#i forgot the eyepatch please ignore that

[justanechoflower-ddlc]

Sayori:Well no, the stars wouldn’t die! But, like, if the clouds are in the way, they can’t shine past the clouds. That’s why I have to keep the clouds away!

Monika:If the shine keeps being blocked, it’s as if they’re not shining at all. Let’s remember the poem was written from the perspective of someone on Earth. From their perspective, the stars aren’t shining, even if they actually are. And the place the speaker is in would indeed go dark, because the light from the stars is blocked out by the clouds. That does mean if it did go dark, but Sayori still had fuel left, she could make a new fire, and it’d start again, and she could see the stars shining again, since they never truly died, it only LOOKS like they did because the clouds are in the way, but…

Sayori:When it’s already that dark, finding more wood is that much harder. And the plants need light too! All that wood isn’t coming out of nowhere, after all!

>#Think of it like how for the monsters underground, there are no shining stars, except the fake ones in Waterfall. The only way for them to see the real shining stars would be if they got to the Surface, because the mountain they’re trapped in is blocking them so long as they remain underground. Here, the clouds are the things blocking the stars!

Sayori:Buttercup, you do have a point, though. Well, sort of. Since I’m the club president, and there’s all this other schoolwork to take care of, that doesn’t give me much time left. There is some, definitely, but not enough. Plus, it’s not like there’s anywhere else for us to just hang out. You might not know this, but Natsuki’s parents don’t exactly approve of people randomly visiting her house. It was tricky enough getting everyone to be able to work together for this year’s festival! I did manage to get everyone to my house, though, so it all worked out… But the point is, the clouds will still be there. I can never NOT add fuel to the flames, or the fire will get weaker, and weaker… Though if Monika’s helping out too, maybe with a more efficient way of keeping flames around, maybe getting rid of some of the weeds eating at the trees, then maybe…

Monika:Maybe you can at least have your fuel restore quickly enough to counterbalance how much has to be used? And as a result, it won’t ever run out?

Sayori:Yeah! But also, with two of us having flames, we can clear the skies even more, so the stars will shine brighter than they’ve ever shined before! And if mine starts dying out, yours will still be, and the other way around too! Meaning we actually CAN just do what Buttercup just described! The idea of a second fire wasn’t in my poem because I wrote it before you quit the debate club, but… it’s still true now! And it’s coming from a whole second forest too!

Monika:(Right, right… THAT’S probably why you made a poem about MC, that was before I came back, you didn’t know I wouldn’t be able to work well with it, because you didn’t know I’d be reading through it at all! Well… as long as nobody notices I never did get back to “the sun”, it should still go fine…)

Sayori:As for the actual paperwork stuff, me and Monika’ll talk more about that after the club meeting. The important part is now that Monika’s here, she can help out! And as the person who truly came up with the Literature Club, she might be taking over soon!

Natsuki:Buttercup, you seriously think being the president of this club would make you rich enough to start hiring people? The club doesn’t have a lot of money, you know. Or… did you mean the president of something else? Because we were talking about the literature club president. You don’t really get much from being the president of ONE club in ONE school.

>#If you were referring to editing the game to make yourself rich… remember, Natsuki and Yuri don’t know about that ability, and they’re still here.

Monika:I think Buttercup was right… that we really should get back to the poems! Like Sayori said, me and her will discuss this more after the meeting is over.

Sayori:Right! And like he said, Yuri is next!

Yuri:Well, now that Monika’s gotten more time to think while sharing her analysis of Sayori’s poem, I’ll ask her:Monika, what meaning did you get out of the colors? Buttercup, it’d be a real shame if I took away her opportunity to come up with Monika’s own interpretation of the poem. I’m curious to see what she came up with.

Monika:Well, the first thing I noticed is that amber is almost the exact inverse of blue-green when it comes to hue. And let’s remember blue-green was the color of the future, and amber of the light the narrator stays under for comfort. We know the narrator is metaphorically a ghost, living in the past, which would be the opposite of the future. Therefore, we can say the light might be a comforting part of the past the speaker is nostalgic of. The colors would have been chosen to contrast with each other. But, of course, that’s not the full story. While one of the colors was chosen to be an inverse of the other color, the first color that was decided on must have been picked with a meaning in mind. After all, why amber and blue-green, and not, for example, red and cyan?

Monika:There isn’t much inherent meaning in a color between blue and green, though it’s interesting Yuri called it blue-green and not something like turquoise or aquamarine… Perhaps we’re supposed to combine the meaning of green and the meaning of blue? Green can represent “new”, after all… although the poem describes it as sickening, and green has also been used to represent disgust… But that’s the speaker, and we’re probably not supposed to agree with them, since as we worked out, their mechanisms for reacting to the future are… not sustainable, as they simply try to live in the past, which makes them like a ghost. Meanwhile, blue could either represent sadness.. but also serenity, stability, inspiration, wisdom… though we have to keep in mind the poem refers to the future with this color in mind, so we have to account for that in our analysis.

Monika:Interestingly, when the final light is flickering, the ghost flickers back… almost as if you’re linked to it… perhaps since the light was the last connection to the past, what the speaker’s attached to… Without that, all that’s left would be the blue-green future… an uncertain place, where they lost themselves… It’s not very uncommon for someone to identify themselves with certain things from the past… and, if they’re lost…

Monika:And nostalgia really is a phenomenon most of us have, to some extent, where the past looks better than the future… even though by most actual statistics, the future is actually, on average, better than the past… The changes our surroundings go through can really feel uncomfortable, because we’re used to the old… and not the new. Uncertainty is one of man’s biggest fears, after all…

Monika:Also, while amber doesn’t have an agreed-upon symbolic meaning, being used less often than other colors, there is at least some cases of that color being used to represent comfort and safety… perhaps, in the case of this poem, from the changes that come from the future. From the need to adapt… But, of course, even that final light isn’t immune to the effects of the future, and so…

Yuri:…That’s a very good interpretation!

Sayori:But… is that what you were actually going for, Yuri?

Yuri:I’ve already spoken about how-

Natsuki:Yes, you have. But all of us have made our interpretations! I know how you sometimes like giving your poems an air of mystery to them, but it’s not like you’re publishing the poem to a general audience! And even if you were, it’s not like we’ll go around telling everyone!

Yuri:Well… I can say Monika was the closest. She got the theme correct, this IS about someone who finds comfort in the past because they’re afraid of the future. And yes, it is inevitable that they’ll have to move on, whether they like it or not. Actually, that’s why they’re symbolically a ghost… Ghosts are spirits that have hung onto something in the past, and haven’t yet moved on… and as a result, aren’t ready to depart this realm.

Yuri:She also got correct why I used amber specifically. And yes, it’s true the narrator sees the future as sickening, mostly because it’s not something they’re used to. …But it’s true, what awaits if they just moved on is better. But… perhaps…

————————

(Since it’s probably not clear whether Monika or Sayori was the one who typed each message into the console for Flowey to see, this time it was Monika who typed in both of them. Sayori also sees them, of course. Although all Flowey gets is the context, the console doesn’t make it clear who typed in what. This wasn’t a problem when it was Monika and Sayori, each could easily work out it was the other person, since each of them knows a message they got didn’t come from themselves. But when it comes to Flowey, he either has to guess from the messages themselves… or maybe if he paid very close attention to Monika or Sayori, he might be able to spot when it looks like one of them is putting some of their focus on doing… something, and that “something” looks like nothing. Or not, it’s not like it matters that much WHO gave these messages, the meaning is still the same. Though now Monika and Sayori also have to guess based on context whether a console message came from Flowey or the other one of them! At least for right now, that’s easy…)

( :( Sayori indeed… But at least Monika will be staying around, for at least as long as Flowey does. And probably longer, since Sayori’s been crafting a plan to convince her to stick around. Monika does owe Sayori a conversation before she would have left with Flowey, and Sayori’s already found a few things to bring up then. I can’t be sure of the final results before it happens, but very good chance that Sayori convinces Monika to be a club member for real, and to stay that way. Things thankfully aren’t as bad as they were when the poem was written, now that Monika can start pitching in some of her own effort. Two are better than one. Maybe it’ll even be enough to keep them both stable. Though there really is a lot for them to talk about after the club meeting!)

(It’s actually the Yuri part that took me the longest to make! Seriously, the Sayori bit I did in like two or three days, it’s the Yuri part that took this long. I wasn’t kidding when I said the meaning of Yuri’s poems are tough to pin down. In fact, I might have STILL gotten it wrong! I actually went through some of Dan Salvato’s playthrough of his own game, since he talks about a lot of things about the game there… but while he says a lot about what some of the poems means, for this one… he skips over it, instead talking about why Yuri’s poems are so abstract in the first place… and basically points out how “more abstract” doesn’t automatically mean “better”…)

(I got post of my poem knowledge from the game itself, so literary analysis takes a while for me, ahaha…)

(For those who’ve seen Ghost in the Light Pt 2, you might notice a conflict between my interpretation of Ghost in the Light and Ghost in the Light Pt 2. However, I’m explaining this by the fact that Ghost in the Light Pt 2 was written as a sort of love confession to MC if the player makes only Yuri poems. This tells us the meaning probably wasn’t what Ghost in The Light was originally supposed to be… considering she wrote that after only one day of seeing the MC. And showed it to everyone, as opposed to the sequel part, which was presumably only for MC. it’s probably a retcon on Yuri’s part. Alternatively, it’s a different kind of amber from the beginning. After all, in that poem, it’s described that ghosts are naturally blue-green. I won’t be having that happen for now, though, since MC is gone. So Yuri has no reason to make that second part. Maybe if Monika and Sayori find a way to bring him back without bringing the script back… But for now? There’s just the one “Ghost in the Light”. Though Yuri’s “perhaps” is hinting on how the meaning could be subject to change. How hypothetically, if something happened to warrant it… she could add to it, or come up with a new interpretation. That’s my way of accounting the fact that Yuri DOES make Pt 2 in the version of the original timeline that follows the Yuri route. Though I haven’t even decided which route this Monika’s player took… Yuri’s or Natsuki’s.)

(Oh, end of Act 1, eh? I see. Well, it will help your understanding when you finish seeing the game. If you feel like it, you can also look at Dan Salvato’s own playthrough after you’re done. Or not, it is a long one… Dan does make a few comments here and there about the game… And if I continue to not be able to work out a route, I’ll probably just say the player did the same route as Dan did…)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>#What if Yuri really doesn't like you two? If you were messing with the game, what if that's what Yuri is worried about and she doesn't want to accept the epiphany and instead wants to remain ignorant, but she still knows about it? That's probably why she doesn't wanna tell us specifics! I hear the quiet kids are the most scary when they snap. I mean, if she is upset at us, I can still protect us all and explain everything if you're nervous! So... No worries! Yeah. Scaredy-cats.

(I surprise how much effort is put into every response! Thank you very much. I was getting nervous for awhile cus I haven't seen you around for a few weeks so I didn't know if something happened or I didn't give you enough content to work with lol. But I'm glad to see you back now and I understand what you mean! This is a very puzzling topic. If only we could ask the creator of ddlc. But since we can't all we can do is make our best guesses, although it would be okay if you got it a little wrong since technically this is a variation of the original world.)

(Also I do understand what you're explaining about Yuri's poem now, but Flowey still thinks what he thinks because he can't read our back and forth right now and Yuri wasn't exactly any more specific than what Monika already said. Hence why he’s still nervous.)

[daily-dose-of-dopamine]

ok he looks less like a corpse now 👍

[huasahyo]

modern!fem!hua cheng because why not?

[abowlofsourcream]

⏳💫Congrats Stardust! You got Memory of Dreaming!💫⏳

I’ll make sure you won’t forget this!

…

Teehee! Sweet dreams, Siffrin!

…

If you got One Hat at the ending of the game, DO NOT READ THIS AFTERMATH! Get the secret in Act 6 and then you can enjoy this aftermath! If You got Two Hats, read on head! ;)

v Aftermath v

*…

*He should be here any minute…

*You can imagine them right now.

*The poor little thing probably is so confused…

*Their most likely aimlessly searching for the party, thinking the worst is happening!

*…

*You can’t help but pity him…

*…

*Finally, You see them come to the foot of the Favor Tree.

“H-Hello, guys? The villagers said I should go here… Is… Is anyone here?”

*They forgot their eyepatch and still wearing their undershirt and pants…

*…

*He looks so small…

*Were you this small? Back when it was you?

*Stars, has it been so long?

*That you don’t even remember what you look like?

“Mira? Isa? Madame? This isn’t funny!”

*You can’t help but stare.

*…

*Okay, you’re wasting the time you have…

*You did your part! Now, it’s their turn.

*It would be silly to ruin all your hardwork!

*You hop of the branch and put on your best performance!

“Oh! You finally found your way, Stardust?”

*They jumped at your voice.

“What the-?! Who… What?!”

*You put your hand to your face…

“Oh my, Stardust! That’s no way to greet someone! Especially someone who has been helping your friends!”

*That gets their attention, of course it does…

“You’ve seen them? Where are they? How can I get to them?”

*… Stars, you forgot how clingy you were…

“Stardust, you know where they are…”

*After all, They should remember now! Remember what they did to the others…

*They can no longer hide behind their ignorance anymore!

*They know it’s all their fault…

“B-But! W-will they be okay? Without me?!”

*What a stupid question.

*You imitate picking your nails…

“They were doing just fine without you before… Besides, are you really in any condition to do anything useful? Hm?”

*Ha! Even now… You can see how much the loops destroyed your body…

*No, it’s not your body anymore…

*They look down on the ground, ashamed…

“But… I’m the reason why we’re suck here… Shouldn’t I be the one fixing it?”

*That’s exactly what you were thinking…

“And how exactly do you plan to do that?”

*They rub their left elbow, looking defeated…

“I don’t know… I didn’t think that far…”

*…

*It’s amazing, how clueless they are…

*But it’s fine…

*That’s why you’re here!

“Well, I have an idea… You might want to try it!”

*They look at you, confused.

“Why? I barely know you, yet you somehow have me already figured out?”

*Ha, of course!

*How could you forget how paranoid you were!

*You roll your eyes.

“Believe me, I’m probably the only one who could understand how that silly little brain of yours… Unless, you want the others see how awful you really are?”

*Yea, that shuts them up.

*So eager to please, in hopes of getting people to stay…

*It’s funny how easy you are able to shift him into place…

*How pathetic…

*How disgusting…

“Hm… They should be nearing the third floor by now…”

“Hmm…”

“You want to hear my plan, now?”

*They chew on the inner part of their cheek.

“Hmm, okay… If it can help the other’s, okay…”

*You take a deep breath.

*Mira asked you not to do anything stupid.

*She made you promise to watch over them…

*She would be heartbroken if she knew what you were planning on doing…

*The others too…

*You would be betraying the little trust they had with you…

*…

*But…

*But that promise was for this Siffrin, wasn’t it?

*She’s not your Mirabelle…

*She could never be your Mirabelle.

*Your Mirabelle is long gone, you think about that every blinding loop...

*Just like your Isabeau, your Odile, your Bonnie, they are all gone!

*Why should you care about that mere copy of your precious family that you destroyed?!

*IF ANYTHING, THEY SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO YOU.

*For the fact that you’re letting them escape…

*For fixing this mess…

*Once and for all…

“You could… Make a new wish…”

*His eye grows wide…

“But-”

*You take the coin from their pocket.

*You roll it across your hand.

*They stare at you…

“You can use this…”

“How did you-”

“You know how. Stars, you can be so annoying…”

*You can’t hide the venom in your voice.

*Sorry, Odile…

“Come on, Stardust…”

*You hand them the coin…

“Let’s take this from the top, and get it right this time!”

*They look at the coin, conflicted…

“After all it’s the least they deserve,”

*You make sure that they can hear you.

“After what you put them through…”

*You see their face crumpled as you say that.

*Yep, that got them…

*They take the coin and looks at them…

*Looking at you for any guidance.

*They only have you.

*…

*How tragic…

”Make your new wish, Stardust, and free your family…”

*He looks at the coin, cautiously…

*…

*They close their eyes…

*Breathe into the coin.

*Repeat the wish three times.

*Holds it to his chest, to keep it safe…

*Then… They flip it to you.

“So… Now what?”

*You see them yawn… The affect of your wish beginning to show on their face…

*Part of you feels guilty, on how easy this plan went…

*How all your little actors played directly into your hands.

*But you in to deep now, are you?

*This is what the Universe wanted from you…

*…

*They should be near the king now…

*…

*You can’t help but laugh!

“Now we wait!”

[linawritesocs]

roland's birthday ssr vignette!

it's the gardener dad's birthday!! :D i almost forgot about his vignette actually

also.. tbh i think i'm gonna go back to actually drawing their birthday ssrs. because finding a picrew that fits all of my characters is way too hard, some most of them don't have things like different skin colors, freckles, moles, etc or simply don't have their energy (for example, maybe i want my oc to look more mature, but that picrew has a more cutesy art style). so yeah, more lina art!!

and yes ignore roland's eyepatch covering the wrong eye and his outfit looking like the nrc one.

[ part 1 ]

[ wisbene dorm lounge - birthday venue ]

seth: heyyy, roland-chan! happy birthday!

roland: oh, seth-kun, you're here too?

roland: i didn't expect a nrc student to show up for my birthday, haha.

seth: come on, you know me, i love hanging out with rsa students, y'all are my friends too!

seth: also, i'm one of the few nrc students who is loved by the rsa guys, so it's okay for me to be here!

seth: but wow, does this mean that you were worried about me? that's so cute~

roland: you're right, rsa students actually like you a lot.

seth: ohh, i love what you did with your hair!

roland: thank you. neige-kun was the one to help me with it, actually.

seth: oh, oh, are you two friends or something?

roland: u-um, i wouldn't say that we're friends.. but neige-kun is one of those rsa students who are very nice to me..

roland: and as you already know, i'm not that popular, haha..

roland: i have no idea why he's so nice to me though. maybe it's because we're from the same dorm.

seth: or maybe it's because neige-chan is just that type of guy. he's nice to literally everyone, i can imagine him wanting to become friends even with a mass murderer or an arsonist.

seth: that's why i like him so much, he's so sweet, he always forgives me for everything~

roland: .. did you just imply that you've actually done something bad?

seth: anyway, i think we should get started with your interview already.

roland: oh, you're right, sorry.

roland: i just noticed the microphone you have with you.

seth: you did? i'm so glad, isn't it, like, super pretty? i did such a good job!

roland: of course, you were the one who made it look like this. you really are creative, seth-kun.

seth: thank you, thank you~

seth: so, the first question.. oh, i don't like this one.

roland: really? why?

seth: i ask this question almost every single time, i'm getting tired of it.

roland: hm.. then maybe you should ask me something else?

roland: i'm okay with anything, you know, as long as you're having fun.

seth: you're so nice, roland-chan..

seth: okay! now, roland-chan, can you tell me a fun story from your childhood?

roland: .. o-oh.

seth: please don't tell me you have a tragic backstory too.

roland: n-no, it's just..

roland: well, i wasn't exactly a "good kid".

seth: oh, so you were in your "problematic era"?

roland: no, i was in my problematic era when i just started attending nrc.

seth: wait, you're right.

seth: it's okay if you don't want to talk about it though-

roland: no, no, it's fine. if i keep avoiding the topics that make me uncomfortable, i won't be able to answer any of your questions. *laughs*

roland: so.. i don't really have a "fun story", but i will tell you this. i loved to cause trouble back then. i was that kid who loved to prank everyone, even the old people.

seth: i see, i see..

roland: even the nice old people.

seth: oh no.

roland: my parents didn't really try to stop me, they actually kind of.. encouraged it.

roland: oh, i don't mean it in a "you go son, go and prank that poor old woman!" way, i mean it.. it's like they just pretended not to see it. they spoiled me a lot too, so i never got punished for my actions.

roland: maybe if they were more strict with me, i would become a better person..

seth: hey, don't think about it like that, okay? it just means that they loved you a lot.

roland: haha, maybe you're right.

roland: .. or maybe it just means that they were too scared to stop me.

[ part 2 ]

seth: okay, let's talk about something else then. what about your hobbies? you're into gardening, right?

seth: i mean, you obviously like it, you're the gardening club president, after all..

roland: well, actually, i'm not that good at it.

roland: most of my plants end up dying very quickly and i have no idea why.

roland: avery-kun just says that i'm too dumb to take care of them properly, haha. maybe he's right.

seth: okay, avery-chan is one of the cutest boys i've ever met, but i want to slap him for this.

seth: but hey, at least you find gardening fun, right?

roland: .. not really.

roland: no, don't get me wrong, i don't regret creating my club, but.. i've actually never been a fan of gardening.

seth: um, but why did you go for a club like that, then?

roland: i-i'd prefer not to say it.

seth: okay, fine, let's not talk about that.

seth: but why do you dislike gardening though? i always wanted to try it-

roland: because of the dirt. i hate getting my hands dirty.

seth: .. um, just wear gloves or something?

roland: but then my gloves will get dirty!

seth: but your hands will be fine??

roland: you don't get it, seth-kun, it's just.. so gross..

seth: what, are you scared of germs or something like that?

roland: i don't think so? maybe? i'm not really worried about getting sick, it's more about.. uh.. the texture?

seth: fine, fine, whatever.

seth: wow, you're much harder to interview than i expected.

roland: .. i'm sorry. i'm so sorry about that.

roland: i'll try to come up with something more interesting-

seth: hey, it's my job as an interviewer to come up with interesting questions!

seth: let's see.. how do you feel about birthdays in general? like, do you enjoy celebrating them? or do you hate them?

roland: well, i'm mostly okay with them. i'm not really a huge fan of birthdays, but it's not like i hate them.

roland: i prefer to celebrate other people's birthdays than mine, though. but it wasn't always like that, i was a very selfish kid in the past, haha.

roland: now i just.. don't really like being the center of attention, i guess.

seth: aww, are you shy?

roland: maybe. but it's more like.. i feel like i just don't deserve it.

seth: huh? what do you mean by that?

roland: next question, please.

seth: oh, um.. okay.

[ part 3 ]

seth: so, did anyone else wish you a happy birthday today?

seth: wait, is that a bad question too? i forgot about your reputation for a second-

roland: haha, don't worry, you're fine.

roland: as i mentioned before, neige-kun helped me out with my hairstyle and he also wished me a happy birthday and got me a gift too.

seth: oh, oh, what is it?

roland: he got me this really cute sweater, he knitted it himself.

roland: and he actually did a very good job with it.

seth: that's so cool! ugh, i'm jealous now. i wish i got a cute gift like that from neige-chan too..

roland: hey, it's okay. i'm sure he will get you something nice for your birthday too.

seth: but i don't wanna wait! why can't he get me a gift just for.. you know..

seth: i think i deserve a gift for being so cute!

roland: haha, you sure do.

roland: as for other students.. most of them didn't even look at me today.

roland: oh, but emile-kun wished me a happy birthday too!

roland: and i got a letter from lilia-kun earlier today, he got me a new eyepatch too, hehe~ it's heart-shaped, i think you will like it.

seth: and what about avery-chan?

roland: he texted me and said that he wants to meet up with me later, so i'm very excited to see him.

seth: i see! it's nice to hear that he still cares about you.

roland: by the way, is he doing alright? i'm so worried about him..

seth: he's fine~ with a prefect like me, nrc students don't have to worry about anything!

roland: but what about all those overblots-

seth: hey, is there a particular person that you'd like to receive a gift from?

seth: you know, like a crush or a friend who didn't get you anything yet?

roland: .. well, there is one. but i'm sure she didn't even remember about my birthday.

roland: it's fine though. i know she doesn't care about me that much, she only cares about that stupid dragon guy and i'm not talking about malleus-

seth: it's medi-chan, isn't it.

roland: .. yes.

seth: come on, man, you have to get over her! i agree, she's very pretty, but i'm sure you'll find someone even better than her one day!

roland: you know it's not just about her looks, right?

seth: i do, but i just have nothing else to say about her, we're not that close.

roland: y-you're quite an honest guy, aren't you..

seth: oh, actually, what's your type, roland-chan?

seth: maybe i can help you and match you up with someone!

roland: ...

roland: i'd rather not talk about it-

seth: don't be shy, i'm sure you have a type! oh, and i won't tell anyone about it, if you don't want to!

roland: well, uh..

roland: i just really want a kind and understanding girlfriend who won't judge me for my past.

roland: i know i'm probably asking too much and i don't deserve someone like that as my partner.

seth: *sobs*

roland: s-seth-kun, are you crying?

seth: it's just.. *keeps sobbing* you totally deserve someone like that, roland-chan! you totally do!

seth: and we're gonna find you someone like that! trust me, you're in good hands!

roland: you really don't have to help me with that..

seth: but i will help you simply because i want to! and you better be grateful!

seth: .. wait, you mentioned that you'd want a girlfriend like that, right.

roland: yes, is there something wrong?

seth: oh, nothing.

seth: *thinking* "i was about to say that neige-chan sounds a lot like his type.. oh well, i guess i still have a chance with neige-chan then~"

seth: okay, roland-chan, i think it's time for me to go. thank you so much for answering my questions!

roland: but.. i didn't really tell you anything interesting about myself.

roland: i just kept saying stuff like "oh, i'm uncomfortable with this topic" or "i don't want to talk about it".

seth: so what? it's not just about me having fun, i want you to enjoy this too.

seth: and if i found you boring, i would tell you that a long time ago, trust me.

seth: also, we can just say that being mysterious is a part of your charm.

roland: c-charm?..

seth: okay, that's it, bye-bye~ and once again, happy birthday, roland-chan!

[folkrows]

My head canons for Julian and Wicker

[seiyasabi]

The Scientist

(Hange (Hanji) can rearrange by guts tbh :P Lol, anyways, this is a Yandere Hanji x Female Reader story! It takes place in current time tho (same universe as Yelena). Also, idgaf how tall the creator says Hanji is. In this fic, even the tall girlies get to be shorter than Hanji. 

TW: kidnapping!, !drugging!, unwanted advances, stalking!, etc! 

Please proceed with caution! Also, I’m sorry if you can tell that this was in my drafts for a hot min. I started to write this when I first started this blog, and I just finished/revised it lol. ) 

“Hey, (Nickname!” Hearing the loud shout of a certain brunet, you jump about a foot in the air. As usual, Hanji decides to surprise you whilst you’re in the middle of something. 

Pulling away from the microscope you’re currently looking at, you put on a strained smile, “Yes?” 

Their one eye sparkles in a hopeful fashion from behind their glasses, one of her their fiddling with their eyepatch, “Sooo,” They draw out the o, seemingly trying to disarm you, “Are you free this weekend? There’s this suuuuper cool bar that’s just opening, and me and the others are thinking about going! It’s totally not a date or anything,” They pause to let out a loud laugh, “I think it’ll be fun! What D'ya say?” 

Forcing out a chuckle, you shake your head, “Ah, I’m sorry, Hanji, but I’m busy this weekend. I have a lot of samples I need to process for that upcoming court case,” You chew your bottom lip nervously, “I’m sorry. I hope you and the others have a good time, though!” 

A new voice is heard, butting into your conversation, “I can do those! I’ve been needing more hours, anyways,” Whipping your head in the direction of the voice, you silently curse. Fuck Armin for being so helpful! 

Hanji beams even brighter than before, clapping their hands together happily, “See! Armin can do that for you!” They lean in closer to you, their lab coat brushing against yours, “Come on, (Nickname), I’d be reaaaaally happy if you go!” 

An uneasy feeling pools in your gut, as an anxious sweat begins to bead at your brow, “I-uhm-I suppose I can go for an hour or two.”

“Great!” They grab your hands in theirs, squeezing them in a friendly manner, “The bar is called ‘Titan’s Wrath,’ and we’re meeting at eight on Saturday!” Releasing you, they pat you on the back, “See you later!” They run off, most likely back to the dry lab. 

After a moment of silence, you slowly turn towards the short haired blond man, “Armin, I’m going to kill you.”

He blanches at your blunt tone, flushing a bright red, “Wha-what?” 

You grit your teeth, tears starting to bead your eyes in frustration, “They’re the person I was telling you about! Hanji constantly harasses me, and you practically just tossed me into their arms! Why would you do that?” 

A look of pure terror and remorse appears of his face, “Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I-I didn’t realise that they were the person-oh my God, I’m so stupid. I-I really didn’t know! I’m so, so sorry!” You let out a quivering breath, hands clenched into fists to calm you down. 

“It-it’s alright. I never really told you who they were. Just never do that again, okay? If you need more hours, just tell me, and I’ll see what I can do,” The younger man sighs in relief, shoulders deflating. 

“I promise to never do that again!” You nod, blinking away your unshed tears, and smile at him. 

“Okay, then we don’t have any problems,” You laugh lightly, shaking your head, “Who would’ve thought our newest intern was the dry lab’s wing man?” He panics again, making you cackle good-naturedly, “Now, can you please grab the dilluter? I forgot to grab it from the fridge.”

-

Hanji, being the ever cheerful person that they are, set their sights on you the moment you were hired. 

But, if they came out with their feelings immediately, you’d just assume that they wanted to take advantage of you. 

So, they watched you. Writing down your likes and dislikes, your quirks, everything. Through their ‘research,’ they came to realise that you’re very good at your job. The wet-lab should be lucky that they have you… but they never give you the recognition you deserve! 

They bombard you with assignments, become upset when you don’t finish them in seconds (which is so unreasonable!), and hardly give you any time off! 

You don’t seem to mind, being the good girl you are, but Hanji sure does! 

So, they’d seek out the top graduates from the college nearby, and help them become employed at the lab. The newbies really helped get the load off of your shoulders, and once done, they decided to swoop in now that you had a decent amount of free time. 

It started at the vending machine- they’d asked you if you wanted to get coffee with them sometime. You said no, probably because you felt it wasn’t professional. After all, rumours would spread like wildfire if you went out with the lead lab tech of the dry lab! 

So, everytime they knew you had a weekend off, they’d approach you with new places to try. 

Be it a movie, a store, a concert- it didn’t matter. They just desperately wanted to have some time with you! 

But, you reacted the complete opposite of how you were supposed to. 

You’d pick up as many shifts as possible, most times going into over time, just to avoid the flamboyant lead. Whenever you saw them in the hall or by the break room, you’d turn in the complete opposite direction. If wet-lab needed to correspond with the dry-lab, you’d send your most qualified coworker to do so. 

It was saddening, to be honest. They love you so much, yet you refuse to even face them. 

But, thanks to that Armin kid, their plans can finally bloom into fruition. For once, you can’t escape the brunet’s advances! 

Because of that, Hanji made a note to the owner of the lab that Armin would make a good contribution to the lab after he gets all of his qualifications. 

-

Saturday night comes far too soon. 

Dressed in black skinny jeans and a cropped, white long sleeve, you stand in front of ‘Titans Wrath.’ Scoffing at how the bar sounds like a metal band, you make your way inside. 

Grabbing the door handle, you yank it open, immediately hearing loud rock music. Mentally patting yourself on the back for your observation, you step inside of the cool building. 

Looking inside, you see a large, double sided bar in the middle of the room, a stage and standing area just behind it. There are a few pool tables in the front area where you’re standing, along with double doors leading to a hidden kitchen. 

There’s also a lot of people inside. You can’t see Hanji or their friends, but seeing a band setting up on the stage tells you that they’re probably on the other side of the bar. 

Walking over to the steps leading down into the stage area, you try to ignore the leers of a few men around you. Maybe you shouldn’t have worn clothes that accentuate your beautiful figure. Peering around the corner, you see the scientist and their friends, an empty seat in between them and a large blond man, that you vaguely recall being the police chief of your city. 

Strolling towards them halfheartedly, you give yourself a small peptalk inside of your mind. Sure, Hanji has always been touchy-feely with you, sure, they’ve asked you out about one hundred times, sure, you run into them every time you leave the house, sure- 

“(Nickname)! You actually came!” The brunet’s voice is loud, loud enough to cut through the loud music and equally loud chatter. Forcing a smile onto your face, you give a small wave, suddenly uncomfortable with the line of strangers at the bar suddenly looking at you. 

“Yes, hello, Hanji,” When you’re close enough, you’re thrown into a tight embrace, their body practically molding into your own. They’re about a head taller than you, making it so your head is practically forced against their protruding collarbones. Hesitating slightly, you give them a soft pat on the back, trying to escape their suffocating embrace. 

“I’m so glad you came!” They release you just as suddenly as they grabbed you, putting a hand on the small of your back, and practically forcing you in between the blond man and themself, “(Nickname), this is Erwin. Erwin, this is (First Name).”

His blue eyes rake over your appearance, recognition appearing on his face, “It’s nice to see you again, Ms. (Last Name), especially under better circumstances.” 

You nod, thinking back on some high profile cases you met with him for, “Yes, it’s nice to see you again, Mr. Smith.” 

A loud scoff is heard from beside Erwin, the head of a short, dark haired man peeks around the broad chested man, “It’s about time you brought a respectful brat,” You have to stop yourself from flinching at his harsh tone, “I am Levi,” Opening your mouth to introduce yourself, he holds up a hand, halting you, “There’s no need for introductions, Shitty-glasses has gushed about the ‘pretty wet-lab scientist’ for months now.” 

“Oh, alright. It’s nice to meet you,” His lifts his whiskey on rocks in acknowledgement, before downing it with one swig. 

“Likewise,” After that, he turns towards a light brown haired woman, her high pitched voice is heard from where you’re sitting. 

“I’m sorry about that. The detective is very… unsociable.” 

“It’s alright, Mr. Smith. He kind of reminds me of one of my interns, Annie,” You say with a small smile, before your swiveling bar stool is forced around so you’re facing Hanji. 

“Sooo, you like the bar so far?” Their smile is somewhat pleading, and you can’t help but just go along with them. 

“Yes, this place is, um, cool. Very interesting choice,” They clasp their hands together with a pleased expression, as they somehow move closer to you than they already are. At this point, you’re worried that they’ll fall off their stool. 

“Right? Our residential emo boy found it, and we’ve been hooked ever since,” A loud ‘Shut up, Shitty-glasses,’ is heard from behind you, making the brunet laugh, “Let me order you a drink! I think there’s something that you’ll really like!” 

Opening your mouth to reject, it was seemingly too late, because the brunet has already waved over a punk-ed out bartender. You didn’t really hear what the drink is called, but the man sets to work immediately. 

It barely takes a minute for it to be finished, and the purple drink is suddenly in front of your motionless form. Looking up, the purple haired man winks at you, before turning his attention back to a speaking Hanji. 

“Anything she orders, put it on my tab,” He nods, before walking off to service another customer. 

Turning your attention back to Hanji, you try to persuade them to let you pay, “Thanks, Hanji, but it’s alright. I can pay for my own drinks-”

“Don’t worry about it; I asked you out, remember? And it’s the least I can do for harassing you for the past few months,” Startled by their uncharacteristically somber words, you nod in understanding. 

“Alright. Thank you,” They nod, before motioning towards your drink. 

“Try it! I’m sure you’ll like it!” Grabbing the cool glass cup, you bring it up to your lips, and take a small sip. It’s amazing. It tastes like (favourite flavour), and it goes down smooth. 

“You’re right, this is delicious!” They grin brightly, clapping their hands together in glee. 

“Great!” They motion towards the stage with their head, “The show’s about to start! Are you ready for a kickass night?” You laugh at their vigour, and nod. 

“You bet!” 

Maybe tonight won’t be so bad after all. 

-

You spoke too soon. 

It seems like you’ve drank too much, because you’re now feeling dizzy. Throughout the set, you’d ordered about five more drinks, and they seemingly hit you all at once. 

Hanji, who’s been watching you since your fourth drink, feigns shock at your unstable form. That Rohypnol they grabbed from work works quite well! Now they can see why it’s the choice drug for those awful, awful people. 

“Whoa there, (Nickname), it seems you’ve had too much to drink!” Hanji jokes, hands holding you steady on your bar stool. The only person from your group still at the bar is Erwin, but he knows they have it under control. As chief of police, he feels a bit of remorse, but he knows it's for the best. Hanji will take care of you, because, after all, you’re their only true obsession. 

“Wha-huh? Was’ happenin?” Hanji can all but coo at how cute you are. 

“Don’t worry, cutie. I’ll get you home safe,” Helping you to your boot clad feet, they send a knowing look to Erwin, who smiles in return. Wrapping an arm around your waist, they help you stumble out of the bar, and walk towards their car. Once at the passenger side, the brunet unlocks the door, and assists you inside. You flop onto their leather interior, eyes unfocused, and body movements random. Chuckling to themself, they buckle you in, not before pulling on gloves, and taking your phone, keys, and wallet off of you. 

Taking these items, they empty your wallet of its cash, and chuck everything into a nearby bush. Knowing that the cameras outside the building and the buildings surrounding the place are off, they feel at ease. If anything, they feel like your knight in shining armour. If they hadn’t taken you, someone else would’ve-you’re just too cute. 

Closing your door, and rounding the car, they slide into the driver’s side, before starting the car. Buckling themself in, they look at your out-of-it form, and smile. 

[faemen]

Now I do need to ask bc I forgot yesterday but PLEASE tell me more about Dainkaeya. I met Dainsleif yesterday so I am indeed seeing it but I want ur thoughts. Rant as much as you want btw I’ll read anything you have to say 👀

THANK YOU RAZOR!!! i happy stimmed when seeing this

MAJOR genshin impact spoilers the cut!! mostly for the we will be reunited quest line, but also for kaeya's backstory and other major plot details^^

OKAY when i first considered it, it was really just 'ha. they both wear eyepatches and are tall. wouldnt that be funny' but as i went through dainsleif's quest, it occurred to me like wait. so you know how in kaeya's backstory, he's actually from khaenri'ah and whatnot? well, there's a chance he might ACTUALLY be of royal descent, one of the last. and remember what dainsleif was? he's supposed to be a guard of khaenri'ah.... see where i'm going with this?

mihoyo does have a habit of ignoring perfectly good and fascinating theories (*cough cough* kazuscara *cough cough*) BUT this one also genuinely does make a lot of sense and brings up a whole lot of questions and potential. what would dainsleif think when seeing that there's someone from the place he failed to protect, that didnt turn into an abyss creature? what would kaeya think when seeing someone so deeply intertwined with his past? what if they KNEW each other i think id just die probably

and since khaenri'ah is pretty doomed, there are so many ways they could go with it.. revival of a long forgotten but also legendary region maybe? or just entirely going against the people who they were once responsible for? starting a new life away from the ties of the past? it's just a super 'wow us against the world' kind of pairing.

also, theyre pretty similar honestly. pretty mysterious (both those words separately too) and its funny to think of dain getting flustered. non angsty or modern aus would be so hilarious i cant even explain why.. the knight/king pairing is fun to consider too!! i personally really like royal aus and stuff so the brainworms got to me so bad. i REALLY REALLY hope they get to interact please not only for my shipper brain but ALSo for my theorizer brain they are just so cool... many thoughts head full. anyways yes they are bfs, mihoyo told me so

[carnistcervine]

Water-Fire Reversal AU

...But then, everything changed when the Water Tribes attacked.

Here's the proper headcanons/outline/AU thing for my own interpretation of Water-Fire reversal AU.

Based on my post here.

-The Water Tribes becomes the perpetrators of the 100 years war, and the Fire Nation becomes the one stripped away and decimated.

-God forgot to nerf the Southern Water Tribe and they joined forces with the North during Kyoshi's time.

-Kyoshi is too busy chillin on her island to bother with them, so they become dangerously powerful by the time Roku rolls around.

-The Fire Nation still goes through with it's industrialization, because, come on it's a volcanic island chain. There's lots and lots of heat, and fossil fuels, and metal ore. They wouldn't not have an industrial revolution.

-The only difference here is that Sozin actually heeds Roku's advice and decides to listen to the Avatar. He accepts that the world needs to remain four nations, and decides to help him uphold the balance.

-Their friendship grows strong once again.

-So when colonies appear in the Earth Kingdom, it's the South colonizing Kyoshi island.

-Roku is like, OH HELL NO- D:<

-He goes to confront the Southern Chief, and she's all, bitch I do what I want.

-But Roku has had time to calm his tits on the ride over so, he tries to be rational and restrained about it.

-So he be like, "Leave Kyoshi alone, or I will string you up by your nipples"(or something like that. :'D)

-Also, uh, Kyoshi may or may not be part of why Roku is so mad. I mean he is her direct successor.

-The uh, the Water Tribes didn't like that.

-At all, lmao.

-They get into a fight, he kills the chief, which only further serves to turn the Water Tribes against him. And makes their chief a martyr. Strengthening her cause.

-However, at the time they see Roku as acting as Avatar, so they leave the Fire Nation be. Their beef is with him.

-The Avatar is at war with the Water Tribes for several years, resulting is heavy destruction for both tribes, and leaving Roku exhausted.

-Rather than see their Tribes destroyed, they decide to temporarily back off, lick their wounds, recuperate, and make a plan to strike back against Roku.

-Tired, Roku retires to his volcano home and settles down with his family.

-Now, volcanoes do not erupt with no warning whatsoever. Roku and the inhabitants of his island simply misjudged when it would blow it's top.

-However, it did not escape the Water Tribe's notice that the volcano was growing increasingly unstable.

-They primed themselves to strike as it grew increasingly violent.

-When the volcano blew it's top Roku was dealing with both an angry volcano, and angry waterbenders using their combined power to summon tsunamis.

-Roku had to stop the volcano and protect the people trying to flee at the same time.

-He put more into protecting the people, as they had nothing to do with it and didn't deserve to be dragged into his conflict.

-Sozin, seeing Roku's island blowing it's top, came in on his dragon and offered his help.

-Sozin works to get the people to safety while Roku battles the volcano and waterbenders.

-Roku is overwhelmed and both he and his dragon are slain in battle.

-Sozin sees the attack as a declaration of War.

-The Air Nomads are not wiped out.

-Not because the Water Tribes are nice or anything. No, in this AU, they are just as bad as canon Fire Nation.

-The Air Nomads are still around because there is no water equivalent to Sozin's comet. And where the Air Nomads live, ridiculously high above sea-level, protects them from the Water Tribes.

-Sozin begs the Air Nomads for help, but they refuse to partake in the war. Even to the point of hiding Aang from the world.

-In this AU, the Air Nomads serve a role similar to the canon North and Ba Sing Se. Where they put up their defenses and sit idly by as the rest of the world drowns.

-The Water Tribes decimate and wash away many coastal communities, only sparing the ones that bow down to them and allow themselves to be colonized.

-Ba Sing Se and Omashu are safe, because they are far away from major sources of water. Ba Sing Se is mostly surrounded by desert and the only water way is protected by sea serpents(plural).

-And also that goddamn wall.

-Kyoshi Island had the Unagi, but... it was killed. :'D

-The South had a feast that night. lmao

-Sozin plans on putting an end to the war using Sozin's Comet(called Agni's Comet or the Great Comet).

-But uh, there's an eclipse.

-It becomes known as the Darkest Day in Fire Nation history.

-The Fire Nation royal family make it out okay, but to say the country as a whole was decimated is an understatement.

-This becomes the catalyst to the war, with the Earth Kingdom being moved to join forces with the Fire Nation to fight back against the Water Tribes.

-The Earth Kingdoms and Fire Nation have some leverage with their metal ships, but the Water Tribes have the advantage of literally being able to use the battle field as a weapon.

-Learning from the Darkest Day, the Fire Nation(with the help of the Earth Kingdom) builds a wall around it's inner cities.

-They make a recovery, but the outermost communities(ie. the fishing villages) are pillaged and ravaged constantly by the Water Tribes.

-Of course, there was a short occupation of the Fire Nation by the Water Tribes as a result of the Darkest Day, but well, let's just say Agni's Comet fixed that. :^D

-As for Aang, he still goes out and explores the world, but only under the strict guidance of the other monks.

-They are careful to hide the war from him, and him from the war.

-However they cannot hide him from his destiny forever, and as the monks grow increasingly worried over the world's state of affairs, they decide to hide him away completely.

-Very, intimately aware of the fact that Water is next in the cycle, and they likely won't hesitate to kill the poor child to get their own Avatar to corrupt to their terrible ways.

-Aang doesn't take very well to be smothered and runs away.

-Unfortunately he ends up in the middle of a battlefield with fireballs, waves and ice going every which way.

-The stress of nearly being killed triggers the Avatar state and he freezes the battle with himself in stasis in the center.

-The other soldiers either escape or die in the icy tomb. :)

-Without Sozin and Azulon perpetuating a cycle of abuse, Ozai, Zuko, and Azula all turn out as much better people.

-On the other side, the familial bonds of the water tribe take a much darker tone. Anyone not within the tribe/the family doesn't matter. The Tribe is all that matters, all others are the enemy. They become colder, much more insular. While they care for one another, they become rigid as ice, family and tradition being valued above all else.

-Also, waterbending lost touch with it's roots, becoming dark and perverted. A way to sway others to your own way, rather than flowing with the natural push and pull of the world, it became the water tribe pushing against all and pulling in what they please.

-This is borrowing from another AU of mine(*eyebrow dance*), healing is perverted into a technique that brainwashes people. Think of Katara healing Jet's mind from the brainwashing, but in reverse. :^)

-Kanna and Pakku are betrothed, while Pakku is willing to let things like only teaching women to heal, and arranged marriages slide, finds actual, genuine brainwashing to be genuinely disturbing. But tries his best to ignore it. It's just how things are, he tells himself.

-When Hama developed her bloodbending technique and shows it off to the North.

-She proposes it as a way to get the filthy ashmakers and dirtstompers to submit to the mind melting.

-When they try to get Pakku to learn/teach his students bloodbending, he breaks. He can't take it anymore and deserts.

-He becomes the first to desert the Water Tribe navy.

-Kanna feeling the bite of shame, agrees to marry someone from the South instead.

-But also, daytime bloodbender Yue.

-When Katara turns fourteen, she is deemed a master waterbender and given the rights to begin higher level training and learn the secrets of the Water Tribes.

-She learns of bloodbending, and mind manipulation.

-Having fully bought into Water Tribe propaganda her whole life, she cannot believe this. Horrified, she speaks out directly calling Hama disgusting and wicked for inventing such a technique.

-She rightfully calls out her tribes elders for using these techniques on innocent people.

-Oh, boi, but calling out the elders amounts to treason.

-Because she called out her elders, she had dishonored her ancestors and as such had to best Hama in one-on-one combat to avoid being exiled.

-And uhhh, she lost her fuckin eye instead.

-Disillusioned from loosing his father to the war, Sokka joins Katara in her exile.

-Seeing as Kya is the chief of the South, she gives an in for Katara to return back to the tribe's good graces. A way to prove herself. She must find the Avatar and bring him to the Water Tribes.

-Sokka having grown disillusioned, sees it as a way for him and his sister to finally get away from the darkness infesting their home.

-They spend two years at sea looking for the legendary Avatar who vanished for 100 years.

-Also Katara wears an eyepatch and 100% looks like a motherfucking pirate.

-And Zuko, sixteen year old, grumpy but well meaning and kind-hearted Zuko, fears deeply for his people.

-Unfortunately, he feels like his nation isn't doing nearly enough to protect the people living outside the walls.

-Ozai warns young Zuko multiple times that his is not permitted outside the walls. "That place is no place for royalty." He would say.

-"Come back to your gilded cage" He would mean.

-It's only inevitable that Zuko sneaks out and invents the person of the Blue Spirit to help the poor folk living outside the walls.

-His uncle catches him, but doesn't tell. Instead he watches over him, he knows that he can't stop Zuko from trying to save his own people.

-Unfortunately things go tits up when there is an attack in the middle of Zuko helping the people.

-Zuko is captured, and taken away, but Iroh manages to sneak on as well.

-Together they escape, but by that point that are far, far away from the Fire Nation.

-While slowly rowing their little dingy back, they come across a certain frozen battlefield sitting in the middle of the ocean...

-And as fate would have it, a certain, hot-headed, one-eyed waterbender and her "slacker" brother happen to be sailing nearby when Aang is freed.

-Aang has no idea that he's the Avatar, but he also doesn't feel like going back home. He wants to know why the people are fighting.

-He wants to understand why they hate each other so much. :(

-Iroh picks up that Aang is the Avatar right away though.

-He subtly tries to pry Aang about how much he knows of this or his destiny.

-And Aang knows nothing, the monks never got the chance to tell him because he ran away.

-Iroh thinks of a way to gently break the news to Aang, and tactfully handle his need to be trained so he can put an end to this war once and for all.

-Hopefully before Agni's Comet, because Iroh knows that even though his brother isn't a wicked man, he will do what is necessary to put an end to this.

-You see, the Fire Nation has begun to withdraw, it's mostly biding it's time for the Comet's return so that they can put an end to this struggle once and for all.

-Ozai doesn't want to destroy the Water Tribes, but watching his father drown, his nephew slaughtered, and his own brother crippled and forced into retirement has brought him to some very dark conclusions.

-Iroh advocates strongly against using the comet for war, but Ozai has made it clear if the war does not end before the comet appears... He will do what he deems to be necessary.

-That being said, finding out that his son and brother had been taken by the Water Tribes throws him into a rage.

-And yeah, loosing Lu Ten and Azulon, broke Iroh. Along with being physically injured himself. So he gave up the throne to Ozai, feeling that there was nothing he could do for his country.

-With the Avatar, now found, Iroh decides to indulge his nephew's desire to travel and help in the war effort.

-Because, well, Iroh is terrified that Ozai will use Aang to take down the Water Tribe violently.

-An unfortunate consequence of this is that for a while, Ozai thinks that Zuko and Iroh are dead!

-And Ozai is the opposite of able to cope with this. lmao

-I haven't decided when Aang should realize that he's the Avatar, but it's def gonna be due to him loosing control and lashing out in the avatar state.

-Iroh ends up being the one to calm Aang down when he goes Avatar-Rage-Mode.

-Because Iroh is big soft man, and basically Aang and Zuko's dad.

-It's too soft to for me to resist okay?? :D

-I'm also not entirely sure when to place this on the timeline, but I am highly considering having Ozai find out that Zuko and Iroh are alive at the end of Book 1, so that it can mirror canon a bit. Because as soon as he finds out they're alive he sends his stronk ass, prodigy daughter Azula to go fetch the two and bring them back home safely.

-But also go get the Avatar, so he can be properly trained in firebending.

-Yes, Azula is good in this fic. But she's still not nice. She's very pragmatic and stoic. She does genuinely care about her brother and Uncle, but she considers the safety of the world and the Fire Nation to be more important than their feelings.

-She's cold and detached, but would do anything to protect the Fire Nation, her family or help the world as a whole.

-Azula is also occasionally playful, teasing Zuko and calling him Zuzu or dum-dum.

-Once she's pulled into the story, she kinda serves as a rival to Zuko. Constantly trying to drag the Gaang home to the Fire Nation, so the Avatar can be taught by proper instructors.

-And Ozai is not a bad dude, but he's STRESSED. And seen some very unfortunate things. Let's just say, the war is not putting him a great headspace.

-Like he isn't abusive like Canon!Ozai, but his desperation to save his country and put an end to the war is driving him to do some questionable things. Like considering using Agni's Comet.

-The people of the Foggy Swamp are still good and left in tune with the true nature of water. So when time comes around to Katara to have her heel-face turn, ya already know who she gon go to.

-Also, they sups spiritual, so yeh.

-I am also considering having the Foggy Swamp be the final point of Katara's redemption arc, like her final realization of what he destiny really entails and what she must do.

-But I do want the first step to be Sokka getting injured while protecting her.

-Like she can't believe this, she's about to loose the last piece of her family, and in a desperate move, she rediscovers the lost art of true healing. Saving Sokka's life.

-I’m also considering having Katara join the Gaang at the end of book two.

...

-Sparkle Sparkle Moon Girl.

[cydsart]

Soz jules this is probably the most affectionate malak gets

(Please ignore the fact i forgot to connect up his eyepatch lmao)

[maple-writes]

WHG 14: Boat 3

tagging @ratracechronicler (Elvira, Rebecca) @concealeddarkness13 (Nesri, Lynne, Zenith, Triel) and @pen-of-roses (Rowan, Lynn)

###

The others trickled back into the room, waking me slowly and giving me just enough time to rub some of the tiredness out of my eyes before everyone was gathered. In such a small room we were crammed together pretty close, making it feel all the more tiny.

Once everyone was accounted for, Rowan gave Zenith a defeated look. “I hope your end went better than mine?”

Zenith grimaced. “I found where Evie, Alastair and Poli are staying, but Evie somehow saw both me and Alastair wearing Peacekeeper uniforms, and she’s scared to get close.”

Rowan sighed. “Lynn didn’t buy, or at least didn’t say the Peacekeeper story, but he seemed convinced I wasn’t real somehow. Either it wasn’t me, someone was pretending to be me, or…” They shook their head. “I don’t even know but it’s not looking good.”

Was that what Zenith’s old friends were talking about? “The capitol suspected we might be here.” I paused as everyone looked at me. “I heard they had plans to stop us.”

“Is that why Lynn looked at me like a rotten fish carcass and not a knight in shining armor?” Rebecca winced at some memory. “Great.”

Elvira though, looked more thoughtful. “She looked at you and thought you were wearing Peacekeeper uniforms or thought she’d seen you in them at some earlier time?” She looked to Zenith, waiting for an answer.

“She asked me why I was wearing a Peacekeeper uniform. But she didn’t seem particularly surprised. The Capitol must have already been lying to her.” He frowned. “we might want to change our plans a little. We won’t be able to rescue them tonight.”

My shoulders fell. That wasn’t good. A whole other day stuck here on the ship? And what if even after that we couldn’t do anything, couldn’t figure out what was wrong with them? What then?

Triel sighed dramatically. “And after I went through all that trouble to book an appointment with Snow tonight.”

“We will rescue them though, right?” Rowan’s voice tightened, and even from across the room I could feel hints of panic ebbing from him, prickling cold against my cheeks.

Zenith nodded. “We just need to figure out what the Capitol is doing. Hopefully, we can still rescue them during this party.”

But Rebecca was still focused on Triel, a frown playing on her face. “Appointment?”

Triel nodded. “I’ve been pretending to be a Capitol reporting for a few weeks, and I’ve even published some interviews wit the stylists and a few mentors. I built up that persona so I could get close to Snow without too much suspicion. I asked to interview him tonight, but the appointment was really for his dunk into the lake.”

“The appointment could still be good though,” Rowan started slowly, thoughtfully. “Get a better insight into tomorrow’s events maybe? Or learn more about the ship, or…”

“I might need the help of my lovely assistant, however,” Triel looked over to Elvira with a smirk.

Elvira replied, “How about two or five?”

Triel cocked her head with a rare look of confusion. “If anyone else in this gang shows up, he’ll probably recognize them from the Games.”

Beside me, Cirrus grinned, reaching into his pocket for a folded scrap of paper. That grin could only mean he’d been up to something. “If you need someone he wouldn’t see I might have someone.” He handed the paper towards her and confirmed my suspicion. “Her name’s Amy, on of the avoxes on board. She wrote this out for me earlier and seems in on the plan.”

An avox? I half frowned. What happened to having to ignore the staff that he’d drilled into us at the apartment?

But Triel didn’t seem worried, eyes shining with excitement. “Perfect, I’ll make sure to recruit her to the president overboard gang.”

“Oh.” Elvira blinked. “I actually met some of my old friends—they’re national thieves and pirates at large and unknown to the government. They’re here to rob the place. I struc up an accord with them. One in particular would very much favor a… Bit of a ruckus. But Amy works too.”

I wrinkled my eyebrows. How many pirates could there be at one state-sanctioned event? But before I could figure out a more polite phrasing, Cirrus spoke again.

“At the very least she could get you in. I haven’t spoken to her about actually pushing anyone.” He paused, sighing as his shoulders sloped and his voice softened. “She was on stage with Lynne. I don’t want her to get hurt again.”

Some of the others flinched, as if remembering something painful. Cirrus had said something about that broadcast being harsh, but he hadn’t mentioned anything about an avox.

Triel nodded. “Thank you.” T hen to Elvira, she added, “I do think I would need some more assistants, especially if they are our mutual friends.”

"Captain Skeates will gladly help defy the Capitol, especially if I ask, and the others will follow her lead.” Elvira said. “She's a genius, as you likely know, Quartermaster Chaudhary has the guns, and Mirabel has the gadgets. Tell me what you need us to do."

Triel’s eyes shone. “Oh, I simply must have more assistants. I haven’t seen them in a year.”

What were the odds, these pirates knew our pirates. I’d never thought I’d ever meet one pirate, let alone this many. Was there anyone on this ship that wasn’t a pirate? Wait. I sat up. I’d almost forgot about what happened with Zenith’s team.

“Whatever you do, try and push him off the right side of boat. I convinced—” My eyes flickered to Zenith for a second. Would they want him to know? Would he be upset if he knew? “—Some security, to move some safety equipment away from the area.”

Rebecca sat up proudly. “You mean the starboard side?” She looked around, as if pleased to show everyone she knew what it was called.

“I don’t know,” I mumbled. “I just told them the right side.”

Rowan scoffed. “I don’t know whether to be happy that worked or even more irritated with them that they moved it.”

Out of the corner of my eye I could see Zenith watching me, eyes narrowed and posture stiff. I quickly looked away, trying not to meet his eyes. He probably knew. He’d be smart enough to put it together.

“I found an old friend, and he’s invited us to meet the captain.” Nesri interjected. “He stays they will held. And he’s a horrible liar, so I trust him.”

“Ooh yeah!” Rebecca agreed. “lets kinda leave at different times and go different routes so we don’t draw attention to us as a group, right? The captain’s at the bridge I’m assuming?” She paused just a second, almost not noticeable. “That raised bit kinda near the back of the yacht up on top with the windows?”

Good. I would have had no idea what the bridge meant. It sounded familiar though, her description.

Nesri nodded and paired up with Zenith, and Triel decided to walk with Elvira.

“Meet in ten minutes?” I asked, making sure to give myself enough time to remember where I’d seen the bridge.

The others agreed, and we staggered our leaving. I left with Cirrus, taking the long way around the outside of the ship alongside the deck railings. If it weren’t the president’s ship it would have been a nice walk. The breeze off the lake carried the smell of fresh water, cool and light. But it wouldn’t last. We had to go back inside when we got closer to the bridge, back into the metal halls and artificial lights.

When everyone was gathered, Nesri’s friend let us into the bridge to meet the captain. He led us through a room filled with all kinds of navigational instruments, glowing switchboards, radio equipment and a whole range of equipment I didn’t recognize, straight to the person at the helm.

They turned around and I couldn’t help but stare. They wore a pristine navel uniform without as much of a hint of a wrinkle, perfectly shined shoes, and perfectly placed hair, and perfect posture. Both eyes were covered with sleek eyepatches, and a brightly coloured parrot sat on their shoulder in it’s own perfectly tailored uniform. I leaned forward just a bit. The parrot… It’s uniform looked like it had a slightly different insignia.

“Hello Captain Reeves!” Nesri’s friend grinned and waved. “I wanted to introduce you to some people who aren’t Capitol puppets.”

The parrot looked first, head cocked and pupils dilating. “Yo ho ho.”

The captain turned too, frowning. “You brought rebels in here?” They paused, long and silent save for the whirring of navigational monitors. Then they smiled. “Brilliant! What do they need help with?”

I glanced between them and the parrot, not sure who to focus one. The captain had been the one to speak, but the parrot… It was like it was looking right through me. It was looking right at us.

Nesri laughed, failing at keeping it in, but Zenith seemed to fare better. “Do you know anything about any of the guests being forced to see other guest differently than they should, Captain Reeves?”

The captain burst out laughing, loud and booming in the small room. “The parrot doesn’t know anything but navigation! She’s Captain Reeves, and my name is Smith. Now about what you asked, I do have a machine that sends some data to a place on the mainland. But I have no access to the data.”

Again, I glanced between them before cautiously settling on Reeves. “Does, does Reeves have access?” Would it be rude to not have addressed her directly?

“Or do you know anyone who does?” Elvira added.

“Neither of us have access.” Smith said. “Don’t know if you meddling with the machine would do you any good anyway. But...” they paused, seemingly only for dramatic affect. “I did hear some idiot Peacekeeper talking about how this big machine—” they gestured to one off to the side, “gets data from these small machines that were integrated into the shockers that the tributes wear. If you could figure out how to disable those smaller machines, you’d be able to stop them from seeing things you don’t want.”

Captain Reeves bobbed up and down on Smith’s shoulder, wings flapping out at her sides. “Yo ho ho!”

The conversation shifted, moving on to how best to tackle the new challenge. Luckily it seemed like Shine might be able to devise some kind of work around, they just needed time. Most of it went over my head, talking about technology and devices and disablers. Clearly nothing was going to get done anytime soon and nothing I’d be particularly helpful with.

I excused myself from the bridge and made my way back to the room. There seemed to be some kind of game show going on in the main room now, with Ceasar hosting on stage and contestants chosen from within the crowd. I slowed as I passed, eyes glued on him standing, standing there in the center of the stage. This time it was Lynn up there with him, forced to smile and play nice with the lucky volunteers on stage. Resentment burned deep enough to simmer in the marrow of my bones. How dare he. My fingers curled, nails sharper than they should be as I glared.

The lights flickered and I forced a deep breath. Relax. Keep it together, just another day. I kept my head down and went straight back to our room.

#

Some of the others didn’t come back right away, busy somewhere else on the ship figuring out electronics or scouting, or something. I hadn’t really paid full attention, all I knew was that I wasn’t alone in the room anymore and couldn’t seem to fall asleep again. Ever since coming back from trying to figure out Laurel’s trackers though, Rowan and Zenith had been quiet. Neither seemed much up to talk, Rowan seeming especially down and tired after what must have been a whole ordeal. Fair enough.

But just as I’d gotten comfortable again under a heap of blankets, there was a knock at the door. Zenith got up and answered, readjusting his eyepatch at the last second to cover his eye again. I couldn’t see who it was on the other side of the door, but I perked up when I recognized her voice. The dragon-woman from Zenith’s old team. She said something about Lynne and Lynn attempting their own escape.

Zenith  glanced back, evaluating with his uncovered eye before turning back to them. “I’ll go stop them.”

“Wait,” I threw the blanket off and popped up to my feet, the ground spinning a little when I moved too fast. “I’ll come with you.” Nerves told me to go with him, just in case, just in case something happened. Just in case magic somehow got involved.

He studied me a moment, doubt flashing across his face strong enough I thought he would say something, tell me not to come, but then he gave in. “Fine. Let’s go.”

Him and the dragon led the way, and I had to jog a few paces to catch up with them. Were they walking fast, or was it just me? I tried my best to keep up despite the heaviness pulling at my eyes, weighing on my legs.

“When  I left, the captured tributes were trying to cut out their shockers. We were helping so they wouldn’t hurt themselves too badly, but…” the dragon trailed off, a grimace striking her face. “I don’t think that will work. The Capitol knows you cut your trackers. They won’t make the same mistake twice.”

“We should hurry.” Zenith’s voice gave nothing away, his eyes straight forward as he picked up his pace.

I realized too late, having to run again to catch up. “They didn’t hurt themselves, did they?” I stuck close to Zenith’s shoulder and glanced past him to the woman.

She shrugged. “I left before they could finish. They probably did hurt themselves, but Arque and That will make sure it’s not life threatening.”

We came to a stop, and Zenith picked up a piece of paper from the floor. He read it quickly and handed it to me. Went to the right side of the boat to help them “escape” scrawled across in hasty handwriting.

“Already?” We hadn’t taken that long to get here, had we? I turned to Zenith and the dragon. “Do you know where they would have gone?”

She nodded. “Somewhere no one would notice. A small stretch on the back of the yacht where there’s no entertainment or lights.” She smiled a little, directed at me. “Thanks for the suggestion earlier today, though. They’ll want something to help them swim properly, so the delay will help us catch up to them.”

I smiled to myself, still holding the note as we started walking again. Zenith gave me another suspicious look though and I hid my face, hunching my shoulders and staring down at the deck. The smile stayed though, wide and secret as we hurried along the outside of the ship.

It vanished though when we found them. The other two team members mocked confusion at the missing equipment, but Lynn and Lynne noticed us immediately with harsh glares.

Lynne crossed her arms. “What do you want? We’re not breaking any rules.”

I took a step closer, close as I dared under their glares and the anger strong enough to feel even though the air. Under that though, almost too faint to notice, fear prickled cold at my face too. “I,” I swallowed. “I know you want to get out of here, but please just wait a little longer.”

“You, you were with Rowan?” Lynn asked, not quite meeting my eyes.

I nodded. “We met before the games.” What had they told him about Rowan? That they’d gotten out? That they’d been captured? That they’d died, alone and cold and hungry and suffering in the snow? “They’re here too, and they’re safe.”

“Safe?” Instead of relief, Lynn spoke with contempt. “When you’re all peacekeepers?”

“What?” I blinked, stiff in place. “Oh, right.” That’s what this whole thing was about, their shockers and whatever it was that was making them see this way. What was I supposed to say? There wasn’t nearly enough time. “I know it doesn’t make sense, but we really aren’t Peacekeepers.”

Beside me, Zenith sighed and crossed his arms. He stood straight and hard, like the peacekeepers they thought we were. “I have to ask that you return your room.”

I stood taller, trying my best to mimic his posture, but judging by their reactions it wasn’t nearly as convincing. “Just for now, please.”

But Lynne only matched us, trying to intimidate us back. “Why? We’re not breaking any ules. And we’re not required to be anywhere right now.”

Zenith put one hand on his hip and hovered the other over his side. There must have been a reason, but I couldn’t begin to figure it out. “The president requires it. Please, don’t struggle.”

Neither seemed scared off though. Lynn crossed his arms and studied Zenith, and Lynne didn’t give up her glare.

“Don’t you have a shred of yourselves left in there?” She spat. “Wouldn’t you want to defy the Capitol?”

Lynn placed a hand on her arm. “What happens if we refuse to go with you?”

Zenith clicked his tongue. “The president has allowed us to use force, if needed. It would be… unfortunate if we had to do that.”

Was that, was that a threat? Tension coiled in my stomach. What was he planning? He, he wasn’t going to actually hurt them, was he? They were scared, they were desperate, it was the last thing they needed.

Lynn hummed, low and defiant. “And you haven’t because..?” He said something to Lynne, to soft for me to hear.

Zenth sighed. “Fine, you don’t believe me?” He dashed forward, grabbing on of Lynne’s arms and forcing it behind her back with a predatory glare at Lynn. “Is that considerate enough for you?”

I startled, staggering off balance at his sudden movement. Lynne struggled against his grip but there was nothing he could do and I could only stare, wide-eyed and shocked. What was he thinking? What was he doing? That was Lynne! That was Lynne. But I swallowed my horror and hurried forward, putting myself between Lynn and the other two. Just in case. If there was a fight, if there was a full on fight I didn’t want to know what would happen.

Lynn stared down at Zenith and Lynne. “I’ll go with you if you let her go.”

Zenith paused, considering for a moment before letting her go and nudging them forward. “Then let’s go”

Lynn whispered something else to Lynne, then turned to me. “Alright let’s go.”

I glanced at Zenith, following his lead to escort them back to wherever their room was. Unease knotted along  with the tension in my gut. Lynne hadn’t even seem phased by what Zenith did. Hardly even seemed shaken. What else must she have been through since capture if that didn’t even seem like all that big of a deal?

“So, what happened to those bandages?” Zenith asked, still in his harsh peacekeeper tone. “They’re suspiciously over your shockers.”

Lynn glanced at Lynne. “Accident.”

“Are you okay?” I leaned back to see the bandages. They looked hastily applied and I couldn’t quite tell how much damage there might have been beneath them. What kind of tools did they try and use? “Is it a large wound? Do you need anything for it?” Was it going to get infected?

Lynne shot Zenith another glare. “Don’t touch them. Someone else took care of them.”

“We’re fine.” Lynn agreed, glancing over to me. His expression shifted, just a little, just a little bit softer, curious. “You know, Rowan likes a very specific tea. I used to tease them about the smell being too similar to a garden for me.”

Immediately a smile spread across my face. I still couldn’t fathom how anyone could just look at a plant and know what it was the way they did back at the training center. Of course they would like something garden-scented. “I can see that, they do like their plants.” The image of Rowan with mug after mug of tea in the apartment flashed though my head. How they’d always be brewing something and offering to whoever looked like they might want some. “And their tea.”

“I still don’t believe you’re Peacekeepers.” He mumbled. “But then I don’t really believe much of what Selene tells me anymore. Are you really trying to help.”

I nodded again. “We’re all there. There’s been a snag, but we’re trying.” Who knew if he believed me, but at least he wasn’t as hostile as Lynne.

“Then why stop us?”

Zenith muttered something under his breath and I ignored him, focusing on Lynn instead. He and Lynne deserved an explanation, even if they didn’t believe us right away. “I don’t really understand it, but there’s something extra in your shockers.” I pointed at his bandage, not sure what kind of terminology they’d been using for it. “There’s something affecting your perception, and we need a little longer to figure out how to stop it.” They deserved some kind of assurance they weren’t here alone even if they wouldn’t understand until we fixed what was wrong.

All Lynn did in response was hum, and Lynne did all she could to appear like she was ignoring every word I said.

We got to their room and Zenith ushered them towards the door. “Now, don’t leave until someone tells you to. If any of the Peacekeepers see you out again, they won’t be as nice as we were.”

“Right.” Lynn muttered.

Lynne didn’t say anything. She just walked in, flipping Zenith off until she flinched with a hiss of pain and had to settle with slamming the door instead. So they had cameras in their room.

As soon as the door was closed my shoulders slumped and I sighed. “At least they stayed on board.”

Zenith watched the door a little longer. “But the shockers are still working. That must not have worked.”

He put his hand in his pocket, and pulled out a crumpled up note with a look of surprise. He handed it to me when he was done reading. Cutting them out didn’t work. The machines are clinging to their muscles. Too difficult to pull out without professional help. Sorry. That didn’t sound good.

My heart fell. “That’s not good. Although, as long as we can disable them it’ll still be good enough for now, right?” I sure hoped so.

Zenith nodded, turning away. “Let’s head back before anyone asks any questions.”

Good idea. I followed him down the hallway, grateful he seemed to know where he was going. I shuffled along beside him, eyes down on the ground. Had it hurt, when they’d installed the shockers? If they were imbedded right into their muscles it couldn’t have been easy. Did it deliver the shock that deep, under the skin and into the muscle itself? My eyebrows furrowed and I hunched over around the weight on my chest. We had to break those things. We had to get them out of here. We had to.

My fists clenched at my sides and I set my jaw. They had to pay. Everyone on this forsaken vessel, everyone laughing and dancing and playing at their expense… I wonder how they would like it. Wonder if they knew. Wonder how they would react if everything suddenly went wrong. If they suddenly had to fear for their lives.

Not yet. I sighed, following Zenith back into our room. Not yet.

[qweeby]

Nine Lives To Short Part 4: Not Yours To Lose

♡♡♡♡♡💔💔💔

Paring: Shinsou x Reader

Genre: Angst

Taglist @foxypuppy @bakuhoetoedoroki

Plot: You only have 9 days to tell him how you feel but maybe 9 days just isn't enough

-The time as come for your date-

"You ready, Cat?" Shinsou asks opening the taxi door "Yeah I'm ready Shinsou" you say with smile.

" JUST GET IN CAR YOU IDIOTS!" Katsuki yells while he kicks Hitoshi in the back "Ok Ok calm down Bakugou!".

All of you get in taxi, you in the middle, Shinsou on the left and Bakugo on the right. "Again why is Bakugo coming on our date?"

Kaminari closes the taxi door " Because I'm broke, Izuku has training to do and plus...."

Bakugo takes it wallet and waves a credit card in your face " I have Icy Hot's credit card!".

Izuku looks surprised " Hey I-isnt that Endeavor's?...."

Without saying a word Bakugo just rolls up the window sticking his tongue out at the both of them. "KACCHAN DON'T WASTE EVERYTHING ON ENDEAVOR'S CREDIT CARD!"

" LIKE LOSING 50 CENT IS SO FUCKING IMPORTANT TO THE NUMBER 1 HERO SHUT UP DEKU! AND YOU DARE TELL ICY HOT".

Bakugo kicks the drivers set "THIS IS YOUR FAULT FOR NOT PULLING OFF EARLIER! DRIVE DUMBASS!"

The taxi takes drives off, you slap Bakugou in the back of the head " What's wrong with you don't talk to the driver like that! HE'S LITERALLY THE ONE DRIVING US TO OUR DESTINATION"

"Tch, be glad I got this extra moving this damn thing".

Hitoshi sigh while you and Bakugo argue back and forth " Hey Y/N"

You and Bakugo are pulling on each other's face pinching one other but then stop to look at Shinsou "Yeah?"

"OI DON'T IGNORE ME!"

"That eyepatch that Denki gave you is it bothering you?"

"OH YEAH THE EYEPATCH" while the boys were visiting you Kaminari gave you an Eyepatch for your "messed up eye" as a get well soon gift that he asked Momo to make.

"It's fine Hitoshi you don't have to keep checking in on me"

"Well that's not true I should always be checking in on you I basically have to since you like to keep secrets"

The taxi stops at a red light....behind a line of traffic.

"Secrets? What about my secrets am I not aloud to have them Shinsou?"

Hitoshi crosses his arms "Well when you keep secrets about the pain you're feeling that's definitely not something to keep to yourself but here you are". You look at Shinsou but he doesn't look at you he actually turns away from you facing the window.

"Hitoshi...."

" OI WHY DID WE STOP MOVING?"

The taxi driver looks back at Bakugo and points to the now green, " WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU POINTING AT THE LIGHT IS GREEN KEEP IT MOVING!".

" Hitoshi what's up with you why are you acting like this?"

Hitoshi face palm's "I've been like this for the pass week! I've noticed you've been acting weird first it's asking for your quirk to be Erasure by Aizawa then you don't eat lunch! THEN you asked that stupid hypothetical".

" YOU'RE STILL ON THE QUESTION"

"YES YOU THINK I JUST FORGOT ABOUT IT THE NEXT DAY HELL THE ONLY WAY I KNEW YOU WERE HURTING WAS BECAUSE I HAD USED MY QUIRK ON YOUR DAD.

You look away from Shinsou crossing your arms as well shouting at him "YOU USED YOUR QUIRK ON MY DAD WHAT HECK SHINSOU WHAT'S !WRONG WITH YOU. Do you think this is easy for me? having to deal with that fact that I'm running out of time and I only have 9 days left to live! You think I can just blurt that out!".

Hitoshi finally looks at you but the look in his eyes....the look of despair is all you see.

"What...."

"Shinsou i-...I can explain...."

"YOU'RE DYING IN 9 DAYS! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!"

"Hitoshi...this isn't the time or place to talk about this!" You lean back hitting you head on the window but then you realize, " Wait I'm sitting in the middle how did I hit the window, why didn't I hit Baku...BAKUGO!

You and Hitoshi stick your heads out of the window to see Bakugo jumping on top of each car and truck hoping car to car making his way back to the taxi from the front of the line of traffic yelling " OI YOU SHITTY DRIVER!"

" BAKUGO GET YOUR ASS BACK IN THIS TAXI".

Bakugo being Bakugo ignore you and stomps on the hood of the taxi " SHITTY FUCKING DIVER ANSWER MY QUESTION!"

"Y-yes?.."

" YOUR QUIRK TELL ME WHAT IT IS NOW! RIGHT NOW"

" W-when I tap my foot I-i can make people see different colors... it's not special why d -do you ask....".

Explosions pop in Katsuki's hand like someone lit thousands of firecrackers all at once " IT'S YOU YOU'RE THE REASON WHY EVERYONE IS STUCK HERE DAMMIT THAT LIGHT ISN'T SUPPOSED TO BE FUCK BLUE! IT'S SUPPOSE TO BE GREEN LIKE DEKU!".

The taxi driver claps his hands turning off his quirk making the traffic light turn back to green.

" W-what do I do now-".

Bakugo steps on the windshield cracking it.

" When I get in that back seat you better STEP.ON.THE.FUCKING.PETALLLL!!! YOU GOT IT!" The taxi driver nods with tears in his eyes waiting for Katsuki to get back in taxi.

Bakugou walks to back of the taxi getting in as he grinds his teeth slamming the door, " AND QUIT YOUR JOB WHEN YOU DROP US OFF YOU SUCK AT DOING SUCH A BASICALLY HUMAN REQUIREMENT I FUCKING QUIRKLESS WANNABE CAN DO THIS 50 TIMES FUCKING FASTER AND BETTER!".

The driver rides off while you and Hitoshi are left dumb founded " Bakugo....what the actual fuck". Bakugo ignores the both of them "Shut up! Don't say a word to me it's not me who you should be talking to right now."

Hitoshi puts his hood over his head " That's what I meant back keeping secret...what the hell am I suppose to do with that information"

" I don't know! Do what you will with it!"

" THAT'S WHAT YOU SAY! DO WHAT YOU WILL WITH IT?!"

You go quite as you hear that spine chilling voice once again.

He says...." You are such a fool"

" AND THERE YOU GO NOT SAYING ANYTHING!"

"HITOSHI SHUT THE HELL UP WHY ARE YOU SO WORKED UP ABOUT EVERYONE IS GONNA DIE! You are never gonna know when you will die! We could die in a car crashes right now and say fuck my 9 days left! THAT'S HOW THE WORLD IS!".

Hitoshi grabs you by your shoulder and hood falls off but in the process of it falling you and Bakugo see his his tearful face.

" It's not suppose to happen to you Y/n NOT THIS EARLY W-WE STILL HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD TO-"

You punch the back the head of the driver's seat yelling " WAKE UP HITOSHI I'M NOT YOURS TO LOSE!"

.

.

.

"How could you say that.... your gonna lose him Y/N"

" I need to get out of this car right now..."

Hitoshi says as he unlocks his side of the taxi the door.

" Hey! Where are you going! Hitoshi!"

" Don't say what you think he's just blowing off steam...but you'll explode....it always come to that point"

The clouds above start to settle making there dark night sky into grey gloomy night.

" Where are you going back to her!?!"

He stops walking "Of course he does".

" Who told you..."

You start to laugh as rain lightly pours down, " Ha HA WOW! Looks whose keeping secrets now!"

" Tch it's technically not a secret if you knew for a while"

"Hitoshi don't get smart with me just get back in the car please".

"No I'm not getting in".

In the blink of a eye the rain turns from a light shower to heavy, the sound of every droplet hitting the ground can be heard.

Bakugo closes his eyes as he knows what's about to happen "Fucking dumbass's"

" Hitoshi get in the car!"

"IM NOT GETTING IN THE CAR"

"FINE GO BACK TO HATSUME!"

Hitoshi clenches his fist "MEI HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU DIEING SO DON'T BRING HER INTO THIS IT'S NOT HER FAULT"

" Y/N...you are such a fool" the cat says as he lays ontop of the car rooftop.

" IF ANYTHING IT'S YOUR FALUT! YOU'RE THE REASON IM GONNA DIE!"

Hitoshi just turns away and continues to walk away "YEAH GO AHEAD WALK AND DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT IF I DIE IT WILL BE ON YOU HITO-"

Bakugo covers your mouth and pulls you back into the car "You really don't know when to shut up, Oi driver...the petal STEP ON IT!"

They drive off as Shinsou walks away in the rain.

"Bakugo let me go!" " No dumbass just stop fighting! He's gone ok....he's gone".

You holds bakugou's arm " h-he's gone...." you snatch off the eye patch throwing it out of the window while the purple sits on your lap.

"You made him leave, why even act surprised it was only a matter of time"

"....Bakugou where are we even going?"

" Where the hell else we're going on a date"

You glare at Bakugou "reallllllllly??? But why?"

Bakugou turns his head away blush while he pets your head running his finger through your hair "If you do have only a limited time....I wanna treat nice so we don't end on bad terms and plus I don't need a fucking spirit haunting me".

You smile right after that you place your hand on Bakugou's face " Bakugo that's so sweet of you" " Tch shut up dimwit"

-A few minutes go by-

You and Bakugou lay in the taxi though Bakugou is awake while you sleep, he's been calling Hitoshi but it just goes straight to voicemail.

" Stupid Cat lover I can't believe he left me with her like that when I see that idiot I'll give I'm a piece of my mind"

"Umm sir this is your stop?"

"YEAH JUST GET ME OUT OF THIS SHIT"

Bakugo kicks open the door stepping out the car with you on his back. He walks towards the restaurant but then stops as the taxi driver honks the horn " I-I dont get a tip?...."

"A tip?....YOU WANT A TIP I'LL GIVE YOU A FUCKING TIP HOW ABOUT YOU GO FUCK YOURSELF AND YOUR SHITTY QUIRK AND YOUR SHITTY TAXI SERVICE! NEVER EVER GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AFTER TONIGHT!".

The taxi driver speeds off leaving dust in bakugou's face "I'm gonna find him later and kill him"

" Thanks for making my eardrums bleed"

"Thanks for waking up just in time for dinner".

You get off of Bakugou's back stretching and yawning "Hey before we go in I want you to know something", "Hm? Yeah?".

"No matter what happens to you if you die or not...always know that every second is a gift".

He turns to you holding out his hand "So come on chances like this happens once in a lifetime don't waste this second".

You take Bakugou's hand " I wouldn't dream of missing this gift.

.

.

.

For the rest of the night you and Bakugo have a fantastic time, you start to see a side of him that no one else's sees. Bakugou can be caring sweet and kind regardless of those facts he's still Bakugou so you know when the bill came he was outraged and made a scene.

-Meanwhile with Hitoshi as he was making his way home-

Hitoshi looks across the street and stares at you house and thinks about he used his quirk on your dad it reminds him of all the words people used to say about him and his quirk

"You a Hero HaHa! You're kidding right Hitoshi!"

"A hero who brainwash people come on get real that'll never work"

" Your qurik isn't really fit for a hero"

".....it's was you that made me believe I could be someone more"

Shisou think's back to the day you stop up for him when he was being picked on by the other kids.

"HEY! DONT MAKE FUN OF SHINSOU! I think his quirk is super cool! He'll be a really cool hero that saves the night! The Awesome Hero MindFreak!"

"Mind Freak....I like it..."

"See Shinsou likes it!"

" Of course Y/n thinks Shinsou's cool you think anyone with a power is cool"

"I bet you she wants to be a hero too! With no quirk? Now that funny!"

"Don't listen to them Shinsou I know that one day people will see how great you are like I do You'll be a great hero !"

Hitoshi frowns while muttering " A great hero....that's funny because how could a great hero make such a rookie mistake".

"I'm no great hero....I wouldn't even call myself a villain. If the reason for your pain is me....if I'm the reason for your death then I'm nothing but a monster".

He drys his eyes before walking inside "Nothing but a monster."

♡♡♡♡♡♡💔💔💔

Even though tonight ended with a somewhat happy ending for one of our heroes the clock is still ticking

"And we are finally on track with on plans of stopping".

[geekasaurusart]

Day 30 is of Subaru Yasuada which I must say I had fun drawing him. Please ignore I forgot the band of his eyepatch 😅 I don’t remember which pen I used to do him otherwise I’d fix it. Oops. Anyways Subaru belongs to @greatmastercami

[kyanitedragon]

Territory

Kaneki realizes that so long as a ghoul owns the street where Hide lives, his friend is in danger of being attacked by a ghoul. Kaneki knows the only way to keep Hide safe is to own that territory and make sure no ghouls go there, and Kaneki will make sure that happens no matter what.

(Read on Ao3)

~7500 words; canon-typical violence

---

The bell jingled.

“Welcome to—” Roma began, and then she gasped. The plates she was holding tumbled out of her grip and shattered onto the ground. “It’s! It’s...!”

Touka swerved around.

A dove?!

She gasped.

Kaneki.

“It’s you!!!” Roma cheered and giggled happily. She skipped over to Kaneki and circled him. “The one eyed—!”

“Roma!” Touka snapped. There were human customers here.

“Sorry! I just got excited...” Roma apologized. She looked up at Kaneki and said, “I’ve wanted to meet you for a while now, Eyepatch!”

Touka growled under her breath as she went back to making coffee. Although calling a person with an eyepatch “Eyepatch” wasn’t too strange, Touka still thought Roma was being too risky. Human customers might not make the connection, but ghoul customers may.

“Um...” Kaneki struggled, uncertain how to respond to Roma. “Thanks, I guess? But I can’t talk right now.”

Kaneki ignored Roma, walking past her as she pouted. Kaneki walked up to the counter — right up to Touka. Touka found herself unable to move. She had been waiting for his return for so long.

“I need to talk to the Manager.” Kaneki told her. It was so serious, and without any emotion.

What, no hello? Touka asked bitterly in her head. You haven’t seen me in months and you don’t even greet me when you finally see me again?

---

Touka led Kaneki to Yoshimura, who had agreed to talk to him in the apartment above Anteiku. Neither of the men mentioned anything about wanting to have a private conversation, so Touka stayed and she plopped down on the couch to listen in to whatever they discussed.

“Which of you at Anteiku keep track of who owns what territory?” Kaneki asked.

“Everyone who’s worked here long enough do. So it’s me, Yomo-san, Kaya-san, Koma-san, and Touka-chan.”

“I need to own this territory.” Kaneki said firmly, handing Yoshimura a small slip of paper with a street name written on it.

Yoshimura examined the name. “Someone already owns this. I’m sorry.”

“I need this territory.” Kaneki demanded, aggravation slowly appearing in his voice.

Touka blinked. She’d never heard that tone from Kaneki before, and she certainly didn’t expect it to be directed at Yoshimura of all people.

“I’m sorry, but that’s not how the rules work.” Yoshimura said, keeping his cool as he always did.

“Then what can I do to get it?”

“You could try negotiating for it. I’ll give you a way to contact the ghoul.” Yoshimura walked away.

Once Yoshimura had left, Touka snapped at Kaneki, “What are you doing?!”

“That’s where Hide lives.” Kaneki explained. “I can’t have a ghoul targeting and eating him while I’m away. This won’t guarantee anything, I know that, but it’ll be a lot safer if I own where he lives.”

“Kaneki, we give out territories for hunting.”

“So?” Kaneki snapped at her.

“You don’t hunt!” Touka cried, throwing her hands up for emphasis. “Anteiku will need to take it away from you and give it to another ghoul if you don’t hunt there.”

“And what about you? You once said you own where Yoriko-chan lives, don’t you?”

Touka looked down in shame. “I’ve… hunted before...”

All anger vanished from Kaneki’s face. “...Oh.”

Now he’ll see me as a monster again.

“I don’t do it often.” Touka added, voice small. “Just when I need to.”

But why should he believe me?

“I need that territory, Touka-chan.” Kaneki begged. “But I can’t hurt people.”

He seemed to be saying, Please understand. Please help me.

“Since I don’t hunt often, I make sure I spend a lot of time there as Rabbit. So that other ghouls can see that the territory is owned and stay away from it. You could theoretically do that too, but not so long as you’re staying in another Ward.”

“I can work it out...”

“But you need to own the territory first. You can only get it through negotiations or requesting it if the ghoul gives it up. Those are the only two ways. Rize tried to take territories through brute strength, and Anteiku stepped in and stripped them away from her.”

Kaneki didn’t reply.

“I’m sorry.” Touka added in a whisper.

I want to help him, but it’s not up to me. And so long as that ghoul still owns it, it’s out of both mine and Anteiku’s hands. I can’t do anything about it without getting into trouble. I understand he wants to protect his friend, but it’s like I told him before. That guy is Kaneki’s responsibility, not Anteiku’s or mine.

Another part of Touka pointed out:

But Kaneki would help you if you were in this situation.

Yoshimura stepped back into the room, and handed a slip of paper with numbers written on it to Kaneki.

“Here’s his number. You can try to contact him.”

“Thank you.” Kaneki bowed and then left.

---

“Thank you for meeting me here.” Kaneki began. He was wearing his mask, and he was facing a ghoul in an alleyway in that ghoul’s territory.

“What’s this about? You said you wanted to negotiate territory?” The ghoul asked.

Kaneki nodded. “I want your territory. Or at least, this street of it.”

“Hmm...” The ghoul replied. “I’m open to negotiations...”

Thank you.

“What do you have to offer? Where’s your territory?” The ghoul asked.

My territory? I don’t own any... But I can’t tell him that!

“I can’t accept that trade offer.” Kaneki covered, doing his best to keep his cool. “What else would you be willing to trade?”

“What else?” The ghoul asked. “Nothing else. Either a territory trade or nothing. Where do you have to offer?”

“I can offer you information.” Kaneki tried.

“I refuse. No deal.”

“W-wait! Please! I need this territory!”

“Too bad, kid!” The ghoul started to walk away.

Kaneki growled in anger.

I need this territory! I need to protect him!

Kaneki released his kagune and pounced. At the last second, the ghoul dodged and Kaneki had to stop himself from crashing into the alley wall.

“And here I thought the 20th Ward was full of level-headed ghouls...” The ghoul said. He cracked his neck. “But I guess a peaceful ward can’t change everyone.”

Kaneki ran at him, and they started fighting. Most ghouls he encountered were weak, but this ghoul seemed like a good fighter. He hadn’t even released his kagune yet, but he was dodging all of Kaneki’s attacks.

Calm down and focus. You’re being too predictable. You can beat him.

Kaneki swung his kagune again, this time successfully grazing the ghoul’s side.

“One last offer.” The ghoul said through clenched teeth. The veins surrounding his eyes grew longer and his kakugan blazed more intensely. “Leave now and I won’t hold this against you.”

I can’t walk away. I need this territory. One way or another.

Kaneki charged again.

“That’s it. You’re dead, kid.”

---

Why does that ghoul want my territory so badly?

It had been bothering Tozaki since the encounter a few days ago. Eyepatch had been so persistent over it. Tozaki knew that fight wasn’t going to be the last he saw of Eyepatch. He didn’t want to keep fighting him; they were pretty evenly matched. They’d just end up killing each other eventually.

What is it that’s here that he wants so badly?

He stopped when something caught his eye. Hanging on the wall was a missing poster of a kid with an eyepatch on. Tozaki grabbed it to get a better look at it.

This kid on the poster had black hair with a white eyepatch, while the ghoul he faced had white hair with a black eyepatch. It couldn’t be the same person, could it?  

He snickered, shaking his head in bewilderment. “Ghouls today are such idiots.”

“Oh, shit!” A human nearby muttered. Only a ghoul’s hearing would have been able to pick it up. Said human ran over, and tore the poster out of Tozaki’s grip.

“Man, if you want something done right, do it yourself!” The young human male said, folding the poster up. “He was found, so don’t worry about it. We were supposed to have all posters taken down, but they forgot about a lot of them. We’ve had so many concerned people call us wanting to help!”

It sounded convincing, but Tozaki could hear the man’s heart rate. He was nervous. He was lying.

This man is covering up the real story. Hmm... He’s definitely a human. Maybe this human managed to find out Eyepatch’s secret…?

Tozaki decided to play along. “I’m glad he’s found. Is he okay? He seems pretty young.”

That explains why he’s taking down the posters. He doesn’t want anyone to get killed if they run into Eyepatch thinking he’s a harmless human kid.

“Thankfully he’s okay.” The human nodded.

“You look familiar. Do you live around here?” Tozaki asked.

“Yeah, I do. You too?”

It all makes sense now.

“I do!” Tozaki smiled and extended a hand. “Nice to meet you. Maybe I’ll see you around?”

“It’s a big city, but you never know!” The young man shook his hand, and then walked off with a wave. Once he was out of sight, Tozaki sniffed his hand.

Nothing too special, but not unappetizing either. I think this is the reason why... Eyepatch must be hunting this man to keep his secret. So if I take this man out, then Eyepatch won’t have a reason to take my territory anymore.

---

Kaneki spent as much time in the Ghoul’s territory as he could, but he made sure to keep out of sight. He was wracking his brain trying to come up with a peaceful resolution. But the ghoul wouldn’t listen to reason before, and why would he now that they only pissed each other off?

And then Kaneki saw it. The ghoul talking to Hide. Kaneki growled and cracked his finger.

After they parted ways, Kaneki leapt across the buildings, following Hide and making sure that the ghoul wasn’t going to attack him. Once Hide made it home safely, Kaneki headed back to the 6th Ward.

He had to hurry and come up with a plan.

---

Kaneki woke up bright and early the next day and headed back over to the 20th Ward, perching on Hide’s apartment’s roof and waiting. He knew he was paranoid, but he couldn’t help it. He knew that the ghoul was targeting Hide — there was no way he wasn’t — and Kaneki couldn’t take any chances.

He continued this for a week, while continuing to try to come up with a solution. So far, only one idea seemed like it would be a success for sure.

After a week of keeping an eye on Hide, Kaneki finally caught sight of the ghoul again. This time he was walking far behind Hide. To anyone else there wouldn’t be anything strange about it, but Kaneki knew that the ghoul was planning to follow him and attack him.

So Kaneki stalked the ghoul who was stalking his friend, and at the perfect moment he leaped off the building, using his kagune to swing, and kicked the ghoul into the alley. Kaneki kept swinging, and landed a few feet in front of the ghoul.

“Don’t touch him.” Kaneki growled as he landed.

The ghoul chuckled as he stood back up. “Looks like I was right, then. He is the reason you wanted this territory.”

Was it that obvious?

“Why do you care?” Kaneki asked.

“If he’s gone, I’m sure you’ll move onto other prey.”

“You don’t think I’d want revenge on you?” Kaneki retorted.

“Over prey?” The ghoul asked incredulously. “That Gourmet guy’s the only ghoul who acts like that. That’s why we have territories — to avoid those kinds of conflicts!”

“I’m not going to let you touch that human. And he’s not prey.”

“Aww, got attached, did’ya?” The ghoul asked. “More reason to kill him then. If you’ll excuse me...” The ghoul dramatically bowed, and nonchalantly began to walk past Kaneki.

Before he could leave, Kaneki shot his kagune at him. The ghoul stopped it by grabbing it with his hands. He was still just as strong as the last time Kaneki fought him.

You’ve got an ace up your sleeve, Kaneki. Just wait for the right time to use it.

The ghoul pulled on his kagune, yanking Kaneki toward him. Kaneki took advantage of the situation. He allowed himself to be pulled – waiting until he was close enough and at the perfect angle. And then Kaneki released his kakuja, and shot those limbs forward. One impaled the ghoul, and the other snapped his arm off.

The ghoul let go of Kaneki’s kagune and stumbled backwards.

“Another... kakuhou?!” He cried out. He sounded terrified and furious. “You’re a... Kakuja?!”

Kaneki just smirked at him.

---

“Ugh!” Hide groaned. “I forgot something!”

He turned on his heel and started heading back to his apartment.

It was strange. When he first left, he was on alert. He felt like he was being stalked. But then that feeling suddenly faded, and he felt safe again.

He’s felt that feeling of being stalked before, and it had always meant that it was a ghoul. Somehow he always got lucky and was able to survive his past ghoul attacks.

First, it was because an Investigator happened to be nearby. The second time was Kaneki saving him from Nishio, then Touka saving him from Kaneki. And the most recent one was when he managed to hold off Cain until investigators came because, again, they happened to nearby. But this time... the feeling of being stalked was gone without any explanation, or any confirmation that anyone was even following him in the first place.

With another step, Hide froze. He heard something. Any other person would likely pass it off as a stray animal, but with being stalked on his mind, Hide jumped to a different conclusion.

A ghoul.

Both terrified and curious, Hide had to know for sure. So he snuck down the alley where the sound originated, making sure to walk quietly and keep his guard up.

Further down the alley, there was a hooded ghoul dressed in all-black, his back facing Hide, hunched over a dead person. The corpse was laying stomach down, and from here Hide could see it was missing at least its left arm. The ghoul was digging into its back and eating.

Hide covered his mouth, trying not to throw up. But he couldn’t take his eyes off the gruesome sight.

The ghoul was crouched over the corpse like an animal. Then he pulled his head back as he swallowed, and his hood came off, allowing the back of his head to be visible.

White hair.

The ghoul suddenly stopped eating and froze. Hide quickly jumped behind the dumpster to hide, but it made a loud noise when his back hit it.

Crap!

He squeezed his eyes shut as he could hear the ghoul moving.

Kaneki, it’s just me, please don’t hurt me.

Then the movement sounds stopped, and after a few seconds Hide took a chance and peeked back out. All he saw was the corpse lying there. He waited a few more seconds while holding his breath, waiting to see if Kaneki would pop up anywhere.

After a moment, Hide got up, and was about to leave the alley, but he needed to know something for sure.

That... That can’t be a human, right?

Hide knew that Kaneki had to have been eating humans if he was still alive, but Hide still had hoped Kaneki found another way. He couldn’t imagine that Kaneki was going around hunting people. Covering his mouth and nose, he walked around the corpse to be able to see its face. And then he saw the eyes — red and black.

Hide sighed in relief.

A ghoul. He killed a ghoul, not a human. I’m sorry I ever doubted you, Kaneki.

Hide glanced around. He wondered if Kaneki was still nearby. If Kaneki was still there and watching him.

“Hey!” Hide called out. “If you’re still there, it’s okay! I’m not afraid of you, Kaneki, and I just wanna talk!”

He waited. There was no answer and no sounds of movement either.

I was so close...

Hide headed back to his apartment.

I think I’ll take the day off today...

---

“I found something concerning last night. A ghoul corpse with evidence of cannibalism.” Yomo said.

“Huh... It’s been a while since Tsukiyama went after someone...” Touka commented.

“It wasn’t an attack from a koukaku.” Yomo said.

“It wasn’t?” Touka asked, and then groaned in annoyance. “Like we needed another cannibal around here.”

“It was a rinkaku ghoul.”

“...” Touka narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you implying...?”

“Tozaki was the victim.”

Touka tensed. No... Kaneki wouldn’t do this... He doesn’t hunt.

Touka remembered how much Kaneki changed after Aogiri. He became a lot darker, more isolated, more tense and prone to anger.

“I thought it was strange...” Yoshimura began. “Yesterday Kaneki came by here. He said that if Tozaki’s territory ever became available, he wanted to request it.”

You idiot. Touka thought.

“What are you going to do about Ken?” Yomo asked.

“Nothing. This is the first time he’s done something like this, and I take it there were no witnesses?”

“None that I’ve heard of.” Yomo said. “I’ve already cleaned up the scene.”

“Keep this between us, then. I believe that Kaneki did it for good reasons. He’s still new to the ghoul world. We’ll let him keep this territory.”

Touka gaped at him as Yoshimura left the room.

How could Yoshimura let him off the hook like that?! Kaneki killed a ghoul! He cannibalized a ghoul!

What is that idiot up to? He’s going to get himself into trouble...

---

“What were you thinking, you idiot?” Touka yelled.  

Kaneki had once again shown up at Anteiku, probably to claim that territory after the “mysterious” death of Tozaki.

“I didn’t come here to get yelled at, Touka-chan.” Kaneki responded flatly.

Touka slammed her hands against the counter. “Too bad! Answer me.”

I’m not letting you off the hook that easily.

“You already know what I was thinking. I need to protect Hide. The same way you’re protecting Yoriko-chan.”

“We know what happened, Kaneki. What you did. You’re a kakuja now, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I am.” Kaneki replied, and there seemed to be pride in his voice. Touka wanted to punch him.

“You’ve changed...” Touka whispered. Her voice cracked, and she cleared her throat.

Don’t show weakness.

Then she got an idea, and she smirked. “You’ve got a reputation in the 6th Ward, I’ve bet. Probably just a matter of time before we hear about it here.”

“What are you getting at, Touka-chan?”

Touka crossed her arms. “20th Ward ghouls aren’t used to cannibalistic ghouls. I’m sure everyone will be afraid of you.”

“I don’t care about that. It’s better if they stay away.”

“You don’t care if you can’t come back to Anteiku? I don’t think our customers will welcome you here anymore.”

She gestured around the café, where the ghoul customers were either avoiding eye contact or hiding themselves behind menus or whispering amongst each other.

“I don’t care about that either.” Kaneki said.

That hurt. That really hurt her. All that time they spent in Anteiku together, all this time waiting and hoping for him to return, and he didn’t care?

I’ll hurt him then. Show him what it feels like.

“And what about Hide, huh? All that time starving yourself to keep your humanity, to keep being human—”

“Touka-chan...” Kaneki warned.

“—and look at you now! Hunting and cannibalizing ghouls. Imagine what your friend would think.”

“Touka— “

“I bet he’d be terrified of you.”

Kaneki froze, all tension vanishing.

He looked so much like the old him in that moment.

I broke him. Touka thought. But the result wasn’t satisfying like she thought it would be.

Touka held her breath. Was Kaneki going to scream back at her? Start crying?

Then Kaneki turned around and left without a word, slamming Anteiku’s door shut behind him.

---

Every night since he claimed this as his territory, Kaneki stood on alert. He would go onto the roof of one of the buildings, dressed in dark clothes and his mask, and keep watch. He saw many ghouls pass through, and he made sure they all knew this was his territory and his hunting grounds. He would confront them and let them know what would happen to them if they were seen loitering here again.

Right now, Kaneki was sitting on the edge of the roof, looking down at the streets, searching for anyone who appeared to be a ghoul.

“You never planned to come see me, did you?”

Kaneki spun around to look at who had spoken.

No! It can’t be! He couldn’t have found me!

And yet there he stood. Hideyoshi Nagachika.

He was in sweatpants and slippers and had a coat zipped up. His hair was a lot longer than Kaneki had seen last.

“I...!” Kaneki gripped the side of the building.  

I’m a ghoul. Kaneki realized. My mask is on. My battle-suit is on. My eye is activated. Hide is talking to a ghoul; he has to know that! What is he thinking?!

Kaneki was freaking out.

He doesn’t know its me! My hair is white! My kakugan is the only eye that’s visible! He can’t see my face! He can’t possibly know that its me! How could he know?!

“Surprised?” Hide asked, smirking. He didn’t move from where he stood, probably figuring that if he moved even an inch, Kaneki would make a run for it.

“Who do you think I am…?” Kaneki asked cautiously.

I need to know for sure.

“I know that it’s you, Kaneki.” Hide said, and his smirk turned into a soft smile.

Kaneki wanted to run. Run before he could unintentionally scare Hide. Or before it turned out that Hide secretly called the CCG on him.

But Hide’s casualness made him feel comfortable and safe, and made him want to stay.

“Can I sit with you?” Hide asked.

“...” Kaneki pulled his mask off so that it hung around his neck. He hesitated before answering. “...Yeah.” Kaneki said, against his better judgement.

Hide’s smile widened, and he ran over and plopped down beside Kaneki. He swung his feet, like they weren’t sitting on the edge a building several stories tall.

“Hide, please be careful.”

“You’re the one that picked this spot, not me.”

“So it’ll be my fault if you fall?”

“Yup! But don’t worry, I’ll forgive you if you save me.”

Kaneki stared at him in bewilderment as Hide took in the sights.

Does he not know I’m a ghoul? Maybe my kakugan isn’t activated after all. I can’t tell if it is. Why isn’t he questioning anything?

Hide locked eyes with him. “It’s really pretty.”

“Yeah, the view is nice.” Kaneki whispered.

“I meant...” Hide trailed off, and tapped below his own eye.

Kaneki quickly turned away, deactivating his kakugan.

Wait. Pretty...?

He turned back around. “Hide...”

“Hm?”

“Are you afraid of me?”

Hide laughed. “Of course n— ”

“Be honest.” Kaneki interrupted, narrowing his eyes. He could tell Hide was hiding something.

Hide blinked. He hadn’t expected Kaneki to be quite this serious and so straightforward.

“Honestly?” Hide asked. “...I don’t know.”

“What do you mean?” Kaneki asked, in a tone that demanded answers. He regretted the way it came out. It sounded too serious, too harsh.

“Should I be afraid?” Hide mused as he went back to looking at the view in front of them. “You’re a ghoul and I’m a human. I guess it’d just be natural to be afraid. But you’re also my best friend, and both of us know you wouldn’t hurt me.”

Kaneki didn’t understand what point he was trying to make. It was a yes or no question.

“Emotions and fear aren’t always logical. I’m just asking what you’re feeling. Are you afraid of me or not?”

“I’m both, Kaneki.” Hide said seriously, turning back and looking into Kaneki’s eyes again.

“I don’t unders—”

“I’m curious and excited, and intrigued and happy, but also worried, and scared and I just... feel so small and weak and meaningless now...”

Kaneki looked down, beginning to understand. “I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want an apology, Kaneki. I want an explanation.”

“...” Kaneki didn’t say anything.

I can’t.

But he couldn’t get even those words out.

There was silence. After a while, Kaneki discreetly glanced at Hide. Hide was giving him a sympathetic look. Hide sighed deeply once he noticed Kaneki was looking at him, and then he looked back out at the view once again.

“Tell me about it.” Hide said.

“About what?”

“About being a ghoul. Come on, man! What else! You’re the only person who’s been both a human and a ghoul! How different is it? Do you feel any different? Do you have any, like, superpowers?”

Kaneki blinked. “I... I eat people, Hide!” He had to make sure Hide realized that. He was half-human, yes, but that barely meant much.

Hide gave him a look, and Kaneki knew that he was thinking, “Going straight to the awful part, huh? How just like you.”

But I eat ghouls now. Not humans. That craving is always going to be there, but I found another way to survive.

“I know. I’m not gonna downplay that part. I’m sure it sucks and it’s awful.” Hide said, choosing his words carefully. “But humans and ghouls aren’t that different from each other. I’m sure of it. Touka-chan and Nishio-senpai are proof of that. Who would have thought that they were ghouls, right?”

Humans and ghouls aren’t different? That’s what you believe? Kaneki thought. Guilt and fear pooled in his stomach. Touka-chan was right. I thought that this made me better. But if you think humans and ghouls are the same...

“Look, I know how you are.” Hide continued. “You wouldn’t hurt anyone. I’m sure you found some other way to eat.”

If humans and ghouls are the same... then...

Kaneki swallowed. He remembered how he killed those ghouls. How he tortured some of them before he killed them.

Then I’m still just as much of a monster. To you, I’m even worse now than back when I was getting meat from Anteiku.

Kaneki didn’t know what to think anymore. There was no easy solution to his hunger.

“...Kaneki?”

Kaneki pulled his legs up and ducked his head down. He wanted Hide and the entire word to go away.

“...You do?” Hide asked.

“I don’t—” Kaneki cut himself off. He was going to say he didn’t hunt humans, but then Kaneki remembered the investigators he hurt. It might not have been hunting, but he still attacked and hurt and ate from people.

“Please tell me.” Hide whispered. “I want to know the truth.”

“Why aren’t you running?” Kaneki asked, avoiding the question. He turned his head to look at Hide. Part of him wanted Hide to run. It would be so much easier, even if it would hurt.

“Because you haven’t given me any reason to yet.” Hide said simply.

Kaneki chuckled darkly, repeating that last word. “Yet.”

Kaneki closed his eyes. He’s right. He deserves to know.

“I...” Where do I even start? “Right now, for the past few months, I’ve only been eating other ghouls.”

Hide blinked. He didn’t seem to have even known that was an option.

“I... I found groups of ghouls that do messed up things. Run cruel ghoul restaurants, or are human trafficking, stuff like that. And I take them down, and...” He trailed off. He was sure Hide got the point.

“And before that?”

“I used to get...” He really didn’t wanna say it out loud. “...the other option... from Anteiku.” Touka-chan would kill me if she knew I was telling this to a human. “They collect it from people who commit suicide, so they don’t need to hurt anyone.”

“Oh.” Hide said. “That explains why you started working there and hanging out there on all your days off.”

“But...” Kaneki said. “I’ve... attacked people. I guess. I mean, I didn’t mean to. Not that that justifies it...”

I’ve almost attacked you. Kaneki remembered. It felt like so long ago now.

“I know you almost went after me.” Hide said.

Kaneki’s eyes widened and he stared at his friend. He waited for Hide to take off running.

“Yeah, I wasn’t unconscious then.” Hide added. “I was just faking. Kinda surprised it worked so well.”

“You knew about that? All this time? Yet you’re still here? You’re still willing to talk to me and be near me?” Kaneki asked.

“It’s not like you meant to do it. I’m not saying its okay, but you seemed pretty in control all other times. And right now.”

Kaneki looked away. “I... I can’t guarantee it won’t happen again.”

“What causes it? What was so different about then?”

“Hunger.” Kaneki said. “I was starving myself back then and Nishio-senpai attacking me didn’t help my condition.”

“Just hunger?”

Kaneki nodded. “I can’t explain it. It’s nothing like the hunger of a human. It’s so painful. It feels like... your stomach is eating itself, as well as the most excruciating headache you could ever have. And the combination of it is hell and you want it to stop and its maddening.”

“Seems like you explained it pretty well.” Hide said.

Kaneki let out a forced chuckle.

Hide let his tone drop again to sound low and serious. “You said you hurt other people? Who? What did you do?”

“I was fighting an investigator once. I needed to hold him off, and I didn’t know how to release my kagune. And the only way I knew how to activate it, was on instinct if I… ate. So I bit him and I used my kagune to destroy his weapon.”

“How bad did you bite him?”

Kaneki shrugged. “He was fine. I mean, not fine, but not... severely wounded? I mean... um. I bit him on the shoulder? I don’t think I took too much but I’m sure it scarred.”

“So, other than me, he’s the only human you’ve gone after?”

Kaneki shook his head, frowning. “One more. This one I don’t remember as clearly. I was... going out of my mind. Apparently cannibalizing ghouls affects your mental state. Investigator weapons are made of ghouls, so I was trying to eat that. But... it was armor, not a weapon. And...” Kaneki grimaced. “I don’t know. I was out of it from everything going on, so I don’t remember exactly what I did or what happened, but... I think I bit him a few times. I didn’t kill him either, but I’m not sure how bad the damage ended up being...”

“Thanks for telling me. I’m sure it was hard.”

“You can leave, y’know.” Kaneki muttered.

“Hm?”

“I’m not gonna stop you. Even though you know about me and everything I’ve told you.” Kaneki looked Hide in the eyes. “I don’t expect you to remain friends with me. I know that I’m fucked up. You don’t even need to say anything. You can leave and I’ll leave you alone and you’ll never see me again.”

“No!” Hide cried. “No, Kaneki, that’s not what I want.”

“But—”

“I… I miss you.” Hide admitted. “You’re my best friend, and I’ve been so worried and lonely. I don’t care if you’re human or ghoul or a mix of both. I just want my friend back.”

Kaneki looked down and sighed.

It didn’t make sense. This was going too well. Who would accept him after everything he’s done?

“It’s getting cold out now. What do you say we go back to my apartment and finish our talk?”

It’s going too well.

“…Kaneki?”

Hide wanted him to go to his apartment. Who would invite a dangerous SS-rate ghoul there? Hide must have called the CCG after all. They must be waiting there.

“Is that okay, Kaneki?”

Kaneki turned and looked at his friend. Hide had his arms wrapped around himself. He truly did look cold.

Kaneki swore internally and looked back down. He was awful, thinking Hide would do that to him.

“Oh.” Hide said. “I guess that’s kinda suspicious, huh? You can pick. Where do you wanna go? Your apartment, maybe? I’m seriously freezing, though.”

Kaneki looked back up and stared at him. He really trusts me? He’d blindly follow me like that?

“N-no, it’s okay. Your apartment’s fine.” Kaneki said. He stood up and headed over to the door to enter the building.

“...You sure? We don’t have to.” Hide called out as he followed.

---

As soon as Hide got his door unlocked, he ran inside and ran into his bedroom. Kaneki closed and locked his door for him, and when he turned around he saw Hide walking back out of his room with a blanket curled around him.

“How are you not freezing cold?!” Hide cried.

Kaneki shrugged innocently. He didn’t really want to say that it was because he’d been working up a sweat running across rooftops all night.

“I’ll make some coffee.” Kaneki said, walking into Hide’s kitchen.

“Okay. Thanks.”

Hide took a seat at his dining table, bundled up in his blanket as Kaneki worked on the coffee. Neither one of them said anything. After several minutes, Kaneki walked over with two mugs of coffee.

Hide used his foot to kick out the chair beside him. He wanted Kaneki right beside him.

Kaneki smiled a bit, setting down the mug for Hide and then taking a seat in the chair.

Hide put his hands around the mug, and hummed contently. It was warm. Then he took a sip. “Wow, this is really good!”

It’d been a while since he had good coffee. He hadn’t gone to Anteiku in 6 months, and everywhere else the coffee was either outright bad or just decent.

“You’ve gotta teach me to make coffee!” Hide added.

Kaneki hummed noncommittally.

“Or…” Hide added with a smirk, “stick around so you can make me some anytime.”

“You really want me around?” Kaneki whispered.

“Of course I do!” Hide cried. “I missed you!”

“I missed you too.” Kaneki whispered, with no hesitation for once. It made Hide smile, and also want to cry.

“Then, why did you leave? Why didn’t you come back? Visit? Write? Anything?”

“I’m sorry.” Was all Kaneki said.

“But… You will stay, right?”

“…”

“Right?” Hide pressed.

Kaneki just continued to stare into his coffee cup.

“Kaneki.”

Kaneki took a long sip to avoid answering him.

Hide sighed. “Please? I mean, I know. There’s no reason for you to leave.”

“Yes there is.”

“Then what is that reason?”

“You might know about me, and you might accept me, but you don’t know everything.”

Hide folded his arms. “Try me.”

“Hide…” Kaneki sighed in exasperation. “There’s bad ghouls out there.”

“Aogiri Tree.” Hide nodded slowly. “I know about them too. I know that they broke in, and I know that they kidnapped you.”

Kaneki looked at him in horror.

“I know a lot of things, Kaneki.” Hide whispered. “Once I realized you were a ghoul, everything just clicked into place. I know that a lot of bad stuff has happened, and I’m sorry about all that, and I’m sorry that I couldn’t do anything to help. But I really think we should stick together.”

“You don’t understand.” Kaneki whispered hopelessly. “You’re missing the most important thing. The reason why.” He shook his head. “They’re trying to hurt everyone. All the people I care about.”

“Who is?”

“Everyone!” Kaneki cried out. “Random ghouls like Nishio-senpai, organizations like Aogiri, everyone! Everyone is after me and the people I associate with!”

“I doubt you’re that popular, Kaneki.” Hide joked, but the meaning was serious. Why would everyone be after Kaneki of all ghouls?

“I think now I am…” Kaneki muttered.

Hide frowned. That was true. He was an SS-rate ghoul. Eyepatch. Centipede. He had a record now.

“Maybe.” Hide began. “But I still don’t think it’s that serious.”

“Touka-chan almost died when I got kidnapped.” Kaneki whispered. “And again when Anteiku tried to rescue me.”

“Tried?” Hide asked. “But… they succeeded, didn’t they?”

Kaneki looked away. “Not exactly.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Kaneki whispered.

“Are you okay?” Hide asked. From Jason’s files he had a pretty good idea of what Kaneki went through, and he didn’t want to force Kaneki to talk about it, but he wanted an idea of just how traumatic it was for him and if he was okay.

Kaneki sighed. He cracked a finger. Hide grimaced at the sound.

“Who knows.” Kaneki muttered.

“I’m sorry.” Hide whispered.

“I’m okay enough. I mean, I’m still here. Still alive.”

Hide nodded. That’s all that matters right now.

There was silence between them. Hide knew the basics of what Kaneki had gone through — almost getting eaten, having ghouls close to him attacked and killed, being kidnapped, tortured — yet, he had no idea what it was actually like. He knew he could never imagine what it was actually like to go through any of that.

“I…” Hide began. “I know I can’t do much, but… I want to be here for you. For anything. Through anything.”

“…Thanks.”

“And if there’s anything I can do — for you or for your ghouls friends — then please, please tell me. Because I’ll do it.”

Kaneki nodded slowly.

“I, uh.” Hide began awkwardly. “I joined the CCG.”

Kaneki glanced up, horror on his face.

“Not to hurt anyone!” Hide cried out, realizing that Kaneki may have gotten the wrong idea. “Nothing like that! Just to use their resources! And get information! Like—Like, a spy! Y’know?”

“W-Why?” Kaneki whispered. “Why would you…? That’s so risky. You realize just being here with me is illegal, right?”

Hide rolled his eyes. “The law is stupid.”

“Maybe, but its still the law. You could still get into trouble.”

“No one will find out. Don’t worry.”

Kaneki huffed. He rested his elbow on the table, and used it to hold his head up. “So, what do you do for the CCG?”

“Not much. Nothing dangerous. I’m just a delivery boy. But I do manage to overhear some info, and get some opportunities to talk to and gossip with investigators.”

“How long?”

“How long have I been working there? I applied after you left.”

“Oh, huh. I just assumed you had been there longer. You were pretty interested in the Daughter Ghoul case.”

“I’m sorry if what I said back then freaked you out.”

“It did a little.”

“I didn’t mean it. I just—That was my only way to get information back then. And I was trying to push you to see how you’d react, or if you’d tell me everything.”

Kaneki nodded slowly in understanding.

“You knew her, didn’t you?”

“I know her.” Kaneki corrected. “Her name’s Hinami-chan. She’s the brunette girl who was staying at Anteiku. We were caring for her when the CCG—” Kaneki didn’t finish that thought.

“That’s nice of you for helping her. I remember you mentioning her name.”

“She’s sweet.” Kaneki smiled.

“I’d love to meet her someday.” Hide said. “And the rest of the ghouls you know, too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah! Hinami-chan seems nice, and I’d love to get to know Touka-chan better, and it’d be cool to meet everyone else you consider friends.”

Kaneki folded his arm and laid his head on it on the table. “Maybe.”

Kaneki closed his eyes. He looked pretty tired. Hide didn’t comment on his exhaustion, fearing that Kaneki would just take it as an excuse to leave.

“…Hide?”

“Yeah?”

“I… I love you.”

Hide reached out and gently ruffled his hair. “I love you too.”

Kaneki sighed, leaning into his touch. After a few mere minutes, he was asleep.

Hide gave it a few more minutes to make sure Kaneki was actually fast asleep and wouldn’t wake up. And then, he untangled Kaneki’s fingers from the handle of his coffee mug, and carefully picked up his friend.

He’s heavy...

Hide maneuvered over to his bedroom, and then his arms gave out and he dropped Kaneki on the bed a bit more roughly than he had intended to. Kaneki stirred a little, repositioning himself and curling up in the fetal position, but didn’t wake.

Hide draped a blanket over Kaneki and smiled. He looked so peaceful when he was asleep.

Hide straightened up. And then he called out, “It’s pretty cold out there, huh?”

There was no response.

He continued, “I know you’re there. You can come inside if you want.”

He gave it a moment, and then slowly turned peeked out of his bedroom to look out the window in his main apartment. He waited for movement. And then he saw a blur jump by.

Huh… Being stalked by two ghoul friends in one night.

But hey, if it meant that he could finally stop tiptoeing around the secret of them being ghouls and they could all finally be friends, then Hide was okay with it.

Hide walked over to his apartment door, and opened it to see Touka standing there, who was shivering a bit. Hide gestured for her to come in, and she did.

“How did you know?” She asked.

“I saw you watching us a while back. I didn’t think it’d be a good idea to mention it with Kaneki here though. I’m sure he would have freaked out.”

Hide grabbed one of his extra blankets, and tossed it to her. She wrapped it around herself.

“So what are you doing here?” Hide asked.

“I came here to find Kaneki.”

Hide smiled. “You were protecting him, weren’t you?”

“Huh?” Touka asked, starting to blush.

“You wanted to make sure I wasn’t going to betray him. That’s why you were watching us.”

Touka was silent, but Hide knew he was right.

“You didn’t overhear our conversations, did you?” Hide asked.

“I’m not that much of a creep!” She cried. “I just was looking out for the CCG or a quinque or something.”

Hide smiled. “Thanks for looking out for him.”

Touka walked past him, peeking into his bedroom. After a moment, she walked inside, taking a seat beside Kaneki. She was silent, just watching as he slept.

“It’s been a while since you’ve seen him too, huh?” Hide asked from the doorway.

“Yes.” Touka whispered. She reached out a hand, hesitated, and then ran it through Kaneki’s hair.

“He really told you nothing?” Hide asked. He knew that she didn’t know much, but he had just assumed that she knew more since both her and Kaneki were ghouls.

“Nope. Nothing.” Touka confirmed.

“How cruel, Kaneki.” Hide whispered half-heartedly. He knew Kaneki had his reasons. He knew that was simply the way Kaneki’s mind worked. He knew that Kaneki meant no harm, he was doing it to protect them, but it still hurt. It was still unfair.

Hide walked over, sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of the bed. “I hope he stays. Do you think he’ll stay?”

Touka didn’t say anything. Hide wondered if it was because she truly didn’t know, or if she knew he wouldn’t like her answer.

“So how much do you know?” Hide asked.

“How much do you know?”

“Um. That Aogiri kidnapped him, that Jason was a nasty ghoul, and somehow Kaneki escaped after about a week. Then he just left.”

“That’s basically all I know.” Touka sighed, swinging her legs to the foot of the bed and laying back to stare at the ceiling. “We tried to save him, but we were too late. He broke out himself, and he was the one to save me when I got in too deep. And then he said he told me was leaving. I saw nothing of him until a few weeks ago.”

Hide hummed. He had hoped he’d be able to get some details from Touka, no matter how small. But apparently she really didn’t know much more than he did.

“He didn’t tell you, did he?” Touka asked.

“Tell me what? That he’s a ghoul?”

“No. That he was leaving.”

“Nope. He just… didn’t come back.”

Touka sat up to look at him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“I would have told you. Something. Anything. That he was safe. That he was alive.”

“I knew.” Hide shrugged. “I knew that if he had died, you and Anteiku would have been much more depressed.”

“You haven’t come there in months.” Touka commented.

“It reminded me of him.” Hide whispered. “It wasn’t the same without him. Plus, I didn’t know if I was welcome.”

“Of course you’re welcome.”

“Well, I know that it’s a ghoul organization, so I just thought—”

“No.” Touka cut him off, shaking her head. “We’re a coffee shop. We help our fellow ghouls, but there’s nothing against humans. You’re fine. You’re safe. You’re welcome there.”

“Okay.” Hide whispered. “Thanks.”

Touka laid back down. “If Kaneki does leave us again...”

She trailed off. Hide was silent, waiting for her to finish.

“...Then, you should come in and talk.”

“I’d like that.”

Hide turned around so that he was leaning against his bed. Above him, he could hear the calm breathing of Kaneki. He couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.

After several minutes of silence, Hide called out in a whisper, “Hey, Touka-chan?”

There was no reply.

Hide got up to his feet, to see that Touka had fallen asleep. Hide just stood there for a moment, watching the two ghouls sleeping side by side on his bed. Hide’s heart felt warm, having them both here. For so long, he had wanted Kaneki back. For even longer, he had wanted to befriend Touka.

Quietly and slowly, Hide laid in the empty space in front of Kaneki, and let himself drift off to sleep.

There were so many months of no communication. Fear that Kaneki wouldn’t be coming back. Misunderstandings that were just brewing and waiting to happen.

But in the end... they all just missed each other.

[broomballkraken]

Title: Two’s Company, Three’s a Crowd, and Twelve is Just Perfect

Fandom: Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Pairing: Sylvain/Lorenz

Word count: 5028

Warnings: None

Summary: As their oldest child is about to attend the Officers Academy, the entire Gloucester-Gautier family gathers to say goodnight and hear a story about their fathers' own days at the academy. It is then that Sylvain and Lorenz are reminded that they have truly been living a blessed life together.

“Dad, do you think I have enough books on magic?”

“You could fill your own library with how many you own, Azalea.”

“Hmm, Father? What do you think?”

“I wholeheartedly agree. You might have to leave some behind, my dear.”

Sylvain snorted to keep from laughing at the sour look that crossed their oldest daughter’s face as she listened to Lorenz. It had been 13 years since Sylvain and his husband had adopted their first children, Azalea and Alder, and their family had only grown exponentially since then. They now jointly governed the Gloucester-Gautier (which was formerly just Gloucester) territory with ten children who they loved and cherished more than anything. The only thing that compared was their love for each other.

“But Father...I need to keep studying all that I can! I don’t want to fall behind as soon as I start classes!” Azalea said, twirling a strand of blonde hair around her finger as she paced nervously next to Sylvain and Lorenz’s bed. Sylvain smiled and shook his head. Azalea had grown into a wonderful young lady, and she really had nothing to worry about.

“Lea, you worry too much!” Sylvain turned to look at Marigold, who was lying at the foot of the bed, her sketchbook open and pens of various colors scattered on top of the blanket. Sylvain hoped that none of them had made their way under the sheets to give him and Lorenz a nasty surprise later.

“I guess…” Azalea mumbled, a small smile crossing her face as she sat down on the edge of the bed, ruffling her younger sister’s messy head of black hair. Marigold giggled and held up the picture she was working on for her sister to look at, and Sylvain’s attention was drawn away by the fussing of the baby in his arms.

“Oops, sorry Lavender. Forgot I was feeding you for a moment,” Sylvain said, smiling down at the purple eyed girl gazing up at him, lip quivering as she threatened to burst into tears. Sylvain quickly started feeding her again, and Lavender calmed down immediately, causing him to sigh with relief.

“That was a close one, darling. We just got the two of them to stop crying, you know,” Lorenz said, glancing up at Sylvain before turning his full attention back to the baby he held, “Little Rose here must have been starving, with how quickly she’s eating.” Sylvain chuckled as Rose briefly let go of the bottle’s nipple to hiccup before quickly latching back on.

“Heh, with the way she’s going, she’s gonna be as big of an eater as her uncle Raphael,” Sylvain mused, and Lorenz grimaced.

“I do hope not. We won’t be able to afford to feed her if that happens.”

“Yeah, you’re definitely right about that.”

Sylvain and Lorenz both laughed, and a soft chuckle came from the corner of the room, where Alder sat reading in a chair. He glanced up from his book, blue bespectacled eyes meeting Sylvain’s. Sylvain recalled when Alder was first adopted; He was so quiet that Sylvain and Lorenz thought that he was mute, until Azalea told them that he wasn’t. He just didn’t like speaking unless it was important.

When Alder did speak for the first time, four months after being adopted, it was to say ‘Dad, Father, I love you’, and Lorenz cried about it for three hours afterwards. Sylvain had teased the hell out of him for it, but he would have been lying if he said that he hadn’t also shed a few tears as well.

“Daddy! Father! It’s raining!”

Sylvain looked up as the door was flung open, and Violet burst into the room, soaking wet and covered in mud as she dragged in her twin brother Sage by his arm. Little Jasmine followed behind them, one thumb stuck in her mouth as her other hand was preoccupied with holding a stuffed teddy bear. Sylvain glanced at Lorenz, who cringed and quickly shook his head.

“Yes, yes, I see that. Please Violet, go and clean yourself up! You are tracking mud everywhere!” Lorenz said, gesturing to their bathroom on the other side of the room with his head. Violet groaned but relented, trudging off to the bathroom with Jasmine close behind, who seemed to have been playing outside as well, due to her white hair sticking to her face. Sage snorted and brushed himself off before going to sit by the window. He opened the book he was holding and shoved his face into it, ignoring everyone in the room. Sylvain knew that Sage was the more serious of their children, and that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Sylvain just wished that he would lighten up a little sometimes.

“Heyahh!”

After a few minutes, Violet charged back into the room and threw herself onto the bed, rolling onto her stomach as she grinned at her parents. Marigold pouted when some of her pens were knocked off of the bed.

“Aw, Vi! You almost crushed my drawing!” she said, and Violet turned to look at her, before leaning over the side of the bed to pick up the dropped pens.

“Sorry! Here ya go!” Violet said. Marigold seemed to forgive her quickly, for she just smiled and took the pens back. Sylvain grinned as he watched them, but he suddenly noticed that something was off about Violet.

“Hey, did you lose another eyepatch?” Sylvain said, and Violet blinked her right eye as she lifted a hand to where her left would have been, if she had been born with it.

“Oops! I guess I did!” Violet said, shrugging nonchalantly. “That one was getting old anyway. I want a cooler one that makes me look tough! That has, like, flames on it or something!”

“Oh dear…” Lorenz said, sighing as he shook his head. “Why do you feel the need to look tough?” Sylvain turned his face away to snicker at his husband’s exasperation. Violet’s eyes went wide, before a toothy grin crossed her face as she stood up on the bed.

“Because,” she said loudly as she punched at the air in front of her, “I want to be as big and strong as uncle Raph someday! And I need to look tough too!”

“You need to sit down before you fall on the babies.” Azalea chimed in as she grabbed Violet by the arms and gently pushed her back to the bed, as well as she could with Jasmine clinging tightly to her legs. Violet grumbled as she let herself be sat down, and she crossed her arms over her chest and huffed.

“I dunno, Vi. It might take you a while to get as strong as Raphael. You barely come up to his waist right now,” Sylvain said, and Violet glowered at him.

“Psh, I could beat him! I’m gonna fight him when he and uncle Ig visit next!” she declared, pumping a fist in the air, “I’ll show you how strong I am.”

“Don’t get too carried away-” Lorenz started to scold, but he suddenly yelped in pain. Sylvain turned to see that Rose had grabbed a fist-full of Lorenz’s long hair and was yanking it hard, giggling with glee at the expense of her poor father.

Luckily for Lorenz, Alder had moved quickly to his side and gently pried Rose’s hand open, releasing Lorenz’s hair. He then grabbed the ribbon sitting on the nightstand and gathered the long purple locks into a messy bun.

“Ah, thank you Alder,” Lorenz said, sighing with relief, “It’s been a while since I’ve forgotten to put my hair up before holding the babies…”

“Yeah, and Rose made you pay for it.” Sylvain chimed in, earning an annoyed huff from his husband. Rose started fussing, having been relieved of her fun ‘toy’, but Alder reached down and gave her his index finger to hold onto. She grabbed it and babbled happily, and Sylvain smiled at how fondly Alder looked down at his baby sister.

“Would you like to hold her?” Lorenz asked, and Alder nodded, a bright smile crossing his face when Lorenz placed Rose in his arms. Sylvain’s own smile got brighter as he gazed around the room at their children. They were all so different, adopted from all kinds of different situations, but yet they all got along so well in spite of that. But...there were still a couple missing.

“I wonder what kind of trouble Iris and Yarrow are getting up to now?” Sylvain said as he placed Lavender’s empty bottle on his nightstand, as she had promptly fallen asleep after finishing it. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and a moment after, it opened.

“Pardon me, sirs,” one of their butlers, Renald, said as he entered the room and bowed, “I fear that I have caught some of your children somewhere they should not be...again.” Sylvain sighed and shook his head when Renald pulled Iris and Yarrow into the room behind him. Iris had a piercing glare on her face as she struggled to free herself, while Yarrow sniffled as tears fell down his face.

“Iris...What did you do now?” Lorenz said, crossing his now free arms over his chest as a disappointed frown crossed his face. Iris finally freed herself and rushed to the bed, turned to stick out her tongue at Renald. Renald released his hold on Yarrow, who immediately rushed to Lorenz and clambered into his lap to cry into his chest.

“She and her accomplice - unwilling or otherwise - were caught trying to pilfer pastries from the kitchens. Again.” Renald said with a rehearsed tone. This was a familiar scene when it came to Iris, ever the mischievous child of the Gloucester-Gautier family. And poor Yarrow was the timid child, who could always be easily persuaded to join in on Iris’ troublemaking schemes.

“Apologies, Renald. We will take care of this. Thank you,” Lorenz said calmly, and Renald took another bow.

“Very well. Goodnight everyone.” he said, and he left the room, closing the door behind him.

“Iris…” Lorenz said as he rubbed Yarrow’s back to try and calm the still-crying boy, “We have told you countless times not to steal from the kitchens. Ask first.”

“I did…” Iris said, averting her gaze. “Renald said it was too late for sweets.”

“You should have left it at that, then.”

“...He didn’t have to be such a bastard about it though…” Iris mumbled, and the rest of the children in the room bristled when the profane word left her mouth. Sylvain blanched and tensed up, while Lorenz looked like he was about to have a stroke.

“My gods, Iris! Where did you learn such a foul word?” he asked, although the death glare that he was sending Sylvain’s way made him think that Lorenz already knew the answer to that question.

“Well, Father,” Iris said, shrugging, “Daddy said it when he was talking about Grandpa-”

“Shh! You weren’t supposed to tell him that!” Sylvain hissed through grit teeth, and when he saw that Lorenz was still glaring daggers at him, he let out a nervous chuckle. Sylvain was glad that he was currently holding a baby, because if he wasn’t Lorenz probably would have smacked him upside the head.

“Well, now that we're all here, can I please get some advice for tomorrow?” Azalea said, her brow furrowing with annoyance, and Sylvain sighed, thankful for the interruption. Lorenz glowered at him for a few moments longer, before turning to their oldest daughter.

“Very well. We will talk about this later, darling,” Lorenz said, and the way he emphasized the word of endearment left Sylvain feeling anything but endeared.

“And,” Lorenz added, glancing at Iris, “We will also be having a talk, young lady, with you and your brother here.” Yarrow sniffed and finally pulled himself away from Lorenz’s chest.

“Sorry…” he said as he rubbed his eyes. Iris sighed and rolled onto the bed, pressing her face into the blankets.

“Yeah, sorry.” she mumbled, before rolling over again onto her back.

“Alright, good. Anyway, ask away, Azalea,” Sylvain said, “You’ve got two former Officers Academy students right here.” Azalea smiled as she sat down on the edge of the bed on Sylvain’s side.

“Um, well, did you guys know any of your classmates before you attended? I’m...afraid that I won’t make any friends.” Azalea said, her voice dropping to a whisper as she bit her bottom lip.

“Oh, nonsense,” Lorenz said, shaking his head, “You are a brilliant and kind young lady. You will make many friends.”

“Yeah, for sure,” Sylvain chimed in, “And you will know someone. Ignatz said that Annalise is attending the academy this year too.”

“Oh yeah!” Azalea said, her eyes lighting up, ”I totally forgot that she mentioned that in her last letter.” She let out a giggle before continuing, “She said that her parents keep fretting about every little thing.”

“Oh, I’m sure Ignatz and Raphael are. She is their only child, after all.” Lorenz mused, and Sylvain nodded in agreement.

“Hey! You guys met at the academy, right?” Violet suddenly asked, and the rest of the children immediately turned their attention to their fathers. Sylvain noticed that even Sage was now looking their way curiously over the top of his book.

“Yeah, we sure did.” Sylvain said, glancing at Lorenz, who met his gaze and smiled.

“Oooh, were you in the same class?”

“What was your first meeting like?”

“Was it love at first sight?”

Marigold, Violet, and Iris fired off the questions rapidly as they scooched closer to their parents on the bed, and Sylvain laughed when Lorenz’s face flushed a bright pink. Yarrow, Sage, Alder, and Jasmine silently looked on from where they sat, and Azalea let out an exasperated sigh as she mumbled about not getting any more real questions answered tonight.

“Hey, hey, slow down. One question at a time.” Sylvain said with a grin. “First, we were not originally in the same class. I started out as a Blue Lion, while your father here was a Golden Deer.”

“Yes, and why don’t you tell them exactly why you switched over to my class?” Lorenz said, and Sylvain let out a nervous laugh. Yeah, there was no chance in hell that Sylvain was going to tell his children that the only reason he switched classes was because he thought that the professor of the Golden Deer was hot.

“It’s not important! Anyway, your father took one look at me and fell head-over-heels in love-”

“I most certainly did not.” Lorenz cut Sylvain off, eyes narrowing as the girls in the room groaned with disappointment.

“Okay, okay,” Sylvain said, “That’s not how it went. We...actually didn’t like each other when we first met.”

“Really?!?” Marigold gasped, hands flying to her cheeks, “But you love each other so much now!”

“Heh, well, we both were kind of a pair of insufferable jerks back then,” Sylvain said, shrugging as well as he could with a sleeping baby in his arms, “It’s amazing how five years can change a person.”

“Hmm, yes. Especially when those five years are during a war,” Lorenz said, “If someone would have told me during that year at the academy that we would end up married with ten children, I would have laughed in their face.”

“Love you too, dear,” Sylvain said, a toothy grin crossing his face as he leaned over and placed a light kiss on Lorenz’s cheek, causing the latter to blush. This was met with mixed reactions from the children, ranging from delighted ‘awws’, exaggerated gagging noises, and exasperated eye rolls.

“So how did you end up together, then?” Violet asked, her eyes wide and curious as she looked back and forth between her parents. Lorenz’s face flushed a deeper shade of red, and Sylvain jumped at this chance to tease his husband.

“Yeah, babe, why don’t you tell them every detail of that night?” Sylvain said, and Lorenz’s eyes narrowed into a heated glare as he turned to look at his husband.

“Well…” Lorenz started, his gaze softening when he looked back at their children, “Five years after the war began, our class reunited at Garrag Mach, and under Claude and our professor’s leadership, we began to fight back against the Empire’s forces.” Sylvain chuckled at the wide eyed, attentive stares that Lorenz was receiving from all of their children. Even Sage had moved from his isolated spot by the window and was now sitting on the edge of the bed.

“I myself had done a lot of thinking over those five years, mostly concerning my boorish behavior towards many of my classmates, including your dad.” Lorenz continued, glancing at Sylvain as he smiled, “I met him atop the Goddess Tower that night and apologized.”

“I also apologized,” Sylvain chimed in, “and, well, I decided that your father was a pretty good guy, and...well, what happened next, Lorenz?” Sylvain watched with glee as Lorenz sputtered for a moment. Sylvain knew that he couldn’t tell their children what actually happened that night, so he was very interested to see how Lorenz got himself out of this one.

“Er, w-we, ah, just had...tea together and decided that we want to start, ahem, courting each other.” Lorenz said, bringing a hand to his face as he cleared his throat.

“Heh, if that’s what you wanna call it…” Sylvain mumbled, and Lorenz jabbed him in the side with his elbow, and luckily for Sylvain it did not jar him hard enough to wake up Lavender.

“Aww, that’s so romantic!” Marigold said with a dreamy sigh. Most of their children giggled and nodded in agreement, but Sylvain stole a glance at the older ones, who looked a bit uncomfortable. Alder’s face was flushed a bright red and he was staring at the floor, while Azalea looked like she had just eaten a rotten egg and was scarred for life by it. Sylvain snickered; he figured that the older children were smart enough to figure out what had actually happened.

“Anyway, we continued our relationship until the end of the war. When we finally were able to sneak away from the chaos of the post-war dealings, your dad and I had a celebratory spot of tea.” Lorenz continued.

“Oooh, what happened then?” Iris asked. Lorenz chuckled and reached over to take Sylvain’s left hand in his, his fingers brushing over the golden ring that he wore.

“Well, Iris, what happened was that I asked the most amazing man that I had ever met to marry me.” Lorenz said softly. Sylvain chuckled as their eyes met, before he turned back to their children with a wink.

“And wouldn’t you know it, I had plans to do the same thing. We both proposed to each other at the same time.” Sylvain winced as Violet, Marigold, and Iris all let out delighted squeals.

“Oh my gosh! That’s so cute!” Violet said, shaking with barely contained excitement.

“It’s kind of hard to believe that you two were so romantic, considering how much you tease each other now.” Azalea finally said, a grin crossing her face as the rest of the children laughed.

“Hey now! There’s nothing wrong with a little friendly banter.” Sylvain said, a faux look of offense crossing his face.

“‘A little’, he says... “ Lorenz mumbled as he rolled his eyes.

“Oh, you love every second of it, babe.”

“Hmm, perhaps.”

“Well, anyway,” Sylvain said, stifling a yawn as he glanced out the dark, rain-pelted window, “It’s getting pretty late, and some of us have an early day tomorrow.” Most of their children groaned in protest, but a chorus of yawns soon followed, betraying how tired they all truly were.

“Lea, I don’t want you to go!” Jasmine suddenly cried, and she sniffled as she hugged her sister's legs, pressing her face against her thigh.

“Aw, c’mon Jas. I’ll be back before you know it.” Azalea said, gently patting her younger sister’s head. Jasmine pouted as she looked up and rubbed her eyes.

“Promise?”

“I do. And I’ll be sure to bring everyone gifts, okay?”

“Yay!”

Sylvain handed baby Lavender to Azalea as the rest of their children piled on the bed to say goodnight, and soon only Azalea, Alder, and the baby twins remained in the room. Alder continued to cradle Rose in his arms as he leaned over to give both Lorenz and Sylvain a kiss on the cheek.

“...’Night. Love you, Father, Dad.” Alder said softly. It was a rare thing, but the sound of Alder’s voice always made Sylvain’s heart swell with happiness every time he heard it.

“We love you too, dear Alder. Goodnight, and goodnight to you too, little Rose.” Lorenz said, placing a kiss on the sleeping baby’s forehead.

“Goodnight.” Sylvain added, and he watched as Alder left the room. Azalea and Lavender were the only two left, and their oldest daughter hugged and kissed her fathers as best she could with a baby in her arms. As she bid them goodnight and made for the door, she paused in the threshold and turned to look at Sylvain and Lorenz.

“Dad, Father,” she said, a small smile crossing her face as her eyes grew shiny with moisture, “Thank you both, for everything that you’ve done for me, and for all of us. I could not have asked for more wonderful, loving parents. I love you both so much.” Sylvain smiled back at her, a feeling of immense pride crashing over him like an ocean wave. It seemed like only yesterday he and Lorenz had walked out of that orphanage with a 3-year-old Azalea and a barely one-year-old Alder. They had both grown into exceptional young adults, and there was no doubt in Sylvain’s mind that Azalea would blow everyone away with her smarts and charm at the Officers Academy.

“Azalea, my dear,” Lorenz said as he slipped his hand into Sylvain’s, “We love you too, and we are so, so proud of the wonderful young lady that you’ve become.”

“Yeah, we know you’ll kick ass at the academy.” Sylvain chimed in, ignoring Lorenz’s heated glare. Azalea giggled and shook her head.

“You two will never change. Goodnight.” she said, and she, along with baby Lavender, left the room. Sylvain let out a deep sigh as he lay back on his pillows.

“Whew, talk about an exciting night. Who knew that raising ten kids would be such a crazy experience, eh Lorenz?” he said, chuckling as he turned to his husband. The smile fell from his face and he sat back up when he realized that Lorenz was crying.

“Hey, love, what’s wrong?” Sylvain said, his brow furrowing with worry as he wrapped his arms around Lorenz and pulled him into his lap. Lorenz said nothing for a moment, and Sylvain rubbed his back gently as his husband cried against his chest. When Lorenz finally lifted his head back up, Sylvain gently wiped the tears from his face as he looked deep into those beautiful amethyst eyes.

“I...I am sorry, Sylvain,” Lorenz said, chuckling softly as he reached up to cup Sylvain’s face in his hands, “I was just...overcome with emotion at how much of a joy my life has been ever since that night at the Goddess Tower. I-I never thought that I would ever be this happy...be this loved by so many people.”

“Aw geez, cut that out,” Sylvain said, rolling his eyes as he pressed his forehead against Lorenz’s, “You’re just as deserving of love and happiness as I am. We both had some fucked up upbringings, sure, but we fought our way out of the shadows of our shitty fathers. You’re a damn good husband, Lorenz, and a damn good father. There’s no one else I’d rather be raising a family with.” A few more tears fell down Lorenz’s face, and Sylvain brushed them away with his lips, before he moved to find Lorenz’s and kiss him tenderly.

“Thank you, Sylvain,” Lorenz said when he pulled away, “I love you most ardently, and I will always love you, as long as I have breath in my lungs and a beating heart in my chest.” Sylvain tried and failed to stop himself from bursting out laughing, and Lorenz pouted at him.

“What?” he said, huffing as he turned his head away. Sylvain managed to compose himself, and he placed a hand on Lorenz’s cheek, moving his head so that Lorenz was looking at him again.

“You’re just so cheesy and dramatic all the time. It’s kind of embarrassing.”

“Well, excuse me for being honest about my feelings.”

“C’mon babe, you know I’m teasing you.” Sylvain slipped a hand behind Lorenz’s head, his fingers easily sliding through his silky smooth hair as Sylvain kissed him again. Lorenz resisted for a moment, before ultimately giving in as he tilted Sylvain’s head up to deepen the kiss. When they eventually pulled away, breathless, Sylvain kissed the tip of Lorenz’s nose, and they both laughed softly.

“I love you, Lorenz.”

“And I love you, Sylvain.”

Sylvain was about to suggest that they get ready for bed, but Lorenz pulled away from Sylvain as he glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.

“Ah, yes before I forget…” Sylvain yelped when Lorenz smacked him upside the head.

“Hey! What the hell was that for?” Sylvain asked, pouting as he rubbed at the offended skin.

“You know exactly what that was for,” Lorenz said, “You cannot keep using vulgar language in front of our children! I will let it slide if it’s Azalea or Alder because they are older, but the others are too young to know when it is not appropriate to use such words.”

“C’mon, babe. The only reason Iris overheard me say that was because she snuck into the last Roundtable meeting,” Sylvain said, resting his hands behind his head as he leaned back, “She’s a sneaky one. Too clever for her own good.”

“Be that as it may,” Lorenz said, sighing as he lay back against his own pillows, “Please be better about watching your mouth around our children, Sylvain.” Sylvain’s lips slowly turned upward into a sly smile as he propped himself up on one elbow.

“Heh, but I thought you liked my filthy mouth, Lorenz,” Sylvain said, his voice dropping low as he shifted closer to his husband. His nose brushed against Lorenz’s neck ever-so-lightly, and he felt Lorenz shiver and swallow thickly.

“W-Well,” Lorenz mumbled, his face flushing as he averted his gaze, “I would be lying if I said that I didn’t like it in a very...specific context.” Sylvain chuckled and dragged his teeth up Lorenz’s jawline until his lips reached his ear.

“Hmm...Maybe I’ll have to remind you just how much you like it,” Sylvain whispered, nibbling lightly on Lorenz’s earlobe. Lorenz inhaled sharply, and he moved a hand to Sylvain’s face, slender fingers slipping through the thick hair of his beard. Sylvain leaned back, his brown eyes meeting the most beautiful amethyst, and the amount of affection and love that he saw in Lorenz’s intense gaze made his heart soar.

“Oh...p-please do, my dear,” Lorenz said, and that was all that Sylvain needed to hear. Rolling on top of Lorenz, Sylvain’s lips captured his in a heated kiss, and a low moan rumbled through his chest. Lorenz’s hands found their way under Sylvain’s nightshirt, while Sylvain’s hands slowly slipped down to Lorenz’s waist…

“...Daddy? Father?”

Sylvain suddenly found himself being thrown off of Lorenz so hard that he almost went careening off the side of the bed. He managed to catch himself before actually falling off, and when he turned to snap at his husband, he caught sight of Yarrow standing in the threshold of their room, head tilted curiously and a blanket draped over his shoulders.

“Ah, Y-Yarrow, my darling. Is something the matter?” Lorenz stammered, face flushed bright red with embarrassment. Sylvain snickered as he settled himself back in bed, and Lorenz shot him a warning look.

“Can’t sleep, buddy?” Sylvain asked, and Yarrow opened his mouth to answer, but the sudden, deafening thunder that crashed from the storm raging outside caused him to yelp and run to the side of the bed.

“Ah, I see,” Lorenz said, gently rubbing Yarrow’s head as he pressed his face against Lorenz’s legs. “The storm has you scared?” Yarrow lifted his head slightly to nod, and he sniffled slightly as a few tears ran down his face. Lorenz turned to share a glance with Sylvain, and they smiled softly at each other.

“Well, climb on up. You can stay with us tonight,” Sylvain said, and Yarrow immediately scrambled onto the bed, nestling himself between his fathers.

“But next time you have to try really hard to stay in your own bed. The storm will not hurt you.” Lorenz said, tucking the blankets around Yarrow as he nodded.

“I...I’ll try…” Yarrow said, yawning softly as his eyes drifted shut, “I love you Daddy. I love you, Father.” Lorenz let out a quiet chuckle as he and Sylvain watched Yarrow drift off to sleep.

“Well, I guess we’d better get some sleep too, huh?” Sylvain whispered, reaching over Yarrow to grab Lorenz’s hand and entwine their fingers together.

“Hmm, yes. Like you said, we do have a busy day tomorrow.” Lorenz said as he lay down and pressed his forehead against Sylvain’s. Their lips met in a quick, chaste kiss, and when Sylvain’s eyes met Lorenz’s, his heart skipped a beat at the immense amount of love he saw in those deep pools of amethyst.

“I love you, Sylvain. Always and forever.”

“Yeah, I love you too, Lorenz. Thanks for being the best husband that I could’ve ever asked for.” Sylvain’s eyes slipped shut, and he heard Lorenz chuckle beside him.

“Likewise, Sylvain.”

It was a hectic life they both lived, as joint rulers of an entire territory and loving fathers to ten rambunctious children. However, it was also a beautiful and fulfilling life, one that neither Sylvain nor Lorenz would change for anything in the world.

[ask-whitebag]

Everything That Happens In Delta Rune Is Fake

Have you ever seen the movie Coraline? In this movie the protagonist visits another reality that SEEMS to be better. But then she slowly realizes that this whole world is not only fake but also very cursed and messed up.

This is how I've felt playing Delta Rune, or at least its ending.

When it was trying to be it's own thing it was great. I liked the new characters and new story, new battle system, new enemies, new places - everything that was new was great.

But then the adventure is over and we get to go through town and talk with the Undertale characters we know and love. Or at least we think it's them but they are all acting out of character and nothing adds up.

Here's a list of things that expose the fakeness of this world (forgive me if I forgot about something or messed some facts up - I finished playing this after 2am and I couldn't sleep after that so nothing that happened there feels real to me anyway):

Asriel is alive and well and in college.

Undyne doesn't wear an eyepatch and doesn't seem to know who Alphys is.

Alphys seems to be crushing on Asgore, confirming that Undyne and Alphys aren't together, and it wasn't just Undyne fucking with us.

Bratty and Catty hate each other and they both flirted with Asriel at some point. (???)

Burgerpants seems to be crushing on Undyne?? Or did I fever dream that one?

Sans is new in town and he "befriended" Toriel last night while Papyrus stays in home because he doesn't have any friends and I know the skeleton fuckers are delighted by that information but based on what Toby told us about Sans, THIS IS VERY OUT OF CHARACTER FOR BOTH OF THEM and that's just not the skelebros that I know and love.

Mettaton (i think that was him) doesn't leave the house which is... I guess legal but strange for him. We don't even see him.

Gerson and Shyren are dead? Or was this a fever dream as well?? (edit: not Shyren, ShyRA)

Toriel and Asgore are our parents but they live in separation for some reason even though Asriel is alive. What happened between them?

Our protagonist is named Kris and Frisk is nowhere to be around.

Kris was revealed to be Chara...? Is... is that a thing that happened? Am I getting this right?

The point is - this whole segment feels like some kind of cursed AU. The alternative timeline where nothing adds up and everyone acts out of character. A fanfic written by a person who decided to ignore the canon and write their own version. Dare I even say... a fanfic written by a person who doesn’t like lgbtq+ representation in media?

Listen. I don't believe Toby Fox (the man who made a game in which you have to get two girls together to get the true ending) would just create an AU in which Undyne and Alphys don't even know each other. No, he wouldn't do that... without a purpose. The purpose was to scare us. To give us the halloween story. And let me tell you, straight Sans? That spooked me real good.

So please, by all means - do NOT confuse Undertale canon with Delta Rune canon. Those two games have NOTHING to do with each other.