#now if only i would finally get my physical copy so i can listen to the album version of hyper reality show...

[umilily]

i've noticed you like vocaloid, so: what is your favorite song from the new utsu-p album? :0 mine is "atari front program" or "b.g.m"!

— 🍞

aaah, it's honestly so hard to choose ^^' i think it's a fantastic album in general and i've been listenting to all the songs for several days on repeat lol excellent choices on your part, anon, i really like those two as well. i think "ga" is still my favourite tho, has been since its release back in spring.

[scarlethexelove]

Your newest fic was amazing!! It hit me right in the feels. Is there a possibility of doing a part 2 where R is healing and struggling with having Wand and Natasha back in her life? A happy ending would be nice.

What About Now?

Pairing: WandaNat x Reader, Carol Danvers x Reader

Word Count: 3590

Warnings: A bit of angst(I guess), Fluff, Medical stuff that may not be right, mention of not wanting to survive

Part 1 I Don't Even Know You Anymore

A/n: Ok so finally got this done. It has some unspecified time jumps. I wanted to kind of leave it a surprise on who Reader will choose so you will just have to read to find out. Hopefully it's good.

NO ONE IS PERMITTED TO STEAL, COPY, OR REBLOG MY WORK AS THEIR OWN

It’s been a week since you woke up.Your mind reeling at the news that you will never be an Avenger again. Your injuries were extensive. Your head injury with your new found stutter which you are really hating. Doctors believe that those effects can be reversed with speech therapy. Along with that it was discovered that a bullet had grazed your spinal cord. While they did test your reflexes they came back weak. Your lower half is feeling slightly numb and tingling. With physical therapy they are hopeful for improvements but with the prognosis things will be difficult. There was also nerve damage that will cause ongoing pain. It comes and goes and some days are worse than others. But you’re alive and that is all that matters. 

Your mind goes through all the questions you have in your head. Will Tony make you leave? How do I tell everyone? How do I stop the pity? Was I better off not surviving? All these questions and you have no answers. No one knows of the news you got today leaving you alone with your thoughts but with this news you prefer it. 

As your mind plays through all the questions you don’t even hear the door open. But you're drawn to it when it shuts. You look down at your hands not meeting the eyes on you believe it is Wanda and Natasha who have visited frequently. “P-please leave. I c-can’t with this to-today.” You fiddle with the ends of your sleeves. “Well I did travel across six galaxies to see my best friend but I guess I’ll have to come back later.” Your eyes snap up and you're met with a soft smile from your best friend. “Ca-carol?” The tears start to well up in your eyes before a broken sob breaks through. Carol is quick to move towards you. Climbing onto the edge of the bed and pulling you into her chest. 

You sob for what seems like hours until your sobs turn to soft sniffles and hiccups. But Carol never leaves hugging you tightly against her as she rubs your back and kisses your head softly. Cooing in your ear to help calm you down. “Y/n/n do you want to tell me what is going on? I heard you were hurt so I came straight here.” You nod, pulling away to look at her before letting it all out. Telling her what happened from when you got back from your mission all the way until earlier today. She intently listens to you and lets you speak. There is no pity in her eyes, only love and compassion, no malice even when talking about what Wanda and Natasha did to you. Only concern for you and your wellbeing. That was why she was your best friend. She knew you better than anyone. 

Once you are done she finally speaks. “I wish I was here. I wish I could have been here for you, to take care of you but I’m here now.” She kisses your forehead again lightly. Her lips linger just a little longer than they should but you don’t mind. Her warmth comforts you. “W-what about m-mi-mission?” She shakes her head. “I’m here for you. Y/n/n you come first.” Your heart melts. “Nick granted me time off.” She smiles brightly at you. Your joy and excitement to have your bestfriend back. 

From all the events of the day and crying your eyes out you start to get tired. You're nuzzling into Carol's chest as you let out a yawn. “Get some rest sweetheart. You need it. I’ll be here when you wake up.” She kisses your head again and pulls you closer to her. You give her a gentle nod nuzzling closer to her before you close your eyes. Drifting off into the most peaceful sleep you have had in almost a year. 

In the months since waking up from your coma and Carol’s return you have grown even closer to Carol. Tonight just like any other night or so you think. You and Carol are sitting in your bed watching a movie for your weekly movie night. Your head is laying on her shoulder, her arm wrapped around you tightly keeping you close. You let out a giggle at something in the movie causing Carol to smile at you. What she does next you don’t expect. She places a finger under your chin gently directing you to look at her. She leans in and gently kisses your lips. You're too shocked to kiss back at first. But once the shock wears off you start kissing her back. It feels strange but good. The kiss deepens her hands cupping your face as you grip at her waist. You didn’t even realize how long you two had been kissing until you're forced to pull back panting and catch your breath. Her forehead pressed against yours as your breaths mingle. 

You don’t want to admit that your feelings for Carol have grown with the more time you have spent with her but you're not sure if they are romantic or not. “Carol” You whisper between you two. You lean your head back and look into her eyes. “I-I don’t know. I’m not ready. I don’t know how I feel. I’m sorry.” You look down disappointed in yourself but you know that you need to understand yourself before you can decide anything. Natasha and Wanda are still trying to prove and make up for everything they have done. You still have love for them but you also have love for Carol even if you aren’t sure what that love entails. 

Carol gives you a soft smile. “It’s ok Y/n/n. You don’t have to explain. I just wanted to kiss you so bad and I couldn’t help myself.” You blush at her words. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.” She adds looking at you, her smile turning sheepish. “No it’s ok. I-I liked it.” You tell her your cheeks are still dusted with a light pink. This was not how you expect your night to go but it was a nice surprise. “Do you want to keep watching?” Carol asks. “Hmm oh y-yeah, of course.” You say turning back to the movie. Your head back on her shoulder and her arm wrapped around you tightly. 

So far the only people who know about your prognosis are Carol, Tony, Bucky, and Steve. You have asked  them to not tell anyone else until you are ready. Tony has let you stay in the tower citing that you have given up enough of your life and you deserve to keep your home. You are grateful for his kindness. No matter what people say you know Tony has a big heart and cares more than he lets on. 

As for Natasha and Wanda they have been helping you as much as they can even if you don’t always want it. They are trying to prove to you that they are truly sorry for what they have done. They even started to go to therapy in hopes of proving it to you. They have even invited you to multiple sessions. At first you didn’t want to go but you wanted to see if they had actually changed. So you tagged along after turning them down a few times. But now that you have gone you have joined them multiple times. Seeing that they are trying. 

Currently Carol is away for a small mission. Fury forced her to go but luckily this one is on Earth so she shouldn’t be gone for too long. You're in your bathroom when you feel a sharp pain in your back which causes your legs to give out. You fall to the ground with a loud thud and a cry of pain. You try to get up but a shooting pain runs through your hip causing a small whimper to fall from your lips. When you can’t get up you love to sit against the counter. 

“F.R.I.D.A.Y?” You call out. “Yes Miss.Y/l/n?” F.R.I.D.A.Y’s robotic voice is heard above. “I-I need help.” You say back. Shortly after F.R.I.D.A.Y responds “I have informed your emergency contact. Miss.Romanoff and Miss.Maximoff are on their way.” “W-wait, N-” You’re cut off when the door slams open, Natasha and Wanda with a frantic look on their faces when they see you on the floor. You had forgotten to change your emergency contact from the two after everything, but it’s too late now the women are here. 

“Oh Milaya, what happened?” Wanda kneels down next to you. She hesitantly reaches out for you and when you don’t pull away she takes your hand in hers. “I-I fell and I can’t get back up.” You mumble looking down. You expect to see pity from the woman so you can’t bring yourself to look at them. Natasha makes you look at her with a soft smile. She holds out her hands for you to grab and to help you up. You place your hands in hers, she starts to try to lift you up but you cry out in pain. There is a terrified look on her face in fear that she may hurt you somehow. “I’m sorry Y/n.” You shake your head. “Not you. I think it was the f-fall.” You tell the woman. “We’ll take you to the med bay. We need to make sure you are ok.” Natasha scoops you gently in her arms and takes you towards the med bay. Wanda close behind the both of you.

Once the three of you are there Natasha puts on the exam table in front of Bruce. He was luckily already in the med bay when you got there. “What can I do for you?” Bruce takes off his glasses looking at you three. “I fell and I think I hurt my hip.” You tell him and he nods. It is a short time before he is done with his scans. Natasha and Wanda never leave your side throughout the process. Bruce moves to look at your chart and scans. You watch him as he reads through. You can see the slight change in his demeanor and the quick glance he gives you before looking back down quickly. You know what he just saw. 

There is a gasp that draws your attention. You look over seeing Wanda with her hand over her mouth shocked and a sad look in her eyes. “W-Wanda.” Your voice quivers slightly. “You weren’t supposed to find out. Not this way.” Natasha looks confused as she looks between you and Wanda. Bruce shrinks back trying to blend in with the wall. “I-I’m sorry. His thoughts were so loud I didn’t mean to hear.” Wanda pleads, a look of remorse on her face. “Will someone tell me what is going on?” Natasha asks finally and you sigh knowing that you can’t hide it from them anymore. “W-when I got hurt my injuries were more extensive than what was originally thought.” You gulp down the tears that threaten to fall. “I won’t be an Avenger again.” A tear rolls down your cheek as you look down. 

The room falls silent with the news until Bruce breaks the silence. “Y/n I have your results. It looks like you have a hairline hip fracture. It should heal on its own with rest. You will have to stop your physical therapy for a few weeks but then be able to continue.” With Bruce's words you nod, willing the tears from the previously intense moment to go away. Bruce gives you some pain medication to help before taking his leave, leaving the three of you alone in the room. 

The tension in the room could be cut with a knife until you speak. You explain everything to the woman. Tears rolling down your cheeks as they comfort you. It’s an emotional time as you tell them. Their comfort in this moment means the world to you. It is something that you have missed dearly. They vow to help you in whatever way they can. They help and comfort making you feel loved. Making you question all of your feelings for them and for Carol. 

It’s been a few weeks and you're healing. You can move around again albeit slow and with the help of a cane. You're making your way to the common room when you stop at the entryway. Leaning on the wall watching all of your favorite people in the room. No one has noticed you yet as you watch. Your eyes landing on Carol as she laughs and talks with Thor. A smile on your face watching the two interact. Your gaze then makes its way to Natasha and Wanda who are cuddled up on the couch. They are playfully arguing with Clint. The sight widening your smile. You see that Carol’s eyes land on you with a giant grin on her face. At the same time Wanda and Natasha spot you giving you a warm and inviting smile. And in that moment you know that you need to make a decision. To either take a chance with Carol or forgive Wanda and Natasha. To build a lasting relationship with either the pair or your best friend. It will be one of the hardest decisions of your life and one you never thought you would have to make. 

The door swings open as the keys jingle in the door. The sound of feet padding on the ground, wails of glee from the kids. “Mommy! Mama!” Three children yell in unison. Their attention is drawn to the open door. Their bodies smashing into the woman causing them both to laugh before crouching down to their heights. Holding them closely to their bodies. A blonde falling back into the couch with a huff watching on. Green eyes landing on the woman and giving a nod. The blonde nodded back. 

The kids pull away and look at the woman. “Where’s Momma?” Natasha asks, her green eyes looking at her son. The boy shuffles a bit with a sad look. “It’s a bad day. Momma called Aunt Yelena to help.” Natasha kisses his head, she knows it is hard for the kids to see you in pain just as much as it hurts her and Wanda. She looks to Wanda who gives her a sad smile. “Have you been good for Aunt Yelena Billy?” She smiles down at him trying to brighten his mood. “The niblets have been just fine.” Yelena interjects from the couch. Natasha raises her brow at the word. “What? I heard it on the tiktok.” Yelena says with a wide grin proud of herself. Natasha rolls her eyes and puts her attention back on the kids. Billy, Tommy, and Alexandra nod along with Yelena. Causing both women at the door to laugh. Wanda kisses Tommy and Alexandra’s head. “Thank you for being good for your Aunt. How about we…” Wanda ponders for a moment. “Pizza for dinner.” The kids erupt in cheers which brings a smile to their faces. “How about you three go play while me and Mama go check on Momma?” The three nod and scurry away. The two women stand up and start making their way towards the bedroom. “Thank you Lena. Are you okay still watching them?” Wanda asks before leaving. Yelena waves her off as the kids pounce on her and she laughs. “I’ll make you some mac and cheese later.” Wanda yells from down the hall. They hear a loud yes from the woman causing them to laugh as they make their way into the bedroom.

It’s dark as they enter the room. They can see your form on the bed cuddled under the blanket. They see your shoulders gently rising and falling as you breathe. You must be asleep as you don’t hear them enter. The woman takes their shoes off before joining you in bed. Wanda slides in behind you, her arms wrapping around you gently, not wanting to cause you any added pain. Natasha shuffles in front of you. Moving your hair from your face. She smiles as you start to blink your eyes open. “Natty? Wands?” You question as your eyes begin to focus on the woman in front of you. Wanda gently kisses your shoulder as Natasha kisses your forehead causing you to let out a small giggle. “ You’re home early.” You say sleepily moving your head to nuzzle into Natasha’s neck. She smiles, running her fingers through your hair. “Mhmm we couldn’t wait to get back to you and the kids so we worked quickly.” Natasha kisses your head again. 

“Billy told us you’re having a bad day.” Wanda kisses your shoulder again gently. You let out a small hum. You hate to admit it sometimes but you know your family just wants to help. “How about we get you in a nice hot bath. Yelena is still watching the kids. We can then have a nap with you.” Natasha smiles at you and you nod. “Wands also promised the kids Pizza for dinner and mac and cheese for Yelena.” She chuckles as Wanda pushes her shoulder which causes you to giggle at them. 

Natasha and Wanda slide out of the bed causing you to whine at the loss of their bodies.  “Shhh detka.” Wanda says softly, helping you up and picking you up into her arms. You wrap your legs around her waist and bury your head in her neck. You let out a small whimper at the movement. “I’m sorry milaya devushka.” She holds you close and you nuzzle into her neck causing her to smile. “N-not your fault.” You mumble in her neck, placing light kisses on her neck. “I know. I just don’t like seeing you in pain.” She kisses your head as she takes you into the bathroom. Natasha is already in there and has started the bath. Wanda sets you down gently before helping remove your clothes. Natasha finishes getting the bath ready with an added bath bomb. Both women take turns stipping down to join you, one always being there to give you support. 

Wanda steps in the bath and sits down. Natasha then helps you in. Your back pressing against Wanda’s front before Natasha sinks into the water in front of you. You give Natasha grabby hands and she moves closer to you. The three of you settled into the warm bath. Nothing sexual, just love and understanding between the three of you. After a bit of soaking the woman help wash you and your hair before focusing on themselves. 

Once you're all done they help you out and dry you off. Natasha goes and gets clothes for all three of you. She puts you in a pair of her sweatpants and one of Wanda’s hoodies. You inhale the scent of Wanda on the hoodie letting out a content sigh. Natasha then lifts you gently into her arms and takes you to the bed. Helping you before getting in herself. You snuggle up to her and nuzzle into her chest. Wanda sliding in behind you. The moment was so soft and sweet. The women are still kicking themselves for what they did to you all those years ago. Thankful that your kind soul forgave them and gave them another chance to earn your love and affection. Now you're all a big happy family with three beautiful kids that mean the world to you all. 

The silence is peaceful as you relax feeling a wave of exhaustion. Natasha breaks the silence, her voice soft and low. “Detka we have some news for you. A surprise of sorts.” You lift your head from her chest and look up at her. A glint of excitement in your eyes as you wait for the woman to continue. She smiles gently before continuing to speak. “That was our last mission.” You sit up slightly ignoring the twinge in your back. “What?” You question. You hope this means what you think it means. “Dorogaya we are retiring. That was our last mission. We want to be here with you and the kids. We are done with that fight, all we want is your love.” You turn to Wanda as she speaks, happy tears filling your eyes. You can’t help as the tears fall and you hug them both tightly. “I love you both so much.” You let the tears fall. Your family is complete and you can all have the life you have always dreamed of. It isn’t what you expected it to be but with these women you can do anything. Over the years they have loved you at your best and at your worst. Stuck by you through every bad day. Your love grows for them every single day that you are together and you wouldn’t change it for the world. 

Each of them kissing your head. “We love you too.” They say together. “We want to spend the rest of our lives with you. Making up for our wrongs and earning your love.” Natasha gently kisses your lips. “Y-you already have.” You kiss Natasha before turning to Wanda and kissing her. The day started out terrible but the two women you chose to hold your heart one last time have proven that you did in fact make the right choice. 

A/n: I know that some if not most will not be happy with my decision to have WandaNat as end game. I went threw a few different idea's and always came back to them. So even if it is hated it is what I wanted in the end. Thanks for reading though.

[tetzoro]

NIGHTMARES — ༉‧₊˚.

ft. jean kirstein !

꒰ SYNOPSIS ꒱ : jean has troubles sleeping some nights, but he can always count on you to be there for him.

꒰ CONTENT ꒱ : set awhile after the events of the rumbling, established relationship, hurt/comfort, fluffy ending ! — WC : 1k

꒰ NOTES ꒱ : this has been sitting in my drafts forever so in honor of the finale, i leave it with you ᰔ

reblogs and interactions are always appreciated ! (*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ᰔ*.ﾟ

jean knew that he’d spend the rest of his life running away from nightmares that continued to threaten his sanity. between seeing the horrors of war, the events of the rumbling, and the ever-fading image of his best friend, it was rare for him to get a good night's sleep.

tonight was no different. the demons attacked his mind and took over his subconscious. the only thing he could do was wake up and try to shake off the despair that pooled in his stomach before it quickly infected the rest of him. 

he bolted up, barely registering that the blanket he had wrapped around him slipped off, revealing his bare chest. everything felt so intense and all he could do was try to focus on steadying his frantic breathing, his body covered in a cold sweat despite his best efforts.

jean’s hazel eyes frantically searched the room for any sign of a threat but was met with an eerie silence. something even after all these years he wasn’t quite used to. once he had the all clear, his shoulders slumped with a sigh of relief, his gaze trailing from the door back to you. the moonlight crept into the room, shining a soft light against your sleeping figure.

at least he had you, he thinks to himself. the world had taken so much from him but he counted his blessings everyday that you had made it here with him. seeing you always managed to calm him down, bring him back to reality. just your presence alone was more than enough to soothe him, chasing off the demons that lingered behind.

he ran a hand through his hair as he laid back down. you looked so peaceful as you slept; seemingly untouched from the demons that tried to claw its way through your soul. he admired your strength while simultaneously wishing you didn’t have to be so strong. 

jean couldn’t help but pull you close and drown himself in you, burying his face in the crook of your neck and inhaling your scent. his rapidly beating heart started to slow down as he pressed his chest against yours. his heart was listening to yours, ready to follow suit and copy the same pace it held in hopes of fusing together in one shared beat. only then would he start to feel calm again.

an image of the rumbling ran through his mind again, making him involuntarily clutch onto you tighter. finger digging into you. the sudden pressure on your back had your eyes fluttering open. another dose of guilt washed over jean as you started to stir awake.

“sorry for waking you, baby. go back to sleep.” he murmured, kissing the crown of your head in a silent apology. 

“jean?” your sleepy voice called out, sounding so soft in the dead of night. “you’re all sweaty.”

jean’s heart started to beat faster again; the physical reminder of his nightmare was still lingering and now it was trying to infect you. but you were always immune to it, ready to help shoulder the burdens he carried on his back.

“another nightmare?” you whisper, sitting up a little. jean shifts so he’s leaning back against the headboard. you take a good look at him and see the bags sitting under his eyes, the normally bright hazel tone had turned into a dull, murky one; laced with exhaustion. “come here.”

you lay back down on your pillow and open your arms for him. anytime jean had a nightmare, you did what you could to bring him back down to earth. sometimes he’d be stubborn and try to fend it off himself, but as he grew older he realized that maybe it wasn’t so bad to lean on someone. especially if that someone was you. 

jean let out a small sigh of relief before wrapping his arms around your waist, laying his head on your chest. the steady thrum of your heartbeat reminded him of what he needed to know – you’re both alive, both together. everything was going to be okay.

your fingers weave through his silky strands, combing out the knots and loosening the demons hold on his mind. he nuzzled against you, soaking in all the affection you were drowning him in. you hummed softly — a song the two of you had heard a long time ago in marley, before everything had gone to hell.

it brought him back to the memory; a good one this time. it was the first time he had kissed you. everyone had found themselves exploring marley after eren left. the two of you had found a small bar to hide out in for the day. the man at the piano played the tune you were now humming and jean couldn’t help but ask you to dance with him.

 your bodies moved together as one and once the song had ended, jean had leaned down to give you the sweetest kiss you’ve ever had. from there on out, your once solid friendship morphed into a pure devotion to one another.

the vibrations from your humming had his eyes drooping, a dopey smile starting to take up his face as the memory of you chased out all the demons that tried to get him.

“i love you.” he whispered softly against your skin, pressing a light kiss in his wake as if to solidify the love into your body.

he knew tomorrow you’d let him talk about what haunted him tonight. but for now, he’d let your warm, comforting light lull him back to sleep.

the last thing he heard before his slumber was your sweet words that never failed to make him swoon. that made everything all worth it; fulfilling that tiny, silly dream he had when he was younger. to hold his loved one closely behind the safety of the 4 walls of your shared home.

“i love you too, jean.”

[stevie-petey]

episode one: the vanishing of will byers

Steve nods, as if you almost getting hit by his car makes perfect sense to him. When you walk over to your bike and inspect it for any damage, he follows after you.  “So,” he whistles, trying to pretend that this is all a completely normal occurrence. “You, uh, need a ride?” Honestly you don’t know why you’re surprised he hasn’t noticed the clear signs of you crying, your swollen eyes and red nose. Not only is he a boy, but he’s also Steve Harrington. It’s a miracle he even stopped to make sure you weren’t dead.

summary: jonathan smuggles you free food in exchange for friendship, will goes missing the one time you listen to jonathan, hopper doesn't really like you, and steve harrington almost hits you with his car as you're sobbing like a damn baby (in a cool way).

rating: general, although there's plenty of cursing and slight innuendos, so fair warning.

warnings: cursing, fem!reader, and use of y/n.

words: 7k

before you swing in: hello ! this is the first chapter of my come home series, where i plan on rewriting the entirety of stranger things because i really love a good rewrite fic and this is me just indulging in my ideal fic fantasies tbh. before we start: this is a steve x reader fic, however there will be some slight feelings between the reader and jonathan, but it doesn't at all get in the way of steve and honestly just adds to the angst because i love a good tragedy. also, reader is dustin's older sister, but i tried to write her as neutral as possible in terms of physical features, so let's all just play along. that is all ! i'm very excited for this series and i hope y'all enjoy her as much as i do :)

-

November 6th, 1983

Your shift at Bookstrordinary ends at 8:30 tonight, so as soon as you’ve organized all the books within the store and cashed out the last customer, you say goodnight to your boss, Mrs. Waters, and clock out. Today had been a longer shift, and it didn’t help that you had to deal with a particularly eager bookclub mother who insisted that you had the latest copy of some obscure novel that she needed for her club. After several attempts to inform her that no, you really didn’t have some novel about a cowboy falling in love with a rodeo girl from Michigan, nor would you ever want to read that, the mother angrily walked away. 

You’re happy to finally be free from work though, excited to see Jonathan to tell him about the book club mom because you know he gets a kick out of those suburban middle class mothers that terrorize Hawkins. He works across from you, at The Hawk theater, and it’s one of your favorite things about the bookstore. Besides getting to be surrounded by books all day and reading Spider-Man, you get to be across the street from your best friend and share frequent breaks together. 

A bell signifies your arrival at the theater, alerting Jonathan to look up from the concession stand and smile at you. He looks tired, which you can understand. It’s been a particularly long school year so far with Jonathan having to work more shifts than usual to support his family. 

“Welcome to The Hawk, can I interest you in our specialty popcorn and candy corn mixture?”

You make a face, “No, thanks. Candy corn freaks me out.” 

Jonathan laughs, knowing you’d say that. It’s been a running joke between the two of you for as long as you can remember. You’re not picky with most foods, but candy corn? The bane of your existence. “Tough crowd, then.” 

You laugh as well, now standing in front of the counter, and you learn against it so that you’re in Jonathan’s space. After being friends for so long, personal space doesn’t exist between the two of you. You’re the only person that Jonathan lets get this close to him on a regular basis, which you’re secretly proud of. 

“So, you almost done so we can pick up our idiotic brothers?” Tonight, as usual, Will and Dustin are at Mike’s house playing DnD. They’d biked over as soon as school let out, while Jonathan drove you to work, so he was your ride back for the night. 

He shakes his head at you, wincing, “I picked up an extra shift tonight. Stacy called out sick, and it’s good money…”

You nod in understanding. He doesn’t have to explain himself to you, which he’s always relieved by. 

“It’s okay. Is my bike still in your trunk?” 

“Yeah, I can get it out for you since I’m kind of ditching you tonight.” 

You wave him off, already reaching across the counter to grab his keys from his coat pocket. “No need, I’ll get it out myself so you don’t get in trouble with your boss.” Jonathan’s boss is an older guy, extra scary. “I’m assuming that I’m taking Will home tonight?” 

“It’ll be late by the time you get the boys, and you’ll have Dustin. We only live a couple blocks apart, you can just bike with Will until you get to your street.”

“Are you sure? I know he’s scared of the dark.” 

“It’s fine, Y/N. You’re already doing enough being there for most of the ride; I’m sure Will can survive the last five minutes alone.” 

You give Jonathan an unsure look, but you don’t argue with him. He’s his brother, he knows Will’s capabilities, and it’s an unspoken fact that you baby Will a bit too much. He’s just so much tinier than the other boys, softer in a way that you want to protect. He’s special. 

Jonathan sneaks you a large peach lemonade and hot dog from the concession stand when you return with his keys. You’ve parked your bike up front, and you accept the food gratefully. You hadn’t had time to eat your usual dinner during your break due to the bookclub mother fiasco, so you inhale the food quickly and give his hair a ruffle. 

“You’re a lifesaver, bee.” 

Jonathan lightly hits your hand away from his hair. “Consider it your payment for dealing with Will and Dustin on your own tonight, bug.” 

Bee and bug were the names the two of you had given each other years ago. Jonathan had started it with bug, stemming from the fact that you love Spider-Man so much, and you had struggled to come up with your own nickname for him. Then it came to you: bee, or B, for Byers. It was perfect, and you’re still incredibly proud of yourself for the creativity, honestly. 

After your quick dinner, you say goodbye to your friend and head off. It’s late now, nearing 9, and you hope that Mrs. Wheeler and your own mom won’t be too upset with you for being late for pick up. You know they prefer to have the boys in bed by a decent hour, but in your defense, Jonathan did skip out on you.

You arrive at the Wheeler’s in a short amount of time and knock on the door. Your cheeks are flushed from the early November cold, and you’re regretting that you only put on a thin sweater and jeans this morning.

Mike answers the door, giving you a dirty look. “Did you have to come early?”

“I’m actually later than usual,” you sidestep him, making your way into his house; you’ve become used to Mike’s attitude. “I take it the campaign is still ongoing?”

“See, mom? Even Y/N understands how long a good campaign can go on for!” Mike waves his arms at you, as if to signify to his mother the importance of your understanding. 

Mrs. Wheeler ignores her son to greet you kindly, albeit a bit exasperated. “Hello, Y/N, please come in.” Then she turns to Mike, giving him a stern look. “Mike, why don’t you tell Y/N how you boys have been playing for ten hours? I’m sure she’ll be understanding then.” 

“You guys have been playing for ten hours?”

Mike looks down in embarrassment for a second before turning to his father for help. You laugh a bit at his enthusiasm and see a faint smile on his mom’s face as well. Quietly you excuse yourself to go downstairs to find the other boys, and Mrs. Wheeler wishes you luck. 

Everyone always acts like the boys are some giant pain; truthfully, you enjoy them. Sure, they can be a handful, but they’re just kids; it’s hard for you to ever stay mad at them. Plus they like you, so it makes dealing with them easier. 

Lucas, Dustin, and Will are running around the basement when you get down there, frantically searching for something. You hear Lucas inform Will that if Mike doesn’t see something, then it doesn’t count. The urgence in his voice amuses you; you’ll never fully wrap your head around why they take DnD so seriously, but you love that they can enjoy it with each other. 

Dustin is the first to see you. “Y/N!”

The other boy’s heads turn to you and they greet you with enthusiasm as well. Will rushes towards you for a hug, which you gladly accept. When you break apart, Lucas gives you a high five and asks about a comic you’ve put on hold for him at the store. 

“Any luck?”

“Sorry, Sinclair. It’s still sold out, but the second it’s restocked I’ll smuggle one for you.” 

“Sick!” 

Dustin walks over, now in his coat and holding a pizza box. “Want a slice?” 

You decline, informing him that Jonathan snuck some food for you. At the mention of his brother’s name, Will asks where he is. You tell him that Jonathan had to cover a shift and that you’ll be taking him most of the way home tonight. 

As you all make your way upstairs, you notice that Dustin continues up to the second floor. Lucas notices too, and the two of you share a knowing look. 

“Still have a crush on Nancy?” You ask, already knowing the answer. 

“Yup.” Lucas responds, smiling in disappointment. 

You wait for your brother outside, helping Will with his coat and listen to Mike’s rambling about the campaign. Lucas is already on his bike, ready to go. 

“There’s something wrong with your sister.” Dustin declares when he finally returns.

Mike looks at you, then at your brother, confused. “What are you talking about?” 

“She’s got a stick up her butt.” 

“Dustin!” You berate. Nancy isn’t your favorite person, but she’s always been nice to you the few times you’ve interacted. You guys used to be closer when you were younger, but high school has a way of distancing people.

“Yeah,” Lucas now speaks up. “It’s because she’s been dating that douchebag, Steve Harrington.” How the hell does Lucas even know about that? You didn’t even know about that until just now. 

“Lucas! Language!” 

“Yeah, she’s been turning into a real jerk.”

“Dustin, I swear to God-” 

The boys ignore you, which you’re honestly not surprised by. While they may like you, that doesn't mean that they listen to you. On a good day they maybe listen to you 25% of the time, but tonight was clearly not a good night. 

Mike finally cuts in, “She’s always been a real jerk.”

“Hey, she’s your sister. Give her some credit-”

Dustin is now the one who cuts you off. “Nuh-uh, only you get the sister leniency, Y/N. Nancy used to be cool, now she isn’t.” 

“Remember that time she dressed up as an elf for our Elder tree campaign?” Lucas asks, almost reminiscent. 

You shudder at the way he says it, and you shudder more when you see the dreamy look in your brother’s eyes. “Yeah, I remember…” 

“Gross,” you huff at your brother, now hopping on your own bike. 

Lucas and Dustin begin to pedal away, and you call after them to wait up. Will is still with Mike, and you promised Jonathan you’d get him home. You give the boys a bit of space, waiting a few paces ahead. Will has always been shy around Mike, something that you’ve tried not looking into too much, but to be safe you give them some privacy. 

Faintly, you hear Will say, “The Demogorgon, it got me.” 

Lights flicker a bit, but you’re too focused on the slight unease you feel by Will’s words. Before you can think too much about them, he joins you. “Race you up to Lucas and Dustin?”

“You’re on,” you tell him. 

Will beats you to the boys (which you let him do), and you’re out of breath. The four of you bike in silence for a bit until you reach Lucas’s turn into his neighborhood. 

“Good night, ladies.” He says, and you don’t need to be a psychic to know what your brother’s response is going to be.

“Kiss your mom ‘night for me.” Bless him.

You and Will giggle together, and Dustin smirks at the two of you, proud. He sits in the praise for a few moments before challenging you and Will to race home with the promise of a comic for whoever wins. 

“I call last year’s Black Cat issue of Spider-man!” You call out, already biking away from the boys. 

“We didn’t say go!”

Dustin and Will call after you as they try to catch up, and within a few seconds the three of you are speeding down the hill towards your home. You laugh gleefully, enjoying the way the wind whips through your hair and the way Dustin, though annoyed by your early start, laughs alongside you with Will. 

Somehow Will is the one who wins the race, which you’re impressed by. He may be small, but he’s surprisingly good at winning when it comes to a competition. Dustin shouts at Will that he’ll kill him, which makes you send a warning look at him. 

“I’ll take your X-Men 134!” Will retaliates, still flying through the street. 

You and Dustin are now stopped at your mailbox and you take a moment to catch your breath before shouting at Will, “Be careful, please! Stay safe!”

“I’ll be fine, I promise!” Will’s voice is distant, now a few yards away, and you stand outside for a few more seconds to watch his figure disappear into the night. Dustin has already gone inside but you wait to follow, only going inside when you can no longer see Will, hopefully home safe and sound. You feel fear creep upon you, but you chalk it up to your usual worry when it comes to the boy. 

He’ll be okay, Jonathan should be home within the hour. 

– 

The next morning you’re frantically biking to school, pissed off at Jonathan. He’s your ride every morning, or everywhere, really, and for the second time in 24 hours he’s bailed on you. Dustin left for school ages ago on his bike, so you’re thankful he doesn’t see you embarrassingly sweaty and gross as you race to school. 

It’s not that you’re pissed that Jonathan bailed again, you’re pissed because he didn’t even have the nerve to call you ahead of time to warn you. Now you have only ten minutes before the first bell rings, and your sweater clings to you uncomfortably as you sweat. 

You make it to school with a few minutes to spare, so you quickly make your way over to your locker to grab the necessary books for the day. You’re still sweaty, and you don’t want to even think about what your hair looks like right now. You look down the hall towards Jonathan’s locker, still not seeing him, and you begin to worry a bit. Maybe he overslept after last night’s shift? 

A body crashes into yours, sending your notebooks spiraling to the ground. Steve Harrington looks at you sheepishly, only saying a small “whoops!” before continuing his fast pace towards the girl’s bathroom. You scoff, now even more annoyed with your entire morning, picking up your stuff as you see Nancy enter the same bathroom a few moments later. 

“In a public school bathroom?” You mutter in disgust, collecting the last of your things and heading to class. 

You decide to give Jonathan until second period, sophomore English which the two of you share, before you freak out. You know you have a problem with over worrying about the people you love, so you try to calm yourself down. While Jonathan has never been the type to cancel without at least calling first, you reason with yourself that everyone has a bad morning. He simply slept in too late. When he wakes up, he’ll come to school and he’ll be sitting in the seat next to you in English. 

Except Jonathan isn’t in the seat next to yours when you enter the classroom an hour later. Now you officially let yourself begin to worry. Something about this doesn’t feel right. 

You’ve never skipped class before, school has always been important to you. You’re the top of your class with hopes of running away from Hawkins with Jonathan to a big city with an even bigger university. However, you don’t even hesitate to flee the classroom and find the nearest phone in the school to call the Byers’ residence. 

Jonathan answers after a few rings, and the words that leave his lips change your life forever. “Will is missing.”

You feel all the air in your lungs be knocked out of you. You can’t breathe and you sway a bit as your knees threaten to give out. This isn’t real, this can’t be happening. 

“What?”

“Will, he-he’s gone, Y/N. We can’t find him and-” 

You don’t hear whatever else Jonathan says. You struggle to get air back in your lungs. Will isn’t missing, you just saw him last night. Mere hours ago Will laughed next to you, face alive with joy, he hugged you and joked along with you. 

“He didn’t come home last night-”

“He didn’t come home?” Jonathan’s words catch your attention and you feel bile rise in your throat. Will didn’t make it home last night. You were the last one to see him, and the realization crushes you; it’s all your fault. 

“Mom and I just searched the woods, and there’s no sign of him and-” Jonathan is rambling now, his own fear and despair clear in his voice. 

“Jonathan,” you force his name out, now needing to be there for your best friend. You can worry for Will in your own time, right now Jonathan needs you. “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” 

“Y/N, you don’t-”

You hang up before Jonathan can argue with you and stumble towards the exit. Your limbs feel heavier than normal, and your ears are ringing. Will is missing. He’s so small, he’s scared of the dark… You left him alone in the dark. 

The bike ride to the Byers home is a blur. You don’t remember much, your body going on autopilot the second you hopped on your bike. You’re running on pure fear and adrenaline right now, too worried for your boys to focus on anything else. 

You don’t bother to knock when you arrive, instead you let yourself in. Joyce is on the phone, arguing with some woman named Cynthia. Your eyes find Jonathan’s, who is sitting on the couch hunched over something. You walk over to him and sit down beside him and your stomach lurches when you see the words “have you seen me?” he’s so neatly printed out on a piece of paper.

“Bee…” you exhale, voice cracking a bit. 

Jonathan doesn’t say anything, but you know him as well as you know yourself. He doesn’t want comforting words right now. You take his hand into yours and lean your head against his shoulder. Worry has made his muscles tense, but you feel him relax into you a bit as he rests his own head against yours. The two of you sit like that for a moment, taking in the comfort you bring each other. 

“Bitch!” Joyce slams the phone down, causing you and Jonathan to jump apart. 

“Mom,”

“What?” Joyce is a mixture of both rage and anxiety, and you feel awful looking at her. Her son is missing, you can’t imagine what she must be feeling right now.

“You have to stay calm.” Jonathan tells her, his voice firm but kind. You know it’s taking everything in him to be as stable as he is right now; he’s putting on a front for his worried mother. You squeeze his hand, hoping it conveys the support and love that you need it to.

He squeezes back, and you see Joyce finally recognize that you’re there as well. She sends you a weak wave, which you return, before she goes back to dialing and trying to reach Lonnie. Jonathan gives your hand one last squeeze and lets go, now returning back to the posters. You immediately understand that he’s doing this to distract himself, so you do the same and wordlessly help him.

You begin writing your own “have you seen me?” when Joyce once again slams her phone down. The sound makes you flinch, inadvertently messing up your writing, which you sigh at. Before you can ask Jonathan for another piece of paper, you hear a car pull up. 

Jonathan stands up to investigate, alerting his mom that the cops are here. You follow after them outside, your heart dropping when you see Will’s bike in the Chief’s hand. He ushers everyone inside, informing Joyce that he found the bike lying in the road.

“How far was it from the house?” You ask, your voice frail. 

The Chief looks at you, his nametag informs you that his name is Hopper, and raises his eyebrows. “And can I know who is asking?” 

You clear your throat, nervous under his scrutinizing gaze. “I’m Y/N Henderson. I’m close with the Byers, I biked with Will home,” your voice catches in your throat, snagging onto the guilt that has been clawing at you ever since you found out Will was missing. You clear your throat again, determined to continue. “I was with him last night. My brother and I live right off Mirkwood, a few blocks from here. He only had a few more minutes before he would’ve been home.” 

Hopper stares at you. “Mirkwood?”

“It’s where-”

“Yeah, those moron kids explained it to me. I just didn’t think someone your age would call the street that, too.” Then, as an afterthought, Hopper adds, “The bike was found a block from here.”

His words sting, but you ignore it. If the bike was found only a block from the Byers’ home, then that means that something had to have happened to Will only minutes after you last saw him. You feel the familiar churning in your stomach, wracked with guilt. 

“Did it have any blood on it?” Joyce now asks, and you’re thankful she’s taken the attention off of you. 

Jonathan sees your distress and grabs your sweater so that you fall back a bit from the cops and Joyce. “Do you need a minute?”

You can only nod, afraid that if you open your mouth you’ll either cry or throw up. He gently guides you to his room, closing the door. Once you’re alone, he wraps his arms around you and pulls you in tight. You’re shaking harder than ever now, Will’s happy and shining face from last night keeps flashing through your mind. 

You were the last one who ever saw him.

You’re the one who was last responsible for him. 

You.

“It’s not your fault,” Jonathan whispers, his voice muffled by your hair. You’ve always loved how you fit perfectly in his arms, your height difference being just enough that he always rests his chin against your head when he hugs you. 

“I’m the last person who saw him.”

“Y/N, I was the one who asked you to only bike him halfway-”

“No,” your voice comes out louder than you intend it to, and you push Jonathan away. He lets out a confused noise as you grapple at him, forcing him to look directly at you. “I should’ve been with him, Jonathan. It’s your job to support your family, and it’s my job to help you. I have to… I have to be the one who helps you.” 

You’ve always been fascinated by psychology, and you remember reading in one of the journals about codependency; the term was used in relation to addiction, specifically alcoholism, but it had caught your interest. To love someone to the extent that their actions make you feel responsible for them, to selflessly take on their burdens to a debilitating extent, well, it reminded you of your relationship with Jonathan. 

You’ve always taken on whatever Jonathan has had to deal with, ever since you were kids, and it’s always come so naturally to you. He’s never asked you to, and sometimes the extent to which you carry his weight angers him, but it’s how you love.

It’s who you are. You’re always the one who helps, it’s what you need to be able to do. If you can’t help the ones you love the most, then what good is your love for them?

Jonathan may not know about codependency, but he knows how hard you love those closest to you. “Bug, listen to me.” He grabs your face, almost aggressively, in order to cut off your rambling. “My mom, she-she’s already spiraling and I can’t… I need you. I need you to be here, with me, right now. If I lose you too, then I-I don’t know what I’ll do.”

His words cut through you like glass. He’s right, you know he’s right, and you feel another wave of guilt wash over you. This guilt is different from the guilt surrounding Will. This is mixed with shame for allowing yourself to spiral so far and forcing Jonathan to take care of you. Joyce is clearly unwell, you can’t fathom how much he’s had to deal with today. 

You gently remove Jonathan’s hands from your face and take a step back. If you’re going to help him, you need to collect yourself. From here on out, you have to be a wall for him to lean on, a shoulder to cry on, someone who will listen to him. 

“I’m sorry.” 

Jonathan shrugs at you, now allowing a hesitant smile to cross his face. “If it makes you feel any better, it took a lot less pleading to get through to you. I’m still working on my mom.” 

The joke is foul, one that should make you feel even worse than you already do, because what sixteen year old has to plead with their mother to remind her that he’s there, too? The joke is horrible, and it’s exactly what you need to find yourself laughing, and Jonathan joins. 

Codependency can be a bitch, but Jonathan understands you in ways that no one else can. 

“You think the cops are gone?” You ask, wiping away the remaining tears. 

Jonathan listens for any sign of them and shakes his head. “No, I think we’re all clear.”

He walks out the room first and you follow after him. Joyce is standing in the kitchen, staring at the counter with a far off look in her eyes. You and Jonathan look at each other and you motion for him to go talk to her. He nods, and then you motion to the living room to indicate that you’ll continue working on the missing posters. 

Carefully writing on the posters soothes you, in a way. It’s rhythmic, providing a sense of lull that you readily embrace. You faintly hear Jonathan talking with his mother, then you watch as he leads her to her bedroom and shuts the door. When he returns he sits next to you on the couch and begins to work on the posters as well. No words are needed. 

You work on the posters in silence for a few hours until it nears 3pm. Dustin will be getting out of school soon, and you have to be there for him when he’s home. While Will may be Jonathan’s brother, he’s also your brother’s best friend. You get up and head into the kitchen, long familiar now with its layout and usual contents within the fridge, and quickly prepare the ingredients for spaghetti. It’s a simple meal, but Jonathan and Joyce need to eat. Once it’s all laid out, you return to the living room and tap on your friend’s shoulder. 

“Hey, I have to head out now to check on Dustin, but I just put a pot of water on the stove along with some noodles on the counter. I also cut up some vegetables and put them in the fridge for the sauce. Start the meal whenever, I laid everything out for you.”

“Thank you, really,” Jonathan exhales, relief evident on his face. He hadn’t even thought about dinner, which you figured he wouldn’t. 

You bend down to kiss the top of his head. “Anytime, bee. I’ll call you tonight, okay?”

“Okay,” 

“Just…” you linger at the door, not fully wanting to leave him all by himself. “Be careful, please.” 

“Go, Y/N. I’ll be fine, I promise.” Jonathan reassures you.

“I’ll be fine, I promise!” Will’s voice is distant, now a few yards away, and you stand outside for a few more seconds to watch his figure disappear into the night.

It’s brief, but the flashback punches you in the gut. You close your eyes, holding onto the image of Will’s face in the moonlight last night, and when it fades you take a deep breath and force yourself to leave. 

The second you’re on your bike, pedaling away from the house, you let the sobs that have wracked against your throat all day out. It’s messy, the tears coming down your face faster than you can wipe them away. All the fear you’ve felt is now able to freely come out. It’s not the safest way to bike home, but you know that if you hold the tears in any longer you’ll collapse. You do your best to still be alert, but apparently you fail because a BMW honks at you to avoid you hitting it. 

“Fuck!” You yank your bike to the right, having no idea that you had been on the left side of the road, and topple over. The fall isn’t anything bad, but it definitely is your final straw for the day. You lay in the ditch you’ve landed in, staring at the November sky, and let the pain from your skinned knee serve as something to ground you to reality. 

“Holy shit, did I hit you?” 

Steve Harrington stands over you, a horrified look in his eyes. 

“Unfortunately not, otherwise I’d be able to sue you and get money out of it.” 

“Uh… okay?” He offers you his hand, although still very confused. “You didn’t like, happen to hit your head or anything, right?” 

You accept his help, albeit mostly because you have to, and brush yourself off when you’re up. “I’m fine. I just wasn’t paying attention, sorry.” 

Steve nods, as if you almost getting hit by his car makes perfect sense to him. When you walk over to your bike and inspect it for any damage, he follows after you. 

“So,” he whistles, trying to pretend that this is all a completely normal occurrence. “You, uh, need a ride?”

Honestly you don’t know why you’re surprised he hasn’t noticed the clear signs of you crying, your swollen eyes and red nose. Not only is he a boy, but he’s also Steve Harrington. It’s a miracle he even stopped to make sure you weren’t dead. 

“No,” you say, now repositioning your backpack so that you can get back on your bike. “Thanks anyways, Harrington.” 

Steve continues to follow you, even after you’ve started to pedal away. “You’re welcome, random girl I almost hit!”

You’re a bit further now, and you still feel like utter shit, but his words somehow make you laugh a bit. For a brief moment, you forget about everything, so you call behind, “It’s Henderson!” 

“That’s an odd first name!” The boy shouts after you, still following from a distance. 

“Y/N Henderson!” You’re fully yelling now, a good yard away, but you can tell that Steve hears you based on the way he begins to wave eagerly, finally stopping next to his car. Faintly you understand the boyish charm that makes him so loved by all the girls in the school; you understand why Nancy Wheeler has fallen for him.

“Bye, Y/N!” It’s faint, but you swear you can hear a smile in his voice.  

The good mood that Steve Harrington inexplicably puts you in vanishes when you near your house. Nothing has changed, yet it feels as if something has shifted. Will had been here only hours ago. You spot Dustin’s bike laying on the grass, haphazardly thrown as usual. 

Dustin is just taking off his coat when you enter, immediately running over to him to pull him into a bone crushing hug. 

“Y/N!” he squeaks in surprise. 

“Are you okay?” You know you’re squeezing your brother harder than you need to, but God. He’s safe, in your arms, and you’ve now learned that not everyone can say the same about their own loved ones. 

Dustin wiggles a bit, trying to break away from the hug, but you only pull him in tighter. “Geesh, no one died.” 

Normally you’d berate him, but you embrace his snarky comments. They’re what make Dustin so unique, his humor one of your favorite parts of him

When you don’t respond, Dustin stops wiggling around and finally accepts the situation. “I love ya too, sis.” 

You giggle a bit, now pulling away. “At least mom isn’t home right now. The minute she hears about what’s happened, we’ll be on lockdown.”

Dustin’s eyes widen. “Shit, you’re right.” 

“Lan-”

“Language, I know.”

You ruffle his hair, now feeling a bit better. Dustin is still Dustin, so maybe everything will be okay. You and your brother go into the kitchen for your post school snack, and you call your boss to inform her that you can’t make it to your shift. The words “family emergency” catch in your throat a bit, and Mrs. Waters is kind enough not to push it.

Dustin catches you up on his day, informing you about Hopper questioning him and the other boys. 

You scrunch your nose at that. “Is that even legal?”

“Unsure, but it was awesome.”

“Will went missing, Dustin. It isn’t ‘awesome’.”

Dustin tilts his head at you. “Well, I bet Will is going to have a blast hearing everything when we find him.” 

His words are so matter of fact, as if he already knows that Will will be found after all. His naivety worries you a bit, but you also can’t help but indulge in his hope as well. Then you think about what he’s just said. “Wait, who’s ‘we’?”

Your brother pretends he can't hear you, miming at his ears. “Dustin-”

“What?”

“Dustin, you and the boys can’t just-”

“I can’t hear you!” He’s running to his room now with you quick behind his heels. 

“Dustin, I swear to God-”

“I gotta do homework, Y/N, bye!” He slams the door in your face. 

You sigh. There’s no getting through to him, years of being Dustin’s older sister has taught you that, so you go into your room instead. You might as well get started on the assignments you missed today, and you have a huge chem test tomorrow, so you’ll focus on that and keep an ear out for Dustin. Whatever he’s planning with the boys, you won’t let them do it alone. 

After a couple hours of silence from Dustin’s room, you decide to call Jonathan. The line rings for a while with no answer, and eventually you give up. It makes sense that he’s not answering, he’s had a long day. You hope he’s asleep, but you know him better than that. He’s probably holed up in his room, trying to distract himself like you are right now. 

A loud thud from Dustin’s room breaks you from your thoughts. Then you hear a quiet “shhh!” that sounds suspiciously like Lucas, and you immediately throw on your shoes and a jacket and march outside. 

Dustin is halfway out of his window when you arrive, and Mike and Lucas stare at you, caught red handed. 

“Guys, I think she can hear us.” Your brother says, breaking the silence. Mike scoffs at him and Lucas groans. 

You eye the three of them, unamused. “Your best friend just went missing, what the hell are you guys doing out here so late and alone?”

Dustin awkwardly finishes his descent down, finally landing on his feet with a thud. He secures his hat back on his head and goes to grab his bike. You block his path. 

“I’m serious, one of you needs to start talking, now.” 

Lucas and Dustin look at Mike, who is their unofficial leader of the gang, and he huffs. “Look, Y/N, I like you-”

“How thrilling.” You say, voice monotone. 

The boy ignores you and continues to talk. “But Will is missing, and we aren’t just going to sit around and wait. He’s our friend, we have to do something.” 

You open your mouth to speak, but Lucas interrupts you. “You’re definitely our favorite sister in the group, so you’d be even cooler if you let us go.” 

Again, you try to respond, but this time Dustin beats you to it. “Yeah, you’re like, totally cool already. If you pretend that you never saw us, that’d be great.” 

“Guys-”

“And don’t give us a whole lecture about safety. That’s all bull.” Mike says. 

“Boys!” You scream. They all fall silent, not used to you ever raising your voice at them. You’ve only ever yelled at them once or twice, preferring to be the “cool” sister whenever you can, but right now they’re seriously pissing you off. 

“Let me speak.” When no one says anything, you continue. “I’m not going to stop you guys from looking for Will. In fact, I support it-”

“You do?”

You shoot Mike a death glare, which promptly shuts him up. “Yes, I do. However, I’m not letting you guys go alone.” 

The boys all groan at this, acting as if it’s the worst thing in the world to have you tag along with them. You ignore their complaining and head over to where your bike sits against the porch. You zip up your coat, the chill from the night making you shiver a bit. 

“No arguing, or I’ll call all your moms. Ours included, Dustin.”

“Why me?”

“Look, guys. I’m proud of you for stepping up, but I’m coming with. The last time I let one of you boys go off into the woods alone…” 

The boys shift uncomfortably now, realizing how heavy the guilt weighs upon you. After a few beats of silence, Mike finally gives in. 

“Fine,” he says, pointing a finger at you. “But the second you start to freak out, you’re gone.” 

You salute Mike, hopping on your bike as you all begin to bike away. The ride doesn’t take long, since you live just off of where Will was last seen. Thunder rumbles when you all approach the crime scene, and you shudder a bit. 

“It’s going to rain, guys.” You inform them. 

Dustin looks up at the sky with uncertainty. “I think maybe we should go back.”

Mike is quick to shut down the idea, urging the others to keep going. You admire his loyalty to Will, and you figure it’s why the two of you butt heads so often. Out of the entire group, you’re the most similar to him. 

Lucas and Mike go under the caution tape first, and Dustin hangs back. You place a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “We can go back, you know.” 

He clenches his jaw, jutting his chin out a bit. “No, Will needs us.”

Your brother puffs out his chest and follows after his friends, leaving you to take up the rear. More thunder rumbles and the rain begins to come down. You flip your hood up, thankful you remembered to grab a hoodie when leaving. 

Mike guides the way with his flashlight, then Lucas, then Dustin, then you in the back. You make sure to keep your eyes on the three boys, scared that the second you look away they’ll be gone. The woods have always creeped you out, but you push your fear down to keep them safe. 

“Will!” Mike calls out, the rain now pouring down on you guys. 

“Byers!” 

“Will, little bee!” You call out as well. He never liked when you called him that in front of the others, but tonight was an exception. 

“I’ve got your X-Men 134!” Your brother bribes, unintentionally making you laugh a bit. If Will is nearby, he’ll surely come out to claim his prize. 

Your foot catches on a tree log, and you slip in the mud before just barely managing to catch yourself. It’s getting hard to see given how dark it is and the rain surrounding you. Dustin voices his concerns, only to be called a baby, and you bite your tongue. If you defend him, he’ll only look more like a baby to his friends. 

“I’m just being realistic!” He retaliates, which you commend him for. 

“Dustin’s right, guys. It’s getting really bad out here. We’re surrounded by a ton of trees, don’t they attract lightning?” You ask, now paranoid that you’ll be struck down any second. 

“You guys are being sissies.” Lucas taunts, annoyed as well. 

You try to argue, but Dustin voices a thought that’s been at the back of your mind. “Did you ever think Will went missing because he ran into something bad?”

You think back to how Hopper seemed worried when he investigated the Byers home. From what you can recall, he suspected that Will had been running away from something, explaining why he’d abandon his bike.

“And now we’re going to the exact same spot where he was last seen, and we have no weapons or anything?”

Maybe Dustin’s right. This definitely wasn’t your best idea, and you’re regretting letting them follow through with their plan. For someone who claims to want to keep their loved ones safe, you really suck at it. 

“Dustin, shut up.” Mike voices, though he now looks a bit concerned as well. 

“He’s right, Mike.” You speak up, stumbling a bit in more mud. Your shoes are definitely ruined, now. “I was at Jonathan’s when Hopper showed up, he thinks Will was running from something.” 

The boys go quiet now, and when you’re about to suggest going home, you hear rustling in the bushes. 

“Did you guys hear that?” Mike asks. 

Your heart stops as the rustling continues and you all start to twist and turn, looking for the source of the sound. The rustling gets louder, almost as if it’s getting closer, and you tighten your hand around your flashlight, ready to use it as a weapon just in case. 

Then, the light flashes upon a little girl, drenched in an oversized yellow shirt, shivering. Her head is shaved, but her small stature suggests to you that she is indeed a girl. You all stare at her, no one saying a thing. She stares back, a terrified look on her face that breaks your heart. 

“Holy shit,” you whisper. 

Her eyes land on you; something about her reminds you of Will, and  you know that nothing will be the same again.

-

⌑ series masterlist

⌑ if you would like to be added/removed from my taglist, just let me know :)

[unironicallytes]

Thoughts on the Wrath of Sithis*, Where It Comes From, and Why Mathieu Bellamont Did Not Receive One (Now Purified!**)

*For the purpose of this discussion, "Wrath" is used to refer specifically to the actual enemy specter/wraith encountered in ESO and Oblivion.

**ifykyk, a lot of this is copy-paste from an old post we no longer speak of nor circulate because it got toxic real quick and we never actually got to discuss the topic itself.

Imo, Sithis does not send the Wrath - it is instead conjured by the Black Hand themselves.

In this idea, the Hand disguises their conjured Wrath as Sithis himself enacting unholy retribution against a Tenet-Breaker - this lends credence to their authority in a way that also absolves them of responsibility for what happens to a member. Sithis works in mysterious ways, my brother! This could also explain the following:

Lucien straight up pardons the HoK for the Purification. That is apparently within his authority to do, yet breaking the Tenets is always said to be a surefire way to invoke the Wrath. You break Tenet Five like 8 whole times within a day, but Lucien has the power to just wave it off for you and carry on business-as-usual. There is something decidedly "mortal institution of laws" about that rather than sacred retribution.

Greywyn lasted for years in hiding without getting auto-Wrathed as punishment for leading an entire coup. A mortal assassin found him and doled out a punishment, not a Wrath of Sithis. This could be because the Hand was unaware he still lived, whereas if the Wrath was Sithis-sent, that dude would've been deleted pretty quick.

No one in the Skyrim DBh is ever sent a Wrath for breaking Tenet One, perhaps because there is no Hand at this time. Cicero is the only one who attempts to punish Astrid for what I presume was breaking a Tenet (large presumption, as we are never outright told). You could argue Astrid got her karmic comeuppance, and perhaps the Wrath was her crispy death, but that can also be explained by her simple hubris. But, like I said, for the purpose of this discussion, we're referring specifically to the physical Wrath here!

(Another new, additional thought) When you finally kill Mathieu at the end of the Oblivion DBh questline, there is no Wrath to come and claim him as in the case of the Black Dragon confrontation. No specter comes to aid you (save for Mother, who's only there to go "lol. lmao even.") This is also potentially because, as in Case #3, there's no longer a Hand to even conjure the Wrath - the only ones left are you and Arquen.

(New, additional thought) The ESO DBh and its traitor, the Black Dragon. The Wrath does appear later to take her ... but notably, it only appears once you have informed your Matron - and subsequently your Hand - who the traitor is and where she is hiding. You have now given the Listener the true identity of the traitor. When they send you and Green-Venom-Tongue to take her out, perhaps they quietly summon a Wrath too - not only as a back-up, but as reaffirmation of its existence to those who witness it.

Venom also remarked the following during your vision of the First Purification: "In the old stories, the Wrath of Sithis appeared to carry away the souls of traitors. If that's true, I wonder why purification was even necessary?"

So then, if it's the Black Hand sending the Wrath, and the Black Hand does not know Mathieu's identity, they cannot send him a Wrath throughout the entire questline. This would be extremely bothersome to them, because his continued activities undermine that faith-leverage they have. If a lower ranking member of the Family finds out that there's a traitor, but that traitor hasn't been punched in the face by a Wrath yet, then that lends itself to the same question we're asking here and the same questions Green-Venom-Tongue started asking. It lends itself to a member going "wait, so an all-knowing death god isn't enforcing these Tenets? so ... as long as no one in the organization finds out, I can break them." And I think Mathieu figured out that this was exactly the case.

Now then, encouragement of participation is always implied on tumblr dot com, but I'm saying it outright due to the history lol - please feel free to add on with your own thoughts! Even if you disagree and have a different idea! The only thing required for participation is respect.

[officialdaydreamer00]

Nui shenanigans

in which you have a tiny nui version of your fire-headed significant bother

character: idia shroud

content: cw for suggestive things (i spoil you too much gd), an unhealthy amount of tooth rotting materials, the brainworms are worming so please excuse the rotting ^-^, reader is not yuu, gender neutral reader (mainly leaning to afab/fem aligned readers)

pausing the event to whip up a birthday present for @identity-theft-101! happy spawn date you biteable fucking gremlin <3

this feels so much like im working on PR lmao

first of all, the idia nui is sentient, let's get that over with. idia nui is an exact copy of the real idia, just in tiny doll form.

he's only 10cm tall (or about 3.9 inches) so he can fit snuggly in your palm or your shirt pocket.

very, i mean very, affectionate. touch starved too, he craves and will soak up any physical contacts from you like a sponge. just like idia lmao

also very squishy and biteable, since he doesn't take any physical damage. use that information to your likings :)

now that's out of the way, we gonna talk about the interesting stuffs.

when i tell you he's a carbon copy of idia in doll form, i mean rook hunt level accuracy. the resemblance is concerning.

from the mannerisms to the actions, idia nui acts just like our local fire hair ipad kid. except that it looks even cuter, somehow.

idia nui can be carried to places. just place him on your shoulder, in your shirt pocket or hoodie hood. for fem aligned folks, you can even let him vibe in your bra pocket.

idia nui, of course, has quite a case of social anxiety. he doesn't do well with people, so hide his existence when you're in the presense of other human beings, please.

you can always share your love and interests with idia nui. he will listen to your ramblings with rapt attention and encourages you with his adorably shy smiles.

as expected, idia is seething with jealousy, seeing how idia nui can do things that he can't. social anxiety fucks with his brain so badly.

ans now you have two blue fire wet cats fighting for your attention and affections. let the war begin

all he can do is watching over you through his floating ipad and silently seething. he would gritted his teeth whenever idia nui notices the ipad and gives you affections, and will explode in flames if the nui sends him a mocking grin, which is more likely than you think.

one time, idia finally manned up and actually smooched you, he had a blue screen moment and then he dipped.

you've never seen idia ran tf away so fast lmao.

spoilers: in the end you rewarded them both with cuddles and kisses so all was good ^-^

remember to reblog if you enjoy my works! ^-^

[letterstoear]

National Gargoyle Society club letter

Notes: Malleus x reader, gn reader, established relationship, fluff. You can get a physical copy of this letter if you purchase the matching with it.

This item is now sold out! Thank you to everyone who purchased it.

Shop here: Shop — Letters to Ear (squarespace.com)

Welcome my new club member ________,

When I see you, I can’t stop my eyes from following you as we conversate about whatever it is. I’m listening closely to your voice, but it feels like my mind is just focused on how adorable you look. Everything flows in from one ear to the other, I’m sorry that I’ve been failing to focus on the topic at hand. It’s such a sweet treasure for me to be able to spend time with you. In addition to being able to be with you on occasion we’re now in the same club.

Having you join the National Gargoyle Society was a wonderful surprise. To see you’ve found an interest in my likes has made me overjoyed. Being able to share interests is such a wonderful feeling, I never knew it would make me this hectic. I’ve already started planning our new activities together. I want you to feel welcomed to our new club together. For the first few sessions, I imagine we’ll be going over the basics as a small study session. Even thinking of our new time together makes me happy in anticipation.

Don’t worry about understanding everything on the first try, we have plenty of time to go at your pace. When I think about this situation being real, it almost feels as if it’s all an illusion. However, I know it’s very real. Such a sweet fantasy has finally come true. Tell me, how are you feeling about joining the National Gargoyle Society? Do you agree that it feels as though a sweet fantasy has come to life? If only time could go faster till next week, the weekend couldn’t feel any longer than normal.

I’m sure you know this already, but previously it would only be me who took interest in such a club. That was a rather predictable outcome. Not many are interested in gargoyles these days, yet the ones who had been interested turned away. Seeing me as the head of the National Gargoyle Society was a major problem for others. My very presence was a threat to others. So, when you joined there was a mix of emotions.

Currently, I’m overjoyed, but I previously thought of it to be the opposite. Perhaps someone had bullied you into the club or you felt pressure as my lover to join me. You always seem to have a soft spot for me when you hear about these stories. While I'm happy to hear you care, I would like you to know, there are times I enjoy my alone time. To know your true reasons weren’t out of pity or pressure made me fall in love with you all over again. You joined out of pure curiosity and for the love of gargoyles not for anyone else. I love this side of you.

This moment will turn into such a sweet memory to keep forever. I’m drowning in my own fantasies thinking about our future club meeting. Once again, I wish for that moment to come faster than usual. ________, there couldn’t have been a more perfect member to join me but you. As your club president I promise to show you the proper club activities. As your lover I promise to not make every session just a one-on-one date. I wouldn’t want our personal connection to get in the way of our club. Knowing you, I have no worries about such a thing happening.

Well, I believe it’s time, I’m going to hand you this very letter now. Till our next meeting ___________.

Love,

Malleus Draconia

[starsomens]

IMAGINE IMAGINE

a home birth with Noah 🥹like instead of doing the hospital you both agree that doing it at home would be better, more peaceful and just overall a better birth experience for you.

Noah like we’ve said is super observant and knows that the hospital isn’t the best when it comes to listen to how women want to give birth aside from in their backs (this isn’t prove by facts I’m sure many hospitals do listen to women just go with it)

And yes I am convinced Noah researched different methods and positions for birth and what would make it safer and easier for you. And what’s more safe than at home with him? He will invest into EVERYTHING. A pool, the best most experienced doula/mid wife, supplies, an extra bed in case

EVERYTHING

I feel like he’s also the type to be the first to spot things before you. Like when you have a contraction and think “oh it’s just a cramp, or they’re just stretching”

“Yea the cramp, lasted about 3 minutes. You’re in labor mama” and he’d come and pet your belly like a dad does to the dog

Ans he was right🧍🏽‍♀️ you’re in early labor. He’s got the doula on hold and let her know you started early but still too early for her to come. I think he’s the type to document it because it’s such an intimate experience. Not graphically but like candid shots definitely

At first you were both joking about it and watching your stomach stretch and timing it and going “that was different that time” they were too bad at the start. But after a couple of hours he noticed it was starting to get to the part no one rlly liked. The one where pain was too much to ignore, when you had to really focus on it cuz it was intense. The part where he had to be your rock and hold you and support you.

Between contractions he tried to get you to sleep to have some kind of rest even though you weren’t really getting any.

So now it’s his role to step up and be your support physically, emotionally and mentally. He knows birth can take a toll on women in more ways then one and who was he not to support and be there for you???

On top of that no medication, you both went into this knowing you wouldn't have the option for epidural.

“Squeeze my hand baby you got this”

“Where do you need me?”

“You want me to just hold you?”

“Breathe in…and out baby. Good just like that”

“You’re almost dome princess. Almost there”

You both agreed on a water delivery so he had gotten you the best most expensive pool possible. By the time the doula got there you had been in active labor for about 4’hours now. She did be usual check up for heart rate and dilation, you were only at 3 cm at that moment do you had some ways to go.

He’d would walk around the house with you, hand your hands while you used the yoga ball or tried to distract you with some singing, which at one point worked very well. After some strong waves he’d wipe you tears away and give you some water

“I know princess, but you did so good. So strong” he knew his words could have only so much effect on the situation but he was doing everything he was able to do for you. He helps get you in the pool and used a small towel to wash warm water down your back.

“We’re super close babe…what do you think it’s gonna be?” You wanted the sex to be a surprise and you were back and forth with old wives tales

“Mm, I’m still thinking it’s a boy” you said letting your head rest on the edge of the inflatable pool

“Really a Boy? I thought you would have wanted another copy of yourself” he smiles

“A copy of you would be so cute though” you try and smile

“But a copy of you would be perfect. Either way, I’m just so happy they’re finally coming”

Then it’s time for the hardest part 🙃

"Ready baby...push..you got it 1..2..3..4.."

"That was a good push baby, good job"

"I gotchu, I'm right here baby. Good, good..you're doing so good"

Doesn't care about the screaming and if anything he encourages you to while you push. Is very surprised and kinds scared at the grip you had on his hand, but that was the least of his worries.

Entire labor took about 8 hours and ended by the night with about 5 pushes and now you had a beautiful baby boy. lots of crying, Noah cant stop kissing and thanking you. He's just watching you be a mom and he can't look away and he can't wipe the smile off his face.

"He's so perfect princess, he's got your nose"

While he was being weighed and measured Noah helped you get out of the tub and into the shower. He helped get you cleaned up and dressed. After your son was cleaned and swaddled he was brought to you both for some skin to skin and feeding.

It was so intimate, you weren't rushed and didn't have doctors interrupting every hour or so

"You did so good princess...he's perfect "

"Well you were here too, and you did great supporting me. Thank you" you look up at him

"I am at your beck and call, but really you did all the hard work. I'm so proud of you"

[amourkive]

TO MY ROOM | KTH

a/n:been listening to Fly To My Room a lot recently and even though it doesn't mean the same I couldn't help myself but feel a little inspired, stay Gold⁷ - miri

masterlist

/ᐠ• ㅅ •ᐟ\

You laid on Taehyung's bed, belly to the mattress as you scrolled through your phone mindlessly. You had just gotten off work, and in all honesty you didn't want to do anything but lay down. Not sleep, you weren't tired, but just relax and finally stay off your feet for a couple of hours.

As you were about to click onto a TikTok account about miniature cooking, you feel a weighty figure lay across your back. Letting out a groan, you turn your head slightly, as much as you physically could, to catch a glimpse of the only suspect.

"Tae~!" you whined, shifting from under him, "you're heavy! get off!" you screeched, trying your best to push him off. He didn't budge, just wrapped his arm around one of your shoulders, "I can't! I'm so tired, and you're comfortable." he stated simply, closing his eyes.

You huffed, slowly shuffling downwards, until you were finally free from him, and his dead weight. After doing so, you punched him in the arm, before laying on the other side of him, "are you sure I was comfortable, or the bed?" you asked, grabbing your phone.

"well you of course. or else I would have laid on the bed." Even though you were a little irritated from being laid on, his honest answer made you laugh. "I guess that's true. Just don't do it again, I could barely breathe." you exaggerated slightly, turning your attention back to your phone.

A couple minutes went by, and suddenly Tae was right next to you, eyebrow raised, "wait a second...this is my room. How'd you even get in my apartment?" You shrugged, looking at him. "Oh, Jungkook gave me your key. He made extras for some reason. And, your bed is way better than mine at my apartment!"

He stared at you for a couple seconds before shrugging, "as long as it's you. C'mon baby, you know you can stay here as long as you want." He added, placing soft kisses on your shoulder, and if his kisses could take away the stress from your body, it would have been done.

You smiled, discarding your phone from your hand, attention on your loving boyfriend. "how'd I get so lucky? A boyfriend who shares his bed, and apparently house keys." He smiled, laying his head down, "remind me to take all those copies from that guy." He muttered, before wrapping his arms around you bringing him closer to you.

Now, your head laid on his left forearm, as he brushed the stray hairs from your face. "I'm the lucky one, baby. I get to come home to a very beautiful face. Maybe you should move in with me...turn this from'my room' to 'our room'."

You looked up at him, smile widening by the second. "I would love that actually~" you mumbled, leaning upward giving him a sweet kiss on his parted lips, running your hands through his hair,

"that means this comfortable bed is mine too." Taehyung rolled his eyes playfully, placing his hand on your waist, scratching at it softly, "what's mine is yours honey."

[deathcrawling]

Hey Wil!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on Gloom Division lore as a whole! Especially with the recent image release. First, I wanted to discuss the instructional shirt as I haven't seen people talk about it much!

You might have already noticed this, but in the top right corner are the 6 levels.

I remember the first time I saw this and I was instantly reminded of the ending image in the Do It All The Time music video. I have many speculations and theories regarding the implications but nothing concrete. Perhaps each level is also a different plane of existence/dimension with time being one of them, but I'll get into that and other theories another time.

Back to what I am confident in. I don't think it would be farfetched for them to correspond to the sins. As you know, Dallon described in an interview that he would eventually become one of the sins. And notably at the Salt Lake City listening party they gave out hotel keychains with a 7 on them. As well as a notepad that says Memo From the Desk of Gloom Division. Implying he, at the very least, travels between each level. Extrapolating from the album cover and this information, perhaps he gets to the top level and becomes the sin, Pride. In Idiots of Oz the song starts with elevator music. This could purely be a musical/aesthetic choice but perhaps this is also a nod to Dallon going between the levels and finally reaching his.

hello! i have some theories about GLOOM DIV lore right now! some of which have been confirmed by dallon during VIP during gloomtown tour, others are solely based on myself and @temporalarts research! also WARNING! this will be a bit all over the place, i apologize for the messiness of this post.

FACT:

lets start off with what is fact, dallon has confirmed that 1. himself and the figures in the albums physical copies gatefold represent the 7 deadly sins, and 2. he represents PRIDE out of the seven sins (he mentioned this during VIP Madison, WI), and the lady with the sunglasses in the gatefold represents LUST (mentioned during VIP STL, MO). he has not said which sin is who for the remaining 5. he also confirmed that there was supposed to be deeper lore this album, but wanted to focus on music rather than lore due to how stressful it was with RAZZMATAZZ era lore (confirmed VIP Madison, WI).

THEORY/SPECULATION:

in terms of theories, my current theories on the album mainly surround TELLEXX and PRIDE out of the seven sins and who he is, what he does, and how he (and the other sins) came to be. a lot of these ideas i have come from religious context, as the 7 sins are apart of loads of religions, im mainly pulling from the christian bible as well as some mormonism.

because i feel that TELLEXX is important to this albums lore, lets start off with my theories on TELLEXX. TELLEXX acts very much like a cult, going after people lonely and desperate for fame or a rise in social status, and manipulating them, isolating them from the real world. as far as we know that dallon hasnt been the only subject, it has been confirmed in the TELLEXX letters, how many other subjects there has been? im not sure. nonetheless, TELLEXX is inherently evil but puts on a good face for the sake of having a good reputation, and i believe that TELLEXX is basically the devil pretending to be God/a God-like figure. i think TELLEXX wanting to be a god/higher than god can both be figuratively and literally, TELLEXX obviously has bigger plans that we aren't aware of at the moment, but it does look like it involves taking advantage of people and transforming them to fit their vision. they take in people who are often desperate for something, whether its fame or some sort rise in social status (aka social climbers), its what they do. and like ive mentioned previously, its what we see in real life cults, the leader of the cult sees themself as god or as a god, they claim to know more than the average person and they manipulate and isolate people so they can control them. so TELLEXX having their subjects, who we can assume were also looking for fame/social acceptance based on dallon, sign a contract that isolates them from the real world and promising that they can do these things for them makes a lot of sense.

in a figurative sense, TELLEXX at its core is evil, they have ill intentions but put on a good face so they wont get exposed/in trouble.

in a literal sense, TELLEXX has ties to the devil/is the devil but pretends to be God or a god, because they are desperate to have that power.

in terms of the 7 deadly sins, i have very little factual info to go off of so these ideas are very loose and don't make the absolute most sense, but i have a lot to say. dallon represents PRIDE, and i believe that he died from some sort of volunteer research study accident and became the sin PRIDE in the afterlife (assuming that TELLEXX somehow represents the devil, he made a deal with the devil). PRIDE, historically and religiously is considered the "highest" and "most powerful" of the sins. PRIDE is the leader of the sins.

i think that this explains WHY we see dallon literally higher up than the rest of the sins, because he is their leader, he is the most powerful.

(when looking at the album cover and gatefold, it looks like the other 6 sins are looking UP towards dallon)

for the other sins, how they came to be is a mystery to me. i can imagine that they were previous TELLEXX subjects who died in some sort of way, and were in some sort of limbo before dallons death. PRIDE was supposedly the first sin to come into existence, which doesnt really make sense in terms of GLOOM DIV lore, so i believe that dallons death and him being PRIDE was a manifestation of the other sins coming into existence. i believe that they existed before dallon, but not physically. whether TELLEXX was purposefully keeping them a secret OR they were not aware of them, i couldnt really tell you. it seems likely that the sins DO work for TELLEXX, either being their eyes (like the white shadows) or being guard dogs/spokespeople for them.

i like the idea of the instruction shirt having to do with the sins in some way, its probable, i personally think that the levels have to do with ones status/knowledge surrounding TELLEXX. being a subject can be considered surface level knowledge of TELLEXX and what they do while being a sin and protecting the company means you're deep into the company knowing exactly whats happening.

EDIT: note about the dripping hands/feet! black hands/feet is often associated with making a deal with the devil in religion (christian/catholic beliefs mainly!), so my main theory on the hands/feet being black has to do with dallons death and him becoming PRIDE due to him making a deal w/ the devil.

[an-au-blog]

You brought up East Blue Asylum AU, so I reread everything again, and now I want to know more things. Please tell me about Law? I don't know if it's better for him to also be a patient or a doctor there, but my little multi-shipping heart hopes there could be something there

Ok, funny you should mention that because I had a post about Law in the EBAW au in my drafts and just never got around to posting or finishing them??? So I'm going to be lazy now and copy paste (and finish) it here and hopefully it will answer your questions :))

(if not you can just send another ask lmao)

For a while I wondered if Law would be a doctor or a patient in the EBAW au, but maybe he'd be an actual doctor, who briefly worked with an ex of Luffy's father. Him and Crocodile bonded over their shared hatred of the man and one day Crocodile asked him to check in on Luffy. He naively thought that "the doctor social circle" extended to him, but it didn't. See, he wasn't a phycologist or physiatrist, he worked as a medical examiner - forensic for a while, but he was far from a psychiatrist. He dealt with dead people and the police, that was it. He had a decade or two in which he was a surgeon but he stopped. His "uncle"/his foster father's murderer used to use him as a personal patch-up charity. He used to be a big fish of the underground and Law finally had enough. He quit being a doctor, skipped town and started only examining dead people. It was the perfect job for him - they didn't complain, couldn't lie, great listeners... what else could a socially inept nerd like him want?

Still he decided to agree to go to see Crocodile's son, if and only if on top of the money he promised, he could convince the staff to let him stay there. He honestly thought it would be an impossible mission, but then Crocodile made one phone call to Robin and arranged everything. Law became the physical examiner of the east blue wing for the next month.

Luffy loved new people, especially if they didn't treat him like a kid or as if he was crazy. And Law had no idea how to treat anyone in any way, so he just went to the default - straight to the point and no nonsense. Unlike some of his friends, Luffy trusted Law right off the bat. He would drag him around showing him the whole wing and every time he tried making an excuse that he'd get in trouble for not staying in the doctor's room, because what if they needed him? Luffy would laugh and say that Chopper has everything handled.

Chopper, Law soon found to be the man hw would share a cabinet with. He was this short and hairy man who had figurines all over his desk. Law's jaw dropped when he saw that Chopper had the rare 1995 Christmas special comic addition of Getma 66 AND it was in the 2 in 1 package with the poison pink figurine. They had a little bonding moment over it and Chopper was excited to finally have someone that not only didn't judge him for his interest, but also shared it.

By the end of his one month visit, Law begrudgingly realized that he had grown fond of too many of the people there, both patients and staff. When leaving, he told Jinbe, who was the official "Boss", that if they ever needed him, he'd make himself available.

[harperbrynne]

MY 9/26 SJM LIVE Notes

***This is not a full summary of the live. Only some notes I took that I thought were the most interesting to me that I wanted to share. Everything is broken down based on the series mentioned and not in chronological order.

ACOTAR: 

While she was working on the book she’s writing right now, she spent a whole day writing a scene and thought it was dumb. She didn’t believe it was even good enough for bonus scene material 

Now that CC 3 is done, what are you working on now? SJM is working on drafting the next ACOTAR novel. She’s become so obsessed with writing this book that she’s thinking about the book nonstop. She’s not sure when the draft will be completed

CC: 

Hunt’s parentage and origins: Readers will learn more about Hunt in the next book. SJM makes no promises for his well being

The Autumn king and possible connection to the Autumn Court–  SJM knew who Bryce’s biological father was, but in the process of writing and editing, he became one of her favorite characters to write because he’s so horrible and is capable of doing the right thing but doesn’t. SJM thinks it’s fun to put opposing characters like Bryce and Ruhn with the Autumn King. She didn't say anything about the Autumn Court

How much of Bryce's powers has she accessed? SJM said you will see in next book

We know magic is weaker in the modern world, does a mating bond mean the same thing in CC as in the ACOTAR books? SJM chose not to answer

Is Hunt really Bryce’s mate? SJM said yes they are mates and when she was creating the series she knew how ToG and ACOTAR went with their similar romance tropes. She wanted to do a doozy and make the guy in the beginning be the guy in the end for CC

ACOTAR/CC

Can we expect to see additional POVs from ACOTAR characters in HOFAS? She wouldn't say, but said you would see the ACOTAR world for sure and it will pick up after that final scene in HOSAB

SJM was asked if she still stood by her comment that people did not need to read ACOTAR to start CC. She did not stand by that statement. She said you should read ACOTAR, but for readers who haven’t yet, she hopes they will get to the end of HOSAB and read it 

ACOTAR/ToG/CC 

Has SJM known all along about the idea of the worlds crossing? Was it intentional all those years ago? SJM claimed she is not a genius. She’s known for a while that the world overlapped even before working on KoA. CC was already a story in her mind so when she wrote the scene with Alien, she knew she wanted her to go through the ACOTAR world and thought it would be cool if she went through the CC world as well. For the most part, CC was a fun side project SJM wasn’t taking super seriously at the time when writing ToG. When she was actually really working on CC, she began daydreaming about the idea of the worlds being connected. Out of the blue, everything clicked in terms of the worlds being truly connected based on what she had already written. That’s when she really started planting seeds for the worlds overlapping in the first CC novel

Other information I thought was fun or interesting not directly related to any of the series: 

Taron calls SJM: Sarah J Mask. Taron is obsessed with TS and SJM said she is too. She's always loved TS, but now that Taron is obsessed with her, they’ve only listened to her music in the car. In the eyes of her son the only creative genius in the world is TS

SJM confirmed she doesn’t use social media/lurk on the internet. Friends will text her theories from fans, but that’s all she will see 

She used to only edit physical copies of her manuscript and she remembers having tear stains on the manuscripts from crying. She loved seeing the tearmarkers showing just how much she loved the characters as she was rereading what she had written

[callsign-cacti]

Okay, it's bed time

Pairing: Finnegan x Reader

Word Count: 1.8k

Warnings: COLLEGE WORKLOAD, Finn being sweet

Summary: When Finn comes over to your place to study, he doesn't expect to actually have to study. And he really doesn't expect the breakdown that ensues because of the studying.

Nevertheless, he finds himself staying...

Notes: This is extremely self indulgent, and was written during a breakdown after I realized exactly how much I have to do before sunday night. So of course, instead of actually doing the work, I wrote this.

Tagging my fellow Finn lovers

@sebsxphia @lorecraft @topguncortez @veritable-trash @callsignspark @callsignvalley

----

“Alright, that’s it! You’re done for the night!” Finn declared, reaching across the bed to pluck the textbook and your notes from your hand.

“No, just a few more minutes!” You cry, shifting away from him.

“Yeah, that’s what you said ten minutes ago.”

“Well, I haven’t really gotten this concept.” You flip the page, glancing back and forth between your textbook and your notes, brows furrowed in confusion.

“It’s an important one…” At this, Finn leaned closer to glance at your notes, hoping that maybe he help explain it to you so that you would finally set the goddamned books down.

His brows furrowed, leaning closer. You were a diligent note taker, hell, he couldn’t count how many times he had stolen your notebook for a night to copy down his own notes from yours instead of actually listening in the lecture. But these, these weren’t even on the topic you had outlined at the top of the page. They were barely even in English.

He moved quickly, knowing that the element of surprise would be the best way to go with you, because you had a damn strong grip when you wanted to. Plucking the books straight out of your hands, he tossed them behind him. They landed with a thunk on the floor, causing you to look up at him, confused as to what the sound was.

It took a few seconds for what had just happened to click, looking down at your lap only to find it empty.

“What the hell Finn?”

“Honey, you’re exhausted. You need sleep!”

“No!” You lunged as you protested, but Finn was quicker, and you were slow in your exhaustion, and he caught your shoulders, gently pushing you back onto the bed.

“Your notes barely made sense. You have been studying literally all day, you’re exhausted, and you don’t need to study any more tonight!”

This afternoon, when you had invited Finn to study with you after class, he had readily agreed, positive that it would be fifteen minutes of studying before he had you in his lap. But when he had barged in after his practice, book in hand and condom in his pocket, he had found you on the floor with papers surrounding you, angrily muttering to yourself as you shuffled through your physics textbook.

So he had plopped himself down next to you, and together, the two of you worked your way through the homework that had you practically tearing your hair out.

He was positive that he would be rewarded for helping you, smug as he thought about all the ways you could thank him as he watched you organize your notes, only to pull out another textbook and plop yourself down at the desk.

Since then, Finn had taken a nap, and raided your snack drawer, finished four chapters in his book, and had two beers. He was getting up to get the third when he noticed you swaying in your seat, eyes glazed as you stared down at your notes.

“Don’t tell me what to do Finn. I’m not fucking done, that exam is in two days, and if I don’t pass this then…”

“Your grade drops, and so does your GPA, and if your GPA drops, then you won’t get the internship, no internship, no job, no job no life. Yeah, I heard it the first ten times you told it to me, and every time after that. But what you’re doin right now isn’t helping, it’s hurting. You need some sleep and you can study in the morning!”

He knew he had lost you halfway through his little rant, your eyes sliding from him and back to your textbook. And then, you were up and out of the bed, darting across the room in an attempt to reach your stuff before he could grab you, only to trip over your legs.

But Finn was faster,launching himself off the bed, wrapping his arms around your middle and pulling you back to him.

“Little clumsy there, aren’tcha!”

You could hear Finn laughing, but it seemed like your head was filled with cotton. You needed to study more. Because failing wasn’t an option.

When he was met with your silence, he stopped laughing. Tears were falling down your face, lip wobbling as you desperately tried not to break down in front of him.

“Hey!” Gently, Finn placed you back on the bed, planting his hands on either side of you, and ducking down to break your gaze away from the textbook.

“Listen, you got this in the bag honey. You know you’re gonna ace this exam, second only to me, of course! But hey, not everyone can be perfect all the time, right?”

And that seemed to wake you up, because suddenly, you were shoving him off of you, sending him stumbling backwards.

“Fuck you Finn!”

“Woah, what…”

“Fuck you! Fuck you for barely even having to crack open a book and still get better grades then those of us who bust our asses. And you don’t even fuckin care. You don’t care about anything, except for going to fucking nationals and getting pussy and getting high and just having a great fucking time at college. Cause it should be fun right, why stress about it when you know you’ll probably waltz right out of this goddamned town and get some great job and be set for life!”

You pause, taking a deep breath, and Finn cautiously takes a reaches for you, but your far from done.

“Fuck you for trying to tell me that this doesn’t matter, because it does! This isn’t a joke Finn, this is my life!”

And then, he puts his foot right in his fucking mouth. “But it’s not your life, it’s one exam.” He knows it the second it comes out of his mouth. He doesn’t even have to see your eyes narrow, mouth dropping open as you fully absorb what he just said.

It’s not even like he had just threatened to kill a kitten or commit a murder, but with your reaction, he might as well have just said something equally as outlandish.

“One exam, just one fucking exam huh! Yeah Finn, it’s one exam that is worth forty percent of my grade. You’ve made it very clear that I have made it very clear that this is not just an exam, this is the exam. And sure, maybe I say that about every exam, but that’s only because every single fucking exam I take matters. Every single test or quiz or homework assignment I have done here matters, because if I do not work as hard as I possibly can, then I will have nothing.”

Finn was used to your anger. You got angry at him all the time. What Finn was not used to, was the tears that were currently welling in your eyes.

“I can’t fail this exam Finn! Because if I fail this exam, then it means I failed. And not just figuratively, literally. The last time I failed a test was in eighth grade. Do you know what my parents said to me Finn. Why didn’t you study harder, this was an easy test. What are you going to do better next time. The only reason I failed that exam is because I had another one that morning that I pulled an all nighter studying for. But they were so disappointed in me, and I hated it. Because it didn’t matter that I had not only passed the other exam with an A, but that I was the only student who had passed that exam at all.”

You took another ragged breath, the tears now falling freely as you kept ranting.

“And it’s not just academics, I make one misstep, make one bad decision, and it seems like everyone see’s it, and it never seems to go away.”

You trail off, not even realizing that you are literally swaying side to side. Tenatively, Finn steps to your side, sitting down next to you, and then you are collapsing into him, openly sobbing into his chest.

“You think I want to be like this. I am so, so fucking tired Finn. I’m tired of it all, and I just want… I just want…”

Finn moves then, reaching for you and hauling you onto his lap, hugging you into his chest, running his hand up and down your back. Your crying so hard that you can barely breathe, hardly registering the comfort that Finn is trying to give you.

“Hey, it’s okay!” He tries again.

“Fuck you Finn!” You scream at him, trying to push out of his lap.

“Honey, when was the last time you slept?” And he honestly doesn’t know if you’re ignoring him or if you can’t hear him over the sound of your sobs. One of his hands slides into your hair, gently undoing the ponytail and raking his fingers through it, pausing only to lightly scratch at your scalp.

He doesn’t know how long he sits there, rocking you back and forth, one hand skimming up and down your back, the other tangled in your hair, but eventually, you calm down, the sobs turning into sniffles.

“Baby?”

At this, you tense. That was new. He had never called you that. Gently, he untangles his fingers from your hair, sliding it across your cheek to tilt your chin to meet his gaze.

“Hey, you are not a disappointment.” He barely gets the sentence out before your moving to try and tuck your head back into his chest, but he won’t let you.

“You’re the smartest person I know, which, I mean, we go to STU, so…” And with that, you are no longer trying to burrow into him, but trying to push him away.

“Ok, bad time for a joke. I get it now. But I’m being serious honey. You are so goddamned smart,” He plants a kiss on your forehead. “And funny!” Another kiss, but on your cheek. “And strong!” He switches cheeks, before moving down to your jaw. “And so goddamned sexy!” He tilts your head again.

“And you are going to go so, so far in life, because you are smart and driven and everything anyone could ever hope to be. But you cannot study any more tonight. It’s…” He pauses, glancing at the clock on the wall, “3:27 in the morning, and you need sleep. You were literally swaying like a scarf in the wind a few minutes ago. And before you yell at me again, if you go to sleep now, I’ll help you study in the morning. And before you yell at me for that, no, not the way I helped you study last weekend, although I will go to my grave swearing that it’s the best way to study!”

And now you were giggling, the tears still shiny on your cheeks as he reached up to wipe them away. Your eyes flutter closed, leaning into his hand on your face.

“So what do you say honey? Bed time?”

You crack your eyes open to find him staring at you with a soft expression that you are to tired to decipher at the moment.

“Yeah Finny, bed time.”

Notes: This is extremely self indulgent, and was written during a breakdown after I realized exactly how much I have to do before sunday night. So of course, instead of actually doing the work, I wrote this.

Tagging my fellow Finn lovers

@sebsxphia @lorecraft @topguncortez @veritable-trash @callsignspark @callsignvalley

Also, I have the first few parts of a new Finn series almost up and ready to go! The first part should be up Friday!

[winterspiderpurrs]

"Sir, as per your protocol, I am to inform you that Peter is in great emotional distress. He is not in physical distress, I will keep a watch on his vitals"

Tony set his coffee cup down from where he stood in the kitchen with Steve, Bucky and Rhodey. He clears his throat " Thanks Friday, do you know what cause it with out invading his privacy"

" He recieved a phone call and an email from Mr. Osborn's solicitor and lawyers."

He made a face, raising his hand up wipe down his face. Its been a few months since the late Harry Osborn had passed away. He had finally succumb to his mysterious genetic illness. Tony didn't know all of the details but he knows that Harry and Peter were close. The final weeks before Harry passed Peter was at his bedside. The death of his friend devastated the young man. He looked over at Rhodey and then back at Steve and Bucky who both had a solemn look on their faces.

" Let the kid know if he needs anything to let me know. "

" Of course. Peter has informed me he will be in need of Ms. Potts and her publicity skills and possibly the team of lawyers you have on hand. "

" What.... Friday. Once Peter is well enough tell him to come talk. Whatever he needs he can have. But i will need to know whats going on"

" Peter has permissioned the access to his email for your review. A copy has already been sent to Ms. Potts"

Tony turns around and projected the email up in the air in a hologram. Everyone gathered close as they read the email. The shocked look on all there faces, Steve reaching out to hold Bucky's hand as his eyes filled with tears.

" Hey Pete,

If your reading this it means I finally kicked the bucket and the vultures at the company can't legally get away with what they want. And I'm sorry Peter. I wish we had more time and I could prepare you for this, it feels like only a few weeks ago instead of the last couple of years to when we reconnect. I was an ass. And your a mess Peter Parker, but you are my best friend. We have known each other for so long and no matter what we have gone through you stayed my friend even when I didn't deserve it. Your a good person, no fashion sense and those jokes? Horrible. But that makes you, you.

And before you say you dont deserve anything and this was never what you had in mind. Just listen to me for once. You deserve to live the life you deserve. I know I pissed off a lot of people with my will. But Peter if anyone deserves to run Oscorp, its you. Father always liked you, even after everything, he always wanted you helping the company. Even if you decide to sale it, I trust you will do good things, life changing things. I know money doesn't mean anything to you but you will finally be able to get new clothes that are NOT from a thrift shop cause thats just gross Pete.

And yes, you are entitled to this. When the accords happened, I told you I didn't trust Stark as far as I could throw him. He has done good by you now but in the beginning I was the one making sure you were safe. I promised you on your 18th birthday that I would always take care of you. And even though I'm not there. This is me fulfilling that promise.

And I'm sorry you are finding out this way. And I promise I would have fixed it if the time came but until then. Maybe it was me being selfish.

I never signed the papers of the annulment. I paid the judge off. We are still legally married.

Peter Benjamin Parker. I've been in love with you since we were 11. Took me a while to realize that I was jealous of your loving family, your smarts, how you didn't care about my money. I know I was being selfish when you turned 18 and would of needed to sign the accords. Nothing Stark could of done could of protected you. And when I realized this is when I could marry you? I jumped at the chance. My family had the money to protect you in a way Stark couldn't since he had no claims on you legally.

You made me the happiest I have every been when you agreed. We had a great few months together before Father found out and I pulled off the greatest fuck you ever to the family legacy. I know I had to tell you we had to separate. And I knew that it broke your heart but you were so worried about how the public would view me, the company that you signed and told me we could go back to being friends.

I'm glad for the time we had together. Even after we reconnect later, I had no hope of rekindling what we had before. My clock was ticking and I didn't want to hurt you even further. But I guess you were going to be hurt no matter what.

Peter Benjamin Parker you deserve all the love and happiness in the world. I'm glad I got to experience what it means to be loved by you "

[hjcoolartnerd]

TDC Episode 2: All Aboard part 2

A/N: *This season of TDC all players are adults even the reboot ones. they are 20, PI are 24, ROTI are 25 and the Original cast are 27.*

Previous Episode:

All Aboard part 1

Recap Voice Over:

"Last Time on Total Drama Cruiser! 36 crew member were brought back for an exciting new season, divided in to 4 teams of 9. some liked their teams others not so much. We learned why some people didn't return to the game and we also found out who might be this season's antagonist jajaja. We also found out the way of elimination the plank of shame. who will be the first one to dive into shark infested waters? and who will be setting foot in our economy class? Find out right here on Total! Drama! Cruise!"

Chris and the crew mates were all on the beach of Hawaii a familiar beach for everyone who was a spectator of the World Tour Finally "Today's challenge we will be divided into 3 parts. first part you will decide who will sit out of the second and third part of the challenge." Chris smirked as he pointed to the four cages "That person will sit there on their first half and they have to eat disgusting food prepared by today's surprise guess. World Tour's Winner, Alejandro!" As Chriss announces who would be preparing the disgusting food, a Helicopter drops Alejandro with him Heather. "Al Buddy, I am only needed you. That who I'm paying only 50 dollars. " Chris said "Well, I don't go anywhere with out Alejandro" Heather spoke as she held Alejandro's hand. "So these are the pathetic looser you chose for your new season?" Alejandro sneered as he saw everyone "Oh looked an Eel dipped in Grease." Noah said. "Al" Justin said "Justin" Alejandro replied. Justin glaring at him while Alejandro just smirked.

"I hate that smooth talker! He thinks he is better than me because he could get more people to fall for him! He is nothing compared to me! I'm the original pretty boy! He is just a copy!" Justin's Confessional.

"The Last person to puke their disgusting food would get a 5 min head start in the next part of the challenge." Chris said "Alejandro and Heather will make the grossest food, while each of you choose who is going to eat from your own team." Everyone looked at eachother and they got in circle. Screaming Eagles: "Okay Team, we need someone who isn't grossed out easily and cost us the advantage." Carlos said taking the lead "Blainley can't do it because she cheated during her gross food challenge." Blainley glared at him "Who volunteers? Kyle? Julia? Your season had really disgusting food." Carlos pointed out "Yeah but I wasn't the one to eat a type wyrm that was Julia." Kyle smirked as Julia glared at him "Gross! No I am not Doing it! Why not you big guy?" She points to rodney "You were raised on a farm" Everyone turns to Rodney "Me? I.. Uhhh.. well you see...." Rodney began stuttering before he shrugs. "It might be the best plan, most of us here dont tolerate gross foods" Trent said thinking back to season 1. "And I can't eat anything gross! Not Even Chef's Food!" Anna Maria said. "That's because paying attention to your physical appearance is a cry of help! and you secretly love the fact that you can get to be yourself with daniel." Dawn said as Anne Maria glared t Dawn.

"Carlos and maybe Kyle, Julia and Rodney seem to be the only other strong competitors in our team... Blainley should go out as soon as we get a change and Carlos and Trent agree. But right now I need to focus and don't let my anger take over" Eva's Confessional.

"So Rodney is our pick?" Eva asked. "Seems like it." Kyle said smiling. Julia then pulls Kyle aside "Hey We need to talk" She told him as he pulled him away from the team "Yes Julia?" He asked "You know we are at A voting dis advantage right? If we lose, Eva, Carlos, Trent, Dawn and Anne Maria could team up to vote us off. We are the newbies and despite our differences we have to work together at least until we reach the merge." Julia said as Kyle listened "Yeah but how can i trust you? You aren't exactly trustworthy Julia. I Haven't forgotten what You did to Caleb and Priya." Kyle said with his hands on his hips "True I am not exactly trust worthy. But. If we could work together we could ride the challenges." She said. "Yeah but if we work together our team will avoid most eliminations, Not Counting Blainley and Anne Maria the rest of us are good at challenges." Kyle said "That what we need. Work together and not Kill each other in the prosses." Julia though about it "You are right..." She said.

"Kyle, is smart. and He knows how to play well as a team... which is why he can't stay longer that 25th place. I'll keep him for as long as I can and then Boot him. Like his Cousin Eric he always make it far and I am planning to stop that." Julia's Confessional.

"I don't trust Julia One bit! But if I can help my team work together we could ride off every challenge without going to the poop deck and manage to avoid elimination. With me, Carlos, Julia, Eva, Trent, Dawn and Rodney. we have a fair chance. I'm doing this for Wayner and Rajie.... and Bowie. and to get back into the Hockey team. If i prove that I can be a team player the coach has to let me back right?" Kyle's Confessional.

Killer Hornets: "Okay so which of us has the most Iron stomach?" Daniel asked as all The girls looked away avoiding Daniel's eye. "Great.. None of us have guts." Noah said as he looked at everyone "Yeah, My Great Great Great Great Great Great-" Daniel sighed "For Crying out loud Stacy be useful and shut your damn Mouth for once!" He snapped. "I Vote Staci for the eating part!" Sadie said as she raised her hand. "Me too." Katie said smiling "What?! Why me" Stacy replied. "I'm not against it" Daniel smirked "Sure why not. Nichelle? Sammy? Jane? Beardo?" Noah asked "Fine by me! I don't like disgusting foods" Sammy said. Both Beardo and Jane agreed. "I also agree with that." Nichelle said as they all looked at Stacy who is worried and confused.

"I had to take the leadership role of my team. we are the worst team. Worst than the grips. Maybe I need a new game strategy this season." Daniel's confessional.

"It's strange to see Daniel take a leader ship role. He usually stays in the back hidden. But I don't blame him. Have you seen our team?" Noah's confessional.

"My Great Great great Great great great grandfather created prisons, Before him, people used to walk cuffed all around and even ran away and policeman had to round them up.... And My great Great great great great-" Stacy's Confessional.

"So yeah, this team sucks.... At least my previous teams had good players, but this one?! This one is the worst! The other three teams are better especially the Pidgeon's, They have a mutant! A Mutant! They have the advantage." Jane's Confessional.

Ferocious Pidgeons: "Okay we all have to agree that Dakotazoid will do the first part of the challenge right?" Bryan said as he rounded up the team. "And why should we listen to you man?" Tyler asked as he looked at Bryan "You haven't been the best player in previous seasons and a cheater mind you." Geoff added. "Sam yeah... You are like Alejandro and Heather but Worst" Sam said.

"I am nothing Like Alejandro or Heather! And I learned strategy, My girl back home aka Courtney taught me a few strategies i could use to make it far, And one thing is being a team player. She made me watch every season of total drama, learn from everyone's mistakes." Bryan's Confessional.

"I fine with Bryan's Plan" Dakotazoid said as Bryan smiled "Alright who is against it?" He looked at the others and they stayed silent "Good, with Dakotazoid we might win this first half." He smiled.

Turkeys of Death: "I volunteer myself for the challenge" Ezekiel said "With my toxic saliva i could dissolve the food and when i eat it I wont have must taste." He said as everyone looked at him "But isn't eating Toxines dangerous for you" Millie asked. "Not since i got mutated in Chris' mine." He said nodding. "I like you enthusiasm Zeke, but Ripper is the grossest one here, I bet he can eat without vomiting" Sierra said. "Me? why?!" He asked. "Mmmm I don't know.... Be who do you think should do the challenge?" Brick asked B and B pointed at Ripper. "agreed." Brick added. "I think Zeke should do it if he want's to do it" Justin said smiling

"If Zeke's looses us the advantage guess who the team votes for.... Yeah Mutant Homeschool. This is my season. I need to show them that I'm a better version of my Action self." Justin's confessional.

"What do you think cutie" Justin asked Amy who had been staring at him. "Oh me? Uh I vote Zeke!" She smiled and looks away blushing. "okay that's 3 votes Zeke, 3 votes Ripper. Millie? Topher Ripper?" Sierras asked them "Definitely I vote ripper!" Millie said. "And I vote Zeke I don't want to eat disgusting Foods!"

"Justin is so attractive!" Amy's Confessional.

"I won't eat anything disgusting! I made a deal with Axel's brother that i will refrain from gross things!" Ripper's Confessional.

"I vote for....." Topher began as both Zeke and Ripper waited with anticipation for him to choose. "Zeke. It's the best choice! The toxic Saliva sounds like a good plan!"

The time to choose their prisoner was over as Chris told the selected person to walk forward. Rodney, Stacy, Dakotazoid and Zeke walked forward "Okay! You four step into your cages! Heather and Alejandro are finishing the gross food you four have to stomach." He smirked "The brough from the most disgusting trash they could find. While they finish, I'll give you the rules for the second part of the challenge, 7 members of each team, will create a sacrifice with no pineapple head, off Heather or Alejandro. If you have a female contestant in the cage you will build an Alejandro dummy, if you have a female you build a Heather dummy." Chris said. "Excellent! I wanted some revenge on Al, and now it is time. Even if it's a dummy" Bryan's Confessional.

"After building the dummy from those 7 , 3 will work together to the volcano and throw their sacrifice, after than they will race back down and run towards that side of the beach where depending the order you arrive in with is the order we will have the one on one part of the challenge. the first one to win 3 fights win immunity and get to travel to our next destination in first class. the team that losses 3 fights will get the poop deck and are forced to send someone home." Chris explain the rules, just as Alejandro, Chef, Heather and a red Head Inter. "Izzy?!" Everyone gasped when they saw the familiar crazy "Yep, Izzy Agreed to be my intern in exchange for fix her image, after her out burst on set" Chris smirked "Give the prisoner their, food." Chris said as the four went to each of the person in the cage, Chris press the airhorn signaling for the challenge too start

"This is so entertaining, Watching those loser eat disgusting food , for a million dollars. I Know I wanted the Money but, seeing them squirm is more entertaining. But I still want the Million don't get me wrong." Heather's confessional.

Dakotazoid and Zeke were having an easy time with the challenge, Zeke's saliva making it easy for him to eat, while Dakotazoid's stomach allowed her to eat without vomiting. How every Stacy couldn't eat one spoon full as she tried to eat she couldn't help but vomit. "And Stacy is Out!" Chris said as the Hornets sighed. Rodney wasn't that behind when he vomited. "And Rodney is also Out! Only Dakotazoid and Zeke's left maybe it's time to see some of the most disgusting blunders from total drama history, gotten from Sierra's blog." Chris said as Chef brought Chris' monitor. Izzy notices Al and Heather weren't there so he left into the boat to find them. While the challenge progressed Izzy was looking for Heather and Alejandro around the cruise ship

"If I had to think like those two, They'd be looking for the briefcase with the money in Chris quarters. He hired me as a Inter but I'm more like security. and Maybe explosive will get to Boom Boom!" Izzy's Confessional.

Heather and Alejandro were in the production suite of the production. Alejandro was looking near Chris' room while heather kept look out. "Hurry Up Alejandro! we need the money and then leave out of here." Heather said as she gave Alejandro a side eye as she kept watch. "Don't rush me! McLean's Room is disturbing! he has pictures of himself everywhere in this suite." Alejandro said from the room "And there is no way of knowing where he would hide the case.": he added. "There should be a safe around there." Heather said as he kept watch. "Ugh this is so frustrating!" Alejandro groaned. "That's How I wanted to catch you two jaja" Izzy said as Heather notices her "Oh Crap! Alejandro! IT's the Crazy girl!" Heather shouted at Alejandro. "What?! She was with Chef and Chris!" He said walking out and his eyes widening as he saw Izzy standing there "You two are not supposed to be here." She smirked "Production team and staff only! You two are only here to Demo the challenge.". Heather back away "I got lost Izzy... I was looking for the Confessional." She said trying to get away. "Yeah that's what we were doing" Alejandro said calm. "OH i do not believe that...." She smiled "Prepare to Face the power of Izzy" She began charging towards them, as Heather first instinct was to bolt out of there. "I am Out of here" Heather said running. "Pft I am not scared of You Izzy" Alejandro said

"Alejandro Is Crazy For challenging Izzy like that. I know he is muscular and a force to be reckoned with but Izzy is unpredictable and she can go on a head to head fight with Chef so I know he is risking loosing. But right now I needed to save my ass" Heather's confessional.

"I delt with Izzy during season 3 and she is nothing but a joke. I can easily take her" Alejandro's confessional.

"Heather is a smart cookie for running from the Izzy! But Alejandro will see just how capable this nut case is!" Izzy's confessional.

Izzy and Alejandro began having a hand to hand combat. Their fight were head to head as they fought, an Intense battle for two of the strongest ex competitors. Heather was running off from the Production suite. While they fought for a long time, and it appeared liked Alejandro had the upper hand when Izzy slowly changed the tides, tripping Alejandro and then tasing him "Izzy wins!" She exclaims as she then puts cuffs on Alejandro's wrist "Time to take you to the boats punishment cells" She said as she took Alejandro to the lower parts of the cruise ship where there were cells and she pushed Alejandro towards one of the cells "Now I need to find Heather" She said as she closed Alejandro's cell and left to go find heather.

"Izzy won't find me if I hide in first class right?" Heather's confessional.

Back with the Challenge They were still seeing disgusting scenes of Total Drama of people vomiting and Dakotazoid couldn't take it anymore. She had an Iron Stomach and she couldn't take much more of seeing past people vomiting. "And Zeke wins the advantage for the Turkeys of Death! they won the 5 min advantage in the Sacrifice Building Challenge!" Chris said as the Turkeys of Death celebrated. "Now teams choose who is going to be waiting at the other side of the island for the third part of the challenge.." Chris said as the teams reunited again

Turkeys of Death: The team were together except Ezekiel "Okay Who is the strongest member of our team?" Millie asked "I am!" Both Ripper and Brick spoke at the same time. "What? You are not the strong one I am!" They continued to talk at the same time "No I am!"

"I need to prove I'm the alpha male of the team! and show them I am the strongest here!" Ripper's confessional.

"I have military training, There is no doubt I am the strongest one!" Brick's confessional.

"Ugh, Can we just not Argue!" Amy said crossing her arms "Ripper will take the last part challenge and that's final!" She said as everyone stared at her. "Wow oaky miss bossy pants, Brick is the best choice he has military training!" Sierra said crossing her arms "But if we choose Ripper we could blame him if we loose, and he can be booted off" Justin said "Hey! I am not that bad! My girlfriend's brothers taught me how to be strong so i can keep their sister safe!" Ripper said as everyone exchanged glances at him "Okay Fine!" They all said at the same time. "If that's who is going to take the final challenge, then Me, Brick and B will take the Dummy up to the Volcano." Sierra said smiling.

Ferocious Pigeons: "Okay who will we send to the last challenge?" Bryan asked as everyone exchanged glances. "I could-" Tyler began but Bryan stopped him "Not you Tyler...." Bryan said

"No one here is good for the last challenge.... this is so.... UGh! Maybe.... Axel? I don't know Sam, Tyler, Leonard and Ella are no good for the one on one challenge. Geoff, Axel and Damien seem perfectly fit but Geoff is too much of a nice guy and Damien.... well is Damien... and there is no way they'll beat the eagles if they pick Eva." Bryan's confessional.

"Axel? Will you do it for us?" Damien asked "you are the strongest one of out team" Everyone turned to Axel. "And you could beat the crap out of who ever you are placed against to." Axel looked at Damien and smirked "I accept it!" She smiled. "Great we have our fighter!" Geoff smiled. "Then Me, Tyler and Bryan will take the dummy to the volcano" Geoff added.

Killer Hornets: None of the team spoke up to take the last spot of the challenge. they were all glancing at each other hoping for to volunteer for the last challenge.

"The sacrifices we have to take to lead a team of complete dumb shits. Noah is the only smart one but we don't need brain in the final challenge. Jane is just a flexible girl but not good in fighting challenges and Nichelle.... welll yeah" Daniel's cponfessional.

"Okay, okay. I'll take The final spot!" He sighed "But you guys better be fast and carry the heavy Alejandro Sacrifice." Daniel said. "We will, There is nothing I'd like more than to see Alejandro fall into that volcano even if it's just a dummy." Noah said as Daniel nodded. "As for who will take the dummy, it will be Nichelle, Jane and Beardo" Daniel said "Sure I see no problem with that."

Screaming Eagles: "Eva you want to go to the last Challenge?" Carlos asked her "Yeah, I'd bring our team the win." Eva said with no hesitation. "To have a better chance to arrive first to the volcano and the beach, me, Trent and Kyle will take the Heather dummy up the volcano." Carlos said hoping the team agreed. "I'm fine with that" Julia said as she just looked at her Nails. "Yeah because there is no way my good looking body will get near the heat of that volcano" Anne Maria said. "And I'm not risking letting my body get burned by lava Blainley Said.

Meanwhile Izzy finally found Heather and Heather began running off from Izzy "I almost got you!" She laughed crazily as she ran. "You can run as much as you Can Heather! But you can't hide from the E-scope!" Izzy said as she chased Heather "Come on Izzy! We were friends! Can't you just let this slide?" She asked laughing crazily and Tackling Heather "I got you Now! Wait till Chris Hears this" She smiled as she took Heather toward the cell and locked her up in the cell next to Alejandro's.

"You think Chris, would give me a raise for what i Did?" Izzy's Confessional.

Chris Blew the air horn and the building challenge began. The turkeys of death began their 5 minute head start to build their sacrfice with Dekotazoid's intructions. When the 5 mins were over the other teams following the guidance of their caged teammate began their sacrifices, Sadly the Hornets were getting nothing since, Staci was focused on talking about he great great great great greet. "Yeah! My great great great great great Grandfather, invented Logs! Before him people used to burn trees with out cutting them... and my Great great great great great great great -" Staci continued "Ugh! Tgis is Frustrating!" Jane complained as she covered her ears tired of Staci "Can't we just glue her mouth shut?" She asked as the other shrugs. "Staci! Can you just tell us what to get? We are going to lose if you don't help us." Noah yelled "This is so Humiliating The other team will win!" Sammy said frowning. Beardo nods making a losing tune. as The other teams kept working on their sacrifices slowly the teams finished their their sacrifices and the 3 for each team began taking the sacrifices up. leaving the hornets behind. Chris walks towards the last place team "If you don't put the work your team automatically loose the challenge and head to the poop deck." He laughed at them. They all glared at Stacy. "Okay I Am Done with Mrs Nice Girl!" Jane spat "You will shut you mouth up and tell us what to do or So help me You will be the one going home tonight!" Jane yelled ar her

"It's obvious who is going home if we loose" Jane's confessional

"Honestly.... Why is should we win at this Point. The other 3 teams are ahead by a lot!" Nichelle's confessional.

"Why is she sooo Useless!" Noah's Confessional

"Is she kidding? Who here buys her lies?" Beardo's Confessional

"Not even me and Sadie are that annoying!" Katie's Confessional.

Eventually they managed to build their Alejandro Sacrifice, So that allowed Nichelle, Beardo and Jane to began working together to carry the Alejandro Sacrifice towards the Volcano. Meanwhile the other three teams were far away from them They were basically just finishing throwing their sacrifices. "Trent, Carlos, we Should go Now!" Kyle said as he began running down the volcano the mentioned guys following behind him. Once Tyler, Geoff and Bryan threw their sacrifice they began running behind the first place team, Tyler then tripped and began falling down the volcano. Geoff and Bryan exchanged glances. After Throwing the the sacrifices the three members of Turkeys of Death began running towards the beach. B had offered Carrying Brick and Sierra so they could arrive together. The three teams in the lead were head to head, except Tyler who had fallen from the side of the volcano.

"Chris never said that the whole 3 members should arrive to the beach together so, We should yell at Tyler to run towards the beach. But first...." Bryan's confessional.

Bryan pushed Kyle, and he provoked Kyle to tumble and and make the rest of his teammates fall.

"What is Wrong with Bryan! I know this is a race but he doesn't have to push me!" Kyle's confessional.

"Wow So typical of Bryan tripping the enemy, I better keep an eye on him...." Sierra's Confessional.

"Tyler! Run to the beach! Hurry! IF we cross first Axel will have her 3 fights firs!" Bryan yelled still running down the volcano just in case. Tyler groaned as he got up from the floor and began making his way to the beach. "Oh No he is not arriving First!" Carlos said as He got up first than Kyle and Trent and he began running down as fast as he could. Behind Him followed B carrying Brick and Sierra. Finally reaching the top of the volcano was Jane, Nichelle and Beardo, They threw their sacrifice as Nichelle observed a faster way to climb down the Volcano.

"I need to reach the beach first! we could give Daniel the chance to win the challenge.... But I am Tempted to stay back so we could Vote off Staci" Nichelle's confessional.

"Look Nichelle!" Jane said as Nichelle and Beardo looked at her "You could climb thru there and reach the ground first that B, and Carlos. and Since you will land safely you could beat Tyler to the end." Jane said as Nichelle smiled and Began climbing down the way Jane said. Jane smiled.

"I want to win. Even if I dislike Staci and she made us fall behind.... I still don't want use to lose a teammate, No matter how useless they are" Jane's confessional.

The race was close, Tyler going slowly to the end. B and Carlos running at the same pace as Nichelle had just landed in at the ground and she began running towards the beach. "This I going to be close! Tyler has the lead! but Nichelle just landed first to the ground! and But Carlos and B are both running at an Alarming rate! First class is on the line! first fights will be given to the team who arrives first" Chris said as he watched thru the monitors the 4 four main runners. "chef should we make the fight the way to chose a real looser between 3rd and 4th place?" Chris asked Chef. "Yes! That'd be excellent!" Chef smiled. from where he was Bryan could see that Nichelle was going to beat Tyler.

"Desperate Times calls for desperate Measures!" Bryan's Confessional.

Bryan grabbed a coconut and tossed it towards Brick, The coconut hit him making him fall from B's arm and by pure change he fell on top of Nichelle. Seeing that Provoked Sierra to tackle Bryan and began beating the crap out of him. Carlos too advantage of this and speed up towards the finish line Just as Tyler was about to win Carlos passed By Tyler. "And The Screaming Eagles! Won first place!" Chris said as Carlos crossed. "What!? What about the fights!?" Eva asked. "Well! The fight will still happen but that to choose the ultimate loser between the last two team and It appears that the fight will happen between Daniel and Ripper because the Ferocious Pigeons win second place." Chris said as Tyler finally crossed the line.

"This Is Bryan's fault! It's really un fair that Bryan's team got second Place!" Sierra's Confessional.

As the sun hung low in the sky, casting an orange hue over the arena, Ripper and Daniel stood atop platforms, each armed with jousting sticks, their eyes locked in a battle of wills. Ripper flexed his muscles, a cocky grin spreading across his rugged face. "You ready to taste defeat, Daniel?" Daniel smirked, adjusting his grip on the jousting stick. "I wouldn't be so sure, Ripper. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve." With a Air horn from Chris, the duel to avoid elimination ceremony began. The platforms rocked as Ripper and Daniel charged towards each other, their jousting sticks clashing with thunderous force. "Is that all you've got, Daniel?!" Ripper taunted, his voice booming across the arena. Daniel gritted his teeth, his focus unwavering. "You haven't seen anything yet, Ripper!" Back and forth they battled, neither willing to give an inch. The tension in the air was palpable as the spectators held their breath, waiting for the decisive moment. Suddenly, Ripper unleashed a powerful strike, catching Daniel off guard and sending him staggering backward towards the edge of the platform. "You're finished, Daniel!" Ripper roared triumphantly, preparing for the final blow. "Go Ripper Beat His ass!" Amy shouted. "Don't let that Jerk beat you Daniel!" Nichelle shouted. But Daniel wasn't about to go down without a fight. With a swift maneuver, he regained his balance and countered Ripper's attack, sending him reeling. The rest of Daniel's erupted into cheers as the duel reached its climax, the combatants locked in a fierce struggle for dominance. As the dust settled, it seemed as though Daniel had gained the upper hand, poised to send Ripper tumbling into the shark-infested waters below. "Any last words Ripper!" But then, Ripper unleashed his secret weapon. "Ah, what's that smell?!" Daniel exclaimed, his nose wrinkling in disgust. Ripper grinned wickedly, raising his arms to reveal his potent secret. "what you smell is my natural yeast smell." The foul stench emanating from Ripper's pits was enough to make Daniel dizzy, his senses overwhelmed by the noxious fumes With a final shove, Ripper sent Daniel plummeting into the waters below, victorious in the ultimate showdown of strength and strategy. "And Ripper wins it for the Turkeys of Death!" Chris shouted in his mega phone as the team cheered and the Killer Hornets groaned.

"I don't Blame Daniel for loosing.. Ripper stinks like crap" Jane's Confessional.

"Anyone would have lost that fight even Eva... well not Axel.... Some how she can handle his stink" Kyle's Confessiona.

"Well Killer Hornets, You are the first ones to go to the Poop deck to eliminate your first Team mate." Chris laughed as Everyone from the team glanced at eachother.

Soon it was dark and the Killer Hornets were sitting on lounge chairs in the poop deck Chris was Standing Near the Plank of shame as the team looked at him "Welcome to your first elimination Ceremony Killer Hornets. Just like in season 3 You will vote in the confessional by stamping a red X on the passport of the desired crewmate you want to vote off." Chris smirked "Now Chef is going to remind you what you did to be here." He smiled as Chef walked next to chris "Daniel, You let something as simple as Ripper stinky pits to make you lose the jousing fight which caused your team to be sent here." Chef pointed to Daniel "You would have too if You smelled those really stinky Pits!" He said trying not to vomit. "Nichelle you almost reached the finish line but you let Brick fall on top of you and that caused your team to end in 3/4th place." He said pointing to Nichelle. "I couldn't anticipate that Brick would fall on me! Those stinky Pigeons are cheaters" Nichelle growled. "And Lastly, Staci, your excessive lying, caused your team to be left behind in the race. if your team hadn't threatened you you would have automatically lost." Chef said "Well, My great great great great-" Chris interrupted him "Shut it! Nobody cares!" He said "Get to voting Loser!"

"Nichelle could have arrived first if Bryan didn't knock Brick on top of her, Daniel Lost to Rippers stinky pits... but" Jane stamps Staci's passport "Ms Lying got my vote"

"Is it debatable?" Nichelle stamped Staci's passport without saying anything

"Daniel lost the tie breaker... sorry buddy" Noah said stamping Daniel's Passport.

"Yeah Daniel.... I know he is evil" Staci Stamped Daniel's passport.

Daniel aggressively stamped multiple times Staci's passport "Bye Bye girly!"

Sadie and Katie together stamped on Staci's Passport.

"we are all tired of her stories... she seems nice but she should interact instead of lying" Sammy stamped Staci's Passport.

Beardo making sound effects stamped Staci's passport.

Chris was holding a plate of of chocolate made cruise tickets as he stared at the team "The crew mate who doesn't receive their cruise pass, will have to walk the poop deck and jump out on the plank of shame, and you can never come back... Ever!" Chris smirked "Before i give the passes if anyone here wants to use the Hatchet Totem to chose someone else to be booted? If you found it." Chris asked as everyone glanced at each other. "Very well, The pass will go to...Sadie!" He tossed the pass to Sadie "Katie!" He tossed it "Nichelle, Jane!" He tossed two more passed "Noah, Beardo, Sammy" He said as he tossed 3 more passes. Having now only one pass left "We got now 1 pass left and 2 crewmates." he said as Daniel and Staci exchanged glances "The last pass goes to....." Chris said as he extended the tension as Daniel began looking worried for a minute and Staci was almost biting her nails. ".... Daniel!" Chris said as he tossed the pass to Daniel "Yes!" He smiled and then quickly put on his sorry mask "Ooops Sorry Staci...." He said . "First Boot again!" Staci sighed frowning "Plant of Shame that Way stacy." Chris smirked pointing to the dock of shame.

"I can't believe I am being first boot again! I did good this time and shared interesting facts of my relatives with my team... why do they have to be such haters!" Stacy's Last Confessional.

Staci walked towards the Plank as Chris and the rest of the ream followed behind her. "Any last words Staci?" Chris asked. "Yeah!, My Great great great great great-" Chris nods to chef and chef pushed Staci off the plank "Greaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh" She fell and splashed. "What will Bryan do next? Who will be winnign next time and Will Julia backstab Kyle? Find out next time on Total Drama Cruiser!" With that the camera pans away and the camera fades to black.

Next Episode:

A/N: I almost never finished episode 2 of TDC, I was having a hard time to write the challenge the protagonist of this challenge were the killer Hornets. I hope you guys enjoy it!

[benito-cereno]

Hi Benito,

I recently found Apocropals and am only on episode 15, but thank you for sharing, you and Chris are hilarious- I’ve been listening through at my new desk job. I was hoping to learn more about the Bible as an agnostic raised Non-Dom Christian and learn enough to connect and hold conversations with my father about his faith. I’m not reading along but I didn’t know I would laugh so much listening, thank you for making these ancient texts more accessible to a queer 20-something in the modern era. I really value your historical perspectives, and the emphasis on wizards.

My question is only kind of related, but I just finally logged back on my antisocial media and found your tumblr- I had no idea you wrote on the Tick, and I am a fan of the series.

This my best news all week- I’ve been looking for an excuse to buy a physical copy of the Tick comics- do you get a cut/royalties of all purchases of The Tick: The Complete Edlund New Edition? I would love to order from somewhere where I know for sure you (and the other authors) are getting the most support you can for your work, could you provide me website/store link or just where to purchase from? I’m not huge on ordering from Amazon unless there is no other option, are there alternatives?

Hey! Thanks for listening to Apocrypals, and thanks for looking me up online!

Yes, I wrote for The Tick! I wrote The Tick New Series #1-8, The Tick #100-101, and short stories that appear in various other special issues and reprints.

To answer your question: nope, I do not see any royalties from sales on any Tick books, so feel free to buy however is most convenient to you. I will say that while I do have a story in most later printings of The Complete Edlund, it's only like 8 pages maybe. BUT! You should be buying it for the Edlund material anyway, it's the original and best Tick stuff. My issues has, of yet, not been collected into paperback form and so can only be bought in single issue format. Probably the best way to get them is via online retailers. I usually say the NEC Press website, but it looks like it's not up right now.