#and then they accepted that they were actually in love and the shenanigans started again

[kii-nami]

NIGHTBRINGER'S EPITAPH | PHAINON & MYDEI

Mydei drops Phainon’s title shamelessly, as if he is not standing here in this empty alleyway with you, holding you in his embrace so delicately behind Phainon’s back. Have you two no guilt? Does your shame really run that shallow to betray the man who loves you so dearly with such graceful ease? With his brother in arms, no less. How little self-respect does the crown prince have, to chase after a taken woman?

CW: 10K WORDS; ; FEM!MC; MC IS INVOLVED WITH BOTH OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME BUT FUJOS DNI; NO ACTUAL CHEATING; PART OF A WIDER HSR AU BY ME AND MY FRIEND; WRITTEN FROM A POV OF MY OTHER OC FROM THIS FIC; I AM NOT A HONKAI LORE SCHOLAR I'M SIMPLY FREAKY; IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO ASK

They meet you for the first time with the fog of the hot water settling heavily in their lungs.

Burdened by her unavoidable involvement with this world’s struggles, Stelle is a little tense beside Shuhua. Their close brush with death – curtsy of Aglaea’s fierce dedication to protecting the secrets of Amphoreus – left the group somewhat shaken. Everything has been overwhelming ever since the cart crash-landed; so much so that Alisa started doubting Stelle’s decision to stay, instead of returning back to the train.

Despite accepting and enjoying her life of Trailblaze, this time things felt somewhat different. There was too much at stake to simply vanish and end up dead now. And they just had to get stranded without any way to contact the Express and leave sick March behind to be looked after by that suspicious Memokeeper hitching a ride.

Maybe asking Sunday, who is yet to settle down properly without following her around everywhere, to stay back and keep an eye on the situation was a bad idea on Alisa’s part. Even Aventurine, unfortunately roped into their shenanigans by Shuhua yet again, is suffering the consequences of their decision to leave them behind to have a nice trip as a family.

And it’s not like Alisa hasn’t entertained the idea of trying to use the powers of Repudiation, but the possibilities of what-ifs were far too great for her to risk the lives of her friends. So none of this seems extremely enthralling now that Alisa has to constantly watch her companion’s backs, trying to make sure she doesn’t need to mend them together body part by body part.

At least now that Aglaea isn’t trying to actively kill them, the group can finally relax just a little. And now that they’re about to go on a quest to kill a Titan – a God? surely not an Aeon? – Shuhua decided that it’s the best time for them to be as greedy and lazy as possible and soak in the healing waters of Amphoreus.

Maybe this too, as per usual, is a bad decision.

From under the weight of warm waters everything is coated in haze. Despite the promise of these baths healing not only body and mind, but also soul, Alisa is yet to feel any different. Being immune to everything has its ups and downs and right now she got the short end of the stick, unlike the rest of her companions.

Shuhua, as restless and as dedicated to playing a martyr as she usually is, spots Phainon first. Her mood pers up instantly, wet tail swishing excitedly in the hot water of the public bathhouse, sprinkling the droplets all over her companions. Through half-lidded eyes Stelle groans slowly, almost spitting the bathhouse water that got into her mouth. Lethargically scooting away from Shuhua to not get assaulted by her enthusiasm any longer, Stelle continues her nap in relative peace.

Noticing how nobody seems to appreciate her elation, the foxian finally decides to calm down a little, pointing unceremoniously to the faraway corner of the bath, “Look. Over there.”

Dan Heng, bored and half-invested into Shuhua’s new scheme, follows her line of sight languidly, only to be met with a picture that is a bit too perplexing even to someone like him. “Is that Phainon?”

A rhetoric question it may be, but it surely wakes Stelle up from her warmth-infused drowsiness, “Where?” With one eye open, sleep still clouding her vision, she looks in the direction that holds Dan Heng’s attention, just to finally wake up when she does spot Okhema’s unwilling hero. “Oh… It’s not that I’m judging, but…”

“That’s a little shameless even by my standards.” Shuhua snickers, a little devious chuckle, before she sinks under the water to tug Alisa up to the surface.

Finally releasing the breath she was holding, Alisa wipes the water dripping from her lashes and focuses on whatever got Shuhua act all scandalized. And considering that the foxian had little to none of said shame in her body, it must be one hell of a scene. Involving Phainon of all people, no less.

Elbows resting on the edge of the bath, he’s leaning back against the tiled wall. It's almost odd to see him so exposed, or even visiting a public bathhouse of all places, especially when Aglaea offhandedly mentioned that the Chrysos Heirs had their own private one to use however they pleased. It must have been truly an exclusive place with no entrance for ordinary people for him to be here. And considering his obvious company, it wasn’t much of a wonder why he chose to come here instead.

You – whoever you are – slowly step out of the warm waters, wet hair sticking to your exposed back; white, lightweight fabric of your robe clinging to your body, clashing with golden and crimson ink all over your skin. You reach for a bowl of grapes on one of the tables with refreshments, returning back into the bath just as leisurely, and it is only when the waves pick up the length of your hair that Alisa realizes the extent of your undress. Nothing but a thin, flowy fabric of your robe hanging loosely off your shoulders, you press yourself close to Phainon’s side and he eagerly invites you into an embrace, tucking you tightly to his chest. You pluck a grape from the wine, passing one to Phainon, brushing the pink berry against his lips. He opens his mouth, all but literally eating out of the palm of your hand.

Picking one for yourself, you pop the grape into your mouth; only you don’t get to enjoy the taste of it, as Phainon leans close to you, lips pressed against yours in an unannounced kiss. It’s a long moment before you separate, wandering hands of the hero straying a bit too far along your waist for such a public setting, but when he does allow you to breathe again, you huff and scoot away, following with a playful roll of your eyes. As smug as always, Phainon grins triumphantly. The berry stolen from your mouth must have tasted a lot sweeter than the one you offered him.

Phainon says something, slow and well-enunciated, although all the words are lost between the hum of the waves and the chatter of other visitors. You reply, much less careful and much more hurried, yet it still brings a blinding smile to Phainon’s face as he laughs freely. And when he brazenly tugs you impossibly close, with you all but sitting on his lap, Phainon seems much more relaxed, almost free, as if completely unburdened by the expectations this world placed on him resting on his shoulders. It’s as if only the weight of your body against his that truly matters for him; the delicate softness of your touch as your fingers glide along his shoulders until you bring your lips together once more.

And maybe it is so. Alisa does not allow herself to ponder on it any longer, lest it brings unwanted tears to her eyes. Jealousy is a vice, and she might not be holy, but envying someone else’s love this pure will surely drag her to hell if her past doesn’t already guarantee her a spot there. Maybe a little risk is worth a chance of seeing him even for a second.

Dan Heng’s deadpan voice brings Alisa back to reality, far away from the dangerous thoughts she will inevitably regret, “You have zero shame, Shuhua.”

The foxian scoffs, tugging on the tip of her ear to shake the excess water soaked into the fur right on the vidyadhara’s face, “Clearly they have negative shame, Dan Heng.”

 “Should we go say hi?” As if just woken up – full of mischief and yearning to wreak havoc – Stelle darts up to her feet, raining bathwater all over with her chaotic movements, “I feel like we should.”

Alisa has half a mind to stop her. It's neither time nor place and the two of you are clearly busy. Tomorrow is an important and, quite frankly, terrifying day for everyone in the Holy City, Alisa can only begin to imagine how you must be feeling sending Phainon away to battle a literal god. Logically, it’s better to give you some privacy, but has Stelle – or anyone other than Sunday, for that matter – ever listened to what Alisa had to say? The answer is predictably obvious, and whatever protests she voices are all lost on Stelle as she readies herself to march into the mayhem of her own doing.

“I strongly advise against it.”

Only she doesn’t get the chance to, tripping over her own feet, grasping for anything to hold onto and dragging Alisa along with her under the warm waters of the bathhouse. Shuhua and Dan Heng are quick to pull the two of them up, but their movements are far too sluggish under the influence of Thanatos’ power, and it does little to stop Alisa from inhaling some of the water.

“Miss Castorice…” She coughs out a greeting, although it seems to just make the matters worse as the woman takes a guarded step back.  “It’s okay! We’re okay! You just startled us.”

“I apologize, Lady Alisa. It wasn’t my intention.” Despite her rather poor repertoire of emotions, guilt is prominent on Castorice’s otherwise impassive features. Hands locked tensely in front of her, the Chrysos Heir sends another apologetic glance Alisa’s way before focusing on Stelle, “But please do not disturb them. It’s rare to see them here like this. Lord Phainon rarely has the time these days and Lady [Name] almost never leaves the Temple…” Castorice catches herself, putting an abrupt stop to her rambling, although the way she’s carefully watching you and Phainon paints a completely different picture for her sudden decision to stop talking. “Such an awful fate they were given.”

About to press for some answers, Alisa tries to find the question she wants the answer to the most, but none seem not invasive enough. Still, she imagines any would be more tactful than anything brewing in Shuhua’s head and judging by the ever-growing smirk tugging on the corners of her lips, she has a lot of those prepared already. Yet just like Stelle not so long ago, Alisa is not successful in her endeavor.

“Castorice!” Phainon’s voice is as clear as she remembers hearing it for the first time. “Esteemed guests, too.” He waves in their direction, hurriedly crossing the little distance between the refreshments table and their bath. “What a coincidence. Is the water to your liking?”

Dan Heng dips his head in lackluster appreciation, “It’s great, thanks.”

Satisfied with the answer, Phainon doesn’t offer any more questions, although the mysterious something woven into his self-assured smile is a little unnerving this time around, “If you’re free this evening you should come to the Garden of Life. My light has a way with words, her songs will not disappoint you.”

Castorice nods, accepting the offer easily. Even if Alisa wasn’t as intrigued by your relationship, she would have agreed either way. If not for the music, then at least for the rare investment sparking in Castorice’s eyes at the mention of you two.

“We’ll be there, Lord Phainon.” Maybe not everyone, most likely just Alisa and Dan Heng, but she would definitely not miss a free opportunity to listen to a ballad or two.

 “Not you too…” A disappointed sigh following his words, Phainon frowns slightly; blue eyes darting between Alisa and Castorice, he shakes his head, “No matter. I’m gonna go back now, can’t leave my lady alone for too long or she gets stolen by wild cats.” The smug arrogance paints his grin once more; Castorice – so uncharacteristically for her – looks almost amused by the nonsensical joke Phainon made. “See you later!”

He leaves in a hurry, just as fast and suddenly as he approached them, returning to your side. You welcome him, offering to take the wine pitcher off his hand but Phainon just shakes his head in silent disapproval. Opting to pour the pale peachy wine himself, he settles in the water next to you and lifts the goblet just enough for you to drink from it. And when you do take a careful sip from the silver cup, Phainon is quick to steal the wine from your mouth. Although you never seem to truly mind his unabashed behavior in the slightest, indulging it way more than you ever should have.

Maybe Shuhua is right for once, there are people with less than no shame.

Finally turning away, Alisa can’t help but muse over such unrestrained displays of affection. “He loves her a lot.” It sounds almost bitter, but Alisa is glad nobody notices. To live is to survive. To dream is to suffer. Even with her escaping the grasp of Istanai, Alisa will never truly be free unless she returns back to his side. And she can’t right now.

“He does.” Castorice is as solemn as always when she agrees quietly, her next words distorted by the excited buzz of the bathhouse visitors, “I imagine when you have so little to remember of home, what you do have you cannot ever let go. Even in death.”

It’s silent after that. Only the distant hum of the chatter and Phainon’s laughter cutting through the wall of white noise once in a while. They watch Castorice carefully as her unreadable eyes, all but glued to the glow of the sun shining over your head, get mistier by the moment. Tense shoulders, she cannot seem to find peace amongst the foggy air of the bathhouse.

“Castorice?” Stelle calls her name tentatively, but Castorice, too deep in whatever thoughts torment her, doesn’t react. Shuhua nudges Alisa on the shoulder, a little spooked by the idea of a literal manifestation of death being so lost in her own thoughts, and having no choice on the matter, Alisa reaches carefully to tug on the skirts of Castorice’s dress.

The Chrysos Heir flinches ever so slightly, misty gaze clearing up as she looks at where Alisa is still holding onto the fabric of her dress. “Please don’t listen to the rumors. Lady [Name] is not a bad person.” Coming completely out of left field, Castorice’s warning confuses the group even more than her silence ever did. “And do come to the performance, you might gain a lot of insight on that which you never considered to ponder on.” She looks almost conflicted when she says this, as if fighting with reason itself to justify her decision. Although when Castorice does get it off her chest, she seems almost liberated from her self-imposed shackles. Then she blinks, hand pressed over her chest as if she just remembered something important, “I completely forgot… I came here to fetch you, Lady Alisa. Lady Aglaea is interested in striking a deal.”

Shuhua groans. Alisa gets out of the water without much thought. Control is order and you cannot control what you cannot see. Yet again, the daughter of Repudiation is the biggest enemy of order. Only Aglaea is nothing like Sunday. And it’s for the better that she isn’t.

“I guess it can’t be helped.”

Alisa killed an Aeon once, what a demigod compared to rejection personified?

If only things were that easy.

They meet you for the second time with the strumming of a harp and your soft voice barely audible in their ears.

You are dressed far more modestly than you were back at the bathhouse, which isn’t that hard to achieve all things considered. Much of your exposed skin is still painted with golden ink, intertwined with red lines where they form some kind of convoluted patterns all over your chest and back. Your fingers run over the strings with some sort of stiffness one would not expect from a professional musician, and despite the music being nothing short of heavenly, you seem far too detached from the tune you’re playing. Even your voice is far too muted for a crowd that gathered around, and although the people are eerily silent while listening to your romantic tale of a sun’s journey to greatness, nobody is asking you to sing louder.

It's strange. There’s something off about this evening that Alisa can’t place her finger on just yet. Castorice hesitantly learns to accept that the powers given to her hold no effect on the daughter of Repudiation, so she slowly takes some liberties in standing far closer to Alisa than any reason would allow. Alisa lets her, contemplating offering a friendly hand, but deciding against it at the end. She knows better than anyone how overwhelming change can be for a person.

Shuhua, despite her initial unwillingness to join the group for a night out opting to just wallow in misery as she always tends to do at any mild inconvenience, seems to enjoy herself right now. Stelle and Dan Heng stand a little to the side, the deadpan expression on his face gives away an idea or two about the topic of Stelle’s commentary.

Phainon is sitting on the grass close to where you are, unbothered and casual as he always seems to be. Aglaea and one of the fragments of Tribios – Tribbie – are conversing quietly in the far away corner of the Garden of Life, but the leader of Chrysos Heirs doesn’t look all that happy to be here. Even the crown prince of Castrum Kremnos is present, albeit it’s a little hard to read between the lines of his permanent scowl, even more so than through Aventurine’s carefully crafted, mildly amused poker-face.

It's not Mydei’s presence that rubs Alisa the wrong way, it’s the odd absent-eyed looks Aglaea keeps throwing the Nameless that bother her. Despite a quite innocent and harmless deal they struck today, Alisa can’t help but feel even more on edge around the woman. Aglaea admitted she can only see this world through the golden thread, so why does she keep eyeing them so intently? It’s none of Alisa’s business and yet… Survival of her family is her business, isn’t it?

People give you a round of applause and you lift yourself up from the grass, bowing shallowly. Phainon is quick to follow you, taking the harp off your hands and bringing your palm to his mouth in a fleeting kiss. Castorice shifts uncomfortably, closer to Alisa’s side. And Alisa truly doesn’t want to assume anything, but from the corner of her eye she watches Aglaea’s frown deepen.

The crowd disperses slowly. Shuhua attaches herself to Alisa’s arm with a tired groan and an annoyed twitch of her ears, nuzzling against the feathers of halovian wings. Stelle is still rambling about losing her login streak in Wandering Waves and missing some important character’s banner. Dan Heng is the only one to actually care about the performance and even if usually Alisa would be the first to jump into a discussion about arts, her mind is uncharacteristically elsewhere.

With a whine, Shuhua announces that she’s craving a late-night snack before the big day. Both Stelle and Dan Heng pretend they don’t hear anything, not that Alisa expected anything else from them. Not even fighting for custody rights, Alisa drags Shuhua into a different direction that will take them to the Marmoreal Market. Maybe some dromas steak will soothe her friend’s miserable longing.

Yet as per the rules of Trailblaze, its pathstriders can’t stop getting themselves in trouble. And even now Alisa is barely quick enough to tug Shuhua behind a row of shelves full of potted plants before they get spotted by the two shadowy figures standing under the torchlights of Amphoreus’ otherwise dim alleyways. The scene unfolding before them leaves quite an unpleasant aftertaste in Alisa’s mouth when she swallows thickly. And now the fur of Shuhua’s restless tail doesn’t feel all that pleasant against Alisa’s skin amidst the heavy, warm night air.

“Is that who I think it is?” the foxian mumbles, a little confused tilt of her head, ears pressed tightly against her head.

“Please be quiet.” Alisa is trying to save them from being inevitably discovered, although her efforts go unappreciated, as Shuhua huffs, scandalized and offended.

“Hey, don’t shush me!” Despite being nothing but a whisper, the sheer force with which Shuhua delivers her line is nothing short of a scream. “You start sleeping in the same bed that smug, undercooked chicken wing and now you’re turning evil.”

Turning blind eye on the usual, albeit even more colorful, insults thrown Sunday’s way, Alisa covers Shuhua’s mouth with the palm of her hand, “Shush.”

Shuhua’s exasperated hissing is muffled, but it’s not audible enough to reach outside the little corner they’re hiding at. It’s for the better that it is that way, as the shadows grow nearer, heavy footsteps fall to a standstill under the darkness of a little shop across from the shelves covering them and Alisa can only pray the plants are enough to mask the bright fur of Shuhua’s tail.

The skirts on the back of your dress drag along the dusty ground and you don’t rush to lift them, slowly albeit deliberately walking past Mydei who remains standing near the bakery’s window. The annoyed crease between his eyebrows deepens as he catches up to you, stopping you by your forearm, the gentle touch not matching his permanent scowl.

Your gaze is planted firmly on the ground, someplace where your shadows intertwine. Mydei steps closer to you, hands moving along your skin until he holds your face in his hands, lifting your head up. “Why won’t you look at me?” He speaks differently. Less brash. Way slower and just as well-enunciated as Phainon was addressing you not so long ago. “Don’t tell me you’re still upset.”

“Of course I am, Mydeimos.” You talk just as quietly as you sing, with a tiny rasp of hesitation to your tone. Yet right now it’s mixed with something so bitterly vulnerable, it’s almost easy to forget that you are a taken woman. And with how compromising your position is, it’s all but effortless to misinterpret the situation for what it isn’t.

“I am immortal.” Mydei states plainly and you scoff.

He’s still holding your face in his hands despite your arms hanging limply by your sides. It’s hard to see under the shadows of twilight, but even in such darkness the hurt pooling in your eyes is difficult to miss. “Immortality does not take away the pain of death.”

“I am used to it.” It’s unclear whether Mydei is trying to convince you or himself, but either way it doesn’t work.

The bracelets on your arm clink against each other when you finally lift your hand to press your palm firmly to Mydei’s chest. “I told you already, didn’t I?” Your voice trembles like the strings of the harp, as if you are on the verge of tears. And maybe it is so, “Your ache is my agony. Your suffering is my anguish. I must live this life knowing I cannot aid you in your endeavors. History does not–”

Thumb against your lips, dipping ever so slightly into your parted mouth, Mydei interrupts your fervent rambling, “I wowed to battle fate for you. This hasn’t changed.” You are a taken woman yet with the way the Mydei so effortlessly throws earnest promises of eternal devotion your way, it’s easy to forget it is not he who you are officially involved with. “But Deliverer is better suited for that Coreflame than I am.”

Mydei drops Phainon’s title shamelessly, as if he is not standing here in this empty alleyway with you, holding you in his embrace so delicately behind Phainon’s back. Have you two no guilt? Does your shame really run that shallow to betray the man who loves you so dearly with such graceful ease? With his brother in arms, no less. How little self-respect does the crown prince have, to chase after a taken woman?

“You cannot defy who you are.” You whisper dejectedly, not bothered by the mention of Phainon but the fact that Mydei refuses to change his mind. You give up then, tense posture going lax as you sigh heavily in defeat, “But who am I to deny your wishes?”

“My wishes?” Mydei questions, a victorious glint in his eyes. “I have a lot of those, you know.” He steps closer and you step back until you reach the wall, Mydei’s arm against the back of your head so you don’t accidentally hit yourself against the white bricks. “I am insatiable in my greed. Or so they say.”

He doesn’t wait for any response, just dips his head down and presses his lips against yours feverishly. You reciprocate, eager and yearning, all but melting against his body until there is no more empty space between you. But even then, he still draws you closer, free hands itching under the missing fabric on the front of your dress.

Taking your preoccupied state as an opportunity for escape, Alisa once again drags Shuhua into the darkness of the alleyway. There are no words exchanged until they are far out of your hearing range. Marmoreal Palace is relatively empty this time of day, and Alisa feels like she can finally breathe properly. So many things running through her mind, she has no idea where she should even begin. All that Alisa truly knows that it’s wrong. They shouldn’t have been there to see that. You shouldn’t have been doing any of that at all. And yet...

Shuhua, however, never holds back when she has to say something, “This wench!”

“Shuhua, please.” Trying to calm her friend down is futile, but Alisa is known to enjoy suffering to its fullest.

“I have to give it to her though.”  Shuhua huffs in irritation, dusting her tail off any cobwebs it gathered during her stay at the dusty corner of an alley. “How hard is it to swindle those two at the same time?”

Acutely aware that she’s doing nothing more than playing devil’s advocate, Alisa is desperately trying to rationalize the situation, “Maybe this all is a big misunderstanding…” She knows nobody is inherently good, but she's always trying to look only for the best in other people. And Alisa really doesn’t want to believe that either you or Mydei would betray Phainon in such a way. Logic, however, is much harder to argue with.

“Her tongue was in places mine can’t reach.” An irked scoff and a roll of her eyes, Shuhua crosses her arms over her chest. It’s hard to believe such a thing is possible but once again facts win over delusions. “We should tell him about it the first thing tomorrow.”

“Shuhua…” Not liking Alisa’s tone, the foxian throws her glare of disbelief prematurely, before any stupidity can even cross her mind. But as it usually happens, disapproval doesn’t stop Alisa from speaking and she truly has had enough of Shuhua’s bad decisions in the span of these couple of months to last her for another ten years. “I am not condoning her actions, but… I don’t think this is the right time to drop something like that on him. We truly don’t need any bad blood between those two, considering they are quite literally on a quest to kill a god.”

Shuhua blinks, canines biting harshly into her bottom lip. She’s clearly searching for something to counter Alisa’s argument with but can’t find anything of equal value to reason. Eventually giving up, Shuhua sighs dejectedly, “Yeah, okay. You’re right.” Then she grins, a little manic and sort of troubling curve of her lips, as she cackles sarcastically, “We just have to kill a god, how hard can it be…”

Not harder than it was to kill an Aeon. But it’s better for Shuhua to never remember what exactly transpired inside the Realm or Repudiation.

Alisa can only hope that after all is said and done, she doesn’t have to act out on her side of the deal with Aglaea.

They meet you for the third time amongst the sea of passersby, the shining gold of your jewelry flickering with your every movement.

They spot you at Marmoreal Market not long after they successfully take Nikador’s Coreflame to the Vortex of Genesis. They pass by Melpomene, and despite calling out to her, she rushes past them without even a greeting, an annoyed growl falling from her lips as she casts one last glare in the direction of Marmoreal Diner. Confused, Shuhua follows her line of sight, ears perking up and tail wagging when she finally spots you amongst the crowd.

Against both of their better judgments, neither Alisa nor Shuhua told Phainon about their unfortunate discovery after they returned to Okhema. And considering he is still locked inside Nikador’s trial, it is for the better that he is not aware of your infidelity. This, however, is a perfect chance to finally confront you, not only about your unfaithfulness but also about the rumors floating around the Holy City.

After that night in the alleyway, Alisa couldn’t help but put her meddling skills to good use and sharpened her ears as much as possible. Castorice’s cryptic warning aside, the rumors about your person are hard to ignore when one actually listens to what the public has to say. Turns out, people seem to have very mixed feelings towards you. Some deem you an important, vital figure to Okhema’s wellbeing in such trying times: a famous bard, an acclaimed hymnwriter, a renowned poetess, a revered High Priestess of the Temple of Eternal Fire. Others think of you as a rotten fruit, slowly corrupting the well-oiled dynamic not only between the Chrysos Heirs themselves but also between Aglaea and the Council of Elders.

And as it so happens, everyone is acutely aware of your not-so-secret affair with the crown prince of Castrum Kremnos. All except Phainon himself. Even stranger thing is that despite your unfaithfulness being a well-known fact, nobody is rushing to inform the hero of it. Whether he lives under a rock or his devotion to you is that unshakable is unclear but whatever the reason for it is, Alisa can’t begin to sympathize with either you or Mydei.

Neither can Aglaea, it seems.

Goldweaver’s threads wrap themselves around Shuhua’s arm, planting her firmly in place, “I strongly advise you to stay away from that woman, Shuhua.”

The foxian clenches her teeth, and Alisa decides to intervene before things escalate someplace none of them wants to, “Lady Aglaea, good morning.”

Heavy blink of her sightless eyes, Aglaea turns to face Alisa albeit she can never truly pinpoint her location, “Good morning, child.” Despite the friendly, polite tone, Aglaea’s detachment from humanity prevents her from truly igniting the warmth in her voice. Alisa can’t blame her for it, neither can she condemn the woman for trying to protect her home by any means possible. Although now Alisa has a faint suspicion that her odd behavior during your performance had nothing to do with the Astral Express but everything to do with you. “Please heed my advice and stay clear of her, there is nothing the Temple can offer you that I cannot.”

“Of course, Lady Aglaea.” Alisa nods, agreeing with the woman without even trying to argue her case. Sometimes to reject something you need to accept it first, and who would understand that better than a daughter of Repudiation? “Please take care.”

Aglaea bows her head in a shallow goodbye, disappearing into the busy crowd just like Melpomene did not so long ago. Shuhua, still trying to come to terms with the fact that there might be a target painted on her back once more, gives Alisa a suspicious side glance.

"She's still spying on us, isn’t she?” Shuhua asks carefully. She is yet to get used to this new dynamic of being the one following Alisa’s lead for once. But to live is to survive and adapting is an integral part of survival, and Shuhua really doesn't want to meet her end here because of some light snooping.

Alisa shrugs, mumbling a barely audible agreement. Just because Aglaea’s golden thread cannot see her, doesn’t mean her spies cannot hear her. Breaking their agreement with the leader of Chrysos Heirs will put her family in danger, but despite his smug, overconfident attitude, Phainon is a good man. Sunday might be right: her kindness is her weakness ready to be exploited; but he’s not here to stop her, so what else Alisa is supposed to do?

“Lady [Name]!” It has been a long time since she needed to scream to get someone’s attention.

The people give Alisa an odd look or two, some stop to search for the source of a disturbance. You, however, head straight ahead. Box with honey cakes securely pressed to your chest, you never turn their way even when Alisa calls out to you for the second time. Some passersby give them confused side-glances; one quick look over your shoulder at the commotion, you never notice the outlanders, swept by the busy crowd of the market. Walking past them casually, you leave with only the scent of sunlit oranges, ripe pomegranates, and warm cinnamon clinging to the heavy air long after the flowing tails of your skirts disappear from view.

And so, you escape. And so, Aglaea wins.

“Can’t believe she ignored us like that!” Shuhua hisses. Angry and disappointed, she curses under her breath, icy glare digging daggers into the dense crowd of the market.

Something isn’t right at all about this. The omnipresent gaze of Repudiation calls for rejection of all, and even on the endless path of Trailblaze Alisa does not stop defying authority. Mokosha, Penacony, Amphoreus. Her guilt, her love, her longing. Karina, Sunday, Aglaea. To live is to survive. Survival calls for all sorts of risks.

“Maybe she didn’t notice us…” Alisa cannot see the golden threads, they dissolve into dust all around her, but she can spot them weaving through the market, trailing the scent of sunkissed oranges and sugary pomegranate you left behind.

Shuhua cannot see what Alisa can, however. “Stop playing devil’s advocate, I locked eyes with that wench.” But Shuhua wasn’t brought up with the oath of rejection woven into her every breath, so it’s understandable that she does not condone this doubt festering inside Alisa’s heart.

“I think it’s better we just talk to Lord Phainon.” Alisa knows it’s the only right thing to do. The only way to force you to be honest with yourself. The only way to get to the bottom of this conspiracy. The only way to not let Aglaea win ever again.

“Yeah, yeah.” Shuhua grits her teeth, even more vexed than she was before coming here. “Now come on, I need breakfast, or someone dies.”

Alisa doesn’t doubt it. She just hopes it won’t be Shuhua herself.

The golden thread trembles, yet its presence remains.

They meet you for the fourth time illuminated by the sunlight and scorched by fire, as you melt the ice of the memories of the world long gone.

It’s dark inside the Temple of Silence. Nothing but long corridors, dimply lit by torches burning deep purple flames, and imagery of the night sky painted in crimson and gold all over the white walls. Phainon is leading the way with well-practiced movements, all while entertaining Stelle’s barrage of ridiculous questions and Dan Heng’s polite yet distant commentary on some of the more captivating things that the hero has to say.

Shuhua is restless, even more so than usual since they got stranded on Amphoreus. Alisa fears it might be Shuhua's breaking point, but she will cross that bridge when she gets there and for now, they have far more pressing matters to deal with. Confronting you in your own temple is not going to be easy, but with Stelle and Dan Heng now involved in this against their will, things took a turn for the worse.

Noticing just how big the distance between them and Phainon grew, Shuhua exasperatedly mumbles something under her breath and picks up her pace, dragging Alisa along by her elbow. Phainon, finally stopping near the intricately carved door at the end of the hallway, is still entertaining Stelle’s curiosity without complaints. Shuhua throws him an apprehensive side eye, irked glow of her eyes spelling nothing but trouble for everyone involved, but Phainon misinterprets it as something it is not.

“You seem nervous.” He’s wrong, everyone except him is acutely aware of it, yet nobody is racing to correct his assumption. “I assure you, there is no reason for you to feel anxious.”

“It’s just…” Shuhua begins, a strained smile on her face, “It’s a little dark here, that’s all.”

“Oh, sorry about that. Should have warned you.” Phainon rubs the back of his head, an apologetic smile tugging on the corners of his lips. “Well, don’t worry. It’s very bright inside.”

Three light knocks. The dark, purple flames flicker to the rhythm of the drumming of Phainon’s knuckles. The heavy door opens on its own, light drowning the dimply lit corridor. For a split second Alisa’s vision goes blurry, as if blinded by the brightness of the light. It takes a second for her eyes to adjust to the new environment, but when they do, she almost wishes she stayed blinded forever. She should have known better than to trust Shuhua’s mad ideas, they’re always more trouble than they’re worth.

Shuhua’ grins, “Oh, isn’t it just great.” Dan Heng is quick to silence her before she drops any more unnecessary comments, but he can’t stop a little gasp that escapes Stelle’s parted lips.

Alisa diverts her gaze from the scene of the crime, trying to focus on something else other than the impending fight between an immortal man turned unwilling demigod and a hero acting as the muse to of almost all of your ballads. Eyes wide and pupils blown, Shuhua bites her lip to stiffen any more sounds coming from her, although most of it just seems like the foxian woman is trying to suppress inevitable cackle which is bound to worsen the tension even more.

Mydei’s arm is wrapped loosely around your waist, just to give enough support so that you don’t accidentally topple over and drop the goblet full of pomegranate juice all over the sofa. Or all over him to be precise. On your knees between his parted legs, one gold painted arm pressed against his naked chest, you’re carefully pouring juice into his mouth. He doesn’t as much as blink when some escapes his lips, sliding along his skin and leaving the dark crimson trail until it gets lost in what little fabric is covering his chest. Mydei simply slides his gloved hand along the expanse of your bare back, moving your hair away from your neck and bringing your face closer to his.

Dropping the empty goblet in your hand, you let it hit the white marble of the room with the deafening noise that makes everyone in the room flinch. You don’t seem to mind the noise, just sink even closer to Mydei, pressing a lingering kiss to his lips and when you part at last, you glide your tongue along the crimson trail. Then you sink your teeth into the slope of his neck, an apologetic flick of your tongue over the rapidly vanishing indent of your teeth in his skin. Mydei leans his head against the arm of the sofa, half lidded eyes watching as you leave a trail of bites along his chest.

Phainon, for all his recklessness and flair, is awfully calm even when he positions himself in a way to cover most of your exposed body from their prying eyes. Posture lax, no tension in his shoulders, he doesn’t seem astonished or betrayed, or even simply angry. If anything, Phainon seems almost embarrassed to subject his guests to such an indecent display of affection between his – girlfriend? wife? Alisa isn’t even sure who you even are to him with the way the hero keeps addressing you – and his brother in arms. Knuckles rubbing against his forehead, Phainon clears his throat.

Mydei, unbothered by the presence of another man in your private chambers, doesn’t spare Phainon even a quick glance, “You’re late, Deliverer.”

Canines digging into her lips, Shuhua is barely holding herself together from cackling. Alisa has to admit, that all of this is sort of funny in some twisted way. But all of this snooping around just for them to end up here, intruding into whatever you three knowingly have going on. Oh, how embarrassing indeed.

Phainon, back still shielding most of the view on your nude body, tugs his coat off, “Please inform [Name] that I brought in our esteemed guests for an appointment.”

With a deep, annoyed sigh, Mydei finally looks over his shoulder, “Really now, hero? Couldn’t find any other time?” You lift your head, watching him with mild worry in your eyes as if you just now noticed the presence of someone else in the room. Three light taps on your shoulder, Mydei whispers something extremely slowly and you nod, sitting up straight, moving your hair to cover your chest. “Or person, for that matter?”

Phainon shrugs dismissively, as if trying to play his mistake off as something that is not his fault and then throws his coat towards Mydei, “They seemed really eager to meet our Lady of Eternal Fire.”

Mydei scoffs, catching the piece of clothing and dropping it over your shoulders the next very second, “Oh, I’m sure they were.”

You slip your arms into the sleeves of the coat and get up from the sofa, “Phainon.”

Despite the tender kiss you give him, you acknowledge the hero with some sort of detachment when you say this name of his. But it must be because you, as Castorice pointed cryptically all the way back at the bathhouse, are the only one who knows of Phainon as a son of Aedes Elysiae, and his true name is far dearer to you than the one he chose for himself.

Then you divert your attention to the members of Astral Express, a peculiar smile curving your lips, “Mysterious outlanders from beyond the stars. Welcome to the Temple of Silence.” You beacon them to follow you to the large marble table in the center of the room with a gentle wave your hand, the sleeve of Phainon’s coat flapping as you do so, “Please take a seat.”

They do as you say, albeit a little hesitantly, and settle into a long ottoman, just barely big enough to fit the four of them. Phainon joins you on your side of the table, immediately resting his head on your shoulder, and despite reluctantly leaving the comfort of the sofa, Mydei remains standing behind you with his arms crossed against his chest.

“What brings you here?” You ask, hand running through Phainon’s hair. “Against Aglaea’s… insistent suggestions to stay away from me, too.” There’s a little teasing to your hushed tone. You are far more playful than Alisa initially thought, way less intimidating too.

Despite Stelle expectantly watching Shuhua, nobody says anything. What is there even left to say now that Shuhua can’t hold your trysts against you for her own entertainment? And neither she nor Alisa herself were here with any hopes of actually getting in contact with the Express.

Dan Heng, however, tired of constant childish tantrums of his temperamental fox friend, takes one for the team, “We were looking for a way to contact our friends back home, and Phainon lead us here. He told us there’s a chance you can help us reach through the barrier to contact them.”

One moment. Then two. Three and then four. You say nothing, your puzzled gaze drifting from Dan Heng to Shuhua, to Stelle, to Alisa and then back to Dan Heng. You mutter something under your breath; quick, single word sentences, as if you are trying to decipher something but keep failing at doing so. Phainon lifts his head from your shoulder, once again oddly guilty shine in his blue eyes.

It’s tense, unnerving kind of confused silence that never seems to settle and only continues to grow. “Deliverer.” Mydei sighs, heavy and exhausted, “You didn’t tell them.”

The frustration in Mydei’s usually mildly agitated tone is almost palpable, and Phainon chuckles awkwardly, “I thought it was obvious.”  Then he quickly gets onto his feet to leave the table only to return a couple of seconds later with a heap of yellowish parchment, a bottle of ink and four quills. He sets everything on the marble surface carefully and you thank him, passing the paper to the group. “Apparently not. My apologies, I must have complicated things way more than I initially assumed.”

A simple complication doesn’t even begin to cover the level of mental gymnastics you three forced them into, but even Shuhua’s confused ear twitch is met with Mydei’s almost-warranted exasperation, “Don’t look so damn lost, outlanders. You’ve never met a deaf person before?”

Oh, complicated indeed. Alisa was right to doubt everything, but with the way Shuhua’s ears fall flat against her head she can guess the guilt of assuming things is catching up even to her.

“It’s quite alright.” You dismiss the sudden pitiful glances with a careless shake of your head, instead pointing to the parchment you offered to them. Phainon once again takes a seat next to you, although his posture is far less relaxed than it was before, observing carefully as Stelle twirls the quill in her hand. “Before we begin, you must give an offering to the Temple. Please describe a memory you cherish and feed it to the fire.”

Dan Heng gives you an apprehensive look, doubting your words despite doing exactly what you told him to. Stelle does the same, quickly scribbling something on the paper and dropping it into the purple flames flickering in a large ceremonial goblet installed into the indent in the middle of the table. It takes some time for Alisa to think of a memory she is willing to share with a stranger, and next to her Shuhua grins, folding her paper neatly in half and throwing it into the fire as soon as she can.

Mydei rolls his eyes at such behavior, finally giving up his watch to sit down next to you. He tugs the armored gloves off, placing them neatly near the ottoman and rests his hand on the marble, fingers barely grazing the edge of the ceremonial goblet. You give him a pointed look, the one of a concerned warning, but he dismisses you with a slight, teasing tug to the pointed tip of your elf-like ear poking through the dark strands if your hair. You are about to continue playing a losing game when Phainon once again drops his head on your shoulder, lifting your left hand up to press a tender kiss to your knuckles. Those two, despite all of their differences, know how to distract you when it works to their advantage and succeed in doing so with the ease of a well-oiled machine.

Giving up, you return your attention back to your guests with a fleeting, barely audible apology, then dip your free hand into the fire and pull out five cloudy crystals, dropping them into a silver bowl placed in front of you. Picking the magenta gemstone up, you bring the copper colored one along with it, clicking them against each other. Phainon laughs, the joke is lost on not only Alisa but also on the rest of the Astral Express, although even Mydei seems to get it.

“You two are very special. One is an empty slate, unable to be recorded.”  You begin suddenly, dark eyes drifting from Alisa to Stelle intently. “Another blessed by the gaze of your local gods. What a peculiar life you have, Stelle.”

Upon hearing her own name, despite never introducing herself, Stelle asks a couple of questions you are never meant to catch nor would ever want to answer. You just toss the stones back into the fire and pick a green one, discarding this gem almost instantly as well.

“Rebirth? How interesting…” Looking at Dan Heng, you are searching for something Alisa isn’t sure you can find. But with how the Vidyadhara goes rigid upon hearing your words, something tells Alisa it is not only a single cherished memory of theirs you now have access to. “I am sure that whatever this jade abacus you are thinking about is, it will not help you to leave this world, Dan Heng.”

Smugness on Shuhua’s face deflates exponentially once you get to the pale peachy crystal, her scheme backfiring on her so unpredictably. “Oh, an odd choice for sure, and yet…” You quirk your brow, chuckling lightly under your breath and leaning forward to pass the stone directly into Shuhua’s hands. “Who would have thought that man had it in him to…”

Embarrassed, Shuhua hurriedly hides the peach-colored gem in the pocket of her shorts. You don’t say much more, just sit quietly with an oddly familiar glint in your half-lidded eyes, well-manicured nail in between your teeth. Phainon says something that is lost not only on you but also on the rest of the group. You swipe your tongue over your painted lips, crimson hue glistening even more under the glow of sunlight, and pick up the quill to write a couple of quick notes just to pass them to Phainon as soon as the last drop of ink hits the parchment.

Phainon skims over what you written, a choked cough contracting through his chest, and he crumbles the paper carelessly. “Shuhua’s chosen memory sparked sudden inspiration in me.” You explain then, a teasing lull to your voice, while your nimble fingers straighten the parchment Phainon so thoughtlessly ruined. “I am sure it will not disappoint you either, husband.”

“Aren’t you forgetting anyone?” Mydei asks, fingers that were toying with the edge of the ceremonial goblet now completely engulfed by the purple flames.

“This one sees the appeal of wild cats just like I do…” You say distantly, a subtle shift to the air around you as you tuck the note you wrote into the pocket of Phainon’s coat. “So I have something else for you in mind, Mydeimos.””

 Despite shedding light onto the meaning of Phainon’s bizarre joke and thoroughly embarrassing Shuhua even further with the knowledge of all her previous affairs, your provocative tone contradicts your appearance. Even while replying to Mydei as if you can hear him, you do not look a slightest bit happy or relieved to be able to perceive sound once again. Instead, you hastily free yourself from Phainon’s hold, swatting Mydei’s hand away from the fire and cradling it close to your chest.

Unlike you, the prince does not return from the flame unscathed, although the burnt skin mends itself almost instantly. You were right, immortality does not take away the pain of death, yet Mydei endures the turmoil with ease. True to his promise of battling fate for your love, he is willingly walking into the scorching fires just for a chance of you hearing his voice.

Love of such kind can bring all realms to ruin, yet it is the only kind that you can accept.

As if trying to brighten the mood, a little pink creature that has been following Stelle around ever since her conversation with Oronyx, finally shows itself. Curiously peeking out from behind Stelle’s shoulder, Mem says something that only she can decipher, and receiving a lackluster shrug from the Nameless it slowly floats up to you, fluffy tail swatting Phainon across the face. You watch it with an oddly nostalgic sense of longing littered all over your face like gold dust, strained fingers gripping Mydei’s hand harder. If you know something about Mem’s origin – which Alisa does not doubt even for a second – you keep it to yourself and let the pink fairy playfully bully Phainon some more, until it is completely satisfied and settles on top of his broad shoulders, tail wagging excitedly.

“Are all memokeepers so… eccentric?” Shuhua whispers right into Alisa’s ear and it startles her, dragging her away from her lingering thoughts. “What's up with that fifth memory bubble, anyway?”

Albeit a welcomed distraction, the idea of you being a pathstrider of Remembrance makes things even more convoluted than they initially were, although that power of yours is easily justified by that simple explanation. And considering how easily Fuli extended Their blessings to Stelle, it would be only natural that They gaze upon someone so closely intertwined with memories.

Soft smile of yearning all but completely gone, you look away, returning to the matter at hand. Last, bright pink crystal left lying in the silver bowl, you disregard its existence as if it's just a figment of your imagination. The subtle shift of the air does not seem so subtle anymore.

“Thank you for your kind offerings, Trailblazers.” You speak at last, although there is some sort of tragic finality to the way you deliver your line that tells Alisa you cannot fulfill their wishes. “I must disappoint you, however. What you desire of me is far too ambitious.” Alisa already expected as much, so it does little to disappoint her, but a discouraged sigh that Shuhua and Stelle share hurts her nonetheless. Yet your deeply apologetic expression seems extremely sincere, as you bow your head, “I am not a Chrysos Heir, neither am I gazed upon by an Aeon like the two of you. I am a mere preserver of truthful memories. A dedicated historian, if you will.”

Despite not truly acknowledging yourself as a pathstrider of Remembrance – knowing little of Aeons beyond the information you gathered from their memories – you almost openly recognize yourself as a memokeeper. Just as odd as Black Swan and Reca, albeit a little less suspicious in your intentions and far less invested into the overarching plot of this adventure.

Mydei seems to find some amusement in your claims, however, if a muffled snort coming from his person is anything to go by. He tugs on your ear again, the gold chain hooked to a tiny circular earring in your cartilage dangling as he does so. It's weaved with crimson and navy gems, uncannily reminiscent of Mydei’s own jewelry and the sentimental charm of it is oddly heartwarming.

A huff from you makes Phainon stiffen a laugh, yet another inside joke that goes right above the heads of the ignorant Nameless. He presses his lips against your knuckles once more, far more reserved in his affections than he was back at the bathhouse. Mem shuffles on the spot in his shoulder, tail wagging faster at the sudden disturbance as a bright pink paw hits Phainon square in the face. You giggle, murmuring a couple of teasing apologies in Mem’s stead, yet do not reprimand Stelle to keep her companion at bay. You simply watch Phainon, overflowing fondness in your eyes threatening to spill over.

When you do turn to look at Stelle, your gaze hardens exponentially, “Natural enemy of Goldweaver I might be, but I cannot restore memories like your little friend here does, nor can my power reach beyond these skies. I am truly sorry for wasting your precious time.”

Guilty as you seem to be for not being able to help them, there is something else to the way to shift in your seat. The hand with which you were holding onto Mydei so tightly just a moment ago drops on your lap. Phainon quits his pretend battle with Mem to give you a once over; nothing too out of the ordinary, yet it strikes a suspicion of doubt, nonetheless.

The last memory bubble remains untouched, but from the corner of your eye you keep a vigilant watch over the pink hazy crystal. A memokeeper always has their secrets and all their cards are always tucked close to their chests, under a hundred locks where the destructive forces of time cannot reach them. And right now, you too are hiding something in plain sight, masking your own troubles under the grievances of the Nameless travelers.

“Your time ran out, outlanders.” Mydei states suddenly, no room for discussion left in the way he gets up on his feet to stride towards the exist. “I’ll see you out.”

Stelle is about to say something when Alisa interrupts her, “At least we tried, right?”  It's a rhetorical question and she can only hope her friends get the hint and listen to what she has to say for once. “I’m sorry for disturbing you, Lady [Name]. We will be off.”

They do. Confused and a tad bit worried, they follow Mydei to the door. You wave them goodbye, but don't get up to see them off. Neither does Phainon. Spirits low, Mem hops off his shoulder to float back to Stelle’s side.

Three knocks. The doors open on their own. One last glance at you that Alisa is quick enough to steal reminds her how easily her heart aches for others. To live is to survive. To dream is to suffer. Whatever you saw in that last memory was enough for you to keep your knowledge to yourself. And it is for the best that you can trust yourself to make such decisions. Alisa isn't sure she can say that about herself and not turn out to be a liar.

Mydei is far less of a competent guide than Phainon is. The journey is far too fast and now it's evident why this place is called the Temple of Silence. None of the questions they had were answered, none if them were even brought up in the first place. At least Shuhua can sleep soundly now with her conscience clear of any doubt that she's secondhand complacent in someone else’s infidelity. It doesn't seem like enough, however.

So even when Mydei comes to an abrupt stop near the gates of the Temple, Alisa has half a mind to ask at least something. She knows he won't indulge her curiosity, the prince is not Phainon and cares not about faux pleasantries of keeping up with appearances. But as it turns out, Mydei was itching to share a word or two with them already.

“Deliverer is too soft on you, so I’m going to say it myself.” It's one way to put it, but who are the humble Trailblazers to argue with a disgraced prince of a fallen nation. “This is the last time you come here for favors of such matter. That fool might deny it and say we and the Dressmaster reached a compromise, but he made his choice a long time ago. And my pact with Aglaea is fragile and I hold little to no attachment to either the Goldweaver or the Holy Maiden.” A slow yet steady pace at which a warning turns into a thinly veiled threat, “He’s delusional and living on borrowed time. I am immortal and I cannot forget. If you bring danger to her doorstep, I will pay you tenfold.”

Nobody responds. What is even there to say to such a declaration? Even more questions than before, Alisa can't help but wonder just how exactly Phainon and Mydei came to an agreement when it came to sharing your love and how you had it in your heart heart to tie both of them down to your soul so selfishly.

Not like Mydei would ever give her a clear explanation. No longer truly human, Mydei owes the Nameless even less than he did when he was just a Chrysos Heir. All have their own memories to preserve and it's none of their business, anyway.

“You keep bringing up Aglaea but what exactly did we do that's illegal?” Stelle is rarely as tactful as she should be, however. Maybe that's why she gets what she wants so easily. Audacity gets you places tact cannot. “Is your… arrangement not up to her moral standards? Or is it about the–”

Mydei chuckles bitterly, a sarcastic undertone coloring his humorless laughter and Stelle shuts her mouth quickly. “If there's someone who has those so-called arrangements you speak of, then it would be the Goldweaver. You should ask her about it if you are that invested into other people’s private lives.”  For the first time in a long time it feels like they finally crossed the line with the meddling in affairs that do not concern them. Mydei doesn't allow them to wallow in self pity, unceremoniously showing the group to the gates. “That being said, you’ve exhausted your question quota here. Leave.”

No goodbyes are exchanged but nobody expects the prince to send them off with a warm pat on the back. Shuhua, once again melancholic, dejectedly scratches on the shiny fabric of the pincushion strapped to one of the belts of her outfit. Mem is babbling away about something that leaves Stelle in less than elated mood. Dan Heng will surely scold them for snooping when they return to their room, but for now Alisa must embrace the shame.

“And learn to hide better next time, outlanders.”

To live is to suffer. To dream is to survive.

The tears you wept into the silver bowl cover the pink gemstone like ocean water drowns the corpses of the fallen. Even in death, you yearn to preserve a memory that remains nothing but a distant dream in the eyes of those who remember.

Maybe killing an Aeon is easier than salvaging broken pieces of rapidly melting ice.

Only one way to find out.

[natelia-aldelliz]

"What if I fade?"

Soap lifts his head from his journal, looking up at Roach who is eerily floating near the ceiling. The slow movements almost make him look like he's in water. Kind of ironic given the way he died.

"What do you mean?" he asks, confused.

"What if I move on, what if I disappear," Roach elaborates, refusing to meet his eye. "Not everyone is a ghost, right? We'd be overly crowded. The fact that we're not also means that not every ghost stays."

Soap forces his dry throat to swallow. He honestly didn't want to think about that. He still needs Roach, he probably always will, but he hasn't even told him that he - he takes a deep breath in to calm himself.

"I don't know how it works," he admits quietly, bouncing his leg absent-mindedly. "You're probably right, like most of the time. Even if I really want you to be wrong about that."

Roach finally looks towards him.

"Maybe I should move on," Roach whispers. "It's not healthy, Johnny. You have no idea the things I want, what I wish for, that I'll never get."

Soap doesn't stand up, just keeps staring into Roach's eyes.

"I think I might have an idea, actually," he whispers back. Roach flounders for a moment. Soap really wishes he didn't get that wrong. He's pretty sure Roach meant that he can't have Ghost, and he himself can't have Roach. So... It's pretty similar.

"I've been feeling less like myself recently," Roach insists, deciding to ignore that comment for now. "I find myself wishing one of you would die so I wouldn't be alone. I never thought like that before, I fear that I may have stayed too long, that I'm starting to lose myself."

And he looks scared. It's written on his features so clearly and it breaks Soap's heart.

"You're not alone," he swears. "I'm here with you, and I'll make sure you stay you, however I can."

Roach looks at him, examining his face, looking for... something. Whatever it is, he seems to have found it because he exhales through his nose like a very soft laugh and averts his eyes, almost... blushing? It's a bit hard to tell from the distance and his left cheek being covered in burns while his right is covered in freckles, but he's pretty sure his ears are red.

"You can't look at me like that, Johnny," he says almost coyly. "I can't do anything about it, it's not fair."

Soap's face is burning and his eyes are wide. Was he too obvious? Did Roach understand or is he joking?

They probably look stupid, both of them redder than a fire truck, avoiding the other's eyes, regretting their words. Or at least he supposes that it's what's happening, because he's sure not looking up.

"If it makes you feel better," Roach finally says, sounding like he's smiling, "you were right for once : I am right most of the time. Judging by your reaction, you did indeed have no idea what I want."

[ryoalouette]

Machi's #16 DP x DC idea

Can also be found in Ao3

Imagine Dick and Jazz trying to have a romantic dinner at home only to have their door suddenly busted by several people.

'Richard! Tell Nightingale that protocols are there for a reason!'

'Jazz! Tell the twarp that I don't care about your stupid protocols.'

'I don't want anybody to panic but I can't find Danny or Tim.'

'Steph! It was your turn to chaperone them.'

'No-oh, it was Sam's turn.'

'I switched places with Duke so I could go with Cass to the botanical gardens.'

'I'm sorry, when did I agree to that?'

'So daddy and dad are lost? I'm an orphan now?!'

Explosions are heard near the Dockers.

'They are exploding stuff without me?! They are the worst parents in the world, I'd rather be an orphan.'

'I just want you to know that I still think a winter wedding is a bad idea. Spring is more romantic.'

'Oracle and I already hacked the place they wanted to book so they could skip the waiting list so shut up.'

'You shut up, I'm the one organizing the wedding.'

'Since when?'

'Since now, none of you have any taste in anything.'

Or, two parents with too many kids can't have a quiet day for themselves.

[collecting-dustbunnies]

The longer I play Obey Me, the more I feel like Obey Me is a story about how the MC, in their quest to seek acceptance by the people they care about, ends up destroying themselves in the process and losing the very thing that made them so special and loved in the first place.

In the beginning of OG, they started off as just a normal human who got whisked away to a weird ass world where literally nobody respects them. Despite this, they recognised from the beginning that these demons and angels were not so different from humans. MC's ability to see the demons as actual people and not just beings controlled by their sins was what allowed them to form close bonds with them. They had good intentions to reunite the demon brothers who had undergone centuries of misunderstanding, resentment, and pent up grief. Even though they were excessively nosy, MC's unique position as a complete outsider allowed them to see just how much love the demon brothers had for each other, and how they can become closer if everybody would just better communicate with each other. Serving as the bridge to better improve the brothers' relationships was what convinced the demon brothers to also see MC as a member of their family.

But as the MC became more involved in the Devildom's problems, they started to adopt the same toxic traits that had created wedges between the brothers in the first place. From relying heavily on their pacts to subdue the brothers, to allowing a curse to control Barbatos (even though they had the ability to break it), to going along with the brothers' manipulative scheme to trick Satan into reconciling with Lucifer when Satan ran away to the human world -- it's almost like MC has unconsciously picked up on some of their loved ones' behaviour. Gone are the days where MC brings in a new perspective to problems. Now, they just embrace the chaos and their more darker traits, for that is what is expected of them to survive in the Devildom. And since everyone within their circle puts them on a pedestal, this further affirms to the MC that this is how they should be.

Dealing with the affairs of the Devildom had also caused the MC to grow more apathetic. In the beginning, they had been actively taking steps to form pacts with the brothers and were generally very invested in freeing Belphie from the attic. They remained true to themselves and insisted that they form a pact with Satan based on mutual trust and understanding, and not just as a means to smite Lucifer. Despite being in a helpless situation, MC never refused to give up their agency. But the longer MC gets involved with these shenanigans, the more they grew... numb to everything.

Solomon bringing me back to the Devildom unannounced? Oh, sure. Diavolo and Solomon hiding the reasons for my sudden return? Not my problem.

Simeon facing a problem to the point of having a quarter of the cast acting as his bodyguards? Eh, I'll just ignore it until I can't anymore.

Watching and waiting. That's what they have resorted to doing.

And that mindset of kicking problems down the line until it lands on MC's doorstep and they have no choice but to act -- that's exactly how they have been acting when they were stuck in NB, hasn't it? MC didn't bother forming pacts with the past version of the brothers until they were given an ultimatum, and even then, they simply relied on the convenient timing of each brother struggling with an inner crisis to swoop in, resolve the situation and tick them off their checklist.

MC in NB seems like an unfortunate culmination of everything they faced so far. They're too apathetic to care about getting sent to an unfamiliar place once again, too desensitised to life in the Devildom to reclaim their agency, and too desperate to earn the love of their former family to even think about anything else. They became so co-dependent to the demon brothers that they seem to think they cannot live without them or their affection, even if the ones they are living with in the past are different people from the ones they grew to love in the present.

The phrase "You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain" fits way too perfectly for the Obey Me MC. After all, MC keeps getting rewarded every time they try to get themselves killed (or even when they actually got killed). Maybe that's the only way they know how to resolve problems.

So if they can't die as the hero, they'll just learn to live as the villain.

[bearw-me]

Can we get Chaggie x reader where the reader keeps sneaking love notes onto Charlie and Vaggie without them noticing? Into their pockets, sticky notes on the back, maybe a smack to the ass- theyll even leave a sticky note behind without the ladies even knowing they were there.

Of course we can 😭 loving all these chaggie requests in my inbox rn

𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 ♡ — 𝐇𝐚𝐳𝐛𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬

𐐒 ft : charlie morningstar x gn!reader x vaggie 𐐒 cw : fluff 𐐒 summary : you like to prank your girlfriends with cute little notes 𐐒 wk: 378 𐐒 note : *inhaling* GOODNESS I LOVE THIS PROMPT, also, drabbles on this blog means i just write and don't stop ig

Something was going amiss. And Charlie and Vaggie were onto you and your shenanigans.

Vaggie was the first to notice them, once she walked by Charlie in the hallway, noting a pink piece of paper was stuck to her shoulder. "Hey babe?" the fallen angel took her girlfriend by the arm softly, stopping her before she gentle peeled the note off Charlie's red jacket. "What's this?"

It was a pink sticky note, the message 'love you :)' scribbled in black pen.

Charlie hadn't even noticed the cute message, "Awe!" She'd gush, taking it from Vaggie's hands to look at it. Meanwhile, Vaggie already knew if it wasn't from her, it was from you.

That, is where your two girlfriends remembered it starting; and now, they were in the midst of a full on war of skepticism against you.

Vaggie would be hesitant to hug you when you come up to her with a coy smile. She knows you have that thing on you now, just where the hell were you hiding that thing? She pats you down before she finally falls into a hug, snuggling comfortably into the crook of your neck before she lets go. Only to find another pink sticky note on her thigh.

"WHERE WERE YOU HIDING THAT!?"

Charlie on the other hand, loves it, she collects all the notes she finds and is starting a cute scrapbook of all of them in secret. . . well, as secret as she can. She actually really likes showing you and Vaggie the slowly growing binder of them.

One time, Charlie was reaching for a pen in her pocket and found two little crumpled notes in her pockets. Reading them with a gush and showing Angel with pride.

Vaggie has no idea how you are getting away with this. Her guard is up at all times, even that one time you walked by and gave her ass a little teasing tap before she could playfully scold you.

Charlie found that one, and god it had Vaggie blushing like a maniac and silently fuming. You got her again! God!

She learns to accept it, she just figures you and Charlie especially have the privilege of catching her off guard because she loves you two dorks so goddamned much.

[meeludrawz]

Hawks x Reader & Kinda Adopted!Tokoyami

A/N: I saw some tiny comics with Deadpool who thinks he's dating Spiderman, and brought Danny Phantom home with him. So now Spidey's stuck with enduring both of them and I went: That's sounds like Hawks lmfao

It all started when you were chasing a villain around Japan

Somehow, the top hero Hawks was also chasing the same man

As you fought the villain together, Hawks immediately started hitting on you, yes, while fighting

Usually, you'd think this is funny but you were WORKING so it only annoyed you

Once the villain was knocked out, Hawks asked you out

You refused, still annoyed by him

"Well damn, where do you hang out then?"

You rolled your eyes and scoffed, before leaving. "As if I'd tell you"

It took a couple of days before he found you, then again and again

It slowly but surely got more frequent and everytime, you were glad to go back home ALONE

Until one day, you came back from the grocery store and found Hawks chilling on your couch like it was his

And he never left

He's a pain in the ass most of the time but at least he helps with house chores

He flirts a lot with you, which is annoying but you lowkey appreciate his presence

Hawks calls you by many names "Babe, Baby, Bae, Birdie" even if you two aren't dating

You eventually grew used to have a roommate and you do appreciate him but sometimes his shenanigans are just: "Ugh, why don't I kick you out?"

"Cuz you love me"

"No I don't"

"Sure, keep lying to yourself birdie, I'm not in a rush anyways"

Sometimes you did wonder if you were falling for him

The way he spoke, the way he listened to you, the way he gave you gifts, the way he took care of you...

You were starting to accept that maybe you did liked him

Until that one call that flipped your life upside down again

"What do you think about kids?"

"Huh??"

"So this kid, my "apprentice", tried to attack a villain, got knocked out by said villain but I'm so impressed that I'm bringing him back home"

"What no you're not bringing-"

"Cya home babe~"

You were now stuck with a roommate and a kid- Well a teenager but still-

You somehow grew used to Tokoyami faster than with Hawks because he was actually a nice human being who WASN'T DOING SHIT LIKE KEIGO

Anyways, you fought with Hawks about this whole "kidnapped teenager"

"I have brought chaos with me, perhaps I should leave this household" Tokoyami said as he stood up from the couch

"You're fine sweetie, let mommy convince your dad" Keigo, the mom apparently.

"I'm not his-" You facepalmed. "Oh my god"

Somehow, once the anger was gone, you actually liked this situation

Keigo and you were Tokoyami's "parents"

And maybe too quickly, a year passed

"The kid's growing well" Hawks had smiled on your balcony as you and him were watching Tokoyami go to UA

"Sure is, he's gonna be a great hero" You had smiled back

"We're actually good parents" He smirked, still watching the teen walk away.

"Yeah for some reason" You chuckled. "But he mostly lives at the dorms, so we're always the best around him"

"Well, maybe we should try for real this time"

You confusedly looked at him. "What do you mean?"

He grabbed your sides and pulled you closer to him before he gently grabbed your chin with his fingers. "Having a kid" His face leaned closer to yours.

Your face went red but you never pushed him away so his lips met yours <3

And the passion of the kiss felt like fireworks were exploding in the distance.. <3

[animeyanderelover]

Can I also request the marly guys (zeke, reiner,colt and porco) with an escaping s/o please? If it's to many people you don't have to write for colt or zeke. Thank you

Tw: Yandere themes, possessive behavior, toxic relationship, obsessive behavior, delusional mindset, manipulation, threats, blackmailing

Tags: @shumidehiro

Escaping s/o

Zeke Yeager

🚬​He's probably been aware of your silly plans for a while now but has never spoken up about it as he instead chooses to wait and see how it turns out. Whilst you are making your own plans though, Zeke is gearing up to counter them as he does his own work. Two can play the game after all and if you are conjuring up schemes behind his back, he will return the favor. After all the Titan Shifter is fairly confident that he will win this as he has the intelligence and the influence. The moment you finally put your plan in motion, Zeke is already prepared for everything and the whole thing ends soon in your undeniable defeat. He visits you later as you were put under custody until he arrives and it is then that he explains to you that he has been aware of your plot for a while now. He could have stopped you obviously as soon as he had his suspicions but he thought that it would perhaps be better to let you see and feel that you would do better to stop such shenanigans in the future as you stand no chance against him. The next time you come up with such a hoax, he won't amuse you any longer. This is the first and last time he played such a game with you.

Reiner Braun

🟤​Even if Reiner were to discover hints of your plans, he would most likely refuse to believe them. This guy is quite dependent on his darling after all the trauma and pain he had to endure and he is quite desperate for them to love him too which is why he is extremely overbearing. The first stage is just denial when he finds out that you have actually ran away from him as he instead tries to come up with excuses for what you have done all because he doesn't want to accept the truth. You couldn't! You would never do that! The moment the truth comes crashing down though, Reiner has a meltdown and starts bawling his eyes out. He is a mess and it needs the likes of Pieck and Porco to shake him out of his misery. He isn't far away from transforming into his Titan and chase after you but luckily he is stopped by his comrades as well as the last bit of consciousness that there are people important to him living here. Some more amicable soldiers of Marley agree to help him and he himself joins them, though he looks only seconds away from another meltdown. He's going to scream, cry and beg for them to never do this again as he locks them away in his house from that day on, his trust broken.

Porco Galliard

🌫️​Porco should technically not be surprised if you should attempt to escape from him. After all it is no secret to him that he has forced you into an engagement as well as marriage without even considering your wishes in it. Yet when it actually happens, there is still the disappointed anger as he can't help but think that even if he did all of that, it ultimately enabled you a better life. His anger only heightens the longer you are gone as he even snaps at Marley soldiers despite knowing how his kind is viewed by them. He doesn't fully trust them either so he goes on a separate pursuit to go after you and the moment you are found, you will not be spared of his ire. He's pissed as he yells at you, insult after insult leaving his lips as he calls you an ungrateful thing and points out how he has done nothing but better the situation for you and your family alike. Briefly he considers threatening you to take all the privileges away for you and your family but that would only be really possible through divorce and he would never consider that. He either locks you away like Reiner does or actually goes the extra step and asks the Marley soldiers to imprison you for a while so that you realize how good you have it with him.

Colt Grice

◻️Oh, the poor lad would be absolutely heartbroken. After all he has done nothing but protect and dote on them. Sure, he has done some things he is not too overly proud of such as also pushing you into an engagement but he shares similar motives to Porco as he wants to ensure your protection as soon as he becomes the next Titan Shifter. He is in denial and honestly, he remains stuck in disbelief even as he goes after you until you are caught and he sees you again. The spiteful and frustrated look you give him is finally enough to smash reality right against his chest. Why...? Why would you do this to him? His mind is racing, although all thoughts scatter before he can even properly form them as he tries to dig up something that he can say to you as he stares at you but no words ever leave his lips in that moment. His trust has been smashed and is left in pieces and he doesn't know what to do around you for a while as he has to stomach the realisation that the relationship is perhaps more threatened than he ever would have wanted to think. He would probably find himself turning to your family who, given the opportunities he gives you and them, would most likely shame you for your attempt.

[thepixelelf]

genres/tags: body swapping/your name au; mystery; angst; minwon are roommates; reader is a small town [gender neutral] living in a lonely world. warnings: coarse language; major character death (non graphic/not shown). wc: 1.8k

love triangle au requests

[where and, more importantly, when] In the past week and a half, Wonwoo has slept better than he's ever slept in his life.

Actually, maybe "better" isn't the best descriptor for his sleep. Longer, certainly. Dreamless.

When he closes his eyes, he no longer dreams through yours. He no longer finds himself trapped in your tiny town, in your lonesome loft, in your dead-end job...in your body.

Wonwoo keeps telling himself he should be happy; relieved. What he was calling a curse a few weeks ago is finally over. He isn't waking up in an unfamiliar body every other day anymore. You're not messing with his life anymore, intentionally or not. Yes, he should be thankful that all that body-swapping nonsense is over.

Groggy, eyes drooping, Wonwoo watches coffee drip from the Keurig into his whale shark-shaped mug. You'd bought that mug with his money, at the aquarium you went to in his body, since your small town doesn't have places like that. (And you've never left.)

((In your own body, anyway.))

The TV across the apartment plays the general news channel, but Wonwoo stopped paying attention at some point.

His phone lies face up on the counter in front of the coffeemaker, the daily journal app you used to keep him up to date on your shenanigans in his body open. If it weren't for your notes — and the kitschy mug in front of him — he'd almost believe that all the times he woke up and spent the day in your body were dreams.

Wednesday 10:38PM Obviously I didn't take your car to the aquarium. You city people drive like fucking animals. Makes me glad I've never left.

Thursday 3:45PM You don't act like it. -W

Friday 11:01PM It's not like I've never wanted to leave. I mean, you've spent enough time there to understand. Everyone wants to leave, but it's only the lucky ones who actually do. I know we've been complaining about this whole thing a lot. But... I don't know. It's been nice to not be me. For a little while. You probably understand by now why I can't leave. I know you've been receiving the calls. My mom's condition has been like that for years... I don't want to leave her alone.

Saturday 11:48PM I didn't mean to be nosy, but they called you/me yesterday. They said your mom was awake and asking for you... but she was unconscious again by the time I got to the home. I can take care of her too, when I'm you. If you're okay with it. If not, that's okay too.-W

Sunday 9:06PM She'd know you're not me. I don't want to scare her.

Monday 11:59PM I could still take care of her. From the sidelines. If you want. -W

Wonwoo stares at the last note he put in the log. He didn't swap with you that night, or any night since, so you haven't read it. Now he's finding it hard to accept that he'd settled for this mode of communication. You'd tried to trade phone numbers at one point, but his messages weren't sending. The ones that you'd sent as a test went through, but there were no notifications for them. By the time he'd thought to scroll through his old messages, it was like yours were always there. He knew it wasn't because you blocked him — he could check when he took over your body, after all — so it didn't really make sense.

Not that any of this made sense, but still.

Something must have happened for the swapping to suddenly stop with no warning, but then again, it's not like either of you got any warning when it started.

Sighing, Wonwoo pulls up your number and hovers his thumb over the call button. He's never spoken to you, really — only ever heard your voice when he was using it.

He taps his thumb and brings his phone up to his ear.

It rings until the automated voicemail message plays, and he hangs up.

Then tries again.

"Hello?" an unfamiliar voice answers.

Wonwoo blinks. He's never talked to you face to face, but he knows this voice is one he's never heard before. "Who is this?"

"Who is—" The voice chuckles. "You called me, buddy."

"I'm looking for..." Saying your name out loud feels strange. He's never told anyone about you.

"Sorry man, they must've given you a fake number."

Wonwoo frowns. "That's not possible." You sent those messages to him before with the exact number he's calling now. "Just a couple weeks ago we—"

"I've had this number for like two years, so I don't know what to tell you."

"Two years?" Carelessly, Wonwoo's hand shoots out to support himself on the counter, and he knocks over your whale shark mug. "Shit." Hot coffee spills all over fake marble, and the handle of the mug cracks completely off. "Fuck."

Wonwoo hangs up on the stranger even as they ask if he's okay, and he tosses his phone on a dry section of the counter so he can hold the broken handle of your mug in one hand and the rest in the other.

He doesn't get it. He really doesn't.

But he feels like crying.

Why did it stop?

Where did you go?

Why did he have to break the one thing he has here that's yours?

The front door of the apartment opens, and through it steps Mingyu in his work attire. He toes off his shoes, puts his wireless earbuds in their case, and when Wonwoo can't hold in a sniffle, Mingyu looks up at him.

He meets Wonwoo's teary eyes, glances at your broken mug, and, shocked— 

Whispers your name.

Wonwoo's mouth drops open. He can only stand frozen as Mingyu marches up to him and pulls him into a tight hug.

“Is that really you? It’s okay. It’s okay. We can go back and get you another one! Where were you? I’ve been— I thought—”

Careful not to touch him with the broken edges of your mug, Wonwoo pushes Mingyu off. “You knew?”

Mingyu’s eyes widen, and he backs off with a faux casual cough. “Haha… Knew what…?” he drawls, avoiding Wonwoo’s hard gaze and scratching the back of his neck.

“Don’t play stupid. You said their name.” Wonwoo puts the pieces of your mug on the counter. “How long?”

“I don’t know what you’re—”

“Mingyu.”

“The whole time?” Mingyu flinches back, wincing with one eye peeked open to watch for Wonwoo’s reaction. “Um…”

Wonwoo feels dizzy. “The whole time?!” he echoes. “And you didn’t tell me?”

“They told me not to!” Mingyu puts his hands up in defense. “They were embarrassed I caught them so quickly.”

“But… You… Wait, the aquarium… You went together…?”

Leaning into it now, Mingyu talks over Wonwoo’s confusion. “So where are they? Do you know what happened? Why did the swapping thing stop? Did you figure out how it works? Are they ever coming back?”

Wonwoo snaps back to into it at that last question. “I don’t— I don’t know.”

“Well do you know where they are?” Mingyu steps closer, his brows furrowed. “I tried calling them but some random guy answered. And I don’t know why — I swear they’ve told me a million times — but every time I try to remember the name of their town, I can’t. It’s like a blank spot in my brain.”

Wonwoo frowns. “It’s—”

Wait.

“It’s…”

The name is on the the tip of his tongue, but why should it be stuck there? He was living every other day in that damned town.

“Right?” Mingyu says. He snaps his fingers. “I know it sounds something like… cargo, or gunley, or scarsborough, or—”

“—reporting to you live from Garneau—”

Both of them whip their heads toward the TV, where a news reporter stands in front of a woodsy area. The sky behind them is gray, and the trees are lit by flashing blue and red lights

“It’s been just over two years since a missing persons report was filed after a barn party that was held on the outskirts of Garneau.”

“‘Barn party’?” Mingyu repeats. “Isn’t that—?”

You were the first person Wonwoo had ever heard use the term, since you were planning on going to one with your shitty coworkers. Wonwoo told you not to go — not just because of that one asshole who would always look at you in a way that made Wonwoo shiver, but because barn parties, whatever they were, couldn’t be fun. He had no thoughts on whether or not it would be dangerous.

“This morning, intense rainstorms in a marshy area not far from that party led to the discovery of a human body in the mud. Forensics are showing the person to have been in their mid-twenties, and that their body was submerged for at least one year.”

Wonwoo’s jaw clenches.

“Other details are currently unknown, but speculation leads to a connection between the missing persons case from two years prior. We urge anyone with any information on—”

Mingyu gasps when the reporter says your name.

“—to come forward. Until more information is discovered, however, this has been—”

“What the fuck.” Mingyu looks over at Wonwoo, whose face is blank. “What the fuck. What the fuck!”

Wonwoo says nothing. He can’t.

A week and a half ago, he started looking up treatments for your mother’s condition and better homes for patients like her. He missed a deadline for one of his projects while searching for other places you could visit as him that you couldn’t go to in your town, like the giant indoor amusement park, or that cheesy rainforest-themed restaurant. The last time he was in your body, he left a bowl of sliced strawberries in your fridge after you lamented missing the day some client sent an edible arrangement to your work.

Was that two years ago for you? Did you ever even see them?

Wonwoo goes to the entrance of their apartment, grabs his jacket, shrugs it on while slipping into his shoes, and puts his hand on the doorknob.

Mingyu puts his hand over Wonwoo’s. “Where are you going?”

Jerking his wrist, Wonwoo yanks open the door. “To find them.”

Mingyu follows him into the hall. “Didn’t you see the news? They’re—” He stumbles, eyes wide and breath starting to grow uneven. Then he swallows that moment of realization down and meets Wonwoo’s eyes with an uncertain tilt to his mouth. “You really think you can find them?”

Wonwoo can't answer that. “But I'm going anyway.”

Running his hand through his hair, Mingyu turns around for a few seconds with the other hand on his hip. He sighs before dipping back into the apartment.

When he comes back out, his steps are heavy with determination.

“I'll drive.”

[animatorweirdo]

Introducing your fae prince to your family and friends

You come home and reveal your engagement to your family and folks.

Requested by Anon

Hi,

Not sure if this counts as a continuation, but I loved the Fae!Maglor x reader pieces that you sent to LoveFairyMina - I was wondering if maybe you’d be willing to do a quick continuation of what happens after they get engaged? (Could be pregnancy shenanigans, other Fae!Silm characters reacting or after reader gives birth to their firstborn) I’d love to see more of this relationship!

Again, wanted to apologize if it’s not part of the guidelines for open requests this time and feel free to discard if not. Thank you and have a wonderful day!

(Author note: Never thought this could get turned into a crack fic but here we are. Decided to use my Frozen Heart characters. Tagging Mina: @a-contemplation-upon-flowers so she can also see this)

Warnings: none just drama

------------------------------------------

Your dad: Let me get this straight. You go to the fae woods and vanish for three days, and now you are engaged to a fae prince because you thought you could fulfill the terms of the deal of giving him your firstborn child by having your firstborn child with him?! *Points at Fae!Maglor standing beside you*

You: *Sweats nervously* Uh... yeah?

Your dad: *Releases a deep sigh* Why am I not even surprised? 

Your mom: *Smiling* Anyway, it's lovely to meet you. Will you stay over for dinner? 

Your dad: Darling, our daughter is engaged to a fae, who is also a prince. I think you are taking this way too calmly. 

Your mom: Nonsense, thanks to him my illness is gone. Let’s show some appreciation. 

Fae!Maglor: *Looks at your grandmother and little brother, Kian,  who are doing their things, not minding his presence like he was a casual sight*

Fae!Maglor: Your family is taking our engagement oddly well. 

You: I mean... it's good, right?

Your grandmother: *Looks up to you* Taking the other things you have done. This is not the strangest thing so far. 

Fae!Maglor: *Getting slightly worried* And what are the other things she had done? 

Kian: *Randomly* Can you really turn into a bird? 

Fae!Maglor: *To himself* Into what kind of family have I gotten myself into? 

--- 

Camilla: (Name)! I heard you got engaged to a fae! 

You: I can explain! 

Camilla: No need. After hearing about your deal, I'm not even surprised. I know that's something you would do 100 percent. So, congrats on your engagement, I guess. *Pats your shoulder and leaves*

You: *Giggles* Well, that went better than I thought. 

Fae!Maglor: *confused by the reaction* Huh? 

---

Your village chief: *Slightly nervous at the sight of Fae!Maglor* (Last name). Can you explain why you have brought a fae prince to our village? 

You: Well, chief, that's actually a funny story. You see I made a deal with him in order for my mother to get better again, and.... well... he wanted my firstborn... I asked when do we start... and then... now we're engaged! 

Your village chief: *calms down immediately* Oh--- well, congratulations on your engagement then. *leaves casually*

You: *Smiling* Thanks chief. 

Fae! Maglor: *freaks out* Why are you humans taking this so calmly?!

--- 

Fae!Maglor: *Pouting and sulking in the corner of your house, waiting for the rest of the visit days to go by so you two can finally go back to his home*

You: Are you gonna pout the rest of the visit here? 

Fae!Maglor: You are weird! Your family is weird! Your whole village is weird! They should be afraid of me and look at me with cautious, but all of you are taking this situation way too calmly. This was supposed to be a typical deal, where you ask what you want, accept the terms, and then give me your firstborn a decade later. Not having the firstborn with me and getting me unwittingly engaged to you! 

You: *Shrug your shoulders* Well, sorry if I'm not an ideal partner. Anyway, I heard from your family that you were a musician and liked music, so--- I checked the attic of my house and found some old musical notes my grandfather used to play. *pull out some music notes*

Fae!Maglor: *Looks at them with interest*

You: They might not be anything like fae music, but since we're gonna be married soon... I thought you might be interested.

Fae!Maglor: *Stares at you with silence before reaching out his hand and taking the notes* Your weirdness is forgiven for now. 

You: *grin* You know, with your feathers so puffed up. You look like an angry curled owl. 

Fae!Maglor: * Pufs and turns his back toward you with the notes in hand* Silence, my clever fool of a bride. I am a proud majestic bird of great songs. Do not compare me to those night dwellers. 

You: *Pats his head with a grin* Whatever you say, my pouty little birdy. 

Fae!Maglor: *Disgruntled yet flustered bird noises*

[taffycandyqt]

Hi, I was wondering for if I could submit this prompt when requesting. It’s kind of similar to ember’s and wade’s dynamic in Elemental and it’s slightly angsty but it’s mostly lighthearted.

-It includes Donnie from the 2012 show and the reader. The premise is that the two started to bond during the three months they were refugees at the farm during season three due to the Kraang Invasion, The reader starts to develop feelings for Donnie as the feeling is mutual, but he’s quick to deny it- due to fearing of being turned down again and having a complex where he views himself as a freak due to being a mutant turtle and not being able to fit in with society and happily accepted.

-the reader tries to confess to Donnie on how they love him in the woods but he’s quick to shut them down(even if it’s mutual) : saying that it could never work out due to them being different species and how he’s just a mutant and could never make the reader happy in the end. The reader comforts Donnie and they have a heart to heart and Donnie reconsiders the confession.

I was actually sooooooo excited to write this you have no idea!!!! Ngl tho this turned out way longer then I thought it would and I kept getting stumped and then taking like month long breaks so sorry this one took so long!😶

Okay, listen!

2012 Donnie x reader

Fluff! Slight angst, comfort

After the Kraang invaded New York everyone moved to live in April's old farm house you and Donnie ended up getting closer than you originally thought. You guys are friends but your feelings have changed. Donnie always thought you would be happy with a human partner so now you're left with a broken heart and no best friend.

"Donnie, your not just a mutant," said April. Donnie had come to apologize to her about the way he acts towards her. Which is fair. While he didn't mean any harm it was good he was starting to understand boundaries.

You had been bringing groceries back to the farmhouse and saw April and Donnie talking. You could use some help with the bags so you decided to enlist Donnie's help bringing them in.

"hey Donnie, April!" You greeted.

"Hi y/n!" Donnie replied.

"O-oh hey, y/n." April seemed to feel a bit awkward.

"Hey D, when you get the chance could you help me bring in the groceries?"

"Oh sure y/n! Sorry what were you gonna say April?"

"Um- well... just that. I care about you Donnie, mutant or not."

You had made it inside after hearing that and set the groceries on the counter before turning to head back outside. Donnie met you in the kitchen and you two walked back out to the car to grab everything else.

Walking back to the farmhouse you decided to ask.

"You mind if I ask what you and April where chatting about?"

"Nothing really. I was just saying sorry for making her uncomfortable. And that I didn't realize what I was doing until bigfoot came along. Now I just feel like an idiot, ya know? Everyone told me it was creepy, even you!"

"It happens to everyone, sometimes people just need to learn things from first hand experience. Now you know and you won't make the same mistake again." You shrugged. You never did care for his shenanigans but you made sure to tell him when he crossed the line.

"Yeah, never again." He cringed at the thought. Even though he was relieved the situation with April was finally over he couldn't help the fact that it still hurt. Yeah, he understands that April doesn't like him and why. It certainly doesn't help, though, that this whole situation picked at a prominent insecurity of his like an old itchy scab. That being that he will probably never be loved that way.

Because he's just an ugly mutant.

As he helped you put everything away he became lost in his own thoughts. As a result, however, you couldn't help but notice his crestfallen expression. Racking your brain to find a way to comfort him only one thing came to mind. Out of all the brothers you were least close to Donnie. You guys never really had much to talk about. And as curious as you were about his inventions he was usually to preoccupied to answer questions or you were swept away by someone else before you could ask any.

Now though, there was nothing urgent or exciting (even if it was new) that would demand your attention.

"Hey D, you working on anything new since we got here?" You asked while putting the last of the food in the pantry. It was a simple question really, but you figured it was better than nothing.

"huh? Sorry did you say something?" He blinked.

"I said you working on any new contraptions lately or have you just been settling in?" Now turning from the cupboards to look at him. He stared at you blankly for a second more before confusion shifted into his face. He must not have expected you to ask. Makes sense, you never have before.

"I- Well I have been working on something but I'm not very far its a- well it's kinda like... it would probably just be better if I showed you. I- if, you want." He ran through his works sprinted through those stutters and punctuated his sentence with a swift look at the floor.

"Sure, I'm free right now, as it happens." You joked to lift the thin bed sheet of awkward that had seemed to settle over the two of you.

"Oh. Okay, uuuh follow me."

He didn't laugh. To be fair he didn't need to but you've been wondering for a while if you have a bad sense of humor soooo, ya know, that was fun.

Regardless you followed him to the old barn where he set up shop. Old tools and scrap metal where strewn across the desk he stopped at. He then promptly turned around and stepped out of the way to awkwardly present his unfinished work at the center of the desk. He was right, he was not very far with it at all. You had no idea what you were looking at. Regardless you stepped closer, gave it a good looksie without touching it, and then turned to Donnie.

"Explain it to me."

He looked at you like you had shown him the answer to all the worlds most complicated scientific questions. It didn't take long for him to knock back into reality though, and when he did oh boy. You opened a whole new book, and this book, it made you feel like you never learned to read. Luckily, Donnie was never short of words to help your understanding.

And that is how you bff-ness started. The two of you were practically inseparable, neither of you realized how well you meshed until that fateful day and how boy did you both of you feel you missed out. Infact, you went from being the least close in the whole group to being tweedle Don and tweedle Dum Dumb.

Not to say that you were dumb, you just did stupid crap and convinced Donnie to do it with you. At first, people either didn't care or was happy that you guys grew closer. However, as time went on people either wouldn't care, or be extremely annoyed by your guys' constant "experiments" in the woods.

(when Leo woke up though, he was just concerned tbh. Like: Ohmygoshnoooooooo😰)

And by experiments, well, there was the time you guys lit a tree up and almost started a forest fire. Or that time you insisted that you knew your mushrooms and convinced Donnie to help you make a soup with some, only to get yourselves massively sick. And let's not forget the time you jumped off a tall rock into a small lake only to realize that that small lake was infact just a really big puddle.

As April would put it, you two got along like a house fire. Which is another incident you two almost caused, just... ya know... in the barn. So its not as bad!

You and Donnie were chilling in the barn like you normally did when you weren't trying to get yourself killed (allegedly). Donnie had long since finished his explanation on this device for testing April's brain waves. You two sat in comfortable silence as you daydreamed tilting on your chair, legs propped up on the back of the sad excuse of a truck. Inevitably you tilted to far and fell to the floor with a loud WHOMP!

Donnie turned around concerned for you wellbeing, like a normal person. However before he can say a word you speak.

"Hey D, you ever use a magnifying glass to burn messages into stuff?" Staying put on your place on the floor not seeming to bothered.

"no?"

At this you grin up at him and whipp out a magnifying glass from your pocket.

"Would you like to?"

Gosh that smile. He learned pretty quickly that whenever you smiled like that you were gonna do something. You were set to enjoy yourself wether he came along or not. Like the puddle incident. he tried to tell you it seemed to shallow but you did NOT care. He couldn't stop you from jumping but he could stop you from breaking your tailbone. And when he went to catch you the force of your fall threw him right on his butt with a loud splash. No one hurt, (yes you were, you just couldn't tell yet) just drenched. You guys just sat there laughing for a good while before you finally admitted you should have listened to him.

That's when he decided that even if is was stupid he'd at least tag along for the fun of it. And that's what led him behind the chicken coop looking for broken boards or thick sticks to burn creepy messages. You wanted to scatter them around the forest and see what would happen if the others found them. It seemed to be a harmless enough prank. That is until you actually got to burning the stuff.

You both began buring your messages on the sicks behind the barn. Donnie having chosen a classic 'I'm watching' with you deciding on 'you smell different awake'.

"You're so weird." Donnie laughed.

"Perhaps, but you can't tell me that the idea of someone sniffing you in your sleep isn't creepy."

"I feel like someone sniffing you awake without you noticing is the creeper implication there."

You both continued debating about wether it was creeper to be sniffed unknowingly asleep or awake. During said debate, without realizing, you continued to point the magnifying glass at perfect angle towards your stick.

And after a little bit of a back and forth between you and Donnie he stopped you.

"hey do you smell something burning?" You look back at your stick right as a small fire erupts on it. You were kneeling pretty far over you stick and the fire was almost right in your face. You freaked, jumping out of your skin and kicking the stick away from you.

Right. Into. The barn.

"Oops." Is all you said as the fire started to eat up the dry wood of the ancient barn wall.

You and Donnie kicked into panic mode as you both started frantically fanning the flames with your jacket in hope of blowing out the fire. Unfortunately for you the fire was already at the point of no return. Fanning it would only blow the flames further up the barn. After realizing that was only making it worse you started to kick the wall in hopes of stomping out the flames. Donnie, meanwhile, nervously shuffled in place looking for and thinking of anything he could possibly use to put out the fire. About to head in one direction before stopping and changing trajectory only to stop again to repeat the same panicked tango. Throughout this whole disaster you were both screaming at each other. Either about ideas to put the fire out or incomprehensible fear.

Eventually due to all the racket Leo and Raph came outside to see what the frick was going on. Leo, because he was trying to meditate, and Raph because you both needed to shut up.

When they saw what whas happening however, they went from annoyed to frantic real fast. Raph went inside to fill a bucket with water while Leo grabbed the hose to do the same. When Raph ran through the house he grabbed Mikey's attention as he was walking down the stairs. Then he got April and Casey's who were in the kitchen when he started impatiently filling said bucket.

Not answering any of their questions from the moment he got to the kitchen to the moment he ran out all three curious teens followed him to the smoking barn. There was no bucket by the hose so Leo had opted to just bringing the hose to the fire however the water couldn't quite reach so he was pouring water into yours and Donnies hands. You both threw water on the fire that had almost entirely engulfed flames. Safe to say, it wasn't doing much. That's when Raph splashed the wall with the contents of the bucket and put out a big portion of the fire. He then grabbed the hose from Leo's hands and began to fill up the bucket more. April yelled to you and Donnie, and motioned to Casey and Mikey. You all followed her to the basement where more buckets lie and ran back out side. Safe to say with all the water and everyone helping out the fire was finally quenched.

Luckily it all happened pretty quickly only the outside of the one wall was singed. April was not happy about it though and wanted an explanation. You were quick to confess and now your not allowed to touch glass.

Over the time that you and Donnie would spend together at the farm house you would continue to bring that incident up. While the others were less enthused about your jokes you and Donnie couldn't help but laugh.

On this specific occasion you were looking for frogs in the woods while telling Donnie a sleep a terrible dad jokes. Not a single one had made him laugh, but you knew what would.

"Stop, I think I'm gonna flatline from how bad your jokes are." Donnie motioned dramatically.

"Oh come on don't be like that. I'm on FIRE right now."

There it is.

"Pffffft. Nooo!" He giggled, "You can't just bring that up every time you tell a sucky joke."

"I don't know what you're talking about, I am incredibly talented when it comes to, lighting up a room."

A small pause was shared between you before the hysteria finally hit. Was it stupid? Yes. Was it really that funny? No. But you guys loved it.

Donnie loved it.

He loved your laugh. Your infectious smile. The way you looked at him like you really saw him. The way you listened to him like you were really hearing him. The way you would ask questions right as he was about to finish and egg him on further. The way you would say 'explain it to me', every time he showed you a new invention. Truthfully he could just start telling you but it made his heart jump in his throat in the best way. The way you would study whatever he was making trying to figure out what it is, only to turn to him with shiney eyes to say those four perfect words.

But honestly, these walks and in the forest were his favorite. Not all of them ended in disaster and when they didn't, they were usually quite comfortable. You two used to chat about your lives back in New York but eventually you both ran out of interesting things to say. So you stuck to talking about events at the farm house but there usually want much to talk about then either. Seeing as you two spent practically every waking moment together.

Even still, the silence was comfortable. It was easy to enjoy your presence. Man if he knew having a best friend would be this great he definitely would have focused less on his crush. His feelings for you were completely different from his feelings towards April in the past. He wanted to die every time he said almost anything to April, but with you? I knew he could say anything, stupid or not, and he'd be okay. And if he went to far? You told him, he'd apologize, you guys would move on, and vise versa.

"hey D?"

"Yeah?"

"How are you doing lately?"

"huh? What do you mean?... I've been doing, fine... I guess. Why do you ask?

"Well- I mean. Uhhhhhm. It's just, it's been like a month since the whole bigfoot... situation. Just wanted to check in. See how your feeling ya know?" You shrugged and kept your eyes trained on the floor while you kicked a rock.

Donnie look at you and then back forward. There's another thing you do. His family and friends care about his general well being but none of them go out of their way to ask him if he was okay randomly. He felt just fine in the moment and to most that was good enough.

"Yeah I'm feeling good. It was kinda hard at first, but I got over it a lot faster than I thought I would." Gosh had it only be a month? If you asked before then he would have told you that April was his soulmate. Now? She's definitely just a good friend. Maybe even a sister with the amount of time she spent with him and his brothers.

"Good good." You nodded. You were honestly really happy for him. You knew he was setting himself up for disappointment with April, your just glad it over.

You kept your eyes trained on the dirt in front of you. Not cuz you felt awkward anymore, that feeling was dismissed when Donnie answered your question. So no, not that. You couldn't look at him right now. Not when he basically told you, you might have a chance. Admittedly you've always thought he was the most attractive of his brothers, and you always admired his creativity and skill. But, he liked April, and there was no way you were A. getting in the middle of that whole mess, or B. signing up for having your exact house address known at all times down to the meter. However, not only has he realize that was overstepping, but he doesn't like her anymore! So can you really be blamed for smiling a little to wide at the news?

As you finished you walk and went back to the farmhouse you decided now was the time to start dropping hints. You want to be sure there was at least a 50% chance of him liking you back. Was that low? To some, maybe, but you could never be 100% sure unless he told you.

As you walked up the porch and approached the front door you leaned into Donnie softly. Like a gentle nudge almost. The first step would be to initiate more physical contact. You wanted to ease into ease into it. Jumping straight into cheek kissing like April did could end wrong in so many ways. Donnie looked at you with a quirked "eyebrow" and a slight smile like he was asking like you 'whatca' need silly?'. You simply shrugged to communicate you didn't need anything and walked into the house.

After dinner you and Donnie went back to the barn with some blankets, planning to spend a late night there. One for Donnie so he didn't get cold while he worked and one thick one for you so you didn't get cold while you sat in the truck and played games like two truths and a lie with him.

You both enter the barn and head to your respective places.

"This truck is such a lost cause." You chuckled.

"you say that everytime we stay up here."

"Because it's the truth! This truck is sad and in pain. It's old and decrepit and needs to rest. You and Casey need to let it die."

"The only way I let that truck die is if someone dies in it."

"Dang, I guess I'll have to make the noble sacrifice then."

"You say that like the car may or may not explode at any moment and you shaking into up isn't making it more likely."

At this you look up at Donnie and stop you settling into the rusty vehicle immediately. Surprise evident on your face served with a hint of actual concern. Donnie looked back at you with an unwavering expression of deadpanned unconcern.

"Gotcha."

"OH YOU JERK! I was legit worried I would actually DIE in this crappy car!"

"Didn't you call dying in that car a, what was it again? 'noble sacrifice'?"

"Oh shut up and work on your nerd thing!"

He stuck his tongue out at you and you stuck your back. You both chuckled and he turned to his work desk while you whipped out your phone. Eventually you started a game of guess the hummed song. You usually won since Donnie preferred to work in silence and never felt a need to develop a large playlist. It was fun none the less and ended when the night finally got too late and you fell asleep.

"There." He said as he finished up a part of his invention, "Hey y/n-". He paused when he noticed you fast asleep. Sighing as he moved towards you. You being fast asleep ment it had gotten too late, and while you both planned to stay out here late, he figured now was a good a time as any to go inside and get some proper sleep. He went to pick you up but before he could his breath caught.

You were deeply snuggled into your blanket rapping yourself tight in your makeshift cocoon of cotton. Your face smushed against the edge of the blanket with your body hunched as far in on itself as it can be. You looked so small and soft and... precious.

No.

He couldn't start up that sort of train of though again. He just got out of a nightmare situation with April. He no longer sought her out in any romantic way and was perfectly content being friends. That, however, did not change the simple fact that you would never be happy with someone like him. He was a freak. Whenever you thought of a romantic relationship you probably thought of doing all that normal romantic stuff like going on dinner dates or to the movies. Normalcy is something he would never be able to give you. What he could give you? Was some stolen trash and alien tech welded together and a T-phone.

Donnie took whatever feeling your squishy sleepy face had ripped to the surface and shoved it right back where it should have stayed. For your sake, and his.

Unfortunately for him attempting to sleep after returning you to your room would prove to be quite the difficult task. Images of your smiling face and sounds of your voice plagued his mind. He could so perfectly picture your focused eyes trained on where ever he directed your eyes. The thoughts of you shook him to his soul and he began to realize how the difference between his feelings for you and April wasn't in romantic inclinations. No. Rather it was in sure intensity and comfortability. He realized a bit to late the sheer depths of his affections. This time however he was determined to keep them to himself.

The next morning you detached yourself from your bed later in the day than the others. When the time came to pull together some sort of meal for yourself, you decided to go the simple route and microwave a premade breakfast. Opening the freezer you greeted ice cream kitty with a pat on the head and in return, she handed you exactly what you were looking for.

As you stared at the microwave heating your mediocre food Donnie made his way into the kitchen. He looked much more out of it than you. You could only assume that after he moved you inside to get some proper rest that he spent the rest of the night at work.

"Sleep well Don?" You asked half teasing but still wanting a real answer.

"OH! Umm- well. Not really." His tone was awkward and skittish. He barely looked at you as he got out the necessities for cereal, only shoot you quick glances only to get startled when you caught him. You got fed up with this quickly.

"What?" Though it was phrased like a question your tone made it seem almost like a statement.

"H-huh?"

"Why are you acting like I killed your mother?"

"Wha- I am not!" Finally he was looking at you properly.

"Uh huh. That's why you haven't looked me in the eye till just now. I'm not blind Donatello, I see you glancing at me when you think I'm not looking"

"I wasn't!"

"You have the persuasionary skills of a first grader, you know that?" You deadpanned.

"look I'm just- out of it right now. It's nothing." You eyed him. Donnie was many things but a good lier was not one of them.

"If you say so."

You both continued in silence for a bit longer but unlike most silences between you two this one seemed heavy. Awkward and anxious.

"How bout' a walk later then?" The woods were always good for airing out bad vibes.

"... Sure."

Even with his previous reservations in regards to his feelings for you he still wanted to be your friend. Walks in the woods were a staple for you two. And who knows? Maybe it would be just the thing to get his mind straight.

Oooooor not.

Was it a bit optimistic of him to think a walk would help with you right next to him. Probably. You both had settled into the comfortable quite that had grown to become common. The gentle breeze sat on your skin and he watched as it brushed your hair one way and the other. The sun was shining overhead casting strong shadows on the two of you from underneath the trees. The air was warm and he was acutely aware of the close proximity between you both. His skin prickled at the sensation of your arm brushing his. The crunch of the leaves beneath your feet and tweets of near by birds did little to distract him. The more he though of it the more he regretted saying yes to this walk. His heart was drumming to the sound of your gentle breaths and he wrung his brain trying to focus on the scenery.

You could tell something was still off with him from this morning. He was stiff and way more interested in the trees than he ever was before. You stood closer to him in an attempt gauge what he was feeling. You however always struggled when it came to interpreting emotions. After a few moments of heavy silence you asked.

"Donnie? What's going on?"

"I don't know what your talking about."

You stepped back, "Oh you SO do." You knew something was up and you knew he knew too.

"What?!" He thought he was doing pretty well at keeping it to himself. Had he really been that obvious?

"Look Donnie I don't know what your dealing with right now but I know it's something. I won't force you to tell me but don't lie to me about it okay?" You patted him on the shoulder for some comfort and then backed off. You were aching to hug him or squeeze his hand but you couldn't. Not now. Not as a friend.

You both walked for a little while longer until Donnie abruptly turned to you.

"Y/N!-"

"Yes?"

He grabbed your shoulders.

"It's not- I- I don't what you to think-"

"Donnie. Breath"

He looked you in the eye like he didn't want to. He had so much he wanted to say and so much he knew he couldn't. You sat him down on a beach and crouched in front of him. He took a deep breath, seeming to come to a conclusion of sorts. This time he looked you in the eyes with conviction.

"Sorry. I'm just tired is all, I didn't mean to worry you."

You eyed him suspiciously but decided to continue on your walk. Things had seemed to return to their normal flow. Fun conversation and light teasing.

You both decided to take a break on a log after a bit before heading back to the house. The air was fresh and crisp. Aside from the chitter from the occasional bird, it's was quiet. The stillness really made it feel like it was just the two of you in this little bubble. You leaned on Donnie's shoulder and sighed.

"I love you."

It was a breathy and quiet confession meant to stay in you head. If it weren't for Donnie stiffening and his short "what." you would have though that's where you said it. You calmly moved off his shoulder to look at him, hoping all he heard was incoherent mumbling.

"What?" You asked.

"Did- Did you just say you loved me?"

Well that was unexpectedly direct and problematically uncharacteristic.

"I- I uhhhhhh-" you didn't want to lie to him. You couldn't. You couldn't tell him now though! This was the worst timing imaginable! But you had no choice, you wouldn't lie to him.

"... Yeah. You don't have to say anything I don't want to burden you when your clearly going through something I just, well, we were just-" your gaze drifted to your hands as you rambled.

"I can't return you feelings."

"What? What did you say?"

"I can't return your feelings so- maybe, um, you should hang out with Casey or April more. When we get back. Today."

"oh."

You both walked back to the house in silence.

-----------------------------------------------------------

You and Donnie stopped spending as much time together after that. The others in the house noticed too but they didn't say anything. If someone did try to ask they would be met with silence or a short "everything fine."

Safe to say Raph was NOT happy about that. He had known you and Donnie long enough to know that you two not only had a thing for each other but that you were both unhappy with this arrangement.

So, he decided that if either one of you were gonna mess it up it would be Donnie.

"Alright. What did you do?" Raph questioned as he closed the barn door.

"Not now Raph, I'm busy." Donnie responded as he continued with whatever he was making.

"Oh I know. Since your too busy for y/n, you must be absolutely SWAMPED!" sarcasm dripping from his voice. This got too Donnie. Why was Raph acting like he's the bad guy?! Y/n would be happier with a human partner, they didn't know what they were saying! No one could actually LOVE a mutant monster like him.

"You don't know anything Raph, leave me alone."

"Educate me then."

"Could you not today? I'm really not in the mood."

"You know what I'm not in the mood for Donnie? Seeing you guys depressed everyday cuz you messed something up with y/n!"

"I DIDN'T MESS ANYTHING UP!" Donnie raised his voice and finally turned around, "THEIR HUMAN! THEY SHOULDN'T BE HANGING OUT WITH A BUNCH OF MUTANTS SO OFTEN!"

"Oh so suddenly because they're human they're too good for us huh? Or are you trying to say that we're to good for humans?!"

"NO! THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU!"

"HOW COULD IT NOT? IM A MUTANT TO!"

"BECAUSE I- ..."

"WHAT? BECAUSE YOU WHAT?"

"Nothing. It doesn't matter. Go away." Donnie shooed Raph out and turned back to his invention.

"No!" Raph grabbed him by the back of his chat and spun him around to face am directly, "answer my question. Because. you. what?"

Donnie stares Raph down but didn't breath a word.

"You're a coward Donnie." was all Raph said before turning around and slamming the door behind him.

Little did he know this would bug Donnie way more than it should've.

Raph then made his way to you, you were in bad shape.

"Hey," He said, knocking on your doorframe. You were draped over your bed staring at your ceiling and shoving expired potato chips in your face.

"hi."

"How ya feeling?"

"How am I looking?"

"Like a wreck."

All you did was snap your finger and point at him as a way of saying, "bingo".

"Look, I don't wanna bug ya but I know something happened between you and Donnie. Tell me what happened."

"You'll just laugh at me."

"If I wanted to laugh at you I would have done it by now. You don't exactly make it a hard thing to do."

"Gee, thanks."

"Come on, it might make you feel a little better."

You sighed, maybe it would. On the one hand, you haven't exactly told anyone about your feelings yet. On the other hand though, it isn't very often Raph is like this. This might be your best chance to get all of this off your chest. Deciding to take the rare opportunity you sad up and faces Raph.

"I... I don't know where to start."

"Try the beginning." Raph smiled at you. You eyed him nervously and nodded.

-----------------------------------------------------------

You had told him everything, and honestly, after saying everything out loud you felt...

Angry.

Yeah, you were kinda embarrassed about your accidental confession but what the heck was Donnie's answer?! He didn't have to return your feelings but now he didn't want to hang out with you at all? WHAT THE HECK?? Left your bed and started you way to the barn were Donnie was.

"Hey, where are you going?" Raph asked, shocked at your change in demeanor.

"To kick Donnie's butt!"

Raph laughed but made no attempt to stop you. He deserved it.

A little before you reached the barn how we Donnie had decided that Raph was right. Avoiding you was cowardly and he needed to properly talk to you. As much as he forced the distance between the two of you, he did miss you.

Before you could open the door it swung open from the other side.

"Y/N! I uhhhhhh-"

"We need to talk D."

"Uh.. YES! Yes we do! Come on in." Donnie was panicking, you looked mad. Oh geez how was he gonna say this? He was so focused on fixing things with you that he forgot to think of anything to say that would fix it. Lucky for him you started.

"So, I should hang out with April and Casey more, huh?"

Or maybe not so lucky. What was he supposed to say?

"How come we never talk anymore? You don't have to like me back but that doesn't mean I'm suddenly unable to be your friend! You were friends with April the entire time you liked her!"

"Well his situation is a little different from that but I actually wanted to fix our friendship too." Donnie said hopefully.

"How is this any different than when you liked April?" You crossed your arms utterly DONE with Donnie's nonsense.

"Oh, ummm... Th- that's not important. What is important is tha-"

"Oh nononono. What's so different?"

Why did you have to get stuck on that detail?

"It doesn't matter y/n. Was matters is that I'm sorry for avoiding you and-"

"Well it matters to me Donnie! What makes this situation so different?!."

"I think I was wrong it is pretty-"

"NO TAKE BACKS! WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT?"

"NOTHING I JU-"

"WHATS THE DIFFERENCE?!"

"I LOVE YOU TOO!"

"..."

"..."

"Are you kidding me?"

"I... well I didn't plan on telling you but-"

"YOU SAID YOU COULDN'T RETURN MY FEELINGS!"

"BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR SAYING! IM A MUTANT! I'M NOT NORMAL! NO ONE WOULD WANT TO DATE A FREAK! YOU'D BE HAPPIER WITH A HUMAN!"

You were in complete disbelief. Did he seriously just say that?

"Are you saying this because April rejected you? I thought with the whole bigfoot ordeal you learned it had nothing to do with your looks." You flatly responded.

"I- I know that." He told you, looking to the ground.

"Donnie, your a mutant. Not a freak, not a monster, and if I was really put off by your looks I wouldn't have become friends with you in the first place. Your a mutant. That's it. It doesn't change how I feel about you. Do you honestly think my feelings for you are so shallow?"

"I don't know. I don't know what to think. I'm just... I guess I'm just scared that one day you'll look at me and think that you made a mistake. That you picked wrong."

"For a such a smart guy your pretty dumb you know that?"

He looked back at you and in that same moment you hugged him.

"I decide my feelings Donnie. Not you. I decided to love you, and if you really do love me back, maybe we could try this" you gestured to the two of you, "before immediately assuming it wouldn't work out?"

Donnie smiled and hugges you back.

"I would like that. Thank you."

-----------------------------------------------------------

And it's done! Man that took forever. Honestly, I'm not sure what to think of this one. It for sure isn't proofread but I hope you like it!

[ifearzombies]

Even More Headcanons About Living In The HoL

First post here: [x]

Second post here: [x]

- You have purchased a fridge for your room for personal snacks and drinks that you don’t want to share. You... still end up sharing. Beel’s pouty face is hard to say no to.

- You also have a microwave. You tend to keep a few boxes of popcorn for Beel in your room. It’s cheap and easy so he can normally snack on that for quite a bit before he needs something more substantial.

- Because you have a fridge, Asmo got a mini one for his room to store his products in so that Beel would stop eating them and thinking they were snacks.

- You cannot and do not watch Food Network or shows about food. The shows tend to make you hungry. They make Beelzebub absolutely feral and after trying to watch a cooking competition show he ate the entire refrigerator. Not just the food. The ACTUAL fridge. Lucifer was glad that you said ‘never again’ and never had to make it an official rule.

- Satan’s room occasionally gets so disastrous he sleeps in your room. Until Lucifer figures out the reason why and forces him to spend time cleaning his room.

- For the Wheelchair races (the electric one Dia bought you and Luce bought for household shenanigans), the overall winner is Luke. He’s so light the chair zips around pretty quickly. Belphie is second. Last place is Beel. He’s so much muscle, the wheelchair can barely move when he gets on it.

- You were fortunate enough to witness one of the very rare times Lucifer and Satan got physical in their fights. This would normally be horrific. However the two LITERALLY butted heads with their horns out and the two got tangled up and you recorded the two of them trying to untangle themselves before finally telling them they can just go back to human form. They had been too upset to think of that solution.

- Levi figured out you have a tail kink and now whenever he’s in the mood, he’s started to poke at you with his tail. Wrapping it around your leg, poking your side... He’s slowly getting more assertive with it. It stopped for awhile when Mammon realized what Levi was doing and teased him, but a proper shaming of Mammon and reassurance to Levi fixed that.

- Mammon has discovered Disney and he loves every single Disney Princess movie. He ugly cries during a lot of them (Mulan was the roughest cry). His favorite is Mulan because her love for her family led her to great dangers. So he relates to her the most.

- Belphie has told you exactly how entwined he and Beel’s twin link is. He’s described exact food he’s eating. And even can describe what sexual acts you and Beel are doing and that it makes him jealous when he can feel it. He was surprised you found it strange, but you did tell him that human twins don’t have links that strong.

- You HAVE had serious discussions with ALL of your loved ones about the day where circumstances and life or position (for Diavolo) where you might have to choose one of them to marry. Truthfully, none of the conversations have ended on particularly happy notes. They have been understanding; just sad. The overall consensus is that it’d be down to Solomon, Lucifer, or Diavolo. Solomon because the two of you ARE human. And you two would be a power couple of Human Realm ambassadors. Lucifer because the way your pact with him works is you belong to him (something that actually really upset everyone when they found out). And Diavolo because he is the Prince of the Devildom and if the two of you wed it would solidify the relationship of the three realms being in good enough a situation where an inter-species marriage to royalty is not just possible, but accepted. Right now, there is no pressure to choose. No one wants you to (accept maybe Solomon) because it means they lose an aspect of you that they’re not willing to. Simeon was extremely upset he was not one of the top contenders, but he couldn’t even advocate for him to be since he knew their marriage wouldn’t be allowed in the Celestial Realm.

- You and Solomon discussed it and he’s made you immortal like him. No one wants to lose you. And you don’t want to lose them.

- Your family has messaged you from the human realm and asked if you can see departed loved ones. You asked Diavolo about it and It would be possible. But after talking to Lucifer and the brothers, you figured it was best you didn’t.

- You and Asmo have started to listen to reddit drama stories while pampering yourselves. Asmo’s a very gossip-y person so having real drama to listen to makes his day and he gets to talk to you about it while you get your nails done.

- You no longer buy food-like squeakies for Cerberus. Not after Beel ate the burger one and had squeaking hiccups.

- You’ve told Lucifer about Kong toys. He was overjoyed that there was super-durable dog toys he went to the Human Realm and bought a bunch for Cerberus. It was the happiest you’d seen the dog(s?) in a little while.

- Barbatos learned of your tail kink and when he’s feeling cheeky, he’ll go to demon form around you and move his tail. He gives you a knowing smirk when you blush.

- You took Beel to the Human Realm and took him to a food court at a mall and went and took him to each place at the Food court. He was so happy he teared up a little.

[uraniumbones]

And actually while we're talking about the parallels between Bill and Stan let's talk about the differences. Cause honestly that's just as interesting. Bill seemingly had immensely loving and supportive parents but faced a lot of ridicule by those outside his family. Stan's parents were the complete opposite for him and he wanted very badly to become someone they could love. For Stanley everything he does is about his family and for Bill everything he does is for acceptance (Yes world domination is about acceptance by the world). And that's so interesting to me because in both cases that's not going to work. Stan changing himself was never going to make his family care about him. And changing the entire world was never going to make people like or accept Bill. When Stan loses Ford any reasonable person in Stan's position would've probably given up. That machine built by a genius and a demon? Repaired and operated by a highschool dropout? Who knows what'll even happen if you open it again. But Stan just got to work. And didn't stop working until he got his brother back. Bill though, after the Euclydian massacre he moved on to a new world. No desperate time shenanigans, no search for technological or magical solutions. No pleas to the axolotl. It seemed impossible and so he did not try. In the end Stan "gets his life and family back" not because he has become someone worth loving but because his family's perception of him changed. I.e. Ford and the twins started to see him as a hero. He would have done anything for his family his entire life anyway. He has always protected Ford. He has always protected the twins. But all the sudden they see it. Bill does not get any of that acceptance he had wanted from the world.

And when it comes down to it I think regrettably that is it vulnerability and honesty that saves you. The reason Ford never understood Stan as he was was partially a bit of self centeredness and arrogance (not in a judgemental way this was def influenced by the way people treated him as a kid) but its also partially because Stan never tells him anything. When he's on the streets homeless he doesn't tell his brother, when he's acting out and causing trouble and being louder than the kids who would bully Ford about his fingers he doesn't tell his brother that. Like if someone saw the full picture of Stanley's story they would absolutely feel for him. To be honest that's what made this fandom like Bill Cipher! We got a better picture of him. We understand why he is the way he is. Bill doesn't wanna show weakness, doesn't want anyone to look down on him. He wants to be the one in control. But look at all the AUs people have where Bill integrates into the mystery shack and gravity falls at large. It's about seeing he's a person. He's not only made up of hatred and malice. It's literally just empathy lol. But it makes sense that people don't have empathy or understanding when they don't know your agony. And that requires you to put down your tough guy act a little.

[twstfanblog]

!*~Valentine's Times~*! pt 2

A/N: Here's the first half of the dorms! I decided to add in my own world-building into this fic because that's my favorite part of writing honestly! Hope you enjoy it! Word Count: 5.5K Warnings: She/They Pronouns OC, Gets mildly spicy, swearing Pairings: Established poly (Yuu/Azul/Jamil/Malleus), Alluded to Riddle/Floyd, Alluded to Jade/Trey, Alluded Ruggie/Leona L (NRC Staff ft OCs). O (Here). V (Scarabia, Pomefiore, Ignihyde, Diasomnia). E (Crack)

O is for the only one I see...

~HEARTSLABYUL~ 

Valentine's Day was one of the most important days in Heartslabyul. Not just because it was the holiday covered in the Queen of Hearts motif, but because it was the literal marriage anniversary of the Queen and her first King. The man who arguably kept his fiery wife in good spirits and happiness, saving nearly hundreds from beheadings throughout his life. Even when the queen remarried, every February 14th she would all but explode from the love she still held for her former king.

As the centuries passed, the Queen's Anniversary was brought to other parts of Twisted Wonderland, morphing into Valentine's Day from multiple cultural adaptations. While still considered a minor holiday, it was widely celebrated. So, Heartslabyul as the Queen's dorm, took Valentine's Day very very seriously.

Yuu looked at the students of the Queen's dorm, watching the Heartslabyul crew rushing around in a pure panic trying to decorate. Riddle clearly wanted to make the school-wide holiday tea party perfect, more than likely nearly sending his own teen heart into mini cardiac arrests the second a single rose was found off by a petal or color. The dorm was in such hyper-focus, Yuu was able to walk around as though invisible, letting out a low whistle as the collared students running past them started reaching the double digits. They stop in front of a display of roses, each bloom so perfect and similar it kind of freaked them out…

“Maybe the chocolate will help him calm down…”

“HEY!” Yuu startled and turned, seeing Deuce with another student. Each with an armful of creepily perfect flowers in one arm and Deuce pointing directly at them. “NO LAZYING-...Oh. Yuu, what are you doing here?” Deuce shoved his share of flowers into the other first year's arms, ignoring their groans as he walked toward them, “The Valentine’s Day party isn't for hours. Did you come to help decorate?”

“Ha. No. I came to spread cheer-”

Deuce quickly placed his hands on Yuu's shoulders, staring into their eyes as though he were begging them for mercy, “Yuu, whatever shenanigans you have planned. Not here…Not today.”

“Oh my God. Calm down.” Yuu brushes off Deuce’s hands, smiling as they instead teasingly fix his dorm jacket, “I'm actually here to deliver cheer. In fact, can you do me a favor and get everyone in one place? I don't wanna run around trying to find everyone.”

He gives them a distrusting look but still sighs in acceptance. Looking away, he brings a hand to his mouth as he thinks, “I think everyone is mostly in the garden…Clover-Senpai is in the kitchen. So…” he smiles, pointing behind him with his thumb, “I'll grab Clover-Senpai and we'll meet you in the garden!”

Yuu beams, clapping their hands, “Perfect! See you in the garden, Deuce!” 

The two of them split, each running in opposite directions. Soon Yuu found themselves rushing into the maze, following the sounds of Riddle's yelling. They slow their jog, looking at the half decorated courtyard in mild amazement before Riddle's voice cuts through their thoughts.

“Trappola! I will ask you again…What is wrong with this picture!?” Riddle gestures toward a singular bush of bright red roses.

Ace seemed just as fed up, making loud humming sounds as he nearly shoved his face into the bush to look at the roses, “Besides the fact there's nothing wrong with the damn bush? No! I haven't the faintest idea, Housewarden!”

Yuu watches as Riddle physically turns away from Ace, hands covering his face with his head tilted toward the sky. He turns back, face growing its impressive shade of red as he points to one of the roses, “I SAID ‘ROSE RED’, TRAPPOLA. THESE ROSES ARE PINK.”

“WHERE!?” Ace’s face was quick to press against Riddle's hand, annoyingly trying to figure out what Riddle was seeing. When he could only see the roses as the red he asked for, he turned to Riddle, glaring, “WHERE!?”

“By the Seven! I'd dare to call them FUSCHIA!”

Somehow over the screaming match, Yuu heard a groan to the side of them. Cater sat at a table, card stock scattered around him with his ‘Cute’ handwriting spelling out people's names. Yuu smiles as they pick up their own card, raising an eyebrow at Cater’s mumbles.

“I can't. I'm not strong enough. I have to kill Idia by giving him his chocolates in public. There's no way #terrorone and #terrorjr are gonna be done fighting over this before lunch. Trey’s locked in the kitchen and I have to keep them from killing each other…”

They were barely able to keep their laughter in check, placing their name tag back down and yelling out loud enough to be heard over Riddle and Ace screaming at each other, “Hi~!”

Cater snaps up, eyes wild in fear as he looks at them, “Yuu, sweetie-”

Riddle snaps his head in their direction and points to the entryway of the maze's courtyard, nearly foaming at the mouth as he glared toward them, “GET THE FUCK OUT!”

“Aha!? Riddle, my hair is already half up. We can fight, right the fuck now.”

Silence passes through the courtyard. Riddle takes deep breaths, face held in his hands as he walks aimlessly to burn off his steadily growing aggression.

Ace watched Riddle with a wary eye before turning to Yuu, “Look, prefect. Unless you're here to help, I don't think you should stay long…” the unspoken ‘Riddle is going insane’ ringing clear.

Yuu smiles, shaking their head and patting their bag, “Not staying or helping. But…I come bearing gifts-”

How Riddle walked that fast in heels, on grass, with his short legs and not falling, Yuu didn't know. But the second-year stomps up to them, grips them tight by their overall straps and yanks them close. For a brief moment, Yuu felt fear, looking into Riddle's bloodshot gray eyes.

“Yuu. You are like a sister to me. I care about you deeply and I feel genuinely grateful that we were able to become friends. But whatever…nonsense you have cooked up. Don't. Literally. Don't. I think I would actually hurt you-oh…”

During Riddle's increasingly manic speech, Yuu had reached into their tote and presented him with his bag of chocolate. Tied closed with a bright red ribbon, fashioned to look like a flower bloom. Inside were rose-shaped milk chocolates filled with strawberry jam, crown-shaped sugar-coated strawberry gummy candies and gold-colored chocolate pearls. They smile lightly as Riddle slowly takes the bag from their grasp.

“You…you actually brought a gift for me…”

“Yeah. That was kind of my plan for today. I knew everyone was gonna be busy putting together this big ass party for today. So instead of doing the easy thing and waiting for the chocolate exchange later tonight, I decided to visit you guys all early and gift you your chocolates as a pick me up.” Yuu leans forward, smiling as they flick Riddle on the forehead to snap him out of his trance, “Because I'm so nice.”

Riddle sighs, holding the chocolate with both his hands, “I'm…I'm going to take a break. I think we all need it. Ace, we'll fix the roses later.”

Ace sputters, flailing his arms and just barely stopping from flinging his jacket off as he wretched a paint sample from his pocket to shove in Riddle's face,”I LITERALLY COLOR MATCHED THEM TO THE DAMN SAMPLE YOU PASSED OUT!?”

Riddle looks at the swatch, plucking it from Ace’s hands to bring it closer to his face, “Oh dear…this is last year's swatch. It's faded…”

“...” Ace breathed in deep, head tilting back as he let out an anguished-sounding yell before dropping to his knees and curling up in what Yuu could only call defeat.

They reach into their tote, pulling out another bag tied with red and black ribbons. Inside were milk chocolate-covered pitted cherries along with plain and red luster-dusted white chocolate heart shapes. Yuu drops the bag beside Ace’s head, chuckling as the first-year grabs it with a huff and opens it to eat one of the chocolates.

“We're here!” Deuce walks into the courtyard, one hand raised in greeting and the other dragging a bleary eyed Trey behind him.

Trey sighed, taking his hand from Deuces hold to pull his glasses off, “I've got 20 minutes until my cakes need to be out of the oven.” After cleaning the smears from his glasses, he places them back on his face only to have his eyes creasing at the scene before him, “What happened…?”

“Nothing of real importance-CATCH.” Yuu chucks a bag tied with dark green and yellow ribbons at Trey, barely giving the third-year a chance to realize something was being flung directly at his face.

Luckily Trey was able to catch the bag, looking into it with curiosity before he smiled. Dark and milk chocolates shaped like clovers with green chocolate pearls filled the bag. He opened it to examine the sweets, feeling proud at how well the chocolates looked compared to Yuu’s first attempts, “You did really well. I’m glad you took my advice, the chocolates seemed to have firmed up properly.” He pops the sweet into his mouth and chews, eyes widening at feeling the shell break “Oh! They’re filled…hm…The lavender paste isn’t as sweet as I’d normally make it, but it's really smooth and I like how it blends with the chocolate-”

Yuu pats the third-year’s shoulder, interrupting his critique, “Trey, thank you…but dude this is not a peer review thing, just eat the chocolate.”

He chuckles, reaching into the bag again to grab a different chocolate, only to snort at finding a green toothbrush in the bag as well, “I just want you to know I’m proud of how well you did.” 

Deuce looks on in question, humming under his breath before quietly asking Yuu, “Did you bring me chocolate too?”

“Are you one of my most special boys?”

“...” Deuce grew flustered, looking to the side as a small blush colors his cheeks, “Y-ya?”

“Then you get chocolate!” Yuu pulled out another bag, tied closed with blue and black ribbons. Inside were milk and blue luster-dusted white chocolates in the shape of spades, but the bigger shapes were cut-out marshmallows of yellow chicks.

Gasping, Deuce takes the bag gently in his hands as he looks at the marshmallows in poorly contained adoration, “I…Yuu, I can't eat them. They're so small. Yuu, I can't eat a baby chicken!”

Riddle grunts from the table beside Cater, chewing thoughtfully on one of the gummy crowns, “Don't waste food.”

Cater hums, raising an eyebrow as Yuu smiles at him, “Sweetie…you know I don't like sweets…” the thought Yuu went out of their way to make him a bag still made him feel appreciated though.

“I'm aware. So here.” They pull out a bag tied off with orange and red ribbons. Inside were dark chocolate circles that looked to have piped on emoji faces. Brightly multi-colored diamond-shaped gummies filling up the bag.

“Oh. My. SEVEN! Yuu, this is totally cam-able!” Cater grabbed the bag, eyes glittering just how adorable and on brand the bag felt for his account. Even if he couldn't eat the treats it felt nice that Yuu made sure the bag was cute for his Magicam.

“I also made sure to use the most bitter chocolate and Jamil, unknowingly, helped me make the Sriracha paste. Plus the gummies are sour coated.”

“...” Cater stood up and wrapped Yuu into a hug, swinging them around before he placed them down with a wide smile, “I'm going to take a hundred photos and then eat it all at once!” The third-year then zipped off to a different corner of the courtyard, bag and phone in hand as he started to hunt for the perfect lighting.

Yuu smiles, clapping their hands before walking toward the entryway, “Welp. My work here is done. I'll see you boys later tonight for the party. Try not to, like, kill each other before then.”

“No promises.” Riddle and Ace speak in unison, the two redheads glaring at each other once they realize the other had spoken.

Riddle then perks up, quickly standing and following after Yuu to speak to them in private, “Actually. You're going to Octavinelle, correct?”

“Yeah? Why?”

“Would you take my and Trey’s chocolates to the twins?”

“HA! No.” Yuu turns, a smile on their face as they move to walk out of the maze.

“I-! Why not!?”

“You have legs?”

Riddle huffed, stomping his foot before crossing his arms, “You know very well that if I hand Floyd his chocolates, he won't unhand me.”

“Fucking suffer. That's your boyfriend.” Yuu waved over their shoulder, smiling wide as they sang out, “Bye~!”

Riddle huffs, watching Yuu rush out of the maze and leaving them to their work. He turns back to the courtyard at the sound of a muted crunch and Ace yelling.

“Motherfucker! Yuu, one of these still had the pit in it!”

~SAVANACLAW~

Savanaclaw was somehow on par with Heartslabyul in terms of people rushing around. Though it seemed less of an organized panic and more so people were sprinting for the fun of it.

Yuu steps farther into the dorm, raising an eyebrow watching a group of students zoom past them. They raise an eyebrow as they touch one of the rock formations and turn heel, sprinting back into the opposite direction.

Ruggie appears, softly glaring at them as he gently elbowed them back toward the mirror, “Ay! No. Noooo. Leona's asleep, you can't be here.” 

“Did all of Savanaclaw join the track team?”

“Don't try to change the subject. I don't know what you did, but Leona's banned you from the dorm whenever he's asleep until further notice. He's paying me a good chunk of change to enforce it. So…” Ruggie bends down, arms locking behind Yuu's knees and lifting them over his shoulder to deposit outside of the dorm.

“How about I bribe you though?”

Ruggie stops, quietly pondering before he asks, “What kind of bribe?”

Yuu holds a bag to the side of his face, the plastic bag tied shut with brown and yellow ribbons. Three chocolate-dipped donuts surrounded by multi-colored mini donut-shaped white chocolates.

The hyena was quick to place them down, snatching the bag from their hand before he spread his arms wide, “My good pal, Yuu! Welcome to our humble dorm!”

“Fucking shameless. Anyway, the sprinting? What the fuck is that about?”

Ruggie hums, opening his bag to pull out one of the donuts, “Oh. It's a bit of a tradition in the Afterglow Savanna. Since it's so hot, chocolate doesn't really last long there. So it’s kinda custom to sprint your chocolate to the object of your affections. But it's also a claiming thing.” He points to the three students sprinting against each other, “Those three found out they're trying to give chocolate to the same person.”

Yuu laughs a bit, raising an eyebrow in question, “What's stopping them from throwing their chocolate at the person so it reaches them first?”

“Don't joke about that. It's stupid but one of them might actually do it. Trust me, I know. Valentine's Day makes everyone kinda stupid.”

“Oh, you're above that Ruginald? Don't feel the need to sprint your chocolate to the love of your life?”

Ruggie smiles, shrugging as he reached for one of the mini donut shapes, “Why would I? No one's dumb enough to try to give Leona chocolate and Leona isn't running anywhere.”

“I see. So you know your prey is cornered.”

“Why are you in the dorm?”

How neither noticed Jack standing a few feet away from them, blotting out the sun, they didn't know. But they simply waved at his stern expression.

“Hi Jack!”

“Hi, Yuu. You're banned from the dorm until further notice.”

Yuu waved him off, opening their tote to grab his bag of chocolate, “Oh it's fine. I bribed Rugward already.”

Jack turned to Ruggie, eyes narrowed as though to say ‘really?’ as he watched the second year pull out another donut, “What?”

Ruggie doesn't wait to have his mouth empty, speaking around the donut, “No idea what they're talking about.”

Yuu laughs at Jack's soured expression, “Don't worry, I have a bribe for you too.”

His expression didn't change, but his perked ears and quick swish of his tail showed how eager he was, “I don't want your bribe…”

They pull out a bag tied close with white and orange ribbons. White chocolate bones filled with pear jam, five mid-sized spheres of milk chocolate and scattered orange chocolate pearls.

Jack's face fully changed, showing his surprise as he held his hand out, “Oh…this is actually pretty nice…”

“What? Did you think I was going around giving people bags of live scorpions?”

Ruggie snorted, “That does sound like something you would do…”

“Rugamillion, where would I find that many scorpions in this weather?”

Jack had already pulled a chocolate bone from the bag, chewing it quietly as his tail wagged from the taste of pear, “That's the only issue you'd have?” He eyed the chocolate spheres with a more critical glance, shaking one lightly, “What's in these?”

“Probably scorpions.”

“Hahaha, fuck you. Those are hot chocolate bombs, but instead of cocoa mix I used that protein powder you keep at Ramshackle.” They smile, shrugging as they slowly elbow past Jack's body, “You can have a warm mug of protein-packed chocolate milk before bed. Get those gains in your sleep.”

Jack knew they were on their way to Leona's room. Sighing as he relented, they'd cause more of a fuss if he and Ruggie tried to remove them, “That's not how that works and you know it.”

“Can't hear you over the sound of me walking up the stairs.”

Ruggie’s snicker was barely audible from the second floor of the dorm. Yuu tipped-toed into Leona's room, quietly closing the door behind them. They walk closer to the bed, trying to not laugh as Leona's tail started to increasingly slap against the bed in an attempt to make them leave. Just as Yuu stood beside the bed, Leona's eyes blinked open drowsily.

It took a few seconds before Leona groans, rolling over and pulling his pillow over his head, “What the fuck do I even pay Ruggie for…?”

“You want like…a list or…?”

Leona groaned loudly, pointing back toward the door, “Get out. You know what you fucking did, get away from me.”

Yuu laughs, sitting on the bed and swatting away the tail hitting against their side angrily, “Aw~. Come on, it wasn't even that bad. Vil helped you get the green food coloring out so all's good right?”

“What the fuck do you want?”

“I brought a gift~!” Yuu pulls out a bag tied by yellow and orange ribbons. The bag was filled with various kinds of chocolates in the shapes of crowns and lion heads, golden pearls scattered inside. They shove the bag against Leona's face cooing as the beastman glares at them, “Happy Valentine's Day you fucking depressed mess.”

Leona glares quietly. But soon he rolls his eyes, snatching the bag away from Yuu's hands, “I should have killed you when I had the chance…”

Yuu grinned, knocking their head against his shoulder, “But ya didn't!”

“Seven, I hope this chocolate kills me…”

“Oh, I'm not that nice to you…but I do have a second gift!” They reach back into their tote, pulling out a purple velvet bag pulled closed by golden drawstrings. They placed it on Leona's lap, smile turning mischievous as he warily eyed it.

Leona picks up the bag, opening it slowly, tail flicking in curiosity. He looked into the bag, only to narrow his eyes at seeing nothing inside. There was clearly a weight, so it wasn't empty. Normally he'd just tilt the bag over to dump out whatever was inside, but this was his bed and Ruggie just washed the sheets. Instead, he reached inside, grunting as all he felt was powder.

He barely noticed Yuu had left the bed, quickly opening the door as he pulled his hand out of the bag. Leona squints his eyes at the gold dust on his fingers, “What the…” He wipes his hands on his pants, only to widen his eyes at the fine streak of gold glitter left behind, “YUU!”

Yuu giggled from her place at the open door, “Enjoy your bag of gold, your majesty!” Their giggle turning into a cackle as they close the door just in time to avoid Leona launching one of his boots at them.

“RUGGIE, WHAT DO I PAY YOU FOR!?”

Ruggie huffs from the lounge, raising an eyebrow at Jack, neither of them moving as Yuu sprinted to the mirror, “What, he needs a list or something?”

Jack looked at Ruggie in silence before he pulled another chocolate from his bag, “If he asks, I'm telling him you got bribed.”

“Damn, the betrayal of it all…”

~OCTAVINELLE ~

The lounge was in a quiet period, both Azul and Jade in the back office looking over their weekly reports. While it would be briefly closed for the school-wide Valentine’s party they were going to open their doors again in the later hours. A romantic dinner under the sea was simply too good for any couple to pass up. And while it would cut into their own romantic endeavors, Azul was more than willing to make the sacrifice for the increase in sales.

Azul hums, looking through his papers with a furrowed brow, “Jade, do you have the drink sales? I can't find them.”

“Hm…No. I already reviewed them and sent them off to Sam via Floyd.”

A moment of silence passes in the room before Azul puts his papers down, eyes widening once he realizes the time, “Jade, it's been nearly an hour. He should have been back by now.”

“...” Jade looked up, closing his eyes as he sighed. They were so busy today, he had hoped his brother wouldn't cause trouble due to boredom or frustration that he couldn't see his ‘Goldfish’ until later that night. But it seemed, once again, his wishes had gone unanswered, “Would you like me to find him?”

Sighing, Azul shuffled his papers again. That was a disaster waiting to happen. While FLoyd was more prone to chasing his object of affection around, Jade was no better. As Yuu put it ‘Every brain cell starts to function only to get Trey’s attention’, “No. If he's not back in the next hour though, I'll have to deal with the price of losing your assistance-”

Suddenly the door bursts open, Floyd's wide grin the first thing they see, “I brought Shrimpy~!”

The red and white figure clutching to Floyd's back waves, “He brought me~!”

Jade smiles, moving to one side and giving Floyd a space to drop Yuu unceremoniously onto the couch, “Yuu, what a surprise. I assumed you would use the class-free day to sleep well until the PM.”

Yuu rolls their eyes, opening their tote and looking through it, “Oh trust me. I would be. Instead I'm being nice and running around the dorms to deliver cheer to you over-worked losers.”

Azul tilts his head into his palm, raising an eyebrow, “My pearl. I adore you, truly. But if this is one of your ‘pranks’-”

“Oh, my Seven. I do one thing and now I'm labeled as being a danger the second I wanna do anything!”

Floyd hummed, flopping into the opposite couch as he put his feet onto the coffee table, “I mean you did poison like…two dorms in one day.”

“I didn't directly poison anyone, so it wasn't my fault. Now shut up and take your treats.” Yuu grabbed out three bags, throwing them each at their respective owners, “Repayment isn't necessary, but you boys know I take cash, credit, or life debts.”

Floyd looks down at his bag, teal and light purple ribbons tying it closed. It was just…a big ball. It looked like a basketball, which was kind of cool, but looking at Azul and Jade's bags he couldn't help but pout.

Azul looked flustered at the bag. Tied closed with light purple and white ribbons filled with chocolate truffles shaped at Octopi, white chocolate pearlescent shell shapes and purple pearls scattered throughout.

Jade’s bag had the same ribbons as his, the bag filled with the same white chocolate pearly shells and a mix of milk and Dark chocolate mushroom shapes.

Floyd scowls, glaring at Yuu, “Shrimpy this is sucky. Why did you make my chocolate so lame!?”

Yuu only smiled, holding up their hand and making a squeezing motion that only served to make him angrier. Did they wanna be squeezed? Cause he'll do it. Instead, he looked at the chocolate in his hand, growling as he gripped it tighter. Eyes widening at how easily the chocolate gave under his fingers.

He instead started to giggle, eyes sparkling at seeing the basketball was just a shell and inside were the same pearly chocolate shells and even teal luster-dusted fish.

“Aw~! Shrimpy! This is so cool, how'd you make a chocolate shell like this?”

“You gotta make two halves, then melt them enough that the edges stick together. The hardest part is smoothing it out…”

Floyd hums, opening his bag and looking at the broken shell pieces, “Seems easy. I wanna try it.” He stood, ignoring Azul's stern calls about how he was supposed to be helping with the reports.

Azul scoffs, watching Floyd openly ignore him as he leaves the room, “Great, now he's going to play in the kitchen.” He turns to Yuu, shaking his head and sighing, “I really must find a way to weaponize you. I would send you into rival restaurants and it’d be burned to the ground in a matter of minutes.”

“What if it’s underwater?”

“We both know you’d find a way.”

Yuu laughs, patting their bag, “Keep talking about me like I’m a threat and I won’t give you your second present.”

“Oh?” Azul perks up, folding his hands under his chin and smirking, “First the chocolate and now a second present? If you didn’t owe me money, I’d think you were trying to butter me up for a favor.”

Yuu opens their mouth to reply, only to stop hearing a sniffle beside them. Azul and Yuu turn to the sound, Jade’s face schooled into a frown as he pitifully sniffles and wipes at none existent tears.

“...Jade?”

“Oh. Don’t mind me, the least favorite. You two continue to playfully flirt.”

Azul glares to the side, mumbling under his breath with a blush, “We aren’t flirting.”

Yuu smiled and shook their head, “I knew you’d do some shit like this…”

Jade sniffs again, deepening his frown as he tilts his head back, “So sorry, my tears must be bothering you both. I will try to cry more discreetly. Boo, boohoo.”

While Azul sighed at Jade’s theatrics and Jade increased his theatrics, Yuu reached into their tote and slowly pulled out a large toadstool mushroom. They made Jade hold his hand out palm up before gently placing the mushroom into Jade’s hand.

The Eelmer sniffs again, but brings the mushroom closer to his face to examine, “Hm…A lovely Toadstool sample…I suppose this will-” Jade jumps briefly, feeling the mushroom move of its own accord. He watches transfixed as the mushroom’s stem splits to reveal a small body, the top of the toadstool taking the place of a hat as tiny eyes blink up at him, “Oh!”

Yuu gestures to the fairy now sitting contently in Jade’s hand, “This is Franklin. Answer his three riddles and he will lead you deep into the woods to a mushroom patch you have never seen before.”

Jade smiles, his ‘sadness’ quickly forgotten as he and the fairy stare into each other's eyes, “Amazing. To think I would hold one of you elusive creatures in my hands after years of your tauntings!”

Franklin looks into the Eelmer's eyes mildly fearful, only to relax and perk up when Jade hands him a single mushroom-shaped chocolate. Nibbling it thoughtfully as Jade stands from the couch.

“I shall leave the two of you to your devices. Azul, I believe we were due for a break anyway. So if you'll excuse me, I have terrariums to share and riddles to solve.” Jade left just as quickly as Floyd did. A pep in his step and polite enough to close the door behind him.

Yuu stands, walking to Azul's desk and leaning their hip against it as they tauntingly poked his cheek, “And then there was one.”

Azul huffs, but still reaches his hand to hold Yuu's, his thumb lightly stroking the back of it, “Honestly. You joke they're my bodyguards, but they'd leave me to such a predator as you without a second thought.”

“Do you want me to leave?”

“Of course not. You have something of mine don't you?”

“Just because it’s a gift for you doesn’t mean it’s yours the second you know it exists.” But Yuu still hands over a large purple and teal-colored binder. Leaning farther on the desk until they were simply lying on the dark wood, kicking their feet as Azul looked through the binder.

“...” Azul was confused. He had expected something cute and disgustingly sentimental, photos of them or sweet messages of devotion. Instead, the binder started with a stylized page with what he recognized as Yuu’s measurements. Looking through the pages, he only saw photos of clothing, shoes, and accessories of his date-mate's preferred styles. Each photo came with a small tag showing the price and retailer. Flipping through more pages, Azul looks at Yuu over his glasses, “So…How is giving me your wishlist a present to me?”

Yuu smiles, taking a pen from his desk and marking a few hearts on certain photos as he turned the pages, “Well, this is an order guide for you. You buy me things from this handy little book and I’ll wear them for you.”

“Hmm. While I’m content to have an easy guide for the next few gifts I could acquire for you. Again, I ask, how is me buying you clothing a gift to me?”

“Well, I would hope you’d buy me a full outfit, but…” They shrug their shoulders, smiling coyly

Azul raised an eyebrow in question, only to have his expression grow flustered seeing what was on the next page. Lingerie, stockings, all manner of frilly scantily clad things. He brought the binder closer to his face, blue taking over his cheeks the more he turned the pages. 

The binder was slammed closed once he reached the more…risque centered lingerie, eyes staring wide at the siren draping themselves across his desk, “...Oh…” He looks at the closed binder on his desk then back to Yuu. Soon he matches their teasing expression, leaning forward to brush their lips against each other, “I'll think about it~.”

The kiss they shared was quick, if only because Azul pulled away to push his chair back from the desk. He pats his thighs, eyes commanding Yuu to sit in his lap. And they do so easily, cuddling into his hold as they straddle him.

“Happy Valentine's Day, Azul~.”

“Happy Valentine's Day, my pearl. I will admit, this is a splendid way to spend my break.” He nuzzles into Yuu's shoulder, kissing along their neck softly as his hands start to wander. Letting out a whine when Yuu stops his hands and pulls away.

Yuu smiles at Azul's disgruntled expression, “Well?”

“...Well, what?”

“I gave you two presents. You gotta give me something if you wanna make out.”

Azul growls, pulling Yuu closer to bring them in for another kiss, growing more frustrated when the magicless mage leans away from his lips. Realizing with their current position he wasn't getting any more kisses unless Yuu leaned back toward him. 

He sighs, reaching to open one of his desk drawers, “I'm not giving you my present until the exchange. You can live with being patient. But, my mother sent you a Valentine’s gift so I will give that instead.”

Yuu knew it was the right call to send chocolate to “Mama Grotto”. They just hoped that it'd survive and taste just as good in the sea.

Azul pulls out a flatl wrapped box, offering it to Yuu, “She kept insisting that I tell you I purchased it for you. I couldn't fathom why; you and my mother are on frighteningly good terms…”

Yuu opens the box, gazing curiously as they pull out a simple oyster. With the help of a letter opener and Azul's practiced hands, the oyster was opened to reveal a perfectly rounded teal pearl. Yuu gasps, eyes glittering at the small gem, “OH~! It's so pretty! I love it!”

Smiling, Azul rests a hand against his cheek, the other securely gripping Yuu's hip, “I'm glad. If you may, leave it here. I'll get it fashioned into a necklace for you.” He pushed up his glasses, mumbling under his breath as Yuu poked at the pearl, “Why would my mother insist this was a present from me…?” “Oh! Azul.” Yuu smiled, just on the edge of hysteria as they struggled to speak through their laughter. They had pulled the pearl out of its fleshy cushion, revealing the fact the pearl was already fashioned to be a very obvious engagement ring.

[thegrinningghost]

LOTF-tober, Day 2 : The Lil'luns

Headcanons involving/revolving around the Lil’luns =]

` ~  Jack doesn’t like the Lil’luns, but he isn’t about to go beat them up; his time  is too ‘precious’ to be wasted on them

` ~  Roger, on the other hand, could care less about his time, and finds bullying and taunting them funny; “Jack– Jack look! They’re like little ants. And then you can just go– *makes squashing motion with his fingers* isn’t that funny?”

` ~  Ralph finds them to be funny in the same way he finds Simon funny

` ~  That being said, Ralph is an only child, and doesn’t really get them in general

` ~  Maurice loves the Lil guys! He plays with them in the same way that adults play with babies

` ~  Bill doesn’t hate nor like them; if anything, he worries that they’re gonna get severely injured with all the shenanigans that the choir gets up to (and Ralph climbing on rocks)

` ~  Harold is practically their older brother

` ~  Best bro; he stays up with them after they wake up from a nightmare about the Beastie

` ~  Sam’nEric are basically that Uncle that shows up to Thanksgiving dinner after seven years with the wildest story

` ~  Sam: “Oh yeah, Eric fell down a well one time and I had to get him out”

` ~  Simon is actually pretty decent with kids

` ~  He’s just got that +aura, if you get what I’m saying

` ~  Modern AU: Simon crocheted Percival a stuffie of the Beastie based off all his descriptions, and it basically became a stress plushie for him

` ~  Piggy is okay-ish with them; he’s better with the quieter and less snotty Lil’luns

` ~  Even still, after so much time with them he’s just like– “eugghhhh, children”

` ~  That introverted older sibling, basically

` ~  Peter has selective mutism

` ~  Poor guy lost his friend in the forest ={

` ~  “Adam Jackson was next to me  .   .   .  but he isn’t–”

` ~  “Isn’t what?”

` ~  “Isn’t here?”

` ~  Percival had those overprotective parents who are like, ‘Memorize this, and this, and this, and don’t forget about that, that’s the most important part– actually, all of it is important; don’t forget it’

` ~  Johnny has a missing tooth, and it gives him the cutest freaking grin EVER

` ~  He’s the only Extroverted kid Piggy can handle, and everyone just really likes him

` ~  Adam Jackson was originally Peter’s bestest friend, but since he went missing and never turned up again, Peter became very anti-social, and just refused any talking to anyone

` ~  Even Simon!

` ~  Johnny didn’t mind though; they have that Sun + Moon friendship

` ~  Henry’s a bit of a bully to some of the other Lil’luns, but like, Elementary school level bully

` ~  Lowkey a bit of a hypocrite; he got so mad when Roger was throwing stones at him

` ~  Percival is still bitter about Maurice knocking over his sand castle and kicking sand in his eye; he only accepted his apology because Simon urged him to

` ~  Phil is just a really hyperactive kid; probably has ADHD like Ralph

` ~  He’s also a little more privileged

` ~  Definitely thought the Beast was basically the Devil (which, I mean, Beezlebub is ‘the Lord of the Flies,’ sooo, not far off?)

` ~  The Lil’luns were TERRIFIED when Simon came stumbling out of the forest

` ~  And then when he wasn’t there in the morning????

` ~  Piggy told them to cover their ears before he started screaming at Ralph about how that was Simon that they murdered in cold blood

` ~  Since then, the Lil’luns basically were forgotten

` ~  In their eyes, Ralph still cared

` ~  Truth be told, he had bigger problems to deal with (*cough* Jack *cough*)

` ~  Hey! At least all the Lil’luns got off the island safe and sound!–

` ~  .   .   .  oh

` ~  whoops

( Also, thanks to @just-an-artist-that-exists for talking about these headcanons with me and getting me started on this in general; you're the best! )

[momentomori24]

Long-ass fandom rant because I need to scream into the void to find a reason to live let's gooooo

[For context I wrote most of this last friday which I thought was good to mention so the timeline makes a bit more sense. I really held off on this one XD Welp, let's start this trainwreck.]

Ok, I know I have other long posts I should be paying attention to (*cough* Keiji's shady shenanigans rant *cough*) among other probably more important things, but quickly wanna get this off my chest because it's kinda started to bug me and add even more concerns about the yttd fandom than I already have. This is specifically going to be about soushin-- yeah, yeah, I know-- but also bleed into something more... broad. Or broader. Idk, I'm a Tumblr user not a grammar teacher.

While browsing through Twitter I've been noticing a little spike in popularity for yttd with more fans and soushin shippers emerging as well. Which is cool, the game deserves all the praise and popularity it can get. And as someone whose been here for years, I'm glad that the fandom is slowly and steadily grown more accepting of soushin compared to the attitude around it way back when. There's been some genuinely really cool stuff that really does the ship justice from a lot of talented artist and writers that I absolutely love (will link some later), but something I've also been seeing a lot of from fans is what I can only describe as a "sanitisation resurgence" (but not really. kinda). A week or two ago on Twitter I stumbled across some soushin discourse where some people were sharing the sentiment that "if soushin end up being related and/or have a big age gap the ship is ruined". That they can only be two years apart max or else Nankidai has "fumbled them".

And the only response to that I had is "what". Like, how is that a deal breaker to you lot? How did you even get into the ship without accepting that those things could very likely end up being canon? How are you here and not ready to ship them no matter what's revealed about them after everything we've learned about them? Midori and Shin possibly being related was always on the table, and Midori potentially having already been an adult when Shin was in high school was always a very real possibility ever since we learned that he was never actually a student at his school. This is literally what soushin shippers got harassed by antis for years ago. Soushin is "problematic", and that's why people who shipped them where treated so badly in the fandom or just excluded all together. I can't count how many timed I've come across a "soushin shippers dni" or "soushiners are freaks and I hope you all have a bad day" or soushin fanfics/art with "I DON'T ACTUALLY SHIP IT BTW" and "not a ship" and "actual soushin shippers dni" attached to it. I can't recall how many times I had to explain myself with the "I ship but I don't condone it irl" or explain why I shipped them to not be labelled as a freak as if you need an excuse to ship anything fictional to begin with. I still remember soushin artist @uououoon and how they ended up deleting their Twitter account years ago because of the harassment and slanderous comments they were receiving for ships the fandom deemed problematic. When a person was saying their goodbyes to them on reddit and made some goodbye art (which is now deleted), some assholes in the comments were calling them weirdos and pedophiles for how they explored fiction and "glorified abuse" (which are the usual comments to uououoon's art posted on reddit unfortunately). I only caught wind of this one because back when they were still active in the fandom they were my favourite soushin artist and I went through their stuff almost every day and was tipped off when I randomly couldn't find their account anymore. They were such a nice and incredibly talented person too so the fact they essentially got bullied by a flock of stupid western fans seriously irritates me thinking about it again. This is why we cannot have nice things.

Soushin is "problematic". It's toxic and subtly abusive and important to the characters in question, but that didn't stop people from going after people who wanted to explore a dark, canon relationship (romantic, platonic or otherwise). How the actual hell did we go from "soushin has very toxic and problematic elements and you shouldn't be shipping it, you fucking freaks" to "you can ship it but don't make it actually problematic, you fucking freaks" like what is happening right now???? The worst part is that this is coming from other soushin shippers. The fact that there's actually soushiners with "proshippers dni" or "soushin is not for proship" genuinely makes me want to bite someone. Like, you horrible summer child-- not only are you demonstrating that you don't even know what "proship" actually means, but you're also spitting in the face of the people in our community that have CARRIED this ship for us for years. Why throw them under the bus to be one of the “good ones” in the eyes of antis when they hate us all anyway?

This brings us back to the sanitisation point: I feel like soushin is slowly being "sanitised" to fit the sensitive palette of antis by trying to make them as "morally acceptable" as possible. It's a worry I’ve had for a long time that once the fandom grows more accepting of the ship we'll be seeing more people basically scrubbing soushin of everything that made, well, soushin, to justify enjoying it. I've seen a bit of it already with a few people trying to say it's "not abusive" or just erase Shin's very obvious trauma by Midori all together for quite some time. Guess it's starting to happen on a bigger scale sooner rather than later. Maybe. Personally I don't think soushin having a big age gap or being related would ruin the ship. It just adds another layer of fucked up to their already fucked up relationship (I already hc Midori to be significantly older anyway so maybe I'm just biased). It doesn't really matter. I came here for toxic yaoi. I want nuclear waste level toxicity, not nuclear waste level toxicity presented in the most conventional and moral way possible. What would the point even be? It’s like packaging poison in a grape juice box. Like, it might be harmless to look at and more justifiable to think of as delicious, but it’s still poison. You making it look all cute and innocent isn’t going to change that. It's kinda funny and by that I mean not really that people will talk about wanting more "toxic yaoi" but when the yaoi is actually toxic and messy and horrific they will cry about it being "bad" or "ruined". You don't actually want dark dynamics, you want dark dynamics stripped of everything that makes them uncomfortable and dark so it's digestible to your tastes that don't even align with said dynamics in the first place. The worst part of this whole "soushin isn't proship so it's fine" bullshit is that it relies on trying to make the ship more "morally acceptable" or "legal" than other ships. Dawg, we are talking about abuse. You shouldn't be minimising that to say "well it's not [insert other terrible thing] so it's fine!!" That's not the "gotcha" you think it is. It’s one of the reasons why antis being into soushin made me feel weird cuz like you can’t ship it and then turn around to insult someone else, man (I’ve seen so many soushin defenders bash other “proships” to justify theirs like what are you doing--).

Realistically, the simplest and smartest thing to do when I see someone mischaracterise or butcher my faves is to either block or ignore and pretend to not care so I don't act on my sixth sense telling me to off them and myself. Realistically, this shouldn't be a big deal or anything that important, but this attitude is usually weaponized to harm and harass people who don't conform to their purity crisis over fiction. I'm in the unfortunate position of being not only a Your Turn to Die fandom dweller, but a Hazbin Hotel and The Coffin of Andy and Leyley one too. I'm used to being labelled a rapist and incest apologist irl who's delusional and deserves to be harassed and insulted by virtue of the media or ships I like (probably not a good thing). But people who are more active in these fandoms than me have it much worse as they get this shit directly waaaay more often while I mostly get called these things indirectly, which is what motivated me more to make this post.

So a couple days ago someone made some art of Monika from ddlc, Nikole (don't know the game sorry) and Ashley from Tcoaal. A lot of people on Twitter, unsurprisingly, bashed it for including Ashley to the point where some felt the need to clarify that they like her as a character but her actions (for some reason I do not understand like Monika has also done some seriously evil shit why are you not applying that logic to her too?). What struck me the most is that a yttd fan-- a self proclaimed "Midori enthusiast"-- ALSO quoted it to bash having Ashley in it. A freaking Midori fan. I told them to mind their business and start separating fiction and reality and to stop being a hypocrite, and thus ensued the most hilarious and stupidest convo I've had in a while:

You can literally count the seconds it takes for these guys to start throwing predator accusations and slurs at people. So "not exploring fiction correctly" makes me weird, but harming or putting real people on blast for nothing is free game, apparently. They're not the worst, both in this instance and in general, but it just stuck with me. Which is impressive, cuz I normally don't have much emotions to spare aside from general mild irritation for things like this. Maybe it's the Sonic feet.

But it ties into my issue. Midori's an absolute piece of garbage, yet some people will convince themselves that his actions are in some way justifiable to justify their hatred of something else (that is a lot less severe in this case) rather than love and let love. Tcoaal is not an "incest game" and if you describe it like that unironically you are not ready to be on the internet. No, it doesn't condone or glorify incest-- it literally does the opposite. If you need the characters to look into the camera and say "what we're doing is wrong and immoral" before doing something bad, I think you're the problem at that point. For the same reason you liking Midori (probably) doesn't mean you support human experimentation and torture, someone liking Tcoaal doesn't mean they support incest and someone shipping soushin doesn't mean they support abuse. These things are dark and shouldn't be condoned irl, but this is fiction. We can do whatever the hell we want. Being into darker themes and media doesn't have to reflect your real world views, but the inability to grasp that sentiment leads people to make their interests as moral and sanitised as possible and, feeling morally superior, will go after people who don't do that. This person deadass said that "incest is not morally grey and absolutely unjustifiable" (didn't even say that it wasn't btw) as if their blorbo hasn't committed so many atrocities for kicks that I personally find more unjustifiable. That line implies that they think that everything else Ashley has done and everything Midori has done can be justified because it wasn't incest specifically, which I find is a WILD thing to insinuate XD But it really does encapsulate the hoops antis will jump through to defend their likes while attacking yours despite the fact that it's literally the exact same as theirs. Rule of thumb: if someone accuses you of condoning something immoral because you like it in fiction, apply that logic to them, look at what they like and if their wet little meow meow is the Joker, Eren, Killua, Makima, Midori or whatever other morally bankrupt character you can come up with, take that as a confession and run. Cuz half the time these guys are actually nuts. While quote tweeting someone to shit on their art isn't the worst thing, considering how twitter has treated tcoaal artists the fact that they'd potentially open them up to harassment pissed me off, which is probably evident from my tone.

[Hi hi, this is me from the present right now cuz a more recent development came up so I’m using it as an example here too.]

While most of the things listed here have all been happening online, this attitude can come up in the real world as well.

As OP states, a bunch of hellaverse cosplayers were targetted at a french convention by haters of the show trying to ruin their cosplay. This is already completely unacceptable but the thing I can’t for the life of me get over is torching their costume while they’re still wearing it. Literally attempting to set someone on fire. All over a fucking show. It’s baffling how people can justify actions like this because they think your taste in fiction is so disgusting it’s Ok for them to hurt you. Not just online, but outside as well. It’s not the first time a hellaverse cosplayer has been harassed (last time it was a Valentino cosplayer but then again Val fans get shit from all sides all the time), and while I’m pretty sure these will remain as isolated cases it’s still scary to think about. What’s even more scary to think about how people think that their opinion on hazbin hotel has any relevance to the situation. So many of the comments in that post are just “I hate Hazbin Hotel, but—” or “I hate the fandom, but--” or “I hate Vivzie, but—” and I’m literally here ready to start pouncing like SHUT UP. No buts. That is not in any way important here. You not liking the show or the creator should not be important to the situation of cosplayers being actively harmed. You don’t have to signal your allegiances before showing basic human empathy, goddamnit. And what’s even worse is that some people have just turned this into a “b-but the hazbin fandom!!” issue, which is insulting. For example:

The “Hazbin fans do blackface and disrespect black people daily” is a reference to ONE Alastor cosplayer that nobody had defended. Not even fans. At least no one I can find. Yet they are using this one bad apple to generalise the whole fandom as "bad" and down play the amount of bullshit the hatedom does to fans on a regular. It kinda makes me feel sick that someone would look at a situation like this and spin this into a “fandom thing” rather than focusing on the victims. That they don’t deserve to be taken as seriously just because of the fandom their in. Some lunatic in the comments was literally completely minimising this whole thing saying “some red paint (fake blood capsules) isn’t nearly as bad as lynching and what black people have gone through in America” before calling anyone who called out that that’s completely irrelevant racist for liking Hazbin Hotel like are you kidding me. My homies in Christ, someone almost got lit on fire can everyone please stay on the goddamn topic. This is one of the rare moments where I was kinda proud of twitter as the majority of the comments and quotes where calling out their bullshit, but the amount of likes and some of the comments are still disappointing.

So what points am I trying to make here? This was very spontaneous and rushed so apologies if it feels messy cuz it very much is messy. But my main points boil down to this: Purification, sanitation and the “fiction equals reality” and "your fictional tastes reflect on you morality irl" arguments need to die. They just have to. While petting Shin on a daily basis gives me enough serotonin to find the will to live, the only true solace I will find is when people start being normal. People shouldn’t be getting harassed or labelled as freaks for fiction you don’t like both online and real life. People are not less worthy of basic human decency and empathy solely based on their fictional interests. People should be able to explore fiction however the hell they want without worrying about there being made a call out post on them somewhere. I search Tcoaal on twitter and there’ll always be a bunch of posts with over 10k likes calling all fans annoying weirdos or say it’s an “incest game” even tho it literally isn’t. I will try looking for some Valangel art on tumblr and see some loser use the tag to basically shit on everyone who ships it and lying about the treatment these shippers get while defending Charlastor or just shit on the ship in general. I just exist on the twitter side of the HH fandom chilling with other Val fans and literally every single one of them has either received death/rape threats or told to kill themselves, got ratio’d by a bunch of haters, had a call out post saying not to follow dedicated to them, had their art reposted and Val scribbled out, repeatedly accused of ““romantising a rapist””, or all of the fucking above. Valentino’s VA gets asked if he’s actually like the character he plays in real life or a fan being “relieved that he didn’t abuse them like Valentino” when they met (kudos to Joel for being chill about it btw I would be fuming this fandom does not deserve this man). I type in a certain controversial yttd ship to search and most of the latest posts are just people being rude, saying that if Nankidai makes them canon they’ll drop the game, calling the man himself a freak, calling other shippers freaks, shitting on soushin as well and then having soushiners defend their ship while also shitting on said controversial ship. It genuinely feels like fanbases are circuses and we are the clowns 💀

I could list other examples people being weirdos but I can't do that without breaking the momentum of this post even more than I already have. I guess what I wanted to vent about is how these attitudes regarding fiction and the way people police how others engage with it and how people think of you based on what you like can go from just annoying to downright dangerous more often than you’d think. That belief that you are morally superior to someone else based on the fact that you ship or like things the “legal” and “pure” and “healthy” way (which is never actually the case btw) can lead to you being really disrespectful or a complete asshole and not feeling bad about it at all, which does more harm than good. Which is why I thought it was important to bring up more extreme cases to empathise how this obsessive gatekeeping of fiction can and does hurt real people, who should be more important to you than fictional characters.

All of this is very likely going to sound very aggressive in tone and I want to quickly clarify that this is not meant to be an attack towards anyone in particular. I'm just tired and recalling all this stuff is making my mood sink like a stone lmao. Who knows, maybe I'm just overexaggerating and things won't get worse when the game gets more popular. This is just what I've been witnessing both in and out of my side of the moon. The amount of yttd fans I've seen act like this are a lot tho. No fandom is perfect obviously, and this one is the farthest from it, but with new people coming in and this weird attitude and need to sanitise not only towards soushin, but other "problematic" ships and media as well growing more prominent (mostly on Twitter and Tiktok) my biggest worry is that the hostility in this fandom will just... increase? Roulettefeel made pretty good posts about it-- my favourites being this one, also this one and this one's pretty short and sweet, summarising most of my soushin points a lot better and shorter than my trainwreck of a post so I recommend checking them out. If you like soushin, go check them out. If you don't like soushin, go check them out anyway. They make stuff outside of soushin too. They're pretty cool.

[I also want to add that the whole sanitisation thing in the yttd fandom is nothing new. It’s been a thing for longer than I have been here. I’ve just been seeing it again with soushin, which is was what made me want to do this in the first place. There’s another dynamic the fandom obviously does this for, but uttering it would not only get me flamed but straight up burned at the stake of bad takes so I’m saving that for a rainy day.]

Aaaaannd, I'm done, I think. I didn't have a good conclusion for this in mind. Idk, just be nice? You don't have to like "proships" (or what the fandom has defined as proship cuz that's not the actual definition), but that's what the block buttons for. Don't like, don't read, I say. Fandoms are for everyone and as long as what the person is doing is harmless, let them feel safe being themselves without having to worry about someone coming after them. Real life cops already suck. Let's not bring them into our collective escapism. And something you personally don't like ending up canon doesn't mean the game or ship is "ruined". That doesn't just go for soushin. That goes for other things too. To tie up loose ends, soushin having an age gap or being related has always been on the table and fits with other themes in the narrative. That does not count as "bad" if it makes sense. Soushin is not "Ok to ship" because it's "not an illegal ship" (whatever tf that means) and it's not "bad to ship" because it's "romanticising abuse". It's fine to ship because it's fictional. You don't need a moral justification to ship anything. That goes for all ships. That's why NOTPs exist. And "proship" doesn't and has never meant "shipping problematic pairings". It's a stance on shipping. It means being pro people being allowed to ship whatever they want. That includes being cool with problematic pairings, but is not limited to those. It means not being a fandom cop. Please stop saying otherwise, I cannot keep living this way--

Soooouuu, to end off on a more positive note and finally put this whole thing to bed I'll link some of my fav newer soushin accounts for anyone who's interested:

Hyo (orewagahai on ao3 check that out too): They are an amazing, amazing writer. If you're into dark, abusive co-dependent, complicated soushin with beautiful characterisation I would highly recommend. They just posted another soushin drabble on twitter and it's great.

jinn: They've been putting out banger after banger ever since getting into the game. Their art is absolutely stunning and they upload frequently, so go check 'em out if you can! It's actual medicine for the soul, I promise. They also draw for dead plate, so if you're into that go ahead too.

angel: Also cool. They're soushin art is hilarious and cute. As much of a sucker as I am for toxic, abusive sludge, they give thses two idiots a silliness that I enjoy. Also if you like trans!Shin content they're pretty good.

欣武 (my dumbass forgot to add them the first time sorry): They are INCREDIBLE. Extremely incredible artist. Their art is so, so freaking good. Not checking them out is absolutely your loss, ngl.

Be nice to them. If I catch anyone attempting to annoy them I'm coming after you and your entire family. Let's be better and not chase new comers off this time :3 Thanks for listening to my incoherent venting. This is mostly for me to feel a bit better, but anyone is free to read. If anyone's got an opinion or observation, feel free to offer it. I need coffee. Coffee sounds good.

[mxlcncholy]

Loki: an analysis on how his sentences get interrupted and how this hints at Lokius

Season 2 Episode 1 spoilers ahead.

In Season 1 Episode 4, at around the end of the episode, Loki initiates a ‘speech’ towards Sylvie.

In this scene, it was implied that Loki wanted to confess his romantic feelings towards Sylvie, since throughout the entire episode, everything was pointing towards them having a romantic relationship. Aside from that, the entirety of Episodes 5 and 6 of Season 1 were gearing towards their kiss in the finale.

Now before he can get his confession out though, Loki gets interrupted by Renslayer, who prunes him and physically transports him to another dimension.

In Season 2 Episode 1, Loki has been slipping through time in the TVA. To remedy this, Mobius, OB and Loki formulate a plan. Before he sets off to put the plan in action (to prune himself), Loki has a moment with Mobius.

Before he could say what he wanted to say, though, he gets physically transported away, again.

In the first instance with Sylvie, it fully points towards a romantic confession. In the second one with Mobius though, it wasn’t clear what Loki wanted to say.

However, user @/sherlokius on Twitter pointed out that the Lokius theme (from the Season 1 soundtrack by Natalie Holt) plays in the scene with Loki and Mobius mentioned above.

Now I’m not sure if this is intended or not, but I did some digging on the Lokius soundtrack and the scene.

The Lokius soundtrack is in D minor (correct me if I’m wrong, my music theory is shit). I cannot be sure what the tonality is in the Loki and Mobius scene mentioned above, but it is probably in G minor because of the F# after the three notes that play during their conversation (which aligns with the harmonic minor rule), so I was convinced that the Lokius soundtrack wasn’t playing during the scene.

However, (and I might be reaching HARD on this, but hear me out). In ‘Lokius’ (the soundtrack), there’s a string solo that starts on a G, and then the background strings play a B flat chord and then an A chord. Attached is the moment in the track for your reference.

In the ‘confession’ scene, there’s three prominent notes in the soundtrack while Loki is speaking to Mobius — G, B flat and A. (i can’t attach the video here because Tumblr won’t allow me to attach more than one video in one post, but its timestamp is 31:32 into Season 2 Episode 1.)

So if we really want to fit the narrative that the Lokius track was actually being played in the scene, I would go so far as to say that a variation of it was playing. Similar chords, similar notes. Besides, multiple users on Twitter mentioned that they could hear it.

So what does that mean?

With the knowledge of a) that the scene is a parallel between Loki/Sylvie and Loki/Mobius, and b) a variation of the Lokius soundtrack is playing, we can infer that there are some implied Lokius shenanigans going on here in Season 2, and that Loki’s interrupted ‘confession’ might just be a love confession. Now I don’t know if this parallel is deliberate, but you gotta admit, there’s been a whole lot of amazing Loki and Mobius interactions this season, so… I’m gonna accept whatever we get gratefully. Beggars can’t be choosers, right?