#also I had to get one day of angst

[sensei-twinkles]

Dadmight Week Day 6: Search & Rescue

No matter how much practice you have the real thing is always different, especially if it’s someone you know…

AHAHAHHAHAHAHA ANGST!! THIS WAS MY MOMENT! And this is 100% why I was late but 2 pieces turned into 5 and I had no control over that, but I had to get the story out. So take some sad soggy bois ✨

I will be doing the final day even though it’s late so that’ll come soon!

Big thanks to @dadmightweek again! This was so much fun and was the boost I needed to actually start posting some pieces 💕

[kaeyachi]

Kaeya had always been an efficient and hard-working individual (he had to be to support Diluc in the background as his brother rose thru the ranks after all).

He has so much free time because he completes all his work way ahead of schedule. And if he still has enough time, he adds more to the workload in secret.

And once all of that was done and over with, he makes time for everyone. He has to. He feels as if every moment has to be given to someone else.

No one knows how he does it. No one has to know.

Every mission has a dozen strategies in line, and every battle plan is made with efficiency in mind. His perfect record will not be tarnished. He can't risk it (even if it baffles others that he would willingly activate a ruin guard just to prevent a failed mission. Jean disagrees with his methods, but Kaeya can say that the results say otherwise)

He needs to be quick.

Efficient.

Perfect.

And so he comes and goes like the wind.

Kaeya values time because he knew every second counted. He can't just stand there as if he were frozen. Time could run out in an instant.

Kaeya had only been late once his entire life.

He'd rather he never be late ever again.

It took one day of being of being imperfect for everything to fall apart. On that tragic day...had he gotten there on time... then maybe...

.

.

.

" Come on, let's get moving, traveler. We're not frozen in place after all. " Kaeya teasingly says. He stiffles a giggle at the traveler's exhasperated sigh.

"Yeah yeah, we've heard enough of you calling us a slacker. Can't you be a bit more patient?" Paimon whines at him.

Kaeya snorts, but acquiesces, hiding the shaking of his hands at the thought of being idle.

He imagines hearing a clock ticking.

Kaeya knows that that is his own problem. He tries his hardest to relax as he waits for the traveler to finish whatever they're making on the alchemy table because, seriously, it is supposed to be a relaxing day. There's nothing major going on, and his schedule is once again empty as intended. What's the hurry?

Kaeya taps his foot on the ground as he waits. He wishes he could take his own damn advice when he tells others to relax.

[ancha-aus]

RealAgeAU Drabble - Preparations

Hello!

So. I had an idea :3 That is usually how these start :3

First Drabble Prev Drabble Next Drabble

Are you guys ready? So some cute shenanigans? You better be :3 ( Also, @spotaus Get in here! :D) Timeline wise? Like... early summer to mid summer ish.

*-------------------*

Nightmare looks for his target and sees is rather quickly between the different stalls. He rushes over and looks up at the woman mannign the stand. She is very familiar to for a very good reason.

Toriel smiles at him "Well hello there. Where are your fathers?"

Ngihtmare shurgs " 'Ror is arround." Next he lays some of his allowance on the stand "The best flowers I can get please."

He went with Horror today with a mission after all. It is still early as Horror left to go to the market with Crop to get some stuff for their farms. Nightmare had been quick to tag along.

He needed these flowers for a very important plan.

Toriel smiles "oh? Are you buying flowers for someone you like?"

Nightmare shakes his skull. As if. He doubts Error would even like flowers.

Toriel waits with a pleasant smile "I can't pick out the best flowers if i don't know what you need them for."

Nightmare frowns. damn. He glances over his shoulder and doesn't see Horror anywhere near. Okay. Good. He got time.

Nightmare rubs his hands as he mutters "Is for dads... for... date night..." Not that they know yet they are having a date night today.

As Nightmare mentioned. He has plans and they are very important.

Toriel smiles "That is very sweet of you." she hums as she looks at which flowers she has available from her and her husbands farm. "Well, Roses are generally seen as the more romantic flowers."

Nightmare considers the flowers but frowns at the price. He doesn't have a lot of pocket money and he still needs to get some other things too... But they deserve the best of the best! And according to the romantic books he read before that environment is important for dates!

Toriel smiles "However... Your dads are more on the practical side aren't they?"

Nightmare frowns as he thinks. Horror probably. Dust is more of a minimalist. Killer likes havign stuff but he also always uses it. Cross is almost more of a minimalist.

But... does that mean they don't like it? Or are just used to having little?

Toriel smiles as she waves at the many flowers in the stall "Sunflwoers are very pretty too."

Nightmare pulls a face. a memory from long ago. Villagers giving Dream sunflowers and telling him about how sunflowers always turn towards the sun. How it is only fitting for such a bright and sunny person like Dream.

He shakes his skull.

Toriel's voice shocks him out of his memories as she offers other flower ideas.

Toriel smiles as she holds up another flower. it is a beautiful light pink and it is a cluster of smaller flowers all packed together in a sphere shape.

Toriel smiles "A winner I see? These are hortensia's. I find them rather beautiful myself. Do you think these will do?"

Nightmare considers it and nods. They are pink and pink and red are aparently romantic colours. The flowers look nice and will look nice and full even with only a few of them! Making for a nice bouquet on the table!

Toriel nods as she starts to pack the flowers up and Nightmare waits patiently.

"Oh thank everything!" Nightmare yelps as he is suddenly removed from the ground. Nightmare shoots a glare at the skeleton holding him.

Crop smiles "Horror has been beside himself looking for you. Don't just run off in the market Ngihtmare." he smiles at Toriel "Sorry for interupting."

Toriel looks amused "It is alright. Though I would appreciate you putting my customer back down." Nightmar enods in agreement.

Crop glances at Nightmare before he looks at the stall "oh... Hey it is okay if you wanted to get flowers. I am sure Horror would love to get them for you."

Nightmare shakre shis skull as he huffs "No." That wasn't part of the plan! Nightmare had been planning this carefully!

Crop looks confused before looking at toriel. Toriel just crosses her arms as she speaks with a smile "Sorry Crop. I don't talk about what my customers order with other customers." she moves around with confidence as she packs his order.

Crop sighs but nods "alright alright. I get it. No need to gang up on me." and crop moves him back to the ground. Ngihtamre grins once he stands with both feet on the ground again.

Crop frowns at him "Horror doesn't want you walking around too much though."

Nightmare rolls his eyelights "I am fine." and he turns back to Toriel just as she hands him the wrapped flowers. the brwon wrapping makes sure nothing is visible and he smiles "Thank you Miss Toriel."

Toriel blinks in surprise before smiling "It was a pleasure to finally meet you Nightmare. Come by anytime okay?" she grabs the money and puts it away.

when Ngihtamre turns back to look at Crop he sees him quickly tapping his phone. Crop sees him look and grins "Telling Horror that I foudn you."

Nightmare did feel bad about that. He didn't mean to worry Horror. It just took longer than he thought it would to find the right stall. He knows the farmers market by now but it still takes longer than Ngihtmare would like to find the stalls and people he is searching for.

Still he walks back with Crop towards somewhere. It doesn't take long for Nightmare to spot Horror and he feels many times worse. Horror looks so worried. Nightmare quickly leaves Crop's side and joins his dad's again.

Hroror is quick to pick him up as he nuzzles him gently "don't do that... please..."

Nightmare pusehs close to Horror and tugs his skull right under his chin. It always feels safe "sorry. didn't mean to scare you."

Horror chuckles and nuzzles his skull "Will always be scared something hurts you."

Nightmare purrs as he snuggles close.

Crop joins them and sighs in relieve "Oh thank god. He just left my side again. luckily it was just to get back to you quicker."

Hroror nods and finally spots the package Nightmare has with him "what is that?"

Ngihtmare hides the package behind him "nothing..."

Horror snorts nad chuckles as he bonks their skulls softly together "alright. keep your secrets." Nightmare grins back.

Crop and Horror take a moment to calm down and check both their lists of nessesary things. Nightmare knows they are here to get more of those growth guide things for the grape vines and Horror got those first thing so he wouldn't forget.

Crop ends up having to meet up with some other farmers and Horror turns to Nightmare "Did you want to get anything?" Horror gives avery pointed look at the package in Nightmare's arm.

Nightmare hums and nods as he swings his legs, comfortable still being held in Horror's arms "wanted to get some fruits strawberries." that was the only ingredient he didn't have yet for his surprise.

Horror tilts his skull but nods as he glances around before starting to walk into the right direction. Nightmare is happy Horror didn't put him down yet. His back aches a little and he will need to rest it up a bit if he wants to complete his surprise without worrying any of them.

They get to the right stall and Horror lets Ngihtmare make his purchase. Horror tries to pay for him but Nightmare refuses! this is part of his surprise! He gets the things needed! Horror just shot him another curious look but seemed more amused than anything. Still, he lets him pay for the things and they walk back to meet up with Crop and drive back home.

Well. Horror walks. Nightmare is sitll being carried.

suddenly out of nowhere Horror nuzzles his skull again and Nightamre can't help but purr and lean into the contact.

Horror mumbles softly to him "It is okay if you want to get things... but you aren't an adult remember? You are our babybones. it is okay to let us take care of you."

Nightmare nods and snuggles close "I know." and that is why he is doing this. It is why the surprise has to be perfect.

They finally get home and Dust takes the chance to give him a bath and get his bandages cleaned. They still mostly do it at night but they had been trying to see how his spine was handling things and trying to go a bit longer with bandages as long as they were clean.

In the end the others go outside to work on the farm. Dust makes sure to leave him in their nest with some homework.

Nightmare doesn't complain about it. No today he needs time alone to work on his plan.

Dust immediantly notices of course and shoots him a look "Is something wrong?"

Nightmare shakes his skull "I am fine."

Dust looks uncertain as he looks back at the exit the others had already left through "I cna stay wiht you if you would like that?"

Nightmare actually would like that. a lot. after the whole school thing Ngihtmare didn't like being alone. but it was important he did this! And today he had to do it!

And it is fine! He is at home. in their nest. with all their things and no one ever comes here and the others will keep a close eye on him!

Ngihtmare shakes his skull "It is okay. You can help them." and he tries to smile for the other.

Dust sighs but gives in with a nod "We will stay close okay? Give a shout and we will be here within seconds." Dust gives him a nuzzle and goes after the others.

Nightmare grabs his homework and works on it for a bit. Just to make sure that if any of them check on him it looks like he isn't doing anything he shouldn't be doing.

Like... leaving the nest...

He finishes most of the stuff that he still had to do and glances at the window. Nothing there. He inches out of the nest and uses a reading chair to sneak a look out of the window. He sees Killer and cross at work on the upper level near the grape plants. Which emans that horror and dust are on one of the lower levels, probbaly.

The plan. is a go.

Nightmare feels himself grin as he grabs a vase and fills it with water. he carefully carries it upstairs and looks around.

The ground is still clean and the small window lets in fresh air and light. the spare fairylights light up the space nicely and the small radio is still on the tiny side table.

The main table, more like a small round table honeslty, still has four chairs and Nightmare grins as he walks over and puts the vase carefully on top. Next he grrabs the package of flowers nad puts them in the vase. perfect!

Nightmare takes a few steps back and looks his hard work of the past few days over. It is hard to sneak this by them but it is going really well! He grabs his diary and checks the list he made for this plan. Okay. He set up the table for the romantic dinner. check.

He glances to the side where he used the spare stuff for winter to make a second nest. He nods to himself and checks the bed stuff.

Look. Nightmare isn't an idiot. He used to be an adult! or at least have na adult body. He heard what people said about what they did in privacy and with those they liked. So. Obviously. bed for... bed stuff.

Ngihtamre feels himself blush adn grow embarresed as he quickly moves to the next stuff. Romantic decoration? The fairy lights and the flowers. check again! the right mood? He got the radio right there and he had found a channel that played a lot of love songs. check again.

Now. The hardest and most complex part of this plan. Getting the food ready for this date!

Nightmare clsoes his diary and nods to himself. he tugs the glitter pen back in the pen clip on the journal and make shis way back downstairs. he waits a moment and checks the window again. Everyone is still by the grapes so that still gives him time!

He gets to the kitchen and moves the chairs around until they are in the right places. Just to make sure he doesn't have to climb up and down the whole time, that is the stuff that is actually hard for his spine.

Next he grabs everything he needs and gets to work.

Trying to think of a romantic meal had been hard. Mostly because most dishes were a bit too complex for him to make on his own.

Whcih was because they hid all the knives and put the larger things out fo reach for him. You try to make some food yourself once and suddenly you are banned from the kitchen because you hurt yourself.

Nightmare is better aware of his limits now though so he has full confidence he can do this.

He grabs the bread and veggies and gets to work. He first puts some wood into the old oven and lights it up carefully. This will heat it up nicely. He stays right by the side to make sure it works the way it should but Nightmare used to cook with one of these himself and he has seen Horror use it. Once it does exactly what it should Nightmare gets to work on prepping the dough and veggies.

The dough is luckily something he made the day before. sneakily while the others were cleaning stuff up. it wasn't hard and it has been resting in the fridge.

It is nice and floofy and he splits them before making tiny balls and flattening them. He grabs the veggies and gets to work on cutting them.

Look just because they hid the knives doesn't mean they hid them well enough.

Next the sauce. which is just a pot. and the cheese, which he shreds and puts in a tiny bowl.

All the pieces are in place.

He spreads the sauce on the dough and puts veggies on top. lastly the cheese and tada! Tiny pizzas... or is it just pizza bread kinda deal?

doesn't matter. He puts them in the oven adn gets ready for part two!

The dessert!

He grabs the fresh strawberries. removes the little leaves and cuts them right down the middle. He doesn't have anything fancy planned for dessert but it will do!

Next he grabs the ice cream from the freezer and makes four nice bowls. first three scoops of vanilla ice cream, thank you Crop and Straw. Next he puts the strawberries all over it. then some whipped cream.

Nightmare nods, content with a job well done! He moves them back into the fridge to keep them cool and hoepfully the ice cream doesn't melt too quickly. He also has chocolate syrup for Cross but he knows Killer doesn't like chocolate all that much.

All the pieces are in place. Now it is time to wait for everything to finish and then he can move it up.

--

The door downstairs opens and Nightmare grins as he places the last few bowls in place. He rushes towards the small radio and turns it on, keeping it low volume for now to make sure they don't hear downstairs.

"Nightmare?!" Cross sounds worried.

Nightmare hums and answers "upstairs." He quickly goes towards the light switch adn turns it off. only leaving the light of the fairylights and the sunset through the window the light the place. he goes back to the table and lights the candles as he hears footsteps come up.

He grins as he stands before the table wiht his arms wide.

THe door opens and Cross spots him and a clear look of relieve on his face. Then his face turns to shock as he looks around the room "What?"

Killer joins his side a moment later and stares in shock himself "what?"

Nightmare grins "It is datenight." he makes sure to make it sound like a fact. Because it is a fact!

Cross and Killer both blink. look at each other confused. then look back at him and speak in unison "what?"

Nightmare snrots and puffs up his chest a bit "It is datenight. You four are dating. Datemates have dates. which happen on datenights. You four haven't had a datenight yet. so. datenight!" easy!

Cross suddenly looks around much more shocked as he sputters. Killer grins and coos as he walks voer nad hugs him "Oh nighty. You didn't need to do that!"

Dust and Horror join them upstairs to see what is going on and take in the room themselves.

Nightmare huffs "I so did. You haven't been on a date yet. so. date." he waves behind him "I also made myself some food. It is in the fridge. I am going downstairs and eat and watch my bat movie adn you guys can do datenight." easy!

Horror chuckles and walks over. he rubs his skull and Nightmare pushes his whole head nad face into the gentle touches.

"We appreciate it. but we are happy to be with you. We can move it downstairs and-"

Nightmare pulls back and shakes his skull "no! Datenight up here. Date only includes the ones who are dating. you four." he wiggles and luckily Killer puts him down.

Nightmare looks around once more. everything still looks perfect. before giving them a nod and walking towards the exit of the attic "have fun!" and he leaves his dads on their datenight.

As siad he goes downstairs and gets his own hidden food out. He crawls into the nest after putting his new favourite movie on. Ngihtmare grabs Dust's hoody and puts it on before pulling the blanket Error gave him for his brithday close.

It takes abit of moving around but he ends up comfortable against the pillows with Batsie by his side. wrapped in his blanket with his meal in his lap.

Nightmare grabs the remote before turning on the movie.

He eats his meal slowly. feeling tired after the whole day. or well week.

He had been planning this for a while and aparently with the nerves for making it perfect and the excitement to surprise them leaving he is just tired.

He yawns and ends up putting his half finished meal on the side table for now. He rolls up more with Batsie and watches the movie as the narrator talks about the wonderful world of the bats that live in the jungle.

--

He wakes up sleepy and grumpy. What? where?

He blinks and sees that Cross is holding him close very gently.

Wait that can't be right... why isnt'that right?

Cross notices he is awake and shoots him a very large and happy smile "Hey there baby... how are you feeling? Feeling hungry?"

Ngihtamre blinsk adn shakes his skull. he isn't hungry. just tired. he yawns before trying to glare at Cross. he wasn't suposed to be here... right? He had a plan...

Man he is tired.

Cross smiles and laughs softly before nuzzling him "Thank you for setting everything up for us. We had a blast."

Nightmare frowns as he looks around confused. the others are in their nest again. his plate is gone and the tv is silent. it is still clearly night outside. that doesn't make sense. he made them a nest upstairs! He figured they would... spend the night there. He looks at Cross "But... upstairs?"

Cross chuckles and nuzzles Ngihtmare "oh baby. We much prefer to be here with you when we sleep than not. of course we come actually sleep with you after our date ended." a soft kiss to his skull and softer "But no setting up dates anymore okay? We will figure that out ourselves."

Nightmare yawns and he snuggles clsoe. feeling tired "Wanted you to... have fun..." he nuzzles Cross, purring at the familiar feeling of safety and warmth "You are always busy with me... wanted you to just have fun..." he is always distracting them or something... He wants them to have fun too.

Cross hums and just holds him closer "We love taking care of you nighty. It makes us happy to be with you."

Something in him relaxes as he just melts fully against Cross.

Cross coos and nzuzles him again "Now back to sleep with you. tiny babybones need their rest. especially after they spend a long time setting up a perfect surprise."

his soul feels light after the praise and affection each word carries. He yawns and lets himself drift off again.

*-------------------*

First Drabble Prev Drabble Next Drabble

[cometblaster2070]

i am upsetting myself at ungodly hours by imagining how the scene in apple and raven's dorm room must've looked like after raven refused to sign.

like imagine apple sobbing the night away and raven tries to comfort her only to be rebuffed and she spends the entire night awake and staring at the ceiling while the guilt eats away at her as she hears apple's quiet sobs.

and apple's there feeling so hurt and angry and alone, and in that moment she probably wants nothing more than a friend, a comforting presence, but she can't even look her bsf in the eye because she's just so upset about what's just happened.

idk there's something about the two of them being so steeped in distress and sadness because raven can't force apple to understand her and apple can't comprehend the reasons for raven's decisions.

and the two of them love each other SO MUCH, but right then they're just stuck in that suffocating dorm room with only each other for company, wondering what they're going to do next.

[milkbreadtoast]

yu junghyeok and prince cedric have like practically the same design (+v similar personality) but listen the Vibes they have r diff... idk if this makes sense but u know charas w tired dilf energy... YJH has that but not cedric.. hes like a baby.. the way I describe it is YJH is babygirl but cedric is just my baby🫂🔥🔥🔥*gets incinerated* SKJDJ idk if it's noticeable at all but I try to capture diff vibes when I draw them....

when i draw cedric i try to go full shoujo... he is a romance novel male lead... sparkly eyes bright colors 90s anime blush... goes full squish mode when drawing him chibi MFNSKJ🤭

but when i draw yjh im like... no i have to convey the Angst and Depression.... *gives him dark circles and takes the light from his eyes*😇🖤

idk if it's noticeable but I also try to differentiate their designs in subtle ways (besides eye color etc),,, I give them diff eyebrow shapes!! I like YJH with triangle brows(thicker at the ends) and cedric w tapered brows(thicker toward the middle) like the webtoon... I also try to make cedric's hair a bit curlier than YJH🥹

[delta-piscium]

part 2 | this is part two to this from Steve's perspective leading up to and including part one | cw unresolved angst [unfinished/for now not being worked on]

31 days until moving day.

Steve burst through the door to Family Video, swinging it open with way too much force. 

Robin jumps and opens her mouth, probably to tell him off for scaring her but he speaks before she gets the chance. 

“Eddie asked me to move to Chicago with him,” he blurts out, “Robin, he asked me to go with him.” 

Her eyes widen, “what did you say?” 

“That I’d go, of course,” he huffs. Like it’s even a question? like not going was ever an option?

Robin jumps over the counter squealing and hugs him so tight breathing becomes a little bit hard. 

“I’m moving away with Eddie,” he whispers into her hair, awed as he hugs her back. She somehow squeezes him even tighter and they stay like that for a minute until they have to actually do their jobs. 

An hour passes and Robin keeps shooting him contemplative looks.

“What?” He finally snaps after getting tired of waiting for her to say what she wants to say herself. 

She jumps again like she didn’t realize how obvious she was being, which honestly, she probably didn’t.

“Nothing, nothing.” 

“Robin,” he whines.

“Okay, just,” she scrunches her face up a bit and Steve knows that face, she’s trying to figure out how to say something to him she thinks he’ll react badly to. 

He narrows his eyes at her, bracing himself, “yes?” 

“I think you and Eddie are great together, and like I love you both and I am excited for you guys. You know that right?”

Steve nods, doesn’t say anything though, wants her to get to the point.

“I’m just also, maybe, a little bit worried.”

Steve’s eyebrows draw together, “what do you mean?” 

Robin is looking around nervously. Something heavy starts to form in Steve’s stomach. 

“You haven’t been together for very long and this is a big step. I just don’t wanna see either of you get hurt you know? I guess I’m just wondering if you’ve talked it all through? Because both of you have a tendency to jump into things without thought.”

They haven’t talked it through, not really. Eddie asked Steve to move, he said yes and that was pretty much it. It didn’t feel like they needed to talk it through though? Did they? Usually, they just dealt with things as they became relevant, that had worked for them so far. 

Robin must see something on his face because she quickly talks again, backtracking and interrupting his thoughts. 

“Not that I don’t think it will be great, you know I just worry about things a lot. This is my anxiety talking. You know what, ignore everything I just said. You two know what you’re doing.” 

He doesn’t want her to know she’s already put doubts in his head so even though he’s starting to freak out a little he smiles and shakes his head. 

“It’s fine Rob, I’m sure we will talk more with time.” 

22 days until moving day.

Steve meant it when he said he and Eddie would talk. Meant to ask about the logistics, meant to make sure they were on the same page, he really did. But every time the move comes up Eddie just seems so sure about it already. Steve doesn’t want to make him think he’s having second thoughts. Thinks maybe it’s better to not say anything, to wait and let it come up naturally. 

He thinks maybe they’ll talk about it tonight. The kids had joked about them all evening, about how fast they were moving.

Mike had made some snarky comment about them moving to a city where they knew no one and how awkward it would be if they crashed and burned and they’d have to share a bedroom. 

Eddie had laughed, said it was good they weren’t gonna crash and burn then. But, he’d also added that his band was also going so actually he would know people. 

It was just jokes, Steve knew that. That didn’t make it any less true though. Steve wouldn’t have anyone except Eddie, sure he liked the guys in his band but they weren’t his friends. Steve would have Eddie and Eddie would have his band. It suddenly seemed like a big deal.

He expects Eddie to also feel it, to get worried and bring it up but he doesn’t. If he is worried he isn’t saying anything, just like Steve isn’t.

8 days until moving day.

There’s a knock on Steve's door and when he opens Gareth is standing there. Steve is a lot confused about it but lets him in. 

“Uh,” he starts a little unsure, “do you want anything to drink or?” He offers, mostly because he doesn’t know what else to say or do. 

Gareth shakes his head, looking about as uncomfortable as Steve feels. Shuffling around where he’s standing and fiddling with the sleeve of his shirt. “No, I’m gonna leave again soon. I just came here to say something.” 

Steve gestures for him to speak, “I’m listening.” 

Gareth doesn’t immediately say anything, he shuffles some more and looks around the room before his eyes land on Steve again, a determined look in them. 

“Look, I like you. I know Eddie loves you.”

Steve can’t help but smile a little at that, even though he’s starting to suspect he’s in for a shovel talk. 

“And like, I probably wouldn’t do this if it weren’t for the fact that you haven’t dated for very long at all and are about to move in together in a city four hours away.”Gareth pauses and waits to speak again until Steve nods, showing he’s listening. 

“Eddie does things without thinking. He doesn’t think about the consequences, not anything, just does. I love that about him, it’s the reason our band has gotten anywhere at all, but it also means that he gets hurt a lot, disappointed a lot. He can handle it with most things, he won’t be able to handle it with you.”

“What are you saying?” Steve asks even though he’s pretty sure he already knows. 

Gareth looks pained but continues, “I’m saying that if you aren’t one hundred percent sure about moving with him, if you have any doubts at all, you can’t go.”

Steve can’t suppress his flinch. He expected Gareth to say he needed to be sure, that if he wasn’t he needed to tell Eddie. He wasn’t expecting him to say he shouldn’t, no, couldn’t go. 

Gareth catches it and narrows his eyes, “I mean it Steve, it will break him more if you go, let him think it’s gonna work and then leave, then if you don’t go at all.” He steps closer to Steve, getting into his space. “So, if you’re not absolutely sure,” he pauses, steps even closer, “Do. Not. Go.” He punctuates every word and then he turns on his heel and leaves.

6 days until moving day.

Steve needs to talk with Eddie about it now, can’t ignore it anymore. He isn’t gonna just not go like Gareth told him to do. No, he’ll talk to Eddie and it will be fine. 

They’re in his bed together, laying next to each other. Skin touching skin and a comfortable silence between them. Now is as good a time as any. 

“Hey, Eddie?” 

“Mhh?” He hums, shifting slightly next to him. 

“What happens if something goes wrong when we move?” 

Eddie snorts, “what? Like if we get a flat wheel? I know how to change a wheel, sweetheart.” 

Steve smiles despite his nerves, tries to not imagine what Eddie would look like changing a wheel. 

“Good to know, but no, not quite what I meant.” 

Next to him, Eddie props himself up on his elbow so he can properly look at Steve. 

“What did you mean?” He reaches out and tucks a strand of hair behind Steve’s ear as he speaks. Steve has to focus harder than he’d like to admit to not get lost in it. Even the smallest touches have an effect on him when it’s Eddie. 

“What if something happens with us?” His voice is small and he can’t look at Eddie, afraid of what his reaction might be. “Remember that thing Mike said about us not really knowing anyone there? Just, what would happen?” 

“Baby,” Eddie gently grabs Steve’s chin with his thumb and forefinger, tilting his face towards him. Steve easily follows but closes his eyes. 

“Baby, please look at me,” Eddie’s voice is even softer than before, and Steve has always been weak when it comes to Eddie asking him to do things so he slowly blinks his eyes open.

“There you are,” he smiles, face open and tendrils of hair falling around it. He looks angelic and Steve almost forgets what they are talking about, too overwhelmed by the man next to him. 

Eddie keeps them on track though. 

“Like I told Mike, nothing will happen. We will be fine. But,” he continued before Steve can protest, “if something does, we both have jobs already, we’ve done this right. We will be able to save eventually. Quicker because we’re two people, paying rent and all that stuff on two salaries. If something happens we will have that security.” 

Steve relaxes then and Eddie must see it because he grins and continues, “now if you didn’t have a job then I’d be worried. I’m not cut out for all the responsibility of being the breadwinner, princess.”

Steve groans and shoves Eddie away. Mostly to hide the blush he can feel creeping up his face just from Eddie calling him princess. Judging by the way Eddie cackles he doesn’t have to see Steve blush to know the effect it has on him. 

He reaches out and pulls Steve in against his chest. “Worst case scenario we have to move back. Wayne will probably pretend to be unhappy about it but he’ll let me take over his trailer again. And, I know you have complicated feelings about this house, that your parents are the worst, but you’ll be able to come back if you need to.” 

“Okay,” Steve says, his worries mostly calmed. 

1 day until moving day. 

Steve and Eddie are spending the night apart. Eddie wanting to spend his last night with Wayne and both of them needing to do some last minute packing. 

Just as he finishes closing one of the last boxes the phone rings, he’s a bit confused about who would call him right now. His friends all having seen him earlier in the day to say goodbye. Maybe Eddie needs to double-check what time they decided to leave. 

He picks up but it’s not Eddie, or even one of the kids, who speaks.

“Steven,” his mother's shrill voice crackles on the other end of the line. 

“Hi mom,” he tries to hide his sigh as he speaks, doesn’t have the energy to get into anything with her right now, doesn’t want her to ruin his excitement. 

“I thought you were moving to Chicago alone?” 

His freezes, when he told his parents he was gonna move he didn’t say he was going alone but he also didn’t mention Eddie. He knew they wouldn’t like it, knew it would be easier to let them assume he was going by himself. 

“But I just got off a call with Mrs. Hagan and she told me that Tommy had said you were moving there with- with that cult boy? The one who’s wanted for murder?” 

Steve closes his eyes and this time he doesn’t bother hiding his sigh. Fucking Tommy, he’s always had a big mouth but Steve suspects that this hadn’t been him blabbering without thinking. No, Steve thinks Tommy knew exactly what he was doing telling his mom this piece of information. 

“His name is Eddie, and he was cleared of all charges. The ‘cult’ was literally just a school club.”

“So it’s true? You’re moving with him?” Her voice is sharp and even just hearing it over the phone makes him flinch.

“Yeah, we’re friends and it’s cheaper that way. We got a better apartment because we’re two people with a job each.” It’s such a simplification of the truth it’s almost a lie but Steve doesn’t think this is the time to come out to her. He hopes the ‘better apartment’ comment will calm her, it’s the sort of thing she cares about after all. Not for his safety and comfort though but for how it will reflect on her.

He’s not sure she actually hears him though because she hisses a vicious, “If you move with him you will not be welcome back Steven, this will be the last time we speak.” Before she hangs up on him. 

Steve carefully places the phone back in its cradle, then he’s left standing alone in the living room, both too shocked to move and not really shocked at all. 

He’s not close to his parents. Has slowly been understanding just how much they’ve neglected him. He’s been relieved about moving away, about being in another city where he won’t have to see them when they waltz back into town. But to never speak to them again? That’s a whole different thing. He still hoped that they’d be able to fix their relationship. That him not being dependent on them anymore would allow him to stand up for himself. That everything would get better. Now instead, the thing he thought would allow their relationship to get better is gonna destroy it forever. 

He debates calling Eddie, wants to tell him what his mom just said, wants to hear his voice, wants to let him make it better. He decides against it, he doesn’t wanna ruin Eddie’s last night with Wayne and he’ll see him tomorrow anyway. He can tell him in the car. 

He doesn’t call Robin either, she’ll insist on coming over and he knows she’s on a date with Nancy right now. He doesn’t wanna ruin that either, even though both of them will tell him he’s not, he knows he will be. He goes to bed instead, sleep seems like the best option right now, at least he won’t have to think if he’s asleep.

Moving day.

He ended up not really sleeping at all. Tossing and turning for hours and after finally falling asleep sometime in the early morning he wakes up just hours later from a nightmare. He doesn’t remember what it was about but can feel the lingering panic. He gives up on getting any more sleep, doesn’t wanna risk more nightmares when he’s alone.

He picks at his breakfast, still thrown off from the conversation with his mom the night before and not feeling like eating, so he gives up on that too. He spends the rest of the morning wandering around, touching the walls and the furniture in the house he grew up in. The house he’s been left alone in since he was nine. The house he both hates and loves. The house he will never be allowed to return to after today. 

Then the phone rings again, it’s probably his mom calling to ask if he’s decided to stay he thinks. It’s not, it turns out.

“Hi I’m Patricia, I’m looking for Steve Harrington?” A chipper voice says.

“This is him.”

“Okay well, good. I’m calling about a barista job you’re supposed to start with us next week.” 

“Yeah?” Steve chews on his cheek. 

“I’m so sorry but due to our rent being raised we’re having to do cutbacks. Since you haven’t signed your contract with us yet, it’s the first one to go.” 

“You’re firing me?” Steve asks, it’s not entirely right since he hasn’t started yet but it’s all he can think to say. 

“Essentially,” Patricia responds, “I’m sorry for the short notice.” 

“Okay,” he says, his voice void of emotion, “thank you for calling.” 

He hangs up without waiting for a response, he doesn’t have the energy to be polite. 

He barely has time to let the information sink in before his doorbell rings. Eddie on the other side of the door with a wide grin on his face. 

“Did you oversleep?” He jokes. 

Steve’s confused for a second but then he realizes he’s still in his pajamas, that he’s spent the whole morning wandering around like a ghost in his house not getting any of the things he needed to do done. 

He hasn’t packed the bag of all his essentials. He hasn’t gotten dressed. He hasn’t even brushed his teeth. What he has done is get fired from a job he never even started.

He sees Eddie’s teasing smile, the combination of it and his sudden joblessness tugs at something in his brain, brings back the conversation they had last week.

“Now, if you didn’t have a job then I’d be worried. I’m not cut out for all the responsibility of being the breadwinner princess.”

He doesn’t have a job. He’ll have to live off Eddie and what little savings he has left. Become a responsibility Eddie doesn’t want, a burden probably.

“Worst case scenario we move back”, “you’ll be able to come back if you need to.”

If he leaves now he won’t be able to come back. 

Gareths words play back in his mind too.

“if you have any doubts at all, you can’t go.”, “it will break him more if you go, let him think it’s gonna work and then leave, then if you don’t go at all.”

“I’m not going,” Steve hears himself say as he steps back from the hand Eddie reaches out to him. 

“You’re not-“ Eddie looks so confused. “Like today? Do you need extra time? We can postpone by a couple of days but-“

He’s not getting it. Steve interrupts him, needs to make him understand because he can’t listen to him try to come up with solutions. 

“No, Eddie. I’m not going it all.” 

The words feel wrong in his mouth but he forces them out anyways. 

“What do you mean?” Eddie asks and it fucking ruins him. He feels his carefully blank expression break, despair showing through. 

“I can’t leave Hawkins, the kids,” he has to look away from Eddie as he says this. Knows it’s the only thing Eddie won’t question, knows Eddie thinks he doesn’t mean as much to Steve as the kids do. “They need me.”

“When did you decide you weren’t going?” Eddie asks and Steve didn’t know it was possible but he breaks even more from that, from Eddie not fighting him. 

I didn’t, he thinks, I don’t know why I’m saying this now. If you ask me to stop and just go with you I will. 

“A couple of days ago,” he lies. 

It’s silent then, just their breathing and the distant sound of cars down the street being heard. Eventually, Eddie breaks it.

“Steve?”

His voice cracks in the middle. Steve can hear the plea for him to take it all back and he nearly does, has to swallow the words creeping up his throat before they get out. 

“I’m sorry,” he says instead. He turns around, closing the door behind him. Destroying their future and breaking the last bit of his heart in the process.

He doesn’t get more than two steps into the house before his legs give out beneath him. He stays there, sitting on the floor for what feels like forever. 

After some time he hears a car drive away and he knows Eddie has left. He feels silent tears start streaming down his face that soon turns into sobs. Making him curl in on himself and gasp for air. 

He doesn’t know how long he stays there, crying until he can’t anymore and then just sitting there. But after a while, he’s interrupted by a loud ringing. For the third time in less than twenty-four hours he picks up the god-forsaken phone. 

“Hello?” He rasps, his voice dull and raw from crying.

“Steven. You made the right decision and stayed I take it?” His mother asks.

“Yes.” He says and hangs up on her. 

[achilleasfury]

Qinyao👀

they're everything to me, sorry I dont make the rules

(theyre also aesthetically pleasing but i forgor to cross it whoops)

[sisterdivinium]

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Category: Gen Characters: Sister Lilith (Warrior Nun), Shotgun Mary (Warrior Nun), Mother Superion (Warrior Nun), Ava Silva, Jillian Salvius, Sister Beatrice (Warrior Nun), Father Vincent (Warrior Nun), Cardinal Duretti (Warrior Nun), Adriel (Warrior Nun), Sister Camila (Warrior Nun) Additional Tags: Angst, It's all of their relationships to one another and to the halo, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence

A short AU for if Mary hadn't arrived on time and Lilith managed to get the halo in 1x05.

[b00m-b0mb]

Something really funny that's occurred to me is the way Joe talks about Maccie is like she's some catastrophic event that happened to their family "I can't believe she's been here that long." / "Everything's been different since she was born" / "Everything changed." / "She changed everything."

And it's just rlly funny to me. I want to up the dramaticness of his words at some point. And anyway, he's talking to the Samurai/Ronin for the first time and I'm wondering the impression he's getting lmao

Joe is certainly expressive to me, but only when he's given the chance. And I think w Ronin, he just started letting a lot of stuff out bc thus guy is gonna go on his way anyways.. but then he's like wait!!! Actually let me go?? For a little? (Platonic yearning so bad)

Ronin like 》^. "I suppose.. Alright, curious karate man, I'll accompany you a little longer."

Or something I'm messing around UGH

[h-doodles]

boy the sudden outpour of angst ideas for larissa weems x reader in my brain got me weeping so bad i feel a fever coming on

[ljubimaya]

Maybe if I go to sleep now I could have enough energy to write and do other productive stuff tomorrow

[milf-harrington]

im in a "steve has a good mum" mood so here are some random but positive-ish headcanons i have about her

ive got one where she's australian literally just because

she comes from a big family who didnt approve of her choice in husband so she hasnt spoken to them in years (a regret on her part, but she's stubborn and proud)

she had steve out of wedlock so her parents dont speak to her but she visits her sister a lot

she's an only child who married into the harrington family for the name

she's an extravagant socialite, maybe a model or a small-time actress

she's respected in town bc she's super involved in the community

she loves steve but resents what his father turned him into so she avoids him through his teen years (a regret)

she loves steve but doesnt know how to be a mother, she genuinely thinks she does enough by giving him freedom and money

she loves steve, he was her best friend when he was a kid bc her husband was always working and even if she lost him for a bit during the king steve years shes proud of who he grows into

she follows her husband around to stop him from cheating bc she doesnt want him to tear their family apart

she kind of a mix of joyce byers and karen wheeler

she's a mean girl at heart which is where steve gets it from and they gossip in the kitchen

she acts dumb on purpose so that people let their guard down around her (she does this to her husband as well)

she's the actual brains in the family

if she found out steve was bi she'd be scared for him and would run interference so his dad wouldnt find out if he had a boy over

she comes back to hawkins as soon as she hears about starcourt

she heads back when she hears about the murders in hawkins bc steve isnt answering the fucking phone and she gets there right after the earthquakes

she's french

she's italian

she has a nickname for steve that has nothing to do with his name and he either finds it sweet or deeply embarrassing

[theladyfae]

nothing to me will ever be more iconic than my beloved mutual managing to get me so invested in a (rarepair) ship for a media i had no previous interaction with that i was actively making my own headcanons abt their potential relationship dynamic and making song associations and engaging in others’ brainrot for months before i ever even considered getting in to said media. and now a year later i’m finally writing fic for them but still know next to nothing abt what they’re like in canon cause i still haven’t made it to that part of the story, the memories of the shared delusion are genuinely the only thing keeping me going.

[iridescentis]

i think the reason why i don't read/write my sapphic ships very often is because im just jealous it makes me mad😭

like with guy characters i absolutely adore them and their dynamics but with sapphics its all of that but also like. do yall need a third. im free whenever.

[castelled-away]

Do you ever read a fic & then some random side characters that pop up again & again throughout the whole story do something together in the background while the main character is occupied with their own thoughts & just brushes over them like a fleeting, unimportant observation? And you’re like these two, I wanna ship these two. And then you keep your eyes open for more background interaction like those as a secondary goal besides reading & enjoying the fic (that’s when a fanfic really starts to live at least to me).

Though I’m all insecure & paranoid now bc the author surely didn’t mean to paint these two in a romantic light & just needed that side interaction as a description filler & im reading too much into this, but like…I ship it. Oops. How did that happen

Link is here: https://archiveofourown.org/series/1830772 (it’s actually Part 2 of a longer 5-Parter-Series & Part 1 was already awesome but it keeps. getting. better.)

[godblooded]

i just gotta say peoples' obsessions with writing toxic relationships just concerns the shit outta me on this hellsite.