#Which y'know fair but I miss her

[new-haven-psych-ward]

started (binge)watching fourze and I feel utterly lied to regarding the initial premise of Movie Amalgamation of American Highschool Feel Good Friendship Movies. "let's skip this one for now," my sibling said. "I'm kinda sick of silly high school dramas," they said. "fair enough," I agreed. It turns out the protagonist fucking dies and he's not even mad about it - how more anti-drama can you get???!!!

[crookedteethed]

HOW i slept with your father | r.c.

Pairing: (older)Bestfriend's Dad Rafe! x Fem!reader

Summary: In which you tell your best friend how you accidentally slept with her father...oops.

Warnings: 18+ Semi-smut (protected p in v) (smut showed through flashback), age gap (reader is in her early 20s, Rafe is in his early forties), cursing, ocs, unrealistic reactions?, hints at Rafe being a fuckboy, I also can't tell if Rafe preyed on reader (you decide for yourself)

A/N: This story is really just reader telling her best friend about her night with Rafe, lmk if you want an actual smutty fic with bestfriend dad Rafe (heart emoticon)

Word count: 1.6k

Part Two

"Maribella, I had sex with your Father."

There, you said it. Your guilty conscience has been cleared. Your mind has been restored, and you can stop thinking about how much of a terrible friend you are because you're really not. You told the truth.

It's like that old stupid proverb, something about the truth setting you free or you setting the truth free, something like that.

There had been a moment of silence. A moment in which Maribella had slowly turned around from her lowboy vanity, half of her face the color of rose red from the blush powder she'd been frantically beating on her cheeks--you two were going out tonight. 

In that moment of silence, you glanced at the ticking clock up on Maribella's wall. It was 8:50 pm, and the boys-- the ones you and Maribella met on the beach that evening, were supposed to pick you both up in thirty minutes. 

"Gross." Maribella mumbles, returning to her vanity mirror and continuing to powder her cheeks. "You aren't going to be my new stepmother now, are you?" She says. 

You looked at the framed photo on Marbella's vanity--the photo of a smallish Maribella with chubby cheeks and missing baby teeth sandwiched between a very young Mr. Cameron and Maribella's Late mother (She wasn't dead, just not in Maribella's life after the divorce). 

You think to yourself how much of a resemblance your friend shares with her father--the same cerulean-colored eyes and dusky blond hair--you remember thinking this that night in which you fucked Mr. Cameron. 

You remember having to close your eyes shut while his girthy length pile drove into you during missionary, but Rafe had insisted on keeping your eyes open, or he wouldn't have let you cum that time. "Eyes on me, baby." he said, lightly tapping your cheek.

"No, not if you don't want me to." you said.

Maribella hums.

"To make it even, you can sleep with my father." you suggested, which cause Maribella to scrunch up her face in her backwards reflection.

"Your father's gross and old." She says. "and besides, isn't he still with that women?"

"My mother? Yes."

You watch from your spot on Maribella's bed as she gets up from her vanity and enters her walk-in closet.

"At least I get the appeal with my father." She shouts from the other room.

Minutes later, Maribella emerges from her closet, no longer in her silk bathrobe but in a simple white slip dress. 

"How do I look?" she asks you.

"Cute." you tell her.

She hums again, being satisfied with your response. Then, Maribella goes back to her vanity to continue doing her makeup.

"So, tell me." She says. "Tell me how'd you fucked my dad."

You shrug. "It just happened one time." and many other times afterward.

"Y'know." Maribella turns around excitedly. "Out of all the women my dad has slept with, you're the first one I ever gotten to talk to about it, so what was he like?"

Now it was your turn to scrunch up your face in disgust. "Maribella, this is gross. I'm not going to tell you how your dad fucks in bed."

"No fair." she whines. "I tell you about all the guys I've slept with."

You raise your eyebrow, to be fair she had a point.

"Let's just pretend my dad isn't my dad or Mr. Cameron; he's just Rafe, some stupid boy you fucked; now tell me everything."

Rafe was just some stupid guy you had fucked, but he wasn't a boy; he was all man--which is what had you enamored by him--it was either that or he was the first guy actually to tend to the needs of being wanted that had you so enamored by him.

 Unlike other guys you had been with, Rafe was attentive and considerate, making sure to meet your needs and desires. That's what made him stand out and had you so enamored.

This is why you kept coming back.

It was the night of Maribella's 21st birthday party. In your retellings of the story, you failed to mention how Rafe had kept staring at you that night. Every time you encountered each other, his eyes would first wander to your lips and then linger on your breast--which was practically spilling out the top of your corset. And each time you labeled him "Mr. Cameron," he would insist on you calling him "Rafe" because you were no longer a child. 

And it was liberating that Rafe did not see you as a child anymore, now seeing you for who you are: an adult woman. 

You also failed to mention when you spotted Rafe and his then-date, some black-haired women equally his age, arguing on the upstairs deck of Tanny Hill.

You didn't tell Maribella that you overheard Rafe's date yell at him: "Don't call me the next time you're horny, call Mrs. Young Pussy instead." Before storming out.

You kept in how Rafe had called you Beautiful that night, you didn't keep in how much that made you blush, after Maribella had said "Gross."

You exaggerated how much you had drunk that night to make it seem like a blackout drunk story—was it 10 shots? 20? You've forgotten, you told Maribella.

You told Maribella how after you and Rafe carried a shit-fazed Maribella to her bedroom, Rafe told her you didn't have to go home as the rest of the guests did; you could stay.

"You're always welcomed to stay" His exact words.  

You also left out that moment in which you and Rafe shared in the kitchen sharing a bottle of wine, in which you confronted him about his date leaving mad, and in his exact words:

"Women my age are just so uptight."

And though you hadn't quite understood what he meant, you nodded anyway.

He then says: "I'm sure you can understand that, but in reverse, with men your age."

"Men my age are stupid and don't know what they want." you responded.

"That's a shame." Rafe had told you. "Because I know what I want."

And you knew it wasn't the weed you smoked earlier or the few sips of red wine you were having that altered your perception to make you think Rafe was getting closer to you; Rafe was getting closer to you. 

By the end of the conversation, Rafe was no longer on the opposite side of the kitchen island; he was now standing beside you, the skin of his elbow touching yours. 

Your breathing had become uneven as Rafe's gaze remained steadfastly locked with yours, but you deliberately avoided meeting his eyes, for this was your best friend's father.

You felt your heart pounding in your chest as you tried to think of a way to break the silence. You took a deep breath and forced yourself to look into the intense blue of Rafe's eyes.

You didn't tell Maribella when you told Rafe that you weren't uptight, which was a quip to his response about knowing what he wants. And then he kissed you.     

The kiss took both of you by surprise, but it was undeniable that there was a spark between you. As your lips met, time seemed to stand still, and in that moment, you knew that this was the beginning of something extraordinary.

"And then we had sex." you concluded to Maribella.

Sex would be an understatement, you fucked.

Rafe had placed pecks on every inch of your body as he carried you into his bedroom, a room that was always off-limits when you and Maribella used to play with each other growing up. 

You were too enamored by Rafe's bergamot scent and how he kept calling you beautiful with each peck to your flesh to examine his room and hypothesize why this room of all rooms was once off limits. 

You were too overwhelmed when you felt his large muscular hands tear your clothes off your body to notice the picture of Maribella sitting on Rafe's bed side table.

You were too overcome with lust and craving when Rafe requested that you retrieve a condom from his nightstand, where you intentionally dislodged the photograph of Maribella.

Out of sight out of mine.

As Rafe carefully rolled the condom down his reddening shaft, you feigned an air of eager anticipation, so much so that you almost missed when Rafe remarked:

"You have no idea how long I've been longing for this moment."

Right then, without a warning, Rafe plunged himself deep inside of you like no man has ever done before. 

Your eyes widened, and your mouth formed the shape of an 'o' as you felt his thick cock split your cunt open, kiss your cervix, and sheath deep inside your belly. 

You counted the number of times Rafe said your pussy was tight; it was a number of 10.

At this point, Maribella no longer sat at her vanity and was now sitting beside you on her bed. 

"Oh, lame." She says. "So it was just a drunken mistake, a one-night stand kind of thing?"

You hummed. This reminds you that you should cut things off with Rafe since Maribella knows now. 

Right then in the moment Maribella's phone dings.

"The boys are here." She says. "You ready?"

And as you and Maribella walked down the spiral staircase of Tanny Hill, your friend told you:

"Now that I think of it, I'm not that pissed that you slept with my dad; as I said, I get it: he's rich, and he's good-looking for his age; what other qualities do you need in a man?"

In which you hummed again.

"Now if this was a recurring thing, that's a whole other story--Oh! hi Daddy."

As you and Maribelle descended to the base of the stairs, you were greeted by Rafe.

Rafe looked at you first before greeting his daughter.

You made an effort to maintain eye contact with him, despite his patronizing gaze, resisting the temptation to steal glances at him in his form-fitting shirt that accentuated his muscular physique.

You focused on maintaining a calm and composed demeanor, refusing to let his condescension affect you. Instead, you redirected your attention to the conversation at hand.

"Where are you girls headed?" He asks, addressing no one in particular.

"We're going out," Maribella says, sensing the tension and tugging your wrist towards the door.

"Don't wait up for me; we'll be out all night," Maribella said, Rafe's eyes never leaving yours as you and Maribella exited the door.

The boys you'd met earlier—Steven and Conrad, you think their names were—were parked outside Tanny Hill, blasting some obnoxious music from their car speakers.

"Oh wait, I think I forgot something," you tell Maribella as you approach the car. 

You don't wait for Maribella's approval before jogging back inside her house, where her father awaited you behind the front door with a sly smirk on his lips.

"I knew you couldn't resist telling me a goodbye," he remarked, just as the two of you leaned in for a messy, passionate kiss.

Knowing you were pressed for time, you were the one to break the kiss. 

'Same time again tomorrow night?' he asks, his voice filled with a mix of hope and desire as he wipes away the remnants of your shared moment. 

"Same time." you reassured.

[imthesilentwriter]

A Mother Knows

Harry Potter x Wolfstar!Daughter!Reader

Summary: Over the course of the summer before sixth year, Lily notices certain interactions between you and Harry that seem more than friendly. Her suspicions are confirmed when she witnesses a special moment between the two of you.

Warnings: fluff, mentions of kissing, (I'm not sure what else :) )

Authors Note: Wow, it's been a minute! I've entered the most dreaded time... final exams... I have my first (of 6) exam's tomorrow. Which, to be fair, is absolutely terrifying. To be honest, I don't think I could handle any more studying, so, I've decided to try and write more oneshots, to... y'know clear the mind. I hope you do enjoy this oneshot!... even if it's being posted like, almost 2 weeks after the last one. Thank you! Enjoy!!

Word Count: 7720

Navigation | Masterlist

The platform is bustling with noise and movement – students waving goodbye to friends, trunks being hauled off the train, owls hooting from their cages. Steam rises from the scarlet red engine, swirling in the air like mist, while parents eagerly scan the crowd for their children.

“Are we still going to the Cannons’ match in July?” James asks, a grin spreading across his face. “I got us box seats, you know.”

Sirius snorts. “The Cannons? You’re making us watch them? Merlin, James, I thought we had better taste.”

Remus chuckles, shaking his head. “I think James just wants a front-row seat to the chaos. And maybe to see if they can manage to win one match this season.”

James laughs, nudging Sirius in the ribs. “What’s wrong, Padfoot? Scared they’ll finally surprise us?”

“I’d be more surprised if they made it through the match without knocking themselves out,” Sirius shoots back with a grin. “But sure, I’ll come. Someone’s got to keep you both entertained.”

Remus raises an eyebrow. “I think we’re going to need more than just your snide comments to make that game exciting.”

Lily, half-listening to their banter, scans the platform, her eyes darting through the crowd in search of her son. Finally, she spots him – Harry, stepping off the train with you by his side. There’s something different about them this time, though.

You both are standing impossibly close to one another, not leaving much room between the two of you. She can’t help but notice Harry’s gaze on you as you mouth words towards him. It’s soft, tender in a way she hadn’t seen before.

Remus raised an eyebrow and said, "I think we’re going to need more than just your snide comments to make that game exciting."

Sirius, feigning offense, replied, "Oi, my snide comments are the excitement. Admit it, you’d miss them."

James grinned and added, "Yeah, sure, Padfoot. Though I’m more excited about Harry showing off some new moves this summer. The kid’s going to be unstoppable."

When she turns her gaze back towards you and Harry, she sees him reaching for your luggage, his fingers brushing against yours in the process. You smile at him – that smile, the kind of smile that carries a meaning Lily can’t quite place, but it tugs at her heart, nonetheless.

Lily watches as Harry goes to pick up your shoulder bag, his hand brushing against yours, lingering just a second longer than necessary. You say something to him, and her laughs, the sound warm and genuine.

The way he looks at you – like you’re the only person on the platform – makes Lily’s chest tighten. There’s a gentleness in his movements, a protective instinct as he adjusts the strap on your bag and slings in over his own shoulder.

You don’t protest; instead, you smile at him in that familiar way, as if this has become routine, comfortable. Lily’s heart stirs with a mix of pride and something bittersweet as she realises just how much her son has grown – and how much he seems to care for you.

Sirius proudly declared, "I’m sure my daughter could give him a run for his money."

James chuckled and responded, "She already does, mate. But where are they? It shouldn’t take this long to get off the train."

Remus looked around, scanning the crowd, and said, "They’re probably taking their sweet time saying goodbye to everyone. You know how kids are – social butterflies."

Sirius frowned and asked, "It’s been ages, though. Lily, do you see them?"

Lily, absentmindedly still watching the crowd, replied, "They’re… just over there. By the luggage cart."

James raised an eyebrow and remarked, "Luggage cart? Still? What are they doing, planning an entire heist?"

Remus teased, "Maybe they’ve formed a secret alliance to avoid carrying their own bags."

Sirius then spotted them and grinned widely, exclaiming, "Ah, there they are! Oi, Harry! Kiddo! Get over here!"

James laughed and joined in, saying, "Yeah, before Sirius has a heart attack from waiting!"

Lily notices your startled expression at the sudden yelling, your eyes widening for just a moment before you regain your composure. Harry, on the other hand, takes it in stride, flashing that familiar, sheepish grin.

“Alright, alright! We’re coming!” Harry yells back, a hint of laughter in his voice as he glances at you. You roll your eyes playfully, nudging him with your elbow before both of you make your way over to the group.

Lily watches closely, her eyes catching the small, almost imperceptible details – the way Harry’s gaze lingers on you for just a second too long, the subtle closeness between your shoulders as you walk side by side. It’s as if you’re unconsciously drawn to each other, and though the others remain blissfully unaware, Lily sees it all.

Sirius grinned and exclaimed, "Finally! What took you two so long? Were you writing love letters on the platform?"

Remus chuckled and added, "or planning your escape from carrying all that luggage?"

James, with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face, remarked, "must’ve been deep in conversation about strategy for our Quidditch games."

Harry just laughed, shaking his head, while you offered a nonchalant shrug, trying to play along.

Harry grinned and replied, "yeah, something like that."

Lily teased, "well, next time, try not to keep us waiting too long. I’m sure Sirius was about to launch a full search party."

Sirius feigned indignation as he said, "I was not! I just-" He trailed off, catching himself and then admitted, "Okay, maybe a little."

Lily smiles softly, the warmth of the moment sinking in. The banter continues around her, light and full of laughter, but her thoughts are elsewhere – on her son and the quiet shift in his life.

The smell of roast chicken and fresh bread fills the Potter dining room as the family gathers around the large oak table. James is animated, waving his fork as he talks, recounting a tale of his latest mission at the Auror Office. Sirius is laughing along, his usual mischievous grin plastered on his face, while Remus sips his wine, smiling at his friends' antics.

You sit across from Harry, quietly listening, but your eyes occasionally flick to his. It’s subtle, barely noticeable, but Lily, from her seat at the head of the table, catches every lingering glance.

She watches as Harry, in between biting into his bread, keeps looking at you with a soft, almost tender expression that she hasn't quite seen before. There’s something unspoken between you, something that speaks louder than words.

"-so, we were staking out Knockturn Alley," James says, his fork poised midair, "and you wouldn’t believe it, this bloke just waltzes right past us, like he didn’t even notice we were there!"

"Probably didn’t," Sirius snickers. "You’ve got no subtlety, mate."

James scoffs, his glasses slipping slightly down his nose. "Oi, I’m subtle when I need to be!"

Everyone laughs, but Lily is distracted. She notices the way Harry’s eyes find you again, his gaze soft, lingering just a second longer than it should.

You meet his eyes, and there’s that flash of recognition, a smile tugging at your lips before you quickly look away, focusing on your plate. You seem flustered, like you're trying to keep something hidden.

"Y/N," Sirius calls over the table, oblivious to the exchange, "You’ll back me up here, won’t you? James is always messing up the simple stuff, right? You wouldn’t want him as your Auror partner."

You laugh, but there’s a slight hesitation to it. "I don’t know if I should get involved in this one," you reply, your voice light, though your eyes dart quickly to Harry again. He smiles at your answer, his grin softening just for you.

Lily feels something tighten in her chest, the realization slowly settling in. She glances at Remus and James, who are completely engrossed in their conversation with Sirius about the latest dark wizard they’re tracking, none of them noticing the subtle shifts. It’s as if the rest of the room fades away, and it’s just Harry and you in your own little world.

Harry reaches for the bowl of potatoes, offering them to you before anyone else. "Want some?" he asks, his voice gentle, almost careful.

You nod, your fingers brushing his as you take the bowl from him. There’s a moment – a flicker of something deeper – before you both snap out of it, returning to the larger conversation as if nothing happened. But Lily saw it, the way your cheeks flushed, and the way Harry’s hand lingered just a second too long.

"How’s the investigation going, anyway?" Remus asks, his voice pulling Lily back into the moment.

"Not too bad," James responds eagerly. "We’re closing in, just need to catch the bastard in the act. Shouldn’t be long now."

"And we’d catch him a lot faster if James could keep his head down for five minutes," Sirius teases, grinning. "Always getting caught out by something shiny, aren’t you?"

"That’s rich, coming from you!" James shoots back, laughing.

Everyone joins in, the laughter loud and bright, but Lily’s gaze is still on you and Harry. You steal another quick glance at him, and he, seemingly unaware that his mother is watching, grins back at you in that same gentle, knowing way.

Lily’s heart stirs. The signs are all there, so small that no one else notices, but to her, they are unmistakable. You and Harry – there’s something more, something deeper than friendship, and now that she’s seeing it, she can’t unsee it.

The summer sun shines brightly over the Potters’ backyard, the smell of fresh-cut grass mixing with the inviting scent of grilled food. The pool sparkles under the sunlight, its water cool and inviting as laughter echoes from the edge. Towels are scattered across the lawn, and the atmosphere is relaxed and carefree, the perfect family day.

Lily watches from her lounge chair, a glass of iced tea in hand, as Harry and you sit together at the edge of the pool, your feet dangling in the water. You’re both soaked, dripping from your recent swim, and Harry's hair is messier than usual, plastered to his forehead. You’re laughing at something he just said, your face lit up with amusement. There’s a playfulness between the two of you that seems different today, something more intimate.

Without warning, Harry flicks a handful of water at you, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. You yelp, splashing him right back, and soon both of you are engaged in a playful battle, water flying as you try to outdo each other. Lily can’t help but smile at the scene, but as she watches more closely, she begins to notice things she hadn’t seen before.

You and Harry are sitting closer than usual – almost too close for what would be considered casual. Your hands brush as you move, and while you both quickly pull away, the small, lingering touches are hard to ignore.

Every now and then, Harry’s gaze lingers on you just a second too long, his smile softer, warmer. When he laughs, it's like the sound is meant just for you.

Lily sips her tea, her eyes narrowing slightly as she watches the way you laugh at Harry’s joke, an inside joke, judging by the way your eyes twinkle with shared understanding. The rest of the family, Sirius, James, and Remus are off by the grill, completely oblivious to the shift in dynamic.

But Lily sees it – sees the way Harry gently nudges you with his shoulder, the way your hand instinctively rests on his arm for just a moment before you remember yourself and pull away.

It’s all subtle, so easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. But Lily is paying attention now.

Harry suddenly stands up, offering you his hand to help you up from the pool’s edge. "C’mon, Y/N," he says, that soft smile still playing on his lips. "I won’t splash you again, promise."

You roll your eyes, but you take his hand, and the way your fingers curl into his doesn’t escape Lily’s notice. You stand beside him, your shoulder brushing his as you both make your way to the picnic table where everyone else is seated.

There’s a closeness there, a quiet comfort that has always been present between you and Harry, but today it feels… different. More deliberate. More tender. Lily watches as you both sit down, slightly apart, but still close enough that your arms almost touch.

You catch Harry’s eye again, and though the moment is fleeting, the smile you share speaks volumes.

Lily’s heart tightens. It’s not that she’s surprised – Harry has always been close to you, and you’ve known each other for years – but now, in this quiet, unspoken way, she’s starting to see the truth. The small moments, the hidden touches, the way you both light up around each other… they’re no longer just friends.

And for the first time, Lily wonders if maybe they haven’t been for quite a while.

Lily stands in the quiet kitchen, the hum of the refrigerator the only sound breaking the evening stillness. She fills a glass with cool water, her thoughts drifting as she waits for the glass to fill. The soft glow of the moonlight filters through the window, casting a gentle light on the countertops, and she glances outside, her gaze drawn to the garden.

It’s then she sees them.

Under the expansive blanket of stars, you and Harry sprawled on the grass, their figures outlined against the shimmering night. They lie close together, a warmth radiating between them that Lily can almost feel from where she stands.

Harry has his arm draped over you, fingers idly playing with your hair, while you lean into him, your head nestled against his shoulder. They seem oblivious to the world around them, lost in their own little universe.

Lily’s heart swells as she watches. Their body language speaks volumes – Harry’s hand cradles yours, their fingers intertwined, while the closeness of their faces suggests a bond that goes beyond mere friendship.

They share quiet laughter, the kind that seems to bubble up from a deep-seated happiness, and for a moment, Lily is entranced by the tender scene unfolding before her.

She sips her water, careful to keep quiet, not wanting to interrupt this precious moment. She knows they’ve snuck out – Harry has a tendency to bend the rules when it comes to you – but she doesn’t mind. Not tonight. The joy radiating from them is a welcome sight, a reminder of the innocence of youth and the sweetness of first love.

In the moonlight, Harry glances down at you, his expression softening as he catches your gaze. You smile up at him, a smile that lights up your face, and Lily can’t help but smile herself.

It’s clear they haven’t shared their feelings with anyone yet, keeping their blossoming relationship a secret, but Lily knows. She sees the way they look at each other, the way they are together, and it fills her with a sense of warmth and pride.

You laugh at something Harry says, your laughter ringing like music in the still night, Lily feels a bittersweet pang in her chest. She knows this time is fleeting, these moments of pure bliss will eventually shift into something more complicated as they grow up. But for now, she cherishes the sight of you and her son, wrapped up in their own little world, oblivious to everything else.

After a moment, she quietly retreats into the kitchen, letting them have their space, knowing that this is a memory she’ll carry with her. A moment of magic, hidden under the stars.

The evening has come to a gentle close, the once lively hum of conversation now reduced to soft murmurs as the last few guests filter out of the house. Plates, cups, and party decorations are scattered across the living room, remnants of the night’s gathering. Lily stands in the kitchen doorway, observing the scene with a satisfied sigh, already bracing herself for the inevitable clean-up.

Harry is lingering by the door, chatting with James and Sirius, but something catches his eye. You’re crouching by the coffee table, collecting stray cups and stacking them in a neat pile. A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he watches you for a second, and Lily notices that soft look in his eyes – the same one she’s been catching more and more recently.

Without a word, Harry breaks away from the conversation, crossing the room to where you’re picking up a plate that teeters on the edge of falling.

“Hey,” he says, voice warm and casual. “Let me help with that.”

You look up, startled but smiling, brushing a lock of hair behind your ear. “Oh, thanks, but it’s fine. I’ve got it.”

“I know you do,” Harry replies with a grin, reaching down to pick up a few more plates. “But it’ll go faster if I help. Plus, I don’t mind.”

They exchange a glance, and Lily, leaning against the kitchen counter, can see the way their faces soften when they look at each other. There’s something gentle in the way they smile – like they’re sharing a secret, like the whole room fades away whenever they’re together.

You let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “Okay, fine. But don’t blame me if you end up with dish duty.”

Harry chuckles, stacking a few cups in his hand. “I’ve faced worse.” He winks at you, and your laugh echoes softly through the room.

As they work together, their movements fall into an easy rhythm. Harry is close – closer than necessary, really – but Y/N don’t seem to mind. He hands you plates without you asking, their hands brushing lightly with each exchange, and each time it happens, they both glance up at each other, eyes sparkling.

Lily notices how Harry stays by your side, making sure you don’t carry too much, subtly taking the heavier load without making a fuss. When you reach for a large stack of plates, Harry steps in front of you with a playful smile.

“Here, let me get that,” he says, lifting the stack before she can protest.

You cross your arms, giving him a mock stern look. “You’re making me look bad, Potter.”

Harry grins at you, his eyes crinkling in the corners. “Just being chivalrous. You can thank me later.”

Lily suppresses a smile, pretending to be absorbed in cleaning the counter but really watching the two of them from the corner of her eye. There’s something unspoken in their interactions, a bond so clear that it makes the simplest moments – like cleaning up after a party – feel intimate. She can see it in the way Harry’s always drawn to you, how he goes out of his way to be near you, as if it’s second nature now.

They finish clearing the table, but Harry stays close to you, picking up a stray cup even though the bulk of the mess is already gone. You don’t seem to mind his presence, and Lily can tell by the way they keep stealing glances, their eyes meeting and holding for a beat too long.

“Thanks for helping,” you say quietly, your voice sincere. “I didn’t think you’d want to stick around for the boring part.”

Harry shrugs, smiling at you. “Anytime. Besides…” He hesitates for a moment, his gaze lingering on your face. “I don’t mind as long as I’m with you.”

Your cheeks flush slightly, and you duck your head with a small smile, busying yourself with wiping down the table to avoid meeting his gaze.

Lily’s heart swells as she watches them. She’s always been aware of the bond between you and Harry, but moments like this make it undeniable. It’s not just friendship or affection. There’s something deeper, something glowing between them, like they bring out the best in each other just by being close.

The room is quiet now, the clatter of dishes and laughter replaced with a kind of peaceful contentment. You and Harry finish tidying, but they don’t move apart. Even in the simple act of cleaning up, they’re glowing in each other’s presence, the connection between them unspoken yet unmistakable.

Lily watches them from her place in the kitchen, her heart warm with understanding. They don’t have to say anything for her to know what’s growing between them. It’s already there, shining in every glance, every smile, every small gesture. And though they’re not ready to share it with the world, Lily knows. It’s only a matter of time.

Lily tiptoes through the quiet house, the soft creak of the floorboards barely audible in the stillness of the night. The clock on the wall reads just after midnight – closer to 2 a.m., she thinks – as she heads into the kitchen for a glass of water.

As she nears the living room, something catches her eye. At first, she thinks it’s a shadow, but then she hears a soft sniffle – a quiet, muffled sound. Lily freezes, peeking around the corner, her hand halfway raised to turn on the kitchen light.

There, on the couch, is Harry. His arm is wrapped around you, curled into him, your face buried against his chest as if the world might shatter if you let go. His hand moves in slow, soothing strokes up and down your back, his lips close to your ear, whispering sweet words Lily can’t quite make out. You cling to him like he’s your anchor, the only thing keeping you grounded.

Lily’s heart tugs at the sight. She knows exactly why you need comforting tonight – your father, Remus, is out under the full moon, fighting the battle that comes with his condition. And though you have known your whole life what this night means, it doesn’t make it any easier.

Lily doesn’t need to get closer to see the red puffiness around your eyes, the way your shoulders shake slightly, even though you’re quiet now. You’ve been crying. And Harry… her sweet boy… is there, holding you together.

For a moment, Lily can’t move. She watches the way Harry cradles you like you’re something precious, whispering things only meant for your ears. His voice is soft but firm. “I’ve got you,” he murmurs, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of your head. “It’s going to be okay, Starlight. I promise. I’m right here. I won’t let go.”

Lily feels something stir deep within her at the tenderness in Harry’s words, the nickname Starlight. She’s heard him call you that in passing, but here, in the dim glow of the room, it carries a deeper meaning – an intimacy she hadn’t quite registered before.

She watches Harry pull you closer, if that’s even possible. His arms wrap around you tighter, as if trying to shield you from every pain in the world. And you, for all your quiet strength, look so fragile in this moment. The way you curl into him, your breath still a little shaky, makes it clear you only just stopped crying.

Lily’s heart aches, but it also swells with pride. Her son… her sweet, kind Harry… is exactly the person she raised him to be. Gentle. Compassionate. He’s the one you turn to, the one who can make you feel whole when everything else is spinning out of control.

When did this happen? she wonders, her gaze softening as she takes in the scene. She knew you were close, of course. You had always been a part of their lives, but this… this is different. The way you hold each other, how Harry’s entire focus is on you, as if nothing else in the world matters. Lily realizes then that this isn’t just friendship. It’s something much deeper.

They love each other, Lily thinks, her heart both heavy and warm at the same time. She’s seen love before – felt it in her own bones with James – but seeing it blossom between her son and you are something else entirely. She didn’t expect to see it so soon, but it’s undeniable now. The way Harry whispers your name, the way you seem to find comfort in his touch alone.

Harry’s voice breaks through her thoughts again, soft and gentle as he reassures you. “Your dad’s going to be alright. Just breathe with me, okay? We’ll get through this together.”

You nod weakly, sniffling into his chest, your fingers clutching at the fabric of his shirt. “I know… I just hate waiting. I feel so helpless.”

“I know,” Harry soothes, his thumb brushing against your shoulder in slow circles. He wipes away your tears with the pads of his fingers, pressing gentle kisses to your forehead as if he could kiss away all your worries. “But you’re not alone, Y/N. You’ve got me. You’ve got all of us. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Lily can barely breathe. There’s something about Harry’s words that feels almost sacred in this moment. He’s so sure, so steady, offering you the kind of comfort that only comes from someone who truly understands the weight of your worry. It’s more than just words; it’s a promise.

She can feel the depth of your connection now, the unspoken bond between you that has quietly grown over the summer. Maybe longer, she muses, realizing how blind she’s been to this. But now that she sees it, she can’t unsee it.

You’re in love. And it’s the kind of love that warms her heart to witness. Harry isn’t just comforting you tonight because he’s a kind friend – he’s holding you because he needs to, because he can’t stand to see you in pain.

Lily stands there for a few more moments, not wanting to intrude. She feels a swell of pride, mixed with a bittersweet realization that her little boy isn’t so little anymore. He’s growing up, finding his own path, just like she and James once did.

With a soft sigh, Lily turns on her heel, quietly retreating back down the hall. She doesn’t need to say anything. Not tonight. You have your moment, and it’s yours to keep. As she heads back upstairs, she allows herself a small smile, knowing that Harry is exactly where he needs to be, with the person who makes him happy.

The living room buzzes with energy as James shuffles the cards with a dramatic flair, his brow furrowed in mock concentration. “Right, everyone, brace yourselves,” he declares. “Tonight’s the night I finally beat all of you – and you can’t blame your bad luck on the moon, Moony.”

Remus snorts, leaning back in his chair, his arms crossed. “Considering I’ve beaten you the last three game nights, I’d say luck has nothing to do with it.”

“Remus, I’ve been letting you win,” James retorts, grinning as he deals the cards, throwing them to each player with exaggerated force. “It’s all part of my long-term strategy to lull you into a false sense of security.”

“Is that what we’re calling your losing streak now?” Sirius quips from the other side of the table, his feet kicked up on an ottoman, his eyes lazily scanning his cards. “Because, mate, I was starting to think you’d peaked in your Quidditch days, and it’s been downhill ever since.”

“Excuse you,” James shoots back, faking offense. “I’m still in my prime. Potter magic never fades. Right, Lil?” He looks over his shoulder at Lily, who smirks from her spot on the couch.

“I don’t know, love,” she teases, shaking her head with a knowing smile. “You were just complaining about your back this morning.”

Sirius cackles, slapping the arm of his chair. “Potter, the Quidditch legend, brought down by back pain! You really are getting old, mate.”

“Oh, shove off, Pads,” James grumbles, though he’s laughing. “It’s all tactical. I’m pacing myself, saving my energy for the crucial moments.”

“Sure, sure,” Remus mutters, shaking his head as he gathers his cards. “Because complaining about your back is all part of a master plan.”

Lily chuckles quietly, her eyes drifting over the table to where you and Harry sit across from each other. Their banter continues to fill the room, but Lily notices how Harry’s eyes flick to you every time you adjust your cards. His expression softens in those brief moments, like he’s more interested in her than the game.

You, too, sneak glances at Harry, especially when he’s not paying attention. It’s subtle, but Lily catches every lingering look, every quiet smile, like they’re sharing something no one else in the room can see.

“Well, if we’re done with the lovebirds' reunion,” Sirius drawls, pulling Lily’s attention back to the game. “Shall we get this over with? Remus, I fully expect you to lose miserably this time. No excuses.”

Remus raises an eyebrow. “We’ll see, Pads. Though if I were you, I’d focus more on keeping up with the game and less on running your mouth.”

James laughs, flipping his first card onto the table. “Oh, you know he can’t help himself, Moony. It’s all part of his charm.”

Sirius opens his mouth to respond, but Lily notices that Harry has just made a clever move, earning a cheer from James. “Well played, Harry!” James calls out, though his grin is full of fatherly pride.

While the others are still reacting to Harry’s success, Lily notices how your face lights up. You shoot a proud, affectionate smile toward Harry, your eyes sparkling, though you quickly glance down at your cards again before anyone else can catch you.

Harry, seemingly aware of your admiration, glances your way and meets your eyes. His lips curl into a soft, almost secretive smile, one that’s just for you.

Sirius interrupts the moment, pointing at the cards on the table. “All right, no more distractions! Let’s see if Harry can keep this streak going, or if James’s legendary losing streak is contagious.”

“Oi!” James retorts, but it’s clear everyone’s having fun. Remus, always the voice of calm, rolls his eyes.

Lily, watching from the sidelines, can’t help but smile to herself. Even amid the playful banter and noise, Harry and yours quiet, unspoken connection stands out. They’re on the verge of something, even if no one else sees it just yet.

Sirius throws another playful insult across the table, and everyone laughs, but Lily’s focus remains on the two of them. No one else seems to notice the way Harry and you keep sneaking those glances at each other – except her. They’re playing their own game tonight, one that has nothing to do with cards.

The afternoon sun filters softly through the large windows of the Potter house, casting golden light across the garden. The last few minutes of lunch are winding down, the conversation at the table growing quieter as everyone settles into a relaxed, post-meal calm. Plates are scattered with crumbs, and empty glasses glisten in the sunlight. James and Sirius are still chatting, their voices loud and animated, while Remus listens quietly with a soft smile, nodding occasionally at their banter.

Lily sits back in her chair, her gaze drifting across the table to where Harry and you sit side by side. They’re not speaking much, but there’s a comfortable ease between them, a kind of unspoken understanding that Lily has become used to noticing.

Harry’s hand moves subtly under the table. It’s a small, almost imperceptible gesture, but Lily catches it. He slips something into your hand – something small, delicate. His expression remains neutral, but there’s a flicker of something playful in his eyes, something secretive.

Your fingers close around whatever it is, and your cheeks flush a soft pink. You glance quickly at Harry, a shy smile playing at the corners of your lips, and then down at your lap where your hand still holds the small gift.

Lily doesn’t need to see what Harry has given her to know it’s something meaningful. It’s the way they’re both trying to be discreet, as if they’re sharing a secret, just the two of them. Your blush deepens, and you bite your lip, trying to stifle your grin. You peek at the tiny object in your hand before tucking it away in your pocket.

Harry leans back casually, pretending to listen to James and Sirius’s conversation, but there’s a quiet satisfaction in his expression. His foot nudges yours under the table, a soft, playful touch that goes unnoticed by everyone except you – and Lily.

Your eyes flicker toward Harry, your smile growing. You lift your hand slightly under the table, as if to squeeze his fingers in thanks, but the moment is so brief, so subtle, it’s almost invisible. Almost.

But not to Lily.

She watches, her heart swelling with warmth. It’s such a small, tender thing – this exchange between them. A tiny note or perhaps a flower from the garden, passed between them like a secret promise. Whatever it is, it makes you glow, your usual calm demeanour softening into something more vulnerable and open. Harry, too, seems lighter, more at ease, like being close to her is enough.

Lily keeps her gaze on them for another beat, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. It’s clear they’re doing their best to keep this little gesture between themselves, but she can’t help but feel a sense of pride watching them. They’re careful, quiet about whatever is growing between them, but it’s undeniable.

James laughs loudly at something Sirius says, the sound breaking through the soft quiet of the moment. You shift in your seat, pulling your hand out of your pocket, your expression carefully neutral again, though your blush still lingers. Harry, ever so casual, stretches his arms over his head, flashing you another quick smile.

Lily turns back to the conversation around her, but the image of Harry and you, their subtle exchange, stays with her. It’s moments like this that make it all so clear – the way they move around each other, how even the smallest touches and quiet gestures hold so much meaning. They’re trying to keep their feelings hidden, but for Lily, it’s as obvious as the sunshine pouring through the windows.

She says nothing, though. There’s no need to rush them. Let them have their secrets. Let them enjoy these little moments for themselves, for now. Lily watches them out of the corner of her eye, and her smile lingers, knowing that, whatever it is they’re sharing, it’s something special.

Lily moves quietly through the hallway, a folded pile of laundry in her arms, when the soft murmur of voices catches her attention. It’s coming from the sitting room, and she recognises them instantly – Harry’s low, familiar tone and the softer voice of you.

She slows her pace, curious but careful, not wanting to interrupt. Their voices are hushed, intimate, and though she doesn’t mean to eavesdrop, something about the tension in the air makes her stop just outside the doorway.

“I just… I don’t know how much longer we can keep this secret,” Harry says, his voice carrying an undercurrent of vulnerability. "I mean, I hate that we have to hide it – us. You mean everything to me, Y/N."

There’s a pause, and Lily can practically hear the nervous energy between them. Your voice, softer now, almost hesitant, responds, “I know, Harry. I feel the same. But what if things change once everyone knows? What if-”

“They won’t,” he cuts her off gently but firmly. “Not for me. Not ever.”

Lily’s breath catches in her throat. She leans subtly against the wall, not daring to move, not wanting to miss a word. Harry sounds so sure, so ready to take that next step, and it’s clear to Lily what’s coming next. A confession. A leap.

There’s a moment of silence, and then Harry’s voice comes again, quieter now, almost as if he’s gathering his courage. “Y/N, I – there’s something I’ve been wanting to say. For a while now.” His words are filled with emotion, raw and unguarded. “I think I’m ready to-”

A sudden noise from the kitchen shatters the moment – Sirius, unmistakably, laughing loudly as he fumbles with something. The clattering of dishes follows, and you and Harry both fall silent, the intimate atmosphere broken in an instant.

Lily hears you let out a soft laugh, the tension between them easing, though she can tell they’re still lingering on the edge of something unspoken. “Of course,” you mutter, clearly trying to mask her disappointment with humour. "Always at the best part."

Harry chuckles too, but it’s strained, like he’s lost the momentum he had been building. "Yeah, typical timing."

Lily feels the weight of the moment slip away, but there’s no denying what she’s just witnessed. They’re both holding back, hovering on the brink of admitting how deep their feelings run, but something keeps stopping them. Maybe it’s the fear of what comes next – of sharing their love with the world – or maybe it’s simply the enormity of the words themselves.

As she listens to them exchange a few more quiet words, something stirs within Lily. She knows that this moment isn’t the last. Whatever Harry was about to say, whatever you were feeling, it’s only a matter of time before they find the courage to cross that line. It’s inevitable.

Smiling softly to herself, Lily moves away from the doorway, careful not to draw attention. She leaves them to their half-finished conversation, knowing that they’ll find their way back to it soon enough. And when they do, she’ll be ready for the day they finally share their secret with the world.

Lily stands at the dresser, brushing her hair, her eyes distant as she watches James change into his pyjamas. The room is warm, softly lit by the bedside lamp, casting a cozy glow over the space. James flops down onto the bed, stretching with a contented sigh, but he notices that Lily seems unusually quiet tonight.

He glances at her, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Alright, what is it? I can practically see the wheels turning in your head.”

Lily bites her lip, unsure of where to begin. She puts down her brush and turns to face him. “It’s about Harry,” she says softly, moving to sit on the edge of the bed.

James props himself up on his elbows, intrigued. “Harry? What’s he done now? He’s not sneaking out to play Quidditch at midnight again, is he?”

Lily chuckles, shaking her head. “No, no… it’s not that.” She takes a deep breath, searching for the right words. “It’s about him and her.”

James raises an eyebrow, clearly not following. “Her?”

Lily gives him a look, as if it should be obvious. “Y/N.”

James sits up a little straighter, his curiosity piqued. “Ohhh, I see. What about them?”

Lily hesitates, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I think… I think they’re more than just friends, James.”

James’ eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Really? Harry? And Y/N?” He leans back, processing this information. “What makes you think that?”

Lily smiles softly, her thoughts drifting back to the moments she’s seen. “I’ve noticed little things, over the summer. They’re always together, which isn’t unusual, but… they’ve been holding hands when they think no one’s looking. And the way they glance at each other… it’s not just friendly. There’s something deeper there.”

James stares at her, a bit stunned. “Holding hands? Are you sure?”

Lily nods. “I’ve seen it more than once. And tonight, during dinner… I saw them giggling, soft little laughs that only they seemed to share. Harry even gave her something – a small gift, I think, but I couldn’t see what it was. She looked so happy, James. I’ve never seen him look at anyone like that before.”

James runs a hand through his hair, letting out a low whistle. “Blimey. I mean, I knew they were close, but… this is different. Our boy’s in deep, isn’t he?”

Lily lets out a small, wistful sigh, folding her hands in her lap. “I’ve been watching them, and it’s not just puppy love. I think they really care about each other.”

James watches her carefully, sensing there’s more to this. “You’re holding something back,” he says, his voice gentler now. “What else have you noticed?”

Lily hesitates, her cheeks warming slightly. “I… I saw them kiss,” she admits quietly, her eyes flickering up to meet his. “In the garden a few days ago. It wasn’t anything dramatic, just… sweet. Soft. But it felt like I was seeing something private, so I didn’t say anything.”

James blinks, clearly surprised but also slightly impressed. “Kissed? Harry?” He chuckles, shaking his head in disbelief. “Our little Harry, snogging my best friend’s daughter. Merlin, I never thought I’d see the day.”

Lily lets out a soft laugh, though there’s a touch of emotion in it. “He’s growing up, James. Faster than I expected. And I know he’ll come to us when he’s ready to tell us, but… it’s strange, seeing it happen before our eyes.”

James moves closer, taking her hand in his. “It’s bound to be strange, love. We’ve had him to ourselves all this time, and now… well, he’s finding his own way. But if he’s found someone who makes him happy, then that’s all we can ask for, isn’t it?”

Lily nods, her voice soft. “I just wasn’t ready to see it. I’ve watched him grow from that little boy who’d follow me around everywhere, to this young man who’s falling in love.” She smiles, though her eyes are misty. “It makes me proud… and a little sad, all at once.”

James wraps an arm around her, pulling her close. “I get it. It’s hard watching them grow up. But you know what? He’s a good kid. And if he’s with her, I’m sure he’s doing alright. Besides, she’s practically family. Can’t imagine a better match for him.”

Lily leans into his embrace, finding comfort in his words. “I know,” she whispers. “I just hope they both know what they’re doing.”

James kisses the top of her head, smiling down at her. “They’ll figure it out, just like we did. Let them have their moments, and when Harry’s ready, he’ll come to us.”

Lily nods, feeling the weight lift slightly from her chest. “You’re right. We’ll wait. But it does make me happy, seeing him like this. He’s… different with her. Softer, more open. And she cares for him, I can tell.”

James grins, a teasing glint in his eye. “Just like you and me, then?”

Lily laughs, swatting his arm. “Don’t get too smug.”

“Can’t help it. He’s got my charm, after all,” James quips, waggling his eyebrows at her.

Lily rolls her eyes, but there’s affection in her smile. “You’re impossible.”

“But you love me anyway,” James says, pulling her down beside him with a grin.

Lily rests her head on his chest, the soft sound of his heartbeat calming her. “Yeah,” she whispers. “I do. And I’m sure, one day, Harry will feel the same way about her.”

James presses a kiss to her forehead, holding her close as they settle into bed, knowing that their boy is growing up, and trusting that, just like them, he’ll find his way.

[storywriter007]

You Came Back - Jason Grace x Fem!Reader

summary: in which y/n tells jason grace something she thought she'd never ever say

warnings: cursing, emotional turmoil, heartbreak, mention of sex

genre: heartbreak/angst

word count: 826

-> heroes of olympus masterlist

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y/n heard someone shuffle through the door of the principia. they tried sneaking in, quietly, but it was a failed attempt.

"you missed it." she said, not even turning around, and continuing to organize papers. "it's over."

"y/n," he sighed. "i'm sorry, i'm so, so, sorry. i was at camp half-blood, and i lost track of time-"

"don't apologize to me." she said calmly. "apologize to the kids. they were upset when you didn't show up."

fifteen little kids, all between the ages of six and ten, wondering why their hero hadn't shown up to spend the day with them. fifteen little kids asking y/n, "where's jason?" with disappointment in their eyes.

"maybe, i can talk to them tomorrow? or maybe, thursday?" he suggested.

"tomorrow, we have a senate meeting. thursday, we've got paperwork due. the next date you can take the kids around new rome is in around two months." she said. "when did i become the organized one, grace?"

"i know, i know. i fucked up. i was with piper, and i completely forgot i had to be here. i came here as fast as i could."

of course he'd been at the other camp, with his other friends, with his other girl.

"they were so hurt, jason." she said, feeling upset on behalf of all the younger children. "they were so excited to finally have a one-on-one with their hero. just for me to tell them that you got caught up in some last-minute, saving-the-world shit. and still, they left with their feet dragging and their heads down." she said, finally turning to meet his blue eyes.

he looked ashamed. he should be.

"thank you, for protecting my reputation." he said. "but you didn't have to lie for me."

"what was i going to say? i knew where you were, you're always there. 'sorry kids, jason's at his other camp right now, he probably forgot.' or should i have gone with 'don't worry kids, he probably lost track of time because he's with another girl right now. he'll be back when he's done.'" she said, sarcastically. "c'mon."

she was extra pissy with him today. usually, it would just be, "it's alright, don't do it again" even though it always happened again. but today was different.

the principia door opened, and a group of young children stood at the door frame. there were four of them, two boys and two girls. y/n knew them, since she'd taught all of them.

"what're you kids doing out of bed?" y/n smiled, her voice softening.

"hey, jason's back!" one of the kids pointed out.

"yes, yes he is. but why are you bunch out of bed?" she laughed.

they shuffled forward, and gave her a cupcake.

"happy birthday y/n!" they said in unison.

jason's face fell to the floor.

"aw, thank you guys." she smiled, giving the kids a big hug. "real sweethearts, aren't you guys?"

after a few minutes of further talking, y/n walked the kids back to their cabins, and returned to the principia.

"oh my god. y/n, i'm so sorry-" jason started once again.

she chuckled. "y'know, in the ten years i've know you, and in eight and a half you were my best friend, i never thought you'd be one to forget."

"i'm so sorry. i can't believe i forgot-"

"i can." she said. "you seem to forget just about everything relating to this camp."

"that's not fair. that's not fair, i didn't want to forget." he said.

"i'm not talking about your amnesia. i'm talking about now. i'm talking about the missed senate meetings, and missed deadlines, and missed expectations." she said. "you've forgotten everything about this place and everyone in it. it's been this way since you came back. and you say sorry, but you don't change."

"camp half-blood is my home just as much as camp jupiter is." he defended.

"i waited a long time for you, grace." she started. "i waited for eight months. i waited for you while everyone else thought you were gone. i thought you were dead, but i still waited."

"i came back."

"you did." she agreed, feeling her voice break. "but, sometimes, i really wish you didn't."

they were standing face to face, but her gaze was to the side, while he looked at her.

"because i would rather spend the rest of my life wondering what happened to you than you coming back and not recognizing my face." a tear fell from her cheek.

"i would rather have lost you forever than knowing a ghost of you." she paused. "i would have rather lived in misery than grief ."

"you came back. you sure as hell did." she smiled. "but your body came back, not your character." her voice broke.

she could see the hurt in his eyes. they were both grieving.

jason grieved over what he had done.

y/n grieved over who she had known.

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there is not enough jason grace content on tumblr

[venus-is-thinking]

DRDT Chapter 2 Episode 16: Initial Thoughts

Sorry for missing episode 15 :(

That being said, oh my god, Chapter 2 is actually complete! This is so exciting! I'm really hyped to talk about this episode and give my not-live summary of my live reactions!

SPOILER WARNING FOR DRDT THROUGH THE END OF CH 2!!!

CW: Murder, sacrifice, suicide

The Reactions

12-1, this time. I'm still personally partial to the extra vote on Teruko last Trial being Arei (being petty about her "I'm voting for you no matter what" thing), so I would assume Ace is the Teruko vote. If so, I do think it's interesting that he voted Teruko as opposed to, like, Nico. Then again, it might be that it's just more convenient for DRDTdev to consistently put the extra vote on Teruko, lol.

Notably, the dead people have "N/A," not 0. We probably could tell this because of Xander last time, but I didn't check. I wonder if this implies we won't ever need to vote for someone dead (ex. a mastermind who "died" earlier in the killing game).

I'm free... I can read whatever Eden says as genuine...

Take THAT, Whit time loop theorists /j

I do think it's funny/kinda telling? that Whit is only saying this after the trial is over. Like, I feel like the normal time to go "oh my god we're having another trial" is, like... when you find the body? So, it's interesting that his reaction is so delayed.

So, I don't know if this was an intentional parallel, but...

These feel similar to me. I really like the Ace/Arei parallels, where they're both chronically hated people, but Arei apologizes and tries to change whereas Ace lets the fear and paranoia consume him until there's no turning back. Ace only says this after he's already been found guilty of murder; Arei says this before promising to change her ways to the victim of her bullying.

Teruko out here hopping on that self-blame train.

It's so funny how different Hu's standards are when talking about Ace's murder vs. Nico's attempted murder. Like... Hu this is what everyone was telling you like an hour ago. What.

It's really interesting that we're highlighting this line. I wonder if this is part of a theme that we're going to explore further, maybe tied into the "all murderers have to be punished" thing. Or maybe Eden isn't actually accurate here, but doesn't know it; has Ace killed someone in the past?

Fun trick you can do here!

When we first met Teruko a week ago, she was the same person, certainly, but she was also different. She was happier, and she trusted people more.

There are so many good character parallels in DRDT. The Ace/Teruko one was really interesting in this post-trial.

Ooh, new flavor of J anti-murder! This seems to be broadening it to also being critical of the killing game, which would go against my weird hypothetical "J is anti-murderer but also the mastermind" read.

It's interesting, with how this is Ace's logic. It makes total sense for his character, though. I think it's easy for us, the viewers, to forget the fact that the characters probably don't have the precedent of "every blackened ever always loses." When Ace is running the odds, he thinks his survival odds were better as a killer than as a participant in the killing game. And y'know, considering how close he came to dying as Nico's victim, that's kinda fair.

I desperately want to know what Levi was going to say here.

I really like the fact that Ace DID care about Levi. That he intrinsically cares about him, but he knows factually that he isn't supposed to like or trust someone in a killing game. That once he killed Arei, he had to resolve to kill everyone in the killing game, even Levi.

The only way Ace knew to prevent himself from caring was to stay mad, I guess. Kinda unfortunate though, considering that I do think Levi wanted to patch things up with him genuinely.

Meanwhile, Levi, who doesn't understand emotions, is just like "man what the fuck. That makes no sense."

What a pair. I'm sad we're not going to get to see their dynamic anymore :(

In other words, I'm back on the Levi survivor train baby! My biggest problem with it before was that I thought Ace was gonna survive and I didn't think Ace and Levi were both gonna survive, so now we're locking tf in!

This is fun! I always wonder why more people don't try stuff like this. Like... shoot your shot. You're gonna die otherwise, soooo...

Great animation as always

I think it's really funny that Teruko is so fucking mad that she bullies Ace into action. Like, that's so fitting for both of them.

I love using this David expression here. He's just like, "was it that easy? Why was I trying to throw the trial then???"

aaaaAAAAAAAA--

What the fuck!! XF-Ture mention!!!!!!!!

I like the spooky vibe MonoTV has for this post-trial, but I do hope we get our normal silly lil guy back next chapter. I like the MonoTV personality we see all the time. I'm gonna miss it if it just died like that :(

I am also squinting so hard at everyone's reactions through "who is the mastermind" goggles. Maybe I'll analyze them in a different post sometime.

Fascinating purpose. Not "to create despair." Not "to run the killing game until only one participant survives." To kill everyone.

Does this include whichever mastermind?

Why does whoever programmed MonoTV want to kill all of these people? Are they being punished for something?

This countdown sequence fucked me up. The tensions and emotions are so high. Even as someone who was confident that Teruko, at least, wasn't going to die no matter what, I was so on edge. I got really scared that Eden was going to take the hit for Teruko, though, and that's what I was reading into when I wasn't sure Eden would make it to Chapter 3.

This speech, more than any other one Teruko has made or any actions she's taken or endured, really made me feel for Teruko. The fact that she can so casually talk about truly traumatic and horrific things happening to her, while smiling, truly shows how much she's grown used to it. Like, girl. You don't deserve this. What.

The character work on Teruko especially this episode is just fantastic. No words.

This panel stressed me out so bad because it was really just a question of WHO took the bullet for Teruko. Like, if she's thinking this, someone clearly did.

My bets were on either Eden, Charles, or Ace.

Levi, though, was such a surprise to see. Like, in a good way. It means so much.

First of all, it's a callback to the end of the prologue. Levi attacks MonoTV, and when MonoTV tries to kill him in response, Teruko's danger sense alerts her. It's only through Teruko warning Levi to move that Levi dodged the main attack, resulting in only an arm injury rather than death. Now, Levi returns her favor, preventing her from dying from attacking MonoTV.

Second, it puts Ace into the position we see of having to confront the possibility of Levi's death. I got the distinct sense that they wanted Ace to be able to do something heroic on his way out, to prove all the haters wrong (which is why I thought it was possible he'd take the hit for Teruko instead of Levi). By putting Levi, pretty clearly the person he cares most about, into harm's way, it makes Ace take action. It means that he HAS to confront the fact that he cares Levi, and that he has to die.

And, thirdly... I am so fascinated to learn why Levi did this. Was it as simple as a transactional, "you saved me from execution before?" Is it "I thought saving someone would make me a good person?" Does Levi actually feel some remorse for Teruko in this moment, causing him to take action?

No matter what his reasoning, I can't wait to hear from him. I strongly suspect Levi won't actually die from this (at the very least, I hope not, because I really want to hear more from him), but even if he does, hopefully we'll still get some more insight in a bonus episode or a flashback or something.

I'm trying to figure out what triggered Whit here.

This is immediately following "The elevator won't open," but it also definitely can just correlate to "[person] will die if they don't receive immediate medical treatment." I have to assume that something here is reminding Whit of his mom...?

With the weird "Whit knows a lot about hanging" earlier, I got the impression that Whit's mom probably hung herself. From this, I would probably theorize that Whit found her while she was still alive, but not quickly enough to save her. Yikes.

Anyways, I think that means everyone has some kind of despair sprite now! That's fun!

o7

I'm sure many have pointed this out, but do we think he's counting himself here (Arei + Ace + Levi = 3), or do we think he feels responsible for someone else's death in his past (probably Taylor)? I'd lean towards the second one.

Y'know, before I thought Arturo was just pressed about the surgeon thing because people were unfairly hating on him. This, at least, I think implies something relating to Felicity.

Arturo doesn't have any experience saving lives. He left, and Felicity died. He can't save lives; he's only responsible for Felicity's ending. I think that's how he sees it.

On a side note, I think there's a very definite possibility that Chapter 3 cold opens on Arturo saving Levi's life??? Like, how Chapter 2 started with Eden POV, I think Chapter 3 could start with Arturo taking his shot at healing Levi, eventually resulting in Levi stabilizing. I'm not sure who would be there with him. Possibly Hu, since she was leading the "let's get Levi to the infirmary" effort...?

I love executions like this. Accirax has said before that the best executions are what make their recipient feel the most despair, and that's definitely what they did with Ace here. Put the talent aside; fear is what Ace fears the most.

Uhhhh. I'm pulling an Accirax. Part 2 in reblog!

[ddejavvu]

mei!! congrats on 20k!! 'i just don't want anyone to know i've fallen for you.' - send me a request for a baby blurb! give me a character, and a plotline, and i'll write you a little fanfiction :) bradley bradshaw being so starstruck of his newborn caroline :)) him always staring at the baby being all :]] and every time she cries he stops whatever he drops and stops whatever he's doing immediately and be all D: and him being such a good house husband taking care of his wife after giving birth

join my 20K celebration!

'i just don't want anyone to know i've fallen for you.' - send me a request for a baby blurb! give me a character, and a plotline, and i'll write you a little fanfiction :)

--

Bradley isn't easily broken away from Guys' Night. This week it's online, over headsets while he stations himself in front of the television with a controller in his hand. He's not the biggest fan of video games, but Hangman's challenged him, so he has to be the best.

You're happy to let him have time to himself, because it isn't easy to get that with a newborn baby. Bradley's gone above and beyond what you'd ever expected of him, volunteering for every feeding and scooping little Caroline up each time she cries. He'll always hand her over to you if you ask, but he's stuck to her like a magnet, so you're happy that he's getting a break to do something a little more fun than washing dirty onesies.

You're putting her in a fresh one now, the soiled one in the laundry pile. She doesn't like that she's not being coddled, already spoiled by her dad's insistence on holding her, and she starts to fuss while you're picking out her new outfit.

"Honey, it's okay," You croon, your wrist bent at an awkward angle as you rifle through a drawer of her onesies. You're looking for a specific print, but if she doesn't calm, you might have to go with the first one you can grab.

"It's alright," You promise her, watching her little face screw up, "No, honey, no tears, c'mon. You're okay, Mommy's here, you're-"

"Honey?" Bradley makes a rather unexpected appearance, headset still over his ears and mic angled downwards as he surveys the situation. Apparently he's heard her cries, and come running like a puppy on a leash.

"She's okay, Brad." You promise, finally finding the soft texture of the onesie you're searching for and dragging it out of the drawer, "Just fussy. You can go back to your game, sorry she scared you."

"S'okay," He shakes his head, taking the headset off and discarding it haphazardly on the dresser as he crosses the room to pick her up, "Daddy missed you, y'know? Holding a video game controller is so much worse than holding a baby. 'Specially when she's so cute," He gushes, leaning down to rub his nose to hers, which soothes her cries in an instant, "Huh, angel? Cutest baby in the world."

"That makes sense, though," Bradley hums, cradling her to his chest and angling his body towards you so that she looks the same way, "'Cause your mama's so beautiful, doesn't surprise me you are, too. Yeah," He sends you a dopey grin, turning back to Caroline to kiss her forehead, unphased as she drags a fistful of his shirt into her mouth. You hear a faint slew of sounds coming from Bradley's headset, and you reach for it, tentatively holding one of the pads to your ear. You're worried about what you might hear, considering all you've heard about video game talk among men, but all that greets you is whiny grown men.

"-fair! Rooster just gets to dip whenever he's dying, and go hold a baby?"

"I'd ditch this round, too, if I were him," Hangman drawls, "He knew he couldn't catch up with me."

"I dunno, Hangman. I'd rather go see my gorgeous wife and kid than beat your score," Payback quips, and you let out a fond chuckle for the man.

"Thanks, Reuben," You hum into the mic, and Bradley shares an amused grin with you over their antics.

"Hey, there she is! How's the baby?" Fanboy pipes up, and you wish you could show him her sleepy little face as she curls into Bradley's embrace.

"She's good! She's tired," You laugh, "Bradley might be occupied for a little while longer."

"All good," Javy promises, and you can hear the adoring grin in his voice, "And how's the mama?"

"I'm tired, too," You laugh, "Maybe I'll leave Caroline with Bradley and go take a nap myself."

"Go ahead, baby," Bradley nods, speaking at a low enough level that it doesn't bother Caroline where she's beginning to doze off on his chest, "I'll put the port-a-crib in the living room, 'n watch over her while I play. I'm sure she'll nap for a bit, she's probably tired since she missed her 10 o'clock nap."

"You sure?" You raise a concerned brow, "I was just teasing, Brad, I can take her."

"I'm sure," He waves off your worry, "Go nap, honey, you deserve it. I can handle her, I promise."

"I know you can," You smile at his insistence, "I just don't want to mess up Guys' Night."

"No, she could never mess it up," Bradley kisses Caroline's smooth forehead, "She'll just make it better, baby. I'll teach her to play."

"She'll eat your controller," You giggle, passing Bradley's headset back over to him and kissing your sleepy baby's chubby cheek, "Be good for Dada, okay? And go easy on Hangman, jellybean, I don't think he can handle being beaten by a baby."

[david-talks-sw]

The biggest problem in "The Acolyte"

I think I've given this show a fair shake. There are parts in it that I really like, and I think this sits in 3rd/4th place in my ranking of favourite Disney - Star Wars shows.

But here's the thing. It felt underwhelming. The only time I was genuinely excited was during the fight scenes, any of them.

But when I think about the events that take place in the show... they're not so bad! There's nothing really lore-breaking, I like flawed characters doing their best. It's okay!

So why was I almost always deadpan, while watching it?

Structure.

The show doesn't have the same issue as other Disney Plus series, wherein they treat it as a 10-hour movie and thus lose all momentum every time. Headland knows how to raise the stakes properly... but unfortunately, the result is the same!

Because this series was structured and marketed as if it was some kind of investigative thriller, a noir movie about Jedi being murdered and needing to find the killer. And when you look at the events, and at the story it's telling... it really isn't that.

So when you're trying to make these twists... they're all predictable.

How could Osha have killed Indara when she's working as a meknik-- she has a twin.

But who could the Sith in the mask possibly be-- iiiit's Qimir, y'know, the guy who's literally quoting the Sith code and is trying his hardest to seem harmless.

Why is Mae going around killing these Jedi-- they had it coming, they likely wronged her in a way that was unintended and now she's in pain because of it.

What's the mystery behind the twins-- they weren't conceived biologically, they were created using the Force. They're Anakin 1.0.

Were the witches really killed by the fire? What did we miss, why are the Jedi so guilt-ridden over it-- the other side of the story, showing the Jedi probably killing them all through some big well-intentioned-but-misled accident that could've been avoided, which the Jedi now feel guilty over and try to cover up.

Osha seems to be fine with the Jedi arresting her sister-- her heartlessness makes her the perfect Sith, by the end of the Season, she'll be an apprentice and Mae will be on the good side.

Who is Qimir's former teacher-- Vernestra. His scars look like they come from a lightsaber whip.

Is Qimir the Sith master-- probably not, just an apprentice, a self-proclaimed non-Bane-lineage Sith, or an acolyte himself.

Will Sol survive the show-- no, he's gonna die, because of course he is, by Episode I, the Sith have been thought to be extinct for a millenia.

If you're a casual viewer, maybe these wouldn't be as obvious. But if you're a fan, it's like it's written on a billboard. And like, clearly Leslye Headland knew that this would be the case:

"I think a good twist is not about hiding everything from the audience and then throwing it on them like, 'Hey, this is what you didn't see! We hid it so well that you didn't see this!'" says Headland. "I think a good twist is telegraphing what's going to happen, and then once it does, executing it without an ounce of pity or sentimentality."" - Leslye Headland, Entertainment Weekly, 2024

But here's the thing.

You can't make an audience feel as if the stakes have been raised, when we can tell where this is all going.

Because then we're not watching, we're waiting for what will inevitably happen to finally occur. If most of these "mysteries" had been structured as simple plot points in a more straight-forward story about...

Two sisters trying to get back to each other after an incident in their lives caused by the Jedi.

The Jedi Master coming to terms with the fact that his flawed decisions led to tragic consequences.

A Sith Lord trying to appropriate the sisters' powers for himself.

... then I think that I wouldn't feel as underwhelmed.

Instead it's a murder mystery, and we already know the murderer, what motivates said murderer, how said murderer was wronged, etc... and they're feeding us the information by the breadcrumb to build up to these twists, but we can basically guess what these twists are.

Don't treat obvious plot points like a secret. You can get away with it a couple of times, but not with every single one of them. C'mon.

ADDENDUM:

[tanoraqui]

Dungeon Meshi Liveblog: Kabru & Mithrun's Life-Changing Road Trip

.

safhkjkhf no but also fake!Kabru is entirely flat because Mithrun doesn't have depth perception...

.

Between this and the information that the team has a 1:2 ratio of guards to criminals, with the guards often appointed by their families as a melodramatic show of loyalty to the realm - which is...possibly literally true, considering the prestige of badassery; but, considering the criminals and the danger, also very possibly a polite euphemism for what amounts to a public sacrifice... I kind of ferally want to know about the dynamics of the Canaries. Are they loyal to each other, or to the cause? Are they all just under the threat of execution? Kabru expected the captain of the squad to be an aristocratic guard, them being more trustworthy than a semi-pardoned criminal ofc, but instead he's...whatever exactly Mithrun's legal status is; I've avoided some details of his backstory.

...I might have to go back and try to actually mentally distinguish these people from each other.

.

Laios Heaven is actually Kabru Hell, and vice versa. It's a very efficient system!

.

*giggles* Kabru is having a weird, upside-down day.

.

"Don't wish often" is such a threatening thing to say, honestly. Don't want. Don't try. Don't be alive, or this place will try to kill you and eat you, for it, too, wishes to live, and that is how the continuation of life works.

It's so so interesting how elves clearly have ANSWERS, answers that our party have been searching for, which would've made their whole adventure easier, and the elves just aren't telling people. To maintain their own power over other races? Probably. Because knowing about demons who'll offer you unlimited power would be a dangerous temptation to many? In fairness, probably that, too. But it sure as hell serves them first.

.

Oh yeah, this definitely reads as aristocratic youths joining the Canaries isn't per se voluntary on their families' parts. It's the elvish Suicide Squad.

.

The timeline isn't making sense. When Mithrun banished the giant mushroom, it was clearly implied that it went to where and when Team Touden were when we'd last seen them, just after their first incident with the changeling mushrooms and then the dwarvish cable car. However, now the pop-up side panels are saying that Kabru and Mithrun's week in the dungeon together is happening at the same time as Team Touden goes through their shapeshifter adventure, barometz, Golden Country, griffins... Which makes sense if one assumes the Canaries & co went into the dungeon right after Kabru first spoke to them, which does seem right in terms of those characters' plotline and personal timetables. But there was no indication, when it cut over to them, that we'd suddenly gone backwards a week in the comic's timeline; indeed, the giant walking changeling mushroom incident suggested it was a single continuity...

Is this just a continuity error? Did I miss some clarifying signifier?

.

Kabru: [tells Mithrun his own backstory back at him]

Mithrun: You left out the soap operatic relationships rooted in royal intrigue, which in turn was rooted in millennia of other royal intrigue.

Kabru: Yes, but I need it to be understandable to a man who's mostly just going to ask me how the goat-demon tast– I mean, uh... Your story structure was bad, so I simplified it.

.

Oh shit, that's the thing Marcille is studying! She doesn't know it summons demons!

...My instinct is, "if only someone told her instead of completely outlawing the knowledge, forcing her to stumble blindly into the consequences on her own!" But, uh... I'm not sure this would actually stop her. She's very determined, and also has her share of wizard hubris. This is, of course, a driving question of the story.

.

It wasn't easier to kill them? It wasn't easier to simply stop drawing magic from the infinite-power dimension?

...ok obviously not the latter, because, y'know. Fossil fuels. But seriously it wasn't easier to just kill them?

.

It's sooo intersting how everyone else views Laios's love of monsters as a dangerous moral failing, when it's really just...ecologist enthusiasm. The man thinks this class of being is Neat. He is harming literally 0 people about this. He isn't even forcing anyone to eat them, just inviting them really enthusiastically and/or pointing out that this is necessary in order to achieve their shared goal of saving Falin.

Yes, obviously this could be subverted into something terrible by an encouraging demon. Just like, obviously, a desire to protect and preserve people can be! Or a desire to live happily with your loved ones! Laios isn't worse than any other Lord of a Dungeon; y'all just hate monsters!

.

Kabru that is SO gay, jfc. I object on principle to the phrase "no heterosexual explanation", but--

.

M! V! P! M! V! P!

.

Friendship? Teamwork? Mutual respect and shared understanding of goals? Mithrun is a very useful ally because he really does Only want to stop the demon; he doesn't care about the geopolitics of it. Though his perspective is still very elvish and he definitely will kill our beloved protagonists without hesitation if they seem like they're going to be a problem.

.

I would read an entire novel about the formation of the halffoot union, honest to god. I bet it was very exciting. I bet someone tried to kill Chilchuck at least once.

[tinycheesecakedetective]

...I'm baaaack.

I mean, I made one post about Swap!PV and then got distracted for months, so I wouldn't really call this a comeback. The moment I did come back though, apparently a bunch of lore just fell from the sky! Beast Yeast is upon us and all of a sudden I remember making an alt. version of this goober.

Turns out there were a few things I wasn't satisfied with in the first one, so here I am with my Swap!Vanilla 2.0 human edition! Even after all this time I still don't have a name for him. There's more white in his design, he has four horns instead of two and they form a crown on his head(that might be a bit hard to see), he also has a halo, his staff changed drastically, and he lost his soul gem. Instead he has two new smaller gems on his "ribcage".

This time around I tried to invoke more death themes, hence the ribcage, more wrappings, the halo, and the burn marks from, y'know, being re-baked and essentially reborn. The halo also makes for a nice double meaning, showing his somewhat good intentions behind the violence and spreading chaos gig.

Speaking of intentions, I maybe or maybe not have mentioned the only swaps happening in this proposed AU are between PV and WL and [possibly] Black Raisin and Red Velvet. I say maybe because if I checked, all the writing would disappear and I would have to start over again. However, I have wondered if those two swapped, how would PV handled the kingdoms? Would it be the same as DE or would the fates of each kingdom end up being swapped as well? It's something I definitely need to think on and develop.

Anyways, ramble break, here's a few doodles I did for Swap!PV!

Yeah, I had a lot of fun doing this. SO! A few changes not mentioned prior. Eyes! There are more eyes, especially on his coat. I took a bit of inspiration from a certain blue jester and his realm of nightmares. It also plays nicely with the whole "truth revealed" theme. Why not give the holder of the light of truth a bunch of opened eyes to represent his awakening? Also they looked good and his cape-coat was too plain without it.

Fun Head Canons: He's always floating, even when he's relaxing his feet never touch the floor. This PV still has a lily garden, it's just hidden away because while he still misses WL despite everything, he refuses to show weakness in front of others. His coat can take the shape of angel wings when angry and multiple eyes can appear when furious or in distress. Speaking of eyes, the ones on his coat glow. Those gems on him are pieces of moonstone that got corrupted after saving him.

As for the story behind him, I had to make a few adjustments. For one, DE and WL are two halves of the same whole, and the only reason either of them exists is thanks to precautions taken by Elder Faerie. Which means Pure Vanilla somehow has to get the stuff from Lily, who came to Beast Yeast without saying much of anything to anyone beforehand. Secondly, it means the Pure Vanilla Kingdom can't be the last kingdom explored. Pre Beast Yeast, the order in which the kingdoms would be explored would change, where White Lily's area would be explored first instead and the Vanilla Kingdom would be last. I'll address the second issue on a different post related to White Lily, but first things first. Fair warning, I wrote quite a bit.

~~~

After forming the seal, White Lily falls ill due to the immense amount of power used. She's not used to using so much of her soul gem, much less creating a seal to lock away ancient evils. Seeing her faltering state, Elder Faerie takes her away to his palace to help her recover. During her time in the palace, White Lily becomes distressed because not only does she feel like she's being a burden, but she won't be able to continue her research on how cookies were made. That was the whole point of coming here, after all. She left her friends and home behind to find the truth and ended up sick and bed ridden instead. The least she could do to redeem herself was to find the truth.

Racked with guilt and regret, she asks Elder Faerie for two favors; she wishes to know the secret behind cookies' creation, and she requests a pen and paper to write with. Before long, White Lily gains a messenger(Silverbell) who gives her books from the library to read, and a way to reach the one other person she understands. Someone who should've known where she was most of all. Pure Vanilla Cookie.

From there the two keep exchanging letters as White Lily brushes up on fae and beast lore. But eventually White Lily would learn about the Night of the Witches in a similar enough way to canon, i.e. finding the book about it. While she's recovered enough, she's still not well enough to go, and Elder Faerie isn't risking her well being and safety for a banquet. She's devastated that her questions may never be answered. If only she could go, if only there was some way to witness it while being in the Fairy Kingdom. And then... she realizes something. Perhaps there is a way for her to know after all...

White Lily, in the discomfort of her hospital bed, writes a letter to Pure Vanilla and asks him to go to the Witch's Banquet in her place. She knows that this is a huge ask, and he has every reason to refuse the favor, but it would mean the world to her if he did. Elder Faerie hears about this and is rightfully worried, telling her about the dangers, and any cookie that goes doesn't come back the same, if at all. He sends his own letter to Pure Vanilla to warn him of the dangers that lie ahead. A few more letters come in from WL apologizing for her request, saying it was out of line and inappropriate. "What a selfish request," she thinks, "after leaving him in the dark for so long, I have the nerve to ask him for anything at all?"

However, despite everything, he eventually decides to go. He knows that this means everything to her, and a part of Pure Vanilla secretly wondered about it as well. White Lily searched heaven and earth to find the truth so she could help others. Why would he keep avoiding it for so long? If he knew the truth as well, perhaps he could use these secrets to help the people of Earthbread alongside her. Maybe now he would finally understand White Lily more.

He wrote a letter addressed to both WL and EF about his final decision. White Lily is surprised at his decision, and is eternally grateful, while Elder Faerie is more resigned and concerned, knowing that he won't be able to change his mind but still wanting to help. He asks her to help write her next letter, and the two send a package to Pure Vanilla. Inside was another letter with the faint smell of lilies, as well as a map to the location of the banquet and a moonstone from Elder Faerie as a show of goodwill and for protection. He in turn sends what would become his final letter to her, unbeknownst to the two reading. He expresses his gratefulness to both WL and EF and declares his determination to find answers both for her and for the sake of everyone, stating, "Let me be your hope when you have none, and you my guiding light in shadows..."

Pure Vanilla proceeds to head to the Witch's Banquet, discovers the bitter truth, and in his attempts to save the other cookies falls into the ultimate dough. The fleeting scent of lilies is the last thing he grasps in his final moments, and the faint glow of a moonstone ensures his survival. His soul gem shatters under the weight of the truth and is scattered across the world, longing to be made whole once again.

~~~

Well! I think I have said everything I can say about him for now. I'm sure I can come up with more things later, but if you read this far, thanks for reading! I did not know I was going to say this much, so yeah. Next post is for White Lily specifically, I hope. I'm also taking suggestions for ideas about the other kingdoms and ways this could go, so if you have anything to suggest, let me know. Y'all have a good evening!

[marinettesaltprompts]

Joker #4 - Marinette “Maribat” Salt Prompt

Credit to @rukatofan89

I admit I’ve been disconnected from DC comics for a while, but one thing that I was intrigued with recently was the concept of there being 3 Jokers (Though how Bats could’ve missed it is well beyond me) Fair warning, I wrote this while tired so it may not make total sense.

Following the bat clan to Paris, Joker III witnesses the fall of Adrichat like most salt fics and calls up the other two, telling them he has a lead on the next one. Like most Maribat salt fics, Ladybug goes to Gotham to be with the Bat Family (and hopefully finding love with whatever Robin the author likes, I’ll stick to Damien for ‘traditions sake’)

Fast forward a few weeks, Adrien gets an apology letter, from Marinette (Really the Jokers) wanting to help him start over in the US since his life in the EU is ruined. He barely makes it to Gotham before he’s knocked out and wakes up dressed as a thief in a chemical factory. The Batfam and Ladybug arrive, and Ladybug knocks Adrien into a chemical vat without knowing it’s him.

Later, the three Jokers retrieve the changed Adrien from the vat of chemicals, not knowing that the magic of being a Sentibeing and residual magic from his ring caused a different reaction. He looks like a Joker with clawlike fingernails, but he’s rational…and far more hateful towards the world as a whole and Ladybug in particular.

His first act, is (seemingly) killing the three Jokers, claiming that “There can be, only ONE!” Afterwards, he takes on the name Chat Cheshire and uses a purple and green variant of his Chat Noir costume complete with claws, Bo staff and Joker gas. Personality wise, he’s somewhere between Heath Ledgers’ Joker and Rumpelstiltskin from Once Upon a Time.

Rather than attack Gotham, Adrien begins targeting Marinette and the Bat Family psychologically and physically. 

Act one, terrorize Alfred in Wayne Manor and vandalize the Bat Cave to push Bruces’ buttons and steal the Miracle Box (sans whichever ones Ladybug gave out) to send Maribug into a spin. He gives Alfred his REAL backstory (Not the version Marinette believes) which sets Bruce digging deeper into the events surrounding Hawkmoth. 

Act two, eroding support. Using intel that he’s learned while in Gotham, Adrien sets up specific traps to retrieve the remaining miraculous from the Bat Family by replicating the worst experiences of their lives. After each attack, he comments something like “Tell Buggabrat I said hello.”

Injures Grayson with a trapeze that replicates the night his parents died. Falls when the line snaps and damages his spine like Barbara. Will require surgery like after Bruces’ first run-in with Bane

Uses knockout gas against Todd and beats him with a crowbar while drugged. “Y'know, black and blue is FAR more you.”

Shoots Barbra with a neurotoxin that cripples her again. Temporary, until the poison fully leaves her system. He uses the same joke on her and Dick. “It’s not like you have a leg to stand on. Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!”

Sets up a faux hostage situation in the apartment where Tims’ father died. Even managed to steal the boomerang Digger Harkness (Capt. Boomerang) used from the evidence warehouse and use it to get him in the shoulder removing him from the board. “What’s the matter Tweety? Get your wing clipped?”

(I know there’s more members, but that’s all the ones I have)

As all this is going on, Marinette is clinging to the illusion that Adrien is this way because of his own choices. Bruce flat out calls her out on her actions after finding out the full story from both his own investigation, and the various stories his family has passed on to him. He flat out tells her to get out of the manor.

Damian while refusing to follow Marinettes’ orders and having no feelings for her (to her disappointment) he agrees to hunt the one who’s hurt his family…which is just what Adrien wanted.

Faking an appearance across town for Bruce to follow (He’s more sympathetic to him now and tries to reason with Chat Cheshire before realizing it’s a fake), Adrien lures Marinette and Damien to him in a Lazarus Pit by using the Miracle Box as bait. 

Chat Cheshire forces Damien to waste his Cataclysm by deploying Joker gas. He then drops from his place in the ceiling and KO’s him by hitting the back of his head with his staff and reclaiming the ring. He silences Plagg, calling him a traitor after how things ended between them.

A fight between Marinette and Adrien begins and in spite of having a few months of training under Batman, she was not expecting him to be so vicious and hateful towards her. As he’s systemically taking her apart, he’s also calling her out about her actions in Paris and how he was treated by her and Fu. (Frankly it’s like when Terry taunts Joker in Batman Beyond.)

“What, you did a few good deeds, and suddenly expected everyone to jump to your defense when you were making an ass of yourself?”

“Your 'High Road’ advice didn’t help!”

“You really are a terrible guardian aren’t you, the cat miraculous can’t help you read minds. I mean, how was I to know she threatened you?”

“You were a terrible Cat Hero!”

“This coming from the girl who ran away from the fight to get help while I fought Akumas alone. And let’s face it, If "I” was a terrible hero, what does that make you miss stalkerbug.“

"What?”

“Oh, Alya and the Kwami’s let slip a few details that I was able to piece together. Just imagine, the great Ladybug falling so deeply in love with a living ad that she’d resort to stalking it, while throwing the real person within away like yesterdays’ trash. 

"It’d be funny if it wasn’t so pathetic. Oh, what the heck I’ll laugh anyway Ha, ha, ha!!!”

From here, the story could go two ways.

1) Adrien takes the earrings and makes the wish, splitting the Miracuverse from the DCU. Leaving Marinette unaware as to why Adrien suddenly despises her, or how Chat Noir defeated Hawkmoth so easily.

2) Taking the earrings and returning them to the box with the ring, Chat Cheshire throws the full Miracle Box into the Lazarus Pit, destroying it and the Miraculous. However, he had the foresight to hide the Peacock by burying it beneath Thomas and Martha Wayne. Using his Amok to restore his original appearance, he gives one more taunt to Marinette as he leaves.

“I can’t see Batman or the guardians being happy with you losing the mother box but look on the bright side. Now you’re an ordinary girl, with an ordinary life. Or you were before you threw it away to come here and now have to face the consequences." 

*Leaves while cackling like the Joker. *

End.

[fastcardotmp3]

stranger things au where when it's all done, instead of the general fandom usual of NDA's and cover stories, those guys at the NINA Project figure out a way to use that same technology that brought El's memories back to instead wipe the memories of anyone involved in saving the world/ anyone who saw anything abnormal and replace them with the mundane.

It's the only foolproof way to make sure that none of That gets out, to make sure that no one decides to go poking around again 10 years down the line or write a book or a song or a movie that hits a little too closely to the truth, and the government loves themselves something that seems like a foolproof plan.

But what does this mean for our heroes? They don't remember the circumstances that brought them together, only the cover memories that were inserted in their place. They don't remember why they care so deeply for one another because a summer scooping ice cream or a walk through the woods or an-- impromptu game of baseball???-- doesn't quite line up with how it feels.

It feels bigger than that. It feels--

There are explanations for Steve's scars, he remembers a big dog and a trip to the ER, he remembers getting in a car accident and the seat belt coming loose enough to get stuck across his throat instead of his chest. He remembers-- blood on his hands, blood on his clothes, the outline of a man torn half to shreds--

He remembers a bad trip with Robin, but sometimes Robin will say something and it's-- when we got drugged- took those- when we uh, y'know tried LSD that time?-- fuzzy because of the bad trip of it all.

It's easy to accept the truth as the truth, because he remembers. It's easy, for years, to let the truth be the truth, to forget entirely that there are pieces that don't make sense, that there's no reason he should be as close with Dustin Henderson as he is because wait how did we meet? over a missing cat? It's easy, to just let it be true, because the love is there and that's what matters.

The love is there for a year and two and five and ten and Steve's life isn't always easy, in fact he's gone through his fair share of therapists for the insomnia none of them can explain, the confusion that both him and Robin talk about sometimes in the dead of night but can't remember talking about in the morning.

Eddie gets medicated for some sort of psychosis for a while because he had years of these intense night terrors that he could never explain to people, screaming at the top of his lungs, but the minute he would try to tell a shaking and terrified Steve or Robin or Nancy or whoever was present what it had been about he would just sob with frustration because he couldn't remember.

Max has a condition which made her lose her eyesight rapidly as a teenager, who has chronic pain that no doctors have ever found a real cause for despite Steve dragging her to appointment after appointment with fierce protectiveness in his eyes and voice, a desperation that there has to be a reason.

It's easy to accept it as the truth, that they all gravitated towards each other because they're all just a little fucked up in unrelated ways. That they connected to one another because oh you get scared sometimes too? scared like I do? scared like no one else understands?

Lucas starts spontaneously sobbing when some Kate Bush song plays on the radio in 1992. Can't explain it except that it hurts.

Nancy goes to a shooting range and feels her hands go steady for the first time in years in '93. She's never shot a gun before.

El Hopper had a traumatic enough childhood that doctors say she likely won't ever remember all of it, that her brain is protecting her, that-- that's probably true. They're doctors. They know better than Steve, they know about everything except why Max's legs hurt so bad she can't move sometimes.

They know everything except why Eddie can't feel pinned down without having a visceral belief he's dying.

They know everything except why Jonathan swears that their old house used to be painted a different color in the living room.

There are explanations for Steve's scars. He remembers a big dog.

Sharp teeth. Snarling.

He's in his thirties when he kisses Eddie Munson for the first time, because they're fucked in the head in the same ways, because no one else has ever gotten close enough to see the scars and hear the screaming and feel the desperation and not suggested maybe you need bigger help than I can give.

He's a grown man, and it's easy to believe the truth of his past, easy to think that growing older means it's supposed to be a little fuzzy around the edges, and that's okay because this feels bright and clear and technicolor, this thing with Eddie who has run away and come back half a dozen times but always does come back.

Whether he goes to Seattle or LA, New York or Boston; whether he and Steve are in the same place at the same time for more than a couple of weeks, he always comes back, they always find their way back to each other no matter where in the world, except--

Except there.

Everyone left that town with a haste-- or was it one at a time? No, it was the Byers first to California, except-- didn't Will graduate from that school? No. Because El went to school in Chicago at the same time that Robin started college there and she helped Will apply to the Arts Institute and--

And it was Max who went to California-- no, she was from there, but she also-- did she go back?

And why does Steve remember the house he grew up in but the minute he tries to step outside the back door onto the patio in his mind, out by the-- with the blue light and--

"Have you ever been back?" he asks Eddie one day, 32 years old and living in Chicago now full-time together. Robin's just down the road, Nancy's at the Tribune, Argyle has been franchising that coffee shop of his, is opening a spot here in town near his friends who he met when--

"Back where?" Eddie trails his hands through Steve's hair, laying half on top of each other on the couch and listening to some old tape of Jonathan's.

"Where we're from."

Eddie's fingers slow to an almost still and Steve props himself up to watch the way his brow furrows in concentration.

"Why would we go back?" he asks, and Steve has this flash-- like they've had this conversation before.

Like they've talked about where we're from before, although the name of the place never crosses their lips.

"I dunno," Steve slumps into Eddie's chest. They're getting older though so maybe just, "nostalgia?"

"Are you feeling nostalgic?" A rediscovered rhythm to gentle nails across his scalp. Soothing.

"It's where we met," Steve says. It feels true, although when he thinks about it-- "remember? How we met?"

"I..." Eddie's jaw clicks. It does that sometimes, on the same side with the scar.

There are explanations for Eddie's scars too-- a drug deal gone wrong, too many guys with too may knives-- or was it broken beer bottles? They used those as weapons, yeah. Tattered clothes and tattered skin and blood on Steve's hands--

No. He wasn't there. Blood on-- it was Dustin who found him? No. Wait, it was Wayne. Wayne found him, yeah, exactly--

"We met there," Eddie's gripping Steve's hair now, by the root. "We met back there. High school. Do you want to go back?

"Why would we go--"

Steve startles himself with the words, like they just-- like they weren't a choice to say, like they said themselves, like--

"Ed."

Breathing is tight. Steve sits up straight and looks at him. Scars on his face. Eyes so big and deep they hold endless histories--

"Eddie, do you want to go visit-- visit, uh, you know?"

"Why would we--" Eddie claps a hand over his mouth and hums out a sound of frightened discontent. "What. What the fuck."

"How did we meet, again?" Steve swallows. Eddie stands up, paces to the other side of the apartment.

"High school."

"How in high school?"

"Steve, I stopped taking those meds because they didn't help, but this isn't helping me not feel fucking certifiable either--"

"Eddie, I don't remember."

"Okay, so we're getting old!"

"We're not even middle aged!"

Eddie stops where he stands, shakes his head, and Steve watches him because it's easy to watch him, easy to look at the life they've lived and accept that they found each other, fell in love, because no one else gets what it's like to be fucked in the head. To know what's true and still feel wrong in that truth.

To believe it and still get lost in it.

Eddie clenches down on the tremble of his jaw and his eyes go big and imploring.

"What's happening, Stevie?"

There are explanations for all of it, but no one has ever been able to explain Max's pain or Nancy's sharp-shooting or Robin and Steve's inability to get drunk without losing it or the color of the paint in the Byers' old living room in that fucking town that Steve can't even think the name of--

"I'm calling Robin," he says, already striding across the floor. "I want to go back."

There are explanations.

Maybe that's not good enough anymore.

[artist-issues]

you're fun to talk to about media so I've got something to ask.

what do you think of this trope where a lie or misconception becomes commonly accepted as truth by the characters in story? especially as a resolution.

example: in the finale of "Kubo and the two strings", the Moon King(main villain) loses his memory, so when he asks who he is, the townspeople lie to him and say he was a kind member of the community, rather than the dictator he really was.

I don't like it. I see a falsehood being widely accepted as a tragedy, and I'm just left imagining what happens if/when the characters find out the truth. I can't really take something as a happy ending when it's.. y'know, fake. I imagine you feel similarly.

but hey, I could have totally missed the point of the ending of KATTS, if you watched it, you might have seen something I didn't.

I haven’t seen Kubo in a really long time; I don’t think I was thinking critically about it the first time I watched it, so my opinion now is an afterthought. I’d have to see it again to be fair!

…But I do seem to remember that the villain is defeated with some importance placed on memory. And the identity of the monkey and that beetle warrior also have to do with the sacredness of memories. So, if that’s the case, then yeah, taking his memory away as a “good resolution” can kind of hamstring the whole theme of the movie. Unless you tilt your head and squint and go, “no, see, if all you have is bad memories, then it’s just as powerful to take those away—the point is, memories have power either way!” But even that feels a little half-baked, gymnastics-brainy.

Basically, I agree with you. A story that resolves with a character, or characters, accepting a lie as truth is always going to be a fumble of the whole story…unless it’s intended to be a tragedy, a cautionary tale. I can think of three where that’s super evident.

1 ) A Streetcar Named Desire

In this movie the main character, Blanche, is lying about who she is, for the whole story. She even has this great symbolism thing with light—she hates bright light, on the surface because she’s vain and doesn’t want anyone to see signs that she’s aging. But under the surface, the character is really an immoral, lust-filled, broken person who knows she can be cruel and isn’t deserving of love. She doesn’t want anyone to know that side of her. She hides it all under vainglory and pride. So she pretends to her sister, Stella, that she’s upright and moral and has simply fallen on hard times. But her sister’s brute of an abusive husband, Stanley, who is always 100% his authentic, awful self, sees through Blanche when she comes to stay with them. In the end, Stanley rapes Blanche and then carelessly shrugs her accusations off.

The main point of this example is that Stella, the wife of the rapist Stanley, has been portrayed the whole movie as sometimes-leaving her abusive husband…but only as far as the apartment above their own, literally right above him, so that she can easily go back to him. And at the end of the movie, when Blanche is being taken to a mental institution because she’s broken-down after being found-out as a fraud, then raped, Stella lets them take her away. And then Stella goes up to the apartment above, where she always “pretends” to leave Stanley. It’s such a halfhearted, lazy way to end a movie that’s all about desire-versus-truth. Because what it implies is that Stella is leaving Stanley for now, like she might believe that he raped her sister…but she’ll eventually go back to him. And in the meantime, Blanche goes off to the mental hospital, with this iconic line “I have always depended upon the kindness of strangers.” By which she means, “strangers don’t know what a two-faced monster I really am, so I can con them into thinking I’m a morally-upright woman fallen on hard times, and they’ll take pity on me—so sure, I’ll go with you, strange doctor I’ve never met.”

The central point of the movie is “as long as nobody looks the truth in the face, everyone can go on getting what they desire.”

Of course, that’s true. But the other truth is that, if Stella accepted what her sister and her husband really are—her sister is broken and her husband is a monster—then she could choose to rise above “animal desire.” She could choose to take care of Blanche, and Blanche would see that “someone seeing who I really am” doesn’t always have to lead to ruin and damnation. Stella could then, also, choose to really leave Stanley, for good, and be at peace, while Stanley’s “desire” would be rewarded with ruin.

But instead the opposite is what happens. Blanche goes away believing, in her broken mind, that her womanly wiles and faking will protect her from further injury, even though they never have—Stanley ends the movie exactly where he began it, screaming for Stella to come back and knowing that she will—and Stella, too, ends the movie going away from Stanley…just for a little while, until animal desire convinces her to just pretend Stanley isn’t really a monster, Blanche must be crazy, except this time, when she goes back, she’ll be carrying a child into that abusive lie.

All characters wholeheartedly embracing hurtful lies so they can keep riding their desires. I hate that movie. You could see it as a cautionary tale. Most don’t. Most see it as a movie with “hot Marlon Brando” who “really loves Stella—all the characters ‘really love each other,’ they just don’t know how to express it healthily!” 🙄

I think the worst part is that the movie behaves as if it is true that every time Blanche reveals her own brokenness or is vulnerable, the world STOMPS on her for it, nobody loves her despite her brokenness. That’s the real mistake this movie makes. It has an opportunity to show unconditional love and it leaves the audience thinking Blanche was right, and there’s no such THING as “unconditional” love, instead.

Anyway.

2) X-Men Origins: The Wolverine

This one is less thematic. But it’s just dumb because the whole movie the main character, Logan, Wolverine, is being taught that “Giving in to Bloodlust Makes You an Animal—Compassion For Those Weaker Than Yourself Makes You Human.”

So in that context, the whole narrative is centered around the exploration of “Who is Logan/Wolverine?”

…Which makes it really stupid that the movie ends with him losing his memory. So…the movie asks “Who Are You?” and right after the character figures it out, he forgets and ends it with the answer: “I don’t know who I am.”

That’s just a waste. That’s silly. It allows you to take the character to real, hearty, coming-of-age, hero-forged-in-fire, a man-born-of-tragedy places…and then just shrug all that stuff off at the end. “Never mind. But it was a fun ride, wasn’t it?”

Especially because they built it all around the dichotomy between Logan and his brother, who’s little more than an animal—and Logan and his wife, who could be an animal, but chooses compassion instead, and reminds him of his choice, too. —and then she dies, and it’s implied that maybe his brother does too, but who cares, cuz he forgets. Who cares? Not Logan. So why should the audience?

I get that they “needed” to do this so that the end of this movie sets up the beginning of the X-Men Movies, which already established that Logan can’t remember “his past.” But like…then don’t make the point of the movie “Who Am I?” just to end on “…Okay, So WHO AM I?”

It’s a fine movie up until that point.

They should’ve made the movie center around “Can’t Change What You’ve Done; But You Can Be Redeemed.” And then show his memory loss around a moment of self-sacrifice. So that it’s still tragic, but at least when he wakes up from the self-sacrificial act, he’s “a new man.” Then later, in the third X-Men movie, when Logan chooses that mutant kid over “learning the secrets of his past,” it all comes full circle, because his “self-sacrifice moment” can stay where the Old Logan died.

Anyway. You didn’t ask me to re-tell X-Men Origins: The Wolverine. But it’s the same basic premise—a movie ends with a character losing their memory, or believing a lie—whatever.

You know, actually, this one isn’t so much “believing a lie” as it is “going back to considering the lie (that he’s an animal) because all the work done to convince him of the truth has been stupidly erased”

3) The Dark Knight

Saved this for last because nobody would read all that if they saw me scratching up the beloved Christopher Nolan Masterpiece.

But The Dark Knight is a perfect example of what you’re actually talking about.

The movie is awesome until the end.

It’s not hard to guess what I’m going to say. Harvey Dent is supposed to be a shining example of a good guy, and the goodness, that Gotham is capable of. The Goodness that will ultimately defeat Evil. And Evil is represented as Chaos.

Bruce sees that and that’s why he’s willing to give everything to make Harvey succeed as the hero Gotham needs. Because if Gotham sees that evil can be conquered by doing things the right way, the orderly way, that will get Gotham out of it’s “Justice is Broken, Vengeance is The Only Form of Justice” cycle.

Then there’s the Joker. He doesn’t believe there’s any such thing as Good—it’s all just Chaos (which is evil.) And his big mission is to prove it. It’s ironic that he twists Harvey’s sense of “justice” around to this viewpoint—where Harvey uses “chance” as just another form of “retribution.”

Anyway. All of that’s interesting.

But the movie both perpetuates a lie and does so by having the characters end believing a lie.

The lie it perpetuates is “The Joker is right, there’s no such thing as Justice or Good—it’s all just chaos, but pretending it’s not can get you through the day.”

That’s the lie it perpetuates!

And how does it do that?

By having the “city of Gotham,” and Bruce himself, believe a lie.

They believe Harvey Dent really was a good guy who died a hero. Bruce believes Rachel died still waiting for him, which symbolized her supposed belief in the good of Bruce and capability of Bruce to let it all go.

And why was it important that they believe those lies? Because the supposed truth is too harsh—that there’s no Good, it’s all Chaos. And if they believe that supposed truth, they’ll all turn out like Harvey or Joker. If Bruce believes Rachel chose Harvey, he’ll supposedly give up on something important in himself.

Okay but the problem with that is you have characters believing a lie because of a truth—that isn’t the truth. It’s the same problem with Streetcar.

The people of Gotham, the worst people of Gotham, aren’t always going to choose evil. There is such a thing as justice and good. And Harvey turning into Two-Face doesn’t change that. The movie could’ve shown that. It started to, with the prisoners on the second boat choosing not to kill the civilians to save themselves.

But it chose not to make that the point of the movie. It chose to make “The Joker was Right, Good is a Comforting Lie, & the Closest You’ll Ever Get to Justice is Vengeance & Chaos” the point of the movie. By having Batman convince the whole city to believe the comforting lie, what you’re saying is, Bruce believes that the truth won’t set Gotham free, only wrap it in chains.

That’s the problem with these movies.

And that’s why I think Captain America: The Winter Soldier licks The Dark Knight hollow every time, and is all-in-all a better movie, hands down. In this continued essay—

[naffeclipse]

Slides in as another person who had a pet rabbit- hello hi lmao<3

Absolutely useless but interesting things about rabbits:

1. Their tails are actually longer than most people think. They just usually tuck them under their butts lol.

2. If you chase a rabbit their strategy is to run away as long as they can but if they feel that you're too close they fall to the ground immediately, pressing themselves down and blending with environment. Usually predators are so caught up in trying to be as fast as possible to catch them that they miss the exact moment when the rabbit just stopped running and the rabbit has a chance to flee!

3. When the rabbit is angry or annoyed they stomp. Yeah you talk to it and it just interrupts you by stomping with their back legs because how dare you.

4. They're also longer than you think. If the rabbit is comfortable in your presence they're going to lay down and stretch their body to a very long rabbit baguette kfkdjf

5. Some wild rabbits and hares tend to bury their young to protect them from predators who can sense their scent. They unbury them back when mom is back from collecting food!!

6. Day or two before giving birth mom makes a nest from her own fur, so the babies are not cold, as they're almost bald for the first few days fkjfjf.

7. Mine really enjoyed being squeezed! She could purposefully bury herself under my neck when I'm laying down so the weight is on her😭💕 Also tiny rabbit kisses!! Very small tongue<333

To be fair! Hares are so unhinged and different compared to rabbits. Live alone, don't burrow, babies are ready to survive from the day 1, females box males if find them annoying... Y'know, the usual nature things kfkdks. Anyway sorry for info dump, thought it could be interesting!

Heya, Xit! :D

Oh my gosh, rabbits are way more cuddlier than I thought. I love how adorable they are when showing their affection (and how that can vary!) I've heard of rabbit stomping before which is a great way to show agitation hehe

AWW TINY RABBIT KISSES! Gah, that's so cute! ;-;

Okay, it's so funny you mention female boxing males because I was just watching this video a few minutes ago (it's pretty old and has a lot of pixels but it's Arctic hares!)

Also opposite energy here of a male hare defending his female (thwap thwap thwap thwap)

[toomuchracket]

my whole life, waiting for you: part 2 (ross x girlband gf!reader fluff)

you know where this is headed, you don't need me to explain!! if you do... read this first. enjoy <3

it's almost funny how calm the green room is. 

the atmosphere is a far cry from the manic, adrenaline and alcohol-fuelled hedonism that it was ten, fifteen years ago. adam is sat on the floor, facetiming his wife and son, chatting to the little boy about the murals the boys saw on their walk for coffee earlier. polly is beside him with her headphones on, watching something on her laptop, which rests on the coffee table. in the far corner, john, gabi, and jamie are battling it out on a mariokart race, and george - typical of him - is nowhere to be seen. he'd shouted to matty that he was just popping outside for something, but matty's curly head had been too engrossed in an essay collection to take in anything his friend had said.

ross is also reading, sat on the opposite end of the sofa from matty. well, he's trying to read, anyway - he can only focus on the words for a few seconds at a time, before they seem to start melting into illegibility on the page. it's not that it's a bad book, at all - in fact, he's actually really enjoying it - but it's making him think of you, and he's incapable of thinking about you without you completely taking over his mind. you recommended the novel, after all, and snuck your copy into ross's suitcase as a gift for tour with a "just so you don't forget to think of me".

as if he ever could.

the pages still smell like your perfume, a faint whisper of rose escaping into the air every time ross turns them. usually, he'd find it comforting, but today it's making the longing for you worse. he slams the book shut a bit harder than he means to, laying it down in favour of checking his texts from you - there's been nothing since your last message an hour ago, telling him you loved him and you'd speak to him soon.

matty looks up in mild concern as the book's covers meet. "shit story?"

"nah, just can't focus right now."

"fair enough," matty closes his own book and stretches, before curling up catlike with his head on the armrest of the couch. "how you feeling about tonight?"

crap. "alright," ross says, feeling anything but. "i'll feel better once we've soundchecked, i reckon. a bit more excited to go out there, y'know?"

"i'm the same," matty nods. "speaking of soundcheck, where the fuck is george?"

ross is about to shrug, when the man in question's famously impeccable timing kicks in; footsteps start to become audible through and towards the half-open door, george's unique laugh following it. following again is the smell of outside, freshly smoked cigarettes, and… your perfume? christ, ross really must be losing it.

and then you appear in the doorway.

your eyes dart round the room before locking onto ross's, and you beam at him. all the air leaves his lungs at once, and all thoughts except she's here leave his brain. in fact, all awareness of everything except your existence in the room totally abandons ross. he can't hear matty's cheerful cry of "HIYA!". he fails to register george and charli's presence in the doorway behind you. he doesn't even take notice of the sudden ground beneath his feet as he jumps up and runs to you. 

he's completely running on autopilot, which is why he automatically crashes his lips onto yours when he reaches you. no hesitation, no worrying about revealing your relationship to everyone else in the room… just the need to show you how much he loves you, misses you, needs you.

you kiss him back just as eagerly, wrapping your arms as far around his broad shoulders as you can. your level of awareness is marginally higher than your boyfriend's, and the gasps and shocked laughter and shouts of "WHAT THE FUCK" make you smile into the kiss. well, partially - just the mere fact you're actually kissing ross is enough to make you beam in itself.

ross breaks away first, reluctantly, just so he can breathe. but he keeps his forehead pressed to yours, big hands cupping your jaw as he smiles centimetres away from your mouth. there's silence - from the two of you, at least - for a second, save your deep breaths, you and him doing nothing but clutching each other and revelling in the closeness.

"hi, baby," you lean back to look at ross, and he actually thinks his heart might give out. the softness seems to sparkle in your eyes, your lips are slightly swollen from how hard he'd kissed you, and he thinks you've never looked more beautiful.

without warning or indication, ross lifts you into a hug, your legs wrapping around his waist out of habit as you shriek out a laugh. "hi, my love," he says into your neck, spinning you around excitedly and relishing in the way you giggle joyously. "missed you. so fucking much."

"so i've heard. s'why i'm here, angel."

"who?... ah," ross turns, so he can see george. "you?"

"me," george nods, then winces as charli elbows him indignantly. "well, us. we did this."

adam pipes up from his spot on the floor. "and what is this, exactly? i mean, i think i know, but the wife wants details," he waves his phone in the air, and from your vantage point of head-on-ross's-shoulder you catch a glimpse of carly on the screen (well, her hair).

"me and her both, hann," matty looks like he's going into shock, lying flat on the sofa with his hands latched on either side of his head - if either you or ross had been capable of noticing anything other than each other, you would have seen the way his jaw dropped when you kissed, and how he'd slid into his current position with a hushed chorus of repeated "what the actual fuck"s. he looks up at you, wide-eyed. "is this… a real thing?"

you nod as best you can without chinning ross. "the real deal. true love, i'd say," you tap your boyfriend's back, and he turns so you can both look at matty; you gently turn ross's head so he can look at you first, though. "that's a safe assessment to make, right, my love?"

"and an accurate one," ross kisses your nose, then turns to his best friend. "yeah, mate, she and i are pretty much settled now."

"the plan was to tell everyone after tour finished," you chime in. "because neither of us wanted the relationship to take the focus away from your music, or mine…"

"...but i got too emo last night and blabbed to george about how much i missed her," ross smiles, cheeks taking on the slightest hint of pink. "and here we are."

there's a vague chorus of awwws from around the room, and through adam's phone, but matty still seems to be processing. "what about your bandmates? do they know?"

thankfully, there's no hint of accusation in his tone, only curiosity. you exhale a breath you didn't realise you were holding. "they only found out this morning, when i told them i couldn't come to the studio today because of a boyfriend emergency. and don't worry, matty," you say, as you see your friend begin to open his mouth. "the album's done. completely. the label overestimated how long i'd need to make it perfect. we were just going in for free tea and biscuits today, to be honest."

ross chuckles, squeezing you even tighter to him, while the room erupts into laughter behind you. matty rolls his eyes, but smiles. "you're so chill it's unbelievable. christ, the two of you are perfect for each other. i can't believe i never realised that."

"matty, shouldn't they start an onlyfans?" charli shouts, around you. adam collapses into giggles, phone nearly falling from his hand - luckily, polly (also laughing) catches it before it hits the ground.

ross winces. "are you still going on about that?"

matty follows suit. "for fuck's sake, charli. no! christ," he shudders, while charli sighs in despair. "you do look hot together, though. really hot. any kids you have would be- oh my god, you need to have kids. please? just one? imagine how musical they'd be!"

charli cackles, grabbing your arm. "babe! didn't i say he'd say tha-"

"right, i think we should all shut up now, and get on with the day, yeah?" george says, deep voice taking on an authoritative tone that ross is secretly thankful for. "soundcheck, let's go."

your boyfriend pecks your lips and puts you back on the ground, as everyone begins to wrap up their activities and head to stage. before a mass exodus from the green room begins, matty puts a hand on your arm and speaks. "i've just got one more thing to say."

"did you just quote your own song?"

"shut up, i didn't mean it," he blushes, while ross snorts. "wanted to ask you something about the show tonight."

"right."

"would you come on and sing with us? you can say no, obvs, but you know how much i love your voice. i'd be really honoured if you agreed."

your friend's quiet earnestness is touching. although it's an unexpected request - you know the boys haven't been involving guests on this tour like they did previously - it's not an unwelcome one. and judging by the way ross hugs your waist tighter and smiles into your shoulder, you think he likes the sound of sharing a stage with you for the first time too. you grin at matty. "about you?"

matty nods. "polly's soloing jesus christ 2005 tonight anyway. prime opportunity for you to have a moment of your own."

"she's soloing- fuck, i'm going to cry," you bring a hand to your chest, and polly laughs and blows you a kiss. "alright. i'll do it."

the boys on either side of you hug you in excitement, and your heart glows. but you're not finished. "if…"

"yeah?"

you turn to your boyfriend. "if i can wear one of your scotland tops while i do."

matty laughs, while ross leans down to kiss you. "course you can, love," he murmurs against your lips. "i'd like that a lot, actually."

"so it's settled, then. i'll sing," you peck ross again, and drag him and matty towards the door. "let's go and practice now, so i don't show you all up."

***

as it turns out, if you angle yourself just so behind the house set onstage, you get a pretty good view of ross through the sheer curtain on the window. mic in hand and ready to go, you sway softly on your high heels as the outro to me begins, keeping to the side so you're not blocking matty's route down from the roof to the front door.

the song ends, and you tap your free hand on the opposite wrist in a sort-of clap as the audience applauds; you pair it with a smile towards your friend as he comes into view, and a laugh as he bows dramatically.

matty pulls you into a half-hug. "i'm excited. you feeling alright?"

"yeah, i'm good," you squeeze his (tiny, really tiny) waist. "actually, i meant to ask earlier… can we stand near ross for the outro?"

your friend smiles, the significance of the action not lost on him. "course we can," he looks up as the familiar music begins. "see you out there, bestie."

with a wink, he opens the door - leaving it ajar for you - and you're alone again. you do your usual pre-show routine, tugging at your skirt so it sits right and fixing your hair a final time, and just wait for the end of the first chorus. ducking under the window to keep your presence a surprise to the crowd as long as possible, you get into position, and step across the threshold onto the stage when matty and polly (doing the backing vocals at the start to throw everyone off the scent of your big reveal) sing the title of the song.

the roar from the crowd when you step out - and presumably, when your face and name appear on the screens - is so loud you can feel it through the stage, so loud that you can't help but grin at the sea of faces as you walk onstage. john playfully nudges you with his shoulder as you pass him, and you make a point of waving at the two g's on drums when you walk by, singing.

when you get to the internal door, though, you can't help but milk the moment a little; you take your time walking through, looking and smiling at the light in wonder, winking at jamie and polly giggling at you. matty's waiting to lead you down the stairs - not for the bit, but for practicality, given your heels - and you have a little group hug with him and adam when you reach the lower level. it's sweet. it's fun. it's comfortable, even though you're performing without your band for the first time in front of thousands of people, who may or may not like you, or even know who you are.

through it all, though, you can't stop yourself looking to stage left, to your smiling boyfriend, the love in his eyes evident even from where you're standing. during the second chorus, you walk to ross, tiptoeing to rest your head on his shoulder from behind him, exactly the same way you do while he makes dinner for the two of you in your flat. he seems to be thinking about that, too; almost on instinct, he turns to kiss your temple, a feather-light brush of lips and skin that nevertheless sends sparks shooting through your body. 

the crowd puts two (that kiss) and two (your - his - top) together, and goes insane. they have the good grace to lower the screaming somewhat during your solo, which you sing centre-stage, matty's arm around your shoulders and yours on his, and then they dial it back up to eleven when you both wander back over to your boyfriend. you know you're looking at ross lovingly, dreamily, adoringly, but you can't hide it.

you don't want to, anyway. he's yours, you're his, and you don't give a fuck who knows or doesn't.

clearly, ross feels the same. after matty urges you to take a bow during the outro (and urges the audience to "please give it up for my honorary little sister"), then hugs you with a "thank you, darling" before running off to make it to the b-stage, your boyfriend rests his head on top of yours as he finishes playing. it's such a tender action, and for a brief second you forget you're onstage, not sat in your living room writing new stuff together and larking about on your instruments. but then the crowd starts up the applause again, and you remember. as ross hands his bass to joel, you take another bow, waving at the excited faces before ross takes your hand and leads you offstage.

his arms are wrapped around you before you've even fully opened your mouth to talk; you close it, and your eyes, and just breathe in the moment (and the home-y scent of ross's aftershave). ross speaks first, anyway, hand on the back of your head stroking your hair. "i am so proud of you."

"oh, stop it, i do it all the time," you laugh. "but i'm proud of you, too. i love watching you play. it was lovely to get the chance to see it up close."

"i love you," ross leans back so he can look at you as he says it, punctuating the end of his sentence with a soft kiss. "thank you. for coming up here, and for doing that. it was a lot of fun - i know we all thought so."

"i love you, too. so much. and these muppets you call bandmates - they're a pretty good bunch."

"they're irritating me now, though."

"why, baby?"

ross smiles, a very honest lifting of cheeks and curling of lips. "just haven't gotten you all to myself today, s'all. they've always been around."

it's not necessarily a suggestive statement, but there's an underlying hint of something in ross's words; you try to respond with an equally ambiguous statement. "well," you begin, thumb stroking your boyfriend's cheek. "all you need to do is finish the show, and then we can hide out in your hotel room, completely uninterrupted, for like twelve hours. sound good?"

"sounds amazing, love," ross sighs, kissing you again. "i really have missed you. don't really want to let you go and go back onstage, to be honest."

"i'll be right here cheering you on the whole time. screaming your name and everything."

"oh, i like the sound of that."

"cheeky."

[button-cat]

uhggh I just wanna get this off my chest abt pressure

ever since the new update, the games been less enjoyable for me. Not just bc of the zerum drama, but also the painter. The autoturrets are quite difficult for someone who’s played doors and pressure since release

and then there’s Sebastian. Idk but the ring left a bad taste on my tongue bc pressure isn’t abt romance. Plus it doesn’t help that both zerum and simps have been whining abt the “marriage” constantly

I just miss when pressure was a fish doors game and there wasn’t this much shit surrounding a new fandom

Yeah i honestly do quite understand you- I didn't really know about Pressure before until the collab between Pressure and Regretevator which got me interested in the game but i do understand how upsetting it is when something like a game, show, etc you enjoy ends up getting a lot of controversy around it- i have experienced it many times before :(

I haven't played the new update yet (being busy with school and plus- i prefer to play on the days that I don't have school- :b) however i have seen it through videos and- for me the autoturrets seem pretty complicated to get through, (this is coming from someone who has beaten doors as well as other games that are hard-) plus i have seen a video where somehow the autoturrets managed to get rid a bunch of health to someone despite them hiding which- uh i don't think that's quite fair- ;D i know pressure is supposed to be a hard game but- from what i've seen, I don't really like the autoturrets either- :b

I have seen many people upset with the change to painter- personally, i like both versions of painter (the old and new one- :D) but I do understand why people are upset about it- the old one I can't really explain well but it definitely had some sort of charm to it that the new version doesn't quite have- but I do see why the devs wanted to change painter :D

And about the marriage thing- yeah I don't feel like the ring really quite fits- don't get me wrong it does look nice on Sebastian but I personally don't think it quite fits in like Sebastian's lore- as someone who absolutely loves reading the lore of characters, I personally don't like it when things end up contradicting each other in it- like i'm pretty sure when you get sent to prison they take everything but i MEAN EVERYTHING you have on you, even rings- and even if Sebastian was able to keep the ring in prison, I definitely doubt Urbanshade would let him keep it after- and also,,,the fact that he also um- grew a lot. I don't think the ring is gonna fit on him anymore- ;D this may be silly to some people for me to get upset about something like this but- idk i just genuinely don't like when things in lore just,,, doesn't make sense- this is just my opinion tho !

honestly i also find it quite ridiculous how much people as well as Zerum have been making the marriage thing such a huge deal- the way how some people get genuinely pissed about it is something that I find quite concerning but how Zerum acts about it is also something that I find pretty strange and iffy and maybe kinda,,,immature- some of her comments i did see it kinda condescending and just- not really an appropriate way to like- react, y'know? It actually concerns me honestly- :/

I just feel like many of these things, especially the controversy, could've been handled better- from what i'm seeing, it does seem Zeal is trying to improve himself as well as the game by recognizing things he's been doing wrong so- i do have some hope that things end up getting better in the end !! I really like Pressure and I wanna see it improve and continue growing since it's a pretty good game !! ^^ i do wanna make some posts about Pressure (i did plan making a post about Sebastian where i just put show some of my headcanons about him with some drawings :3) and just- have fun with posting about the game without so many controversy surrounding it- :b

also, if its really affecting you- I do recommend to not focus on the controversy and also maybe like- not interact with the community- like maybe take a break from it !! as someone who used to like- get involved with controversies in the past, it can be pretty unhealthy- in the end, focusing on all of the dramas and controversies in the internet and getting involved in it as well can end up just- stressing you out and maybe even just your mental health get worse- which is why i recommend to just sometimes distance yourself from the community and game if it gets too bad- and do things you enjoy doing ! I may not really know you anon but- please remember that your mental health is more important, okay? :D (this also goes to the rest of you !! Your mental health is more important- please take care of yourself !!)

that's mostly all i wanted to say- sorry for the very long response btw ;D im a very huge yapper sometimes even if i try to avoid being one lol-

[seoliee]

Driving Fear Into Your Heart

Word Count: 2.7k words

Pairing: X x Reader

TW: Cursing, Kidnapping, Stabbing, Yandere Tendencies (Pls read smth else if not comfortable)

A/N: I said this was inspired by X's halloween theme skin, but idk this maybe how I perceived it instead? Anyhow, lemme know y'all thoughts <3

In a dark and hollow forest somewhere near the city. Where only fragments of moonlight shone through the small crevices of the tall trees branches and its leaves. It was eerily silent, until swaying locks of hair pass through the bushes in a haste.

A girl ran barefooted, cracking sounds of dried leaves filled her hearing, leaving a trail behind. Her complexion was pale, fear stricken and distressed. Her body felt sore and drained, it was only sheer adrenaline that made her push through.

Her feet were starting to hurt, forming small cuts and bruises on the sole. She has to stop running at some point, but she can't. Not when she's running for her life.

~*4 days ago*~

She was in the cafeteria, sitting along with her friend at their usual booth and chatting about ramdom stuff. Just like the usual. She was attentively listening when her childhood friend X, came into view along with his own fair share of group.

She found herself falling out of the conversation and instead decided to watch him from a distance. Only did her friend's voice broke her out of the trance with a small nudge.

"Don't stare at him too much or he'll melt." Her friend says teasingly, chuckling at her obvious crush at the lab nerd.

"I-I wasn't staring!" She quickly rebukes her claim, though her blood red cheeks and ear were contradicting it.

"Yeah yeah, whatever. Anyway.." Her friend's tone suddenly became serious, which made her get a bit confused as her friend seldom becomes serious during their conversations. "Have you heard about the kidnappings that's happening near the university recently?"

She shakes her head. She's been too absorbed on finishing her research paper these past few days that she blocked out any kind of gossips or news that would distract her from concentrating. She even went as far as to cancel all her plans of hanging out with X.

"There were a total of three missing cases reported and all of them were  students of different universities near our campus."

"The authorities haven't gotten a single clue whether it's a solo or a group operation. Either way, the kidnappers are still out there so do be careful."

Her warning sent a chill down her spine, terrified that such happenings were happening near them. Those poor students, she hopes that they were at least safe and alive.

She sent her friend a reassuring smile, squeezing her hand in a comforting way. "Don't worry. I always walk home with X anyway. You should be careful too."

"Oh, I'll be fine. Besides, I'm going on a date with y'know who later..." Her friend managed to light up the mood immediately by redirecting into another topic that she knew, she would interested in.

"What?? Since when? Tell me the fucking details!" She exclaims hysterically, practically slapping her hands down on the table earning a few strange looks from the people around them. She couldn't care less though.

Alas, the final bell rang throughout the halls signaling the end of the day. Tired groans from her fellow students and a few hastily gathers up their things, wanting to leave immediately.

As for her, she's delighted to walk home with him again after for so long only to be met with disappoinment.

"Sorry, (Y/n). I promised the guys I would hang out with them afterschool so I won't be able to walk you home." X says apologetically, a troubled smile grazing his handsome features.

He could see how your bright and grinning gorgeous face warps into a look of disappointment, making him feel guilty. "I can cancel it though. I'd rather be with you anyway."

The disappointment in her face quickly turns into a sheepish smile as she shook her head for a no. "No, it's alright. I can walk home with my friend instead." She obviously can't make him cancel his plans just for her satisfaction. After all, he has a life of his own.

"You sure? I could really—"

"Hey, X! You coming or what?!" One of his friends yells from a far, having an impatient look while the others grin at him in a teasing manner as they watch the scene unfold.

"Be there in a sec!" He yells back in response, looking over his shoulders with his eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. He looked back at her in disbelief. "Sorry about that. I gotta go. Remember to text me once you got home, okay?"

"I will." She chuckles, fondly grinning as light pink hue flows to her cheeks. This made X's heart softened, huffing a tiny chuckle as he brush a stray hair behind her ear.

"Be safe, my little lamb."

She watches as he ran up to his friends, some of them teasing him for the little moment they had. She's glad to know he found good friends despite his peculiar personality, he meant well.

~•~

After getting off the bus, the way to her apartment was already a bit dark and somewhat silent than usual at her on time arrival at dawn. Though, that's to be expected as she's staying in a peaceful neighborhood which she should be thankful for.

The soles of her shoes clicks on the pavement on each step she makes, the soft cold breeze of air moving past her ear as chills ran down her spine. Her surroundings were dark, the only light present were from the flickering street lights and the moon above her, which she thinks added to her paranoia.

She doesn't know if it's because she isn't used to walking home alone or is there someone watching her? She swore she could feel eyes from everywhere around her.

As she turned to a corner, footsteps sudden came to light from behind. She didn't thought anything of it, as it could be a passerby or a neighbor. Thankfully, she's near to her home so she briskly walked and much to her surprise, the person behind her began to speed up.

This set off alarm bells in her head, once she could see the light from her porch. She began to ran and screamed for help. However, all hope is lost once she felt a sharp pain struck behind her head as darkness engulf her sight.

~*~

A horrible stench whapped into her nose, as consciousness slowly seeped back into her figure. She pry her eyes open, blinking away the drowsiness as her vision clears up and able to take in her surroundings.

She's sat in the corner of a crusty room, the wallpapers were ripped and moldy. The pipes above her were leaking with merky water which where the awful stench came from. The windows in the room were boarded, as nothing but the gush of wind and crickets were heard from the outside.

She tried to move, but found it difficult as her wrists were tightly bounded together from behind to a pipe. She found it quite hard to breath because of the tight cloth on her lips. Panic fills her body as she heard heavy footsteps, and an unknown man had entered the room.

She glares at him, which made him smirk at her feistiness. He bends down to her eye level, and pats her head. "You're a pretty one, aren't you?"

His breath fans to her face, which made her feel nauseous and wants to puke at the horrible smell of alcohol and poor oral hygiene coming from him. He took off the cloth that's covering her mouth and traced his disgusting thumb across her bottom lip.

She didn't hesitate to bite down on his finger, hard enough to make him scream and recoil his hand away as blood rushes out of the bite. The man was furious and smashed the bottle of alcohol in his hand and points the severed half towards her.

"Don't fuck with me, woman. I can—" He was cut off when he heard a buzz coming from his phone. He clicked his tongue and immediately answers the phone, proceeding to leave the room.

Once he's out of sight, all the energy seeped out of her body as hot tears rushes down her cheeks. Tears trickle down to her knees, as she kept her mouth close to silent her ugly sobs. Her chest felt so tight, she's scared, deeply scared. She didn't think something like this could happen to her. Not when after being warned by her friend.

Then, she saw a faint glimmer from her peripheral vision. She looks up and saw a piece of broken glass from the bottle near her. She uses her foot to reach towards the shard and manages to push it to her side and tries her best to grab it.

Once she successfully got it, she began to slowly cut the rope, but found it to be quite thick and tough for the nibble blade.

It took her roughly 3 days before she could finally cut the rope because she was constantly interrupted by people coming in and sometimes watching over her. She felt drained as she refused to eat anything they gave her, but it didn't matter because she'll be out of her in no time.

She pushed her body up, and slowly walked up to the door, careful not to make any noise. She turns the knob and opens a small gap to peek. It was silent and there was only one man outside, and he was sleeping soundly, practically snoring.

She gently swing the door open, careful to not make it creek as she steps out of the room. She held in her breath as she began to take light steps behind the sleeping man. She sucked in her breath as the man began to turn in his sleep, rendering her still as she kept her eyes on him. Once she deemed it was safe, she continues her way to the door.

She steps out into the cold night, as a smile finally crept to her lips, tasting her freedom. Only for panic to once again surge as one of the men guarding outside saw her and calls to her, alerting the others.

She didn't think twice and ran into the dark woods. She didn't mind if twigs poked the sole of her feet, nor if she stepped on pointed pebbles. She just ran wherever she could, taking sharp turns to confuse her captors.

She could hear their voices getting farther, but she knows she shouldn't celebrate yet as the woods were hollow and wasn't sure if she's heading towards civilization or deeper in.

Her speed slow down as her adrenaline began to dissipate, she's breathless and looks around for any source of life. Much to her surprise, a hand had grabbed her wrist and instinctively she swipped her hand forcefully and elbows whoever it is.

The person grunts and moans in pain, the voice was oddly familiar. The person lights up their phone to their face, and soon she was able to make out who he was.

"You pack a mean elbow, little lamb." X smiles, chuckling despite the stinging pain on his nose. "Makes me think you didn't actually needed me."

His face quickly transforms into a scowl, looking back once he heard numerous of voices barking behind them. Without another word, he took her wrist and guided her out of the woods.

She saw his motorcycle parked by the side of the road, she hopped on and X quickly stepped onto the pedal as they drove away.

Her hands tightly hugged the small of his waist, leaning her head against his broad back as she tries to catch her breath. Her feet were in pain as well as her whole body. She couldn't stop shaking, as she cried on his back.

She felt his hand comfortably brush against hers, which sent butterflies inside her stomach flutter in ease.

"How.. did you find me?" She asks, keeping her head close to his back and listens to his faint heartbeat.

"I finally managed to track your gps using my phone and followed its location." He replies, keeping his voice low and words consise. "Sorry it took me a while. I had to first know your ips before managing to connect. Thank god, your phone is in working order too or I won't be able to track you."

His words flew into her ear, but she couldn't make sense of it as her energy began to lower that's she finding it difficult to keep her eyes open. "Thank you, X."

"No worries. After all, you know I'm always here for you." She could hear the usual smile in his voice. She finally lets herself rest and is unable to hear his next words.

"And I'm all that you need, and no one else matters, my little lamb."

A sickening and sadistic smile curls up to his lips, chuckling lowly.

~•~

X dumps a bucket full of cold water down on the unconscious person tied up to a chair infront of him. The man, jolts awake and flickers his eyes up at X.

"Good, good. You're finally awake. Did you slept well?" X muses, keeping the usual permanent smile on his face.

The man didn't bother to answer, starting to wiggle his way out of the chair in panic. X was displeased by this, but made no action and instead clicked his tongue.

The man finally stopped trying, his energy running low. "You bastard! Why are you doing this, X?! Let me go!"

The man's voice was irritating to X's ears, but he was glad to respond to his question in a simple and conventional manner.

X had walked up to the nearby switch and flicks it. Light began to shine on the wall littered with pictures. Pictures of (Y/n). His cheeks reddens as he took a step closer to the wall, his eyes flickering at each picture he took throughout the years in complete secrecy.

"Don't you think she's beautiful?" X asks the man, which confuses him and found the revelation quite disturbing.

"W-What...?"

"You asked why I'm doing this and it's because of her." X says, turning towards him once more. He took a step closer to a nearby table, his hand brushing against each tool on it. "I am merely protecting her from the filth swarming around her and trying to take what's mine..."

X grips the handle of a sharp and bloodied knife in his hand, taking slow steps towards the now frantic man who's eyes are filled with terror as he tries to reason with him.

X stops infront of him, bending down to his eye level. He moves his face closer to him, keeping his heterochromatic eyes into the man's terrified and shaking ones, a sadistic smile slowly forming on his lips. "This wouldn't have happened if you just kept your distance from her and not end up in the same predicament like the others..."

X had driven the knife into the man's throat, and pulls it back out. He watches as the man gurgle in his own blood rushing out of his mouth. He continues his attack until he was satisfied.

He only stopped a buzz emits in his pocket that came from his phone. With his bloodied hand, he tapped the screen and answers the caller.

"You got her? That's good news!" X muses, as he nods at the following sentences from the person in the other line.

His eyes flickers down to the mutilated and lifeless man in front of him, blood pours down onto the ground and pools around his shoes. He clicked his tongue, thinking he made quite a mess this time.

"Yeah yeah, I got it. Remember, don't touch her. Unless, you got a death wish." X warns before ending the call. He began to walk towards the wall swapped with photos of you, filling his heart with love and feeling of ease.

"Sorry, my little lamb. You just have to learn the hard way this time." X took a certain picture from the wall, looking down on it with a soft eyes and smile. It was a picture of them back when they were still children.

"And this time, with driving fear into your heart. You'll realize that I'm the only you'll ever need and trust after I come and save you."

~•~

I think I flunked this lol.

Thanks for reading though <3

Happy holidays everyone!!!