#book 3 spoilers

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

speaking of that ask about ace and malleus in book 7, it made me remember that azul’s UM can steal other’s magic/ability/trait

i don’t think he needs malleus to sign a contract when its confirmed that he doesn’t really need consent to get someone’s magic or ability, and the contracts only serve to keep his magic in check anyway but it does has its consequences (overblotting)

and azul doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to take that risk but it could be a last resort

[Referencing this post!]

Yes, it’s true that Azul could theoretically steal Malleus’s UM without his consent. There is, however, the risk of Azul OBing since the contracts/getting consent on paper acts as a way to “cap” his magic and limit blot accumulation. I’d imagine that Malleus would actively resist having his UM torn away, which would make it more difficult on Azul’s part. These factors might explain why Azul doesn’t attempt to do when the final battle rolls around.

As I said in my original post, Ace’s (theoretical) UM copying magic might operate under different conditions, thus allow him and not Azul to be the “trump card”. (For example, the emotional resonance I proposed ^^)

fbjsbsjsgauNwk It might be funny if Azul just doesn’t want to take the risk, turns to his underclassman, smiles, and goes, “Ace-san :)) I think you can handle this :))” in that way that frames a suggestion like a strongly worded order.

Then Ace can goc “HAAAAH?! Why ME?! Just cuz you’re too scared to stick out your own neck doesn’t mean you can get your cute innocent kouhai to do it for you!!” (Please include squabbling and in-fighting for the final battle, this is PEAK content 😤)

[onegianthotmess]

BITCH, YOU KIDNAPPED ME FROM MY HOME AND THEN MADE ME YOUR LITTLE ERRAND BOY IN EXCHANGE FOR BARELY THE BARE MINIMUM OF LIVING ON TOP OF BEING BULLIED AT EVERY TURN BY A BUNCH OF ASSHOLES FULL OF BIGOTRY ALL BECAUSE I CAN’T USE MAGIC!!!

[drag0nalias0]

Sometimes a household is just a scrap collector god, a ghost king, a living bandage, a scimitar made from a gourged out eyeball, the gods evil ghost cousin tied outside the front door like a dog and said ghost cousins adopted human child he stole.

[khoipyan]

ResidentEEL Business

After Yuu gives up your dorm as collateral, Floyd invites you to stay in his room instead. Given the housing circumstances, how could you possibly refuse?

gn!reader (you/your), reader is NOT yuu (+ yuu is a seperate character, is referred to using they/them), reader lives in ramshackle, book 3 spoilers ig??? still gonna put a warning just incase... 1.3k+ words

characters; floyd leech

notes; haii hello i decided to write another fic, hehe ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ i have floyd favouritism....

“You’re WHAT?”

Jade smiled, “If you want it in a more simplistic way for you to understand,”

“We’re taking your house for three days — and maybe even more — if you guys don’t complete that contract in time, Lil’ Fishy!” Floyd grinned.

This was quite the dilemma. Yuu smiled awkwardly at you, while Grim frantically rushed to fetch his things (would tuna really count if that’s all he might be saving?).

All if this had came to be a surprise. To think that you were just taking a nap, when suddenly you opened the door to two big eels, one cat and a Yuu. Since when did they get to make all the big decisions, exactly?

“Better get packin’, Shrimpy. You too, Fishy!” Floyd said, “Otherwise, we get to keep whatever you have lying around once the contract is over.”

As if there was anything of interest for him to keep. Still, rather than deciding to argue, you decided it was best to gather your things. However, this wasn’t even the main problem at hand—

For the next 3 days (and hopefully not any longer), where would you even stay?

“Look, I’m really sorry,” Yuu sighed, helping you pack up a box. It was basically all you really needed, seeing it was just your clothing, school supplies, and a few personal trinkets. I mean, it’s not like you could pack up your entire bed into a cardboard box.

You shrugged, “It’s fine, but couldn't you have at least called me first?”

“Next time, I promise.” they nodded.

As Yuu finished sealing up the cardboard box with some frail tape, they surrendered it over to you. Not surprisingly, it wasn’t so heavy. They took one last look at you before they left your room, leaving you alone with your thoughts and the semi-vacant room, just for a bit.

You flicked off your room lights and took one good look at your room. It looked only a little less bare than before, but it still looked like your room, nonetheless. You’d miss sleeping on the slightly terrible mattress of your bed, or the floorboards that creaked in the middle of the night whenever you got up to get a glass of water.

If you could, you would reminisce all night about the tales of your dorm room, but that wasn’t possible. In fact—

You felt two pairs of hands slam down on your shoulders, and a breath on your ear as a loud voice shouted:

“Boo!”

On instinct, you dropped the box and screamed, stumbling away as your body tensed up. It took a few deep breaths and even fewer moments to realize that there was no threat: it was only Floyd.

Floyd laughed, “Gotcha! C’mon, we don’t have all night, Lil’ Fish. You gotta get out sooner or later. Shrimpy and Baby Seal already left ya, y’know.”

Groaning, you picked up your box of items and clutched it tightly to your body, slamming the door to your room behind you. You internally grimaced as you heard the door reopen gently, footsteps trailing behind as Floyd followed you.

“That wasn’t very nice, Fishy. What’s wrong?” Floyd walked beside you, escorting you out of your own home with a casual grin on his face.

‘Everything’s wrong,’ you wanted to say, but you didn’t. Where would you even go? That question struck your mind again as the two of you dragged on your mini—stroll around Ramshackle Dorm. “It’s nothing.”

“You don’t have anywhere to stay, do ya?” Floyd caught you by surprise.

You shook your head, “How did you know?”

“I mean,” he continued, “It’s written all over your face. Besides, Shrimpy has the same problem too!”

You didn’t reply to him afterward, nor did you plan on going to; it was too tiring to carry on a conversation at the moment. The hallways only seemed to get longer as both of you walked beside each other, floorboards creaking with each stride you took. Only, Floyd’s steps made heavier creaks than yours did.

Floyd decided he had enough of this silence, interrupting the awkwardness between you two: “Say, you can stay with me if you want, Lil’ Fishy.”

“You know I don’t have that kind of money, Floyd.”

“No, no! Fishy’s got it all wrong,” he smiled, “I want you to stay in my room, and you play with me for a bit in exchange.”

That sounds a bit… fishy, if you will. What choice did you really have, though? It was either search for a nice empty room (which they might not even have) in another dorm for 3 days, or stay with a menacingly tall eel—mer.

Sometimes it would help if your options were more open, huh?

“Do I really have a choice?” You asked, looking at Floyd. Did he always have this nice pair of mismatched—coloured eyes?

He shrugged, “I dunno, do ya? It’s not like I’m forcin’ you, right? So I’d say yeah!”

As you both reached the entrance (or, exit) to Ramshackle Dorm, you couldn’t help but to make up your mind so suddenly:

“Fine. Hopefully only for 3 nights, though.”

Floyd beamed as he held the front door open for you, “We’re gonna have so much fun together.”

As soon as both of you had arrived in Floyd’s bedroom, he seemed to be much more… burnt out? The moodiness from him was so sudden as he flopped on his bed, face digging into his pillow. He must be tired.

It seemed both the twins shared a single room, which was slightly awkward given your circumstances. By the looks of it, Jade wasn’t currently there, and thank goodness for that.

“What’re you waitin’ for? Turn the lights off and go to sleep, keep the lamp on if ya want.” Floyd grumbled, lifting his face from his pillow to look at you so sullenly. What happened to having ‘so much fun’?

You put your box of things down in a corner of Floyd’s side of the room neatly, and look around the floor for a nice place to… get comfy. Maybe you should have packed your pillows and blanket.

However, Floyd seemed to take notice and shot you a look of confusion, “You gonna sleep on the floor, Fishy? Just come sleep on the bed with me, I don’t mind.”

“No way,” you shook your head.

“Why not?”

“Well, isn’t it awkward to share a bed?”

Floyd grinned, “I already said I don’t mind. What, scared I’m gonna bite ya in my sleep?” He narrowed his eyes, “or are you gonna sleep with Jade or somethin’?”

You frowned, “I’m not sleeping on anybody’s bed!”

Rolling his eyes at you, he shuffled around the bed. “Fine, but I gotta show you something…”

Curiously, you flicked off the room lights and walked a bit closer to him, “What is it?”

“Closer,” he smiled.

Everytime, each step you took closer to his bed, he kept telling you to come even closer. You were practically standing over him by now (which is kind of funny, considering how tall he is), crossing your arms. What could he possibly want?

“Bend down,” Floyd smiled.

As you did, it was almost as if your life flashed before your eyes. Floyd had taken the opportunity to grab you and pull you into his bed. Even while you struggled, you were definitely no match for how much he squeezed you.

“You’re kinda silly, Lil’ Fishy! I didn’t think you’d fall for that so easily,” he laughed.

You huffed, “You’re kind of squishing me.”

Floyd only shrugged as he hugged you even tighter. His grasp wasn’t bone-crushing or suffocating; it was quite warm. Somewhat gentle, surprisingly.

It was quiet, silent, but peaceful. All your thoughts wandered as you were being used like a human body pillow; to Yuu, to Grim, to the contract— it was all so odd.

Before you spent the whole night reflecting even more, you decided to get comfortable and get some rest instead.

Closing your eyes, you took one deep breath in, and one deep breath out.

“Good night, Floyd.”

“Night, Lil’ Fishy.”

( due to be edited at anytime )

[thewayhavenchronicle]

I love Nate but the amount of secrecy and like the avoidance of telling the detective things makes it hard to really feel like the partnership is equal.

In particular there’s a really poignant moment if you have had Verda figure things out where Nate seems really uncomfortable with the idea of seeing Verda, but the second you are like “that’s okay if you don’t want to go I don’t want you to be uncomfortable” it’s like a switch is flipped and he’s like “no I want you to be happy I’m happy to go with you I’m excited actually”

It makes me sad. I dunno how we’re supposed to have a relationship when N keeps so much of themself hidden and smothered below that people pleaser facade of theirs

[iscream-dot-com]

i made a watercolor version of the grace sketch too, but i fucked it up.

[hikaru4520]

MC: I have an awful feeling about this.

Leona: The fuck you mean,Herbivore?

MC: Don’t you ever get that voice in your head telling you something is going to go VERY wrong?

Leona:...

MC:...

MC: This.... this explains so much.

[se-hos]

‘COME HOME’?!

I’M SCREAMING!!!!!!!!

[gm-warlic]

I have just finished playing this quest:

And I am going absolutely feral.

I am not okay.

[incorrect-thuggory-quotes]

Thuggory: Wait... Hiccup and the Hooligans made friends with the unruly Bog-Burglars AND fought and won against the Romans? Why do THEY get all the fun?! Shouldn't I just join the Hooligans, at this point? Nothing FUN happens on this island (Meathead Island)!! 😢

[ladiemars]

just finished frankie and adam’s book three. i am euphoric. i am devastated. i will be taking the next few days to recover. thank you

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

My view on the dreams is that they are a twisted image of a desire that the boys have. They are simplistic in nature though, and that is reflected in what desire they portray. Deuce cares more about making his mom proud than going the easy way, but as shown in book 3 he does sometimes take the easy way out. He misses when this were simple and he could solve problems by just throwing punches. If I had to guess, in Deuces dream his mom supported him being a delinquent so he could solve problems with his fists and make his mom proud. For Cater, I think it has more to do with wanting to been seen. When Cater arrives at the courtroom everyone cheers for him. With how he is with magicam, I think he wants to been seen but is scared to show his true self. I think that Malleus' magic took his desire to be seen as a desire for attention--Which Cater typically portrays it as too--and put him in a position where he would be admired and praised. I also think it is interesting how Trey and Riddle are kinder(?) to him then canon. We see Trey complain in canon about Cater not opening up to him, so maybe this shows that Cater wants to open up to Trey but he doesn't know how. It is midnight for me and I can feel my sleep meds getting annoyed that I am fighting them to write this, so if you want me to elaborate on anything lmk and I will do so when I am not mostly asleep.

I understand what you’re trying to say about the nature of the dreams; that’s my basic understanding too 💦 The bare bones of how they work is… fine, in isolation. I just wish the main story didn’t try to be super ambitious with the concept because the more they try to explain it, the less sense it makes and the less it sounds like the writers themselves seem to understand what they’re saying 😔

I think there’s a difference between acquiring someone else’s study guide to guarantee a passing grade versus dropping all efforts to excel academically in favor of trading fists instead, but I think I still understand the general idea. This ends up rounding back to the question of how much do the dreams pull from conscious desires versus unconscious ones, because there’s a clash between the desire for simpler ways to resolve issues and Deuce actively wanting to turn over a new leaf.

I think this could lead into other issues as well. For example, if Deuce’s mom (Dylla) theoretically supports him being a delinquent, would that not trigger an emotional response in him and cause Deuce to wake??? I’d imagine that this would conflict with his reality in which he overheard his mom’s emotionally distressing phone call, which was his motivation to abandon his days as a delinquent. Lilia woke when the dream!senators praised him for hatching Malleus rather than berate him for it; his brain registered the discrepancy and reacted accordingly. In Cater’s dream, the dream!Riddle trying to collar everyone ended up waking him—so isn’t this proof that the darkness trying to keep them asleep can fuck up and accidentally be the trigger that causes them to wake up too?? Would this not become a concern for Deuce as well if his dream begins to struggle to maintain the logic of his delinquent school?

Cater’s dream provides a similarly confusing scenario. If his desire is just to be seen, there were several much easier situations he could have gotten. Why would his dream actively hand him a position, power, and responsibilities he doesn’t want instead of… I don’t know, simply making him a popular, admired, and well-liked upperclassman??? You don’t need him to be a dorm leader in order to accomplish this. You could literally only change it so that Trey is HIS childhood friend instead or Riddle’s. Wouldn’t that be the easier solution????

It continues to feel like the writers are picking fanservice scenarios rather than what actually makes the most sense in-universe. Again, it’s a big inconsistency with the writing of the dreams and as a result it has been a major point of my criticism for the writing of book 7 as a whole.

I do think it was interesting that both dream!Trey and Riddle were more lenient with Cater than they are irl, though Trey is generally lenient with everyone. Maybe more indulgent is the right word?? This behavior change is much more noticeable with Riddle, whose attitude most likely had to be adjusted to avoid any “party poopers” in Cater’s dream. Can’t say I really see why dream!Trey and Riddle being this way with Cater would imply him wanting to open up to Trey…? They didn’t really seem to demonstrate any more intimacy or familiarity with one another than they do irl. Dream!Trey isn’t all that different, and any changes we do observe are not exclusive to him and are, in fact, more notable in dream!Riddle than in Trey.

And that speaks to another recurring issue I have with book 7’s dreams… They don’t make a ton of sense on their own and have to rely on fan interpretations, most of which will be imperfect or flawed somehow because the game failed to explain the parameters beforehand. If the game wanted us to come to a certain conclusion, they should have granted us the clues and the tools to do so. The way it is now, it’s like a mystery that’s full of red herrings (but hey, at least they’re “fun” red herrings) and everyone is looking at different clues and coming to radically different answers because of that. As I suggested in this post, maybe this was intentional because dreams irl are vague. If could have been done this way to promote character analysis and theory crafting in the fandom… but since no one has found a “perfect” explanation and no general consensus has been reached—on top of the many, MANY plot holes—I doubt it 😅 It feels like you’re trying to repair a dam by slapping a band-aid on a leak, only for two more leaks for spring up with every corrective attempt.

Those are my thoughts!! (And remember to stock up on sleep!)

[onegianthotmess]

FUCK YOU!

YOUR SINGING IS LIKE A DYING CAT!

ALL YOU HAVE GOING FOR YOU IS YOUR MOM’S RESTAURANT!

AND YOU LOOK LIKE AN OLD MAN WITH AN EATING DISORDER WITH THAT HAIR AND OBSESSION WITH ZERO CARBS!

[kirnet]

More often than not, Adam was not sure how Dorotea ended up at his side.

It was just natural, the way he would gravitate towards her. Of course it was, his duty was her protection. He would find her in the kitchen, or the lab, and before he knew it they would be outside, Dorotea pointing out the local flora as he padded behind, unsure when they had even left the building.

This was one such night. So many cicadas hummed that the very air felt like it was vibrating. Usually, Dorotea had informed him, summers in Wayhaven were muggy and oppressive, but tonight was different. Crisp. A full moon illuminated their path as they picked their way through the woods, Dorotea careful not to snag her loose-hanging flannel on any branches.

Her topic of the hour was moths, it seemed, though Adam had to admit he was not paying any attention to the content of her words. Had she asked him out for a walk, or had he simply followed? 

Frankly, he was just glad that she had even made it outside. Even without heightened senses, it was impossible to miss the growing bags under her lidded eyes, the way her bony shoulders hunched as she walked. What he could hear was her breathing in the twilight hours, shuddering and awake, night after night. 

“That boring, huh?” He blinked and suddenly they were in a clearing, Dorotea’s brows raised as she glanced back at him. “You know, you can tell me when-”

“You are not sleeping.”

“No.” The reply came a few seconds late, the swaying underbrush filling the silence. And then she chuckled, a bitter sound that had no right to be coming from her. “How can I, Adam? Every second is another-” She pinched the bridge of her nose and exhaled hard. “I can’t stand feeling useless. And don’t tell me I’m not,” she added as he opened his mouth.

Her eyes almost seemed to drink in the moonlight, shimmering with emotion. How many had been taken now, he knew she was thinking, all because these bastards want me?

His hands were on her arms now, acting on their own accord, her flannel slipping off her shoulders. He frowned, his face taut. “Useless?”

Dorotea sighed. “Adam-”

“I envy you.”

He could feel her heart jump in surprise. “Excuse me?”

“I can feel your fear, you know. Every time we face danger.” Her adrenaline perfuming the air, her breath caught in her throat. “You have no abilities, only yourself and your determination. And yet you continue.”

His fingers trailed down her arms. Even through the fabric, he could feel the heat of her skin.

“You never falter, no matter the challenge. You never give into the fear. ‘Useless’ has no place in your mouth. Do you know how strong you are? How much I admire it?”

How much he wished he could be certain he was the same?

Dorotea swallowed hard. Adam could not pull his eyes away from her parted lips. Her flush was contagious, sending a feverish chill down his spine. God, the forest was full of her, made of her. He could almost taste her as his fingers circled her wrists. With the softness of a moth’s wing he pulled one hand up to his mouth.

“Do you know how much I crave you?”

Her pulse danced under his feather light kiss. Dorotea gasped, her other hand slipping from his grasp, but she made no effort to move away from his lips.

Oh, he could feel everything. The shockwaves down her arms, putting her hair on edge. The thumping of her heart drowned out the cicadas, so much so that Adam could not remember where he was standing. All that existed was him, her, and the blood in her veins.

“How much I wonder what you taste like?”

His fangs grew, poking against his bottom lip. So close to her skin. So close to euphoria.

None of his vampiric charms would ever work on her. No, he had no say over the blush that dusted her cheeks or the heat that wound through her very being. Her excitement filled his mouth.

She wanted him. Only him.

“Adam.”

He glanced up through his eyelashes. Dorotea’s hand had settled on her collar bone left exposed by her low undershirt. It trailed higher, delicately, her fingers whispering over the scar on her neck. The full moon shone in her blown pupils.

Adam traced his fang with his tongue.

Her hand stilled, fully touching her scar now: two jagged lines down the length of her neck.

“I…” Adam jolted back, dropping her wrist as if it had burned him. Dorotea’s expression pinched, hurt flashing across her features. Disgust coiled in his stomach, physically pushing him back. “I am not him.”

“What are you- Adam?” But he was already storming away, the insect drone piercing his ears. Too close. A moment of weakness. Failure. 

Bile filled his mouth. Temptation could never win again. Dorotea’s protection was his sole concern, even if it was from himself.

And he would never scar her like that monster had.

[chaoticneutralnoodles]

Out of all the posts from M-mancers I haven’t seen anyone talking about the fact that M’s pheromones do seem to work to some extent on the detective and they aren’t telling anyone about it. I am so intrigued to see where M’s story goes after book 3.

[thewayhavenchronicle]

replaying Book 3 and this sums up Nate's view on relationships so perfectly.

Nate views love as doing whatever the other person needs, even if it goes directly against your own wants and comforts. Even if it means hurting yourself, cutting pieces of yourself away to keep the other person warm and safe and healthy.

It's... as an asexual person who lived through the "if you don't have sex with your allo partner, you're abusive" discourse on tumblr.hell, I am emotional ;n;