#implied lamp

[candied-peach]

merry christmas! ♡

[image description: marker art of a christmas tree with a yellow star on top, silver tinsel, and a red and white mat around the bottom, there are ornaments with each side's color, the orange one is on the floor, there is also a white coffee cup with zzz printed on it, representing remy, and a pink and white candy cane in the coffee cup, representing emile.

on the right of the christmas tree is virgil sanders, he has green eyes and purple and brown hair, he's wearing a red and green striped cone-shaped hat, a gold crown earring, a pink choker with a light blue heart on it, an off-the-shoulder pink and black striped fuzzy sweater, purple tank top strap showing underneath it, and a pastel purple and pink plaid skirt, with yellow-star-patterned blue socks]

[cofe-doodles]

Meet And Tremble-At-Your-Knees

September 1, 1989. Dear Diary,

I wouldn’t say I'm stupid.

I have mathematics and chemistry as my best subjects, I'm part of an honors class, and I consistently get praises for my sharp wit in English class. So, no, I'm not stupid.

But would a smart person do this?

“This is excellent forgery.”

Virgil swallowed his anxiety as Roman eyed him up and down before a smirk settled on his face. He didn’t realize that the devil could even smile.

“Who are you?” Who am I? Who am I? Who am I?

“Virgil- Sawyer,” Virgil replied with a hiccup, extending his hand for Roman to shake but the other didn’t acknowledge it. His smirk became bigger. Virgil lowered his hand, coughing out, “I crave a boon.”

Roman looked at the mirror, then to Patton and Logan who were also eyeing Virgil up and down. Both had a look that Virgil couldn’t decipher but he knew they were judging. “What boon?”

Okay, Virgil, this is your chance. “Let me sit at your table, at lunch. Just on, no talking necessary. If people think that you guys tolerate me, then they’ll leave me alone.” Like the devil’s choir, the three laughed simultaneously. Roman eyed him intently, pearly whites shining as he laughed softly. Virgil couldn’t stop the tint in his cheeks, he wouldn’t let himself be embarrassed again. He added, “But before you answer, I also do report cards, permission slips, and absence notes.”

The three paused.

“Do you do prescriptions?” Logan was the one who spoke. Virgil had never noticed how deep and rough Logan’s voice was, like he wasn’t used to talking.

“Not now, Logan.” Roman dismissed him with an annoyed look behind his eyes.

Ah, that’s why. Virgil didn’t bother to mention that he could, indeed, write prescriptions.

Logan sighed but nodded. “Okay”

“You,” Roman said with a taunt and his eyes sparkling with what Virgil could only assume was mischief. “For a ‘nobody’, you’re pretty good looking.”

“Thank you?” Virgil couldn’t deny that it made his heart beat faster. It wasn’t everyday the King of Westerberg High would compliment someone.

Roman smirked. "Doesn’t he have a handsome face?" He asked Patton and Logan.

“He does.” Patton spoke, going towards Virgil and pushing his body to face the mirror. Patton cupped his jaw. “If I took a meat cleaver down the center of your skull, I’d have matching halves,” the way it was said was nonchalant; Virgil was slightly afraid of Patton. But all he did was smile brightly at Virgil as he continued, “That’s very important.”

“Though, your sense of fashion is atrocious.” Logan butt in, using his index and thumb to raise a bit of fabric on Virgil’s gray hoodie.

“That can be fixed.” Roman smiled at his reflection in the mirror. “And you know what, Vixen, I think this will be the start of something beautiful.”

Virgil’s cheeks heated at that.

“But before that,” Roman went behind him, pushing Virgil’s hair to the side. He rested his chin on Virgil’s shoulder causing Virgil to tense up. Roman smirked at the reaction, hugging Virgil from behind. “You need some lip gloss, your lips are all chapped.” Roman said with a pout, a hand coming up to swipe at Virgil’s bottom lip. “I would suggest some blush but I think we got that covered.”

Virgil’s lips pierced in a line, his face heating up in a crimson blush.

“A change of clothes also.” Roman continued.

“A- After class?”

The three laughed again.

“Now, silly.” Patton teased like a parent to a child.

September 2, 1989. Dear Diary,

I got grounded for skipping school. But I have cool clothes now.

Virgil walked down the hallway with his anxiety hugging him tightly. Everyone was staring at him like he was the new kid again. But this time, instead of weirded out expressions, everyone had a look of shock and awe. Yesterday, his new friends bought him clothes that made him look posh and clean. His blond hair was actually trimmed and styled well. His face was more visible now with his bangs being shorter. He walked faster than usual, going to the lunch area with excitement for once.

“Hey, guys,” Virgil greeted as he sat down on the lunch table. He was opposite to Roman, beside Patton who smiled at him brightly.

Roman smirked at him, his chin resting on the palm of his hand. “Logan, switch seats with Virgil.”

Logan got up immediately. Virgil was a bit hesitant to move but did so to not keep Logan standing.

“Virgil,” Roman started, putting a hand on Virgil’s back. Virgil tensed up, sitting straight. Roman smiled at that, facing Virgil. “If you want to keep on sitting with us, you have to do one little thing for moi.”

Virgil caught a grin on both Logan and Patton’s faces.

“What is it?”

Roman snapped his fingers. “Paper.”

Logan reached for his pocket and brought a piece of paper out, he handed it to Virgil. “Forge something for us.”

Virgil looked at Logan before looking at Roman.

“Would you mind?”

“No, not really.”

“Good.” Roman’s smile widened. “I need a forgery in Pryce Hudson’s handwriting.”

“If I may ask, for what-?”

“Hi, Honey; I’ve been watching you, thinking about us in the old days. I hope you can come to my homecoming party this weekend. I miss you, Pryce. Oh, put an ‘XO’ after the signature.” Roman said, sensually speaking. Virgil was a bit confused but he wrote it nonetheless.

“What’s this for?”

“Pryce used to hang out with Anton in kindergarten.” Roman said with a disgusted look in his face.

“Real close,” Patton giggled with a suggestive eye roll.

“Too close.” Logan added. “They kissed on the kickball field.”

“Oh my gosh, that’s right! I forgot about that. Pryce kissed Anton.” Patton spoke with a fake cheery smile. “It was disgusting.”

“What’s so wrong with that?” Virgil asked with an awkward chortle.

“Pryce still likes him and Anton’s a nobody,” Roman said in a duh tone. “So I’m planning to divide them. Our family can’t date nobodies.”

He took the note from Virgil as he still tried to process what they said. If that was the case, why were they bringing up the past?

“This is perfect, Virgil, thank you,” Roman praised him. “Pryce!”

Virgil flinched at the shout. He watched as Pryce Hudson walked over at their table. He looked kinda like Roman.

“What cuz?”

Ah, they were cousins.

“Do me a favor and be a good cousin and give this to Anton for me, hm?”

Virgil’s eyes widened. “What? No!”

Pryce looked at his cousin, eyebrow raised. “Since when do you talk to him?” Pryce started to unfold it but Virgil took the note from him. Pryce furrowed his eyebrows. “Give that back, loser.”

“Virgil.” Roman raised an eyebrow at him, waving Pryce away. He did, but not before glaring at Virgil.

“I’m not doing this.” Virgil shook his head. “You may like to ruin other people’s lives but personally, I’m not that apathetic. And I will not have this on my conscience.”

Roman raised an eyebrow. “Are we going to have a problem?”

Virgil flinched. “I didn’t mean-”

“You got the balls to say that to me, hm? We don’t do this everyday, why are you pulling on my dick?”

Roman stood up, grabbing Virgil’s chin in the process.

“Normally, I’d shame you in front of everybody right here, right now. But because I’m nice,” he put emphasis on the word ‘nice.’ “I’ll give you advice, so listen.”

Roman sat on the table, using the heel of his boot to push Virgil. With that, everyone noticed their table even more so than usual.

“If you want to keep being friends with us, you have to roll with us.” Roman smirked. “We’re rich, we’re hot, we’re everything other people are not. Oh, that’s a good one, put it in my slam poetry notebook, Logan.”

“Affirmative.”

“Anyways. If you don’t have the balls, go back to being a nobody.” Roman spoke in a childish manner. “Or, keep up with us and we’ll have you living the life you always wanted to have.”

“And what life may that be?” Virgil wanted to sound harsh but he just sounded unsure.

“A life of luxury.” Logan spoke, standing up and sitting beside Virgil who tensed under the stoic expression but his glasses hid that look of pride.

“A life on a silver platter.” Patton chirped, going to the other side of Virgil and clinging on his arm.

“A life where you have me.” Roman smirked, bending down to Virgil’s level and cupping his jaw. “A life of joy, my dear. So, say goodbye to loser Virgil, and say hello to the brand new version of yourself.”

Virgil stared up at Roman. “Okay.”

“Great!” Roman laughed. “Let’s go tear up someone’s lawn. Forge us an excuse slip, Virgil.”

“Sure but, uh, I have an important test after lunch so I’ll pass.” A lie.

Roman groaned. “Boring! But whatever. See you then, Virgil.” Roman stood up, pulling Virgil up and kissing his cheek before walking out of the lunch area. Logan and Patton followed, saying their respective goodbyes to Virgil.

Virgil stood dumbly as he watched his ‘friends’ leave the lunch area.

“Your first mistake was wearing plum and salmon pink together.” Virgil jumped, turning around to face the table where a boy in a beanie was sitting.

How in the hell did Virgil not hear him?

“Your second mistake was bowing down to the Swatch-dogs and Diet-Cokeheads. They got you wrapped around their fingers.” He continued, leaning back then standing, walking over towards Virgil, brushing shoulders, leaving. “You’ve clearly got a soul. You just need to work harder keeping it clean. We are all born marked for evil.”

“Hey, you can’t just quote Baudelaire at me and walk away.” Virgil grabbed the sleeve of his trench coat. The boy looked over his shoulder to look at Virgil, he was smirking. “I didn’t catch your name.”

“I didn’t throw it.” Then he was off.

Virgil stared at the lunch doors dumbfounded.

[aro-laurance-zvahl]

hey now, don't beat yourself up about "unfinished" work. sometimes the purpose of writing is to shake your emotions out, or to test a new style, or to write the one specific scene you've been daydreaming about. 500 words is still a lot (trust, I did nano and thinking "I still have 500 words.." is daunting). no love, however brief, is wasted.

for a prompt, you never said if you wanted it fandom specific? so I think it could be fun to try and write smth in second person. you could do it in a, outsiders perspective looking in to whatever fandom situation you want. also, don't feel pressured to post it. sometimes our writing is just for us (though of course if you want to, I'm not holding you back!) :]

It has been. A bit of a rough week. Which made these 500 words take longer than my usual, but they shall not be wasted. Since I first followed you back in your Sanders Sides days, I figured I might well cobble together something SaSi. It’s from this LAMP soulmate AU I have, inspired by a fic I read years ago but when I reread it it just didn’t scratch the itch. It’s a mess of an AU, so many branching paths and no consistent timeline and probably at least 10k words of mess scattered around my drafts and 1k of them are probably the same words pasted into different draft where the situation goes a different direction. I have fun with it though, and I really like it which felt appropriate for this ask as well.

So without further ado, enjoy 537 words of Remy’s inner turmoil.

—

You are fourteen years old, sitting with your best friend in his room. You’re pretending not to notice, but you can tell he’s looking at how the writing appears on your arm. You know he’s still mourning the fact his writing doesn’t appear on it anymore, and so are you.

Not that you don’t like your soulmate, he’s nice and his doodles are getting better, and you feel it in your bones you’ll love him when you see him, but you don’t think it’ll stop the weird grief you have about Virgil. He’s been your best friend since you were six, and for over two years he was your soulmate too. Until he wasn’t.

Looking back, maybe it was predictable. You two were kids, arms filled with possible soulmates that fate was still lining up perfectly. Nearly all of them would fade, and one day, for you, they did. You were left with one, like everyone figured would happen. You had already met your soulmate, you two would barely remember a day without that bond. Except the one wasn’t Virgil, and it could not have happened at a worse time.

You don’t think you could ever forgive fate for the shambles she left Virgil in, even if your soulmate is a god on earth. He lost so much that year because of stupid fate and you know he’s never been able to recover, so why should you love fate? You know she’s not kind, maybe she has been to you since that time but you’ve seen the cruel nature she harbors. You had to watch her break your best friend before either of you knew long division.

You take a deep breath. He just got back from the hospital, it’s not the time to go on one of your anger induced ramblings about fate. They make him sad anyway, and you’re supposed to be here to cheer him up. You try to focus back on the game in front of you, but your arm itches and you know it’s because fate is sinking her claws along the new markings, urging you to look and look and look.

You give in to her demands, sparing a quick glance down to relieve the hives like feeling dancing across your arm. It’s nothing important, just a few words asking you to remind him to ask for more stickers, you couldn’t even respond if you really needed to anyway. The itching fades as quickly as it began though, and you wonder how Virgil manages to never look at his own if you cave after moments? His soulmates are chatty too, from what you have gathered from the small things he says about them.

It’s most definitely not the time to ask though, so you once again adjust your grip on the controller in your hand and focus your vision back onto the game in front of you. It really sucks you have to finish the game for him, but he doesn’t want to wait the couple months for his cast to come off to see the end and you know he’d do it for you. You’ve been dying to talk about it with him anyway, and that is definitely a safe and happy subject.

[rip-headphones-users]

Buncha doodles from today lol

1. Folly tells it how it isn’t

2. Based on that one Lampert and Melanie dialogue where he gets existential with it

3. Yea thats Lampert alright.

4. Stainly : ) (oc)

5. Lampert taking after Wallter (and drinking glass cleaner)

[forgettable-au]

Someone in the tags of the last post correctly guessed that Wingdings' lamp was made with these Waterfall glowing crystals soooo I took it as a chance to mention it! Hehe

Moving the lamp around a little will get it to shine brightly again when it's light is starting to fade

[monstrous-flower]

bake no hana 🦋🥀

[satttanderna]

Shitty friends

( And other ugly sketches )

[squishsquishy]

💜Purple Y2K Stoner Porcupine💜

x/x/x x/x x/x/x for @porcupiney

[tricoufamily]

hmm idk is this giving you the batman

[the-blossica-fan]

This art implies three things

1. An-an has a plant she takes care of

2. She drinks. A lot.

3. She is about to fall off of her chair 😭

As for Kimberly... hm. She LOOKS tall, but I would say like. 5'6, maybe? Taller than most others, but still pretty short

That position she has with the chair reminds me of my friend that slid alongside his chair in La Rosa De Guadalupe style, very dramatic and very slowly.

That plant runs purely off of caffeine or is fake because with the state of that room she probably feeds it caffeine/silly

She would make for a, uh, decent plant mom. In the sense the plant lives!

...Goddamn it we got another drinker in our hands.

Kimberly looks like she could be short, which is what makes me think she could be a lil taller.

I had a thought process and remembered she comes from Brazil which places her in an average height chart I'm familiar with, therefore, yeah she might be around 5'6-5'9

[completeoveranalysis]

[1]

Chapitre 183 - The World of Sand 

In which ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THIS IS INCREDIBLE. 

BLACK AND WHITE INVERSE COLOUR SAKURA AND SYAORANS? OHHHHH CLAMP ARE GENEROUS. CLAMP ARE GIVING.

Even just how each couple is wearing the colour opposite to their background, but also the opposite of the opposing pair.

And how the feathers are in the SAME but OPPOSITE part of the page for each side, showing that they are visual inversions of each other’s reality, but the feathers don’t look the same, and are shown at unique angles. Potentially they’re falling on one side but rising on the other. Potentially it’s the same for each, but its showing that neither story is complete without the perspective of the other. 

And how the small circles on the right are small and clearly defined against the background - perhaps falling water droplets, like the falling feathers around them? - while the ones on the left are fuzzy shiny orbs, like motes of air or magic rising through the sky. I think the implication of movement is a bit open to interpretation, you could go either way. IS one side falling and the other rising? Is the fate of that Sakura/Syaoran pair falling downward while the other rises? Is one falling to ALLOW the other to rise? Is one pair doomed by fate BECAUSE they are clones? Or are they drifting down and out of the narrative and into freedom, while the other pair takes up the fight in their stead? Is one background Black because their future is dark, or because they CAME from that darkness, as created tools of Evil Wolverine? Or is it their clothes that matter? Are they the light in the dark, the fragments of people who fought to change the future despite their origins? White clothing because they were initially empty and devoid of anything? Is the other background similarly white because it hasn’t been written yet - a future so undefined that no-one can tell what it will be when this is all over?

Are the circles actually heading in the same direction on both sides of the page, and the difference is how they are perceived? How one stands out against the darkness while the other needs help to be seen at all? The clones WERE the most visible throughout most of the story, and only through their existence did the other pair get the chance to enter the narrative again. 

I - oH fuck I forgot that this would be in colour and that I HAVE IT. PLEASE HOLD. WHERE IS IT. 

HERE IT IS! LOOK LOOK LOOK

EVEN THE SPLASH TEXT IS INVERTED

MIRROR IMAGES

And OH all that gorgeous golden ornamentation, the gem colours actually staying the same on both sides of the page. The clasp on Syaoran’s upper arm is the same symbol as on the previous cover, on Fai and Kurogane's clothing, which is a very fun connection that shows it wasn’t just an alternate world we didn’t see, but an intended shared thread of imagery for them all. 

The long pieces of jewellery that the Sakuras wear are gorgeous and delicate and intricate. It could be echoing the design of vines and natural growth - perhaps because she can communicate with spirits, and is in touch with the natural world, or perhaps because she is a desert flower herself, growing out of a literal world of sand but also blooming despite the extreme adversity, and blossoming out of pure determination. It also has visual echoes of imprisonment - it circles her neck not at a low level like a necklace, but high like a collar. It spreads across her like roots, holding her in place - or is it the opposite of that now? Is she, aware of her fate as she is, wearing Evil Wolverine’s designs like they're just a gown to be worn? Something she can’t take off but has learned to make work for her?

The Syaorans have a circular loop in the design of their coat around their necks as well - because they’ve been just as trapped in Evil Wolverine’s schemes. For the Syaoran on the right especially the loop around his neck has two circular gems visible that could echo the same shape as the goggles he used to wear, bringing in an element of the past that shaped who he is but at the same time was a design placed on him from birth, one that was all by someone else’s plan. 

AND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEM. The colour version lets you see the heterochromia in Syaoran's eyes on the right, showing which pair is which, and the DIFFERENCES in how they stand. (If they ARE in the pairs you would expect) Clone Sakura looks down, as if unfocussed, because she IS currently narratively dead. Or is she instead gazing at her hand, being held by Syaoran? She has wanted this so desperately and for so long. Does she look sad because she is currently dead, meaning they might never be actually together? Is she unfocussed because she has not yet had the chance to truly see that her sacrifice worked, and that Syaoran really has been restored? Either way, Syaoran holds her hand up in support, gently from below. 

The Syaoran on the left holds the other Sakura’s hand up close to his chest, hand clenched tight. This Sakura and Syaoran both look ahead - at where they are going? At what lies ahead for them both? Neither looks especially happy, but neither looks especially unhappy either. Lava Lamp has always been particularly unreadable, but the way he grasps her hand betrays how hard he’s been fighting for her. Sakura in turn looks just as unfocussed as her counterpart - and if Evil Wolverine is to be believed, it’s because she’s also dead. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS THOUGH. She could potentially be in dreams, asleep for the entire plotline, held as a backup until they free her. She is not particularly aware that her hand is being held, and isn’t participating in the motion like the other Sakura seems to be, but she looks ahead all the same. Whatever they're looking at, they're clearly moving in a different direction entirely to their clone counterparts.

Meanwhile Clone Syaoran looks directly at the camera.

[dalish-delight]

The light of sun and star and moon In shining lamps of crystal hewn Undimmed by cloud or shade of night There shone forever, fair and bright

I know we're probably never getting the restoration of moria in-game, it would just be too similar to the iron garrison story. but the glimpses we get of khazad-dum in its full glory are SO -

[cofe-doodles]

As I mentioned in my previous post, I will be explaining - in detail - the different au's I have of the sides. During the time I was active in the fandom, I made a lot of au's; some I remember, whilst others I don't. I will try to remember discarded au's as well just so that I can give you all content (and maybe drawings, but most of my content - as for now, since I am busy in school - will be in writing). So, without further ado, the first au we will be discussing is the:

Heather's AU!

Character Information:

Virgil Sawyer

Once popular turned outcast; Sawyer lives his high school life low-key. After graduation and upon entering the dreaded life of a high schooler, Sawyer finds himself in a mess; torn between his best friend and a chance at happiness again.

He wouldn't say that he didn't miss popularity because, in truth, he did. He missed having friends who would have his back and he missed the feeling of freedom; wherein everyone doesn't care what he does because he was one of the 'popular kids'.

So, between his life, the life of his best friend, and the lives of the innocent, Sawyer faces the most difficult choice of his life yet. Become a popular again or risk losing his sanity; he hesitates just once before making a choice.

Roman Sanders-Chandler

Rich, famous, and undeniably gorgeous, Chandler has the whole school wrapped around his pretty finger. Having been born in a rich family, problems for him were as easy as typing out his credit card info. The easy life was what he always had wanted, but the climax of his story was just nearing.

Fixated over the 'new' kid, Chandler finds himself drawn to a classmate. He swears he has seen him before, but can't really remember where and when.

There's nothing that stops him from reaching out, maybe even offering something he never offers to anybody. What can he say? The Sawyer kid caught his eye.

Logan Duke-Sanders

Obedient, intelligent, and often ignored by the king bee. Duke had always been the black sheep but that didn't stop him from achieving higher than any of his peers. He metaphorically crawled his way to the top; to where he is now, so why in the loving freak of nature is Sawyer doing in their table?

Confused and utterly mortified, Duke tries to understand why the self proclaimed king bee invited an outcast into their circle. Unwanted thoughts of what if's metaphorically knocked his noggin, a sense of rejection hitting him.

Was he being replaced by a former somebody?

Patton McNamara-Sanders

Ever smiling and ever laughing McNamara; the sweet lamb of the wolf pack. People often see him as the 'friendliest' Sanders which he takes advantage of. What can McNamara say? It was just that easy to fool people these days. Manipulative and charming; a dangerous combination.

So it's not a surprise as to why Sawyer opened up to him first. With the given information from the former outcast, McNamara can either break or make Sawyer; but don't tell Chandler that.

McNamara keeps secrets, like everyone in high school, but he feels like he can trust Sawyer.

Janus De Felice

With physical scars that reminded him of his past, De Felice moves out of his father's house and into a new city, meeting new people; meeting a potential boyfriend. The mystery of his past seemed to have Sawyer on a leash, and maybe De Felice doesn't really mind that.

Remus Sanders-Ancar

Moving from school to school due to his 'bad' behavior, Ancar finds himself in the same school where his wannabe cousin was. He decided to get himself suspended but reconsidered when meeting a winsome boy with the cutest eyes.

Relationships:

Virgil - Roman, Logan, & Patton

Virgil has mixed feelings about the three considering that he always viewed them as up-tight and mean people.

Roman - Virgil

Roman is interested in Virgil; not in a romantic sense but something close to that. Though, he flirts with Virgil a lot of times.

Logan - Virgil

Logan doesn't really like Virgil but flirts with him due to Roman.

Patton - Virgil

Patton feels indifferent of Virgil.

Virgil - Janus & Remus

Virgil likes them both, but it's not necessarily romantic. He just feels comfortable with the two since they don't really care about status or reputation.

Janus - Virgil

Janus has romantic feelings for Virgil considering the fact that Virgil is really easy going compared to other people. It's mostly because it's convenient.

Remus - Virgil

Remus has an unhealthy fixation towards Virgil; it started as a way to spite his cousin (Roman) but it grew to be an unhealthy obsession.

Janus - Roman

Janus doesn't like Roman but flirts with him to spite Remus.

Remus - Roman

Both hate each other.

Janus - Logan

Janus doesn't particularly like Logan.

Remus - Logan

Remus likes to flirt with Logan just to spite Roman.

Janus - Patton

Janus hates Patton.

Remus - Patton

Remus likes Patton because of his manipulative nature.

Roman - Logan & Patton

Roman considers them as friends. He likes hanging out with them because they let him be 'in control'.

Logan - Roman & Patton

Logan looks up to Roman in an unhealthy way, he also kind of has a crush on Roman because of the power Roman has on him. Logan likes Patton since both have different views that they can talk about.

Patton - Roman & Logan

Patton admires Roman openly. He also likes Logan and is very honest about his feelings for the two.

I'll add more as I build the world and story :)

[lets-go-hurt-someone]

I’ve played this game for over 600 hours and at least three times to completion, with more than 8 characters doing both evil and good runs, and it took until today to get stuck in the lamp

[fragileizywriting]

no one’s asked and i hope they never will about the electrical wiring in the magic room. there are no windows, theoretically there shouldn’t be any sockets either. just… don’t think about it.

[prlssprfctn]

Damian wakes up, startled. He doesn't remember what he saw in his dreams, and he is not sure what caused him to feel so anxious, but he knows what to do. The routine is easy and comforting; he just needs to find his brother Jason. So, he goes.

His bare feet against the cold floor is soundless, making no sound, and he keeps rubbing his eyes until he sees one of the doors open. It must be Jason. He always keeps the door of his room open, just in case.

There is a dim light in the room, a small lamp on the desk, where the stakes of paper are stored, and Jason is here, as tall and huge as always, tapping on his feet in an attempt to concentrate, while twirling a pen between his fingers. He is either reading or working on something else: writes down memories, afraid of them slipping away due to the Lazarus Pit hammering in his temples all the time.

Damian yawns and steps closer, tapping on his back.

'Akhi Jason,' he calls hoarsely. The body freezes, almost surprised — he is not supposed to; Jason hears him from the corridor, even if he is the most soundless kid in the whole world. 'I want to sleep.'

He never says he sees nightmares or that he is scared — just that. It always works.

Expect, this time it doesn't.

'What did you say?' Brother asks, his voice sounding so unusually stiff.

'Jason,' he repeats, more irritated this time. 'I said, I want to—'

When Jason turns around, Damian instinctively staggers back, his eyes widening.

The man in front of him is not Jason.

And for a second, Damian is panicking, until-

Until he doesn't remind himself that he is not home anymore. He is in the Wayne Manor, with his father.

With his father that looks exactly like his brother, only older, without scars, marring his face, and without a white streak that makes him look like a bird.

'Damian,' his father calls, slightly shaken. 'How do you know Jason?'

He swallows down. He is not supposed to tell about his brother. They instructed him not to.

But father has a familiar desperation in his eyes, the same one Jason had, when he was pacing around the room, muttering something incoherent, the cut out from newsletters photos of Bruce Wayne with Tim Drake in his hands, and-

And Damian shrugs.

'He is my brother,' he says, almost too innocently; because if he is going to be clueless about it, then what others will have to tell him? 'He stayed with a grandfather. It is a shame.'

Almost as if he doesn't understand what all of this implies.

'I was sleepy,' he adds. 'And got confused. My apologises, father. I shall return to my bedroom.'

Bruce stares, stares, and stares. And then, rubs his face with his hands, exhausted.

'I'll tuck you in. Let's go,' and a second later, with his voice sounding so familiarly small, just like how Jason's sounded when he first acknowledged him as his brother, he adds: 'Can you tell me more about your brother, Damian?'

And Damian tells him, of course.

He is not surprised to see the result of his work the next week.