#i have so many aus rattling around in my brain help

[grimalkinmessor]

I want a Death Note Drop Dead Fred AU because I love the idea of ever-so successful serious Light Yagami suddenly having his childhood imaginary friend following him around, but I can't figure out if I want Ryuk or L to be Fred. On one hand, Ryuk fits Fred's personality and ties into the movie's theme of Let Yourself Be An Absolute Freak, but on the other,,, Lawlight banter.

[vesperaink]

Friends, my necromancer!Tango/grimreaper!Jimmy, Team Rancher modern with magic apocalypse AU, Graveyard Shift, for @mcytblraufest's Reverse Big Bang is here!

But wait there's more--go read chasing crimson written by @aliferous-ly, beta'd by @dibs2win, my fantastic team for aufest. If you love enemies to lovers, unlikely partnerships, and the power of soul-bound magic weapon contracts, this hilarious + dramatic 22.9k fic kicks off from this comic!

chasing crimson

Jimmy Solidarity works for the esteemed god of Death, reaping lost souls and taking care of unsavory characters. He's recently finished his training, and is determined to do well on his first solo mission. Perhaps this "Tango" would be a good start. Only, the god of Death disappeared years ago, and Necromancer Tango Tek's long since discovered a way around dying. He can't say he enjoys Jimmy swinging through and killing him where he stands, though.

Thank you to my team for being as feral about this AU as I am, and kicking everything about it up to 110. I had so much developing this world with them!

Thanks to @onawhimsicot for helping me with the comic's dialogue, fixing my composition woes with "just add more smoke," and encouraging me to complete it in full color! Check out Cadence's aufest fic, I take it back (ill follow till I fly or till im dead), a Cult of the Lamb AU about follower!Tango and Lamb!Zedaph, the meaning of devotion, silly experiments, eldritch transformations, and...the most platonic slowburn ever?

Lastly, thank you to the aufest team for another wonderful event! I had a blast again, and was giggling kicking my feet at everyone's reactions during claims, I loved every single one of them. Graveyard Shift is definitely an AU I'm coming back to. As always, my askbox is open if you'd like to chat, and I'd love to be tagged if anyone makes anything <3

Timelapse / AU art chatter under the cut!

While Graveyard Shift is the amalgamation of many of my interests, the main premise for this AU is loosely inspired by the webcomic, I'm the Grim Reaper, in both its apocalypse themes and its aesthetics! Not a required read, but highly recommend if you enjoy this au, as well as the anime and manga, Soul Eater!

I came up with a lot of AUs for this event but necromancer!Tango and reaper!Jimmy have been rattling around in my brain in separate AUs since before I started brainstorming for aufest. So I smashed them together, naturally.

(Unfortunately I didn't record all of my process, but most of it is here! CW for flashing; song is Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene by Hozier)

I could go on forever about concept art and character design if anyone's curious but here's some fun bonus details about this comic:

Originally, Tango's outfit was going to be more like his Dungeon Master outfit but I wanted the setting to be more modern and Jimmy stole the fantasy cloak vibe from him already lol

Jimmy's entrance of lightning is my nod to the Life Series final death sound

The scarf Jimmy's wearing is designed to be a boneyard shawl

The panel of strange text reads "Protection Three" in Galactic :)

+ The name "Graveyard Shift" was thrown at me by Cadence in like 3 seconds flat after i spent 2 days agonizing over a name for this au LOL

[driftingmoonmenace]

Ok ok ok I'm gonna just dump all my DCA OC thoughts/info in a post cause I'm shy with rambling about them individually with ppl atm 👉👈💦

BUT OK SO I've been like rattling this idea around in my brain for quite a while! At first I just had Paradox and he was just in his own little AU world thing, but then I decided to just take all my DCA ocs and shove them into a world together and they just work at different Pizzaplexs and stuff.

Paradox's info is still pretty much the same! He's tired of being treated badly by adults and acting out by retaliating with pranks and it's getting on Fazco's last nerve. So they hired a handler to keep him in check.

I got my other Eclipse model, Equinox, he's from a defunct Pizzaplex, there's a lot that went into it closing down, but before he could be decommissioned like the rest, he managed to escape and is 'on the run'. He travels cross-country on a motorcycle with a mission to help other animatronics get out from under Fazco. He totally leans into the 'badboy' persona and has modified himself over time to look how he wants to.

And then there's Umbra! He's a Moon model that Equinox picked up on his travels, and is his journey partner! Umbra was also a Daycare Attendant and had a Sun counterpart, though unfortunately he was officially decommissioned before Umbra could do anything. It's a sensitive subject for him and he's completely on-board with Equinox's plan to save as many animatronics as they can because of it, and maybe take Fazco down too. Umbra is super smart, and a little shy. He tries to make up the plans, but half the time Equinox goes jumping into potential danger before he can even finish getting his thoughts out. It exasperates him, but Equinox is 'totally cool' to him and man he wishes he could be like that and boy he's kinda hot too oh wait wait wait keep it together!

Lumi and Nova are Daycare Attendants who were separated and updated as part of a rebranding for their pizzaplex! Though mysteriously after a year, Nova has gone missing and Lumi has no idea where he's gone. Every night Lumi tries to find clues and access computers to try to find out what happened to him along with searching the pizzaplex from top to bottom. (Nova is actually alive but was moved to a completely separate pizzaplex where Fazco figured he'd 'fit in' better and hasn't made up their mind if they want to keep Lumi alone or build another Sun counterpart for him.)

Then I got Sol and Lune, they're mini Sun and Moon DCA models, and were made more so to be helpers for human daycare employees rather than actual DCAs. They were made as a test run in comparison to regular DCA models and it was found that the regular DCAs were more popular with the kids than the mini versions, so now they don't come out too often and are kept basically in a storage closet. They're only let out when a certain threshold amount of kids is met and the human employees need help or for events. Sol is fed up with being a 'toy stuffed in a closet' and is making plans to escape. Lune tries to be a voice of reason but Sol is pretty hard-headed.

Last but not least I got my pink DCA, Astra! I still don't know much about them, but I think she'd be the next DCA model that Equinox and Umbra find. She's got wings, though she can't fly, and I think she's a beta model that isn't released to the public. They're not quite a Sun model but close to it, not sure how to describe it really! Super sweet, upbeat, and cutesy but they're ready to throw hands and they pack quite the punch for being so petite!

I also may have more DCA OCs knocking around in my brain as vague ideas atm that eventually will get thrown into this hot mess of a mix later...but uh YEAH!

Eventually everything just goes to shit with Fazco and all my OCs end up in a group together but I haven't figured out everything yet. There's a plot in there somewhere! *vague hand gestures*

[valkeakuulas]

Whoops I just unfollowed you by accident when I went to send an ask, haha. idk how many times I've done that... 😂 Anyway, re-followed, and I have a kiss prompt request! Maybe Glitch/Savage?

At least you didn't block me like I've done to my friend more than once. (Why those two options are so close to each other, I've got no idea! Bad site/app layout design there!)

Anyway, here's your fic! I'm a bit uncertain in what kind of fix-it AU this happens but ehhh, that's not really important. What's more important is that they're being cute. This isn't really a kiss-kiss but, uh, close enough me thinks?

** ** **

14. A kiss to the stomach

Glitch opened his eyes partially when something rustled in the nearby bush. It didn't feel anything dangerous, so he didn't get up and honestly, he didn't even want to. The sun shone brightly from above kept Glitch, and the boulder he leaned against was pleasantly warm. Despite wearing only half of his armor, the warmth made his limbs feel almost too heavy to move.

However, that could also be attributed to the giant of a Zabrak who rested his head on Glitch's lap.

Savage had found his way to Glitch some time ago and laid down on his side without a word. The fact that he was facing Glitch, leaving his back unguarded, had made the clone's heart beat faster. Glitch had placed a hand on that wide shoulder, to which Savage had reacted by wrapping an arm loosely around the clone's waist.

A look down showed Savage's closed eyes and the steadily rising and lowering shoulder indicated that he was asleep.

Smiling, Glitch let his hand slide down from Savage's shoulder to cup the back of his head gently, mindful of the sharp horns. He had the very intention to pet Savage to help him stay relaxed when the Zabrak spoke.

"Is there a reason why you're moving so much?" Savage's deep voice rumbled, never opening his eyes.

A little surprised, Glitch chuckled. "I barely shifted," he protested with a grin that only widened when Savage snorted, unimpressed.

The arm around Glitch tightened, and he gasped when Savage pushed his face further into Glitch's unarmored middle.

"Don't move."

Glitch shuddered when the order was rumbled right into his abdomen, his heart speeding up a little again.

There was no way Savage missed that and Glitch, well, glitched as he watched in what felt like slow motion Savage smirk lazily up at him before nuzzling the clone's stomach with another bone-rattling purr.

Once satisfied, Savage relaxed again and apparently fell back to sleep, seemingly uncaring how he had just all but melted Glitch's brain.

[weebsinstash]

Not gonna lie if I were the reader after they got replaced by YouTwo I would be a neurotic mess lmao. I already mental issues but I can't imagine going through their trauma on top of everything. I would definitely be scratching myself again out of sheer stress and anxiety about whether or not everybody will replace me again. My arms would look horrible. Oh boy imagine everybody's reaction to realizing they've messed up this badly and absolutely ruined the reader

Other people: fun ways we can write! Coffee shop au! Red string of fate! Hanahaki! Enemies to lovers!

me: what if I sat and tried to seriously and realistically contemplate the ramifications of a severely traumatic experience and the following neurotic habits that arise from the spiral down

Reader gets back to Spider Society, either glitching back in or "being rescued" whatever, and, you're just doing shit like digging food out of the trash "you'd never guess what kinds of perfectly good stuff people throw away, and it saves time to not have to wait for anything to be prepped! Never know when you'll vanish in the middle of a meal or that one serial killer will pop out at you again!! Ahaha!

Someone comes to check on you and you deadass have a fucking, tripwire web trap all around you, you're not even sleeping in a bed you're in your own webbing (because we rock organic webbing here because it fucks) so the second anything like, opens the door of your apartment or comes near you, you're instantly aware. Peter B comes in "heeeey, just wanna check in, make sure you're doing ok--" and there's fucking web wires rattling cans as he opens the front door and suddenly you're wide awake with an actual fucking knife or some kind of equally brutal survivalist weapon and it takes you a few seconds to fully snap out of it and let him calm you down and he has to tell Miguel You Are In Fact Not Doing Ok

You've got real "scaring all your loved ones and everyone around you" energy during those times you're just like going through some manic shit, opening your mouth and going on a sudden 'epiphany' like "i know what would help!! I'm gonna start cutting my face in really visible prominent places and that way you guys will know by the scar who I am :) and when it heals I'll cut myself again :) and again :) maybe I should just cut off a finger, how many of me do you think are missing fingers? Or maybe I could give myself a cool scar!!" And it's just like. What the fuck do they even say to that. A lot of them just genuinely could cry over this, seeing what this did to you. You sound genuinely cheerful at the realization and give no mind to how casually you just suggested self harm out of paranoia and self preservation.

You're just having like hard-core eating disorder issues going from overeating to undereating, binging because you're suffer9ng trauma from starving and then starving yourself "no its fasting, I'm FASTING to save food and money and resources, ok, I can only fit so much in my backpack and--"

You have this backpack from your multiversal glitching travels and keeping it with you basically 24/7 even when you go to the bathroom becomes a comfort habit, because, "never know when your camp has been found by the runners and you've gotta make a break for it" or some other cryptic memory you babble at them like you're discussing coffee when it could be one of the most vile horrifying things they've ever heard

I think the most interesting but tricky thing I've thought of is, what if Reader's trauma-humor coping mechanism gets dialed up to 11 and you can basically never turn it off because, your brain is protecting yourself. It's like you're Doing A Bit but literally all the time like some traumatized method actor and you're just, they're never sure if you're actually telling the truth or actually recounting things you experienced after a while

"Oh man the last time I ate a meal this big was when I finally stopped glitching and I had to break into someone's house and rob them for food! Just call me Santa Claus! But this Earth had suffered a nuclear fallout so all they had was like, DRY CRACKERS and, a lotta canned stuff, icky, and, I was in the middle of trying to pry a tin of lil cocktail weenies open with my teeth when the irradiated house centipedes smelled my blood, just imagine like a normal centipede but, like, the size of a Shetland pony, hey, friendship really IS magic right, and me and these centipedes got SO close, so anyways they smelled my blood, right, and it made them hungry, and--" and here you got like The Entire Squad speechless, Hobies just over here like "fuck, I don't even know what to say to that, you want some ketamine bruv" and yall just hit em with "nah last time I tried ketamine I had a fever dream of being replaced by an evil clone and I was shunned by all my close friends who i thought of like family. Oh wait, that was you guys! That's awkward!"

[jamneuromain]

Wishful Thinking Chpt. 8

Andy Barber x You (Reader), no use of Y/N

Alternate Universe - College AU

Summary: A new semester. A new task. A new boyfriend, your previous professor, Andy Barber. Everything seems to be going on the right track. So why didn't it?

Warning: Angst, possessive behavior, inappropriate teacher-student relationship, power imbalance, age difference, cheating, explicit language, TW: mention of assault and violence

A/N: This fic has some disturbing themes, and discusses potentially upsetting topics. Please read through the warning before engaging with the fic. As I have said, the fic has mentioned a number of (potentially) triggering and heavy topics, you don't have to engage further if you feel uncomfortable about one or more topics.

Wishful Thinking M. List Dancing in the Daydream M. List

Someone calls your name when you are gazing into your coffee.

“Oh hey, Marta, didn’t see you there.” You nod to Marta, noticing her presence before replying.

Marta looks a bit hesitant, “There’s an ‘Andy’ at the door, that says he’s your boyfriend and wants to talk.”

The image of Andy apologizing last time flashes into your memory briefly. You try your best to bury them back in your brain, forcing a smile, “Did you tell him that you’d come and get me?”

“No, silly.” Marta heads over to the fridge and closes the fridge door with a can of cherry soda in her hand, talking as if she’s proud of herself, “I said I just moved in and I don’t know my roommates yet. Said I’ll go check whether the person he’s talking about lives here. If you want him gone, I can tell him you moved out.” She adds very quickly, “Or call the cops.”

Her suggestion brings a smile to your lips.

As ridiculous as the suggestion sounds, you are grateful that Marta didn’t let slip that she knows who you are and where you are.

You leave your coffee mug on the kitchen table, “I’ll just … talk to him. Thank you, Marta.”

Marta slurps her soda, coughing when she has too big a gulp, “no-no problem!”

Every step you take, feels heavy on your heart.

You don’t want to talk to Andy. You want to stay in a confined dark little corner and cry your eyes out.

Yet you have no tears. And you have to be a grown-up and tell him, that you decide to break up with him.

End things. Once and for all.

See, although you like happy endings for stories, whether the ones you read or the ones you write, but you also know that fairytales don’t happen in real life, and there is no magic, nor some Gaston to miraculously help you solve whatever misunderstanding that lies between the two of you, and leading to a happily-ever-after end.

Not to mention, it’s not a misunderstanding.

Andy cheated.

He cheated on you when having a wife. Or another girlfriend. Or whatever Laurie Fucking Barber is.

Even if Laurie is lying about it, for your own safety, you wouldn’t want to be around Andy Barber, in case Laurie jumps out of nowhere and slaps you in the face again.

It is a reasonable decision.

The right decision.

But does your heart want it that way?

No.

Your heart drains every ounce of your strength, telling you to hold on to him, after such a terrible mess. Your heart rattles the cage you’ve custom made for it. Making loud noises, tearing you apart.

Your heart tells you what it wants. What you truly want.

You want him.

Which adds to the sadness and pity you feel about yourself.

A man that lied to you, hurt you, and refused to share with you about himself. So many red flags almost scream “RUN” and you successfully ignored all of them.

Love makes you blind. Love makes you foolish.

So you are going to stop loving him.

As hard as it sounds, you are certain time will take care of it.

It’s raining a little outside. Andy came to your door with his suit jacket damp and hair ruffled. He pants, but nothing can subdue the burning down his lungs for running from the parking spot to your place.

A thin line of smiling raise on the corner of his lips, before seeing you. Before actually looking at you. Before taking in your expressionless face and every sign of your body language that says “you are tired”.

And he certainly did not expect the first sentence that you say is a line for break-up.

“We’re done, Andy.”

Maybe he expected it a little, when he pictures Laurie hitting you. Leaving you scared on the floor. Maybe Laurie hit you so hard that you fall to the ground. Maybe you are devastated. Maybe you cried.

Now that seeing you without tears. Without sobbing and sniffing. A dark voice in his head tells him that you want him for the sex, not for the trouble.

Deep down, he knows any reasonable person in your position would be asking for a break-up. However, the demonic voice nags him into doubting. Into suspecting that you are not feeling a thing.

He’s a horrible person. Andy suddenly realizes when the dark thoughts creep inside his head. And he’s hoping you would be as horrible as he is so that he wouldn’t feel half the guilt he has right now for not telling you about Laurie.

He could do nothing than utter a few words. Words, pale and weak. The words almost every cheated man would come home and tell his wife, “Let me explain…”

“There’s nothing to explain about.” You shake your head.

Is that disappointment? Or just boredom? Andy isn’t sure.

A chilling spark runs up his spine. He has to do something. This, Andy is sure. He knows he either do something right now, or he could lose you forever.

“I’m divorcing her. It started six months ago.” It was five but who cares at this point, “She’s been holding a grudge. It was before we met and knew each other, I swear.”

Forget the “not speak ill of your ex” rule. Andy could speak a lot of ill about Laurie. Only that he did not choose to. For one, he didn’t want you to think he’s the type who will criticize his past partner. For another, he is ashamed to admit Laurie. Laurie, as his wife, cheated. Resulting in a huge dent in his self-esteem. He was afraid you would think there’s something wrong with him. That caused Laurie to flee.

He wouldn’t want that.

You’ve heard of husbands starting to date other women before the divorce got finalized. It wasn’t against the law. Nor was it morally incorrect. You didn’t think the same would happen to you. Simple as that.

“You could’ve…” Emphasizing on “could”. “Could’ve told me. Could’ve shared. Hinted, even. About …this. About Laurie.” You whisper in a small voice. Your eyes avoiding his determined gaze. Your gut tells you he’s lying, again. Or your paranoia. You can’t distinguish one from another these days.

“Please. I’m sorry. I fucked up. I know I did. Please-”

Don’t leave him.

“I’m sorry, Andy.”

You are not some puppy who will run back to its master on first call. This isn’t who you are. You expect a relationship, a functional one.

Whatever this is, it isn’t functional.

“We’ve been dating for two, three months now,” you state the obvious, “You know everything about me. About what I eat, what I don’t. You know I prefer drinks more than water. You know I’m deciding about whether to look for a job or continue my studies. You even know the scar on my arm was because of an accident.”

“I-” Andy looks as if he is about to interrupt.

“And I know nothing about you.” Which was fine, at the start. You thought you could ease into things. Get him to open up, little by little. You don’t mind sharing about yourself. You have some issues, of course, that you would rather keep to yourself and work them out. The real problem is, Andy never shares anything. “You seem to go to the gym a lot. You like scheduling. You like having order and control.”

“That’s something about me.” Andy wants to explain.

“Really?” You toss the question back to him, “I don’t know your favorite exercise. Do you swim because there’s an aquatics center within walking distance? Or you like swimming? Or you swim just to keep fit?”

His words grow weaker by the second.

“Why you like having order?” You bring up another question, “I’ve told you before that I like my care-free lifestyle and procrastination because of my inability to make decisions. I’ve told you about my writing. And when I asked you about your writing when you were a teen, what did you say?”

His memory clicks, retracing a dinner date from a month ago.

“I said-” Andy closes his eyes for a brief second, almost painfully, repeating his words, “I wrote some.”

“Some.” You recite, “and then you asked me about something else.”

“I’m sorry. I understand you’re upset.” Those words fly out of his mouth. His apologies are bland. Robotic. He couldn’t find better words. He didn’t know where to start.

Almost everytime, every date. She would try to get to know him more, and only resulted in him knowing her more. As if putting out a question, to him, is similar to a shield, blocking him from her interest.

Your nails dig into the palm of your hands. You are way more than upset. Crossing your arm, you remain stoic, “This isn’t working. You and me. Just leave, Andy. It’s over.”

“You’re mine-” He sounds fragile, hurting, on the verge of shattering, “you promised. You said that. You promised.”

“I promised you nothing.”

You promised him everything. You promised him… you. You entrusted your heart and your soul with him and now this?

“It’s over. We are over, Andy.”

“No.”

For a moment, your brain isn’t able to process that Andy, the kind, gentle, sweet Andy, actually said “no” to your breakup.

“Excuse me?” You narrow your eyes, looking at the man whose head is hanging. An invisible dark mist pulls into a swirl behind his back, almost as if some ridiculous comic book.

Andy raises his head and repeats, “No.”

He’s not going to let you ruin the possibility of “you”. He’s not going to let you get away too.

“I said no.” He has one hand on the door frame. Knuckles white. Clutching the wooden piece. His tone has never been firmer than he is now, “I’m not allowing it. I’m not letting you choose the ‘easy’ choice just because it’s the way you deem appropriate. Because you chickened out.”

“Ex-fucking-cuse me??”

Oh. Maybe he shouldn’t have said that last one. But pure blinding rage covers his mind and his body. As soon as his lips part, some more escape his mouth with ease, “You're just like everyone else who walked away from me when things got tough. I guess you're no different, scaredy cat."

“Andrew Barber!” You shriek, “I’m not the one withholding a damn WIFE! And I’m fucking breaking up with you! You prick!”

He couldn’t stop himself, “Sure. Because you’re perfectly capable of making decisions on your own.”

Words turn into sharp knives. It hurts to be mean. Though he feels like a big boulder getting off his chest when he watches tears gathering in your eyes. Sad tears? Angry tears? Doesn’t really matter.

“The hell do you mean?”

He shrugs, “Like I'm not the one who recommended you to apply for internship. Like I’m not the one who pulls the strings to make sure you get in. Like I'm not the one who helps arrange your life into shape. Like you don't need anyone to help you - you fake it, sweetheart, you pretend you're strong but you're not. You need – I know what you need. You need control, you need someone else to have control over you so you can hide behind a rock and be worry-free about not needing to take responsibility for your life. Wakey wakey, sunshine,” his tone turns mocking, “You are a grown-ass woman and you are afraid to act like one. Good luck at finding someone who’s willing to put your life into one-piece.”

This was how it was supposed to go.

Him breaking your heart. Stomping on it. You cry and leave.

A giant hole ripped open in the middle of his heart. Crawling with ice. He instantly feels good about making you cry. He is sorry about being mean. However, if this could hurt you, he would say it again. To make you feel something. Feel his wrath and his frustration.

But leaving. That’s what you all do. He only helps speed up the process.

He’s all alone again. He soon will be.

“Go to Hell, Barber.” With a final word, you slam the door in his face.

“Yeah well, you’ll beat me to it!” He yells back.

That’s what he deserves. Andy agrees in silence, looking at the concrete ground.

And now he’s alone again.

Taglist: @geminiflanagansblog@wintasssoldier@sapphire-rogers@nouk1998@sarahdonald87

[boywifesammy]

spn fic rec fest - 7

AUGUST 22 - gen fics

as before, i've tagged authors that have their tumblr public on their ao3. if you'd like me to remove the @, just lmk. @spnficrecfest for more info on the event.

What You're Looking For by ani_coolgirl (@ani-coolgirl) Sam-centric, 1.5k, T

Post-finale, Sam's getting old and needs Dean Jr's help. i truly cannot speak highly enough of ani’s writing. their first time series was the reason i got back into spn and for good reason!! this fic always gets me in the feels and its because of how well done the characterization is while still being achingly foreign. like you can tell that this is sam but hes so old&worn that hes all grief and nothing else. MAN! so good. also the safe’s password being deans birthday made me have many thoughts.

Ellie's Giant by cordelia_gray Sam-centric, 1.2k, G

“A mute giant with sad eyes lives at the end of Ellie's street.” this fic stayed on my mind for AGES after i first read it. as someone who was nonverbal for a while when i was at my lowest it hit close to home. also the idea of this little kid looking up at a scarred and traumatized sam and seeing a powerful strong but kind giant is so sweet <3

Life's A Walking Shadow by Lise (@veliseraptor) Sam-centric, 1.6k, T

“AU. When Sam gets out of the Cage decades have passed.” AHHH!!! PAIN!!! this one hurts so so so good. i can imagine old dean speaking with sammy and its been so long and everything is different but the same and its such a bittersweet ending for them. also i LOVE the detail of sam only knowing enochian when he came back. it inspired me a lot and i sorta spun that into something similar in one of my fics!

Submerged by ever_dimming Dean-centric, 4.6k, T

Dean goes out for a coffee and is triggered into a catatonic state. He’s found by a doctor from a nearby hospital. PTSD girlie recs another trauma episode fic. who is surprised </3 but seriously this is a great little read that gives u this super emotional, raw look at dean that we usually dont get. his conversation with sam at the end also pulls at my heartstrings

heavy hitter by h0lm3stuck Dean-centric, 1k, T

Aftermath of a hunting accident that leaves Dean with brain damage. i love fics that explore the physical & mental effects of the hunting lifestyle, ESPECIALLY tbi & brain damage stuff. its such emotional content seeing sam & dean in those situations. the angst is strong in this fic and its even more bittersweet since sam is still hanging onto hope.

No Doubt by @crucifixinhell Dean-centric, 1k, M [noncon, underage] (TW: underage SA)

“‘Truth is,’Henriksen says, ‘your daddy brainwashed you with all that devil talk and no doubt touched you in a bad place.’ Dean feels himself flinch hard enough to rattle the chains around his wrists.” this is a heart wrenching fic. it touches on childhood SA in a way that isnt graphic but still so loaded. it doesnt have to be spelled out because deans words say everything you need to hear. the line ‘it can’t matter because if it did then it all matters, and it can’t’ really got me. its a thought that ive played around with a lot in my own writing and it hits me so hard every time.

[diorncoke]

Your my little sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey⋆˙𖤓⟡˙⋆ (1/2)

🫧⋆｡°✩ summary: in the moments of being under the influence of a man who averaged out the death rate of an entire state, Stefan is tangled in finding a comfortable home for a sweet girl who has the status he hadn’t heard about in centuries.

authors note: goddess, i had a fanfic about this years ago, and i didn’t go anywhere with it. so here is that tiny space in my brain that wanted to post this :) — word count: 7.8k

🌞 characters: the vampire diaries \ college au! , jeremy gilbert , / x black! fem! little! reader .☀︎ ݁ ˖

🌞 content warning(s): no set plot line, some use of y/n, talks of anxiety attacks, reader is a wolf pup, stefan & damon being big brothers, baby babbles, ¡male lactation!, use of rattles (i want one so bad), fluff, mentions of weapons, bottles, nesting, swearing, protective tatted jeremy, littles are knowledgeable, cliche asf ;) — third person pov!

🌞 before reading: her outfit, pjs & bottle , https://pin.it/2eS7TCc , https://pin.it/5VSFrm0 https://pin.it/4DQNyfF

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ The sun reached its peak before completely shining on the state of Michigan, New Orleans, specifically in the small town area of an infamous bar owned by the well-known witch in the area. Gloria is a flamboyant soothsayer, and many would describe her as charmingly intelligent with looks that have the appearance of only being forty years old. Though she wasn't anywhere near, she was more than a hundred years old, though she was not immortal.

She held the tasks of the spirits coursing through her fingers that allowed her to create many mixtures to slow down the aging she would have been subjected to. The world she accepted was due to her knowledge of mystical objects and the magical arts she knew best.

In the area, the day was ending, while for Gloria, it was just the beginning of a long day of watching the town folk drink themselves silly at barely noon. She began by noting out the invention from last night and checking for any fruit flies that tried to find homes in her classic liquor bottles. With her wooden clipboard, she walked around the remaining spaces behind the bar running her own rancid on the boxes. Considering it to be finalized, she threw the clipboard inside a drawer before pulling out a wine glass before she eventually poured herself a small glass of Chardonnay.

She held the tasks of the spirits coursing through her fingers that allowed her to create many mixtures to slow down the aging she would have been subjected to. The world she accepted was due to her knowledge of mystical objects and the magical arts she knew best.

The witch felt the vibrant flavour of the white wine flourish against her dry thirst perfectly. She could age the wine with access to the best wineries in the area; who would care for this damned bar like her if she wasn’t alive. With a deep breath, she gathered the bottle and glass to its rightful place, still tasting the sweet tangle in her mouth before she took it upon herself to unlock the doors without having to walk over.

She began to walk against the bar edge before she heard the bell on the top of the door ring announcing its presence to the owner. Her back faced the bar top, placing tiny red straws into cups. It had only been a few minutes of opening before she felt folks pouring in; her bar was a classic spot with plenty of folks from over a hundred years ago still coming in and out. The perks of knowing a witch in the area to keep her young, she couldn’t imagine the looks of her ancestors as they watched her as closely helping wolves and a select few humans.

She smiled to herself, thinking of her past family before she took it upon herself to drown herself in an ageless potion to pause her aging, though she knew it would catch up to her eventually. Thinking so profoundly, the hairs on the back of her neck formed a light chilling breeze feeling the presence of something beyond human. Gloria was adept at reading people and the energy they gave off into the world; she had to. Bad energy minimizes the effect on the corners of the bar she saged with.

“What brings you here? You brought a friend, I see.” She announced her knowledge to the being before she could even turn around to face him. She plopped her hand around the cups of straws to place them behind her to the top above the seating arrangements for customers.

Gloria looked up towards the infamous Klaus Mikaelson in all his glory; she didn’t have to try and give off confidence as she held the powers of her ancestors. With one flick of her wrist, he would be forced out of her bubble alongside his friend without a second thought. She took in his body language, the glint of desperation in his eyes, looking behind to the clear picture of him and the former man she had known as Stefan Salvatore. A ruthless man who forced a man to drink his wife’s blood while they laughed, though from the look of him. He looked dazed and under Klaus’ compulsion. A clear abuse of power right in front of her. The damned wolf needed something from her, witches were always pulled into vampire drama.

Before she could ask what the infamous Klaus needed. He beat her to it.

“I need help locating a certain necklace. That my dear sister lost.” The sister in question scoffed from the front door of the bench she crossed her legs against. Gloria crossed her arms, hearing the beginning banter of the sibling just like they did in the 20s. She flared her eyebrows towards the hybrid, reminding him that he genuinely wanted something from her; he would need to be serious with her. If not, get the fuck out of her bar and don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

“Hmm. Give me your hand, sweetheart.” Gloria raised her hand, awaiting the vampire to do so. The sooner she did this, the quicker she could get them out and away from her upstairs home. She grasped the soft blonde’s bloodied hand into her own, instantly feeling the dark shadows of the vampire's mind. Her first heartbreak being of a father’s betrayal, brushing his children as though they were nothing. That said, she was only here on behalf of her brother and the undying love she mindlessly had for Stefan. With a deep breath, she placed herself into the powers the necklace had for itself, scouring into the universe, looking for its source before her search stopped. She had placed the energy perfectly in a matter of time.

“There’s a girl with her friends.” However, she got more than she liked to lead. The perfect carbon copy of the woman known back then as Katerina Petrova wearing the original witches necklace dangling between her chest as her friends watched her stir a pot of chilli. The atmosphere surrounding the doppelgänger when dark as she placed herself in her energy bubble, burning the girl's flesh harshly before her ancestors pushed her out of the vision. She opened her eyes, feeling goosebumps erupting between their hands across the til of the bar.

“Yes, a dead girl with dead friends if I don’t get my necklace,” Rebekah spoke out, still feeling Gloria's hand intertwined with her own. Before the witch let go of her, standing further back from the trio of vampires. The feeling she received was not something she was used to when it came to doing spells. It was dark; even though she fused into old voodoo, this was something she wouldn’t allow herself to tap into. Regardless of what the damned wanted her to do, she needed a plan. It wasn’t only her that needed protecting.

“That’s all I got. Just images. I need more time.” Gloria truly believed she had the upper hand in giving the vampires what they wanted. She needed time, so she pursued Stefan to understand why she did what she did. In hopes, he would take in the reader who lay sleeping in the connected house without a care in the world. Continuing the notion of confidence placed her hand on the same glass she had only placed underneath the bar top. She pushed the glass of wine in between her lips and drank. Though it did nothing to tolerate her nerves, it tasted good. From the glasses eye, she watched Klaus debate giving her what she wanted before Stefan took it upon himself to take the attention away from the witch.

“Hey, you know, why don’t we just come back later? I’m hungry. I’ll let you pick who we eat.” Stefan filled the void with an enthusiastic voice while walking to the front door. Knowing the siblings weren’t looking, he scrunched his eyebrows towards the drinking witch, understanding without much words from the way her heart was beating. Stefan couldn’t help but want to know more, regardless of the circumstances of his humanity that was destroyed like a light switch. When he looked at the witch, it reminded him of Elena, the desperate look behind her chocolate brown eyes that wanted nothing more than to embrace in her soft hug. Stefan knew it wouldn’t be the same after turning the one thing that brought everything back on, but this was the first step. He wouldn’t be the man he was being compelled by.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ It was effortless to make the Mikaelsons believe Stefan had betrayed the bonded trust of what Klaus mistook as a friendship. He forgot the truth of their connection is a clear abuse of power in the twenties and used his vampirism to create fantasies that fuelled his instincts he knew deep down were of his true nature. Although it made Gloria sick to her stomach, the feeling that he could rip her throat out in the second of vulnerability. She still took the correct herbs and mashed them grinding bowl speaking to the ancestors above with nothing but salted intentions in her words.

She created a sinister scenario that led the siblings in thinking the vampire had fled to find refuge in an unfamiliar place they would seek for enough time too distracted by petty things to realize Stefan was in the outs of Michigan. A lengthy time before her dear one would be blessed in sanctuary from the darkness of that damned hybrid. Though here she was in front of the door that reminded her of what could change the rest of her life and sharing that with a vampire was something she never expected. When she first met the reader she had all intentions of harming her as she wasn’t welcomed in a place she sacrificed everything for.

All the ageless nights to be disrupted by a broken window and shattered glass she refused to let the reader allow to seep her bare feet into. She had no shoes. Gloria took a deep breath and reminded herself of the severity of the current situation.

“Stefan, do you understand that in these circumstances, I will kill you with my bare hands if she is not taken to safety? Right?” Gloria has no room for doubt or frolicking regarding the very thing behind this door. The witch was not one to keep the reader so hidden for a long duration; it was perfect, though; she had a late night practicing her shifting abilities. The memory caught her in a frenzy of smiles before the witch remembered to unlock the multiple locks on the flowery door across the stairs to the bar.

“Of course. I remember you. I’m sure you’ll do much worse. I want to understand why you have chosen me?” Stefan asked hesitantly, leaning next to the door and awaiting the dreaded conversation between them. The vampire watched her fumble with the keys to each lock before beginning the discussion. He blinked softly, crossing his arms against his chest.

“You can be good for her. Or I trust you will find someone who is. My aging remedies can’t stop the aging from catching up to me much longer. I’m getting too old to take care of her.” Anyone in the listening distance could hear the pain straining in her voice, thinking of leaving this world before she could help her little one find herself again and have the ability to be small. Gloria placed the multiple keys into the loop of her denim jeans, giving Stefan one last look over. She wanted her words to linger in his senses; this was impotent to her and her ancestors. She would not give them the impression of disappointment.

The supernatural entities heard the locks click into the ears before Gloria pushed the door open lightly, not wanting to scare the little one behind it if she had still been sleeping.

Stefan stopped in his tracks and recalled a developing scent of wolf pups that was still undergoing growth before he could get a glimpse of them. It wafted into his sensitive nostrils before he took a deep breath taking in the sweet flowery scent wanting to keep it under his nose for the rest of his immortal life. It was divine and filled with life, something he couldn’t quite comprehend behind what he surrounded himself.

Gloria looked behind her, taking in the vampire's reaction to her little one. She smiled before clicking the light switch that only turned on the fairy lights across the walls, as the pup was quite sensitive to light fixtures that beamed into her eyes. The colourful area of strawberry shortcake decor covered the entirety of the room she could barely remember the colour of the walls or floor presences to her.

The witch took a light step towards the bed covered in plushies that the reader loved to cuddle against and scent. Her favourite one to do so was of a cow named Print; he was a special thing that if you pushed a button on his foot, his stomach lit up with stars on the ceiling. Close enough to the pup, she removed the picnic table printed blanket from the reader's sleeping state. Anyone could tell she was still a pup as she didn’t wake up alarmed by others entering her room.

Gloria looked to the side of her to see the pup she had been trying to wake up with tender swats on her back and bum. Her pretty doe ( eye colour ) opened up to the familiar face above her cradling face.

“Who is she? I haven’t seen littles in centuries. How did you find her?” Stefan hadn’t uttered a word in some time. He couldn’t bring himself to. He couldn’t vaguely remember when everyone had taken in people with smaller headspaces to fill the void for the undermining issue of no children for quite a while. The man stepped into the occupied territory before closing the door quietly, letting the question linger for an answer to meet.

“Hm. Her name is y/n. The poor thing was sent to kill me. Many folks in her pack believed she was an abomination and sent her to kill a witch. They hoped I would kill her. Boy, were they wrong? I fell in love with taking care of her. I don’t have any children of my own, you see.” Gloria believed the spirits called the reader to herself, guiding her through the hardships of life til she finally found someone who cared for her. Which is why she is the woman she is today. Gloria glanced towards the girl before taking a deep breath, knowing Stefan was not here to hear the whole story. However, she might have been wrong. The heavy vampire's eyes glanced at her baby beyond anything she had seen from the first time she met him. It was soft but short, knowing he had a reputation to uphold despite having no humanity.

“What happened to this pack?”

“I burned every single one of them to the bone. It took a lot, but I did it to protect her.” Gloria smiled, maneuvering the little so she rested against her shoulders rather than flush on her lap and pillow. She pushed her nose against her freshly washed hair, breathing in the brisk relaxing air surrounding her. It calmed her down in ways she didn’t know; coming into this room was a breath of fresh air. She would miss the comfort of her.

“I’ve kept her far too long from a pack. She needs one, Stefan. She won’t survive much longer with just me.” Before the vampire could speak, she quickly stated how long the reader had been away from the ritual of piling clothing and items; she loved to create the perfect area for a quiet hibernation. The reader's old pack was big on the little ones to ensure they were comforted in ways that some had seen as prehistoric for this day in age. Doing so was the first time in years of waiting to be found by Gloria that she created a nest. Gloria grimaced, feeling the painful memories of her pup during the nightly hour of how she craved to cuddle into her neck and scent her as pack members did.

“I will help you. I know someone who will take her in.” He heard her plead, thinking someone he had broken the heart of would understand his place in the vampire empire. He would beg on his knees to Elena after seeing the beautiful little creature grasping Gloria’s hand. Though, deep down this would be the perfect distraction to his whereabouts if they had a little one to take care of.

Stefan watched the witch place her black nail tapping the pup's squished face against her shoulder as she blinked slowly and softly, taking in the presence and warmth through the connected skin. The yawn, so simple yet cute from her chest, left a pout on her lips from the dryness that came with it. The blanket was sitting perfectly, squished around her legs and stomach though he could still see the flare of freckles on the reader's shoulders and stomach that were out, dancing for his eyes to consume. The vampire was attentive to everything she did, including the deafness of not hearing Gloria introducing him to the wolf before him. Eventually, seeing her ( eye colour ) eyes turn towards his own with a hint of curiosity. All he could do was place his sweaty hand on his pants to get rid of the wetness that came with being in this room.

“H-hello.” He called to her, seeing her sit up more comfortably in Gloria's lap. She fiddled with the hair in braids with her pink-coated fingers, twirling around each lock before she gave the courage to smile at the man. Before she eventually hid her face into Gloria's shoulders with a giggle. She was adorable in his eyes, though he wasn’t sure what to do. Was he supposed to continue standing awkwardly, or maybe he should sit on the chair on the opposing side of the bed? Though he didn’t sit unknowingly for long as Gloria picked up on his hesitance.

“You can sit. She’ll want to scent you eventually. If that’s alright?” Gloria asked, hoping it would be something he was comfortable with; it was something she did as not only a greeting but a nighttime routine when it came to accompanying a new member. They watched her lean away from the witch's lap and chest, awaiting Stefan to grasp her hand into his own. In doing so, she couldn’t help but try and place his hand close to the bottle that was empty on the side table he was sitting beside. She was building up quite an appetite.

“H-Hi.” She made sure to use her manners like Miss Gloria taught her. Her voice came out much more reluctant than she anticipated, she hadn’t seen many visitors in her time here. Most of the time she played by herself in her room or sometimes watched the people of New Orleans walk the street at nighttime. She gazed upon the burly man, taking in his presence that made her wolf whine on the inside. Something about his scent notified her that there was a part of him missing. Before she could dwell longer her mama interrupted her train of thoughts.

“Would you like to feed her?” The witch questioned, hoping he would, it was unfortunate, but she would have to understand she would no longer be the one to take care of the reader. Her heart was crushed just thinking about removing the littles' favourite pieces in the room condensed into a tote bag within the hour. Smiling sadly at the precious pup in her arms playing with the vampire's fingers, she distracted herself by creating a bottle of pure milk into the once empty one on the side table.

“Up and about. There you go, my little love.”

Stefan smiled for the first time in a while since he had given his humanity to Klaus without repercussions or any thoughts filling his mind thinking of the death of the love of his life. Before he could think further he felt the flush of the wolf's head find its way to his shoulders awaiting the bottle he held with no use from him. The previous scent of her hair crème against her raven skin was heaven-sent, he couldn't imagine comparing this to anything else. He breathed in deep that savoury scent he could relish in for the entirety of his life. It was almost off how comfortable she got in his arms and scented him, so different from each fight he had with vampires and full grow werewolves. The pup was so trusting or the most obvious was the fact that her caregiver was only a foot away and held powers of a thousand witches in the palm of her hand.

“It’s now or never Stefan. She’s getting fussy.” Gloria became fond of the quick response to her words the vampire had. The man maneuvered the reader close to the inner elbow of his arm, cradling her head against it for support. Before he began aligning the bottle to her already open and starving mouth and soon she began suckling. They both heard the sounds that resembled a baby drinking its mothers' nutrition in the early morning before starting the day. In other circumstances, Gloria would begin feeding her while walking to the common areas of the apartment to collect the things the little one would need to start the day. Or the reader would do it herself when she was feeling older.

A hesitant smile formed on his lips holding the reader's head against the left inner elbow not before using the gentlest touch to move the strands of curls that stuck out against her face. With a deep breath, he scooped up the bottle that mysteriously had filled with warm milk into his right hand aligning it to the hungry little one in his arms. Stefan observed her movements like he was sightseeing, her lips covered the nipple of the bottle before it filled her mouth with droplets of milk filling her growling belly. The sounds of tiny suckles filled the supernatural entities with pure joy. The thoughts of keeping the image of being this ripper disappeared into the room's environment into nothing. This moment here was something so beautiful he didn’t want to give her up to Damon and Elena.

Pushing these sinister thoughts away he watched his hands without much knowledge of what he was doing, to the side of the reader's hips in a rhythm he memorized his late mother used when he was younger. He could feel the pup's chest vibrate liking the sensation of his rough hands patting her soothingly. Soon enough she engulfed the bottle in twelve consecutive minutes leaving her mouth to make a recall sound letting him know she was finished.

Knowing of the routine Gloria grasped a cloth into her own before placing it on Stefan’s shoulders. Connected eyes with him she nodded, watching the vampire softly place the reader's head on his shoulder to burp the pesky bubbles out of her belly. He laughed to himself seeing the eyes of pups closed calmly and how her legs were like jelly against his torso. It was quite a sight.

Once she burped out anything that was stuck in her throat watching her mama pull away to cloth before she squished her face into Stefan’s neck. She hoped to stay in this crevice of his body for a while, none of her stuffies gave her this feeling, maybe because they weren’t real.

“She likes you.” Gloria beamed sadly holding the empty bottle, getting up smoothly border taking her leave of the room. She had to prepare to clean and pack a bag for her little one. As well, to make a herbal tea she would ask Stefan to have her drink from time to time to protect her energy. She hoped the deranged hybrid won’t find the lost wolf pup as he would change her to be like him like the speed of light. Fuck she couldn’t bring herself to just abandon the poor thing, she would need some form of an excuse to see her every month.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ Damon swindled his way against the chilled bathtub of the bathroom connected to his bedroom. His back barely hit the cool bottom of the tub before he began looking for a more comfortable position. The man being over a hundred forty-five vampires had its kinks and one of them was stubborn on his back and neck. The damned thing clicked out of place at any given moment after he had fought an idiot who dared to attack the drunken asshole. He tense before letting out a sigh in content, it wasn’t long before he pulled the bottle of champagne from the bathroom floor into a glass.

A swift swallow in relaxation reminded him of the times he was human, laying out against the grass and the sun beamed on his milk skin for hours before he was rudely pulled out of that blissful state by his overbearing father. Maybe that was why he was the way he was, the dammed. The recoil of his fathers' disapproval secretly mended him to the vampire he was today. Godsend. He began distracting himself from his thoughts of his personality that somehow some tolerated by pouring an overload of bubble bath that was scented of husk from dear Elena into the bath. The white substance coated the body deliberately, pure relaxation was a must in this state. Hey! vampire can like bubble baths too.

Though, there wasn’t much he could think of when he was left alone with his thoughts running wild into spaces he concealed with impulsive decisions without thinking about the consequences for anyone involved. A common goal was all that he knew and clouded his judgement, like Elena. How much she wanted to know here Stefan did with his time while being in the presence of an original vampire that tortured for fun.

Damon lived for torment but when it came to his brother, who would come back into his life to take the girl he loved right back out from under him. He still wanted his little brother, the one who banter amongst either of the Mystic Falls humans they still fought like hell for. He laughed to himself getting sentimental placing the glass of champagne on his lips and taking a long sip.

It didn’t last long. His eyes plummeted at the sound of his front door opening, heavy footsteps and a scent of something he hadn’t smelt covered his nostrils more than the bubbles did. Damon gritted his teeth, swirling his head in distaste before forcing the bottle of champagne on the floor lifting himself to stand tall. The suds fell slowly down his body promptly to his feet that extended outside the tub. His motion cause water to pool onto the floor, though it would dry he would be dammed to know who entered the Salvatore home unannounced. Adding to the fact they ruined his needed self-care.

Before departing to the area where he knew the culprit would be, he placed a black robe around his body and tied the given straps on top of his waist. Damon made his way underneath the bedside table that hid a wooden stake for the times Katherine made appearances. He felt his weight shift between each step to the downstairs corridor before he became dazed with a familiar scent. The vampire was quick but cautious in his movements as before he wasn’t sure who had made their way into his home but now he was. The husk of a teenage boy sat alarmingly quiet at the fireplace, facing the floor before Damon stepped on a cracking piece of the floor. He was quite surprised by the confidence of the dead Jeremy Gilbert who was here to try his best to kill him that awfully made stake he was fiddling with. Thank goodness he wasn’t really in the mood to fight ninja turtles right now.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Damon questioned allowing it to linger in the boy's ear before he walked closer to the bar table to pour himself a drink of course. The teen looked as if he had seen a ghost, the man knew of his presence before he did. Jeremy sucked in a breath through his teeth removing the hoodie that was placed on his head. His black shaggy hair flopped on his forehead peeking through it. He thought lengthy to what the man had stated to him, his sister was preoccupied with Stefan’s whereabouts to know he was planning on killing Damon with the poorly made stake. Neither did he expect the vampire to continue pouring a glass of bourbon picking one up to give to him. They both sighed contently in each-others presence drowning in the sorrows of their siblings' absence.

“Did you come here to kill me? You’ll need a better weapon.”

“It’s only fair you did kill me.” Jeremy gave a smug look on his face knowing he wore a ring that prevented him from meeting the other side of being amongst the living. Although the facade was seen by those who looked close enough, he was constantly reminded by the trip there left him cold, leading him to understand he was meant to look for his body. His against the odds of staying in this state for too long could lead to him being stuck. Although Jeremys' body was close, he still felt his soul shift energies leaving him eerie and dark trying to find something to fill that void. He thought by killing Damon it would.

“Look I don’t do the big brother thing very well. Sorry, I don’t have any milk and cookies to offer you.” The brunette bit his lip feeling a heavy ache on his shoulders hearing his words. He knew to never expect anything less from the vampire, but maybe if he gave him some sort of closure he wouldn’t have been struck by gloom. It was almost like a cloud of it shadowed his being with no regard for why it sat polished on his shoulders.

That once smug look on his face turned sour.

“Dick.” To pick up where he left off he stood abruptly from the chair he sat in, taking his final departure from the Salvatore boarding house. The sound of the glass that was once being held in his hand alongside the stake felt broken on the carpet. The teen couldn’t care less about the mess he was making in a vampire's home, the guy was an asshole and he didn’t deserve his sisters' attention or the unrecognized love she had for him. There was almost steam coming from the top of his head from the fumes, he took one look back at the vampire before he finally walked his way to the front door.

A deep breath came from his chest pulling on the door handle, however, he didn’t expect to see the unpredictable.

Stefan Salvatore standing with his hands in his leather jacket. He liked almost the same except for the worn look of fatigue on his face, it showed heavily underneath his eyelids. The age of being under the compulsion of a damned hybrid they forced those around him to be the same. Klaus and his ways didn’t care about the ones that sat and were forced to watch. Jeremy couldn’t mask the shocked face he displayed to the vampire without thinking back to the question of why he was here, to begin with. How much more shit could Elena deal with before she snapped at seeing him again?

“Jeremy.” Stefan's voice sounded nothing less than smug sighting the shocked look that struck on his face. The act of surprise was something the vampire secretly loved when it came to victims thinking they were safe then he would display his presence to them. It wasn’t the same way as he looked Jeremy, the boy had grown taller from what he could imagine was only four inches higher than himself. Though was the young Gilbert even at the boarding house, to begin with? Had Damon had him under some stupid spiel to get Elena in his good graces?

Stefan bit his tongue from using his uncontrollable words in the man’s presence that he knew was sitting on the couch facing the unlit fireplace. He took one last breath before asking Jeremy a simple question so he could ask his brother for a favour. Though before he could the boy beat him to it.

“Damon you might want to come here.”

“Look, Jeremy, I’ll say I’m sorry. I’m not good with this whole thing.” Damon took several steps to the entryway of his home before his words died off at the end. He felt frozen in his spot, he indeed didn’t expect to see Stefan again after the star he left in. Was he here with the hybrid? The vampire shrugged his arms over themselves displaying his distaste for him to come back to Mystic Falls too soon for Elena’s sake. With a glance to Jeremy who had a look in his eyes, he bite his tongue before speaking.

“And what are you doing here Stefan?” Damon questioned smouldering the non-existent attendance he had in his mind. He caught his brother unattended looking at the parked car that was sloppily parked in the driveway. Hearing those words, Stefan took a step back, he of course knew his presence would strike some nerves from everyone but to see it on full display alarmed a certain part of his brain to push itself to the surface once again. He had been fighting it all day. His humanity. Not only from the wolf pup that would probably be waking up anytime soon from the unmoving car for something to eat. But to pass by the places that he and Elena would always visit. Goodness, he needs to get out of Mystic Falls before he goes back to Klaus and smells the humanity on him.

“I need a favour.”

“So you show up unannounced asking for a favour? Fuck off, Stefan.” The young Salvatore flared his eyebrows close to the gap between his eyelids, he couldn’t recall a time he was genuinely unhappy to see him. Border he lashed out from the scoff that came from the door almost being slammed in his face. He watched Jeremy move his foot forward before the gap closed between the two worlds. The boy walked in front of Damon gifting the man a look to go on pleading for whatever this favour would be.

“Wait here. I’ll go get it.” It? Was it some silly little book that would eventually curse all the bloodlines that so happen to be inside the boarding house? They both gave each other a look before watching Stefan gravitate toward the truck that we most definitely not his. With a deep breath, he placed his hand on the truck handle pulling it open to reveal a distressed little one that was biting the surrounding areas of her fingernails. She had been awake a lot longer than he intended, he felt so bad knowing she was strapped between the seatbelts and blanket he pressed into the sides of her legs. The tears that silently streamed down her face didn’t help the decision he would make by leaving her with his demented older brother. Maybe instead he could have him convince Elena too, goodness this was all just a dumb idea he got way too in over his head.

But as he looked at her grabby hands she gave him and the thick lashes that were smudged against the tears, he swallowed thickly. Y/n didn’t deserve people debating on whether or not she would have a life of comfort. He began removing the blankets and then the seatbelts to formally place her against his chest so that if he needed he could high tail out of there before any of them could taint her mind. The reader's tears became yesterday's problem once she felt Stefan’s finger swipe the water away from pooling against her freckled cheeks. Then her head was softly placed against her newly favourite place between his shoulder and neck with a soft hand on the back of her head. Before she felt the soft blanket she was once cradled against on her back once more. It was her favourite scent, between Gloria and her bed back home with her. She kissed her already and it barely was a day.

“I have people I want you to meet. Trust me. I won’t let anything happen to you. Okay?” Stefan looked down at the girl's cradled figure on this side of his chest awaiting a response before he turned around to face the curiosity of Damon and Jeremy. He smiled softly to himself at what his current state was, a little in his arms while holding a diaper bag filled with everything she needed. If you would have told him this is what his life would look like a year ago, he would have looked at you as if you were crazy. He felt her nod against his chest before he eventually took a step to not only close the truck door but to face the entryway of the Salvatore boarding house.

Damon was the first to react to the newcomer in the man’s arms, pushing his way between the doorway his curiosity taking over everything he was planning on being. He truly didn’t expect to be in the sight of something so small in the presence of someone like himself. The vampire took a step back to observe from the sidelines watching Jeremy behave differently. He took it upon himself to grab the bag from Stefan’s left hand. He picked up on the scent of something he hadn’t smelled since he killed Mason Lockwood in this very home. Though it struck of something lighter and less potent as if it was smaller. This being was a pup of a werewolf pack but didn’t smell of though it was currently a part of one.

Jeremy couldn’t help himself from taking the tiniest glance at the bundle of joy wrapped in the thickest blanket he had seen attached to none other than a vampire that had almost killed his dear sister. He proceeded to walk into the living room to place the light pink diaper bag next to the couch. Y/n took in the world around, the deep darkness of the wooden panels that filled the unknown place that Stefan seemed so familiar with. She scented the place with a wiggly nose before her breath caught in the back of her throat feeling someone come close enough to grab her baby bag. Was this man a thief?

“H-hi.” She broke the light silence that filled the room she was walking into, on top of the fact that her mama had always told her to be nice to those who deserved it. She lifted her head slightly getting a better look at the brunette who was somewhat human in the room of supernatural entities. No one could deny the atmosphere of the room change as she was softly placed on the couch away from the warmth of Stefan’s chest and neck. She kept a small smile on her face pacing her tiny hand in front of the blanket that was tribally placed on her lap and socked feet. 

“Care to explain?” Damon questioned allowing it to linger in the air barely taking his eyes off the wolf pup on his couch. He gripped the robe closer to his skin, gifting them both his signature smirk that would work for those under his charms. The vampire took a glance at his little brother, the worn fatigue and clear deepness under his eyes from the lengthy trip of being Klaus’ pet. The slight cherry hue on his lips from the possibility of ravishing a human before coming to Mystic Falls. He couldn’t acknowledge the unknown scent that seemed to come full force through his heightened senses.

Stefan took a slight breath before he dumped everything that happened in last hours since he left high and dry from Mystic Falls all together. He carried himself from his standing position to sitting himself next the little that was already hoping he would. The reader was already appreciating his presences and the beautiful ring that sat on his finger she liked to play with.

“Would you mind taking her to the kitchen to grab a snack for her, Jer?” This surprised him completely he hadn’t expected himself to be so fond of someone’s feelings despite his humanity being on the outs. The vampire couldn’t help himself in doing so, he continued to hold her hand for a few seconds with a dewy smile on his face. Before he gasped the bag was on the floor of the couch to hand to Jeremy. He jerked his head towards the kitchen awaiting his response before hearing the boy tell her about the animal-shaped crackers she never had before in the cabinet.

( No one cares about their banter. NEXT!)

The reader wrapped her tiny hand in between the unfamiliar male's hand feeling the light texture of tattoos she subconsciously traced with her painted fingers. She could already feel the rising warmth that came from being head to chest with the waking figure towards the deepness of the kitchen. It was beautiful, though it seemed to be unused compared to the one her mama had. All she recognized was the raging amounts of alcohol on the opposing sides of the sodden stools in front of the counter. The wolf began to lose the skip in her steps as she felt the man slow down his pace. She took a glance upwards to gift the man a small smile, though he was already looking at her feeling nervous by his gaze she lifted her other hand and gifted him a small wave.

“Hi. I’m y/n. Y-You’re Jeremy, right?” It was weird just how comfortable she was being pooled into those pretty chocolate soul catches he called his eyes. She felt him move his gaze over her face causing a slip of a stutter to come front at the end seeing him do so. They both stood in from the counters of the kitchen taking in each other's beings while she took in his delicate human scent she hadn’t been around in years since with Mama. Jeremy almost had a heart attack hearing the words she stuttered over, licking his dry lips trying to find the right thing to say to her. He noticed that he was still holding her in comparison to his small hand didn’t help.

“Yeah, I am. What do you want for a snack, little lady?”Jeremy shook their intertwined to regain her attention from his face. Although he would never consider himself cocky in any way he still smirked internally after seeing her blink away her dewy eyes away from his. He pulls her hand once more finally taking the long awaiting stop to the fridge for her to see. The reader took in the minimal amount of snacks and drinks that were in it. She knew they were vampires by holy was there only a half-full orange juice container, a cartoon of eggs and expired milk. Although she was disappointed she removed her hand from Jeremy feelings intensely cold from the action to proceed to open the diaper bag to find her favourite snacks.

She handled him the basic puffs of strawberry banana bites that quite literally melted in her mouth. Not even acknowledging the mess she created in the bag she continued to display the puffs to Jeremy who gladly opened the container not before popping one in his mouth to her distaste after handing them back to her.

“Can I have some orange juice?” The reader questioned the man messily eating standing chest to chest to the man liking the feeling of his fluffy sweatshirt on her cheek. Her chin rested perfectly there looking upwards with that stupidly cute dimple that showed, switching between each eye of his to look a tiny bit closer. Jeremy pinched his fingernail on his palm looking down at her chubby cheeks and light wash of powder from the puffs. He reminded his hand from the sides of his body to lightly brush away the powder that stuck to her lips and slightly in her cheeks.

“Uh yeah. Why don’t you go sit in the chair, okay?”At first, watched her struggle to climb on the spinning chair but gave up in the mix of it. The man took it upon himself to quietly ask her if she wanted any help. So here he was softly placing his hands underneath her armpits to lift her to sit against the chair. The warmth of each other's skin to skin gave off a rumble between each-other chests that could have easily been mistaken for a hungry cry. But to a wolf pup, it was something completely different in her eyes. She began by taking in his eyes like they were meant to uphold hers, before feeling the chilled barstool he ever so gently placed her on top. They both felt instantly disappointed without the skin to skin but she still happily thanked him for doing, kindly offering him a puff in his much larger hand. Jeremy could help but smile at a small gesture, he took a step back to the opposing countertop to look at the diaper bag that he had previously placed on the dining room table a mason jar of vervain and herbs assorted inside, taking a glance back to y/n that was currently swaying her legs to the hums of her own throat. He turned back around to look at the mixture not thinking much longer to crumble them inside the juice before closing it back up and shaking it to face the girl.

“Maybe we can hang out sometime? Away from the supernatural, the vampire kind at least.” Jeremy placed the bottle to her lips as her hands were occupied by the puffs and looking around distracted by none other than himself. Still suckling on the off-tasting orange juice, that chilled her dry thirst as she began to nod at his question. He removed the bottle from her mouth allowing her to gift herself with the glory of his, all she thought of was how much she would love to be lifted by his arms and held close like she was with Stefan just a moment prior. They looked into each other's eyes warmly gifting one other a smile before they both liked away.

Across the home in the living room, two vampires listened closely to the little one's mannerisms toward the unseen boy and the way he spoke softly and seemed so smitten by one other so quickly. It was clear that part of herself was called to the boy named Jeremy. Gloria was right, he might have been the thing to encounter to meet the person who was perfect for her.

ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝ part two

🫧*ੈ✩‧₊˚ I hope you enjoyed it!! 💗 please don’t be a silent reader, let me know what you think⋆୨୧˚

[seth-shitposts]

AU that's been in my brain every once in a while that I know I sure as hell won't be doing myself anytime soon, if I do it at all-

AU where the grand inquisitor and minister tua lived and switched allegiances.

No I don't have indepth details, but I have random thoughts (I lied there's more here than I thought there'd be)

(I'm most probably going to throw this over on to Ao3 as a concept fic)

---

Tua stays in hiding for nearly a year, moving from refugee camp to refugee camp. She has to pull her weight, help build community. Something about it gives her something to almost strive for, it's something more. She realizes she has a lot more skills than having just been a public face, once upon a time.

Something happens where she's not at the camp, but elsewhere. Possibly receiving information on where the next round of supplies will be coming from for the camp. She comes face to face with Kallus and feels the same terror she did back when she was fleeing the Empire. She knows Kallus recognizes her, maybe he's here to bring her back to the empire for the charge of treason. If she runs back to the settlement, she would only be putting those who've helped her in danger. Nearly a year ago, she wouldn't have thought twice about it. But now she's frozen, eyes locked with kallus. However, Kallus turns a blind eye to her, acting as though she weren't even there. As if she hadn't run off with valuable information of the empire to give to the rebels inexchange for her own life. As if she weren't someone he's obligated to capturing.

Something about it is rattling. She isn't sure if he's playing a game to get her to lead him back to the settlement or if he thinks she's part of a rebel cell. Either way, she stays away from the camp for a while. Going from place to place, again, but some how ending up in a pattern of following Kallus. Seeing... differences. This is not the same man who she worked alongside and ran from on Lothal. Similarities are there, but the differences...

Tua has never been bold. She knows that. She used to admire Kallus’s boldness. She envies it. The first true act of boldness she takes is approaching him when she sees him again, alone.

There's many questions she has, but the moment she steps up to him, stopping him from whatever it is he's doing, it all dissipates from her tongue.

"Are you trying to get yourself caught, Tua?" The agent's brow twitches, looking around to make sure there's no eyes on them.

"If..." Tua takes a shaky breath, reassuring herself, "if you intended on that, you would've done so weeks ago. That's been..." whatever these differences are, they've been grating against her. "Your loyalty. It isn't the same."

Kallus looks away from her, returning to organizing items in a create. Imperial equipment. "I don't know what you're talking about."

*Lies.* "don't give me that," Tua hisses. She may not be bold, she may be a coward, but she is not unobservant. "I may not know why, or what you're doing, but whatever it is, it isn't for the empire anymore."

"Tua, run back off to wherever it is you came from. We are strangers. You are a citizen I do not recognize."

"No."

Kallus looks at her in shock. He must be just as surprised about how different she is as she is about him. But her boldness is new. And probably temporary. So she has to push on before she loses her resolve.

"You're right. We are strangers. Because the man I worked alongside would have chased after a traitor without hesitation. The man I worked alongside was undoubtedly loyal to his empire. Unwavering. Bold. No minor task was below him. 'All leads must be pursued.' You said that more times than I could keep track of." Tua thought that her boldness would've started to disperse, but... it's the opposite. It's only built itself up and it's absolutely *electrifying*.

"The woman I worked alongside had never once been this bold." There's something almost... friendly about the comment.

"The man I worked alongside had never said something with so much warmth." Something has undoubtedly changed him. "Who are you?" She whispers, making sure only they can hear, "because it surely isn't Agent."

A tension in his shoulders slides off. "You're right. It's not agent anymore, but I can't tell you anything more."

Tua looks back down to the equipment. All of it valuable and unquestionably stolen. "You're graciously delivering food and water to a citizen that is going to distribute it to those who need it." She looks back up to him, wanting to help. "Just tell me where and I'll make sure it's delivered."

Kallus blinks at her. Then he huff a smile. The man she worked alongside never gave a single smile that wasn't arrogant. Something or someone rattled this man to his very core. "Yes, of course. I do charity work to promote morale in the name of the empire."

Kallus tells her a location and she asks him for another time and place. More she could do. He tells her that if she goes with the person she meets, she can do more there and that she isn't to mention him at all.

"Oh, and Maketh?"

She nearly drops the lid of the crate. Kallus catches the lid and secures it.

"The day you defected from the empire. I'm sorry for nearly killing you."

Tua shakes her head with a smile. "The man I worked alongside never apologized a day in his life." She straightens her posture and gives him a nod. "But to the one before me, the one what I never had this conversation with, I would say that those days of 'its not personal' are behind us. He could make it up to me by one day telling me the story of how he got here." Whatever he's doing is dangerous. Takes a courage that even now, Tua knows she could never even hope to possess. Truly envious, truly admirable.

Truly inspiring.

---

The Grand Inquisitior survived, relatively unscathed. He doesn't know how or why, but just as much fear rises in him as anger. The emperor had put his faith in him, graciously given him tools and knowledge. All things he was continously denied and held back from in the Jedi Order. And he's felt it lately; how the emperor has been slowly pulling back on those things. Losing faith in his abilities. Or has he been losing his usefulness? He can't even follow through to the end of his own fate. He failed in stopping a single Jedi and his padawan. And yet he still lives.

He still lives. He hadn't felt competent enough by the Jedi Order, but he still yearned to strive for that. At least until the events of Offee and Tano. That was when he lost faith in the Order. He out lived the order, he survived order 66. Despondent, he looked to Sideous who offered him what the Jedi Order had denied him time and time again. All he had to do was relinquish himself. He doesn't even remember his own name these days. He traded everything for the promise of knowledge. He had felt like someone had faith in him and his abilities. He made it much further as an inquisitor. Though he continuously lacked *something*. To fill the void, he always just pushed himself harder to be of use, to feel competent, to gain more knowledge.

But lately Sideous hadms been holding back. Limiting him. He thought maybe if he can simply just complete his mission, help ser through to the plans for Lothal, he would gain that back and the void would threaten to consume him.

But he failed. He failed, and yet he is still alive. And for that, there would be punishment.

All of this cumulates to him escaping before it is found out that he's alive. Going into hiding, he spends time scavenging ruins of sith and jedi, looking for artifacts, data, anything he can find. Most of which ends up just becoming a collection because he's no longer able to bend the force to his will and he can't open any of the jedi artifacts. It leaves him endlessly frustrated. He debates pursing Kanan and Ezra on his own. Bringing them to the emperor. Proving that he is of use.

He runs into similar problems as the artifacts, unable to track them. So where does he go? He finds the person he worked alongside to hunt these very people.

Agent Kallus.

He approaches the agent when he's alone, on a planet. The agent is perceptive, as always. He knows of the inquisitor's presence immediately. But just as the agent is aware of his presence, he is aware of a lack of intense, heavy anger that the agent formerly held. It's replaced by... something else. Something he hasn't been near or felt himself in a long time. So long that he doesn't know how to place it, what to call it.

"Grand Inquisitior? Shocking to see you. What do you need from me?"

"Straight to the point, how like you. What gives you the impression that I need you?

"Last I saw you, you were with Kanan Jarrus. He escaped and you were not heard from again. We both know what that failure means, and seeing as how you sought me out when I was alone and away from staff, I assume that you are in hiding and need my help." Kallus shuffles datapads around, before giving his attention to him. "Does that sound right?"

He laughs, "seeing as how you haven't made any move to arrest me, *I* assume you're interested in offering your help. Would I be correct in spectating that you have failed in capturing your rebels?"

Kallus gives him a calculated look. The inquisitor hates that he can't prod into what it could possibly be about. He's lost so much of his power. "You're looking to return to your pursuit."

Agitation rises in him. It feels as though Kallus is trying to dangle his goal outside his reach. "You are going to help me."

Kallus takes another moment to think on it, bringing further agitation to him. "What do you have to offer in return?" The agent seems to be choosing his words carefully. Kallus is planning something. Hiding something. "Helping you would only put myself in danger."

He narrows his eyes at the other. "You've never once cared about the dangers to yourself, just results. The result here would be you finally capturing your rebels."

"That's," it's barely there, but it *is* present; a pause, "no longer my directive. What do you have to offer me?"

There's another game here. Another angle. "You aren't one to leave things half finished, *Agent*."

Now *that* causes a flare in Kallus. A flare that is immediately shut down. He smirks, Kallus knows he's on to him.

"These rebels have bested you." He relaxes against the wall by him. Maybe he can get an upper hand.

"At least I didn't fail so spectacularly that I had to fake my death and go into hiding."

He sneers, growling at the other. "Alright then, Kallus. What is it that you desire? Help with your lasat? We could easily take him in a fight."

"Absolutely not." There's no hesitation. In fact, where he thought there would be interest and intrigment, there's apprehension and a whiff of fear. "Why do you wish to pursue a task you've already failed past redemption? We both know that it won't grant you solace or reinstatement."

He knows that Kallus is just trying to change his attention, he knows that's what he's doing, but knowing that doesn't stop him from halting.

"You're chasing after a ghost for what? The implausible chance that you'll be accepted back? What is it that you actually want?"

A year ago, he would've simply cut kallus down where he stands. But the faith that he had in the emperor, much like the faith he had in the order, has wavered. Even if he does bring them to the emperor, and he does dedicate himself once more to lothal, there's no guarantee that he'll be accepted back. That he'll be granted the privilege of knowledge. That he'll be allowed to keep breathing.

He reels himself back. Kallus has a purpose for trying to sway him. For avoiding the capture of these rebels.

"And what is it you want? What are you seeking?" He sneers.

"The answer to that depends on the answer you give me."

"I want access to knowledge. Knowledge denied to me by the order. Knowledge that was given to me by the emperor."

"That same knowledge that he stripped from you?"

All he can do in response is curl his lip at Kallus.

"The jedi order is a distant memory, and, to my understanding, chances of you returning to your previous position are slim to none."

"So what do you suggest? What do you want from me?"

"Are there other ways to aquire what you seek?"

He thought over this himself more times than he could count. "It isn't an easy path, and even if I take it, return to it, there's no guarantee I'll be accepted back. And the chances that I will run into the same blockades as before are certain." The very thought of... it's enough to make him laugh, bitterly.

"So these blockades," Kallus nods carefully, "they were in the way? Placed there by the order?"

"I am losing my patience."

Kallus seems to be doing the same, but he takes a deep breath. "Large obstacles don't appear out of nowhere. Without foundation. What was the foundation that supported them?"

He stares at Kallus for a long moment. "With that suggestion, my oath would be even more difficult."

"Anything worth working for always is. Are you willing to put forth that effort?"

"What is it you want. What is it you're working for?" He's asked this for the umpteenth time.

Kallus takes an apprehensive breath, one that's shaky in his lungs. Daring. Bold. "A change in your allegiances. In your short term goals. In exchange, I will offer help for your long term goal of knowledge. However I am able."

A year ago, he would've laughed. He would've turned him over to the emperor for his own gain.

Something, however, that Kallus has, is expressing so freely is filling a void that he tried to run from for so many years. Its a void that niether the emperor nor the jedi order could successfully fill. And he wants to know what it is. Needs to know what it is.

"Alright. Tell me what you want me whatever minuscule goals you wish for me to complete and I will see through to them." He goes to bow, but pauses when Kallus extends his hand. "What is..." he motion vaguely to the gesture, "all that?"

"A handshake. There will be mutual benefits in this deal."

The former inquisitor considers it. Kallus is approaching this as an equal. "Fine," he sighs, accepting the offer. "And do not worry, your treasonous secret will not leave from me."

Appreciation flows from the Not-Imperial. "Thank you, I'm aware that you don't much care for the empire and that none if this would matter one way or another to you." Kallus grips his hand tighter and holds his gaze firmly. "So know that if you do expose me, I won't hesitate to bring you down with me."

He laughs at that, something light for the first time in longer than he can keep track of. "I would say just keep me from becoming bored and you won't have to worry, but you've sparked too much interest for me to need to clarify."

Kallus rolls his eyes. "Also,"

"There's more you worry about?"

The look that falls over Kallus’s eyes is quite possibly the darkest he's seen on him. And the feeling that washes over him from the Not-Imperial is quite possibly the most delightful brush of corruption that he's experienced since the day Sideous gave him access to knowledge.

"You harm The Ghost Crew in any way, shape, or form, and I will make whatever the emperor could've done to you look like a joke. Force or not."

Oh, oh this is going to be fun. "I wouldn't dream of it." He smiles toothily.

---

[huffle-dork]

Swap Across the CrystalVerse Chapter 24: Many Roads Diverge

Read Swapboys | Crystal’s AUs| Many Roads Diverge

Read SITCV | SATCV Masterpost | AO3 Link

Bro lands in the living room again. It's night outside. The room is empty, with no sounds at all to tell him people are nearby. 

Bro hurries to his feet and looks around with his fists up- expecting a fight. Only to be met with... silence. He blinks and then rubs at his head. "...fucking hell... this is messing with my brain- what is happening??" He whispers to himself.

The silence stretches onwards.

"H...hello?" He calls out in the house. "Is... a-anyone there?"

No answer. 

But... the lights are on upstairs. He can see it coming from down the staircase.

"...okay..." Bro whispers to himself. "... I might be making the 'white-guy-in-a-horror-movie' clique move here but... gotta start somewhere I guess?" He hurries up the stairs.

There are several doors upstairs. They look like bedrooms, maybe a bathroom, but he doesn't need to check them all. The door closest to the stairs is slightly ajar. 

And a spray of red liquid spilled across the floor, a distinct coppery smell in the air.

Bro freezes as he sees the red and ends up staggering back a little. "H-Holy shit..." He whispers, looking dumbfounded and even a little bit sick as he covers his mouth.

A voice comes from that room, sounding muffled. "Is... is someone there?" it calls. He recognizes Chase's voice from the past two times he'd been in this house. "Hello? I-is it safe?"

Bro looks up and then seems- hesitant. Is he... in the same place again or is... this time different? He's not sure... but- what if he needs help. He swallows and then steps forward, trying to avoid the red. "I... I think so? Are... are you okay?"

"Y-yeah! Luckily." 

Bro peers into the ajar bedroom door and sees... 

Four. Dead. Bodies. 

All four of his friends, in the same appearances of the last two times, sprawled on the floor, dead. 

Bro gasps loudly and staggers back at seeing the bodies, putting a hand over his mouth and finding the nearest wall to fall against. What the fuck what the fuck what the fuck?! 

The wardrobe doors rattle. Someone is inside. "You're not... the guy, are you?" says Chase's voice. "Y-you don't... sound the same... But... w-well I guess if this is a trick, I've already ruined it." He laughs darkly.

Bro’s so shaken he doesn't even know how to respond to Chase. He's honestly trying not to throw up.

"Hello?" The wardrobe door opens slightly. A sliver of Chase's face is visible, pale. "You... A-are you supposed to be here? I-I mean... I thought... you'd be part of the police I called... But you're not."

Bro's voice is shaky as he replies, "I... I'm a h-hero technically but I.. uh... n-no I ... don't think I'm supposed to be here." He swallows nervously, "What.. what happened?"

"I-I don't know... it's all a blur, really." Chase pushes the wardrobe door open the rest of the way, staring down at the bodies. "We were hanging out when I saw someone outside. So I called the police, but then the guy broke inside a-and started going crazy. We all ran upstairs and blocked ourselves in here, but... it wasn't enough. I-I was a coward and hid, even through all the noise." He shakes his head sadly.

"You've been... hiding this whole time?" Bro asks quietly. "..you haven't left that closet? Through... all of that?"

Chase nods. "I-I know... I probably should have done something." He shivers a little. "But I was... frozen."

"...you don't seem surprised to see them all... dead." Bro says with a suspicious tone in his voice.

"Of course not!" Chase stares at him, shocked. "I could fucking hear the gunshots! I-I peeked out for a bit, but th-they weren't moving, a-and none of them came to check on me, so I—" He shivers again, stronger this time. "I... I-I don't want to talk about it. I-I want to get out of here. I c-can't stand seeing them like... like this." His voice sounds choked up.

Bro quickly changes his tune and hurries over to him. "O-Okay okay... sorry let's just...g-get you outside- c'mon..." He gently tries to lead him out of the room.

"Th-thanks." Chase follows Bro quietly, avoiding looking at the bodies as they leave the room and start heading for the staircase. "I... like I said, I called the police. Th-they could be here soon. We should wait for them. H-how did you find this place? It's... out in the middle of nowhere."

Bro messes with his hair, "...excellent question I'm... still trying to figure that out myself. But uh... i... I can wait with you..."

"Thanks." Chase nodded. They reached the living room and he sat down on the sofa. "But... s-sorry, I think I'm just really confused. What do you mean? You... don't know how you got here?"

"Kinda? It's... complicated and confusing and... y-you're going through a lot so I... I don't wanna make it worse." Bro says, holding his arm and rubbing it.

"W-well... maybe it can distract me," Chase says, giving a small, weak smile.

Bro lets out a small snort of a laugh and shakes his head. "...I'm... you- from another universe. And usually to get into universes we use a device but.. it got broken so now... there's these weird rips? In the air? They only seem to affect me but... this is the 3rd time ive wound up in this cabin? But... each time is different and... I don't know why I keep coming back here... or why I'm here at all."

"...huh." Chase blinks. "O...kay. I think... I'm not really processing that. But... I mean... I've played video games where there are a lot of routes that are slightly different depending on your choices. Maybe... it's like that? Maybe... instead of appearing in a new game altogether, you're appearing in a different route in one game?"

".... that's the best way I can think of all this to be honest-" Bro says with a sigh, finally going to sit down on one the couches. "..I guess that makes sense. When I came here before... it... it wasn't like this. It wasn't this bad... i... I'm so sorry Chase..." He takes a shaky breath and shakes his head. "But, if this is just... going through routes then... maybe I can find one where... none of this happens. Maybe even one where I can find Jackie or Alt..." 

"Jackie and Alt...? Friends of yours?" Chase asks. "I-I have a Jackie... well. I mean." He glances up towards the ceiling. "L-let's not talk about that."

"Yeah... my best mate and my brother... I.. I don't know where they are or what they're going through but... we all fell through the same rips. I..I hope they're okay..." Bro says sadly.

"Hmm. Yeah... maybe you'll find them." Chase nods. "Maybe." 

Silence fell for a while. Awkward, sad silence. 

Until... Chase inhales sharply, glancing towards the basement door. "What? Chase, you said a 'rip,' right? Like... that?" He points towards the door. Just in front of it, a small black rift is taking form.

Bro gets to his feet quickly and then his eyes widen as he sees the rip. "... y-yeah... yeah that's it." 

Bro shakily swallows again and then tries to smile at Chase. "... guess that means it's time for me to go..."

Chase nods. "Good luck, then." 

Bro smiles sadly at Chase and pats his shoulder. "Sorry I couldn't stay..." 

Bro walks closer. The rift grows bigger—but before he can reach it, something happens that hadn't yet. 

Someone else comes out of the rip in space-time. It's a man, with brown hair, wearing a black T-shirt. A green scarf is wound tightly around his neck, and a white eye-patch hides his right eye. His body shivers with static as he steps out of the rift and into the living room. He glances around for a moment, and then looks directly at Bro. "What the fuck has happened here, Chase?" Anti asks.

Bro staggers back as he takes in who is coming out and then stares at him with wide eyes and a slack jaw. "A...Anti!?" He pushes his hair back and then laughs breathlessly, "How...? W-What are you doing here?!"

"An...ti...?" Chase repeats, eyes wide—and then narrowed into a glare. 

"What am I doing here?! I'm checking to see what the fuck is causing all these rifts to appear!" Anti gestures back at the rift behind him. "Reality is already fucking paper-thin here, there's a dozen of these in this universe's alternate versions��What the fuck?! Please tell me you didn't do anything. Please tell me you got sucked in and aren't causing this."

Bro staggers back and waves his hands, "W-We got stuck! We were- we got tricked by an Anti in the last universe! He messed with the TRVLR and was using it to bring us to him and h-he broke it! He said he's gonna destory other universes but we have no way to find him! I've been stuck in a loop here and I... I don't know where Jackie or Alt or e-even Mag is!"

"Huh. Well... fuck." Anti pauses, brows furrowing as he thinks. "I think I can help with finding your friends and that cat-themed fucker, at least. The rest... we'll have to talk about later." He jerks his head back to the rift. "Go on through. You'll be in pitch black, but you won't go through to another world. Not until I'm there.”

Bro looks relieved as he nods. "T-Thanks Anti... so glad we ran into you..." He starts to go towards the rift-

“And you." Anti glares at Chase. "Stay right where you are." 

"Wh--" Chase's eyes widen. "I-I don't know who you think you are, b-but I've been through a lot, all my friends just--" 

"Yeah. No. I'm not falling for that." Anti grins. "You think I can't recognize myself? Especially one as despicable as you?" 

Chase takes a step backwards. His expression shifts for a moment, become something nasty and unpleasant.

Bro stops when Anti and Chase talk. His eyes widen as he looks at Chase. "Wait- what? You... you're-" He pales and backs away. "...you tricked me."

Chase--no. This world's Anti smiles a cruel smile, twisting Chase's features. "Oh, it's not your fault. I'm just too good at this, especially in something that fits as well as this."

Bro's eyes glow with anger and he bares his teeth and looks ready to fly at Chase and punch him. "You fucker! You killed all of them! You absolute fucking-!"

Anti grabs Bro from behind. "Don't." He scowls at the other Anti. "I get it. I want to fucking kill him. But apparently we're not supposed to divert the course of worlds too much." 

"So sad." The other Anti gives a little wave, still smiling. Anti growls, a bit of green light escaping from beneath his eye-patch. Just like Bro, he looks about ready to attack this guy. But he holds himself back. "Besides, Chase. The sooner we leave, the sooner we find your friends. They're in alternate worlds like this—and in some of those alternate worlds, this guy is still a bit trigger-happy. We got to get to them fast." 

Bro growls angrily at the other Anti but lets himself be grabbed by Anti. He doesn't take his eyes off him but nods towards the rift. "...Okay... okay yeah- l-let's go find them then." He shudders, thinking of getting to another timeline and seeing... Jackie and Alt in that horrible pile. He hurries towards the rift.

Anti makes sure that Bro leaves first before turning back to the other one, still in Chase's body. 

"In most of these worlds, you don't win," he whispers. 

The other Anti shrugs. "I've won here. That's enough." 

"For now." Anti stares at him for a moment more... then turns and walks through the rift.

 ----------- 

Jackie lands in the living room again. It's night outside. The room is empty, but he can hear footsteps in the kitchen area.

Jackie catches himself as he falls and looks around expectantly. Then deflates when nothing looks different. He sighs heavily and pushes himself up, "Welp... so much for that..." He mutters. Then, he perks up and curiously goes towards the kitchen.

He walks into the kitchen area, which is connected to the dining room. 

A man is opening up one of the dining room windows. A man wearing a red hoodie... that is absolutely soaked in blood. The man turns at the sound of Jackie's footsteps... and he sees his own face. 

"Oh, fucking hell," the other him curses under his breath, then glares at him. "You. Don't fucking ruin this. Or I'll kill you." The man reaches for something leaning against the wall, picking it up. That's... that's an axe. Usually used for chopping wood, but the blood on its blade tells a different story.

Jackieboy staggers back with wide eyes and goes white. He stumbles, hardly able to say a word. He tumbles into the door of the kitchen and cowers away, feeling sick by the sight and the smell of all the blood. "i..I-i...!"

"Why do you look like this one?" the man with his face asks, more talking to himself than Jackie. "That's strange. He doesn't have any relatives in his memories." He chuckles, an amused grin on his face as Jackie stumbles backwards. He turns to face him. "Look. I've just had... a lot of difficulty. So I'm running low on patience. Tell me who you are and how you got here. Quickly. You don't want to annoy me."

"I-I'm Jackie! Jackie M-Mann...!" Jackieboy blurts out, "I.. I dunno how there was a r-rip in the air and it's b-black and it o-only sucks me in but i... I thought it was just a ghost- they s-said it was only a ghost-!" He's panicking. "P-Please don't kill me- I... I have a family b-back home..! I...I just need to find a way h-home I.. I didn't mean to come here...!" 

The man stares at him with a blank expression. Then he suddenly laughs. "A ghost...? Well, I was a ghost. Up until about ten minutes ago. Now I'm alive again." He flexes his fingers, looking down at his hands with joy. Then he looks up again. "You have no idea how much I struggled getting here. Any one of them would've fit better, I'm sure of it. Live and let live, I suppose. But you don't care, do you? You're too scared to care." He jerks his head to the side. "Get out of my sight."

Jackieboy squeaks in response, looking white as a ghost. He quickly nods and runs as fast as he can towards the door. He doesn't know or care about what he means. He can't let himself die here...!

The door is locked.

Jackieboy chokes on a panicked sob and tries to turn the knob, banging against the door in a desperate attempt to get it open.

No good. It might as well have been a wall. 

"Having difficulty back there?" the man's voice calls from the kitchen. "I said to get out of my sight."

"I...! I'm t-trying!" Jackieboy sobs, desperately throwing himself against the door. When thet doesn't work he hurries to try to find that clock that he used to break the window earlier...!

There it is! Right on the table where it was last time. 

The man laughs. "Try harder~" he says in a singsong voice. A scraping sound comes from the kitchen. No doubt that axe, grinding against something. 

Jackieboy looks towards the kitchen, feeling his blood replaced with ice as the murderer sings towards him. He chucks the clock at the window with all his might.

It hits the side of the window instead of the center where the glass would be weakest and bounces back. 

Footsteps. They're coming closer but the man is still just out of sight.

Jackieboy panics and almost trips over himself and he runs towards the closest room he can find- it looks like some sort of bathroom. He quickly goes in and tries to see if he can lock the door, breathing heavily.

Yes, the door locks. There's a deadbolt that slides shut. He's safe. 

Jackie quickly deadbolts the door and staggers back away from it, scared out of his mind.

The footsteps walk into the living room. "Hmmm," the man's voice says. "Not up the stairs. The basement door is open, he wouldn't be stupid enough to leave it like that, would he? So..." 

Jackieboy hears the mad man walking around and commenting like its some sick game of hide and seek. He holds a hand over his mouth and crouches down, hyperventilating and crying and trying to control his shaking.

And then the footsteps approach the bathroom door. "Did you notice something in there? There's no window." He laughs. "Odd, isn't it? Most bathrooms have a window, but I just couldn't figure out how to make it work. So that's basically just a box in there."

Jackie freezes as he takes in his words and looks around. Oh... shit- did he just fuck up...? He chokes on a sob and curls up as small as possible.

"You don't have to be too scared," the man says. "I'm not coming in there. Yet. I have stuff to take care of. But you're not going to come out. The door opens outward, you know, it's very easy to block. So just sit tight, alright?" He laughs. 

Jackie is shaking and quietly sobbing as he pulls out his phone. If this crazy psycho is gonna kill him... he has to say goodbye to Zara. He's not gonna let himself die without her knowing- she has to know. He hates that he might not see her face again but... he's alone. He has no idea where Bro or Alt is and... He tries to see if he can make the call- 

"I'll be back later. We can catch up then. Maybe you'll come up with something to persuade me in the meantime. I've been known to go easy on people if they make it--what?" His voice turns away from the door, like something caught his attention. "The fuck is that?"

Then, Jackie snaps his head towards the door, curling up small.

"Who the fuck are you?!" The man shouts. 

"I think the better question is, 'what are you?'" a voice says. "I'd ask you the same, but I already know who, and what, you are. A m̷̛oņ̷s̨̧t̀͟er̕." 

"What the f--?!" 

There's a thumping sound against the nearby wall. The man shrieks angrily, almost animalistic, and then, suddenly, the thumping and the shrieking stops. 

Jackie clutches his phone tight to his chest and listens to everything happening with bated breath. He cries out and covers himself as the thumping and screaming starts. He stays curled up for as long as he can.

Someone knocks gently on the bathroom door. "You can come out," the voice says, not harshly, but not exactly gently, either. "I took care of him for now."

Jackie jumps as the knock happens and stares at the door with wide eyes. "...h...how do I k-know this isnt a t-trick so you can just k-kill me...?" he tries to bite out with anger but his fear damages the bite.

A moment passes in silence. 

"I guess you don't," the voice says. "Personally, I don't think I sound anything like that guy--not while he's stuck in that body--but I guess you don't know his capabilities, maybe he can mimic voices." 

A pause. 

"I'll come in, then. Be prepared." 

There's a sound of static, and a flurry of green and black pixels, and suddenly there's a man crouched on the ground in front of him. He's wearing a long-sleeved black shirt with the phases of the moon on it, and has a green scarf loosely wrapped around his neck. His right eye is covered by a white eye-patch. 

"Well?" he asks. "Does it still seem like a trick? Because I'll leave if it does. You can come out when you want."

Jackie screams in Anti's face as he appears in front of him and tries to scramble up the wall. 

"Okay okay!" Anti immediately disappears. His voice comes from the other side of the door. "Can never expect people's reactions, but I should've fucking realized... fucking... He's not gonna be out forever, so can you please process this quickly?"

Jackie breathes heavily and clutches over his heart, trying to take it all in. "I... I know you- You're the Anti from... t-the first universe we ever went to...!" He scrambles to his feet and goes to unlock the door, looking out with wide eyes. "H..How are you here?!"

"I'm... who?" Anti blinks, confused. "The first universe you... Did you meet some other version of me? Because I have no idea who you are. But, as for how I'm here... that fucking thing." He points behind him, where a black rift has opened up in front of one of the front windows. "Fucking rifts showing up. Not a good sign."

Jackie looks confused, "Uh... y-yeah...! We meet like... god... its been over a year now since?? How do you-" He shakes his head, "N-Nevermind! If you have a way to get me out of here p-please do!"

"Right." Anti nods. "Go through the rift. You'll be in pitch black for a moment before I join you. Afterwards, we're going to have to stop by other worlds to find three other people out of place like you."

"M-My friends! O-Okay good... okay... yeah. T-Thank you." Jackie says, putting his phone away and rubbing at his tear-stained face. He doesn't hesitate to run towards the rift- only sparing one last glance at the killer's body and Anti before jumping in.

Anti also glances at the unconscious figure. He gives this other Anti--in the body of this world's Jackie--a look of disgust before hopping through afterwards. 

-----------

Magnificent lands in the living room yet again. It's night outside. 

Magnificent snarls as he pushes himself up, wiping himself off. He looks at his surrounding with confused anger. "The fuck is going on??" He asks himself. 

The room is empty, but a glowing red light comes from the open doorway to the basement.

Mag sees the red light and seems... fixated on it. Like a cat finding something it wants. He prowls forward towards the basement. 

The red light comes from down the staircase, from the hallway in the basement. And with it... more of that dark power. It's stronger. And that faint, lighter current underneath is nowhere to be found.

Magnificent’s eyes shine with that power hungry light as he feels the power below. He teleports to get closer-

This is the same basement hallway from before, but now lit by a red glow coming from the middle door on the right. It slowly opens further and out walks the same Marvin from the last two times. But something is different. Maybe in the way he’s standing? He turns and starts to walk down the hall, but stops when he sees Magnificent standing there. 

“Well… you’re definitely not supposed to be here,” he says.

Mag looks at him with a curious head tilt then giggles, “I would think so too… but I keep ending up back here. But something is different this time…” He prowls closer, eyes alight with hunger.

Marvin's eyes narrow. Red light dances around his hands. "Don't get closer," he growls. "This is your only chance."

Magnificent laughs, “And what could you possibly do to me?” He smirks cockily.

Marvin tilts his head. "Oh? You want to see? Fine, then." 

Suddenly, he's behind Magnificent, throwing a blast of red magic at him.

Magnificent gasps and then yells out as the blast hits him. “Why you little-!” He snarls then turns around to try to blast purple black magic fire at him.

The blast hits Marvin dead-on and he stumbles back, patting out the fire on his outfit. "I don't want to sound like a child, but you did start it," he chuckles, setting up a translucent red shield in front of him. 

Magnificent snorts and rolls his eyes. 

Red light flickers through the hallway and a whip of red light lashes out at Mag's legs.

Mag easily teleports out of the whips of light and zigzags across the hall in quick flashes before charging at the shield with lightning to try to shatter it.

The shield breaks in two and Marvin stumbles back, scowling. His eyes flash red, and the lights in the hallway suddenly go out, plunging the basement into pure darkness.

Magnificent falters for a second, looking around in confusion. He tries to reach out where he thought he saw Marvin last.

But Marvin isn't there. Instead, Magnificent touches something else. It's soft and covered in cloth, with some warm liquid staining it.

Magnificent recoils back and shakes off his hand in disgust. He then does the smarter thing of lighting fire in his hand so he can see.

The light of the fire reflects off the glassy eyes of a dead body sitting in a chair. And there are three more, all slumped over. Somehow, Magnificent is no longer in a hallway, but in a small room, empty except for four bodies, all of whom he recognizes from the last two times he arrived in this cabin.

Magnificent can’t stop the involuntary gasp that escapes his mouth as he sees where he is and takes in all the bodies. He stumbles back- too surprised to stop himself. “What… what the hell?!”

Marvin laughs. It sounds muffled--coming from behind the room's closed door. "I'll assume you can usually teleport and ward the door," he says. "I wonder if you'll be able to magic your way out of talking with the police. Well... I'm not curious enough to stick around and see." His voice drifts away.

“What?!” Magnificent snarls, “you’re not pinning this mess on me, coward!” He tries to teleport out- maybe he was bluffing about the wards!

It feels like he just ran into a wall, his power bouncing back.

Magnificent staggers back and growls like a feral animal. He throws magic to try to destroy the door.

The magic cracks the wood, causing it to splinter and shudder--and after a moment, catch fire. It didn't happen right away, proving there must have been some magic in there, but eventually, it burns.

Magnificent grins and then tries to kick down the door to escape.

The door falls into burning firewood and Mag is able to run into the hallway. 

Marvin has walked away, towards the basement staircase. He spins around at the sound of the doors breaking, eyes wide. Scowling, he turns back around and hurries up the stairs.

Magnificent bares his teeth and runs after Marvin, "Get back here!"

"Fuck you!" Marvin shouts, sending a bolt of red light over his shoulder.

Magnificent dodges the light and shoots his own to try to take out Marvin’s leg.

Marvin shrieks and falls when he's almost to the top of the staircase, hitting his head on the edge of one of the stairs. He's dazed for a moment, then, suddenly, laughs. "Oh yeah! That's what pain is!" He scrambles up the rest of the stairs on hands and knees, reaching the open doorway at the top.

Magnificent tilts his head in mild confusion before teleporting in front of Marvin and going to step on his hand. "You little bitch-" Magnificent spits. "You thought you could get away from me? Pin me for your gruesome murders? I think the fuck not!"

Marvin shrieks again as Magnificent steps on his hand, then looks up, grinning. "So you're gonna kill me?" he giggles. "Go on. I'll hop into you next." His other hand grabs onto Mag's ankle, sending a shock of red magic up his leg.

Magnificent jolts slightly from the magic but seems unphased. He grins wide and manic and laughs, "Oh no- I'm not gonna kill you! I'm just gonna take some of the power for myself~" He goes to snatch Marvin up by the wrist and attempts to drain him.

Marvin's eyes widen as he starts to feel his power drain--and then, before Magnificent can get too much, he feels the power yanked out of his hands. Marvin scowls--and suddenly he isn't on the floor any more, he's standing up behind Magnificent, trying to plunge a knife into his back.

Magnificent's eyes widen as he feels the snag and then before he can even react there's a sharp pain in his back that has him yelling out. He staggers and tries to catch himself on the wall next to the stairs- trying not to fall down them too. 

Marvin pulls the knife free, flicking blood from the narrow blade, and goes in for a second stab.

Magnificent is so dazed with pain he doesn't expect the second stab- and the pain and pressure of it makes Mag lose his footing and fall down the stairs- his vision momentarily whiting out as he crashes back to the basement floor.

And in the basement hallway, a small black rip starts to form. 

Marvin rushes down the stairs, clutching the knife tight, but skids to a hall when he sees the rift. "Huh? What the fuck?" He shakes his head, ignoring it, and goes for a third stab on Magnificent while he's down.

Magnificent is dazed but... surprisingly not down?? Guess its his suppressed feelings of pain from being mostly dark magic. His eyes open and see Marvin approaching him but he lunges back and skids back on the hall floor. He bares his teeth like a feral cat before ignoring all better judgement and lunging to try to claw at Marvin's throat. 

Now, he only wants blood.

Marvin shrieks. Not expecting that, he falls back, Mag's claws digging into his neck-- 

And suddenly, a bolt of static and glitches shoots out of the rift, forming a person that drags Mag back from Marvin. "Can't leave you alone in any world, huh?!" Anti bites out. 

Magnificent makes a choked noise of confusion and hisses, "You?! Why are you here?!!" 

"Chase! You want to punch this fucker's lights out?!"

"Oh it'd be my fucking pleasure~!" Bro says with a big grin. He cracks his knuckles and then grabs Mag by the front of his shirt and punches him as hard as he can. "That's for working with the fucker who stranded us here, bitch!" 

Mag's eyes roll up and he crashes to the ground, out cold.

Marvin scrambles to his feet as soon as possible, clutching his throat to stem the bleeding. He gives Bro and Anti confused looks, then turns and hurries up the stairs, heading for the cabin's first aid kit. 

Anti glares after him. "I don't feel bad for that fucking thing inside him, but that Marvin... he didn't seem so bad." A pause. "Better than mine. Better than this fucker." He kicks Mag in the side. 

"Yeah jesus... Mag went for his fucking throat god-!" Bro shakes his head.

"let's hope he lives. Maybe the shock of this will loosen that thing's hold." Anti says.

Bro looks sadly towards the stairs. "I hope he's okay too..." He sighs and grabs Mag and throws him over his shoulder, "Man I've done this a lot this adventure..."

Anti laughs. "Fucker doesn't give you any other choice, does he?" He shakes his head. "Alright. Two more to go. Back in the black space." He jerks his head towards the rift. "Hope you're not too tired of carrying him."

"Nah he weighs pretty much nothing." Bro shrugs. He hurries over to the rift.

"Good." Anti makes sure that Bro and Mag go through first before heading through himself. 

----------- 

Alt lands in the living room yet again. The outside is pitch black, and the floor under his feet seems strangely tilted. Something about this place seems slightly off in comparison to the last two times. Like the details haven't quite filled in...

And then, in a snap, that strange feeling is gone, and it's just the normal living room. Outside the sky is the pink-orange color of a sunrise.

Alt staggers as he lands in the living room, looking around the strangely tilting floor and feeling a sense of dread curl around his throat. Then, he blinks and its all gone. He grips at his wounded arm and looks around in confusion.

Footsteps come from behind one of the closed door. It jolts for a moment, locked, and then Jameson manages to open it and stumbles out, shirt stained with blood. His attention immediately goes to the windows. Relief floods his face when he sees the sun. Then he notices Alt. "Wh--" he starts to say, and then his words are suddenly overtaken by coughing.

Alt glitches back in surprise and staggers away from Jameson with a slight bit of fear. But that’s overtaken by concern as he sees him cough. “H-Hey… are you… okay?” He asks, warily noting all the blood on his shirt.

He stares at Alt for a moment, hesitant. Then nods. "Not... hurt," he says in a hoarse voice, then coughs some more. He asks in shaky sign language, Can you understand this?

Alt nods, "Y-Yeah I can speak sign... please don't overwork yourself..."

Jameson nods again, relieved. I don't know how you got here, but we need to leave. He stumbles forward, slowly heading for the front door. Terrible things have happened.

Alt looks confused, "T-Terrible how? How... did you get that blood on you if you're not hurt?" He glitches back and warily holds out a hand towards Jameson, magic faintly sparking. "How can I trust you...? W-When I was here last... y-you were-!"

Jameson blinks, confused. 

I've never seen you before, he says slowly. It doesn't matter. Terrible things. He shudders. My friends are dead. He keeps going across the room, reaching the door and trying to open it. 

It's stuck, seemingly locked. 

Alt's eyes widen, "D-Dead...? A-All of them?? W-What about Marvin and Chase I..." He stops himself and shakes his head, holding a hand against his chest. "...each time I'm here... it's different. A different person possessed... different people hurt and no one remembers the time before... but... how? and...why?" He whispers. 

Then he looks back to Jameson and glitches over, trying to see if he can help with the door. As he tries he asks, "I... I know it might be painful but... c-can you tell me how? How did... all this happen?"

Jameson's expression flickers into... something else. Is it annoyance? He looks away too quickly for Alt to really process as he digs into his pockets and pulls out a ring of keys, which he hands to Alt. 

Alt blinks at Jameson and takes the keys, looking confused. "...you had the keys? ...huh..." 

Yes, but they weren't useful while we were in outer space, were they? Jameson says. 

"Oh.. right-" Alt says, blushing slightly.

Maybe the annoyance was a trick of his mind, because now Alt can only see sadness on Jameson’s face. I'm not sure. Suddenly, the cabin was surrounded by nothing. This creature came after us. It used our bodies, made us attack each other. He shivers. I... He trails off. It's over now, though. I think.

Alt gives Jameson a wary glance. "Nothing huh... that... happened last time too... when you were..." He hesitates, then goes to try to unlock the door.

It takes Alt a couple tries to figure out which of the keys fit the lock, but eventually, he finds the right one and unlocks the front door. 

Jameson opens up the door, sheer relief on his face. "Freedom..." he whispers, and staggers out.

Alt is still wary of Jameson though, despite everything. He's not sure how much of anything he can trust right now. In fact... how can he be sure that the others are dead...? He looks back towards the cabin, unsure.

Jameson looks back at Alt. He tilts his head, puzzled. If you want to look around in there, be my guest, he says. I'm getting out of here. He looks around. Though... I guess I can't drive.

Alt startles out of his thoughts and looks back at Jameson. He slowly nods, "Uh... I'm sorry I... I can't either. Are we... far from a town?"

Very far. Jameson nods. The nearest town is F-O-L-A-S-U-L. It takes an hour and a half to drive. So it will take a while to walk. But I'd rather do that then stay here.

Alt nods, "H-Have you called anyone to try to come help...? I... I don't think I have enough magic to help... get that far."

Jameson hesitates. I could try to call the police... it wasn't working before. He reaches into his pocket and takes out a phone, tapping at its screen. 

And Alt feels a tug behind him. A rift has already opened up.

Alt blinks and looks behind him then balks at the rift, "W-What?? Already? H-"

Jameson looks back at him--then notices the rift in surprise. "That's not supposed to be here..." he says in a hoarse voice. "What is it? Do you know?"

"I...I'm not so sure... A... tear in the universe I guess..." Alt says shakily, gripping at his bleeding arm. "I-It's been keeping me in a loop here- dropping me in this cabin but...seeing different things. I... I dunno how to stop it."

"Well... I don't, either," Jameson says. "Never seen that before. Though... somehow, it reminds me of that hole in the ground..." He shakes his head. The rift's pull is increasing steadily.

"H-Hole in the ground?" Alt asks, glancing back at Jameson. It's... strange- besides his Dr. J... he doesn't meet a lot of Jameson who actually talk...

"Looks like you're caught in that gravity," Jameson says. He gives Alt a smile and a wave. "So long. Nice meeting you for a moment." 

That smile... it's strangely cruel, not fitting his face at all. Wait a moment-- 

But before Alt could do anything about it, the rift's pull becomes too much.

Alt's eyes widen and he shouts out, attempting to reach out to Jameson. Why? He's... not sure- because he was tricked?! Out of concern for who's trapped behind that smile? ...it doesn't matter, he's once again sucked into the darkness.

Alt lands in the living room yet, yet again. The sky outside is dark, and a man wearing glasses is sitting on the sofa. He jumps up, spinning around--more blood. More splatters and sprays of blood on his shirt. 

"Wh-where did you come from?!" he stammers. "Are you--real? No, i-it shouldn't affect me! Should it?"

Alt shakes out his head and almost cries out in frustration at seeing the same room again. Then, he sighs and glitches out his shoulders and looks at Henrik with exhaustion. "I'm real. My name is Alt- I... keep getting put into the cabin and... I don't know why." He registers the blood and holds his own wound again. "...are you... hurt? Or... i-is that from something else?"

"S-Something else," Schneep says slowly. "I--I--" He laughs manically. "Oh, I-I was expecting to hear people coming! The police were called, they should be coming, with their sirens. You appearing out of nowhere--what bad luck for both of us." 

Hold on... Schneep has always had a German accent, no matter the world they visited. He had one the last time Alt saw him in this cabin. But... now... He sounds slightly Irish.

Alt glitches back with wide eyes. He can immediately tell something is off by Schneep's laughter. The lack of an accent only adds to his fear. 

"...y-you're not Schneep-"

“Depends on what you mean by that.” Schneep smiles a wide, cruel smile—the same smile Alt saw on Jameson’s face. “It’s his body. But he no longer lives here. Not primarily, at least. I’m sure he’s still watching.” He’s holding his hands behind his back in a very distinct manner. “But what’s it to you, sudden visitor? You’re not a friend of his. You would be in his memories.”

Alt stumbles back and holds out a hand that glitches and sparks with his magic. "I... I've helped him before- against you. But I... I guess that was a-another timeline... w-where are the others? They stopped you last time!"

Schneep--or the thing inside him--laughs again. "They were too late. Not strong enough." He takes his hands out from his back, revealing he is holding a sharp kitchen knife in one. "I got rid of the one with the blood, but this is the same sort of blade that ended them all." 

"Y-You... you killed them?" Alt breathes out in horror. 

Scheep spins the knife. "But it doesn't have to end you, too. Why not get out of here while I'm in a good mood? Quickly. I'm not a patient person." 

Alt’s eyes spark green with anger as he bares his teeth, "You fucker! They didn't deserve that- none of them did! W-Why?! J-Just so you can pilot around a body that's not even yours without them getting in the way?!"

"Don't be ridiculous--it's more than that," Schneep's voice says dismissively. "I needed death. I needed the power of their lives to fully make this mine. Though... it didn't have to be him. In fact, it probably would've been easier if it was someone else." He grins. "But it worked out in the end." 

"It's not even your life, fucker! You just took Schneep's away from him! And took all his friends!" Alt shouts back, glitches and magic sparking in the air around his- reacting to his anger. 

He points the knife at Alt. "So... what will you do now?" he whispers.

Alt shudders a bit as the knife is pointed at him and he freezes for a second. But... he thinks about the brief glimpses he had of the others... thinking about their lives being tragically cut short and... the anger is overwhelming. 

Green light sparks in his eyes as he growls at the thing in Schneep. "...I'm not letting you think you've won this. I'm gonna make sure you can't hurt anyone else-!" He then glitches in a bunch of fast moves to throw Schneep off before trying to send a bolt of electricity right to his face.

Schneep's eyes widen and he cries out, staggering backwards and falling over the coffee table as little bits of lightning dance among his hair. He quickly gets to his feet. "Wasn't expecting that," he giggles. "That hurt. Oh, I forgot what pain was. From this perspective." He flips the knife in his grip and throws it at Alt.

Alt glares at him and before he can retort he's stabbed in the leg by the knife hitting his upper calf. He cries out and falls slightly but catches himself. He rips the knife out, biting back a squeak of pain before he tosses it away. "...n-now you don't have a weapon- dumbass. But I do-!" He sends out a blast of soundwaves to throw him off his feet.

Schneep staggers backwards again, clapping his hands over his ears—and this time fully toppling over when he hits the table, legs flying in the air. It might have been funny under other circumstances, but not now, not as he growls menacingly and starts to get back up with murder in his eyes.

Alt meets his glare with bravery and determination bright in his eyes. He glitches his own knife made of magic in his hands and glitches around again before trying to slash at Schneep-

And Schneep screams as it slashes across his chest. He collapses to the floor once more. "N-no more, no more, please," he gasps. "I—I d-do not know who you are—I-I do not want to fight, please—" 

His eyes... they're clear once more. And pained, as they look up at Alt.

Alt stands over Schneep with cold green glowing eyes. But, once he registers Schneep's pleas, his expression softens. "...Hen..?"

Schneep shivers, curling up and clutching the slash across his chest. "You--you must run," he breathes. "G-get out of here. I-I do not want to--" He shudders.

Alt glitches down to kneel down by Schneep and looks at him with sympathy, "C-C'mon Henrik! You can fight this! He was convinced you were gone- you still have a chance! Don't let this fucker take your body from you!"

"I-I—" He squeezes his eyes closed. "Please—h-help me."

Alt leans closer, "I can try... d-do you know of any way to beat it back? " He asks quietly, putting a hand on Schneep's shoulder.

"Y-yes... I know a way." Then he opens his eyes and grins. "Is that what you want to hear?" 

His hand darts out and grabs Alt by the front of the shirt, pulling him forward—into the path of another knife that comes out of nowhere. 

Alt's breath hitches in surprise- and he shouts out as he's stabbed in his shoulder but quickly pushes Schneep back and glitches away. He then staggers and leans up against a wall, biting back the pain. "M-Motherfucker-!"

The thing inside Schneep laughs, standing up again. "You're too late," he says. "This body is mine now. And soon, a body is all you'll be." 

He lunges forward-- And then a black rift opens up beside him and a glitching green figure slams him to the side.

Alt scrambles back, curling up to try to protect himself- Then, he blinks up and his eyes widen as he sees another glitching figure. "W-Wha??"

Schneep shrieks in surprise, struggling. A glitchy hand reaches into the side of his head. His eyes suddenly widen and he collapses to the floor. 

The glitchy figure solidifies into a man with an eye-patch and a loose green scarf. He looks at Alt--and then back to the rift, where someone else is stepping out. "This is one of your friends, then?" he asks, pointing at Alt.

Alt glitches to his feet with wide eyes, "A-Anti?! How... How did you...?" He then steps back and looks at Anti with confusion. "Wha... I... You don't... remember me?" He tries to hide the hurt that wants to peek through his words. 

But then someone is stumbling out of the rift, face red and patchy and incredibly pale. He looks like he's been crying. But his tired eyes and red jacket are a dead giveaway of who it is. 

Alt's eyes widen. "Jackie...?" 

Jackie chokes on a sob and runs towards Alt and then grips onto him tight like he's a lifeline. "Alt! Oh my god... t-thank god I..." He dissolves into terrified tears and Alt quickly holds him, trying not to show his discomfort of Jackie aggravating his wounds. 

"I-I'm happy to see you too Jackie..." Alt says quickly, rubbing his back. He then looks back at Anti and looks between the two. "I... H-How did you two find me? How... are you here? I... I thought you couldn't travel through dimensions..."

"How do you know that?" Anti mutters. "Eh, I can figure how you do. But you're right, normally I can't. That makes things different." He points to the rift. "They're opening up all over this world, and all the alternate ones like it. Probably cause reality is already so weak here. But... they do make travel easier. Normally they would spit you out somewhere random, but I'm not exactly normal." He grins. "Now. There are still two more of you guys out there. We need to find them." 

His smile drops as he takes in the two of them and their states. "Not right away, if you two need time. But probably soon."

Alt looks back at the rift with knitted eyebrows. "... Right... the tears... I guess that makes sense..." He pats Jackie's back and pushes him back a little, "Hey dude... try to breathe, okay?" 

Jackie nods shakily and rubs at his eyes. "Y-Yeah yeah I.. I'm cool-" He mumbles, his voice breaking a bit. 

Alt smiles sadly- and that's when Jackie sees the fresh stab wound on Alt's shoulder- and his arm and his leg...! "H-Holy fuck dude! You're really hurt!" 

Alt shakes his hands and gives a tight smile, "It's good! It's good! I've had worse! We should... focus on finding Bro and Mag now- before the tears get even worse..." He looks back at the body of Schneep and shivers, "...this was already a terrible t-timeline to see..." 

"There are good ones," Anti mutters. "You've just got fucking terrible luck, I think." 

Alt tries to smile at Anti but it falls short, "Y-Yeah... I know..." 

Anti gestured back at the rift. "Now... if you're ready, step on through. You'll be somewhere pitch black for a moment before I go through, too."

Alt sighs and grabs Jackie's hand. "We can stick together now, okay?" 

Jackie laughs wetly and nods, "Y-Yeah... thank god." 

Alt chuckles and leads them both into the rift- sparing one last glance at the fallen body of Schneep and looking... conflicted. Then he turns the darkness and walks through.

Anti waits for them to go through before following.

[stellewriites]

hey stelle! I’m still thinking about the johnny western horror au you wrote and was wondering if I could ask some questions that have been rattling in my head??

does the new ‘johnny’ visit ghost/does this johnny even know about ghost? since he doesn’t have the same memories as the original Johnny, it’s making me think of how isolating it might be for the reader to be stalked by this ‘johnny’ and how she thought she was already free of this marriage. Like she if she does close the door on him and doesn’t let him, I can just picture him showing up every night and hearing his horse when she tries to sleep and the sleep deprivation turned into paranoia 😵‍💫😵‍💫 I picture this ‘Johnny’ as more like a body snatcher or something looking for a new body to inhabit, doesn’t matter who so she’s just the most technical option for him

But also! what if reader goes to ghost thinking he’s also getting stalked baring her soul on Johnny harassing her but ghosts not and he almost gets jealous? And angsty, not clicking that this isn’t the real johnny but just hearing that Johnny is back sends his brain in a spiral and that he has to back to him, flash forward some time and Johnny stops showing up at the house and ghost starts walking a bit weird

Okay sorry for the word vomit but I really liked this story hahah you did a great job on it!!

of course!! i love questions about my fics 💓 i’ve got to be honest tho and admit that i haven’t fully thought about the ins and outs about this oneshot further than what was written lmao so this might be all over the place

does he know about/visit ghost?

i’d say no

you’re right that he doesn’t have the same memories, i’d say whatever has taken his body might be going off vague recollections of places and where the scent of johnny is strongest. this was johnnys home before he got his wife, he’d have likely stayed there with ghost often until reader arrived, so it’d make sense to the parasite (?) to go there first. i’d argue that johnny and ghost travelled and camped all over once he had his wife move in, hence the long time spent away

how does reader feel being stalked by johnny?

stalking is the least of her worries - parasite johnny IS getting inside her home that night whether she likes it or not. he’s not fucking around waiting for her to let him in after she shot at him, he’ll force his way in if he has to. it just might’ve been easier for him in the long run if she’d gone along with it all sweet like he’d originally tried to play it.

reader knows this isn’t her johnny either (if he could’ve ever have been considered hers) so the pressure of a marriage holding her hostage again isn’t even on her mind - she’s got bigger fish to fry.

yes absolutely similar to a body snatcher to me too! i left it open in case people prefer possession or ghosts or zombies - but to me it feels very ‘supernatural parasite has taken over the freshest body in the graveyard’.

does reader go to ghost?

ghost isn’t in town anymore! he left as soon as johnny was buried since there’s nothing else there for him, just too many memories.

gaz or price would still be there but after they suggested medical help (read: getting her institutionalised for ‘hysteria’) i don’t think she’d be willing to go back and tell them an undead version of johnny is walking around 🥴

BUT!

i’m a sucker for aus of aus,, so i think if she survived the night (maybe she made a break for it out the back and got on her horse) and she found ghost on the outskirts of town while he was laying low after the train robbery then he’d know straight away from her story that it wasn’t his johnny too. however i think he’d want to confront whatever wasn’t letting the love of his life rest peacefully and would be off like a shot to reader’s house despite her protests.

idk if i think the parasite would move bodies or not - i like the visual of simon wandering the dusty roads acting like edgar in men in black and the concept that the parasite logically wants a bigger healthier body - but i also like the thought of parasite johnny managing to convince simon it is him. and that he just needs simon’s help to get back to normal 🥺 won’t he help him, his johnny? and simon would just cave (even if that means killing strangers to feed him or whatever,, simon can justify it to himself given the people they’d hurt before - he’d killed for money, he can kill for love)

and thank you lainey!! i’m so glad you liked it :D

[flame-x]

Nyello, do you have any fic/au ideas that you’ve thought about but not posted?

hi nate :3 ty for de ask

there’s definitely several ideas that have been rattling around in my brain for ages (including continuations for the gc fic lmao)

I suppose the biggest thing I’ve never posted on tumblr (that I recall anyway? I don’t think I ever mentioned it on here but ik I did in mistocord) was the nobility/whodunnit au, which was my human murder mystery au set kinda late 1800s/early 1900s in england. I put sooooo much effort and thought into it and recently it’s been creeping back into my brain but. this is really embarrassing LMAO but I can’t remember what the motive of the murderer was 💀 I never wrote it down!! I assumed I’d remember something important as that but apparently not lol. but! I have been brainstorming a new one lately and I was recently looking back through my (extensive) notes on it so that’s. something that might come back eventually? maybe? Idk but it was SO much fun.

Quick recap of the general overview: Silvanus Deuteronomy, wealthy Duke and Certified Bastard(tm) hosts an annual Ball known as, (here it comes), the Jellicle Ball! The Duke is found dead in his study on the evening of the Ball and every guest is a suspect with motive (oOoOoOoOo~). Whodunnit? His son Munkustrap, set to inherit the title and estate? Munkustrap’s wife, Lady Demeter? Or perhaps the Duke’s other son, the rebellious Rum Tum Tugger? It was well known that they had a troubled relationship… Nobody could suspect his daughter Jemima, could they? But it turns out Jemima knows more about the goings-on in the family than her brothers expected…

Perhaps it was Victoria, the daughter of his cousin who’s lived with them for several years? Silvanus recently found out about her forbidden relationship with a servant of the house, Mungojerrie…

Speaking of servants, more than one of them have a motive, too. Between blackmail, illegitimate children and debts, a few of them would have reason to take a blade to the Duke’s throat. And what’s more, as the Manor House is snowed in during a storm the night of the murder, with no help to be reached other than the inexperienced, vivacious detective and her assistant already in attendance at the Ball, it comes out that there are motives for murder among the numerous high profile guests. The Lords and Ladies of the country are placed under scrutiny by the sharp-minded Trudicat and her slightly bumbling assistant Attionsoles (he’s a himbo there’s no other way of putting it)

What’s more, it turns out that Deuteronomy’s old political nemesis, Lord Macavity has planted spies under his very roof… and that he has a dark and dangerous obsession with a certain daughter-in-law of Silvanus’s…. (Someone also sent a pair of assassins on the night of the ball… apparently several people wanted the Duke of Jellicle dead.)

featuring many, MANY ocs, a lot of creative license and an unrealistic (but very, very fun) amount of drama. brought to you by my love of period pieces (read:downton abbey) and murder mysteries (read: I have consumed way too many murder books and shows)

I definitely missed stuff in this but damn did I have fun revisiting this au so thank you again for the ask nate <3

[boinin]

hullo, i found you through cassis orange on ao3 (which i absolutely devoured thank you for the food) and i don’t know if you’re willing to answer questions about fic-related things here but i was very curious about the isagi characterization in it. i was very surprised and intrigued to read that he seems to be quite oblivious to bachira’s whereabouts/ mental state, when i usually see the 2 portrayed as attached at the hip and i was wondering if there’s a reason for that and if it might be expanded on. the kunigiri brainrot takes precedence tho, stunning job 🙌

Hey anon! Thanks so much for the lovely comment, I'm glad you enjoyed Cassis Orange so far! I'm currently working on getting a draft of the final chapter done, so—promise—it'll have a conclusion in the near future.

Fic writers love these kind of questions ✨💕 I have so many thoughts rattling around my brain not only about CO Kunigiri, but also all their friends and loved ones. Specifically for Bachira and Isagi, I have plans for a fic within the same universe that would tell their story. I don't know when or if I'll get to it, but there's history there that I'd like to flesh out. For that reason, I'll hold back some detail, but I'll answer comprehensively where I can.

In short, the main reason Isagi has the appearance of being oblivious is 1) time and distance, and 2) he's super preoccupied.

To explain the first, Isagi and Bachira are like old school friends who aren't in contact 24/7 but still easily gel whenever they're together. In my 2034 AU, Isagi lives in Germany, and Bachira was living in Spain until recently—in the last year he returned to Japan after transferring to a local team. That's why he's constantly dropping by Kunigami's izakaya after training.

Before, while in Europe, they saw each other every few months or so. After Bachira moved, there was a lull in contact, then they reconnected again with the reunion and the national team's preparation for the World Cup. That's one factor for why Isagi isn't as attuned to Bachira in CO as he's usually characterised to be. They're still close, but they're not at the forefront of one another's minds like they once may have been. Particularly in Isagi's case.

Secondly, there's friction between Isagi and Bachira because of the way Isagi prioritises things. Now, both of them are on the national team and dream of winning a World Cup—but Isagi's single-minded dedication to his playing career has hurt Bachira in the past and continues to come between them. In essence, Isagi follows the Noel Noa philosophy of, everything you do must be a step to becoming the world's best. He's not as cold about it as Noa, but as the thirty-something year old captain of the national team, his thoughts are attuned to on he and his team's performance in the World Cup. It's likely his last chance, after all. He's still a considerate person, but he's directing most of his attention towards carrying the team to a win... in spite of varying levels of dysfunction across the players' personal lives.

Bachira is in a different headspace—he's thinking beyond the World Cup, which Isagi refuses to do. While I can't say more than that, that's why Bachira seems a little mopey in Kunigami's eyes. The same rift is also why he's so sharp-tongued towards Isagi in chapter 8. Bachira can't help but resent Isagi at that point in their story.

Soooo, basically, lots of stuff going on beyond the ballad of Chigiri and Kunigami. Hope that gives some insight into why I've characterised them that way!

[crockettmarcel]

wait i was just thinking about missing and sarah and the girls and how they must have been held there by crockett over christmas and just. what was that like?? do you think lolly would’ve known?

sarah never told the girls about christmas. crockett didn’t let them celebrate it, so there was no point telling them about something they might never get. it seemed cruel to get their hopes up

however, sarah could tell from looking out the window how close to christmas it was getting by the lights going up. she’d usually ask crockett to get more clothes or books for the girls, and he’d get something. not a lot, and it was never wrapped, but maybe lolly would get a sweater and harper a onesie. sarah never asked for anything for herself

when they were rescued, sarah told the girls about christmas and santa. harper was too young to understand, but lolly loved it. sarah explained that they were hidden so well that santa couldn’t find them, but now that they were out he’d bring them so many presents. her mom took care of everything

lolly and harper both loved all the christmas lights, and they’d stare at them while they played in the snow. lolly cried when they watched the grinch, but harper loved it. they all helped sarah’s mom decorate the tree, and lolly got to put the star on top

also in a little au that’s been rattling around my brain, sarah and the girls managed to escape one night and hide in a neighbour’s house until they were found in the morning. the neighbours had a christmas tree up, and both girls were fascinated by it. sarah explained christmas to them in the morning while they waited for the cops to show up

[waltwhitmansbeard]

Hi :D

From the post-argument prompts, may I request "feeling guilty so you perform an act of kindness (ex: making them their fave food) as an indirect apology" for Vax and Kiki in Grow with the flow? (Or another setting if you prefer)

Thank you <3 <3

feeling guilty so you perform an act of kindness (ex: making them their fave food) as an indirect apology  check out the grow with the flow au!

Pink roses, for gratitude and appreciation.

Her father always warned her against starting a business with her significant other. He told her all kinds of stories about the fights he and her mom used to have about the farm, about what kind of feed to buy and what farmer's markets they were going to hit and how much of the fields they should let lie fallow each year. He always said it could ruin a marriage, a business.

Turns out cancer'll do that just as well.

So Keyleth never took those words to heart, because she and Vax just work so well together. She's a perfectionist and he's a doer. He asks all the right questions and she articulates the answers so well. She has the knowledge, and he knows how to package it up into something that will be helpful to their audience. It just...works.

Blue hyacinths, for peace.

And okay, maybe just because something works doesn't mean it can't be worked on. Maybe she got used to how easy things have gotten, the steady push and pull of their routine. Maybe she got too comfortable, too reliant.

Maybe she started taking things for granted.

And that's why she's so mad at herself, why her shoulders bear the permanent hunch of shame. She knows how hard he works, how much of himself he pours into each podcast episode and livestream and Instagram post. He is, frankly, the genius of the operation, and she can barely look herself in the mirror for forgetting it, for letting the annoyance creep up into her tone when he told her he just couldn't edit today.

Pink carnations, for saying "I'll never forget you."

Because she also knows how he struggles. She sees it on the mornings it takes him a few extra minutes to get out of bed, or the days he stares at his running shoes, unable to bend down to put them on. There are so many things that are just harder for him, harder in ways she'll never understand, and though her own anxieties act as barriers in their own way, she knows she walks through the world with an ease that sometimes eludes him.

(Sometimes, in her own perverse, weird way, she wishes she could reach into his brain, poke around and reconfigure things until he loves himself the way she loves him, until he looks in the mirror and sees with startling clarity all the ways in which he is wonderful, remarkable, perfect. More than that, she wishes she could go back to this morning, before she put a megaphone up to all those terrible voices only he hears, echoing their death rattles until they became the cacophony he couldn't escape.)

Lily of the valley, for rebirth.

She's spent the last four hours getting it right, picking and placing and pruning until the bouquet says all of the things she should have said in the first place. When she's finished, she sits on their recording loveseat and waits, chewing anxiously on her lip, avoiding Simon's judgemental stares, but she can only wait so long before her bouncing leg bounces her right up out of her seat. She grabs the flowers and a jacket and heads out into the dusk.

She finds him where she knew he'd be. When she walks into Gilmore's, the man himself is behind the bar, polishing some glasses. Keyleth sidles up, eyes on the farthest booth, where a familiar head of black hair sits alone. "How many has he had?"

Gilmore gives her a reassuring smile. "Been nursing the one since he got here. Taking up my best table, too." And Keyleth knows well enough that it's not a complaint.

When she slides into the booth across from him, she lets the flowers do the talking. (They're so much better at it than she is.) Wordlessly, he picks it up, spins it around, takes stock of which ones she's included. (He knows what they mean. He's a much better listener than she'll ever be.) He presses his nose into a lily. It is so lovely against his skin.

She waits. There is chatter in the bar, but it fades to static as she watches him. He looks so tired. How did she miss that this morning? He sets the bouquet on the table, reaches across, and holds her hand.

White tulips, for forgiveness and renewal.

[wick-de-la-vela]

WICK PLEASE TELL ME ABOUT LITERALLY ANY OF THOSE WIPS. DEALER’S CHOICE. THEY ALL LOOK SO INTERESTING

AAAAAAAH Thank you!!!! Truth be told I feel like my naming conventions are a bit weird lolol I'll do a few actually!

"spawn4spawn_altstartBG3"

I'll start with this one since it is the only one currently readable. It is called "Sweetest Mouth, Full of Blood", pretty dark canon divergent DarkUrge/Astarion AU and mind the tags because it gets graphic. However there is lots of dark humor as well. Currently plucking away at a chapter about an underground fighting ring.

Snippet !! Hard to pick a place, but here:

The Dark Urge contemplated the selection of grips, chains, thumbscrews, whips, and various other implements organized from least to most menacing on the wall of its personal torture chamber. Eeny, meeny, miney… you, it thought, plucking up a small but sturdy pair of pliers. Shaped like a steel wishbone, they fit neatly into the palm of its hand like a perfect extension of itself.

A muffled whimper, wet and pitiful, cut through its tranquil appreciation. A fine ribbon of anger wound around its animal-brain.

“What did I just tell you, Thalia?” The Urge asked pleasantly, turning to look at her. Its rumbling voice held the sweetness of a fly-trap, the gracious invitation before the snap shut where escape would no longer be possible.

I think the other one I put the most effort into was:

"ofmdpotcau"

It stood for "Our Flag Means Death Pirates of the Caribbean AU" which, yes I realize it seems outwardly silly to make a fictional pirate au out of a fictional pirate show, but listen. The Barbossa/Elizabeth eating scene was so rife with Uh Hello????? Hello sir???????? The most horny shit I've ever seen. So uh. yeah. We just skeletonized Ed's gang and also most of Stede's gang, with Ed playing a combo role of Jack Sparrow and Barbossa, and Stede playing a combo of Will Turner and Elizabeth (it makes sense when I lay it out). There was going to be lactation kink in there somewhere because haha the bone guys need calcium lol. Also literally every single character was trans bc I was just discovering the joy of hitting guys with my trans beams.

Snippet:

“I trust you won’t continue this tedium during the event proper,” her father said in that way that sounded like an order rather than an innocent observation. “Silence is a virtue for young ladies.”

“I’m not that young,” Stede protested petulantly.

“Yes. That is the problem.” Her father frowned. The look he gave her suggested he thought she was being particularly stupid, but it was beneath him to say so.

Stede curled in on herself out of instinct. She’d borne too many lectures on the unacceptable nature of spinsterhood to have expected any differently now, but oddly enough, her father only stared out the window at the passing palm forests, contemplative and smiling slightly.

It was the smile that unsettled Stede. Her father’s neutral expression resided somewhere between the realms of grim and menacing, so a smile from him was a foreign thing. She didn’t know what it meant, but she didn’t trust it.

The carriage bumped and rattled its way up to the fort, where Stede was helped down from it by a bored soldier. She trailed close behind her father like an out-of-breath shadow. Her skirts were just a touch too long, getting underfoot if she wasn’t careful to lift them up out of the way.