#he kinda realizes that though and tries to humble himself

[lilacartsmadsion]

“Please…don’t go wrong again…”

“Please…at least turn out okay…”

————————————————

“Father? Where does Life Powder come from?”

“…”

“They come from tears, Son.”

“Tears?”

“Yes…”

“Ever since The Rebellion of the Beasts…The Nameless One weeps in mourn…for he loved all his beloved creations…including the bad…”

“So now he weeps to create life, hoping that…the cookies too, will understand they are not alone in their suffering…”

“…”

“Father?”

“Yes?”

“Is there a way to make the Nameless One happy?”

“…I suppose…we have to try and make the most in life…The Nameless One is often happy when his creations are thriving…it gives him peace…and assurance that everything will be okay.”

————————————-

Legends say…that the successor of Volition was baked by the Nameless One himself…unlike the other Four who were chosen…

Born from the bitterest of Cacao Beans, the Nameless One baked him with the knowledge of suffering…the bright light of his sword was dimmer than the rest, glowing a dark purple aura.

His mind as bitter as his dough…his will as strong as the mountains…

Much like the Nameless One…

He too was born from tragic beginnings…

—————————-

Some lore bits here.

So yeah, PV, HB, WL and GC were all chosen by the other gods except for DCA who was baked by Gingerbrave himself.

The reason was because Gingerbrave couldn’t find a Cookie who truly suited his idea. Gingerbrave believed if the Cookie started out from suffering that they would learn to be humble…much like he did when he was first baked out of the oven…

This is kinda ironic since DCA goes on to adopt Gingerbrave when he eventually goes down to the mortal realm in the guise of a child.

Also btw, The Dark Flour War never happened the only threat now are the Beasts. The Dark Cacao Kingdom never experienced poverty, but did experience some slight mishaps from the Licorice Sea, so in this timeline Dark Cacao and Dark Choco have a good relationship.

Dark Cacao was only neglectful the first few years but then realized how much he missed his son and tried to make up for lost time when Dark Choco was just a child. So yeah…healthy DCA family in this timeline.

DE still exists though.

[genovianxprince]

OK I think I understand some of why some people in the fandom choose to make Mystra some kind of a terrible, grooming abuser to Gale. It's because every one of the companions has like a specific person you can point to and say, that is the abuser. That right there is the person who has caused the companion grievous harm. Gale and Mystra are a little more complex than that.

Shadowheart and Lae'zel technically have a whole cult/culture backing up the abuse, but you can still pretty directly point to Viconia and Shar for Shadowheart, and ultimately Vlaakith for Lae'zel as well as just... every Githyanki she ever met, except for Kith'rak Voss.

Wyll has Mizora, Karlach had Zariel and Gortash, Astarion has Cazador, all very obvious and self explanatory in the game. They were innocent, kidnapped, coerced, sold, played like a damn fiddle. But Gale?

Gale has Mystra, a goddess he loves, who also loves him, and the things they did to each other were both fucked up, and a lot of the fault totally lies with Gale! The other companions all had external forces affecting them. Gale's was mostly internal. He refused to believe he was good enough. "As inconceivable as it seems to me now, I shared a bed with a goddess and I still wasn't satisfied." A literal goddess, the one he favored, the one he was in love with, who favored and loved him back, consistently told him he was perfect as he was and he straight up did not believe her. He placed himself on a higher and higher pedestal he could never reach the top of because if he wasn't constantly climbing to some nebulous goal of perfection, then could he be good enough for Mystra?

Y'know, instead of just believing the woman he was in love with. And I get it! Insecurities suck! Especially when you've been the gifted child your entire life, perfectly talented at something that all the adults in your life go nuts over. But also, it is extremely arrogant to assume you know better than your literal goddess and be like "yo, there's a missing piece of the Weave and I can go get it" like... Mystra is the Weave, she would have known and probably sent someone on a quest if it were actually Her Weave and not Karsus' Weave.

Gale is INCREDIBLY hubristic and he keeps falling for that trap. He's overconfident. Hell, even after his year in isolation where he comes out humbled, a small group of people believing in him for a short amount of time gets him to go "omg, crown of karsus = godhood, I can totally do that and tell the gods they SUCK and overthrow Ao's rules!"

Like, babyboy, no.

Of course, Mystra is not without some fault. After Gale's initial... Folly-up, she just ignores him for a year. Damn, girl, what the hell! Well. You see. The Netherese orb is a fragment of the magic that Karsus used to try to ascend and steal her throne with. The magic that she realized was going to kill everything if she didn't sacrifice herself. For a moment, all magic ceased to exist, including Mystryl herself, and Karsus died. Then Mystra came into being. Gale tells you a short version of this story himself! So it kind of makes sense that Mystra would see this shard of magic and just... kinda have a trauma reaction! And to gods, time flows differently. It wouldn't shock me to learn she didn't realize it had been a year by the time Gale left his Tower due to mind flayer shenanigans. Naturally, she does not want to discuss the thing she's so terrified of, and just tries to have it destroyed without her having to touch it—the plan to have Gale blow himself up on the Absolute itself, and she would save his soul. And even after he disobeys her instruction, she still allows the orb to feed on the true Weave! She still lets him live without fear of blowing up randomly, even though it greatly distresses her to let this magic that killed her once feed on her own life force.

Then he reaches the city, and reads The Annals of Karsus, and realizes she's going to have to explain, despite not wanting to. And she summons him. Tells him exactly what's in his chest. Asks him to turn over the Crown and she will destroy the orb and face her own trauma, because Gale... doesn't want to die. She understands that. And she still loves him and his big beautiful brain despite how stupid he's been, and she wants to have him as her Chosen again.

Things will never be the same, of course. They both fucked up. Gave each other a bad time. But in the end, they forgive each other and move past it. Not as a couple, because things broke too much for that. But they can have a healthy relationship as Goddess and Chosen once more.

And that is what sets Gale and his trauma apart from the companions. He doesn't have a direct abuser or live in a horrific abusive society. He almost killed the goddess of all magic a second time and she had an understandably harsh reaction to that, even if it was still too harsh. I just don't believe it's only Mystra who fucked up here. Not by a long shot. Much of it lies squarely with Gale.

And, as for the grooming allegations [as far as people trying to say it is canon], literally just no. She's a True Neutral goddess. Gale literally tells you that you are not his first mortal lover, he had a few before he ever fell into Mystra's bed, and you're just the first since the breakup about a year ago. The game doesn't shy away from sex and sexual abuse in the least. Why on Earth would this be something hidden behind several layers of nonexistent subtext? It's definitely fun for AU's, but by Ahghairon's lost nose, no, it's not canon!

[ravenwitch45]

Do you mind doing where Crimson has a Imp husband who is also his sugar daddy? (Weird idea ik lol)

Oh my! XP Weird Idea indeed but oddly fitting considering Crimson was kinda struggling finacially, why the wedding plan happened and all. Sure thing! I like writing Crimson being humbled and all.

Crimson with an Imp Husband Sugar Daddy S/O

It just kinda happened after the wedding plan was a bust. He needed money, so he ran into you at some fancy club, noticed several details hinting you were rich (Also had his men to read up on you cause he didn't want to be a sucker again) He offers a deal, you add the condition of him being your sugar baby, which flusters him greatly btw.

He swallows his pride after you explain the situation, though a day later cause he doesn't want to seem too desperate and bam, Crimson has a sugar daddy XP

Your very respectful to him, never treating him like a toy or servant, only asking if he could come over like once a week or sometimes visiting him but you take the no if he refuses, which he rarely does, still trying to treat this like a basic business deal so he's trying his best to fulfill his end.

You find it adorable how he tries so hard to be stonefaced even though he blushes like crazy doing stuff like kisses and cuddles, grumbling a lot. You often politely ask him for affection and stuff, but when he does it unprompted, you get all blushy and tease him on it, having him yell it doesn't mean anything as you kiss him on the cheek.

He's very rigid at first, a lot like Blitz is with Stolas, but after you make it clear you actually want him, and not just a person to fuck, he cools off, for a while it's more friends with benefits then anything, you chat and sometimes kiss and fuck (Which he won't admit he enjoys a lot more then he expected) but neither really consider yourselves truly dating.

You don't want to push him, and He's takes a while with his multisexual awakening, realizing he actually likes you, confessing to you drunk which you find adorable before bringing him to bed so he can sleep before the hangover in the morning, and then you discuss and get on the same page. Him blushing at how happy you seem about it, never really having that really, for good reason but still.

And after that it's a nice domestic relationship for a good while, he's a lot more relaxed with his empire going smooth with your funds added, and going to you as the day winds down to relax, you two going on dates and experimenting with stuff as couples do. You usually just bringing up his sugar baby status to fluster him.

C:Y-Y/N! You know I don't like you calling me that in public...

Y/N: Okay! Hey everybody this is my sexy boyfriend Crimson!

C, pulling his hat down with a blush as you put arm around him:

Y/N: You cute little grump~

C:I hate you...

Eventually one time you casually call him your hubby or husband, and he kinda freezes. He really likes you and the last person who called him that... well she didn't have a great time. And for a while he kinda closes himself off as he rakes his mind over it.

A few weeks after that he treats you to a surprise fancy dinner and proposes. Coming clean his last marriage didn't go well and it was his fault entirely, but he wants to do better with you, more then anything and he'd love if you'd give him that chance.

The hug and kiss he takes as a yes as he slips the ring onto your finger. Hugging and kissing you back, holding you closer then any wealth he's gained through this relationship, loving you with all his heart.

Okay there you go! Know it was more meeting to fiancé then actual hcs on the husbands relationship but this is long enough I feel. I enjoyed this one, never wrote a relationship like this so sorry if it's off, though I'll never get tired of writing Crimson's Queer awakening tbh XP Hope you enjoyed and thanks for sharing!

[spiegelgestalt]

So I finished LN 1 and immediately started LN 2 (and am currently at chapter 3) and I thought before I go on I should take a minute and collect my thoughts

Random yelling under the cut:

the first loop is kinda like a tutorial quest for Subaru. He learns nothing from it.

or to say it more precisely he learns the wrong lessons: Subaru kinda bumbles himself into a win during the first loop. None of what helped him win was planned. And to say it more precisely, what helped him win were random acts of kindness: Reinhard deciding to help while not on duty, Emilia saving that child and showing her nature through that, Subaru empathizing with Felt and Rom and winning there trust that way, Subaru letting Felt go because she is fifteen and he is seventeen (and that scene gave me feelings - he is such a good boy!!!) Felt deciding to not run away but instead to run screaming and crying to the main road and than Reinhard once again deciding to help. Kindness is important. Kindness can change the world. Being kind and helping others is the way forward. ( and in a way you could argue that Emilia was saved in the end because she decided to be kind to a random stranger with a particular ability - I'm actually really curious what happened in the run where Subaru died immediately - did Emilia survive, did she get her crest back, how much did Subaru change)

So Subaru could have learned a lot here: sometimes it's better to be the coward who lives instead of being the heroic fool in everyone's way; it's important to be kind, and also important to let others be kind to you; he's in an incredible weak position so it's important to learn as much as he can as fast as he can, Emilia is kinda badass... There could have been a lot

Sadly Subaru is trapped in a heroic fantasy and decided to rework the whole situation in a way where only the last moment counts were he took the hit for her and learned: I need to be a hero and do awesome stuff to be loved AND there is a right way to do things (there isn't)

its pretty telling that in the moment were Emilia smiles and tells him her name he says "it's not worth it at all" because what Subaru actually wants is Emilia to be indebted to him for the rest of her life, she's supposed to be the reward for all his suffering (no wonder he becomes resentful once she tries to distance herself) and so Emilia becomes Emilia-tan and Subaru will start to ignore every hint that she is waaaaay out of his league and that she doesn't need a protector

The last chapter from Reinhards perspective was really funny. Watching the series I never realized how low Reinhards self esteem is. I always thought he was just humble

The relationship between Felt and Rom was really sweet. I really hope they see each other again

Found family is a big theme in re:zero

I never realized how cold/emotionless Puck is

Spoiler for LN 2:They really sanded down Subarus edges for the anime. The scene were he pets Emilia's hair as a reward is suuuper uncomfortable (i still think he is a good boy at heart though)

[teddybeartoji]

ugghh mickey i just though of this scenario and i HAD to share cuz i just know you’ll know what i’m talking about

IMAGINE TEACHING TOJI SOMETHING☹️ like walk w me…

he’s really proud and imo kinda egocentric so i have a feeling he’s not the best learner.. but he just used your blanket (that was like… perfectly folded and neat and cute btw) and u tell him he has to fold it, but he… just… has? no idea?? how?

he never gaf about something as trivial as making the bed, to him that’s pretty much wasting time cuz honestly… he’ll have to lay down there again so what’s the point? but when you ask, well, demand him to fold your blanket, he feels a lil dumb.

doesn’t want to contest you because you’re an orgazined person, and he can’t decide for u how you like your stuff… so he does it! i mean… he said he’ll do it, but rn he is umm not quite sure where to start. he’s a smart man though, and it can’t be that difficult!!! like, for the love of god, he knows how to FOLD, obviously! he kills on the daily, can manage weapons like he was born for it (he kinda was born for it lol), so how can a little fluffy miffy blanket scare him?

so he does it. duhhh.. he folds it. but then realizes… the math is NOT mathing?? that doesn’t even makes sense, he made sure to place corner with corner how has that happened?? its a mess! it’s like it was never even folded.

he’s about to give up and say fuck it, who cares? but you care (for some reason) and he cares about what you care, so he tries again, and….. fails again.

on the third try, you spot him. (u hold back a laugh cuz you don’t wanna embarrass him) and then u start teaching.

at first, he pretends he doesn’t need help.

“i know how to fold a blanket… jesus.” he mutters lowly, rolling his eyes, atp trying to convince himself.

he lets you demonstrate though, and he watches, my man STARES.

tojis brows are furrowed he’s got a little concentrated pout as he watches you do it and it’s the cutest thing you’ve ever seen.

when he tries again, now with a little more knowledge, he does it slowly, mimicking exactly what you did, EXTREMELY concentrated and…. oh my god, is he BLUSHIN???? ugh he’s the cutest i can’t !!!!! :(

and you just know it’s not a “weaponized incompetence” case because after he sees you doing it one time (fast learner!!) he manages to do it perfectly!!!!! (ok, almost) and never struggles again.

you could tease him for it… but you won’t………. for now.

idk the idea of making a huge man like him a lil embarrassed abt something so silly just makes my heart smile :((( i can’t stop imagining the lil pout ughh

sorry abt the grammar!! english is not my first language. oh and sorry if this got a little too long as well, he drives me crazy!!!!

OHHHHHHHHHHHH:(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( OH NONNIE I ADORE THIS SO FUCKING MUCH ARE YOU KIDDING MEEE:(((((((((((((((((( THIS IS SO ADORABLEEEE THE GRUMPY OLD MAN IS LEARNING SMTH NEWWW:(((((( the little blush and the pout aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa i'm gonna explode what the hellll i agree with you 10000% btw i feel like he really wouldn't care for stuff like this at first but when you tell him that you do care.. he starts to think abt them more too bc your happiness is the most important thing to him

him grumbling to himself and rolling his eyes even though he knows he needs your help omfg i love him so bad HE'S SO CUTEEEEEEE

btw i just thought abt him trying to put a sheet on a weighted blanket and i think that would humble him very quickly too lmao idk if you have one but i do and it's. a very hard task okay you need to learn some tricks for it and only then it gets a little easier,, and if you don't believe me i also let my dad try it when i first got it and it was the funniest sight ever lmao so i do think that toji would struggle with it too and you'd have to give him some tips😭😭😭😭

[ternfic]

Bluebird

Chapter Eight: Destiny

That unspoken promise of conversation took a while to actually happen, between being so busy with stabilizing Cloud Cuckooland and rounding up more Master Builders. It had become an all-out race, trying to collect their brethren and lead them to safety before Bad Cop found them and made sure they were never seen again. He was getting scarily efficient at it.

Unikitty’s home was surprisingly humble in design, though the pink and white and blue made it pretty obvious whose house it was. Benny had long since learned to stop being surprised by the foreign princess. He let himself in- her door was always open. “Unikitty?”

“Over here, Benny!” she chirped in response, and he followed her voice. She had the table set with some brightly colored desserts, of which he only recognized the macarons, and a pitcher of pink lemonade, because of course. He grinned. “Have a seat!” He dropped himself on one of the cushy stools. “How are you doing?”

“Pretty well, all things considered,” Benny answered. “So uh. What did you want to talk about?”

“You know, it’s incredibly rare that someone ‘just becomes’ a Master Builder.”

Benny smirked, lacing his fingers together and resting his hands on the table. “Wow, you don’t beat around the bush, do you?” She smiled sweetly back at him. “I have been very curious about that.”

“You don’t remember what happened?”

Benny glanced down at his hands. “None of us really remembers what happened, the cryostasis kinda messed with our memory. But mine’s the worst; I guess I suffered from oxygen deprivation for a bit before I managed to get into my own pod. And it’s not just that particular flight I’m missing, I’ve lost other things too. But I think I definitely would have remembered training to become a Master Builder. I mean, that’s not something that happens overnight, right?”

“In most cases, you would be right,” someone else answered, and Benny startled. He hadn’t heard anyone else come in.

“Vitruvius!” Unikitty cheered. “I’m so glad you could make it! Have a seat!” Benny frowned as the wizard meandered his way in their direction, before realizing the old man was blind.

“Oh,” Benny said, but before he could even think to offer to help, Vitruvius had found his way to a stool and sat down on it.

“Benny, this is Vitruvius! He’s one of the greatest Master Builders to ever live, and the most knowledgeable about Master Building and The Man Upstairs. He’ll be able to explain things better than I can.”

“You flatter me, Princess,” Vitruvius teased. “Benny. You must have so many questions.”

“Always,” Benny said, grinning. “Are you really the Vitruvius? The guy who stood up to Lord Business and tried to stop him from taking the Kragle? Alone? And made the prophecy about The Special?”

“That would be me,” the wizard replied in good humor. “Though it cost me the use of my eyes.”

“I’m sorry to hear about that…”

“Oh don’t be, it’s only a minor hindrance. I can still See plenty.”

Benny tilted his head at that, then shrugged. “So uh. How does someone like me happen?”

“Every so often, our world faces great peril. Some of the threats are obvious- like Lord Business and his plans for the Kragle- and some, only a very few ever know about. I suspect the latter may have been the case when you were chosen.”

“Chosen??”

“When our world is threatened, The Man Upstairs chooses a Champion to stop the evil that would destroy us. Sometimes that Champion is already a Master Builder, and sometimes the Champion becomes one upon being chosen.”

“…I was chosen…?”

“It’s the only explanation I can think of, for you to suddenly become a Master Builder.”

Benny curled in on himself. “I wish I could remember what happened.”

“Perhaps it’s best that you don’t, I can’t imagine such a burden would be pleasant to bear.”

“But- is that…” Benny looked down at his hands. “Am I not a ‘Champion’ anymore? Is that why all I can Build is spaceships, even after being a Master Builder for a couple years? I mean I love building spaceships, it’s my favorite thing in the world! But…”

“But everyone else says you’re not a real Master Builder because that’s all you Build?” Vitruvius guessed.

Benny shrugged. “Yeah.”

“I can’t say whether you’re still a Champion or not,” Vitruvius answered. “There is much about the nature of The Man Upstairs that’s beyond even me. But Champion or not, I believe He does still have a purpose for you. Don’t let the others discourage you, Benny, you belong here as much as any of them.”

The conversation turned to lighter topics after that, and after about an hour, Benny excused himself. He hated to seem rude, but that had been… quite a revelation Vitruvius had given him. That he was once a Champion…

Whoever The Special turned out to be, they would surely be the new Champion. Already, he felt a sort of protectiveness over them. Somehow he doubted it would be any of the Master Builders, no matter what the prophecy said. Not even Vitruvius’ star pupil. Their attitudes had improved since he went under, but really not by much. There was still a lot of arrogance among their numbers.

He left Cloud Cuckooland, needing some peace and quiet, and sat on its doorstep to think. Metalbeard was starting to get Ideas, about raiding Octan Tower and putting an end to Lord Business’ threat then and there. He was currently out seeking a new crew with which to do just that. Benny, on the other hand, had a bad feeling about it. Lord Business was sure to have many failsafes in place, for just such an event. The man was smart, really smart, to have taken over the world so thoroughly as he had. While Master Builders were hated and hunted, its other citizens believed he had brought peace and prosperity.

And honestly, he had, Benny noted, the few times he ventured out in disguise. The world had changed so much since he was last truly a part of it. There was little crime left at all, and most of that was the sort of vandalism to be expected of protesting Master Builders. People seemed to get along for the most part, there were no traffic accidents, no theft, no murder, no harassment, no rules against who you could love… To those inside the law, the world had become a utopia. Though it was honestly ridiculous, the price for coffee anymore. It wasn’t cheap to get it across the borders Business had built up around the realms.

The sun was setting, and that high up into the sky, he had an unimpeded view of the stars. Benny’s heart sank. How he wished he could be up among them again… His fingers itched with the need to Build.

He shook his head, snapping himself out of it before he headed back into Cloud Cuckooland in search of pieces for a spaceship that would never get finished anyway. Attempt #68 would have to wait; back to the topic on hand. He had to find some way to convince Metalbeard the raid was a bad idea. They could come up with countless plans, but Master Builders thought too outside the box. Lord Business would be ready for them. And that was why he thought- he hoped- that The Special wouldn’t be a Master Builder. Because that wasn’t what they needed.

Whoever that ‘lass or fellow’ turned out to be, Benny vowed that they would have at least his support.

[cloudninetonine]

Apparently It was Rulie's birthday a bit ago and I am currently sobbing at his feet, apologizing for not doing anything.

I feel like Player would be the type of person to memorize literally everyone's birthday and plan accordingly so that no one gets left out, even if someone like Hyrule mentions it offhandedly. Even better if that's legitimately the only thing they are able to keep track of. If not, Player still has their phone and a fully functioning calendar.

Hyrule, being the humble person that he is, wouldn't really do much for his birthday. It's kinda hard to have a party or any celebration when you're fighting for your life everyday, even after defeating Ganon. I feel like Player would just enlist Wild to bake a cake (if not try to bake it themselves) while they go off to find Rulie a present (once again, that's if they haven't already have been looking for it in any towns they've been visiting)

Wind and Legend (not willingly, he just wanted to spend time with Hyrule on his birthday) are the designated 'distract Hyrule until everything is done' (good luck, that mf can smell that cake a mile away). Hyrule goes along with it, trying to remain positive and happy, but he gets kinda bummed because he hasn't really seen Player or Wild all morning, and all he really wanted to do was hang out with both of them (he thinks Player forgot about him). Gilda can read her brother like an open book and tries to cheer him up, but there's nothing much she can do without ruining the entire thing, so she flies over to player like 'hurry up he's getting sad', to which player essentially goes 'oh no I've abandoned my boy!'.

It isn't until the end of dinner (Hyrule's favorite, courtesy of le link) when the cake gets brought out where he essentially has the realization of 'oh, this was all for me'. Gilda pokes fun of his blushing face as player sits beside him and hands him their present, the others soon following after with gifts of their own. That night Hyrule goes to sleep next to Player and later in their arms (bc I fucking LOVE the sleephugger! Player hc) with a smile on his face and tender fondness/love in his heart.

Maybe Hryule's present was just quality time with the two. Maybe The morning is spent hanging out with Legend, not really doing much of anything because it's too early, maybe spending some time in the market, maybe sewing up clothes together, just mindless tasks while conversation flows. Maybe Legend even gives up or forges a ring specifically for Hyrule, you can never be too safe after all, especially in Hyrule's, well, Hyrule.

Next, he's whisked away by Gilda over to Player (because I don't think Legend would take too kindly to player stealing Rules away, though I doubt anything would come of it because no one wants to ruin Hyrule's birthday) who's teamed up with Gilda to find a perfect grove full of flowers and moss and life for the two (I think Gilda would hang out with Wild so Hyrule wouldn't be too embarrassed to open up and enjoy himself around player, it's a crush but Hyrule would take that to his grave, denying the whole way down.) to traverse through. They laugh and tell stories and weave flowers for eachother and their friends, they might even be🥺🥺 casually affectionate🥺🥺🥺.

Then, when they are too tired to continue, and their stomachs are empty, they return in time for Lunch where Hyrule is then dragged away by Wild to go on 'a binding adventure where we leave closer as brothers and friends'....they absolutely get lost and have to get brought back by Wolfie, but they absolutely enjoyed themselves! Wild even let Hyrule keep whatever they found.

The only thing in my head is this video and that's so player it's hurts.

I think Player would give Hyrule a friendship bracelet/necklace, even better if Player has a matching one. I would even take it a step further and include Wild and Gilda in it as sorta the 'OG Player protection squad'. Yeah, the others might remember Player in time, but those 3 were the originals and arguably spent the most time bonding with Player as a person rather than discovering the rando you've been chucking around is the legendary guide.

Or or oooorrr. You can make it like those cheesy 90's romance war movies and have Player give Rulie one of those double sided lockets with their picture in it to remember them by. Either it's an actual cut up polaroid of player in it, or Wild and Player went to town and paid an artist to draw them so that both of their pictures can be in it. If not, the other side can be a little not of players handwriting on the other side saying something like 'you are great' 'you matter'. Maybe even take it a step further 'I will always be with you, even though you can't see me' 'you will always be my Rulie~'.

My first boyfriend I ever had was in middle school, and the only reason we even got together was because I had gotten tired of the sheer tension and wanted out regardless of the outcome. Because I was so awful at words (it's the autism), I had sat down in my math class and wrote out an entire page of exactly how I felt, folded it up, shoved it in his hand at the end of the day and said 'do not open this until you get on the bus'.

That is fairytale to me: long term friends who meet once again and are able to forget about the evils of the world to just hang out and be kids again. Being really affectionate in fields, braiding flowers, holding eachother, discovering new things and growing as people together. Wanting so desperately to be together, but being afraid to open up, to take that final, terrifying step to finally connect the two together. Wanting more but also being afraid of losing it all. Knowing in the back of your mind that the time spent together is limited, but ignoring it because no scary thoughts can penetrate the bubble the two of you have created together. No. In that bubble is only joy, only light and freedom. Only two children who braid flower crowns in meadows and explore dungeons and groves for cool gems to present as gifts for the other. Only stars in which the two create stories for while they lie in grass plains. Only warmth. And ultimately, only safety.

📦

(do you think Villain Hyrule (and by extension yan) also have the same birthday as our Rulie? Do you think they celebrate it? Prob not tbh. How would he react to Player giving him a gift? Wtf would the chain do when it's Player's birthday? Do you think they know offhand despite the lack of calenders? Idk I'm just rambling atp)

I feel like I forgot something

This is literally the cutest fucking thing ever I absolutely love this idea, literally punching the air from the sheer cuteness

Okay so that audio is literally one of my favourites, I can seen Player drunk as fuck when they say it and Hyrule just has to deal with the love of his life singing like some banshee into the night air. (This has now encouraged me to write a drunk Player once they hit Gerudo town)

The Villains and Yanderes would definitely have the same birthdays! Oberon would be similar to Hyrule but I feel Conquest wouldn't celebrate as much, but I can see him melting for like a millisecond if Player gives him a gift before hardening again. If Player told the Chain their birthday I feel they would acknowledge it, especially if Player saw it as a special occasion! (Amd honestly, I feel like their calenders are completely different so idk if either of them would even know when it came by JDMNWMZMS

[malamiteltd]

Day 1 – Sketch Arrives

After a long day of fighting off Dark Energy, Sketch and Heather decide to take a break. They decided to take an opportunity to visit their friends in Utopia, as they had been away from them for quite a while. Heather grabbed her Portal Charm from her pocket and made an opening for Utopia. “Meet you there!” she said to Sketch with a smile as she leapt into the opening, seconds before it closed.

Sketch just smiled. “Guess she’s excited for a break,” he said. With that, he grabbed the Portal Charm from his pocket and created his own opening for Utopia, which he promptly jumped into. He found himself whisked away in an transdimensional pathway, and it would only be a matter of seconds before he reached his destination.

But Sketch suddenly felt a strange force pulling at him. It was jarring, and it felt as though it were draining his life away. What’s going on? he thought to himself. This travel normally isn’t so taxing on the body… Soon the force became stronger, and Sketch found himself feeling dizzy. His eyesight became blurry, and he even began to see double. Within moments he suddenly fell unconscious…

. . . . .

Sketch slowly woke up, still a little tired from the trip…and a little sore from the landing. As he slowly stood up, he looked at his surroundings and noticed something was wrong. He found himself in what appeared to be a humble rural neighborhood – a few houses on each block, divided by nicely-paved streets. But this was not a normal environment. Sketch looked around and found no sign of life anywhere. He couldn’t even sense anyone within their houses.

“This isn’t Utopia,” he said to himself. “Something’s gone wrong.” He reached into his pocket for the Portal Charm in the hopes of retrying his travel…but it wasn’t there. He checked his pockets and frantically looked through his immediate surroundings. 

His Portal Charm was gone. 

Looking around in a panic, Sketch struggled to decipher what may have happened. “How— What happened?!” he said. “I’ve never lost the Charm before…it fit in my pocket perfectly! I know I put it back after I opened the portal!” Slowly his panic began to change into sad resignation. Without the Portal Charm, Sketch had no way to go back. Not to Utopia, not to his home in the Otherworld. His friends, his family, his wife… Sketch now found himself without any of them.

This realization started to hurt Sketch.

“So that’s it…” he said sadly. “It’s all over. I can’t go back, I can’t see my family again, the whole Dark Energy mission we had…” He rubbed his forehead. “Why was THIS the situation that ground everything to a halt?”

As he kept pondering his circumstances, he found himself frustrated. He kicked the dirt at his feet. “This isn’t fair! I get abandoned thanks to some random traveling mishap?! What even HAPPENED?! WHAT DO I DO?!” 

He then stood in silence for a minute. Normally his wife Heather would be there to comfort him and offer her input. But he no longer had that luxury.

As he struggled to come to grips with his situation, he decided to go to one of the houses. He knocked on the door, wondering if anyone would answer – just because he couldn’t sense anyone didn’t mean there was no one around. But no one answered. After a couple seconds he tried knocking again. “Anyone home?” he shouted. But there was still no answer. After a similar third attempt, Sketch decided to try opening the door.

It wasn’t locked; he looked inside for a moment. “Hello?” Then he stepped in and began to look around. The house was well-furnished as if someone indeed lived there, and with a flick of a light switch Sketch confirmed the electricity worked too. But as he roamed through each room there was no sign that anyone even touched the place.

“Jeez, this is actually kinda creepy,” Sketch said to himself. “I don’t know what the circumstances would be that would lead to a furnished home with no owner. I didn’t even see a ‘For Sale’ sign anywhere.”

After looking into the last room, he saw the sun setting through the window. He was still strangely tired after his interdimensional trip. He walked back to the main living room, glanced at the couch and sighed.

“So I guess this world is my new home…”

Deeply depressed, he took off his shirt and flopped onto the couch.

“…Might as well get comfy.”

[a-tale-of-legends]

Luca's Pokemon Main Game + Kitakami GO!!!

Main Game:

Thyme( Meowscarda)- he/him ( adamant, loves to eat)

- Dedicated performer of tricks and pranks.

- Loves stealing snacks

- Doesn't like sharing the spotlight, tends to grow jealous of other members when Luca gives them more attention. Still cares for his team and would do anything for them.

Jo(Clodsire)- she/her ( Calm, proud of her power)

- Incredibly chill. Honestly just happy to be there.

- Knows her battling capabilities well and takes pride in them.

- Generally a good gal who gets along with anyone.

Dolly(Dachsbun)- she/her ( Relaxed, somewhat vain)

- Sweetheart that will fuck you up if you mess with her or her team.

- Likes to help with baking or making sandwiches.

Irene(Espathra)- he/him (Bold , capable of taking hits)

- The most level headed of the punch. Some would argue he's more of a leader than Thyme. Definitely a powerhouse once he gets going.

- Peculiar taste in fashion, not entirely sure if he's fond of Luca's taste in fashion or utterly despises it.

- Carries himself with elegance and grace. With some sass on the side.

Tink(Tinkaton)- she/her ( Naughty, is somewhat stubborn)

- Can and will smash you with her hammer.

- Kinda battle hungry, always looking for a fight.

- Thyme's partner in crime, loves pulling pranks on the others, especially Irene.

Carlota(Armarouge)-she/her ( Quiet, nods off a lot)

- Looks rather stoic, but is actually pretty shy.

- Also pretty level headed, but tends to get dragged into situations for being a pushover.

- Incredibly chivalrous and works hard, but sometimes pushes herself too much.

Kitakami:

Cutie( Cutiefly) she/her ( Brave/Modest, quick tempered)

- Feisty in spirit, tends to get into arguments easily.

- Always looking out for the little guy, ironic given how she is very little.

- Always eager to share her home's history to those who wish to listen.

Apple(Dipplin) he/him ( Jolly/Timid, capable of taking hits)

- Happy go lucky guy, always trying his best!!

- Often tries to see the good in people

- Kinda a nerd, likes to listen to Cutie talk.

Moon(Clefable)-he/him ( Hasty/Bold, somewhat lost in thought)

- Always seems to have A Plan.

- Kind off an ass at first, but is nice when you get past his snarkiness.

- Social, but likes to keep to himself most times. Not many people know what he's thinking.

Skully(Houndoom)-she/her ( Lax somewhat vain)

- Kinda chill, can get lazy sometimes.

- Gets flustered incredibly easy though. Hard to tell given that she has a hard rbf.

- Kinds in amusing that someone like her is tied to the literal glitter bomb that is Luca.

Fisher(Crawdaunt)-he/him ( Rash/Adamant, proud of it's power)

- An arrogant brute that is more than willing to show off his strength. Got humbled hard by Cutie.

- Not used to being on a team, let alone be taking orders from anyone that isn't himself, but he comes around.

- Doesn't like to admit it, but he likes having his new friends around. He was pretty lonely before ( bc he was an arrogant brute)

Tiny(Gliscor) - he/him ( Impish, is capable of taking hits)

-Bitch won't die electric boogalo

- Used to love hiding in spots and surprising others but can't do that given how big he is now. Is still a bit of a jokester though.

- Upon evolving, realized he was trans :)

Ponyo(Ogerpon) - she/her ( Lonely, takes plenty of siestas)

- Baby gorl. Has done nothing wrong ever.

- Still slightly wary of humans, but definitely doesn't feel as alone as she did before ( Fisher totally isn't attached to her. Nope)

- Likes holding Luca's hand when they walk together :)

I made this quickly so some details might change. Also for some natures have a / with another one. That just means I used a mint on them. They don't influence their personalities but I thought it would be important to know. Also Ponyo was gonna be in a different post with Luca's other pokemon ( if I ever get to that lol) but she's too important to not be part of the main squad so here.

[wainwrightjakobshammerlock]

oc pride ask! 3 9 11 for sir windward + 21! :3c

3 - ok so this is one of the things i find the funniest abt him. The title of the head of his house is expected to be passed from son to son, but, y'know, his parents never had one. So he took it upon himself to pretend to be a son so his family name wouldn't be tarnished. Then he realized he actually liked presenting as a man, faked his death and began boymoding full time. (Though, he himself (and me, lol) is not exactly sure what came first - the desire to be percieved as a man, or the desire to preserve his family's honor.)

9 - YAY YIPPE AN EXCUSE TO TALK ABT ATHAMIAN CONCEPTS OF GENDER!!!!! So, basically, the idea of gender in Athamian society is kinda weird. On one hand, everyone is equal under the sun and such. On the other, Watt/Vazd (the deity worshipped in Athame since time immemorial) is explicitly a goddess, and considered feminine, despite not being anthropomorphic (the fact that the prophet who founded her religion was a woman definitely contributes to this too). The feminine is considered closer to the sun, while the masculine is considered closer to earth (which is still divine, just less so, since it's material - and instead of being the source of all energy, it's the acceptor of said energy). Also, only women may be priests.

This, combined with some other things, results in a society that's not quite matriarchal, but women can and are expected to be in managerial or scholarly positions. The exception to this is the study of magic, which is considered "worldly" enough (unlike the Merlinist religion, which assumes magic to be a gift from the divine) to also be studied by men and has equal representation in both sexes.

Of course, Robert's family sorta breaks this - the Agency's founder was a man, and his house's internal traditions override the local ones. It definitely also helps that the local culture is becoming more and more globalized, what with R'yleh and other wacky places being just the planar equivalent of next door.

However, where this becomes a slight problem is his transness. Being trans is widely accepted in the Tri-City, but specifically in the culturally Wattist Athame it's a very, very spiritual thing. Trans women specifically, called [Athamian word for mountain, I am still working out the language xd] often become priests, and "growing towards the sun" (becoming more feminine, transitioning towards femininity) is a whole ordeal. Trans men (aka [Athamian word for root]) also are expected go through a similar process of rites, "growing into the earth", but theirs are more clandestine and more akin to spiritual cleansing and learning humility than the ridiculously glorious initiations of women. (Nonbinary people typically have to choose one or the other, but sometimes they choose neither or a combination. Still, you better consult a local priestess. Or several.)

Windward was, however, not very religious, or a fan of large elaborate spotlights. He's also not very humble, either, and would rather die than fast and stop smoking. So... he decided to go all the way in instead, so to speak.

11 - About his transness? Not very much. He reveals it only to the people he trusts the most, or threatens blackmail/assassination/etc. to those who learn it in other ways.

About his pansexuality? Literally everyone fucking knows lol. Definitely helps he's a bit of a casanova

21 - He's no-top surgery. Old man saggy titties </3

Sorry that these focus on his transgenderism momence and not him being pan, I just feel like making a world where gender roles are sorta wacky but most don't care who you fuck <3

[skimblyspones]

[Image Description: a screenshot of a series of tags from user @fuckyeahspones. Lightly reformatted and punctuated for readability, the tags are as follows:

Meta.

Leonard McCoy.

Don't get me started on how people like to write or treat his character like this; feeding into the slower than fuck southerner stereotypes on top of others (eye-roll emoji). Drives me bonkers.

He is the CMO on The Flagship of The Federation, that means his competence is high.

He is as much of a miracle worker as Scotty, but he tries to be more "humble" about it, until it needs to be stated he has the qualifications.

Treating people comes first, not his ego.

He's not dumb; he's the head of several departments; it drives me up the wall when people just kinda dismiss it.

End description.]

@fuckyeahspones No but you're so correct.

Specifically, the note about him being somewhat humbler than Scotty about his abilities; he consistently sells himself short right before doing something unprecedented. Just about every "I'm a doctor, not a–" is followed by him doing The Thing anyway and succeeding, which was the initial impetus for my post, along with seeing a completely unrelated tweet that reminded me just how many specialized disciplines there are in medical science that Bones nonetheless shows proficiency in to a wild degree.

And his skills clearly matter to him and his sense of self; on top of the Spock Stuff, one of the biggest things that hurts my heart abt TMP-era Bones is all the times he has his competency called into question, explicitly or implicitly, and how much it rattles him to be unable to save people.

Another difference between him and scotty, too I think, though really I think it might just be a longer, more involved version of what you said in your tags, is that Scotty is well aware he exceeds most expectations for a chief engineer with the bullshit situations he has to put up with, which means when he's struggling to get around it the audience knows they should worry. But McCoy...I'm genuinely not sure he realizes just how ridiculously cool he is?

Like, I'm of two minds about it. And I think they could potentially be reconciled but I've never thought abt them at the same time. But anyway.

The first point to me is that McCoy doesn't realize that he is exceptional specifically because he already places such high expectations on himself. As Final Frontier showed us, his deepest pain has been his inability to cure his father or relieve his pain; he'd kept him alive and suffering, then let him die, only for a cure to be discovered weeks later that could have justified keeping him alive and in pain longer; it was one of the world's worst moral quandaries and it's implied McCoy has been living with that trauma for most of his career. Also, just. The trauma of being his own father's literal actual doctor in that time frame. Even without the cure discovery, being the one to actually pull the plug; there was never a way he could have left that scenario with a healthy sense of his skills and responsibilities. But all that to say; I wouldn't be surprised if he thought it was just, like. The bare minimum to have as much medical knowledge that he does.

My second thought is that calling himself a simple country doctor neither negates nor recognizes his immense skillset. It's not as tied to his trauma as the above idea, but it does also posit that this is standard, and leans more into the fact that he is more of a civilian than the other officers we spend time with. Sure, Scotty's work is exceptional in terms of also being a lieutenant commander who is 3rd in the line of command onboard the ship. But we don't have civilian engineers to compare him with. In TOS, anyway. That is to say, with this idea Bones is absolutely aware that he knows A Lot of Shit, at least to people who are Soldiers that also do science, but in understating his own abilities he's also doing some maneuvering/posturing. Sure, it might be remarkable that a Federation CMO could jerry-rig a life saving patch for a silicone-based life form, but try being the only doctor of any kind for miles around back home; I wouldn't be surprised in the least if he knew a level of veterinary care.

But anyway, yeah, common denominator there is that I feel like, for Bones, part of why he doesn't make a big deal of his abilities is because to him, doing what he does is already the expectation; it's the mark of competency. Which is a big part of why we see him get hit so hard when he fails.

Sometimes I forget how much shit McCoy canonically knows, at least to a degree of competence. Like ok sure he’s not an Engineer or a bricklayer but he’s damn well more than “a simple, country doctor”; he’s got the sciences badge instead of the medical one for a reason

[littlegalerion]

A random little snippet of writing, of when Aithilo confronted Divayth about the big secret. 

Divayth set aside his latest endeavor, ready to slide it into a concealed apartment within reach, waiting to see who it was that had entered his tower. He relaxed as Aithilo rounded the corner, striding towards him.

“Ah, a surprise visit?” Divayth smirked. “Come, my boy. Look what I have now.”

“No, we have other matters to discuss,” Aithilo corrected briskly.  

His tone took Divayth by surprise, a frown instantly overtaking him. “Watch it,” he warned. “You may be pushing your 900’s, but I’ll still banish you into a demi-plane for a timeout.”

“About that,” Aithilo grumbled. “So when were you going to sit me down and explain you aren’t my actual father?”

Divayth paused, blinking at him. A million questions raced through his mind, and he didn’t know which to ask first.

“Does it matter?” he finally decided to say. “I am your father. I raised you, I taught you, I was there for every injury, every trial and error. Blood means nothing between you and I- we are father and son, regardless of whatever concepts you now have in your head.”

“I...I don’t disagree with that,” Aithilo breathed, trying to steady himself. It was rare to see him so off center, nearly trembling. “But you should have! Especially…” He glanced around, checking if they were alone, and then lowered his voice. “Considering I’m some sort of demigod abomination!”

“Demigod abom- what?” Divayth snapped. “The only true con to your nature is the nightmares. Other than that, I think your abilities have served you rather well.”

“I’d throw away my entire reality if it meant ridding myself of the night terrors!” Aithilo hissed. “I… I’m the spawn of a murderer, and even more distantly the spawn of a trickster!”

“And why does this effect who you are?” Divayth sharply asked, raising an eyebrow. 

“My dreams!” Aithilo exploded, face turning red. “I’ve lived through Nerevar’s murder a dozen times, waking up screaming as my own...my own sire was ready to slice off my face! I-I’ve watched figures crowd me, one aim a bow at my chest and watched as my heart was shot from my body! I’ve heard cursing, screams, horrors from Red Mountain! It always haunts me, even now, the closer I get to it, the worse-”

“Enough!” Divayth ordered. “I never told you because of this exact reason. Before, the dreams were nothing but nightmares, which you had to endure but would wake and soon recover from them. Your days weren’t spoiled, were they? But now you’ll lay awake at night, scared to sleep, thinking you are destined for some idiotic dark purpose!” He shoved a finger into Aithilo’s chest. “Your heart is still in your chest, and your face is clearly intact. The shadows of the past may haunt you, but you decide if they control your future. You… You’re too soft, honestly. Emotional. I tried to help you grow thicker skin, but you’re too… giving.” He rolled his eyes. “For once, please, for ONCE, be selfish.”

Aithilo looked at him, at a loss for words. His eyes misted over, tears welling in the corners as he trembled. 

“How did you find out?” Divayth sighed, rubbing his forehead. 

“Trechire,” Aithilo whispered, hands curling into fists. “She saw the Clockwork god...with my mother, in a chamber which housed his memories. She saw Sotha Sil pledge he’d be a part of my life...my mother’s one condition.” His gaze grew intense. “Why was there a condition? Why did Sotha Sil not keep his word?”

“I don’t know why Sil didn’t keep his word,” Divayth growled. “I tore his head off for it when Rasulu had you, and I watched myself the life fade from her eyes. No more than a moment later, Sil disowned you. I tried to argue, but in the end I just accepted Sil was Sil, and took you as my own. As for the conditions- Sil wanted your mother as a permanent resident of the Clockwork City. That much I know. So, if I had to guess, Rasulu agreed to stay forever within the city, so long as Sil didn’t close himself off to you, as he always does in general to, well, everyone.”

“He broke his promise,” Aithilo breathed, still trembling. 

“Don’t hold onto that,” Divayth warned. “It isn’t worth it. Sil is unpredictable, distant, and at times I wonder if he is all together in the head. He’s brilliant, a genius- but one can be such things and still be completely oblivious to common sense.” He scowled. “I haven’t forgiven him for breaking his promise, and neither should you, but we do not let these things consume and distract us. Understood?”

Aithilo didn’t reply. He still trembled, and now tears slipped down his face. 

“Aithilo…” Divayth sighed, tapping his fingers across his desk in frustration. “Get yourself together.” When Aithilo turned his head away, and faint sobs began to slip, Divayth took a deep breath. “Alright, alright.” He extended a hand, and pulled Aithilo into a hug. 

Admittedly it had been a while since they’d hugged. What, maybe when Divayth got side tracked in that one dimension for a couple of months and finally came home? Aithilo had been worried sick. Bless him, he actually had feared for Divayth, as if there was a possibility the wizard couldn't have returned. Then again, with his foreseeing dreams, perhaps there had been, and Divayth should have taken note. Regardless, Divayth hugged him tight, Aithilo grabbing onto him and sobbing into his shoulder. He had outgrown Divayth by now, quite tall for a dunmer, but given his bloodline it was no wonder. He stooped down, crying his eyes out, like all the nights he had woken up due to his nightmares and screamed for his father to come save him. 

“Far too emotional,” Divayth grumbled, but held on tight. “You’re nothing like Sil, so stop worrying.” He thought for a moment. “Though you are quite cunning, and beyond mischievous when you want to be. Lorkhan might have influence over you after all.”

“Stop!” Aithilo rasped through his crying. 

“Well, you might be able to take claim to a moon!” Divayth put in, still holding him. “Imagine all we could do with a moon!”

“Father…” Aithilo sobbed, but Divayth detected a trace of a smile as he dared a glance to his shoulder. 

“It would make sense. All these men and women that crowd you, and yet you aren’t interested in either? A cruel, merciless deception,” Divayth snorted. “Robbed me of countless tricks I wanted to pass down to you.”

Aithilo still shook with tears, but a smile seeped through now completely. He took a few minutes, then quietly mumbled, “Thank you for raising me.”

“Completely stupid thing to do, thanking a parent for doing their job,” Divayth huffed, now brushing Aithilo off him. His own face had grown red, and he patted down his now soaked armored shoulder. “Go clean yourself up- but leave that bow!” He pointed to the bow made of random metallic bits and gears clipped to Aithilo’s quiver. “Did you bang it against a thousand trees? Don’t answer that- I already know the answer. Just leave it, and I’ll have it fixed for you when you get back. That was a damn expensive gift, and no son of Divayth Fyr will be seen trotting around the backroads of Blackmarsh with some...some basic bow!”

[afreakingdork]

Crush Too Much - Part 13

RotTMNT Donatello x GN!Reader

Warnings: Longing, Angst, Fluff, Embarrassment, Overbearing Siblings, Aged-up Turtles

Synopsis:  So you met a customer three times at work and that made a pretty big impression on you? That’s nothing to necessarily get worked up over, but when you’re all prepared to ask for his number the next time you see him and his brother gets involved instead, you might be in for something more than you bargained for.

FIRST 💜 PREVIOUS

Heartbreak.

It was strange how an ailment he’d been suffering from for well over a month felt so new with a proper diagnosis. Donatello had grown tired of the constant recontextualizing and recategorization of his memories he had been forced to do as of late. The past week had softened the initial blow and he was left with a single clear frame of reference: he was done with preconceived notions. He patted himself on the back for being having had the wherewithal to admit it. Fiasco after fiasco caused by his failure to make judgments on subjects that were far out of his depth had humbled him. That, though, didn’t mean there wasn’t time for research.

Heart·break

/ˈhärtˌbrāk/

variable noun

Heartbreak is very great sadness and emotional suffering, especially after the end of a love affair or close relationship.

Though there was no trace, Donatello had casually lamented the state of his browsing history. The tricky thing about these types of subjects is there is a true testable physiological response, but there is also a myriad of baseless think pieces. Sifting through them was arduous at best and comical at worst. Outside of the digital world, his brothers had retained some shreds of his dignity. He’d found that they’d placed no bets on his realization timeline and they were mostly just glad to have him present. He wasn’t sure if he would have suffered an indignity if they had tried teased him about his denseness. He felt no humiliation. He akined it to ridiculing a child for not knowing how to read if they had never been taught. He simply had nothing to compare it to. He did, however, feel immense guilt over acting out on half-baked assumptions. He prided himself on being a better scientist than that. In that regard, he’d let himself down.

Which was why, he decided, he was no longer going to make anymore guesses. Unfortunately, that ruling also meant he was stuck with different unsolved question: what was the source of his heartbreak? It was undeniably you, but in what way? The online consciences agreed that heartbreak was felt on a spectrum and he could subscribe to that logic. Where his feelings for you landed on that spectrum was a mystery. He’d warped them through a lens of dismissive science to such a degree, he wasn’t sure what was real anymore. It was yet another reason why he fatigued of pouring over the memories. He needed fresh, untainted data if he were to start the study anew. Though he’d come a long way in acknowledging his ignorance, he knew for a fact that reaching out first would be extremely stupid after everything he had done.

Frowning, Donatello stared down a long stretching rack of garments. Several rows over, he spied Mikey stretching out a blazer and squinting over it.

“Explain to me again what we’re looking for?”

There was a loud metallic clank as Mikey forcefully shoved a hanger back into its spot. “Aw, come on, Donnie! Haven’t I explained it a million times already?”

“Yes, it must be me who is failing to understand.” Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Donatello settled on drooping his lids.

Instead of going around, Mikey simply threaded himself through several racks of clothes until he reached his brother. “I need a fabric for the torso that screams ‘shaaazaa!’ Then maybe a thick retro material that kinda had a ‘ba-boo-roo’ thing going for it and, finally, I need something with that oomph factor!”

Each descriptor had been paired with a matching full body gesture. Mikey’s consistency had impressed Donatello, but that didn’t mean they made any more sense to him. “Riiiiight...”

“Glad we cleared that up.” Mikey punctuated the statement with a confirming wink before a pair of pants caught his eye.

“Does ‘ba-boo-roo’ have a English language color name?” Donatello scrunched his nose up from having to use the descriptor.

“It’s more of a pattern.” Mikey hummed, testing the elasticity of the stitching.

“Exasperated sigh.” Donatello mumbled to himself as he stared at the same rack he’d been standing at their entire duration in the store.

Mikey looked past the bottoms and to his brother. Lowering the garment, he made a move as if to grab something from in front of him, but shifted direction at the last moment to elbow Donnie's plastron instead. “Hey.”

“What?”

“You’re helping.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not, having you here helps.”

Donatello turned to give his younger brother the full extent of his doubtful gaze.

“You are!” Mikey threw his arms up, pants trailing the move. “You got up early to come shopping with me right when these stores open.” Looking around them, only a few older women of poor eye sight were milling around. “I probably should have showed you my sketches so you had more of an idea what we’re looking for, but regardless; it’s emotional support!”

“My strong suit.” He could no longer withhold the eye roll.

“Suit…” Mikey rubbed his chin with the fabric. “Great idea! See, you are helping!”

“Michael, we really need to work on your elaboration.” Donatello raised his hand with the point but Mikey hung to pants hanger on the appendage instead.

“You go find three pin-striped suit jackets or…” Mikey squinted and looked to the upper right. “Any pattern that isn’t just blah in preferably a sack silhouette.” Bringing his gaze back, his eyes shimmered with the idea. “Let’s put 15 minutes on the clock, what’dya say?”

“I’d say that’s probably the most in depth instruction you’ve given me all day.” Donatello responded dryly, hanging the pants back up on a rack.

“Great, then let’s go!” The younger brother then disappeared by diving headfirst into a clothing stand.

Shaking his head at the action, Donatello set a timer on his cuff. He then looked up at the large signs that marked each section. Following them with an upturned gaze, he located suits. To accommodate the various lengths and paired items, this section's racks were twice the height of their companions. Turning down the row, he was met with an ocean of blacks and navys. Sighing audibly at the lack of selection, Donatello headed down the line and let an outstretched finger follow along the garments.

As if sifting files, he came to a halt when his digit caught a subtle brocade that barely stood out due to its similarly dark threading. Pulling the item out and lifting it up to eye level, Donatello activated his goggles. A detailed manifest popped up with notes about the cut. With the piece held high in his right hand, he both brought up his left to compare acquisition to time and deactivated his goggles. One suit in under 5 minutes wasn’t a great start, but he could only work with what the store provided. Prepared to continue to search, he lowered the hanger and like a curtain dropping, you were revealed on the other side.

His heart stuttered in his chest.

He stared openly, wondering if he should run. He watched as you compared the sleeve lengths of two jackets, seemingly not noticing his presence. Torn between choices, Donatello felt stuck. He watched your lip purse, unsure, before finally something seemed to spark in your eyes. He leaned his head back incrementally as you turned to him in slow motion.

“Oh, sorry! Am I in your wa-?” Your words dropped off as you let go to the jackets you were examining. “Donnie.”

It felt like his brain was lagging with a spotty internet connection. The page finally began to load. As the information filed in, his first thought was another summation of the chances. Dismissing the possibility of having run into you randomly in New York City on three separate occasions, Donatello swiveled and stretched his neck out to see over the rack. If his younger brother was the mastermind, he wasn’t watching his scheme unfold which was unlike him. Blinking, he realized he’d ignored you in favor of an errant thought. Donatello turned back to find you still waiting, though no longer colored with surprise. “Y/N.”

“Looking for some new clothes?” You gestured to the jacket in hand.

He watched as each little sign of your discomforting body language seemed to note itself as if his goggles were still active. He couldn’t process the information as he was still stuck on the part about how you ended up running into each other. “Absolutely not, the thought of wearing something that someone else wore even if it’s washed?” His lip curled up with distaste. “I’ll stick to regular stores.”

You stifled a snorted chuckle. “You know people try those clothes on too?”

“Trying on is quite different than schlepping off some garms to a thrift store.” He folded his arms and the suit jacket swung with the motion.

“Hm, maybe.” There was an airy quality to your voice that sounded pleasant to his ears.

“Most second hand shops don’t even wash the clothes! I’m just hoping they were deloused.” Noting the fact caused him to scoot away from the rack.

The laughter couldn’t be held back any longer. As you giggled, Donatello could swear the sound resonated with some unknown harmony. “So what are you here for then?”

“Mikey enlisted me into some project.” Though he had moved his feet, he was painfully aware that he couldn’t seem to keep himself from facing you.

“Mikey did?” You turned your head to glance around. “Is he here?”

“It’s a long story. Presumably, he’s around.” Part of him wanted to accuse you of being in league with his younger brother, but a secondary thought reminded him that he wasn’t going to make those kinds of guesses anymore. Plus, since his gaze was trained on you, he had yet to notice a mimed action. “What about you?”

“Oh.” You seemed to remember something. “I’m, uh, ‘filling out my office wardrobe.’”

He watched as your face shifted from sheepish to quoting and then finally to a bright proud smile. Reaching up, Donatello tucked a hand underneath his hoodie to touch his goggles. They were still clicked into their stationary position on top of his head. If that was the case, why did everything around you look so colorful? “Your internship…?” He trailed off trying to recall the sparse notes he’d gotten before you both parted.

Your gaze dipped as you shimmied side to side. When you returned it, you had a sly smile. “’Full time job’ would be a better way to describe it.”

Donatello also wondered why your eyes seemed to be magnified. “They hired you on.” The information was still lagging. “Wait, they hired you on!?”

“Yep!” You chirped.

He finally pinged the harmony as being similar to a birdsong. “Congratulations are in order then!” He clapped around the hanger in his hands. “It is well deserved though I do hope that the employment comes with a moderately higher salary to afford you more than….” He looked around the store to emphasize his point. “This.”

“It does.” You turned away and ran a hand down one of the suit jackets you had been examining earlier. “Starting out is tough though and, unlike you, I think a nice hot wash will clean these up just fine.”

“Unless they are dry clean only.” Donatello tried to clear his throat stealthily in an attempt to stifle the small dip he felt in his stomach from your movement.

“Those are ‘suggestion’ labels, right?” There was a wry tone to your voice that Donatello pegged as goading.

“I see your comedy remains unchanged.” As soon as the sentence left his mouth, his eyes widened. Something about giving voice to the separation felt like an instant taboo. Looking back to you fearfully, he found your shoulders raised slightly in a move which he read as apprehension.

“Is… this really a coincidence?” Your eyes were cast down.

Though the question pricked like a nettle, it was absolutely valid. “Do you remember how suspicious I was when you found me at the food truck park?”

He watched your gaze raise with recognition. “’A little over 9 million?’”

“I swear to you that as far as I know, this is naturally the third time this has happened.”

“That can’t be…” You shook your head slightly in confusion.

“I agree, for locations that we rarely frequent, the probability of it happening is not incalculable, but the numbers are hard for even me to comprehend.” He nodded, his eyes shutting as his mind unconsciously started to do the math.

“I guess it’s not a coincidence then.” There was a tone to your voice that Donatello didn’t recognize so he brought his lids up to find you smiling to yourself. “It must be fate.”

It was only spoken softly to yourself, but something about the sentence seemed to ring loudly in his mind. “I don’t believe in that. I create my own destiny.”

You snickered. “Yeah, that sounds about right.”

“And what does that mean?” He leaned forward suspiciously.

“Not a thing!” You clucked and used your other gathered garments to create a barrier between the two of you.

Donatello looked down at them, wondering why he hadn’t registered them earlier. Cataloging them in conjunction with the suit jacket you were browsing, he frowned. “You’re not getting that are you?”

“What?” You shifted, looking at your items.

“Give me a quick rundown of your position.” He nodded thoughtfully as you explained and then shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t stand for this. The pieces you selected are both under and over dressed and it doesn’t seem like you’re even taking utility into account!”

“Now wai-”

He heard you begin, but the bandwidth was already being diverted elsewhere. Though Donatello himself hadn’t moved far from the original rack, he had been watching Mikey sift through pieces in rapid succession. From those earlier leavings, a few stood out. “Come with me!” He turned and started walking, trying to plot out the shortest course to said clothes without having to resort to Mikey-type short-cut method. “Here!” He grabbed a top and spun around, remembering something else. “And this.”

“Donnie, are you serious?” Your voice sounded a bit distant and when he looked up he found you a whole rack away.

“Yes, just look!” He held up the top he selected and he watched as your expression shifted from confounded to thinly veiled stubbornness with an undercurrent of intrigue. “Shall I continue?”

“Is that my size?” You looked close to stomping your foot.

Something about that made his chest feel tighter than it should in his hoodie.

“What do you take me for?” He threw his hands up, raising the other item he selected into view.

“Glossing over the fact that you know that, I want you to make a note that I’m not super ok with this!”

“I’m sensing a but…?” He drew out the word, just knowing that his prowess was about to be acknowledged.

“But…” You hesitated before slumping with defeat. “I do want to see what you pick.” The statement came out of the corner of your mouth.

Donnie would have jumped for joy had he not seen another piece out of the corner of his eye. “Allow me to curate the wardrobe of your dreams!” His feet began to move and his goggles dropped down to start a running tally. At one point his cuff had an alert, but from beneath the hangers that had moved onto his forearms for the extra real estate, it was silenced. Once he had grabbed what he deemed a suitable amount of clothing, he made one last glance over his shoulder to make sure you were still in tow. He wanted to verbally acknowledge how well you had kept up, but something held his tongue. Instead he steered both of you to the shoddily constructed changing rooms.

“Alright!” He waited until you got the message to take a readied position in front of him before rifling through the garments. “Here’s outfit one, but keep the pants on because they’re going to be a staple piece you can then pair with the next top.” He thrust the clothes into your unprepared arms and used the confusion to snatch away your previous selections.

You rolled your eyes and pulled back the curtain to the changing room. “Yes, sir, Mr. Fashionista!”

“We shall see how that tone fairs once you’ve seen my work!” He snapped back, preparing the next few choices.

After an appropriate amount of rustling, the curtain drew back and you stepped out. “How…?”

“Hm…” He leaned forward, his goggles noting information about cut and shape as you shifted side to side to get a look from all angles.

“Seriously, when did you take my measurements? These shouldn’t fit so well!” There were dueling notes of astonishment and annoyance in your voice.

“Details.” Donatello waved the question off. “There’s creasing along the back.” He watched as you tried to catch a glimpse and ended up spinning in a circle like a dog trying to catch its tail. He tried not to divide his attention from the task at hand, but a fond smile pulled at his lips.

“I don’t think it's a problem.” You stuck your hands out and waved them.

“How do you feel about getting the pieces tailored?”

“Maybe down the road, but not if I can help it right now.” You stopped shuffling around and came to a neutral stance.

“I see.” He added the entry to his data points and passed you the next items. “Swap the top, keep the bottoms.”

You gave him a mock salute with the clothes in hand, causing them to obscure your face as you headed back into the changing room. Donatello shook his head, the smile growing ever wider. It’s not that he hadn’t realized he’d missed the banter; he’d ruminated on it in slivers of time, but being faced with it actively enforced the point. As you emerged from the curtain again, the repartee resumed. It was as if you had never been apart. After passing off the next selection, the moments where you changed felt like a weight. It was within the fragments of silence that the existence of your separation made itself known. It held the enormity of all his failings and the apologies he wasn’t even sure he could truly recompense. In equal exchange, he watched as your apprehension melted away as his grew. After several more costume changes, he’d twisted inward and focused more on cycling through the digital closet inventory for maximum effectiveness.

“These fit right style wise…” Your voice drifted in, signaling you’d emerged once more. “…but the waist needs….” He looked past his display and watched your nose wrinkle with thought. “Like a belt?”

Lifting his goggles, he squinted as he returned to normal view. “It looks like there might have been a matching piece of fabric that should loop here.” He pointed to a small tailored slit in the side of slacks.   

“Someone probably lost it. I’m gonna go run and get a belt. Watch my stuff?” You tossed the question over your shoulder as you already started to walk away.

He nodded and returned to his catalog. He vaguely heard you return and disappear into the changing room as he put the final touches on his curation. Nodding to himself, he took a deep breath and shifted his goggles to rub his eyes. “With this you should be able to make 21 separate outfits! Did the belt work out?”

“Oh sure, but I think something else got lost in the shuffle?”

“Pardon?” He watched as you emerged from the curtain in full strut. His jaw laxed as he gazed upon the most garish combination he’d ever seen. You were donning a pair of what looked like shiny latex purple leggings that disappeared into slinky neon green leg warmers on one end and the hem of what could either be classified as a sequined mini dress or top depending on the height of the wearer on the other. On top of that, you’d slipped on an 80's blazer that had shoulder pads so high it was skimming the territory of your ears. He watched as you struck a vogue pose causing the oversized leopard print glasses that were taking up most of your face to jostle.

“I was also thinking hat, but I’m not sure if that would be too much?” From behind your back a large church crown appeared with several flowers and a fake bird sticking out of it. You brought it up over your head, but didn’t quite place it as you waited for his judgment.

Several seconds ticked by and your plastered on smile hadn’t faltered. Donatello bent forward slightly before a loud laugh tore from him. “When did you even-?” He wheezed.

“So, that’s a yes to the hat?” You put it on and made another pose eliciting more laughter from him.

Stumbling forward with amusement, he reached out for an anchor point. He found it in the pad on your shoulder and as soon as contact was made, it felt as if there was a sudden breach of contract. He didn’t feel you flinch underhand, but your gaze snapped to his with metered surprise. The sudden feedback painfully reminded him of the paradigm shift that had yet to be addressed in any way. Still high off the endorphins from the outburst, he retracted his hand carefully and brought it to his chest while clearing his throat.

“It’s…” You started, he popped one eye open from where they had closed to recompose himself. “…ok. I’m glad I was able to make you laugh. You were really getting lost in your head there for a moment.”

Giving you his full attention, he cursed himself for being so obvious. “I don’t know where we stand.”

“To be honest…” You hesitated, a vexed smile on your lips. You glanced up and removed the hat, lowering it in front if you. “I don’t either.” A small awkward laugh bubbled up in your throat. “But, what I do know is…” You trailed off again and looked straight into his eyes.

It was as if the fake flowers from the hat were sprouting all around you.

“I missed your snooty attitude.” Any contention on your lips switched to playful as you leaned forward and placed the hat on his head.

His lids dropped with feigned annoyance as you giggled at his appearance. It was a thinly held veneer because internally he was overjoyed that you had at least offered to crack the door to friendship back open. He reached up, feeling heat uncharacteristically pooling in his cheeks, and pulled the large brim down to mask whatever was passing over his face. “I missed you as well.”  

He didn’t have time to analyze the sound you made because another voice emerged.

“I finally found you!”

“Angelo.” Donatello murmured, the memory of his original mission rushing back to him.

“Hey, Mikey.” You shyly responded.

Donatello removed the hat to clear his view.

“Y-Y/N?” Mikey jolted with surprise before taking in your appearance. “Ok, whatever this is is wild, but I am here for it! Are you gonna get those glasses?”

Studying his brother closely, Donatello tried to pick up any traces of nefarious intent. He watched as you waved your hand turning down Mikey’s question before taking off the glasses to pass into his excited hands. If his younger sibling had set any of this up, he was operating on a level of lie that Donatello had never seen. Today really had been an absurd coincidence.

“For the record, your disappearance is forgiven and I’m all for trying new things, but that hat…” Mikey twirled his attention around, bringing a L-shaped hand of thought to his chin.

“Maybe if it were in black and we switched out the sparrow for a motherboard?” Donatello offered wryly as he placed the hat on his brother’s head.

“Crossing styles! Perfection!” Mikey clapped his hands jostling a handful of hangers he was toting.

“I did find one piece.” Donatello remembered the brocade jacket and removed it from the collection of your clothing.

“Woah, look at that design!” There were stars in Mikey’s eyes as he grabbed the piece.

You gave Donatello a small signaling wave and bobbed your head toward the dressing room. He nodded with understanding and you left to change. Gathering up the rest of your clothes, Donatello turned to find Mikey had thrown the suit jacket in with the rest of his picks. “It looks like you faired pretty well without me at least.”

“Can we hit one more store though? I’m looking for a showpiece kind of jacket.” Mikey's gaze was distant as he imagined the garment.

“Sure, but it’s going to start getting busier.”

“This time I know exactly what I’m looking for! Speaking of…” Mikey’s head lead the way as he curved his body closer to the dressing room curtain and raised his voice. “So the two of you are…?”

“Unlabeled.”

“Undiscussed.”

You threw back the curtain in your original clothes and split a smile of agreement with Donatello.

“I see…” Mikey trailed off, his voice thick with understanding.

This time you and Donatello shared a look of skepticism.  

“That means you can come to my fashion show!” Mikey bounced as Donatello handed off your clothing.

“Fashion show?” You wondered trying to heave the sudden load.

“I’ll take half.” Donatello corrected himself, separating the lot of hangers into equal parts before shooting a raised brow to his brother. “Practice elaboration, Mikey."

“Oh.” This time a real and more nervous look of comprehension passed over the younger sibling's face. “I was gonna tell the whole fam about it only after I was sure I was gonna get the pieces done in time…”

“Wait, you’re going to make your own clothes?” You lit up.

“Yeah! I’m usually not super into the concept because I’m more about letting your inner best shine, but I met this artist in my woodworking class that reframed the whole thing for me so I’m treating it like a canvas!”

“That sounds great! When is it?” You stepped forward and the group naturally begin to head towards checkout.

“Two weeks from now. Saturday night, I think…” Mikey tried to shift his clothes to one hand and fish out his phone with the other. One top started to fall from the hanger and he scrambled to fix it. “Actually, D will text you the details!”

Donatello lolled his head back before sweeping his gaze to you regretfully. “Is that alright? Don’t let him steamroll you.”

“It should be fine. I think it sounds fun.” You nodded, but he caught the slight note of reservation in your gaze.

“Now I’ll be forced to make the deadline!” Mikey spun around and in doing so took the first place in line at the cashier.

“You still weren’t sure?!” Donatello scolded.

Mikey stuck his tongue out in response and you giggled at the interaction with that same sweet melodic twitter.

NEXT

[anemoarchonhoe]

Okay I'm only a little bit sorry so I'll amend my previous scenario.

Imagine humming dandelions and when Venti asks you to sing the actual words, he feels so awed and humbled and flustered all at once because the way you're looking at him while you softly sing the lyrics to him. Bonus points if you tell him the song specifically reminds you of him.

Anon I am so sorry for taking so long to answer because I just HAD to make this really freaking romantic. I can't Not simp for this green creature and I can't stop myself from wanting to kiss his stupid lips and confess my love okay-

Content: aftermath of Imposter AU (implied, forgiveness route), One Punch Man AU (kinda irrelevant but author wrote this with it in mind), Disney Princess AU (kinda), God!Reader with no imposter au trauma because they fisted their acolytes' faces so hard the poor things nearly died before this drabble, tooth-rotting fluff, God!Reader's hair being described (not important, but will be implemented on my OPM AU series)

Warning: Author temporarily lost their sanity in the writing of this fic due to how hard they were simping, not beta read, we die like the Nameless Bard

Song: Dandelions - Ruth B.

"Wow, this place looks a lot different than I expected." You marveled, your wide, vibrant eyes taking in the sight of the dandelion field that Venti took you to see.

The bard simply grinned, sitting down under the shade of a tree and patting the space beside him.

"What did you expect it to look like, Your Grace?"

"Like..." You gestured vaguely. "...a few dandelions, maybe ten of them? I mean, that's how it looked in the game."

"But you're no longer playing a game. This is reality now."

"Yeah..." You chuckled, finally sitting down beside him. "...Reality is always much better. It would've been the best if I didn't have these... godly duties thing going on. It's so unfair that Morax insists on me doing them when he faked his own death to escape that life. Damn hypocrite, I should've punched him harder when I had the chance."

Venti laughed at that, knowing full well you were simply joking. You valued each and every one of your acolytes; you'd never harm them. Well, of course, except that one time they tried to obliterate you and erase your existence from Teyvat...

The Anemo Archon shuddered, remembering how he attacked the Creator and then suddenly waking up in Inazuma's Narukami Island.

The Creator said they gave him a light slap on his face when he asked them what happened, when everything was all forgiven. Venti doesn't want to know what will happen to him if he was given a slightly harder slap.

"You shivered. Are you cold?" You asked. "Here; scoot closer to me." You added, as if you're not already pulling him towards you, making the archon smile. He rests his head on your shoulder, watching the dandelions sway when a gentle breeze blew. The moon was shining up in the night sky, casting a soft light upon them and making them glow.

However, the dandelions pale in comparison to your hair, glowing softly under the moonlight. They're the same color as the mythical primordial gems; beautiful, like a dream come true, like a dream that one has realized you wish to do, like a dream yet to be dreamed.

You began to hum a tune, breaking Venti's poetic musings, making him close his eyes to fully immerse himself in your wordless song. When you finished, he looks up at you with gleaming eyes and a request spills from his lips.

"Your grace, what is that song? Can you sing it for me?"

"Oh? Um, sure why not? I'm not very good though, so..."

Still, you clear your throat... and began to sing.

Maybe it's the way you say my name

Maybe it's the way you play your game

But it's so good, I've never known anybody like you

But it's so good, I've never dreamed of nobody like you

Venti closes his eyes again and made a move to rest his head again on your shoulders, but you don't let him. You cup his face, making him look at you.

And I've heard of a love that comes once in a lifetime

And I'm pretty sure that you are that love of mine

Venti flushes under your gaze, eyes wide. He tries to look away, but with you cupping his cheeks, he could only move his eyes. He can still see in his peripheral vision how softly you're looking at him right now.

"Your grace..." He quietly spoke, hands placing themselves over yours. "...I-If you continue looking at me like that, a-and emphasizing that you part of the song, I-I... I might misunderstand your feelings..."

"But what if you're right in your assumption?" You replied, still staring intently at him.

"Huh?" Venti hates how dumb he sounded just now.

'Cause I'm in a field of dandelions

Wishing on every one that you'll be mine, mine

A sudden gust of wind blew, making the dandelions' teal fluffs to float into the air. The breeze swirls around them, making the atmosphere even more romantic. It doesn't help that fireflies and anemo crystalflies emerged from the tree they are both under, like they were just waiting to show up in that very moment.

And I see forever in your eyes

I feel okay when I see you smile, smile

Venti feels like he's going to die of both happiness and embarassment. He also found that he doesn't mind if he did.

Wishing on dandelions all of the time

Praying to God that one day you'll be mine

Wishing on dandelions all of the time, all of the time

You chuckled softly, gently running your thumb across his cheek, treating him like a precious gem. A crystalfly lands where his cecilia flower is neatly tucked into his hair, and you found your heart beating like its going to burst out of your chest.

"Kiss me."

Now it's your turn to get flustered. "What?"

"Kiss me." He repeats, breaths shallow. Nervous. Hesitant. Hopeful. "Please?"

So you did.

I'm in a field of dandelions

Wishing on every one that you'll be mine, mine

As your lips move together in a gentle dance, he pulled you even closer against him, and you melted. You fit together like a puzzle piece, you thought to yourself, and now you're complete. You felt Venti's wings engulf you completely and shielding you from the world and... oh.

You've never felt so loved and cherished.

I'm in a field of dandelions

Wishing on every one that you'll be mine, mine

He's always been yours.

[atlascripts]

Warnings: angst, hurt comfort

forgiveness of oneself

The days bled into one another, things seemed mundane and dull and yet you were realizing every time what reality felt like after having been stuck in a dream for years. Your life felt very empty and bleak though, you didn't have friends your age you were nervous about going out into the world and getting a proper job so you stayed at the humble little records shop you worked at in Hawkins. Life was strange, at its extreme normalcy, you could feel the absence of so many things, warmth, comfort, love, friends, and family. You were so alone.

You'd zone out often, there was such a deep sense of emptiness within you, a void that was never filled by anything not even briefly. It's like you still searched for him in a sea of crowds. The suede jacket of his, his blond hair, that demeanour, the walk he had. But really he was nowhere and when you had convinced yourself that he won't come back, you'd sit by the bedside conversing with yourself in your head. You wanted answers, why, why'd he do that? you wanted an apology, you'd tell yourself. Always pushing away the evident ginormous question of, ‘do I still love him?’ hanging in the air. You were scared to ask because you knew the answer, and it bothered you more how problematic it sounded. And so you would end up crying yourself to sleep, how many days had it been where you slept like this by yourself with not even a pet in your vicinity to make you feel like you weren't alone. 

Your dreams were still plagued by his presence, but not in a haunting way, in longing kind, in a yearning way. You'd see yourself in his made-up world, your old place, a chilly night with the yellow lamp illuminating the room and his back facing you as he sat by the bedside. You reached out your hand and he'd look over his shoulder but his face was all static like white noise almost as if you were once again forgetting the contours of his face. But when you'd wake you'd sit up in bed with tear-stained cheeks and close your eyes firmly to recall his face, recall every little detail, and you committed it to memory because you never wanted to forget.

~

'How are you feeling?' El asked and you smiled briefly, 'Fine,' was all you replied and El sighed looking at Mike and then at you. Mike kinda excused himself leaving Will and El in the room with you. The kids would come to check on you once in a while, as much as you wished to befriend El you also felt awkward and lost, she was a memory from the past you felt drawn to due to familiarity but she had her own life now and you were just an awkward grown up. 'Look we're asking because we think we have a lead.' Will said then.

'Dr Owen said that if you are feeling fine, like completely normal then it means he's not fine..' Will trailed and you looked up at him concerned and confused, 'I think he's hurt, and he needs help but we can't find him.' El spoke sitting by your side.

'You are saying he's alive and here?!' You questioned with a strange sense of hope and spark and the weird bubbling anxiety but you didn’t let it show on your face. 'I sensed him a few times, but when I tried to find him...I lost the beacon.' El replied. 'I think he's struggling to keep himself hidden, he used everything he had to keep you alive in that place and now he...he needs help.' Will finished. 

There was silence for a while before you stood up and paced around, 'Why do you want to find him? Why do you care? He wronged you, he wronged me! He's the bad guy here so I don't see why you would tell me this.' You were agitated pacing back and forth until El held you in place, 'I want to help you,' She spoke and pulled you in a hug and you couldn't help but hug back anxiously. 'I know we all hate him, what he did was unforgivable but if we can find him and just talk to him maybe he-'

'He would stop wreaking havoc?' You asked, 'You still think he's dormant so he can strike again?' Your question was more of a statement and Will and El looked at each other like you caught on to them. 'It's fine, he's accountable I won't deny it so yeah sure we should find him.' You muttered away unsure of what to make of this entire conversation.

~

You had walked far into the woods that day, reaching the meadowy hills to sit there and just be left alone with your thoughts. You didn't know what to make of what the kids had said, clearly, the truth had spilt. But then if that was the case, you didn't want him to be found, if he was weak and dormant, anyone could hurt him, she remembered him being the docile Peter he was due to the soteria. You remembered how easily people misused him, you'd be damned than let that happen but then you wondered, is he really out there?

In times like these when you'd be alone, you sometimes stopped your thoughts to look around you, no you didn't sense anyone, you deliberately looked around as if hoping to see him, somewhere in the shadows, anywhere. Tears rolled down your face as you sighed and just lay there curled up in the flower field.

~

You were on a work break and had walked a few stores down to the thrift store, you looked around for clothes going through racks of pretty sundresses. 'We have a sale for that side.' The sales boy spoke from behind the counter without looking up, you just picked out a few dresses and brought them to the counter. Eddie looked down from the comic book he was reading and was pleasantly surprised to see you. 'Oh hey there,' He had smiled your way putting his book face down and leaning forward, 'What can I do for you?' He had a sweet way about him, you couldn't help but smile back. 'I am uhm on a work break, so I  thought I’d do some shopping.' You replied softly handing him the dresses, he went through the tags casually and asked, 'Oh really? That's sweet where are you working?'

'At the record shop near your-' and you cut mid-sentence asking instead, 'Are these jackets for sale too?' You were sifting through the racks of the denims and leathers. 'Oh no I'm sorry sweetheart those aren’t but,' and he finally walked over to where you were, 'I can help you pick one!' He beamed cutely as he held out a nice leather jacket and a denim one posing them both for you but you picked out the only suede jacket the rack had. 'This one,' You said. 

As Eddie totalled your things he saw you try on the suede jacket and he could have sworn you seemed enamoured with it. You did buy one denim jacket per his suggestion, but as he saw you leave with the shopping bags he immediately recalled the suede jacket that boy had worn too and it kind of seemed to connect for him before he went back to reading his comic book.

~

You woke up due to the small pitter-patter of rain and realized you had dozed off in the flower field on the hill again, you got up got your bearings and knew if someone found you here they'd scold you for being so careless. The rain was light and you trudged back home through the path in the woods. You remembered walking inside your home and just sitting by the bedside in your room in front of your window, you reached your hands in the pocket for warmth from the sudden chill in the weather when you felt something in the right pocket. You pulled out a folded piece of paper with a flower pressed in it and a very shakily scribbled, 'i'm sorry' written on it.

Your eyes widened and your heart dropped unable to believe what you saw, you looked out the window and then rushed downstairs and out of your door onto the main road looking left and right. The rain picked up and you were starting to drench, seeing the parchment get wet you immediately went inside and kept it on the table to dry not wanting to lose it. You found yourself taking off the jacket and bringing it close to your face to cry softly into its fabric and embrace what you felt was left of Peter. As if this was the same jacket he had worn, that suede jacket of his.

~

In the days to come, you decided to do one thing and that was to renovate the dreadful place, it was your home and you couldn't have it feel so unpleasant to return to. The resolve to do so had you do a lot of things on your own that helped you gain a little confidence in treading into the world outside. You had strapped up your boots to at least fix what was in your control and you truly liked how the house was coming to look like.

The busyness kept you from thinking about the void inside you but once it was all done the feeling seeped in as slowly and unnervingly as a chill under the skin. You sat by the floor cushion with your hot cup of cocoa, you had a pen and paper in your hand and you had been meaning to write something, a response to that little note you had found a few weeks back.

What does one say? How does one approach it? You had wanted an apology, a reason, but if it were true then he had truly apologized and if you recalled faintly from your memories, he apologized a lot. His confession of that time was etched onto your heart and you wondered if the need to confront him was just an excuse to find him, to keep him. After thinking long and hard and scribbling and scratching out you ended up with a mere few words. 

'I forgive you,'

'I love you,'

You had folded the paper and slid it in the pocket of the jacket with the weird odd hope he'd find it. It was silly to think that but you did so regardless of the dread that followed, after every little hopeful event you felt as if you were moving further in life and that your chances of finding him were growing slimmer. You couldn't express how painful that feeling was, it was the only time you felt you could fill your own void with grief at least. You remember growing numb from always crying so often, you lay down on the rug staring up at the ceiling hoping the exhaustion would help you go to sleep.

~

It was a lucid dream, after so long. You saw yourself in your same little vintage-looking sundress and that jacket. You were running on the road of Hawkins and into the highway, a dense forest lay ahead of you and you kept running regardless. Until this point the dream felt like a dream, out of your control, you remembered falling through the thicket of the woods and getting up pushing past the branches and the growing vegetation. You eventually pushed past with minor bruises and cuts on your skin and fell onto the ground. When you got up you felt more in control of your dream, you knew this wasn't real it was the feeling of the illusion Peter would create. A dream where you're actually present. 

You seemed to be in a weird space, the sky had tearings in it that made no sense to you and around you in the woodsy rubble were the remnants of the old room you used to be trapped in. There was the old lamp, the chair now broken, the discarded curtains. Some things were seen floating around like the electric kettle and torn-up pillows. And it all felt moonlit yet you couldn’t see the moon in the sky anywhere, just stars. 

In the middle of it all you saw him, Peter, in the same look you had last seen him in. Except he looked weak, he had bruises and wounds all over, and he sat barely leaning on the bed's frame. His blue eyes had dulled out and he didn't move as you walked closer. Your hands gently reached out to hold his face, he felt cold to the touch but he felt real, oh so real, that you sighed from relief closing your eyes and letting your forehead touch his. 

'Peter..'

'Come back to me, please...'

Your voice felt distant to him, like a far-off echo, you tried shaking him a little trying to get a response. You had kissed the corner of his lips to ignite some warmth and tried to feel if his heart was even beating, for sure, it was, he was alive but he wouldn't respond. You eventually embraced him and broke down in your desperation, clinging on to him as if he would disappear.

'I am not leaving you,' You had said resting your head against his shoulder, after tiring yourself out from your crying. Your eyes were swollen now and your face was stained with the salt of it.

'I forgive you Peter, please forgive yourself too..' You spoke as your own voice came out tired while your hand brushed over his heart. 

It felt like he had slowly responded to that statement, it rang true, he had broken himself down under the weight of it all feeling irredeemable. Maybe he had not forgiven himself first and foremost.

'We'll run away, start over, nobody will know..' Your voice however still felt like a faded echo as he was slowly coming to, a tear rolled down his own eye followed by another. You looked up to see his face and noticed your vision blur just then, your hands were foggy all of a sudden. You were disappearing out of the dream you realized, you tried to call him out to shake him but you were fading slowly and along with you the remnants of the past that had haunted him also faded.

You woke up then with cold sweat and sat up immediately, hurrying up to get water, you were trying to process it all feeling as if the whole thing had drained you. Your heart was beating so fast and you had to sit down to calm yourself while you chugged another glass of water down.

You hadn't even gotten your bearings back when you felt a single fairy light flicker and then the other, a little pattern almost leading your eyes along it. You were sure you were in reality now as you noticed that it wasn't a one-off thing, they were flickering in a pattern. You followed the path slowly, as it switched to the light over your head on the stairs and then to the little lamp on the floor above, there were only two rooms upstairs but it stopped near yours.

You opened the door to your room that was shrouded in darkness and saw a silhouette by your bed frame, sitting facing away, you weren't taking any chances of illusions playing with your mind this time and you immediately opened the lights. Your heart almost leapt out of its cage, it was him in the same suede jacket. You walked forward seeing Peter there before you in flesh and blood. He stood up wordlessly and turned to you, he was very much alive and you couldn't believe your eyes as you stepped forward and traced his arms slowly and then his body making sure he was real. 

He held you too and you felt the warmth emitting from him as he pulled you close, 'It's me darlin', I'm here,' His hands traced around you to hold you closer and closer as if he too couldn’t believe this was happening.

His voice was the soft gentle tone you had known, his eyes didn't feel as dull and lifeless as you remembered caressing his face all the while holding back choked sobs that hurt your throat. And he pulled you in a firm embrace as you clung on to him and eventually let it all out, you had had breakdowns before, but none like this, you were crying with audible sobs and wails as if you had found a missing part of you, the gap in your void had found its closure. Peter despite his stance and journey on the path of self-healing and forgiveness realized he still wanted to protect you as one does with loved ones, he realized he couldn't do that if he stayed away. You both needed each other, come what may, no matter how bitter and dark the past was, he deserved a second chance at life from scratch. He'd do it for you first even though he craved it too, the normalcy of things, both of you were beyond repair in many ways but you two made it this far. He wasn't letting go this time, he was also very tired and just needed to lay dormant next to you. He hid his powers in the farthest corner of his mind somewhere so he could live life normally and not even subconsciously use his abilities to exert exhaustion upon himself. He had used the last bit of it to close the last gate, he had ended the nightmarish yearly curses Hawkins would befall.

~

El stood before your house that was now up for rent and she held a letter in her hand that you wrote just for her, with a yellow and white daisy wrapped inside neatly. El didn't tell anyone what she read in its contents and as mentioned she discarded the letter in the lake there.

You moved away with him, to start new, in a small little place in Lenora Hills, California. The sea was closer from here, you could see it from your home up on the hill. The sunsets were even more beautiful as you and Peter were curled up in a hanging hammock chair on your porch. Legs entangled and your body resting on his. The turbulent storm of a life you two lead finally seemed to settle to dust, but the calmness that was so foreign was also so gratifying and forgiving as it lulled you two in its arms. Your hand was resting by his face, your thumb running gentle circles over his skin while his hand ran up and down your back in a feathery touch. Words weren’t needed much, the gentle kisses you both stole, the loving glances you shared and the beckoning of your souls to fall into each other’s arms seemed to do all the talking. Just you and Peter.

[hugsandchaos]

Legend accidentally reminding him that he’s half dead and Danny pauses to think about if his existence is called life or death. Legend soon realizes he may have caused a problem when he can’t get Danny’s attention again.

Until Danny blinks and goes “What’s that? Sorry, I zoned out for a second thinking about life. Oh, your question! It’s okay.”

He knows what Legend is trying to do. He’s only going to confront him once they’re alone, I’d love to imagine Danny suddenly grabbing Legend and shaking him while shouting “Are you trying to get me killed?!” while they’re alone.

Anyways, moving on! Welcome to the ride, @traumafactory28!

Danny jokes a lot. He makes playful jabs at the group, terrible puns that always make at least one person smile, and even makes jokes about himself. He does this mostly because it’s funny, especially in a fight, but the other Links realize that it’s actually pretty smart and not just arrogance. Making jokes at the enemy helps one remember that their enemy isn’t so unstoppable and terrifying and calms them down. At the same time, might make the opponent angrier and more likely to mess up.

Danny knows this, but he’s also just having a really good time making fun of his opponents, so he just shrugs off the part where it’s actually a good strategy and focuses on irritating the hell out of whoever he’s fighting.

Honestly, I kinda feel like I forgot what exactly I’m rambling about, but I know it’s Danny with the Chain, so I’m gonna keep going.

Another thing I want to mention is that Danny is pretty nice, like the rest of them. He’s even nice to Dash sometimes. In the episode Call Of The Wild, when Dash rushed into the cabin they were using as a cafeteria panicking and shouting about how a ghost monster got Kwan, Danny was the first to approach him and assure him that they’d find Kwan. He’s also surprisingly friendly when he sees Dash in his house getting tutoring from Jazz.

I like that Danny can and will indulge in revenge for all the bullying until someone’s actually in danger, or if he’s just having a good day or feels safe in his environment. They kind of remind me of Sky and Groose in a way, and this feeling doubles when I imagine Dash ending up in the same adventure Danny’s in because Danny would ask the Chain to take a step or two back and let him talk to Dash.

They probably know about Dash by now, though, and about how he’s unfairly treated better by the school they’re in than Danny just because he plays football well. This doesn’t mean they’ll be outright rude, but at least one of them is pretty defensive of Danny when Dash tries to pick on him again. Danny just rolls his eyes and deals with it as usual, not realizing he can get a little payback without worrying about being scolded.

I love the idea that Time, Warriors, or Legend would have them spar together to prove to Dash that Danny isn’t as weak as he thinks he is, and also Dash not understanding why they like this weird nerd so much. They laugh at his jokes, ask him questions about space or chemistry and pay close attention, and they let him join them in fights. He doesn’t get it.

Basically Dash getting a nice slice of “humbling pie”, I guess.

Another thing is if they know about Danny’s secret, Danny would pull them to the side and make them promise not to let Dash know. He can’t stress enough how important it is, because then he’ll tell others, and that information would reach ghost hunters and he’d be in seriously deep trouble.

Moving on, let’s see how he acts with the Links.

Danny understands that they’re the experts here. They’re strong, capable, and experienced in fights. If they say he’s not ready for something, he’ll likely stomp down his urge to prove them wrong and just sit down. He knows it’s logical to listen to them, but it still frustrates him. Of course, if things look really bad, he’s coming out to help and deal with the lectures later. Avoiding getting in trouble isn’t worth someone’s life.

He likes being around them a lot, and respects their strength. He thinks highly of them hearing about their adventures and experiences, even when they’re exaggerated. He can tell from the tone when details are made bigger than they actually were, but regardless, their stories are nice to listen to. If Danny ever catches even the slightest whiff of self-doubt from them, he’s like “Dude. You climbed a volcano. You sailed across the oceans. You fought a god and won. You did all these dangerous things all for your goal, and yet you still think you’re any less than the others? What is going on in that head of yours?!”

Now one might assume that Danny’s also guilty of feeling like his adventures weren’t that bad compared to the others, and to that, I have something to say.

I like this idea, and also the idea that Danny would complain a little about what his life is like since the incident, just a bit. Something like “I keep telling the ghost hunters about how I’m trying to help them, and guess what? They keep shooting at me! I really hope I don’t snap anytime soon, but my god, can’t they just stop and listen to me for ten seconds?!”

Another thing I want to mention is that some of, if not all of the Links, have a metaphorical mask. Whether it’s not showing how nice they are like Legend in the beginning, or just not letting themselves be seen crying. Danny does this too, he’s just as guilty as them, but he’s also a bit of a hypocrite and tries to be there for them. One example I like is Wind crying because he’s really homesick and doesn’t want to be judged, and Danny admits that he’s also homesick and asks Wind a few questions about his home in an attempt to cheer him up.

Also, how do you think the Links would react to this one?

Danny: My parents miss me… but their aim is getting better!

That’s all for right now!

Taking a quick break from writing the chapter to reread and edit it, but I really want to know if there’s anyone there willing to talk about or listen to my rants and thoughts about Danny and the Links. Spoiler alert: I’ll probably say a few things I’ve already said.