#and if i can make their life better without making my life worse than theirs don't a have a moral obligation to?

[kikyoupdates]

Otherworldly Attraction ⭑˚🔮⭑ 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑎ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑

yandere!jjk x f!reader

yandere, reverse harem, isekai, jujutsu kaisen x fem!reader, slowburn, slowburn yandere

You don't know how or why, but you've been isekai'd into the world of Jujutsu Kaisen. Although your first instinct is to stay away from the plot, you've been blessed with an abnormal amount of cursed energy, and for better or worse, you find yourself sucked into the storyline. You decide that you may as well use your newfound powers for the greater good, and if you're lucky, you might succeed in rewriting some of the characters' fates. But it turns out that your presence in this world is an even bigger deal than you first thought, and soon, everyone wants to make you theirs.

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You awaken to the sight of Itadori gazing down upon you.   

“[Name]!”   

He cries out in a panic, and there’s no denying the look of concern on his face. Truthfully, it takes you a little while to make sense of everything. The last thing you recall is your close encounter with Sukuna, with Gojo showing up not long afterwards, but past that, there’s not a single memory to draw from. It’s all blank.   

“You fainted,” Itadori explains. In that case, it makes sense why you’re so disoriented. Right. Gojo appeared, which means that he must have been just about to fight Sukuna for a few seconds and test Itadori’s ability to suppress him, but before that, he briefly turned his attention to you. And then you passed out without even managing a proper response.   

Man. You kind of suck at first impressions, huh?   

“I’m alive,” you mumble breathlessly. “I actually… survived all of that.”   

By all accounts, it’s a miracle. You’re not supposed to be involved in the plot. You’re not a character in the main storyline. Which of course means that any number of things could have gone horribly, irreversibly wrong. Especially since Sukuna nearly forced you to eat his finger yourself.   

At least now, finally, it’s all over. Itadori has become Sukuna’s vessel, just like he was meant to be. From this moment onwards, he will face no shortage of hardship, but at least you were able to keep the plot on track. At least you haven’t completely messed everything up. Which means that all of this insanity is about to come to an end. Once Itadori leaves for Jujutsu High, you’ll no longer have any part in this.   

Or at least, that’s what you’d like to think. You’ve been put through hell tonight, and you desperately want to believe that a peaceful life awaits you.   

But of course, you’re dead wrong—and soon, you will realize it’s far too late to escape.  

“Ah, you’re awake,” a familiar voice hums. You turn towards the person who just spoke, and there he is. The man, the myth, the legend himself. Gojo Satoru. You didn’t really get the chance to admire him earlier since your body just kind of decided to shut down, but now that you’re lucid again, you can’t help but stare at him incredulously.   

Gojo approaches you with a smile. “Hello, there. Yuji mentioned that you’re his friend. [Name], right? How are you feeling?”   

“I’m alright,” you reply in a daze, and you hope to god you’re not drooling, because it sure as hell feels like you are.  

My god, he’s hot.  

Fortunately, you keep from blurting that remark aloud, and Gojo just keeps smiling at you. Which is honestly a bit unsettling, because even though he’s one of the good guys, he’s definitely got a mischievous side to him, and it almost feels like he’s scheming something.   

“Here, stand up,” Gojo offers, and he grabs you by the hand to help pull you to your feet. You briefly fangirl, of course (Gojo Satoru is holding your hand!), but you can tell that he’s got a few things he wants to say, so you face him with a solemn expression.   

There’s a pause, and then his smile widens.   

“Your friend Yuji is going to be executed,” he states matter-of-factly.   

What a truly horrifying thing to say with such a careless, easygoing expression.   

You’re not surprised, though, because you’re already familiar with how the storyline will proceed. Still, for the purposes of not coming across like a total psycho, you turn towards Itadori with your mouth agape, feigning shock and absolute horror.   

“Wh-What?” you splutter. “I… I don’t understand. Why would you say something like that?”   

Even though you’re certainly not going to win any Oscars, you hope that your shitty acting is convincing enough. And by the looks of things, it is , because Itadori lets out a heavy sigh and slumps his head forward.   

“He tied me to a chair earlier and started saying all kinds of weird stuff. Apparently, he and his allies are trying to collect a whole bunch of those fingers. There’s twenty of them in total. That guy whose finger I ate… his name is Sukuna, or something. And he’s apparently super-duper strong. I’m not sure how I’m able to control him, but it looks like I’ve become his vessel. He’s so dangerous that they normally would have killed me by now, but instead, the higher-ups agreed to let me live until I find all the remaining fingers and eat those too. And once I’ve done that, then they’ll kill me. Along with Sukuna. To make sure he’s gone for good.”   

You’re not sure what the appropriate response is. This is all stuff you already know, but putting yourself in the shoes of someone who isn’t from another world, who doesn’t have knowledge of how everything will proceed… essentially, your friend’s just told you he’s guaranteed to die, at some point or another.   

That shit’s pretty fucked up.   

You clench your fists. “Itadori’s a good person. Why are you threatening to—”   

“Sorry, sorry,” Gojo waves off. “I wasn’t actually looking for any input. The situation’s pretty non-negotiable, to be honest. Yuji’s execution has only been postponed because I argued in his favor. You don’t seem like you’re aware of how dangerous Sukuna actually is , so believe me when I say that I’m amazed they accepted my proposition in the first place.”   

Trust me. I know exactly how dangerous he is.   

Once again, you keep your thoughts to yourself, and instead, you turn to gaze out the window. It’s early morning, by the looks of things. You’ve been out cold for quite some time. But at least you can go home now, right…?   

“I’m sure this is a lot to take in,” Gojo continues, “but it’s really the only option we have. To be honest, it’s a miracle that Yuji survived in the first place. He was able to eat Sukuna’s finger without any side effects. An ordinary human would have died immediately. But for some reason, Megumi tells me that you encouraged Yuji to eat the finger. And you seemed to have full faith that he’d survive. Do you mind explaining that?”   

…ah, shit.   

“I-I was scared,” you swallow uncomfortably, taking a step back. “Fushiguro mentioned before that only those with cursed energy can kill curses. And since Itadori didn’t have any cursed energy, I thought that… maybe he could gain some. By eating that finger. We were backed into a corner and I thought we were all going to die. Itadori’s already really strong to begin with, so I felt like he could save us.”   

“Hmm.”   

Thankfully, Gojo doesn’t press the issue any further. Perhaps it’s a reasonable enough explanation, especially since he believes that you’re a total noob in the world of jujutsu sorcerers and the like. Surely he doesn’t suspect that you know more than you’re willing to admit.   

Yeah… surely not.   

“Okay,” he grins. “I guess that explains it. Oh! But I had another question, actually. Megumi also told me that when Sukuna first awakened, for some reason, he said he recognized you. He said that he’d seen you before. That’s kind of weird, isn’t it?”   

You freeze up on the spot, and at that moment, it finally hits you.   

There’s no chance in hell they’re going to let you walk away from this.   

“I don’t know what he meant by that,” you insist. “It was my first time ever speaking to that scary guy.”   

Technically not a lie, because when you encountered him inside his Innate Domain, you didn’t actually say a single word. You were too busy crapping your pants from fright.  

You’re not sure exactly how much is safe to reveal, but you suppose a half-truth would be good enough. Because if you admit that Sukuna was trying to make you eat his finger and possibly turn you into his vessel…   

Well, evidently, the higher-ups aren’t shy about executing people they deem dangerous.   

“Itadori showed me the finger once before,” you admit. “Back when he first found it at school. It was all wrapped up in the seal back then, so I had no clue what it was, but he tossed it to me, and I held onto it for a few moments. Do you think that’s what Sukuna was referring to?”   

“Sukuna should have been contained within the seal, even as flimsy and worn-out as it was, so I don’t see how that would work.”  

Gojo leans over, bringing his face level with your own, and you gulp, unnerved by the lack of distance. He’s ridiculously attractive, of course, but he can also be pretty intimidating too. Without even trying.   

It doesn’t take long for a smile to return to his face, though.   

“Oh, well!” he shrugs. “I guess we’ll just have to cross that bridge when we get there! I’m gonna have my hands full figuring all of this out, huh?”   

“Haha… ha.”  

Seriously, fuck my life.   

“Leave [Name] alone,” Itadori frowns. “I get why you guys are after me because of the finger, but she’s not involved. She was just worried about Sasaki and Iguchi, like I was. I’m the one who became Sukuna’s vessel, so let me deal with it. She doesn’t need to worry about any of this stuff. She should be going home and getting some rest.”   

Gojo’s smile finally drops. “Not involved, you say? Well, from your perspective, it might seem that way, but let me be honest. A lot isn’t adding up here. Unlike you, [Name] was already able to see curses, and she possesses an overwhelming amount of cursed energy. As things stand, she’s far from being an ordinary person. Not to mention that Sukuna himself expressed interest in her. I understand that you’re worried about your friend and you want to keep her safe… but I can’t in good faith just walk away and pretend like I never ran into her. It’s my responsibility as a jujutsu sorcerer. Besides. If I leave her all on her own, something tells me she’ll be found by someone else sooner or later. And more likely than not, they won’t have good intentions.”   

You lower your gaze to the ground, because you already know where he’s going with this. In fact, you probably should have realized it from the moment that small curse ran away from you. From the moment you inexplicably met Sukuna inside his Innate Domain. From the moment he called out to you and beckoned you towards him.   

Or rather… from the moment you first awoke in this world.   

You shouldn’t be here. By all accounts, it doesn’t make any sense. But the fact remains that you are , and naturally, weird shit is bound to happen. Things are bound to change. The life you’ve been thrust into is going to be nothing like the one you lived before, and it’s about time you came to terms with that.   

“Yuji and [Name],” Gojo says, a grin spreading across his lips, “both of you… are coming to Jujutsu High with me.”

Not long after your discussion with Gojo, you visit Sasaki and Iguchi in the hospital, along with Itadori. The scene that follows is pretty much exactly like in the anime. Sasaki is almost entirely unharmed, whereas Iguchi is presumably going to be alright in the long-term, but he’s still unconscious for the time being.   

It’s a strange feeling, to be honest. Seeing the two of them and knowing it’ll be the very last time. You always assumed Itadori was the one who was destined to leave. You figured that he would only be your friend for a short while, and then, you would have no choice but to say your goodbyes. You told yourself that after he left, you would stick with Sasaki and Iguchi and keep them company in his place.   

But now, it looks like you have to leave, too.   

“Someone will be stopping by tomorrow to help Iguchi,” Itadori says. He pauses to offer a weak smile. “I’m sorry. This all happened because I picked up that cursed object in the first place. What you saw inside the school… they weren’t monsters. They were curses. Iguchi will be alright, though. I promise.”   

Sasaki stares at him, visibly confused, and then she turns towards you. “[Name]...? So you were at school last night, too? Both of you came to help us?”   

“I’m sorry,” you also apologize, instinctively bowing your head. Naturally, this all would have happened even without your involvement, but still. You feel compelled to apologize. Not just for what she’s been through, but the fact that you won’t be able to stay behind as her friend.   

“I’m sorry, but we can’t stick around much longer,” Itadori tells her. He smiles once more, looking even more pained than he did a few moments ago. “There’s somewhere we need to go. Sorry. We’ll see you later, okay?”   

Even without the words being stated outright, Sasaki must already know. She must realize that this isn’t just a regular hospital visit. It's a goodbye.   

“Alright,” she nods, and she’s considerate enough not to ask any questions. She just sits there, next to Iguchi’s beside, with a wistful expression. “Bye, guys. Wherever you’re going… good luck.”   

You and Itadori walk out of the building, both with heavy hearts. Itadori is probably the nicest, bravest, most compassionate person in the world, but even he can’t just shrug off the thought of being executed. You know that death scares him, but it’s less about the process of dying, and whether or not he’ll be able to have a ‘good’ death. Whether he’ll be able to say that he lived a life free of regrets. A life where he did everything in his power to save others.   

Just because he’s strong doesn’t mean he’s not scared, though. Just because he’s going to accept his fate without putting up a fight doesn’t mean it isn’t hitting him hard. He’s only a highschooler. A boy who’s lived a happy, carefree life until now. It’s impossible not to be nervous, not to feel apprehensive, not to yearn for something else.   

But no matter how frustrated Itadori feels, it doesn’t matter.   

He will never give up.   

You know what awaits him is nothing short of hell. That’s why you were so desperate to avoid this. It’s such a horrifying world to land yourself in. It certainly isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It isn’t going to be a blissful experience, where you’ll be able to interact with your favorite characters free of any worries. It’d be nice if that were the case, but it just isn’t .   

Unlike Itadori, you aren’t a protagonist. You aren’t naturally courageous, or ready to throw your life away if someone else is in danger. You wish you could say you are, but not everyone is meant to be a hero. And in the real world, the average person won’t think twice before prioritizing their own safety.  

But it looks like you’re going to have to change. Even if you aren’t like that to begin with, you’re going to have to become that kind of person. You’re going to have to face your fears and hold your ground, bite your tears back when you feel like running away. Like it or not, in this world, you are a unique, special existence, and that may very well be for a reason. Perhaps… perhaps you might be able to save the people that Itadori wasn’t able to. Perhaps you’ve been put in this world to ease his burden. To stand by his side and support him in his darkest hours.  

You’re terrified of what’s to come. No doubt about it. And you can’t really say that you were a particularly remarkable person in your previous life.   

But maybe this time, you can be.   

“I’m going to do it,” Itadori says as you walk side-by-side. He glances over at you and furrows his brows. “If curses and people like that Sukuna guy are really so dangerous, then I’ll do it. I’ll eat all those fingers and do whatever it takes. My grandpa wanted me to help people. So that when it’s my time to go, at least I’ll be surrounded by the people I care about. That was his dying wish.”  

He reaches out and gently squeezes your hand, a smile returning to his face. Whether the gesture was meant to reassure you or himself, you honestly don’t know. But it doesn’t matter. As long as you’re together, it’ll be alright. Even the scariest moments will be bearable.  

You won’t let his story end in tragedy, and hopefully, neither will yours.

“Mom, dad, I need to leave. I’m transferring to a new school, which means I’ll be moving to a different city. Today.”   

Normally, when parents hear something like this without any prior notice, their immediate instinct is to be concerned. This is the part where they’re supposed to start chiding you for saying something so ridiculous, which will be followed by a firm refusal.   

But that doesn’t happen.   

“We know,” your mother nods, with a strange, somewhat eerie look in her eyes. “You’re going to become a jujutsu sorcerer, aren’t you? So that you can protect all kinds of people.”   

“...”   

Okay, what in the ever-loving fuck ?  

“Um,” you respond, blinking repeatedly in disbelief. “How did you—?”   

“Don’t worry about us,” your father piles on. “This is very important, isn’t it? Go do what you need to do. We understand.”   

Alright, well, you knew from the start that they weren’t your real parents, because they clearly hadn’t been isekai’d like you, but to hear them casually going on about things they shouldn’t know—since you never told them a damn thing about curses or sorcerers—is unbelievably freaky. This interaction is further proof that you’re not really a part of this world, and they’re just meant to be some weird stand-ins. They’re not even actual people themselves. More like omniscient NPCs.  

“This is creepy as fuck,” you sigh, shaking your head in defeat.  

“Hurry up, darling,” your mother encourages with a smile. “Gojo is waiting outside to pick you up, along with Itadori and Fushiguro.”   

“Oh my god, stop it! You’re seriously freaking me out!”   

You can’t possibly get out of the house any faster, your luggage clunking behind you every time the wheels spin out or roll over a rock. True to your creepy NPC mom’s word, three people are waiting outside, one of whom is Itadori, and he excitedly waves to you.   

“[Name], hey!” he beams. “Good morning. Excited to make the trip to Tokyo?”   

“Definitely. I’m never coming back to this house ever again,” you shudder.  

“Huh, why? Did you have a fight with your parents or something?”   

You let out a heavy sigh, refusing to elaborate. Anyways, it doesn’t really matter. It looks like you were always destined to get involved, whether you intended to or not. People don’t just get isekai’d in their favorite anime to not play a role in the story. In all the fanfiction you’ve read, that’s pretty much an unwritten rule.  

“All ready to go?” Gojo smiles.   

You nod slowly. Truth to be told, you have many, many doubts. You’re scared that you’re not strong enough to make a difference, even if the story is pulling you in. You’re scared that you might end up meeting an early death, even with all this knowledge on your side. And you’re scared that if you really do disappear… Itadori will have yet another person to grieve.  

Itadori wants to have a proper death, and honestly? You want the same thing. You want to be able to look back at all you’ve accomplished and say that you genuinely, truly did everything you could.   

So, that’s what you’ll do.   

“I’m ready,” you nod, gripping the handle of your suitcase a bit tighter. “But before we go… I just have one request.”   

Gojo tilts his head to the side, confused, and he watches as you pull your phone out of your pocket, only to stare at him with a stern expression.   

“Take a selfie with me, please.”

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[imagrindylow]

Talk to Me

Leander Prewett / f!MC

7.8k Words Content Warnings: Just fluff! Pining, crushes, general cuteness. Summary: Sixth year has begun, and Leander is nervous to start talking to MC again after their summer apart. Tired of listening to his pining, Garreth comes up with a way to get Leander and MC talking. A/N: MC's house isn't specified, but for plot, she's written to not be in Gryffindor.

~~~~~

“You’re making this harder than it has to be, mate,” Garreth said, relaxing back against his headboard, a potions book and a mess of scribbled notes spread on his bed beside him that had been forgotten in the wake of conversation.

He and Leander had their dorm to themselves for the moment, and as typical, Leander was taking this time to vent about his lady woes – or rather – his lack-of-lady woes. 

Leander paced the space between their beds, shaking his head at his friend. Of course for someone like Garreth – someone confident and effortlessly funny and charming – getting a girl's attention was not a difficult task. Hell, Leander would settle for being able to talk to girls without putting his foot in his mouth. Not even girls, just… one specific girl. 

“What am I supposed to say to her?” Leander groaned, a rhetorical question that he stopped his pacing to answer with his standard self deprecating flair. “Oh, hello, I know I can barely speak to you without tripping over my words and making a fool of myself, but we should totally go out anyway,” he scoffed. “That’ll go over well.” 

Garreth sighed, feeling sympathetic to his friend’s situation. At the same time, however, sixth year had barely begun and the pining was already getting more than a little bit old. He had half a mind to march up to MC and tell her himself that Leander had been hemming and hawing about asking her out since fifth year, but Garreth valued his life and didn’t want to risk Leander hexing him into oblivion if he were to unintentionally make things worse. 

“You’re acting like she’s a stranger to you but she’s not. Sure, you haven’t talked since before summer, but all you have to do is break the ice with her again for the year. It’s not like you have to come right out and profess your undying love for her, just ask her to Hogsmeade or something,” Garreth said, picking up his book and casually riffling the pages. 

It was advice he’d given Leander before, that he had yet to take for whatever reason. Even if it didn’t lead to anything more, surely MC wouldn’t turn him down for a trip into the village. But Leander was as hard headed as he was insecure and nervous, and no amount of assurance from Garreth that he was actually a good catch would convince him.

“There’s better people for her to go to Hogsmeade with. She’s friends with everyone, I’d probably have to take a number and wait,” he said.

“I could talk to her for you,” Garreth said, not trying to sound too pushy, as he’d offered to do this before. 

Leander drew in a breath, eyes widening at Garreth as though the idea was insane. “Ohh no, absolutely not. You stay out of it. All you need to do is listen to me whine and let me wallow in my loneliness,” he said dramatically. 

Other friends of theirs may have found Leander’s theatrical refusal amusing – he was actually quite the funny bloke – but Garreth knew that in this instance it was a guise, hiding his actual hurt under his innate humor. 

Leander crossed the room and looked over himself in the mirror besides their dorm room door. He smoothed out his hair and tucked his button down into his trousers. “Anyway, I was planning on heading to the library to do some more reading for that Transfiguration assignment due next week. Want to come?”

Garreth shook his head and waved his friend off. “Nah. I’ll do it later, I work better under pressure, anyway.”

“Suit yourself, but don’t ask to copy my notes,” Leander said and shrugged. He grabbed his bag from the hook beside the door and slung it over his shoulder, then turned to leave, but there was a clatter beside his bed that made him stop and turn around. 

His small Scops Owl, Hoots, had woken up and restlessly ruffled his feathers in his cage. Leander crossed the room to the bird, and when he spoke this time his voice was much softer. “I’m sorry Hoots, I know you want to go back to the Owlery, but it’s still chucking it down outside and I know you don’t like to fly in the rain.” 

Leander waggled his finger near the owl’s face, showing him the red mark from a nip he’d given him earlier in the day, after the owl had gotten caught in the downpour while returning from delivering a letter to Leander’s parents. The owl had flown to the dorm window rather than straight back to the owlery, set on reprimanding Leander for sending him out without having checked the forecast, and Leander wasn’t going to make that mistake again. 

Leander unlatched the door of the cage, and offered the owl his arm and Hoots hopped onto his sleeve readily. “You can stretch your wings in the room until the rain stops,” he said, then looked up and addressed Garreth once again. “You’ll watch him while I’m out, yeah?”

“Mhm,” Garreth hummed. “Hoots and I will have a grand time, I’ll bounce potion ideas off him.”

Leander grinned and raised his arm, prompting Hoots to flutter his wings before flying over and landing on Garreth’s headboard. He perched near Garreth’s shoulder, as though he was actually going to look over the potions text with him.

“Right, I’m off then. See you,” Leander said and dipped out of the room, making his way towards the library at last.

Garreth read through his potions book for a good 40 minutes, jotting down notes here and there, and muttering under his breath comments on the potioneer author's ideas. Hoots chirped and chittered intermittently, prompting the boy to discuss further, until he was having a full conversation with the owl.

Before long, though, Garreth grew restless and distracted, his mind wandering back to his earlier conversation with Leander. He’d definitely said ‘no�� to his offer of speaking to MC on his behalf, but what if Garreth could help in a more inconspicuous way? Garreth hopped up from his bed needing to stretch his legs and wandered over to Leander’s desk, nonchalantly sifting through some rolls of parchment that were lined up neatly to the side.  

“You want to help me with something, Hoots?” Garreth called to the owl, who flew over to Leander’s desk at the mention of his name. Hoots turned his head sharply, as though waiting for Garreth to elaborate. “Well, you’d be helping your dad, honestly.” 

Unsurprisingly to Garreth after conversing to the bird about potions for the better part of the last hour, Hoots squawked from his perch on the edge of Leander’s desk, a sound of agreement. And so Garreth’s mind was made up. Much like in his potions work, once an idea struck him, it had to be executed – for better or worse. This was one of his better ideas, though. He could feel it.

If he couldn’t speak to MC on Leander’s behalf, maybe he could get MC to speak to him, all of her own accord.

Garreth plucked one of the rolls of parchment from Leander’s desk – an Ancient Runes assignment that Garreth happened to know (from the amount of complaining Leander had done while working on it) was due after the weekend. 

“You want to stretch your wings a bit, yeah? Why don’t you deliver this to MC? Surely she’s in the castle somewhere.” Garreth said and offered the roll of parchment to Hoots.

The small owl took the roll of parchment in the talons of one foot and stepped onto Garreth’s waiting hand. 

“Let’s hope we don’t run into Leander on the way through the portrait,” Garreth said and headed out of the dorm, then down the stairs and through the common room. 

In his mind, running into Leander was the only thing that could go wrong. Once Hoots was out of the common room, Garreth was confident that the owl could execute the rest of his plan. The plan, of course, was that MC, after coming into possession of Leander’s assignment, would bring it back to him, and thus, talk to him. So simple. Would she be confused as to why an owl was bringing her someone else’s school work? Yes. Most definitely. But that – in Garreth’s opinion – just made the whole thing even better. She and Leander would be able to laugh about it, and laughing along with the girl you fancied was a good thing. Garreth definitely considered himself a genius for this one.

With Hoots on his arm, Garreth made his way through the portrait hole, and out into the castle. “Alright Hoots, remember, take this to MC and come right back. Avoid Leander, and I’ll be waiting out here to let you back inside. Be quick,” he instructed the owl, and with a swoop, Hoots was off on his mission, and Garreth took a seat on the floor in the hall outside the portrait of the Fat Lady.

~~~

Across the castle, MC had been enjoying her Friday evening over a game of Exploding Snap in the Great Hall, where she and several of her friends had lingered for a while after dinner. Talks of weekend plans were interrupted when a small owl flew in the open doors, screeching happily as it swooped down towards the tables. She hadn’t been expecting mail, especially not at this hour when usually post was delivered during breakfast, and so MC startled when the roll of parchment was dropped right in front of her, disturbing some of her cards that laid on the table.

“What’ve you got?” one of her friends asked her as she unrolled the paper.

The confusion read on her face as she looked the parchment over. She wasn’t taking the class, but still she recognised that what she’d been delivered was someone's Ancient Runes assignment. Not just any someone, though, but Leander Prewett’s – his name was written in neat calligraphy at the top corner of the page. What in Merlin’s name?

“Nothing, it was a mistake, it isn’t for me,” she told her friend, and tucked the parchment neatly into her bag that rested beside her on the floor.

She couldn’t explain why, but she found the fact that she was now in possession of Leander’s assignment to be embarrassing. It hadn’t been graded yet, nor did it appear to be completed, which told her that the work was due at a future date, and this further meant that she’d need to return it to him, and quickly, too. The problem was, they were on the eve of the weekend, and she had no idea where Leander liked to spend his time on Friday evenings. 

She pushed the issue from her mind only long enough to finish her game of Exploding Snap before excusing herself from the group and making her way back to her dorm. Thinking on things, she decided the best way to return his assignment would be the same way she’d received it – by owl. Could she deliver it to him over breakfast in the morning? Maybe, if they ended up eating at the same time, but that idea sounded terribly awkward. What if he accused her of stealing it somehow? In front of all of his friends… It wasn't an embarrassment that she could risk. Unfortunately for Leander, though, MC didn’t have her own owl, and she was most certainly not going to walk to the owlery in rain so heavy. She would wait till morning and hope that tomorrow would bring clearer weather, but in the meantime she took a seat at her desk to write a note that she planned to send along with the return of his assignment.

~~~

Leander woke Saturday morning to bright sun peeking through the slits in his bed curtains. Whatever time it was, it was far too early, but Hoots started flittering his wings at the first sounds of Leander waking up, and that was all it took to have the boy sitting up and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He was up and out of bed quickly after that, opening the window so that Hoots could fly back to the owlery before he woke the rest of the dorm with his impatience. 

By the time Leander was finished getting ready for the day, all of his dorm mates were still asleep in their beds, so he settled in at his desk, looking to utilize the early morning peace and quiet to finish up some work, so he could relax the rest of the weekend. His desk was always tidy, so it was very puzzling when Leander couldn't immediately find his Ancient Runes assignment. He knew he’d left it right there, lined up neatly with the rolls of parchment for his other classes, on the left hand side of his desk… He ran his hand through his still damp, freshly washed hair, and pushed his chair back from his desk. He hadn’t wanted to start his day with nervous pacing, but here he was. He couldn’t restart this assignment. There wasn’t enough time.

The wooden floors in the boys dorm – well, in the whole castle, really – were quite worn and creaky, and though he was trying to be quiet, his footfalls were actually rather disruptive, apparently, as one by one, the other boys in the dorm started turning over in their beds and waking up.

“It’s too early to be anxious already, Prewett, go back to sleep!” Eric Northcott called with a groan from behind his bed curtains.

“I have an Ancient Runes assignment due Monday morning and it’s gone!” Leander explained. “I dunno what to do,  I can’t restart it now, I'd been working on it all week!”

“Here’s an idea, worry about it later, when people are awake,” Eric said pointedly.

Garreth groaned. He hated knowing that what he’d done was stressing Leander out, but he couldn’t for the sake of the plan let anything slip. He had to have faith that MC would return the missing assignment before Leander had a full breakdown.

“Calm down, Eric, it’s a bloody Saturday, you can take a nap later if you’re tired. Come on lads! We ought to get up and help him look for it,” Garreth said, and swung his legs to the floor, stretched, then walked over to his own desk so he could make a show of trying to find the roll of parchment which was definitely not at any of their desks.

“Thanks, Gar,” Leander muttered, annoyed with Eric, as he crouched down and started going through the drawers on his desk.

“Of course, mate.”

Garreth’s advice, however, was apparently uninspiring, because soon the other boys were hitting the showers to start their day, leaving Garreth to help Leander on his own.

“It’ll turn up, it can’t have gone far, yeah? Was it in your bag? Maybe it fell out at the library?” Garreth offered, his stomach dropping uncomfortably as he fed his best friend false leads. It would pay off in the end, he repeated on loop in his head as he crossed the room to Eric’s desk, pawing through the other boys' scrolls.

“I didn’t work on it in the library, I only worked on it here, at my desk. So it was never in my bag.” Leander stood and stretched out his back, his hand coming anxiously to rest on the back of his neck as his eyes swept the room. He got to his knees and looked under his bed, but there was nothing. “I’m going to lose my mind. First major assignment in this class and I’m going to fail it.”

Garreth couldn’t keep commenting on it. Leander’s nerves were rubbing off on him. He’d taken a massive risk and put his faith in someone else’s honesty, and it was eating at him. At this point, they’d pretty thoroughly searched the dorm, Leander was obviously still empty handed, and Garreth was antsy. He had to get Leander out of the door – out of Gryffindor tower – so MC would have a chance to find him and return this damn parchment.

“How about we head down to breakfast?” Garreth suggested.

“I’m not really hungry.”

“Yes you are, you never skip breakfast. Come on. We’re going,” he insisted. “It’ll do you good, getting your mind off of it for a bit.”

“You haven’t even showered yet, are you even ready to go?”

Garreth kicked his pajama pants off right there, nudging them with his foot over towards his bed just to get them out of the middle of the dorm room floor, then pulled on his trousers from the day before. “I’ll do it later, no point in showering yet when I’m just going to be getting dirty in a cauldron later.” 

Leander shook his head, the slightest smirk forming on his lips as Garreth pulled on a jumper and deemed himself ready to go. Leander wished he could be so carefree and unbothered.

 “Alright, you, let’s go then,” Leander said, and the pair of them started the walk down to the Great Hall.

Leander would admit, getting out of the dorm, conversing with Garreth and his other friends, and having something to eat was helping. He knew in the grand scheme of things, missing one assignment would not be the end of his world, but the fact that it wouldn’t come without consequences, when he’d done the bulk of the work, didn’t sit right with him. Still, he tried to enjoy the start of his weekend. 

Post came as Leander was finishing his morning tea, his plate of breakfast sitting empty in front of him, while he was deep in conversation about quidditch with his housemates – a conversation that only dissolved as the people around him started receiving letters and parcels. Leander had corresponded with his family only the day prior, so he wasn’t expecting the roll of parchment that landed where his eggs and toast had been only minutes prior.

Garreth could barely contain the grin on his face as he watched Leander unroll the parchment. Bloody hell, MC worked quickly. Leander had only managed to panic about his missing assignment for an hour before it was miraculously back in his hands. He couldn’t blow his cover just yet though, so he hid his delight with his teacup, feigning nonchalance. 

Leander’s mouth hung open, completely shocked and confused to say the least, but moreover he was relieved. Further unrolling the scroll, a smaller slip of parchment would fall into his lap. That wasn’t in there before…

Leander,  This is going to sound very strange, but a small brown owl brought this to me yesterday evening as I was sitting in the great hall. I thought you’d want it back. MC

“How in the world?” Leander muttered under his breath, staring at the note in his hands, then checking and double checking that the roll of parchment he’d just received was actually his missing assignment, because there was no way that MC should have had it. 

“Hm?” Garreth hummed, raising a brow and turning to Leander.

“MC has just returned my Ancient Ruins assignment… via owl,” Leander said, fully aware that the idea seemed impossible despite the note in front of him claiming otherwise.

“Weird,” Garreth said and shrugged. “Hey, at least it’s back now though, you can stop worrying.” 

“Yesterday evening… I was in the library. Was she– No, nevermind,” Leander fumbled through his thoughts, trying to decide what to articulate. MC couldn’t have been in his dorm, right? While he was gone? No. Garreth wouldn’t do that. He wanted to go over to her table and question her, but he could only picture how that would go over. Her friends would laugh at him, standing there being far too tall, tripping over his words as he asked where she’d gotten his assignment from. No. He’d send her a note, like she did for him.

Garreth noticed how pensive Leander was, and found it amusing. The other boy had more questions than he currently had answers to, but his plan had worked flawlessly, and now Leander had something to chat with MC about. As far as he was concerned, he could wash his hands of the situation and wait for things to play out.

~~~

Leander was on a mission of his own following breakfast. He jotted a note back to MC, sitting at his desk for far too long mulling over so very few words, but eventually, he had a note that he didn’t think would be too mortifying to send. A simple thank you, and some speculation about his owl. 

MC, You’re right, that did sound very strange. But I did need it back, so, thanks. A small brown owl, you say? Sounds like my Hoots, but I have no idea why he’d do such a thing… He was in the castle last night, though, the menace of a bird. Leander

Even though the exchange wasn’t face to face, Leander found himself nervous as he walked his note from the Gryffindor dorms all the way to the Owlery. He had to admit, though, the fresh air was nice, and the grounds still smelt pleasantly of rain from the day before. He just hoped the climb up the tower would be worth it, that his note would be well received and he hoped that maybe, just maybe, she’d reply again. He liked seeing his name in her handwriting.

Leander found Hoots easily amongst the other owls currently occupying the Owlery, as he was quite a bit smaller than most of the rest of them, and he approached his owl with crossed arms and an inquisitive stare. 

“I hear that you may have had an outing yesterday while I was in the library,” Leander began, raising his brow at the owl who craned his neck around, big round eyes looking innocently back at him.

“You’d tell me if Garreth was up to something, right?” 

Hoots could neither confirm nor deny.

“If either of you are up to something, I’ll find out,” Leander said in warning before producing his note for MC from the pocket of his robe and handing it to Hoots. “Take this to MC, please.” 

Hoots chirped, gripping the paper in his talons before stretching out his wings and taking flight, and Leander began his walk back to the castle with a fluttery feeling in his stomach. 

Back in possession of his assignment, Leander was able to get it finished before lunch, and it had felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He knew he stressed too much about his classes, but he wasn’t one of those students who could perform well on assignments or tests without putting in a lot of effort. But with the ordeal finally  behind him, he was able to enjoy lunch, and get back outside for a bit of afternoon Summoner’s Court with Garreth after the meal.

“I still don’t understand how she ended up with it, but I’m really glad she returned it,” Leander commented, pacing the board behind Garreth as the other boy lined up his pull.

“Of course she returned it, she’s a nice person,” Garreth said, then took another moment to check his aim before casting the summoning charm on one of the blue balls at the other end of the court. He earned himself a nice thirty points and smirked. “I’m getting better at this.”

“You are, thanks to me,” Leander boasted. He’d been practicing a lot since fifth year, as he was determined to not lose to MC again, should another chance to play with her arise. He liked showing off to his other competitors, though, too. He and Garreth played frequently.

“Anyway,” Garreth said with a roll of his eyes, watching Leander summon one of the red balls towards them. It rolled to a stop in the forty point zone and Garreth couldn’t be surprised. He was doing better, but he’d yet to beat Leander. “What’s it matter how she got it? You got it back in time to finish it up.” Deflect, deflect, deflect!  

“Yes, but it’s odd, and I don’t like it. I feel like I’m losing my mind trying to figure out how in Merlin’s name she got hold of it.”

Garreth shrugged, then took his second turn, one of his balls rolling up beside Leander’s red one for forty points. Damnit if Leander wasn't inquisitive, though. He had to change the subject. Thankfully, an owl gliding towards them made this easy. He pointed up at the bird and shouted, “Look!”

“Oi, don’t try to distract me while I’m lining up my shot!” Leander grumbled, fumbling his casting and only earning himself twenty points on his second turn. He hadn’t even noticed the owl, but he did notice the small roll of parchment fall at his feet just then, and his face heated up as he looked sheepishly back at Garreth. “Oh… sorry Gar.”

“Always assuming the worst of me,” he teased. “Well, what is it?”

Leander unrolled the small piece of parchment and his face continued to flush. “She wrote back, she replied to my note,” he said with a grin before reading the note.

Leander, Hoots? Well, that's a very fitting name for an owl. He’s a cute little guy, and surprisingly demanding for as small as he is. I was in the courtyard when he found me with your last note and he seemed offended that I didn’t have any treats on me at the time. Give him extra from me. MC

Leander read and reread the note. Was she teasing him for his owls name? It certainly sounded that way, and that made him feel warm. He’d apparently had a ridiculous look on his face, that he hadn’t even been aware of until he felt Garreth’s hand on his back, giving him a hard pat and snapping him out of it.

“Your face is as red as your hair right now, you know,” Garreth teased, trying to sneak a peek at the note in Leander’s hands.

“Shut up,” he grumbled and stuffed the note into his pocket before hopping off of the Summoner’s Court platform and heading back towards the front of the castle.

“Where are you going?” Garreth shouted. “We haven’t even finished this round!”

“I need to write her back!” Leander called over his shoulder.

“I’m ten points ahead, if you leave right now, I win!” 

“Congratulations!” Leander shouted back, and gave Garreth a wave. 

Losing a game of Summoner’s Court didn’t seem like such a big deal when he was exchanging little notes with MC after a summer of not talking to her. All the worrying and pining Leander had done over the last few weeks since classes had started back up felt silly now – she was joking with him and she wasn’t ignoring him. Maybe Garreth was right, maybe he had been making things harder than they needed to be. Leander knew he had a habit of getting stuck in his head, but acknowledging this issue was much easier than actually fixing it. Still, he was feeling very hopeful as he made his way back to his desk to write another reply.

~~~

MC hadn’t expected to spend her Saturday writing little notes back and forth with Leander, but she found herself to be thoroughly enjoying it. Something about it was fun, even with how simple and silly it was. It made her wish they would have exchanged letters over the summer, even though they were both to blame for not having done so.

Leander’s second note came as MC was practicing dueling with the training dummies in the clocktower entrance of the castle. There wasn’t an official crossed wands session scheduled for this evening, but really, one could never be too well practiced.

She was glad, actually, that she was only practicing with the dummy when Hoots found her, because had she been dueling a living opponent, she’d have surely lost the round due to distraction. Not to mention, if she was in a real duel, she’d have had to deal with a crowd of her peers seeing her go all blushy. More familiar with Leander’s owl now, she raised her arm, offering Hoots a perch, and the bird landed gracefully to deliver her note.

“I still don’t have any treats, I’m sorry. Hopefully Leander gave you some earlier,” she told the owl as she carefully unrolled the slip of parchment. 

MC, I’ll have you know, I named Hoots when I was 11 years old, so all things considered, I think I did well. It could have been so much worse, honestly. He’s quite spoiled already, but I did give him some extra treats since you were so ill prepared earlier, and I think he’s forgiven you. Hope you’re having a good weekend so far. Leander

She hummed warmly as she read his note, glancing at Hoots who remained perched on her left forearm. “He’s had you for quite awhile then, that’s sweet. And you’re spoiled, are you?” She spoke fondly to the owl, and couldn’t help but picture Leander doting on his pet. Hoots cooed happily, seeming to enjoy the attention before flying back off and out the open gates of the Clock Tower entrance. Both of Leander’s notes would accompany MC through the rest of her day, nice and secure in her pocket. She found herself peeking at them when she had moments to herself from then until dinner.

She was planning on writing him back, too, of course, she’d even thought of what she’d wanted to say as she sat at her house table amongst her friends in the Great Hall at dinner time. That is, until she saw him walking through the tall wooden doors and towards the Gryffindor table, because at that point all of her thoughts seemed to simply evaporate, and she just watched him with what was probably a very stupid grin on her face. 

But then he looked at her, and her grin didn’t seem so stupid because his own grin matched, and he waved at her. The whole thing was enough to catch her friend's attention, but the girls who flanked her sides were unable to trace her gaze in time. 

“Who’s got you grinning like that?” one of the girls asked, giving MC a gentle nudge with her elbow. 

Both of the girls were giggling, and MC’s face was getting redder. “Is it the same boy who’s been sending you notes?”

MC was suddenly regretting the small bits of information she’d shared with her girlfriends, because now not only was she being teased (albeit goodnaturedly) but he was watching, too. If MC knew Leander at all, and she liked to think she did, he’d be absolutely eating this up. Thankfully, though, she hadn’t told her friends who the notes were from, because she knew if she had, they’d never let her hear the end of it.

“Maybe so,” MC said with quite the coy smile, as she tried and failed to focus on the plate in front of her, though she knew her friends wouldn’t let her off that easily. 

“Has he been sending you love notes?” one asked.

“They are not love notes, they’re just friendly notes,” MC said, though no amount of insisting would convince the other girls, even though she was being honest.

“And your blushing is just friendly blushing?” the other teased.

“You both ought to remember this next time you find yourselves fancying a boy,” MC warned, feeling smug with her promise of eventual comeuppance before she’d realized…

“So you admit you fancy this mystery boy, then?”

She’d said a bit too much.

~~~

Leander had watched as MC’s friends teased her, and coupled with the way they’d looked at eachother, he knew it was to do with him. She was blushy and her friends were giggling and it was due to him. Even considering the way he had struggled with girls previously, Leander could acknowledge that this was a great sign, and he’d talk Garreth’s ear off about it as the pair relaxed in the common room that evening.

“I told you all you had to do was talk to her- erm, I mean, I guess passing notes does count, too. Still. Told you so,” Garreth said, sitting with his legs spread out in front of him on the common room floor, close to the fireplace. There was soot on his jumper from the day's potions experiments and he was flipping through his journal, expanding on notes he’d jotted down earlier about his findings. He’d been listening to Leander gush for several minutes at this point.

“You’re right, I’m not denying it, you do know what you’re talking about sometimes,” Leander admitted. He was sitting on the floor close by Garreth, merely watching his friend work and keeping him company. 

“I’d like that in writing, thank you,” Garreth said with a smirk, not looking up from his journal.

“Very funny. I hope she writes again tomorrow.”

“Better yet, you could talk to her in person. She isn’t that scary, she’s just a girl.”

Just a girl. Leander had heard rumors about things MC had accomplished last year, and he begged to differ. “No, I’m fairly certain that she is scary.”

“You already said I was right, might as well just do what I say,” Garreth said with a smirk.

“I said sometimes,” he clarified. 

They’d go back and forth for a while, until slowly the common room emptied as their housemates headed to their dorms for bed. As the room quieted down, Leander realized how tired he was, and he suggested that he and Garreth head to their dorm as well. Leander couldn’t lie, he was excited to get to sleep, excited for tomorrow to come already. If he could have another day like today with MC, he’d be happy.

~~~

MC had similar feelings when she woke up Sunday morning. Despite her friends teasing her, she was actually quite keen to keep sending back and forth little notes with Leander, and while she still wasn’t quite sure why on earth Hoots gave her his assignment of all things, she was glad it had happened, since it led to such an enjoyable day.

She took her time getting herself ready for the day, dragging her feet intentionally so she could have the dorm to herself as she sat at her desk to finally reply to Leander’s last note. She just wasn’t quite ready for her girlfriends to know who she had such a crush on, since she couldn’t say for certain that he felt the same… At the same time though, if their interactions in fifth year meant anything, she had a bit of an idea. He’d always been so adorably shy around her, fumbling his words while trying to boast. She’d found him endearing from the start and just the thought that he may feel the same had her grinning as she got to writing. 

Leaving her dorm, she headed straight to the Owlery, wanting to send his note before going to breakfast. She hadn’t walked to the Owlery so many times in one weekend since she’d arrived at Hogwarts, but she couldn’t say she minded it, the weather was pleasant and the path wasn’t as muddy as it had been the day before.

Immediately upon starting up the spiral staircase, MC realized that she was not the only student visiting the Owlery to start off the day, as she could hear a boy's voice echoing against the curved stone walls.. She hadn’t intended to eavesdrop, but as she got further up the stairs, she could have sworn she heard the voice mentioned Hoots – a voice that didn’t belong to Leander. Curious, MC cast disillusionment on herself and made her way further up the staircase quietly as she could, until she reached the top and she could just peek onto the landing to see what was going on…

She’d been right. Someone was talking to Hoots. 

“You did so well yesterday, you know that, Hoots? I knew I could count on you to help me pull this off,” Garreth Weasley spoke proudly to Leander’s owl. 

MC held her breath, watching him hand-feed the owl a few treats from a small bag that he’d pulled from his pocket, before handing one of the school’s owls a letter to send off.  She quickly maneuvered up the last few stairs and to the opposite side of the room before Garreth crossed towards the staircase and made his way down. She watched out one of the many windows until she was sure Garreth was gone before finally lifting the disillusionment charm.

She marched right over to Hoots with a smirk on her face, shaking her head in disbelief at what she’d heard. 

“Conspiring with Garreth, are you?” she asked the owl with an amused scoff. “I wondered why in Merlin’s name you brought me Leander’s Ancient Runes assignment.

MC stepped back over to the stairs, sitting down at the top, she pulled a roll of spare parchment from her bag and hastily ripped off a section. Abandoning the note she’d initially planned on sending to Leander, she hastily started scrawling him a new one. 

~~~

Leander saved the seat next to him at breakfast that morning. It wasn’t anything new, Garreth always wrote home on Sundays, something his mum liked for him to do, and that Garreth did without fail. Leander had noticed quickly that Garreth was not the only one missing that morning though. He scanned MC’s house table, and she was not sitting with her friends as she always did. It was a shame. He’d been looking forward to seeing the way she blushed when she looked at him.

Post was arriving as Garreth returned from the Owlery. The other boy was grinning as he slid into his saved seat beside Leander, and he started promptly piling eggs and sausage onto his plate. Out of the corner of his eye, Garreth saw Leander reaching to catch a small roll of parchment as it fell towards him.

“She’s early with it, isn't she,” Garreth commented, quite pleased to see that MC had wasted no time writing to Leander this morning. He was feeling quite smug that his plan had worked out so well. He loved seeing Leander so happy.

“She is,” Leander agreed. It wasn’t a short walk to the Owlery, and the fact that two of her notes came with the morning post meant that she was up and thinking of him first thing in the morning, and that made Leander feel very good.

Leander,  This was meant to be a completely different note, but as I was taking it to the owlery, I came across something very interesting that I think you’d like to hear about. But I should tell you about it in person. Meet me in the library when you get this. MC

“Well?” Garreth asked, leaning in towards Leander a bit to sneak a peek at the note. 

Leander’s already rosy cheeks tinged a bit darker pink as he read the note. She wanted to meet with him in person. Him. No wonder she wasn’t in the Great Hall. She was waiting for him. He let out a breath of nervous laughter before gathering his words, hardly believing his luck. “She wants me to meet her in the library… right now.”

“Oooh, that sounds promising,” Garreth said, clicking his tongue and winking at Leander while giving him a nudge with his elbow.

“It does, doesn't it? She says she heard something interesting and she wants to tell me about it. Wonder what it could be.”

“Well go on, go find out, don’t keep a lady waiting,” Garreth encouraged, and with that, Leander was cutting his breakfast short and making his way out of the Great Hall, holding his head just a bit higher than usual.

~~~

MC made sure she wasn’t hard to find, waiting for Leander at the end of one of the centrally located long tables on the first floor of the library. She was eating an apple that she’d thankfully had in her bag, and watching the door. She hadn’t had to wait long, and she waved when she saw him.

Why was she so nervous? She’d been the one to ask him to meet her, and here he was, walking towards her, and the closer he got the warmer her face felt, until finally he sat down beside her, and the room felt so warm she was sure she’d melt.

“M-Morning,” Leander said as he slipped onto the bench beside MC. He sounded just as nervous, maybe even more so, and this made her feel better. 

“Hey, good morning,” she grinned, pausing a beat just looking at him, and probably doing so for a bit longer than she should have. His honey brown eyes dropped to where his hands laid folded on the table, like he couldn’t quite take the way she’d looked at him. She shouldn’t have glanced down at his hands. Merlin. 

She cleared her throat, her blush creeping up to her ears. “Erm, so I overheard something when I was in the Owlery this morning…” 

“Oh?” Despite being a flushed mess himself, it was clear Leander took pride in the fact that MC also had quite the pronounced blush on her face. He was also very interested to hear anything MC had to say.

“Garreth. He was talking to Hoots. He told him ‘you did so well yesterday’ and said ‘I knew I could count on you to help me pull this off,’” she said, then waited as Leander processed. 

His mouth was hanging open, and he stared at her with wide eyes. She could tell he knew where she was going with this. “He said that to Hoots? You’re sure?”

 “Positive. He gave him treats, too. Then he mailed something using one of the school’s owls,” MC said. “I should add… he didn’t know I was there. I cast disillusionment on myself when I heard him mentioning your owl.”

“You think–”

“Your Ancient Runes assignment–”

“He told Hoots to give it to you, that sly bastard! He was alone in the dorm with Hoots for a good hour and a half Friday evening while I was in the library, and we’d been talking about–” Leander paused, catching himself before he said anything that would embarrass him too much, though, he should have known, MC wasn’t going to let him get off without at least a bit of questioning.

“Talking about what?”

“It– it doesn't matter. I just know it was him. He put Hoots up to it, it’s the only explanation. He… he was trying to get you and I to talk,” Leander admitted.

MC looked just as surprised as Leander had, when she’d told him what she’d overheard. Surprised and delighted. “Was he, now?” She asked with a raised brow and a bit of a smug grin.

“Yeah. He was.” Leander nodded, knowing he should be more forthcoming, but that felt very daunting right now, even with the way MC grinned at him. Damn did she look pretty like that. He knew she was smart, though. She could put the pieces together. 

“Well, it worked,” she said and let out a huff of amusement. 

“It did. I suppose I can’t be too mad at him, can I?”

MC shook her head. She could tell Leander was likely leaving out some details of what he and Garreth had talked about Friday evening, but context gave her enough to go by. If Garreth had wanted them to talk, so much so much so that he went and mettled, they must have been talking about her. Leander had wanted to talk to her. He’d just needed a little encouragement.

“You know, I was worried that you would think I somehow stole that assignment,” MC said, still quite amused and also quite flustered. 

This had Leander grinning, knowing she’d been just as worried about the whole situation as he had been. He was less nervous when he spoke now, smiling at her and talking with his hands as he often did when he was a bit worked up. “When I tell you I wanted to pull my hair out, looking for that damn roll of parchment Saturday morning. I thought I was losing my mind, and I felt even more crazy when you of all people sent it back to me, by owl, no less,” he rambled then shook his head subtly, still almost in disbelief of how it all happened. “And Garreth – that little shite – he helped me search our dorm!”

MC laughed, just picturing the scene playing out as he described it. Bloody hell did her laugh do things to his heart. Leander felt light inside, and he chuckled with her. 

“I’d have loved to see that,” she said, still giggling softly. 

“I imagine it was probably pretty entertaining to watch,” he agreed, looking fondly at her.

“I’m glad you didn’t pull your hair out, though, I rather like your hair,” she added, grinning at the way her compliment made him blush. 

Leander could feel his heart racing. “Th-thank you, I’m glad I didn’t, too, then.”

There were a few moments of silence between them, and their mutual little giggles calmed down. MC’s face softened and when she spoke again, she sounded a little more serious. “You didn’t have to be nervous about talking to me, you know,” she said. She was going out on a limb and making some assumptions, but given what he had said, the fact he was sure Garreth’s intention had been to get the two of them talking, she was fairly confident in her assertion.

“Yeah… that’s what Garreth said, too,” he said and smirked coolly, despite the fact that his stomach was fluttering madly right now.

“Well, he was right.” 

“Don’t let him hear you say that,” Leander said and looked around, just making sure the other boy hadn’t sneakily followed him– he wouldn’t put it past him, if he was being honest. He hummed thoughtfully. “But I suppose I won’t be so nervous in the future.”

“Good, because I’ve really enjoyed this – writing back and forth. Talking with you. You better keep sending me notes.”

Leander was beaming. She enjoyed talking to him, she wanted more notes. He’d write her more notes than she’d know what to do with, if it meant she’d keep looking at him the way she was – blushing and smiling and flirting with him. Bloody hell, he owed Garreth majorly for this. Sixth year was going to be a good year. “Don’t worry, I will, I promise.”

[bakudekublogblog]

chapter five of promises kept is up!! hope you enjoy it, i promise it's less angsty than the last chapter hehe

Four nights. Katsuki repeats it to himself like a mantra. He just has to make it through four nights, and then it’ll be Friday, and Izuku will come home. That’s hardly any time at all, really. It’s not even a big deal. Katsuki can survive that long without Izuku. He’s Bakugou Katsuki, for fuck’s sake. He’s fought villains with gaping holes in his chest, finished All For One with a broken arm, underwent heart surgery on an open battlefield, and still got back up to keep fighting. He can handle four nights on his own. Sleeping by himself should be fuckin’ easy compared to the shit he’s been through.  

It’s by far the most difficult thing Katsuki has ever had to do in his life.

It’s absolutely fucking miserable. Sleeping is impossible. He tosses and turns most of the night, his thoughts spiraling, his body fidgety and anxious. His brain won’t stop throwing terrible scenarios at him. What if Izuku doesn’t make it back on Friday? There could be a training accident, a bad run in on patrol, an emergency mission that requires all hands on deck for the weekend. Principal Nezu had promised Katsuki that their weekends were theirs to do as they pleased, but what if they changed their mind? The longer he tosses and turns, the worse the scenarios become. He has a list of all the active villains in Fukuoaka memorized and fuck, some of them are really dangerous. What if the skin-stealer gets to Izuku? Or that particularly nasty villain with the blood boiling quirk? What if that melting quirk villain goes on another rampage, crosses paths with Izuku’s train and derails it, and Izuku is killed before Katsuki can ever see him again? Oh god, it’s like an icy spear in his heart; Katsuki can’t help but roll over and check the on-going facetime call, just to check to make sure Izuku is still breathing. And even if Katsuki manages to get his mind to settle, there’s still his body to contend with. He keeps catching his hand reaching out, seeking an Izuku who isn’t there and jolting himself awake in his panic. And it fucking kills him every time.

They leave facetime running as they drift to sleep every night, so Katsuki knows Izuku isn’t faring much better. When Izuku does manage to drift off, it’s shallow and fidgety and plagued with nightmares. Sometimes Katsuki will hear him begin to whimper and sniffle in his sleep over the line and it fucking feels like Katsuki has just swallowed glass. Katsuki can’t just let him suffer; he always rolls over and wakes him, which usually leads to Izuku apologizing and crying, which also fucking sucks. Katsuki feels like a goddamn prisoner, forced to watch the man he loves suffer through a tiny screen and unable to provide any real relief. Forced to murmur to Izuku instead of cradling him, forced to watch Izuku hug himself and tremble instead of being there for him like he fucking promised. Katsuki is gritting his teeth so much he swears that his enamel has worn down a layer. God, it’s so goddamn infuriating how literally everything would be better if Katsuki could just fucking be there. 

READ MORE

[zerothesonic]

i think harumi was a better villain than all of us have given her credit for. 

she’s just like lloyd. grew up without parents, natural born leader, they’re even both blonde. the only difference is, he is the greatest hero. she was the greatest villain. strap yourselves in guys, this is gonna be a long one.

so my first point, natural born leader. lloyd takes charge. he’s strategic, he knows everyone’s strengths and weaknesses, he’s reliable, he’s trustworthy. he’ll save as many people as he can, or if possible everyone, no matter what it takes. you know you’re safe when he’s in charge. harumi though? she can do exactly what lloyd does, but she does it better. she knows how to lead a large group, get their respect, earn their trust. which is important because remember she was the princess, so if even a single person from the SoG snitched she would be dead. meaning that she had really gained their respect for them to listen to her and protect her identity. but she also leads from the shadows. she knows when to back off, for example in the presence of someone more powerful like garmadon or the overlord. sure, fine, let the all-powerful guy take control. but guess what? behind the scenes, she’s the one with the biker gang. she’s the one giving orders. truth be told the all-powerful guy is just that. an all-powerful guy. he’s just there to keep the ninja afraid and away while she gets things done. she may not have elemental powers, but she has brainpower, willpower, and power over others.

my second point, she grew up without parents. “lloyd had it worse he’s suffered so much as the green ninja”, you say. lloyd grew up without parents and had this title of “almighty green ninja” hanging over him all his life. but he had a family who supported him no matter what (also they were probably the most powerful family in all of ninjago but that’s besides the point). harumi though? she had no one. she may not have had a prophecy, but she never had a family either. and who’s fault was that? sure, lloyd was just a kid. but what he did for candy killed her parents. she was alone. he wasn’t. why did she have to pay the price for his mistakes? think about it. if a kid wanting candy killed all you had left in this world you’d want him dead too. you have nothing left in this world. HE took away EVERYTHING from you and yet he’s everyone’s hero?? the murderer? and no one will ever take your side because he saved their families. he saved theirs, but he killed yours. and they’re never coming back. 

my third point, she can do what lloyd does but she does it better. lloyd believes that everyone has good in them, no matter how deep down it’s been buried. harumi doesn’t give a shit about that. the so called “good guy” is the same guy who killed her family. “good” doesn’t mean anything, it’s nothing just a title the self-righteous give to themselves. so she does what lloyd does, she talks to others, convinces them that they need her. basically manipulation. but she does it so well you don’t even see it coming until you’re buried a thousand feet underground. she does this many times, but one of the best examples is lloyd. as princess rumi she’s so sweet and nice and thinks of lloyd as her hero, so much that lloyd believes it too. then she turns on them all and becomes the quiet one. and that’s how she gets to lloyd. she wants back to bring back his father, but she wants to bring back the evil part of him. the one that never saw lloyd as a son and never will. and even before that happens, she makes sure lloyd already feels as though he isn’t garmadon’s son anymore. she calls her gang the sons of garmadon, though lloyd is the true son of garmadon. she’s making him feel replaced. and she barely calls him by his name, most of the time she calls him “green ninja”. she’s reminding him that when garmadon comes back, lloyd will be nothing more than the green ninja garmadon needs to defeat (or kill). and you can clearly see her manipulation working, and it works so well that it takes two seasons to resolve what she started.

and finally we reach the last point, the moment i’ve been waiting for. face it, she is the greatest villain. her reasons for hating the green ninja are totally valid. her leadership is unlike that of any other ninjago character ever seen. her manipulation skills are absolutely insane. but… she realises something. she realises that lloyd genuinely wants to help people. he sees the best in you no matter how little there is left. he doesn’t act like the “almighty green ninja”, he’s humble, he just wants to be like any other guy. and she realises he, too, is human, and humans all make mistakes, even the most powerful people in the world.

and looking back, lloyd may have killed her parents, but since starting her life as the quiet one how many parents of others has she killed…?

[sevasey51]

What is a typical routine both work days and off for Connor and his wife? Can medical stuff be thrown in? You know typical overprotective loving surgeon husband. 🥺

Love this page so much! It’s a great escape from everything in my life rn ❤️🥺

Built for Two

Summary: Connor and Y/N live a life shaped by medicine, love, and the silent understanding that comes with experience. Their days aren’t perfect, but they’ve learned how to move through them—together. Whether it’s a long day at Med or a flare-up that turns the couch into a recovery zone, they’ve built a routine that makes room for her body and Connor’s ever-present care. It’s not glamorous, but it’s real. And it’s theirs.

Weekday Routine

“We move like a team, even when we’re running on fumes.”

5:30 a.m. – Connor time

He’s up before the alarm. Always. It’s surgical—efficient, quiet, practiced. By the time Y/N stirs, he’s showered, had half a protein bar, and started her morning hydration. He always leaves it on the nightstand with a sticky note that says something like:

• “Don’t rush.”

• “Let me know if the headache’s worse.”

• “Compression socks are not optional.”

(He adds a heart sometimes. He pretends he doesn’t.)

6:15 a.m. – Her wake-up

It depends. If she’s flaring, it takes longer—gentle shakes, forehead kisses, a whispered “Hey, sweetheart… time to get up.”

Sometimes she opens her eyes and says, “POTS is being a brat.”

Sometimes she doesn’t say anything—just breathes through it until she can sit up.

He always notices.

“Salt tab or water first?”

She groans. He answers for her.

6:45 a.m. – Getting ready

He brushes her hair while she leans against the bathroom sink. She ties his scrub cap for him. On bad days, he helps her sit to get dressed. On good days, she teases him for being too soft.

“You’re babying me.”

“Yup,” he replies, slipping her favorite hoodie over her head.

7:15 a.m. – Leaving for Med

They walk in together more often than not. He slows down when she’s dizzy. Carries both bags. Always packs snacks in his coat for her. She pretends not to notice.

Their coworkers do.

Off-Day Routine

“We don’t cancel the day. We just adjust it.”

9:00 a.m. – Slow mornings

The sun’s up before they are. She’s wrapped in three blankets, and he’s already making oatmeal—light on the sugar, extra soft, with a ginger tea steeping nearby.

“You took your morning meds yet?”

She answers by holding out her hand.

He drops the pills in like it’s sacred.

10:30 a.m. – The flare radar

She insists she’s fine.

Her coloring says otherwise.

He watches how she holds her body. How she avoids the bright light. How she presses her fingers to her temple without even thinking.

Connor doesn’t hover. He lingers.

Subtle.

Present.

Prepared.

The heating pad is already warm. Her meds are already set aside. He won’t say “I told you so.” He just says:

“Couch or bed?”

She sighs. “Couch. I’ll try to stay vertical.”

He grabs the weighted blanket and says, “Deal.”

Midday – The Crash or the Calm

If her POTS is flaring, he keeps her legs elevated and reads off vitals like it’s his second language. If it’s endo, he rubs circles into her lower back while she winces and squeezes his hand.

“You don’t have to stay,” she whispers.

“I do,” he says. “Because I want to.”

They say nothing for a while.

She dozes.

He watches over her like a storm is coming—and maybe it is, but she’ll never weather it alone.

Evening – Gentle routines

Dinner is soft, warm, familiar. He cuts her food when she’s too foggy to hold a knife. Tucks her in with quiet rituals: dim lights, lavender on her wrists, a glass of water within reach.

He slips into bed behind her, hand against her stomach, feeling for pain flinches in her breathing.

“Better?” he asks.

“Mmm.”

He kisses the curve of her shoulder.

Sometimes she cries a little—not because she’s sad, but because she’s tired, and it’s hard, and he never makes her feel like she has to pretend.

This is their life.

Quiet. Complex. Full of medicine and morning kisses and the kind of care that doesn’t need to be loud to be everything.

Connor is her surgeon-husband. Her gentle alarm system. Her quiet protector.

And she is the reason he has a heartbeat worth coming home to.

[autisticlee]

i've never been someone's favorite friend. i've always been the backup or temporary friend. i've bad many "best friends" in my life, but I've never been anyone's best friend. every person I ever called my best friend tells me about their actual best friend (most people seem to think you can only have one at a time) who they're very loyal to but that best friend moved away or is too busy so they're using me as a replacement backup. then as soon as they are reunited or they find better friends, i'm ditched and replaced. i've never had someone I called my best friend tell me back i'm also theirs. they just get weird about it. probably because they can't call me best friend back.

even my closet friends I ever had who asked me to live with them at once point could never put a word or value on me and our friendship. it was always a random thing that didn't last long because they were lonely, just had a breakup (romantic or platonic), are having a hard time and i'm the only one taking care of them and helping, etc. but they're soon to change their mind and remind me i'm not their favorite friend so they're moving in with someone else instead.

I want the loyalty and commitment of what's expected in a romantic relationships without the romance. they can still live their life and have friends, but i'm always their priority, favorite person, and thought of first. even if they dated someone but let me be part of their family and included me in most things rather than only caring about their partner and forgetring i exist, that would be fine too!

some would say what I want is a queer platonic relationship. yes maybe. but I have met a grand total of 0 people who want one. just knowing what to call it doesnt do anything. you think I can just go on a dating app and find that? no. it doesn't work that way. none of the 100+ friends i've tried to make want that. hell, i've only met maybe 1 or 2 other aromantic people in my 30+ years. I mean i'm sure I met them. I can't even think of who they were now. i'm sure that number isn't 0 and I met at least a couple. I can think of maybe 4 asexual people. but they aren't aromantic. so I don't see how it's possible to just choose to have a qpr. unless I got lucky and found "the one" or even 3 of them. there could be a whole found family. I have no one right now that provides consistent support and stuff. no one I can deeply care about as well.

do you ever have something nice happen and know the perfect friend to share that happy moment with? I don't have that. ever have a bad day and have a friend you can chat with who cheers you up immediately? I don't have that. life is hard with 0 support. so telling me "one day" it will happen makes me feel worse. I need it now. not think and wonder when it will happen. day dreaming about possible things that don't exist make me feel worse. because there's a chance they won't happen and I don't know how to work towards it. waiting and wishing doesnt placate me. I need a tangible thibg to work towards and you can't work towards something that will ~maybe happen one day~ and isn't guaranteed. even if it happened when I was 70, I could die at 71 and wasted my whole life away alone. that one year having a best friend doesn't make up for everything I lost. my 30+ years I lost so far will never come back.

people who have romantic relationships really take friendships for granted. maybe not all, but that's because your friends also have partners so it's ok to only talk once a year. because you have a 24/7 support and socializing bond already and don't need your friend as much. imagine if you didn't have a partner and had no desire to have romance, but still wanted that close, consistent bond with someone. would you not try to cling to your friends more? but your friends are too busy with their partners and you are left alone every single day except one or two days a year.

how would that make you feel? would you be able to accept that? you must do everything alone and have no one reliable to reach out to to share happy or sad times with. but you're expected to be happy that your 2 friends reach out/respond to you once every year or two because they're with their partners 24/7 and dont have time or energy for you. would you be ok with this life? is this just how life is? is it normal to be alone 24/7 except maybe 1-2 days a year when someone remembers you exist because they broke up with their partner or need a backup friend? is it weird to see everyone around you pair off and be glued to their partners and wish you had that consistency and support and care too?

i'm surprised I never had anyone in my life ask me when i'll date/get married. (maybe it's because the stigma people have that autistic people cant date?) society is obsessed with partnering up and putting friends to the side and you cannot deny that!!!!! (I had people wrongly accuse ME of comparing friendships and relationships and putting friends down as "less" when i'm only pointing out that society as a whole does that and teaches it. "friends come and go/don't last forever" "you need to find THE ONE" it's not me doing it shut up) but i'm so surprised that obsession with having a life partner makes people tell me to "get over/used to it" and not have any empathy for me.

i'm expect we to be ok with talking to a friend once a year, ok with them "coming and going" and not providing any loyalty, commitment, or consistency like they get with their partner. i'm so surprised that they are allowed to be obsessed with wanting a person in their life 24/7 but i'm not allowed to want someone I talk to daily or even weekly?????? I have to be ok with being alone when they all whine and cry about how they'll "die alone" because no one will date them or they had a breakup??? i'm the actual most likely to die alone because I don't have romance as a crutch to convince someone to stay in my life.

imagine you can't get a date ever. but you also only get to talk to your partnered-up friends 1-2 times a year and everyone tells you to deal with it and that's just how it is. your friends won't let you live with them. you spend most of your life alone in a dark room. with no support from friends or family. but you want people to share your life with. you cant though. no one wants to share their life with you. how would you feel?

[artnerd1123]

6 7 and 10 for robot! >:]

ROBOT MY BESTIEEEE YESSSSS >:333

6. What was the thought process behind their appearance? Did you go mostly for the aesthetic or are there other reasons they look the way they do?

Oh my GOD ok so fun story abt robot, they’re actually the only member of the 6 og dice to not have a canon human appearance. Everyone else either had one in a promo image (warrior, thief, inventor, witch) or has one in game (jester). The most we get with robot is a silhouette! So when it came to designing them, I was. Uh. Kinda flying blind HDJJSKS

That being said, I did make my own “canon compliant” design of them before doing my own stylized thing! Cant remember if I ever shared that one (and I can’t remember where I’ve put the photo…) but they’ve always been a human, to me. Having a human named robot is fun for all sorts of thematic and character reasons- but particularly, it highlights that they aren’t one. It’s something they strive for, or others may see them as (for better or worse), but ultimately not what they really are.

Other than that, my only requirements were a kind of classy, older academia kind of a look. They Look Smart bc they Are Smart, but also bc that polished appearance is integral to the person they’re trying to become!

Argyle sweater vests and bow ties are just,,, Very Robot, to me :]

I also leaned academia rather than computer geek/hacker aesthetic to differentiate them from inventor! They’re both tech nerds, but I wanted everyone to look distinct from each other- hence the lean into a more by the books “intelligent” aesthetic than a tech based one.

Even tho their title is robot.

Shhhh it works JDSKDKS

7. What is an aspect of their appearance that you like the most?

I like their silly cowlicks and tired eyes <3

They try to be prim and polished, but there’s no way to burnish out all the quirky bits that come with being human X]

10. What is their main character arc in the story? Where do they start and how do they develop? Do they get a happy ending or is their story a tragic one?

Bestie u know I’m all abt a happy ending!!!!! >:3

Getting there, though, is of course a bit of a ride. Robot might seem like one of the lowest stakes character arcs, but theirs is just as important as the others.

What they’re striving for is perfection. Sure, they’re aware humans are imperfect, but they want to be whatever counts as perfect. Do the right things, have the right job, present the right mannerisms, have a life and be a person that’s considered “successful.” And there’s not… entirely smth wrong with wanting that? We all wanna have a good life!

The thing is, though, they often put their own well being to the wayside. Oh sure, they eat enough and get enough exercise, but only so they can have the right numbers on a spreadsheet. They’ve done all this schooling because they “should,” followed this career path into tech support because it’s “what was most needed” nd something they were “good enough at.” They don’t mind doing what they’re doing. But it’s… not what they’re passionate about.

Because following passions is how you burn out. How you lose it all, because you took too many risks. It’s how you get distracted and get caught unawares by any of the many, MANY trials life throws at you.

And by the gods, it will throw them at you. Without mercy.

Robot is very kind. But they’re also very, very cynical. The world is cruel and does not care. Therefore, they will do their part to ease the burden on others. Doesn’t really matter if they WANT to be part of a bigger picture. They’re just a word on a page, a number in a sequence. Better to make themself a better support beam than try to be anything unique.

Their arc is, funnily enough, learning to be a little selfish. Learning they can have and want more than the bare minimum. Learning to embrace being human.

And that, I think, is one of the most important things for everyone to learn.

[dravid-writes]

I open the door, and a little imp runs between my legs and into the room behind me! I snatch them by the tail and carry them out before they can touch anything they shouldn't. "No no no, you know the rules, my office is off-limits. It's dangerous."

Zekken crosses their arms as they hang upside-down. "Come on, it doesn't look dangerous, and you go in there plenty."

"Dangerous for little imps. Angels only." I shut the door and lock it before setting Zekken down. "Besides, it's just work stuff in there. Nothing you'd be interested in."

"I dunno seraph, I'm pretty interested in the blue flame in that orb."

"THAT is the most dangerous thing in that room. Even I don't touch that without a good reason."

"What is it?"

"That's not for imps to worry about."

Zekken scowls at me. Always too curious for their own good.

"I'm just trying to keep you safe, Zekken. Trust me, there are some things you're better off not knowing."

They hold my gaze a moment longer, then sigh. "Fine, okay. I trust you."

"Thank you." I slide the key into my pocket and turn to walk away."

"Oh and seraph?"

I turn around. "Yeah-"

"Surprise hug!" 30 pounds of imp suddenly slam into me, but I manage to catch them and return the hug.

"Oof! You little rascal, you almost knocked me down that time!"

"I'll pull it off one of these days," Zekken laughs.

"Yeah, yeah." I hold them there awhile, until they loosen their hug, and I set them back on the ground. "Love you, Zekken."

"Love you too, seraph."

I head for the kitchen with a smile on my face. This job's a hassle sometimes, but it's worth it. Zekken's been one of my easier charges; usually their maturity and pride make it hard to adapt to life as an imp, but Zekken managed it in record time. Their progress has been incredible too! Pretty mischievous, but harmlessly so, and it's a good outlet. They'll be able to reincarnate in no time. My thoughts drift back to that flame in my office...

And I realize the key is missing from my pocket.

"Zekken. Set that down, and step away from it."

Zekken clutches the glass orb closer to their chest. They hide their panic much worse than I do, making a face I haven't seen since the day they were reborn. "What is this?"

"It's DANGEROUS, Zekken. Please, for your own safety, I need to put that back in the office."

"You said it wasn't for me to worry about, but this... this is... It's mine! What is it?!"

"It's an evil spirit, and it's manipulating you. I don't know what feelings it's stirring up in you, but it's trying to trick you into setting it free-"

"JEREMY TAYLOR!"

"... How much did you read?"

"Why do you want to know!? So that you know how much you can LIE to me about!?"

"Zekken, I'm doing this for your own good!"

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't smash this open and take back what's mine."

"Don't, you'll die!"

"Why should I believe that!? After you lied to me, kept this from me, told me it was none of my business! How much have you been lying to me about?"

"I kept this from you because you don't want to know-"

"You don't get to decide that!"

"Look, we'll talk about this later, I promise. Just give me-"

"No. We're talking now."

"You're being ridiculous. I need to put that back where it's safe." I walk across the hall toward-

"STAY BACK!!" Zekken stumbles backward, breathing quickly. My body casts a shadow over theirs; I look down at them while they crane their neck up to look at me. I recall all the times I effortlessly picked them up by the tail...

I step back and sit down. "I'm sorry. It's always easier when they don't know, but now that you've found out... It's probably better that you know the whole truth than only part of it."

Zekken's breathing slows a bit. "What... is this?"

"That's your soul."

They stare at the blue flame, at last understanding their intuition about it. The tension gradually leaves their body as they finally calm down.

When their gaze returns to me, I continue. "Your name was Jeremy Taylor... and you were a human before you died."

EPILOGUE

While sitting in my office writing my weekly report, I hear little footsteps behind me, then feel them start climbing my leg. I lower my wing down for them to grab hold, letting them climb up to read over my shoulder.

"... Washing my own plate one time is worth writing down?"

"Of course; taking responsibility for your actions is important for growing a virtuous soul. It's especially noteworthy since our arrangement usually has me cleaning up after you."

"Huh. Speaking of growing," Zekken jumps onto the desk to sit beside their soul, "it really has gotten bigger, hasn't it?"

"If only you'd seen it after you were first reborn; it was barely an ember, but look at it now! I bet you'll be ready to reincarnate in just a few more months."

"... Hey, um... When I reincarnate... I won't remember you, will I?"

I pause in my writing. "Well... No. But your life here won't vanish; it will remain a part of your soul, guiding you in ways you won't even notice. And when you return here as an angel, you'll be able to remember everything."

"Are you sure I'll get to be an angel next time?"

"Maybe not if you keep planting whoopee cushions everywhere!" I give them the gentlest of shoves, rocking them backward as we laugh together. "But really, I'm sure you will. Every imp I've cared for has made it to heaven on their second trip, and you? You're humble, responsible... and forgiving. You're the nicest little imp I've ever had."

Zekken smiles, then jumps into my lap to give me a hug. "Love you, seraph."

"Love you too, Zekken."

[2af-afterdark]

Do the Kings change after they fall in love with us?

How are they when they’re in love .How would they pine after MC and court them?

Okay, so!!! I sometimes write the kings as already in love and other times as not. It is honestly kind of arbitrary based on what I think works better for the character. So, this time, let me explain the steps so you can kind of understand why I jump around writing them in slightly different ways when I answer people.

Satan

Before love: Satan is the devil that saved MC from an unfortunate fate. As such, he has always expected MC to hold him above others and be willing to do whatever it takes to repay him. Sure, they are currently breaking Solomon's old contracts, but that is what they're doing to get their friend back. Their body and submission is how they repay him for saving their life. He's cruel and mean, giving into his sadistic urges because humans bruise oh so nicely compared to his devil playmates. There is no care there; MC is an object as far as he is concerned.

Pining: Honestly, he's probably never quite had a crush before. Wrath is a different side of passion than love, so he probably always conflate the two. That's why he wouldn't know the difference between a developing crush and his usual wrath. He probably just thinks he's more angry at MC than usual, so they can expect him to be worse than usual when it comes to the sadism. It isn't until he sees MC all bruised up and exhausted, when his heart skips a beat, that he realizes this time is different.

Courting: Satan's sadism doesn't change just because he caught feelings. In fact, he may get worse in some ways. Only MC can satisfy him now, so he calls on them more often than he used to. Considering they are still human, that is a lot to put them through. On the other, MC is going to find out very quickly that Satan is actually a switch and he doesn't mind in the least in MC finds out what it's like to be in charge. That vulnerability is his way of flirting. He really doesn't act "lovey" in the traditional way, so it's the best MC is going to get.

Relationship: Satan is good at compartmentalizing his life. He is the king of Gehenna and he acts like it. MC does not get special treatment, no matter how much Satan likes them. When he's finally able to relax though, he will grab MC immediately and bring them out with him. They will sit with him, maybe even in his lap if he's feeling extra spicy, and the entire bar will know without a doubt that MC is more than just a plaything to him. He will also start stealing their blood and making special things out of it. This blood isn't for combat. It's for showing his favoritism.

Mammon

Before love: It's just a human. There are plenty of those in the world and all of them and all of their possessions belong to him. He didn't know one of his humans was so useful as to undo the mess Solomon left them in (no shade, he loves Solomon, but this is objectively a messy situation). Have fun, MC. If they ever need a break from doing their job, his bed is always open and the offer never expires.

Pining: Mammon falls all at once rather than gradually. He realizes it when he thinks "Damn, MC looks nice in my bed". He wants to curl around them like a blanket and pull them close and never let them go... oh shit, he's down bad. He has to stop himself from kissing their cheek.

Courting: He's a little old school in his flirting. He is not hiding that he fell for MC. He is getting them flowers and gifts that are far too extravagant for most people. Whatever MC wants, it is theirs, and always with him stating his affections. He's a romantic.

Relationship: Mammon is a one romantic partner type if devil and his entire kingdom will know that MC is privy to everything Tartaros has to offer. Treat them like a prince(ss) or else. He insists that MC gets some of his time just for them whenever they want just like he insists he gets to hold and kiss them at his leisure (it will never be enough). And let's just say the bedroom life is very healthy. Honestly, aside from the possessiveness he sometimes shows off, he is a very healthy and loving partner.

Beelzebub

Before love: A human? Damn. He supposes he could take some time out of his day to 'get to know them'. They're a long way from home but he doesn't mind making them feel welcome. Maybe he can show them around. MC will love hell. And they'll love how he makes them blush even more, he's sure.

Pining: Beelzebub is probably that sexuality where he doesn't distinguish between friendship and romance (I forgot what it is called, I'm sorry). He also doesn't actually have many friends though. Most of his relationships to people are superficial or out of pure convinence aside from a very select few. It isn't until he starts thinking about wanting to see them everyday that he realizes he has a new friend/crush.

Courting: He'll just tell MC he wants them. He's pretty direct and has nothing to hide.

Relationship: He needs his daily dose of MC or he gets gloomy. He considers whatever it is they have to be open so he and MC can sleep around and see who they want, but he always comes back to their bed each night regardless. Sometimes he may even come back early just to sit in the same room as them and spend time together doing nothing in particular.

Leviathan

Before love: Does he even exist? MC has yet to see him. They've met some of the nobles and they pass along messages from some king, but ????? MC finally ran into him by complete accident. They found a fucking coffin just hanging out in the middle of the room when it wasn’t there before and it freaked them out when the thing opened and a man stepped out. Leviathan took one look at MC and immediately went back in. OH FUCK NO!!! GET OUT HERE SO WE CAN TALK! STOP MAKING ME GO THROUGH OTHER PEOPLE!!! As they start yanking at the coffin lid. Eventually, they will just start talking at the coffin and waiting for Leviathan to open it to answer them before he goes back in.

Pining: Eventually, he stops escaping into his coffin when MC visits. He'll meet with them as long as they don't stare at him for too long. He feels warm whenever they stare at him, but it isn't the same kind of uncomfortable warmth he feels when he's in a crowd. Something must be wrong with him.

Courting: Sweet, sweet Leviathan isn't doing the courting. He's too nervous and blushy to try and court MC properly. In a strange way, that is his courting style. The stammering, the inability to look MC is the eyes, his nobles getting incredibly jealous out of nowhere because the human has their king's attention. He wouldn't even ask MC out because he would be too caught up in being jealous of his future self who may get a yes and of his past self who hasn't yet had his heart stomped on after MC says no. Mc isn't blind though. They will eventually make the first move and ask if Leviathan is interested in them.

Relationship: Their relationship is not the most public of things, but it isn't exactly hidden either. Leviathan doesn't want to have people looking at him and wondering about all their private stuff, but he's also incredibly happy about all the people who are envious of his relationship for once. He does not, and I repeat DOES NOT, have the gumption to let on the MC - the human - is the lead in their relationship, but all of nobles figured it out very quickly. Their king is too cute

[mimicrygrievous]

AITA for irreversibly ADOPTING my new boys even though they didn’t “WANT” to be adopted?

First of all, their bio mother? (Age irrelevant and idc anyway) Piece of work. A nutjob, even. Like, clinically insane/unfit/SOMETHING. Crazy lady. I would go out of my way to annoy her every so often, and I’ve recently discovered she’s had KIDS. LATE TWENTIES KIDS that she's been HIDING from me bc I’ve been annoying that lady longer than THOSE KIDS HAVE BEEN ALIVE.

So, I put the lady on the back burner and have started talking to her kids. Fucking traumatized, her kids. Absolute cuties have let more than a couple things slip. Don’t think they’re used to my type of inquiries (i’m already fucking INVESTED, okay?) bc they (or the golden boy, at least) can talk circles ’round most mortals any day. (The brooding one ignores everybody, but he’s been talking to me!!!!)

Their mom neglected them. Isolated them. Pitted ’em against each other to complete for the scraps of her attention. Left ’em to flounder helplessly when they FINALLY got out from under her thumb, only for them to come crawling back a little under a decade later bc they can’t form the familial bonds they’ve been bereft of their whole lives. They can’t get out from under her shadow, and they don’t want to admit it, but they’ve lost pretty much all hope for a normal, romanticized life, so here they are. Debating on sacrificing their freedom again bc at least being neglected would mean they HAVE someone in bone and marrow. SOMEBODY obligated to do SOMETHING for them in the family department, even if it’s a rarity. Even if it’s worse than the lack of a parental figure, at least it’s SOMETHING that’s fleetingly theirs.

Fuck that. I’m helping. They’re practically babies compared to me and I have a habit of picking up strays anyway. Other kids are even saying it’s about that time anyway. Better get it over with NOW before I develop empty nest syndrome or whatever the fuck and drag them all to live under one roof again. 🙄🙄🙄

So blah blah blah skipping a few details I bonded with them but I also scared them a bit too much cuz I’m not mortal and sometimes my love language is threatening bodily harm and driving people insane. (dw. they’ll take to it better once they’re used to their new immortality.)

and i pressured and pressured and poked and prodded and they’ve agreed to sign the metaphorical adoption papers. Fucking pissed about it they are, but it’s done. They slept it off. Still pissed. Slept some more. Still pissed. Golden boy is cracking the slightest bit, but isn’t giving.

what i don’t fucking get is this is what they wanted, yeah? They wanted affection. They wanted a paternal figure. Someone to take care of them so they could discover themselves somewhat privately in the breathers. They won’t take it. I’m offering. I’ve BEEN offering. I’m not fucking mad at THEM, but I am somewhat mad they won’t let me fucking coddle them yet. I’ve shown them my devotion. I’ve been patient. My methods WORKED on my other boys. What am I doing wrong with these two?

Am I the asshole? Am I reading the signs wrong? I wanted to give them what i’m convinced they need, that they will never be complete without, but they’re not taking to me. They want what I’m offering, deep down, but I’m starting to believe I can’t be the one to give it to them, bc despite my borderline desperation, I’m not the one they really want. They’re still stuck in the approval of someone they realistically know will NEVER care about them, yet they’re making me out to be the villain here.

I thought they needed to be pushed until they moved on, until they accepted me. Am I wrong?

[cataclysmicevie]

I just wanted to thank you, for your fics, but mostly for ‘no paths are bound’ and ‘the soul remains’. I adored heaven’s official blessing with all my heart but- the way that the story between HX, SW, and SQX sat… badly, in my heart, in many ways. i understood that the story was saying but it honestly kind of evoked this strange hopelessness in me after reading it all.

but- the story and arcs you’ve given those three ( + pei ming) in these two fics meant the honest world to me. SW and SQX are honestly amongst my favorite characters- ever, in so many ways, but you expanded on them and made them so much- deeper and more nuanced than I could’ve imagined. The way you had SW truly- own what he did and why- but refuse to regret it bc it was to save someone so dear to him- SQX’s complicated feelings with it, holding SW responsible for his failings- but also holding HX to his, and themselves to theirs, and loving all three, the two men who were so flawed but loved them so deeply- and loving themselves, despite their own failings and working to better themselves. all of them trying to grow and be better. paying respect to HX’s grief, but calling him out for the ways that he was SW’s mirror- and in some ways worse after, but then still giving all three so much grace and understanding- and then giving all three ( + pei ming, love u buddy) a path and story that truly felt HEALING and deep, that resonated so, so deeply.

i don’t know. it just… i don’t feel hopeless when i think about those characters anymore, and that means a lot to me. thank you.

(also your portrayals of just.. EVERYONE are so deep, and nuanced, and absolutely gorgeous. i have no words. I will always love the original canon- but your writings in a lot of ways, have just- stolen my heart even more, and held it captive. and i’m so glad that i found them)

i hope you’re having a wonderful (insert time period of day/night here). I hope the world is being kind to you.

Thank you so much! I love that you love what I did with those characters because, well....I always feel like people get annoyed for the stretches my stories often go without focusing on hualian, haha.

But for me, I have always loved examining different kinds of relationships in my writing, and very rarely is the central focus always going to be the romantic ones. Because, for me, romance has never been the most important part of my life. For me, that has always been family members and friends that I've had since I was a kid. So, focusing on that in my writing has always felt a lot more genuine and sincere for me--because while I love the all consuming romantic love that you often see with ships like Hualian, I've never actually experienced that myself. Often, when I'm portraying that, the writing feels aspirational--like, "if I'm ever lucky enough to love someone this hard, I hope this is what it feels like." But when I'm writing the relationships and the motivations that can be found in the Blackwater arc--it all comes from a far more sincere place. There's a general treatment of Shi Wudu's character by the general audience that, while I understand it, I've always found to be the least interesting approach. Yes, what he did to He Xuan was selfish and ultimately cruel--but his intentions weren't. And when you read the text for what it actually is, the situation is a lot more complex than I think a lot of people want it to be. Shi Wudu is selfish, cunning, and he often places what he imagines is best for Shi Qingxuan over what Shi Qingxuan actually wants--but that's a very human thing to do.

That was the thought process behind one of the lines I repeated pretty often in No Paths Are Bound, "there is no such thing as monsters, only humans who make monstrous choices."

Shi Wudu to me, while he was arrogant, selfish, and controlling, was also a deeply human character. I am closer to my sister than anyone else in the world, and if I was in the exact same situation--I can't say that it wouldn't eat me alive--but yes, I probably would sacrifice someone else if it meant saving her. I don't think that makes me an evil person. A flawed one, yes, but part of being human is loving each other so much, that fear of losing one another can reveal cracks in the morals we wish we could stick to.

And by that logic, I can also understand He Xuan's choices. Because like him, I love my family fiercely--but I also know that I'm a person with a tendency to need things to be fair. I can't move on easily from an injustice, not if I feel like the person who wronged me or the people I loved is just getting away with it. If an eye for an eye wasn't in human nature, we wouldn't see it repeated so often.

That creates this beautiful situation--and I think MXTX is so wonderful and ultimately vexing for making such a gripping story a side plot--where everyone is understandable, even as they do horrible things that ultimately hurt one another. And I've never found the most interesting and / or satisfying take on the Blackwater Arc to be one where there's a singular villain (usually Shi Wudu), and everything would be fixed if you just got him out of the way. The truth of the Blackwater Arc is that it examines the complicated lines between family and friendship, loyalty and deception, and how vengeful justice can be just as monstrous as the crime it avenges. I also like the pairing of He Xuan and Shi Wudu for that reason--not necessarily because I think it's a healthy ship, it's absolutely not--but because the two characters are such direct foils of one another, and because if you're going to make that relationship work, it forces you to tell a story about taking accountability as well as a deep capacity for forgiveness. And I think those are the most interesting stories to tell.

[megatraven]

"So while it IS true that they're alone... it's not because they're alone. :) And that might very well be worse :)))) "

I feel so bad for Alex here, the woman they loved is permanently gone to essentially Hell with her husband and daughter.

Gods and Demigods are hunted or at least shunned by monsters now?

Josh wants nothing to do with the gods so that's one friend gone. I can't remember May's feelings but yeah their only family member is essentially the guy that tried to kill you and the woman you loved.

The woman they loved and still love! They literally risk their life to warn her about Hercules. They literally say that they had to make sure she wouldn't kill them on sight before they were willing to talk to her long enough to warn her. They thought she might kill them, too.

That makes me so fucking insane!!!!!!!!!!

They still love her, after all of it! She might kill them, and they love her! They care about her and her family! They just want her to be happy. Their love for her saved her life, and it ruined theirs, and they... still love her. Do you understand how devastating that is? I am in ruins over this every day of my life <3

As for being hunted by, that's just speculation on my part! When monsters already hated gods and demigods so much, and with some monsters being so violent (certain monstrous gang members, minotaur, etc.), I don't think it's too far-fetched to assume some demigods get killed in the aftermath of the fall of Olympus. Some titans were violent, too, probably. I would also believe it if demigods and the like tried to rally together to fight against monsters and titans, which would result in more conflict and more injuries/deaths. I doubt all the demigods and the like would just want to sit idly by after what happened, anyway.

That, and there's the fact that MC, Astraeus, Selene, and Helios would do routine sweeps of HERA and Olympus to make sure no one was still using either place. While MC was always looking for Alex... they were fully aware that others could seek out the remaining power in those places.

ANYWAYS there was always tension between monsters and demigods/the divine. Some might be more friendly than others (like Cerberus and his brothers; they're on the side of the gods), but for the most part, gods and monsters had a shitty relationship. So while I wouldn't necessarily say they're "shunned" by monsters, they've never really had a good enough relationship between them to find much help there anyway. Better to go into hiding than risk walking into a bar full of monsters that hate your guts when there's nothing left in place to protect you other than the neutral ground being enforced by the very woman who killed the gods :)

As for Josh, it's true he wants nothing to do with the gods, BUT he accepts that it's Just Part Of His Life Now. Humans are now aware of monsters and gods being real, thanks to the titans. Meaning they don't have to hide anymore. And his sister is dating a titan. And he wants her in his life more than he wants to keep out of godly business. So it's less a "wants nothing to do with the gods" in this case and more of a "he's on mc's side above all others and alex cannot be in contact with him without risking themself because he would almost definitely tell mc that he saw them" situation.

and MAY!!! is very similar to josh. in that mc is her best friend and she said that she would be on mc's side over the gods. so yep! everyone that alex could maybe talk to/depend on either has a closer relationship with mc than with them, or hates their guts for lending their help to the fall of the gods!!! yippee!!!!!!!

but again, herc isn't alex's only remaining family member either, they have more family than just him. it's just that none of them trust alex at all and we don't know the specifics of who's left. i can imagine perseus is still around somewhere. maybe nyela (<now THAT would hurt. if alex were being rebuffed by her, too. like i would get it. but that would fucking suck LMAO...... although...... and this is purely headcanon..... maybe that's the link that helped them find out about hercules' plan............ just a thought 👀) or any number of the other demigods we've seen in the stories. who knows!

i'm sure there are plenty of demigods still around, in hiding, waiting for the gods to come back. trying to stay alive so they can assist when the time comes.

but in the meantime, yes. alex is, essentially, alone. even after mc tries to offer them a place with her. they love her and they hate her and they fear her. it is such an incredibly heartbreaking thing. just another reason why i love them <3 they can fit SO much heartbreak and pain inside <3333

[sybaritick]

I think it's good to occasionally remember that you are entitled to nothing, you come into this world entirely helpless, and that you are alive at all is due to considerable effort on other people's part. For several reasons:

"My parent(s) and/or grandparent(s) and/or guardian(s) spent considerable time and money to keep me alive" and "I do not owe a debt to them for this. It was their decision to do so" can both be true at the same time. For a long time I felt I owed a (financial) debt to my parents for the time and expense of raising me. I don't. You were a little kid-- there is no contract or unspoken agreement that binds you because you could not have meaningfully agreed to it.

There is almost nothing anyone truly accomplishes alone. Someone grows the rice that feeds you; someone sews the jeans you wear; someone builds the apartment you live in. How did you obtain these things? Through trade, exploitation, as gifts from someone else who obtained them by trade or exploitation? It's a combination of these things. I pay rent with money I earn working (trade); that the money I earn working can pay for my lifestyle is due to being born in the US, which is just luck (gift); the US is able to maintain this through its position in the world (exploitation, trade).

No one is entitled to your time, effort, and money, but you aren't entitled to anyone else's either. It's good to help other people, both your friends and your neighbors and strangers struggling on the other side of the world. And it's good to accept help if you need it. But remember that if you are giving more than you can handle without suffering, you may be creating an obligation in your head that doesn't really exist. And remember that help that others are giving to you is never obligated (even if you are friends), but also that people generally want to help their friends, and you shouldn't feel guilty for it as literally everyone benefits from help at some points in their lives.

And similarly, relationships being reciprocal is natural and not evil. People are friends because they benefit from knowing each other. Lots of people don't like this. But the benefit is often just that you enjoy their presence and conversation and they enjoy yours. If over time a friendship or relationship is making your life worse overall, stop putting your effort into it. But in all other cases, your life is better with them and theirs is better with you. It's a trade that enriches both people involved.

Anyway, I'm not saying you should become obsessed with these things. Spending every moment doing the calculus of what you've collected and what you've paid will make you insane. Much of it is extremely hard to quantify. But it's worth occasionally considering. It often makes me feel grateful for how lucky I've been by chance, and it helps me remember I don't need to put effort into relationships that have done little but make me feel stressed and unhappy for years.

[magnoliamyrrh]

. ive got such a long list of reasons to be bitter and fed up and angry. i have so much pain within me. sometimes i feel like pain, deep, deep, sorrowful pain, mourning, grief, anger, a desperate need to stop feeling suffocated is what i know best. and u know as much as i think all thats justified and as much as i think my anger is important for my sanity , and as much as tbh i like by this point to an extent that my over it little tolerance for bullshit angry kinda agressive vibe is a part of my personality - that my bitterness is earned and aged like fine win. but idk, i have tired to rein it in these last months progressively bc it was consuming me and my nervous system literally couldnt handle it

but. something i still havent figured out how to deal w is my very, very, very bad case of survivors guilt. maybe its gotten a bit better but that makes me feel guilty too. it always does. i try not to let it haunt me but It Always done it haunts me that its somehow not supposed to consume and haunt me

. after everything my own pain and trauma is not what fucks me up the most. its always that its not over for so many others. for so many others its not over, its never over, theyre going through it rn, many worse than anything i ever went through. many that wont make it out alive

.

my best friend says its not my responsibility especially with my crippled health and the little of my fragile sanity to try to do something about it. that spending years trying to do something about sex trafficking or whatever else would break me, eat me up inside, that people who aint traumatized end up killing themselves or alchoholics, shells from what they've seen, so what would it do to me? he says. ive earned my rest, ive earned looking away, ive earned my peace

...

but what does that matter? what it would do to me? he says he doesnt understand why i spend so much time writing and speaking on this shit. at first it was to understand myself. now it is the horror that it is so much more horrible and bad and keeps going, its not me. its others. i always have felt more impacted by seeing others in pain than myself. i never can stand seeing my pain on someone else.

he says he doesnt understand why i look. he says he doesnt understand why i think. he says he doesnt understand why i study. doesnt understand why i want to do something about it when its so horrible

........

but ive been.... lucky. not so but lucky. lucky enouth to live. to get out. to get my "freedom."

but what does "my" individual freedom mean? when others dont have it? what does it matter?....... what does it matter?

it feels like my trauma isnt over through them. its not. im just one person, but for so many its not over. it wont be over. they may never see over until their graves.... time is a flat circle and all

...

and i think, how many? how many? and i think too.... in the history of the balkans, of my people, my women and little girls... how many? for how long?

how many today? everywhere?

how am i supposed to rest easy. how am i supposed to live my life ignoring it

why shouldn't i burn myself out. i already am. why shouldnt i take on the trauma of getting back into it for the sake of others

.

what does my freedom mean without theirs?

.

their screams echo through my head. they were my own once. i have stopped screaming

they have not

[real-godzekiel]

Hey! Any headcanons about Opal and her family when she was a baby?

hi im just waking up so please ignore any mistakes.

opal was probably born with the expectable amount of health problems. at much i like to think her mom would have tried to keep her baby safe in the womb, probably didn't try hard enough to prevent this. I'm not that good with headcanons regarding illnesses and disorders and syndromes and that (i don't even know that well about my own body) but i think that because she was being born from an alcoholic malnourished mother, opal had some physical differences from other kids growing up that's not associated with her homelife. and she probably have FASD

i like to think that her parents tried. i mean i sure fucking hope they tried when opal was little. seeing as how opal cares about grandpa's health to hide his ciggies and how mom's entire thing is that she relies on a idea of having a child to take care of and be taken care by i think they paid quite the attention to opal when she was a baby. I can vividly picture wine mom (which I will after this refer to as "Hope" for convenience) holding Opal and just staring at that baby when she is sober. I don't think Hope talks a lot when she is sober so she's just silent. Hope takes care of baby's physical and emotional needs (again, she tries) and grandpa, when he was more lucid, would let Opal watch whatever kiddie stuff was on the television. I think that's how Opal started daydreaming. Most of my daydreams when I was a toddler was from the TV. What a lovely way to escape, the TV (it's not lovely). not to mention that it's likely that grandpa was never the best person, as he definitely had a part in Opal's mom and dad turning out this way. i'm guessing that he might have a softer spot for grandkids for a while before his health got worse and worse. And Mirror Dad when his appearance was still relatively normal? I don't know. People tend to think he's the nicest but I always thought Opal was just less afraid of him and more annoyed by him than anything because he wasn't really that much a part of Opal's life when she was young. But this is just me projecting now. but still i would think that when Opal was very little Mirror Man had mental and physical health that was okay enough for him to be out most of time. trying to earn money and find job. This definitely doesn't go well most of the time because as distorted as every other family member's self-image is, at least theirs are stable. His lack of presence in home definitely made baby-Opal unconsciously start seeing him as a stranger, especially with Hope and Mirror Man's interactions being awkward to say the least. Let's not even talk about Opal's mom and dad's relationship with grandpa. its awful awful awful. its. yeah. Now that Mirror Dad is back in the house for eternal damnation in futile labyrinthic self-examination in hopes of restoring self-image Opal is starting to know him better now. She still doesn't like him very much.

I think Opal would find her time being 1 to 3 years old being the happiest period of her life when she was still in this particular household. She spent most of her days during that time listening to her drunk mom rambling or reading stories while holding her, but safe in that she does not understand anything she is saying yet. when her mom is (in an attempt of) preparing food, she is in her grandpa's arms seeing images on a screen that is not static. Birth from 1 year old is ok but it hurt. Physically. Her body was too small and weak that she cannot make a noise and that means not enough energy to have awareness so life can be at least entertaining. When she slowly healed through time at the point of 1-3 years of age, she can yell and babble and make noises usually without that much a reaction from her mom. That's because these noises did not form words yet. The burden of language, man. I think that's it for now I'll add more if I have any. Kind of funny I love varying interpretations so much until it's my own. I think I struggle to find the right balance when writing these.

[ifearifearifear]

The FNAF Multiverse (9/10)

Here we are, nearly at the end of my little silly textbook draft. Don't worry though, I'm not finished with this AU. (Not by a longshot)

Chapter 9: The Spaces In-Between

And here we are. A part that I’ve been eagerly awaiting.

Explaining what lies between universes. This is where things start rounding out into something you can really sink your teeth into.

First off, the space between universes is… Interesting. Yeah, that’s what we’ll call it.

It’s filled with fractured pieces of forgotten universes. Broken, misshapen settings, haphazardly mis-mashed together into a distorted landscape, full of tears and chasms that only plummet deeper into the multiverse. Characters who have forgotten who they are - Characters who are confused, lost, and scared - Characters who have been alone in the broken, uncanny wastelands for so long that they’ve gone mad - Characters who have begun to remember things they shouldn’t be able to, who have begun to remember their previous revisions, the loop they’ve been on for lifetimes - Characters who’ve realized their entire life was planned out as a narrative, all to entertain onlookers like a trained beast in a circus - Characters who are angry, so so angry that while other universes continue to exist, theirs was abandoned and forgotten, and they were left to rot in the wastes between worlds.

Characters with a predetermined fate know nothing of the hell that those forgotten experience. To be doomed by the narrative is to have a place in it. And for these wandering souls, the narrative, the story, the life that they once had… It’s long gone. And now, there is no narrative to guide them. They’re left wandering. Even characters doomed to death serve a purpose. Even characters who face fates worse than death have the security of a story to fall back on, even if they don’t know it. But for those without a story to support them, there is nothing. Nothing but to wander, often in solitude, for eternity.

Surprisingly, navigating the spaces in-between is rather easy, as long as you’re careful. The hard part is finding an exit. Or rather, an entrance. The space in-between is quite vast, and despite how many universes exist, it’s still very much a hotdog down a hallway situation. [Note to self: Find a better way to phrase that before you post this.] [Update: I couldn't.] The sheer scale of the multiverse makes it difficult to find universes through just wandering.

With the sole exception of the center of the universe. There, you can't go five feet without tripping into a universe, simply because of how cramped it is there. But as it pertains to anything beyond X±.1 Y±.1, there will be a lot of wandering involved.

An interesting addition, there are two universes which, in this AU, could have built-in interuniversal travel. The first of them being FNAF World. Specifically, the Flipside. This is the point where I’m going to establish a specific coordinate for a world. The fourth level of the flipside exists at X0 Y0 Z-1. It exists directly under canon at the lowest point of the multiverse, and if anything falls through from canon, it ends up there.

And the second of these potential easy integrations is - drumroll please…

The Fazbear Frights anthology. I’m sorry.

The initially cut and later released Fazbear Frights story, The Scoop, sticks out severely for being intensely meta. And because of that, it is, in this AU, an example of a larger story spanning over multiple universes. And that could potentially be the case with several other stories from the anthology series, but I’m electing not to touch the matter any further, because the canonicity of these books is still a topic of vicious debate, and I’m not about any of that.

Also, I'm not even going to touch In The Flesh. I know there is an argument to be made there about it taking place in another independent universe, but I really can't take that story seriously.

But anywhom, with that out of the way, the next chapter is mostly going to be a note from me, rather than a direct explanation of the principles of this AU.

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