#drops this lore and goes to sleep

[mistymonster]

Trans feelings

[lu-polls]

wait op 👀 can i ask who your favorite boy is? 👀👀 (sorry im too shy to reply to the post and im curious now because of your tags)

4️⃣

[luludeluluramblings]

Bat Boys as Dads Headcanons.

Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian AND Duke included.

This could be seen as how they are as partners with child/ren, or the platonic relationship they might have with their child/ren.

☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️

Warnings: Made up Headcanons, SFW, wholesomeness

☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️

☁️ - Dick

The type of parent to be so excited about having a kid that they’re annoying.

And, not just to other people, but to his own kid.

This man is nothing but *proud dad noises*.

Takes pictures of every single milestone.

Crying over every single tiny moment and achievement.

Coddles even his teenage children a bit. Has a crises when his teenage kid/s find him annoying.

The devastation he gets when his kid/s goes through the I hate you dad phase. (Literally cries to Bruce.)

When his kids become adults though, they end up better appreciating him. Because he is a good dad.

If you hand him a baby, he will coo at a them and make the most ridiculous noises. But, if they cry, he will cry with them.

☁️ - Jason

This man is terrified of being a parent. Will panic up until delivery of each child he has. Even if he has like eight. Panic every time.

If he finds out he has a secret kid he will have an existential crisis that would make Bruce’s coping mechanisms look healthy.

Doesn’t know what he’s doing when parenting, but he is the cuddle master. Solves most things with hugs and jokes.

Somehow figures it out and has the closest bond with his kid/s. (Also, he accidentally curses in front of them which makes him the cool edgy dad.)

Will sometimes make excuses for his kids mentally while being strict.

Will never use physical punishment on his children. Never. If he ever has to whoop his kid/s, he would hate himself.

He is teaching them how to use a gun. And, he is buying them a gun. And, how to change a tie. And, how to hotwire a car. His dad lore is friggin nuts

Freezes when handed a baby. Goes completely still. If he doesn’t move he can’t hurt it.

☁️ - Tim

The dad that would literally be a perfect parent by the book. (He’s read eighteen parenting books, and so many peer reviewed articles about kids, and he will follow parenting blogs.)

Best routine management, hits all the milestones. Very active in making sure his child’s needs are met, even if it’s in the most unconventional ways.

Gets horrible imposter syndrome on if he’s a good dad or not. (He is, but he’s insecure.)

Absolutely terrified of emotional neglecting his child/ren. Will drop anything if he realizes he’s neglecting his kids by working too hard.

He gets the most sleep in his life when his kids fall asleep on his chest. The only time this man will sleep is if his kid curls up in his lap or if they have a nightmare.

When his kids grow up he gets misty eyed remembering they way they used to nap against his chest.

If you gave him a baby he would hold perfectly, or maybe in a weird way that somehow makes them stop crying and helps with colic or gas.

☁️ - Duke

Freaked out about being a dad, but also not. He knows he’s going to love his kid/s enough not to screw things up horribly, but the anxiety is still there.

Not gonna lie, he does his best to emulate his childhood. It could be a good habit or a bad habit.

Sucker for nastolgia and will try to recreate memories from his childhood with his kid. Taking them to a park he played in. Going on a vacation he’s been too.

Not because he wants to force them into something, but because he wants them to have the best parts of his favorite memories.

Plus, it just heals his inner child a bit seeing his kid/s happy.

Will do the “Back in my day…” as a joke, and maybe will exaggerate stuff a lil bit. Just a lil though.

So, gentle with a baby, but doesn’t coo. But, will sniff. New baby smell? Yes.

☁️ - Damian

An awkward (at first) and overprotective, yet can be too hard on his own child/ren.

Knows he didn’t have a normal upbringing, but too egotistical to admit he’s out of his depth when it comes to raising his kid/s.

(He had college degrees and kills before he hit the double digits in age. Yes, he knows he’s not like normal people, but he falls into the trap that his kid should be like that sometimes too.

When he realizes it, he does correct. But, he’s learning too.

Will sometimes push his kids too hard to do their best. But, only at the hobbies they choose. He won’t infringe on their choices.

Loves his kids in a stoic manner, but he loves them deeply and fiercely. (Won’t cry, but will get misty eyed at times.)

Deeply appreciates Bruce, Alfred, and Dick after he becomes a father. The amount of gratitude he feels is overwhelming.

Son of a bitch is natural at holding babies. Worse, they like him. (And, he likes them.)

☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️

A/N: Something I polished up to give y’all while I try to get to work on Part Four of Pregnant!Reader. Just some wholesomeness.

A/N: I had my neck tube taken out yesterday, and it’s kinda sunk in that I had cancer. (Yeah, it was confirmed. Stage one thyroid cancer, but it’s been removed.) Might have had a mild breakdown. My dad had a different cancer when I was a kid (four), so he’s been talking me through things since I have small children too.

A/N: Thank y’all for all the asks wishing me well! I really appreciate y’all so much! Bless y’all!! 💕💕

[lavellaned]

Solavellan fic recs

If you're like me and was disappointed by veilguard, here are some of my favorite post-Inquisition solavellan fics that are *chef's kiss* in my opinion.

Little Arrow by playwithdinos - post trespasser solavellan kid fic that is very angsty with some sweet, sweet papae!solas

Everything Stays by beaubashley - domestic bliss, Solas and Lavellan living in a cottage. They adopt a cat. The coziest damn fic.

Vir'vhen'an by RogueLioness - post trespasser. Well of Sorrows has actual consequences and Solas fucks up big time. Almost like the da4 regret prison but actually good.

Verhas'alhan - To Yearn for Wilderness by RosemaryBagels - Veil came down, Lavellan hides from Solas and makes a life in a little village. Solas is in prime yearning, sad, wet cat mode here.

Memory (series) by MistressDragonFlame - pre trespasser. Pure angst, hurt no comfort. Lavellan forgets all the events of Inquisition and the anchor is killing her. Solas finds out, bad times ensue.

Love Is Not A Victory March by Myrime - post trespasser, Solas and his forces are winning. Solas and Lavellan have a meeting. Angsty. Like something that I had hoped we would've gotten in da4.

Barefaced by playwithdinos - post trespasser but also Arlathan AU. Some time travel stuff involved. Lavellan has amnesia, but Solas remembers everything. Not finished but what is there is worth the read. Lavellan is Ghilan'nain's slave. Andruil is also there.

but never doubt I love by cedarmoons - Jaws of Hakkon angst. Post Inquisition, pre trespasser but with moments during Inquisition as well. Lot of angst, hurt but with comfort this time.

the diver's wife by magesamell - Lavellan makes herself tranquil kind of Seeker-style in order to defeat Solas, then needs him to come back to herself. Angsty solavellan road trip.

Hobo Apostate by broomclosetkink - Lavellan shows up when Solas is about to tear the veil down. Points out the hilarity between hobo apostate Solas and ender-of-worlds dread wolf Solas.

It Is Not Enough by NamelessShe - This is a chonky fic but it is one of my favorite post trespasser ones. Very lore heavy, I recommend this one for anyone who laments the lost lore and story threads in da4.

sleep like this by mortaltemples - The most da4 relevant fic on this list. Lavellan is a ghost, 10/10.

I will make you whole again by amorficzna - Solas tears down the veil, kills everyone, goes back in time to the beginning of Inquisition to be with Lavellan as Solas (...as he wanted).

Between Heartbeats by houndinghell - Ameridian/Telana parallel lovers are eating so fucking good in this fic. Lavellan makes the ultimate sacrifice to stop Solas during his final veil dropping ritual. Hurts so good.

The Healer's Bloodied Hands by geekyjez - post trespasser sick-fic. Classic hurt/comfort.

i'd rather flail like a mortal (than flail like a god) by crossingwinter - post trespasser. Angsty but with a hopeful ending, more hurt/comfort, another instance of Solas coming face to face with his vhenan's mortality.

The One Where Lavellan is a Nug by Feynite - I think this is my favorite solavellan fic of all time. Just please read it if you haven't, and read it again if you have.

[wonderjanga]

Billy and Bars

Now, as you probably know, most of the time Billy is ages 8 to maybe 15 (that’s what I’ve seen anyways) and of course, his Captain Marvel form looks like an adult. So, it wouldn’t be strange for an adult to ask another adult to go to a bar with them. Which is why Billy is caught in a dilemma. On one hand, he could just say no, but after a long mission where they’d all spent like two days on an alien planet under constant heavy fire from a cute and cuddly, yet surprisingly bloodthirsty race? It’d be weird not to accept. They might suspect him for being a kid! And boy, Billy does not want that. But on the other hand, he’s not of legal drinking age.

He ends up going with them anyways. Now, all the heroes are sat at a dingy bar in Central City, out of costume, of course. Though, some of them cough Bruce cough Diana cough Arthur cough and you can’t forget Billy, still in Marvel form. (He took a page out of Supe’s book and wore glasses. He’s also for some reason wearing Hawaiian print. (He didn’t have actual adult clothes and needed to borrow from a bargain bin))

Billy thankfully found a loophole for this whole mess. That’s right, this guys gonna be sipping virgin margaritas for the rest of the night. And, he try as many flavors as he wants because you wanna know the best part? Bruce is paying for everything! If Billy could jump in joy, he would. It didn’t matter that Hal was a little obnoxious when drunk off his mind. He’s dealt with worse and it’s not like it’s all that bad. He’s kinda funnier than usual this way. He gets the spend the rest of the day with people he considers friends, that’s all that really matters.

GL: “Dude, why do you keep ordering virgins?”

Crap. What does Billy say to that? Right off the bat, Billy ignores Solomon’s first, and quite frankly, wild lie to tell.

Marvel: “Hmm? Oh uh… I… like the way they taste…?”

He’s a bad liar.

Aquaman: *drinking beer* “Try again, bud.”

Okay… It looks like he might have to listen to Solomon after all. Gosh dang it.

Marvel: “Uhm… I kinda used to maybe sort of might’ve had an addiction and had to go to AA a long time ago.” *Sips drink*

He was always better at lying when the lie was already prepared.

*Whole table goes silent*

Marvel: “Uh… I’ve been sober for a while. Like…” ‘Twelve years, Billy,’ Solomon supplied in his head. “…Twelve years.”

*Table is still silent.*

Flash: *Interrupts silence by slamming hands on table* “Dude! You cannot keep dropping Marvel Lore Bombs™️ on us like this!” (Btw this is the same universe as the Marvel Compilations post. I didn’t mean to write it like it was the same universe but I might as well connect them cause why not)

Marvel: “Whaddya mean?”

Superman: “Well, Marvel…” *scratches back of head* “You kinda have this tendency to… Gosh, how do I put this?”

Martian Manhunter: “You drop obscure information about yourself at random times.”

Wonder Woman: “Then you just go about your day like you didn’t say it in the first place. For example Cap, you can’t just tell me that at some point you were an Amazonian, you were there for my birth, and then just walk off.”

GL: “Marvel, how old are you?”

Marvel: “Uuuuuuhhhhhhh….”

Batman: “You date back to having existed before Mesopotamia. I want to know the answer to that question Marvel.” *Bat-glares Billy while sipping from his drink.*

Bruce was definitely going to add the AA thing to his quite small folder on Marvel.

The night continues on with the other members of the JL grilling Billy for more information about himself, which Solomon helps with by either supplying him with lies, or with things previous champions did. By the time the night was over, Billy never wanted to go to a bar again. He unshazamed in an alley and went home to his little place. He bee-lined to his sleeping bag and just when he was about to fall asleep, something popped into his mind:

‘Why didn’t I just say I didn’t like the way it tastes?’ That thought kept him up for a couple more hours.

[lavshaze]

Can't sleep, love

✧ contains ⤐ fluff, marriage sweetness, a fix-it au of sorts where silco becomes a councilor without deviating much from the original lore, things just work out lol, councilor silco learns the price of buying his wife a really good book. w.c. ~ 1.5k

Ao3 version

It starts out innocently. 

Silco, in Piltover to deal with business as the one Zaunite member of the council, comes across the newly published romance novel that’s taking the reading community by storm. He stands by to scrutinize it, monologuing about Piltovians’ idealized image of romance — much to Sevika’s dismay— then halts in thought when the image of you flashes through his mind. His lovely wife who adores love stories, nearly as much as she adores him. His resolve falters. 

He ends up buying a copy, a signed copy. 

Sevika disguises her snort with a fake cough, and they don’t bring it up on the way home. 

You meet him in front of The Last Drop the minute he’s out of his carriage, engulfing him in a public display of affection. He doesn’t have time to recover before Jinx piles on with another hug that threatens to send him to his grave. He wonders what he did in another life to deserve two amazing women in his life. 

Upstairs, after he sheds his coat and starts undoing his tie with a sigh of relief, he brings up the novel. The humiliation ritual with Sevika suddenly seems worth it when he catches the glimmer of interest in your eyes. He places the book on his coffee table and you kiss him breathless before you snatch it up like a starving artist. 

That’s when it starts. 

It’s only 8 at night when you begin reading the book, legs folded under a blanket as you settle comfortably on the office couch. He has no complaints as he has to do some paperwork and he quite enjoys the sight of you in his office, a sight for sore, overworked eyes. The office falls silent safe for the sound of flipping paper from both your sides. 

Around an hour later, Silco realizes that you haven’t been pausing to go on tangents explaining the events of the book to him, like you usually would. His eyes flicker to your form only to see that you’re extremely immersed in the object in your hands, his scarred lips curl in amusement and he goes back to work. 

But by the time he’s done, and it’s nearly midnight, you continue to be lost in the book he bought you. For once, he’s the one trying to bring you to bed, and that’s a problem he’s never had in the many years you’ve been together. 

“Just a few more pages, Sil.” You mumble dismissively as he blinks at you in disbelief. 

When he doesn’t respond, you glance up to meet his eyes—  and gods he’s missed having your gaze on him— and very sweetly say, “you can go ahead, I’ll join you soon.” 

Baffled, he walks to your bedroom to get ready for bed, alone for the first time in years. Is this what you feel like when he’s too stubborn to stop working late into the night? There’s a newfound appreciation for your patience forming within him.  

He sits in bed, freshly showered and ready to drift off, but he can’t seem to get comfortable. No matter how much he tosses and turns, trying different positions, the bed is too empty and cold without your presence. He feels like a petulant child. At 43 years of age, he’s unable to fall asleep alone. How the mighty have fallen. 

He begrudgingly pushes the covers off and makes his way back into the office. You haven’t moved an inch, hands still around that cursed Piltovian novel, stuck in the exact same position. He’s glad that your chest still rises and falls with each breath, because he wouldn’t be able to tell if you’re alive otherwise.

He clears his throat, “darling.” 

You hum, not looking up. 

“It’s late, come to bed.” 

“Few more minutes.” 

He scoffs, “you said that an hour ago. Bed, now.” 

That catches your attention. Perking up at that familiar commanding tone, your eyes finally leave the words on the page to look at him. He smiles to himself, practically singing in glee when you move to get up, until he realizes that your hands are not leaving the book. No.

You walk over and plant a sweet kiss on his mouth that distracts him from the impending danger, then you slip past him into your bedroom with the cursed book still in your hands. He watches as you place it down just to change into your sleepwear, then picking it back up to settle into your spot on the bed. 

You sit with your legs crossed under the covers, back against the headboard, and look at him expectantly, like he’s the one behaving abnormally. He grumbles to himself and makes his way to lay down next to you, shutting the door behind him. 

In bed, he watches as you turn on the bedside lamp and get sucked back into reading the book. He lays helplessly next to you, observing you for a few silent minutes as he admits defeat. 

It is much easier to fall asleep with you by his side at least. 

The next time his eyes open, it’s still dark outside. The bedroom is lit by the lamp at your side but he can clearly see the sun hasn’t risen. His good eye moves to the clock and he groggily reads the time, four in the morning. The sound of you flipping a page behind him testifies that you’re still very much awake. 

He turns to face you. His sweet angel of a wife who just won’t go the fuck to sleep. 

Against his better judgement, he falls victim to how lovely you look in the soft golden light, disheveled but determined to keep reading. Your hair falls over your face like a frame around artwork and he sighs in bliss, feeling incredibly lucky to witness such a sight. The frustration seeps out of his body and all that’s left is undying devotion. 

“Lovely,” he speaks groggily. You turn to him, slightly startled that he’s awake again. “Will you be done anytime soon?” You blink slowly, buffering at his words, then smile. You raise the arm holding the book, revealing a few remaining pages. “Almost done.” 

He hums, moving to place his hand on your bare knee, rubbing mindless circles as he continues, “you seem to enjoy this book tremendously.” 

“I do, it’s a lovely gift, Silco. Thank you.” You close the book around one finger and move it aside to lean down and plant a much appreciated kiss on his forehead. He’s pleased when you keep your attention on him, running your fingers through his hair. “What’s it about?” 

You giggle, “you bought it without knowing what it’s about?” 

“It’s very early in the morning, darling. Refresh my memory.” 

You look deep in thought, fingers tracing invisible patterns into his scalp, “it’s about a young revolutionary who falls in love with a bakery owner. Well, she’s not the owner at the beginning, but she ends up owning it,” you sigh, suddenly crestfallen, “it takes them years to be happy.” 

“I know a thing or two about revolutions,” he says against your bare thigh, “I’m sure they found happiness in the process.” 

You look at him, a wistful look in your eyes, “they did.” 

Then you turn to rummage through your bedside table and pull out a bookmark. You place it inside the book and put it down on the table, then readjust yourself to lay down on the bed. He frowns at you in disapproval.

“What?” 

“Hours of reading and you’re going to stop a few pages before the end?” 

You shrug, “I have a feeling I already know the ending, and I’d like to read it when I’m fully awake. Besides, I passed all the important events so I know there probably won’t be any spin-offs, I can sleep peacefully now.” 

He laughs in disbelief, “you’re unbelievable.” Then he leans forward to wrap his arms around you, lazily planting a kiss against your open mouth. You retaliate much stronger, cupping his face to bring him in for a proper kiss. “And you’re going to drive me crazy,” he purrs against your lips. You hum, “you love it.” 

“I’m not sure if I love my hair graying at such a fast pace.” 

Your fingers brush over the hair above his ears, “why not? It’s incredibly attractive.” You pause to admire the gray streaks in his hair, fingers trailing over each strand. “Janna, I can’t wait for your hair to go completely white.” 

The tree of affection that you’ve planted in his chest cavity years ago continues to grow, constantly nurtured by your love and care, but especially by such ridiculous declarations whispered against his lips at four in the morning. 

“You’d like to achieve that all on your own, wouldn’t you?” 

You smile, mischief in your eyes illuminating the darkness of the room, “I’m sure Jinx would be happy to help.” 

Maybe Silco knows exactly what he did in his past life to deserve the two of you in this one.

Note: the 'book' I referenced in this is actually just another Silco fic that kept me up until four am, this fic by @a-gal-with-taste, you need to read it because it will change your life, do it at a reasonable time though and break this curse

[emeraldscript]

1.1k of alien max going ham in the ocean and daniel being so normal about it.

warning: one sided piss kink, kind of. (to catch up on the alien max au lore, go here)

daniel eventually leaves max to it in the water, after his fingers have gone beyond pruny. max, however, is undeterred and completely in his element. literally.

he goes under the waves for extended periods of time, eyes wide open and apparently protected by some sort of second eyelid that lets max see under water without issue. daniel’s only a little jealous. max goes diving for all sorts of stones, shards of glass, star fish and even a jellyfish that daniel is pretty sure is one, poisonous and two, fucking painful to the touch. max just holds the blob up above his head like a fucking hunting prize looking proud as anything.

making his way over to daniel, max says: "daniel, look, his tentacles are so long. these guys are fascinating, what are they?" 

"woah, calm down there buddy, they sting like a bitch. it's a jellyfish. you should watch out," daniel says, paddling his way backwards for safe distance.

"jellyfish?" max mutters to himself, combing his hand through the tentacles, looking lost in thought. 

yep. that was daniel's cue to skaddadle out of there, back to the shore. 

"see you on land, maxy," daniel says over his shoulder. 

his alien housemate is a bit of a psycho but so endearingly curious about everything that daniel can't help a wave of fondness from spreading in his chest.

back in their spot, daniel lets himself starfish on the towel, shimmying out of his shirt and shorts to leave them to dry in the sun.

he doses in the sun for a few minutes, eyes closed. eventually, he cracks his eyes open to peer into the waves to find max.

the man in question is just coming up from yet another dive before diving straight back down. snorting, daniel closes his eyes again.

he must have nodded off because the next time he opens his eyes, max is stalking the shorelines, bending down to pick up and inspect little rocks. daniel watches as he picks up one after the other, comparing each one to the next, discarding some and keeping others.

after a few more minutes, max seems satisfied and stalks his way over to where daniel is lying, sizzling in the afternoon sun with only his still slightly damp boxers on.

"daniel!" danyul, max says, stepping right up to him and dropping down into a cross legged sitting position next to him on the sand.

"hey, bud, you having fun?" daniel asks, voice still rough with sleep. 

"yes, it's very good. you have very varied wildlife in your seas. very nice creatures," max says, smiling. 

"nice, huh? what'd they say?" daniel asks.

"not much, but they're very friendly and peaceful. i do not know why you're so scared of the jellyfish. he's done nothing wrong, daniel," max says, pout forming around his mouth.

"mate, we get third degree burns from those fuckers and then we have to ask our friends to pee on us to make it better," daniel says.

"i would of course pee on you if you asked, daniel. don't be stupid," max says, matter of factly. after that, max turns his attention back to his pebbles, running his thumb over them almost reverently. as if that was not the most insane sentence max has uttered to date in daniel's presence.

okay, well fuck, daniel thinks. the mental image that conjures up is one he's been trying his hardest to avoid. daniel has been trying to be steadfast, to not think about max's bits. now all he can picture is max, standing over him, shorts down, peeing on daniel's thigh to ease the sting of a jellyfish. he wonders what max has got going on down there. he's pretty humanoid in all aspects, except his respiration and ears. 

does he have a dick, just like him? probably. max looks like a man by human standards. he's sporting pretty noticeable biceps, broad shoulders. his pecs stand out, especially now under the soaking wet t-shirt clinging to his frame. it highlights the way his waist tapers in beautifully as well. 

daniel wonders if it's big or small. wonders what he'd prefer. decides it doesn't matter to him much.

he's just endlessly curious, wants to peel back the layers, find out, explore. see what makes max tick. if it's similar or different to humans. wonders if he moans, if he'd stay quiet, if he'd try to swallow down the sound. would max come? would it taste different?

daniel feels his inner thigh tingle, the tell tale sign that his dick is about to do something stupid. daniel swallow, hard. 

daniel clears his throat and says "yeah, thanks."

max looks up then, smiles a tight lipped smile at daniel. 

"daniel," max starts, sounding hesitant. 

daniel hums in return, still willing his dick to calm the fuck down.

max raises one of the hands to the back of his neck, rubs the base of his skull, scratching his dripping wet hair at the back of his head. 

"do you- i mean. would you?" max starts, voice sounding rough. max is kneading the flesh on his upper thigh. daniel thinks he looks nervous. his ears and cheeks are pink, again. 

"what is it, maxy?" daniel asks.

"i- i got these for you," max finally presses out. looking anywhere but daniel's face. 

he's holding his hands out, cupped into a little bowl. three pepples are lying on max's palms. 

daniel hesitates, feeling a bit confused. he looks at max, head bowed, arms outstretched, keeling in front of daniel now. 

daniel pushes himself upright into a sitting position. sees max's hands shake, very slightly, but it's there. daniel can see it. 

"you don't have to accept them, of course. this was stupid of me, sorry daniel, forget i ever said anything" max says, slowly lowering his hands.

before max can go any further, daniel cups his hands around max's.

"thanks, maxy, that's so kind of you," daniel says, feeling unmoored. 

max's head snaps up at that, eyes wide. 

"daniel, i-" max starts. 

daniel cuts him off by saying, "c'mon, give em up, i want to see," holding his own palms out for max to deposit the stones into daniel's hands. 

max does so, chewing his own bottom lip. 

daniel inspects the stones. they're all smooth, without imperfections and almost perfectly round. 

"wow, maxy. how'd you even find three of these?" daniel asks, impressed. 

"i dove for them. for you, of course," max says, sounding exasperated. 

"of course, you did," daniel says, grinning. "you're something else, maximus."

max smiles back, one of his signature crinkly smiles etched into his features. the blush doesn't leave max's face for quite a while after that.

[islandofsages]

HEYY!! I love your writing from what i've read and i was wondering if i could ask for a gn reader (yuu) teaching the housewardens about like classic fandom lore- like imagine them turning into matpat to explain fnaf and undertale!! 😭😭 feel free to not do this and have a good day!! Thanks :D

characters: housewardens x gn!yuu

tags: platonic, fluff, crack kinda, imagines format

warnings: swearing

author's notes: SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG also all the fandoms mentioned here are all fandoms ive been in at some point :D fun times mhm

Riddle Rosehearts

He knows you’re very passionate about fandom culture but you never really had the chance to infodump about it to him

Until one day, you drop by Heartslabyul for a leisurely visit, when you see a not-so-clearly distressed Riddle sitting in the lounge

Not-so-clearly meaning he’s holding a teacup in his hand yet not drinking it, eyes closed as if he’s holding in all his emotions

You grow worried at this sight and slide next to him on the couch where he is seated, hoping you can help alleviate some of that stress

He sees you and he allows himself a sigh, then musters up a smile for you. He greets you and you cut straight to the point - can you help him with anything?

He releases a second sigh and shakes his head, telling you he only needs some sort of distraction. He just had a long day and needs to take his mind off things

You take a second to think of things that you can distract him with – that’s when a lightbulb goes off in your head. This is a prime opportunity for you

“Okay, I’m guessing you haven’t heard of Five Nights at Freddy’s since it’s a franchise from my world and all but the lore is crazy. So it starts like this…”

He wasn’t expecting to be paying much attention to the contents of what you’re saying but sooner or later, he ends up leaning towards you with his hand cupping his chin, mouth slightly agape at the story you’re telling

This inspires you to dump even more information about the media somehow at the rate that you’re going

By the end of it, he’s completely forgotten what he was so worried about. His head is full of creepy pizzerias for kids and haunted animatronics

He ends up having some trouble sleeping that night though. He’ll get you for that later.

Leona Kingscholar

He won’t lie, your interest in fandoms is too reminiscent of Idia for him – he doesn’t admit this to you obviously, since he hasn’t had the chance to

But on one particularly boring day, you decide to skip class with him and he lets you tag along for the hell of it

In the span of three seconds, he’s already off in dreamland. Sometimes you wish you had such a skill

Since you have nothing better to do and he’s way too deep in his sleep to even care anyway, you start rambling to yourself and a slumbering Leona

“Well, I’ve been thinking a lot about Undertale lately so I need to dump it all somewhere. So basically you play as this kid…”

Little do you know halfway through his nap, he wakes up from how much you’re talking. At first, he’s annoyed by your yapping but then he grows interest in what you’re saying

He’s almost tempted to try that game for himself and almost disappointed that it’s not available in Twisted Wonderland. Emphasis on almost.

When you’re done rambling, that’s when he stretches his arms over his head and yawn, commenting how noisy you were

You shrug it off. You're used to him complaining about you yapping instead of napping alongside him

…But then he asks you to tell him more about Undertale, if there's any more information you’re keeping from him out of the kindness of your heart

You smile smugly at this and his expression seems to say “don't make me regret asking” but oh, you definitely will make him regret even being friends with you in the first place

Needless to say, regrets were not the only thing he held at the end of that day.

Azul Ashengrotto

Similar to Leona, your fixation on fandom culture reminds him too much of Idia. not that that’s necessarily a bad thing - it’s more of an observation

And he gets more than an observation when you get the chance to show him what you’re made of: useless fandom culture and gaming knowledge

Speaking of Idia, he goes to you as a last resort to ask you to help him understand whatever the hell Idia’s talking about

You don’t know too much about Twisted Wonderland’s fandom culture just yet but when Azul explains the premise of a certain game and its fandom, it gives you an idea

“Sounds pretty similar to Yandere Simulator. Ooh, that one has a lot of history. Let me tell you about it…”

Unfortunately for him, he ended up unlocking your geekiness instead of having you address the things he was confused with

But at least your story makes it a bit easier to understand? He’s yet to decide that really but at least it sounds like you’re taking his lack of slang knowledge into consideration

Your infodump really gripped his attention though - it’s interesting to know another side of human culture, even if it’s not the humans of Twisted Wonderland

He would nod understandingly (or at least, politely) and thank you and your geekiness

He relays your story to Idia and finds it intriguing how similar fandom culture is in both Twisted Wonderland and your world

He would invite you to Board Game Club meetings so that you can rave and find out more about Twisted Wonderland’s fandom culture with Idia

He’d realize that was a big mistake and he may or may not have created the nerdiest pair in the world - but you guys are his nerdiest pair in the world.

Kalim Al-Asim

He’s very curious about fandom culture - he doesn’t know too much about it nor anyone who knows a lot about it so almost all the fandom information in his head are from you

He really wants to know more!!! So of course that warrants a hangout session fabricated as a study session to get Jamil’s stamp of approval

So there you are in his room, books laid out in front of the two of you but most importantly, a laptop

You two watch about a dozen videos on Twisted Wonderland’s fandom culture and as you absorb all the very-much-useful information, you sneak in tidbits from the culture of your world

“This one in particular is reminiscent of Danganronpa. Man, that one was a wild ride…”

It’s exciting to be able to talk about it with someone you trust wholeheartedly, especially Kalim, whom you know wouldn’t be so judging

He only nods in understanding at every point you made, his eyes sparkling with all the curiosity in his body

You were on your thirteenth video when you two are interrupted by a rap on the door and an unfortunately-familiar voice

So obviously you and your bestie hurriedly rush to close all the tabs on your laptop and open up something more academically-inclined

Which is obviously a…dictionary site

Jamil blinks twice at this, says nothing (but probably noting how it makes sense for you guys since you two are bumbling idiots) and walks away

If there’s any dictionary being read that day, it’d be a dictionary of fandom terminology, that’s for sure.

Vil Schoenheit

He doesn’t know too much about it - and doesn’t bother to learn much about it since he has better things to do - but since it’s you, he tries his best to be a good listener

The two of you sit down in the courtyard one day, the chirping of birds and rustling of leaves music to your ears; beauty truly is everywhere around you when you’re next to him

He’s talking about something. You’re not sure what because you’re entranced by the way his hair hangs above his eyes so elegantly. He notices this and calls you out for it

You shrug and excuse how you can’t help it - he’s like a dating simulator love interest in the real. He asks you what you mean by this. Now’s your chance to shine!

“Hmm, you know, something like Mystic Messenger? Hehe, let me tell you a bit about it…”

Unluckily for him, your “a bit” turns out to be a four-hour long ramble about the aforementioned dating simulator a little too reminiscent of Rook for his liking too

Despite his reservations, he really did enjoy hearing you talk so passionately about your interest; it’s a bonus that the topic itself is interesting

He tells you he wouldn’t mind trying out the game or at least finding out more about it though unfortunately it’s not available in Twisted Wonderland

You share his shame - until he says he’ll pitch the concept of the game to some authorities he know and perhaps make it a reality

Sorry, he’s going to what now?

You’re a little shaken. Sometimes you forget he’s a world-class model, despite his looks and mannerisms. You save your nerves for if a Twisted Wonderland version of Mystic Messenger actually ends up happening

He thanks you for enlightening him about fandom and video gaming culture. You use this as a cue to add another four hours of ranting about V’s route in the game.

Idia Shroud

You’re another victim for him to taint… or so he thought. You’re more of an ally than a victim at this point, considering how nerdy you are

He’d dump fandom lore on you and you’d reciprocate it right back. He’s genuinely so impressed with your knowledge, even if they differ by some degree due to being from different worlds

He gets more impressed when you pull up with knowledge about Twisted Wonderland’s fandom culture like damn, you really brushed up on your talking points already

Friendly rivalry aside, he really does enjoy talking about fandom culture with you and hearing about the things from your world - every story you tell adds a little color into his world

One day, the two of you are leaning on each other, on your phones because of course you are, even if you two are friends, talking still isn’t Idia’s strong suit

That’s when you blurt it out–

“Hey, wanna hear about this game called Persona? It’s a turn-based RPG and…”

Regardless of his response to your question, you ended up babbling away either way. It’s how conversations start between the two of you

You’re speaking so fast, he would have mistaken you for a rapper - or a doppelganger of himself even

Consider him entertained - he finds himself smiling by the end of your yapping and intrigued by your story

He then obviously starts to relate it to something from Twisted Wonderland, passing the listener baton to you

You don’t mind – you can stay there for hours and hours, just going back and forth with your fellow nerdy-ass friend.

Malleus Draconia

This man barely knows how to use a smartphone so you had to be a little patient with him when guiding him through the fandom culture trenches

He’s happy that you trust and cherish him enough to talk about your interests with no reservations or shame – and the feeling is mutual

On a certain weekend, the two of you are hanging out as usual. Chatting as friends would do

You don’t know why but the conversation reminded you of a certain fandom

“It’s kinda like Genshin’s community, I guess. They’re a riot, let me tell you that.”

Oh? What’s a Genshin and why is its community a riot?

You’re glad he asked – because you’ve prepared a 100-slide presentation on the history of the game and its fans

He asks you why and how did you find the time to make that. You tell him to shut up and that it doesn’t matter, he just needs to listen to you

You start and it feels like you’ll never stop – there’s just so much to say and Malleus has so much time in the world

Seeing his reactions to certain events makes you crack up and at times, you’d laugh at his shocked expressions (or sigh exhaustively, depending on the event you’re explaining)

When you finally stop, he gives you a one-man standing ovation. You blush a little at the attention and unexpected reaction but you appreciate his sentiment nonetheless. He tells you that your presentation has been very informative for him

You’re relieved to have been able to get that off your chest… and Malleus is more than ecstatic to relay the information to everyone he’s ever known. You obviously pretend that you had no involvement in his sudden investment of a game from another world.

[sukirichi]

[ DUSK ‘TILL DAWN : 019 ]

“we who bear the burden of the crown do not need to love. you only need to stay here, with me, in power, in greed, in lust – in victory.”

cw. angst, running away, illegal activities, theft, suggestive, unedited

notes. one more chapter before the end of dtd!! you guys, thank you so much!! ik the last chapter was kinda controversial but that was the last lore drop hehe, there will be no more backstories mentioned here. everything just goes forward from here on. as always thank you so much for the love in dtd <3

wc. 10.7k

series masterlist 

[ NINETEEN ] I’ll be on a boat, you’re on a plane going somewhere sane… you were the best but you were the worst. as sick as it sounds, I loved you first

The landscape blurred past your window, a seemingly endless stretch of darkness punctuated by the occasional flash of headlights from passing cars. The night was deep, the kind that felt like it would never end. Rintaro was behind the wheel, his eyes fixed on the road ahead as he gripped the steering wheel.

He hadn’t stopped driving since you’d left the city, the tires humming smoothly beneath you as the car cut through the night. Hours had passed – you’d lost count of how many – and it felt like an eternity. His face was set in a rigid expression, his eyes shadowed by exhaustion yet still sharp, still focused. You could see the strain in the tightness of his jaw, the way his knuckles turned white with every frantic turn he made.

You shifted in your seat, stealing glances at him when you thought he wouldn’t notice.

Every so often, his eyes would flicker, a brief blink, signaling that fatigue was setting in, but he pushed on as if stopping would mean surrendering. You fought the urge to reach out, to place a hand on his arm and tell him to pull over and rest, but would he listen?

“Rin,” you tried, keeping your voice small and soft. “We should stop for the night.”

He glanced at you briefly, his lips turning down in a frown. “We can’t. They could be sending more people after us for all we know.”

“I know, but… At least me drive for now. You’ve been driving for hours. You need to rest.”

He shook his head stubbornly. “I’m fine. I can keep going.”

You leaned back against your seat, your fingers clenching the fabric of your dress as you watched the road stretch endlessly before you. The headlights illuminated the asphalt in a narrow beam, the world outside reduced to a tunnel of light and darkness.

Every bump, every curve in the road made your heart hump. The silence that filled the car was uncomfortable. The clock on the dashboard blinked in the dim light, each passing minute a reminder of how long you’d been on the run. You wanted nothing more but a small reprieve, a chance to catch your breath and get some sleep. But you couldn’t – you felt awake now more than ever, pushed with the need to watch over Rintaro, even if there was so little you could do.

The miles slipped by, and Rintaro kept pushing.

You swallowed hard, your throat dry. You hated seeing him like this, hated the toll it was taking on him. “Rin.” His name sounded like a plea.

Your husband sighed, knowing full well what you wanted him to do. “We don’t have anywhere else to go, Y/N. If I stop now… I don’t know what they’ll do to you.”

“You should be more worried about yourself. You have no idea what the Queen will do to you.”

“She’s not the Queen anymore, she can’t touch me,” he reminded you, “But you’ve deliberately made yourself an enemy of both the Royal Family and the Government. You’re a much bigger target for them than I am. I don’t know what they’ll do to you, but I’m not risking it to find out.”

Finally, you reached out, tugging on his sleeves as you watched the hard lines on his face soften momentarily. “Rin. Just for one night, please? You and I both need to rest.”

It didn’t take much for Rintaro to surrender. Pursing his lips, the car slowed to an eventual stop. “Fine,” he gave in, weary hands falling to his lap. “Where are we anyway?”

You looked around you, swathed in nothing but darkness and eerie silence. “I don’t know, but we should be far enough from the crash for them to locate us.”

You followed your husband as you stepped out of the car, your footsteps echoing eerily in the desolate alley. The air was thick with the scent of mold and decay, and you shivered – not from the cold but from the unsettling quiet that surrounded you both. Ahead of you stood an abandoned building, its windows shattered and walls scarred by years of neglect. The entrance was barely visible from where it stood, obscured by overgrown vines and the remnants of a rustled metal gate that hung precariously from one hinge.

You and Rintaro exchanged a brief glance, the both of you hesitant but knowing you had no other choice left. Motels and drive-in’s were out of the question. One look at your clothes and your faces, and you would be immediately reported to the officials.

With a soft push, Rintaro eased the door open, the creaking of the hinges loud in the oppressive silence. Inside, the air felt stale, heavy with the dust of forgotten years. The remnants of what seemed to be an old office greeted you – desks overturned, chairs broken, and papers scattered across the floor, yellowed with age. The only light that came from the faint glow of the city outside, seeping through the cracked windows.

As you ventured deeper into the building, your footsteps stirred up the dust, sending small clouds swirling around you. Rintaro paused, spotting a storage cabinet that had remained relatively untouched. He tugged it open, and to your surprise, inside were a few unopened water bottles, half-buried beneath old, discolored documents. He quickly grabbed them, handing one to you as you his gaze lingered on you with each long sip. The cool water was a small comfort, soothing your parched throat and calming your nerves, if only slightly.

Rintaro didn’t stop there.

He found a few tattered, discarded rags and used them to wipe down a section of the floor, pushing aside debris and layers of dust until the spot became relatively clean. You watched him work, the focused way in which he moved, touched by the determination to carve out some semblance of safety in a place that felt anything but. When he was done, he motioned for you to sit, and you lowered yourself to the floor, the coldness of the concrete seeping through your clothes.

You sat shoulder to shoulder, the weight of the world pressing down on you as you took in your surroundings.

The building was a far cry from the luxuries you were accustomed to – it was cold, dark, and filled with the fragments of a life long gone. But it was a refuge, however temporary – a place where you could finally catch your breath and gather your thoughts.

For a moment, you let yourself lean into Rintaro, drawing strength from the solidness of his presence beside you, reminding you that he was real, and he was still here. The reality of the situation was starting to sink in – how far you’d fallen, how much you’d both lost. You turned your head slightly, your eyes finding his hazel ones. In the dim light, his features softened, yet you could still see the lines of exhaustion etched on his face, the lingering shadows of fear and regret in his eyes. I’m sorry, they seemed to say, but you couldn’t quite put a finger on what he was sorry for.

Whatever choices you made had been your own. He didn’t have anything to apologize about.

He met your gaze, and you simply stared at each other. “Why did you come after me?” he spoke after a while, his voice low and softer than you’d ever heard him speak. “I never told you where I was going.”

You blinked up at him, unsure if you should tell the whole truth. There was a tinge of hope he’d failed in concealing from his eyes. The truth was that you never expected running after him would lead to this – to losing Kiyoomi, to becoming labeled as a fugitive and being forced to be in hiding. A few hours ago, you’d expected to bring Rintaro back to the Palace, and return to Kiyoomi’s arms in Belleview Manor. Had you known it’d lead to you being stuck in this dusty, abandoned place… you shook your head. No. You couldn’t think about that now. You were not going to regret running after Rintaro.

“Because,” you started, licking your lips to give them some moisture, “I was worried for you.”

“Why?”

You stared back at him, your lips settling into a frown. “What do you mean, why? Iris just got deposed, the woman you’ve thought to be your Mother was taken away by the Police, and you lost everything within the span of a few days. Of course I was worried about you.”

Rintaro’s eyes widened, like he couldn’t believe what you were saying. “You’re worried… even though I’m a nobody.”

You bumped your shoulders with his. “I told you to stop saying that already. You aren’t a nobody.”

“I’m not a Prince.”

Leaning your head against the wall, you sighed, reaching over to intertwine your hand with his. Rintaro lets you, allows you to rest your conjoined hands above his knee – your wedding rings glinting under the moonlight. “You don’t have to be one for me to care about you. I told you already, Rintaro. I liked you much better when you weren’t trying so hard to be perfect.”

A small laugh bubbled out of chest. “Do you still like me now? I don’t even know where I’m going to take you.”

“We’ll figure it out together.”

That seemed to be enough to placate him. For the next few minutes, the two of you sat like that, in silence and ruminating over everything. But the silence never lasted, just as the time kept on ticking by. Brushing his thumb over your knuckle, Rintaro sighed. “I broke your phone. We can’t possibly reach out to anyone.”

Your mind raced with possibilities, and your thoughts kept circling back to the one place the Government wouldn’t dare get near – the borders. One of your estates was near there, secluded and far from the prying eyes of the Kingdom. “Wait,” your back straightened, turning to Rintaro with hope glimmering in your eyes. “We have a private estate near the border. We don’t go there often, so there’s less security, but if we could reach it, we might be able to use one of the old smuggling routes my family used back then.”

Rintaro hummed in thought, seriously considering the idea. “About that… I’m not sure we can take the car. You used a private vehicle, but still. They could easily track it now that they’ve seen the plate.”

“Let’s steal one, then.”

“Look at you,” he smirked, making his handsome face look younger. “From Princess to a criminal in less than a day.”

You giggled, your heart racing as the plan formed in your mind. Determined, you quickly scrambled to your feet, and your heels wobbled on the dusty floor. You teetered for a moment, arms flailing around you as you almost lost your balance when Rintaro’s arms were suddenly around you, catching you before you could fall. He pulled you to his chest, the warmth of his body seeping into you. He was close enough that you could feel his heartbeat against your own, the rhythm steady and lulling you into a calmer state.

You stood like that for a few heartbeats, refusing to let the other go.

Faces inches apart, your eyes locked in a silent exchange. The intensity of everything you’d been through the past few hours lingered between you, but in that moment, it all melted away into nothingness. A soft chuckle escaped your lips, and he responded with a quiet laugh of his own, your shared amusement breaking through the tension. You both looked away, embarrassed by the sudden lightness – the moment passed, leaving behind a fleeting sense of normalcy amidst the dangers you faced.

Still holding hands, you ventured out into the dark night, your fingers intertwined as you walked through the desolate streets. The shadows stretched long, the night wrapping around you both like a shroud, but you kept moving, driven by the need to escape. The silence was punctuated only by the sound of your footsteps and the occasional distant noise, making the night feel even more ominous.

After what felt like an eternity of searching, you spotted a car – a plain, nondescript sedan, parked in the shadows at the edge of the street.

It was perfect, blending in with its surroundings and unlikely to draw any attention. Rintaro was the first to move, glancing around to ensure you were alone before gesturing at you to give him your gun. With a swift, decisive motion, he raised his hand to smash the gun against the car’s window.

“Wait! That might sound the alarm.”

Rintaro’s arm hovered over in the air. “But how else can I open it?” he gestured to the lock car, and you shrugged, his eyes flitting to your head. “Do you have pins on your hair?”

“No… Besides, do you even know how to pick a lock?”

“No…”

Your shoulders slumped in defeat. “Fine. Let’s smash it.”

Glancing at you one last time for approval, Rintaro smashed the car’s window. The glass shattered, the sound echoing in the empty street, and you winced.

He reached inside and unlocked the door, opening it for you before climbing in himself. You both knew hotwiring the car was beyond your skills, and for a moment, you doubted the effectiveness of your plan. Should you just abandon the car and find another solution? But then, as if by some miracle, Rintaro found a spare key tucked above the visor.

“Would you look at that,” he chuckled at the key in disbelief, “Seems like luck’s on our side tonight.”

Relief washed over you as he turned the key in the ignition, and the engine roared to life. Without a word, you both settled into the car, the tension returning as you prepared to drive into the unknown.

“We do have one problem, though,” you grimaced, and Rintaro raised his brows in question. “Since your window is broken, anyone could easily see you…”

Your husband cursed under his breath.

Rintaro sped through the darkened roads, his eyes not once straying from it. The broken window made it impossible for him to relax, and every time a car passed by, he instinctively ducked lower, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. The cold wind whipped through the cabin, stinging your faces, and you could see the strain in his eyes, the exhaustion from driving for hours without rest evident.

You switched positions periodically, a silent agreement between you.

When it was your turn to drive, Rintaro leant back in his seat, closing his eyes as he tried to snatch a few moments of sleep to himself. But even in slumber, his face remained tight, worry lines etched deeply into his skin. You focused on the road, determined to give him a break – even for a little while.

The night stretched on endlessly.

Finally, as dawn began to break, the faintest light creeping over the horizon, you realized the gas gauge was running dangerously low. You gnawed at your bottom lip, knowing you couldn’t afford to be stranded. You needed to refuel, and soon.

The gas station you pulled into was small and nearly desolate, the kind that might be overlooked by passing travelers. It was still early, the world around you cloaked in the soft, dim light of dawn. The convenience store attached to the station was the only sign of life in the stillness, its neon lights flickering in the pale morning haze.

You angled your body toward Rintaro, his disheveled appearance not nearly enough to disguise the regal air that clung to him. He was a Prince, and no matter how worn down he looked, there was a certain refinement to him that was hard to hide. You reached over and ran your fingers gently through his hair, mussing it up further. He stirred awake, and blinked up at you in confusion, but you offered him a small smile, a way of reassuring him that you had a plan.

You tugged at his shirt, pulling it out from where it was tucked neatly into his pants, and then ran your hands over the fabric, wrinkling it deliberately. Slowly, you raised your hands to unbutton his shirt further, stopping when Rintaro clutched at your wrist. He was now breathing hard, his pupils dilated as he adjusted himself in his pants. “W-Wait,” he panted, his eyes blown wide. “We’re seriously doing this here? I mean, do you need me now?”

His voice was laced with shyness and disbelief. Your brows furrowed in confusion, and when it finally made sense, your mouth fell open, slapping his hands away from your wrist. “What are you thinking about?!” you lightly punched him in the chest, and Rintaro cradled his hand with a pout. “You’re so… dirty! I wasn’t even thinking of that!”

“Well, you can’t blame me!” he snapped back, the tips of his ears red all the way down to his neck. “You woke me up and pulled my shirt out of my pants, and I thought you were taking my shirt off! How was I supposed to think otherwise that you weren’t trying to sleep with me?”

“I was trying to make you look less like a Prince so you could go inside and get us what we need!” you pointed to the convenience store, and his gaze followed. The neon signs of it glared back at him, his lips forming an ‘o’ shape in realization.

“Oh,” he coughed out awkwardly, “Okay. You could’ve just said that. You didn’t need to feel me up.”

“I wasn’t feeling you up,” you glared at him, and he snorted.

“Whatever you say, Princess.”

Rolling your eyes at him, you pushed your husband out of the car, gesturing towards the convenience store as you pointed to the rack of cheap sunglasses displayed near the entrance. It was a small thing, but it might help conceal your identities for the rest of the ride. You needed to blend in, to look like you were just another pair of weary travelers on the road. He walked into the store, his posture slightly slouched, trying to appear as ordinary as possible, while you waited by the car, scanning the horizon anxiously.

The minutes stretched on, your heart thudding in your chest. Every noise, every flicker of movement in the distance set you on edge.

You couldn’t stop thinking about how this mundane act of filling up your tank felt like walking on a tightrope – one wrong step and you could be caught. But you had no choice; you had to keep going, and reach your parents’ estate before it was too late. The sun was beginning to rise, its long shadows stretching across the empty lot like an ominous reminded that you didn’t have much time left.

“I got the burner phone.” You looked up from where you spaced out, Rintaro’s body sliding into the driver’s seat next to you. He’d bought snacks, water bottles, a pair of shades and hats for the both of you. There were some chocolate bars, too, the ones he knew you liked. You raised your brow at him, but took it gratefully, unwrapping it and taking a huge bite as you dialed the number you knew by heart – your Mother’s.

“Wait,” Rintaro’s hand shot out, and you paused, your fingers hovering over the call button. “Won’t they… I mean. I think if you call them, I should head somewhere else.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Won’t they notify the Police that I’m here?”

You watched as he scratched his ear, and you shook your head, gently unwrapping his fingers around your wrist. “And give away my location? As if they’d risk that.”

His face fell. “They won’t risk your safety, but they don’t like me.”

You took one more bite of the chocolate bar, handing it to him as you angled your body towards him. Rintaro was hesitant for a moment before he started eating, his eyes momentarily closing as he savored the sweet chocolate bursting in his mouth. “They care about my safety more than they despise you, Rintaro. Besides, we’re all what the other has now. They’re going to have to deal with it.” He continued eating, glancing back at you and the chocolate bar again, before deciding you should finish it. Reaching over the backseat where he’d kept the water bottles, he handed you one, then nodded at the phone in your hand.

Three rings later, and your Mother picked up. There was a slight shuffling sound from the background, and just like that, the tears you’d been holding back felt like a dam had opened. “Mother?”

“Oh! Oh, my darling, is that you?” she cooed, and you nodded, wiping the tears away from your cheeks when you realized she couldn’t see you. “Oh God, thank the Heavens you’re safe! Where are you? Are you safe? You’re not hurt, are you?”

You sniffled, turning to Rintaro as you blinked back the tears blurring your vision. He squeezed your thigh in reassurance, giving you a small smile before he pulled out of the gas station and headed back out onto the road. “Mother, I’m fine. We were able to run away from the Palace, but we never expected we’d be pushed out so far here,” you said, watching as your surroundings shifted to grassy fields and windmills. You couldn’t name the exact town you were in now, but you should be a two day’s drive away from the City.

“Where are you? Your father and I are heading there right now.”

With one hand, Rintaro shuffled for the glove compartment. He pulled out a map, glanced at it briefly, before pointing to where you were now located. Your eyes widened once you realized how far you’d driven off too. “We’re… near the border. Rintaro and I were planning to head to one of our estates here, use the old smuggling route to leave the country. Oh, and please be careful. I’m certain the government is expecting I’d make contact with you and keep an eye on your movements.”

Your mother stuttered from the other line. “No, dear, wait. Just – leaving the country? What are you talking about?”

You bit at your lip, recalling how heavy the gun felt in your hand before you fired it. “I’m a criminal, Mother. This country is not going to accept me. They’ll put me behind bars, or worse. If they caught us and exiled us, I don’t know where they’re going to throw us away.”

“You are no criminal! I know you’re innocent!”

“Mother… I shot a police car yesterday.”

“Oh, dear,” she gasped out, and you heard her fanning herself before her breathing stabilized. “Okay, okay. We’ll meet up at the estate and then we’ll… we’ll talk when we get there, okay? Hang tight.”

“Thank you.”

“Stay safe. I mean it.” Her voice was hard, stern. You felt like a little girl all over again, getting scolded by your Mother because you weren’t careful enough and scraped your knee. But now you were older, and your wounds ran deeper than just skin-surface cuts.

“You too, Mother,” you mumbled back, heart clenching as you feared this might be the last time you’d hear her voice through the phone. “I love you.”

Rolling the windows down, you threw out the burner phone, watching as it rolled and rolled until the phone cracked into pieces. The call had been quick enough for it to be traced, but you couldn’t risk involving any more of your loved ones in this game of cat and mouse between you and the country.

You reached the estate within hours.

The quiet, secluded grounds stretched before you, and the absence of security and house staff felt almost eerie, like the calm before a storm. The air was heavy with the scent of pine and earth, a scent you’d known almost all your life. You slipped through the gates unnoticed, the estate welcoming you with an almost unnatural stillness. The moment you reached inside, Rintaro dropped onto the couch with a weary sigh, tearing into the snacks he bought from the convenience store. He tossed an arm over his face, blocking out the dim light filtering through the heavy curtains.

You watched him for a moment, your heart tugging at the sight of him – disheveled, exhausted, yet still so undeniably… him. You smiled faintly, a bittersweet affection blooming through your chest before you turned away, leaving him be.

Upstairs, the familiarity of the hallway wrapped around you like your mother’s comforting embrace. This place was used more as a summer vacation home, every corner holding memories, an echo of a life that now felt like a lifetime away. You headed straight for the bathroom, stripping off the layers of dust and grime with the hot water. The steam rose around you, blurring the mirror and softening the harsh lines that settled within your face. For a few precious moments, you let yourself believe that nothing has change – that you’re just the same girl who spent every summer running in these halls, not the fugitive ex-princess fleeing from a life that flipped upside down too fast.

When you stepped out of the shower, you moved through your old room with purpose, gathering clothes and essentials. As you fold the fabric and tuck it into your bag, your movements slowed. You glanced around, taking in every detail – the antique dressed by the window, the framed photographs on the walls, the plush armchair in the corner where you used to curl up on the book. If Rintaro hadn’t bought the beach house, you would’ve loved to build a future here with him and your kids here – if that was even possible in this lifetime.

Everything was as it was, yet it felt like you were seeing it all for the last time. The nostalgia was almost overwhelming, leaving you with a deep, aching sense of loss for the life you were leaving behind.

You found yourself standing by the window, looking out at the sprawling grounds. The morning light filtered through the trees, the butterflies dancing across the greenery. You knew every inch of this estate – the hidden paths, the quiet corners where you escaped to think, the gardens where you spent countless of tea parties with your parents. This place had been a sanctuary, a constant in a world that was forever changing. And now, you were saying goodbye to it, possibly forever.

The door creaked open behind you, and you turned to see Rintaro standing there, framed by the soft glow of the hallway light.

He looked different here, in this place that had always felt safe to you. The sharp edges of his demeanor were softened by his quick nap, his usually confident stance now sagging under the weight of everything you’d both been through. His eyes met yours, and you stood there, gazing at each other across the room.

In his tired expression, you saw a reflection of your own emotions – a mix of relief, weariness, and the burden of the knowledge you were stepping into a future that was uncertain at best. This room, this house, this life – they were all a part of a past that you couldn’t return to. And yet, as you looked at him, you realized that whatever may lie ahead, you would face it. Together. That thought brought some comfort to you, and you knew that this place, this country, as much as you loved it, was no longer where you beloned.

“Hey,” you breathed out, opening your arms wide to beckon him closer. As if pulled by an invisible string, Rintaro crossed the room in a few steps, his heat blanketing you as he stood still. His eyes were droopy and tired, the color more green than it was brown as he stared at your palm. Sighing to himself, he closed his eyes, and let his cheek fall upon the curve of your hand. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

“You don’t look okay.”

“I’m just exhausted,” he mumbled, burying himself into the comforting warmth your skin offered. You couldn’t help but smile, your thumb brushing across his cheek and the day old stubble that was beginning to show. Rintaro peeked his eyes open, just enough to see the bags prepared on your bed. “You’ve packed up.”

You nodded, and guided him at the edge of your bed to sit down. The mattress dipped down with your weight, with Rintaro practically sinking into it. “It’s not much, but I figured I could take some of my things with me to… wherever we’ll go.”

The dim light from the bedside lamp cast soft shadows across his face, deepening the furrow in his brow and the downward tilt of his lips. He looked almost distant, lost in thoughts that you could only guess at. You could sense the hesitation in him, the sadness rolling off of him in waves. The closer you got to leaving, the more Rintaro’s resolve seemed to waver, as if the finality of your escape pulled him apart from the inside. He wasn’t just thinking about the dangers ahead; he was mourning what you both were going to lose, had already lost – the life you had together, and the love you had for him that he feared would change once you crossed that line with him. The moment was tender, raw, and it made your heart tighten in your chest. You were both so close to the edge, and yet, in that moment of quiet, the two of you felt more fragile than ever.

“It’s not too late, you know,” he began, his eyes empty as he gazed up at you. “You can still stay. You don’t have to leave.”

You shook your head, a small smile playing on your lips. “Rin. I’ve already made up my mind. Where you go, I go.”

“But you don’t have to,” he insisted, and your ears pricked at how broken he sounded in that moment – like he was desperate, and down on his knees. “It’s been proven that I really am not the King’s son. Our marriage is no longer valid since it was never a genuine royal union. You’re no longer tied to me, don’t you see? You’re free. You can do as you please,” he extended his arms to gesture around your room, “You have a whole life here. Your family, your friends, Kiyoomi. Your world is beautiful. This isn’t something you just say goodbye to.”

Pursing your lips, you reached for his hand, squeezing it in hopes you could ground him back with you. “If I can do as I please, then I choose to stay with you.”

Rintaro’s jaw clenched. “You’re going to regret it if you do. The life you’ll have with me… it won’t be a good one. You’ll be miserable, Y/N,” he sounded convinced, and he shook his head to himself, the tendrils of his bangs falling to his face. “I take back what I said earlier about Kiyoomi. You were right. He can be trusted. I’m sure if we contact him, he’ll immediately come for you—”

“And then what?” you snapped, “What do you expect to happen when he comes for me, hm? That we’ll get married, when it hasn’t even been a week since his marriage was annulled? Let’s say that happens, did you really think the Kingdom would be accepting of it? They would call me a whore, paint me like I’d only been waiting for the right opportunity so I can make him mine. They would call me heartless for abandoning you the moment I found out you weren’t a Prince.”

Rintaro pulled his hand away from you. “Is that why you’re staying, then? Because you don’t want the people to mock you?”

“I’m staying because I choose you, Rintaro. I’m staying because I don’t have anyone else, and my home was taken away from me. You’re all I have, and I’m not letting you walk away from me,” you declared, your chest heaving up and down from how hard you were breathing. There was that image again – of a handsome Prince with a kind smile, of soft curls you could run your hands into forever. An image that was slowly becoming blurred in your memory. “I lost Kiyoomi from the moment I chose to run after you, Rin. He asked me to stay. He asked me to stay behind because it was dangerous, because there might’ve been a chance that I would never return. He knew that, and maybe I knew that, but don’t you get it? I’m choosing you.”

Rintaro scoffed, standing up to his feet as he raked a  hand through his hair. “I don’t want you to choose me.”

You mimicked his movements, padding your bare feet across the carpeted floor as Rintaro moved to walk out the door. “Why are you pushing me away, Rintaro? I – is everything I’ve done for you never enough?”

He groaned, the sound angry and reverberating across the empty hall. “That’s exactly why I’m telling you to not go with me! Because you’re going to regret it, and you’re going to keep looking back at what you could’ve had. You’re going to think about what you lost because you chose me. I mean, listen to what you’re saying. That’s exactly what you’re doing right now.”

What you were doing right now? You stood there, frozen, as you were faced with Rintaro’s back. “Is this… is this because I kissed Kiyoomi?”

Rintaro turned to face you, his lips pressed into a thin line as he placed his hand on his hip. He covered his lips with his fist, as if biting back the words threatening to leave his mouth. “You love him, Y/N. I’m not going to hold you back.”

A bitter laugh erupted from you. “I can’t love him, Rin. I can’t choose him. I can’t let him be stuck in one marriage to another.”

“And I don’t want you to regret me,” he bit back, pacing back and forth as his hands trembled. “I could never live with myself if you look at me one day and wonder if you made the right decision by not staying behind.”

“That won’t happen.”

“If it does?”

“It won’t.”

“Why won’t it happen?” he demanded, “Is it because you still love me?”

The words caught in your throat as you heard the unmistakable sound of a car pulling up into the driveway. Your heart skipped a beat, and you froze, listening intently. The faint clacking of your mother’s heels echoed against the pavement, followed by your father’s voice, urging her to slow down and that she might trip if she rushed any faster.

Your eyes darted back to your husband, who stood still across from you, his expression vulnerable and raw.

He had just asked you if you still loved him, and the question lingered in the air heavily. The look in his eyes was one of desperate hope, but also fear – fear that her answer, whatever it might be, would shatter him completely.

You couldn’t bring yourself to speak. The sound of your parents approaching drew closer, and you knew you had only moments before they reached the door. You wanted to say something, anything, to ease the tension, to reassure him – but the words never came.

“They’re here. You should shower and get some sleep before we leave.”

Rintaro’s eyes flickered with pain as he realized you wouldn’t answer, and you heard your heart shatter into a million pieces in the silence. The moment passed, slipping away as the door downstairs creaked open, and your mother’s hurried footsteps filled the house.

The chance to say what needed to be said was gone, leaving only the unspoken hanging in the space between you and him.

You descended the staircase, with Rintaro following behind you. The familiar creak of the wooden stairs, once comforting, now seemed like a countdown to an inevitable farewell. When you and Rintaro reached the bottom, the dam had broken. You barely had time to brace yourself before you were engulfed in your mother’s embrace. It was fierce, desperate, as if holding on to each other tighter might somehow stop time, stop you from leaving. Your mother’s body trembled against you, the sobs wracking through her with a force that made your own shake. Your father was just behind her, tears streaking his own face, though he tried to remain composed. He placed a gentle hand on his wife’s back, rubbing in slow circles as if it might calm the storm of her grief.

“Breathe, my love,” he reminded her, while your mother eagerly held on to you like you were her lifeline. “You’re going to pass out if you don’t breathe.”

Your mother sobbed harder. “No. Oh, god, my baby. It’s not too late to change your mind, you know. You can stay and we’ll figure something out. You didn’t do anything wrong, just please, please, don’t leave us.”

Your eyes stung as you held your mother, the sorrow seeping into your bones. “I can’t stay. I would just be putting you both in danger.”

Your mother’s hands gripped the back of your dress, the fabric twisting in her fists. It was as if she was trying to physically anchor you, her daughter, to this place, to this moment, to keep you from slipping away through her grasp. It didn’t matter that you were nearing your thirties now and you’d grown taller than her – you would always be your little girl. And your father, though quieter in his grief, was no less heartbroken. His gaze met yours over your mother’s shoulder, and then unspoken pain that he held in his fatherly smile made it almost impossible to leave.

“You think we care about our safety? You’re our daughter. We go wherever you are,” pulling away from you, your mother wiped her tears with the back of her hand. Your whole life, she’d always been classy and elegant, but right now, she cared less about manners as snot ran down her nose. Broken, that’s what she was.

But you couldn’t stay. Shaking your head, you planted your hands on her shoulder, giving her your brightest smile to reassure her it’d be okay – even if you didn’t quite believe it yourself. “You can’t come with us, Mother. Everything that our families built is here. Inarizaki is your home.”

“Is it a home if a father is without their child?” your father interrupted, donning just a plain shirt and slacks instead of his military uniform. He didn’t come here today as the Kingdom’s General; he was here as your father. “We can leave the country with you too. We’ll start over someplace new – like your mother said, we’ll figure something out. This can’t be how I lose my little girl.”

“Please don’t make it any harder than it has to be,” you begged, cupping your hands around your mouth to stifle the sobs. “You two are innocent. If you go with us… then they will never stop looking. We will live our lives always watching our backs, never knowing peace. You didn’t do anything wrong, Father, so you don’t have to do this.”

“I can’t,” your mother dropped to her knees, clutching your skirt as she began to stutter over her breaths. “I can’t let you go. You’re my only daughter, you can’t leave—” Behind her, Rintaro suddenly moved forward, helping your mother get back up to her knees. He whispered sweet nothing’s in her ear, calling her Ma like he always used to do. To everyone’s surprise, your mother cried harder, wrapping her arms around Rintaro’s larger frame as her tears soaked his shirt. “Please, my son. Don’t take her away from me.”

You glanced over at him, seeing the way his face fell. His presence was heavy in the room, as if unsure whether he truly belonged in this moment of familial sorrow.

“She’s made her mind, my love,” your father wiped his tears, gently prying your mother’s arms off of Rintaro. He pulled a handkerchief out from his pocket and dabbed at your mother’s ears, his touch tender as he helped her breathe. “Come on. We need to get the kids ready before we leave. We have to leave by sundown.”

Your heart swelled. This couldn’t have been easy on either of them, losing their only child as you were chased out of your country. But your father respected your decision, even if it broke your heart. You couldn’t stop yourself from crying now, jumping over to where he was, knowing he’d catch you in his arms even as he held your mother. And he did, the three of you embracing in your final moments, your cries desperate yet final.

“Thank you, Father.”

“If I really can’t stop you—” he kissed the top of your forehead before glancing at Rintaro, “—then your husband needs to promise me that he’s going to take care of you.”

At the mention of his name, Rintaro stiffened. “I promise, Sir.”

“Mark my words, boy. If you ever make my daughter cry again, I will personally drag you back here and let the officials have their way with you.”

“I won’t make her cry. I promise.”

Your father nodded, satisfied with Rintaro’s determination. He looked around, then glanced at his watch with a grim expression. “Let’s go.” Closing your eyes one last time, you buried your face in your mother’s shoulder, wishing for a moment that you could stay, that things could be different. But everyone in the room knew one thing couldn’t be changed – that you were all running out of time.

+

You walked between your parents, their hands clasped around yours like they had done when you were a child. Your father’s grip was firm but slightly trembling, while your mother’s touch was gentle, fingers brushing over your knuckles as if memorizing the feel of them. Every step towards the pier felt like it carried the weight of a finality that was too painful to acknowledge.

Rintaro followed behind, silently carrying the small bags you had prepared for the long journey ahead. You glanced back at him occasionally, watching the way his eyes scanned his surroundings, always alert, always protective. But when your gazes met, they would soften, quietly understanding the heaviness of the grief you carried. He’d taken on the burden of your escape so you could have these final moments with your parents, and you were grateful for his silent support.

As you approached the dock, the boat waited for you, bobbing gently on the dark waters. The sound of the waves lapping against the hull was the only noise in the quiet night, amplifying the heavy silence that hung between you. Your heart ached as you reached the edge of the dock, knowing that this was it – the moment you’d all been dreading.

The inevitable goodbye.

Your mother turned to you first, her eyes shining with unshed tears. She pulled you into a tight embrace, one that felt both desperate and full of love. Her arms wrapped around you, and you felt her heartbeat against your own, the rhythm steady but beating slow like her heart cried, too. It made reminisce of stories she used to tell you when you were little, how she’d place your cheek on her chest as a baby to help you fall asleep. You closed your eyes, inhaling the familiar scent of her perfume, wanting to remember this moment, this feeling, for as long as you could. She felt the same way, too, holding on to you for a long time the way a mother wanted to shield her daughter from the daunting future that awaited you on the other side of the water.

When you finally pulled apart, your father was there, pressing a small bag into your hands. It was heavier than you expected.

Inside were the essentials needed for survival: cash, forged documents, and a few belongings that might help you once they were out of the country. He squeezed your hand as he handed it over, the pressure his silent way of saying I love you, take care. You felt a lump rise in your throat, but you swallowed it down, not wanting to break the fragile calm you’d managed to maintain.

As you stood there, the night fully settled in all around you, you looked at your parents, trying to memorize their faces in the dim light. There was a somber understanding hanging in the air, an unspoken agreement that this might be the last time you would see each other for a long time. You could see the pain in their eyes, the fear for your safety, but also the deep, abiding love that had always been there. The universe might’ve been cruel to you, but it gave you the best and most loving parents one could ask for.

“I love you. I love you so much. You’ve been so brave, so great,” your mother hiccupped, and your father rubbed soothing circles at her back. “Promise you’ll write to me every now and then?”

“Yes, Mother.”

“You better write,” your father warned, though his smile was harmless. “Don’t make us come after you.”

“Thank you, Father,” you chuckled, staring at them one last time. You would miss it – your father’s wrinkles, your mother’s smile lines. The sound of their giggles as they danced in the halls every Wednesday night with jazz playing in the background each time they thought you’d went to bed. The smell of homemade pancakes each Saturday when your Mother asked the cooks to rest, and also because she hadn’t used the kitchen since she’d married. You’d missed everything, and it hurt so much to leave them behind. “Take care, okay? I’m going to miss you both.”

Finally, it was time.

Rintaro stepped forward, his hand resting gently on your back as he guided you toward the boat. You turned back one last time, your eyes meeting your parents’ as you stood together on the dock. Your father’s arm was around your mother, holding her close as your mother stifled her cries against his shirt. Tears slipped down your cheeks, but you quickly wiped it away, not wanting them to see you cry. You needed to be strong, for them, for yourself, for Rintaro.

As you stepped onto the boat, your mother’s voice echoed through the darkness, the words soft and filled with love. You couldn’t bring yourself to respond as the lump in your throat grew larger. You simply nodded, your hand gripping the small bag tightly as Rintaro helped you settle on the boat. It rocked gently beneath you as the boat moved, and you watched as your parents’ figures grew smaller and smaller in the distance until they were nothing but a silhouette against the night sky.

You felt the finality of it all crash over you.

You were leaving behind everything you’d ever known, walking into an uncertain future with only Rintaro beside you, and the memories of the life you used to live. You held Rintaro’s hand, your fingers gripping his as the boat sailed father away from the shore, farther away from the life you had once thought was yours to keep.

Kiyoomi’s hands gripped the steering wheel as he drove through the winding roads, his heart racing as a million thoughts raced in his head. He had been driving for hours, retracing every step you might have taken, following the last location you had given him. He could sense from the urgency in your voice that you’d expected him to come find you, and he wasn’t going to let you down now. Besides, it was supposed to be a simple meeting only – you’d promised to come back to him, to finally leave your broken marriage behind and start anew with him. But as he approached the place, a dingy nightclub that he’d never picture you being in, in a secluded area just outside the city, his heart sank.

Rintaro’s car was there, parked on the side of the road, abandoned.

The sight of it sent a jolt of panic through him. He didn’t know what was worse – your car being absent, or Rintaro’s car left behind. He pulled over and got out, the night air chilling his skin as he approached the vehicle. The closer he got, the more he noticed – his belongings were still there, and the car was empty. But there was something else, something that made his chest tighten with fear. There, on the ground, was your phone, broken and crushed like someone had stomped onto it.

His mind raced, thoughts crashing into one another. The last he’d heard of him, he disappeared around the same time as you did. But why was your phone here, and not your car? Were you with him? Had he come for you? Or worse… had he taken you away?

The idea twisted in his gut like a knife, the notion that you might have chosen Rintaro over him despite everything you’d been through. But no, he couldn’t believe it. He refused to believe it. He had been so close – he had finally broken through your walls, you had finally loved him back, and for the first time, he had you in his arms. You wouldn’t betray him. You wouldn’t. You couldn’t be so cruel.

He searched the area frantically, looking for any sign of where you might have gone. Footprints in the dirt, discarded items, anything.

But there was nothing, just the silent trees and the cold wind that seemed to mock his desperation. He called your name, hoping that you’d magically emerge from the shadows and come running into his arms, tell him that this was all a misunderstanding. He imagined you stepping out from behind the building, your face soft with regret as you reassure him you wouldn’t have gone anywhere. He would have the warmth of your body in his arms, the feel of your breath against his neck, and find comfort in your voice as you did with him. But you didn’t appear, and the only answer he received was the echo of his own voice.

You did not appear.

His voice broke as he called your name again, weaker this time, as if he already knew that there would be no response. The emptiness around him seemed to swallow the sound, leaving him alone with the echo of his own voice, a ghostly reminder of how alone he truly was.

The agony of it was unbearable, a raw, searing pain that clawed at his insides. He could feel his heart pounding against his ribcage, each beat a painful reminder that you weren’t there. His breath came in shallow, uneven gasps as the weight of his own helplessness settled over him. You were gone, and there was nothing he could do to bring you back. The realization hit him like a physical blow, doubling him over as he clutched at his chest, trying to steady himself.

He looked around wildly, his vision blurring as tears threatened to spill over. There had to be something he was missing, something he hadn’t seen. He couldn’t accept that this was it, that you had left him with nothing, not even a trace to follow. But no matter how hard he searched, there was nothing – just the silent trees standing like sentinels around him, witnesses to his despair.

The wind picked up again, rustling the leaves in a way that sounded almost like whispering, as if the forest itself was telling him to give up, to accept that you were gone. But he couldn’t. He wouldn’t. He dropped to his knees, fingers digging into the cold earth as if he could somehow pull you back through sheer force of will. But the ground was cold and unyielding, offering no comfort, no answers. His body shook with the effort of holding back the sobs that threatened to break free, his teeth gritted against the overwhelming grief that surged through him.

He pressed his forehead to the ground, the rough earth scraping against his skin as he tried to catch his breath. You were gone. The truth of it settled over him like a shroud, suffocating him, drowning him in a sea of despair. He wanted to scream, to rage against the cruel twist of fate that had taken her from him, but the sound caught in his throat, strangled by the overwhelming pain.

He had lost you.

And no matter how hard he searched, no matter how many times he called your name, you weren’t coming back.

+

Kiyoomi’s day passed by in a blur, each one more torturous than the last.

He barely slept, his mind replaying the last moments he’d shared with you, trying to find some clue, some indication that this wasn’t the end. He couldn’t eat, couldn’t focus on anything other than the gnawing fear that something terrible had happened to you. Or worse, that you really had chosen to leave him behind without a word. He’d gotten so desperate that he’d asked for the help of his brothers – Kita was to investigate on your last sightings, Tobio was to remain alert on any news regarding you and Rintaro, and Keiji had reached out to his civilian friends to report to him in case you’d decided to blend in with the common folk.

No news for the next few days, other than the national announcement that you and Rintaro were now officially missing persons. Kiyoomi quickly shut off the television after that, heading straight for his study where he spent countless nights hugging the sweater you’d left behind. Your scent was already fading, but he refused to wash it, afraid he’d completely lose the last thing he had to remind him of you.

The room was dimly lit, the heavy curtains drawn to block out the morning light. Papers and maps were strewn across the desk, a clear sign of his restless night. He paced the length of the room, eyes flicking toward the door every few seconds as if expecting you to miraculously walk through it. His hand clenched around his phone, staring at the screen as if willing it to show a missed call or message from you, anything to break the suffocating silence that had consumed him since you disappeared.

The door creaked open, and Kita stepped inside, his expression grave. The prince barely looked up, his focus still on the phone. Kita took a deep breath, knowing the conversation ahead would be anything but easy. “We’ve found something,” he began, his voice measured and cautious.

Kiyoomi’s head snapped up, eyes locking onto Kita’s. “What did you find?” His voice was sharp, hopeful yet angry.

Kita hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “Her phone wasn’t completely broken – but it’s been off since the night she disappeared. No pings, no signals. It’s as if she doesn’t want to be found. It’s also odd that her parents stopped calling her a day after the Police tried running after them.”

The prince shook his head, denial washing over him. “That doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to be found.”

Kita nodded slowly, understanding the prince’s reluctance to accept the truth. “I considered that too, but then I found something else.” He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small evidence bag, inside which was a photograph of faint tire tracks leading away from the area where Rintaro’s car was found. “These tracks... they suggest a hurried departure. She left quickly. They left quickly, Kiyoomi. Some of the surviving cops stated that Rintaro was driving, and she was the one who shot at them.”

The prince’s jaw tightened, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge of his desk. “It doesn’t prove anything. Maybe she was forced to leave, maybe...” His voice trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Kita stepped closer, lowering his voice. “There’s more. I got a message from a contact in the royal circle. There was unusual activity at her family’s estate the night she disappeared. Some neighbors reported that cars were coming in despite the place being remote for years, and...” He hesitated before continuing, knowing the next words would be the hardest to hear. “A boat was seen leaving the estate after sundown. No one questioned it because apparently, the General liked to fish whenever he was stressed out, but the General never boarded the boat.”

Kiyoomi’s face twisted with a mix of anger and pain. “What are you saying, Kita? That she’s left me? That she’s gone without a word, just... vanished? She’s not that kind of person and you know it, too.”

Kita’s eyes softened with sympathy, but he held firm. “I don’t want to believe it either, but everything points to her leaving the country. The tracks, the boat, the silence... It all fits.”

Kiyoomi’s breathing grew heavier, his heart pounding in his chest. He wanted to shout, to curse, to deny everything Kita was saying, but deep down, he knew it was the truth. The signs were there; he just didn’t want to see them.

He slammed his fist down on the desk, sending papers flying. “No! She wouldn’t do that. She wouldn’t just leave me without a word!”

Kita remained silent, allowing his brother’s anger to fill the room. He knew this wasn’t just about you leaving; it was about the betrayal, the fear that you had chosen someone else over him, that you had left him in the dark. The prince’s eyes burned with tears he refused to shed, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “She loved me, Kita. She said she loved me. Why would she leave if she loved me? She… she said she didn’t care about him anymore.”

Kita took a cautious step forward. “Maybe she didn’t want to drag you into this, Kiyoomi. Maybe she thought she was protecting you.”

Kiyoomi shook his head violently, refusing to accept it. “No. She should have told me, she should have trusted me! She called out to me for help, Kita. She called me, gave me her location before I was met with radio silence. That means she wanted to be found, right? There’s no way she’d tell me where she was if she was going to run away.”

Kita sighed, his own heart heavy with the weight of the truth. “Sometimes, the people we love do things we can’t understand. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t care. It doesn’t mean she didn’t love you.”

The prince’s shoulders slumped, the weight of reality finally crashing down on him. He turned away from Kita, his gaze falling on the empty chair she used to sit in, the memories of their time together flooding his mind. The silence in the room was deafening, the truth too bitter to swallow.

Kita watched him, feeling his brother’s pain as if it were his own. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, knowing that no words could ease the prince’s agony.

Kiyoomi didn’t respond. All he knew in that moment was that you were gone, and you hadn’t even said goodbye. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut, leaving him reeling, unable to navigate his way in this sea of confusion and heartbreak. All he could do was stand there, staring at the place where you should have been.

His mind refused to accept it. His body, in defiance of reality, filled in the empty spaces with memories – illusions that brought no comfort, only pain. He swore he could still feel your touch, the delicate brush of your fingertips lingering on his face, ghostly and cold. The sensation was so vivid it sent a shiver down his spine, and his hand shot up to his cheek, desperate to hold onto the fleeting warmth that wasn’t really there.

The study was quiet, but to him, it was filled with echoes of you.

He heard your laughter, soft and melodious, reverberating through the empty room. It was the same laugh that used to light up his world, that made everything seem less daunting, less lonely. Now, it only amplified the emptiness, a cruel reminder of what he had lost. He turned his head, hoping against hope to see you standing there, your eyes sparkling with mischief, but the room was empty. The illusion shattered, leaving him hollower than before.

His knees felt weak, and he stumbled to the chair you used to sit in, clutching the armrest as if it could somehow bring you back. He could still hear your voice, teasing him gently, calling him by that name only you used, Omi, the one that made him feel human instead of royal. The sound of your voice was so real it hurt, like a knife twisting in his chest, and he pressed his hands to his ears, trying to block it out, but it was no use.

You were everywhere and nowhere all at once.

How could you leave me?

The thought crashed through his mind, a desperate plea that made his heart ache. He had been so sure, so convinced that what you had was real, that your love was strong enough to withstand anything. You had finally opened up to him, finally let him into your heart, and now... you were gone.

Was it all a lie?

The question tortured him, gnawed at his sanity. Had you ever really loved him, or was he just another pawn in whatever game you were playing?

But no... He shook his head, trying to silence the doubt, to cling to the truth he believed in. He knew you loved him. He had seen it in your eyes, felt it in your touch, tasted it in your kisses. You had given him everything, and he had given you his heart in return. You wouldn’t betray that. You couldn’t. Yet, here he was, alone, with nothing but memories and ghosts for company. He wanted to scream, to tear the room apart, to do anything to drown out the agony that was swallowing him whole. But he couldn’t move, couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. All he could do was sit there, his body shaking, tears burning in his eyes as the full weight of your absence crushed him.

You promised me.

The words echoed in his mind, bitter and broken. You promised you wouldn’t leave him, that you would stay by his side. But now you were gone, and he didn’t even know why. The betrayal cut deep, deeper than any wound he had ever known. It wasn’t just that you had left – it was that you had left him without a word, without a trace, without a goodbye. Was he not worth even a proper farewell?

Why didn’t you say goodbye?

The question was a knife in his heart, twisting deeper with every beat. He had always imagined that if you ever had to leave, it would be with a tearful farewell, a last kiss, a promise to return. But this... this was nothing. Just emptiness, a void where you should have been, where you had always been.

The pain was unbearable, a crushing weight on his chest that made it hard to breathe, hard to think. He could feel himself unraveling, the carefully constructed walls he had built around his heart crumbling into dust. You were gone, and with you, you had taken everything that mattered, leaving him hollow, broken, and utterly alone.

Please, come back.

The thought was a whisper, a prayer to a god who wasn’t listening. He wanted to believe that you would come back, that this was all a mistake, a nightmare he would wake up from. But deep down, he knew the truth. You were gone, and you weren’t coming back.

Kiyoomi’s breath hitched, and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the reality of it, but it was no use. The truth was inescapable, crushing him from all sides. You were gone, and he didn’t know if he would ever be whole again. All he had left was the echo of your voice, the ghost of your touch, and the unbearable weight of your absence.

[ysaefinn]

actually wanted to send an ask for a while but you need it now so...

VALE, MAKE MORE WOLF!SUGURU AND LAMB!READER CONTENT AND MY LIFE IS YOURRRRS 🛐🛐

DEAEST ANON MY SAVIOR!!! I plan i plan i plan to expand on this and turn it into a fic but for now i will be dropping some lore.

As previously mentioned, he's very subservient and overprotective and literally thinks he was placed on this planet to serve and protect you. He really does wholeheartedly believe that you're the purest life form there is and understands that you're capable and clever, but he's so desperate to be of use to you. Is actually restless if he's not doing things for you.

He somehow manages to balance between seeing you as this precious devine entity in need of constant servitude and also respecting the shit out of you??? He's pretty fucking weird icl 😭😭

I have this wip of an idea that the whole meeting happened when you left your flock and wandered into the forest as it's something you do quiet often (not very approved of by your peers, but i want lamb!reader to be a powerful independent presence) and he catches a glimpse of you and is immediately intrigued lol, his infatuation only grows when he approaches you and you completely shut down his attempts for a conversation, you came here to be alone remember? You stay on his mind long after you return back home and he is left to wonder when you'll be back.

I feel like you wouldn't pay any mind to him at first. He'll have to work for your attention, lmaoo, but when you do, eventually get together (it starts with you visiting him in the forest more often and even staying at his own place) or even just reciprocate a fraction of his feelings, he goes apeshit and probably oversteps 😭😭 like an overprotective mother he starts INSISTING you stay at his house so he could take care of you better and sleep well, catches bunnies for you and crashes out when you refuse to let him hand feed you what he cooked, will be placing both of ur food portions in the same plate<- this is a fixation of his, coaxes you to sleep in his arms, the whole overbearing husband experience, he's very clingy and doting tbh, he really wants to tend to you. Also he's obsessed with your ears.

You could try to ghost him, but he would definitely just destroy your reputation to have you return to him, starts to show up on front of your home like a crazy ex and gives everyone else a heart attack, eventually the other lambs associate you two together and choose to "sacrifice you" to the vicious beast in the forest. That way, in hopes of getting rid of him once and for all. This way you have nowhere else to go. You'll have to let him tend to you properly.

He will whimper and pout like a puppy when you freak out on him about it, bcuz really he doesn't wnat to upset you ever, but he sees this as necessary evil or some form of tough love? but really, what can you do? At the end of the day, he's the only person who doesn't think you're a bad Oman.

[holyblonded]

does azulita ever tell olga and alexia about her life back in la with like gangs and street fights and stuff like that and if so what would their reaction be like and i feel like azulita would just say it so casually

— she’s like a parent that randomly drops their lore 😭

— but azulita is a hot headed person. she had made her fair share of enemies

— azulita doesn’t sit them down to tell them about her past. there’s no dramatic reveal or emotional monologue. she just drops things mid-conversation like they’re facts about the weather. like “oh yeah, that scar? some girl tried to stab me once behind the 7-eleven” while peeling an orange.

— olga’s reaction the first time is slow. like her brain refuses to process what was just said. she blinks, tilts her head a little, and goes “i’m sorry, she tried to what?” and azulita just shrugs. “i was winning the fight. she didn’t like that.”

— alexia chokes on her coffee when azulita casually mentions being jumped after practice in LA once, completely unbothered. “they got the first hit in. i got the last.” she says it like she’s describing a weather delay, not a literal brawl.

— it takes a while for them to realize this isn’t her being dramatic or trying to act tough. it’s just her reality. it was her life. street violence, empty fridges, her mom passed out on the couch (when she was there), the constant hum of sirens. it was normal. or at least, it became normal to her.

— sometimes she’ll mention old friends and alexia will smile, until azulita adds something like “he’s in juvie now” or “she ran with a crew, real loyal though.” and olga just stares like her entire sense of reality is warping.

— she talks about fighting the same way other kids talk about group projects. like “i never picked fights. but i always finished them. sometimes people needed to be reminded not to talk sideways.” and alexia’s like reminded? girl.

— the only time it really hits olga is when azulita says, offhandedly, “i used to sleep in my shoes some days. just in case something happened and i had to run.”

— that’s when olga goes quiet. like truly quiet. she walks into her room, sits on her bed, and doesn’t move for a solid hour. later that night, she buys azulita five pairs of brand-new sneakers and leaves them by her door.

— alexia handles it by doing research. she starts reading about LA neighborhoods and school systems and violence in the area. she doesn’t say anything about it, just starts watching azulita more. noticing how often she scans a room. how she won’t sit with her back to a window. how she flinches when someone closes a cabinet too loud.

— the thing is, azulita never tells these stories to be pitied. she tells them because she doesn’t think they’re unusual. because in her world, that was growing up. and part of her still hasn’t fully accepted that it’s over.

— but alexia and olga, once the shock wears off, don’t pity her. they hold it all gently. they never make her feel like she’s damaged or scary or too much. they just start making sure she knows she’s safe now.

— even when azulita rolls her eyes and says “i can take care of myself,” they still lock the doors an extra time at night. they still make sure she always knows where her room is. they still keep the lights on in the hallway.

— because even if she never asks for it, they know she deserves a life that doesn’t feel like survival.

[towncritte]

Red Destiny AU Lore Dump

I'm deciding to compile all the lore dumps I did so far on Twitter, into this post.

Stuff is subjected to change in the future, but this post is just to help you guys get bits of the story.

It's still a work in progress AU, and nothing is entirely set in stone but regardless, I do hope this helps.

Here's Dogday's reference sheet and info:

Here is a quick summary of what's going on in this Dimension: The Smiling Critters live in another dimension, which the portal was located in a Toy Factory. The humans entered and started ruling over the place, along with ruling several different towns to have control over the creatures within said dimension.

The story for now mostly focuses on Smiling Valley where the Smiling Critters live.

Due to the humans mostly seeing the Smiling Valley citizens as if they are Zoo Animals or an attraction of sorts, the small town finds it difficult to have supplies and have a tendency to get a shortage.

Most humans visiting aren't aware of the abuse going on done by Scientists that want to study the Critter Citizens as if they are Lab Rats, or the abuse of Soldiers/Guards hungry for a power trip.

That's the summary of the condition of the town so far.

For the most part the story for now will be pretty focused on Dogday and his perspective, as well as the other critters.

Catnap's whereabouts and what he is doing will be a mystery.

I want this AU to feel like an ominous mystery of what's going on.

Here's more lore drop of the pooch:

Declawing Trauma:

Dogday was declawed. Bubba, during Dogday receiving therapy, tried to get as much supplies and knowledge as he can to fix Dogday's hands/paws.

During those 3 years, Dogday couldn't hold things due to how bad the condition of his hands were.

Dogday had to constantly wear bandages and deal with pain for the past 3 years, making his mental recovery difficult, and feeling like a burden to his friends for helping him.

Catnap CONSTANTLY had to reassure Dogday nothing was his fault and would constantly comfort him.

Dogday, despite everything, held onto hope Bubba would restore his claws.

Bubba had to eventually settle for reshaping Dogday's hands to paws so Dogday wouldn't feel so much pain anymore. (He had to use extra bones from Dogday's hands to do this.)

Dogday was depressed about this but overtime did manage to get through therapy without being in so much pain anymore and had to learn to hold things with his newly reshaped paws. (Tho he still has some trauma)

Catnap held a HEAVY grudge against the scientists that hurt Dogday.

These traumatizing events will show how it's affected Day as the story goes.

Dogday does know about The Prototype and what Catnap's been doing. Not fully aware, the Moon is in a cult of sorts hidden outside of town.

Catnap at one point, gave Dogday hope about his claws before he left Smiling Valley as he was called upon by The Prototype:

Catnap wasn't being malicious when he showed them off, he just wanted to give Dogday a reason to support his beliefs. Catnap wasn't declawed, but he was given much deadlier claws.

Speaking of Catnap, here's his beta ref sheet:

In the future, I'll make him a colored reference sheet once I have this AU organized.

Dogday's eyes:

When Day's eyes would be fading back to white, Mini Moon immediately tells Day to go home and sleep. He then administers the red smoke again.

GORE WARNING!

Dogday developing violent tendencies:

At some point, Dogday starts to develop violent urges due to the Plush's manipulation and mind warping.

(Since I DO NOT plan to rip off Dogday's legs EVER! I'm going with this route as a nod to what happened in the game, but its in reverse)

This is so far the lore dump of the AU. I'll look back at this in the future as I continue the story to see how I can tie things together, or what to change or what I like or don't like.

If you don't understand this, it's okay.

Again, this is just a lore dump post to understand the AU so far in it's Work In Progress stage.

And to help me read over stuff and see what I can do with it.

Again, stuff is subjected to change, including designs. So nothing is entirely permanent.

I made the Plush Delivery comic back on Twitter originally as a one off in it's old version. But over time, I liked the concept so much I started forming it into a story and redid Plush Delivery.

I do hope you'll enjoy wherever Red Destiny's story will go.

Who knows what lies ahead for the red path the pooch is following.

" A red destiny awaits you Sunshine….are you ready?" -Catnap

Thank goodness, I'm done writing this all down. xnx

[solargeist]

okay so i completely don't know what's up with the kid xelqua au... can i get a brief explanation... just so i know basically what's going on... (or direct me to a post that already has an explanation, that works too!)

oh man. Uhh… brief…. Xelqua is an alternative Watcher version of Grian from a different timeline, who turns into a kid, and Grian takes care of him.

Full explanation under the cut 😇

KidXelqua AU is a continuation of EvoAU.

EvoAU is my AU about Grian’s life in Evo and being manipulated into joining the Watchers, and the effects it’s had on him then and after. 

The Watchers were specifically like family to him.

In EvoAU, during season 8 of Hermitcraft, they open up a hole in the ground to the void, known as the boatem hole, just like canon. However, the void has an effect on Watchers, granting them their enchantments. This slowly, and unknowningly, starts to affect Grian, along with his sleep deprivation, and makes him paranoid.

This all happens late into s8, practically the end of it.

This introduces Xelqua, which is literally just a full Watcher Grian under a different name. 

Xelqua is basically a doomed timeline Grian, he has no home to return to, and he’s never known Hermitcraft. He has no friends nor family, so he spends his time traveling through the void. 

Somewhat similar to ~bill cipher, if you will, Xelqua destroyed his own timeline, so he’s forced into other timelines. This means his code is unstable. 

There’s a somewhat positive to this, Xelqua is chaotic and enjoys causing trouble, he’ll go into servers and wreck things before leaving. Mostly, he likes to find other versions of Grian and encourage troublemaking. Quietly dropping a weapon near Grian, and whatever happens, happens ! Xelqua likes to watch. 

So Xelqua finds Hermitcraft, the server seems to be unstable at the moment, the moon ? Not even Xelqua’s fault, he just got here! But he does notice the familiar energy from Grian, and it’s interesting, fun even. Xelqua listens to Grian’s paranoid rambles through Boatem, and watches plucked fathers gently float down into the darkness.

Typically, Xelqua wouldn’t do this, but he doesn’t often—if ever—meet other Watcher Grians, so he reaches up and drags Grian into the void with him, before possessing him.

Xelqua can only do this due to their codes being almost exactly alike. Real easy to puppet when the glove fits !!

Um. This part is a bit vague since I haven’t seen enough POVs for s8, lol, I know there’s a lot of lore going on, but !! Xelqua crawls out of the Boatem hole, and it’s actually not super fun piloting an exhausted sleep deprived Grian, his muscles feel like lead, his wings are itchy from the plucked feathers and lack of proper preening, and he has a raging headache. 

Xelqua can see the code structure of servers, he reaches out and tears away at it, breaking the firewall and protections X has on it. It looks a lot like barrier blocks or chunk borders from his perspective. 

This burns Grian’s hands, as he doesn’t have the talons that Watchers have.

This opens the server up to all sorts of trouble, Watchers take notice of the instability, on a server they didn’t even know existed ! Typically they’re watching every server.

A group of Watchers get involved, Xelqua is still fighting with Hermits, Xisuma shows up 15 minutes late with coffee to see his server collapsing on itself.

Xelqua, satisfied with the attention and destruction, (but mostly just tired), leaves Grian and flies back into the void, followed by a few Watchers.

The rest of the Watchers decide to shut the server down and force the players to leave. (Not like they had a choice Anyway, but watchers are strict and controlling.)

I don’t know if Grian’s original Watchers are involved in this or not—likely, because it’d be the only reason the others don’t just kill Grian right then and there or take him back to the void themselves. I won’t get into it here.

Anyway, whatever, leaving s8 goes as it does in canon, boatem crew travel through the void into their new server. Grian clings to Mumbo the entire time. (Prior to this, Mumbo was the only Hermit to know about Grian’s past.) (I mean besides Xisuma and Pearl, but more so.)

Grian explains himself to the Hermits when they’re all settled in s9, Xisuma helps. 

Grian also has a brief recovery period, his wings are damaged and unkept, his hands are burned, nails cracked, the exhaustion and body ache in general…. 

Obviously, Xelqua secretly follows them to season 9. But he doesn’t say or do anything for a long while, he’s content just watching the server, in between the code.

Eventually he does show himself to Grian again, but he’s quick to defend himself, saying he means no trouble this time !!! Promise !!!! He did raid Grian’s fridge though, oopsies. 

For a while, on and off, Xelqua hangs around Grian’s house—the weird wizard shoe looking one. Maybe sometimes The Entity. Xelqua is just curious abt Grian, he’s a Watcher too, and a Watcher that doesn’t currently hate him, so they’re practically family. Grian is tolerating him. They do talk though, Grian finds out who exactly Xelqua is, and it’s not hard to believe, they do look exactly alike in face and build, but it is weird anyway.

Like I mentioned earlier, Xelqua’s code is unstable, so one day Grian goes home and finds a little kid there, drinking juice out of his fridge. They startle each other. 

Grian is confused and immediately suspicious. He gets no actual answers from Xelqua beyond just his name.

Grian spends the next few days watching this kid, not fully believing this is an actual kid, he assumes Xelqua is tricking him or something. It’s a stressful few days, Grian doesn’t get much done running back and forth. He’s beginning to wonder if this kid is Xelqua’s kid, the kid denies this, but does say it’d be cool if true.

Grian is forced to tell Xisuma about this, and also admit that Xelqua is on the server again. Slowly Grian introduces the kid to other Hermits, since he doesn’t know how long he’ll have to watch him for, until Xelqua gets back, assumingly ? Grians incredibly stressed out abt this, he faults himself for s8, and it’s only been a few months, but he’s seemingly causing trouble for s9. He thinks he’s always causing trouble for Xisuma.

Kid Xelqua, just like the older one, is also in and out of the server. Online and offline, if you will. This is insanely scary the first time it happens. Grian just can’t find him anywhere, he may find him annoying, but still, it’s a kid, it’s scary. Grian contacts Xisuma again, and through ~game mechanics, checks to see if Xelqua is ~online. He’s not. Grian can only assume Xelqua is messing with him, and had left again.

Next time, when regular adult Xelqua is on the server, Grian confronts him, asking where the kid is, what happened, what does he want, etc. Xelqua has no idea what he’s talking about. Genuinely. 

Xelqua has an unstable code, and occasionally he switches into other versions of himself; there's only four but he takes on the personality and cognitive ability. The kid version is mentally, emotionally, and physically a child, he knows he’s a Watcher, but that’s it. The switch uuusually only happens off the server.

Grian learns and treats each version as their own. Since they all share the same name, I refer to the main one as the Saint, the kid is obviously The Kid, there’s an Evo version, and an extra uniformed Watcher one. They all have their own memories, feelings, and relationships. 

Xelqua has been compared to systems or age regression, he serves sorta as an analogy, but the AU revolves around healing and inner child. (Which, I support systems and age regression !)

SOOO !!!! THATS !!! Where Kid Xelqua comes from. It’s convoluted. 

Kid Xelqua still ages and grows, but depending on how poor the Saint’s mental state is, he might be smaller than usual, regressing almost. 

In general, Xelqua starts to view Grian as a brother, that’s how their dynamic is, but the kid starts to view him more like a dad. (Grian also starts to view the kid as his son, his special boy ! His joy !)

Originally, kid Xelqua was a one off thing for something irrelevant, I just became obsessed with it, and here I am a year later. Lol.

[evilejfan]

I posted this on FB and thought I would drop it here.

The Adult Themes in Trials

Someone earlier today made a post about the adult nature and or p*rnogr*phic themes of Outlast Trials. What's interesting about this post is that it dove tails with an issue happening currently on Tumblr where people are making an effort to excuse the behavior of the prime assets in favor of finding them physically and/or emotionally attractive. That's a whole can of worms in itself but, the reason I find it interesting that this is happening on Tumblr at the same time what's been posted here is because people are pointing out the uncomfortable and quite frankly, disgusting s*xual nature of Franco's character, as far as the whole baby fetishism and questionable moral standards thing goes.

Here's the trouble though, and why I am bringing up both themes simultaneously. This is the CORE of Outlast.

Straight out of the gate the Outlast series is designed to make you feel uncomfortable. To be honest if you've ever played the other two, in a lot of ways, Outlast Trials is extremely tame by comparison. At least the Pusher's wearing pants. Honestly though, are you reading the documents? Have you played the other games? Do you know who Papa Knoth is? Eddie Gluskin, anyone?

I read someone else's response that said they felt that they believe the makers of the games are pushing their own s*xual fetishes into the game itself. But I think that it might be the complete opposite. The game developers should be afforded the luxury of putting what they're interested in or what they like in the game. But maybe they're putting into the game what makes them uncomfortable. Perhaps they filled the lore of the game with concepts and themes that they find extremely disturbing. And the number one top thing on that list for most people is gonna be some kind of psycho s*xual themes.

I'm not trying to deliberately dismiss your thoughts and opinions about the game.You're quite welcome to them, but on the other hand you don't have to play it. There's other games out there less offensive that might be for you, but Outlast is definitely for us weirdos and perverts that like this sort of thing. In fact, I thought in the past while playing it, that I don't think it's disgusting enough. But I guess that just says a lot about my own personality.

TLDR: Franco's disgusting. I'm a perv. It took you this long to get uncomfortable with the adult themes? Welcome to the Sleep Room buddy.

[polarmoon]

🌵 some unedited dean outtakes!

im an absolute screenshot hoarder so if i don't post these they'll just rot on my hard drive anyway lmao. some loose lore bits below too bc a lot of stuff gets left out when i post. enjoy!

one of josie's hobbies is actually knitting, though you'd never know it. she just doesnt have a lot of time to actually sit down and do it. kinda bummed she never got a chance to knit anything for percy when he was little!

some daily stuff during the mystery portion. there were also a ton of fires that josie put out at work with the simray lmao

eloise! i rly love her makeover. i also put her up in a really cute house off the gallery, up in the victorian house zone in SV. the game also generated her the ugliest dog but i replaced it with a giant poodle bc that just felt very Her

fun fact - i actually retook percy's birth screenshots when i was editing for the queue, around 3 irl weeks after i originally played it. the originals were shot rly poorly and i just couldn't salvage them, so i made a burner save, cheated josie a new alien pregnancy, and set up the room to look better for screenshots (and teleported the much older Child Percy outside in the middle of the night while it happened lmao)

these ones are from my retake, i think i deleted the originals out of frustration lmao. funny now looking back though

and we're all caught up with baby percy :))

i hc him as being visually impaired, so he wears his glasses all the time except for when he sleeps. soon i need to do some research so i can properly represent his VI while i play going forward now that he's a child in game

hope u guys enjoyed this little look into what goes on behind the scenes!! i might do more eventually, for whatever saves im playing at the time. i have unedited screenshots dating back to 2015 so im always prepared to do a Lore Drop lmao

[zeondraws]

ZEON THIS IS KU I JUST SENT YOU A MESSAGE ON THE WIKI DAN PINCHBECK UPLOADED THE ORIGINAL SWTD SCRIPT TO HIS WEBSITE AND IT HAS MORE ROGER DIALOGUE AND FULL NAMES FOR SOME OF THE CHARACTERS!!!

HELLO KU THANK YOU FOR THESE AMAZING NEWS EARLIER TODAY AAAAAA.

Okay Fellas, what basically happened today, was Ku found a script written by Dan Pinchbeck (former Studio Head/Creative Director and founder of TCR). This was apparently all back when the game was in Alpha and just before he left the studio in Spring 2023.

The cool thing about the script is that a lot of these lines can be found as audio files within the game. Some of these are shown in my Muir/Innes video. But finally having the proper CONTEXT to these lines brings them to a whole new level.

We also know the names of Finlay (Eileen) and Brodie (Albert). I am honestly bewildered that his name is Albert.

Interestingly there is a different spelling for McLeary in the script (McClery), which is also a cool small detail (Me going bananas over the smallest details in existence IHIUEDHLIUDHWLIUWS).

I'll leave a direct link to the word file down here and then I'll show a few screenshots and yap for a while!

Fair warning there is slight NSFW content in the script, some of which I'll show as screenshots down below.

Word file:

I was so happy when I saw that Roy is indeed called "MacNair" in the script, like omg so the name shown on the ingame door was correct!!

I am wheezing, the description of Roy someone help me-

And apparently Finlay is a welder!!! Like!!! Also she was a WRESTLER? She'd be yeeting everyone off the rig if someone breathed incorrectly. Mad respect.

Just a huge lore drop of Brodie my jaw is dropping.

Let's not forget the super interesting info of Caz and Suze:

I feel sorry for Suze, she's lost so much, but she's also a fighter. Crazy to think Caz's dad got him into boxing.

Rennick is... holy shit he let two divers die

Hearing how the control room is his domain and remembering Brodie saying "Roper's control room" make me think, dear god what was Rennick stirring up in there. I can imagine Roper must've been smoking much more to handle it, or rolling his eyes so much until they fall out.

Also I swear I am giggling at Scooby after reading some things in the script. And him being called "a total gobshite" LMAOO

I'm doing three backflips while reading this, heeeeeeeeeeeelp.

Two things that make me breath manually is additional dialouge of Roper and this man just has dad energy radiating from him.

Please just... look at this convo.. and Scooby is a fucking ballbag mates. What the fuck hahahah

It goes on for longer, but that's all I shall show for the post. Also Trots being called mum by O'Conner has me exhaling sharply BWAHAHAH.

Also the biggest mystery I have to figure out is Dunbar. If he is the pilot, why is there someone called Archie ingame? Or is that literally just Dunbar? Does that mean I need to merge their wiki pages and make a big text stating what the mystery is about. They call him Dobbar or Dobbie sometimes! This is getting even more confusing!

I see no Dobbie in the script, just Dunbar. So they probably replaced him with another character in that scene later on. I feel like this is a big rabbit hole I need to get my head around.

Also finally knowing and being able to vividly picture the old Marine Control scene makes me so happy. Just look at it!

I like how.. Roper is just pretending he can smoke ewodhweoid. Roper seems way more passive here and friendly. This poor wee lad stuck in a chair and just observing what is happening.

And apparently after this scene is when the Geological scene should've taken place? If I understood it correctly.

I need to stop myself from reading the entire script tonight, because I have therapy tomorrow and that pushes my sleep schedule. Screaming, crying, throwing hands in the air lemme reaaaaaaaaad.

There is more stuff I can yap about, like Dan was apparently in a podcast and talked about the Shape in further detail. I nEEEEDD to listen to that asap.

And I also need to edit Roper's wiki page tomorrow. The silly guyyyy

Okay I won't say more now!! Go and dive into the script and yap about the details!!! We are EATING good this week Fellas.

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Also fuck you Rennick, I now have context to one of the audio files but also he was def supposed to eat Muir in a previous version-