#but now i have one more reason to keep them ehehehehe

[3rrorsnas]

i can't believe I'm actually starting to wear my glasses more because of inky sjsksjsj/very pos

[zapsoda]

aUGH you talked about bax's and babygirl's i mean. roy's bad eyesight. does anyone else have an likewise handicap or disability? also what's their weakspot for each one of them ... both physically and mentally if you want to write even moar words hehe

ofc!!

as previously mentioned bax has shit eyesight. hes also a bit mentally ill (lack of survival instincts), and while that can be beneficial when in dangerous situations where he needs to act effectively and expediently it can also be VERY DISADVANTAGEOUS. for obvious reasosn. what would the crew do without him? when hes constantly getting injured and incapacitated?

roy has her weird eyesight, and she has kind of the opposite of bax's problem. shes pretty anxious and has trouble acting and making quick decisions. she doesnt really like getting into *serious* trouble (she likes silly stuff and pranks and goofs though), anyways this makes it harder for her to step in when someone needs help.

clam *is* a runaway government android and so basically anything that isnt healing or surveillance is antithetical to what he was programmed for which is bad for everyone. he wants so badly to deviate and cultivate more of an identity but its gotta be just one step at a time, while roy and the others help him reprogram his body and brain bit by bit. which sucks. he wants physical agency Now.

tallys lack of horns and low-ppointing fin rays would land him very low in his home planets sort of caste system. not like. homestuck per se, its less ingrained and more socially enforced. on a dangerous planet where community contribution holds a lot of social weight, being physically weaker, lacking parental skills or instincts, and being kind of selfish on top of all of that made him very. not liked. this is part of the reason kip feels so responsible for him and overly protective.

anyways hes kinda internalized it. every single crumb of attention and validation sends his ego to the moon (metaphorically). he is torn between accepting a low place in life and society "everyone hates me, why should i change that" and desperately trying to prove his worth to anyone who will listen. yaaay mentla illness mwah (i kiss him on the forehead)

kip is the opposite of tally. he has horns. his fin rays point straight up. hes big and strong. he can hunt and protect. hes kind of tender and paternal. hes generally well respected. and he left all that. with his "nephew."

hes used to the expectation of taking care of everyone, protecting them, making sure nothing goes wrong. so he overcorrects. he comes off a bit controlling, though he normally channels this through his cooking. its like a healthy outlet, where he has control over everything as long as everyone stays OUT of his FUCKING kitchen.

hes also very slow to learn and a bit stubborn (though he tries very very hard to work on this)

hes honestly very stable and good at keeping himself together unless He were to be the one hurt and or in trouble ahahaha. he would not handle that. he would go crazy. the thought of being the one to need others makes him ill.

he is so fucking awkward around clam and its for two reasons. 1. dont wanna break him, unfamiliar object, not sure how the best way to proceed 2. stop trying to help me stop leave me alone you sick vermin

deep down he loves clam though cause he feels like theyre the same. "this weird animate object is just like me fr" he admires clams instinct to help others a lot eheheheh.

[tealenko]

The Three Letters (Chapter 8)

Chapter 8: The Path of the Deathless

Here we are, finally!!! XD Wanted to post one more chapter before going back to work (I wasn't expecting to make it in time though ehehehehe)

So, I promised to change the ending of RotTR and here you have it. Without a doubt, this chapter cost me way more to write than any of the others. I really like the end result, I think (I feel proud that I somehow made it work lol)

Hope you like it too

Summary: Lara makes it to the Divine Source just in time to try to stop Ana from making a huge mistake but, not wanting to listen to reason, this one threatens to harm Jacob in order to reach it.

Words: 4464 Rating: Teens and Up Warnings: death and all that stuff (nothing too graphic though, just a light show)

All Chapters -> [link] Read in AO3 -> [link]

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The bow tenses against her chin in a way that’s completely new to her.

“…”

Ana’s arm rises. 

Her own answers instantly, more a reflex than a chosen action.

“No.” Lara orders, while she pulls from the string even more, feeling the pain as it leaves a mark against her skin.

The bow is almost an extension of her own being at this point in time, but the way she’s holding it right now is a novelty. She doesn’t recognize this strange force, doesn’t know where it comes from and, most importantly, she doesn’t seem to care.

“Step back.” Lara orders.

There’s no pleading nor asking in her words, neither is she attempting to make a deal, instead she takes a step forward, with her eyes focused on her target like never before in her life, repeating her command in an even more demanding tone of voice.

“Step. Back.”

But Ana doesn’t.

There’s only one thing remaining between her and the Divine Source and she isn’t going to stop now that she’s so close to reaching it.

Having this in mind, and trusting the fact that, despite their differences, the closest thing she’s ever had to a daughter won’t have the guts to kill her, she finishes raising her trembling hand and points it to her own target.

“This is the only…”

That’s all she’s able to say before she notices how mistaken she truly is.

The arrow flies so fast that she’s unable to see it, but she quickly feels it as it impacts against her knee.

“Shit!”

Ana falls to the ground, screaming in pain and, before she has the time to realize what has happened, Lara has already started running, to her surprise, not towards her, but in the opposite direction, way too preoccupied by whom the gun was pointing to be even remotely worried about the person holding it.

“Jacob…” Lara almost whispers, losing the strength of her voice as she reaches him, seeing now the true depth of his wounds.

“Yeah…” He replies in a similar tone of voice, doing his best to keep standing. “Had to go through a lot to be able to get to y… To get here.”

Lara’s hands move, without her own permission, to hold his in between them and, as a result, all he can do is dedicate a look of delight to her.

“Glad to see you’ve made it in one piece, though.” He jokes, doing his best to keep standing. “I must be getting too old to keep up with you. ”

She gets lost for a moment, to the point where she isn’t able to see or hear anything else that isn’t Jacob. If she could, she would have noticed by now the sounds coming from outside the vast room, caused by the army of deathless soldiers as they gather all their forces.

But she doesn’t.

His smile pierces her soul in a way it shouldn’t, and at the same time, his pain seems to tear it apart in a hundred million pieces.

It’s fine. He’s fine. Her conscious mind tries to remind her. He’s immortal, afterall.

But her heart has reached a point where it’s no longer able to tell that fact apart and, the moment she sees him suffering, it starts to suffer along with him.

The result of all this inner battle is a sad chuckle that is quickly followed by a couple of rogue tears.

They send a clear message but, to their dismay, before Jacob is able to decode them, the situation starts to crumble around them in record time.

At the same moment that the few forces holding Jacob on his feet abandon his body, Ana is able to stand up and, with Lara doing her best to break his sudden fall to the ground, she’s left with a clear path to the Divine Source.

Without a hint of hesitation, she takes it.

When Lara realizes what’s truly happening Ana’s hands are almost about to reach it.

“No!” She screams, with the hint of pleading that wasn’t there a few moments ago. “It’s not what you think, Ana.”

Her sentence makes her stop for a second, acknowledging the truth behind her words and, with the sound of the army gathered outside the room increasing at a hastened pace, the fear creeps into her heart long enough to make her fall silent. 

Lara, sensing her doubt, doesn’t waver to take the opportunity and attempt to explain to Ana the origin of the source.

“It will kill you.” She states, feeling the worry starting to build in her chest. “It will kill you if you aren’t worthy...” Another tear runs down Lara’s face, caused by a different person this time around. “Please… Do not take that bet.”

Ana stares at the source for a couple seconds and makes final her choice, turning to look at Lara one last time before stepping ahead.

“Please!” She begs despite knowing her words won't be able to stop her.

And they are not.

“I’m dying. This is my only hope.” She screams from the top of her chest, hesitating no more as her hands start to move.

“Ana, no!”

A sensation of horror invades Lara’s body and, after sharing a quick look with Jacob, both to confirm he was okay and to tell him what she is going to do next, she starts to sprint towards her direction, quick enough to cover almost all the distance left between them, but not fast enough to make it in time.

Despite her best effort, Ana takes the source and, just as she is about to reach her, the judgment starts.

It takes less than an instant and, before Lara is able to comprehend what’s happening, the light of the source starts to surround Ana.

Slowly at first, almost with delicacy, but that doesn’t last for long and, in less than a few seconds, the filaments of light transform into strings and start to tangle around her body.

“No!” Ana screams, feeling the light starting to suffocate her, trying her best to release the artifact but unable to do so.

The ivory filaments trap her in an instant and, before her scream vanishes into the air, what is left of her is quickly transformed into a white flash so bright that manages to blind Lara for a few seconds.

When she finally makes it to where Ana was standing, there’s nothing left to save, just the remnant filaments of light that maintain the divine source floating mid air for a few seconds, disobeying every rule of physics, before gravity starts to function with normality once again and the artifact starts to fall.

Against her better judgment, without even stopping to consider the idea, or a hint of self-reflection, she decides to grab it.

Just as they did before, Lara's hands move on their own, and prevent the source from crashing against the ground.

“I…”

For a few moments her mind doesn’t finish comprehending the action that her body has taken without consulting it, and it isn’t until she sees the what’s left of Ana laying on her feet, that she starts to realize the depth of her mistake.

The horror invades her once again, as her eyes stay fixed on the small and glowing bundle of clothes and ashes that she’s seen so many times in the past few days: Ana has been transformed into one more slave to serve the source for all eternity and, unless she finds a solution, she’s going to be the next one.

“Shit...” A tear runs through her face as she attempts in vain to release the source before it consumes her, but the light tangles around her hands with enough strength to prevent it. “Shit.”

Lara stares at it for three seconds. Perhaps the longest three seconds of her entire life.

The first of them is dedicated to fright. 

All her body freezes as her heart twists inside her chest with the reality of her imminent death materializing in front of her eyes.

The second one leaves room for sorrow. 

Despite not weeping a river of emotions, the few tears that travel through her face carry along with them more sadness than an entire lifetime would be able to gather.

“Shit!”

She shakes her head, which doesn’t make them disappear, but it’s enough to let her recover some resemblance of control over her own body and gives way to one last moment of reflection. 

Her last one.

And, this time around, third is indeed the charm, for not even in between the horror, the sorrow and the fright, is her mind able to forget about him.

So in her final moment, all there’s left: is love.

Her body forgets about the light, the pain and everything else, and turns to face him, leaving every worry behind as if it didn't exist.

Jacob is already standing when their eyes meet and, with three seconds more, he is able to close the distance between them like it’s nothing, forgetting too about all his wounds and his own pain in order to reach her as soon as he is able.

And so he does.

There’s no sight of dismay on his face, nor hesitation, for he has no doubt of what’s going to happen next and he does not fear it.

Lara doesn't understand it yet, but the mere presence of Jacob is distracting enough to make her forget the fact that, if she was meant to follow the same path as Ana, she would already be dead by now.

But she isn’t. 

She would see that the color of the light is now bright blue, unlike before.

But she doesn’t.

Instead, she just stands, looking at him, extending one of her arms to touch one of his as the light starts to travel through her, not even realizing that she gained back the control of her body and that her hands are no longer glued to the Divine Source.

“Finally…” He whispers, looking at it for a second, before redirecting his glare to meet her eyes again. “Finally.”

“What…?”

There’s confusion in Lara’s face, but it doesn’t last for long, for most times the universe has its ways of letting us know what’s about to happen in the most cruel form available, and this one it’s not an exception.

Before she’s able to say anything else, Jacob’s legs start to fail him, making him collapse immediately to the ground, with her doing her best to stop the crash once again. 

This time around though, his wounds aren’t the one causing the fall and, with one last look into his icy eyes, she finally starts to comprehend the dark reality of what’s really about to happen.

“No...” She whispers, as the horror of their current situation starts to set in her heart. “No.”

“There’s always a price…” Jacob's eyes start to water a little, but his smile doesn’t disappear, instead, it gets even stronger as he traces every detail of her face. “It’s finally my time to pay it.”

She places the source on the ground next to him, and her hands tremble like never before in her life as she extends them to grab his.

“Take it…” She begs him in between tears, much more haunted by this new scenario than by the now forgotten possibility of her sudden death. “Please, take it back.”

“Too late.”

“No!”

“The change has been made.”

Despite knowing she isn’t gonna change his mind, she tries one more time, moving closer enough to him in the process.

“Please!” A half scream half cry escapes her body along with her last plea, for she already knows what’s next. 

She knows he’s right. She knows it’s too late.

The light is no longer coming from the source, It’s coming from Jacob, tangling around her body, hugging her, becoming one with her own flesh.

There’s no rush nor ashes this time around and the glowing filaments, which were able to reduce Ana into a burning bundle of clothes in less than a couple seconds, seem to caress her instead of attack her, melting into her skin with all the care in the world.

There is no pain either.

Or at least, none caused by the light itself for, as Lara comes to terms with the events developing in front of her eyes, the agony of her reality quickly starts to hit her.

“It’s okay.” He tells her, able to read all her emotions on her face. “It’s…”

Lara hugs him in the middle of his sentence, with her whole body acting once again on its own.

“I’m sorry.” She half whispers next to his ear, tightening her arms around him, feeling how her whole world turns into darkness despite being in the presence of so much light. “This… This…”

Her words quickly fail her when she starts to notice his arms losing their strength and, in a final attempt to ask him to do the impossible, she breaks the hug and begs him for the last time.

“Jacob… Please… ” Lara pleads as their eyes find each other “Hold on…”

He stares at her and, to her surprise, laughs a little before giving her the only answer that she’s really been dreading to hear.

“I’ve held on… For too long already.”

Lara closes her eyes in agony for a second, trying with all her heart to process the reality that she now must face.

Jacob, on the other hand, the one who should be crumbling in despair instead of her, is just patiently waiting while he focuses all his efforts on his breathing, smiling from ear to ear, only preoccupied with learning every little detail of her face so he can harbor it in the afterlife.

She feels confused, miserable and angered, all at the same time, not truly believing his reaction but, after a quick moment of realization, she finally understands why he is acting the way he is.

He already knew.

“You wanted me to take it…” She states out loud, which he quickly confirms as he deepens his smile. “You knew I’d be worthy.”

Jacob nods, instead of answering, feeling all his strength leaving his body but, having still so much to say, he musters all that’s left of his will in order to expose, at least, some of the truth that he has worked so much to hide.

“In all my years…” He finally manages to say, with the faintest tone of voice she has ever heard him. “I’ve met few as extraordinary as you.”

That will have to suffice. He adds in his mind before he starts to cough, paying the price for all the effort he invested into casting those few words.

“It’s finally happening.” He laughs while struggling to keep breathing, too preoccupied with easing her mind on these last few moments to focus on the pain that invades him. “My ending.”

“I’m sorry.” Her words tremble as they come out of her mouth, mortified by the sigh of Jacob in this state. “All I wanted was to make a difference.”

The tears come back, but no for long.

She feels hopeless, she feels broken and, above all, she feels lost. Nevertheless, his response comes to her rescue right away.

“You already have.” Jacob preaches more than says, slowly moving her hand to cup her face. ”...you already have.”

Lara’s eyes close as one last tear streams down her face.

This is it. She tells herself before opening them again, taking a deep breath as she does her best to calm down.

The deathless finally make it into the room but, instead of seeking the source like she thought they would, they just start to surround the central platform, leaving plenty of space between them and Lara.

She only has the chance to look at them briefly before the light starts moving, gaining back her attention.

Jacob looks like he’s about to disappear into thin air, and no longer has the strength to keep smiling, but with what’s left of him he gives her a final nod, trying his best to be reassuring.

The soldiers stare, emotionless, witnessing the scene as they wait for the rest of them to make it into the room and, in just a few seconds, they recover Lara’s attention, moving all in sync to kneel before her.

She scours the room briefly before realizing that Ana’s remnants are no longer there.

One more servant to the source. She thinks, looking for her in the kneeling crowd despite knowing way too well that she won’t be able to recognize her.

One more sacrifice.

Jacob’s eyes close at last, and the tears make their comeback as she stares at him, still not truly believing this is really happening.

A cry of despair comes out of her body as she instinctively moves to hug him.

He wanted this… 

She tries to tell herself, in an attempt to avoid falling completely into the darkness.

“He wanted…” Lara looks around as she says this, leaving his body to rest with all the care in the world, contemplating the scene that she’s now starring in. “He… He deserves…”

Her tears keep pouring out of control, to the point where her eyes are starting to sting, and any effort she makes to try to wipe them with the sleeve of her jacket doesn’t seem to have any effect.

“He deserves to rest.” She’s finally able to say, trying to convince herself that this is the best possible outcome. “He deserves an ending.”

Her hands close while trembling and, in an attempt of calming down, she decides to move her eyes away from him and redirect them once again to the deathless ones. Nevertheless, this soon proves to have the opposite effect to the one expected.

They are still kneeling and, the sigh of it, it’s impactful enough to start brewing a new emotion on the bottom of her heart.

It’s almost like they were asking to serve me.

She shakes her head a couple of times.

Serve me…

A sad laugh escapes her body while her fist impacts with anger against the ground.

“Serve Me!?” What began as a simple feeling hidden in the depths of her soul quickly starts to grow, and the fury that sparked so easily in her body a few seconds ago, is now turning into raw unfiltered rage. “Me!”

Lara looks around one more time before hitting the ground once again, now with both of her hands.

“Like I deserve this…” There’s a quick moment of silence, followed by one of enlightenment, that only manages to increase her anger even more. “Like he deserves this!”

Her hands move to wipe her tears one more time, and one more time they keep falling down. The only difference now is that she’s way too mad to even care.

“You… You do not deserve this.” She shakes her head and brings one hand to her heart, closing her eyes in the process. “This… Is not enough.”

Lara moves enough to stare at the source, dreading the moment that she, or better said, her hands, decided to move in order to catch it before it fell to the ground.

She takes a couple of deep breaths and decides to look back at Jacob, watching as the blue light reflects onto him, wondering how many seconds left they have before he’s completely swallowed by the darkness.

The battle between her feelings seems to come to an end, for a few seconds, as one quick thought crosses her mind, managing to bring her some kind of peace.

“You do deserve an ending.” 

She admits, moving her arm to cup his face one last time but, once her hand is half way there, the fire of her anger reactivates without a hint of warning, finally winning control of her mind, her heart and her entire body. 

“But not this one…”

It comes only as a whisper at the beginning, almost as if someone else had said those words instead of her.

“Not this one.”

This time around her voice is clearer and, as the anger melts with the many emotions that she's been trying to hide for so long, Lara loses complete notion of what’s happening aside from the two of them.

“You deserve to live.” She tells him, getting closer to his body despite knowing way too well that he cannot hear her. “You deserve to be free, to be happy…”

All of the deathless stand up at the same time in the middle of her speech, but she doesn’t even notice that they are moving.

“You deserve to grow old… And to experience a life without self-sacrifice, or pain, or sorrow…”

She doesn’t even hear them when they start to walk towards her.

“You deserve so much more than this!”

If she was witnessing her current situation she would realize that she’s only a few moments away from losing him forever. 

But she isn't.

She isn’t paying attention to the army of fallen soldiers, nor to the many lights surrounding them.

“You cannot leave… Not like this.” 

Lara’s eyes turn to look at the source one last time, dedicating once again three long seconds to stare at it. 

Nevertheless, this time around, instead of going through hundreds of feelings, there’s just the one, that keeps growing and growing until, just as all this began, takes control of her body and does what she’s been wanting to do from the moment that she set her hands on it.

And you won’t.

Before her mind has the time to process the possible consequences of what she’s about to do next, Lara grabs the Divine Source and, with all the strength that she’s able to summon, smashes it against the ground, immediately breaking it into countless fragments and pieces.

The impact not only demolishes the source, it also creates a blue energy wave that travels through the entire room, turning all the soldiers into ashes, quickly disappearing into the air without leaving any hint or trace that they were there to begin with.

The light vanishes along with them, leaving an empty room, except for Lara and Jacob, that now it’s only illuminated by the rays of the sun, tinting the whole scenery in an orange tone.

Her eyes scour the room, not truly believing what they’re seeing, but she doesn’t have the time to process it before something else gains her attention.

Jacob moves a little and, after a few seconds, opens her eyes.

He looks confused, but not for too long, quickly understanding the outcome of their evening in record time.

Lara just stares at him doing her best to contain all her feelings inside her chest, which she succeeds, until she finally hears the voice she was convinced she would never have the chance to hear again.

Until she hears his voice.

“What have you…” It’s only a weak whisper at the beginning, but that’s more than enough for her.

Before he’s able to finish his sentence she’s already hugging him, letting the silent tears fall slowly as her arms wrap around his body.

To say Jacob is surprised at the beginning, would be an understatement, but he quickly attributes her feelings and reaction to the near death experience instead of seeing the much simpler reality.

After processing all this, he just sighs and, with a kind smile on his face, returns the hug, allowing himself to tangle his arms around Lara and bringing her a little closer to him.

“What were you thinking?” He asks with the most casual tone he’s able to find, breaking the silence but not the embrace, doing his best to contain the pain hidden behind those words.

“I wasn’t.” Lara replies without hesitation, taking him a little by surprise. “ I…”

Lara laughs at her own thoughts and, after a moment of reflection, she pulls backwards a little, breaking the hug and sitting next to him, moving her eyes to look through the huge breach of the wall while letting the sun bathe her with its rays.

“I didn’t want you to go.” She finally admits, before shaking her head a few times. “Not like this” 

She decides to turn a little to look at him.

He is already looking at her.

The warm light coming through the breach tints her features, turning even brighter as she dedicates a faint smile to him, taking a moment to breathe before she resumes her speech.

“A millennia of pain and death and sorrow. Of fighting, of hiding. Lifetime after lifetime… The wars, the invasions. You’ve been suffering since the moment you set your hands on that thing, and I…” Her words get stuck on her throat, but she tries to continue nonetheless. “I just couldn’t… I couldn’t… ”

Understanding what she’s attempting to say, or most of it, Jacob moves his hand slowly and reaches for hers, mirroring her previous smile as he looks into her eyes.

“You could’ve died, Lara.” He reproaches her, but in the sweetest tone she’s ever heard in her entire life, too mesmerized by the sight of her to be able to be mad about her actions.

“You too.” She answers, no hesitation once again, way too happy about the outcome of this whole situation to worry about filtering her words.

The only thing he can do is smile, unable to contradict the bare logic of her response and knowing that, in her place, he would’ve taken the exact same path.

Lara tightens the grip of his hand and returns his smile, giggling a bit in disbelief, before turning to look to the horizon once again. Jacob’s eyes follow hers after a few seconds, taking his time to scour the way too familiar view of the valley through the big breach of the northern wall.

There’s nothing left to say after that, but they silently decide not to leave.

After everything experienced in such a short amount of time, the two of them need to process all that’s happened, to calm down and, above all, they both need to rest. 

So, instead of joining the forces of the remnant right away, they remain there.

They stay in the center of the room for what seems like an eternity. No words needed, not anymore.

They just sit and wait, one next to the other, looking at the horizon as all their feelings fade.  There’s no more pain, nor fright, nor sorrow. 

There’s nothing else to be said.

So, instead, they just wait there, in complete silence, with her fingers still interlaced with his, forgetting about everything and everyone aside from them. Needing nothing else than the touch of each other's hands to know that, as long as they stay like this, together, everything will be okay.

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Sometimes I love the ending, sometimes I'm not convinced XDDD Anyways, it's done. So there you have it.

I doubt you care, but future me usually has a blast when she reads these things, so know that I rearranged all the remaining chapters and added one more to the planning just so I can write fluff in the next one (it was supposed to be the angsties yet and I really don't have the heart... I suffered enough writing the last three!!! I deserve fluff!!! XDDDDD *slowly descends into madness*)

So yeah, next one is going to be fluff + sexual tension yaaaaaaay~~~That way I'll have a break before we enter the complicated plotline of: the consequences of SotTR aka "wtf were you thinking to volunteer yourself as a freaking human sacrifice!?" XDDDDDDDDDDDD

[aria0fgold]

oooh d'you have any more random oc facts.. I'm not good with questions but I love hearing about others ocs lol

Ehehehehe I'd love to! I love talking bout my ocs!

Ray is a really really good actor! He's a dramatic boy that loves to use his acting abilities frequently which also includes masking his emotions :D He is not okay in the og universe lmao but he is okay in the Android Omori AU and is just there that loves to cause mischief to Patch.

Also also! Ray was a really really shy kid when he was younger, he tends to hide behind Alec's back and rarely talks! His parents wanted to help with the shyness and saw how he seemed to like movies and signed him up for acting lessons. It was a mess at first but Ray really liked it! Only reason why he's so extroverted now.

Drunk Ray reverts back to his shy self though :o Although, it's hard to get him drunk. Not really a heavy drinker but he can hold his alcohol well! Benefits of going to so many parties.

Meanwhile Alec is an incredible lightweight. Any alcohol, no matter the percentage, just one shot and he's drunk. He rarely drinks to be fair. My guy likes healthy living, he is far from living fully healthily.

Of all my OCs, those two have the biggest problems of Ray thinking he is easily replaceable and Alec putting everyone before him. Honestly if they're put in a fantasy setting, Ray is a self-sacrificial dude and Alec is the same but the difference is that Alec has a strong will to live and aint allowing himself to die so easily.

Seph has problems too, actually I think all of them do whoops...

ouououu wanna talk bout seph past. im gonna talk bout seph past >:o

It isn't that like long and lengthy but like basically! Seph is adopted, first was at an orphanage and one of the caretakers is Water's mom, Angela! Seph got adopted by Sera's parents, billionaire peeps, rich business ppl. Life with them was a-okay for a time, in fact they spoil Seph a lot! But that's exactly the problem, cuz Sera is dead when they adopted Seph, both parents were grieving and the dad just so happens to have the bright idea of adopting a kid to fill that hole.

It went downhill from there when they saw how similar looking Seph was to Sera. (Blonde hair and brown eyes. Though Seph's eyes are lighter.) Except for dresses and skirts, most of the clothes the parents gave Seph are ones they can imagine Sera to also wear. Same with toys and gadgets. None of them also mention having a daughter until Seph found out bout it on his own.

A LOT of stuff happened but basically Seph funded his own company with the help of Water and Angela acting as proxy (company name is Yggdrasil.) So yeah he is also basically not okay. But! That past is different for Kitsunemori AU cuz hey! Sera is alive! Seph is still adopted but that's some trauma skipped :D

Water has problems too... Alec has bigger problems... Honestly Ray is the only one with a normal-ish childhood. Mel (im sorry my guy i keep forgetting you) also has problems.

Patch is saved from problems????? actually not really

[varteeny1234]

I do everything for a reason... limbo is weird, and very un-canon in some ways... I wonder why :3

Summary:

Limbo still proves to be a mystery… nothing here makes sense.

Words: 944

Chapter: 3/?

Chapter Warnings: Slightly more than canon-typical existentialism and desperation

ehehehehe

Whoever was hiding this door from her was doing an excellent job of it. Tea had found the wall, made of solid black void, and had followed it to where she knew she'd been before. But still, the white door was nowhere to be found, and thus, Tea was still trapped here. 

It was honestly a miracle that her fingers and toes hadn't frozen off in the cold liquid that made up the ground. Limbo wasn't a good place to be. 

They did seem to be turning slightly greyer... but that could just be the constant contact with the ashes. 

Please, please let it be the ashes...

The shadow person was still around, and Tea hadn't yet attempted conversation with them. She was still afraid that the sound would draw the attention of the cloaked being from before, and that wouldn't end well for either of them. She had been following them for a while. Whenever she came across them, she made sure to keep out of their sight, but she'd carefully trail them and try to figure out what they did while they were here... but all they seemed to do was cry. 

Cry about what, specifically, other than being trapped, she didn't know. But everywhere they went, when she followed them, they sobbed, their white tears dissolving into the ground. She wanted to help them, but she still had no idea what she could do. She'd been relying on being able to find the door again!

Why did she ever think that going through it had been a good idea?

Tea had carved out the inside of a tree. It hadn't been difficult, the charred bark scraped away very easily, and the inside was shelter from... well, it was more like a hiding place than anything else. She put some branches and puffy plants down to be her bed- bed being generous in its description, of course- and a few failed attempts at a makeshift brewing stand lay strewn about in the corner. Grey, fragile vines covered the hole that was her door.

It wasn't much. It wasn't much at all, but until she could find her way out, this was home. 

Limbo shouldn't be anyone's home.

Standing in the middle of her shelter, she wondered how the others had reacted to her disappearance. It had definitely been more than a few days, so surely at least someone would have noticed she'd gone missing. 

How did Trog get out of the void, again? Had they been outside in Limbo, or inside the world the door protected? Tea wished she remembered more than just the fact that they'd been stuck for a week. 

Frustrated, she decided to think about it further at a different time. It wouldn't do her much good to sulk, especially now, while she was awake- there wasn't really day or night here, seeing as there wasn't a sun, but she still got tired semi-regularly. 

Walks were always good to pass the time. Tea hadn't run into the cloaked, one-eyed being again. The proud part of her wanted to believe it was because they were scared of her, since she threw a rock at them with more power than anyone had probably ever thrown a rock, but the more logical part of her knew that they probably just didn't care enough to try and come back for her. 

This worked out in a way that what Tea truly believed was a combination of both. 

At least the shadow person didn't seem to be being hunted.

Speaking of the shadow person, the sound of their quiet sniffling and the rustling of the dead plants they touched indicated they were nearby. Tea poked her head out the door hole, and was unsurprised to see them walking past her tree. They didn't see her. 

They were walking off in the direction of where Tea had guessed the door was hidden. Maybe, maybe, it would be a good idea to follow them, just in case their presence would make it reveal itself. 

As time passed it was much more familiar to be creeping along in between the trees and among the oddly-shaped rocks. The shadow person was kept in sight, not too close for her to be detected, not too far to be lost. Their crying seemed to grow louder the closer they got to the wall.

Before long, they were at the wall, and the shadow was leaning against a section of it that sent a familiar shiver down Tea's spine. If the door still existed, it would be right here.

This was exactly where Tea had first walked in.

But the shadow seemed to be seeing something that Tea couldn't, or maybe they'd just memorized the location of the door. Either way, Tea couldn't see or hear anything other than the shadow's sobbing. After what she guessed to be about a minute, the shadow said the first word she'd ever heard them say. 

"HELP!" 

They sounded desperate. Tea couldn't blame them. They sank to the ground again, curling up and continuing to cry. Maybe they'd seen something through the other side of the invisible door. 

Maybe someone else had come to find them but hadn't succeeded...

She started to walk back to her tree. She had a little bit of thinking to do. She kicked the ground, watching as the light grey liquid splashed around, still cold, staining her skin and clothes.

A horrifying thought struck her mind.

There was ground underneath this. 

Tea ducked down, feeling the solid ground hidden by the grey. 

Could it be... 

This must have been a thousand years' worth of the tears of the forever-crying shadow.

[withleeknow]

this is a bit random and you don't have to answer, but as someone who follows you both on here and on your bts blog im a bit curious as to why you decided to focus on writing for skz more now. I don't say this in a negative way im just genuinely curious 🤧 and I don't know if this has been answered before but I'd love to know about how you got into skz and how minho became your bias 🫶 I love everything you write about him!! your love for him is really visible in the way you write him and I think that's what makes it so good 🥹

it actually makes me v giddy when someone tells me they follow both blogs 🥹 i’d be happy to answer this heheheh

the main reason why i’m writing more for skz (mostly lino) at the moment is just bc that’s where the inspiration is coming from right now, and that has been really refreshing! the tannies are on hiatus so i figured it might also be a good time for me to take a little break too and try out new things

as for how i got into skz/lino, heheheheheh 😈 tbh after i got into kpop again, i was only keeping up with the tannies and i knew essentially nothing about any of the other groups (skz included). tho you might’ve noticed that i was starting to get into txt back in august/september (i love them and they’re my babies but i don’t really stan them the same way i do with the tannies and skz). anywhomst, idk if you knew about the obs discord server, but in the server we used to do movie nights where we would rewatch run bts and suchwita. there was one day where not everyone could attend and i didn’t want them to miss out on us watching run bts so we just played random videos and compilations and i started putting on lino fancams (at that point i had been intrigued by him after seeing some gifs of him at the vma’s on my dash eheheheh) and i wanted to scratch that itch a lil bit. we had a couple of people in the server who were also skz stans so it was fun watching with them! and they put on skz music for us to listen to. and i fell in love with mimo in that one night lmao 🤣 and i have been Down Bad ever since <3

thank you so much tho, this was a really cute message 🥺 truly made my day ever since i read it this morning. i’m so glad you’re enjoying my fics over here as well ilyyy

[the-haunted-office]

Doomsday cackles, as usual. These humans have the darndest ways of thinking. They overlook the most obvious things, and she finds that funny.

"Do they really think it's coincidental that your- 'Magical Decommissioning Notebook' doesn't work on me? Ehehehehehe. These humans are too stupid to be in charge of you, Night. It's my notebook, a notebook that belongs to a Shinigami, a literal god of death, a god from another realm, one they cannot comprehend, let alone knew the existence of before I showed up and left that notebook which you happened to find, and yet, hehehehehehe, they can't comprehend that I might be immune to it. Hehehehehe."

The Shinigami steps away from the machinery that she accidentally broke, her grin wider than ever and her moon eyes glowing brightly to match. Whatever disappointment she might have felt moments ago is certainly gone now.

It might also be easy for Night and the other humans to forget that she, Doomsday, can see all of their remaining lifespans. She can see Night's right now and therefore knows that she is not in any danger of of whatever might result from this being on "thin ice". If Doom felt that she was putting Night's life in danger, she simply would not do whatever she was doing. In fact, she wants to kill every single person in this organization to set Night free. The only reason she hasn't yet is because she believes Night might be cross with her, and she doesn't want that. Then again... she just might do it anyway if they keep threatening her human, especially if it's over some dumb old fragile machinery.

At any rate, she just giggles again. "Ehehehehe. They still check that old thing? Ehehehehehe. They're extra stupid. Ehehehehehe. Have I ever told you one of the secrets of the notebook, Night? I'll tell you, because I think it'll be useful for you to know. You can decide whether or not you want your friends at the Foundation to know, and that'll be on you. You can simply tear out pages of the notebook, and stash them away for... later use, hehehehehe, and the pages will still work. I do it all the time." She holds out her arms in a shrug as if to say oopsie, my bad for not telling you sooner. "The notebook will never run out of pages, so you can extrapolate whatever kind of conclusion you want from that new information. You're clever, Night. Far more clever than the ones who try to pull your strings. I'm sure you will put it to good use, ehehehehehe."

"No.... nothing that simple. Actually, they're quite concerned that my Magical Decommissioning Notebook coincidentally doesn't work on you, I mean, it's killed things far above this level of reality at this point, so for you to be immune...... yeah. It concerns them."

Night sighs almost imperceptibly. Doom's underestimating the situation, as usual, although she can hardly be blamed for that. After all, she isn't the one under constant threat of deactivation.

"Well, it's more like I'm the one on thin ice. You'll probably get your containment procedures rewritten or something. I, on the other hand, literally belong to them." She shifts in her seat on top of the bookshelf, quickly changing the subject away from the reality of being a Foundation AIC.

"And it's not for breaking anything at all, I'm just saying if we happen to breach something or another, that will just add to the fact that they already consider us a strong security risk. I mean, they probably check that notebook all the time just to make sure I'm not killing off the Council or whatever."

[thedancefloorsilly]

hello, i read some of your stories and i liked them a lot, i haven't seen headcanons of kurapika with a taller s/o, so can i request a headcanon of kurapika where his s/o is taller than him (191cm) to whom Does she like to hold him in her arms and is very affectionate and careful with him?Of course, if you don't want to do it or you don't like the idea, you can ignore my request, thank you very much.

kurapika with a tall fem! s/o

aw im glad u liked them!! and YES TALL PPL FTW eheheheh as a tall girl I love this request :)) I made this as like general hc’s and not anything specific btw :P

fluff, fem! reader, no warnings

- As someone who’s more attracted to what’s inside rather than physical appearance, Kurapika first looked and treated you the same as he did to any other person. But, of course he acknowledged that you were tall, because who wouldn’t! 

- (And of course, that wasn’t to say he didn’t find you attractive deep down, because your height was definitely a wow factor for him).

- When Kurapika first began to develop feelings, he did assume that you were only into taller folks at first, and was debating whether you would fall for him or not because of that reason.

- But you can only imagine how happy he was once you both admitted you liked each other!!

- Kurapika’s absolutely not one of those douchebag guys who wouldn’t let you wear heels because of your height. Listen.. if you’re feeling happy and confident with them, then thats all that matters! 

- Something he especially loves is just being in your arms. When Kurapika gets stressed, he definitely has a tendency to spiral out sometimes, so having that time where he can relax and let someone else take care of him is just so relaxing. 

- now, kurapika hardly cares whether who’s the big spoon or the small spoon, but 97% of the time he’s usually the one being cuddled :>

- you two could just be on the bed spooning after a long day, and as you lay your arm over him, he will just continue to sink into your chest as he takes in the feeling of your hold. 

- When you guys are walking while holding hands, he will always walk a bit faster to try and keep up with you!

- (It’s actually a little cute when you see this in person...^^)

- And also?? Forehead kisses??

- Yeah, you always give Kurapika a bunch of those! You guys could just be having a conversation, or simply just looking into each others eyes (like those cute intimate moments), and you’ll gently push his bangs to the side, bend down, and peck his forehead. 

[tickly-trashcan]

A Novel Thief {KomaHina}

A/N: it’s been a little bit since I last played DR2 and I still haven’t seen the anime, so this might be a little bit wonky in terms of story set up, sorry about that! I wanted them to be in a more free setting so this takes place when they’re still at Hope’s Peak Academy! I hope you enjoy, I’m excited to finally write for Danganronpa! :D

Summary: After a long day at school, Hajime is ready to go home and get some rest. However, his mischievous partner decides to mess around with him instead.

Word Count: 1.2k (under the cut)

Hajime hummed to himself, checking his watch. His class was almost over, and then he would be free for the day. He looked at the window, seeing a few birds fly by as he sighed, placing his chin on his hand as he zoned out, not paying attention to the last few bits of his teacher’s lecture.

He turned his gaze ahead of him, staring at a plume of white hair that sat in front of him. He smiled to himself, seeing it bob up and down as the person in front of him nodded along eagerly to the professor who continued to teach.

Finally the bell rang and Hajime sighed in relief, pulling his books out of his desk and setting them on top, about to grab his bag to put them away.

“Hey Hajime! …What’s this book? We don’t have any assigned reading right now,” A voice came, and Hajime quickly looked up from his bag that he was currently putting his pencil away in. Hajime looked up and saw Nagito holding up one of his books, flipping through the pages.

“Give it back,” Hajime said, stuffing the rest of his books into his bag and holding his hand out for Nagito to give him the book back. He normally wouldn’t be so cold to Nagito considering how they were together, but he really just wanted to get home. Nagito was going home with him that day anyway, it wasn’t like he wasn’t going to see him.

The other students and the teacher cleared out of the classroom, leaving Nagito and Hajime alone in the classroom as Nagito seemed to tune out Hajime, reading the book without paying attention to what he was asking.

“Nagito,” He said, and Nagito looked up from the book, smiling at Hajime.

“Yes?”

“Can I have the book back? I want to go home,” Hajime said simply, thinking that Nagito would understand and give the book back. But he didn’t. He grinned, pulling the book closer to himself, flipping through the pages.

“Do you not want me reading it? It seems interesting…” Nagito said, a slight lilt in his voice, which irritated Hajime. 

“Nagito,” Hajime rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed. “Give me the book back.”

“No~” Nagito teased. Well, that was pretty direct. Hajime groaned in annoyance and reached out to grab the book, but Nagito quickly turned so the book was just out of his reach. Hajime seriously didn’t have the energy for this, but it looked like sensible methods weren’t going to work with Nagito… Did they ever?

An idea popped into Hajime’s head, one that might work. He didn’t really feel like doing it, though, so he tried reasoning with Nagito one more time.

“Will you give me the book back so we can go home?”

“Nah, I wanna finish this page first,” Nagito said, a small grin on his face as he continued to stare at the book, holding it above his head so Hajime definitely wouldn’t be able to reach. Hajime grumbled.

“I don’t think you realize the situation you’re in…” He said, trying to sound threatening but Nagito only laughed.

“Oh, I’m in a situation? Why? ‘Cuz I won’t give you back your precious book? This is why I love you,” Nagito laughed, making Hajime blush. He shook his head, almost like he was trying to shake off the red tinge on his cheeks as Nagito chuckled, flipping the page again as he continued to read.

Hajime finally got sick of Nagito’s antics and decided to put his plan into action. He set his bag down and walked around his desk, standing next to Nagito. He wrapped his arms around him, making Nagito chuckle in surprise.

“Oh? Interested in some affection now, are we Hajime? Sorry, it’s not gonna get you your book ba - ACK! Whahahat?!”

Hajime had his arms fully wrapped around Nagito’s torso, and using his hands he squeezed his sides. Nagito snickered loudly, lowering his arms and hitting the book against Hajime’s head as he was tickled.

“Hahahajime! Stahahap! Not thahahat!”

Hajime reached up with one arm to grab the book, and Nagito quickly raised his hands above his head again, making Hajime growl angrily.

“If you give it back I might stop tickling you,” Hajime said simply, and Nagito shook his head, his fluffy hair bouncing around as he laughed.

“Nehehehever!” He wailed defiantly, and Hajime fully took that as a challenge to get his book back from his boyfriend. He used the hand that previously reached up for the book to scribble in Nagito’s underarm, making him shriek.

His arm pulled down slightly, but he managed to keep it held above his head. Hajime smirked at Nagito’s resilience, and it made him all the more determined to get his book back. Nagito finally raised his other arm to grab the book so he could clamp down his arm, unable to withstand the ticklish sensations under his arm anymore without reflex.

“Hahahajime! WAHaha - Wait! No mohohohore!” Nagito yelled, his face red as he threw his head back, cackling.

“I’ll stop when you give it back,” Hajime said flatly, unwrapping his arm from around Nagito to dig under his other arm, making him shriek. His arm faltered again and clamped down, Nagito quickly hugging the book on his chest. Hajime stopped tickling him for a moment to try and pry it out of Nagito’s arms, but he wasn’t budging. 

“Y-You know, some manners would be nice! You haven’t even said plea - ehehehehe! Hajimeeee!”

Hajime buried his thumb in Nagito’s hipbone, kneading as Nagito wailed out cries of laughter, shaking his head around as he refused to let go of the book.

“You’re the one who should mind his manners, being the one who stole my book and all,” Hajime shot back, a small grin of amusement on his face.

His hands travelled up to Nagito’s ribs, making him shriek as he almost let go ot the book, but still managed to hold onto it. Hajime frowned in concentration as he dug into his ribs, Nagito’s frantic cackles filling the air around them. He shook with laughter, squeezing onto the book for dear life as his worst spot was easily attacked by Hajime.

Nagito shook his head, cackles spilling from his lips as his knees finally buckled, falling against Hajime. Hajime grunted at the sudden weight on his shoulders and fell backwards. 

“Are you alright, Hajime?!” Nagito asked quickly, letting go of the book and cupping Hajime’s face, turning it gently to make sure he was okay. Hajime grinned, surprising Nagito as he grabbed the book, holding it above himself triumphantly. 

Nagito gasped, looking at the book then back at Hajime, before his expression softened into a smile. He clapped for Hajime, who chuckled before Nagito leaned down to press a quick kiss on his cheek.

“N-Not on campus!” Hajime whined, slightly flustered at the sudden affection.

“Oh, but you’re allowed to tickle me on campus? I call bullshit,” Nagito frowned, and Hajime only laughed.

“It’s your fault for stealing my book.”

“I would use the term… borrowed.”

Hajime laughed again, and Nagito got off of him, helping him up. Hajime stuffed the book back in his bag and slung it over his shoulder, glancing at Nagito.

“Ready to go?”

Nagito nodded, lacing his hand with Hajime’s, who pulled away slightly at the sudden touch. 

“Is this okay?” Nagito asked, a soft smile on his face as Hajime nodded, a shy blush on his face. Nagito smiled wider, tightening his grip on Hajime’s hand and leading him out the door.

[sou-ver-2-0]

Sou Hiyori and Kanna’s Sister Parallels

In my short time in the Your Turn to Die fandom, I haven't seen anyone discuss the similarities between our Sou Hiyori and Kanna's older sister Kugie. This subtle parallel is one of the many fantastic writing details in this game, and it happens to be my favorite one. So I wanted to talk about it! 

I love the irony that the characters in YTTD draw a more obvious parallel between Kugie Kizuchi and the game's protagonist, Sara Chidouin. Both Sara and Kugie are high-school aged girls, and Sara often plays the part of Kanna's big sister, leading Kanna to project her feelings for Kugie onto Sara. Although this is sweet, it's still a superficial parallel. Sara and Kugie play the same role, but how similar are they really? If you choose to chat with Kanna on the first day of Chapter 2's storyline, Kanna will tell you the truth about her adoptive sister. Instead of idealizing her, Kanna paints a more complex picture of a flawed young woman. Unlike Sara, Kugie bullied Kanna when they first met. It took time for the pair of them to feel like real siblings. On a deeper level, Kugie's own mini-character arc is very different from Sara's arc, but it perfectly mirrors Sou's arc!

Both Kugie and Sou have a cruel streak and they each make rash judgments about other people. However, they eventually reveal with their actions that they truly love Kanna deep down. While Sara can make the choice to abandon Kanna, both Kugie and Sou would die for the girl. Because of the striking parallels I see between Kanna's memories of Kugie and Kanna's present relationship with Sou, I want to believe that Kugie was just as willing as Sou was to die in order to save Kanna's life. Kugie's story effectively acts as a microcosm of Sou's story. So let's take a close look at it.

KANNA: ...Sara... / You're just like... my sister.

SARA: Huh...?

KANNA: Your strength... and your kindness... / ... / But my sister... / Wasn't always kind from the moment we met.

SARA: (The moment they met...?)

If you speak to Kanna during negotiation time on Day 1 of Chapter 2, the girl begins her story by telling Sara that she's just like her sister, since Sara shares Kugie's "strength and kindness." However, she admits that her sister "wasn't always kind from the moment we met." This is the first major difference between the two girls, and it's what clued me into the idea that Kugie's story might be a metaphor for Sou's story instead. It's also an early moment in which Kanna reveals that she's not as naive as people think she is. She's aware that Kugie was flawed, just like she's aware of Sou's flaws. She keeps choosing to believe in their capacity for good, even as she understands that they are capable of hurting her. 

  Following this revelation, we come to a notable choice.   

1. CHOICE: You aren't blood-related?

SARA: ...Kanna. Are you and your sister not blood-related...?

KANNA: ...Right...

2. CHOICE: Guess I win

SARA: I was nice from the start, so guess I win.

KANNA: Ah... Even the way you say weird things like that is just like my sister...

SARA: (Strangely, that just got her more emotional...)

Sara can either ask "You aren't blood-related?" or smugly observe "Guess I win." Either way, Kanna will steer the conversation back to her adoption by the Kizuchi family. But the choice to declare "victory" over Kugie here fascinates me, since it's easy to connect this competitive sentiment to Sara's relationship with Sou. While Sara and Sou are obviously in a competition for their lives, what ends up mattering more is their competition for Kanna's affections. In both cases, Sou is painfully aware that he's the underdog with "zero percent chance of success." Sou is sure that Kanna would choose Sara's life over his life, if she were forced to make that awful choice.

For Sou, who believes that Kanna loves him less, his moral dilemma is whether to support Kanna in spite of this. The fact that he supports her unconditionally in the second Main Game speaks to his strength of character. He proves that he truly values Kanna more than his own life. For Sara, who already feels comfortable in the "victory" of Kanna's devotion, the moral question becomes whether the player will make choices that are worthy of the girl. Will you help Sou protect her? Or will you decide that Kanna's life is worth less than Sou's hacking skills? Sara's choice determines whether she truly shares Kugie's "strength and kindness."

I'll come back to Kanna's feelings on this "competition" later. For now it's enough to say that she recognizes that competitive streak in Kugie too, and that memory makes her "emotional." It shows how she loves these three characters even when they say "weird things." Again, Kanna is aware of Sara, Kugie, and Sou's flaws but still feels affection for them. That's just how it is when you love someone.

Kanna continues her story:

KANNA: ...See, Kanna's adopted.

SARA: ...!

KANNA: She came to her current family from an orphanage when she was little...

SARA: So you had different parents, too?

KANNA: Mom and dad were really kind... / Kanna... was determined to always smile, childishly thinking "I can't trouble them." / ...And Kanna's sister didn't seem to like her...

Here, Kanna reveals that she has always had the type of personality where she tries hard to please others. She was worried about being a burden long before the Death Game, but for a more ordinary reason; she's adopted. She's always been self-conscious. Her ongoing heartbreak and anxiety comes from a deep place of worrying that her big sister doesn't love her. This informs her current relationships with both Sara and Sou.

At this point, the narrative shifts to a flashback of Kanna's memories.

MOM: Stop it, Kugie! Why do you do such cruel things?!

KANNA: No, it's fine! Kanna's not angry... She's not, really... / Look, see! Ahaha... Ehehehehe...

KUGIE: ...What're you always laughing for?

KANNA: Huh...?

KUGIE: ...You're creepy. I hate it.

DAD: Hey, stop that! Apologize, Kugie!

Kugie calls Kanna "creepy" and even says that she "hates" that part of her. Sara can't ever say such cruel words to Kanna; the worst you can do as a player is speak sternly to her sometimes. But Sou absolutely can say cruel things. He has called Kanna "stupid kid," "dead weight," and a "hindrance" in front of the entire group. And just like the Kizuchi parents scolded Kugie for her mean words, our group members condemn Sou for his mean words.

Now, we know Sou wasn't actually speaking his heart with those words. He didn't have malicious intent. (In fact, he was trying to save Kanna's life.) Sou said those words because he wears a mask to cover his true self. That's the essence of his character. He tries to sound tough and logical to force people to take him seriously. He assumes that once he lets his guard down and shows weakness, everyone will vote to kill him. He becomes a bully because he's insecure.

What if Kugie was also wearing a mask when she bullied Kanna? Not because of the Death Game like Sou, but for a more ordinary reason. Maybe she was simply trying to sound "cool." Maybe Kugie bullied Kanna because she was also insecure, and it would be easy to take out her insecurity on a little girl like Kanna. Kanna is an awkward child who speaks in the third person and laughs for no reason. It would be easy for an older girl to look at Kanna and think, "At least I'm not as embarrassing as that." Even though we don't know Kugie as well as Sou, I think it's a logical assumption.

KANNA: Even then, I kept on smiling... I didn't... want to make sister out as a villain. / But one day, when it became unbearable... I ran away from home.

This is the saddest part but I love it because it's a direct parallel to what Kanna says about Sou! 

During the Second Main Game, when Kanna confesses that she took the Sacrifice card from Sara, she says, "Kanna...Kanna...!! She didn't want to let Sara die...!! And also...!! She didn't want to make Sou a murderer...!!" 

The things Kanna does for these two!!

In other words, there comes a point for both Kugie and Sou where their actions are so harmful that Kanna feels like she has to throw herself away to thwart their "villainy." She runs away from home. She takes the Sacrifice Card. Because she doesn't want these two people she loves to become villains.  

We continue Kanna's story with another flashback. This time, it's accompanied by visual imagery of a small Kanna sitting by herself and crying while hiding her face under a bucket.

KANNA: ...sniff... sob...

KANNA: (narrating) I couldn't go home. I didn't want to... Thinking that to myself, I sat in the park with a bucket on my head and cried.

This is Kanna at her most vulnerable. She is isolated and alone. She has given up. 

In the present day, Kanna has many hopeless moments like this since she has just lost her sister, the person she loved most. We can judge any of the game's characters by how well they treat her, the most vulnerable among them.

In Kanna's memory, there is a character who comes to speak with her at this time. A little boy who tries to joke with her and cheer her up. Kanna only remembers him as "Brat," but to the player, he looks an awful lot like a small Joe Tazuna! The following confrontation between Kanna, "Brat," and Kugie is my favorite part, because it leads to my favorite parallel.

BRAT: Hey! Whatcha doin'? / What's with the bucket?! Yer funny!

KANNA: ...sniff... sniffle...

BRAT: Huh? You cryin'?!

KANNA: ..........

BRAT: ...Alright. / *He lifts his shirt over his head.* How's that! Ehh?! Look at me! C'mon! Funny, right?

KANNA: ...uuuuu...

VOICE (KUGIE): What're you doing?!

BRAT: ...Huh...?

KUGIE: How dare you put a bucket on her head and tease her!! Beat it, you!!

BRAT: I-I wasn't teasin' her!

KUGIE: Liar!! Kanna's crying, isn't she?! D-Don't... be so cruel to my little sister!!

KANNA (narrating): ...That was the first time she called me "little sister"...

In the scene, "Brat" greets Kanna and tries to cheer her up by being a goofball. However, Kugie sees this and gets the wrong impression. She assumes that the boy is hurting Kanna and she rushes to her little sister's defense. As a result of Kugie's actions, Kanna finally sees Kugie's true loving heart.

This is, beat for beat, exactly what happens when Sou confronts Sara about Kugie's smartphone. Just like Kugie wrongly assumed that Joe was bullying Kanna, Sou wrongly assumes that Sara tampered with Kugie's smartphone to make it seem like Kugie hated Kanna. Even though Sou is wrong--Sara was trying to fix the smartphone, just like Sou was--this is the first moment that the player can see Sou's true heart. We learn that Sou's reasons for targeting Sara aren't due to him being some scheming mastermind; he's simply suspicious by nature and he makes rash judgments. He acts the way he does because he genuinely believes that Sara is dangerous. And for the first time, we see how deeply Sou cares about Kanna. We see him stand up to Sara to defend her. Then we see how he wrote a message full of love and hope on Kugie's phone. 

When Kanna finally receives the phone, she cries "tears of salvation" over Kugie's new message. But Kugie's words are really Sou's words. And by the time we reach Chapter 3, we learn that Kanna knew the truth the whole time.

(KANNA): Kanna was always with her big sister. / Because she loved her a lot… / But Kanna was always just a bother to her… / Even that time when it mattered most, she couldn't do anything. / So she thought she was hated… / But that message... made her remember. / That surely, her big sister was watching over her… / That she had to stay strong on her own… / But, well… / The truth is, she knew… / That it wasn't her sister who wrote that message… / *Kanna remembers Sou's face.* .... / ...There's people who tried to protect Kanna. / There's people who worked to encourage her. / So... she doesn't want anyone else to die. / Because... they're all such kind people...

In the game, Kanna shares these thoughts with the player in the aftermath of Sou's death. This is the scenario in which Sou gets to complete the same arc as Kugie. They both sacrifice themselves to save the little sister they love so much. I'm sure that Kugie would have been grateful for Sou's help in writing that message and saving Kanna's life.

I'll finish sharing the rest of Kanna's story about Kugie: 

KUGIE: ...You still crying?

KANNA: S-Sorry... sister...

KUGIE: ... / ...So you cry too, Kanna.

I think the wording of that last sentence in English is interesting. The obvious interpretation is that Kugie realizes that Kanna has been secretly crying and hiding her true self all this time. But on another level, I wonder if Kugie is admitting that she herself "cries too"? That would confirm Kugie's insecurity. And it would make this a moment in which Kugie sees herself in Kanna, just like it's implied that Sou sees his "weak self" in Kanna. In any case, this "unmasking" of Kanna's true heart is a good parallel for Sou's story as well. Kanna also hides her feelings like he does.

KANNA: ..........

KUGIE: .......... / Kanna... I'm sorry...

KANNA: ...Sister...

KUGIE: Mom and dad are worried, so let's get home quick, okay?

KANNA: O... Okay! Eheheh...

It is possible for Sou to apologize to Kanna in the prologue of Chapter 2, Part 2. His wording is more ominous than Kugie's, though he keeps Kugie's sentiment about returning home: "...Sorry. / Just relax. If you’re obedient, I’ll tell you how to survive."

Continuing with Kanna's story, the narrative shifts back to the present day.

KANNA: ...Ever since then, my sister and I got along really well.

SARA: I see...

KANNA: Without any blood relation... Kanna and her sister got along really... really well... / ..........

I love this line because it can apply to Sou as well, since he isn't blood-related to Kanna either. All of Kanna's protective siblings commit to her well-being by their own choice.

SARA: Kanna...

KANNA: Kanna... will definitely go home...! Because she needs to tell mom and dad...! / Determination... / A kind of determination... much too heavy for a girl her age to bear. / ...I should be going soon. Sou might wake up, after all... / Thank you very much... Sara.

Kanna ends her story with a determined speech to return home and honor Kugie's memory. As we read earlier, Kanna gives a similar determined speech in the aftermath of Sou's sacrifice. Later in Chapter 3, she further expresses a desire to honor Sou’s memory, saying “I want to know more about the man who sacrificed himself for me.” This is Kanna at her strongest! This is a Kanna who wants to live!

I mentioned earlier that I would come back to Kanna's feelings on the "competition" between Sou and Sara for her affections. Because Sara resembles Kugie physically, everyone believes that Kanna would choose Sara over Sou. Kanna even says that Sara is "the person she most wants to live." That is Kanna's emotional appeal to save Sara from being voted as a candidate. In the event that Kanna dies, Keiji rubs Kanna’s words in Sou's face at the beginning of Chapter 3, leaving Sou desolate.

But it's important to note that Kanna's choice was always to save both Sara and Sou. To say that she would abandon Sou discredits what actually happened. After Kanna makes an emotional appeal to save Sara's life, she shrewdly makes a logical appeal to save Sou's life. And when Sou tries to direct the votes to Kanna, thinking she has the Sacrifice card, Kanna easily thwarts his efforts by simply telling the truth. Kanna was the only character who chose to be honest about the Sacrifice Card, because she never intended to let anyone else die for her. 

Kanna's choice was to reject the “competition” outright. She doesn't even take it seriously. Her reasons for taking the Sacrifice card were twofold: to save Sara's life, and to save Sou's soul. It's never a real question for her which person she values more. She would have died for them both.

This matters because Sou doesn't parallel Kugie in such an obvious way like Sara does, but the parallel is still there. It's subtle enough that Sou can't even see it. He never feels confident in Kanna's affection, which is why he ordered her, "Kanna. / Don’t you betray me." He can't see what's right in front of him: that Kanna cares about him as though he were her own brother. 

In contrast, Sara feels self-conscious about the comparisons people draw between Kugie and herself. She always feels awkward about it. She is fully aware that Kugie was her own person, and Sara can only pretend to understand what she was like. I really like the way that the manga treated this issue. Although the manga cuts out many of the excellent character moments from the game, it adds more focus on Kugie.

Sara thinks to herself, "I don't know...how many regrets that person had..." which neatly foreshadows that Kugie would have regretted bullying Kanna. Speaking of regrets also reminds me of Sou, who--in the route where he dies--regrets not trusting everyone sooner.

I wanted to end this piece on a happy note, so I'll just say that I like to imagine that Sou and Kugie would have gotten along! Maybe they would even be able to see through each other's masks and help each other. They could work together to protect Kanna, and the Player could choose whether Sara joins them.

[zintranslations]

IDEALLY IT WOULD BE KINDA HOT IF QIUSHI AND NANZHU RETURNED BACK TO THE DOOR WORLD AND BECAME THE BOSSES OF THE 12TH DOOR AGAIN. at least they wouldn't be bored? and also i just imagine people going through the door and seeing those two being lovey dovey, force fed dog food eheheheh

One brisk autumn day, the doors forum went nuts again, because the twelfth door was apparently back open for business.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE," "Was it a scheduled maintenance or what," "Okay but did anyone actually manage to pass 11 when 12 was still closed"—were just some of the fun topics of conversation.

Ever since Ruan Nanzhu's return, he'd stopped keeping tabs on the forum, happily casting it aside in favor of retirement. Lin Qiushi, however, was different. In the year he'd spent lonely and alone, he'd made a habit of scouring the forums for any potential mention of Ruan Nanzhu's name, and had never stopped accessing the forum every, oh, three days or so, to check out the latest community news.

Plus, he had extra reason to check the forum that morning. The situation was kind of his fault after all.

It took Ruan Nanzhu another four days to hear the news, and of course it was Ye Niao's loudmouth that clued him into it. Lin Qiushi had been having such a mischievous, fun time thanks to Ruan Nanzhu not knowing. But it was also good that Ruan Nanzhu found out, because there was a veteran trio coming out of White Deer—Zhuang Rujiao included—scheduled to enter their eleventh door, and Lin Qiushi knew he and Ruan Nanzhu ought to have a conversation before that happened.

So, after Ye Niao was neatly sent on his way ("R-Ruan-ge—Wait, Lin-ge—huh? Uh, oh, okay okay, I'll just be, off then."), Lin Qiushi stayed seated on the couch, settled his hands in his lap, and let Ruan Nanzhu wheel around on him.

"Qiushi." His tone wasn't suspicious, because there was nothing to be suspicious about—he'd already figured everything out. That Lin Qiushi checked the forum on the regular was a fact, therefore Lin Qiushi's deliberate failure to tell Ruan Nanzhu the news was also a fact. And why would Lin Qiushi intentionally not tell Ruan Nanzhu such a potentially critical development?

So he could sit there and look endearingly smug about it, apparently. Which meant a) it was likely not a critical development, at least not one that may jeopardize Ruan Nanzhu in any way, and b) it was likely Lin Qiushi's doing.

"Nanzhu," Lin Qiushi replied, all pleasant smiling.

"Qiushi," Ruan Nanzhu repeated, taking deliberate and interested steps forward. Lin Qiushi had called this his prowl several times in the past, and Ruan Nanzhu circled Lin Qiushi like so. Neither of them looked at all unhappy about this dynamic. "What have you done?"

Lin Qiushi's gaze slipped upward to the left, and his lips were parted as if a laugh was perched just on the brink of them, waiting to jump. Ruan Nanzhu would much rather be the one perched on those lips instead.

"I...accepted an invitation, that's all."

"An invitation from whom?"

"From...the doors, I guess?" An elegant finger pointed at Ruan Nanzhu. Did he honestly have no idea what that upturned wrist did to Ruan Nanzhu? Had he no clue the invitation that sent? "It came to me in a dream."

Ever since coming out of the doors, Lin Qiushi's personality too had gotten livelier. Your bad influence, Bai Ming had accused of Ruan Nanzhu once. Ruan Nanzhu had stonily returned something about him not knowing the Chinese language if he thought anything about Lin Qiushi could be anywhere close to "bad," and then something like just because your dick game isn't strong enough to please your lover...

Yeah, Ruan Nanzhu was a bitch, but there was nothing he delighted in more than the fact that his darling, his sweetheart, his universally beloved Good Guy Lin Qiushi stooped to his level sometimes, too. And actually kind of loved it.

So Ruan Nanzhu pouted.

"You dreamt of something other than Mengmeng? Mengmeng's hurt."

Lin Qiushi laughed and got to his feet, looking as sweet on Ruan Nanzhu as he always did.

"But it was of you though. I saw the twelfth door open in my dream."

When Lin Qiushi took his hands, Ruan Nanzhu was actually keen on a more extensive answer this time. The twelfth door? He was the twelfth door, so what fake motherfucker-twelfth door was opening itself to Lin Qiushi now?? And if the twelfth door was powerful enough to insert Ruan Nanzhu into reality, then did it also have the power to, say, take Lin Qiushi out?

"Don't worry so hard, babe," Lin Qiushi said quietly, pressing his lips to Ruan Nanzhu's furrowed brow. "You have permission to come with me."

A tension that Ruan Nanzhu hadn't been aware of dissolved along his back and shoulders.

"Go where?" He sounded plaintive enough to earn another warm kiss; Lin Qiushi liked to tease, but could never do it for long if Ruan Nanzhu broke out the whining.

Lin Qiushi's eyes, though, were still sparkling.

"Hey, I just figured fair's fair, right?" Their fingers danced together in midair between them, skimming and climbing as if each other's fingers were piano keys, all at once. "You get my past life, and I get yours."

Ruan Nanzhu blinked.

"It's less than a part-time gig, really," Lin Qiushi continued, "considering how few people make it to the eleventh door."

Ruan Nanzhu squinted, concentrating real hard on the halo of light that always surrounded his lover—at least to his eyes. Did it seem a bit different now?

...It did. Holy shit.

"Are you telling me..."

Lin Qiushi nodded. His eyes were shy but his lips were smug.

Holy shit. Ruan Nanzhu clasped Lin Qiushi's fingers. Firmly.

"What powers do you have?!" And, when the answer wasn't immediately forthcoming, Ruan Nanzhu shook his lover. "Qiushi. What powers do you have!"

Lin Qiushi stared at him some more, before grimacing. Oh, this perceptive darling of his knew him so very well.

"Yes, I can give you a female form again," Lin Qiushi sighed, not out of exasperation for drag (he loved Baijie and Mengmeng—he couldn't deny that), but out of exasperation for Ruan Nanzhu's one-track mind. Ruan Nazhu could've howled in joy. "And yes, we can visit the twelfth door dimension any time for...practice."

It seemed he wasn't the only one with a one-track mind. Or a creative one.

"Well." With the very tip of a single, seductive finger, Ruan Nanzhu traced a long, winding S-pattern across and down Lin Qiushi's chest. Lin Qiushi shivered. "As the last being to occupy that position, I'm duty-bound to help you transition into your new role, aren't I?"

A quiet, loving grin slipped onto Lin Qiushi's lips.

"But you don't remember shit," he chuckled. Ruan Nanzhu tapped at his own temple.

"Maybe not up here, but—" If Lin Qiushi wasn't going to shove his hand down Ruan Nanzhu's pants, Ruan Nanzhu would just have to do it for him. "—you're welcome to extract all the muscle memory you can from my body."

[m34gs]

For the character ask: Santa from Zero Escape 999 with 🏳️‍🌈 🧡 📖 🛌

Hi friend! Super excited to answer this ask, about MY SON Santa :D (based on this ask game)

Let's dive in! Under the cut so I don't spoil the games for anyone else who is playing :)

🏳️‍🌈- Orientation headcanon

To me, Santa is either bi or pan. Honestly, that's my thoughts on him. I think either one works with him, but I'm not opposed to reading him with different orientations in fanfics...which I am not reading yet because I still have two endings to get in 999 and I wanna finish the games without having important events/facts spoiled by fanfics. But once I'm done the games... :D

🧡- Everyone I ship with this character

Ehehehehe. EHEHEHEHEHEHE.

Alright, I really have two ships for Santa; as of right now. Keep in mind, I still have two endings to do and then two more games, and most of my ships are not set in stone....Anyway, here we go:

Santa x Junpei: you know, there are many reasons. I mean, the main one is that I believe Santa is attracted to dumbasses and Junpei is definitely a dumbass. But also. The other main reason this became a ship in my mind:

Junpei: "we have to see how deep it goes"

Santa: "I can work with that."

I will never forget that line. I will quote it on my fucking deathbed because asdjf;ahdgdaslfj

Ahem. On to the next ship:

Santa x Snake: Now, I'll be honest, I haven't had a whole lot of interactions between them in the game...but that doesn't matter. What does matter is that this ship popped into my head as if it was the most natural thing in the world. I don't know, maybe it's because Snake has a bit of a posh attitude (even though it's clear he cares about others) and Santa is rough-and-tumble, and I think it would be a very fun dynamic. Either way, I like this ship as much as I like the above one I listed.

And that's it for shipping. :)

📖- AU I’d like to see them in

ANY AU WHERE HE DOESN'T DIE AND/OR SUFFER.

Ok, but seriously. He deserves happiness. And you know what? He deserves a coffee-shop au. So. Coffee-shop AU where Santa is a disgruntled employee who grumbles about his job but won't leave it because his sister, June, is the owner of the little coffee-shop and she needs employees, and also there's a really cute customer that keeps coming in daily, like clockwork. :)

🛌- Sleep headcanon

I headcannon that Santa tends to run on the warmer side, like a furnace. Also because I love irony, and I find that his code name 'Santa' being associated with the North Pole, it would be funny to assume he is actually really warm all the time. So he always tosses all the covers off of him and sleeps sprawled out on the bed. Then he gets a partner, and suddenly it's like...he's trapped because they are cuddling him for warmth and oh no it's too warm, he needs to escape, except he can't. All his struggling just somehow pushes the two of them closer together. He grumbles about it a lot, but in the end he sleeps just fine.

Hope you enjoyed these headcannons and AU! Feel free to ask more if you like.

[justthehiddleswrites]

Nice Shirt | Tom Hiddleston x Reader

Pairing: Tom Hiddleston x Reader

Summary: After two years of being in a relationship with Tom, you start to question whether you are putting your own dreams aside for this relationship. You make a hard choice but is it the right one?

Warnings: Implied Smut, Drinking, Bit of Angst

-

2016

Tom couldn’t sleep after comic-com panels. The adrenaline pumped through him, and he couldn’t sleep for hours. He tried to convince Chris Hemsworth to go to the bar with him, but he begged off.

“You can talk to your wife any time. But how often do you get to bar hop in Philadelphia?”

“Nah, mate.” Chris responded. “I am absolutely wiped. But go have fun. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” Chris clapped him hard on the shoulder.

“Ehehehe.” Tom chuckled. “Of course. Brother.”

The two men parted with a hug, and Tom headed for his car.

“James…” Tom asked his driver. “Do you know any good bars?”

The man smiled in the rearview mirror. “How good?”

“The best.”

“I know just the place.”

-

You weren’t sure how you ended up at Frankford Hall, but here you were, beer in one hand, ping pong paddle in the other.

“Whoo!” you hooted as you beat the young frat guy on the other side of the table. “That’s how it’s done!”

Someone tugged on the back of your shirt, you spun wide, sloshing your beer. You weren’t drunk yet, but the buzz was flowing.

“JESS!!” you screamed. “You made it!”

You pulled your best friend into the tightest hug. She mumbled something against your chest.

“What?”

“I said…” Jess pushed off of you. “… we need to get some food into you.”

“Excellent idea.”

You linked arms and headed inside to order some food.

-

Tom reminded himself to thank James for the excellent suggestion. He never would have picked a biergarten for the night but with ping pong and authentic food. It hit the spot after a long day of photographs and signing photos.

“Hey!” a voice beside him cut through the din of the bar.

“Pardon?” Tom answered, turning to find you standing there.

“Nice shirt, Paul!”

“The name’s Tom.”

Your head ducked as you burst out into laughter.

“I was calling you Paul Bunyan. You know, the lumberjack. Plaid shirt.”

Tom glanced down, forgetting he had thrown on his well worn red plaid shirt.

“Oh, right. Eheheheh.” Tom gave a nervous chuckle.

The waiter plopped a plate in front of Tom. Bratwurst. Tom licked his lips and took a big bite, bits of sauerkraut falling to the plate.

“I like a man who can handle his sausage.” you flirted.

The waiter delivered your and Jess’s appetizers, laying the plates in front of you. Tom eyed your food while taking a big swig of beer.

“I like a woman with a big appetite.” Tom countered, turning on his stool to give you a once over.

“Good to know.” You licked your thumb after popping a bit of pretzel in your mouth. “How are you with a paddle?”

Tom choked on his beer. “I beg your pardon?”

You lifted your chin to the outside.

“Ping pong. What did you think?” You returned the favor of allowing your gaze to slide up and down his long lean body, lingering on some places more than others.

“No comment. Let me finish this beer and I will meet you out there.”

You grabbed your plates and headed outside.

“It is about time. I worried you got lost in there.” Jess grumbled as you shoved her food at her.

“Jess! You will never guess who I just ran into in there!”

-

Two Years Later

“What on earth are you doing?” Tom questioned as he viewed drawers opened and the closet door thrown ajar.

“Packing, Tom.” you sighed as you folded up shirts, deciding which ones to pack and which ones to leave behind. “That is what one does when getting ready to travel.”

“I thought we decided you weren’t going to take that job.” Tom sat down on the bed, jostling your suitcase.

Your hands gripped the once folded shirts.

“No, you talked to me for two hours about all the reasons why I shouldn’t move back to the States and then you changed the subject every time I tried to bring it back up again. But there was never any ‘we’ in this decision, Tom. I’m going.”

“Why?” Tom’s voice cracked. “I thought we… you were happy living with me here in London.”

You sighed as you shoved a couple pairs of boots into the suitcase. “I was.” Tom smiled a slight smile. “But I realized if I stayed here, all I would ever be is your girlfriend.”

“You make it sound like a prison sentence.” Tom mumbled.

“For me, it would be. I have dreams and goals of my own and no matter how hard I try, it would always be overshadowed by you. Or worse, pitied or given special treatment because of you.” You shoved the last of your clothes and pushed the lid down and struggled to zip the case closed.

Tom fidgeted with his hands in his lap.

“We could have talked about all this before you booked your flight. We can still talk about it, delay your flight.” His voice grew shrill. “We can make this work. Just don’t leave. Not like this.”

His hand slid over to grab yours. You sat down beside him, giving his hand a brief squeeze before extracting your fingers from his grip.

“My lectures start tomorrow.” A horn beeped. “That’s my taxi.”

Tom bolted to standing. “You can’t possibly be leaving now! Let me drive you to the airport. Something!”

You stood too. You rose on your toes. Your hands rubbed across the stubble on his chin and cheeks. Tom’s eyes squeezed closed at your touch and tears streamed down to your fingertips. You pressed your lips to his and sighed. Tom gripped your sweater like his life depended on it. The sound of the taxi honking again interrupted your embrace.

You squeezed his shoulders hard. “I need to go. I will call you when I land.”

Tom nodded. He grabbed your suitcase and carried it to the door. You reached for it, but he held on.

“Please reconsider. I love you.” Tom pleaded.

“I love you too. But I love me more.” You kissed his cheek. “I’ll call from Philly. Take care of yourself.”

Tom bit his lip in hopes to stifle his anguish. He released his grip on the handle as he nodded at you. You kissed his cheek and stepped out the door. He stood at the threshold until you waved from the backseat of the cab.

Tom gave a tight smile and a small wave until you disappeared into view. Once the door clicked behind him, Tom crumpled to the floor, his legs ceasing to function. Bobby trotted over to check on him, and Tom burrowed his head into Bobby’s soft fur.

He sat there for 30 minutes until his phone rang. He sent it to voicemail. It rang again. This time he turned the phone off and chucked across the foyer. He dragged himself to the couch where he lay until there was a knock at the door.

He jumped to his feet and ran to the door, hoping you had changed your mind.

“I’m so glad you—” he exclaimed as he flung the door open.

“Glad to see you too, mate. Why didn’t you answer your phone?” Luke responded as a disheveled Tom met him at the door. “What the hell happened!?”

Tom’s face fell. “She’s gone.” he croaked out as he fell against Luke.

Luke stood bewildered as he walked Tom back into his house and hoped to unravel just what had Tom in such a state.

-

Three Weeks Later

It was Tom’s first time leaving the house since you left. Luke made sure he had groceries and cleared his calendar of what few things were on it.

Tom had been planning a surprise vacation with you. Which Luke had to cancel. And now Tom sat in a corner booth of his favorite restaurant waiting for Benedict to arrive.

“Shall I get you something to drink?” The waiter asked as Tom ignored the menu.

“A pint. And keep them coming.” he grumbled, not bothering to take off his sunglasses.

“Are you sure that’s a wise decision giving your current emotional state?” Ben’s voice questioned as the waiter walked away.

“Why the fuck not? I am in mourning.”

“It’s been three weeks, Tom. You can not continue on like this. Your liver will never make it.”

“Want to bet?”

“Your GP would agree with me. Nice shirt, by the way. You’ve got a real brooding lumberjack vibe going on.”

Tom glanced down at the red plaid and tears welled in his eyes.

“That’s what she said the night we met.” Tom’s voice cracked.

Ben’s face softened at the wreck of Tom. “I didn’t mean to hit a nerve. I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t know. I never wear the shirt any more. But I haven’t been doing laundry as much.”

“Or showering either.” Benedict takes an exaggerated sniff.

“Not helping, mate.” Tom shot daggers across the table.

“How can I help? I assume that is why I am here. Since you are not taking any calls.”

“I broke my phone chucking it across the room. Haven’t bothered to replace it.”

Ben pressed his hands flat. “You might want to get on that. Perhaps she is trying to call you. I was under the impression you were smarter than this.” He shook his head at Tom.

Tom perked up. “I hadn’t thought about that. Do you think she has reached out?”

“Well, you won’t know until you talk to her.” Tom’s eyes sparkled and sat up straighter. “There’s the Tom Hiddleston I know.” Ben smiled.

“Thank you, Ben. You are a loyal friend.”

“I’m your best friend. And I only want you to be happy. And as payment for my expert relationship advice, you are paying for lunch.”

“With pleasure.” Tom smiled for the first time in weeks.

-

Tom’s mood was short lived. He stopped by the store and replaced his phone. He listened to your voicemail from that day you left. And then nothing. Not a text, not a call. Radio silence.

“Hello, darling. It’s Tom. Sorry I haven’t called sooner. A bit of an accident with my phone. I would very much like to talk to you. To hear your voice. Call me, please. Any time, day or night.”

He sighed as he left the message and stared at the phone for the rest of the night. It didn’t ring.

-

Two Months Later

It was three months since you moved to Philadelphia and began your adjunct position at Penn. You only gained some semblance of normal in the past few days.

“And that is it for today.” You addressed the class. “See you on Thursday.”

The auditorium emptied quickly as students rushed to either their next lecture or something else to do. With a huff, you heaved your bag onto your shoulder and headed to your office on campus.

“Hello?” you answered your phone.

“Any word?” Jess’s voice asked on the other end.

“I told you. He doesn’t have this new number, and I lost his when my phone took a swim in the toilet.”

“Then email him.”

“If he wanted to talk, he would have called those first few days. He has moved on.”

“You are a stubborn ass. You just don’t want to reach out first and have to admit you made a mistake. That you still love him and still want him.”

“That’s not true. He’s busy. He has projects. He probably isn’t even in London right now.” you lied to yourself. You hated when Jess was right.

“Bullshit. You’re scared. Fine, don’t do anything and throw away the best thing that ever happened in your life.”

“Hey! This job is the best thing that happened to me. It moved me closer to you.”

“I would give up our weekly lunches to see you happy. Are you happy?”

You sat down silent at your desk. She was happy, she thought, right? That was the whole point of this. The move was meant to help her reach her goals. Everything felt hollow instead of empowering.

“Yeah, yeah.” you lied to Jess. “Of course, I’m happy. That was the whole point.”

“Still calling bullshit. Remember Jason is coming to pick you up for lunch tomorrow because I have that client meeting.”

“Thank you for reminding me. Bye Jess.”

“Talk to Tom.” she blurted out before you ended the call.

You laid your head on your desk and sighed.

-

The next morning dragged on. You loved teaching communication, but today your heart was somewhere else. Jess’s words weighed you down like an anchor.

“And what percentage of communication is communicated nonverbally?” you asked the class.

You scanned the room to find someone to call on. Out of the corner of your eye, you spied a red plaid shirt. Just like the one Tom wore at Frankford Hall years ago.

“Ah…” you lost your train of thought. You glanced again but couldn’t find the shirt again. “… yes?” you pointed at someone in the third row.

You spent the rest of the lecture searching the room for the owner of the shirt, but he had disappeared. You convinced yourself you imagined the entire thing.

“Let’s end class early. Enjoy it because it won’t happen again.” you announced.

The class cheered as they packed up for the day. You waited until the hall was empty just to double check for Tom.

“You are losing it.” you mumbled to yourself.

-

Tom convinced Luke he was ready to work again. Starting with some radio appearances in New York. Luke wasn’t convinced Tom didn’t have a hidden agenda.

“Are you sure you aren’t planning on taking a day trip to Philly to find her?”

Tom scoffed. “It’s over, Luke.”

Luke glanced at Tom askance but complied with the request. “Fine, but I don’t want to see a single story unrelated to these interviews in the papers.”

“Cross my heart.” Tom made an exaggerated “x” on his chest.

“I’ve heard that before.” Luke groused as he made the plans.

When Tom received his itinerary, he was grateful Luke left an entire day empty.

“You know me too well, mate.” Tom commented as he saw the handwritten note at the bottom:

Here is a good car rental company. It is just under two hours to Philly. Be safe and tell her you love her.

- Luke

Tom wasted no time to call the car company.

When he arrived on campus, it didn’t take him long to find your office. It was locked.

“Excuse me, do you know when the professor will return?” he asked a passing student.

“She is lecturing in Ames Hall. It's just down the corridor.”

“Thank you.” Tom took off.

He snuck into the back to the crowded lecture hall and listened in for a bit. He swore you glimpsed him. His stomach growled as he skipped breakfast to get on the road and he ducked out of the hall to get a quick snack.

As he headed back, he spied you outside your office. His heart leaped into his throat. Tears threatened to spill from his eyes in joy.

He stepped forward but stopped as a man approached you, and you threw your arms around him.

“Fuck!” Tom cursed as the two of you walked away. He collapsed on a nearby bench, uncertain where to go from here.

-

It was later in the day when Jason dropped off back at campus.

“Call him.” both Jason and Jess pleaded.

“Leave it be, you two. We have both moved on.”

“Is that why you swear you saw him in class today? Or that you haven’t even thought about dating since you got here?” Jess added.

“Goodbye you two.” You slammed the door and headed to pick up your things before heading home.

You noticed someone slumped over on a nearby bench. You stepped closer and noticed the red plaid shirt from earlier.

“Are you okay?” you inquired. “Tom?!”

Tom unfolded himself from the bench.

“Tom, it’s you! What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in London?” Tears pricked the corners of your eyes.

“I needed to see you. To talk to you. To explain why I didn’t call.”

You crossed your arms. “I’m listening.”

“I was so upset, I threw my phone and broke it. I left you a message but didn’t hear from you. I figured you might have moved on, but I was willing to take a chance. But I see I was right.”

“How long have you been sitting there? Are you talking about Jason?” You hooked your thumb behind you.

Tom sighed heavily. “So that’s his name.” He took your hands and held them tight. “I should have fought harder. I should have listened more. I am so sorry that you ever felt you couldn’t pursue your dreams with me by your side.” His thumbs ran across your knuckles.

You spied the tears falling down his cheeks. You opened your mouth to speak, but Tom cut you off.

“I want you to be happy. Whether that is with me or not. But above all, I want you to be happy. And if that means I never see you again, then so be it. But know I love you. I will always love you.”

“Tom—”

“Have a wonderful life.” Tom leaned forward and pressed his lips to your cheeks. “Give me a call if you are ever in London.”

Tom turned on his heel and walked away.

“WAIT!!!” you screamed, and he stopped and turned to face you. You ran to meet him. “Did you mean it?”

“Every word. I have never lied to you.”

“Jason…” Tom turned his head away at the name. You grabbed his chin to have him face you. “… is Jess’s long-term boyfriend. He picked me up to meet her for lunch.”

Tom’s eyes widened as the words sunk in. “So…”

Your lips curled into a smile and your hands snaked up his torso, gripping the front of his shirt. “Nice shirt, Paul.”

Tom smiled back. “The name’s Tom.”

“Well, Tom. I think we should carry on this conversation in my office.” You tugged him along. “I think your shirt would look amazing on my floor.”

Tom smiled as you shut the door. “I only want to make you happy.”

[tealenko]

The Three Letters (Chapter 6)

Chapter 6: A Journey to the Past

This got more experimental than usual… Upsss?? I even had to divide the chapter in two because it was already too long XDDD So this is now a 15 chapters fic (for now lol). Don't worry, I'll finish it no matter how many chapters I add (it will take me a while because I have a life and that kind of stuff ehehehehe but I'll finish it, don't worry about it.)

So yeah… Jacob centered chapter (that's another reason this took so long to write… English is not my first language, and changing my writing to fit his speech is really challenging for me. It gives me room to be creative though, which is always a win).

Anyways~ Hope you enjoy it!!

Oh, almost forgot XD The canon dialogue is in bold and the inner thoughts in italic

Summary: Jacob gets absorbed by his own memory and, while Lara tells everyone how she managed to acquire the Atlas, his mind travels back in time to relive everything he felt while he stayed behind.

Words: 3268

Rating: Teens and Up All Chapters -> [link] Read in AO3 -> [link]

I suggest you read this one in my AO3, here I can't show the real format of the chapter.

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Just as Sofia predicted, once the whole dining and music is over, everyone reunites and sits forming a circle in the area they were dancing less than an hour ago, and, of course, Lara quickly becomes the center of attention.

The two girls sit together after Sofia secures a seat in the best lit area. Her father, to her surprise, doesn't follow them, and instead decides to sit right behind the opposite part of the circle, resting his weight onto the fence of the closest cabin, sitting alone in the dark where only Lara, who stands up to share her stories, has a clear view of him.

Jacob doesn’t know how to feel about the whole deal. Part of him is really curious about her past before she found them and all her adventures after she left Siberia a few years ago. But, another side of him, is truly worried she’s going to force herself to share something she’s not ready yet to tell. 

He gives her a ‘you don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to’ look right before she’s about to speak, to which she replies with a soft smile to reassure him that she’ll be okay.

Lara has shared with him bits and pieces of what led them to meet years ago, but even he is surprised to hear the full story, mesmerized by the way she shares the astounding achievements she accomplished like it’s nothing special, and heart broken by the inflection in the tone of her voice as she talks about Grim, Alex and especially about Roth, subtle enough to hide her true emotions from anyone else but not good enough to fool him too.

The moment she finishes the story, explaining their escape from the island, everyone starts to murmur all at once, commenting on their favorite bits with whoever is sitting right by their side. 

Everyone except Jacob.

Jacob, who keeps processing everything she just said, quickly starts to worry not about her words, but for all the untold details they implied, wishing with all his heart to have misinterpreted some of the things that only him was able to catch, especially about the whole story of how she got her first kill.

He spirals into these thoughts for a while before someone’s voice raises among the whispers to ask Lara a direct question.

“And what about Sam? Is she okay now after all that?” Says one of the villagers, curious about the consequences of the experience on the poor girl that almost got sacrificed to a ghost japanese queen. 

“Yeah…” Lara smiles and nods, but there’s a hint of hesitation on her words before she continues. “Or so I’m told… I haven’t seen her in a while.” She sighs and takes a moment before continuing. “ We cut ties even before I came here…” And redirecting her eyes to Jacob she adds: “...sometimes you have to sacrifice things for the greater good and I… I needed to keep going.”

Lara’s mind spirals for a bit into her own memories, trying to pinpoint the precise moment where her friendship with Sam started to crumble into pieces, tainting their shared and happy years with all the misery that followed them. 

Nevertheless, after a few seconds of reflection, she manages to get back to her train of thoughts, shaking her head a couple of times in order to do so.

“And that’s what led me here, in the end.”

The whole village starts to cheer and clap at her sentence, which makes Lara smile a little, surprised by their reaction to being now featured as the center of the story.

“Well, I guess that you already know how this part goes, so I’ll skim through it…” 

In less than a second she gets the negative reaction she was expecting, with everyone, especially the younger part of the group, wanting to hear the whole thing with as many details as possible, which makes her smile even more.

“Okay, okay… I’ll start from the beginning.”

And so she does.

There’s a general hush and anticipation when she starts talking, everyone paying all the attention possible to everything she’s saying. But this peaceful atmosphere, just as she imagines, doesn’t last for long. 

The claps start as she begins to explain how she escaped from Konstantine’s prison, helping Jacob to get out of the cell where they met for the first time, and carry on as she tells them how he saved her life back in return after they fell into the freezing river.

All eyes go to Jacob as they keep cheering and clapping, making him break into laughter to finally stand and make a subtle bow before looking at Lara, which she returns right away.

Sofia blushes, and everyone giggles, as she explains how this one almost shot at her at the entrance of the village, the first time she tried to set foot on it, followed by a: “We’re lucky Jacob made it back just in time!” That an unknown villager shouts from the back of the crowd, making all of them laugh even more.

Lara spends a great deal time explaining the details of the high and lows of her journey, very amused by the way the they react to her story: gasping, cheering and laughing in an almost never ending loop, only occasionally interrupted by a thick silence that spreads for a few minutes whenever she tackles the more serious moments of her past.

Jacob listens with care back where is sitting, alone behind the whole crowd, paying attention to everything she says as his mind throws memories at him to complete what she’s left out of her speech on purpose.

So, when she tells them how they argued about the Atlas and went to look for it, even when he told her not to, his mind drifts away instantly to replay the part of the story she’s not telling them. 

His side.

~

Jacob is seated at the end of the observatory stairs, his eyes fixed to the ground as his mind replays the whole conversation all over again.

“Then help me find it… Before they do!”Jacob hesitated for a second, with his heart shattering into pieces. Half of him wanting to aid her, half of him dreading the thought of it.  

As he would come to regret later on, his fears were the ones to win the battle. “This is not your burden.”

That didn’t really happen… He says to himself, in a futile attempt of changing what he knows to be the truth.

“Of course it is! My father died for this.”Her words scared his heart more than he was expecting. So he chose his own even more carefully. More targeted.

He lets his head fall down between his knees, bringing his hands to the back of his neck.

He chose to hurt her. “You can’t fill the emptiness inside you, Lara.” 

“It didn’t happen…” He whispers unconsciously, like his body thinks that the past will be miraculously rewritten by manifesting his wishes out loud on the present. 

Nevertheless, his futile attempts to erase the last hour of his life are just that: futile. His only relief being brought to him in the shape of a memory, the last of his words to Lara, that now also apply to him, slithering through his mind to give an end to both stories.

“You can only set it free.”

“I can only set it free…” He replies to his past self, now in his present, knowing he doesn’t have any other option than to accept what’s happened and move forward.

But, after everything said and done, how could he?

“Father…”

The sudden appearance of a new voice interrupting his train of thoughts doesn’t startle Jacob, who has been expecting to have this conversation for a while now.

“I know… ”

His voice almost breaks as his mind quickly replays the highlight of their argument.

“You can’t fill the emptiness inside you, Lara.”

“How could you say those things to…”

His mind fights back one last time, torturing with the memory of the shock on Lara’s face after hearing his reproach.

“I’m gonna find it. With or without you.”

“I know.” He replies, in a much firmer tone of voice now, angry with her for risking her life because of him, and angry at himself for allowing it.

“You can pay it with me if you want to, but that’s not gonna get you anywhere.”

“...” Jacob sighs and takes a moment to calm down as he leans a little backwards, resting his weight on his elbows. “I know.” He admits one last time, raising his head to look at his daughter in an apologetic way. “I’m sorry.”

Sofía breaks a little smile and takes a seat by his side, looking for a few seconds at the last ray of sun setting on the horizon before speaking one more time.

“You know she will find out, right?” She finally tells him.

“I just wished…” He starts saying without thinking, mainly to himself, while turning his head to look at his daughter, sitting right next to him with a confused look in her eyes. “I mean… I know… She’s quite clever, isn’t she?” Jacob rectifies just in time, successfully masquerading his true feelings behind his usual ambiguity.

“Then what are you waiting for?”

He is confused for a second before understanding the switch on his daughter’s opinion and what she is truly trying to imply with her words.

“I thought you didn’t trust strangers…”

“Lara is no longer a stranger.” She replies, feeling a bit ashamed of how she acted and treated her at the beginning of their relationship. “And, to be honest, she may be the only one able to end this, once and for all.”

Jacob smiles faintly at his daughter’s words.

“Yeah, I think so too.”

“Then?” 

“I honestly don’t know…” Jacob sighs. “But you’re right, I should tell her.”

He takes his time, still hesitating about it, but he finally stands up, with his daughter following him right after, and turns to look at her before asking what he’s been anxious to inquire. 

“Do you know where I may find her?”

“Erm…” Sofia’s expression drastically freezes in a matter of seconds. “You’ll see…” She attempts to evade his question, without any success.

“You didn’t tell her…” He barely whispers, shocked by what he’s fearing.

Jacob closes the distance between them as fast as he’s able, grabbing his daughter by the arms in the process. 

“Tell me you didn’t tell her!”

Her father’s choice of words startles Sofia, who never in her entire life has seen him raise his voice or react to something like this.

“I...” She doesn’t know how to answer, shocked by the tinge of anger on Jacob’s sentence. Nevertheless, he doesn’t need to hear it to know what she is hesitant to say out loud.

Reality hits Jacob harder than expected, piercing a void in his heart only to be filled by fear and rage.

“You send her to face the deadless, on her own.” The dread of this thought seems to wound his soul in a way he’s never experienced before, feeling like an invisible thread is attached to it, and an unknown force that keeps pulling it with all its strength in an attempt to rip all his being inside out.

Sofía finally manages to recover from the initial shock, and quickly stands her ground, stating what she really thinks about the topic that brought about their entire argument.

“I didn’t send her anywhere, father.” She replies, feeling a bit hurt by his words. “And, no… I didn’t try to stop her either.” Jacob closes his eyes for a second and takes a deep breath, slowly releasing his daughter from his grasp. “Besides, I think you already know I wouldn't have been able to do so even if I wanted to.” 

Silence fills the air for a few seconds.

Sofia is now the one taking a moment to clear her mind after saying all this, trying to be understanding of her father's situation, thinking that Lara discovering their secret is what keeps him uneasy, and unaware of the true feelings that are now causing Jacob’s heart to crumble at the mention of her name. Tortured by the thought that she’s is now in danger because of him. 

“I know what you must be feeling…” 

You do not. His mind answers, too deep into his suffering to keep denying the true feelings that hide behind it.

“I know why you’re upset.”

You do not. He thinks again, but he nods, not ready yet to share the truth with anyone else.

“And Lara… Lara is strong. And wise.” 

That manages to get a subtle smile out of him, followed by a second nod.

“She can handle it… And I think she really wants to help us.”

“...” 

Another deep breath.

“Your… Our secret, will be safe with her.”

“...” Jacob nods a third time, following his gesture with a quick hug. “I know…” He finally answers in the middle of it. “I know.”

After the embrace is over, Sofia spends a couple of seconds analyzing his expression and, completely fooled by his now peaceful demeanor, she smiles at him and asks if we would like to help her fortify the main village.

“Levi has offered to help me, but if you want to join me…”

“I’d love to…” He replies with a faint smile. 

“But?” 

The fact that she knows him so well gets a chuckle out of him.

“But… I have other matters to attend to.” He lies. “I am sorry.” He lies again. “Do you mind if I join you later, once I’ve finished?”

“Sure.”

He despises not being honest, especially with his family but, right now, he needs to be alone. 

He needs to think, and his daughter, who maybe senses more than she’s able to understand, quickly grants his wishes, giving him a peck on the cheek and walking away, leaving Jacob with his fear, his guilt and his feelings, along with his never ending stream of desperate thoughts.

Forgive me, Sofia… He apologizes now that she’s gone, while he starts walking without a fixed route, hating the fact that he’s deceiving her by keeping the cruel truth to himself. But… I cannot tell you… At least, not yet. I… I don’t even understand…

He does.

“I…”

And he cannot pretend he doesn’t. Not anymore. Not after today.

I…

Even his thoughts choke when he thinks of it, unaware there were feelings left for him to discover after so many years and so many lives.

Another deep breath.

“...”

Jacob keeps walking, with the darkness as his only companion, letting his feet guide him wherever they want to go.

Why now? 

He asks, more to the heavens than to himself, mortified by the cruel timing he thinks the Lord has chosen for this to happen. 

A part of him is almost expecting to get a reply to the question, unconsciously waiting for minutes to hear something in the wind as he keeps walking away while headed nowhere. 

But it does not arrive. 

It never arrives. 

So he tries again.

“Why her?”

His voice disappears into the air along with his question. This time around although, he is not expecting an answer, and perhaps, or better said most likely, it’s because he already knows it.

After minutes of wandering, without a set course or route, he finally stops walking and, even if he hasn’t been paying attention to the path taken, now that he’s there he’s perfectly aware of where he’s been headed since the beginning.

After all, it is his favorite place in the entire world.

Despite the darkness, Jacob knows to perfection where everything is. Every little plant, every little rock. The hidden path that leads to the rim of the cliff, which he takes without hesitation, as he’s done countless times before, sitting on the edge, with his legs hanging from it, as he rests all his weight back and relaxes a little, taking in the views that hold such a special place inside his heart.

The murmur of the river and the thundering waterfall, crashing in the otherwise silent night, is a well known melody for him. A masterful composition that always manages to calm him down no matter the problem he needs to face.

That’s another first for Jacob. For, this time around, his thoughts, slowly but surely, are becoming louder than this cherished symphony, flooding his mind with too much noise to let him hear anything else.

The glimmers of light that sparkle in the water, which he usually examines for hours, caused by the stars and the moon that shine brighter than ever on the dark indigo sky are not enough, for the first time ever, to catch his attention or, better said, distract him, from what’s really eating him alive.

Instead, what used to be his sanctuary, seems to be turning in a new weapon for the universe to torture him even further, in which everything he ever thought to be beautiful or mesmerizing, is now just a reminder of each and every inch of all her being.

He cannot look at the dark shimmering river without picturing her sparkling umber eyes, or hear the water crashing against the rocks without imagining her voice and her laugh, nor feeling the air run through his hair without remembering hers flowing in the wind.

Why her? He asked before, and asks again, despite knowing way too well why.

“Why her…?” He murmurs now, but with a different tone, questioning the question instead of its subject. “Her indeed… Her.”

Jacob laughs at the thought of it.

How not?

How? He finally surrenders, and all his feelings break loose.

How could someone meet her and walk away?

A deep breath in, a deep breath out.

How could anyone think of anything after thinking of her.

His eyelids fall, his heartbeat hikes.

How can they look away when she’s on sight?

How can they move? How can they breathe?

Right hand on the ground. 

Left one on his knee.

How can my soul not fall apart?

How does one fight his own heart, if it’s not really meant to be?

How can I do more than crash, and burn and fall again, right at her feet?

~

The memory is so vivid that it takes him a little to hear the loud sound of people reacting to the end of Lara’s story about the Atlas, muffled by the reminder of that unforgettable night, where he realized he could no longer deny that he had fallen in love as never before in his life.

She stops talking just in time to see him starting to come back, taking the opportunity, now that the crowd speaks and laughs, to set her focus on Jacob for the first time in a while.

Him, on the other side, still needs a few more seconds to catch up.

The sound of the river gradually transforms back into laughter, the crash of the water into their comments, and his mind finally returns to reality, after its enthralling journey to the past, finding now, in his present, his only reason to come back and to keep going.

His eyes quickly search for hers, which are already waiting for him, falling again into that mesmerizing umber glow, as he did so long ago, and letting their gaze melt into one another as they both get lost into the other’s sight. 

Way too enchanted to look away.

Way too in love even try.

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Hell yeah!! Spent more than an hour on that ending, believe it or not, and I'm still not 100% happy about it… But overall I'm soooo happy to post a new chapter for this fic.

Next one we have Lara's pov of the "true" ending of RotTR so… yeah! Get ready because it's gonna get wild. Imma nuke the canon through the roof for that one lol

As always, feel free to stop for a chat if you want to <3

Today I'm feeling 100% happy for the first time in A LONG time… And I cannot think of a better way to celebrate than to post this… So here it is. Thanks to everyone that's been patient enough to wait for this, and welcome to any new reader that comes by. I'm so glad to have you all here.

Have a lovely day/night!!! ~~tea

[i-dream-of-twilight-sparkle]

Chapter 30: A Pear-fect Reunion

After the deeply bittersweet, but ultimately happy reunion between Starlight and her mother, as well as Sunburst’s father returning to Sire’s Hollow for good. The Elements of Harmony and the Cutie Mark Crusaders go back to Sweet Apple Acres to see how Big Mac, Sugar Belle, and Granny Smith are doing with with Pear Butter & Bright Mac. Twilight actually gives Celestia her own pack of gum so perhaps she can get back to Saddle Arabia herself as she still plans on attending the wedding. Trixie went back to her wagon to rest for a while.

Some of the group heading back to the farm is still reeling from the emotional scenes of the family reunion in Sire’s Hollow.

Rarity: *sniff* That reunion Starlight and Sunburst had was so beautiful, yet so sad, but also satisfying, and yet also so heartbreaking…

Twilight: That was certainly a mix of emotions wasn’t it? But I think ultimately we can be very happy for Starlight to have gotten to see her mother again.

Applejack: Yeah, Starlight’s past regarding her mother is more tragic than fo’ mah own parents. But now at least we both get t’ see them every now and then thanks t’ Spike’s Dragon Tear. This thing is certainly going t’ be ah life changer fo’ ah lot o’ ponies

Apple Bloom: Sure is! But let’s go see how Granny’s doin’!

Once they all get to the house they actually see Sugar Belle, Big Mac, Granny Smith are outside with Pear Butter and Bright Mac’s spirit while the Cake family seems to have probably returned home since then. Sugar Belle is the first to notice the return of the Elements and the CMC.

Sugar Belle: Welcome back! How did things turn out with Starlight and her mother?

Twilight: It’d be a looooooong story trying to explain everything that went on… we can get to that soon. But how have all of you been?

Granny Smith: Oooooooh! One o’ the best days o’ mah long life fo’ certain! Why didn’t ya’ll wake me up t’ see Pear Butter and Bright Mac come down in the first place?

Twilight: I guess it slipped my mind, sorry Granny Smith.

Granny: Heh, it’s ok. Admittedly, when ah was first woken up the first thing ah saw was Pear Butter and Bright Mac’s ghosts. Ah initially freaked, cause ah thought ah had kicked the bucket myself in mah sleep! Ah’m at that age after all!

Big Mac: Heh heh, it did take ah little while fo’ us t’ convince Granny that she wasn’t dead nor was this ah dream!

Granny: But once ah calmed down, it was sooooo good t’ see mah big son and his lovely wife again!

Sugar Belle: Me and Pear Butter talked a good while being the non-Apples that married into the family.

Pear Butter: Being a pear farmer as opposed to a pastry-baker is a bit different. But we nonetheless both fell in love with two large apple farming stallions. That alone is enough to make a nice bond with my new daughter-in-law. But she’s also as sweet personality-wise as the sugar in the pastries she must make. It’s just too bad we spirits can’t eat, mostly because we don’t need to any more. But at least we’re in a state where we always feel contently full, otherwise it’d be kind of unbearable.

Pinkie: Spirits no longer get to eat?! That sounds awful!

Pear Butter: It is odd at first to no longer need food, and indeed kinda a trade-off that we’ll never get to taste food again. But it takes some time to get used to, on the bright side though… We no longer need emergency bathroom breaks, ahahaha.

Granny: So… Ah heard all o’ ya went t’ help Starlight find her mother?

Applejack: Yeah, hope ya’ll not too upset ah chose t’ go see her instead o’ being there, when ya’ll was reunited with Ma and Pa.

Granny: Nah, ah gotcha. Sugar Belle told me ya mentioned having felt an obligation t’ help her out after ah conversation ya’ll had with her at the ball. Helping Starlight find ah mother she never got t’ know sounds pretty noble o’ ya’ll

Apple Bloom: It certainly was, Granny! We did kind o’ find Starlight’s mother!

Granny: Well, ain’t that nice! Where was she?

Apple Bloom: Well… maybe us finding her isn’t the exact word… ya see… just like our parents… Starlight’s mother was dead. So we got Spike t’ summon her t’ us.

Granny: Oh mah… that must o’ been one bittersweet reunion. A mother she didn’t know... that’s been dead the whole time…

Applejack: Believe it or not, Granny… that ain’t even the saddest part o’ Starlight’s story...

Applejack and the others take some time to recap everything that happened and/or they learned about Starlight’s Mother. Granny Smith going through just about the same mix of emotions they went through hearing everything. Big Mac and Sugar Belle with some shocked reactions themselves too.

Granny: Dang… what ah mare Sunset must o’ been… Ah do feel like ah heard the name Sunset Shimmer around 30 or so years ago, but she was likely still mainly in Canterlot. So wasn’t often mentioned too often in our humble little town. There’s no way ah could o’ known she’d be Starlight’s mother. Still, it’s ah good feeling Starlight got to meet her and Sunburst has his father back home too now!

Pear Butter: I think I’ve seen Sunset before up in the soul shield, though I never talked to her. It definitely makes me want to meet her now though!

Twilight: Well, you can… if you’re willing to go to a wedding between two of my friends in Saddle Arabia in just two days. We actually asked Sunset if she’d like to be summoned back down for it. And she agreed, you won’t know who the couple are. But it’d certainly be a good opportunity for you to either reunite with some more ponies or meet for the first time!

Bright Mac: That sounds like a good time!

Applejack: Say Twi, what if we got both mah mother and Sunset t’ meet that club o’ mothers we saw at the ball!

Twilight: Oh yeah, that would be kind of neat.

Pear Butter: What’s this about a club of mothers?

Twilight: You see Pear Butter, each of the mothers of the Elements of Harmony formed a club together. They also brought in Sunburst’s mother as well as Mrs. Cake AKA your friend Chiffon Swirl. I also kind of joined myself since Spike’s my adopted son!

Pear Butter: That sounds lovely! I’d love to meet all the other moms. I guess I’m the only one of the Element of Harmony’s mothers that have been missing from that club for... obvious reasons...

Granny: Ah can’t wait until the next annual Apple Family Reunion! Ought to be the best one yet when we can get Bright Mac and Pear Butter back!

Applejack: True t’ that! Heck, why stop there? There’s plenty of other deceased Apple family members we can see again. Like your own parents for example, Granny!

Granny: That’s true too! Haha! Though one o’ these days soon, ah myself am going t’ need t’ be summoned!

Apple Bloom: Awwww Granny, don’t just say that so casually…

Granny: Ah wouldn’t usually, buuuut this spirit summoning thing kinda makes death only an inconvenience fo’ us old folk now. Not any less sad, but it’s just naturally not as upsetting when ah know ah’ll still be able t’ nag at ya’ll even from beyond the grave! Ehehehehe! Of course that could also just somewhat be an opinion on this as somepony who’s lived long enough. I understand it’s probably still tragic for Bright Mac and his wife since they died way too early...

Bright Mac: Yeah… We had so much we wanted t’ do still when we passed, some o’ which we still can’t do as Spirits. But, we’d gladly trade in some o’ those just fo’ the chance t’ see our family every now and then. So fo’ us, this thing is still ultimately a plus.

Pear Butter: One downside to being a spirit is I won’t be able to use my guitar anymore. I can only somewhat touch the ground as well as family members and/or close friends.

Sweetie Belle: But you can still sing! Applejack’s always told me you had a beautiful singing voice

Applejack: Oh yeah! Ya’ll can sing fo’ us again sometime! And don’t worry about ya guitar, ah can play the instrumentals!

Pear Butter: Ok, then yeah. That can work certainly!

Applejack: Oh and ah didn’t meet her until sometime after ya passed. But ya’ll have t’ see ah friend o’ mine in Manehattan. She’s known as Coloratura, but ah call her Rara. She’s ah famous musician. Ya’ll would make fo’ an excellent duet, ah’d be willing t’ bet!

Pear Butter: It’d be great to meet all the friends you’ve met since I passed, AJ.

Scootaloo: Heh, you know what’s funny about spirit summoning? We could potentially have famous singers who have passed away brought back to make new records!

Apple Bloom: If their fans won’t mind the slight echo that spirits have in their voice

Sweetie Belle: Eh, if autotune spells can be relatively popular. I doubt a spirit’s echo would ruin it for most too bad. Heck, you know how I’m into metal? There’s plenty of songs in that genre that include an echo that gives you the best chills of the song!

The family and friends keep on talking for a little more while when suddenly a knock is heard from the other side of the house.

Applejack: Oh looks like we have ah visitor! Ah’ll go see who it is!

((Story continues after the break))

Applejack heads back inside the house and opens the door for the visitor. It just so happens to be Grand Pear.

Grand Pear: Hey there, AJ

Applejack: Oh mah stars! Grand Pear, so nice t’ see ya’ll!

Grand Pear: Nice to see you, too. I’ve been hearing quite a ruckus even from my house, I think my hearing’s weakening, but I almost swear there’s been quite some noise coming from the Apple farm today. Was kinda curious what exactly is happening, and if everypony’s ok.

Applejack: Oh we’re more then ok, Grand Pear. In fact, ya’ll should absolutely join us. Trust me, ya’ll don’t want t’ miss it.

Grand Pear: Do tell…

Applejack: Just follow me, ya’ll quickly see it soon enough.

As Grand Pear and Applejack head back out the other side, Apple Bloom is the first to greet them at the back door

Apple Bloom: Grand Pear! Ya’ll must come out here quick t’ see who’s here! Ya’ll gonna love it!

Grand Pear: Your sister said something similar, though I have no idea what you could possibly mean.

Grand Pear is now back outside as he looks around the group noticing all the Elements of Harmony and Apple Bloom’s friends.

Grand Pear: Don’t you see these ponies all the time? I don’t know why they’d be so great for me to see them, It’s not like you got Pear Bu-

Grand Pear finally notices two ponies with a white glow and somewhat transparent look. Grand Pear just stands there mouth agape but silent before he just becomes a stuttering mess.

Grand Pear:  P-p-p-p-pe-pe-pe-pea-Pear… b-b-b-b-bu-bu-bu-bu-butter?

Grand Pear wipes his eyes in case this was some sudden hallucination he was having. But even given a through wiping, Pear Butter and Bright Mac’s glowing spirits are still there. He walks just a bit closer, but quite slowly. Making sure it wasn’t a cruel mirage either. Pear Butter and Bright Mac themselves look towards Grand Pear. 

At first they look at eachother, though both don’t exactly have happy faces seeing him. Bright Mac giving him a rather mean stare, whilst Pear Butter angles her eyes similarly, but also makes an extra step at turning her back to her father. This distraughts Apple Bloom a bit who doesn’t understand why this isn’t an instant happy reunion.

Apple Bloom: Wh-wh-what’s goin’ on? Why aren’t our parents happy t’ see Grand Pear?

It’s Big Mac who answers his littlest sister

Big Mac: Grand Pear never apologized t’ either Ma or Pa before they passed. All o’ his apologies came t’ their graves, where it looks like the spirits don’t hear us. He was still in Vanhoover at the time.

Apple Bloom frowns

Apple Bloom: Oh no...

The whole group remains quiet as the tension between the spirits and Grand Pear who never managed to get a real contact for reconcilation for how Grand Pear treated them before their wedding.

Grand Pear: I… don’t know how you two are here… but… looks like all my apologies I said to your graves never reached you… did they.

Pear Butter’s ears perk up and she turns back around to look at her father, though she still looks at him with a displeased face. Although it disappoints Grand Pear that everything he’s ever said at Pear Butter’s grave was never heard. It at least assures him that this is actually them, and not some kind of dream.

Grand Pear: Well then… *sigh* I guess this is a good time to finally get to apologize to both of you for real… Pear Butter… Bright Mac… I am so so so so sorry for leaving you the way I did, before I went to Vanhoover… The feud I had with the apple family was the stupidest thing ever and I cringe whenever I’m reminded of those days…

I should have never let a petty competition between me and Granny Smith get so out of hoof that I’d refuse to let my daughter to see somepony she loved just because they happen to be in the apple family.... I’ve… met all your children. They’re all great ponies. Big Macintosh is such a gentle giant, Applejack knows how to keep things honest and is one heck of a hard worker, and lil’ Apple Bloom is just a bundle of joy and youthful optimism that I can’t help but cherish. 

Apple Bloom in particular reminds me a lot of what you were like when you were a filly, Pear Butter…

Grand Pear starts tearing up heavily. Voice occasionally cracking into a weepy tone.

Grand Pear: You were my little girl, I loved you very much. I’ll never forgive myself for prioritizing the pear business over my daughter’s happiness. I never should’ve left! *sniff*

The day I learned of your passing just a little over a decade ago… it was the most heartbreaking day of my life. You died way too soon… and even at the time, I was considering returning to apologize to you… 

But… I was just too late… and that’s what made that day worse… just when I was close to taking a chance at reconnecting with you and finally show I have accepted your love for Bright Mac… and reconciling with the apple family as a whole… fate was cruel… and I had thought I’d never get… *sniff* the opportunity to say sorry for all I’ve done while you were dating Bright Mac…

It hurt me so much it delayed me further from returning to Ponyville, I didn’t even attend your funeral in Ponyville because I thought that was only going to get me cursed out by the entire Apple Family if I attended… but I held my own sigil back in Vanhoover for you… and then I think I cried that whole night… my pillow and the top of my bed was soaked with my tears the next morning… *sniff*

Both Pear Butter and Bright Mac’s expressions have changed. They’re still staring him down, but instead of angry ones, their eyes are tilted in the opposite directions with sad looks on their faces as Grand Pear continues his apology.

Grand Pear: I frankly have no idea how you’re here right now, but I can tell that you are actually here… but the how doesn’t matter as long as I get this chance to apologize to you. You don’t have to accept my apology, I’m sure me being far away when you died probably only made yourself more bitter towards me wherever you spirits go… and I understand that I didn’t treat your love for Bright Mac with the respect that it deserved.

I was a bad father and terrible pony all those years ago, I’ll admit that. But I’m a repentant, changed old pony now… I’ll understand if you still want nothing to do with me after what I did. But I still at least want you to know… that I love you Pear Butter… and as for Bright Mac… I would be more then happy to accept you as a son-in-law now. Pear Butter loved you, and that’s what should of mattered more then anything else… I will forever be sorry… we’re all ponies… we’re all farmers… Pears and Apples are both fruit, and quite frankly both delicious… and your love was valid… but my stupid younger self chose to ignore all of those for some foolish sense of pride…

That’s most of all I’ve wanted to say… I can start heading back home... if I’m still not quite welcome…

Everyone there just stands quiet for a long while as the weight of Grand Pear’s apology falls on the emotions. Pear Butter lowering her head, turning away from her father, for a little bit. Grand Pear frowning, seeing that as a sign that she’s still not ready to accept apologies yet. Just lowers his head as he starts walking back to the Pear farm. He gets about to the other side of the house before… Pear Butter starts calling for him.

Pear Butter: Father… wait…

Grand Pear: Huh?

Pear Butter slowly walks up to her old father and starts to speak to him for the first time since he had rudely made her choose between remaining a Pear, or being an Apple family member at her privately held marriage.

Pear Butter: You were still a stubborn father when we last talked… and my resentment only got deeper when you refused to even so much as reply to our letters when I was raising a family with Bright Mac. The years of raising Big Mac and Applejack when they were little were some of the best years of my life, but if there was one thing that disappointed me was the lack of support I had from you... It’s going to take more then one conversation to fully forgive you for the years of giving me and my husband the cold shoulder…

But… I can still get a sense of the sincerity in your apology. And while I’m not sure I’m quite ready to say that I accept your apology…

Pear Butter sits down and outstretches her hooves.

Pear Butter: Come here, father. I’d be at least willing to hug you for the first time in a while.

Grand Pear gasps, though at first he questions if he even can

Grand Pear: But… aren’t you a…

Pear Butter: Do you want a hug from me or not?!

Grand Pear stands silent for a short moment, nothing would make him happier than getting to hug his daughter again. And if she’s offering, then somehow it must mean it’s possible despite her being a ghost of some sort. He approaches closer, and then Pear Butter wraps her forehooves behind her father’s back. Grand Pear wrapping his own hooves around his daughter as well. He’s surprised at just how warm Pear Butter felt, if he was blind he would of thought Pear Butter had actually never been dead at all.

Grand Pear: This… this is amazing… I thought I’d only just go through you… Don’t suppose I should also give your husband a hug?

Pear Butter: Sorry Father, you likely won’t be able to. We can only touch those who are alive if they’re blood related, or had been friends with us spirits while we were alive.

Grand Pear: Oh… ok then… I guess I have a lot of newfound lore to catch up on then, but that’s good to know… though still a darn shame.

After they release each other from the embrace. They rejoin the group, as Twilight and Applejack recap everything they’ve learned to Grand Pear about spirit summoning, where Pear Butter and Bright Mac went when they died, and what exactly they do up there.

Grand Pear: So… Dragons if they have some special sort of gemstone they can cry out can summon down spirits of the deceased? I guess I have to thank this little feller for allowing me to see my daughter again. I don’t think I’ve actually met you for very long, what’s your name?

Spike: My name is Spike, I’m Princess Twilight’s adopted dragon son.

Grand Pear: Princess Twilight’s son, ay? Well ain’t that adorable. Thank you so much for summoning Pear Butter and Bright Mac down so I could say my apologies. This… isn’t a one time thing, is it?

Spike: No, as long as somepony related to and/or were friends with either Bright Mac and/or Pear Butter goes to see me... I can summon them back down anywhere at any time after they’ve returned to the soul shield.

Grand Pear eyes shine as he hears that

Grand Pear: Why… that’s the best thing ever… so many ponies could see dead friends and family they miss so much again…. It’s incredible. And even when I eventually pass, the Apple siblings can bring me back down on occasion.

But on another note, so my daughter has been circling the planet as one of among trillions of protectors huh. I guess that’s a pretty comforting thought. Most who have ever died in all of history has been keeping us safe the whole time from all the unknowns of space. Makes death all the more less scary too, if we’re greeted by many of our closest relatives and friends before ultimately joining in the noble mission to protect the planet. I just hope I can in time get my apology fully accepted before I’m up there with Pear Butter.

Granny Smith: Until then, you can join in on some bingo with me and the other ol’ gals!

Grand Pear: Ahehheh, perhaps I should.

Apple Bloom approaches her mother

Apple Bloom: So uh.. how ‘bout singing ah song now?

Pear Butter: Oh! Yeah, certainly. I think AJ just needs to get out the guitar and then I can sing.

Applejack: Ah’ll be right back with that, Ma!

Applejack heads back inside the house and brings out her mother’s guitar from it’s case. Heading back outside to sit next to her mother as she gets ready to sing.

Grand Pear: Now this will be good, what song are you going to sing?

Pear Butter: Well… it’s a song that you wouldn’t have approved of in the old days. But I guess thankfully you’ll appreciate it now. It’s a little… love song I had for Bright Mac while we were still dating. It’s called “You’re In My Head Like A Catchy Song”

Grand Pear just smiles

Grand Pear: Let’s hear it.

Meanwhile, Sugar Belle and Big Mac whisper to eachother a little before Pear Butter starts singing. Applejack strums the opening notes

((You’re In My Head LIke A Catchy Song))

Pear Butter: We’re far apart in every way

But you’re the best part, of my day

And sure as I, breathe the air

I know we are the perfect pair!

(Bright Mac starts singing along with his wife)

Pear Butter & Bright Mac: On a prickly path, that goooees on for miiiiiiiillleeeeeeeees

But it’s worth it juuuuussst to see you smiiiiiiiiiiilllleeeeeeee

And I cannot, be pulled apart

From the hold you have, on my heart

And even if, the world tells us it’s wrong

You’re in my head like a catchy song!

(Sugar Belle and Big Macintosh join in to sing for the rest of the song)

Pear Butter, Bright Mac, Sugar Belle, Big Mac: The seasons change, and leaves may fall

But I’lll be with you, through them all

And rain or shine, you’ll always be miiiiiiiinnnneeeeeee

On a prickly path, that goooees on for miiiiiiiillleeeeeeeees

You’re the only one, who makes it all worth whillllllleeeeeeeeeee

And you should not, blame me too

If I can’t help, fallin’ in love with you…

Once the song ends. Both Pear Butter & Bright Mac, as well as Sugar Belle & Big Mac give a good long kiss. The rest of the group at the farm clap, cheer, and/or wipe joyful tears at the beautiful sight of two generations of Apple family couples singing together.

Sweetie: You were right Apple Bloom… your mother has a beautiful singing voice!

Pear Butter: I see that my oldest recalls my lyrics? I guess I did share it to you and AJ back in the day.

Big Mac: Eyyyyyuuuppppp

Sugar Belle: It’s a beautiful song. Big Mac shared the song when we were dating and we practiced singing it ourselves. We thought it’d be nice to sing along.

Pear Butter: I appreciate that, quite a bit.

Grand Pear: Absolutely heartwarming song, Pear Butter. I admit I probably would of tried to rip apart the lyric sheet had I found it was for Bright Mac long ago. But that’s not me anymore. It’s wonderful to get to hear you sing again.

Pear Butter: Thank you, Father.

Twilight: Wonderful singing from both couples! Though if I may, I thought it’d be important to mention something we took an educated guess about with Sunset. We don’t have to send you back ourselves, when Pear Butter and/or Bright Mac fall asleep thy will return to a comet-like form themselves and go back to the soul shield. So they’re free to stay the rest of the day, and then maybe we’ll summon them back down in time for the wedding in two days.

For now, we can hang out some more time here at the farm. But once it gets late at night, we’ll have to get back to sleep whether we’re sleeping back at home or going back to our rooms in Saddle Arabia. Once again, I’ll have the castle protected just like last night.

Bright Mac: Yeah, I think we’ll stay for the night and go back up ourselves once everypony’s asleep.

Pear Butter nods her agreement. As for much of the rest of the day, Pear Butter & Bright Mac spend quality time with family & friends until nighttime. Where most of the Elements and CMC use the portal gum to head back to their rooms in the Saddle Arabian palace. While Twilight and Spike once again put up their protective measures from last night over at the castle.

Meanwhile, in Sire’s Hollow it is also nighttime. Sunburst, Stellar Flare, and for the first time in a long while Sunspot are all in their beds in their own home. Starlight is sleeping in her old room, and Sunset’s spirit is laying (Though perhaps, more like just floating on the bed) next to Firelight. He tries to get some blankets over Sunset but they only go through. Though the try at it certainly makes Sunset giggle.

Firelight: Oops… I guess with the fact I’ve been able to hug and kiss you again briefly made me forget that you weren’t... alive… heh…

Sunset: *giggle* Yeah, you get the blankets all to yourself now. Don’t worry about me, we spirits feel like we’re at normal room temperature at all times. We’ll never be too hot, or too cold.

Firelight: Are you sure? Because with your fiery colors, you’ve always been plenty hot~

Sunset: Hehe, I’m glad you still haven’t outgrown your cheesy flirtations. Always found it rather charming. I guess maybe your much cooler colors may also have brought us to a comfortable level~

The reunited couple hug each other in bed before also kissing.

Firelight: Look.. I know you’ll be gone by the morning, but if you can… hold on tight to me, it’d be nice… to have some more body… or rather spirit warmth as I go to sleep.

Sunset: No problem, Fi-Fi. One perk of being a spirit is I can’t exactly get tired. As long as I don’t close my eyes for too long and/or start drifting off and/or focus.on heading back up. I’ll be here with you. I’ll wait till’ you’re sound asleep and I’ll have my hooves around you the whole time before I leave. I still remember your distinctive snoring, so I’ll know when you’re deep asleep.

Firelight just smiles, and kisses Sunset again.

Firelight: It’s good to have you back, even if repeat visits aren’t going to be quite easy without an easy ride to Ponyville or Canterlot within a year.

Sunset: I’m glad I’ll be able to come back occasionally too, best day of my li- or I guess I should say… afterlife… to see you again, and see the kind of pony my daughter has become. I’m glad I’ll still be able to watch her future unfold from time-to-time.

Firelight: I guess I’ll see you at the wedding in Saddle Arabia next, huh?

Sunset: Yep, should be fun.

Firelight: Goodnight, Shimmy

Sunset: Good night, my darling Fi-Fi.

Sunset and Firelight proceed to hold onto each other for the night. Hours later when Firelight has been snoring for a good while. Sunset closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, before focusing on heading back up. Her comet form leaving the house, back up to the soul shield. Until the next time she gets summoned again.

UP NEXT: Chapter 31: The Sands Of Time & Family

[sentofight]

plots please! for victor, balan and rokurou

send me “plots please” for plot ideas | accepting | @juwul

i mean i send you all the ideas i have on dis/cord lmao but lessee......

victor & plum

oooh what if another fractured dimension victor comes and plum mistakes him for her victor and that jerk plays along until he uses her as bait to lure the real victor out so he can kill him? talk about baiting and luring people run in the family forever huh...

IM THINKING ABOUT KID LUDGER IN SOME FRACTURED DIMENSION MEETING PLUM WHEN SHE ASKS VICTOR TO LET HER COME WITH HIM AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. adowable lud hours.

balan & plum

could have three way thread kind of with victor too. plum coming to watch his examinations for support.

exodus!balan tho.....fractured dimension when he went with gilland too and works for him..................h e h. i remember i wrote a verse for it on my old balan blog...oh sad..(i dont remember a thing but welp)

rokurou & plum

post game! he follows her around to repay her for taking care of his wound from a previous battle. plum now has a loyal bodyguard until he pays his debts lol

for your multi muses ehehehehe

victor & julius

fractured dimension meeting? julius is onto him but like welp. can we just sit down and eat something...and talk? 

maybe we can have a thread in that time ludger became victor or something?

balan & peach

EXPLORING THREAD1!!!! HE JUST TAKES HER OUT FOR A WALK AND THEY EXPLORE MAYBE REIZE MAXIA OR SOMETHING. dad doter time.

ooooooooooooooooooooo peach going berserk for some reason????? yes. 

maybe a thread with peach going around trigelph then just turns back to her original form. people get scared call her monster. throw things at her. she runs back to the apartment asks balan why was she born? and stuff....que for mad dad moment. one time in life moment.

balan & julius

pre xillia 2 events. they seem kind of in good terms ngl and i wanted more of their conversations....julius calling alfred alfy.........please....balan and julius got to be the bros who keep tabs on the people they love for the sake of teasing them sobs.

balan & alvin

childhood threads??? just fun events in their childhood before alvin get whisked away?? 

xillia 1 events!!!! especially after balan found him first in twenty years....pls.

xillia2 hmmm asking the questions neither of them could first time they met.

also .....please. can alvin start a peach pie bakery? fund it and balan would be forever in debt to you. he will support the business cuz’.

rokurou & vicious

oooh rokurou sees vicious demon form...........yas. rokurou: biiich you demon too? nice.....FIGHT ME.

since cre/storia is still going on idk what else...but maybe roku helping the gang to hide or something

rokurou & eizen

BEH YOU KNOW WHAT I WANT GIVE ME DRAGON EIZEN AND DEMON RORIN ROKUROU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i wouldnt mind........fluff........;;u;;; just give them fluff damnit

drinking contest when lmao

rokurou & zavied

hrhmhhm we can do three muses thread too with eizen.........move away, zavy, rokurou is here to kick dragoeizen ass. so what he is 20 time bigger. he can still kick it. they ......think the same after all..........sobbing.