#he hasn't talked to his father in 4 standards. he loved his father or maybe he loves his father or maybe he knows his father.

[necromycologist]

kind of a hot take but tbh despite his horrible cringefail racist nature corbin is SO interesting to me as a character. maybe the most interesting out of the wayfarers. he's just VERY, VERY angry in a way that the rest of the crew (and perhaps most of his own people considering what we hear abt Exodans culturally) just really aren't. he's a prideful git, he's overconfident, he's exacting to the point of obsession: he doesn't like other people, and they don't like him. he's very sure of where he stands, until he's not. he is abused and belittled for his origins, something completely out of his control, the same way he has belittled sissix and others and he doesn't change. he's still angry! he still doesn't understand the crew of the wayfarer, and he says as much. he's still not pleasant, he still has all the morals of an algae vat, but he's absolutely dedicated to helping the crew. and you can argue whether or not corbin injecting ohan is defensible or moral or fair until your face goes blue, but i dont think that's the point. he injects ohan and he sleeps soundly. he knows ashby is angry and he doesn't argue back. it doesn't matter to him whether or not they like him. he's content to be hated! he's absolutely certain in his actions! he is absolutely the same reprehensible git, the same egotistical control freak we meet in the first pages of the book. but even more, he is absolutely a member of the wayfarer family. perhaps not a wanted one or even a beloved one, but by god, he is there.

[itsgrimeytime]

Magnolia in May (Part Twelve) || Rick Grimes (TWD) x Greene!f!reader Regency AU

Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11...

Taglist: @loliakeoghan23 @belaballs @curlycarley

AVAILABLE ON AO3

Inspiration (in honor of Speak Now Taylor's Version): Enchanted by Taylor Swift.

Summary: Your town was small, not the smallest you knew, but anyone of high fortune was the gossip of the week. Predictably, Richard Grimes was a thing of whispers -rumors of a search for marriage among the grassy hills. You weren't one to buy into town gossip, but something about him... just seemed a little too intriguing.

TWS: insecurity, crying, fear of unrequited love, and doubts.

[[A/N: He's so pretty in this giffff. I know it's not the right format but I refuse to give up such a stunning one for something so simple. The way he rolls his jaw to bite down a smile????? girl. Sister talk, girlies. No Grimes in this one sorry, but we got some sisterly bonding soooooooo. Thanks for reading !!! ]]

"Madelyn," Maggie hummed, rather absently -combing through your hair to put it up intricately, "-or maybe Charlotte?"

You furrowed your brows, fingers threading over the embroidered tips of your skirt -a beautiful sort of shining blue thread that swirled along the hem. The sort of cream-colored satin paired well with such a blue, at least your Headmistress said so, and fashion was something you found you trusted her in. At the very least.

"Maggie?" You questioned.

She hummed, sort of distracted -you could feel her fingers nimbly sorting through your hair, "Yes?"

"What," you began -insistently, "-What are you talking about?"

"The names of your future children."

"Mine?" You spoke -incredulously, "-why not your own? I don't believe it's standard to dream of the name of someone else's future child."

"Not if the matter is seeming to grow in importance," Maggie retorted- casually, but still somehow teasingly, "-with an upcoming engagement."

You flushed, a faint sort of crimson decorating your cheeks -flustered as always. Your family had been merely intolerable since the dinner (which you'd only extended the invite to your Father -you'd decided with Mr. Grimes that another dinner could serve better for such formal announcement purposes after he made his intentions clear to Father), all teasing smiles and words of a wedding, marriage, and children as if it was such a casual thing to discuss.

It was honestly rather infuriating but you were far too happy for it to bring you down.

"Oh, please, Maggie-" you retorted with a rather sly grin, "-you speak as though you have no such engagement yourself."

"That's-" she stopped braiding, suddenly, "-That is hardly the same thing, Mr. Rhee... Mr. Rhee hasn't declared to me such intentions."

"Right, and just because he hasn't spoken of such ventures, you assume he doesn't wish them?"

"What is a man if he is not to speak his mind," your sister echoed, slowly, you suddenly got such a sense that something like this had been bothering her. Something heavy in the air, but before you could ask, Maggie took your hair back between her fingers -braiding ever so delicately.

"He could very well be nervous, you know," you poised gently, "-men are not above such feelings."

"Nervous of what? He-" she responded, hands slowly slightly to tell you she was listening -rather intently, "-He must know that such things would cause a delight in any young lady."

"Perhaps, you're not just any young lady to him, sister," you hummed, almost soothing, "-I find it hard to speak such intense things for those I care for so intensely. It's a conundrum that I'm fairly certain plenty struggle with. Maybe even, Mr. Rhee."

"But Mr. Grimes," she started, before puffing out a breath -rather decisively, "-he seemed so intent with you. I never considered you to be anything but long-term pursuance."

"To you," you responded, frankly.

"To me? Oh no-" she echoed, suddenly in front of you then, green eyes persistent, "-I'm sure half of Alexandria was certain of such a-"

"Not me."

Maggie paused, her trail of thought lost between her lips, as she merely stared at you. A sort of deep-seated wonder fluttering in her irises, eager to understand you. She'd always had such a rebellious streak, but you'd never seen such empathy in someone. You were sure she was feeling much more than she let on.

"When you're falling in love," you spoke -a sort of wistful tone, "-it's hard to tell sometimes. I... I believe it to be a quite sudden realization, rather than something you learn to feel gradually. Maybe even quite scary. But to say that, you have to acknowledge how merely impossible it is to watch someone fall in love with you. To know it's happening."

"And you didn't know, then?" she asked, a bit in disbelief.

"I knew he was fond," you clarified, "-I knew where it was headed, but still. I found myself lacking in such belief he cared for me in the manner I cared for him. So much so, that the events happened the way they did."

You were picking at your dress -fingers pinching where the blue thread embroidered its delicate pattern, never enough to damage it. But speaking of such events didn't quite erase the heartbreak just yet, even though it had all been rather settled you... you weren't sure the ache would ever completely disappear. Just the curse of misunderstanding.

"Maggie," you started again, strong-willed -spoken with intent, "-don't discount that the man may love you just because you don't see it. Or that he wouldn't choose to. I... I've done so, and the assumption only did harm, we both know that."

"Then," she started, almost a little helpless, "-What am I to do? How do I- If it's hard to see, how can I believe such a thing?"

You hummed, gently bringing one of her hands to yours -encasing it in your palms, "Have you told him of such concerns?"

"I..." she began, defensive, but softened -tired, "-I wasn't entirely sure it was appropriate for a young lady to ask such a direct question."

"A fair thought, but-" you began, "-this involves your future. It's not exactly just his concern, you have plenty at stake yourself. If Mr. Rhee isn't willing to speak freely of his intentions, you must be free to find someone who will."

Maggie paused, almost sinking into the bed where you sat -green eyes fogging up, "I don't wish to find anyone else. I-"

You shushed her, wiping away the tears on her cheeks with the padding of your thumb -slow and precise, "Why not just tell him, sister?"

"Okay," she echoed -softly, and sniffling, "-okay. But how I am to wait to... Why can I not just attend now?"

"Sister, I'm not the one to ask for such advice. As I've been known to storm out for such purposes you may have."

"It's not raining," she stressed, suddenly rising to her feet, "-and it's morning."

"Far better circumstances, yes," you echoed, following her with haste, "-but are you prepared for such an encounter?"

"What are you expecting? A duel?"

"No," you shook your head -scanning over her rather frantic appearance, "-such a meeting is intense in its own right. I'm not so sure you're in the right mindset to speak to him with such intensity."

"Right mindset? Y/N, I just want to tell him I love him!"

The silence in the room was loud, a sort of heaviness cracking through the air -a desperate, sort of feeling you knew well. Clawing up your throat, every minute feeling like your last, what if I'm losing him? You wondered distantly if this is how you looked that dreadful night.

Maggie was stunning, always had been, but there was something in her air that set you off. You knew of such nerves, such anxiousness, such desperation -please love me. And it was right there in front of you, laid out like a flower just beginning to bloom -you could see it all in her. For different reasons, but at another point, the very same reasons.

You were slow, hesitant to speak and break such heaviness, "You do? You... You love him?"

"Of course I do," she whispered, barely there, "-I've never... What I feel about Mr. Rhee is something I truly cannot bare to lose. You must understand, I have never felt quite so... whole."

"Maggie," your voice cracked -softly, tears rising to your eyes.

"It's like," she continued -voice quicker with tears aplenty, "-like I cannot remember how I felt before him. How my life felt before him. I... can't lose him, I just can't."

"Maggie, breathe," you spoke -soothing, careful steps closer to your sister and running your hands up and down your arms, "-I know it may feel like you're losing him, but you are not. There is no reason for you to assume so-"

"There is!" She echoed, but the shake in her voice was less -you took what you could get.

"Is it something he told you himself?"

"I..." she started, voice lighter, "-no, but I haven't encroached on such conversation."

"That is where you start then," you reiterated, something deep in your chest twinging, "-trust me, the heartbreak of such thoughts isn't worth it. You need clarity-"

And with that, you spun around and grabbed the coat that matched her dress -securing it over her shoulders with ease. Hands carefully smooth down her rather tussled hair from the morning and wipe away some of the tear stains. Looking at it now, the blush on her cheeks from crying was rather complimenting -you supposed Headmistress was right last time.

"Look at me," you tilted her face to match yours, "-you go to him, and you only speak to him, directly."

"Will you come with me?"

"Come with you?" You asked -incredulous really, "-To your love confession?"

"Not-" Maggie groaned, "-not that part, but the walk and the buildup, I... I believe I may get too overwhelmed on my own-"

You sighed -a deep hearty sort, caring, "If you wish me to, there's nowhere else I would choose to be."

"Thank you," she whispered lightly, shaky but genuine, "-I could never do this alone."

"Give yourself more credit, you are plenty capable."

"Y/N," Maggie echoed -a little breathless, "-I don't know this... this feeling. I fear I cannot be rational with something I don't know."

You paused, taking her in, wondering if it was how you appeared amid all the letters and the chaos and the heartbreak. Did you look so desperate? So distraught, so... so hopeful of something you never truly dreamed would happen?

You smiled, small, "Oh, my beloved sister, there is hardly anything rational about love. Look at me for instance-"

She listened, intently. You truly hoped you could guide her in the right direction.

"-I... I went out in the pouring rain to understand if he felt as I did. After I realized he did, I ran out in the night on a hunch that he'd be by a stall-" you laughed -incredulously, "-Because I didn't wish to be too late to tell him so. Does that sound like the proper etiquette of a lady, then?"

"No," she spoke softly, a bit in a weepy sort of laugh -a mixture of sadness and happiness you'd always felt was far too powerful.

"But it was rational to me then," you explained, "-I felt... I felt as though I had to do it because I loved him so. It overpowered my etiquette, I suppose."

"So," Maggie echoed, gathering pieces, "-you... I wouldn't be rational either way?"

"Maybe one day," you clarified, finishing up your hair yourself in the mirror, "-when it isn't so... fresh. I'm afraid I'm not even there yet to tell you the honest truth of it."

"And-" she started, quick but you held onto her words, "-if he was to not reciprocate such intentions... I would, what?"

"Maggie," you hummed, spinning around back to match her, "-I say this with the most honesty I can give you. Mr. Rhee is terribly in love with you, beyond a doubt."

"But-"

"He looks at you as though you are the sun after a few long, cold nights," you expressed, dusting off the shoulders of her coat and pressing some creasing to vanish, "-like he spends every minute he's awake and away from you, missing you."

"You've hardly seen him," Maggie whispered -tone broken but you could almost see the warmth light up behind her eyes: hope.

"I've seen far enough to tell you that," you responded, carefully folding your hands in front of you once more, "-even in my limits... I know it."

She smiled a bright one, with her brilliantly sparkling green eyes shiny with tears. Something in you softened, your little sister in love-

You knew it was coming, eventually, the stubborn Maggie would find her match, but even with that knowledge, you wouldn't truly believe you were quite prepared. It was almost surreal for a moment, seeing her for the woman she was rightfully becoming.

"And if he doesn't, I'll make him sure to regret it," you added, quickly, playfully.

Something deep in there, a support, a solace, for the worst-case scenario. You didn't wish to think it, but if it were to... you would stand behind her proudly.

"And if Mr. Grimes does anything of the same caliber," Maggie smiled -eyes still a bit fogged and wringing the nerves in the pressure she held between her hands, "-you know who to call upon."

And that, in fact, you did.

[snuggles-and-struggles]

So that lore.

If I do ever get around to writing more for these boys, what I'm thinking is that monsters had still been underground, but surfaced earlier than usual, around the time Edge and Stretch would've been like, 7-10 ish.

The transition up top took some time, what with there being multiple different ones over the span of a few years, and as the monster sanctioned areas grew, became sort of segmented by universe. This brought its own difficulties with it, as some monsters, mostly those from "Fell" type undergrounds, had harder times adjusting to surface life.

Edge and Stretch met very early on, shortly after surfacing and before the "divisions" got too bad. Edge and Red had already lost their father and were semi accustomed to looking after themselves, but Stretch and Blue's father, while not the most outwardly compassionate, did try to keep an eye on them and help them out in ways Red would let him.

Unfortunately, it wasn't too long after that Swapster got sick and declined pretty quickly. Stretch and Edge were tween/young teenagers when he finally succumbed, but as things had simultaneously been growing more strained between the 'verses, circumstance pushed them apart a bit. They still tried to hang out when they could, and Blue and Red certainly had more than one argument over the two just coming to stay with them (despite barely being able to keep their own heads above water), but distance grew between them over the teen years.

Until Red got sick.

The same illness that claimed Swapster, during one of their rare actual opportunities to spend time together, Edge told Stretch. He'd been doing any work he could get (and Stretch resolutely never asked about the few LV he'd gained over the years), but it just wasn't enough, and Red's condition was only getting worse.

On the brink of graduating or possibly in a gap year, Stretch completely changed his career choice, going into medical science in order to aid in finding treatment for the disease. And with tensions finally eased into a sort of normalcy and Blue having long since secured a decent job, the Fell boys moved in with the Swaps for a little while.

Once Edge had secured himself better work, and using what little savings Red had accumulated before falling ill, they manage to move out after a few years, and make their own way. Red is a trial patient, by Stretch's recommendation, and is currently receiving experimental treatment that hasn't entirely helped in recovery, but slowed its progression significantly, which is really saying something considering how serious the condition is.

Edge and Stretch, of course, have unresolved feelings for each other, Stretch had probably been in love with Edge almost the whole time, but Edge likely only developed more romantic feelings once older, probably during the brief time they lived together. They both care about each other deeply, but tend to dance around heavier subjects and their own personal problems which keeps that little bit of space there even when they'd honestly both be so much better off if they just talked ough

But! They're actually pretty similar to my young code blue boys, but with waaay less angst along the way lol I'd love to write more with them, maybe some of the earlier days like a time Edge snuck in to Stretch's room really late as teens, or maybe them moving in together in the not so distant future (or maybe slightly distant, Edge probably wouldn't until Red didn't need him looking after him anymore).

They're very cute and sweet and I'm kissing them both on their stupid little foreheads. (Also feel the need to clarify that while Edge does have LV, it's not anywhere near as much as standard for when he’s in the guard and everything, like, maybe he’s at abt 4? More than 2 but definitely not more than 6)