#i am torn between two events today.

[thisghosts-obsessions-again]

Trying to finish VFV today before 2025 challenge!!

[buttercuparry]

Urgent!! Fundraiser extremely low in donations.

I want to talk to you today about Maram Ashour ( @ashourmohammed ). She is Amal Ashour’s sister-in-law and has been in dire need of our help for a month now. I realised today how important it is to try and make everyday the best for a campaign, because at any moment, a family can be cut off from the outside world. It can be because they lost a phone, or it was damaged. Maram wanted to talk to you all so bad and share her story, but her phone screen was burned and she couldn't campaign as much as she wanted to. So now that she has tried her best to reach out again, please just give her 5 minutes of your time. 

Maram is only 26 years old and she has been forced to go through unimaginable pain for more than a year now. 

She has two very young kids: Amir and Hoor. Hoor is only 10 months old, which means she was born during the genocide. Maram had to go through unimaginable pain during her pregnancy. 

I want to remind you that this genocide is a feminist issue, too. Expecting mothers were forced to give birth in awful and unhygienic conditions, where they risked death. Women lacked both food and medicine and newborn babies couldn't  breastfeed properly  because their mothers were malnourished.

Maram was heavily pregnant when she was displaced from North Gaza. Currently her family  is living in a torn tent in Nuseirat, which we know is prone to IOF attacks. Being very close to the Netzarim corridor, there are frequent explosions and the family is under constant threat of displacement. 

With the temperature dropping rapidly, Maram is scared for her children. She might need to replace the tent and she will definitely need to buy blankets. Your contribution will also help Maram provide little Hoor with milk and diapers. Amir, who is only 3 years of age, needs new clothes for winter. 

I know that things have been difficult lately but still we should not give up on the Palestinian cause or blame Gazans for the rise of fascist sentiments in the Imperial core. Gaza is being bombed continuously and mothers are still clutching at their kids in fear. Not many of us here have known this evil, and so as privileged citizens of this world ( privileged to not face an escalating genocide), it is our duty to continue to stand in solidarity.  So please donate, even if it is a little. It might make a difference between life and death for Maram. 

Only £2,155 raised currently. Please let us get to £3,000 as soon as possible. 

Vetted by association through @amalashuor

Tagging for reach 🙏🏽 very low in funds

@appsa @timetravellingkitty @schoolhater 

@heydreamchild @malcriada @jezior0 @neptunerings

 @brokenbackmountain @khanger @sylvianritual

 @imjustheretotrytohelp @sunflowersmoths @maaszeltov @heliopixels @zigcarnivorous 

@armysurplus @executing @venus-is-in-bloom @lesbianmaxevans 

@trans-to-the-misogyny @furiousfinnstan @paparoach 

@celadonwanderer @girlinafairytale @2tbssd 

@forgetfulrecord @lesbianmaxevans @fading-event-608 @repulsion @noncathartic 

@gusherbug @autisticmudkip @erectiledisfigurement @tiredguyswag @briarhips 

@three-croissants @fly-sky-high-09  @maoistyuri @noble-kale

@aflamethatneverdies @anyonghalimaw @thedigitalbard @lesbincineroar @jumpstyler

@thatsonehellofabird @a-shade-of-blue @ramshackledtrickster @c-u-c-koo-4-40k @galactic-mermaid

[ssentimentals]

hi! pretty please can i ask for a hurt prompt (1) with dokyeom? 🥹🥹 idk if it's relevant but i'd like to see him being busy and stuff and starts to forget about his s/o (completely pretty irrelevant) but you could also do it on your own way, either way i'd be grateful! thank you so much <3

hi hi my pretty! thank you for requesting! 💜 hopefully you will like it!

hurt prompt: 'every time i see you, i feel more alone.'

in all honesty, you are surprised that this haven't happened earlier. your patience was wearing thin for almost two months and today it finally snapped. seokmin looks as angry as you do, maybe even angrier and isn't that funny? 'i am working,' he seethes, tone going high like never before. 'so sorry that i can't text you every single minute!'

you laugh hysterically, torn between wanting to run away and throw something at his face. 'have i said that i want that? no! i am saying that for the last two months you acted like i don't exist, seokmin! this is not okay!'

frustrated, your boyfriend runs his fingers through his hair, messing them up even more. 'i am trying hard for both of us,' he mutters, trembling with fury. 'i am trying for us and instead of being understanding you-'

'understanding?' you interrupt, shouting. 'have i not been understanding when you missed almost every single dinner? when you didn't show up at my events that were important for me? haven't i been supportive with sending you food, encouraging messages, fucking hell, seokkie, i-' you pause, breathing in. your voice trembles, when you spit out: 'every time i see you, i feel more alone. it's like you're not even here when you're with me. it's like- like i don't have a boyfriend, seokmin. and you promised to never make me feel alone.'

previous angry cloud above you two instantly dissapates at those words. seokmin blinks, face morphing from anger to pity and then self-loathing. he watches as you wrap your hands around yourself and his heart breaks; when he is here, how can you do this to yourself? jumping up from his place, he takes you into his arms with determination and gentleness, hugging you tight as you break down into heartbreaking sobs. 'i'm sorry,' he whispers, caressing your back. 'i didn't- i just didn't notice. it wasn't intentional, i promise. i just wanted to get more bonuses before christmas, wanted to spoil you this year and got so into the work that i forgot about anything else. i'm sorry baby, i'm so sorry.'

you forgive him, of course. your heart can't stay mad at seokmin for longer than five seconds; it seems like your heart can function normally when you and seokmin are alright. you hug him back, relishing the warmth and familiar scent, needing this all those two months. 'i just want you,' you mutter into his shoulder. 'i don't care for bonuses.'

'oh, love,' seokmin kisses top of your head, sighing. he feels so foolish now and his mind can't comprehend how did he manage to be so blind. 'you've already got me.'

'you owe me two months of being clingy,' you say, trying to lighten the mood. 'and affectionate. and i want a lot of chocolate.'

seokmin chuckles, thanking god that he sent you his way. 'sure, baby. anything you want. anything.'

a/n: request your own here! <3 - nini

[insomniakisses]

Her Little Stark

Character: Cersei Lannister (GOT)

Requested?: Yes

Warnings/Notes: 18+ Content, MINORS DNI, Omegaverse universe, slightly au timeline / events. Tommen and Joffrey r both killed before the wedding, Tywin is the hand of queen Cersei.

You knew it was wrong. Oh how wrong and corrupt it was, the thoughts that flooded your mind about her. Cersei Lannister the queen herself. Your captor, a woman belonging to the family that had torn yours apart and killed multiple of the people you loves. And yet you cant help the throbbing between your legs whenever you see her.

You blamed her, for the way she released her scent around you or for how she always seemed to press her bulge into you as she walked past. The lingering looks and the way shed lean to whisper ungodly vulgar things into your ear about everything she wanted to do with you. It was all too much and had you head over heels for her, weather it was love or lust you weren't sure. 

Today like no other you awoke to her shooing out your hand maiden demanding that she tend to your sister instead. Shooting her a look she left without complaint, leaving you staring up at your queen she smiles and reaches her hand out indication for you to take it.

She leads you to the next room, where a the tub is filled with bot water and there's an array of expensive soaps on a table beside it. You turn to her about to protest but she's already ridding you of your night dress, she chuckles almost meanly when you gasp at her palming your ass. Pushing her off and sinking into the tub as a way to hide your naked form from her. 

She pays no mind however, sauntering over and sinking to the floor by the tub grabbing the soup she likes the scent of best before dipping it into the tub by you leg. Now wet she glides it across your skin, smiling to herself when you relax and allow her access to your body. 

Your calmness fades when you here a quiet “oops” next to your ear, acting as if she had accidentally dropped the bar of soap that had landed by your leg. She acts as if she is about to reach it and you relax slightly, hoping you had simply misjudged her actions letting your eyes close again when you feel her bring her hand back up. 

Its only when you feel her fingers rub at your clit that you jolt, attempting to push her off but she simply shushes you, kissing at your neck as her other hand moves to your breasts squeezing and tugging at them as she wishes. 

“Its alright my little wolf,” kissing along your neck she moves to nip at your back and shoulders making sure all the marks can be coverable as she relishes in your soft gasps and whines your resolve disappearing as you let her have her way with you. Feeling her push two fingers into you, you cant help lean further into her hold allowing her mouth more area to kiss and mark. 

“Quiet now, wouldn't want anyone to hear you sinful little mouth would you, hmm?” she hums against your neck as you plea for your release, which she gladly gives you capturing your lips with her own to silence your moans. 

She smiles at your wide eyes when she pulls away, simply continuing to bathe you as if she hadn’t jus touched you in such a sinful way. She helps you dry off and dress, placing soft kisses along your bare skin as she does so, reminding you of how fond she is of her good little wolf and how soon she will have you as her little wife all hers to ruin and fill with her lion cubs. 

Now dressed, you feel her arms wrap around you that sweet soft Cersei only you get to see resting against you. “You okay?” she chuckles bitterly the anger returning “I keep you captive here, Your family slaughtered by my own, Your sister tortured by my late son her previously betrothed and both of you needlessly reminded of your own fathers death by my father yet you ask me if I am okay?” She turns you to face her before sinking to her knees in front of you, face resting against your stomach. “Gods I don't deserve you”

Your silent then, hand running through her hair as she holds you to her burying her face deeper into your dress. “I'm sorry I shouldn't have brought it up-” you cut her off by kneeling next to her placing a soft kiss to her own lips. “Its okay” you whisper softly wiping away her tears when you here a knock at the door and are both notified of the council meeting Cersei is to attend immediately. 

That night you return to your champers to find a note from Cersei, a request that you should go to her chambers tonight. You knew the connotations if you where to accept she means to bed you, clearly having settled the arrangement that you are to marry her and now needing to begin making heirs for her throne having non as it stands now. 

You make quick work of undressing, wrapping one of your cloaks around your bare form and heading to her champers. When you enter you are greeted with the sight of her naked form laying atop the grand rug by her bed. Her hand stroking her cock gently, hand speeding up once she realises your there.

You body moves of its own accord and you find yourself kneeling against her, watching her hand glide up and down before she speaks, “Go on. Suck.”

Your cheeks flush as you move to take the tip into you mouth sucking gently and moaning at the salty taste of her pre-cum. Moving her hand to your hair she pushes you further down, her cock being forced down your throat as she groans. She holds you there while you gag, until you slap at her thigh to let go. 

She growls at you, pulling you on top of her as her hand wraps around your throat. You whine in protest when you feel her tip brush against your hole almost slipping in, not wanting your first time to be forceful. As if sensing this she releases your neck, moving her hands to your thighs thumbs brushing the skin gently.

“Now, are you going to behave or act like a spoilt slut?” she taunts moving you against her cock moaning at your wetness coating her cock. “Behave” you whimper and she smirks, nodding in approval as she pulls you into a kiss as she pushes into you softly. 

She swallows your moans, guiding you along her cock in a soft pace allowing you to get used to her cock. You surprise her when you grab her hands, pinning her hands above her head and moving to kiss at her neck. You pick up the speed of your hips, bouncing on her cock fast and hard. 

A soft gasp escapes her when your lips reach her jaw, cock twitching rapidly and a gush of cum filling landing on your ass when u pull off of her jus before she cums. She groans and thrashes under you in protest as you smirk, “Think i found your weakness baby” you coo in faux sympathy.

Reaching behind you you sink back onto her cock, the tip red and throbbing from her ruined orgasm she groans moving to push you off but you simply grab her face pulling her into a kiss as you you ride her.

You smirk against her lips when she begins cumming again, going to pull off of her once more but she growls deep. Flipping you into a mating press with ease, satisfied smirk on her face as you try and fail to regain control.

“Now you said you would behave, and while i would love to let you have your fun i can’t very well put a baby in you when you wont take my cum” she nips your neck then, placing a kiss on it before biting there again deeper, mate marking you as hers.

She uses this as a distraction to fuck you properly, hard fast thrusts as she nears her next orgasm keeping this pace until her cock shoots hot cum deep into you. She pushes her knot in then her tip kissing your cervix as it shoots her load. Your walls milking her as your orgasm takes over once more.

Your both breathing heavily when she rolls onto her back bringing u with her so your laying on her front her arm rubbing your back. Kissing her neck you smile against her calling her your soft golden lion feeling her start rumbling in response eliciting soft purrs from you.

[wispythreads]

Some thoughts as I spent a significant portion of my day today playing Dead Plate by racheldrawsthis (which you can go find and play yourself https://racheldrawsthis.itch.io/dead-plate), and honestly it was pretty fun! Enjoyed it a lot!

I got the Table for One ending first, which is an ending most people would probably get first since the other ones require specific triggers. I'd missed some cutscenes, but talked a bunch whenever I could with the restaurant owner/head chef, Vince. Even though I knew that this was a horror game and that Vince was probably up to something incredibly shady in the background (i.e. the usual the food = human remains trope that kinda follows this setting), I was hoping that there might be an ending where he and Rody go beyond a boss/employee relationship.

There was just something really endearing about that first cutscene when Rody arrives late after biking through rain, and Vince took the time to not only help dry him off but gave Rody an umbrella so that it wouldn't happen again in the future. I found their conversations really fun and silly and began to formulate a scenario in my head where this very put-together, cold and quiet no nonsense guy grew to begrudgingly but genuinely like the blunt energetic but absolute mess of person he'd happened to hire, and maybe the two of them could balance each other out a bit more (and Rody could maybe put an end/prevent Vince from treading into cannibal territory)

Having gotten all four of the endings now, I'm torn between appreciating them all and being a bit sad that the one I was hoping for didn't come to fruition, and, judging by the timeline of events going on that I somehow just completely missed the first time, really couldn't. like. ever...?

I am very much stuck contemplating just what the hell was both of their deals now. (why lemons specifically what does it mean something outside of it being a food he appreciates its existence for why was the wine bottle broken with wine spilled everywhere why doesn't he follow you in and you have to come back out with it why was her silhouette standing in the street staring up at you ghost not dead just spooky event to be unsettling what was the real purpose of the dinner party what is that one inaccessible room of the apartment what did she mean by that when they broke up why was he bouncing between jobs so much why such a violent reaction to the garbage tearing how the hell do you burn pbj what is the deal with the fridge freezer why does it seem like he initially intends to leave and then decides on such a firey response instead why not an ending where he does just leave flunked out obsession what was the point of the whole plan he just lets you leave in the first ending what does he gain from that)

The fact that it was just released today and I have no idea if anyone else will be talking about this game has me very Normal.

[beanghostprincess]

Okay but that comment about Buggyvand Shanks just.... finding a baby in a treasure chest gave me the silliest, goofiest, saddest idea ever.

On the one hand - the fates align perfectly for that. It just comes full fucking circle with them finding a baby in a chest, so similar to Shanks being found.

But Uta.

If Shanks and Buggy find a baby in a chest together, it'll absolutely go full Oh Ours Now, but Shanks would have this overhanging terror. He failed one child already. With a story so like his daughter's Uta's, will this baby be cursed too? Is it him? Is he the curse? This thread of connection, is that going to be the nail in the coffin of this fate? Is it even alright for him to be happy, to have a child, when he's already failed one so thoroughly?

It would be agony. Therefore I propose two options.

1) Uta and Buggy finding one another very early on in their respective times. Buggy somehow through a series of incredibly unfortunate events winds up on Elgia. She takes one look at Uta, goes "well, I guess I HAVE always had a soft spot for redheads. And this one is only half so it's fine probably" and offers to take her away from there. She gets the story from the child later on, in tiny increments, and it has a big reveal when Uta happens to go to her after a horrific nightmare, just to find her throwing knives at a bounty poster of Shanks. There's panic and tears and questions and suddenly two girls find themselves holding one another and finding solace in someone hurt by the same man's best intentions.

Uta joins Buggy on the down low. When she hits an age where she can feasibly, safely perform, Buggy helps her find her footing, helps facilitate opportunities, and Uta is a star, a singer, and she's so successful and happy. ((And if Buggy had a recording of an interview when Uta first started out, when a reporter asked the split haired girl who her biggest supporters are, when Uta gives a blinding smile and says "I am who I am today thanks to my mom!", well... fuck off and mind your own business))

Marineford goes down, a traumatic experience for everyone. When Buggy got arrested, Uta took a leave of absence from the spotlight, went home, and Cabaji, Mohji, Ritchie, they all were there for her as best they could be. Alvida, too, to an extent, and Uta was surprised because while Alvida was her auntie, she hadn't expected the woman to be such an anchor for her. They get word of an execution, and the crew is docked at a small island for the week for supplies, planning, etc. Uta is in a bar with Alvida, both pouring over maps and eating, when there's a commotion. Someone is setting up a projector Denden, it's chaos, and suddenly Uta can't fucking breathe because that's her mom on the screen, bruised, exhausted, pale, and in colors she'd never be caught dead in, on a battlefield.

She watches the entire streamed events of the war.

She bites back a scream when she sees Luffy, she chokes when he calls Ace his brother. She can't look away, can't miss a single second of it, she isn't there why isn't she there but she's viewing it so if watching is all she can do, then she will do it.

She is knocked breathless when she sees her dad Shanks on screen. When she sees her mom and him fight, when she sees that look in his eye and when did he lose an entire arm?? But that little piece of her that never learned to let go, it uncoiled because if nothing else, if Shanksbwas there, her mom would be safe - traumatized, maybe, hurt without a doubt. But she would live. And Luffy would live. And that's all she could ask and pray for.

Shanks offers Buggy a lift home. Uta is torn between relief and bristling fury, but she decides to be grateful. Buggy agrees, if only because the enemy you know is safer than the one you don't. Uta can read the lies on her tongue as easily as breathing.

Buggy calls them that night.

Uta is in a daze, but Buggy asks her if she's alright if Shanks drops her off. "You don't have to see him," she tells the girl softly, voice hushed, "and he doesn't know. It's on your terms, baby, I just need to know where to tell Limejuice to dock."

Uta's speaking before she can think. "Come to us, mom. I'll be fine. I just need to see you."

And she. She is alright. Part of her aches for could-have-beens, for what-ifs, but therapy has helped, and she isn't that blind little girl anymore. She's strong. She's successful. She's human and hurt and that's alright. But more than anything, she is her mother's daughter and Nothing Will Stop Her. Nothing Would Dare.

The reunion is comical. Shanks is speechless and Uta just arches a brow at him before turning to Buggy, giving a mischievous grin, and loudly calling out, "Mama, I missed you!!"

Redhaired Shanks, Emperor of the Seas, The Man Who Stopped A War With His Arrival, faints flat on his deck. Uta doesn't bother stopping her cackle.

Things are... rocky. Buggy immediately gets fussed over by the medics in their little troupe, then set on a strict order to rest and recuperate. Alvida proceeds to threaten Shanks with further dismemberment if he upsets her sister or niece. Uta flits between helping around on ship, sitting with her mom, and Thinking.

She has some things to say, after all.

Things she goes to tell late one evening about three days after the meet up. Turns out Buggy had already beat her to tearing the redhead a new one the night they all met up and Uta unflinchingly met him face to face. He hears her out. Listens to her ramble and rant and rave. And at the end, he asks if he still had the right to offer her a hug. She barrels into him, and it's different, him having one arm, but he smells the same, squeezes the same, and he feels so safe, even years of heartbreak later. She asks him why.

And he explains.

They work on it, on their relationship. And in doing so, it opens an avenue for him to work on things with Buggy as well. It's new and hard and complicated but it's worth it. It's worth every ounce of effort and then some.

Then one day, on a rare date, Buggy and Shanks happen across this little treasure chest. It's exciting, the adventure fir Shanks, the rltreasure fir Buggy, and they're both so excited, they pop the hinge, flip it open and-

Two big florid eyes blink up at them, pink eyes framed by green lashes, bright emerals wisps of hair on a tiny little head. The baby hiccups softly, a tiny little fist escaping the bundle of blanket, and Buggy is furious. "Who the fuck leaves a BABY in a treasure chest in the fucking WOODS," she's screeching. Then she freezes, worried to scare the infant, but the baby just giggles, little arm waving, and Shanks is staring the child down like a man seeing a ghost. Buggy scoops the baby, pausing at the odd feeling. She moves the blanket, and a soft little oh leaves her mouth. He's missing an arm. He's... oh. That's why.

They bring the baby back to Karai Bari, debating what to do. Buggy is adamant they at least find him a place where his needs will be met. He's too tiny for a prosthetic, not yet, but she's seen too many people be dropped for less. He's innocent. He needs someone to be there and love him and raise him right.

Uta is taken by him, his infectious laugh and curious fingers. "Why not just keep him?"

Buggy and Shanks stare at her, the Seraphs looking up from their blocks, Croc and Hawk glancing up from their books/maps. Theyvstare, a sioent question. And Uta just smiles, shrugs. "I turned out alright. Besides, dad, with mom, Father and Papa around, you're not gonna do anything monumentally stupid this go around. I think I'd like another baby sibling. What do you guys think?"

She holds the baby put towards the little seraphs. Birdie hums softly, shuffling closer. "Brother," he asks softly. Uta nods. "... I am fine with this." He then proceeds to poke the bake's little cheek, earning a giggle and grasping little hand gripping his own. He even smiles.

Angel just hums softly before looking back to the adults. "I... want to keep him." Then he grabs a green crayon, a pink crayons, and goes back to work on his family portrait. "Ours now."

How can they say no to that?

So Shanks and Buggy get their baby, Uta has a family bigger than she ever dreamed of, Crocodile and Mihawk are along for the ride- everyone's happy.

Now baby just needs a name.

This is precious to me. Perfect. The bond between Buggy and Uta always makes me so emotional,, Buggy would be such a great mom to her and Uta finally finding a home after what happened with Shanks is,,, Perfect. But then they meet again and they start a little family with the new baby and,, This is just so well-built, imo. Perfection. Also, Buggy and Shanks getting back together romantically would be great because it's not like there's anything stopping them anymore and Uta keeps saying Buggy deserves better (kind of to tease her dad, but yeah) but she actually is extremely happy about it. Not to mention Crocodile and Mihawk there in the middle of all the drama makes everything better, tbh. That family is HUGE. And both Uta and the baby are extremely protected (not that Uta needs protection because she's a menace to society, but whatever). This is extremely sweet 😭 My girl Uta deserves a family like this and a happy ending.

[nastylittleghouls]

A Hazy Shade Of Winter

Relationship(s): Aether/Aeon, Aether/Dewdrop, implied Aether/Dewdrop/Aeon

Rating: Mature (to be safe)

Words: 2501

Summary: The first snow is always special. Aether takes it upon himself to show Aeon its joys as he knows it can hit differently for quintessence ghouls.

Warnings: brief mention of blood/death related to events before they were summoned during an anxiety episode on Aeon's side. Aether is affected too but guides them both safely out of it.

Notes: I haven't written anything in years and this was supposed to be a cute little ficlet to stick to my plans to be more creative again. Somehow, it ran away with me. I don't think it turned out too bad so, after careful consideration and battling my inner demons, I decided to share it. Please excuse my rustiness and thank you for reading! <3 The title is from a song by Simon & Garfunkel. The endearment Aether uses for Aeon is Irish Gaelic and means little bear.

AO3 LINK for the so inclined (Aeon is called Phantom there because I am STILL torn on the name. e_e)

The sun is barely kissing the horizon when Aether nuzzles Aeon awake, tells him “It’s time”, in a hushed whisper close against his ear. Aeon turns to curl into him, only to end up cuddling the lukewarm fur at the edge of the nest. Rubbing his eyes, he sits up with the smallest of winces and gives himself a moment to collect himself. Lets himself bathe in the toasty warm glow of oil lamps and the rekindled fireplace.

In Dewdrop’s presence next to him, hogging the nest and snuffling in his sleep. Unashamed and unfairly beautiful. Here, right now, Aeon feels like he is too, still riding the heights of having been welcomed between these two.

Ultimately, in Aether’s gaze. Affectionate. Appreciative. Aeon feels the urge to preen, maybe show off a little. Instead, he ends up following Aether‘s thick yet nimble fingers as they button up his shirt. How can he not?

Admittedly, he’s mourning his cozy spot tucked against Aether’s bare side already. The intoxicating scent of him and Dew mingled with his own. That he could stuff his face into his armpit and just block everything else out except for them and the ache in his body from last night. Just a bit, though. Watching Aether getting ready makes up for it, despite it being horribly distracting from his own task of getting up and giving him ideas of either pulling the other ghoul back into the nest or, even better, getting on his knees for him right then and there to continue his worship.

Both options would probably wake Dew up and ruin Aether‘s valid effort to let him sleep. Tempting but not worth the aftermath. Not today. It would probably cost him nest privileges. Dew doesn’t fuck around with that. Never mind that this isn’t even his nest. He just has Aether wrapped around his claws. All nine and a half of them.

Aether is smirking by the time Aeon finally looks up at his face again, nodding encouragingly towards the end of the nest.

There are fresh clothes already waiting for him, soft and thick and neatly laid out within reach. Even his new acquisition, a long scarf, that he had watched Cumulus and Sunshine working on in the common room quite often after the tour ended, to finish it before the first frost set in. He had not known the purpose of it back then and had called it a ribbon noodle until they had explained it all to him.

Seeing it grow, stitch row after stitch row had been fascinating. Not only had it made him want to be able to do that as well. It had made him feel like it was him that was ultimately being woven tighter into the patchwork that was this pack. His home.

Another whisper pulls him out of his musings.

„C‘mon, béirín. You‘ll need clothes for this kind of fun“

And that’s more than enough for the spark to ignite a flame of excitement inside him as well. Aether has never led him astray when it comes to introducing him to new topside things but it’s the endearment that holds the most importance to him at this moment. It makes him happily drum his fingers on his thigh before he’s rudely interrupted by the end of Dew’s tail smacking him in the face. It’s light, but he sends, an apparently now semi-awake, Dew a pout as he finally gets dressed anyway. He’s just. He has been waiting, not so patiently, for Aether to finally choose one for him. Of course, Dewdrop can’t relate.

Before they leave, Aether brushes a kiss against Dew‘s temple. It earns him a sleepy smile and a scritching for his sideburns in response. Which, in turn, elicits a low purr out of Aether. As his heart skips a few beats at the sight, Aeon can‘t decide which one of them he‘d rather be.

Snickering as if they’re doing something forbidden, they sneak through the still quiet hallways of the abbey, past the other Ghouls' rooms, towards the wooden door that leads into the courtyard. Aether stops to properly loop the scarf around Aeon’s neck, affectionately chuffing at him when he goes up on his tiptoes to bump their horns together.

Aeon relishes the moment until the very second Aether pulls away.

Heavy snowfall greets them as Aether pushes the heavy door open with his shoulder. As expected, he feels Aeon stiffen. Recoiling into the safety of Aether’s side, eyes squeezed shut. Their mental connection stutters, shuts down then reopens. Aether is prepared, a large hand placed over Aeon's lower back and his heart. Fingers splayed wide and grounding over the small frame, his quintessence beckoning Aeons and entwining with it protectively again once it found its way.

He knows what this sight does to new ghouls, first and foremost to the quintessence kin.

The sunrise painting white snow in red too similar to the blood and ash of fallen kin. The Heavenly Wars. The destruction of quintessence beings. The last scene before their eyes as the void claims back what Lucifer burrowed. If unfortunate, forever lost.

Aeon’s reaction infiltrates Aether’s vessel's nervous system like electricity and drags parts of his own long-forgotten fear to the surface again, as irrational as he knows it is. Makes his healed wounds burn anew. Gives him the illusion of putrid fumes invading his nostrils before he can reign himself back in again for both of their sakes.

Own up to his responsibility as one of the pack leaders. The blind trust Aeon extends towards him.

He’s fine. Has to be. For them.

“Timor mortis conturbat me,” Aether murmurs as he moves them forward, one of his hands seeking the outline of the pendants hanging low on his chest, buried under the thick wool of his cloak. One, unarguably the most important one, holds fragments of Dew’s horns. The before and after. A reminder of the strength and protection of a mate freely given.

He taps his next words into Aeon’s mind, not wanting to disturb the quiet around them. Maybe not trusting his voice either. It could crack and give out after all. All too weak.

“I’m here. Deep Inhale, deep exhale. I want to feel your body move with it”

He takes his advice as well. On the next exhale, synced with the smaller ghoul’s, Aether’s eyes close too, and with it, he finds his voice again. Even manages to put a smile into it.

“We’re safe. This is just snow, the very one we told you about. Listen to it fall”

His hands move up, putting the lightest pressure on the outer shell of Aeon’s ears with his thumbs, rubbing the pads over the edges. The pointed tips. They flick wildly under his ministrations before they still again and the smaller ghoul relaxes against him just slightly with an audible sigh.

It‘s the reaction that he was aiming for and again he moves his hands and tips Aeon’s face up towards the rapidly falling snow, keeping his fingerpads there to stroke light circles along his jaw.

”Feel it tickle your skin. How fluffy it is. Just like Lus’ hair”

Numerous seconds tick by before Aeon’s dulled-down quintessence aura blooms back into full force.

When Aether chances a look at the smaller ghoul, his eyes are open again as he finally takes his surroundings in without his fear overshadowing his excitement. Aether could swear he was even wearing the same awed facial expression Dew had worn, that Aether must have worn too when Omega had introduced them to this wonderful earthen spiel.

He snorts slightly, amused when Aeon goes cross-eyed at the sight of their breath fogging up in front of him, swatting at it with his hand as if he’s not sure what to make of it before letting out a curious chirp and slowly extracts himself from Aether’s side. Not without a cautious glance back to reassure himself once more that he is safe. Protected. Then he visibly shakes the remaining shadows of the past off and starts sliding through the snow, twirling carefree around himself, open-mouthed trying to catch the snow on his forked tongue.

The utter confusion when it doesn‘t pile up but melts is not lost on Aether. It reminds him of the raccoon trying to wash cotton candy that he and Rain had discovered while they were both sick and stuck in bed for a week.

It would be a shame if this wouldn’t find its way to Rain too for him to appreciate, wouldn’t it? But just as he reaches into his pocket, the younger ghoul trips over his tail while chasing it, limbs flailing in all directions, and falls into a snowbank. Face first, arms and legs starfished around him.

It’s quite deep, Aether can only see a Aeon-shaped immersion with his butt sticking out in the otherwise surprisingly pristine snow. It‘s a perfect still life, he thinks. Original oil on canvas. Aether titles it, tail as old as time' since Aeon's tail, the cause of it all, is curled like a piglet’s against his body. The Church of Satan will take your bids now.

“Fuck, that’s cold”.

Aether tries not to laugh. Attempts to look up into the falling snow, bite down on his bottom lip but it’s futile. Barks of laughter burst out of him with short, helpless sounds in between.

Aeon‘s tail swishes back and forth with them, bouncing like a coil spring, which sets Aether off even harder, tearing up a little. Until a muffled, yet high-pitched “Aeth. Help” reaches his ears and he quickly makes his way over, rolling the other ghoul onto his back.

„You okay?“

Aeon looks up at him with slitted eyes as he attempts to blow at the snow stuck on his face then his upper body shoots up, grabs, and pulls Aether down right on top of himself.

The cursed element of surprise.

They roll through the snow, their laughter and the occasional curse so loud that they’re probably waking the whole abbey up. Their tails lash playfully as they try to shove each other into the white cold - Aether‘s joints will make him pay for this later- until Aether finally realizes what Aeon is trying to accomplish. He isn’t trying to win or end up on top, he’s enjoying the way Aether’s body is pressing him down into the snow again and again. The way he covers him completely. Eyes shining brighter with every turn.

Aether boops the younger ghoul’s red nose when a higher slope forces them to a stop, about to give Aeon space to breathe when their laughter tapers off into them just grinning goofily at each other. Thinks about suggesting they make their way back inside to warm up with hot chocolate and pancakes to round this experience off. The temperature is affecting his protege by now if the shivers he’s trying to hide are anything to go by.

As soon as he realizes Aether’s intention, Aeon reaches up to pull the bigger Ghoul down into a kiss. He aims for sweet but ends up desperate. Aether allows it. Indulges him for a while by letting him lead. Humms with the wet slide of their tongues, then tips his head to a sharper angle, guiding Aeon’s enthusiasm into something slow and deep.

Aeon’s breath catches mid-moan with the intensity of it.

Slender arms wind themselves around Aether's shoulders, clinging. Keeping. Legs fall open wider in invitation, hips grinding his still sensitive cock up against Aether‘s with little gasps, boldly asking for more. For anything Aether is willing to give him. He’d let him take him right there. Wants him to. The wetness and cold that is seeping more and more into his body be damned. He just wants to feel that closeness and give himself over again.

I’m here. Please see me. Feel me. Let me be yours too.

„You could warm me up with something else,“ Aeon manages in between. It‘s cheesy, accompanied by the dorkiest eyebrow wriggle Aether has seen in his long life. A salute to Swiss influence, no doubt.

„Is that so?“

It doesn’t sound like a question. The mirth in Aether's words is a stark contrast to the heated look in his eyes. He should reprimand Aeon for mind snooping and not reward him with another kiss. But how can temptation not get the best of him when …

Fate doesn’t want him to finish that thought. A snowball hits Aether square on the back of his head, and he looks up, alarmed. A little confused.

Dew is leaning against the door frame, clad in nothing but one of Aether’s hoodies and knee-high socks that reveal a sliver of creamy skin every time he switches feet to protect them somewhat from the cold floor, regarding them with a mischievous smirk.

It’s betrayed by how his eyes are still unguarded from sleep, and the love Aether knows is always there. It‘s a look to be alluring, and it works every time. Dew knows how weak Aether is for him wearing his clothes, how stunning he looks, made obvious once more by Dew quirking a knowing eyebrow at him when their eyes meet and the demanding tug at their bond.

How long has Dew been watching them?

Aether smiles too sweetly down at Aeon when he whines, traps his still twitching hips with his thigh, and affectionately ruffles his hair. Mouths 'stay still' at him while he banters with an entirely unbothered Dewdrop. Aeon doesn‘t hear much of it, just happily gets lost in the touch, a shaky breath that he can thankfully pass off as being cold, leaving him. Aether’s attention being divided once more makes Aeon already miss having it entirely to himself. It’s rare. Too rare.

“Get the fuck back inside then. I’ll warm you up alright”.

It's the first thing he consciously hears Dew say before Aether pulls himself up. His grabby hands are not fast enough to stop Aether and he can’t stop the utterly sad sound that leaves him at the realization. “Now he acts like I’d leave him all by himself, “Aether teases with a chuckle and helps Aeon to his feet as well, patting the snow from his clothes. Aeon remembers to return the favor, subtly turning his head to look for Dew. The spot he had occupied is empty, the door closed again. Probably back in Aether’s warm nest already. 

When Aether walks back towards the building, Aeon lingers, looking down at the spot they just laid in again. The indents they left are already filling back up with a fresh layer of snowflakes. 'Snow’s pretty rad', he decides as he adjusts himself in his damp pants with the heel of his hand to get at least a little bit of relief, before finally catching up with Aether, ducking under the already raised arm to let him pull him against his side. Good boys can wait.

“So, about that hot chocolate…..”

[bootswiththefur565]

Dead Ends (CreepyPasta + Marble Hornets x OC)

Is blood truly thicker than water? Which is more important? If family anything more than individual's one shares genes with?

Clara Heart is a young adult girl that wasn't dealt with the best of cards. With humble beginnings, she starts a new life with her half sister. What happens when a friend from the past comes by offering strange opportunities?

This story is fan fiction and has romantic subplot. It contains themes of violence, gore, cursing, abusive relationships, sexual harassment, and plenty disorders. More tags will be added as the story continues. All characters belong to their rightful owners, the only ones I own are as follows: Clara Heart, Soraya Heart, and Jennifer O’Riely

Heads Up:

Hey! This isn't my first time writing, but it is my very first time posting anything. Please be patient with me while I learn through trial and error. I am open to criticism, I know I'll definitely need it, just please be polite. I am also dyslexic so I know this fic won't be perfect. This story has been on my mind forever now and I have been dying to put it in writing. I am creating this story with the help and influence from my cousin and we are both happy to share it with you.

Just to clear things up, I know that both Masky and Hoodie are from Marble Hornets and weren't proxies. In this story all of the events that took place in Marble Hornets are cannon. The things that I changed was the fact that Brian was brought back to life and eventually both Masky and Hoodie were dragged and brainwashed into becoming proxies.

I will add more to this chapter if necessary, sorry for yapping so much. Enjoy the story.

Chapter 1 Once met, never forgotten..

(Last heads up for the chapter, I picked the titles for chapters off of stoneletters.com)

Somewhere in West Virginia, off of route 52 was a quaint little dinner. Although today it was seen as a shelter from an unrelenting storm. Inside, the scent in the air was sickeningly sweet. Mindless chatter filled the space and waiters and waitresses buzzed about. Just because it was a rainy day does not mean that the old Walkman Diner wasn’t busy, it was always busy. The sticky checkered floor, the red booth seats, and the old, framed band posters came straight out of the 80’s. The diner had been frozen in time despite it being the early 2000’s.

The rain pelted the windows of the diner hard and people rushed in seeking shelter from the storm. In walked three individuals who looked worse for wear. The first man, was maybe around twenty two to twenty four years old. He was average height, maybe slightly taller than average. He wore a beige jacket with brown stripes on the sleeves and a blue hood peaking out. His black jeans were torn and looked washed out. His hair was brunette and had a slight curl to it. Although it was hard to tell due to it being soaked by the rain. His eyes were dark and he had slight stubble that lined the edge of his jaw. His skin was pale, so pale he almost looked grey. He looked relatively average other than the bandage that took up most of his left cheek. There was also a scar cutting through his left eye brow. His expression was tired looking, although every now and then he would quirk his head to the side or grimace.

On his left side was a much taller man who wore a pale yellow hoodie. His hair was hot toffee color and was a little on the shorter side. His eyes were a pretty hazel, and seemed to flick back and forth between his two companions. He seemed to be a little more fit then his counterpart’s more slender figure. He had a wider frame with broader shoulders. He wore a big smile on his face that revealed a little gap between his two front teeth. As he mentioned something to his pale friend his smile grew wider. He had a skinny, pencil mustache that had a slit in it right above his cupids bow. It was hard to miss. The man was maybe in his late twenties or early thirties.

On the right of the man with a bandaged face was a slightly stockier man. Her wore minuted orange jacket with his hands in it’s pockets. Underneath he wore a black T-shirt that went well with his dark blue jeans. His jaw was clenched and his chestnut gaze narrowed at the man in the yellow hoodie. His hair was black and he had noticeable side burns on his face. Ebony hair sweeping in front of his eyes, it looked damp. Like his yellow hoodie wearing counterpart, he was also maybe late twenties or early thirties.

Quickly seeing the new individuals, a young waitress briskly approached them, picking up three menus on her way over to them. She was average height and had brunette, wavy hair that was put up in a messy ponytail. Her overgrown curtain bangs bounced as she walked, her hips moved elegantly with each step. A tired smile pulled at her lips as her honey brown eyes glazed over the rain-soaked individuals.

“Hello,” she greeted, “Welcome to The Walkman diner. Will it just be the three of you?”

“Oh uh, yes!”, the man in the yellow hoodie answered with an excited politeness.

“Alrighty, just follow me.”, the waitress kept her tone soft and sweet as she led the men to a red booth near the entrance.

The pale man sat across from his two companions. The man in the yellow hoodie shared simple pleasantries with the brunette waitress before she left to go get their drinks.

“Tim, you already had two cups of coffee before we left this morning. Are you really going to have another one?”,the man in the yellow hoodie questioned with a small chuckle, he had a subtle southern undertone.

“Don’t piss me off Brian, it’s bad enough that we’re soaked from being outside.”,Tim stated begrudgingly as he shot Brian a scowl.

“And now we’re gonna enjoy some decent breakfast.. hopefully.” Brian countered with an joking tone as he spared a glance at the dirty checkered floor.

“If -FUCK- I find a -shitWHORE- b-band aide in muh-my food again, I’m gun-gonna smash -FUCK- her fuh-face in it.”, the pale man spoke with an unamused tone as his face rapidly turned to the side. The quick movement caused his neck to let out a popping sound.

The brunette’s jerky movements and random outbursts of cursing drew in the attention of others in the diner. Waiters and waitresses side-eyed him as they passed by. People seated close to the three men would not-so-subtly glance over. This caused Tim to meet the gaze of the nosy onlookers with a glare. The dark circles around his eyes and the scowl that sat upon his face conveyed his message all the better: Mind ‘yer fucking business.

“Don’t worry Toby this diner is in a much better area, plus it’s packed in here so it must mean the food is decent.”, Brian reasoned with what seemed like an ever present smile.

“Or people are just trying to get out of the rain.”,Tim mumbled from underneath his breath.

Soon enough the brunette waitress came back with their drinks. She set the hot coffee down by Tim, a water by Brian, and a glass of orange juice by Toby. Brian was the only one to say thank you, although the rudeness of the other two individuals didn’t seem to phase her. She was indeed a seasoned waitress. Briskly, she took out a tiny note pad and a red pen, ready to take their orders. Toby, ordered scrambled eggs with two hash browns and some toast. Brian ordered a full stack of pancakes while Tim ordered a western omelette. Once again, the waitress was off to go place their orders.

“She’s gonna spit in your food.”,Brian said with a hearty laugh as he took a sip of his water.

“I’d like to see her try.”,Tim shot back as he narrowed his chestnut eyes at the black coffee set before him.

Toby simply took a quick glance at the glass of orange juice set before him before picking up the glass and drinking about half of the cup. Shakily, he set the glass down on the table with a content sigh.

“For someone so worried about finding shit in their food, you really sucked down that OJ.”,Tim stated nonchalantly as he rose his cup of coffee to his lips, ready to take a sip.

Toby was ready to clap back with a snarky response, although a tic beat him to it. His face grimaced before his head once again turned to the side in a rapid manner. Once he recovered Brian had already started talking.

“Let’s refrain from being snappy towards one other, we’re gonna have to put up with each another for at least a month.”, Brian reasoned as he glanced at Toby before his hazel eyes landed on Tim.

“Better not be for a month, Aibell better wrangle up these new proxies and do it quick.”, Tim spoke, the unamused tone in his voice was evident now more than ever.

“She will, she knows one of them doesn’t she?”, Brian inquired with a raised brow.

“Yeah, -shitWHORE- sh-she wus-was in the ps-psych ward with -Watch the road- the ol-older one.”,the pale man said as he once again involuntarily grimaced.

“Aibell said she’ll be easy to convince, the younger one she wasn’t so sure about.”,Tim said as he took another sip of his coffee.

The brunette waitress came to the window by the kitchen and tapped her foot impatiently. It was rush hour and all the extra people in the diner made the place humid and hot. Her honey brown eyes would flick from the crowed diner booths to the kitchen window every couple of seconds.

“Bobby are any of my orders ready?”,she asked with a nervous tone, her brows nit with worry.

“Cool it Clarabelle.”, a middle aged man called back with a gravelly tone.

“Clara, it’s just Clara.”,Clara chastised as her eyes narrowed in the direction of the voice. Her frustration and impatience were bubbling to a head.

“With them thick thighs you could have convinced me that you were a cow.”,he teased as he let out a deep chuckle before continuing, “If your gonna look like one, I’ll name you after one.”

Clara rolled her honey brown eyes, a small frown tugged at her lips. The brunette was used to the unprofessional comments, especially from the cook, Bobby. She did have a slightly curvy figure, but nothing he said was anything she hadn’t heard one time or another. Finally, a man with a round face appeared through the kitchen opening, placing three plates of food on the counter. He had baby blue eyes and a balding head of greasy blonde hair. His nose was fairly large, and he often had a wide smile that revealed yellow, chipped teeth. A smile that he now presented to Clara.

“Better get moving Clarabelle, them people are hungry.”, he taunted in a southern tone before disappearing back into the kitchen.

“Fuck you.”,the brunette snapped in a hushed tone as she grabbed the plates and placed them on a tray.

She walked back into the front of the diner, the humidity felt somehow worse then before. She flashed one of her fellow waitresses a quick smile as she passed by. The rain was still coming down heavy and her shift had just begun, it was going to be a long day.

[bardic-tales]

I decided to take some time out today and actually use the Leviathan method to get to work on Blood and Stardust. Bia's time in Final Fantasy 7 will be comprise of 3 fan fictions. I think it will allow for a more cohesive story to follow if it is broken up like this.

Blood and Stardust will be tagged: #wip: blood and stardust. It will be, at least, between 50 - 60k words. i am also going to set aside some time to officially work on a timeline, since writing without an outline was kind of causing me anxiety. 😂

Announcing Blood & Stardust.

Scope: Blood & Stardust follows Bianca, a celestial-demonic hybrid, as she emerges from a multiversal abyss and is drawn into the web of Shinra’s secret underground operations. The story focuses on her intense and brief bond with Sephiroth, which sparks an emotional and existential journey through her torn nature and deepening connection with him. As she grapples with her growing love for Sephiroth and the darkness that threatens to consume her, Bianca faces pivotal choices—ranging from witnessing Sephiroth’s descent into madness during the Nibelheim Incident to her own internal struggles. The multiverse serves as a vast yet intimate backdrop, emphasizing the personal turmoil Bianca experiences as she wrestles with her identity and her ultimate loyalty to Sephiroth, culminating in her abduction by Hojo, his men, and Shinra after the devastating event at Mt. Nibel. Through themes of identity, destiny, love, and darkness, the story explores Bianca’s emotional evolution and the forces shaping her path.

Conflict: The central conflict revolves around Bianca’s internal struggle as she grapples with her celestial and demonic nature, as well as her growing attachment to Sephiroth. She must balance her desire for connection with the fear of losing herself to the darkness that both she and Sephiroth embody. The battle between her two natures—angelic and demonic—intensifies as she forms an emotional bond with Sephiroth and watches his descent into madness.

A side conflict is the dark influence of Jenova, an ancient, malevolent entity manipulating events from the shadows. Jenova’s corruption seeps into the minds and souls of those around it, acting as an insidious force that fuels chaos and destruction. For Bianca, this influence tests her celestial and demonic duality, triggering her purification abilities as she fights against the encroaching darkness instinctively. This conflict represents a battle not just against an external force but against corruption’s seductive power, threatening to consume her identity and her tenuous grasp on light and hope.

The story takes place during the events of Final Fantasy VII, which occurs in the late 20th century, in a world that blends advanced technology with deep ecological and supernatural threats. The setting is grounded in a contemporary world with high-tech industries like Shinra, and scientific experimentation on a vast scale, all while planetary forces like the Lifestream and Jenova’s influence loom large.

The story unfolds over the course of seven days during the Final Fantasy VII timeline, specifically in the period leading up to the Nibelheim Incident. This brief yet intense time frame explores Bianca's arrival at the Shinra Mansion, her emotional and physical bond with Sephiroth, and the complexities of her connection to him. It culminates in the chaos of Sephiroth's descent into madness, the destruction of Nibelheim, and Bianca’s eventual capture by Shinra for experimentation, setting the stage for her role in the larger conflict to come.

The conflict manifests in both subtle internal struggles and blatant external actions. Bianca’s battle with her dual nature is more internal and subtle now, often expressed through her fear of losing control, her immense grief at losing her first husband, and her evolving feelings for Sephiroth. On the other hand, the external conflict becomes more pronounced through events like the Nibelheim Incident, where Sephiroth’s madness causes destruction, and Bianca must act to help those around her, only to be exploited by the very humanity she tried to save during the Incident. The external manifestation of Bianca’s internal conflict is also seen when she attempts to intervene in Sephiroth’s downfall, resulting in her eventual capture.

Where does it take place?

Shinra Mansion Library: A hidden underground library beneath the Shinra Mansion, filled with forbidden knowledge, experimentation notes, and mysteries about the connection between Bianca and Sephiroth. It’s here that Bianca first encounters Sephiroth and begins her emotional journey.

Nibelheim: A secluded town with a dark past, where the final, climactic events of the first book occur. The Nibelheim Incident sees Sephiroth lose his sanity, causing a destructive chain of events, including the burning of the town and the catastrophic aftermath at Mt. Nibel. Bianca’s emotional turmoil intensifies here as she confronts Sephiroth’s madness head-on.

Ethereal Nexus: A liminal space between dimensions, where Bianca briefly drifts through before arriving in the Shinra Mansion. This space represents her disconnection from her past life and her chaotic journey through multiple realities.

Summary: Bianca’s conflict is rooted in her origins and the traumatic events that have shaped her life. Born from the assault of a celestial archangel by a a demon, she is caught between two worlds, neither of which fully accepts her. The multiverse is a reflection of her inner turmoil, constantly pushing her between worlds and forcing her to confront her own identity. When she arrives at the Shinra Mnaor, she unknowingly ties her fate to Sephiroth, a man who is also struggling with the truth of his origins. Their connection is deepened by shared trauma, which draws them together in a bond that both heals and destroys them. Bianca’s internal battle becomes more urgent as she navigates her growing feelings for Sephiroth, the fear of becoming consumed by his darkness, and the powerful lure of Jenova’s influence. This collision of destinies, combined with the manipulations of Shinra and Hojo, sets in motion a chain of events that will lead to the Nibelheim Incident, a pivotal moment that will force Bianca to choose between love and her own survival.

tagging some fellow mutuals: @themaradwrites @littleshopofchaos @serenofroses @megandaisy9 @watermeezer

@nightingaleflow @prehistoric-creatures @creativechaosqueen @chickensarentcheap @glbettwrites

@seastarblue

[lavendercffin]

Wally x Fem! Reader

Quick sidenote: this is my first time writing a fanfiction publicly so it might not be the best, I plan on making a wally x reader and a gender neutral reader one eventually.

Alsooo headers are by onethousandayys

Chapter one: By tonight I'll be married

The sky couldnt have been anyone perfect, a mixture of clouds not to much but not to little the world's most perfect morning, it's as if the universe blessed today just for you. You couldn't help but appreciate how amazing everything looked today,it was your wedding day after all!

You thought about everything leading up to this day, leaving the big city, moving into the neighborhood and meeting wally at howdy's place.The first date, the second, the day wally asked you to be is girlfriend and finally, his proposal. lost in your own little world, you didn't even hear Poppy and Julie enter your room.

"Y/N ITS READDYY, IT'S HERE AND READY AND- AAAHHHHHH" Julie on her tippy toes and flapping her arms up and down and about to burst with joy,She was almost as energetic as Sally!

"Y/n dear it's ready, I hope you love it! I don't sew that often dearie." Poppy squeaked out, she slowly revealed a garment bag and slowl-

"WAITTTTT!!" Julie screamed startling both you and poppy. "Sally wanted to be here for the reveal, plus it's still early we would wait for the rest of the bridesmaids to arrive it's still dawn afterall , thought I REALLY wanna see it" Julie torn between the excitement .

You and poppy couldn't help but chuckle, but agreed to wait and decided to hang out before it was time to get ready. "I'll make breakfast! We can have a little breakfast with the others before we need to get ready" Poppy walked off to your kitchen leaving just you and Julie in the room.

"Julie thank you, for everything. I really appreciate it all, this is all just...so unreal to me I can't believe I'm gonna be married by the end of today!!!" You held Julie's hand and smiled, she jumped into your arms with the biggest grin you've ever seen on her face.

"Awww Y/N!! It's no biggie I'm just so happy for you and wally, you two are truly ment for eachother" suddenly the sound of the doorbell alerted everyone in the house of someone's arrival, Julie rushed to the door

"JULIE!!! IS IT DONE?? DID POPPY FINISH IT?!?!" You walked out of your bedroom not needing to ask who it was, the excitement told you everything. "Sally! You ran to fast I couldn't catch up in time!"

You could hear Frank's voice appearing to be slightly raspy as he tried to catch his breath(???) You chuckled and greeted them both inside.

"Breakfast is ready! I hope you all enjoy it well sit down everyone!" The group quickly took their places at the table and talked in excitement of the neighborhoods biggest event since Frank and Eddie's wedding!

You were the last to be seated and once you did you couldn't help but look around the table at your closest friends eating and you couldnt help but look at the amount of support you have around the table and knowing that isnt everyone, the massive amount of love they had for you, wedding. The massive of love they had for you.

You couldn't help but smile.

"Hellloooo?? Y/n?? You're oddly quiet, you should be the most over the moon today!!" Sally stated inbetween chews of her food,

"Ah! Sorry Sally, I am really excited I'm just. I can't believe it it's amazing! Honestly, I couldn't be happier" you smiled at her "but... I am nervous" you added as you fidgeted around in your seat after.

"It's perfectly normally Y/n but don't worry. Wally loves you and you love him, everything will go according to plan. We'll make sure of it" frank looked at how you were fidgeting and put his hand on your shoulder calming your nerves..

"Thanks, and yeah you are right! Okay guys! It's time to get ready"

Julie and Sally squealed as they rushed up from the table and dragged you off to your room to start the transition from normal day puppet to bride! Poppy and frank laughed and got up from the table and followed behind the two and the soon to be Mrs.Darling

"I wonder how the others are doing"

Annndd that's it cuz thats how much I felt like writing rn!! Anyways yeah :3 hopefully u enjoyed cuz I have no idea what I'm doing

[legobiwan]

Happy MAR10!

I was going to wait on releasing this until I had all three chapters ready to go, but I haven't posted any writing in a dog's age and I figured, "why not?"

This story might not make total sense unless you've read bisbigliando and jet whistle, as it takes place in the same universe/deals with the fallout from the same series of events. YMMV, as they say.

Despite the fact the catalyst for the events of this story is Luigi, he doesn't actually make an appearance here. Instead, I give you a couple hundred words of Bowser and Mario griping at each other, with a side of Bowser's bureaucratic headaches.

Working title: guttural flutter

(Yes, the origin of all the titles in this series is extended flute techniques. Yes, I am a massive nerd).

~~~~~~

It all started when Red showed up on his doorstep.

Showed up. Right. Like that pipsqueak ever did anything in his castle that didn’t involve crashing, banging, pounding, or general destruction of state and personal property.  

No. Red never showed up anywhere. He arrived. Today, the puny human had catapulted through two sets of iron doors and at least eight Koopatrol guards (eight soon-to-be former Koopatrol guards, that was). All of this accomplished with the grace of a cherry-colored, irate bowling ball. Coin counts and manpower reports hovered menacingly on the periphery of Bowser’s mind as Red marched down towards the center of his throne room, tossing aside bits of metal debris with a growl, kicking aside a hapless Goomba tailor caught in the plumber’s angry crossfire. 

Great. Not only would he have to go groveling to Sylmar in order to increase Red’s destruction byline in the royal budget - again - but on top of it all, he was going to have to break in a new tailor.

I haven't even done anything this time! Bowser groused. No kidnappings, no invasions, no schemes. Granted, it was still early in the day, but give a Koopa a break!

“I just had those doors replaced!” Bowser squawked, jabbing a single claw in the direction of the massacred bits of wood and metal. “And don’t think I won’t be sending you the bill by express Parakarry. With interest!”

Like that mattered to Red. He didn’t have to worry about his accountants breathing down his neck. Not that the plumber was listening, anyway, not when he was looking as steamed as a Goomba in a firebath.

“Shut it, Bowser. I don’t give a damn about your stupid doors.”

Bowser rocketed from his throne, swinging his fist above his head. “Hey, you don’t get to barge in here and tell me - “

“I need your help, you dumb reptile!”

That was enough to stop Bowser dead in his tracks, jaw frozen open like those gaudy statues over in the west corridor. Fire and ash, he hated those things. Almost as much as the growling, coiled spring of a man before him. Had Red hit his head one too many times or something? Bowser knew guy hadn’t been quite the same after the whole Chaos Heart fiasco a few months back - everyone knew that, even if they never talked about it - but he didn’t think things had gotten this bad.

Mario gave a vicious cut with his arm, slicing through empty air. “No, forget that,” he muttered, kicking at the floor, scowling. A group of wide-eyed Goombas tittered nervously off to the side, torn between cleaning up the mess of splinters and strewn metal and ogling the unstable plumber. “He’s going to help, he has to,” Mario mumbled as he turned on his heel, stabbing a pointed finger in Bowser’s direction. “You’re going to help me."

“I am?” Bowser asked, dumbly. What had gotten into Red?

“You - we - we need to break into the lab. That’s step one. And then we need to pull off a kidnapping. That’s what you do, right? You’re good at that.” Mario paused, letting out a humorless, half-huff. “Well, at least you like kidnapping, and that’s good enough for me.”

Like kidnapping? Not like those stupid treaties have given me any other choice. I ain’t telling Red that, though. 

“Woah, woah, woah! Put the brakes on, Red!” Bowser fumed as he stalked down the small dais, coming to meet Mario snout-to-eye. It was one thing to storm into his castle demanding help. It was quite another to insult his foreign policy prowess at the same time. “I’m the best kidnapper there is and you know it!”

Mario gave a jagged, toothy grin. “Yeah, well,” he sneered, “we’re going after somebody who might have you beat in that department.”

“Oh yeah? What’d they do that I can’t?” Bowser huffed, crossing his arms with a fiery, disgusted snort. Wait, we're going after someone? Why am I even a conversation conversation with a man who broke into my home and looks like he’s downed five cups of Chuckoccino?

“Simple.” Red’s smile turned rancid as he pressed his thumbs into his chest. “They managed to kidnap me.”

Kidnap Red? Yeah, right. If only. Not that thought hadn’t crossed Bowser’s mind more than once. Shanghai Red and make the pesky plumber a permanent resident of his dungeons. Then he could make some actual progress on reclaiming his ancestral land. Save his Koopa power for infrastructure projects. Take a damn vacation. All of his problems solved, in one fell Koopa swoop.

Almost as many problems solved as created, your Scheming-ness, Kamek would remind him every time they danced around the topic. If nothing else, consider the massive increase in Mario’s budget byline that would need to get approved by Akooptant Sylmar. The doors, alone…

Ugh. That was enough to drape a damp tortoiseshell on the whole plan. Sylmar was more ancient than his ancestor’s ashes and half as pleasant to deal with, which wasn’t saying much.

Who could have kidnapped Red and gotten away with it? (And kept their doors intact, as well?) And why hadn’t Bowser known about it? That should have been front-page news, plastered all over the Mushroom Kingdom media. 

…or maybe not. Broadcasting Red’s capture would have been equivalent to lighting up a neon sign flashing the words ‘Invade Now!’ The little fungus-faces might as well have escorted their enemies through the door personally if they had let that tidbit get out. Bowser tried to mentally run through any information his spies had gathered over the past year or so, recall any transmissions received through the completely legal (and compliant within the technical bounds of the Treaty of the Dunelands, lava bless his lawyers) Goomba Radio Network. 

Gah, this was giving him a headache. Where the hell was Kamek when you needed him? Remembering old bits of useless trivia was his job. Bowser crossed his arms, tapping his clawed foot on the floor. 

Wait a minute. Did this have something to so with that whole debacle last month? Red couldn’t mean - 

Bowser squeezed his eyes shut, pinching the bridge of his snout as he swallowed down a massive groan.

This was insane. Even for him.

“You’re crazy, Red.”

Mario grit his teeth, shaking his head. “Not crazy. We break into the lab, grab the machine. Then we bring it here and get Iggy or Ludwig to work on the operating requirements - “

“Now wait a damned minute!” Bowser roared, taking a wide, thunderous stride forward. “You asked me for help, not my kids! I’m not dragging them into this suicidal circus!”

“I just need them to explain how to work the damned thing!”

Over my dead body. “Then get your engineering genius brother to explain it. He certainly seemed to know a lot about killer machines when he was working for - “

Mario was on him in an instant, barreling into Bowser’s abdomen, breath knocked clean from the Koopa as the two of them crashed to the solid floor in a tangle of flailing limbs. The harsh, metallic sigh of a dozen weapons being primed for combat sang throughout the high-ceilinged, bare throne room, Bowser having enough cognizance to wrest his left hand from Red’s iron grip, relaying the motion for “steady” to the High General of his personal guard.

“Don’t ever mention that again,” Mario hissed, spraying spittle all over the Koopa’s face, grabbing at Bowser’s spiked collar. “Capisce?”

Ca-what? “Yeah, great. Whatever. Now get the hell off me before my guards lose their patience.”

Twelve well-honed pikes hovered dangerously close to the soft, exposed skin of the plumber’s throat, razor-sharp points glinting with bloody promise. At the end of each long, wooden shaft, a dual set of coal-dark, implacable eyes narrowed in anticipation. The slightest whisper of an aggressive movement, a too-deep breath or a misplaced cough - Bowser knew it would be enough to result in a plumber shish-kabob.

And he really didn’t need that headache right now. Lay off, Red. For your own good.

Mario frowned, then paled slightly as his gaze landed on one of the hungry pinpoints floating near his Adam’s apple. Slowly, he relinquished his grip on Bowser’s collar, bringing both his open palms up by his shoulders as he stood. Bowser made a mental note to give his personal guard a raise sometime in the next month before waving a claw in the direction of the High General, who gave curt nod, pulling his weapon back to his side in one swift movement, the eleven other guards quickly following suit.

“You’re serious about this, aren’t you?” Bowser grumbled as he came to his feet, trying to muster whatever dregs of dignity he had left in this ridiculous situation.

Red’s only answer was an awful, vicious look.

“What, are you trying to get information about another invasion? Peach put you up to this? Doesn’t seem like her style.” Not that Peach wouldn’t resort to underhanded tactics - he knew that well enough by now. But there was no way she would have sent the perfect hero of the Mushroom Kingdom on some kind of secret hostage mission, and certainly not against someone who had technically saved all their hides not less than one month ago.

No, this was something else.

A thought occurred to him. Wispy secrets traded in dark corridors, undertones of speculation patched together in a noisy weapons room, rumors spilling from the painkiller-induced gossip of recovering soldiers in the healer’s den. 

Bowser knew what vengeance looked like on a man, had seen it in the mirror a thousand times. He just never thought he’d recognize the same murderous intent staring back at him from Red’s face.

“This is about your brother, isn’t it? About the Glawackus invasion.”

Mario’s voice dropped to a dark, harsh whisper. “Information first. Then revenge.”

[lambilegs]

I was at the bus stop and started to think about the end of the movie and the thought of Lee being haunted by the devil jumped my mind,like,how would she be like after the movie?

Would she try to find other ways to end the whole doll cycle thing,Or If Satan would change her memories like in the whole movie,or would she resist Satan's manipulation until she became like Ruth.

What are your thoughts on Lee after the movie?

-👹

thoughts on lee post-longlegs

note: thank you SO much for this request!! it's such an interesting idea to explore, and I definitely felt it was the right timing to do it today, since I just finished rewatching it. just to warn, it's pretty sad and quite dark ;-; contains: mentions of anxiety, depression, trauma, survivor's guilt, the murders. also, wanna disclaim that I am, by no means, a professional or expert in mental health, so these explorations of what lee's psyche and social behaviours would be like are purely speculation, and I can't say they accurately or for sure reflect what a person in her situation would actually go through post-traumatic event

okay, so from what oz has said, it seems like the devil was done with his work after lee's mom died. like, the devil just wanted to push lee to do something SO fucked up like kill her own mother, and that was kind of the last thing that had to happen to satisfy me (the devil's an asshole tbh)

I think with her doll being destroyed, and her mom being dead, lee would no longer be plagued by the devil in the sense that her memories and senses are altered with certain pieces being hidden away from her. nor would she have her psychic abilities anymore, since the devil is essentially "done" with messing with her

but, in every other sense, I think she would be entirely haunted by him. she spent twenty years of her life not even knowing a third person lived in her basement, because she was that intensely manipulated in what she saw, heard and detected. even though she knows it's not happening anymore, I think she'd be constantly caught in a web of self-doubt. what if there's someone in her cottage, and she doesn't know? what if in a moment of weakness, the devil returns and seizes her life? what if there's someone watching her from outside, but she just can't see because of a higher power? thoughts like this would always be poisoning her mind, shattering any chance at peace and keeping her, at least psychologically, haunted

while destroying the doll would, of course, make ruby aware of all that occurred with her family, lee knows how much worse it is to live in that perpetual state of blocked memories and entrapped trauma. her mother hiding what happened did nothing but destroy herself, lee and their home. lee's torn between the decision at first, overcome with pained sympathy for ruby, ruby who is so much like herself. does she choose blissful ignorance where ruby lives her life detached from her own memories? or horrific self-awareness that it might take years, her entire life, to move on from? lee almost, just almost, leans for the first option, but no. the cycle has to end. she can't dictate ruby to the same fate she herself lived, she can't sequester ruby to a life of feeling lost

if upon arrival, her coworkers are able to destroy the doll, and ruby becomes aware of all that happened, lee, just as traumatized, would be far from being considered suitable enough to look after the girl. lee isn't even sure if she'd want to do that. she's completely shattered, devastated, enraged and filled with nauseating panic all the time now. she can't look after ruby, ruby who deserves so much better. but, at the same time, her and ruby now understand each other more than anyone. two people who were forced to passively exist amongst the horrors their families went through.

ruby would probably now live with relatives of anna or carter's, and at first, lee and her aren't allowed to see each other, the family worried that it would only cause memories of that day to resurface for ruby. but, ruby is just as insistent. lee saved her, and now that more details of the case have been exposed, she's aware that lee and her are two sides of the same coin. and so, lee starts visiting ruby once a month, and the two of them catch up in their awkward little way, go on a walk, sit in the living room and watch television. ruby sometimes asks lee about the cases, what happened to lee and her mom, and despite the way her throat tightens, lee forces herself to answer

however, if ruby's doll wasn't able to get destroyed, and the devil still had a hold on her, it would probably be harder for lee to visit. seeing ruby in the haze, not even aware of what's happened to her family, haunts lee, and she can't bear to see the girl in that state. one of the worst things is the immense guilt she feels -- for having woken up too late, for having reached carter's house too late, for having attempted to shoot the doll too late. she'd feel this guilt no matter what, but I feel it'd be even worsened by the mental image of ruby's blank face continuously flashing in her mind

she'd feel a pit of guilt about her mom, too. all of this was because ruth wanted to protect lee. if lee hadn't gone outside to search for kobble on jaunary thirteenth, maybe none of this would've happened. if she hadn't been so reckless to interact with him, maybe none of this would've happened. if her mom hadn't loved her so much, maybe none of this would've happened

for months, she's off from work. she's always either in a state of panic or numbness. she can't sleep, she can barely look after herself or be responsible for anything regarding. she's constantly on edge, plagued by visions of kobble, her mom, the carters, the case, and even when she's distracted, they're always there, at the back of her mind, following her. in addition to that, there've been rumours and talk about her at the bureau since she claimed that the longlegs' case was involved with the supernatural. to her, there was no use in lying. she held hope that someone, anyone would believe her, and after what happened with her mom, she no longer had it in her to lie. for any reason. so, yeah, because of all this, she self-isolates, takes a long period of time off from work, and heads into intensive therapy. honestly, after all this, she might resign from law enforcement completely, for I could definitely see her too traumatized by what happened to deal with more violence, more cases, more terrorized families

honestly her life post-longlegs is filled with trauma and the remnants of what happened, but I'd like to think she eventually heals, because lee really deserves it after everything :/

[joontroverted]

hello yves ! confetti, caramel popcorn, and polaroid for the selfship game + selfship of your choice ! (˶◜ᵕ◝˶)

hello rara!! thank you for the ask! i was wondering whether i'm gonna answer for baji (keisuke x vivi/keivi) or ran (ran x vivi/ranvi), but i feel like i don't talk about ran and i enough, so i'm writing for both!

self ship ask game 🌷

confetti - if you and your lover are married, in what season did you get married? was it a big or small wedding? what was the theme?

keivi - keisuke and i get married at the end of spring because we wanna have an outdoor wedding and a summer honeymoon. i'm a bit worried about the weather at first but when he shows me the venue which is the lake and woods where he used to go camping during the summers, it looks like an actual fairytale. we're gonna cross our fingers and check every forecast but we're having that outdoor wedding! it's very... rustic. browns and greens and blues and yellows. it's a small wedding, and i spend most of the time wrapped in kei's arms with him kissing every inch of skin he can see. our friends joke about being sick from how lovey we are, but this is our one day okay! we are shamelessly in love today!

ranvi - ran and i are the total opposite from kei and i! we get married at the end of fall so we can have a winted honeymoon. we're a classy couple, and while i am a well known elgible woman, ran is an eligible bachelor with a powerful background, so this is a highly anticipated event! it's very elegant and very beautiful. classic but with a personal twist, yk because ran and i are both kind of odd. i am torn between us wearing black and the guests all wearing white or us wearing white and everyone else wearing red. it definitely happens in a castle/boutique à la anya taylor joy's venues. he is a social butterfly, and spends the remaining of the ceremony talking to everyone, being the perfect host, talking to my father and dancing with mother. i do the same, but he has so much more of a presence among these circles than i do, because i keep to myself. however. when the night ends and we wave goodbye to the last guest, he firmly tells rindou to handle everything and contact him for absolutely nothing after this. this winter honeymoon is for him and his wife. we have the most private winter honeymoon, the only picture that people see is one standard honeymoon picture of him and i. everything else is just for the two of us and the photo album that we break out the next year for our anniversary <3

caramel popcorn - do you and your lover have any children?

keivi - nooo. we're both the type of people that say something like if our partner would want em, we'd consider it, and since neither of us actively want it, we live double income no kids 😎 our two cats make sure to eat up all our money tho 😒

ranvi - when ran started dating me, it's because he wanted to settle down and be a family. he told me about the settle down part at first, which i understood because at that point i didn't see the point in dating without intention. as we got more serious, he told me that he used to like the idea of having kids, but he loves me so so so much more than wanting kids, so it's up to me, he's happy as long as i'm in his life. i think about it. for a long time. and then we have two kids yay! one boy and one girl. our daughter can rob him blind considering how much he adores her. rindou tells me that he loves our son just the same but doesn't show it the same way, and he knows, because ran basically raised him.

polaroid - what's your favourite picture of them? and what's their favourite picture of you?

keivi - his favourite picture of me is when i had put on his toman jacket for the first time and i looked really happy and excited rather than posing and looking sexy. my favourite picture of him is one in his scrubs looking very busy and very important and the other is of him in his wifebeater talking to a kitten 🥺

ranvi - his fave pic of me is one of me completely absorbed in a book, not realizing he was talking to me. he likes to see me in my element and undisturbed (and then he disturbs me). my fave pic of him is sooo easy. sleepy ran. bedhead ran. morning ran 💗

[mega-ringsandthings-world]

Ok, ok, glad you liked the art! There's more to come because I am full of ideas and sadness! Prepare!

Anywho, now that I have rambled about the boys a lot (and trust me, there's definitely more where that came from), I thought I'd take a change of pace and focus on others.

Like Buggy. What we know is he escapes, possibly due to running away (which will probably haunt him forever) or getting saved by someone. He does meet someone, as you've said before, but who? Could it be Dragon? Does our greedy, narcissistic clown somehow become a revolutionary? Maybe it's a marine. Did a marine see this kid and go, "Screw it, I'm not killing kids," and let him go? Does he run into Smoker? Start a traumatize boy band (now I wanna write the fic we’re buggy and smoker run into each other after lougetown.) Or is it someone else, someone I wouldn't have guessed in a million years? Doflamingo, perhaps? That would be the meeting from hell. One of the other would-be warlords? And what happens to him? Does he spend the next two years trying to help Shanks in any way he can? Does he do mostly what he's done in canon and go for the One Piece? Or is he a warlord? Did he make deals with the world government for Shanks? ‘Gasp’ I'm gasping at nothing but thinky thoughts, but eh, I'll just throw some crazy in there for fun.

Also, are you going to add pirates we know to Loguetown who get caught, aside from the characters we already know? There are a few characters we see in canon that could be the right age to have been around. You could just slip them in there to add more people to the "Fun Time with World Government!™️" and more people Shanks and Mihawk can bounce off of while captured and once they get out. You said that they won't trust anyone who didn't go through what they went through, so not a lot of allies or having civil conversations. But maybe that's the point... oh well, whatever you do, I'm sure I'll love it.

Also, this pirate generation needs a name. If the last generation were the Great Pirates, maybe this generation could be the Silenced Generation? And later, after the two years, the Monster Generation.

And propaganda, does Roger's message about the One Piece get out there like it did in the main timeline? Not a lot of people escaped from the excision, so that's not a lot of people to spread the word. Is the World Government suppressing it after all? They didn't mean for Roger to tell the crowd, so why in hell would they want that driving force that created pirates who are specifically seeking a piece of the Void Century and possibly information on Joy Boy or Nika? So, do they turn it into, instead of a last word, a rumor? Like Davy Jones or Nolan and his Sky Island, like it's a fun bedtime story but nothing that's actually real.

Those are all the questions I have today hopefully I’ll get you that new art out soon no promises but I will try! Seriously thanks for indulging my asks, I know you don’t ow me any of you time and it’s cool that you’ve given me some. Anyways off to dreamland for me!

Prepared and so excited! See, with Buggy, it's a mess. If this AU is the sort-of inverse of canon events, Buggy has to keep his beef with Shanks. That happens because Shanks is the one who saves him. He gets him to safety, and then gets himself caught to lead the marines away from him. But from Buggy's perspective, Shanks abandoned him. Which. He's going to spend his time torn between grief/worry/resentment and thinking Shanks got what he deserved, (because Buggy is vindictive like that) only to find out how wrong he was. During the end of the two years, he's going to try to help Shanks, though. Him and Smoker do meet, Smoker being the one to spur him into helping Shanks. Smoker is going to go the way of Vergo in this AU, at least as far as the marines are concerned. Dragon is going to pick up some key players, (wink, wink) and he would save a child. So that's Buggy, even though Buggy doesn't espouse revolutionary ideas. (and Buggy would be even more obsessed with the one piece, it's his way of coping) And here's the thing, once what the marines are doing starts coming out, there's going to be an alliance between the revolutionaries and pirates to protect themselves. Because after the marines get information out of the captured pirates, they will start hunting the free ones. Benn Beckmann is already around, and some other characters will come sooner, some later. Garp is going to be the one who brings Mihawk and Shanks and some of those characters together. It will take them a long time to trust anyone else, but they will. And the pirates who weren't captured but were still hunted count as having a shared experience in their books. As well as the people who have been hurt by or due to the government, especially children. (wink, wink) I was thinking the Ghost generation! Since the marines kept an entire swathe of these people in captivity for two-three years, living as nothing more than ghosts. The one piece declaration did get out, though yes, the WG is trying to make it seems like nothing more than the ravings of a madman. It still becomes a substantial rumor, though, because it's something for the the pirates left to cling onto while they are being hunted. And the WG also wants the one piece. So it's them, and not the pirates that initially began the search. They go out systematically raiding pirate ships and hideouts and work their way up from there. When Mihawk and Shanks get out, Shanks kicks off the real pirate hunt by confirming Roger's last words. Which he does for Buggy's sake. No rush! And you're welcome! Ask away as much as you want, my mind is full of this and I'll literally talk forever if given the chance!

[mtdthoughts]

Dali's Book (Migi & Dali Observation)

This observation comes from the Migi & Dali sequel manga, but to be honest it's not really a spoiler.

I noticed that Dali was reading this book:

The Japanese title can be roughly translated as The Proof of Two People. Note that the original author is Agota Kristof, a Hungarian writer who lived in Switzerland and wrote the original book in French, as shown by La preuve or The Proof. The French title (among other clues) seems to suggest that the twins are of French ancestry.

This book is actually the second of a trilogy also known as the "Book of Lies Trilogy."

Le Grand Cahier (1986), also called The Notebook,

La preuve (1988), also called The Proof

Le Troisieme Mensonge (1991) , also called The Third Lie.

These books were also translated to Japanese (see above), though I am not aware of the scale of influence these books had in Japanese culture.

Here's a basic summary of the trilogy that I found:

With all the stark simplicity of a fractured fairy tale, the trilogy tells the story of twin brothers, Claus and Lucas, locked in an agonizing bond that becomes a gripping allegory of the forces that have divided “brothers” in much of Europe since World War II. Kristof’s postmodern saga begins with The Notebook, in which the brothers are children, lost in a country torn apart by conflict, who must learn every trick of evil and cruelty merely to survive. In The Proof, Lucas is challenging to prove his own identity and the existence of his missing brother, a defector to the “other side.” The Third Lie, which closes the trilogy, is a biting parable of Eastern and Western Europe today and a deep exploration into the nature of identity, storytelling, and the truths and untruths that lie at the heart of them all. 

I haven't read these books myself, but it's obvious that Claus and Lucas are an analogy for Migi and Dali, that The Notebook refers to the twins' journey in surviving on their own, and that The Proof is a reference to the twins' divergence as Migi accepted his new life while Dali fell further into his obsession with revenge. I'm not sure what The Third Lie refers to; I'm guessing that it could be a reference to a possible dark alternate timeline if either Migi or Dali were to die.

Edit: I have now read these books, and what I can say is that my above estimation was incorrect. I would attribute The Notebook to the twins' journey in surviving on their own and living in Origon Village and The Proof to the events that take place after the end of Migi & Dali. As for The Third Note, I suppose that would be up to the reader's imagination, though I certainly do not want to think about making any connections because of what happens in that book.

Bonus note: Kristof's trilogy also inspired Shigesato Itoi's JRPG Mother 3, where the twins Lucas and Claus are an obvious reference to the twins of the same names in Kristof's trilogy. Here's a Reddit post that goes over these inspirations:

https://www.reddit.com/r/earthbound/comments/105v5rh/the_disturbing_novel_series_that_inspired_mother_3/

I just wanted to bring this up because the twins in Mother 3 sure do remind me of Migi and Dali.

Now, I never played Mother 3 nor am I familiar with the game, so I'm sure someone else can come up with some additional connections between these twins. I imagine that this would also inspire some cool fanart ideas.

Anyways, I thought it was a nice detail that Dali is reading a book that happens to describe part of his own life. Perhaps Nami Sano created Migi & Dali using Kristof's trilogy as an inspiration just as Itoi did for Mother 3. Whether there are any other implications or connections that can be drawn from this is something that should be addressed in a different post.

[otherworldseekers]

They Can’t Take You Away From Me: Amnesia AU part 2

Part One Here

Nero looks up from the schematic his is working on at his desk, hand on chin he gazes absently out the window toward the town of Revenant’s Toll. It’s been a matter of weeks since his accident, an event almost impossible for him to fathom for he has no memory of it. The first thing he remembers is waking up in an infirmary. Possessing some kind of subconscious knowledge that gives him the context to recognize his surroundings but without a clue as to his own name. Everything he knows and doesn’t know seems contradictory. He has no trouble navigating the world around him, but doesn’t remember his own past. His brain tells him, “Yes, you are familiar with this thing, this activity, this environment,” but cannot tell him who his family, friends or acquaintances are. 

In the beginning, Cid Garlond is his only lifeline. The one who visited him, the one who seems to know him best. Nero does not fail to notice how few people seem to be concerned with his welfare. Garlond is the exception and Nero has no choice but to latch onto his words, giving him his first sense of identity. 

I am a Scientist. An Engineer. A studier of lost technology. These things feel right, they are fundamental. 

I am a Garlean. I was an officer in an invasion force sent by a militaristic Empire. I subdued the Sylphs and brought the Ultima Weapon to life. I deserted my command. He is less sure about his history. The things he has reportedly done feel like the actions of another man, a man he does not feel eager to become again.

I work for Garlond at the Ironworks. Our motto is Freedom Through Technology. I seek to advance the science of Magitek. He forges his new self with these few simple truths, but still feels that something is missing from his life. 

Two weeks pass since he woke up and still not a single memory has returned to him. The chirurgeons can do no more. Garlond has regaled him with a hundred anecdotes from their experiences together but nothing feels like it adds up. Nothing feels real. 

And one day he finds himself sitting on a bench in a peaceful and solitary corner of the Toll because Jessie has ordered him to brood elsewhere. The clear sky and sunshine only serve to aggravate him. He feels that it should be raining to match his mood. And that is when a shadow is cast over him and a tall form stands before him silhouetted by the sun. 

“Whatever it is,” says the figure, “it can’t be that bad.”

“It’s pretty bad,” Nero tells the stranger.

A man sits down next to him on the bench, lean and brown and golden. He’s the most handsome man Nero has ever seen. “Tell me about it,” he says. 

To Nero’s surprise, this is just what he needs. Instead of someone telling him who he is, he needs someone to listen to him. Someone to validate this strange half-life he’s living instead of trying to bring back his old one. When he and Alecto part ways, promising to meet again the next day, Nero is smiling for the first time since he woke.

So why is it that today, he feels such a sense of unease? Something nags at his mind that he cannot identify and the feeling that he has missed something important needles him no matter how many times he tries to reason with his mind. I’ve forgotten my whole bloody life. What more could I possibly be missing?

Nero shakes himself out of his reverie as a knock sounds on his office door. “Come.”

Cid Garlond enters and takes a seat in the only other chair in the small room. “Nero,” he says hesitantly, as if he would rather not be there. 

That makes two of us. Nero turns from the window and raises a questioning eyebrow. “Garlond.”

“There’s something we need to talk about. Something we should have talked about weeks ago.” 

Nero is torn between reluctance and curiosity. He’s tired of hearing Garlond relating the facts of his former life to him. It has never helped him to remember anything, instead making him feel more distant from his self than ever. And yet… there is that thing his mind is desperately trying to bring to the surface. A sudden premonition makes him wonder if somehow Garlond’s need to speak with him is related.. “Go on,” he says finally. But he takes up his pencil and begins sketching lines as he listens.

“You recall the woman who was here the other day?”

Nero recalls her face easily, which is odd. He didn’t think she had made such an impression on him at the time. “The Xaela woman?”

“Er, yes. You see, that was the Warrior of Light.”

“The hero people around here are always making a fuss over? That little slip of a girl?”

“I wouldn’t describe her like that,” Cid says, shifting uncomfortably on his chair. “I’ve known her for years now and she’s a formidable warrior. In fact… she once defeated you in battle.”

Nero looks up, intrigued despite himself. “So she does know me. You never told me about this before.” 

“I had my reasons,” Cid says defensively. “However, that was an error on my part. I should have told you about her right away.”

Nero’s premonition shifts into a foreboding. Garlond clearly doesn’t anticipate a good reaction from him. Whatever this thing is that he needs to know, he’s not sure that he wants to know it. But he’s always been incapable of leaving a question unanswered. “What about her?”

Cid pauses dramatically before the words leave his mouth in a rush. “You were in a relationship with her for several months before your accident.”

Nero is stunned. “A… romantic relationship?”

“Yes.”

“With the Warrior of Light?”

“Yes.”

“Who once defeated me in battle?”

“Yes.”

“And you chose not to tell me until now?” 

“When it all happened, she was in another world and we had no idea when she would be able to return. There was even the chance it would be impossible. And I thought… if she couldn’t make it back, it would be better if you never knew.”

There’s logic to that, Nero cannot deny. And perhaps it would have been better. Except… “But now she’s come back.”

“Now she’s come back.”

Nero runs his hands through his hair. No wonder she had had such a look of pained confusion. “You really did mess up, Garlond.” 

“I don’t deny it,” Cid says with a sigh. 

Nero rubs his temples and tries to search his mind for anything familiar about the woman in question but comes up empty. “My memory is as void of her as of everything else,” he says with a touch of irritation. “Does she expect anything from me?” 

“I doubt it. She went back to the First, the other world.”

Nero’s mind snags for a moment on the fascinating fact that he once had a world hopping girlfriend. With a blink and a shrug he dismisses the thought. “That’s most likely for the best.”

“That’s all you have to say?”

“I’ve moved on, Garlond. You know that. I’m not the man I used to be. She’ll have to accept that.” Nero picks up his pencil and returns to his diagram. 

Looking unhappy, Cid stands and nods. As he starts through the door Nero asks, “Any other extremely important facts about my old life you’re misguidedly holding onto?”

“No, nothing else.”

“Good. Let’s not discuss it again.”

The door closes behind Cid and Nero stares at the parchment in front of him. But it’s no use. He can no longer focus on his work. He glances at the chronometer on his desk. “Close enough,” he mutters as he stands and stretches. Sitting at his desk hunched over his new design hasn’t been good for his back. “Perhaps a walk before I head home.”

Nero lets his feet lead him and soon he has passed through the eastern town gates. Far in the distance the Crystal Tower rises above the landscape. Garlond has given him a brief description of how Nero was involved in the opening and sealing of that place. But something has always seemed missing from the equation. It is the same with Garlond’s account of their encounter with Omega. It doesn’t quite add up. Has the missing element always been…

“The Warrior of Light,” Nero says to himself as he climbs a crystalline hill. He’s heard her name spoken a hundred times around the Toll. What was it again? Oh yes. Severia. “Severia Zetsuen,” he says aloud into the growing dusk. 

He waits for it to feel meaningful to him, but the name inspires no emotion. Disappointment fills him. What had he expected? After all this time, did he really think it would be so easy? Hasn’t he accepted that things are the way they are? Scoffing at himself he says,” You’re a fool, Nero Scaeva. A bloody fool.” 

Nero stays to watch the sun set behind the Toll and then with heavy footsteps he makes his way back to his cold and empty rooms. He’s vowed to move on. But the truth is, he still has no idea what he’s moving on to. His future feels as barren as his past.