#i just burst into tears listening to his singing sometimes

[arandomcat64]

Guys....

Akito's voice... I LOVE HIS VOICE SO MUCH-

[eternalfics]

*holds hands out like a little peasant boy* do you have any crumbs.. perhaps, saiki kusuo as a bf with a reader who can sing? perchance...

saiki with a reader that can sing!

a/n: hmm, perhaps I maybe have some leftovers.. and uhh rlly sorry if u have been waiting 4EVERR 😱 (or maybe I just don’t pay attention to my notifications and it’s been a day.) but still sorryyy

warning: a lil joke about blackmail..

the song I was listening to while writing this:

you’re basically just in the friend group, whenever the group goes somewhere you follow. but you and saiki have the most in common, you guys are like bread and butter. you have so much in common, that’s probably why saiki asked you to date him. like you both are quiet, you both like quiet. anything do to with quiet. 😊 of course you still have conversations, but everyone calls you “the definition of shy”.

so saiki doesn’t expect for you to sing at karaoke night when everyone goes, he just thinks you’ll sit and chat with him. but something told him that you weren’t really interested in talking about coffee jelly right now. as you were looking at kaido singing TERRIBLY, you were kind of thinking of pushing him off and singing the rest.

and you did! well, you didn’t push him off. you obviously waited for your turn 😭 and you obviously SLAYED. your confidence rose up so fast, and you shocked everyone around you. you swear you were about to burst out laughing as soon as you saw saiki’s surprised look. but another part of you was so proud of yourself! it was basically saiki saying oh wow, but without words and using his facial expression. (I REFUSE to watch s2 without it being dubbed.) and guess what! you saw a glimpse of teruhashi’s angry face, looking like she was about to tear you up like a dog in the corner of your eye.

and basically since that day, you’ve been singing everywhere WITH ✨CONFIDENCE✨. you sang in your Pom, near saiki, near your friends, at night (quietly bc people are sleeping 😒) , when your favourite song is on, you know it. and everyone got used to it, that shy, uncomfortable y/n you knew was gone 4ever. now, they got replaced a new, confident y/n ✨

saiki, as your boyfriend, had to hear it all the time. and he wasn’t sick of it AT ALL. (sometimes he was, when he was trying to sleep with you on call or when you were singing just. too. much! but that didn’t happen often.) and sometimes, he’s just a big softie. 🙂 saiki asked you one time (in a very flustered way) if you could sing a lullaby for him to sleep, and of course you did it! (right after you teased him and pinched his cheeks.!) now in random moments, you remind him of the moment and you have a very red-faced kusuo saiki at your side. (sometimes you use that information for blackmail-)

whenever you get into arguments, saiki doesn’t like it at all, because he’s used to hearing your voice all of the time. 🕰️ and whenever you’re angry you don’t sing AT ALL. like AT ALL. and saiki has to find ways to make you feel better, he reads your mind, he’s follows you around like a lost puppy, and he tries to signal that he’s sorry but he doesn’t say it, like for example: giving you his LAST, EXCLUSIVEEEE 😱😱 coffee jelly 😓. but you always forgive him in the end, and then he can have that sweet voice near his ears again.

one time, you were at his house and you were coming downstairs secretly. saiki had that ring of his on, you never knew that saiki wore rings? but you always thought that it suited him. but as you get closer, you hear some humming, sweet, unexpected humming. he was humming that song you always sing. 🎶 when you start humming along with him, he jumps and looks behind him, seeing you, he visibly relaxes. seeing him relax, made you giggle. but you guys both knew that you were gonna tease him later.

damn I wrote a lot

[acourtofthought]

Buildup Means Little

Honestly, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what how much buildup anyone thinks two characters have. It doesn't matter how many moments from two books back you think support your endgame ship.

There is buildup for every single pairing around. Tamlin is STILL in love with Feyre as of SF, that's buildup over the entirety of the series and his only goal has ever been to protect Feyre (leading him to make really shitty decisions) but I don't see anyone shouting that they're going to be endgame.

Hell, Feyre was so inappropriate with Lucien in ACOWAR that for half a second I thought SJM was changing her love interest yet again

SJM has proven that characters can be engaged yet end up with someone else. She has proven that the FMC can call the MMC her "home" yet still end up with someone else. She can have one all but confess her love for the MMC only to turn around and give up her virginity to someone else, sleep with many after that then turn around and end up back with the confession of love guy.

So the events of the past, to a pretty major degree, are not all that matters. All that matters is where we're at now.

And as of SF, SJM went out of her way to show us how extremely similar two female characters are only to then demonstrate how only one is going to be the right one for Az.

"I don't need to be coddled. Only spoken to like a person"

"You do not decide what I can and cannot do, Nesta." / "You can't have it both ways. You cannot resent my decision to lead a small, quiet life while also refusing to do let me do anything greater." / "I am not a child to be fought over."

Gwyn snorted. "Try me"

Nesta looked at her from under lowered brows again. "Get out of my sight."

Gwyn grinned, a broad, bright thing that showed most of her teeth and made her eyes sparkle in a way Nesta knew her own never had. "Oh you're good." Gwyn turned back to the stacks. "Really good."

"Oh, fuck you," Nesta snapped, and then choked.

Elain blinked. Nesta blinked back, horror lurching through her.

And then Elain burst out laughing.

Howling, half-sobbing laughs that sent her bending over at the waist, gasping for breath. Nesta just stared, torn between questions and wanting to throw herself into the icy Sidra. "I - I'm so sorry-"

Elain held up a hand, wiping her eyes with the other. "You've never said such a thing to me!" She laughed again, "I think that's a good sign, isn't it?

Gwyn was probably good at this. Gwyn was good at everything, actually. It didn't irk her, though. For whatever reason, Nesta wanted to crow about her friend to anyone who'd listen.

- She had purpose, and joy, and friends: those two half-wraiths who worked in Rhysand's household. But those things had always come easily to her sister. Had always made Elain special. Had made Nesta fight like hell to keep Elain safe at all costs.

The priestess had been pretty in the library, but with that joy, that confidence as she aimed for the three priestesses, she had emerged into a beauty to rival Merrill or Mor.

Elain had easily been the prettiest of the three of them, and when she'd been turned High Fae, that beauty had been amplified. Nesta couldn't put her finger on what changes had been wrought beyond the pointed ears, but Elain had gone from lovely to devastatingly beautiful. Elain never seemed to realize it.

"Promise me we'll face it together."

Nesta couldn't stop her tears then. The chill wind froze them on her cheeks. "I promise," she breathed, stroking Gwyn's matted hair. "I promise."

Gwyn sobbed, and Nesta let herself sob with her, squeezing her tightly. Letting her stroking hand come to rest of Gwyn's neck.

A pinch in the right spot, exactly on the pressure point Cassian had shown her, and it was done.

Gwyn went down. Unconscious.

forged over common goals: protect Elain

"The first five months I was at the library, I barely spoke. I didn't sing. I went to the priestess who counsels all of us, and sometimes I just sat there and cried, or screamed, or said nothing.

"Weeks, while you wasted away, refusing food and drink. While you appeared to hope you'd just wither and die."

And when Nesta finished, she braced herself for the disappointment in their faces, the disgust.

Gwyn's hand slid into hers, though.

Nesta was wrong, Cassian realized, to think Elain as loyal and loving as a dog. Elain saw every single thing Nesta had done, and understood why.

"Because I don't ever want to feel powerless again," Gwyn said softly.

Elain spoke from the doorway, having appeared so silently that they all twisted toward her, "Using me." / "Find me when you wish to begin". / When Feyre had offered to let her remain home, Elain had squared her shoulders and declared that she was part of this court

"I blame Cassian for this. He's too busy making eyes at Nesta to notice such mistakes these days."

Azriel laughed. "I'll give you that."

"You put them in your ears, and they block any sound. With Nesta and Cassian living there with you..."

He chuckled, unable to suppress the impulse. "No wonder you didn't want me to open it in front of everyone."

Elain's mouth twitched into a smile. "Nesta wouldn't appreciate the joke."

Silver Flames Gwyn and Silver Flames Elain are basically one in the same, they even have innocent hobbies (bracelet making and baking / gardening). . So why then, is there such difference in how SJM wrote Az responding to each?

Her breath curled in front of her mouth, and one of his shadows darted out to dance with it before twirling back to him. Like it heard some silent music. / Could have sworn his shadows sang in answer.

Elain sucked in a soft breath that whispered over his skin. His shadows skittered back at the sound. They'd always been prone to vanish when she was around.

Azriel dipped his head in sketch of a bow, something restless settling in him. Even his shadows had calmed. As if content to lounge on his shoulders and watch.

Wrong - it was so wrong / Until he felt nothing. Was again nothing at all.

He wouldn't go so far as to call Gwyn a friend, but....(statement made after knowing Gwyn for a few months and ONLY through training)

He knew she had no idea that he had done unspeakable things that sullied his hands far beyond their scars.....(statement made after knowing Elain for 2 years and being able to chat with her whenever he wanted).

Something sparked in Azriel's chest, but he only nodded his thanks and left. He could picture it though, as he ascended the stairs back to the House proper. How Gwyn's teal eyes might light upon seeing the necklace. For whatever reason...he could see it.

But Azriel tucked away the thought, consciously erasing the slight smile it brought to his face. Buried the image down deep, where it glowed quietly.

Still waiting on a scene where Az thinks anything about Elain's happiness.........

And this would be the time where the other side loves to throw in the super classy argument of "well Az hasn't wanted to get down on his knees and taste Gwyn" but people.....it's called RESPECT. He knows her past, he's not treating her like a sexual object (really, the only way he looks at Elain considering he said he hasn't planned anything with her beyond his sexual fantasies). Az looked at Mor with hunger and yearning. Tamlin wanted to have sex with Feyre rather than try to help her escape. He also wanted to sleep with her rather than talking through his problems. Focusing on Az lusting over Elain is really not supporting your defense.

"You'd know if she'd died," Azriel said, pausing hsi work and looking up at Cassian. He tapped his brother's chest with a scarred hand. "Right here - you'd know, Cass." / The shadows deepened around Azriel, his Siphons gleaming like cobalt fire. "You - we - trained them well, Cassian. Trust in that. It's all we can do.

"There is an innate darkness to the Dread Trove that Elain should not be exposed to"

People will say that Az responds differently because he loves Elain but if the way Az treats Elain is true love, then I don't want it and I don't think SJM wants it either because his behavior towards Elain reads exactly like Tamlin's towards Feyre. It's way too clear that SJM wrote Az having healthy responses to Gwyn because she is the right person for him. The one he thinks is strong all on her own. The one he believes doesn't need his protection. The one he likes for who she is rather than fixating on her as a sexual object.

Also, if Az loves Elain then why did he sulk for 3 days after Solstice and that was the end of it? Why were there no more glances towards Elain? No longing? Why instead was there admiration and amusement for Gwyn? It's been over two years that Lucien hasn't gotten a fulfilled bond with Elain yet he's still struggling and looking at her with longing.

Az was over it in less than a week!

And not only that (and this is what I mentioned above), for all their similarities, SJM really hammered home the important differences, keeping in mind that Az works from the shadows, talks to the shadows, has an icy rage, can torture using a symphony of pain, likes his space and has his found family in the IC.

Gwyn donned the leathers without thought versus Elain refusing them in ACOWAR. She embraced dagger handling and asked for lessons while Elain "walked away and did not look back". SJM made it known that Gwyn is one of Nesta's people while Nesta calls Elain a dog and Feyre calls her only a pleasant companion. And despite Elain claiming that she's part of the NC, it means something that through Cassian, a completely neutral party when it comes to Elain, thinks how the color black (symbolic for the NC) sucks the life out of her while Gwyn came alive while training to become a Valkyrie. Gwyn embraces the night, choosing to stay up late to train, while we know Elain wants sunshine. Gwyn feels most comfortable in the safety of the library, a place full of shadows and away from the bustle of crowds whereas Elain is happiest by sunny windows, watching the liveliness of the city and at balls and parties. Gwyn witnessed Az slaughter an entire group in front of her and plotted / led the beasts to attack the Illyrians while cruelty bothers Elain.

How can buildup (which doesn't actually exist to the level some believe it does) possibly compare to all the new information we've been presented in the most recent book of the series?

[pinkscaped]

can we get some info on myrah plz? 🤞🏾

"I never said she wasn't talented. I just said she wasn't good."

Said during an AllTalkMe episode between her and former Allume member Bora, Myrah would openly criticize their former member Sooah, who she had publicly feuded with for years at this point.

"I never said she wasn't talented. I just said she wasn't good." Bora laughs into her microphone at Myrah's deadpanned statement before turning away, covering her mouth. Myrah, with one hand out and wrist limp, chuckles like she doesn't get the joke before looking at the camera, the video zooming in on her.

"What? It's the truth."

"Yawn! Next."

Most of these are from AllTalkMe, but this was a reaction to her and Bora getting an ad for a DeepDive music video which she instantly skipped. Later, Myrah would admit to not even knowing who DeepDive was, saying: "I don't listen to boy groups. I barely listen to Kpop."

"Well, if I owned a company, I would also a slut. Who wouldn't?"

She said this during an Instagram live when someone asked for her thoughts on the Angelico vs. Baebi trial. She'd also go on to say...

"Yeah, totally on her side. I'll be honest, she could've beaten his ass, and I would still be on her side. Sue men if you can."

"Sue men." Would soon become a popular term used on Twitter primarily. She would then go on to make a tank top with the phrase on it, putting it for sale on her merch store where it would sell out in 30 minutes.

"We kiss sometimes."

Immortalized by a fan-taken video during Paris Fashion Week 2018, Myrah was signing autographs for fans waiting for her outside the building. Waiting patiently and holding her Metallic Birkin 25 was her boyfriend of two years, Gong Yoo. When asked by an unknowing reporter if they were together, Myrah would laugh and tell him: "We kiss sometimes." With a shrug.

"Sometimes I wanted to rip your hair out and shake you until you got what I was saying, but you always meant the world to me, you know? That's true love to me. We're in love."

Said during the fifth-anniversary episode of AllTalkMe between Myrah and Bora. The pair reminisced on their time together and their friendship. Bora, who would be quietly crying during this spill, would sniffle and nod before giving Myrah a simple finger heart then bursting into tears. Myrah would burst out in laughter, dabbing her eyes as tears would slip out.

"Just fucking do your job. Your job is to sing and dance. Sing and dance!"

Known to run her generation like the navy, this iconic quote would be shouted during a rather tense practice session that was filmed for the Allume documentary. Myeah would actually yell this at member Sora and surprisingly not Sooah, who she would later go on to snap at for missing a beat.

"Stop asking us about groups we're not in. We don't care."

Myrah would interrupt an interviewer when they would start to ask her about BigBang. In her defense, this was the fourth boy group the interviewer had asked the girls about, and Myrah was over it.

"Why would I have children? I'm too hot and successful to take care of a child. Be serious."

Another iconic quote from an Instagram live stream. Ever since Myrah turned 30, she's been constantly asked if and when she'll become a mother. Though she's been mothering since 2000, Myrah has stated multiple times she has no plans to actually birth a child and will continue to focus on her career until she dies.

"Never date an idol. Idols don't last unless you're me but-"

This piece of advice was given to a viewer of AllTalkMe during their call-in segment, which has since been discontinued. Due to her inflections and quickness, this was one of the first clips of Myrah to go viral. Plus, Bora's reaction of bursting out into laughter, hitting the desk, and falling over in her chair was the cherry on top.

[berlinini]

some Thoughts about the 02 show (while the days of ltwt show recaps the length of essays are gone, I thought I'd share some stuff)(this of course got kinda long anyways, I am nothing but predictable!)

first of all it's so interesting to go online after a show and "consume" the show through different perspectives... I was in the pit close to the sound booth and could see a tiny Louis like tunnel vision (and not even always - I had to look at the screens a lot more than any previous shows). I had never been to such a big venue and it felt like the arenas I'd be previously - it's so hard to gage. Anyways when I saw Louis' IG post I realized how far I was and seeing pictures and videos of the venue - I truly hadn't realized the sheer number of people. Also the lights project from our POV seemed to have bombed but seeing the videos, it did create the intended effect. Also I was so far that I had to ask the gc for the color of the pants (#purple #slay) and only in the encore, when there was a camera on Louis' entire body, did I notice the shoes (unfortunately my eyes deceived me into thinking they were Nike). I missed all the little quirky faces and interactions that I now see in gifs. HOWEVER I did not miss the several times Louis teared up including during Chicago and during his speeches and I tell you my heart was bursting. I love that he talked a bit more than usual - I think he said something like "I can't put into words... well let me try" and he said everything so perfectly! The reference to his dreams and the "we" - I just listened to him and thought how much I love him. His special thanks to his band was super sweet.

setlist: HOTH safe! If I hadn't known DMD was back on the setlist I wouldn't have recognized it. No 7 :( I tolerate Angels Fly but tbh I don't understand how it's there and not like Headline or Always You or FEARLESS. High in Cali was hilarious because you could tell weed isn't legal in the UK lmao - the vibe was so different than back home. 505 still so good and now I can sing every single lyrics but in a very oh poor me, the show ruined my 5 x 505 streak this year since it's now 6. But 505 Laval you'll always be #1 in my Heart <3. We Made It is still the It Girl and Silver Tongues... I doubt a closer will ever come this close (hehe) to how fucking epic it is. Tbh I could hardly tell when the string section was playing but I'm glad I had a show with strings! Me still in LTWT mode wondering why the pyro didn't go off during Walls only to be told there hasn't been any for this tour ouuuups. The Megamix SLAYS so hard and the special effects were SO cool! I did miss the classic rainbow lights for SIBWAWC cuz the lasers didn't reflect on the crowd as nicely but the clouds and at the beginning of ATT were beautiful.

Talking about lasers I was eyeing this guy in the soundbooth that I'd never see before and was clowning about him being there for the LIVE ALBUM RECORDING. I even took notes to figure out later where he works (spare a thought for tumblr user bbrox who has to put up with my insanity). ONLY to figure out 1 hour later that the guy was the special lasers guy as made so obvious by the fact he packed up his stuff after Saturdays in a box that said "laser fx triangle C" lololol. Sometimes I think it's good to clown for nothing - be humbled!

I saw most of the crew in the soundbooth - the person I was with was trying to spot the Tomlinsons while I was looking for Oli and K and was mentally putting a check on names for the sound and lights guys - priorities! (Blaming Red Rocks for having us go down the rabbit hole of every single member of the crew)

Oh yeah the KMM lights! It was kinda spontaneous? He had a little shy smile like he was telling himself 'look at this lot' and it was soooo adorable. I'm glad I got to be a part of it <3 Which pretty much summarizes this whole show - witnessing a moment in history.

Finally - TANK TOP LOUIS WITH MY OWN 2 EYES!!!!!! And what a tank top!!! #blessed #cantspellslutwithoutlt

Everyone's been saying being a louie is for life and that just keep getting stronger and stronger everytime I get to see him perform! Can't wait for future shows!!!

[blueink01]

Ch. 1: The Hazbin Hotel

Unknown Amount of Time After Arriving in Hell-

The chapter starts with a voiceover of The Princess of Hell, Charlie singing:

"~At the end of the rainbow, there's happiness.~" A human is falling down from the sky as a rainbow bursts upwards through the clouds.

"~And to find it, how often I've tried.~" Charlie is seen being told off by her father.

"~But, my life, is a race. Just a wild goose chase.~" Camera pans over to where a figure was pointing at, which shows hell being circled by Angels

"~And my dreams, have all been denied. Why have I always been a failure?~" A shadow of Lucifer looms over a disappointed Charlie as demonic arms and tentacles cover the screen

"~What can the reason be? I wonder if the world's to blame.~" The Earth rotates as many eyes begin to surround it.

"~I wonder if it could be me.~" The Exorcists are seen smiling deviously as they look down upon the souls they have gotten rid of. The scene turns to black as the camera focuses on the middle Exorcist's face and halo.

"~I'm always chasing rainbows. Watching clouds drifting by.~" The scene fades in on graffiti and signs that says "F**k You, Heaven", "Punishment" and "Your Days Are Numbered" can be seen throughout Hell.

"~My schemes are just like all my dreams. Ending in the sky.~" Charlie heads towards a buildings's balcony as she releases fireworks that signals the rest of Hell that the extermination has ended.

"~Some fellows look and find the sunshine.~" A handful of demons are seen checking the area to see if the coast is all clear.

"~I always look and find the rain.~" An Overlord opens the blinds to her room, revealing the display of fireworks. The camera then proceeds to show a four-eyed Overlord with Yn sat on his lap lovingly.

"~Some fellows make a winning sometime.~" At The Porn Studios, Velvette takes a selfie with Vox wheres Valentino is not amused when he sees that hes got a text from his employee.

"~I never even make a gain. Believe me.~" Two demons check to see if Franklin is still alive and proceed to head offscreen as the cannibals waiting nearby pounce onto her dead body. Rosie then crosses out Franklin's name from the sign above their business.

"~I'm always chasing rainbows.~" A demon can be seen cleaning up what's been left of the extermination as other demons begin to freely walk about in the open.

"~*in tears* & Waiting to find a little bluebird. In vain.~" Charlie looks back at the clock tower as it resets the timer for the next yearly cleanse.

-Time Skip-

A sinner has fallen into Hell and has been transformed into a demon. He falls face-first onto the road and is surprised to see that he is still "alive".

"Aaaaah! Ugh. Huh?" He checks himself.

"I'm alive! I'm alive-" He then gets run over by a taxi driven by Travis which Angel Dust walks out of, Travis snickers.

"Heh. Thanks for the fun time, hot stuff!" Angel Dust pushes his hand through his hair.

"Yeah, yeah, listen. Keep this discreet, you hear me? I can't let it get out I'm offerin' my services to randos on the street! It was a quick cash grab. Ya got it!" He makes a gesture with his fingers and snaps his fingers at him, smiling.

"Pfft! Whatever you say, slut! Muhehehehehehe!" He laughs, Angel Dust pretends to be offended.

"Ouch! Ooh! Such an insult! Let me know when you've come up with something creative to call me." He looms over Travis and points at him with all his index fingers.

"You sack of poorly packaged horse sh*t! Tell the missus I said "'hi", Shnuckums!"

"Pack a - puh.." As Travis angrily drives off, Angel looks behind him to see a vending machine for his namesake drugs. He goes for the Angel Dust and just as he gets a hold of it, a random demon runs by and steals his drugs.

"Yoink!"

"Hey!"

"Up yours, drag show!" A boulder proceeds to fall out of the sky, crushing the feathered demon alongside Angel's drugs.

"Oh my GOD!" Angel gasps. He leans in to pick up what's left of his pack of drugs with a devastated look on his face.

"MY DRUGS!" He yells.

"Damn it!" He clenches the cloth angrily and looks up. A war ship can be seen passing by, destroying its surroundings.

The camera zooms in on the war ship, revealing Sir Pentious and his henchmen inside.

"Ahahahahahahahahahahah! Those other cowardly ssssinners dare not hinder my territorial take over! A wise decision! The power of my machines are unmatched!" He proceeds to push two levers as his hood flares open.

"No other demon can compare to the likesss of I!"

Egg Boi #23: "Gee! That was pretty swell, boss!"

Egg Boi #666: "Yeah!"

Other Egg Boi: "You really showed them what for! I liked when you." His hand mimics the action of a shooting ray gun.

Other Egg Boi: "Shot them with your ray gun" He gets slapped away by Sir Pentious.

Egg Boi #23: "I wish he'd shoot me with his ray gun!" Other Egg Boi pats him as Sir Pentious' hood flares open.

"At this rate, I will seize control of the entire west side of the Pentagram by day's end! And nothing, not a single beast in this inferno of suffering will be able to take back this empire from my constrictive grasp!" An Egg Boi suddenly pops on screen and pops open a bottle of whiskey onto Sir Pentious face. Sir Pent proceeds to swat said Egg Boi aside.

Random Egg Boi: "Oh, boy!"

"Hell will be mine! And everybody will know the name of Sir Pen-"

"EDGELORD!" Sir Pentious is interrupted by a scream coming from offscreen. Sir Pentious and two Egg Bois become surprised.

"Pardon?!" He looks around angrily and eyes the two Egg Bois behind him.

"Who said that?! What did you just say to me, you fried chicken fetuses?! Speak up!"

The Two Egg Bois: "That wasn't us, Mr. Bossman." A small bomb with a print of a skull on it breaks through Sir Pent's ship. It then lands right between Sir Pentious and the two Egg Bois. The bomb proceeds to blow up, leaving red smoke behind. As the smoke clears up, the owner of the scream is revealed to be Cherri Bomb as she prepares another borab in hand.

"You lookin' for a fight, old man?!" She begins to juggle around her cherry bomb.

"Why don't you get that tinker toy bullsh*t off my turf before I.." She proceeds to throw and catch the bomb in her hands.

"...smash it?!" A large pipe falls on top of an already dead Egg Boi, crushing him as Sir Pentious and Cherri momentarily look at the carnage "...More!"

"Oh! You wanna go, missy?! Well, I'm happy to oblige! Ahahah!" Sir Pentious is then backed up by his henchmen of Egg Bois.

The logo for 666 News is shown on a black background, which is followed by the day's newscast.

"Good afternoon, I'm Katie Killjoy."

"And I'm Tom Trench! Chaos out at Pentagram City today as a turf war is raging on the west side!" An image of Sir Pentious trying to be hip, followed by a drawing of Cherri flipping the bird is shown.

"Between notable kingpin, Sir Pentious, and self-proclaimed spunky powerhouse, Cherri Bomb!"

"That's right, Tom! After the recent extermination, many areas are now up for grabs! Demons all over Hell are already duking it out to gain new territory!" A live clip of Cherri and Sir Pentious's clash is shown.

"Those two seem to be really going at it, huh?"

"Looks like they're fighting tooth and nail." She fishes out a tooth and a nail respectively from her mug of coffee.

"For that hot spot!" She proceeds to swallow said tooth and nail while Tom looks over at the live broadcast focusing on Cherri.

"And I'd sure like to nail her hot spot! Hoohoo!"

"Haha, you are a limp-d*ck jacka** Tom! Or should I say-" She pours scalding hot coffee onto his crotch, "No d*ck?" She laughs.

"Ugh... not again!" Screen shows a picture of Charlie as Tom can still be heard whimpering in pain in the background.

"Coming up next, we have an exclusive interview with the daughter of Hell's own head honcho who's here to discuss her brand new passion project! All that and more, after the break!" She crushes her mug in her hand and turns to Trench who's still in pain.

"Suck it up, you little bi-!" The news cast cuts off and goes on a commercial break. The camera pans out from a nearby screen, focusing on Charlie and as Vaggie fixes Charlie's bow.

"When is Yn coming?" Charlie said worriedly.

"She said she'll be a little late but you remember what to say?" Charlie inhales deeply.

"Yes! Let's do this!" She smiles determinedly.

"Just, look at me and I'll mouth it to you." Vaggie forced a smile.

"Come on, Vaggie! I know what to say! I just feel like we need to... I don't know." She grabs and throws a doughnut away, "Make things sound more exciting! Hooo! What if I si-".

"Sing a song about it?" Vaggie rolls her eyes.

"You knew I was gonna say that!" Charlie boops Vaggie on the nose.

"Because I know you. But, please don't sing!" She shakes Charlie. "This is serious! Yn may like to hear you sing but now is not the right time." Vaggie sighed.

"Well, you know, I'm better at expressing myself and my goals through a song!" Charlie smiles, standing on the table where Razzle and Dazzle happily munching on doughnuts, watching her.

"But, life isn't a musical, hon" Vaggie places her hands on her hips.

"Fine. But, I have these other ideas of what to say!" She starts bouncing a bit as she shows Vaggie a piece of paper.

"The highlighted bits are the best part!"

"Uh... A wedding plan?"

"Huh?!" Charlie grabs the paper from Vaggie and looks at it then smiles.

"Oh! This is our and Yn's future wedding plan!" Vaggie smiles and blushes while Charlie is looking at the piece of paper but then she puts it away and takes out another piece of paper.

"This is the one." Vaggie grabs the piece of paper.

"Uh, it's all highlighted. Is this a drawing..?"

"Yes! That's the happy ending, see?! Everyone smiling and happy in Heaven!" Vaggie pinches the bridge of her nose.

"I don't think it's that simple. Just please follow the talking points we went over. And-" She grabs Charlie to face her.

"Do not sing!" She warned.

"Okay, fine. I'll just have to resort to my impeccable improv skills!" She salutes Vaggie as she walks over to Katie Killjoy.

"Hi! I'm Charlie!" Charlie spoke nervously, Charlie tries to go for a handshake.

"Katie Killjoy." She blows out the smoke of her cigarette, "I'd say it's a pleasure to meet you, but that would be a lie." She throws away her cigarette, "And you can put that away." Katie gestures to Charlie's hand, "I don't touch the gays.... I have standards!" Katie rolled her eyes, Vaggie heard as she clenched her fist.

"Yeah? How's uh... how's that working out for ya?" Charlie turns to look around nervously.

"Look, my time is money. So, I'll keep this short." She proceeds to poke Charlie, "You're not here because we wanted you here. You're here because Jeffrey couldn't make it for his cannibal cooking segment."

A billboard of Jeffrey's cannibalism cooking show titled "It's Dahm Good!" can be seen in the background, "You might be some royal big shot..."

She fluffs her hair, "But that doesn't mean sh*t to me. I'm too rich and too influential to give a flying f**k about what some tux-wearing demon "princess" wants to avertise." Katie crossed her arms. Tom can be seen shaking his head in disapproval as Katie boasts about her wealth and influence to Charlie.

"But, I-" Charlie gulped.

"So, don't get cute with me, honey, or I will f**king bury you!" Katie Killjoy continues to poke her chest.

"And we're live!" News Staff said. Killjoy rushes back to her desk, holding papers while cracking her neck.

"Welcome back! So, Charlotte!" Katie kept her forced smile as she looked at Charlie.

"It's... Charlie." She smiles nervously as a spotlight flashes her way.

"Whatever. Tell us about this new passion project you've been insistently pestering our news station about!" Katie tries to hold in her outburst by clenching her pen.

Charlie looks around as Vaggie motions her to go on, "Well..." Charlie clears her throat and exhales, "...as most of you know, I was born here in Hell and growing up, I always tried to see the good in everyone around me!" Charlie smiled. Killjoy spots a slug and stabs it with her pen, the slug's blood bursts all over.

"Hell is my home and-" She gets slug blood splattered across her cheek which she then wipes off, "You are my people. We... we just went through another extermination." Vaggie is seen giving Charlie two thumbs up as Killjoy quickly starts to lose interest.

"We lost so many souls, and it breaks my heart to see my people being slaughtered every year. No one is even given a chance!" She slams fist on table, waking Killjoy up. Charlie walks up from Killjoy's desk.

"I can't stand idly by while the place I live is subjected to such violence! So, I've been thinking: Isn't there a more humane way to hinder overpopulation here in Hell?" She walks around the audience.

"Perhaps we can create an alternative way to change souls through... redemption?" She throws her arm around one of the News Cast's staff members.

"Well, I think yes! So, that's what this project aims to achieve!" She returns to Killjoy's desk.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm opening the first of its kind! A hotel that rehabilitates sinners!" Her broadcast is being shown at The Radio Shack, which many other demons are also watching by the streets and everywhere else in Hell. Charlie starts to lose her confidence.

"Y'know? 'Cause hotels are for people passin' through. temporarily.." She gulped.

"Ahahaha! IS this girl for real?! She thinks." The lizard demon tries to hold in his laughter, "You hear what she thinks?! She thi. HAHA! Ah, she's nuts." He walks out of The Kaiju Klub with his friends.

"I think it'll serve a purpose... a place to work toward redemption.. yay..!" Charlie seemed more worried. The scene cuts back to the demons watching her broadcast from The Radio Shack. A mysterious figure walks up to see her broadcast alongside a bunch of other demons watching such as Crymini and a handful of others.

"Stupid b*tch." Vaggie punches the cameraman square in the face Charlie looks around, saddened.

"Look, every single one of you has something good, deep down inside. I know you do! Maybe I'm not getting through to you." Razzle and Dazzle are then alerted that Charlie's about to sing and that she may need their back-up vocals. Vaggie facepalms.

"Oh no... Yn please come soon..." Charlie snaps her fingers as the room turns dark and a spotlight is shown over a piano that Charlie, Razzle and Dazzle start performing on. Meanwhile, back at The Radio Shack, Alastor and his shadow can be seen tilting their heads curiously as their smiles widen.

-Plays Song-

Charlie ends the song, rather exhausted as everyone in the news station looks at her with disgust and disbelief.

"Wow! ...That was sh*t!" Top hat demon declared.

Everyone in the audience including Killjoy and Trench begin to laugh at Charlie. Charlie looks crushed and devastated and slumps back down to her seat.

Outside the building the Magne limousine stops right at the front, the back door opens and Yn steps out of the car with small black and purple marks all over her neck, Yn touches the marks.

"I think Zestial and Carmilla did this on purpose." Yn looks up at the building and growls.

There was a boo section in the news and the demons look uninterested.

"Booooo!" The demon called out, Blue Flame Demon looked deadpan.

"What in the Nine Circles makes you think a single denizen of Hell would give two sh*ts about becoming a better person?! You have no proof that this little experiment even works! You want people to be good?! Just... because?!" Katie continues to laugh.

"Well, we have a patron already, who believes in our cause and he's shown incredible progress!" Charlie smiles brightly.

Katie Killjoy feigns shock, "Oh? And who might that be?" She smirks.

Charlie tries to look smug and confident, "Oh, just someone named... Angel Dust!" She smirked.

"The porn star?" Tom snickered.

Katie Killjoy turns to him menacingly, "You fucking would, Tom!" She turns back to Charlie, "In any case, that's not even an accomplishment. I'm sure you could get that hooker to do anything with enough booger sugar and lube." Katie motions doing a handjob.

"Oh, I beg to differ!" Charlie clenched her fist and begins to count on her fingers., "He's been behaved, clean, and out of trouble for two weeks now."

News Staff spoke offscreen, "Breaking News!" Killjoy shoves Charlie off her desk.

"We are receiving word that a new player has entered the ongoing turf war! Let's go to the live feed.." Katie smiled her usual smile.

The live feed shows Angel Dust stepping on an Egg Boi and throwing a grenade over at Sir Pentious with visible laughter in the background as Charlie stares at the screen in defeat.

"Oh...sh*t.." Charlie gulped.

Angel Dust was in the background, "I'm a bad person!" He yelled.

"'Oh, sh*t' indeed! It looks like the one who just joined the battle is none other than porn actor, Angel Dust!" She turns to Charlie as she shakes her fist.

"What a juicy coincidence! You must feel really stupid, right now." Killjoy and Trench proceed to laugh at Charlie.

Killjoy and Trench do Jazz hands, "Ratings!" They laughed.

"Don't look at this!" Charlie stares at the live feed in distress and attempts to block it from the audience's view.

"Well, it sure looks like your little project is dead on arrival..." Katie looms over Charlie, "Tell us, how does it feel to be a total failure?" Katie smiled evilly. Everyone in the room starts bursting into laughter.

Charlie tries to think of a comeback, "Yeah, well..." She looks around, "How does it feel that I got your pen, huh?!" She grabs Killjoy's ballpen, "...B*tch!" Charlie smiled.

Everybody instantly stops laughing while Katie Killjoy and Tom Trench give her the death stare.

Charlie laughs nervously, "Ehehe..." She puts pen back down, "Oops..." She forced a worried smile.

Tom Trench runs off set. Killjoy's demonic form reveals itself as she looms over Charlie from the shadows.

Yn enters the studio, she stands in the shadows the only thing visible of her are her fc glowing eyes. Purplish red smoke transitions into Angel Dust and Cherri Bomb fighting egg bois.

-Meanwhile at Turf War-

"Heyyy, thanks for the back up, Angie!" Cherri smiled brightly.

"Hahaha!" Angel Dust laughed. Cherri Bomb fires a rocket launcher.

"You kiddin'? This is the best action I've seen in ages!" Angel Dust puts hands behind his head.

Cherri Bomb launching another cherry bomb, "Where've you been, anyway? I thought you up and died or some sh*t..." Cherri questioned.

Angel Dust lighting a bomb and handing it to her, "Oh, I wish! I've been staying at this crappy hotel on the other side of town. Some broads are lettin' me stay rent free if I play nice." Angel Dust grumbled.

They both cover their heads as the explosion sets off behind them, then grin at each other as they jump into the field.

Angel Dust continues to shoot down Egg Bois with what seems to be a drum mag M1928 Thompson, "Y'know, no fights, no pranks, no 'problematic language'... Her words, not mine.." He steps on a broken tile, launching an Egg Boi airborne and shoots him from behind as he sighs again, "These crazy b*tches are no fun! I've been clean for two weeks! I guess in't not all bad, I got to try and have fun with Yn~" Angel Dust smirked.

"Ho-ly sh*t! Really?! Yn! You got a thing for her?!" Cherri Bomb stares at him in disbelief.

"Yeah! And I've been... well, sorta clean." Angel Dust looks at the leftover smudge on his finger.

He destroys an incoming Egg Boi, "Just clean as you can get from a sh*tload of Bolivian marching powder!" Angel Dust gets chained and thrown aside by Sir Pentious, "Ohh. Harder, daddy!" He raises left eyebrow.

Sir Pentious, taking it seriously as he gasps,

"Son?!" He exclaims.

Angel lowers eyebrow as Cherri kicks Sir Pentious to the side.

Sir Pentious hood flares open, "Ger! You whores have no classss! In war, The side remembered is the side with the most ssstyle!" He adjusts his tie.

"Or the side that ain't dead!" Cherri decapitates an Egg Boi.

Angel Dust stands up and removes the chains restricting him, "Speakin' a style, is your hat like, alive or something?" Angel questioned as his phone started to ring.

'Ah Shit..' Angel grumbled.

"Oh! Well, that's none of your GOD DAMN BUSSSSINESS! Now, is it?" Sir Pentious yelled.

"Hah, would that make your hat the top and you the bottom?" Angel Dust smirked. A sign that says "Loser" can be seen in the background pointing at Sir Pentious as an Egg Boi acknowledges the roast.

Egg Boi cups his hands, "Oooooh!" They gets pebble thrown at him by Sir Pentious.

Sir Pentious seemed to be enraged, "I'm going to blow you to bitssss!" He hissed. Angel Dust eyes him up and down, trying to get his phone ringer down, "Hm, kinky!" He smirked.

"Oh, not like that!" Sir Pentious' hood flares open as a sign that says 'Pussy' can be seen pointing at him in the background, "Pervert!" He knocks over an Egg Boi.

Angel notices an egg boi with a tentacle launcher which causes him to push Cherri to the side out of fear. As Angel gets tangled up in all the tentacles. Cherri catches Angel's phone as she sees the username, 'Princess as she picks it up.

"Hello?" Cherri smiled.

<Cherri? It's Yn. is Angel there?> Cherri looked at Angel Dust and sighed, "Yeah just. give us a minute.. Kay, Sweet Cheeks?" Cherri smiled, she put hold on Yn, "So, think you're gonna get in a lotta trouble for this?" Cherri asked, handing the phone to Angel Dust.

"Eh." Angel Dust retracts his third set of arms, "What's one little brawl gonna cause?" He smiled as he got on the phone and heard a pure sweet voice of anger.

-Meanwhile at 666 News-

Charlie and Killjoy can be seen trying to duking it out on each other like it's some sort of WWE match while a fire alarm goes off in the background with Trench entering the scene, covered in fames

"WHY WON'T ANYONE HELP ME?!" Tom yelled.

-View switch-

"Glad you haven't changed!" Cherri slugs him on the arm, "You know you're my favorite guy to party with!" Cherri smiled brightly.

"You know it, sugar t*ts!" Angel Dust puts his phone away.

Cherri Bomb takes out one last bomb, "You ready to finish this?" she smirked.

Angel Dust takes out a Thompson gun, "Born ready, baby!" He smiled. Angel and Cherri pounce onto Sir Pentious and his army as they prepare to clash, Charlie and Killjoy are still at each other's throats screaming, Trench is still on fire, screaming in agony.

Suddenly chains made out of fire ties everyone but Vaggie and Charlie, everyone looks around confused while some people struggle to get free.

"I think that's enough for now." Everyone but Vaggie and Charlie freeze, they turn and see Yn walking out of the shadows.

"Yn, you're here!" Charlie smiles and jumps into Yn's arms.

"Sorry I took so long, I had trouble escaping my other partners..." Charlie chuckles a little but inside she's a little pissed.

"I think we should get out of here, don't you think so Hun?" Vaggie walks over to Yn and pats her back.

"Yeah..." Yn who carries Charlie walks out of the building with Vaggie. Yn look back one more time sending death glare to Killjoy who shivers in fear, just as the girls walk out of the room. The fire chains vanish but not before giving everyone left in the room some nasty burns.

The royal family limousine can be seen driving back to the hotel. Charlie can be seen lying on Yn's lap, her face facing her thighs her jacket is ruined after Katie Killjoy attacked her, while Vaggie sits next to her and Yn, glaring furiously at Angel Dust.

Charlie sighs and Vaggie's eye twitches and Yn just blankly stares at Angel Dust who can be seen amusing himself by playing with the car window roller repeatedly. Vaggie scrunches up her face which Angel Dust takes notice of "...What?" Angel Dust asks.

"'What?', 'WHAT?!..... What were you DOING?!" Vaggie almost rips off her hair.

Angel Dust sighs, "I owed my girl buddy a solid! Isn't that a 'redeeming quality?" He does air quotes, "Helping friends with stuff?" Angel Dust rolls his eyes as he watches his sister play on her phone.

"Not with turf wars that result in territorial genocide!" Vaggie exclaimed.

"Eh, you win some, you lose a few hundred. Ehahahahahah!" Angel Dust inhales, "It wasn't that bad, anyway..." He proceeds to play with the button of the car window roller. Vaggie throws a folded pocket knife at the window roller

"Aw, come on! I had to! My credibility was on the line! I mean, what kind of reputation would I have if people found out I was tryna go clean? It just throws out my entire persona!" He suggestively pushes up chest floof while looking at Yn, Vaggie's eye twitches even more when she sees that.

"Your credibility? What about the hotel's?!" Vaggie looked annoyed, She gestures at a defeated Charlie, "Your little stunt made us look like a fucking joke!" Vaggie combusts.

Angel Dust scoffs, "No, no, no, babe. Jokes are funny! I made you look... uh, sad!" The camera pans to Charlie, "And pathetic! Like an orphan... with no arms... or legs... Oh! With progeria!" Yn looked at Angel Dust annoyed as the camera focused back on him. "Great! Now I'm bummed thinkin' about it!" He starts looking around the limousine.

"This thing have any liquor?" Angel Dust asked as Yn started to get slowly hyper.

"Can you please just try to take this seriously?! Also don't mention liquor around Yn?!" Vaggie grumbled as Angel Dust flicks off a dust bunny.

"Fine, I'lI try Just don't get your taco in a twist, baby!" He snaps finger at her while smiling.

"Was that you trying to be sexist or racist?" Yn questioned.

Angel Dust groans, "Whatever pisses her off more. Is there seriously no liquor in here?!" Angel Dust looked around as Yn got more excited.

Vaggie returns to sit next to Yn as she crosses her arms, "I'm gonna kill 'im." Vaggie growls.

"Calm down." Yn pats the top of Vaggie's head.

"Too late, toots. Wait! Would that make me double dead? Hah, and where exactly do I go? To Double Hell? Hahahahahahahaha! Sorry, you're stuck with me, b*tch. Get used to it" He folds his arms confidently.

Vaggie looks at him angrily, as she grits her teeth, "¡Con una mierda, malparido hijo de..!' Vaggie yelled in spanish. (For f**k's sake, you bastard son of..)

"Listen, who cares if some jack-offs got hurt? Most of 'em are ugly freaks. Look around!" Angel Dust look out the limousine window, smirking, "You got a bunch a f**kin' Harlequin babies down here!" Angel Dust stated as he was laughing.

"You're one to talk.." Vaggie smiles smugly.

"Hey!" Angel Dust motions to his body, "This body is flawless! Everyone wants to summa' me..." Angel Dust pushes up chest fluff and takes out a letter, "and we've got the creepy fan letters to prove it!" Angel Dust smirked.

Takes letter from in between his chest floof and reveals it to Vaggie that features a small picture of a dirty naked old man, who ironically has a 'No Angel Dust tattoo, smothering his mouth on an Angel Dust body pillow and a message at the bottom saying 'Show me your feet!! - Bryrin, # 1 Fan /Critic'.

"Freaks..." Yn mutters under her breath.

"Grrr..." Vaggie growls.

"That was really uncool, y'know, Angel..." Charlie sits up while Yn takes off her jacket, Charlie hands Yn some grape juice as she smiled widely and drank the whole bottle, feeling less angry.

"...Uncool?! After that train-wreck, there is no way anyone is gonna wanna stay at the hotel!" Vaggie looks toward Angel Dust, "All thanks to..." Vaggie points at him, Angel Dust, "...you and your selfish bullshit!" She yelled.

"Does that mean I don't have a free room anymore?" Angel Dust asked. Vaggie motions 'What do you think? "Ah, well shucks."

Angel Dust snaps finger, "...Guess I'll stay with Yn." Angel Dust poses for her, "and have some fun time~?.."

"What do you think?" Angel Dust groans, "oh well at least you won't ever leave me out to dry!" He smirked.

"Hey, come on. We don't know if things are over yet!" Charlie said.

"Yeah, and again try to relax, Vaggie. It'll be okay!" Yn added as she puts a hand on Vaggie's left shoulder while petting Charlie's hair. Vaggie and Charlie smiles at Yn.

Arrived at the Happy Hotel-

The limousine arrives at the hotel as the hotel door opens, revealing a very old and dirty establishment.

"Ugh! Yn, could you be a dear and help me with my shoulders?" Vaggie throws herself on the couch, facing the wall.

"Sure." Vaggie lies down on the couch and Yn starts to give her a massage. Angel Dust rummages through the fridge leaning by the wall and grabbing a box of Popsicles.

"Eh, it's probably a good idea to get some actual food in this place. Y'know, to feed all the wayward souls you got in here! Ahahaha! Ahaha..! ch... ah.." He closes the fridge door as he tries to comfort Charlie but decides to back off.

Charlie exits the hotel and tries to contact her mother. Charlie sighs, "Hey, mom. I know I keep calling and you must be busy... Really busy... But, um, the interview didn't go well..."

She shrinks to her knees, "and... I don't know if I'm ever going to make a difference.." Charlie starts tearing up as she wipes it off her face.

"I don't know what I'm doing: I could really use some advice, mom. I... I think dad was right about me... Ahah, oof, eh, anyway..." She wipes her face once more.

"I'll stop talking before this gets long. Love you, bye..." Charlie walks back in and leans by the door in defeat as a sudden knock can be heard from the other side of the door, surprising Charlie. She contemplates on whether or not to open the door but decides to open it anyway. The mysterious figure watching her performance from before can be seen standing before her.

"Hel..." He gets door slammed in front of him. Charlie looks to the side for a brief moment before opening the door again

"lo!" Charlie slams door in front of her face once more before making her way to Vaggie and Yn who is still massaging Vaggie.

"Hey, Yn? Vaggie?" Charlie gulped.

"Whaaaat~?" Vaggie groan annoyed.

"Something wrong?" Yn looks at Charlie.

"The Radio Demon is at the door!" Charlie looked down nervously.

"What?!" Vaggie quickly sits up and Yn looks horrified.

"Uh... who?" Angel Dust takes out the popsicle from her mouth.

"What should I do?!" Charlie asked.

"Uh, well- Don't let him in!" Vaggie advised.

"I'm f**ked! I'm so f**ked! Whatever you do, don't let him in!" Yn suddenly vanishes from the spot as Charlie decides to disregard Yn and Vaggie's advice once more and opens the door for Alastor.

"May I speak now?" Charlie seemed confused.

"You may.." Alastor reached his hand out.

"Alastor! Pleasure to be meeting you, sweetheart!" He pulls Charlie towards him.

"Quite a pleasure!" He lets himself in, "Excuse my sudden visit, but I saw your fiasco on a picture show, and I just couldn't resist! What a performance! Why, I haven't been that entertained since the stock market crash of 1929! Hahahahaha.." Alastor plays with his mic staff, "..sooo many orphans..." He chuckled.

Vaggie holds a harpoon towards his chest, "Stop right there, cabrón hijo de perra (bastard son of a b*tch!) I know your game and I'm not gonna let you hurt anyone here, you pompous cheesy talk show sh*tlord!" Vaggie warned as Angel's head pops in, unamused.

Alastor uses finger to move the harpoon away, "Dear, if I wanted to hurt anyone here.." He turns into his full demon form, "I would've done so.." Alastor smirked.

The screen distorts as Charlie and Vaggie stare at him in fear.

Alastor snaps back to reality, "No! I'm here because I want to help!" Alastor smiled.

"Say what, now?" Charlie questioned. Alastor repeats himself, "Help! Hahaha, hello? Is this thing on?" He taps on his mic, "Testing, testing!" He smile.

Alastor's Mic opens its one eye, "Well, I heard you loud and clear!" It blinked.

"Um, you want to help? With..?" Charlie questioned slowly.

Alastor teleports behind the two with his shadow, "This ridiculous thing you're trying to do! This hotel! I want to help you run it.." Alastor smirked.

"Buuut... Why?' Charlie asked, suspicious.

"Hahaha, why does anyone do anything? Sheer, absolute boredom! I've lacked inspiration for decades. My work became mundane, lacking focus..." He shoves Vaggie offscreen, "aimless! I've come to crave a new form of entertainment! Hahaha!" He laughed. Alastor suddenly stops and sniffs the air, his smile widens even more causing Vaggie and Charlie to feel unnerved.

"Excuse me." He walks over to a closer and when he opens it Yn is seen hiding inside.

"Oh sh*t..." Yn cursed.

"Hello Darling~" Alastor grabs Yn's hand, twirl and dips her while his other hand holding her waist keeping her from falling, he smashes his lips onto Yn's lips. Yn's eyes widen along with Vaggie, Charlie and Angel Dust's. Vaggie starts to shake.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" she snatches Yn away from Alastor and holds her spear towards Alastor again.

"That's not fair!" Angel Dust said pissed.

"I'm expressing my love towards her." Alastor smiled pleased and satisfied to see his Darling.

"You two know each other?!" Charlie asked surprised. Yn clears her throat while she's blushing a little.

"Yeah... In the early few weeks when I arrived at Hell, I met Alastor at a tea party, he tried to make deals with me since I was a newcomer and it didn't go like he planned..." Yn explained.

"What do you mean?" Charlie and Vaggie confused about what she mean.

"We fought and she clearly won!" Alastor replied spinning his cane.

"And ever since that day, he's been like... this." Yn points at Alastor who is holding Yn from behind. Charlie and Vaggie looks at Yn and Alastor shocked.

"And that's one of the reasons why I'm an Overlord..... and the other reason is my relationship with the... seven sins..." Alastor is the only one that hears that and his smile drops a little before it returns back to normal. Charlie looks at Yn with a raised eye brow before looking back at Alastor.

"Does getting into a fistfight with a reporter count as entertainment..?" Charlie asked.

"Hahaha! It's the purest kind, my dear: Reality! True passion! After all, the world is a stage and the stage is a world of entertainment." Alastor smiled.

"So, does this mean you think it's possible to rehabilitate a demon?" Charlie questioned.

"Hahahahaha!" Alastor shakes hands in front of her, "Of course not! That's wacky nonsense!" He shakes head back and forth, "Redemption, oh the non-existent humanity! No, no, no, no. I don't think there's anything left that could save such loathsome sinners!" He looks over to Vaggie who is offended and Angel who just shrugs.

"The chance given was the life they lived before, the punishment is this!" He puts his arms out, gesturing the entirety of Hell, "There is no undoing what is done!" He smirked.

"So, then. Why do you wanna help me if you don't believe in my cause?" Charlie asked.

"Consider it an investment in ongoing entertainment for myself!" Alastor said.

"It's always entertainment with you." Yn replied. Alastor winks at Yn and then he pulls Charlie close to him and twirls her, "I want to watch the scum of the world struggle to climb up the hill of betterment only to repeatedly trip and tumble down to the fiery pit of failure!" He forced a smile.

Charlie removes Alastor's hand from her back, "Riiiight..." Charlie sighs.

"Yes, indeedy!" He grabs Yn and Charlie by the waist and drags them offscreen, "I see big things coming your way and who better to help you than I?" He trails off.

"Uh, so... uh, what's the deal with Smiles over there?" Angel Dust asked.

"Wait, you've never heard of her before? You've been here longer than me!" Vaggie rolled her eyes, Angel Dust shrugs cluelessly.

"The Radio Demon. One of the most powerful beings Hell has ever seen?" Vaggie questioned.

Angel Dust shrugs a second time, "Eh, not big on politics..." Angel Dust answered.

"Ugh!" Vaggie leans in on Angel Dust as she begins her story, "Decades ago, Alastor manifested in Hell..." Vaggie started.

"...seemingly overnight." Scene changes to a visual presentation of Vaggie's story regarding Alastor.

"He began to topple Overlords who have been dominant for centuries. That kind of raw power had never been harnessed by a mortal soul before. Then, he broadcast his carnage all throughout Hell just so everyone could witness his ability. Sinners started calling him "The Radio Demon" (as lazy as that is). Many have speculated what unimaginable force enabled him to rival our world's most ancient and destructive evils. But one thing's for sure. He's an unpredictable source of danger, a wicked spirit of mystery, and a violent monster of chaos, the likes of which we can't rish getting involved with unless we want to end up erased!" Vaggie finished her story with a sigh.

"Ya done?" Angel Dust Laughs dryly, "He looks like a strawberry pimp..." He stated.

"Well, I don't trust him!" Vaggie crossed her

arms."

"To be fair, do you trust any man? Any men? Men?" Angel Dust asked, Vaggie walks over to Charlie and grabs her by her shoulder.

"Charlie, listen to me. You can't believe this creep! He isn't just a happy face! He's a deal-maker! Pure evil! He can't be redeemed! ..And is most likely looking for a way to destroy everything we're trying to do! We already have Yn who is a powerful Overlord, we don't need him!" Vaggie stated.

"I know we have Yn, Vaggie. Look, I know Alastor is bad, and I know he probably doesn't wanna change, but the whole point of this is to give people a chance!" Alastor inspects a portrait of the royal family.

"To have faith things will be better! How can I turn someone away? I can't. It goes against everything I'm trying to do. Everything I believe in." She puts hands on Vaggie's shoulders.

"Just... trust me. I can take care of myself, plus like you said, we have Yn!" Charlie smiles.

"Charlie, whatever you do, do not make a deal with him!" Vaggie rolled her eyes, Alastor makes a gesture with her hand, seemingly focusing on Vaggie.

"Don't worry, I picked up one thing from my dad!" Charlie imitating her dad's voice, "...You don't take sh*t from other demons!" She walks off to where Alastor is causing Vaggie to groan, Yn walks over to her and places her hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry Vaggie, Alastor won't do anything as longs as I'm here." Vaggie smiles and leans her head agains Yn.

"Okay, so, Al. You're sketchy as f**k and you clearly see what I'm trying to do here as a joke." She sighs. As Charlie turns away, glowing red symbols start to appear beside Alastor which quickly disappear after Charlie turns back to Alastor.

"But, I don't. I think everyone deserves a chance to prove they can be better. So, I'm taking your offer to help. On the condition that there be no..." Charlie makes gestures with hands, "...tricks or voodoo strings attached." Charlie crossed her arms.

"So, it's a deal, then?" As Alastor rolls his eyes at that last statement. He twirls his mic staff and presents his hand for a handshake as green energy bursts throughout the hotel.

Charlie refused his handshake, "Nope! No shaking! No deals! I... hmm... As princess of Hell and heir to the throne, I, uh, hereby order that you help with this hotel. For as long as you desire." Charlie smiled.

A howling wolf can be heard in the background as Charlie looks over to Yn and Vaggie for approval, Vaggie looks away while Yn gives her a thumbs up.

"Sound fair?" Charlie asked.

Alastor rubs his chin, "Hmm..." He retracts his mic staff, "Fair enough!" He smiled.

"Cool beans." Charlie sighs in relief.

"Hmm hm hmm hmm.." He continues to hum while looking around as He stops in front of Vaggie, "Smile, my dear!" He tickles the underside of Vaggie's chin who shakes in anger and glares at him, "You know you're never fully dressed without one!" He walks away as he continues humming.

"So where is your hotel staff?" Alastor questioned.

"Uh, well-" Charlie looks at Yn and Vaggie who's staring at Alice dead in the eyes.

"Though my dear Yn is good... you're going to need more than that." He walks towards Angel Dust.

"And what can you do, my effeminate fellow?" He asked.

"I can suck your d*ck!" Angel Dust answered.

Mic feedback can be heard in the background as Alastor tries to process what he was just offered.

"HAH! No..." Alastor said with a straight smile.

Angel Dust scoffs, "Your loss." He looked away.

"Well, this just won't do!" She takes out her mic staff, "I suppose I can cash in a few favors to liven things up." At the snap of her finger, a new fireplace has replaced the hotel's worn down one as she approaches it and picks up the mysterious figure covered in soot, which then opens its eye and stares at the trio behind her. Niffty poofs off the soot from her body.

"This little darling is Niffty!" Niffty drops to the floor, unaffected, "Hi, I'm Niffty! It's nice to meet you! It's been a while since I've made new friends!" She eyes the four, "Why're you all women?" Niffty lifts Charlie with no effort causing Vaggie to point her spear at her, "Are there any men here?!" She puts Charlie down, "I'm sorry, that's rude." She looks around the hotel when she sees Yn. Niffty's eye widens and her smile widens.

"Crimson Queen!" She bolts towards Yn and smashes into her sending them both flying into a wall. Everyone else looks at them shocked.

"Hey!" Vaggie and Charlie rush to Yn and rips Niffty who is clinging onto Yn off of her. Alastor helps Yn stand up as Yn dusts her clothes.

"Well isn't she full of energy." Yn chuckles at Niffty behavior.

"Forgive me my dear, Niffty is a big fan of yours since she's heard stories of you from me." Alastor said.

"No worries." Yn replied.

"Oooh, man! This place is filthy! It really needs a lady's touch!" Niffty grabs a spider and crushes it, "Which is weird because you're all ladies, no offense." She stares offscreen as she takes out a feather duster, "Oh, my gosh! This is awful!" She quickly cleans throughout the hotel, "Nope! Nope! Nope! Nope!" She spots a cockroach and stabs it with a sewing pin, "Nope!" She gags.

The four stare at Niffty as a voice coming from an unknown cat demon can be heard nearby.

Husk lays his cards down the table, "Hah! Read 'em and weep, boys! Full Ho..." The demonic illusions and voices distort the surroundings temporarily, "..tel? What the fuck is this?" He looks around and spots Alastor, eliciting an angry purr as he points at him, "You!" He growls.

"Ah, Husker, my good friend! Glad you could make it!" Alastor smiled brightly.

"Don't you 'Husker' me, you son of a bitch! I was about to win the whole damn pot!" Husk grumbled and the jackpot disappeared into nothingness.

"Good to see you too!" Alastor smirked. Husk facepalms angrily, "What the hell do you want with me this time..?" Husk asked.

"My friend, I am doing some charity work so I took it upon myself to volunteer your services! I hope that's okay!" Alastor leaned on something, a wall.

"Are you shittin' me?!" Husk questioned.

"Hmm... No, I don't think so!" Alastor smirked, leaning on Husk.

Husk shoves Alastor off, "You thought it'd be some kind of big fucking riot just to pull me out of nowhere?!" The camera pans to Alastor dusting himself off, "You think I'm some kind of fucking clown?!" Husk crossed his arms.

Alastor grins as if he's about to laugh, "Maybe!" He laughed.

"I ain't doing no fucking charity job." Husk tried to walk off.

Alastor teleports behind him through his shadow, "Well, I figured you would be the perfect face to man the front desk of this fine establishment!" He gestures towards the bar he made out of his magic, "With your charming smile.." Alastor pulls Husks's lips into a forced smile, "...and welcoming energy, this job was made for you! Don't worry my friend..." He walks over to the bar, revealing the soles of his shoes to have deer prints, "I can make this more welcoming! If you wish...." Alastor makes a bottle of 'Cheap Booze' appear out of nowhere, which grabs two demon's attention.

"Oh Hell Yes!" Angel Dust and Yn smiled.

"Oh Fuck No..." Vaggie groaned.

"Uh.. We don't like to have...booze here.."Charlie seemed worried.

Husk stares at the booze for a second, "What? You think you can buy me with a wink." He winks sarcastically, "and some cheap booze?!" Husk grabs the booze and looks at it, "...Well, you can!" Almost downs the booze until Yn steals it.

"Hey, hey! Hey, hey, hey! No! No bar, no alcohol!" She snatched the booze and poured it out, "This is supposed to be a place that discourages sin! Not some kind of mouth..brothel.. man cave!" Vaggie sighed.

Angel Dust launches himself at Vaggie from somewhere off screen, "SHUT UP! SHUT! UP! We.." He points to the bar with all his fingers, "are keeping this!" He gestured to Husk.

Angel Dust starts flirting with Husk, "Hey.." He flirted.

"Go f**k yourself..." Husk rolled his eyes. Angel Dust holds Husk's face, "Only if you watch me!" He smirked.

Angel Dust was shove out of the way by Yn.

"You like booze?!" Yn smiled widely.

"Oh Hell Yeah I do..." Husk smirked, looking Yn up and down, "You look pretty tonight..." He flirted.

"Oh, my gosh! Welcome to The Happy Hotel! You are going to love it here!" Charlie swizzle next to Yn tries to go for a handshake.

Husk reaches for his booze, "I lost the ability to love years ago.." He continues to down his booze as Yn seemed excited. Husk felt his heart beat a bit, 'Sh*t...' He handed Yn the booze as Yn drank some.

"So, whaddaya think?" Alastor smirked. "This is amazing!" Charlie rubs her cheeks excitedly.

Vaggie with crossed arms, "It's... okay..." She tried to get the booze away from Yn but she was running away, with Husk cheering for his new drunky buddy.

"I think it's quite nice." Yn added finishing her drink as she walk next to Charlie.

Alastor reels the three towards him, "Hahaha! This is going to be very entertaining!" He smiled.

He then lets go of Vaggie and summons a fireball, launching it to the hotel ceiling just so he could distract Charlie and Yn fast enough for him to shove Vaggie offscreen. He dresses himself in a tux and matching top hat. Just for fun, dresses Yn and Charlie in beautiful dresses as he puts Angel Dust in whatever he likes and finally Husk and Niffty in their respective outfits.

"~You have a dream!~" He twirls Yn and Charlie while she dresses them up

"~You wish to tell!~" She turns to Vaggie who's now on the floor glaring at Alastor with her face completely red.

"~And it's just laughable.~" He turns back to Yn and tosses him mid-air.

"~But, hey, kid, what the hell?~" The background behind Yn changes to neon colored lights featuring two apples and a skull. Alastor catches Yn by the hand as they both tap dance together.

"~'Cause you're one-of-a-kind! A charming demon belle!~" The two slide down the railing of the stairs.

"~Now, let's give these burning fools a place to dwell!~" She dresses up the rest of the hotel staff.

"~Take it, boys!~" Shadow demons appear from the floorboards and begin playing their instruments as Vaggie tries to talk to Charlie who is having too much fun. Alastor pulls her in with him and the others as Alastor's shadow demons surround them.

"Boo!" The shadow demons are scary.

"~Haha! Inside of every demon is a lost cause!~" Alastor puts a fedora on Angel's head as he snaps his fingers back at Alastor.

"~But we'll dress'em up for nore, with just a smile!~" Alastor summons a scarf and a hat on Vaggie and then she slaps Vaggie's ass causing her to grit her teeth and throw her hat onto the floor. Yn chuckles dryly causing Vaggie to look at him clearly annoyed.

Shadow Demons: "~With a smile!~"

"~And we'll chlorinate this cesspool with some old redemption flair!~" Alastor kicks off the skull which Niffty rushes in and cleans off.

"~And show these simpletons some proper class and style!~" Alastor summons a shadow clone of himself.

Shadow Demons: "~Class and style!~" Alastor snaps away his shadow.

"~Oh! Here below the ground,~" Alastor pinches Yn and Charlie's cheeks, "~I'm sure your plan is sound!~" Alastor holds hands with Charlie as they both twirl.

"~They'll spend a little time down at this Hazbin Ho...~" The hotel door explodes, knocking Niffty offscreen as Yn, Charlie, Alastor, Angel Dust, and Vaggie look outside. Sir Pentious' warship has made an appearance outside the hotel.

"Hah! Well, well, well. Look who it is harboring the striped freak! We meet yet again, Alastor!" Sir Pentious hissed, Yn looks at him confused.

"Someone you know, Alastor?" Yn question.

"I'm not quite sure. Do I know you?" Alastor asked.

Sir Pentious ego deflates, "Oh, yes you do!"

His hood flares open, "And this time, I have the element of.." He pulls a lever, "SURPRISE! Ahaha! I'm so evil!" He laughed.

With a snap of a finger, an otherworldly dimensional portal opens with tentacles and shadow demons emerging from it, destroying Sir Pentious' ship while he is inside. Alastor can then be seen finishing it off as he clenches his fist with a few drops of blood dripping off his hand. Alastor is then shown grinning menacingly in satisfaction for a moment as everyone else but Yn looks at him in shock and horror.

Alastor breaks the tension, "...Well, I'm starved! Who wants some Jambalaya? My mother once showed me a wonderful recipe for Jambalaya. In fact, it nearly killed her! Hahaha!" Charlie smiles at Vaggie in place. Vaggie smile at her but when she turns around Vaggie's smile drops, "You could say the kick was right out of Hell! Ohoho, I'm on a roll! Yes, sir! This is the start of some real changes down here! Darling, do you want some Jambalaya! I'll even give ya' booze! The game is set! Now..." He smirked as he walked off with Yn. Alastor uses her magic to change the sign atop the hotel from "Happy Hotel" to "Hazbin Hotel", "Stay tuned. Hahaha..."

Previous Page: Ch. Pilot: Welcome to Hell

Next Chapter: Ch. 2: Immediate Murder Professionals

Beginning: Front Cover

[uramilf]

hi! I love your writing sm. can I req this it's based on a tiktok I saw and thought it'd be cute. so basically y/n singing taylor's new song you're losing me esp the bridge! and matty is concerned like "we're okay right? you've been singing that song with much passion" or something like that! I just really thought it would be cute thank u so much

Ok I decided to turn this one into a proper imagine where the reader is a popular solo artist who misses her rockstar boyfriend and literally sat up until 3am working on it because i loved the idea so fucking much, thank you anon <3

Warnings: Angst and sadness but happy ending I promise

You're Losing Me

Y/n Y/l/n was sitting alone in her dressing room cross legged on a battered sofa. She had just received a message from her friend George to inform her that The 1975 had performed their last show of their tour and were flying back to London the very next morning. He also dropped in that Matty was excited to see her again and couldn't wait to get home. She hadn't bothered to respond. Why couldn't Matty have told her that himself? Her heart sank on remembering that although Matty was finishing his tour, she was just beginning hers. She would spend one night with him in their shared house before flying to the USA and wouldn't return for several weeks. Y/n felt empty, as she had since Matty left. She looked up to realise that she wasn't alone at all; in fact the dressing room was full of people refilling her water bottles, fixing the order of her costumes for quick changes, ensuring the setlist was right. But still, the crushing loneliness got to her. She doubted that it would be remedied in twenty minutes when the crowd of 15,000 people were screaming her name. She was right.

--------------------

Exactly 24 hours later, Y/n lay in her boyfriend's arms, thrilled to have him home but heart not feeling any lighter. She could feel them pulling apart from each other, the demanding schedules their careers presented them with tearing apart the best relationship either of them had ever been in. Even as Matty stroked her hair and pressed soft kisses to her forehead, she was fighting to keep a smile on her face. She wanted to burst into tears and tell him she needed him. She needed to be with him all the time, not just sometimes. She needed to fall into his arms the second she came offstage. She needed to feel as though their relationship wasn't a liability. When Y/n left Matty in bed to use the bathroom, he started to scroll Twitter and look for videos of his girl's first show of her tour. He came across one that already had thousands upon thousands of views. It was captioned "Y/n Y/l/n cover Taylor Swift's "You're Losing Me" at her London show last night". He clicked and started watching. His girlfriend sounded angelic as usual, but he didn't feel like he was watching a video of her usual happy, performance-loving self. The girl on his screen was breaking from the inside out. The passion she was singing with was gave her the image of someone who undeniably related to what she was singing. She wasn't just covering a popular song. He could tell she meant it. He listened closely to the lyrics; "And I wouldn't marry me either, a pathological people pleaser", "Do something babe, say something." Matty's heart was in his throat as he realised that there was a reason she had chosen the song. Did she think he didn't love her anymore? Had she been hoping for the next step in their relationship? Was he really losing her?

Y/n re-entered the room to see Matty, phone in hand, with a tear slipping down his cheek. "What's wrong, baby? Aren't you happy to be home?" "Are we ok, Y/n?" Matty whispered. "What? Of course we are. What's brought this on, love?" "The song. Last night. I know you didn't write it but you just sang it with so much passion, I couldn't help but feel like there's something you're not telling me." Y/n looked at his phone and was overcome with guilt. He understood that she had been singing to him. She took Matty's face in her hands and swiped away a tear gently with her thumb. "I'm sorry, Matty. But I just felt like I related to the song so much. I couldn't help but feel like we drifted apart while you were on tour. We were barely speaking by the last few weeks of it. I just needed you here, and honestly I did feel like you were losing me." Matty's sobs didn't stop. "Are you saying you want to break up with me because I'm away too much?" "No! Of course not baby, I couldn't imagine breaking up with you for the world. You are all I want in life. I promise. But I just don't know how to do this long distance thing anymore. I need us to be together." "Y/n, darling, I know. I'm dreading tomorrow. In all honestly, I understand why you sang the song. I was drifting away from you. I just couldn't bear to talk to you over the phone. I couldn't even answer a text from you without crying about how much I missed you."

Y/n was crying now too, feeling terrible that she hadn't seen how miserable Matty had been on tour. She stroked his hair as he buried his head in her chest. "It's ok baby, we're gonna be ok." Matty lifted his head to kiss away her tears. "Listen, darling. I'm going to speak to the boys and let them know that I'm not gonna be in the studio for a while. Give me a few days to recover from tour and then I'm gonna fly out and meet you. We'll only be away from each other for another week tops." Y/n tackled him into a hug. "You're really coming on tour with me?" "Yes, darling, really. I'm sorry I even considered going back to the studio instead of coming with you. I've just felt so pressured into releasing new music recently. But everyone else can just wait for me and my girl."

Y/n and Matty lay in each other's embrace once more, and as she was drifting off to sleep, she heard him whisper, "I promise I'll never let you feel like you're losing me again."

-----------------

A/N: Soz guys that got way deeper than I wanted it to. Got carried away ig but oh well

[limomi]

adults only, minors don't interact

we all know that Reo is at the very least ok/good in everything he does, so i'm just literally physically unable to stop thinking how he'd be singing this song for ya...

imagine how yall have sorta singing competition while studying in uni n Reo never gave a damn about it but

so u 2 r really close friends both in love with each other but still not dating cause each of you's afraid to confess. most likely u don't wanna be "one of all that ppl" confessed to him n get rejected n even he'd say yes, he'd definitely do that just not to make u sad? moroever, u 'know' his family won't ever accept u as his partner.

the same time Reo can't believe that you as perfect as you are to him can love someone like him, cause let's be honest, his self-esteem is so much lower than should be

so time goes by n u 2 fall more n more in love n it causes a lot of fights between u, u 2 just can't stand seeing each other being so nice n friendly to someone else, smiling to someone else, spend time enjoying someone's company but yall can't honestly explain what r the reasons of that 'weird' behavior so u fight even more. neither of u wanna lose this connection between u, but both of you are sure that it'll surely happen if either of you reveals the truth about ur feelings to the other

one day Mikage got way too overheated with jealousy, observing u going to lunch with some random guy n letting him to touch u when he helps u clean ur face cause u have sauce n crumbs allover it, when that guy has a nerve to hug u, to make u smile n laugh so sincerely

Reo confronts u, u immediately get defensive n angry with such tone he talks to u with, the fight is just dreadful, he says n screams a lot but nothing he actually should, the same do u

now u don't talk for weeks, even months n none of u can get over it, get over ur feelings but also fear to lose each other. so stupid n ironic of both of u to be that afraid of loosing each other n still doing everything what's leads to it

the day of singing competition Reo didn't even know about it, he just didn't care at all, but than some of his friends invited him cause one of contestants was the crush of this pure guy but he was to shy n embarrassed to go alone, so being nice person as he is, Reo agrees to keep his poor friend's company. n there he sees u with that guy he confronted u about.

Reo's mad n broken at the same time, he couldn't be sure if something's going on between u or not but he thought about the worst scenario possible n immediately got nauseous so he excused himself, saying he needed to go, n ended up spending most of the competition in the restroom, picturing u in the arms of that guy

'no thoughts, head empty' he run without any clear plans, irritated and defeated, to the concert hall, backstage area, and literally ordered to put a minus of this song next, he'd been listening to it on repeat for a long time, back when you gave it to him to listen to over a year ago.

ofc, they tried to turn him down, saying he wasn't on the list of contestants, but a few words were enough to make the organizers worry about their future well-being so they did what he wanted

Mikage ordered all the footlights to go out before he appeared on stage, n the hall was completely dark, at first no one could understand what was going on, but suddenly Reo's voice came on, filling the void with pain and love that was clearly audible in his singing, n u couldn't help but recognize that beloved voice, so tears began to roll down your cheeks in unstoppable rivers, even though u couldn't see him, you knew that was him.

song comes to the end, Reo screams 'see? I said that u have power over me' n that exact moment as he burst into tears he feels ur hand holding his one as u say with trembling voice 'let's go out of here, I don't wanna our first kiss be this public"

P.S. sorry but sometimes my brain just needs scenarios like in stupid romantic tv-shows for teens

[hackerqueen]

Another Love

Chapter 1 Heartburn

warnings: this fanfiction will tackle heavy topics such as mental health and violence. there will be sex scenes.

– Fuck!

This word was often repeated every morning in my apartment. I was not an early bird, quite the opposite. I definitely preferred to fall asleep late in the evening, often in the middle of the night, to sleep until noon. Unfortunately, I was no longer a teenager, but a twenty-three-year-old woman who had to go to work every morning to pay the rent and bills. Life was often a bitch, wasn't it?

More curses spilled out of my mouth as my windshield wipers sped faster than Dan making up another shitty joke. Or a meme. His memes sucked, though I never told him that.

Duskwood was usually cloudy and rainy at this time of year. This is the second time I am convinced of this, because I moved here exactly two years ago. At times like this, I ask myself why? I could live peacefully in sunny California, sipping drinks on my balcony. But sometimes life writes its own scripts without asking you.

The pouring rain made my commute a bit more difficult, but I finally made it to the office where I was supposed to stay for another eight or nine hours. My boss threw papers at my desk, which didn't bode well. Halfway through work, I looked at my co-workers. Since I was a child, I liked to observe, analyze and draw conclusions about human behavior. So it was also now. However, the current view made me drowsy boredom. A group of people locked in a glass building, caring only if their shitty paperwork will pay the rent and pay off the mortgage. Will it allow them to go out to dinner at a restaurant at the beginning of the month, or maybe they'll get lucky and they can afford four days away at the end of the year? Corpsrats whose minds were completely closed to the world around them. I was a hypocrite judging them. Because I was absolutely the same. I also chased after money, abandoning my dreams and passions.

Deep, philosophical considerations were interrupted by the ringing of the phone. Seeing the name on the screen, I smiled slightly, despite my obvious tiredness. I picked up right away.

– Hello, hello. - greeted a nice, almost singing voice, which finally regained this lovely note – I'm picking you up from work today.

– But..

– Without any buts. We'll be choosing decorations today, you can't be absent! Nobody I know has better taste than you. Besides, you know what Thomas is like. He'll agree with me about everything, even if I pick the worst shit.

I burst out laughing. There was no contact with Hannah for several weeks. She needed hours of therapy, shed tears, and shutting herself off from the world to recover. To understand what happened. Has she come to terms with it? Was there any reconciliation at all in this situation? No one in the group seemed to agree with it. Damn, how were they supposed to accept that their longtime friend, the man who always made them laugh, did something like that? They couldn't even talk to him. Only Jessy had this honor, but I don't know if it didn't affect her even worse. I was just a shadow. A hiding shadow that listened to their conversation.

– Okay, you convinced me. Be there at 4pm – I told her shortly and said goodbye. Maybe this day won't be so bad after all.

* * *

– Thomas, don't interfere. – I grumbled under my breath as I flicked through the catalog with bouquets

I heard his loud protests to which Hannah reacted immediately.

– Babe, you know I love you, but I'll be carrying the bouquet, not you. Unless you want too?

The man got angry and left us alone. I suppressed the urge to comment on her rather dubious choice of husband and rolled my eyes, but a mischievous smirk must have affected my face hearing my biting thoughts.

Did that sperm really win?

I stopped quickly when I felt a tap on my shoulder.

– I can see you're not getting along, but just a little more. It will be better after marriage. Thomas is just stressed out. – she assured me and I nodded – You know, two years ago it all ended. This anniversary has such an effect on him.

I felt a shiver run down my spine. How... how come it's been two years since this nightmare ended?

– Have you forgotten? – she asked, seeing the pale expression on my face

– N-No. – I coughed at my broken tone of voice. – It's just that... it's a bit weird? That, time flies so fast and we live like two years ago?

– Can we do otherwise? I think we'd be best off living for them. – she said, then smiled sadly and squeezed my hand – Have you been at his grave?

I sighed, slowly shooking my head.

– Me neither. I'm not ready for that yet. –she confessed honestly and my heart clenched. Today was the day I had to face my past.

Getting into the car, I typed into the GPS the cemetery, which was located on the outskirts of Duskwood. Half an hour later, I was there. I gripped the steering wheel, letting out shaky breaths. I had no idea how long I sat there, but I finally moved and took out the rose I had bought on the way out of the back of the car. It was intensely red, reflecting my feelings at that moment. My mind was unconscious, my feet led me all the way to the grave. No wonder, my body knew the way by heart. I looked up at the name carved on it.

Jake Donfort

I swallowed. One candle was lit, illuminating this late evening. So Lilly must have been here already. I crouched down and carefully placed the flower on his grave. It may have been two years, but some things haven't changed. My heart still burned as I remembered the black-haired hacker who once meant so much to me. Now my heart squeezed even tighter as I realized something else.

The memory of him was fading, a little at a time and I could feel myself forgetting.

Time passed inexorably, and my upside down life returned to normal. Two years ago, I couldn't imagine my life without him. We had a promise, right? He promised we'd meet. He promised he wouldn't let us be separated. However, his promise was burned with him in the mine fire because he never came back. Even though he said he would.

[ladykissingfish]

I know you probably get asked this a lot but please some SasoDei headcanons? 🥺

Here’s a few (most set in modern times):

They are each others first serious long-term relationship. They each tried dating others before, but neither ever found a connection that they felt was worth pursuing past a few weeks.

Deidara is extremely affectionate while Sasori is … not. This caused problems in the beginning of their relationship because Deidara would do something like go to hug Sasori, and Sasori would involuntarily make a face or slightly pull away. Deidara took this to mean that Sasori wasn’t interested in him romantically, and it made him very sad. But eventually Sasori realized how his reactions were affecting Deidara so he sat him down and had a talk with him, let him know that it had nothing to do with Deidara touching him specifically, Sasori just had touch/boundary issues. So they devised a system where Deidara would ASK things like “Would a hug be okay right now?” or “Do you feel up to holding hands?”, which made it easier for Sasori to accept such gestures.

Both of them identify as demisexual. No attraction whatsoever until they had formed a strong emotional bond with each other. Deidara is very sex-positive while Sasori is sex-indifferent. Sasori enjoys giving pleasure to his partner but he himself rarely feels much physical stimulation from it, and it’s rarer still for him to initiate. Deidara has a very high libido but he’s learned to adjust his desires to balance with Sasori’s. Deidara enjoys the sex itself but Sasori mostly looks forward to the quiet intimacy afterwards. It’s after sex that they’ve had some of their best talks with each other.

The first and only time Sasori has ever cried in front of Deidara: Sasori came home from a hard day at work. Was ready to just change out of his clothes and go to bed. He walked into their home and was met with the sight of Deidara, wearing one of Sasori’s old shirts and a pair of shorts, listening to music, singing along with it and dancing around while cleaning. Sasori stood in the doorway and watched him for a few moments before Deidara did a spin and realized Sasori was there. He took off his headphones and ran at Sasori, then stopped when he got to him and asked if it was ok to hug him. Sasori nodded and Deidara gave him a really gentle hug, telling him how much he missed him. And Sasori suddenly hugged Deidara HARD and burst into tears. Because it hit him full-force that after so many years of being lonely, he now had somebody to come home to. That no matter what troubles and irritations he faced outside, once he stepped inside of his door, he had peace. He had love. He had Deidara. 

Both of them are introverts with strangers. But the difference is that Deidara can be very open and warm and animated with those that he knows well/considers friends. Sasori remains polite but still stays very much closed-off to everybody, even those he knows well/considers friends.

Deidara is very comfortable with his body. He likes to wear bright, colorful clothing, and sometimes things that can be considered a little provocative. Sasori prefers to keep himself mostly covered up, even in the hottest weather. Things without sleeves don’t exist in his wardrobe, and shorts? Never heard of ‘em. Sasori can’t leave the house without making sure every hair on his head is neatly combed and in place. Deidara will just run his fingers through his locks and go — yet somehow has picture-perfect hair every day of his life. Also sometimes Deidara tends to gravitate towards wearing “women’s” clothing, in particular dresses. He stopped this for awhile in the beginning of the relationship because he thought Sasori would disapprove; but Sasori told him that he thinks he looks fantastic in everything he wears.

They express being angry at each other in different ways. Deidara yells and argues and is very vocal about when Sasori does something that rubs him the wrong way. Sasori gets quiet. Quieter than normal. He shuts himself into his den (where he works on his puppets) and just stays to himself until he’s cooled down. Unfortunately the quiet and the lack of a reaction serves to make Deidara even angrier, which means more yelling, which means their arguments last quite a while. Sasori is almost always the first one to apologize; not necessarily because he thinks he’s the one in the wrong, but because he knows Dei is stubborn and can hold a petty grudge for forever.

For dates, Sasori prefers to stay in, but Deidara likes to go out. Sasori feels very uncomfortable in environments or situations that he’s not in absolute control of, so he prefers that they do things like stay home, eat, watch movies, etc. Deidara likes trying new restaurants and going to places that they’ve never been; he thrives on the thrill of the unknown. Sasori could stay in one room all night and be perfectly content, but Deidara needs to be up and moving and doing different things or he goes crazy with boredom. They compromise on their differences by taking turns choosing what they do for dates, although each tries to alter their choice to accommodate the other. For example, Deidara will ask to go to a new restaurant but it will be a small, quiet one with food that he knows Sasori likes. Sasori will ask they stay home but he’ll pick a movie neither has seen, or sometimes invite friends over to play a new game.

Their respective mediums of art at something that they do in their spare time, apart from their normal jobs. But while Sasori’s creating puppets is purely for his own enjoyment, Deidara started to take commissions on sculptures from co-workers and friends. When creating things just for himself Deidara is very carefree and relaxed. But when making something for someone else, he’s a hardcore perfectionist and very, very hard on himself about what he makes for others. The tiniest flaw will have him destroying his work and starting over again. Sasori offers words of encouragement and support but knows that when Dei is doing commissions, it’s best not to bother him and stay out of his way.

In the beginning, the age difference bothered them both, for different reasons. Deidara was worried that the calm and intelligent Sasori would think that he was too wild and immature, and Sasori worried that the vibrant and dynamic Deidara would find him too stodgy and set in his ways. After a few months they learned to stop thinking about it and just enjoy being with each other.

Family is a touchy subject for both of them. Sasori lost his parents at a young age and never really got along well with the cold and emotionally distant grandmother who raised him. Deidara ran away from an abusive household when he was a teenager and never looked back. Their backgrounds are a big reason why they’re both hesitant to bring up the idea of having a family together; each is terrified that they wouldn’t make a good parent.

When Deidara ran away as a teen, he was homeless for a good deal of time. He’d bounce around to different shelters or sleep on park benches, in alleyways, or wherever he felt was relatively safe. Even as an adult he’d move from apartment to apartment, never feeling comfortable enough to stay in one place for too long. It took him a long time to get used to living with Sasori, and latching on to the idea that he had a permanent home, and was with somebody that he could trust and be safe with. 

Also because of Deidara’s dubious life, he doesn’t have much in the way of formal education. When Sasori first met him, Dei could just barely read, or write. Sasori got him into a program that helped young adults study for and receive their GED, and Deidara passed the course with flying colors. 

Deidara is, surprisingly, a world-class cook; but only when he’s motivated to get into the kitchen. Sasori can play the piano really well (his grandmother made him take lessons when he was a boy), and has perfect pitch. Sasori likes to have Deidara cook for him, and while he cooks Sasori plays songs for him to cook to.

Sasori does not like to drive. At all. He has his license and a car but they’re more for show than anything else. He knows every bus and train schedule in the city by heart, and would much rather take public transportation, or simply walk, than get behind the wheel. Deidara likes driving and always offers to take Sasori places, but Sasori rarely accepts because Dei’s driving makes him nervous. In Sasori’s opinion, Deidara drives way too fast, he plays music too loud, and his car is almost always so messy that it gives a neat-freak like Sasori anxiety just to look at it.

Sasori does not like when Deidara leaves the house without him. Even if it’s only for a while, even if he’s just going out with friends. It’s not because he’s jealous or controlling; it’s because he’s scared. He spent his entire childhood waiting on his parents to come back home to him, and they never did. He didn’t allow himself to feel any kind of attachment to another human being until he fell in love with Deidara. Deidara means more to him than anything, and he feels it’s his duty to always protect him. He never lets on to Deidara that he’s scared witless when the blonde voices plans to go out, because he doesn’t want Deidara to feel suffocated. But while Dei is out Sasori will send him frequent texts to check in with him. He’ll also more than likely pace the floors or stare out the window until Deidara returns.

Deidara is a big animal lover and is always pestering Sasori to get a dog, or a cat. Sasori says dogs and cats make him sneeze but in reality, he just doesn’t want a pet. Too chaotic, too messy, and can be expensive in the long run. Compromises by getting Deidara a pair of parakeets; something that always stays in a cage and doesn’t require walking or brushing is something Sasori prefers.

Both of them are big readers. Sasori likes nonfiction (especially biographies or auto-biographies of serial killers) and murder-mystery novels. Deidara is a fan of sappy romance novels and, surprisingly, children’s books. The reason being is that when he was a boy and living in such an unstable household, he didn’t have the opportunity to read the things that other kids his age had access to. As an adult it’s his goal to read every one of the books he never got to pick up as a child.

Sasori shows his love for Deidara by doing things for him. Little things like making sure he has clean clothes, or packing him a lunch to take to work, or noticing that his shampoo is running low and going to buy him more. Deidara shows his love by talking, and listening. When Sasori was a child and teen he was extremely introverted and rarely spoke unless necessary. His shyness made people think he was stuck-up and because of this he didn’t have many friends growing up. When he did find the courage to speak he was often talked-over or ignored by some of his more outgoing peers. But Deidara takes the time to talk with Sasori, to ask his opinions on things and patiently listen as Sasori gathers his thoughts and expresses them. And then to have a conversation with him where all ideas are heard and acknowledged, and nobody is ridiculed or talked over.

[rose-tea-and-strawberries]

hi, i love your "Twisted Wonderland Characters Signing Your Shirt" fic, i really do, but i can't help to think of this yuu angst scenario. (grammatical errors ahead and 1 swear word, also i might reveal myself if this ends well)

---

I like to think that after Yuu returned to Ramshackle, they cried. Not just because of missing their old world, but also because of the fact that they will inevitably leave Twisted Wonderland and it will all be nothing but a memory, again.

Days after that, their homesickness got worse, they tried to create a food that their relatives once made them, but failed to do so. Attempted to search for a beloved tradition/holiday from their world, only to find out that it doesn't exist. It even got to the point when Ace and Deuce were fawning over something, Yuu can only think that they share the excitedness that their friend/younger relative have back home. (SOMEONE PLAY " Washing Machine Heart" I KNOW WHO YOU PRETEND I AM)

Of course, this didn't go unnoticed by the Twisted Wonderland cast, but Yuu is stubborn as fuck and will not tell them what's wrong until they burst into tears and blame Crowley for all the bad things that ever happened in their life /hj

---

honestly, i just want yuu being homesick and the characters noticing so they'll give yuu attention and notice them LMAO (YUU APPRECIATION DAY WHEN!!!) . and also, that's a really good angst trope even without the characters, how come i only saw like 2-3 fics of it? (someone drop links) ALSO PLEASE STATE YOUR THOUGHTS I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR (read) THEM

Listen, Yuu/Reader feeling homesick is literally one of my favourite tropes in fanfic.

I've made these posts about it as well:

I did have a similar thought about food in mind where she tries to recreate a dish she always makes with one of her parents only to find that, even though it tastes delicious, it doesn't taste the same/

Sometimes she wonders if she'll forget the colours of her loved one's eyes or hair or the comforting way they smell.

I've read a fic where the reader notes how even the plants in Twisted Wonderland are different and the ones that are similar, like roses, are different since they grow on tree like bushes instead of as stalks.

I just have so many thoughts of how homesick Yuu can be.

[humblegoat]

4, 23, and 28 for juni and locke? :3

HELL YE ty for da ask!

4) how crafty/resourceful are they?

Juni: I'd say quite! Loves to draw and do crafts that overlap with it, like bookbinding, a little bit of woodworking and whittling to. And of course, she loves to cook and bake. Very resourceful in tactile ways too - the sort to have a wilderness survival kit in her bag. And she's constantly making trail snacks for her party when they've got a job - including hard candies that give temp HP, using fruit flavoring from the garden at their base.

Loch: Not as much for tactile craftiness, but incredibly crafty inside his brain. I don't use my Columbo impression as his voice just for show! Lots going on in there hehe. I do think he's resourceful via his magic, but can end up feeling left high and dry if he doesn't have a spell to solve a problem.

23) how would you describe their voice? can they sing?

Juni: Quiet; both nasally and slightly gruff at the same time - I voice her in the back of my throat, is the best way I can explain it. And yes, I think she can sing, she has that Dodie vibe - whispery and earnest, and like she could burst into tears at any moment.

Loch: Incidentally I mentioned his voice above LOL. He sounds like Columbo! And unfortunately, though he has many talents, I do not believe singing is one of them. Wouldn't go so far as to say he's tone deaf, I think he just doesn't have the practice, so there's no projection and his key wavers.

28) how do they show that they care about someone? how do they express that they don't like someone?

Juni: She's much more about action or gesture than words. It's hard for her to verbalize her care, but she WILL bring you food and tell you to eat and that IS a threat. She'll also beat your enemies up for you. One of her highest signs of respect and affection is sitting close enough to you on the couch that you might brush against each other sometimes and it's not awkward. As for not liking, it's a lot of being terse (vs just being softspoken), some occasional snappy comments, and sour expressions when she thinks no one is looking. But she never wants to be impolite or cause anyone trouble, so she's once again not particularly vocal about it.

Loch: Big on active listening and problem solving to show he cares. He'll ask you how you're doing and be there for you to talk to when you need him. And again, his magic is often an extension of him, so he'll use spellcraft in any way he can to show care, too - like going to the trouble of learning a specific spell because he saw that using it could make your life a little easier. Extremely wizardbrained in that way. Speaking of wizardbrained: If he REALLY doesn't like you, he lets you know with a fireball. But mostly if he doesn't like someone it is well hidden behind his pleasant demeanor. This can make him even scarier sometimes though. Because he'll still have a soft amicable voice and smile but if you push him too far he'll punch you.

[malleablemusic]

i avoided listening to radiohead based on the bad vibes I received from radiohead fans in middle+high school. my friend's partner and i were recently discussing our very opposite music tastes, and how her mother raised her on radiohead. my immigrant mother does not know radiohead even exists. this is an experiment in putting myself in to my friend catie's shoes. here's my review of ok computer:

airbag: 3/5 stars

feels like the way the ending of the breakfast club felt

"in an interstellar burst / i am back to save the universe"

pro car safety song, love it

wear your seatbelts and check your airbags

love the ending of the guitar strum tapering out

paranoid android: 3.8/5

ok rangee!! he has a beautiful voice

"ambition makes you look pretty ugly / kicking squealing, gucci little piggy" obsessed

feels like this song is multiple genres and somehow punk and funky

the guitar solo crescendo then slowing it back down then back into guitar solo again... his mind

subterranean homesick alien: 3.6/5

love how mysterious and discomfiting the guitar riffs are

encapsulates what i imagine the feeling of floating alone in space is like

a little underwhelming

exit music (for a film): 4.1/5

kind of boring intro

i like the harmonizing chorus in the background

2:49 beat drop hittttt the intro didn't have to be so long and quiet but the build up was almost worth it

3:20 oh... my god.. i am ascending

he sings "we hope that you choke" so angelically

i wish i could capture how the second half of the song made me feel into a bottle

let down: 3.2/5

i also feel crushed like a bug in the ground

him hitting the high note in "you know where you are" brought tears to my eyes

karma police: 3.3/5

this sounds like it was in skins (uk)

"her hitler hairdo is making me feel ill" crazy statement

i love the harmonizing "ahhs" in the background during the outtro

fitter happier: 4/5

very scary voice wow

terrifying background sounds

this is a masterpiece

"fitter, healthier and more productive / a pig / in a cage / on antibiotics" this is the american dream

electioneering: 4.5/5

very timely yikes

"when i go forwards you go backwards" so real! speak on it kurt!

from minute three on i felt like tearing apart my room and going on a rampage this is a call to riot

climbing up the walls: 4.2/5

very creepily romantic

if haunting adeline by h.d carlton was made into a movie this song would play in the trailer

im sensing a theme of long guitar intro and outros and honestly its growing on me

him screaming at the end was impeccable, 10/10, zero notes

no surprises: 5/5

i cant lie and say ive never heard this song, it has had a grip on me for years

heart is aching at the intro and eyes welled up uncontrollably

"a heart that's full up like a landfill / a job that slowly kills you / bruises that won't heal" stabbed me in the heart.

"you look so tired, unhappy / bring down the government / they don't, they don't speak for us" if i was a teenager when this song came out i think i would have had a very unhealthy obsession with mr cobain

had to lay on the floor for this one

a quiet life and a quiet death...no surprises. im weeping

SUCH A PRETTY HOUSE. AND SUCH A PRETTY GARDEN!

lucky: 2.4/5

who is sarah. this would have crushed me to hear as the obsessed teen i likely would have been

didn't wow me, not sure if it's because it followed a perfect song and therefore was held to a higher standard, or if it was just boring

the tourist 3/5

he is so right. i should slow down. sometimes i do get overcharged

i love love love when he belts. the control he had over his voice is so impressive

honestly, without no surprises i am not a huge fan of this album, but i definitely do understand and see the appeal. i will definitely be listening to more radiohead in the future ! overall 3.7

[smurphyse]

Zero the Weirdo | Eddie Munson

Smurph's Masterlist | Zero to Hero Masterlist

Warnings: nudity, Eddie's first time seeing a naked woman o.O, skinny dipping, fear

Summary: You take Eddie down to the pond for some physical therapy... and something unexpected happens.

Eddie isn't sure when exactly he woke up. All he knows is he's been laying in bed for hours now while Zero putters around in the cabin. 

She talks to herself a lot. She's even doing it now though the sun is only just beginning to rise. It peeks through the window above Eddie's head, and for the first time he notices the sun catcher dangling from the ceiling that glows on the far wall. 

It, like nearly everything Zero seems to be interested in, is shaped like a plant. Eddie doesn't recognize it, but it's a big one in a pot with splits in the leaves. The glass is stained with different colors, and when he angles himself up enough to eye it, it looks handmade. 

Tools lay around the place in buckets and bins, stray book piles litter the floors. They're all well-worn and well-loved, dog eared pages and stains on the covers. Plants grow through the cracks in the floor and ceiling, trailing behind shelves and through the bed posts. They’re everywhere, from pots on the floor to little coffee mugs nearly bursting with dirt and flora.

She'd shown him where the bathroom was after his crying fit last night, fed him tomato soup in bed. It was amazing, but Eddie's tear-swollen eyes and hiccuping meant he never got around to telling her that. 

Zero waited patiently outside of the bathroom each time he used it, waiting until he knocked on the door to open it and help him hobble to the bed. By the time he was ready to fall asleep, she was lightning fast ready with a clean blanket and a first aid kit to check his wounds. 

She told him the stitches were healing well, that he was doing a good job, but Eddie spent the rest of the night in contemplative silence. Much as he was now, he stared at the ceiling from the mattress as his mind raced a thousand miles a minute. 

Do they really think I'm dead? Does Wayne? Did they tell him or is he still waiting for me to come home? 

His heart twisted in his chest each time his uncle crossed his mind. Eddie knew he could have called him when he was hiding out at Reefer Rick's, but the thought of dragging him into all this when Wayne had clawed his way out of the life of crime that always seemed to plague the Munson’s settled heavily in his gut. 

Eddie's father, Edward the Asshole, was in jail more than he wasn't, and Wayne bailed him out when he could. This last time he was arrested for armed robbery, back in 1975 when Eddie was ten, Eddie was in the car. Wayne never bailed Edward out again and Eddie stayed with him ever since. 

He raised Eddie, and now Wayne was spending his nights like he had with his father…waiting for him to come home safe and without handcuffs. All this time Wayne wanted Eddie to be better than his father, and Eddie was wanted for multiple murders and cult sacrifice. 

"Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga. Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga…" plays in the other room. Eddie scoffs and rolls his eyes. 

Pretty girls have the worst taste in music. Zero is no exception, weird as she is even without her good looks. Her voice filters through to him as she excitedly sings along to the song, "I can't stop this feeling, deep inside of me! Girl, you just don't realize what you do to me."

Eddie finds himself smiling as she steadily gets louder. Sometimes it's like she forgets he's there, nearly screaming along to her music. He knows when she remembers as he'll hear a gasp and a shit! And then the music will get softer as she pads around doing whatever she's doing. 

She puts up a guarded front around Eddie, but over the last night he's listened to some of her more… quirky parts, to put it nicely. She babbles to nobody most of the time, hardly sleeps, and listens to a lot of music from decades ago. 

"Shit!" she snaps, and the music fades. Her perpetually bare feet pad toward the door - Eddie's yet to spot a pair of shoes besides his own torn up combat boots in the corner of the bathroom - and Zero's face appears as she tries and fails to peek around the door frame. 

Eddie lets his head roll to flash her a smirk and a wave, "Concert's over?"

Her face flushes to a sweet red color and she bites the bottom of her lip. "I forgot you could hear me."

"I'm not the only person you've talked to in eleven years, am I?"

Zero shakes her head adamantly, "I talk to Stoney Hightower at the market when I bring him produce."

"Stoney's pretty well-known for being the 'silent type', so he doesn't really count."

Now she shrugs and makes a face, "Whatever."

Zero stands there awkwardly, tapping the doorframe and looking around. Eddie just waits as she gathers up whatever gusto she needs to speak again, and finally she walks in and sits on the edge of the bed. 

She eyes the scars on his chest much like she had last night, but he can see her mind churning. "You up for some physical therapy today?"

Eddie squints at her, but when Zero meets his gaze she beams mischievously. "What do you have in mind?"

Zero squeals and jumps a bit in her spot. The springs of the bed creak in protest but she doesn't seem to notice. 

"You're gonna love it!" she grins happily. "It's my favorite spot in the Haven."

I lead Eddie out of the cabin and around the back when the sun rises. He leans heavily on me, his arm slung over my shoulders. 

"It's okay if you're not up to it," I say as we stare down the hill where the garden lays. To get to the pond we have to go around it and through a few trees. "I'm not pushing you to do this."

"You said I've been in bed for two weeks?" he asks, but his breath is patchy. Heavy. 

I nod, "An unconscious two weeks, but…"

"I've got people waiting for me, Zero. If you're not going to come back to the real world to help keep me alive, then I have to get better before I leave here."

"Oh-kay," I sigh. If he wants to go we'll go. I start to lift him with my powers so he doesn't have to walk all the way down, but Eddie clutches my shoulder joint in a death grip that nearly makes my knees buckle. "Ow! Munson what the fuck?"

Eddie stares at me, his dark eyes stern and fierce. "Don't carry me. I can walk."

I lean on one hip and glare back the best I can with him draped around me. I shake his waist, "Not really. You scared of flying? Most people think it's a superpower."

"I don't have any power over it, do I?" he snaps back, but a strange smirk plays at the corner of his lip. My stomach churns at the sight…but it also oddly feels nice. "I feel like the boy in the plastic bubble except I don't have the bubble to roll around in."

"Your friend lives in a plastic bubble?" I ask, making a face. "Why..?"

"Not my friend," he sputters, "it's a movi-. I thought you've been in the outside world. You listen to a ton of music."

"Alecia Hightower gave me a bunch of cassettes a few years ago in exchange for some pot. You think I'd spend money on a movie?"

"What else do you spend money on besides entertainment?" he asks, his brow cocked. It raises and a grin peels open across his cheeks, "Did you say pot?"

"When you can roll a joint on your own with those busted hands," I say with a false smile he glares at. "You can have some of the primo weed I grow."

Eddie thinks about that and nods. "Zero?"

"Yeah?"

"You're a weirdo. I kinda dig it."

The heat that rushes to my face is so foreign for a moment I think I'll pass out, but Eddie's warmth under my baggy clothes that are still too small for him grounds me. I try to hold back my smile but fail, so I look away. 

"Get on my back," I decide, but he pulls away a bit. 

"Your back? You're like four feet tall. I'll crush you!"

"I'm adult sized. You'll be fine, c'mon." I slip my arm from his waist and pat my thighs, and it's hard to miss Eddie's eyes flashing down my top as I bend down. I do it again, "Come on, Munson. I don't have all day."

Eddie lets out a grumble and a sigh, but he does as he's told. I hear the sharp gasp that leaves him as I lift him a bit with my powers to keep him in place on my back. His legs wrap around my waist and his arms encircle my neck like a collar until I tap his arm to ease up. 

I take some of his weight so he doesn't feel like he's being carried by my powers, so by the time we make it down to the pond I've got a nice sheen of sweat forming over my forehead and the back of my neck. The flannel sticks to my back as I lower Eddie to the ground, and he marvels at the place I've built. 

The water here is still contaminated, so years ago I dug out this section in the enclave of trees. I bought a giant pool lining at an estate sale for fifty bucks, patched it, and set it in the hole. Filling it with water took the longest, and when it gets dirty I use my powers to pull the muck out and toss it further into the trees. 

An army of trees stands guard, hiding it in plain sight. The only opening is the view up to the garden and cabin. My vining plants have trailed out here and bloom in the small patches of sunlight through the leaves, a large patch in the middle of the water. I even made steps out of stone to walk into it. 

"I made it myself," I declare proudly. 

"Holy shit," he mutters, then looks down at his-my clothes. "I don't have a bathing suit."

"So?"

"So…" Eddie starts, cocking his stupid eyebrow at me. "You just want me to swim around naked in front of you? That's not fair."

I cross my arms and lean on my hip. "What are you talking about?"

He mimics my stance like an asshole and points at my flannel. "You've seen mine but I haven't seen yours."

Oh, I realize. He's talking about my body. 

I shrug, "Then I'll get in with you."

His face turns beet red as I start to work at my buttons. I stop. He didn't grow up in a lab. 

"Is that okay?"

His eyes widen like saucers, pupils dilating visibly in his dark eyes. "Uh…yeah. Yeah, we'll- yeah."

I watch Eddie curiously as I unbutton my top and shrug it off. His jaw drops as it crumples to the ground, his eyes going glassy and wide. I know he's looking at my boobs but to ease some of the awkwardness I'm feeling I gesture to the long tendriling scars on my belly that match a few of his. 

"I was my first patient, you were my second. Sorry about the shit job I did."

Eddie stares for another few moments before picking his jaw up from the ground. It snaps shut and he shakes his head, "No, you look… wow. It's good."

His cheeks flush a deep red as he nods uncomfortably. I loop my thumbs under the waistband of my underwear and push them down. When I stand back up he's gone a plummy shade of purple, but I wave a hand at his clothes. 

"Go on."

Eddie slips his hands under the waist of his sweats, then waves a hand back at me. "Turn around."

My jaw drops in exasperation, "Are you kidding me?"

"Just-, c'mon," he begs softly. I can see the outline of his boner underneath his pants, and I know he doesn't want me to see it. "I've got a situation here."

"How are you gonna get in if I can't see you? You don't want me to lift you."

"Just do it," he snaps, so I oblige. I let my hands flap down to my sides and head for the pond. 

The warm water encircles my ankles as I head down the little steps. I wade in until the water reaches my shoulders, listening for Eddie behind me. I hear the shuffling of the old cotton hitting the grass, then a curse. I cock my head to the side, "Do you need help?"

Eddie's pants grow heavier as I hear him try to take a few steps. "Fuck, just lift me."

I sigh knowingly and flick my wrist behind me. Eddie's breath huffs from his chest as I lift him the best I can without looking at him and bring him toward the pond. A sharp yelp erupts from somewhere above me. 

"Holy shit!" he yells, just before I see a flurry of flailing limbs and long curly hair dropping from the air. Eddie hits the water with a loud splash, staying under for a second before bursting through the surface. 

"You…are an asshole," he pants, and I can't hold back my childish giggle at the way his hair sticks to his cheeks. 

"You try lifting something you can't see. It's not as easy as it looks."

It takes a few minutes of me swimming around for Eddie to forgive me, and then we spend an hour or so doing simple exercises. I have him walk back and forth across the pond, holding onto me for support when he needs it. We do some leg kicks in tandem, but Eddie draws the line at much else, complaining the whole time. 

I'm surprised he did as much as he did, to be honest. I haven't finished his healing internally, but I want to keep his muscle mass up. He wasn't very big to begin with and he's already lost a good amount of weight. 

I help him to the edge of the pond and lean him against the lip. I put a steadying hand on his shoulder. "I'm gonna go get your clothes."

Eddie waves an exhausted hand and leans his head on his forearm, "I won't look."

I look back to see if he's sneaking a cheeky glance, but instead he's trying to catch his breath. I whisk the water off my skin and grab my underwear and flannel, slipping them on quickly. As I'm buttoning up my shirt I notice something peeking through the leaves of the trees. My fingers still as I stare in shock.

A deep purple stream of darkness filters through, blighting the foliage with particles of dust. 

A piece of Henry in my safe Haven. 

A panicked chill seeps into my bones as I reach out to touch it. It's freezing cold, shadowing my fingers in the decay that encompasses the Darkness outside. Goosebumps form along my skin, terror settling heavy in my gut. 

I need you, sister, his voice flashes through my mind. Come see me. 

Blood drips from my nose as I reseal the dome over the Haven. It takes more effort than anything else to keep up the sunshine and warmth, and my head goes a bit hazy as the heat filters back through over my hand. 

"Zero?" Eddie's voice comes from behind me, and I quickly wipe my nose before turning back to him. He's watching me with tired eyes, his body trembling. "I think I need a nap."

"Tired you out, huh?" I grin, then head back over. He doesn’t need to know how close we are to total Darkness. It would only frighten him more.

I help Eddie out of the pond and swish the water from him like I did myself. He shudders and clutches my shoulder tightly, "That felt really weird."

"Gets the job done," I shrug. I keep my eyes averted as I help him into his clothes, then put him on my back again and carry him up the hill. 

Eddie's eyes droop as we enter the cabin, and by the time I put him in bed he's already half asleep. I cover him up and close the curtain over his head, then turn to go back into the living room. 

"You think I'm gonna be okay?" he asks quietly. His voice is small, afraid. I tap the doorframe and come back over to sit on the edge of the bed. 

"I think it's going to take some time, but one day you'll be okay. You'll never be the same, though."

He gazes up at me through bleary eyes, hardly able to keep them open. His hand comes up to grip my flannel, and I watch as he runs his thumb along the buttons. "Henry did that to you, didn't he?

"I did a better job on you than I did myself, Eddie. Just give it some time," I whisper, eyeing the scars on his fingers. He'll always have them. They'll be his constant companion for the rest of his life. 

"You can come back to the real world with me. I have friends… they can help."

I watch the earnestness in his eyes for a moment. It's so honest it hurts. Something twists deep in my chest and I have to get up and head for the door. 

“You don’t have to be alone, Zero.”

"Get some sleep, Munson," I say, and when I look back he's already out like a light. 

Letting out a sigh, I close the bedroom door softly. I snatch the radio off the counter and head for the middle of the living room. I pull the rug back to reveal the crawlspace and open the latch, then drop down inside. 

It's dark down here no matter what time of day it is. I can't even stand, so I sit on the cushion I laid on the dirt a long time ago and close the lid. Darkness covers me like a blanket, and I turn the radio to static and close my eyes, taking a deep breath. 

The white noise surrounds me, dropping me into a pool of nothing. There's no feeling, no scent, no sound. Nothing but black. 

When I open my eyes, there he sits. He's not the monster he became, or even the little boy I met so long ago who became my big brother, eight years older than me. He's the man I knew who helped me escape, the one who freed me from Papa and his torture. 

"Hello, Zero," he says in that voice that sends chills down my spine. His grin peels open like a scar, all white teeth and ice blue eyes, sitting cross-legged in his white jumpsuit. "It's been a long time."

It takes a few moments before I answer. I swallow down my paralyzing fear and the thickness in my throat. I sit up straight like he taught me and set my jaw. 

"Hello, Henry."

Smurph's Masterlist | Zero to Hero Masterlist

Notes: OOOOHHHH HELLO HENRY o.O

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[because-she-goes]

angel

warnings: none, just some sweet fluff. Enjoy!

Now nearing their 30s, Matty and Nora settled down a bit. Getting tired of sipping seltzers, wine and beers in a club surrounded by people much drunker than them. The pair was tired of being surrounded by heads and bodies that were under the influence of their old vices. The splendor of a sweaty, loud club at 3am now faded. The millennials now have a habit of spending their birthdays with a bottle of wine, a take away and cheesy romcom of the birthday person’s choice. It was Nora’s favorite night of the year, her and Matty cuddled on a couch, eating greasy pizza and downing red wine giggling over how ridiculous the idea of Heath Ledger trying to pass as a highschool boy was.

“Oh come on, he looks like he’s 30! What are they talking about?” Matty would holler at the TV every now and then, sending her into a howl before telling him to sush as she tried to focus on her movie.

“He’s still cute though I mean come on! The part where he sings on the bleachers? You don’t find it romantic at all?” She challenges.

“Okay, fine, maybe it is a bit hot…” He relents.

She smiles in victory, fixing the sherpa blanket across her lap. He leans forward and refills their wines and grabs a bite of pizza. The candles and soft lighting illuminating her love’s face magically, flickering warm tones reflected in the deep, brown eyes she swears she could swim in sometimes. Heath’s got nothing on her boy, she thinks.

She bends to the large wooden table in front of them, eyes not leaving the screen. She sips the Malbec with a hum. Cool against her tongue, it slides down her throat slowly, smoothly, sweetly. She leans back into Matty, his arm cradling her shoulder and pulling her closer. He kisses her forehead as they watch Kat and Patrick in the paint scene, as they tumble into the pile of hay laughing before Patrick leans on top of her and kisses Kat slowly and leaves a wet, cool, bluish handprint to her cheek. Kat takes the opportunity to smash a green paint balloon over his head.

“My kind of woman! Get him Kat!” Nora cheers, Matty looks at her and laughs under his breath.

Matty takes this opportunity of her being so engrossed in the movie to head to their kitchen. He thinks back to the first night they moved into this place - their California home. How they had basically a suitcase or so each to hold them over before everything was shipped, unpacked and sorted. That first night, they went out to the beach with a picnic and had dinner as the sun disappeared over the coastline. It is one of Matty’s favorite memories, them in the sand with their cheese, wine and take away pasta. Nora in her white button down and those jean shorts he loved. They spent all night out there, a bit wine drunk, comparing constellations and listening to the waves. He couldn't have been happier. He was - and will forever be - in a state of bliss knowing Nora is his for eternity. That they will have countless more wine and pizza birthdays, beach picnics, facetime dates while he is away on tour, art shows to be her date to, basketball games to have arguments over and little ones to chase after.

He takes out the chocolate ganache cake he ordered from their local bakery, and places two pink candles in it. A 3 and 0, he also put in an extra gold one for good luck in this next year. Flicking off the lights, and setting the candles aflame he began his march to their entertainment room.

“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, Nora Healy! Happy birthday to you!” He sings, his voice growing more and more goddy as he stepped in front of her. Her heart feels like it is going to swell to the point of bursting as she looks at him from her seat on the couch, tears in her eyes and a trembling smile on her face.

“Thank You, my sweet boy! I love you so so so much, you are far too good for me.” She replies, beaming at him. She pulls her hair into a makeshift pony tail and stands to blow out her candles. He sets the cake down and wraps his arm around her waist, dipping her like they are in these movies she loves. Kissing her cheeks, then forehead then finally her lips. Romantic, soft and sweet - no lust behind the affectionate kiss. He wants this night to be enchanting, not spent in any rush. They sit back down right as the movie is coming to a close, Nora slices up two generous portions and hands a plate to her Handsome. He takes it gratefully and before the plate is even in front of him he takes a forkfull and his eyes roll back to his skull. Moaning into the utensil, it is some of the best chocolate cake he had ever had. Nora takes some and reciprocates the action, agreeing.

The last scene starts playing. Kat makes her way after school to her car and spots her dream guitar in the passenger seat. A stunning all white Fender strat. Patrick comes up behind her smiling, watching the shock on her face as she holds the instrument. He tells her that he got it for her, for when she starts her band - revealing that he had used the money he was being paid to date her towards getting the guitar. She melts and he takes her face in his hands and kisses her deeply. Her hand reaches up to his hair and neck and they share one of the greatest movie kisses Nora has ever seen. Tears now in Matty’s eyes he looks at Nora, chocolate cake in parts of his teeth and weeps.

“He got her her dream guitar. Oh my god this movie is too good!”

Laughing at his dramatics, she hugs him and kisses the top of his head.

“Thank You for making this my favorite birthday, Handsome. I love you and who knows, maybe someday I’ll buy you your dream guitar!”

“You will?” He asks, looking at her from the hug.

“Happily, my love!”

“What did you wish for, Honey?”

“Didn’t have to wish for anything if I already got you, my Angel.” She smiles down at him, he melts. It’s true though, every birthday since they met she has wished for another year with him - nothing else making her happier. No-one else making her happier. She couldn’t see herself loving anybody, but him for the rest of her life.

[prahacat]

Most Nigh to Tears and Memory

Dooku decides it’s about time he starts living his best life. Songfic, originally written for the march prompt “road trip” for YOTP2023, but it ended up being genfic. 2720 words.

It’s the tenth day and Dooku is still alive. The news doesn’t even report his disappearance; Sidious is most likely pulling all the strings to cover it up as long as possible. Dooku is relieved, but also a bit disappointed. He likes to see himself in the news, preferably in medium shot, three-quarter view. Whoever at HoloNet News specializes in him has a knack for picking pretty shots.

At a remote outer-rim trading outpost, he purchases a fancy blue robe, has his hair dyed dark and his ship painted neon spinach green. He buys an audiochip that promises “two hundred and twenty of the galaxy’s most moving arias, from excruciating to exhilarating.”

“Hey, can I have your autograph?” asks the little boy standing behind him in the checkout line.

Dooku’s heart shoots into his throat, but the boy continues: “My friends will never believe I’ve met Keskala Durne.”

Relieved (but also disappointed), Dooku signs the boy’s hand. He goes for two wild spaghetti squiggles because he has no idea how to spell that name. The boy grins at his hand. “Wizard!”

“Definitely not,” Dooku grumbles.

Back in his ship, he starts the audiochip and searches the HoloNet for Keskala Durne (actually spelled Cesca Ladone) who makes his living writing poetry on socks. Also, he doesn’t look like Dooku at all, not even with the dyed hair. Dooku would never cut hearts into his sideburns, not even for disguise. But for now, it’s better to be mistaken for a sock poet than a murderous Sith.

Dooku opens the bottle of wine he stole from Sidious’ secret stash as his last official act. He already dreams of seeing the Twenty Wonders of the Galaxy. Outside, the stars rush by aimlessly. In my soul, the sleeping flame that you sowed an eternity ago is finally ignited! The small spaceship trembles with dramatic orchestral music bursting from every speaker. That sublime love, the love of freedom—of freedom—of freedom! the baritone cries out with all his soul, and Dooku hums along softly.

On the seventeenth day, Dooku is bitten by a snake. Its black scales shimmer like oil and two red eyes burn on the skin of its neck hood. “Don’t make such a fuss,” Dooku says to the medical droid, who sprays his wrist with ice-cold bacta. He wants to explain that he can use the Force to neutralize just about any extrinsic poison, but the droid might recognize him. Are medical droids in bio-reserve hatcheries up to date on the whereabouts of the Republic’s enemies? As the droid fusses over him, Dooku looks around the room. Incubators everywhere, lots of writhing, swarming and crawling. How long has it been since he last visited a hatchery for endangered species? He knows. Almost five decades. Half a lifetime.

“I’ll administer the antidote immediately,” the droid chirps, pausing only briefly as his data-brain searches for the name Dooku gave him, “Yan Jinn.”

Yan Jinn. Dooku stares at the misbehaving snake curled up in a cage next to him. The snake stares back. Her eyes are blue: deep and old as the sky. “I wish to adopt her,” he says.

Space is cold. The snake prefers to lie in his lap while he reads and sips his wine. Sometimes she bites his wrist. It never changes his blood levels. “I’ll keep you anyway,” Dooku mutters. She coils around his neck, which he takes as a sign of affection. The loud, pompous arias frighten her, so Dooku puts on a cycle of peaceful folk songs he bought on his last planet and sings quietly to her:

Gone is the sweet fragrance of the night flowers

Already the tree loses its crackling golden dress

Wearily my head rests on its cold roots

The autumn in my heart is coming to an end ...

The snake is a good listener.

It takes forty-two days for Dooku to be seriously tempted to play out his identity as Head of State of the Confederacy and powerful Sith Lord. It makes no sense that snakes aren’t allowed in the hot springs, but Thisspiasians are. Dignified, Dooku struts out of the resort and heads to the nearest distillery instead. The supply he has pilfered from Sidious is starting to dwindle anyway.  

Three hours later, he’s in high spirits. Literally. “Four, no, five more bottles of the nut brandy. And three of the spiced bofa liqueur as well.” He fumbles for his credits. The snake has fallen asleep with her head buried under his collar.

“I’ll load them into the transport speeder with the wine,” the small Sullustan says politely. “I hope your ship isn’t too far from here?”

Dooku tries to remember where he parked his ship.

“Might I recommend you take more than five bottles of the claret, Mister Jinn?” the Sullustan says. “It’s also an ideal gift for family gatherings.”

Dooku is laughing. “I have no family.”

Bumbling, his ship rises into the sky. After blindly typing whatever coordinates into the computer, Dooku inserts an audio chip with jazz music. Happy, lilting melodies fill the lonely cabin. Dooku feels strangely light-headed. Probably just the alcohol. He turns up the volume. Lost in space but never alone, he sings along, falling through a wormhole back to the place where something still waits for us. Catch my hand ...

The snake hides somewhere in a ventilation shaft. “Come out,” Dooku beckons her, “I’m opening the wine. We’re having a family gathering.”

But the snake is nowhere to be seen.

“Is this seat taken?”

Dooku, engrossed in his four-dimensional crossword puzzle, startles. “No, it is not.”

The man sits down in the chair next to him, stretches out his feet in the soft sand, unpacks a datapad and loads the HoloNews. The front page shows a holoimage of Dooku (medium shot, three-quarter profile, an air of nobility; his admirer at HoloNet News doesn’t disappoint). Dooku tries to read the headlines. In the glaring midday sun, he can barely make out the words. Count Dooku Rumored to Have Passed Away; General Grievous: Is He Next? Eighty-one days, and he’s finally dead. With his long beard, his sunglasses and colorful linen pants, the guests in the small beachside tapcaf don’t recognize him. Dooku has a firm grip on their minds: they look at him and just as quickly forget him.

So has the man. Like yesterday, he scrolls through the news too quickly for Dooku to read along. Dooku already has him figured out. A datapad as a prop, routinely polite, orders “just give me whatever” (he gets the same Novablaster as Dooku). He drinks way too fast for this time of the day.

“If you want to turn your little con into a lucrative sideline, I suggest you better remember the faces of the people you sit next to,” Dooku says.

The man lowers his datapad. “Have we met?”

“Yesterday.”

“Oh really?”

“You left without paying.”

“I did?” He turns pale, which only makes his dark stubble stand out more.

Dooku takes a sip of his Novablaster and watches him squirm. He should cut this conversation short and make him pay for both of their drinks. It would be less of a risk. His face is all over the morning news.

Instead, he takes off his sunglasses. “Don’t worry,” he says and finds himself smiling, “I paid your bill.”

The man averts his eyes. “I am so sorry—”

“Oh, don’t be,” Dooku reassures him, voice deadly gentle. A simple, childlike joy bubbles in his stomach, the kind he usually feels only after several glasses of wine. “It’s of no consequence.”

At his polite words, the man cowers in his seat. “I’m truly sorry. It wasn’t intentional ... I just wasn’t paying attention to you, uh ...” He gropes his glass, opening and closing his fingers around it. His gaze darts over the chairs and tables and palm trees like he’s looking for an escape, and his shoulders slump. In a single gulp, he drains his cocktail.

“My daughter.” He presses a button on his datapad and slides it across the table. “Her name is Laidi. I’ve been looking for her for two days. She ran away.”

She doesn’t resemble him. Probably adopted. Laidi has strawberry blonde hair and a face full of freckles that she turns away from the camera as if she doesn’t want to be in the picture. Dooku feels a twinge of anger, perhaps towards her father for forcing her, perhaps towards her for being so ungrateful. She’s probably in her mid-twenties, too old to run away; at her age, it’s called something else. Sometimes he wonders if all the father figures in the galaxy share the same blind spot.

“It’s all been so difficult lately.” The man lifts his glass, realizes it’s empty, puts it back down. “Her mother ... We didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye. They told us she fought bravely.” Now he looks Dooku in the eye. No fear, no shame; just the hesitant hope that comes with accepting a gift from a stranger. “Why does that even matter? Why do they always think it matters she was brave? She left anyway.”

Above Laidi’s picture, the news ticker is still flickering. BREAKING NEWS ON THE WAR! Count Dooku Surmised Dead. Search for General Grievous Continues. Is the War at Its End? He would like to tell the man that of all the ways to be dead, being dead as a casualty of war might not be the worst. Eighty-one days: Dooku is in a permanent state of dead-but-not-quite, and he’s simultaneously turning deader and aliver every day. All he wants to do is get drunk, listen to old music, and work through his bucket list of the Twenty Wonders of the Galaxy that he hasn’t visited yet (or that haven’t blown up yet). He should have cut the conversation short and just make the man pay for their drinks. “My condolences.” He leans back, shoulders stiff. “We all hope this war will end soon.”

“It wasn’t the war,” the man says. “She was very sick, you know. She was very sick and didn’t tell us.”

The sun is at its zenith, devouring all the shadows without mercy. In Dooku’s glass, the ice cubes slowly shrivel away, their former edges round and dull. Instead, an ice cube forms in Dooku’s throat. He wishes he was drunk. In front, at the bar, a band starts playing. Some silly modern dance song, very loud. Three, two, one—this is your final countdown, a lady in a red dress sings, the electronics pitching her voice to unnatural heights. Three, two, one—last chance for take-off. Yeah-ha-ha! Ah-wah! Ah-ow! Something stirs in Dooku’s mind. It’s not a modern song, but merely a remix that has been around since his youth. He has a few painful memories of how he used to correct his clan members because the wrong lyrics they came up with were even dumber than the real ones. Hold, hold, hold my hand, face the music, speak your words, dance, dance, dance! This is your final chance!

But out of the two dozen guests in the tapcaf, none is in the mood to dance. The man sitting across from Dooku bursts into tears. Understandable. For some songs, there should be a law banning them from being remixed. Trust people to make a bad thing worse.

The song claws its way into his head and gets stuck. Later, when he returns to his ship, he catches himself mumbling the lyrics—the wrong ones, always the wrong ones. They’re more infectious than the original.

Dooku has checked off four of the Twenty Wonders of the Galaxy when the end of the war is declared.

He stands in the middle of the bustling Neeki Spaceport, in a dense crowd of travelers, all of them staring at the holoscreens on the walls where Palpatine is smiling down at them with fatherly affection. They cheer. The woman next to Dooku cries. Two men hug each other. A Wookiee wraps his hairy arms around Dooku and roars before strangling another innocent victim. “Free candy!” someone yells, and Dooku vaguely registers the paper bag with something warm, sweet-smelling that is thrust into his hand. The Force is a blaze of joy, with a bloody wound gaping in the place where Dooku’s former brothers and sisters used to shine. The war is over, people cheer, yet all Dooku feels is Lights dying and fading.

Dazed, he makes his way through the crowd, a bag of holobooks under his arm, a steel cage full of squeaking mice in his hand. His feet are moving, the world around him is slowly consumed by black mist. Cold sweat gathers beneath his tunics. He refuses to be sick, not now, not here. The war is over. He left his blood meter in the ship, buried at the bottom of some drawer, because just like the news, it never tells him anything he doesn’t already know. A dark brown robe jostles him. Brief eye contact: a near-human male, green-blue eyes, searching, alert. Dooku lowers his gaze, hurries on.

“Hey,” the Jedi calls after him.

He bumps into a Noghri family, engaged in an intimate orgy of hugs. Dooku lifts his purchases and the cage and makes his way forward, knocking one of the Noghri over.

“Hey, stop!”

“Drinks for everyone!” hollers a drunken spaceport officer. “Rejoice!”

Dooku flees into a less crowded corridor of a side terminal. Someone grabs his shoulders. He whirls around, sparks flashing under his skin.

The Jedi smiles sadly. “You lost something,” he says, holding up one of the holobooks Dooku bought earlier. Since both of Dooku’s arms are occupied, he places the holobook on top of the cage. “Cute mice. Need a hand with your luggage?”

Dooku stares at him, hoping he’s not one of the younglings he has taught. It can’t be—he would still remember Dooku. He wouldn’t forget so easily. He would recognize him, dyed hair and thin face and silly new name notwithstanding. There’s something familiar about the Jedi, but it might just be the subdued flame burning in the Force.

“I’m on my way to Coruscant,” the Jedi elaborates. “We’ve all been called back to the Temple.” His mouth curves upward without effort, all the heaviness lies in the stare fixed at Dooku. “If you’re taking public transport toward the Core as well, I’d be happy to help you with your luggage.”

Why are you all so damn gullible, Dooku thinks with desperate disgust. In the spaceport hall, the people burst into wordless howling and cheering. Their loud, rhythmic yo-yo-yo-yo echoes from the walls of the massive building. The mice in the cage have huddled in a corner, silent and docile now, surrendering to their inevitable fate that will lead them into the snake’s stomach.

“Thank you.” Dooku tightens his grip on the cage. “I have my own ship.”

The Jedi nods. “Of course. Have a safe journey, then, friend.”

“And you ...” Dooku’s voice falters. Instead, he hands him the still-warm paper bag. The sugary sweet smell makes him nauseous. “Here, my friend. It’s a long way to Coruscant. Snacks are quite costly on these public freighters, I’m afraid.”

The Jedi’s smile turns soft. For a moment, his serene mask drops, and he accepts the bag with all the eagerness of a youngling craving something sweet.

Yo-yo-yo-yo, the masses shout. It’s starting to sound like a marching song.

Three months and six days and Dooku is still alive. The snake has curled up on his bed and angrily spreads her neck hood when Dooku sits down next to her, the cage with the mice in his lap. He rests and stares ahead, waiting for the black veil to disappear. It never does these days. Absently, Dooku fishes a mouse out of the cage by its tail. Where should he go next? Which wonder of the galaxy should he visit, out of the ones that haven’t blown up yet? The snake slithers closer, flicking her tongue; her eyes are old and frozen. She moves toward him and the gentle rustle of the covers is the only sound in the eerie peace. Everything has gone quiet. Dooku watches her devour the mouse, humming softly to himself.