#You said nothing and yet expect everyone to know how you feel and to sympathize with you and your reasons

[dollya-robinprotector]

I know I have a habit of always keeping things to myself… But why am I still surprised when people don’t know what I know?

[betryl]

It's been said a lot of times before but I'll say it again because it's true: the country house section is one of the best, if not THE best section of the book.

It's weird to say considering how "useless" it is in terms of plot (there's the Bacchanal happening in the background but of course we know nothing about it yet), and there are many parts that are way more interesting in which actual things happen. Plus, it is quite long, so a lot of pages of basically nothing.

And yet in retrospect, that's the part that stuck with me the most in the end, and it still is one of the first things that come to mind when I think back on TSH.

It was just that vivid. Maybe it's because I've experienced something similar myself so I could sympathize with how Richard was feeling too. I just remember I was totally immersed in it the first time I read it. I really felt like I was there. And even if it did last longer than I expected and I wanted to go on with the story already, I didn't feel bored.

Apart from simply ✨the atmosphere✨ and ✨the aesthetic✨ being on point, I think the main reason for this is that it really fed the illusion, and it made you FEEL like Richard. We knew from the very first page (lines!) that this book was probably not going to be a joyful one. But while they were in that country house, everything seemed fine. Richard was finally making his way into the group, they were starting to be more open towards him, they were all having a great time together, we got to see their little stupid shenanigans which made us know all of them better and me inevitably attached to all of them (Bunny throwing Henry and Francis in the water will never not be funny to be) and they even started daydreaming about the possibility of living together in that house without anything changing in the future.

It was clear even while I was reading it that all those things would have never become true, and that the illusion would have shattered soon. But still a little part of me kept on believing that maybe that could last, because the way it was narrated by Richard was... weirdly hopeful, which isn't something I can say about any other part of the book I believe. It was hopeful, and yet there was that unsettling sense of dread creeping through the lines, because you KNEW the murder was coming soon and everything would end. But just like Richard, I just... didn't care in the moment.

The country house section to me was somehow a snippet into what could have been if they never murdered Bunny- or even before, if they never had the Bacchanal at all. Could things have gone wrong at some point still, for whatever other reason? Probably yes. Maybe they weren't meant to last anyways, maybe they weren't even friends in the first place, everyone has their own thoughts about this. But it's sweet to think about. Now knowing the whole story and how terrible the situation actually got makes those pages even more painful. Those really were their happiest times.

Also I could talk about Camilla cutting her foot too but that's maybe another post for another day before this becomes way too long lol.

Also also the cherry on top for me was definitely that last couple of lines which got to me HARD and make my heart ache still:

There was a ragged burst of laughter; faint, but clear, it floated back across the evening air. That laughter haunts me still.

[anotherrosesthatfell]

I honestly never make Alive angst opinion on everyone- 💀 (or if I did, then I forgot 💀) so let's go. I will also change some of his old opinion to new one because Cherry and I uncovered the dark side of Angst

Sunflower Au belong to @abloomingsunflower / @itzcherrybonbon

His personality explanation:

Angst is quiet and mysterious man. No one actually hang out with him expect for Gradient. (Plus Angst is depressing 💀)

He is a bookworm and very intelligent. Angst never reveal his full power unless he snapped.

Appearance:

He wear royal clothing in some occasions but mostly wear comfy clothing. On his daily life, you can see he wearing a red scarf and pairs of black earrings.

Magic/Power:

This dude is stronger than corrupted Nightmare. Only in E.L.A of course- yet, he never use his full power.

Angst power is almost alike to E.L.A Lily. His power is 10/10, second strongest after Dream. Even if Palette and Lux awaken their true form, Angst is still stronger.

Other than that, he has the ability to see ghosts even memories from the past when he touch an old object (or a person)

His opinion on people he knows

Adult

Dream

"Dream Light, the king of sun. Rumours says he committed many crimes years ago by letting the wars to happen. How did I know it? Well, let's just say I have little friends to tell me."

Ink

"Ink Comyet or her now name, Ink Light. Hmm.... Honestly this woman has another last name but I don't think I should mention it. She drinks to forget her loveless marriage. How sad..."

Swap/Blue

"The ex royal guard. He was very useful to the light kingdom. Sadly, father took his power away... This is why people sometimes should live quietly."

Hope

"The last witch of this generation or should I say the current Queen of witches? People think witches extinct but there are many of them, hiding and not knowing their abilities... Hope, she know witches are hiding but she didn't do a thing about it. All she said was 'it's better to move on'... ... But I am more interested about the revengeful spirit watching her."

Error

"the destroyer and the man who lose his wife. I am not fond of him and him too, hating me."

Alphonse (corrupted nightmare)

"I hate father."

Killer

"mother... I don't sympathize with mother at all. It feels bored to do it... Mother has the witch to support her."

Cross

"the babysitter, he had a crush on mother until he met Albedo. Hmm, I remember he used to protect mother and us from the abused... I don't like him after knowing what he has done to the king of light kingdom. He don't even know Lux is his daughter."

Dust

"A pawn of father. I am surprised she didn't run away with Swap when she had the chance... Stupid woman, she could live a happy life but instead she chose to stay."

Horror

"the most sympathetic man I know... I like to eat his cooking."

Albedo

"That Albedo guy, I seen him carries many sins in his back. His emotions are overwhelming and lots of negativity.."

Ship children

Palette

"a bothersome hero. Why grandma chose this weak boy to be a protagonist... He is nothing but a scared little kid. How annoying..."

Goth

"she live a quiet happy life. I am jealous, really. She somehow is able to sealed her ability to see spirits but that can't stop her curse of having a deadly touch."

Lux

"Ah yes, the antagonist of 'Palette story'. Can you believe it? A little girl who were abandoned by her parents and isolated from the world, was chosen to be the antagonist... Isn't it a sad reality? Yet, she is very intelligent which is I like it."

Merciless

"My heart dropped when I found out my dear little brother is the sidekick of the antagonist. Hmm... Well I don't mind it, he is strong one. I believe he do well to destroy this dammed world."

Crescent

"My twin brother."

Artemis - @abloomingsunflower

"My little sister is the sidekick of the protagonist. Sad reality isn't it? Now my little brother has to fight our naive little sister. I wonder when will there's a timeline where she found out I know how many times she died. I want to laugh thinking about it, I hope she will start to live quietly when she found out."

Gradient

"My 'friend'. It's not like I love his attention or affection anyway, I just got used to him. Since he made me feels like this, he should take the responsibility."

Paperjam

"I don't know much about her. Gradient only says the same thing over and over again. Luckily, a silly ghost told me she has a crush on Crescent."

Spirits

Nim

"grandma can be nice sometime but mostly she just complain about her old life. It was nice when she sang a lullaby."

Passive nightmare

"The revengeful spirit who is guiding Lux and watching over Hope. He is the one my father hate the most... He look nothing like Merciless. If father open his eye, Merciless face resemble mother. He is a bit annoying and lose himself while playing this useless game."

Lanny

"The Queen of magic. She has no descendant to manage her kingdom. Now the magical kingdom is nothing but forest for remaining mystical creatures."

Quetzalcoatl

"He hates my father for taking over his kingdom and manages it badly."

Bonus (what if!)

Vivi - @canon-vi

"the daughter of Dream and Ink. She is not on Palette side rather on Merciless and Lux side. It was a nice sight. Just image having your own sister to choose people who killed you... Artemis can relate to that."

Starcross

"he was an annoying brat but I'll be glad to educate him some manners. Maybe I should let him know that he is capable of taking Palette's power."

Callisto

"The child of Hope and Dream. He has a very handsome face and very respectful despite hating me. Pfft, I like to see this now prince of witches capable of."

Tasya - @canon-vi

"Ah, Hope died because of her? Hmm... She has a little elemental magic such as to grow plants unfortunately she don't realize it yet. I should lend her some witchcraft books."

Shelki - @canon-vi

"A petty little ghost told me this little one got a deadly kiss as her curse. She can't see spirits that well... It should stay like that or else I'll to take action."

Lily

"she's a very interesting little one. Unfortunately, I must hate her actions on making my dear little brother traumatized. She can torture Palette as much as she want but she should never touch my little brother... And I will make her regret it."

[mynamesaplant]

The Headspace that is Grief (Ch. 7)

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Summary: The grieving process is different for everyone, Emmet and Olivia know that first hand but they just don't know it yet. Sometimes it takes another person experiencing the same things as you to move through those feelings. Together, they learn and grow with their grief and each other.

In this chapter: A trip to Spear Pillar ends more poorly than expected.

Notes: Sorry this is a day late, I've been playing a lot of Stardew Valley, so that's had my whole focus for like... over a month now? Damn. This was not beta read - so if there are spelling or grammatical errors, let me know. Regardless, I hope you enjoy!~

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The summer passed by with record speed. It was early fall before they knew it. Neither Emmet nor Olivia saw much of each other, both entirely engrossed in their work. Olivia was running all over the place in her little truck, often leaving some breakfast for Emmet in the fridge and gone all day. The bed packed to the brim with pre-packaged pints and bushels, she was taking her weekly tours to her merchants. Many trips to Hearthome for the bakery serving poffin and to Snowpoint to take the ferry to the Battle Frontier. She had a circuit, trying to tackle certain parts of the region in sections so she wasn’t running from Snowpoint to Sunyshore in the span of a day.

When she wasn’t running all over Sinnoh to make deliveries, she was at home working on her online orders and store or taking packages to her physical storefront in Cedaridge. If Emmet hadn’t been so consumed with his research on the legendaries of the region, he would have tried to offer his assistance to her more. He did try to a few times, but he learned to stop pressing the issue early one morning when she slammed her truck door a little too hard as she got in.

The wordless ‘no’ reminded Emmet of his time still working the whole of the Battle Subway on his own. Singles and Double lines. The Multi lines were closed for the foreseeable future. His resistance to accept any help from his coworkers or friends. She was the same. She accepted help from Hayate, and only Hayate, when it came to her plants and berries. Emmet supposed it was her pride getting in the way, probably a little bit of guilt too. If she couldn’t do this, what else might she not be able to manage? He could sympathize, but also knew it was an unhealthy mindset. But it also wasn’t his business. His energies were elsewhere anyway.

The libraries at Canalave and Celestic had produced plenty of information on legends and myths, but nothing on how to summon them. He had asked Cynthia to take him to the ruins at the top of Mount Coronet and she did with no argument, but no amount of communing or praying had ever earned a response. The mountain remained eerily silent. It vexed him because he was close – so close in fact that he could taste it and to be denied again and again… He wasn’t going to let it stop him now.

“Miss Olivia?” She was hunched over her fossil of a computer, tack-tack-tacking away at some financial report she was running from what Emmet could see over her shoulder. No reply. He said her name again a little louder. “Olivia?”

“Yes?”

It came out as a stressed sigh and Emmet almost bit back his question. Almost.

“Do you know the route to get up to Spear Pillar?”

The tapping of keys ceased. Olivia swiveled around in her desk chair, her mouth pulled into a frown and eyebrows drawn tight. He wanted to go to Spear Pillar?

“I do, but an older couple run a business in Celestic to take people up to see the various ruins on the mountain. If that’s-”

“No!” Emmet said abruptly, not wanting to go back to town and accidentally run into Cynthia anytime soon. She was polite and usually quite helpful, but Emmet couldn’t help but feel like she was holding something back. Not that he knew what that something was. “I mean – I would just like to see Spear Pillar.”

“Er,” Olivia turned back to her computer and clicked her virtual calendar. Studying it once it had taken its sweet time loading in, she said over her shoulder, “I can show you a little later tomorrow, if that’s alright?”

“That sounds perfect. Yup. I will be here all day tomorrow. Grooming day.”

She tried to hide her cringe when she tapped in her “appointment” with Mr. Emmet around 7. It would still be light enough to get there and back, she could order dinner from Toubuchi Udon, and crash. Already slated to be a long day, Olivia was already dreading it in the back of her head.

“Alright, you’re on my schedule, Mr. Emmet.”

She chirped, unaware how much her voice was slipping into the one she used for customer service. The Subway Boss noticed but made no comment. Probably just tired.

“Verrrrry good.”

Emmet headed to his room, listening in the dark to his landlord move around and speak quietly to Pokémon before she went upstairs. He was almost positive that this time at Spear Pillar would be just as fruitless as all the other times at, but he was nothing but relentless.

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

The following day was a lot of polishing and brushing and scrubbing. His decision fell in tandem with Galvantula’s and Haxorus’ molts. He and Ingo did their best to keep up with grooming, but it was especially crucial for Galvantula. Her limbs would start to lock up until she freed herself from her old shed.

Haxorus was rubbing up against everything, little flakes drifting off her hide like grayish snow. The dragon lounged in a large, inflatable kiddie pool, she needed to be hydrated during her sheds, and Garbodor was helpfully scooping cups full of water to get the portions of Haxorus not in the pool.

Emmet sat cross legged on the grass, absently polishing Klingklang’s and Durant’s while he kept tossing little glances to Galvantula, who lay on her back writhing and squirming as her shed came off inch by inch. She was still on her back as Emmet finished removing the soot and polishing the glass on Chandelure’s body. He had intended to help Archeops with his preening, but he took a detour to check on her.

“Hello little lady, do you require assistance?”

Galvantula hissed in response, struggling to free her legs from her shed, but Emmet never touched without permission. A few more moments of struggling, a few Joltiks chirping beside her to cheer her on, the Electric type freed herself.

“Good girl. Take a break now.”

Swarmed by her younger siblings, Galvantula chittered and righted herself to lay in the sun for her dewy fresh limbs to harden.

Miss Olivia’s Pokémon were also in the garden, seemingly interested but not approaching, they were focused on tending to the green space in their trainer’s absence. She always seemed to be grooming Raichu, his affinity for sweets often made his glossy coat feel tacky. It looked to be a very labor intensive and precise procedure, so she might not appreciate him attempting to clean the Electric Pokémon up. He severely doubted Infernape would allow him to be that close to him for an extended period of time for a necessary groom. So, Emmet left them alone.

Archeops was usually on top of his own maintenance, but the Subway Boss still liked to help him preen to build a stronger relationship with the fossil Pokémon. Tweezing erupting pin feathers delicately to remove the waxy tips. Just like with Eelektross, Emmet also filed the Rock type’s nails.

Crustle was already underground to find fresh soil for his new shell. Emmet explicitly told him to stay out of Miss Olivia’s garden and, so far, he hadn’t seen any disturbed areas on the property, so he must have been somewhere else on the mountain. While he filed Eelektross’ nails, checking his fins and mouth for any signs of parasites – not that that would ever happen! Emmet took verrrrry good care of his and Ingo’s Pokémon – he wondered if Crustle’s new shell would be noticeably different from the Unovan one. Professor Juniper would have found the topic fascinating – Burgh too, probably.

Excadrill was pawing at himself with a growl, trying to loosen the caked-on mud and dirt on his slackened skin. Of all his Pokémon, Miss Olivia really seemed to like Excadrill. With his help she was able to move whole portions of her orchard around without completely destroying the root systems. She was out there every day with the Ground type as he toiled away underground until everything was where she wanted it to be. Excadrill loved the work, he loved digging and burrowing, which was not something he could have done easily in Nimbasa. Ingo often took him to Route 4 to play and dig as he pleased, but this was more of the soil that his species was used to.

It took a good hour and a half of brushing with an undercoat brush, and that was already after scrubbing him with a bristle brush to rid him of mud and plastered on to him. The really caked-on stuff was at the base of his claws and at the sharp helmet-like ornament on his head, but there was plenty of dust hidden in his dense fur. Last was polishing for Excadrill and he tottered off to doze next to Galvantula and the Joltiks.

“One more.”

Emmet said to himself. He refused to think about it. He refused to get his hopes up. Just focus on cleaning up his team. He was not going to allow himself to get impatient as he waited for Miss Olivia.

There was no cleaning Garbodor. He tended to groom himself anyway in his own strange way, but he never smelled bad. Trubbish and Garbodor could actually produce a rather pleasant odor around people who loved them and took care of them properly, like he and Ingo did.

So that left Haxorus, who had pretty much shed on her own. Emmet tested parts of her tail, noting that beneath was neither sticky nor gooey and gently peeled. Haxorus’ scales shone brightly, grumbling with delight as her tusks received a good scrubbing, polishing, and filing. Everyone was all cleaned up and Emmet’s stomach was rumbling.

Miss Olivia’s Pokémon followed him back inside. He was positive that Infernape still didn’t really trust him, but Raichu seemed more intrigued by him than anything. Electric types always had an affinity for him and Elesa. Their mutual interest actually got their foot in the door in terms of friendship. Emmet went on a few dates with her before she had come out.

“It’s not you!”

Elesa had told him in a panic, but Emmet didn’t take it that way. He came to the realization that he was gay after the dates he had had with her, so he understood. After that they remained really good friends. Ingo too.

Raichu hovered around him, an arm length or two away from him as Emmet slapped together a sandwich with some pickles on the side. Deli meats were not too common unless Emmet specifically went out to look for them in Jublife or Canalave, but he had come to enjoy fried chicken cutlets with some lettuce, mayo, and mozzarella. His time with Miss Olivia had nudged him into being a little more adventurous, but she also accepted his limitations… She really was a kind person.

Almost like he had read his mind, Raichu chirped and moved closer, cozying up to Emmet.

“Hello. I am not giving you treats.”

The Pokémon didn’t seem interested in treats or his food. His soft fur against his neck made a shiver run up his spine because it was triggering the same sensation one might get if they were being tickled. He stifled a chuckle, his shoulder shifting to guard his exposed neck when Raichu’s tail twisted lazily around his bicep. Small paws kneaded his stiff shoulder, the Pokémon rubbing his head against him with small, happy cheeps.

“I am Emmet. What are you doing?”

It didn’t seem like a big deal. Just the Pokémon warming up to him. He allowed it, sitting down to eat his lunch as Raichu got comfy.

Olivia arrived home a few hours later to discover a funny scene. Raichu was sleeping on Mr. Emmet’s chest on the couch, the man himself just scrolling through his phone with one hand and stroking her Pokémon’s head with the other.

“Sorry, he can be annoying when he wants affection.”

Mr. Emmet glanced around at her, scooping Raichu up with one arm to sit up right.

“I do not mind. He is very soft.”

“He gets salt baths and a good brush down every week.”

“I noticed. And Infernape?”

“Grooms himself, but I try to comb him every so often. He’s very particular… Ready for a little hike?”

Emmet was already moving around the room. He had been ready hours ago. He was using the grooming as a distraction, but his mind was buzzing like a swarm of angry Beedrill. This would always happen when he was closing in on a lead. Don’t get your hopes up. Manage your expectations.

Considering how close Cedaridge was to the top of Mount Coronet, it didn’t take as long to get to Spear Pillar as it had with Cynthia. Emmet already knew the drill once they exited the tunnel and felt the pressure and drop in temperature, he had taken the time climbing up the underground path to button up his coat to the collar. He was about to bypass Miss Olivia and head up the stairs toward the dais, when he felt something holding fast to his sleeve.

His knee-jerk reaction was to yank out of her grasp, not that Olivia was surprised. His expression was unreadable for a moment, an odd mix of apprehension and exasperation, before Mr. Emmet recomposed himself.

“Sorry,” she replied sheepishly, putting her hands up and away from him. “Here. I usually take a second to pay my respects before coming up here.”

Rummaging through her pocket, she produced two berries. Two Lansat berries. They were hell to grow, but they were for very special occasions. A pocketknife was able to crack its shell and she worked it open until she reached the fruit within.

Emmet watched her place one down on the stairs before she handed him the knife and the other berry. Okay. She really wanted him to do this. He didn’t really understand why. Cynthia hadn’t made him do anything. However, he obliged. Perhaps some sort of superstition for the inhabitants of the mountain.

He hadn’t seen many Lansat berries, but he was under the impression that the red shell was also edible. Pokémon seemed to eat it with no trouble, but he had a delicate human mouth.

He placed the berry down by hers and was about to step over them when Miss Olivia cleared her throat.

“This is a divine place, Mr. Emmet.”

Ah.

“Right.”

He muttered, stepping back into line with her and copying her closed eyes and hands clasped in front of her… Well, for the most part. The Subway Boss kept peeking to see if she was finished, unsure what exactly he was supposed to be doing. The gym leader in Johto had a similar expectation of him - Clair, was it? No, that was the Dragon’s Den. She had just expected him to battle to prove his worth. He more than met her high expectations. No, it had been Morty at the Brass Tower and then the Tin Tower. He had stopped and bowed his head, mumbling something to himself in reverence, and waiting for Emmet to do the same. Miss Olivia expected the same.

It wasn’t that Emmet was unaware of or against any particular religious belief, he just never really got religion. Yes, he had respect for everyone’s beliefs - but praying, burning incense, bowing? It didn’t quite click. He often humored whoever, but it often left him scratching his head.

Emitting a soft sigh through his flared nostrils, Emmet closed his eyes. He had realized just how much his eyes ached as he closed them, like he hadn’t blinked in a long time.

I am Emmet. I do not know what to say… I want to find my brother. Please help me find Ingo. I would do anything for him.

“Okay, thank you, Mr. Emmet.” That was the only response he received. He opened his eyes. The fruit still sat on the stairs, uneaten and fragrant at his feet. Emmet stepped over them and made his way slowly toward the dais. “Sorry. I was always taught to treat places like this with respect. You never know who’s watching.”

He replied with a grunt and began to weave his way between the pillars, examining every inch of the place and Olivia watched him work meticulously while she stood by the head of the stairs. It was odd. This place had a presence. Pressure on your body. A low hum that would rattle your bones and make your vision go fuzzy. Spear Pillar was ancient, and it demanded your respect. Mr. Emmet was not being disrespectful, but Olivia had always been taught not to upset things bigger than yourself if you could avoid it.

She had never been particular good with prayers, but she gave it a shot. Something was better than nothing. Hugging herself, she waited and waited for Mr. Emmet to approach the dais.

“Do you know much about the ruins?”

“No, not really.”

She replied truthfully. Olivia had played in the mountain ruins a lot as a child with her best friend, but never Spear Pillar. It was just a little too far, a little too difficult to get to, and a little too daunting to approach. Even now that sense of fright still sat on her chest as heavy as a Copperajah.

“Used to be a place of worship for the ancient people of Sinnoh. It changed hands a couple of times. Supposedly, a great disaster made it look like this.”

Mr. Emmet gestured at all the broken pillars from which the place derived its name. That made sense. It must have fallen into a state of disrepair from the disaster and continued to deteriorate after its destruction, people gradually moving away from the place to leave it in isolation on top of the mountain.

“I wouldn’t have pinned you as a history buff, Mr. Emmet.”

He looked slowly around at her, his brow furrowed, and the corners of his mouth flattened out, which was the closest he could get to a frown he could get she had discovered. He said he wasn’t. Olivia wasn’t sure if she was convinced. Mr. Emmet seemed to realize that and quickly clarified.

“It is not a passion. It is a necessity.”

Necessity?

“Why is a necessity?” He didn’t answer, his gray eyes scanning over the pictograms and symbols on the dais, and they flashed momentarily angry. Why did he feel so close? What on earth was he missing? “Well, if you want to know more about the ruins, there’s a tour group in Celestic that-”

“I have already spoken to Cynthia. I have already spoken to everyone I can think of. All tracks lead to empty stations. By the sacred swords, this is infuriating!”

Emmet did not notice her flinch or spot her edging away. What she said next was soft and sheepish, she did not know how much it sounded like pity.

“I’m sorry.”

It was not remotely her fault. Emmet just needed to get this frustration out. This place was hiding secrets and he desperately wanted to know them. A pent-up fury that had been building and building since he first started this journey was starting to reach critical mass inside the Subway Boss. All the dead ends, all the false hope, all the detours and delays – Emmet just wanted his brother back. His brother, who would have never left him by choice. His brother, who loved him, and who he loved in return. Ingo, his brother, his twin, his closest companion, and confidant, was just out of reach and Emmet was tired of it.

“Sorry? Our paths may run alongside each other, but you have no idea.” When she didn’t say anything too stunned by his raised voice and blunt words, he rounded on her. Miss Olivia looked like a young Deerling; big, frightened eyes and completely frozen limbs as she waited for the other shoe to drop. “Dragons above, you are clueless. You do not get it and you never will.”

It was a harsh bark and Olivia shrank back from his imposing frame, barely containing a whimper because she did not understand why he was lashing out at her. Perhaps proximity, she was here, and she looked like an easy punching bag, but that was no reason to get nasty with her. Although she was frightened, Olivia inhaled sharply, her chest puffing out in indignation, and squared her shoulders. She took a step towards him, jabbing him in the chest with a stiff index and hissed through gritted teeth.

“I will be waiting at the entrance to the cave. I don’t know what your problem is, but you need time to cool off.”

The walk back down the mountain was utterly silent. Neither made an attempt to engage in conversation, or even so much as glance at one another. Emmet had spent another ten minutes storming around the ruins until he had mostly mastered his anger. Unsurprisingly, Miss Olivia only offered him a cold shoulder the entire way back, which was deserved. She only told him there were some leftovers in the fridge before she headed upstairs with her Pokémon following close behind. Alone in the kitchen, Emmet sat at the table with his head in his hands.

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[tellthemeerkatsitsfine]

Next set of my thoughts on the NextUp livestreams, Delightful Sausage edition. Brief summary: I expected the Chris Cantrill and Amy Gledhill ones to be my favourite NextUp-streamed Edinburgh shows this year, and there are still a bunch I’ve not watched yet but I still feel confident in saying I expected correctly.

Wow. Watched those back-to-back today and I enjoyed that so much. It’s so cool to see them both putting on such high-quality shows separately after all the very funny stuff they’ve done together, and obviously today is a good day to be Amy Gledhill.

I paid a relatively rare visit to Instagram today to see all the people talking about Edinburgh Awards and things, and the pictures of Chris Cantrill looking very happy for her are extremely sweet, and make me feel bad for having made some jokes that getting nominated for the same award will tear apart a double act like it did to Peacock & Gamble. Peacock & Gamble had other issues, not everyone's Peacock & Gamble. Sometimes people are all right and delight in a teammate’s success. They're melting my cold competitive heart.

I watched Chris Cantrill’s show first, wasn’t really sure what to expect as it looked like a straight stand-up show, but the description also said some shit about Medieval fantasy worlds and that he’d be wearing a cape, so I thought maybe it was more in the Delightful Sausage style of fictional stuff. Maybe some weird combination. Who knows?

It was straight stand-up, stories about his life told as himself, but he did wear a cape for much of the show, which made sense in context. It hit some themes that chimed quite well with me at the moment – depression and the loneliness of old friendships deteriorating as you get older. So it got a little dark at times, but it never felt very dark, and it ended on a note so hopeful that I may have been briefly, genuinely moved.

This was one of those stand-up hours where you can feel how competent and experienced the person who put it together is. It was paced really well, everything felt like it was in the right order and it really built up and came together nicely. I love how easily he could move between whimsey (there was some stuff about Medieval fantasy lands in there), straightforward storytelling, and occasional breaks to add something like a political opinion or a fact about history. All the different types of material flowed so well that none of the seams felt jarring. It felt honest about depression without seeming overwrought or overly emotional, which is pretty impressive.

He dropped little threads early on that I’d assumed were nothing but came back unexpectedly. He had so many little ways of describing things that I’ve found myself going back to in my mind, I feel like this is going to be one of those things where a year from now I wonder why I use a certain turn of phrase when I talk about certain things, and then remember I heard it in a Chris Cantrill show.

And I love how much care he took over all the characters in his story, who were mainly his friends from university. That seems like his skills as a sketch comedian coming out, he could make all these people come to life in the stories, I ended up sympathizing with everyone and getting really invested in all the different things that were going on. This show had, you know – heart, or whatever would be a less cheesy word to describe the same thing.

Then I put on Amy Gledhill’s show, and Jesus, was that ever great. It was also straight stand-up, maybe with slightly more theatrics than Chris, as she came in wearing an ostentatious costume and had people throw underwear at her. But then she started talking and she didn’t need any gimmicks, or anything – it is amazing how compelling she can be even when it’s just her telling stories. It’s the same as the presence she has in The Delightful Sausage shows – just a way of speaking and moving and looking at the crowd that makes me want to listen to her. She’s so naturally good at this.

This show hit a number of common topics among “serious” comedy shows – body image, sexual assault, breakups, how all those things affect mental health issues. And it didn’t feel like a serious comedy show. Watching it didn’t feel tense, except for a little bit at the end when she very intentionally brought in some tension. She looked like she was having fun the whole time, so watching and listening to her was always fun, no matter what she was discussing.

But this show had more of an edge to it than the Chris Cantrill one, it felt bigger and faster-paced, and Chris Cantrill didn’t spend nearly as much time acting out the lead-up to oral sex. She threw herself entirely into every story, expressed so much with a look or a gesture, could make us laugh and sharply feel everything she described at the same time, which is tricky. Most comedians switch between the laughing and the making us feeling things, it’s hard to get both at once.

And this show came together nicely too, picked up threads that I’d not expected to come back, brought everything around to the central themes, it was all there for a reason. And finished strong on a note of complex hope and anger and all these other things. And it was funny. It made me laugh out loud repeatedly even though I was alone in my room, that’s probably enough to give it the edge over other options for winning that award.

I think her experience as a sketch comedian made a big difference here too (I’m not sure if “sketch” is the right word for those Delightful Sausage shows as they’re all in one narrative, but whatever that type of comedy show is called, that’s what I mean), as it’s how she drew us into all her stories. She’s so used to getting in character and making us believe that she’s stranded on an island or running a terrible resort or whatever – so in her regular stand-up she can easily get us on board with believing that she’s really arguing with her ex over a TV show, or whatever real-life story she’s telling. She makes it so easy to enjoy listening to her.

Both shows were strong on structure and on making me feel some emotions and making me laugh, what a wonderful way to spend a day. And I'm happy with Amy Gledhill winning Champion of Edinburgh. She had a couple of sweet stories about Chris Cantrill in her show too, they seem like lovely people. Out there being happy for each other, and once again, melting my cynical heart.

Also, I've gone and downloaded Icklewick FM, the radio thing they made together this year instead of doing a Delightful Sausage show. I meant to listen to that when it came out a few months ago, and then I forgot about it, but I've now been reminded. That's going with me on my commutes to work next week.

[anti-katsuki-lounge]

I find it odd that how it is normalized to hate Endeavor but not Bakugo.

Don't get me wrong, Endeavor deserves to be hated by readers because he isn't doing all that much to be forgiven by his family and when people learn about his abuse, they don't react accordingly. But at least the majority of the audience points the blatant downplay of abuse and has criticisms for Endeavor's redemption arc. Which is wonderful and should be the expected reaction.

But when it's about Bakugo, why is it so unreasonable to hate his redemption arc? Why do people ask us if we even actually read the manga as if they possessed reading skills superior to ours? Is it because he's a minor and therefore gets a slap on the wrist? I never found Bakugo's character charming or interesting to say the least. I really do want to understand, but the more I see his Stan's brush off the bullying, I go back to disliking him as a character. (I know that there are people who do like Bakugo but still hold him accountable for his bullying, which I'm happy to see). I would go as far to say that the real reason why I begun to dislike Bakugo is the blatant favoritism almost everyone seems to have for him. Before I really began to immerse myself into the fandom, I sort just thought everyone didn't like him. I couldn't be more wrong.

Because from my perspective, abuse and bullying are both horrible things to do. While, bullying is less serious in comparison to abuse, I don't understand how it's easily brushed aside. Maybe other people just don't find bullying that serious of a problem, but I do and I will never not bring it up if someone were to ask me why I don't like Bakugo. I'm not going to forget it just because it happened in the past (chapter 1 as some like to say). Which is incorrect because Bakugo had continued bullying Izuku even after they entered U.A. Before someone tries to bring up how in the first few chapters, Izuku mentions Bakugo stopped bullying him, I think it's necessary to mention that Izuku is an unreliable narrator. Furthermore, bullying does not only include physical bullying, it also includes verbal bullying, which Bakugo still does by yelling at Izuku for the most pettiest reasons. The severity of Bakugo's actions are masked by the fact that these interactions are depicted as gag scenes, which does not make me laugh in the slightest. Imagine the gag scenes were depicted in a serious tone. Would it be funny then? I think not.

Also, I do believe that one of MHA's theme is that past actions have consequences. Which is what Endeavor and Bakugo are supposed to represent. But do you really expect me to be satisfied with this. While Endeavor's abuse is revealed by Dabi, he only faces disgust from their society for little bit of time. It wouldn't have been more effective if Endeavor had been the one to reveal his past, rather than his son forcing him to confront it. But at least the society he lives in knows of his horrible abuse. Bakugou on the other hand apologizes in front of his classmates, whom know nothing of his past and have this misconception that his relationship with Izuku is sour is due to the fact both of cannot make up due to their differences. And the cherry on top is that Izuku doesn't say anything against him. I just can't look at his scene and still take Bakugo Stan's seriously. How could they look at this scene and think that Bakugo's redemption arc is great. Clearly both Bakugo and Endeavor's redemption arcs are horribly written, yet calling out Endeavor's is the only acceptable thing. Wish I could understand why Bakugo is so beloved in this fandom, but it seems that I can't do that.

But, hey, at least found a community in which I can share these thoughts.

I really do think it’s cause he’s a minor and the narrative sympathizes with him. I personally agree with what you’ve said about Endeavor and I feel his story should’ve been done better, but the narrative at least tells you he was wrong to treat his family the way he did. Yeah, there’s some backpedaling, and yeah, the reactions from others are relatively tame compared to what they should be like, but the narrative does tell us that Endeavor was a bad person and now he’s making up for his sins. With Katsuki, after the USJ, they narrative is constantly sucking him off and trying to hammer that he has good traits and that he is “redeeming” himself but his actions show otherwise. When watching something for fun, it’s easy to let the narrative influence your thoughts on the series, but once you take a step back and analyze things, you might notice some inconsistencies. That’s pretty much the case with Katsuki.

[solardragun]

v7/v8 made me dislike ruby a lot but v9 made me really side with her. i've been in her shoes, with having to put on a strong happy face for everyone because their problems always seem to be bigger than mine.

but to see yang walk ahead of blake to shield her from ruby really broke me. like?? do you not know your own sister?? do you genuinely think she'd harm her own teammate??

blake doesn’t need protection, and it’s weird how yang tries to shield her like ruby is about to hurt her. i get bumbleby's whole thing is "we're protecting each other"

but that doesn't mean go and protect blake (who has shown she can hold her own in a verbal argument anyway) against your own sister, yang!

sorry for the rant, i just am in shock that this was written and executed this way with no one thinking of how ruby would feel from this. ruby was somehow more effected by jaune's rant (which, while valid, doesn't change the fact that jaune basically held a whole town hostage for 10-20 years) than by yang shielding blake.

i also grew to dislike ruby in v7 and 8 because of her hypocrisy (that got half addressed before dropped) and her attempt to talk down all the adults and take over before making situations way way worse. however i do agree that i also began to sympathize with her in volume 9, and it felt like her actions were finally being addressed while also showing that maybe she isn't suited to be the leader like she and everyone else thought.

the whole yang vs ruby thing angered me. i'm sorry, but YANG? the actual hothead who trashes clubs, assaults grown adults, destroys government property, charges into battle headfirst. that yang? meanwhile ruby is the kindest, sweetest person, who despite being socially anxious, tried her best to make friends and impress others. the kind, quirky girl who loves cool weapons and adores the adults in her life and wants desperately to be like the heroes in fairy tales?

yes, as I addressed, she started fumbling as the weight of the world finally started to get to them, she charged through situations half-baked, thinking she knew what was best because it's what everyone expects of her. but at her heart she's still a kind, simple soul who is meant to see the light in every situation, and yet the moment she started losing sight of that, wondering if she truly made mistakes, the friends that propped her up as the best leader and someone they looked up to, they let her fall.

yang, who grew up with her sister, who knows her inside and out. yang, who went into this FOR ruby, insisted she only took part to make sure her little sister was safe. that same yang turning against that said sister she fought so hard to find is astounding to me. her sister is falling apart at the seams, having panic attacks and an identity crisis and struggling with guilt and shame and the horrifying thought that she made the world worse and helped salem grow closer to victory. and yang instead steps up to defend blake.

ruby has never been a threat, not like this. ruby screaming and crying and having a reasonable and justified meltdown after everything she's been through should not be met with yang putting herself between her sister and girlfriend, nor should it have been brushed aside.

it bothers me because the show and fans insist adamantly that yang is the greatest big sister, but then say that yang doesn't have to always be there for ruby and that she's allowed to make time for blake. nobody said that yang wasn't allowed to spend time with blake, the issue was this. the issue was that yang sensed her own sister as a dangerous threat and stepped between her and blake as if ruby is the one with anger issues who flies off the handle and attacks anyone and anything with said anger. it's ridiculous.

yang sat there while her sister fell apart and did and said nothing beyond limp "are you okay?" the person who actually tried to be there for ruby was weiss, despite the flawed writing of her character. i'll give her credit there. but imagine your team partner trying to comfort you over your own sister who is too busy making googly eyes at her girlfriend or defending said girlfriend against you.

i didn't watch the last two episodes so i'm not gonna touch on that, but yang throughout this volume showed where exactly her priorities lie.

[thenorthernrecords]

Two Friends and a Bonfire

Katy’s conversation with Edward had left her feeling rather troubled and conflicted. During the conversation, something inside of her broke through; a surge of feelings that she had tucked away for many years. Katy told Edward she needed time to decide whether she should reveal Hana Yasmin’s location to him. Katy was protective of her family and friends -- Hana Yasmin was one of her oldest friends, so she wanted to be extra sure. 

The next day, she got a letter, with a note from her mother attached to it that said: “Read it or throw it in the fire. It is your choice. It’s about Caspian.” Any other time, she would’ve thrown it into the fire, wanting nothing to do with it. But she found herself opening the letter and reading it. She stared at it for a while, then, in a rather sudden impulsive moment, she wrote Caspian an anonymous letter and sent it. She was not expecting anything back. She only wished to let him know that someone out there sympathized with his loss. So when she got flowers and a letter later, she was stunned. 

The night she received them, she sat in front of a bonfire Ben had made for the guests beforehand. Everyone was inside, most likely getting ready to settle down for the night  -- Edward and David shared a room next to Ben’s, and their companion Samira slept in her room. She reread the letter over and over again, unsure of how to feel, or even what to think. The door in front of her home opened, causing her to look up. It was David, who now sported a beard, walked towards her, and sat down on the log beside her.

“Couldn’t sleep?” He asked.

“No...I’m sorry to say I haven’t had a good sleep since you came here with your surprise guest.” Katy told him with a small smile.

David smiled at her apologetically, and Katy shook her head, not holding that against him. David pointed at the letter.

“What do you have there?” 

“A letter...” She said in a quiet tone. “From Caspian.”

David’s brows furrowed instantly, tilting his head at her. “Come again?”

“His wife died and...I wrote an unsigned letter to him expressing my condolences.” Katy began, and David’s expression changed into a troubled one, causing her to quickly speak again. “I know, I know. It was impulsive and perhaps a mistake but after the conversation I had with Edward ... he brought him up and I spoke about him and... it’s like a wound reopened and these unwanted feelings poured out.”

Katy let out a sigh. “I didn’t expect him to realize it was me.”

David turned away from her, eying the dancing flames before them. “He has your handwriting memorized.” He observed, looking at her again, and Katy felt uncomfortable. She didn’t know why ... and she didn’t want to know why.

“What did he write?” asked David.

“That he’s sorry for what he did. He sent flowers with it, flowers from my first home with my father.” Katy went quiet. She remembered that Slania told her that her Uncle Eamonn too had apologized via letter. Slania felt cheated out of a genuine apology and had become resentful toward her brother. Katy, speaking out loud, told David: “Yet, I am not filled with anger over it, but rather, sorrow.”

David nodded, rubbing his chin. “You did end on horrible terms with him. So, I can see why this is difficult for you.”

Katy looked down at the floor, feeling the full weight of the sadness that had been hidden underneath years of resentment and anger. She went quiet and soon felt David’s comforting hand on her back. They sat there for a moment, as Katy began to feel restless. That’s the other emotion that came out after her talk with Edward -- she had been standing still in one place, and now, she felt like she had to do something. Also, she wanted to distract herself from her sudden correspondence with Caspian. She was surprised at herself when she wrote that letter. Now, she was concerned about what else her impulses would have her do.

“Hana Yasmin is in Wexford.” She said suddenly, causing David to look at her surprised.

“What? Really? What is she doing there?” asked David, clearly confused by the revelation.

“She was supposed to meet Uncle Eamonn there and start anew. Uncle Eamonn decided to leave our family forever and go elsewhere -- it’s a long story,” Katy explained wearily, waving her hand dismissively when David’s eyes grew wide with shock, “But Hana declined to go with him, effectively ending their relationship, and she’s living in Wexford instead.”

“...Wow. Poor woman. After everything he made her and the Kingdom of Etihad go through, that’s how it all ended?” David grimaced, but then he smiled sheepishly. “Shit, you’ll have to draw me a map. I forget how to get there. I’ve only been there once, I believe.”

Katy pocketed Caspian’s letter and stood up. “No need. I’m going to escort you, Edward, and his friend there. I’m going to help them.”

David stood up as well, looking skeptical. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. I think Edward’s credible. I think this is his chance to make everything right. And, I’d hate to be the reason why he doesn’t get to help the woman he loves, so.” Katy shrugged. “I’ll do it.”

David put an arm around Katy, giving her a side hug. “I keep forgetting how sentimental you can be.”

Katy leaned into the hug, smiling. “It’s my worst trait.”

@caspianmaxson​ @elreinodeparaiso

[xplrvibes]

katelyn's new tiktok....is definitely not something i was expecting. it's honestly funny...and not in a 'yes, you should totally sneak in, this is so funny' way. it's sad she can't get their names out of her mouth or stop wearing their merch. i mean, at least she's getting the clout and views she wants.

Combining asks since they are about the same topic. Go watch Katelyn Dunkin's latest tiktok for context.

Yea, I definitely wasn't expecting to open tiktok on a Saturday morning and see that, gotta tell you. I kind of forgot she existed for a while, up until the best friend tiktok. And now she's back and...weirder than ever lol.

Here's my thing with ol' kdunks: I can almost sympathize to a point with her, because she did appear to have been blindsided (no pun intended) by this sudden breakup and has since lost a life long friend in the fallout. This relationship she was in was never officially made public and yet the fans of the guy she was seeing despised her from the jump and cast her in the role of the villain, and she had no chance of ever turning those tides. None. No matter how hard she tried, every foot she put forward was the wrong foot and made things infinitely worse.

So she gets dumped by him, rather suddenly from the looks of it, and he's out living this great life and she's left in the dust and is still getting hated on by the internet even though she wasn't even dating the guy anymore. She does dumb shit out of being petty, he claps back in his own petty way and his fans who were just waiting for him to give the 👍, go nuclear on her.

She's bitter. Bitter people who feel they were ganged up on and unfairly villainized do crazy shit sometimes.

Do I like her? Not really. Always found her a tad annoying, honestly, so this is not coming from a place of loving her and wanting to defend her cause I don't care lol. But I can see how this happened and why it continues to unfold the way it's unfolding.

At the same time - she isn't winning any contests by continuing to do this weird petty shit. It's just giving these fans more of a reason to hate on her, and is making her look more unhinged. It's funny in that way that odd drama is funny, but it does absolutely nothing to ease her reputation as the crazy ex because, well now she's talking about breaking into their Halloween part(iful). She can claim that it was a joke all she wants, but it wasn't. She's bitter. She wasn't invited but lots of people she knows is....and they're probably going, too. She's hurt by that. It's a hurt that is compounding with frustration because she feels alone and isolated because nobody is definitively taking her side*. So yea. This is all the result of bitter frustration. Screaming in silence, if you will.

I said this about another situation recently, but everyone has the right to tell their life story if they so choose....to a point. If she wants to be out there saying, "hey, I feel abandoned by my friend," or, "Hey, Sam dumped me out of the blue and left me to hang with his fans and it was really hard to deal with," then that's her story and she's valid to say her peace, I suppose. But there's a line with this type of stuff, and she's crossing the line into a weird territory where it's no longer something she's well within her rights to be doing/saying.

*to clarify: I'm not saying her side is the right side to take, cause I have no clue what she did or what sparked this breakup between her and Sam or her and Malia. For all we know, she could've done something to deserve the absolute ice cold freezing out that we've seen here. This is merely me saying that from her perspective, she probably feels alone and abandoned and ganged up on and embarrassed and is coming to terms with the fact that she was doomed to fail in this whole mess from the start. And she's not handling that with grace and class. 🤷‍♀️

Edited to add: the thought of her trying to get into that party and summarily getting the Uncle Phil/Jazz treatment does me chuckle, not gonna lie.

[sugar-and-spite]

hi, i want to address this as politely as possible. independently of how right or wrong you are about politics, directly replying to someone grieving genocide of *their people* about how the genocidal president will at least fund education and healthcare for *other people* is insensitive as hell, and will also never convince anyone that you care for them in your politics. if you want to convince people for your candidate please learn to address people's feelings and worries with the same importance you give yours.

also, everyone else knows what trump is like. bringing it up like you expect them to not know is pretty condescending. if someone still doesn't want to vote for biden you gotta find other arguments/strategies, not repeat the same point of 2020 again. like, for example, saying how you pretend to pressure him into ending the genocide, as multiple people keep saying he's the one who can be pressured, and yet he's been going just fine for nine months while brutally repressing protests. you can see why that argument isn't very convincing

i fully understand and sympathize with this! and i'm sorry if my post came across as condescending; that wasn't my intention at all. i was trying to politely and succinctly explain the situation as if to someone who had no knowledge of us politics, because i don't want to assume anyone's understanding of the situation. i can see why bringing up healthcare and such was insensitive, and i'm sorry for that. i really just wanted to give an overview of both sides.

ultimately, though, i do stand by my point. whether biden can be pressured or not, there is NOTHING that can be done to change this situation at the moment. you said "everyone knows what trump is like" - so why is even the possibility of letting him take office something we're entertaining? we KNOW that he will make things worse for palestine, and we KNOW there is no other option. genuinely - what else are we supposed to do but vote for biden? what other choice is there? voting for him means the genocide will continue. not voting or voting against him means it will get worse. is there any other option?

[hematomes]

Am I the only one who finds the backstories of assholes or villains incredibly disappointing, boring, and unimaginative sometimes? If it's not "my mom/dad never loved me" then it's "my (insert loved one) died". Every time I see some dickhead try to justify or rationalize their shitty actions by bringing up their past, I roll my eyes and/or shake my head.

Now listen, and please don't take this the wrong way, while these backstories are tragic and these things should not have happened to them-or anyone for that matter-, I feel little sympathy for them. Not because of what they've been through, but more so on how they expect us to feel about them and their actions. Do I think they had a bad life? Yes. Am I going to just let them get away with their actions? No. Never.

i think it depends on the execution, and the specifics

what you described are tropes, not specific situations, so they do feel overused if there's nothing that spices up their backstory! for example, let's take scaramouche as a villain (and disregard his redemption arc for a sec). the way they portrayed his backstory was interesting: they took their sweet sweet time, especially if you missed the events (then you mostly had.... some people's voicelines and the HoOD + pale flame sets), and then proceeded to hit us with it from scaramouche's pov

his motives are "clichés" in a way: he wants the gnosis that was taken from him and left him empty, and most of all he wants to achieve greatness without his mother's approval (reverse nepotism 😔😔 /j), probably above said mother. it comes from abandonment, resentment and a shitload of mommy issues: perhaps overused

but in the context of genshin impact, it works. in the way they present it, it works. yeah some people think he's overreacting, and i don't doubt that his backstory seems bad for them (iirc he's like one of the most hated character in the game lmao), but it goes beyond the cliché of "i was abandoned and now i need to kill everyone but especially the cunt that gave me up" and he goes through sm abuse from the moment he's abandoned up to the one he deletes himself from the tree that it makes him more human, almost relatable in a way

in the other hand, however, i personally feel like the "pure evil" type of villain can also be interesting, so let's take dottore. fundamentally his only motive is scientific, but also resentment bc the way he functions makes him see morality as an accessory, so he experiments on people without a sliver of shame, kills god knows how many of them and feels no remorse whatsoever. cliché antagonist who's really just like "boo im evil, die bitch", but it also works cuz most of the time in genshin they try to justify evil deeds (signora going mad after losing her lover - cliché but it's signora so if you say smth negative abt her im blocking on sight #feminism -, childe who's just traumatized and actually a pretty chill guy), but dottore? nah. i feel like gold also fits in the same category, which makes me wonder whether dottore will one day find a way to use abyssal magic but that's yet another topic

ANYWAY i see what you mean but i don't necessarily agree - writing good villains without tapping too much into clichés is hard but doable. then again, you also need to take into account that not all antagonists are meant to be sympathized with, it's even kind of the opposite imo? but idk

im also heavily biased when it comes to the examples i cited, but it was mostly bc, well, genshin blog yada yada. then again im also kind of an apologist in a lot of cases, like for example once the house of the dragon s2 is out you best believe ill stand behind every decision miss girl rhaenyra the rightful heir will make ♡

[campbluelake]

What's a Mob to a Sobbern | Eri | MM.6

Eri has since returned to her seat, having given Malyce a smile that did little to mask her sadness before doing so. As the trial continues, the subject shifting from the Director’s involvement, she remains hung up on him instead.

His words are weighing on her— a burden pressing down on her chest with such force it’s almost difficult to breathe. “I just want to be with you guys,” is what Malyce had whispered. That kind of loneliness is hard to fathom, let alone carry with you. Just witnessing it causes her heart to ache, and yet…

At least one other person here is all too familiar with that feeling.

Initially Eri had been tempted to sympathize with the thrall; after all, she’s no stranger to misguided attempts at friendship. But the more they discuss their intentions, the less sorry she feels for them. If anything, they sound like a major freak.

“Where the hell do they get off, thinking they can decide who is and isn’t a ‘lost soul?’”

It becomes clear when she speaks that this is to whom all the vitriol she should’ve felt towards Malyce is now aimed towards. At least he has an element of pathetic desperation. The thrall, on the other hand, seems to think they’re doing everyone a favor.

And god, does that piss her off.

��Man, I fuckin’ hate people who think they know what’s best for others! Like what the fuck? Nobody in their right mind would wanna stay here. And who gives a shit if they’re lonely; that’s just part of life, y’know? You can always make new friends without, like, stealing souls or whatever!”

She huffs in annoyance, shakes her head.

“Plus all the goo… Tch. For starters, I dunno why everyone’s always gettin’ on my case for dicking around when a certain dumbass whose name starts with K and ends with yousuke decided to eat goo with Sayacchi.”

She elbows Kyousuke beside her, giving him a pointed look. That is not the point of the conversation right now, but she’s of the mind it needs to be said.

(Never mind she absolutely would’ve tried eating it if she’d been with them at the time of the taste testing. Since she wasn’t, she gets to have this high ground).

“Anyway, ain’t it pretty weird how the goo isn’t everywhere? It’s way worse in certain places, like the parking lot and quarry and where Yuyu’s car used to be. And those places got one thing in common: they’re all ties to our world. So maybe the goo’s, like, the thrall’s way of destroying shit they don’t wanna keep around for their stupid little town? Which is dumb as hell, ‘cause they got rid of all the coolest stuff, yeah?”

Which is to say, most of her jock enrichment has been turned to goo. The obstacle course, the ziplines, even the swimming pool— all gooed. How does this demon expect any of them to be happy without nothing fun left to do?

“Oh, and going back to that picture book we found… It didn’t just talk about a ‘paradise for losers,’ yeah? It also mentioned there bein’ an Adventurer and Sov… Sob… Sobnern?”

The word she’s looking for is sovereign.

“Anyway, I was wondering… Is that King supposed to be the thrall? ‘Cause since they mentioned wanting Jacky-boy to be mayor, it seems to me like they don’t really care about power, y’know? More just bein’ a freak who collects souls to try and help ‘em. But would that make them the Adventurer then? And maybe being able to goo stuff is one of the powers they got from the Sobbern?”

She shrugs, figuring that’s enough of a contribution for now. She’s now imagining Jacky-Bobby as mayor of an actual town… And then running for president of the world or something. Really, she wouldn't mind him in charge like that. She knows he would never turn her jock enrichment into gross goo.

[hello-nichya-here]

How NOT to write romance - How I Met Your Mother edition

Warning: long-ass post and lots of bitterness over a TV show that ended nearly eight years ago.

Basics for story-telling

If the romance you want to write is dysfunctional, fucking embrace it and have fun with the concept instead of pretending the bad shit the characters do is okay because “it’s true love”

Acknowledgde that your main character has flaws instead of acting like he is a saint who can do no wrong for no reason other than “he is the main character. Definitively don’t make him do, of his own free will, the exact exact same things the supposedly “selfish and cruel” womanizer does and then excuse it as him having “succumbed to/been tricked by a bad influece” like he’s child who doesn’t know any better instead of being a grown ass adult.

Don’t make your characters be annoying, entitled fuckers who think they have the right to judge others for wanting different things out of a relationship/not wanting a relationship at all. Don’t act like monogamy, double dates with other couples, marriage and children are something EVERYONE secretly wants deep down.

Don’t demonize the “evil” character of the group and act like the “heroes” being appalled by the shit he does is anything other than hypocricy. There’s literally nothing forcing them to be friends with him, so they’re obviously not as horrified at bad shit he does as they say they are, otherwise they would have ditched him a long time ago.

Don’t have the “heartless womanizer”,  who we later find out is the ex-husband of the girl the lead wanted for himself, be shown to us exclusively through the eyes of the an unreliable narrator who had motivation to make him see worse than he is likely to be (get his kids to want him to get the girl instead of the “douchebag”). Also, don’t make his schemes to trick women into sleeping with them so completely absurd and ridiculous that the audience is pretty sure that 70% of the women he banged were completely aware he just wanted a quick fuck and went along with it anyway because they wanted some dick (and because the character is played by Neil Patric Harris, who is incapable of not being charismatic)

Fucking let you characters (especially the supposed hero we’re supposed to think is the best boyfriend ever) grow instead of making them constantly repeat the same mistakes

Lily and Marshall

Don’t make one of the characters hide something very important from their partner, and then have the audacity to be mad at them for “just not understanding” as if they were given any reason to understand what the problem even is

Don’t act like someone being heartbroken that their partner lied to them and practically made a plan to “escape” being married to them means they’re not being “supportive” of said partners dream - you should especially not do that after we were shown that they took a job they didn’t like just to make sure they’d have a secure future that would allow said partner to follow their dream.

Don’t have the character who was obviously in the wrong need to be convinced to get their shit together and apologize to their ex.

If a character forgave the ex who wronged them and even got back together with them, don’t have them constantly hold their past mistakes over their head like it that problem has not already been solved - you especially not make them do that on what was supposed to be their wedding day. They can either forgive their partner or not, they can’t keep going back and forth.

Don’t have them constantly hide important shit from each other (having a huge financial debt, getting a job, etc)

DO NOT have the character who fucked up years prior suddenly be willing to do the same shit again for the EXACT same reason (”I think our relationship is in the way of my dreams and I’m now completely isolated because I refuse to talk things out with you”) and then expect the audience to sympathize with them.

Ted and Robin 

Unless you’re writing a Disney/Disney-esque romance, don’t have your lead just look at someone across the room, decide they’re “The one”, imagine their life together and full on say “I’m love with you” AND “I love you” on the first goddamn date.

Don’t have the lead stalk his love interest, and throw three parties in a row just to have an excuse to get close to her now that she made it clear she is not interested in having a relationship with him.

Don’t have the “hero” lie about having broken up with his girlfriend so the girl he wants to be with will sleep with him, and then have him blame his actions on time. “Nothing good happens after 2 a.m.” Grow a pair of balls, Ted!

If one of the characters says “You’re going too fast on the whole ‘love’ thing. Can’t we just go on a few dates and see what happens instead of already starting to plan our lives together?” and the others throws a fit, that is called “being incompatible” and “damn, this dude doesn’t respect boundaries”, not “Wow, she’s so afraid of commitment”

If you want the audience to believe the main character’s feelings are not one-sided, don’t make the fact that said feelings ARE unrequited a running joke, and don’t have the girl only accept giving him a chance after having to deal with the fucker whining “But I love you” for months and/or after going through bad break ups. Also, if you have to retcon half the fucking show to “proove” that “she DOES love him”, that pairing fucking sucks.

Don’t compare the couple you want the audience to root for to the main character’s divorced, dysfunctional parents, and don’t have flashbacks showing that the lead had no clue what his girlfriend actually liked in bed AND that she literally covered up his face so she could pretend she was fucking someone else.

DON’T MAKE HER GET RID OF HER DOGS, YOU FUCKING MONSTER!

If your lead character is still jealous/possessive of his ex, thinks he still has a chance even after she told him to his face that she didn’t love him, and acts like she and her fiance (who he says is his friend) being happy is somehow them being selfish and cruel, your lead character is a loser AND an asshole.

Don’t throw away the entire premise of the show (Ted finding the REAL love of his life) just to force a bad pairing down the audience’s throat

Ted Mosby in general

Don’t have your “romantic, sensitive hero” break up with a girl on her birthday through an answering machine, come back into her life without warning years later because he’s afraid he’ll die alone, and find out that she never heard the message but was actually told about it by her friends and family who were at her apartment preparing a surprise party for her. You should especially not make his first reaction to this new be being mad that he was not invited to the party, and for the love of God, don’t make him break up with her on her birthday AGAIN.

Don’t have the “hero” cheat on his girlfriend and excuse it with bullshit like “Nothing good happens 2 a.m.” and “But I genuinely love Robin so it’s okay that I’m lying to both of them”. Do not, I repeat, do NOT have him blame it on his girlfriend being distant when she didn’t pick up the phone one night and then called back the second she was free to do so, while he was enjoying the gifts she sent him and LIED to her about having sent her some as well.

Don’t fucking make an entire episode with the premise of him turning a no into a yes - and telling that story to his children like it’s romantic.

Don’t have his fiance, who he knows has a rocky relationship with the father of her daughter, tell him she is uncomfortable with him inviting his ex to their wedding and then have him decide “This means I should invite her ex as well”. Also don’t expect me to feel bad for him when she runs off with said ex.

Don’t have him spend YEARS waiting for one of the hundreds of girls he thinks is “the one” to be single and even ask her neighbour to spy on her and let him know when/if she breaks up with her boyfriend - again, for YEARS.

Don’t have the lead say he’s gonna tell their kids about his love story with their DECEASED mother, only for it to secretly be an excuse for him to go “By the way, I’m still in love with aunt Robin despite her having rejected me for 25 years, can I go screw her?”

Don’t act like making the characters reverse back into who they were at the beginning at the story means they’re gonna make things work this time when the whole point of their break up in the beginning on the story was the fact that they’re just not right for each other.

Robin and Kevin

A therapist who was supposed to help their patient move on after a bad break up that messed them up, dating said patient is a major red flag. It is also a bad sign that, when she cheats on him and wants to break up, he realized what she was doing to used his job as “evidence” that he knew better and that she should NOT tell her partner how she felt/what she actually wanted.

Do NOT have said therapist date yet ANOTHER patient that asked him help to move on from a bad break up. Seriously, Kevin was a creep, stop acting like he was some angel who “deserved better than Robin.”

BONUS: How NOT to break up a couple - Barney and Robin edition

Don’t act like their relationship falling appart after their friends kept meddling, and even kept them locked in a room against their will until they labeled their relationship as something they aproved of, is somehow “proof” that they’re not good for each other.

Don’t retcon their relationship to force a break up (seriously, Barney was super supportive of Robin long before he even fell in love with her, but I’m supposed to believe he’d be a bad boyfriend who is never there for her? And he loved advantures and always said “challenge accepted”, but was suddenly miserable travelling the world with her and couldn’t deal with not having wi-fi at the hotel? Fuck off)

Don’t spend an entire season focusing on their wedding, have them get married and then divorce THE NEXT FUCKING EPISODE! Why do you hate your audience? Even people who don’t want them together can see this a terrible idea.

And most important of all, when people question what the fuck were you thinking, don’t have a meltdown on twitter and say that people who think Barney can change are responsible for Donald Trump being elected, you fucking weirdo, go see a therapist (that isn’t like Kevin)

[flightfoot]

Perspective From Another Timeline

Thanks to my betas @steelblaidd and Izzybusy!

I ADORE @buggachat new Bakery Enemies AU. This idea just kept on swirling through my head, I had to write it! This is set between parts 13 and 14, so after Adrien meets Alya and Nino but before Marinette starts sympathizing with him. AO3

---------

“You okay?”

Alya shook her head, trying to clear it. “I’ll be fine. I’ve weathered worse than that - we both have.”

Nino grinned at her. “True that.”

Alya smiled at him fondly, remembering Heroes Day. It was a bittersweet memory, with her having been turned against Nino and them both being akumatized. 

But they had fought to protect each other as best they could. She’d seen Prime Queen’s footage, how Carapace had struggled to get her to fight against Dark Cupid’s magic, how he’d only given into despair after she’d given into akumatization. 

“What did that blast do to us?” Nino wondered. “Everyone else the akuma blasted just disappeared. Why’re we still here?”

Alya’s brow furrowed. “I dunno… hold on, let me check to see whether any new info on the akuma’s been uploaded.”

Pulling out her phone, she tapped on the Akuma News Alert app.

An error message popped up, telling her that she had no internet connection.

Puzzled, Alya checked her phone’s other settings. 

No wifi - no wifi even recognized, much less connectable - no cell service, no connection to the outside world at all.

She glanced over at Nino. “Hey, you got any signal?”

Taking out his own phone, he quickly checked his connection. He shook his head. “Not a single bar.”

Frowning, Alya looked around. “Maybe all the cell towers were taken out?”

Everything looked intact though, no sign of any destruction at all.

Something else caught Alya’s eye. “Hey Nino, what time should it be?”

Nino blinked. “Well I mean lunch just started so it should be a little past noon-”

He glanced around, noticing the long shadows and the pinkish-orange of the evening sky.

“-which it clearly is not anymore,” he concluded.

Great. “Guess Ladybug and Chat Noir must’ve taken a while to defeat the akuma,” she said, putting her phone away. “Hopefully my parents aren’t too worried. They like me to text them just after an akuma attack, but right now…?” she gestured to her pocket.

“My folks aren’t as worried,” Nino said. “But they still expect me back home before the sun goes down. They’ll be getting nervous soon.”

Alya let out a small sigh. “So much for playing Super Penguino together.”

“Hmmm…” Nino’s eyes gleamed. “You know… it’s not night just yet. And I’m sure my parents would understand if I was a few minutes late because I grabbed a bite to eat.”

Grabbed a bite to eat? What was Nino hinting at…?

Alya looked around at their location more closely.

Wait… that blast seemed to have carried them to that one park, the one near-

Alya grinned. “I think my parents will forgive me for not calling in if I bring them fresh-baked treats from the best bakery in Paris.”

---

*ring ring*

The scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the store. 

Instantly Alya felt her shoulders loosen up, releasing tension she didn’t even know she’d had. There was just something so warm and comforting about the bakery.

Of course, a lot of that was due to the people running it. Good luck finding more friendly, caring people than Marinette’s parents. Sabine often checked up on anyone who seemed to be struggling or upset (and ready to protect them if they were - Alya had seen the video of the time a TV crew decided to invade Marinette’s privacy), and Tom was basically a giant teddy bear in human form.

But neither of them were manning the counter today.

Instead a young woman stared back at them.

A very familiar-looking young woman. 

“Marinette?” Alya asked cautiously.

The woman stared at her for a minute. “Alya?” she finally asked. “What happened to you?” She paled. “Did a new supervillain attack? Is that why you and Nino are younger?”

Huh. Weirdly scared reaction from Marinette. They’d all gotten used to supervillains by now. She’d expect an older Marinette to take them in stride even more than the current Marinette.

Hm… an older Marinette, a different time of day, and Marinette not seeming to know about the latest akuma attack? 

“Marinette… what year is it?” 

Marinette blinked for a moment. Her eyes widened.

Seemed Marinette understood what she was getting at.

She told Alya the date.

Her hunch was right. “We’re in the future,” Alya breathed.

A wicked grin slowly spread over her face. 

Five years was a long time. A lot of things could have happened. A lot of information could’ve come to light.

Like Hawkmoth’s identity.

Or more information on the Miraculous.

But most importantly right now-

She leaned in close to Marinette, making sure to keep her voice down, just in case someone else was around in the back. “So did you ever get together with a certain blond-haired, green-eyed model?”

“Uh… what?” Marinette asked, looking puzzled.

Alya snapped her fingers. “Adrien. Did you and Adrien finally get together? Ooooh, if you did you’ve GOTTA tell me how the confession went! Or, no, wait, don’t tell me, I want to get the deets at the time. Just let me know how long I’ve got to wait, girl!”

Marinette just stared at her, slack-jawed. “Adrien… like ADRIEN AGRESTE?!” she said, her volume rising with every word.

Alya’s eyebrows flew up. “Um… yes…?”

She’d thought that Marinette would be glowing about finally getting together with her crush, or dejected about still not being able to spit out what she wanted to say to him, downcast over him rejecting her, or maybe even infuriated because he mistreated her and they subsequently broke up.

(The last one was VERY unlikely though. After the Felix debacle, she’d learned to have a bit more faith in Adrien’s good nature.)

Shock at the concept of dating him? Not something she’d anticipated.

Footsteps echoed from behind Marinette.

So one of Marinette’s parents must’ve been in the back-

Adrien popped his head around the corner.

Seemed both he AND Marinette had aged well. 

Not that Adrien looked all that different. Taller, definitely, maybe with slightly messier hair and… were those earrings? They looked good on him.

“Hey dude!” Nino waved at his best friend. “What’s up?”

“Uh…” Adrien said, scratching the back of his neck.

“WOW those outfits really take the years off, huh?” Marinette said loudly, shoving them out the door. “Make you look smaller than usual. Well we better go talk about plans later okaybye-”

She promptly slammed the door behind them, physically pushing them away from the bakery.

After Marinette had dragged them a good distance away, Alya finally got over her shock, turning around and glaring at her. “What was that about?!” she asked Marinette indignantly, hands on her hips. “You know me, I wasn’t going to spill anything to him. That’s why I was talking so quietly! Why’d you have to do that?!”

Nino frowned, seeming more concerned than annoyed. “Adrien looked really hurt by that. Not cool.”

“There’s nothing to spill!” Marinette protested, gesticulating wildly. “I only met him for the first time two days ago!”

*record scratch*

Two-

Two DAYS ago?!

Ok, hold up.

“Adrien joined our collège class the day after I did! He sits in front of you in class! What’re you TALKING about?!”

“Uh… no…?” Marinette tilted her head to the side, befuddled. “I think I would remember that, even if it was a few years back.” 

Alya let out a bark of laughter. “Yeah, no kidding. He would be uh, difficult for you to forget. Heck, even if your memory was erased, you’ve got so much stuff revolving around him, I couldn’t see that lasting long.”

Marinette blushed. “Why do you think I have a crush on him?! He’s HAWKMOTH’S SON!”

“WHAT?!” Alya and Nino yelled in unison.

“Ladybug and Chat Noir defeated Hawkmoth a couple years ago,” Marinette explained, pulling out her phone.

A moment later she held it up, showing a blog post from the Ladyblog.

Oooh, that’s a nice graphical design. I’ll have to look into updating my site, Alya thought.

Turning her attention to the picture, she squinted. “Hey, can you enlarge the photo?” She asked.

Marinette complied, enlarging it and turning her phone sideways, letting it fill the entire screen. 

Gabriel Agreste being led away in handcuffs by the police, with Ladybug and Chat Noir in the background. Ladybug looked satisfied, with maybe a twinge of melancholy, but Chat Noir…

He stared vacantly ahead, seemingly not focused on anyone or anything, a smile on his face - but the most forced one she’d ever seen.

“What’s wrong with Chat Noir?” 

Marinette frowned, looking troubled. “I don’t know. He seemed really, really upset when Hawkmoth was defeated. It was a tough battle, bad enough that neither of them have returned since, but that doesn’t explain why-”

She trailed off, lost in thought. 

A moment later she looked up, meeting Alya’s eyes.

Immediately she waved her hands around, trying to ward off… something. “I- I mean, that’s what I read on the Ladyblog and what I could piece together from video footage, it’s not like I was there, NOPE. I was huddled in my room the entire time. Not like I have any insight into what Chat Noir was acting like during the battle, not beyond what any other civilian would know! That would be ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!” she let out a few forced guffaws.

Alya’s eyebrows flew up.

O...Kay…?

Maybe Marinette had been following Ladybug and Chat Noir during the final battle and hadn’t wanted anyone to know? She’d wondered whether Marinette might have a thing for Chat Noir, but her crush on Adrien dwarfed any feelings she might have had for him. Plus it’s not like Marinette would actually know Chat Noir, unlike Adrien.

Thinking about Adrien…

“He must’ve been devastated,” she murmured. Marinette looked at her questioningly. “Adrien, I mean,” Alya clarified. “Having your father turn out to be a terrorist? I can’t even imagine.”

Marinette buried her face in her hands. “Not you TOO,” she said, her voice muffled.

Nino slowly started edging his way behind Marinette.

“What’s your problem with Adrien?” Alya asked. “Did he do something?”

Marinette glanced away. “Not… exactly… I just… I’m afraid that it might all be an act. That he might’ve been helping Hawkmoth secretly, and… and even if he wasn’t before, that he might just be biding his time, waiting until he figures out who Ladybug and Chat Noir and then BAM!” she slammed her fist down on her other hand. “He takes them out, steals all the Miraculous, frees his father and rules Paris FOREVER!”

Alya reached out towards Marinette tentatively. She collapsed into Alya’s arms. 

Hugging her tightly, she sang a soft nonsense song, rubbing small circles in Marinette’s back. 

She’d done this a few other times since she’d met Marinette, though she’d never thought she’d do it underneath these circumstances.

Whatever these circumstances actually were.

Did everyone have amnesia or…?

“Do you have any big memory gaps?” Alya asked once Marinette’s breathing had calmed down. “Especially from five years ago?” 

Marinette shook her head. 

She’d shelve that theory for now then. More likely it was…

“An alternate timeline, huh?” Alya said.

Marinette looked up at her questioningly.

“That’s what I think this is,” Alya explained. “I WAS thinking that maybe there’d been some sort of mass amnesia, but if you don’t have any memory gaps - and trust me girl, with how involved you were with Adrien, there WOULD be memory gaps - that seems unlikely. I’m betting this is some sort of alternate universe, one where Adrien never got to go to school.”

“I still don’t get why you think there’s something between me and Adrien!” Marinette said. “I mean sure, he’s pretty, but did I really fall for him just for that?” 

Alya shook her head. “Actually, you hated him at first. Chloe’d been bragging about how he was her friend, and with that on top of you catching him trying to remove the gum Chloe’d planted on your seat and mistaking it for him PLANTING the gum… well… both of us just assumed he was a spoiled rich bully, just like Chloe. Luckily that turned out not to be the case.”

“How’d that misunderstanding get cleared up?” Marinette asked. “And how did your Marinette jump from that to crushing on him?”

Alya grinned. Marinette had ranted about this moment to her SO. MANY. TIMES.

“School let out later that day. It was raining and Marinette had forgotten her umbrella, so she hung back a moment, long enough for Adrien to approach her. At first she looked away from him, not wanting to acknowledge his greeting. But then he told you - told her I mean - that he hadn’t done it, promised that he’d just been trying to take it off with such sincerity that she had no choice but to believe it. He opened up to her, even though she’d been shunning him just moments ago. And finally he gave her his umbrella, just because he could. Because it was the kind thing to do. She’s been a goner ever since.”

The Marinette in her arms looked away. “I can see why she might have developed a crush on him. But I still dunno whether I trust him.”

“I don’t know whether I have anything that could convince you on that,” Alya admitted, “especially since this is probably a different timeline, and for all I know he could be evil here. Just make sure that you’re judging him on his own merits, okay? Not who he’s associated with. Not his fault he has so many crappy people in his life.”

“I’ll… take it under consideration,” Marinette said reluctantly. 

Marinette looked from side to side. “Where’d Nino go?”

“Oh, he snuck back into the bakery several minutes ago.”

“WHAT?!”

---

Nino opened the door to the bakery, letting out a small sigh of relief. He really wanted to check in on his best friend, and judging by Marinette’s behavior, she wasn’t exactly keen on him or Alya chatting with Adrien.

Thinking back on what he’d just heard, he frowned. 

He wished he could say that he’d never have suspected that Gabriel was Hawkmoth.

That he didn’t think Adrien’s old man could ever be capable of such evil.

But he knew better.

The guy threatened to withdraw Adrien from school and isolate him from everyone else at the drop of a hat, paid little attention to his son when he was at home, and was a very negative influence on his life in general. He might have been grieving, but… so was Adrien. He needed the only parent he had left.

And instead Gabriel had chosen to respond by becoming a supervillain and terrorizing Paris, endangering his own son in the process.

He really wished he’d gotten to hit Hawkmoth with his turtle shield more. At least he got to relish the smack he got in.

“You’re back!” 

Nino looked towards the voice.

Adrien walked closer to him, a tentative grin on his face. “I didn’t think you’d return so soon!”

“I had to come back to talk to my best friend,” Nino said.

“Best friend?” Adrien asked, blank-faced.

Oh, right. According to Marinette, Adrien hadn’t joined their class. She hadn’t even met Adrien until recently. 

Had some sort of memory-wiping akuma attacked? Wouldn’t have been the first time. 

“Do you know who I am?” Nino asked, pointing at himself.

Adrien rubbed the back of his neck. “Uh… well I know you’re friends with the Ladyblogger and Marinette, and… sorry, that’s it.”

He looked really apologetic, like a dog who’d ripped up a bunch of toilet paper and acted guilty about it once caught.

Hm. If it had been a memory-erasing akuma, maybe he could jog Adrien’s memory…?

And even if it wasn’t, he wanted to let Adrien know that someplace, somewhere, people cared about him. If Marinette’s reaction to him was any indication, he’d need that reassurance. Being looked at with suspicion, having people run from you just because of who your dad was, thinking that you might’ve been involved in his crimes… he couldn’t imagine.

“You joined our class the day after Hawkmoth first attacked,” Nino told him, pulling out his phone.

Adrien shook his head, looking confused. “Uh… no? I wanted to, I REALLY wanted to go to school, but Father-”

He cut himself off, looking away.

“Marinette said the same thing,” Nino told him. “That you hadn’t enrolled in our class, that she’d only met you recently. I don't know what that’s about, whether everyone’s memories were wiped, or an akuma messed with the past, or what.”

Come on, come on, where was it- ah!

He clicked on a photo, one taken a few months ago, holding his phone up so his friend could get a better look.

Adrien squinted for a moment. His eyes widened. “That’s-!”

Nino nodded. “Our class photo. The official one, anyway.” He chuckled. “I liked our unofficial ones better.” Swiping to the side, he showed the new ones the class had taken at the park. 

Adrien’s jaw dropped more with every new photo. He let out an involuntary bark of laughter at the one of himself, Nino, Kim, and Juleka posing. “I- I always wanted to mess around like that at photoshoots,” Adrien said. His voice trembled slightly. “But I wouldn’t be able to get away with it. And that’s mostly fun when you can share it with friends, at least share the picture, and I- I couldn’t. Chloe wouldn’t have appreciated it, and L-”

He cut himself off, shaking his head.

“Luka?” Nino asked. 

He didn’t know why Adrien would know Luka and not anybody else, but he seemed the most likely option.

“Uh…” Adrien scratched the back of his neck, looking away.

Hm, he’d have to see if he had- ah!

“You played in Kitty Section too, with Luka, Rose, Ivan, and Juleka.” Nino explained, clicking on the video. 

Adrien’s hands shook as Nino handed him the phone, watching the mini-concert.

“I- I was allowed to- I got to-” Adrien’s voice quavered. 

“Not at first.” Nino grimaced, remembering how bummed Adrien had sounded when he called him. “Your old man said that Agrestes were soloists, and that we were all bad influences.”

“HE was the bad influence,” Adrien said. A current of anger, of venom ran through his voice that Nino had never heard before. 

“Well I already knew that, even before finding out he was Hawkmoth,” Nino said, making a face. “Dude needed to chill out.”

Adrien snorted. “If he had any ‘chill’ he wouldn’t have decided that becoming a supervillain was the best way to heal my mother.”

Oh.

So THAT was why Gabriel had done it.

He’d just thought it was standard ‘I’m an asshole and want to rule the world while being a jackass to everyone in my life’ behavior.

(He still wasn’t going to rule out that being a factor.)

Nino put a hand on Adrien’s shoulder sympathetically. “At least he’s gone now and you’re free, right?”

“Right,” Adrien said. He didn’t meet Nino’s eyes.

“Not you TOO,” Marinette had said, burying her face in her hands.

As if she found it exasperating that Alya sympathized with Adrien. As if she had expected differently. 

Those worries she’d voiced as Nino had been tiptoeing away, about Adrien helping Hawkmoth, about him lying in wait, biding his time… Marinette probably wasn’t the only one to have that concern. And with Adrien’s face being as well-known as it was...

“You AREN’T free, are you?” Nino asked, eyes wide.

Adrien sighed. “I was as surprised as everyone else when I found out who Hawkmoth was. That someone who’s caused that much harm, that much trauma to this city, lived in my own house.” He clenched his fists, digging into his jean’s fabric. “I could barely believe it… no… I didn’t WANT to believe it.”

He took a deep breath, steadying himself. “I- I only remember snippets from right after his arrest. The police chief talking to me. Riding back to the station. It’s all a blur. Everything felt like I was processing it underwater. It was all so blurry and muffled. Even- even then, though, I could feel everyone’s accusing stares.” “I understand why, don’t get me wrong,” he cut in hurriedly. “Who wouldn’t be suspicious of the son of the terrorist who’s been making everyone’s life miserable for the past four years?” Adrien almost panted with exertion, his eyes wild. “And- and it was happening in my own house! Underneath my nose! I should have KNOWN! I could’ve stopped this!” 

Reaching out, Nino pulled his friend into a hug. 

Adrien stiffened for a moment, before melting into his embrace.

“It’s his fault, not yours,” Nino murmured. “Remember that, dude. He was the adult. He was your parent. Your ONLY remaining parent. I’ve met the guy. And I’ve heard you talk about what he’s like. If you had investigated more?” Nino shuddered, thinking about the disproportionate punishments the bastard had enacted. “And knowing he was HAWKMOTH on top of that? I’m kinda glad you didn’t. Yeah, maybe you could’ve ended things sooner. Or maybe he would’ve hurt you more before you had the chance. I’m just glad you survived.”

“I-” Adrien’s throat sounded tight. “I’m- I’m glad I survived too.”

They stood there for a moment, Nino feeling Adrien’s breath go in-and-out, his heartbeat racing, until it gradually started to slow.

*ring ring*

Adrien and Nino broke up their hug just as Marinette burst through the door, Alya on her heels. She skidded to a halt in front of Adrien - but not quite in time, sending her careening towards the floor.

She never made contact.

“Woah!” Adrien shouted, catching her in his arms.

Nino detected a hint of pink to Marinette’s cheeks before she abruptly sprang to her feet.

“So, uh,” Marinette said awkwardly. “I’m guessing Nino talked to you about some stuff. I mean, of course he talked to you about stuff, because that’s what talking is about. What- what I mean is, what were you two talking about?”

“I wanted to show him how much we care about him,” Nino told her. “Especially since with this… amnesia?”

“I think it’s an alternate timeline,” Alya said. 

“Especially since in this timeline,” Nino continued, “it really doesn’t seem like he had anyone.”

“I had a couple other friends,” Adrien told him quietly, giving a melancholic smile. “But I lost contact with them right after Hawkmoth’s defeat.”

Noticing Nino’s frown, he hastily added, “they didn’t abandon me or anything! They were online friends. One moved somewhere without internet reception, and the other... we never knew each other’s names. But we talked all the time. We chatted, laughed, defeated villains together…”

“In the video games we played, of course!” he added after a moment. He chuckled fondly. “We played as a team. Together, we were unstoppable, no matter what our opponent threw at us.”

Adrien swallowed. “But in the aftermath of Hawkmoth’s defeat, with all the turmoil, with everything that happened… I lost my means of contacting her. I- I don’t know whether I’ll ever get to see her again.”

“We’d promised to meet up after Hawkmoth’s defeat,” Adrien said. His voice cracked. “That- that once it was safer in Paris, we’d finally tell our names.”

His eyes dropped to the ground. “Instead, we lost each other. Maybe for good.”

“I know what that’s like,” Marinette said. She sounded strangely distant. “I had a friend like that too. I cared about him. A lot. Maybe… maybe even as more than a friend.” She said the last part haltingly, as if she’d only just admitted it to herself. “He- he wanted to know who I was. For me to know who he was. But- but I couldn’t do that. Not in Hawkmoth’s Paris. I already cared for him so much it ached. If I was closer to him than that- if I’d accepted his rose- I’m- I’m afraid Hawkmoth might’ve used the strength of those feelings against me. That I could’ve gotten akumatized, or he might’ve, and if we knew who each other was, knew WHERE the other one was… I just… I couldn’t accept that we might be sent to hurt each other.”

“We talked while the final battle was raging,” she continued. “He seemed really upset, more angry than I’ve ever seen him before, but… also kind of sad. I wanted to know what was wrong, but there wasn’t really time to press him. And after that battle he just… disappeared. I knew there was going to be some sort of disruption, but- but I’d thought we’d have more time to talk beforehand, that we’d be able to exchange new contact information. We were cut off before we had the chance.”

“I- I think of him every day,” she said quietly. “Wondering how he’s doing. He was always so positive, no matter what life threw at us. I hope that wherever he is, whatever he’s doing, he hasn’t lost that positivity, that optimism, the ability to see the best in the world and in others.”

“I’m sure he’d be happy to know you cared for him so much,” Adrien said, giving her a warm smile.

Marinette blinked, giving herself a small shake. She turned to Alya. “I dunno whether you’ll remember any of this after the Ladybug in your time restores anything, but on the off-chance you do, is there anything you need to know?”

“Oh!” Alya pulled up some footage. “You told me who Hawkmoth was, but what about Mayura?”

“Mayura?” 

“Who?”

Alya snapped her fingers. “You know, the Peacock Miraculous wielder, the one summoning the sentimonsters! Did she not exist in this universe?”

She pulled up part of the fight against Mayura, the sentimonster Ladybug, and Hawkmoth.

The video ended, she took another glance at Marinette and Adrien.

Marinette seemed to be in shock, staring straight ahead.

Adrien frowned, thinking. “I’d wondered for a long time how Father managed to hide his supervillain activities from Nathalie, considering she was around him most of the time. I thought maybe she was just really good at never asking questions.”

He grimaced. “Looking at that? I’m betting she didn’t ask questions because she already knew the answers.”

“You think Mayura’s Nathalie?” Alya questioned.

He nodded. “Unless something’s different in your universe. My father doesn’t have a lot of associates, and the way he acted around Mayura there, how he was willing to pass up a chance to fight Ladybug for her Miraculous in exchange for catching her… the only people I can think of who he’d do that for are my mother and Nathalie, and mom…” he trailed off.

“I- I didn’t even think about that,” Marinette said guiltily. “I remember reading something about Gabriel having a secretary, but I didn’t think about her much beyond that.”

“Maybe you could ask this universe’s Alya to post something on the Ladyblog, telling Ladybug and Chat Noir she has a lead on who Mayura is?” Alya said. “I mean, I know they haven’t shown up in ages, but maybe that’s just because they haven’t had reason to.”

Marinette winced. “I… really don’t think that’s it… plus Ladybug and Chat Noir never said that someone was helping Hawkmoth. Mayura never appeared, at least in public. I don’t know what we can do about this right now, especially without proof. Maybe if Ladybug and Chat Noir appeared, but…”

She sounded doubtful. Alya was beginning to think that the final battle was even worse than Marinette had alluded to.

She hesitated a moment, before turning to Adrien. “I- I think I owe you an apology. I thought you might’ve been helping Hawkmoth, but… well… I was just judging you by who your dad was. You’ve been nothing but sweet and kind.”

Adrien smiled at her, though it was slightly strained. “It’s fine. I’m used to it. A lot of people in this city have suffered at Hawkmoth’s hands. I don’t blame them for being scared, or angry at any reminders of him.”

“That doesn’t make it RIGHT,” Marinette said heatedly.

Nino nodded. “Dude just because something’s done to you it doesn’t mean it’s justified, or that it shouldn’t be made better. Like with your old man forbidding parties. I didn’t let that stop me from bribing your bodyguard into letting me and the other guys throw a party at your place for you!”

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “It kinda escalated though. I think half the guys at Paris were partying in your room by the end!”

Alya gave Nino a sideways look. “And ONLY the guys because they ditched us girls while we were planting trees with a lame excuse. Seriously if you’d said you wanted to throw a party for Adrien while his dad was away, you could’ve just told us!”

Nino winced. “Yeah, my bad. At least we got to have fun there for a while before the akuma attack.”

“Akuma attack?” Adrien asked, eyes wide. “But I thought you said Father was gone!”

“He was- OOOOOOOH.”

“Yeeaaaah I don’t think he was actually gone,” Alya said. “You threw a ‘secret’ party in Hawkmoth’s house, WHILE he was still at home.”

Adrien gaped at Nino. “How’re you not DEAD?!”

Nino chuckled. “Lucky I guess?”

*twinkle twinkle*

A familiar red mass flew towards Alya and Nino.

Adrien’s eyes widened. 

“Behind the portrait!” he blurted out, just as the two of them were enveloped by the ladybugs, spiriting them off to whence they came.

It was silent for a moment.

“Do you think they heard?” Adrien asked Marinette.

“I hope so,” she said, looking off in the direction the ladybugs flew.

She turned to him. “I was planning on setting up some hang out time with Alya and Nino later this week. If you’re not busy… would you like to join?”

His smile told her everything she needed to know.

[caker-baker]

Eternally Yours

“They’re not like us.”

“I know”

“They never will be.”

“I know.”

The villain sighed at the hero’s resolve, and stared them down with a stony gaze. “I have to be older than you.”

“Oh?” The hero entertained the idea for a second, still not looking at the villain. “What makes you say that?”

“The light in your eyes hasn’t died yet.”

That did make the hero glance over briefly, catching the villain’s near glare, but they just as quickly refocused on the sunset, allowing their arms to rest on the trunk of the tree.

“They’ll turn on you.” The villain continued.

“Inevitably.”

“You’ll end up like me. Old, tired, nowhere to go, nothing to do except grab for power and demand respect.”

“I am old. I am tired.”

The villain scoffed. “Please. You still have hope. Write me when you get chased out of your first village.”

Despite the fact that the day did come where the hero was turned on, despite the fact they were chased out of their home, despite the fact that the villain was right, the hero never wrote them.

The villain kept watch, though.

“How did it feel?” They emerged from the shadows, not at all scaring the hero, still trekking to their next home.

“Can’t say it didn’t hurt.” The hero shrugged, letting the plants under their feet grow just a bit more.

The villain noticed.

“You’re angry.”

The villain was happy.

“No.” The hero disagreed, and the plants stopped responding to their call. “No, I’m just happy I got to stay as long as I did.”

“How can you be like me?” The villain asked. “We’re so different.”

“I like my calling much more over your shadows.”

“Anyone would prefer the ability to nurture life over shrouding the world in darkness.”

The hero laughed, it almost made the villain stop in their tracks.

“How often do you hear someone laugh, Villain?”

In theory, the villain heard laughter a million times over. This was different. This was a sound of joy that reached the villain’s soul the way most things couldn’t.

So, the villain didn’t answer, and just cleared their throat.

“Write me when it happens again. I mean it.”

The villain was gone.

It took a little longer the next time around, for the hero learned to better cover their tracks, but it didn’t last.

For the second time in their life as a hero, they were chased away.

For the third time in their life as a hero, the villain appeared.

“It’s troublesome, tracking you down. Writing me would save the worry.”

“I didn’t have much access to stationary.” The hero teased, and the tree branch they were sitting on creaked, another response to the hero’s touch.

The villain did have to look up at the hero, which was a bother, but they could climb.

And the hero waited.

“I see you’ve bettered your calling.” They said, looking at the cluster of trees that popped up overnight.

“It was an accident.” The hero defended. “It’s kind of new.”

“Aren’t you also old and tired?” The villain quipped. “Were you really just living for years thinking you wouldn’t die, with no inkling of a idea that you could have a calling?”

The hero blushed.

“Oh.” The villain sucked in a breath. “You need to get it under control before you try for the next miserable little village.”

“Avoid the Westlands.” The villain continued. “There are so few with callings left already. They’ve begun killing those even suspected.”

“Thank you.”

It had been a while since the villain was thanked.

They disappeared in a flourish of darkness.

It was the Westlands the hero went to. It was the Westlands the villain furiously traveled to, all the while wondering how the hero managed the faster pace between the two.

They didn’t wait for the hero to be hurt this time.

“What are you doing?” The villain hissed, dragging them to the edge of the wood on the Westland border. “I told you what they’re doing here, I warned you.”

“I want to help the others who have callings. I want to help the ones wrongly accused.”

“You fool!” The villain threw up their wall of shadows, and continued pulling the hero along with them. “You blithering ass!”

The roots of the trees grew larger under the villain’s feet.

“Stop it!” The hero shouted, pulling back, letting the villain trip over the roots. “I’m going to help them.”

“Like the hells you are.” The villain shot back, recovering from their stumble quickly. “They’ll kill you faster than any of them for daring to sympathize.”

“So instead I’ll live on knowing I could have helped my people and didn’t.”

That struck a nerve with the villain. Were they not helping one of their people right now? Were they not trying to save the hero from certain death?

“If you die-” the villain snarled, and turned slowly to face the hero. “I will never forgive you.”

The hero smiled.

The villain fled to the Eastlands to reign further terror along their path.

This time, the hero chased after them.

“You need to stop, please.” The hero said softly next to the villain, who was content in watching the flames burn brighter. “All the people are already out.”

“I noticed you sneaking around with them, my dear. I could have stopped you ten times over.”

The threat was clear: I can be worse.

“Won’t this further hurt our kind? Knowing it was one of us who did this?” The hero gently placed a hand on the villain’s shoulder, who placed their hand on top of the hero’s.

“I wasn’t caught. I never get caught outside of the west. Besides, they were starting too think too much like the Westlands.” Their grip on the hero’s hand tightened. “How many years was it? No word from you. Knowing I couldn’t do this to the Westlands without all the blame being pinned on us.”

“Did you-” the hero thought over their words. “Did you do this for me?”

“I did it because I was angry, my dear. But I was angry for you.” The villain removed their hand, and cleared their throat. “How many did you save?”

The hero’s eyes lost just a bit of shine. “I waited, for so long. There were hardly any with actual callings. Just the accused. It’s like it’s just us.”

Not such a bad thing. The villain thought.

They didn’t stop their crimes, especially the ones that caught the hero’s attention.

“When I heard of a new lordship, I didn’t think that meant-”

“That it was me and my power grab?”

“I knew you were somewhere near the north.”

The villain tsked. “They’ve given it a name since the commoners revolted, with my support, naturally.”

“Commoners?” The hero repeated, stepping back.

“That’s what they are.” It was pushed aside, quickly, quietly, like all the things the villain did. “Come along, we have plenty to do now that you’re here.”

“I’m not staying.” They stepped back again. “I came to petition the new lordship for our people’s protection.”

“Already done. Outlawed on my land. It’s become a safe haven to whoever’s left.”

“Why was the Westlander Militia symbol on your guard’s post?”

The villain’s eyes snapped up. “Deals were made. You can help now that you’re here.”

“I’m not staying. There’s more work to be done.”

“It can be done here.” The villain snarled. “I’ve waited for you for years to come to your senses.”

“Wait a few years more.”

“If you leave now,” the villain interrupted the hero’s angry walkout. “You’ll never have my power in your hands again.”

The hero never even hesitated.

It kept on, decades at a time. One chased after the other, to persuade, to stop, to comfort.

“You can’t make-” the villain sighed, and placed their arms around the sobbing hero. “You can’t make attachments, please, love, say this will be the last one.”

“It can’t only be us.” The hero hissed through their tears. “How is it only us?”

The villain had seen this before, the eventual break of the mind, wanting for a release, for companions as eternal as you, waiting for the moment death would allow you to see them again. The villain had been in the same break before meeting the hero.

For the first time in their long history, the villain gave them space.

But it took too long.

Their world melted into modernization, the age of callings over, the age of superpowers beginning.

There still weren’t enough of them, and the public opposed the young new heroes too much.

So, the villain did what they did best. They grabbed for power, and fought back in the most immoral ways they knew how. Against the government they had their hands in, and against the perception of the public they couldn’t seem to touch.

But it took too long. The villain was lonely. And the villain began searching.

They liked the modern age for that reason - it made finding people so much easier. Maybe not the people who hadn’t been born in this era, but everyone had something to follow, even if it was just one second of their face in a traffic camera.

The villain would know them anywhere.

And the villain followed. When they reached the end of the trail, they did not approve of the hero’s current living situation.

Nothing dire, but all too meek for the villain’s taste.

Miles and miles outside city limits was the hero, in some field in some farmhouse with no farm. The hero could grow one if they wanted to, meaning the lack of flora was a choice.

When the villain knocked on the door, they expected the hero to answer with a sigh of disapproval, a click of the tongue.

They didn’t expect it to slam right back in their face.

The villain had hardly glanced at the hero’s face, and that was the most infuriating part. Their counterpart should have known how lonely it was, how delightful it was to see some familiarity in a constantly evolving world.

Breaking the door down wasn’t the smartest move, maybe, but it got the job down.

“Hero!” The villain shouted, trying to sense them among the kitschy decor.

Naturally, the hero was halfway out the spare room’s window, and the villain picked up on it. They knew the hero, more than the hero would like to admit.

They covered the spare room in darkness the second they crossed the door frame. Immediately, something inched up and around the villain’s legs.

Of course the hero kept plants in their home. It didn’t matter, the villain could see through their own cloak, and the hero couldn’t, still blindly reaching for the edges of the window.

“Talk to me, damnit!” The villain shouted, pulling the crook of the hero’s arm back, pinning their back against the villain’s chest.

“Let go of me!” The hero shrieked. “I want nothing to do with you.”

The darkness dissipated.

“Since when?” The villain shot back, trying to ignore the greenery growing higher on their body. “What’s happened, my dear?”

The hero tried to push off of them, but the villain was the one doing large acts of terror with nearly no one to stop them, the hero, it seemed, hadn’t been doing much to keep up with the villain’s physique.

“You happened!” The hero shouted. “You and your damned fighting with the public.”

“You could have come and stopped me at any time.” The villain hissed into the hero’s ear.

“And you could let me go.”

The villain froze. They didn’t want to, and they especially didn’t want to admit it.

“Give-” they cleared their throat. “Give me a few minutes more, please.”

At that, the hero went silent, and obliged the villain’s request.

“Thank you.” The villain planted a light kiss to the top of the hero’s head. “Don’t run away.”

For what seemed like the millionth time in their lives, the villain let go of the hero.

For the first time in a while, the hero stayed.

With a wave of the hero’s hand, the plants creeping up the villain fell to the ground.

“What do you want?” The hero demanded, finally turning to face the villain.

The villain had to suck in a breath. It had been so long since they had been able to fully see them in all their glory.

“You’re taking too long. I was giving you time and space, but it’s been-”

“I know how long it’s been.” The hero cut off the villain. “It was intentional.”

That hurt. But they would especially never admit it out loud.

“I need more time.” The hero added as an afterthought.

“Really, my dear.” The villain scoffed. “It’s been plenty of-”

“You don’t get to decide how I grieve. I loved her.”

Oh. This was the route the hero was going.

Fine then, the villain could play this cruel game.

“Love?” They repeated, shoving their hands in their pockets. “Love is something people like us can’t afford. Love isn’t some game we get to play.”

“It’s not a game!” The hero protested. “You’re saying you’ve never been in love?”

Never with the wrong person.

“I fancy myself a patient person, my dear, but I draw the line at love.”

“You don’t draw lines at anything! You don’t get to decide anything about me!”

“I’m far too perfectly aware. If I had my way, you’d never leave my side, you wouldn’t insist on doing things the kind way.” The villain’s lip curled. “You wouldn’t fall in love with the wrong people.”

Oh. So this was about jealousy.

It was not a shocking realization to the hero. They wondered, in fact, how they didn’t see it before.

“Spare me your melodramatics.” The hero mumbled. “You’ve had just as long as me to find someone new.”

“How did that work out for you?”

The hero took a visible step away that time.

“Falling in love,” the villain stepped forward. “Is foolish. Having room for anyone but the people like you is selfish.”

“Selfish?” The hero repeated in disbelief. “You’re calling me selfish? You’ve done more to harm our image than protect it! All for the sake of some petty vengeance story.” They steadied themselves in a protective stance.

“We’re really going to do this?” The villain smiled. “We’ve had our squabbles, but this one could level the city, even with the distance.”

“I won’t let that happen.”

In the end, there wasn’t much to be said about the fight to end all fights. Everything succumbed to darkness, even the creation of life itself.

[gryffindors-weasley]

Starlit Confession

Young!Sirius Black x Reader

Summary: On a camping trip tradition, your friends have got other plans neither you or Sirius are aware of.

Requested by @expelliarmusmyass : “can i request a classic enemies to lovers "there's only one bed" sirius x reader where all the marauders (+lily!) have a sleepover or camping trip of some sorts and lily and remus finally decide they need to get reader and sirius already and plan to get them to sleep in the same room/bed/tent ? thanks !!”

Word Count: 5.4k

Warnings: little bit of jealousy, mutual pining, fluff, kissing

A/N: Thank you for my first Sirius request!! I absolutely loved everything about it, I hope you enjoy!

July 1979

The breeze swept coolly across your face against the warm summer sun as you stuck your hand outside the window, the air gliding over the back of it. You were headed to the stretch of woods that you’ve all come to know so well, something that was highly anticipated the moment the summer season had begun. Camping. It was something you and your friends had made into tradition without much discussion against it for the last three years. Lily had saved up for the very Volkswagen bus you’d been sitting in, knowing for a fact she’d get more use out of it than a simple small car; she knew her four closest friends were in it for the long haul and that was something that would always remain true.

It was mostly a golden yellow color, near orange, its roof white with a matching tire cover on the front of it between two round headlights. It was adorable, it was perfect, and most importantly it was big enough to fit a boisterous group of friends that surely needed the space. It’d already housed jovial memories that would be cherished for years to come.

You’d each packed up a bag or two, tossed them in the back and set off to the ever familiar place the five of you had found to be the perfect spot. A clearing amongst the woods, a place not far from the waters edge. It looked near enchanting when sunbeams filter through old yet thriving trees, as much as it could be for being a place without the very magic you’ve known all your life. It was perhaps your favorite tradition out of all others that had been created, one that you never failed to look forward to. No matter what’s been going on with any of you, traditions were never missed or forgotten. That was one thing that was constant and one thing would never change.

Another thing that had been just the same was the constant need for Sirius Black to get under your skin. You’d known him ever since you both were fourteen years old, and every day since then had been a battle of who’d been more witty and your three best friends had yet to determine who had been the rightful owner of that title. You were always bickering about something or another, always tossing narrowed stares and scrunched noses, grumbling under breaths and eye rolls. Even despite that, James, Remus and Lily especially had been convinced that there were feelings amongst it all. It hadn’t been too terribly hard for them to jump to that conclusion. They had their suspicions with each and every look Sirius had found himself giving you when your attention was fixed elsewhere. At the very same look you’d cast upon him when he wasn’t looking. They were absent minded actions to you both, and that was all the more reason for them to think there was something there.

It drove the tight knit group absolutely mad to see their two dearest friends love each other without even knowing of that very fact—James found himself far too close on multiple occasions to flat out complaining of the sheer obliviousness between you two. To simply tell them how blind the two of you must be. But each and every time he’d nearly done so it was promptly stopped by a stern Lily Evans who was not to be defied. They felt another day of this was simply not an option, too painful to watch a second more.

Even now, as you sat in the back with the raven haired wizard, the seating arrangement proved to make for an interesting trip. There was a flurry of jests and quips to match them; it was inevitable when he’d taken the seat right next to you, Remus on his other side. It’d been something entirely intentional on Lupin’s part, though the bickering was something to be expected.

First it had been over who was taking up too much of whose space, something accompanied by a lighthearted series of shoves and stifled laughter when you looked away in hopes the other wouldn’t see it. Then it had been when he’d changed the radio from your favorite song to his with a simple twitch of his fingers, a back and forth battle of rock and ABBA that nearly broke the radio, one that nearly drove your friends insane.

But now, Sirius had found himself staring as he so often does, at the way you waved your hand with the breeze, the way said breeze sifted through your hair and the way you sang along with James to the very same ABBA song that’d been on repeat for the past fifteen minutes. He’d reckon your voice far better than that of the brunette behind the wheel. He doesn’t know just why he always finds himself settling his attention upon you every moment he gets the chance. Or maybe he does and just refuses to admit the reasons for it. But there was something about you, there was always something about you to be admired. You were utterly enamoring even when you’ve got your brows scrunched over something entirely because of him. They never seem to stay furrowed for long.

“If you take a picture, it just might last longer,” you suggest with a raised brow and a smile indicative of your teasing, effectively pulling him from his thoughts.

“I’m sorry, it’s just you’ve got a bug in your hair,” he counters quickly, the corner of his mouth quirking upwards.

Your eyes are quick to widen slightly as your hand rises to your head in mild panic, combing your fingers through your hair in a hurry. His laughter was a telltale sign of his deception, that ever so familiar frown pulling down your lips as you swat at his shoulder. “Sirius Black, you’re a pain!”

His laughter was immediate as he caught your wrist from swatting him once more, “I’m not lying! There is something in your hair.”

He releases your arm in favor of reaching upwards, the tips of his fingers pinching the delicate flower petal tangled within your hair. Your words fell silent as his fingertips traveled down to the very end of your hair, a gentle action that had your cheeks staining what must have been an obvious pink as you found yourself looking at the smile on his lips. One that was soft and lopsided, one that grew as he held up the small pink petal before tilting his head at you. You hadn’t even realized you’d been holding your breath until that moment, hadn’t realized the new found quiet had drawn everyone’s attention.

“Told you so,” he states confidently, blowing away the petal and leaving it to flutter to your feet.

You squinted at him and mimicked his words to quickly move on from dwelling on your burning cheeks, something that brought a different kind of smile to his face mere seconds before you’d ruffled his own hair in retaliation.

“I meant what I said,” you remind him, trying to fight your grin as you watch tangled strands of black hair fall back against his cheeks once more.

“I am so terribly hurt,” he scoffs, placing a hand over his heart in a display of faux offense.

In that moment you settle for shaking your head, biting the inside of your cheek in a pitiful attempt to conceal your smile. A smile so awfully contagious he found himself mirroring it, having lingered on his lips even when you’d looked away from him in favor of looking out of the window. In doing so, you missed the way James had been glancing at you both in the rear view, at the way he shared a knowing grin with Lily, who’d then done so with Remus. It was a moment missed by you both, how could it not be with the way your thoughts had entirely been about each other unbeknownst to you.

It’d been quiet after that, save for the radio and James’ occasional startling outburst of song should a part come on that he’s fond of. It’d been peaceful and upbeat as Sirius crossed his arms over his chest, trying desperately not to think of how you’d made his stomach twist and flutter with butterflies. It was nothing, that’s what he told himself.

—

The place was just as beautiful and just the same as you’d left it the previous year, the sun still beaming through tall trees and the birds still chirping just as contently as they always do. Upon closer inspection, your initials had been carved in the very same tree, untouched since the five of you had left your mark on it the very first time you found it. Of course, it’d become weathered over time, moss having flourished over the bark, but the engraved letters remain regardless of that very fact.

The fire pit that James and Sirius had made still sat in the center of it all, it’s crumbled stones and charred logs and sticks sitting in a heap within it, waiting to be lit once more. Even the logs circling around it to serve as seats had still sat untouched by anyone else, unmoved from how they were left the previous trip out there.

It was exciting to finally be back there, to finally be out of the car in a place you longed to see again. All was well, except one thing.

“That is absolutely not happening,” you state matter of factly, the twigs snapping beneath your foot as you frown at Lily before narrowing your eyes at Sirius. One look at his smile, just one look, and you return your displeased gaze to the two in question, James making no effort to stifle his laughter at the situation. “No way, that is ridiculous!”

“Lupin must have forgotten to pack a third, Y/n/n,” Lily sympathizes with the softest of frowns to accompany her words, though you hadn’t missed the grin she’d tossed her friend’s way as he scratched the back of his neck and fought his own. “I’m sorry!”

“Then I’ll sleep in the bus with Remus,” you state quickly with a raised brow, crossing your arms over your chest stubbornly as you squint at Sirius’ very obvious grumbling behind you. His reasons for doing it were entirely unknown to you.

“C’mon, Y/n. Pad’s won’t bite,” James chimes in with a laugh, earning a swat to the back of the head from Lily before he protests her actions in return, shrugging his shoulders and rubbing his head. “Not very hard, at least.”

You purse your lips at the brunette and glared, biting the inside of your cheek to hide your smile. A smile that quickly faded as you glanced over your shoulder at the little tent that hadn’t stood very tall on the other side of the fire pit. Your heart leapt and raced within your chest at the thought of being so close, lips tugging downward as you looked back at them with a huff.

“I would say I can’t believe you, but I can,” you groan, brushing past them to get to the lake before they could become aware of your smile.

—

The last traces of sunshine were warm against your skin as you sat along the water’s edge with Lily, taking a moment to yourselves away from the utter chaos that came with the trio in the water. It was still a bit too cold to swim in but that’d never stop them from doing just that. Despite the chill that ran through you from it, everything around you had been exactly how it’s always been.

Wildflowers had bloomed just about everywhere you could imagine amongst patches of green and overgrown grass, framing the lake in varying hues of blues, yellows, purples, and pinks. When you sat at just the right angle, the reflection of the sky over the water had been absolutely wondrous, painting the water orange and pink. The ongoing breeze had been sifting through the leaves in the trees, leaving some to fall to the ground in its wake.

It was absolutely perfect, and you couldn’t think of just anywhere else you’d rather be in that moment than right where you are. You wouldn’t want to be there with anyone else.

“I think this is our best trip yet,” Lily states, leaning back on her palms as she tips her head back, allowing the sun to sweep across her skin.

“I think so too,” you sigh, letting your eyes fall closed as you hear another aguamenti spell used, followed by a bout of laughter that had a smile pulling at your lips at the sound. Her absence in conversation was sure a sign something was on her mind. It always was without fail.

She hadn’t left you to sit and wonder for too long before she spoke up.

“What do you think about Sirius?” There it is.

Your eyes squeeze shut at the question you anticipated, at the one you hadn’t expected her to wait so long in asked you. A soft huff left your lips as you opened your eyes, brows furrowing as she gave you an expectant look.

“Why do you ask?” You say, the corner of your mouth quirking up at her nosiness.

She shrugs her shoulders as she sits up more, heaps of red hair falling to splay against her back. “Just wondering.”

Her smirk was more than obvious as she looked at you, her smile widening. Lily and Remus had kept an eye on you both for quite a while, they knew that something had been there, it wasn’t that hard for them to figure out. Even if you hadn’t been aware of your own foolish love yourself, they’d certainly picked up on it. Because after every witty remark and every scoff and glare, there was always a smile to follow. After every frown and and nose scrunch as one of you stuck their tongue out at the other, there was always a lingering stare just moments after. Anyone could see that, anyone but to two involved that are far too stubborn and argumentative to realize that.

“Well?” She continues.

“Well what?” You ask, pulling your knees to your chest as you look at her.

“You can’t possibly have nothing to say about him, not after all the banter you do. What do you think of him?” She repeats.

You roll your eyes as you avert your gaze from her, resting your chin on your knees as you look ahead. You mull over your words as a laugh leaves your lips, your head shaking slightly as your eyes fall upon him. He’s got strands of wet black hair stuck to his face, cheeks reddened ever so slightly from the combined heat of the summer sun and the chilliness of the water. His smile was beaming and bright as he tips his head back and laughs at something James had said.

“He’s a pain, Lily,” you said, biting the inside of your cheek to hide your smile. “He’s a pain.”

She laughed at your words, though she took note of the smile that’d been on your lips as she followed your gaze to the very one in question. She hadn’t failed to notice the smile he had returned to you after having done a double take, an action that was far less subtle than he’d hoped. He couldn’t help it though. Not with the way you’ve got flowers tucked in your hair and the way the sunshine made you glow. But when he found himself looking for what he felt was far too long he’d stuck his tongue out at you, wiggling his fingers before you rolled your eyes.

“Oh really?” She inquires, her smile evident in her voice, laughing when you narrow your eyes only briefly.

You pluck a flower from the ground and hold it under your nose for a moment, twirling its stem as it sat pinched between your fingers. You shook your head once more.

“Yes, really.”

—

The tent was rather average, having danced dangerously on the edge being too small. Every gust of wind, no matter how gentle, had puffed against its very walls, rattling the zippers and the flap of the door until you’d finally closed it completely. You knew for a fact your friends had to have done this on purpose, at this point there was no way they couldn’t have judged by the smiles they’d done a terrible job at hiding.

It was becoming increasingly obvious when you sat around the campfire that evening when Lily sat with James, and when Remus managed to take up the entirety of the log he’d claimed his own. It left you no other option than to sit next to Sirius, his chin in his palm as he hid his taunting smile behind his fingers.

You could tell by the way their gaze fell upon the two of you more often than not, and by the way James had displayed his emotions a little too obviously each and every time Lily had whispered something undoubtedly about the two of you in his ear. By the very way that no matter how much your group of friends could talk and bounce from topic to topic with ease, the conversation would always, without fail wind up circling back to the two of you. You were becoming painfully aware of the plan made by none other than Lily and Remus.

You should have known they’d do something like this; they’ve done it at the spring ball in sixth year. It was the very first time Hogwarts had done something like that, it was magnificent. However, you thought your date had stood you up as you sat with Lily and Remus, the mysterious date they’d set you up with. Said date had finally showed up by the side of James, and your eyes nearly rolled to the back of your head upon realizing just who they’d set you up with. You’d frowned as you danced with him, accompanied by a few laughs when he twirled you, accompanied by a few eye rolls when he said something witty. The night had been far better than it started, but you hadn’t spoken of it since.

They’d done it at Hogsmeade. They’d told everyone to meet at the Three Broomsticks, having diligently reminded everyone to do so. You and Sirius had been the first ones there, having sat awkwardly across from each other as you sipped your butterbeer. It was quiet until the two of you began to bicker over something too trivial to remember, one smiling when the other wasn’t looking. It took about thirty minutes for you to realize that the rest of the group hadn’t been coming, thirty minutes with Sirius Black.

So yes, you should have known better than to think that they wouldn’t do something like this again.

“Sirius?” His only response is a hum in that moment, a rather dismal one at that. “How do you suppose I’ll get any sleep if you keep huffing and puffing? It’s rather hard to ignore, you know.”

“Maybe that’s the point,” he quips, though you could hear the very smile in his words even without seeing him.

You shake your head at that with a huff of your own, but he could see the shake of your shoulders from your stifled laughter that you had fought so hard to keep at bay. No, he most certainly could not know that he’d been making you laugh, that would be absolutely terrible to your cause for he wouldn’t forget that he’d been able to do something other than make you grumble.

It was quiet for a few moments after that, nothing but the crickets singing just outside the little tent and the whisper of the wind in the trees. He hadn’t huffed anymore after that, and you quickly came to realize that it was in fact not the cause of your restlessness, though a part of you already knew that. You knew as you lay in that tent that you hadn’t hated his company, not in the slightest as much as your protests would beg to differ otherwise on the matter.

“Would you really rather spend the night with him than me right now? Remus?” He asks quietly, curious after a little while, and you didn’t miss the small bit of offense in his tone. It was the most subtle of indicators that he’d been jealous. Not terribly so, but it was enough to have your words stick in his mind for a few lingering moments longer than it should. He found himself to be just a little offended, because while he hadn’t expected this to be the sleeping arrangements, he’d hoped maybe you wouldn’t dread it as much as you seemed to have.

“In this particular moment, yes,” you quip softly, a smile beginning to tug at the corners of your mouth when you hear his displeased huff. “I might even sleep outside with the bears should you continue being jealous.”

“That is not happening,” he says, quick to add more once he realizes just what you’ve said. “And I am not jealous.”

As much as you two may have bickered near incessantly, as much as it may have seemed as though you couldn’t stand each other, he didn’t want you to do such a thing. It was dangerous after all. He knows a flimsy tent would do little to protect you, he knows you’re more than capable with magic, but he’d much rather prefer you weren’t out of his sight. It was safer that way.

“Who’s to say?”

Your back remains to him as you close your eyes briefly, your grin having gone unseen. It’d always been your personal mission to get under his skin ever since he was just a boy who had made it a point to get under yours, and now that he was nearly twenty your goals were no different. Maybe they weren’t as childish and filled with a certain annoyance as they once had been in the very beginning, but the habit was still very much there.

“Y/n/n, could you be serious just once in your life?” He asks.

“You know,” you start, rolling over to lay on your other side. Your breath hitched upon realizing your closeness, his face mere inches from your own and you nearly lose your train of thought as he’d done the same. But you quickly gathered yourself as you swallowed thickly, a smile gracing your lips. “I don’t believe I could if I tried.”

He rolled his eyes as he moved to lay in his back once more, his smile bright as his hair splays across his pillow and you follow suit. Your heart had still been beating wildly in your chest at the closeness you’d shared just seconds earlier, cheeks flushed a soft shade of crimson as you dare not look over at him. He supposed he’s grateful for that because he’s too caught up in looking at you, that same smile on his lips that he knows shouldn’t be there. One look at him and you’d have days, even weeks worth of material to tease him with. But he can’t help it.

He also can’t help it when he laughs, his eyes squeezing shut. “What is it?”

He shakes his head as he continues, your own curious smile forming in your lips as you turn your head and look at him. “I’ve got that bloody ABBA song stuck in my head.”

Your smile widens and a giggle falls past your lips as you return your gaze to the sky, the mingled laughter between the two of you having been something not uncommon as of late. “Well I’ve got that dreaded AC/DC song stuck in mine.”

“It is not dreaded, it’s a classic,” he defends, scoffing lightly as a lingering chuckle accompanies his words.

“And so is mine,” you counter, just as much defense in your voice as he held in his.

“That is absolutely false.”

“It is absolutely not.”

He responded with a heaving sigh, a smile on his lips despite it but he let you win the argument this time because surely there would be more. There would always be more when the two of you were together, but he feels as though he can hardly count on one hand the amount of times you had argued over something serious.

Your shared laughter had since died down to silence amongst everything else, leaving you know choice but to think of how close the two of you were. To think of the fact that never in a million years did you believe you’d ever share a tent with each other. You will admit, only to yourself, that you hadn’t hated it as much as he may have thought. A part of you had found yourself thinking that maybe you’d even miss him had you not been less than a foot away. You thought that a lot lately, unbeknownst to everyone else, or so you thought.

It was then, as you lay beneath the stars in a tent you’d felt was far too small to house two, that you felt his knuckles brush against your own, the very tips of his fingers soon to follow it. The simple touch felt far more electrifying than you had cared to admit to, especially for a simple accident caused from the sheer closeness of your proximity. To be quite honest, you felt rather foolish with the way your heart had skipped a beat and fluttered relentlessly within your chest.

And it was then that you risk a glance to your left the same way he had risked one to his right, eyes meeting in a gaze that’d been shared for the very same reason. You both looked away from the other almost immediately, smiles pulling at your lips as you focus your attention on the sky. No attempts had been made to move.

“Something funny, Y/n/n?” He asks, humor in his tone that only made you smile more than you felt you should have been.

“Yeah,” you start, a soft laugh leaving your lips as your eyes flutter closed. “Are you desperate to hold my hand?”

The laughter he exhaled was immediate at your words, but not out of mocking. “Love, if I wanted to hold your hand I wouldn’t waste my time brushing my fingers over yours.”

That most certainly was a lie, it was absolutely false. As brave as Sirius Black can be, as bold as he always was, he was nervous to hold your hand. He felt as though he was tempting fate already by the mere nudge of his hand over yours. To him, the thought of being in love was both exhilarating and terrifying all the same. To care deeply for someone was in his nature despite his hardships, though he’ll never ever admit it aloud. He didn’t need to.

Sirius could and would risk his life for his friends without a drop of hesitation, he always would. But the idea of slipping his hand in yours, of telling you just how he felt—it was a feat that proved to be difficult. You, you were terrifyingly wonderful and breathtakingly beautiful. You always have a quip to counter his wit, and you would never hesitate to cast a harmless jinx upon him.

He hadn’t realized just how much he wanted to tell you until that very moment, that very day for that matter. With the way you sung that song he swears he dreads every time it plays on the radio. With the way you smiled at him, your cheeks stained a rosy pink when you told him he was a pain. Or the way you’d been beaming as you tucked flowers in your hair with Lily by the lake. He hasn’t known how he made it quite this far without telling you, it was beyond him how he did it.

You weren’t just the girl he’d bicker lightheartedly with on a daily basis over the most trivial of things, always ending in scoffs and eye rolls and narrowed gazes that were more humorous than intended. You weren’t just the one who’d turn his hair every shade of the rainbow given the chance, who could outdo him on the scale of stubborn bravery. You were the girl he found himself following wherever you went, who he found himself thinking of far more often than he told himself he should.

He’s pulled from his thoughts at your soft laughter, turning to lay on his side once more. Before he could ask the reasoning behind it you’d already reached up, your fingers brushing through his hair to grab the lone petal tucked pretty and yellow amongst the strands of black. His gaze never left you, gray and admiring as you tucked his hair behind his ear, the tips of your fingers lingering for just a moment before you pulled them away.

The corner of his mouth quirked up in a smile, his breath fanning warmly over your lips. “Can I kiss you?”

The question was soft yet confident, having had enough of the question merely sitting at the edge of his tongue for days, weeks, months on end. It’d made your heart skip a beat, and you were nearly unsure if you’d heard him correctly. Because Sirius Black, the boy who’d never failed to get under your skin, who never failed to make you roll your eyes or purse your lips, the one you’d seemingly loved all along was asking to kiss you.

The grin on your lips was nothing short of an indication that your words would be that of something jesting. “It depends.”

“Do tell, on what?” He inquires, the glow of the moon illuminating the mischief dancing in your eyes.

You moved to prop yourself up on your elbow, your grin widening a fraction the more you look at him. “Just how long has it been that you’ve wanted to ask me that?”

“Who’s to say I’ve ever given it thought before this very moment?” He counters, though he knows he has a million times. You roll your eyes then, tipping your head back only momentarily before looking at him again.

“Could you be serious just once in your life?” You ask, copying his earlier words.

“I don’t believe I could if I tried.”

You shook your head as your hand settled on his cheek, quieting his further mocking as you pressed your lips on his. His laughter sounded softly against your lips, soon dissolving in favor of finally kissing you, of finally doing just what he’d longed to do for an amount of time he’s far too prideful to admit. He found himself smiling when your hair brushed against his skin, at the feel of your nose nudging his own and your fingertips just barely tangling in his hair.

His hand came up to rest over your own, the action soft and distracted as you parted from him only briefly. Brief enough for you to smile against his lips, for your giddy laughter to puff softly against his skin. Fleeting before he kissed you again—once, twice, three times more.

You pulled away completely then, his hand falling from yours as you swipe the pad of your thumb across the dimple in his chin, your cheeks flushed and his lips kiss swollen and pink. He followed after you for just one more, gray eyes sparkling and smile blissful as you lay back on your side.

“I love you,” he murmurs, “bloody hell I do.”

“Sirius Black,” you say, taking your lip between your teeth as you looked at him. “I love you too.”

With that he tugged your hand gently, pulling you back to his lips in a soft yet lingering kiss, one that made your heart pound and another bout of butterflies to flutter in your stomach as he held your hand to his chest. He’d waited too long to ask you just that, wasted too much time bickering over this, that, and the next thing.

“Our friends will never let us hear the end of this, you know,” he murmurs, forehead resting on yours. “They’ll go on for weeks, love.”

“Let them.”

—

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