#i GUESS he's just sitting there being a dweeb

[sans-guy]

he has 0 swag , is stank ass and it all makes him endlessly handsome

[bluecollarmcandtf]

Help me! I'm hypnotized...

The loser roommate I got stuck with did something to my brain. I didn't think it was possible, but that pathetic fag somehow put me in a trance. I don't remember how: with a pendant or spiral; but it doesn't matter! What matters is that at any second he can say a trigger word, and I end up like this: smiling and flexing like a fucking idiot 'till he releases me.

Sure, I look like I'm alright, but I've been stuck in this pose for two hours. My biceps ache and my shoulders are on fire. Add to that a leg cramp that I cant walk off and you'll realize how awful this torture is.

I'd just been trying to finish an essay (his essay to be exact.) I might be on the football team, but this lazy geek is forcing me to do his homework for him! And even though he ordered me to do that, against my will, he calls me up and says my fucking trigger word! It's fucking ridiculous! I used to go out and party with my teammates on nights like this, but now I'm stuck being this dweeb's mannequin-on-command.

I just know he's going to boss me around when he finally gets here. He'll probably make me cook him dinner again. I'd spit in it if I could -hell, I'd probably poison it if I could- but I know I'll be stuck in my own body again. I hate it when he tells me to smile and serve him like a waiter. God, its humiliating...

He makes me workout during my free time, which I have a lot of now that I can't speak to any of my old buddies. I gotta say that my body's never looked better. I guess their is one upside to being under his control: whenever he tells me to train harder, I have to do it.

The gym is the one area of my life where I can at least pretend that I'm not someone's trained monkey. Still, the fact that I can't even shower without his permission is a pretty harsh reminder. Whenever I get back from a workout, my legs march straight to the table where I sit, flex, and smile while I wait for him to tell me what to do. It doesn't matter how tired or hot I am. Sometimes, he doesn't even let me shower. He just tells me to mop the sweat up with my shirt and then put it back on.

I think the nerd has a thing for sweaty jocks or something. The thought of this creep making me do all this to get his little dick hard pisses me off more than anything...

I applied for a job today. It wasn't because I wanted to. My roommate decided that he wants more spending money, so he turned to me and said that I was going to earn it for him. So it wasn't enough for me to be his personal chef, maid, and eye candy! I have to be his fucking ATM now too?!

The tie wasn't my idea either. He told me to go buy some fancy clothes to make sure I impressed my "future employer." He's such a dweeb, and now he's making me dress like a loser too.

Obviously I nailed the interview. It wasn't hard when he programmed me to say things like "I've always wanted to deliver pizzas," or "I want to be the best employee you've ever had!" He made me sound like such a kiss-ass for a stupid minimum-wage job. Even the guy interviewing me thought I was being a bit excessive! I got hired on the spot, and I'm already scheduled every night this week, because my roommate specifically made me ask for as many hours as possible.

Now that I'm done with probably the most humiliating thing I've ever done, I'm stuck flexing with a tie on 'till that asshole gets home...

I got my first paycheck after a long couple of weeks doing his classwork during the day and delivering pizzas at night. My roommate texted and told me to wait by the front door with my paycheck. Apparently, he's going out tonight with some of his loser friends and wants the cash now. I can't believe I'm about to hand it over to him.

"Hey, handsome," he calls, shutting his car door.

"I'm glad your home, sir. How was your day?"

I do not give a shit about his day! He ordered me to say that whenever he gets back. He's also programmed me to get up and hug him like I'm a fucking queer in love!

"Better now," he purrs, squeezing my butt cheek while we hug, "You should come with me and my friends tonight."

The last thing I want to do is be around him and his pansy-assed friends. "Yes, sir," I smile.

"We're going to a gay bar, and I think you would be an excellent wingman."

My stomach drops at the sound of a gay bar. I don't want to be anywhere near that place, and I really don't want the guy with total control over me parading me around that place like I'm his fucking slut! Where is this going? He wouldn't make me do anything gay, right? The terrifying truth is he could. He could order me to act like a stripper there, or...or worse. Fuck! I don't think there's anything he couldn't make me do. He could order me on my knees right now, and I'd do it with this stupid smile still plastered across my face. He could make me blow his tiny cock, and I'd be helpless to do anything other than enthusiastically suck! I don't want to go to that gay bar. I have to escape.

"Yes, sir," I hear my voice gleefully ring out.

[genericpuff]

WTs behavior sure is... *something* to watch as a latecommer. you've covered it all better than I can articulate but damn does it ever haunt that they've essentially tripled-down on Rachel as the winning racehorse, someone who's historically been the most "go girl give us nothing" (if not worse than nothing) of all their past bigshots even w/o the trust in the show sinking lower and lower day by silent day.

It's not a profound remark but I stand in the on going scene like "This is it? Your plan?" as they keep digging. They desperately need something new to have breakout popularity, but they can't do that if they don't take in new blood, which they won't because new blood is a risk, etc. And so the scene is damned anew.

look, off the non-existent record that is my shitposting blog, as someone who just spent half an hour listening to their recent conference call with Goldman Sachs... in my very humble opinion, there is allegedly a metric FUCKTON of copium being huffed and I don't think the Goldman Sachs rep even realizes how much he's being talked down to. It's actually fucking hilarious. And I'm just a dweeb on the Internet, I shouldn't be sitting here picking up on the condescending vibes for what they are throughout a meeting that talks about shit like investment opportunities and quarterly returns and advertising metrics but... let's just say, WT's CFO David Lee's statement, "...proof will be in quarters I release, and I'm humbled by the reaction to my Q2 release which, again, I have to say, I thought I over delivered every single metric... but here we are, and I just have to continue to post results I guess to help educate all of you on the business I think we have" is even more passive aggressive to hear than it is to read, soooo here we are. Like, the chirpy tone in his voice just makes me think of this:

and yeah at this point they're beating the dead horse that is LO harder than the critical community is because even the critical community has largely moved on with their lives and only talk about it casually with other critical readers; meanwhile Webtoons is seriously over here trying to sell people on LO as if it's still 2021 and they're not years late to the party 💀 Even that quote I included in my last post saying that Rachel got started "4 or 5 years ago"... Lore Olympus launched in the Canvas section in 2017 and then as an Originals in March 2018. It's been longer than 4 years, Mr. Lee, and at this point the amount of time that's passed since selling its TV rights to Jim Henson Company will exceed the amount of time it took to even complete the comic in the first place 😭😆 The time to capitalize on LO's success was when it was successful, not 3-4 years after the fact.

[cator99]

Wedding: part 1. Introductions

I dont even know where to start. We pull up and grandma's taking a break from her oxygen tube to have a cigarette inside. The bride's toddler-aged niece and nephew are running around screaming and trying to get my attention since half of the attendees are antisocial "ew crotch goblins" type autists. A woman I was acquainted with years ago who has since "transitioned", writes yaoi webcomics, and inexplicably (or, rather, predictably I suppose) goes by a japanese name, is sitting on the couch wearing a bright pink lolita coord– she makes awkward and anxious conversation with me which I enjoy nonetheless as a result of having memories of strong admiration for her from 15 years ago. She's quite a bit older than me, and I remember seeing her at the library as a tween and thinking she looked like the coolest person I'd seen in my town, thought maybe she was a lesbian too, and wanted so badly to know who she was that I snuck a look at the computer sign-in sheet just so I could try and guess which name might reasonably belong to her, and repeated the name to myself all the way home, imagining walking up to her and introducing myself one day and what I might do to try and get her to think I'm "cool". Nowadays she mostly seems stuck in a vicious cycle— posting an eyesore-pastel yaoi drawing on instagram that she clearly put a lot of work into, complaining repeatedly that it's not getting any engagement, asking people to like and comment, before finally sharing that she's deleting everything and going on hiatus because she's depressed that her art isnt getting anywhere, only to resurface in a month, rinse and repeat. Beside her is a barefoot 6 foot 2 woman who shakes my hand vigorously for a solid 20 seconds with a grip that cuts off my circulation. And beside her is a relatively normal looking man who appears to be in his 40s and makes normal– even intelligent– conversation with me. I wonder what he's doing there– and if he just got roped into it like me. I notice his pokemon belt and think okay so he's a dweeb but he still comes across as well-adjusted— wtf is the story here? I introduce myself to the grandparents, whose trailer the wedding is being hosted in, and they immediately take a liking to me since I'm such a strapping young lad to the extent that they dont even realize that I'm the one who my mother has referred to as her Daughter multiple times, and continue calling me "he" and asking about my trades aspirations etc (this particular type of enthusiasm towards your career is an interaction you unlock when people think you're a Normie Male– something I've learned very recently)... The bride's mother is already in tears– Finally, She's Not My Problem! Thank You God!!– as she holds in her hands a contract for the American bride to sign agreeing to mom's "No Returns" policy.

[dreamofbecoming]

yeah alright this got away from me. posting in pieces, part one is just stobin, no shippy stuff. steddie and rockie to follow. i'll drop it on ao3 once all 3 parts are done

now on ao3!

platonic stobin

rating: t

wc: 3.5k

---

Robin stopped being surprised by Steve Harrington showing up at her bedroom window months ago. Jesus, there's a sentence her 16 year old self wouldn't fucking believe for a second. The Hair, climbing up the trellis her dad built for the roses her mom planted and then forgot about three months later? Yeah right, as if. But it turns out alternate dimensions and sci-fi movie monsters and Russian conspiracies in Bumfuck, Nowhere, USA are all real, so how surprising really is The King himself, collapsing through her window with all the grace of a baby giraffe, out of breath like he- holy shit, did he fucking run here?

"Dingus, did you run here? What the hell?"

"Had to- hang on, Jesus. Holy shit." He bends over, hands on his knees, panting like he just ran a marathon. Which, she guesses, he almost did.

"You have a car, you lunatic, what could possibly be so important?"

"Didn't think about it. Had to get here."

"Is someone dead?!" Oh fuck, Is the Upside Down back? Oh shit, oh no, it can't be back, right? Superhero girl closed the gates! Right?! Oh god, oh no, oh fuck, it's back, the Russians are back, they realized they couldn't let her live after what she's seen, her parents will never even know what happened to her, and they'll kill Dingus too, and dorky little Henderson, and that menace Erica, oh god, they're gonna die, and Hopper's gone and superhero girl is far away and she doesn't have superpowers anymore anyway, which is frankly bogus because what the hell, Robin never even got to hang out with a real live magic person before, which, ok, that's a selfish thought, but that's ok, we can think selfish thoughts and then set them aside and not act on them, thoughts are not actions, thoughts happen all the time without our consent, they don't determine our character-

"Bobs, you're spiraling. Nothing bad happened, I just realized something and I freaked out and I had to talk to you right away. Forgot to call. Sorry, I should have called. Ran straight out of the house. I don't even think my shoes match, what the fuck?"

She's gonna kill him, she really is.

She loves him so much.

"Jesus, you're insane. Sit, you absolute dweeb. I'm getting you some water, when I get back you can tell me what the hell is going on."

He's sitting on her bed when she gets back upstairs, staring at something in his hands. Christ, his hands are shaking. What the fuck, Dingus?

He takes the water and downs it in one go- ugh, sports guys- then flops onto his back and covers his eyes with a miserable groan.

"I know we've got the whole twin telepathy thing going on, bubba, but I'm gonna need at least a little bit to work with here. Give me something. Is it your parents? The kids? Uh, what was her name? From Thursday? Janice?"

"Janine, and no. Ugh. Here." The arm not covering his eyes flops out towards her, holding- ah. A zine. He had promised to drive up to Indy last weekend to the secret bookshop she told him about and get her some new ones, even though she couldn't go with him because her cousin Randy got caught cheating on his fiancée and her parents made her come with the rest of the family to help him move. Fucking Randy. Maybe he should make better choices, so the rest of them wouldn't have to clean up his messes. Jerk.

Anyway.

"Marked the page." Which, yep, there's a purple paper clip stuck to a page near the middle, because Steve knows how much she hates people who dogear books, even books that aren't really books at all, so he's been training himself out of it, because he's sort of the best. Again, 16 year old Robin would have her committed for thinking that, but here we are.

The pamphlet isn't one of the periodicals she sent him for, so he must have picked it up on his own. It looks handmade, just some folded sheets that look like they came out of a typewriter, bound with the kind of twine you can buy at the hardware store. It's called Awakenings. The page he's marked looks like a personal essay, no title, no real signature, just a pair of initials at the end of the page and a half of writing. She starts reading, trying to figure out what the hell spooked Steve so bad.

"I've always been normal. I've always had crushes on men, just like the other girls. There was never a feeling of "I'm different," or "Oh, this is wrong." There was never anything to think very hard about. I'd giggle and blush when the boys looked over at us on the playground, same as everyone else. Later on when I was older I looked at my poster of Harrison Ford, shirtless and hairy and sweating, and I touched myself, and it felt good, just like it was supposed to. I didn't mind thinking of my future husband, and our future kids, and the pretty house with the pretty garden we'd have, just like my parents have, just like they wanted for me. I was normal. Everything was fine.

I thought everything about me was normal. So I didn't understand why the other girls at sleepover parties would giggle and stop and say "Ew, gross!" when we practiced kissing. It felt nice! I wanted to keep going! But it seemed like no one else did. I didn't understand why none of them talked about getting butterflies in their stomach when Laura, who was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen, transferred in our senior year, why they seemed so angry at her. Those butterflies were what jealousy felt like, right? So why did the other girls seem to feel so different?

I made my first lesbian friend in college, on the very first day, right across the hall in my dorm. We sat next to each other at Orientation and I thought I'd never have another best friend that wonderful in my whole life, so I'd hold on to her with everything I had. She came out to me the night before Christmas break, hiding under the blankets in my dorm room with the twinkling lights glowing. She was so scared. I held her and told her I loved her no matter what, and she seemed so glad, to have someone to talk to.

When she talked about falling in love with girls, I was so confused. The way she described it sounded like what it felt like to have girlfriends, I was sure. I felt that all the time. I asked her if she was sure she was gay, and she looked so shocked and angry and hurt, and I didn't know how to fix it, so I tried to explain. That what she felt couldn't be liking girls, because I felt that too, and I was normal. I liked boys, so I couldn't be gay. I couldn't be.

I'm glad it was her I said all that to. If someone else had told me about being bisexual, I think I would have hated them. I would have cried, and screamed, and said horrible things. Because I wasn't gay, I was normal, and it was so scary to think that might be a lie. Thank God it was her, my best friend in the world, who I never want to lose. Thank God I listened.

Because I'm not normal. I'm queer. I like men, and I like women. I can love them both the same, but it doesn't matter anymore, because I love her. I love her, and she loves me, and I don't need to be normal anymore."

Robin's face feels wet, which probably means she's crying. She cries a lot, reading these sorts of stories, in the zines she has to keep hidden under her bed, or, these days, at Steve's house. It's never going to be her, she knows. Not here in Hawkins, but it still makes something ache deep inside her, like pressing on a bruise, but in a good way, seeing love happen to other people. People like her. Seeing that it can.

"So?"

Oh shit. Right, Dingus. They're about him right now. Something about this essay in particular freaked him out.

"Uh. It's. A nice essay? I'm glad things worked out for them?"

Stevie lets out a pathetic whine, sort of like back at Scoops when he earned a particularly bad tally on the You Suck board. "Robbiiiiiiieeeee!"

"I'm sorry! I think I'm missing something, what's wrong with this essay? I don't get it, bubba, I'm sorry. I need some context." She does feel bad. Usually she can pluck whatever's bothering him right out of his brain and into the light, where it almost never looks as bad, but she's at a loss right now.

He's got both hands over his face again, and his response is so muffled she can't make out a word.

"Try again in human sounds, please."

"Ugh! I thought everyone felt like that!"

Huh? "Felt like...what, exactly?"

"Like that!" He flails wildly at the pamphlet in her hands. He's sitting up now, hair all askew from tugging at it, and there's a vaguely worrying crazed look in his eye, like right before he tackled that guard. "Like kissing boys and girls both feel nice, and like seeing a handsome guy and feeling jealous of him makes my stomach flutter, and like having friends feels the same as having crushes! I thought that was just how everyone felt all the time!"

Oh.

Oh.

Oh no.

Poor Dingus! No wonder he panicked and ran here like a crazy person!

"Stevie, can I hug you? Please?" She's not much for physical touch most of the time, but Steve is, and also she's found in the last few months that she doesn't mind so much when it's him. She sort of understands why other people like hugs so much, if they always feel like hugging Steve feels for her. And she really thinks he needs to be hugged, right now.

He nods miserably. She drapes her arms around his shoulders and holds on as tight as she can, hauling him sideways until he's practically laying down on her. He clutches her back and buries his face in her shoulder. She can feel her neck getting wet with tears, a sensation that would normally make her want to claw off her own skin, but this isn't about her. Dingus needs her.

"It's ok, bubba. I'm so sorry. I know how scary this is. When I first figured out I had a crush on Linda Sanderson I cried so hard I threw up, you know? I get it. It's gonna be ok, I promise. We'll make it ok. We faced down evil Russians and giant meat monsters, what's a little sexuality crisis, huh? We got this! We're the goddamn Wonder Twins!"

He snorts at that, which she's pretty sure leaves snot on her neck, which. Ew. Still. Problems for Later Robin.

"We are not, Will and El are the Wonder Twins."

"Uh, nope, no chance, I barely even met them so therefore I am vetoing their application. Sorry kiddos, better luck next time! Find your own nickname, losers!"

Steve sits back, laughing, and she preens a little at being able to bring him back from the brink so easily. She loves him so much she feels like she's glowing with it, sometimes. It almost makes her wish she was straight, because what girl is she ever going to find who loves her this much? But only almost, because. Well. Girls, amiright? Phew.

"So what now, Stevie? You wanna say it out loud? That helps, sometimes. You wanna not say it out loud? You wanna go to a gay bar and find you a boy? You wanna never think about it again? It's totally your call."

"Say it out loud, huh?"

"Hm. It took me like a month, and then the first time I could only say it sitting in the back of my closet with the bedroom door locked and the closet door closed, and I could only whisper it. Just "I'm a lesbian," to myself, like the world's most ironic little goblin. And I had to throw up again after. But it did feel good, once I rinsed my mouth out, anyway. Cleansing, you know? And it gets easier every time." Steve's eyebrows are raised and he's chuckling again, so that's a win. She's not lying, but it is sort of funny, she supposes. In hindsight, anyway.

"Ok. Ok, I can do that. I think. Yeah, I can do that."

She's so proud of him. He's the bravest person she's ever met, she thinks. "You wanna get in the closet?"

"Isn't the whole point to come out of the closet, Robs?" He's smirking at her. Bastard. She whacks him in the shoulder on principle. He may be having a crisis, but he's still a jackass. Her favorite jackass in the whole world, but still.

"Har har, you're a regular Bob Hope. Alright then, bigshot, let's hear it."

A little of that fear creeps back onto his face, and she wishes she could wipe it off, but that's not how this works. They can't make the scary things less scary. He couldn't make the Russians less terrifying, but he could hold her hand and make her laugh and carry some of that fear with her. She can do that for him now, too.

She grabs his hand, and he clutches back tightly. He takes a deep breath.

"I'm...fuck. Ok. Ok, I can do this. I'm...bisexual." The air leaves him in a big whoosh, and he laughs a little. "Yeah, ok, fuck. I'm bisexual. Holy shit, Robbie, I'm bisexual!"

"Hell yeah you are!" She's grinning so hard her cheeks hurt. She's so fucking proud of him.

He's laughing again, a little hysterically, and he hugs her tight again, and she holds him back just as close and thinks oh, he's like me. I'm not alone. I have Steve, and he's like me, and he's mine forever and ever.

When they separate, she looks at him seriously.

"So do you, like, want this to be a thing? Because we can totally make it a thing, and like, get me a fake ID and go to a gay bar and do all kinds of wild shit if you want, but we don't have to, you know? If you need to just, like. Digest this, for a while. It's totally up to you, I just know it took me a while to feel ok with it, and I have no idea if it's different for you but I just want to be what you need, you know? You've been so good with me, and I've never had a queer friend before, so I don't know how, but I want to be just as good to you. You're my Dingus and I love you and I don't know how much of a gay guru I can be on account of, you know, I've never met any gay people besides me and the pretty lady at the bookstore but I couldn't even get real human words to come out of my mouth when I tried to talk to her so I don't think that counts, you know? But I still wanna help! Let me help!"

"Bobbie! Bobbie breathe, you're gonna pass out. I don't think I need a gay guru, I just need a gay best friend, and I have that, so I promise I'm good, ok? Promise. Also I love you too.”

She takes a deep breath, following his lead the way they worked out in the horrible days after Starcourt, when she couldn't sleep without him next to her, warm and alive and breathing, and even then she would wake up in the night with her breath coming short and her vision tunneling and Steve would hold her hand against his chest and breathe slowly, in and out, until she could follow him, and the world wasn't so terrible and scary and loud anymore.

She still thinks about that awful hour underground, thinking she was strapped to the corpse of a boy she never let become her friend, but Steve is always there now when she needs him, and he never complains when she grabs his wrist or puts her head on his chest to make absolutely sure that big, stupid heart is still beating.

When she's breathing normally again, he drops their joined hands down between them, toying idly with the chain linking her ring to her bracelet. "I think...I think I'm glad I said it, and I'm glad we talked about it, but can we maybe just...put it away, for a while? Like it's not...ugh. I guess this is kind of shitty to say, so like, hit me if you want, I guess, but I kind of don't think it matters right now?"

"No no, that makes perfect sense! Like, you still like girls, right?" He nods. "And you don't like. Have a crush on any boys right now. Or do you? Oh man if you do you have to tell me though, it's platonic soulmate law. It's in the bylaws, Steve, don't make me soulmate fine you!"

He laughs and shoves her face away. "Jesus, Rob, no! I don't have a crush on any guys, who would I even crush on in this town? We're not exactly swimming in eligible bachelors. I don't have a crush on anybody at all, I'd tell you, I swear. I know the rules!"

"Oh phew, good. You have to tell me when you do, though, I'm way excited to get you back for making fun of Tammy."

"It was the God's honest truth, Bobbie! She sings like a muppet!"

"Oh my god, shut up, Dingus! Ugh! As I was saying, you super duper have to tell me when you do, but for now, I think maybe you don't have to think about it really at all if you don't want. I mean, practically speaking, it's not really relevant to your everyday life, so we can totally revisit when that changes, but you don't have to like. Join a pride parade tomorrow, you know? You are you who are no matter what. You don't have to prove anything to anyone, especially not to me, not ever."

He leans his head on her shoulder, and she scritches her nails through his hair. It really has no right being as soft as it is, with the amount of hairspray he uses. It's frankly rude, is what it is.

"Thanks, Bobs. I think I'm just gonna put it away for now. It just...another thing to know about me, you know? Like, I'm bad at fighting people but good at fighting monsters, all my best friends are kids except you, I'm bi but it doesn't matter because there aren't any boys to date in Hawkins anyway. Plus my dad would kill me if he found out. Like actually kill me, not "oh geez I missed curfew, my dad's gonna kill me" type kill me, like I think he'd actually try and beat me to death. So there's really no reason to talk about it right now, you know?"

There's a pit of ice in her stomach, and she tightens her arm around him like she can keep him safe just by holding on tight enough. She hates how casually he said that, just like she hates how casually he always talks about how his parents treat him, like he honestly believes it's normal. "Jesus, Dingus. You know you can come here if you need, right? My parents love you, they already think we're getting married. They'd make you sleep in the guest room, but I could sneak you in here easy."

He snorts again. "We're totally gonna end up married for tax reasons anyway, we're never beating the rumors." That makes her snort, too. He's not wrong, though. She isn't going to be allowed to have a wife anytime soon, and if she has to choose someone to be her next of kin, it's always gonna be him. They're planning to move in together when she goes to school next year anyway. No one is ever gonna believe them that they aren't dating, but that's...fine. Honestly, there are worse things. Better to have Steve by her side than not, and if no one else understands them, well, they understand each other, don't they? That's more than enough.

"Yeah, I know I can come here if I need, Robs. It's fine mostly, I swear. They're not home until Christmas anyway."

He takes another deep breath, like he's settling himself. "I'm just glad we talked about it. I feel better now."

She cards her fingers through his hair again, basking in the feeling of her favorite person so close, and so content. "I'm glad, Dingus."

They're alive, and they're together, and they're queer, and neither of them is ever going to have to be alone again.

"Hang on, did you say you've kissed girls and boys?!"

part 2 part 3

[barbstail]

The sunflower Jewel (A Michael X Mc fanfic) Part 3

(Mc gets to see the Lucifer shrine and gets to go on a trip with their new angelic friend.)

First part - second part -

Day 2

A bright light shined through the stained windows of the palace, the sweet songs of morning birds filled the silence and the delicious smell of breakfast filled the palace.

Mc slowly opened their eyes, letting out a soft groan as they woke from their slumber. They had to squint their eyes when they were met with sunlight coming out of the window. Mc still wasn’t used to having the sun around all the time. Oh, how they missed the dark mornings.

The sun was just another reminder of just how far away they were from home. Mc missed their home. It hasn’t even been more than two days and they already miss their found family they had with the brothers and the others.

Mc kinda regretted going as they didn’t know how long it would be to see them again but it was worth it in the long run to keep Devildom safe.

Forcing themselves out of bed, they forced themselves into the bathroom and forced their very sleepy self to get ready for the day.

When the human began picking out clothes from their suitcase they noticed a black feather that was stuffed in with all the other small little gifts they were given by the others. Mc knew exactly who the black feather belonged to. It felt comforting to have a piece of one of the brother’s with them.

Mc guessed it was the second best thing to having their loved ones actually beside them, other than phone calls that is.

Mc soon got an idea. What if they carried around one gift item per day? Surely that would help their feeling of loneliness, right?

Once dressed, they gently tucked the black feather into the inner pocket of their jacket before heading out of the room for breakfast.

The dining room had a small group of angels sitting at the table. It was a much smaller group than compared to the previous group at last night’s dinner.

As Mc approached the table, a particular dark-haired angel spotted them and approached them with a plate in hand. It was one of the same angels that had greeted Mc last night at dinner.

“Wassup, man. You’re that new human guest from last night. Sorry for freaking ya out last night. I know me and the gang can be seen as kinda freaky at first glance.” The angel said in what Mc could only describe as a slowed chilled-out voice. “Who might you be?” Mc asked. The stranger gave a big grin. “Heh, the name is Azrael.“ Was what he said as he continued to grin before holding out a plate of what Mc could only assume was the celestial realm version of breakfast. “Not to be a total dweeb but can ya hand this over to Mike? He can get real moody and decide to skip eating.” Azreal stated as Mc awkwardly took the plate from him.

“Moody?” Mc questioned.

“Ah, yeah. Ya mention his former bros even once and he turns into a storm cloud. I would do it but I gotta go…like right now.”

“Go where?”

“Big ol’ angel business. Anyways, thanks for the fav’ I owe ya one!” Was all Azrael said as he quickly scurried off down the hallway to who knows what?

The human stood there, not exactly sure what to make of that. Shrugging their shoulders, they figured they might as well visit Michael. But before they did that, they were quick to go and make a plate for themselves to bring along with them.

Exploring the halls of the palace, Mc was met with a fancy-looking door that some sort of writing on it. The writing wasn’t in a language that Mc could decipher but a gut feeling was telling them that they were in the right location so they decided to knock. The door must’ve not been shut properly because as soon as they knocked it only slid more open to reveal more of the room.

The human’s eyes scanned the room. It looked like an old room with most of the furniture being draped over with white cloths and decorated with presumably outdated stylistic choices that Mc had not seen anywhere else around the palace. Entering the said room, gave Mc an odd nostalgic feeling.

Amongst the old decor and furniture, a cluttered table stood out like a sore thumb. Variety of items, flowers, and photos. Beside the table stood a familiar figure with their back facing Mc. It wasn’t long before said figure would notice the new presence.

“Hm? What are you doing here?” Michael questioned as his gaze turned to the intruder. Mc's eyes were quick to move from the mass collection of items and over to the archangel. “Your breakfast.” They answered, holding one of the plates out for him to take. Instead of taking the plate, Michael simply muttered a small thank you before he waved his hand at one of the unused clothed tables.

Mc sat the plate down to where Michael gestured to, taking the opportunity to get a closer look at the tables. Now that they were looking closer. they could get a proper look at all the items that were on the cluttered table in question. It all had a common theme. It is all related to Lucifer.

“The Lucifer shrine?” Was what they muttered, absently. Mc didn’t even realize they said that out loud until Michael responded to them. “You knew about this? Who else knows of this?” He didn’t seem happy at the implications of others knowing of his Lucifer shrine. “Who told you of this?” He asked or rather demanded to know. “Solomon,” Mc answered to which Michael sighed.

“Whatever…it does not matter if others know of my admiration towards my former twin.” Michael frowned.

“Twin?” Mc acquired.

“Did Lucifer really not bother to mention that? Hmph! He really knows how to send a message. To think such a cruel demon could come from the same diamond as I!”

“Diamond…?”

“Well, more specifically diamond dust. At least that’s what Father says we were created with. To think that Father had made us to be the two leaders of the celestial realm only for it to end-.” Michael paused in his ramblings as heard grumbling coming from behind him. He looked over to see Mc standing there still. “Sorry…please do go eat.” He frowned, looking back over at the pictures of his former brother.

He heard a chair being moved. He looked over and saw that Mc took a seat at one of the tables and began to eat. “You don’t have to stay.” Michael pointed out, expecting the human to leave him alone. Instead, the human just shook their head and said “I want to know more about Lucifer.”. That answer made him raise a brow. “But didn’t I already, last night?” He questioned.

“I want to know more.”

Michael paused for a moment before grabbing his own chair and pulling up to the table. He grabbed his own plate of breakfast that Mc had previously delivered and took a bite. “I take it you’re a fan of Lucifer?” Michael inquired. “You could say that.” That was all that Mc said before Michael continued back onto his ramblings, occasionally pointing at things around the room.

“You see that necklace there? Lucifer got that as a gift from Asmodeus for his birthday. Oh, and that painting! That’s a painting of me and Lucifer when we were children! Did you know he used to suck on his baby blanket when he was little? It was so difficult for him to finally let go of that blanket. Even then I found it still under his bed when he was an adult.”

“Do you think he was still sucking on it?” Mc asked.

“Lucifer is full of surprises.” He laughed, snickering to himself. “Don’t tell him I said that…or do, it would be about time he would spend some time with me, even if most of that time spent is him scolding me.” Michael joked. His broad shoulders bounced as he laughed along with his newfound company.

Mc got curious. “Did you make a shrine for Lucifer because you admired him?” They spoke. Michael stopped his laughing and seemingly pondered the question for a moment. “That’s part of the reason…” he stated before looking at Mc’s curious expression. “You’re certainly are nosy.” He chuckled to which Mc took offense.

With the crossing of their arms, Mc scoffed. “I am not nosy.” They protested. Michael gave a mildly amused expression at this reaction. “Oh? And what about that time you went up that att-,” Michael suddenly coughed mid-sentence “Excuse me, I mean that time you went up to that one mirror at the palace.” He corrected. But before Mc could say anything about the suspicious behavior, Michael was quick to change the subject.

“About why I made this shrine.” The archangel started before turning his eyes over to his collection of former Lucifer memorabilia. His eyes scanned over the items as if to admire them for the millionth time. “…after the celestial war, my realm and its people were quick to rid themselves of the memory of my former brothers. Statues, paintings, and everything else were all either destroyed or put into museums.” He explained with a monotone expression on his face. “But I wasn’t so willing to so easily part with my memories of former Lucifer so I made this.” He finished, gesturing over to his collection.

Mc furrowed their brows. They had a strange feeling about what Michael was really trying to say just moments ago. They decided to shrug it off for now. It wasn’t like the archangel actually knew anything he shouldn’t, right?

“It’s a memorial then.” Mc chimed in.

“Yes, I suppose memorial would be the correct term for it.” Michael agreed.

“So you made this for when Lucifer was an angel?” The human questioned to which Michael simply nodded. “How do you feel about him now that he’s a demon?” Mc asked Michael who pondered that question for a second. “I’m disappointed. I don’t approve of his sinful way of life, I miss the way he used to shine.” He said honestly, his expression was solemn as he spoke.

He leaned his head against the palm of his hand and stared down at his now empty plate. Michael glanced up at Mc. “Tell me, what do you think of Lucifer, Mc?” He asked.

Old memories flashed through Mc’s mind as they thought of Lucifer. Their first meeting, how they became friends, how they formed their pact, and so on. The memories reminded them of a special item they had with them.

“Lucifer still shines, he just shines differently now,” Mc explained as they reached into their inner coat to grab something. “Perhaps, you could learn to love this new shine of his.” They pulled out the black feather from their pocket.

Michael stared down at the feather in shock. He knew his former well enough to know just how sacred each other of Lucifer’s feathers was to him. It was why it was so hard to even find just one white feather of the former angel. But here he was looking down at one of Lucifer’s now black feathers.

“How did you-?” Michael muttered.

“He gave it to me,” Mc answered.

The two shared eye contact. A moment of silence was held between the two. Mc spoke the silence “You look like you needed it.”.

Michael was touched by this gesture. A bright smile crept up his face, brightening his entire expression. “I think…I can see what the others saw in you.” He said in glee.

The silver-haired man was quick to move from his seat and find a new spot for his new prized possession amongst items on the shrine. His eyes darted around the collection. “Hmmm, no perhaps I should get a case for it.” He muttered under his breath, clearly very excited.

Mc watched this go down in amusement, they certainly were getting used to this new seraphim.

The moment was soon interrupted by the sound of a ringtone. Michael stopped what he was doing to pick up his D.D.D. Looking down at his device, he seems unimpressed. “Ah…so that was today.” He frowned.

Michael turned to Mc. “It was a pleasure to meet someone who also treasures Lucifer but I must be leaving. I hope we can talk again over dinner tonight.” He explained before picking up the call on his phone. He then walked his way out of the room and down the hall, leaving Mc alone.

(Time skip)

After Michael's departure, Mc had brought themselves back over to their guest room.

They laid across their queen-sized bed, their eyes peering holes into their D.D.D. Why on earth has their D.D.D. been so quiet? Where are all the brothers? Mc’s friends would have filled up their notifications at this point.

Suddenly, the screen changed to Mammon’s face. It buzzed within Mc’s grip as it let out a small tune. With a small press of a button, Mc could hear Mammon’s voice.

“Oi, what you have been up to?” The demon exclaimed from the phone.

It was reliving for Mc to hear Mammon’s voice finally but there was just something off about his tone. It had a slight hint of nervousness to you,

Something Mammon always does when he is trying to hide something. It gave Mc a gut feeling that something was wrong.

“Are you alright?” Mc asked with concern.

“Wha- psh! Everything’s fine. Don’t ignore my question like that.” Mammon complained but the small attempt to reassure his friend only seemed to worry them more.

Mc sat up on their bed with their phone now up against their ear. They scooted themselves over to the edge of the bed as they continued the conversation. “It’s been alright here. Nothing too major happened.” They said, kicking their feet.

“Michael hasn’t been a weirdo to ya, has he?” Mammon asked.

“No, but I did get to see the Lucifer shrine.”

Mammon practically groaned as he heard the mention of ‘The Lucifer Shrine’. “That weird thing?” He muttered on the phone. “I can’t believe he still has that!”.

“I found it kinda sweet.”

“Sweet? Don’t tell me ya turning into a weirdo like him.” The demon complained.

Mc could just imagine Mammon’s expression through the screen. The thought made them laugh aloud. “Besides that, how’s the sunflower jewel doing?” They asked, absentmindedly.

They were met with silence from the phone.

“Mammon?” Mc called out, furrowing their brows. They were quickly answered by Mammon's stuttering voice. “It’s fine! Just peachy!” He managed out.

“Mammmoonn?”

“Eh- you know I think I hear Lucifer calling for me! I’ll call ya later!”

Before Mc could even say another word, Mammon hung up. This kinda of odd behavior really worried Mc. Did something happen to the jewel? What’s going to happen if something did happen?

Their thoughts were interrupted when they heard a knock at the door. Mc was uncertain as to who could be knocking at their door so they decided to sit up from the bed and go over to the door. “Who is it?” They called out.

“It’s Azzie!”

Azzie? Whose that? Mc pondered to themselves before opening the door and seeing a familiar face. It was Azrael from last morning.

“Heeeeyyy, dude! Guess who got put on babysitting duty for ya.” Azrael greeted with a bright smile, flicking his head back to move the bangs from his face. He was all too happy to barge right into the room and help himself to sit on Mc’s bed. “I waaasss going to go to this cool show at the Coliseum but Mike said I had to come here instead, which is lllaaammeee! Not to say you are lame, nah. But I really wanted to see that radical show!” He proceeded to explain, kicking his feet.

“Guess we gonna have to hang instead.” Azrael grinned with confidence.

Mc stared at the angel for a second, not expecting the angel to just come barging into their room like this while throwing some big explanation at them. “Uh, sure?” They muttered with uncertainty. They weren’t exactly sure what to make of this man.

“Soooo…watcha do in here?” Azrael asked. His curious eyes wandered around the guest room. His eyes soon settled on the nice view outside the window.

Mc scratched the back of their neck. “Nothing really, I just got here yesterday.” They sheepishly admitted. Mc wasn’t exactly sure what to say.

It was clear from Azrael’s expression that he was already getting bored. “We totally could- nah, Mike would get mad.” The Angel frowned. This only made Mc curious.

“Do what?” Mc asked.

Azrael blinked before leaning forward. “Rumor has it, you’re a real troublemaker. Is that true?” He asked. His expression had a mixture of curiosity and mischievous as he asked the question.

“I guess? Just how many rumors are there of me?” They asked with their brow raised.

The angel’s face brightened up at that. “In that case, we should totally sneak out and go to that coliseum!” He suggested with glee. With a hopeful look, he waited for Mc’s answer.

“Sneak out?” Mc questioned.

“Ya, dude! I got like’ the perfect secret passage and everything. We should totally go!”

“What happens at the coliseum?”

“Only the coolest most radical sports! I heard today is going to be aquatic sports.”

Mc went quiet, seemingly pondering the proposal. On one hand, this trip could be dangerous. On the other, Mc could just stay here and become bored. Isn’t being bored the real danger here? Besides, they have their own ‘babysitter’ now. What could go wrong?

With newfound confidence and a spark for trouble, Mc nodded their head in agreement. This made Azreal throw his fist into the air before offering his fist. Mc took the offer and promptly fist-bumped Azrael.

And with that, Azrael and Mc set foot onto their journey to the coliseum. Or in this case, ‘set wing onto their journey’ as Azrael flew most of the way with Mc on his back, much to Mc's dismay. Fortunately, the two finished the flight without Mc vomiting.

Once the two landed, Mc could see the giant structure in the distance amongst the large crowd that had gathered around the building. The weather seemed perfect for the event, sunny with not many clouds. It really complimented the coliseum with the sun giving it a little shine.

As Mc admired the structure from afar, they felt their wrist suddenly being grabbed. The next thing they knew, they were being dragged away by Azreal. Mc was a little taken aback by this, but judging by the angel’s determined expression, Mc assumed that Azrael knew where he was going.

Their assumption would be proven right as they traveled away from the crowd and over to the side of the building where no one was. After a few glances, Azreal began thumping his fist against the wall in a rhythmic pattern. Suddenly, the wall that Azreal was thumping on moved and revealed a secret passage.

The Angel was quick to duct down and hurry along inside before quickly waving Mc in. Mc followed after, allowing the stone wall to close behind them. The two then made their way down the passage over to another moveable wall.

Azrael opened the wall as if it was a door, letting Mc go through first before following after. The two were met with a staircase and a hallway.

“Awesome, we totally made it!” Azreal said before he made his way upstairs.

Once upstairs, Mc was met with bright sunlight. When their eyes adjusted to the bright light, they were met with a large crowd of angels who were all beginning to take their seats before the sports began. They all seemed so excited for what was about to happen.

“Woah,” Mc muttered.

“Not used to being at a coliseum?” Azrael remarked.

Azreal leads Mc over to an empty spot in the front row. They both took their seats before the two heard the announcer begin to speak over the crowd. The announcer’s voice was hard for Mc to make out with the rowdy crowd around them.

“Today, we have the honor to watch brand new competitors compete in our water trails!” Was all Mc could make out from the booming voice.

They sat and watched as four giant walls lifted and began to pour more and more water into the arena until it was a lake. The four walls then close back into place, appearing as if they had never moved at all. This was followed by two wooden docks appearing from the water.

Two groups of angels walk onto the wooden decks. The two groups all wore the same uniform with the main difference being the color of the uniform that indicated which angel belonged to which team. The colors on the uniforms were Red and Yellow.

Mc couldn’t help but lean forward in their seat. The show had just begun and they were already filled with such curiosity. They couldn’t help but wonder what will happen next.

Their curiosity was sparked more when they saw shadows underneath the water begin to appear. The shadows soon began to poke their head out of the water to reveal an aquatic horse-like creature. If Mc had to describe it, the creatures looked like a mix of a seahorse and an actual horse.

“Awesome, they’re bringing out the hippocamps!” Azreal chimes in before standing from his seat. He walked over and leaned down onto the stone fence that helped ensure that no one would fall into the arena. Mc decided to join him, leaning on the stone fence with him.

Now with a much clearer view of what was happening in the arena, Mc could see the race happening much more clearly. It was a fascinating sight to see such beautiful creatures swimming around the arena. Occasionally, the riders would let the hippocamps do flips and tricks for the audience.

“Azzie!” A voice called out.

Azreal whips his head around to see Michael now approaching him. “I thought I told you to watch over Mc while I was away.” Michael scolded. Despite wearing a smile, his expression still came off as stern and serious.

“Don’t worry, man. I got Mc right here.” Azreal reassured. He moved his hand and pointed at Mc who was right next to him. “Turns out they wanted to see the show too, they’re lovin’ it! Right, Mc?” He asked, looking over at Mc.

Mc just nodded their head, clearly still quite distracted by the show.

Michael’s facial expression relented a little when he saw that Mc’s was enjoying the show. “Just don’t let them out of your sight, there will be hell to pay if you do.” The seraphim warned, with stern eyes. The look alone was enough to make most angels straighten up their behavior around the archangel.

As Michael and Azreal talk back and forth to each other, they fail to notice the cracks slowly forming on the fence that Mc was leaning on. By the time anyone noticed, it was already too late. The stone fence has given way, letting Mc drop.

Mc and Michael made eye contact before-

S P L A S H!

Mc desperately tried to swim up to the surface for air. They could hear the sound of distant panicked voices. As soon as their head could pop out of the way, they were met with a hippocamp that was swimming straight at them.

That was all Mc remembered before everything went black.

[doodleferp]

Cara and Miguel Starter Pack

So let me start from the beginning one last time. Once upon a time, Cara was yeeted into Earth-928 thanks to some fucky Lovecraftian nonsense from her fucky Lovecraftian dimension. After meeting Miguel, who was a baby Spider-Man back then, Cara was denied access back to her world thanks to some sibling disputes. She spun a little web of lies for Miguel’s then-fianceé Dana, and they took pity on her and decided to help her out. I’m pretty sure you know the rest. They moved her in with Dana, saved the city, humorously acclimated Cara to the city, buried Dana, got married to get Cara a green card, and ended up actually falling in love.

This works off of a timeline of events that I established myself and it's subject to change if more information from the films comes out. General consensus is that Miguel was born in 2070, so he was 29 when he got his powers IN 2099. But since he’s 35 in AtSV, that means about six years have passed since then.

Cara is five foot even. She’s a tiny little thing who has the love of a fucking giant. As the tall one, Miguel is often asked to help get things from places she can’t reach. But instead of grabbing the thing like a normal person, Miguel grabs Cara under her arms, lifts her up, and holds her up so she’s the perfect height to grab the thing herself. He does this everywhere. The apartment, the Spider Society, the grocery store, his office at Alchemax, etc.

Cara likes to wear a helmet instead of a mask because she’s being tossed around constantly and feels safer with that kind of head protection. Miguel, however, fucking hates the helmet and takes every opportunity to show Cara his Pepe Silvia board about why she should trade it out for the mask he made her. Cara will sit patiently through all of it, and then she’ll go “Would you like me to crack my head open?” And he shuts up for another week. (Oh, he also made her current suit all by himself.)

These two are like...so gossipy Mostly Miguel, but Cara indulges him a lot. Ofc they have those bedtime pillow talks where they're both reading or Miggy's on his laptop and they'll go on about something someone did that day. They'll be swinging through the city and talking shit about Internet drama or some dweeb from a restaurant. Miguel will hit her up on his lunch hour and give her all the Alchemax tea, complete with examining his nails like the mean popular girl from a Disney Channel Original Movie. If he thinks someone's eavesdropping, he'll start talking in really fast Spanish so they can't get what he's saying. Needless to say, Cara had to learn Spanish really fast just to keep up with him.

They both adore snuggling. Miguel is like Cara’s weighted blanket and she can’t sleep without him anymore because he just envelops her (Fig 1). He’ll spoon her, he’ll let her sleep on his chest and hold her there. He’ll do everything short of actually sleeping on top of her (Fig 2) and he does that at least once a month. However, he always wakes up at 4 AM to use the bathroom, and Cara always wakes up because she no longer has her big warm blanket man. Thankfully, she goes right back to sleep once he comes back to bed. It’s to the point where they have trouble sleeping without the other in the bed because Cara needs the weight on her and Miguel needs something to cuddle.

Since Cara and her sisters got some fucky eldritch nonsense going on with their blood, they…I guess a bit more compatible with other dimensions. They can’t travel between them at will, of course, but they don’t glitch because they got that interdimensional cosmic horror in em. When Miguel somehow starts monitoring the ItSV movie, he’s flabbergasted when he sees the other Spiders glitching and he goes to Cara like “these people are literally dying and it hasn’t been a week, how the shock did you survive SIX YEARS”.

Cara’s actually good at a lot of household chores, so she offers to help around the apartment when she isn’t working. And thanks to Spider nonsense, she can get really thorough with it. Miguel has come home multiple times to see her standing on the ceiling changing light bulbs or cleaning something on the ceiling. It saves him tons since he got to opt out of the building's cleaning service, but it still gives him a heart attack every now and then.

They have had long arguments about whether or not killing spiders counts as murder since they’re both half-spider. Cara scoops them up on a piece of paper and puts them out the window or something. Miguel just puts them out of their misery.

As I’m sure everyone reading this has deduced, these two are a very...hands-on couple. They have been banned from being in the Spider Society’s gym at the same time because of it. As in "when one of them goes in, the other is automatically locked out" kind of banned. Thank Peter B for that -- as in, genuinely thank him because he's saved a lot of minors from seeing a couple spider mutants getting freaky.

Not exactly shippy, but Miguel and Cara's sister Cadence do not get along. At all. They hate each other with a burning passion. Cadence is positive he's that archetypical dudebro who's going to drag Cara down, and Miguel is rightfully pissed that she's hostile to him for existing. Cara unfortunately has to get in the middle of them and keep things calm, and thankfully Miguel is willing to make an effort. Cadence is less than accommodating though, so the occasional cross-dimensional family visits are always interesting.

c. doodleferp, 2024. do not steal or repost.

[ladykailitha]

In the Midnight Hour Part 3

And here we come to the REAL reason I started this AU.

Part 1 Part 2

*

Steve picked Robin up to take her to school. And she was chattering away like she always did.

“Like it’s hilarious,” Robbin was saying. “Andy and Chase, not having the energy to do anything. They’ve apparently been benched twice because they can barely stand let alone dribble a ball.”

Steve hummed. “Anyone else on the team that’s been lethargic?”

Robin thought for a moment. “Not on the basketball team. There were a couple other jocks that had that long and drawn out look, but they’re better off, I guess. Able to function and shit, but like pale.”

Steve raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like a vampire or some such shit.”

“Ewww,” she crowed. “Are there vampires in DnD? Could this be an Upside Down thing?”

Steve chewed on his lips. “I don’t know, Robs. I’m not well versed in this shit. I’d the hitter not the planner.”

“I’ll talk to the dweebs at lunch,” Robin sighed. “See what their thoughts are on this.”

Steve nodded.

“What are you doing today?” she asked as he pulled up the school.

“I have the day off so I thought I’d visit Wayne again,” Steve murmured.

Robin’s shoulders sagged. “You don’t have to keep doing this. He’s a grown man, he can take care of himself.”

Steve chewed on his lip. “It helps...me.”

Her eyes softened. “I’m sorry. I know it’s hard for you to lose anyone, even if you didn’t get a chance to know him.”

Steve just nodded.

She patted his shoulder and then left for school.

He drove straight to the Motel 6 and pulled into the parking lot. Thanks to Eddie being a part of the “team” or party or whatever the government had deigned to give Wayne Munson the ‘pay off’ or whatever to keep his mouth shut about the Upside Down.

So he was living in a motel until he could get a bank to look at him to buy a house.

Steve walked up to room six and knocked.

Wayne opened the door. “Back again, Harrington?”

Steve smiled. “Maybe I just like your company.”

Wayne scoffed. “No one likes my company these days. Well except you and that Henderson kid.”

“Dustin’s been by?” Steve asked, looking down at his feet.

“He still not talking to you?” Wayne asked softly.

Steve shook his head. “Thinks it should have been me instead of Eddie. I thought I share.”

“Survivors’ guilt is a hell of thing,” Wayne agreed.

“You were in the Vietnam war, right?” Steve asked, sitting down on the one chair in the room.

“The government always were sick sons of bitches,” Wayne said gruffly.

Steve scoffed. “Tell me about it.”

Wayne frowned. “And what would you know about that?”

Steve looked around. “You think this room is bugged?”

Wayne’s eyebrows shot up. He hadn’t pegged Steve for a conspiracy nut, but then this wasn’t the normal teenage boy, either.

“No,” he replied. “I sweep for bugs every time I come back.”

It was Steve’s turn to look surprised. “Now, why would you do that, sir?”

“Why don’t you tell me what you know,” Wayne said, sitting on the bed and facing him, “and I’ll tell you what I know.”

So Steve did. He told him everything. From the beginning with Will all the way to the end with Eddie’s death and the return of Vecna.

“Shit,” Wayne said. “Had I known it was Henry Creel, I would grabbed my shot gun and helped hunt down the bastard.”

“You knew Henry Creel, sir?”

“I’m only a year older than that sick son of a bitch,” Wayne said. “I have my accent because I kept it. I want to remind every single one of those bastards that I am not here by choice.”

Steve frowned. ��I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I was the wrong kind of powered,” Wayne said. “Can’t do much with an empath.”

“What’s an empath?”

“An empath is someone who can feel other people’s emotions. I can immediately tell what mood someone is in no matter how good they are at masking it,” Wayne explained. “Can’t weaponize feeling things. They tried to get me use it feel out foreign heads of state. Are they nervous, happy, angry? The problem was that they could be mad about their toast being burnt that morning and not angry at being at the meeting. So I was dumped in a town that hated people who were different.”

“What was your number?” Steve asked.

Wayne shook his head. “Different project. I had a name, not a number. I was the precursor to whatever shit they got Henry involved in. And your friend, too.”

“What about your parents, your brother?” Steve asked. “Didn’t your family care what happened to you?”

Wayne shrugged. “My parents were happy to take the money the government gave them to keep their mouths shut and my brother was their golden child. I grew up in the care system here and got a job right out high school.”

Steve winced. “Is that why you offered to take Eddie, because you didn’t want him in the system?”

Wayne smiled. “I don’t know why your friends think you’re the dumb one, you seem pretty quick to me.”

“When it comes to people, sure,” Steve said with a small smile. “Not when it comes to everything else.”

Wayne smiled back. “I think you and I are the same, thinking with our hearts and not our heads.”

Steve straightened up and grinned. “I don’t have powers, though.”

Wayne just shook his head. “You’re here about Eddie, aren’t you?”

“I know Dustin told you he died,” Steve said.

“But he’s not dead,” Wayne said. “I can still feel him.”

Steve’s jaw dropped. “Come again?”

“I’m real close to Eddie,” Wayne explained. “I can feel his emotions better than anyone. When Dustin came and said he died. He wasn’t wrong. Not then.”

Steve closed his eyes and lower lip shook. “I think Vecna‒Henry brought him back as a vampire or something similar.”

Wayne nodded. “He’s not quite right, my Eddie. When he was brought back I mean, not before.”

“He’s been visiting me,” Steve admitted shyly.

“How long?”

“A few weeks,” Steve said softly. “I was having nightmares and hallucinations before this and thought he was one of them.

Wayne nodded. “What made you decide he might be the real deal?”

Steve threw his head back and groaned. “This is so embarrassing.”

“I’m waiting,” Wayne said playfully.

“His hair.”

“You want to run that past me one more time?” Wayne asked.

“I’ve been able to ‘touch’ my hallucinations before,” he said put air quotes around touch. “But this was different. I’d never touched his hair prior to his death so I should have no frame of reference for what it should feel like.”

Wayne nodded. “Ah. I gotcha. You expected it to feel a certain way and when you touched it, it didn’t feel that way.”

“Exactly!” Steve said, snapping his fingers. “And that’s why I’m here. You needed to be the first to know that Eddie was back. And that there might be a chance to bring him home.”

Wayne nodded, tears filling up his eyes. “You’re a good man, Steve Harrington.”

Steve shook his head. “I’m really not. But if it was the other way round, I’d be pissed if no one told me there was a chance to save him.”

Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11  Part 12  Part 13

Tag List: @thequeenrainacorn @savory-babby @chaoticlovingdreamer @grtwdsmwhr @renaissan-vvitch @panicatthediaz @swimmingbirdrunningrock

[oaticedeggshells]

Jake And Amir

I spent way too long on this (watching every J&A video I could without putting too much effort in). When I've watched them one-off, I noticed a couple of instances of the following, so decided to see how widespread it was:

Is Amir from Jake and Amir a trans woman? No, probably not. But I still have my suspicions.

truth or dare: Amir "Time to meet some babe magnets" Jake "That's guys" Amir "Or lesbians"

Shopping: Jake "That's all the same women's sweater"

Fashion Tips: just watch this one.

Disease: Amir "and I'm not wearing women's shoes"

Video chat: Amir "like two civilised ladies"

Private Eye Part 1: "Best Supporting Actress"

Baby: I've forgotten the plot of this one

Girlfriend Pt7: Amir texting Leronuh "You made me feel like a woman again"

Trick or Treat: I might have marked this down just because of how Amir is dressed?

Powder, Fashion Blog, Boot Camp

Scrapped: Jake "You photoshopped a vagina onto yourself and you're masturbating?"

Costume, Brownie

Chugging: There's some reference to tucking?

Blood Donation: Jake "You came here in a skirt"

Reddit: "Dickless for Michael Chiklis"

Seminar: <image>

Doobs 3

March Madness 6: Amir "I'm gonna wear a gown to the final 4"

Costumes Part 2: Jake "Your crotch is bleeding"

Thanksgiving Scroll: Amir refers to themselves as queer

Breakfast Date: you're wearing a dress

Road Trip 2 (New Orleans): You have such saggy naturals

Poster Ideas: I'm not a businessman, I'm a businesswoman

Driving Lesson: queen dweeb

NY vs LA: What should us little sister friends gab about next?

Online Shopping: *queefs*

Serial: *wearing a thong*

Finale: bottom surgery

Donald Trump: "grab my pussy in joy"

Unrelatedly, gullies isn't a real world? And I've always used 'talking smack about Jeff' to mean shooting the breeze, not being rude to someone called Jeff. And a couple of quotes I'd forgotten:

"The pets are at work", "Work?", "Oh, you've never seen a rat be a chef before?", "That was a cartoon", "Yes, but a dog animated it".

"I got caught doing a 90 in a 0."

"waterboarding me with so much haterade"

The best bars:

sitting in jacuzzis // peanut butters smoothies // eating lots of movies // checking out the movies

all day, every day, every hour, gotta have a chicken nugget in my pocket gower

because you pale in comparison to Sarah

I spent last week in a hospital // What I thought was Flintstone vitamins was actually a birth control // and I shouldn't have drunk the whole botty-bottle

Just a little queasy // I should take it easy

1 2 3 4 if you're on a boat then you're paddling // horse then you're saddling // if you're on the stage then your name better be Bradlyn

Zip it, zip it good. Exhibit A.

First clue me. George clue me.

I'd consider it // because I'm considerate // now consider this // you prissy bis

I don't eat meat // I don't eat wheat // I don't eat treats // Now take a seat

Just give me my old scroll bag backpack back please

I love to yearn // I love to learn // I love to make money

That cool cat thinks he can hot dog

I'm not going to let some quack in a van hack me up in a can

I'm looking at one listing which is particularly cherry // though on the contrary // it might be an apple because it is that of my eye

Bros propose before hoes

It happened by chance // happenstance // it happens Nance

Yam plan thank you mam

You want one from a mean tween though? // meaner than you've ever seen // Well I've got one for you Mr.Bean

This is my baby, Bjorn, in a baby bjorn. Guess what day he was bjorn.

You're the only one with the capacity for such tenacity and audacity but more than anything I admire your veractiy.

To strike me like you did showed a lack of tact and you came off like a classless act and that's the facts Jack. Alright, I appreciate your attempt to mediate and alleviate hat you're done to me to date, but it's a little too little too lat.e

Chicken wings? // I love those frickin' things

Murph, Murph // It's your turf // Come down to Earth // you crazy Smurf

Washing is fine, it's drying that's trying. A clothes line? That takes time.

[weebsinstash]

SO TRUE Im trying to enjoy my Miguel fanfics but most of them are so out of character I just can’t 😭😭

I dunno if I would exactly say out of character (partially because I don't want to imply I'm some characterization expert or whatever when I haven't published Jack shit) since I feel like, there can be different themes or emotions or vibes the story is going for that may call for some tweaking, or like certain fics focusing on specific parts of a characters personality, like "I just wanted to write him being angry and how he mighr respond whils under stress" which is valid, but like

One thing I will say that I immediately noticed when I started combing through Miguel fics is, a lot of people make him WAY too verbose and eloquent. Yeah he's a genius, yeah he gets very serious in scenes, but my god the vocabulary some people give him, the way some people have him structuring his sentences. He's not as overly detailed and formal as some people like to write. Like this is a man who says shit like "well, I guess you're just going to have to shut up and trust me" to people he's trying to rescue and, again, even when he's chasing down Miles, he's huffing, "UGH you're so FRUSTRATING", like idk if you consider it canon but his after credits scene in Into the spiderverse literally has him meeting Spiderman 1967 who, MAKES HIM SO MAD HE DOES LIKE LITTLE HOPPY HOPS, like. This man is a DWEEB. He has a temper and threw a trashcan at a teenager! Mf literally loses it and says "¡ay coño!" over a Spider Society wide broadcast, my man livestreamed himself saying "for fucks sake" across the entire community because they didn't immediately understand which specific Spiderman he was asking them to chase the moment he asked them to "stop spiderman" and not specifying any further until, "for fucks sake, MILES MORALES 😤 he's entering sector 4!!" and also when Miles is hiding on that dude's back he's just sprinting up "he's over- on your-- TURN AROUND!!" and waving his arms around

like, he's an emotional person! He's not some like anime supervillain, he's not some demon lord sounding "it is unfortunate that you decided to behave in this manner" dialogue ass-- like I mean, I know there's only so many clips circulating online so maybe people are just. Gleaming the wrong context? Like I've seen a few "all Miguel scenes" videos on YouTube and none of them ever really capture the full context of any of the scenes, there's cuts for copyright, some people cut different parts, some clips are higher quality, but like, it really is different when you see the full movie cause I feel like a lot of people are just focusing ONLY on the parts where he's being, you know, scary as fuck. Like don't think i didn't immediately notice "oh holy shit Miguel actually put CLAW MARKS in Miles' shoulder", this man was literally chasing and diving for this kid, they were bailing out windows, there was a cat, and a t Rex, and idk, maybe I'm looking too far into it but you don't have to make him Ultra Serious to make him intimidating and scary. There's gotta be a balance I guess? I see too much of him being lowkey an edge lord and not enough of him being Just A Real Stressed Out Dude. Idk. I just keep finding written dialogue for him a little cut and dry sometimes, there's only a few things I've read where it stood out to me (like in "no more dry bites" where he's just stopping midsentence to huff "why are you being so-- ok you know what, fine--" *immediately changes tactics lowkey like a tantrum*

Like have you seen some of the concept art of him, they were originally debating giving him glasses and a 5 o clock shadow and have him looking more dorky and casual, like, the man has personality, he has depth, I want the third movie to peel his layers like an onion, I just KNOW there's gonna be a good ending for everyone 😤

I'm just sitting here and thinking like, yeah he's serious but he speaks in a very human way? Like, one thing he says to Miles is something like "you can't save them all, kid. Believe me, I've tried, and the harder I tried, the worse things got" or something along those lines, too lazy to pull up the clip, but like. Idk. Maybe I'm just overanalyzing and maybe it's just people wanting to go for certain moods but i just feel like way too many fics have him acting way too, not even serious, just kind of edgy. He's a serious guy but he still doesn't talk like he's some emotionless robot. He's gonna cross his arms. He's gonna put his hands on his hips. He's gonna roll his eyes at you. He may just even rage quit the conversation "ok, you know what, I gave you enough chances--" and just bites you because this is the quickest easiest option and better to put you out now rather than drag this out and get both of you worked up because He Is So Fucking Tired Dude

[http-tokki]

I <3 U

~ levi ackerman x reader ~ tags/cw: being sick with a cold, domesticity, sappy love. ~ wc: 250

As the seasons change and the weather cools down, the risk of colds and flu’s increase and it’s just your luck that you’re the first to catch it as it makes it rounds through the friend group, and like the dutiful boyfriend he is he helps you through it. Buying tissues and cold medicine, helping you clean the sheets after you sweat through them, even sitting with you in the bathroom as you steam yourself in the shower.

You're sat on the small stool in the make shift sauna that is your shower block, wiping at the glass to maintain a clear view of Levi as he sit on the other side of the glass, holding up your phone every few seconds to show you cute animal videos to help you feel less shit.

"Hey, guess what?" you call over the sound of running water.

"yes?" Levi looks up from the screen

You take a moment to draw in the steamed-up glass. A silly message of I <3 U. Levi smiles and writes it back.

"If you weren't sick, i'd kiss you" he laughs

"Kiss me through the glass" you suggest and press your lips against the glass.

If this had been anyone else, any other person he had ever been with he would have snorted and turned his attention back to the phone but because you are you and you are the love of his life, he presses a small kiss to the glass in line with you.

"Levi Ackerman, you are such a dweeb"

a/n: I was so sick earlier this month, and while I was sitting in the shower trying to steam whatever the fuck was in me out of me, I thought of this really cute scenario that would have made everything better.

[ask-marios-apprentice]

Meggy's Story

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

For today's post. I would like to talk especially about three things

This is going to be a long post.

There is some more violent and graphic content in this post that is not for the faint of heart. Read at your own feet.

I would like to thank Glitch Production and the writers of the SMG4 series. I will be attempting to retell one of their most important arcs for the blog. I apologize if I mess up or have anything unsavory. I'm trying to mesh The SMG4 existing canon with my interpretation and my additions to the Mario universe.

Enjoy with your own caution and my warning.

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

For some reason. Meggy wanted to hang out last night.

They were gonna have some holiday gala thing at the castle. So Meggy needed to get out.

And apparently, her friend Tari is in New York for a Game competition. so she won't be back until next week.

Garth: Is there any reason why you wanted hang out with me. I think the splat arena is open.

Meggy: Yeah. But its mostly younger kids. It's not really a challenge.

Garth: Oh. … So what do you want to do.

Meggy: eh. I don't really care. As long as I can get back after my dad thinks he can do a "Backwards Long Jump" up the stairs.

Garth: Wait what?

Meggy: never mind. Why don't we go to your hometown and not talk about that.

Garth: Uh...Sure.

We used the warp.

We are both feeling kind of hungry so we just had decided to head to Jumpy' Sweets.

I ordered a Funnel cake and Meggy ordered an elephant ear

Meggy: This elephant ear is... The best thing I have ever eaten!!!

Why don't we have this on Panko.

Garth: FDA I think. [Redacted information] has made [More Redacted Information] more sought out after [Even More Redacted Information]

Meggy: If I could eat this. I'm willing to not eat DonMichaels ever again.

Garth: I mean I guess if you do it in moderation. You can still have both.

Meggy: Yeah but if I ever want to when splatfest for... Wait have i ever told you the story?

Garth: What story?

Meggy: The story of how I decided to win splatfest.

[Flashback: Summer 2009]

In an orphanage, Inkopolis

A young inkling was setting up her new bunk.

She had lost her parents to a car crash 3 years ago.

With no close enough relatives, she was put into foster homes and orphanages across the city.

~

Garth: Is that you?

Meggy: What do you think?

Garth: Sorry.

~

Recently there was a string of kidnappings happening

Only inklings and Octolings were being kidnapped.

So it was highly encouraged that they would only be outside with an adult or in heavily populated.

The orphanage was actually on lockdown.

???: Hey dweeb

Meggy: [Sigh] Desti. What do you want?

Desti: Me and some of the other kids were going to sneak out to the range to practice tonight.

Meggy: And?

Desti: We wanted to see if you wanted to come with.

Like a dumb[redacted]. I decided that that would be a good idea.

Desti: {Shoots ink] So what do you want to do when you grow up.

Meggy: I dunno. maybe be a Professional Splatfest player.

Desti: Really. [Snickers] Good luck trying. I'm going to be better than you.

~

I'm going to cut in here and give an abridged version since I can't remember the entire conversation.

It boiled down to light teasing and how they both want to win Splatfest. Meggy was a bit more casual while Desti was competitive. It was a bit nerve-racking yet a bit sweet.

~

Yet. Like a couple of sitting ducks.

Desti and Meggy: WHAT IS THAT!?!?

We were captured.

We did not know who kidnapped us. But it was a terrible thing to happen to us.

They kidnapped us. and transported us for what felt like forever.

When we were finally allowed out of the buckets. We found ourselves in a makeshift jail cell.

Desti: Where are we

Meggy: I'm unsure. but wherever we are. It sure is creepy.

There were lots of other inklings, outflings, and other Inkana citizens. Anyone who could produce ink.

We saw them as a group of people. not particularly threatening It was mostly nerds. But there were a few other people. But the most notable one was a large lizard in a shirt.

They grabbed an inkling by the neck. Forcing him into a cartridge. They used a device. I'm not sure what it was. But it looked like a giant ink pen.

???: Get It ready. I want to have this up and running. The

???: But Francis Are you even sure it will work.

Francis: If it doesn't. Increase the EMP Frequency with that Axolotle. Then demand the proper instructions again.

Whatever was going on. It was not good.

They forced a bunch of inklings and outflings into chains. Allowing them to drag them to who knows where.

They had come for us.

They were going to drain us of our ink. Ourselves.

~

Garth: Wait. Isn't ink getting removed from you all the time? Like sweat or carbon dioxide? I mean, You would realistically lose a lot when in a turf war or any other time when you use ink.

Meggy: Okay. One stop interrupting me, and two, it's okay if an inkling expels a little bit of ink. Even a decent amount if they replenish it quickly. Now let me get back to the story.

~

After they had tested the device.

They had dragged us to these large tubes. All bunched up together

It was not looking good for us. They had decided to drain us like leeches. Using us for ink until we were almost dead.

Francis: Let's drain this batch. My waifu is losing its luster and I need a new one.

They were using our ink.

For Waifus.

Apparently, there were also some people who wanted to use it for cheap work or something.

But it seems like they were using it for Waifus

They were going to use the ink pen thing on us.

Lucky us. They slipped up and broke our chains with the pen's ink. It made a large sword.

Those of us who could get out made a mad dash to get out of there.

Not all of us made it however.

They had this glass wall that closed.

Meggy: Desti!

Desti: Meggy!

The wall closes

Meggy: Don't worry. Ill find help.

Desti: You better. Just promise you'll come back.

Meggy: I promise. Keep fighting.

I ran like Underwhere.

I was being chased through the sewer.

Luckily, there was a manhole cover up ahead

After I jumped out into a place. It was called...Something Aurora. I managed to hide in a nearby bucket of paint.

That was the last thing i remember before falling asleep from being tired.

~

Garth: What happed to the other escapees?

Meggy: i don't know. I think some were caught, others went down the same path as me.

Garth: Have you tried getting in contact with them.

Meggy: I think so. I went to the retirement party of an old woman i escaped with.

But lets get back on topic. And stop interrupting me

~

Mario and Peach had just gotten off of recent political discussion. Citizens from Inkana had been kidnapped. but immigrated citizens had also been attempted to be kidnapped.

To get there minds off of it in order to destress. They decided to do some painting.

Wall Painting for some reason.

They opened up a can of paint to find...

Mario: An Inkling?

Peach: What?

Mario?: I found an inkling in a can of orange paint. She seems unconscious but otherwise okay.

After i had woken up. I was to tired to even talk.

~

Meggy: i had spent Grambi knows how long in a bucket. Its a miracle i did not get brain damage or stunted growth.

Garth: I didn't even say anything that time.

~

They treated me like a kid. I hadn't felt like that in years.

To be honest. It felt nice.

Even if they were calling authorities for missing persons report.

They still made me feel comfortable.

I remember that after the day i had. It was quite possibly the best day i had in years.

They sang me a lullaby before putting me to bed.

But in the morning. I had finally gotten my voice back.

And first thing (totally not after a delicious breakfast) i had explained the entire situation

Mario and Peach: FRANCIS!?!

Meggy: You know him?

Peach: I had to go through a [shudders] dating sim.

Mario: 2003 was a horrible year. But you know where he is?

Meggy: Something Aurora. i went through a sewer. Red bricks.

Mario: You must be talking about Port Aurora The 17 Street and Coconut Avenue Intersection.

Meggy: Maybe that's it. But i'm unsure if that is the location.

Peach: I'm sure of it. We actually had gone on a walking tour of the sewers on our honeymoon.

Mario: and you wanted to go to Isle Delphino.

They got help and headed to the island. They blocked off the sewer and proceeded to storm it.

Mario: Meggy, are you sure that you want to come with. We could manage to find their base.

Meggy: I made a promise to my friend. and I'm going to keep it.

Mario: Okay, you can come with, but be careful.

We stormed the base.

Mario: THIS IS THE SUPER AND AN ASORTED BAND OF HELP AND HEROS! GIVE YOURSELVES UP OR THERE WILL BE DIRE CONSIQUECES!

Meggy [Sitting on Mario's Shoulders: What he said!

Francis: Hark. Is that a band of loud mouthed dorks. Shall i give up....Get the Shonen protagonists and JRPG.

A fight broke out. It was like a world war. It was not pretty.

But we had managed to get to the main draining room.

Desti: MEGGY! you came back. Help me get out of this tank.

Mario: Is that your friend. Lets save her.

We freed the inklings and started breaking up the wei...i mean evil tech stuff.

Francis: [Grabs anime sword] IM NOT LETTING ANYONE MESS WITH MY DREAM. [STARTS SWININGING VIOLENTLY]

Mario: Go break the lock on your friend's cage. I'll take on this anime lover.

I ran to the tank that my friend was in.

[Robotic voice: Ink Still in subject. Do not open until all ink has left.]

As a split second decision. I decided to enter the device.

Desti: [weakly]: Meggy what are you doing.

Meggy: I'll give up some of my ink if it means we can make it out.

I turned on the device . Which would remove enough of my ink in order for both of us to escape.

The last thing i remember was a giant explosion. apperntly the

I don't know what happend next

But when i had awoken. Me and Mario were mostly alright. But Desti was...

She was dying.

Desti: Meggy. Im not going to make it.

Meggy: Don't say that. Well get you help.

Desti: Come close. i can see the light getting the way. And i don't know if its me. But you look diffrent. But what ever happens I want to do something for me.

Meggy: Anything. I'll do it.

Desti: I want you to win Splatfest. For both of us. I want you to win for the both of us.

Meggy: I will Desti.

Dest:

Meggy: Desti! Desti!!! DESTI!!!

~

...

Garth: I'm sorry that you lost some one important to you.

Meggy:...Thanks. Even if she is gone. she still lives on as a part of me.

And im still trying to win splatfest and live life.

Garth: That's good. but what happend next.

Meggy: Well. We held a funeral for Desti. We actually had dedicated the beach we sent her coffin away at.

Mario and Peach agreed to foster me until further notice. Eventually adopting me.

All the Inklings and Octolings were give the choice to go back home or see where they wanted to go.

That Axolotl guy got back his ink pen thing.

Garth: Thats good. But why did Desti say you looked diffrent.

...

Meggy: You can't be serious.

Garth: No. I am serious.

Meggy: You seriously don't know.

Garth: Know what.

...

Meggy removed her beenie.

@buddy-boi-420 drew this piece. They do great art.

Garth: Your Half Starchild!!!

Meggy: I feel like the story already established that. But yeah. I'm half Starchild.

Garth: But. I've seen you without your hat? and you had tentacle hair.

Meggys: No. You've seen artwork without my hat but with tentacle hair. I'm unsure why your friend draws me like that. The artist one I mean.

Garth: Oh.

I think she was talking about my friend @shootysturs / @poyo-shooty-art He draws great art.

Meggy: But you did see me without my hat at the Valentine Masquerade Ball.

Garth: ... That was you?

Meggy: Yeah. You act like you didn't know it was. I know it was you. Even if you were wearing a donkey mask.

Garth: [Blushes]

Meggy: You didn't know didn't you.

Garth:...

Meggy: [gets a notification on 1nk Phone] I got to go Dad broke the stairs.

Garth: What?

Meggy: Dad partied too hard. And he thought he could Jump backwards and through walls. I sent you a screenshot of the video.

Art also drawn by @buddy-boi-420

it's Mario before attempting to backwards long jump. Miyamoto is recording on his phone.

Garth: Dang.

Meggy: You do not want to see the aftermath. I'll tell you about it later though. See ya

...

I think I'm in love with my best friend.

[rosalind-hawkins]

Euroshipping Musings

Footnotes are below the cut because my parentheses were starting to look ridiculous.

I have this headcanon/recurring trope in my fics(1) of Ryou being Mokuba's not-babysitter. I've figured out where this came from. When Mokuba gets his soul back in Pegasus' castle, Ryou is the one holding him when he wakes up, and I guess I always imagined our Baby Kaiba imprints on Ryou like a duckling. Kaiba doesn't want his brother spending so much time alone only with KC employees or household staff, but Mokuba's a little old for a babysitter(2). Kids his own age aren't too much of an option for one reason or other(3) and most of the dweeb patrol are insufferable to Kaiba, but Ryou is one that's never once tried to lecture him or expressly criticized him, so Kaiba picks him as a companion/caretaker for Mokuba. Ryou thinks of it as being a nanny, but would never use that word around either Kaiba.

Ryou starts spending a lot of time at the Kaiba Mansion, and since he reports directly to Kaiba, he gets a peek at his more personal side, and all of his bad habits: insomnia, caffeine addiction, workaholism. He starts out by doing little things for him, like sneakily switching out his coffee for decaf in the evenings. The more comfortable he gets with Kaiba (who acts unexpectedly chill when he's not in a combative situation and feeling threatened), and this comfort results in him actually scolding Kaiba for his bad habits, trying to correct them and save him from himself. In his mind, he's taking care of both Kaibas now.

Seto starts to really take notice of Ryou a little while after this starts, and he tries asking him why Ryou is doing these thigs for him. It's not part of his job. He gets to the heart of the issue and asks why Ryou is acting like he cares, and Ryou says it's because he does care. Seto just asks why(4) and Ryou struggles to explain. Confessions for these two are never easy or smooth, it takes a little awkwardness and discomfort to be completely honest about feelings and say what they're really trying to say. Kaiba doesn't necessarily reciprocate right away, not externally, but they do get together because Ryou is a calming, caring presence in a home that didn't see a lot of that for a long time, and because Seto realizes how nice it can be to let yourself be cared for, and that he'd miss Ryou if he ever left.

It's not a fiery passionate love (though they do grow into the passionate stuff) but it starts out as something very domestic, very simple. It's two hurt people recognizing each other and approaching with caution and care, and finding a way to fit into each other's lives. Learning how to lean on each other, just a little bit at a time, until one day they wake up and realize they can't imagine a life without the other person there. It's Seto realizing how cold his life would be without giving Ryou's bedhead a goodbye kiss in the morning and the scent of his tea in his office and a lint-roller full of long white hairs dusted off his suits sitting on the bathroom counter. It's Ryou realizing that he's found a new family for himself and how dear it is to him, and how he hopes this never ends because he found a place where he feels safe and loved and doesn't know if he could do this all over again.

My very first Euroshipping story(5) was based around this whole idea of Ryou babysitting Mokuba, and it just snuck its way into my other stories too.

I even put this trope in Rock Bottom where Ryou is Mokuba's babysitter, though the circumstances there are wildly different

or not, I play with the age difference for the Kaibros sometimes

either Mokuba is homeschooled, or he's just as suspicious of friendship as his older brother is, or he just gets into fights at school anytime people talk shit about his big bro (that's another trope of mine), so true friends are a little hard to come by

I swear I have three different scenes for two different fics (one is a deleted scene) of someone confessing their feelings to Kaiba and him asking them why because this boy can't understand why someone would like him on a personal level. It comes with the territory of being generally bad at emotions; it also comes with the territory of every version of Kaiba I write being traumatized to some degree, but that's gonna get its own post.

That fic is only posted on FFN, where all my oldest stuff is. I didn't think it was good enough to cross-post to AO3.

[lumine-no-hikari]

Dear Sephiroth: (a letter to a fictional character, because why not) #147

Today had a lot of stuff in it. I'm not even sure where to begin!! There were kites, and lilacs, and therapy, and good scenery, and...!!! And...!!! Oh!!! 😄🥰

Well. It's usually best to begin at the beginning, right? So… I went to therapy and told them all about the thing I did on Mother's Day. I told them all the context leading up to it, and all the similar struggles I've had in the past and about how I've been trying extra hard the last week to resist giving in to those struggles, and… my body was likely craving the endorphins that I wasn't getting because I wasn't doing that thing, and so it manifested in other ways. Whoops.

So the solution for the next time I struggle is not to resist giving in per se, but rather to be mindful and present and aware while it's happening, and to take note of my feelings and general state of being so that I can approach it from a place of curiosity instead of a place of shame. Apparently, when a person does that, it breaks the shame cycle, which then allows a person to stop doing the compulsive behavior. Suppose it's worth giving it a try!!

…It's really not lost on me how lucky I am to have a therapist who actually GETS me and doesn't judge me. It's not often that I get to go somewhere and speak, and feel like the other person actually understands me. Time with them is invariably refreshing, and they always have some useful skill or tool for me to practice on my own, until next session.

Most importantly, they're definitely not afraid to challenge my more... ah… self-effacing thought processes. I recall a few sessions ago, when I was confused about why someone important to me hangs out with me, on the basis that I am not anything special, and surely he must have better things to do than to hang out with some weird dyspraxic noodley dweeb like me. And they countered with, "But aren't all humans special and wonderful in their own way? And doesn't it mean that you're special and wonderful, too?" and… I couldn't logically refute the notion, because I am a human, and yes I do believe very strongly that all humans make the world brighter and beautiful in the way that only they know how to do. And they gave me this grin, because they knew they had me, and all I could do was laugh at my own silliness and try to change my perspective. I work every day on viewing myself with more compassionate eyes, one step at a time.

In any case, the one gentleman with the hair that looked like a dandelion poof was there today afterwards, and he stopped to chat! I wondered if he had ever tried bubble tea, and he has not, so we have exchanged contact information, and maybe we'll go get bubble tea someday!! He has been alive for 70 years, and has had many experiences and has his own areas of expertise, and I'm excited to find out what I might be able to learn if I sit with him and listen for a while! It'll be good!!

Then I got home and spent a few hours plucking more lilac blossoms from the greens; I got like 7 or 8 cups of blossoms, and there are still so many more leftover!

Once they're plucked, you have to steep them in hot water until it becomes fragrant. I like to put them on very low heat with a lid until it makes the house smell good!

(I still have so many lilacs leftover, oh my goodness!)

But this can take a while, and it was breezy, so J and I went out to try to fly the kites I got; I wanna practice before I modify that eagle kite; I REALLY don't want it to crash once it's ready. J and I took all sorts of pictures for you!

We spent a long time just being silly, trying to get the kites in the air:

(Why, yes, that is you in my pocket, with a little bow in your hair!)

...You might guess that after all that, I ended up falling down, dizzy and giggling, ahahaha~!

But then, after a while, we managed to get the hang of it; check it out!

J worked hard to get the eagle kite up. My circumstance was a little unusual in that mine was suddenly lifted high up into the sky with little to no effort on my part, and it stayed up for a very long time; I was surprised, and it was kinda weird, hahaha!

Br came to see us in this place, too!! By then, I was pretty tired though, so we just lied down in the grass and talked about various things while the wind played with our hair; it was wonderful!

...I also took some pictures of the scenery, just because I know you like nature...

...Oh, and I managed to snag a picture of a bird-of-prey that was actually pretty good this time!

Oh, oh, oh, and!!! Along the way, while we were flying the kites, I found three great big black feathers on the ground!! Aren't they so pretty?

Here's a better picture of them after I carefully washed them and smoothed them out. My hand is there for scale; they're HUGE!

They're beautiful and I love them!!! These went right into my feather box!!!! I was so happy!!! 😄🥰😁

...I hope you can see, with these pictures, that shiny black feathers like yours are beautiful and lovely, too. White ones are also nice. Feathers are just pretty; it doesn't matter what color they are. Yours, too, are good. Please try hard not to be ashamed of them, okay? Humans come in all shapes and sizes and numbers of limbs, and it's wonderful that you get to have a limb that's warm and soft and strong enough to let you fly. It's different, but that doesn't make it less. I hope you'll work on viewing yourself with more compassionate eyes; you can do it - just take it one step at a time.

Anyway, when we got home, the stewed lilac blossoms smelled SO GOOD:

I gotta strain this with a cheesecloth tomorrow and squish out all the water I can from the petals. After that, it'll be time to heat it up again and add sugar!! The result will be a syrup that tastes exactly the way lilacs smell!! I can't wait to put it in mason jars and give it to my friends!!!

...Sephiroth. I wish you were here. I wish you could fly the kites with us. I wish you could spin around and get dizzy and fall down laughing with us. I wish you could lie down in the soft grass and talk about various things with us. I wish you could look up at the sky, smell the scent of the leaves in the air, and enjoy the breeze as it ruffles your lovely hair. I wish you could try some of my lilac syrup in some freshly brewed green tea. I wish you can come here and see that you could be welcomed and wanted and happy. I wish you can see that you could belong. I wish for so many good and wholesome things.

...Please stay safe out there so that someday you can have these things, okay? Even if it's not at my house, you can have them somewhere if you're willing to heal enough to create these circumstances.

I love you. I'll write again soon.

Your friend, Lumine

[writing-for-the-gays]

it can be more vague !!! I'm completely fine with that :) if you wanted to put some interests for the reader you could do art and illustration stuff !! something like the reader drawing Evan and stuff they do in their relationship if that's okay !!

OHOHOHO I HAVE IDEAS

SFW and fluffy! Two nerds in love bc I know Evan is a dweeb nerd. Writers block was up my ass on this one ✊😔

Deer coded Evan supremacy

Snail of seperation so you know where the fic starts

- you two were Internet friends for a long while before you ever met in person.

- you chatted casually on postal forums when the first game started picking up fans, and realized you were on a few other forums too, mainly music related ones, and slowly became friends.

- You began to message regularly on Myspace. Mostly about gaming and piracy.

- you two meet in person before the end of the year in 2008, at a new Year's Eve party both of you had been invited to.

-You kiss at that same party, right as the clock struck midnight.

- You both were really drunk, mind you, and honestly it was nothing more than a peck, but to the both of you it was crazy intense.

-you two go quite a bit after that, not messaging each other. Not for any particular reason (Evans overwhelming fear of fucking it up)

-but when you start talking again it's like nothing happened and you're stuck in a weird limbo of maybe being together for a bit.

- then he confesses.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Your fingers tap lightly on the table, staring out the window into the drizzling rain outside makes you wonder if Evan is ever going to show up.

It's been 15 minutes since the meet up time and for a normally punctual person this was odd. It made you worried; but everything did recently, no shocker.

Taking a sip of the sweet drink you'd ordered didn't help calm your nerves, you weren't sure if it was because you didn't know what he wanted to talk about (you know very, very, well what he wants to talk about) or because he wasn't here yet but you didn't want to be seen, sinking into the plush chair.

The 'ding' of the coffee shop door opening makes you perk right back up, and lo and behold there he is, stoic and strong to like a stag in the forest, the light catches his eyes and they go from an earthy brown to a honey gold.

He squints against the sun, and scans the room looking for you, when he spots you, a hand goes up and he waves limply; in what feels like slow motion he moves over to your table and sits down.

You sit with him for a moment, an uncomfortable tension filling the space between the two of you. You inhale softly through your nose before begging to talk.

"Look I'm sorry about the new years party-"

"I'm sorry that I kissed you at the-"

Just at the same time he did. It makes you jump a bit and he blushes bright red. "ah go ahead-." He says quietly, gesturing at you.

"I'm sorry about the party... I'm... Ugh I'm sure you can guess I was drunk... I...." You stumble for what to say for A moment before Evan speaks suddenly

"I think I want to explore whatever... This is." He says, tapping a knuckle on the wooden top of the table. "It's... Understandable if you don't and I'm not going to force you into anything but I enjoyed that night, and if you're willing I'd like to-"

You damn near throw yourself onto him in a hug "Fuck- i was so worried i fucked it up-" you muttered softly into the crook of his neck, letting out a soft and crackly chuckle, his arms come up and wrap around you.

You look up from your spot in his neck and he smiles. You gently peck his lips and pull away.

"we've gotta order something doe eyes, I don't know if they'd appreciate us coming in here just to kiss and make up."

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

- you two date casually starting from then, most people don't know you're in a relationship for about 4 months until you finally feel comfortable being out with him.

- homophobia is still pretty strong around this time but you and Evan have a conversation about what to do in situations like that (shooting them execution style is not a solution he is ok with, you've learned.)

- you both go pretty hard in the arts, he's more of a photography guy though, you spend time watching him from the porch as he marches around the tree line for stuff to picture, and sketching him when you think hes not looking.

- you have a small studio that you share with him from time to time, he mostly uses it to print digital photos because you have a fancy printer ✊😔. (You're only like 98% sure it's not the reason he's dating you)

- you 🤝 Ev = being wildly unprepared for habit

- you and habit are... On neutral terms. He's somehow gained a small amount of respect for you so he leaves you alone. You're more there to support Evan, while occasionally handling habit like a spider in a pacifist household (putting him outside. In the woods.) and evan eventually comes back fine, so you're not too worried.

- there's been a few times where you've found a deer carcass or two but. Yeah you can handle that.

- you think everything's ok? Evan seems at least content and you are perfectly happy.

-you and Evan do get married at some point, it's a low-key ceremony and reception, it would've been an elopement if you had any say, but Evan wanted the experience and honestly it was kind of nice.

- you full force throw a slice of cake in his face though, that was what you two wanted. (You break his nose but it's fine y'all laugh it off)

[nullshocked]

Six Song Soundtrack Playlist

Tagged by @gravedigg

Doing this for Julien as requested uwu I'll go in depth below the cut.

1. An event that defines your character's past

Undress me, the lights low. I’m dying in your bedroom Your passion, your eyes close and I've been so low I saw your skin from the back and it freed me I saw your face in the soul…

2. How your character sees themselves

Hard headed Difficult person I’m sought after I guess Couldn’t care less Its Been nice Wasting All your time

3. How others view them

You're desperate in finding something else to please you You've been searching your whole life Something to mute, change, or just distract you Something to put inside you to give the illusion of life Cause you've always been barely alive

4. Their closest relationship (platonic or romantic)

I don't want to hold back I don't want to slip down I don't want to think back to the one thing that I know I should have done I don't want to doubt you Know everything about you I don't want to sit across the table from you wishing I could run

5. A major fight scene

I wish I had a reason My flaws are open season For this, I gave up trying One good turn deserves my dying

6. End credits song

Suffering that I see all around It's enough to keep me crashing down 'Til I, I'm wrecked and wreathing from these falls Still I believe there's a wood in the wire And I believe there's a way through the fire And I, believe, there's a joy that blooms beyond these walls

1. An event that defines your character's past

There's a lot of different ones, but the one that really kind of changed the direction of his life was the first time he ever did drugs and the series of events that followed. It led directly to his addiction, the manipulation, to being used the way he was, and hindsight has given him a lot of time to stew on those feelings. COOL.

2. How your character sees themselves

An object to be played with, used, and then discarded at the end of the night. A pretty doll to make people smile, and whose own feelings, desires, and needs corrupt and damage everyone around him. Yeah he's fine.

3. How others view them

A bit of a mess, desperately scrambling to appear normal and constantly failing. (Particularly how his surrogate big-sister and surrogate big-sister-in-law view him, not as pathetic exactly but like... yeagh,,,,)

4. Their closest relationship (platonic or romantic)

Okay so first of all. I can just vividly picture Julien singing along to this on the radio and holding Angel's hands and doing a little dance with it. Because he's a fucking dweeb. (Angel thinks it's endearing.) But also because like.... there's this sentiment of not wanting to worry about other stuff and just love someone with his whole heart. And he does. :)

5. A major fight scene

So there was a time where he was fighting for his life, but it didn't really involve an actual fight. You can extrapolate from there.

6. End credits song

Hope in seemingly hopeless times, and grasping onto little glimmers of happiness wherever you can find them. It's an important theme to Julien's story, I think.

I'll tag @patchworkgargoyle, @thetalee and @durgeteriormotives (Unless y'all have already done it. Or just don't want to. Live your best life.)