#its pretty disturbing and sick at some point

[tryingtimi]

75 for the spotify ask game!

@bloodlessheirbyjacques <3

Wait for Me, My Sweet

This song haunted me for months because I knew I wanted to write something for it, but didn’t know what. Then it hit me. I already had a perfect story for it.

Tiny context: Selys is Lady Lyonette’s spawn and they have a (you guessed it) very toxic, very servant-master relationship. Selys however fell in love with a mortal and because of plot circumstances, Lady Lyonette turned this lover into a basically zombie as a punishment, chained to Selys so he could never die.

EXPLORATION | TW: GRAPHIC DECAY | TW: TOXICITY | WC: 1,561

The preternatural pain throbbed through Selys’s long-dead artery. A sensation he would miss on numerous days; the flaming of his cold skin, the piercing ache as it plucked through with a silent pop, the oh-so-torturous itch to make it stop.

The stir of something coming alive within a crumbling shell without the soft beating of a heart.

Selys missed it so many times through the days; still, he’d swallow back the memory of bile on his silver tongue in these burgundy walls' confines.

“Where are you headed next, Salvatore?” Lady Lyonette inquired, the silk of her voice sandpaper on his skin. She posed before her cherry wood vanity, delicate brush correcting the dark paint on her lips. Her reflection slithered and danced in a grotesque no-shape.

Selys swiped the last drops of crimson from his neck. “Home.”

Such an insignificant detail shouldn’t have had the weight to lie about. And yet his tongue longed to twist in the plea long given up on and forgotten, leaving only the ache of wanting, but never doing. The quiet prickling inside his head, a phantom presence lingering in the back of his mind — even if… when he tried to, he couldn’t deceive his Lady.

Her vibrant emerald eyes flicked at him through the mirror. And so Selys coated his voice in honey, bearing the dread spreading through his bones. “I’m heading home, my lady.”

“Home,” she mocked, velvet nightgown sliding off a soft brown shoulder. “Will your fondness of mortal concepts ever tire out, darling?” She released him from her stare. He let out a breath that had been trapped inside his lungs by her will. Lady Lyonette’s focus began to wither away from him.

“Should it? But you find it most entertaining, my lady.” Selys started buttoning his shirt, drenched, then dried and ruined on the neckline. He kept his voice daring enough to make her smile, wholly averting her attention from his inner world.

“I’m glad. I thought I drained you out of your precious wit.” She lifted the finely crafted comb from her desk, sliding through her chestnut locks. “I do find it entertaining.” Selys adjusted his scarf around the open wounds on his neck and slipped up his coat while walking to her with a smile so sweet. She didn’t turn, yet Selys’s skin crawled underneath as she spoke. “And if you insist upon the sentiment, then let yourself never forget; we are the only home you’ll ever have, my darling Salvatore.”

There was no need to face him. Her softly spoken words had the haunting sharpness of her fangs, sinking into the freshly torn flesh on his neck, blind yet precise. His shoulders struggled enough to keep him straight, but he did not falter.

Selys leaned over and planted a kiss on her ice-cold cheek. “Never, my lady.”

A smile; a venomous, hypnotising smile she gifted him, something to remind him of his place. Only then he was free to leave.

He left the plush room through the curving double doors, a silent servant close on his heel. None were allowed to stroll the manor’s unearthly halls alone. Especially not if they wanted to find their exit.

Selys scraped at his thumb inside his coat’s pocket, breaking skin to keep his weak knees stiff and moving. The servant shuffled past him in the dimly lit hallway and opened the entrance with a creak. Time moved simultaneously too quickly and too slowly inside Lady Lyonette’s mansion, and so Selys grew used to finding himself outside fast enough when he didn’t strain to escape.

The bite of late winter brought back the hollow coolness of his body. It put a lightness in his steps that the hope of getting away could only. He walked through the dying garden, where trees bent under blinding white snow piles, and bushes lay bare, leaving the animals without the last of their shelters. Selys strolled through it as if chased, the lingering attention of his Lady way too present on these grounds. The wound on his neck pulsed raw like the moment she freed his blood into her throat.

He couldn’t rush, or plant the idea of a hunt. Therefore he arrived at the sculpted iron gates in a calm daze. His head swayed, and the dizziness of blood loss — the ridiculously mortal consequence of her feast kept eating at his concentration. He kept going, nevertheless.

Through the exposed branches that reached towards him like bone fingers, through the roads frozen and dead, through the city that finally came into sight. He straightened from the lamplights and the bustling of the concrete life. Lady Lyonette once asked him why he’d live in such a place, and he answered briefly. He wouldn’t have told her it was the only place that didn’t care about them. The only place that could devour and swallow the ancient, leaving them just as mortal as humans.

Selys inhaled the smog of the city, feeling the tangible waning of Lady Lyonette’s grip on his consciousness.

A short time later, he turned into a small house with a single floor and a garden tended to well enough. There were no neighbours, its street framed by a bakery, a flower shop, a graveyard and a church. Selys bought a bouquet in the shop before he sauntered up to the house.

Inside, the living room breathed a new sensation into him. The familiar brown of his home scraped away the last of her essence, leaving her just out of reach. There was no closing out fully, he was her creation after all. But he’d find the line that kept the illusion of being close without giving himself up to the proximity.

“I’m home,” he crocked, closing out the cold behind him.

The house rang with his words, receiving no response.

Selys stripped out of his coat, and scarf, the wound on his neck pulsing less and less real.

His home was not entirely different from hers. The antique furniture from his favourite times, the treasures he collected throughout his lifetime — but his had the touch of something else. Selys grabbed the crystal vase from the front table, where withered flowers nodded into demise. Their lovely scent disappeared with their passing, and the smell of rot bloomed into focus again.

After he’d switched out the water, and placed the fresh flowers in, Selys aimed to the bedroom on the other end. The words of Lady Lyonette echoed in his head; “...we are the only home you’ll ever have.” With a clearer head, Selys could release the despise, the numb loathing trashing in his chest. He stepped into the half-moonlit room and lit a kerosene lamp.

“I’m back,” he said, closing the door behind him.

Léon growled on the bed, shying away from the light. Despite his clear disturbance, he remained seated, snarling quietly through his lipless mouth. Selys picked out the formaldehyde balm from one of the drawers and walked up to Léon. He kneeled before him, the sight of his chained ankle dragging a sigh out of his lungs. The skin peeled away where the metal met flesh, too decayed to stay attached to the bone. “Longed for a walk again, I see.”

Selys pulled off the ripped, dead skin while Léon softly grumbled but otherwise did not respond much to the act. The pungent smell of rot puffed into the air as Selys put it into the trash bag, closing it tight. Freed, some of Léon’s shin bone shined around the ankle, the chain clinking as he slid his feet forward, then back.

Selys poured some of the balm on a textile tissue and began patting at Léon’s decomposing arm. His neck throbbed, but the usually numbed pain in his chest shrieked and boiled up as it always did after a feast. On his face, Léon wore the memory of his freckled, golden skin, lips chewed away by decay, eyeholes soon exposed with time. Selys softly massaged his once elegant fingers, careful not to scrape off more skin.

“Do you remember what you told me during your proposal?” he asked in his self-inflicted mandatory talking session. Sometimes, he thought he’d gotten a glimpse of recognition. But more times, he was convinced his mind finally gave in to the unending repetition of his lives.

Léon growled, glassy eyes forward, unfocused.

“You’ve told me how romantic it would be to rot next to each other. A crude humour, given my nature. But I was always enamoured by dark comedians, and you were one gem among the many.” He inhaled the sharp scent of the chemical balm and the smell of a never coming rest. “You then told me you meant it, that you wanted to live and die with me. That you’d walk in death beside me. You sweet, sweet lover boy.”

The once thick, yet short hair on Léon’s head weakened, almost fully fallen out. Still, Selys caressed it like silk, cupping his face in balm-coated hands then. “She’ll be done for soon, I’ll make sure of it. And you’ll be back,” he whispered his eternal promise, again and again, night after night. He carefully pulled the rotten forehead to his, the stench of blackened organs and the all too familiar sour taste of death sneaking up to his nostrils. “You wait only a little more, my sweet.”

[cherry-bomb-ships]

Real talk I think Cherry Coading and R. Marie should switch evil genius partners for a week and see what happens

[vivid-dreamscapes]

Loosely based on a real thing that happened to me a few weeks ago

You sighed as you walked into the building for the hero license classes, bag slung over you’re shoulder, your hero costume and gear stuffed inside.

You had missed the hero license exam due to being sick day-of, but you didn’t mind taking the lessons. Apparently another girl—Camie is what Izuku had told you—was in a similar boat. She hadn’t actually been at the exam, but a villain dressed as her had. Point was, you both missed it and now you were going to the lessons.

As you walked in, you saw the familiar spiky blonde locks of your boyfriend Katsuki coming out of the guy’s changing room. When he noticed you, you gave him a small wave and he gave you an extremely subtle smirk before walking off. You rolled your eyes with a smile of you’re own before dipping into the girls locker rooms.

As you started to change, you’re heard a few other girls in the other room of the changing rooms giggling over something. At first you ignored it—probably boy talk or something—but then you heard your school’s name.

“Let’s find who all from UA is here!” One of the girls said in an obnoxiously high pitched voice, holding up her phone. On it were the list of people taking the lessons.

“Imagine—UA must be losing its touch if it had people coming here! Some ‘top hero school in Japan’!” Another one said, giggling as well. You heard them go through the names of your classmates—Katsuki, Todoroki—before they got to you. You already knew this could go two ways; really well or really badly.

“Ewww, that’s [Name]?” On of the other girls said, pointing at the phone screen. “I thought Shindo said she was hot.”

“She’s not even pretty.” The high pitched girl said with a snarky chuckle, her eyes glinting. “I mean…I knew she couldn’t be all that but I didn’t think she was ugly.”

That’s when you felt a pit in your stomach. You’d been told you weren’t pretty before. You’d been told you weren’t hot. But never, ever, had you been called ugly. And the feeling that coursed through your body was equally as ugly. You blinked a few times before slipping out, now in your costume.

You spent the entirety of the lessons that day trying not to burst into tears—though it was hard. Tears never fell from you’re eyes, but they had certainly welled up in them, blocking you’re vision, making you’re eyes red, being generally obvious something was wrong. You got looks through the class but no one said anything. You couldn’t blame them. Eventually, towards the end of the day, you had managed to numb your emotions.

It wasn’t until you were walking home that said numbness finally broke, and with it you broke into tears. First a few sniffles, then the waterworks. You walked home in the glowing orange light of the sunset, wiping your eyes and the tears off your skin.

You hadn’t even noticed the footsteps running up behind you until the person they belonged too practically barreled into your back. You let out an ‘oomph’ as strong arms wrapped around you, holding you close as the person buried their face into your hair.

”Fuckin’ dumbass.” The all too familiar voice of your boyfriend was heard, muffled from speaking into your hair. You turned around with a shocked sniffle, surprised. What was with the sudden, out of character hug attack?

“Katsuki?”

“I could see you holding back all day. We weren’t even learning anything that bad today, you shoulda went to the bathroom and had a good cry.” You looked at him and he lifted his head to look back up at you, resting his chin on your shoulder. His arm stayed wrapped around your lower torso, pulling you closer against his chest with a squeeze.

“Oh gods, you saw that?”

“It’s hard not to when you don’t even look in my direction for the whole few hours in there. You’re usually always glancin’ my way.”

“Well I didn’t want you to see me being all pathetic ‘n shit.”

He pulled back and stood straight up, his eyebrows knitting together in disturbed confusion. “Pathetic?” He repeated, a hint of disappointment in his tone. Disappointed you thought being vulnerable was weak. “I don’t know why you were upset, but I guarantee it was for a valid reason—and that makes you anything but pathetic. It makes you human.”

You gave him a stiff smile and started walking again, now with the blonde walking next to you. After a few moment of silence, he asked; “Why were you so upset? I mean, you don’t need to tell me or anything, I just—I wanna know if I can help.”

After a long, quiet moment, you responded with a sigh. “I got called ugly today.” You mumbled, eyes glued to the sidewalk. His head whipped around to look at you but you continued just as he opened his mouth to speak. “I know, it’s a stupid reason to be upset. I mean, people get called ugly all the time. I just…” You held the strap of yours bag tighter, biting your bottom lip as the tears started to well up again. “I just ya know…finally started feeling pretty an’ stuff, an’…I mean….I just wish other people thought I was pretty too, ya know?”

You continued to mumbled, getting quieter as sobs threatened to spill from your lips. With a concerned expression, he pulled you close, hugging you again, this time from the front. You covered your hands as he leaned your head against his chest, once again letting yourself cry. “Whoever said that doesn’t know shit. You’re the goddamn prettiest person I know. And that’s saying something, I’ve seen the models my parents have over for shoots.”

“Yeah, but you’re biased.” You mumbled and he held you tighter, letting out a scoff. Not a sharp one though, more like a scoff of sadness.

“Me? Biased? Even if that were so, we both know I’m brutally honest. If you weren’t goddamn stunning, I wouldn’t tell you that you were.”

After a few more minutes of letting it all out, he stayed over at yours dorm to binge watch your current favorite show—no matter how much he hated it. He even—begrudgingly—stayed up past 8:30 to cuddle with you, giving you kisses here and then.

As you two stayed all snuggled up, you started to feel tired. Resting your head against his chest, you closed your eyes with a smile. “Thanks Katsuki.”

“For what?”

“…earlier.”

“…You’re welcome dumbass.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To any of you out there who’ve ever been told you’re ugly, not pretty, not attractive, not handsome, not cute, etc—don’t believe them.

On October 1st, four days ago, our population was counted to roughly 8,179,451,535 people. That means, one, or maybe two, or maybe four people called you ugly. Four out of 8,179,451,535 people.

And I guarantee, what one person hates, multiple people love. To one person you may not be attractive. But to another, you’re going to be the most attractive person they’ve ever seen, a sight for sore eyes. And the people who insulted you? They’re the real ugly ones. On the inside. And probably on the outside someday too.

You’re amazing. And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise ❤️

[terramythos]

MY TOP 25 BEST POKEMON

by popular demand, in descending order.

25. Galvantula

she is so fluffy. they somehow made an electric spider one of the most cuddly pokemon designs of all time. WOULD get a plushie of her if i am being fully honest.

24. Scyther

he's just some guy who is also a cool looking bug who also has swords coming out of his fucking arms. a rare example of a gen 1 pokemon design that is 'extremely based' and not 'extremely boring'.

23. Roserade

Roselia in gen 3 was such a meh pokemon, so giving it this unexpectedly cool Tuxedo Mask evolution in gen 4 was awesome. I will be fully honest that my favorite version of Roserade is the shiny because it gets black and purple roses. cool as fuck

22. Scream Tail

'what if we made Jigglypuff so so so so so so scary and it wants to maim and eat you now'. say no more

21. Calyrex (Shadow Rider i guess)

as someone who skipped pokemon sword/shield entirely, this design is actually some of the coolest shit i've seen. weird looking deer knight riding on the back of a ghost horse? actually stupidly cool they were really cooking with this one.

20. Grovyle

Every PMD fan on the fucking planet knows why I put this rando middle evo Grass starter on my favorite pokemon list. And they also know that i am objectively correct for doing so. no further explanation is needed

19. Decidueye

listen this is a fucking Ghost Owl Archer, what a fucking idea, it's cool as shit and we love Decidueye in this household. the best grass starter in the game and it isn't even close. despite me putting one immediately before it on this list. no notes.

18. Gastrodon

i love you gastrodon i love you sea slugs i love you having 2 different non-shiny designs/color schemes, i love you weird squishy suctiony cry/sound effects. gastrodon is maybe my best friend possibly ever

17. Ampharos

listen even if lighthouses were not a special interest of mine i would still love the weird electric lighthouse sheep. look at this guy. truly one of THE pokemon designs ever.

16. Chandelure

love this fucking thing it looks like a kingdom hearts boss. also ghost/fire is objectively one of the coolest type combos ever (foreshadowing is a literary device in which--)

15. Hisuian Zoroark

this is a prime example of how the regional variants in modern pokemon can completely improve on the original. the original zoroark is a pretty generic edgy dog. this is a new and much more interesting take in general, it makes its once gimmicky Illusion ability much more sinister and tied to its backstory/lore. also such a great color scheme, i love the weird almost fungal looking growths on it?

14. Furret

furret my friend furret. he is a tube and also my friend.

13. Noivern

this is a vampire bat dragon, potentially the coolest thing to ever exist ever. you agree. also i like the color scheme, purple/green/red aren't usually things i would put together but it works very well here

12. Iron Valiant

there is a tumblr post that calls this thing "so nonbinary it kills you" (or something like that) and holy shit are they right. what a cool mix of gardevoir and gallade's designs. plus making it a robot knight. cool as fuck, definitely the best paradox pokemon. and again, it isn't even close lmao

11. Mawile

i remember being a little disturbed and/or weirded out by this thing when i played gen 3. over the years it has grown on me so much. what a weird fucking design. i too want a giant mouth horn growing out of my head. bonus points to mawile for also getting a sick mega evolution that i am pretty sure broke the metagame for a while. lol, lmao even.

10. Clodsire

holy fucking shit it's clodsire. fuck yes. FUCK YES FUCK YES FUCK YES what an incredible re-imagining of quagsire i love it so much

9. Froslass

imagine you're Glalie, the world's most generic and boring ice type of all time, evolved from Snorunt and already forgotten the moment you're introduced in gen 3. then gen 4 comes along and gives female Snorunts one of the coolest pokemon of all time as an evolution. truly THE most insane evolutionary glow up in the history of the franchise. anyway i love this thing, i love that she murders hikers and displays their corpses for people that's so cool i love you froslass congratulations on your transition

8. Hawlucha

LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD LUCHADOR BIRD

7. Espeon

definitely my favorite eeveelution, i love its simple design, the gem really ties it together. this is really one of those pokemon that feels like it'll be on your team for life. i will not elaborate on this

6. Bewear

i fucking LOVE this thing it makes me so fucking uncomfortable to look at. it has the best lore of any pokemon ever: it hugs people to death. god what a cool pokemon if it shattered my spine i would probably just say 'ok'

5. Floette

THIS IS MY WHITE WHALE, DUDE. I WILL NEVER BE OVER THE SUPER POWERED X/Y MAIN STORY VERSION OF THIS THING BEING CODED INTO THE GAME AS AN EVENT POKEMON AND THEN GAMEFREAK NEVER RELEASED IT. despite my bitterness i love floette whenever i see it. one of the quiet joys of scarlet/violet was seeing this tiny thing chilling out in the wild. to me its face is like The representation of happiness. i have no idea why i love it so much but i'm just happy whenever i see it

4. Suicune

when i was little i was obsessed with this thing. i remember playing pokemon silver and being captivated by it. then i was THRILLED that of all pokemon they could pick they made it the mascot for crystal. when i went on road trips as a kid i would imagine this thing running alongside the car and had all sorts of mental AMVs with it. now that i am an adult and have had time to reflect on suicune, however, i have come to realize something: suicune is actually the coolest fucking thing ever and i was so fucking right all along about this

3. Hisuian Typhlosion

i loved typhlosion as a kid, and most of my attachment to the original one is probably nostalgia related. however, like hisuian zoroark, this is one of those designs that just genuinely improves on the original in every way. i have NO idea why they chose to glam up typhlosion so much in legends arceus but i am so glad they did. adding Ghost typing is such a strange concept on paper but they executed it SO well. i love its dopey little look. what a gem of a design to find so recently in pokemon's lifespan.

2. Alolan Raichu

the original Raichu has always lived in Pikachu's shadow-- it has a cool enough design, but no one is ever going to pay attention to it when it's prevo is literally the world famous series mascot. so i am THRILLED with what a great design Alolan Raichu has. it's so fucking cute, it looks unique while still being obviously tied to the original. i love that it looks like a pancake. i love adding Psychic type to it -- like with Hisuian Typhlosion, an odd idea in concept that works perfectly. i love that it surfs on its adorable, giant tail. GOD i love alolan raichu it is such a good pokemon

Flygon

i love flygon, it's a sand dragonfly that evolves from the world's most adorable antlion. this is an instant pick for my team in every game it's in. i love its dragonfly eyes doubling as sand goggles. flygon is so cool you can make the argument for Dragon/Ground/Bug triple typing, but Gamefreak are fucking cowards and will never do that. it is because they are afraid of what flygon would do with this power. YAY FLYGON

[brightdarkness-2013]

Chapter 14: Three In A ROW! Whoop!

Summary:Prowl does a disappearing act.

Prowl was calm in most situations. He was wary of everyone else on some level yet. He had warmed up to Cliff rather quickly once he started bringing in plants from his trips underwater. I didn’t understand his fascination with underwater plants, but it got Prowl to start seeing him as a friend rather than a stranger or a threat. Prowl even perked up when he came in that point. Barricade was as stubborn as ever, but even he was eyeing him with less malice. He still didn’t like him near Prowl, but he tolerated him enough to not try and bite his hand off or snap at him when he set the plants in the water. Sometimes they were underwater flowers and other times they just looked like useless green leaves or vines. I had no clue what they were, but I’m sure if I asked Blaster he’d know what they were. I suppose it was nice to have something in the empty tanks with them and it only helped that it was something familiar. They had to be fished out every once in awhile, but they weren’t as disturbed by it anymore since something new was brought in within a few days.

Prowl was cleared a week later and the act of moving them to a new tank was easy enough. Of course Barricade needed to be watched more closely within the new area, but hopefully the medication would prevent infection from anything that was in the main tanks. They made quick work in exploring the new area. Curiously circling around the structures that had allowed and encouraged the coral to grow on them. Examining the sand and plants that grew unhindered. Blaster and I found some amusement in that.

“That better? I figured you’d be sick of the quarantine tank by now.”

They seemed to settle in fine. Moving them into a tank that mimicked the ocean life on some level always lowered the stress from being in quarantine from what Aid had explained at some point. Prowl had circled the main coral and rock structure several times now. Barricade had settled between some of the rocks and plants and was watching me like he was a lion hiding in the tall grass to stalk its prey. Still ignoring Blaster as per usual. Prowl had glanced around at the other tanks and the doors. I wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but he seemed pretty focused. Then he circled around a few more times.

“What is he doing?”

“Uh… It looks like he’s checking the area for danger.” Blaster answered, but he didn’t seem so sure.

With another glance around he seemed satisfied and sunk down into the flora along with Barricade. That had been the only time he had ever done that. However one morning we came in to find Barricade alone in the tank several days later. Barricade had been calm as ever as he lay curled up on the sand in front of the coral as he watched us freak out. Sure Prowl was smart, but he wouldn’t just leave his pod member and there was no way he had gotten out without alerting the facility. Then of course Barricade would be pacing again, but he hadn’t moved an inch yet.

“Shit. Prowl? Please tell me he didn’t jump ship again.”

“Blurr, go tell Randy to check the cameras.” Arcee ordered as she looked through the glass at the tank.

“How come I have to deal with Red?”

“Go.”

I searched the flora with her as Barricade watched us. He had a pretty smug look on his face. I really wish I could hit him. I mean he was at that point where Ratchet had given the ok for force feeding now so you’d think he would be less chipper. Especially with his pod mate missing. But no he was just laying there and watching us. No hissing or growling even. This was not normal.

“What the hell…” Arcee breathed in irritation. “He’s Black and White it’s not like he can blend in.”

It was true. None of this made any sense. Mers don’t just disappear and where could he have possibly gone if he did decide to escape? The front doors were locked so it wasn’t like he could just leave and slip into the ocean and even then he would have taken Barricade with him, wouldn’t he? I glared at the mer in question. He still hadn’t made a move. He was just watching us lazily with a triumphant air about him. No matter how long I glared at him I knew I wouldn’t figure out his game so I went back to scanning the tank.

“Ok so we need to tell Ratchet. Drug up Barricade. We need to search the tank. There’s no way he could have just vanished.” Arcee decided after another minute only to stop at the buzzing of her phone. “Tell me you have an answer to our vanishing mer?”

With that we were heading to the security office. Arcee practically threw open the door. Blurr was laughing and that didn’t do anything good for her mood. However if he was laughing then things were fine. Prowl hadn’t just up and vanished.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. They made a little hidey hole is all.” Blurr waved off Arcee’s questions as he passed.

We got our answer when we made the attempt to feed Barricade again. Barricade didn’t move, but Prowl had slipped out from behind Barricade and through the seagrass. That was one heart attack causing mystery solved. That smug bastard was still giving me that look. Barricade one. Jazz one. That blasted fish.

When Barricade was taken out for treatment Mirage had investigated to find that they had dug a hole in the sand under the coral and made a well hidden nest. It was small, but Prowl fit fine and Barricade seemed content guarding the entrance. Apparently they had been digging at night when the other mers had settled and no one was around. That was new...

Notes:Take a bow Prowl. Wonderful magic trick.

Next

First

Masterpost

[teaberrii]

Chapter 2: Not Friends

You and Dan Heng are a match made in heaven until fate takes him away from you too soon. Years later, you think you moved on with a mutual friend who shared your grief and stuck with you during tough times until you meet a mysterious man with a striking resemblance to your past lover and a hidden motive. You’re determined to get rid of him, but how are you going to get rid of a god?

Dan Feng/You

Notes:

Cross-posted on Ao3

Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail crossover

Female reader

Chapter index at the end of chapter one

Support my writing

The hospital room is quiet except for the soft beeps of the sensors; the lights are dim as if not to disturb you, but you've been unconscious since the operation has finished. Your forehead, wrists, and part of your hands are wrapped in bandages, but your breathing is steady. Dan Feng stands beside your bed, his hands behind his back, looking at you with skepticism and curiosity.

Dan Feng and the rest of the dragon gods stood on a rocky terrain where the sky above was the galaxy. Not too far stood a large, metal circle where all the Chinese zodiac animal signs were engraved on the outer rim. The rabbit symbol was lit as it was still the Year of the Rabbit, but as soon as the clock struck midnight, the light flowed like liquid to the dragon. Its eyes were the last to light but shone the brightest. Then, a thunderous roar echoed in the distance as the gate shot beams of lightning toward its center before dispersing to the other animal signs. Now, there was a watery surface, and one could see images of the human realm—seascapes, landscapes, and cityscapes—slowly transitioning from one to the next.

“Sorry, I’m late!”

The dragons turned and saw Bailu wearing a padded coat, making her look like a walking marshmallow. While Zhongli was wondering why she didn't have knitted covers over her little horns on the top of her head like she sometimes did, that wasn't the first question on his mind. Bailu was riding something that no one recognized… but Dan Feng had an inkling of what the mysterious, rolling, box-like object was.

“...Is that a suitcase?” he asked.

“Yup! Ten points to Brother Moon!” Bailu got off her self-driving suitcase and looked at her other brothers. “Quiz time! Can any of you guess what this is for?”

“Please don't tell me humans use that to get around," Neuvilette said flatly. “It’s incredibly tacky.”

“Yes and no… and it’s not tacky! Do you know how expensive this is down there?”

“It seems like a convenient way of moving things from one place to another,” Zhongli said. “You’re very prepared, Bailu. But"—he pointed to her horns—"aren't you forgetting something?"

"As soon as we poof down there, we'll look like everyone else! So, I hope you won't miss your horns and tail too much." Noticing Neuvilette's curiosity on her padded coat, Bailu patted herself. "It's to keep warm! Who knows what the weather is like down there?"

Neuvilette gently poked it. "The design sure is something."

"Don't worry. I'll take all of you shopping when we get there. The last thing I want is for one of you to fall sick."

Dan Feng nodded toward the activate gate. “Well, now that everyone's here… Shall we go?”

“Wait!” Everyone turned to Bailu. Then, she snapped her fingers, and four journals appeared around her. “I’m the one with the most experience down there, so…” With a wave of her hand, the journals distributed themselves amongst her dragon brothers. "You’re going to find this handy!”

“...Bailu’s Guide to Thriving with the Humans?” Neuvilette wasn’t sure what to think of the title.

“It has everything you need to know to survive down there. I even included how you make some quick money because”—she flipped her hair—”I’m nice like that. And…!” Her face turned serious. “It’s not a guarantee that we’ll end up at the same place when we step through that portal. It’s pretty exciting, isn’t it?”

“...I question your definition of exciting,” Zhongli said. “That’s a problem if we aren’t together.”

“You said that the longer we stay down there, the more human we become,” Neuvilete said, looking at Bailu. “So, surely we can still use our powers if we are separated.”

“Mm…”

“I sense a ‘but’ coming,” Dan Feng said, not surprised.

“It’s true our powers won’t go poof right away, but it won’t be as strong. Based on experience, we have one chance to use them however we like. But, if you do something too powerful, you'll be completely drained.”

“Drained?”

“Ahem. If you could kindly refer to page two of your handy dandy journal…”

The three exchanged a glance before Zhongli’s journal flew open in front of them, and then it was Dan Feng who read: “After landing in the human realm, your godly powers will slowly start draining. It's like an oxygen tank of a scuba diver."

"...Oxygen tank? Scuba diver? Do I want to know what those things are?" Neuvilette asked.

“Keep reading,” Bailu deadpanned.

“Your power will start strong, but the more you use it, the faster it’ll drain,” Zhongli said. “Small tasks, such as telekinesis, will make it drain slowly. Bigger tasks, such as teleportation, will make it drain faster. Even if you do nothing, your power will still drain bit by bit.” Then, the journal closed itself.

“If we end up in different places," Bailu said, "you’ll want to use the last bit of your godly power to teleport to the Luofu House.”

“...The what now?”

Bailu pointed to her journal. “Page five, if you will.”

So, once again, Zhongli’s journal flew open. This time to page five.

“The Luofu House is Bailu’s home away from home,” he read. “Since none of you have a home to go to, Mistress Bailu will be honoured to have you in her humble abode…”

“Mistress…” Dan Feng began skeptically.

“...Bailu?” Neuvilette deadpanned.

“Y’all should be thankful that we have a place to stay when we get there!” Bailu said, puffing out her chest. “If it weren’t for my relentless hustling every dragon year, who knows what we’d have to resort to? Anyway, just remember: Don’t waste your power on something dumb.”

If it weren't for the sensors, Dan Feng would think you're dead, which means his efforts would've been wasted.

Dan Feng was the last one to step through the gate. The world around him spun and spun, and he heard overlapping sounds getting louder and louder until everything went quiet. Then, he heard the sound of rain. He opened his eyes and saw he’d ended up on a pedestrian bridge. It was dark but the street below was lit. There were shapes of mountains and buildings in the distance. Dan Feng was about to teleport to the Luofu House when he noticed a young boy, holding an umbrella, staring at him.

Dan Feng stared back until the kid finally caved and asked:

“Are you a cosplayer?”

A… what?

The kid looked at him and up and down. “It’s a really good costume! You look like I.L!”

Who?

“Don’t tell me you don’t know him!" the kid said, almost offended. "He’s that super cool character from the popular video game…”

The rest fell on deaf ears as Dan Feng glanced down. He was still in his usual outfit: a white sleeveless shirt with a cutout in the shape of a diamond on his chest. His long sleeves are unattached and have gold and green-coloured accents. Around his waist was a green sash with a teal seal adorned by golden leaves, and he wore black, fingerless gloves. The only normal thing about his outfit was the black pants, but the knee-high boots with white and golden accents would instantly draw someone's attention.

“I’m spending my allowance money to get him for sure!”

“It’s getting cold,” Dan Feng said. “You should head home.”

"Here." The kid held out his umbrella. "I'll give this to you because you did him justice!"

“...I’m fine.”

“Trying to act tough, are you, Mister?”

Dan Feng wasn’t expecting the cheekiness, but he slightly smiled out of amusement. "You need it more than I do."

“Well, okay, if you say so. Bye, Mister! It was cool seeing you!”

After the kid ran off, Dan Feng suddenly heard a deafening bang. He turned to the road below and saw a car on the highway below swerving to avoid a truck that had lost control.

“I spy with my little eye... not a soul to take but a god?"

Well, great. Everything was so much better with Sampo around.

The Reaper hopped off the ledge of the bridge. “How convenient that you happened to end up here. I know you dragons have your agenda… but care to join me for some soul-taking before you leave?”

“No.”

“Ouch. Not even a 'maybe'?" Sampo shrugged. "Well, suit yourself.”

Then, he was gone.

Dan Feng was about to snap his fingers when he suddenly heard a voice. A female voice. It was faint and weak, but it was what she said that made him stop.

“...Dan Heng.”

After he and Sampo saved you, Dan Feng was left to fend for himself. He lied to the people dressed in uniform, which he now knew as paramedics and law enforcement (thanks to Bailu’s guide), and was allowed to be in the room with you after your surgery.

Without thirty minutes of being in the human realm, Dan Feng had broken one of the biggest rules known to gods. Getting involved with humans is one thing, but saving their life? At least Sampo also bears some responsibility. It couldn’t have happened without his help, which makes Dan Feng wonder why Sampo had agreed to it. Just for kicks? For entertainment? Or… Do you have something to do with Dan Heng’s untimely death?

Dan Feng leans closer to you. Who are you…? And what relationship did you have with his brother? Can you be her reincarnation? Dan Feng has to know. Because if you are, he will be the one to kill you. He clenches his fists as he thinks of her, the cowardly woman who betrayed him and his brother. The woman who robbed Dan Feng of rationality because he was so hopelessly in love with her. But, his brother had been no different.

Suddenly, the door swings open, and a dishevelled-looking man runs to your bedside. He immediately takes your hand and says your name with tears in his eyes.

“...Can you hear me? Can—” He stops as soon as he looks at Dan Feng. He stands upright and his eyes go wide as if he’s seen a ghost. “...Who… Dan Heng?”

Oh? Does this man know his brother, too? 

“Is this some kind of sick joke?” the man asks. “Who the fuck are you?”

“The man who saved this young woman’s life,” Dan Feng says calmly. “Now, let me ask you the same question. Who the fuck are you?”

“Her fiancé,” is the bitter reply.

“Fiancé? Then, you should be thanking me.”

“Thanking you?” The man walks up to him. “Seriously. Who are you? Why do you look… Why the hell do you look so much like Dan Heng?”

Well, Dan Feng can’t tell the truth, but as he knows next to nothing about his brother’s life in the human realm, he doesn’t want to be caught in a web of lies.

“Can’t tell you,” Dan Feng says, a little snarkily. “Care to tell me who that is?”

The man is about to say something but your weak, faint groan interrupts him. Dan Feng glances at you while the man is immediately back at your side.

“You’re awake…! Oh, thank the heavens! Let me call the doctor!”

Dan Feng is mildly amused when your eyes land on him, and your eyes widen in alarm, staring at him as if in a catatonic stupor. Your face grows more ashen—if that's even possible, and your mouth slightly opens and closes as if you’re a fish out of water. Dan Feng almost smiles at what he’s seeing. How cute.

Finally, he hears your soft, weak voice:

“You…”

Your fiancé steps in front of Dan Feng and says:

“...I appreciate your help, but you can leave now.”

The door opens, and a young doctor walks in followed by a nurse. After he and the nurse conduct a few tests, he says:

“Your vitals are stable.” He smiles at you. “You’re very lucky, judging from the state you came in.”

“Is there any medication she should take?”

Your fiancé glares at Dan Feng, but he ignores it.

“Oh, yes. We’ll prescribe those to her soon. She should also stay at the hospital for a few days so we can monitor her condition. She may be stable now, but there might be some internal issues that will arise.”

“You might want to check as soon as possible. She was looking quite pale earlier… like she saw a ghost,” Dan Feng says, looking at you. “I hope I’m just being overprotective, and it’s nothing serious.”

“You...!”

Dan Feng gives your fiancé a deadpan look. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

Before Dan Feng walks out the door, he briefly hears the nurse explain to your fiancé how Dan Feng had pretty much saved your life.

Dan Feng is outside of the hospital when he takes out Bailu’s guide. Now… What in the world is he going to do now? He has no money, plan, or connections to get out of his current situation. He glances at the hospital. Well, maybe he has a connection or two. But right now, he's a homeless god in the human realm. He can imagine the look on Neuvilette’s face. Skimming through Bailu’s guide, he finds something interesting. Let’s see what he can learn about making quick money and something called hotels and motels…

◆◆◆

You can’t get that man’s face out of your mind. You’ve been staring at the white ceiling for the past thirty minutes. But every time you close your eyes, you see Dan Heng. Or… so you think. The door opens, and your fiancé walks in. After closing the door, he walks up to your bedside and pulls up a chair.

“...Still awake?”

“Who…” you say quietly. “Who was that man?”

“...The one who looked like Dan Heng?”

“It can’t…” Tears are streaming down your face. “It can’t be him. I—”

Your fiancé holds your hand. “It’s not. He’s… He’s just someone who looks a lot like him. That’s all.”

“I thought… I thought I was dead.”

“You’ll never see him again.” You slowly turn your head to see a hard look in his eyes. “Trust me. I promise you won’t.” He looks down as if guilty. “I… It’s my fault that this happened. This shouldn’t have happened!”

You watch as he breaks down in front of you, too tired to console him. But, should you even?

“I’m sorry,” he finally says. “It’s… I see that necklace, and it feels like you haven’t fully moved on.”

“...Dan Heng will always be someone special to me,” you say, and he slowly looks up. “That’s not ever going to change. But, I chose to move forward with you.” You look back at the ceiling, too tired to chide him again for pawning the necklace. “Whatever is on your mind, I hope you’ll be open and communicate with me instead of doing something so childish. It hurts both of us.”

“...I know. I understand.” After a small pause, he slightly smiles. “The police are already launching a full investigation into the accident.”

You turn back. “What about the other driver?”

“He’s also hospitalized, but his injuries aren’t as severe as yours."

You look back up at the ceiling, remembering the voices you heard. One of them sounded exactly like Dan Heng's doppelganger. Was it just a coincidence that he was there? Why was he there?

“It’s getting late.” Your fiancé kisses your head. “Try getting some sleep, okay? Let’s talk in the morning.”

You think about asking him to stay, but you know he has work in the morning as do you.

“...Did anyone find my phone?” you ask.

"It's on the nightstand, but... I doubt you'll get it to work. It's damaged pretty badly." He gives you another kiss. "I’ll call in about your condition to your boss tomorrow. Don’t worry about anything, and just get some much-needed rest, okay?”

You wish you can. But, you want to scream as the only person you can think about is that man. Who is he…?

◆◆◆

As soon as Dan Feng walks up to a set of glass doors, they immediately slide open. The large jewellery shop—with a white and beige colour scheme—is lit with LED lights in the ceilings. With his hands behind his back, Dan Feng slowly walks while looking at the diamonds and gold displayed on the necks and hands of mannequins in glass cases. It oddly reminds him of home.

“Um, hello…” Dan Feng faces forward and sees a tall, well-dressed, young man. His hair is slicked back, and he has bright blue eyes. The man looks Dan Feng up and down as if curious and internally questioning the strange outfit. “Can I help you?”

“I have something I’d like appraised.”

“Appraised? Oh, well…” He looks over his shoulders where there are female employees who are also well-dressed. They slightly shake their heads.

“I guarantee it'll be worth your while.”

“Then, can I see what it is?”

Good thing Dan Feng didn’t come to the human realm completely empty-handed. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small ring made out of pure gold and white jade. As soon as he hands it to the man, the female employees—out of curiosity—walk over.

The man tosses the ring into the air. After catching it, he pulls out a coin. Then, he gently tries scratching it. Getting no marks, he holds it up to the light. Throughout all of this, Dan Feng watches him carefully.

Finally, the man hands the ring back with both hands. “Would you please follow me to the back room, sir?”

“...Who is he?” Dan Feng hears one of the female employees whisper to the other.

“I don’t know… but he looks quite young.”

“Does this mean that ring is genuine…? His family must be rich.”

“Must be nice… to be young and rich.”

"He doesn't look half bad either..."

Dan Feng continues walking, pretending he heard nothing.

Past a dark blue curtain was a treasure shop that many knew about. A warmly lit chandelier was the shop's main light source, but the pastel glass window—in the shape of a green, diamond—also allowed in natural light. Everyone, including those not from Sumeru, knew about Khalid, the jeweller. But not many knew of his other talents. It was after hours, but one could hear the sound of metal on metal in a small room at the back of the shop. Then, it stopped. A young Dan Feng sat upright and lifted the ring, which was once a piece of gold, into the lantern light.

“My, great piece of work you have there, Master Dan Feng.” A tall man with slicked-back, short brown hair and an angular face walked up to him. “You learn fast! All we need to do now is to put in the jade!”

“It’s thanks to your teachings that I was able to improve in such a short time, Khalid.” Dan Feng put the ring on the table. “I appreciate this.”

“Well, it’s not every day you hear a young prince wants to learn metalsmithing. At first, I thought you were joking!”

“Yes, well... One must continue learning new skills to keep up with the times."

" But… I have to ask… Is this for a woman, perhaps? Or, why so much effort for a jade ring?”

Dan Feng slightly smiled and looked down. “Perhaps one day I’ll give it to a woman I love. Perhaps not." He looked at Khalid. "For now, I only wish to learn the skills.”

“So mysterious, Master Dan Feng. Is your brother like this, too? Why don’t you bring him next time?”

“...Perhaps.”

Dan Feng sits on a black chair as he watches the man do a complete appraisal of the ring. Once the man is finished, he turns and gently puts the ring on the glass counter.

"24K gold and imperial jade... It's not every day you see this combination."

“...I’d prefer if you get to the point. How much are you willing to pay for this?”

“R-Right…! Well…” The man says a number: "Shall we wire you the money?"

Dan Feng briefly remembers reading something about that in Bailu’s journal, but considering his circumstances, he says:

“...I have something else in mind.”

And that's how Dan Feng leaves with two large metal cases filled with stacks of money.

◆◆◆

You’re still feeling groggy by the time morning comes. You didn’t sleep well, but you’re still feeling more upbeat than yesterday, so you take that as a good sign. That morning, you’re talking to the police officers investigating your case. They’ve just finished their questioning when you ask what’s been on your mind for almost the entire night.

“Is there any CCTV footage of the accident? There’s something I want to check.”

“Unfortunately not. What is it that you want to know? Maybe we can provide an answer for you.”

“...That night… before I was found, I’m certain there were other people with me. Two men to be exact.”

“Men? Were they passengers?”

“No. I heard their voices right before I passed out. I’m sure of it.”

The officers glance at each other. “...Well… There was a man who found you. But he was the only one.”

“By man… was he dressed like… like he just came out of a video game?”

“Yeah, pretty much. There was no one else around.”

“If we find out anything, we’ll be sure to let you know,” the other officer says.

After they leave the room, you reach for your phone—where the screen is cracked—but no matter what you do, it won't turn on. You're about to call for a nurse when the door opens, and March cries your name.

“Oh, thank God you’re okay!” Her hug is a little too tight, but you welcome it nonetheless.

Stelle closes the door behind her and walks up to you. “Your man was kind enough to let us know what happened since he figured we’d try to get in touch with you. How are you feeling?”

“Better than yesterday,” you say, letting March go.

Your friends each pull up a chair. “It’s all over the news… the accident,” March says.

"They found out he was speeding," you say, reiterating the details of what the police told you earlier. "...And he lost control of his vehicle."

"At least he'll get slapped with a fine," Stelle says.

“They… They were saying it’s a miracle that you survived,” March says quietly.

“...It does feel like a miracle, honestly.”

Again, you remember the voices from yesterday:

“...Save her.”

“And here I thought you didn’t like getting involved with humans.”

“...Hey!”

You turn to your friends.

“Are you okay?” Stelle asks.

“Yeah… It’s just… When the accident happened, I don’t think I was alone.”

“Not alone…? What do you mean?”

“I heard voices,” you say quietly. “Two different voices. And one of them… One of them sounded like... Dan Heng's doppelganger.”

"Who?"

You aren't surprised that your friends spoke at the same time. Then, you tell them about the mysterious man last night.

“...He saved you?” Stelle asks as if unable to believe it.

“If I’m right… he was telling another man to save me.”

March looks around the room as if he may be hiding somewhere. “Where is this guy now? Did he come back?”

“I doubt he’s going to come back,” you say. “...And that’s for the best.”

Suddenly, the door opens. Thinking it’s a nurse or doctor, you turn, and your face goes pale.

“You’re looking a lot better than yesterday.” The footsteps get closer. “More… alive, I should say.”

March’s jaw drops. “Holy… shit.”

The man is no longer wearing his eye-catching outfit from last night but a white, slim-fit shirt with a black blazer and gold buttons. He looks like he's ready for a business meeting with matching black pants and shoes. He also has a silver watch on his left wrist.

“Don’t come closer!” You make a gesture for him to stop, and he surprisingly does. You’re afraid to look at him. What in the world is he doing here?

Dan Feng glances at Stelle and March who are staring at him like they’ve seen a ghost.

“Did I come at a bad time?” he asks.

“Dan…” Stelle chokes out. “Dan Heng?”

Dan Feng slightly narrows his eyes at them. Are these people his brother's friends, too?

Finally, you look him in the eyes. Dan Heng's eyes are blue. This man… This imposter… His eyes are green.

“What do you want?”

Dan Feng looks at you. “A favour. In return for me saving your life.” Then, he walks up to your bedside and extends his hand in front of you. “My name is Dan Feng.” You almost want to pinch yourself. Is this a dream? It has to be. “It’s a pleasure.”

“Dan… Dan Feng?”

"Is there something wrong with my name?”

March quickly shakes her head. “Ah, no… It’s… um…”

Dan Feng looks at you “...And you are?”

Instead of answering him, you ask: “...Do you… Do you know someone named Dan Heng?”

Dan Feng smiles but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Never heard of him. Is he the reason why you’re so jittery?”

“...He was a friend,” Stelle answers for you. “A friend of ours who passed away a few years ago.”

“...Is that so? I’m sorry for your loss.”

“You look exactly like him,” March says. “Even your names are similar! This… This can’t be a coincidence!”

“Oh, but I assure you it is.” Dan Feng looks at you. “So… Am I getting a name, Sweet Pea?”

“...What did you just call me?”

This man may look like Dan Heng, but his personality makes you believe you’re talking to a completely different person.

“Well, what else am I supposed to call you? You haven’t given me your name.” After reluctantly introducing yourself, Dan Feng slightly smiles and says your name. “Seems like you’re not a fan of nicknames.”

Just like the woman he wants to kill.

“No,” you say coldly, glaring at him. “I’m not. Especially from a stranger.”

"I suppose we still are." Then, genuinely: "I apologize for my actions.” You turn away from him just as he slides a hand inside his pocket. “So, I’ve been answering all of your questions. It’s only fair if you start answering mine.”

You glance at him. “What could you possibly want from me?”

Before Dan Feng can answer, he hears: 

“Get away from her.”

Dan Feng calmly turns around and sees your agitated fiancé. Even as he hurries up to you, Dan Feng doesn’t move.

“Looks like you also didn’t get a good night’s sleep.”

Your fiancé glares at him. “I told you to stay away from her.” Then, he leans over to check on your injuries when Dan Feng notices a woman’s lipstick in his back pocket.

“Did you?” Dan Feng asks, and your fiancé leans upright. “I can’t recall… Maybe you dreamt about it instead.”

Stelle and March glance at each other.

“What do you want with her?”

Dan Feng smiles. But again, it doesn’t reach his eyes. He looks at you. “I’d like her to be my tour guide. I’m new to the city, you see. Just landed yesterday… and witnessed that terrible accident.”

“Tour guide?” March asks in disbelief.

“No,” your fiancé answers. “Not happening.”

Dan Feng almost rolls his eyes. “Why don’t you let the lady answer for herself?”

“...Could all of you give us some privacy?”

"Yes," your fiancé says sourly while shooting Dan Feng a nasty look. "Leave."

You look at your fiancé. "I meant you."

Taken aback at your statement, your fiancé is about to retort when Stelle says:

“Let’s give them some space, okay? Might be easier for them to talk and sort things out.”

As Stelle gently pushes your fiancé out the door, March is behind them, mouthing what’s on her mind:

“Details! Deeetails!”

Once the door closes, you say:

“Let’s not play games, shall we?”

“Games? I’m not playing.”

You scoff. “Tour guide? Really?”

“All right, fine. I’ll let you in a little secret.” He slightly leans closer, surprising you. “Just like I remind you of someone you used to know, you remind me of someone I used to know.”

You narrow your eyes. “...Who?”

“Can’t reveal all my secrets, can I? But, I can tell you that she was someone dear to me. Though it’s been a very long time, I haven’t forgotten about her.” Your hands clutch the blanket. “As I’m new to the city, I just like to make a friend or two. And, I just happened to save your life that day, so… Why can’t we be friends?”

You finally manage to hold his stare. “...You say you saved me that night. How? Frankly, I don’t think I’m supposed to be alive right now.”

Dan Feng leans upright. “You have a good head on your shoulders.” You almost roll your eyes. When he stays quiet, you cross your arms. “I’m not going to just take your word for it if you can’t explain what happened that night.”

“Are you always this stubborn?”

You frown. “Answer the question.”

Dan Feng gives you a deadpan look. “I heard a crash. I called for an ambulance before heading over and seeing you half-dead in the driver’s seat. I picked the lock and managed to get you out of there right when the paramedics arrived.”

“...Someone was with you. Another man. He said something about getting involved… with humans. What was that all about?”

Dan Feng slightly tilts his head. “...Ah… Just an inside joke. He helped me carry you out of the car. Is that a good enough answer for you?”

“The car went down a small hill,” you say, remembering what the police told you. “You’re telling me you went down a small hill on a dark and rainy night on foot to save a stranger?”

“Are you saying you wouldn’t?”

“That’s…”

“Compassion… Kindness… Is that not human nature?”

“You’re taking things a bit far.”

Dan Feng slightly leans closer. “...Or is it human nature to only act out of their own interests?”

There’s something in his eyes that you can’t put your finger on. Something… personal?

“...I don’t want to be friends,” you say as he leans upright. “I’ll show you around the city. After that, we’re even.”

“Deal.” Then, he reaches into his shirt pocket “...Here”—he hands you a brand new phone—”you could use this.”

“...I can’t accept—”

“Oh, stop acting polite.” He takes your wrist and puts the phone into your hand. “You need a new one, anyways.”

You press a button and it turns on. It’s already fully charged.

“See you when you're better.” He walks halfway across the room before he looks over his shoulder. “...By the way, do you wear lipstick?”

“Um… not often. Why?”

Dan Feng turns around. “...Just curious.”

And then he walks out without turning back.

Chapter 3

Tag list: @lunavixia

[unofficials4t4n]

ALRIGHT BITCHES LEMME LEARN YOU A THING OF SORTS

THESE MOTHERFUCKERS MIGHT AS WELL BE SEPARATE CHARACTERS AND SO, LADIES, GENTLEMEN, AND OTHERS, I'M EXPLAINING WHY THAT IS INDEED THE CASE

Slenderman

8 feet tall, sometimes taller, can change height

6 or more extra appendages on his back, can retract at will and extend with unknown limits (not tentacles, no suckers, but behaves in a similar way)

Two piece suit that seems to always fit it, black or charcoal gray, and black or red tie, white button-up shirt, black dress shoes, white socks or no socks, who knows

Faceless, sometimes has the impression of eye sockets

White skin

Anatomically seems to be comparable to an elongated human, usually proportionally correct to a human just way longer, sometimes has longer limbs than human proportionally

Seems to be radioactive, interfering with nearby technology and making nearby humans sick. Doesn't seem to affect animals

Lives in the woods/ own pocket dimension

Consistently seems to find messed up people and adopts them, whether this is out of compassion or something ulterior motive depends on the source

Has pages that he supposedly draws himself (some sources say they're from a daughter, her whereabouts depends on the source)

Talks, telepathic or not depends on the source

Has above human intelligence but is pretty comparable to a human mentally

Can be aggressive to humans, equally, can become friends with them, often an 'imaginary' friend of children and disturbed people of any age

Many sources give him a whole family of similar beings

Can teleport

Steals children for unknown reasons sometimes

Literally just a guy

The Slenderman

A.K.A - The Operator, The Administrator, The Keeper, Der Großmann, Der Chirurg, The Tall Man, The Faceless King, The Faceless Angel, The Ajax Monster, Stick-in-the-mud, The Tree That Walks, Mr. Slim, The Host, The Tall Fucker, Gorr'Rylaehotep

Appears from about 6 feet tall to 20 feet, potentially taller

Sometimes has extra arms

'Appendages' on back are cracks in reality where it breaks through

Appears to wear a suit and tie, although hard to distinguish

Face is not fully comprehensible to humans and cannot be picked up on camera

Misshapen, humanoid, comparable to a man shaped tree

Psychically attacks humans for unknown reasons, footage of it is almost always heavily distorted

Interdimensional, can hop between at least two dimensions at will

Infects and messes up humans for unknown reasons

Oddly effects people into drawing and graffiting a series of images and symbols

Seems to put thoughts and information into people's mind, shares information by airdropping that shit basically

Unknown intelligence, seems to hold information of huge consequences

Seems to have incredibly harmful effects on humans, whether intentional or not is debatable

Only one of its kind

Can displace itself to any point of the universe, any space, any time, as it isn't bound by our rules

Cause people to go missing, harm or kill themselves and others, and other drastic behaviors

Essentially a god

Thank you for coming to my ted talk

[hinge]

Not-So FAQ for LGBTQIA+ daters

A growing resource addressing LGBTQIA+ daters' most pressing questions

Hear more about #HingeNFAQ from Tom and Shugs at https://hinge.nfaq.co

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

aita for getting into a screaming match with a neighbour after he harrassed me for months for being sick?

im gonna start this by saying i dont *think* im the asshole. i more just wanted to share this insane story and maybe get some other points of view on it.

i (22nb) got really sick back in april. like rush to a&e multiple times sick. i tested multiple times but it wasnt covid. it later turns out my cold-like symptoms and my horrendous cough were caused by allergies. it took about 3 months to finally dull it down and feel okay again. i take meds everyday and im still not 100% because the allergen (pollen) persists.

but in this 3-month period of me being sick we found we kept getting knocks on our door. it was our upstairs neighbour (approx 50m). the first time he knocked at 3 in the morning to complain about how my coughing was keeping him awake. he rambled through the door for like 15 minutes about my coughing and demanded we move our bed to the front room so he couldnt hear my coughing anymore.

i, having already been feeling guilty and anxious about being sick because my fiancé (27m) had to take care of me and i lost my job over the situation, decided i was gonna go for a walk. i was really upset and i wanted some fresh air (which at the time i thought would help).

the next morning, the neighbour came down again to inform us that we should keep sleeping in the front room until i recover because he slept so great that night. we informed him that we in fact did not sleep in the front room and i hadnt even been in the flat.

a few days go by and we get another knock at the door. its thankfully daytime and hes talking through the door again. hes demanding that we move into the front room because we are the ones causing the noise disturbance. (once again, i am very sick. paramedics were round at our house 2 days prior to look me over).

we say no to this and he says hes going to get our estate agent to resolve this because we, and i quote, "are being selfish".

a few more days pass and our estate agents inform us that theyre coming to do an inspection. naturally they get here and they want to know my fiancé and i's side of the story. we tell them im very sick and they are very understanding because the neighbour said as much when they put in the noise disturbance complaint. they tell us not to worry and theyll tell the neighbour that hes being silly.

two or three weeks go by and we hear nothing. until one day, whilst my fiancé is at work, he decides to harrass me personally because he knows im home alone. he demands to know exactly what im doing to fix this, tells me how its bothering our other neighbours (who had said nothing to us) and tells me its affecting his quality of life. (i was the one coughing so hard i was vomiting for about two weeks but his quality of life was the one inconvenienced???) in the end, he slinks off back upstairs like usual and i then ring the estate agents to complain about his continued harrassment.

this happens again another time when my fiancé and we start arguing through the door again. it was pretty much like the last few times.

but then, heres where we might be the assholes of the story. after weeks of repeated knocks and lengthy complaints and demands, he knocks again. it was 8am, my fiancé was still sleeping for work. my fiancé woke up to him complaining at me through the door again and lost it. this man was knocking to ask if it was okay to move back into his bedroom because the coughing seemed to have gone down. he wanted us to assure him that i wouldnt get sick again. we opened the door to him for the first time (after giving warning) and got into a screaming match with him. of course in the time it took between giving warning and opening the door, he had scurried upstairs and was yelling at us from there.

i think theres a possibility we are the assholes because the screaming match would have been heard by our downstairs neighbour who was not involved in this at all. we did write him a letter to apologise for this but i still feel kinda shitty about it.

i went back to the estate agents after and reported him again saying if they didnt deal with him, id look into taking legal action for harrassment. its been about a month now and weve heard nothing from him since.

What are these acronyms?

[hiscloakmydaggers]

Late Night Talking

too much angst i need to write them happy again. they are a happy couple, its just that i get some kinda sick thrill putting my babies in crazy shit

wordcount: 400

｡ﾟ☁︎｡ ☀︎ ｡ﾟ☁︎

“Did you ever love someone else before me?”

Deacon always wondered that every time he stared into Nic’s eyes, lit up by night-time lights. Usually curiosity didn’t get the best of him like this, but tonight was different. Somehow wearing a straight face (just slightly watery eyes disturbed the peace of it), he asked, “did you ever love someone else before me?”

“Of course, I loved my brother.” It was a lazy response from Nic, who hadn’t really considered the words. “We were inseparable.”

The spy rolled his eyes. “No, not like family. I mean… you ever loved someone the way you love me now? Like ‘mwah mwah, let’s get married.’”

Nic’s head rose from his husband’s chest. His brows furrowed and nose snorted, “I wouldn’t say I did.” He sat up properly, hands still on Deacon’s waist. His head pounded gently in thought, wanting to say the worst things in the right ways.

“I had this one woman. I forget the way her name was spelled, Hailey or Hayley.” There was no point in differentiating, both names sounded the same. “I… I don’t really remember her. Except for the fact she was my first partner… and first time,” he blushed at his own confessions he already knew. “I don’t know if I loved her like I love you though. Nowhere close.”

Curiosity got the best of Deacon again, 2-0. “Well, how do you love me?”

“You’re so obvious sometimes. But I like to compliment you… so you’re lucky, too.” He turned them both over, so Deacon was now laying on Nic. “She was like a school crush. We broke up after a month, I cried for a day, and then back to business. We had nothing.” Deacon chuckled at him instead of vice-versa for once.

“You, though… I have your hand in marriage, I have your trust, your body, your soul.” If he had less self control, he could go all night with the list. “...so much. And you have so much of me.“

“Yeah, there is a lot of you.”

Nic playfully slapped his cheek. “Shhh. I mean… I feel so close to you.”

Deacon grabbed his hand, gently rubbed a thumb on it, “right back at ya. Love you, love the fact you’re still here with me of all people.”

“What do you mean?” Nic cupped his cheek. “…Why would I be with anyone else? You’re the reason I’m still here, Deacon.”

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆

abrupt end? yeah i know, there is more but its pretty long. but wow, new nic lore dropped!!

[irisu-syndromemes]

plagiarizing an obscure indie game for lazy hip hop and rap

youtube is currently going up in flames over plagiarism found in many people's channels, particularly documentary-ish videos that have commentary from the uploader. this seems to be mostly because of that hbomberguy and his recent video about plagiarism on the website, as well as a specific person who's drowning in controversy lately.

i admit that i don't want to watch the video, because i've watched other videos already, and i've heard about the other channels' plagiarism through the grapevine. plagiarism IS awful, and it's a disgrace to find it's way more commonplace than i thought.

all this made me remember something... a few weeks ago i remembered that i once found a few songs on youtube, and 1 on spotify, that straight up steal music from an old indie horror game that's stayed pretty obscure throughout the years. so i spent the next few days trying to find every youtube upload with stolen music from it, as well as the respective channels, and even uploads on other websites (which i did find; one of them was even "for sale" on a beat-selling website).

it made me angry. it made me sick. to see so many idiotic hip hop "artists" steal someone else's work, sometimes even selling it, because they're hacks who can't be bothered to put in the work for their craft. i accumulated quite a number of tabs of people who did this - WAY too many links to videos and uploaders - and then...

i closed them all. i was furious and it was making me go crazy. my mental health was taking a hit and i knew there was nothing i could do...

the game they're all stealing from is called Irisu Syndrome, and it's a short freeware horror game from japan first released in 2008 that has garnered a bit of a cult following. the music is by MusMus, who is credited as Watson in the game. it's still very obscure, but well-known enough that siivagunner has made a "high quality rip" of one of its tracks. in fact, it even inspired Dan Salvato to make Doki Doki Literature Club partially! suffice to say, i adore this game. it may be short, but it left a lasting impression on me (it's a pretty shocking game! those under 16 and easily-disturbed folks should avoid it), so i've never forgotten about it as the years passed.

the game was made entirely by japanese people... this makes any sort of communication between western fans and the dev or MusMus pretty difficult. for the record, the english patch was supposed to be given an official release, but the dev himself couldn't find a way to contact the english translators, so only spanish and mandarin got official versions.

communication is difficult... i can't just email some japanese person who made this game's music all those years ago, with all these links and all this worry in my heart, and expect a response. i don't want to be intrusive.

...but i also care. maybe i care too much. it's incredibly unfair that some bozos are out there stealing the guy's music and getting comments like "this is fire!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥" when all they did was add a beat to the tracks. meanwhile the game stays in obscurity. none of them are popular "musicians" but it's sickening all the same. it's stealing. all i want is for the game's music composer to know, so maybe he can report those uploads himself.

for the record i know about sampling, and this isn't it. using the entire track and then not crediting, that's not innocent "sampling". just wanted to make that clear.

i get cold feet easily. i don't know if i can just email him, if he would read it, if i can make my point clear, if anything could actually be done. i don't want to be intrusive. i don't want to be a nuisance.

but all this recent talk of plagiarism, it got me thinking again. it's incredibly unfair, because even if he was okay with it, the plagiarists didn't ask or credit him. i can't just forget about this, so i'm making this post.

i'm making this post haphazardly, in the hopes someone knows what to do. maybe someone knows of a solution, maybe someone could help. maybe even spreading the word, to someone who knows the right thing to do about this. i've thought of making my own youtube video about this issue, but i have no subscribers, and i get cold feet easily. it would get nowhere.

"it's just music from just some game" but it's a game i love anyway. i have all this worry in my heart, and i don't know what to do.

[tg-headcanons]

I don’t remember if it was your blog but I saw someone talking about Shuu/other characters having an eating disorder. Do you think that's true?

That’s a good question! I definitely have some thoughts about eating disorders in the cast, under the cut because talk of eating disorders of course

Eating disorders are extremely common with ghouls. Most, at some point in their life, will have some issue with food. Some due to the regular problems humans can have such as body image or worry about health, but they have additional social and physical issues that make it worse. They have to eat humans, which they are judged as irredeemable for. They have only one food source and if that food brings back bad memories there’s nothing else. They have all the higher intelligence of a person who wants to be decent and all the instinct and needs of an apex predator that can not survive without killing, and it causes problems.

They have some eds that are unique to ghouls. There are three big ones we can see. The first, I’ll call Anorexia ethica, is the an disorder in which ghouls abstain from eating due to ethical and moral concerns about human or ghoul meat. Unlike humans who often have the health and the wealth to be vegetarian, they are unable to eat anything else and because of this they starve. This is unfortunately common and sometimes fatal due to the ghoul dying of malnutrition, or their starvation making them irrational and easy prey for the doves.

Human Diet Binging Disorder (HDBD) is an issue in which a ghoul is compelled to eat human food, often in large quantities, and makes themself sick. It’s less likely to be fatal on its own, but it can be a comorbidity with Anorexia ethica, in which case it is very dangerous.

The last is Compulsive Cannibalism. It’s often caused by situations in which ghouls are forced to cannibalize and start to crave it, or when a ghoul is attempting to become a kakuja and gets fixated on it. This is rare, but extremely risky as it can be the source of a lot of communicable diseases, and the process of becoming a kakuja can be fatal

Now onto the characters:

For Shuu, I really don’t think he has an eating disorder. Food is a large part of his character and while it’s definitely disturbing the lengths he goes to for the perfect cut of meat and the ways he obsesses, he always eats a healthy amount except for a period in Re, which was really more of a depressive episode than an ED. I can see why people could think that but personally I don’t see it

I think the most clear examples of characters with eating disorders are Rize, Touka, and of course Kaneki. Starting with Rize, hers was a binging issue. It was so extreme she was named for it, and it’s one of those disorders humans and ghouls share. She binged because she, unlike many other points in her life, had power. She had the power to kill, the power to feed herself, and the power to be in control. She devoured as much as possible because of that. It’s not something unique to ghouls, but it’s an example of how eating habits can become extreme when their access to food is so intertwined with their strength and feelings of safety

Touka’s is very interesting. She is a good example of HDBD. She has some affection for humans, if not as a species, as an individual. She is close to Yoriko and learned how sharing food is a sense of community between humans, a community that she wanted to be a part of with Yoriko. So when she was offered food, she ate it. Even when Yoriko wasn’t there to see, she insisted on eating what she was given. She had nothing to gain, she had everything to lose, and even when she needed to make herself throw up to avoid sickness, she forced herself to digest it at the cost of her health. Her body suffered from eating human food, but she continued to do it. This is not something done by someone to be kind, this is disordered behavior

Ken’s is pretty obvious. He became a ghoul and suddenly he couldn’t eat anything but human flesh, and he refused. He had an ethical and moral objection to it, so he starved himself. Even when he was extremely distressed from his hunger, even when his new instincts were ravenous and demanding he eat, he refused at the cost of his health. His circumstances are definitely different from some other ghouls because he used to have other options, and the trauma of the sudden introduction to this life emphasized the problem, but his disorder was extreme enough that he got to the point of the erratic, starved ghoul behavior that nearly cost him and Hide their lives. He had to be subdued and force fed in his sleep, he needed intervention that he was unwilling to get for himself. Later on in the story, after he’s been further traumatized and had his agency stolen from him, he becomes obsessed with getting stronger. Part of that for him was becoming a kakuja, and that cannibalistic fixation was an unhealthy response to the trauma of being powerless and an attempt to prevent it from happening again. Kaneki is the most extreme example of ghouls with eating disorders, and it’s not talked enough about in my opinion that kaneki, at no point since becoming a ghoul, ever ate in a normal, healthy way. He was either starving himself, cannibalizing, or putting off eating as much as possible. We never see Ken stabilize his eating behaviors, and it’s a large part of who he is. For him to eat normally, to not binge other ghouls or starve, is to accept that he is a ghoul and he can live a happy life like that. That he can accept what he is and still be somewhat okay. And He never did. It’s very interesting keeping track of how his eating corresponds to what’s happening in the story, because he always has some unhealthy habit about it that reflects what’s happening to him

(Not sure if you can tell but when I started rewatching tokyo ghoul I had horrific parosmia from Covid and all food tasted like roadkill for a year so I saw kaneki and went “just like me fr”)

In general, eating disorders are a very common and very dangerous part of life for ghouls, and one we get to see in detail. And it’s understandable, who can kill and eat something that looks and feels like you without struggling?

[that-one-weird-simp]

KNY Monster AU

Yeah, i made another AU... Lol also some of these designs will not be based on their canon.

The monsters are the demons.. Hashira are the researchers... More on them later..

Muzan: he is basically his finale form, just the teethy mouths on his body replace his mouth on his face, his ears are pointed and his legs are animal like, yes he does have his Tentacles.

He has a tail that looks like a spinal cord with a blade at the tip of it. He has spikes at the base of it, his hands and feet are more animal like.

His calls are growls and screeches like a banshee.. His diet is raw animal meat and fish. But only certain species of Invasive fish or else he won't eat it.. He pick, the fish also have to be fresh water.

He must be fed 400 pounds of meat twice a day, or he'll get bitchy and screeches till someone feeds him.. He needs 800 pounds daily cause he burns alot of calories from how active he is.

His containment contains a shallow to a 20 foot deep pool, long grass and spider lilies to keep him calm (also his favorite flower) ropes of cable and chains for him to climb on.

He is is like a ferret.. Crackhead then a power nap.. Then more crackhead shit..

Behavior: oddly very playful, friendly and doesn't mind if any of the researchers, he would just be curious and check them out before doing his own thing.

Kokushibo: Basically his monster self just the weird ass appendages all over him are split into two rows on his back, His mouth is normal but he can unhinged his jaw like a snake and his hair is still in its nice pony tail, he does have two horns, but the right one is bigger then the other.

His is shirtless and he has thick furr from the waist down, his legs are also animal like and he has big cloven hooves. he has a thick based tail with a wipped thin end with some furr tuff at the end of it and its about 2 ft long while is tail is 6 feet long. He keeps his normal hight.

The noises he makes.. He is like a cheetah.. He meows and purrs, he can also chirp too..he did have a twin yoriichi but he unfortunately gotten deathly sick and passed. Other then that he is like an orange tabby cat..playful and loves it when you pet him.

His containment contains really long grass, a fresh water pool with some dummies so he can practice his hunting skills. He is a speed demon so everyday they would release him into a speed way type of room for him to run around and go wild in.

He also needs 800 pounds of beef daily. 400 pounds twice a day

Douma: he has a more disturbing appearance. His ScleraI is black, while his irisis are still rainbow with a slit pupil that is also black. His spine is visible and basically is sticking outof his bosy and is made of ice, same with his boney tail with a stinger at the end of it, his mouth is not normal.

Thats what his face looks like..

He needs to eat as much as kokushibo, he burns allot of calories crawling around in the vents that are present in his containment. He has to be kept in cold temperatures, he is pretty isolated so he gets bored and lonely easily, the researchers are making him a new location so he isnt so lonely. His diet constists of fish and pork, so 800 pounds of pork in the morning, 800 pounds of fish at night. He needs the calories for climbing and crawling at a fast pace.

He is very friendly around females, males don't faze him much, he tries to charm them and cuddle em.. The researchers are currently trying to find someone who is willing to spend the time with him.

He still wears his canon cloths but the back is ripped open for his patruding spine. his legs are animal like but are built for climbing and crawling, his claws are built like that too.

His calls are a number of shrieks and screams.. Basically a distressed demonic cat that is high on crack..

Akaza: he has the skull of a mountain lion, he does have long fluffy dear ears, the rims of the ears are blue. His blue stripes are made of fur, he still does have his hair but it trails down his spine and along his tail. His tail is thin but long. Like a crocs tail. He is a Quadruped and his he has paws.

His calls are like a lions mixed with a snow leopard. His containment contains things he can climb on, punching bags for his hunting skills. a pool so he can swim in. And a grass patch so he can role in it. He is neutral around others, doesn't mind anyone much.. Unless its kyojuro who is responsible for preparing the food..

Bro is all over him liie a touch starved puppy. He is disappointed when he has to leave to feed the others. He is not picky about his food he will eat any kind of meat. At least 200 pounds a day.. 100 pounds in the morn and 100 at night.

Hantengu and his kids (clones):

All of them are quad and bipedal. Each of them have animal skulls as their faces. Urogi should be obvious..

Urogi: hawk skull, his wings are fused with his arms and he does not have the pearl belt around his waist and he has the hawk tail feathers

Karaku: fox skull, ears are long and torn, his fox tail has the leaf shape at the tip (like his fan,also they are all naked but have fur down there waist and arms and have the feet of the animal they represent)

Aizetsu: cougar skull, the tip of his tail is the tip of his spear thats in canon.

Sekido: bear skull.. Nothing much to say about him..

Zohakuten: he is ligit just a nightmare fuel wooden dragon that slithers around.. Like the traditional japanese dragon

Hantengu: he is just a wooden goblin creature that just cowers in the corner and is close to dying of old age.

They eat together and need the same amount of food... 4 tons of beef daily. there exhibit is currently in repair cause urogi decided to be a shit and reck the AC because it gets hot. So they are in a empty temporary.. Room...

Gyokko: nothing much changed about his second form he just has more monstrous features and has a croc like face and his colors are different, he is more piebald with a gradient of blues and purples. His also has betta fish fins at the end of his tail.

Gyutaro and daki: gyutaro was almost a successful experiment, he is a mix of a utah raptor, but he doesn't have the feathers just some spikes that replace them.. Instead of a pony tail on the top of his head its actually a low pony tail. He has his original torso, but his arms and legs are ones of a utah raptor.

Daki, or ume. Was almost successful.. Her genetics were mixed with what were supposed to be Kaigaku and Nakime.. She was given clothing but she is almost fully human, she can eat human food, but her behavior and biology is different..

We don't have an enclosure for them yet since we are still doing testing.

Enmu: He is an interesting one.. He has a lion like nose, half his face is metal, both sclera are black, but he kept his blue irises. His pupils are shaped as X's. There is fluff along his right arm and metal on his left. He has long fennec fox ears that are really fluffy, he has Quadruped legs, one leg is fluffy while the other is metal.. We took some pictures for reference.

The little hairs that grow from the back of his head.. They were replaced with his ears.. His tale is a long, thick table cord attached to a grappling hook like device.

His enclosure is full of metal scraps and things for him to climb on.. He eats the metal scraps and we refill it once a month.. He screams as comunaction.. Like a baby snow leopard and a fox.. he has screaming matches with rui since the enclosures are next to each other..

Rui: he is the only one that is 95% successful.. His structure and everything, no mutations or any monstrous features.. But his biology still needs work and his vocals.. He sounds like a fox mixed with a cat.. He does haves screaming matches with enmu.. We do put them together, they seem to get along well..

*NOTE: all of the creatures shown are in the juvenile stage. This is not their final form and may mutate further*

This was one of the reported documents we found in the ruin building.. It seemed to contain immataions of beloved characters from the series kimetsu no yaiba.. Or known as demon slayer.. We have received information that the substances and technology used to make these creatures, also made the half the staff.. Their names were

Iguro obanai Shinobu kocho Kanea kocho Kanoa Tsyuri Mitsuri konroji Kyojuri rengoku Gyomei Himejima Muichiro tokito Yuichiro tokito Senami shinzugawa Genya shinazugawa Giyuu tomioka Tengen uzui Tanjiro kamado Nezuko kamado Zenitsu agatsuma Inosuke Hashibira

There has been video footage of the staff getting infected by the same substance used to create the demons. Since there is no trace of them we can assume they are all on the loose.. No doubt that the staff are also mutated creatures as well..

[dreamsndmadness]

hellooo!!!(sorry in advance for all of the rambling)

first of all, im absolutely gushing from all of the soft moments in ch9: feyd nearly crying from being cared for, paul helping feyd with his nightmares, and feyd being protective/caring in both the breakfast scene and throughout the spice field inspections :333. It was all VERY adorable and paul finally being unhesitating about his sexual relationship with feyd and them communicating (both implicitly with paul reading feyds body language and explicitly with paul making feyd ask for what he wants), it's all very rewarding in general :)

Also, ive just been thinking nonstop about all the stuff going on with paul. so, my first theory about pauls exhaustion was because he was staying up because of feyds nightmares waking up but then i re-read it and saw paul was tired even before they shared a bed, and then i remembered that lack of sleep is a common symptom of pregnancy so thats my leading theory rn, that OR paul is staying up late reading lol. im also so interested in what paul and lady jessica are plotting, they mentioned controlling feyd and learning more about him in the beginning and then theres the date palm scene. I remember in the movies that date palms are definitely on arrakis so my first thought was that feyd was being a paranoid little freak about it but then i thought lady jessica might be trying to assess pauls health or something?? its safe to say im super hyped for the paul POV

sorry about the length and INCREDIBLY half formed theories

( •̀ - •́ ) ₊˚⊹ ᰔ

The wonderful bowl100!!

I love your questions ☺️. Omg yay!!! I’m so glad you liked the chapter. I always have a crisis of confidence when I post new chapters 🙃. Yesss. The softness. Feyd cutting the fruit and making sure Paul eats was one of my favorite moments from the chapter. It’s so hard to write moments of tenderness from him without it seeming out of character. And then he can never be honest with himself about why he’s doing things or why certain things are making him feel certain ways. Man. This guy. Feyd used his words FINALLY!!! And yes!! I’m so happy for Paul. Starting to enjoy himself. It’s so important.

Okee so here’s what I can say. You aren’t wrong about any of your guesses per say. It’s been such a joy to write from Paul’s pov because he’s a much more emotionally evolved person so I can write him being like “ah yes. This is making me feel this way!”. So one of the biggest reasons for Paul’s exhaustion is that he has been having dreams. Some of them good, some of them pretty disturbing. And yes, we will be seeing them in the next chapter. He is also (not really a spoiler cause it’s in the tags) pregnant! Another big reason! That’s going to be a plot point of the next chapter as well.

Lol the date palm scene!! You’re right on both counts. Feyd is being a paranoid little freak. He’s like “they are speaking in code!!” No you weirdo, they are talking about date palms. However, I am going to give him a little credit because he did pick up on the weird energy of the scene which is basically due to Jessica trying to draw Paul out of his funk. She’s worried about him and thinks he’s not doing well, and she’s trying to cheer him up and also trying to subtly (probably too subtly) signal to Feyd to do the same. Which he kinda gets! Cause he then invites Paul to come with him on inspection and Jessica is like “thank fucking god you are so fucking dense”. To Feyd. Not Paul. Paul can do no wrong in Jessica’s eyes lol.

Anyway! All of your theories were pretty spot on and perceptive!!! Sorry it took so long for me to respond 😔. I’ve been sick this week and it’s been a struggle. I have most of Paul’s chapter finished (it’s sitting at 5,500 words right now 😀). And I hope to edit and post tomorrow!!

Thank you as always for your lovely questions. I look at your wonderful art every day 🥹.

All the best 🫶.

[theygotlost]

the end of the watch 1.11: this is (not) discworld (episodes 7 and 8 double feature!)

sally shows up and accosts carrot in a bar restroom. no fucking joke she acts like one of those weird ageplay bitches on tik tok who do a disturbing little girl voice and pouty face. its literally fucking UNBEARABLE and i wanted to kill her so bad. btw she and death are the only characters with american accents.

vimes swaps bodies with Evil Vimes In Another Dimension, who's incarcerated in the tanty. he's thrown to "The Beast" for insubordination, which turns out to be Detritus

Detritus is apparently the "the best friend [vimes] ever had". they do a very heartfelt and slightly homoerotic forehead bump.

carrot and sybil are wardens of the tanty what i will refer to hereafter as the mirrorverse. mirrorverse carrot has a really scary middle part.

death asks carrot, angua, and cheery which one would be most likely to eat the others so he can "arrange his schedule". then he very shyly performs a 37 minute freestyle for them while playing the theremin.

in the mirrorverse carcer is captain of the watch after betraying vimes.

sybil somehow realizes vimes is an impostor when she kisses him. angua can also tell the impostor is sus by the type of aftershave he wears, which doesnt make sense bc they swapped minds and not physical bodies, so he would still be wearing the same aftershave???

this entire series has been building toward stopping the noble dragon but I genuinely forgot about the dragon because up to this point hasnt even been rampaging the city at all after the first episode? it just disappeared? and now its back?

vetinari locks himself in his "dungeon" which is actually a sick bachelor pad with sexy couches citing the line from gg that "you should never build a dungeon you would never want to stay in yourself". he chills out in a cunty red gown listening to jazz music. which tbh was pretty awesome

death asks to join vimes' emo band.

carcer stabs wonse for basically no reason.

throat dibbler is made head of the thieves guild.

carrot plans to lure the attention of the dragon bc he's a virgin and the dragon only attacks virgins. carrot has to learn to not be ashamed of his virginity like it's a gay coming-out narrative.

the matt berry talking sword requests to be worshipped as a "sex-ual deity"

im pretty sure angua they/thems cheery at some point but I might have just misheard her

in order to stop the dragon the watch puts on the best damn talent show ankh morpork has ever seen!!!! (they play in a rock band AGAIN.) cheery shreds the fuck out of the saxophone.

sybil intentionally sends goodboy out to seduce the dragon and it works.

carcer disintegrates from existence back to the future style and im still not sure why. the watch doesnt remember carcer and thinks wonse did all his crimes instead. as revenge wonse isekais vimes into an evil pocket dimension in what was likely meant to be a setup for a season 2 that will never happen.

and that's the show! many people have told me how brave i am for watching it and thanked me for my service but I want to be clear that i could NOT have done it on my own. this was a journey that @vampirejuno , @fealtyfaggot , and I embarked on TOGETHER. nico and ciarán deserve as much appreciation for their sacrifice as I do. ive also engaged in a lot of day drinking for this so sorry everypony please drink responsibly.

[snezfics-n-shit]

Sicktember (Belated) Day 21: "But if you stay, you'll get sick too"

Fandom: Ace Attorney Characters: Miles Edgeworth, Phoenix Wright, Trucy Wright, Pess Notes: A little late, and day 22 is still in the works, but I like to stick to my word so here's Day 21 at last. It’s been about a year since Phoenix and his daughter moved into Miles’s home; said year being filled with all sorts of changes and adjustments to everyone’s lifestyle. Today is the day it truly dawns on Miles just how much things have changed. Also, Pess gets to be a pretty pretty princess, even though she’s always been one. Set early in 7yg, so enjoy the mental image of scruffy Nick because awooga. Established Wrightworth. If you like the things I write, I always appreciate reblogs and comments; they really make my day!

    Miles Edgeworth was unpresentable. Dark bags made their home under his eyes and his nose ran like it was trying out for the track team. It was obvious to anyone who might have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of him that he was in no shape to be anywhere that wasn’t a warm bed. Had it been over a year ago, he wouldn’t dare let a human soul see him in this state, save for Franziska, but even her visits when he was ill were typically against his wishes. If Miles had his way, he would gladly lock down his house and only have his dog keeping him company until he fully recovered.

Now? Having his boyfriend and said boyfriend’s newly adopted daughter made hiding away from human view not just impossible, but not nearly as desirable either. As Phoenix would leave a fresh, damp cloth on his forehead or return from the store with a restock of cold medicine, Miles couldn’t help but be grateful to have a man so attentive cohabitating with him. 

“How are you feeling, babe?” Phoenix asked, just as he had asked the day before when Miles had finally conceded he was feeling unwell. “It sure sounded like you slept well last night; I heard a lot more snoring than coughing.”

“Better than the night before, yes.” Miles confirmed, his voice rough in a way that Phoenix always considered to be incredibly attractive. “It probably helped that I could breathe through my nose when I went to bed, too.” 

“I’m sure of that.” Phoenix smiled. “I hope you don’t mind, but I applied some more vapor rub just before you woke up.” 

That explained the strong, yet soothing scent of menthol Miles awoke to. 

“I don’t mind at all, love.” Miles gently grabbed Phoenix’s nearest hand to give his knuckles a kiss. 

He loved this man so much. Even at such a low point of his life, Phoenix was so attentive, so kind, so–

“Daddy!” Trucy called out just before opening the master bedroom door. Luckily, there was nothing going on to truly warrant a lecture on knocking first. 

Miles then realized another thing Phoenix was: responsible for a young daughter. 

“Sweetheart,” Miles tugged his boyfriend’s sleeve to get his attention, “perhaps you and Trucy should pay a visit to your parents.” 

Phoenix pulled himself back, unsure where that suggestion came from. 

“We’re gonna visit grandma and grandpa?” Trucy tilted her head. “Does that mean I have to undress Pess?” 

Undress? 

As if on cue, the friendly Samoyed entered the room, donning a pink, sparkly tiara on her head between her ears and an oversized chunky plastic necklace that dangled around, showing it was thankfully not tight at all.

A laugh slowly built up in Miles before its full release. He couldn’t recall laughing so hard in years, and it was rather unfortunate that this wasn’t able to last long with that pesky cough interrupting such a joyful moment. Whatever medicine laughter was supposed to be, it definitely wasn’t a cough suppressant. 

“Ah, you probably could use some peace and quiet, huh?” Phoenix guessed. “No disturbances like, well,” he gestured to the dressed-up pup, “like that.” 

“No, it’s not that at all.” Miles took another moment to really take in the presence of the newly crowned princess Pess. “It’s just that if you stay, you’ll get sick too.”

“When did that become a problem?” 

“When it finally dawned on me that you have a daughter to care for.” Miles answered calmly. “We can’t afford to both be out of commission anymore.” 

“I suppose you’re right about that.” Phoenix sighed and gave Miles a quick kiss on the forehead before getting up from the bed. “You know you can call me anytime if you need anything. You have both my cell number and my parents’ home number, right?” He waited for Miles to nod, then turned his attention over to Trucy. “Alright, Trucy. It’s time to wrap up playing dress-up with Pess and get ready to go to grandma and grandpa’s.” 

“Okay!” Trucy gently freed Pess from the sparkly accessories, though Pess’s easygoing nature made the use of the word ‘freed’ debatable. She pivoted on one foot to happily wave goodbye to Miles. “Feel better soon, Papa!”

Papa. 

[landscaping-your-mind]

WE'RE GETTING NEAR THE END!!!

157, 158, 159, and 160 are just phenomenal episodes, and I have a LOT to say about them. So... let's get on with it, I suppose.

@a-mag-a-day

It was mostly rambling this time around

This tape was left on my desk. I don’t know by who, but to my mind, there are three options. Martin has left it here to let me know that whatever the situation is with Peter Lukas, it is entering its final act, and he needs my help. Alternatively, Peter may have left here to… goad me into action? Or just to gloat, to highlight my helplessness at everything. Or Annabelle Cane is trying to manipulate me into thinking it’s one of the other scenarios.

I think it's the third one, like, this is his final mark. I think Annabelle left it there. I don't think it was Martin or Peter, but it could have been. I'm pretty sure it was Annabelle.

Combined with its extremely disturbing symptoms, which caused the skin and muscles to become loose and malleable until they sloughed completely off the body, leaving only a skeleton and organs… well, she was certain that it was the product of an otherworldly evil, and called me.

Good lord! That's disgusting!!

His heart was exposed. It was beating fast, so fast, despite the awful green decay that seemed to be eating at it.

THAT'S HORRIFYING!! :D < loves body horror

Like that's so disgusting, oooh, I should have drawn for this episode. I might be able to lure my scrunkly into tma again with the promise of body horror.

There were a few: a woman melted into her now crimson bed; an old man whose bright eyes still stared out of his skull, watching the television, though the rest of him lay pooled on the floor. And in all of them, the frantic beating of their decomposing hearts.

Oh god, that's horrifying. How are they still alive?? Are they made to be still alive? Are they conscious as their body decomposes around them and they are helpless to stop it, for without muscles they're immobilised? This is just... horrific. 10/10

The sick were pulling themselves out of their houses, crawling, dragging themselves towards some other place, leaving bits behind on the rough pavement as they did so.

That is a disgusting mental image that has just entered my mind. Rotting people dragging themselves across the pavement, leaving streaks of blood, flesh tearing and ripping off, until they can't move, and they lay there, helpless, on the pavement, as their heart continues to beat.

He was sat upon a most dreadful throne, formed from a dozen, two dozen bodies mixed together like putty. Eyes staring out like horror-stricken stars twinkling in the night, and their hearts beating for all to see. A moaning came from that awful seat: voices trying to scream through things that weren’t their throat. And it is a sound I shall be glad to leave behind me when I go to my rest.

OH MY GOD THATS HORRIFYING UH WOW OH GOD I LOVE THAT IM ALSO JUST WOW OKAY WOW

wow!

i like this a lot!

I have dragged those other afflicted I could find into the parkplatz, laid them at the feet of that appalling throne, and taken the last gift of that generous construction site: a dozen cans of petrol. I will sit upon that seat and release these poor souls from their suffering, and hopefully make things simpler for the ECDC cleanup crews.

That's also an amazing image in my head. Hats off to Adelard Dekker for having a really cool death scene.

For all that, though, I cannot regret at the time I have spent seeking it. I have done my duty, and none may ask more of me. I am proud of the work we have done, and it has been an honor to do it alongside you.

Oh, I'm sad now.

I'm not sure what to say. Just pointing at it.

Goodbye, Gertrude. May you find your rest where no shadows are cast, and no eyes may see you slumber.

This is a great last line of a statement, and a great last line from a character. Goodbye, Adelard Dekker. He was great. He was doing good.

GEORGIE No, Jon, you’ve done enough! ARCHIVIST I just need to talk to her – GEORGIE What don’t you understand? She mutilated herself to get out of that place, and there is absolutely no way I’m letting you involve her again.

Yet another situation where I can understand both sides but have only been on one side! Yayyyy! That side being Jon's side.

I'm not saying Jon shouldn't have gone to Melanie, I mean, Melanie never said that Jon couldn't go to her, but I understand why Georgie wouldn't want him around her. It's not Jon's fault that Melanie was at the institute - like ever - but, I understand where Georgie's coming from. Like it's a whole bloody mess, I understand being in Jon's position, I understand cutting yourself off from people and then wanting to reach out and having no one to reach out to. I haven't been in Georgie's position, but I do understand wanting to protect the people you love.

I don't know. It's difficult. Should he have taken the hint and not gone to them? Sure. But it's a difficult time. I'm just... not going to pass... that much judgement. Because in this specific scenario, I don't think anyone's more wrong than the other. The Admiral is the most right though.

MELANIE Jon… don’t. Please. ARCHIVIST No, you’re right, I’m sorry. You alright?

Not associating with someone... means not associating with someone. If someone tells you to go away or to stop bringing up stuff they want nothing to do with... you should respect that. And I get that Jon's in a difficult situation, but I think the same applies.

He's handling it well. I sure hope nothing in this conversation is going to break my heart or anything.

MELANIE (Laughs) My therapist isn’t happy about it, you know. Unsurprisingly. Tried to have me put away, but they, um… they let me come here. It’s – it’s been good for me though I feel alright. I’m – I’m not scared anymore.

HHhhhhhh!!

I'm happy for her, alright, I love Melanie. I'm glad she's doing better. I really am.

MELANIE It’s – it’s okay. He’s welcome… as a friend. But that’s it. ARCHIVIST Right. MELANIE But you’re not after a friend, are you, Jon? ARCHIVIST I need an ally. MELANIE Then I can’t help you. ARCHIVIST I suppose not.

AND THERE'S THE THING THAT'S GOING TO BREAK MY HEART!

I hate it. I hate it so much. I hate that they could have been friends, that they were so bloody close, but Jon didn't need a friend, and Melanie couldn't go back, and the world ended, and I just hate how they could have been friends, could probably have been good friends, but circumstances were like "fuck you".

This podded cast, I'm telling you.

ARCHIVIST Look after yourself. Both of you. MELANIE You too. Good luck, I guess. ARCHIVIST Thanks.

it's fine it's fine it's fine it's fine i'm soo normal about this

i wish they all could have made it out. but that's not how it works. and honestly, with everyone's knowledge of the whole situation... i'm not sure if there was a way to prevent it.

it being the eyepocalypse.

ARCHIVIST I need to know what’s in there. What’s at the center? I-it’s important, Martin – I need to know. HELEN (Gleeful) That’s a shame, because I’m afraid I’m not going to tell you! ARCHIVIST What? Why not? HELEN Because I have a good enough sense of what’s going on to know that it will be much more fun without my involvement! (The end of her words are almost lost as she laughs.)

HE'S JUST BEEN BETRAYED BY SOMEONE HE BARELY TRUSTED

that's gotta sting. especially, ah, well... especially knowing that she knew what she knew.

ARCHIVIST What? You – you said you were going to help! HELEN I am. ARCHIVIST I don’t have time for this. (Compellingly) What is at the cen– [Something changes. There’s a high, unsettling metallic sound and the sound of a knife (or something like a knife). Helen is threatening The Archivist.] HELEN (Threateningly.) No. We’re not playing your game. Now don’t forget how sharp I can be, Archivist. Perhaps here, now, you’re powerful enough to learn what you want from me, but if you try, I promise you I will resist. And only one of us is going to survive the attempt.

Oh... god. Just, like, he didn't trust her, or he thought he didn't trust her, and she was still able to betray him.

I love this moment, just "don't forget how sharp I can be, Archivist", and it's just like oh god, this is what she is, she's not your friend, she's not going to help you get to where you need to go, and you knew that all along, didn't you? Why are you surprised, it's hardly a betrayal when she threatens you with... whatever it is, when she threatens to kill you, when she lets someone end the world through you. You always knew what she was.

Why did you let her hurt you? You always knew what she was.

Reasons why Helen is my favourite variant of the Distortion part 10789

HELEN Run home, Jon. Find a victim on the way. Chaos is coming and I think you’d best be ready. ARCHIVIST Just tell me what’s going on. Please. HELEN Bad things, Archivist. Really bad things.

Shut up shut up I can't stop thinking about the end of this. Just, knowing something's coming, not knowing what it is, not knowing what's happening, alone in the tunnels, stabbed in the back by a monster who tricked you into believing she was a friend - you knew what she was, why did you let her. I can't stop thinking about him just completely alone and afraid and knowing only that something bad is about to happen.

Hhhhh Jonathan Sims <3