#and called me [redacted] while near tears

[patrice-bergerons]

Morse in the series finale-

[cheapsweets]

The Amphibious Dolthruk

My response to this week’s BestiaryPosting challenge, from @maniculum

Pencil sketch, then lines in Pentel brush pen.

Thought process under the cut…

"The Dolthruk is so called from the color of [redacted]. They live in the river, four-footed animals equally at home on land or in the water and more than twenty cubits long. The Dolthruk is armed with monstrous teeth and claws and has such a tough skin that however hard you throw a stone at it, you will not hurt the beast. It goes into the water at night and rests by day on the land. It lays its eggs on land, and both male and female take it in turns to hatch them. A certain kind of fish whose serrated spines tear open the soft part of their belly kills them. Alone among animals they can move their upper jaw and hold the lower one still. From their dung is made an ointment with which old women and faded whores [bestiary is judgmental today, damn] anoint their faces, and appear beautiful until their sweat washes it off."

I spent an awful lot of time mulling this one over. We actually get quite a bit of description for a change, which is nice to work with too!

We also know that it's a beast, rather than a serpent or any other manner of creature. This is where it gets a little complicated, as we also know it lays eggs! My first thought was making it a monotreme; the idea of a monstrous platypus really tickled me, but I couldn't quite work out how to manage 'monstrous teeth' in what is a rather toothless clade of critters (@silverhart-makes-art came up with a solution and a brilliant rendition of this concept!), so I went down a whole rabbit hole of early mammals and mammal ancestors. The most impressive teeth (and claws) definitely belong to the therapsids, and specifically, the gorgonopsids. So, we end up with an amphibious gorgonopsid!

Incidentally, gorgonopsids are far weirder than an initial look would indicate - did you know that a lot of early therapsids had a pineal eye or light sensing organ atop their head (similar to modern tuataras), as well as very weird joints!

We have webbed feet so it can get around in the water when it is not lounging on land and taking turns to care for its eggs and young. I also gave it a shorter neck, and lowered the eye socket in the skull so that, at a glance at least, it looks more like the upper jaw can be moved while the lower jaw remains still.

We also have the issue of the very tough skin. Now, as its is a beast rather than a serpent, I initially didn't want to give it armour plates. I also considered a pangolin's scales, but felt the overlapping scales would trap water and not be particularly hygienic. Now, the fearsome hippopotamus has famously thick skin, but I couldn't quite work out how to represent this. Rhinos are similar, but a little more obvious, until a solution struck me. Hence, we now have an amphibious gorgonopsid lounging near its nest with armour plates inspired by Albrecht Dürer's Rhinoceros…

Of course, we also have 'a certain kind of fish' in the water. Largely based on the weaver fish, a fishie native to British waters, with distinctive venomous spines! Best stay out of the water for now, Dolthruk!

[doomedspork]

Goon

So I wrote this poem about 3 days before my ex’s visa ran out and she had to leave the country. She was smart as fuck, but made the classic mistake of graduating and couldn’t find a sponsor. Never saw her again.

We are a candle burning at both ends,

The blinding light that upends,

The darkness,

And I'll confess,

I don’t ever think I'll know that I know you,

But as long as we have words I'll try to show you,

We burn twice as bright as any motherfucker,

I'm your black mirror, you're my Charlie Brooker,

And I don't have such great corneas,

But the world burns bright when you are near,

We met at a Weatherspoons,

And the irony wasn't lost, but you looked like you were,

My cigarette light permeated the gloom,

As my words began to slur,

I'd borrowed a 20, so that I'd seem rich,

You bought your own drinks but then we'd switch,

I laughed too loud,

Disturbed the crowd,

But we talked,

And pensioners gawked,

When you went in for a kiss,

Fuck, life was simple then!

Because it existed, but it didn't, the indefinite end,

Flickering in carbon dioxide,

Trying to spend every day outside,

My favourite Muslim coffee shop,

Breathing smoke until I'd drop

Pain au Chocolates after loan day,

The bridge over the way,

Uber Drivers and Vapo-rub,

Every uni snub,

Boiled garlic and Anarchism,

Lightning chasing and Capitalism,

Arguing with our beliefs,

Like a magnifying glass to burn leaves,

And the darkness seemed so close then,

But I just couldn't let you go...

And it was all so easy,

Before the 4am starts,

Before the night shifts,

Before every goddamn cheddar seeking American,

Every cleaned bowl of Nutella and Salami,

Broken feet and broken spirit,

You left for uni when I came to bed,

You studied while I chased the noise of drum and base,

And the world seemed broken,

But you didn't,

And for the first time, I didn't,

Slowly, surely, I got this little thing called confidence...

You make me laugh like Seth Rogan,

I sound like a seal climaxing in a van,

Like a baboon making love to a can,

Or like maleficent cooking up a plan,

But I don't give a shit,

I'm not brad Pitt,

But I've got an ass that don't quit,

So deal with it,

Somewhere, along the way,

The night took shelter from the day

Our scars faded into obscurity,

Every mark, just a part of our body

And even when you're far away,

I'll carry what you gave to me,

You guide me from my fears,

And wipe away my tears,

And I think I'll always love you,

REDACTED.

[morsartis]

That [Redacted]

It was no secret that trolls reacted differently to things concerning romance, as someone who was somewhat well versed in quadrants by now you could say that there really was some method to the madness. Truth be told it was all extremely straightforward- unless you were a clown. Gods above and below did that throw a wrench in things. From symbolism and ritual all the way down to the odd taboo clowns just loved to make things interesting- and often contradictory- despite being in a relationship with Marvus for as long as you had been those damn clowns still confounded you. 

Still, you’d learned to pick up on certain tells. Little mannerisms your matesprite couldn’t help himself from doing each and every time. Sipping at your drink as the troll next to you continued to ramble on- about what you had long lost track of- it was very clear they were getting on Marvus’ nerves. Really, he wasn’t subtle. Not anymore. The twitch of his ears every time your companion laughed at something they’d said, the flex of his hands around his cane when they leaned into your personal space. Honestly it was starting to get a little funny. They weren’t even hitting for your red quadrant- just making over the top and cartoonishly exaggerated small talk- but clearly Marvus had different feelings on the matter. Some time between them plopping down in your booth and throwing an arm around your shoulders Marvus had started inching his way closer and closer. He made a good show of it, of rambling and ‘wandering’ around the club. To the untrained eye he’d only ‘accidentally’ find himself back at your table.  “Ohmygoddd is that Marvvvy Xoloto? I legit can’t! Are you two here together?” The teal was now half sprawled across you to gawk openly like a stereotypical drunk sorority girl. One hand wrapped around a solo cup and the other still clinging to your shoulders. It was clearly getting to Marvus as you saw his brow twitch and his grin become a little more forced. Taking the solo cup from their glitter smeared claws you set it on the table and carefully guided them back into a sitting position. Your newly appointed bestie still refused to remove their arm from around your shoulders and while that didn’t bother you it was clearly bothering your matesprite more and more.  “Like Baaabeee, you should totally ask him to hang out with us!”

You couldn’t even attempt to stop the barking laughter that statement caused. The straw that broke the metaphorical camel’s back as Marvus all but appeared at your side to sneer a wide grin down at your companion- you should really remember their name because they seemed like a blast- and placed a single hand down on the table to lean over the two of you. Abruptly your companion stopped giggling along with you in favor of staring gobsmacked up at him.  “Omg babes did I like black out or did he teleport cause dayum!”  Marvus’ near livid red eyes softened a shade towards orange in confusion.  “Exactly how drunk are you right now?” You asked them in amusement.  “Ooooo what’s that earth show saying thang??? Oh! Oh! Oh! I found a liquor store and I drank it! Yeah! That’s the one.” “Let’s call you a cab then.”

“Awww but I wanna party!” Their arms wrapped around you in a vice as they pouted down at you. The shiny metallic sequins of their crop top were digging into your skin and you had a suspicion that there would be glitter in your hair for days to come. A low growl emanated from above you and to both your horror and amusement the teal blew a raspberry at him. 

“Ay tealz, wat tha fck you think you doin?”

“I am having a great time with my new bestie! Now buzz off grumpy pants!” They pointed a finger right in Marvus’ face causing him to go cross eyed and threw their legs over you to practically sit in your lap. Oh, you needed their name and number because they were now your favorite person. Giggling hysterically you patted their knee. Marvus was starting to look somewhere between murderous and exasperated. 

“That’s my matesprite yo’ dumbass is feelin’ up tealz.”

“Omggg you two are together together?? That’s adorable!” And yet they didn’t budge an inch. 

“Marvus could you help me get them into a cab?” You asked earning another whine from them. 

“But the party isn’t even over yet!” 

“Ye, but it be lookin like you dun had enough.” Marvus ground out. 

It took you wrapping an arm around their waist and half dragging half herding them towards the exit before they stopped whining. Marvus had been more than happy to clear the way and get them a cab which is when the night went from interesting to insane. Marvus had been trying to subtly goad the teal off of you as you waited for a cab but they had simply wrapped themselves more firmly around you. As the time for the cab dragged on Marvus continued to grow more agitated until finally, finally, the cab pulled up. 

“We should go to another party.” Ellari- you’d finally gotten a name- slurs cheerfully attempting to drag you with them to the cab. Marvus takes a step towards the both of you.  “I think it’s closing time for you.” You reply. Ellari pouts exaggeratedly and pulls you into a hug.  “Well you better call meee! I need a party buddy!”  “Of course, of course-,” You yelp suddenly when they pull back and with a wicked grin move faster than any drunk has any right to move.  “See ya next time babe!” They shout diving into the cab as quickly as their stilettoes would allow. 

“You sneaky mother-,” Marvus snarls suddenly lunging for the cab as it speeds off. He spends a moment swearing at the rapidly speeding cab as it escapes and you place a hand on your rear still stinging with the slap. As the situation finally catches up with you a laugh begins to bubble up. Marvus whirls around to look at you completely bewildered as you start to cackle until tears streak down from the corners of your eyes. 

“Wats so damn funny babes?” He asks warily eyes narrowing slightly. You shake your head still laughing too hard to speak as he approaches you. Its not until he bends down to be level with you that the laughter begins to die off. There’s a look in his eyes that’s familiar and sends your stomach in nervous knots. A plotting look of suspicion that turns his eyes dark. 

“Were you tryna make a clown jealous baby?” 

Oh shit. 

A shark like grin spreads across his face and before you can explain he has you up in his arms. 

Officially screwed is putting it lightly. 

[mrsamaroevans]

YOU ALL OVER ME | ANGEL REYES

Fandom: Mayans M.C.

Pairing: Angel Reyes x the consequences of his bad decisions with Female Reader.

Words: 3,673.

Warnings: Sad and like a bad word. English is not my first language, so, sorry if there are grammar mistakes or if the redaction is poor.

A/N: This is the first thing I finish like in ages! This was not requested but I couldn’t stop listening to You All Over Me by Taylor and this came out. Thank you so much for reading, feedback is well received. *Gif is not mine*

|| MY MASTERLIST ||

“The best and worst day of June was the one that I met you, with your hands in your pockets and your ‘don't you wish you had me’ grin. But I did, so I smiled”

Santo Padre Regional High School.

Those were the words that you read before crossing the door with your mother. You had only one week in Santo Padre and you still had time before the school year begins, but she wanted to have all that ready as soon as possible.

While your mother was making all the paperwork, you were waiting on a bench outside of the office until you got bored. As no one could stop you, you decided to walk around for the facilities of what soon would be your new school. It was smaller than the school you used to go to before moving across the country, but it was okay. Classrooms were big enough, lockers a bit smaller y the patios were open and surrounded by green areas. You weren’t too disgusted about changing school again anymore.

Near the cafetería, was a mural with pictures of the different extracurricular classes and the people who were part of them. The cheerleader’s team looked too pretentious. You hated that cliché, but it was what you felt by just looking at the picture, you could be wrong though. The theatre team looked cool, maybe you’d join them. Then, was the football team.

Guys that looked bigger than what a sixteen-year-old guy should be. One of them proudly carried a big trophy. He had to be the leader, it always is. What was the position they had? You didn’t know, you weren’t too familiar with the terms of the sport.

But that guy in specific caught your attention. It wasn’t because of the trophy he had in his hands or what that meant. He had a beautiful smile, but for some reason, it didn’t look sincere. There was something in his eyes that kept you looking at him. All of him looked happy and proud, but there was something more. Unfortunately, if someone asked you what it was, you wouldn’t know how to explain it. But there was something there.

“You’re new?”

You gave a little jump at the unexpected voice on your side. You turned to your right and you saw him again. The same guy with the trophy in the picture, now in real size at your side.

“I’m gonna be” you nodded and looked back at the mural to see the rest of the teams.

“And, you like what you see?”

That flirty tone in his voice almost made you laugh. You turned to him again and saw that he had a smile that combined with the tone of voice he used and with the question he had made. His hands in his pockets, making his biceps more notorious.

“A little bit, yeah,” you said, willing to not let him intimidate you. And the truth was that you really liked what you were seeing “You are on summer break, right? What are you doing here?”

“I’m gonna do an exam,” he said like he didn’t want to talk much about it, but you didn’t realize it.

“You’re still on finals?” You asked, confused. The first time you noticed in your route was that there were no students or teachers.

“Oh, no… it’s an extraordinary exam. Chemistry” The guy answered as he didn’t care too much that he failed a class. You didn’t know what would be your situation at home if you were in his place.

“So, you’re not good with chemistry, then”

“It all depends on the situation” he smiled.

You kept his gaze for a few seconds. You didn’t want to give him the satisfaction to know that the first guy that got close to you in that city had made you shy. But the visual contact didn’t last too long, ‘cause you had to look at the ground for a second.

“What did you say your name was?” You asked, looking back at his face. He had beautiful brown eyes, but you were afraid that if you look at them for too long, he could know all your secrets.

“Angel,” he said and he looked so calm that that frustrated you even more.

“And I’m sure you’re not one”

Angel devilishly grinned and you felt your knees going a little weak. How a guy that you didn’t even know could have that power on you?

“What’s your name?” He asked and when you were about to answer, your phone rang so you lifted your index finger at him to ask for a moment. You took your mother’s call and the first thing she asked was:

“Where did you go?”

“I’m just walking around,” You told her calmly. You felt kinda sad when she told you that you needed to go to the office to sign the institutional regulation. That meant that your conversation with Angel came to an end “Okay... coming” you end the call and as you were placing your phone back into your pocket, you said: “I have to go”

You looked at him for the last time and started to make your way to the office, but you didn’t even give five steps when he spoke again.

“Hey!” He shouted making you turn back to him “You didn’t tell me your name”

“(Y/n)” you smiled and turned around to the way you had ahead.

“I lived, and I learned. Had you, got burned. Held out, and held on, God knows”

All the effort for the first date. The first kiss. The first ‘I love you.' The first time you made love. That day you met his parents and they adopted you into their family right away. All the double dates with his brother and girlfriend. The fairs and festivals. The football matches in which you were the one screaming louder than anyone whenever they made a score. His better grades. The jealousy from both sides. The fights because of the cheerleaders. All those break-ups and comebacks. Those days at the beach. The laughs. The tears. The good and the bad had gone and all because of his insecurities.

How did that happen? With three pictures someone left in your locker.

“What the hell, Angel?” Was the first thing you asked when you confronted him after school.

He saw the pictures and shrugged “You need me to explain it?” Those words had hit you too hard like never before a question had made. Your heart was breaking and it looked like he didn’t care even a little.

“What’s wrong with you?” You asked, not understanding that attitude towards you. He had never talked to you like that.

“Nothing, you’re the one who wants to fight,” He said, turning around to walk to the small desk beside his bed.

“I received pictures of you sleeping with Haley, what were you expecting?” You got close and threw the pictures at his back, they hit him and then fell to the floor. Angel barely looked at them and chuckled.

“It’s not so bad,” he said, turning to you.

“That it’s not so…?” You laughed at what you heard. Angel was a bit distant weeks before you had to go to college to finish your registration, but you never thought something like that could happen “It has to be a joke”

“You left for a week and I had physiology needs”

“Fucking jerk!” You shouted and couldn’t help but push him making him crashed against his desk. Some brushes fell to the floor and the tears in your eyes started to gather. You didn’t want him to see you crying, so you decided it was time to go.

“Everyone told you that but you didn’t want to see it” he aggressively said.

“Well, you got it” you turned to him and shrugged “Another broken heart… you smashed it” your voice trembled with the last words. That seemed to affect him because his hard expression softened for a second “I hope you’re happy”

But Angel wasn’t even close to being happy.

Once you left his room, he sat on the floor and saw the pictures. He ripped them apart while the tears fell from his cheeks. He hated himself.

He was a coward. He couldn’t break up with you, but he couldn’t let you stay with him. You had plans that he didn’t. Your vision of the future didn’t fit with his, and it was because he didn’t have one. He didn’t have plans like you, he wanted to go and take anything that comes his way. You had ambition, you had a plan to make your dreams come true, and him? He didn’t have anything.

To his eyes, you didn’t deserve someone like him.

“I lived, and I learned, and found out what it was to turn around and see, that we were never really meant to be”

Years went by and life changed.

Angel went through something he thought he never would. His mother has ripped away from their lives and that had been a hard blew for him. His little brother was sent to prison y couldn’t help but feel responsible because he made his way to get a gun easier. Ezekiel told him it was for mere protection, but deep down he knew his brother wanted retaliation.

And that made him get life imprisonment for the homicide of a cop.

His relationship with his father became tenser than what already was. But, after all that he had lost, he found a shelter. The club. Mayans MC. Those men went from simple mates to family too quickly.

He had heard from his father that you came back to the city. By that moment you were already done with college and your parents had been —finally— established in Santo Padre. You told him once, that you had fallen in love with the city and that, definitely, you could see your future there. So, when Felipe said that, he didn’t doubt in believing him.

But knowing you came back and seeing you had been so different for him.

He was on his way to the scrapyard in his bike with Coco and Gilly at both of his sides, but they had to stop for gas. Coco was saying something about how much he hated the hot weather and the incensement in the price of gas when a silver jeep parked in the pump in front of his.

Three doors opened. From the driver’s one jumped off a man with braids and sunglasses; he went directly to the pump. From one of the backseats door, as beautiful as he remembered, you went out.

He saw how you fixed your dress and laugh at something someone told you. You were fanning your face with your hands, a sign that you were hot. Then, a couple of seconds later, you took your hair and tied it in a messy bun. The hot air of Santo Padre in summer was excessive.

“We should have closed the windows and put the air conditioner” Angel heard a masculine voice and then he heard your laugh.

“You know that the combination of air conditioner and this weather make me sick, honey”

Honey. Angel hadn’t forgotten how that word sounded coming from your lips, but hearing you say it to another man broke his heart.

A man in a suit that looked to be more expensive than all of the boots Angel had, walked to you. He had a smile when he kissed you and even though he didn’t want to keep watching, for some unknown reason he couldn’t take his eyes off of you.

“That last house’s not a sign to desist in looking for our home here,” the man told you, taking your hands “We’re gonna find the perfect house or the perfect place to build it”

“I know,” you said and nodded. Your left hand touched his cheek and that was when Angel turned to his bike. The sunrays helped to the gleam of the giant diamond in your finger to not being unnoticed by him.

You were engaged, and you and your fiancé were looking for a house, which meant it wouldn’t take long for you to marry.

“You okay?” Coco asked him. He was pale and it seemed he could faint at any moment. But Angel didn’t answer, he turned to the jeep when the doors got closed instead.

The driver started the engine and that was when your gaze stopped in him.

You looked fine. You looked happy. When your eyes connected with his, you didn’t seem surprised or hurt, or shocked. In fact, he couldn’t decipher what he saw in your eyes.

“You know her?” Gilly asked.

“I used to,” Angel said when he found his voice which wasn’t quickly.

And even though he was hurt for letting you go in the way he did, when he saw you he realized that he had made the right decision. ‘Cause you belong to the world that man in the expensive suit could give you. It was too painful though, to find out —again— that he never really had a chance like that with you.

That night, he required the services of Vicky’s girls and after that, Coco had to drive him to his apartment ‘cause he couldn’t even walk for all the alcohol he drank to cope with the pain.

“So I lied, and I cried, and I watched a part of myself die”

Days after and thanks to el Padrino, he knew who your fiancé was. His name was Miguel Galindo and he was the son of José Galindo, founder of one the most powerful and deadliest cartels in the México-USA border. He also knew that your wedding was set to be in October and that would be in three months.

That day in the gas station wasn’t the last time he saw you. He had seen you in the mall with the first friend you made in Santo Padre. You met in the market and it had been so uncomfortable. There were a lot of people and you had to walk by too close to each other. He also saw you going out of a restaurant with Miguel at your side and once and then you two were in the paper news for going to charity events.

It didn’t matter how many times he saw you at the side of another man, he could never get use to it.

“I know you didn’t want to talk about it at the moment, but… why did you break up?” Felipe asked him. He didn’t more information to know what he meant. Angel had a couple of days going to his parents' house and Felipe knew why.

You had been there on so many occasions and Angel still couldn’t get over you.

“I cheated on her” Angel said “I slept with one of the cheerleaders and I made sure to have evidence. Evidence that I left in her locker”

Felipe sighed and shook his head no “We didn’t raise you like that, Angel”

“I know that” he sounded irritated “But I needed to push her away from me so she could get all the goals she had in life… and it turned out fine. She’s so much better now”

“Did you apologize to her?” His father questioned, hoping to get a positive answer, but when Angel remained silent, he got the answer he didn’t want “You have to do it, Angel. She was and is a great woman, she didn’t deserve that. But at least do it for your mother” Angel turned to his father. There were tears in his eyes at the mention of her “Your mother loved that kid, and she always taught you to apologize when you did something wrong”

Angel nodded and took his gaze up to the ceiling, promising his mother that he would apologize next time he sees you.

A month went by to see you again. A Friday, his father had asked him for help at the butcher shop, so he went out of the clubhouse and when he arrived at the shop, he saw a jeep parked outside and a man waiting by the backseat’s door. For the glass of the shop, he saw his father talking to you. You were smiling and later, your exit coincided with his entrance.

“Sorry,” you said with a small smile and thanked him when Angel stepped aside to let you walk out.

Angel looked at his father and the expression on his face said “Go” so he just nodded got out of the shop.

“Hey, (y/n)” his voice went out less determined than what he wanted, but it worked out to have your attention. The driver had already opened the door for you, but you still turned to him “Can we talk?”

“Uh… I don’t see why” you said.

“Please…” Angel insisted, feeling nervous for the first time in too long.

“Fine” you nodded and made a sign to your driver for him to wait. He took the butcher bag and went to the trunk “What happens?” You asked, giving a few steps towards him.

Angel pointed at the table so you could sit with him, and you did.

“I never apologized for what I did to you,” he said after a few seconds of silence. He saw you sighing and shaking your head.

“Angel…” you began to say, but he interrupted you.

“No, wait… I’m sorry. I truly am and I was in that moment too” he accepted, taking you by surprise ‘cause that day you didn’t see any repentance in him “I was a jerk, you didn’t deserve that and I’m so sorry”

You didn’t know what to say for a moment. Clearly, you had gotten over what happened, but, talking about it only took you to all the pain you felt and the depression you fell into that lasted more than you would have liked.

“Well, thank you for your apologies. I accept them” you finally said and Angel looked relieved with those words “But, don’t worry anymore… it’s been some years and we got over it, right?” You asked with a small smile on your face.

“Yeah…” Angel lied “I think it turned out fine for both of us”

“Yes, everything’s fine now” you repeated “And, well… we’re going to find once and then, the city is too small. Is good that it won’t be uncomfortable next time we cross paths” you smiled once more and stood up “I have to go” Angel accepted that and even though he wanted to make you stay a little bit longer. You stopped and turned to him by yourself “Angel?”

Angel looked up to you, you were closer than what he thought you would “Yeah?”

“I’m sorry about your mom,” you said pressing your lips together. When that happened, you called Felipe and Ez and talked to them, but you didn’t dare to talk to Angel.

“Thanks for the flowers” you shook your head no. You sent those flowers because you were in pain for what happened too, not because you wanted to look good before them or for them to thank you afterward.

“I loved her. She was amazing”

Angel smiled, remembering the times when his mother had told him that you were the one and that she would love to have you as a daughter-in-law “She loved you, too. She loved you so much” he admitted.

You smiled and did something that took him by surprise: you hugged him.

Angel reacted in time to hug you back, he did it tighter though, like he didn’t want to let you go again, and the truth was that he didn’t want to.

“Bye,” you said when you got apart, but he couldn’t say anything back. He just looked how you got in the car and how the jeep went away from the shop as he held on to those five seconds that the hug lasted.

The days kept on going until they became weeks and October arrived quicker than Angel imagined. El Padrino was invited to the wedding ‘cause he had been close to your future late father-in-law, so Miguel appreciated him.

Angel had promised himself he wouldn’t go. Being there and see you taking someone else’s name wouldn’t help in anything, but couldn’t contain from doing it. A few minutes after seven p.m, he drove to the church and waited outside. He was in a spot in which people couldn’t see him, but he would see when they go out. In his hands, he had a strip with black and white pictures from one of those machines at fairs. Those were the only pictures he kept after you broke up with him.

In the first one, you were only smiling. In the second, he was kissing you and in the third, you were smiling and showing your left hand in which you had a candy ring that Angel bought for you.

At 7:45 people started to leave the church and it didn’t take too long for you and your now-husband to go out. You looked beautiful. Your smile could light up the whole country, and, the man at your side looked happy too. He should be. Marry you should be enough reasons to be the happiest and luckiest man on the planet.

A tear fell when your husband cupped your face and kissed you. It didn’t matter how happy you looked, Angel couldn’t help but wish to be him taking your hand at that moment. He looked down at the pictures and sighed. He left them in the tree trunk that was being used as his hiding spot and turned to you, one last time.

He still loved you like the first day and he couldn’t deny it, and also couldn’t hide it. He was hoping to find you in another life to make things right.

“Cause no amount of freedom gets you clean. I’ve still got you all over me”

|| MY MASTERLIST ||

[aquarii-writes]

History on repeat(Dream x f!reader)

Ngl this was inspired by a dnf piece on tik tok. While I don't ship it the art was beautiful and the song attached inspired me to write this. This also includes my headcanons for Dream/his parents and I'll elaborate on it in a different post if enough people ask lmao

Notes: I should mention to look at my 'DSMP headcanons' especially Dream's part because that's where I kinda explain that I don't believe that Dream himself is a dreamon but that his mask contains one. I also used Dream's real name as his fathers name. I don't really like using the dsmp members real names if it's not in their user but I had to think of a name

WARNINGS: none I can think of aside from death and stuff of similar manners

WC:1,005

Genre: Angstyy

Two people sat together along the shoreline of a river. The colors of the sunset danced on the water. Turning the already beautiful area ethereal. Warm summer air tickled the woman; her blonde hair jumped with the wind.

"You're so beautiful [REDACTED]" the man spoke. His amber eyes held a love for the woman beside him; his lovely wife. Her green cloak acted as a pillow for her.

"You're too kind my darling" a smile played on the woman's lips. Her mask discarded beside her. The painted smile similar to the one she held.

"I love you with all my heart" a smile danced on the mans face. His lovely wife sat up and hugged him. Falling back into the grass the happy couple basked in one another. Masks long forgotten beside them. "Stay with me forever [REDACTED]?"

"Of course my darling dream" the twos faces were close as the wife spoke. It felt as though time sat there frozen to preserve the lasting moment.

Smiling towards you Dream held out his arms to get you to come towards him. As you got near Dream pulled you on top of him. His arms circling around your waist.

~~~

"Dream~" your voice was loving. Dreams mask was off as he watched you jump in the stream water. The sun was setting over the horizon and the light gave an other worldly glow to you and the water.

Playing with the locks of hair that fell into your grasp, Dream watched you. A deep seeded longing in his eyes. Out here away from everything was when Dream was the most caring. His affections unrestricted when he wasn't in the eyes of his friends. When he could easily sneak away.

Though the future had many plans for the two of you, but here in this moment the future could wait.

"I would do anything for you (y/n)" Dream's amber eyes looked like the sun. Specks of gold shined like they were directly in the sun. Nodding to his statement you kissed the man before you. An adoring hum escaped him.

Pulling away you mumbled out a response. "I love you with all my heart~"

"Will you stay with me forever?" with a teasing smile Dream rubbed your sides: tickling you along the way.

"Of course my darling Dream" an unknown feeling of deja vu came over the two. Seems as though something similar happened in the past.

~~~

"My dream!!' [REDACTED] screamed for her husband. "Don't take him away! Please!," the woman covered her small sons ears. The child didn't know what was happening. huddling into his mother arms the woman kept screaming for her husband.

Huddled under her cloak the small boy held a hand over his mother stomach and whispered to it. The boys father struggled against the men who held him away from his family. "CLAY! LET HIM GO! He didn't mean it.." [REDACTED] dropped to the ground crying. Her son hugging his mother. "Oh my baby Dream"

Dream's mother held onto him for dear life. Tears fell from his eyes as he watched his father get taken to the gallows. As a final goodbye his father threw towards them.

Crawling away from his mother, Dream grabbed the mask; his fathers mask. The plastic was cracked in a few placed, and some of the paint was chipped, but it was probably the last thing he would ever have of his fathers.

"Please just let my husband go" [REDACTED]'s mask was similarly painted though the tears the spilt from under it spoke another story. "It was the Dreamons who did it.. not my Clay.. not my lovely dreamer.." her whimpers drew her son back over to her.

"Mommy what's happening to daddy?" Dream wouldn't get an answer from her. Just wails and whimpers about how cruel the world was.

~~~

"Dream what did you do..," Tommy and Tubbo huddled behind you. A fearful look settled in your eyes. Dream's mask was just that, a mask. Behind it he held no remorse for what he had done and what he said.

He did plan on killing Tubbo, but the look in your eyes made his thoughts stutter. Should he not kill Tubbo? When Dream said he doesn't care about anyone it planted a seed in your heart. Did he really not love you anymore?

Dream didn't answer you. All he did was stare at you through the mask. "Take off your damn mask and answer me Dream" when your voice jumped at him all Dream could do was stare. He didn't talk and he didn't react. "Why aren't you answering me?! Dream WHY did you do it?!"

"I didn't mean to-"

"Like hell you didn't mean to!" your tone was sharp. It made the boys behind you move back as you came forward to hold Dream's face. This felt too familiar. Why does it feel so familiar?

Knitted brows went unnoticed behind the mask. His annoyed expression hidden to the world; to you. His everything. Before he lost it he wanted to marry you. He even joked about you being his wife. His darling wife.

"Do you not care about me anymore? After everything that's happened between us?" a certain sadness pushed your pain to him. It was the same sorrow his mother screamed from the top of her lungs. That's why it felt so familiar.

A desolate look decorated your (e/c) eyes. The same eyes he would've fought wars so see happy. The very eyes he believed he would love forever.

"It's not my fault- sweetheart it's not my fault" his words became more rushed as Sam pulled Dream away. Dragging him to Pandora's Vault. All the way to his box.

The misery and heartache Dream saw on your face reminded him of his mother. The heartbreak he never wanted to see again.

~~~

{REDACTED] held a baby in her arms as she watched her son play on the hill with her friends son. The baby girl in her arms slept peacefully as she spoke to her friend beside her.

Puffy had been a good friend of [REDACTED] for a long time now. "Puffy you have to promise me something"

"Anything [REDACTED]" Puffy watched the baby in her friends arms. The poor thing had been born months after her fathers hanging. The family had to go into hiding.

"Please after tonight take my babies with you.... I don't think I can carry on much longer with out my Clay.." despair was the only way Puffy could describe her once vibrant friend.

The woman's once vibrant green eyes now only held melancholy. The satchel that sat beside her only contained a few things; one thing being Clay's mask.

"Dream my beloved!" [REDACTED] called out for her boy. The mask that once adorned her face constantly had been vacant since her husband died.

Running up to his momma Dream reached out to hold his baby sister. Passing baby Drista [REDACTED] kissed her sons head before pulling something from her satchel.

"Dream listen to me. The world is a cruel and it will hurt you-" holding out Clay's mask to her son said everything to the small boy. Giving baby Drista to Puffy, Dream took his fathers mask away from his mother. "Wear this.. it was your fathers..," a sadistic smile rested on his mothers face.

It scared him, but it was the first smile he saw from her since his father died.

"Okay mommy" Dream slipped on the mask his father once wore and winced. It felt like strings were licking his face. It felt wrong. This wasn't his mask to be keeping was it?

~~~

The prison vault was deafening. Nothing was a really annoying sound when all that surrounded you was lava and crying obsidian. Though he had one thing to look forward to.

You promised to see him today. His lovely wife. Well you weren't married. He fucked up that chance when he lost himself to the mask. The dreamons that whispered to him constantly.

Ever since he came in here the whispers stopped. Except for when they speak about you.

The pistoning sound of the bridge coming brought Dream from his head. A sadistic smile grew on him. Throwing off the mask the threads retreated back into the plastic.

"(y/n) my beloved!" a crazed look adorned Dream's face as he looked at you. His beloved wife. "I love you so much~"

"Dream.." with a heavy heart you held Dream's face. His eyes held a look of longing love.

"Dream love.. listen to me. The world is cruel.. and it's going to hurt," your voice cracked as you held Dream's hands. Worry filled him as Dream dragged you towards him.

Pushing back Dream dug around in the chest of his room. A ring sat gently between his fingers.

"Wear this... it'll protect you.." a hopeful look held on to Dream's face. All his love and adoration for you.

"I'm sorry Dream.. I love you so much but maybe it's better if we split ways.... I.. why do I trust you so much? Your hands are scarred with murder, but I trust them completely.." crumpling to the ground you sobbed. Conflictions and pain battering against you for weeks.

Dream held you. He had seen this all before. History was repeating. He witnessed this happen between his parents. The very thing he never wanted to happen to him did. He's losing the love of his life.

Why does history have to repeat?

[sergeant-donny-donowitz]

Reasons (Donny x Fem!Reader)

@owba-chan @war-obsessed @inglourious-imagines @tammykelly @struggling-bee @frozenhuntress67 @kwyloz @sodapop182 @marlenemarauders @what-the--curtains @taikawho @spookybearlandtaco Let me know if you wanna be added to the IB or OUATIH taglists! :)

*TW: Single mother, war/violence

Requested by @redrosewritingsstuff

********************

You'd been working with the basterds for a while now as a nurse, though you were an agent for the MI6 once. There was a botched mission, and in order to keep yourself alive, you had to leave the MI6. But, your department also happened to owe a favor to the OSS. For all intents and purposes you were considered a ghost. You did not exist in either organizations' paper work. Anything that could hint at your transfer was heavily redacted. Your aliases and IDs were burned, and you were on your way. You stayed behind the scenes as much as possible. Your mission was now  to be the basterds' saving grace.  

You didn't talk much, but you weren't quite on the same level as Hugo. But, if any of the basterds could get you to laugh a little, it was Donny.

You were sitting on your own, looking intently at a locket, enclosed in your fist. Donny sat by you, "What'cha got there?" You looked away for a moment, smiling, but shook your head.

Donny's voice was softer when he noticed the locket. To him, (and most people) a locket like that meant there was already someone out there with your heart. He respected that, but he couldn't take seeing you upset. "Shoulda guessed." He chuckled, trying to soften you up a bit. "He got a name?" You shook your head, smiling a little. You were amused. "No. It's not like that." You didn't say anything else, and for once, Donny didn't either. You just sat there together, and he wondered what that meant. In war, most of the possibilities were grim. *********** Time went by, you marched through the forest with the basterds, near the edge of a village. Things had been too quiet lately, especially knowing there was a patrol you had been looking for. You found them, as you always did. The nazis had cornered a family, threatening the life of a child, who was maybe three or four years old. You heard the mother's screams, saw the father being beaten. You didn't think twice, you jumped in between them all, blowing your own cover and that of the basterds. You acted while the boys still hadn't realized what was happening. You were nearly killed, but Donny and Hugo rushed in to help. In the end, you saved the family. Aldo had the nazi scalps to prove it. But, he wasn't happy. You had jumped in without a loaded gun, and no knife. You were the nurse, but you were also a basterd. You could not be replaced. None of them could. "Of all the stupid, wreckless shit I seen done by soldiers, this is damn near at the top of the list. And if there's one thing we ain't need way out here, L/N, it's goddamn impulsiveness." You sighed, lowered your head, and rested your hands against a dusty table top in your hideout. He was right. But you couldn't help it. You had to save that family. That kid had a whole life ahead. You couldn't stand by and wait for Aldo’s orders. Aldo sighed, knowing perhaps he had been a little too hard. After all, you did save a family, as the basterds should, granted, you could have been a little more prepared. "Y/n, there ain't many nurses out here we can trust. We lose you, we lose any chance of us makin' it to the end. Y'understand?" "Perfectly." You murmured, still not fully willing to analyze what had happened that day. *****

Not long after, you were all sharing a drink together in your hideout. After everyone had gone to bed, you hung around on your own, with your locket in your hand. "Y/n?" You needed to say it. You didn't know why. You didn't care if you sounded like a coward, or like a cliche. "I've got to get home, Donny." Donny was caught off guard. From what he knew, you were one of the best basterds. It never crossed his mind that you'd ever say something like that. But he understood. You were all only human, at the end of the day. "We all do, kid." You were silent again, and he said, "If it's about today...you did what anyone would have done. Aldo didn't mean it. We just can't afford to lose ya. We lost Andy, Simon, and Michael. We can't lose any more basterds. That's all he meant by it." You shook your head, "You don't understand..." "Let me." His hand rested on yours, and he looked into your eyes. "He was just a baby, Donny. Three, maybe four at most. What was I supposed to do?" "Y/n." He kept his voice low, warning with his eyes that there were unkind ears around. But, he was also trying to calm you. "You did the right thing." You sighed, your grip around the locket loosened, and you set it on the table. "Go ahead." Donny raised his eyebrow for a moment, then reached for the locket. The moment he looked at the tiny, oval, black and white photograph, his heart broke. It was a picture of a baby. "She'll be four years old in a month." You smiled softly, though your heart was breaking, "She ain't seen me since. This is the only picture of Abby that I have. If I go back at all...she won't remember me." "What? No! Y/n, don't say that, she will! She's...your..." Donny was still processing it, but he managed to say, "You're a fucking hero, Y/n. You're unforgettable..." Donny meant every word. "How can I be when I was never there for her at all? They took her from me, they said I was an unfit mother." You looked down, "I was young. I wasn't married. Her father was killed in the Pacific, he never had a chance to know. I had nothing. Our town was bombed, I couldn't take care of her the way she needed. I couldn't keep her safe, Donny." You looked at him with teary eyes and he shook  his head, "Hey, don't say that," as he wrapped his hands around your shoulders. "You did keep her safe. You did the hardest thing a mother could do! She's safe because of that. She's waiting for you. You'll get her back. I'll make sure. I promise." "Don't say things you don't mean." "I don't." When you looked at him you knew he meant that. You couldn't help but cry into his shoulder, and he didn't mind. As the years went on, you became closer to all the basterds, but in Donny you confided the most. You realized then, it was because  you loved him the most. It was 1945 now. Wicki and Hugo had been hurt. Bridget hardly had any hope in any of the basterds, but she asked if any of them could speak a language other than English. You spoke Italian. (A lot better than Aldo did, at least.) Donny turned around. He was going to volunteer himself. He didn't want to lose you. He couldn't imagine a life without you. He couldn't lose you, and he knew he wasn't the only one. "Y/n, you can't." "It's the only way, Donny." "No, it's not." "You promised," you didn't have to remind him. You were their only clear chance at pulling off the Italian charade. If the basterds failed operation Kino, the war would go on, maybe even for years. Donny knew that. He knew how much was at stake. So the mission went on. You went with him, Bridget, Omar, and Aldo to the cinema. Things didn't go as planned, but with the basterds, they never really did. "Donny. Don't do this." He looked at you with wide eyes, his  voice was soft for a moment, "I'm sorry, Y/n." At the very last second, he locked you out of the theater. You pushed against the door as Donny gripped it, "Y/n don't make this harder than it has to be." "Donny let me in." "You know I can't do that." He looked you in the eyes, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. "Don't..." You couldn't say goodbye either. "Donny don't do this." "I promised." He pushed you and locked the door as he ran back through the inferno to find Omar. When smoke rose to the sky and ash and glass covered the street, you thought it was the last you'd ever see of Donny. But it was only the beginning. When you gave up, you tried to force back tears as your knees grew weak. Then you saw the impossible. Omar and Donny limped out together. "Donny!? Omar!" "Promised I'd make sure, didn't I?" He chuckled as he sat down by you, as the three of you watched the war end right before your eyes. ***** Donny couldn't wait to see his family, but he figured he'd waited so long, he could wait just a little longer. It was the day the basterds were receiving the medal of honor, but Donny was standing with you in a train station somewhere in the countryside of England. He refused to be there if Hans Landa was receiving the medal of honor. Hugo was 100% planning a million ways to get rid of Hans, and a million more to get away with it, but...well, once a basterd, always a basterd. 

 Anyway, Donny figured he'd get his in the mail, though he did hope his little brother didn't open it before he got home. You wouldn't get one at all, because, well, for all intents and purposes, you were a "ghost,". You didn't mind. You didn't care for crowds.

Besides, you just couldn't wait another day. You called in every favor you could to make this happen. Donny was there for you every step of the way, just like he said he would be.  

This should have been goodbye. You were all flown from France to Britain when some of the injured basterds had healed enough. From there, they'd go to Washington D.C for the ceremony, even Archie and Bridget were going. After that, they would all go home. Hirschberg hadn't really thought things through and asked, "What could be more important than a medal of honor right now?" He figured you could at least be there one last time for them. He wasn't really that good at saying goodbye. He never had been. Omar rolled his eyed, and "Dumbass." "What?!" Hirschberg turned in confusion, and Smitty said, "Her kid, that's what!" "Ohhh..." He nodded, finally realizing as he hugged you. "At least promise to visit?" "I will," You smiled. You figured you could make it to a basterd reunion every once in a while. Besides, you'd already promised all the other basterds you would. You watched them all go. Then it was just you and Donny. He looked around excitedly at the city, "Where we headin', kid?" He grinned in excitement. There was not a hint of regret. He really wanted to stay by your side no matter what, and it broke your heart to love a man so much. He'd have to go eventually... "I thought you were just going to stay to say goodbye..." "Well....I could walk you to the train station!" You smiled, "But you have a flight at noon!" "Ah, I can just run back." He shrugged, "Come on, doll." He walked you to the train station, but then convinced you he could stay with you till you got to the country side. He convinced himself he'd just fly home some other day.

**** He looked around at the blue sky, the fluffy white clouds scattered. The incessant hum of overhead planes and military engines was replaced by the chirps of birds and wind in the trees. "Thought England's always gray and rainy," he laughed, and you said, "Not always," You smiled, but your breath escaped your reach,   "Not now..." You saw her.  You walked toward her, through the crowd. She wasn't the tiny baby you had to give up years ago, but she was still your little girl. You knew that smile anywhere. She saw you before the social worker did. "Mama!" The tiny toddler ran to you before you could even process it all. How she knew you? Well, you'd later find out she slept with a picture of you under her pillow. That picture and a teddy bear you gave her when she was a day old were the only things in the world she could call her own. "Y/n?" Meanwhile, Donny turned around searching for you. He ran through the crowd, and slowed down, and walked with a smile when he figured out what had happened. Abby was basically a tiny version of you, though her eyes were a different color than yours, they had the same light in them. Donny had told himself he wouldn't stay. You had a family to care of. You had a whole life in England. He had a life to get back to in Boston, too. He told himself that for years. It had some truth to it, but you quickly became his world when there were days the sun refused to shine. But, now that the war was over, how could he forget all that you were to him? Just like that? He told himself he'd just walk you to the station. Then he told himself he'd just stay for the train ride, remembering England being nice on the brief time he had been there before being sent to France. But now that it was time to go, he was out of excuses. "Donny, this is Abby. Abby, this is Donny." Abby giggled and saluted him, like she'd seen so many do on newsreels. Donny laughed as he saluted her back, "Cutest soldier you got there, Y/n." You chuckled as you picked Abby up, never wanting to let go, though you realized you couldn't let go of Donny's hand either. "Miss L/n." The social worker waited with a patient smile with a stack of papers. "RIght then," You explained to Abby you would only be a minute, then looked to Donny. You didn't even have to ask. He was a natural, after all, he had  a little brother and plenty of little cousins. He had Abby laughing and takling in no time while you signed the papers.

"Donny..." He was sitting on the ground with Abby sitting by him, watching the trains go by as he told her a story that had her laughing and your heart melting. He looked up at you, and his heart felt heavy. He was out of excuses to stay. "Would you like to come over for tea?" You smiled as you picked Abby up. "Tea?" He was caught off guard for a moment, but he smiled and nodded. It was a long trip back to London. Even longer counting the cab ride to your place. The war had gone by in a moment with you by his side, but he wondered, what was wartime to a lifetime with you? "That would be nice," He smiled, taking your hand, seeing a lifetime in your eyes. London, Boston, it didn't matter. In that moment, he knew if he went he would never run out of excuses to stay. You and Abby were all the reasons he ever needed.

[amjustagirl]

Chapters: one. ~ two. ~ three. ~ four. ~ five. ~ six. ~ seven.

Wordcount: 2.1k

Masterlist link here

AO3 link here 

Summary:

Akaashi Keiji catches glimpses of another life in his dreams. He dreams of fields of endless gold, of constellation of stars that light up the night sky. He hears the echo of birdsong in her laughter, her songs to the gods in the wind.

Author’s note: This fic is a little different from my usual work, so I’m a little nervous about publishing it. If you do like it, would love if you leave a comment / reblog / anything!

Pro tip: Italics denote scenes in Akaashi’s dreams / past.  

If you’d like to be included in the taglist, do drop me a msg/ask!

Time passes. 

Akaashi graduates from university with top honours and gets recruited immediately by a publishing company. He’s mildly disappointed when he’s dispatched to the manga department instead of the literature department as he originally hoped, but it’s not all that bad, he gets to work with Udai-sensei on his new volleyball manga. 

He’s content, all things considered. 

His mother is constantly on his case to find a girlfriend - because she insists she’s growing old and wants grandchildren soon. To placate her, he goes on arranged dates with daughters of his father’s business associates, with nieces of his mother’s friends. While they’re pleasant enough, they all seem to come from the same mold - well bred middle class university graduates more interested in complaining about their bosses and talking about the branded bags they’re going to get next. 

Once he tried asking one of them about the type of flowers she likes best. His date blinked in confusion at first, but immediately brightened up and she said ‘roses, I guess? They look so good on instagram!’ 

He did not ask for a second date. 

Honestly, he’s not exactly looking to date anyone at the moment. He’s young, barely twenty three. Work is time consuming enough, with his days filled with constantly looming deadlines and chasing temperamental mangakas like Udai-sensei. His mother will just have to accept that grandchildren are very much not in the near future. 

But he does feel somewhat guilty -  ‘even Yuji-kun is seeing this lovely girl, auntie tells me,’ his mother nagged last Sunday, so he picks up a habit of buying flowers to soothe her every time he heads to his parent’s home for a meal. 

‘Pink carnations for your mother again?’ the florist asks brightly. 

Akaashi nods, insisting on paying for the baby’s breath she adds to the bouquet. The florist lets him when he assures her he’s no longer a starving university student, and pulls her gloves off to rifle in her drawer for change. 

‘Here you go!’, she chirps, holding out a tray with his change. His gaze is drawn to the pink burn scars streaked across her hands, and flushes when she meets his curious eyes with a knowing look. 

‘Sorry, I - uh didn’t mean to stare’, he begins to splutter, but she waves it off. 

‘It’s fine. I got them a long time ago’, she replies, a wistful smile twisting her lips, tugging her sleeves down to her wrist. 

He bows and takes his leave. He doesn’t spare a second thought on the encounter when he reaches his parent’s house, his mother exclaiming over the little bouquet.

The table shakes when his colleague slumps into his seat, sighing deeply. 

‘Did your boss get on your case for typos again?’ Akaashi asks, his spoon pausing on the way to his mouth. 

‘Worse’, his colleague groans. ‘He’s sending me to Hokkaido for next month’s feature on crimes that shocked the nation, and I have to travel all the way up the mountains to some dinky little town without a train station.

‘Hm’. Akaashi raises an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. ‘What’s the feature about?’ 

‘See for yourself’. His colleague dramatically slides his folder of articles across the table, bumping it into Akaashi’s plate. 

He thumbs through the folder. Nakamura Yakeru, the mayor of a small mountain town in Hokkaido, found guilty on a multitude of charges - breaking and entering, causing arson by fire, assault and attempted murder of a schoolgirl, her identity redacted. It’s shocking in and of itself - but there’s something awfully familiar about the man’s face. 

He smooths out the creases in the paper, bringing the newspaper clipping closer to his face, and oh - 

He knows that face. 

His mind echoes with the memories of flinching at the sight of Nakamura’s teeth, yellowed from nicotine and bared in a smirk, the acrid stench of cigarettes lingering on his shirt, cursing whenever that inconsiderate bastard left sparks smouldering in dry grass. But it doesn’t make sense - there’s no reason for him to have ever met the man. He’s never been farther north than Sapporo, a born and bred Tokyo city boy after all. And he doesn’t recall seeing the man’s face on the news either when the crime was committed. 

So why would his dreams feature this man? 

‘Akaashi?’ he hears his colleague call his name, but his voice can barely be heard over the pounding of his heart in his ears. ‘You’ve gone really white, is everything ok?’ 

‘I’m fine’, he replies, hastily shoving the article back in the folder. ‘Everything’s fine.’ 

His colleague doesn’t look like he believes him. Frankly, Akaashi doesn’t believe himself either. 

Try as he might, he can’t get the eerie coincidence out of his mind. And after a few restless nights, he finds himself back in his childhood bedroom, holding the old omamori in his hands. It’s just an inanimate scrap of cotton fabric, but he’s tempted to borrow his mother’s sewing kit to pick its stitches apart, to discover the secrets woven into its threads. 

It feels silly being so superstitious, but he can’t help feeling that he’s on the verge of discovering what his strange dreams have been trying to show him - so he tucks the omamori under his pillow, his thumbnail catching on a stray thread, before he surrenders himself to his dreams. 

‘Akaashi Keiji’, a cool voice pronounces his name with faint amusement. ‘Back to change the terms of our bargain? ’

His eyes fly open. 

This time he’s on familiar ground, kneeling on the twenty sixth step of the shrine he visits with his parents for  Hatsumode, the other twenty five steps below him shrouded in mist. But the woman standing before him is not familiar to him - in fact, she’s clearly not even human, not with her red eyes and pale lips, not with the wisteria trailing from her hair and disappearing into her skin. 

That should scare him, but it doesn’t because he can’t discern any malice in her eyes, and the scent of the wisteria is soothingly sweet. 

So his curiosity wins out over his sense of caution, and he asks politely - ‘I’m sorry, who are you exactly? And, um. What bargain are you referring to? ’

Her eyes gleam. ‘I’m offended. Don’t you recognise the guardian of the shrine you’ve been praying at your whole life? And as for the bargain you’ve made with me - I thought you already figured it all out by yourself, little boy.’ Laughing airily, she crouches over him, a wooden plaque dangling from her finger. ‘Remember this?’

He reads the words etched on the plaque.  ‘I wish I could have more time. I wish for yesterday to come again.’ Then he glances up at the shrine deity sharply. ‘I remember that from my dreams. Does this mean they’re real?’  

‘What do you think?’ Her lips stretch into a grin. 

‘Logic would suggest that they aren’t. It shouldn’t be possible to swap bodies, let alone with someone I’ve never met in my life. And yet…’ 

‘And yet?’ she prompts, tilting his head towards her with the nail of her finger.

‘It’s too much of a coincidence to ignore the fact that I know Nakamura Yakeru from my dreams, so that suggests at least some semblance of it is real.’ He looks at her pleadingly. ‘Are you here to help me?’ 

She laughs again, the sound ethereal like the flutter of butterfly wings. The sleeves of her purple kimono slide down her wrists, the scent of wisteria enveloping him growing sickly sweet. ‘Help you? Well, since you asked so nicely, little boy, I guess there’s no harm telling you your dreams are real. I granted your wish on a whim, and look how amusing you’ve been!’

Oh gods his dreams are real. They’re real. Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods, they’re real.  

Akaashi feels his stomach churn. He inhales a shaky breath. 

That means she’s real, doesn't it?

He thinks about the salaciously titled newspaper articles, the violence implied in its words. He thinks about the innocence in her impulses, the whimsicalness of her thoughts. He feels ill at the thought of someone deliberately trying to extinguish her. 

‘What happens in the end ?’ he asks, blood surging to his head, slamming his palms flat on the ground for support. ‘What happens to her?’

Sunlight pierces through the fog, and the wisteria spirit starts to fade before his very eyes. 

‘Why don’t you see for yourself?’, her voice echoes.  ‘You’ll find all the answers you’re looking for at the shrine in the forest. You know the way there - you’ve been there a thousand times, both in real life and in your dreams.’

He gasps as he jolts awake, hands clenching his sheets. 

He’s in his bed in his apartment. Everything is exactly as it was before he went to sleep. 

Well - everything except the scent of wisteria lingering in the air.

Udai-sensei’s eyes bug out from its sockets when Akaashi tells him he’s off to Hokkaido for an impromptu holiday. 

‘You aren’t burnt out, are you? Is it me? Is it the deadlines? Don’t quit on me - there’s no way another editor can provide the same input on my new volleyball manga like you!’ he begs, sounding dangerously close to tears. 

Akaashi sighs, muttering under his breath about ‘ highly strung mangakas’  but manages to reassure Udai that no, he’s not quitting, he’s just taking a four day break. He thought it’d be nice to visit the flower fields during summer in Hokkaido, and he has an old friend in those parts he might pay a visit to.  

So he puts himself on a short flight to Sapporo, and a painfully long bus ride further north into the mountains, arriving at the rural village he’s traversed countless times in his dreams. He drags his luggage past the high school, the  crunch  of wheels on gravel slowly knocking loose memories of bones aching, flesh bruising, from tumbles down the stairs, from falls off drain pipes, from predestined losses against cement floors. 

He exhales through his nose when he walks past the florist’s shop. It’s a hollow shell of bare concrete and cardboard shutters, a gap where the signboard should be on the shopfront, a stark contrast to the bustling bakery and  combini  it’s sandwiched between. Thank the gods, he mutters, the blaze of hurt and desperation in Hana-chan’s eyes haunting his mind. 

The only inn in the town is serviceable enough, though he’s looked at in askance by the innkeeper when he admits he’s an editor for a publishing company. ‘Another gossip hound ’, the old lady mutters resentfully, and Akaashi has to do damage control lest she assign him the dampest room in the establishment and assure her that he’s no journalist, just a flower enthusiast interested in the lavender blooming in the fields. He charms her enough with his politeness that by the time he checks into his room, she offers him free use of a bicycle to explore the town, and he takes her up on her offer once he drops off his bags in his room. 

The summer sun is starting its descent from the sky as he cycles past familiar dirt paths lined with trees, the anticipation in his blood thrumming as he passes sprawling farms he’s sure he’s eaten stolen eggs from, passes the gas station  she  bragged about stealing petrol from. The rush of blood to his head hits a roaring crescendo when he reaches the edge of the woods. 

Leaning the bicycle against a fallen tree, he sets off to the very heart of the forest, his feet seeming to recognise a path his eyes cannot see. The deeper into the forest he ventures into, the thicker the branches overhead seem to grow, leaves interwoven into a net that blocks the sun. 

The wind ripples over his skin. The trees seem to whisper out to him. 

Okaeri, he hears. Welcome home, the Kodama spirits murmur over the rustle of leaves in the breeze.

Sunlight from the setting sun spills into a clearing just ahead, and though he’s almost blinded by the sudden flash of light, he can make out the outline of a shrine, situated dead center of the clearing and breaks into a run.  There it is , he thinks, dropping to his knees, hands trembling as he brushes fallen branches and leaves off the shrine, deaf to the growing whispers from the trees surrounding him. 

‘Please grant me your secrets’, he breathes, eyes closed in prayer. 

He can feel a pulse in the ground, a sudden shift in the air. Wisteria blooms from the soft earth in his heart. 

Oh. 

Oh gods. 

He remembers. 

Taglist: 

@forgetou @animeflower26​ @kageyamakock @underrated-fruit-tarts-official @bongofrito​

[prettyflyshyguy]

Oops I wrote more C virus stuff

I got super energised and spent all night drafting up a one-shot about what happens when Ashley reunites with Leon post RE6 in the C-Virus AU cannon. It’s unfinished and is very much a draft, but I’m excited so I wanted to post what I have so far. I intend on compiling a bunch of these together and putting them up as chapters on AO3 and Fanfic.net once they’re edited, featuring various different characters.

You came this far just to become a Monster - The Aftermath

A brief summary: Ashley visits Leon while he’s stuck in quarantine. It gets a bit emotional. 

I’m assuming the President in RE6 was the same in RE4 despite the uh long time difference between the two games. It’s 9 years and I’m Australian so I know nothing about American politics but I think a president can only serve 8 years in one stint so uh maybe he’d just been elected in 4 and was just running out of time before he died in 6? I’m rolling with that for the sake of my head-cannon/AU storylines. It makes sense given Leon was described as being good friends with him, and we can assume the friendship started once he got Ashley back home safely after the events of 4. 

Given Ashley was 19/20 during RE4 she should be 28/29 post RE6 depending on her birthday. 

-

The conversation with Hunnigan echoed in her mind as she walked down the labs corridor. 

“While pursuing Chief Security Advisor Simmons, Leon became infected with the C Virus. He’s OK, don’t worry. It’s just we’re still running tests to make sure he’ll stay ok.

I know the report I gave you didn’t have much to go on in it, I’m sorry. I wasn’t allowed to provide you with much more information. You’ll just have to wait until you can see him for yourself.

He’s happy to talk with you, you can go down to the labs today if you’d like.”

“He’s happy to talk? You mean I can’t see him?”

The warm smile was betrayed by the sorrow in Hunnigan’s eyes. 

“He’s still adjusting to everything. He’s spoken to a couple of our doctors and he’s dealing with a lot of internal negative emotions right now, about what people think of him. I don’t think the tests are helping.”

Hunnigan reached out and gently held Ashley’s hand, squeezing it lightly.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll be happy to have you visit. It’s what he really needs right now. Trust me.”

-

Standing outside the viewing room door, holding her keycard at the ready, she steeled herself. The way the security staff described the setup, Leon had access to a shutter system on the viewing window, giving him control over how and when visitors can see him. It allowed him much needed privacy given his life since coming home was endless tests and scans and scientists. 

Tapping her card against the reader, the light flicked green and she heard the lock release. Pressing down on the cold handle, she slipped inside. There was a small coffee table near the viewing window, the shutter was down. A few chairs were on the far wall, she pulled one up to the window and sat down. On the table there was a remote control, it looked custom made for the setup. It only had a handful of buttons, the most important of which was a ‘call’ button that she was told would alert Leon that someone was in the room, and a ‘mic on’ button. The room had an inbuilt microphone and speaker system to allow comfortable communication even if large groups were there. 

It felt uncomfortably sterile. Worse than a hospital. She looked up to the top left corner of the room, where a security camera stared back. She was also told Leon had access to the feed. She wondered if he was watching now? Hunnigan said she’d call ahead. Was he waiting for her to do something first? Would he be upset that she was so hesitant? 

Shaking off the feeling she hit both buttons on the controller and flashed a smile and a wave towards the security camera, for good measure.

A moment passed before she heard a light clicking sound on the intercom, before a voice emerged.

“Ashley, hey…”

She was surprised that he sounded so… Normal. She wasn't sure what she expected, no one had given her any information other than that he’d been infected but he hadn’t lost his mind. There was an extensive report written about the events that went down, she’d been able to convince the BSAA to let her read a copy of it but it was heavily redacted. Particularly the parts pertaining to Leon. 

“It’s… good to see you.”

She was relieved to hear the sincerity in his voice, despite how slightly rough around the edges he sounded. He was Leon, that hadn’t changed. But she could tell he was different all the same.

“It’s good to, uh, hear you, haha..”

Her feet shuffled, she started bouncing one leg. Looking longfully at the window glass with the shutter still closed. She was fine with phone calls but this was making her nervous. It hadn’t been that long ago that they’d last spoke, that they’d last caught up in person. 

“I’m sorry, about your dad. I’m sorry I couldn't make it to the funeral. I’m sorry for everything, Ashley.”

“It’s ok, Leon. You did everything you could.”

Despite the lack of contact, the uncomfortable fog in the room was palpable for both parties. Her leg bouncing rate increased. Shuffling could be heard over the intercom speaker. They each heard the pain in the other’s voice. The wound was still fresh and very deep. 

Not wanting to have that conversation to a wall, Ashley attempted to change the subject.

“So how are you holding up? I mean with the tests and everything. Hunnigan said you shouldn't have to be in isolation much longer.”

“Uhh yeah… It’s fine. I’m doing fine.”

She let out a small sigh.

“You can’t bullshit me, Leon.”

Silence. 

“You’ve been stuck inside that room for almost three months now. You must be tired of it, and lonely.”

She paused, before continuing.

“When I got back from Europe after you rescued me, they kept me in isolation for precautionary testing for two weeks. They were paranoid I guess. I know for you they didn’t need long to clear you of any issues. Those two weeks were the worst of my life.”

“Worse than being injected with a mind-controlling parasite?” he joked back. 

“Much, much worse.” she playfully replied, “I didn’t have a strong, capable, and handsome government agent to save me from a bunch of creepy scientists in hazmat suits.”

She heard what sounded like a muffled laugh. A smile crossed her face. 

“Unfortunately for me the only ‘strong, capable, and handsome’ government agent I know is limited to Visitors on Wednesdays only.”

This made Ashley giggle suddenly, the first time she’d properly and genuinely laughed since before the C-Virus incident even occurred. 

“When I came home, Dad was so worried. He just wanted to make sure I was gonna be ok. He was always so busy and worked so hard. He just wanted to make sure he could change something for the positive. In the end you made sure that happened. You and Helena.”

A tear rolled down her cheek and gently dropped off her chin. Followed by another.

“I’d known Simmons for just about my whole life, he’d had family dinners with us, we’d visit his house frequently. Dad had confided in him about so much I just… I can’t believe he’d betray us like that. I can’t believe he would be so selfish.”

The tears were making it hard for her to see, her words were mixed in with sharp breaths as she began to sob.

“He killed dad and all those people, after everything, he just fucking killed him and killed everyone else and burned it to the ground all for what!! And now he’s gone and I don’t know what to do, Leon I just don’t know what to fucking do!”

She cried for a moment, letting the anger and the grief flow. Purging her system, letting it out. As she started to calm down she pulled a packet of tissues from her bag, to clean her face.

“I want to make a difference. I want to do something, like dad did.” she said slowly through strained breaths.

“I never want to feel helpless and small ever again. After you rescued me in Europe, after everything you did to stop Simmons, I want to do something for the world too.” 

She glanced up at the security camera, as if it would respond back somehow. Hoping he was watching.

“You and dad made me realise what I wanted to do with my life, what I cared most about. I even changed my college degree to International Relations when I got home but I mean, you already know that. Now with the BSAA here, I’ve asked Hunnigan if she can help me shift my career slightly, and work with you and everyone else here.”

“Really? You want to work for the BSAA?”

She nodded, not knowing if he could even see. Taking the moment to have a drink from her water bottle to gather herself.

“... I’ll put in a personal recommendation, if they’re still accepting those from me after everything.”

“Thank you Leon, I’m sure they will.” Ashley smiled.

“Well if they let me do anything, once the tests are cleared, I’d like to go visit your old man with you. If you don’t mind. I couldn’t be there for the funeral so… “

“Of course Leon,” she wiped a tear from her eye, “I’d love that. I’m sure dad would too.”

“I think you’d be great here, we need more people like you Ashley.”

“Of course, someone needs to be around to stop you getting into more trouble right?”

She was hoping for a smart ass response, a laugh, a quip, something. Her comment was met with silence. Her heart sank.

“What happened to you, Leon?”

He avoided responding, she could hear more slight shuffling noises.

“I know you feel uncomfortable, god knows I would too. Everyone’s talking about you, saying you’re a hero. You and all the others that worked together to stop the C-Virus from spreading. You saved people's lives.”

“... I don’t think you’d be calling me that if you could see me right now.”

The most she’d gotten to read about the effects of the virus on him were small comments about carapace and ‘external structural changes’. In all honestly she had no idea what he looked like, if he was even recognisable. She didn’t really know how to ask, besides the fact she really only knew Hunnigan well enough to be confident posing the question.

“I wouldn’t know. No one’s shown me any photos of you. I have no idea.”

He was silent again.

“But you’re still you, in the end. Does it matter what you look like?”

“It does when you look like a monster.”

She recoiled slightly at the tone of his voice.

“When I was in China, when it happened. It didn’t really matter to me. People's lives were at stake, Simmons was out there, I embraced it in the moment because I couldn't let people down. I needed to do something. I couldn't just give up and avoid facing the world. But now? I’m stuck in this cell and every few days I get more needles poked into me and more scans and more people asking me stupid fucking questions and I just.”

He paused suddenly. Breathing for a few moments.

“I can’t deal with all of this. I’m as good as a lab animal now. And why would anyone think any differently if they saw what I’ve become.”

“C’mon, don’t say that.”

Suddenly the shutter began to move upwards, a brighter light from the room beyond the glass spilling in. It took Ashley a moment to adjust before she could fully stare at the figure sitting opposite her.

“If you were in trouble and the thing that came to help you looked like this, would you still call it a hero?” 

[herether]

Chapter 88 thoughts

Some of these have already been said but there’s just stuff i’d like to add myself

first of all—

why is yato touching the ground like that? His expression wouldn’t be something Adachitoka did on accident. Maybe Yato buried Yukine’s body here? Near his sister’s home to feel closer to his family?

Yuka looks surprised, scared even, after Yato called her name. The surname on the wall is different, so she’s probably married already. Maybe what happened in her childhood is a memory not many people know about, or she doesn’t talk about anymore? The panel before that, she was also putting a letter in the mailbox......

While I get what Yato’s trying to say here, I still find it really fuckin sad that Yato hasn’t considered that maybe Yukine thought of him as his home? I know the current situation is...... far from good, but before these events, Yukine was practically tied to Yato’s hip, in loyalty and—probably looking up to him as not only a master but also a fatherly figure. Because Yukine never felt that love in his previous life, have you guys noticed just how happy Yukine was being with Yato? Let’s think back to his birthday.

He was so moved for being cared for, that he was genuinely brought to tears.

He got presents and love and so much joy from that experience, and even yato said he knew he was happy just by looking at his face.

Although I know what happens right after these panels is [redacted], just look at Yukine’s response. It was genuine, pure.

“You love Yato, don’t you?”

“Yeah,”

Yukine has so much love for Yato, through the time they’ve been together, his reflex to protect him has become unbreakable before trash dad brainwashed him.

Along with this:

This:

This:

And, just for the sake of it:

“you haven’t been having any bad dreams?”

“Dreams? They were kind of scary. But If I look more closely you were there too. So if I had a dream, it was a comforting one.”

With all of that being said, it’s absolutely devastating to see that Yato thinks that Yukine will be looking for his ‘real’ family. To be honest, I have a few theories on what might happen in the next couple of chapters, but honestly there’s something telling me that Yukine won’t be able to fight Yato, whether it’s because his subconscious tells him not to or he sees Hiyori again. Their bond is too strong to break ;-;

Also, I’m wondering what the hell Yato’s planning to talk to Yuka about? “Hey you might see your younger brother that hasn’t changed since 30years ago that you thought was dead after stuff with your abusive father went down. i’ll take care of it just don’t freak out.” Or???

[wayfaring-cryptid]

[Art by me, refs i found on google. Character is mine and my comfort character]

(Back story on Jay Clef Wolfwood)

He doesnt remember much of his childhood. His adoptive father said he was found half drowned in the river. Clearly unwanted by whatever parent he was with before. If it werent for Agent Stareye, a GOC field anget he wouldnt have seen his first birthday. Since then his mind was in a fuzz until he started highschool. He can recall his fathers coworkers looking after him but never seeming happy about it. People always tense around him... never seeming comfortable with his company.. and the list, oh fuck the list, he had to live by for his "saftey" according to his father.

Never be in any pictures. Its a way to be tracked.

Never walk alone in the woods. Its too dangerous

Never tell anyone about what dad does for work

Never talk about dads friends

Never talk about what dad does

Theres more but he slowly outgrew them. As he finished highschool he entered a special collage the GOC provided for him and others like him. He was top of his class. He further advanced his education and became a science doctor, much to his fathers pride, but then... the incident happened. He was waiting for his father to return home when a reality bending anomaly was spotted near the house. He didnt notice until he walked outside to get something from the back garden. There it was staring him down. They entered a strange staring contest before he took a step further. The anomaly seemed shocked and growled at him, then the shot rang out. He whipped his head back and saw his father with his work rifle.

"Inside! Now!!" His father barked with a panicked tone.

Jay wasted no time and bolted into his childhood home. His father looked him over and hugged him close, explaining what happened.

"But.. nothing happened? It just stood there..." jay replied confused then shrunk into himself at his fathers look

"You.. didnt notice the world literally melting around you? Oh fuck oh fuck fuckfuckfuck!!" His father started to pace and tug at his hair.

"Father.. dad whats wrong?" He was scared, father never acted like this...

"Pack clothes and anything you need desperately. I... i need to call in a favor-" and off his father went.

Jay did as he was told and hurried to pack bags of clothes, blankets that calmed him, worn stuffed animals, all drawings, pictures of dad and his coworkers, and anything that would keep him sane.

He and father started to load up the car just as dads radio started to go off.

For the first time ever, his father turned it off.

They drove for hours after the incident until they reached a cabin across the country. His father has been quiet the entire time but looked to him with tears in his eyes.

"Listen my little bird.. you wont understand this yet but.. the person who lives here... she'll care for you okay? Shes gunna get you a good job and keep you safe. Please do not, and i mean this, do not under any circumstances tell them about me or what happened. You will be killed if anyone found out about who i am or what happened. Never forget your safety list either okay? I love you baby bird.. i hope you live well.." his father held his shoulders firmly as he started to cry.

Jay was frozen as tears silently streamed down his cheeks. He had so many things he wanted to say, things to ask, but no words came out.

A woman with bright red hair and her husband came out in a hurry to help unload the car while the father and son had their moment.

It wasnt until jay was on the porch and watching his father figure drove away. He broke down screaming and crying. He never knew it then but as his world broke so did the world around him.

The world gray-scaled and started to crack. Pitch black horns sprouted from his forehead and curved like twisted dear antlers. His eyes blazed different, glitching colors and a third eye opened.

The husband took a risk and hugged him tightly, urging him to calm down. It.. it took some time before things settled, the world back to normal... but jay wasnt. There were stubs where his horns were and a faint line of his third eye remained.

The kind husband, Gary, took him inside and sat him on the guest bed. Gary and Rose, the wife, began to explain what they could. That his father's work hunted down anomalies and he would be forced to kill him were his work to find out. Rose was his brother and worked for a different organization called the SCP foundation. They protected and contained anomalies like the one in the woods.

"But... i wasnt the one father killed. Why... why did he leave me here?" Jay asked through hiccups.

"Well.. that anomaly was a reality bender. It makes things change around you. You never noticed and even scared it to backing down. No one can just... not be affected. You would most likely be killed.. the place your father works for hates anomalies and he wouldnt be able to hide you. The SCP foundation would allow us to not only give you a home but make you at least a class b researcher. They would treat you well given our status as class a doctors."

As rose explained jay just nodded numbly. He wouldnt be seeing his father ever again for his own safety. It felt so.. selfish. That was the man who took him in when no one wanted him, raised him pasted the age he was about to be denied, given a home and love. Now he understands why he was abandoned, their birth parent knew he was different and tried to kill him.

Soon the lovely couple left him to unpack and settle in.. he kept the photos hidden away but didnt get rid of them. Just as he put the last blanket on... well on his new bed there was a soft knock at the door.

"Hey.. jay um.. a doctor is here just to make sure youre okay. She wont tell anyone unless we say. Shes nice, rose works with her." Gary spoke softly with a... pitiful expression.

Jay nodded and walked to the dining room with a stuffed deer plush hes always had for comfort.

The doctor, Dr felleen, made sure his mind was still in one piece and that he had no hidden injuries. He was completely fine so to speak.

Time would pass and he would adjust to his new home, gary and rose maple were kind to him. They taught him alot about where he would first show up during a "bring your child to work day" then shadow gary, who was hot shit on campus. Soon he would have his own office at Site [redacted] which he excelled in. He could make any SCP talk. Sure his coworkers were uneased around him, like something bad would happen if they stayed, but he didnt mind. Eventally he was forced to transfer to Site [redacted] and sadly forced to move away from gary and rose. He left on good terms and promises to keep in touch. He takes most of his things, just in case he must come back and takes a moment to look at photos of his old adoptive father. He smiles and kisses the photo.

Hes gotta go, Dr Kondraki is gunna be his new site director! He promised to show him around, something about 05 loving his work and promoting him to class a? Oh well. Things seem to be looking up!

[More to follow soon!]

[snackerdoodle]

(via https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7vTyjuuslUqiHauSgsmbuQ?si=WJHuwxgiQ422gub_5ZEC5w)

I got a little obsessed with the idea of creating a Lyctor Love Songs playlist for The Locked Tomb. I’ve finally finished fussing with it and wanted to share! You can read a breakdown of my rationale for these songs below the cut because I always wish other people would do this for their playlists, and now it’s time to put my money* where my mouth is.

This playlist is conceptually a definite spoiler for the process of achieving lyctorhood as revealed at the end of Gideon the Ninth, so proceed with caution if you haven’t finished that book yet. I also made this after reading Harrow the Ninth, but I’ve tried to censor (or at least be vague) in my references to spoilers for that book.

Possibly obvious content warnings for murder, suicide, toxic relationships, and cannibalism mentions—stuff you’d kind of expect from this series, honestly. I’m adding an additional content warning for the lyrics of We Both Go Down Together by the Decemberists including implied rape, which is not in line with the content warnings you might expect for these books. 

*obsessive energy

Umbrella - Rihanna

This is a much more wholesome song than the rest, but I really wanted to include it for "When the sun shines, we'll shine together, told you I'll be here forever, said I'll always be your friend, took an oath, I'ma stick it out til the end," and "You're a part of my entity, here for infinity." It has a bit of a “one flesh, one end” feeling to it. 

#1 Crush - Garbage

This song is creepy, obsessive, and uses some upsetting violent imagery, which is exactly the mood I’m after here. I really like the idea of being haunted by the other person—”See your face every place that I walk in, hear your voice every time that I’m talking.” I also like the implications of seeking power—”Throw away all the pain that I’m living [...] and I could never be ignored.” The line about selling their soul doesn’t hurt this song’s case either. 

Drain You - Nirvana

This feels like a pretty easy connection to syphoning for me, and for this context the gorey, semi-medical imagery is spot on. Also how could I resist “with eyes so dilated I’ve become your pupil,” when there is just so much eye-related lyctor baggage in this series?

Animals - Maroon 5

Here comes the cannibalism. There are so many cannibal songs. I also included this one for the language about absorbing the other person and not being able to escape each other.

I Will Possess Your Heart - Death Cab for Cutie

Here for creepy possessiveness, pure and simple. Also, “I wish you could see the potential, the potential of you and me”—the potential for achieving ultimate necromantic power? Maybe!

Banks of the Ohio - Dolly Parton

When I first had the idea for a “Lyctor Love Songs” playlist, it was just going to be a bunch of murder ballads, but expanding my criteria turned out to be more fun. I really love the way Dolly Parton sings this traditional American murder ballad. This one gets to represent the traditional songs on this playlist because of its river imagery and because I think lines like “she cried my love don’t murder me, ‘cause I’m not prepared for eternity” play well with the lyctor concept. It also makes me ridiculously happy to include a 19th century song on a playlist for a distant future sci-fi setting. We’re all lucky I’m not making a playlist of the oldest extant folk songs I can find for the archives on the Sixth.

Phenom - Thao & the Get Down Stay Down

More cannibalism imagery, yes thank you. Anatomical imagery? Yes, thank you. “Scorched earth”? Sure, I’ll just take that for my distantly post-apocalyptic playlist, thank you. I also like the narrative in this song around rising to power. “First of the secondary class” plays well for me with our spoilery knowledge about the nature of lyctorhood in relation to the powers of the Emperor. 

Under My Skin - Jukebox the Ghost

I’d never heard this song before I started working on putting this playlist together, and a friend suggested it in our group chat. It’s completely perfect, and in my opinion, a total bop. “I can fit two people under my skin […] crawl up in there and join me within. I can feel your heart beating under my skin,” etc, etc. 

Two of Hearts - Stacey Q

Same vein as the one before! I also think there’s room here for intentionally misreading “I got this feeling that you're going to stay, I never knew that it could happen this way, Before I met you I was falling apart, But now at last I really know we're made of two hearts that can beat as one…” with lyctoral intent—the narrator is in a stronger position now that they’re entwined with the other person.

Tears of Pearls - Savage Garden

So this song is here in part because my high school friends and I once accidentally listened to this Savage Garden CD on repeat at a sleepover for like 5 hours straight, so I love taking the opportunity to break out this song in particular. That aside, I think the toxic relationship structure described here plays well with the lyctors, especially as we see them in Harrow. I particularly like this part near the end: “We twist and turn where angels burn, Like fallen soldiers we will learn, Once forgotten, twice removed, Love will be the death, The death of you.” I would love to include some religious imagery on this playlist, thank you Savage Garden. Also, as we see in Harrow, the older Lyctors sure do handle their emotions...poorly. 

I’m Sorry - Margaret Cho

An excellent murder ballad! “I’m sorry I killed you dear, I only wanted you to be near,” and “And I sincerely apologize, My actions were unwise, And now I realize that it killed me when you died,” and “My pride was stronger than your will to live.” 

We Both Go Down Together - The Decemberists

Another murder ballad, and even within the murder ballad genre, I think this one is exceptionally creepy. Especially with the murder-suicide implications, I think “we both go down together” works well with the creepiestreading of “one flesh one end.” 

Arms Tonite - Mother Mother

Another absolute bop suggested by a friend in my Locked Tomb group chat. I love the imagery, and I think it works exceptionally well for the lyctoral concept—”That I died right inside your arms tonight, That I'm fine even after I have died, That I try to escape the afterlife, That I try to get back in your arms alive.”

Genghis Khan - Miike Snow

Another super possessive song. I know it isn’t really explicit to cannon, but between this and Banks of the Ohio, I really like taking the literally all-consuming lyctoral process as a weird extension of the possessive “I don’t want you to get it on with nobody else but me” energy in this song and some of the others. Please also accept for consideration these lines—“'Cause I don't really want you, girl, But you can't be free, 'Cause I'm selfish, I'm obscene.” That has been part of the fun of this playlist for me—while I think some songs track for some characters more than others, I’m really having more fun with playing with the idea of someone who would intentionally murder and absorb someone they love in exchange for power. 

The Beast - Concrete Blonde

Another creepy, somewhat cannibalistic song. “Love is the leech, sucking you up, Love is a vampire, drunk on your blood, Love is the beast that will, Tear out your heart, Hungrily lick it and, Painfully pick it apart.” Cannibalism and that idea of draining someone of their power is a great combo. 

Savages - Marina

I love Marina, which is probably the only reason I’m not bowing to the fact that it bothers me that this isn’t even arguably a love song. We see in Harrow how vicious the old lyctors are, and  how their dinner parties feel like a thin veneer of civility over some truly rotten cores (I say this as a person who genuinely loved Mercymorn, but like… they’re terrible). Also, how am I supposed to resist “Is it a human trait, or is it learned behavior, Are you killing for yourself, or killing for your savior?” and “I’m not afraid of God, I am afraid of man.” More religious imagery? in my locked tomb playlist? It’s more likely than you think.

Cannibal - Kesha

More cannibalism! I love how vicious this song is, for this purpose. I also feel like “I have a heart, I swear I do, But just not baby when it comes to you,” works well, even if I’m not sure I can 100% justify it. 

Bring Me to Life - Evanescence

An explicitly canonical choice. “Now that I know what I'm without, you can't just leave me, breathe into me and make me real” and “Save me from the nothing I've become.” Because I’m an absolute turd, I love the semi-joke I’m finding in many of these song lyrics about the partner being unable to leave. Also because I’m terrible, I really like that this song can be read as regret over having become a lyctor in the first place. 

Monster - Lady Gaga

Cannibalism again, and I like that there’s some eye stuff in here. 

Cellophane - Sia

I like the anatomical imagery, with veins and blood and brains and all that. I also like “Patience is your virtue, saint o' mine” for a little call out to one of our extant lyctors. 

Most of All - Fuel

Like “Bring Me to Life,” I really like the regret and self loathing in this one. I also like the mentions of memories because [redacted]. “And I hate you now, And I miss you most of all, All those times we laughed, The scars that you left.” 

‘39 - Queen

First of all, I really like this song. I don’t think I should quite call it a bop like some of the others—maybe a jam? A song that’s explicitly about leaving Earth behind for deep-space exploration and the passage of time works wonderfully well for this sci-fi series about a society that has abandoned a dying(?) Earth and that is populated with a group of very damaged people staring down the barrel of a traumatic immortality. I also like that there’s a bit of eye imagery in the song. I especially like “For my life still ahead, pity me” as a cutting line for a lyctor. 

[nitholites]

Assuming someone in the BatFam is the end game:

It's been only a week or so since Tony figured out who Ladybug is

She's captured everyone's hearts, but has to go to Gotham soon

For help, but also because of her internship

The Stark Gala becomes a 'you better live and come back one day, Mari or I STG' party, hosted by Tony Stark, of course

She makes all the outfits of the Starks, her parents, herself, Jagged, Penny, Luka, and Kagami (the last two friends minus Chloe from Paris) and she makes extra in case someone has a wardrobe malfunction

Meanwhile, the Waynes have heard a lot about the newest Stark: MDC

Tim is a fanboy. He's found everything related to his favorite rock star's designer/niece there is to find ("I'm not obsessed! They're just super talented, and I'd like something from them! Stop laughing at me, Dick!")

Dick has no room to tease him, as both him and Jason are pretty much in the same boat

Kor'i and Mar'i love MDC, as well

Every one of the Bats are huge Jagged Stone fans

Like... Nearly rabid

(Damian, Bruce, and Alfred redact that statement)

They're invited to Tony's gala thing (he only started it to surpass the Wayne Gala, like the Lil Shite he is)

The night of the party, only Bruce and Jason go, since the rest of the bats are busy

Bruce, Jagged (who brought Fang), and Tony are all chatting in the middle of the floor, 2/3rds of the group are just talking up Marinette

Jason, meanwhile, accidentally runs into this small, adorable child who proceeds to spill her punch all over his suit

He insists it's fine, but she won't take 'no' for an answer ("I am so sorry, please let me make it up to you" "Kid, it's fine, accidents happen" "No, seriously, let me help")

There's a look in her eyes that insists she do something, and he eventually agrees

Cue to Marinette having a suit jacket that matches and fits Jason because "You look like you're the same build as Mr. Stark (she's all for joining Peter in calling Tony 'Mr. Stark' to get under his skin)"

"you know Tony?"

She shrugs, and doesn't comment anymore on it

"give me your address, and I'll bring this back when it's clean again. I'm moving to Gotham for a while soon, anyway"

He does, she doesn't realize he's a Wayne, and they part when the party ends

Cue the entire BatFam sprinting into Jason's room, chasing after a full on scream

Like, they didn't know Jason's voice could get "so high and squeaky, what the hecc?"

They pause as they see Jason litterally jumping up and down

"What the hell, Todd."

Instead of answering, he shoves the jacket in Tim's face with a shite-eating grin

It takes a moment, but Tim scowls and pulls out his wallet

When the rest of the family only look confused, Tim sighs and explains

"He got an MDC original first."

"...you had a bet on that?"

Jason freezes, eyes widening

"HOLY SH*T, I MET THE MDC! SHE WAS SO TINY, OH MY GOD, BATS, WE HAVE TO ADOPT HER!"

They're confused for a solid minute

"YOU DONT UNDERSTAND SHES AN ANGEL AND HAS BLACK HAIR AND BLUE EYES!! SHE'S OBVIOUSLY A WAYNE!"

It takes all of Bruce's willpower not to adopt her on the spot when she visits them

Like, he almost brings up adoption papers

But he knows Stark would fight tooth and nail to keep this baby

So he restrains himself

(for now)

(he swears if one of his children doesn't marry her, he's bringing the adoption papers to court)

She doesn't stay long, only meeting all the Waynes at the house and going back to her hotel

The next day, a villain goes after Mar'i, near the park/mall/something Marinette is by

Instead of becoming Ladybug, she heccin kicks arse

As Marinette

She gets both her and Mar'i out of danger without a scratch using a yo-yo of all things and meets Batman and Robin as they clean up the rest

She's all like "no, it's alright, I'm sure anyone would do the same please stop thanking me, my family's gonna kick my ass to next year for scaring them like this"

Bats comes up and takes her statement, and she happens to mention the situation in Paris

"oh, this was nothing compared to some of the Akuma I've faced" "What's an akuma?" She paled, eyes widening in shock. "You don't know? About Ladybug, Chat Noir, Ryuuko, Viperion, Queen Bee, Red Wasp, Multimouse, Hawkmoth, Mayura, Carapace, Rena Rouge, and all them?"

She explains a little, giving basic information everyone knew, then shows him the app she made a while ago

The Akuma Alert app that held much more than just akuma-related things

She leaves soon after, and Batman has a goal in mind

Within the day, Diana is furious at the lack of response towards the Paris situation

"This Ladybug was left alone for all this time?! Shame on you all, leaving my mother's successor alone!"

When Ladybug is later spotted (hehe, get it?) in Gotham, the entire BatFam finds her and gets her in touch with the League

She explains how she asked both the League and the Avengers for help, all those years ago, and was pushed aside with warnings not to send in prank calls anymore

Of course, Iron Man has already looked into it, but he's not exactly a detective and the more brains on this, the better

Meanwhile, as civilians...

The normal shipping stuff happens

With the exception that nearly every criminal in Gotham low-key adopts Marinette

They may think she's the next Wayne, but the Angel of Gotham is off limits

And not because the little Wayne chases after anyone who even looks at her wrong with a katana

Not just as Robin. As Damian

Marinette actually meets a few villains on the street

She was going to a commission, carrying some hero, vigilante, and villain themed macaroons when she got lost

(before meeting the Waynes officially, actually)

She was in a park, looking lost when Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn came up

She offered treats, and ever since she's the Angel of Gotham

Once, when on a date with her romantic interest, Killer Croc tried taking the restaurant hostage after robbing a bank

Key word: tried

Marinette calmly slipped behind him, grabbed his tail, and dragged his butt outta there

(he blames the fast French girl and the tile on the floor, which didn't let him get a good grip)

By the time Bats and the police got there, Croc was in tears as this tiny French girl lectured him about manners and interrupting dates

(the BatFam can't think of a funnier time)

When the Joker actually kidnaps her as a way to get to Batman, literally everyone rages a rescue mission

Harley, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze (Marinette reminds him of the daughter he's always wanted, with his frozen wife), Two-Face (Marinette talked philosophy with him, showing him he still had choices beyond the black and white), Killer Crock (who was impressed by the tiny French girl who threw him out of a restaurant by his tail that one time), Batman, Robin, the Teen Titans, Red Hood, Red Robin, Wonder Woman (she could feel Tikki's influence on Marinette and guessed her identity), Nightwing, all the Avengers, Red Wasp (Chloe, with the Bee Miraculous because she earned it back ages ago), Sabine (no one messed with her baby. No one), a teenage boy wielding a potato gun (who let this kid here?), Pepper, Penny (the two women were fast friends, bonding over their husbands' eccentric ways), Jagged with Fang, Audrey Bourgeois, and the entire police force storm the Joker's hideout

He didn't have a chance

Later, they admit it was kinda funny watching the small Sabine beating the crap out of the deranged clown

Fang, who was usually a puppy with scales, didn't hesitate to bite off the Joker's hand, reminiscent of Captain Hook and the Croc

Marinette's fine (or not, depending on how much angst you want in the story. It's easy to have her tourtured and nearly killed in the Joker's clutches {or actually killed and focused on angst from everyone who knew her [possible heavy Lila/class salt]} and see her move past her PTSD) and she gets home eventually

Around this time, she's made the Guardian of the Miraculous

She eventually goes back to Paris with her huge family (or everyone she thinks could keep their emotions in check)

They kick Gabriel's arse, but Adrien gets away with his mother (who was healed by Ladybug)

Possible second book

Marinette's ship becomes the Black Cat

Time skip, fiveish years later, some of Marinette's classmates see her for the first time since she left

They insult and sass her, not changed since school

Her S/O scowls and debunks them easily, defending Marinette

When they don't stop, Marinette's S/O calls Bruce, Tony, Jagged, and the rest of the League and the Avengers to destroy the morons in the class because they know how long they've waited for this moment

Mari puts her head in her hands, but doesn't stop them because she knows how long they've waited for this moment

Three hours later, the speeches and lectures aren't done yet

Lila eventually goes to Gotham or wherever Marinette is, and tries to warn the person on her arm about Marinette's 'bulling tendencies'

That gets another lecture

Or, her class gets a tour at either SI or WE, depending on when in the story you write it (could be both, and the class just doesn't learn or Tony, Pepper, and their kids were visiting WE to talk about Mari Protection Measures when they overhear it)

Lila goes off on how Mari's S/O is actually Lila's, or how she's BFFS with Batman/Iron Man/ Bruce Wayne and his kids/ Tony Stark and his kids/ the Avengers/ the Justice League

Cue the class seeing Mari

Instant bullying

The resident children and billionaire steps up, insulting and embarrassing the class while defending Mari

Lila tries to turn it around, but they're having none of that

First the kids jump at the chance to defend their little sister and/or girlfriend, then the big guns show up

At WE, it's Bruce, a highly protective Jason, and Tim, who has every single sin/mean thing/lie pulled up in a folder

It's thicker than his hand, and hard to hold

It's both in digital and physical form and sent to every single member of Mari's family- blood related or not

At SI, it's Tony and Pepper

FRIDAY steps up, too

Harley shoots Lila with the potato gun mk 3 until she leaves

The class don't know what they did wrong, but they swear to make it up just to get the scary CEOs and relatives

Also, if anyone knows the AU where Marinette was a street kid with Jason and his little sister (I can't remember who made it or what it was called, but I fell in l o v e), that could work with this one too. Jason would be so proud of his Lil sister being so famous and awesome and "how dare you let me think you were dead!! Do you have any idea how worried I was?!" "I made you worried?! You up and nearly got killed last I checked!"

Jason swore not to tell her he actually died once. He prays she never finds out.

@tired-butterfly @evil-elf16 @doggiediva13 @krispydefendorpolice @mochegato @legallyspawned @kryptored

[cruddyborderlandstheories]

this DLC has me FUCKED UP and i keep screaming

spoilers for Bounty of Blood under the cut, keep reading at ur own peril. Also some Guardian Takedown spoilers for anyone who hasn’t beat it yet

tl;dr: a comparison between something taken from BL2 and a thing taken from Bounty of Blood. more spoilery tl;dr below the cut.

also the siren thing is not spoilers so i’ll share it here for anyone curious, it’s just this: siren tattoos are blue but when lily absorbs eridium in 2, they turn pinkish/purple. just like how vaults do from bl1 to bl2. they’re white/blue in bl1, then purple-pink in bl2 (and tps), y’know, after Eridium begins erupting from the ground. just a neat little detail i noticed that im not entirely sure was intentional but im gonna believe it is.

tl;dr: Gythian Blood = Core and the Ruiner is of Eridian Origin even tho everyone in the DLC likes to say it was created with Jakobs’ bioengineering. disclaimer: idk if I’ve found every hidden ECHO so I may be missing a few things but I have done every side quest and took ample screenshots of all important dialogue in the DLC : )

“man i just sat here for like 15 minutes staring at my keyboard mentally comparing core and eridium like the dumb bitch i am. 

it's not like we can do an actual comparison because we have no idea what the natural fauna of gehenna was like before jakobs came and mutated everything with core unlike pandora where we know what skags and rakk and shit were like BEFORE the eridium crust erupted. 

altho!!! there's a neat comparison between joey ultraviolet and rose. like obviously he wasn't getting tattoos and was just doing lines of crushed up eridium but the point stands they both have glowy eyes and unique powers so i don't necessarily think this means rose is a siren just because she has magic powers especially when we know she got the whistling passed down to her from her grandmother. 

especially because we've never seen a siren interact with core before. altho that leaves the question we have seen core tattoos now what are eridium tattoos like? actually rose's tattoos were on her right arm obviously she isn't a siren as we know them right now (I saw a post on reddit where people thought rose was a siren) 

of course that brings up the point perhaps siren tattoos ARE eridium tattoos. but then we hear the general's log about how the devil riders were tattooing a man with core and blood so obviously they're not ‘naturally’ occurring unlike siren tattoos. so odds are they're probably not equivalents but something interesting i thought of while thinking about this is how well siren tattoos compare to the Vaults from borderlands 1 and borderlands 2″

anyway. this is all ive been thinking about. yes yes i know guardian takedown post but! >:( im still salty even tho this update has been lovely (outside of Blane not getting his correct damage scaling ‘till today......). so i’ll do that at my own damn pace. now let me elaborate so i can sleep at night lmao

Eridium

refinement produces slag, which weakens people and can mutate things

has mutating properties, mostly with imbuing elements into shit- possibly causes insanity

seems to be connected to another dimension, likely the one the Eridians are from

Core

has a secondary form of Infused Core

has mutating properties, mostly regarding a thing’s body and mind

apparently radioactive

there are some things i wanna note

1) People throughout the DLC say the Ruiner was created by the Jakobs corp (the company) thru bio-engineering but I’m 99% sure that’s not true. The paperwork seems to me like they found the egg somewhere on Gehenna and decided to roll and experiment with it like all corporations do when they find weird alien shit. so maybe they experimented with whatever was inside the egg, but I don’t think they actually created it entirely

“Excavated from [REDACTED] ... Local legends speaks of a [REDACTED]. This theory is not endorsed by our research personnel.

2) The Ruiner’s design reminds me a lot of the Warrior.

3) Core immediately reminded me of Gythian Blood from Guns Love and Tentacles and I don’t think that’s coincidence to have 2 back-to-back DLCs where the big bad is focused on green death juice. I think Gythian Blood and Core are of the same stuffs.

4) Therefore, I think the Ruiner is (mostly) of Eridian origin (if you haven’t already guessed). 

This gives us an amazing look into how the Eridians actually create their beasts!!! And I’m so happy they showed us this.

(side note, Interitus Regina (the long name for Ruiner) literally means Destruction Queen and I think that’s beautiful <3)

i mean the idea that they plunge them from orbit to create an explosion similar to a nuke is fucking horrifying (but holy shit I love it so much ahhh it’s so cool!!!!)

the one side line from Oletta about how the company couldn’t control the Ruiner deffo makes me double down on this theory. I’m not entirely sure how Rose’s grandma knew about the whistling (I don’t think I’ve found every echo log in that area YET), but I would bet it was part of the testing given how many fuckin’ tape players they have throughout the facility. The Warrior was controlled by verbal commands via Jack, so it’s possible that the Ruiner was intended to be controlled similarly, but Jakobs intervention (or something like the way Rose hatched it) fucked it up.

now we know the Warrior was created to protect the Vault of the Destroyer (hmm.) so what the heck was the Ruiner created for? Ruiner is a name given to it by Jakobs/the people of Gehenna so we can’t really assume, but then again the monster names are pretty apt in this series even tho they probably technically shouldn’t be. 

it was only an egg, so maybe it was another test of Core? A Vault Monster incubating until it was ready to protecc and attacc but was never hatched because the Eridians ‘sacrificed’ themselves before it could? (I’m still not convinced the Eridians are the good guys. Listen. LISTEN. The guardian takedown is something to think about, BUT it doesn’t disprove that theory and I’ll stand by it because I 100% trust the Overseer more than bitchpants mcgee over here who thinks he’s soooo special for no reason fuck you and your dumb ‘I did what the Watcher could not’ bull you haven’t done shit.) ok sorry im done he just angers me. stupid guardian man. your whip is stupid and you should feel bad. oh also I totally called us actually being Guardians thru Guardian Rank before the game came out aha yeah.

I definitely think Gythian was a test/use of Core from the Eridians. We see in Bounty of Blood that core seems to mutate more the physical (and occasionally mental) parts of people, like with the crew challenges u do for Juno with all the weird hybrid people and whatnot. Gythian had the whole ‘the heart still beats’ thing going on (which is definitely a physical mutation if i’ve ever seen one), plus the whole, you know, mind control and shit. Which is p similar to what the menta gnats can do when charged with Infused Core. And keep in mind in BLaT we see DAHL notes on what happens to test subjects when injected with Gythian Blood. They mutated physically and went insane.

What im saying is Sirens and Eridium and Elements are connected, so what does Core equal? body/mind sure but are there unique creatures for core (yes holy shit I’m not talking about h2o au for once and FINALLY they gave us a canon name for the green stuff!!!). If not, I’d love to see a Siren interact with Core to see what it does to them. seriously why hasn’t tannis interrupted us yet. horrible excuse for a science lover (kidding kidding, I love her). I’d also really love a fuller rundown on what the hell Rose’s powers were. Because the whistling thing seemed to just be her grandma’s thingie passed down to her from her mom

but the core stuff

her gun seems to be infused with it. So did her sword thing. I didn’t really get a good look at it i was too busy trying to see thru my blurry tears of LOVE for this DLC.

Strangely while her tattoos are (mostly) green I actually don’t know if they’re core infused bc look at this

n look back at hers. hers aren’t very lime.

anyway

her eyes

I’d love to know if the core gives her immediate future sight or just increased perception or reaction times. there’s a huge difference but she seemed to be able to shoot the gun outta the sheriff’s hand near immediately and it seems kinda implied its because of the core (or at least because her eyes are glowing green)

there’s a possibility she has some unique core powers/possibly implants because of her relations to the project in the first place, or as leader of the devil riders after looting the facility. it’s really hard to say without more info and like i said im not sure if i missed an ECHO or two or not regarding her backstory :( 

Her hair is also green which I just noticed. Maybe she has core powers bc her grandmother got suuuuuuuuper irradiated/influenced working on project horizons and it passed down thru her n Rose’s mom, to Rose. Tannis does have a line about Sirens having unique hair colors and, if Sirens are linked to Eridium, perhaps those linked to Core also have unique hair color. Could also explain why only Rose seems to have those whistling powers. That said we don’t really see anyone else trying that whistling thing out afaik and idk if it was, like, a special ability or a certain tone/ditty or w h a t. 

i know being vague with everything gives them more creative freedom to create amazing characters and scenarios, but dammit I want A N S W E R S.

All THAT said man I’m so glad magic is real in the borderlands universe. oh, sorry, “magic”. It’s magic. Science it, tannis, I dare you. either way, I win. Either it’s magic and H2O AU is canon, or it’s science and I finally get my goddamn answers. Hey gearbox can you make a book just explaining all the science and eridian stuff. please. I’d love you forever. please. pleaheheheheaaasseee it’s all i’ve ever wanted.

oh also can i just say, suuuper disappointed we didn’t learn anything about anshin. Really wish non-fan favorite corporations would get the spotlight/lore for once. Like, I like Jakobs as much as the next guy, and I get WHY they did it (can’t have a corporation looking too good!!!) but they now have 3 DLCs (Jakobs Cove, GLaT, and Bounty of Blood) and also a hefty chunk of the main game. Like... we all know Jakobs fuckin sucks, look at what they did on Pandora. I really just want info on a medical corporation 😭 I have to do everything my damn s e l f. but SERIOUSLY IMAGINE the possibilities that could come from a medical corp getting its hands on eridian tech. like, yeah obviously the weapons corps are gonna use it for weaponry and stuff BUT WOULDN’T THE MEDICAL CORPS MUTATING PEOPLE MAKE MORE SENSE??? ldfhgldfshg I have to do everything my damn self...

anyway all that aside, this is definitely by favorite borderlands dlc by a LONG shot. Nothing comes close. Ahhh the lore, the nuclear aspect, the a e s t h e t i c (seriously, have I mentioned how much I adore Trigun???), the art, the music, the cryoslinger, the fact I can bust out going beeEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAans like Ray Chase at any time and it will MAKE SENSE. I love all of it.

oh, also, Rose is totally not dead. C’mon, they couldn’t find her body. She pulled a Lilith. “Are you sure she didn’t just suffer a wound that LOOKS fatal, only for her to come back in a blockbuster sequel...?” is a line from mr Jones himself (the movie guy)

I just hope when she comes back she gets to meet Captain Scarlett. I’d love to watch their interactions plus pirates and or ninjas. That’s 2 DLC villains now that have vanished without a trace. And I like Captain Scarlett way more than Rose (seriously I spent the entire beginning of the DLC complaining about how her voice bothered me- I was so happy she was a villain, I was hoping that was the case).

oh yeah, reminder, the people of vestige were living next to highly radioactive egg for likely years. i feel really bad for them :(

also!!!

this made me smile

[mrsamaroevans]

Tightrope

Fandom: Mayans M.C.

Pairing: Miguel Galindo x Reader.

Request: No. Please, bear with me… I’m not ignoring your requests, I’m just writing as I feel inspired.

Words: 4,643. (This is the longest thing I have ever wrote, I’m really proud of it, but I don’t think someone is gonna read it :c)

Warnings: A swear word maybe.

A/N: English is not my first language, so, sorry if there are grammar mistakes or if the redaction is poor. *Gif mine* There’s no need to say I got inspired with The Greatest Showman’s song “Tightrope”. I freaking love it! PT. 2 HERE

|| MY MASTERLIST ||

|| PROMPTS LISTS TO REQUESTS ||

“Hand in my hand and we promised to never let go”

Some people may say you were too young to know about love, at least, that was what everyone used to tell you. Starting for your parents, then your older siblings, your uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, family friends… everyone used to tell you that you were crazy for thinking your high school boyfriend was the one for you. And you got so tired that you just stopped listening.

Oh, but when Miguel put a ring in your hand… that was it for your family and even some of your friends disappeared as soon as you told them. They all agreed on something: twenty-two was a stupid age to get married.

But, how could it be a stupid decision when Miguel was always there for you when even sometimes your own family wasn’t? How could you be crazy to get married to the man who had loved you since you were sixteen? The man who cheered you up in your good moments and even more in the worst.

You looked at your family’s relationships; you had never seen your parents kissing or even hugging each other, you had never listened an “I love you” from any of them to the other one and even your mother had said in a few occasions that she didn’t love your father anymore, she was only with him for mere habit.

“Nothing good comes with marriage… nothing” one of your aunts told you when she saw the pretty ring Miguel gave you. But she was married. Did that mean that she didn’t feel anything for her husband anymore? Did that mean she didn’t considerate her children as something good?

Your sister was divorcing after only three years of marriage, your brother broke up his engagement and got back together with his girlfriend —or fiancée, you didn’t know what they were anymore and, actually, no one really knew— maybe ten times by then. One of your oldest cousins was going for his third marriage, other one had a baby and the father left two months after her daughter was born.

With all the history of failed and turbulent relationships in your family, most people wouldn’t want to get married, they wouldn’t even believe in love. But you did. You believed in Miguel, you believed in your relationship.

Your family didn’t want to know anything about the wedding, you were still living with your parents, but it was like you weren’t. Your mother ignored you most of the time, she only talked to you if it was extremely necessary. You never saw your brother, it came a moment when you only used to go to sleep ‘cause the rest of the day you were planning the wedding with Dita, Miguel and your only friend who stayed with you.

And the day came. After months of planning your wedding, you walked down the aisle with your father at your side; he was the only one who wanted to be at the event. He was the only one in your family who didn’t push you aside. Did he like your decision? No, he didn’t, but he loved you and he wanted to be at your side in one of the most special days of your life.

You looked at Miguel waiting for you. His eyes never left yours and when he took your hand, you knew you weren’t making a mistake.

“You look so gorgeous, I’m so lucky to be at your side” He had whispered before the priest started the ceremony. Miguel intertwined his fingers with yours and he didn’t let go of your hand for the rest of the ceremony.

And you hoped for him to never do it.

“You pulled me in and together we're lost in a dream”

“We’re so proud of you, hijo,” Dita said, squeezing Miguel’s hand as some tears were gathering in her eyes. Your husband smiled, radiating happiness and pride for working so hard the past weeks.

“You also should be proud of (y/n)” Miguel looked at you and smiled when you frowned “These past weeks were hard but she was amazing… she was there all the way and she didn’t scream at me not even once”

“Shut up” You chuckled, palming his arm.

Your in-laws were in town to celebrate Miguel’s first development deal. The four of you were having dinner at a restaurant and your husband’s parents looked as happy and proud as him.

Miguel’s parents didn’t want him to get involved with the cartel, and the fact that he just started his career on the other side of the border meant that he was further away from the business his father started once.

So they felt relief.

“But, seriously… we have more news” Miguel added, sitting straight and taking your hand. You didn’t know anything about that other news, so you looked at him waiting for whenever he had to say.

“¡Oh, por Dios! You’re having a baby?” Dita cried in excitement, her hands on her mouth, and the tears almost rolled out of her eyes.

“No,” you said, quickly “No, we’re not” A little laugh came out of your mouth and you couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty after seeing her reaction.

“Querida, they’ve been married for six months, let them enjoy marriage life as a couple,” José said, smiling and chuckling when his wife also laughed “But a grandkid would be great” He added, making you and Miguel laugh “So, what is that other news?”

“Yes, I also want to know” You frowned but kept your smile at your husband.

“Well… your agent called while you were showering” Miguel started and your heart stopped for a second at hearing him mention your literature agent “Random House wants your book”

Dita gasped in awe and excitement and you felt José’s hand palming your shoulder as a way to congratulate you. Miguel laughed at you ‘cause after a minute you were still shocked, so, his laugh made you go back to reality.

“Are you kidding me?” You asked and Miguel chuckled again “Miguel if you’re joking… I swear to god—”

“I’m not” he shook his head no and squeezed your hand twice “You have to sign the contract tomorrow”

Your hands went to cover your face, you were so excited that you felt about to cry and didn’t want your in-laws to see. They chuckled while Miguel’s arm landed on your shoulders to kiss your temple.

“It shouldn’t be a surprise, love, your book is so good,” Miguel said, pulling your hands out of your face and smiling at you “(Y/n) Galindo, bestselling author, I can see it”

“So I risk it all just to be with you”

Later that day, you went to Loco’s Festival to keep celebrating. There was something about fairs and the smell of cotton candy that kept you happy all the time you were in the place. It reminded you that day when Miguel asked you to be his girlfriend in a fair in Hermosillo.

It all started at a fair and you loved going back to that day.

Miguel held your hand as you were walking through the place, he was trying to convince you to get into the hunting house but all that came from your mouth was a massive “no”

“C’mon! I’ll hold your hand the whole time and everything” Miguel said but you shook your head no again “Amor…”

“I said no, Miguel” You looked at him, smirking “You know how much I hate when someone scares me”

“But nothing’s gonna happen” he insisted “I’m gonna be with you”

“No” you repeated, laughing with him.

But soon, your smile disappeared from your face when you saw the one who was your best friend. She was too far away from Hermosillo, but she looked happy.

You couldn’t help but think about everything you left behind when you got married to Miguel. The last time you had seen your family was the day before your wedding, they didn’t want to know about you once you took Miguel’s name, not even your father had called you in all that time.

You heard your brother’s girlfriend got pregnant and they finally got married. By now, their baby should have been born already and you wouldn’t get to know your niece or nephew.

You missed your mom, you wanted to tell her about your book and wanted to share that moment with her like you always planned, but you made a decision a year ago, and you knew what the consequences would be.

“You’re okay?” Miguel asked once he saw the person you had your eyes on.

You looked down at your intertwined fingers and saw the silver band around his finger. You didn’t regret it.

“I am,” You said, nodding. Miguel half-smiled and leaned to kiss your lips.

“Let’s go find my mother”

“Mountains and valleys, and all that will come in between; desert and ocean”

You looked at your mother-in-law through the picture window of the living room; she was in the garden. She was looking at the flowers, maybe talking to them like she used to do. She was dressed in black, just like your husband, just like you.

Once the funeral ended, you went back to your in-laws’ house. Miguel didn’t want to leave his mother, at least not yet, and you also didn't. Dita hasn’t said too much since they told her José had been killed, not even had cried that much, and you were worried about her.

But Miguel… you didn’t know what to do or what to say to him. You had never seen him like that and that was why you didn’t know what to do. Of course José’s murder had hurt you, it hurt you even more than you imagine could possibly do, after all, he played the father role with you since the day you got married to his son.

You knew that because of the life he was living, anything could happen. Your father-in-law had a lot of enemies, but you thought you’d had more time with him; He dreamed of the day when you and Miguel finally announced that you would make them grandparents, and now he would never get to have the chance to meet your kids.

You looked up at hearing footsteps near you. Miguel walked to the armchair you were in and sat at your side “She had said something?” He asked you, looking at his mother.

“Nothing” you shook your head no and he sighed “She’s going to be fine, Miguel, we’re going to be with her as much as she needs it”

Miguel nodded, holding your hand that you placed in his thigh as soon as he sat with you. You looked at his tired eyes, he didn’t sleep last night, actually, he hadn’t slept properly since his father died.

His eyes were lost at some point in the coffee table. It was unbelievable how things could change within days. Ten days before, you were in Hawaii celebrating your third wedding anniversary, and now you were praying to see the happiness that his eyes held those five days again.

“I want to talk to you about something,” he told you, but you already knew that for the look in his eyes “I’ll take my father’s place… in the cartel”

Your heart stopped. “No” you shook your head no and interrupted him when he was about to talk again “You can’t be serious… after what happened to him? There’s no way…”

“Amor—”

“No, Miguel!” You said, letting his hand go “You have your own business in Santo Padre, you don’t have to do this…”

“I talked to Devante—”

“The only thing Devante wants is to keep his job—”

“We’re talking about my father’s legacy—”

“You are your father’s legacy!” You told him, trying to make him understand. You didn’t want to lose him the same way Dita lost José “Your father didn’t want you to follow his steps; he sent you to Cornell, he helped us to start our lives in Santo Padre and it was all ‘cause he wanted you out of it”

Miguel knew you were right, but he couldn’t let all that his father achieved disappear just like that. So, he sighed and didn’t look at you.

He had decided it, he wasn’t asking for permission, not even for your opinion.

You sighed and stood up to go to your room. You needed time to think.

“Some people won't sail the sea 'cause they're safer on land to follow what's written, but I'd follow you to the great unknown”

Later in the night, you were on your side of the guest’s bed. You were dressed in your pajamas, under the covers, and trying to read a book. But, the truth was that you kept thinking about what Miguel told you.

Even though he had never mentioned something about the desire to follow his father’s steps, something inside you knew he would eventually do it. These past years, Miguel started to be closer to his father, so, you knew it was just a matter of time for it to happened.

The door was opened and Miguel walked in. You looked at him for a second and looked back to the page you read at least thirty times trying to get the words in your head.

Miguel walked through the room to grab his pajamas that consisted of only a pair of pants ‘cause he never wore the shirt no matter how many pajamas you buy for him. You didn’t need to look at him to know he was putting the jacket of his suit in a hanger alongside with his black tie.

“Can we talk?” Miguel asked you when he sat beside you.

You put the book in the nightstand and turned to him “There’s nothing to talk,” You said, shrugging, and for a moment he felt fear at those words, but when you took his hand, that fear vanished away “Do you remember what happened three years ago?”

Miguel smiled, looking at the silver ring in his hand “The best day of my life”

You got closer to him and kissed his cheek. Your chin rested on his shoulder for a few minutes before you said: “I don’t want to lose you”

“You won’t,” Miguel said, moving to cup your cheek “We’re gonna be fine. I promise” he took your hand and kissed the back of it “I love you”

“I love you too”

“We're walking the tightrope, never sure, never know how far we could fall”

As if your lives weren’t hard enough, Lincoln Potter came into your way just to put more tension and distance between you and Miguel. The first weeks after the DEA raid were fine, you were trying to recover from what happened with Los Olvidados and your son’s kidnapping, and once you were going back to your normal routine, Potter began to require more of Miguel's time and adding that he was working now with the MC and Los Olvidados, he barely had time to spend with his family.

In the beginning, it was hard for you to not have him near you like you used to, but as soon as you started working in your fifth book and helping your husband with his proposal for the agricultural expansion, you didn’t have time to notice his absence.

These days, in particular, had been a complete mess. Two days ago, Random House wanted a preview of your work before noon and as the perfectionist you were, you woke up at 5 AM and went to your office to edit what you had by then. Miguel left the house at seven after he reminded you that the architect was coming to start with the plan of reconstruction of your previous house. Cristobal woke up with a fever just after Miguel left and after giving him some medicine, he didn’t want to be with his babysitter or anyone who wasn’t his mother, so you had to work on your text with your son in your lap.

At 3 PM the architect passed by to show and explain to you the plans of the reconstruction and it took you an hour to attend him. You made an appointment with Cristobal’s pediatrician at 5 PM and you stayed with your son the rest of the day waiting for the other symptoms of the cold to come.

That night Cristobal woke up maybe four times. Miguel didn’t even notice it because as soon as his head touched the pillow, he fell asleep and didn’t wake up until the next morning when he asked you to take his mother to the doctor.

“Mexico?” You asked, after drinking a sip of your coffee. He nodded.

“Yeah, I’m sorry,” He said, and with those two words, he canceled the dinner you and he were supposed to be having that night “I’ll make it up to you” you heard for the millionth time in the past six months.

“It’s okay” you nodded nonchalantly, grabbing your cup of coffee and your notebook. You needed to work now that Cristobal was sleeping.

“I changed your meeting with Martin at four ‘cause Dr. Kamen’s appointment is at six,” He said before you could leave the kitchen. You bite your tongue before you could say something.

“Thank you,” You said and finally headed to your office.

That hour you spent out of the house, made you feel a bit better, but on your way back home you started to feel how exhausted you were. The only thing you wanted to do was sleeping for a whole week, but once you heard Cristobal’s crying, your mom mode got on and you had to push your tiredness aside.

That night, again, he woke up four times and when you put him back to his crib for the last time, it was 7 AM already. You had a meeting with your agent at nine so there was no reason to try to go back to sleep.

Miguel went out of the house in a hurry and didn’t even have the time to say goodbye to you or tell you when he was coming back. You tried to ignore it, but when you realized you’ve been living that way for the past six months, it wasn’t that easy.

You understood. You always did. Anytime he had to work long hours before, you never said anything, but that time was different. You felt Miguel getting further and further away, and you didn’t like the feeling.

And then, you knew Adelita was pregnant. You didn’t want to think about it, but after the long hours Miguel got to spend with Los Olvidados, you couldn’t help it. And it was killing you, ‘cause you wanted to trust your husband, but, after six months of that awkward distance… maybe he wasn’t the same anymore.

“Hey” you heard on your back.

You were in Cristobal’s bedroom and when you looked back, you saw Miguel at the door, looking at you.

“Is everything fine?” He asked, walking a few steps to you.

You nodded and put the baby monitor in the pocket of your robe “Yes, he’s getting better” you said, looking back at your son who you just laid in his crib for the second time in the night.

“Better?” Miguel looked at his son and then at you.

“He has a cold,” you told him “He’s having hard days… and nights”

“Why I didn’t know?” Miguel asked you but he soon had the answer with just looking at your eyes.

“You haven’t been around the past days… I meant, months” You shrugged and turned off the lamp.

Miguel looked at his son in the dark, feeling guilty for not knowing about his state. He didn’t even hear your footsteps on your way to the door, ‘cause his eyes were lost in your son’s face.

“Don’t touch him,” you said when he was about to caress his head. Miguel looked back at you and for the light of the corridor, you saw how hurt he was at those words “It took me two hours to make him go back to sleep… you should sleep, Miguel. We all need it” and you walked out of the room, holding back your tears.

“We're walking the tightrope, never sure, will you catch me if I should fall?”

Two months after, nothing had changed not even after he promised it would. You had been arguing for the smallest of things, sometimes it was like you didn’t stand each other’s company. Now, even the intimate moments were not present in your life and if you felt Miguel away from you before, now it was worse.

You talked to Nestor multiple times, and even though he assured you Miguel still was head over heels for you, you couldn’t believe it. Not when you looked back at the past eight months and saw a pattern.

That’s when you understood your parents. You remember how much you hated whenever they argued in front of you, you remember fighting with them whenever something like that happened, but now you understood it. Maybe they started like you and Miguel did, maybe when they were younger everything was different. But people change, feelings too and you couldn’t do anything to avoid it.

You just needed to face the truth just like your mother did it. Miguel didn’t love you anymore? He was with you for mere habit? ‘Cause the only thing you could be sure about, were your own feelings.

And that was what hurt you the most; you still loved him.

“You’re busy?” Miguel asked you, walking in your office.

You looked away from your computer and at him “What do you need?” You asked and he smiled, walking a few steps towards your desk. That gorgeous smile just proved to you once again that your feelings for him had not changed.

“I just wanted to tell you that I made a reservation at your favorite, we have to be there at seven,” he said. He seemed so happy for finally having the time to go out for dinner.

But you looked at the time in the corner of your laptop’s screen and then, to the text you were working on “Uh, sorry, Miguel, but I don’t think I can” you said, shaking your head no “I’m really busy” you added.

Miguel smiled again and sit in the corner of your desk “Can’t you leave work for tomorrow?” he grabbed your chin to make you look up at him.

“I don’t know, could you?” You asked and his smile faded away. You tried to ignore what that action made you feel.

He had canceled hundreds of dinners in the past eight months ‘cause he was “busy”. You could cancel one and it shouldn’t be a problem, the thing was, that you knew he wouldn’t think the same.

Miguel scoffed and stood from the desk, and again, you tried to ignore the cold you felt when he stopped touching you. If you think about it, maybe that was the most intimate moment you both had in the last two months.

“Okay, I’ll cancel it,” He said, making his way to the door.

“Thank you… also, you need to call Dr. Kamen to make the appointment with your mother for next week” you told him, so he turned around to see you.

“Next week?” He asked, frowning “I thought you were going with her”

You shook your head “I’ll be in New York, so won’t be able to”

“What?” Miguel said, taking a step forward “When were you gonna tell me?”

“They told me three weeks ago and this is the first time you have time since then,” you said, looking back at your computer.

Miguel sighed. Maybe you didn’t want him to get mad but that was something you just did, and it was about to get worse “Okay, I’ll ask Maria to stay over to watch Cristobal”

“You don’t need to” Miguel frowned again “He’s coming with me”

“You’ll be busy—”

“That’s why Lucy accepted to come with me to help me” you interrupted and at seeing how angry he was with you, you stood up from your chair “Why does it bother you? You’re never here anyway”

“Are you going with that again?” He asked, scoffing. You didn’t answer, you wanted to know what he had to tell you “I’m working to give you and Cristobal the life you have”

“Excuse me but that’s not true” You stopped him, walking around the desk to be closer to him “Don’t come at me saying you’re the only provider in this house ‘cause I had never asked you for a fucking dollar. All my stuff, all Cristobal’s stuff I bought it with my own money… we bought this house together, did you forget it?”

He knew you were right. Your books were selling too well and you had been making a lot of money because of them since you were twenty-three, but, the fact that you were right, only pissed him off even more.

“I’m away ‘cause the DEA has my fucking ass!”

“And who was the one that wanted to sell drugs? It wasn’t me!” You snapped, raising your voice.

You have never said something like that to him, not even when Los Olvidados kidnapped your son. That was why he was taken aback and couldn’t answer anything.

“Ten years ago, I promised to be with you through it all and I’ve kept my promise, you cannot say otherwise. But you? You said nothing was gonna change, you promised me we were not going to be like my parents and here we are”

Miguel chuckled “We’re not like your parents…”

“No? You’re never here and there’s no difference at all when you are…” your eyes were holding tears and when you said that, his eyes started to get cloudy as well “When was the last time you told me you love me?” You asked, but he didn’t make an effort to answer “Tell me ‘cause I don’t remember!” You raised your voice again, your voice was breaking and you were hoping for him to tell you he loves you now.

But he didn’t.

“You can’t tell me that nothing has changed, Miguel, ‘cause we both know it has” You wiped a tear from your cheek and that broke Miguel’s heart.

“Does that mean—?” He babbled.

“No” You interrupted him “I still love you like the first day, but the question here is… do you still love me?”

“Don’t ask that…” he shook his head and cupped your cheeks “You know it” Miguel said.

“Do I?” You asked, taking his hands off from your face “You spend more time with her than with me”

“What?” He squeezed your hands, not wanting to let them go.

“Adelita… all this time you’ve been spending with her—”

“Them, Los Olvidados” he corrected “And Alvarez is always with me…” he said, shaking his head multiple times ‘cause he wanted to take that thought out of your head “It’s only work, nothing had happened” He assured you.

“You know who the father is?” You asked, completely ignoring what he said before, but regretting it right away “You know what? It doesn’t matter” you released from his grip, and he quickly cupped your cheeks again.

“No, no, no… listen to me” Miguel insisted but you shrugged.

“Miguel… I’m going to New York tomorrow” you said and that was when he stopped trying “I don’t want my son growing with parents who don’t love each other like I did... I come back in two weeks, I hope that is enough time for you to think about everything”

“Well, it's all an adventure that comes with a breathtaking view, walking the tightrope with you”

|| MY MASTERLIST || PART 2 HERE ||

|| PROMPTS LISTS TO REQUESTS ||

[kaiser-dracon]

Epilogue - The Greatest Story Never Told (Sneak Peek)

Morgana Woods, Aball - (REDACTED) later 

Mist swirled and pooled around Rokurou’s feet as he stalked between trees, his hand hanging near his sword. “Come on, you big ugly bastard, I know you’re out here…”

He paused to listen, head moving to follow the faint, wet sounds of crunching and tearing emanating from behind a nearby log. His demonic eye flared up. Creeping forward on silent feet, Rokurou slowly leaned around a tree trunk to steal a glimpse of his prey. But sounds of battle cries and howling echoed around the forest. Rokurou lunged out from behind the tree. His eyes widened. “Huh? Velvet?”

Velvet, wearing her crimson pirate clothes, looked up at him innocently, yanking her wrist blade out of a Lycan’s skull. “Rokurou? Fancy meeting you here.”

Rokurou groaned. “Wow, don’t you get cute with me, I’ve been stalking him for days!”

From behind the bushes, Orthie and Russ jumped and moved protectively to Velvet. “Didn’t see your name on it, and it’s not my fault if you’re getting slow in your age, Rokurou.”

Rokurou sighed, crossing his arms. “Forget it. What are you even doing here? I thought you were on the sea, and you know it’s the time for…” He paused for a moment and scratched his head in guilt. “I’m sorry, I don’t know if I should bring it up.” 

Velvet nodded. “It’s okay. We were on our way to Loegres, and Eizen wanted to pick up Edna. So, I thought I would check on Aball.”

“Aball? So Tabatha still wants to convert it into a hideout?” 

“She does, but I’m still not sure if it’s better to hand it to Bloodwings, or I should keep it for myself and make my own base.” Velvet said. “The soil fertility is improving, and it would make for a perfect sanctuary for the crew’s families. Say, why don’t you join us. I think everyone would love to see you back, even if it is for a few days.”

Rokurou sighed and shook his head. “No, I don’t think Eizen would approve the presence of a bloodthirsty daemon when Edna is around.”

“Eizen said Phoenix’s domain is getting stronger, and Laphicet is around, so you’re harmless.” Velvet said, smirking impishly.

“Harmless, huh? Not sure it’s true about me, but when you put it that way, I think I can spare a day or two.” 

Velvet gave him a nod, and along with the dogs, they traveled back to Van Eltia. 

As they arrived at the Taliesin’s port, Benwick rushed at hem and saluted. “Ma’am!”

“Report, Benwick.”

 The ship is loaded with supplies, and Ms. Hume says that Eizen and Edna are already onboard.”

“Right, call everyone back to the ship. We’re leaving at noon.” Velvet ordered, and they embarked on Van Eltia.

“It’s a long time since I set foot in this ship…” Rokurou said, stepping on the ship’s deck. Suddenly, he heard a familiar chuckle. 

“I thought I heard the sounds of inadequacy coming from somewhere,” Eizen smirked.

Rokurou darted a brow up. “Oho! I see you’re getting bold, old man. How about a…”

“No settling differences or no friendly wager on this ship!” Velvet yelled. “Got it?”

Rokurou raised his hands in surrender. “Okay, alright… Sheesh, Velvet, I don’t recall the crew said anything about Aifread being this strict. Am I right, Eizen?”

“Velvet’s the captain now, and the crew is pretty content with her way of leadership,” Eizen said.

Then an apple hit Rokurou’s head out of nowhere, landing and rolling over the deck. “Ouch! What the hell?”

He raised his head to see Magilou, sitting on the topmast, shrugging her shoulders and eyes sparkling with mischief. “Didn’t see you there, big boy.”

“Why’s everyone picking on me today?” Rokurou moaned, massaging his scalpel.

“It’s because they missed you.” Velvet said, chuckling in amusement.

Rokurou groaned. “Ah, my life’s been busy lately. Eleanor has a lot of daemon clearing quest to do, and I can’t complain.”

Eleanor emerged from the crew quarters, squinting up into the sunlight. She caught sight of Velvet and Rokurou, face beaming with delight as she rushed over. “Hey! Rokurou! Did you finish the final request?”

Velvet frowned slightly at Eleanor. “Come on, give him a break. Life’s not all about work.”

Eleanor raised a scolding finger, cocking her head. “There is no rest for the protectors. We must stand vigil during these rough times!”

Magilou chuckled at Eleanor’s reaction and jumped down. “Rokurou as a protector?” She sneered. “This man does not think about anyone other than himself.”

Rokurou cracked a prideful smile. “Protector or not, I get to fight, and she even pays me for it.” 

“Still in it for yourself, eh?” Magilou said.

The swordsman straightened his broad shoulders. “Yes. I’m the same old Rokurou Rangetsu, you all know.”

Benwick and the rest of the crew came aboard “All finished, Ma’am!”

“Good. Set sail for Loegres immediately.” Giving orders to Benwick, Velvet headed out to the crew quarters. She entered the kitchen and caught a glimpse of Lailah wearing an apron. The fire malak hummed cheerfully, and she delicately lifted a small, rimmed bottle from the top shelf. Behind her, Velvet walked over to lean on the counter beside Lailah. For a while, Velvet watched as the oblivious Lailah struggled to uncork the tiny bottle. 

“Do you need help, Lailah?”

Lailah jumped, nearly dropping the bottle on the floor. She quickly fumbled it onto the counter and took a step back. 

“Oh hi, Velvet-san! I didn’t think you’d be back this early!” Lailah said nervously.

Velvet smiled softly. “What are you doing here? Trying to usurp my position?”