#like this is someone he cares about who cant be guaranteed safety

[sorrelpaws]

>be me >make a friend >hang out with him >he gets hurts due to hanging out with me >mfw my only friend might die because of me

[cmkren]

Light ‘Em Up, Buttercup.

Chishiya Shuntaro x Gn! Reader;

Chishiya always gave you little DIY trinkets, though you were perplexed, you accepted them. Cherished them. Today, you seemed upset. It also happened that today, he finally wanted to tell you how he felt. How he could feel a storm brewing amongst this false paradise that was The Beach, and how he wanted to tell you before he could lose you to this place and its madness. Tell you that he, Chishiya Shuntaro, loved you with all his being.

a/n; no warnings really needed! Some fluff (chishiya’s a real lover boy in this one), awkward chishiya cause that man has no rizz you cant tell me otherwise,,, oh n’ niragi’s mentioned a little, a lil cheesy but bare w me 💔

The first time he gifted you something, it was just about a month into knowing Chishiya. He hadn’t known it then, but about then was where the sparks of a flame were slowly being ignited. A flame that he couldn’t put out, as much as he tried to force it down his stomach.

As much as he tried to smother it with the lid of reality— that this utopia they lived in was nothing but a farce.

All of the Beach’s residents never seemed to realize it, well except for a handful. Most were the executives though, or people Chishiya spoke to directly. Like Kuina. But you, you were one of the exceptions. That’s what he found refreshing about you, someone who didn’t run from reality— as crude as it was. That was what he liked about you.

It was why he liked you.

The first thing he’d given to you was a shiv, a crudely crafted blade that had its own little sheath he, too, created. His background gave him steady hands, it was no hassle to sew together some scrap pieces of leather together to create a hold for the pocket-sized weapon. Sure it wasn’t the best weapon in terms of effectiveness, but he had hoped that someday it would come in handy.

To say that he had a part in your survival, it gave him a sense of security and comfortability. Along with a smidgen of pride.

The idea to give you a shiv had popped into his head when he saw the way Niragi looked at you. He’d just been strolling by, but he saw the way his brow raised in interest, the slight purse of his lips that quirked up into a bit of a smile. No matter what had crossed through his mind at that moment, Chishiya didn’t care.

The fact that you caught Niragi’s eye was all that he needed to feel the frown creep up on his face. Of course, before anyone could give anything a second thought he managed to distract him and his prying eyes.

But both of them weren’t dumb.

Something had happened just there. Something neither men could wrap their heads around— mainly Chishiya. Niragi now knew you were of some importance to the smug bastard, and Chishiya couldn’t figure out why he cared. Him, who only ever cared about himself, doing something out of his way to help someone out. Even though he probably just worsened the chance of guaranteed safety for you.

The day right after that, Chishiya approached you with the same nonchalance he did daily. But today, he pulled something out of his pocket that surprised you.

“For you. Protect yourself, don’t be careless and die here. It’d be a rather pathetic death, dying out here than in a game that was purposefully designed to kill you.” For many, being spoken to like that would probably be off-putting. Maybe a little bit offensive. But you had just let out an airy chuckle, your uncertainty showing through your laugh.

“How charming.” Was what you said, taking the unknown object into the palm of your hand.

Seeing as you seemed a little confused, he piped up again, looking down at the sheathed shiv then at you, “it fits in your pocket— it’s a makeshift blade. I made it. Don’t say I never did anything for you—”

“Thank you.”

He stared at you for a moment, seeing the small smile on your face. It was one that found some amusement in this display of… well, he wasn’t sure what it was. All he knew was that, with the way you looked at him, he felt this fluttering in his stomach. Perhaps he ate something wrong not too long ago.

That must have been… weeks ago now. Every week he came up with something new to gift you. Not all of them were shabby trinkets he created himself, like for example once he gave you a lighter. Where he gets these things, no one knows. But him, of course.

Though as weeks dwindled and passed by, he knew it was only a matter of time before shit hit the fan.

He already had his plan mapped out, the only person he trusted to work in this was Kuina. Why not you? Because for the slightest chance they might fuck up, he didn’t want you caught in the crossfire.

After a hectic day, he found his way to you. Ever since he figured out how to make bombs, he thought, why can’t he make something with the same technology to make you happy? Or at least, to provide a show. He even figured out a way to get them coloured. Of course, he didn’t have enough materials or knowledge to go beyond that but he thought he refined his craft pretty well.

So when he tried to find you, and you weren’t in your usual spots, he felt a pit forming in his stomach.

He didn’t dare call out your name, only searching for you in quiet. Had you finally been taken? Or… did you not come back from a game? Was this Niragi’s doing? Who would be out to get you?—

“Chishiya.”

His head whipped around, pieces of hair briefly flying into his face. He staggered a little, just a bit out of breath from his frantic searching. Right. Here on the roof top, a place he had personally introduced you to. A place where no one knew you could go.

In an attempt to regain his composure, he let out a little cough. “You— why are you up here?” He spoke out, brows furrowing just a little at his own words that sounded a little colder than he meant them to be.

An amused scoff left you, as you approached him, the moonlight and dim lights of the rooftop being the only light source, “I needed the fresh air.” You breathed out, a somber look on your face. At the moment, he figured it out. You must know it too, a mutual understanding you both have.

How this place had reached its due date.

He’d never been the one for distractions. To wallow in your own self pity and pretending that something wasn’t there when it clearly was. But for you, he’d indulge just a little.

“I kept up with my weekly quota, as promised,” a promise he created himself. Out of his pockets, each of his hands pulled out two dynamite looking sticks. Thin enough to be sandwiched between his fingers. “Fireworks, impressive, right?” He spoke with just a bit of smugness to his tone. That wasn’t really a question he needed answering to. Either way, whatever your answer would’ve been it didn’t matter.

The way your eyes lit up as you let out an audible gasp, already fiddling with your pockets for (presumably) your lighter was enough of an answer for him.

“You’re amazing! I mean— first the bombs and now fireworks? What can’t you do? Oh my god, you should totally make me a little robot thing—” as you blabbered, he already made his way to place the fireworks a good distance away from where they’d plan to sit and watch. A little bit of a smile on his face.

When everything got set up, he gestured towards the fireworks. “What are you waiting for? Don’t tell me you’re scare—”

Tsssssss.

A boisterous laugh escaped you as you immediately grabbed him by his arm, having gone out of the way to light them up as he was in the middle of taunting you.

What did this remind him of?

This reminded him of those cheesy romance dramas, the moment where the main characters confessed their love under the fireworks. While he never understood that, he couldn’t keep his eyes off of you. The happy look in your eye, the way you held his arm, how you reminded him of him just a little but be on an entirely different plane from him as well.

As the first firework set off, he saw how your turned around and he could see the bright light cascade over the glimmer of your eyes. How the light in your eyes shone brighter than any firework he could manufacture.

At that moment, for the first time in his time being in this twisted land, he didn’t think. “I love you.” He whispered out, not even paying attention to the light show as he watched how your expression shifted. How your eyes met his in that moment, the way your expression went from amazement to surprise.

Maybe it was too quick to say something like that. But in this lawless land, what did he gain from holding onto every little thing he wanted to say and do?

Over the loud booming of the fireworks, he tried to speak as much as he could. Saying that he wasn’t entirely sure what he was feeling, or how it even happened, but all he knew was that he fell. Hard. And that he wanted nothing but to see you alive— protect you even though deep down, he knew you were capable on your own.

You couldn’t even hear him. How were you supposed to, with those fireworks? But he still kept speaking. With tears in your eyes, you could only let out a choked laugh as you cupped his face with your hands and pulled him into a kiss.

“Oh shut up, just for once.” You laughed, briefly separating to only pull him back in again.

He could only think about how soft you felt against him, your warm hands creating this sorts of contrast against his cold skin. Was this really love? He didn’t know. But one thing he did know for certain, as he finally planted his hands on your hips;

like those fireworks, you lit up his night sky.

[puffpastrycrimewatch]

i would love to know more about tudor tbh, especially how his funky animals guide him 👀 i cant wait to draw cizel and tudor again 😁😁

I'll start with the funky little guys!

(some music because this is a lot)

Okay lol I don't think I ever gave the funky animals names, so the cats name is Yara (yar-ah) and the dog's name is Dobi (doe-bee)

(One thing to note is that Yara and Dobi are smarter than the average pet so they usually can understand exactly what someone is saying unless they don't know the language but they'll eventually learn)

So for Yara and Dobi they essentially do exactly what real life hearing/seeing service animals do, you can use these as an example, I'd recommend watching videos about guide dogs it's very informative plus it's fun to learn something new!

*Tudor usually snaps is fingers to get the animals attention and communicates with hand signs when giving Yara and Dobi commands

Yara acts as Tudors eyes and ears, clawing or nudging Tudor to let him know if someone is approaching and can let Tudor know if they are dangerous or friendly

(side note Dobi no longer has three legs, instead Yara will now have three legs for now on, I guess she's a caterpillar )

As for Dobi he acts as Tudors eyes and ears as well, specifically he guides Tudor, Tudor puts a leather harness on him when he needs help, an example of Dobi guiding Tudor would be letting him know if there is chair to sit in or just guide Tudor safely

Specifically this leather harness (courtesy of Amelia)

And here's how Tudor would hold it, I took a screenshotit from this video! You should give it a watch it should help with the harness thing!

Hehe I just had to draw Dobi in it

And here's little bit about their personalities!

Dobi is a classic goofy dog, he acts like a husky except when he barks it's more like a weird monster sound, Dobi gets distracted sometimes but Yara usually gets his attention back on track

(he has a weird mouth)

Yara has big ol' eyes, you can almost never tell what she's feeling, she's untrusting of strangers but there are rare cases where she can tell someone is not a threat on the spot, she's protective of tudor and loves cuddles, she almost never leaves Tudors side

And now here's a speedrun of Tudors backstory!

So Tudor is from the plane Gahenna(basically hell), life is tough there, the strong only survive, the people that live there are known as demons

Despite his disabilities he built his very own tavern with his friends! Life was good, the other demons seemed happy, until one day out of the blue his hometown was attacked and burnt to the ground leaving him feeling a bit hopeless, his friends had disappeared as well nowhere to be found, his tavern was damaged but nothing a few repairs could fix, oh and I forgot to mention since Gehenna is a dangerous place Tudor and his friends designed it in a way where it can move, it's a tavern on wheels pulled by a chimera, the tavern (also has an emergency teleport, which teleports the tavern to a random area, it's not a guarantee safety measure hence why it's only for emergencys, it takes a lot of magical power for it teleport once) unfortunately the chimera died during the pillage so it took Tudor about 4 weeks to find another one but after that debocle, Tudor was inspired by the Imps who had escaped Gehenna a century ago and was now determined to escape Gehenna as well.

(*the towns demons couldn't get to the tavern due to them being at a festival that was being held out of town)

So Tudor ends up wandering by himself, he's not completely helpless by himself though, he can take care of himself pretty well using a broom stick and ASL (ASL is pretty common in Gahenna it's usually used for safety reasons) but anyways he travels for about 8 years, over those years he first finds Yara (the cat) in her demonic form injured and fighting for her life, Tudor decides to help not knowing who he was helping, soon when they are both safe Tudor tends to Yaras wounds and she calms down and returns to her relaxed form and he lets her rest in his tavern however Yara escaped the next day but flash forward Tudors in trouble and Yara comes in and saves him, turns out shes been following his tavern this whole time and she lets herself in and makes herself at home, next is Dobi! Ummm...Dobi found Tudor this time, he was a little puppy when dobi found Tudor he was all alone in the open barking at Tudors chimera playfully Tudor decided to take in Dobi seeing as Tudor needed all the help he could get to escape (Tudor may not be able to see but anything small is cute to him lol) , Yara acted as a replacement mom for Dobi, showing him discipline and teaching him how to hunt and so on. Tudor had to make deals with other demons, sometimes to his disadvantage.

One day something strange happened in Gahenna, a gate to the mortal plane had opened, he could feel it for some reason but he didn't know where it was, so he took a chance and pulled emergency teleport lever and got lucky enough to be teleported to the mortal realm, Tudor was shocked he didn't know what to do

I hope that's enough info! (⁠・⁠∀⁠・⁠)👍

If not feel free ask me for some more info! ( ⁠´⁠◡⁠‿⁠ゝ⁠◡⁠`⁠)/

My phone is at 3% so excuse the typos I'm rushing now ヘ⁠（⁠。⁠□⁠°⁠）⁠ヘ

[gravesung-moving]

" so do you think there's a place for people like me in that curseless world of yours? when it's all done, i mean. " it's more genuine curiosity than self-consciousness. altair'd never been a long-term planner, but as someone who knows their own nature, well. he supposes it's not a problem for now, while there's still so much work to be done- but eventually. (for suguru :3)

ALTAIR IS NOT the first to have asked him something like this. in fact, suguru is rather surprised it took him this long to bring it up. world-shifting plans like this involve a lot of destruction; most, upon joining the effort, make sure their safety is guaranteed when all is said and done. will i be okay? and the people i care about?

all are selfish at their core. it is not a bad thing: looking out for one's own interests guarantees survival. how could suguru preach against that when he walked away from satoru to spare him that choice?

he pulls himself upright and cants his head, glancing down at altair where they lay with tendrils of cloud-white hair all askew. ❝ of course there is, ❞ he says, as if it's the simplest thing in the world. a black-nailed finger loops around one of those feathery strands, twirls it around ❝ you're a sorcerer. no curses to exorcise means you'll be free to live your life as you wish it. ❞

[bbboar]

Still unable to get the epilogue for my Tav, but nevertheless ive been thinking bout their decisions near the end.

Seafoam's arc has been one where they start off dripped in irony, they are only turning on the charm and only doing favours for others as a means of securing strategic alliances with people who will owe them later. Self-preservation. (you catch more flies with honey, after all) but as the adventure progresses, that becomes more and more untrue.

They were always used to being an adventurer or mercenary beholden to some rich asshole and using their charms as a way to guarantee safety, food, shelter. Now though, they have friends an allies they care for who have their back. They have money, power, shelter and safety. So they do what they couldn't before: Help whoever the fuck they want, whenever they want.

And they really love doing it! Ngl sometimes its a power trip like "Oh a oved one is missing? Oh you need help killing a hag? Well thats no big deal for me. Dont worry your pretty little head about it"

But sometimes its also the low key anxiety of "If i dont do this, then who will? I can do it, so i will."

Where they are tested however is with Orpheus.

spoilers for act 3 under cut

They are convinced that if they betray the Emperor and free Orpheus, all their illithid problems will be solved AND Lae'Zel will be happy bcs Vlakith will be dealt with.

It shatters them when even Orpheus tells them the only way to end the Absolute's plan is for someone to become illithid. They know in their heart that they should make that sacrifice. They are the one who seems to be tangled in the centre of this mess. A nobody, just another faceless adventurer, whereas Orpheus is someone destined for greatness. He is the Prince of the Comet, the one phrophecised to save the Gith from Vlakith's false reign.

But they cant find it in themselves to do it. It's too terrible a fate. How are they to say yes to him when not long ago they told the Emperor no? How are they supposed to says yes to a stranger when they said no to someone they considered a friend and ally?

So they dont volunteer and they feel like pure shit about it afterwards. Convincing Orpheus he shoulnd't die is the least they can do.

The decision gnaws on them for a while. It takes some time and a lot of conversations with their friends to finally work through it and be in a position where they truly believe they made the right decision. It still bothers them they don't regret the choice they made, but the guilt isn't eating away at them anymore.

[ohheyitsokay]

slowly

Pairing: Jack Daniels (Agent Whiskey) x  (f) ace!reader

Wordcount: 2.2k

Warnings: discussions of sex and related topics, maybe some angst? a lot more analogies than actual descriptions 

Summary: a drive in theatre, a budding relationship, and a whole lot of mutual support

Notes: okay obviously this is a wildly personal topic - I fully understand that asexuality looks different for everyone. For full disclosure, in this story, the reader knows they are somewhere on the asexuality spectrum, but is not aromantic. They are also are on a path of self discovery and are open to learning about themselves. This IS NOT saying asexuals who are like this are growing "better" than those who are not interested. Asexuals who do know what they do and dont want are perfect and do not need to change or compromise as part of their personal growth.

There will be an optional part 2 where they have more conversations about intimacy and explore together what works for them, but again, this is not everyone's story, or the "right" way, it's just... one story.

That being said, I genuinely hope yall enjoy!

>>

You stared at the bashful man in front of you openly, your hands stilling on the groceries you were halfway done unloading.

Even the slightest rustle of the cloth bags was painfully loud in the silence that stretched between you.

Jack had burst through your door, confident as always, but it was a thin layer over his anxious heart. With two long strides, he was pulling you into his arms, almost crushing you against his chest.

Arms winding around his middle, you held him just as tightly before you found your voice again.

“You’re back,” you said, simply amazed that he was a whole week early from the long mission. “When did you get back?”

You hadn’t realized he had picked you up until your feet were on solid ground again, and he was pulling away.

“Just a few hours ago, I had to make it back in time for opening night, right?” he grinned winningly.

You tried not to overthink, feeling a jolt of excitement that he remembered – tonight. The drive-in theatre in town was opening for the season and you had been more than excited. As one of your most consistent movie night friends, Jack had promised to take you, full of butterflies and subtext.

For as close as you’d gotten over the past few months, you weren’t sure what to make of his expression.

“If that’s okay? I should’ve double checked,” you hadn’t responded and it was apparently making him nervous.

“Yeah, Jack, that sounds great,” you reassured him, turning back to your groceries, equally nervous.

If you were being honest, you hadn’t expected him to remember because it had almost felt like an off-hand comment at the time, and you hadn’t wanted to get your hope up to much.

Something was welling in your stomach as you turned away from him fully, putting each item in its respective home in your kitchen. You liked him, of course you liked him. He was bold and kind and passionate, and more handsome than seemed reasonable for a single person. And… and when he was nearby, there was a feeling of safety, just out of reach, like water lapping at your feet at the beach.

It was more than tempting but, same as the ocean, there was also an uneasiness in the unknown. The same uneasiness was present in every relationship you’d ever had – because you had a secret.

Well, it was less of a secret and more… something you were figuring out that you hadn’t talked about much. Despite long late night talks and months of growing close and even slowly falling for each other, you hadn’t quite found the courage to talk to Jack about it yet. The more real the soft, sweet moments between you got, the more the unease filled your bones. You knew how he was with other women, and each time his hand lingered on your hip, your shoulder, your cheek, a quiet voice whispered that he deserved better.

Jack was staring at you, lost in your thoughts as you mechanically worked your way through the bags. His heart ached for you, and he wished more than anything that you trusted him with whatever you were holding back. But he was a determined man – he would do whatever he could to show you that no matter what, he wasn’t going anywhere.

 -

After awhile, Jack coaxed you back to your normal self, telling you as much of his mission as he could and helping you cook dinner. Moving around your kitchen was wonderfully peaceful, a little bubble of intimacy. Food was great for neutralizing anxious thoughts.

The feeling continued into his truck as you excitedly packed blankets and he fought the urge to kiss your adorable face when you found the snacks he’d picked up. Even before he left, in anticipation for tonight, he cleaned the front seat thoroughly, and made sure his radio was in good condition.

The movie went well too, but as much as he wanted to pull you into his arms, press you into his side, be the warmth against the cool night air, there was a hesitation that held him at bay.

Every time he’d reach for you, cautious and gentle, your skin would twitch, almost jumping away before you’d smile at him and lean into it. You seemed happy, but part of your mind was holding you back. As friends, you two were relatively physically affectionate, so he made a mental note to tread light and watch for more cues. Jack never wanted to impose himself on anyone but with you, even less.

So he waited. He had no doubt you’d talk to him when you were ready, and heavens knows that he had plenty of things he had kept buried. It was still nice, hearing you laugh next to him - just him – and seeing the light reflecting off the movie dance across your skin. Talking with you was always easy, even more so without friends or family around and it made Jack ache with eagerness.

As he pulled up to your home, he gently took your hand.

“Darlin, it was plum delightful to take you out tonight,” he said, cursing himself internally for how nervous he sounded. You looked his, eyes catching the streetlight like magic and your gentle squeeze gave him courage.

“I really would like to take you out again, on a proper date,” he couldn’t look away from your eyes, trying to read them through the murkiness. “I really like you,” Jack added, quieter, “but you don’t have to respond right now.”

You nodded, your eyes closing tight as though you were at war with yourself.

You think you like me, but I’m not the type of girl you want to date.

“You don’t have to… tell me, if you’re not ready, but,” he offered after a long moment, his free hand flexing on the steering wheel as he forced himself to examine the bushes on the side of the parking lot. “But I’m listening.”

You felt both hot and cold at the same time. All evening you could feel it coming, knew it was going to happen, knew it had to. He deserved this conversation, and honestly, if there was anyone who made you feel like you did, too, it was Jack.

Inhale, exhale. 

Inhale -

“Okay,” - exhale. 

Remembering that neither of you had work the next day helped. Slowly you let go of your hand and unbuckled your seatbelt, shifting to get comfortable again, the actions thick with significance. He returned it, unbuckling too, and killing the engine.

Jack was so respectful you could cry, his obvious anxiety under control enough not to jump to conclusions – to wait for you.

“I like you, too, Jack, but I don’t think we can ever date,” you forced the words out and his heart nearly shattered, confusion barely holding it together.

Eyebrows so drawn in they almost looked like a solid line, he waited, unable to stop a small shake of his head.

Why not? His entire being screamed. With each second that passed, more and more determination seeped into the cracks of his heart, sticking it together. If you liked him as he liked you, it seemed impossible there was anything between you that couldn’t be overcome.

You saw the question in his eyes and the explanation tumbled out.

“It’s just, I know you – I know the girls you go after and the type of relationships most men want. And,” you were sucking in air, the vulnerability raking through your lungs. “And I don’t know if I can ever give you that.”

He started to protest before his hand covered his mouth, irritated movements over his mustache, his jaw working. What he wanted was you. But he needed to let you keep talking. If he interrupted you now, he might never understand what you meant.

You watched his movements, desperation to give him the explanation he deserved growing in you.

“I’ve had people break up with me because I wont sleep with them,” you shoved the words into the space, the most honest you’d maybe ever been.

Whatever he had been expecting, it wasn’t that. Your voice was trembling and so quiet only your moving lips confirmed the words as you continued.

“For me, it’s not something I need, or am particularly comfortable with. You,” you swallowed hard, unable to look at the man beside you. “You deserve someone you can be with, however you want.”

You took another deep breath, feeling light and surprisingly at peace with your honesty. Even the impending rejection felt less scary, now that you had said it all out loud. The trembles settled as you concluded, “I’m still figuring myself out and I just cant guarantee I’ll ever give you what you deserve.”

Of all the conversations with all the others before this, this moment felt the most freeing. It was wild to have such an intimate conversation before you even kissed, but… the foundation of trust that Jack had given you had not been lost on you. You found yourself smiling, looking at him, finally.

His expression had loosened, processing and connecting the dots, his deep eyes unfocused before they slid closed.

Now it was your turn to wait, to be patient, and listen.

Part of him wanted to yell that he wasn’t like the others, that he didn’t care and even that he would wait and work until you were ready. But that wasn’t right, and he knew it.

Inside him, deep, deep down, there was a small light. A candle of flame underneath a glacier: a touch of hope slowly warming its way through layers and layers and centuries of expectations, fear, confusion, and chaos. It was going strong, it just need more time.

“Darlin,” he looked at you, finally, meeting your eyes and feeling for the first time that they were a clear window into your soul. “You are… everything, to me. So… so let’s just take some time to process this. Would that be okay, sweetheart?”

That was the first time anyone had ever responded that way. It was the scariest thing, but it was perfect. You were overwhelmed with the rawness and a glance at the radio told you it was 2 am. Not a time to be making life altering decisions, anyway. Nodding, you pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek. The movement was intimate and confident – something that shouldn’t have been possible, but it was.

Jack’s large hand grasped at your neck and jaw, pulling you into him, pressing his forehead on yours. The hairs of his mustache just ticked your lip, but he made no move, respecting one final boundary for the night.

With a squeeze, he let you go, watching with longing eyes as you hopped out of his truck and ran to your front door. The smile you gave him before you slipped inside was the seal, engraving tonight into his memories forever.

And he drove home, his thoughts louder than the wind and the crickets and his pounding heart.

-

Jack invited you over a few days later, a Sunday afternoon. It would be the first time you’d talked, and you were surprisingly calm. For some reason, you felt like you’d be closer to him no matter what happened.

He heard your car on the long gravel driveway and greeted you with an all-encompassing hug. You held each other, like lifelines, for long moments before he pulled you inside.

“My mama sent cookies,” he said, motioning for you to sit at the tall table he had as he set down the plate. You couldn’t help but smile, knowing their Sunday lunches and her beloved baking well. He remained standing across from you, aware of the awkwardness, but eager to get his words right.

“This is all new to me,” he said, wishing suddenly that he’d made tea so his throat wouldn’t feel so dry. “If you really don’t wanna be with me, that’s your choice,” he said, knowing it was right and hating the option, “but I really – you’re just so – I can’t let you go,” his thoughts were jumbling together on his tongue.

It was grounding, when your hands found his, reaching across the table as you sat forward on your stool.

“What if we just took it slow?” you said, and his heart stopped.

“Please,” he managed, and your own chest felt like it would burst. “Would it be alright, darlin?” Jack’s hands held yours, his expression eager.

“Could – could we figure out what works for us? Figure this all out together?” You were close to crying, you wanted that so bad.

“I can’t promise I’ll change or… or what direction I’ll grow,” you said, needing to say it again, needing to be sure.

“I can’t, either, darlin,” he said, and you realized he was right and you would support each other, no matter what.

“But all I need is you. Whatever and however much you’ll give me. That’s more than enough.”

He didn’t say for now.

And you believed him.

Since he was still standing, it made it easy for you to tug him around the table, and you leaned into his chest. It felt safe, safer than you had ever thought was possible for you.

“Okay,” you told the flannel he was wearing, “Let’s figure it out together.” And even though you couldn’t see him, you knew he was smiling, too.

<<

Taglist:

@fangirl-316 @0celestialbitch0 @scribbledghost

[sanchoyo]

danny phantom season 2, ep 12-16 thoughts! these episodes, in comparison to the first 10 or so, felt way more laid back and low-stakes, which I appreciate sometimes. I didn't appreciate how lazy jack's halfa design was in masters of time, it made me so annoyed I redesigned it. 👎🏻 u_u

see prev episode thoughts in this tag <3

-'picking a fight with me and my upgraded form!' 'you upgraded to a mullet?' DANNNNY. YOU CANT SAY THAT TO TECHNUS. YOUVE HAD A MULLET TWICE NOW ('fun' split danny, and evil future danny BOTH HAD THEM). I HAVE THE RECEIPTS.

-danny seeing technus hurting valerie and yelling I AM GOING TO BREAK YOU IN HALF. SAMEEEE <3

-axion labs is now a part of vladco. FUCK YOU VLAD. hes not even really IN this episode, but just thought I'd throw out a nice fuck you anyway.

-'capable of blasting a single person into space in (2) minutes!' tucker. that would kill someone. i mean yeah they might get to space, but theres NO WAY THEY WOULDNT CATCH FIRE, OR THEIR ORGANS WOULDNT LIQUIFY BECAUSE OF THE STRAIN. THEY'D PROBABLY PASS OUT BEFORE THEN, BUT. ...no, okay, I get why vlad bought this company. this is RIGHT up his alley.

-danny KNOWS VAL DIDNT DO THIS, THAT SOMEONE STOLE THE SUIT. AND SPENDING ALL NIGHT CHATTING WITH HER. <3 and val is a 9TH DEGREE BLACKBELT?? danny's mom is, too!! omg and she hunts ghosts, his parents would love her. and her fav fruit is kumquat bc its a funny word. im so with danny val is amazing. I love her and I Do Not Want To Hear It From Sam.

-I knew danny wanted to be an astronaut, but the bowling tidbit is like. yes give me more useless info abt these characters, I love tiny details that make them feel more human, and im glad hes got hobbies aside from ghost stuff, we dont really see a lot of that!!! (I mean, we knew 'fun' danny from when he split himself in half liked bowling, so obv it makes sense he LIKES it, but hes very GOOD at it. so proud of him, bowling king) val calling him neil armstrong and them teasing each other. LOVE THAT.

-technus you are my favorite grandpa for setting this up. SAM WHY ARE YOU BEING SO CREEPY BE HAPPY FOR YOUR FRIEND!!! STOP SPYING ON THEM!!! who actually cares if technus did 'set them up' together, theyre having fun and enjoy each others company!!! 'you think the universe wants you two to be together?' 'i dunno, but maybe /I/ do!' EXACTLY DANNY!!! SOO TRUE.

-and valerie being happy sam said she wants to try and be happy for them and make room at the lunch table for them. and hugging sam over it. VAL NEEDS MORE FRIENDS.

-VAL GOING AFTER TECHNUS IN HER SUIT WITH (1) MILK, AND (1) TREE BRANCH AND KEYS!!!. I LOVE YOUUUU BEST GIRL. her new suit kicks ass

-dannys like 'HEY IM AN ASTRONAUT :D' AW. ...HES IN SPACE... the fact he's actually intending to give her the ring. with SAMS NAME ON IT?? IM CRINGING DANNY NO. YOU CANT DO THAT...thank god he didnt. thank god valerie cut it off and said they can just stay friends for now. tbh, they both have a lot on their plates!! they obv both still like each other...it can be a future thing!! when she knows about phantom! youre 14 theres no need to rush. I just want her to have friends and be happy :(

-...danny struggles to do (1) pull up. SAME. but all the ghost fighting in phantom form REALLY doesnt carry over at ALL? that sucks

-sam being as fit as she is, is not just a goth. shes a goth jock.

-honey I Shrank Our Kid, One of his Enemies, and his Bully: the episode

-dash's crush on phantom is So Obvious. fitness buddies :) watching them interact always makes me laugh. also, phantom, with PANTS. 'how many costume changes you gonna go through, what is this, vegas??' DASSH DJKSFHASKDF

-MADDIE GOING AFTER THE MOUSE WITH A BROOM, WHAT THE FUCK. AAAH. JUST BUY SOME KIND OF MOUSE TRAP.

-danny likes lime and vinegar chips. which sound very good.

-'our boy finally has the physical prowess of a 60 year old president!' ...poor danny LMAO

-'what's wrong with beauty pageants' oh tucker you sweet naïve child. what ISNT wrong with them. who approved this for a high school?? (I mean, yes. unfortunately child pageants exist, but...) also danny and tucker once again treating the pretty girls like objects. I need to meet the grown man who wrote this, I just want to talk...

-prince aragon's dragon form reminds me of maleficent (color scheme wise) which is always a bonus. considering the episode is called beauty marked, I feel like the sleeping beauty references are deliberate

-sam with the fake fangs. once again her accessories never miss. hate the 'not like other girls, girls who get sucked into this kind of thing are all shallow and all want to be carbon copies' bs tho.

-sam trying to be the Worst Bride, being rude as shit. DORA IS GOING TO GET KILLED. DID YOU MISS THE PART WHERE SHE SAID THE PRINCE WILL HAVE HER HEAD IF YOU ARENT THE IDEAL BRIDE. YOU /KNOW/ DANNY WILL COME SAVE YOU. JUST ACT CHILL UNTIL THEN. even if you were doing fine to get him to take off the crown, consider maybe not letting his poor sister get punished also?? sure, she could also take off the crown and has dragon powers, but did you know that for sure?? dora didnt even really realize it until you guys talked!! (or at least, she was scared to stand up to him. you had no guarantee she would...) but. good for dora. ANOTHER friendly ghost to add to the List :)

-tucker is so under appreciated in his time. if he was doing a tech-based campaign today he'd have a better shot. people in 2004 had NO IDEA how much tech would be a part of our day-to-day lives...altho. tbh if you're going to be running for student council president, maybe you should..focus on things to actually improve the school? since he's going for a tech angle, he could say like, he would be running fundraisers for the schools computers to be upgraded, etc? we've already SEEN he can be good at money-making entrepreneur type stuff!!

-oh my god wait. this episode is JUST YUGIOH?????! A REBORN PHAROH USING A TEENAGER AS A VESSEL?? YESSSSSS

-tucker using his new minion to feed him grapes and carry him. AND LOCUSTS ONTO THE BULLIES. I love how when he's possessed, he gains winged eyeliner.

-this episode is giving me big 'plankton makes everyone in bikini bottom his slaves and build monuments of him from the spongebob movie' vibes. and the pharaoh has a traitor who works for him? VERY big yugioh vibes. aknadin confirmed

-I like that danny is still completely exhausted after using ghostly wail. (still patiently waiting on him to get duplication)

-LOVE the fenton's 80s outfits. I get hes 14 and embarrassed by everything they do because theyre his parents, but. cmon, this is one objectively cool thing theyve done. love 80s fashion.

-...was vlad just standing on that streetlight waiting for danny to come out? how'd he know they'd be coming out the back? how long has he been up there???

-oh, wait, his ecto-acne has flareups? that SUCKS. danny was...well I dont want to say he was LUCKY HE HALF-DIED, but he was lucky his was pretty instant (I'm assuming that had to do with the power/scale of the portals being different?) I remember in the ep we met him, vlad made a point of saying he was stuck in a hospital for a long time, so. that really actually sucks and I feel bad. not that it excuses anything he's done...but like. it does suck.

-vlad being so sure danny wouldnt help him he made it somehow contagious to his friends to make sure he'd get help? danny is a nice boy, he wouldve helped if it was anyone else. the only reason he wouldn't have is because of the shit vlad did to him, on purpose. vlad 100% dug his own grave by being the biggest asshole, so it is very hard to feel bad for him.

-clockwork is back!!! and making danny learn lessons The Hard Way. Uhhh, okay. I kind of get Danny’s logic, that time traveling this far back would prevent vlad from becoming a halfa also, ergo no arch nemesis or ectoacne to worry about. But the fact that was basically the first solution Danny came up with to solve this problem is actually so funny. It’s so extreme

-APPRICIATION FOR THESE 80S LESBIAN BG CHARACTERS.

-vlad telling maddie in the lab (in the 80s) he has something he's wanted to tell her 'for a long time'...how long have they known each other? I assumed they met in college, since jack always calls vlad his college buddy/roommate, so jack and vlad for sure met in college, but did vlad know maddie longer? thats surprising if so. Tho we don’t know what year of college they’re in so they could mean they met as freshmen and a few years have past…speaking of maddie shes crushing the 80s look.

-vlad blames jack, but. maybe dont stick your face 2 inches from the portal??! THIS FEELS LIKE LAB SAFETY BASICS. IF SOMETHING HAS POTENTIAL TO BE DANGEROUS, DONT GET NEAR IT. WITH YOUR FACE UNPROTECTED IN ANY WAY. (altho jack didnt really give a Big Warning besides screaming BONZAI. so. also that, but cmon.) also, they need gloves, goggles, and to pull all of their hair back tbh. but fuck lab safety, I guess!

-cryyyyinnng at how lazy they were with jack's ghost form design, its just plasmius' design on jack!!! you couldve given him his own design!!

-there. I did that in about 10 minutes and its somehow less lazy than what made it into the show. embarrassing! better yet, I think the episode would've been better if maddie would've gotten the ectoacne. or maybe its just me, wanting to see her design! anyway. I'm sure people have already done redesigns of them both as halfas. I have to go look after I finish this watch through. Also mildly frustrated jacks resentment and bitterness is basically also a copy paste of vlads backstory. They’re different characters, I really don’t think jack would stew in bitterness and jealousy the same way vlad would!! I also don’t think he’d give up after one time of trying to hunt ghosts and getting laughed at. Our canon timeline says different…I dunno, I get it was for laughs, but I’m annoyed because the POTENTIAL this plot has…

-did vlad really wear a stupid cheese hat to his wedding. ok actually that kinda rules. and the cheese door knocker. the dairy-only buffet table. vlad still got rich, just on being the New Dairy King. (Assuming that means he owns a lot of dairy businesses?) ok! this actually is great. hope maddie isn't lactose intolerant!

-'no matter how hard I tried, I could never get rid of my ghost half, the half I knew Maddie could never accept' ohh, ouch, what a horrible thing to say to her HALF GHOST SON. 'YOUR MOM WILL NEVER ACCEPT YOU' BASICALLY.

-maddie strapping danny to the table with a lazer pointed at him in a secret lab she keeps from vlad that she makes a point of saying is sound proof so he can scream all he wants...CHRIST. DANNYS POOR PYSCHE.

-also, not to feel bad for alternate vlad (because, he did lie to maddie saying jack blames her and never wants to see her again...) but. being married to a woman 20+ years and she immediately goes back to jack? if she didnt love vlad and feels like she had to hide shit from him, and says she wasted her best years with him, WHY MARRY HIM. it feels like leading him on!!! cannot believe im feeling bad for vlad, but. this alternate timeline vlad is significantly Less Horrible than Our Vlad. did she not think she'd get funding for her ghost stuff? (which, fair assumption since they're considered 'ghost fanatics/nuts in canon...but...) why did she think jack or vlad would be her ONLY OPTIONS? be like your sister. be single. Actually, this au could’ve been really interesting if after the accident, vlad lied to her and said jack never wanted to see her again, but she stays single. Imagine how much that would bug vlad… like, in her mind, it was never a competition it was jack or no one type situation…

-danny being like 'leave him ALONE' this jack is a HOMEWRECKER, DANNY. let them go to court and settle this at the least. ...or just throw vlad into the portal. (100% human, defenseless vlad) CHRIST, MADDIE THATS BRUTAL. THATS MURDER.

-danny seeing his mom immediately accepting him and his dad being half ghosts in this universe, if I was him this would be a great sign that his universe's maddie would also.

-*maddie voice* "clockwork will help!" *2 seconds later, with clockwork* "I will Not Help." TOUGH LOVE KING. YES LET DANNY SEE THE SODA HIMSELF AND DEVOLP BETTER OBSERVATION SKILLS.

-when clockwork ""reset time to the way it was"" just before danny "meddled"" ...did he really erase a whole alternate timeline? ...damn. because maddie and danny both called it an alternate timeline by name, it splitting when the college incident went different, so it wouldnt have really mattered if he reset it, right. like because danny's timeline is on a different stream? why didnt clockwork just. show danny a replay and not Reset That Timeline. wh...I wonder how many people that Erased From Existence. Anyway! once again stating clockwork is casually terrifying!

[shousimp]

hi so uhm karma, noya, and hanako pls fnjdngdjfng

karma

(gna assume u meant relationship hcs?&(&; i can do platonic too so ill try that later maybe)

honestly he likes poking fun and teasing you a looot

OH if youre trans or something and he misgenders u omg hes actually So guilty

and like he also asks “hey, could i call ya this term?”

but anywayss

he also is actually really caring

like he asks other ppl abt you sometimes

OH before you all dated everyone was like “could yall just date already the chemistry is clearly there,, i thought u were already dating”

gives the best kisses fight me on this

can shut you up real quick and get you to do things

but also you can shut him up fast too

you fluster him easily too lol

he also in general looks up to you in so many aspects but you don’t really realize that

you also kind of just..melt into his touch after not seeing each other for a while and it kind of

warms

his

heart

he loves seeing you. end of statement

seeing you upset was really confusing for him at first

he had no idea on what to do

like noo idea.

but soon enough he learns how to adjust and stuff.

he gets really concerned sometimes when something’s up and it’s an issue he can’t solve

“is it my fault?” “no karma.” and he just gets upset deep down that he cant help you in any way.

oh also he will Fight a bitch to ensure your safety

overall, he really loves you and cares for you a lot and will do practically anything to make you feel safer. guarantee.

noya

he acts all big and mighty and attempts to fluster you often but

lol you fluster him so easily like

he tomato boy

he knows you like his hair down so he has it like that just for your eyes sometimes

he’s very excited and easily distracted so at times he Is a little difficult to deal with and/or talk to seriously but

he tries his best for you and of course the feeling is mutual

oh ps he does Not stfu about you to anyone.

“oh yea you know y/n?! that’s MY s/o!!”

he is and always has been proud of you and your achievements

he looks upto you :((

he genuinely thinks of you as such a good person and really cares

lowkey freaked out the first time you seemed upset over something but tried to calm down

it ended up in you calming Him down even though...yknow what nvm

but soon he got good at it :D

he really cares about you yknow

he 100% loves giving you way too much affection omg

too many hugs

too many little kithes

but that’s okay

oh he also thinks out loud often which you use to your advantage often

“mmph they’re really hot today.”

“scuse me what? am i not Always hot?”

“NONONDISC JFKSOSM ITS NOT THAT ITS JUST YOURE SO MUCH UH YEAH UH SHIT”

he is the definition of a keyboard smash fight me

he also likes to send you vine compilations or memes in the middle of class but what are you gonna do..ignore your boyfriends memes which you will not understand until you check each and every single one out?

sighs, you two really have a Lot of fun though :)) and he really loves you.

hanako (amane lol)

idek how you began dating but omg yashiro helped a whole lot to make it happen i bet

and the mokke too probably Lmao

but anyway he really will make sure youre safe all the time

any apparition 20 feet away from you? he’s checking if they have good intentions.

he’s just a really really protective person and he’s making sure you’re safe Always.

if you’re upset, Most of the time he knows why and attempts..attempts to console you even though he can’t honestly do much

but if he doesn’t know why, he of all people knows not to ask why unless you clearly want to talk about it.

he puts his hat on you btw ^^

anyway

whenever you do something that’s like an achievement or whatever he places a little kiss on your forehead as like an “i’m so proud of you and how far you’ve come” you know?

he also likes flustering you in front of your clueless friends who have no clue of why you’re acting so off like someone’s sitting in your lap trying to kiss you???

but yeah he goofs around a lot and teases you with the occasional scenario of him being teased back and blushing, flustered

he will make sure you’re okay.

he cares so much.

you accepted him and honestly he’s grateful for that.

he loves you. so fucking much.

[littlebitoffanfic]

His Wife

Fandom: Texas Chainsaw Massacre Characters: Thomas Hewitt Relationship: Thomas/reader Request: If you are doing Thomas Hewitt, if like to request a story? Where the reader is Thomas's wife and she's lost after her and Thomas chase down a victim. They split up in the darkness accidentally, the victim finds a few friends that were looking for him. They attack the reader and Thomas finds her after killing them.

 Knocking on the metal door, you stood back for a moment as you heard footsteps. As he pulled the door open, you couldn’t help but smile. His large frame was panting slightly from the heavy work. Even after years of marriage to Thomas, you still felt your heart race when he was like this. Panting, his muscles building under his shirt as his blood-covered frame towered over you. “Hoyt just called. Hes got a few more coming in about 10 minutes.” You told Thomas, taking a step closer and placing your hand on his chest, feeling  his heart. It wasn’t racing (like you could make it) but was certainly beating a little harder than normal. “Perhaps you should take a break till they come? Make sure you have your strength?” It was a thinly veiled question to spend time with you, but Thomas didn’t see though it. He didn’t want to see weak, or that he was unable to provide for you so shook his head and was about to turn when you took his tie in your hands, holding him in place. Going up on your tiptoes, pulling him down simultaneously so your meet in the middle as you kiss him. Now this he understood. A groan left his chest as his arms wrapped instinctively around your waist, his hands roaming your back and down to your rear. When you had first started dating, there was no chance Thomas would have done this, but years of trust and showing him what he could do had given him the confidence to (as long as you were alone). Gently stepping back, you pulled him with you. Without breaking the kiss, his hand reached behind him to grab the door and push it shut as he followed you. Oh how you loved how easily you could distract him. His family probably cursed you for it some times, but you didn’t care. Breaking the kiss, you pulled him into the living room. The TV was on, but Monty was sitting out on the porch in the sun so you were alone. Pushing him backwards so he fell down to sit on the couch, you straddled his lap. A soft growl left his chest, almost like a warning, but you just winked at him. You knew there wasn’t enough time to have sex. Thomas was passionate in that area, and you were guaranteed at least 30 minutes whether its rough or soft and sweet. But that didn’t mean you couldn’t have fun now. Besides, he was now holding you down with his hands on your thighs, so you weren’t the sole tormenter here. Carefully, you removed his mask, setting it beside him for safety. His eyes dropped when it was gone, and suddenly this hulking man seemed a lot smaller and more frightened. cupping his scared cheeks in your hand, you brought his eyes back to you and leaned forwards, pressing your forehead against his. A deep, content sigh left Thomas as his hands gently squeezed your thighs. His eyes closed, basking in the intimate gesture as he focused everything on you. You placed a chase kiss to the side of his lips, bringing him out of his thoughts to lean forward and capture your lips. You smirk against his lips as he kisses you, thinking about how moment ago he had been irritated by your kisses and how they distracted him and now he was kissing you. You couldn’t help but roll your hips against his, feeling the growing bulge as you did so. You moaned against his lips, your hands slipping around  to the back of his head so you could play with his hair. A shiver ran down his body at your touch, and for a moment, you totally forget about everything else in the world as you kissed the man you loved. Until you heard 4 loud thuds from outside. Simultaneously, you and Thomas both groaned as you parted, looking towards the window as the cop car pulled up out front. “We’ll need to continue this later.” You signed, feeling all wound up and bothered by the kiss. of course, so did Thomas. His hands clamped on your thighs, stopping you from getting up. You raised an eyebrow at him, and his grip loosened. Getting to your feet, you heard Hoyt yelling for Thomas just as he followed you. Walking to the door, you stepped out first, noticing the three in the back of the car. Three men in their late twenties. You saw them look at you then their eyes went wild as they saw the great mass the came out behind you. Chcukling, you stepped to stand beside Monty on the porch as Thomas went to grab the two men while Hoyt pulled the youngest man out who was crying hysterically. “Wish they wouldn’t yell so loud. Damn annoying.” Monty complained. “It wont be for much longer. Hopefully.” You giggle as you picked up his empty glass. “refill?” “yeah, cheers.” Monty smiled and nodded as he turned his attention to the sky again.

-------------time skip ---------------------

It had all went to shit at dinner time. As much as you hated blaming Thomas for anything at all, he didn’t bind down one of the guys. They got free and managed to free the others. You had been serving out dinner with Luda when you noticed something in the back garden, moving. “Fuck.” You cursed, the plate falling out your hand as Luda gasped. “Language!” She chastised, having not been paying attention. But you darted to the bathroom up stairs where Thomas was cleaning up. “We have a problem.” You tell him, your voice shaking with worry as you run to your bedroom and grabbing the scissors you had been using earlier in the day. Thomas had already raced down stairs, ignoring the rest of the family as he grabbed his chainsaw from the now empty basement. You met him in the hallway to the front door and he grabbed your arm. “Hoyts passed out from drink, Thomas. And theres 3 of them. Im coming.” You said with authority as you yanked your hand out of his grip and moved past him quickly and out the front door. Luda had heard, gasping and racing to get Hoyt up. But Thomas wasn’t going to wait around for him. Suddenly, something felt wrong to him. He hated having you in danger, let alone danger he had put you in or was a result of his actions. Racing after you, you both had the same thought. They would go to the old meat factor. the Hewitt’s still had access to it, despite it being closed down. And there was lights that were visible from the house. It’s the most logical place for someone to go, thinking there might be employees there. You kept ahead of Thomas, still aggravated that he had caused this issue. You knew he meant no harm, and he did try his best, but it still wasn’t something you were happy being apart of. as you entered the large factory, you could clearly hear footsteps upstairs. You followed them, climbing the stairs cautiously. But you didn’t notice that Thomas had heard something coming from down the hall. The two of you followed the sound without even noticing you were splitting up. You had got to the top of the stairs and around a corner before glancing back to Thomas, only to find he wasn’t there. “Thomas?” You hissed, your voice breaking. You didn’t like doing this. You hated being here at night. You hated chasing people. Why didn’t he come with you? But footsteps from the end of the hall drew your attention back. You couldn’t call out to him. Mainly because it would give your position away but also he cant answer you. Entering the room, you knew there was another door which let to another set of stairs on the other side of the building on the opposite wall. So you didn’t expect them to be camped in there because theres two entrances. It just didn’t seem right. Until you felt someone kick you in the back of the knee. Twisting, you just managed to stay balanced as one of the man charged at you. He had no weapons, but he was double your side. He pushed you against the desk, causing pain to rush through your body. You swipe the scissors at him, managing to catch his arm and slice him. When he was distracted, you raised the scissors and drove them right into his left eye socket. He collapsed to the floor as you yanked the scissors out.  But you forgot there was 3 in total. The blow to the back of your head is what took you down to the floor. You let out a scream that bounces off the walls around the empty factory. Another kick to the side followed by someone stomping down on your back. you still had a hold of your scissors so holding them like a knife, you raised them and stabbed them into one of the mens feet. A howl escaped him as the other two kicked you harder. They caught your face a few times, and you screamed with every kick because they were putting their full force behind. You tried to cover your face but one held your hands against the floor. Then suddenly, it stopped only to be replaced by someone slicing at your skin with the scissors. Three times you felt the pain on your right arm twice then left cheek and it stopped.  As you lay on the ground, you saw the glint above you as the black haired man raised the scissors above his head, ready to drive them down into you while the other pants. Tears ran down your cheeks as you realized this was your end. A figure emerged in the doorway. It froze, taking in the situation. You were so dizzy and on the verge of unconsciousness that you didn’t even realize it was Thomas. He had heard your screams and followed them. Everything happened so quickly. He charged at the guy who was holding the scissors, like an enraged bull. Grabbing him by the neck, he raised him up off the ground and then slammed him back to the concreate floor so hard that you heard the dull thud of his skull connecting with the ground. But Thomas didn’t linger. He was very aware of the other man, who now turned to run from the room, unwilling to face the masked man. But Thomas was quick. He grabbed the man by the hair and hauled him back off his feet. Thomas threw him like a ragdoll across the room. The first man started to move again, groaning as blood poured from somewhere on his head and out his mouth. But Thomas was quick to react. Raising his foot, he bought it down onto the mans head. A grotesque crack noise filled the air as his body went limp. Swooping down, Thomas grabbed the scissors out of the mans hand and turned back to the second who was trying to scramble off the floor. Thomas threw the scissors like they were throwing-knifes and they tore through the mans left temple straight into his brain, killing him. His body swayed before dropping back to the floor on his left side and you saw the scissors be pushed further in right up to the handle as the weight of his head pressed down. Thomas took a moment, making sure there was no more threats before his attention turned to you. In all honestly, you were a mess. Blood from both your own wounds and theirs cover you and you were struggling to stay awake. Thomas swooped down, lifting you into his arms as you winced and cried out in pain. “Why did you leave?” You sobbed, fear and pain raking through your body. He didn’t answer you. He couldn’t. he carried you out of the room, not paying a second thought to the bodies in the room. As he carried you, you felt yourself unable to fight to stay awake. But when you rested your head on his chest, he shook you. It caused a fresh wave of pain to course through your body as you yelped. You tried again and got the same reaction. “That hurts.” You growl at him through gritted teeth, unable to understand why he was causing your pain. you weren’t able to think straight, to rationalise that he was trying to keep you awake because he knew what happened when people passed out. Sometimes, they don’t wake up. He couldn’t talk to you, tell you to keep awake and that he’ll make sure you’re okay. And you weren’t able to take in all the little things that would normally be able to tell you this. You didn’t notice how he winced every time you cried out, or how his thumbs were gently rubbing the parts that he was holding. It didn’t matter how many times he shook you, because about half way home you lost your battle and your head lolled back as you fell unconscious.

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

When you awoke, your whole body felt stiff and sore. Not in terms of pain, but more like when you wake up from sleeping in a weird or uncomfortable position. Your head hurt a little, and you mouth was dry. Opening your eyes, you saw the sunlight being blocked from your window by the closed curtains. Sitting up, you felt a few pangs of pain, but your back also hurt and you needed to stretch it. You looked to the other side of your bed. Thomas normally slept with you until you were awake. Even if he woke at the crack of dawn, he would stay until you were awake so he could get ready with you. But he wasn’t there. That was when the memories came flooding back to you. The victims, their escape, the factory, the scissors, Thomas. As if hearing your thoughts, the door to the room opened. The something strange happened. Thomas stepped inside, looking directly at you then started to leave before freezing. He seemed to stop breathing as he blinked. It was clear he had been checking on you, but apparently he hadn’t expected you to be awake. Slowly, he opened the door so he could fully come into the room. He took 3 hesitant steps towards you, as if testing the waters and also making sure it wasn’t a dream. You couldn’t help but smile at him. No matter how angry you had been at him, you still loved him dearly and seeing him still made butterflies erupt in your chest. Your smiled seemed to break Thomas. He was beside you in a heartbeat, kneeling as he took your hands in his own and lowered his head onto them. His shoulder shook as he desperately clung to you. You were shocked at this response. But then again, the last time you had been awake, it hadn’t been pretty. Thomas was clearly raked with guilt as you manged to pull one of your hands free so you could run it through his hair to sooth him. It had the desired effect as he calmed down, relaxing under your touch. Leaning forward, you pressed a kiss to the top of his head as you ignored the pulsing pain from having to move. moving your hand to cup his chin and draw his face towards you, you noticed the dark circles under his eyes and he looked a little ill. He reached up, cupping your face and pushing some hair back out of your eyes. His hands were still shaking, so you raised your hand to cup over his right one as you leaned into his touch, closing your eyes. You could communicate with him properly when you were better, find out what happened. But for now, all that was important was that you were still here, and he relished in that fact. He held you, vowing to never let you go again just as he had when you first got married. you were still his wife, and he was so thankful for that.

[ainchase]

very very rough translation of Elesis/LuCiel Epic Quest with Rosso

rosso: everything related to the protection of El is the masters and the priestesses' responsibility. you stay out of it.

ciel:??? dude wtf we

1. restored the el

2. fought against henir zealots

3. saved your fucking ass

rosso: yeah I can see just how ugly everything got if people like you guys were helping out

lu: !@$!@$Y#$%@#$

elesis: okay well w.e we gon go ask denif then

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

rosso: I SAID STAY OUT OF IT

lu: in case you forgot we beat your ass in varnimyr

rosso: yeah it was like 13v1

elesis: Alright, let's say that even someone with a demon's blood can be come master. Why did you become one?

ciel: yeah did you become master cuz you had some ulterior motive with the el or something

rosso: are you fucking kidding me right now

elesis: yeah why do you insist on going to the demon realm all by yourself? you know, other masters had to stay behind and let us go to the demon realm cuz they had to protect the el. you dont look like you care about that

rosso: others can protect the el. I can handle the demon realm by myself.

elesis: why do you want to go alone so bad? what's your hidden agenda?

rosso: what about you guys? why do YOU want to go back to the demon realm so bad? You find me suspicious cuz Im half demon and I want to go back to the demon realm?? How's that any different from you guys

rosso: you guys have a half demon AND a full blown demon. You guys are more suspicious than me

lu: what did you say you lil shit

we went through all that shit for a reason

rosso: Im saying that we did the same for Elrios as well. We did a lot of shit to protect this world

rosso: doing shit to save the world aint a competitive sport

elesis: why are you so fucking uptight

lu: what do you mean? this fucker is just crazy

ciel: I see. if he really meant harm, then he wouldnt be this defensive against us from the start. it's better to back stab when he has our guard lowered

elesis: yeah see how hes like threatening us physically but answering every single one of our questions? its like hes doing doing his bare minimum to make us understand

elesis: you just really want to stop us from going to the demon realm, huh

rosso: gdi

rosso: what makes you think you guys have to go to the demon realm?

elesis: in order to stop the Order and fully restore the El, we need the Dark El.

ciel: You're not entirely wrong. It doesn't necessarily have to be us to find the Dark El.

ciel: but think about it logically. There's no other team that's more suitable for this mission than ESP. Isnt that true?

rosso: I...

elesis: you alone doesnt make a team. You have a ridiculously low success rate if you jump into the battlefield by yourself.

elesis: i mean sometimes you gotta make 5 teams each with 2 people but uhh

rosso: I dont give a shit

elesis: right back at ya, ESP is under the velder kingdom. we dont have to listen to you, a so-called higher up from a kingdom long gone

rosso: that place is an abyss. none of the shit like order and process work there

rosso: wasnt it enough to lose your brother to the el once?

elesis: :tears:

ciel: you talking like we're going to demon realm to die

rosso: look, if everything worked out the way you plan, then the El wouldn't have exploded in the first place

rosso: going to a world where there isnt El or the influence of the Goddess means you have to be prepared for death. You guys have way too many things to lose to do that.

rosso: you have a shit ton of precious things to protect and yet you want to drive yourselves into danger? you've gotta be kidding me

elesis: so what, are you saying youre going to sacrifice yourself in our place cuz you got nothing to lose or something?

rosso: Im just trying to do my damn job, stop making shit up

lu: wait so you been spewing shit to us just so you can--

rosso: --I SAID STOP MAKING SHIT UP

ciel: I mean if youre that worried about us, how about you come with us?

lu: lol if it was something like that, you could've just asked honestly from the beginning. I could've pulled some strings for ya

rosso: I swear Im going to kill you

elesis: well of course I dont want Elsword to involve himself in dangerous things, honestly

rosso: and yet you...

elesis: but this is the path we chose

elesis: a path that I chose

rosso: ...

rosso: I dont give a flying fuck on what path you chose

rosso: if you insist that much on going to the demon realm, then there will come a time when you have to make a decision

rosso: whether you have conviction, act recklessly or not, at the end of the day, if you got something that you have to choose over the other, it'll definitely hold you back

rosso: you didnt want to sacrifice your brother so you dragged him out of the El. Are you trying to die for him?

lu: what

ciel: what are you trying to say

rosso: how much more do I have to explain

ciel: why are you thinking complicated things when they didnt even happen yet

rosso: what

elesis: what

ciel: so youre saying, to go to the demon realm, we have to cut all ties, get rid of all worldly possessions, and jump in there all alone? you can think however you want, but I dont agree with that

ciel: it just looks like youre threatening us, like asking if we're ready to give up our lives for someone else in hopes of stopping us but

ciel: from the moment we decided to get elsword out of el, we already made up our mind

ciel: even if someone's life is on the line like you said, then I'll survive no matter what. Knowing Lu doesn't want me to die, I can't afford to lose my life.

lu: :tears:

rosso: the fk is wrong with you guys

lu: ciel's right

rosso: what

lu: we almost wasted our time worrying about useless shit. You got viscerally upset when I said we have to return to the demon realm to keep a promise

lu: if you think trying to survive is more important than trying to keep a promise, then how come you dont practice what you preach?

lu: dont you also value promises and conviction more?

rosso: Im different. I've been given a power.

elesis: youre so fucking stubborn i cant even

lu: me and ciel are bound by a contract. I might have considered what you said if I wanted to go back to the demon realm just to exact my vengeance.

lu: if something happens to me, I might not be able to save ciel

lu: but I still have to return because someone loyal to me is still there

lu: I mean its kinda meaningless to compare him with ciel, but as long as we've made our promise, winster is my people as well

lu: I forgot, for such a long time, what it's like to lead people, to take care of those who follow you

lu: why do I want to go to the demon realm?

lu: Im returning to reclaim my stolen throne. I will save my people, fulfill their wishes and at times punish them if I must.

lu: who's to stop a lord from returning to her domain to do what is asked of her?

rosso: :glare:

elesis: we already experienced a time when we had to make our choice, like ciel said

elesis: we made up my mind to go through even the most impossible things together

rosso: :rollingeyes: Im an idiot for trying to persuade a group of idiots like you

lu: do you finally feel like explaining things now

rosso: dont get your hopes up. Im only telling you cuz I know you idiots cant use this method

ciel: I think Im slowly getting used to his abrasive tone, after listening to it for so long. Okay, we won't think you've admitted defeat after you were persuaded by us, so just tell us

rosso: listen you little shit

rosso: Alright. Remember when I said I was suppressing the fire el's power with demonic aura?

rosso: the power of fire is much more difficult to control than other elements. there are enough of those who burned to ash because they couldnt withstand its destructive power

rosso: rosso clan was always trying to produce a master of fire, and decided they'll need a new form of power to suppress the power of fire el, for example...

rosso: something completely different from the el's power. Like a demonic energy.

elesis: they did what now

rosso: it's not much of a stretch to say that no one knew anything about demons back then. from their perspective, i was just a kid with a strange power.

rosso: of course I didnt have much as an actual demon, but my intrinsic demonic power was good enough for me to be a subject of their experiments The red eye was transplanted into me, and I was able to control the power of fire.

rosso: ...it wasn't without an accident, but in any case, the power of fire and the demonic aura are constantly at a balance inside of me. When one of them disappears, the other goes rampant

rosso: on the day we all decided to imbue the el shards with our respective element, I was the most problematic one

ciel: I see... from the process of trying to transfer the power of fire into the el shard, the balance between your demonic aura and the power of fire crumbled...

rosso: chaotic continent, missing masters... if they had a rampant half-demon on top of that, Elrios would not look the way it does today

elesis: that's why you went to the demonic realm? so you wouldn't go rampant in elrios???

rosso: /shrug

rosso: as the el exploded, temporal rifts were created all over elrios, sporadically. the phenomena was worse near powerful el shards

rosso: I was able to cross into the demon realm thanks to those rifts. After creating the fire el, I jumped into one of those rifts before I completely lost my sanity

rosso: thats the end of my story. now do you see why I said you cant use this method?

lu: you...

ciel: the priestesses couldnt help you? though theyre not blessed in the combative aspect like masters, I thought theyre the same when it comes to using the power related to the el

rosso: the priestess system was still pretty new at the time. They were busy trying to learn from masters too. Creating the elemental el as inexperienced priestesses is like betting your life on it

elesis: why did you go to that extent? even you couldnt have guaranteed your safety when you jumped into the rift. Are you saying even that was part of your mission?

rosso: hmph, there's no one who can tell me to do that shit

elesis: the tower you were locked away in... didnt have an entrance or an exit, blocked off completely, enough for the power of fire which was trying to return to you could only circle around the tower itself

lu: you locked yourself in so you wouldnt hurt others

rosso: I told you everything you wanted to know, so are you happy now?

elesis: rosso, I really dont want you to go to the demon realm

rosso: are you looking down on me after hearing that sob story?

elesis: no it's not that, I just think I know how much you think its natural for you to sacrifice yourself

elesis: I think I know why Im concerned about you. You are similar to my brother.

elesis: I dont know what happened in the past, but... I think he made that decision because he thought similar things as you once did

elesis: you've sacrificed yourself enough. You banished yourself to protect Elrios. I cant even imagine what it's like to hold out in a prison made to imprison yourself for hundreds of years, but

elesis: elrios stands today thanks to the efforts you guys went through. you can leave it to us now

ciel: we're not as weak as you think we are

lu: I can see why you didnt want to tell us. It wasnt particularly helpful, but thanks anyway

rosso: youre really annoying..

lu: the sentiment is mutual

rosso: now fuck off if you're done talking. I have to do more control training

ciel: youre more diligent than you look

rosso: do you wanna die

lu: it doesnt look like you're completely healed yet

lu: you're having trouble controlling your power without the eye, are you not

elesis: so thats what ventus meant when he said youre training to overcome what you've lost

rosso: that pointy eared fucker

ciel: wait; you were having difficulty controlling? but you fought so well...

rosso: like I said, you guys cant beat me in an even fight

lu: I really hate this guy

[sunnyvaiprion]

Hi! I have a question (two actually) So how do you use Mr Dark Prince in battle? And is there a 4th mysterious member along your Julius/Reinhardt/Child!Azura team? (I love these interactions of them you draw btw~)

Oh, thanks!! 

About the team: yes! Since it’s a primarily AR team, there are two more! One of them is basically defaulted to Eir, but more often than not she stays as far away as she possibly can from any action (she has a nice heal though. Also she can throw Julius into enemies if he cant walk there fast himself). And second is a wildcard that varies from team to team (it was supposed to be a bonus unit, but it seems like Eir will stay for quite a long time), but my “main” now uses Bride Ninian for… no apparent reson besides being a dancer and me liking her. I will most likely change her for someone else/heavily alter her build because it’s actually pretty wacky with this team, but for now she stays (because she can fulfill her main purpose which is assisting trap removal in tight spaces). 

And now, About Julius: Ranged units can be a major pain. Sometimes (more like nearly always) you cant initiate on one and run without the rest of them scattering like dust particles if you blow on them all across the map with their dancers (especially now with Lazura), and to bait them you need someone who can take entire triangle and probably physical damage too, all at once. Use a dragon? Yes… a dragon.

Due to it being a somewhat lenghty text, I am putting it under the cut. 

If someone else thought about using him but was afraid that he isnt “a good unit” or “not favoured by meta” - I’d recommend you read into this too!

I have my Julius with Loptous, Reposition, Iceberg, Distant Defence, Guard, Attack Ploy, and another Distant Defence. which is - a wall. I place him in a space where he can be targeted by units I want (nearly any ranged, tbh. IF there’s a melee frontiline unit - Reinhardt has a message for them.) so he can kill them or hold them in place, and make sure my team can give him maximum amount of drives without putting anyone in danger. (oftenmost it’s just Azura and that’s it but still). 

Pros:

It’s VERY hard to kill him during EP. Even blue mages and bows/daggers with high attack struggle to deal non-zero damage to him, especially pre-dance. TA blue mage dancers included, as they usually dont break 50 attack mark by much.

No specials. Unless a special is pre-charged on turn 1 (or 2CD with Heavy/Flashing blade after dance), no luck trying to damage him with one either while guard is up and have fun offing it. Glimmer still deals a 0. Moonbow most likely a single digit.

He has high attack but without QR he will unlikely kill a unit coming at him on their first initiation (unless its low res green OR Reinhardt)…. which will waste a dancer’s turn to dance them instead of dancing some out-of-range thing you DONT want to attack, like a melee fast sword in that far-off corner.

On second initiation (if danced, alternatively someone else if the first unit died or didnt get a dance) that unit is guaranteed dead, though, because Iceberg hits like a truck especially with his already nice attack and STUPIDLY HIGH RES especially on EP. If they somehow survive this (Aversa with res wave on comes to mind) - its not a crazy PP unit so their damage is definitely a hard 0, so no biggie. Also works with a fast dazzle staff or if first enemy fails to double, since CD is 3.

With his res he can atk ploy virtually any unit of his choice, making the most dangerous unit to him (usually a physical or Ophelia) less dangerous at least pre-dance (when they have a chance to land more attacks).

His speed is actually not THAT bad. He usually doesnt mind getting doubled, but still. If you throw some speed buffs on him he can deny even some fast units their doubles. This might come in handy when fighting aforementioned units.

He is a lot easier to actually obtain and merge than similar units (Micaiah, Deirdre, Kliff maybe?) due to not being a 5-star locked or even limited unit. Unless you are a whale, and I dont judge, but for me it’s a big plus right there. Skills I have on him are also all widely available (I got DD off Garon).

Ranged anti-dragon weapons are all green (= normal blue for Julius, multiplier-wise). After Nagas got refines I actually started seeing them on defence maps. Guess what, still 0 damage. Daggers are trickier but a lot rarer and still manageable. They added an inheritable one just now but… why would anyone actually use it on heroes except it’s native user (who is also green) ?? Either way you wont see much of that.

See that Surtr? Julius will take care of him for you, too, with his high attack. In a single hit, if you pre-charge his Iceberg on something else. I know that almost any red mage can do it, but I heared some people still struggle. He can take a DC-hit from him too, if he runs one.

He can tank Ophelia, but be careful. For her he needs res buffs, especially the visible one, because of her initial AoE. Atk ploy her. If she can get an attack buff, It’d be great for you to have panic ploy too (right now there’s a lot of options, including Panic Manor). On a positive note, there should be plenty of mages on the same team as her, probably red and green, which wont really bother him afterwards.  

That’s Julius. We love our possessed lord.

Cons:    

While he takes little to no damage from any ranged source, Poison Strike-esque damage will get him good. Pain+ healers arent particulary dangerous because they cant deal any more damage to him no matter what, but units like firesweep bow double poison lyn are not very nice for him to face head-on (yes, I hate her in particular with burning passion), especially if she gets danced, receive a buff and attacks again, while there are other non-zero damage units in the back. But unlike a melee unit in the front line, it’s not always an option to snipe her (or any other unit like her) prior to Julius getting in range. This is, honestly, your worst nightmare. Be very careful with things like that and calculate damage dealt to make sure he wont die. … even though I think it’s not just his problem. But he doesnt easily solve it.  

He is reliant on team support to fight ranged physicals. Not going to lie about it. Def Tactic (or a wave if you’re into them) and 1-2 drive defs (ideally distant guard) should do, which is by no means too much investment, but it should be done.

His player phase leaves a lot to be desired. But like… what’s new? He’s enemy phase per advertisement. He still can Iceberg someone to the ground should he have it ready, or finish off someone previously mangled in EP, though.

He’s likely to deal more than 50% HP in one hit to PP heroes, especially ones that dump res or run LnD, which will activate wings of mercy, and a WoM melee unit can warp to his face and smack him. BUT usually dancers run WoM, and those have lower-end stats, so he should be okay at the very least. The only lancer dancer in the game is OG Azura, but …when was the last time I’ve seen her…  anyway, be careful with WoM.

He’s going to get Chill Res’d. He will get Chill Res’d every time every day of the week cause you wont find any ally with more res than him to “bait” chill res. It’s not like he will die from it though.

He’s infantry, so unfortunately, no easy fortify/wards for him. But if he was any other movtype - it’d bring it’s own problems, so… maybe it’s for the best. Also distant guard is a thing now.

He wants to stay above 80% hp and it’s very easy until he starts taking 5+ damage per hit. If it’s the case - you need to start paying attention to enemy specials again, especially longer CD ones.

Alternatives: While I am happy with how he does his job for now, I am planning make one adjustment, which is - give him Steady Stance 4. (once I get the fodder Surtr, which is not so soon). It will allow him to use his entire HP pool more effectively, and will give him extra survivability against physical threats, even if by a little bit. Additionally, it will protect him againt melee units too (like a WoM dancer teleporting to him) for safety measures and it will open up B slot! Losing 6 res (and 3 Iceberg damage) is not a big deal compared to all those benifits, ESPECIALLY since staying above 80% would be no longer needed.    

I .. dont really have a plan what to put in B slot then, because I intentionally want to avoid QR for a reason I explained above. But hey, I’ll figure something out when the time comes. However QR is also a viable option if you want him to kill everything in one go.

Iceberg is also, in theory, could be replaced by Glacies, if you want more damage. But I personally decided against it, because Iceberg’s cooldown is easier to manage and it’s damage is already enough in most cases. Also Iceberg is a lot better with QR should you want to use him for insta-kills.

And for the love of Loptyr himself, dont try to build him player phase or give him Fury. There are heroes with a lot better stat spreads for PP (yes, I’ve seen a PP Julius), and Fury is a fastest way to turn off Guard/QR and ruin his excellent ability to take zeros from most things. I tried it while I didnt have DD to fodder, and I didnt get much out of it. 

Now, he fits on virtually any map, but here are some examples of AR maps which he absolutely murdered.

I rely on my dragon! I’m very glad I decided to pick him up, even if he’s not that popular of a unit. 

[tumblunni]

Brainstorming about my yokai watch ocs: Dimmy and Gorgeous Ambassador, the most cutest family

* My Dimmy's name is Blythe and they are nonbinary. Gorgeous Ambassador is male and i dont have a name for him yet. I was thinking maybe try and make up a dub name for kageusuo (anime exclusive pre evolution) that sounds like it could have been his nickname as a human? Cos his story is that he used to be a wandering mercenary in ye olde ninja times, i feel like itd be fitting.

* Blythe is the main partner of my protagonist in my yokai watch lp, basically the jibanyan of the anime of my heart. Their personality is mostly similar to the Dimmy in the anime, but i feel like theyre maybe older and more powerful than the average Dimmy? Like a weak low evolution yokai thats stayed unevolved for centuries and is actually more skilled and world weary than you'd assume. Protag just got lucky that she bumped into this one super magikarp, lol! Also i like to draw them looking more teenage age by just taking the regular Dimmy design and making the tail extra super long. They stand roughly twice as tall as the protagonist and can wrap around her shoulders like a scarf :3 Blythe is however totally unaware of their super powerful mega skill and is very self depreciating and low confidence. But Mallory totally sees them as a cool older sibling mentor figure and is always trying to figure out ways to make their tol squiggle friend feel included and valued :3

* the way Gorgeous Ambassador comes into the picture is that he was actually the same sort of figure to Blythe! Back in the ninja era Blythe was partners with another human, but he passed away in tragic circumstances and it led to their current depressed self. However he actually reincarnated as a yokai and has been trying to find his lil sibling ever since! I feel like he was a failure samurai who tried to protect people but was so weak he never could. And he was always broke and starving and begging to do any sort of miscellaneous jobs for anyone or even let them punch him in the stomach for a few coins. And he had just as much self confidence issues as Blythe but he coped with it by becoming a compulsive liar instead, always boasting and trying to sell himself as some legendary hero to keep from facing the truth. Since Blythe was a cute lil babby yokai at the time, they always believed their human master's tall tales and looked up to him, which made him feel really guilty and try harder to work on becoming someone this kid could be genuinely proud of.

* Blythe was first born as a household spirit. Cos i was thinking about what Dimmy would be before it became a ninja, since the medallium description says it 'got a job as a ninja to put its powers to use', so like it isnt really a ninja yokai but just a yokai thats a ninja? I guess?? I figured that the idea of being an invisible shadow supporter fit with household spirits/domovoi/zakishi warishi (probably mispelled that) and the various other similar creatures in mythologies all over the world. Just the idea that theres some sort of being that protects your house and if you give it offerings and take good care of the place it will protect you and your family. So yeah its my headcanon that thats how Dimmys are born, and that theres probably many variants wearing different outfits inspired by whatever type of humans they guarded. Tho yeh ninja is a job that works really well with their abilities so it makes sense itd be the primary representative of the species in the games.

* Human-dude-who-would-become-gorgeous-ambassador first met Blythe when one of his various failed attempts to get a job happened to cross paths with the family Blythe was guarding. This family didnt believe in such old suspicions and never gave offerings to their household spirit, so it stayed small and weak and was almost fading away. Baby blythe didnt know why their humans didnt love them, even though they tried so hard to bring good luck and clean the fireplace and stuff. So they felt a sense of kinship with this poor failure samurai who was begging for food on their doorstep. The humans of the household spat in his face and turned him away empty handed, but the tiny yokai snuck some rice from the pantry and gave it to him. They were surprised that he was able to see them, and he gave them the first thank you they'd ever had!

* Addendum note: i feel like gorgeous samurai was cursed with being able to see yokai from a young age and its part of whay made him so determined to become strong enough to protect people. Perhaps his biological family was killed by an evil yokai and nobody ever believed what he saw? And he wandered japan trying to save other people and always failing and being blamed for what happened, since nobody could see the real culprit. This reputation of being a liar when he wasnt = he ended up actually lying about how he was totally fine and not sad and also great and not hating himself. Its not really something he can control anymore, its like a stress response and it keeps getting him in trouble but he cant stop. "Yes sure i can save the day, i'm awesome!" only makes things worse when he inevitably loses again, whic only makes his self confidence worse and traps him further in the lies...

* so anyway, he became friends with this lil babby yokai and kept coming back to visit them and tell more tall tales of his grand adventures. And eventually he managed to help Blythe come out of their shell a little and agree to leave this house where they were only fading away. Haunting him instead, the lil shadow soon flourished back to full health from being loved for the first time. And their new big bro would always give them the biggest share of all the food even when he was starving, and always wasted his money buying things for them, and knitted them lil scarfs and just HE WAS A GOODEST BIG BRO! They also made a great team, and he was finally able to fight evil yokai with a yokai of his own helping him out. Things were good for a few years!

* Eventually though, they faced a foe too strong for them to defeat. (Not sure yet who it is, cos it could be cool if they faced it again in the present day for a rematch?) Blythe's human friend ran into a burning building to save the people being attacked by this yokai, but because he was already gravely injured he didnt manage to make it out in time. And blythe was just a tiny bab who wasnt strong enough to carry his unconcious body to safety. So their last memories of him are of crying and begging him to wake up as the house fell apart all around them, and eventually the flames swallowed him up. the tiny yokai just ran and ran away from their shame, and never saw an ashy figure rising from the ruins and calling their name...

* eventually after years of struggling alone and lacking meaning in life, Blythe had a chance meeting with our protagonist and thus begins my yokai watch 1 lets play! At the same time their yokaified big bro is still out there searching for them, and maybe one day theyll meet again...

* also i wanna go with the pre-evo the anime added of Gorgeous Ambassador evolving from a sad depressed vampire lookin dude. Even if the whole circumstances here are vastly different! But we dont really have any info on what kageusuo's powers or stats would be, so i guess i'm free to mess around with that? I like the idea of it being vampiric just cos i feel it looks like that. But instead of drinking blood maybe its a hunger for shadows? Which is actually beneficial to humans and makes them less overshadowed aka the opposite of Dimmy's power. So if you ever feel that you're radiating charisma with perhaps a slightly lighter shadow, maybe youve been inspirited by this guy! And then the evolution into Gorgeous Ambassador doesnt actually change anything at all, except just looking more fashionable and confident (which is absolutely a lie). His power already made people more fabulous while being unable to affect himself, he just worked a bit harder on himself to try and catch up with everyone else. Self care vampire!

* oh and in this interpretation the way that kageusuo would be integrated into the gameplay is that Gorgeous Ambassador would get a new ability that lets him switch forms in battle, rather than it being a separate yokai. (Tho would still have a separate entry in the medallium just for conveinience of being able to view both character models whenever you want) Stuff that causes low confidence would make him poof between forms, and itd just be something like more attack based vs defense based, or maybe having two separate personality stats so its like his AI is slightly more versatile than the usual frustratingness of most yokai? Srsly im still so annoyed at so many yokai that have two mutually exclusive moves and the ai is stupid about using them at the wrong time to cancel each other out. Like how Dimmy can be given the AI personality to focus on attacking and thus take advantage of its auto-skill to be good at dodging aka a glass cannon. BUT also one of its skills gives that same status to an ally instead, which by definition takes it away from itself cos 'dont target this other guy' means there arent many other options. So you cpuld alternatively play dimmy as a supporter who exclusively protects others with that ability BUT the annoying part is that even when you set an AI profile to one particular move it still only makes it LIKELY to do that and not guaranteed. So every now and again your attacking dimmy will cancel its own buff to protect an enemy, or your supporting dimmy will forget to support abd instead buff itself despite not having the attack stat build to take advantage of it. Plus you cant have both and switch between modes mid battle, so thatd be REALLY useful if one yokai actually could do that, and also could change stats to fit! Im not sure how to give it a trigger condition thatd let you sorta change at will but also not be 100% easy and overpowered. I was thinking tying it to his confidence could mean missed attacks turn him into kageusuo and critical hits turn into gorgeous? But thatd be TOO uncontrollable...

* oh actually i think maybe i'll nickname him Amber! Just cos my brain just mispronounced gorgeous ambassador and It Kinda Works??? Also its a kind of name that sounds very pretty but also has connotations of gentle shyness, i think. Matches the duality of his fake boastfulness vs his true self doubt.

* Oh and i also thought of maybe having Blythe evolve into Casanono, even though you cant do that in canon. I feel like turning into a pretty humanoid would be a good way to symbolize their growing confidence ans casanono/casanuva has a big nonbinary aesthetic in my opinion. Plus of course the fact casanono is a variabt of a confident yokai thats actyally shy. Originally older brother dude was gonna be a casanuva to match, until i heard about Gorgerous Ambassador and decided it fits him better (especially with that new anime form!) So now im thinking maybe have Blythe be both casanono and casanuva at once, similar to their bro's form switching? But itd be more like casanuva is a rare super saiyan esque powerup when they experience rare moments of confidence. Im pretty much just doing this because SADLY casanono is a joke character who is literally mechanically forced to be useless in battle. Its ability makes it harder to catch yokai which ia already goddamn difficult, and it wastes a skill slot too. As opposed to Dimmy who has a similar personality of always being ignored and depressed but its abilities are actually beneficial. Itd suck to go from Blythe being my mvp to being unable to use them at all, so this would be a way to still always draw them as casanono in comics to match their actual personality, but using casanuva in battle cos.. Well.. Yeah its the functional one of the two. Level-5 if youre listening please make casanono useable in future games!! Casanuva is absolutely the worst one personality wise so it sucks that the game agrees with his ego that he's great and also punches his depressed counterpart into the bin of ignoreness DESPITE BEING SUPER SYMPATHETIC AND RELATEABLE AND ALSO CUTER COLOURSCHEME

Anyway thats all the thoughts i have so far. Except oh also itd be funny if throughout the whole story blythe keeps talking about their dead brother as if he was the super best most serious hero and then when the protagobists actually meet him he's this gaudy dork XD

[princeshushu]

you shld ship your mutuals with seventeen members!!

I’M SORRY THIS TOOK LONG!!! (I have 65 mutuals have mercy on me)

I’m only including the ones that I’ve talked to personally because I know them better~ (you can actually tell how much I’ve talked to someone based on how long the paragraphs are)

@bingshua/ @theliqht (Seungkwan or Josh) - DENISE I FEEL LIKE YOU TWO WOULD GET ALONG NICELY BECAUSE Y’ALL ARE CUTE AND SWEET AF (those emoticons you use just makes me think of them akdkslg) You guys would be the cute ass couple that hypes each other up and does cute pda that people don’t mind because it’s too cute no one has the heart to get mad about it.

@foolishlydreamingx / @kingyu97 (Mingyu or Jihoon) - The realistic type and the adorable puppy both seem like you asdfghjkl Jihoon could probably relate and understand you better. Plus he might encourage you to do music again. I feel like Jihoon’s going to understand your problems and be able to comfort you better than other people. Mingyu is very sweet and very warm, he’d be able to comfort you too but not in the same way Jihoon will (although that’s not a bad thing). He’d let you know that’s he there for you and would let you tell him everything, assuring you that he’s listening to every single word you have to say. You guys would probably get along more when it comes to how hyped you guys can get!! But y’all would be the very supportive couple that won’t exactly print fans and scream at the top of their lungs to cheer you on but they’ll always be there to talk to you and give you a lot of support. They’re very down to earth and funny, you wouldn’t even feel like a third wheel when you’re out with the both of them asdfhckljl They’re very warm in their own ways and would probably cut their dates short to rush over to where you are because you feel sad or you need a shoulder to cry on. They’d be a great couple that you’d feel honored to be friends with.

@honeywonu (Wonwoo or Seungcheol) - Both of them could probably see through you when you pretend that everything is fine. They’d make sure you’re alright 24/7 and will be willing to sit down and listen to you or fight and beat the crap out of someone who made you feel bad. Hugs and cuddles every minute and would probably stick a big ass sign that says “You’re beautiful” to your mirror. Cute ass couple that would lowkey flirt everywhere and maybe accidentally turn something on so ya gotta run back home 

@jejublr (Seungkwan or Joshua) - Easy-going, sweet, funny, bright, and caring!! I feel like you’d get along with both asdfghjkl y’all brighten up everyone’s day and would probably get caught watching crack videos (or making them) in public. Y’all would be the sun in everyone’s lives asdfghjkl and that cute couple that is very comfortable with each other. You’d make faces at each other at least once every minute and would hype + cheer everyone up. Joshua would be great at listening to your problems

@7teencarot (Wonwoo or Jeonghan) - I literally just put in Jeonghan because or napping. Y’all would have cute napping dates (is that a thing)! You seem easy-going and chill, something Wonwoo would turn upside down. Idk why but i can see you with wonwoo laughing a lot and it’d be cute because you’re not usually like that (are you).

@causewhenyoulooklikethat (BooSeokSoon) - ANYONE OF THEM WOULD PROBABLY GET RID OF THAT AWKWARDNESS AND TURN YOU INTO A BALL OF CONFIDENCE ISTG. Okay but you’re great to be with once you get past the awkwardness (It’s cool to be awkward tho bc same) but booseoksoon would probably intensify the greatness AHAHAHAHAHA Y’all would make friends with people and be the nicest + friendliest couple out there. They’d see you holding hands on the streets with smiles as wide as the pacific ocean and it’d be ADORABLE

@paintedshua (Joshua) - Nice but not too intense~ plus vvv extra sometimes but JOSH WOULD LOVE JOKING AROUND WITH YOU!! You’re very open minded and calm so Joshua would love that and would feel safe opening up to you about things. You’d be that calm and soft couple that’s secretly I N T E N S E and funny af!!! (the funny things you say are said in a normal way (?) so it’s not obvious but when you read it you’d die laughing)

@soongyuz (Mingyu) - I HEARD YOU LIKE TOL BOIS HHAAHAHAH but it’d be really cute to see Mingyu all giggly and smiley because you want to kiss him but kinda need a ladder to do so?? He’d be happy to reach stuff for you and would protecc you because you’re his precious and no one else should have you. Also you’re a ray of sunshine mingyu would fall for you in 0.2 seconds. Y’all would be the cute couple that comforts people with their warmth and love

@diaryofadorkykid (Dokyeom or Joshua) - Very cute and bright but also very earnest and caring afkjdgsklj adorable and sweet which made me think of Dk and josh!! Ok I could see them being the sweet couple that is always seen together holding hands with bright smiles on their faces as they prank people or joke around HAAHAHAH they’d be very easy to talk to, and very understanding so they’d be a great couple to ask guidance from

@andromedaneedsoxyjin (wONWOO) - shy and awkward but cute and funny when you get to know them?? YES hello this couple is the one you’ll find in libraries, snickering in some corner with a funny comic they both enjoy. You’d probably see them in cons cosplaying or just enjoying the event. Then they come home with comic books in their arms ready to snuggle in their warm bed to read them together

@kwoncity (SOONYOUNG) - you may not notice it because of how funny they are but omfg they are very caring and will always make sure that you’re okay. They’re the couple that always seems like they’re just joking around and goofing off but they’re serious when they have to be. It’s the responsible couple that supports/protects other people. I feel like they’d be a bit more mature than other couples but it’s all the same when it comes to cuddles and comforting each other (maybe even sweeter)!!!

@shucoup (Joshua) - NOT JUST BECAUSE HE’S HER BIAS OK but like they’re both very caring and supportive. It’s the positive couple that rarely has any fights because they’re both just very understanding and mature enough (although fights can’t be avoided sometimes I feel like they’d patch up easily). Ya think they’re nice af people but then their inner meme shows up in selfies (like with Snow filters and chicken shua) HAHAHAHA (they’re still nice af people tho). They’d probably blow up your timeline with meme-y selfies and if not, they’re out enjoying food and simply spending time with each other!! (Why do I see them in pet stores???)

@sugarhyun / @7teentexts (Jihoon or Dokyeom and maybe Jun) - Jihoon’s personality isn’t like berry’s (can i use your real name or-) but like she would be able to bring out the less serious sides of Jihoon. You’d see Lee Jihoon walking the down the street laughing his ass off when he’s with her!!!! I also added Dokyeom because y’all would be the energizer that cheers anyone up!! I’ve had bad days but when I talk to you I just laugh a lot and it makes me very happy akljfkjlkdhf They’re both very caring (Jihoon and DK) under the kinds of personalities they have and can turn from a meme into a very serious person in like 0.1 seconds. They strive hard for the things they want to get and may falter but will always get back up. I ADDED JUN BC Y’ALL ARE ADORABLE AND CHILDISH SOMETIMES

@wonubookfairy (Wonwoo or Joshua) - sweet sweet sweet and shy but when you talk to them they’re very nice and won’t bite at all AHAHAHAHA They’d be the really nice couple that would probably your best friends! They’d be great at keeping secrets and you can count on them to be genuine and honest in everything akfjsdglkhdk They’re also very thoughtful and will do things to cheer you up when they know you’re sad and hurting. Omg they’d be the couple who would break into your apartment to set up a surprise party or a small gathering on your birthday or to make you feel better. 

@jeonghangyu (Chan or Seungkwan) - REAL AF also don’t touch them when they’re in a bad mood bc i cant guarantee your safety if you do. They’d be a chill couple that would be easy to talk to if they were in a good mood. Also protect this bby when they feel discouraged bc they’ll need all the love in the world asdfjkl 

@justsomekpopstuff (Joshua or Seungkwan) - down to earth and appreciates the things that deserve it. They will find you and they will give you the love and care you didn’t know you needed!!! They’d be the caring couple that would be seen at cafes sharing a milkshake or in the pouring rain, feeding a little puppy on the streets (that would be precious) omg askdlskgjklsf. okay but they’re cute lil beans that would support you and would understand you when you’re having a hard time

@joshpup (Joshua or Mingyu) - will probably do anything to put a smile on your face!! cutie that makes everyone happy because they’re so generous and sweet and kind!!! They’d be the couple who would be seen at charities, playing with kids, or just spending time with each other in cafes where you can lounge around!!! 

@chillihansol (Hansol) - I DON’T KNOW YOU WELL BUT YOU CHILL AF HANSOL WOULD LOVE DATING YOU ASKHSDLGKSHGKLSJ Y’all would send memes to each other late at night even though y’all are in the same bed and he’d suddenly laugh out loud and you guys would end up cuddling kahfklsdjglk

AHHHHH THIS WAS SO LONG BUT I LOVED DOING IT!!! I wish I could add more but this is as long as my fics AHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA 

[someobscurereference]

ok so assuming somehow circumstances permitted, consider a scenario where the awakening trio finally opens up about their past. how do you think the royals react? does it change the dynamics between them @ all? i feel like it would @ least make the trio feel closer to them, like more comfortable going to them if they wanted to talk about any past-related issues (trauma, nightmares, etc.) Also i cant help thinking of odin just dramatically being like "well the enemy was approaching so I (1/2)

decided to cut the bridge and stay behind”/Niles and Leo: yOU WHAT/Laslow: no its ok I decided to stay behind with him I would never leave a friend to die alone/xandar: D: im sorry you wHAT? ALSO I think about that line from ur fic where odin is like “that was our second dragon” bc one of the trio def says that and everyone just :O idk I just feel like the sheer amount of horrible things that happened to the trio would be shocking even for the nohrian royals bc it IS a lot (2/2)

Anon, u and i are always on the same wavelength, so I’m warning u to buckle up now, because this is gonna be a long one.

I’m going to preface this by saying I don’t know how Owain and Inigo could have had that bridge experience if the Trio in FE14 is supposed to be the same as the kids you recruit in the main FE13 storyline. The bridge experience is specifically used for the FE13 DLC in an alternate reality where those kids never go back in time (i.e. those are a different timeline’s children). The Owain and Inigo we know in the main FE13 never had that experience, as if you do deploy them in that DLC, they will comment that this did happen in their world but things were never that bad and they never had to cut the bridge. The Trio in FE14 is pretty heavily implied to be from the main storyline.

And yet???? Odin still is afraid of bridges because of that event???? I think I asked that once and somebody said it could just be the trauma of watching his alternate self nearly die that’s affecting him because he realized how badly things could have gone. And that’s possible and probably the truth. But I don’t know for sure and I never will and I think about this a lot. (Selena and Laslow reference Harvest Scramble and Hot Spring DLC, so they’ve gotta be the main timeline kids who fought with Chrom)

For the sake of this answer, I’m going to pretend the Trio in FE14 is the same as FE13 but they did have that bridge experience first-hand. It’s not canon, I think, but it just makes everything easier to think about (for me).

Moving on, I think the only time the Trio would admit they were from another world would be after Anankos was defeated because it wouldn’t have to be so secret anymore (even though it’s also like?? technically illegal from an inter-dimensional standpoint, lmao). Straight up, after Anankos is defeated, I think the exhaustion and happiness would get to them, and I just think it’d be really funny for Selena, who was the strictest about keeping their status a secret, to be the one to let the truth slip. 

(I’m probably??? Gonna end up putting a lot of tiny snippets of things in here to expand on them more and here’s a super short, rushed one now:)

The dust settled. Corrin stood at the far end of the hall, chest heaving. The minion Selena had been battling had disappeared right as she swung. Now the rest of the army was picking themselves off the ground. 

Selena pressed the tip of her sword into the cracked floor and leaned on it. Gods, she was tired. But Anankos was gone. She could feel it in the air. She knew what defeating a dragon was like. The crackle, the energy, the shadow hanging on all their shoulders— it was gone. Anankos was gone. 

“Hell yeah,” she muttered to herself. There was dirt in her mouth, ew. “Killed another dragon. Did you see that, mom?”

There was no response from her mother, of course. She was dead and gone, and even when she wasn’t, she was still worlds away. 

Selena did get a response from someone else though. 

Something shift to her left. The sound of an ax hitting the ground. Selena turned. 

“What,” Camilla said flatly. 

And then Selena tries to cover up her tracks and only makes it worse and in the end, it doesn’t matter anymore, so the truth comes out. Laslow and Odin never let her live it down. 

I feel like the Nohrian royals (besides Elise) always kinda knew? On some level? That the Trio was Different. Because they’re not exactly subtle. (Not that their minds jumped to “inter-dimensional travel”, of course.)

Odin says stuff like “sometime in the past… or, strictly speaking, some time in the future…” and “Risen… uh, animals from my home.” Laslow, to Xander’s face, says, “Good luck finding me with a fake name and appearance.” He says that!!! I In their Supports!! To Xander’s Face!!!

(Xander: “wHAT”)

Like??? They’re not… good… about lying. They’re not absolutely terrible? But their cover-ups mostly seem to be changing the subject or going, “Uh, please ignore that.” These idiots. I love them. 

Selena is probably the best about it? In her Support with Corrin, when asked if she’s from Hoshido, she says, “When did I say I was from Hoshido […] I never said I was from Nohr either” (or at least something like that.) She’ll admit she’s not from either kingdom but she doesn’t say anything other than that. So she’s dropped the least amount of hints, probably. (There are probably more examples for all three of them but I can’t think of Supports besides the Nohrian’s rn.)

But they arrived together and fight together and they talk like they’ve known each other for years sometimes, and if Laslow and Odin have something going on, she absolutely does as well, so. Come on. 

The thing is the Nohrian Royals have to Suspect. They have to know the Trio is super hiding their past. They’re together all the time, and while Camilla/Leo/Xander may sometimes talk about their past, it has to get obvious over the years that the Trio doesn’t. At all. Niles actively tries to find shit out and can’t find anything, for goodness sake. 

But the Royals are pretty respectful about it? They don’t hound the Trio about their past and seem to love and trust them as they are anyway? But that is something they have to ignore, and when the Trio says something that blatantly can’t be ignored like “Risen” or “I have a fake name and face” they have to ask. Both out of curiosity and obligation because they are technically the lawmakers of the land and they can’t ignore everything. Just be semi-decent at pretending and Leo/Xander/Camilla will too.

Reactions/Changing Dynamics

Even if Selena spills the beans immediately after Anankos’ death, I don’t think they sit down and say everything right then and there. Everyone is tired. Things need to be done. I guarantee after Laslow and Odin hear Selena accidentally said some of the truth, they look at each other and go, “Yeah, I guess it’s fine now” and then they don’t say anything more until they get back into the Deeprealm that night. 

(Camilla+Leo+Xander is gonna get called the Royal Trio now because their names are too long.) The Royal Trio still trusts the Awakening Trio, obviously, but they have questions. And Anankos is defeated. Does that mean the war is over? Technically yes, technically no. Nothing is official yet. Lots of explaining to do. But the Awakening Trio has now obviously let loose this secret they were trying to keep secret and the danger is technically over and they always talked about leaving after the war is over, so—

So technically the Royals get a bit nervous. They hang around the A. Trio or request them to stay in their line of sight all afternoon, even when there’s other stuff to be doing, even when it’s easier to split up and clean up and take stock of things, and eventually the A. Trio does call them out on it (individually). They do their chores and after-battle prep and take care of the injured and the Royals listen to messengers and make plans on what to do now, what kind of treaties to make, and then when the evening comes, the A. Trio comes back just like they promised they would, looking antsy and tired and a little nervous and they all sit down in Corrin’s private quarters bc this is Top Secret stuff and Corrin has to listen anyway and then the A. Trio talks. 

They don’t go too in-depth about Grima. Not yet. 

But they talk about the Hidden Truths DLC and how human Anankos asked for their help. They talk about why they were disguised and why they couldn’t say anything about it and how they nearly went to Hoshido, only to find out they had to go to Nohr instead at the last moment and they only knew they were looking for a stolen child. 

(The fact they nearly went to Hoshido instead of Nohr makes Xander frown and Leo scowl and Camilla cling to Selena bit more, even though Hoshido and Nohr are still kinda newly friends now.)

“So do you look like this permanently now?” Leo asked, curious. “You said the human Anankos changed your appearance. Will that ever wear off?”

Selena, Laslow, and Odin all shared a look. Eventually Odin shrugged. 

“I’m not sure,” he said. “It hasn’t shown signs of waning yet. Dragon magic is quite strong. Even if we returned to our home world, who knows if our parents would even recognize us at first.”

The last part was a joke. Selena smacked him on the shoulder, and Odin winced. 

“Don’t say that,” she scolded. 

Odin glanced over to Laslow, looking sheepish. “Sorry.”

Laslow didn’t seem to notice.

“I suppose I have grown used to how I look,” Laslow mused. He absently touched his hair. “Though I look less like my mother than I once did…” He noticed Xander watching and flashed a smile. “Not that I mind very much anymore, milord. It’s all in the past now.”

Camilla brushed her fingertips against the end of Selena’s hair. “I’m afraid I can’t quite picture you as a blonde,” she said.

They don’t talk about Grima or their childhood or anything too personal at that meeting. It’s not relevant to the safety of anyone, after all. But later, when they’re alone and not so forced to talk, they might. 

“She died early on, I guess,” Selena said, not looking at Camilla at all. Her face was turned towards the window, but she didn’t seem to notice anything outside. “When the war started really picking up. She’d be gone for weeks and weeks. She was the absolute best.”

Camilla could see it now. Selena, tiny, waiting by the door for her hero mother to come home, day in and day out. A hopeful thing that eventually grew resentful.

Or maybe it wasn’t like that at all. Maybe Selena got tired of waiting early on. Maybe she dragged her father around the house and stomped around the yard and pretended not to care when a Pegasus Knight failed to appear from over the hill. 

“And then she didn’t come home,” Camilla guessed.

“And then she didn’t come home,” Selena echoed. “And I became the second-hand soldier in her place.”

Camilla pursed her lips. She wanted to scold Selena for talking about herself like that. But the mood was heavy and it was Camilla’s line of questioning that had brought them here in the first place, so she kept her opinions to herself. For now.

“She’d be proud of you,” Camilla said. 

Selena looked at her, face hard. “You’re not my mother.”

“No, I’m not,” Camilla agreed. She’d never had a mother who would be proud of her, and she didn’t want to be Selena’s. “But I love you dearly anyway.”

Selena’s face softened. The far away look left her eyes.

I think the Royals and Retainers respect each other a lot already and after several years of war they’re pretty appreciative of one another, but also there’s a new understanding that comes with “Oh, this was your life before we met.” There’s also a tiny bit of fear too, probably; the A. Trio has told them several times, “Hey, don’t be surprised if we leave when the war is over.” But it’s one thing to know it and another to Know it and suddenly it’s not just a nebulous leaving but “oh, there’s a whole other world and family and friends waiting for you somewhere else” too. And how they’d probably never see one another again if they left. 

“That first year was the worst,” Laslow said. “I talked about this with Odin once, and he agreed. We had never killed people before. It had never crossed our minds that we would have to.”

Xander nodded, digesting this. He couldn’t imagine a world where he’d never have to kill another human being for the safety of those he cared about. But, he supposed, if nearly all the humans were dead anyway, that wouldn’t be as much of a concern.

Laslow caught himself. He straightened and visibly brightened. Laslow wore false cheer like an ill-fitting skin.

“But enough about depressing topics,” he said. “Have you been to the tavern recently, my lord? Yesterday I saw the most beautiful—“

“Laslow,” Xander said sternly.

Laslow shut his mouth.

Xander thought carefully about what he wanted to say. 

“Laslow,” Xander said again. “You do not have to pretend anymore. I know this much already. You’ve lived through three wars now, beginning from your birth. You do not have to hide the pain that causes you.” He placed a hand on Laslow’s shoulder, and Laslow looked up at him, eyes wide. “I am here if you ever wish to speak about what’s on your mind.”

There was a pause.

“It’s not a pretty story,” Laslow said quietly. 

“Tell me anyway,” said Xander.

Laslow did. 

And yes, eventually they even talk about the bridge incident. It probably goes a thousand different ways, but in this world it goes like—

(hey, some vague suicidal talk tw in this scene, so feel free to skip)

“Why would you do that?” Leo asked, equal parts surprised and angry, and unable to keep the emotion out of his voice. “Cutting the bridge down, dooming yourself—

“This was before I met you,” Odin reminded him gently, sounding much too serious and not at all himself. “It was. Different, then.”

“Not so different that you couldn’t think of another way to solve the situation than cutting down the bridge,” Leo said, voice terse. Why was he so upset? Over something that had happened—or rather, hadn’t even happened—years ago. Leo’s heart skipped as though he were afraid. He’d told Odin and Niles to be careful with their lives a thousand times before. “So willing to martyr yourself. Like you didn’t even want to—”

“My lord,” Niles cut in.

Leo’s mouth shut with a click. He had figured it out just as Niles had, though not soon enough.

“I thought I would do something good and my friends would be safe, and then I would be done,” Odin said, looking at the floor. “I thought I wouldn’t have to deal with it anymore. And everyone else would be fine.”

That and a hundred other reasons, Leo guessed, but in the end they all seemed to come back to that one. To wanting to be finished with a dreadful world, even if doing so meant… disappearing.

Odin had been… what then? Fifteen?

“I am sorry,” Leo said, much more quietly, and he meant it. For a lot of things.

He was so grateful to have met Odin now. That they had both made it this far, across worlds of doubt. The thought blew Leo’s mind on some level, but he focused on the here and now.

Niles breathed in through his nose.

“I get it,” he said, looking right past Leo and to Odin. 

Odin looked at him as if he were wondering if Niles really did get it. 

Leo didn’t. Not really. He’d never been in a position or lived a life like that before. He wanted to try, though.

(Azura was nearly in the above scene but I cut her just for time’s sake. Let it be known she does think about Odin’s response when she asked if he was afraid of heights though.)

So they probably do Talk About Things and it’s Rough. But it’s good too, and the A. Trio is more open and comfortable with each other in public and also they connect with the Royal Trio (plus retainers) more personally now too that they can discuss things like this as well. Like. It’s not easy? They do have nightmares and trauma and there are some things the Nohrians can’t understand on the same level Selena/Laslow/Odin can understand with each other but they do try hard to be there and available to talk. And in a way, like Laslow says, it does feel like a different lifetime some days. 

Okay, so I feel like I’ve talked for 8,000 years and I don’t want to make you wait on a response, but I also feel like I’ve only been super general here, so. If there is anything you wanna expand on or focus on/question a bit more, definitely feel free to follow up! I have an exam tomorrow but this is probably all I’m gonna think about all day, tbh. (anon, u ask the Best questions)

[survivor-iceland]

Ep. 13 - “So its been a dayyyyyyy Jayyyyyyy” - Jack

Timmy

How in the fuck am I still here?!?! I'm overjoyed and this is incredible. Tbh Jack totally just fucked his game but this is so good for me, even if I get out at 6, I still made it a little further than I thought I would've. Also, Raffy really popped the fuck off and it was so funny to watch. I'm just in a really good mood right now.

Maynor

I cant believe idol play was amazing but it wasnt needed. Sjdbsb it was 4-3 for Jack to go is crazy. And im so happy that Timmy stayed in the game. I dont want to play the game without him. So im super happy that he’s still in. We need to win this immunity and keep it away from zoe and Raffy. We need those options open. And also try n keep the idol away from them.

Raffy

Last night was a wild trip. Firstly, I cannot believe Ellie would betray us like that when Maynor is still in this fucking game. No one, except me, seems to think that he's going to win if we keep letting him have control of the game. It's as if I am in a game with a bunch of sheep where I am the only free thinker. This applies to Jack too since he voted out Ellie instead of Timmy in the revote. Like imagine keeping Timmy in this game when he has done so much!!! Like we just keep letting them get away with things and we just keep letting them have control of the game. I'm sick of it!!! I can only trust Zoe now since apparently everyone else is too brain dead to see the obvious threats in this game. I pretended to be fake mad to Jack in order to keep him on our side. I told him that my aggression was a ploy to make them think that he's on their side. I mean I was real mad, but he doesn't need to know that. I don't know whether the lie worked or not, but I just need to find an idol or win immunity because I am sick of Maynor and Timmy being like cockroaches in the nuclear fallout. Like??????? And don't get me started on the goat Joseph who doesn't even know how to talk to people properly. All of them can go fuck off for all I care. 

Raffy

Well I didn't find the idol, and I know that Jack is on the other path with that BS rotating puzzle. So, tomorrow I'll be doing the tundra and hopefully find it before anyone else, otherwise my time in this game is running out. I don't know how well I will do with the immunity challenge, but I have to be confident to do well. I'm praying that Zoe found something because we desperately need it if onyl to prevent Maynor from having it.  

Raffy

Also this is the mood for the rest of the game for John and Ellie and maybe Zoe if she doesn't make it to FTC with me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0U_Cdrbols

Timmy

Raffy is so fucking smug. He laughed whenever someone messed up in the challenge and basically almost cackled when Maynor and I got it. Like don’t fucking kick me when I’m down. 6th is my Achilles heel and I’m already freaking out. 

Jack

So its been a dayyyyyyy Jayyyyyyy. First Zoe comes in here like, "hey my idol still works" so my and raffy and zoe are like okayyyy we have to freaking one of us get immunity so its at least 2/3 and then zoe wins, and then moments later i finished the HELL PUZZLE WITH THE POINTY IDENTICAL LOOKING PIECES AND BACKGROUND and whoops i found the idol, so theoretically the three of us are like 3/3 safe and can vote out maynor. He's a sweet guy but like yeet. Raffy might be in trouble if zoe like wigs out and doesnt use the idol on him/ was like totally bullshitting about it? but i hope she aint cause yeah

Raffy

I'm glad that Zoe won the immunity challenge because it keeps safety away from both Maynor and Timmy. I wanted to win it, but I am proud that Zoe was able to either way. Her idol will be extremely useful going into this next round as we are planning to use it on me in order to make sure that 2/3 of us are safe tonight. Additionally, if the votes ends up tying 3-3, we can make sure that Jack is safe by revoting and keeping him in this game. Although, I doubt it has to come to that because Jack has also found an idol from the rehidden hunt. This means that all three of us will be safe going into this next tribal council unless they have an idol nullifier. Even then they still can only nullify one which means we're still the dominating force. Basically all is looking on the bright side for Raffy in this vote, and I hope things go smoothly in spite of my confidence.

Jack

I don't remember if I already made a confessional on this, but i found an idol, so now Zoe has immunity, she's gonna play her idol on Raffy, and imma play mine on me. Timmy's been hitting me and Zoe up about flipping on Raffy but we ain't doin thatttttt. Also Joseph was like "what happened in the challenge," and then was like what you thinkinnnnnnn. Maynor in general is like kinda accepted fate vibes. Hopefully everything goes well tonight.

Timmy

I’m distraught and upset. I guess it’s pretty much guaranteed that either myself or Maynor will be leaving tomorrow. I’m so sad and he deserves to stay so much and deserves to win and if he stays, I will not regret anything I did in this game. I want him to be happy and I know he belongs in this game and seeing him happy makes me so happy. 

Raffy

The plan right now is for Zoe to use her idol on me and for Jack to use his idol on himself so that we are all safe at tribal council tonight. My FTC plan right now is Zoe, Joseph, and I. I love Jack, but he needs to go because I feel like he beats me at the end. He has an amazing redemption arc, and he has pulled off so many things in his short time here without many social connections. That's pretty impressive. However, I want to take him out at F5 or F4 because I still need him on my side. My boot order currently is Maynor -> Timmy -> Jack. However, Jack is also good at challenges which means I have to pry the immunity necklace from his hands. I know I can beat him. I just have to go out there and do it. 

Maynor

Tonight might be my last night in the game and its bittersweet. I feel like i played a good game. I also feel like i was given credit for the moves Ive made. I am very proud of myself, and usually im always very hard on myself. I feel like this was my most out there game play ive had and im still very in aw that i was able to pull off a 4-3-3, vote 3-2-2 vote, able to flip Jack to vote Ellie saving Timmy, found an idol and many things. This has been a favorite game even though i might be out tonight. Like they know Ive played hard and i kept fighting to stay in this game. Tribal is going to be 3-3. We are voting jack (me timmy joseph) and (zoe raffy jack) are most likely voting for me once again. I hope. Jack has the idol cuz he did the trees path were i knew it was going to be at but my dumbass decided to do mountain instead. Jack is either going to use his idol on Raffy to try n avoid a tie or of jack plays it on himself and he negates all his votes. Either way. We are going to lose someone and they arent. So whatever happens tonight i will be content with cuz ive done everything that i could to try and survive. ❤️ Jay for having me back. Youre the best. Love you. ❤️

Maynor

My thoughts on 5 of the Final 6 people in the game: 1. Jack- oh the second boot. Was very paranoid early of this game and its understandable. Did good in EOE and returned to the game. Seemed to fall into place to Raffy’s side by not even talking to me or people who were working with me. Made his own ‘move’ by doing Ellie during F7 vote. But honestly it was not a good move for him. Even though I preached Jack has his own story. Honestly, he is still kind of a goat. No one would vote for him to win over others left in the game. Going to the end with Zoe and Raffy is his death sentence but going also everyone else in the game is his death sentence. 2. Joseph- people are saying he is a goat but that is not necessarily true. He has made moves in this game to help his position in it. He took the opportunity at f10 to make a move. Again with John vote. Dylan vote as well. Same with Jack that turned to Ellie vote off. The moves he has made were to help him make it to the end. People are underestimating his game play and if he makes it to the end then he really deserves to win it. Especially over like Jack. Also Raffy and Zoe tbh. 👀 MaynorPart 2: 3. Zoe- Zoe is a good player. But gameplay this season, i dont think she deserves the win. She was already voted out. All her strategic moves did not go according to plan. Was over confident and cocky and comfortable in the game. Wasnt going to make it to the final 7 anyways because her allies Raffy and Dylan were going to take her out. Her game play after making it back into the game due to eoe has made her into a goat. Like if someone votes for her to win its due to them being bitter over everyone else. She didnt try to make connections with everyone. She went right back to the people she was working with. And you can feel the ooze of over confidence when she said “im fitting in perfectly” when her as only talked to Raffy and ellie and Jack. So 🤷‍♂️ Honestly social game aint that good either. 4. Raffy- oh boi. Raffy raffy. Were do I start. None of his plans have happened besides the Stephen vote and even that he said it wasnt his move. Gave it to Dylan. So 🤷‍♂️ What moves has he done really? Hes been rude to a few people here and honestly leaves a bad taste in my mouth (game wise) cuz its been more game talk from him. He gets mad when things dont go his way and just starts yelling at people that they made the bad decision. But he still fought in this game. I would gove my vote to him over people like Zoe and Jack. MaynorPart 3: 5. Timmy- can i say how proud i am with Timmy this season. His social game was amazing and strong. He had people wanting to work with him and was in a good spot for a bit. He felt in the bottom and made a move. Since then has been fighting to stay in the game. Got ellie to flip on her alliance. Said Dylan’s name for the target. He played an idol on me instead of himself. He really did all that in this game and he has a big shot to win this game. He just has to reach the final 3. I feel that he can do that. He’s a great person and honestly gunna be sad now going to be able to finish this game with him. Would have been amazing to be able to sit with him at the end of the game. But alas ive made myself into a huge target that no one would want to work with me to get to the end and i understand. It just sucks i wont be able to finish this game with him. But he would be a great winner. And he deserves it with the game he has played. Im wishing him the all the luck and sending him good vibes for the rest of the game. ❤️

[survivor-rotuma]

Ep. 9: “I’m tired of not playing my own game“ - Joey

Brianna

Yknow going into this game I silently joked to myself I was gonna be the catty girl and the last girl standing but I didn’t mean it. But. That’s just how things turned out. Sorry zest. 

Flint

Tribal was a bit nerve wrecking as there were some votes for me. I had suspicion I would revive some but it feels so much real when you actually see them. 

Flint

I still think I’m sticking with Felix as long as I can. I’ve promised to work with him to the end and go up against him, although I know I would lose. Brianna has now approached me and wants to go to the end with me. I have also promised her the same. I think I’d have a better chance against Brianna but we’ll see what happens in the next day or two. 

Lysandre

So this round's challenge is not at all cute how I imagined it to be. It is basically a freelance scavenger hunt for items that start with the letter B which is insane. I'm def gonna play my idol this round to guarantee my safety since the challenge is not at all cute. Next round I'm going to try and get Boris to use his idol on me or I use my extra vote somehow. At final 5 however, that's where all the chaos will break loose. 

Lysandre

I wonder how this round is going to play out! If Apollo wins immunity then I'm gonna play my idol. I think I may play an extra vote this round if he doesn't.

Brianna

Fuck instant tribal....

Flint

What is going on?!!?! Mess of an immunity causing an instant tribal?! What a mess but what fun outcome. Time to scramble folks

Boris

WOOOOO I LOVE PUSHING FOR INSTANT TRIBALS EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING??? Like I'm fucking LIVING for this. I said I wanted to play messy and look at me go. I have an idol and an ally that hates me and another ally that wants to vote said other ally out. There's a plan in there somewhere! I'm gonna try to do something fun

Apollo

Thank god I found that idol, I don’t know if they’re coming for my ass tonight or not but all I know is that I won’t be seeing Zest on the jury, not yet at least.

joey g

So I’m tired of not playing my own game. Last round, I lost someone who really wanted to work with me, and after being open more with Apollo I’m about to lose him too: It seems like I’m getting close to jurors right before they leave, but they might be upset I didn’t do more to save him: I really want Lys out, I think they have the best connections and the best story and I’m not confident I’m in their long term plans. Maybe I should break away from Felix and try to make a move

Brianna

Okay. Here’s how this vote has shaped up I believe. Flint, Joey, Felix and lys are going for apollo. I don’t know what me and Boris are doing. And Apollo has told us he has an extra vote. Boris wants to go to rocks with a tie. But if Apollo can’t vote he can’t use his extra vote and it won’t go to rocks so...I don’t know what drugs they’re on. This game is getting down to less and less people. And I just want everyone and no one out at the same time. With Apollo lys and Felix as threats I have a plan I suppose. But Felix is immune. And Apollo wants to target lys. It just doesn’t seem possible tho so...sorry apollo

Felix

Things are crazy. Apollo wants to skate by. Lys wants Apollo gone. Boris wants to force rocks. The votes are going to be between Lys and Apollo this tribal council. Boris, Joey, and I will vote Apollo while Brianna and Flint will vote Lys. With Apollo's extra vote, he could make a tie to force rocks. Also, I hope Joey doesn't flip. He's loyal to me alone so he'll hopefully listen to my advice. I just want rocks as well since I'm safe, but OOF. This instant tribal is crazy!!

Brianna

Okay well. Found out all the drama between Apollo and lysandre and my name getting thrown out so that’s figured out. Also LYSANDRE CANT KEEP THEIR MOUTH SHUT! I talked with Joey and found out lys told him that I said his name. Luckily we were able to work something out. And we have a group to get lysandre out. Yay to getting out a threat!

Lysandre

So I'm using my idol for multiple reasons now.

1) I'm not immune this round and my name has been brought up before last round by Apollo. 2) I could theoretically play my extra vote to out vote Apollo but Boris is on crack and may force a tie so be can get those rocks. I swear he wants those rocks like they're crack or something. 3) Joey could very well flip on me. And me using the idol and not the extra vote is testing his loyalty. 4) I don't have time to go home when I have a guaranteed spot to next round in my pocket. I would rather have used it incorrectly than not at all. Its a instant round and I don't have time for mishaps.

Boris

so Lys and Felix want APOLLO out. Apollo is throwing in the towel and barely playing now. And I wanna be messy. I'm thinking of idoling Apollo and getting out Lys. Lys is OBJECTIVELY in the best position in the game, even if he's my closest ally. BUT I don't wanna lose my closest ally!! or Apollo!!! I wanna keep working with them!!

Felix

MESS! There's an alliance with Joey, Apollo, Boris, and Brianna to get Lys out. Boris is obviously not for that, but I don't know about Joey. He's being very if-fy with me. Please don't grow a brain and de-align yourself with me. I need you! Hopefully, Flint keeps his word and votes Apollo. We need those rocks now lol

Flint

Well it’s 15 minutes before tribal and I’m stuck in the split vote position. Do I go with Lys or Apollo, man this is tough. 

joey g

HELL YEAH JOEY G BREAKOUT EPISODE. GET PUMPED. GET HYPED.

So I low key was feeling out apollo and suddenly the game exploded and he was targeting Lys, my main threat. I was added to a chat with him, Brianna and Boris but Boris leaked it to Felix and now he’s all pissed at me. I think since its already out there I want Lys out I have nothing to lose by going with my gut and making the move we want to make. I solidified an alliance with Flint so hopefully that will stay strong through the vote.

Lysandre

So I'm using my idol for multiple reasons now. 1) I'm not immune this round and my name has been brought up before last round by Apollo. 2) I could theoretically play my extra vote to out vote Apollo but Boris is on crack and may force a tie so be can get those rocks. I swear he wants those rocks like they're crack or something. 3) Joey could very well flip on me. And me using the idol and not the extra vote is testing his loyalty. 4) I don't have time to go home when I have a guaranteed spot to next round in my pocket. I would rather have used it incorrectly than not at all. Its a instant round and I don't have time for mishaps.

Lysandre

The extra vote is for if Boris still wants to force rocks. He would get what he wants if I idol and they vote Joey oh wait.. joey would go home. But if I extra vote its a tie...

Brianna

Sure do hope I’m not voted out

Felix

I am loving this! the idols? The revote? The rocks? And no one I care about is in danger soooooooooo WIG!