#i just don't like the tone shift. but i mean i thought i'd dislike 3 cuz of its changes and i actually love it so who knows-

[oh-meow-swirls]

y'know i don't think i've ever referenced shadowside in a positive capacity on this blog. i've never even watched it tho-

[issylra]

Hello, I have kind of a random question. I was re-reading 'Spilled Ink and Daffodils' for the hundredth time, and one line in the last chapter always stuck out to me when Dream is telling Hob about his relationship with Alex: "None of it makes Hob dislike Dream's ex any less than before. Not when he hears stories of lost tempers and angry hands".

Obviously Alex sucks, but did he get like... physically abusive with Dream? I could definitely see how that would affect Dream's relationship with Hob :'(

anyway, feel free to ignore this, I was just curious. I adore your writing and particularly this series! <3

Not a random question at all!

I'll be touching on this in the next fic, since it'll be the first one from Dream's POV, but I can say that I don't imagine Alex was outright physically abusive. At least not in the way most commonly thought of. Of course there are shades to abuse/unhealthy relationships, but Dream's issues in that fic stem a lot from constantly being afraid that the rug will be pulled out from under him emotionally.

I pictured the relationship Alex and Dream had to be a really terrible rollercoaster ride after his father got involved. One day, Alex is trying, he's being nice, he's making Dream feel loved and cared for. The next day Dream tries to so much as hold his hand and he's being angrily pushed away because Roderick said something cruel and now it's all Alex can focus on. Dream was left never knowing when it was okay to seek out affection, getting sniped at and shoved away half the time when he tried. Which is why you see him so hesitant to even sit closer to Hob on the couch (until Hob holds an arm up for him) because he's reached for someone he loves too many times already and only been burned for it.

So yeah, that's the lost tempers/angry hands that Hob was referencing. In his head, he's picturing some asshole shoving Dream away or calling him needy whenever he looks for reassurance, and that makes Hob want to punch someone.

I also want to say that I never intended for this fic to be expanded into a series when I originally wrote it. spilled ink was the first AU I'd written for anything ever, and I spent a lot of time thinking about how to incorporate bits of canon and also what life experiences a human Dream would've had to end up the repressed mess that he is at the beginning of the fic. I always thought I'd leave the details up to imagination, but the next installment is going to be in Dream's POV. Which means specifics and flashbacks and a pretty large shift in tone. Hopefully it won't bother anyone!

[thepenultimateword]

Ik u literally just posted it but could u write a part 3 to the werewolf story 👀💞💞 i love it sm

Part One Part Two

"I need a favor."

Villain blinked at the hero standing in their doorframe. It had been several months since they'd talked outside of a fight. Even the clothes Hero borrowed after their last transformation had been placed in a paper sack and hung on Villain's doorknob rather than returned personally. It was as if they wanted to pretend nothing had ever happened, but no matter how Villain tried, they couldn't do the same.

Now that they knew Hero's secret, so many things had become obvious. Hero's amazing hearing and the way they cocked their head when listening to something far away, the strange habit of sniffing the air when entering unfamiliar situations; even the way they shook their shaggy hair when wet was doglike. A part of Villain wondered how they'd ever thought the hero normal, but seeing how three months ago werewolves had been nothing but a fantasy, they couldn't blame themselves too much.

"Okaaay?" Villain said, crossing their arms uncomfortably. They hadn't been expecting company, and now they were painfully aware of their unflattering pajamas and the messy apartment behind them. They didn't care what Hero thought of them, they were just some stupid vigilante who couldn't do their hair properly, but for some reason when they were around, Villain couldn't shake the impression that they were judging everything.

Hero shifted uncomfortably, fingers fiddling and broad shoulders hunching together. "C-could I stay the night?"

Villain stared at them, and the hero blushed. For someone so egotisical, they did that a little too often.

"I mean, it wouldn't really be me, it would be the Wolf. I-I don't know if that makes you feel any better. I know it's a weird request, and believe me, I dislike it more than anyone..."

"Why?" Villain interrupted, tone dry.

Hero full out twisted their hands now, unable to meet Villain's eyes.

"Well, there are only two people who know about my...er...condition. One is Superhero, and the other is you. Superhero is out of town, and I just..." Hero broke off, a strange grimace muddling their expression. "I've felt weird lately. I don't really know how to explain it... I just feel like something is going to happen, and with the blue moon and all... I'd just feel better if someone was watching me tonight."

"So you want me to spend my precious free evening watching you slobber and sniff around my apartment as a glorified dog?"

They were actually thrilled, but Hero didn't need to know that, so soaked their words in as much sarcasm as they could muster.

"If- If it's not too much to ask?"

If Hero had their wolf's tail right now, it would be between their legs. Villain almost felt guilty. Almost. They were seriously enjoying this humiliated, vulnerable version of Hero, might as well draw it out a little longer.

Villain cocked a hip and tapped their chin thoughtfully. "You are pretty mean to me...and I was thinking about going out... I don't know... I barely get any free time as it, what with you ruining half my schemes and forcing me to work double hours for my bread."

"I could--" Hero broke off, seeming almost pained to finish that thought, but after a hard swallow they said, "I could turn the other way. Just for a couple days!

"A week."

"What! No way! With your track record who knows how much trouble--"

Villain started closing the door.

"Wait!" Hero sighed and nodded. "A week."

Villain clapped their hands together. "Perfect. I think the sun set's in an hour, do you need anything from your place or...?"

"No, I might as well come in now."

A jolt ran through Villain's stomach, that was not what they had been expecting, but they ended up mechanically stepping aside. So much for straightening things up.

Hero strode into the living room and flopped down on the couch, legs sprawled in front of them, like they'd lived there for years. All signs of humility had washed away like light stains. "Could I get a drink of water and maybe a snack? I don't really like transforming hungry."

Maybe you should have thought about that before coming in, Villain thought bitterly, but instead of saying anything, they went to the kitchen and began spreading cream cheese on crackers. They could deal with this jerk for an hour if it meant they could cuddle with the Wolf for the rest of the evening. That was, admittedly, a little weird, but they weren't going to think about it too hard.

When they returned to the living room, Hero was unabashedly flipping through their sketch book.

"Hey!" Villain slammed the plate of crackers and water glass on the corner table and snatched the book out their hands. "Are you serious right now?"

"What? It was sitting right there." Hero pointed to a spot on the floor. "Open. There were the makings of a scheme sketched out clear as day, I couldn't not look at it."

"You're supposed to be turning a blind eye!"

"That's after tonight. Were those sketches of the Wolf?"

Villain felt the hairs on the back of their neck raise defensively. Just how far had the hero looked? "W-what about it?"

"Impressive for only seeing it once. You must have a good memory."

"Sort of. It's supposed to be amazing, but it only really works for things I'm interested in, so not actually that amazing."

Hero seemed to think about that for a moment. "Do you really like the Wolf that much?"

Villain was about to snap something vulgar, but then they noticed the genuine tilt of Hero's head. They weren't making fun of them; they seriously wanted to know.

"It's a big dog, why wouldn't I?"

Hero smiled weakly. "Most people are repulsed by Weres, in and out of their animal form. Even people who don't know what they are can sense the wrongness of them: a wolf that's not quite a wolf. It'd be more normal if it made you sick."

Really? They couldn't imagine anyone reacting that way to the Wolf. At least, not after getting to know it a little better. How often had Hero received such reactions? How long had they hidden this side to them? Perhaps Villain's first instinct had been right. When they met the Wolf, they'd felt an almost immediate kinship for it. Even if the Wolf was perfect-life Hero, maybe the wolf portion of them shared more similarities than differences: an outcast, misunderstood, fearful to the point of aggression...

"Whatever." Villain pointed to the side table. "Your snack is there. I'm going back to 'scheming.'"

They tucked their sketchbook under their arm and moved over to the table, only eyeing the hero once in a while with a practiced side glance. They were so big and awkward seated on Villain's couch. They might have entered with confidence, but they didn't fit this scene. Munching crackers and staring around at the mess without commentary? That was a strange sight, so it couldn't be helped if they ended up in Villain's sketches a few times. After the third one, Villain decided it was better for their work not to look up at all. Hero's presence was just too annoying for them to focus. Because of this, it wasn't until Hero let out a sharp cry that realized the sun had gone down.

Villain's head snapped up.

Hero held their head in their hands, fingers curled tightly in their hair. Their next cry was accompanied by a jerk of their shoulders and a loud crack!

"Hero?" Villain pushed out from their chair.

Hero's only response was a pathetic moan, then they collapsed sideways on the cushions. The bulky curve of their back was barely visible above the sofa arm, cloth shredding and giving way to thick fur. They howled. An unearthly, bone-chilling sound that made Villain feel sad and found all at once. The next time Hero came up, they had paws instead of hands.

"Wolf!" Villain cried, stumbling a few giddy steps forward.

The canine's ear flattened tight against their head, and it let out a blood-chilling snarl.

Villain froze.

The Wolf was not itself.

...

Bonus Wolf Music: "Wolves of the Revolution" by The Arcadian Wild, "You're a Wolf" by Sea Wolf, "Wolf" by First Aid Kit, "The Wolf" by the SIAMES, "Wolfsong" by Denny Schneidemesser (instrumental)

Part Four