#i am half-delirious rn i am not reading all that back to see if it makes sense

[castysandthedeep]

It was 100% worth my while! Love the age gap (considered asking about it but decided not to, for some reason?), really love the switch awakening, and I always go bonkers for Minecraft realism. I guess I’m curious how decked out works as a theme for the story, like, what all does it impact? Or is it more of a metaphysical theme rather than something actively going on with the characters?

I DID NOT SEE THIS FOR SIX DAYS. oops. yeah so i wrote this au back in the peak of my decked out hyperfixation, and the plot ended up heavily revolving around it because it was basically all that was on my mind at the time. i was thinking about how in certain fields of academia, professors aren't just teaching, they're also working on their passion research projects as long as they can get funding/investors. this would ABSOLUTELY hold true for tango, who does enjoy teaching, but is really in it for the resources and the opportunity the university offers him to build a giant redstone-powered dungeon game.

decked out is very much still under construction when jimmy meets tango, and it's generally well-known among the student body, especially redstone majors. tango makes it a collaborative project, inviting building majors to design interiors for certain rooms, and inviting student test runners to help him test the game. jimmy ends up being one of those test runners, and it gets him a lot of one-on-one time with tango. it's also a convenient excuse to be hanging around him all the time. and yes, they DO fuck in that dungeon.

you didn't ask about this part but i wanted to talk a little about some other professors and different majors in this au. i don't go super in-depth with anyone but jimmy and tango, but the characters that are also professors in this au are impulse, who also teaches redstone, doc, who probably teaches some redstone classes and some other less-common high-concept game-breaking nonsense shit, cleo, who teaches armor stands/sculpting, and bdubs, who teaches building. etho is NOT a professor but he's a legend in the field of redstone and all the other professors and redstone majors are obsessed with him. he's probably done some very laid-back guest lectures, and he's always hanging around the campus server because that's where decked out (and bdubs) is. i just can't see boat boys getting together in this au. i think the taboo element with jimmy and tango is lost if everyone else is regularly fucking people with significant age gaps.

the characters i have right now as students are jimmy, grian, joel, mumbo, scar, pearl, scott, lizzie, and i don't think i've mentioned gem in the fic, but of course she'd be in the student category as well. scar is a grad student. mayyyybe martyn would be in grad student category as well? no one really has a specified age but jimmy and his friends are stated to be close to graduating, so probably 20-22.

[sorencd]

a scenario with neil where another character (maybe knox?) is flirting with you or maybe tells the poets that he wants to ask you out and neil gets jealous would be so amazing if you’re willing to write it!

im so sorry if this comes off as messy or smth i just woke up from this surreal, felt-like-a-thousand-years nap and i am so disoriented rn but i needed to write this fic 😝😝also the entire time i read this with alex's voice in mind because i finished watching a clockwork orange this morning and i couldn’t get his british narrative voice out of my head. that's all, i hope u enjoy this, my brothers.

"alright, take a knee lads. i've got news."

knox proclaimed as he stood up, his voice gently resounding along the dimly light cave. the hood he wore accentuated the somewhat ominous, shakesperean over-dramatic tone he spoke in. the other poets and you diverted their attention from the snack-filled coat on the ground to him, curiously anticipating what their fellow poet was about to say.

“i’ve been thinking, won’t it be a brilliant idea to ask out the lovely (y/n)?”

his leather covered feet clicked against the damp ground, his face glimmering with smugness as he looked at you. half-expecting you and the poets to agree to his question. you rolled your eyes, disregarding his usual foolish antics and resumed your secluded talk with todd about cooking.

“i think that’s a no from (y/n), knox.”

charlie’s exclaimed while his loud cackle reverberated through the cave as soon as he saw the scrunched-up nose you had on your face. a clear sign you didn’t like what knox said.

“it never hurts to try, no?”

“it might, neil here looks like he’s got his knickers in a twist.”

everyone’s attention quickly focused on neil, who just as fast as the other poets’ heads turn removed the grouchy look on his face before anyone could see how much the situation was affecting him.

“what?”

“no need to grip your pants that tight, give it a break.” charlie teased, jabbing his elbow into neil’s side.

you didn’t want to stay any longer, you could feel the conversation lead to somewhere unpleasant and you weren’t gonna stay long enough to find out. besides, your eyes were giving up on you.

“i think i’ll be the first one to hit the hay.”

“this early?”

you dusted off any debris or dirt away from your pajamas and stood up from your spot.

“good night!”

a flurry of voices wished you good night and the sounds of you walking away echoed from within the cave, with how focused you are in staring into the abyss, you couldn’t hear the footsteps that followed yours.

“(y/n).”

you quickly whipped your head around to find neil, jogging slightly to catch up with you.

“neil?”

“the one and only.”

“are you making sure i get back to my room safe? aw you didn’t have to.”

he laughed, softly and gently, as the wind blew past the two of you.

“are you okay? you look like you were about to kill someone.”

neil rolled his eyes before sighing, pocketing both of his cold hands.

“i just didn’t like what knox said.”

“what, were you jealous?”

you teased, a small playful grin adorning your lips. you looked at him, expecting him to be sharing the same look as you.

“what if i said i was?”

he looked into your eyes, as if he was mesmerizing at each feature on your face, and as if he was awaiting your response.

“it’s getting late, neil. you’re probably a bit delirious. let’s hurry back.”

“i’m not.” he stopped dead in his tracks, leaving him a few steps behind before you stopped your own walking.

“i like you, i’ve liked you since the moment i’ve met you, (y/n).”

unlike the cold and chilly winds that kept gushing and embracing your body, your cheeks were another story. it felt like they were on fire, you could almost already hear neil calling you a tomato with how red they were.

he took a few steps forward, he took off the coat that hugged his shoulders and offered it towards you.

“would you like to go out with me?”

[fervency-if]

You're such a kind soul😩Your words are healing my parent's issues(💀'cus it's both of them). Thank you for being so welcoming. Somehow, talking to you feels like I'm talking to a famous person😂I mean, in a sense you are famous, don't know how many readers you have but in my mind is a headcanon that you're known among the IF community.

Talking about our dear Elan, I saw that you updated the game🥰I'll play it as soon as I finish this message, I'm missing him rn😔I was romancing the Psysichian in my second playthrough, but as as soon Elan's deathbed scene comes up, I drop everything to save that man lol

Then I'll keep up supporting you guys💗I follow at least 12 IF blogs, I need to learn how to type faster if I plan on messaging all of you💀but the time I spend typing isn't nearly half the time ya'll spend writing those masterpieces🤌🏼

Is really nice, isn't it? Sometimes our names can tell a little something about us.

Oh! If you were in the Physician's shoes, what would do? Dying from plague really isn't a great way to go, but not everyone had the chance to say if they wanted the Nocturnal life for themselves since there's isn't much explanation before the bloodletting.

Kinda giggling now remembering Twilight because Edward spent 24/7 thinking about the dilemma of turning Bella, he felt as if he was condemning her soul to Hell😭

That's really impressive😮Writing is a skill that can be learnt and polished along the way, but I do think some people are naturally inclined to it. Is writing something you always liked to do?

I'm glad you're having fun with it, you're the author so you enjoying your story as much as your readers do is a must🥰

😔there you go again soothing my nerves in asking things, you feed your public way too good.

Oooh I see!I was quite surprised when Roswhen turned out to be a cannibal, I thought they would thirst for blood since I choose that option and was the one to bloodlett them. Kinda nonsense on my part since the Physician did the same with Aubrey and he turned to be a Cannibal lol

Hahah, a fun find indeed! Thank you for the bonus information, getting to know your characters and ideas has been quite fun 🫂

Oh! And I'd like to know, which one of your RO's would you romance? Since you like it so much making your audience thirst over the whole cast, let's turn the tables now🥸

Aah, right back at you, so are you! (Or bounce back, as our friend Elan would have said.) It's always nice getting asks from you! 🌸 (Aw...) Haha, ah, that is fun I must say! I am not one of the 'bigger names,' so to speak, but I definitely have more readers than I thought I would have, which, of course, is beautiful to me!

I'll put the rest of the reply below a cut, since it got long:

I hope you will enjoy spending some more time with Elan and the others - I bet he would be flattered to hear that people missed him! Oh, that's the 'trouble,' or how to put it, when a game has more than one love interest that one likes, isn't it! It doesn't always go as planned, haha! I certainly don't blame you!

That really is kind of you, to take the time to do that! 🫶 Hehe, aw!

You're right about that - sometimes little secrets, even, in a sense.

Oh, that's an interesting and tricky question, regarding what I would do if I were in the Physician's shoes... I would definitely want to be less secretive than her, that much I know; I would certainly try to be as upfront as I could from the start, and I would want people to be as well-informed as possible - not that it would be easy in certain situations, since many of her patients are delirious or actively dying without any time to think such a decision through. I would have too much of a bleeding heart to simply ignore the sick and go on with my day, even though the alternative isn't exactly ideal either...

Haha! I was unaware of that, I never read those books! Aah what a dilemma the vampires have...!

Aw, thank you! Yes, I have always been interested in writing; even before I learned how to read and write at age four, apparently I sat in my bed telling stories to my stuffed animals according to my parents, so it seems as if I have always wanted to get some stories out.

I feel very happy that I'm this motivated regarding my story - I think the fact that it's an interactive novel helps me combating writer's block since there are much alternative text and different ways to go; it's harder to find myself stuck when there is more to do, hehe.

You really are sweet! 🍀

I would say it made sense for you to be surprised about that even so, since it would have made a lot of sense for them to become a vampire, so I certainly wouldn't call it nonsense!

My pleasure - I'm glad you found it fun to read! 🫶

Ooh, let's see here! That's a tricky question in a sense, who I would romance, since I love all my character the same amount, but seeing this from an outside perspective, how I would have played the game if it wasn't mine and I didn't know what I know right now, thinking about the playstyle I would pick... I think I will have to say Aubrey, because I wouldn't be able to resist playing as an absolutely unhinged and ravenous character during my first playthrough, haha, just embracing each and every craving, and since Aubrey is and does just that, they would be quite compatible, my character and him... So chances are that his romance would come quite naturally to the sort of character I would amuse myself with!

[lucelockwood]

Thank you for turning on anon! Since you’re taking requests, can I ask for ‘When they’re sick’, please? (Maybe some angst if you want to put some on there.) I wanted to read a good sickfic since I’m currently sick. I love your work, so thank you so much for taking requests! ♥︎

Anonymous said to lucelockwood:

A locklye prompt where one of them is very ill and the other is taking care of them, please? Legit all i need in life rn

Anonymous said to lucelockwood:

Can you write one for when they’re sick? :0

I went fluffy rather than angsty, mostly because the ficlet I’m currently working on could loosely fit this prompt and has more of the angst to it. Plus I’m…kinda a sucker for fluff…it’s pretty bad, friends

To all three of you gorgeous anons: I love you. Hope this satisfies!

After three days spent trying to convince Lockwood that he’ssick and needs a break, Lucy finds him sitting at his desk with his head in hishands.

Shaking her head, she walks up to his desk, completely donewith his stubbornness. “Lockwood?” she asks as she approaches, eyeing himcarefully. Even from here he does not look good.

“I’m fine, Luce,”he says, for maybe the hundredth time that week. “Just got a little dizzy isall.” He looks up at her with glassy eyes and flushed skin, his smilehalf-hearted.

Alarmed, Lucy reaches out and pushes his forelock out of theway to test his temperature. His skin is so hot that she feels the heatradiating off of him before she even presses the back of her hand to hisforehead. “Fine?” she asks incredulously. “You’ve got a real fever now,Lockwood. Like I’ve been saying for days, you’re sick.”

“Hardly,” he protests, but Lucy isn’t putting up with thisanymore. She takes him firmly by the upper arm and hoists him out of his chair.When he sways on the spot and nearly tips over, she pulls his arm around hershoulders and wraps her free arm securely around his waist. She can feel theburning heat of his skin, even through his clothes.

“Come on, Lockwood, come with me.” She tries to keep hervoice stern, expecting the same protests and excuses he’s made all week, butthey don’t come.

“Anywhere,” he says instead, at which point Lucy decidesthat he’s moved straight on to delirious. With  more worry than she’d care to admit, Lucyleads him around his desk.

“I can’t believe you let yourself get this ill,” shegrumbles, her words coming out sharper than she intends. “None of this wouldhappen if you would just listen. To. Me.”She continues in the same vein under her breath, disguising her concern withirritation as she guides Lockwood through the office and up the spiralstaircase into the kitchen where George is finishing breakfast.

“You’re deputy today,” she tells him. It’s more of a grunt,really, as Lockwood is mostly dead weight in his delirium.

“I’m deputy every day,” George counters, eyeing Lockwood witha sharp eye. “He looks like death.”

. “Our fearless leader has earned himself a fever.”

“Keep his germs away from my waffles, eh Luce?”

“You’re both fussing,” Lockwood protests. Lucy has to catchhim as he tries to pull away from her and nearly tips over in the process. “I’mokay, I promise.”

“No, you’re not,” George and Lucy say in unison, drowningout his protests.

“I’m putting him back to bed and making sure he stays put,” shetells George, moving Lockwood towards the door of the kitchen. “I’ll beupstairs if you need anything.”

“We’ve got a client meeting at eleven-thirty,” George remindsher as he turns his attention back to his breakfast.

“You can handle it, Deputy Cubbins,” Lucy calls back, tuningout his grumbling as she helps Lockwood up the second flight of stairs.

“I just need a nap,” Lockwood’s saying. “Half an hour and I’llbe sorted, Luce. No need to make George meet the client alone.”

Lucy rolls her eyes. “You’re not leaving your bed againtoday, maybe even longer. Besides, George isn’t alone. He’s got Kipps and Holly.”

“Not the most reassuring thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“Yeah, well, they’ll do a sight better than you, right now.I’m not even certain you know your own name half the time.”

Lucy pushes the door to Lockwood’s room open and leads himin. For all his protests, Lockwood does not hesitate to collapse face down ontohis bed with a groan. After a slight pause, Lucy kneels at the end of themattress and starts tugging his shoes off.

“You don’t have to do that Lucy,” Lockwood murmurs, thoughhe makes no move to stop her, or to do the thing himself, so Lucy ignores him,dropping his shoes at the foot of his bed one by one. Then, hands on her hipsand chewing on her lower lip, she tries to decide what needs to be done next.

It brings up a world of issues that she knows neither ofthem is really ready to deal with, but there is no doubt that he would be morecomfortable in his pajamas instead of a suit that’s slightly too tight. Feelinga little warm herself and ignoring it, Lucy moves around the bed to crouch infront of his face.

“Lockwood?”

He hums but doesn’t open his eyes until she brushes thatforelock away from his too-hot forehead again. His dark eyes are still asglassy as ever, but they fix on her steadily.

“Do you want to change into your pajamas?”

“Am I ever leaving this room again?” he asks, resigned.

Lucy’s lips twitch as she tries not to smile at him, herfingers still running along his hairline. “Not for the foreseeable future, no.”

Lockwood sighs heavily. “Then yes.”

When he doesn’t move, Lucy steels herself and tries again. “Lockwood.”

Another hum.

“Do you need me to help you?”

“With what again?”

Good grief. Lucy’sheart rate has probably tripled at this point, but his discomfort matters morethan her own. “Do you need my help getting into your pajamas?”

There’s a delayed moment in which she can see him processingher question, and then he’s struggling to push himself upright again. “Ah, no,no, Luce, I, uh, I’ll be just fine.”

Face easily as red as his, Lucy helps him sit up. She takesa moment to turn down the covers while he moves slowly over to the armoire,then heads straight for the door, not once looking his way. “When I come backyou’d better be in bed,” she tells him before shutting the door firmly behindher.

Lucy stands in the hall breathing deeply in an effort tocalm her rapidly beating heart—this is notthe time—before heading back to the kitchen.

Collecting a pitcher of cold water and an empty glass, Lucy detoursto the bathroom on the way back in search of a few clean washcloths. Her arms arefull by the time she makes it back to Lockwood’s door, which she knocks ontwice with the back of her least encumbered hand.

She finds him sitting in his pajamas on the edge of his bed,eyes closed, still swaying a little.

“I think you might be right about this, Luce,” he says as shesets her armload on the night stand and starts filling the cup with water. “Idon’t feel very good at all.”

“Just think how much better you’d feel if you’d listened tome three days ago and rested then,” she says, handing him the glass of waterwith firm instructions to drink.

“I know better than to ignore you,” he agrees, drinking thewater in three gulps and handing her the empty glass.

Lucy’s filling an empty bowl with water from the pitcher, soakinga washcloth and wringing it out again as she talks. “You should, by now, andyet you still do.”

“Not often. Not really.” Visibly shivering despite his hightemperature, Lockwood curls up under the covers.

He looks so miserable that Lucy lets her irritation take aback seat for a moment. She tucks the covers around him, then brings his mother’safghan from the chair in the corner and lays that over him as well. She takesthe cool washcloth and lays it across his forehead in the hopes of helpingbring his temperature down.

Lockwood catches her hand as she finishes, his fingers hoton hers. “Are you going to leave?”

“Someone needs to make sure you stay in bed,” she tells him.

Lockwood hums, tucking her hand between his cheek and thepillow so that her palm is cupping his face, his dark eyes never leaving hers. “Ilike it better when you’re here.”

Lucy feels her face heating up again. She doesn’t respondright away; she’s not completely sure of what to say.

“Everything isbetter when you’re here,” Lockwood continues, and she knows they aren’t justtalking about whether or not she’s going to keep him company while he sleeps.

She also knows he likely wouldn’t be saying any of this ifhe weren’t so feverish.

Lucy brushes her thumb along his cheekbone. “I’ll stay,” shepromises softly, thinking of months and years and possibly a whole lifetimespent together. “But you do have to let me go get that chair first,” she addswhen she moves to pull away and his fingers tighten on hers.

He lets her go, and watches as she rearranges his furnitureso that the chair sits right next to the bed and the nightstand with the wateris set on the other side of the chair so she can reach it easily. Then withanother promise to come right back, Lucy runs up to her room and grabs an extrablanket and her sketchbook—she’ll need something to do to pass the time otherthan watch Lockwood sleep.

His eyes are closed when she settles herself at last in thechair next to his bed, the extra blanket draped over her knees and sketchbookin her lap, but that doesn’t stop him from immediately reaching for her hand,or from pulling it closer to him, so close that she can feel his breath fanningacross her fingers.

“So much better with you here,” he says again, his voice growingdistant.

Lucy smiles and squeezes his hand. “I’m not going anywhere.”