#and they also like. clearly know he's having trouble with some things and forgive him the small stuff

[tealvenetianmask]

A lot of the discourse on The Full Moon/Apology Tour has revolved around the pedestals that our boys put each other on. But I think the pedestal Stolas has Blitz on in particular often gets misunderstood.

I've seen a lot of takes that says that Stolas can't really love Blitz. He just loves the idea of Blitz . . . the one he's built up in his head based on romance novels and rom-coms and soap operas.

I think the reality is more complicated, and that even though, yes, Stolas idealizes Blitz, he also very much loves Blitz for his true self.

Let's look at some times when Stolas saw "the real Blitz," as his quirky, resilient, innovative, low-class self, and very much loved that person, and not just the knight in shining armor version of him.

The Circus.

Some have used this moment to say that Stolas idealized Blitz as a fantasy of what it must be like to be free.

And . . . yes. BUT ALSO. He only falls more in love (in a kid-crush kind of way) when he sees Blitz mess up on stage, get booed by the crowd, and make a joke that's clever but quite dark and niche. Creatively, to work his way through a difficult situation. There is SO MUCH in this short minute that reveals to us AND TO STOLAS who Blitz really is.

Seeing Stars

Oh boy. Let's make a list. I'm too tired to make this exhaustive, but in this episode, Stolas sees Blitz

Being careless in a way that puts Octavia in danger

Using an absolutely stupid costume to disguise himself

Getting terrible stage fright

Going way off script in the sitcom in (again) a way that's niche humor and does not appeal to most of the audience

LITERALLY HAVING A BREAK FROM REALITY AND SHOOTING UP THE TV STUDIO

Okay, so when Via is in danger, Stolas is unambiguously peeved by the mistake, but he forgives Blitz because Blitz puts in effort to find Via and make it right.

And in the rest of these instances, Stolas EITHER affirmatively likes the cringy and silly side of Blitz's personality:

Or without the slightest hesitation, when Blitz shows a real weakness, focuses not on disappointment that this man is not his perfect soap opera hero, but puts that aside and tries to help Blitz get out of trouble.

There's also this moment in Western Energy where Stolas is absolutely unbothered by Blitz's atrocious spelling and is genuinely just happy to think for a moment that Blitz cares. I feel like someone COULD twist this to be about Stolas having blinders on about what's right in front of him, but I don't think so. I think he's fine with Blitz not having all the same strengths that his society clearly values, and just wants to be loved back by this person who he has genuine feelings for.

So what doesn't Stolas know about Blitz before The Full Moon/Apology Tour? He doesn't know that Blitz hates himself. He doesn't know that Blitz pushes away people he cares about. He knows that Blitz has walls up but doesn't know why. You can fall for someone without knowing their deepest darkest hurts-- you can even love them. But you do need to know these things to have a deeper relationship with the person.

His focus on romantic media is a problem because it forms his expectations about relationships, not necessarily because it blinds him to who Blitz is. He wants to be rescued. He wants to be chased after. He doesn't understand that good relationships take a lot of work . . . and he'll need to learn that.

But he doesn't just love Blitz for these ideas. He loves Blitz for being Blitz.

This, like many of these essays, was inspired by a conversation with @akirathedramaqueen.

[little-miss-fandom-freak]

This isn't a request or anything I just had a funny thought but like, imagine if the Justice League finally got evidence that Y/N is innocent, and they tried to visit but Phosphorus is just. Booing and throwing trash at the League members. Y/N may join in also. Bonding time 🩷

Okay I know I need to be working on my other asks but I LOVE THIS

Dr. Phosphorus X Former Hero!Reader Pt 2.

Little note: I did want this to end on a happier note and I found it hard to be mad at Superman lol

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

You didn't understand why Superman and Batman were here in Belle Reve. You had assumed it was for some meeting with Waller until one of the guards approached you and your team.

"C'mon," She said as she lifted your shoulder, "you got visitors."

You looked around, completely confused. "Visitors? Who would be visiting me?" The guard didn't respond as she pulled you away from the table and put your hands in cuffs. He tried to shrug them off, determined to stay with you. You gave him a stern look, one that said 'don't do anything that will get you in trouble'. He sighed as he took a step back, letting the guards take you out to the courtyard.

You were shocked to find out that your former teammates were the visitors. You tried to dig your heels into the concrete, causing the gurads to struggle as they dragged you to them. "I have nothing to say to you two!" You yelled from across the courtyard.

They gave each other a look before Superman took a step forward. "Lose the cuffs, guys. She's won't do anything."

The guards looked to Waller for confirmation. She nodded, giving them permission to take the tight handcuffs off. You rubbed your wrist as the two approached you. "Leave me alone, Superman." You said with spite

"Look..." He started, clearly trying to find the right words to say. "I know there's no taking back everything that's happened these past few years, but I hope you understand why we did it."

"You mean how the whole team left me to rot in a cell, not even showing up for my trials!" You yelled.

"We wanted to, but it wasn't a good time. For any of it. You have to believe us." He pleaded.

"Why should I? It's not like you believed a word I said!" You sighed as you pinched the bridge of your nose, trying to calm yourself. "I hope you two didn't come all the way out here just to apologize and think I'll forgive you, cause there's no way in hell-"

"The court has decided to give you bail." Batman said, stopping you mid rant.

You couldn't believe what you were hearing right now. "Give me bail? Why?"

"While you were locked up, things changed. New laws were made, old ones were fixed, and your lawyer found new evidence to support your case. If you choose to go to trail and plead not guilty, there's a chance you'll make bail. And I would be happy to pay it, if you promise to return to the Justice League."

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Back in the rec room, Phosphorus was standing on top of one of the tables that he had pushed against the wall, trying to get a view of what was going on outside. Nina and Bride had joined him; for Nina it was out of concern, for Bride it was simply because she was bored.

"What are they saying?" He mumbled, his grip on the bars tightening as he tried to listen.

"It has to be something about her case." Said Bride. "With how long she's been in here, and not a single visit before, there must've been a change."

Phosphorus didn't know how to take that. Was there more that you didn't tell him? Were more years added to your sentence? Are you getting transferred? Or worse, did they find you innocent?

The Bride side glanced at Phosphorus, a knowing smirk graced her lips. "You know, you're really bad at pretending you're not the "jealous boyfriend" type."

His head whipped around in her direction, his flames rose but she couldn't tell if it was from anger or embarrassment.

"I-I just- you- just-just shut up!"

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

You thought for a moment, you weren't quite sure how to respond. "If I come back, I want a few things."

Batman scoffed. "Do you really think you're in the position to be negotiating?"

"I'll have you know, prison life hasn't been all that bad for me." You said with sass as your crossed your arms. "Once I got over the feeling of betrayal, I actually formed relationships with the inmates."

"Really?" Superman cringed at the thought. "But they're murderers-"

"At least they know loyalty."

"Barely." Batman shot back.

You gritted your teeth. "Task Force M has showed more loyalty to me than any if the Justuce League. I'm am perfectly fine with staying in here, you're the ones who want me back. So, do we have a deal?"

Batman glared at you before he made up his mind. "What do you want?"

You tense shoulders relaxed slightly. "My team, I want to be able to see them while I'm out. Not just visitation hours, I want them out of Belle Reve when I see them."

Superman and Batman looked at each other, before Batman looked to Waller. She shrugged. "Task Force M has been more well behaved than usual. If they can keep it up, I'm sure I can arrange something."

You nodded to Waller, silently thanking her for her cooperation. You turned back to the men in front of you. "Looks like I'm back."

A wide smile filled Suoerman's face. He rushed to you a scooped you up into a hug. "You have no idea how hard it was not to visut you, but we were under so much fire at the time. The governmentthought it would be safer if we temporarilydropped connections. "

You embraced the hug, realizing how much you actually missed your old team. Suddenly, you heard muffled yelling coming from across the courtyard. Looking to your left, you saw Phosphorus yelling something you couldn't hear but Superman could.

"Um, why is the glowing skeleton yelling at me to get my hands off of you?" He asked, clearly concerned.

You chuckled. "We have a lot of catching up to do."

Suddenly, several peices of trash came flying your way. Well, not exactly flying. They hit the ground several feet away from the three of you, but the action was enough to make the guards inside tackle your partner.

With a sigh, you removed yourself from the hug. "We should head back in."

As Waller and the guards led you all back inside, Batman came up beside you.

"Phosphorus? Really?"

You smiled slightly as you shrugged. "What can I say, he's got charm."

He rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Yeah, it's called radiation. I don't think he's good for you-"

"Don't go all dad-mode on me Bats, we're still the same age remember?"

He scoffed. "And yet you're the one making juvenile dating choices."

"Uh huh, and how's it going with Selena?" You said with a shit-eating grin. He was quiet for a few moments.

"Fair point." He said, causing you to let out a laugh. As much as you hated them, and how long it will be before eyour relationships are repaired, you couldn't deny that you missed moments like this.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

I hope you enjoyed this and if you have anything you would like me to personally respond to, message me or put it in my ask box because as of right now, Tumblr won't let me respond to comments :)

[dragon-ascent]

Hello, how are you ? Since you have open request I’d like to ask something : How do you think our favorite dragon Zhongli will react to his wife being accused of lying because they have corrected an historian on a false fact about Morax ?

Since English isn’t my first language I’m afraid this is not clear, I’m sorry.

Ooh, I like it, here's what I've come up with <3

-----

The tension is palpable and certainly not what you were hoping to land yourself in when you accepted Zhongli's request to be his plus-one aboard the Pearl Galley.

"Forgive me, Mr. Changying, but that's where I'll have to correct you," you tell the stocky man before you. The food and drinks on the table are long-untouched. "Rex Lapis didn't take on such a grand ten-headed and eight-armed form to exterminate those sea creatures. In fact, he personally went door to door to trap them in little Geo contraptions, even having a bit of trouble with the.... particularly wrigglier ones."

Changying's eyes practically roll into the back of his head. "Do you truly believe that rubbish just because that is what's commonly peddled? That the Geo archon, who could raise the mountains and calm the tides without breaking a sweat, found the task of getting rid of tiny sea creatures tedious and challenging?"

Sighing, you say, "Even the gods are subject to being less-than-perfect in their methods. And besides, the damn things were inside people's houses - brute strength would not have been handy at all. Rex Lapis needed to be careful and meticulous so that none of his people were harmed. Hence the Geo cages."

Despite how neatly you'd presented your counterpoint, Changying merely scoffs as he adjusts his glasses. He jabs a finger at you accusingly. "You're lying, just like everyone else," he growls, "and you clearly have no respect for our late archon! Do you even like him?"

Your breath nearly hitches in your throat as you gaze up at him in shock. "Ex...excuse me?"

The man pulls no punches as he continues his rant against you. "How can you so blindly believe what the masses think? Maybe if you were a real Rex Lapis follower like me, you would learn some critical thinking skills and draw more accurate conclusions!"

"I'm afraid I am on the side of my partner here, Mr. Changying," cuts in Zhongli, placing an arm on your shoulder. Relief floods your veins as you let out the breath you'd been holding. "They are correct in explaining that Rex Lapis had to go the simplistic route when dealing with Liyue's sea creature infestation."

Changying's eyes grow wide. "Forgive me, Mr. Zhongli," he murmurs, and you're not ignorant to the way his tone mellows out and becomes more respectful as he continues to speak. "I didn't know you were also in agreement of that story. But let me explain why he likely-"

"It is alright for you to have your own interpretations of events, especially for a being with an expansive history that is always being debated over," says Zhongli calmly, poised as always, "but when these interpretations are unrealistic and you still try to present them as fact...while belittling other people, no less...the line must be drawn somewhere, yes?"

Changying blanches, stammering, "Er, but don't you think Rex Lapis would appreciate deviating thought processes more, especially when..."

Zhongli's eyes narrow ever so slightly, his visage still calm as a pond. "Perhaps so, but what he would not appreciate is his people trying to one-up others in an attempt to prove they are his most loyal followers." Your husband glances at you. "I know my partner well, and they love Rex Lapis dearly. Not only do you accuse them of lying, you also undermine the love they hold for the deity."

His hand brushes against yours and he interlaces his fingers with you, giving a gentle, reassuring squeeze. You smile softly.

Changying scrambles for words, useless excuses and explanations that hardly justify him being on his high horse.

Zhongli, unamused, fires his parting shot. "Far be it for an ordinary man like myself to tell you what to do, but here is some advice: gather reliable citations for your claims, provide succinct evidence, and be respectful of those with opposing views, and perhaps then Rex Lapis would consider you a favorite of his."

With that, Zhongli escorts you away from the scene, knowing full well you will always be his favorite by far - the approving smile he gives you conveys that perfectly.

[alkaline-wtr]

WE WILL SURVIVE

- - CHAPTER 6 - -

Ghost x reader Description: Ghost searches for Reader after their argument. Genre/Warnings: zombie apocalypse AU, Ghost x fem!reader, survivor!reader, angst, POV change, filler chapter WC: 1k

My Masterlist

** Oh? What is this you ask? Could it finally be?? a new chapter?! Yes. Yes, it is. Finally, I got Chapter 6 complete! Still iffy about how this one turned out but I NEEDED a Ghost POV chapter so bad. Please forgive my hiatus I actually had a chapter almost done when I came up with this one and I've been working on 6, 7, and 8 for some time... Just completely out of order and flopping between the three... So, anyway here is this, next one might be short as well but 8 will be HECTIC and looong so hopefully it makes it up to y'all. Also, yay!!(or not?) Ghost is back!! Teehee. Enjoy. (BTW My taglist somehow ended up a whole mess. So, if you are on there by mistake OR missing, please let me know thanks.) If you'd like to be added/removed from the taglist please, let me know.

<< PART 1 / << PART 5

*GHOST POV*

“Bloody hell.”

Ghost murmurs under his breath, standing in the middle of the empty master bedroom he’d left you in just a short while ago.

She couldn’t have stuck around a few more bloody minutes?

He thought to himself. He dragged a hand down the rough material of his mask. You as well as your things had vanished.

It's been less than an hour since I left her behind. She couldn't have gotten far.

Ghost searched the neighboring houses for you. His heavy boots flattened the unkempt grass.

Clearly, she didn’t need me if she took off so soon.

When he'd left, he had some time to reflect on your argument and how he’d stormed out. Thinking that maybe he had been a bit harsh. Which is what led him to turn around, backtracking to the house you’d been searching together. But now you were gone.

Why am I wasting my time? Not like she’s my responsibility. Besides, she can survive on her own. If she doesn’t… that’s not my problem.

Ghost knew the cost of caring for people, he didn't need attachments. Not anymore. He made that mistake before and wasn't going to shoulder that burden again.

He continued back into town, the mantra repeating in his mind, hoping to squash the guilt that pooled in his gut.

It’s fine. It’s fine… She’s fine.

The sun had set by the time Ghost reached the roof of a shopping center. He’d swept the shops clearing each corner before laying out all his gear to repack, minimizing the load and ensuring he only had necessities.

As he finished organizing his supplies Ghost took a much-needed smoke break.

The stale cigarette burned his lungs as he inhaled the smoke, leaning on his elbows over the ledge of the building.

The night was quiet. Trees rustled softly in the wind. The swirling smoke dispersed quickly as he blew it out into the night. The metallic tang lingered on his tongue.

For a moment he had no thoughts on his mind, successfully ignoring the gnawing guilt he’d been feeling all evening.

Until a distant car alarm caught his attention. It was faint, almost inaudible. Ghost chopped it up to one of the infected bumping a car on the freeway.

But then, a gunshot shattered the silence. Echoing across the empty streets.

“What the…”

He muttered, His scowl deepening as he scanned the dark road below. The night consumed the sky, leaving no light save for the cherry end of the cig burning away between his fingers.

Can’t be her. She only has a pistol—it wouldn’t sound like that.

He took another drag, forcing away the thought.

The second shot came quickly. Then a third.

The gnawing guilt crept back in stronger than before.

What if it is her? What if she’s in trouble?

He paused listening for another shot, but it never came. Finally, as the faint sound of the car alarm ceased, the worry poking at the back of his mind became too much.

“Damnit.”

He grumbles. He flicks the cigarette butt on the ground and snuffs it out with the toe of his boot. He pushed off the ledge Before gathering his things, abandoning his plans to camp there for the night, and headed towards the road again to investigate the shots.

Ghost is on the freeway when he spots you, perched on top of a truck, legs tucked under you, looking bored.

Immediately the tightness in his chest is replaced by relief and His grip on his bag loosens. Though he’d never admit it he was relieved to see you alive.

Your features were illuminated by a faint light as he looked you over. To his surprise, you seemed lighter somehow, not anxious or scared like he’d expected… as you had been before.

At least now he could follow through on his plan. Bring you through the city, get some supplies, find a safe place for you to settle in, and he’d be on his way.

He took a few more steps forward and opened his mouth to call your name but, froze when the figure of a man appeared beside you. Hands on his hips in a casual manner.

Ghost sunk low behind a nearby car taking cover in the darkness. His knees brushed the cracked asphalt.

His relief changed to irritation as he watched your interaction. You slid down off the roof of the truck and the man’s hand found its way to your back in a comforting gesture of familiarity.

The man turned, closed the door, and rounded to the back end of the truck. When he pulled himself to sit on the tailgate, that’s when Ghost got a glimpse of the man’s face.

“Graves.”

He growled. The name fell from his lips like a curse. It had been what felt like ages since he’d seen him. Ghost was in disbelief; he hadn't expected Graves to still be alive let alone have stuck around here.

Ghost couldn’t deny his anger; he’d lost daylight searching for you. He’d come all the way out here, in the dark, following gunshots because he was worried about you.

You were the problem.

He was losing his head because of you. Helping you on that road made you an obligation. You begged and cried, pleading with him to stick together, And for what?

He was torn with what to do now. On one hand, it bothered him, you being with Graves. But, at the same time, you were no longer his to care for. Although he didn’t exactly trust him, Graves was a capable man, and you’d have better odds sticking with him than going it alone.

And Ghost is too prideful to come crawling back with an apology, groveling at your feet to come back with him. Why drag you along with him when obviously you were more comfortable with Graves? As far as he was concerned you had gotten exactly what you wanted.

He watched for a few more moments. The wind carried the sounds of your light-hearted chatter.

What was it about Graves that left you in such a relaxed state? How did you not feel this safe with him? Ghost was always about caution and precision, but here Graves was hardly paying attention to your surroundings, and you seemed fine with it.

As you and Graves settled into the bed of the truck, likely to camp out for the night, Ghost sighed. You didn’t need him anymore, and he no longer needed to feel guilty.

Now, he too had what he wanted… He was alone.

PART 7 >>

Tag list

@yourfavbabigirl @keiraslayz @dcnocap207 @dustycrusty09 @jupiternighties @misspendragonsworld @etherealinthewoods @shadowcompanygirl @one-really-annoying-tree-rat @ghostieghoul711

[jd-loves-fiction]

Hey there! I might have an oddly specific request, but like. I am craving a trope but I am too lazy to write anything myself. Feel free to not accept this :"D

Could you write maybe like a *micro* oneshot about Boothill finding his past lover (from before his planet got nuked), but here's the thing, the lover did an ftm transition, so Boothill may have not realised at first.

And secondly, there is a child. Boothill's, but he had no idea.

The circumstances under what they reconnect is up to you. Wether it's fluff or angst, also.

Thank you in advance, cool writer person!<3

🌑felt that first part😭 ALSO this idea is so good rAAAH I CANT STOP THINKING ABOUT IIITT (idk if this sucks but i hope i did this wonderful idea justice my dear, i poured all my love into this ❤️)

ALSO ALSO listened to 'Would you fall in love with me again' on loop writing this cuz the vibes are immaculate :)

Warnings: Spoilers for Boothill's backstory, mention of reader pre-transition as 'her' once but by male descriptors everwhere else, I have no experience writing ftm reader's so forgive my ignorance and let me know if I did good if you can 🥺

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 / 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠

The saloon is lively, crowded, not Boothill’s usual scene but fate or whatever sorry god is in charge of his path brought him here. His mission is complete and he’s exhausted – so out drinking he goes, even though he can barely feel the drink’s effects anymore. He supposes it must be the principle of the thing, a sort of tradition that helps him not lose his mind along the way.

Boothill scans the room by instinct, seeing dancing couples fill the entire room up to the corners – some slowly, some so fast it’s as if the universe is about to implode. A flash of a memory stings at the back of his brain, but he ignores it.

“Uhm! Mister!” Chirps a high pitched voice from below, clearly directed at himself. Looking down he spots a chubby-faced little girl, at which he raises a brow. Why a girl her age would ever think to approach him of all people in the saloon, he cannot imagine.

“Can you help me up, please? I wanna ask for some water,” she asks, polite but determined.

“Oh, well of course little lady!” He responds, gently holding her up and placing her onto the stool, once the cloud of nostalgia is gone from before his eyes. She just looks so familiar… The particular shade of brown of her eyes–

“Thank you mister!” The girl says brightly, sitting all cute and proper as Boothill waves the barkeep over, “It’s no trouble. Whatcha doin’ here, anyway? Y’ain’t alone, right?”

“Oh no mister, I’m here with my papa!” She replies cheerfully, pointing to the center of the room where the most people gather. Between swaying bodies he finds who she points at – twirling a giggling old lady is who Boothill suspects is the girl’s ‘papa’.

The cyborg cowboy no longer has a heart, nor a chest really, but it feels as if it stops in that moment. You don't spot him yet, lost as you are in your own little world, twirling around as sweat builds at your hairline.

But to Boothill everyone else fades as the pieces click into place – a grassfield beneath a starry sky, the love of his life before him, his flesh and bone hands around her blushing face… your face… no matter how you’ve changed, it’s you, he’d recognize you anywhere.

He must be seeing ghosts, surely. The girl’s father must just look like you, that’s it, it has to be, you’re dead… you have to be.

But Boothill knows in his soul that it is. You’re right there, dancing without a care in the world, changed and yet the same.

“Mister?” The little girl to him again, grasping at one of his sleeves and he turns. Her eyes, that particular shade of brown… it’s his, from when he was still flesh and blood. His head hurts. He feels drunk and crazy, maybe he should stop drinking after missions.

“There you are! You should’ve told me you wanted to rest,” You lightheartedly tell the girl, panting as you wipe sweat from your brow. From this close he’s sure it’s you, but Boothill still feels a little crazy for his thoughts. “Made a friend–?!”

The moment your eyes meet his, Boothill is finally sure it’s you. And he can tell you remember him too. Both of you seem stuck in time, gazing at each other like you’ve seen a ghost, which maybe you have, all things considered. The both of you should be dead.

Your mouth opens to speak but no words come out and you’re aching for a glass of water of your own. He’s here, alive and…

“You’ve… changed.” Boothill says lamely – so many things he wants to say, things he should’ve said long ago, things he would’ve said if he knew you were alive all this time.

“S-So have you!” Your voice cracks as you gawk at him, “You’re all… metal?”

Boothill chuckles, nerves eased by the familiarity that settles over the two of you – seems you haven't changed where it counts. “Yeah… it’s a long story.”

“Well, all I have is time.” He can tell you’re still upset with him, perhaps you will be for a while– heck! He’s upset with himself! He should’ve gone back for you, checked, double checked, triple checked!

“Just tell me one thing first;” The cyborg asks, watching as the girl sprints off towards who he assumes is a friend of hers, “Is she…” he points at himself.

“... Yeah. Her name’s Julia.” You tell him, sitting where she was, shoulders still tense as you watch him closely. He’s still as handsome as always, more rugged perhaps, more tired and grim, but the sight of his face still makes your heart stutter with affection. 

Boothill sighs heavily at the information, like the air’s been punched from his lungs, slumping over the bar and covering his eyes. You, alone as your planet burned while he went off to punish the ones who did it, was a heartbreaking enough picture to paint, but with a child? His child?

If they hadn't taken his tear ducts, he’d be filling the saloon up to the ceiling with his tears.

“Hey now, you can cry about it later, ok?” You say awkwardly, knowing you might start crying too if he does. 

He does as you ask, finally raising his head to look at you properly. You’re as beautiful as he remembers, of course you are. You could never stop looking so unfairly stunning to him, never.

Squirming in place as his cybernetic lock onto you, you feel the need to fill the empty space between you – as much as you wish to act like nothing had changed, a lot had, “How did you… recognize me?”

He finds it to be an odd question, of course he’d recognize you, yours is the only face he seems when he closes his eyes, haunting the few dreams he does have like a siren’s song beckoning him to linger within the memories of a better life before he became what he is now, “Y’haven’t changed that much.”

You blink at him, suddenly self-conscious, “... haven't I?”

Oh no, you look upset. He should’ve just said what he was thinking instead of whatever that was, “I– I didn't mean it like– I mean, you look great! Fudge I–”

You’re laughing, open and bright and lovely. Laughing at him no doubt, but laughing, “W-what– why do you– Fudge?”

“Ah, well, that’s part of that long story I told ya’bout.” He replies bashfully, because yeah, it would be strange to hear that coming out of his mouth to you.

Catching your breath and wiping the tears from your eyes, you smile fondly at the cowboy, “Sounds to me like we have some catching up to do.”

The farm boy in him wishes still that nothing had changed, that he could wake up from his dream and lay in the field beneath the stars again, hold you against his warm chest like always and have no IPC blood caked under his metaphorical nails, only dirt and sand from a hard day’s work. But the galaxy ranger he is now likes it better this way – change is inevitable and all things considered, this is one of the more fortunate outcomes of your story. 

You’ve both changed, but not where really it counts.

“That we do, sweetheart.”

[ywxhny]

Jack saying these hurtful words to Joke, telling him to basically disappear from his life. Joke took the words to heart. Nevermind that these were said at the heat of the moment. Because, Joke had always believed that he is never good for Jack or for anyone—that he’s just a stain on everyone’s life bringing bad luck.

When Jack finally calmed—well as calm as he can be—Hope’s words gotten through to him just a tad. He cried for Joke, cried for the way they left things, cried for missing him, and maybe, cried for the hurtful things he said to Joke.

As we see the next day with the little gang, Jack’s reaction to Joke’s name when Hoy mentions him, is the kind who isn’t as mad as the first time. More like a mix of feelings. Annoyed that Joke is known to be the king of heist, annoyed he’s not there, annoyed that it’s most likely his fault. But maybe, part of him is relieved bc Joke won’t be in trouble anymore if he stayed away. Regardless, Jack truly underestimated Boss. Because as we can see, Boss knew to take Jack’s ultimate weakness. Because it’s not just grandma anymore, it’s Joke that has Jack’s whole heart.

We got a moment with Joke and grandma, he was so happy to see her only to remind them both that he’s not there to come back and stay. And catch his words, he asked for Ama to only tell Jack the words he wanted to say, only if Jack himself ever asks for him. He didn’t even try begging Ama to tell Jack and ask to reconcile, which he knew Ama would absolutely do. But rather, he’s giving the space Jack needs. Totally different when he first came out of prison asking for forgiveness. He’s giving Jack the space to breathe, to swallow what’s happening, all the while thanking him for everything—the things he wanted to tell Jack that from the beginning, Jack had Joke’s heart already. That he took Joke’s smile and made it for the world to see. That he was the reason Joke was ever truly happy. Joke’s only sorry that for being happy, he had to take away Jack’s smile many times.

Ama’s words “Fate is funny isn’t it? You gave Jack’s freedom in exchange of never seeing him again.” And she’s right.

Though, in Jack & Joke’s minds, this is the freedom that Jack wanted. But it’s not. Joke disappearing would not be Jack’s freedom. However, Joke doesn’t know that. Joke only ever believed he took it away. And in some parts, yes, but he was also the one to give it.

Joke didn’t know Jack would go to the ends of the earth to find him. That Jack didn’t even hesitate to believe Ama when she says he needs to save Joke.

Because if he truly felt that Joke was not worth his love, he wouldn’t be as upset and full of rage to go in a trap just to save him.

That Joke may believe disappearing for good would give everyone, Jack, a better life. But Jack would only dig the graves deeper for each body responsible to ever hurt Joke.

Jack may not have realized just how much his words affected Joke. He may have wanted to wait till they cool off, then come find Joke to talk but the world doesn’t ever give them the break. He may have said the words, but his heart still sees Joke as his boyfriend. Much said when he gives Carbon the kick he deserves for punching Joke right in front of Jack.

And at this, we may see Joke realizing that maybe they were both too haste in their actions trying to make each other feel better, apologizing & forgiving all the same. It was just one day, but it clearly felt like a lifetime to Joke, if he thought he should just say goodbye for good. But Jack proves him wrong as he came trying to save him. And even before that when he says he has to fix things at home. He has to fix what he broke with Joke.

It’s such a rollercoaster of emotions. One day Joke thought he had his future panned out, the next he has to leave his newfound family and disappear, and in another snap, his Jack is claiming him once again.

But isn’t that the beauty of this romance?

Reality isn’t as smooth sailing.

Joke & Jack’s love has been built with loops from fate trying to unravel for them to settle. They’ve yet to uncover what really makes them fated, and they have to work on that.

[yaut-jaknowit]

Could you write Male yautja x male reader. I would like for the reader to be very quiet, always has a look of anger on his face etc. a bit aggressive because he grew up alone in a remote place and the Yautja finds him and decides to humor himself and capture the human, but he end up falling for the human because he doesn't back away from a fight. And now the Yautja has to show the human that he actually cares, having some trouble because different romantic gestures, and also kinda begging for forgiveness but very subtly

Ways to Fall

Pairing: Ahtaal (Male Yautja) x AMAB!Reader

Word Count: 4512

Summary: Everyday is the same. There's no change. In a small town, there's nothing new. If something does magically happen, within the same hour, everyone knows about it. During a normal day of nothing happening… you are snatched out of thin air. When met face to face with your captor, he doesn't kill you. Count your lucky stars.

Author Note: Thinking about this is such a funny idea. He kidnaps a human for entertainment only for it backfire horribly. He falls in love with said human and now he can't get rid of it.

Masterlist

Ao3

With towns in the middle of nowhere, there’s nothing much to see. It’s always the same old, same old stuff you see every single day. Yet, the little money in your bank account doesn’t allow you to strive away from this place you’ve grown up in. You’ve grown to resent your town.

Everyone knows everyone. There’s nothing you can get away with. Mrs. Whittney saw you sneaking out one night and boom, grounded for three months. It taught you how to become incredibly sneaky and how to plan your late night adventures.

Even into your adult age, you had nothing to get you out of here. Your folks and others tell you to cheer up, smile some more, and be happy. How in the hell can you be happy if you’re stuck here? You scowl at everyone who gets within a twenty-foot range of you. Because, how dare they think they can get close to you? Nothing they can do to make you happy unless its to help you escape here.

On your break, you walked out to your car to get away from your coworkers. They were truly pissing you off today. Nothing was going right. Is it so hard just work a simple shift this early in the ass crack of dawn? Clearly, these people can’t even tell left from right, up from down if there was a sign right in front of them.

Before you could reach your beater car, an arm wrapped around your waist and yanked you back. A huge palm easily covered the lower half of your mouth, preventing you screaming out. You jerked an elbow back only to let out a muffle yelp when it met metal. A hiss sounded from behind the palm from the pain growing. Yet, the adrenaline dumbing into your system had you kicking and throwing elbows despite the discomfort.

Whoever was holding you barely even flinched and took each hit with stride. They began to haul your squirming form away from your car and the building. All you could do despite struggling was watch as your freedom got pulled out from underneath your feet. The last attempt to get this person off of you was to chomp down on their hand as strong as possible. The hand didn’t even flinch as your teeth dug harshly into their flesh. Yet, they didn’t even pierce the thick skin that covered their hands. You could feel a strange, rough texture on your tongue. Nothing natural.

But, you didn’t let go. The last thing you were going to do was give up. You were going to fight until your last breath. The person kept moving with long, powerful strides.

Mechanical hissing hit your ears. It reminded you of a noise you would hear from Star Wars. Your brows furrowed together while attempting to piece together the puzzle with little information.

In the empty parking lot that sat adject to your works lot, you could spot the strange outline of something. It was hidden, camouflaged but the area within this weird shape was wobbled. Then, you noticed a ramp had touched down on the asphalt and led into the hidden object. You screamed louder, bucked harder, kicked wildly.

All attempts came up empty handed. You were carried up this ramp into a space you didn’t know what to call. It was open with a few closed doors to others parts of this… place. A place you were trapped in.

Whatever had you continued to carry you over to a door that opened for them. Once the entrance was sealed shut and effectively trapping you in here. The person finally dropped you down onto your feet. You were unsteady for a moment before spinning around and backing away. As the space was created, you come to notice nothing else stood in the room. Like you had been kidnapped by a ghost.

Your guard didn’t fall. Not when you felt the heavy, sharp gaze of someone watching you, observing from the shadows from where they hide in.

Once looking in front of you for a moment longer, you come notice a shape. Similar to wherever you’ve been dragged to, this thing was camouflage, hiding from you. “Come out and face me, coward!” you shouted with your fists up, name calling the thing. Its head tilted. Lightly tinking of metal hitting metal sounded but that was all you got in reaction.

“Are you too scared to reveal yourself? Afraid you’re going to get your ass whooped by me?” Call it a dumbass move, but you kept talking shit. You didn’t know what you were facing. Nothing you knew on earth could camouflage, not the way this thing in front of you. You didn’t want to call it but this couldn’t be something from earth.

Alien or not, they just kidnapped you. You weren’t going to let that blow over so easily. You kept your fists up in defense and ready to be on the offense.

A scoff sounded from your throat when it didn’t move from its spot. “I can fucking see you. Just show yourself so I can beat your ass and get back to work,” you snarked, irritated that nothing seemed to be getting it to listen. Then, a realizing thought struck you. Maybe it didn’t understand English or any human tongue. Well, that makes this a whole lot better.

“I’m guessing you don’t even understand me.” You rolled your eyes and finally crossed your arms. “So if I ask what you want with me, you’re not going to know what I just said.”

The hidden creature began to make a strange ‘hrr’ like noise repeatedly… Like it was laughing! You bristled and began to march towards the moving blob. One of yours fingers pointed at it. “Are you fucking laughing at me, punk?! You think you can just kidnap me and then laugh about it and get away with it?! Seriously? Come on,” you growled and thumped a fist on your chest. “Come on then. Fight me, bitch.”

Maybe you were digging yourself a grave with each insult thrown at the laughing creature. Who knows. But what you do know, you weren’t going to allow it to continue without doing something about it.

The laughing came to a stop. The silence of the air caused you to tense up. Before your very eyes, the blob began to take form. Its bubble like transparency started to wane into existence. A humanoid form appeared before you yet its head shape wasn’t something you’ve ever seen before.

A mask of metal covered its face, similar to a helmet.  Dark, deep set eyes sockets blankly stared directly at you. Despite the drop of terror that fell down your spine, you stayed defensive with an angry face. Your teeth are bared, arms still crossed over your chest. Its lumbering size didn’t deter you from staring death in the face.

This beast was massive, easily towering over your tense form. Rippling muscles bulged underneath metal armor adorning its red, scaly hide. A fishnet of sorts began at its neck and ran down its torso, out to its limbs, and stopping there at the joints. The thin wire allowed for you to have ample opportunity to peek at its dark red skin, marred with too many scars to count in the little time offered to you.

“It that all y-ack!” you were cut short when a muscular hand secured around your throat and picked you up. Your nails instantly reach to claw at what flesh you could tear at. Their dullness slid over the thicker flesh of the humanoid.

In the face of death, you continue to feel that boiling rage deep inside of you, clawing to be let loose. Anything to show this thing a piece of your mind for kidnapping you. In that moment, you threw any logical thinking to the wind.

One of your feet sprung out and hit your target head on. Bone covered by thin tendons met the bottom of your shoe… but the desired affect failed to occur. The satisfaction of hurting it in a common weak spot melted away when it stayed standing tall. Internal, you cursed yourself out. Whatever it had planned for you it would have no issues of performing them. Not when it took a painful kick to the knee and didn’t even cringe at it.

That enraged you even more.

Laughter bubbled in the back of Ahtaal’s throat He saw the way you tried an old, known trick to injure him. It felt like a youngling had just kicked him! This was just humorous in itself. His mandibles chittered behind his mask. The way you refused to give up, to back down, to submit yourself to someone stronger even every way of the word. He relished in the way you bite back at him, fought him in ever step he made. It made his blood sing with the need to hunt.

All Ahtaal wanted to do was humor himself. A nice way to entertain himself before he prepared for a hunt. Why no capture the clearly unhappy human?! It’s clearly exciting his day by the minute.

The chuckling he created angered the male in his grasp. Even with its throat within his mighty hand, the little thing continued to kick and claw for its freedom. A prey desperate to live. Ahtaal could almost feel pity.

Almost.

Ahtaal set it back down on the ground once he noticed its movement were beginning to slow. He knew it was just a temporary toy for him to mess with. That didn’t mean he wanted to kill it straight off the get go. No, like anything he hunts, he wanted to take his time. Stalk his prey before he pounces. Even if it takes him weeks to find the perfect moment to make the finishing blow.

The ooman back peddled so quickly it nearly tripped over its own two feet. With luck, it stayed upright. Its back met the far side of his trophy room. The only place he thought was best to keep his new pet safe for the time being. His ship small but useful until a moment like this pops up.

From his spot, Ahtaal tilted his head and felt his tresses slid off of his shoulder and free hung. The trinkets he’s decorated the thin strands tapped against one another. A tinking noise echoing in the air. He watched at the ooman kept its back attached to the wall yet a glare set at Ahtaal. As if all this was his fault!

Okay… maybe it was. Who wouldn’t steal an ooman out in the open, needing a form of entertainment before his next hunt. And this male was just stomping along in an empty lot, by itself. Like it was asking to be kidnapped by him. So, Ahtaal wouldn’t just pass up an amazing opportunity thrown at his feet.

He stalked forward, each step silent on the metal floors of his spacecraft. Behind his biomask, he rumbled deeply, a taunting call. He relished the way the ooman’s legs trembled under their own weight. But the steely glare had yet to fall from its alien feature. Another rumble sounded from him while consuming the space between each of them.

Your fists tightened, nails biting into your palms as waited for the perfect moment to strike. Fear may have entered your blood stream but you refused to let it control your actions.

Life has sucked in so many ways. Never having control over anything in your life. This here, was the tipping point of it all. If this beast means to end your life in this very spot, he’s going to learn you won’t go down easily. Until the beat of your heart stops and the air leaves your lungs, it will taste the rage of your childhood.

Met with bloodied fists.

It crowded you into the wall, palms flat against the sturdy metal against your back. Trapped with nowhere to run. As much as you looked like an animal backed into a corner, you were ready to swing at the first sign.

One of its hands peeled off of the metal and grasped the front of its metal, soulless mask. With precise movements, it was pulled free. You choked on the air in your throat and nearly started to keel over and die.

Your mind instantly screamed alien. This was in fact an alien without it or anyone else trying to confirm or deny that fact. You were frozen to the spot and stared directly into dark eyes with a hunters prowess weaved into them. This thing was going to kill you, you knew it by just the single emotion within its gaze.

In an instant, you rocketed your fist and met the underside of its chin. Pain exploded in your fingers at the improper punch and strange angle they struck at.

The humanoid’s head is whipped back at the force of your punch yet it stays in your space. It slowly lowered its face back down towards you with an evil glint in its eyes.

Biting claws dug into your neck, your cheek shoved harshly against the warm steel wall. The fingers secured around a vital airway prevented you from gasp due to their tight grasp. The whites of your eyes blaring evident as you stared at the creature. It lowered down with its mouth next to your ear.

Fangs caressed the shell of your ear in a teasing manner. A whole-body tremble wracks through you. It rumbled once more. The air vibrating with the sound. “You quite are a feisty one, ain’t cha?” A dark voice filtered into your ears. Your mouth dropped for gasp but found yourself unable to suck any air in. “I sure love when they fight me. Makes my blood sing with the hunt.”

There wasn’t even an opportunity to swallow down the lump building between the fingers squeezing you to death. Blood was restricted from reaching your brain. For a moment, you believed the lack of blood and oxygen was making you loopy. That the alien before your very eyes didn’t just speak to you.

Then, the heat of its body trapping you to the wall was ripped away. Your knees bruised on the unforgiving floor underneath. Pain radiated from the newly strained area. Your lungs choked down all the air possible before coughing violently when spit accidently slipped through. For a long time, you gulped down oxygen and tried not to choke.

Once the fit was over, you tilted your head up to look up at the beast. Its metal mask had been attached to its belt, off to the side. This thing had only showed off a hint of its strength, letting you know what it could do to you.

That only increased your anger at not only it but the situation. One thing after another. That’s all it’s been. Nothing new. Nothing has changed.

You wiped the back of your hand against the drool dribbling from your blue lips. “Is that all you got?” you snarked off to death’s face.

The same ‘hrn’ing noise sounded from the beast in a laughing manner. The smirk on your face was wiped off. You snapped to your feet with a fist heading once more to its alien face. Unprotected and vulnerable all over again.

This time, it rose a fist and caught your offending limb. Large, lethal digits curled over your entire hand and bent it slightly backwards. A show of dominance that forced you back down on your knees before it. Only then did it release you and let you stay on the ground. With an amused huff, it spun on its heels and strolled out of the room it left you in.

Despite its flare of dominance over you, it didn’t harm you per se. You stared down at your hand then back to the closed door it had walked through. All you wanted to do was bash in its skull with its own arm.

Without the overbearing kidnapper at your throat, you sat against the wall. Finally, you observed the room it had locked you in. Only for fear to freeze every cell in your body.

Skulls of animals lined the very walls you were trapped in. Each one looking deadlier than the last. Human skulls were within the mix. A trophy room. You gasped and covered your mouth with a sweaty palm. This room will become your resting place.

On the other side of the door, Ahtaal relaxed against the door. Never in all of his years has this happened to him. Not from a creature much smaller than him. One that had to know the dangers of facing off something bigger than it. Someone who was able to pop their head off of their shoulders with little strength used. He purred lightly and took in the ooman’s scent.

Now, he didn’t want to release the creature, let alone kill it. He wanted to keep it. There was untapped, untrained talent buried inside of it. Ahtaal wanted to unleash it, reveal this revelation to the universe. He wanted hunt with this ooman.

When the next rotation started, Ahtaal made his way to the trophy room. A waterskin and bowl of ooman safe foods held in his palm. Over the course of the night where his thoughts rolled around for hours, he came to a conclusion: he wasn’t going to kill you. The potential in you would go to waste. He wasn’t going to let that happen if he could help it.

Above the door, the sensors read his presences and promptly opened. At first, he doesn’t spot you and nearly becomes concern. Only to hear the tall tale sign of sprinting feet.

Off to his right, you are bolting towards him with ratchet too big for your hands. Amusement fills him. He simply reaches up and snags the weapon before it could strike him. You grunt and tried to rip it from his grasp but Ahtaal’s strength easily outweighs your own. The red alien laughs his humor in your face and plucks the impromptu weapons from your hands. A reminder he should’ve checked if his cabinets and drawers were locked before locking you in here.

Yet, the Yautja was proud at the fact you had thought of ways of using your surroundings to cause harm. He purred lightly to himself before pushing further into the room.

You stumbled backwards at the advancing alien, raging at the fact your attack failed. It just simply stood the ratchet straight from your hands. Like stealing candy from a baby.

In its hands, you took note of the items it held. A strange bag filled with liquid and a tray… with food. Your stomach took the moment to rumble a hungry cry. Heat blanketed your cheeks, knowing it had been little less than a day since you last ate. Plus, the need for a bathroom was growing stronger. But, your dignity cried at that fact.

The only way out shut behind its lumbering form, head tilted to the side as it observed you. You hastily pulled your glare into place with a burning rage. The beast chittered and offered you the items. Instantly, put up your fists in defense and eyed the beast closely. Any movements towards you would end with a fist heading towards its elongated skull.

It shook the items like that would entice you to reach across a line of danger. You up turned your nose despite the growling hungry in the pit of your belly. Whatever its plan was, you wouldn’t follow. Not when the empty eyes of hunted skulls watch the scene unfold before them.

A huff sounded from the alien before it shrugged and set the items down. It spun on its heel to walk out. You gnawed on your bottom lip for a second before lunging out. “Wait!” Instantly, the beast caught your limb in the blink of an eye. The grasp wasn’t tight but firm. It held your hand high above your head, keeping you on brink of your toes.

“I wasn’t attacking! Dumbass… I just need to use the restroom,” you mumbled into the quiet, tense air. It was a horrible feeling to have to request such a thing yet with no bathroom in sight, you had to suck it up. Anything to stop yourself from pissing your pants.

Hopefully, the creature understood what you were asking. Did they even have a bathroom? Or anything similar? If not, you were plainly screwed down to the bone. For a moment, you prayed to any god that could hear you.

“Hum, there are better ways rather than that,” it chittered to you in a teasing tone before releasing its hold on you. When you thought you were in the clear eating and drinking whatever it brought, the creature jerked its head down. “You must eat and drink beforehand. Then, I shall take you.”

You bristled and pointed a finger at him. “I sweat to god if you don’t take me to a fucking toilet right now, I will piss on the skulls.” Your hands shot out at your sides like a grand display. “Everywhere!” That was a threat you weren’t kidding about. You could care less about whipping it out and peeing on everything. If it worked to get you to the toilet quicker, who were you to complain.

One of its strange mandibles quirked up in an alien smirk if you were reading it correctly. A purr-like sound vibrated from its throat. “Feisty,” it commented then jerked its head to the door behind it. Your gaze hardened, body ready to fulfill your threat at a moments notice.

“Alright, hold back on the reins. I’ll take you.” It stepped to the side and motioned with an arm for you to take lead. The entire time you stomped up to the door, you glared at the creature. Once the metal slid open and revealed part of its home you hadn’t gotten to see before, it motioned over to a door on the other side. This space wasn’t wildly open but was larger than your average hallway, yet empty.

A huff was sent towards the beast before you marched over to the closed door. It refused to acknowledge your presence. Right as you were about to spin about and rage at the creature, you felt its body heat caress against your backside. Your shoulders jerked up.

The door opened and revealed something you were expecting: a bedroom? With a massive bed in the middle of the expansive space. More skulls adorn the walls, filling the room with death. You shuttered yet scuttled into the room in search of the bathroom.

Attached to the room was an en suite bathroom. You immediately raced over. Relief at your fingertips.

What ensued was something you wished never to repeat to another living being. You shuttered while returning to the giving space. The food it had offered to you was still on the ground, lightly steam with heat. You snatched it off of the ground and went to the far side wall. Your butt meets the warm metal of the floor.

It’s lumbering form followed you into here yet stayed a respectful distance away. With one eye on the beast, you worked on opening the bag and obtaining whatever fluid was stored inside. At this point, you could care less what it was. If it was fluids, that’s all that mattered to you.

As you untied the knots, you pulled your attention up to it. “So… what’s your name?” you questioned and broke the semi-peaceful air. The alien sat down against the wall in the same manner as you. An arm thrown on top of its bent knee. “I should at least know that since you decided to kidnap me.”

Dark eyes watched you peacefully. “Ahtaal,” he easily revealed to you. Your eyes narrowed for a moment before you felt the knots give way. The bag was opened. You were swift to gulp down lungsful then swiped the back of your against the droplets that had escaped.

“Ahtaal,” you tested his name on your tongue. “And what’s the reason behind kidnapping me? Since, clearly, its not to kill or else you would’ve ready done that.” During the time he was gone, you had placed the pieces together. If he wanted you dead, you would’ve been so with your skull joining the other humans on the wall.

The red alien filled his lungs with air, chest expanding with the movement. The gears in his large head seemed to move with each thought. “You are… unique. You have talent I wish to tap into. Unusual for ooman to possess such a skill. It would be a waste to kill you,” he answered smoothly. You scoffed at his words and rolled your eyes. Talent? Skill? What was this buffoon going on about?

“And are you sure you nabbed the right person? I’m not anything special. I work in fast food and live paycheck to paycheck,” you denied his claim. A sharpness entered his consuming gaze. He jumped to his feet and marched over you. Despite knowing this alien could crush your skull between his fingers, you steeled your glare and even moved towards it.

He stopped and towered straight over you, straddling your extended legs. You refused to back down in the face of danger. The deadly tip of his claw pointed at you. “That. That right there is what I’m talking about. You have to know that I could kill you with little effort and yet here you are, facing me down. Others may call it stupidity, but I call it bravery.”

Your glare faltered for a second. If you didn’t know better, the alien was complimenting you. Yet, you reeled your walls back up. “What happens if I don’t want to be here? Are you going to let me go?” Was there an escape from this?

If you hadn’t been watching Ahtaal so closely, you would’ve missed the way his shoulders drooped just a centimeter. He shook his head. “I cannot. My honor code doesn’t allow those who have seen me to live. I’m not willing to kill such potential.”

“So, we are at a standstill.” The water bag was set down on your lap. Your arms crossed firmly over your chest.

“So it seems,” Ahtaal agreed simply then took a couple of steps away from you. “For now, I will gather you some supplies before we head off. Is there anything you would like, unable to depart with?” The way he offers it would nearly be sweet if the severity of the situation didn’t way heavy on your shoulders.

His words finally hit you. “Depart? Where are you taking me? Where are we going?” you snapped and brushed over his second question.

A grin fell over his features. “Space.” Then, he spun on his heel and left you to the loneliness of the skull filled room. Your jaw dropped, terror entering your veins.

“Space?!”

[pumpkinbxtch]

good morning, a request please apollo/lestrange x reader how percy and poseidon react, if apollo asks the reader to marry him (apollo found his definitive soulmate in the reader)

.��*⁠･⁠｡ﾟ “beach proposal”

— apollo/lester x fem!daughter of poseidon!reader

summary: Apollo don't needs any other proof to know that you are the definitive love of his life. Hard thing to say like a god. Now he will ask for your hand but not before announcing himself to your father and your brother, Percy Jackson.

warnings: none, i think. yep, still using swear words.

A/N: goood morning (it's late at night) first things first, thank you for share me your cute desires, second, yes i will and here you have. enjoy, please. forgive me if it's not worthy of you.

- From the other side of the milky way, María 🩵

His immortal heart was beating so fast that he thought he could die (reallu, he definitely already knew how it felt)

He kept his eyes fixed on the sun from Long Island Sound. The golden hour illuminated the water and the sweet aroma of strawberries invaded his lungs; the strawberries from camp half-blood. He had never felt this anxious and at peace at the same time.

He had been through so much, he had waited so much, he had wished for so much, but, above all, he loved you so much…

Now he could see everything even more clearly.

The breeze rustled his brown and golden hair.

He closed his eyes, said a blessing and gave thanks. He gave thanks for his journey as a mortal, he gave thanks because he did not allow himself to forget the beauty of being human and because love blessed him when he saw you.

That is, when he actually saw you.

Being a god, you can be everywhere at the same time, but you lose your sense of appreciation for everything that exists. When you're human, uhm no.

From that day on, life afterward was eleven times more colorful, beautiful and full of meaning because you also saw him. I mean, yes. Apollo is a god, who wouldn't see that? But at that moment it was Lester. If before he had no regrets, now even less.

“You'll end up forgetting her, she's just another mortal” They said. “Gods, now she's really in trouble,” the campers said the first few days.

“Another whim? Make sure she doesn't end up so bad this time,” Zeus, his father, reprimanded him.

The small waves broke gently on the shore, and he walked so close to it that his feet were slightly sunk in the wet sand.

—Hey, Apollo!

The named turned slowly, and his heartbeat accelerated even more.

Percy Jackson.

The young man stumbled forward in the sand. He took off his converse, threw them away with a curse, and ran towards him.

—Why did you call me to come here?

His legs began to shake.

— Percy, I…

— Wait — the black-haired raised his hand — And my sister?

He looked at Percy, his brow furrowed and sea-colored eyes examining him from head to toe as if he were searching for clues of some crime in his clothes. Apollo couldn't help but smile.

—In the camp, greeting everyone. She hasn't been here in a while.

The boy noded. The sand splattered from his ankles was washed away by a small wave.

—Neither do I, — said the son of Poseidon, with a certain nostalgia in his voice.

Poseidon…

—But, —Percy searched the god's eyes. Always insightful — We're all in New Rome now. Why bring her first and then call only me?

Apollo reached out and took Percy's hand. All in a slow and careful way. He thought that any rude move and Percy would have an outburst for how close he was treating him. But, to his surprise, it was not like that.

The green eyes admired him with slight confusion, and they walked together into the waters.

To Apollo, every step felt solemn and warm. His heart could feel a spark of joy, but his stomach was clenching with uncertainty.

When the water reached both of their thighs, cut the steps off. The god raised his hand without letting go of Percy, and he felt a kind of current run through his spine.

Percy had never been so quiet since… Well, ever. But apparently the discretion with which he was handling himself helped him keep the attention of the demigod.

Then, a whirlpool emerged from the waters, and Percy's eyes widened.

— Father?

The sea god stabbed his trident into the sand, reaffirming his position in the water. Apollo let go of the young man's hand and made a small bow, something that did not inspire good news in Poseidon.

He looked at his son and then at the sun god.

— Have you called me?

Percy pointed at Apollo.

— He called US.

Apollo's insides seemed to tangle with each other, almost making him vomit. Apollo gently pushed Percy so that he stood next to his father and looked at them nervously.

Poseidon pressed down on the trident and cleared his throat.

— my daughter, Apollo?

—She's in the camp! —Percy rushed to say, earning a silent scolding from his father.

Apollo bowed briefly in respect. Poseidon narrowed his eyes.

— That's true.

— and why isn't she here?

Percy looked at his father and imitated his action of searching Apollo carefully, again. as if he had committed something unforgivable.

The god paused and extended his hand towards both of them, a small golden light shining together at dusk. When the light died out, he revealed a small chest lying in his palm.

Percy looked at him in confusion, completely unnoticed, but Poseidon gritted his teeth.

— I have found in her, what I have longed for since my existence.

Percy gasped, and his mood made a small whirlwind rise around him.

— No! —he shouted.

Apollo calmed his breathing, trying to stay calm.

— I had never met someone like her.

— No! Lie! —Percy pointed at him with eyes full of anger, or that was fear?— It's one thing for you to be lovebirds, but—

—Son of mine…

— is MY sister!— Percy's chest expanded in such a way that Apollo feared for his ribs, he took a step and knelt, bowing his head.

Poseidon would have imagined that such a show of respect would be directed towards him, but no, it was towards Percy.

how could it not be? Apollo knew that the gods were ignoring their responsibilities as parents. He knew that the most important person for you was the one who had taken care of your back in all those adventures, just as you took care of his, it was him, was your brother.

—She was by my side in my time as a human. She has shown me what love is.— Apollo looked up pleadingly.

—And now you just want to take her away, why?

— I won't take her anywhere, I want to take her as my wife.

— TAKE HER-

— Percy — Poseidon's voice vibrated through the waters, Apollo, still kneeling, gave him a passive but firm look.

The sun god rose and stood in front of the two men.

— Poseidon, Percy…

The youngest clenched his fists and a few small tears appeared in his eyes.

—Actually, she has the last word. I just wanted you guys to be… present.

Both Percy, Poseidon and even Apollo knew that very well. Especially Apollo, what would he do if you said no? He'd probably cry for eons (literally) yet he couldn't stop craving the approval of your brother and your…father.

Then Percy's eyes traveled to his back and he opened his mouth slightly. He felt the greatest chills a god could feel, then he turned.

Your silhouette looming over the coast, bright and full of life. Your eyes lit up when you saw those three gathered together.

Before addressing you, Apollo gave them a look. The three approached the shore, they gave Apollo enough space. They would see you from there, where the water surrounded their ankles.

— my dear… — Apollo said sweetly, trotting towards you and taking your hands.

You were confused. Your father, Percy, why didn't you travel together if he came too? Your eyes looked at your sweet Apollo. His current form was the mix of “old” Apollo with Lester.

As soon as he reached your side, you took his hand.

— What's going on? Are you already in trouble? —You asked with a raised eyebrow and a sideways smile.

Apollo smiled and kissed your knuckles without taking his eyes off you.

—Or I'll be.

You laughed, that melodious laugh. He definitely didn't want to be without you.

— you'll be? because...? — You were confused, your hand still hooked on Apollo's. You looked at your father who smiled calmly and then at Percy, who was staring at you; He only made that expression when he was terrified of something.

You turned your gaze to Apollo, now a little more worried.

— Love?

— My beloved — Apollo whispered, just for you. Without letting go, he got down on one knee and the velvet chest from before appeared. You held your breath.

The waters stirred.

— There is no poem, song, melody, or haiku that can describe the feelings you make me feel. You are what I always wanted, dreamed and desired. — Apollo opened the small box, revealing a ring; Instead of a precious stone, a small pearl was placed on the ring with two laurel leaves made of gold surrounding it. A clear representation of both. — Today I ask you to let me be your husband because it is me who is given the honor of being the owner of your affection. I promise to take care of it and treasure it.

Your eyes filled with tears, and you knelt down to your boyfriend's height.

— I would like to — The mass of water shook the banks with more force.

A few meters away, Percy, your brother, remained standing, no matter how much the water tried to knock him down. A smile formed on his lips and the first tear ran down his cheek.

Poseidon took his son's shoulder, and they walked towards you.

You looked at your father, who smiled gently at you and then gave Apollo a stern look.

— At sea.

— On Olympus —  Apollo said immediately, determined to win. You raised your eyebrow. Were they fighting over the wedding location?

— The sea

— Olympus

— In the ocean

— Delphi

— Enough! — You snorted and looked disapprovingly at both gods.

Your brother was still silent, certainly not usual. You let go of Apollo and took both of Percy's hands.

Your gaze was shining, that made him feel bad for wanting to shake you and wanting to change your mind.

— You know he's not who he once was, Percy— you whispered.

— I know…

— You even said you liked him, brother

— Shhh — the black-haired covered his sister's mouth — if he listens, won't get over it in years

— I heard —  Apollo said between giggles.

Percy pursed his lips.

—Listen, if you do anything to her, I WILL KILL YOU, APOLLO!

—Percy! —His sister shouted.

— I'm going to kill you, I won't forgive you, I KNOW A TITAN-

Poseidon opened his eyes, his sister grabbed him by the neck.

—PERCY! — they both shouted.

Apollo smiled and hugged him.

Poseidon couldn't take it anymore and he was already gone. He promised to have a talk with Apollo.

Percy remained thoughtful, the sun god still hanging around his neck.

—Does that mean you will be Will's stepmother? —He laughed out loud — can't wait to tell Nico.

You and Apollo looked at each other, silently reaching a mutual agreement.

— I think we keep this information for a while.

Percy furrowed his eyebrows and put a hand on his hip. —With those SPIES FROM THERE, I don't think so.

Laughter was heard in the bushes, and around five campers ran when they were discovered.

— Children of Aphrodite. — Percy said, sure of himself —  tomorrow, when we get to Camp Jupiter, all they will know.

You shook your head in amusement.

— Oh, brother. What will become of you when comes the day and tell you that I am expecting a child?

Apollo choked on his own saliva and Percy on his bile. At least you had the last laugh.

[adrienneleclerc]

Grovel

Pairing: Walter Marshall x Hispanic/Latina! Reader

Summary: Walter begs Y/N for forgiveness after something that will test their relationship happens

Warnings: CHEATING, angst, spelling and grammar mistakes

A/N: based on April Jai’s unreleased song “Grovel”, I have no idea when it will be released but I can't wait for the song. This also doesn't follow Night Hunter/NOMIS canon, Walter is 40, Y/N is 32

Walter Marshall thought that after his divorce with Angie, he was not going to find someone else. He believed he came with a lot of baggage because he is a homicide detective, that was until he met Y/N, a nurse.

Y/N was the one that treated Walter's bullet wound when he was on the Simon case and when he sees her in a bar a month later, they hit it off and went on 5 dates before Walter decided to ask her to be his girlfriend.

5 years later, they are still together and Y/N has moved into Walter's house and they are so happy and in love.

Until tonight.

It all started 3 days ago, it was 4 in the afternoon and Y/N was getting out of the hospital. Her car was in the shop and Walter said that he would gladly drop her off and pick her up. 10 minutes later, Walter picked her up.

"Hello, darling, how was your shift today?" Walter asked, pulling out of the hospital parking lot.

"It was good, a little tiring, but nothing a cuban coffee can't fix. How was your day, Oso?" Y/N asked.

"Stressful as fuck." Walter muttered.

"You're still on that case?" Y/N asked.

"Yes. We have no leads, it is like this guy is always three steps ahead and its pissing me the fuck off." Walter huffed out. Y/N took his hand in hers and rubbed her thumb over his hand in an attept to soothe him.

"You'll get this guy, i'm sure of it." Y/N said.

When they got home, Y/N saw the folders, clue board, everything that Walter had in his office at the police department was in his living room.

"You're working from home?" Y/N asked.

"I figured it would be better to focus all my attention on this case so I brought some of the files home, i hope that's okay." Walter said, sitting down at the table to look over things he might have missed with this case.

“Yeah it’s fine, Oso, that’s your job. Just don’t work too hard, okay? Sleep is not for the weak.” Y/N says.

“I know, love, I won’t turn into a zombie.” Walter said and they kissed.

Which brings us to tonight, Y/N took an Uber home because Walter’s phone was turned off. When Y/N entered the house, she found Walter drinking coffee in the living room, the same way she left him this morning and the day before.

“How was your day, Walter?” Y/N asked. Walter ignored her, writing notes on the case. “Well, my day was good, I worked with some of the pediatric patients, el día fue súper leve.”

“Y/N, I’m trying to work here.” Walter said.

“I see that, but you haven’t moved from this spot. Have you eaten? La estufa sigue igual de limpio, have you been living off coffee?” Y/N asked. Walter stayed silent. “Okay, fine, did you buy what I asked you to get?”

“You said I haven’t moved from this spot so clearly I haven’t gotten what you asked for.” Walter snapped, looking up from the table.

“No me hables así, eh, ni siquiera mi papá le habla así a mi mamá, Don’t try me, Walter.” Y/N said as she walked to the kitchen.

“Ugh, even Angie wasn’t such a bitch.” Walter muttered and Y/N stopped to turn around.

“You know what, you’re stressed, you haven’t eaten, you’re probably sleep deprived, let me just cook and we can talk after you take a nap, okay.” Y/N said but Walter then slammed his hands on the table.

“I am not a child, Y/N, you don’t have to smother me, and you are most certainly not my wife so stop acting like it.” Walter raised his voice and Y/N widened her eyes.

“I May not be your wife but I am your girlfriend, and I deserve to be respected, Walter.” Y/N said.

“I am not going to sit here and be nagged by you, I’m going out.” Walter huffed.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Y/N shouted.

“Out! Are you having trouble hearing me more than usual?” Walter asked as he left the house, closing the door behind him.

“Ugh, me encabrona!” Y/N shouted. This was their first big fight. Y/N calmed down a little and she wanted to cry because she just drove her boyfriend out of his house.

Walter sat in his truck to calm down a little. “FUCK!” Walter shouted, hitting his steering wheel. He drove somewhere he thought he would stop visiting after Faye went away to college; Angie’s house.

Walter rang her doorbell and Angie opened the door in Jeans and a sweater.

“Walter? What are you doing here? Faye doesn’t come back until spring break.” Angie said.

“I know, I came to talk to you.” Walter said.

“You should have called, this isn’t a good time.” Angie said.

“I think I messed things up with Y/N.” Walter said. Angie sighed and moved out of the way so Walter can come in. Angie walked to the couch and patted on the empty space next to her.

“Tell me everything. Y/N seems very sweet, kinda young, but she’s a good person, what the hell did you do?” Angie asked him

“I’ve been too focused on this case that i forgot to pick her up from her job since they are working on her car, I yelled at her, basically called her a bitch, and disrespected her. She just wanted to to take care of me, to stop me from getting burnout, and I yelled at her and disrespected her. Saying that she should stop acting like she’s my wife.” Walter said. His eyes were tearing up.

“Wow, that’s a lot to unpack.” Angie said.

“Why did we get a divorce, Angie?” Walter asked.

Why are you asking me that?” Angie asked.

“Was it me? Was I the problem?” Walter asked. Angie looked at him, saw that Walter looked practically broken.

“Listen, Walter, we got married in our early 20s. We were young, we weren’t going to last anyway. You tried your hardest to make me happy, and i was happy with you for a while. You are a great father to Faye, you put your all in our relationship, but you are also a workaholic.” Angie said softly. “It’s not a bad thing, you’re a cop, someone has to get the bad guys, right? I couldn’t handle that because I’m not used to it. But Y/N is a nurse, right? A nurse and a cop, what could be better than that? She knows the heavy workload you have because she has the same.”

“So what you’re saying it that I pushed away the one person who could possibly understand me.” Walter said.

“Sorta. You shouldn’t have yelled at her, she was just trying to get you to relax and eat, God knows how much I tried to get you to eat back when you were still on the SWAT Team.” Angie said.

“My job is stressful, Angie, you know that.” Walter said.

“And so does she. I’m sure you’ll make it right.” Angie said. Then Walter’s stomach growled and bleh of them laughed.

“Yeah, Y/N wasn’t lying when she said I was living off coffee, do you have anything to eat?” Walter asked.

“I Can order us takeout. You want Chinese, Italian, or Latin food?” Angie asked, holding out the menus she keeps in a kitchen drawer.

“Latin food.” Walter said, already missing Y/N’s cooking.

“You got it, detective.” Angie said.

While Y/N was drinking wine, eating ice cream, and watching movies that make her cry (for me it’s how to train your dragon, Beethoven, elemental, I’m a sensitive and emotion person, okay), Walter was getting nostalgic with Angie, eating and drinking.

"Remember that time you stayed up with me for a case when I just started working as a homicide detective?" Walter asked, eating a piece of chicken with his rice.

"Oh my god, yes, I was so tired, I think I crashed around 4am, I was exhausted at work." Angie said.

"I told you that you didn't have to stay up, but you were so stubborn and made us coffee after you put Faye to bed." Walter said.

"I had to support my husband." Angie said, taking a sip of wine.

More time went on, they finished the bottle of wine, and one thing led to another, Walter kissed Angie.

Y/N saw that the time was 10pm and Walter still hasn't come home yet. She got off the couch and unlocked her phone to call Walter, it went to voicemail after a few rings.

"Hey Oso, please come back home. We both have said some things, you mostly, but I really want to talk about this, I'm sorry if I nag you, that is not my intention, I just love you so much and I want you to take care of yourself, bye." Y/N left the voicemail and went to the bedroom she shared with Walter and Walter and Angie were too busy undressing each other on their way to her bedroom to notice his phone vibrating on the kitchen counter.

Walter lied awake in bed, with Angie by his side, Angie was asleep, both were naked.

"What have I done?" Walter wondered out loud in a whisper. He tried to sleep but every time he closed his eyes, he just sees what happened with Angie.

It was 8 in the morning and Y/N did not have to go in for work. She went downstairs and Walter still wasn't back home. Meanwhile Walter was putting his clothes back on.

"This never should have happened." Walter stated, zipping up his pants.

"You think I'm thrilled we slept together? I'm married! I'm just happy he has a business trip in Boston." Angie said, putting on her bathrobe.

"Where is my phone?" Walter asked, looking throgh her bedroom.

"It's probably downstairs on the kitchen counter. Have a safe trip home, make up with Y/N, I'll see you when Faye comes back." Angie said. Walter went downstairs and turned on his phone. He saw a voicemail from Y/N. He played the voicemail and his eyes strated tearing up.

"I am such a wanker." Walter muttered. He walked out of the house and got into his truck to go back home. He saw Y/N’s car in the driveway. He spent a few mintues in his truck crying, thinking about how he should tell Y/N. Its worse if she finds out later so it is better to be truthful now. He got out of the car, walked into the house and saw Y/N making pancakes.

"Oso, you're back!" Y/N exclaimed, leaving the mixing bowl on the counter and walked over to him, pulling him into a hug. "Listen, I promise not to 'nag' you as much if you promise to take care of yourself. I am not trying to smother you, I just don't want you to burn yourself out, okay?" Y/N pulled away from the hug and saw that Walter's eyes were red. "Hey, whats wrong?" Y/N asked, she was about to wipe his tears when Walter took her hands in his and pushed them away.

"We need to talk." Walter said.

"Okay, can it wait?" Y/N asked.

"No, it can't." Walter said. Y/N looked at him, his face was serious. She nodded and took off her apron, followed Walter into the living room and sat on the couch. Walter had her hands in his. "Something happened when i left. But I'm letting you know now that it meant nothing and that I completely regret it."

"Walter, you're scaring me, what did you do?" Y/N asked, her voice breaking as her eyes became glassy.

"I drove to Angie's house. I need clarity, I just fought with you and I know i messed up really bad but I didn't know if it would have been the end. I asked Angie why we got divorced, I asked if it was the problem with our argument." Walter said, carefully looking at Y/N's reactions to his words. "She came to the conclusion that you and I are perfect for each other and that I should be more open to accepting your help, that I was pushing you away. We were reliving our good moments, we were eating drinking, and then we..." Walter was cut off by Y/N putting her hand up.

"You slept with your ex wife?" Y/N asked.

"Yes.” Walter admitted.

“You slept with your ex-wife after she told you that you and I were practically perfect for each other?” Y/N asked again.

“Yes.” Walter whispered. Y/N nodded and took her hands out of Walter’s, she walked to the kitchen and Walter trailed behind her. He observed how she picked up the mixing bowl and continued to mix the batter before turning on the stove and pouring the mix with a ladle onto the pan. “Say something, anything.” Walter said. Y/N remained silent until she finished making pancakes and the mixing bowl was empty.

“You wanna know what I did when you left me on our home? I cried because I had no idea where you were going. I was drinking wine and purposely watching movies that I know will make me cry because you were gone for hours and did send me a text to let me know you were alright. We never had a fight like this, Walter, Never, in our 5 years of dating. And the first thing you do is go to your ex-wife’s house? After you told me that Angie wasn’t as much as a bitch as I was? Do you see how messed up that is?” Y/N asked Walter with tears in her eyes.

“It didn’t mean anything, Y/N, I swear.” Walter said.

“Oh please Walter, you guys were married for what, 9 years? You loved each other, Walter. Maybe you still love each other, I don’t know. What I do know is that feelings were involved, Walter. It’s is different than sleeping with a random woman, which I would still be angry about by the way. You cheating on me with Angie is much worse than a random hookup.” Y/N explained, trying to hold on her tears.

“It was a mistake, Y/N, we were drunk.” Walter said.

“Oh, you were drunk, I guess that makes it better, then.” Y/N commented sarcastically. Me vale madre if you were drunk or not, we were still together.” Y/N said.

“I can make it better, please. I’m sorry I hurt you, I shouldn’t have left you, it was bad judgment on my part.” Walter said, he was going to wrap his arm around her when Y/N moved away.

“Now is not the time Walter.” Y/N said.

“What happened to Oso?” Walter asked.

“You lost that nickname the minute you slept with Angie. The worst part about ALL OF THIS is that you needed her to tell you that we were perfect for each other. You needed confirmation from another person, you couldn’t just take my word for it. You didn’t want me to smother you? Well congratulations, Walter, I won’t be here to smother you anymore.” Y/N said, walking upstairs, Walter following suit. He saw her pull out a suitcase, she was packing.

“No, please don’t leave me, we have to talk about this, please.” Walter said. Y/N looked up to see Walter’s eyes, his once bright blue eyes were now dull.

“Fine, you want to talk, let’s talk. How was your night with Angie?” Y/N asked.

“I don’t understand.” Walter said.

“Then let me help you understand. While I was home watching movies, you were fücking Angie in her house, how was she in bed? Is that clear enough?” Y/N asked kinda aggressively.

“I can’t answer that.” Walter stated.

“You’re the one who wanted to talk.” Y/N reminded him.

“It was different, you and I have always made love, Y/N. Angie was nothing compared to what we have.” Walter said. Y/N got closer to Walter.

“Had, Walter.” Y/N said, she finished packing her suitcase with her clothes, towels, and toiletries. She got the suitcase and started walking downstair, opening the front door, Walter trailed behind her. “You finally did it, Walter, you pushed me away, I hope you’re happy.” Y/N gave Walter his key back.

“What can I do to fix this? Fix us?” Walter asked.

“I just need time. I can’t sleep in the same bed with you or stay in the same house with you knowing that if we have another fight, you’d go to Angie, that you slept with Angie. The day I moved in, you promised me that you’d never hurt me and I believed you, guess we were both wrong.” Y/N said. She left and closed the door. Walter immediately broke down crying on the floor, he messed up big time.

Y/N entered her car and called one of her friends from the hospital.

“Hey Y/N, what’s up, how’s your weekend?” Her friend asked.

“Hey Blair, um, I was wondering if I can stay at your house for a few days or a few weeks.” Y/N said.

“Yeah, babe, stay with me as long as you need, okay? You sound like you’ve been through it. Go over to my house, I’ll call Seth and let him know, okay. Love you, bye." Blair hung up and Y/N but Blair's address on her phone and drove to her house. She saw Blair's husband, Seth, outside the house with the door open, along with two kids playing in the front yard with a cavalier king charles spaniel. Y/N parked her car in the driveway and got out.

"Y/N, its so nice to meet you, you need any help with your bag?" Seth asked.

"No, its fine, I got it." Y/N said. "How old are they?" Y/N asked Seth, entering the house.

"7 and 4. The dog is 2. We don't have the guest room set up so you will have to sleep on the couch tonight, is that alright?" Seth asked.

"Of course, I’m intruding. I will help with dinner and cleaning.” Y/N said.

“Sounds like a deal.” Seth said

Walter has been throwing himself into work since she left 4 days ago. Whenever there was an interrogation and the suspect would get testy, Walter took out all his anger on them. However, Commissioner Harper has had enough of Walter’s anger issues.

“Marshall, you can’t keep hulking out on the suspects/perps, we’ll get nowhere. Go home, you’re not coming back until you fix whatever problem you have going on.” Harper said. Walter huffed and walked out.

When he made it home and saw the picture of him and Y/N together, he decided it was time to get her back. He got in his truck, bought her favorite flowers, and went to the hospital she worked at. He got out of the truck and entered the hospital lobby.

“Hi, I’m Walter Marshall, I’m here to see Y/N L/N, she’s a nurse.” Walter said.

“Do you know what floor she’s working on?” The receptionist asked.

“Can’t you check?” Walter asked.

“She’s assigned to me 9th floor, here’s your visitor pass.” The receptionist said and Walter thanked her. He saw that a lot of people were waiting for the elevator so he decided to take the stairs. Luckily for him, this was light work compared to his SWAT training. He stopped at the 9th floor and walked to the nurse station.

“Hello, can I…oh it’s you.”

“Nice to see you too, Blair. Do you know where Y/N is?” Walter asked, lowkey out of breath,

“Why would I tell you? She’s devastated over his things ended.” Blair said.

“That’s why I’m here, to make things right. Where is she?” Walter asked again.

“She’s getting a translator from the supply closet.” Blair answered, pointing towards the door and Walter thanked her. He opened the door and saw Y/N in her light blue scrubs, her hair (down, braided, in a ponytail, up to you!), he closed the door and Y/N turned around.

“Walter, what are you doing here?” Y/N asked. Walter saw that Y/N had dark circles under her eyes, Y/N noticed the same thing about Walter. His hair was messier than usual.

“I came to win you back.” Walter says, handing Y/N the flowers.

“Flowers? You think you can fix everything with flowers?” Y/N said.

“No, but I think this might fix everything.” Walter said.

You better learn to grovel Get down on your knees Begging for forgiveness like "please, oh baby, please" I want all the tears streaming down your pretty face Telling me I'm someone that you can't replace I want you to grovel, grovel

Walter got down on his knees in front of Y/N, looking up at her like he was worshiping a goddess, on his mind he was.

“Please forgive, Y/N, you mean the whole world to me, these last few days have been utter torture, my house doesn’t feel like a home anymore, you brought light to my life, I am nothing without you.” Walter starts tearing up, voice breaking. “Please, baby, please forgive me, I made a terrible mistake, I admit that, you are someone that I can’t replace, no one, and I mean no one could replace you. You are so special to me, I am so lucky to have you, and I will worship the ground you walk on if you let me, please. I don’t know what I’ll do without you in my life.” When Walter was finished with his little speech, both of them were crying.

“Of course I forgive you, Oso. Now get up, the floor is filthy.” Y/N said, helping Walter up. Walter laughed lightly, getting up, and pulling Y/N into a kiss. She pulled away. “So I don’t have to worry about Angie?”

“Of course not, my love, I am in love with you, I dreamt about you since you left, I missed you. I will worship you everyday until I die, no one compares to you, I swear.” Walter said, kissing her once more.

“Thank you for the flowers. And thank you for coming all the way here to apologize, must’ve been hard with Blair being in the front today.” Y/N said, smelling the flowers.

“No it was not. Quick question, not that I’m ungrateful or anything, thank you for forgiving me, I don’t know what I would’ve done if you didn’t, but why did you?” Walter asked. Y/N pretended to think.

“Have I ever told you that I love when a man grovels and begs?” Y/N playfully asked and Walter laughed wholeheartedly.

“Good to know for the future. I’ll see you at home.” Walter kissed her goodbye, both of them walking out of the supply closet.

“See you at home.” Y/N said, still holding the flowers.

Walter walked back to his truck and got in. Smiling to himself, she’s coming back home, back to me

The End

Hope y’all liked it, was it too long? Was it good? I don’t know how to write couple fights, clearly. This took forever to write

Taglist: @warriormirkwood

[snzcaretaker]

𝕰𝖉𝖜𝖎𝖓'𝖘 𝕵𝖔𝖚���𝖓𝖆𝖑

(Please excuse the random bit of blanket over his butt - covering that up for Tumblr's sake.)

Previous Fic | Below are Edwin’s journal entries between his encounter with Ambrose, and receiving his letter. He got sicker :( I also left some blanks instead of inventing names for minor characters and places - just seemed more convenient for now. CW: contagion

January 3rd - The New Year’s Ball was a disaster. If not for Ambrose, I hardly know what I would have done. He found me in a back room, already delirious and - But I can’t speak of it, even here…partly because of its disgusting nature, and partly because of the affection it brought out in me. Which is more mortifying? All I can say is how grateful I am to Ambrose. Things could have been much worse.

At any rate, I must be stronger. Will return to work tomorrow. I am wanted in L____, where there is a land sale to be arranged. I am quite well enough to go. Healthy exertion will put all these thoughts out of my mind. 

January 4th - Trip to L_____ brought nothing but misfortune. All the household there was sick with congestion, and Mr. ______, in addition to driving a terribly hard bargain, coughed every other word. But the real troubles began on the return journey. The left front wheel of the carriage sank into a concealed hollow under the snow. The sky was very bleak, and bitter cold seeped into the carriage interior until my nose ran in complaint. We were stuck in the snow for hours and did not reach home until after sundown. I’m afraid I cursed at everyone, and kicked the side of the carriage like a child in tantrum. My driver is a good man, but he will like me even less now than he already did. The devil take my temper…

But how could I help it, in the midst of panic and frustration? I was so close to being well again. Feel unusually tired now, but hopefully that will be mended by morning. I cannot afford to be ill again so soon.

January 5th - Awoke late, with a sore throat and a feeling of great dread. I did my best to overcome any weakness by persistent activity. I went for a short ride, and chopped wood until I came over faint. Nonetheless, I only found that the cold moved from my throat to my head and nose. Servants finally persuaded me to take supper lying down. They will talk. I refuse to call for Dr. _____, though. That will only confirm the gossip, and further damage my reputation. Half of E_____ County already thinks of me as fragile.

January 6th - Attempted to work from bed. At least correspondence can be attended to. However, I blotted the ink so many times due to ill-timed sneezes that I soon gave up the effort. Am now lying in bed alone. Everything is dull and I feel unconscionably sorry for myself. Fever has set in - I know myself well enough to say I will likely only worsen from here. Will sleep again. [Page has clearly been sneezed on.]

January 7th - Felt utterly pathetic and miserable all day. All I can think about are Ambrose’s arms around me. I physically ache with longing to be held. How can I return to my lonely existence after being shown such kindness? Such a happy memory…it torments me because it can never be repeated. He was a saint, but no one is saint enough to want to know me after I’ve spent a whole night sneezing myself silly into their hand, an absolute mess. And I said such needy, adoring things…I hope I am misremembering…what an embarrassment.

Must stop writing or I will go to pieces again. 

January 8th - Oh Ambrose, Ambrose, Ambrose. There is light in the world after all! How do these gifts fall into my lap? He feels as I do. That he could forgive me, even want me, after seeing me this way…I am overcome.

I wrote a few short lines to answer his request in the affirmative - everything else must be said in person. I’ll busy myself with making a guest room ready for him, and doing what I can about my appearance. Patient as he is, the last thing I want is to greet him with total dishevelment and a sneeze in the face. Though I might not have a choice. I feel so very weak even sitting up at my mirror, and my hair is not obeying me. Maybe I’ll just rest a little while longer…

[starryalpacasstuff]

Knock Knock Boys: A Queer Asian Lens

I didn't watch Knock Knock Boys as it was airing, because it didn't really seem like the kind of show I'd be into. However, this post by @lurkingshan and @waitmyturtles' enthusiastic recommendation convinced me to give it a shot. Having binged the entirety of the series in a day, I can say that the show was an absolute delight to watch.

I've seen plenty of people talking about how wonderfully sex positive the show was, so I'm not going to bother with going too much into it, but I will say that the drama clearly showed the kind of sex education and awareness that is desperately needed around the world. I also really liked how Lukpeach and Latte were the ones responsible for pretty much all of the sex education in the show. It was very realistic in that, in my experience, it's extremely common for teenagers and young adults to get a majority of their knowledge about sex from their friends and the internet. The show had a very clear message about the importance of talking freely about sex with younger generations, because the taboo on the topic only harms teenagers in the long run.

Now, besides that, there was one more issue that I thought the show did wonderfully: it showed how asian kids are often hesitant to discuss things with their parents because they assume the worst in the beginning. I'm having some trouble articulating this, because it's such an abstract, ingrained concept to me, so forgive me if this is incoherent. I'm also generalizing my experience as an Indian, so please do correct me if I'm wrong here. That being said, having been raised in a society that values respect and listening to elders without question, discussing alternate ideas with parents can be a very difficult thing for most of us. It's easy to assume what parents would say to an idea and decide that trying to convince them otherwise is a task that is either futile or requires too much energy.

The best way I can describe is that the mindset becomes "It's better to ask for forgiveness if you get caught instead of asking for permission straight away". For example, had Almond asked his mother if he could stay with three other guys, she would've most definitely flat out refused, since she would've had a lot of preconceived notions about the idea. But, because Almond is able to show her that he's happy as he was, she was perfectly fine with him continuing to stay with the others. I think that's the hallmark of most asian parents, they want us to be happy but they're convinced that they know what kind of life will make us happy. They did something similar with Peak and his father, but my feelings on that are a little more complex, so we'll come back to this.

Peak and Thanwa, man. I loved Latte and Almond but these two just stole the show for me. I know some people felt frustrated with Peak's dallying and hesitance, but I just felt so sad for him, and something about his situation just hit very close to home. And Seng, the actor that he is. One particular moment that stuck with me was the scene when he leaned against the door while Jumper attacked Max. I must've rewatched that moment half a dozen times, because his acting was impeccable. I will say, I wish that they'd given us a better resolution on the arc after Max, but those are mostly minor quibbles. What I really wanted to talk about was the arc with Peak's father. Peak gathering the courage to tell his father with the support from his found family was beautiful. The scene at Knock Knock House the day before Peak left was one of the most magnificent, emotionally charged scenes I've seen in asian ql in a while. Coming from a societ wherein arranged marriage is the norm, the storyline hit hard in all the right places.

But. I did not love the resolution of the arc. I think we've had some conversation about how some shows try to be both in the bubble and out of the bubble simultaneously, and the last two episodes of the show felt a little like that. From what we knew about the father, it felt almost too easy for him to simply accept everything right away. There should have been some struggle for reconciliation. I know that the show has a theme of assumptions and lack of communication disrupting parent-child relationships, but in this case how fast they move on just seems unrealistic. My cynicism aside, even if we assume that the father wasn't homophobic, there should've been more of a conversation on the breaking of the engagement! The social implications, the father asking him why he didn't say anything for so long, Jane's involvement (how did the father know that she knew about this?). The only argument I can see against this is that the father, while initially put off by the revelation, chose to act otherwise to support his son. But then, he most likely wouldn't have insisted they take his car. And there still should've been some sort of a conversation about the engagement. Arranged marriages have a purpose; it's to provide financial and social security. I find it extremely hard to believe that a father who arranged a marriage for his son wouldn't have so much as discuss the implications of being gay with him. They tried to have the engagement have consequences with the wedding banquet, but the resolution for that really only made it worse. This is cynical of me, but I simply cannot suspend my disbelief enough to believe that the entire wedding party was perfectly happy with the turn of events. This whole resolution just seemed out of place in a show that was otherwise so wonderfully grounded in reality while still being absolutely hilarious. I think, if the show had done something a little more similar to GAP, it would've felt more realistic.

All of that aside, I really did enjoy watching the show. It was hilarious and heartwarming, and the characters were absolutely wonderful. The resolution of the final arc did drag it down a little, but I would be lying if I said that watching two queer couples get to celebrate their relationships with their community didn't warm my heart at all (Also, side note- Jane having a girlfriend was a brilliant subversion). All in all, it's a great series. It definitely felt like something new and fresh compared to the kind of qls that I've been watching lately.

[thequeenofthewinter]

Work-in-Progress Wednesday

Hi, hi. It's been a while since I have posted my Idiots since I have been (and still am working on more Emmrich brainrot.) However, I thought it would be nice to get back to my roots and share with you what Ulfric and Dahlia are up to.

Tagging: @oblivions-dawn, @dirty-bosmer, @hircines-hunter, @skyrim-forever @bougainvillea-and-saltwater

@pocket-vvardvark @firefly-factory @illumiera @hannah-heartstrings @vivifriend

@theoneandonlysemla @sylvienerevarine @umbracirrus and anyone else who wishes to share. <3

23rd of Sun’s Dusk, 4E 203

Dearest Dahlia,

It has been so strange and too quiet with you not in the castle to fill the empty space between my thoughts. When I wake up every morning, I almost expect to find you next to me to tell me to, “stop thinking so hard” as you can “almost hear my worrying”. I promise you that this much has not changed, but that I am also trying to take care of myself.

Sylvi is doing just fine. Lydia and Narile have both taken it upon themselves to look after her most of the time. At least when I don’t have her. Normally, in the mornings I take her into my offic,e and she helps me with the endless mountains of paperwork there. (Don’t scowl at me. I’m teaching her young as she is the only heir we have.)

As for our “friend” downstairs, as promised he has been released, but under the tightest surveillance, and true to his word he has told us of other “problems” we might encounter here in Skyrim. I have dispatched some of the guards left here to help deal with them discreetly. I’ll be sending our friend out to Hammerfell with you and Galmar once this business is done. Lord Corolius currently rots in a cell in the Bloodworks as he waits for his execution date.

I pray to Talos every night to keep you safe.

Yours,

Ulfric

2nd of Evening Star, 4E 203

My bear,

Truly, it is good to hear from you as being so far from home has been rather difficult for me as well. Ralof was not joking when he said that Hammerfell is entirely unlike Skyrim. Not long upon crossing the border, we found ourselves in seas of sand and sun, endless heat following us everywhere we go. There is no escape from it. I miss the snow. I miss Windhelm. And more than anything, I miss you and Sylvi.

As for myself, I am holding together the best that I can…and trying to keep Galmar sane as well. Did you know he frets in his sleep just about as much as you do? Before you get any ideas, his tent is pitched right next to mine, so I can hear him very clearly. I’ve offered to have one of the mages make him a tonic, but the stubborn man refuses—much like you would were you here.

It is likely in the next few days that we will find a spot to make a more permanent camp. According to our sources, Queen Riyah’s sand riders are only a couple of days ride from where we currently are. I’ll be sure to keep you updated as much as I can.

…if I don’t melt first.

All my love,

Dahlia

17th of Evening Star, 4E 203

My heart,

I cannot begin to describe the feeling of complete and utter uselessness I hold when I think of you and our armies out in the field while I sit here and slog through meaningless paperwork. None of this matters in the grander scale of things. With each hour passing, my fingers itch more for the hilt of my waraxe than for that of the quill which I currently hold. 

Or perhaps it is that they yearn for the softness of your skin.

Forgive me for being an old fool, but your presence has been sorely missed in my bed. And before you go getting ideas, it is not only the intimacy I miss, it is your warmth more than anything that I long for. In these trying times, comfort is more valuable than gold, and you are my treasure.

Sylvi is doing well, so you need nor worry for her—even if I know you will still do so despite my reassurances. Recently, she has started crawling around the bear rugs we lay down for her in the Palace. She babbles as she tries to find more troubles to get into. Just like her mother, or at least that is what Lydia says as she chases her around the room. I’m inclined to agree with her, although I would say neither one of us are good at sitting still, so perhaps that comes from both of us.

Yours,

Ulfric

[ichiwashername-o]

What Are Friends For Ch. 28

An Undertale fanfiction

Written by ichiwashername-o

Summary: The final chapter, an ending.

Rating: Viewer discretion advised.  Contains swearing, trauma, and psychological horror

Cast: Undyne, Papyrus, Sans, W.D. Gaster, and others

Chapter 1

Previous

AO3

---

And finally, FINALLY, my story has finished. I hope everyone who's been with me through this enjoys.

For all the times Frisk had made it here, they never really knew where exactly here was. Or if it could even be called a place to begin with.

They stood with Asriel in a black empty void that stretched infinitely all around them, and though Frisk felt their feet stand on something solid and there , it gave off the impression that maybe what they were standing on wasn’t actually a physical thing at all, merely the suggestion of what should be.

So already their plan to get back to Sans and Papyrus’s house was falling apart because how could they get there if they didn’t even know where they were to begin with?

Asriel heard their concerns and simply shook his head. The small goat monster looked so sad, even though he was doing his best to keep smiling.

“We’re still in the Underground,” he explained. “It’s just that–when I took all the souls, it just distorted the world around us. But we can get back to Sans and Papyrus’s. It’ll be easy.”

Asriel held out his hand and Frisk took it without hesitation. 

And just like that, they blinked and they were in Snowdin, standing outside a very familiar house with twinkling lights and festive decorations. Frisk’s eyes went wide in surprise, and Asriel just laughed at their expression.

“With all the monsters’ powers within me, well, I can do just about anything,” he said. 

Sometimes it was easy for Frisk to forget, as small and unassuming and innocent as Asriel looked right now, he had all the power of a literal god. Frisk shouldn’t be so surprised, given everything they’ve been through, but even now they found new mysteries of the Underground.

They stepped around the house and to the back door which led down to the basement. As they walked, with Asriel nervously fidgeting with his hands, he spoke out loud.

“I remember Gaster. Before he got erased, that is,” he said absently. Frisk slowed their pace, listening carefully. “Even when I was young, I always got the sense he was a very troubled monster. He always looked so sad. And angry. But . . . he could also be really nice. I–I didn’t have many friends growing up. Not until–” he stopped, his voice choking a bit from the memory. “But he was a friend to me and Dad. He helped tutor me. He taught me sign language, because I had a hard time understanding his accent. But when he met–when he met Chara–” Again he had to pause to compose himself. “He really hated humans. Just like they did. Because they hurt him so badly.”

Asriel stopped, turning, and Frisk paused as well. They looked at the young prince, whose expression was overcome with resolve. 

“I know he did a lot of bad things. Things a lot of monsters won’t ever forgive him for. And it doesn’t excuse it, but I know how badly he was hurting. And if he’s really decided to be a better person after all this time . . .” He took a deep, steadying breath. “He really was a genius. And when he’s back, he can do a lot of good not just for monsters, but for everyone.”

Frisk smiled, nodding their head. “That’s why we’re going to bring him back.”

Frisk extended their hand and Asriel took it as they stepped into the basement together. 

Along the far wall, buried underneath a whole slew of dusty old tarps, loomed some strange machine. Frisk had no idea what they were looking at, but it looked like a great big metal arch with tubes and pipes running all around its perimeter, a computer on its right with a keyboard and screen. 

This had to be the time machine, but Frisk had no idea how to work it. Asriel clearly did as he approached what Frisk assumed to be a control panel and started pushing some buttons.

“I remember this working a few times before,” he said out loud as he furrowed his brows in thought. “Give me a moment, I just have to power it up.”

“You remember how to work it?” Frisk asked in surprise.

“Not really. But Sans does,” Asriel said “And now that his SOUL is in me, I know what he knows.”

Frisk nodded in understanding. “Right.”

In just a few short moments, the machine was activated with a low and steady hum. The circular gate-like machine was now fully operational thanks to the preemptive work of Papyrus and Sans. And with Asriel at the controls, it was working perfectly. The arc was filled with a shimmering blue iridescent light that sparkled like the ocean waves in the sunlight.

Frisk stood back, admiring the massive metal machine with awe.

Asriel extended his hand, placing it against the metal exterior, and shimmering rainbow vines began to cover it all over, the vines sinking into every nook and cranny it could. The vines pulsed with a beautiful cascade of rainbow colors as they glowed brilliantly. 

He turned back to Frisk. “I can’t go with you. I need to stay here and keep it running. It has to work on my own SAVE file. But once you go in, you should be able to find Gaster.”

“Gaster said himself he’s scattered all across time and space,” Frisk thought out loud. “So we’re going to have to go all over to gather up all the pieces of him and put him back together.”

“Sounds like a lot of work,” Asriel said with a grin. “Are you ready?”

Frisk nodded, feeling that familiar warm surge of determination within their soul. “Ready.”

“Ok, just step right through. And good luck, Frisk.”

Frisk nodded, looking up at that swirling maelstrom in front of them. The electric hum tinged the air as they felt their hair stand on end as they approached, static dancing on their skin. They could almost smell the charged ozone the machine was emanating.

They took a deep breath, closed their eyes.

And stepped through.

They felt themselves falling. And then they were pulled, as if swept up in some great powerful current, their tiny body hurtling along some great unknown cosmos. They felt themselves being flung every which way, their arms flailing out to grab something– anything to steady themselves. All around them was a bright shining cascade of colors and sounds and sights too incomprehensible to decipher. 

They were traveling across the timeline, seeing each and every possible past, present, and future playing out simultaneously before them.

The chaos was deafening and maddening. Frisk felt tears prick at their eyes as the world around them grew far too much to bear. But they hung on, searching for something–anything– anyone –

T̙he͚͓re yo̯̬u̬ are̯̦̰.

Something grabbed them, steadying them. Though Frisk didn’t see so much as sense it, they knew Gaster was there beside them. A hand that clamped around their arm, firm yet steady, guided them through the chaos of time.

And then they were pulled out of it, out of all the noise and sights and sensations, out into somewhere abyssal and black and nothing.

So staggering was the sudden whiplash between too much stimulation and none at all that Frisk needed a moment to reorient themselves, the stars of their vision fading and the ringing in their ears lessening. 

They stood(?) besides Gaster, the skeletal monster that looked like he was barely hanging onto his own existence. Though as fragmented and distorted as his shape was right now, Frisk could see that glimmering beam of his own determination dancing in his black empty eye sockets.

Frisk shook their head, getting their senses back to them. “Gaster,” they said. “Am I glad to see you.”

Gaster simply hummed. W̖͚̤ẹ͖ ͕̖hav͈e̞̦ ̪̙̼muc̬h ̝̯w̰͖ͅork̥͇ a̭̙h̰̲͙ead̮͉ ͚͍͕o̪f u̳̤̺s̗͎,ͅ he said. He then turned upon the small human, and they saw light returning to his eyes. But̘͙͉ ͉̝b͔ͅefo͉ṛḙ͍ w̱e̳̲ ̖̠beg͈͖̘i̥̙̟n̫͚,͖̼ I h̫̻a̲̫̮v̳͉͕e ͔a few ̥͎th̳in̘̣g͕̱͖s̞ ̩to͇̮̗ a̦͚s̠k ͙̗of ̰̳y͕̪̗o̬̻u͔.̬͉

Frisk swallowed. “Um, ok, what’s that?”

F̟͈̱i̯rs̜ṭ͙ ̦of̱ ̭̻al̺͚̘l͉̼̲,͍̬ do̗ y͍̲͓our b̤̥̱e̩s̱t̙̰ t̗o̳̤ ̮̭not ͉͍͕g̘̬͉eṯ di̲͇̻str̞͕act͙̟ẹd and̞ to͖̙ ̬̥͉sṱ̰a̝͈͓y o̟̱̳n̮͎ ̥t͓̤a̱͔ͅsk.̲̤̘ It̫̩ ̲̮i̹̗s͉̟ ̤d͕̼i̜̳f͈̲f̳i̦̜cu͔͙l̰ṭ ͍en̤ou̻g̭h̯͈̳ ͔̩t͍͕o na͓̪͔v̥̠̙i͓̰̬g͓ate ͕t̝h͈̦̣e ̼̝̘vo͖id ̤̳͍a͍s i̥s̩̞.̺̼

Frisk frowned, very nearly pouting. “I’m not going to be distracted.”

S̳̬͉ec̻̙̙on͍̭d̮̹ of a̳̳ll͍̻,͙̻͕ ̜ Gaster went on, as if he hadn’t heard them. I ͉woul̮͚d͈̜ ̮̪̩li͍̬k̻̺ͅe ̳ͅy̙̘ou̩ ͔̝̤t͉͈o ͉̘̝h͓old͚̻̰ o̺n ̹̼to a̜̮ ̭f̹e̗͈͇w̲̯͖ ̟̫t̹̱̱hi̗͇n͖̖̤gs͎͍.̟̦

He raised one of his skeletal hands and reached inside . . . somewhere and pulled out two envelopes, sealed shut. Frisk blinked. 

Where did he get those?

I ̻͔͔n̥̝ee̺ḏͅ ͓̩͚y͕̖ọṵ̮ ͉to̗ h͈o̳̬͔ld̗̗ on̺̲t̰̲̱o ͓͖̦t͕̪hes̫̲e̠̹ fo̩r̮ me. As ̗̫a ̯favor̤̜,̻͚ Gaster said calmly. He extended his hand, holding out the envelopes to the human. Too curious for their own good, Frisk took them, seeing that one was addressed to them, and the other–

The other was addressed to Grillby.

Now Frisk was completely confused. “Why do you want me to hold onto these?”

I̳̮n̯͍s͖u̥͕̲r̰an̳̯͙c̣̪͙e,̩ Gaster said simply. I ̘am͖͚̠ ͕̮n͚͇͚o̲̖t̺ ̟̠͎g̞oi̼ng t̥o̻̯ ͙̼p̬̝̬r͚et̻end̲͖̙ ̜̫th̬͓ạ͖t th̩̞is ̲jo̹͈̘u̩rne̤̭̺y ̳w͔̦o̘͙n’̺t͔͉̮ ̞̼͚b̩̞e ext̪̮raor͕͓̗d͍in̜͇͎a̻̺r̳ͅil̪y ̫̟d̠̝a̲͎ͅng̜e̱r̟o̮us͓̭.̺͕ ͅI̭̗t͖̟̟ coul͉d̩̤ ͖very̘̰̱ w̟̗ell͈̺̪ ̹ͅde̘ș͔̬t̰̠ͅṛ̱͇oy͎̦̤ m͍e.̦ A̭̮͉n̥d̟͎̰ j͎̝̱ust̳̻ in ̣͉c̼̖a̳s̤͖͔e it̞̪̱ ̞do͙̜e̱͉s . .̲̯̘ ̣̦̩.̖ I̺ ̗̦n̪e͉̝e̬̜͚d͎ yo̠͖u̜̮̥ t̺o̙͚̰ ͇h͕o̮͙l̻͙d ̪̩̥o̖͔̬n͚̳͚ ̰t͓̣̭o ̜̱t͉hese.̰

“But nothing’s going to happen to you,” Frisk insisted, shoving them back towards Gaster. “You’re getting out of here. Then you can hand this to Grillby yourself.”

Gaster didn’t move as Frisk continued to shove the letters against Gaster’s semi-blobby, semi-static form. 

Plea͚̫se ͉͖̩p̪̹̻u̻t͔̤ a̩͍si̭d̖e yo͉̲u͓̭͍r stub̭̻̦bo͇̤r̟̞n̘ness̖̠ ̫for ̥o̞n͎̝͈e m͕̺o̟͖̬m̙en̠̘t and̺ li͍ste̺̹͎n,̙̬ Gaster said lowly. I͚̻ ḍo ͙̦͙no̰̹͚t̰ ͉͚̲i͖n̞t̥͇e̬̜n̖d̗͔͕ ț̤̞o ̫̜̱lẹa̙̠ͅv̩e ̜̭̥a͙̠n̪͈͎y ̮b͚us̝ine̲s̰s͚ inc̖̥͙om̦̻ͅpl͔͕͕ẹt̫e̘̝, ̯̜b̪̲ut so to̮o̼ mu̘s͙t I ̦͍a̼̝͎c͈̰k̤̹n̻ow̦͍̦l̹e͙d̹̤̬g̥̦̪e̙ ̟̰̥t̻̲h̭̭̫e ̺̯i͎̜n͉̜̱n͚a̞͇̣t̯͉e da̹ng̲͓͙er ͔͙of ̹o̟͙ͅu͕͈̠r̘ ̺̲̠mi͍s̻sion̝̹͓. ͎̯S̮͈̭h͕̩̭ou͕͖̻ld a̫̻̗l͖l̜ g̠̻ͅọ̳̦ ̭̗̻to̺̝ ͔̤̙p̼̜l͈aṋ̯̞,̦ ̩ͅt̰̖h̼͙e͚n ̞̺̹you ̺̺ne͍̥e̩d ̭̺n̦̖͙ot do an͓y͇̞̺th̞̭̲i̼̳ng͕͙̞. Bu̫t ͙i͈f̩̤̟ no͍̪͓t .̥͓ . ̻ͅ.

He let the warning hang.

J̳̮̱ụs͉̮̜t͇͚ d̮o̪ ͉͍me ̤̦t͙̜h̲̟͙i͇s͙͎ ͉̦o̺͚n̯̲e̜͇̟ s̼m̹̳̤all ̲̮͖g̮͔͎rac̙̦e,͓͎ ͕͉p͚l͔̻ea̖͓̯se.͓̜̬

Frisk frowned, but begrudgingly shoved the letters into their pocket. “As soon as we get back, I’m giving them back to you.”

Tha̮͙t ̼̜i̤̻s̭ ͎̤more ṱha̘̱n ̬̺f̩a͇̤̳i̬̱r. O͇̤͚hͅ,̗̥̜ a̮̗͙n̰̗d̹̟ ̩o̩ne l̤̦͇as̪t͍ ̪thi̗n̻g,͎ Gaster said, raising a finger.  I̟̙f͇̥ ̦I ̩̼̟can̖n̖ot d͈̻͔eli̗̥̗v̖̩e̬̲r̯ͅ ̜͈the̮̘ l̖e̗̥̗t̤t̹̩e̘͔r̟̙͉ m̺y̲s̺el͚̗f–̰̺m̞i͔̲nd ͓̱yo̩͉͈u̖, I s̟̩̥a̗͈id ̪͖I̭F,̮̪ he snapped, to prevent Frisk from interrupting him. T̯͔̹ẖ̘̫e̦re ͉͎̫i̻ͅs̘̘̟ ͙on̗̺͚e ͕ț͖̙h̬̮i̘̫̺ng I n̥e͓ed you͎ t̘o t͍̬̲e̗̖̙l̟͓ḷ ͅGr̖͇i̩l̰̯͍l͖by̥̱̺.͎͖

“And what’s that?” Frisk asked.

Teͅl̗͇̹l͉͇͎ ̝̩ͅh̩͕i͚̺̟mͅ ̮̩t͈̰o̹̯͍ ̤͙̭r͍̞̞ea͙͈d m͕y͚̼ let͍͍te̞r in it̟s̳͎̯ ̠̫enti̗͖̤r̝̲e͍̫t̩̞͈y̺̟̥. Ma͈̠̺kͅͅe͚͎͈ him̖ ̼̣prom̹̹̘i̜̟ͅs̺͉e̤̪ ̖̲͈to̼̻ d̠o̤̘ so̫̹, Gaster urged. 

Frisk felt their brows contort together in confusion. “What?”

I f͎̙ear̞͓̥ h͉̜e m͕̞̹ay͔ ̼̪̹b̝̥͚e a ̮̳̱b͈̗̭it . . .̹͉̹ ̞̥i͔̤̲nc̩̼̗en̺̺sed̪̗͎ ͎͖̣t̤o ͕̯s̱̩ee̯̩ m͖̱͍e̹̙̥ ̞reac͕̼͔ḫ o̼̺̮u̻̳̪ț̬ to͍̲ ̠̖̲hi͖̮m, a͍n̹d͓̪ ̟thu͔̜s ̮̗̞wo͙̫͓ul̗̜ḏ ̯͕̦b̯u͎̘̝rn͚̣ͅ ̼̜͕m͇y̲͓ let̖t͍e̘͍ͅr͔̗ ̳t͔o̞̹ ash͈͇ ̯̟͈bef͔͓o̲r͈̤e̮̙͚ ̟̠͚he͎͓ ̘̟eve̤n͙̰ͅ o̗̰pens i̗̖t͙̗̮, Gaster admitted. His expression contorted, his sockets shifting upward in mourning and regret. I͍͓̻ d̮̞ͅo ̫͇̮no̠̤̰t bla̳̦̮m̗e̪ ̘̬̱h͈i̝m̲͈. Bu̠͇t̩ the͇̮̫re ̲is̝̦ much I ͅwo̝͈uld ̞͓li͇k͓̳̟e̲̺̼ ̜͚t̯o͙̳͇ ͉̘sa̞̟̪y to̪̟ ̳hͅim̥̬–̱̭so̲ b̮̪̥e͇̹̞fo͕re y̹̼ou g̱̬̘i͇̲̼ve̯ him͕ th̟e̝̥̙ ̯͖let̪̠t̳e̬̩͉r͎,̱̦ ma̱͇̣kͅe̙͕ h̠͓i͍̫̭m̯̪͉ ̯̞̫s̱̠we̘aṛ̭ ̪̜̱he͕̼̥ wi̘̖ll rea͎ḏ it͙̞ ̼̙thro̩ug̗̯h͚͚̥.̳̗ͅ ̹And ̪o̖͙̥n͔͙ce̦̱ ̖̯ͅhe ̠̠̫d̺̗͍ọe̫s .̤̯ ͍.̦ .̺ ̜̮h͖̥̪e m̻a͔͙̩y ̰̻ͅdo̟̟̥ w͖it͉̰͚ḫ̜͍ ̦it͕̮ ̭̯̜wh̠̣̗at h͔e̫̪ p̖leas̪̙ẹ͙s.

Gaster’s plea was so earnest and desperate that Frisk understood immediately the severity in which Gaster spoke. So they nodded grimly, gripping the letter tightly.

This letter was so important to him. It made Frisk feel so small to be entrusted to something so dear.

“But you can tell him yourself, face-to-face, when we get back,” Frisk insisted.

Gaster smiled. T̘ha͙̣̙t̩ i͙̬̯s̭ t͚̱̖h͖͓e ̭h͇ope.̱

He then extended his hand out to Frisk, who grabbed it without hesitation. His hand felt so strange, flickering between solid and not-there and static and everything in between. Gaster really did look like he was going to fall apart at a moment’s notice. And Frisk knew it was by some small miracle that he hadn't by now.

Let ̗u̺̙s b̤̮̺e̼̪̰ ͓͎o̯̣̦ff͎̱, he said.

And then they dipped right back into the time stream, stepping out of the void and back into chaos. Frisk squinted their eyes closed, bracing themselves as they tried to shut out all the noise around them.

They didn’t know how Gaster knew where to go, they simply had to trust the monster. And once they found his pieces, they could start putting him back together–

Slowly the sights and sensations around them began to come together into a more coherent image. They saw flashes of Alphys in the lab, experimenting with a yellow flower. They saw Asgore at the end of a golden hall, facing down a small human child clad in yellow. They saw Toriel run from the palace, her expression twisted in a furious mix of rage and grief.

Frisk blinked.

Just when were they going?

The scene before them began to grow clearer and clearer. They were at the throne room, the two massive chairs of the king and queen of monsters currently empty. Light filtered through the many stained glass windows of the halls. They could hear birds singing lightly in the distance.

And through the far door, a figure loomed. It approached, staggering and limping. It towered above Frisk, even as hunched over as it was. And as they stepped into the lush green throne room, the light spilling on its face–

Frisk’s eyes widened in recognition.

It was Asriel. But not the small young goat monster Frisk knew them as. He was in his godly form, long curled horns arching over his head and black stripes crossing his face. 

His body was badly damaged, sliced apart from many gashes and wounds, arrows burrowed deep all across his body. Every step the prince took was one of sheer agony as he pushed through his fatal wounds to return home–

Return home with the tiny unmoving body of Chara clutched in his hands.

Frisk could only gasp. “What–what are we doing here?” they asked breathlessly. They heard of the moment the young prince died so many times, but to see it for themselves-!

Gaster didn’t answer. They just watched on, their eyes narrowed with grit and focus. His expression was a tight grimace, one hand reaching out as if in anticipation.

Frisk watched him carefully. “Wait, is a piece of you here?”

Asriel collapsed to his knees, one last mournful smile crossing his face. He closed his eyes, and with one final sigh, his body crumpled to dust.

Above the grass where his dust laid, Frisk saw it: two souls, one red, and one white. The red vanished in but a blink of an eye, but the white soul lingered for only a moment more. And Frisk immediately knew what they were looking at. 

Asriel’s soul. 

It burned with all the radiance of a star, hovering in the air with a faint tremble. 

So̜me͍̦da̪̜y, ͕̮̫p̠͔er͉ẖ̝̼aps̻ yo̙̫u ̬̞wil̪l̫̩̬ ̣̝f̺͕̘or̯̞͇g̞iv̹͎e̗̜ me̗͍̖.͓̦

Frisk didn’t understand. Not until it was too late.

Gaster’s hand snapped forward, his fingers latching around the soul and digging deep into the unbridled force before him. He screamed. But on he held, his eyes flashing wildly with magic as he grabbed the Soul and began to drag it, his body shredding into flakes of nothing as the overwhelming power of the soul threatened to rip him apart.

“What are you doing?!” 

Gaster could not afford even a moment of his concentration to waver as it took every single bit of strength and grit he had left to simply hold on. But he pulled, pulled himself and Frisk and Asriel’s soul through time and space–

Back to the time machine. 

Back to the small monster waiting just on the other side, his eyes wide in shock and horror.

With one final desperate cry, Gaster reached out, slamming the soul into Asriel’s tiny body.

Asriel screamed.

Gaster, with one final contented smile and a sigh of relief, fell into oblivion.

And the world around them went white.

–

“Frisk! Oh, Frisk, please wake up!”

Frisk groaned. Their entire body ached, and their head pulsed painfully. They slowly blinked awake, shaking off the haze of confusion and disorientation.

It took many seconds for the world to come back into focus. Everything around them was so blurry and discombobulated, the voices around them muffled and muted.

They tried to sit up, and a gentle hand assisted them, pressing onto the small of their back. They blinked again, screwing their eyes up in concentration. There was nothing but a blur of white in front of them.

“Human! There you are! We were so worried! We didn’t know if you’d wake back up!”

Frisk groaned, rubbing their head. Their senses were finally coming back to them. “ Urgh . . . Papyrus . . . ?”

“It is I!” the skeleton announced bombastically, his wide toothy grin finally coming back into focus. “You’ve been through quite the ordeal! But I am glad you’re back to the land of the living! You gave us all quite the scare!”

Frisk shook their head, gathering themselves. They were back in the final corridor just before the barrier, right where they were when they fought Asriel. Surrounding them was Alphys and Undyne, but Sans, Asgore, and Toriel were nowhere to be seen. Frisk looked around for them.

“Where’s everyone else?” they asked immediately. “What happened?”

“We were hoping you could answer that,” Undyne said with a smile. “We were facing down that flower, there was a bright light, and then we were back here, with–”

“Everyone else is back in the throne room,” Papyrus said. “They didn’t mean to leave you here, but I promised to look after you, and, well –”

Frisk looked up at Papyrus, trying to figure out just why he looked so damn guilty. But no time for that right now, they shoved themselves to their feet and took off back towards the throne room, the three monsters hot on their heels. 

They could hear voices, loud voices. They couldn’t tell if they were laughing or sobbing over all the shouting and screaming. Frisk ran faster.

They burst into the room to see Asgore and Toriel on their knees, their arms wrapped tightly around a third figure between them. Both were openly weeping, fat wet tears rolling down their cheeks, but they were both smiling so wide and so brightly. Frisk froze.

“I don’t believe it– I don’t believe it!!!” Toriel was saying between gasps of sobs. 

“It’s a miracle! You’re back!” Asgore was somehow sobbing even harder than Toriel. He had to pull away several times just to wipe away his eyes. “Oh, my son, you’re back!!!”

Frisk could only stare. In between the clutches of King Asgore and Toriel . . . was Asriel. The young goat monster was clinging to the both of them with all their strength, refusing to let go as he sobbed in his parents’ arms. 

Standing behind them was Sans, who was looking on silently and with a sense of fondness.

It wasn’t long before Frisk’s presence was noted, and Asriel looked up at them with big red eyes. He smiled ear to floppy ear, finally at last pulling away from his parents to greet them.

“Frisk!”

He ran right to them, hugging them fiercely. Frisk hugged them right back, still too stunned to do much else, but they pulled away, gaping at Asriel.

“I–what– how?!” was all that they could stammer.

“I’m here! I’m really here!” Asriel said, pulling back slightly but still holding tight to Frisk’s hands. “Gaster and you–! You got my soul! You got it back to me!”

It came back to them. That moment in the hallway with Gaster, who reached through time and space to grasp the young prince’s soul and return it to his body.

“So you’re here? You’re really . . . you?” they stammered.

“It’s me! It’s really, finally me!” Asriel said, tears threatening to spill once again. “I–I can feel again! I can feel everything! I’m not a flower anymore!”

And they just held each other for a long moment still, Frisk’s head still reeling. But finally, after what seemed to be hours of all of them reveling in the young prince’s miraculous return, Frisk turned back to address all the gathered monsters, examining all their faces. Everyone was a mix of surprise and sheer delight, but behind those proud contented smiles of the skeleton brothers . . .

There was a look of deep and profound sadness. And guilt.

“Where’s Gaster?” Frisk asked, turning towards the brothers. “I went back to save him, so where is he?”

“You still don’t get it, do you?” Sans said with a quiet sigh. He shook his head. “Ah, kid, there’s no easy way to say this–”

“Gaster’s gone,” Papyrus said sadly. 

“What?! No he’s not!” Frisk protested furiously. “He was right behind me–! We were going to bring him back, he promised–!”

“He lied to you,” Sans said softly and with a great deal of patience. “He never had any intention of coming back.”

Frisk felt a terrible weight bear down all around them as if the floor beneath their feet had fallen away. “So–this entire time–ever since you stepped out of that door–”

“Please forgive us,” Papyrus said mournfully. “But it was Gaster’s wish.”

And so the brothers recanted what happened behind that silver door

–

Sans was not in a mood to talk. Hell, he was barely holding it together and admirably restraining himself from bringing down his entire wrath upon the one monster responsible for all of his suffering. To speak nothing of the devastating harm he inflicted upon Papyrus.

But Papyrus, ever optimistic, stupidly naive Papyrus, heard him out. He listened. He empathized. Empathized . With that bastard .

I c̖a̞n ͔̪̥st̠and ͈h͙ere t͈i͔l t̪͇he ̘̱̱e̝̺̫n͇̪d̫ of t̰̖ịm̯ḙ̖ t̠͓o ̦v̭̞o͈i͚̞̫c̠͉e ̥͇͉my̥͚̫ ͎̗r̳̟eg̮͍r͖̟̝ets̗̠ ̖̱an̙̮d͉̖ ̯so̙̻͉r̘̝ͅrow̥s͚͖̭,̠͖ bu̖t ͎̞͙not̹̠̤h̝̱ͅing ̙I̭ ͇ca̝n̦͓ sa͓̳ͅy̟̳̪ ͔̰̻w̺i̭̝l̯l̩ mạ̟ke̳̳ ̙̹ͅy̩̝ͅou f͙o͉̦r͈̖gi͙ve͓͕ me̳̪͇, ̜̞o̠̟̭r̮ eṿ̩e͔n̞ ̝̺͔b͎̗͎eg̘̳̘in to̯̱͈ m̤̠a̩k̳͍e̳̯ ̙̤up f̘̭or ͔ẉ͔̝h̥̟at ̻̩I̭̞’̞͓v̜͖e ̯͇̭d͍̻o͔͔̮n͓̤e̯͙̫,̳̳ Gaster was saying. B̪u̜̙͖t ̻ͅh̤o̗we̬̖v͔e̱͈r em͕̥pt͚y ̪͈̩you͖̜̩ m̠̱̖a̯ỵ͎ fi̜̗̻n̮̥d̟ ̱̹th̙̠̪es̱͉ͅe͕͕͍ w̘̹̤or̖̘ͅd̥s, ̬do̼̙ ̥̠kn̬ow̲̙ this̱̼̝ ͈̰͎ṭo̦͚͎ ̝̘b̺̯e͕ ̱t̹̥ru̬̟e–̼̜I ̪re̟͓g̙͇͈ret̟̯̝ ̻͇͈a̖͙͉ll ̹I͍ ha͙̯v͍e̬ ̤̼d̹one ̙t̼o ̦y̮̦ͅo̭u̩.̝ ̰͉͖A̹n̥͔̩d I wi̥͕s̘̲̺h̪ to us̘̻e ͓͙̙m̝̣̩y ̹̗̭f̩in̦͖̖al̮ ̲̱fl͓̩͙e̠̭̤e͖̖ting̘̭̩ ̝͓̦mo̫͙m͍͖eṋts̳̰ ̝̠̻o̫f̗ e̹͓xi͍̣s͖t̲e̼nc͈ͅe̦͓̞ ̘̜t͖̥̘o ̙d͉̲o̼ o̟ne̙ f͓̗i̙n̦al̰̖̲ a͙͈̳c̼̲t o̹f g͕̩oo̪d̦̘.

“The human wishes to bring you back,” Papyrus was saying. “If we can somehow find all your missing pieces that were scattered about–”

A̙̣̜nd wͅh͈̜̠at̯? Gaster said with a scoff. P̖u̘̗t ̪̲ͅme ͔ba̭̮ck͈̫ ͕̟tog̰̮eṭ͍he̳̤r̹ ̯̖̩like̼̞ s̜om̞̪̺e j̯͙̱i̠͉͈g̳sa͔̠͍w ̠pu̳z͍z͓͕̜le?̤̘̥ No. I̞͉ h̫̱ạv͈͓̦e̫͎ ̣͍l̠̬ong ̼̳si͔̮͈nc̫̜͈e p̘a͙s͈͈s̘e͇̦d ͎͙̬the ̲͍͔po̙͇i͓͇nt͈ o̦͖f ḇei̻̜n͈g͇ re̟̝̘s̺to͔r̹ed.̦͔

“So what exactly is it that you want to do?” Sans said, unable to keep the venom from dripping from his voice.

I w̮͈i̯ͅsh͍ ͔t̳͓̩o̰ ̪̣s̮͍a̝͔̣v̭̪ẹ tḥ̯͙e ̟̺͎one m̰ons̩̲̤ter ̯̥who̲ i̟̪s̩̘ ̫̣tru̯͕ly ͔d̗̙̼e̪̪̙serv͖in͓g of̙͈ ̯i͓̺t̳̠, Gaster said. I w͍̺̫i̲̻͎s̹̹̙h ̪̙̱t͓̪̯o ̫̻̮r͙es͔ͅt̗o̻re Pr̟̠inc̞ͅe̺͚̦ ̭̙̗As̼rie͔̯l.͉̥

The skeleton brothers stared at him.

“You’re–you’re insane. It’s not possible–”

I͍ͅt is. I̥̫ ̮̤̪h͙a͙͎v̟͕e ̬̥̝s͙̮̮e͓en̪̬ͅ ̟t̝̣h̠̺̦e fa̖l͔l̦̠ ̖̣̹o͇f̯̗ ̬Aș̳ͅr̦̥ͅiel̩̥̖ ti̘̺m͍͕e͎̫ and͎̮ ̞̻͉ti̜͖m̠̙͚e͚ ͅag̹̯̞ḁ̱̳in,̰̩͙ a̺nd i̪f̱ ̠͙͕I w̲̬e̙r͎̳e ̝̺t̺̫o̯͇ be ̪̗t̙̗h̞̰͈ere͈̭ at ̻t̹he͓͖ ̪p̭̝rec̼is̖e̮̙l̟͔͙y ̼r̟i̬gh͍̭̰t͓̥̜ ̼͇ͅm͈̗̤o̼͇m̘e͕̻͙n̩̣͖t . ̼. .̟̙̙ He trailed off. It̤͉̹ ̬̗̤c̹̤an̦͇̺ ̮̫̯b͎̻e ̩d͇o͍̬̼ne.͕ ̰̮B͔͖ut t͈̱hi̳s̰̤ s̺̻hall̟ ̭f̩͚̤i̝nạl̖͎ly̖, ͔̯̳d͈efi͖n͙it̩̫̪iv͎el̹̞͙y͕,̫͙͇ ̯̝̣be͚̣ͅ my end̳.̪̺̮

The brothers glanced at one another. Shock and disbelief still settled over them like an uncomfortable static. 

“What do we tell the human?” Papyrus finally whispered.

S͎̹̭ho͔̬͚uld t̤he̮y know̭̠ my͍̩͉ p̝l̗a̯̭n,͎̲ ͍th͉͉e͖͙͙y͕ ̗w̙i̤l̩l̦̺̯ ̬n͕e̺̘v͎̫ͅer a͙͍gr͕̘e̦e ͈͇̻to it.̯ S͎͈u̩͚ch͕̼͚ ̤̬stu̜̱̹b̥b͎͕̗orn̗͈n̻ḙ̭̰ṣ̺s͖ ͈̺.̫͍ͅ ̗. ̼̫̮. Gaster said with a heavy sigh. I͓̦̹t͍ͅ r̥͓emḭ̭n̦͖̯d̬̞s ̦͙me̥͈ ͇.̟ .̮̥ ̦̫͈.̳ ͖̘̝of ̺̗a̟͈ ̤de̺̭ͅa̦̲r̗̮̤ st̥̮u͔̲d̥̦ent ̙̤̯ofͅ ṃin̫̯̩e̱͚̘.̥̥ͅ

He shook his head.

T̝h̰̬e̟͈͈ hu̱m̹ͅa̤n͇̝̭ ̞̼͎can͍n͇̻o̰͇̺t ̫̖k̫̫͔n̖ow̙̭ ̗ou̘͔̞r ̞͍t̝̙͎r̝̳ͅu̺̗͎e ̲͕in̙̫̪t̪̥̺e̹n̖̤ͅt̜͙ͅ.̤ T̝̰̰h̤̦ḙy ͈̝̼w̪͇̰ill ̠̳̬never ͍͓͈ag͈̘̩r̫̗e̝e̯̟ͅ ̝to ̦͕it.͕̯̙

“So you want us to lie to them?” Papyrus protested fiercely. “We can’t do that to them!”

Kn̞o̦̪ẉ͓i̪͎̠ng ͔th̳̹̫em,͚̼̠ ̠t̮̬h̦̞ey ̜̞̙w͉i̹̹ḷl͎ nev͉̬͇e̥̯r̳̰ ͕̩a̮cc̰e̳p̝̝t̮ t͙̮̘h̺is̲̫ outc̦o̠me.̣ ͖͎ͅThe͕̮y wil̙l̜̲ ͈̜.͓͙ ̘.͔̘ . ̠͈i̫n͙̣t̮e̞r̻͇fer̦e.̼̤ A͉̠nd then ͍̫͈m̘̞y͉̜͔sel͔f̗ ̙̯a̜̞̹nd ̟̳As̞ri͙e͔l ̝̺wi̩͙ll̯̫ ͍b̪e͈ ̹̖̖ḷ͕͔o̫st f̣o̼̭̳re͕v̗er.̙̫̞ His gaze hardened. Th̻̦i̩s ̗̬͉is̬̭ ̬ͅmy̻̺ ͈̱͔f̬i̦na̩̣l ͓̱̬w͇i̬̦̼sh̠. ̳̩͙My d͔̣̯e̫cͅi͙s͈͕ion͈. ̹̙͙M̹̼̦ỵ̹̣ ̻̳c͓̭̮hoic̰̬̭e ̟̲̫t͔̩̦o̬ ͈̫d̟o t͎̰͈his ̥̱one las̗t th̯͈i̖ng,͔͚̩ f̮͎or̘ ț̠̼ḫem, an̪̩̣d for̤͚ ̪̬̦th͓̱̝e w̭o̪̣̫rld̺.͇̻̞

Sans let out a bitter laugh. “So. This is your ending, huh? You get to die a hero?” Sans balled his hands into fists. “You don’t deserve that! You don’t deserve forgiveness!”

I̻ ne̥͓̻v̙͔e̹̫r sa͔i̳̠̠d̼ any̝͈t̠͔̫ḫ͎̱i̖ng̺̣ ͙ab̯ou̲̺t͙ ̣͈f̳̫orgi̩̗vene̫̙̖s̠̠s,̩̬ Gaster said calmly. I͚͎̙ am͍ well pas̰̞̝t̖̰̼ ̺t̫h̦e͈͕̗ ̮̱͉p̭̹o̱͍int̘ of͍͍̞ ̱ṛe͉̻ͅde̳̗̮mp̫t̺̠i̥̪o͎̫̪n o͔͓͇r ̗ͅsa͓̞l͈͚va̼͙t̺̼̹ion̺͇.̩̜ I ̞kno̭w I ̳c̤̣͉ann͍o̲͓̠t̘̼ ̝̜̳b͉̼e͖ fo̩̫rgi̘̩v͇͕e̱̳͕n̥͖ f̳̻o̫̣r w͈͇͔ha̝t ̭̪̞I’v̯̣̙e̹̝ͅ ̝ͅdon̜̟̤e. But̯̟ a̜̦l͚͎low ̫̯͉m͉̜e̗̤̘ ṭ̦o g͕͈i̟v̱͙̱e a se̺̗͚c̹͈̪o͙̗̠n̪͔̲dͅ chanc̜̠͖e̩ ͕to̼ ̹̠ͅth͉̮̞e̼̥͖ ̮o͎̲͎ne̮͓ p̣̗̲er̠̲̱so̯̯n̮̳̞ ̭̝̮w̖̬h͓̼͔o t̲͈͕r̤̞u̳̼l͈̥̝y̞̺ de̻s͙̥̞e̜r̭v̯̣es͕͇̭ ̜it.͖

Gaster’s features, as warped and distorted as they were, had been stoic and still, but at this, his expression contorted into one of true sorrow and grief. His brows shifted with sadness, the light in his flickering eyes desperate and pleading. 

P̘̙̰le̝ase. L͚e̘̠t m̘̞̺e͍̱ͅ ͈̳s̪̯av͚̫ͅe ͍͙̤hḭm.͙͎̼

–

Frisk and Asriel listened to the brothers tell their story, struck silent. Frisk couldn’t help but feel . . . betrayed. And used. It was such a filthy underhanded thing to do–

But in their heart of hearts, they knew Gaster was right. If they knew, they would have protested. They would have fought back with all they had–

Still.

It did nothing to lessen the sting. It hurt so bad, knowing that they couldn’t save him–

But Papyrus, seeing their torment and pain, put a hand on their shoulder comfortingly. “Frisk, please do not be upset with him. You’ve given him something he’s been waiting for a very long time now: peace.”

Frisk shuddered, closing their eyes and composing themselves. It was still so hard to accept. But was it not the case that in every other ending, there was always someone left behind?

Their gaze turned to Asriel, who had been listening on, also wrestling with his own grief. 

“I also believe that Gaster gave you something?” Papyrus added.

The letter! Frisk ripped it out of their pocket, feeling a hot lump build in their throat. The bastard had of course planned this and had lied to them from the start. They pulled out the letter addressed to them and ripped it open, Asriel peering over their shoulder.

Frisk began to read it out loud.

Dear Asriel and Frisk, 

By the time you read this letter, I will be dead. And my plan would have undoubtedly succeeded in doing what I intended to do from the start: To give the one monster in the entire Underground who is truly worthy of it a second chance.

I understand by now you must feel deceived, and for that I am sorry. But I knew if I had conveyed my true intentions, it would have jeopardized the mission. Frisk, as kind and as compassionate as you are, I know that bull-headed stubbornness of yours far too well. You would have never agreed to any of this if you knew that I would be forfeiting my own life.

You truly are the blood of my dearest student.

But I give up my life freely and gladly, without regret or remorse. Frisk, I know how much you wanted to give me that second chance. I know you wanted to SAVE me to make reparations, to start anew, to redeem myself. But you did not heed my words when I told you I wanted none of that. I have lived a very, very long life. I had my chances. I made friends, I’ve loved, I’ve lost, and I made my choices. I had my chance to live.

But Asriel has not. His life was cut so bitterly short, so young and so full of potential.

If anyone deserves a second chance, it would be him.

Asriel, you truly deserve this, do not doubt it for a second. I remember you when we first met. You are kind, compassionate, intelligent, and will undoubtedly grow into a great and honorable monster.

Now, my dear Prince, my final words to say to you are this: you must not dwell and despair on the actions of your past. Take solace that at this moment, they did not happen. Your friends and family are alive, they are with you, and they love you. Do not despair. Share their love and joy.

Ah, but that is so easy to say but so very hard to do. I know. Because it is not that easy, is it, dear Prince? You may find it easy to blame and hate yourself for your sins, but that is a dark and terrible place to tread and I urge you not to descend that path. There is nothing there but horror and despair.

If you truly wish to seek redemption and reparations for your transgressions, then find it in the good deeds you do for others. Find redemption in kind acts to others,  find it in the love you share with family and friends. Let go regret and guilt and give selflessly. You may wish to seek forgiveness. You may wish to earn it, but forgiveness is not something that is earned. It is given freely and willingly. And most important of all, you must be able to give it to yourself.

There is so much I wish to say, so much I want to tell you. But I have full confidence the both of you will lead monsters and humans alike into a new era of peace and prosperity. You will do great and wondrous things, I have full faith in that.

I do not do any of this in the name of redemption or repentance or forgiveness. I do this because it is right , and because this is my final wish: To make one life better from beyond the veil of existence. And if I can accomplish that, then I am content. I can pass in peace knowing my final act was helping another. That is all I wish for.

Enjoy the stars and sun for me.

Dr. W.D. Gaster

Frisk finally finished reading, looking up from the letter with fresh tears brimming in their eyes. Asriel was already crying, messily sniffling and wiping at his nose. 

“Gaster always seemed to know just what to say,” Asriel whispered between his sniffles. “I was feeling so guilty because of everything I did–”

“But now you can start over,” Papyrus encouraged. “And you can count on your best friends to stand right by your side whenever you’re feeling down!”

Asriel smiled. “You mean that?”

“Of course I do! Or I am not called the Great Papyrus!”

Asgore and Toriel, both composing themselves from what must have been an incredibly emotional moment, gathered to discuss what to do next.

“Now that the barrier is down, all the monsters can go free,” Asgore said. “And . . . it would be my great honor if I could continue to rule monsters with you by my side, dear Tori.” He extended his hand to her, looking on expectantly. Wishing. Hoping. Praying.

Toriel took a moment, many thoughts crossing her mind. She still resented Asgore for what he did after her son’s death. Asgore had lashed out in pain and grief and she didn’t think she could ever forgive him for that. But what she did afterwards–running away, abandoning her people, locking herself away, letting her entire kingdom and her dear husband fall into despair–well, that had been cruel of her, hadn’t it?

She gave Asgore such grief for not taking one human soul and passing the barrier to gather the other six he would need, but seeing what happened to Asriel–how could she expect Asgore to face anything different? How could she expect Asgore, radiating great and terrible god-like power, to just walk up to humans and ask them for six souls? What would she expect humans to do?

It also didn’t escape her notice that if she so chose, she could have left the Ruins at any time. She could have escorted the ones that fell down here to the barrier herself. She could have lead Frisk here and faced Asgore–

But she didn’t.

She made her choices, too. And now, she had another one to make.

Toriel would be lying if she said she didn’t miss her husband’s company dearly. And seeing Asriel look up at her, practically begging her to say yes . . .

She wanted nothing more than to be a family again.

They would have much to talk about, much to amend, but right now she wanted nothing more than to be with her husband and child once again.

“I accept,” she said, taking his hand. She pulled close, a small smile crossing her muzzle as she touched her snout to his. “You’ll always be my King Fluffybuns.”

Asgore laughed a deep booming full-bellied laugh as he gripped Toriel into a hug. “And you I shall love and cherish for the rest of my days.”

Asriel made a sound of mock-disgust. “Ugh! Parents!” he laughed. “And what about Frisk? Can they stay with us, too?”

Asgore and Toriel looked at the human, exchanging a quick look between them. 

“Well, I suppose that is up to you,Frisk,” Asgore said carefully. “Do you have somewhere you need to be?”

“And if not,” Toriel spoke up. “I know we’d love to welcome you as another member of our family.”

Frisk didn’t even need to think about it. “I want to stay with you,” they said. “If–if you’ll have me.”

The Dreemurrs didn’t have to say anything. They just wrapped up Frisk in a mighty hug.

“Welcome to the family,” Toriel said, nuzzling Frisk.

Frisk let themselves relax and bask in their warmth and love. And finally, finally , they felt . . .

Fulfilled.

“Alright, enough of this mushy sappy CRAP!” Undyne suddenly shouted, causing everyone to jump. Frisk honestly forgot they weren’t the only ones in the room at the moment. 

“I challenge all here to a race outside!” Undyne said, her mouth splitting wide into a great toothy grin. “Last one out of this dumb cave is a rotten crab apple!”

She took off in a dead sprint, but Papyrus was not to be outdone. Quick on the draw as ever, his form crackled with an explosion of orange magic and his form shifted instantaneously into his Blaster form–

His normal Blaster form, the one Frisk had grown so accustomed to seeing. The one that was truly Papyrus.

The great skeletal dragon overtook Undyne before they were even out of the throne room, practically scampering up the walls as he took the turns at a full sprint. Undyne shouted from behind him.

“OH YOU GREAT BIG CHEATER!!!”

Papyrus responded with a series of loud barks of laughter.

Frisk and Asriel watched them take off, laughing at the sight. Frisk could tell how eager everyone was to get out of this cave, but they still had a few more things to do first.

“We should let everyone else know. Tell them the good news,” Frisk said to Asriel, and Asriel nodded eagerly in agreement.

“We’ll wait for you right here,” Toriel said. “And then we can go see the sun together!”

Hand in hand, Frisk and Asriel took off to make their rounds all throughout the Underground. Every monster they met, they spread the good news that the barrier was broken.

And that Prince Asriel had returned.

Frisk had no idea how to explain that to everyone, so they simply . . . didn’t. No one needed to know the truth about Asriel’s existence as a flower, so when the inevitable question arose, they simply shrugged and shook their heads.

Who knows? Does it matter? He’s back, and that’s all that’s important.

It was the least Frisk could do to ensure Asriel got that fresh new start that Gaster wanted for them. 

So on they traveled. All throughout Hotlands, telling all the guards and residents. News of their freedom spread like wildfire and soon the entire Underground had erupted in celebration. By the time the two finally made it to Snowdin, the entire town was alight with festive celebration and jubilant merry-making. Already monsters were packing up and readying to move out into the world above.

The two were showered with praise and admiration. They could barely make it two steps before the residents descended on them, insisting on shaking their hand or giving them a hug or simply wishing them well. After what felt like hours talking to every single monster Frisk had ever met, they finally broke away and stole into Grillby’s bar, desperate for a reprieve.

Asriel and Frisk giggled as they snuck away, hoping the bar would be fairly empty with everyone out and about. It would either be dead or packed to the brim with celebration, but Frisk had another reason for being here.

They had a letter to deliver.

Much to their relief, the bar did happen to be mostly empty, though a monster or two lingered at the booths as they shared a celebratory drink. Working away at the bar was Grillby himself, busily cleaning the many glasses on his shelf and even he seemed to be sorting thighs to be packed up later.

Frisk approached, greeting the fiery bartender with a wave. Grillby looked up and dipped his head in silent greeting to them. Asriel was right behind them, and Frisk could very nearly see Grillby’s “eyes” widen considerably at the sight of the young monster. Asriel gave a sheepish wave, to which Gaster gave a small bow to the prince, placing a hand on his chest.

“Hey, Grillby!” Frisk greeted, crawling on top of a barstool. Asriel saddled up right next to them. “We’re here to share the good news that the barrier is down and we can all go free!”

Grillby gave another nod, the flames that made his body brightening and sparks dancing off his head in a clear sign of his joy. The bartender had always been a monster of few words.

He set down his glass and gestured to the bar, silently asking Frisk if they wanted anything to eat or drink, but Frisk shook their head.

“Ok, thanks, but I’m good, we just needed to sit down and catch our breath,” Frisk said, gesturing to themselves and Asriel. “We’ve been all over the Underground talking to practically everyone. We’re exhausted!”

Grillby’s mouth crackled like a warm fireplace as he laughed. 

“But I actually have something for you,” Frisk said. Grillby tilted his head curiously as Frisk pulled out the letter, handing it to Grillby. Grillby raised a hand to take it, but Frisk snatched it away. Grillby blinked, his eyes quirking with confusion.

“It’s from Gaster,” Frisk said slowly, and at the mere mention of Gaster’s name, Grillby’s flames grew red hot in anger and sparked in a much more violent fashion. Steam hissed from his jagged mouth and those white piercing eyes narrowed into white-hot circles of fury. But Frisk was not intimidated.

“He wanted me to give you this,” they went on. “But I need you to promise me you’ll read it the whole way through. And then you can get rid of it if you want. But you have to promise.”

Frisk once again held it forward, but kept it out of Grillby’s reach as they stared the monster down. Grillby’s flames were still red-hot and Frisk could feel the heat from where they sat, but with a resigned and frustrated sigh, he nodded.

He reached out his hand, but once again Frisk pulled away.

“Do you promise?” Frisk challenged.

Grillby hissed. He closed his eyes, his shoulders squaring, and he dipped his head.

“I . . . promise.”

Satisfied, Frisk handed over the letter.

Grillby ripped it open. Despite his promise, Grillby couldn’t help but smoulder the edges of the paper as he held it between his fingers. To his credit, he did not instantly vaporize it, and his eyes quickly scanned over the writing.

Grillby didn’t talk much. And sometimes it was hard to read emotions on the flame elemental. It was easy to read him at the moment, given his anger, and that anger sustained for a moment as he began to read.  But that fiery anger softened, muting back down to a more subdued level. And then the fire nearly died down completely to the intensity of a flickering candle, Grillby’s eyes widening and a hand raising to his mouth. The flames around his head turned a soft and gentle blue as he read on. His shoulders heaved. His hand shook.

Frisk didn’t know if Grillby could cry, but they imagined this was what it must look like.

Grillby finished reading, drawing one final shuddering breath as he folded up the letter and carefully–oh so carefully and gently–folded it back up and tucked it away inside his vest. He looked up at Frisk, his expression one Frisk could only describe as . . . grateful.

“Thank you,” was all he said.

Frisk and Asriel didn’t stay much longer. Grillby informed the other patrons he’d be closing up soon. He had much to attend to, much to plan and pack up.

And surely much to think about.

With Frisk and Asriel finally making their rounds, they returned to the throne room where Asgore and Toriel were patiently waiting for them. Everyone had already gone up ahead, not that Frisk blamed them, but now together once more, they made their way to the exit.

They were free. It was over.

It was finally, finally over.

They stood at the mouth of the cave, high atop a rocky cliff, looking over a spectacular scene. The sun was rising, casting a golden glow on everything around it. A thick luscious forest surrounded the mountain, and far, far off in the distance there was a city, metallic skyscrapers piercing the sky and glistening and shimmering like jewels in the morning light. 

Frisk could stay up here forever to admire the view. 

They weren’t alone with that sentiment. Papyrus, Sans, Undyne, Alphys, Asgore, Toriel, and Asriel, all standing shoulder-to-shoulder, looked over the world sprawled out before them, taking it all in, enjoying the sun after so many years beneath Mount Ebott. 

“It’s so bright!” Papyrus said. “Say, what is that thing, anyway?”

“That’s what we call the sun , Papyrus,” Sans laughed. 

“Wowie! I can’t believe I’m finally meeting the sun after all this time!”

“And smell that fresh crisp air!” Undyne said, taking a deep breath. “Ah, man, I can’t believe we’re finally here!”

“It truly is beautiful, is it not?” Toriel said. “But we should start to think about what comes next.”

“Of course,” Asgore said. “Everyone, this is the beginning of a bright new future. An era of peace between humans and monsters. Frisk, I have something to ask of you. Will you act as our ambassador to the humans?”

“Of course!” Frisk said without pause. “I can do that! And you all can help me!”

“We’ll be sure to make a great first impression! I’ll be sure to dress my Sunday best when we get to meet all the humans in the city!” Papyrus said.

“I have no doubt you will!” Frisk laughed.

“Well, off I go! I’m going to greet as many humans as possible!” Papyrus said. He spun sharply on his heel and began to race down the mountain at a break-neck pace.

Sans chuckled as he watched his brother go. “Welp, someone’s gotta keep an eye on him. See you around, kiddos.” He then turned down a different path to go down the mountain, which was, funnily enough, a much shorter path than the one Papyrus took.

“Hey! Wait up! Don’t think you can get away from me so easily!” Undyne shouted, chasing after Papyrus. 

Alphys called out excitedly, she too giving chase. “And wait for me, too!”

Now it was just the Dreemurrs and Frisk standing together on the mountain, watching their friends head off to make good on their new start in a new bright shining future. Never before had Frisk felt so happy, so satisfied, so . . . relieved. 

There was still much they regretted. They regretted that it took so long for them to finally get here. They regretted that they weren’t able to save Gaster. But they couldn’t waste their life wallowing in despair. 

The whole world was waiting for them. Their future was theirs for the taking. And together, with all the loving friends and family Frisk could ever want, their future felt unlimited.

Frisk took Asriel’s hand.

“Let’s go make the most of it.”

And they walked off into the sunrise, their soul brimming with DETERMINATION.

[deadnymph8]

AEGON II TARGARYEN X READER

content warnings⚠️ loss of virginity (for you), small age gap (3 years), slightly older women/younger man, p in v sex, aegon being a pervy loser, we love it though, small use of Y/N, chubby aegon, always drunk aegon, small bit of public groping, no protection

Notes: Posted originally to ao3 but I took it down and fixed it up a bit. Still this was like my first fanfiction in 7 years so be nice or I'll cry (also haven't used this app in like 8 years forgive me)

In you're teenage years you were the next door neighbor to one of the richest family's in westeros. You weren't necessarily born rich you only lived next door because you're mom ended up re marrying some rich CEO millionaire and swiftly moved in with him.

You're step dad was pretty close with the owner of the house next door Viserys targaryen and due to that you had become accustom to all his children.

You were older then all of them closest in age being the eldest boy aegon, he was three years younger than you but you were close enough in age to get along and become somewhat friends.

You assumed that was why alicent the mother of the children and Viserys's wife came to you and asked you to babysit her kids for a weekend. You were a trusted friend and while yes they could hire a nanny you were told the last one ended up quiting after only a month. newly turned 13 year old aegon broke into the wine cabinet and got plastered.

You didn't get details on the rest but you knew it must have been a bad night since they were struggling to find a new nanny who could stay longer than a month.

Alicents last resort was to ask someone she thought could connect better with the kids, mainly aegon since he was the biggest problem. She needed a strong role model and someone aegon was familiar with. after seeing how aegon behaved in you're presence she thought you to be the perfect candidate for the job and so you accepted.

"I don't need a babysitter I'm 13 for fucks sake!" Aegon argued to his mother as you stood behind her.

"You aren't responsible enough to be trusted alone and that's the last of it!" His mother yelled back. Looking clearly frustrated and exhausted as if she had done this a million times.

You stood to the side of alicent now already feeling uncomfortable. You'd probably be upset aswell if you were in aegon's shoes but alicent insisted she needed a good influence like you.

Aegon stormed off slamming the door of his room. "I'm sorry dear, he won't bother you I've made sure all alcohol is put away...all you need to do is keep him in the house" alicent spoke giving you the rundown on you're job. You took in everything she said, she told you that you wouldn't be completely alone.

They still had a housekeeper that would come in mornings and clean up and you didn't need to worry that much.

That night actually went pretty smooth. Aegon was grumpy and hid in his room most the night while you played with the younger kids on their xbox. Things actually went so well that alicent asked you to come back again.

It actually felt nice getting some of you're own money aswell and to be independent for once

Babysitting had become a regular occurrence for you for awhile. Alicent always praised you for just how well you did with aegon.

Eventually though you turned 18 and you got into college, not the one you wanted but it was only a few hours away and finally gave you a chance to escape you're house and live on you're own.

And how did aegon feel about this? He should feel happy, You were nothing more than a neighbor his mother hired to hover around him and keep him out of trouble. He resented you for that, he hated how pretty you were, how sweet you were to him.

He should be cheering knowing he would have some freedom but with you gone the only thing he felt was this overwhelming feeling of emptiness and loneliness.

He always found himself searching for you're praise. He'd actually get himself to do homework just so he could hear you talk about how proud you were of him.But now with you gone he didn't have a reason to try anymore and almost immediately he fell back into bad habits. Drinking, partying, drugs and sex. He did it all and no matter how much he did over the next three years he could never get rid of that aching empty feeling deep down.

When aegon turned 18 his mother began demanded he go to college. Demanded he make something of himself. He didn't bother trying with any of the big colleges he just found the closest one and decided that was good enough for him to keep his mom off his back. Even if he didn't get in with his grades he'd get in easy being as rich as he was. His father could just drop a generous donation and he'd get in with no problem at all. So when he arrived of course aegon joined the biggest frat on campus. The partys, the girls and the drugs. It all came so easy to him now.

When his frat decided to put on yet another rager he didn't think much of it. After three months here it was becoming his normal. He walked passed the group of drunk college kids, a drink in his hand as he wondered through the halls of the frat house probably long faded by now. originally his mind was set on getting wasted and maybe he'd bang a cheerleader if he was still able to stand.

He turned to the kitchen wanting to refill his cup when his eyes wondered on the back of a girl grabbing a soda off the counter. Something about her was so familiar but he couldn't see her face to find out why.

Mabey one of his many one night stands? or an old classmate oh his? She wasn't dressed like the other girls around. She was dressed casual, Wearing some jeans and a baggy sweatshirt. She definitely looked out of place compared to the small crop tops and short dresses most girls chose to wear.

He began taking a few steps closer. He didn't know why but he felt drawn in to her and when she finally turned around nothing could have fully prepared him for what he saw. You.

It was you. an uncomfortable and nearly sad look on you're face as you opened up your coke and took a drink, eyes wondering around the room full of dancing college kids until they fell on him. For a moment you both just stared at each other, neither really knowing what to say.

"Egg? What are you doing here?" You finally asked breaking the small awkward silence that fell between you both.

That stupid little nickname. Hearing it after so long made his heart race a bit. He always hated when you used to call him that but now hearing it again after so long he'd grown to miss it. Crave it even. Aegon didn't know why but a part of him almost felt embarrassed. Shame even. Her seeing him absolutely wasted after three years of not speaking.

"I'm uh- I'm in the frat" he responded and snapped himself back into reality. "and why are you here? I mean clearly you don't want to be" aegon swiftly added leaning against the kitchen counter in an attempt to go back to his normal self.

"was it really that obvious" you thought to yourself self. "My friend dragged me here...said I should let lose or whatever" you sighed. "And are you? Letting lose?" Aegon couldn't help but smirk at the idea.

He always had a weird fascination with you. All those times you slept over and he'd sneak into your bag of packed clothes and steal you're little white lace panties.

All those times he'd jerk himself off into them imagining himself buried deep inside of you're soaked cunt. All those times he'd spy on you changing through the crack in the bathroom door.

All those dirty dirty memories rushing back to him all at once.

"Absolutely not" The truth was you never cared for partys, you stuck to you're studys and kept to yourself. If it wasn't for you're best friend Tina you'd never consider coming to a place like this on a sunday night before class. You haven't even dated anyone before. You went on a couple dates but ultimately you decided love had no place for you right now.

You needed to focus on you're studys not a relationship

"So...why haven't you left? If you hate it here why not just go home and watch those hot vampire movies you love so much" Aegon always did love teasing you on you're intrests.

It used to annoy you to no ends. "My friend is my ride and she's...busy" you sighed again remembering how you're friend Tina decide to completely ditch you to go off with some guy Leaving you to try and waste time as you waited for her to get done with her boy toy and take you back to you're dorm were you could sleep off the day and this party.

"Why not walk? The dorms aren't far from here?" He asked making you laugh slightly "Walking alone as a woman at night isn't the safest idea eggs" you had pepper spray yes but you really didn't want to risk any trouble especially with a bunch of drunk frat boys all over.

"Why don't I walk you? I need some fresh air anyway" aegon knew he wanted to talk to you, he knew he couldn't let you walk away so easily and now he finally had his excuse. He had spent the past three years missing you're presence and he wouldn't waste the opportunity to get it back.

You took a second to agree but as you looked around at the room of drunk people dancing and making you you knew what you're awnser would be

"Sounds good to me get me out of here" you smiled at him. Gods how he missed that smile. You followed him out of the frat house feeling a sense of relief to be away from the crowd and the loud music blasting in you're ears.

"Soo how's college been?" Aegon hummed walking side by side with you. He looked so smug he always did but what did you really expect from a rich kid who got everything handed to him.

You almost hated how attractive it was. Before you never thought of him of like that but seeing him now, grown. It was like something just broke inside you. It couldn't be attraction? Right?

"It's been fine I guess just a bunch of the same for me, studying and learning and more studying" you rolled you're eyes already feeling exhausted just thinking about it.

"So no boyfriend I'm assuming?" Aegon's smile grew wider. You couldn't tell if he was teasing you or mocking you but either way you rolled you're eyes and refused to give him a response.

He laughed seeing you go quiet "I knew it" he crossed his arms acrossed his chest making frown in annoyance.

"You don't need to rub it in eggs" you sighed as the two of you approached campus and walked up to the dormitories.

"I'm not rubbing in I'm actually glad you're single makes things easier for me" he hummed almost immediately his words made you tense up.

"Excuse me?" you tried to act calm seeing as you couldn't tell if he was being serious or if it was just another one of his many games.

You remembered aegon was always a bit of a flirt even a creep at times with the few times you had caught his eyes wondering to you're chest or hips.

You told yourself he was just a horny teenager and it didn't mean anything.

"Come on Y/N I know you heard me" he said back as you both walked down the hall of the dorms stopping as you reached you're door.

"What are you trying to do here" You finally asked but in response aegon only smirked at you

"you're a smart girl Y/N don't act clueless with me" Before you could speak aegon stepped closer and backed you into you're door frame making a small gasp slip from you're lips.

You told yourself it was the alcohol or whatever drug he could be on that was making him this bold but the way he looked at you let you knew just how serious he really was.

"Do you even know how much I've missed you these past three years how much I have yearned for you" aegon whispered his hands now wondering to you're waist while his head moved to you're neck planting small kisses on you're skin.

"Aegon-" you whined, hands resting on his chest as if you were about to push him away but you couldn't get yourself to do it.

"Ive probably jerked myself off thinking of you more times than i can count" Aegon's hands began wondering up you're sweatshirt to you're than waist to you're breasts, groping you right in the middle of the hallway.

"We shouldn't do this" You gulped before reaching you're hand to the handle of you're door and twisting it open "Not here" Aegon kept his grip on you while you pulled him into you're dorm hoping it was late enough and no one you knew would have seen what just happened.

Now that you were all alone aegon didn't hesitate to pull you close and slam his lips against yours. It didn't take long for both of you to fall ontop of you're bed while he climbed on top of you, hands wondering up you're hoodie to grope you once again.

You took it upon yourself to pull away from the kiss and yank you're hoodie off you're head.

"You're fucking stunning always have been" he whispered before his hands moved to try unclip the straps of you're bra and pull it off you revealing you're bare breasts to him.

He stared almost in a trance, he wasn't going to lie. he had definitely seen your boobs before during the many times he'd spy on you change but having them up close was something completely different.

His hands moved to play with your nipples making a small moan slip from your lips, he smiled in response pleased with himself.

"I knew you'd be sensitive" before you could say anything he latched onto one of your breasts and began to softly nibble at your soft flesh making you squirm underneath him.

"I uh- I should tell you something" you quickly cut him off making him look up and turn his head up at you.

"I've never done anything like this before" You finally spat it out making his smile only grow more.

Not only was he getting to sleep with the girl of his dreams but he got the pleasure of being her very first. "You're still a virgin?" He questioned and you simply nodding back shyly.

"That's ok don't worry I'll make it good for you" he leaned in and kissed your cheek before discarding his own shirt to the side.

Aegon wasn't the most well built, he didn't have abs in fact he actually had a small bit of a tummy on him. You didn't mind of course, you found every inch of him to be perfect.

You moved your hands to the buttons of your jeans and began pulling them down a delighted look on Aegon's face as he did the same to himself. Before long you were both in your underwear, aegon kissing down your neck leaving small marks as he went along. "People will see those" you whined. 

"That's the plan doll" his hands wondering up you're thighs to the waistband of your panties tugging at them before he slipped a finger inside and began running his finger along you're slit.

"You're so wet" aegon whispered in your ear before slipping a finger inside of you.

You whimpered a bit as he began slowly moving his finger in and out of you and once he felt you were ready he added in a second, thrusting his fingers deep inside you're tight wet cunt.

"Aegon please" you moaned his name Sounding like a angel to him, an angel he could not wait to corrupt.

You arched your back feeling his fingers hit a sensitive spot inside you. "Gonna cum for me baby? You can do it be a good girl and spill yourself on my hand"

You nodded in response the feeling of your peak rising quicker and quicker. You wrapped your arms around his shoulders hiding your head in his chest as you came moaning out against him.

You panted softly coming down from your high as he pulled his fingers back and yanked off your panties finally. Next he pulled down his own boxers revealing his leaking throbbing cock.

"I don't think I've ever been this hard" he gasped as he began slightly stroking himself spreading his precum to lube up his cock. you were a bit worried seeing his size, he definitely was bigger than you expected.

Aegon grabbed your legs opening them up before lining himself up with your slit.

"Be gentle please" you asked making him plant a soft kiss on your lips. "Tell me if it hurts" he replied before he began pushing the tip of his cock inside earning a small gasp from you.

He pushed inside inch by inch until he was fully inside, bottoming out on top you as small moans of his own slipped out. "So good baby- so tight so perfect" he panted a bit feeling you squeeze tight around him.

"So big" you whined as aegon kissed down your neck again, in an attempt to Soothe you're discomfort.

He couldn't remember a time he'd ever been so caring and affectionate with a girl, no that was just you. You did something to him. Something that he just couldn't understand. An overwhelming need to protect you and keep you close

He made sure to wait a minute before beginning to thrust himself, moving his hand to play with your clit in another attempt to help take away your pain. You clung onto him as he picked pace, getting faster and faster.

He knew he said he'd be gentle but you were so damn irresistible he couldn't stop his instincts to just ravage you like a dog in heat. Soon the pain left little by little and it was replaced with pleasure.

The mixed sounds of both of your whimpers and moans filling your dorm room. "So beautiful baby" aegon whispered between his small pants and moans in you're ear "Everything I've always dreamed of- fuck- I need you I need you" his hands grabbed your hips slamming you further down onto him.

"I want you so bad- be mine please baby say you'll be mine" he was a mess he knew he was but so were you. "I'm yours aegon im all yours-" you quickly choked out. The Small tears in you're eyes driving him crazy.

Those words alone were all aegon needed to finally reach his peak, being so caught up in the moment he hadn't even bothered to ask if you were on the pill before spilling every drop of his seed deep inside of you. He continued to hold you a part of him worried if he let go you'd leave again.

"All mine" he kissed your cheek softly still attempting to catch his breath "all yours" you smiled at him, That same smile that he had loved for years now, the same smile he promised he'd never let go of again

[ashesandhackles]

Goblet of Fire Reread (Part 2)

Chapter 17,18,19, 20,21,22,23

"It struck him how very tall all of them were" Harry thinking this about the champions one moment and then being angry at being called "a little boy". Accurate teenage boy behavior.

Snape stepping in to stop Karkaroff and Maxime insulting Dumbledore by insulting Harry instead, "Don't go blaming Dumbledore for Potter's determination to break rules" XD

Fleur really cares about the honour of representing her school.

Hints of Barty Snr under Imperius: both in his behaviour + imagery (skull like appearance in the darkness)

Violet, the witch painting went up to Fat Lady to gossip. We shall hear of this friendship again in HBP.

I really really love Hermione's insight into Ron's feelings here, because the implication here is that she noticed that he doesn't talk about it. "He's always shunted to the side when people see you, and he puts up with it, never mentions it" and how she contextualises it with how he feels around his brothers. She has an understanding and kindness about this that is very sweet.

Fleur flirting with Cedric while some creepy paunchy man watching her. Damn, what it must be like to be sexualised every moment of your life and what harmful ideas have you internalised?

Harry noting that Fleur was part Veela to tell Ron only to remember The Great Tragedy that Ron isn't speaking to him.

weighing of wands chapter to set up the priori Incantentem at end of book, to remind us of Harry's connection with Voldemort's wand.

Hermione trying to force Harry and Ron to talk to each other, poor thing. I can really feel her anxiety building over this and she is so impatient, "you miss him, he misses you". Hermione on Ronarry agenda. She even tries to sneakily make him meet Ron in Three Broomsticks and then Harry cottons on. And then her getting irritated, Harry having to resist the urge to poke Ron is peak trio content.

Harry getting cheered up by the fact that Cho wasn't wearing a support Cedric badge. Also, it's a nice shade to her character - she is nice. She recognises the badges for what it is and doesn't take part in it.

his face breaks into the first smile in days cos of Sirius and Sirius redirecting attention away from himself and focusing on Harry - "never mind me, how are you?" Harry is so vulnerable with him that he talks about Ron with him.

Sirius' respect for Moody is very interesting, he displays more of this in Padfoot Returns chapter where he talks about how Moody captured DEs and not killed them. I believe @leogichidaa and @artemisia-black have had a tumblr discussion on this.

Ron doesn't come up to bed after Harry lashes out at him for interrupting his conversation with Sirius. Poor bean - wondering how things got this bad between him and Harry.

BCJ is so chilling on reread- essentially admits that he is keeping track of real Moody via the Foe Glass. "I'm not really in trouble until I see the whites of their eyes. That's when I open my trunk."

BCJ talking about Maxime and Karkaroff but also himself - 'They want to win. They want to beat Dumbledore. They'd like to prove he's only human'. And he laughs.

Ron catches Harry's eyes, but Harry is too resentful to care. Ron trying, in his own awkward way, to let Harry know that he is on Harry's side again.

Harry not needing to hear Ron apologise to forgive him. Clearly Hermione feels the same as I do, because she burst into tears, hugs them both and goes off to cry alone LOL

I saw this tumblr post about how Fleur dealt with the dragon was the most compassionate one - trying to put it to sleep - that she and Charlie would get along cos of it. Cute hc.

Pigwidgeon falling 12 feet down before flying with the letter is so funny. Also how cute that Harry's letter to Sirius had a "blow by blow" account of how exactly he swerved, circled and dodged the Horntail. Sirius would have found that very endearing.

LOL at Dean drawing Cedric with his head on fire for party banners. (apart from drawings of Harry dodging Horntail)

Harry calling out Hermione for bending of rules is so cute. When she says, "he is supposed to work out the egg on his own" when Lee picks up the egg, and Harry reminds her in undertone that he was supposed to work out the dragon alone too, and she "grins guiltily"

I am very disappointed in Dobby, whose political consciousness that shone and drove the plot of CoS is done to "acceptable" levels of radicalism. He tried to save Harry, explicitly against harry's wishes, because of his idea that Harry is a symbol of hope to the "enslaved dregs of the magical society, who are treated as vermin" and that defeat of Voldemort ensured that his kind are treated better. (he is still endearing, but speaks to the message of the books - he can be radical but cannot question the existing institution too much)

Winky's loyalty to Crouch is treated as pitiable, while Hermione's overzealousness with some gentle ribbing because JKR seems to find it endearing. We will probably get into white saviorism later, because I have THOUGHTS.

Ron and Harry sword fighting with fake wands, which are tin parrot and rubber haddock respectively, is hilarious. (Ron's parrot got the haddock's head)

Cedric telling Hufflepuffs to leave Harry alone. Looks like he was so grateful for Harry's tip, he steps in on the bullying.

Cho's words about who she is going to the ball with echoing with each step Harry took. Peak teenage experience. End of the world your crush has been asked out by someone else.

so funny that Ron keeps trying to ask Hermione who she is going to the ball with at unexpected times to surprise her into answering

love that Hermione was simultaneously appalled by fake-Moody making Malfoy a ferret while also not above referencing that incident to get Malfoy off her back. ("twitchy little ferret, aren't you Malfoy")

Ron notices Hermione's teeth is no longer the same. And Hermione is all sly and mischievous about the fact that she let Madam Pomphrey carry on a bit.

ok this is such a cute description: Hermione sitting to watch Ron and Harry's chess match which had recklessly brave pawns and a violent bishop

Dobby gets socks as presents from both Ron and Harry (reminder Ron also puts socks over his dead body) and Ron's Christmas jumper.

Dumbledore referencing Room of requirement. (he makes a joke that makes Harry snort and Percy frown- I guess he thinks the joke isn't appropriate for international magical cooperation?)

Parvati goes off with a Beauxbaton boy because Harry wasn't paying attention to her. She also lead him while dancing -so much so he felt like a show dog. Love how alpha she is xD

Percy glances at Harry about "hitch with Goblet of Fire" : indication of his coming arc where he doesn't believe Harry. (Also, while Percy is socialising with Bagman, he chooses to sit with Harry and Ron, which is indicative of how awkward he feels i think)

Snape and Karkaroff's conversation will get referenced in Prince's Tale, where Dumbledore grants him -"i think we sort too soon".

the image of Maxime storming away with fairies parting bushes is a very striking.

Chapter 24, 25, 26,27,28

Hermione drops key family history for Harry without either of them realising it: she used Fleamont Potter's Sleakazy's. Also at the implication that Harry asked about her hair LMAO.

Ron and Hermione reaching an unspoken agreement about sidestepping the big fight which involved FEELINGS.

the unicorn preferring a girl's touch is tied around the myth of pure creatures comfortable with "pure souls". I am really not sure how to read the gender politics of this book using this aspect of mythology.

lol, at Parvati being very "cool" towards Harry since the ball. Her retort actually makes him reflect - "perhaps I should have paid her more attention" and then, "ah well, she had a good time anyway". Honestly, stan Parvati.

Harry's so suspicious of Bagman offering him help, and rightly so. I love him putting Bagman on backfoot with his questions.

really curious about goblins and their hierarchy in the wizarding world. they are the marginalised who "fight back".

Rosmerta looking at James Potter, "who used to make her laugh"'s son yelling at a reporter in the middle of her pub XD

Love that Gryffindors get food related passwords like "banana fritters" and poor Ravenclaws have to solve a riddle every time they need to get in.

Where is the fanart of Snape with long grey nightshirt? Where?

Snape shutting Filch up when (in his mind) Moody came in, BCJ using Moody's distrust to check his office. Excellent stuff. My favourite part of the scene is Snape angrily declares Dumbledore's trust in him, and BCJ reminds him of "spots that don't come off". And Snape clutches his Dark Mark (and immediately hates himself for doing it xD)

Okay, Snape conceding power to Moody in this scene is so interesting. When Snape tries to look for Harry, BCJ makes him back off by saying "meaning Dumbledore is very interested to know who's got it in for the boy!" and Snape answers in a forced calm.

the tension between Snape and fake Moody can be cut through with a knife. Love how menacing the scene makes Moody, with Rowling using visual pictures of Moody's scars in the darkness

Lmao, Neville sending Professor Flitwick flying across room in class. And the description of "Professor Flitwick went whizzing resignedly past them" when the trio are talking. The implication that Flitwick just let Neville do his thing… XD

Hermione answering Harry's grim dark joke seriously. Nerd XD so much so the next time she takes Harry's joke seriously, he had to tell her that he is joking lol.

Harry goes off food when he is stressed or upset: a hangover from Dursley days when punishment is "no food".

"Your Wheezy, sir, your wheezy - the thing Harry Potter sir will miss the most!" LOL. The way this book is designed for Ronarry feels.

Merpeople have pet Grindylows. (also the chief is a woman)

Harry actually tries to yank the spear away from merman when they refused to help him, and hits Krum when Krum failed to realise that his shark teeth would hurt Hermione. My little feral boy.

Percy, "who looked very white", splashing out to meet Ron <3

Poor Krum - he is trying to engage Hermione and she is too busy either asking Harry about his task or cheering him for his marks to listen.

I love how much Harry gets so cheered by Sirius' letters. And even as he is tense that Sirius would get caught, he enters Potions classroom happy XD

'Scarlet woman'. It speaks to the generation Molly comes from that she has these ideas, and that Ron has noticed and picked it up.

Hermione, being also aware that Ron's regard for her is less than platonic, "determinedly avoiding Ron's eyes" when she mentions Viktor did invite her. (Also funny that Hermione is trying to puzzle out how Rita heard her, and Ron is like, "nvm, what did you say about Viktor's invitation?" lol)

@urupotterwrote a nice meta about how Snape was deliberately provoking Harry (after harry moves tables) to read his mind. Right when Harry angrily looks up, Snape's eyes bore into him to check if he had broken into his office.

Sirius made them climb a mountain for half an hour lol. He believes in outdoorsy kids.

Sirius having a fuller face, and looking like he is taking care of himself when Harry met him at the fire - but now he is back in his prison robes, his hair is longer and he is thin again. When Sirius broke into the fire, he was clearly at a place where he could hide better and take care of himself. He is living off rats.

And he notices the anxiety on Harry;s face and explains why he is here (he is very good at reading harry's face and just answering his thoughts. He does it again later in the scene). He is worried about how fishy things look, and it is clear one of the reasons of his lack of care for himself is hyperfixating on Harry's safety and circumstances surrounding the tournament. (he also moves a lot when he is thinking - it's part of why he makes for such a strong scene presence. There is either note of how he takes space, or his eyes)

Sirius backs Hermione here about Barty Crouch Snr's treatment of Winky ("if you want to know what a man's like.."). This is important for Hermione's complicated feelings about him in the next book. He was the only adult on her side - even Hagrid, who she counted on, didn't agree with her.

Sirius projecting all his family issues over Barty Crouch Jnr.

Sirius' description of Azkaban is just extremely solitary and drenched in death, and suffering. He can see and hear things that are near his cell or out of the window (he could see Dementors burying who he thought was BCJ outside the fortress). Speaks to the immense violation Barty Crouch Snr has committed by sending him there without a trial. (There is also the fact that Azkaban is horrible, and no one deserves it)

Snuffles, enuff said. He also allows them each to pat them on his head before they leave. how cute.

"If he thought we are standing in way of his career"..ah, seeds of Percy arc of OOTP. Hermione believes in him while Ron doesnt lol.

I haven't mentioned in my notes because it would get too long - but Sirius' exposition about the First War, I think, is important for the atmosphere that leads to friends turning on each other.

also, I really love the note of Sirius, as always, admiring the morals of Mad Eye Moody for trying to bring Death Eaters alive, versus his condemnation of Barty Crouch Snr's methods. This shade of him - combined with the fact that he would have absolutely killed Peter after Jily death if he had the chance, or even the previous book. @artemisia-black wrote about her interpretation of it in this meta.

House elves should be "seen, not heard" philosophy, where they have internalised that anything showing discontent from where they are is undesirable.

Hermione pulling a Blinky episode here XD if the worldbuilding wasn't so shitty, I would actually enjoy a critique of Hermione's impatience here because it is very in line with steam of young activists finding roadblocks within the very people they want to help.

Chekhov's gun: the eagle owl Harry observes flying over Hagrid's hut - the same owl we see in Harry's dream with Voldemort later.

Maxime is apparently trying to make up to Hagrid - she watches Hagrid's class and even tries to engage him in a conversation prior to this. Maybe she feels sorry about how the story about Hagrid's mother come out in the Prophet and wants to bond? What did Maxime face because of her parentage?

Ron being upset that the gold he paid Harry back with vanished, and how he hates being poor and how both Harry and Hermione don't know what to say: Hermione tries to cheer him up by saying she will get him a Niffler for Christmas, how cute.

harry regularly sending Sirius food and little notes with them. I CANT. they have my heart, they are everything.

love that Fleur and Cedric are apparently friendly enough that she keeps going on about underground tunnels to him, and how Fleur beams at Harry when he comes.

Harry and Cedric being jocks, and how they are less than happy with the state of the Quidditch pitch lol.

Dumbledore uses the Patronus to summon Hagrid. A known method of communication between the Order. ("a ghostly bird")

love the dynamic of Fred and George arguing: George seems to be the more cautious one of the two, saying putting something like that in writing is blackmail, while Fred is like, "You're not going to complain once we get the pay off, would you?" But the moment Ron asks what's up with them, George backs Fred and sends the letter himself.

I also really loved the moment of the trio confronting the twins. It was hilarious. it shows all their priorities - both Fred and Ron with confrontational and surprised, "what are you doing here?" and Harry and George on defensive, "sending letter?" and both Fred and Hermione with a suspicious, "What, at this time?"

Hermione still uncomfortable with the idea of breaking laws: "This isnt some silly school rule, it's the law". Given where they all end up in DH (honestly even OOTP), this is interesting. She even advises Ron to reach out to Percy to stop whatever the twins are doing, and Ron's like, "Are you mad? He would probably do a Crouch and turn them in!" XD

Harry being annoyed at Sirius being an Overbearing Dad XD "Who is he, to lecture me after all the stuff he did at school?"

Chekhov's gun: insect buzzing somewhere behind the curtain. Rita Skeeter.

Also seeing Crouch Snr struggle against the Imperius put on him by Voldemort tells us how incredible it is that Harry throws it off in the graveyard

Harry connecting the magic of Pensieve with the diary through means of his experience. Could be a cool worldbuilding detail if we want to think about how Tom preserved his "memory" in the diary, along with it being a container for his soul.

important to understand how Voldemort operates: he alone knows who works for him, and others get exposed to each other via shared jobs or connections. This adds to what Sirius says in Padfoot returns chapter.

Mulciber specialised in the Imperius, as per Karkaroff's testimony. Could he have done something in similar vein to Mary MacDonald? It could also be talked of as a "laugh" since students do find Moody's control of the spider in Unforgivables class darkly funny.

"He is no more a Death Eater than I am": Dumbledore's vouching of Snape is strong. I would love a fic that explores Snape and Dumbledore's equation in First War, and how Dumbledore sees bits of himself in a young man who also thinks he is brilliant, and wants power, but ends up hurting the person he loves in his blindness.

The trial essentially feels like a gladiator ring, with the accused chained to the chair. (Of course, Bagman doesnt get chained to the chair due to the relative popularity with the jury)

Ah, BCJ. His reaction here depends on how you read his involvement with Longbottoms - whether he actually did it, or whether he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Of course, the book, with Cruciatus scene with spider, heavily suggest that he was indeed guilty. So, it is interesting to see his terror here - he is genuinely terrified of going to Azkaban, but he is also using his genuine terror to appeal to his parents, to get out and be free. (He does similar things throughout the book - use his real dislike of Malfoys, Snape but misdirect you about his motivations). It's a nice manipulative streak.

"You're no son of mine!" "Take them away, and may they rot there." I need a Crouch family deep dive, because it is essentially a version of Walburga burning her son's name off after he ran away. which is: "I want to pretend you don't even exist."

a very astute reader pointed out on reddit how Moody is not present for the Longbottoms trial (and his eyes were intact on both trials before). So the hc is that Bellatrix took out Moody's eye and he was recovering in the hospital at the time.

[bnhaobservation]

Todoroki family post chap 424

Although they don't get really mentioned we actually get two hints about their future in chap 424.

One is a quick glimpse of Shouto as Midoriya monologues.

The monologue seems to imply Shouto too will get to a bright future (people might remember me writing about how, if BNHA were to go for a realistic route, the Todoroki family wouldn't be granted a bright future after the war, quite the contrary, as Natsuo said they would be in hell from now on) which is a relief.

However the chapter shows us something else as well, something more subtle. Did you notice the bag the little girl has?

It's an Endeavor gadget.

Canonically Endeavor wasn't loved by the younger generations, his support relying more on people above 20...

...proof also is his toys remained unsold, which allowed Hawks' mother to buy him one as they were cheap.

After the Dabi reveal things got even worse.

Note that people don't blame Enji for what he did to his family, that, In Japan, would be considered his private family business. The problem is he's Dabi's father (people also blame Shouto of all the people for the grave crime of being Dabi's brother... -_-) and failed to stop Shigaraki.

It's so bad that when Midoriya goes back to U.A. Enji, Hawks and Shouto remain behind and can be with Midoriya/speak in his defence because they would only make people more uneasy...

...and will get in only after Uraraka's speech and people deciding to allow Midoriya in.

Now though, a little kid is confortable going around with Endeavor merchandize.

This means that Enji and Shouto taking part to the fight till the end, managing to stop Dabi and, despite their poor conditions, fighting also All for One, managed to turn the people's opinion over and at least for many, they're no more an ostracized family who's hold accountable for what went wrong in the past war.

If this means Touya is dead, which would clearly make easier to 'forgive them', or just jailed or something else, well, I don't know. Probably though Horikoshi's plan is that the Todoroki aren't having it so bad as they would have hadn't Shouto and Enji be in the war till the last moment. So yes, as I said in the past I would have preferred if Enji didn't take part to the last moments of the war but remained with Touya, but, as I also said, he was sent there to atone to society so now he and his family can get a better future.

Sure, Horikoshi might have let some people make troubles for the Todorokis, things might not have been completely solved for them, but they're probably much better than they would have been hadn't Enji and Shouto fought so hard and until the last minute.

Still, we'll likely know the truth in the next chapter.