#and like. in important moments they hold him up so he can see as well

[lustlovehart]

Dang over 700, that’s impressive congrats!

If you still have requests open, maybe we can see/hear more about Sebek? I love the idea of him as a swamp monster tsundere dumping flowers on MH! Reader and find him fun~

Summary: Humans are pests. They’re the reason Malleus has fallen from grace, and why Lilia is no longer in his prime. He hates you, and everything your job stands for. He hates the way you’re not like them. He hates how you’re too kind. He wants to hate you, yet he can’t at all.

Warnings: Tiny bit of Tsundere Sebek, He thinks about 💀 you (he changes his mind dw guys!!), Mentions of his monster crimes, Little tiny hint of obsession, Implied human eating, Sebek sketch at end!

Your feet are dipped into the water, ripples cascading off where the limbs land, tranquil and cold, the shadows of the trees just further enriching the experience.

The one thing that isn’t relaxing about the water however, may as well be the guardian of the swamp, who’s practically breathing down your neck.

“Well human? Have you had your fill of this sacred marsh? I will not have you linger here longer than necessary! I only allowed you in to show the true essence of beings like us.”

Despite what leaves his mouth, you have a striking feeling that he won’t throw you out.

Because, that’s the fourth time he’s said that, and he’s yet to drag you out.

Through the close proximity, you place your palm on his face, softly pushing him away in your annoyance, yet like a magnet, he attracts himself right back to you, finding his place in the area to be right by your side.

“I’ve drowned many of your kind, don’t push me away so carelessly…!”

“Have you drowned me yet?” He stutters for a moment, racking his brain to find a suitable excuse as to why that is. He stops when you lean back on the grass, looking up at the sky as you lay down.

But to your dismay, he finds one.

“My liege wants you alive, so we must do what he wants.”

“You want the best for him right? What if the best for him is getting rid of me?” You’ve once again stopped any retort on his tongue, your eyes fluttering shut. Your feet continues to dangle in his waters, breath steadying as you let the sound of dew drops falling into the marsh invade your ears.

In your slumber, you don’t notice the way Sebeks scaley face is centimeters away from yours, trembling inhales. You’re right. Getting rid of humans is the best for his liege, for… all monsters really.

His clawed hand reaches up towards your throat, his nails scratching a line in your skin. Webbed fingers tremble, he could, he really could…

He could help everyone.

…

His hand falls, his forehead falling onto yours. His skin is rough, but he takes care in placing his head softly on yours to not wake you up. His palm follows in suit, laying itself on your throat, cold blood feeling the warmth of your mortal body.

And your heart. He remembers reading about human hearts, how they’re important to they’re bodily functions. Without it, you’d die. It’d be easier than killing you himself. He doesn't know which is better, for himself. He could take pride knowing he rid the world of one more wretched monster hunter, or he could rest in comfort knowing you passed in peace.

Sebek doesn’t notice the way the plants have emerged from the water, taking hold of your legs. There’s a particular branch that caresses your face in a certain manner, one completely inappropriate for a human. His mouth hangs up, immediately ripping the wood from your flesh. He throws the twig away, his head turning when your visibly stir at the motion.

He’s not well versed in human care. He's read about it, but obviously he’s never acted upon it! His hands fumble, if he’s correct, one of the quickest ways to knock a human out is to hit them really hard…! But… He doesn’t wanna do that—

Ah, you’re asleep again.

Sebek carefully lifts himself from your body, water dripping onto the grass from his hair. He slowly backs himself into the water, the only part visible being his head, before entirely disappearing into the murky water.

He realizes something in the comfort of his pond.

He… He wouldn’t need to kill you if you just… never left. Neither would you ever disturb the peace of any other beasts.

Under that water, he ties a knot, petals floating above the marsh at his bouquet. As well as a hand, that drops deep down. A coworker of yours. He’s unsure why you’re the only one he’s not too keen on consuming, yet he can so easily do it to those you know.

It doesn’t matter. They’re the same. Taste the same too.

…

You awake to a lonely sight, Sebek gone from the scene. Though, your chest feels heavier than usual. You look down, and an array of different plants and greenery fill your vision. It’s wrapped in flimsy wood bark, moss tying the piece together.

There’s a note hastily inscribed.

Human, leave soon.

Even without reading the message you know it’s Sebek. You assume it’s from his human hatred he writes such mean words.

In truth, that’s part of it. You’ll never know the other is him not wanting to see the corpses at the bottom of his home. Or maybe you will. Especially when you notice a shiny pendant gifted inside the flowers. Assuming it to be a sweet gesture from Sebek you smile at it. Such a happiness slowly fades when you feel a certain familiarity with the necklace.

… You feel like you’ve seen this before.

[heavyhitterheaux]

Hello

See Me Through You Series

You had me at hello

Synopsis: The day that you met the love of your life and didn't realize it until almost a year later

Series Masterlist

Stepping onto the sidewalk as you had just left the building where your journalism class had just ended, your phone suddenly vibrated in your back pocket. It took you a minute to grab it, seeing as both of your hands were occupied at the moment. Doing a balancing act with your purse, backpack, keys and your binder that contained your notes, but was too big to fit in your backpack, you finally had a free hand.

Pulling it out of your back pocket, you saw it was your younger twin brother by three minutes Ja'Marr calling on facetime and took no hesitation to answer it. This was his fifth call to you today and knew that about four more would come your way and the worst part about it was that it wasn't even noon.

Not that you were upset about it. If your little brother called and needed you, he always became the priority and everything would be dropped at that very moment.

“What does your ugly ass want?” You asked him as his face came into view. He promptly rolled his eyes and sucked his teeth before saying anything. You could tell that he was in the gym and was probably waiting on you to get there since you had promised to work out with him.

“If I'm ugly, so are you because we're twins, stupid!”

“No, that's what mom and dad tell you but they actually found you in a dumpster and felt sorry for you and took you in.” You told him as you laughed and started to make your way back to your car to head to your apartment that was off campus.

It was only a few miles down the road which you were thankful for and the good part is that you could also drive home to see your parents on the weekends if you wanted to.

You were relieved when Ja'Marr decided to attend LSU with you because the two of you had never been apart in your entire lives. Deep down you knew that you would have eventually adjusted to him not being at the same college as you, but also glad that you didn't have to go that route.

“Y/N!”

“Just kidding! What do you need assistance with, little one?”

“Little one? I'm 6’1 and you are BARELY 5 feet on a good day. Try again.”

You were suddenly taken aback as you saw someone come into the frame behind him and did a double take once you recognized who it was.

Growing up in a sports filled household, college football as well as the NFL was not foreign to you. You watched both of them and knew players as well as their stats forwards and backwards. So to your surprise, you were actually seeing him in real time. You heard of the transfer happening, but it was different seeing him right in front of you.

So the rumors were true, he was really here.

Joe Burrow

Who used to play for Ohio State apparently was now playing for LSU.

“Ja'Marr, I will hang up. State your business or move on.”

“I thought you were supposed to meet me at the gym to work out AND bring my headphones that I know for a fact you stole.”

“YOU CAN'T PROVE IT!”

“Hmm, funny. I recall you asking me to use them last week and I haven't seen them since.”

“I threw them away.”

“WHY DO YOU ALWAYS DEMAND ON STRESSING ME OUT? And I have someone here I want you to meet.”

“Who?”

“Will you just hurry up and get here and stop arguing with me!? I can pick your ass up and throw you across the room.”

“Hmm, sounds like a threat. I'm calling mommy. Bye.”

“Uh hold on, WAIT! DON'T CALL HER!”

Click.

Once back in your apartment, you quickly changed into your pink and black Fabletics workout set with your matching HOKAS and went on the search not only for Ja'Marr's headphones, but also yours. Since he let you borrow his, you didn’t bother trying to find yours even though you know you should have.

The both of you worked out with each other several times a week and it was important seeing as he played football and you were on the gymnastics team with your best friend, Erin.

Putting your curly hair into a high bun since you didn’t have time to straighten it this morning, you grabbed your wallet, water bottle, and keys before making your way back down to your car and heading to the gym.

Walking inside, you spotted him along with Joe in the corner next to the weight rack and promptly came up behind him and attempted to pick him up as you saw Joe's face giving a small smirk because of the gesture. You admit that you didn't realize how tall Joe actually was and you noticed that he was taller than Ja'Marr when they stood next to one another.

“HEY! Oh, it's just you. Joe, my big little sister by three minutes and she will never let you forget it, Y/N and Y/N this is Joe. And you are never going to be able to pick me up.” He told you while patting the top of your head as you were now trying to pick up his left leg.

“Just you watch. It's going to happen one day when you least expect it. Anyway, Hi Joe, and Ja'Marr you should know better. I already know who you are.” You told him and he looked a little confused before greeting you.

“Hey, you do gymnastics right? I saw you compete over the summer.”

You smiled before nodding, taken aback that he knew who you were also. Not a lot of attention was put on gymnastics unless it was during the Olympics. Your goal was to go to Tokyo in 2020.

“Didn't take you for a gymnastics type of guy.” You replied while attempting to fix your hair that had now fallen out of the bun you put it in. You blamed it on not being tight enough the first time.

“It's entertaining to watch.”

“Hmm, because of the outfits?” You asked as you were trying to feel him out and you could've swore you heard Ja'Marr mutter something under his breath.

“No, I just think it's insane how you can do all those different types of exercises and routines just like it's nothing. You can literally visualize where you're going to land before it happens.”

“It's the same with football when you think about it. You're a quarterback so I can imagine that before you decide where you're going to throw and who you're going to throw to what the end result will be.”

“Something like that.”

“Stop interrogating the man! Sports journalism is her major and she thinks she's smart. So she of course knows all of the players and their stats. I’m convinced she’s going to start memorizing playbooks and try to get on the field with us.” Ja'Marr said as he turned to Joe and you pinched his arm resulting in a yelp as Joe let out a small laugh.

“I'm smarter than your dumbass. That's for sure and are we going to work out or stand here all day? Besides I wasn't interrogating. You can't get to know someone unless you talk to them and ask questions.” You told him as you gave him his headphones.

“I'm ignoring you and what are we working on today?”

“Hmm full body I guess. I already did my legs, back, shoulders and arms this week.” You answered as you shrugged and put in your headphones. Flipping through your phone, you tried to find the perfect playlist in order to get through the workout and hopefully finish strong.

You usually hated working out with Ja’Marr since he would always want to add on something extra at the end of it when you were ready to go home and crawl into the bed.

Joe and Ja’Marr quickly agreed and it was decided that the three of you would warm up by running on the treadmill for three miles before going back to the weight rack.

On your second mile, your music was suddenly cut off by your phone ringing. Looking down you saw that it was Trevor, your boyfriend of one year who happened to play baseball at LSU and that was one of your primary reasons for going there. Also having your brother there was a plus.

Deep down you knew that your brother didn’t like him, but to you he was the best thing since sliced bread and could do no wrong in your eyes. But what you didn’t notice was Ja’Marr glancing over at your phone and seeing it was him and rolling his eyes.

You simply finished out your third mile before going to call him back leaving Ja’Marr there along with Joe who had turned down the speed to a brisk walk as he had done the same.

“I fucking hate her boyfriend.”

“Wait, what? He’s here too?” Joe asked as he was looking around.

“No, I saw that he called her and I’m guessing that she went to go and call him back. I can’t fucking stand him and she could do so much better. But she’s happy and the last thing I want to do is ruin that for her. He honestly treats her like shit from what I’ve seen, but I guess she doesn't see it that way.” He confessed as Joe had his eyes on you as you were standing in the corner. He figured that you were on facetime by the way you were holding it and making gestures with your hands.

“But he makes sure to never do that shit in front of me because I will take his ass down. I’m always going to protect my sister. I honestly wish that she was with someone who respected her and didn’t take her for granted like his ass does. She is honestly the sweetest most generous person despite how much we might bicker and she doesn’t deserve someone who takes her for granted. But you'll eventually be able to see how sweet she is for yourself. She literally lives up under me. When you see me, nine times out of ten she’s not too far behind.”

It was at that moment, you walked back over to them and Ja’Marr could tell that you were visibly upset.

“Pebbles, what’s wrong?” Ja’Marr asked but you simply waved him off.

Ever since you two were about six months old, your aunt on your mother's side started to call the two of you Pebbles and Bam Bam and the nicknames had stuck. It also was no coincidence since your mom used to love watching the Flintstones when she was small just like you and Ja’Marr did.

“Nothing, I’m fine. Let’s hurry up and get this done.” You responded as you felt tears forming in your eyes and you did your best to quickly wipe them away.

“You aren't fine so don't stand up here and lie to me. Did he upset you?”

Joe could now see that he was visibly upset which was in turn making you more upset.

“Don't worry about it, I just want to get this done so I can go back to my apartment and study.”

“If you need me to kick his ass, I stay ready.”

“JA'MARR! NO!”

“And Joe will back me up too. You should see how much he can bench press. No one will know.”

“I… I appreciate both of you very much for offering even though you literally just threw Joe in there without giving him a say in the matter, but I promise I'm good.”

“I'm here for assistance if needed.” Joe said and that put a small smile on your face.

“Yeah about that, show me how much you can bench press.”

“Oh lord, Joe you got her started. Now her competitive ass is going to see if she can beat you. She might be small, but don't let that fool you. She also eats like a grown ass man.”

“Bam Bam, keep talking and I will throw that 60 pound dumbbell at your head.”

The workout was winding down and you wanted to work on your pull ups a little bit more since the upper body was your weakest area. You stood in front of the pull up bar and noticed that Ja'Marr was in the middle of his set, so the only other option was to ask Joe for help to reach the bar since there was no way in the world that you would be able to get up there on your own. But he beat you to it as he walked over to you.

“Need some help?”

“Hmm, definitely yes since there is no way in the world I'll be able to reach it by myself.” You replied as you both laughed.

“I got you. Jump up and I'll lift you the rest of the way.”

Nodding your head, you turned around and felt Joe's light touch on both of your sides. You couldn't quite explain it, but when his hands made contact with your skin, the feeling that it gave you felt unreal. Almost if it was something out of a movie. Shaking it out of your mind, you focused on the task in front of you as you jumped up.

As promised Joe helped you the rest of the way and stepped back once he saw that you were hanging onto the bar.

“Do you mind just standing there to spot me? Pull ups aren't my strongest thing.”

“Yeah, I'll be right here. Go ahead, you think you can do twenty?”

“Hmm, let's find out. I think I can.”

Fifteen of them came with ease and when you started to struggle, you once again felt Joe's hands on your waist and he helped you do the rest of them. You let go of the bar with him then catching you and placing you on your feet.

“Thank you for that.” You told him and you received a cheeky smile in return.

“Any time.”

“By the end of the semester, my plan is to be able to bench press the same weight or more weight than you.” You playfully told him and the smile that he had before became wider.

“I'd love to see that, princess. So let's put some money on it.”

“How much? 50?” You asked not really knowing how much he was willing to put up.

“Nah, you can do better than that.”

“Okay, 500.” You said as you shrugged.

“Damn, I didn't think you would go that high, but okay. Ja'Marr also mentioned to me that since you're the oldest, what you say usually goes between the two of you.”

“He's teaching you well.”

“Hmm, we'll see if that holds up between the two of us.”

“Looks like we just have to see then, won't we Burrow?”

The next day, you found yourself yawning at five in the morning absentmindedly taking small bites of your protein bar as you began to stretch with Erin coming over to sit next to you.

You hated that you had gymnastics practice so early in the day, making all of your classes be in the afternoon or late at night. The campus itself was huge and you didn't always necessarily feel completely safe when you had to walk back to your car late at night.

“So, did you break up with Trevor yet?” She asked as she began to stretch her arms.

“Uh? Good morning to you too, Erin.”

“Good morning, now did you two break up yet?”

“No, Erin.”

She sighed before rolling her eyes and looking at you in disbelief.

“Nobody likes him! Dump his ass! And I don't like the way he treats you. Truth be told, I've never liked him.”

“But I like him!” You exclaimed and she gave you a blank stare.

“Yeah, only you and his bald headed mother. You could do so much better. Oh! Who did you meet yesterday when you went to workout with Ja’Marr? I guess you fell asleep and never read my text.”

“Joe Burrow. He plays quarterback.”

“Oohh, he's cute! I heard about him transferring here. Break up with Trevor and date him! There, problem solved.”

“ERIN!”

“What? You have addressed me by my name a lot this morning. I like my plan and I think it'll work. Besides, he's a sucky ass baseball player. My goal is to get my best friend to become a WAG and being with him is not going to get you very far. He didn't even get a scholarship here. He was a walk-on!”

“I have literally only met that man one time and yeah I've said your name a lot because how do you wake up this unhinged!?”

“So? Love at first sight is an actual thing. I wasn't there, but I know it happened. And it's been that way since we were three.”

“And he did help me with my pull ups yesterday.” You told her as you shrugged your shoulders.

“I'm going to start planning the wedding when we leave. My class doesn't start until one today.” She replied as she smiled at you.

“I…-”

“What are you two going on about over here?” Your other friend Alisha asked as she sat her bag down to the left of her.

“Y/N is getting married to Joe Burrow! We have to start planning!”

“Erin, shut up!”

“Oh, but he's cute. Do you know if he has any brothers?” Alisha replied as she sat down on the other side of you.

“I.. don't but I will find out for you.”

“And slip them my number while we're at it.”

“He helped her during their workout yesterday. At this point, we can say it was their first date.”

“Erin telling everyone's business as usual.”

“Hey! I'm just good at storytelling! And he had the perfect view of your ass if he helped you with your pull ups now that I think about it.”

“Sometimes I honestly cannot believe you're my best friend.” You said as you couldn't contain your laughter anymore.

“And you aren't getting rid of me any time soon.”

Gymnastics practice was always long and draining so you knew what to expect every time. They typically lasted for three hours and when you were finished, you either got breakfast on campus or went back to your apartment to make something as Ja'Marr would also be blowing up your phone to feed him even though he was on an entire meal plan just like you were.

After taking a shower and throwing on some leggings along with an LSU sweatshirt and your converses, you started to walk out the building with Erin since Alisha had to hurry up to get to her class on time, when you spotted Joe.

Of course, Erin noticed too and squealed.

“Ooh, there goes your man!”

“Erin, be quiet! I don't want him to hear you! You are too loud for it to be eight in the morning!”

“Why not? And I'm always loud. I'm responsible for this love connection and I'm going to be the maid of honor. He NEEDS to know me.”

Joe had turned around and once he spotted you began making his way over.

“Oh shit, here comes your husband!”

“I hate you. I hate you so much right now.”

“You'll get over it.” Erin said as she smiled.

“Morning princess. Just got out of practice?” He asked as he came up to both of you.

“Morning and yes. Now I'm going to stuff my face. Oh Joe, this is my best friend Erin.”

“Hey Erin, pleasure to meet you.”

“You too and the pleasure is all mine.” She said and you couldn't help but laugh quietly to yourself.

“I was actually going to get food if the two of you wanted to come with me.”

“Y/N will go! I have class but she is free ALL MORNING. So I'm going to go and Y/N, I'll text you later. Have fun you two.” Erin practically yelled and you looked at her as if she was crazy.

“And then there were two. Where did you want to go to eat?” Joe asked as Erin had started to walk away.

“You're from Ohio, so you need to get a taste of some good southern cooking that makes you feel like you have just gained ten pounds.”

“Lead the way.”

“We're going on a little adventure off campus, my car is just over there. I think you'll like it.”

Less than a mile from campus was Louie's Cafe that had amazing breakfast as well as brunch foods. Anything that you could possibly think of they served.

On the ride over, the two of you just made small talk and when both of you had placed your orders for your food, you wanted to see how he was feeling for his first game that he would be playing in on Sunday because you already knew Ja'Marr was a nervous wreck.

“How are we feeling about Sunday? You nervous?” You asked as you took a small sip of orange juice.

“A little bit and I can admit it. I mean I played when I was in Ohio, but I was the backup. Now I'm actually starting. A lot of pressure on my shoulders and I feel like I have something to prove. I want them to be able to see that they made the right choice.” Joe told you and you were clinging to every word.

“But that's so exciting! What made you transfer here though out of all places?”

“I didn't want to be sitting on a bench for four years. I wanted to be able to play. I know that I'm good, but I just need a chance to show it.”

“Hmm, I do love a man with confidence. Well I'm very excited for you and my brother. I hate how you guys aren't playing here, but I'll make sure I'm watching.”

“Always confident, never cocky. And I'll try to get my first win as a starting quarterback for you.” He responded as he gave you a small smile.

“I can't wait to see it happen so once you get back here, we can celebrate. I can cook, so I can make you something.”

“I've been craving something my mom makes all the time, Snickers Salad.” Joe replied and you looked at him confused.

“Um? Is that an Ohio thing? Because I have no idea what that is.”

Joe nodded as he laughed and your waiter had set your plates down on the table in front of you.

“It is, but I can always text you the ingredients you need to make it. I figured you could do it justice since Ja'Marr never stops talking about how well you cook.”

“You need my number to be able to do that.” You Cheekily said, but he fired right back.

“Mine is in yours, already. I put mine in when we first got here since I want to be able to see more of these special spots you know about.” Joe confidently told you as he was pouring syrup on his banana pecan pancakes that had been recommended by you.

“I've literally only known you now for about 36 hours and I can say that I like being around you.”

“Good, because I like being around you too.”

Just then your phone rang and of course it was no one other than Ja'Marr.

“Pebbles! Are you at Louie's Cafe!?!? And you didn't take me!? I checked your location! I'm hungry too!”

“I took Joe instead because he doesn't get on my nerves like you do.” You told him as you stabbed your eggs.

“WAIT, you took Joe!?!?”

“Yes, say hi. You're on speaker.”

“Hey Ja'Marr.” Joe said as he was trying not to laugh.

“Joe, just make sure my sister gets me something to go. I'm about to starve messing with her ass.”

“I got you.”

“Bye, baby brother.”

“Wait! I didn't give you my order!”

“Text it to me, bye.”

Once you hung up and placed your phone back on the table, you looked back up at Joe to see him staring at you.

“When do you have class?”

“Not until one.”

“You want to do some more exploring with me? I feel that it's now my obligation as your unofficial tour guide.”

“I get to be around a pretty girl so I'm all for it.”

“Joe, you do know that I have a boyfriend right?” You asked as your face heated up.

“Someone as pretty as you, I'm not surprised. But what does that have to do with me?” He asked as he winked at you.

This is the first time in your life that you were speechless.

[lemon-russ]

More lore for my insane porn.

Why am I doing this? Does human pet smut need a backstory? If there were a merciful god, wouldn't I be stopped? Some things are never answered. The important thing is I am having fun ✨

Mortarion x F!Reader (prequel 2? Part 3??)

Previous || Next

CW: None for this specific thing. Many for the first one. Many for the future of whatever this is.

TAGS (no one participated in the prayer circle to stop me so it continues): @sleepyfan-blog @undeaddream @scriberye @lisikk @moodymisty

“Go on, pick.”

Mortarion holds you out at arms length, pointing you at a display of items in colors you couldn’t name, so bright and varied it made your head start to swim.

“Pick?” You parrot, “pick… what? What are they?”

You hear a small huff behind you. “They’re toys. Weren’t you saying you were bored?”

It had been boring. After a week of toting you around, quizzing you on your world, crops, government systems, and various other minutia, you found out that your world did in fact have a ruler, unbeknownst to a simple farmer like yourself, and had happily agreed to join the imperium of man, as it was apparently called.

All Mortarion asked for in payment was you.

“You entertain me.” Was all he had offered as explanation.

And thus you had been stuck in his quarters for two weeks, losing your mind at the lack of work to do. You’d taken up trying to draw, but that only entertained so long. You tried to read, but you were barely literate in your own tongue, let alone what your master called “high gothic”. What use did a farmer have for reading? You’d tried to clean up, but there was barely anything in the room to tidy.

You refocus on the colorful display, reaching out to touch one of the bright objects. ”It’s really soft...” You say, picking up one of the toys. It vaguely looks like some sort of animal, furry with stylized ears, but beyond that you can’t imagine a use for the thing.

“How is it a toy?” You ask, turning to try and look at your new masters face over your shoulder.

He frowns slightly. “What were toys on your planet?”

“Wooden blocks, mostly. Or the Hoop game.” You say, then add with a fond smile, “and dolls, made of water-reeds.”

He sighs. “Well, think of these as the… reed dolls. They are stuffed animals, you’re supposed to find them pleasant.”

You look back to the unnaturally bright creature in your hands. “what color is this?”

You yelp as you are dropped to your feet, stumbling a little.

Mortarion turns you around by the shoulder, face grimacing in disbelief. “I don't enjoy being teased.” He huffs.

You frown. “What-”

“You know purple.” He snaps, but it sounds less angry and more desperate. “You cannot tell me you don't know the color purple.”

You look at the thing in your hands. If you absolutely had to answer, life or death, what color it was, you'd only be able to say not red but not blue.

You look back up to see mortarion's face more stern. “your planet was quite brown and hazy, I suppose.” He said. “I can… understand that.” For a moment you see something flicker behind his gaze, but it is gone before you can guess it.

You tilt your head in a little confusion, intending to ask what he meant, but are turned back to the display instead. Mortarion leans over you to start pointing at the soft creatures.

“Purple.” He says, pointing at the one you held. “Pink, blue, orange…”

You pout. “I know blue-” you point at the pointy eared alien toy, “That's not blue. Blue has more grey in it.”

He sighs. “No, your rivers were not blue, they were just the only thing on that forsaken dirt ball that had a slight hint of blue in it. This is blue.” he says, picking up the bright, smiling creature and handing it to you.

Suddenly, you're being hoisted again, and tucked under the massive man's arm. “you're getting those two, I have chosen for you.” he grumbles. You think you catch him grumble something about doesn't know purple under his breath.

He forces you to pick out a blanket as well, as you'd been complaining about being chilly sleeping on the floor at night. That was true, but you more mean that it is a hard, metal floor, and wanted a bed. You had asked for some straw to weave yourself a proper mattress, but only got an annoyed look in response. He tossed you a pillow to sleep atop instead.

You chose a blanket in pink. You know pink too, but this one is an almost pastel, dusty version that you've never seen in nature. It was pleasant, and didn't hurt your eyes like the other new colors. Plus, it was quilted and full of feathers. He didn’t seem to mind buying something so lavish, so you figure you may as well be comfortable.

When you're finished shopping, Mortarion opens the large satchel he'd taken you out of his room in. You frown, looking up over the toys and blankets in your arms.

“Can't I just walk in…?” You ask.

He presses his mouth to a line. “No.”

You mimic the expression. “I promise I won't try to run again…” you say, referring to the ill fated attempt you'd made to avoid going into the belly of the flying beast when he'd first taken you.

He rolls his eyes. “No. In. And be quiet. I don't want my sons to see you.”

You sigh, shuffling up to the large bag and tossing your new toys inside first. “Can't you just tell them I am some sort of field hand?”

He shakes the bag opening at you. “No. We don't have those, and I don't want them getting strange ideas. In.”

“Stranger than this…?” You mumble to yourself as you crawl into the bag, curling up and situating yourself.

He peers down at you through the opening. “Don't talk back. And there's nothing strange about having a….” He glances away and back quickly, frowning. “A personal serf.”

Your scrunch your brow. “Serf…? But I don't do anything-”

Your words are cut off as he cinches the bag closed and hoists you up, making you squeak in surprise and have to scramble to reposition yourself where you can breathe.

“I said, don't talk back.” He grumbles, setting off on a quick pace that makes you jostle and swing as he walks.

[tarithenurse]

Don't hide it

Fandom: MCU Pairing/starring: Loki Odinson x/& fem!reader Word count: 1071 Content: Pining, shyness, too much empathy, fluff. A/N: Waiting for a better idea so here’s this in the meantime. Feel free to reblog if you liked it – it’s always nice with new readers. Comments are fuel for more!

Don’t hide it

Following in your friend’s footsteps, you’re grateful that Loki knows you well enough to draw you away from the feast and all the people there. Few will miss him even though he’s a prince and you...well, you’re no one important save for a rich man’s daughter who is too timid to mingle with the upper echelon of Asgard.

After a quick detour past a storage room and the kitchens, Loki and you have gathered ample supplies to last you the night and have gone where no one will look for you: the hayloft above the stables.

Sitting on the soft blankets and furs, you can look down at the stalls with horses who are half asleep or chewing lazily on their fodder.

“Here,” Loki grins as he hands you a bottle of honeyed mead, “there’s lots.”

You’ve managed to snag fruits and cheeses and meats aside from quite a few bottles of the sweet drink.

Allowing the contents of the bottle to soothe your throat, you sneak a glance at your friend who’s doing the same. You notice how his throat bobs with each pull, how his jaw bone could cut glass...and then you have to look away before your thoughts get carried to unwanted territory.

You’ve known Loki since you were five and you’ve been close friends since then. You’ve also, regrettably, developed a deeper attraction to the prince over the last few years – one that you know will never be a possibility. That’s what makes it so painful to be with him: he is the only one who knows you truly...and still you can’t tell him this one thing for fear of ruining a friendship.

“Mother is starting to host more of these balls, it seems,” Loki muses.

I’ve noticed it too. And you know why.

“Of course...both you and your brother are still not betrothed or even in relations with anyone,” you shrug before you can stop yourself.

Loki falls onto his back with a groan. “I shall let Thor have this without competition.” Another groan. “Betrothed. Relations. No thank you.” Then he props himself up by the elbow. “What about you? Are your parents not inviting suitors over for you?”

You grimace at the thought. “I’m sure it will come soon enough.”

“I can imagine it...you being the hostess and the centre of attention.”

Looking about for strands of hay to braid, you don’t notice the darkness in his eyes and he schools his facial expression before you look up at him again.

“I’d rather die,” you sigh.

It’d be torture having to greet one suitor after the other. You don’t feel comfortable around stranger or in the company of many people. That’s why you’d agreed to sneak out of this night’s feast when Loki suggested it.

Keen to change the subject too, Loki studies your features for a moment. He quite likes how you always keep your hands occupied and he’s said so in the past. He’s the only one who seems to like your odd habits.

“Not that I do not cherish our little escapades away from the crowds...but we must see to cure you of your shyness,” he suddenly announces.

“And how do you suppose we do that?” you shoot back.

He shrugs. “Depends what you fear by being near them.”

“It is not fear it is...” You have to search for the right term but come up with nothing. “It’s as though I sense all they feel, all their sentiments. Anger, joy, sadness.”

“Love?”

“Sometimes, yes...but not always.”

Loki takes a swig from the bottle, clearly considering your words. “Then you must learn to shift your attention to their physical presence instead.”

You can’t hold back the hopeless laugh. “How?”

“Imagine them naked.”

You almost choke on the mead, having all too clearly imagined him naked before you – not for the first time but more clearly now.

“Then I think I would be equally shy albeit for different reasons,” you argue once you can speak again, avoiding to meet his gaze.

Falling back on the furs and blankets, none of you say anything for a while. The only sounds are from the large creatures below and a mouse tip-tapping along a secret path on the other side of the hay.

You know Loki is thinking. He always thinks.

“Perhaps...you must simply trust that you are better than them,” he offers softly.

A scoff escapes your lips. There’s no reason to state the obvious and Loki should know as much.

Hearing the rustle of the hay beneath the furs, you sense more than see Loki scoot closer until you are lying next to each other. Then he reaches to cup your cheek, turning your face to meet his.

“I mean it. Why can’t you see it?” he admonishes softly. There’s something you can’t figure out in his voice and his gaze. Something almost painful. “You read people better than anyone I know...and you know me better than anyone...why won’t you trust me?”

His hand is cool on your skin. For a brief second your eyes stray to his lips and a sudden urge to kiss him fill you...yet you do nothing. You just close your eyes and relish the nearness.

“It’s not that I do not trust you, Loki,” you begin to explain, “but you’re my friend a-”

“Don’t take my word for it as a friend. Hear me as...as a man,” he growls, causing shivers to run down your spine and something to bloom in the pit of your stomach. “I see all the other ladies at the feasts yet none of them are as wonderful as you.”

Opening your eyes, you’re met with blazing sincerity. “What do you mean?”

“For someone as emotionally gifted, you truly are dense right now.”

You would have recoiled at his harsh words. Would have served a rebuttal or asked for a clarification once more, maybe. But all of that is lost to you the moment his dips his head down and kisses you.

Fierce. Lips pressing hard together and noses squishing together slightly. You’re too surprised to do anything but grasp of the collar of his tunic, holding you steady in a world that suddenly seems to dip and rotate around the two of you.

You’re both out of breath by the time he pulls back, watching you intently.

“Do you understand now?” he asks quietly.

You nod. Then pull him down for a kiss more.

[kseniyagreen]

Some thoughts about Li Lun's arc and the meaning of the drama.

Life is full of contradictions, and my relationship with FoF has its contradictions too. Not all moments feel right, especially on closer inspection. And this is actually a very common story with works heavily laden with the author's idea. Under this thought that the author wants to express, some plot lines inevitably bend and the character arcs are distorted.

But I want to point out one thing that - in my subjective opinion - is missed when people talk about the lack of development Li Lun's redemption arc.

The point is that Li Lun doesn't have a redemption arc because there shouldn't be one in the entire concept of the drama - not just Li Lun, no one has one. This drama is fundamentally not about redemption at all.

Li Lun's problem is not that he is wrong about people. He actually sees people quite accurately. In a sense, he sees the world more clearly than others - it's not for nothing that he has a "true eye". And that is his tragedy.

Because the message of the drama, clearly voiced in another context, is "he sees things with his eyes but does not see with his heart".

Having received the true eye, he gained the ability to see reality as it is - with the darkness of human hearts, with injustice, separation, the inevitability of death. But reality as it is is unbearable - that is why we dream, and that is why the theme of dreams occupies a central place in the drama.

The theme of the sea of suffering reminded me of a poem by Yosano Akiko:

"They told me that the road I took

would lead me to the Sea of Death;

and from halfway along I turned back.

And ever since, all the paths I have roamed

were entangled, and crooked, and forsaken."

Not only Li Lun, but all the characters from the very beginning are moving towards the sea of death, and this is the main content of the drama.

Having realized that reality has no meaning - what can you do? Stomp your feet and break toys like a child - what Li Lun did. Drown in despair and crawl towards the cemetery - what Zhao Yuanzhou did in the beginning. Adapt to this cruel reality to the point where you cannot die because you no longer really exist - what the main villain did and Li Lun tried to do.

Or you can try to create your own meaning in this meaningless world, contrary to laws and logic - which I see as the message of the entire Zhuo Yichen's arc.

So, returning to Li Lun, the point of his arc was not to atone for sins or sacrifice himself for the greater good. But to realize that there are still things that are important to him in this world, even if they are broken, and there are things that are more important than physical survival.

How organically and logically this line was drawn in the drama is a debatable issue. I must admit - I also miss something in Li Lun's line. As well as the fact that in general the drama often forcibly pulls the characters' lines under the cruel rule of this world "a demon can truly be himself and follow his heart only on the threshold of death." The authors sometimes didn't try hard enough to justify such a radical situation.

But I still love this drama - more like a poem than an adventure story. Poem about death and dreams and person's will that is trying to pull this impossible dream through the reality of death.

Sometimes, in order to wake up in reality, you need to accept the death of a dream. But if a dream becomes more valuable than reality, if you are ready to hold on to it at the cost of your physical existence - sometimes you die with it. But sometimes a dream lives on after you. And sometimes a dream shared with others changes the world a little and gives you a chance to survive in spite of fate.

[lovelyshu]

I ONLY TALK TO DOGS BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND ME — with Minho

001 DESCRIPTION — how minho deals with a crying teenager he cares about

002 TAGS — all platonic, gn reader, use of yn like once, very fluffy, a tiny bit of angst if you squint (reader doesn't trust parents with problems or anyone else tbh + like lots of crying), very self indulgent

003 COMMENTS — what does crying at least once a week in the middle of the night does to a person? It gives them ✨ideas✨. Also this was inspired by my brother even if I never told him much. He was the only person I allowed to see me cry.

004 TAGGING — @hannamoon143 @jisunggy

Minho doesn't remember exactly when did he got so close to you. And to be honest, neither did you.

But now you were someone very important to him, going as far as calling you his little sibling.

And that's also one of the reasons he accepted when you asked to sleep on his house that night.

The other reason being that he knew you weren't feeling so good these days. Even if you tried to hide it, your obvious reactions to which no one seemed to notice or care gave it away.

Well, that didn't mean he was expecting to her crying in the middle of the night.

It was 1:35 am. And Minho had no idea on to why were you still awake. He was still feeling sleepy and tired, but as soon as he heard the sob coming from the other room, his mind put to the side any sleepiness in his body.

Slowly, he walked to your room, standing right outside your door. Minho thought about knocking on it, but you would probably just ignore.

So that's why he just - slowly - opened it, to which made you freeze, trying to pretend to be asleep.

“yn? Are you alright?”

No response.

Sighing, he walked closer to you after closing the door, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Minho knew you had trouble with opening up to other people, even sympathizing with the feeling. Knowing that, he put a hand over your head, patting it softly.

“If there's anything bothering you, I'm more than happy to help you. You don't need to bottle up everything.”

As you stayed in silence, he continued.

“And I can also just listen, if you'd like. I won't tell anyone about this, unless you ask me to.”

The silence continued for a short moment, until he heard you speak, voice cracking slightly. A clear sign you were indeed crying.

“Not even my parents?”

“No. If you don't want them to know, I won't tell them.”

You slowly turned to face him, sitting up. Minho seeing this slowly puts your head on his shoulder, letting you take your time with talking.

“Minho... I'm sorry..”

“What are you sorry for?” - he spoke in such a soft and calm tone that made you get even more emotional than you were.

Trying to find the right words, more tears begun to found their way to your eyes as you tried your best to not let them fall.

“For everything. I'm a failure, I can't do anything right, my parents are alright but it seems like I can never make them proud. The only thing I give them is shame.”

Minho moved you a bit, enough so that you could hide your face on his shoulder as he wrapped an arm around you.

“Sometimes I just want to disappear.. I always ask myself if anyone would even care if I did...”

Hearing your words made Minho hug you tightly, mumbling in such a low voice that you might've missed if it wasn't for the silence.

“You're not a failure. If anything, you are the most talented and intelligent person I've ever met.”

Minho sighed as he noticed that you were crying even more, knowing those words might mean something way too big for your own heart to bear.

“And you don't even see it. If you ever disappeared, I'd go all around the world to find you.”

Slowly, he laid you down again, but now, laying down as well, still holding you.

After some long minutes, Minho noticed you were drifting off to sleep, which somehow, got him in peace enough to do the same.

Not until he whispered again.

“You're not alone. Don't forget that.”

Was the last thing you heard before closing your eyes, comfortably sleeping while cuddling no one other than Minho himself.

[sevs-corner]

Tf 141: Mafia AU!

Chapter 4: Its Happy Hour for them, Not for you

A/N: Link to masterlist is here ! And under is the prev chapter epilogue~

Preface:

Finally at a place where you can bunker down, you'd think that sleep would come easy-- but nope, that also seems to evade your grasps.

A life away from trouble seems to do the same, when you find yourself regretting again the choices you've made under the pretense that the old man was a poor ol' guy looking out for his kids, and you happened to be the most convenient person to help them out.

In actuality, you wonder if its vice-versa, when you see them helping you more than you are with them. Especially in the moment of being held at gunpoint, barrel right between your very eyes that went cross looking at it.

'The past two days were a blur. '

You realized this, staring up at the popcorn ceiling, arms spread out and your legs dangling over the edge.

Your life, as you know it, didn't quite make sense-- even after taking a long shower to calm yourself down. Though it was to mostly rid of grime that stuck to your skin and crevices for two days now.

That's besides the point, the more important one being that it kind of seemed like you just signed yourself to some cursed contract. Again.

You weren't surprised by actions anymore, just appalled at how easily you made did them without even a single thought crossing your mind of the future consequences it would bring you.

Balance out the pro's and con's? Nope, didn't do that.

Think before you speak? Nope, didn't quite do much of the former and more of the later.

Decide that getting a job and some food in your stomach was more important than getting involved with people that does crime?

Yes, you at least weighed the most important factor and agree to yourself that it was the priority-- well, at the moment in the least, because hearing that dreaded country twang past your co-worker's apartment door was making you think twice of putting food over your livelihood as a person.

"C'mon sugar! Nonno and Nonna are waiting~!"

If you didn't know this man as a mafioso, you would definitely think he was some rich bastard that tries to act normal by "doing" regular things, even when his palate doesn't get placated by the food that he ate.

Sadly, you do know him and ever regrettably so.

If only he wasn't a mafioso, you would have already threatened him awhile a go and have a go at where-the-sun-don't-shine spot. Alas, you do, and in addition to that, the son of your bosses and part of the contributor to your payroll-- so you'll play nice.

For now.

The raps on the door seems endless, and at this point, it was futile to try and sleep past the mumblings of a dead person (in your head, which you stabbed and kicked multiples as he writhes in the ground.)

"Waiting for who-- for me?" You shout a reply back from all the way the bedroom, quickly putting on a more suitable outfit and combing out the nest that seemed to form on your hair.

"Yes!"

You could hear his eyeroll from him so you quickly shouted a quick, "Ok! Be there in a minute!" before returning to the rest of your morning routine.

"That took more than a minute, shortcake."

The teasing grin Graves gave you as he leaned by your doorway made you sneer, unable to hold back the initial reflexive reaction to both his jab at you and the nickname.

"Well," you huffed, "you kind of just stopped by my place out of nowhere."

Shoving him with your hip, it puts him off balance and reflexively catch himself by the wall. It makes him react with a 'wHoA!" that made you giggle while closing the door to your co-worker's apartment. Turning the knob again to check if its properly locked, you hummed happily when it did because of the state the place was in. It was nothing short of being dilapidated, you only hoped last night- in your tired and sleepy stupor- that no one would go to this corner of the city and check out an abandoned building (as mentioned by Gaz) and ransack your place. This thought, of course, kept you slightly up as well- besides the ever looming issue that you are now tied to the mafia.

Although...looking at the easily frazzled state Graves was in, you wonder if it is that much of a concern you lost sleep over it.

"That's some strong hips you got there, sweets." He pointed out, now fixed up again from his mini-disaster of being caught in surprise. (He swears to himself that he has to watch himself and be on guard with you more often.)

You gave him a grin behind your shoulder, "thank my hula-hoop skills that got me the number one spot in kindergarten."

This gets a bark of laughter from him again, and he just has to curse himself for acting such a fool with you. Yet, at the back of his mind, he doesn't mind it.

"Right," his left-over laughter lingers, "thank God its still transferred after all those years!"

"Hey!" You whipped your head around to glare at him and poke at his chest, "I'm very youthful mind you." You pressed and continued, " especially when compared to you."

You watch him let out an offensive gasp, hand on his chest and the other over his own mouth.

You only managed to maintain the stare down for a couple moments before breaking down in fits of giggles and questions of like, "kindergarten really?" and you replying with, "its was the best thing I could come up with!"

"You better awake now?" He asks, breath finally stable and eyes wiped of all the tears that came out, and you nod in response-- still recuperating yourself.

"It's just so silly," you sigh with a smile, "but yeah, feelin' more up at 'em-- ready to take on the day!"

You threw an enthused fist in the air then turning to give Graves a confident grin of your own, which he returned in kind.

"Good to hear that then," he approaches the car in front of your apartment and opens the passenger car door, "shall we?"

You give him a look that made him rolls his eyes, quickly ushering you in.

"Nonna told me to pick you up," he explains once inside the car as well, "said that they were worried you'd get lost and mugged along the way."

You crossed your arms, denying the claim, "I wouldn't."

"As much as I don't want to say this," Graves begins as he turns out to the street, "but they are right."

You toss him an offended glance, "you think I can't handle myself? I'm an adult-- I've taken care of myself this far."

You hear Graves sigh, waiting for him to reply but only the sound of his fingers tapping on the wheel occupied the air.

"Its..." he bites his lip, ".. its not that I- or we to an extent- think you can't handle yourself."

You nod, letting him continue.

"This city," he clicks his tongue, "its just different from where you came from.”

“I know,” you quickly chipped in, “its nothing new for me.”

You could see how his eyebrows raised on his forehead, but as quickly as it came, it was gone; and instead, substituted with a furrow.

“I’m sure you know all about petty crime,” you hear him grumble and was about to retaliate until his next words stilled you, “but you’ll be seeing scums who wouldn’t even blink at shooting someone who just looked at them wrong.”

The light hearted tone he had posed onto you earlier was gone.

Now, it was cold, devoid of any emotions.

His eyes, previously reflecting the early shine of the light now looked dim, muted. Flat.

‘Ah..’ you think to yourself, ‘so this is who they are.’

You kept your mouth shut after that. Realizing, once again and reality slapping across your face.

These were not silly sons in a make believe found family, under one happy scene at a fun family-run bakery.

These were men--

Men with experience of being involved with the deepest darkest depths of seeing humans at their worst.

Men who are willing to shoot someone without batting an eye.

Men who aren’t opposed to killing those who go against them.

Men who can be brutal but choose not to.

And that to you, seemed scarier than someone who openly did so; because, when you think about it, ‘why were they being nice to you right now?’

"Hey sweets?"

You barely register Graves' voice but unconsciously hums in response.

“Hey,” he pokes again, “look here for a second.”

You didn’t realize but the car already stopped, parked just a block away from the bakery and you see the grip Graves’ had on the wheel. It was trying to hold back— they all were… but, why?

“Up here sweets.”

You finally make eye-contact with him and you see the color back in his eyes, the iris slightly dilated, and the crease on his forehead now furrowed in concern, rather than… irritation? Frustration? A mix of misunderstanding of both you’d presume.

“Did I scare ya’?” He asks softly, smile crooked with the tilt barely convincing you that it was one of being genuine honest with you, but you put that aside— it wasn’t your business to know why he did so.

You shook your head, “just…” you pause, trying to frame your words in a way that showed him that you weren’t afraid— just stunned of the situation you’re in, moreover how much its changed the past week.

“Shock,” you finally answer, “you saying that just made everything clicked.”

“Clicked?” He asks, “what did?”

“My life,” you slump on the reclined chair, eyes now diverting to the sleeves of your jacket and your hands that were fiddling with it. “How everything just came crashing and changing so much in such a short time.”

He nods and you hear him open and close his mouth for a minute before sighing, combing a hand through his now slightly messed hair.

“I get that feeling,” you hear the empathy seeping through his words, “so, my bad for pushing that onto ya’.”

You shook your head, “‘s not your fault.”

“But I triggered it, yeah?”

You see his hand reaching out to you and for a moment, you think again if you should.

Should you be closer to these mafiosos?

Should you be closer to their family?

Should you work their parents at the bakery?

Your actions opposed your thoughts, deciding for you as it tentatively reached halfway before you see Graves connect them himself, intertwining it in such a gentle way that made your thoughts halt for a moment. His thumb slightly stroking the side of your hand actually made you felt at ease, breathing less intense.

“See,” he chuckles, “you’re affected— now don’t tell me you aren’t.”

You roll your eyes but squeeze his hand in appreciation for his offer of comfort.

“Not saying I wasn’t,” you defended, “just that it isn’t entirely your fault— you damn opened the gates, that’s what you did.”

He laughs again more lightly, and somehow you wanted to see this Graves more than the other a moment ago.

“I did.” He admits, crooked grin more believable now.

“But its fine,” you reassure him by squeezing his hand, “might’ve needed it.”

You mutter lowly, still unsure of the reason why yourself but you don’t blame Graves. Like you admitted, he just opened pandora’s box in your head, it was already there and you were just keeping it. Denying the reality you were in, just because facing it was too much.

“Gotta ask something tumbstone,” you had to ask him why they were taking care of you so well. For fucks sake, you guys just met— its just not connecting!

“What is it?” He hums patiently, squeezing your hand back.

“Why…”

“…’why’ what..?”

“…why.. ugh- you’re gonna think its weird.” You try letting go of his hand but he doesn’t let you, pulling you in closer right to his nose.

His gaze, more hardened than before but you can tell that he’s encouraging you.

“C’mon sugar,” he urges, “I promise I won’t.”

You squint your eyes, your voice- thinking it was coming off confident- was more withheld and vulnerable that Graves knew he had to tread carefully.

“Pinky promise?”

He chuckled and links his free hand’s picky with yours, “well, you got me wrapped around ya’ pinky so a promise it is then.”

Your mouth tilts slightly upward at that.

“I…just wanna know…why- why you guys are so quick look out for someone like me?”

You see his eyes widen but mouth still shut, so you continue— trying to explain yourself.

“Its just,” you fumble trying to tie coherent words together, “I-i’m just figuring why I’m being treated so well?”

He stares at you for a moment before smiling, continuing to rub his thumb on your hand.

“What? You think we can’t be nice to people?”

You shook your head at his insinuation.

“No its not that! Ugh- feelings are so hard to explain—.”

“Then don’t,” he shrugs, “I can wait.”

He finally lets you go and you stare at him, contemplating, trying to ingest the meaning behind his words.

Maybe it was too early for this.

So, you nodded, going for another deep breath.

“Ok,” you sigh, “yeah- i’ll sort out my head first.”

You feel him pat your head, “that’s good.”

You feel your face heat so you looked away, grabbing the door handle to leave the car.

“I’m going then!”

He waves, “see you sometime then.”

You turn back to that, “you’re not coming with?”

He couldn’t help the coo that came out and pinched your cheeks.

“I’ve gotta job to do sweets,” he then subtly pushed you out of his car, “so don’t miss me too much, yeah?”

You huff, seeing yoursef caught slacking by him of all people, so you slammed his door.

“Never in a million years!!!”

You walk away with a middle finger in the air, and you can just hear his cackles echoing down the street.

You see the bakery in a couple of steps, and the lights signaling that it was open is still closed.

The plants, oh dear you should personally add that to the list yourself really, were still wilted as much as you saw it the first time.

The windows, all caked up with uncleaned water droplets, were foggy and unclear— another thing to do on the list.

The trash, the pile never ceased really— another to thing to do on the list.

You decided that you should take your mind off the issue you brought up with Graves for later— now, you gotta earn the money their pooling into you. (Another thing you wanted to ask them about as well.)

“Cara!”

You turn around and smile at the old couple, arms hooked by their elbows and covered head to toe in warm clothing.

And you realize its freezing from the way you were just in some shorts, a shirt, an old flannel over it, and some old sneakers.

No wonder they looked so concerned and rushed over you to wrap a scarf and beanie around you.

“Aren’t you cold, dearie?” Nonno asks, fixing the scarf around your neck. “I can hear your teeth chattering from all the way down the street.”

You chuckle, “just now- I swear I wasn’t a moment ago.”

Nonna clicks her tongue, getting the bakery door open to push you two inside.

“You’re gonna get sick wearin’ that!” She scolds as she sits you down in front of their fireplace that Nonno was trying to start, “don’t you have warmer clothes?”

You shook your head, offering to help Nonno but was forced to sit again by the pointed glare Nonna had you as she stared you down.

“I-uh…” you swear you were already sweltering from the heat of her gaze, “…never thought I needed it, never grew up at a place that became this cold.”

She nods, sighing with a rub to her temples.

"I'll check if the boys have their old warmers around their rooms."

You stand to protest but with a hand raised from Nonna, you clamped up and just thanked her.

Nonno sees this and chuckles, strolling up to you to pat you on the head.

"Don't worry," he reassures, "she's just worried."

This makes you question him, "why though?"

"why, what?"

You place your head in your heads, fingers tangled up in your already messed up hair.

"Why are you all worrying about me so much?"

Even if you couldn't see it at the moment, Nonno smiled sadly at the fact of seeing react to their worries. He wonders what happened to you that made you question the kindness and care people show you. Were you so unused to being exposed to it that you suspect that there's always an underlying intent behind the niceties people show you?

Or were you questioning it because of them being involved with the mafia?

"You think we can't worry like normal people?" He jokes and he sees you perk up in recognition.

"No-!" You were quick to deny and feel frustrated being misunderstood but, you knew you weren't explaining things properly on your end either. "Its... not like that."

"Well, why don't you think about it like this for now." he stands in front of you, making you look up at him finally, and he tuts, rubbing those unshed tears at the corner of your eyes.

"We're just your bosses worrying about our only employee," he pats your cheek, "and we don't want to them to skip work because they got sick."

You bit your lip and take your time processing his words-- yeah you could look at it that way, but wasn't it unnatural to care that much? Or were you just looking into it too much?

'No, remember what Graves said.'

Just... give it time, no need to get to an answer right now. If he can wait for your answer, then you'll wait to figure out one for yourself too. You'll metaphorically hang it at the hanger called the back of your mind and focus on the now.

The now being the list that started from your head to toe.

"Hey Nonna," you hear a hum from the cash register as you stand in front of the pin board, "why is the list as long as me now?"

"Well, new day new list of things to do!"

"Fuck."

'I should've just maybe thought about it a little more.'

The day goes by quickly, faster than you thought as you accomplish one task to the next, barely taking breaks unless it was an offer of food or drinks from Nonno and Nonna.

From tackling onto that trash pile bit by bit to send it off with the guy who's quite disappointed to see you again, cooking dishes with Nonno and serving the tables during lunch rush, cleaning up all the dining areas and the kitchen, washing the glass at the front, clearing out all the dead plants, bake some pastries with Nonna, to serving once again during come merienda time.

"Hey, lovie."

You sigh, seeing the usual four at their regular table but surprisingly in more casual outfits. You don't know why but you smile at how comfy they look compared to their constrained suits you saw them in twice.

"Hi," you greeted tiredly, "how's it going?"

"You look worse for wear."

"Is that you're tagline for me Ghost?"

This gets a round of chuckles from them whereas Ghost huffs, but from the slightly crinkle at the corner of his eyes, you could tell he was smirking from under his mask.

"You really do this time, nest-head." Suds points out and you huff, turning to Grickky.

"I don't look that bad, right?"

He frowns then sends a sympathetic glance, "well..."

"Have you recuperated yet?" Price asks and you nod.

"Just lots of things to work on 'round here."

They all nod sympathetically.

"Thanks for helping them out-- we know how much it can get a lot with them." Price explains, offering a hand and you stare at it.

Mind buffering at how... similarly they acted and you just, did what your instincts told you to do and hold his in yours.

Price stares at you in shock and you did now as well.

It then clicks in your head that he was just talking with his hands.

So you try to retract it but he keeps a firmer grip in yours-- not letting go.

"I-i'm so sorry Price- it's been a long day and I thought you guys do this for comfort and I just assumed---"

"Shh," he hushed you and rubs his other hand on top of both of yours, "breath."

You take a shaky breath in and out.

"Guess that answer's your question boss." Suds chuckles, hands behind his head in a lax position.

"I'm okay."

You say such but none of them are convinced.

"Right," Ghost quips, "and I'm the Queen of England."

You glare at him, "you think you're so funny huh? Mr. I'm-the-clown-of-my-own-circus."

The tables explodes into laughter once more but this time Ghost isn't as amused as you, grin now plastered on yours instead.

"Why don't we bring 'em with us boss?" Gaz asks, once his laughter died out and wiped the invisible tears from his eyes.

"Bring where?" You ask, a bit curious. You turn to look at your tugged hand to Price who subtly pulled your attention to him.

"Just a social club down the street," he explains, "similar to a club but less of the party aspect and more of the drinking, snacking, and chatting part."

"Ya' 'tis not too stimulating and more like chillin' like its a game night," Suds adds on and you nod in understanding as you let out an interesting, "ooh~."

"Maybe it'll help you wind down," Gaz offers up his one cent as well and you nod.

"I think it would." All of them perk up, "but my shift's not over."

"Its over now!"

"Oof-!" You suddenly got hit in the back by a bag which made you stumble and Price catch you so that you wouldn't fall flat on your face. Again.

"Go have fun!" Nonna bids farewell while you look at her all offended, seeing just how easy it is for her to just use you and throw you away with a flick of her hand.

"You're just going to make the list longer!" You complain and try to go back to her and confront her, but the unexpected lift by the armpits from Suds made you all the more hissy.

"Hey!" you try slapping but he laughs and dodges. "you're not even letting me choose if I want to go or not!"

Gaz slides into your peripheral, booping your nose and instantly stopping your struggles like your mind just halted from the metaphorical button that switched it off. (The three are highly amused by discovering this about you but try their best to keep their giggles to a minimum.)

"You already did by saying, "I think so!'" He copies your voice and you just had about half a mind to whack him if Soap didn't haul you over his shoulder, exiting the shop with his other mates while they all said their thanks to Nonno and Nonna.

"I can't believe I'm getting kidnapped by mafiosos," you grumble, "what a time to be alive."

Ghost, who was walking behind with Price, ruffles your hair.

"first time?"

You swore you swacked him so hard that it echoes in the alleway you guys were passing by and the comedic echo of it made the others just crack up and die.

"You're my drinking buddy?" You ask Suds who sat across from the loveseat you were sitting on at the side of the room, where it was a bit secluded from the main hall where there was some games going on at the moment.

Soap shrugs, taking a swig of his drink before replying. "Just happened to see your lonely ass brooding."

You frown, taking a swig of your own beer before gagging at the taste.

He sees your reaction and offers his hand, and this time you don't take it so readily- and Soap connects the dots.

"Your bottle," he chuckles, "if ya' don't like it then let take it out of ya' hands."

"Oh," you embarrassingly handed it to him, "thanks. I kinda like more fruity or spritz-y type-a drinks."

"A zeltzer?" he asks cackles loudly and you snap at him.

"No! Yikes- hate those."

You continue watch him bellow and you notice how his face was more relatively red than usual, and you think that he's less put-up about his walls once the alcohol was in his system.

"Why don't I try and get you something then?" He offers, finally calming down and you cross your arms in suspicion.

"... What's in it for me?"

He shakes his head, an obvious smirk on his face. "A free drink on me of course."

"Hmm," you hum and fake-think about the proposition, "sounds tempting, good sir."

He catches on. "No need to pay a pretty price for a pretty person like ya'."

You both giggle and you just relent, letting him get you one as a surprise.

As he left though, you decided that sitting here made your bowels act up from the two bottles you already had in you. You bought your first one and regretted it so you downed it immediately, not wanting to waste it, so Price- thinking you really liked it and needed another- offered to get you one himself.

You couldn't deny the man when he already slotted another in your hand, and so you did the same thing- downing it like a champ but this time, Gaz catches you right as you finished it, watching the whole spectacle.

Hence, that's how Soap found you in the corner, inebriated with a pleasant buzz but almost puking at the taste of your third one for the night.

And all of that is begging to go out another way.

So, you try your best- with crossed gait- to get the bathroom as fast as possible.

Until you bump into some guy who was blocking the restroom, you thought he was gonna stand aside once he saw you but no-- he just stood there like a wall.

"what the fuck dude," you mutter, holding onto your forehead where you made contact with his hard chest. "can you not block the toilets?"

The man, hidden behind a mask quite similar to Ghost, stared down at me.

"Occupied." This behemoth simply says and this makes you irk.

"Look," you poke at his chest, "I need to go."

He stares down at you before looking at his companion, a mask covering the lower half of his face as well with sunglasses covering his eyes, said partner shook his head.

"No."

"No?" You scoffed, "you think you can control my bowels?!"

The man besides him sighs, "its occupied alright, there's another down the other hallway."

You whip your head at him so fast that he flinched.

"I fucking said," you stalked up to the guy and shouted-- "I NEED TO TAKE A SHIT!"

"what the hell is going on out here?!"

The bathroom door slams open and the two immediately step aside to bow to this man, gruff with whites in his hair. The man was busy fixing his clothes, whereas the girl in his arms was so giddy that she didn't care that her bra was literally slipping off both her shoulders.

You gagged.

"Nothing sir, someone just wanted to use the bathroom--" The tall guys explains but gets cut off the man screeching out orders.

"Then take fucking deal with it quickly!"

"yes sir."

Both of them then turn to you, who almost gagged at the second time seeing the girl turn around with the man, barely able to catch up with him with her panties hanging and... dripping.

"Leave." They both commanded and you rolled your eyes, about to leave until Soap appeared down the hall- asking for you.

"Where are you pretty-? What the fuck?!"

You see him running and by the time you turn around again as you hear the click of something familiar--

a gun was in between your eyes, straight at your forehead.

So close that your eyes went cross-eyes, made you dizzy and gagged for a third time.

Even worse so, that went Soap tries pushing you out of the way, it pushed you forward and land on the behemonth- taking him off balance and throwing you in another dizzying spell.

This time, confirming that the beer did come out of your system one way or another.

Right.

On.

His.

Suit.

"Konig!"

Note to self, never buy beer again.

A/N: Well, this one was in the drafts for a while but-- we finally get to put some special peepo in this chapter hehe~ Next is the epilogue with it featuring two POVs this time, as always- will be cookin' up the next one soon ~

Taglist! <3

@astreaaaaaa6 @accidental-obsessionist @sunshineistoofuckingbright

[missmarveledsblog]

In love with its fate series and the oneshots can you do a hc or oneshot of how bradley proposed also nicknaming her sunny genius cause hes rooster and shes sunshine 😭😭😭💓💓

of course i will i touched on it lightly in Brooster but here's the full story of how brooster propose to the future mrs sunny bradshaw.

Soon to be Mrs Brooster

summary : rooster finally plans to put a ring on sunny's finger

warning : tooth rotten fluff , rooster being a simp

He was waiting for this , probably since the first moment he actually met her , talked to her.  He was ready to ask the moment their first date was ended but he bided his time much to everyone surprise bradley lasted two years before he was doing what they honestly thought was going to happen much sooner . a week back from their trip from visiting her parents and getting one of the most important yes which was their permission to ask her to be his. To finally make y/n “ sunny “ seresin his soon to be wife ( officially ) .  he couldn’t imagine his life not having this woman in his life from her laugh to her putting him and jake in their place ( he wouldn’t be surprised if mav had her on speed dial ) .  He went through so many ways to do it from writing it in the sky ,  on the beach as they flown above to even doing it in the hard deck randomly but none of that felt much right so he decided to bring it back to the first date , that night was something he would never forget he really pulled out all the stops and never stopped but that night was one both his and her favourites .  thanksgiving had just ended and christmas was now the next one , he could wait til then but he was sure he would explode if he was to do so . He had all hands on deck , from jake help as much as he love to annoy rooster he would help with anything he knew would make his little sister happy  even if that was actually rooster. 

The coming day bradley  was practising what to say wondering what would sound best but nothing was fitting , nothing stood out . then trying to get everything like it was that night felt impossible  the lights and candles seemed to needing to be replaced but yet out of stock giving christmas was the next approaching holiday . it was like everything was against the whole idea even jake was going out of his way to get what was needed. It wasn’t til the day before when nat and bob ran into the hangar panting and sweating holding boxes and bags in their hands . 

“ we got them , well nat got them , she almost beat up an old lady “ bob gulp when she glared at him. 

“ you’re welcome bradshaw also name that first born after me and we call it even”  she shrugged ignoring the look of slight fear and impressed that pete michell was giving her . 

“ not up to me but i’ll let sunny know … well if she says yes .. shit what if she doesn’t say yes” he went to from happy to panicking  in a spilt second all the nerves hitting in the one second making him to want to explode and every fear coming to the surface .  irrational fear not that he could see how much his love is returned  or how she was  just as crazy about him , no sense or reason could reach this man in the spiral of what if that spun around his head .   the face of fear and everything that was neighbouring on his face as the dagger squad offered reassurance . It was like something between the chaos and the signs of the universe  or grace of god that sunny walked into the door holding something as simple as his lunch and moment she saw him distressed and upset even not having a clue what was really going on, yet she ran to his side instantly hands on each cheek , she was speaking barely register til he saw the worry and concern all over her face .  pure love  in her eyes grounding him , melting every  bad negative feelings like a universal fate filled sign this was meant to be.  Feeling himself come back to his senses just by her touch not that it need to be said but he was truly and completely in love with this woman . 

“ brooster baby you  ok ?” her voice that sweet sugar sweet voice hitting his ears making him feel like he could breathe again .   

“ yeah it i’m ok just tough week is all “ a smile on his face he wasn’t completely lying he staying up a bit later  making sure everything would be perfect . 

“ why don’t you take rest of day off , we don’t have much to do today “ Mav smiled softly , he always did in a sense they were so similar to carole and nick in the way they were so taken with each other but yet so different in a way too. 

“ thank you pete , i’ll make sure he gets some rest “ she beamed not even waiting for her man to respond even when she threw his keys to nat . almost pulling him out of the bunker not taking any excuse that was bound to come out of his mouth nope she was not having it that’s for sure  not that he could , as much as he would work to the bone to make sure she was ok he did enjoy when she would look after him too something he had to get used to since most women before were so different  not that it was bad but it wasn’t like this . 

The day before the engagement maybe was something he needed that sort of reset and refresh now that he was looking back. But it also just made him want to do it more , it gave him the perfect idea’s that were staring him back in the face . as he sat in their shared space , their home . her little knick knacks that placed around the place , little cushions and pieces that made it a home. Something he thought he made it a home but clearly it was not like that until she came along and showed him how much of a home this house could be .   things that brighten up the area sort of like a representation of how she brightened up his life.   She busied herself while he was sitting eating the lunch she warmed up for him then once he was finished she led him up to the bathroom  only for him to see the bathroom covered in the scented candles , the scents of lavender and chamomile that hit his nose , a kiss on his cheek placing the beer on the side of the tub and heading off once more leaving him pouting that she wasn’t going to be joining him .  when he was out , clean and relaxed in every sense to see his pyjamas that he only ever wore as sort of lounge clothes .  only coming down to the living room more and more each thing she was doing was making it easier and easier for what he would do the next day .  eating dinner watching his comfort movies and comfort foods little things to put his overworked brain to rest. 

That morning rooster woke knew lease of life , knowing what he wanted to do and how to make it perfect for his girl. Letting her sleep he crept from the bed slowly got dressed headed to the cafe the one where the first properly talked got to know each other  . getting her a coffee and alongside her favourite pastry then he got breakfast on way home with her favourite flowers . waking her up with kisses all over her face looking down at  the smile on her sleepy face was something that always made his day better , if he woke in a foul mood all he would need to rectify that was seeing her smile . Then they went to the beach  like it was just a normal day but he knew it wasn’t , the dagger squad. Then for lunch he brought her to her favourite place seeing her excitement was always a highlight in his week. Then at home again like normalish  day maybe the fact he was spoiling her a little extra was there but he would shrug it off and say she deserved it  or when he told her they had a surprise date to which she excitedly expressed she got to wear the new dress she gotten the other day with nat for, one he got nat to bring her own  .  every single time she would leave him lost for words but then again it could be a potato sack and she would look the most beautiful woman to ever walk gods green earth.  

That night was like so many date only more special since it was the very restaurant they went to for their first date. She told him of her christmas plans for her kindergarteners all the fun and magic she wanted to give them before they were off for christmas as well as some plans for their own christmas like going to virginia so bradley could see his parents .

“ we can go texas for christmas “ he shrugged it  off. 

“ nah i already told my mama she got us for thanksgiving  , ok i may of booked the rental house which jake paid for  and  i will get our food in advance and have it brought with us “ she beamed. “ least this time you won’t be alone when you go and you get to spend christmas with your folks in a way “ she kissed his hand holding it close. 

“ you would spend your christmas in a graveyard just so i could have christmas with my parents?”. 

“ brooster radley bradley  i would spend christmas  in a dive bar in middle of nowhere if it was something you wanted but it not that it’s spending time with people you love whatever shape or form which is more important “ she giggled . 

“ i wish they got you meet you because jesus christ baby you are most perfect woman i’ve ever met you know that” he smiled feeling his eyes misty and lump in his throat , 

“ i wish i could of met em too , thank them for bringing such a handsome , funny man like you into the world , oh  it was suppose to be a surprise so can’t tell jake i told you apparently your not allowed to know he likes you” she shook her head wiping the few tears falling down his face  not knowing more would come then once dinner was done they headed to what she thought was the hard deck to finish the night off .  only for him to  to bring her near the entrance again tricking her then moving to toward the beach that sat behind .   the light and candle seemed even more magical she couldn’t place her finger on why but it was even more fairytale like than that night .   the add rose petal that place everywhere leading them to the sand except this time it wasn’t a speaker that await for them but a live music . he may of pulled a favor or two getting couple of people he knew could play their favourite songs .  it something she would of never experience in her life and yet with brooster radly bradley bradshaw he made those things possible .  the moonlight high in the sky hitting the water so beautifully . he held his hand out to her sway  wanting to capture the way she looked in that very moment burn the image into his mind for the rest of his life , the sound of her laugh when he twirl her around . this was it  granted he had both knees on the ground fixing himself and the confused on her face then the realisation when he pulled the ring out.

“ baby i can’t imagine what i did in this life to even begin to figure out how i got  lucky to get a girl like you in my life , ever since i was a little boy my mom told me of  soul mates , how i was going to find the woman of my dreams  and i would be so in love and i thought she finally was going off her rocker than i started seeing this absolutely breathtaking beauty everywhere and i was a goner and then i met her over coffee even though her brother warned me to stay away “ he chuckled and she shook her head but tear falling down her face . “ but i couldn’t not when i talked more and more with this beautiful way out of my league kindergarten teacher who just make the world so much better and brighter by being in it the love i have for you is the love my mom told me about all those years , the one that finally made me think i deserve love , one that without even thinking would spend her day to make me feel better or is willing to spend her christmas in a grave yard just so i can see my parents. Baby there is and never will be anyone in this world that i would or could spend the rest of my life with  than you and i don’t know how i waited so  long to do this but please would you do me the honor and marry me ?” he voice cracked looking up to see her tear filled face and smile so wide. 

“ yess i will marry you bradley radley brooster “ letting him place the ring on her finger what he didn’t expect was her to dive on him there and then excitedly on the sand kissing all over his face . “ i love you so much “ was all she could get out of her mouth before his lips crashed into hers .   he said it from day one she was going to be the future misses bradshaw and she always hope she would be mrs bradley radley  brooster .

[jennycalendar]

“ngl i thought you were the weak one of this friend group but your whole life just went to complete shit around you and somehow you’re still acting the same so if you want to be weak you can be around me” au

This is not even au for Jaheira and Khalid this is just them lmao

THIS IS JUST THEM!!!! ended up writing it as literally just them bc it. It is just them.

It is not a walk-it-off sort of injury. Khalid’s arm is barely attached to his body. Their cleric is a good distance away, and the state of their party after this battle is dire enough that his injury simply is not highest-priority right now. Jaheira, who was paired with him for his first mission, who was therefore responsible for protecting him as he found his bearings, is trying very hard not to let guilt and shame take her over, because neither are constructive emotions, nor will they calm him when she removes his helmet.

He has not moved. He is slumped against a tree. She lifts the helmet to check his breathing, expecting to see the pain and fear of a green Harper realizing how truly serious their foes are, and instead he meets her eyes with gentle concern. Raises a hand to her face, which is hardly the sort of thing that—that is, they have not known each other for very long, and—

“You look,” he coughs, speckling her front with blood, “w-worried.”

Jaheira says, slightly hysterically, “Your arm is nearly severed.”

“Oh, that,” says Khalid dismissively. He pulls a face. “I’ll walk it off.”

“You’ll walk it off?”

“Got worse at home,” says Khalid, and smiles like he thinks this is funny. Jaheira is struck with the urge to beat him to death before realizing that this is possibly counterintuitive, and also possibly not at all what she wants, long-term. What she wants from him is less familiar and much more frightening. “Petra, she’s—taking care of Wyn. Yes?” When Jaheira tries to bring her healing magic to her fingertips, he says, gently reproving, “You’re, you’re out of magic. Wait.”

“I cannot.”

“Wait.”

How is he so calm? He is delicate, nervous, shy and unsure in absolutely all situations they have been in up until now. He defers to her and to other senior Harpers with a sort of quiet relief, as though the concept of taking charge himself is not something he is at all comfortable with. She has been preparing herself for the arduous task of either forcing him to toughen up or illuminating to him that this is not the life for him, and yet—yet even in those moments of contemplation, turning over strategies to reach him and make him realize the importance of bravery, all of her thoughtful theories felt hollow. There always felt like there was something she was missing. She thinks that she is seeing it now.

Khalid squeezes her shoulder with his good hand. He says, calmly, “I’m fine,” in the thin, thready voice of a dying man. How is he so calm?

Jaheira has known him for two weeks. The thought that flits through her mind is more terrifying than the blood soaking into the grass: I just found you. I cannot lose you now.

Petra sprints over, white-faced, healing potions clinking together in her bag. Jaheira allows herself to be pushed aside. She is thinking about the space in her own satchel that she usually reserves for her own complicated alchemical concoctions, and what it might do to instead save a healing potion or two for Khalid. Just in case. 

Petra straightens. Khalid is sitting up, both arms attached. Jaheira wants to throw herself at him, which is not an emotion she has ever experienced about another person before, and the fear holds her still. She curls her fingers around her satchel and waits, mouth drawn tight.

Khalid picks up his dented helmet from the ground, examining it ruefully. He looks back up at Jaheira and the corners of his mouth soften. “Saer,” he says. “I’m fine. No need to worry.”

Petra scoffs. “As if Jaheira’d worry over you!” she says, a laugh in her voice. “Or anyone! We know that face well enough, little Harper; that’s the face she makes when she’s too mad to even speak. You’d do well not to charge in ahead like that next time. She can take care of herself.”

Like a lightning strike, Jaheira realizes what she had not caught in the heat of battle: he had taken that blow for her. She can think of a thousand cutting reprimands that a senior Harper would bark in this moment, but a lost little girl from Tethyr, never once protected, can only shut her mouth and stare hungrily at him with a thousand things she will someday figure out how to say.

[deezee112]

The Worst Ending 1 : A Perfectionist's Regret

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | The worst ending 2

Yandere!riddle rosehearts x GN!Reader

A/N : I've been really motivated to do this lately. I've got 5 drafts left! I feel like this chapter is not well written. I will try harder in the next chapter :( And I'm sorry that I'm uploading this late. I had a really bad stomachache so I uploaded it a bit late.

Content Warning : This story contains themes of emotional strain , obsessive behavior , accidental death , guilt , and grief. It explores intense psychological dynamics and depicts a tragic ending involving a fatal accident. Reader discretion is advised.

Tags :

@iris-arcadia

“ I’ll Name You Riddle ”

The name slipped off you tongue almost effortlessly, as if it had been waiting there all along. You gazed at the doll's blank yet lifelike face and nodded to herself. “ Riddle. That’s what I’ll call you. ”

The doll blinked slowly, as though acknowledging its new identity.

You didn’t know why you had chosen that name it had simply felt right. It carried a certain weight, a sense of authority. You stood and stretched, glancing down at you peculiar charge. “ Well, Riddle, looks like it’s you and me now. Let’s see how far we can take this. ”

Teaching Riddle proved to be both an intriguing and frustrating experience. At first , he could barely do anything on his own. You had to guide him through every motion , every word, every action. You taught him how to speak , patiently repeating phrases until his soft , childlike voice mimicked your perfectly. You taught him how to walk , holding his hands and encouraging him to take one step at a time.

What surprised your most was his ability to learn. Once Riddle grasped the basics, he began picking up new skills at an astonishing rate. He could read within weeks , solve simple puzzles shortly after , and soon displayed an uncanny understanding of rules and structure.

“ I want things to be perfect. ” he said one evening, his voice calm yet insistent as he carefully folded his clothes. “ Everything should be just right. ”

You raised an eyebrow, watching him from the kitchen. “ Perfect, huh? Life’s rarely like that, kid. Sometimes things get messy. ”

Riddle turned to you, his expression thoughtful. “ Messy isn’t good. Messy means failure. ”

You sighed, walking over to ruffle his red hair. It was soft and fine, feeling more human with every passing day. “ Messy means you’re human. Nobody gets everything right all the time. ”

Riddle frowned at you, his crimson eyes sharp and intense. “ I’ll be perfect. You’ll see. ”

You chuckled. “ If you say so, Riddle. ”

As months turned into years, Riddle grew into a sharp and disciplined boy. He excelled at everything you taught him , whether it was academics , cooking ( It was actually quite bad but he tried 😔 ) , or even social etiquette. But his relentless pursuit of perfection came with a cost.

He was strict not just with himself , but with your as well. He insisted on rules for everything how meals should be prepared , how furniture should be arranged , even how conversations should flow.

“ You didn’t say ‘please’ ” Riddle pointed out one evening when You asked him to pass the salt.

You rolled you eyes. “ Riddle, I’m not going to follow rules for something as small as this. ”

“ But rules are important ” he argued , his voice rising slightly. “ They keep everything in order! ”

“ And sometimes, order isn’t what you need ” You countered , you tone firm. “ Relax, Riddle. Life isn’t all about rules. ”

His eyes darkened, and for a moment, You thought he might argue further. But then he simply nodded, his expression unreadable.

“ You didn’t fold the napkins properly ” he pointed out one evening as you set the table.

You sighed, barely restraining you irritation. “ Riddle, it’s just dinner. No one’s grading us on napkin folding. ”

“ But it’s wrong ” he insisted, his voice sharp.

“ Riddle ” you said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “ It’s not a big deal. Let it go. ”

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, you thought he might argue. But instead, he nodded stiffly and returned to his task, his movements tense and mechanical.

Their your and him arguments grew more frequent as time went on. You tried to reason with him, to show him that life wasn’t about rigid rules and unattainable standards. But Riddle was unyielding, his belief in perfection as absolute as the laws he created for himself.

It was a stormy evening when everything fell apart. You had come home late, drenched from the rain and utterly exhausted. You kicked off your shoes and left them in the middle of the hallway, something you know Riddle would disapprove of.

“ y/n ” his voice called from the living room, calm but cold.

You sighed, running a hand through your wet hair. “ Not now, Riddle. I’m tired. ”

“ You left your shoes in the hallway ” he said, appearing in the doorway. His expression was as strict as ever, his eyes gleaming with disapproval.

“ I’ll move them later ” you muttered, brushing past him.

“ No ” he said, his voice rising slightly. “ You need to move them now. ”

You turned to face him, you patience snapping. “ Riddle, it’s just a pair of shoes! Why does everything have to be a big deal with you!? ”

“ Because rules matter!! ” he shouted, his small fists clenched at his sides.

“ Not all the time! ” you shot back. “ Sometimes, you have to let things go! ”

But Riddle didn’t listen. In his mind, you refusal to follow the rules was a betrayal of everything he believed in. He reached out to grab you arm, his grip surprisingly strong.

“ Riddle, let go ” you said, you voice low and warning.

“ You don’t understand ” he said, his voice trembling with frustration. “ You never understand! ”

He pushed you, and You stumbled backward. you foot caught on the edge of the coffee table, and you fell hard, you head striking the corner of the table.

Time seemed to freeze as you crumpled to the floor, motionless.

“ y-y/n..? ” Riddle’s voice was small, almost a whisper.

He knelt beside you, his hands shaking as he reached out to touch her. “ y/n, get up. Please, get up! ”

But you didn’t move.

Riddle sat beside you lifeless body, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts. He hadn’t meant to hurt you. He had just wanted you to understand.

“ I-I didn’t mean to… ” he whispered, his voice cracking.

He cradled you head in his lap, tears streaming down his pale cheeks. For the first time in his short life, Riddle felt the weight of imperfection not in himself, but in the world around him. A world where mistakes had consequences he couldn’t undo.

“ I’m sorry.. ” he choked out, his tears falling onto her still face. “ I’m so sorry.... ”

Hours passed, and Riddle didn’t move. He stayed by you side, his small hands clutching your as though his touch could bring her back.

“ I’ll fix this ” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “ I’ll find a way. I’ll be better. I’ll be perfect, just like you wanted. ”

But deep down, he know there was no fixing this. you was gone, and it was his fault.

When the authorities arrived, they found Riddle sitting silently beside You body, his expression blank but his eyes haunted.

They asked him what had happened, but he didn’t answer. He couldn’t. The words caught in his throat, suffocating him with their weight.

Riddle was taken away, his fate uncertain. But no punishment the world could offer would compare to the torment he carried within himself.

Every night, he dreams of your voice. Your laughter Your unwavering patience, and every morning, he wakes up with the painful feeling that he may never hear your voice again.

He had sought perfection, but in the end, all he had found was loss.

“ I’m so sorry.... ”

[funkyfreshman]

Somthing for my Archerylout au where Snotlout starts working with a bow in battle rather then hammers and axes cause it’s so silly

Anyways wrote this in like a day so it’s sloppy but whatever

Also have no clue how to write hiccup I just wrote him sassy but whatever

‘Fuck this” Curses Snotlout from his hiding spot which is located on a cliff overlooking a group of hunters who he assumes got the jump on Hiccup, Fishlegs and Astrid, how they managed that he has no clue, especially with Astrids freakish ability to just know someone is sneaking up on her. From what Snotlout can see and hear the group have Hiccup hostage sword held to his throat to keep him from attempting escape as well as keep Astrid and Fishlegs off them. Speaking of those two, he can hear them attempting to negotiate with the man who held Hiccup hostage. He then finds himself asking where the dragons are, with a quick skim of the campsite below he can see them immobilized, most likely the work of dragon root. His fist clenched at the sight of Hookfang among the rest of the dragons, he could see from here the dragons breath heavy and eyes closed from exhaustion due to his body fighting against the poison of the root. Great hiccup might get another limb cut off, his dragon is poisoned, and Snotlout has yet to have dinner. ‘This shit better wrap up quick’

He felt from the very beginning this trip was gonna be a bust, it wasn't even a mission or anything just some team bonding but nooo, Hiccup had to go and make himself a hostage. Snotlout had just returned to camp from hunting having caught some rabbits and ducks for dinner just to arrive back to see this mess.. Really he heard it before he saw it.

Snotlout eyes flick over to his bow, a semblance of an idea forming in his head. His bow, which was a gift from his grandfather, is something incredibly important to him a lot of his down time within his hut at the edge or while hunting he does maintenance on the bow, as well as the quiver which is something he’s made himself, it’s his pride and joy. He however typically only uses it for hunting and only practices when he is bored of his other training which as of late has been a lot. His skills have increased dramatically and yes, around others he will brag and overhype himself(something he will never admit) he’s very self critical of his performance. Especially when it comes to archery as it was something that meant a lot to his grandfather.

He continues to eye the bow, his hands slowly reaching to grab it. Maybe he could..if his father heard he took out a Viking with something other than brute strength and force...but oh it would be so easy, he knows he can hit this shot, he’s hit birds from so much further.

Once again he mutters a “fuck this” this one more forceful then the first and he snatches his bow with his left hand and grabs an arrow that sits in his quiver with his right all in one swift turn and quickly lines up the shot. Within that movement all noise stops for him, his brain almost seems to shut off as he stares at the scene below for a moment looking for his target, once spotted he draws his bow, his right hand drawn back to his cheek, and waits like that for a moment waiting and watching the hunter holding Hiccup turns towards him and- THWIP

Hiccup was very tired of being yanked around by this guy, like he gets it he’s like a stick that weighs like an apple but oh my gods, he’s mostly annoyed at the fact that they got the jump on them, also the fact that they are even here. This was supposed to be just a team bonding camping trip as he could see everyone was getting antsy and stressed with the dragon hunters. This is what he gets for being nice he guesses. He’s yanked once again and zoned back in when the blade skins his neck a little and he can’t help but voice his complaints “maybe you can loosen up on the blade a litt-“ THWIP

He is cut off when the grip on his bound hands lets up as does the stinging pressure on his throat from the sword, he hears a thump as the large Viking falls and he turns to see what happend and to his shock as well as everyone in the damn clearing. There is the man, an arrow right through the eye, shot dead.

He stands there in shock at what the fuck just happend. “what the fuck.” He finds himself muttering. He is not alone in this shock as the group of hunters stare at their now dead captain. Some backed away slowly from the campsite. Well slow until a second is hit in the shoulder, then quickly after another once again in the shoulder, yells of retreat shouting out and the men running for their lives. It is silent until a loud familiar voice raises from above

“I FUCKIN HIT EM, YOU SEE THAT HICCUP.SNOTLOUT SAVED YOUR LIFE…AGAIN! SNOTLOUT SNOTLOUT OI OI OI” Snotlout shouts from his hiding place, having jumped up from behind the brush his hands raised victorious above his head, he then turns quickly still shouting his victory and raises his hunts above his head as well “I ALSO GOT DINNER~~” he then goes comes bolting down the side of the cliff, and presents it to the group.

“What fuck snotlout”

[nexus-nebulae]

ok but like. one thing i really like about god of war is how Mimir is just. a talking decapitated head. all he can really do is talk, he can't move himself around or anything. and yet he's still given just as much autonomy and respect as any of the other fully abled characters

[fascinationstreetmp3]

I have what you're looking for. High quality. Befitting a man of my tastes. I have a room over on Divisadero, not too far a walk.

[trianglegoddess]

Feral McGee™

It starts with the Joker. 

His goons picked up Tim Drake. Not specifically because it was Tim Drake, he just so happened to be in the Joker’s neighborhood, and we'll, he can't pass up that opportunity now can he? 

Except Tim Drake is watching, along with the rest of Gotham, at the Batcomputer. He’s nursing a broken foot and has been put on monitor duty until he's cleared for field work again. 

The guy looks enough like him, though. Black hair, blue eyes, and bags under his eyes for days. He's also got the same lean sort of build like he does. 

It happens like this. 

The Joker is doing his monologue thing where he explains whatever twisted game he's come up with this time. He takes up the majority of the screen, so nobody can see Not-Tim behind him, not until the big reveal. Then he covers the screen again, getting up close and personal, before stepping back. In those quick few seconds, Not-Tim is no longer sitting there tied to the chair. 

Someone off camera lets the Joker know, and he whirls around, confused as the rest of Gotham. 

And then Not-Tim comes in with the steel chair. 

Or, well, a crowbar, but the reference holds up. 

He takes out one of Joker’s knees before punching him in the face. The Joker drops like a bag of stones, out cold. 

Then he looks towards the camera. 

“Hey there. I'm not really sure where I am, but also if he was after Tim Drake, he got the wrong guy. I'm not him, I'm just some dude. Anyway, I'll just-yep-” he carefully steps over the unconscious Joker, gives the camera a little wave, and then leaves. 

Batman and Nightwing enter shortly after, with the Joker and his goons out cold and tied up. The knots were complicated enough where, in the end, the police resorted to cutting the ties off of them so they could be properly cuffed and taken to Arkham. 

“A constrictor knot,” Batman tells Nightwing as they watch the villain be taken away. “Often used by sailors to temporarily tie things together to keep something in a bag, or to hold something to glue it back together.”

“Huh,” Nightwing says, scratching the back of his head. “Go figure.”

—

The next time it happens, it’s the Riddler. 

He’s laughing, giving his riddles to the Bats and recording himself to all of Gotham while his victim, one of the Wayne brats, hangs over a vat of something. From a distance, he looks like Tim Drake, or maybe a lankier Dick Grayson. And he’s not the only victim, they’re all scattered across the city, but he thought an important figure such as a Wayne should be under the Riddler’s direct supervision while he enacts his schemes. 

While the Riddler cackles and plots and waves his cane around, in the background all of Gotham can see the figure escape. Several Gothamites recognize him as the kid from before, who clocked the Joker. They all watch with bated breath as he sort of wiggles his way out of the ropes holding him up. Once he’s free, he climbs the rope and gets himself down safely. 

Gotham holds their breath as the kid casually walks up to the Riddler, who’s mid-rant. He politely taps him on the shoulder, and as the Riddler is turning around, the kid clocks him just as brutally as he had the Joker. He’s down with one punch. 

They think he’s going to say another sort of awkward goodbye, but instead he pats the Riddler down until he finds a piece of paper tucked into the inside pocket of his jacket. 

“Right,” the kid says, looking at the list. There’s a lot more static overlay now, and several wonder if it’s damage to the cameras. “Uh, the Clocktower, the Docks, and-” he squints at the page for a moment-”Mama Nacaroni’s? What the fuck is that? Anyway, uh. See you later, I guess. Oh! And we’re at the Gotham Arena. Have fun with him, I guess.”

The kid tosses the paper off to the side before the camera cuts to black. 

Just like last time, everyone is out cold and tied up. The Riddler himself is sporting a pretty bad shiner, but well deserved nonetheless. 

“Stop it,” Red Hood tells him. Batman just looks at him, and though Hood can’t see the top half of his face, he can tell that his eyebrow is raised. “You know exactly what I mean, B. Put the adoption papers away.”

“Hn.”

—

After that, it sorta becomes a game. The rogues of Gotham are no longer after a Wayne, or after anybody who holds any kind of social status like usual. They’re all going after this one kid, all determined to be the one to hold him. And each one is televised. 

Mr. Freeze freezes him in a block of ice, but due to the cameras glitching out, nobody can really see how he got free. They do, however, see the kid suplex Mr. Freeze. It should seem impossible, given his lanky figure, but he evidently has more muscle than he’s originally let on. 

Two-Face gets a hold of him, using chains and some power-dampening cuffs just on the off-chance that he’s a meta. They all watch as the kid leans down, pulls a bobby pin out of his hair, and picks the locks on his cuffs. One punch, and Two-Face is down. 

Gothamites are going wild for the kid. They’ve dubbed him Feral McGee™ (an online poll, of course), because every time he goes in for the punch he gets this feral look in his eyes. Also, just the fact that he casually goes up to these rogues and takes them out with all the casualness of doing something incredibly mundane? Incredible. The Gothamites are eating it up. However, despite the video evidence, nobody has been able to properly identify the kid. They know he has black hair and bright eyes, but any time he gets near a camera, it’s like there’s this weird, sort of warped quality the camera takes on. It doesn’t usually calm down until the fight is done-as one sided as they usually are-before he awkwardly skedaddles away.  

He gets kidnapped by the Penguin, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy (though that was more just a friendly chat than anything), Mad Hatter, and the Riddler again. 

And then the Joker escapes. 

It’s no surprise as to who he’s going to go after. 

Due to one too many careless goons, they manage to find their way to the Joker’s hideout pretty quickly. This time, it’s all Bats on deck, and they all hide away in the rafters as Feral McGee™ is hung over a vat of acid. His whole body is tied up, hardly a single inch of exposed skin to be seen except for the neck up. 

They watch the goons, they watch the Joker, and they watch Feral McGee™. 

The Joker is monologuing, practically begging the bats to come find him before the timer runs out. When it does, the kid gets dumped into the vat of acid. 

Despite these stakes, the kid seems to be only mildly annoyed. 

“Fuck this, I have homework I still need to finish,” they hear him say. 

They all watch, amazed and confused, as the kid starts gnawing through the ropes. Human teeth shouldn’t be able to do that so easily, but one bit after the other, and soon enough the kid’s got himself freed enough to just climb up the rest of the rope. When he’s at the top of the crane holding him up, Batman lets down a rope and pulls the kid up and out of danger. 

“Oh, cool, you’re all here,” the kid says casually, as if meeting the entire Bat Clan is just a normal Tuesday. And then he pulls out a notepad and pen and hands it to Red Hood. 

“Can I get an autograph? You’re dope as fuck, dude.”

Red Hood has to look away and hide his face in his arms for a few moments to not give away their location with his laughter before signing. And then, one by one, the others do as well. They pass along the kid’s notebook with shit-eating grins and barely contained snickers despite the fact that the Joker is still right below them. Even Batman signs it, after his children don’t stop hounding him about it. 

In their distraction, they didn’t see the kid sneak away. He’s far away from them now, nearly right over the Joker. Danny waits, though, until the Joker has turned around as the timer almost runs out. They watch as he snickers at Joker’s flabbergasted look. The Joker comically looks back and forth and under objects the kid obviously isn’t under. However, before he can do or say anything else, the kid drops from the rafters and right on top of the Joker. He crumples to the ground, unconscious. The kid, however, just brushes the dust off of himself. Despite the fall he took, there isn’t a scratch on him. 

When the bats join him, they give his notepad back to him, barely able to contain their laughter at the absurdity of it all. The kid, too, joins in the camaraderie, laughing and joking along with them as Batman secures the Joker. 

“Okay, okay, but I gotta ask, dude,” Red Hood says at one point, looking at the kid. “How do you keep getting kidnapped?”

The kid just shrugs. “I get distracted easily. And I’m sleep deprived, so you know. Social awareness is kind of at an all time low right now.”

“Why are you sleep deprived?” Nightwing asks, barely hidden concern in his voice. 

 “Finals are kinda kicking my ass right now. Especially this dumb English homework I have. You guys wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

“Oh, lucky for you,” Red Hood says, wrapping an arm around the kid’s shoulders as he walks them out of the warehouse, “I happen to know a lot about English. So, it is Shakespeare?”

“Yeah, Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

As they walk off, Batman calmly watches, though the rest of the bats can see his jaw twitching. Nightwing comes up behind him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. 

“If you don’t adopt him, I will.”

“Hn.”

[augustinewrites]

“sunflowers or peonies?”

“awe, nanami! i’m flattered—”

“they’re not for you,” nanami says flatly. “you can buy your own.”

shoko squints down at the man lying on her exam table, arm held up and behind his head. “i’m quite literally stitching you back together, you know.”

the blond thinks bitterly on what had landed him in her infirmary in the first place, injured and likely having to reschedule dinner tonight. it’s already well past the time he’d planned on picking you up, and the table he’d reserved at the new restaurant in roppongi has likely been given away.

he’s dreading calling to tell you, his heart already twinging at the idea of letting you down.

shoko stitches him up neatly, cleaning and covering it up with a layer of bandages. she offers him a hand to help him sit up, but he bypasses it to plant his palm against the cot, pushing himself up with a groan.

she rolls her eyes, peeling her gloves off and pulling her mask down, tossing them both into the trash. “clean and dress it at least twice a day. no sudden movements of strenuous activity for at least a week. if you ruin my work, i’ll put you on bedrest.”

she digs through her cabinets as he awkwardly pulls his shirt back on. his mind drifts to you as he does so. he’d lost his phone in the fight, so he hadn’t been able to tell you about cancelling.

he wonders if the pout on your lips is painted your lips that shade of red you’d been wearing when he’d first met you. wonders if you’re waiting wearing the dress he’d gifted you last week.

he’d really wanted to see you in that dress.

nanami sighs heavily as he does up the buttons, prompting shoko to glance over her shoulder at him.

“what’s wrong with you?” she asks, setting a small bottle of painkillers on the tray table next to him.

“i’m missing an important dinner,” he grumbles, wondering if just a bundle sunflowers or peonies from the small stall outside is enough. he should order you a proper bouquet from a shop. perhaps he can also book you a massage or—

a knock at the door interrupts his spiralling.

“oh!” shoko suddenly gasps. she reaches up, brushing a few stray hairs from his forehead and fixing it as best she can.

“what are you doing?” he asks, genuinely confused in this moment.

“you’ll see,” she simply grins, sending him a wink. then, “come in!”

the door to the infirmary opens to reveal…you.

“kento,” you breathe, the quiet click of your heels echoing through the empty room as you quickly walk towards him.

he’s shocked, but lets you carefully wrap your arms around him, cradling his head against your chest.

but before he knows it he’s holding onto you too, breathing in the deep, sweet scent of your perfume and focusing on the steady beat of your heart.

“what are you doing here?” he asks once you finally release him, taking your hands in his.

“shoko called me,” you tell him. “apparently…apparently i’m your emergency contact.”

his face is suddenly hot with embarrassment. he’d honestly forgotten about that. he hadn’t even realized he’d done it when yaga had asked him to update his information with the school. your name had been the first and only name to pop into his mind.

“sorry,” he apologizes quickly, dropping your hands. he jumped the gun, didn’t he? you’ve only been dating for six months… “i should have asked you first but—”

but no one knows me better than you.

a soft sigh slips from your lips as you sit next to him, with a gaze so reverent that it strips him to the bone. “i love you, kento. i will be your emergency contact as long as you want me to be.”

he whispers the words back to you, suddenly shy.

sometimes nanami lets himself slip a little too far into his own head, overthinking and a little insecure. but you’re always there, ready to coax him back into the light.

“you look beautiful,” he murmurs, taking your hand and pressing a kiss to your knuckles. he’s seen you in a lot of dresses, each one making him weak in the knees. but this dress…this one makes it a little hard for him to breathe.

“well, you still owe me a date,” you tell him, helping him up off the cot. “we could go to the ramen place across from my apartment.”

he wraps an arm around your shoulders, and you reach up to intertwine your fingers with his. “i’d go anywhere with you.”

[sharkylass]

ALRIGHT, I ASKED FOREVER AGO, BUT WHO WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT MY ISA LOOPS AU??

Heads up this contains a lot, and I mean A LOT of spoilers for In Stars And Time. Including: = Act 6 spoilers, including main mystery and secret encounter = Minimal Act 5 stuff = And a bunch of extra stuff that happens through Act 3 and 4. SO BASICALLY ALMOST EVERYTHING, FINISH THIS GAME COMPLETELY BEFORE READING (ESPECIALLY THAT ACT 6 ENCOUNTER, IT WILL LITERALLY BE THE FIRST THING I MENTION UNDER THE CUT)

With all those warnings out of the way-

IN REPETITION AND CHANGE

Initial Concepts:

I feel it's important to show these sketches because they were the first ideas I ever had. I wasn't even entirely sure I wanted to make an AU at this point, I didn't even know how I'd approach it. But I started sketching and it's been on my mind since- SO! Isa is stuck in the timeloop. I know what his wish is and he DOES have a Loop equivalent! The grumpy dandelion guy is Roboro (it/they/he). Their name is a very small play on Ouroboros and they call Isa "Seedling". However, this post is not about them, as I'm gonna talk about it and Isa's dynamic in a separate post. In short, Isa is his normal loud self up until Act 3, right? They beat the King, they reach the end, and whoops, the loop isn't broken. So now, what happens is that Isa starts getting his brains out. He starts thinking more analytically and tries to problem solve.

The more stuck he gets in his head, the less he's able to perceive his friends as real people, and more like them holding him back. Because even if Isa explains that he's smart, that they shouldn't be surprised if he says something, shock of all shocks, reasonable- They'll forget it the next loop.

So Isa is stuck with trying to portray his confident, loud, supportive facade- Which is fine! It wouldn't be the first time! But it progressively gets more and more frustrating, as he tries to find answers and simply looses the energy to pretend to be stupid.

TL;DR: Isa in the timeloop, unlike Siffrin, becomes more distant and cold rather then something more akin to Sif's mania.

NOW, MORE ART!!!

KILL KILL KILL:

I imagine Isa didn't have this encounter the same way that Sif did. Yeah, frankly, Isa is pissed with the sadness- But that's not why he goes through with this.

In this moment, Isa is trying to kill two birds with one stone. He's trying to get through this quickly, as well as reassure Mira that they can do this! If he shows how strong he is, then she'll feel safe right???

Poor Isabeau forgot that whenever he shows that he thinks ahead, he scares people. How could he forget that? How could he forget that he's inherently---

Family Quest:

I still think Odile is the one to call out to him (same with sus quest).

The hangouts I'm still figuring out, cause I don't think they'd too similar to base game- But, fun fact, at the end of this run, everyone agrees to keep travel together!

Isabeau brings it up, can't hurt if you can fix your mistakes right? And everyone agrees. The relief on Siffrin is the most palpable thing Isabeau has ever seen.

In this moment they love you. In this moment they all love you. In this moment---

Death Screen:

He loops back anyways. (This is one of the initial concepts that I ended up animating. This line in particular is when he reaches the end)

Act 5 Tarot Card:

NOW TO SEE MORE OF HIS PASSIVE AGRESSIVE SIDE

Thanks to @the-bitter-ocean for prescribing tarot cards to Isa (THEY ALL FUCK SO HARD) and for the RAW ASS LINE

If interacted with in act 5, predictably, Isa tears it apart. He doesn't need the divine judgement upon him, he's faced everyone's perception his entire life.

However, he tears it methodically. Tears it once in even pieces, twice, three times, and one of the pieces once more. In a way he isn't even getting his emotions out, it's like he's actively trying to tear it apart so it stops nagging him, like he wants to shut it up. Though, the Judgement card symbolizes rebirth, absolution and inner calling. In Act 6 he'd be able to look at it and find comfort and confidence in the card.

Act 5 Mirror:

And lastly, I have the Act 5 mirror picture. I haven't quite figured out how to make the normal ones work yet, however, I couldn't let go of the idea that Isa would not want to be in the picture.

The idea of seeing himself at all makes his head hurt and his stomach squeeze. The memory haunts him as he stands to the side and says the word. He didn't think the mirror would catch him.

AAAAND THAT'S ALL THE ART STUFF FOR NOW!!

I still have quite a bit of it to post, especially about Roboro, but I'm gonna leave it here for now.

I still gotta figure out the hangouts and potentially the dagger equivalent- but I have ideas for Bad Touch, the glass equivalent, and some extra little things that didn't happen in Siffrin's loops.

I needed to yap about this, because I've been slowly stacking up ideas and writing and I needed to share it at some point- If anyone read all this and has questions and stuff I fully welcome 'em!!