#it has already happened it was always going to happen! you can change how it affects you but you cannot escape the tragedy!!!

[authortelevision]

arthur frederick and the new producer: chapter 2 ₊˚⊹♡

words: 4,476 ✦ .ᐟ

♯┆arthurtv slow burn, bach and arthur podcast

after lara leaves bach and arthur’s podcast, you become her replacement. after discovering that arthur hates change, it takes a lot for him to warm up to you and become friends. it also takes a lot for him to admit how he truly feels about you.

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Chapter One

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Chapter Two ₊˚⊹♡

The next day, you show up to the studio a little more prepared. The anxiety that gnawed at you the night before has faded, replaced by a sense of determination. Isaac’s words are still echoing in your mind: Don’t take his quietness personally. You’ve done your part, and now you just need to focus on the work.

The studio is already humming with activity when you arrive. Arthur is behind the desk, fiddling with the computer, his brow furrowed in concentration. Isaac is sitting on one of the chairs, scrolling through his phone. As you step in, you can sense the tension still hanging in the air, but it’s different this time. Less thick, maybe, less uncomfortable.

Arthur glances up from the computer as you walk in, and you catch a flicker of something in his expression. Maybe it’s a flash of regret, or maybe it’s just the way his eyes meet yours, but it’s there. He stands up from behind the desk, a little awkwardly, and rubs the back of his neck, clearly trying to make things right.

“Hey,” he says, his voice lower than usual, softer. “I just wanted to apologize for yesterday. I wasn’t… trying to make things uncomfortable. I know I’m not the easiest guy to work with when things change. It’s just… it’s a thing I have to get used to.”

You blink, surprised by the genuine apology. Arthur isn’t the type to readily admit fault, or so it seems. His tone is almost apologetic, and it makes you feel a little more at ease.

You offer a small smile, shrugging off the tension that still lingers between you two. “It’s really okay. No need to apologize. We’re still getting to know each other. I get it.”

Arthur nods, his hands shoved in his pockets, his usual guarded demeanour still there but softer now. “Yeah, well… I’ll try to make it less weird. I just… it’s not easy for me to adjust to new things. But we’ll figure it out.”

You nod back, feeling a little lighter. “I’m sure we will. No worries.”

The recording session starts smoothly enough, though you can tell Arthur’s keeping a critical eye on everything. He’s focused on the technical side, as always, adjusting his mic, and making sure he’s positioned just right. You, on the other hand, are more focused on keeping the flow going, keeping track of the notes, and making sure everything stays on schedule.

As you’re all getting into the conversation for the next segment, Arthur continues to monitor everything closely. You try to keep the mood light, chatting with Isaac about something random, just to keep the energy going. And then, as you settle back into the rhythm of the recording, you hear it.

Arthur’s voice, calm and collected, asks a question. “Alright, Lara, can you just—”

Your stomach drops for a moment.

Lara? You blink, your mind processing the slip-up. Did he just say, Lara?

Arthur’s eyes widen, and for a split second, there’s a brief, uncomfortable silence as he realizes what he’s said. His face goes red, and you can see the wheels turning in his head as he tries to correct himself.

“Sorry,” he says quickly, his voice flustered. “I meant— sorry, I don’t know why I said that.

You freeze for just a moment, then let out a small laugh, the tension easing away from your body. It’s not like you’ve never been mistaken for someone else before, but the fact that it’s happening now, with Arthur, feels oddly relieving.

“It’s fine,” you say with a grin. “I’ll just cut it out.”

Arthur, still looking embarrassed, gives a small, relieved chuckle. “Right. I’ll get it right next time, I swear.”

Isaac, who has been listening from the side, can’t resist. “Smooth, Arthur,” he teases, a grin spreading across his face. “You’ve gotta start calling her by the right name now. That’s two strikes.”

Arthur looks at Isaac with, a half-hearted glare, but there’s no real anger behind it. It’s more playful than anything. “I said I was sorry,” Arthur mutters, clearly still flustered.

You decide to ease his embarrassment. “Seriously, it’s really okay. I’ll just edit it out of the recording, no big deal.”

Arthur’s shoulders relax a little at that, and for the first time, you notice a slight shift in his posture, like the weight of the situation has lightened just a bit.

Isaac laughs and gives Arthur a teasing look. “Don’t worry, man. She’s way more chill than you are.”

You chuckle, feeling your nerves loosen. “I’m just here to get the job done. And hey, mistakes happen.”

Arthur nods, his face still a little red but now looking slightly more at ease. “Yeah, well… thanks for being understanding. I didn’t mean to make things weird.”

The session continues after that, and while Arthur remains focused, detailed, precise, and ever-critical there’s a subtle shift in the air. The tension that had lingered between the three of you is not as bad now, and even Arthur seems to have relaxed just a bit. It’s a small change, but it’s something.

As the recording wraps up, you feel like the day has gone a little better than expected. Things are still a little formal, but you can sense a slight softening from Arthur. Maybe this whole transition won’t be as difficult as you thought.

Before leaving, Arthur gives you a short nod. “Good work today. We’ll be back at it again soon.”

You smile, glad the day is finally over. “Thanks, Arthur. I’ll see you next time.”

Isaac gives you a small wave and a wide smile. “See you later. Don’t let Arthur bite you next time.”

You laugh, feeling the last of the tension melt away. “No promises.”

As you gather your things and make your way out of the studio, you feel a little more at ease. Sure, Arthur might still be a bit reserved, but today felt like a step in the right direction. Maybe, just maybe, you and Arthur will find a way to make this work. It’s early yet, but you’re optimistic.

Later that evening, after the recording session, you sit down at your desk, a cup of tea in hand. You pull out your notes, mentally sorting through ideas for the next episode. There are some technical changes you want to make, as well as a few suggestions for adjusting the flow. Arthur has been quiet on your ideas lately, so you’re hoping that putting them in writing might make things easier.

Taking a deep breath, you open your messages and start typing to Arthur:

You: Hi Arthur, I’ve been thinking about the next episode and wanted to run a few ideas by you.

You: For the intro, I was thinking of tightening it up a bit, maybe cutting down some of the back-and-forth, and then transitioning into the discussion on science in the media. I think it might flow better that way.

You: Also, I’m planning to shift the pacing a little so the segments feel smoother, and not too abrupt. Let me know if you have any thoughts or if you’d like to adjust anything.

You re-read the message once more, making sure it doesn’t sound too casual or too formal, and then hit send.

A few minutes pass before his reply shows up.

Arthur: Yeah, we could do that.

It’s short, too short, and it doesn’t feel like the kind of confirmation you were hoping for. It’s polite but distant. You hesitate, wondering if you should clarify more or give him a bit of space. But it’s hard to tell with Arthur, he’s never the type to volunteer his thoughts unless you push.

You quickly type back:

You: Great. I’ve also been thinking about how we structure the segments. Maybe we could break up the discussion a bit more, and give each part a clearer focus. Do you think that could work? Or is that going too far off track from the way things have been?

A long minute goes by. You begin to second-guess your approach. Should you have sent a more detailed outline? Would it have been better to just go over these ideas in person? You glance at your phone again, willing it to buzz with a more substantial response.

Finally, the next message comes in.

Arthur: I’m not sure about breaking up the segments too much. We’ve got a rhythm, and I don’t want to mess with that unless it’s necessary. But I’m open to tweaking the flow a little like you said.

You feel a slight frustration creeping in, but you try to keep it in check. Arthur’s always like this, careful with changes, and meticulous about keeping the podcast grounded in its original structure. You don’t necessarily disagree, but it can be hard to push for progress when he’s so cautious.

You type your response, trying to phrase it in a way that respects his approach but still moves things forward:

You: Got it. I just think tightening up the pacing could help us maintain the energy. But I’ll make sure not to mess with anything too much.

There’s a brief pause before his reply comes in again.

Arthur: I’m not saying don’t change anything. Just let’s take it slow, yeah?

His tone, though still a bit distant, seems less cold this time. It’s clear that he doesn’t want to fully shut you down, but he’s also not ready to embrace your suggestions completely.

You let out a soft breath, your fingers hovering over the phone for a second, unsure of how to respond. Arthur’s cautious nature is wearing you thin, but you remind yourself, that this is progress, even if it’s slow. Extremely slow.

You reply with:

You: Absolutely, I’ll keep it gradual. I appreciate you taking the time to go over these with me.

The reply comes quickly this time.

Arthur: No problem.

It’s the most he’s said to you all day, and despite the still-cautious tone, you can’t help but feel a bit of relief. Maybe it’s small, but it’s something.

You sit back in your chair and breathe out slowly, feeling a little more at ease with the upcoming recording. There’s still a long way to go before things feel comfortable with Arthur, but this message, this little back-and-forth, the slight conversation reminds you that Arthur is human just like you.

You smile to yourself, finally putting your phone down. You’ll just have to take things one episode at a time.

The next morning, you arrive at the studio early, hoping to get everything ready before the others show up. The low hum of the air conditioning fills the otherwise quiet room, and you take a deep breath as you begin setting up the equipment. You double-check the microphones, adjust the levels on the soundboard, and make sure the recording software is ready to go.

A few minutes later, you hear the door open. Arthur steps inside, looking as serious as ever. He gives you a brief nod, not quite warm, but not cold either, and heads to the table without saying much.

“Good morning,” you say, trying to sound casual, though you can’t help the slight tension in your voice.

“Morning,” he responds without much inflexion, his eyes briefly flicking toward you before he focuses on the phone in his hand.

You watch him for a moment, then turn your attention back to the equipment. You’ve been thinking a lot about the changes you planned to implement. You’ve adjusted the intro to be a bit tighter, and you want to suggest a new structure for the segments. It’s all part of trying to help the show feel a little fresher without losing what’s already there.

“I made some changes to the intro,” you say, breaking the silence. “I tightened it up a bit. It should help with pacing.”

Arthur doesn’t immediately respond, but you can feel his attention shift toward you. He doesn’t look thrilled, but he’s not dismissing it outright either.

“I’ll listen to it when we start recording,” he mutters, taking a sip of his coffee. “As long as you didn’t go overboard.”

You nod, trying to suppress the knot forming in your stomach. You’d hoped for a little more enthusiasm, but at least he didn’t shut you down completely.

“Maybe add a little more interaction with the camera so it feels a bit more connected, you know?”

Arthur raises an eyebrow, setting his coffee mug down with a faint clink. “Connected, huh? Well, I suppose we can try it. As long as you don’t mess with the format too much.”

You smile slightly, but there’s a hint of tension behind the smile. “I won’t. Just a few adjustments here and there.”

Arthur considers it for a moment. “Yeah, we could do that. I hope it doesn’t hurt to try something new.

His words hang in the air, and you feel the sting of the backhanded compliment. It’s not exactly praise, but it’s not a flat-out rejection either. You try to keep your tone positive as you reply, “Right. Just a few adjustments to see how it feels.”

Arthur takes another sip of his coffee, watching you with a careful expression. “Well, as long as you’re not trying to turn it into something it’s not, it should be fine. But don’t get too attached to any one idea if it doesn’t work.”

You nod, keeping your voice steady. “Understood. I think it could help.”

Arthur stands still for a moment, his gaze flickering over to the soundboard. “Fine,” he says, though there’s a slight edge to his tone. “Just don’t change everything all at once. People don’t like it when things change too fast.”

You smile, doing your best to keep things professional. “Of course. Just a few small things.”

He nods but doesn’t say anything else as he heads toward the door. “Alright. I’ll be in the recording room. Let’s see what happens.”

As the rest of the team arrives and the session gets underway, you try to keep the changes subtle, hoping to ease into the new structure without rocking the boat too much. Arthur watches you closely, though he doesn’t offer much in the way of feedback, and you can’t quite tell if he’s warming up to the ideas or just biding his time.

When the session wraps up, you take a deep breath, trying to gauge his reaction. Arthur’s expression is neutral, but his words are the first sign of approval you’ve gotten, even if it’s more reserved than you’d like.

“Not bad,” he says, still with that distant edge to his tone.

You nod, not quite sure how to respond. His approval, if you can even call it that, feels like it’s wrapped in layers of hesitance. But it’s something. It’s progress, at least.

“Thanks, Arthur,” you say, forcing a smile. “I’m glad it worked out.”

He meets your gaze for a brief moment, then turns to pack up his things. “Yeah, well. I’ll catch you next time.”

You watch him go, feeling that same mix of frustration and resolve. Gaining Arthur’s trust is going to take more than a few changes to the show. But you’re in it for the long haul.

The evening air is crisp as you walk home, the sound of your footsteps echoing in the quiet street. The weight of the day’s recording session feels better now, and you can’t help but feel a small sense of relief. Arthur’s approval, however reserved, was a step in the right direction. Things felt like they were getting better, even if it was just by a little bit.

As you push open the door to your flat, the familiar warmth greets you, and you let out a deep breath. The apartment is quiet except for the soft clink of dishes from the kitchen. Emma’s sitting at the table, as she scrolls through her phone.

“Hey,” she says without looking up. “How’d it go today?”

You drop your bag by the door and kick off your shoes. “Better. Arthur was still… Arthur. But I think he’s starting to warm up to the changes. He even said the pacing was tighter, so that’s something.”

Emma looks up, raising an eyebrow. “Tighter? That’s progress, right?”

“Yeah,” you reply, sinking into the chair across from her. “He said it wasn’t a disaster. So, I’m counting that as a win.”

Emma grins turning off her phone to give you her attention. “You’re definitely making progress, then. Sounds like you’re wearing him down.”

“I don’t know about wearing him down,” you say, laughing. “But it feels like he’s finally starting to see what I’m trying to do. It’s definitely not smooth sailing, but I think I’m on the right track.”

“Good,” she says, putting her phone down. “You’ve got this. I told you it’d get better.”

You smile, grateful for her support. “Yeah. Thanks for keeping me grounded.”

The conversation drifts to other things as Emma talks about her day, but in the back of your mind, you can’t help but replay the moments from the recording session. The small victories, the subtle shifts in Arthur’s attitude.

A few days later, the podcast episode finally gets released on YouTube. You’re sitting in your room, headphones on, making some final tweaks to the next episode’s edits when your phone lights up with a notification. It’s from Arthur.

You pause, lifting your phone to read the message.

Arthur: People liked the episode. It was a good idea.

You blink at the screen, not sure what to make of it. Arthur’s compliment is brief, but there’s a certain sincerity in it that you haven’t felt from him before. It’s not effusive praise, but it’s the closest he’s come to offering any kind of real recognition.

You tap out a reply.

You: Thanks! I’m glad it worked out. I thought the pacing changes would help. Do you think we can keep it for next time?

There’s a pause before his reply comes through.

Arthur: Yeah, I think it could work. We’ll see how it plays out over time. But it didn’t mess things up, so that’s something.

You smile to yourself, feeling the smallest spark of pride at his words. It’s still not glowing praise, but it’s progress. You decide to push your luck a bit further.

You: Well, it’s good to know it didn’t ruin everything. I was a little worried about messing with the format too much, but I think it’s working so far.

The phone buzzes again, and you tap to read the response.

Arthur: It’s fine. Just don’t get too attached to one idea. We might need to adjust some stuff as we go. But, yeah, it worked. For now.

You laugh softly, appreciating his honesty, even if it’s wrapped in that typical reserved Arthur style. He’s not exactly glowing, but it’s the most approval you’ve received from him yet.

You: Got it. I’m just trying to make sure the podcast feels fresh without losing what makes it good. Thanks for sticking with it.

Another moment passes before he replies, and you can almost picture him standing there, weighing his words.

Arthur: I don’t like to change much, but if it helps the podcast, I’m all for it. Just don’t go too crazy.

You grin at the message, feeling a wave of relief. Maybe you’re finally on the same page after all.

You: No worries, I’ll keep it balanced. Appreciate the feedback, Arthur. It really means a lot.

Arthur’s reply is quick.

Arthur: Yeah, well. Don’t expect me to say it often. But you’re doing alright so far.

You can’t help but laugh aloud at that, even though his words still carry that distant edge. It’s better than nothing, though.

You: I’ll take it. Thanks, Arthur.

Arthur: You’re welcome.

The conversation ends, and you lean back in your chair, a smile tugging at your lips. It wasn’t exactly the kind of glowing feedback you might have hoped for, but it’s progress. Real progress. For the first time, you feel like maybe, just maybe, you’re starting to fit in.

As you settle back into your editing, you can’t help but replay his words in your mind, and for the first time, you start to believe that things might just work out after all.

The morning feels different today. You’re getting ready for the studio, but there’s something about today that feels a little more intentional. As you stand in front of the bathroom mirror, you take your time. You swipe a bit of makeup on your face, just enough to brighten your eyes and smooth out the skin, a small effort to look more put together than usual. You’ve got plans after work, meeting up with your friends for a drink, so you figure why not make a little more effort than usual?

When you finish, you pull on a nice shirt and a pair of black jeans. It’s still casual but just a little more polished than the usual hoodie and jeans. You grab your bag, check yourself one last time in the mirror, and nod to yourself. You look good, or at least better than the usual rush of getting ready in the mornings.

The studio is a short walk away, and by the time you arrive, you feel like you’ve set a tone for the day. You’re ready to take on whatever comes, but there’s a small, fluttering excitement in the back of your mind about the evening plans.

When you step inside the studio, you’re immediately greeted by the familiar sound of the equipment being set up, Isaac moving around, and Arthur sitting at the desk with a coffee cup in hand. His eyes flick up briefly as you enter, but it’s Arthur, he doesn’t seem to acknowledge the extra effort you’ve put into your appearance. Still, you can’t shake the feeling that something feels different today.

You settle into your usual spot, plugging in your laptop and starting to prep the recording software. As you get everything lined up, you notice out of the corner of your eye that Arthur is staring at you.

It’s subtle at first. A glance here, a longer look there. But as he munches on his breakfast, you realise it’s more than just casual glances. He’s looking at you, his focus a little too intense. You can almost feel his gaze, and it’s starting to make you a bit uncomfortable.

You take a deep breath and finally turn your head toward him. “You okay?” you ask, trying to keep your tone casual, though you can feel the uncertainty hanging in the air.

Arthur blinks, his eyes darting away from you for a split second. He’s caught off guard, but he quickly recovers, wiping his mouth with a napkin before replying. “Yeah. Fine. Just… wondering where you’re going after this.”

His voice is frustratingly neutral, but you can sense there’s something off, he’s not his usual distant self, but the tone of his question has an edge of curiosity that seems out of place.

You glance at him for a moment, unsure of how to read the energy shift. “Oh, I’m going out with my friends after this,” you explain, shrugging a little as if it’s no big deal. “It’s been a while, and I thought I’d take a break from work tonight.”

Arthur nods slowly, then goes back to his food, but his eyes flick up again, almost like he’s trying not to stare directly at you. The silence that falls between you both feels heavier than usual.

“Okay,” he mutters as if he’s forcing the words out.

You try to ignore the strange tension that’s started to build between you two. You turn back to your laptop, hoping to get back to focusing on the work at hand. But out of the corner of your eye, you can still feel Arthur’s eyes on you, lingering, as if he’s studying you more than he usually does.

It’s distracting, and you can’t help but wonder why. Is it because you look a little more put together today? Or is it something else? You tell yourself not to overthink it, but it’s hard not to when his eyes keep flicking back to you in little bursts.

You take a deep breath and shift your focus back to your work, doing your best to ignore the weight of his stare.

The walk home feels longer than usual, the familiar path beneath your feet blurring as your mind races. You replay the day in your head, the awkward interactions, the looks, the laughter. Every small detail becomes magnified, making you question everything.

What did I do wrong? Did I mess something up?

Your thoughts spiral. You can’t shake the image of Arthur staring at you earlier, or how Isaac had looked at him before they both laughed. It didn’t seem malicious, but it felt… weird. Were they laughing at me?

You pull out your phone, your fingers itching to ask someone, to get an answer. You open your messages and send a text to Isaac, hoping he can give you some clarity.

You: Hey, what was all the laughing about today?

You quickly tuck the phone back into your pocket, your heart beating a little faster. What if you’re reading too much into it? What if it’s nothing?

A few minutes later, your phone buzzes, and you pull it out to see Isaac’s reply.

Isaac: Just Arthur being weird, don’t worry about it.

You frown at the screen, not satisfied with that answer. What does that mean?

The message takes a little longer this time, and when it comes, it’s just a short, Nothing important.

You bite your lip, not ready to let it go just yet. But what were you laughing about, exactly?

There’s a slight delay, and then another message pops up.

Isaac: Alright, alright. Arthur just said you looked good today, that’s all.

Your heart skips a beat. Arthur said that? The Arthur who barely looks at you unless he has to? That Arthur?

You stare at your screen for a long moment, not sure how to process it. Finally, you type back,

You: He said I looked good?

Isaac’s reply is quick.

Isaac: Yeah, he did. He’s not great at giving compliments, but he meant it, trust me.

You blink at your phone, your stomach fluttering a little.

You: Well, that’s nice. I guess.

There’s a brief pause before Isaac’s next message arrives.

Isaac: Don’t overthink it, alright? Arthur’s just a little odd sometimes. But yeah, he meant it. Between us, he really meant it.

You exhale, finally feeling a bit better. Maybe it was nothing to worry about after all. Arthur’s compliment, though awkwardly delivered, was still a compliment. A compliment that made your cheeks slightly pink without realising.

You slip your phone back into your pocket, your thoughts slowing down as you continue your walk home.

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Chapter Three

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a/n: i hope you guys like my chapter 2 I PROMISE THERE WILL BE LOVE JUST REMEMBER ITS A SLOW BURN

for my lovely commenters:

@rubyskies @rkaya @pookietv @rougetv @arthurhillmastermind @picklepiastri @pretendyoucantseeme

[sawboans]

the fact that i have seen so many disingenuous takes on harding's banter with a romanced emmrich is wild, and maybe it's because the banter is actually part of a set and people aren't triggering the full conversation? but (more so on other social media) the jump to villainize her is genuinely surprising to me because i thought she made it pretty clear that she was coming from a place of concern - specifically, she was worried about emmrich.

whether it's reflected in the game or not (imo it isn't but that's another can of worms), he and rook are apparently moving fast, and a relationship between an older person and a younger person does in fact come along with some real considerations. not just how other people will see them, and how much this will change about their lives, though those are both also factors. i think in the case of emmrich and rook they're on even footing in a lot of other regards, but the prospect of emmrich dying first is absolutely on the table and, yeah, are we sure the guy with A Well-Known, Debilitating Fear Of Dying has thought that through fully?

their argument near the end of the game tells me that no, he hasn't. like... rook clearly has. they're confused why the issue is getting brought up at all after so long of already being together. but emmrich spends the whole game talking about how real, lasting romance was a dream he never quite reached, and goes on about summer companionships and failed courting attempts, and says he and rook are just exploring things and the game uses words like paramour and companion, significantly not anything more permanent. he hasn't even reached the point of saying the big scary L word (and doesn't until basically right before the final battle). he has been avoiding thinking about the specifics of a long-term, committed relationship with rook and rook can call him out on it during their argument - it's because he's scared. and harding is pointing that out; that he jumped into this relationship because rook was just so exciting and now they're running at, as she says, full gallop without looking out for branches, aka the genuine considerations of what this will entail for them moving forward. even if the banters with harding had never happened emmrich was always going to have a crisis about this - she says he's been mopey and distracted, it's clearly been weighing on his mind, and the night before tearstone island is when it comes to a head because if they pull this off, if the threat of the gods is over, then what will he and rook do? plan for the future? god forbid. no wonder he's such a bitch during the argument, he's trying to get rook to cut things off so he doesn't have to (because deep down he doesn't want to, he's just trying to pull the emergency brake)

anyway tl;dr imo harding was showing real concern about how emmrich is approaching the relationship and was fair to point it out. if you bring the two of them around often enough to hear their banter, they actually seem like very good friends (they dig into each other's pasts and interests more than a lot of the other companions and harding asks him for quite a bit of advice, emmrich asks her in turn for a lot of reflection on her connection to the titans... he even starts to take care of her plants if she dies) and i would fully expect my friends to bring up this sort of thing if i was in his situation because it's coming from a place of care. you can interpret that as misguided if you want, but even if she's romancing taash it doesn't necessarily come across as hypocritical to me - maybe taash and harding have already discussed their circumstances and worked through it, but it's clear that emmrich has not.

[sickficideas]

Eeeeee ty for answering my dandadan ask!!!

Though I love both of them I'm a bit biased towards okarun so Ill focus on him (tho I might come back for momo later)

Curious about when the random fevers started after he started transforming, how did discovering that side effect go? When did they start, and how often do they happen, and any other details you have about them? How worried do people get about him too

I am a sucker for fevers, esp when someone does the tender hand on forehead check it's so cute, and the thought of momo (or anyone else) feeling okarun's forehead got me giddy

- danon (dandadan anon lol)

DANON.....that's like the perfect name welcome back!!! This is kind of related to that fic I'm writing so I've already thought about this a lot and am very happy to answer LOL...

- 12-24 hours after Okarun transforms is when the fevers usually start and they started pretty much right away after gaining that power. The first few times he didn't transform for any great length of time and as a result just dealt with drawn-out low grade fevers where he just feels terrible and doesn't know why.

- Momo notices the change in behavior because she watches him like a hawk and is The Overthinker...he's always tired and seems sore and slow the day after using his Yokai form but she doesn't usually connect that it's a fever. A few times she notices he has a fever, she's nervous about taking care of him but (forcefully) makes sure he's drinking water and taking medicine lol💖

- It Slowly starts to get worse though...the longer he uses that form, the worse he feels after, and the change is sudden and drastic enough for Momo to notice that something is very wrong. He's visibly stumbling or ends up passing out, maybe even hallucinating (Momo always worries it's real, after all, who knows what all these aliens are capable of). If she's ever concerned to any degree she makes him come home with her (and her excuse is always that she'll be too worried about him not taking enough care of himself that she won't be able to sleep...not cause she's in love with him or anything pshhh...)

- I love the idea of one day he's so sick from it that he can hardly lift his head, he's in Momo's room on a mattress on the floor, she thought he was acting weird at school but it seemed like he completely fell apart as soon as they got home 😭 She ends up involving Seiko and she deduces pretty quickly that it's Turbo Granny's power's fault (to which Turbo Granny has no input because how could she have known this was a side effect lol)

- They never last long though, never more than 12-24 hours, and he always feels fine after no matter how bad the fever was, and Momo is always keeps an extra close eye on him in case he's lying to avoid her worrying about him lol...she's checking his forehead all day long and she does Not Care how many times her friends tease her for it!!

- The Gang coming around obviously joins in on the concern...Jiji noticing that Okarun isn't feeling well and Okarun begging him to not tell Momo (Jiji does not listen, he Will be telling Momo), and Aira being overprotective too (to Momo's dismay), Okarun is so glad that he has friends that care about him like this but he's embarrassed and shy about the attention lol💔💔

[lucky-santangelo]

I can admit that there is technically a selfishness in both protagonists, but Glinda’s outweighs Elphaba’s, hence the criticism of her character.

First, there’s a difference in why both women want to work with Madame Morrible (and, through her, the Wizard). Yes, both of their reasons are for personal gain: Glinda wants this for more fame and power than she already has. On the other hand, Elphaba wants to be de-greenfied so people can…you know…stop treating her like she’s trash solely based on the color of her skin. Elphaba’s initial deepest desire to change the way she looks is inherently superficial, BUT it’s in direct response to society’s (AND her family’s) horrible treatment of her because she is green. Glinda’s reasons are MORE selfish.

Now, I know that in “Defying Gravity,” Elphaba asks Glinda to come with her, but the movie (and this post—a sincere thank you, OP 🤗) helped me see a new interpretation of it. I don’t think that Elphaba asks Glinda to throw her life away for her, per se. That was going to be a consequence, for sure, but I think she was first and foremost asking Glinda to join her in standing up for what Glinda JUST said she believed in: Animals rights.

The context is important here. This moment is happening after their Goat professor is violently removed from their campus. Elphaba and Fiyero were genuinely distraught over what happened. Glinda, hating to be left out (selfish intentions!), formerly announces to their class that she’s changing her name to honor Doctor Dillamond as a show of solidarity with the Animals in Oz. Only a mere hours later, Glinda is willing (and asking Elphaba) to side with the people responsible for Animal oppression. Oh how quickly Glinda’s performative allyship crumbled!

In the beginning of the song, Glinda is like, “Hey! If you give this cause a rest, you could look Normal the way you’ve always wanted!” And Elphaba is like, “But I don’t want it—no, I CAN’T want it anymore.” And I never noticed until now that Elphaba corrects herself!! She still wants to be de-greenified, but she chooses to give up her seat at the table for something bigger than herself. The Animal race is being treated as subhuman and she decides to give up this opportunity to help them (or at the very least, not be a part of their oppression). Elphaba gave up her dream of looking (and being treated as) normal in order for a minority race to have their rights back. That is selfless. That is something that Glinda was unwilling to do.

And you’re saying that Elphaba knows full well how much Glinda values other’s opinions, but Glinda says the same thing about Elphaba! A lifetime of being Othered, doesn’t make societal rejection any less hurtful for Elphaba. She just got better at hiding how much it affects her behind “I don’t give a fuck” armor.

Also, Glinda had so much wealth and influence that she could have used to help Elphaba and the Animals, you know? She could have been a Dolly Parton philanthropist. Instead, she made the conscious decision to stay in the system that she continued to passively benefit from, and to be an active cog in the systemic machine.

This was an impossible situation, but there was definitely a right answer 🥴 And Elphaba asking Glinda to do the right thing doesn’t make her “equally” as wrong as Glinda was for choosing to go along with the Wizard, please 😭

TL;DR: Yes, there is nuance to Glinda’s decision and you could make an argument for both characters’ selfishness, but Glinda’s selfishness far outweighs Elphaba and she is justifiably criticized for it. Elphaba gave up what little privilege she had in order to help a marginalized group. Glinda was willing to step on minorities’ backs (or to stand idly by while others did so) in order to cling to her own.

I love how inherently selfish both Glinda AND Elphaba are as protagonists. But where one gets praised and admired for it, the other gets demonised and hated.

People always attack Glinda’s decision not to runaway with Elphaba, but no one acknowledges how overtly selfish it is to ask that of someone.

Elphaba is asking Glinda to throw her ENTIRE life away for her. To be ostracised and hated all throughout Oz when she knows full well how badly Glinda cares about what people think of her.

And while Elphaba is used to such ostracisation, Glinda is not.

It is an equally selfish decision refuse Elphaba request. To perpetuate corrupt beliefs you don’t believe; in order to be accepted and validated by people in power.

They’re BOTH in the wrong, for entirely different reasons. It was an impossible situation with no right answer. And I’m sick of people acting like Glinda made the “ wrong choice ”

[fandom-reader]

Listen, that will be a long one but listening to this song on repeat makes me THINK!!!

I came back and brought the crown with me / The king's den

At some point Jinx will come back to Piltover, I know it. But she won't be back to seek redemption or forgiveness from the people she knew, she won't be looking for healing her wounds or closure of her past.

Once Jinx comes back, she knows she doesn't need her sister approval she was looking for for such a long time. She doesn't need her acceptance or forgiveness or Vi telling her that all is good now and they can be sisters again.

Never learned to raise my hand, Was too busy raising hell / Everything I know I am / You should go and save yourself /Thought you had my number huh / Congratulations you played yourself

She knows she's not Powder anymore as Powder died for good with Isha. She may be less crazy, voices now calmer and quieter as they used to. They are still there even if she learned how not to trust them completely or to not listen to them all the time. Sometimes she still does though.

She accepts that everything that happened to her in her life made her Jinx and she will always be Jinx. It can mean something bad, or good, everything or nothing at all, but most importantly it makes her her.

I've been in court with the spirit beside me since I was a baby / Just getting chaotic / Y'all made me a product for causing the chaos / Right here where they raised me

After all, she is chaos.

She meets with Ekko. They fight, obviously. He already mourned her death, has to learn to live without her, blaming himself sometimes that he could do more to keep her alive. And it's not easy to get past that even if he's happy to see her again.

She may not understand it completely, but she tries, and fails, and tries again. It's not easy, but taking small steps, they can make it work. Sometimes she still does not believe that he can accept her the way it is, but then he proves her otherwise. He shows here how the city changed. At some walls she can still see faded blue.

I don't believe that after Arcane's final war upper and under city will become one at all, sharing and caring for each other. As you can fight together against one enemy but it doesn't mean you're friends, and after it's done, you go seperate ways again.

And I know that Zaun people will throw a party to greet Jinx back, some of them joining just to make sure that rumours are true. And I can see her dancing freely in a bar, jumping and throwing head around to the sound of this song (which makes me want to do the same, with the amount of energy it gives me, not being able to stay still), enjoying herself to the fullest, not minding anyone else's opinion. Ekko watches her, with a warm smile on his face, giving her all the space.

Sure, some of the people are eyeing her, suspicious, some of them want to kill her, or punish her, or make her pay for the past. But she doesn't care. And then they will understand that there's no point in that.

Because she is, after all, the queen of Zaun. And Ekko is the king.

[acupofinkedblood]

Subspace x reader

TW: Violence, toxic relationship, Subspace and trauma. Reader works with him

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

• Ever since Medkit had escaped Blackrock successfully, the damages he had left behind were clearer than ever. Especially for Subspace. Having part of his face and body rotting because of the chemical potion that bastard threw into his direction. Sure, he did take his eyes, but this? He can barely feel himself now! It’s all Medkit’s fault. The day that traitor die is the day Subspace hold a feast for every single person he knows to celebrate it

• That’s just the physical damages. But mentally? You don’t even know when to start

• Even when you are somewhat used to Subspace being an arrogant asshole as you always have, the incident seems to flip a switch inside him. The most obvious change is his questionable anger towards everything. When he woke up at the hospital, you were startled because of his tantrum even when you were at the hallway: The loud broken noises of medical bottles thrown onto the ground and loud choked insults that you assumed was directed at Medkit. The staffs had to use force to put him to sleep

• Little did you know that was just the fresh start for your nightmare

• Since Medkit is gone, the position of Subspace’s lab partner is currently empty. The higher-ups decide that you will be a replacement in that position, considering the fact you and Subspace already know each other well before. Hesitantly, you accept your fate because you know there’s little room for arguments

• You, Subspace and Mekdit know each other. Perhaps more than just well on the surface, the relationship between you and Subspace. Before the incident, if Subspace wasn’t busying with his project or annoying the living shit out of Medkit, he would come to you to ramble about everything. Maybe it’s not that bad now, no?

• You have never been more wrong

• When you see Subspace again after he has been discharged from the hospital, you can sense something has changed. Aside from his appearance, of course. Even when you are used to the worst of him before, there is something sinister about the current Subspace that you can’t seem to put your finger at. Though he seems…fine, with you. At least for the time being

• Working as Subspace’s lab partner the first few day is pretty normal. Nothing suspicious going on, you have became his assistant at this point from now on. While it’s pretty disturbing when he just staring at you at such random times or something similar to that, it’s pretty much just like how things used to be before

• But then he starts to get to your mind, asking for reassurance that you will never be another Medkit of his life and making you repeat yourself multiple times. As much as it bothers you by the way he is acting, there is something menacing in his eye that makes you freeze with anxiety

• His anger starts to be more unpredictable. His madness was directly proportional to his sadistic tendency. As his experiment is approved by the higher-ups, you have to be there to assist him. The way he enjoys his victim’s cry makes you shiver. A part of you feel like he barely needs your assistance in said experiments. But he still insists you to stay, as if he is silently threatening you that if you leave him, the next person on this operating table will be you

• He starts to have some trauma episodes regrading that day. His anger outburst and hypervigilance with extreme negative emotions make it obvious. At some attempt of trying to calm you down, he attacks you immediately out of instinct. It takes you a bruise or two to finally get him to snap out of it

• After that, his emotional state just gets overwhelmingly strained as he cries himself in your arms, completely unaware of what has gotten into him. He cries for himself out of frustration more than he cries about what happens to you, keep that in mind

• Unlike him, you believe that mental health exists, and it’s clear as day that he is showing all the symptoms of how his mental state has been going downhill. Yet of course, he refuses to listen to you on that aspect

• You love Subspace, you really do, but this is exhausting for your own mental. You find yourself missing the old days, when his behaviors weren’t as extreme as the present time. Your love for him starts to mix with pity. You can’t just leave him. That is for your own safety and his well-being. Even when he has changed in the worst way possible, your heart still bleeds for him

• You convince yourself that Subspace loves you too, it’s just that his way of showing it has been twisted after what happened. Things weren’t that horrible before. It’s not his fault, never have been. He is your lover after all…

• Subspace is aware of that, using it to get to stay with him. He has some idea of using his poison to make you like him, so that your lives will be bound to each other as the hourglass of your doom slowly running. But he shakes his head at the idea, because there is a possibility that you might die before him

• In the end of the day, it’s just this endless waltz of you and him, tied up together by this red string he forced you to endure so you will never leave his side. And while you grieve the man you used to love, you have no other choice but to suffer with him

• Because your love for him is tainted by his poison

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

Note: Bold of you to assume green tea is only for torturing the character, HAH

[aviad1b]

I have some very mixed feelings about this.

I'll start by saying that I've been talking about the possibility of such a project for a long time now. I considered trying to do it by myself for myself just as a proof of concept.

So TL;DR: I'm conflicted, but in general - a fan?

On the one hand, I can see where David is coming from: yes, extending a language's grammar like that seems kinda... impossible. Especially with Hebrew. People tend to get fixated on these things, and Hebrew doesn't really have this sort of thing naturally.

On the other hand - didn't we ravitalize the whole goddamn language? And yes, it was never truly dead in the first place, not in the way that gentiles like to think of at the very least, but it wasn't developing as much and we changed that.

And also, think about it - how does modern Hebrew handle gender inclusivity at the moment? With notation such as את/ה and רוצים/ות, etc. It wasn't always the case. Think about it, it used to be that to be gender "neutral" you just use the male form. Then developed into masc/fem, then "neutral/fem" (which isn't even a good name for the notation because את/ה exists).

The truth is that while Hebrew is a very "kept" language, very protected, in the sense that it's vocabulary and grammar haven't developed that much in over a millenia - it's also kinda the most evolving, in a sense? In what other language are words still constantly made, constantly developed, all in a way that fits perfectly fine with everything that already exists? I don't really know many languages at all, but comparing to English at the very least, it's seems kinda crazy to me. Hebrew is a very flexible language, and I've been saying that the only way she's not flexible in is gender - why does it have to stay that way?

We proved that we can make major changes to the very way that people speak - or write, at the very least.

When I think about such changes... No, not just changes - developments, in the Hebrew language, I also find my thoughts wondering to something else - gentiles, antisemites especially, like to claim that modern Hebrew is completely different to traditional Hebrew (which is a claim that we all point and laugh at, since modern Hebrew natives can read and understand traditional and even ancient Hebrew perfectly fine). Maybe the reason I'm somewhat conflicted about this is because it will further support this "nerative" (lie) that it's become a different language? But that's dumb, languages develop and involve all the time, Hebrew happened to be a more protected language. Allowing it to be a bit more flexible doesn't make it any less "real". And besides, why should antisemites get to dictate what our language is like? That's just not right at all.

A problem that I still do have with this tho, has to do with vowels. In day-to-day, people don't write vowels in Hebrew. That isn't going to change and I don't think I'd even want it to change honestly. But it does make this more challenging - without vowels, how will one manage to differentiate בַּת from בֶּת , and אַתָּה from אַתֶּה ?

Or maybe that's a good thing? Because it'll make people able to "stealthily" use it, sneak it in without people realising and protesting? But then this isn't really the way I want such a notion to be used, do I?

The thing about developments in general, and in language specifically, is that they come out of need. If Hebrew fails to satisfy the needs of its speakers, what guarantee do we have of it surviving tomorrow? Pardon my pessimism, but being Israeli and Hebrew (yes I still use the old notion of Hebrew as in the ethnicity/people), I see more and more Hebrew natives approaching English more rather than Hebrew. Maybe even including myself - it's kinda my entire blog. I started catching myself thinking in English sometimes - I managed to come to the conclusion that a major part of this is because Hebrew forced me to think of myself in gendered terms. English does not.

This is what I mean when I say on my blog that I love Hebrew but she doesn't love me back

I've seen people use אתם/הם as pronouns in Hebrew. If it works for them then good for them, but to me, I simply cannot accept that this is the "best Hebrew can do". That's... still gendered. It doesn't suffice. I refuse to accept it as enough. It's not.

And yes, a major part of English influence on Hebrew natives (and Jews in general) is the fault of the internet. But, I do feel like there's more to it - for some at least, there's a need that isn't answered.

We Jews are experts at adapting "old", traditional concepts onto whatever the current times are; why should our language be any different? Perhaps we should consider that our very language is more like us than we think?

Can we get people on a major scale to fundamentally change the way in which they speak? probably not. Can we add another gender notion for people who want to use it tho? I'd like to think so. I like to think about it somewhat like neo-pronouns in English: when they were first introduced, almost nobody used them and people in general thought that they were weird. Heck, people STILL do. But it have some people, even if just a few, a new way to finally feel more comfortable with the language that is used for them - and that, on its own, should suffice. In my humble opinion, at least.

To sum it up, while my feelings about this are mixed, I also feel like if ANYONE could achieve such a project - it's us, the Hebrews, the Jews.

And I'm sure we will some day.

I can't believe anything else.

Because Hebrew is a gendered language, the Nonbinary Hebrew Project has created a third grammatical gender system! They are building a bigger tent for nonbinary Jews, guided by Torah and Talmud which teach us to rejoice that which cannot be neatly categorized.

The project is free, open-source, community-based, and grassroots. It lives and grows and changes with every single person who uses and adds to it.

Here are some example usages: Candlelighting Blessing: with gender-expansive God language

בְּרוּךֶ אָתֶה ײַ, אֱלֹהִימוֹתֵינוּ מַלְכֶּת הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְשֶׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתֶיהֶ וְצִוֶנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל שַבָּת

Bruche ateh Adonai, Elohimoteinu Malket ha’Olam asher kidshenu b’mitzvoteihe, v’tzivenu l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat. Blessed are You, God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctified us with the commandment of lighting Shabbat candles.

~~~

Kiddush: with gender-expansive God language

בְּרוּךֶ אָתֶה ײַ,  אֱלֹהִימוֹתֵינוּ מַלְכֶּת הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרָאת פְּרִי הַגָּֽפֶן

Bruche ateh Adonai, Elohimoteinu Malket ha’Olam, borat p’ri hagafen. Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

~~~

Blessing over Bread: with gender-expansive God language

בְּרוּךֶ אָתֶה ײַ, אֱלֹהִימוֹתֵינוּ מַלְכֶּת הָעוֹלָם, הַמּוֹצִיאֶה לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ

Bruche ateh Adonai, Elohimoteinu Malket ha’Olam, Hamotzi'e lechem min ha'aretz. Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has brought forth bread from the earth.

~~~

Waking-up Blessing: with gender-expansive language for the speaker, but traditional God language

מודֶת אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּם, שֶׁ��ֶחֱזַרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְּחֶמְלָה, רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ:

Modet ani l'fanecha, melech chai v'kayam, shechezarta bi nishmati, b'chemla, raba emunatecha.

I give thanks before you, King living and eternal, for You have returned within me my soul with compassion; abundant is Your faithfulness!

~~~

Morning Blessing substitutions: with gender-expansive language for the speaker, but traditional God language

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשַׂנִי בֶּת חוֹרין

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-Olam, she-asani bet chorin.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has made me free. ~~~

Soulmate Blessing: written by Ariel Ezekiel Tovlev, with gender-expansive language for the speaker's soulmate, but traditional God language

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אֶת יְדִידֶת נַפְשִׁי

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, asher asah et yedidet nafshi. Blessed are You, Ruler of the Universe, who created the companion of my soul.

~~~

Wedding-Enacting Words: with gender-expansive language for the one the speaker is marrying and for the ring, but traditional God language

הרי אתה מקדשה לי, בטבעת זת, כדת משה וישראל

Harei ateh m’kudesheh li, b’tabaet zet, k’dat Moshe v’Yisrael.

Behold, you are sanctified to me, with this ring, according to Moses and Israel. ~~~ For more examples, as well as charts explaining the grammar system, check out the website! A note from Jewish-LGBTQ: The Nonbinary Hebrew Project is primarily being created in the diaspora and is used for ritual purposes; queer communities in Israel have their own system for creating gender-expansive Hebrew. The Nonbinary Hebrew Project should be understood as creating a third grammatical gender for liturgical and ritual Hebrew, rather than for everyday, spoken Modern Hebrew.

[6degreesofthaidramas]

Welcome to 6 Degrees of Thai Dramas!!!

It's me @bl-bracket with a fun gimmick blog for all Thai drama fans: 6 Degrees of Thai Dramas!

What is 6 Degrees of Thai Dramas?

6 Degrees of Thai Dramas is a spin off of the game: 6 Degrees of Separation, and it's spin off: 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon. The aim of the game is to find the shortest connecting link between two people, or in this case two dramas! This will be done by connecting them through the casts of dramas and movies. For this game, I will be connecting Dramas/Movies together, as well as Actors.

What are the rules?

All dramas/movies must be from Thailand and have a mydramalist page

All actors must be working in the Thai entertainment industry

Connections will only be made via material that has already aired, future projects will not count, as the cast list to those can change or projects can get canceled etc

Only roles credited on mdl will count

Production roles (such as director) can also be used, however the role "original creator" will not be used, unless they are also credited for another role in the production

Originally I conceived of this being limited to qls, however I will allow any dramas, as long as they are Thai

Who's going to be connected?

I will be randomizing different combinations here and there. HOWEVER!!!! Please feel free to send in an ask of any combination you would like to see!

How frequent is this going to be?

I don't know. This is a small side project that I'll get to when I'm not busy with other stuff and can potentially be time consuming (as it's not just finding A connection but ideally finding the shortest connection). It won't be super frequent but I'll try to post what I can when I can!

There's a more direct connection than the one you posted!!!

This is bound to happen as I am only one person and prone to mistakes. If you find a more direct line between two, tag me and let me know somehow, and I'll reblog/repost the correction and credit you for it!

Eventually once we have more on the table, I'll start a hall of fame for the ones with the highest degrees of separation.

I believe that's everything but as always feel free to ask questions!!!

[tumbling-through-deepspace]

Caretaker Foreseer

In the wake of Sylus's myth, I've decided to start a mini-series where we get to explore how Lyssa met both Zayne and Sylus for the first time and we are introduced to what she is and how the three came together.

The sweet caress of frosty winds passed through lilac feathers, and laughter rang through the air. Most of her people had already migrated to warmer climates but she was always the kind to not follow the flock.

Lyssa loved this kind of weather, the nippy cold air and light snowflakes that felt soft to the touch and she loved most of all, visiting the tower's occupant and his Jasmin flowers.

The Foreseer. Zayne Li. The two met by chance when she hurt one of her wings and took refuge in his castle of ice and glass.

She had not anticipated the snowstorm that descended upon her during her flight, so the howling winds and blinding snow caused her to fly into a mountain side, fracturing her wing. Luckily, she was taught how to survive if her wings ever became incapacitated.

So, tucking them in, she used her evol to regulate body heat and ventured to find cover. Luckily it did not take long to find a cave which she used for cover.

"Why do I always seem to find myself in some sort of predicament. Can't the gods send some luck my way?"

Said luck was stumbling through a clearing and seeing a grand castle standing tall and majestic.

Believe it or not, she had her moments and felt too lazy to walk, so Lyssa thought it was a bright idea to use her wings to fly to the castle.

It went as well as you think it would go... she did make it up (painstakingly) but crash landed into what looked like a throne room.

"Not your best landing Lys. Do better."

"Who are you?"

Zayne spent his time alone, taking care of the castle and attending to the duty bestowed upon him by the god Astra.

His life mundane but he was content... he thought that until she appeared. Wings of lilac, curly hair that were disheveled by the winds and a voice that echoed with melodies.

At first, he thought she was there to steal from him but after she proved that she was not even knowledgeable about his existence until that very moment, he offered sanctuary.

This left him confused. Others who trespassed never made it this far yet something about her made him act differently.

She explained that her wing was fractured, which she demonstrated as proof. That it would take a few weeks to heal since this was not the first time this happened to her.

How can she say such a thing with such optimism?

The following weeks started off a bit awkward due to their different personalities but as the saying goes: No man is an island.

She followed him like a duckling but was respectful and never imposed when he needed to be left alone.

At some point he started seeking her out. She told him about her flock and that she never felt at home with them, so she would travel on her own.

She would tend to his Jasmine flowers that only bloom when she sang to them.

He never released how lonely he was until she became an important part of his life.

Now, here they were two months later.

"Please Zayne! I promise I won't drop you. It's a perfect day for flying and you can help me test the strength of my wings."

The Demi-god gave her a deadpanned look "I will not be your guineapig, Lyssa. If you wish to have a test of strength, I can make very frigid weather."

They were having a midday walk around his courtyard. Lyssa giggled which sounded like chirps; she then burst into a sprint before taking flight.

Zayne looked up as she ascended higher, admiring the way she did flips and turns. In all his years, he has never met someone so carefree and there was a pang in his heart because she would have to leave. The seasons were changing again.

Birds and ice don't mix. He was surprised that she stayed as long as she did. Zayne blinked in surprise when her face suddenly appeared in front of him.

She was hovering off the ground, wings flapping lightly. A small smile on her face as her luminous violet eyes were filled with mirth.

"You were so deep in thought, Mr. Zayne. It seems that I can handle long flights and high altitudes now without my wing hurting."

His brow crinkled together, "I guess you'll be on your way now."

She took his face in her hands. "Don't make that face. I'll visit. Thank you for taking care of me. Hey! I know, can I give you a gift?"

"Depends on what it is."

"Gosh Zayne, for a Demi-god, you are such a pessimist. I give you my word that my gift will not bring you harm in any way, now or in any future. Would it be presumptuous to say that I feel a connection between us, and I wish to leave a piece of me with you?"

"Do you do this often?" not answering her question. His heart skipped a beat that she wanted to stay connected to him.

"I've only done this with one other person, but I'll tell you about him another day."

"Who is -"

"Another time. I think you'll like him. I have a connection with him, too... the big grouch. So can I give you, my gift?"

Zayne looked into her eyes, a new feeling flared up at the thought that someone else got this offer but her giddy expression and anticipated gaze made him sigh "very well. You have my permission."

Squealing, he was taken off guard when she flung herself at him, her lips fell on his in an electrifying kiss, ribbons of light danced along his skin, and before he could recuperate, she pulled away.

"Now a piece of me will always be with you. I put some of my special evol in your system, so you'll be able to talk to me whenever you want."

"Huh?" What exactly just happened? Why does his skin feel like it's vibrating, and his ears had a faint ringing to it that sounded like singing.

Lyssa snorted, "Not so eloquent... there is now a connection between us. We will always find our way back to each other, plus I'm told by the elders of my flock that it brings the ones who have been gifted, a huge blessing. Don't ask me what it is, it depends on the person."

Zayne's expression softened at her exuberant explanation. She was so full of life. He ran a finger down her cheek.

"Don't go."

She smiled sadly, "I'll return to you, Zayne. This I promise. Unless you come with me, and I fly you to my next destination."

The snowball to her face had her laughing until her eyes watered.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in each other's company, thoughts on one another as they chose not to dwell on her upcoming departure.

The gift bestowed would bring a huge change to each of their lives, one that they could never be able to fathom.

[rivendell-poet]

Hey! I love your work and I was wondering is you could do a Dark Aragorn x reader using this prompt: "I'm not jealous, you're just mine." If not, that's totally okay, but thanks so much anyway.

Hi, and thanks so much! Sorry it's taken so long for your request, and hopefully you enjoy it. As for darkness it definitely has underlying themes, and I was writing it with 'dark' in mind - but it's also not super dark/I wouldn't say it's leaning into yandere vibes, so hopefully it's still enjoyable <3

Also, massive thanks to @hastyhobbit for beta-ing this fic for me and all her suggestions

❝𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞❞ « one-shot »

Pairing : Aragorn X Reader

Wordcount : 2.1k

TWs : Dark-ish undertones, but certainly not yandere | Reader is described with only gender-neutral terms/no outfit or looks description

Summary : As king, Aragorn can't spend as much time with you as he desires. As his betrothed, you're often more desired by his court than he would like. But the spring ball is a time to dance with you (at least that's what he had wanted to happen).

It’s understandable that Aragorn has been stressed the past few months, the pressure not only of the ring-war but of becoming king. He has people to help him, of course, but you can see when it weighs on him. How he’ll come to your chambers after a meeting and sigh, stare off into the distance when he thinks no-one else is watching. But you’re always there for him, and you always will be. Coming over to him with a gentle touch, or just the reminder that he has support. From looking at his schedule you know he’s had hours of back-to-back meetings, so when he comes into your chambers it isn’t surprising that he looks tense.

“Aragorn?” The question is light, simply to find out if he needs you or not. And, as it often does, his gaze slightly softens when he sees you - crossing the gap and holding you in his arms, head gently resting on yours.

“My love.” His voice is soft, vulnerable in a way he only is around you, “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” The smile the words bring to his face make you light up as well, and he hugs you slightly tighter before releasing you and sitting on a chair to begin to get out of his formal outfit.

“How was your day?” Aragorn always enjoys hearing about it, no matter how mundane it is. He’ll always listen, questioning at the right points or laughing just when you want him too. It helps him relax, after a long day, and it helps him know that you’re safe. After all, he wants to know what you’ve been doing from you as well, not just idle gossip. As you tell him about your day he’s as engaged as he always is, never seeming to drop.

There’s only one point when the smile on his face falls, and he’s thankfully facing away from you. It’s when you mention how you’ve been spending more time with Lord Beregin. Aragorn knows that you can spend your time however you want, and that includes spending time with whomever you choose, but the fact that it’s that man puts him in an unpleasant mood. He wouldn’t trust Beregin to file paperwork for him, let alone have him around his betrothed. But he doesn’t mention it, just glad that you change the subject quickly.

You can tell something upsets Aragorn, the way he becomes slightly more enclosed and brooding, but when you ask he reassures you it’s just the endless meetings, and the lords that seem to forever need his opinions. That you have nothing to be concerned about, and he’ll always tell you if it’s anything major. There’s something off, but by the time you wonder if you should ask the two of you are already in bed, his arms around you. It’s safe, and you go to sleep contented.

When you wake up, you remember why you were excited for this day. A spring ball, the second of its kind and a new tradition for Gondor, is to be put on, although that’s not what you’re truly excited about. It’s the people who will be there; representatives of Rohan, lords of Gondor, and even some of the Fellowship. Aragorn can see your excitement, and it ends up rubbing off on him. Although he’s mostly looking forward to dancing with you. As his day of work finally comes to an end, the sight of you in your formal wear is more than enough to get him to smile.

You’re wearing a mixture of his and Gondor’s colours, just as he is, and when he offers you his hand to lead you to the ballroom he can feel the wedding band on your finger. It’s small, but you can feel the comfort it brings him, and the steady weight of his own. You can hear the pride in his voice as he welcomes everyone to the ball, when he welcomes them on behalf of the both of you. And the fact it’s the two of you together is what he’s most happy about.

Like always, he’s whisked away and confronted by diplomats of all kinds. You try to stay by him, but as yet another approaches he gives you a chaste kiss. “Go, talk to others.”

With his permission you soon slip away, and to your pleasant surprise you’re quick to run into friends. After the third time watching Éowyn and Faramir dance together, they notice how sadly you’re looking on. Éowyn gives a knowing glance to her husband before tactfully disappearing, and so Faramir offers his hand to you, you've been friends for almost as long as you’ve been in Gondor, you feel comfortable taking it. Besides, the song playing is a light one - designed for you to swap partners every one and a half rotations. The two of you have just enough time together for you to be reminded of the dance, and start to smile, when the song demands you switch.

You’re so caught up in trying to remember the dance, to focus on the footsteps and making sure you haven’t missed anything, that you don’t fully recognise your next two partners. Just the blur of footwork, the laugh as they dip you slightly before the music requires you to swap again. While switching you hear a sharper note at the start of the beat, an indicator that the song is changing. But when you end up in the new partner's arms you recognise them instantly - the slight callouses, the way he holds you closer to him. You’re dancing with Aragorn.

The first one and a half rotations go by quickly, but you’re glad that you won’t be swapping. There’s a brief period of downtime as the musicians arrange themselves, a melody still being carried, but preparing for the next musical number.

“I thought you weren’t going to dance?” You probe, although you’re in no way opposed to him joining you.

“I thought you wouldn’t be either.” Something in his tone is slightly off, but not enough for anything to be truly wrong. Then he takes a breath and his smile returns, “Well, may I have this next dance with you?”

“My king.” You bow slightly, rewarded by his light laugh, before the music starts to play and he takes your arm. 

The first few steps are slow, and when he finally pulls away from you you can feel his touch linger on your arm for a second more. And then, he bows in front of you, waiting for a second and watching you do the same, quickly pulling you into a ballroom hold. His hand rests gently on your waist as he holds you, both of you moving in circles, him dipping you ever-so-gently, before moving a few steps with you. Repeating the process, twirling you again - but never letting go of your hand, keeping the two of you close.

He speeds up when the music does, before the moment of silent trust when he takes you gently by the waist and raises you above him. You smile at the security in his arms as he lifts you, the music floating around you before Aragorn brings you back to him. Always back to him. The song comes to a gentle stop, and he unwraps his arms from you before you ask if he’ll join you for another dance. There’s a little conflict in his eyes, gaze flickering to the lords, before it shifts back to you, “Of course we can dance together again, my love.”

The next dance is just as beautiful as the first, another waltz-like dance with just the two of you again. As he leads you across the room a smile comes on both of your faces, as the music dies down again the smile he holds is genuine. Straightening, you can tell by his gaze that he needs to talk to diplomats again. And you can tell by the way he’s still holding onto you that he doesn’t want to leave you either. Another beat passes before his hand slips out of yours, a regretful look as he bows, “Join me soon?”

“I shall.” You promise, grateful to remain on the dancefloor. In the time you’ve spent together almost everyone has acquired a partner, and you’re just wondering who you can choose - trying to remember who wouldn’t cause a breach of etiquette - when Lord Beregin bows before you.

He holds out his hand to you, standing up before asking, “May I have this dance?”

You know he’s part of the king’s council, at least the main one, and so you know it’s safe to dance with him. Taking his hand, you allow yourself to smile. “Of course.”

The dance passes quickly, although not quite as smoothly. Lord Beregrin is a good dancer - and nothing in the music has changed - but it isn’t quite the same. The natural feeling, the complete assurance you have with Aragorn, can’t quite be replicated. And as nice as the dance is, you’re thankful that the next is another one where partner swapping is required. Dancing with others is still enjoyable, but as the music softens again you step away, searching for Aragorn again. It isn’t exactly hard to find him, and it’s rather easy to see the way a smile forms when he sees you approaching. Coming to him you listen to the conversation previously, giving your input when necessary, and Aragorn continues to stay by your side. 

Between the diplomats and the speechless, there isn’t time to speak to your husband - or at least not as privately as you’d like - but the almost lack of address is slightly worrying. It’s something you try not to worry about, but something that gets slightly worse as more and more people leave. The evening is a success, and part of that is making sure guests leave with a perfect impression, but surely between leaving with people there could be a moment for the two of you. And there isn’t, quite.

Aragorn still stays by your side as he always does, but to your annoyance there’s always someone else. Eventually the bells strike, a signal of finality for everyone to leave, and the feeling there’s something off doesn’t quite go away as you walk up to your shared chambers. Some words are exchanged, but they’re hollow. As if you’re a diplomat as well, clear that something is on his mind. Entering the chambers you begin to take off your formal clothes, giving a slight groan as you try and find the buttons yet again.

“Let me help you.” Aragorn’s voice is quiet, but the affection you’d been missing is there, and it’s reassuring to feel his presence. His fingers begin to take off the outer garments, buttons finally being free as the two of you can escape and let yourselves drop court formalities.

For the first minute you simply relax, savouring his company and enjoying the lack of tension in the air. As the first layer finally sheds, you ask the question. “You seemed… more distant, at the end of the ball. Is there something the matter?”

You know there is, but it’s still polite to ask. You can feel himself tense for a second, before his body relaxes again. “I am fine. You don’t need to worry yourself.”

“You don’t need to lie to me.” There’s no malice in your voice as you turn around, facing Aragorn. You can see him taking you in again, the slight conflict in his eyes as he doesn’t immediately speak.

“You dancing with…” He pauses for a second, “Lord Beregrin. If I could, I wouldn’t have that man on my council. Let alone dancing with you.”

“It’s-” The idea of the king of Gondor being concerned about one of his council members is so foreign to you that you pause for a second. “Nothing happened, I have no interest in him. Or anyone I danced with except you.”

“I have complete faith in you.” Both of you have taken steps to close the distance, and Aragorn takes your hand in his. “It is in others that I do not.”

Reasonably, he’s just caring about you. But something in you still doesn’t melt into his embrace immediately. “I wouldn’t let anything happen.”

“Meleth nîn…” Aragorn takes a second to breathe, “I know you would never. But men do not need such things to happen to get ideas.”

“Are you…” A thought hits you, and you lean in. Almost teasingly. “Are you jealous?”

“I would have been if you were talking like this.” His voice gets lower as well, close enough that he’s almost talking into the nape of your neck. “I’m not jealous. You’re just mine.”

A/N : Hope everyone enjoyed, and that I managed to get a decent mix of good characterisation while being dark enough. Or that I even managed to make it dark. Thanks so much for reading <3

« masterlist » thank you for reading *･༓˚✧ Taglist : @starwars2222 / @xiaoseminence / @withasideofmeg / @wordbunch / @bespectacledhuman ✧ wish to be tagged?

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[triglycercule]

What do you think the types of drunk would the murder trio be? Im pretty sure ask dusttale already answered this question about dust but i have to ask the mtt expert

see now askdusttale DID answer the question. but they didn't ANSWER the question when asked what dust is like drunk. they just said that dust is the type to drink himself blackout drunk. so that mean i have total freedom on deciding what the mtt are like drunk hehehe (rubs hands together in a villanous way that you would imagine nightmare doing or something idk)

i already have an absolutely hilarious idea for horror and it might just because i'm on the guilt section of his character analysis but i could TOTALLY imagine him being an emotional drunk. like he CRIES. horror sans man known for being incredibly guarded and private with what he feels bawling his eye out. he gets mad he gets sad he does not get happy because horror doesn't have the right to be happy. he is too upset over the fact that he fucking DOOMED all of horrortale because of his selfishness and nothing can stop him from being incredibly vocal about that fact so much so that killer had to tape his mouth shut because he wouldn't stop crying so loud. and then he just silently cries until he passes out from exhaustion. the alcohol has an incredibly strong effect on him because i dont think he would drink regularly plus he definitely hasnt drinken anything in those 7 years of starvation. it hits like a fucking plane crashing into him. or like getting his eye taken out again. either one!

another funny idea i had for killer would be like the alcohol affecting him but he SWEARS that he's still sober. he is very confused when he starts stumbling because wtf he doesnt FEEL drunk??? why is he bumping into walls and tables HELP WHY DOES HE SOUND FUCKING STUPID???? the alcohol is definitely effecting him but he swears he swears he doesn't feel drunk. hes not drunk its just the damn body doing this stupid bullshit!!!! he's still very aware of what's going on and is basically the same as sober but just like. he's wiggly he's wobbly and oh shit he just fell head face first into a tv whoops. he'd also have a high tolerance because just because. he can drink without feeling like shit until he just blacks out mid conversation with someone because his body couldn't take the toll of all the beer or whatever. hilarious idea triglycercule thank you triglycercule i know

dust in the context that we already know that he drinks AND he can fight against the human while like partially drunk.... i feel it would be kinda like a giggly drunk situation. except dust doesn't laugh at anything that's funny he only laughs when someone gets hurt or something. SADISTIC giggly drunk. because i can already imagine a half drunk dust laughing his ass off after killing the human and its a beautiful sight to me.

anyways imagine how it goes when you pair this sadistic giggly drunk with another that wont stop going through the 5 stages of grief and another that keeps on fucking falling over for no reason in his eyes. dream blunt rotation but the blunt is a bottle of vodka. i can already imagine it in my head and its fucking HILARIOUS. horror going on about how he caused the deaths of others and manipulated and tricked papyrus while killer is just trying his best to keep his eyes open because for some reason they won't stop trying to close. he is surprisingly getting frustated. dust has long since lost his voice laughing at this and he's just silent wheezing at everything. also phantom papyrus is only making the laughter worse because he keeps on making rude comments towards horror and killer and only he can hear him and its guffaw inducing. mtt amazing friend group you dont get shit like this anywhere else

[mira0000000-blog]

Ugh..narrator...

[naehja]

I have so many ideas to @endlessburningdarkness

Shen Yuan doesn't realize how it looks. He has no teacher formation after all. And has never been really in contact of adolescents, except his little sister.

He's annoyed when Ming Fan seems to stay around when he want to spoil Luo Binghe. He thinks that the boy will tell Shen Qingqiu.And that Shen Qingqiu will fire him for that!

He's not wrong. Ming Fan sees Red Flags and told his Shizun. Being so favorised is not normal. Why the guy hides for that then?

The hallmaster is often alone with Binghe

He gives him sweets.

And private lessons.

He lets him cook for him.

[others things]

"He has invited Luo Binghe in his house today Shizun, i came immediatly to tell you!" And that's just what Ming Fan sees. Shen Jiu sees things too. And like it's said above:

"Alarmed bells would have been ringing in Shen Jiu's head".

And he would be ready to destroy the guy. Especially when he learns that the hallmaster has invited Binghe in his house.

Yes. He wants to murder the hallmaster but realize that in this case, nobody will believe him (for a change). Because they always imagine the worst coming from him. So he decides to tell everything to Liu Qingge before the guy enters in the caves, and who was passing near of his peak. (the perfect guy for that!)

(and not to Yue Qingyuan who would think he's exagerate or seeing things who aren't there).

The two peak lords arrives (run) to the hallmaster's house and…Luo Binghe is already here? Did they arrive too late?

Shen Qingqiu is absolutly LIVID and orders Ming Fan (who followed them) to take Luo Binghe to Mu Qingfang. "Just tell him what you told me!"

Ming Fan understands. "Come Shidi"

Luo Binghe is confused because why if Shizun and his Shifu are so angry? Why Ming Fan looks so worried and is so gentle, holding his hand like if he was fragile? Why they are angry against the gentle hallmaster? When he asks Ming Fan, the boy just looks at him with pity.

What?

Meanwhile Liu Qingge and Shen Jiu arrests the guy and put him in the sect's prison (actually it's more Shen Jiu who throw him in a cells after have punched and kicked him a lot, he just wanted his shidi to acts as witness and to stops him before he could kill the guy before Yue Qingyuan could interrogate him).

Then, Shen Qingqiu arrives in Mu Qingfang's office. Luo Binghe doesn't understand. When they ask him things, he answers honestly. He speaks about how much gentle the hallmaster was. How he gives him private lessons. How he has invited him to eat sweets and drink tea in his house. How he gently pet his head.

The adults are super worried. Now they are sure that the hallmaster is a groomer.

"Did he even touch you?"

"Yeah, he pats me on the head or the shoulder! Ha! He hugs me one time too!"

Luo Binghe doesn't understand at first. Then he starts to understands and he tries to defend the hallmaster.

But it's worse because for the adults, it's what victim do: they don't realize what happened to them, sometimes protect their abuser. And they think that the hallmaster has manipulated Luo Binghe to not see the signs.

Luo Binghe is devasted. This man was nice with him because of that? He's in tears. He thought to be loved! Shen Ju feels bad because he KNOWS. He says to the boy it's not his fault.

Luo Binghe is even more devasted because his Shizun seems so sad? Do his Shizun save him of something terrible? But how can he trust adults after that? He can trust Shizun at least!

Everything seems different after that. All the other disciples of his peak are super gentle with him. He's back in the dormitary. They give him more food. They keep telling him to come to then if he does nightmares. Like if he was fragile. Yingying even cry and hug him, apologizing to have seen nothing.

Shang Qinghua comes to visit Shen Jiu and gently give Luo Binghe (who bring tea for them) a headpat "you're a brave kid!" while looking like if he was going to cry. (Airplane thought it's his fault, even if he doesn't remember having wrote a groomer hallmaster)

Luo Binghe is confused but his Shizun doesn't react so this affection must be safe then.

Yue Qingyuan comes to apologizes. And says that the hallmaster denies the accusations. Shen Jiu is livid "YOU BELIEVE A GROOMER OVER ME?" but Yue Qingyuan rassures him "no no, of course no!"

(Liu Qingge cancelled his retreat in the caves for some times, because he was worried for how Shen Qingqiu was going to deal with all this mess)

And Shen Yuan is now in a cell in the sect. He's actually lucky to not have been eviscerated by Shen Jiu.

Either way, Luo Binghe's life does get better, and so does Shen Jiu's because him taking this seriously and reacting so violently to a precieved groomer would have a strong impression on everyone.

People even says "whoa What incredible self-control, I would have killed the guy on sight rather than organize a trial held by the sect leader."

Meanwhile Shen Yuan's system literally YELLS at him for have been a idiot and having give this horrible impression of himself.

One thing that I believe is that if Shen Yuan had transmigrated as a hallmaster rather than Shen Jiu, things would have gone very differently. Because him favoring Luo Binghe as a peak lord is one thing, but favoring him as a hallmaster? Someone who isn't in charge of the peak, nor what lessons are to be taught, taking an unnatural interest on the youngest disciple who is unfavored?

Alarmed bells would have been ringing in Shen Jiu's head. He would be projecting on Luo Binghe so hard, and Shen Yuan would have found himself eviscerated by a livid Shen Jiu whose trauma he'd triggered.

Either way, Luo Binghe's life does get better, and so does Shen Jiu's because him taking this seriously and reacting so violently to a precieved groomer would have a strong impression on everyone.

a nice AU where Shen Jiu might take Luo Binghe in and they could have a somewhat healthier relationship 💖

[cuteniaarts]

Wine stains on porcelain

(Alternatively: @katkastrofa and I have created 5 OCs in 3 days and I suffer from chronic “I wanna draw the little guysssssss” disease)

[bardicjustice]

Some day I'm going to get my thoughts in order enough to go absolutely ape shit about tragedy and the role it plays in fallen hero

[hellslittleprince]

Every little flurry of words, every furrow of eyebrows, every my pup, every soft blink... They all warmed Ash's bitter little heart more than he had ever expected they might. But even then, all of that added together, nothing quite burned through him like hearing I do trust you. Nothing lit him up in quite the same way. And perhaps his body relaxed just a little, yet straightened too, in an odd kind of pride... or was it relief? Or just an odd happiness? That was hard to come by these days, at least a happiness that wasn't tinged with a nauseating anxiety, so perhaps that was it...

His hands drifted out, carefully reaching for the damaged, blood-seeping ones on the being in front of him. And with a flash of eyes turned a strange blue-grey, wounds healed enough to stem the bleed. He said nothing about it, though, simply ran his thumbs so gently over where the marks would have been, taking a breath and looking back up to meet Kal's eyes.

"First of all, you aren't a something. You are someone. A person, with valid feelings and worries and passions and beliefs. That those passions and beliefs line up with mine is... not as startling as I expected it to be. It's also made it incredibly easy to trust you so I don't just think I can, I know I can."

Slowly releasing Kal's hands, he joined his own in front of himself for a moment, searching Kal's features, though what for? He wasn't quite sure yet.

" Second, I'm not asking you to speak for him, I promise you that. If he says no to sharing details, then that's the end of it. If it's any consolation, I think I met Wolf maybe once or twice? From the moment he came to Hell, he was taken in by some of the higher ups, he never needed me from what I knew of him. But what I do know, is that he had a lot of people. A lot of people. And I can't imagine that only one of them cared for him. I imagine it was far more than that... But it's... I can't say much, it's not my place, but there are people around that aren't necessarily soldiers, or loyal to Lucifer in any way. They just happen to be loyal to people who are loyal to Lucifer. Or who need his protection, a place to exist safely."

He gently cleared his throat, looking down at his feet for a moment... Said throat felt tight, the threat of emotion there to overwhelm him, but he swallowed it back. He had to. He always had to. Emotion was too dangerous for him these days.

"I guess what I'm saying is... I know he has you, and the way you talk about him and the sheer warmth you radiate when you do tells me just how deeply he has you," he gave him a pointed look, one that should tell Kal that Ash truly understood what he meant to him, "But... I also think you might be right. That not many people can stand up to Lucifer, and right now things are tense as you probably already know, but... Just make sure the pup knows he's not been forgotten, okay? That people care, and not because they have to. I can't speak for everyone, but I can speak for myself, and I can speak for... well. The one asking after him. But I imagine there are more, too."

"In the meantime, I'll see what I can find out about Sol. If you don't hear from me or can't find me, I uh... Well. There are others you can trust, too. Others who will care more about what's right, than what he wants. Nix might be your best bet. He's close to the prince, but he's never cared much about his father beyond that." He didn't want to drop Sunny's name. Not yet. Not until he knew, until they had some kind of plan in place, or some kind of idea of what was going on. But he had no guarantees of coming out of anything alive. Any kind of snooping and he could be nothing but dust in a blink. "If that happens, I have one more request. There are two hounds... Squirt, and Koong. They're new to the human form too, and I only agreed because-... well, Squirt is... he's hurt. Permanently, we think. and Koong is a gentle soul who would not take no for an answer when he wanted to change with him. I'm trying to keep them both out of the firing line but... If anything happens or it seems like they're on their own? Take them. Kicking and screaming if you have to, just take them away from him."

How interesting it was. He'd met what should've been, on paper at least, his enemy. Alone, without telling anybody exaclty where he'd be or who he'd meet. He very litereally placed himself at the other's mercy, and could easily smell the power that rolled calmed off of this stranger. And yet, standing here, waiting, now, after all of that. Now was the first time Kal felt well and truly nervous.

It went without saying that the Hound's own self preservation had gone out the window the moment he let his inside get ripped out to make sure his brother's escaped.. But this wasn't his safety he felt was on the line now. It wasn't his well-being left to chance, even if just a little. No, no, now he was nervous because this would have an effect on Wolf, the pup he would do damn near anything for. How Ash decided to take the small bit of information Kal could share would determine so much for his pup. And that finally caused his chest to clench.

A soft breath left him as lips pressed and thoughts caused his brows to knit. "I can't claim to know.. why only this one being came to you, came for answers. But I can claim to know that having not a single soul look for him is ripping my pup up inside more than I know how to help with.." He swallowed, hoping it'd help the way his throat closed around those words. "But it isn't too far of a stretch to guess that maybe only one of the many, many beings that Wolf touched has enough power to safely ask around without fear of their own lives or the lives of others..." Kal forced out a sigh, shifting weight from one foot to another, head shaking just once.

"Lucifer isn't nearly as good at lying as he thinks he is. Whatever he told them.. Whatever bullshit lie he made up to explain this all away? I can bet that not a single soul really buys it. But there are few beings in that realm who could stand up to him, toe to toe, and actually leave that confrontation with their lives..." And here? Kal let... or maybe forced himself to think on the other bits, to address the ones that he allowed to cause his chest to clench so tight in the first place.

"...I do... trust you" Brows twitched together just slightly as arms crossed casually over his chest, and a few, gently surprised blinks of softly sudden realizatiton followed, gaze fixed on the other. Little drops from bloody palms fell from delicate, eternally stained fingertips.

"...More than logic or time dictates that I should... I wouldn't still be standing here if I didn't. There are... very, very few beings that can make my heart beat after everything that happened, everything Lucifer did or refused to do that caused it to still that first time.. And Wolf is one of those very few. So while I trust you, I won't speak for him.. or choose for him."

His gaze had fallen to the side in thought, but it rose again now as he took in a soft, slow, and deep breath.

"So that means that this trust will have to go both ways, I think. I have to trust that you will only share that small bit with that one being for now.. And you have to trust me. Trust that I care about my pup enough to give him what you've told me, to ask what he wants before making any moves, and trust that I'll come back to you with his permission on what he wants done next...You know that I trust you.. Do you think you can trust something like me with something like this, Ash?"