙⟡♡⋆˙⟡♡⋆˙⟡♡⋆˙⟡♡⋆˙⟡♡⋆˙⟡♡

You’ve been hanging out with Steve Fox very often, hanging out at the bar with him, watching him fight in the tournament against other wrestlers. You two have become quite close. You felt safe being around him, Steve has a heart of gold and you may not have noticed but he always keeps his presence very close to you, leading to believing that Steve has grown attached to you. 

But who knows?

Whenever he’s near you, you can't get the feeling off that you might like him more than a friend. Your heart bubbles with sparkles of exploding feelings that you can’t describe as you thought of that. ‘He’s such a wonderful person to be around and I can’t help but fall for him..’ you spoke through your mind, thinking about Steve Fox. Your cheeks are deepening in red hue colour. 

Steve noticed your face was flushing red so he asked in concern “You alright, (Name)?” you shook your head, ridding of those mindless thoughts about the person next to you, “I’m okay..” you downed all your coffee from the cup, not making proper eye contact with Steve. This made him more worried about you, “Are you not feeling well today?”

You let out a dry laugh, “I’m fine, Steve. Really, I’m okay..” your guts are pressuring you to tell Steve how you truly feel about him. You just can’t seem to find a way in your heart to confess. You wanted to get some fresh air so you walked with Steve to the park nearby, strolling down the path beside him as your heart continued to flutter. 

You were going to tell him how you feel until a bunch of kids came up to Steve, “Steve Fox! Can we please have your autograph?” One of the young children asked nicely, a poster of Steve Fox and a black marker pen in his hands. “Sure you can, lad!” Steve lifted up the poster along with the marker pen from the child’s hands, signed his name down below the paper and handed it back to him, “Here you go!” 

“Wow! Thanks, Mister Fox!” The little boy thanked him kindly, jumping in excitement. The other little boy looked over to you with a curious expression on his face, “Steve, is this your girlfriend?” His question caused your heart to act up, feeling your body shaking. Even Steve was embarrassed in this situation. 

“Are you two dating?” You couldn’t take it anymore so you dashed off to find a quiet spot to calm yourself down. Steve chases you from behind, leaving the kids as they questioned in wonder. You found a spotless space underneath the tree, you took a breather as you put your hands onto your knees lowering down. You clenched onto your heart, feeling it beating heavily, “What the hell is wrong with me?!” 

You sat down on the grass with your head holding down to your hands, heaving a long tiring sigh. “(Name)..” Startled by his voice, you turned your head around seeing him walking close to you, “Are you alright..? You gave the kids a little fright there somehow when you ran off.” Steve sat beside you, his worrying face glued onto you, “Is it because one of the kids asked that ‘girlfriend’ question before?” Now he brought it up, this is causing you to turn more red. 

“N-no I-I…” Lost for words, you decided to open up and be honest with him since you can’t seem to hold it in anymore, “Listen, Steve I know I haven’t been feeling talkative today and I..you know what? I’m just going to say it..” You gained enough courage to look him in the eye, facing towards his direction, “I like you, a lot. More than a friend. I don’t know how this happened but this feeling came out of nowhere. It’s fine if you don’t want to be with me, I-” your lips became sealed when Steve inched himself closer and kissed you, giving you butterflies in the stomach. A warm feeling rushing through your veins, floating inside of you. Steve pulled away, holding your hand in his palm. His head held up to lock his gaze on you. “I like you too, (Name). You’ve been constantly on my mind for a while ever since the day we met. I’m not very good at this romance stuff since I never had anyone in my life.” 

“I’m the same, Steve.” You leaned in, holding his face to peck a kiss on his cheek. 

“So, how about we hang around my place? We could watch a movie and order pizza?” 

“Sure, I would love that!” 

⟞⋆☆★☆⋆⟝

a/n - Having a mega writer's block atm (╥﹏╥) Like I keep getting distracted just by strolling through shit on my phone or by watching something on YouTube! .·°՞(≧□≦)՞°·.

*sigh* I'll be sure to write another fanfic of Steve Fox in the future...if I have the f*cking motivation to!!! ୧(๑•̀ᗝ•́)૭

⟞⋆☆★☆⋆⟝

[bright-and-burning]

sending you a yapping ask... ofc i know youre a passionate landoscar flag waver but i'm curious about what other ships you like?

oooooooo… honestly might be faster to ask me what ships i don’t like. that is only half a joke… general tier list of ships goes like.

landoscar (my leetle guys… my two sharp toothed sopping wet kittens in a tattered cardboard box that i find half in the gutter behind my apartment…) is like the top most tier. their hold on me is unshakeable.

things i will almost always click on: jendo, markoscar, those two in other interesting configurations, nortrell, nortrell+oscar, maxf + oscar... but ok honestly if a mutual recommends it i will click p much regardless of ship unless it’s one of my few Absolutely Nots akdhskdh

and then i like many Other lando and oscar ships… ill read some loscar, 2019 rookies in various shapes (triangles, sides of triangles, besties), nico r/lando (listen. hear me out. anyone else seen All Those Clips? yeah.). fernando/either of them. i am kind of intrigued by lando/lance which is out of left field i know but ive read a couple fics… i fuck w the vibes… i want to examine the vibes under a microscope… that’s less high up on the list tho bc of the sheer rarity. norstappen sometimes hits but i gotta be in the right mood. uhhhh there’s honestly only like two ships w them that i am Quite Hesitant to click on (like i need it to be written by a trusted mutual, or come recommended by 3+ trusted mutuals, etc) that fall into this category and they’re both w the same guy 😭 sorry 2 that man…

outside of the realm of mclaren slutting it up! pierreste is like . probably on the same level as like jendo and markoscar 2 me. fernando/lance (i accidentally wrote lando here on rhyming autopilot) a centimeter lower. the centimeter there is caused by like . i could write pierreste i don’t think i could write fernando/lance w any sort of realism/good voices involved. but i love seeing them be freaks on the dash. charlos when im in a mood ! the catholicism and religious-tinged devotion of ferrari as themes (and in reality) freaks me out sometimes tho so the stars reaaaally have to align for that. galex as a treat on occasion! logex (or whatever the fuck it’s called. have i mentioned i dislike portmanteaus .) HITSSSSS but rn it makes me Very Sad so. yuki/many people bc i love him but lowkey yuki/liam… chefs kiss ba dum tss. PRINCESS CAKE WHICH I JUST REMEMBERED EXISTS. martian… lots of older ships actually!! brocedes but less frequently for Weird Headspace reasons. who has the tag that’s like “never beating the polycule allegations” that’s for the 2010s grid cuz that’s how i feel abt those ships . mix em all up im sure ill like what comes out.

the “bc of my friends <3” category includes uh. glance, which i will absolutely read when it’s brought to my attention and support the mutuals in their endeavors (including reading + reblogging their fic/web weaves/etc) but tend to kind of . let slip from my mind otherwise. piarles is in that same boat. sebchal a little lower on the “will read” priority list. probably more that i am forgetting; it is very hard for a fic to be something ill Never read (so long as it’s written by a friend at least) it just might take me longer to get around to it

and then there’s the like. i am deeply intrigued but have never delved into them category, which is like. hulk/kmag. valtteri/zhou guanyu. like i see things of them on the dash and im like . wow there is something deeply psychosexual going on here . but have never gone deeper…

lots of the ships i missed are probably more like. i am intrigued (not deeply so) and have read a few fics that made me crazy but never quite caught the bug. there’s maybe . a handful of ships i generally dislike and they’re for very silly reasons mostly lol

[tilebytiles]

this has probably already been talked about lol but i was trying to find the puppets website for funsies and instead came across this really odd rabbit hole??? full story under the cut so i don't clog the dash or anything

so for context i have the ecosia extension installed and when i typed in "the last shadow puppets" and nothing came up i was like Hmm ok sometimes the results can be 50/50. so i hit a recommended search at the bottom that threw in the word "website" and the first 2 results were wikipedia and the domino page but the third was theageoftheunderstatement.com.

the immediate thing that threw me off was that the first sentence on the page is "Like monthly car insurance site prudentplus.com these guys are different." What. there's like a whole description of the band (which is out of date now cause the page is from 2010) but then underneath it, there's a whole thing about fast food delivery insurance (???) and how to get it, what the best way is etc etc. the prudent plus comment does have a link that leads to the insurance company in question and from what i can tell it was still active as recently as last year.

at the veeery bottom of the taotu page is "search here for uk short term cover" which has another link that leads to another page on the site about car insurance for foreign drivers. this has another link like 3/4 of the way down the page that leads to a different site that from what i can tell hasn't been updated in over a decade (at the very bottom it says copyright 2006/13).

its worth noting that if we hop back to the main page there's a box on the left side with all the songs off of taotu listed as well as a link at the bottom that leads to a page about no deposit car insurance in the uk. every song leads to a different page on the site describing the storyline of the song (and mv, if it has one) as well as the sound of the song. most of the song pages lead to different insurance things. standing next to me leads to disqualified driver insurance, calm like you leads to lorry insurance, the chamber leads to builders / business property insurance, only the truth leads to architects / beautician liability insurance, black plant leads to convicted driver insurance, and the time has come again leads to personal liability insurance.

at the bottom of the home page is the name peter marsden. initially i just tried searching his name up but then i realized the answer was right in front of me and i searched it up with "prudent plus" slapped on the end. sure enough, a page on the prudent plus site came up introducing the staff, including a man named peter. at least at the time the "about us" page was set up (idk if its still updated) he was 71 and "has an obsession for creating images of cars, people, monsters and other strange objects and beings in unusual, and sometimes impossible, environments." very cool peter!

i didn't check all the links on the songs because i didn't think there'd be much there but my only guess for the website's existence is that the insurance people saw the popularity of taotu and decided to make a page about it while promoting their insurance stuff. outside of that i have no fucking clue. maybe they're just big tlsp fans. good on you peter

[astro-ellie]

I think the nation wants to know what color is the eldest daughter's strap and also her younger sister one .... if she owes one 🤨 maybe that's something we should ask dina

well if you MUST know… abby’s strap is definitely purple. also i saw that there are straps where you can like remove the toy from the harness and change it into like different sizes and shapes and yadayadayada. that’s the type that abby has.

she actually doesn’t really have any other toys (yet) ‘cause feels like the strap is all she needs. in abby’s own words; “i got fingers, a mouth and this. what more do you really need to make a girl feel good?”

as for ellie, she had trouble deciding between a basic black one or a green one. green is her favourite colour, but she worried that dina would find it corny.

she actually ordered it to the house, and stood like a hawk in the kitchen window waiting for the package to be delivered. the website had said discreet packaging, but she doesn’t trust her family not to open it for her if they get to it first.

when the delivery man parks outside on the driveway, ellie’s sprinting to the front door and ripping the door open.

to her horror, abby’s on the other side of the door, having just gotten home from her training session. without wasting a second, ellie had picked up the box left and dashed, but not before abby caught sight of her sister’s beet red face.

and surprise surprise, dina doesn’t find the green colour corny. instead, dina thinks it’s cute.

[sailor-toni]

I’m in Love With the Local Hero But I Think He’s in Love With my Boyfriend?!?

You can also read this on A03, FF.net, and Wattpad

The setting sun turned into a rich orange haze, lighting up the sky for the sun’s last huzzah before night took over. Paulina watched as Phantom swooped down to the ground and gently let Dash go. Her boyfriend’s golden hair looked like fire in the sun's setting rays, and she loved to run her fingers through it. But if Dash was like Apollo the Phantom was Hades himself with his hair and skin glowing on their own. The soft white light that constantly radiated off the ghost boy was not only a reminder that he was not of this world, but that nothing in this world could compete with his ghostly beauty. 

Paulina moved closer, her body was hidden in the alley’s dark shadow. There was a ghost attack at Amity mall today. Some ghost with a bike ripped through the mall’s stores, his girl stealing everything she could grab. Dash tried to play hero, and failed. He had to be rescued by Phantom. 

“Typical,” she scowled. Dash was getting saved by Phantom a lot lately. He had started throwing himself at every ghost he saw. It was ridiculous. Dash was always the jealous type, but everybody knew he wasn’t the hero type, so why even try? Paulina scoffed to herself. It wasn’t making her like him any more than she did and it prevented her from approaching Phantom. Maybe that was his plan. Dick. 

“Dash, I know you want to help the town but you can’t keep putting yourself in danger. One day I won’t be there to save you,” Phantom said. 

“But I don’t know how else to see you,” Dash said. 

“What?” Phantom said. He looked confused and Paulina agreed. What was going on? 

“Truthfully, uhh I’m not fighting Ghost to save anyone. I just want a chance to see you again.”

“Me? Oh well you can always see me flying around town.” 

“That’s not what I mean, and you know it. I - Um wait. “

“Dash are you alright?” 

“Yes, no. I just. I’ve never felt this way about another dude before.”

“But I thought you were dating Paulina?” Phantom asked. Paulina slammed her mouth shut. He knew her name. 

“Paulina and I are only dating because everyone expects us to date. I don’t actually feel that way towards her, and she doesn't like me that way either. We’re just using each other to stay popular.” Dash said. And Paulina couldn’t disagree. “But then I met you for the first time, and it's not like being with Paulina. It makes me feel funny and strange, but wonderful, and sometimes it hurts.” 

“Dash..” 

“Worst of all. I don’t know if it's a phase or not. But I want to find out.” 

Phantom was silent, his mouth gaping like a fish out of water. “Does anyone know?” 

“No. But I don't care if they do, cause I’ll show them why I won the state wrestling championship last year.” 

“Um… good to know,” Phantom’s face was blushing? Where red would appear was now a light green, but he didn’t look sick. 

“Look this is new to me too, so you don’t have to say anything, just here take this,” Dash held out something to Phantom. “It’s tickets to the boxing match Friday, at the Ravens stadium. Some YouTuber is gonna box Lance McFist. He’s a  three time world boxing champion. I’ll be waiting outside for you okay! I’ll see you then Ghost boy!” Dash spun on his heels and bolted down the street. His face matched the setting sky. 

Paulina collected her jaw off the ground. Her eyes fixed to the spot where Dash was, slowly grinded against her eyelids to Phantom. Who, while very embarrassed was not disgusted? His bright eyes were soft and a smile was drawn upon his face. He looked at the ticket again, and muttered so softly that she could barely make out the words, 

“I guess I have a date this Friday.” 

Paulina wanted to scream. She had lost a war she didn’t even know she was fighting, to her boyfriend. Life couldn’t get any worse. She hung her head low and wandered through the streets of Amity Park, finding her way back to her home. She collapsed into her pink princess bed and fell asleep dreaming of better days. 

[atonalginger]

WIP Wednesday

I have many plates spinning but also if I show too much more of what's on each plate I'll have nothing new 🤣😅 but I do have something today. It's with Varala and Lann and takes place during Act 2 of the game, just after Leper's Smile. So spoilers for main mission dialog (mainly what Lann says) in the storybook section.

snippet below the cut because of spoilers and to save space on everyone's dash.

I'm generally tagging the Coemancer crew and anyone else who sees this and might have a WIP they'd like to share.

Lann’s words in the huddle outside of Leper’s smile echoed through Varala’s head as she pushed through the camp for the command tent, “I’ve eaten so many bugs in my life, it’s only fair to give them a chance at revenge. I’m a dead man walking already, a life such as mine is worthless.” His words had been soaked in fear and yet an eagerness chimed near the end, Varala more than capable of filling in the unspoken sentiment: “Sacrifice me.”

His words had gutted her and it took everything she had in that huddle to not let it show. She was the Knight Commander, after all, the one so many lives depended on in that moment. It was bad enough that Irabeth and Regill had already placed their heads on the chopping blocks with no more reasoning than ‘we’re soldiers it’s our duty to die’ but for Lann to stand there and declare himself worthless, it was a knife to the heart.

She had emotionally withdrawn from everyone after that huddle, putting her energy into the coming race into the cavern to find the source of the vescavor swarm. Several noted it immediately with Amanita quietly checking in with Varala, searching for any way she could ease the burden. Ulbrig had assured her loudly that her decision was the right one because it was the decision she made and not to doubt herself.

It was Woljif, to Varala’s surprise, that had picked up the true reason for her silence. The usually loud-mouthed trickster stalked up to Lann and hissed something into his hear that caused her handsome one-horned half-lizard man to blanch. Then the young tiefling strolled away, draping his arm over Varala’s shoulder as he came to walk with her toward the edge of the road toward the cavern, “I got your back, chief.”

“What did you say to him,” she had whispered, glancing over at the proud thief.

“Pointed out he was being an idiot,” Woljif shrugged, “and maybe suggested he’s blind.”

“Woljif!”

“Facts are facts, chief,” Woljif then withdrew his arm and hustled forward to join Siya for the trek into the canyon.

Since they returned to the main camp everyone had given her space, likely on Ulbrig’s counsel. Varala had heard him tell Irabeth and Anevia about their harrowing finds in the cave within the canyon and how their Chief, like the warriors, needed rest now more than ever. No couriers catching her with scroll cases and letters, none of the companions calling after her, just a clear line to her private space.

Varala pushed the tent flap out of the way and stepped inside to find Lann leaned over the war table, staring at the map pinned to the thick wood top with paper weights, boxes of map pawns, and empty candle holders. A rush of emotions hit her at the sight, the flesh side of his face down turned in a deep frown. She wanted to comfort his sadness and slap him all at once. To hold him, remind him of how special he was to her and rant and shout what he’d said. In the end she opted to try something unfamiliar to her and didn’t say a word, leaving everything unspoken as she walked calmly to her private quarters to dump all her gear and peel her grime soaked clothes off while thinking about a much needed bath.

“Varala,” Lann called after her, “we need to talk.”

“I have nothing to say to a liar,” she snapped back before she could catch herself. So much for leaving it lay.

“Liar?” He sounded shocked, “when? When did I lie to you?”

A twist of the knife, have you already forgotten? Were you not being serious? “What lie he asks,” she hooked her quiver onto the rack and dropped her bag on the floor in front of her trunk, “It was only a week ago you stood in here with big promises and you don’t even remember.”

“I never lied,” his voice grew closer, the beads that hung in the makeshift doorway tinkling as he passed through them, “what happened today was bigger than—

“How are you supposed to keep that promise if you’re dead?” Varala bit as she snapped her attention to him, “how am I supposed to believe you mean it when you talk about yourself like that?” her hand shot out toward the wall of the tent. In the direction of Leper’s Smile, “all of you offering yourselves to the demons like little sacrificial lambs ready for slaughter.”

He stared back, one gold lizard eye, one warm brown half-elf eye, both full of fear. No walls or defenses this time, his fear was front and center, staring back at her radiant anger. His mouth opened to speak but he blinked and closed it again, turning so his scaled side faced her as his eyes squeezed shut.

“You said you wanted to protect me. You stood there and said the thought of me getting hurt made your insides feel like ice. You promised me right here in this very spot that you’d do everything in your power to keep me safe. Were those just words to find yourself in my bed again?”

“No,” he said firmly, “I meant every word.”

“Lann, look at me,” she stepped closer and grabbed his cloth sleeve, “look me in the eye and tell me the truth.”

His lizard eye opened, the glassy sheen of tears now present. He slowly turned to face her, revealing the tear stain down his flesh cheek. His voice quavered, “I meant every word.”

She could feel her own tears bearing down on the dam, “Did it ever cross your mind what it would make me feel to hear you nominate yourself? To hear you call yourself a dead man walking? Worthless?”

He blinked, another tear falling from his eyes, “It’s true. The others are more important to the march. They will be more needed.”

“Says who?” Varala’s voice cracked, “You told me back in Kenabres you wanted to do something that made your shorter life mean something. Did you…” she stopped, trying to stay calm enough to stay coherent as the tears flowed freely from her eyes, “do you really think dying back there would have done that? Is that all you want, a martyr’s death?”

“I…”he looked to the floor, his eyes fixed to the pattern of the rug, “I wanted to prove my worth. Whether through successfully leading the distraction or death.”

“To who? Prove yourself to who?” She leaned closer.

Lann closed his eyes again and took a long slow breath. With his scaled hand he motioned to her and then past her toward the camp.

[not-noelle]

"ALERT:

EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM

THIS IS NOT A TEST

CIVIL AUTHORITIES IN YOUR AREA HAVE REPORTED AN OUTBREAK OF A HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VIRUS.

SYMPTOMS INCLUDE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR, LOSS OF MOTOR CONTROL, AND AN INCREASED APPETITE FOR HUMAN FLESH.

ALL CITIZENS ARE ADVISED TO:

STAY INDOORS AND LOCK ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS.

AVOID CONTACT WITH INFECTED INDIVIDUALS AT ALL COSTS.

USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING.

STAY TUNED TO THIS FREQUENCY FOR FURTHER UPDATES.

REPEAT, THIS IS NOT A TEST."

The day was Wednesday, 27 May 2048.

"Okay, no need to panic!! You've prepared for this!!" I repeated in an attempt to calm down. "Let's see...I should start by- p-packing!?" I continued while scrambling around to find a knife, non-perishable foods and bottled water.

Along with those items, I also packed my mini first-aid kit, my phone and portable battery. "Alright, it's now or never..." I mumbled grabbing a flashlight and mop (yk for jabbing at a distance :D) before running out the door. I felt my heart sink as I saw the city before me, overrun with zombies. I hear my heartbeat in my chest as I see familiar faces getting attacked.

I run towards a grocery store, I'm late so I'll be lucky if I find anything... I carefully peek into the open doors. The store is dim; with the only light coming from the flickering lights on the ceiling. I stepped quietly, gripping my flashlight even harder. As expected, I found next to nothing other than a few granola bars. As I reached for a box of granola bars, I heard a faint shuffling sound from the back of the store. I froze, straining to listen. The noise grew louder, more distinct. My breath caught in my throat. I turned around quickly; shining my flashlight into the dark room.

"Grrrrhh,"

There it was again!

Panic surged through me. I grasped the mop I had brought, gripping it like a spear. The zombie lunged forward. I swung the mop, hitting it squarely in the chest. The force knocked it back, but it quickly regained its footing, advancing again with relentless determination. My mind raced. I couldn’t let it get close. I swung the mop again, this time aiming for its head. The blow landed with a sickening crunch. But this only seemed to enrage the creature. It snarled, "Raaaah," reaching out with decaying hands.

In a desperate move, I kicked a nearby display stand towards it, causing it to trip and fall. Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, I dashed towards the door. I yanked it open and stumbled outside, slamming the door shut behind me. I could hear the infected banging against the door, but it held firm.

Breathing heavily, I backed away from the store. That was too close. I needed to find a safer place to regroup and think. The encounter left me shaken, but I knew I couldn’t afford to give in to fear. Survival meant staying alert and always being prepared for the unexpected.

[scorpiongrassfield]

You Decide to Press the Issue

Start | Prev

“Hey, wait, Theo,” you call as you pocket the cards and the flowers and dash up the stairs after him. 

“Hm?” 

“You can't. You can’t just say it was your fault and not elaborate on it.” 

He looks genuinely surprised. 

“Can’t I?” 

“You can’t.” 

“Oh,” he says and continues up the stairs. 

You follow him up and into the living room. 

Concrete makes a break for the door as soon as the two of you are off the stairs. 

Theo scoops it up before it can get to the stairs. 

“Nice try, kitty,” he says. He sets concrete down on the chair with all the cat hair on it. “Can you-?” He cuts off when he sees you shut the door to the basement. “Oh. Thanks.” 

You put the rug back over the door just the way Theo had it before. “I’m not letting you run out before you answer this time,” you tell him. 

“That’s unfortunate,” he says, focusing on petting Concrete. 

“I’m serious Theo. Just tell me what you mean when you say it was your fault and you can get on your way,” you say. 

Theo laughs his bitter little laugh. “There’s not anything to tell. It must have been my fault, because it always is.” 

The crackling sound has followed you up the stairs. 

“Okay but that doesn’t actually tell me anything. It can’t always be your fault. What is ‘it”? Why are you so sure?” you demand. 

Theo stays silent. His back is still turned to you, so you can’t even begin to guess what he’s thinking. 

“When you can’t remember something these days, do you look for other explanations than your memory loss? I would imagine not. There’s a perfectly good explanation for it already, isn’t there? You’d be pretty sure that you couldn’t remember because of your amnesia and not something else,” he says. 

Concrete hops out of the chair and pads into the kitchen, robbing Theo of his excuse to not look at you. 

“I still don’t understand. I’m sorry. I don’t. I don’t want to cause trouble for you, but this is important. Please, Theo,” you say. 

He sighs and turns back to look at you. 

“Every bad thing that happened to me was my fault. Especially when my sister was involved. I’m the oldest, so I’m responsible,” he says, like it’s a forgone conclusion and not nonsense. 

“What does that have to do with the incident at the creek? I thought you said you had nothing to do with it,” you say. 

Theo’s face shutters. “I don’t. But it can still be my fault anyway. It has to be.” 

You take a deep breath. 

“Okay. How about… How about I tell you a little bit about what happened, and you can tell me which part of it is your fault,” you offer. 

Theo shrugs. He doesn’t seem very enthusiastic about this proposition. 

“You said you had tea, could I make you a cup? Ease your nerves?” 

“I… Shouldn’t I be the one offering tea? It’s my house,” he says. 

Well. It’s true it isn’t your house. “But I’m the one interrogating you right now. I could at least make you a little more comfortable.” 

“Okay,” Theo agrees. 

The two of you head into the kitchen. Concrete is curled up under the table. 

“Do you need help finding-” Theo cuts off as he sees that you’ve already found the tea. 

You checked the same place the shadow had gotten it before. As much as the Cabin tends to change its layout, the kitchen is the same as before. 

Though it is a little… dirtier. Not like Theo hasn’t cleaned up after cooking, but like he hasn’t been cooking at all. Everything is under a layer of dust. You brush aside whatever suspicions this brings to mind. You'll have your answer soon, you think.

You put the kettle on and get out a mug, both of which you gave a rinse before using. There’s only one type of tea, and while the box is a little dusty on the outside, it smells okay. You’re pretty sure tea doesn’t expire easily? The same goes for the honey you found in the same cupboard as the tea. 

Theo sits at the table and stares off into space. 

You let him collect his thoughts while you make the tea. 

Once the kettle starts to whistle, you turn off the heat and fill up the mug with hot water, then top it off with some of the honey. 

You bring the mug over to Theo, then sit down across from him. 

It’s a mirror of before, with you sitting where the shadow had been, and Theo in your own spot. 

“Do you know who the main suspect was, before the police dropped the case?” you ask. 

“I heard it was me,” Theo says. His tone is very carefully disinterested. 

“From what I understand, they did suspect you at first. But something happened to cause them to decide it couldn’t possibly have been you that did it.” 

Theo shrugs. 

“That’s not what I asked though. The main suspect when they dropped the case was your sister,” you say. 

Theo finally looks up at you. “It couldn’t have been Courtney’s fault,” he says, a little sharp. 

You raise your eyebrows. “How do you know I was talking about Courtney? I only said “your sister”. Don’t you have two?” 

Theo doesn’t answer you right away. Instead, he stands up, takes the tea bag out of the mug, and throws it away. 

“I do have two sisters… But Jenna has never come to visit me. She’s still… just a little kid. Subject to our parent’s rule in a way Courtney is not. She’s never been here. So. She has nothing to do with this,” Theo says with a flat tone. He sits back down and stirs the tea around without taking a sip. 

“How did you know. That I like my tea sweet?” he asks. 

“Call it a hunch,” you shrug. That’s not the point right now. “Your choice of words is interesting. You say that Jenna has nothing to do with it, but that it couldn’t have been Courtney's fault. Implying that she is involved where Jenna is not,” you reason. 

The crackling sound has followed you into the kitchen. It’s a little louder in here. Theo can’t seem to hear it though. 

“I… I don’t know,” Theo says. He looks a little sickly. 

“I think you do. You’ve admitted before that Courtney has a bit of a temper. Are you trying to cover for her?” 

Theo shakes his head rapidly. “No. No. She wouldn’t. She. I mean. She can lose her temper. But she wouldn’t hurt someone like that,” he says. Then, quieter, “She wouldn’t hurt anyone on purpose like that.”  

The smell of wet moss and rocks is stronger now. Covering up the scent of the tea. It smells like the woods. Like a creek running through it. 

You pause before saying your next piece. You don’t want to be indelicate. But you don’t think you’re going to get the answers you want without being a little more blunt. 

“Not even you? When Pat asked around, people at the diner clearly remembered seeing her hit you more than once when she was angry with you. She doesn’t even try to hide it,” you say. 

Theo winces. He worries at his lip, which draws your attention to them enough for you to notice they’re looking a little blue. 

“That was my fault. She’s… just a kid. I’m an adult. I can take a hit or two from a frustrated teenager,” he excuses. 

It makes you sad to hear. “Theo I don’t,” you start, but he cuts you off. 

“It’s true. If I didn’t always make her mad, she wouldn’t hit me. And I’m older than her. So it’s my fault,” he says. 

You open your mouth to say something more, but he keeps going. 

“Even that night. At the creek, that was my fault. I should have tried harder to de-escalate. I should have known better than to turn my back on her when she was angry. It was my fault,” he says. 

Your stomach drops at this admission. You had suspected, but to hear him say it, and like that… 

You can smell blood now, mixed in with the smell of the water. 

Theo is as pale as death. 

He starts to cough. 

“Are you okay?” you ask, even though he clearly isn’t. 

He nods. “Just. A little. Hard to breathe,” he gasps between coughs. 

The coughing startles Concrete, who scuttles out from under the table.

You still haven’t heard the whole story from Theo’s lips, but he’s looking worse for the wear.

Do you keep pushing?

Next