#after all kristen promised her!!

[himejoshiangels]

only one episode out and I might have to become the #1 Kristen Applebees defender

[stars-in-a-jam-jar]

I don't think Buddy asks Helio any questions.

Kristen asked 'Why do bad things happen to good people?' because she believed in all the good things she was taught, but noticed the strange disconnect between the world as it was and the world as it was taught to her. So she thought, surely, if I can't come up with the answer, Helio will have it. And she hates him for dodging her question.

Buddy is far more deluded than Kristen ever was. And he is far, far angrier inside as a result, even if he deliberately conceals this fact from himself to protect himself from the inevitable mental breakdown this would cause. Buddy is not as altruistic and giving and caring as Kristen is. He wouldn't question why he was betrayed or dig into a question like 'Why do bad things happen to good people?' Those aren't the answers he needs, because of course he'd be betrayed by someone outside the church, that makes perfect sense. Of course bad things happen to good people, we simply live in a fallen world.

Or, well. He used to live in a fallen world. Now he's dead here. In Helio's divine domain.

I think Buddy, as he wanders through fields of corn to the big farmhouse where Helio is chilling out, privately thinks about the fact that Kristen Applebees' horrified expression was the last thing he ever saw before a sharp pain in his throat. I think Buddy assumes Helio knows he's thinking this and apologizes for bringing thoughts like that into paradise. I think he thanks Helio for recognizing his devotion and bringing him here once he died and dutifully deceives himself about his own rising emotions at contending with the fact that he's dead now.

After all, he was raised to die. He was raised to want to die.

To want to be here with his god whenever it was he called Buddy to him. So he doesn't feel upset, no, of course not. He's just a little surprised at how sudden it was. (How completely random. How unceremonious and unfair.) He's a little bit worried how his grandparents would react to the news is all. (He cracks a joke that maybe he'll see them here shortly after they do get the news. He doesn't laugh at it.) He had his own plans for how he'd spread the good word in life, but of course, Helio had other plans. (Nothing Buddy ever wanted really mattered. He knew that, he knew the will of Helio was the real thing that mattered, and everything else was just a small list of preapproved extracurriculars in the syllabus of his life.)

He can't be upset about this.

He shouldn't be upset about this.

This is his reward.

This place and these people and this god are his reward for a life of service and devotion and walking in the light.

It's not his place to be upset about his own reward. Kristen got upset when she went to heaven, when she met Helio, and look where that got her.

Look... look where that got her.

He thinks he hates her. For looking at him like that. All the ways she looked at him. Like he was something pitiful and contemptible. Someone she needed to threaten away from her little brother. Someone she has to double and triple check if he's going to revive her when he's under magical oath to do just that or lose his connection to a divinity she threw away after being chosen.

And then. In that last moment, she looked at him and he saw grief and horror and caring. Like his death was awful and unfair and tragic.

And he thinks maybe he hates her for that. For challenging him every conversation they had and looking at him like she knew something he didn't. Like she was above him. Like killing your own god twice in life is a preferable fate to living for the promise of eternal sunlight and cornbread in death. A promise which was kept to him.

Kristen was promised to Helio, too.

And he can't unsee her face. He can't move along and focus on what truly matters (Helio, the church, spreading the word, doling out divine punishment when needed) because he's reached the end. There is nothing left. Only this bright sunny cornfield and a god who... is nice. And who cares about him, personally. He got Buddy's name wrong the first and only time they held audience.

He thinks he hates Kristen, and he hates that that hatred isn't immediately squashed out of his soul just by being here. In paradise. Where he belongs. Where every follower of Helio belongs. Where he never has to have anyone look at him the way Kristen did ever again.

I don't think Buddy Dawn asks Helio any questions. Because how do you ask the god you devoted every waking minute of your life to, 'Why do I hate it here? Why does this feel like hell?'

(There's a part 2 now that the next ep is out >:3)

[thelaurenshippen]

okay, maybe the day after the show has ended is the worst time to try and get people to watch it BUT can we please get more people on tumblr to watch evil. let me share the ways in which it is everything tumblr always says it wants:

it's x-files meets supernatural - a psychologist, a priest, and a scientist walk into a bar get hired by the catholic church to investigate demonic possessions

kristen bouchard. woman of All Time. canonically bisexual psychologist mother of the best daughters ever, wants to fuck a priest so bad it makes her look stupid and also definitely murders at least one guy and probably seduces a nun. single handedly destroying the catholic church by making everyone horny

father david acosta, hot priest 2 electric boogaloo. mike colter being the softest catholic priest who also vividly hallucinates biblical visions and has sex dreams about a demonic version of his best friend

ben shakir. ben the magnificent. my perfect skeptic, my favorite special little guy who gets his head quantum fucked and starts seeing a djinn. but before that he's the driest, most reluctant demon hunter ever and the best accidental stepdad to four teenagers. ultimate girl dad. genuinely offers to kill someone for kristen but can't say I love you. if you have ben in your corner, I think you could kick god's ass

you want to watch something that isn't just another show about white dudes? the only lead who is a white dude is the villain and literally (?) a servant of satan

on that note, the ? after literally is because the show never actually confirms that any the supernatural shit is real. incredible needle to thread

the OT3 to end all OT3s. none of these people ever have sex with each other but they are SO in love and devoted to each other its insane. you think you know what a situationship looks like but you haven't seen three people have to pull over off the highway simply so they can all hug. they would kill and die for each other but mostly they sit on the floor and get drunk on tiny margaritas in a can

a nun played by andrea martin who is literally holding the braincell for the entire catholic church. she actually fights demons and is afraid of no creature in heaven or hell. I want her to be my grandma

I could go on forever and ever but you just gotta watch it. it's on paramount plus and netflix and you're gonna fall in love with it I promise

[trivanvanile]

Lucy Frostblade found Ankarna’s name. She learned of Ruvina’s sister and wanted to help her. Kristen just brought Cassandra back. She heard about the return of Cassandra. If Kristen Applebees, renowned mess of a cleric, could do it, why couldn’t she?

One night, Kipperlily finds Lucy bringing the rats back, with the rest of the Hi-5 heroes. And she confronts her cleric about what she’s doing, reminding Lucy they aren’t the Bad Kids. They don’t risk each others lives and put each other in danger. They stay *safe* by being cautious. The two argue.

Ruben and Oisin admire Lucy’s conviction. Mary-Ann tries to get them to stop. Ivy defends Kipperlily’s desire to keep the group safe. It’s not fair. KLCK brought her friends into it. It’s not fair. She forged a withdrawal of the God Change on Lucy’s behalf. Lucy strikes Kipperlily, hard enough to draw blood. Unknown to her, emboldened by Ankarna, Lucy draws on the Rage she feels to her party. She unintentionally drags her friends into the bloodlust. What happens is she desperately fights against her party. It never should have went this far.

At the end, Kipperlily and the others stand over Lucy’s body. Realizing what they’ve done, the bloodlust fading as Ankarna has protected her infernal form. And Ankarna uses this to make an offer. “I will give her back, when you bring me back.”

They all argue but Kipperlily convinces them all to go home and sleep on it. She’s careful. She hides the body, using all her rogue skills to cover up the crime. No one would believe them. And she remembers something she learned in Rogue Class. Devil’s Nectar. It’s her fault after all. Why force the rest of the party to bear this burden?

So when they next meet, with the help of Devil’s Nectar, she lies through her teeth. “We didn’t do anything. It’s unfair.” And she does it everytime they talk. The sickly sweet nectar, it almost burns at this point, to take. Its viscous drip down her throat is almost suffocating.

“The school should do more, we should try to change things. It’s not fair that Lucy is dead.” Kipperlily thinks, unaware that she has begun to believe her own lies. As she looks on, during the first day of Junior Year, she sees the Bad Kids. Fresh off their adventure with the Night Yorb. They must have it so easy. Kipperlily clenches her fist, and sets out to do what she promised, choosing to spare her friends from the burden of bringing a dead god back to life.

[thenerdyindividual]

Okay but I’ve been thinking about the conversation Kristen had with Tracker in ep 11, specifically the part where she asks “what part of this seems unholy to you?” And like… bear with me here…. But Kristen was raised in the Helioic Faith which has a huge emphasis on damnation and hell. It was an off hand joke in Freshman Year that Kristen went to the Harvestmen meetings, and joked about being kept awake for hours and not getting enough food. We know she used to pray for hours and that there was a lot of emotional turmoil when she realized that she was gay. My point being that so much of Helioic faith is built around the promise of future pain, and on a personal level for Kristen it brought her a lot of emotional pain.

So it makes all the sense in the world for her to look at Tracker having a good time with her religion and wonder how that’s proper worship. I think it also puts into perspective Kristen struggling to connect with other deities. It must feel almost alien, after spending her entire adolescence struggling in the name of Helio, to meet gods that do not promise pain or struggle as a part of faith. No wonder she panics and throws up blocks between her and Cassandra that she must fight to overcome. Because struggling for faith is what she’s used to.

Also a lovely parallel to Adaine saying that sometimes she wished her new family would be just a little bit mean to her. She’s only known one way her whole life, and she knows it’s good that the pain is gone, but at the same time doesn’t know what to do without it.

Idk man for a silly dnd show where we get sexy rats showing hole, there’s a lot of depth and nuance to the story telling.

[janeyseymour]

Bruises

for @sleep-deprived-athlete 🤍

Summary: you come into Abbott looking like absolute hell. Melissa is worried.

WC: ~2.55k

You really hadn’t meant to get all bruised up at the Rugby game on Saturday- but the sport was tough, and you were by no means a player who would give up a play because you were afraid to get a little scuffed up.

Maybe a little scuffed up was an understatement, if you’re being honest. Your jaw is a beautiful shade of purple and so is your eye thanks to a shoulder to the face, your shoulder is killing you, and the one tumble that you had taken left you with a sore ankle and a bit of a limp.

Still though, being a teacher never stops, and you find yourself dragging your bags and yourself into Abbott bright and early the next Monday. 

Your sitting in the staff room, drinking your coffee and icing your shoulder as you continue to go through your lessons for the last coming months of the school year, when the rest of your friends start to make their way in as one big clump. How they all manage to pull up to the school and walk in together almost everyday without fail is beyond you… actually, you know how. They told you that they all plan to get there at exactly 7:43 to enter the building at 7:45, but you were a stickler for time and an early riser already, so you just came in before everyone else to enjoy the peace and quiet while you had the room to yourself.

“Y/N!” Janine gasps. “What happened to you?” 

“Hm?” You hum as you allow yourself to take your eyes away from your paper for just one second. Only then do you realize that Janine, Gregory, Jacob, Barbara, and Melissa are all standing in front of you with their jaws dropped and looking quite concerned. “Oh, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

“Sweetheart, forgive me for being blunt, but you look like you went to hell and back,” Barbara states. 

“It looks a lot worse than it is,” you tell her as you avert your eyes back down to the papers in front of you. “I promise you, I’m fine.” You adjust the icepack before wincing slightly at the cool sensation.

Melissa and Barbara share a look before Melissa sighs softly. She digs around in her bag for a second before pulling out her CBD oil. “Move your hair.”

You do so without looking up, not really questioning the instruction. You’re so focused on your lesson plans that you just follow the order without a second thought. You’re shocked though when you feel liquid on your shoulder. “Mel, what?”

“It’s just CBD oil… it’ll help ease the pain,” the redhead tells you. And then her hands are rubbing the oil into your shoulder, and you can’t help but let out a soft groan. Shit… maybe you really should go get your shoulder checked out. 

“Hun, what happened?”

“Just got a little roughed up,” you sigh as her hands continue to massage the sore spot.

That does not help the worried looks that your coworkers are giving you. 

“Guys, I’m fine,” you promise them. “I have to head down to my classroom to do a bit of prep, but I’ll see youse all at lunch.”

As you stand and start to gather your things though, you let out a small hiss in pain at the pressure on your ankle. All of their heads immediately snap in your direction.

“Hun,” Melissa frowns.

You hold up a hand, silently requesting for no further comment on the matter. You limp your way out of the staff lounge and head into your classroom. You thought that you could make it through the day without having to put your ankle brace on, but you were clearly wrong. You’re lacing it up when the redhead makes her way into your room and closes the door.

“What’s going on?” she asks you frankly. 

You just continue to lace up your brace, mildly annoyed that she won’t let it go.

“Mel, I’m fine. Just a little-”

“A little roughed up,” the second grade teacher cuts you off. “I heard you the first time. You don’t get to come in here after a weekend with a shiner that competes with the one Kristen Marie had after her and I squared up after Nonna’s funeral, a bum shoulder, and an ankle brace and get to be mysterious about it. What gives?”

You take a deep breath before meeting her green eyes with your own. “I fell. I’m fine.”

“Fell?” Melissa raises a brow as she folds her arms across her chest. “You don’t get all of your injuries from a fall.”

“Well, I did,” you sigh. “I don’t know what else you want me to say. It’s the truth.”

“Did anyone help you fall?” the redhead asks. “I know you and your girlfriend broke up a couple weeks ago, and if she did this to you-”

“She didn’t do nothin’,” you tell her quickly. “Now please- I have to prep for today.”

“Hun-”

“Melissa,” you grit through your teeth. “Please. I have to prep, and I’m moving a little slower than usual, so I need all the time I can get.”

Your coworker purses her lips. “Fine. But know that I’m always here if you need to talk.” She turns on her heel and heads out towards her work wife’s room. You close your eyes as you pinch the bridge of your nose. 

“She’s actin’ real weird,” the redhead states as she sits in Barbara’s rocking chair.

The kindergarten teacher nods. “Poor thing looks like she crawled out of the seventh layer of hell.”

“And she got real snippy with me when I asked her if Jen had anything to do with it… shut me down real quick and refused to talk to me anymore,” Melissa sighs. “I just want to help her if she’s in a sticky situation.”

“Melissa,” Barbara says softly. “If I do remember correctly, you were the same way when things got messy with Joe.”

“I know!” the second grade teacher huffs. “But now that I’m on the other end of it… I just want to help if I can.”

“And that is very kind of you,” the older teacher tells her friend. “But if she’s not ready to ask for help, the only way that you can help is by being kind and gentle with her.”

“I guess,” Melissa purses her lips. “Well… I suppose I should go pretend to do my job.”

“I suppose you should,” Barbara nods. “But seriously… do not go all Schemmenti over this. I’m sure Y/N is fine, and if she isn’t… we’ll be there to help pick up the pieces later.”

The redhead grabs her coffee before entering the staff lounge once more. She brews another pot of coffee and fills her own mug before grabbing a spare from the cupboard. She prepares that second cup of liquid gold the way she knows you like it before heading back down to your room.

“Hey,” she knocks on the doorframe gently. “I figured I would bring you another cup so you don’t have to limp your way down during prep.”

You smile at her gently, as much as your bruised jaw will allow you to. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” Melissa says softly, so out of character for her. “I’m here to help.”

When you expect her to linger, she just gently sets the cup of coffee on your desk and makes her way back out to her own classroom.

When your kids come in, they’re immediately asking you what happened, if you’re okay.

“I’m doing just fine,” you chuckle. “But thank you for your concern. If you think I look bad, you should see the other person,” you joke, thinking none of them will care enough to repeat your words. What you’re saying is right though- the other girl got just as roughed up, if not worse. Oh how wrong you are. 

Come lunch, Melissa is right at your door, asking if you want her to bring your lunch down for you from the break room.

“I can come get my lunch,” you chuckle as you wave off her offer. “I could use the movement anyway… been teaching from my chair.”

The two of you make your way into the staffroom, and she all but pushes you into a chair before grabbing your lunches out of the refrigerator for you. When you expect her to sit down next to you with her own lunch, she doesn’t. She heads for the fridge again and pulls out two ice packs. She gently tucks the first one into your bra strap to ice your shoulder, and then she’s sitting down and gesturing for you to prop your foot up on her lap.

“Melissa, I’m really okay,” you try to tell her again. She shakes her head though and all but forces your leg into her lap. She unlaces your brace before setting the icepack over the bruised area. Then, and only then, does she dive into her own lunch.

You smile softly at her. “Thank you.”

“Someone’s gotta look after you when you won’t ask for help,” she rolls her eyes. “And I’ll be damned if it isn’t me.”

The lunch period passes by quickly, but then you remember that you have recess duty. With a sigh, you reach forward to lace up your brace again.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Her hands try to stop your own.

“I have recess duty,” you tell her. “Don’t worry, I’m planning on bringing a chair out and just monitoring from there.”

She ties your brace up for you before standing with you. “I’m not letting you lug out a chair by yourself with your ankle and bum shoulder… Jesus, don’t you think you should go get your ankle checked out? It’s the size of a baseball.”

“I’ve had worse,” you sigh offhandedly as you begin to make your way outside. No more than thirty seconds later is she outside with you, two chairs under her arm. She sets them out before gesturing for you to sit down.

“Thanks,” you mutter. The two of you sit there for a bit of time before the warmth from the sun begins to become too much for you, and unconsciously you roll up a sleeve- revealing the bruises on your arms.

The redhead next to you does everything she can to not stare at them as her mind goes a mile a minute, wondering exactly how you got all of these injuries.

And then two kids run up to the two of you. One is in your class, and the other is in Melissa’s.

“Miss Y/N,” your kid says as she bounces on her toes.

“What’s up, Jayla?”

“Tell Amaya what you told us today about why you have all of your bruises,” she tells you. “She doesn’t believe me.”

“I fell?” you respond, confused as hell.

“Yeah, but what did you say after that?”

“Thank you for your concern?” you tell her, even more confused than the first time.

“But then what after that?”

You shrug.

“You told us that we should see other person that did this to you!” Jayla yells.

You purse your lips into a fine line, and you can see the way that Melissa is eying you in your peripheral view. “That’s just an expression, hun. I didn’t mean it literally.”

“You still said it,��� your student smirks before turning to her friend as they walk off. “I told you she said that!”

“So,” Melissa leans in. “What was that?”

“I didn’t really mean it,” you huff. “It was a joke. I didn’t think the kids would remember it.”

“Hun,” the redhead lays a gentle hand on your shoulder. “If you need help…”

“I don’t need help,” you sigh. “I promise you. I’m just fine.”

And then the bell rings to signal the end of recess. You limp your way over to your students’ line while Melissa gathers the chairs under her arm again and takes them inside. You get the kids back inside and finish out the day teaching from your desk. 

After school, as much as you would love to just go home and relax, there is a staff meeting. You slowly make your way into the library and take up your place next to Melissa. While you’re waiting for everybody else to come trickling in, the redhead reaches into her bag again and pulls out her CBD oil. Before you can stop her, it’s on your shoulder again, and she’s gently working it into your skin.

“Thank you,” you whisper softly, trying not to groan out in pain.

She just nods before lifting your injured foot into her lap again. Melissa unlaces your brace again and begins to rub the oil over your swollen ankle. At that, you grimace, but you let her continue. 

And then Ava is making her way in.

“Hey y’all,” she grins as she makes her way over to your table. “Damn girl… you did a great job on Saturday.”

You chuckle lightly. “Thanks.”

“What game?” Janine asks. “And why weren’t we invited?”

“Ava wasn’t even invited,” you roll your eyes. “She was just there where I was playing rugby.”

“I was there to…” she smirks. “Check out the eye candy and go window shopping. I had no idea Y/N is the hottie that she is.”

“You play rugby?” Melissa raises an eyebrow.

You nod. “And that… is how I got the black eye, the bruises, and the shoulder and ankle injuries.”

“Why wouldn’t you just say that?” the redhead asks you. 

You go to speak, but Ava decides that now is the time to start her meeting, claiming that most of the faculty was in the room and she doesn’t want to have to be here much longer. So, you aren’t able to answer.

Once the meeting is over, Melissa is helping you out to your car in silence. 

“Why wouldn’t you just tell me that you got hurt playing sports?”

“I didn’t wanna seem like a wuss,” you shrug, only to wince slightly at the throbbing in your shoulder. “I didn’t want no one making a big fuss over me.”

“Hun,” Melissa rolls her eyes. “Of course we were going to make a big fuss over you when we saw you. I was out here thinking you got beat up or were getting abused… I wish you would’ve just told me that you got hurt playing a sport.”

You turn a bit sheepish. “Sorry.”

“You promise me that this was from rugby?”

“Promise,” you sigh softly. “The team I was playin’ was tough and showing no mercy… the ref called a bunch of flags, but by that point the damage was done.”

Melissa gives you a sympathetic look. “Well, why don’t you come over tonight, and I’ll help nurse you back to health? Cook you dinner, let you ice, rub some more CBD oil on your injuries.”

“Are you flirting with me?” you tease her. 

The woman in front of you just shrugs. “Maybe… what do you say?”

“I’ll be there by five,” you chuckle as you hobble along to get into your car. 

TAGS, and lmk if you wanna be added: @schemmentis @thesapphictimelady @marvel210 @itisdoctortoyousir @morgana-larkin @thesamesweetie @doesthatsuggestanythingtoyou @marvels--slut @gwennybriggs @megamultifandomtrashposts @lemz378 @http-sam @melissaschemmentisbranzino @imaginesmultifandoms @sexysapphicshopowner @lilfartbox1 @maybe-a-humanbean @imlike-so-gaydude @sapphicxrat @a-queen-and-her-throne @sunsol-22 @notinmyvocab @melanielaufeyson

[book--brackets]

The BFG by Roald Dahl (1982)

Captured by a giant! The BFG is no ordinary bone-crunching giant. He is far too nice and jumbly. It's lucky for Sophie that he is. Had she been carried off in the middle of the night by the Bloodbottler, the Fleshlumpeater, the Bonecruncher, or any of the other giants-rather than the BFG-she would have soon become breakfast. 

When Sophie hears that they are flush-bunking off in England to swollomp a few nice little chiddlers, she decides she must stop them once and for all. And the BFG is going to help her!

Graceling Realm by Kristen Cashore (2008-2022)

Graceling tells the story of the vulnerable-yet-strong Katsa, who is smart and beautiful and lives in the Seven Kingdoms where selected people are born with a Grace, a special talent that can be anything at all. Katsa's Grace is killing. As the king's niece, she is forced to use her extreme skills as his brutal enforcer. Until the day she meets Prince Po, who is Graced with combat skills, and Katsa's life begins to change. She never expects to become Po's friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace--or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

Oz by L. Frank Baum (1900-1920)

Join Dorothy and her little dog Toto on the yellow brick road, as they set off to explore the magical Land of Oz. Can they find the Wizard, defeat the Wicked Witch of the West, and return to Kansas?

Stardust by Neil Gaiman (1997)

Catch a fallen star . . .

Tristran Thorn promised to bring back a fallen star. So he sets out on a journey to fulfill the request of his beloved, the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester--and stumbles into the enchanted realm that lies beyond the wall of his English country town. Rich with adventure and magic, Stardust is one of master storyteller Neil Gaiman's most beloved tales, and the inspiration for the hit movie.

Inkworld by Cornelia Funke (2003-2023)

One cruel night, Meggie's father reads aloud from a book called INKHEART-- and an evil ruler escapes the boundaries of fiction and lands in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie is smack in the middle of the kind of adventure she has only read about in books. Meggie must learn to harness the magic that has conjured this nightmare. For only she can change the course of the story that has changed her life forever. 

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (1997)

At birth, Ella is inadvertently cursed by an imprudent young fairy named Lucinda, who bestows on her the "gift" of obedience. Anything anyone tells her to do, Ella must obey. Another girl might have been cowed by this affliction, but not feisty Ella: "Instead of making me docile, Lucinda's curse made a rebel of me. Or perhaps I was that way naturally." When her beloved mother dies, leaving her in the care of a mostly absent and avaricious father, and later, a loathsome stepmother and two treacherous stepsisters, Ella's life and well-being seem to be in grave peril. But her intelligence and saucy nature keep her in good stead as she sets out on a quest for freedom and self-discovery as she tries to track down Lucinda to undo the curse, fending off ogres, befriending elves, and falling in love with a prince along the way. Yes, there is a pumpkin coach, a glass slipper, and a happily ever after, but this is the most remarkable, delightful, and profound version of Cinderella you'll ever read.

The Witches by Roald Dahl (1983)

This is not a fairy-tale. This is about real witches. Real witches don't ride around on broomsticks. They don't even wear black cloaks and hats. They are vile, cunning, detestable creatures who disguise themselves as nice, ordinary ladies. So how can you tell when you're face to face with one? Well, if you don't know yet you'd better find out quickly-because there's nothing a witch loathes quite as much as children and she'll wield all kinds of terrifying powers to get rid of them.

The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan (2010-2012)

Since their mother's death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane.  One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives.  Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them--Set?has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe -- a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family, and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

Discworld by Terry Pratchett (1983-2015)

In the beginning there was… a turtle.

 Somewhere on the frontier between thought and reality exists the Discworld, a parallel time and place which might sound and smell very much like our own, but which looks completely different.

 Particularly as it’s carried through space on the back of a giant turtle.

 It plays by different rules. But then, some things are the same everywhere. The Disc’s very existence is about to be threatened by a strange new blight: the world’s first tourist, upon whose survival rests the peace and prosperity of the land.

 Unfortunately, the person charged with maintaining that survival in the face of robbers, mercenaries and, well, Death, is a spectacularly inept wizard…

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor (2011-2014)

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

[shubblelive]

— FRONT ROW

summary : for the first time, you see just how many fans wilbur has in person, and for the first time, you begin to feel like you might not be able to handle it.

genre : angst -> fluff, happy ending

warnings : one or two swearwords, reader gets overwhelmed, they almost break up (but not really i promise)

pairing : cc!wilbur soot x fem!reader

pronouns : she/her, reader is called wilbur's girlfriend

featuring : cc!wilbur soot, cc!ranboo (mentioned), cc!philza (mentioned), kristen

requested : @gracietaylorsversions Hiii! Ilysm could you maybe write a fic inspired by the song “dark red” by steve lacey, more specifically the part: “only you my girl, only you babe” where the reader gets insecure and jealous but wilbur makes sure to reassure her <333

word count : 1.5K

note : hello angel! now, i personallly hate writing jealousy fics i feel like i can NOT do it well, so i opted to delve more into insecurity than jealousy with this one. i'm so glad you're liking my stuff thank you so much it means the worlds

the room was massive. it was like a warehouse, but with seperate rooms off the main one, and way more people. you were in one of the separate rooms, carpeted and less crowded, a yellow card around your neck with your name written on it suspended by a lanyard. 

you weren’t a creator. you didn’t stream or make youtube videos or anything, you hardly even posted on instagram. the only reason you were attending vidcon was because of the man whose arm was wrapped around your shoulder as he chatted avidly to ranboo. 

they had a panel later, the first one since the pandemic had started. it had been somewhat of a surprise to you, when wilbur started getting so big as quickly, but you’d always know it was bound to happen. now, three years into your relationship, you were about to see your boyfriend in front of his first live audience.

one of the vidcon crew members arrived in the room as signalled everyone’s attention, everyone in your group falling silent. they’d all be leaving to go on stage soon. you wouldn’t be alone though, phil’s wife would be there in the audience with you. 

while wilbur got instructions from the crew member, another producer lead you, kristen, and a few other guests of creators into your seats, and you waited anxiously for your boyfriend to come out. 

the two of you had together since 2019. you had helped him move into his streaming office (and subsequently out of his streaming office after getting evicted), and had been there every single step of the way through his streaming career. his fans knew of you. they knew your name and what you looked like, and that you and wilbur had been dating for years, but not much more than that. 

you were as supportive of a partner as you physically could be, helping him out as much as you were able to. for his first ever vidcon, you’d been lucky enough to be able to take time off work to go to LA with him, and he’d let you know over and over how grateful he was for it. you’d held his hand across the atlantic ocean and let him go just in time for him to meet his adoring public. 

and adoring they were. it had been your first time ever truly seeing your partner’s fans in person aside from the odd chance meeting. this was extremely overwhelming. he stepped out of the wings and made eye contact with you immediately, waving at you subtly as he greeted the rest of the crowd. the featured creator hour went for, predictably, about an hour, and as your boyfriend and his friends left the stage, the audience was left to disperse on their own. you guys had saved seats for this one in advance, so you’d had a producer escort you into them, but this time it was just you and kristen in a sea of hundreds of teenagers.

“excuse me,” a small voice piped up, and you whirled around to see a young girl, no older than fourteen standing nervously behind you. she introduced herself nervously, and told you that she thought you had always seemed lovely, and asked for a photo. kristen took it for her, and she left with a beaming smile on her face as you felt your heart thrash against your ribcage. 

there were so many people here, and you were already incredibly overwhelmed by the noise, but now the knowledge that people were perceiving you, even if it was only one fourteen year old girl was just too much to handle. “hey!” you called out to kristen as you both reached the door, having to nearly yell over the noise. “bathroom, i’ll be right back.”

“do you want me to come with you?” her husband would be back in the creator lounge by now, you knew, so you shook your head. 

“no, i’ll be alright, you get back to phil. will you tell wilbur where i am though, please?” she nodded at you, and you took off towards the nearest bathroom. it was absolutely packed, so you skipped it and went straight outside to the carpark. it was hot, and you took a swig of your water bottle as you sat down on the concrete, back against the wall of the building. there were still somehow dozens of fans out here, but you didn’t care.

you needed to get better with this stuff. this was wilbur’s job, and you were his partner. if you were going to spend the rest of your life with him, then you’d need to be able to go to things like this and support him. 

he had so many people’s eyes on him, and you knew that all he wanted was yours. you couldn’t be there for him in the way you needed to. he deserved better. 

the internet was a cruel place. of course you’d seen hate of yourself. you’d seen wilbur shipped with any female friend he came into contact with, and you had always been okay about it. but maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea if he dated someone from the industry. he was bound to find someone eventually, someone who loved him just as hard as you did and was able to be there to support him. 

you weren’t cut out for this. you needed wilbur.

he was beside you. “are you alright? what’s going on?” he was scanning the small scattering of fans around the carpark areas, hoping to find somewhere to get you away from prying eyes. “darling?”

“i’m okay,” your voice shook, and he helped you to your feet. “you should go back inside.”

“i am not going anywhere without you,” he said resolutely, hand securely wrapped around yours. 

“i’m such a shit girlfriend,” you tried to laugh, but their were anxious tears forming in your eyes. it was so bright that you had to squint to look at wilbur, who was shielding you from the LA sun. “i’m sorry.”

“what are you talking about?” he asked softly. “you’re not shit, darling. furthest from it, in fact. you’re the best girlfriend i’ve ever had.”

“i’d hope so considering we’re still dating,” you said quietly. “maybe we shouldn’t be, though.”

wilbur thought he couldn’t feel more anxious after the creator hour. existing in front of such a massive croud of people was something that had never felt real to him, but then he’d looked out into the audience and had seen you, and he knew that after he left he’d be able to pull you into his arms and kiss you, and that you would fix the pounding of his heart. and then he’d stepped back inside the lounge and been met with just kristen, he waited, ten, fifteen minutes, believing you when you’d said you’d gone to the bathroom, before he used the find my friends app on his phone to see where you were. but that sentence made earlier feel like the most calm he had ever felt. “you want to break up?”

his voice quivered, low and deep, and you shook your head frantically. “of course i don’t want to. i was just thinking that…”

“that we should.” he finished flatly. “why?”

his hands were still around yours, but this felt more for his sake than yours now. “i can’t do this, wilbur.” you breathed out. “i can’t do the crowds and the screaming and the hoards of people who know that i exist, i can’t do it.”

wilbur’s face crumpled with relief. “you don’t have to, darling. i promise. from now on, no more events or conventions or panels that you don’t want to go to. please, i love you so much, i’m not gonna lose you over this.”

“but you deserve to have someone there who can do these things!” you argued. “someone who gets it, who understands!”

“i don’t want someone who gets it.” wilbur shot back immediately, silencing you. “i want you. i love you so much, darling. i don’t care if you don’t like the crowds, or if you don’t feel comfortable with me talking about you on stream or posting photos on instagram. none of that means anything to me. the only important thing is you and only you.”

you were almost crying as you kissed him, having to close your eyes instinctively against the sun as his lips pushed against yours, his hands caressing your back comfortingly. “i’m sorry, wil.” you said softly, lips still on his. “i’m being silly.”

“just a little,” he admitted between kisses. “but so am i. i’m just glad you’re here. i love you, silly.”

“i’d say it back but i don’t feel like it anymore.”

he barked out a laugh. “fine! i’m sorry. i love you, darling. my serious girl.”

“that’s somehow worse.” he kissed you to make it up to you, though, so you allowed him to drag you back inside, this time he got a security guard to sneak you in through a back corridor where you were still met with a room full of people who knew your name. except this one had a reserved seat right next to wilbur as you got to watch him live out his dreams, right there in the front row. 

[lanymme]

Think about how Saria spent years in betrayal and anger, driven for justice, searching out all of Rhine Lab’s wrongdoings, developing her philosophy on what science is for, all to right the course of the thing she build together with Kristen, who she dedicated her life to.

Kristen, the child of her idols. Kristen, her first love. Kristen, who she promised to protect.

Kristen, who betrayed her.

Kristen, who took advantage of her devotion.

Kristen, who designed a weapon against her, against the formula they came up with together.

Kristen, who is harming the very people they set out together to serve.

Kristen, who she’ll judge and bring back to the right path.

Kristen, who she never fully understood.

Kristen, whose plans she needs to stop. Kristen, who might bring the whole world tumbling down as she achieves her dream.

Kristen, who she slowly realizes is going to die in pursuit of her dream, just like her parents.

She tanks an anti-tank weapon to the head. She fights against an ancient caster and warrior. She fights the very people she trained, the knights that protect and serve Kristen. She saves her kid, finally. She learns to rely on others, to communicate. She reconciles with her partner. She flies a plane up, up into the upper atmosphere (just like the Wrights), through a combat zone, and docks it on a moving station. She learns to let go of her careful control of her every move, to act spontaneously, decisively.

All this to reach Kristen. To stop her.

But when she finally meets her… That’s her childhood friend. Her first love.

She fights her, endures her power, one last time, taking step by painful step toward her. She tells her she’s wrong about science, shares the philosophy and perspective she’s built over the years to stop her from harming people, to fight the culture that birthed them.

But really, she’s trying to talk Kristen down. You were wrong to do this. Give it up. Your dream is beautiful. Come with me. You finally achieved your parents’ dream. We can still survive this. I don’t doubt that this will affect the entire world. Watch it with me. I can still save you. The escape pods are gone? I’ll calcify us together—use the arts we developed together—and we’ll fall together; maybe we’ll survive, maybe we won’t. I’ll do everything I can, even if it’s doomed. Let me save you. Please. Please let me protect you.

And Kristen, who never lost faith in her, who knew Saria would reach her, who always wanted to share the truth, her moment of triumph, the fate she had chosen for herself with the woman she loves, who knew Saria would never leave her by choice and installed a trapdoor in her dreamer’s space pod so that she could live on… presses the button.

And Saria, after her long, long climb, falls. The final stage of the rocket to Kristen’s dream, falling away.

What must it be like, as she fell, to realize she spent her whole life helping Kristen assemble her space program? That when Kristen used to look up at the stars, she was not just seeing the past, her parents’ deaths, the legacy she has to uphold; she was seeing this future she had always planned for herself. That this was always the wish that Saria devoted herself to protecting.

And she kept her promise.

[the-broken-truth]

Leaving The Web [Part 6 - Epilogue] - Platonic Yandere Miguel O'Hara w/ Daughter Symbiote Spider Reader

Broken Truth: Someone in the comments asked me for a Part 6 to this storyline so I decided to make an Epilogue. Please enjoy this final part of Leaving The Web.

[Earth-928 / Spider-Society / Infirmary]

"Broken Ribs. Fractured Leg, Bruised Ego." Lyla said as she went over Miguel's Medical Chart while the Leader of the Spider-Society was laying in a bed with his body bandaged and his red eyes looking at the ceiling with his traditional frown on his face while he slowed his breathing to relieve the pain on his ribs. It had been a week since he was thrown back into the portal by Venom & his daughter, [Name], and he was just now gaining consciousness. Miles and Gwen with the help of Peter B. Parker got him into the infirmary so that he could get his wounds looked at and bandaged but he passed out from the pain and the stress

"Just tell me how the operations are doing, Lyla." Miguel said in his nonchalant voice.

"All the operations are going smoothly, most of the Anomalies have been captured and returned to their proper Earth...but Peter has not sent anyone to Capture Venom and [Name]," Lyla explained.

"Why? I flagged that as a top priority. I need them back home as soon as possible." Miguel said as he looked at Lyla but she just shook her head and looked at her creator through her heart glasses.

"Miguel, you know that I normally joke about these things but you need to let [Name] go, she doesn't want anything to do with us, mainly you, so it's time to let them go and leave them to have their own life," Lyla said.

"But, I need her..." Miguel said ut Lyla shook her head.

"No. You had her and she tried to get your love and attention - you abandoned her to raise another daughter when your other version was killed in that robbery. You called her a burden and looked at her with disgust whenever she tried to get your attention. Think - do you really want her or do you just want to replace what you lost?" Lyla said as she disappeared. Miguel looked at the ceiling and thought about what Lyla said - it was a serious question and he didn't know the answer to it.

[Name's] Earth]

[Name] walked down the street with her hands in the pockets of her leather jacket - which was actually Venom - as she was heading to her job to collect her paycheck for the week.

"Do you think Madame Kristen will give us the Chocolate Sculpture of us?" Venom asked.

'I'm not sure, that's the most sought-after creation she has and I think she promised it to her niece for her birthday.' [Name] thought as she walked into the store and out after getting her money with her weekly bonus only to see the Vulture flying over her head as Cop Cars chased after him.

"Do we really have to?" Venom asked.

"You know the answer to that, V." [Name] said as she walked into the alley and let the Symbiote consume her into her Spider-Woman Suit, and swung after the cop cars. After attacking the Vulture and defeating him, allowing the cops to take him away, Spider-Woman swung away to reach her apartment and found a note attached to her door in familiar writing.

Mija and Venom,

I know that you didn't want to hear from me again after you both beat the crap out of me and tossed me back into my portal to send me back to the Spider-Society but I wanted to tell you both that I am sorry for everything that I have done to you. I ignored you. I neglected you. I failed you. I shall leave you alone and never return to your Earth again so long as there are no anomalies there, but I won't bother you and make you come back home with me. If you decide to come home, I shall accept and love you. Love you and live your best life.

Signed, Your Father, Miguel O'Hara.

[Name] and Venom looked at the note before going into their apartment for dinner and chocolate.

Just another day in New York for Spider-Woman and Venom.

[chaoticbiguysblog]

Y'all don't understand how bad Kristen Riedel is for this show and the characters, I need her gone like yesterday. The last two seasons she was the showrunner and all of the interpersonal relationships suffered greatly when she was in charge. Apart from one or two scenes, every character seemed so disconnected from each other, especially Eddie and Buck. And don't even get me started on the disgusting and UNDESERVED redemptions of all the shitty parents on the show.

In S7, atleast Tim took over and while I'm not exactly loving the direction his storylines have gone in or how they've been handled (example: Buck's bi storyline) I think he's okay, with a longer season, he can definitely take the show back to its glory days. Also he atleast promised us Buck-Eddie scenes every episode and boy did he deliver.

But Kristen Riedel again a huge part of the writing team, wrote two of the worst things in the show to spread her agenda or something. First the nun thing, which everyone laughed about bc of how out of place and ridiculous it was, but this season finale and Christopher's decision was just out of character. Not to mention, fitting for Riedel's "blood family above all" agenda. Like, do you expect me to believe that Chris would call his grandparents instead of Buck and LEAVE to live with them in another state?!! Ofc he's a kid, he's not rational but from a storytelling perspective, it's bad writing, despite having multiple opportunities, we didn't even get a will mention. They probably needed to write Gavin McHugh off the show but there's other ways to do that, it feels like doing irreparable damage to Eddie and Christopher's relationship for absolutely no reason. It feels like they were having a hard time writing for Eddie, so they hit a refresh button and I'm sure if Riedel stays, he'll be written as Buck 1.0 next season.

This woman doesn't understand the characters, doesn't seem to care for them and it's exhausting. After the horrendous S6 finale, I thought we wouldn't have to go through it again but alas.

[witchhazelnut]

This new revelation that the rat grinders all died and were brought back by this cleric of the unnamed ankarna, and Yolanda and Lucy’s refusal was what kept them dead but also bound with that sigil, has got me thinking about the events of Yolanda and particularly Lucy’s deaths.

If the rat grinders (+ jace) died in the mountains of chaos, why was lucy’s body in the far haven woods? she also died after spring break, which means she came back from that adventure. There’s also the matter of someone trying to change her paperwork to reflect a new, unnamed divinity, who we now know is ankarna, who is still unnamed to the rat grinders.

I think the rat grinders did kill her, but maybe it wasn’t the first time she died. It’s pretty heavily implied that there was tpk in the mountains of chaos, and if that’s the case, perhaps she was brought back once under the promise of changing her divinity to ankarna, but shortly after realized she couldn’t give up the goddess who meant so much to her and her family, and so she had started the change paperwork but then reverted and the rat grinders confronted her and killed her, and bc she broke her deal to be a follower of ankarna she was branded with that sigil?

OR, maybe she did survive the mountains of chaos! Maybe kipperlilly tried to convince her to convert first with words alone, thinking that it would be like it always was where lucy would support her decisions. She gets the paperwork drawn up and everything. And then lucy refuses. And kipperlilly kills her, calling upon the cleric who brought her back to bring lucy back the same way, so that she would bend to her will by force, bc she couldn’t imagine lucy refusing life to honor her divinity, but she does. and her refusal traps her in her body, and she’s gone perhaps forever.

Maybe the honey is just for kipperlilly to forget. Maybe it’s why she can smile ruefully to kristen as she slits buddy’s throat and tries to force-convert another cleric.

[tis-me-tumble]

I think this season was such a love letter to the first two seasons of Fantasy High and was fully prepared for a final send off where they promise some small one shot for senior year or even just a flash forward epilogue. But no! We’re most likely getting a final season, and I’m estatic! I also appreciated how Brennan gave every single player at his table a nice little nudge that if they don’t want to play their character next season then that’s okay!

-Emily had already mentioned how she almost didn’t bring Fig back, and I think her final conversation with Augfort was a bit of a finality for that, but I never say never on these kinds of things! (Maybe Fig just joins for the fun of it/ the adventure becomes Ayda related)

-Siobhan was given a chance to change characters with Adaine having an adventure to do with Aelwyn in Sylvaire, which could take longer than her senior year calls for (but also maybe a new summer side quest?)

-Fabian’s send off was a bit less prominent, but I feel like Bill telling him he doesn’t have to be a great adventurer if he doesn’t want to is Lou being given a chance to change characters (maybe play that stoner druid he had originally pitched to Brennan?)

-Gorgug being offered a teaching position (while told to do it after senior year) would be a great kickoff for Zac! He could write that Gorgug had help with a time quangle and graduated early to become the new barbarian teacher!

-Murph as Riz my beloved, those pamphlets and his lack of need for control and being okay with change is definitely a nice potential end to Riz’s story, but I couldn’t imagine them doing a season all about Kalina and not have him come back (plus Murph dropping the guy with reliable talents and giving up the chance to auto-hit at level 20?)

-And Kristen Applebees, while I think we’ll be definitely hearing from her because how could Ally not deal with Bakarath as Kristen, I think would be able to find solace in becoming president. But I stg if next season they don’t clear up the Bucky stuff I’ll start swinging!

Who knows! Maybe they’ll all return, maybe they’ll pull the rug and play a new party completely, maybe only one or two will leave but then reprise their roles for small scenes ala Unsleeping City 2. Either way, I’m so excited!!

[cookies-over-yonder]

the quiet he holds runs a river that'll never find home

Sklonda uses her spare key to unlock the door of Riz's office when he doesn't answer after the third time. He's passed out on his desk, much like she expected, but when she goes to wake him up she feels just how warm he is. She sighs, pressing the back of her hand against his forehead. Of course he'd end up working himself into a fever at this rate.

title from Fireworks by Mitski

ao3

Sklonda uses her spare key to unlock the door of Riz's office when he doesn't answer after the third time.

He's passed out on his desk, much like she expected, but when she goes to wake him up she feels just how warm he is.

She sighs, pressing the back of her hand against his forehead. Of course he'd end up working himself into a fever at this rate.

The contact wakes him up, and she watches as his eyes crack open, bleary and unfocused.

"Ma...? Wha—wha—what time is it?" Riz asks, breathing faster and starting to tremble. "I miss... I missed..."

"Breathe, honey," Sklonda says, brushing away the hair stuck to his forehead and helping him sit up properly.

"Wha's going on...?" he asks, his eyes fluttering shut again. He reaches for his glasses with shut eyes, and Sklonda hands them to him.

"You have a fever, and you need rest," she says, helping him stand, "Let's go home, hon."

Riz doesn't protest, he doesn't have the energy for it, Sklonda suspects.

And then she's tucking him into her bed on Pok's side, and bringing him water, meds, and a cold compress for his forehead.

"'M gonna miss class," Riz whines, his eyes shut, "need to work... Kristen's campaign... aviation club..."

"What you need is sleep, honey. Everything else can wait until you're better," Sklonda says, kissing his forehead.

"Mm...m'kay..."

Sklonda leaves the room with the door ajar and calls Jawbone to let him know.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Jawbone, it's Sklonda. Riz isn't gonna be at school today, he's worked himself into a pretty nasty fever."

"I hate to say it, but that doesn't surprise me one bit.

Sklonda sighs. "Same here."

"I'll let the kids know. They'd been worrying 'cause of his radio silence."

"Thank you. He's asleep right now, but if I'm not careful, I'm sure he'll try to sneak right back to the office. Or to school."

Sklonda sighs, thinking for a moment about how calling off work today is a huge setback money-wise, but she has to do what she has to do.

"I'll make sure to get all the work he missed from his classes and keep it ready for when he's feeling better."

"Thank you, Jawbone."

The call ends, and Sklonda looks back at Riz, dead asleep. He's got one leg under the covers, and one leg on top. His eyebrows are still knitted together in the way they always are when he's deep in thought—it reminds her of Pok—and his breathing is slower now but still slightly unsteady. His ears and cheeks are a deep green, and his tail is flicking back and forth beside him, occassionally hitting him in the leg.

She sighs. "What am I going to do with you, kid?"

She grabs a pair of pyjamas and sets them at the foot of the bed for him to change into when he wakes up, and heads into the kitchen.

Cereal doesn't seem like the best choice. It's not very filling, not for Riz. He needs something with more substance.

They don't have any meat. Maybe Sklonda could run to the store, but it's best not to leave Riz alone.

As she's in the kitchen trying to figure out what to feed Riz, she hears a sob coming from her room.

She rushes over, to find Riz curled in on himself, sobbing.

"Hey, honey, I'm here, what's wrong?"

Riz reaches his arms out for her weakly, his eyes shut, and she's quick to wrap him in a hug. He's still incredibly feverish.

"Did you have a bad dream?"

Riz nods, crying harder and babbling gibberish that probably doesn't even make sense to him. Who's this Baron?

"Okay, okay, it's okay baby, you're safe, I promise," Sklonda says, rubbing circles into his back as she shushes him.

Riz whines, before relaxing and falling back asleep almost immediately.

It's almost eerie, the way he just passes out like that.

Sklonda thinks the last time Riz got this sick was before he was ten. After Pok died, he wouldn't sleep, and he wouldn't eat, and he would only bury himself in cases to solve around the neighbourhood for weeks on end, and eventually it all caught up to him, just like it is again now, Sklonda supposes.

She tucks Riz in again, brushing the hair out from his face and the tears away from his eyes. She runs a towel under cold water to wipe his face properly, and then fashions it into a new rolled up cold compress for his forehead.

There's a knock at the door.

She gives Riz a quick kiss on the cheek before heading to the door, and upon looking through the peep hole, she sees the other five members of Riz's adventuring party.

She opens the door. "Shouldn't you all be in school?"

"Where's Riz?" Adaine asks.

"We brought food!" Fig says, lifting up a bag.

"He's asleep right now," Sklonda says, letting them inside and leading them to his room.

The chatter must have woken him up, because Riz shifts to face toward them, his eyes cracked open just slightly. "Don't... skipping... go to class..." he mumbles as the Bad Kids approach.

"You look like shit, The Ball," Fabian says. Sklonda scrunches her face up at the nickname.

Riz hisses back, trying to lift himself into a sitting position with trembling arms before giving up and collapsing back down.

Fig puts down the bag of food and helps lift him into a sitting position, all while he continues to hiss at her.

"Chill, dude, I'm trying to help," she says, putting the back of her hand against Riz's forehead, "Shit, dude, what the fuck did you do to yourself?"

"He overworked himself," Sklonda says, grabbing the cup of water from the bedside table and helping him take a sip. From helping all of you, she doesn't say.

"Go to class, Fig," Riz mumbles, his head dipping forward and his eyes falling shut. He draws his knees up to his chest and buries his head in them, breathing heavily.

Sklonda sees Kristen cast a quick healing spell, which makes his breathing steady a little.

"He's right," Sklonda says, running her fingers through Riz's hair, "you should all be in class. Thank you for bringing food, we really appreciate it, but school has already started."

They all show varied expressions of anger and sadness at that.

"Riz wants you guys to go to school," Sklonda says, and Riz nods. "Come on," she says, leading them back to the door. They all grumble about being forced out, but they obey.

Except for one.

Sklonda heads back to the bedroom, and Adaine is sitting next to Riz on the bed, handing him her shockingly round frog familiar.

"Adaine..." Sklonda starts.

"My grades are as good as his, he doesn't need to worry about it, and neither do you," she says, and Riz nods, looking comforted by her presence.

Sklonda sighs. "Fine. You can stay."

Maybe this means she can go to work. Adaine is responsible enough.

"I've helped Fig and Kristen when they were sick before, so if you need to go to work, you can."

"I really don't think that I should put that pressure on you."

"We'll be fine, I promise."

"Alright."

-

Riz passes out almost immediately after saying bye to Sklonda, and Adaine watches as he shifts in his sleep, tightening his grip on Boggy.

She sends a text to Jawbone, letting him know she's staying with Riz while Sklonda is at work. He says he'll swing by after school to check on him and pick her up.

Riz had said before that he felt too sick to eat, just before Sklonda left, but Adaine told her she'd make sure he did, so while he's asleep she gets up to get the fast food from the fridge and prepare him a plate.

When she walks back into the bedroom, she sees he's awake, staring back at her.

"I brought you food," she says, sitting back next to him and helping him into his own sitting position, his back propped up against a pillow.

It seems like he's feeling well enough to eat, because he passes Boggy back to her and the plate is cleared in only a minute.

"Thanks, I—I'm fi... I'm fine now," he mumbles, his eyes fluttering shut. "I can go to school."

"You're staying here," Adaine says, passing him his water cup, and feeling his forehead. "The rest probably helped, but you're still sick, and you need more of it."

Riz whines, and then takes a sip of his water before passing the cup back to Adaine. "Where's Ma?"

"She went to work, remember?"

"Right," Riz nods, before looking at her quizically with bleary eyes, "Wait, shouldn't... shouldn't you be at school? When did you...? Wait... I remember."

"God, Riz, you really need to let yourself rest sometimes."

"Can't," Riz says, and he shakes his head, but then he freezes and holds it in his hands with a groan.

"Yes you can, and you will," Adaine says, brushing hair away from his face.

"I can't, I'm missing, missing all my clubs, and Kristen's campaign, and I... I... I need to..."

Riz trails off, and presses the heels of his hands against his eyes, breathing faster.

"Riz, hey," Adaine takes his hands in her own and gives them a squeeze. "It's okay. It's not the end of the world to miss one or two days of school."

Riz is trembling now, and Adaine sees tears sliding down his face as his shallow breathing continues.

Adaine hasn't experienced it herself, but from her research, she knows that sickness can worsen anxiety. And Riz is already so, so, so anxious.

"I'm so... I'm fucking... stressed... Adaine... I can't, I can't, I can't do this..." Riz mumbles, curling in on himself and starting to hyperventilate.

Adaine swallows her shock at Riz's vulnerability—she knows he's not in his right state of mind, so it makes sense—and she's quick to hand him Boggy again. He gives Boggy a squeeze.

"Riz, I think you're having a panic attack, can you look at me?"

He lifts his head and looks at her with half-lidded, teary eyes.

"Okay, let's take in a deep breath," she says, doing an exaggerated inhale.

He follows along, opening his eyes wider and giving her the most intense stare.

"And now we breathe out," Adaine says, doing a big sigh for Riz to follow along.

He follows along, squeezing Boggy tighter.

"Now relax your jaw," she says, and he follows. "Relax your shoulders," she says, and he does. "And we're gonna keep doing deep breaths together, okay?"

She does a few more rounds of deep breathing with him, until he's back to breathing at a normal pace, and the shaking has (mostly) subsided.

"There we go. See? You're okay," she says, giving him a hug.

"Feel like shit..." Riz mumbles, relaxing further in her embrace.

"I know."

"Don' wanna sleep..."

"Why not?"

"Baron," Riz says, like it answers everything.

So far, Adaine understands that Baron is Riz's partner...? But not really? But they were clearly a lie, but then they became real...? She has no idea. But Riz never wanted to talk about it.

And asking about them doesn't seem like the best idea right now...

"Says 'm gonna die alone..." Riz continues, maybe sensing her confusion.

"When... when you sleep?"

Riz nods. "Nightmare."

"You're not gonna die alone, Riz, why would..."

Adaine trails off. Somehow it feels wrong, talking to Riz about this while he's sick. She thinks if he were well then he wouldn't say a word.

"Somethin' wrong with me," Riz mumbles, and Adaine feels her shirt getting wet. He's crying. "'M broken."

"Riz, wha—" she pulls away for a moment, to look him in the eyes. "You're not broken. I don't know why you think that, but it's not true."

Riz whines, covers his eyes, and lets out a sob.

Adaine wraps her arms around him again and hugs him tight, and he just cries harder. "I don't know what's going on in your head, but I love you, and I'll always be here for you, you're not gonna be alone."

She runs her fingers through his hair in what she hopes is soothing enough of a motion—it's always helped her calm down—and the sobs start to fizzle out.

And lo and behold, he's fast asleep.

Adaine wonders briefly how much sleep debt he has, and then brushes off the thought. Too scary.

She adjusts their positions so he's lying down with her arms wrapped around him, and Boggy in between them. Riz's ears twitch a little in his sleep, and his tail flicks back and forth, hitting her leg. A moment later, it curls around her ankle.

Adaine will make him eat more later, and maybe she'll ask him more about his nightmares when he's feeling better, but for now, she holds him tight, burying her face in his hair, and she's just glad he's getting some rest.

Because god knows he needs it.

[dullgecko]

I think after Kristen starts doing crossfit, she picks up riz a lot just because she can. What's the point of getting strong if you can't pick up your short friend

The first time Kristen does it Riz is FURIOUS, especially since she was using her medical knowledge for evil and had grabbed him in JUST the right way to stop him from being able to move his arms.

She was also holding him far enough out from her body that he couldnt get purchase to kick, so he had to settle for hissing furiously and squirming as she cackled. Riz looking incredibly pissed off, tail thrashing and ears back as far as they could go, with her holding him with his arms pinned securely at his sides.

She'd walked around with him like that for a good hour before she managed to hand him off to Gorgug. She would have put him down sooner but she realised that as soon as she did he'd probably genuinly try to murder her, so Kristen had to wait for one of the other boys to turn up so she could offload him safely.

She did end up apologising with a VERY fancy and expensive iced coffee and a promise to not do it again but sometimes she looses the fight against the little voice in her head and the fight starts all over again. (Honestly its just really fucking funny to see Riz /that mad/. He's 3ft tall and he's so /cranky/.) He eventually gets used to it and is only mildly annoyed by Kristen grabbing him like that, which kindof ruins the fun of it.

One time she changes up the routine after doing some research and scruffs him instead. Pinching near the base of his neck and hauling him off his feet to dangle in the air, it wasnt harmfulI but it did make it so he couldnt control his limbs. It was that moment that she remembered that oh right Riz basically kills /dragons/ as a form of relaxation. She swears the temperature of the room actually dropped when she hoisted him off the ground, he went limp like a kitten, and he started radiating an aura of pure /malice/.

It was this incident that led to an official policy within the bad kids to be put into place. There were now /approved/ ways to pick Riz up that wouldnt lead to a mauling, most were okay as long as you gave him a warning first, but scruffing was put firmly into the 'only in life and death situations' catagory.

[brionbroadway]

It wasn’t easy, though.

At her most devout and dedicated, Kristen’s religion always pushed against something else. It’s clear in Buddy, and it’s clear in her brother: an acknowledgement that what’s best for others and the doctrine are not in sync, but with no other path to follow, it’s the best guide they have. It was not easy to know she was lost despite the promise of being found.

Kristen’s thoughts slip from her, a combination of her campaign, Cassandra, her family, her friends, homework, parties, all muddled together, competing for attention in moments that will slip from her too. Tracker’s words will do the same, and Kristen’s scared of that. Whether or not they’re entirely fair, debating their validity is planning Kristen’s path forward.

It wasn’t easy then, and it’s going to be hard again.

Kristen is so tired.

She watches Riz entertain club president after club president, filling his schedule faster than he fills his conspiracy boards. Dozens upon dozens of paths carved out for him, a focus and a role to fulfill. He works hard, Kristen knows that, but it’s just—it has to be easier for him, right? To dedicate himself to goal after goal and achieve all of them? Do his thoughts not slip from him the ways hers do?

She won’t talk to him about, because she knows he works hard. And Kristen thinks she deserves it to be easy.

It would be nice if it was.