#exposure therapy

[wallysgymshorts]

People don’t understand how hard it is to get over your own personal hell. Like I give so much credit to them for literally stepping into the fear to help Janet. This is a huge example of co-regulation

[sain55lut]

I believe Alex Albon will be the key to curing Carlos Sainz's biggest red flag...hating cats.

[slut4thebroken]

Exposure Therapy Masterlist

Pairing | Jonathan Crane × reader

Summary | Your therapist tries a new method of treatment to help you overcome your fears.

Warnings | 18+, sexual content, smut, rape, non con, dub con, oral, p in v sex, fingering, fear play, crying, rape (again. I'm really emphasizing this lol), breeding, unprotected sex, involuntary admission to asylum, scarecrow’s fear toxin, I’ll add more on each chapter.

Words | So far 49.1k

Notes | This is rape. Just straight up. If you’re not going to like it, don’t read it. Final warning.

Ao3 link | <3

Main masterlist

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Prologue

Pt. 1

Pt. 2

Pt. 3

Pt. 4

Pt. 5

Pt. 6

Pt. 7

Pt. 8

Pt. 9

Pt. 10

Pt. 11

Pt. 12

Pt. 13

Pt. 14

Epilogue pt. 1

Epilogue pt. 2

Deleted Scenes

[pinyeti]

sanji: *walking in to a room* sorry I’m late I was... doing things.

*sounds of running footsteps progressively getting louder*

zoro: *out of breath* HE PUSHED ME DOWN THE FUCKIN’ STAIRS

(haha oh wait did this bring back traumatic memories for zoro?)

#exposure therapy

[ayyy-imma-ninja]

Forces SK!Sun to hangout with rodents as exposure therapy

Cmon sunshine, it's okay, Capybara won't hurt you I promise

If he does ever go to therapy, there will definitely be some exposure therapy involved!

I had actually spent some time thinking about this way back when: starting off maybe with rat/mice plushies or toys placed around before working his way up to holding them, looking at pictures, watching videos, etc.

Baby steps!

[willowcrowned]

this is entirely anecdotal, but my recent firsthand experience getting over a snake phobia has basically only confirmed that exposure therapy doesn't work the way people want it to and forcing people to do things that terrify them "for their own good" is just a dick move

the only way to really get over a fear is to stop reinforcing the fear response. and the only way to do THAT is to interact with the fear trigger in a way that doesn't make you scared.

picking up snakes when it makes you so terrified you want to vomit just makes it harder to pick them up next time. hanging out in a room with snakes behind glass where you feel safe makes it easier to come in the next day and look at them again. it's just basic conditioning

bonus snake pic beneath the cut

[neonshadows9000]

What if Kryptonite isn't actually that harmful towards kryptonians, they just have an incredibly low pain tolerance due to being invulnerable and thus never being in pain?

What if Tim started training Kon under exposure to small amounts of Kryptonite to get him used to the feeling of being hurt and build up his pain tolerance.

Then when the Teen Titans and the Justice League collaborate on a mission and Kryptonite gets involved, Superman goes down while Kon keeps fighting. He is, admittedly, noticeably weaker and obviously doesn't have his powers, but he is still moving, defending, dodging and engaging.

Afterwards, the League is perplexed as to why he suddenly isn't as affected by Kryptonite anymore when it has been known to be just as harmful towards him as to Clark.

They eventually chalk it up to his human genes limiting the effect, delayed due to the different developmental milestones of humans and kryptonians (I mean they don't really have any other half-human half-kryptonians to base their theories off of).

That is when Kon himself along with Tim crash the meeting (having waited for the most dramatic moment but also curious what reasoning they would come up with) to announce the actual reason for Kon's newfound resistance against the effects of Kryptonite.

The meeting ends with a newly established training schedule for all Kryptonian heroes to mitigate the effect Kryptonite has on them.

[somekindofsentience]

inspired by @omoriboii misinterpreting exposure therapy as a concept

[the-barefoot-hatter]

Relationships:

Bill Cipher & Stan Pines

Bill Cipher/Ford Pines (Implied)

Summary:

Stan swipes Ford’s Theraprism visitor pass for the lolz. Then for concern. Then to play Othello. AKA Bill rages so hard he has an aneurysm. Then he plays board games.

Notes:

Othello, also known as Reversi, is a strategic board game for two using disc-like gaming pieces that have a black and a white side. Each player selects a color to use throughout the game. The object is to fill the board and flip your opponent's pieces to match your color. The black player has the first move. Let's begin.

[nemo-draco]

Final redux of thoughts for @radicalredrasp 's OCs in the Friendly Globetrotter AU, them coming back at some point post movie but before some major character development and healing. Dark not realizing just how much he's changed over the years, Fonce meanwhile is just, what the hell happened to this kid, planet's looking relatively intact, why's he look so tired?!

Also Fonce potentially tricking Dark into getting a nap or two. Not that Dark’s complaining (much), he doesn't often get piggyback rides.

[slut4thebroken]

Exposure Therapy pt. 9

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Pairing | Jonathan Crane × reader

Summary | Dr. Crane finally gives you a reward.

Warnings | 18+, sexual content, smut, p in v sex, unprotected sex, breeding, kissing, grinding, face sitting, 69, finger fucking, praise, degradation, consensual sex, cockwarming?, this is as close as he’ll get in this fic to being submissive lmao.

Words | 3k

Notes | Kinky smut will be coming up in either chapter 10 or 11😏

Ao3 link | <3

Fic Masterlist

Main Masterlist

Part 8

When you woke up, it took a moment for you to remember where you were, but the second your gaze settled on the couch you were laying on, your stomach dropped. You had cried to him— cried on him. The thought made you want to crawl into a hole from embarrassment, but you tried to ignore it. 

You could see now that he dressed you while you slept in the clothes you brought from his place and when you looked over at him, he was fully dressed in a suit, bent over the desk, completely focused on something. It didn’t seem like you moved enough to alert him that you were awake so you stayed still, trying to come up with something to say. Should you apologize? Pretend nothing happened? Make a self deprecating joke about it?

“I know you’re awake. I can practically hear you overthinking from here.” He said suddenly. 

“Sorry…” You muttered, deciding to sit up on the couch now. Picking at your cuticles, you watched him anxiously, waiting. Should you go to him? He hasn’t looked up from his work yet… Maybe he’s just waiting for you to walk over?

“Um, I- I’m sorry… for my behavior.” You forced the words out. “I don’t know what came over me.” He turned to face you, but after staring at you for a moment, decided to walk over. You stiffened as he approached you— were you going to be punished? Yelled at again? He sat down next to you, but still gave you enough space so you didn’t feel uncomfortable. 

“There is no need to apologize. I pushed you to that state so I cannot fault you for any of your actions.” He said, tone neutral. 

“I still shouldn’t have,” 

“No. You are allowed to have emotions.”

“I know, but- I made you uncomfortable.” You argued weakly.

“I am the only reason you acted like that in the first place. There is no need to apologize.”

“Okay… So things are fine?” You asked tentatively, scared of his answer. 

“Do not expect to do it again under any other circumstance.” His tone wasn’t mean, but rather he was just setting a boundary. You couldn’t help but notice that he said “under any other circumstance,” not just “any circumstance.”

“That didn’t answer my question.” You said with a small smile that he almost returned. 

“Yes.” 

“And you’re not mad that I made you change what you were going to do again?” 

“You hardly made me do anything.” He scoffed. 

“Okay… Good.” You said awkwardly, kind of feeling like you disappointed him by not being able to take the punishment. You also still felt bad for making him uncomfortable— for crying on him and laying on his chest. Your behavior made him call you a fucking pet name for christs sake. 

“Y-you… You called me-“ 

“Anything I said was to soothe you.” He said, suddenly colder than before. 

“So you weren’t really proud of me?” You asked quietly, making him sigh. 

“You took the punishment adequately.” 

“Oh.” You replied meekly, looking at your lap. You didn’t like the way he revoked his praise and affection so easily. He let out another quiet sigh, but you didn’t look up at him yet.  

“Your performance was… satisfactory.” It sounded like he had to force the words out. “Anything I said at the time was genuine, but do not expect to hear it again.” You looked up at him, but he couldn’t meet your gaze. 

“Thanks.” You muttered, giving him a small smile when he finally looked at you. “I liked when you called me that.” You said tentatively, carefully studying his reaction. 

“Do not get used to such affections.” 

“Okay… But if you ever decide you want to keep calling me that, I’m okay with it.” You shrugged and he narrowed his eyes. 

“I am not going to call you some silly name.” It felt like you were being reprimanded for requesting something childish. 

“I like the silly name. You don’t call anyone else by a silly name, do you?”

“Of course not.” He scoffed, almost offended. 

“Good. Just me then.”

“No, not you either.” He sighed, getting frustrated with your lack of acceptance with his answer. You pouted, giving him puppy dog eyes, hoping you didn’t look like a fool. “Stop that.” It seemed like the face was working though. 

“Please?”

“No.”

“Just once?” 

“Stop looking at me like that.”

“I will after you say it.” You said teasingly, giving him a small smile. 

“You are truly insufferable…” You waited eagerly, practically vibrating in anticipation. “Little one.” He muttered, looking away from you when your smile turned into a full blown grin. 

“It doesn’t count if I can’t hear you.”

“You’re pushing your luck.” He warned, but it almost seemed like he was teasing you back rather than giving you a genuine warning. 

“Please?” You pouted again, deciding to crawl onto his lap and straddle his legs, placing your arms on his shoulders as his hands settled on your hips. 

“Remind me why I brought you here?” He asked, annoyed. But not in a genuine way, in an almost playful way. 

“Because I make you come and I’m stupid enough to go to your place in broad daylight for you.”

“I suppose that’s true. I guess I do have a brave, eager pet. Wouldn’t you agree?” You nodded, eyes wide and breath caught in your throat from the new name. “Lost for words, little one?” He asked, tilting his head and rubbing his hands up and down your thighs. You let out a needy whine as you fisted his suit jacket and rolled your hips forward against his crotch. 

“Can- can I call you something too?” You asked, already breathless from the small amount of pleasure. 

“What did you have in mind?” 

“Your name?”

“Go ahead— try it out.” It took you a moment to register that he didn’t deny you like you thought he would. 

“Jonathan.” You whispered. 

“It doesn’t count if I can’t hear you.” He said teasingly. 

“Jonathan.” You whined, louder this time. 

“What do you think?” You hummed in thought. Something about the name just felt a little off. Maybe it was because it’s his full name rather than a nickname. 

“Jon.” You muttered to yourself. “Does anyone call you Jon?”

“Everyone refers to me as Dr. Crane or Scarecrow.” 

“Do you like “Jon?’”

“It is tolerable.” 

“Oh…” You said, visibly deflating in his lap. “I don’t have to if you don’t like it.” 

“I do not tolerate many things— that was a positive statement.” He quickly corrected himself, still making sure to keep his tone neutral though. 

“Oh. Do you tolerate me?” You asked, perking up a little again. 

“That is a foolish question that you already know the answer to.” 

“I know… I just like hearing it.” He sighed and for a moment you thought he wasn’t going to respond. 

“Yes, I tolerate you, little one.” A blush creeped up on your cheeks as you gave him a shy smile. “Satisfied?” You nodded, biting your lip to keep from grinning like an idiot. 

“Can I come today?” His brows shot up and you swore he was about to laugh.

“Someone’s getting bold.” 

“You didn’t let me last time.” You frowned. He hummed in thought and continued dragging his hands up and down your thighs, teasing you. 

“I suppose since you did such a good job taking your punishment, as well as staying quiet when we were in my office, you’re long overdue for a treat. Don’t you think?” 

“Yes please.” You said through a breath as you nodded in agreement. Snaking his hands behind you, he grabbed your ass to roughly push your hips against him, starting a slow, steady rhythm of grinding. 

“Whatever you want. Go ahead.” He said, making you falter as you stared at him in confusion. 

“What?” 

“Take whatever you want.” He explained, still leaving you dumbstruck. 

“Anything?” 

“Within reason.” He said teasingly. Flattening your palms on his chest, you slid them down before slowly dragging them back up, thinking. 

“Can I kiss you?” 

“There’s no need to ask. Take whatever you need.” He said softly, eyes fluttering down to your lips. Grabbing his tie, you gently pulled him forward into a kiss. His hands moved back to your hips, not gripping anymore, just holding you as you continued grinding against his crotch. You let out a low moan from the friction and brought your free hand up to pull his hair, making him groan in response. When you eventually grew too impatient, you whined and pulled back. 

“Please.”

“If you want something, just take it, little one.” He whispered, making you whine even louder. Suddenly getting up, he eyed you curiously as you took off your pants and underwear, then hesitantly laid him down on the couch. You moved slowly, giving him a chance to protest or change his mind. When he didn’t, you slowly kneeled over his chest, watching his eyes darken as he focused on your cunt. You waited again for him to tell you to get off, but he never did. So you shuffled forward even more, then tentatively lowered yourself onto his mouth. He dove in eagerly, lapping up your arousal and circling your clit with his tongue to tease you. 

When you suddenly lifted off of him, he let out a grunt of displeasure, making your cheeks heat up. But you wanted to do something more than just this. You took off your shirt then moved to the floor and started working on taking off his belt, asking for assistance on the upper half of his body. Once he was as bare as you— which you still weren’t used to yet— you climbed over him again, this time facing the other direction. He cursed under his breath as you laid down, your face only inches from his cock. 

The second you lowered yourself onto his mouth, his hands wrapped around your thighs, not letting you move away again. You whimpered at the sudden intense pleasure and brought your hand up to start stroking his length, teasing him. When his hips bucked up, you placed your forearm over his upper thigh and put some of your weight on it to hold him down. He growled against your cunt and dug his nails into your thighs, making your gasp, then chuckle as you leaned down to suck the tip in your mouth. 

You liked having this power over him. Deciding how much you wanted to tease him- torture him… it was addictive. You wanted to make him beg and whine and moan, so desperate for you that he loses all control. 

Hollowing your cheeks, you moved farther down his length, only pulling back up when the tip met the back of your mouth. The movements of his mouth grew sloppy, unable to focus with the stimulation on his cock, but it didn’t matter. You were practically grinding against his face anyway. 

When he pushed a finger in your drooling hole, you let out a muffled moan, not expecting it. In retaliation, you moved your hand to cup his balls, gently playing with them until his hips bucked and he moaned against your heat. Another finger was pushing inside, stretching you open and curling against your walls to emit even more arousal. 

To reward him, you decided to take him all the way down for as long as you could force yourself to stay there. He let out a choked moan at the tightness of your throat and the hand holding your thigh squeezed again. You did your best to breathe through your nose and relax, but after another few seconds, you couldn’t control your gag reflex anymore and had to pull off of him. 

“Baby— I’m not gonna last if you keep doing that.” He muttered against your clit and your hips jerked at his words. 

“Neither am I if you keep calling me that.” You whined. When you lifted yourself off of him again, he let out a grunt of disapproval, trying to grab your hips to pull you back. “Fuck me.” You said through a breath, making him instantly release your hips to sit up. When you got a good look at his face, you almost moaned at the sight. His lips and chin were slick with your arousal and his spit, and his glasses were fogged up enough that he had to take them off and set them on the floor to continue.  

“How do you want it?” You bit your lip in thought. 

“Dealer's choice.” You finally replied and it seemed like he was about to protest, but decided against it. Grabbing a cushion from the back of the couch, he placed it down, then maneuvered you so your hips were over it as you laid on your stomach. He leaned over you, breath fanning against your neck as he lined up, then placed a soft kiss behind your ear. 

“Ready?” He whispered. 

“Please.” You didn’t have to tell him again before he was breaching your hole, making you whimper at how fucking full you felt in this position with your legs together. “Jesus-“ You choked out as he stilled inside you, buried as far as your cunt would allow. 

“Fuck me, Jon.” You said breathlessly and he cursed under his breath, but obeyed. He slid out slowly, still giving you a chance to adjust, then pushed back in just as slow. 

“God- You feel so good.” He moaned, forehead resting on your shoulder blade. “So fucking warm and wet, and a perfect fit for my cock, aren’t you?” You nodded as you scrambled for purchase when his thrusts sped up. “Like my own custom made fuck doll, huh, baby?” 

“Oh god yes.” You sobbed out, already feeling close from hearing that pet name again. He let out a low chuckle when he felt your walls fluttering desperately around his length. 

“Close already? Why’s that?” You couldn’t get a response out through your moans, let alone think of one in the first place. “Is it cause you like it when I pin you down like this? Force my cock in your tight little cunt and fuck you like a cheap whore. Is that it?” You let out another sob that turned into a vulgar moan when he suddenly grabbed your hair and yanked your head back. With his lips brushing your ear, he whispered, “Or maybe it’s when I call you baby. Is that what’s getting you so hot and bothered?” You did your best to nod with his grip in your hair, but he wasn’t satisfied. 

“C’mon, use your big girl words. I know you can.” He cooed, making your cunt pulse around him. 

“Jon,” You whined, squeezing your eyes shut as your mouth opened in a silent moan. “Please make me come- I’m so close, Jon, I need it.” You whimpered. He suddenly pulled out, making you whine loudly. He ignored your protest though and flipped you over, hooking your legs over his hips as he leaned back down and slid inside again. 

“Keep your eyes on me when you come, do you understand?” You nodded eagerly and he continued pushing in and out, getting deep enough that you knew you’d be able to see his cock bulging your stomach.  

“God- you look so pretty like this.” He whispered, eyes rapidly trailing over your face. You let out a low whine, feeling your face heat up. 

“Say my name.” The request was so quiet that you thought you misheard him. “Say it.” Not a request— a plea. 

“Jon,” You whispered, moving your hands to pull on his hair as your eyes fluttered to his lips. “Please kiss me.” He obeyed eagerly and you moaned into his mouth from the intensity of it— of everything really. A hand on your clit made you jolt with a surprised sound that he swallowed eagerly. 

“Oh god- Please can I come?” You whined, barely able to get the words out since he wouldn’t break the kiss to let you speak. “Please, Jon.” He pulled back, eyes squeezed shut as he panted, never stopping the movement of his hips or fingers. 

“Go ahead, baby,” He whispered as his eyes fluttered open to look at you. “Come for me- but remember what I said.” What you would’ve originally thought was a warning, was actually just a reminder— the closest he would ever get to saying please. 

Your orgasm crashed over you suddenly and you did your best to keep your eyes open through the pleasure. He stared down at you with furrowed brows and slightly parted lips, letting some moans escape. 

“Please come.” You gasped out, orgasm just barely starting to fade. “Please, Jon.” His lips parted even wider and then he was squeezing his eyes shut, still trying to keep them open though. His hips stilled completely inside you, staying deep to make sure you took every last drop of his come. 

When his body finally relaxed and he rested his forehead on your chest, you played with his hair. Both of you were still panting, a little sweaty, and definitely come drunk, but he didn’t seem to care at all. He swiftly turned you both over as he moved the couch cushion back, his cock never leaving you. You let yourself lay down on his body, your cheek on his chest, listening to his heartbeat, and one of his hands came up to pet your hair, the other rubbing up and down your back lightly. 

There was a nagging thought, deep in the back of your brain, that you were trying to ignore, but it was growing louder the longer you laid there. This felt too good to be true. Like you’re dreaming and going to wake up back in your cell again. 

“Jon?” You asked quietly. 

“Hm?”

You didn’t want this to be a dream. You wanted him to hold you again and again, let you fall asleep in his arms, have normal conversations about everything and nothing. But most of all, you wanted him to feel the same way. To long for you so hard that his chest aches at the thought of losing you, the way yours does. You wanted him to— 

“I-“ You had to stop yourself from saying the thought that just popped into your head because you were scared of how he’d react to such a deep confession. “I just…” 

“I know.” He whispered, heart beating faster and harder in his chest. “Me too.”

Part 10

[tripled0531]

Exposure Therapy with Error and CC (sorry if I handled it wrong, I’m still learning about these kinds of stuff)

Bonus:

[kelthoumrambles]

Avant-hier, j'ai passé la soirée/matinée/soirée avec le plus gros dealer de MD et de speed de ma ville. C'était cool bien que ça ne mène à rien. J'ai tapé pendant plus de 14h non-stop puis me suis endormie sur le coin de son fauteuil jusqu'à 18h30 du lendemain. Son appart était vraiment un taudis :/ Des cannettes et du bazar partouuuut, je m'étais pourtant promis de ne plus me remettre dans de telles situations. Il m'a lâché, à un moment "j'ai toujours cru que tu étais une fille calme et timide mais en fait tu n'as plus toutes tes chaises autour de la table" mdr, remarque très perspicace, c'est exact. Je n'ai plus toutes mes chaises autour de la table hum hum. J'ai apprécié qu'il n'essaye pas de m'embrasser ou quoi que ce soit. J'essaye vraiment de me reprendre mais ça part trop en cacahuète là. Prochaine étape c'est quoi non mais vraiment jvais quand même pas commencer à fumer du crack 😭 j'ai fais des cauchemards toute la nuit, je me réveillais toutes les heures et j'arrête pas de transpirer de ouf car mon corps est rempli de toxines qu'il essaye d'éliminer. Mes yeux sont rouges et presque tous les matins, je me réveille en tremblant. J'ai rdv avec un médecin lundi pour lui demander conseil mais il va rien pouvoir faire, à part m'offrir un sourire rempli de pitié... j'en ai rien à foutre de la pitié. Je veux des solutions concrète. Une pilule magique ? je fais de mon mieux pour au moins prévenir les instances médicales que jsuis en train de couler. Pouaaah, c'est moche. Je me sens vraiment seule dans cette sorte de mauvais rêve. Depuis que je suis sortie du déni, j'essaye. Vraiment. J'ai envie que ça change. Je cale trop. Suis en pleine dissonance cognitive. La sobriété, or whatever the fuck you call it, est un des travail les plus dures de ma vie à réaliser.....

[proshippers-against-censorship]

tv shows gave me paranoia when i was a kid but I did exposure therapy on myself lol even as a kid i knew it was helpful

Exposure therapy for the win.

Fun and random fact: I had a crippling fear of rollercoasters as a kid, but I was supposed to go on a school trip to a really big amusement park one year. My solution was to go to Knoebels and spend the entire day riding every single rollercoaster in the park, multiple times.

Now I'm a rollercoaster fiend who spent yesterday riding rollercoasters, who will be spending tomorrow riding rollercoasters, who is planning multiple trips to go ride MORE rollercoasters, who DESIGNS rollercoasters, and who will ramble about rollercoasters and carousels until the cows come home.

We love exposure therapy in this house.

Except sometimes it backfires and you spend all your savings on amusement parks.

[ichtios]

03.06.2024

I got back to exposures. I realized that I am ready now. I knew the concept for years, and tried it many times (as you know if you've followed this blog) but I wasn't ready, because I thought the stakes were high. I thought I had so much to loose if I failed. My train of thoughts (not really thoughts, as it was something almost unconscious, some deeply rooted beliefs) was like that: if I fail this it will mean that I don't deserve to be loved, because I can't be "normal" -> my boyfriend will get really tired of me and leave me/my ex-boyfriend will not get back to me -> I will be alone, completely, utterly alone -> which is unbearable and I'm gonna die.

If you make it short it sounds like that: if I fail -> I'm gonna die. Kinda pressure, eh? if I get into this bus, and then have anxiety attack -> I'm gonna die. Yeah, that would make someone really calm. Great way to not be anxious. 12/10 recommended.

So I tried but it was like 2 steps forward 3 steps back. As I already wrote somewhere here (I think) - fighting anxiety from the place of anxiety and fear is a lost battle.

It was in the end of January that I noticed something had shifted. I was no longer experiencing so much anxiety in situations when I would before. Then I realized it is because I have nothing to loose anymore. Nobody cares if I fail or not, if I die or not, if I succeed or be this fucked up way till I die. It is easier to play when the stakes are low, it is much less stressful.

But I still experience anxiety, not that severe, not in all of these little situations that I used to, but still. Because it became a reflex, my body learned it through years, it is habitual. And it is time to unlearn it. Rewire.

I finished working in school last Friday, so I decided I will start in June. And continue for three months. There is no more excuse that I don't have time, because rn I have all the time in the world (I still have lots of my own work, but I can decide when I do it and how much I do it, and I can prioritize exposures over work). The trick with exposures is that you have to to them literally every day. Whether you feel like it or not.

So last 2 days (June 1st and 2nd) I went on exposures, and right now I'm preparing to go for another one. I will post photos from them later because I know Y'all like to see Warsaw from time to time.

I don't really wanna go. Yesterdays exposure was already hard, and I cried through. But I need to at least show up no matter how it will turn out.

Sorry for butchering grammar all over this post, but I haven't been using English lately.

[nemo-draco]

Archive of Our Own

Writing Snippet:

Dark could admit that he had a somewhat complicated relationship with the notion of lying. On a practical level, he knew it was good to be honest, it helped keep things simpler overall and, well, way easier to handle things if you didn't have to worry about constantly tripping over your own lies.

But Dark knew in his heart of hearts that he hadn't been completely honest with himself. At least, he hadn't been really aware of it up until recently. Recently, it felt like no lying turned into lie sometimes which then turned into lie a lot more than you're comfortable with because…

Because?

That was a bit harder to really pin down. Especially given that Dark realized, he was now lying to everyone. And it hadn't really hit just how much he was doing that until Orion had asked that very simple question.

Are you sure everything's okay?

It wasn't even something that Dark really registered until later after he'd left. Just why that question tripped him up so much. Because it was reminding him of, well, several things. How things had gotten better and then gotten worse with the other entities. How Light, after years of radio silence apart from the snipes they'd traded when seeing each other was now making use of something that Twilight had, more or less handed the two of them, apropos of nothing. A while back, in the…60s or 70s, Dark didn't quite remember, the younger entity had approached him with a small…

Honestly, it looked a lot like a phone. Dark had seen pictures, the rare phone booth, but he'd never really gotten to hold or really fool around with one to figure out how they worked. Though it was easy enough to place. Black and silver, kind of more metallic than plastic? Not a bad thing, fit in his hands alright even if the buttons were sometimes a little too small. Twilight didn't say precisely who she'd gotten it from. Or maybe she'd mentioned it and he just hadn't heard. But she'd been adamant that he use it, because Light had the other one. They could talk to each other without needing to be close.

Which was fine in theory, but, well…

…At least Light hadn't called during the visits with Orion, that Dark was really glad for because oh boy would that have been interesting to explain. Especially since their conversations as of right now were a lot of stiltedly polite words turning into tenser, slightly less polite words before someone would make an excuse and hang up.

And Twilight had been quiet, after everything with Orion. There was a feeling hanging around Dark's mind that he might wanna be more worried about that.

Especially since…