#i don't think he would be able to break up after that

[dadvans]

i am just so sad right now. like going into s8 i didn’t think bucktommy would be endgame, but the way s8 started changed my mind, so to have them be literally so in love for 5 episodes straight just to have them break up in the most abrupt way?? it just feels so last minute which is shocking because in the interviews this was apparently a planned thing but it doesn’t feel like it at all. Like if this was a concern Tommy had why didn’t it come up at all? like little throwaway lines of Tommy making jokes of Buck getting sick of him or wanted to explore other options or whatever. I hope the backlash makes them rethink, and Tommy comes back but for now it doesn’t seem like it. I guess my only hope is that Buddie goes canon, but even then i won’t be able to really enjoy it. I seriously don’t know if i’ll be able to keep watching the show, not solely because they broke up, but because of how they broke up. (srry for the long ask, just needed to vent)

no apologies needed!

at the end of the day, so many of us found joy in their story, their chemistry, the way even up until the final second tommy admitted that what he wanted with buck was something that would inevitably break his heart.

they were good together. tommy fit into so many intimidating parts of buck's life with ease. tommy is (as far as we know) still good friends with buck's best friend! tommy loved him anyway, loved him warts and all, road shotgun to buck's worst fears and weirdest conspiracies.

at the end of the day, we have a few things:

we GOT them. we got to see them together, we got the soft looks, we got the kisses, the foundation of them that is real and canon in a way we could strike like a match against the edge of a box to light them up for real all over again. i don't think "being canon" gives any credence or superiority to a ship, and have shipped people or characters that have never interacted/existed together in a tangible way, simply because it's FUN. that's how i'll always have fun with ships and fandom, BUT! what a wonderful thing to celebrate that we DID have them, that we have this as a foundation for whatever comes next, that there is never a door permanently closed to them finding each other again when it was already real from the start

for a lot of us, this isn't how their story ends. it's insane that so much fic and content was produced for a canon ship like this. so often fandom is chasing down the what-ifs and never-hads. a lot of us invested in bucktommy because they had the compatibility, the fit, the chemistry, the potential. that's novel shit! that doesn't just evaporate because they broke up in canon. it certainly hurts. the kind of hype we were surfing will crash and sink back in the oncoming months, but i know talking to a lot of people tonight that we aren't done with this ship. we aren't ready to say goodbye.

i'm sad. i'm angry. i felt a real sense of queer euphoria whenever i saw them together, even for 30 seconds, teetering on the edge of this new couple joy learning each other into something new and weird and fun that always lingered as a promise on the edge of their interactions. i was so excited for who buck could become with tommy as his home base. shifting that has rocked me in a bad way.

i expect people to inevitably step away from this ship and this fandom, but i'll mention that non-canon ships like arthur/eames or mcshep or social network rpf or short-lived shows from 1996 (hi sentinel) have had long-lived fandoms and left long-lasting impressions in other fandoms that have lasted for over a decade of zero additional content. this is a playground that, just because they've parted ways for now, we don't have to stop playing in.

and i'll be honest: i have several WIPs i'm like, well trash that! after watching the most recent episode. but i also have a dozen new ideas. new ways they could fall in love now or again, new ways they could meet, new ways they could be for each other.

i'll keep creating. i'll keep dreaming. they won't ever not have the spark that they had. the show could end tomorrow but we'll always have an open door to believing and shaping the thousands of ways they can and will find each other again.

[aychama]

L: I told you to leave me alone

R: I know Sir, but I'm your advisor and I (unfortunately) have to supervise you too.

Raymond sighed as he read the papers in his hands while following Leshy.

L: Do you think I need your supervision? I was doing just fine before you arrived. I'll continue to do so. Leave

R: I can't. We still need to go over a lot of things, we're far behind schedule to discuss real matters which is urgent, I need you to sign the agreement of imported goods from Anchor Deep and the people in the neglected villages are revo-

L: Fine! How many!?

R: Pardon?

L: How many papers, Raymond?

Leshy turned to him with a momentarily anger. To him, Raymond was simply, yapping.

R: Uh, about... 1, 2, 3...

He began counting, sounds of the paper coming to Leshy's ear.

R: 86 papers, sir.

L: Well good luck to you with that. Just copy my signature.

R: Wait, me? Sir I can't just decide on the matters of the whole kingdom!

L: Aren't you my "advisor"? That's your thing, to decide.

R: Yes, I give advice! I don't rule over a kingdom!

L: Too bad so damn sad, I don't feel like listening you talk about dumb problems I won't be paying attention to anyway.

Leshy chuckled a bit and walked towards his work room. Raymond followed right behind, a bit panicked by the king's nonchalant decision. Leshy closed the door behind him, Raymond nearly making it inside.

R: You can't just ignore it! I promise it won't take long... Don't you care about your people? They are suffering! They are doing their best but barely surviving with what you let them have! Not only that, you've added taxes when I was gone!

L: My people are doing fine. You're worrying too much for something so lame, Ray. If I'm really that shitty of a king, go on. Fill my "so important" papers. And I thought you were smart enough to think that.

Raymond rubbed his temples after setting the papers aside. He took a deep breath. Leshy just sat one of the comfortable chairs and leaned back.

R: (God, I prefer hell over trying to convince this man child to do anything) It won't be long before everything breaks down to chaos if you continue to neglect your duties, sir.

L: ...

R: Maybe the other crowns were right about you after all...

Leshy immediately got up and turned towards Raymond.

L: What did those old bastards say about me?

R: Just the usual sir.

He smiled. Good thing Leshy was, well, blind.

R: That you were too young and naive to understand how a kingdom works. The red crown even said he was surprised that you haven't got hunted by your people.

L: That... Grim faced cat! You know what!? I rule my kingdom just fine! I'm the best king out there! They wish they were me! I can rule their kingdoms along with mine if I wanted!

R: Yes sir. You could...

L: Read me the damn papers Raymond! I'm gonna finish these papers faster than any of those living corpses!

R: (Works every time)

___________________________

It was night time when they were able to finish all those papers. Raymond had lit a candle long time ago to read better and Leshy seemed to listen.

R: This is the last paper... It's, it's over

L: Finally, for fuck's sake...

The worm yawned and leaned back. Raymond put the papers in order and set aside, before leaning back like his King.

R: Sir your profanity.

L: Ray I'm too tired to care.

R: You're right... I should be too tired to ask.

L: What's the time?

R: The moon is up by a hand. It's too late.

L: You don't say.

The advisor yawned and drank a glass of water. The King on the other hand rubbed where his eyes should be. It was rare but, sometimes, his eyes would bleed again, his wounds so easy to tear open. The cat panicked at the sight, immediately his tiredness vanishing by worry that overtook.

R: You're bleeding!

L: Don't-

Leshy hissed at him when Raymond tried to touch his face so he backed away. Raymond looked at the blood with sadness for his King.

R: Does it... Does it still hurt? Does it hurt bad?

He asked with a shakey voice as he reached for Leshy's face again. Surprisingly, the short tempered king didn't pull back the second time. He leaned to the touch, to the feeling. Raymond's palm got bloodied as he wiped it.

L:Not anymore. Not like the way it used to...

R: It's good... I think. Is it just pitch black..?

L: People assume so. But no. My vision is my thoughts. I can see just, not in the way you'd expect

R: How so? How can you just- See?

The King chuckled at the advisor's weirded out question.

L: I already know what something looks like. I know colors, I know shapes, I know sounds, the materials, the feelings. And, if you know it like I do, it feels like your whole imagination is your sight.

R: That's... Not as bad as I thought

L: You think about going blind?

R: No, heh, of course not... I think about, how hard it must be for you.

L: You think about me? Now that just makes me shy~

R: My King-

Raymond gave a tired and short giggle as he blushed. Even though he hated his job, he didn't hate the worm necessarily.

L: What? Can I not be curious about why you think about me Ray?

R: With all due respect, that's not the point, sir. I work for you, it's natural that I worry for the one I'm working so close with.

L: And somehow I'm someone you must worry for? The levels you bring me down to.

R: You make it sound like everything is just fine! Is there really nothing bad about being blind?

L: There are bad sides of it of course

R: Like what?

Leshy smiled, putting his hands on top of Raymond's.

L: Knowing I'll never actually see you

AU8WUW8UQOAPAAJUDJDAAAAAAAASAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

HELLO???? THIS IS SO GOOD?!?!?!?!?! How dare you send me this awsome gift as an anon 😭😭😭 Thank you so much omg I didnt think such a simple drawing would inspire someone to write something like this!

THANK YOU ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[beef-brisket]

Carmilla stood at the top end of the meeting table. For once, every seat was full.

Tha fully it was Rosie and Zestial next to Adam, he wouldn't be able to stop himself from breaking something of Vox's if he sat next to him. Fucker won't stop staring.

Carmilla: Welcome, everyone. And Vox, good to see you. If it wasn't for your TV show, I would have thought you were dead.

Adam: One can only hope~.

Vox glared at Adam as everyone laughed. Adam stared right at him, almost challenging him to say something.

Vox: Well, I personally think you should have stayed gone- but this is Hell, after all! Nothing good happens down here!

Adam: Ha ha! I always thought that after each extermination that you survived!

Vox: Ha Ha HA! I wish the first man cut your head off!

Adam: Ha Ha HA HA! You're a terrible fuck!

Everyone was silent, and Adam and Vox were leaned over the table in eachothers faces.

Vox: ...

Adam: ...

Vox: ...I hate you.

Adam smiled, baring his teeth: No, you dont~.

Vix: Oh, yes, I do!

Adam: Not as much as I hate you!

Carmilla: I'll hate both of you if you two don't sir down and shut up!

The men sat back down in their seats. Vox was back to glaring at Adam, but all he did was smile at Vox. Adam held up his end of the deal, he has no obligation to be kind to him.

Rosie: You and Vox had sex?

Adam: Ha! Barely.

Lowkey want an au where Adam has Alastors' powers.

The tentacles

The eyes

The changing size

The shadows

The sass

The deal making

Him owning Husk and Nifty

The musical numbers

The radio control

The tentacles- have I mentioned that before?

The rivalry with Lucifer

Maybe he replaces Alastor entirely. No Alastor. Only Adam. It's always been Adam.

Thanks for coming to my tedtalk.

Only Adam lol This is good! His Husk and Nifty could be Lute and Peter.

He doesn't have to smile all the time does he?

Yessss, and he plays rock instead of jazz lol And yes of course there is a rivalry lol

[thestrangestthlng]

Thoughts and prayers rants...

So, now that I've had almost 48 hours to marinate on this and cycled through my emotions, I am in a much better headspace to talk on the whole 9-1-1 of it all.

But this bears repeating: We fell in love with Tommy because he made Buck fall in love with Evan.

So, first and foremost, I've decided that canon stopped for me at 8x05. lol. I am going to continue with my BT train like that shit show didn't happen. And for me, for a while, I am going to let the show end there. I will go back, probably after the hiatus, but not how I was. I do love all the characters on this show (some more than others) and I still want to be able to see their journey, but I need a break from that manipulation stunt. I'm still going to share all the positive BT stuff I see and all the beautiful Lou content I see.

Secondly, now that I am over the initial hurt of the breakup, I'm just mad. We were manipulated intentionally with 8x05 for us to feel worse when the break up happened. That was unnecessary. And that was cruel. And I know that a lot of this is because it was the icing on a shit week. Emotions were already raw due to the election and it was reallllllyyyy bad timing for this, but that doesn't make the way they did it okay, just that it can explain why there was such a strong reaction for many of us, on top of the completely justified anger.

Breakups happen, and that's okay. If it was the end of Tommy's time on the show, that's okay. I am a Buck girlie and I always will be. But... the breakup was reductive, stereotypical, and just poor storytelling. I get they want to leave doors open a crack, because you never truly know, but turning him into an OOC stereotypical biphobic gay man is disgusting. You had this beautiful thing and you shat on it. I am going to do another post about my personal relationship with groundbreaking storylines next.

That was a miscommunication. That was a breakup where someone chases after you and is like wtf actually just happened. It felt like whiplash, because that is not how breakups are formulated in media. You know how else you could have written him out of the story?

At the date (and the basketball tickets are actually a really sweet touch when you think about it) Tommy could have told Buck that he got a job offer in another city or state or that his parents are ill and he has to go home to take care of them and asked Buck to go with him. At the apartment, it could have been buck telling him that as much as he could see a future with him, he can't go with him.

Would it have sucked? Yes. But it wouldn't have induced this amount of rage.

For over six months Lou and BTs have been at the receiving amount of a ton of vitriol. And that's not to say that there weren't antagonizers on this side of the fence or that BTs never did anything wrong, but this isn't a both sides bullshit piece. People can suck everywhere, but only one "side" harassed an actor and his family with death threats, he read about the "stoning" calls, used slurs on a regular basis. All of this persisted for months for it to turn out that he was the only one who seemed to give a shit about the story and it's representation. There honestly doesn't seem like there would have been anyone better for it.

You know what's ironic? It was the Buddie's hate and vitriol that pulled me into fandom and made me love Tommy and then Lou. When they would run their mouths, I would look into it and I found a man who genuinely seems like (he is still someone we don't know) a wonderfully kind, sweethearted, genuine man. He looks like a bundle of light and his smile can warm even the coldest hearts. So their vitriol made me a fan. So thanks BoBs.

Buck and Tommy wasn't just about Buck's queerness and definitely not about "wanting to see two white men kiss". It was about our love for Buck. We saw him happier and more fulfilled than he's ever been. We see his life being lived and full of love and stuff and joy.

Again:

We fell in love with Tommy because he made Buck fall in love with Evan.

And you know what, not matter how reductive and all the phobics that breakup was, they can never take that away from us.

[rebeltigera]

Absolutely obsessed with V!Wukong and Blind!Macaque.

I have questions, overall comments and some hypothesized things. (Feel free to ignore or not answer all of them, but the ADHD has kicked in and I gotta splurge because YES)

OKAY! So;

You’ve mentioned in the past that B!Macaque is terrified of Wukong because of what was done to him, PTSD is a bitch. How would V!Wukong get around this to show that, to Mac, he’s not a threat?

* My first thought was, oh! He could start leaving his things around that smell like him so Macaque gets used to his smell, but that seemed more like training a dog, so probably not. But maybe?

Would V! Wukong try and steal Macaque some new eyes that work or an elixir that could heal his sight? Is it possible for his sight to even be healed at this point? Is that something Macaque would even want?

Once some time has passed and Macaque got more comfortable with this Wukong, would Macaque show his growing trust for V!Wukong by grooming his fur? Or allowing V!Wukong to groom him?

How would they show their growing intimately outside of… well, physical affection? Would they feed one another? Pick out clothes they know the other likes? Little things unique to them.

Would V!Wukong ever tell B!Macaque about his macaque? And if he did, how long would it take him to open up? Same scenario with Macaque, how long would it take him to open up?

I like to imagine that the word “Destiny” is a forbidden word for both of them. Neither of them like hearing it. Good way to get V!Wikong to start growling.

Your B!Macaque is so beautiful, he reminds me of a delicate crystal flower, I like to imagine V!Wukong is scared to touch him for a while because he’s afraid he’ll break him further.

V!Wukong violently protecting B!Macaque is something that just makes my heart happy for some reason, and B!Macaque gently cleaning up and healing him afterwards even though V!Wukong is the last person who’d ever need healing is such a tender vision in my mind.

Okay, I believe that’s the end of my rambling. I can’t think of anything else at the moment. I hope you have a wonderful day!

THE TISM HAS TISMED AAAA LOVE IT-

IDK why y'all decided that this ship is interesting after like - one art sksksmssm

But alr

... Oh boy the first one -

To be honest? I Don't know, maybe it would be his charm, the little things he'd do , or that he'd rescue Mac from falling into his own shadows. I didn't ever thought much about it

Mac wouldn't notice him at first . His heartbeat concealed, his power too. Wukong would indeed leave little things around but not in a "find my smell comforting way" . He would do that , move cluttery n dishes to more accessible places. Mac tend to leave them in the sun (to see them through shadows) but once the sun is gone they are gone from his view cuz they don't leave shadow anymore or are concealed by it.

Mac's eyes are not able to heal anymore. However Wukong would find a way to connect in a way their eyes. It wouldn't be permanent thing , just sometimes. See what I see kind of thing

Mac might not want but would need it. Because the last thing he saw was Wukong striking him . And it stuck like super glue.

Wukong might be the one to get a grooming session first. He'd be so confused and scared in a way . Like- he wouldn't expect that and sit obediently like a puppet till Mac would be done . Wukong wouldn't get to touch his fur tho.

Casual Physical affection would be everything to them . Because they both would be reluctant to it at the start .

Wukong wanting to touch but never doing so , Mac starved for it but never asking for it .

So their trust would be shown by it fully .

One thing that I can think of rn is that wuk would wake him up by gentle touches. He relies mostly on his hearing nowadays so it would be nice n comforting.

Whisper when he'd get a feeling Mac would get overwhelmed.

Outside of it , cooking , clothing etc etc - yeah it would happen

About telling him about his task- he wouldn't. Coming to that universe his memories become no more than flashes of the past. He doesn't even know what he searched so long for . He still get flashes of past Mihou and it brings him pang of pain but it'll pass.

For Mac to open up- months? Maybe years . Once he'd realize that V!Wuk is not a threat It would be easier. Wukong got nothing to hide from him so he'd be open like a book.

Mac speaking of destiny

Wukong growling it's bullshit, while hugging him closer

He'd get some pats.

The other moments he might growl more would be in safe heaven called nest, but it's story for a different acc sksksks

Wukong indeed would be scared to hurt him. Those bloodied hands are the one that destroy everything. He wouldn't dare to taint Mac with em. He would have moments when he'd think if he held him too strong he might crush him . Just like that.

The last thing might've happen , but wukong would rather want to keep to himself if he'd ever got hurt or dirty with blood . Mac is too pure.

[hollowed-theory-hall]

Harry’s life at the Dursley makes me extra side when I remember he was a baby when he came to them. It makes me wonder when did he start sleeping in the cupboard?

And then I spiral and think about Harry calling Petunia mom when he is three years old. How did she raise him until he became a kid? And I think about him doing art during Mother and Father’s Day for his uncle and his aunt and them throwing it in the bin. Did he try to listen Petunia read a story to Dudley? Did he ever learn how to swim with school and he just never learnt?

And it makes me so, so sad.

It is. Everything about Harry's childhood breaks my heart. I already talked about it here and here.

We actually have a very depressing answer about the swimming lessons bit from GoF:

He wasn’t a very good swimmer; he’d never had much practice. Dudley had had lessons in his youth, but Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon, no doubt hoping that Harry would drown one day, hadn’t bothered to give him any.

Which I take to mean he had maybe, like, two or three lessons for swimming at school and that's it.

As for the other stuff, I don't remember direct answers so you're going to hear my headcanons:

1. I think Harry never called Petunia "mom". When he was a baby he still could remember his mother and as he grew up he got used to calling her "Aunt Petunia" so he never called her mom except for maybe one time on accident when he was 3 or 4 which he was screamed at for: "I'm not you're mother, Freak!" and probably also slapped for.

2. I think when he was very very young, like, younger than 2-3 Petunia did put more effort in keeping him alive immediately after her sister's death and with Dumbledore's letter/threat fresh in her mind. But slowly she saw nothing happened and no one came when she treated Harry badly, so it emboldened the Duesleys.

I also think Harry started showing magic at a very young age, like 4-5, and when he did, Petunia and Vernon moved him to the cupboard and their treatment of him worsened even more.

After all, Petunia remembers her childhood with Lily who could do magic, she would recognize it for what it is — and she and Vernone are terrified of it. That's why the moment Harry showed signs of magic I believe they moved him to the cupboard to keep him away from Dudley.

3. The idea you brought up about little Harry making a family drawing of him with the Dursleys and Petunia scrunching her nose before throwing it in the bin in front of Harry's face.... shit, that's so sad and I'm sure it happened. I just imagine baby Harry's face, all proud of his drawing and not fully understanding the Dursleys yet with his cute nose and big green eyes and he would be so disappointed. I don't think he'd cry though. I think by that point he learned Vernon and Petunia don't like him crying.

4. I think the next year he drew himself with how he imagines his parents to be and he hides it from the Dursleys because Harry's a fast learner. I'm sure he spent nights dreaming about who his parents were from the very little information he got out of Petunia.

5. I can definitely see a young Harry crouching near Dudley's bedroom door as Petunia tells him a story. And then when she's done, he'd run away quickly so he won't be caught.

6. As a bit of a continuation of sneaking around to listen to bedtime stories, I think watching television at the Dursleys was similar. We know from canon Harry did use the time the Dursleys were away to watch television or play on Dudley's computer:

“You could just leave me here,” Harry put in hopefully (he’d be able to watch what he wanted on television for a change and maybe even have a go on Dudley’s computer) .

(PS)

Though I don't think the Dursleys allowed him to do it, he just got good at sneaking around when they're not there. I'm saying that since Harry mentions Mrs. Figg lets him watch television:

She let Harry watch television and gave him a bit of chocolate cake that tasted as though she’d had it for several years.

(PS)

So it seems he wasn't usually allowed to watch television or play on Dudley's computer. I think the way Harry watches television when the Dursleys are home is by standing at the doorway and watching without them noticing (that's why he can't pick what to watch). I mean, we kinda see him doing it in OotP when he lays beneath the window to listen to the news on their television without them knowing.

Yeah, Harry's childhood was so depressing and I think the books actually portray him and how his childhood affected him well considering the books were limited in what they were allowed to show. I think the signs of trauma and abuse are clear if you look for them, even if they're not all called out in an obvious manner.

Writing this post just made me super sad now for Harry. My boy deserved so much better.

[willmiwi]

Buck and Eddie moving in together is going to be so beautiful bc i can kinda see it as buck not being able to leave Eddie's side after breaking up w Tommy and Eddie not wanting him to. He sleeps on the couch at first but then Eddie suggests they share the bed, jokingly saying something like 'i don't bite, promise !' and so buck does and at some point he may feel like he's overstaying and imposing but then Eddie will tell him after work "you're coming home with me right? I'm ordering in Chinese" and buck relaxes back in on himself bc if Eddie had a problem w him staying over too much, he would tell him. instead, he seems to enjoy his company as much as he does. And so then at some point buck never leaves except to go water his plants at the loft and to get his bills. Then, Chris comes back and nothing changes. He doesn't seem the least faced that buck hasn't gone back to the loft in 2 weeks, if anything he seems thrilled he's there all the time. And so, they settle into this routine: Buck always wakes up first, take the first shower and starts cooking up breakfast before going to wake Chris up for school. it's a bit later before he hears Eddie in the shower and then he's there in the kitchen with them, coffee in hand talking with Chris about school and what they can have for dinner tonight. Then, they hop in buck's jeep (buck drives) and they drive Chris off to school while chatting about how they're running low on groceries so they should probably go get some after their shift. They drop Chris off with a kiss on the cheek and a loud MWAH while Chris groans and walks off and then they head off to work. And. the thing is. no one even bats an eye at them getting to work on the same car, both freshly showered. No one questions it. And the entire thing is so comfortable and so easy to sink into buck doesn't dare say anything about it. he doesn't think he needs to.

That is, until Maddie corners him weeks later and tells him. "you're dating him" buck splutters and goes "no I'm not!" "you are living together. I know that. chimney told me you both get to work in the same car. You moved in with him and I know it's not at your place bc i dropped by the other day after ur shift and u weren't there" "...... I could. be somewhere... I have a life u know " "buck." "okay FINE I'm living with him but I'm not dating him" " what is it you said to me? you're dating him without dating him. I thought when u dated someone u Actually dated them" And buck can't do anything other than pout bc yeah okay she's got a point but also. Rude . So rude.

[voice-of-the-tired]

(ramblings of a madman upcoming. this is borderline nonsensical but I just gotta get this out there)

ugh, I LOVE the voices parallels so much. they make me insane. and I've been thinking about opportunist/hunted and skeptic/smitten the most rn.

for the first two, in their respective chapter 2s they are survival responses put in situations where said responses are entirely reasonable, but will end up reinforcing the "status quo" if entertained. this is somewhat the case with most of the voices, but I think it's especially noticeable with them.

the opportunist has a "betray them before they ever get the chance to betray you" mentality, and would you look at that, the witch has the very same mentality! and he is CORRECT in thinking she will betray you. because she will. but by following him and what he thinks, you're just making it impossible to break the cycle of violence (this is literally the point of the thorn).

the hunted behaves... well, like prey, and uh. the beast IS a predator. he IS prey. she is hunting them. but if you just follow your instincts you'll never be able to free her, or defeat her, or leave together or learn about reconciliation or do anything else that isn't survive.

so their situations are reinforcing their behaviour, then their behaviour in turn reinforces their situation; they are stuck in a cycle. at least with the hunted you can have the skeptic to make a plan later on in the den, I guess. but it's still a fascinating thing.

I think the stubborn and the broken chapters are a bit similar to them in this regard, but those have more to do with giving meaning to the princess and choosing whether or not you should fight against it in the end. it's a bit of a different situation. skeptic and smitten also don't quite... doom themselves if you just follow them, even though they actively feed into the chapter's "concepts", because they're sort of "tools" made to complement and help you towards your goal (free the princess through skepticism or blind devotion) as opposed to survival responses.

talking about them... oh boy, skeptic and smitten in their respective chapter 2s. you can just go through with whatever the plan was (leave with her), but if you don't, they won't ever get the only thing they sought and will hurt others (and themselves) in their desperation. you take away smitten's happy ending, and you leave skeptic without answers, and to that they just. fucking lose it. going with the previous tool comparation, you could say that's what happens when a "tool" isn't useful in a specific situation any longer. it can't do anything else except for its designated function. so

when the illusion that love makes everything possible and that all you and the princess needed was each other shattered, the smitten couldn't believe it. this was everything he ever wanted and everything he knew; you are the hero. she is a damsel. you are in love. you save the damsel and live happily ever after. that's what HAD to happen, and if it didn't, then it will. he has to make it happen, because it can't and shouldn't work in any other way.

in the prisoner, if you don't take her head, you are shoved into eternal nothingness while left with only questions. what is this place? who is the narrator? what is he hiding? who is the princess? why is she locked up? how could she end the world? is there a world? where is it? why are we the ones doing this? why did the princess cut off her head? not only could they not go through with saving the princess like they tried before, but there are SO many questions, and skeptic didn't get any answers! they can't be left unanswered, the truth HAS to be unraveled. that's what he's been trying to do all along. it's the only thing that matters. they WILL keep going and they WILL figure it out.

they are too obsessed to care about anything else. they are too stuck in their tunnel vision to accept anything else. they are too far gone to do anything else.

lord help me I am going insane because of this game /pos

[threepandas]

After The War: Foxx Hunting (Prev <-)

"Commander."

On anyone else, the tone would suggest simple statement. But there was a lilt. A slight inflection, I had long learned to spot, at the end of the word. That made it a greeting. A call. Monotone filled with subtle, near untraceable mocking.

"Tired of running yet, Commander? Or do you want to struggle more? You can, if you want. I can let you. We have time. After all, it really won't change much. There's no where you can go."

Head tilted ever so slightly, at an almost an invisible angle. Posture, military perfect, impossibly so. That perfection bought with pain, torture, born out of brutal necessity. His lips quirked, in an amused curl. At just that same, impossibly slight amount. Too small and indistinct for his tormentors to notice. To take from him.

Just enough to stay human, I had thought. Too stay sane, I had hoped.

I was wrong.

My biggest mistake hunted me. Had all the power in the GALAXY now, to hunt me. All the time he could ever dream, in which to do so. And it was all my fault. Me. It had to be. I... I was the only thing that changed. Tried to make things... things BETTER!

How arrogant. Hubristic. Who the fuck was I? To think I had the RIGHT, to shape and change the fate of an entire GALAXY to my whims? I didn't even know the story. Had been GUESSING, based off STAR WARS. So... so fucking confident. A-and what did that get me? Oh god. O-Oh god!

The blaster burns on my arms and legs screamed, as I forced myself up, one more time. Always, please god, always! J-just one more time! Don't give out on me yet. Not.. not until we are safe. Then. Then! We can cry. Howl and weep, break down and scream.

(My fault. My Fault. MY FAUL-)

None of the characters were an exact match. People were and weren't where they should be. Plots happened out of sequence or not at all. So why? WHY? Did I believe so hard in the Clones? IS it because I loved, still LOVE, the Vode? Did that trust transfer? That emotional connection? Was I tricked? Or was I just a fool? Does it MATTER in the end? If the result is the same?

I brought a monster, straight to Power.

Now they're dead. All my brothers, my sisters, my mentors and friends. Dead, dead, DEAD! Glowing weapons on the ground and a temple filled with DEATH. D-Did the nurseries get out? Please, oh god, let the children have survived my mistake.

Blood stains my robes. Only a tiny fraction of it, is mine.

Sticky and slick, oily and so many colors. The blood does not mix. Too many species, too much ash from the air. If I do not clean or remove it soon? I am likely to get chemical burns, from the reactions developing on the cloth. But again and again. My mistake finds me. A pursuit predator. Intent on wearing me down.

"How long will you try, Commander? You know just as well as I do, that I can afford to wait you out. You'll drop eventually." His tone was so mild, even as his words were horrifying. Overhead, a transport kept steady pace, as I desperately ran from commandos on the streets. "How many days has it been without proper rest? Rations? To stop and think? We've survived far worse then this, Commander. For far longer. We can endure, can you?"

I pull my magic around me, through my screaming legs, to fling myself across a jump they shouldn't be able to make.

Despair surges, as behind me... I hear jetpacks. Ah. They've gotten better gear, at long last. E-Everything I've ever wished for them. Gear and food and safety, at long last! A-At long last. I have to laugh, hysterical and afraid. I just... I just never thought my wish? Would be fulfilled for the purpose of hunting me down.

(I'm so tired. Please, god. No more. Let it stop. Let this nightmare END!)

Jumping, I land in a roll on a level several floors down. The impact is ugly. Agony on my burns and bruises. I may have not taken any direct hits? But those glancing strikes? Still leave marks. Trails of seared, blistering, blaster burns. Like tiger strips. As though you hade been struck, by whip made of fire. Not to mention the concussion grenades.

Yeah, half way through the attack, the Clones had stumbled. Either broken free of the Not Sith's control or come to their senses, deciding to switch to non-lethal weapons. Probably trying to go for the capture instead of the kill. But given the sheer variety of the Knights? One Being's sedative was another's lethal toxin. And the gas attacks...

I... I'm still not even sure if... if Master Rim'Llahiy survived long enough, to get to the healers. The seizures were BAD. He... he didn't deserve that. All he'd ever done, was keep the gardens. Live a quite life. T...Try to defend his home.

Around me, as I run, screens light up. Somehow, I'm the focal point. I... I don't know how he's doing this. It has to be Sketch or Gear, one of the Slicers. Who else could hack into so many systems so easily? The... the knowledge that they're helping him? That everyone of the Guard is HELPING him hunt me? I feel sick.

Was any of it real? Was I friends with ANY of them? Or... Or was I just them happy little slave master, patting myself on the back, because I didn't beat them, unlike the others? Aren't I gracious. Don't you just love me? Say thank you for my grace. Let me feel good about my self! My pretty little charity of the day! Before I skip back off to fairy land! Leaving you all in hell.

Do I deserve this? I... I have to deserve this... right?

Even though I tried. Even though I fought and fought and FOUGHT. Even when that Not A Sith BASTARD tried to kill me at every turn, just to shut me the fuck up, and I WOULDN'T. Because they deserved to be free. Because it was WRONG. Because we took VOWS, remember? Days and days, convincing and campaigning.

I have to... to somehow, deserve this. Because? B-because if I DON'T?

Then What Have I DONE?

City levels and blocks blur together. I couldn't tell you where on this god forsaken ecumenopolis I am anymore. But the others! The others have gotten off planet by now. Surely... surely! They have escaped! Right? They HAVE too. I-It HAS to have been worth it. Becoming bait. M-making myself a target. This... this one last time?

It.. it was WORTH it. Right? Right?!

Please! Please god! Let it have been WORTH IT!!

I skid around a corner. Too tight, not judging it right in my panic, my shoulder clipping the wall hard. Scraping flesh through my robes. Just more bruises and hurt to add to the pile. I don't slow. Can't slow. Feel it but push the pain away. The crash later will be ugly, when I release the magics flowing through me. When the adrenaline fades. But... but either I will live to endure it? Or it will not matter at all.

Too late, though, I see the trap.

I have been corralled. Like a a sheep from my first life, harried by dogs into a pen. Tricked into a corner. No where left to go. The platform I thought was a street? Was an alley between two buildings, leading to a third. A perfect little killbox with only one way out. I stumble, horrified, as I register the truth too late. Spin, already knowing it's too late to double back. But hoping... HOPING....!

Jetpacks. The commando squadron of the guards, touching down at the entrance, a solid line of armor and skill. Better weapons, jet packs, upgraded armor. They... they even seem rested. For the first time in years.

A stark reversal. Now it is I, who is barely holding on. Now I am the one, who has been ground to dust, by the exhaustion of fighting without end. Of running and running. No real food and no real rest. No medicine. No help coming. I want to laugh, scream, weep. So it's to be poetic justice, is it?

But I can not give in.

Forgive me. But I can not, WILL NOT give in. Body exhausted, I draw my blade. The plasma humming as the magics charge. The alleyway fills with light. I took Vows. Owe my soul to the Galaxy and it's people. Regardless of Regime, I have service I must complete. And to do that? I have to be alive.

(I don't care, that they took over. Let them have it. But how could you? How COULD YOU?! The Temple was my home. I am a hypocrite. Here, at the end, I must face that. And now I know it to be true.)

The ship over head dips lower, kicking up a hurricane of wind. My robes whip around me, but I do not move from my opening stance. Ready, not ready, but resigned to it none the less. The Commandos are a silent wall as, from above, a rip cord descends. Clipped to it? Marshall Commander... no, Supreme Commander Foxx.

The Clones newly elected Emperor.

A man I THOUGHT was my friend.

He looked nothing like Commander Fox of the Vode. Hair too long and curling. Face deceptively young looking and boyish. Non regulation piercing hidden under the helmet all Guards wore, day in and day out. They hadn't been able to customize their armor like the others. So they customized themselves.

He wasn't in armor, now. It was somehow worse. The dress uniform an affront, a reminder, like a curse of broken glass. I... I hadn't even known he owned such a thing. It made sense, given his old position. Yet, somehow... somehow? I doubted this was the uniform he had been given. It looked... looked Regal.

"Are we done, now? Got it out of your system? Or should one of us put you on the ground first? Grind your face right against the filthy floor?"

His voice was mild as ever, as he calmly unclipped himself, let the cord retract. He tucked his hands behind his back. Strolled forward with measured steps, assessing eyes, like a general examining untested troops. Picking me apart for weakness, looking for openings in my stance. Injuries on my body. I had seen him do this before. Just... just never thought... it'd be used... a-against me. (How arrogant, I had been.)

"This can stop at any time, Commander. All you have to do? Is stop running. You don't have to worry anymore. I'm not going to hurt you. We're not going to hurt you. You've struggled long enough, don't you think? It's time to be done. To come home. Be taken care off. That's all we want to do, Darling. Commander."

"Surely you can see, that it's BETTER this way? No more war. No more Knights on sabotaged missions. Diplomats to war zones. Children where they shouldn't BE. The Order can be SAFE now. YOU can be safe now. Loved and precious as you always should have been. It's okay now, Commander. Come here. It's okay..."

Foxx's eyes blazed with conviction. They had been brown, like his brothers. They... oh god, they SHOULD have been brown. But as I stared into his face, at those unfamiliar eyes on what should be so familiar a form? Red stared back. The red, Red, RED, of the Fallen.

Foxx had been... had been Energy Sensitive. The Cloners had fucking LIED, when they said it wasn't possible. I had always suspected. Didn't dare bring attention to it. Didn't want my friend to be... to be KILLED. Experimented on. I should have trained him. Done more.

Desperate people will reach for anything, to stop themselves from drowning. And the Dark offers such tempting things. Vengeance and Power. Freedom, no matter the cost. It pays sweetly then corrupts slow. There is always a cost.

I can not risk it.

Shifting my weight to my front leg, in preparation to surge forward, I never get the chance. A two fold thwip! And sharp pinch in my upper arm. I got the first. But the second... a? Dart? No. NO! Panicked, I flood my body with the magics meant to purge drugs and... instantly the world spins. I have somehow just made it worse. W-what?

"Confiscated from slavers, 'bout five months back. It's a high end drug." The Commando with the dart gun said, as though commentingon the weather. "Fairly new, too. Made to react specifically to the Cosmic Energies. Our esteemed Chancellor, may he rot as he deserves, had them developed through several shell companies."

"Really wish you hadn't done that, Commander. Cause, see, the side effects? Are pretty nasty." Foxx commented. Various helmets nodded, the guards body language sympathetic but lacking any remorse. What ever it took to bring me in. To make me Safe.

"Now you're going to be sick for a while. But on the other hand? You are a stubborn one. So maybe this'll give you time to think, hmm? Time to enjoy the pampering a bit. You'll get used to it, learn to be good for me. I know you. You're a smart girl."

My legs couldn't hold me anymore. Despite struggling, I couldn't keep my blade at the ready. Helplessly, I watched as he watched forward. Used a single finger, on the hilt, to push my blade to the side. The lightest of tugs, stealing it from me entirely. At long last, the tears came. I... I was scared. Really, really scared. P-please... Foxx, please...

"Hunts over, Commander. It's time to stop running. You've lost."

"But, that? That's okay. You can lose now. Be weak. Wretched and pathetic and flawed. You don't have to be perfect any more, Commander. I've got you. You're Mine. Ours. Perfect, just the way you are. And today?"

"Today is the start of the rest of your new life, Commander."

"Welcome to the Empire."

[leggerefiore]

I fear now we need all of the men navigating NNN. My beloved man Cyrus would see no problem with the challenge and would probably call it dumb

Cyrus is victorious by default. His low libido makes it no challenge, after all. Though, he absolutely is not actively participating. He finds the concept dumb and sees no reason to indulge it. He just wins because he does not ever really seek sex unless it's to appease his partner or to cope with horribly strong emotions. Basically, as long as you don't demand sex nor does anything make emotions run high, he's winning without trying.

Grimsley is dying but trying his absolute damnedest. The gambler has the highest libido of the group and is the resident manwhore (before settling down with his partner… who now has to deal with his sexual appetite). Despite this, however, he loves a challenge. If you offer a bet to him about making it through November like this, he will agree. The price you pay will likely be something insane. He is surprisingly resolute about it all. He has trained himself to hide his emotions, after all. Teasing him seems ineffective. Though, he can and may break. In truth, it is a battle of his love of gambling versus sex.

Colress agrees. Why? Well, for one, he believes he can do just fine without sex. But, also, because this is valuable data! How will your bond with one another change due to the lack of sex? How will you react? How will he feel? He has read plenty of studies on the supposed benefits, but he is eager to see if they truly are to occur. Basically, November becomes a personal study for him. Be ready to he observed (as usual).

Nanu grumbles and says no. He is not having his schedule and sexual proclivity dictated by some internet meme. He is too damn old for that. If you want to go in on it, be his guest. He has handled his own needs before, and he can handle them now. Will not participate and cannot be convinced.

Lear is bewildered, but it is a challenge. He scoffs and says that seems easy enough. A month without sex or masturbation? Nothing in comparison to his training to be king. Behold his kingly restraint! (He breaks down halfway in and demands that you stop, too. He is about to snap.)

N doesn't know what you're talking about. He just blinks. Going without nuts for a month? He supposes that some people with nut allergies deal with this for a lifetime, so a month should not be impossible. Do not try to explain further. It is not worth it. He can win by default, too, since he's not inclined towards sex. He mostly meets his partner's needs in that department.

Volo squints his eyes at you. Why are you proposing this to him? He feels as if you are messing with him. Even if you try to explain, there is little to do to convince him. Wager the Azure Flute or something, and he might agree. His willpower is quite terrifying solely towards Arceus. Otherwise, he is not giving up sex for some frivolous challenge. Even pulling the Arceus's Chosen card fails.

Maxie ponders what the hell you are talking about and agrees because you make some comment about Archie being able to do it. Of course, he can go a month without that! He is a man of science and restraint. He suffers endlessly, and his temper is flaring. Magma grunts will beg you to call off whatever you did to their boss. He gives up nearly at the end.

Archie is going to refuse since he doesn't really see how that could be fun or anything beneficial to him. It is only when you mention Maxie apparently being able to do it that he agrees. He surprisingly makes it through the entire month. His mood is barely effected. Maxie is mortified when he hears the news.

Giovanni thinks you're insane, laughs at you, and says no. Then, when you mention it being a display of his strength, he reconsiders. Suddenly, he devotes his entire focus to such a thing and proving you wrong. He will make it through by becoming extremely pissy and by the skin of his teeth. His prize is locking you away for a day and making up for the lost month.

Lysandre supposes he has heard of something like that before. Yet, strangely, nothing can convince him to participate. It simply cannot be done. He says it is a waste of time and energy. (In truth, he simply cannot deny himself pleasure and uses sex as a way to express his love.)

[universalzones]

Blaze was left with a rather sour taste in her mouth after that short interaction, though it only showed that Amy was correct about this Abe. Though she still had her options, and perhaps it was time to call in some reinforcements of her own. The feline harnessing some of her power before opening up a portal. The moment she did a large knight that might even make people like Storm look small walked through. They wore heavy armor and a helmet which covered their face. On their right shoulder was a emblem with the seven Sol Emeralds with the red on in the center slightly larger. "Were you, waiting for me to open a portal?"

"Your mother had a vision of you needing aid in the future a week ago and requested I wait at the palace gates on this day." The voice was deep, though still feminine. "How may I be of service your Highness?"

"Of course she did. Even though she is long retired from her role of training me to be guardian she still can't help worry about me." Blaze had taken role while her mother shifted her entire focus on running the Sol Empire as such is their way. Though he mother always had the ability to peek into the future, and this allowed her great advantages. "Give me a moment." The feline would sit on the ground, crossing her legs.

Blaze would begin sensing where everyone was, picking up that Lanolin seemed to be heading towards the west check point with a group while the other went to the east. "Head to the east check point, though don't engage unless The Restoration does or they attack you. I shall guide you while speaking to Lanolin."

"At once you're highness. If they are foolish enough to engage me in battle I'll make them regret it." The knight bowed before rushing off at a rather impressive speed for someone of their size.

Blaze would start guiding the knight as best she could with the limited knowledge of the base, though would also connect to Lanolin mental. "Lanolin, can you hear me? If you can I have requested some aid from my world and have them heading to the opposite check point."

===========================================================

"Well, I've seen those two fight before, at least for a small bit so I don't think they were. It does seem like Surge was simply trying to catch Sonic. Though that is the real question. Why?" Belle nor Lanolin didn't have to wait long as Tails voice came on the intercom and began to try and talk Sonic down. Seemed like this was a moment where the hedgehog was mad which surprised her. The tinkerer never thought he was the type to be angry.

"Then I'll try to calm him down while you keep heading to the check point. With any luck I should be able to rejoin you with Sonic and Surge behind me. Gaia knows we'll need both of them calm and collective to try and get GUN to back off." Belle didn't want any fighting to break out, though if it comes to that having those two work together would be good.

The general nodded his head to the Princess playing the diplomat seemed to suit him. He was absolutely emotionless the entire time even when threatened as subtle or not so subtle by the princess his features barely changed. He seemed to agree to her terms, it was a small victory but perhaps what they needed to keep this conflict from spiraling out of hand.

" Agreeable terms, and i trust your people won't do anything foolish in return... i want to resolve this peacefully as well princess. We both have orders and people to answer to. Let's try to keep a level head despite the tensions. "

He said in a calmer tone as his eyes turned as if someone was speaking to him off screen.

" If you'll excuse me i have to attend to other matters. But i'll keep this line open, for further communications. Don't hesitate to call should you require it... "

The screen blipped and went dark, though the line was open the communication went dark for now. Seemed the Princess was up against quite a skilled soldier, if only in his ability to keep his intentions hidden.

============================================

Lanolin knew it was a risk to involve the giant Wisp, but right now she was looking for advantages. The wisps had been there stalwart allies for awhile now. Her hope was that having such a powerful ally would force GUN to back off or think twice about any sort of hostility. Despite her anger at the situation and GUN as a whole. She didn't want this to blow up into a real fight.

" I know Belle... involving the Wisp has it's risks but we need a solid advantage. Right now if GUN decided to be hostile we'd get over run in seconds... even if sonic and Surge was here... they'd have to focus on the air ships. We need a solid deterrent she's our best shot..."

Though the burst of air nearly toppled her Lanolin was a big girl, and she managed to keep her feet on the ground. She reached down to help Belle back up only to have to jump back to avoid getting run over by surge! She reached out to Belle and pulled her back to her feet. Her eyes locked on the direction the two ran.

" I hope that's not a fight between those two, that's the last thing we need right now... and--- no i think she was chasing Sonic. Best case they are rushing to help someone... worst case they are in middle of a high speed battle against each other. Wish we had..."

She stopped as Miles came over the intercom talking to Sonic? She was confused more then ever. Was there first thoughts utterly backwards? Was Surge trying to Stop Sonic? Then it hit her like a ton of bricks! the reality of the situation turned dark real fast--- Sonic was the one about to attack GUN! because of what happened to Amy!

" He found out about Amy... this is bad, if Sonic starts a War between both sides it could spiral out of hand fast..."

[sabrondabrainrot]

It's tinfoil hat times I have more observations for eagle eyes listeners (yes a Nightvale ref)

This will contain spoilers for recent TSAMS and LAES!

I gotta go to bed so I won't be able to contain everything but just some stuff I noticed recently and something I've been thinking about.

I won't be as organized as usual, warning spoilers below!

Picking apart what Dark Sun said and did...he used the word expunge. I don't know if this is problem of VA's picking a word that sounds cool...or they picked it know what it means? Expunge is a word that means 'to remove', 'delete', 'strike from the record'. So...why would he collect data on Sun's choice to kill Nexus and expunge that across the multiverse? Why would deleting that make Suns turn on Moons? I'm too tired to think about it past this but...it's interesting. What if D!Sun did delete something?

The biggest thing between Sun and choosing to kill...its his love and trust...but I wonder how Sun's decision to choose the greater good and his family would delete something? That sparkle nighttime Sun was beating his Moon while crying that he hated him...but did he actually? How can we know? I can't wait to find out more about the entire Sun on Moon violence. D!Sun said it was his hate for Nexus but that's not the case...because Sun himself stated he still can't get himself to hate Nexus. We also know, the only reason Sun's magic worked was because of what Ruin did...so I think my theory about the NSP and SP interacting to possibly make Nexus into a new being still stands. D!Sun knew Ruin planted that device when he made Sun choose.

I feel like history just keeps repeating itself where Sun's choices will never be choices and his decision will always be made for him. Moving into more stuff! The recent episodes omigod!!! Moon! He finally stepped up! I still have many things to point out though. I was talking in @goodolddumbbanana dms because like...we're both still disappointed by the episodes...(I won't type the entire dms cause like I want banana to do their piece too without me speaking over them)

When Moon talked to Sun at the pier, he still managed to make it about himself. Did anyone else notice that? He turned it into his normal "I hate myself" routine. He proceeded to let Sun know he's the best brother ever...but Sun just...I don't think he believes it. Even if Lunar and Earth also both tell him that. Even Solar. He just won't believe it.

Looking at how Sun's entire...existence has gone, it's pretty understandable why he'd think and feel this way.

He hasn't been shown by his family (except Earth) he's the best so why would he believe it? Especially coming from Moon who's done nothing but lie to him and break promises. Moon stepped up but...was acting annoyed to take care of Sun. He just was acting like he was ready to get stuff over with. Then...When Sun finally asked the million dollar question. "Did you hate me? Do you hate me?" He's always been asking that and never got a straight answer. Moon has always acted like he really did hate him in the past. Worst of all? Moon told Sun he did.

He told his emotionally beaten brother who's soul is shattered, that 'Yes Sun, I did hate you'...Moon...being honest in this particular situation...I don't think it's the best idea.

Moon, to an emotionally unstable - highly fragile - Sun, basically confirmed Sun's darkest fear. The soul deep ache Sun feels. It's not...gratifying...Sun may now have closure that 'wow he treated me like that because he did hate me' but the big issues with this? Moon has not really changed how he treats Sun. He stopped physically hurting him but he still hurts him. In small ways. We saw that first hand in the last few eps. He left to avoid Sun entirely. He broke promise after promise. He'd rather throw himself a pity party then buck up and just be there for Sun.

Sun always leads with the best intentions. He tells Moon he loves him. He encourages him. He builds him up. (I think i've said this before lol)

Then we get the MVP Earth ep. That episode was honest to God beautiful. Earth is an amazing sister and Kat knocked it out of the ball park with her vocal performance today. She put in so much emotion. I like how Earth's breaking point wasn't her taking care of Dazzle or Sun. Her breaking point was how her family was treating her and Sun like shit. They both left them to their own devices. It was so sad. I was wondering when they kept showing Solar who was taking care of Sun and honestly it makes so much sense it was Earth.

Then in the same episode she said Lunar is acting strange. I'm going to be honest, I know exactly why Lunar is acting mad at Earth.

I don't get a ton of opportunity to talk about Lunar. In the recent episodes his sorest spot was prodded by Taurus. Taurus is basically telling him to get over himself.

Which...I don't agree with how Gemini and Taurus are going about it. Letting go of your hate and hurt is so important but them just telling Lunar to do it isn't going to work. He needs to be taught how to.

So why is Lunar mad at Earth? Never forget, Lunar hasn't developed much he's still a very selfish immature person. He's mad at Earth he's stagnating. He's blaming her for his stunted emotional growth. He chose to numb himself to deal with his emotions and if he admits that was wrong then it'd be a long time of wasted efforts. He would have so many regrets if he admits he's been doing everything wrong.

After all, If Lunar wasn't so apathetic about N!Moon would he have made a difference in him becoming Nexus? (No, but Lunar could be thinking about that)

Lunar, I believe, is blaming Earth for not 'fixing' him. He doesn't understand he needs to want to change himself for it to happen. (it's the same thing for Moon, he knows he's flawed but has given up on improving) I think Lunar just kind of assumed Earth was supposed to automatically make him better with him not doing any work himself.

Then the crux of why he's mad at Earth.

It's simple.

She's friends with Eclipse.

That's really what it is.

Think about it, he hates Eclipse. Eclipse is now in the front of his mind to the point he's acting odd and watching Nutella ads for hours. He's trying to mute his rage. What Taurus and Gemini said would anger anyone.

Telling a victim to not only get over their abuse but also get along with their abuser? It's plain wrong. Lunar has the right to hate Eclipse, the only problem is that it is harming him. Hatred will always be someone's undoing. It is a negative, putrid thing that only destroys.

He's been shoving his emotions down for so long they're bound to explode. I know Lunar loves Sun and wants to be there for him but he's been apathetic for so long now he can't. So he's lashing out and projecting his own self anger onto Earth. She's right there after all.

Solar is basically acting like a keeper to everyone and despite doing better for Sun, Solar is still emotionally distant. Moon physically isn't there. Lunar won't lash out at Monty. He won't take his frustration out on kids like Dazzle and Jack.

Earth is also just...too nice. So yeah, I absolutely understand why Lunar is angry at Earth. He's being totally unfair and immature about it too, because it's not like there's other problems, ie Sun is literally broken and can't leave bed.

but I digress, I like that Moon is stepping up. I just hope he doesn't keep dropping the ball. I think Sun right now truly doesn't think Moon cares...Moon is going to have to do a lot to show him otherwise. I'm glad Lunar finally checked on Sun and I hope he does it more often, because Sun loves Lunar too. He loves the entire family. Earth was right to cry about how they were failing Sun.

I'm really proud of Earth and Solar for stepping up to help Sun.

[tubbytarchia]

Wild Life Session 4 smallidarity thoughts (+ some Scar and Lizzie)

See it was all fine, nothing to worry about!! Joel couldn't bring himself to kill Jimmy, he barely even harmed him. I'm pretty sure he shot him just once (after Jimmy trampled their crops so. fair)? Joel calmed down, he rebuilt his car, everything is fine. He says at the start that he's wary of Jimmy because of him going after Joel last time, and that's about it for the time being

Jimmy dies and Joel makes a deal out of it and calls him a muppet. As per usual. Meanwhile Jimmy is still adamant to get at Joel whilst Scar tries to deter him because they want to be an alliance

He and Jimmy meet up at some point after their brief interaction at the start where Joel shot him, and they just banter. And Gem and Scar are just standing there like "guyss we're a family come on" meanwhile Joel and Jimmy's exchange goes as follows: Jimmy: "you're the ones with tasty lives!" Joel: "yeah bet you wish you could have a chunk of me!" "Oh I'm having a chunk out of you!" "Yeah and you know where to take that chunk out of!" "Oh I'm gonna take it! I'm taking it!" "You should!" And then Gem and Scar tell them to break it up and Joel goes "we're just flirting!!" ? what the fuck? Genuinely WHAT are they talking about. is this an innuendo of some sort. is this another ambiguous smallidarity sex scene sorry who said that

Jimmy gets a double kill (in the most adorable way btw. The way he weasels his way in there and backs off and comes back to try again all crouched. animal) and goddd people hyping him up is so so sweet. He deserves this. He's also a little bit evil, he's getting the murder rush but I'm happy for him. He needs to kill more people, he needs to get this out of his system, he deserves this, things need to get worse before they get better. ANYWAY Scar all "that was the greatest kill ever on the life series" is so cute. And man I gotta agree. There's more unique and funny and impressive kills but I would not mind calling this the best just for the fact that it's Jimmy. He's competent, he can do shit like this, but it feels like most everyone and the world is continuously against his survival, but here he is... my son...

And then Joel coming up to congratulate him... Really blummin cute. In Joel's POV also, he says "I went to congratulate Jimmy and we had a moment" which I wager he might be referring to the creeper incident as 'the moment' but that'd make no sense to call it that. With that tonation. Why did he say it like that. Stop being cute

But yeah Scar tries to blow Joel up with creepers only for Joel to save him from his own creeper and he's so casual about it. He is incredibly kind to the bamboozlers, it's really cute...

And then Jimmy does it!! He gets Joel!! And he gets him real good!! And can you believe that the first person to kill either of the family duo is Jimmy, of all people. Scott has died by this point too and Jimmy is the one to make a dent in the full 6-life alliance. Crazy. I'm so proud of him. It was seriously really good too, see, when Jimmy puts his mind to something and is able to focus he excels, he really does. And Joel, oh Joel is such a good sport about it. He keeps saying how it was good and fair and that he still wants an allyship with him. Tells him "welcome back to green" aww. And they make a truce, Jimmy got it out of his system and now they can be friends and go kill other people instead and Joel is proud of him... Jimmy "Joel, I finally got you, so I will stop now, so let's do the perfect dap" and then they both count down and clap their hands to simulate slapping palms. Awesome. All of Joel and Jimmy is just really cute this time around. Very happy about them being a more proper alliance now, but we'll see if it sticks... Joel can only be so mean to Jimmy at this point though I don't think he has it in him to betray him or anything lol. Can't speak for the rest of them but not too worried for the smallidarity, it's a plentiful crop...

Also a very important exchange between Lizzie and Jimmy at some point: "I just finangled a load of diamonds off of Joel" "Oh? How did you do that?" "I asked him just really nicely" (lie btw she was moreso extorting Joel) "Oh, that doesn't work when I... I guess... you are his wife, I guess..." "Yeah..." "Lucky for some I guess- right (unrelated topic)" I'm not 100% confident that's what Jimmy said at the end, it's a bit hard to make out but. what? Hello?

I also extend gratitude towards Lizzie for being so nice and supportive of Jimmy, she was the one to suggest the cobweb creeper trap that ended up taking Joel out, but she also insisted that he drink a health restoration stew beforehand in case anything went wrong. Jimmy didn't end up doing so (he was full) and Lizzie is all "why?" and "something could have gone wrong". man. Nice to him...

[solarwynd]

JK and Jimin made some crazy records last year and people have thrown around a lot of accusations around. But there's one thing I remember someone saying after Jimin got the BB hot 100 #1 - if it was easy to do it then everyone would do it. And the BP girls took it to heart. They saw JK's formula - a bunch of payola, English songs, western collabs - and they've been following it to a T. Rose's been breaking a crazy amount of records and apt isn't a bad song but it just goes to show you that seven wasn't anything special really. You need a base popularity of course - it's not like Mingyu could suddenly do this tomorrow but Rose shows without a doubt that what JK achieved wasn't because he was the next Harry styles. Just like one successful song doesn't mean Rose is the next Chapel Roan

But it also throws into relief how hard what Jimin's achieved is. Like crazy was insane by itself - a Korean self composed song that his label acted didn't exist did really well for what it is. And with who, he might have an English song but it's with the most minimal payola and no collabs. The most comparable songs to it would be standing next to you, friends, mantra and rockstar. Who is the most successful of these by far with probably the least percentage of Thai streams. Sorry but I am starting to sincerely doubt any of the other members would've been able to pull off what Jimin's doing.

Anyhow I'm not really one to care about chart numbers or award nominations so much. I just see armys using it to justify their assertions on why JK deserves a Grammy nomination or something but Rose and Lisa both defeat the point. Lisa made no noise and yet keeps getting nominated for award shows and doing "live" performances. Armys can act blind but she's there for the same reason JK was last year - 💵

So I see in the future more and more kpop artists following the JK method with different levels of success. As for Jimin, it's hard to say with him - I'd like him to go more mainstream but if he decides to stay low-key, he might end up being one of those stars with a big cult following. They sometimes explode to the mainstream kind of like BTS themselves, they sometimes don't. As long as he makes good music, I think I'll be fine. Because while I want success for him, if that means he thinks he has to make some crap songs like seven or rockstar then I'll pass.

.🎯

[karenandhenwilson]

I honestly can't remember when I was this disappointed and heartbroken by something happening in a story for the last time. It's kind of funny in a bad way that I feel so blindsided by it when I remember very clearly how I said in April or May to some friends, "I love Bucktommy, and they take such great care with them right now. But I dread how they'll ruin it eventually. Because we know they will." And here we are.

They proved in the past with both Tarlos and Henren that we can't trust them with queer relationships, or maybe even relationships in general, but especially with queer relationships. They have this constant urge to break Tarlos up and then there was the whole Iris of it all. (I stopped watching Lonestar because of that.) They introduced Henren to us with a cheating storyline. (We got to meet Eva before Karen, for fucks sake, and I'll be forever salty about that.) I think the only queer relationship involving a main they didn't utterly ruin was Michael/David, but I'm convinced they just didn't have enough time with it considering the actor's choices leading to Michael being written off.

So, I feel I shouldn't be this surprised or hurt, but I still am. And I think the biggest part of that is that the narrative makes it clear this wasn't planned to be the end. Even ignoring the mood they set in 8x05 (which we all know they filmed after 8x06), even just looking at this one episode it's a very clear narrative: Buck and Tommy are heading into a conflict, but one that will lead to Buck chasing after Tommy and them repairing the relationship while we learn more about how Tommy was hurt in the past. From Josh's monologue, that's still making me tear up and that I'd really like to call iconic, to the whole dynamic of the loft scene, I really think no one had planned for this to be the end. Without the interviews, all of us, including the GA, would expect a continuation of this story over the next couple of episodes and Buck fighting for his relationship. Taking 8x05 into consideration, that only strengthens that impression.

Then there is the change of tone in the interviews before and after 8x06. It's a jarring and very noticeable change. Lou was very clear he wasn't expecting this end at all.

I'm pretty convinced that something happened behind the scenes we don't know and won't ever know that led to this end of the relationship and that part if not all of the crew is as surprised about it as we are.

Personally, I'll probably continue to watch season 8, but not live anymore. Because I feel Henren's storyline with adopting Mara isn't quite complete yet. And I want to see Eddie repair his relationship with Chris. I'll probably skip over anything else. I kind of hope now season 8 will be the end and all the actors will be able to move on to new exciting projects.

[monotonesmile]

Hello beautiful person, well I would like to ask for a request if it is not bothersome! (⁠´⁠ ⁠.⁠ ⁠.̫⁠ ⁠.⁠ ⁠`⁠)

I would love if you could write a Rise!Leon x fem!reader. Only if you want of course. (⁠ ⁠◜⁠‿⁠◝⁠ ⁠)⁠♡

Maybe they meet by accident when Leonardo is on the roof of Reader's building? And they start talking through the window but without her being able to see him, Because Leonardo is afraid that she will get scared or something like that? (⁠ ⁠╹⁠▽⁠╹⁠ ⁠)

And in the weeks that they talk, they fall in love with each other! (⁠☆⁠▽⁠☆⁠) Reader doesn't really care that he's a mutant turtle!

Sorry if it's too long, you don't have to do it if you don't want to, thanks for your time (⁠´⁠ε⁠｀⁠ ⁠)

Rooftop Meeting? No. Fire Escape Meeting.

[Leo x Fem!Reader]

[Word Count: 4,204]

[Warnings: Small amount of blood and mentions of injuries, insecurity, possible ooc Leo]

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Being rudely awakened by the sound of metal breaking and a loud thud from what she can presume is something hitting her fire escape is not how she expected to wake up at four in the morning on a Sunday. Sitting up in bed with a groggy grumble, she slides out of bed, walking over to her window and sliding it open.

When she looks up, she can see the fire escapes above hers broken with a massive hole going through their flooring. She looks down at her, finding it only dented with specks of blood littering the rusty metal alongside metal fragments from the broken fire escapes.

“Uh…is anyone out here, are you okay?” She calls out in a quiet voice, leaning out her window slightly to try and see if anyone was nearby, worried that someone may be injured, though, how can anyone survive that.

She can hear some shuffling from…somewhere…she can’t see much in the dark, she leans back into her window, staying quiet as if waiting for someone to respond. While waiting she rubs her eyes to try and remove the sleep from them.

While doing so a voice piped up from the darkness, “yes…” the voice was masculine in nature so her first instinct is to assume this person is male, her thoughts are interrupted by more shuffling and a quiet wince.

“Do you need a medical kit? I can go get mine for you…” She asks in worry from hearing a wince, confirming her suspicions of injury, after all there’s blood speckling her fire escape.

“No, no, I’m fine! Uh, no thanks…” The voice rushed out in a slight panic, as if accepting her offer was wrong, but she persisted regardless, refusing to let this person just walk away while likely bleeding, besides, it’s obvious he’s not fine.

“No. I’m going to get my medical kit, I can see the blood so stay put, I’ll be right back.” She huffs, moving back into her bedroom, but not before hearing him sigh in defeat.

Leo, to his dismay, can’t exactly just leave now, thinking this girl would likely try and find him, plus, it might be a good idea to at least treat the cuts on his skin, he’s going to be feeling this in the morning…

She is quick to find the medical kit she keeps in her room for emergencies, walking back over to her window. “Here, you can use this.” She sets the medical kit on the fire escape, waiting for him to grab it but he doesn’t.

“Fine…but I’m staying hidden! I’m all bruised and cut up, I’m not letting you see me when I’m not looking my best! It’ll ruin my image!” The voice huffs with an excuse as to why he’s still hidden in the shadows.

“That’s…fine, I guess? I’m going to go get you some water…uh, what’s your name?” She paused at the end realizing she has no idea what his name is, having stepped away from her window slightly.

“Oh. Uh, I’m Leo.” The voice, now known as Leo, mutters in response, introducing himself with a slight nervous twinge in his voice. “What’s…your name?” He asks quietly.

“Y/N. Now, I am going to go get that water, uhm, patch yourself up…okay?” She says with a slight smile, walking away from the window and further into her apartment to grab a glass of water for Leo.

Leo nods even though she can’t see him, waiting for her to leave fully before grabbing the medical kit and opening it, starting on disinfecting his cuts, wincing slightly as he wipes away the blood. Luckily, or unfortunately, Leo has experience with patching himself up, so he’s pretty fast at wrapping his arms and legs with gauze and bandages, before making sure his head is okay, he did fall through like…five fire escapes. After deeming himself alright, he pushes the medical kit back towards the window, waiting for her return.

“Alright, I’m back, here.” When she returned, she went back to her window, placing the glass of water down on the metal grating of the fire escape floor, taking the medical kit back so she can quickly return it to its original place in her room, disappearing from the window, which allows Leo to take the glass of water.

“Okay, wow, you drank that fast.” She blinks a little in surprise when finding the glass of water back in place but completely empty after returning to the open window, leaning out of her window to pick it up.

“I was thirsty.” Leo jokes a little with a small laugh following, watching from the shadows as she picks the glass up and sets it somewhere beside her in the room she’s in.

“Clearly,” She chuckles a little at his joking tone “is that all? Do you need anything else?” She returns to making sure he’s truly alright, finding herself worrying over a complete stranger, enough to offer things to him.

“Uh no, I’m all good, thank you by the way, for the water and your medical kit…I appreciate it. I do have to go though, it’s late, my family is probably worried and they get a bit…panicky…if one of us goes missing for more than ten minutes.” Leo sighed, shifting slightly to head down the rest of the fire escapes so he can return to the lair, preferably before his brothers go insane while looking for him.

“Oh! Right, get home safe, Leo.” She steps back from her window, making sure to close it only after hearing him leave, locking the window and returning to her bed, thinking about how weird today is probably going to be after that.

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It’s been a few days since she saw, more like heard, Leo, currently sitting at her desk while watching something on her computer, only to be taken out of her relaxed and zoned out state by a knock on her window. She looks over at her window with a confused expression, turning her computer off as she goes to check what made the sound, unlocking and opening her window, she looks out into the darkness the night has cast across the city.

“You know, you probably shouldn’t open your window for just anyone.” The familiar voice of Leo came from somewhere in the darkness, his tone teasing, she could practically see the grin on his face.

“Haha, very funny, Leo.” She rolls her eyes, her words sarcastic yet light before she decides to question his random visit, thinking he’d probably not come back after the night he fell unceremoniously onto her fire escape. “So…why are you here?”

“Oh, can I borrow your medical kit again? I, uh, got banged up again…” Leo admits sheepishly, like he’s disappointed that he has to ask for help from her, as if he is ashamed to be injured at all.

“Yeah, I’ll go get it, is there anything else you need while I’m still here?” She chuckles a bit at his sheepish tone, finding no problem with him asking for some help.

“Uh, yeah, could we just chat for a bit? If you don’t mind, that is, if you’re busy I can just go but if you aren’t-“ Leo starts to trail off into a ramble as he tries to excuse his question, only to be interrupted by her soft laugh, making him pause, looking at her from the shadows.

“Yes, we can talk, I don’t have anything else to do.” She laughs softly at his rambling, finding it kinda cute. “I’ll go get my medical kit for ya, just wait there.” Her laugh trails off into a soft confirmation as she returns to inside her room, grabbing the medical kit, silently thanking her past self for restocking it after Leo’s first visit.

Once she returns to her window, she sets the medical kit on the fire escape, nudging it towards what she assumes his direction is.

“I’m gonna go get a blanket, it’s chilly tonight, so do you want one? I can go get you a blanket.” She hums after pushing the medical towards the shadows, leaning out of the window slightly, arms resting on the windowsill.

Leo perks up at the offer of a blanket, it is a rather cold night tonight, that’s what they get for living in the north though, nights are cold. “Yeah, I’ll take a blanket!” He chuckles a bit, watching her head back inside to go grab two blankets for them, to which he quickly grabbed the medical kit and once again started patching himself up.

Leo looks up when a blanket is chucked at him, successfully hitting him in the face, making him wheeze with laughter as he can practically feel the surprise and guilt radiating off of her as she winced after hearing the blanket make contact with him, even if it couldn’t hurt him.

“Ah, sorry!” She quickly apologized while wrapping her blanket around herself, pulling her desk chair over so she could sit and be more comfortable while they talked, after grabbing the medical kit and dropping it next to her inside her room.

“You have great aim!” Leo wheezes, pulling the blanket off his head and wrapping it around his newly bandaged body, a wide grin on his face despite the fact she can’t see him, not that he wants her too.

“Shuddup!” She grumbled, pouting as he teases her for her impeccable blanket throw, crossing her arms while leaning back in her chair. “You said you wanted to talk…?” She mutters, her pout disappearing as she looks over at the shadows.

“Oh…right. Uhm…” Now that she’s acknowledging the second half of his request, Leo is suddenly more sheepish and shy. “Okay, so the reason I’m always getting injured…”

She was patient, letting him get his bearings while he tries to air out what she assumes is pent up emotions. Leo finds it a bit odd that he finds comfort telling this stranger his problems, thinking that because they don’t really know each other, it makes it easier to open up, but it’s nice, comforting.

“The reason I’m always injured is because I fight these really bad people, and it’s the reason we originally met…I’d been fighting one of them with my brothers when I got knocked off the roof of your building, and crashed through multiple fire escapes…” Leo sighs, sheepish as he admits the reasoning behind his injuries to her, wrapping the blanket around him tighter.

“So, you’re essentially a vigilante? Or a crime fighter?” She questions, tilting her head as she listens to his reasoning for his injuries, realizing that it suddenly makes much more sense how he came crashing into her life through fire escapes, although she does find it odd that he managed to not only survive it but from what she could assume he sustained only a few injuries from it, especially because of the force one would have to be thrown to break metal that way.

“Yeah, I guess you could say that, pretty cool, huh?” Leo’s original cockiness came back for a moment and she could feel the smugness coming off of him, clearly proud of his work.

“Yes, very cool.” She chuckles quietly at his cockiness, not finding it irritating like most would, she found it humorous.

“I fight alongside my brothers, they’re cool, I get worried every time one of them gets hurt, I don’t like seeing them hurt, but I just…can’t seem to tell them that, I mean! They know I care! But…” Leo exhales heavily as he sighs, trailing off, his smugness fading into melancholy as he crosses his arms, finding some comfort in the blanket around him,

“It sounds like you’re afraid to tell them you care despite them knowing you do, like you’re undeserving of their love towards you, even though you’d do anything for them.” She mutters, leaning her head in her palm, arm propped up on the windowsill as she listens to Leo’s voice.

“Yeah…I guess I do, I feel like I’ve failed them so many times that I just…don’t deserve them.” Leo’s voice drops, lowering into a soft whisper, his tone visibly showing insecurity, he has never liked showing his insecurities to anyone, yet she makes it so easy to lower his guard.

She lets Leo vent for a while, knowing when to stay quiet, sometimes something just needs to be let out without any input afterwards. Leo's soul feels so much lighter as the hours pass by, getting his emotions out finally makes him feel better, more confident than he already is.

“Hey, Y/N?” Leo murmurs, looking at her while staying hidden in the shadows, his lip twitching slightly in a small grin as he notices her sleepiness.

“Mhm?” She blinks, tired from staying awake all night, her eyelids threatening to droop closed.

“You should probably hit the hay, you look exhausted!” Leo laughs a bit, covering his mouth to muffle his own laughter, eyes crinkling from his grin.

“Heh…you’re probably right, I’m gonna go get some sleep, goodnight Leo…” She yawns a little, pushing herself out of her desk chair so she can shut her window but not before she says one more thing through her sleepy daze. “Hope to see you, or well…hear you, again, Leo…” As she finishes the sentence, she shuts her window and the curtains cover it, cutting off visibility inside.

“I- Uh, y-yeah, you too!” Leo stutters out, surprised by her final sentence, sitting still for a moment before he slinked off the fire escape, and to the alleyway below, not realizing he’s just taking the blanket she gave him with him as he disappeared below a manhole.

————————————————

Leo hops onto her fire escape once again, it’s the next night, and Leo felt like he had to see her again, she was just so sweet to him, she held no judgments even though she has not a clue on what he looks like. He places the blanket she gifted him last night on her windowsill, neatly folded and freshly washed (he does live in the sewers after all), he then places some snacks and drinks next to it, feeling he had to repay her for her kindness towards him, so he got her gifts!

Leo taps on her window multiple times until he heard her shuffling around and a groggy groan from inside the apartment, he chuckled quietly at the realization that he just woke her up, hiding back in the shadows as he waits for her to open the window and see the gifts he left for her.

The window slides open with her expression going from grogginess to surprise as she notices the folded blanket and treats on her windowsill, having the sudden realization that she forgot to get the blanket back from Leo, now finding it sweet of him to return it and give her little gifts, a small smile spreading on her face before she chuckles and asks “Leo? Are you still here?”

“Still opening windows for just anyone, I see?” Leo hums from the darkness, a grin on his face as he teases her for her somewhat dangerous habit of just opening her window if someone taps on it.

“Oh hush,” she laughs, shaking her head in amusement as she picks up the folded blanket, setting it aside in her room. “Thank you for returning my blanket, I had completely forgotten about it yesterday.” She smiles gently as she looks at the snacks, confused why he brought them but finds it still sweet nonetheless.

“You’re welcome, I even washed it too…which I had to make an excuse as to why I had a blanket that clearly wasn’t mine to my brothers when they saw me putting it in the wash.” Leo snickers at the memory of his brothers questioning him as to where he got this random blanket from, which was easy to excuse, just saying he got a new blanket.

“Ah, of course, the suspicious blanket.” She grins at his snickers, laughing along with him as she jested about the blanket being suspicious. “And the treats?” She hums, picking up a packet of fruit gummies.

“Oh, I wanted to repay you for letting me use your medical kit and just general kindness towards me…” Leo rubs the back of his neck as he admits the reason behind his gift, noticing the soft smile that appears on her face from it.

“Wanna share?” She smiled, tilting her head slightly as she offered some of the snacks and a drink to him, even if she doesn’t know exactly where he is, she places the snacks and drink on the fire escape.

Leo blinks, a soft blush appearing on his cheeks when she offers to share with him, surprised and a tad flustered by it before his normal bravado returns. “Yeah! I’ll have some.” He pulls the snacks and drink towards him, the soft blush not leaving his face.

They talk for a while while sharing the snacks, more than happy to just talk about their days, or it’s Leo talking about past fights he and his brothers fought, being very animated and excitable as he speaks of the past battles, likely exaggerating a few areas to make himself look good, which makes her laugh, smiling as he recalls tales of the past before a question pops into her mind.

“Hey Leo?” She looks up from her drink, setting it down after screwing the cap back on as she looks over at the shadows where he might be.

“Yeah?” Leo looks over at her, having stopped mid sentence in his story because she brought his attention back to her with her question.

“Why are you staying hidden? You’ve probably healed up by now, so, are you ever coming out of the shadows?” She mutters, finally getting this question out of her mind after it’s been eating away at her for a while.

“Uh- I- uhm…I’m still bruised? I got a nasty bruise on my face…” Leo stutters out, caught off guard by the question as panic runs through his veins for a moment, his excuse is choppy and obviously a lie.

She doesn’t look convinced by his obvious lie but doesn’t ask anymore questions about his anonymity. “Your story?” She raised an eyebrow, urging him to continue.

Which was absolutely a relief to Leo, exhaling a sigh of relief before he grins and continues his story about when he and his brothers fought two crabs, which confuses her a bit but she says nothing, letting him have his moment.

The moon is high in the night sky when she looks up, noticing how late it’s gotten, she smiles a bit as she admires the stars and moon far above them, Leo taking notice and watching her eyes shine in the moonlight, a moment of silence passing between them as she admires the moon while Leo admires her from his place in the shadows, wishing he could reach out and touch her in that moment, not even realizing the way his heart skips a beat.

“The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” She murmurs quietly as she is still looking up at the moon, before looking back down with the same gentle smile on her face, and Leo has never been happier that the shadows hide him than he is now.

Leo blushes even more at the comment about the moon than anything else before, he mutters out a quiet agreement, keeping his flusteredness out of his voice as he swallows a lump in his throat, questioning in his mind why a random comment of the moon's beauty made him so flustered all of the sudden, letting the silence fill their surroundings like a comfortable warmth.

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Multiple week pass by, an entire month having passed and gone since that fateful day when he crashed onto her fire escape, not only has their friendship grown but Leo has found himself gaining romantic feelings for her, only realizing after the comment she made about the moon weeks ago, but he’s gotten more and more flustered by her sweetness, he can’t stop thinking about her, and he’s decided it is time to not just confess but also reveal himself to her, only hoping that she won’t be disgusted by him.

The moon is high in the sky, a clear night, no clouds to be found while the quiet background noise of cars honking fades away as Leo focuses on her, having told her he had something to say, and her concentrated expression is making Leo even more blushy than he already is.

“Y/N, I’ve been thinking about this for a week now and I just need to get this off my chest, I-I like you, a lot, more than as a friend, you’ve been nothing but kind to me even though you have no actual idea of who I am, and I just…I really like you…” Leo mutters out his true feelings, stuttering a few times as he fidgets with his hands, glancing up at her to find her smiling softly, her concentration had fallen into a soft blush.

Although his next words catches her attention, surprising her as she can hear him shift around, assuming he’s standing up. “And I want to show you myself too…just promise not to be weirded out or anything?” Leo takes a deep breath before stepping out of the shadows, finally showing himself.

His movements are stiff as he stands for a moment, taking her silence to be at least a good sign, she hadn’t started screaming so that had to be good? He steps over to the window so he’s closer to her, looking down at her as she’s resting her crossed arms on her windowsill, smiling up at him, expression having not changed at all, there is no disgust or hate, just her sweet smile.

“You’re…not weirded out that I’m a mutant turtle?” Leo raised a nonexistent eyebrow, confused on why she’s not a little confused or freaked out by his appearance, a blush still very present on his face, which he can’t distinguish if it’s from being flustered or embarrassed.

“Hehe…I uh…had my suspicions you probably weren’t a human from the beginning…I mean, no normal human could survive crashing through multiple fire escapes, not without multiple scraps of metal in them…” She chuckles sheepishly as he tilts her head while looking off to the side as she scratches the back of her neck.

“Oh…yeah, I should have probably thought about that.” Leo blinks before laughing along with her at the obvious answer to why he survived such a damaging blow. “So…uh, do you feel the same? If you don't, that's fine.” His laughs trail off as he looks back down at her with a suddenly shy expression.

“Hm…lean down for me, Leo?” She hums, waving him down with her hand, which makes Leo a bit confused but leans down so they’re more face to face now.

“Uh…what’s up-“ Leo was about to ask why she wanted him to lean down but was cut off when she pushed herself up on her windowsill to connect their lips with a soft yet quick kiss, a bright blush blooming on Leo’s face as she pulled back with a smirk.

“Yes, I feel the same.” She smirks at his blushing expression, his eyes wide as his mind has gone blank, his body slouching while she bites her lip to contain her snickering, covering her mouth as he blinks at her.

“Wha- I- you just-“ Leo can’t even get any words out as his brain had all but bluescreened at the sudden kiss, still processing the feeling of her soft lips against his.

“Oh god, you are so adorable…” She snickers quietly behind her hand, watching Leo just break after the kiss as her eyes widen as a low purring noise comes from him, which makes her snicker even harder.

Leo doesn’t even care as his entire demeanor softens, blinking for a moment as his expression turns into a soft smile, watching her snicker at his churring, just happy that he accidentally crashed onto her fire escape an entire month ago, because now he has the sweetest girl in the world as his girlfriend and he could not be happier, leaning back down to grab her wrist.

“That kiss was way too quick for me to appreciate it fully, darling.” Leo grins as he pulls her hand away from her mouth so he can cup her cheek and kiss her again, smiling softly against her lips while his tail wags behind him, feeling her giggle against him before returning the kiss.

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[Requests are open!]