#but hes not some monster hes just a dude who had a very bad week and acted badly

[long-live-astronerd-ghost-king]

DPXDC: I wanna be like most girls ghosts.

or Danny: What should I do to make my mom happy?

or ~Danny deserves a little teenage rebellion as a treat~

Maddie: I just want this damned Phantom to stop pretending to be a hero! All ghosts are pure evil, who is he trying to deceive? Danny: Oh, really? And Danny took it personally.

It’s not Danny’s fault that he’s a good kid and wants to make his parents happy. But why would he have to be a monster to make them happy? Why must they hate him to be happy?

Danny’s obsession was going crazy.

Well, when your own parents call you a monster in the face, it hurts. Why do they always believe that only their opinion is the absolute truth? They have no idea how much worse things would be if at least some of the ghosts really behaved the way Maddie and Jack think they’re supposed to. If he really is evil by nature, is there any point in fighting his own fate? They want to see him as a villain, he will become one. He will. He just needs a little help and practice. And not bring it to the level when Clockwork has to clean up his mess. Poor guy is without a vacation for how long? Couple of millennia?

Johnny 13: Sup. Danny: F*ck off, Johnny, I’m not in the mood. Busy thinking about world domination. Get out of here or I’ll call Kitty. Johnny 13: What’s wrong? You’re usually so grouchy only towards the end of the week. Danny: Nothing. Just parents. Again. They are wonderful but I can’t help but feel sometimes that they, em… Johnny 13: Suck? Danny: Right…Damn. I’m a terrible son. Maybe something is wrong with me. Johnny 13: What? No, no, dude. You’re just growing up. And you’re a little late, usually teenagers go through that stage before they graduate. Well, you’ve probably been busy with other issues, so just missed it. Danny: I wonder whose fault it is. Aren’t there ghosts who enjoyed to ruin my life in the middle of school day?

Johnny 13: Oh, bother. Anyway, you’re entering a beautiful time of emancipation, where you’re going to shape your own view of life and, along the way, to get drunk on cheap alcohol at parties, maybe to go to jail and to become the greatest disappointment to your family..And then you will be ashamed to remember it for about the next ten years. Danny: Well, it looks like I’ve already done two out of three additional things. Great success. Johnny 13: When did you get drunk? Danny: I didn’t. Johnny 13: Oh. Want to fix that? Danny: What? No. What an idiot wants to add a headache to his problems? Johnny 13: Well, your loss, then I’ll go terrorize the bars of Gotham alone and no one can stop me. Let’s see what your boyfriend will say about it. ~~~~~ Danny: Bartender, another shot of Dead Man’s Fingers, please. Red Hood: Babe, haven’t you had enough? Danny: Have you ever felt that no matter how hard you try, no matter how many sacrifices you make, in their eyes you’ll always be nothing more than a monster? Nothing more than a mistake? Oh, Death doesn’t give people like me a break. Red Hood: …I’ll have what he’s having. *gives the bartender a sign to switch the rum shots to a batburger milkshake for them, and starts talking to Danny so that he doesn’t understand Hood's scams*

~~~~~

Johnny 13: Other people’s kids are growing up so fast. It seems like yesterday he didn’t know how to shoot ectoblast, and now.. Kitty: Stop trying to make me feel bad, we’re leaving. Johnny 13: But the boy needs our support, honey boo!

~~~~~

Danny: I'm fine. Really, I am. This isn’t the first time mom’s called me a monster. She often called me that when she was upset with my behavior in my childhood. Huh, it's even funny. Jason: There’s nothing funny about that. Danny: No, you don’t understand. Looking back, I was really a very active child and didn’t know when to stop. Not surprisingly that I often annoyed my parents. They’re very busy people, and Jazz couldn’t always keep an eye on me. And I was often afraid to go to sleep alone because there were shadows in the darkness of my room. Well, I used to think they were. But I pretended everything was okay to not distract parents from work. Jason: Hey, it’s not your fault. You were a child. Obviously, kiddo requires a lot of attention, they must have understood that. You are the second child in the family, right? Danny: Well, Jazz was different. I don’t know. Anyway, I thought if the monsters behind the curtain and under the bed were just like me, well, according to my mom, you know, then they wouldn’t want to hurt me. And since they look after me, they are friends. So I kinda greeted all the suspicious noises and howls. Huh, I was a strange kid. Jason: If you smile at someone in the dark alley right now that someone is more likely to wet themselves or faint. Danny: Rude! I’m not that scary. Admit that I’m adorable. Do it right now. Jason: Stunning, darling. But still carry a gun and a knife, please. My childhood taught me that what's hiding in the dark is worth beating up. Danny: Come on, what should I be afraid of? Death? Anyway, I want to try this shit. Like, the inevitable one. Being a bad boy, you know? Hood *raises eyebrows*. Danny: Oh damn it man, I'm talking about ghostliness. I want to try to be like most of dead ones. I want to unleash my side of the trickster and the villain. But only a little bit. I have to be supervised so that things don't go too far. Would you help me, honey?

~~~~~2 hours later~~~~

~~~~~

Goons used to expect a lot of weirdness from working with the boss.

Sometimes Bruce Wayne would go into their base and yell at the Red Hood like he's one of his kids. Of course Wayne's well-known as 'Gotta adopt them all' but the guy must really suffer from insomnia to count the Red Hood into his brood of chicks several times. Sometimes the boss would fight Robin or Nightwing over differences in morals…or for biscuits. It varied from moment to moment. Sometimes the boss caught the local street children, fed them and taught them to steal correctly. And most of the foundlings stayed with them under their protection.

To make a long story short, Red Hood is not the typical crime lord that some of them had to deal with before. Which is a blessing. Thanks Lord for the health insurance. But still the crime lord. Which means he's still scary, and sometimes deadly.

Anyway, when the boss brought in a guy who looked more civilian than any civilian in the whole Gotham and said he was going to be their intern, they thought it was a joke at first. Despite the fact that Hood was not in the habit of joking while working.

The teenager was too well-mannered and sweet to come from Crime Alley. Phil thought the guy was gonna run when he saw the first murder, Jessica didn’t think the domestic boy wouldn’t chicken out at the sight of a fight. But arguing with a boss’s orders in their profession is like asking for a bullet in the head, so these conversations were taking place outside of their boss's sight. God, how can they teach him anything? What do you take from a boy who’s only good to do the coffee run? Fenton will fall if they’ll give him something heavier than 10 pounds. And then boss will yell at them because he treats the new guy like a princess on a pea. Well, at least that’s what they thought until the boss decided to give the new guy his own assignments:

~~~~~

Red Hood: So, what have you learned during your internship, my young Padawan? Danny: Well, it looks like I’m gonna suck at being a criminal mastermind. I think I may have to find myself some other profession. Red Hood: Come on, you just need a little more practice. Danny: Thank you but I don’t think that’s fit my obsession that good. Don't misunderstand me, I wanna be like most ghosts. But I was wrong to go to hit that goal only base on human stereotypes about my nature. Red Hood: What a pity. The newbies just learned not to flinch when you walk in. But, to be honest, I'm not gonna miss the adrenaline-boosting roller coaster of you at work. Danny: Oh, and I guess to hold on to the concept of humanity was really stupid too. I clearly no longer fit in and I’m finally ready to accept that. So, hopefully, if you get into trouble, you can rely on my ghostliness and call for help. I am the spirit of many talents and of my word. I can haunt your enemies or walk through the walls of Arkham Asylum. Whatever you need, I’ll be here. Red Hood: I’ll bear that in mind.

[theemporium]

[4.4k] upon meeting their captain's new girlfriend, some of the devils are convinced there is something supernatural about her. others aren't. jack deems it his job to prove it.

[find other fright night specials here]

.

“She is hiding something.”

Jonas watched the way Jack slumped onto the couch, wiggling his way between himself and Timo. He also watched the way Timo took a long sip from his beer, pretending like he hadn’t heard what Jack just said despite the boy staring at him expectantly. 

“Who’s hiding something?” Jonas asked, despite knowing he would regret even opening his mouth. Which was confirmed even more when Jack’s head snapped around, a glint in his eyes that made Jonas a little uncomfortable.

“Cap’s new girl.” 

Jonas blinked before raising brows. “You mean the girl we just met for the first time half an hour ago?” 

“Yes, her,” Jack confirmed with a nod, frowning. “Geez, you think Nico would two time someone? God, Siegs, he’s a Capricorn, not a monster.” 

Jonas’ nose scrunched. “I have not drunk enough for you to start talking nonsense. Where’s Luke, I need a translator.”

Jack jabbed his side with his obscenely pointy elbows in response.

“Ouch,” Jonas hissed. 

“But I’m telling you,” Jack insisted, leaning back against the couch. “She’s weird.” 

“Dude,” Dawson muttered from the armchair beside them. “Not cool.” 

“You literally don’t know her,” Jonas pointed out. “And you’re also the last person to call someone weird.”

“Not like bad weird,” Jack huffed. “Just…suspicious weird.” 

Timo groaned. “Someone make him stop.”

“Suspicious weird?” Nate repeated, his brows raised like he was thoroughly amused by the whole conversation. “Suspicious how?” 

Jack lifted his chin. “Suspicious in the supernatural way.” 

Nate let out a boisterous laugh in response.

“Jack,” Jonas sighed deeply, pressing his fingers against his temples like it would rid him of the thumping pain that had nothing to do with alcohol and everything to do with the boy next to him. “What in loving fuck are you talking about?”

“Ignore him,” Luke piped up as he appeared from thin air, moving around the gangle of stretched out legs before settling down on the armrest of Dawson’s armchair. “He’s been watching loads of Vampire Diaries right now. He is delusional.” 

“It’s a seasonal show,” Jack grumbled.

“It’s giving you stupid ideas,” Timo retorted. “What, you think Cap is shacking it up with some vampire chick?”

“Well, nobody said vampire. I haven’t narrowed it down yet. Feels rude to assume, you know?” Jack said. “But she’s something.”

“She’s Nico’s girlfriend,” Jonas stated bluntly. “And this is probably why he waited so long to introduce her to us. Because you’re insane.”

“Or because she knows we will find out what she’s hiding,” Jack insisted, his eyes narrowed at the scene across the room. 

Jonas turned his head to catch a glimpse of what Jack was looking at, just to find Nico tucked away in the corner of the room with one arm around you. He kept you plastered to his side, a fond smile on his lips and a look of pure adoration in his eyes as he listened to you whisper something to him. It was a sweet sight, and very lacking in the supernatural aspect. 

“On the very slim chance she is,” Nate started. 

Jonas groaned. “Don’t encourage him.”

“What are you gonna do about it?” Nate finished, his eyes fixed on Jack’s pondering expression.

“Well,” Jack shrugged. “I’m his A. I gotta make sure he’s safe.” 

“He’s a big boy, he can handle himself,” Timo waved him off.

“Not if she’s a siren. I’ve seen what those things can do—”

“In a TV show made over a decade ago.”

“Shut up, Luke.”

…

All in all, no one had given much thought into Jack’s insane theory. 

Over the course of the next few weeks, there had been a few more interactions between you and the team but Jonas had assumed Jack had realised how delusional he was being and dropped it. That was his mistake for thinking Jack was anything close to self aware. But in Jonas’ humble opinion, every interaction with you had been completely normal and completely human.

And Jack had seemed to think so too until the Devils Family Skate Day came up. 

“Big day, huh?” Nate teased as he walked into the locker room, giving Nico a playful nudge as he walked past his stall. 

Nico lifted his head, brows furrowing together a little but he smiled nonetheless. “I mean, yeah, I guess.” 

Nate raised his brows. “Wow, Cap, pretty sure you are meant to be a bit more hyped about your girl meeting your family for the first time. Your folks flew over, didn’t they?” 

“Well, yeah,” Nico smiled but shrugged his shoulders. “But uh, they aren’t meeting her today.” 

Jonas paused what he was doing, somewhat surprised. “She isn’t coming today?”

Nico shook his head but Jack opened his mouth before he could say anything. 

“What? How come? I thought you two were serious now,” Jack questioned, a weird glint in his eyes that Jonas didn’t like the look of at all. “You know, she hasn’t been to any games either, has she? Is she not a hockey fan?” 

“Stop interrogating,” Jonas grumbled. 

“No, she is but,” Nico paused, waving his hand like the motion meant something. “She’s not feeling great today so she is staying home.” 

“She’s sick?” Jack asked. 

“Probably Nico’s cooking,” Timo snorted.  

“She just feels a bit…uh, what’s the word…sensitive?” Nico answered, his brows furrowed together like he was thinking hard about his response. “She’ll be better for the dinner at Pally’s house though, don’t worry.” 

Jack’s face lit up. “The dinner at Pally’s?” 

Nico shot him a weird look. “Yes, Jack, the one you know about too because you’re in the group chat.”

Jack didn’t seem fazed. “The one on Thursday?” 

“Yes?” 

“Thursday night?”

“Is there a joke I’m missing?” Nico retorted but nodded. “Yes, the one on Thursday night. It’s nothing contagious, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Oh, I’m sure it’s not,” Jack responded, absolutely gleeful. 

But Nico decided not to question it further—because he was a smart man—and instead continued to gear up before he made his way out onto the ice, stepping up as captain to be the first one on the ice for the cameras.

It took less than thirty seconds after Nico walked out before Jack broke.

“I fucking knew it!” 

Heads turned in the locker room, a mix of confused and baffled faces staring at the boy but it was Jonas who sighed deeply and took one for the team, instead of ignoring Jack like his conscience was telling him to do. 

“Knew what?” 

“She’s a vampire!” 

Jonas blinked. “Excuse me?” 

“Cap’s girl!” Jack insisted, almost giddy in his seat. “She’s a vampire!”

“I thought you didn’t want to make any assumptions,” Jonas deadpanned. 

“Well, I’ve assumed now and my assumption is right,” Jack replied, a little snotty when he did. “She’s a vampire. It’s so obvious.”

“I am gonna regret asking this but,” Jonas paused, taking a deep breath like he was preparing himself. ��How is it obvious?” 

Jack shot him a look. “Dude.”

Jonas raised his brows in response. 

“We never see her during the day,” Jack stated, as if that made his way of thinking any clearer to Jonas. 

“Oh shit,” Nate murmured, nodding. “Hughesy has a point.”

“No, he does not. Stop encouraging this,” Jonas sighed before turning back to Jack. “What the fuck are you on about?” 

“How many times have we met her?” Jack questioned, that odd glint in his eyes shining brighter than before. It was very disconcerting. 

“Uh, like five?” 

“Uh huh,” Jack nodded, grinning. “And what’s the common denominator with each of those meetings?” 

Jonas didn’t bother to hide his surprise. “You know what denominator means?” 

“Shut up and answer the question.” 

Jonas huffed. “I don’t know, you were watching her like a creep?” 

“Observing in the name of science,” Jack corrected before leaning over to smack Jonas’ arm. “Dude, we only ever saw her at night. We have never met her during the day. Nico has only brought her for dinners.” 

Jonas blinked. “So that makes her a vampire?” 

“Nico said so himself!” Jack exclaimed. “He said she was feeling sensitive!” 

“You feel sensitive after one rum and coke,” Nate countered. 

“Low blow, Bas.” 

“This is ridiculous,” Jonas grumbled, shifting his attention back to lacing his skates and getting the rest of his gear on before one of the media staff came in to yell at them, “She isn’t a vampire, Jack. Drop it.”

“I’m gonna prove it.”

“Please don’t.”

“Just wait and see, Siegs.”

…

Jack’s first attempt at proving that his assumption was correct actually happened at Pally’s dinner that Thursday. 

It was a laidback get-together, something to keep team morale high with not as much effort, considering hitting restaurants around Jersey wouldn’t be the most relaxing or lowkey environment most of the team desired on their off days. Every once in a while, one of the older guys with the bigger houses offered their place up and everyone brought something for the table. 

Jonas made the mistake of assuming Luke would keep his older brother in line. 

Because Luke did not, in fact, keep his brother in line. If anything, half of the team were encouraging his snooping and theorising. Well, mostly Nate who kept sending Jack bullshit articles that Jonas was pretty sure were just Twilight fan websites. 

“Ready to eat dirt?”

Jonas frowned. “Don’t tell me that’s what you brought with you, Pally’s kids are eating with us.” 

“I—” Jack sighed, shaking his head. “No, I didn’t bring dirt, Jonas. It’s an expression. I’m asking if you are ready to accept that you are wrong.”

“Is this about the vampire thing?” Jonas questioned.

“Glad to know you think there are multiple options of things I can prove you wrong on,” Jack retorted, grinning boyishly. “Listen, this is foolproof. Trust me.”

Jonas did not trust him a single bit. 

He also made the mistake of taking his eyes off Jack for longer than thirty seconds—to have a very nice conversation with Pally’s wife about the lasagna dish she made—when he realised the boy was heading straight towards where you and Nico were sitting on one of the couches in the living room. 

“Oh fuck,” Jonas muttered, his feet already moving in that direction.

“You guys have to try this, it’s my mother’s recipe,” Jack announced as soon as he was in front of you both, extending the plate towards you and ripping the foil off the plate. 

Nico blinked. “Garlic bread?” 

“Yup,” Jack answered happily, popping the ‘p’ a little more because he was obnoxious like that.

“It looks like garlic bread from the store,” Jonas commented, standing by Jack’s side with his hand on his elbow, like he was ready to yank the boy away.

“Rude,” Jack sniffled. “It’s been passed down in my family for years.” 

Somewhere from the other couch, Luke snorted loudly. 

“Try a bit,” Jack insisted, pushing the plate closer towards you. “It’ll taste great with the lasagna. Promise.” 

You looked at the plate of garlic bread with weary eyes before flashing an apologetic smile. “I’ll have to pass this time round, sorry.” 

Jack downright beamed in response. “Is that so?” 

“Don’t want to eat anything too heavy,” you explained, lifting your plate to show the few appetisers you had nibbled on. “You’ll have to bring it to the next dinner though, it smells great.” 

“I am sure it does,” Jack grinned, not getting a chance to say much more before Jonas took pity on himself and Nico’s discombobulated face, dragging the younger boy away from everyone else. 

“Garlic? Really?” Jonas deadpanned once they were far enough away.

“Two-zero, team vampire,” Jack said smugly, picking up a piece of garlic bread and taking a large bite from it. “Just admit I’m right.”

“You need help.” 

…

The next attempt happened a week later. 

You had finally managed to make it to a game—a late game, much to Jack’s delight—and the excitement was clear on Nico’s face. Along with the hint of nerves. But the boys were more focused on the shock of seeing Nico walking into the locker room in a fucking turtleneck. 

“What?”

“What the fuck are you wearing?” Jesper managed to ask, considering the rest of the guys were staring at their captain like he had grown another head.

“It’s stylish,” Nico huffed, rolling his eyes as he ran his fingers along the collar of his turtleneck. “Thought I’d switch it up from the shirt and ties.” 

Timo raised his brows in amusement. “Did your missus get it for you?” 

“Why does that matter? I wanted to wear it,” Nico retorted.

Jack smacked Jonas’ thigh to gain his attention. “Aha!” 

Jonas turned his head. “Aha?” 

“Aha!” Jack repeated, keeping his voice low as he watched Nico from the other side of the locker room. “You know why he’s really wearing it, right?” 

“Because he is whipped?” Nate supplied from the other stall beside Jonas.

“Well, maybe,” Jack murmured, shrugging his shoulders. “Or maybe because he is hiding something.” 

“You need to get a hobby,” Jonas grumbled. 

“Like what?” Nate questioned.

“A bite mark,” Jack whispered with wide eyes.

“Shit, you think she’s making Cap one of her own?” Nate murmured, letting out a breath of disbelief. 

“Or she is feeding from him,” Jack added.

“You both need to get a hobby,” Jonas decided, shoving both of them back to get ready for warmups. 

For what it’s worth, none of them manage to catch a proper glimpse of Nico’s neck before they leave the locker room or even after the game.

…

During a small break between games where the boys were in Jersey for longer than three days, Nico had invited the whole team over for a housewarming party in his new place—the one he was sharing with you.

Jonas had mostly forgotten about the vampire nonsense because Jack hadn’t brought it up in the last few weeks, most of the boys far more focused on the games as they approached the end of the year. They wanted the best chances running into the new year and into playoffs, they wanted to utilise these games whilst their bodies didn’t feel too wrecked and tired. 

It was his own mistake for assuming the season would preoccupy the boy enough to forget it completely.

“Just a heads up, you should probably babysit Jack tonight.”

Jonas’ shoulders tensed slightly as he turned to look at Dawson with a frown. “Why? What is he planning?”

Dawson just flashed him a sheepish smile, shrugging before he quickly went to hide in the corner where Luke and Simon were sitting. 

Jonas let out a deep sigh, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling like some higher being would explain how in loving fuck he managed to be the one to babysit Jack’s vampire shenanigans before he pushed himself off the couch he was sitting on. He gripped the beer bottle in his hand, wondering if it would be worth grabbing another bottle before he started his hunt.

All things considered, it didn’t take long to find Jack considering the apartment itself wasn’t very big. For a second, Jonas thought maybe Dawson was trying to wind him up (it would not be the first time Luke had put the boy up to it). Until he saw Jack thrusting a gift bag towards you.

“Here we go,” Jonas grumbled.

“Oh, you didn’t have to,” you said with a smile, looking so genuinely surprised and touched by Jack’s thoughtfulness.

“It’s just a little something,” Jack shrugged. “Living with a hockey player and all that sweaty gear can be gross sometimes, I thought a candle would be something acceptable and useful.”

Jonas frowned at his wording.

“Oh,” you let out a noise of surprise as you pulled the candle from the bag, blinking a few times too many. “That’s really sweet of you. I’ll just go put this somewhere for safekeeping.”

“Nonsense!” Jack grinned as he reached into the bag, pulling out a box of matches. “We can light it now.”

You let out a slightly nervous laugh. “There’s really no need—” 

“Plus there’s a high chance someone will set their clothes on fire if we have an open flame,” Jonas jumped in, pausing for a moment before he frowned. “Again.”

“You could barely notice,” Jack scoffed.

“Jesper had no pants for the rest of the night,” Jonas retorted before flashing you a smile. “You should probably hide the matches too.”

“On it,” you said with a smile, rushing out the room like you couldn’t leave fast enough.

Jonas shifted his attention to the younger boy. “Really?”

“Vampires hate fire,” Jack explained with a casual shrug. “She’s just proving that I’m right.” 

“You are proving shit,” Jonas grumbled in response, shaking his head. “Stop scaring the poor girl before she gets a restraining order on you.”

“You know I’m right!” 

“I literally can’t think of something I disagree with more.” 

…

Jack Hughes was determined to prove that his captain was dating a vampire. 

He wasn’t like…anti-supernatural or anything like that. He just couldn’t quite seem to understand how some of his other teammates (or well, mostly Jonas) couldn’t see the obvious signs. He didn’t understand how those signs could be so easily ignored. 

Jack wasn’t against vampires by any means, but he watched enough movies and shows to know that not all of them were friendly. He just wanted to make sure you were one of the good ones. Surely, Jonas could see that. 

But instead, Jack found himself trying to prove you were a vampire to Jonas rather than figure out if you were one of the good ones.

In Jack’s humble opinion, the daylight coincidences, the garlic bread situation, the turtleneck fiasco and the candle incident were more than enough to prove his point. There were too many instances where the clues pointed to the obvious for Jack to ignore. 

Jonas seemed to think otherwise. 

And if he was being honest, Jack was tired of the constant doubt. If Jonas wanted proof, then Jack was going to give him proof he couldn’t deny with one of the most well-known facts about vampires. 

They do not show up in photographs. 

It was an old legend, possibly a myth, but one that Jack was banking on being true just to shove it in Jonas’ face—for purely selfish reasons. He had even gone as far as buying an old polaroid camera, gripping the device in his hands as he wandered around Curtis’ house, hoping to find the couple for a quick photo. 

It was New Years, the house was full of people Jack both knew and had never met before in his life and he was thoroughly buzzed from the countless glasses of champagne that had been shoved in his hands since he walked through the door. 

So obviously he was in the perfect condition to expose a vampire. 

Jack stumbled his way up the stairs, muttering a soft ‘fuck’ under his breath when he almost dropped the camera. The music was a little more muffled upstairs, the party a distant thought as he began walking around in hopes of finding you and Nico. 

He was passing by one of the guest rooms when he heard muffled voices and quickly skidded to a stop. He pressed his ear against the door, only to pause when he saw it was slightly ajar. And against his better judgement, he found himself peaking through the small crack. 

Nico was sitting on the edge of the bed, his head hanging as he seemed far more interested in the carpet than anything else. You were stood between his legs, your lips turned downwards as you let out a sigh. 

“C’mon, say it again.” 

“I don’t wanna.” 

“Nico,” you said in a pointed voice, running your hands through his hair before tugging his head back. You tilted your head, watching him closely before he spoke. “Say it again.” 

“I’m your boyfriend and you love me,” Nico murmured.

You raised your brows. “Say it like you mean it.”

Nico huffed out a small laugh but his eyes didn’t look away from you. “I’m your boyfriend and you love me.”

“Atta boy,” you grinned in response. 

However, the moment was ruined by the sound of Jack dropping the camera. Both of your heads snapped around and Jack’s feet didn’t seem to catch the memo to move before he landed flat on his ass, surrounded by pieces of his camera that were completely shattered. 

“Jack?”

Jack let out a shriek, lifting his hands over his head whilst the words tumbled past his drunken lips before he could stop himself. “Please don’t suck my blood!” 

You stood in the doorway, staring at the boy with a confused frown. “What?” 

“I’m sorry! I didn’t see you compel him! Don’t eat me!” Jack continued to ramble, his eyes clenched shut like he was waiting for a hit he knew was already coming, like he was prepared for it.

Nico shifted to stand behind you, also frowning down at Jack. “Compel what?” 

Jack slowly blinked his eyes open to find you both staring down at him with mixed expressions of amusement and concern. He gulped, his logic and common sense thrown out the window in his inebriated state. 

“Uh, her,” Jack stated dumbly as he glanced at you. “She compelled you.”

You blinked. “I what?” 

“Because you’re a vampire,” Jack said, a little bolder than before. 

Your lips parted. “I’m a what?” 

“Jack,” Nico sighed, all captainy and authoritative in a way that made Jack squirm a little in his seat, like he disappointed someone he shouldn’t have. “Why would you think my girlfriend is a vampire?” 

“Because it was obvious!” Jack insisted, scrambling to finally stand up—with the help of Nico reaching out to balance him when he began to sway. 

Nico, who now looked more amused than disappointed, only raised his brows in response. “And how was it obvious?” 

“We never saw her during the day!” Jack blurted out. “It was always at dinners or other night events. Never during the day.”

“Jack,” you said in a soft voice. “I work during the day. I don’t get off until six, and that’s on early days.” 

“Oh,” Jack murmured with a frown. “What about the garlic?”

“You mean the day you tried to shove store bought garlic bread in our faces?” Nico mused, shaking his head. “I told you she wasn’t feeling well. The garlic bread was too heavy, it would’ve upset her stomach.”

“And I’d rather not puke all over my boyfriend’s teammate’s house the first time I’m invited,” you added with a snort.

“The turtleneck?” Jack questioned.

“Like I said, a fashion choice,” Nico huffed, but his cheeks burned a little as he quickly pressed a kiss to your forehead. “And I loved the turtleneck, baby. One of my favourite outfits.”

You snorted in response. 

“What about the candle?” Jack insisted, his brows furrowing together. “You were so against me lighting it!” 

“Because I’m just sensitive to most smells,” you explained with a sheepish smile. “Most candles give me a headache but I didn’t want to hurt your feelings because it was very thoughtful.”

“Oh,” Jack repeated, feeling stupid for what felt like the millionth time in the last few minutes.

“It’s sweet that you were so concerned about Nico dating a vampire that you did all of this,” you added, giving his shoulder a soft squeeze. “Even if you did just wreck your camera.” 

“Don’t worry about it,” Jack murmured, his cheeks burning hot and pink. 

“Anything else you wanna get off your chest?” Nico questioned, watching as the boy blushed even more—if that was even possible.

“Maybe don’t mention this to Jonas?” 

Nico’s lips twitched. “My lips are sealed.” 

“Okay, good,” Jack nodded, swallowing harshly. “Now, if you excuse me, I need to go either sober up or get even more drunk.” 

You snorted in response.

“Sorry once again,” Jack added with a sheepish smile.

You waved him off. “Water under the bridge, Hughes.” 

This was definitely something Jonas would never let him forget when he found out.

…

“Be honest: was that your attempt of causing a distraction so I would forget why we came up here?” 

Nico couldn’t help but let out a laugh as he turned his head to look at you, smiling fondly when he found you already grinning back at him. He shook his head, winding his arms around your waist to tug you closer once he was sure Jack had disappeared back downstairs where the party was.

“You think I had anything to do with that?” Nico teased. “Please, I would know better.”

Your nose scrunched up a little. “I mean, a vampire? Come on!” 

“You would make the cutest vampire ever,” Nico said, laughing when you pinched his hip in retaliation. “Kidding, baby, I would never think you were one of those bloodsuckers.” 

“Damn right,” you huffed before your gaze softened. “Seriously though, before all the Jack stuff, you know it’s true, right? I love you and nothing will change that.” 

“Even your parents prefer your ex-boyfriend over a ‘measly human’?” Nico questioned, trying and failing to keep his voice lighthearted and playful as he repeated your parents’ hurtful words.

“Nico, baby,” you lifted your hands to cup his face, your voice honest and genuine as you spoke. “You’re it for me. I don’t care what anyone says, whether it's my parents being disapproving of me dating a human or your teammates thinking I’m a vampire. I want to be with you, no matter what. It’s you and me, Hischier.” 

Nico didn’t even bother to bite back the grin taking over his face as he leaned in, pressing his lips against yours and letting the tension slip away from his shoulders. “You and me,” he murmured between kisses. 

“Even if I was a bloodsucker?” You teased, something in your chest tightening at the way he smiled against your lips.

“Even then,” Nico mused before pulling away, a completely fond expression on his face. “Lucky for me, my girlfriend is way too pretty to be a bloodsucker.” 

You raised your brows. “Buttering me up, Hishcier?” 

“Just stating the truth,” Nico shrugged, still smiling down at you. “I always thought the werewolves were way cooler when Jack made me watch Twilight.” 

You snorted, shaking your head. “I’m much cooler than those wolves.” 

“Much cuter too,” Nico added, pressing his lips to the crown of your head and beaming when your eyes flashed yellow in response, something like a pleased purr leaving your lips when he pulled you closer.

.

[petite-phthora]

His Dark Roast-- what now?

[DP x DC fic]

[Love at first... murder? - part 8]

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Part 1

Ao3

---

Tim doesn’t take his eyes off of the monitor in front of him as he takes another sip of his Dark Roast MonsterBull, AKA his beautiful homemade concoction of dark roast coffee, Monster, and Red Bull.

The taste truly isn’t that bad, and easy to ignore. The caffeine is the main benefit of it anyway. Though he’s contemplating experimenting with it again by adding some Mountain Dew sometime to give it some more… kick.

After Tim maybe not so accidentally spilled the beans on Jason, he decided to leave the Bats to chasing him around while Tim got the hell out of dodge before Jason found out who discovered his date and snitched on him to the rest.

It’s Tim’s fault for telling them, yes, but he’d still prefer to live, thank you very much.

And so Tim had made his way back to the cave, claiming to be exhausted and that he was ‘trying to be responsible by going to bed at a decent time, for once’.

Besides, he’d clearly need to be well-rested to be able to help out in the case and find the Joker.

…

Yeah, he saw the looks he got and he wouldn’t have believed himself either.

But hey, it worked.

Once he’d gotten back, Tim wasted no time in making himself his Dark Roast MonsterBull before getting behind the monitor of the bat computer and starting his research on the guy Jason took on a date.

After briefly updating his will real quick, you know, just in case. Which is not ‘wasting time’

However, what Tim hadn’t been expecting was the challenge it actually took to find anything useful on the guy.

He started by going through the cams of the apartment building, restaurant, observatory, and their surroundings in an attempt to get a clean shot of the guy, which he had unfortunately forgotten to take with a picture camera earlier when he was still following Jason.

But when he went through the footage, everything was corrupted.

Every single audio and video file of the cameras in the vicinity of Jason and his date was overcome by static and distortion up until the moment when they were fully offscreen and a few hundred meters away, at which point the files went back to normal and were completely fine.

Either one of them has some kind of really good signal jammer on them, or the dude is great at hacking and covering the tracks of having tempered with the files, or the dude’s a meta with some awfully convenient powers.

Tim tried fixing the footage for a while before giving up on it. Since the footage was clearly a bust, he had made the decision to go about getting more information another way.

He knew where the guy lived, as he’d seen where Jason had led him out of the window, and he had a vague description of his appearance from having seen him from afar. Besides that, apartment buildings usually register their residents.

And so Tim hacked into the apartment’s system with ease and pulled up the residents’ information. After filtering through the data by only looking at residents who live on the correct floor and who loosely match the guy’s description, Tim managed to find something.

His name is Daniel Fenton. He’s 20 years old and he has no registered meta status. His previous residence was in some obscure city named Amity Park which is located in Illinois. He moved into his apartment just about a week ago.

He is currently unemployed and has a scholarship at Gotham University. Rent is paid through autopayment from a bank account in his name, though the account is also linked to one… Vlad Masters?

After noting down that interesting piece of information, Tim moves on to Daniel’s school records, which don’t seem to be all that interesting. He majors in aerospace engineering and minors in both astronomy and astrophysics, which might be why Jason took him to the observatory.

So Jason has either known the guy for a while, or he also did his research on Daniel like Tim is doing. Or both, which is just as likely.

Besides that, Daniel uses he/him pronouns and his ICE contact is his sister, Jasmine Fenton, who has recently gained her doctorate in psychology, becoming Dr. Jasmine Fenton.

She recently moved to Gotham City as well, though she lives in a different apartment building, and has applied for a position in Arkham Asylum as one of the psychologists there.

After reading that, Tim had wished her a mental good luck as if she was a soldier getting sent off to war.

After going through the school records, Tim started searching around for some of their social media accounts.

However, he did not end up getting anything due to any and all pictures and videos of Daniel or any of his old city’s residents sending out error messages and ending up being endless loading screens.

Seeing that he wasn’t getting anywhere through social media, Tim instead decided to just go for the obvious and look up the city of Amity Park in itself. However, that’s the moment Tim ran into a huge firewall.

Which is what he’s currently still inspecting.

Not one to back down from a challenge, and actually intrigued by the firewall, Tim tries to break through. It seems to be pretty easy at first.

Thinking like that is his first mistake, he notes as he hits a wall.

The second mistake he made is apparently not accounting for self-writing code that will learn from hacking attempts and proceed to patch up and reinforce any discovered gaps along the way.

Undiscouraged, Tim tries again.

And again.

And… again.

He’s stumped…

It’s almost like the code is… for a lack of better word, living…

Tim startles out of his reverie when hands slam down on the desk in front of him and another pair takes his Dark Roast MonsterBull from his hands. He looks up and makes eye contact with none other than Dick, who is still in his Nightwing costume.

Looking behind him, he notices Steph holding his mug and smiling sweetly. She unsubtly tries to take a sip from it only to end up on the floor, gagging and practically coughing her lungs out.

Tim, unconcerned, turns away at her strained “Oh my God, this is horrible! How are you still alive?”

She’ll be fine, he decides.

He looks around to see everyone back in the cave, most likely having just arrived back from the patrol. Most don’t pay him any mind, discussing something amongst themselves. Duke notices and gives him a small wave though, which Tim returns.

He looks back at Dick when he starts speaking again and oh, the does not like what that smile implies.

“So Timmy, I need you to tell me everything. Pretty please?”

Oh boy.

---

Taglist:

@i-always-say-yea   @uraniumwizard    @why-must-i-be-like-this   @griffinthing

[omamervt]

I think. Idk I think it's time we got a little perspective refresh. Idk how we get people to stop chasing the scent of blood, but it's gotta happen somehow.

Like. there's this Minecraft youtuber who I don't really follow but his videos show up recommended sometimes and he's funny, really deadpan, dry humor, my kind of thing, you know? Couldn't tell you his channel name off the top of my head though. Handsome Fella or something like that. Guess it doesn't matter that much.

Anyway I saw like, a week or so ago as I was uploading some TikToks that there were people talking about his "downfall" and how they knew there was something up with him and like. I looked into it? Dude had cheated on his girlfriend. 90% of the time when we're talking about a Minecraft Youtuber that sentence is followed by "with a minor," but no in this guy's case it was a) with another adult and b) didn't even sound like a successful attempt.

Like, dude's a terrible role model obviously but the way people were talking about him you'd think he was just as bad as Dream.

And like, I shouldn't be surprised with that. John Mulaney was treated the same, if not worse, when he divorced his wife and went to rehab. But I also don't think divorcing your wife, who you previously had a very positive relationship with, due to things you did that got you sent to rehab is necessarily a reason to treat someone like a monster. You know?

But what did surprise and upset me is that a couple days ago, I saw a Twitch streamer blow up on TikTok showing off her figurine collection, and then she responded to a comment saying, "can't wait to hear the allegations against you!" Like, are we REALLY at a point where we're all EXCITED at the possibility of people getting hurt, just so we have an excuse to tear someone else down?

That's like, really fucked up.

[justali-anne]

Thought Week: Asgore

Ooh, boy! Asgore, huh? It's really telling that a character with so little screen time compared to the others is much more popular than some of them. Well, better get into it.

(I'm sure you know the drill by now! If you have anything to say about Asgore, please reblog and write it down! I'd love to read them!)

First Impressions

The first time I think I heard of Asgore was in an Undertale playthrough? I can't exactly remember, but I definitely didn't see him in comic dubs because back then THERE WERE BARELY ANY WITH HIM IN IT! Jeebus! At least he's getting some focus now, but good gracious!

At first, I just saw him as a tragedy, but there wasn't really much for him to me. I guess I was busy hyperfixating on Papyrus because my early memories in the fandom with Asgore are just very blurry. He just wasn't really that interesting to me, I suppose. At least now, I figured it out, and now I'm like, "Oh, crap." He's just slightly more interesting to me now. Eh.

My Impressions Now

This poor man, honestly. He just wants his life back. His life got ruined by one stupid plan and one stupid decision that he made in a fit of rage over humans killing his kids. Which is honestly decently reasonable. Obviously, he wasn't reasonable in that moment, but if he could go back and do things differently, he would in a heartbeat. He's a kindhearted softie who put himself in a precarious position because of his grief. And that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Asgore's woes!

How about Toriel? This guy lost his only support system besides Gerson and when he finally sees her again, he just gets outright rejected, like DUDE! I'll cover my thoughts on her on Sunday, so I won't go into it right now, but poor Asgore, man! Having his wife around and helping each other through their grief would've been VERY beneficial to them! Could you imagine two vilomahs helping each other out and working together on human policies that could have benefitted everyone and helped them accept their loss? But then again, if it weren't for that, parts of the Undertale story wouldn't have happened, so I guess we're stuck with this timeline! Sorry, Flowey! You couldn't reset this one.

Oh, and it just keeps going! Remember Rudy? Asgore's "best friend" from a long time ago? I'm not talking about the Deltarune version, I'm talking about the Undertale version of Rudy that sadly passed away. At least from what I could tell, he lived a long and happy life, but it still hurts. Imagine being a boss monster. An IMMORTAL boss monster that stays the same age until you have a child. So for all that time Asgore didn't have a child, he had to watch as his "best friend" grew old and fell down.

GODDAMN IT, TOBY, COULD YOU GIVE THIS POOR MAN A BREAK??? Thank you.

The thing is, Asgore is by far the strongest monster in the Underground... besides Toriel (she was holding back). He's killed six humans and we all know how strong they are compared to monsters. Like no human soul was ever taken in the war, and he singlehandedly killed SIX of them. And we don't even know if all of them were actually kids or not, or if they were fighting back, or... Wait, the WAR!!! He was in the intro, wasn't he?!

Look, there he is! Unless that's his dad or something, which isn't actually a bad theory when you think about it.

GIVE. THIS MAN. A BREAK.

He can't even keep a marriage in Deltarune. Just make something go right for him, please.

Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah! The strongest monster in the underground! And by the time he fights you, he's spent. He doesn't want to go through with the war. That's why he's hiding. That's why he's holding back. I think we all know that by now. Dude was just waiting to take himself out of the picture, so to speak. It's understandable to be depressed when your life is nothing but tragedy after tragedy after tragedy. But let's move on to his actual personality.

Because Asgore... is a dork. He's just as dorky as the rest of the cast, and it's adorable! This big guy stumbles through life with the charming unawareness of modern things, like anime, ("What is an... anime?") and he's so clumsy he fell in a fishing hole during a game of ice hockey!

(Here is the original video)

He gives you tight hugs. He's a botany nerd. He dresses up as Santa for the locals. He is the QUINTESSENTIAL Gentle Giant. He just deserves better, that's all.

A King, Not A Deity

Conclusion

It's intriguing to me how literally the entirety of monsterkind treats him like he's gonna bring salvation to them like some god. As if it was a guarantee. Well, apart from Toriel, of course, but she knew him on a very deep level, so of course she's not gonna see him as some sort of "chosen one." And that's not even covering her disdain for him.

I get that Asgore is the monsters' only hope, though. That's a huge contributing factor in their deitification of him. And in turn, it just pressures Asgore to kill the humans even more, which sends him into an even bigger depression, but also, he doesn't want to call off the war so the monsters could still have hope. It's a vicious cycle!

No hate towards him, but I wish Asgore would grow a backbone sometimes. Just saying. You're the KING, man! Not a god! A KING. And the monsters are expecting you to become their god, but you don't want to! And... Gah, monster politics are complicated!

The Narrative

Despite his very little screen time, Asgore is one of the most important characters in the story. A kind king driven to despair after losing the thing he loves the most - his family. The reason the policy exists. The monster you're gonna have to kill in order to escape the underground.

It sort of sucks that he dies in every route besides the best one. Like, I get why that has to happen, but come on, man. He deserves better.

Honestly, Asgore? He's not the most remarkable character in the game to me. I wish he got more screen time, at least. The poor guy needs a freaking break from everything. It doesn't make him a bad character, in fact, he's a really well-written, intriguing one. He's just not my favourite.

But if there's anyone out there whose favourite character IS Asgore, please give a shout in the notes and tell me what you think of him! Is there anything I missed?

[sorrinslays]

My Craig's gang headcanons

Craig is a mama's boy, sorry, I don't make the rules

Clyde definitely has broken at least onε 3DS in the dumbest way possible, like crying and the tears messing up with the machine or by bragging that his 3DS is indestructible, ending with Cartman sitting on it and crushing it in the process

Tolkien's favourite movie is lion king, don't ask, I have no idea why I thought of that

Jimmy reads those "how to be professionally funny" books religiously

Tweek tried a monster once and nearly had a heart attack from stress because he mentally convinced himself it's stronger than the coffee he normally drinks and his body is going to explode from all the caffeine intake

Craig and Clyde have secret hang outs that they (Clyde) named "best bros date" where they talk about their favourite things (space, dinosaurs, race cars etc.) and watch their favourite cartoons

Tolkien for Jimmy's birthday bought him a microphone so that Jimmy can have improv comedy sessions whenever and wherever he pleases

Tweek had to go throught 'trials' to join Craig's gang. Nothing serious, just normal fourth grader stuff, like having him climb the monkey bars in under fifteen seconds or something like that. Needless to say, the poor boy almost had a panic attack and jugged a whole ass pot of coffee and climbed the bars in one millisecond

Craig and Tolkien go to the bookstore once a month and get a book. It's their way of motivating one another to read more

Clyde and Jimmy once (in their late teens) got super wasted and made a youtube video where they told really bad jokes. It blew up and they woke up to a bunch of analyses video talking about how they are the next big step in making comedy better. They remember nothing and only learned what happened through Craig who found it very entertaining

Tweek accidently ate a small rock once and was freaked out for a week straight thinking he's going to die. The fourth grade ended up playing 'funeral' with everyone having different roles. Tweek was the dead guy

Whenever Craig and Jimmy are left alone unsupervised they go to Craig's basement and make videos in which they just talk for hours about the people they hate and they managed to gather a small cult following by just hating on people

Tolkien and Clyde once crashed a car

Tweek wanted to continue boxing after his and Craig's fight but was scared and nervous to enter a club alone. At some point once he becomes part of Craig's gang, he tells that to the guys and, in order to encourage him to join, all of them (-Jimmy because he's in the comedy club) join. Craig and Tolkien go for kickboxing and Clyde and Tweek go boxing

Craig is the kind of person who knows a lot of random stuff and skills that he never mentions unless it's brought up. He's like that one guy on Tik Tok who knows the bird language, the OwO language, the cat language ect. His friends never know and anytime he's like "oh yeah, I know how to speak Latin, don't worry I can talk to this demon to leave us alone," the guys are like "HUH"

Clyde has the entire Dinosaur wiki memorized

When Tolkien first joined the group he spend days researching everything he could find about the others' interests out of fear he won't be able to participate in conversations or something. After a few one on one conversations Clyde and Jimmy figured it out pretty early own because it was pretty obvious, but Craig never did and still thinks Tolkien is genuinely interested in space and Tolkien doesn't want to break the illusion so he keeps researching and talking about stars and planets and everything else for hours with Craig

Jimmy knows Portuguese, I don't know why or how but it seems like something he would do

Tweek and Clyde weren't on the best terms at first because Clyde was kinda spooked of Tweek's tics since he didn't understand them, but overtime he learned that Tweek is a pretty cool dude

Craig loves to cook and clean, it's relaxing to him because he can just go through the notions and end up being productive. His friends have tasted his cooking multiple times and love it.

The whole gang has at some point worked in both Tweak.Bros and mr Donavan's shoe store

Tolkien's place is where they usually have their sleepovers. If for whatever reason they can't go to Tolkien's, then it's Craig's basement cause his parents are pretty chill and nice. They almost never go to Tweek's because his parents freak out the gang

Jimmy once wrote his final exam high on mushrooms and got a perfect score

Tweek never got a driving license because he's too scared of cars

[underforeversgrace]

the monster I hide

DannyMay 2023 Day 13: Monster

title: the monster I hide

words: 1922

Complete

Warnings: None!

AO3

Summary: It's been two weeks since the Accident and Danny is struggling to come to terms with some of the less desirable side effects of dying - and he feels like a monster for it.

~~~~~~

Of all of his abilities and the side effects of his accident two weeks ago, this was probably his least favorite. He hadn’t noticed it at first, the pressure that nearly felt suffocating against his face. When he realized it, what it was he was feeling, he hated it.

He hated what he had become, what he was. Sam and Tucker kept trying to insist it was cool, what he could do. At the least, it was nothing bad. Sam liked to talk about how unique it made him, Tucker about all the shenanigans he could get up to once (if, in Danny’s opinion) he managed to get control of his powers.

But this? This was too much. It felt wrong, it felt invasive.

It felt intoxicating, it felt like a siren he couldn’t resist the call of. Which just made it even worse - feeling like he was giving into a yearning his ghost half was calling for, leaving him simply a monster without control.

Danny was tired of feeling like a freak. Even more so, though, he was tired of feeling everyone’s feelings. He hated the hunger it stirred up in his stomach that refused to be sated no matter how much real food he ate, no matter how much ectoplasm he stole from the purifier and forced down his throat with a gag.

But it was hurting him, too. His continual denial of what his ghost demanded was making him so tired, so hungry, so irritable.

It had taken him a few days to realize what the discomfort was, especially since those first days had been painful. Every nerve in his body had felt hypersensitive. The pencil in his hands felt like fire against his flesh, everywhere it touched. His fingertips, his palm, the space between his thumb and forefinger. Wearing clothes hurt, fire ants biting into his skin with every soft brush, especially along the scars he had to hide, scars that forced him into long sleeves and a jacket despite it being August.

He would forever be grateful flight had been the first thing to come to him with ease, so at least he had been able to slightly hover over his seat, over his bed, over the ground, the pressure of putting his weight down and subject to gravity was akin to walking through hot embers the first few days.

So he thinks he can be forgiven for not noticing the hunger pains at first when literally just his existence hurt.

It had been at Tucker’s house, playing video games with him for the first time since the accident - his hands had finally stopped hurting - while Sam read behind them, that he first realized it. The pressure in the air had begun to taste good, he hadn’t even realized he’d opened his mouth and was inhaling whatever it was from around him.

“Dude, are you panting or something?” Tucker had asked.

Danny, though, had been… he imagined it was what drunk felt like. He felt a little dazed, the world felt a little slow. And he wanted more.

“Danny?” Tucker asked again, throwing a pen at Sam to get her attention. Danny hadn’t responded. His head felt… float-y. Pleasant. Peaceful.

“Hey, you okay?” Sam asked, moving to stand behind him, glancing at him worriedly as she placed a hand on his shoulder.

As their moods had shifted from contentment and happiness to worry and concern, Danny had shifted as well. His chest constricted painfully, pulling his attention to the so-slow-it-was-nearly-nonexistent heart beat, something he very much tried not to think about. A taste like expired milk settled on his tongue.

“Something’s wrong.” He’d said, clutching at his chest. The fear they’d felt next had made his heart race and burnt his mouth with the taste of cinnamon.

It had taken several minutes and a lot of circular emotions to figure out what was going on. Guess having a best friend who was a goth and way too into anything and everything creepy and weird was a helpful thing to have after dying and coming back as a half-dead freak. She’d realized he was eating their emotions, his ghostly side half starved after a week without sustenance. He’d quite literally gotten drunk with happiness, unable to control his hunger on an empty stomach.

Despite their reassurances that it was fine, that it didn’t hurt them and they just wanted him safe, Danny had felt gross. He was stealing people’s emotions, eating something other humans made.

He had been determined to never eat feelings again. He would not give in to his ghost side. He was human.

He. Was. Human.

And he was in control of the ghost. Not the other way around.

So he forced down the urge to let the pressure absorb into his skin, kept his mouth closed tightly whenever he was around other humans (because he was human, they were other humans!). Now a week since the discovery and two weeks since the accident, his stomach felt like an endless pit, clenching painfully as it begged for anything. Danny tried to give it food, ate so much even his dad noticed, but the hunger did not stop. Physically, he felt full. But it was like he had a second stomach now, one made of something more metaphysical than physical. But the pain, the stabbing hunger, felt no different.

Apparently, being a starving half human with some ghostly… needs… was quite difficult in a high school, though. Especially right now - during the first major test of the year - panic, worry, exasperation, cluelessness, delight, confusion. The pressure around him was so strong he couldn’t even see the paper in front of him. All he could focus on was the need to eat.

The need to be a monster.

He felt a poke to his side and looked over, seeing Tucker subtly holding out a note while Lancer’s back was turned. Danny accepted it, likewise eyeing the teacher while he read the note, in Tucker’s handwriting.

Have you eaten? Not normal food. The special kind.

Danny wanted to swear. Was it that obvious? Could everyone see the boy they called a freak was worse than they could ever imagine? Internally, he sighed as he shook his head. There was no use lying. They’d known each other since they were children, of course Tucker - and probably Sam - knew he was off.

He saw Tucker and Sam glance at each other before frowning at him, Sam quickly scribbling a note and passing it to Tucker. Tucker read it, nodded to Sam, then handed it over to Danny without adding anything to it.

Please eat, Danny. We don’t mind. It hurts us more to see you in pain than you eating does.

Danny just shook his head fiercely. He wouldn’t. He would not give into the monster inside him.

They looked at him pityingly but didn’t push. By the time the final bell rang and the teacher grabbed his test, Danny still hadn’t written anything on it, unable to focus on anything other than hunger and pain.

“Meet me after school, Mr. Fenton,” the teacher said before walking away. The taste of exasperation tried to edge its way against the edge of his mind but he forced it away, focusing on getting out of his seat, a task harder than it should be.

Seeing him struggle, Sam and Tucker propped him up and helped him out of class. He’d assumed they were going to their next class and let them pull and push him along, zoning out slightly. Danny was thoroughly surprised, then, when he heard a door being pushed open and was unceremoniously dropped onto the ground in the dark, the door immediately shut behind them.

A light being flicked on temporarily blinded Danny and he covered his eyes with his hands, groaning as his budding headache flared.

“Eat. Now.” Sam said, sitting beside him.

“No.” Danny managed, keeping his eyes covered.

“Why won’t you eat, dude? You’re not actually hurting us or taking anything from us. You’re just hurting yourself.” Tucker agreed, squatting in front of Danny.

“Humans don’t eat emotion. I am human.” Danny responded.

“We know. We know it’s hard but -“ Sam started.

“You don’t know what it’s like being a monster!” Danny snapped back, glaring at her, barely noticed the odd look on her face. Even he could feel the chill as the temperature in the room dropped, which just caused anger and irritation to further increase within him.

“You’re not a monster, Danny. It was an accident and now you need nutritional supplements. That’s it. Just because your parents think ghosts are bad doesn’t mean it's true.” Tucker said, reaching forward and placing his hand on Danny’s knee. Danny turned to him, still glaring. “What -“ Tucker continued, suddenly falling backwards away from him.

Danny immediately reached for him and grasped his arm to keep him from fully toppling over. “Tuck -!” As soon as his bare hand touched Tucker’s arm, though, Danny’s breath caught as emotion surged at the contact.

In an instant, Danny began feeling better. While Tucker’s emotions were tinged with panic, loving concern was the main thing Danny could sense. Sam, apparently seeing the way Danny paused and relaxed, grabbed his other hand. He relaxed further and Tucker tightened his grip, settling down and sitting as well.

Affection, worry, care assaulted his senses but not in an unpleasant way. The biting hunger began to abate and control over himself returned. “Wait, no,” he said, trying to pull away from them. Simultaneously, they both used their free hands to grab his arms, increasing the physical contact.

He’d be willing to bet his model rockets collection that they were specifically channeling certain emotions to him - love, joy, hope the top among them.

“Let us help, Danny.” Sam said softly at his side as he clenched his eyes closed, warring with himself over how good it finally felt to eat versus how wrong it felt to be doing something so inhuman. “We helped you end up like this, Danny. You’re not a monster and if you were then Tuck and I are just as bad for encouraging you into that portal. Worse, even, at least for me. If you’re a monster for being different, what am I for making you into one?”

Danny could feel the sincerity in her words, felt it warming his very being. And finally, he stopped resisting. He let his friends shower him in emotion, let them feed his starving soul. They grinned as he relaxed, sitting closer to him, each keeping both of their hands on him.

“I don’t like feeling like I’m not in control of it. Of my ghost.” Danny admitted. “I don’t like it.”

“There’s nothing wrong with not being in control. No one controls hunger, Danny. Just look at Tucker!” Sam said, smirking at Tuck.

“Hey!” He said, an over exaggerated look of shock on his face. “I have control! It’s just that I’m not exactly opposed to not being in control all of the time!”

The three fell into laughter and for the first time since the portal had set his very being on fire, he felt content. He was safe here, he was accepted here. Whatever had happened to him, whatever he had become, whatever other form he hadn’t slipped back into yet, he was loved. And he needed to let the ones he loved help him.

“So, did you know your eyes turn green when you’re upset?” Tucker asked after several minutes.

“They what?!”

[hello-nichya-here]

Hi. What do you think about Lisa and Michael's marriage? I mean... they had a complex relationship. Do you think he made mistakes in some of his actions? Do you think both were immature?

The best way to describe Michael Jackson is "Surprisingly well-adjusted for someone who was abused his entire life" and the best way to describe Lisa is "Surprisingly well-adjusted for someone who was literally being exploited in a cult."

I love Michael with all my heart, but he would disappear for weeks after fights with his wife, and told her, to her face, that if she didn't give him children, he was gonna get someone else (who was supposedly just a friend) pregnant, and then he did and went on to marry her. "Made mistakes" is quite the understatement. This is on the level of "Do you WANT to make this woman hate you?"

Not to mention the simple fact that being married to someone who has an addiction is quite the emotional turmoil - especially when they're addicted to the same thing that killed one of your parents and full on told you they feared they'd die the same way. It really isn't hard to understand why Lisa Marie asked for a divorce, and then also gave up on the "affair" they had during his second marriage (well, """"marriage"""" if we're going to be honest here).

But that's not to say Lisa was perfect. She wasn't. She full on said "He had a sad childhood, but who didn't?" to kind of dismiss the whole Peter Pan thing he had of compensating for the time of his life - which is an INSANE thing to say. There's "My childhood wasn't that fun" and there's being a survivor of abuse.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Lisa was some heartless monster (if anything, to me that sounds more like her being very much in denial about how traumatic her own childhood was and not liking that Michael was indirectly/accidentally reminding her "No, what happened to you wasn't normal, you need help too") but obviously it'd hurt to open up about something like that and have your own wife act like you're being dramatic. Dude was the definition of "Just 'cause you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get you" after all, of course he would take that to heart.

Lisa also full on admited that, looking back, she had not truly appreciated how much Michael had genuinely tried to make things work for a long time. That it truly had been a HUGE step in the right direction for someone as traumatized him to open up to her the way he did, to share his life with someone, to let everyone see him in love. She full on said that it took him dying for her to finally understand that he loved her.

I think Lisa also set herself up for disappointment to some extent.

She married the man that called himself Peter Pan and lived in Neverland, then was suprised that he was goofing off during interviews instead of trying to act more "adult" to prove their marriage was real. She didn't want her marriage to be turned into a spectacle, yet her husband was literally Michael Jackson (and he had just been accused of abusing little boys, OF COURSE he'd be reminding everyone that he was very much a straight man). She literally said in an interview that she thought she could save him - she looked at that trainwreck of a life that left this man badly damaged, emotionally stunted, paranoid and depressed, then went "I can fix him!" when she was equally messed up. Just terrible idea after terrible idea.

They both went through A LOT of tragedy from a very young age, and it messed them up. On good days, that made them a great match because they could relate to, and find comfort in, each other. But on the bad days? It was a VERY toxic relationship - and not because one or both of them were terrible people, but because, to put it bluntly, it's hard to have a normal, healthy relationship when you never experienced it, or even seen it, your whole life. Of course they didn't know how to make it work.

Add in the fact that a lot of people, including Lisa's mother, seemed to be actively rooting for them to fail, and openly questioning if their marriage was even real, and it becomes a truly unbearable situation. Lisa gets a lot of shit from some MJ fans for being the one who ended things (twice), but in all honesty, sooner or later Michael would have said "enough is enough" too.

And it really is a shame, because considering how genuinely happy they seemed through a lot of their marriage, how they showed support to each other through hard times after spliting up, how they couldn't keep their hands off each other for five freaking years after their divorce, how Michael's nephew was defending Lisa from slanders in public because he had only ever heard his uncle say good things about her, and how much Lisa was grieving after Michael's death, it's clear that they loved each other A LOT.

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

All By Myself

A Stoncy fanfiction one-shot

A/N: Sorry, it's a bit long. Also, yes, I gave Steve bad parents again. I couldn't help it. *sigh* All three of them act like they're alone in this world, but they have each other.

Steve blew out of Tina's house as he took in the cool fall air. Everything hurt. . .the pain in his chest, it hurt worse than almost anything. It felt similar to the first time his mother left to be with his dad, and he waited for weeks, thinking they were never coming back. It still hurts every time they leave, but he had grown accustomed to it. One more month, and they would have celebrated a year. . . A year of what he thought was full of love. He thought she would be the one to stay or she wouldn't be the one he'd have to walk away from.

". . .Like we didn't kill Barb. . .like we're in love. . ."

"Like we're in love? You don't love me?"

"Bullshit."

Steve gasped as his heart clenched painfully in his chest. The tears were coming, and he pinched his nose again in an attempt to stop them. Standing outside of the house, he suddenly felt like he was back at the Byers', running away from the demogorgon. As scared as he had been, he couldn't leave Nancy or Jonathan alone to face the monster. It was just like this moment, as much as he was hurting, he couldn't leave Nancy drunk alone in that house. Steve paused and looked at the house before going back in with a sigh. He was grateful to have run into Jonathan, and he grasped his arm. By that time, the tears had come.

"Hey, uh, Jonathan - " Steve croaked.

"Are you okay?" He asked softly.

He had spent so much time trying to deny it that Nancy didn't have feelings for Jonathan, but it was clear to see. Steve didn't blame her. . .Jonathan was nice. He was cute, too, with his dark brown eyes and the dimples that appeared when he smiled. Jonathan placed a hand on his arm. He hands were nice hands, too, very comforting.

"Nancy's drunk, and she said things - I just can't take her home," Steve said, his voice breaking. "She needs to get home. Can you make sure gets home?"

"Of course," Jonathan said. "Are you going to be okay to get home?"

God, he really wanted to hate the guy, but he was so sweet. Steve kind of wanted to hug him and give him a giant kiss. He hadn't had that much to drink, had he?

"Yeah, I think so," Steve said. "Just get her home, please. Forget about me."

Then he muttered under his breath about his own parents doing it all the time, a comment he was sure Jonathan hadn't heard. Jonathan squeezed his shoulder, reassuringly, before letting go and heading towards the bathroom. Steve wandered outside to his car and searched his pockets for his keys. He sighed heavily when he couldn't find them. He had suddenly forgotten how to drive anyway. He watched for a moment as Jonathan drove away with Nancy safely in his car. Steve trudged back into the party and headed straight for the fuel. He downed one cup, and when he saw Hargrove headed this way, he quickly grabbed another before heading back outside. He ran to the side of the house and hid amongst the bushes. He downed one cup and quietly sipped on the other, some of it spilling on his pants. Steve giggled.

"Oopsie," he said.

"Harrington?" A voice said.

"Nancy?" Steve called out.

"No, afraid not, lover boy," Eddie Munson said and slid down next to him. "What are you up to?"

"Drinking and hiding from Hargrove," Steve replied.

"What a coincidence, so am I. He is my worst customer," Eddie sighed.

"Oh, yeah, you sell the drugs now!" Steve exclaimed, snapping his fingers at him.

"I sell the drugs now," Eddie laughed.

"I do the drugs. Well, Marijuana sometimes," Steve said. "He is the worst, Hargrove."

"Definitely," Eddie said.

"I wasn't that bad, right?" He asked.

"Dude, you were like a puppy. No one was scared of you. Hagan was a cowardly little bitch who was all talk," Eddie said. "So, besides the hiding and drink, why are you pouting and crying?"

"My girlfriend loves someone else. I get it, though, you know, he's pretty and great. He's pretty great! If I were a girl, I would totally fight her for him. . . His pretty eyes. . .I'd let him put a baby in me if I were a girl," Steve said and paused. "You know. . . I think I might be drunk."

"You definitely are, big boy," Eddie grinned. "But you don't have to be a girl to like boys, man."

"That would make me gay and I'm not gay," Steve said.

"I'm bisexual," Eddie laughed. "Much like James Dean, I do not tie one arm behind my back. I like men, women, you name it."

"James Dean?" Steve gasped.

"Well, I didn't know for sure he was bisexual but he had relations with the men and the women. . . There were rumors he had a relationship with Paul Newman, but who knows. . . David Bowie is definitely bisexual," Eddie said.

"Man, I hope I remember this in the morning," Steve said and paused. "Is someone calling my name?"

"Steve?!" They heard Jonathan call out.

"Jonathan!" Steve called out. "Over here."

Jonathan walked around the house and found Eddie sitting next to Steve.

"Steve?!" Jonathan asked.

"Hey, pretty boy," Steve smirked and whispered loudly to Eddie. "I think me and my girlfriend like the same boy."

"I think so, too," he laughed.

"Jonathan! Do you know Eddie?" Steve asked.

"Yeah, I know Eddie," Jonathan laughed.

"He's pretty! I can say that now! As a guy!" Steve said happily.

"Is he now?" Jonathan scowled and Eddie snickered.

"Not as pretty as you," Steve said.

"Let's get you home," Jonathan said. "I already brought Nancy home. She's safe."

Jonathan pulled Steve to his feet. Steve wrapped his arm around Jonathan's neck, grinning. Eddie helped Jonathan to his car and shoved Steve into the back seat.

"Thanks, Eddie," Steve grinned.

"Yeah, thank you, Eddie," Jonathan said.

"No one should worry about me, I don't go after other people's boyfriends," Eddie said.

"He's not my boyfriend," Jonathan said.

"It's funny that you went there," he grinned. "I could have been talking about Nancy."

Eddie cackled as he walked off. Jonathan sighed, blushing as he got into his car and drove off.

"Are your parents going to be pissed that you're well. . .pissed?" Jonathan asked Steve.

"They're not going to care cause they aren't going to be home," Steve said sleepily. "They never are. Just me, alone in the big empty house. They'll come home every so often when they remember they have a son. It gets scary, and I wake up sometimes, thinking a demogorgon is going to get me. There's no one there. Nothing. I want to help Nancy, but I'm scared that the pool in my house is going to open up and swallow me up because the lab guys told the pool to eat me because I was stupid enough to say something to my parents. I just wanted them to stay, and they just sent me off to a doctor over the summer. I'm scared. I'm scared, Jonathan."

He said the last part in a small voice before nodding off and snoring rather loudly. Jonathan drove to his own house instead of Steve’s like he had planned and helped him out of the car, waking him up.

"Hey, pretty boy, you bringing me home to meet your mama?" Steve said and then went serious. "We've met."

"I'm not letting you stay home by yourself to choke on your vomit, man," Jonathan said.

He dragged Steve and opened the door to his house. Bob, Joyce, and Will were sitting in the living room looking at Will's candy haul.

"Is that Steve?" Will asked. "Is he drunk?"

"I didn't want leave at home alone," Jonathan said.

"Livin' alone! I think of all the friends I've known when I dial the telephone! Nobody's home! All by myself! Don't wanna be all by myself anymore!" Steve sang.

"Where are his parents?" Joyce asked.

"Traveling for work and pretending they don't have any kids," Steve said. "Well, I'm sure my dad has other kids out there who aren't a disappointment."

"His eyes are so big and sad, Joyce," Bob said.

"You see why I couldn't leave him alone?" Jonathan asked. "I'm going to put him in my room."

"Don't wanna live by myself. . ." Steve sang softly. "You guys are richer than me. I would trade that stupid house just for. . .just for one parent who loves me. . .just for one who tries."

"Oh, honey, let me help you," Joyce said as she got up.

She stood on Steve’s other side and helped drag him into Jonathan's room. She set him on the bed and took off his shoes as well as his jacket.

"I spilled," Steve pouted. "I'm always messing up. . . He'd hate me more. . ."

"Who would?" Joyce asked.

"My dad. . .he would hate that I like boys now too," Steve said. "He hates people like me. Maybe that's why I was not honest to me. . .or very nice. I don't want to be sent away again. Hawkins is home. It's where I met Nancy and Jonathan. I learned what really matters. I don't want to go. I don't want the pool to swallow me up."

"We won't let the pool swallow you up, sweetheart," Joyce asked, stroking his hair.

"You aren't related to Eddie Munson, are you?" Steve asked.

"No," Joyce said.

"You look like you could be his mom," Steve said. "You're not, are you?"

"I think I would remember giving birth to Eddie Munson," Joyce said, biting her lip, and Jonathan struggled to keep his laughter in.

"What if you were drunk?" Steve asked and gasped. "I'm drunk. Joyce, you're Jonathan's mama. Why is he so cute?"

"He's always been that way," she grinned.

"Well, tell him to stop," Steve groaned and whined. "It's too much."

"Let's get into some pajamas," Joyce said.

"Is there anything that I can do?" Bob asked from the doorway.

"He's going to need some water," Joyce replied.

"Got it," Bob said.

"Bob! I like you! You're always so helpful when I go to Radioshack! Does not talk to me like I'm stupid," Steve said with a grin.

"Well, no one ever stops learning," Bob said. "So, no one should make people feel bad for not knowing something."

"God! That is true!" Steve yelled.

Bob laughed and left the room. Jonathan and Joyce helped Steve into a pair of Jonathan's pajamas. Afterward, Bob brought him a glass of water, and Joyce made sure Steve drank the whole thing. She tucked him into the bed and stroked his hair.

"Is this what moms do?" Steve muttered.

"It's what moms should do," Joyce said.

Steve burst into tears and sobbed into Jonathan's pillow. His body shook as he cried. Joyce held him and stroked his hair. She had managed to get him to settle down, wipe his face, and he was about to drift off to sleep as Joyce stood up.

"I've got this from here, mom," Jonathan said.

"Are you sure?" Joyce asked.

"Yeah," he replied.

Joyce stroked Steve’s hair one last time before hugging Jonathan tightly and giving him a kiss on the forehead. She walked out the door and closed it behind her. Jonathan grinned when he heard Will's voice.

"Are we keeping him?" He asked.

"First off," he heard Joyce say. "He's not a dog, and second of all. . .maybe. Were you listening at the door?"

" . . . No."

Jonathan laughed as he quickly dressed in his pajamas and went to unzip his sleeping bag.

"What are you doing? Get your ass up here, Byers. I don't bite. . .unless you want me to," Steve said.

Jonathan got up off the floor and crawled into bed. He lay awkwardly on the bed, trying to focus on his breathing. Steve rolled over and lay on Jonathan's chest, cuddling him. He froze for a moment before relaxing and wrapping his around Steve. He enjoyed the feelings of Steve in his arms, and he thought that he had finally fell asleep.

"You're really not what I thought you'd be like," Jonathan muttered.

"Better or worse?" Steve asked.

"Definitely better," Jonathan replied.

"If Nancy's going to leave me for someone, I'm glad it's you," Steve said.

"Maybe she doesn't have to leave you, but we'll talk about it when you're sober," he said, pausing. "And you should know that I know what it's like to feel all alone in this world. . .but you're not alone. You'll figure that out."

"Jonathan," Steve breathed, much like Nancy had, and fell asleep.

Jonathan smiled and kissed Steve’s forehead. He drifted off to sleep pretty easily. The next morning, Steve woke up feeling confused but safer than he had ever felt waking up alone in his bed. It took him a minute to realize that he wasn't in his bed and he was lying on a guy's chest. Steve raised his head up slightly to find himself looking into the sleeping face of Jonathan Byers. He remembered enough to know that nothing had happened sexually between them, and he weirdly felt disappointed about that. He also remembered the maternal comfort that Joyce Byers had given him when he cried like a baby. He reluctantly pulled himself out of Jonathan's arms and stumbled into the bathroom to vomit. Steve washed his mouth out and then found his way to the kitchen. He was startled to find Bob standing in the kitchen making coffee.

"Hey, kiddo," Bob said. "How's your head?"

"Well, it's not great," Steve said.

Bob tapped the pill bottle on the table and slid it closer to him.

"I figured you might need that," Bob said.

"Thanks," he said gratefully.

He fixed himself a glass of water and took the much needed medicine.

"I love it here, don't you? You can certainly feel the love," Bob said.

"Yeah," Steve said in agreement.

"I don't know exactly what happened, and you don't know me well enough for you to tell me," Bob said. "But Joyce was ranting a little bit about it last night. She went on in that cute violent way of hers how she wanted to kill your parents. She doesn't understand why they don't want to get to know such a sweet boy. I think Joyce wants to keep you around and get to know you. As someone rather new around here, I think we're both lucky that they let us into their lives and that they want us to stay."

"Why are you saying this?" Steve asked.

"I can see it in your eyes that you're getting into unknown territory here, and you kind of want to run. Well, I can already say that Joyce already feels protective of you, and if you do run, she's just going to run after you if Jonathan doesn't beat her to the punch," Bob said. "Sometimes, trusting yourself as well as others is a huge risk. . .the question is. . .are they worth it?"

"Yeah," Steve said softly.

"Well, I think so, too. Now, I'm going to make breakfast. What do you like?" He asked.

"Can I help?" Steve asked.

"Sure, kiddo."

The smell of breakfast filled the air, and the others soon came pouring into the kitchen.

"You guys didn't have to do that," Joyce said.

"We wanted to," Steve said.

Joyce hugged him tightly and gave him a very motherly kiss on the cheek. She turned to Bob and gave him a hug as well as a kiss.

"Ew," Will said jokingly, and Joyce ruffled his hair.

Steve smiled at Jonathan and sat down next to him, who gave him more water for drink along with a cup of coffee.

"Did you sleep well?" Joyce asked Steve.

"Uh, yeah, very cozy," Steve replied, his cheeks pink as she smiled knowingly.

"So, Steve, you play basketball. . .is there anything else you like to do?" Will asked.

"I like comic books," Steve shrugged.

"You do?" Will asked with an excited gasp.

"Yeah, you'd be surprised how many of the guys on the team actually do like things like that," Steve said.

"Who's your favorite superhero?" Will asked.

"Spiderman," Steve said. "I like that he's the neighborhood hero, looks out for the little guys, the underdogs, and the everyday people when the other heroes are too busy."

"Yeah, me too," Will said. "Although, I like X-Men, I do like Spiderman too."

"The X-Men are good too," Steve smiled.

Steve could feel Jonathan's eyes on him, trying to figure him out. He was glad he gave the younger man an air of mystery. His head was still pounding, but despite that, Steve felt great. After breakfast and cleaning up, Steve was given more of Jonathan's clothes to wear. It included a yellow sweater.

"You look better in it than I do," Jonathan said. "You should keep it."

"I had no plans on returning it, anyway," Steve said with a grin. "But thank you."

Since they were the only ones in the room, Steve felt a little brave and still very much hungover. He gave Jonathan a kiss on his cheek and knelt down to pick up his clothes. His keys dropped out of the pile of clothing, and Steve smiled cheerfully as he lifted the keys up. He shook them at Jonathan, whose face was red. Jonathan shook his head, flashing his dimples at Steve.

"What?"

Will was going to be driven to school by Bob and said goodbye to everyone as he climbed into the car. Steve smiled gratefully at Bob, waving at him and Will as they pulled out of the driveway. Joyce had given Jonathan a tight hug before turning to Steve and hugging him as well.

"Have a good day at school, boys," Joyce said and pulled out a pair of sunglasses before slipping them onto Steve’s face.

"Thanks," Steve said in surprise.

"I noticed you squinting," she said.

"Thanks for letting me stay," Steve said.

"You're welcome back anytime, I mean it," Joyce said softly and squeezed his shoulders. "You need to talk about anything. I'm here for you. You don't have to be alone anymore, Steve."

Steve sniffled as he got into Jonathan's car, and Jonathan pulled out of the drive.

"You okay?" Jonathan asked.

"Seriously thinking about illegally marrying you so I can have Joyce for a mom," Steve said.

"Not adoption?" Jonathan teased.

"I do NOT want you to be my brother," Steve blurted. "I mean - "

"I don't want to be your brother either," Jonathan said and squeezed his knee.

Steve blushed. He wasn't sure if it was romantic or weird or both, but whatever it was. . .Jonathan's hand never left his knee. Unfortunately, he had to take it off when they got to Steve’s car to get his books out. Once Steve got back into the passenger's seat, Steve grabbed Jonathan's hand as he drove off to put his hand back on his knee. Jonathan thought he was trying to hold his hand, so he interlaced their fingers. Steve didn't complain.

"I hope it's okay. You usually pick up Nancy, right?" Jonathan asked softly. "You mentioned something about that last night. I figured we would go pick her up. Check on her."

"Yeah, I'd have to face her eventually," Steve said, and Jonathan squeezed his had.

"What did she say anyway?" Jonathan asked.

"Something about how we killed Barb and that our love is bullshit," Steve said.

"Maybe she didn't mean it, man. She was drunk," Jonathan said.

"I want to believe that," Steve said softly.

"Nancy wouldn't have stayed with you for nearly a year if she didn't love you. You and I both know that she's not that kind of person," Jonathan said. "Maybe it wasn't you she was calling bullshit. . .maybe it was the people in the lab who killed Barb the night she had sex with you. . .the people who got away with it."

"Maybe. . .she wasn't very. . .," Steve sighed. "I know the words. They fall out of my head, especially when I'm hungover."

"Articulate?" Jonathan asked.

"Yes!"

"I want to help her. Maybe telling her that we should pretend to be teenagers for once was wrong, but I just. . .facing the lab by ourselves was risky, and it's terrifying how powerful they are. . .they could make us disappear. Nancy, they would try to find, but my parents. . .they wouldn't try to find me . . . " Steve said.

"Maybe those assholes wouldn't, but Nancy and I would. . .mom would," Jonathan said.

"I think what really scared me was that if Nancy had outright asked me. . .I would have followed her. She would have gone up against the same lab who faked Will's death in like a day. . .who opened a gate into another fucking dimension. . .who brought monsters into this world. . . If she asked me, she would have worn me down, and I would have followed her. . .I would have died for her. . . Suddenly, all I could think about was how I just didn't want to die without having really lived, and I don't mean what I had with Tommy. . .something real, something important," Steve said. "I got really excited when Nancy told me she invited you. . .I think because I kind of wanted you to join us. . .I mean, you know, dancing."

"I think I would have loved to dance with you," Jonathan said as he pulled up to the Wheelers. "I would have willing dressed up as a Risky Buisness character if you had inflated your eyes at me. Although I don't understand the obsession you and Nancy have with Tom Cruise."

"Because he's hot!" Steve exclaimed. "Oh my God! I think Tom Cruise is hot."

"You think about this. I'm going to get Nance," Jonathan said and kissed his forehead.

"You missed!" Steve pouted.

"No! You still have to talk to Nancy before we get there," Jonathan said and got out of the car.

Steve adjusted the sunglasses and took a bottle of water from the backseat. He slumped into the seat and watched a moment later when Jonathan came out with Nancy. She had sunglasses on and probably would have stumbled if it hadn't been for Jonathan. He helped her into the backseat. Nancy groaned and laid back.

"It was a stupid idea to go to a party on a school night," Nancy said.

"I just want to point out that you begged me to come," Jonathan said as he slid into the driver's seat.

"Yeah, but you're not hungover," Nancy said.

"Because I wasn't stupid enough to drink," Jonathan said, and Steve snorted.

"Steve? What are you doing in Jonathan's car?" Nancy asked.

"After he took you home, he came and picked me up when I got drunk," Steve said. "Then he took me home, and we slept together."

"You slept with my boyfriend?!" Nancy asked Jonathan and Steve snickered.

If he hadn't been hungover himself, Steve would probably be more upset about the situation. . .not knowing how Nancy felt about him. The way she had shrieked with jealousy though. . .

"No! . . . Yes! I mean, technically. . ." Jonathan sputtered.

"Without me?!" Nancy yelled again and clutched her head. "Ow!"

"There's water on the floor back there," Jonathan said. "Wait. . .did you want me to sleep with him. . . with you?"

"Yes! I mean, I don't know!" Nancy yelled. "Okay, I really need to stop yelling. Did you fuck my Steve or not?"

"No, we just slept," he said.

"Why am I disappointed by that?" She muttered loudly and Steve laughed.

"I was too when I woke up in his arms and realized nothing happened," Steve said.

"What? Steve, you really got drunk?" Nancy asked.

"Yeah, I wasn't sure if I was still your boyfriend," Steve said.

"Why?" She asked.

"Because of what you said when you drunk, which sounds totally ridiculous because you were drunk, and of course, it isn't true," Steve said.

"Steve, you said a lot of stuff last night that's probably very true," Jonathan said. "I mean, it might not be true in the way you think it is."

"What did I say, Steve?" Nancy asked.

"Well, that we killed Barb and that our love was bullshit. Well, you said something about like we're in love. When I asked, "You don't love me?" You said it was bullshit," Steve said.

"Steve, that's - " Nancy said, at a loss for words.

"Do you love me, Nance?" Steve asked.

"Maybe we should talk about this when you guys are less hungover," Jonathan said.

Nancy laughed. Jonathan sighed and pulled the car over. Steve scoffed.

"Please, say it," he said.

"Not in front of Jonathan," she said.

"Why? Is it because you're in love with him?" Steve asked.

"That not - I mean," Nancy said. "My head hurts."

Steve cursed, and he ran his hand through his hair, feeling like a total asshole.

"Shit, you don't have to answer right now. I just wanted to let you know that you don't have to choose between us if that's what you're worried about," Steve said. "I think I'm starting to have feelings for Jonathan, too. So, maybe we can work something else out."

"Feelings all around from me too, but we don't have to have it all figured out right now," Jonathan said.

Nancy sighed in relief. She rubbed her forehead and took a bottle of water off the floor before practically chugging it. She turned to Steve.

"What I probably thought was bullshit was the fact that you thought I could ever not love you or that I, myself, could ever not love you. I always thought you were only ever supposed to love one person, and I thought maybe my feelings for one of you were bullshit. I have so much love for both of you that I'm surprised that my heart doesn't explode. Can I love you both?" She asked.

"Yes," Steve and Jonathan said.

"I should have never tried to get you to pretend like nothing was wrong either, I was just scared that we would die, and I just wanted to live a little before we did. Of course, I would have followed you," Steve said.

Nancy smiled and leaned through the seats before kissing him. Jonathan watched them for a moment as Nancy pulled away.

"Wait, what did Steve say while he was drunk?" Nancy asked Jonathan.

"Well. . .she needs to know, Steve," Jonathan said, and Steve nodded. "One of the things he said and honestly the saddest was that my family was richer than his. That he would give up his house just to have one parent who loved him."

"Oh, Steve," Nancy said. "I know you said your parents leave all the time. . .is it. . .of course, it's that bad. Jesus."

"He wanted them to stay for once and told them what happened. Instead of believing him, they shipped him off to a doctor over the summer," Jonathan said.

Suddenly, Nancy climbed between the seats and sat down on Steve’s lap. She took off his sunglasses and then her own.

"What happened?" She asked.

"I had a nightmare, and my parents happened to come home when they heard me screaming. I ended up telling them, and instead of comforting me, they got on the phone with a doctor. The next day, they had people come get me. I told you I went traveling with my parents but that wasn't true. I hated it there. I didn't know if I was going to get out, and it definitely felt like I was in that place. . . The more paranoid I got, the worse I sounded. Eventually, I learned to bullshit my way out. My parents didn't really believe it and the way they looked at me. . .I doubt they're coming back anytime soon. I know they already told me they're not coming to my graduation. . .if I graduate," Steve said. "I was scared I wasn't going to come back or see you ever again. I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

"I totally get it," Nancy said softly. "I can't believe they did that to you."

"Well, it wasn't exactly the first time," Steve said. "But it wasn't as long as this summer, and I was 8."

"What?" Jonathan and Nancy asked.

"I had a little separation anxiety after my mom left me for the first time," Steve said.

"I'm going to kill your parents," Nancy said.

"You're going to have to get behind my mom once she hears about that," Jonathan said, gripping the steering wheel.

"Steve. . .you know it's not okay what they did, right?" Nancy asked softly.

"I know," Steve said in a small voice. "I hate feeling this way. . ."

"Vunerable?" Nancy asked.

"Yeah," Steve said.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. . . I should have told you I had nightmares too. We both have to work on that, too," Nancy said. "I love you, Steve."

"I love you, too," Steve replied.

Nancy cupped his face like she always did and kissed him deeply, but gently. She poured everything she was feeling into the kiss. She pulled away with a gasp and leaned her forehead against his.

"Promise we'll talk more," Nancy said.

"I promise," Steve said.

"Now, as for you. . .," Nancy said and turned to Jonathan, grasping his chin.

"Wait! I don't . . . I don't know which one I want to be my first kiss," Jonathan admitted shyly.

"I don't think it matters," Steve grinned. "Nancy will be your first kiss with a girl, and I'd be your first kiss with a guy."

"That's true. . .okay. . .Nancy," he said softly.

She leaned over, and Steve pressed a hand on her lower back to steady her. She pressed her lips against Jonathan's, her delicate but strong hands gently touching his face. She pulled away and allowed Steve to lean over to kiss him. Yeah, suddenly everything made sense. This was how they were supposed to be ever since they forged a bond in Jonathan's house nearly a year ago. Steve broke the kiss and pulled a way with a wince.

"I think we're going to be late for school," Nancy smiled.

"We're already late," Jonathan said.

With the first five minutes of first period missed, they decided to skip it completely and spent it in Jonathan's car. They talked about all sorts of things, including some nightmares that Steve and Nancy had about Barb. Of course, it was worse for Nancy in the way that it had been her best friend in the entire world who had been slaughtered the night she had sex for the first time but it was also bad for Steve. She had died in the place where he lived, the place where he was supposed to feel safe. She hadn't even realized that that's why he had quit the swim team and hadn't set foot in his pool since. They both talked about it in depth and their feelings about it. It was a conversation they should have had a long time ago. They had even gotten Jonathan to talk about his own nightmares about Will and his mother. It had gone by fast, especially when they all started kissing again. Just as they were getting out, Eddie pulled up in his van.

"Oh, I just remembered. . .was I riding a bike with Eddie Munson last night?" Steve asked. "Or was just that a dream?"

"I mean, you definitely talked with him, but you didn't ride a bike with him," Jonathan said in amusement.

"I figured since James Dean and David Bowie were there to give us a push," Steve said.

"Are you friends with Eddie Munson now?" Nancy asked.

"I don't know. . .he was nice to me," Steve said.

"You also said that he was pretty," Jonathan sighed.

"Aw, Jonathan, are you jealous?" Steve asked and hip checked him. "You know you're the only boy for me."

Eddie hopped out of his van and waved at him. He grinned for a moment, hesitated, and then sauntered over to them.

"Figured things out, have you?" Eddie asked.

"Maybe," Steve grinned. "I don't know. . .have we?"

"We have," Jonathan said and moved closer to Steve.

Steve, Nancy, and Eddie giggled. Jonathan rolled his eyes, and then he smiled.

"Like I said last night, I do not go after someone else's boyfriend," Eddie said, and then his eyes slid over to Nancy's, winking at her. "Or girlfriend. Anyway, enjoy your hangovers."

"He's so strange," Nancy said as they watched him walk away.

"About as strange as you going to school yesterday with one boyfriend, and now you've got two," Steve said and Nancy laughed with Jonathan.

"That's true," Nancy said and grinned. "Being normal is overrated, anyway."

Later, Steve was very much distracted as he played basketball in the gym. He couldn't wait to see them again, couldn't wait for a time where they could be all couple-y now that the hangovers were gone. If only Billy would get off of his back. Luck came to him to him when he saw Nancy and Jonathan enter the gym. They nodded their heads, indicating they wanted him to follow him. He had expected to follow them out into the little alleyway beside the gym, but instead, they led him to a rather spacious storage closet where they kept all the equipment. Jonathan and Nancy had him go in first. They closed the door and locked it. Suddenly, Steve wrapped his arms around Jonathan's waist and lifted him up. Jonathan yelped and then laughed.

"You totally wanted me to do that to you when you saw me do it to Nancy," Steve said.

"No," Jonathan laughed.

Steve kissed his cheek and trailed his lips down to his neck.

"Admit it," Steve said in a sing song voice.

"Fine," Jonathan laughed and turned around in his arms.

Jonathan kissed him, smiling against his lips. Steve hummed happily as he pushed him up against the door and deepened the kiss. He could feel Jonathan's fingers in his hair, and he gripped Jonathan's waist with his hands. He broke away from his lips to pepper kisses down his cheek and then down to his neck before he began to nibble on Jonathan's ear. He enjoyed the feeling of Jonathan's moaning vibrating against his lips.

"This is not - ," Nancy swallowed. "This is not what we came here for."

"Blame Steve, those shorts leave nothing to the imagination," Jonathan sighed.

"They really don't," Nancy muttered.

She pulled Steve back and kissed him harshly, growling into his mouth. He smiled against her lips and broke the kiss, laughing.

"I thought that's not what you came here for," Steve said.

"It's not. It's those damn shorts. Okay, surely they didn't originally make them that short," Nancy said.

"They didn't," Steve grinned.

"Slut," Nancy gasped and Steve laughed.

"It's true, I am," Steve grinned. "But we probably should stop before they reveal. . .everything. So, what's up?"

"Well, I wanted to come tell you that you should probably get a ride back to your car with Eddie, maybe? I wanted to go with Jonathan to help the Hollands with something. I hope you don't mind," Nancy said.

"Of course not," Steve replied. "Did you want me to go with you?"

"You look like you're having fun. I don't want to disrupt that," Nancy said.

"Oh, yeah, I'm having real fun with Hargrove," Steve said, rolling his eyes. "But yeah, we're not even close to done, so you should probably go on without me."

"You trust us, right?" She asked.

"Of course," Steve said.

"You've helped out enough with the Hollands. It's my turn, anyway," Jonathan said with a soft smile and Steve returned the smile.

"I love you," Steve said, and Jonathan's eyebrows rose. "Don't be so surprised, man. I fall hard and fast."

"I love you too," he said shyly.

Steve cupped his face and kissed him gently.

"If you guys say I'm not needed for this little. . .whatever it is, then yes, I trust you," Steve said.

"I love you," Nancy said and kissed him. "We'll be back."

They exited the closet, and Steve watched them go before walking back towards the gym. What would the Hollands need help with? Steve stopped. Shit! God, why did it take him so long to figure things out? He turned around and ran out of the building, running straight towards the parking lot. Jonathan's car was driving out of the lot. Steve threw up his hands. They were definitely going up against the lab by themselves, and it was all Steve’s fault. He had to be such a chickenshit or maybe he was being rational in thinking that it was fucking crazy to go up against the lab without any back up. Either way, Steve was definitely in love with two reckless idiots.

"This is crazy! I'm crazy. Jonathan and Nancy are crazy," Steve muttered. "Do I love them more for this?"

"You love Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers for being crazy?" A voice spoke suddenly.

Steve jumped and found a girl with dirty blond-light brownish hair sitting on the concrete sidewalk in front of the gym. She was drawing boobs on her converses.

"Jesus!"

"I also go by Robin Buckley," Robin said.

"Hilarious," Steve said. "You didn't hear that, by the way."

"Except that I did," Robin said and paused. "You don't remember me, do you?"

"No?" Steve asked.

"Sophomore year. . .well, my sophomore year, your junior year. . .Mrs. Click's class?" Robin asked.

"I'm sorry, I don't," Steve said.

"Figures," Robin scoffed.

"Do you remember everyone in Mrs. Click's class?" Steve asked.

"Well, no," she said, frowning.

"Well, I'm sorry that I didn't notice you, but I'm sure there are other people you've never noticed before," he said and plopped down next to her. "Do you also know everyone in school?"

"You shouldn't make such excellent points," Robin said.

"I think I would have noticed you if you had drawn boobies on your shoes in class," he smirked.

"So, Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers?" She asked.

Steve grabbed the marker and grabbed his own shoe. He drew boobies and a dick on his sneakers. Robin laughed, and then she zipped her lips while he did the same.

"Damn it, I really wanted to hate you," Robin said.

"Why?" He asked.

"Because you've got really great hair and women flock to you while it's the opposite for me. . .you didn't even notice when Tammy Thompson couldn't take her eyes off of you," Robin said. "I would be a total pariah if I did anything about it."

"Okay, first of all, your hair is great, and second of all, Tammy is a dud who sounds like a Muppet. You can do better," Steve said and paused. "And third. . .you'd be surprised at how many queer folk there are in this town."

Steve brushed his shoe up against hers. Robin smiled and stared at their feet. They sat in silence for a moment.

"So, what crazy things are your partners in crime going to do now?" Robin asked.

"I have no clue, but they want me to trust them, so I guess I'm going to trust them," Steve sighed.

"That's entirely too healthy for King Steve," she said mockingly.

"See you later, Jesus," Steve scoffed and stood up.

"See you later, Fish!" She yelled back.

"What?"

"Harrington! Herring with an e is a fish," Robin said. "I'll definitely see you later."

He had to trust them, though, even if it made his stomach churn. Steve turned and went back into the gym to face Hargrove. After an awkward shower, Steve went back to class even though he couldn't concentrate. What was he supposed to do anyway? It's not like he could follow them. His car was still at Tina's, and he had no clue what they were planning. After school, Steve managed to catch Eddie before he left.

"Hey, man, do you think I could catch a ride? My car is still at Tina's. I just need a ride there," Steve said.

"Didn't you get a ride in with your boyfriend?" Eddie asked.

"I think he and Nancy are planning a surprise. They left earlier," Steve said.

"Right, well, climb aboard, man," Eddie said.

"Thanks," Steve said and climbed into the van.

"You're pretty trustworthy. . .climbing into the freak's van," Eddie said, flashing his dimples at him. "I could do anything to you."

"Well, go on, sacrifice me," Steve said.

"Nah, maybe later," Eddie laughed.

He took off, peeling out of the parking lot rather hastily.

"Jesus! You drive just as crazy as you look," Steve said.

"Well. . .you choose to ride with the freak. . .you get what you get," he cackled.

After that, he blasted the radio, and Steve listened in silence to Eddie's music. It wasn't his cup of tea, but he did like a couple of the songs. Pretty soon, he was climbing out of the van and walking towards his car.

"Hey, Harrington!" Eddie called out.

"Yeah?" Steve asked, turning around.

"Does this mean we're friends? I mean, after spilling our guts out to each other and me not sacrificing you to the devil. . ." Eddie trailed off. "Shouldn't it?"

"Oh, yeah. . . But just friends," Steve said to him.

"Wouldn't want Byers to kick my ass," he laughed. "Shame, though. . .you've got a nice one yourself."

"Yeah, this ass belongs to Jonathan and Nancy. . . Don't you forget it, Munson," Steve said.

"How could I forget? All three of you. . .bunch of freaks," he cackled.

"Being normal's overrated," Steve said, repeating Nancy's words from earlier. "What is normal, anyway?"

Steve could feel Eddie's eyes on him as he slid into his BMW and drove away from Tina's. He thought he'd stop by the Byers to check on them, but when he got there, no one was home. When he stopped by the Wheelers, Ted told him that Nancy was spending the night with Ally. After that, he drove back to his house and cursed himself for being so stupid. He should have been quicker, but he didn't think they'd do anything so immediately with the both of them just getting over their hangovers. They could have at least told him what they were planning. Trust them, he told himself. Did they trust him? No, no. Of course, they did. When he got back to his big empty house, he blasted music to try to drown out his fears and insecurities.

The next day, Steve called the Byers' but he didn't get a response. He went to school, anyway, hoping that Jonathan and Nancy had already gone to school. However, he didn't see a single sign of them all day, and it had made him increasingly worried. After school, he drove to Jonathan's place, but there was no sign that anyone was home. He drove to Melvald's, but Joyce hadn't come in at all today. Finally, he drove to the Wheelers, where he was promptly kidnapped by Dustin Henderson.

"How do you know that it's not just some lizard?" Steve sighed.

"Because its face opened up, and it ate my cat, Steve," Dustin said.

It was starting to turn dark, and Queen was playing on the radio. Neither Steve nor Dustin was paying attention to it. Steve cursed and beat on the steering wheel.

"Damn it! I knew I shouldn't have let Nancy and Jonathan go off by themselves," Steve sighed in frustration.

"Where did they go?" Dustin asked.

"I'm pretty sure they went off to take down the lab," Steve replied.

"And you let them?!" Dustin shrieked.

"They told me they were just going to help Barb's parents," Steve said. "They were completely distracting. . .so, I believed it. I knew Nancy wanted to do something about them, though. They fucking terrify me and I thought it was too risky."

"It is too risky and too stupid!" Dustin yelled. "Oh my god! Oh my god!"

"Didn't you guys hide Eleven last year in Mike's basement and then tried to break into the lab to rescue Will?" Steve asked.

"And they came after us in a bunch of vans and helicopters to kill us!" He said. "We were young and naive then."

"It's been like a year. What's exactly changed?" Steve asked.

"Well, I have teeth now," Dustin said and growled. "See these pearls?"

"Don't make me laugh," Steve said.

"What? What's wrong with them?" Dustin asked.

"Nothing!" Steve said. "They're very adorable."

"They're not adorable, Steven," Dustin said. "They're sexy."

"Oh god!" Steve snorted with laughter.

"What? They are!" Dustin exclaimed.

"How do you my name's short for Steven?" He asked. "It could be like Stefano or something."

"Is it Stefano?" Dustin asked.

"Well, no. It is Steven, but the point is that you shouldn't assume," Steve replied.

"Will said that you spent the night the other evening and then muttered something about how your parents are assholes," Dustin said. "He thought I didn't hear him, but I did. What's that about?"

"I got drunk at Tina's Halloween party. Jonathan brought me to his house because my parents weren't home. They never are, and Joyce welcomed me into their home. My parents aren't the best people or the best parents, and let's leave it at that," Steve said.

Dustin got quiet for a moment and then spoke up.

"My dad had a problem with gambling, and we ended up losing our first house because of it. We almost ended up on the street because of him. Then he won big but couldn't face us, so he left us a bunch of money and then took off. Mom decided she wanted to move back to Hawkins, and that's when I met my friends," Dustin said and paused. "My dad's a piece of shit."

Steve pulled up to Dustin's house and got out of the car. He went around to the trunk, opened it, and paused to look at Dustin.

"I'm sorry that your dad is a piece of shit," Steve said softly.

"I'm sorry that your parents aren't the best," Dustin said.

He held out his fist, and Steve smiled. They bumped fists, and Steve placed a hand on his head for a moment before pulling his bat out of the trunk. Although, really, it was more like his, Nancy's, and Jonathan's. It was Nancy's bat first, then Jonathan put the nails in, and then Steve swung the bat at the monster. He couldn't help but smile at the thought. Dustin led him around back toward the basement, where they discovered that Dart had gotten out by tunneling through the wall. Dustin ended up begging his mom to let him stay, telling her that they were trying a big brother program at school and that Steve had volunteered to be his big brother.

"He's a jock who likes comic books!" Dustin said excitedly. "I was hoping to show him mine!"

"Oh, I don't know, Dusty, it's so last minute," Claudia said. "Won't his parents mind?"

"His parents don't care. They're out of town," Dustin said.

"Well, of course you can stay," Claudia said.

"Thank you so much, Mrs. Henderson," Steve said. "You've got a real good kid."

"Oh, I know," she said, beaming with pride, and then she patted Steve’s cheek before leaving them alone.

They gathered in Dustin's room, where they discussed what their next plan would be. It occurred the next day, when they were walking across the train tracks, trying to lead Dart to the junkyard with a bunch of meat. Dustin was also able to get in contact with someone finally. It was Lucas and Dustin promptly told him where to meet.

"You did all this to impress a girl?" Steve asked.

"I thought a scientific discovery would look good!" Dustin exclaimed.

"Maybe, but you'd have to find the right kind of person who likes lizards," Steve said and sighed. "If there's one thing that I learned recently, it's that you shouldn't try so hard, just be yourself, and open up a little. People appreciate honesty."

"Why are you being so gender neutral with your pronouns?" Dustin asked. "I like girls and you're clearly talking about Nancy. Did you have a fight?"

"I mean, we had a thing, but we worked it out," Steve said and sighed. "Neither one of us was being honest with each other. Girls like it when you speak from the heart too but ease into a little. You don't want to be too honest and scare her off."

"Is that why they didn't invite you to take down the lab? You scared Nancy off, so she left with Jonathan?" Dustin asked.

"Dude! I'm trying to give you advice, and you're being a little shit," Steve said.

"Sorry, that is rude of me. My mom says I can put my foot in my mouth sometimes," Dustin said and paused. "But it really doesn't scare you that she might leave you for Jonathan?"

"No, Jonathan is. . .my friend. I like Jonathan," Steve said and tried really hard to fight off the smile.

"You know, you smile the same way when you talk about Nancy," Dustin said. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you liked Jonathan just as much."

Dustin laughed as he threw meat down onto the trucks. Steve looked at him with wide eyes. He had to do better with his facial expressions. He didn't even know how many people Jonathan and Nancy wanted to know. Dustin turned and grinned at him. Steve laughed.

"Well, that would be ridiculous," Steve scoffed.

"Holy shit! You do like him! Wait! Do you know that you like him? Oh, God, should I be talking about this with you? It's okay to like men and women, though! I don't have a problem with it. There I go, putting my foot in my mouth," Dustin sighed. "Forget I said anything."

Steve didn't say anything. He tried not to laugh, and maybe he should say something because he could tell the kid looked so guilty.

"Okay, look, this is brand new for me, but I already know that I like them both. Let's just leave it at that," Steve said.

"So, you're attracted to both, or you just don't care?" Dustin asked.

"Well, I definitely care about both," Steve said. "It's something I always noticed but didn't want to admit."

"What if you don't care and you're just open to falling for anyone no matter what container they come in?" Dustin asked.

"Well, I mean, I guess. If I can be sexually attracted to any gender then I suppose someone can be attracted to someone based solely on their personality," Steve said. "I discovered the word bisexual like a day ago, so if there's a word for that, I don't know it. . . .And really, container?"

"It's true, Steve! We are containers! We contain all sorts of things! We're just watery bags of blood and meat!" Dustin exclaimed.

"Okay! We were having a nice conversation, and then you ruined it!" Steve exclaimed.

"We are containers! Vessels of the human consciousness! There's so much more that we don't know about! Think about all the possibilities?! Steve?! Steve? Are you thinking about the possibilities?!"

"UGH!" Steve yelled out, wondering how someone could be so adorably excited about something and obnoxious at the same time, not even realizing in that moment that he officially became Dustin's older brother.

They made it to the junkyard where Lucas arrived with a redheaded girl named Max. She had been the same girl who rode in with Billy to school. She was his stepsister, Steve later learned. She was a lot more likable than Billy but still kind of angry. If he had an asshole stepbrother like that, Steve figured he'd be a little angry about it, too, especially if said stepbrother was taking his anger out on her. He wondered if anyone in her family stood up for her. The thought had made it easy when the demodog tried to come through the roof of the bus, and Steve immediately stood in front of her. . .in front of all of them, begging the dog to take him instead. Suddenly, though the demodogs had been called away and they headed straight for the lab. They followed after them, using the train tracks again as a pathway to the lab. They had made it to the lab and burst out of the trees, startling Nancy and Jonathan, who made it before them.

"Steve?!" Nancy and Jonathan exclaimed.

Before he could open his mouth, they had thrown themselves at him and hugged him tightly. Steve looked over them to find Dustin grinning and giving him two thumbs up. He rolled his eyes but smiled as Nancy and Jonathan pulled back.

"What's going on?" Nancy asked.

"We got back to the house and it was a mess. I couldn't find my mom or Will," Jonathan said.

"Yeah, we tried getting in touch with them too," Dustin said. "Mike's nowhere to be found either."

"I don't know. I know about as much as you do," Steve said. "Well, probably, a little more. I bet you don't know about the baby demogorgon that Dustin tried to keep as a pet and that we had to lead to a junkyard to kill when it grew so much that it created a tunnel in Dustin's basement. Turns out there's a whole pack of them, and it almost killed us, but then they like got called back to here."

"And this is Max, the girl Lucas endangered," Dustin said.

"I did not!" Lucas exclaimed.

"You kind of did, Stalker," Max smiled.

"Well, Dustin endangered us too with Dart!" Lucas exclaimed.

"I didn't know he was a baby demogorgon!"

"Hey! Hey! Enough!" Steve yelled. "Focus! It doesn't matter who's at fault! The only thing that matters is getting through this together. . .all of us! You got that?!"

"Yes," Dustin, Lucas, and Max said.

Nancy and Jonathan smiled at him for a moment before turning back to the lab.

"Will's in there," Jonathan said.

"And if Will's in there, so is Joyce. . .so, is Mike," Nancy said. "I know you don't like it. . ."

"I'm here, Nance. I'm with you," Steve said. "Which unfortunately means these guys as well."

Unfortunately, when they tried to get in, the power was out, which meant that the gate was inoperational as well. Steve didn't have the heart to tell Dustin that someone inside had probably restored power, and that's why the gate started working. He had looked so happy. Jonathan was able to use his car to drive up to the doors where Hopper was carrying Will and dragging a crying Joyce out. Bob Newby had died buying them some time, and it churned Steve’s stomach to know that it had just been the day before that Bob was giving him sage advice right in Joyce's kitchen which is where they were now. The gate was still open, and Will was being possessed by the Mind Flayer, yet another name taken from Dungeons and Dragons game. He briefly wondered what the kids would think of his new friend, Eddie, and his Hellfire club. Steve shook his head, noting the worried look on his boyfriend's face as they stood around the kitchen table. Steve discreetly reached around Nancy and took Jonathan's hand, hoping he was giving him a comforting squeeze. Jonathan squeezed back gratefully.

"Go with Jonathan," Steve told Nancy later and in a soft voice.

El had returned just as they had been planning just on how they would close the gate. It was the only way to save them. Meanwhile, Joyce and Jonathan were taking Will to Hopper's cabin to get the Mind Flayer out of him before they could close the gate. They were literally going to smoke it out of him. El would be going with Hopper to the lab to close the gate.

"Mike - " she started to say.

"I'll look after him and the other kids. Turns out I'm pretty good at babysitting. I think this was where I was meant to be. You were meant to kick the lab in the teeth. I wouldn't have been very helpful there, but I feel like I am here. Jonathan should have one of us with them, and it should be you," Steve said. "You trust me to look after the kids, right?"

"Of course," Nancy replied, and then her eyes lit up in amusement. "You make a very hot mom."

"Shut up," he laughed.

She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him deeply. She broke the kiss and pulled away just as Jonathan walked up to him.

"Jon - ," Steve said.

"I don't care," Jonathan said.

He grabbed Steve’s face and pulled him in for a kiss, much like Nancy had done. Steve quickly gripped Jonathan's waist to steady him and kissed him back. He pulled away from the kiss with a sigh.

"It's okay," Steve whispered. "We're going to be okay."

"Sorry, we're leaving you alone with the kids again, dear," Jonathan said teasingly.

"I have to put up with so much," Steve said with a dramatic sigh. "I deserve a foot rub, honeybunch."

"Done, but only if you never call me that again," Jonathan laughed.

He took Nancy's hand, and off they went. Joyce smiled softly at Steve and waved at him before getting into the car. She had seen the interaction and hadn't been bothered by it. She wasn't the only one who had seen it, though. The kids' faces were peering through the window, gaping at him. Dustin, however, was holding his thumbs up and looking even more delighted than he did before. Steve rolled his eyes but smiled as he walked back into the house. His smile was short-lived when the kids started arguing about helping Hopper and El by distracting the demodogs and setting the tunnels under Hawkins on fire. Steve absolutely forbade it, not wanting anything to happen to the kids and then having to look into the eyes of his partners to explain to them that he had failed. Just as he was putting his foot down, Max's stepbrother showed up. The fear on her face was more enough for him to do something about it. She was scared that Billy might actually kill her. He could see it and like hell that was going to happen.

He had gone out there, hoping he'd convince Billy that Max wasn't here, but the kids had to look out the window. One hard punch to the stomach, and Steve was down. When he finally was able to catch his breath, Steve walked into the house to find Billy holding Lucas against the wall, slamming him repeatedly and threatening to kill him. A roaring fury filled him, like a lion protecting its cub. Steve pulled him away from Lucas and started fighting Billy. He was stronger than Steve, a behemoth who was angry at the world and who was determined to set fire to anyone in his path to make them feel his own burning rage inside of him. As hard as Steve fought, he didn't want to kill Billy, especially not in front of his stepsister. He had to pull his punches and hoped Billy would do the same. Billy did not, and Steve paid the price for it. His head was swimming, and his ears were ringing from the plate he took to the head. He didn't want to give up. Steve collapsed, unable to fight back, and everything turned dark. The last thing he heard was the kids screaming his name.

"Nancy?" Steve asked.

The face in front of him became clearer. Embarrassingly, it wasn't Nancy but her brother, Mike. He felt someone patting him comfortingly. Were they moving?

"Shh, it's okay, Steve. You did good, buddy," he heard Dustin's voice from his other side.

"Are we in a car?" Steve slurred. "Who's driving?"

"Max, but it's fine. She practiced in a parking lot," Dustin said.

It did not make him feel better. Steve started screaming and hollering at them to pull over. It didn't matter, though, because they had made it to the tunnels. Steve gave up arguing with them and, instead, helped them set fire to the damn thing. This time, Steve drove them back to the Byers' house in Billy's stolen car. The car was the only good thing Billy had going for him. . .and Max, if only the asshole realized that. Walking through the door, he expected to see an angry Hargrove.

"Where's Billy?" He asked.

"Well, Max certainly didn't drug him to stop him from killing you, nor did she threaten him with your bat," Dustin laughed weakly. "We did NOT tie him up and shove him in a closet either."

Steve stared at him before jumping when they heard muffled yelling.

"What is that?" Steve asked.

"That would be Billy. . .in the closet," Lucas said.

Steve groaned and collapsed on the couch, clutching his head.

"He was going to kill you - " Mike started to say.

"You did what you had to do, Mike. I'm not mad," Steve said. "My head and chest fucking hurt. I can hardly breathe. . . .you guys are a lot braver than I am."

"I wouldn't have been able to stand up to Billy if I hadn't seen you fight for me and defend me. No one's ever done that for me before," Max said softly. "All they've ever done is hurt me."

Steve stared at her, an understanding forming between them both as he looked at her.

"I'm sorry," Mike blurted out at Max.

"For what?" Max asked.

"For being an asshole," Mike said.

"I totally get why you were though," Max said. "Still. . .yeah, you were an asshole. With everything that happened. . .I think I can forgive you."

Mike held out his hand for her to shake. Max went to shake it, but Dustin said they had to do a spit shake or it doesn't count. Steve watched in amusement as they argued about it. His head was pounding, and he thought maybe his nose might be broken as well, along with a concussion. Was he spinning or the room? It was kind of making him nauseated. Steve groaned and leaned his head back. The sick feeling in his stomach grew stronger, and the spot where Billy hit was hurt as well. He really couldn't help it. Steve leaned over and vomited all over the floor.

"Oh, shit!" The kids exclaimed as they rushed to his side.

Steve could hear the voices from outside even over the kids' worried voices. Was that Jonathan talking to Hopper?

"I don't know. It looks like Hargrove's. Mom took Will to the hospital. We wanted to check on the kids," Jonathan said.

"And Steve?" Hopper asked teasingly.

"Hush," Nancy said.

The door opened, and they trudged in, with El sleeping in Hopper's arms. They paused at the sight of the kids surrounding Steve.

"What's going on?" Hopper asked.

The kids parted to let them get a better look at Steve's condition. Jonathan and Nancy immediately went to his side.

"What the hell happened?" Nancy asked.

"He was going to kill the kids," Steve said softly.

"Who? Hargrove?" Jonathan asked. "Why?"

"It's my fault. He was looking for me," Max said. "I should have just gone with him."

"You said he was going to kill you," Steve said. "And you looked damn serious about it, too. He was slamming Lucas against the wall. . .I had to do something."

Hopper set El down on the chair and walked over to Steve. He clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"You did good, kid, but you need to go to the hospital," Hopper said.

"I'm fine," Steve wheezed.

"Your vomit on the floor said otherwise," Dustin said.

"Steve," Nancy said softly and kneeling in front of him. "We know why you don't want to go, but you have to. Jonathan and I will be with you every step of the way."

"Your parents aren't here, Steve. They can't send you away again," Jonathan said softly.

"What does that mean?" Dustin asked. "Steve?"

"It's nothing. I just had some nightmares over the summer, and my parents didn't want to deal with it, so they sent me to Pennhurst. Dad got busy with work and forgot I was there, that's all," Steve said, shrugging.

"That's all?! He said so casually. . . " Dustin said.

"Jesus, kid. . .look, we're going to talk about that later, but they're right. You need to go to the hospital with them," Hopper said softly. "I don't like hospitals either."

Steve nodded as he let Jonathan and Nancy help him up off the couch. He managed to hear one last conversation before he left the house.

"Billy Hargrove is tied up in Jonathan's closet," Dustin said. "In case you're wondering what that noise is."

"Of course he is," Hopper sighed, and Steve laughed as he was dragged out of the house.

"OW!"

Two days later. . .

Steve found himself sleeping in Jonathan's bed yet again and also waking to find someone else crawling into bed with them. Steve opened his eyes, squinting at the early morning light to find Nancy peering down at him and checking his pulse.

"I'm alive, Nance," Steve chuckled. "I see you and Mike are finally freed from your parents."

"Yeah, they did not appreciate me lying and running off with Jonathan," Nancy said. "Mike really wanted to join the slumber party. He's in there now with Will, Lucas, Dustin, and the girls."

Nancy kissed him before wedging herself between them. Jonathan stirred for a moment, glanced at her, and draped an arm around them both before falling back to sleep.

"Yeah, I think Max is afraid to go home even though Billy covered for us, but only because he didn't want to admit that he got drugged, tied up, and locked in a closet by a bunch of kids," Steve said.

"The asshole deserved it," Nancy said. "And then some. . . If I had been here and seen what he did. . ."

Nancy wrapped her arms carefully around him and kissed his shoulder blade.

"You would have shot him in the dick," Steve said.

"I would not - okay, maybe I would have," Nancy laughed.

"She definitely would have shot him in the dick," Jonathan agreed sleepily.

"Max is definitely a mini-Nancy," Steve said. "I love that kid. Dustin, too. Lucas. . .well, they're all great. Even Mike."

"Okay, who's your favorite?" Nancy asked teasingly.

"You can't ask me to choose, Nance, that's not very fair," Steve whined.

The three of them drifted off to sleep, and when Steve woke up, he was alone. It had only been temporary, though. There came a knock on the door and said a sleepy 'come in' before Joyce entered.

"You feeling any better?" Joyce asked.

"A little, still feels like I got run over, but at least nothing is broken," Steve said. "Although, it sure does feel like it still."

"Well, do you still feel up to staying a bit longer? I really don't feel comfortable sending you back to that empty house or to your parents all," Joyce said.

"Oh, yeah, that would be great. Uh, where's Jonathan and Nancy?" Steve asked.

"Oh, Jonathan is with Hopper making breakfast for everyone. Nancy is with the girls. Max wanted to show them her comics," Joyce said. "Hopper came by to tell El he's officially adopting her."

"Oh, that's great!" Steve exclaimed and then paused. "I, uh, with everything that happened, I didn't get a chance to say thank you for everything, and I'm really sorry about Bob."

"Thank you, sweetheart," she said softly and hugged him tightly.

Suddenly, there came a sound like the thundering of feet. Lucas and Dustin appeared in the doorway, breathing heavily.

"Steve, there's something that I need to ask you," Dustin said.

"No, there's something that I need to ask you!" Lucas exclaimed, elbowing him.

"I got here first!" Dustin yelled.

"Boys!" Joyce laughed.

"I want to take custody of you!" Dustin shouted out quickly. "My mom and I have a spare room!"

"We have a spare room, too!" Lucas said.

"I found him first, so he should be my brother!" Dustin exclaimed.

"He should be my brother! He saved me from Billy!"

"He saved all of us!"

"Are they fighting over me?" Steve asked.

"I think so," Joyce asked in amusement.

"Guys! I can be brothers to both of you!" Steve exclaimed.

"Well, I suppose we could split time between our houses," Dustin said thoughtfully.

"My mom is already practically setting up his room," Lucas said, nodding. "A biweekly basis?"

"God, no. A monthly basis would be better," Dustin said.

"Yeah, that works," Lucas said.

"Does that work for you, Steve?" Joyce asked, laughing.

"Yeah, I guess so," he said with a wide grin.

"Oh, shit, sorry, Steve. Is this okay? Because we already talked about it with our parents, and we got so excited - " Lucas said.

"I'm happy to be your brother," Steve said.

Dustin and Lucas hopped on the bed to hug him tightly. Joyce laughed and dove out of the way.

"Careful, he's still injured!"

It was another couple of days before they all had no choice but to return to school after Steve moved in with both the Hendersons and the Sinclairs. They also finally put Barbara to rest with Jonathan and Steve standing with Nancy as they buried Barb, holding her hands tightly. It had been risky what they had done, but as Steve stared at Barb's parents and the coffin being lowered into the ground, he realized it had been worth it. Nancy and Jonathan were on either side of him now just as Nancy has been supported at the funeral, as they all walked into school, keeping an eye out for Hargrove. It amused Steve to no end that they were hellbent on protecting him, but he was also touched by it. They really liked him just as much as he liked them. Also, he was pretty sure that Nancy had tucked a knife into her boot.

"Jesus, I thought the rumors were true, and Hargrove had killed you," Eddie's voice came from behind them.

Steve had been putting his books in his locker when Eddie approached.

"He came close," Steve said as he turned to him.

"Fuck, man, did he try to turn your face into ground meat?" Eddie asked.

"Yeah, he was trying to hurt a kid, couldn't let that happen," Steve scowled and winced. "Worth it."

"Well, he seems a lot more meeker now," he said. "Did you kick his ass?"

"Something like that," Steve said as he shared a look with Jonathan and Nancy.

"Why are people staring at us?" Jonathan asked. "Do you think they know?"

"They're completely oblivious to the looks you're giving Stevie here. What they are staring at is King Steve talking all friendly with the freak and not sending him on his merry way," Eddie said.

"I am no longer King Steve," he scoffed.

"Tell that to the small folk because I don't think they know," he said in amusement as he leaned against the lockers with them. "Well, most of them who haven't completely lost their minds over Hargrove's looks, which I don't understand. Your ass is way better."

Jonathan cleared his throat, and Nancy giggled.

"It's so cute when he gets jealous like that," Nancy said.

"Hm, I wonder if he'll react the same way when I flirt with you. My God, Wheeler, your eyes are the most beautiful shade of blue. Like pools I could swim forever in."

"Seriously?!" Jonathan exclaimed.

"He's winding you up, Jonathan," Nancy said.

"And you're making it so easy for him, baby," Steve said softly, grinning.

"I hate all of you," Jonathan said, smiling as they all laughed.

Eddie was about to open his mouth and say something when Chrissy Cunningham walked up to Nancy. It made Steve realize that it had been a while since he and Nancy had hung out with Chrissy. Although, a lot of that had to do with Jason. Neither Nancy nor Steve had liked him or the way he treated Chrissy. They had both voiced their concerns, and Jason hadn't liked that.

"I gathered the homework that you missed, Nancy," Chrissy said, smiling.

"You seem happier. More free, I would say," Nancy said knowingly.

"I ended it with Jason once and for all," Chrissy said. "But I'm sure you and Steve are happy about that."

"Happy for you," Steve said with a grin. "But yeah, good riddance."

Chrissy laughed. Her eyes drifted over to Eddie, and she smiled gently at him.

"I'm sorry for all the trouble he gives you and Hellfire," Chrissy said and paused. "I should have tried harder last year. . ."

"I'm sorry for all the trouble he gave you," Eddie said, and she absentmindedly grabbed her arm. "Higgins never would have believed you, anyway, not without a little blackmail."

"Did you blackmail him?" Chrissy asked.

"I can neither confirm nor deny," Eddie grinned, and Chrissy laughed.

"What's happening here?" Jonathan asked.

"What they're doing is called flirting, and it's what we've been doing over the last year," Steve whispered to him. "Although, we didn't know it so I can understand your confusion."

"Asshole. You're lucky you're cute," Jonathan said.

The three of them watched as Eddie flirted with Chrissy, and when the bell rang, Chrissy had to leave. Eddie watched her depart, not paying attention to where he was going, and ran right into an opening doorway.

"Ugh, please tell me I stuck the landing," Eddie groaned from the floor.

"You didn't," Steve, Nancy, and Jonathan said.

"Your forehead is so red, man!" Steve laughed.

"Shut up!" Eddie exclaimed without getting up, and he glanced at Steve's shoes. "Ooh, I see you met Robin Buckley."

"Steve. . .why do you have boobs and a dick on your shoes?" Nancy asked their boyfriend.

"And what does it have to do with Robin Buckley?" Jonathan asked, and Steve laughed.

It was hard after that to feel as lonely as he had in that big empty house. He had a home with Dustin and Lucas. When he wasn't going back and forth between his partners' houses. His groups of friends had grown as well to accept Eddie, Chrissy, Robin, and eventually Eddie's friends became his friends as well. Steve and Nancy worked with Jonathan on their relationship, trying their best not to retreat when things started to get difficult. Steve was able to deal with the fact that some days Nancy wanted Jonathan more than Steve and vice versa. There were some days Steve wanted Jonathan more than Nancy, and there were definitely a lot more days where all three wanted each other. He wasn't alone anymore, and the realization hit him hard on the day he graduated. So many people had come to celebrate him, the people who truly mattered. Even Eddie showed up, even though he wasn't going to be graduating with him. He had suddenly forgotten about that when Chrissy pulled him in for their first kiss. Steve had laughed with an arm around Jonathan and Nancy as the kids joined them in his graduation picture, Eddie looking like a lovestruck idiot as Joyce took the picture. He had a big family just like he always wanted.

[hello-eeveev]

(edited slightly for clarity)

brennan’s vibes when he shows up to the pre-roll with snacks are soooo relatable

also… ngl… I’m sure this episode will be great for sure for sure… but T-7 days until Essek is back on my screen :)

like I know some people are saying they should have split up this episode but if I had to wait another week for more essek I would have lost my mind

ohhh I love cassida 💕 she’s so wizard 💕💕💕

“You watch something break inside of Cassida.” OOF

oh dear, the betrayers being condescending to Cassida is NOT helping this will not go well for anyone

GENESIS WARD B-9!!!!

Cognouza continues to be the big bad :/

this is really a situation of Everybody Sucks Here none of you are free of sin (except you cassida ily)

the emissary also gets a pass I love them they’re trying

you know, the raw footage of carnage and images of bodies hanged horizontal are really gonna ruin aeor date nights :/

factorum malleus ooohoohoohooo

lollll the deception check was pointlesssss INITIATIVE!!!!

oh the emissary was made for this

DOUBLE ALL SKILLS AND PASSIVES?!?!

nick marini that was so narratively tastyyyyy

DRGON

BRENNAN LEE MULLIGAN >:(

I love you purvan suul I can mostly forgive you for your super cool booby-trapped armor

attempting to rearrange SILAHA’s parts to recreate and version of the factorum malleus in order to kill him (and then to bring the body back under control) brennan that was 😳

lol a status condition ring that just says “fucked” that’s incredible

I LOVE ATARO

nick is SO good with this combat strategy

oh thank goodness that was harrowing

awww fambly :’)

stunning strike, man

METEOR STORM LET’S GOOOOO

abubakar, this is an amazing play I’m soooo here for it

noshir’s “you’re a monster, dude!” was so cute 💕

that’s absolutely the kind of wording I would also exploit let’s freaking go

the arch heart reveling in the glory of the arcane even as it harms them is sooo goooood

ASHA FULLY DODGES A METEOR SWARM THAT’S MY WILDMOM

HOLY— (quite literally)

IMMUNE TO ALL SPELLS BELOW SIXTH LEVEL?!?!

owwwww okay but Essek has 22/23 int soooo (this is cope)

Nick: that was my action Brennan: pfHAH!

BITCH

okay but as a narrative moment can we just *see* what happens

okay but I’m a sucker for saving things and people you love and for final, drastic acts of desperation so I am here

okay I’m actually very glad I love arcadia/ioun

yessss give ioun the knowledge it’s what she DESERVES

BRENNAN LEE MULLIGAN YOU MOTHERF—

GUIDING BOLT HIM right up the butt everlight this is your song

will ioun be the one to do the bubbles? to preserve the knowledge?

the jesus parallels continue further???

I love the lawbearer so so much

the bubbles brennan who sets up the bubbles pls

MATTHEW

MATTHEW THE BUBBLES

[rainbowchaox]

Monster Of The Week Ranchers Au:

Okokokokokok this au is based on small town that besieged with so much supernatural shenanigans that Jimmy the chosen one that wants to just be a normal dude and play his Cowboy esque character in his dnd campaign has to be forced to put on his destiny pants and save the town and sometimes the world every each weekend or so.

Jimmy is very much “I JUST WANT TO BE NORMAL” type of fated main character.

Tango who is his main love interest is literally a cryptid in the woods that legit falls in love with Jimmy at first interaction. Is actually dangerous but literally all he did is rummage tents for marshmallows and beer. Is highkey feral and is one of the first ones to join the bust the supernatural gang.

Grian is the brother of Main Character Jimmy that thought he would be the chosen one but destiny is a bitch making him a petty fucker for the first arc because Jimmy took his job in his eyes.

Scar is literally a dude that comes from a family of magic users that is heavily tied to the dark secrets of the small town but is the black sheep of the family despite being unironically the most powerful of his generation in his family.

Impulse is literally a normal dude. Excerpt he has a car and is way too willing to break all laws to help Jimmy and co beat whatever is the monster of the week. He eventually manages to get fae napped and Fae married in a later arc to Bdubs who is a Fae Creature.

Bdubs is a fae creature that is a little shit that appears to help or make Jimmy and co life a little bit hell. And yes somehow Impulse with his normal boy swag romances the evil adjacent fae being,

Kathrine is the recurring side character who goes to the posh private academy and from a rich af family who is probably one of the founding families of the small town. A typical popular chick but instead she’s actually nice and a friendly rival monster hunter to Jimmy. She wears a pink leather jacket and rides a motorcycle.

Scott is a vampire. Has his evil arc but eventually becomes a begrudged ally. Jimmy had a thing with him in his past life.

Fwhip as a normal dude that touches shit he shouldn’t touch. He goes outside during full moons for night walks. He summons demons or shit because he got drunk and decided to do Ouija. One of the dudes that saw “The Red Stalker” in the woods (Tango) but no one believed him and the cause of Tango bad press. In actuality Tango wasn’t trying to hurt him Fwhip got saved by Tango because another monster wanted to eat him.

Sausage as the son of the pastor that quickly learns that belief can burn bitches. Also a goddess lives in his head. He’s going through it.

Oli as the ghost that haunts the school auditorium that may be connected to some tragedy that is related to the secrets of the town. Possible died because of cult shit.

Gem as literally a new age movement leader that recently made a compound in the woods because of the “ENERGY” and “ZEN” of the environment. Worships the Fae Creature Bdubs eventually.

Lizzie is literally a old god that Joel summoned in a episode with a eldritch book. And yes Joel manages to convince her to date him.

Joel is just a normal dude that does have red string board in his room because he is sorta freaking out that ya know they live in small town supernatural.

Pearl is the goddess in Sausage brain. She can appear to other supernaturals but she kinda vibing because she is kinda low on magic god juice.

PixL as the history teacher that knows way too much about what the fuck is going down that week. Either he’s immortal or connected to a secret society,

Joey as a normal dude in theatre that is the main target of Oli shenanigans.

Shubble as a goth witch in training also part of the posh private school with a major crush on Kathrine.

BigB and Ren are two homies that recently became werewolves.

Etho is another Cryptid who is besties with Tango.

Martyn is the son of the mayor whose house holds so many secrets.

Mumbo is a vampire because of Scott villain arc.

Skizzleman is just a dude that thinks the town is normal because somehow he always rationalizes the freaky shit into stuff like CO2 poisoning. Or scooby Doo shenanigans.

Cleo is a zombie that Shubble revived making them like besties and roommates.

[bogbiter]

League Concept: Flying Wyverns (ft. THROGG?!?!)

Hello beasties! Remember that guy I was rewriting? This man started in the same train of thought as Kyridon. Actually he was the OG. And he was admittedly not as cool. Or lore wise, thought out. He was PURELY designed for being a monster champ with a brawler kit.

And boy he has grown in concept since the start of 2021.

Let me tell you about a troll. His name is Throgg

Throgg from Warhammer Fantasy is one of the most intelligent individuals in the Old World. And most definitely the most intelligent troll period. While his original appearance did not paint him as especially bright, if just exceptionally competent in tactics. Yet The Kinslayer and End Times saga painted him a far more intelligent force. Like, he was Warhammer Fantasy's take on Smaug, having such a Shakespearean flair that one did not expect from some senior aged troll.

milkandcookiesTW does an exceptional video on the dude, and I do recommend reading Kinslayer as they not only make him the big bad, but also just because Felix and Gotrek books are just swag.

What does this do with our boy here? Well, the story below details that juxtaposition between pure predator and architect of the future of an entire species. Also yes we're revisiting the Freljord again fuckers because the Northern Lands of Ice and Frost need more things to kill you.

----

In the Frozen lands, there lies the ancestral site of the Laitivern, the original Rulers of the Sky. For Generations, hundreds of  these wyvern clans would roost within the massive elder volcano of Wyrms Furnace, their kin dominating the skyline. And at one point they were not just limited to the Freljord either, for they had in older days conquered the world. They were cunning, and recognized that in a world of great beasts, numbers overwhelming lead to victory. They existed alongside Man, Troll, Minotaur, and Vastaya, but they were not on equal terms. They raided Man and Minotaur, competed with Troll, and preyed upon Vastaya. Their namesake became synonymous with dragons, for a flock of wandering Laitiverns could very easily overwhelm a territory and strip it of livestock and soldiers. 

The Rune Wars changed this dynamic however, for the sorcery unfolded onto the world would scar the lands they called home. Magibeast once dormant before days of creation rose up, and tempered the land in strange horrific ways. Magic radiated into new and terrifying plagues, and for as clever as the The Laitivern were, they did not know how to combat these new threats. But the other races did, and though they too had an uphill battle, they gained a footing when the Laitiverns themselves could not. They disappeared from most of the world, and those who resided in the Freljord soon found that Man and Troll had grown stronger. Now their meals were stolen away, or their hunting flocks ambushed and feasted upon. Some of these terrible magic plagues tore into scales like scalding iron, and left them too weak to fly. And those who could not fly, they starved. Many clans were razed in this era, and the Laitivern went into hiding, less they attracted the unwanted attention of Dragon Hunters and Slayers.

Those around the Freljord could sometimes go weeks without a successful kill. And as the magibeast roamed the land, and the shamans spread themselves out far and wide, those at Wyrm's Furnace had an idea to feed on them instead. The flesh of Balestag or Frost Casting Yeti could suffice a flock for much longer than a typical boar or cave bear. These hunts were not… always successful… but those who came back proved themselves the most capable and cunning of their flock, and were awarded the title of Mach'dala, or "Soul Downer''.

To their surprise, the young that ate upon the sweet meat of these corrupted creatures seemed to grow a powerful resistance to crippling frost magic, or bolts of channeled fire. Seeing positive effects of their more daring hunts, the tradition carried on, and slowly did their magical potency grow as those same hatchlings would then grow up into Mach'dala themselves. Near the modern age, as Noxus crashed the gates of holds in the east of the Freljord, some Laitiverns could deflect the magic, and those that had hunted shamans could now bring their own runic powers to the hunt. But they had also harnessed in this time the "Styg '', or "Wrath". The ability to breathe a clouded emission black as storm clouds and rolling with red thunder,  that could direct at prey and foe alike. The Laitivern became known as Galdrveiðrormr, or as the Mage Hunter Wyverns. And those of Wyrm's Furnace grew bold, and even with Anivia in the skies… they claimed the heavens as their domain.

Wyrm's Furnace however was full of more Laitiverns than the Mach'dala. There were the Oldsouls who guided the roost and healed its soldiers, the Foragers who gathered supplies for nesting and firemaking, the Bouncers who protected the roost, and the Carvers, who carved out rock for them to build more nests and roosts. An apt home for hatchling, with many careers to seek. Among a clutch of eggs that belonged to a esteemed Carver and Mach'dala, was Veyolkos. 

It was very clear after he hatched he was born a gifted hatchling, with his scales sharpening very early on, and learning to glide within a month of hatching. But this caused the problem where he was a bit too curious. Curiosity in the Freljord for even humans and Yordles has to be tempered, otherwise death would be the answer to the inquiry. So they kept him near the Oldsouls, who had no qualm with watching a hatchling. Except Veyolkos the moment he learned to speak, had too many questions. He asked why they collected spears, and was told they were warrior's trophies. When he asked if he could make a spear, the elders were dumbfounded, and had no idea if they could. Humans seemed to make them with ease, but they were so thin the Laitivern's saw them as an inconvenience. What use was a weapon if you were already so dangerous unarmed. He didn't like the answer, and attempted to make such spears. And then axes. And then disastrously, a bow. After a few days and a few more missing scales and bruises from the Laitivern Chick's attempted craftsmanship, they relieved Veyolkos of their watch, the Oldsouls growing tired of his boundless energy and always fidgeting talons resulting in injuries around the roost. 

This was unseemly, as chicks could easily get lost or snatched up by an Azurite Eagle. But a few experienced foragers agreed, for his mother couldn't take him as she hunted far more dangerous beasts, and his father worked near falling stone for a living. Taking him under their wing, they showed them the shells they used to forage water, and the branches they searched for that carried the healing ingredients needed for the Oldsouls to use. They showed him flint, and chunks of metal along the cliff faces that helped start flame. And this, seemed to get him wondering if the wood they harvested for the fires couldn't be used to make something else. Especially seeing how easily the wind could snatch their cache from their talons. So he took to some branches, and as the veterans foraged, attempted to make a basket. He had never seen a basket, but he figured something that could hold multiple supplies at a time they could carry in their jaws and talons, was far easier. And to his chagrin, after six fell apart, the seventh carried back 3 shells of water and a bundle of medicinal batteries. The Veterans were curious about the little thing, and asked the young hatchling how it was made. And Veyolkos was more than happy to show.

As he grew into a Yearling, he would continue as a forager. Though he would not lie, he wasn't particularly fond of just being a forager. Yes he made baskets for collecting, but he also wanted to make more with the sticks, bones, and stones at his disposal. So he made for larger baskets yes, and sleds to make transporting caches easier, but he also took to equipping himself with armor. Most notably, taking the hides of kills and tanning them to make leather. To make into stripes. And to create spears around his face and shoulders, as to create a formidable defense as he and other foragers would descend into the valley to steal from the Freljord's wolves and bears. Veyolkos despite his size would always attempt to lead the attack, for though he was similar in size to the bears he believed his craftsmanship would stand the test against them. And the first couple attempts did not. But he learned to treat the wood with flame, and sharpen the bone instead of just relying on its broken pieces. And soon his body was among the veterans as they reaped hard earned scraps, as he tore into their furred hides with sharpened blades and claws, bringing back extra to be eaten, and additionally bringing him more materials to work with. 

Though the Bouncers found his designs to be… the work of a fledgling that had yet to realize his true strength, the Foragers were more than happy to use his new equipment. Veyolkos at first believed he could create a new career, here in Wyrm's Furnace. As much as he enjoyed gathering, he couldn't help but feel it would be wasted potential. While others saw shapes and landmarks, he saw patterns. Patterns that could be manipulated and made into something new. For his siblings he created shields of bone and hide, to protect their sides once they were applied. When they went off to hunt, they wouldn't be as scathed by a predator's blows, but they did return with the armor mangled and torn. Which only incentivised him to cure leather and toughen the hide at his disposal.

But at two years of age, all his planning and testing was interrupted by his mother. His mother saw his tinkering not as the work of a brilliant mind or an opportunistic artist, but a soul yearning for conflict. Wolves and Elk wouldn't cut it, no, he'd need bigger prey. She told him that since he could fly with expertise now, that he must return home with magically gifted prey. Veyolkos was mortified at first, for he had heard his mother's stories of those beasts beyond in the Old Pines and Evergrowth. But before he went out, he asked her to let him prepare for it. She accepted, and for 2 months he fastened himself a suit of leather, bone, and took from an abandoned den, a worn out and torn chest piece of steel to make as a helm. And so he went out on his hunt, soaring through the skies in ragged armor. There amidst stormy skies he scoured, the pelts of his armor keeping him protected from the bite of winter's wind. 

The storm he flew into made it so visibility was low, but amidst the flurry he caught sight of a fire deep in a cave. He perched outside of it, resting atop the mouth of the cave, as he let himself lay low and hid beneath the white blanket of the precipitation. There he saw a lone man, decorated in bear furs moving back to the cave, unaware of the danger lurking above his own refuge. He had heard of Shamanic Werebears, and wondered if though not the largest kill to make, if it would draw the praise of his roost. This was his first magibeast to down, not fed to him in shreds from the mouth of an elder or his mother.As soon as the shaman passed under the roof of the cave Veyolkos shot forward like a panther leaping towards a bird in flight. His body contorted, facing the man as the man instinctively entered his Ursine state. The two collided, bouncing into the cave as both tried to land their jaws on the throat of the other. But Veyolkos’s face spears became too difficult to navigate around, and so the Ursine departed, bleeding from his chest and arms, and tried to find a new way to attack this armored Laitivern. Veyolkos would look around, to find that indeed, Laitivern scales were used in the making of spears and axes. He snapped his jaws as the Ursine tried to rush for his flank, only to pull away, revealing that hidden along their neck was the teeth of bear, wolf, raptor… Laitivern. This Shaman most likely had experience, and knowing killing a slayer like him could prove dangerous to his people, he immediately went to flee, only to feel the Ursine crash into him and knock him over, immediately trying to go for his chest, yet seemed somewhat stunned when his claws only struck hide and stone. Which he had still torn apart, but had not reached the vitals of the Laitivern. Taking advantage of the situation, Veyolkos slapped the Ursine onto its back, and flipping himself up with cat-like agility. He plunged his head spears into the Ursine Man’s side and continued the fight, as the bear man clawed away at his face only for Veyolkos to plunge his spears deeper into the shaman. The struggle was long and brutal, Veyolkos withdrawing only after the Ursine stopped swiping away with their claws. His own face was a bloody mess, but beyond the blood flowing down his eyes, he was able to see the man’s bag. Torn up during their brawl, he noticed its contents included a long scroll, made from the skin of a seal. He nabbed it and the man’s body, flying off with his catch.

He returned to his mother and the elders, presenting his kill as he panted, before showing off his armor. He harshly dropped the shaman before their feet, before ripping a chunk out of the Ursine’s flesh, harshly gulping down the pelt and viscera. He couldn't hear anything they said, but he assumed he had pleased them. He climbed to the top of the Qyrm's Furnace, and took to studying the runes engraved onto the pelt, occupied only by the howl of the wind.

----

            Laitivern mature rapidly at a young age, then it slowly peters out once they reach twelve years of age. As sub-adults they are not yet old enough to court or start their own clutch, but they can hunt amongst one another with some independence. Veyolkos had decided to flip flop between the Forager groups and Mach'dala. Amongst his siblings he was an alien, they adhered to the ways of old. And so he was most regarded not as a pack mate, but a tag-along. And so on their hunts he'd disappear for a time, since they wanted nothing to do with his inventions. But that was fine for Veyolkos. He'd begun smiting since he was seven, and had outfitted his talons with claws befitting a king. Silver he had learned, had some properties that could protect him from the surge of energy his prey usually outputted. Mystical stags he'd search for, not awake. For their speed was so frighteningly swift he could never keep up. When he found such prey he'd make sure they were sleeping. Sometimes he'd silently move in and pin the magibeast down, eating them alive. Other times he just found it easier to grab a large chunk of ice or a boulder to drop on them and concuss them. Before taking his talons to their throat. Should he find the campsites of hunters, he'd make sure none were around before taking any armor or artifacts they possessed as novelties to research. Most treasured to him was literature,for even power fantasies where the author obviously transposed himself into his work he found utterly fascinating. His favorite thing to catch he had created a pulley system just to harpoon the beast: The Frost Serpent. He had found their hide was too sharp and smooth to gain purchase with talons, and they moved so quickly that it would be a miracle to catch their giant eyes to rangle the beast. So Veyolkos had learned to harpoon them as soon as possible, and cranking the pulley could effectively keep one in place and slowly drag it to be butchered. His siblings called it cheating and barbaric. He called it an opportunity, for their sharp scales and fangs made for excellent blades and armor scaling.

         Among his foraging kin he'd fashion them nets, should everyone be feeling more in the need for fish and seal. And he'd create great traps to capture Elnüks. The Foragers also noted how he often searched for herbs when they were available, and whatever food they had he would use them on the meat. At first they found it strange to add greens to their carrion, but when cooked, or he put it in a stone pot he had made and boiled them together, opinions changed quickly. He was always fast on the wing, and that made him exceptionally good at catching the more mundane prey.  And they knew for a fact he would hunt the yetis that marched around their territory, plucking them straight from the sky only to drop them to the earth, like an eagle does with a tortoise. 

          Though his most macabre behavior of butchery. Impaling his prey to the trees and their branches, so that he could take his claws and remove their hides, and cut their flanks. He had made a basket specifically for this act, and he'd return with the cut pieces and prepare it for whoever was willing to eat from his kills. Sometimes he'd return with the helm of a Frostguard, other times the necklace of the Ursine, and rarely the weapons of the Winter's Claw.  To the Laitivern he was still Veyolkos, but he had heard himself spoken about in times where he lurked in the shadows outside of man's fire glow… as The Windrazor. Veyolkos appreciated the name, and on his 14th year decided that his title should be just that: The Windrazor.

Naturally though as tensions rised in the Freljord, with the coming of the Dominion and the Walled Settlements of the Avarosans, hunts were now far more stressful. Especially now that Wyrm's Furnace was repeatedly being raided by Tribal Yordle, Trolls, and Slayers of The Winter's Claw. To kill a Laitiverns had always been a statement to one's hunting prowess, but their sharp scales and strong hide made for excellent armor and weapon crafting. The Bouncers were strong folk, but they were being overrun. As some bouncers fell after raid after raid, and The Mach'dala themselves would fall,  Veyolkos stopped his hunts, and stayed behind to watch over his kin's ancestral site, ready to prove himself capable of protecting their roost. He took to what resources he had, and through convincing, equipped the remaining Bouncers In Armor, protecting their faces and chest, yet still allowing them to shoot their scales out at the enemy. He asked upon the Carvers to find fine stone deep within Wyrm's Furnace, and bring it to him. There he'd teach them, including his own father, to make blades for the tails of The Bouncers, and these blue, steel-shining great blades were so refined in quality that they could take down scores of men, and even without their cutting edge the weight alone could crush a troll's skull. 

He rallied the foragers and equipped them in shields that protected their flanks, and branded their heads with metal spears and their chest with plates made of thick hides and stone. They would go out there to scout first the whereabouts of these hunters, using the cover of night and thunderstorm to determine exactly how these raiders planned to take them. Mach’dala and Bouncers occupied any forces coming from their east and north, while they determined the best possible way to strike. Veyolkos also searched out the Vellox tribes that wandered near their territory, and communed with Yetis. He raised to them teh cruelty they had been experiencing, and how together, they could not only protect Wyrm’s Furnace, but all those in the freljord. He was no longer just trying to protect the Laitiverns, he was amassing an army to do so. He asked his siblings and mother to aid him in such encounters, and at first confused and just going along, they had not the slightest idea why? Only to see Vellox cowering and Yetis lowering their ice clubs in their presence, as Veyolkos spoke with haunting authority, though the other Mach’dala could not discern what he was saying. They would bow to each other, and then the non-laitiverns would leave. Only for Veyolkos to tell them each time:

“Numbers make us look professional. A mad Laitivern rambling does not hold the same power unless occupied by his kin. Especially if he speaks their tongue.”

He would soon talk with the Oldsouls his next set of plans, to continue teaching the carvers how to sculpt armor, and to carve out more dens for the new alliances.. The Oldsouls at first seemed offended by the preposition. They lambasted him for getting distracted. He had always needlessly complicated everything with redundancy and risks. At first Veyolkos let them ramble on, insulting his plans and his reliance on historical enemies, and his cruel affection towards melting metal to crudely reshape it. He then snickered after they had their say, and wandered back to his den. But not without departing to them some words, his tone callous,

“I was not asking for permission, I was letting you know.”

Continuously during their scouting, Veyolkos would plunge deeper past their territories to find covens in the moonlight, gliding silently to learn of their language, and their magics. For his many years with the scroll of his first kill, it had yet to dawn on him what it could mean. But as he had gotten older, he had gotten wiser, and more keen to meaning and interpretation. And understanding the magics their enemies often used was part of the battle. Know the enemy, more than they know you. And as he grew to understand the runic languages, he’d return back to the roost. He would make sure armor was being made, weapons being carved, food being prepared and stored. He’d have the foragers learn to create new tonics and wrappings to aid the bouncers, and then he’d retreat to his den. Only to take the scroll out and reach the highest peak to study the writing. The humans were obsessed with things beyond them. They shared that, and yet as he came to rehearse the incantations, he understood the nature of the scrolls. To shape into something else. To shape into another form of beast. He held in this information, and seeing what needed to be done, he tucked it away into his den. And prepared for conflict. Afterall, blood was to be spilled.

----

It turned out a large group of mercenaries, slayers, and soldiers of the Winter’s Claw had made their trek to Wyrm’s Furnace to finally get the materials needed for their employers or clan. War is, in part, a business, and buyers have strict schedules and due dates. As they ventured towards Wyrm’s Furnace, they noted how quiet it was. The Freljord could be isolating and haunting, but even here the wind seemed only distant. And as they reached the edge of the treeline heading towards the clearing, four of them took a step too far to the right, and were suddenly plunged straight into the earth. Looking down at their comrades, all they found was the four impaled on spikes of carved cedar, bleeding out as they stared down at the bottom of the pit. As if on cue, bolts were fired at the encroaching band of hunters and mercenaries. Many mages put up barriers for them and their crew as they ran past the treeline, shields raised for those who did not have arcane energies protecting them. But the bolts had come high from the peaks, before a new wave set upon the encroaching men. These bolts were massive, more akin to ballista as they descended down, taking a seventeen more of the hunters, limiting their numbers. As they saw no Laitivern in the sky, many shouted for their fellow man to take cover, as they rushed for the massive jutting stones that surrounded the mountain. Many took bows or muskets and fired up where the shots were coming from, hoping to score some blows.

Then they heard something coming from where the Laitiverns roosted. An eerie, discordant hymn, and it felt like those at the base of the mountain were no longer alone. They all felt it: something has gone deeply and irreversibly wrong… and they needed to start running. As soon as they were going to reposition, they heard screeching as a great pack of raptors descended upon them. With the beasts’ strong back legs and jagged bills, a few more mercs fell before the raptors were ignited by the magics of the mage or the molten lead of muskets. And yet the raptors stayed firm, dragging people out into the opening clearing. Some of those people dragged out were able to down the beast with spears and axes, and as soon as they stood up to seek cover, they were pelted with boulders. Attacking the hunters now were Yetis, roaring and beating their chest as they grabbed clubs and warpaddles before charging in. Some of them, the smaller white haired primates, fell, but the elders stayed strong and crashed into their flank. 

Retreating up, they soon were beset upon by Vellox, whose snow leopard print helped them camouflage into the mountain, as their human faces suddenly bared saber fangs as robust monstrous winged arms threw them towards the hunters, tussling with them as they scrapped on the steps of the Laitivern’s roosting site. Weapons striked against flesh with the same ferocity of claws and fangs sundering armor. The Vellox had ways to avoid a direct engagement, with some departing to blow onto their foes winter’s cold embrace, freezing them in place. Yet still Vellox would fall, but as they did the Raptors and Yetis charged from behind, hoping to take the hunter’s down with them if they could. And the hymn above became not some eerie whisper, but a chaotic cacophony being blown through the horn of a ram. Before a Vellox would climb onto a rock and chant, and as she began her most terrifying dirge, the roost erupted with the sound of metal and flapping wings.

The chaos that ensued was swift and brutal, as the Laitiverns defended their ancestral site with an unmatched ferocity. The hunters and mercenaries found themselves vastly outnumbered and overwhelmed as descending onto the group like a horde of wasps were the Laitiverns they had come to hunt. Many bolted for the treeline, running as the Laitivern’s armor blocked their shots, and they threw themselves towards the mages, dragging them away as more of their kin flew ahead of the humans, claws lowering as they lifted the men into the heavens, tearing them apart as they took the remains back to the roost. The ground shook beneath the clashing forces, and the air was filled with the sounds of battle cries, roars, and the piercing screeches of the Laitiverns. Many of those from The Winter’s Claw stood their ground, and those slayers were able to counter the aerial dives of the Laitiverns. Yet they didn’t expect to suddenly be confronted by the heavily armored form of Laitivern Bouncers, Yetis, and Vellox barreling down the mountain towards them. Nor the synchronized volleys of scales being thrown at them. 

Veyolkos had expected a larger group, and though mildly disappointed at only two hundred something men, it made his job way easier. He soared through the sky, leading the foragers and his siblings in a coordinated attack. He darted through the air like a dark shadow, shedding his scales like a storm of glinting blades to lacerate and weaken their forces, before with the cold calculation and agility of a falcon in the dive to strike with deadly precision. And when he noted the flank they were striking was in disarray, he lunged for a sorceress clinging behind a rock for cover. He dived down again, tucking in his wings as he descended from a great height towards her. He angled himself to the side and spread out his wings, coasting down towards her with talons outstretched, seeing the hunter witch’s eyes widen as his talons enveloped her chest. As he nabbed her he flew towards the center of combat, letting loose a series of Styg projectiles onto the enemy to scatter their forces. It wouldn’t be long now till they either broke, or were devoured. So as he applied crushing pressure to her ribs within his grasp, he had to act quickly. He flew behind many a peak to hide his position, as he landed on his perch for which he had titled his study, harshly throwing her down.

He grabbed his scroll, and as he set the stone down on the edges of the scroll, she began to scream at him, of course. She had expected to hunt creatures a little above yetis in wit, not, whatever this armored beast was.

“What!? What the fuck are you planning?!”

He scoffed at her, making sure the seal skin scroll was secure as he turned to face her with a look of not pride nor indifference, but the look of a tiger caught stalking its quarry.

“The intellect I have can be gifted unto another. I refuse to see my society surrounded by witless animals.”

Now was her turn to scoff, as she leered at him with a mocking tone.

“Awwww… golden boy feels he’s wasted on chewing bones with the rest of his packmates-”

He slammed his bladed tail onto her with a sudden harshness, the woman hacking and wheezing as she felt her body crumple from the strike, as he approached her with way too much a casual stride, as he picked her up with his wing claws.

“Though river streams and hills grow steeper, man grows a little more shallow. What right do you have to try and belittle me, witless tool? You have come to slay, and now are to be slain. At least your death will merit some greater use!”

She squirmed in his hold, as he held her over the paper, the Laitivern chanting as she screamed for him to let go, a spell loading within her palm to smite the Laitivern. Veyolkos could see the runes begin to glow in her presence, and so he raised his other wing talon, aiming it at her neck, knowing to make it quick-

“I will give you the taste of the beast that you see in me!"

And in a sudden slicing movement she felt skin tear, then muscle, then a tingling warm pooling before her consciousness fled. And she coughed, though as her blood fell onto the scroll, and as it did she too began to fade, though slightly, as color fled from her skin and hair, her body a dull gray wash as the luminance from the pages poured into his chest. The new rush of energy was paralyzing at first, as he stumbled back, her form turning into mere ashes as they blew over his scales, branding his face in white stripes that ran down his nostril and under his eyes, branding some of the patterning in his wings. When he could finally move, he heard Yetis howling, Vellox roaring, and Laitivern’s trilling. He soon flew back to the scene below, as the many parties feasted on those who decided to experience a warrior's death. Veyolkos landed before them, breathing heavily from the exertion of the ritual. They seemed oblivious to what he had done, assuming him to have just been pursuing the marauders. 

To his surprise, the Oldsouls and the Elders approached The Windrazor, their demeanor now changed. They had witnessed the rewards of his planning, and wordlessly bowed to him. He was dumbstruck by the wordless praise he had received. One of respect. His mother and father, having been in the fight, showed their throat to him, the highest level of trust and respect a laitivern could receive. He began to fidget in place, before broadening out his wings, and roaring to the crown a decree. A promise.

“THIS! THIS MARKS THE BEGINNING! TO AN AGE OF BEASTS!”

For now he had the skills gained to understand his enemy… far more intimately than before.

Veyolkos Kit:

Passive-Volatile Coating: The more damage he takes from Epic Monsters, Dragons, or Enemy Champs, the more his energy bar is filled. Once filled Veyolkos can charge his next attacks with draconic energy with increased movement speed for 3 seconds

Q - Voltaic Lunge: Veyolkos lunges towards a targeted location, knocking back any enemy champion or minion he collides with. Upon impact, a searing energy mark is left on the target, dealing physical damage.

W - Thousand Blades: Veyolkos sheds part of his armor for a brief moment, sending shards flying outward in all directions. These shimmering shards damage any enemy champions and minions they hit.

E - Evasive Maneuvers: With lightning speed, Veyolkos rapidly dashes away while releasing Styg energy forward, dealing additional searing damage if performed up close. From a distance, the Styg inflicts minor physical damage.

Ultimate - Flight of The Razorwing: Veyolkos takes to the skies, gaining enhanced mobility. During this time, his abilities undergo changes:

Voltaic Lunge becomes Thunderous Grapple, allowing him to tackle and immobilize a single enemy champion.

Thousand Blades transform into Draconic Cleave, a 360-degree tail swipe that damages all nearby enemies.

Evasive Maneuvers evolves into Laitivern's Dive, granting Veyolkos an arching leap with a powerful energy blast upon landing.

----

Aighty so physically he's gone like over... several hundred iterations. What remains consistent is the general build of Seregios, from the sharp scales, wing walking, and face. While also incorporating the more panthurine movement and tail slams of Nargacuga.

He's also gone through like several hundred actual redesigns, and while he started as just that: A flying wyvern capable of speech, he did evolve more into an analog to Throgg. And while Trundle is a legitimate troll king and is pretty sick, he more or less serves as a modestly competent himbo in a alliance with Lissandra. Veyolkos fills the roll of a cunning beast going through great lengths to ensure he has the means to play his cards correctly. He likes to innovate, he likes to build, but most importantly he likes to share that knowledge to elevate his people. But he also understands the sinister nature of his action, and how it spawned partially from necessity, but mostly through curiosity.

His own desire to stake out his claim and plunge Runeterra into an era of beast speaks to as sense of him wanting to elevate his people, and a naivety to the danger of his ambitions.

[capricorndevil15]

🍂☕ Scarlet Hollow ask game ☕🍂

I really wanted to do this ask game, so I've done it! Scarlet Hollow is one of my favorite games right now (second only to Deltarune). And I just wanted to have some fun, so here we go! Original was made by @juleshollow (thank you!!).

TRAITS:

Your "canon" trait combination? I have a couple different runs, and I haven't decided yet which is my "canon" playthrough, if there ever will be one. Regardless, I'm Powerful Build/Hot and Powerful Build/Keen Eye! (Will shorten Powerful Build to PB from now on. 🥜🧈)

What third trait would you add for hardcore mode? Tbh I haven't messed with hardcore mode yet. It's not too appealing for me (I am just not the type of gamer this mode is made for) because I feel like the consequences don't match the "crime". Conversely, I'm one of those dirty hackers who goes into the game files and changes the rules so that I can play with all 7 traits unlocked with no drawbacks. I've done this for a couple of playthroughs, but there's no combination that I super-like yet (though I will admit Mystic is a nice add-on to any existing combo). Once the game is all finished, I want to do a playthrough where I have all 7 traits and save the town. Not the hero Scarlet Hollow wants, but the hero we need. B) I will fix everything, goddamn.

What trait are you least drawn to? Probably Talk to Animals (TTA)? There are just other traits that I like more. If this game had more snakes in it, though, I'd certainly feel a different way. 🐍💕 Also, I was wary of Hot before I tried it, and still have some gripes with certain writing choices, but it's become one of my go-to traits.

Coolest trait? Fuckin PB, dude!! The one thing you always wish you could do in a horror movie, right? Be strong enough to punch the monsters in the face, beat the killers up, and it actually works! You really are strong enough, you really can protect! Maybe this says something about my psyche, or maybe I am just small and frail in real life, but dude I love to be the strong friend in this game. Also, I'm often drawn to the "regular" characters in horror/fantasy settings. Like, how does the guy without supernatural powers hold their own? What are they doing here? That's impressive and compelling.

ROMANCE:

Who are you romancing? Reese. Once he starts talking about horror movies, it becomes impossible to not kiss him.

What romance are you least interested in? I dunno? I'm probably not gonna do a Stella playthrough because I'm gettin Stabby back together if it kills me (if it kills me!). I like all the characters and think their romantic lives are interesting (I also really like Kaneeka/Reese. They are so nigthmare before christmas.)

Who would you romance if every single character was eligible? Probably Reese again LMFAO. On the real, maybe Winnie? Or Janey?

MISCELLANEOUS:

What character would hurt you the most if something bad happened to them? Tabitha. :(

Would you stay in Scarlet Hollow when the week is over? So, my MC is basically a fancharacter w/ his own personality distinct from mine. That's probably assumed, but I wanted to clarify for this question. I think w/ how things are currently going, he'll either choose to stay in The Holler after the week is through, or make some arrangement where he frequently visits. Him and Tabby are very close, so they will keep contact somehow. (And if you're thinking "lol, Tabby will probably be dead by the end of the game" well, my phrasing still stands, because he will visit Tabitha's grave every month with two cans of cream soda for them to share!! So who is laughing now!!!)

Who would you vote for dog mayor? Scraps 4 sure.

[norcalbruja]

The good and the bad with Namor/Kukulkan, also various Loki musings

Jan 30, 2024

What's up, so you know how Namor/Kukulkan had a pretty uptight reaction to custard/flan because that's colonizer food, and he's very choosy about "food history" because he (as a snake spirit) doesn't need to eat a lot?

On January 10, I finally had the time to go to my favorite Mexican place again, and I bought sopes and tacos.

--

-

Whenever I give offerings to the spirits, I usually split off a few spoonfuls, or I eat one piece and leave them the other, so that day I went "what's up Kukulkan, I finally went to my favorite Mexican place! You want some?"

My dude just lit up and started laughing, and it lasted for a good few hours. At risk of sounding Not Mentally Normal: When spirits have strong reactions to things, it's like the spiritual equivalent of smells hanging around for a while. In this case, sopes. <3

Kukulkan was very happy and very full for like, the next week or so.

--

A couple of weeks later, Kukulkan stepped into my meditation and was probably trying to help me out with [Insert so many problems in my whole fucking life] in return for the sopes.

Loki immediately barged in and yelled, "HEYHEYHEYHEY!!! FUCK OFF, DANGER NOODLE, I'M HELPING HER ALREADY!!! YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HER!!!"

So Kukulkan was like "Ah, so YOU do? She spent years hating you for messing up all her meditations! It doesn't sound much like knowing!"

And Loki went, "HATING ME FOR YEARS IS STILL KNOWING THAT SHE HATES ME! WHY ARE YOU JUST SWANNING IN AND TRYING TO HELP RIGHT AWAY???"

So the Water-Spirit called Thor, Odin, and Haik to try and separate these two again. Unfortunately, the fist-fight actually happened this time, and Kukulkan turned into a giant snake to strangle Loki. Loki retaliated by freezing the coils that were wrapped around him, which is the first I've seen of Loki's ice powers.

If anything emphasizes how little Normal/Mythical-Loki resembles Marvel-Loki, it would be how extremely hot-blooded he gets. If Dionysus is like a frat-boy who gets Really, Really Perceptive, Loki is his frat-brother who always gets in trouble for starting shit--and is Really, Really Perceptive in a brutally honest way.

So that was a stalemate, and Eric Draven tried to talk Kukulkan into like... trying to fight/argue with people less than he does right now, but he got bitten for his troubles.

Apparently this would have hurt a lot more if he was still alive, but his main problem was that dead spirits don't "heal" the same way as living ones. and it's terrifying to see someone walk around with gaping and NON-BLEEDING bite-marks on his neck/chest like a zombie. Hades had to come in and heal him because, well, he's the god of the dead.

I remember thinking how Lugh and the Morrigan of the Irish gods hate each other this much. Every time Lugh tries to say more than two words to me, the Morrigan bolts over and goes "MINE!", and then they start screaming at each other about shit that quickly stops being about me.

So I went, "Loki. Man. You gotta chill out about Kukulkan offering to help me. He's technically helping YOU! By giving you less work! You know I'm still cautious about how you can use your 'Marvel connections' to help my art get off the ground, right?"

I don't know if that was the wrong OR the right thing to say, because Loki started sobbing in a rage and going, "I DON'T GET TO FUCKING HELP PEOPLE, CYBORG!!! THE DANGER-NOODLE BARELY HAS TO DO ANYTHING! HE JUST WALKS OVER AND HE'S HOT AND EVERYONE LOVES HIM! ME, I'M FUCKING LOKI! OHHHHHH, I DID RAGNAROK! OHHHHH I SHIT-TALKED THE GODS! OHHHHH I HAD A WHOLE HERD OF KIDS THAT EVERYONE CALLS MONSTERS!"

And I'm like "Okay, Loki, I think we need Odin to help you calm down."

To Odin's credit, he was not surprised to find Loki being a mess in my spiritual "room."

--

Last week at the bowling alley, my manager and about three or four of my coworkers were joking about Covid and how "if you get Covid, spread the love so everyone can have a paid vacation!"

I am one of VERY few workers who mask, and it also made my blood boil because my sister caught Covid earlier this month and she has been BONE TIRED after going up the stairs and walking for a few minutes. This is not a fucking cold or a flu.

And the bartender was like, "Is Covid still even real?"

So I could not RESIST being petty and saying "My sister has Covid."

Motherfuckers stopped and stared at me for a good couple of seconds. Partly because they thought I said I had Covid, but the energy in the room plummeted and I'm just thinking "Oh. NOW you all act like I've got the consumption. *angry inner laughter*"

It made my sister bust out laughing when I texted her about it later.

Loki was also very pleased and laughed a lot--not just because it was petty, but because it was TRUE.

In my acting studies, I used to have a hard time with comedy because I can't seem to HARNESS humor very well, at least when I had to do it IN REAL TIME and not in writing or across the screen. I constantly had to force myself not to laugh at my own jokes, I have made jokes that were poorly timed or went too far, and some jokes that I thought were just average end up getting a WAY better response than I expected.

This might seem obvious because the folks on my spirituality blog don't see a lot of HUMOR in my constant financial/spiritual troubles, but like... I don't have my shit together.

Not even my DREAM-SELF has her shit together--her exploits are hilariously bad luck sometimes. In addition to the dream where I got a deal with Marvel and started working with Tenoch Huerta, my LATEST dream involved me auditioning as a singer for my former theater prof... and begging my phone to STOP HAVING TECHNICAL ISSUES AND PLAY HOZIER'S KARAOKE TRACKS, PLEASE!!!

I was mad when I woke up, but I couldn't avoid laughing because my good luck for getting a Marvel contract clearly didn't last very long. I said affectionately, "Oh, Dream-Me, we're back to going nowhere."

Meanwhile, in my WRITING, people constantly found humor in very dark and angry/depressing pieces.

Which, um... my theater prof has mentioned is something you need to do in dark works, because that's how people get through it without needing therapy. You have to find humor/lightness in dark works.

--

Yesterday while I was getting the groceries, I saw a crow pecking at a plastic bag with the telltale "take-out box of leftover food inside," and I was like "ehhhhhhhhh, why are crows showing up so often??? It might be a crow, but it might be a sign from Odin or the Morrigan. Guess I'll help this dude out."

So I untied the bag and opened the box, and I figured I'd stop by after getting the groceries to see if the crow was back.

Odin laughed in surprise/glee, and he told me, "You know this isn't actually Hugin or Munin, right?"

And I was like "Of course I don't literally think every crow is you or the Morrigan, but I figured I'd help out JUST IN CASE. Worst case, the crow is a normal crow and it gets food. Best case, someone up there helps me out."

Unfortunately the light rain IMMEDIATELY got harder soon after I got inside, so... the crow would have had a really soupy meal.

--

So today I was eating lunch and feeling shitty about my life again, and I asked Loki, "hey man, do you want some lunch? I figured since you had a shit time fighting with Kukulkan, you might as well eat something. And, you know, you claim to have Marvel connections... because you're a character in the stories."

And he just said, "No. I don't want anything."

And I'm like "Why not??? Do you not like sinigang???" (Filipino soup, it's very sour.)

He told me, "No, everyone TAKES THINGS from you. They take and they spring things on you, and they always tell you to DO STUFF for them, and you're terrified of asking your mom to go out and eat by yourself because you know you're just going to worry about her for two hours. You have lunch with the spirits more often than you have lunch with your fucking family. And then they're surprised when you're mad at having two houses' worth of stuff in one apartment, or at giving up and staying in that shitty ancient apartment because you never have time to yourself. You can barely fucking move, or garden, or DO ANYTHING. I'm not gonna take MORE from you to get you into Marvel, Cyborg."

And I was like "Okay, Loki, OUCH. But... thanks for that last part?"

--

So I've been poking around at Lokean writings, and my experiences DEFINITELY fit with other people's experiences.

For one, people agree that when Loki is not a god to mince words. He will tell you exactly what he thinks, and exactly what he thinks of OTHER PEOPLE. This was primarily why I used to hate him so much--he kept shit-talking EVERY OTHER SPIRIT in the damn room, and he constantly told me "You're too fucking nice and you think everyone else is gonna be like that, too. NO. THEY'RE NOT. IT WILL HURT AND YOU WILL STILL MAKE YOURSELF BE NICE, AND THAT'S GONNA WEAR YOU THE FUCK OUT. It's even worse because you had the insane luck to get spirits who are nice to you and feel bad for you!"

He is also a god of mental illness, as tricksters often are. Maybe Loki's attempts to shake me out of my niceness was because he knew that I'd eventually have thirty-year-overdue suspicions of being autistic/ADHD? If Dionysus, god of mental illness and considered by other tricksters as 'the trickster that everyone pretends is not a trickster,' has said "you know why you're so bad at interacting with people, you just can't get insurance for that sweet DIAGNOSIS," Loki the confirmed trickster would know what's wrong with my head.

Speaking of which, the FIANNA of all spirits (they are an Irish warrior-troupe led by Finn MacCool, and are famous for going on long sea-voyages or getting taken to the Otherworld) warned me quite a while ago that my path is not going to be a straightforward one. They said something like "you're gonna go from Point A, to Point 31, to Point D, and finally to Point B, and it's gonna be rough for a while."

Since Loki has told me he's got "Marvel connections" because he's literally in Marvel as a fucking character, this... does not bode well for all those steps between Point A and Point B.

[kaynai-sama]

Now that we know what Jimmy's been through, why don't we see how he's going now?

-------------------Chapter 1---------------------

"Objective: Eliminate Canon Jimmy Z." The robot kept repeating, it approached to him with that big tube, spinning in it's hand to make it sharper than a sword.

The other ones were running everywhere, fighting the villains, but losing their souls in the process.

Everything was going on too fast for him, he felt like he could just faint, but he couldn't even think straight without a new light from the souls came out or blood splashing from the monsters and even from his friends. Flirwins, fairies, wizards and hunters all fighting all the clones of the villains, and yet, it was all in vain.

He remembered tripping over and looking up, last thing he saw; That stupid robot moving so fast it was a blur.

"NO!" He screamed, waking up. "Shit, it was just a nightmare..." He looked around inside their fast-made-up-tent, just in case something was around them. He hated having those nightmares, another prove that he hadn't changed that much.

"AH WHAT?!" Scarlet jumped from her sleep. "Augh... What happened?"

"I hate that fucking robot..." Jimmy muttered.

Once Scarlet finished opening her eyes, she saw Jimmy packing his stuff.

"JZ, is everything alright?"

"Oh, jeje... Nothing." Jimmy said. "We have to go."

"What? Why?"

"We just... Better not lose anymore time."

"For real? It's the fourth time this week."

"It's just that... Well..."

"You had one of those nightmares and now you can't sleep, right?"

"Uhh..."

"Is it about how you got in this mess?" Scarlet rolled inside her sleeping bag to face Jimmy.

"A little bit, yeah."

"Damn, was it that bad?"

"Yeah, it was horrible." He ckucled. "Meh, that was like a little bit more than two years."

"Two years and you still have nightmares about it? You watched your doppelganger die or something?"

"Or something."

Scarlet groaned a bit. "Seriously, why is the answer with you always or something?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I tell you."

"Come on, dude! You took me out on this road trip about three weeks ago! I watched my doppelganger die in front of me and the whole world is screwed up, I think I could believe what happened to you."

"You think?"

"Of course!" Scarlet incorporated to sit down. "No, tell me."

Jimmy chuckled and sighed. "Well... In a summary, after the collision started, my dopplegangers, and my friends' doppelgangers started showing up in front of us... I less than some weeks we had clones of us in every corner... We started hanging out and my doppelgangers even thought me some tips from their world, that's part of the key of how I survived this long."

"Ooohhh, so you had like a... JZ club." Scarlet said. "What were they like?"

"Well, one of them was a royal guard, another one was a wizard, there was also this wolfwalker... A monster hunter, a spy and... Those are the ones I gathered with the most."

"Wow, that sounds cool."

"Yeah, kinda." Jimmy scratched his neck, trying not to remember the worst parts. "My group and I had some... Enemies, we would fight them very often hehe... Well, it turned out that the villains and their dopplegangers had also teamed up and... For no reason or at least for no reason I know... They arrived and started attacking everybody but not to kill the but to... Steal their souls from their bodies."

"Uhh, wait, wait, wait." Scatled cut him off. "Souls?! How did you know those were their souls?"

"Bodies can function correctly without a soul, but this one's don't do anything while the souls are the conscience of a person, besides, someone of the villain team mencione dit while inspecting what was left in the Tortuga camp."

"Alright... Let me guess, you were the only one who those guys didn't get the should because you attacked them back."

"Actually, the reason why I survived is way more pathetic than that."

"Oh, really? Try me."

"One of the villains had robot clones of me and my friends. But my robot clone was faulty so it actually didn't work so well... I don't know why they didn't took my soul, they decided to kill me instead."

"Holy crap. Did you fight it?"

"Ja! Of course not... I ran away from it... The only reason I'm still alive is because the robot couldn't difference between being passed out and being dead. I woke up in the Tortuga sorrunded by bodies and I hid there for almost a whole year."

"... You ran away? That doesn't sound like you!"

"You'd be surprised on how scaredy I used to be."

Scarlet couldn't help but laugh a bit. "Alright, seriously, tho. That's some rough origin story."

"Yeah... I guess."

"Now, I wonder... Where did you get the zombie apocalypse movie outfit?"

"..."

"... Oh shit, where did you get it from?"

"I stole it from a corpse..."

"... And the corpse was your same size?! You lucky bastard!"

"Where did you get yours?"

"My dad used to work with wood so that's where I got the goggles. The scarf and rest of it I got them on my own... I stole it from a corpse too."

"Ja ja! Well, It's not like stores are still open this days... I mean, with zombies, the villains, demons, strange weather..."

"Yeah, this whole collision really messed things up. The point is, why? I mean, who or what could have enough powers to mix different universes into one?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out, while I rescue the souls of my friends and the rest."

"You must have a lot of determination to travel day and night for that."

"Thanks."

"Don't worry, JZ, we'll find them soon."

"That's all I'm hoping."

"Feeling better?"

"Yeah, a little."

"Great." Scarlet laid down back on her sleeping bag. "Well, there are no creepy creatures around and we could use some sleep. Now go to bed before I bonk you with my gun."

"Alright, Arlight... We'll continue in the morning."

Meanwhile, very far away from that place, Zach, or at least one of them all, was mentally getting ready to enter the big room where his boss was, ever since he appeared the villain group was always afraid... He had already taken the soul of one of them and, God, one could tell it was painful.

"Alright... I can do this, just tell him we're all done and what's next." He slowly pushed the door, his legs were trembling. It was so dark he couldn't see his face. Damn, at least he wouldn't have to see his face.

"Uhh, sir?" He said weakly.

"Zach! Come in, come in."

He walked through the hall and saw them, the jars with the souls, all of them labeled... Shit... All of them were labeled!

"So... This where you're keeping all the souls." Zach said.

"Yes. Exactly." The boss said.

"Well... All I wanted to inform is that... We're not missing any soul, like... I know you've been receiving the souls one by one and-... Well, we're all done collecting."

"Hmm." Te boss's eyes were barely able to be seen, but he could tell he was angry. "Yeaaahh, about that, I want to ask you something."

"(Shit shit shit shit shit...) Sure, w-whatever you need to know."

The boss chuckled. "How stupid do you think I am?"

"Stupid? Y-you're not-!"

"Oh really?" He said with a voice so strong Zach swore it made the whole room tremble. "Look over there, Zach. You can see I have every soul labeled, right?"

"Yeah."

"That means I can tell when something is missing."

"Yeah... And your point is...?"

"My point is that I heard rumors that you tried to kill one of them, didn't you?"

"What? Of course we wouldn't! We..."

The boss arched an eyebrow. "Zach..."

"I- I swear! We collected them all! We did the jo-"

"... SILENCE!"

"..."

"Now... Tell me, why did you try to kill him?" The boss' voice became way more serious.

"Well, be- because he..." Zach took a deep breath. "This is Canon Jimmy we're talking about! The weakest of them all! I... I don't see how his soul could be anywhere useful!"

"Oh... Seems like someone doesn't understand the power of souls. Not to mention that he disobeyed my command of collecting all the souls!"

"Yeah, well... You... You want that soul? Because he's surely dead by now...."

"I sense him... He's alive."

"... What?! But I know him! He's a scared cat wimp! How could've he survive?!"

"I don't know but he did. Seems like you didn't killed him properly. Anyway, coming to think of it... I have a better idea."

"Uhh, yeah?"

"I don't want his soul anymore." Wait... What? "I want you to bring him to me; alive."

"Alive?! But... How are we-? We don't even know where he is!"

"Is that an excuse or something?"

"Ehh! No! I'll get the team to search him right away!"

"Oh, yeah. One thing. You were the one who told your robot to kill him, right? I guess you're not that good as a leader as I thought."

"(Oh no...) Wh- what do you mean by that...?"

"I mean that... You should give this mission to someone else. One of your doppelgangers seems more... Experienced in this kind of things, like kidnapping and tracking, I mean."

The boss stood up, facing Zach. "To compensate for that I don't have Canon Jimmy's soul... I'll need to grab another one in his place." He stretched dhe hand towards Zach.

"Oh no... Sir, I can handle this! It was just a mistake but I promise you I'll do better this time!"

"Sorry, you already have a replacement." He spoke and snatched Zach with his power to prevent him from escaping. He was the most powerful being in the world... And he had finally recovered stre ght enough to take a soul out of a body without even thinking of it. Zach felt the most intense pain in his life... But then... It all shut down as he fell to the ground... "Let that be a lesson. This is what happens if you ever try to disobey me..."

"Yes sir..." Another voice said. Another Zach, but this one was different. Probably one of the most skilled Zachs of the multiverse.

"My, what a talent you have. He never noticed you were there."

"Yeah... I suppose."

"Mmh , good. Now, back to your task."

"Capture Canon Jimmy and bring him to you, alive."

"Exactly. I don't know or care how you'll do it, but do it."

"Don't worry, sir..."

I have some plans...

[officeobject]

If you are "too clingy", "too emotional", etc, first of all, same (and I tagged some of the things that intersect with me being called "too much" and stuff), and second of all, let me just mention people I've found, who are clingy, perhaps like myself ...

Colby: A kind and playful teenage ghost, who watches me in awkward situations, regardless of what and which room I'm in, and who knocks stuff over when not getting attention. He's cute, he learns how to do stuff, fast, he smells like rubber, and I know he's not the most "accomplished" person, some might say, but he cuddles me down at night and keeps me company for as long as he can, he follows me wherever, doesn't judge me, and reassures me he's there, even if I ignore him, or we don't do much. Colby is such a spontanous teen, and whatever else one might be, while also being kind, dedicated, and over all, I'd take it as a compliment, if someone would compare me to him.

This one 30 year old I post on the Xanderweb about: This dude can get very mad at people (and maybe even things), and gestures with their hands a lot, but they're motivated, great at working, efficiently manages time and such, always looks pretty/stylish, and has to talk to people a lot in their office job I think (I don't know anything about office stuff despite liking it). They're also (probably) healthy, and know when to relax, and have recently been working towards better hydration (I think), and are actually content or even happy, to work, most of the time, and their job seems nice. I can't really describe their personality, but it's epic, and maybe I can't describe it, because it won't sound "good", even though for me, it is.

So, if you're being told you're too intense or whatever, you can still ...

Work a nice job

Have a nice car (that 30 year old has one)

Scare the crap out of people

Find someone who loves your platonic simping

Find someone to be a platonic simp for

Look great

Have a job that requires socializing

Be efficient

Be great at work

Choose to smell like rubber (Colby does)

Not get fired

Enjoy your job

Enjoy your life

Cuddle someone

Have routines

Be healthy

Relax

Balance things in your life (possibly also literally)

Look healthy

Look "productive"

Be "productive"

Have people to sit at the lunch table with

Have a watch

Look serious and professional

Live 30+ years

Accidentally become a living ghost (maybe)

Enjoy your hobbies

Wear merchandise

Have a workplace where you can gesture as much as you want and/or lie down and stuff, as much as you want

Not do my laundry like I asked you to (that one's at least for Colby Tybbles - like, come on, gotta at least TRY making your ghost do your chores for you)

Conclusion: Simp for me (just kidding, the conclusion is that you're not alone - maybe literally, and that you shouldn't feel bad just because some people dislike some traits you may feel are actually inherent, as you can be as "relaxed" as a living ghost, or as "successful" as an office worker, because there seemingly abnormal people, who seem to be so similar to me in terms of some core things, are enjoying life, and while my life isn't perfect now, I still enjoy it, and the time in my life where I think I've enjoyed it most, is when I was banned from an app and the people who knew me there, because I was reported by one of them, and 2 weeks later came here, though even BEFORE that, I've also been so happy and all, because I found this relatable 30 year old, and this unapologetic teenage ghost who experienced the same but for ME, and I used to think about how #TotallyRelatable the song "Monster" from "Skillet" was, and now, I can't recognize those feelings, as I, someone described as "insecure", "yandere", "manipulative", "attention-seeking", "need to calm down", "selfish", "egotistical", and more, just had a person I chose to be as clingy to as I wanted, and I did that from a distance, partially because we never run into each other, and in the process of just getting a basic "need to cling to someone" fulfilled, I have ended up knowing that these, "creepy", "boundary-crossing", "emotional", "clingy", "childish", "lazy", "petty", "pathetic", "irrational" people exist, and yes, it's just 2, one of them being a type of ghost (and Lord knows if he's real), but it still meant a lot, and that's what matters, and it meant that I wasn't a monster, even though I AM fecking weird, just like these cool yet goofy people, and they've given me MORE effects than just that, in life, plus, there's also the emotional impact that their personalities have - like what I feel about them, but overall ...

It's possible ...)