#gonna ink and color him tomorrow

[painted-bees]

sketch for the next DnD adopt! Kobolds are silly lil' guys and I wanted to have fun with their shapes haha

hmm...thinking about this for a probably color palette!:

[moe-broey]

Somewhere in here I gotta fit a speech bubble BUT. Sillies...

[fayehartz]

extrEME ARTSTYLE CHANGE FOR A QUICK MOMENT

[meiieiri]

𝐢 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐤, 𝐢 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐥𝐞 ! [toji fushiguro]

synopsis: in which toji notices how you color-code your outfit every time you see each other…and promptly makes a game out of it in hopes it will cure his gambling addiction.

pairing: toji fushiguro x f!reader | song inspo: colors | outfit inspos | hidden inventory: the lost tapes series masterlist

warnings: 18+, suggestive themes at the end (explicit sex, fingering, mentions of masturbation), but otherwise, just a fluffy/semi-angst/semi-crack scenario of a lovestruck toji trying to cure his gambling addiction~~

Chewing on his pen, Toji’s fangs were beginning to hurt as he stares at the blank face of a random receipt he found in his mostly empty wallet. He seems to be deep in thought, he almost looks like he’s trying his best to crack a mathematical mystery except…he doesn’t give a shit about math and the only mystery he seems to be interested in cracking is…

“Hey, I’m sorry I’m late!”

“Fuck.”

There you were in all your radiant magnificence eagerly waving to him from the university gates with your signature gummy smile he’s grown to love so much. You looked so beautiful and happy today…and you were wearing purple. A purple floral wrap dress. He was so sure you were gonna be wearing pink today Toji crosses out today’s date and the word: pink next to it with a frustrated “X”.

And in case anyone was wondering, this little guess-the-color-his-girlfriend-is-wearing-today game is something he came up with on a whim one day while waiting to pick you up after class. Of all the misfortune that has befallen him in his life, he has to thank the Zenin clan for one thing: sparing him the trouble of having to sit through an entire day of brain-frying university lectures about Kant’s second law of physics.

He hurriedly buries the receipt in his back pocket as he crosses the street, closing the twenty-five meter gap between the two of you. Pressing his lips against yours, Toji hums appreciatively when he tastes his favorite strawberry-flavored lip tint on your Cupid’s bow. You giggle as you nuzzle his nose when he pulls away, your hot breaths against one another’s lips providing a sense of comfort to you both. “What were you saying a while ago?”

“Ah, nothing.” Toji places a protective hand around your waist as the two of you walk to the nearby park for your and his usual after class/work stroll. “Just the usual profanity.”

Your lips curl into a soft pout at the thought of your boyfriend being upset about something. “Why?”

“Nothing babe,” he presses a soft kiss to your temple, his arm coming to rest on your shoulders. “Just lost at the boat races again,” he easily comes up with a white lie — a white lie that is bound to make you sad. He knows how upset you get when he relapses into his gambling addiction which, in his defense, he really is trying to quit for his and your — mostly your — sake. “Ah, I’ll do better, squirt. ‘m sorry.”

“Please?” you plead with him softly to which he nods, softly pinching your cheek in a silent promise to try to limit his gambling to…

…Getting tomorrow’s color right.

The next day, Toji spends about fifteen minutes in the shower trying to figure out what color you’d be wearing today. He’s already ruled out the possibility of you wearing black since it’s thirty degrees outside today, but with your extensive wardrobe, crossing out one color from the list is hardly enough to narrow it down. He’s never felt like this with boat races before since he has this natural tendency to just pick the boat with the most stable engine.

Ah, who was he kidding? He’ll just have to guess…and hope for the best, he steps out of the shower a few minutes of deliberation later.

After putting on a black shirt, he looks at his makeshift gambling ticket on the kitchenette counter with an angry look on his face. “Red. It has to be red.” He jots it down next to today’s date in red ink as if to manifest you’ll wear your off-shoulder red top today and those black trousers you bought from that thrift store in Harajuku last week.

Suddenly, a knock rips through the silence of his apartment and he goes to immediately answer the door. Toji clasps his hand around the doorknob for a bit, somehow still intent on delaying the inevitable. “Toji? The bags are getting kinda heavy,” you sheepishly called from the other side of the door and your boyfriend instantly snaps out of it. He swings the door open a little too aggressively that it makes you jump a bit when you hear the ear-splitting screech of the hinges nearly coming off the door. “Ah…hi, babe?”

You don’t know what to make of Toji’s face.

It’s like he’s feeling an odd mix of emotions all piled into one that they somehow cancelled each other out and now, he’s…staring at you…blankly. You have to admit, it looks a little funny. It’s not his usual stoic expression, it’s just pure…nothingness…like he caught a glimpse of the void or something and he can’t peel his eyes away from it.

“Can I come in—?”

“—Hi.”

“Eh?”

You burst out laughing at his delayed response. It’s like your boyfriend buffered for a full minute there which is so unlike him, considering he’s always so smoothly unbothered and suave in his demeanor. Toji scowls when you place a hand over his forehead. “You feeling okay?”

Toji gently shrugs your hand away, nodding absentmindedly. “Fine.” That sounded awfully peachy but you didn’t mind, Toji’s normally so awkward anyway, unbeknownst to most. In the eyes of those who don’t know him, Toji’s image is nothing short of a big, bad delinquent, but in your eyes, you mostly associate him with a typical house cat — quiet and snooty in every regard but actually genuinely affectionate. “Oh, let me help you with those.” He crouches down to help you with the groceries, sneakily stealing a kiss from you as you remove your shoes at the genkan before stepping into the living room.

Toji watches as you bound over to his apartment’s balcony, searching for the stray cat that normally drops by in the afternoon, with a grimace on his face.

“Of course she’s wearing beige,” he grumbles under his breath. Again, he crosses out today’s entry a little more forcefully this time.

At the balcony, you find Toji’s pet emeritus lounging away at the foot of the laundry rack. “Oh, there you are!” You crouch down and pet the white cat whom Toji affectionately refers to as ‘Yuki’ when he thinks you aren’t listening in whenever he feeds it after dinner. “You look like you could use a warm bath, come on!” You gently pick up the little creature and bring her inside. “Toji, I found Yuki~!”

You stop in your tracks when you see Toji with his forehead pressed to the cold marble counter causing you to instinctively place a comfort hand on his upper back to placate him while Yuki climbs atop the counter. At the familiarness of your touch, Toji, who looks like he’s still upset over some unknown thing he won’t tell you, rights his posture. What’s a man gotta do to get a winning streak around here?

“Hey, maybe you should lie down…”

“…I’m okay,” Toji half-whimpers, defeated, gaping at Yuki as she licks her paw contentedly. “Huh. You brought the fleabag in here?”

Somehow offended by that, Yuki violently hisses at him.

Okay, something is seriously wrong with Toji.

You just came out from using the washroom to see Toji on the kotatsu agitatedly scribbling on a piece of paper that doesn’t exactly look like a betting stub. You surmised it would have been something like that since Toji doesn’t normally get angry over anything except losing money on bets, but you are thoroughly surprised and comforted to see that wasn’t the case this time around. You sit down next to him, pulling your big baby into an embrace.

“My poor baby,” you teased amid Toji’s obvious misery. “Wanna tell me what’s wrong?” you smiled softly when he playfully pushes you down onto the tatami mats, all his weight pinning you down, his hand easily overwhelming yours as he pins them above your head. You try to squirm away from him, laughing when his other hand secures your hip to the floor, rendering you unable to struggle against him. Then, he lowers his lips close to your ear, his warm breath sending goosebumps to appear all over your skin, he sighs, falling slack at the crook of your neck.

Toji hates this, he probably looks like a kicked dog right now.

Today’s bet was yellow but when you opened the door to your apartment, you were wearing a mint green sweater over your cream relaxed fit ankle pants.

“Why can’t I do it? Why can’t I just win for once?” Toji’s voice is muffled as he buries his face in your shoulder. Instantly, you feel a pit form in your stomach. You’ve heard this before. You slowly push him off of you, your disappointment palpable in the way you utter your next words.

“Toji, you’ve been…gambling again, haven’t you? Baby, we talked about this.”

Your lover steadies the movements of his chest, feeling the need to defend himself. He wasn’t gambling, quite the contrary really, the thought of wandering over to the horse races hasn’t crossed his mind since he started this harmless little game. But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and every so often, he relapses into these undertones of his gambling addiction particularly the crippling desire to win at least once, to guess just one daily color scheme right.

And he’ll let it go. He swears he’ll let it go.

“I know, but really, babe, I’m not—“

“—Really? Then, what’s this?” You shakily point to the folded up piece of paper on the kotatsu. He has to pinch himself to hold in his laughter when he sees just how cutely distressed you are over an unassuming crepe stall receipt. “Don’t you start laughing now!” You swat his arm.

“I’m not laughing, you brat!” Toji purses his lips together, thoroughly enamored by you right now. “You’re worrying over nothing, Y/N. Trust me.”

You crossed your arms over your chest, pushing Toji’s face away when he tries to kiss you. You cheeky little brat. “But you’re acting so weird though…” You poke him relentlessly on the cheek to get him to come clean, and you dodge whenever he tries to playfully catch your index finger with his teeth. “Just tell me.”

“Nope.”

You climb onto his lap, hugging him.

“Please.”

A kiss is a good bribe right?

“Uh-uh.”

He returns the kiss with a loud smooch!

“I’ll break up with you.”

You whine when he flicks your forehead, leaving an obvious red mark on it.

“You won’t.”

Your little back and forth is interrupted by the sound of the doorbell ringing. Sighing, you finally let go of him. Looks like he isn’t going to budge. Toji gets up to answer the door, setting you down on the cushioned seat. Feeling a little bad when he glances back to see you still sulking about the issue, he subtly and intentionally allows the receipt to fall from his pocket knowing you’ll almost certainly go straight for it. He’ll just have to deal with your constant teasing for the next two weeks once you read the contents of the slip of paper. But he’d rather hear you laughing your heart out (even if it’s at his expense) than see you getting all anxious about him slipping back into his old destructive hobbies.

When you see the piece of paper falling like a leaf dancing in the wind, your eyes light up, and you crawl over to the spot where it’s fallen near the small bookshelf you have in the corner.

“Rakuten delivery.” Toji signs the courier’s clipboard, receiving your package. Just as he’s about to walk back into the living room to hand you your parcel, he stops in his tracks when he hears your cute chortles which you’re pathetically trying to subdue and a smirk appears on the corner of Toji’s lips.

Looks like the crisis has been averted for now.

“Wait, Toji…”

Toji pretends to not hear you, his fingers still buried in your sopping cunt, lusciously pushing in and out, your arousal coating his fingertips as he devours your lips in wanton need. You moan out his name again and he scowls when you reluctantly remove his fingers from your heat. “What? What is it?” What could possibly be so important?

You flush when he sensually licks his fingers clean, and you sit up, pulling down your skater skirt. “What’s an anniversary without a little surprise?” You kissed him on the lips, lingering for a bit, your eyes fluttering close as you taste your arousal on his tongue. “Mmh…”

“Just forget it.” Toji bucks his hips against yours, his clothed erection rubbing against your bare slit.

“No way. Just…wait here,” you kiss him again, boldly running your tongue over his bottom lip before pulling away and heading to the bathroom to get your surprise ready.

Toji groans in frustration, his head hitting the pillows he set down on the futon. After a few restless moments of him resisting the urge to fuck his hardened cock into his hand to finish himself off, he hears your melodious voice calling for him from down the hall.

A satisfied lopsided smirk appears on Toji’s lips, his eyes dark as he gazes at the most beautiful being in the world right now, shyly making her way towards him wearing nothing but an emerald silk robe. He licks his lips when he sees the outline of your nipples through the fabric, smirking as you sit down on the foot of the futon.

“All that for a silly little robe? What a letdown,” Toji smirks as he moves to untie the knot of your robe, only for you to slap his hand away.

“Uh-uh…you have to guess first.”

Toji gulps when you pull out the one thing he’s been agonizing over for the last few weeks from your robe’s hidden pocket. You grab a pen from the nearby bookshelf which he expertly catches when you throw it in his direction alongside the crumpled up piece of paper he’d been meaning to destroy for a while now.

“If you guess right, we could ditch the condom tonight. So do well,” you innocently bat your eyelashes at him.

Toji looks like he wants to jump off a ditch, the obvious tent in his sweatpants indicating just how hard he is right now. “No, don’t do this. Don’t fucking do this, Y/N…”

“…What color am I wearing tonight?”

[flippinpancakes64]

Hello, I absolutely love your work. iv re read your stuff so many times that it's getting concerning.

Can I request the cullens x artist reader who made a painting of them I just think that would be cute

The Cullens with an Artist! Reader

Thank you?!?! I suggest seeking mental help for rereading my bad stories tho

Thank you for requesting and I hope you enjoy!

Edward:

We all know that he is an artist too

He made Bella a whole song on the piano

As someone who can play the piano, that’s not easy

So he definitely loves that you’re also artistic

For you, he’s a muse

I mean, how could he not be

Literally the definition of perfect

So obvs you sketch him a lot

When he finds an almost finished painting one day of him, he is floored

He can never seem to wrap his mind around the fact that you are just as obsessed with him as he is with you

He hangs it up

Even if it’s not finished

If you insist on finishing it, he will begrudgingly take it down and give it back

But as soon as it’s done it’s all his

Alice:

She’s also an artist

But more with fashion

And design

She’s not so well-versed with the classical arts like painting or sketching

So she always loves seeing your paintings

She’s a coexistence girly

She loves to just be doing something while you’re painting

You know just sort of existing in the same space at the same time

The day you give her the painting, she is so surprised

It was so difficult for you to hide this from her

Especially with her gift

She absolutely loves it

She hangs it in the main room of the Cullen house

She wants absolutely everyone to see it and acknowledge how talented her s/o is

Jasper:

He loves the arts

They’re relaxing to him

Some of his favorite classes he’s ever taken in all of the schools they’ve been at have been art classes

He’s not good by any means, but he loves it anyway

Art dates with him are a must

He would love that tiktok trend where you and your partner trade paintings every couple of minutes

Never misses an opportunity to tell you that he loves your work

He honestly almost started crying when you showed him your painting of him

You made him look so happy, so peaceful

He’s used to being perceived as a monster

Definitely hangs it up

But only in his room

He wants to be the only one to see it

Rosalie:

She’s more of a technical, sciencey person

Not to say she doesn’t like art

Just that she doesn’t necessarily enjoy making it

She can definitely appreciate good work tho

And she loves everything you make

She buys you new supplies all of the time

If just one pen ran out of ink in your favorite set, she would buy you a whole new set

When you give her that first painting though, she’s obsessed

She wants at least 20 more by tomorrow

But actually, she knows that she’s beautiful

But something about the way you capture her is just so different she loves it

Emmett:

He’s not an art person either

He’s a bit of a meathead

But he can appreciate art

Probably not as deeply as other people can

But he know when it looks good

And he genuinely thinks you’re the best artist ever

He will gladly put all of your little doodles in the clear pockets of his binders

And hang them on his locker

When you give him the painting of him he’s actually dumbfounded

Like awestruck

What do you mean the best artist in the world just made a painting of him?

Get ready to be cuddled for the rest of the night

Esme:

Resident artist

We already knew that tho

I’m pretty sure it’s said that she’s the one who made the grad cap piece?

Idk

Either way she loves art

Pottery dates, painting picnics, date nights at the art museum

She loves it

So if you were to ever paint her and give it to her?

Yeah she’s gonna start crying

She just loves art, she loves you, and you put them together and she’s so in love

She hangs it in the main room

It doesn’t matter if the colors clash

And it’s never coming down

Carlisle:

Another appreciater of the arts

I mean, he probably knew Da Vinci on a personal level this guy is so old

So it’s no shock

Whenever he’s home and hanging out with you, he loves to watch you paint or draw

Especially if he’s doing some paperwork

I just feel like he would like the company while he’s working

Now I don’t see Carlisle as the type of guy to necessarily enjoy pictures or paintings of himself

The only portraits he has in his office are either him in a crowd or family photos

So when you give him a portrait of himself, he’s a little shocked at first

He doesn’t want to seem narcissistic, but damn you made him look good

He hangs it up in your shared bedroom

Even though he knows he will likely never have guests who would see it, he wants to make sure it’s hidden

He just doesn’t want people to think he’s vain

But he secretly loves it so much

Vampire! Bella:

I think I’ve talked about it before but this girl would have loved deviantart

Rip Bella you would have loved fan art of your favorite characters

But she totally had an artsy phase

I don’t think she’s necessarily good or bad

She just prefers to look at art rather than make it

So that’s where you come in

She loves just watching you work

Every once in a while she paints with you

But she always feels inferior when she looks at what you made vs what she made

So she usually just sticks to admiring

The first time you give her a portrait of herself, she doesn’t even know what to do

She’s still getting used to actually perceiving herself as beautiful

And then you capture her like she’s a goddess?

She needs to lie down

She loves it tho

[sant-riley]

is it ok to request some headcannons with the team? if so, could you do a reader that’s covered in tattoos? like heavily tattooed. even their fingers. right? anyways, the reader is always covered during missions (like ghost level covered) and the team have subconsciously created this image of them under it all but haven’t really seen them until one day reader is wearing normal clothes and they’re like 🧍‍♀️ what? you have tattoos and like barely any skin 🧍‍♀️ IDK I JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE CUTE NVM THOUGH IF U DONT WANNA WRITE ❤️ NO ISSUE IF YOU DONT!

[Task force 141 and Laswell with reader who has a lot of tattoos)

A/N: I am not heavily tattooed yet but I did love this request sm soooo here this is :) Ty for the suggestion and I hope you enjoy!

They can’t really be blamed for not knowing about the tattoos, y’all are all covered typically in heavy gear and clothing and weapons most of the time. And they don’t question it when you’re covered up even more than usual bc yk, Ghost exists walking around in a Halloween costume 365 days a year. They’re used to it so they won’t prod.

Most task force members have tattoos of their own, it’s not a strange concept but they just assume you have none, they see you covered up and that’s that.

But then one day, let’s say there’s a mission and you guys get fucking d r e n c h e d in water, and you’re in a cold climate so leaving your clothes on is not an option. They need to dry by the fire and you cannot catch hypothermia.

Whatever reason you cover up, you know it’s only logical so you shyly take off your gear, quickly going by the fire while the guys quietly stare at your figure, staring at the ink decorating your body. Yes you’re beautiful and yes it’s their first time seeing so much of your skin but is that a fucking narwhal on your arm-

You have to snap at them to quit their staring bc you think they’re only staring at your chest or at your underwear but soap just blurts out “YOU ‘AVE TATTOOS?” And everyone else nods.

~

Individual reactions:

Ghost:

Ghost fucking loves it so much, he could stare at your tattoos for hours on end. He rolls up his sleeves to show you the ones decorating his forearms, letting you trace your fingers over the skull and withholding a shudder.

He immediately brings his hand up and traces yours back, asking questions about them and how long they took with you sitting in the chair, grunting in response as he zones out.

Asks why you cover them up as often as you do but when you send him that look he quickly says never mind.

Soap:

He immediately asks you about the meaning (if you have any for them). He admires them and thinks they make you look beautiful and badass.

He also will take a marker and draw ones on your empty bits of skin and color any grayscale tattoos you have.

If you were to ever get one of his doodles or drawings tattooed he would probably tear up on the spot. Also maybe kiss you stupid bc wow you have something from him on your skin forever and he loves you sm.

Would design y’all matching pieces, in your line of work tomorrow isn’t guaranteed so if you’re down, he’ll make the appointment for you both.

Price:

I personally don’t think Price has tattoos or would ever get any bc he doesn't care for them but he has an appreciation for yours.

Everyone would think he would be the type to talk down on them but all he said to you was “do you like ‘em? You do? Then why the fuck would I care?”

In between breaks, he’ll casually ask if you got any new ones and that he’d like to see them.

Gaz:

Gaz doesn’t have any but that’s just because he can’t fully decide on what he’d get, he’s young like you and cannot handle the commitment.

Therefore he lives by you and eagerly encourages all your ink and will always go with you to your tattoo session if he’s free.

He’s the best kind of person to have come along esp for long sessions bc he’ll go get you food, drinks, etc while he sits with you.

He always says he’s gonna get one when he goes with but always said never mind lmao.

Bonus <3 Laswell:

Now she's no stranger to ink, she's not covered up but she does have a matching tattoos with her wife and a few small patches of her wedding flowers on her.

She absolutely adores your ink and will not hesitate to defend you and it if someone were to disrespect you bc of what you've done with YOUR body.

She's a mom what can I say, she knows her authority and won't be shy to use it.

Taglist:

@devilsfoodcake22 @simon-rileys-princess

@stupid-ninja @milkmily

@lune-la-chanson @tamayakii

@teacupcollector @sweet-as-an-angel

@perilous-pasta @ihatethisappsomuchitpains

@marsbar127xx @baddump

@xncasi @king-cookiex

@palomaxaxaxa @amatchasky @wolfyland07 @diejager

@hailstrum18 @pretty-little-bunny382728 @mzfandom @solarslushee @areislol

@cluelessyasmin @sesshomaruwaifu @chaos-unchecked @kalamataolivesssss @arunasmisfortune @tbrfic

[unpredictable-probabilities]

VIP Privileges

Summary

It's his third year at NRC and Jamil is content to spend much of his birthday cleaning the gym.

However, Azul's gift makes him reconsider his plans.

Word Count: 2,956

Notes:

For Day 4 of AshenViper Week 2024!

Prompt: Jamil's Birthday

Happy birthday, Jamil! ^_^

----

Jamil placed the basketball on the rack along with the others, double-checking to be sure that nothing was missing.

“Jamil?” a voice echoed across the gym.

He turned to see Azul walking over to him. “Oh hey. What are you doing here?”

“I was looking for Floyd, he isn’t answering his phone as usual,” Azul answered as he stopped in front of Jamil. “What are you doing here? And so early in the morning, too. Shouldn’t the birthday boy be off celebrating somewhere?”

Jamil rolled his eyes. “There’s gonna be a celebration dinner later at Scarabia. Kalim’s leading the preparations, if you can believe that.”

Azul chuckled. “I can, actually. Kalim has really stepped up now that we’re in our Third Year. But anyway, now that I’ve got you here,” he took a small card from his pocket and handed it to Jamil. “Happy birthday.”

Jamil took it and saw that it was a coupon for a free meal at Mostro Lounge, no price limit and free use of the VIP area that was separated from the rest of the Lounge with a magical rope and curtains. Jamil remembered that some students do hold small gatherings in the VIP area, and if anyone who wasn’t invited tried to cross the red velvet rope cordoning it off, the rope emitted colored ink to splash on them that would last for days. And the Leech Twins would hunt down the ink-stained culprit and settle debts.

��VIP area privileges?” Jamil raised an eyebrow at Azul. “Did you think I was the type to invite a bunch of people to eat with me?”

“No, but I know you hate being approached all day for birthday greetings. If you use the VIP area, you can eat in peace. Perhaps invite a friend or two to join you. The velvet rope would accept anyone if you verbally give them permission.”

“Alright, thanks,” Jamil pocketed the coupon. “Is it only valid for today, though? I don’t know if I’ll have time to eat at Mostro Lounge right now, I still gotta finish cleaning up here.”

Azul frowned. “That’s a birthday coupon, you can only use it today. And why are you tidying up all by yourself?”

“Coach said everything had to be ready for the practice tournaments on Monday. Since it’s Saturday now, I volunteered to get the gym ready,” Jamil shrugged.

Azul looked at him curiously before nodding in understanding. “I see. You volunteered to stay up here the entire day so you wouldn’t get pestered by people wishing you a happy birthday.”

Jamil chuckled and put his hands in his pockets. “That obvious, huh?”

The corner of Azul’s mouth lifted in a smile. “Yes. But, now that you have the option to stay at Mostro Lounge instead, I shall help you clean up so you’ll have time to use that coupon.”

“What?” Jamil frowned, following Azul with his eyes as the Octavinelle Prefect took off his coat and hung it neatly on the rack where some spare jerseys and clean towels were hanging. “Why would you care if I spend my birthday up here?”

Azul sighed in exasperation and rolled his eyes. “Because we’re friends, Jamil. Despite you insisting otherwise whenever the subject comes up.”

Jamil’s frown deepened as he felt his face warm. Some of their classmates liked to subtly tease him about having romantic feelings for Azul whenever they worked together in Alchemy or Flight class, so yeah, he would say to them that they weren’t even friends. But Azul always seemed oblivious to the implications of their classmates, so as far as he knew Jamil just liked to deny they were friends. And Jamil wasn’t about to correct him on that.

“Don’t you have other things to do?” Jamil asked instead. “You were looking for Floyd, right? Don’t you guys have work?”

“I was looking for him because tomorrow is our weekly meeting at the Lounge, and I need him to write down the new recipe he came up with so we could discuss it at the meeting,” Azul replied as he rolled up his sleeves. “Since I’ve already sent him multiple texts reminding him of it and I have no further responsibilities for the day, I’m free to help you get the gym ready for your practice tournament.”

“Is this a ploy to get me to owe you a favor somehow?” Jamil narrowed his eyes.

There was that half-smile from Azul again. “If it would make you feel more at ease about letting me help, then you can answer a feedback form at the Lounge after your meal. We’ll consider it even.”

“Fine,” Jamil relented. “All that’s left to do is mop the entire gym floor and make sure the bleachers are clean. I wasn’t gonna use magic so I’ll have an excuse to spend most of the day here, but…” he shrugged. “We can use magic now to make it easier.”

Azul nodded and adjusted his glasses. “Alright. Shall we?”

With the two of them teaming up, they made quick work of the tasks while hardly breaking a sweat. Jamil was quietly glad of Azul’s help, mainly because in hindsight he would have gotten bored spending so much time tidying up by himself. They talked while they worked; about homework and the upcoming exams, the tragedy of how Floyd was a danger to society but also competent and talented enough that they couldn’t afford to lose him in Mostro Lounge and the Basketball Club, and other random things that they happened to think about as the minutes went by.

After making sure that they didn’t miss anything, they both sat on the bench next to the water dispenser and took sips of cold water from paper cups.

“It’s past 11,” Azul said after looking at his watch. “If you go to Mostro Lounge now you can get to the VIP area before the lunch crowd arrives.”

“Yeah…” Jamil glanced down, fidgeting with his paper cup. “Do you… wanna come with  me?”

“Oh, you don’t need me there. Just show them the coupon and they’ll lead you to your seat. The velvet rope would be magically activated once you pass it.”

“No, I mean—” Jamil sighed and ran a hand down his face. It was already a challenge trying to say the words, and Azul’s obliviousness was making it even more difficult. “Do you wanna have lunch with me?” he directed the words to his cup.

From the corner of his eye he saw Azul freeze midway into lifting his own cup to his lips. “What? You’re… inviting me to have lunch with you?”

“Yeah, why not?” Jamil drank all the water in his cup so he wouldn’t have to meet Azul’s gaze. “We eat together all the time when we’re working on projects. The only difference now is I get free food.” And we’ll be alone together at a private table. Which means no one can interrupt our conversations to ask you out like they’ve done multiple times now.

Azul kept a busy schedule and was generally hard to find outside of classes, so some of their schoolmates tended to ambush him in the hallways or at lunch to ask him out to school dances and parties and whatever. As far as Jamil knew, Azul always politely declined the advances, but it was still annoying whenever those people would appear and blatantly flirt with him while Jamil was standing right there.

And since it’s Jamil’s birthday, he figured he could afford to have the audacity to want Azul’s attention all to himself for just one meal.

“Alright,” Azul replied. “I do wish to eat now after all that work.”

“Cool.” Jamil stood up and tossed his empty paper cup into the trash bin. “Let’s go.”

—

“I thought you were hungry. Is that all you’re gonna eat?” Jamil asked before taking a bite of his shawarma.

They were now in the VIP area where the thick fancy curtains blocked out most of the noise from the lunch hour rush. Jamil ordered a bunch of dishes that he wouldn’t otherwise order if he had to pay. He was hungry too after basketball practice and then the clean-up, and it was nice to eat good food that he didn’t have to prepare.

Azul was picking at his salad with a fork. “I already indulged in a rather heavy breakfast, I don’t want to consume too many calories when it’s only lunchtime.”

“But I ordered for two people. You can’t expect me to eat all of these,” Jamil gestured to the food. “Besides, you burned a lot of your breakfast calories earlier at the gym. Now you’ll just be getting them back.”

Azul pursed his lips and looked thoughtful for a moment. “I suppose you’re right.” He reached for a macaron and took a bite.

Jamil sipped his iced tea to hide his smile. Azul wasn’t as self-conscious about his diet now as he had been back then, but sometimes he still needed a bit of encouragement to eat what he wanted. That's why Jamil ordered food that he knew Azul liked in the hopes that he could persuade him to eat more.

“Has Floyd replied to your messages yet?” Jamil asked.

Azul got his phone from his pocket and checked the screen. “Not yet. He’s probably off terrorizing Riddle again. In hindsight I should have checked Heartslabyul; if he had caused any damage to their topiaries I would have to convince Riddle not to behead him. He needs to have magic for his afternoon shift here.” He pocketed his phone.

Jamil chuckled. “I wouldn’t worry too much. I think Riddle would be more lenient if you’re the one convincing him.”

Azul furrowed his eyebrows and picked up his glass of iced tea. “What do you mean?”

“Uh…” Jamil internally cursed himself. He had let his guard down too much and slipped with that remark. “You know. Because he likes you.”

Azul coughed out his mouthful of iced tea. “What? What are you talking about?”

Jamil shifted in his seat. “Well, doesn’t he? Our classmates even talk about how maybe you two are dating but just aren’t admitting it.”

Azul looked baffled, absently wiping his chin dry with the table napkin. “What in the Great Seven is the basis for those rumors?”

“Well, you never say yes when people ask you out,” Jamil shrugged. “And they say Riddle definitely has a secret boyfriend because he smiles at his phone now and receives small gifts from time to time.”

“And you believe inane gossip with such a weak foundation?” Azul raised an eyebrow at him.

“Of course not,” Jamil said defensively. And it was true. If he really believed Azul already had a romantic partner, he wouldn’t always be finding ways to spend time with him. But it was entirely possible that Riddle did like Azul. And that Azul might like him back… “I just explained what the basis of those rumors are, since you asked.”

Azul sighed and adjusted his glasses. “Riddle’s ‘secret boyfriend’ is Trey. He’s off on his internship now so of course they’re always texting and sending gifts to each other. Absolutely do not tell anyone this, or Riddle might just literally behead me,” he said pointedly.

Jamil’s mouth was open in surprise, and he blinked repeatedly to recover. “Wow, uh, okay. Yeah. I don’t wanna risk Riddle coming for me, too.”

“Good. And so what if I never say yes to people asking me out? You do the same. It doesn’t mean you’re dating anyone… Right?” Azul sounded a little unsure.

“Yeah I’m not dating anyone.” Jamil took his knife and fork and began slicing the shawarma on his plate. He'd never eaten shawarma like that before but he felt restless and wanted something to do with his hands.

“Right. I thought so,” Azul said. “There aren't even any rumors about it.”

Jamil couldn't stop the disbelieving snort that came out of him.

“What?” Azul frowned.

“Nothing,” Jamil suddenly felt irritated. “Just… you're so dense,” he muttered.

“Excuse me?” Azul sounded offended.

“There are rumors about me dating someone,” Jamil snapped. “In almost every class we go to I hear them. You've just been too dense to notice.”

Azul was taken aback. “Why do you seem so angry? Forgive me if I don't pay attention to gossip,” he said sarcastically.

Jamil rolled his eyes and sliced his food more aggressively. At this rate he'd be eating shredded shawarma.

“... Who is it, then? Who do they think you're dating?”

Jamil felt his face burn up and he kept his gaze on his plate. Damn him for losing his temper and slipping up like that. “Why do you care?”

“Well it seems awfully important if you'd snarl at me for not knowing it—”

“It's you, Azul!” Jamil met his gaze to glare at him. “They think we're dating, okay?”

To Jamil's surprise, Azul's fair cheekbones became scarlet. “W-What— When—” Azul sputtered.

“Shut up, we don't have to talk about it,” Jamil said and looked down at his plate again.

A few seconds of silence passed before Azul spoke.

“I didn't realize it was such an upsetting idea,” Azul said ruefully.

“Ugh, what is wrong with you? I can't believe I like you!”

Jamil saw Azul's eyes widen and he realized what he just said.

“I…” Jamil felt as if a bucket of cold water had just been poured over him. He couldn't tell if he had gone pale or entirely red in the face. He stood up. “I should go.”

“Jamil, wait,” Azul stood up as well.

Jamil turned to leave—

“I like you too,” Azul's hurried voice said behind him.

Jamil's eyes widened as he stood frozen and staring at the curtains. He turned and saw that Azul had walked around the table to stand in front of him. “You don't have to say that just because—”

“Jamil,” Azul cut him off. “I… lied about looking for Floyd.” He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment before speaking again. “He replied to my text immediately, and I asked him where you were so I could give you the coupon. And I helped you in the gym because I didn't want you to spend your birthday hiding away doing chores.” His eyes mirrored the nervousness that Jamil felt, but he never looked away.

“I asked you to have lunch with me in private because I hate it when people ask you out, especially when we're together,” Jamil heard himself say, the words rushed as if he would be too scared to say them if he spoke any slower.

Azul's eyes widened and his face turned an even brighter red. He opened his mouth and then closed it again without saying anything.

For several heartbeats they just stood there, the air between them rippling with an energy that Jamil didn't dare name.

Jamil couldn't tell who stepped forward first, but in the next instant they were holding each other, teeth clacking in a hurried kiss. They pulled away just long enough to right themselves, and the next press of their lips sent a shiver down Jamil's spine. His hands found Azul's hair, his fingers threading through impossibly soft locks. Azul's arms wrapped tightly around his waist, pulling him even closer.

The kiss was a spark that lit something, something Jamil had long denied was real but now threatened to consume them.

Jamil gave as much as he took; Azul's tongue was soft against his, sweet and intoxicating and just as demanding as his own. He was a ship caught in a storm and all he could do was hold on for dear life as the waves rose and fell.

They were both breathing heavily by the time they broke apart; Jamil rested his forehead against Azul's, and they just held each other as they caught their breaths, lingering in the quiet that blanketed them.

“You mean we could have been doing this a long time ago?” Jamil said softly, playfully incredulous.

Azul chuckled and straightened up to look at Jamil, still keeping his hold around him. “No matter. We can do this more from now on. I-If that's what you want,” he added hurriedly.

“I do,” Jamil wound his arms tighter around Azul. “And, I want…” he looked down, feeling his face warm.

“Yes? What is it?” Azul's voice was soft and encouraging.

Jamil swallowed and met Azul's eyes. “I want… just you and me. Do you… wanna date?”

The smile that slowly appeared on Azul's face was like the sun coming out, and Jamil almost forgot to listen to Azul's response because he was so busy staring.

“I do,” Azul looked right into Jamil's eyes. “Just you and me.”

Jamil smiled, drinking in the sight of Azul so close to him, Azul happy to be with him.

“Oh by the way,” Jamil suddenly remembered something. “I've been meaning to ask, do you wanna come over to Scarabia tonight for that birthday dinner? Earlier I wasn't sure if it would be weird to invite you, but,” he shrugged. “I can now,” he smiled.

Azul chuckled. “I would love to be there. But what about the… rumors? About you and me dating? Are we telling anyone or…?”

“I want to,” Jamil sincerely said. “If that's okay with you.”

Azul nodded, his eyes twinkling as he smiled, and Jamil wished he could tell everyone right now. “That's what I want as well.”

“Great,” Jamil grinned. “Do I still need to answer that feedback form for the meal?” he raised an eyebrow playfully.

“No need, I can already tell you enjoyed it immensely,” Azul smirked.

Jamil rolled his eyes fondly and leaned in to kiss his smug boyfriend again.

----

(AshenViper Week 2024 Masterpost)

(Masterlist)

[alonzoarts]

I’ve been making great progress!! I’m so happy I’m actually working on this thing consistently and diligently :’). The rough animation is done, and I’m currently inking and coloring.

I’m not sure if I can get it completed before the 3rd is over. I want to try out some experimental glitch effects for Spamton, like I’m gonna try to have him in a lower resolution than Kris. Maybe like he was animated with MS paint. I also am going to try data moshing only his animation on a green background, then chroma keying that out on top of the rest of the animation, so only he shows the effects of the corruption.

All that stuff is gonna take some time, so I’ll post the rough animation tomorrow. (Unless I somehow finish it by then.) I’ve got to do something for my favorite #1 rated salesman’s specil day!

[lilpuffyart]

Godzilla WIP

I drew a whole page with him, gonna try to ink it tomorrow and color to post so yeah yeah <3

[spookmemepls]

☠ ― 𝑊ℎ𝑜 𝐹𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝑅𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑅𝑎𝑏𝑏𝑖𝑡? 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠. (𝑆𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑖𝑡 𝟷𝟿𝟾𝟾 𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑒, "𝑊ℎ𝑜 𝐹𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝑅𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑅𝑎𝑏𝑏𝑖𝑡?".)

"Don't worry! Whatever you say!"

"Hey! Be careful with that gun!"

"This ain't no cartoon, y'know."

"I'll be in my trailer, taking a NAP!"

"Scotch on the rocks. And I mean ice."

"I can take it, don't worry about me!"

"Wait 'til he gets on his feet, THEN hit him with a boulder."

"How much do you know about show business, ___?"

"Look, I don't have time for this."

"What the hell happened in here...?!"

"The job's gonna cost you a hundred bucks."

"This is NO way to make a living..."

"Is that a rabbit in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"

"___! Is that you?!"

"Nice booby trap."

"I've worked with a lot of wise-quackers, but you are despicable."

"Kinda jumpy, aren't you, ___?"

"Get this straight, meatball. I don't work for toons."

"I think... I'm gonna faint..."

"That's it! That's the connection!"

"Well I don't work for peanuts."

"Another stupid news reel... aww, I HATE the news."

"You've been hanging around rabbits too long."

"I don't know who's toonier. You or ___."

"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way."

"OW! My biscuits are burnin'! Fire in the hatch!"

"Please, ___, can't you tell how much I need you?"

"I hope you're proud of yourself! And those pictures you took!"

"No toon can resist the old "shave and a haircut" bit."

"Hey, ___, don't you have a car?"

"Thanks for the cigarettes."

"Don't let me catch your peepin' face here again, got it?!"

"Nice monkey suit."

"Wiseass."

"Get outta here, get me some money, too."

"The whole thing stinks like yesterday's diapers."

"Put the poor guy/girl/etc. on two weeks notice. Cutbacks, they said."

"Here's to the pencil-pushers. May they all get lead poisoning."

"Tomorrow's Friday, ___. You know what happens here on Friday?"

"You got that camera of yours? Mine's in the shop."

"Yeah, that was a long time ago. We should do that again sometime."

"So what's his/her/their/etc. problem?"

"I know this all seems pretty painful now... but you'll find someone new."

"Got the password...?"

"Don't tell me you've lost your sense of humor already..."

"So I took a couple of dirty pictures. Sue me."

"I caught you with your PANTS down!"

"I'm surprised you're not more cooperative, ___."

"No, not all the time! Only when it was funny!"

"No wonder you hate me...!"

"C'mon, don't cry, I don't hate you."

"This means war."

"C'mon, ___, where's your sense of humor?"

"The stain is already gone; It's disappearing ink! No hard feelings, I hope."

"If it's ACME, it's a gasser!"

"One of these days you're gonna DIE laughing."

"Work's been kinda slow since cartoons went to color..."

"Not tonight, ___... I've got a headache..."

"But ___, you promised...!"

"What could have POSSIBLY happened to you to turn you into such a sourpuss?"

"Take comfort, ___, you're not the first man/woman/etc. whose S/O played patty cake on 'em."

"I won't believe it, I CAN'T believe it, I SHAN'T believe it..."

"Is there nothing that can permeate your impervious puss?"

"We're SUPPOSED to be hiding, what's WRONG with you?!"

"What's wrong with YOU? You're the only person in this theater that isn't laughing!"

"___'s the love of my life! The apple of my eye! The cream in my coffee...!"

"Drink this, it'll make you feel better."

"Just like a toon to drop a safe on a guy's/girl's/etc.'s head."

"I see working for a toon has rubbed off on you."

"My whole purpose in life is to make people laugh!"

"I've been risking my neck for you!"

"I'm looking for a murderer."

"You're my only hope...!"

"You keep talking like that and I'm gonna have to wash your mouth out."

"Ain't I a stinker?"

"A better lover than a driver, huh?"

"Seriously, what do you see in that guy/girl/etc.?"

"Give me another excuse to pump you full of lead!"

"We toons may ACT idiotic, but we're not stupid!"

"We demand justice, but the real meaning of the word probably hits you like a ton of bricks!"

"___, darling, I want you to know that I love you."

[hairstevington]

flowers and ink (part 6)

Eddie Munson x Steve Harrington

Summary: Steve plans his second date with Eddie, but before they go out again the group heads to the mysterious one-woman show, Pot of Gold.

(part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, link to Ao3)

Word Count: 2.6K

Warnings: Tattoo artist/florist trope modern day au, you all know the drill by now, this chapter contains a lot of talk about marijuana but is otherwise wholesome and cute!

A/N: I'm BACK! Had to take a quick break for Steddie Week and also I saw Taylor Swift over the weekend but I am so happy to update this again! I've been holding onto this plotline for a WHILE and I am very excited for you to read. Also - to all those who've left comments so far, please know they make my whole day. Thank you so much <3

“Robin, I’m an idiot.”

Steve was pacing the floor after his date with Eddie, visibly anxious. 

“Why? What happened?” she asked, concerned. “Did the rest of the show not go well?”

“No, it went PERFECT!” Steve replied. “And then I had to go and tell him that I would plan the best date of his life for our next one, and what am I supposed to do? Like, did you see him up there? He’s a rockstar, Robin! He’s charming, and he’s hot, and he’s - like, what am I supposed to do? How do I top that? I can’t!” 

Robin stood and watched him ramble, nonplussed.

“You’re right,” she said. “You are an idiot.”

“Thank you, I know.”

“No,” Robin continued. “You’re an idiot because Eddie is clearly into you and no matter what you do he’s going to love it.”

Steve wasn’t convinced. 

“Sure,” he said sarcastically.

“Dingus, come on. Did you see what he did for you tonight? He obviously wanted to impress you, and he did.”

“Yeah, and now I don’t know how I’m going to impress him,” Steve replied. Robin sighed, then smacked him playfully on the arm. “Ow!”

“Idiot!” she repeated. “You’ve already impressed him. You’ll be fine.”

Steve thought about this, then shrugged. Robin was probably right. She usually was. It was annoying, but it kept him from self-destructing, so that was good. Before Robin, back when he was in high school, he used to do all kinds of weird shit to impress girls. He thought back on those times fondly, but it’s not like he could do any of that nowadays. 

Although, it did give him a bit of inspiration on how to update his old tactics. And then, he had an amazing idea.

“Oh my god,” he said. “I think I know what I’m gonna do.”

“Hallelujah,” Robin responded, unamused. “Can we talk about my thing now?”

Robin told Steve about her conversation with Gareth, and how they were all potentially going to go to the mysterious one-woman show the following night. Robin didn’t get Gareth’s number or anything, because of course she didn’t, so Steve had to reach out to Eddie to kick off coordinating the whole thing. 

-

Steve: Did Gareth tell you about going to see that play with Robin?

Steve: Also hi 🙂

Eddie: Hello! Yes he did. And by that I mean I asked him just now. Tomorrow?

Steve: Yeah, 7pm. 

Eddie: Cool. I’m in!

Steve: Awesome, I’ll let her know!

Steve: Oh also, just so we’re clear. This is NOT the date. 

Eddie: No?

Eddie: I’m imagining you surprising me by jumping on stage and announcing you’ve been the mystery woman all along or something

Steve: Hahahaha

Steve: I’m not a stage person like you, but I do have something planned

Eddie: Color me intrigued

Steve: 😘

Steve: Had a great time tonight btw

Eddie: Likewise :) 

-

To say Eddie was giddy would be an understatement. He was practically vibrating with excitement after he dropped Steve off, fresh off the high of both performing again and kissing an extremely hot guy. 

Eddie was truly living his best life. 

He walked into work the next day with a spring in his step. Eddie never walked with a spring in his step. He noticed Bob recognized the abnormal behavior from across the room, but thankfully the man minded his business. 

“Helloooooo Sonic,” Eddie said to the cactus as he took off his coat and put it on the rack. He sat down. “You’ll never guess what happened last night.” Eddie took his books and drawing tablet from his drawer, pausing for an imaginary answer. “Damn! How’d you guess? Did Steve tell you?” 

“Good morning, champ,” Bob said as he stood in the doorway. Eddie jolted back, blushing at being caught. “Love the energy, but maybe you should use that friendliness with the customer up front?”

“Got it, sorry,” Eddie said, rushing out of the office and to the waiting area. Bob just laughed to himself, then sat down at the desk to work on some spreadsheet about expenses that Eddie could never understand. 

Steve was making Eddie lose his mind in the best way. It had been a while since he’d felt this playful or silly. He used to be all kinds of theatrical, but he’d gotten a lot more subdued. Steve was reigniting that part of him, and it felt nice.

The rest of his day went by in a blur. He’d never been more charismatic and nice to the customers, even the ones he usually would find annoying. Bob seemed to approve of his attitude, and as a reward let him leave early. He had no other appointments anyway. This gave Eddie time to go home and get ready for this show - which, prior to this day, Eddie had no interest in. But Steve and Robin and Gareth and the rest of the guys would be there, and that made it more than appealing. 

He wanted to kiss Steve again. Badly. That was the one drawback about being around friends - Eddie was cool with PDA once in an established relationship, but he wasn’t about to suck face with Steve in front of other people when they’d only been on one date. That would be weird. 

Whatever Steve had planned better be soon - AND in private.

-

This wasn’t a standard theater. It was actually just a house. A house that had been repurposed, sure, but a house nonetheless.

“Is this the right place?” Steve asked. 

“Yeah,” Robin confirmed, double checking the address on her phone.

“There’s a sign over there,” Eddie said. They all walked towards the tiny sign with an arrow that pointed to a path that led to a door. All of it was very weird, but cool. 

“God, I love shit like this,” Gareth added with a grin. “Like, are we gonna get murdered or are we gonna see a show? Let’s find out.” The rest of the group laughed, and then they headed to the door. There was a tiny handwritten note.

Knock to the beat of your favorite song.

“What the fuck are we doing?” Eddie said, chuckling. “Who is this woman?” He was amused by the whole situation more than anything. Like Gareth, Eddie lived for weird situations. Plus, Steve had his arm around him, so honestly anything could happen at this show and he’d still be happy.

“Robbie, this is all you,” Steve prodded, motioning for her to do the knocking. She did so, knocking a specific pattern into the wall. Steve smirked, knowing which song it belonged to.

“So, what’s it from?” Gareth asked. 

“I’ll never tell,” Robin remarked. Steve considered revealing it, but held his tongue. Especially because, moments later, some guy with long straight hair down to his waist answered the door and spoiled it before anyone else could.

“Heyyy, Stevie Nicks! Excellent choice, my dude,” the man said as he high-fived a stunned Robin. 

“How did you know that?” Steve asked. 

“Wait, he got it right?” Eddie wondered. Robin nodded. “Damn. Do you always know the songs?”

“Only the best ones, amigo,” the man replied with a warm smile. “Come on in!”

The group looked at each other, dumbfounded, before walking into the house. They were led through a living room down to a basement, where a makeshift stage was set up. Chairs were in front of it. Nobody else was there yet. 

“Oh my god,” Robin whispered to Steve. “I can’t believe you wanted me to go to this alone.”

“I didn’t want you to go alone,” he insisted. “I just said you should go to find out what it was all about, because you were clearly obsessed with it.”

The man spun around, causing the group to stop in their tracks. 

“Alrighty, Brochachos,” he began. “My name is Argyle, and I’ll be your host on this lovely evening. This is my house, so any house questions I’m your guy. Bathrooms are upstairs and to the right. Pick any seat you want down here, and I’d highly recommend checking out the table back there for a fully immersive experience.”

All heads turned to the back. 

“Oh, shit,” Gareth muttered. “Is that what I think it is?”

“If you think it’s drugs, then ding ding ding my friend,” Argyle responded. “We’ve got a full spread back there. Joints, pipes, edibles. No pressure though if you wanna ride the sober train. Pizza is over there, but I will warn you it’s ham and pineapple. Try before you deny, folks. If you need me, I’ll be up there.”

Argyle disappeared back up the stairs.

“Okay, it’s official,” Eddie said. “This is the best day of my life.”

They raided the table of weed and then sat down in the middle of the room a few rows back. They waited until five minutes before scheduled showtime, and no one else showed up. 

Robin had never been more grateful in her life to be with friends. 

The lights dimmed. 

“Oh, I am so fucking ready for this,” Gareth said with a grin, already blazed out of his mind. A spotlight appeared on stage, and then the star of the show walked out. 

She had long blonde wavy hair and beautiful big eyes. She was wearing cargo pants and a tiny piece of fabric that could barely pass as a shirt. The woman got a joint from her pocket, lit it, and took a drag before speaking. 

“The first time I smoked weed I was sixteen,” she started. “I’d been having these horrible headaches and one of my friends suggested I’d try it out. Everyone was doing it. It was honestly weird that I wasn’t doing it.”

“Holy shit,” Eddie muttered. 

“What?” Steve asked.

“Shh!” Robin said. The woman on stage smirked. 

“So, I met up with this guy in the woods behind the school. He was known for being the one to go to for these things. And he says to me, ‘what can I do you for, Goldie?’ And I had no idea what I was supposed to say. Long story short, I tried every strain I could get my hands on with that guy for the next few weeks. Some helped the headaches, but some were just fun. And some -” She stood up and walked to a canvas on the side of the stage. “Some made me a really good painter.”

She continued to smoke and paint as she told her story. Her and this guy continued to hang out the rest of her time in high school, forming something of a relationship. She described it as being very powerful, and often thought of it as being her first love, but that they hadn’t spoken since graduation. She then went on to talk about how she moved to California after graduating and met Argyle, and all the adventures she’d had since. She opened up about her body dysmorphia, then finished the show talking about her journey to find herself and her sexuality. 

It was all incredibly captivating, and once the spotlight went out and she walked off stage, the group in the audience was left speechless. 

“Wow, that was…” Steve began. His high had faded halfway through the show, and he was so immersed in it that he didn’t continue smoking. “Way better than anything I could have imagined.”

“I think I’m actually in love with her,” Robin said with wide eyes. Gareth chuckled and murmured something to Eddie, who elbowed him in the ribs. “What?”

“Eddie, come on,” Gareth prodded. “Tell them.”

“Tell us what?” Steve asked. Someone cleared their throat beside them, and they all turned their heads to reveal the star of the show standing there, her hands on her hips.

“Eddie Munson,” she said, smirking. “I thought it was you.”

Robin and Steve’s jaws dropped. 

“Hey, Goldie,” Eddie responded. 

“Wait, what?” Steve exclaimed, his eyes bugging out of his head. 

“Hi,” Robin said softly with a slight wave. “I’m Robin.” The woman, Goldie, turned to Robin and fully looked her up and down, checking her out.

“Chrissy,” she responded. “Nice to meet you.”

Steve didn’t even have to look at Robin to know she was about to pass out. 

“So,” Eddie said, standing up. “I guess we all have some catching up to do.” The others followed suit, and then they walked as a group up the stairs and to the living room to sit down and talk. 

Apparently, Chrissy had gone to the same high school as Eddie, Gareth, and the rest of the band. Eddie and Chrissy had been extremely close, but then Eddie took off and never looked back after graduation. They only referred to it, but Steve could tell it was a sore spot. He wondered what exactly had caused Eddie to leave them all behind. That conversation would have to wait until at least the third date, though.

Eventually, the reminiscing died down, and the group decided to head out. Eddie told Chrissy where he worked, and mentioned when she could stop in. On their way out, Chrissy pulled Robin aside. Eddie smiled to himself when he overheard them exchanging numbers. 

Evidently, he wasn’t the only one who’d had an excellent day.

-

“Oh my god. Oh my GOD. Oh. My god!” 

Robin had been talking like that for about ten minutes now.

“She - she wants to go out with me. With me. And she - I mean, you saw her, right? She’s - like, holy shit. She’s perfect. I can’t believe this.”

“So,” Eddie said to Steve. “You think she’s gonna say yes?” Steve chuckled. 

“Robin, you’re hot as hell,” he assured her. “I’m not surprised at all.”

“Shut up, Steve,” she responded. “You have to say that, because we’re best friends. It’s like when mom says I’m pretty.”

“I think she just compared you to her mom, dude,” Gareth teased. 

“Okay,” Eddie interjected. “Well, I’m not your best friend and I agree with Steve. You’re gorgeous.”

“Thank you,” Robin blushed. “But you’re dating my best friend, so you have to say that, too. Also, you’re gay.” Gareth chimed in next. 

“Alright, well I hardly know you AND I’m straight and Robin, for the love of god, know your worth. You and Chrissy are both goddesses and you’re perfect for each other.”

The group halted in their steps and turned to Gareth, stunned. 

“What?” he said. “I’m just telling it like it is.”

They each headed to their cars and split for the night. The band promised to come back to town at some point so they could all meet up again. It was a bittersweet farewell, especially for Robin, but at least there were a lot of ways to keep in touch with people long distance. 

Steve and Eddie walked hand in hand down the sidewalk together. This time, Steve was the one taking Eddie home. 

“So, when do you want to go out again?” he asked. 

“I’m free tomorrow,” Eddie replied. 

“You’d want to see me three days in a row?” Steve asked, delighted. 

“Don’t act so surprised,” Eddie teased. “You and Robin both need a little self-esteem.”

“There’s a reason we’re better together,” Steve explained. “And why we’re so codependent.”

“Right,” Eddie responded. “So, tomorrow?” Steve smirked, then kissed Eddie for the first time since their date the night before. They both melted into it quickly, craving the affection they’d been keeping themselves from. They broke from each other and smiled. 

“Tomorrow,” Steve confirmed. 

“Good,” Eddie said on an exhale. “Cuz I wanna do a whole lot more of that.” Steve chuckled.

“Oh, we will,” he said. “I’ll pick you up at seven?”

“Sounds good,” Eddie responded. 

Steve went home after that, then smoked the rest of what he’d picked up at the show. 

What an excellent day all around for everybody.

(next part)

---------------------------

@paintballkid711 @abraca-fxckyou @allbimyself26 @jellybabiesforall @allbymyselfexceptformycactus @justaloadofgarbage-blog @alliemunsonsstuff @undreamingnscatworld @hobbitnarwhal @calivanus @wreckmyplans-thatsmyman @antheia @goodolefashionedloverboi @lillemilly @missmagillicuddy @gamerdano @menamesniall @eyeslikewildflowers111 @callmesirkay @stringischeese @eds-trashmouth @mnl-enuh @redfreckledwolf @itsanarrum @soulsofstarsliveinyourveins @stevesbipanic @momotonescreaming @aryakanojiaa @wrenisflying @comicmadlover @lilacrobin @itch-my-b0nez @anonymousbandgirl @disastardly @dangdirtydemons @daisyellsong @val-from-lawrence @starryeyedpoet17 @taikawaiteatea @clumsiluni @hollysimone @swimmingbirdrunningrock @witchofhawkins @steddiegarbage @suddenlyinlove @ricekristytreaty @eddielives1986 @bunnyweasley23 @thefailcollection @ppunkpuppyy @bestwifehaver @httpsphynx @irregular-child @skjachukson

[fawrishfish]

Hai :)

I’m gonna throw a bunch of info at you

There’s a Lalo at the bottom of this post, beware of him

I’ve been working on my graphic novel, wanna see?

Sketched the first 20 pages! Inking and coloring in progress

Here’s the main cover btw, I posted this in another post a while ago, I just wanted to put it here, too. (Also the one in the other post didn’t have my signature)

ALSO I’ll try to ask more than two asks tomorrow so stay tuned I guess

Also Also that keychain store is not forgotten, I’m working on it!! …there’s no pinky promise emoji???? I thought there was. I haven’t forgotten about the BCS animation, either. My phone storage is down down down to the bottom of the sea and wont let me work on any big projects.

I’m getting an iPad for my birthday this month, and procreate is coming out with an animation app, so that’s cool

But yeah haha that’s all I got

Have a Lalo, I haven’t drawn him in a while <3

[u-ntitled-s-eries]

Day 14 - Working Late

Contrary to what most people say, there are a few hours each night in Nimbasa city when the lights dim and the music stops. But the city only grinds to a halt after everyone is fast asleep, so almost no one is around to witness this phenomenon. Almost.

The light of a lone desk lamp just barely reached the furthest corners of the room, coloring Ingo’s papers a faint orange that’s broken up by black ink and shadows. He muttered to himself, checking and double-checking his work, only stopping to let out a long yawn before getting right back to work. So absorbed in his work, he didn’t even notice someone approaching until he saw a new shadow slides across his desk.

“How much more do you have left?”

The question was asked in earnestness, but still left a sense of guilt settling deep in his gut. Technically Ingo had already finished everything due by tomorrow - or is it today? - but the stack of incomplete work still loomed over him. It wasn’t even halfway there. If he were to come to a stop now, surely it would just mean more work further along the line, wouldn’t it?

“I should have everything completed in an hour at most.” Ingo spoke as softly as he could, not wanting to cause any disturbance, but did it sound convincing? “But please, there’s no need to delay for my sake.” A few seconds later, he heard footsteps slowly fade away from him. He refused to check the time and instead went back to work. The sooner he finished, the sooner he could go to bed. Another yawn forced Ingo to halt and close his eyes for a split second.

When he opened them again, there was a glass of water and a plate with half a sandwich.

“If we’re gonna be up late, we may as well have a midnight snack.”

You look at Warden Ingo, then down at the cup in his outstretched hand. Rather than putting it on the table and risk spilling onto the research notes, you take it off his hands. Tea might not be the best thing to have in the middle of the night, but it’s certainly a warm welcome.

“Thank you so much.”

You move to the side to let Warden Ingo take a seat next to you. He smiles behind his cup.

[noffy96]

Errink fic: What death takes from us Chapter 2

Well, so far the poll is voting for today...but night has passed for me so it's technically tomorrow? So both sides win? Next time I will think a bit harder on that poll, it was a bit spur of the moment XD

But here it is Chapter 2! And i am quite proud of it. so everyone go enjoy

What death takes from us:

Painfull struggles:

Word count: 9166 

Chapter (2/3) (In process)

(previous chapter)

Chapter Summary:

Ink is hiding, how much he is struggling with the current situation. He doesn't want Error to know how much he misses that he could simply touch him. But one phone call might just change all that.

Link here to AO3

Or continue below the read-more line

He dipped the brush in the glob of yellow and continued to paint. He had been at it for hours. This was the third painting of the day, and at this point, his mind had zoned out. His body just continued on autopilot. 

The quiet was nice. It won't last. But it was nice.  He tried to ignore all the different colors bubbling under the surface trying to come up and take hold of him once more. 

He just wanted to enjoy the moment of calm for as long as it lasted, having been way too frenzied even for his own liking. But today was a day off. Error was hanging out with Blue and Lust, finally able to catch up on Undernovela after the crazy months they had just had. 

A soft smile came over his face as a bit of pink flooded his system. He was sure he was gonna hear all about it later. 

There was a buzzing sound, and he looked down at his phone. He had forgotten it was here. He had been listening to some podcast of sorts, but he didn’t know when that had stopped. He checked the screen.  It read ‘Dream calling’. A burst of yellow and blue came to the surface, and with some fumbling, he accepted the call and put him on speaker, so he could continue his work. 

“Heya Dream, it’s been a while.”

“Ink…you saw me two days ago,” Dream said with a sigh.

He blinked surprised staring at the screen for a second when a memory came to him. Of himself, Blue, and Dream helping out in Outertale. Something about people being stuck on asteroids.

“Ah, you are right, my bad.” 

“So…uh…how have things been with you and Error?”   Dream asked awkwardly. 

The blue took over the yellow, and everything around him seemed to dim in color. 

“No updates…still the same, just like last month…and the month before that…and the month before that…” 

He was trying to sound neutral. Which he normally did without a problem. But now…it felt like there was a hint of bitterness in his own tone. 

Error’s death had really set things back for them. They didn’t have an incident quite like the one on the first day he returned. But even standing close to his boyfriend made the glitches spring up. 

“I am…sorry to hear that…”

He gave an answering hum. It might be the slight static coming through the phone, but he wasn’t sure if Dream fully meant what he said. 

Dream and Error never really got on. He knew his Glitchy could care less about Dream. 

But Error cared enough for him to not be a total asshole about it. He just grumble a bit, and it wasn’t like he would force Error to change. 

They didn’t like each other. It wasn’t a big deal, Both of them could set aside their anger if it really came down to it. 

Well, he hoped so anyway.

His own relationship with his former best friend was…Strained to say the least.

Noticing a mistake in his work, he frowned and went to fix it.

“How is the truce with Nightmare going?” he asked the golden twin. 

“I am surprised you remembered”

He gave a shrug the other couldn’t see over the phone.

“But things are going…”

There was a pause in which he heard some rustling like Dream was changing positions.

“Good, I suppose.” 

He gave another hum.

“Just not as fast as you hoped?” 

“I Guess…, I think���I thought I’d be able to talk more about…you know everything that happened but we mostly just…I dunno” 

“Talk business?”  he offered.

Dream laughed softly. 

“Hit the nail on the head with that one. Dunno what I expected…more I suppose.” 

He could almost see the positive guardian shrug. 

“Don’t worry, you got all the time in the world to sort things out…I mean, if you could forgive me enough to start talking to me again…well I have no doubts You and your brother can manage as well”  

He could feel yellow flow through him, trying to put as much care and sympathy in his voice as possible, probably overshooting it by a bit. The long pause that followed made him worry he had said something wrong. 

“I guess so…” 

And try as he might he wasn't able to tell what Dreams' tone meant. So before another long pause would come he decided to quickly change subjects. 

“So how's your break? Gone anywhere fun?“ 

He asked vaguely remembering Blue having mentioned going somewhere with Dream. As he cleaned his brush and now dipped it in a vibrant red.

“...feeling less like punishment...”  Dream stated hesitantly “ I am sure you heard from Blue?” 

“That he caught you trying to increase the Au’s positivity, when you were off duty. Yes, I did. I think he mentioned it along with lecturing me for the same thing?” He said with a laugh

“Are…you really that stressed..?”  

Blinking at the question. Feeling his eyes' shapes change several times, pulling away from the canvas. 

“Guess so?...dunno…?”  

He felt blue and purple start to mix but it wasn’t making him sad…more anxious. But for what he wasn’t sure. 

“Just don’t push yourself too hard okay, We don’t want what happened to Error to happen to you.”  

He took in a quick gasp and quickly shook his head. Trying to get rid of the unwanted image that popped into his head. Quickly grabbing some more paint, some of it dripping of the brush and onto his toes as he brought it back to the canvas.

“Awww! You do still care about me after all.”  

His voice sounded wrong, too much-forced cheer. When he wasn’t feeling any of it, in the way the yellow was coming through, over the much stronger purple he tried to swallow down

“I never stopped idiot. '' 

Dream snapped back loudly, and he fell silent. Feeling various shades of blue. Dream had sounded hurt. He had just meant it as a fun tease

“Sorry..” 

He mumbled automatically and he heard Dream let out a heavy sigh. 

“It’s…it’s fine…I know you didn’t…”

 There was another long pause.

 “I shouldn’t have shouted”  Dream finished eventually.

A guilty feeling welled up inside of him. Having an inkling that what he just heard, was something that was in some way concerning even if he couldn't pinpoint why.  Feeling slightly frustrated at his memory failing him. 

“You…are allowed to be Upset at me..”

He said tentatively. He knows he isn’t the easiest to deal with. And Dream has forgiven a lot from him. Small and big things. They wouldn’t have been together for as long as they had if Dream hadn’t. It had come with its own pitfalls. And he can see the mistakes and unhealthy balance that was their past relationship. He was sure Dream saw them too.

It was painful in a way. Knowing you had unintentionally hurt someone you cared quite deeply for. He would never say that he regretted his past relationship with Dream But now, he can say with much more clarity that he rather just be friends. 

That is why he wants to fix it. Try and talk like the immortal adults they are. It was hard on both of them. Dream had a particularly nasty few months behind him. Where he was lashing out more and more. Dream had been forced into a mold. One that he had sometimes helped build, and he was glad to see his former Lover freer. Even with the nasty side effects. Dream was allowed to be angry at him.  

Reconnecting with Nightmare was also a good sign. The two of them having these regular phone calls helped too. It might be a long while until they could hang out like old friends again. But they got time, and he was looking forward to that day. 

Dream sighed deeply. 

“You…are right…..But I didn’t need to lash out..” The other mumbled. 

He gave the phone a smile.

 “You’re forgiven.“ 

Dream let out a small laugh, then the sound of another voice sounded distantly over the phone. 

“Mnn? With Who?...yeah that is okay, be sure to let me know when you come back”  

Dream said to whoever was on the other end. And he felt excitement grow inside of him. There were only a few people that hung around Dreams house. 

He picked up the phone and in his rush dropped his small paintbrush to the floor. 

“Is that Pallete?! Can you say Hi for me?! “

Dream made a sound like a wince, 

Oops he didn’t mean to shout, but then he heard something from the background then Dream going 

“Yes it is, he says hi” There was a small pause.  “Oh yeah sure…Ink, Pallete wants to talk with you”

More yellow rushed through him making him rock in place. 

He was always happy to chat with any of his kids. He knew he wasn’t the best dad. Some might say even one of the worst. But he tries, he honestly does. He knows that with some of them, he might never get a good relationship going.

But Pallete wasn’t one of them, A proper father-son dynamic, he might not get. But Pallete at least didn’t hate him.  And he would do his utmost best, to be there for him should he ever need it. 

“Dad..?” 

The smile on his face grew at hearing the familiar voice. 

“Hey, Pal! How are you doing?” 

“Good! Um, little question? Think we can move our meeting up a week? I really need to help a friend out.”  

The yellow got taken over by blue, and he felt the excitement fade from his voice, no matter how hard he tried to control it. But he swallowed down the sadness and tried to not sound disappointed. 

“Oh..of course!, let me just…write down the new date…I don’t wanna forget…So not coming Wednesday….but the one after that, according to OG timeline rules?” 

“Mnn Yes, Sorry that I had to change it on such short notice, I just really don’t wanna abandon my friend.” 

 He smiled Pallete was a good kid. Most likely Dreams influence. As he quickly changed the date on his scarf with his finger.

“Of course not, your old man can wait okay? It will give me more time to set things up” 

“Thanks, Dad!, gotta run now. Sorry and bye” 

“It is okay, Take care and see you soon”  

There was some more rustling, as the phone was handed back hearing Dream say to Pallete

“Have fun at Goths!” 

Which made him smile. He had a feeling about who his son was helping out. Maybe Error might know something and could fill him in. Then there was another pause in their conversation. 

“Are you okay, Ink?” 

He shook his head.

“Yeah…yeah I am fine…was just…looking forward to spending time with him, that’s all”  

Dream let out a sympathetic hum. 

“Did you write down the new date?” 

He could hear the doubt in Dream's voice. And he had to tempt down the small flash of hot anger that wanted to boil up. He wasn’t that much of an idiot.

“Of course, don’t want to forget” 

“Please don’t “  

His grip on his phone tightened. And he decided to keep his mouth shut.

“Ah sorryIink, I gotta go as well…It was…enjoyable…to talk with you again” 

He noticed how the other avoided the word fun. But he would take it. 

“I am glad we talked as well Dream. Same time next month?” 

“Works for me, hear from you then, if nothing else comes up”  

He chuckled at Dream.

“With our job, not gonna happen. But let’s hope the multiverse gives us both a small break” 

Dream chuckled as well

 “We certainly earned it... Bye Ink” 

“Bye Dream” 

And then he heard a click and lowered his phone staring pensively at the call-ended screen till it went dark. 

He was feeling as conflicted as he always did after his phone call with Dream. A mixture of yellows and purples. Happy he was able to talk with his friend again. Glad it seemed to have gone smoothly.

But also worried. Did he say the wrong thing somewhere?  Did he come off as sincere? He sometimes forgot how scared he was of losing his friendship with one of his oldest friends. 

He nearly did once, he didn't want it to slip out of his fingers again.

He let out a deep sigh and put his phone aside. Trying to focus on the happy feelings. This was something good, one of the few things that were going well in his life lately. Or it at least felt that way.

He picked up his brush, but he froze when he gazed upon his painting. For the first time, he seemed to actually see what he had been drawing.  Having snapped out of his routine. What he had drawn. Was a picture of his own hand holding Error’s.

And his nonexistent soul sank into his stomach. Feelings becoming cloudy. 

How many times did that make this? He glanced around the room, seeing other canvases of similar pictures he had been drawing over the last few months. 

He had tried to do something different. It felt like he hadn’t even been thinking of Error at all!

But still. There it was in front of him. One of the many things that he and Error still couldn’t do. Error’s death had really fucked him up. It was like his whole body had been reset. But slowly, he was gaining back what he was lost. Able to give fist bumps to Killer. High fives with Blue and Lust. Everyone…except him. 

Error tried, but it always seemed to burn. The pain only seemed to increase with every single try. It had gotten so bad. He had to nearly beg Error to stop trying. Not liking the way it kept hurting him. It took a while to convince him. But he did listen…that was a month ago.

.

It hurt. They had gone years without touching. They still used a lot of techniques they learned from that time. But none of that compared to the real feeling of Error’s fingers between his own. His solid weight as they hugged. 

The electrifying way it felt as they kissed. 

He missed it…….

He missed it so fucking much. He thought he could live without touching Error again.

But…

Were these paintings, not proof of that NOT being the case?! Everywhere he looked in this room, there seemed to be a picture of them. 

Holding hands, cuddling, kissing. Or touching in some kind of way. 

What if they never could again? Would….would he get bored?! Would he stop caring for Error? He couldn’t do that. That be horrible. Error meant the world to him. Error let him feel all of this. Let him figure himself out, not force him to be something he is not. 

Somehow accepted his soulless state. Didn’t freak out, when he decided to go blank on some days when all the emotions became too much. But yet forcing him to drink if it seems he was depriving himself too much in the other direction. 

Error loved him, and it was terrifying.  

And how was he repaying that love? By longing for something the other couldn’t give. They were fine. They should be fine.  He thought as red anger seemed to consume him. 

He loves Error. He didn’t need the other's touch, it was just a few months with no contact. That didn’t compare to the years beforehand. Even for most of their relationship. Touching had just been a recent thing. 

It wasn’t fair that it had been taken away from them. The red-hot anger spread, chasing away all other feelings.  The picture in front of him came back into focus. 

He grabbed Broomie and slashed at the painting, covering it in a dark ink stain.

There.

That is what he deserved. He shouldn’t have these urges. There was nothing in his chest to conquer them. Yet he selflessly made them. What would Error think if he saw them?

He had to destroy them! He didn’t deserve to stare longingly at them!? Error was going through enough without him taking care of his emotionally stunted boyfriend. And he summons more ink to destroy another painting.

The red-hot anger started changing. Darkening into a sludgy black pool of self-hatred, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Destroying more works in his anger and grief, letting a large pool of ink spill over his studio floor, as he knocked over cans of paint and canvases. All the while sobbing and screaming in angry frustration. 

Screaming, at the monster that killed Error, at the multiverse in general, but most of all himself, for not keeping his promises. 

Of not being enough for his lover. 

Eventually, most canvases had either been painted over with black streaks. Lying face down in the ink puddle beneath his feet. Or he had just broken the canvas clean in two.

All that was left was the biggest of them all. A large frame of both him and Error sitting on a swing near a tree. A work combining their first date, and first time holding hands into a single beautiful scene. 

It had been a work he was proud of. He had shown it to Error. He even surprisingly suggested he should hang it somewhere in his house. But he hadn’t found the perfect place for it yet. 

He looked up at it, a drop of yellow coming in an ocean of black. He raised Broomie above his head, ready to finish it off. When his momentum was suddenly stopped.  

He looked up to see Broomie stuck in a multitude of blue strings. With ice-cold fear, he turned around to see Error standing in the door opening arms outstretched. Strings attached to his fingers and  A look of panic on his face.

 “Ink!?”  

And when he heard that voice, so full of concern. Blue colors suddenly and quickly replaced all the black. The red-hot anger was replaced with regret. The Dark self-hatred still lurking below. But now replaced with deep sorrow. 

It made him sink to his knees and start openly wailing as the color overtook everything. He tried to stop the tears pressing his hands against his face, furiously wiping it. But every sob tore another from his body. 

“S-soory…i am sorry Error…forgive me…please…please”  

He started rambling, trying to get his emotions under control. But instead, he felt his insides turn, and he puked out a large amount of ink. 

When he was done, the overwhelming sensation was gone. But the feelings were still there. His throat hurt, but he was letting out soft hiccups instead of sobs at this point. He looked back up. To see Error hovering close by in front of him. Arms outstretched like he had wanted to grab him. Frustrating, clear in his eyes. 

“S-sorry..”  he started again 

“It’s okay, Kiki…it’s okay…just…let it all out okay…”  

Error took another step closer and he could feel that pulsing heat. That heat seemed to push them apart, like two wrong magnets pushing each other away. He leaned back so that Error would glitch less. Not looking at Error's face, afraid to hurt him further. 

Error let out another frustrated sound. Something heavy fell to the floor, probably Broomie. And he felt Errors strings circle his hands. But the mock handheld just made him feel worse. They were so pathetic, not even able to hold hands. 

“Ink?” 

 He shook his head. 

“Ink please…talk to me?”  

He shook his head harder. 

What was there to say? What could he possibly say that wouldn't sound completely insane? He was gonna lose Error. He was gonna figure out he couldn’t live without the touch and was gonna leave him as he should have ages ago. And he be all alone with his thoughts again. Unsure of whoever even ‘himself was’ 

More strings wrapped around his hands.

 “Come on, Squid”

There was a hint of frustration coming through his voice now.  

Error would realize that it was no use to spend time on him. That in the last few months he somehow had made more progress with his ex, Than with him. That all of this was a lost cause that he never should have - 

Blue strings wrapped around his torso so tightly that he nearly choked. Looking back up and started into Error’s worried eyes. And after a beat or two a realisation seemed to come over Error. 

“Have you been swallowing your paints again Kiki?” 

He blinked up at the other. 

Had he?

He tried to think back.

He remembered maybe once this morning…but that could have been yesterday as well?. He definitely did when he was painting to stay in that calm state he had been in. 

Did he do it afterward? Oh…when Pallete came to the phone, he had to swallow down his excitement as well as his disappointment.  He thought he had just pushed it down…But that would explain why he was feeling so crappy. 

Shit! He might have done it more than once in his conversation with Dream.

“I…didn’t …notice..”

 He said through a few sobs. And Error’s strings gently squeezed him.

“It’s alright…come on… let's get you out of this puddle”  

The strings started to fall away from his body, almost like they had been arms that had been wrapped around him. That thought made him sob again, and he scrambled for the strings before they could completely disappear... Holding them shakingly between his fingers as he  looked up at Error with a desperation he didn’t know under which color to classify 

Error’s look of surprise turned into a sad smile, and he mumbled 

“Should have known you liked being tied up in my strings” 

He laughed wearily at the innuendo. And the strings came back around his torso softly and lifted him up from the middle of the room. Dropping him right below one of the windows. Error plopping down next to him, some space left between them. All the while he stared at the strings connecting them. 

“What happened Inky… “ 

Error asked softly after some minutes of silence in which his sobs finally calmed down, and his emotions seemed to reach another equilibrium 

“I think you guessed already, I swall- 

“What triggered your outburst,” 

He shut his mouth with a click and brought his knees up to his face. Another few minutes of silence

“I saw what I had painted..”

From the corner of his eye, he saw Error tilt his head

“That usually makes you happy.” 

He shrugged, he didn’t want to think too hard about it. He might have puked most of his paints out. But not all. And if he indeed had kept swallowing down his paints, they would still be a murky mess inside of him. And didn’t want to trigger another episode 

He heard some angry glitches, but Error’s voice stayed calm. 

“Did your phone call with Dream affect how you looked at it?” 

He shook his head. 

“No, that went pretty well,” 

He could feel Error’s eyes on him even without looking up, hugging his knees harder 

“Are…Are you upset that it went well?”  Confusion was clear in his boyfriend's voice. 

He wanted to cry again and felt blue trying to come up, He tried to temp it down. 

“Hey, Ink stop, don’t fight your paints…not at this time” 

His hands started shaking, and shook his head.

Of course, Error noticed. Error knew him.

Even when he forgot who he was himself. 

“It’s not fair…” he mumbled softly.

“What…Ink?” Error said confused along with the sounds of soft buzzes of glitches. As another silence fell between them, only filled by his own occasional sob. 

He heard some sounds, not able to place them. So he looked up, seeing that Error had dragged one of the destroyed canvasses closer. There wasn’t much left of it, he had smeared pretty big globs of black ink on them, that was now dripping on Error's clothes.

Error seemed to glitch at them, but paid them no mind, rolling up his sleeve and rubbing the ink away with his arm, Eyes widening as he saw what was underneath. 

Error's head snapped his way, eyes wide. And dragged another painting close doing the same thing to it.

“What…the fuck Ink.” 

He closed his eyes in shame, burying his head back in his legs. He knew Error would hate them. That’s why he didn’t show them, he knew he had been holed up in here more nights than he could count. When Error was with others, or working. He was in here and painted his desires. 

The ones he couldn’t act on. That he promised to let rest. And now Error knew, and he would see how he had gone against his word and…

“If you are angry with me you can just Fucking say so, don’t gotta destroy your passion projects over it” 

His head shot up, and he looked at Error. Who was looking at the painting with a frown. But not an angry one. No…he…he almost looked. Sad? Then what Error had said seemed to land in his scattered brain and he quickly scrambled up to his knees. Error looking up as he did. 

“I ain't angry at you?! …Why?!?!…No..Never, none of this is your fault.”  

Error started at him eyes wide, 

 “Of….course…of fucking course how could I be so fucking stupid”  

“W-what?”  he asked, suddenly panicking. 

The strings around him tighten again, 

“I should have known you would be angry at yourself, somehow you always blame everything that goes wrong in our relationship on yourself” 

His own eyes widened. And Error leaned closer. He could feel the heat again, but he couldn’t look away. Error was staring right at him.  Different colors tried to rise up, but one never could stay, quickly replaced with another. Purple, pink, yellow, blue, green. All of them but he barely noticed only able to focus on his Love

“I thought I had said this before, but if I haven’t let me now. I don’t fucking blame you. For any of this Ink. It aint your fault I died. It aint your fault we can’t touch. It aint your fault that the recovery of it is going at a fucking snail's pace. Got it! None of that is your fault. I don’t fucking blame you, I ain't angry with you. And I am not upset that you miss being able to hold me. I’d be the biggest fucking hypocrite.” 

The strings were getting tight enough that they were probably leaving robe burn marks. But he couldn’t care. Could hardly believe what was going on. 

“B-but” 

“No fucking but’s Ink. Whatever your brain is telling you. It is aint true. I’d kiss you right now to fucking prove it, but I think we both know how that would end” 

The sound he let out was between a sob and a laugh. It be such a disaster. The only time they tried was on the first-day Error returned. And the scream the other had let out, still haunts his nightmares. It kept combining with Error’s death in those dreams. 

He closed his hands over the strings that ran over his palms, Squeezing them tight, tugging at them. Feeling Error tuck on them as well. 

He still felt like crap. And he wanted to believe Error. He so badly wanted to. But he couldn’t seem to get there. There had to be a tipping point. Maybe he didn’t blame him now. But it would not last forever and- 

“Ink. Stop it” Error Seemed to read exactly what was going on in his mind.

“I…I can’t”  he mumbled. “I wanna believe you Error. I really do..But…but..” 

His hands rose to his chest. The part of himself he disliked so much. Where you could see the proof of his soullessness. That part of him that was at the root source of all his problems.

There was another pause and he started at the space between them. He could see Error's knees and realized this must have been the closest Error had been in a month. The thought made him swallow another sob. 

“What would make you believe it.” 

“Huh?” 

He looked up back into Error’s eyes. They held a determined gleam 

“Tell me what you need Ink, What would make you believe my word, so I can say it, or do it. Until I can beat it into your skull, and you never doubt me again” 

“I….”  He paused.

What would make him believe it?  What would make him believe that Error didn’t hate him? That Error would stick with this, with them, Or that He would stick with Error?  Was there such a thing? 

“I don’t k-”  he stopped himself. 

That felt wrong to say. Here he was demanding proof. But he couldn’t think of anything himself. How was Error supposed to prove it then? 

He looked up back at Error’s face. Still looking determined, ready to spring into action. And he wanted to give an answer. 

Why was this so difficult, he just wanted Error to be happy. To be loved as much as he deserves. 

But he loves Error. And Error wants his love. And was he just…not giving it? If he trusted that Error could love him despite his soulless state. Then why didn’t he believe Error trusted that his soulless self loved Error? 

Now that he was thinking about it, it seemed kinda backwards, and selfish. To trust everything Error gave him. But not trust that Error knew that he was loved. 

Soft oranges and yellows finally managed to take hold of his body. Error believed in him. He was conceived it wasn’t his fault. He might not fully believe it himself. But he could believe in Error, that did believe that fact.

Error's face shifted as he saw the realization drawn on his own face. 

“Knock some sense into me from time to time, that is what you need to do apparently” 

Error laughed “I do that for fun any day” 

And he couldn’t help his own laugh. The strings on his hands tugged, lifting them to his face, he got the hint and held one of his own cheek in the way Error would. 

“I Love you, I don’t hate you, and I don’t blame you. For any of this, And I am sorry if I made you think I did”  

He shook his head.

 “It’s okay..I…Thank you…I should have told you sooner. That I was feeling all of this. I could have avoided this mess” 

Error glanced around the room.  

“Nothing we can’t fix”  

He raised a brow bone.

“You, fixing things?”  

Error gave a fake glare, and he felt his colors latch on to the familiar feeling of seeing it

“Says the Protector that destroyed this room”  

But then Error’s eyes turned serious again. Settling back down next to him, if a bit closer than before.  

“We do need to find a way to prevent this from happening, for both our sakes I think..” 

He gave a nod, 

“Yeah only so much can be blamed on me swallowing my ink”  

Error nodded. “Wanna do this now, or wait till the murkiness has passed” 

He glanced around the room, seeing the black ink everywhere. And he thought back to how he felt. That darkness swallowing him whole. It had been an extreme reaction to the swallowing and mixing of already mixed paint. 

As much as he wanted to let it pass and recenter himself.

It was better to deal with this now. Besides everything had mixed up so bad, that at this point he had to go blank to get rid of it all. And who knows what he would remember of this incident afterward. 

So with he sigh, he leaned back against the wall. 

“Now…but I am unsure of where to start” he started, 

The orange and yellows have faded, right now settling on something of a mixture of purple and green. 

Error hummed “Gimme a moment to think then.” 

Error closed his eyes. And he just spends the time listening to the sounds of his boyfriend's static. Admiring the other as the light from the window hit him Making the blue streaks on his face almost seem to glow. 

Error opened his eyes and turned to face him, and he shook his head to get rid of his dreamy thoughts.

“Based on what you said before, were you afraid that me seeing your paintings…would make me hate you?”  

He gave a slow nod  And there was a frown on the other's face. 

“Why?  You’ve drawn me more times than I can fucking count, with and without my permission I might add?  So why now? “

He gave an embarrassed chuckle 

“It’s not the fact that I drew you…but more what I made you do in them” 

Errors eyebrow rose all the way up.

“You have drawn porn of m-” 

“Erotica” He cut him off, and Error waved him off

“Same fucking thing. But besides the point, What I wanted to point out is. You have drawn me in way more “scandalous”- “ 

 He quoted his fingers to emphasize his point. 

 “- positions. Wich, I have told you I didn’t mind as long as you didn’t show them to anyone else”  

He flushed, he had been quite embarrassed that Error had found them. But his Glitch had surprised him. He had been embarrassed sure, but also it also seemed to give Error a huge ego boost. Not that he had needed it. Espeasily when he had seen the one he had made in the hot spring. 

The error had invited him to draw him more afterward. And he had taken him up on that offer on multiple occasions. The fact that he stayed on the shore, while Error was half-naked in the water was perfect for him. 

The thought of taking his shirt off and joining in terrified him. Not wanting such an intimate act to be tainted by a crash, or anything else stupid he might do. No, he quite liked what they got

 Error continued on 

“So…I don’t get what the big deal is with these?” 

He clicked his teeth, trying to find the words to explain himself. He knew why, it felt a lot more stupid than before. But there was a part of him, that was still afraid. He could feel purple and dark blue try to overtake him. 

But he took a good look at Error, who seemed genuinely confused. Remembering the almost sad look he had gotten. His boyfriend didn’t like the clutter all his art projects caused. But he seemed perfectly content to be the main subject of his inspiration. So to have seen him destroy paintings of them…

Yeah, he can see now how that could have looked to Error. He tried to call forth some orange, and with a trembling voice he managed to speak about his fears. 

“I thought…that if you knew…how much I longed to touch you again,  you might be angry with me. I mean…I promised you…that…that when we first began dating.  That if this would ever happen..that it wouldn’t matter”  

He let out a shuddering breath, staring hard at Error's chest, it was easier than looking into the too-knowing eyes

“That no matter how bad your phobia would get. That it would change nothing…I was afraid…seeing this…you realized I had broken that promise” he muttered softly. 

“Because It does matter to me…that we can’t touch…it…it hurts a lot.” It felt scary to admit. 

“Not that I would ever leave you over it! “  He quickly stated, looking up, to see Error surprise face at this outburst, and he quickly looked back at the other's chest.

“But just…it’s a lot harder than I thought it would be” 

The silence between them felt heavy, then a dry chuckle came from Error and he looked up, and saw Error staring down…looking towards him. But not to his face. Just like had been staring at the other's chest. He wondered what he was focussing on. 

“I….forgot about that promise…” 

He blinked surprised and he turned to face his lover.

“You did? But…you made it so-” 

Error held up his hand, and he fell quiet. 

“I am not surprised you remembered. And I ain't surprised I made you promise. Dunno if I just forgot, or if it is a memory my death has taken from me…”  

He felt himself react to the mention of Error's death again. And he saw the other eyes narrow knowingly, But Error continued on. 

“But either way, I think it made you hold yourself up to an impossible standard.” 

Error let out an angry huff at himself, crossing his arms, and frowned deeper.

“I don’t think I would make that promise with the intention that you weren’t allowed to have any feelings about it at all…I just didn’t want it to be a dealbreaker.  “ 

His eyes widened.  

“Of course, it will never be!”

 And Errors eyes met his, seeming ready to rebuttal him but he continued.

“No matter, how much I long to touch, hold, hug, and kiss you again. That you feel comfortable is way, way more important to me. I never want you to feel forced to touch me. So it ain't a dealbreaker at all! Never was, to begin with. I am not the brightest, But I knew who I started dating. And if I ever made you feel like that- “  

“You never did. ”

 He felt his face erupt in a light blush

“It’s the same for me…”

Error mumbled.  Then he saw a shot of anger on his face. 

“ I WANT to touch you as well. Not because I feel forced to or some bullshit. But because I just miss it. I never even thought I could fucking miss it.  And it sucks. “

Error's face gained another emotion, and he realised it was the same as his. Self-loathing. 

“It fucking sucks so much. I just wish I could just reach out and hold your hand again. To just lay together without worry if we accidentally brush shoulders. Even you puking ink in my face as we kiss or just - “ 

“-simply give a chaste kiss?  Pull you along by the arm on our dates? Just be close again in general?”  He interrupted the other softly 

Error eyes widened and then gentled in understanding

 “yeah…” then another dry chuckle 

“Have…have we seriously both been worried about the fact. That we both just miss being as close as we were before all this fucking mess?” 

He tugged at the strings wrapped around his hands 

“Guess so…” 

Error sighed and mumbled disbelievingly.

“How did we manage to avoid talking about this for four months straight?”  

“Dunno…like I said…I thought you’d be angry. And with everything else. I just didn’t wanna add that on top of it?”  

Error let out another deeper sigh 

“And I thought, you must have known my frustration was at the situation, not at you”  

“At least we know now?”

But that didn’t really erase the last few months of pain they both felt. That now felt like had been completely unnecessary and avoidable 

They both just sat in that newfound knowledge, letting it settle in. Part of him was really upset. Part of him was relieved, it was the bigger part. But it couldn’t drown out all the dark colors sadly 

“Speaking of things we avoided talking about,” Error said with a grunt and he knew what was coming. 

“It has been four months, and we haven’t talked about the situation, that got us to this in the first place at all….have we?” 

He gave a nod. It had not been on purpose. They had talked a bit in those first few days. But focused more on both their anger surrounding the whole situation with Errors return. 

Then Error also had to stay a lot in the antivoid. His body clearly recovered much faster there if he was on his own. 

The Balance also had kept him away. He didn’t want it tipping too much either way, but there had been a push in his mind to take advantage of it. To increase his territory. He knew that push. He hated it at times. It could help him make the most wonderful of creations. It could make him do the most heinous things. 

Always trying to get more and more. Pushing him to listen to one more creator request. Check out one more Au in case it needs protecting. Strengthen the defenses of the new Au’s until they are ready to interact with the multiverse. 

He had learned to deal with that urge, learned where his own desires ended and the multiverses began. Most of the time they were the same. He had this role for a reason. He fulfilled it happily. But every job has its downside. 

And that first month the ugly side of it showed up. He had tried to keep the scales balanced in his lovers absence, hoping that it would accelerate his return, then kept it so he could recover. His job was protecting all universes. And the multiverse didn’t seem to enjoy that he wasn’t taken advantage of the power vacuum. He had managed to keep that urge at bay, by exhausting himself. 

Blue wasn’t very happy when he found out.  He made him promise not to tell Error. As far as he knew…Blue hadn’t. 

And after that first month. He had been so focused on figuring out what he and Error could and could not do anymore. How to help. How to just have dates where they both enjoyed themself. He had wanted to focus on the now. Error had seemingly wanted that as well. 

The strings around his ribs tightened softly and it once again reminded him of a hug. 

“Talk to me Ink” 

He let his hands settle against the strings around his ribs, fingertips gliding over them softly.

“It’s…hard..” 

Not because he didn’t remember. Far from it. It was seemingly burned into his brain, just like holding Error’s hand for the first time, or their first kiss. But this was one he rather forget. 

“It sucked..?”  

He started, he could hear the sobs trying to form as the blue paints tried to overtake him like before. 

Error huffed gently.

“If you made an understatement this century, that would be it”  

At the words, a burst of yellow bled through like a dotted pattern 

“Do…do you…remember what happened?” He asked softly.

Error shook his head. 

“Not really? Bits and pieces, but not the whole thing.  But I know what happened”  

“Blue?”  

Error nodded. And he wondered what Blue had said. About how he reacted, but knowing his friend. He might have just kept it at what happened to Error. Probably thought this was a conversation they should have themselves, and he didn’t blame him. 

He felt his bones rattle as much as they could in the strings hold. Following the quivering thread all the way to Errors fingers. Staring at the way he saw the other rub his thumb at the other end. 

If they could touch, Error might have been rubbing his back. Or nuzzled against his skull.  He gave a silent little tug a started with and sigh. 

“...I was too busy helping…I don’t remember who… but I was getting them out of the way, And I turned around and see you get hit with this giant blaster beam. I think I dropped who I was helping, and raced my way over to you. The attack stopped, and instead of attacking back, you just…you just fell right out of the air,” 

He remembered the terror. Error had died before, but he had never seen it. At the time all he knew was that he had been hurt, he wasn’t sure if that beam would have been enough to kill Error. But they had been fighting that stupid gaster blaster beast for a while. It had absorbed most of their attacks. They all had lost hp, and he didn’t know how much Error had left

It had felt like slow motion watching Error fall, the blue of his scarf trailing behind him, body so very limb. Not a hint of his angry boyfriend in sight. 

“I remember checking you as I got closer. You were so low on hp, And the rest of the bar had been pink with karmic retribution. And it was slowly draining the rest. I teleported beneath you, caught you…and we landed. But by the time I could start my healing, you had hit zero already” 

He was hiccuping with sobs again. And the strings squeezed him gently once more. 

“I tried to stop it…I ain't the best healer…but I threw all the intended I could behind it  - “ 

“I know Kiki...  “  Error interrupted him, and he met the other's eyes. 

There was a gentleness in them that he knew was rare. That last time he saw it, it was followed up by a day of cuddling on the couch. His magic ached knowing that can’t happen this time. He wondered if Error thought of the same thing. 

“I felt your magic…I couldn’t see or hear. But I knew you were there.”

 A rosy sort of color rose in his chest. Somewhere between red and pink. It was warm, nowhere near the feelings of sunsets and warm skies he got while kissing. But something similar. 

But icey blue came back as he remembered what had happened next. 

“Y-you turned to dust in my arms….” 

His voice was barely more than a whisper.

“y-you were there…i was holding you..and then slowly…you just..seemed to crumble away…and then…you were…gone..” 

The words barely made it past his teeth. 

He had been begging near the end, screaming for it to stop. For Error to hold on, that he could fix it. But in the end, he just sat there on the ground, covered in dust as the battle continued on around him. 

He had never felt so empty, never been as scared. Not as far as he can remember at least. He knew he got angry, that he single-handedly killed the creature that had taken Error from him. But he doesn’t remember more than the blind grief-stricken rage. 

The next thing he does remember is that Blue and Dream were holding him. Screaming and begging him to stop. His fist was bloody with marrow as he had kept on hitting the ground where he had killed the beast. Head to toe covered in Errors and the giant monster's dust. Bursting out crying in their arms. Until it all became too much, and throwing up the last of his paints. 

It took them several days to coax him to drink them again. Now that he thinks back on it, that might be the first time Dream hugged him since their breakup years before. He hadn’t even done his whole, must try and safe everyone speech… 

God, of course, Dream wouldn’t have given that speech at the time…even if had been more coherent. What an awful way to think about a friend…

Something warm wrapped around his shoulders, he looked up from where he had buried his head into his knees again. Errors strings were dropping Error's long coat around his shoulders, trying to cocoon him in it. 

“Ru…?” he mumbled confused, wiping at the tears on his face. 

“You…always buried your nose in this when we hugged…since I can’t hug you.… I thought I could trick your brain into thinking we were…cause...Fuck it Ink… I didn’t…I didn’t know okay… and I…Fuck..” 

Error's eyes seemed to be burning like he was holding back tears. Even if had let tears fall, the tracks on his face would hide them. One of his hands came up to one of the lapels, pulling the jacket closer to himself.  As Error fiddled with the strings seeming to refuse to look at him. 

“I fucking tried to hold on, I should have been paying more attention. It was such a stupid mistake. But I was keeping track of Blue. Making sure he wasn't hit, And then…” 

Error’s voice stuttered out and let out several beeps, and he saw some error signs fill his eyes. 

He rose to his knees. 

“Error..?”

The minor crash passed, and Error shook his head and continued on, 

“I should have asked Blue for more details. No wonder you have been so all over the place inky. And…fuck just because I had been stupid? I dunno what I would have done if it had been you?…destroyed half the multiverse before I came to my senses. Yet you…you didn’t.  You kept the balance, and have just been trying to make the best of a shitty situation.” 

Error clenched his fist, and the strings tightened again. And he could feel the anger through the magic. 

“ I remember how happy you were when I came back. I thought that at points you were forcing yourself to feel happy. And you might have…but…you did that…to avoid thinking of this right?”  

Error turned to look at him, 

All he could do was nod, and to his surprise, some stray tears fell from his boyfriend's eyes. He wished he could come over and kiss them away. 

“Fuck Dust and Dream man. I thought they were being assholes that day. But this. If I get my hands on Dust, Fuck that scare I gave him last time wasn’t nearly enough punishment.  Oh and Dream? Fucking dreamboat?! He was there! I remember And then He was just gonna fucking yell at you for being excited it returned?! Don’t even get me started!!“ 

His magic was rushing through his body at record speed. Making him feel a little lightheaded. That Error was angry on his behalf even after all this time That he was feeling for him…what he did back then. But had no way to express at the time. It was doing things to him. It made him happy. But he also knows that he didn’t blame either of those two.

“Enough! Error….Enough…don’t go hurt either of them, please. Dust got what he deserved. And Dream and I have resolved this ourselves, you know what was going on with him at the time. It ain't an excuse for what he did. But he wasn’t in the best place. I have decided to forgive him…I don’t want you hunting him down” 

Dreams comment at the time had hurt. It had dug at his own insecurity of his soulless state, as well as his relationship with Error. Luckily blue had stepped in. But Dream had forgiven him for doing much worse. It was hard, but he cared too much about Dream. And even thou their relationship was currently strained. He knew Dream did too. 

The amount of time he had spent helping him in the months after Error’s death attested to that. 

Error was still glaring angrily, And he shuffled closer, where he could feel the warmth of the pushing sensation. Trying to keep them apart.  

“I am not asking you to forgive them…just…please don’t go after them. I won’t even stop you if you decide to grill Dream about it, 'cause I know you will, no matter what I think of it. Just please…” 

Error huffed, still clearly upset. 

“I ain't forgiving them”  

And with that, he knew Error wouldn’t try to harm either of them. And he gave a genuine smile

 “Thank you, Ruru” 

And for the first time that night, he saw Error's beautiful yellow blush covering his cheeks. 

His own chest filled up with a soft yellowish pink. 

“Thank you for telling me about all this Ink, I promise to make it up to you”  The other muttered softly into his scarf, then a bit clearer 

“…How are you feeling now?” 

He swayed a bit back and forth.

 “Pink…”

He replied softly, and Errors blush rose and became more flustered. Error grabbed a tube he used to store papers in,  And then softly bonked him on the head with it, 

He couldn’t help the laugh that escaped him as Error mock yelled. 

“That aint what I was talking about and you know it you annoying Squid” 

He grabbed the tube yanking it out of Error's hands,

“I know~”

And gave a soft bonk against the others head in return, before dropping it and letting it roll away. 

“I am feeling…better, bit lightheaded…must be nearly out of paint…But I think…talking helped. Don’t think it got rid of everything…but don’t think I am gonna do…” 

 He glanced around the room with a sad smile…

“Well…anything like this”  

Error gave a nod, with a little frown. 

“We gotta talk more about this shit, even if we both think we don’t need to. We clearly fucking do. “ 

He nodded in agreement 

“Easier said than done…”  

“Aint that the truth…but I’ll try for you Kiki” 

“And I for you Ruru”  

They both smiled at each other and then he leaned back with a sigh. Feeling his eyesockets fighting to stay open, the colors in him became more muted as he ran on the last fumes. 

“Tired?”  Error muttered settling in as close as he dared. 

He nodded, “Probably for the best if I stay blank for a day, to make sure I got rid of all the sludge.”  

The strings around his torso tightened  like a soft squeeze from Error's arms 

“I remember what to do, and I’ll call Blue if need be” 

He gave another nod and heard the sound of a glitchy portal opening. Error probably getting supplies. But he felt something against his side, opening his eyes again, he recognized the pattern of Error’s crochet blanket.  

He didn’t pull it out often, but it was warm and smelled of him, And it was thick. But Error didn’t lay it over him, No he crumbled it up into a makeshift barrier, and with a soft pull of his strings gently coaxed him against it, while Error laid on the other side. 

Close but not touching. He could feel the pulsing heat again. Error should feel it too, and it was probably aggravating his glitches. But it was hard to fight off sleep, as Error was closer than he had been in months. Mind focusing on the feeling of strings still gently around his torso. On the smell of the warm coat that was being rewrapped around him, cocooning him against the blanket. 

And all he could feel was Error. 

“Love you…” He mumbled.

He heard a bit more static as his eyes fell closed. Knowing he was safe, feeling better than he had in a long while. The last of his paints manifested into a small rainbow flush on his face, coaxing him gently into a dreamless sleep. 

[donnetellotheturtle]

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Raph sat on the rooftop, looking at the stars. Though he would never tell that this was his usual spot when he wanted a moment to himself, he was at least happy that tomorrow night he could share it with his brothers.

Mikey came up and sat next to him. “heya.”

“How did you-“

“I couldn’t sleep, watched you sneak off…got curious.” Mikey said. Raph looked at him. “What if we’re not ready?”

Raph laid up. “Mikey, come to the edge with me.”

Mikey nodded and followed Raph to the edge of the roof where they could look down on the city.

“Woah…”

“Its beautiful isn’t it?”

“Its so bright. There’s so many people.” Mikey grinned.

“This is our home, Mikey. And we can defend it. Keep our people safe.”

Mikey looked at Raph. “Do you think there’s others like us?”

Raph nodded. “I know it little brother.” He looked up the sky which was slowly turning orange as the run rose. “come on, we have a big night tonight. Let’s get some rest.”

Usagi sat as the main person in the room. It was quiet as his teachers all discussed in whispers. Then they spoke.

“Usagi Miyamoto, you have reached your sixteenth year and so are eligible to become a full fledged member of the foot clan under the leadership of our lord shredder. To do this task, just as being a member, you must be willing to do whatever is necessary without question or concern.” One of his sensei’s said. “Will you take the oath to always serve and obey lord shredder?”

“I will.”

“Are you willing to do whatever is necessary to finish your mission?”

“I am.”

“Then stand and bow.”

Usagi did so.

They anointed him upon his forehead with black ink in the Japanese word for foot clan. Usagi smiled a bit, let the ink set in for a moment, then put on his mask over his ears and face.

Shredder stepped forward. “your first mission.” He pulled a file and handed it to Usagi.

Usagi opened it. Inside there were pictures of 4 different colored turtles and a rat man. He looked back up at Shredder.

“You will kill each of these…creatures before they become a threat. Your mission is to find exactly where they’ve been hiding and take them out.”

Usagi nodded. “I wont let you down.”

“Your mission begins now.”

Usagi nodded and left.

Shredder smiled as soon as he was sure Usagi was out of earshot. “if he completes this, then he will never be like his father…speaking of….” Shredder turned and walked off.

Usagi cheered. His first night in the city. He jumped from rooftop to rooftop, grinning, though it couldn’t be seen under his mask. He landed on a rooftop, grinning widely. Then he heard a sound. It sounded like, someone begging. Despite his teachings, he moved over to the edge of the building, where he saw a gigantic rhino mutant, or at least he thought he was a mutant, threatening a skinny man.

“Look I uh, you don’t want to bring me in. I’m a good guy and I have a family you know?”

The rhino huffed. Usagi frowned lightly, thinking about his situation. He had a mission to do, and his sensei’s taught him that pity would get him killed but…

He gripped the side of the building. He was going to regret this.

He hopped down silently in the shadows. Neither seemed to see him.

“Youre coming with me. With or without your mouth.”

That was it. Usuagi lept into action, kicking the rhino in the back as hard as he could. The rhino didn’t seem too affected though. He turned around and glared. Usagi laughed nervously. The guy snuck away and the rhino turned just a moment too late to catch him.

Usagi moved to get away but was grabbed by the foot.

“You! You just took away my bounty!”

Usagi groaned. “You were gonna hurt that guy!”

“Do you know anything?” The rhino dropped usagi on the floor. “you just lost me a whole day of work! You’re going to pay.”

Usagi moved from his butt quickly to his feet. The rhino backed him agaisnt the wall, about to punch him.

“Wait wait wait! I can help! I-“ he was suddenly hit with a splitting headache. The rhino’s face immediately changed as Usagi groaned and held his head, falling down to his knees. He saw visions of himself and a very similar rhino sharing sake and swapping stories. Though on the outside gruff and rude, the inside they were happy to have each other’s company. Both were ronin, two very different types, maybe, but could take solace in knowing the other was not alone in the world.

Usagi breathed heavily as the vision came to a stop. He opened his eyes and suddenly realized he was laying down on a bed. His mask was off, and he was wearing different clothes. His head pounded. Where was he? How long had it been? It felt like a lifetime he had lived in that vision. He slowly laid up.

The door began to open at that moment. He moved as far away as he could and looked for something to defend himself with. He couldn’t be left vulnerable. He found a piece of bamboo that was clearly decoration but would work well as a temporary weapon.

The rhino stepped in. “hey rabbit I-“

He was interrupted by usagi running and attacking him. The rhino quickly blocked and tried to grab usagi. It wouldn’t be that easy. Usagi moved past him and ran down the hall only to knock directly into a lion. His head pounded more as another vision was about to start before the lion put his hands on Usagi’s shoulders and mumbled something in Japanese that was too soft for him to understand. The vision stopped as quickly as it began. Usagi looked at him confused before trying to turn around and run again, only to be blocked by the rhino.

“calm down. We’re not going to hurt you.” The rhino said, in a much gentler voice than he used earlier. Usagi looked between the two.

“Who are you? Where am I? I-how did you stop the vision?”

“they’ve been plaguing you for months, haven’t they? Along either a visit from an old friend?”

Usagi froze. “how did you…”

The rhino sighed softly. “Usagi, it’s me. Its Gen.”

The name was so familiar. He looked at him confused. “how did…”

The lion spoke softly. “child, please allow us to explain everything.”

“this is a trick.” Usagi said.

“We could have just killed you.” Gen said, crossing his arms. The lion glared at him. “But we didn’t!”

“You were going to cave my skull in.” Usagi said.

Gen sighed. “that was before I knew who you were.”

Usagi looked at the two. It seemed as if he didn’t have a choice but to obey the both of them. “…Fine. I just want to be freed after.”

“If that is your choice.” The lion said. “now come. There is much to discuss.”

[krysmcscience]

Who ordered the post movie latte? It says 'Stinky Bastard Man' on the cup. I'd say Brown ordered it for White, but he's currently preoccupied with Impostor shaming. Any ideas, @crinklytinfoil? Or are you just gonna die laughing cuz I failed to resist my urge? ;)

Fun fact, this is the first time I've drawn Brown with eye shines - I always leave them out to give him a more hollow and lifeless appearance, lol :D

I also made his hair more reddish in accordance with descriptions, it's more auburn now. Auburn Plus, if you will.

And now, for a doodle comic that got way out of hand. I am putting it under a read-more because, uh. Bit of hinky stuff goin' on, cuz my sketches sorta ran away from me along with everything else about it, ahaha...

...yeah O///O;

Anyway.

Green, you are such a pain in the ass to draw, ink, and color :)

I should have been asleep like three hours ago, lmao, I have work tomorrow today. Feel free to submit your own Impostor Shaming moments while I careen headlong into the nearest sleeping surface.