#he'd be blind to it when it's kinda pretty clear what's happening but if he's confronted by the reality by other people he begins to -

[silusvesuius]

not to be pompous but i like my mind a lot

feeling inspired sorry i feel like i can't shut up for the last 2 days i keep logging in and out saying anythang. but also it's embarrassing when people apologize for posting online in their own space i can't stop thinking about the time i was abt to eat dinner and my brain was on nel/vas steroids mode so i was pacing around my room eating soup thinking about them really hard. i'm realizing tes in general doesn't interest me like at all i'm just a Skajrim head forever maybe i'll draw something from other games but just because i love drawing and dipping characters into my mindset. i don't care about any of the lore in the slightest i was put here to analyze any possible thoughts any sk*rim character might have in any corner of their mind..

[cairavende]

Worm Arc 18 thoughts:

Well that sure just happened

I'm fine

Noelle ate my daughter. But I'm fine. It's fine.

Her girlfriends are gonna save her!

I'm fiiiiine

Anyway, that's like, the end of the arc so there's a lot of other stuff that happens!

Taylor casually drops that she's mostly blind in conversation and Brian kinda freaks out. Understandably.

She got eye drops that she is supposed to be doing but never mentions doing them. I'm very disappointed in her. I'm also worried her eyes aren't going to ever get better.

I do love that the moment Dinah says she only has a 58% chance of going home and Taylor realizes it's because of her, she forces the situation by taking Dinah home right away. She is far from perfect, but she does have her moments.

RACHEL LET DINAH PET HER DOG!!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! LOOK AT THE GROWTH!!

One of my favorite lines, when Taylor asks Dinah the chance of trouble before they go into the medical clinic "When there's trouble, it's you.  Eighty percent of the time." Just, kinda embodies the spirit of Worm I think.

I'm still fine.

Taylor sure thinks about Rachel as Rachel a lot now, instead of mostly as Bitch. GAAAAAY.

I really want to know what's on those papers Dinah left for Taylor. Triumph saw them but didn't seem to react. One might have been a message for him, since Dinah would know he would see it. Something that will come into play later maybe.

I love Parian making a giant wiener dog for everyone to ride on. Like, it is a definite upgrade in transportation from "door with glass stuck in it dragged down the street" but it doesn't have much of a supervillain vibe to it.

Noelle just starts it off with grabbing possibly the strongest cape available in Brockton Bay. At a minimum, one of the most versatile to clone. No big deal. Not like even just normal Vista could become very dangerous if she wanted to be evil.

Freaking PRT all "this is a Class A instead of a Class S cause Eidolon is a big man baby and needs to punch something all on his own to prove he's strong". Sure are helping people Alexandria. Good job. What a hero.

I think Eidolon is Bargain Bin Scion. Scion Lite. Blue Light Special Scion. A shitty version of Scion created by Cauldron basically.

Clockblocker is so fucking fascinated with Skitter it's amazing.

Tattletale made Eidolon maaaaaad! I love her.

I'm perfectly fine.

The scene with meeting the Chicago Wards, oh god I loved it so much! Skitter tells Bitch to clear the plywood out of a window and she just instantly fucking kicks it open, then a giant swarm comes in and swirls around everyone and covers Skitter, making her hair move and trailing bugs behind her like a gown, and then starts speaking with the swarm. And Tattletale waits until the perfect moment before asking the Wards their names and powers, very clearly backing Skitter up as her 2nd. Just such a "ok I was playing nice but now I need you to know who you are working with!" power move. Fucking amazing. Also it was Skitter being assisted by Bitch and Tattletale! GAAAAAAAAAAAY!! LESBIAN SUPERVILLAIN POWER POLYCULE!

I think Grace has neat powers but could have been more creative with her name. I fucking love Tecton though, assume tinker. Dude has got to love fights like this, where he is allowed to do all the property damage he wants. He'd make a good villain.

The other two are kinda neat too but they didn't last very long.

Every time they are going anywhere Bitch specifically offers Skitter a ride. GAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!

I love seeing the range of power adjustments the clone Vistas get. Some are pretty basic - can do stuff from farther away or not be slowed down if a lot of people are around - but then we get ones like Paper Mario Vista and Imagine Dragons Vista, with much more wild powers.

Everyone stand back while Eidolon goes and shows us all how strong he is! God.

I'm 100% FINE.

Side effect of being blinded probably, but it is neat how good Taylor is getting at listening, and sometimes even seeing, through her bugs! Just listening in on Eidolon and Noelle from blocks away.

Imp almost gets crushed to death by Eidolon's gravity power cause she ignores warnings from Skitter to run. Sounds about right.

Noelle making rat clones and bug clones (that Skitter can't control) is fun.

Fucking projectile vomit attack suddenly! Did Noelle absorb the girl from the Exorcist??

Texas Wards kinda getting their ass kicked. (Also what the hell is going on in Texas that the whole state apparently just has the one Wards team, vs most places have a Ward team per city?)

Fight is going kinda poorly. Travelers show up to help! And then Trickster betrays everyone to feed my daughter to Noelle! AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm fine.

The Most Powerful Man in the World Interlude thoughts:

Scion just really is empty in there isn't he?

Not a person, just a construct of the entities in 3 dimensional space. Sphere moving through Flatland and being seen as a circle style. No mind, just does what this guy tells him.

Duke is a very good dog.

Kevin talking about Scion 100% sounds like someone talking about a lover that has been lots of trouble for them but that they just can't quite.

Lisette is having a weird day.

I really wonder how the next Endbringer attack is going to go now that Scion has been told to kill them. Wonder if it'll be different.

Crusader Interlude thoughts:

Shockingly, it turns out that the Nazi is an asshole. News at 11.

Night and Fog were basically constructed by this Gesellschaft group. Seems like a branch of Cauldron pretending to be Nazis for more control over things. Or maybe not directly a branch of Cauldron, but they get powers from Cauldron. Maybe not related, but they make weapons, which is very much what Cauldron can do, and we haven't seen anyone else yet reliably make powers with control over the outcome.

This poor TA is having a bad day.

Taylor triggered 2 or more times in that locker. I was 100% positive of that the second the TA said "You can’t really distinguish a single trigger event from having two in quick succession." I probably should have realized this earlier.

Really curious where Theo and Aster's stories are going. I could see one or both of them being a major part of the end of the world (based on stuff from Trickster's visions on stuff from Noelle's interlude I'm thinking a 3rd or 4th generation cape might play a part in it), but I could also see them being red herrings.

Theo is upset but realistically getting abandoned and left with the PRT is the best option that could have happened to him.

Jessica Yamada Interlude thoughts:

This poor woman

Faultline Interlude thoughts:

OH MY GOD Gregor and Shamrock are super fucking cute together!!!!

Faultline is amazing and very organized and detail oriented and an assertive leader who wears a dress shirt with slacks and cowboy boots and threatens to get a bullwhip and I would really like her to tell me what to do k thx.

Not positive I would trust the minor precog abilities of Shamrock to make me Simurgh proof, but it's better than nothing.

The quarantine zone of the city of Madison is doing great!

Wasn't expecting to get to see Matroyshka again, that's neat! She should probably stop eating people but otherwise she's fun.

Faultline just not being able to stand Tattletale is wonderful. I hope they bother each other for years to come.

I like this crew, so I was not happy that they got really fucked up by Contessa. But I also want to like Contessa (as much as I can like someone who works for Cauldron) and this did make her seem really badass.

Noelle Interlude thoughts:

I'm fine.

Regent keeping up the jokes under pressure, good for him.

Finally got some good descriptions of Noelle's powers doing stuff which was very good.

I'm fine.

Also fun to see various clones and their powers.

AND THE VISION! OH MY GOD THE VISION! So much good info from that. It helped me get a much better idea of things and confirmed a lot of things I already thought. (Like Cauldron has basically hijacked an entity, more or less. Not the details on how though.)

I'm fine.

The fact that Noelle can let the god dandruff take control is interesting. Like her connection never got fully closed compared to other people. Which is what I assumed only taking half a vial did. Really curious to see if we ever get more info on Oliver.

Her Earth Bet self is like, 15 years younger. But still has the same name. Kinda wild.

I'm fine.

Also her Earth Bet dad gave her the name Echidna, which like, I get it's the mother of monsters or whatever, but I can only think of the cute adorable little creature!

I'm fine.

I obviously wish Eidolon had been able to defeat Noelle and save my daughter but him having a big sad about it not being fair that he can't get stronger is pretty funny too. I do not like the guy.

I'm fine.

I'm sure Tattletale has a plan and everything will work out.

I'm fine.

I'm 100% absolutely fine.

[teenandbeyond]

Loki x M. Magician Reader

I don't why this came to my brain 😭 Did it come out well? Let me know if you want a full love story flashback with...hmm...50 hearts? I don't think that's too bad.

Want more from me? Master list II

☆*: .｡. .｡.:*☆☆*: .｡. .｡.:*☆

Love Archive (Marvel)

Warning(s): Fluff, kinda long, slight angst bc past Loki, Ragnarök, Reader is stuck with insanely long life, Exes (ouchies), Smut (but not graphic and will leave warning when time)

You and Loki were in love once, then it fell apart...Only to see each other again over 200 years later...only to be forced to save the universe together...fun...

✨✨✨✨✨

"[Name]! Is it truly you?"

With furrowed brows, you turn to be blinded by a bright grin.

Yeah, you had no idea who this bulking blonde was.

"Who are you, sir?"

He chuckled, running a hand through his short hair, "Right, you wouldn't know me. You knew my brother, Loki. Correct?"

Hearing that name still strangely brought warmth to your heart.

But how...?

"How do you know of me?"

"Ah!...I might've...followed Loki once and saw you. He doesn't know."

With a huff of amusement, you cross your arms. So this was Thor. Loki often spoke of him.

So you knew he was nosey.

"And what do you need from me?

"I saw you fight. Earlier."

"That was only but a correction."

You were a type of security on Grandmaster's planet, but because you were a pretty boy, people liked to test you.

Let's just say that was a mistake.

"Well, I'd like you to join my team. I need a fighter such as yourself."

"Team?"

"Yes, the Revengers!"

"Re...ven?"

"Yes, a team of those who want revenge against the world and this place."

You didn't have anything in particular you wanted revenge over, but...you were a bored old man.

"Sure. Sounds fun."

"Wait, really?"

"Yeah, where do we start? How many members are there?"

"Ah...less than five?"

"Oh, dear."

☆: .｡. .｡.:☆☆: .｡. .｡.:☆

So much happened in less than an hour. You met a socially awkward scientist that Thor swore could transform into a monster, but the man stayed a man. Until...he wasn't?

You were confused.

Even as a half-human yourself, you found humanity weird.

And then, after doing a little...ah...clearing of obstacles, you were told to come to a familiar room.

You could hear conversation on the other end as you knocked the random code Thor had given to you.

And the door opened...he was there. Restrained, but there.

Loki.

And he froze in place, just as you did.

He looked like a deer in headlights, guilt you didn't understand riddled his face.

You smiled, "Hello. It's been a while."

"Ah--Yes, hello. It has."

The silence was heavy with a story that slowly bared itself from the archives.

"They definitely know each other," Bruce observed.

"Obviously," Valkyrie, one of your coworkers, deadpanned.

That was an understatement.

1800s Britain, that's when you met him.

You were 26 at the time, but you'd long discovered magic and the inhuman part of your lineage.

Loki could smell the magic on you, he was drawn to that and your quiet charm.

You mostly kept to yourself, a bit soft-spoken, you weren't brutish like many men were at the time.

And in a short span of time, he realized just how easy it was to talk to you.

You were understanding, you always listened. And you loved no matter what.

That's all he'd ever wanted.

Someone to just smile and say, "I love you, I'm listening."

Someone to hold him when he wanted to cry.

Someone who made him feel like he belonged.

Someone who could kiss him like he was their world.

And you were his.

But one day, it hit him. He wasn't good enough for you.

So he left, and what broke his heart even more?

You understood. There were no hard feelings.

But ever since that day, he'd wished you had been selfish, wished you'd disregarded his words and kept him close.

And now here you were, over 200 years later.

One of you still felt a warm love.

And the other was filled with guilt, having taken out that regret on others for years.

"So, how have you been?" Loki forces the words out instead of keeping the silence that was admittedly getting awkward for everyone else.

Oh, it hurts that you still smile at him so warmly. Why couldn't you at least pretend you hated him?

"I've been alright. Mostly travelling. You?"

"Ah--Well, mostly mischief."

"That's a given."

"Any, uh...Did you ever have a...?" How did he ask?

You nodded, "Yeah. For a while, I tried again. But mortals, you know, they die. So...after that, I decided I'd save myself from losing anyone again."

Then Loki took in what was around your neck, and his heart warmed at the sight.

You'd kept it. The ring he gave you, the promise ring that held a false promise of forever.

To him, it was a failed promise.

To you, it was a devotion of love. One you could never get rid of.

Even after all this time, you could say, without hesitation, you still loved him.

Even when you learned he'd tried to betray Thor as you tried to escape this forsaken planet.

He still arrived to save the day when it was needed.

And he was still there to guard you as you struggled to heal the wound of Hela.

And you were there for him as he mourned the home that never felt like home in his heart, but still belonged to him.

The father that never felt like home, but still belonged to him.

There was so much pain weighing on his shoulders.

He just needed to wash it away.

Scrub it away.

No, it needed to burn like the flames that had engulfed Asgard.

And you were the only person who could ever burn things away, even if just for a little while.

"Please. I don't want to think."

"I understand."

You always understood.

You understood that he didn't want words, not now. You did well enough at that.

He wanted warmth.

[NSFW]

His mind began to blank out the moment your lips trailed down his skin.

"I want to burn it all, [Name], can you do that?"

"I'll utterly engulf you. As much as you want. Wherever you want, my love."

It wasn't long before you had his skin scorching, flushed, and red.

He gasped for breaths between kisses as you got so close you were one.

He left thin, hot trails of red down your back, your sides.

And when he wanted the control, you relinquished it.

And by Odin---perhaps it was improper to say that, a habit--you were utterly beautiful beneath him, too.

He felt flattered to know he's the only one who's ever had you in this way.

The only one to have you vulnerable for a change.

Once again. Loki was realizing...

He was a fool, an absolute fool...for putting your love in the archives.

[helps-the-writing-brain-go]

Oh wow! People are actually interested! That makes me so happy! :D Here it is (under the cut):

The first time Clark Kent met Captain Marvel, he was terrified.

He'd flown. Oh how he'd flown, higher than he'd ever been before.

Ma and Pa had told him to keep his feet on the ground, to stop gadding up in the clouds before he knew what he was doing, but the sky was just so blue and clear and really, he was only above the field without anyone around for MILES.

What could happen?

Apparently, getting caught in a storm and getting blown way off course into the mountains that's what. 

And now he was flying nearly blind, rain lashing at his face and chilling him to the bone. Visibility was damn near nil with how heavy the clouds were and flashing periodically with lightning.And he couldn't drop down of them without possibly crashing into another craggy mountain top hidden out of sight.

Heavy winds swiped at him, trying to tear him out of the sky and Clark once had to perform a very shaky barrel roll out of the way of a flock of birds who didn't take kindly to a strange boy messing around where he shouldn't.

Shit, ma was going to kill him.

Another deafening rumble of thunder had him shaking his head trying to clear the sudden deafness, meaning he didn't notice a whit when the lightning bolt above struck him.

BOOM!

Screaming out in pain, Clark dropped like a stone.

He couldn't see. 

He couldn't hear.

Everything B U R N E D.

Then.

Something slams into his side and what little breath is left in Clark's lungs is forced out of him from the impact.

Clark is peripherally aware he has stopped falling, but he's in a bit too much shock to register much else. He wheezes. His breaths are short and painful, each lungful taking far more effort than necessary.

He can feel his hair, heavy from the rain sticking to his forehead and neck, trailing icy water into his already sopping wet flannel shirt. Clark has never much been affected by the cold, but with how rattled he is, he's pretty sure he's freezing right now. 

Can he even feel his fingers? No, not really, they're numb and slow and barely react to his commands. His toes too, which wriggle very little, if at all.

"Geeze Ka-Kid. You alright?" A man's voice says in concern somewhere above him. 

But that couldn't be right. Clark was in the sky and no one was ever higher up than him here.

"Kid, hey, say something. You're kind of freaking me out now." The mysterious Not-Voice sounded worried.

Clark cracked open an eye.

Instead of still roiling clouds or hopefully, a patch of blue sky, a man with chisled features stared down at him.

"Kid?"

Clark nearly leapt from his arms, only, in his state, the most he could do was a particularly sodden wriggle.

"Y-you...You can fly!"

The man grins at him, all dimpled cheeks and a smile so sunny Clark half-expects to be rejuvenated.

"So can you kid. Though, that was more uh, falling than flying out there." The unknown manbteased lightly.

"Still, you look kinda rattled. Let's get you under the sun yeah?"

He swooped, making Clark's stomach dip strangely and suddenly they were shooting through the clouds and into blessed sunshine. 

[goodieghostyarchive]

Sky Sibling Shenanigans.

Dusk and Dawn emerged as teenagers/early adolecents.

It was clear to them, right away that the gods who had created them were kinda caught of guard, which was hillarious, by the way.

Virgil was a very cool dude and treated them as his younger brothers. Which was awesome. He often got them out of trouble when their pranks got a bit out of hand.

Lumus imediately considered them his own children which was pretty awesome too. Lumus made sure they had family bonding time with the four of them and he was very suportive and proud of pretty much everything they did... He got them their own chariots when they crashed his while joy riding it... For the twenthiet time.

They loved pranks though. Especially justified pranks.

This friend of Virgil's Patton, he tried to get them to quit. They compromised on only pranking assholes.

There were gods who had beef with their big brother for no reason, or who were needlessly annoying or even cruel to mortals. Well they got what was comming. Best thing is their dad and their big bro were a combined force scarry enough to avoid any reprecussions most of the time and they both were quick enough to get away safe and sound anyway.

They were a dream team.

Didn't mean they weren't beyond excited when they found out they got a younger sibling though.

Remy was walking around in their palace. They'd ascended that morning. Said their goodbye to their uncles, visited their papa's grave, and just an hour ago they convinced their dad to let them be for a bit.

They touched the fabric of the blindfold tentatively.

Dad had said they could take it off here. There were windshimes that would allert them if anyone else was in the building.

But they wouldn't risk it. The pain was still too fresh.

The image of their friends...

"What did you do to me?" they'd demanded when they felt the god's escense tamper with their eyes, with their powers.

"Remy?!" Roxana had called out. Their best friend. Their support, their confidant. The one who'd been able to cheer them up when they missed their dads too much.

"You'll see," the God had sneered.

Remy had looked up to find their friend. The second they crossed eyes with Roxanna, she fell.

They caught her, tried to help her. But she was gone.

They'd been blinded by tears and hadn't understood what was happening.

"Ro? Rem?" Pericles called out. Another friend. Carefree and loyal and honest to a fault.

Remy had looked up, still holding onto Roxane. And Pericles fell.

They'd screamed in agony.

"Hey what's going on there!?"

"No don't come closer!" Remy had begged. But it was too late.

Loving and caring Timon, the last of their companions on this quest, fell too.

They'd started crying and begging for someone to help their friends. Closing their eyes, wishing for it all to be a bad dream.

They'd felt their dad embrace them, kiss them on the crown of their head. He said he'd be right back.

Remy could hear him, could hear the god who'd done this struggling and begging. Their father spoke to them in the first language, which he only half understood. Something about how his death would be slow and painful in all the ways they feared.

Then they'd felt Patton arrive and he'd sounded almost as terrifying as their dad, more so in some ways.

When they returned to their side they promised that that god would suffer for as long as their pain lasted.

Remy shook their head. There was no point in dwelling...

Sudenly a chorus of windshimes echoed through the halls.

They looked up, following where it came from.

"Eyooo! We heard there's a new addition to the gods of the sky!!!!"

"Dusk, simmer down. You'll scare the poor baby," another voice chastised.

"Excuse me?! Who are you and what have you done with my fun sibling? I'd like her back please!" The first voice scoffs.

"Who goes there!" Remy demanded, readdy to call for their father. They were a bit jumpy.

The chimes got closer.

"Ah there you are! You are Remy right?!" the first voice, Dusk asked.

"Yes. Remy, God of sleep and dreams and the moon. They/them," they said.

"Cool. Dusk, God of, well Dusk and endings and stuff. He/They."

"Dawn. God of the dawn and beginnings. She They. We came to say hi. Virgil is kinda our big brother, might've mentioned us?"

He had, come to think of it. "Something about you two being a bad influence ad to never listen to you two?" Remy recalled.

The pair laughed. "Sure... Buuuuuut. Do you want to party from dusk till dawn or not?" Dawn's voice wondered.

Well when she stated it like that...

"Always," Remy grinned.

They needed a massive nap after their adventure. But it was well worth it, and it would not be their last.

--

@lovelivingmydreams

GOSH Y E S

[roguerogerss]

sunshine

Pairing: Laurie Laurence x Reader

W/C: 1.7k

Warnings: none!

Plot: Your love life is decided for you by your aunt, but that was never an issue to you until you met Laurie.

A/N: this is so short but it’s at least something? and i think it’s pretty cute. i’m kinda uninspired atm but keep sending in requests and i’ll give them a go! like and reblog if you enjoy please!

————

The sun was bright in the sky when she woke, the clouds that hung above her window looked full and fluffy and white. She'd forgotten to draw the curtains in her state of panic from the night before, and as she thought about what the day was to entail, that same panic slowly settled on her shoulders and she could feel a throbbing behind her eyes.

Wedding Day. Or, rather, arranged marriage day.

Y/N's mother would never have let it happen, but she'd passed when her daughter was only young and her father worked overseas for most of the year. She lived with her aunt in a cushy villa in the countryside, one that resided across from the field in which the March sisters spent most of their time.

That was how Y/N had come to meet Theodore Laurie Laurence.

Her love life had never been a choice that she'd had the right to make, with her aunt deciding who she was allowed to love for her, but that had never been much of an issue until she'd become acquainted with Laurie.

They'd met on the three year anniversary of her mother's passing. She was taking a stroll down by the brook to clear her mind, squinting against the sun after forgetting to bring a hat, and Laurie had gone rushing by and bumped arms with her on his way, knocking her to the floor.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." He had helped her to her feet and dusted off her dress for her, smiling all the while. It had occurred to her that in all of the time that she'd known Laurie, she'd never known him to do anything other than smile. He was like a ray of sunshine, always energetic and smiley and glowing. She often wondered how he managed to be so happy in a world that was anything and everything but.

By the time that she'd realised that she should've been out of bed and half ready instead of thinking about Laurie, her aunt was already bustling into the room, white dress in hand and ready to lace Y/N into a corset that felt tight and restricting and wrong. She rambled something about how Y/N should've already had her hair and makeup done, but her niece took no interest and instead watched as the silhouette of a seagull danced against the blinding sun.

Y/N's little concern for things in life that she didn't care for was what had drawn Jo March - and, consequently, her sisters - to her. Jo didn't care for social class or etiquette and paid little mind to the philosophy that women served the singular purpose of marriage, and Y/N was much the same. While her aunt was very much traditional in her views, along with most everyone else in Plumfield, Y/N was the opposite. Her aunt thought it was unladylike to let her hair down and enjoy life as it came, but doing just that had made Y/N the best friends that she had.

"You look beautiful, dear." Y/N's aunt commented, holding her shoulders as they both looked at Y/N's reflection in the mirror in front of them. The dress was cream, with a floor length skirt and circle and long sleeves, complete with small pearl details. It might've been beautiful, but Y/N couldn't shake the fact that she wouldn't be marrying the love of her life, but, instead, he'd be watching as she married someone else.

She remembered the day that she’d announced her engagement to the March sisters. They’d consoled her and allowed her to cry herself out, to the point that, when Laurie arrived, her voice was so thick and face so covered in tears that he’d insisted she lay her head in his lap and let him braid her hair. It was something of a tradition between them, had been from the first moment that they’d realised their mutual feelings and they were sure it would be as they grew old together - the one thing that they were certain of in life was that they would be married and they were more than okay with that.

“Tell me, my love.” Laurie had said. His voice was so soft and gentle and Y/N knew that what she was going to have to say would break him. “What’s going on in that pretty little head?”

She’d opened her mouth to laugh at what he’d said, but an unexpected sob had erupted and she’d soon found herself sat up and wrapped in Laurie’s arms. “My aunt she - I - Laurie -”

The words leaving her lips made no sense and she couldn’t find it in her to make sense of them. It had been hard enough for her to tell Jo, Amy, Beth and Meg, nevermind Laurie. Laurie, the love of her life and the man who she wished more than anything to marry and to love for the rest of both of their lives, and who wished the same. “Slow down. Take your time. I’m listening.”

Deep breath, “It’s Arthur, Laurie. We’re engaged.”

The light in Laurie’s eyes had faded and so too the sun in the sky seemed to as he held Y/N at arms length and watched her with parted lips and a soft pout. “What? You’re engaged?”

“Yes.” She felt so small. The word that she had just uttered was so small but yet it held so much hurt and caused so much hurt that it seemed as though it should’ve been huge. “My aunt...Laurie, she made me-”

She was crying again because she expected Laurie to leave. She expected that he’d pick up and leave her alone on the picnic blanket on the hill and forget about her. But he didn’t, he understood. Because Laurie Laurence seemed to always understand her, it was all of the reason why she loved him so much. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t apologise. Never apologise for something that isn’t your fault.” Laurie had said. His arms were around her and he used his fingertips to brush lightly through her hair. His words had stuck with her and probably would forever.

Her aunt had left the room to allow Y/N to fix her hair into an updo instead of leaving it in the tangled mess that it had turned into during the night. She watched her reflection in the mirror, and she watched as the door behind her opened and Laurie stepped inside.

“I know I shouldn’t be here.” He said before she could even turn around. Hearing his voice was enough to start her sobs again, his sweet and gentle voice, so much unlike Arthur’s which was cold and hard and unloving and unappreciative of her. “Oh, Y/N.”

Laurie’s eyes were watery and his bottom lip wobbled lightly, the sunshine and light in the world seemed gone because Laurie Laurence was not smiling and Laurie Laurence was always and forever smiling. But he managed to catch Y/N in his arms as she let her shaking body fall into his embrace. “It’s okay. Everything will be okay.”

“It won’t, Laur. Nothing is okay when we are not together.” The sentence wasn’t something that she had to think about saying, and was almost a surprise when it left her mouth, but it was more true than anything else she’d ever said to Laurie apart from that she loved him. It was all she knew, that she loved Laurie Laurence and that when she couldn’t love him nothing would be okay and the good in life would slowly evaporate until it ceased to exist.

“Then don’t let your aunt break us apart.” Laurie pulled away and cupped Y/N’s cheek in one hand. She leaned into his touch and closed her eyes, allowing herself to relish in it, in him, for one more second.

“What do you mean?”

“Stay with me. We can leave right now, she won’t know you’re gone for at least an hour and my father will cover for you. I promise.” Running away from her home life with Laurie was something of a dream to her. It wasn’t often that she did things without seeking a second opinion or taking time to think about the consequences, but her answer came quickly and with seemingly little to no thought in it whatsoever.

“Yes. Okay.” She spoke so quickly after Laurie’s proposition that he furrowed his eyebrows as if asking if she was thinking straight. “Yes, Laurie.”

“Yes?” He hadn’t expected her to say yes. He was asking a lot and he never asked a lot of her, but she seemed to be perfectly okay with it.

“Yes.” She was smiling and so was Laurie. Everything seemed right when Laurie smiled.

“We must go, she’ll notice you’re gone too soon if we don’t.” Laurie held out a hand for Y/N to clasp in her own, a confirmation that this was really happening and that he wasn’t going to lose her, that they really would be able to grow old together like they’d so often spoken and dreamed about while laying together in bed when the stars were out and time seemed to stop because they were alone together and nothing mattered.

“We can go.” She spoke softly, unclipping her hair and letting it hang freely around her shoulders. “Laurie?”

“Yes, my dear?” Laurie reached behind her to loosen the corset of her dress. He knew how much she hated corsets - much the same way she hated being with Arthur and for the same reason - that she hated anything that restricted her and stopped her from being able to do as she pleased.

“I love you. I love you so much.” She could say those words a million times and never be able to convey exactly what they meant to her. She meant that Laurie was her happiness and her muse just as much as he was the bad days and the sadness. He was her perfect match in love and in life and her best friend all in one.

“I love you too, darling.” And the sunshine was back in his eyes.

[noblest-roman-of-them-all]

Sheds

Janus rose up with perfect aim, right in front of the coffee pot.  

"Morning, Janus," a voice spoke to his left.  

Janus jumped, scalding his gloved hand and letting out a low hiss in the process.  

He jerked his hand away when whoever had spoke reached for him and it took a moment to process that Thomas was staring at him and another to process he'd asked a question.  

"Yes," Janus answered shakily. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Yes, I'm fine."

Thomas blinked. Janus might have called himself the Lord of the Lies, but they were generally better than that. "That wasn't remotely believable," he informed the Deceptive Side. "We should run some cool water over your hand-"  

"It's plenty cool. It didn't actually burn me; I'm fine."  

"Janus. You don't look fine. You're literally shaking. Let me help."  

Janus stepped back at the same moment Thomas moved forward.  

"Okay. Okay," Thomas moved back a step, hands up as if in surrender. "I won't come closer. What can I do to help? Because I'm gonna be honest, you're scaring me at this point."  

Janus gripped the entryway with all three of his left arms and squeezed his eyes closed. "Remus."  

"You...want me to call him for you?"  

Janus nodded, his chest heaving slightly. "Call Remus. Please."  

"Okay." Thomas closed his eyes for a moment to concentrate. "Remus. I need you in the kitchen."  

The Duke popped up between human and Side. "'Need' is a pretty strong word there. What? Get tired of brother dear setting off the fire alarm with his burnt toast?"

"Yeah, that's gotten pretty bad lately. But actually, Janus needs you." He gestured just over Remus's shoulder.  

Remus spun around and immediately ducked under Janus's highest arm, taking some of his weight. "What happened?"  

"He came into the kitchen and jumped like he didn't see me when I said good morning. And just...hasn't calmed down."  

The Duke nodded. "I'll take care of him."

"Hold on. What's going on? Is he really okay?"  

Remus glanced just beyond Thomas. "He can explain it." With that, he dropped from the room taking Janus with him.

Virgil glanced between where Remus had been standing and Thomas, who stared in wide-eyed confusion. He tugged a shoulder of his hoodie closer then stuffed his hands into his pockets waiting for the barrage of questions.  

"What the heck was that?" Thomas finally managed to question.  

Virgil shrugged a shoulder. "He's shedding."  

"I'm sorry. He's what now?"  

"He sheds when you grow."

"That...did not answer my question. In fact, I have several more now."  

Virgil perched himself on the counter. "When you experience personal growth, he...sheds his scales. He has an actual eyelid, but his left eye still 'blues' so he's basically blind in that eye for a couple of days. The whole thing kinda....stresses him out."  

"Okay, but how does that even work? All I've seen  are the scales on his face and shedding usually involves the whole...skin."  

"Y'know that part of his skin between where it looks human and where the scales are? That kinda...peels. Like a sunburn. If he's not careful getting that part off can be kinda painful. Usually, he gets most of it off on his own, but Remus has to help get it off his back."  

"So is it...?" Thomas gestured up and down.  

"Down most of the left side of his body? Yeah. They're different in different spots. I guess they're called scutes? Or something, whatever. Those ones are easier for him to hide so you can't really see them on his neck. They're on the insides of his arms and leg and partially where they meet his skin."  

"Guess that explains the layers." Thomas mused.  

"That and it keeps his body heat in," Virgil agreed with a shrug.  

"How many...snake characteristics does he have?"  

The Embodiment of Anxiety shrugged once again. "I dunno. I only know about those ones because he can't really hide them."  

"The ones he needs help with," Thomas nodded thoughtfully. "Is there anything else I should know?"  

"Like I said, Remus was the one who helped most of the time. We could always tell it was coming, though, cause he always got really lethargic, would always hole up in his room more, that kinda thing. Remus made him some cave or something, natural sauna or whatever to make it easier to get the scales off."  

"Thank you for telling me all of this. I know...you guys really aren't on speaking terms and I won't ask about that right now. But it helps."

"You're welcome, I guess. We good?"  

"Yeah. Thanks, Virge."  

Virgil gave a two fingers salute and hopped off the counter and immediately dropped through the floor.  

Thomas let out a soft sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "Hey, Logan?" It wasn't exactly worded as a summons, Logan wasn't really an early riser, and phrasing it more like a request was...more like sending a text message than a phone call.  

It took a moment for the Embodiment of Logic to appear at his side.  

"What can I do for you?" Logan asked and finished adjusting his tie.  

Thomas handed him a mug of coffee. "Remember the rain forest phase? What do we remember about snakes?"  

---  

"How ya doin', Janny?" Remus asked and dropped down next to the pool where Janus was soaking.  

Janus cracked his eyes open to glance at Remus then closed them again with a sigh. "I'm fine."  

"Liar." Remus retorted.  

"I don't want to talk about it," he said instead.  

"About ready to be peeled?" Remus reached out and lightly scratched at Janus's forehead and got his hand smacked for it.  

Janus pulled himself from the water and onto the stone next to Remus. Without a word, the Duke began helping him out of the black long-sleeved shirt he was in, starting with disentangling his lowest arms, and working upward. Swaths of old scales peeled away with the shirt, but large patches still clung to his body.  

"Too stressed," Remus commented and ruffled his sopping hair.  

"Yes, it seems that way," Janus answered blandly and tossed the shirt into the water. He let out a short sigh and began picking at what was left on his torso. At least his leg was done. That was always the easiest part. Multiple arms, however, caused a bit of a challenge. But Remus was helpful and generally understanding enough to keep his commentary to a minimum.  

Janus hissed at the sharp stinging on his back.

"Sorry!" Remus apologized and quickly pressed a wet cloth over his spine where scale became skin. "Little too much came off."  

"It's alright," Janus sighed. "It's being stubborn this time." He made a noise of frustration as he struggled with a section covering his middle elbow. Silently Remus reached over and managed to get his thumbnail under the patch and peeled forward. Janus murmured his quiet thanks and took the rest off on his own.  

"Maybe it needs to be more humid," Remus suggested.  

Janus glanced over his shoulder. "Any more humid and you're going to have heat stroke. You probably ought to go get some water and cool off a bit as it is."  

"Nah, I'm good. Don't want you trying to get this stuff off your back against the rocks again. Despite what you and Ro-bro think, you don't actually look as good in blood as I do."  

"Thank you," Janus said again.  

Remus ruffled his hair then peeled a section of scales from the back of his neck toward his throat. Janus took the patch from Remus and gingerly detached it from his body.  

"All done back here," the Duke announced after several more minutes had passed in silence. "How's it goin' up there?"  

"I think it's gone."  

"Ready for me to skin your face?"  

Janus scowled. "Must you word it that way?" He grumbled and leaned back. Remus helped to guide him back the dunked a washcloth in the warm pool. Once Janus was settled with his head in the Duke's lap, Remus pressed the damp just under his jaw and gently brushed it back, peeling up the remaining scales as he went. He conjured up a small pair of cuticle scissors to separate skin from scale without tearing any of the delicate facial skin. Janus did his best to remain motionless. He trusted Remus just fine, after all the years Remus had helped him with his sheds it would be more difficult not to trust him. It didn't make the quiet snipping of the scissors any more pleasant though.  

"Want me to take your eye out or are you going to?"  

For a moment Janus didn't answer. Just remained still with his eyes closed. It didn't matter, really, it was always unpleasant no matter who took the eye cap off. It really was ridiculous. The skin of his actual eyelid didn't shed like his scales did, there was no reason for the eye cap. It was just another miscellaneous piece of snake anatomy and trivia assigned to him. Still. He needed to get rid of it. The shed build up on his back the one time he refused to let Remus help him was bad enough. He didn't want to know what it would do to his eye.  

"You can do it."  

"Gotta open your eye then, Jan."  

Janus let out a slow breath and opened his mismatched eyes. Then closed them again when Remus touched his face. Remus didn't comment on it. Just waited patiently for the other to be ready to try again. He might have a reputation as the mean and scary one, but that didn't mean that that was all there could be to him.  

Janus finally opened his eyes again and Remus lightly held the outer corner of his eye just a little wider and quickly found the slight build up in the inner corner of Janus's eyes and peeled it outward.  

Once it was gone Janus turned and curled up on his side and Remus shook the especially slimy scale from his hand.  

"Naptime for the snake-boy," he teased lightly then gently pushed Janus into a more upright position. "C'mon. I'll carry you."

---

Janus stretched without sitting up when he finally woke up. He wasn't sure how long he'd been asleep, but a few hours he guessed. He'd certainly needed it. He stayed curled up warm and content under the blankets for another few minutes until a box on his desk caught his eye.  He frowned a little. Remus certainly made sure to take care of him during the entire shedding process, but he'd never gotten him a gift for it before. And it certainly hadn't come from Virgil.  

Janus pushed himself out of bed to investigate.  

"Hope this helps.  - Thomas," the car on the lid read. A slight pang coursed seemed to shoot through his chest at that. He'd hoped the shedding was something he would be able to keep on the downlow. The worried ache turned to warmth that spread though his chest when he pulled the lid form the box. Inside sat a large humidifier. It, admittedly, wouldn't do too much in the way of helping during shedding, but it would be nice for the day to day and it was a kind thought. He lifted the humidifier from the box and smirked at what was underneath it. A coiled snake plushie and another index card.

"You can heat it up and wrap it around you to keep you warm," the note read.  

Janus picked up the stuffed snake and found it nearly as heavy as a real snake of that size. Likely filled with clay beads then. He smiled and wrapped it over his shoulders, enjoying the weight and lightly touched its snout with his nose.  

Maybe others knowing wasn't so bad after all.  

[morelikesin]

You Know You're Cute, Right?

ANOTHER APEX FIC BECAUSE I CANNOT CONTROL MYSELF SKNDLWKDM,, this time I wrote differently than how I normally do - it consists of quick snippets of a day-in-the-life type thing, featuring Mirage-Octane-Bloodhound-Caustic as a polycule 💕 Huge inspo from this song (as well as included in the fic)✨

Take this as a late Christmas-early New Years gift ✨ Super fluffy and casual type work, with a heavy dash of romanticism because I'll be damned if I'm not a romantic. Fic under the cut 💕💕

"You call your cat sweetheart? 'Zander-"

"Not a word."

Elliott suppressed a snort. That cheeky little smile he had when he found an opening for playful jabs was always so irritating - the kind of irritating that made the scientist want to kiss it right off of him.

"I think it's cute," Octavio hummed, leaning back into the sofa with his arms crossed behind his head. "That means you're cute. Que lindo."

The way Alexander scoffed an "Octavio" would've been more intimidating had it not been for the big, sleepy cat he cradled in his arms. She stretched her big fluffy paws, made a squeak as she yawned, and buried her head into the man's chest.

Blóð smiled.

"Vhatever helps you sleep at night, elskan."

It was incredibly late. The last time they had checked the clock wasn't that long ago, and apparently it was supposed to be sometime around 4 in the morning. It didn't feel that way at all.

They knew it'd kick their ass in the morning - getting so little sleep.

Well, Octavio might be fine. But Elliott had made it a habit to wake up at 8, Blóð still hadn't made much progress on getting more sleep to begin with, Alexander had his internal clock waking him at 7, and they all had somewhere to be at 9. This entire night was probably a huge mistake. They normally try to get to sleep by 2, but admittedly, they may or may not have a bad practice of keeping each other awake for company's sake.

And now that an entirely new subject was brought up after Alexander had rather adoringly picked up Bear, his senior cat, and called her "sweetheart," the prospect of playfully pestering him about his soft spot was all too enticing to go to sleep just yet.

"You've never even called us sweetheart," Octavio began. "You save it for her?"

There was a brief pause. Alexander had kept petting her back paw with his thumb, as his eyes remained averted until he sighed. "It...is something I've grown accustomed to for her, yes."

Elliott made a pleased hum. "Well isn't that just adorable," he teased before leaning over and petting Bear across her back - fur unbelievably soft.

It started as a joke a while ago - the way they noticed how Bear could make anyone sleepy just by looking at her - her cozy looking fur, her sweet little face, her ability to get comfortable and sleep virtually anywhere - but over time the joke had increased its humour when the idea became seemingly true. Alexander occasionally would mention how he'd sometimes stop working at his desk late at night because Bear was sleeping in his lap, and turn in a few hours early compared to his usual 2 in the morning bed time. This was deemed an exaggeration until the three others experienced it for themselves.

This happened to be one of those magical sleepy-Bear moments, as made evident by how Blóð made a quiet yawn shortly after leaning over to give Bear a loving scritch under her chin.

Octavio staved off a matching yawn. He rubbed at his eyes, began to stand, and nodded to Alexander's bed. "We should probably try and get some sleep."

-

The sun coming in through the blinds was a rude awakening. Elliott instinctually raised an arm to cover his eyes - making a soft groan in annoyance at the bright rays somehow coming through at a perfect angle to hit him in the face. Turning, he lowered his arm and began to sit up slowly as to not wake up the sleeping Octavio who had his arm wrapped around his waist.

Elliott sighed, and leaned down to give him a kiss on the temple. He lingered for a moment before sitting up again and rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

He noticed a weight on his legs, and looked to see a peacefully sleeping Bear curled up in a ball. As he went to pet her head, his eyes glanced up to see Blóð sitting in Alexander's desk chair - hands busy sewing a thick-fur item. From the time spent with the hunter, Elliott had picked up on the types of hides they'd hunt and use - this one appearing to be rabbit fur. What they were making, though, wasn't clear yet.

Elliott's voice came deeper, and a bit more throaty in post-sleep fashion, "Morning."

Blóð briefly looked up, gave a gentle smile, and proceeded to look back down to continue their work. "Góðan morgin. How did you sl'leep?"

"Pretty good, considering." He took in a deep breath, and stretched his arms out in front of him. He rested his hands in his lap as he went to speak again, "When did you wake up?"

"Before Alexander, but not by long."

Elliott frowned slightly. Blóð took notice when they looked back up to gauge his reaction. They made an effort to ease his concerns.

"I'm sure Octavio will get me to take a nap vith him later today," they assured, "don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

Elliott made a small hum indicating reluctant agreement. "...Alright. Just promise me to keep doin' what you're doin' - trying t'get more sleep, I mean."

"I promise, ástin."

If Elliott was a sucker for anything, it'd be terms of endearment - especially when they're used so casually. Having all four of them be big on using said terms made for an eternally happy Witt.

"Beloved, right?"

Blóð hummed, "Yes. Closest tr'ranslation I can equate to it." They briefly stopped their handiwork in the wake of a smile they couldn't seem to get rid of. "I'm touched you remembered."

Elliott smirked and made a quiet laugh, turning his head to find the time on the side table clock - 8:21 AM - before looking back over. "I try my best. Making it a goal to learn as much as I can from you and Octavio."

"We find it very sweet," Blóð assured, letting it be known that Octavio and they had seemingly discussed the language efforts before. "Alexander said as much, that you and he were doing so."

"Think I can speak for him when I say that we love learning it. Speaking of him...?"

"He's downstairs."

Elliott made a quiet "Ah." As much as it pained him to do so, he gently lifted Bear and set her on a free spot of the blanket so he could get up - her being left generally unfazed, besides her slightly annoyed tail wag in being moved from her spot.

With Octavio being so small, Elliott could easily leave the bed without disturbing him too much, albeit moving his arm so it wasn't draped across his body anymore. He stretched, walked over to Blóð, and gestured for a kiss. They hummed, seemingly still in their work, but Elliott knew they were keen - the hunter picking up the hint and looking up so their lips could gently meet.

"Que lindo, mis amores."

The two of them made a small hum in surprise before pulling away from one another with a blush. Blóð was smiling to themself shyly, while Elliott made a small chortle and flirted with the newly-awakened Octavio, wearing his darling little smirk.

"Welcome to join us."

Octavio laughed - the sound half-purr, half-grain. "I'd love to. Watching is only so much fun."

He started to rise, stretching his arms upwards and making a groan before reaching over the bed to grab his prosthetics and put them on. Standing, shaking his legs to help himself wake up, he made a small yawn before walking around the bed and giving a kiss to each partner - looking satisfied with himself.

"Big guy downstairs?"

Blóð nodded.

Elliott and Octavio made a mutual decision to go see him - the latter turning around before they headed out the bedroom door to question Blóð. "You comin' down?"

They shook their head, hands busy sewing the fur item again. "I will soon. I von't be long in finishing this."

Octavio nodded, and proceeded to take Elliott's hand as they went downstairs.

-

Dr. Somers and Alexander seemed to be having a chat when the two made it to the kitchen, their hands busy with mugs of black coffee all the while. Elliott could never understand how people drank their coffee so bitter, much less Octavio.

Dr. Somers was the first to notice the two, as she was facing the stairs leaning against the counter. Giving a small wave and giving a nod to Alexander, she drank from her mug and gave them a minute to exchange expected affections - something she learned the polycule are incredibly prone to do, despite several joking complaints about PDA from the others.

Octavio quipped with a laugh between his words as Elliott and Alexander exchanged a coffee-flavored kiss, "Not even creamer, 'Zander?"

The man bore an amused hum. "Black coffee actually tastes like coffee. You may as well drink candy if you add so much sugar to it."

"You sound old."

"No avoiding that, I'm afraid." He gestured for a kiss, to which Octavio happily gave, before drinking from his mug again. "How did you sleep?"

"Great!"

Elliott gave a "Ditto" in response, though he followed it up with a fitting yawn and a "Wish I slept some more, though."

The statement was seconded by the way Alexander made a soft hum in agreement, and thirded by Octavio and his rightly timed yawn.

Dr. Somers waited a few quiet moments before stepping forward and piping into the conversation. "It'll just be a few stores we stop by, darlin's. Doubt we'll be out that long."

"That's still gonna' be so long," Octavio complained, his voice coming as a whine.

It was common knowledge that Octavio wasn't exactly big on shopping. Elliott, however, could spend all day doing it. If they had to disagree on anything, it'd be how long they were out for things - Alexander and Blóð keeping things relatively frustration-free during a shopping trip, though Blóð would always get antsy to go home if they stayed out longer than a few hours out in a city.

"It'll be fine, babe," Elliott assured the man while rubbing his back. "It's kinda'- kinda' just mainly food shopping, isn't it? You like doing that."

"Aren't we going to the pet store after, though?"

Elliott rose a brow, "'Tavio, are you complaining about that?"

Octavio snorted and began walking to the fridge - grabbing a Bang from inside and popping the can open. "No, para nada - prefer that to everything else, even food."

Mary laughed at that, shaking her head before taking a gulp of coffee and making her way to the living room. Before she left, though, she spoke with her back still facing them, "Oh, remind me t'grab a level while we're out -  puttin' up a shelf an' think I lost the one I had."

"Lucky for you, I'm the best at reminding people of things," Elliott half-joked. Mary laughed again and took her leave with a "Thanks."

Being left alone in the kitchen, the three stood in comfortable silence for a few moments. Alexander prompted a question shortly thereafter;

"Is Blóð still upstairs?"

"Yeah," Octavio began, "Think they were working on something - dijo no tardará mucho. I can go see them if-"

The stairs creaked a bit as someone walked down the stairs, causing Octavio to cut himself off as he turned to see who it was. In seeing so, he sighed damn near dreamily and softened his gaze a bit - Elliott and Alexander softening all the same.

Pulling their past-the-waist long black hair behind their jewelry-adorned ear, they rounded the last stair and looked up to see their partners - smiling warmly and lowering their hands to fold their arms. The coyote jaw necklace (that Octavio had gifted them this past holiday, knowing they loved real animal items), that rest against their lower chest rose slightly with every breath, as quaint a detail it was to notice. Not a day goes by do any of them not love seeing their pretty face.

And Elliott made sure to tell them that.

"Not a day goes by do we not love seeing your pretty face."

Blóð bore a chuckle and rolled their eyes, though it didn't mask the rosy blush the comment gave them. "I should say the same for you, ástin."

They unfolded their arms and looked back to the three. They couldn't suppress the amused hum they made in seeing that the three were still checking them out - becoming more flushed and brushing their hair behind their ear again, looking away with a shy smile.

They always looked at each other with such warmth. They got playful tease about it from the others, especially Alexander given he was quite brooding to most things, but the gazes never subsided. They'd like to say they were subtle about it - but everyone else would vote against it. And it'd be true.

They were obvious about it. So sticky-sweet obvious - embraces and hand holding and gazes and kisses and all. They didn't mind.

-

By 10 till 9, mostly everyone was ready - save for Loba, Renee, and Elliott, who always took a while to clean up to their own high standards. Elliott called from upstairs whether he should wear his orange body mist or his cologne, and with the majority vote leaning towards cologne today - well, he must please the people.

With Renee in tow, Elliott had finally come from upstairs. He looked handsome as ever, however, wearing a black turtleneck and an orange, knee length open-front sweater. His hair looked meticulously tended to, tossed to the opposite side of his pierced right ear and framing his face well.

The cologne served him wonders, too, with Blóð and Alexander taking a clear liking to it.

Octavio walked down the stairs with a pep in his step - smoothing back his hair as best he could just so it could partly fall into his face once again. Swinging around the corner, he spotted his partners and proceeded to greet Blóð and Elliott with a firm smack on their behinds. They were startled, sure, but Elliott only looked down to give Octavio a laugh and a smack of his own, while Blóð merely scoffed in jest.

Octavio bit his lip. "Don't you all look good? Eres tan sexy," he gave a wink while unabashedly checking them out. Blóð was always so pretty, even when showing their strength in the games or when they hunted or chopped wood (Octavio could go on for days about that), Elliott was always so charming and confident (even if his suave attempts happened to fail, they were all the more charming), and the rolled-sleeve button up that was unbuttoned just enough to show collarbone and brief chest on Alexander was something Octavio (and the other two, admittedly) would store in the memory bank for personal satisfaction.

"¿Qué hubo?"

"Just talkin' about whatever." Elliott adjusted the cuffs of his orange jacket sleeves, rolling them up his forearm a bit. He took notice of Octavio's outfit. "You gonna' be alright out there? You know I love you in your crop tops, but-"

Octavio made a "Pshhh" and scrunched his nose up a bit in response to that, cutting him off. "I'll be fine, bebé. Can't be that cold outside, can it?"

Alexander seemed to check his phone for confirmation on that. "Sixty degrees."

Elliott did find the temperature better than he had anticipated, but still swiveled his head back to Octavio with brows furrowed in concern.

"You don't even have a jacket."

"I can grab one before we go."

Elliott seemed satisfied by that and left the discussion there.

Loba came downstairs, holding the car keys and jangling them as her other hand brushed her hair past her shoulder. "Any takers on being driver?"

Alexander motioned her to give the keys to him, to which she happily did - she was a great driver, but happened to not be particularly fond of doing so, rather liking going on drives as a passenger.

Octavio quickly claimed shotgun.

Before they left, Blóð gave Octavio the fur item they'd been sewing earlier - the latter finding that it was a soft rabbit fur coat. The delight in his face was all Blóð needed to feel assured that he liked it, and helped him put it on. It was a little big, and just how Octavio liked his sweaters and coats. To all of their agreement, he looked rather stylish in it.

-

They were out for most of the afternoon, starting with a two hour Costco trip (that Octavio nearly made his partners carry him for), several smaller shops in between just to browse, a liquor store to buy champagne and sauvignon to celebrate New Years tonight (along with sparkling juice for Octavio who nay drank alcohol), and a hardware store mainly for Mary to pick up that level Elliott reminded her of. By 4:30, their last store of the day was the pet store - everyone individually needing one thing or another.

When they got inside, Elliott asked his partners if they could accompany him for a minute - guiding them to the aquarium section and proposing something.

"Pick one of these guys that you like," Elliott gestured to the wall of individually kept male betta fish, of all sorts of colors and sizes. "You remember those 5 gallon tanks I got a while back? Thought I'd use 'em, and thought a' you guys."

Like Blóð was simply an animal person, and how Octavio and Alexander were cat people, Elliott was partial towards fish. The two large tanks he manages in the living room are rather serene, and despite Renee's concerns, the fish kept there seem to love the foot traffic of everyone coming through.

"One collectively, or-?"

Elliott shook his head, politely cutting Alexander off, "Three total. Was thinking you all pick one, and I set their tanks up in my room. I-I thought it was a cute idea, I dunno'-"

"It's sweet, actually," Alexander softly spoke.

"Think so?"

Blóð made a content hum - leaning down a bit and surveying the curious little fish to see which one stood out to them. "Incr'redibly, my love."

Octavio's approval was nonverbal, made of him apparently finding which one he wanted immediately and picking up the container the little guy was kept in. He looked to Elliott with stars in his eyes and a grin, "Can we name them?"

Elliott chortled and waved his hand dismissively, "I enco- en- enco- implore you to."

"Octavio Dos."

His answer was so quick the others couldn't help but bear a laugh.

And by the time everyone was at checkout, there was definite fawning over the three new additions to Elliott's personal tanks - Ljón, the cream-colored, fiesty little thing that had fins flowing long behind him that Blóð adored, Violet, the red, pink, and white dumbo betta that was adorably curious much to Alexander's affection, and the deep-red colored Octavio Dos.

-

On the way home, it was decided to just grab something to eat on the way - near everyone could cook, but the idea of standing around in the kitchen to cook for fifteen people was lost.

Natalie passed the aux cord to Octavio, who was just taking his coat off for the ride home. He looked a little beyond himself.

"You trust me with the music? Wow - what'd they put in these fries?"

Natalie held off on a laugh while she tried to finish chewing, though her smile was tell enough on her amusement. "I actually like your music taste."

Makoa requested simply, "Nothing too dirty though, please, Silva."

"Me? Liking dirty music?" Octavio snorted, "You know me so well. How about flirty music?"

The man chortled. "That works, brotha'."

Octavio hooked the cord to his phone, and swiped his screen for a few moments before stopping on something. He looked hesitant, briefly, and pressed his screen. He set his phone down and put his hand on Alexander's, their arms both resting on the armrest.

The song sounded so dreamy. When the intro became a little more recognizable, before the lyrics, Loba made a snort from the back.

"You like this song?"

Octavio feigned offense, looking back to her with a "Of course I like this song!"

He shook his head and laughed softly - looking over to Blóð, who sat behind Alexander, he sang over the song and moved his hand from Alexander to cup their face.

"You're so uwu," his voice came sweet and a bit grainy, moving his hand from their cheek to their chin. Blóð practically giggled - blushing and leaning forward into his touch.

"You make me wanna' do," Octavio took his hand away and gave them a wink, "Naughty things to you - all these things to you, you."

Elliott joined the flirt-singing, joining Octavio in the chorus while they oh-so shamelessly wooed their other two partners (and each other, mind you). The others would've said a joke about it, but Ajay was busy holding Natalie's hand and cuddling up to her, while Anita was busy running her hand through Loba's hair and speaking quietly amongst themselves. The others didn't have the heart to interrupt their moment.

Besides, the song was catchy.

"You know you're cute, right?" Octavio sung in Alexander's direction, who shook his head. Still, he wore a soft smile and kept his hand reached over to rub Octavio's thigh.

Elliott leaned over to the side behind Octavio's seat, Blóð matching the movement from the opposite side, and wrapped an arm around the hunter's waist. He continued the phrase with a cocky smile, "Cute as a button-"

Then the two sang together, "Undoing the buttons and pushing your buttons, I just wanna' get you right-"

It was a red light, and so Alexander took the opportunity to lean over and kiss Octavio - lingering for a moment or two before pulling away and focusing back on the road just in time for the light to turn green.

Octavio's heart was a puddle.

Blóð reached a free hand across the armrest to drape his hand over the one Alexander had over Octavio's leg, their fingers soft and gentle in the way they caressed the back of both their hands. Elliott went to continue singing the song, but Octavio stole a kiss much to his surprise. He hummed, and just before they pulled away, Elliott opened his eyes and let his gaze linger at the man driving.

The glimpse of one another was quick, but just as warm as everything else, and left Elliott with a bigger smile than previously.

Octavio pulled up his leg that wasn't currently the resting place of Alexander's and Blóð's, resting his arm on his knee.

He was so lucky.

-

And finally by 6, everyone was tuckered out - ready to take some personal time alone before reconvening later tonight for celebrations. Putting groceries away, Elliott setting up the bettas (as well as having a bit of an audience while doing so), and having a pre-celebratory drink from the sauvignon left the group in need of a quick sit-down. They found themselves just comfortable in the living room, along with Bear and Octavio's cat, Octave, sleeping on one of the couches. Rightly, this was the couch the four of them decided to occupy.

Renee crossed her legs, her black-painted nails running over the leather of her knee-high boots. "Any plans before tonight?"

"Oh?" Tae Joon began, "I thought we were just going to be alone before- ah, ten tonight?"

"I'm just wondering if that was the time we could agree on."

Octavio gave a nod. "Should work for me, at least. I plan on getting blasted, hah."

There was a heavy silence - his other partners looking rather surprised and, especially Blóð, flushed upon hearing that.

Elliott cleared his throat. "Come again?"

Anita snorted at his wording. Elliott gave a quick "Not- not what I meant, uh-"

Renee shrugged, wearing a look painfully smug. "I mean...a bit too much information, but I'm sure that'll go well."

Alexander cleared his throat.

Octavio, despite his nature to immediately take things dirty, just now got what the issue was. And did he find it hilarious.

Through a series of snorts and laughs, he reiterated what he meant; "If I meant I was gonna' get pounded, I would just say that-"

Blóð, Elliott, and Alexander made a simultaneous "Octavio-!"

He kept laughing, shaking his head, "I meant- like, I'm gonna' smoke a joint. Ay, Dios mío - but hey, if that other option is on the table-"

There was another simultaneous "Octavio!" and it seemed to get him to stop talking and simply laugh. He and the others found this absolutely hilarious, leaving his partners to be lost for words and red in the face.

Octavio snorted, and dared to entertain a final joke.

"Like a refreshment."

"What?" Loba narrowed her eyes, leaning forward in interest in what he could possibly say right now.

"Y'know," Octavio snickered, "Quickie's like a refreshment. And there's four of us - heh, call that a concession stand."

Loba couldn't hold the shocked, boisterous laugh she made hearing that - no one really could.

There was a silence after the laughter died down. It was broken when Ajay snorted, though.

"Stop encouraging him-!" Elliott near scrambled to say, but was cut short when Ajay gave him a laugh and a 'look.'

"I know the one flirting wit' 'im all day isn't telling me t' not encourage him. Don't act like you don't like this."

Elliott quickly bit his tongue and raised his hands in the air.

"Touché."

Another small bout of quiet settled.

Loba snorted.

Octavio looked at her, and when their eyes met, they both snorted, and had to turn away to not outright laugh.

Given the situation, a little fun was wanted out of it. Of course, trivia about one another was a frequent, and a favourite, activity amongst themselves. If they all had any one exact thing in common, it'd be that they were all unabashedly nosy.

Loba uncrossed, then recrossed, her legs as she sat up a little. "Truth or dare without the dare, anyone?"

"I think that's a thing called 'having a conversation,'" Anita jokingly mocked.

"Then let's have one." Loba hummed, "I actually had a question for you," she pointed a nude-shade manicured finger towards Dr. Nox, who looked suddenly surprised.

"What is it?"

The woman leaned forward a bit, cusping her hand around her face as if she was telling a secret - the hand facing no one, ultimately defeating the purpose - and talking somewhat low but audible for everyone to still hear.

"Be honest. Is that sweetheart thing true, or was Octavio being dramatic?"

"Oh my god."

His exasperated expression made his partners in particular so delightfully entertained - Octavio especially, laughing and giving a shrug as he left the man to answer the question for himself. He must've mentioned it to them when they were at a store earlier today.

"The people are waiting," Ajay chimed in. It earned the approval of Loba, as told by the way she looked smug about someone else prodding it.

Alexander lifted his glasses, pinched the bridge of his nose in thought, and when he couldn't stave the answer off any longer he was brought to the doorstep of needing to say something.

With hesitation, he sighed. "True enough that she responds to it as well as her actual name."

As if on cue, right after he finished speaking and everyone was ready to pull the expected "big guy soft for a cat" card, Bear shifted her position from simply lying beside him to lying on her side and pressing her face against his upper leg. Despite it all, the instinct to lower a hand and pet her big sweet face was lost not in the man.

The onslaught of "Aww!"s would've been anticipated.

[hellmasterphibrizo]

There was a white hand. It was a... woman's hand, maybe? Just a single, thin, white hand..

The Ragna blade attack I had used on Chaos Dragon Gaav had sliced through both his crimson sword and his right arm. It was pretty successful, admittedly, but I was left with nada for magic energy; all I could do was look up at Gaav from my position sprawled on the ground. He'd been ready to take advantage of that fact, as he'd marched toward me with all the confidence of someone who couldn't lose.. until he'd suddenly screamed when a single, slender arm had emerged from his belly.

You understand my surprise.

"Wha-?" Gaav, like me, couldn't get a full word out - but based on the look on his face, there was a good chance it was hatred (and not blinding shock) that choked him off. He whipped his head around to look behind him.

"You!" he shrieked. "When did you..?!"

The pain and malice in his voice finally made the situation clear. My blood ran cold.

Someone had thrust a bare hand through his belly from behind. From the looks of it, it happened the instant Gaav focused all his attention on me. It wasn't anybody from my party, obviously. Normal spells couldn't even scratch Gaav, so ripping through him like wrapping paper was a phenomenon reserved for someone as powerful as ...

"I've been here," a clear voice rang out from behind Gaav, "but it looks like nobody noticed but Xelloss."

Two things struck me at once. One, the voice wasn't a woman's- it was from a kid. And two, the voice actually sounded familiar.

What the hell?

"It's been a while, Lina Inverse." A small head popped out from behind Gaav. A pair of eyes focused on me, and maybe through me, considering I practically felt a chunk of my brain fall out at that moment.

A small yelp broke free from my dry throat. I knew that face. Black, wavy hair. A boy of about eleven or twelve who looked kinda like a girl.

It was the boy from Galia City, the one I'd met while trying to uncover Gaav's plans. The little boy who died when Xelloss had burned down the city.

Without even thinking, and half aware of the truth as the words came out of my mouth, I managed to stutter, "Y,you're supposed to be d-dead."

The boy raised an eyebrow. "Nobody said I was dead - you just assumed I was. Xelloss wasn't lying when he said I had no heartbeat. I just don't have a heart; it can't beat if it's not there, right?" The boy beamed, not looking guilty in the slightest.

My mind flew back to that moment in Galia City.

I had to admit the situation was very much like Xelloss - his specialty wasn't lying; it was leaving out important details. The entire thing made a sickening amount of sense.

"Is that a little boy?!" Amelia suddenly squeaked from nearby.

The boy smiled at Amelia. "Sure," he replied. "I'm in the form of a child, anyway. I can take any form I want, but this one is the most convenient. Humans are such interesting creatures.. they let their guards down around children, which allows me to play all kinds of great tricks."

I swallowed the bile rising in the back of my throat. "That's why you never... gave me your name." I murmured.

"And I still haven't, have I?" The boy cleared his throat and made a small bow. When he looked up, I could see his pupils were an empty void.

"I'm Phibrizzo," he said calmly. "But you can call me Hellmaster."

Hellmaster Phibrizzo. Hellmaster Phibrizzo.

Amelia, Zel, and even Milgasia were stupefied into silence, and I sure couldn't think of anything to say. Really, what do you say to something like that?!

Gourry, who had apparently gotten up at some point, regripped the Sword of Light and glanced in my direction.

"So, is he famous or something?" he asked.

I didn't even being bothered being surprised with Gourry's now-predictable stupidity. He probably didn't remember Phibrizzo's name because it had too many letters in it.

Phibrizzo shrugged, apparently not bothered by the comment.

"I'm famous in some places," he admitted, "but not really among people."

That's a way to put it!

Gourry nodded knowingly. "I get it," he said, pointing the Sword of Light in front of him. He was facing Gaav, but I'm pretty sure he'd shifted his target to Phibrizzo.

I gritted my teeth. When that little urchin kid had "died" in Galia City, I'd blamed Chaos Dragon and his cronies. I'd been really, honestly angry.

Xelloss had known that kind of instigation would get me dancing to Phibrizzo's tune.

"You got me," I muttered through my clenched jaw. "You and Xelloss fooled the hell out of me."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Phibrizzo's mouth. "You did do exactly what I expected you to do. Gaav, too." His gaze began to shift. "But before this goes on any longer," he murmered as his eyes settled on his impaling right hand, "you'll have to excuse me."

Gaav, silent and unmoving until then, suddenly howled in anger and swung an arm back at Hellmaster. It didn't do much good.

FWOOM!

With a low, explosive sound, Gaav's left arm was blown off.

"AAAAAAGH!!" Gaav shrieked as he fell to his knees.

"Don't waste your time, Gaav. I'm stronger than you; you're incomplete.. let's be reasonable here." Hellmaster calmly looked down at the hand he'd pushed through Gaav. "I figured that you'd drive out your human parts after a while, but it looks like they got mixed in strangely. The Water Dragon King really got you, huh? And it looks like the old Chaos Dragon can't be resurrected even if I do kill you."

Gaav snarled. "You little-!" He twisted his entire body to glare at Phibrizzo. His sneering bravado couldn't hide the shadow of death in his voice and movements.

"At any rate," Phibrizzo continued, "I sincerely doubt you'll submit to Lord Ruby Eye again in your condition. That being the case.."

"DAMN YOU!" Gaav roared.

"... this can only end one way." Calm as you please, Phibrizzo paused.

And Chaos Dragon Gaav's body burst into ash.

It all happened so fast. As the white, powdery remains of Gaav danced away in the wind, all I could do was stare like the useless spectator I was.

DAMN.

That disturbing sight did explain a few things. Chaos Dragon hated Hellmaster with a burning, bitter passion because Hellmaster was stupidly powerful. Even though I'd wounded Gaav, and even though Hellmaster surprised him, no one just vaporizes the Chaos Dragon with a smile.