#oh. just now realizing i forgot the lanterns :(

[basil-the-bulbasaur]

First piece for @mcyt-soulmate-sweepstakes

Close ups, the picture I took right after completion (different lighting), and the thumbnail/sketch under the cut

[writeriguess]

HOLY MOLY THAT ONSEN KIRISHIMA PROMPT WAS HOT

Is it possible to request the same with Katsuki? 🤍🤍🤍

Boiling Point

The trip to the ryokan had been a welcome change of pace from the usual grind of training at U.A. High. The class had been granted the rare opportunity to relax in a traditional Japanese inn, though the main purpose remained outdoor training. Days had been filled with strenuous exercises in the surrounding mountains, and nights were dedicated to recovery and leisure. The hot spring onsen, in particular, was the highlight of the trip—a perfect way to soothe sore muscles.

You had taken full advantage of the luxury, slipping into the hot waters as soon as the sun dipped below the horizon. The air was crisp with the cool evening breeze, and the contrast against the steamy water was heavenly. The wooden walls of the open-air bath surrounded you, giving a sense of privacy despite the expansive night sky above.

You leaned back with a contented sigh, letting the heat seep into your muscles, completely forgetting the one important detail about this particular onsen—after sunset, it became mixed-gender.

It wasn’t until you heard the telltale splash of someone else entering the water that you opened your eyes. A slow dread crawled up your spine as your gaze locked onto none other than Bakugo Katsuki.

For a moment, neither of you moved. The steam curled lazily between you, thick but not enough to obscure the full realization of your predicament. His ruby eyes widened ever so slightly before narrowing, a mixture of confusion and irritation flashing across his face.

"The fuck?" His voice cut through the silence. "What are you doin' here?"

Your stomach twisted as your brain caught up to your mistake. "Oh, shit," you breathed. "I forgot it was mixed after dark."

His scowl deepened, but he didn’t make any immediate moves to leave. Instead, he lowered himself into the water, muscles tense as if debating whether to bolt or stay. His broad chest and arms flexed subtly with the movement, and you swallowed hard, trying not to stare.

"Well, don’t freak out or anything," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "S’not like I’m gonna jump you or somethin'."

You let out an awkward laugh, shifting in the water to create more space between you. "I’m not freaking out," you said, though the warmth rushing to your face suggested otherwise.

Minutes passed, both of you awkwardly sitting in silence. The only sounds were the soft bubbling of the water and the occasional distant voices of classmates from inside the ryokan.

Slowly, the tension began to ease. You caught Katsuki sneaking glances at you when he thought you weren’t looking, his usual scowl now tinged with something else—something curious, maybe even appreciative.

"Didn’t think you’d be the type to enjoy shit like this," he muttered eventually.

You shrugged, trying to keep your voice even. "I like hot springs. Feels nice after training."

"Hah. Yeah, guess so."

The air shifted between you. The longer you sat there, the more the awkwardness gave way to something else—a slow, creeping awareness of how little separated you. The water lapped at your shoulders, concealing just enough to be tantalizing.

"You keep lookin' at me like that, we're gonna have a problem," Katsuki murmured, his voice lower now, rougher.

Your heart skipped. "Like what?"

"Like you're thinkin' somethin' you shouldn’t."

Your mouth was dry as you stared at him. His damp skin glistened under the soft glow of the lanterns, droplets trailing down sculpted abs before disappearing beneath the water. The tension stretched, electric and suffocating.

"Maybe I am," you admitted, pulse hammering in your ears.

His smirk was all sharp edges. "Then stop thinkin' and do somethin' about it."

The next few moments were a blur—steam rising, lips colliding, a mess of hands and heated skin. The water sloshed around you as Katsuki pulled you into his lap, his grip firm, possessive. His mouth was searing against yours, all teeth and desperation, his usual aggression bleeding into the way he kissed you.

"Fuck," he growled against your lips. "You’re playin' with fire, dumbass."

You shivered despite the heat. "Maybe I like the burn."

That was all the invitation he needed.

What started as awkward tension spiraled into something rough, needy. Your fingers tangled in his damp hair as he nipped at your throat, hands roaming, squeezing, claiming. The feeling of him—hard, thick, and insistent against your thigh—sent a thrill through you.

"Turn around," he ordered, voice ragged.

You obeyed, letting out a sharp gasp as he positioned you over him. The stretch was intense, overwhelming, but Katsuki's hands on your hips guided you, coaxing you to take him inch by inch. The pleasure was a slow, mounting pressure, burning and electric.

"Shit… so tight," he muttered, breath hot against your shoulder.

Your fingers clawed at his forearms, steadying yourself as you began to move, rolling your hips experimentally. The groan he let out was low, primal, and it sent a rush of arousal straight to your core.

His grip tightened. "Faster."

You obeyed, moving with reckless abandon, the water splashing around you. The sounds of your bodies colliding filled the air, mingling with your breathless moans and his strangled curses. Every drag of him inside you sent you higher, every rough snap of his hips making your vision blur.

"Fuckin' perfect," he growled, biting down on your shoulder as he thrust up into you. "Knew you'd take me so well."

The pleasure built, coiling tight, spiraling out of control. It was too much and not enough all at once.

"Katsuki—"

"I got you," he gritted out, one hand reaching between you to press against your swollen clit. "Cum for me. Now."

The command sent you over the edge, pleasure crashing through you like a tidal wave. You clenched around him, body shaking, and the way you tightened around him drove him to his own release. His groan was low and guttural as he spilled inside you, holding you down, buried deep as he rode out his climax.

For a while, the only sound was your heavy breathing. Slowly, you collapsed against him, body spent, head resting against his shoulder.

Katsuki huffed a laugh. "Didn’t expect that when I walked in here."

You grinned, pressing a lazy kiss to his jaw. "Neither did I."

He tilted your chin up, smirking down at you. "Thinkin' of forgettin' the bath schedule again tomorrow?"

You laughed breathlessly, already feeling heat stir again. "Maybe."

[rhyrhy]

“'Cause we're way too involved, just to cut and not call”

Situationship! Abby Drabble

࣪𖤐.ᐟ Warnings: none, just two idiots pining, fluff, 2k words. IFY This was 110% Inspired by this — more Abby here — same AU

The sound of Abby’s door clicking shut behind you was second nature by now. You’d met her after being transferred to the WLF base. thrown into a new routine, a new home, with new faces. Eyes feeling- no, knowing you are sizing you up. And hers, Abby, had been one of them. What started as a proper passing familiarity. working the same routes, seeing her in the gym, nodding at each other across crowded mess hall tables. had turned into nights spent in her room, pretending it was casual.

But the feelings had started to bleed through…

First, it was the small things. Redoing her braid after you’d messed it up by tugging on it all night. Jokingly calling her patrol dog, your “baby” when she curled up beside you, earning a sound of amusement from Abby. Then she’d started catching your wrist before you could slip away, her fingers firm but careful. The dim glow of a lantern casting shadows across her face as she’d murmur, “It’s late. You can head back in the morning, yeah?” Now, after weeks of being apart. separate assignments. However the pit in Abby’s stomach from your absence was impossible to ignore. Too obvious to be anything other than what it was. Or what was building.

Abby was sprawled her bed, one arm tucked behind her head, a small smile on her lips as you stepped inside.

“Hey, stranger. Starting to think you forgot about me.”

You sat beside her, the mattress dipping under your weight as her arm stretched along the back, her fingertips brushing your shoulder, resting on the fabric of your shirt. This was supposed to be easy. No strings attached. But as she laughed, her gaze lingering on yours, something soft and knowing in her expression, she realized you both were in trouble.

in deeper than either of you would admit.

“Forget about you? Please, never.” You joked, bumping her shoulder with yours. Truth was, you couldn’t even dream of forgetting about her.

Abby humed, tilting her head to the side. Her braid following her small movement. “You say that now, but you haven’t even bothered to check in for almost three weeks.” There was tease lilt to her tone, but a small part of her was beginning to wonder if maybe you’d decided she wasn’t worth the trouble after all. Trying to push that past relationship troubles take over.

“Really?” You furrowed your eyebrows, thinking back to how long it had actually been. It clicked She was…counting? Regardless she was right. yes, it had been awhile. “Oh… shit, I’m sorry, Abs. Got busy, I guess?” You rubbed your arm, glancing over at her. It was a weak statement but it’s all you could mutter out.

Abby rolled her eyes, nudging you with her knee. “Busy, huh? Couldn’t even leave a note or something?” She gave you a pointed look, pouting dramatically. “Im offended.” But as she took in your sheepish expression, her gaze softened. Her bottom lip out.

“Hey! Don’t do that. You’re a horrible communicator too, and you know it,” you chuckled, reaching out to tilt her face toward you with a finger under her chin. Scanning over the new scar on the side of her cheek.

Abby scoffed, still faking offense. “Oh, so now it’s my fault, huh?”

She smirked as your fingers gently lifted her chin, her eyes meeting yours. A familiar spark flickered between you, something that felt like it was always standing behind you. Looming.

You nodded jokingly, scanning her face again. “Mhm. I’m soo not taking accountability here.”

Abby rolled her eyes again, but there was a mischievous glint in them. She pouted again, though this time it was clearly more playful than serious. “Oh really? I see how it is.” She leaned into your touch, her voice much quieter than before. Fingers twitching to reach over and hold you more.

You chuckled, brushing a few loose strands of hair behind her ear before cupping her face. “Oh Yeah? You do?”

Abby’s teasing melted away the moment your hands settled on her skin. Your touch was too gentle, too easy, and it sent a shiver down her spine. She knew she should keep things light, keep up the playful air, but the way you were looking at her? Like she meant something? It was fucking terrifying. You always looked at her like that, always.

“Earth to Andersonnnn,” you teased, your thumb caressing over her cheek. Eyes on hers, like you were trying to read her thoughts.

Abby blinked, cheeks tinged with a rush of heat. She let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “Sorry, got lost in thought for a second.” Her eyes fluttered shut for a moment, savoring the feel of your touch. It felt too natural. Too safe.

“I see that,” you hummed, shifting along the couch until you settled onto her lap, resting on her thighs. “Whatcha thinking about, hm?”

Abby’s hands instinctively found your hips, her grip firm but careful. The warmth of you against her sent a flood of emotions rushing through her. Ones she’d been trying to ignore for weeks, months. Ever since you first kissed her if she being completely honest with herself. Your arms around her neck, the soft sigh you let out. it wouldn’t leave her, ever.

She exhaled, her fingers absentmindedly skimming the hem of your shirt. “Nothing. Just… stuff.”

“Stuff,” you repeated, unconvinced. You sighed, resting your face in the crook of her neck, inhaling the familiar scent of pine. “I’m sorry I didn’t stop by sooner. But I… I thought about you.” Your voice was quieter now. “I promise.”

Abby’s breath caught as you nuzzled closer, her fingers tracing lazy circles along your back. She closed her eyes, relishing in your warmth, in the steady rhythm of your heartbeat against her. Worried hers was loud enough for you to hear.

“I thought about you too,” she admitted, barely above a hush. More than she should have. More than she wanted to. But admitting that meant something, and she wasn’t sure she was ready to face what that was. It screamed at her, little did she know it was mutual annoyance. That nagging to just face what was happening, like taking the sun away from a blooming flower. Forcing the petals to stay shut. She swallowed hard, gripping your waist just a little tighter.

“No, Abs… like, really missed you.” You sighed, pressing a small kiss to her shoulder before leaning back to meet her eyes. “Like more… than I should.”

Abby’s heart thumped at your words. She averted her gaze, trying to shove down the overwhelming feeling creeping up her throat. But when she felt your lips against her skin, her resolve broke. She looked at you then. really looked at you. That look you’d always given her whether you knew you were doing it or not. Your face, so open, so…unguarded. A expression she hadn’t yet memorized.

“More than you should?” she echoed, voice barely above a whisper.

You sighed, tilting your head back to stare at the ceiling. A thousand words wanted to spill but the only one you let fall was..

“Yeah.”

A long silence stretched between you, those heavy with unspoken words.

The warm of her fingers traced slow invisible patterns along your waist, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions she didn’t know how to name. Or if she should. She took a deep breath, exhaling shakily before finally admitting, “I… I’ve missed you too. More than I should.”

You glanced back down at her, a small sigh of relief escaping your lips. “Not just me then?” you murmured, resting your forehead against hers, feeling the warmth of her breath against your skin.“Good… I feel better about that.”

Abby closed her eyes, savoring the weight of you against her, the way your fingers danced along her arm like this was something much more. “No, not just you,” she murmured, her voice softer now. She opened her eyes, searching your face for something. reassurance, maybe. A sign that this wasn’t just in her head.

You chuckled, running a hand along her arm. “I mean, you are so cute. How could I not think about your stupid face?”

Abby let out a short laugh, swatting at your arm. The tension eased just slightly. “Oh, you’re one to talk, Miss ’Too Busy to Check In,’” she teased.

“Oh, shut up! Now I’ll find you every day just to spite you. How’s that?” You grinned, tilting her face up once more, Faces much closer than before.

Abby huffed, pretending to be put off, but her heart was hammering against her ribs. “You better. I’ll be waiting for it. Every single time. No pressure, though.” She smiled, raising an eyebrow at you as your hands cupped her face. “Oh? And what else? Gonna bring me flowers too?”

You scoffed, arching a brow back at her. “Oh? What kind of flowers would Miss Anderson want?”

She pretended to think about it, tapping her chin before grinning. “Lilies. The white ones.”

You let out a soft laugh. “Lilies? That’s real romantic, Abby.” you hummed. “But I like the idea. It’s a deal then. ilies for your time.”

Abby chuckled, playfully swatting your arm. “Oh, so now it’s a trade? Fine, You’ve got yourself a deal.” Her fingers idly traced the back of your neck as she softened, her gaze stamped on yours.

“Good. You don’t have a choice anyway.” You leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper. “Now, can I kiss you, or are we just gonna flirt until the sun comes up?”

Abby pretended to think about it, her fingers still playing with the hem of your shirt. “Hmm… such a hard choice.” She whispered back, but the hunger in her eyes betrayed her.

“I think I’ll go with option one. C’mere.”

Dividers

[luvendiary]

stealthy / h. haddock

hiccup haddock iii x reader

request: EEEJDHJS your writing ALWAYS has me giggling and kicking my feet LIKE ACKSJSS MWAH /p I wanted to try and request a HTTYD oneshot on where us and the gang are on a mission and fighting off dragon hunters as usual BUT hiccup finally witness us being a total badass since we never like to team up with anyone and be alone and stuff and he’s like ‘wow, that’s a hot badass woman right there on the spot-‘ and we get hurt in the process but still carry on and hiccup takes care of us after.🤭 You can choose the dragon species if you want! AKDNDJ YOU CAN TAKE YOUR TIME WITH THIS💕

a/n: thank you for your request. i had a lot of fun with this one. let me know if you like it!

It was supposed to be an easy mission. A simple raid. Go in, release the dragons, and get out. But as always, your friends had a knack for a dramatic entrance.

Hiccup had gone first, the rest waiting for his signal to prance out of the shadows. You, hidden in plain sight, watched along with your dragon as a guard seemed to take notice of Hiccup's presence. He squinted his eyes, trying to make out what exactly it was he was seeing amidst the fog. He drew his lantern closer, but there was no need to, as not a moment later Hiccup’s blade ignited, giving his faint outline now more visibility.

“What are you?” the guard asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Hiccup, ever so dramatically, placed his finger near his mouth and shushed the guard. You couldn’t help but roll your eyes.

Apparently, that had been Toothless’s signal to make himself known. A deep growl came from behind the guard, and his bioluminescent scales showed the small man exactly what he was up against.

Before things could get any worse for him, he decided to enact his attack on Hiccup. Forcefully thrusting his spear to him. Your boyfriend managed to evade his maneuver easily and unarmed the man without much effort.

In a panic, the guard threw his lantern at him, making it shatter completely against his suit. Fire consuming the wood beneath his feet and catching on to his suit.

“You dumbass,” you muttered to yourself as you secured your helmet, ready to come in at any given moment.

“He does love a dramatic entrance,” Valka whispered, perched next to you as you both watched him walk theatrically amongst the flames with Toothless by his side. “A demon!” the guard screamed.

Hiccup’s confident demeanor promptly fell as he started hushing the guard. “No, no! I’m not a demon” he whispered frantically. “I’m not a demon”

As he said so, he removed his helmet and the ash-cloth that had been previously covering his mouth and nose. “See! Just a guy!”

The guard did not seem appeased by this and frantically tried to scurry away as Hiccup persecuted him. “Just a guy!” he repeated. “Here to rescue these dragons,” he gestured towards the iron cages all around the ship.

“You walked through fire!” he screamed at him, now sweaty from a mixture of the heat and his nerves.

“Dragon scales!” Hiccup explained reassuringly. “Dragons shed a lot.”

“Oh I know a demon when I see one!” the stubborn man continued to scream as he stumbled backwards.

From your vantage point you saw a large shadow appear from behind him. It took no time to realize that it was Snotlout with a dramatic entrance of his own. Hookfang was completely on fire, as the guard kept on mumbling about how those were not human legs.

“You might want to get in there soon,” Valka chuckled next to you as you adjusted the saddle on your dragon. You hummed in agreement as you heard Snotlout chant about how he made a better entrance before setting himself on fire.

“I knew it!” the guard yelled. “More demons!” as Snotlout ran around in pain, trying to put out the fire eating his suit from behind.

“That’s really just a nitwit,” Hiccup sighed. “Forgot to fireproof his butt-”

“Behold!” another voice came from the darkness. Ruff and Tuff.

“Your worst nightmare!” Tuffnut called out as their two-headed dragon lowered its head, setting them down on the floor of the ship.

“Behold-” Ruffnut echoed.

“Along with his sister who insisted on coming!” he interrupted her.

“That’s my introduction?!” she whined.

Not a moment too soon, Astrid swept in, her dragon’s mouth filled with water as she spit it out all over Snotlout, effectively extinguishing the fire he had been spreading.

“Gross!” the boy cried out as he stared down at himself.

“Too soon guys! You always come in too soon-” Hiccup called out to the twins, interrupted by Fishlegs clumsily tumbling down towards the dack and crash-landing.

“Again with the baby?” Astrid asked as she expertly dismounted Stormfly and joined them.

“Sorry, she’s still getting the hang of her wings,” the chubby boy replied as a baby Gronkle perused around the ship clumsily.

“This is a raid,” Hiccup complained. “Find a sitter.”

Amongst all the chaos, the guard had been promptly forgotten. He hid away in the shadows, trying to go unnoticed. However you wouldn’t allow that. You swept in, your dragon grabbing his head with their claws and slamming it against one of the metal cages.

You heard your name being called, relief evident in Hiccup's voice. “I had him right where I wanted him,” he chuckled as he approached you, whilst contracting his fire blade.

You stretched your back and rolled your neck. “And now he’s right where I wanted him!” you replied cheerily. “Let’s get to work,” you said as you patted his shoulder.

He couldn’t help but to look at you with admiration for a second.

“Okay, we screw that up. But at least no one else knows we’re here,” he said, signaling instructions to the riders on which direction to take.

Just as the words left his mouth, alarms blared through the ship, and from the shadows, more men emerged, weapons drawn.

“Spoke too soon,” you muttered, already reaching for your weapon.

Toothless, right on cue, appeared at Hiccup's side just as he unsheathed his sword.

“Get the dragons out of here!” he ordered and you immediately jumped to action.

You wasted no time and with a running start you planted your staff into a broken railing, using it as a lever to launch yourself into the air. The momentum sent you soaring high above the fight, twisting midair as you aimed for the largest group of hunters.

You came down like thunder. Your staff crashed into the nearest hunter’s head, knocking him out cold before you spun, striking another square in the gut. As they stumbled, you twisted, taking the opportunity to open the cages.

With no time to lose you slid the iron bar containing the dragons, swiftly jumping on to the next cage.

The freed dragons wasted no time. A Monstrous Nightmare burst from its cage in a ball of fire, sending hunters scrambling. A Gronckle barreled forward, knocking the guards aside like ragdolls.

It was a dance-like trance the way you skillfully made your way through the chaos. No change in your expression and every movement perfectly calculated. To Hiccup it would always be wonderful looking at you in that state. It was beautiful and dangerous.

“You can gawk later,” you chimed in, breaking him out of his trance as you forced the blunt end of your staff upon the head of a man who fully intended to beat Hiccup to a pulp.

“You promise?,” he replied with a grin as he stepped over the man’s unconscious body and swung an arm around you while you walked away.

“Duck,” you said. He immediately obeyed as you swung on your staff and kicked a guard who had been sneaking up on you.

“You bitch!” he groaned in pain.

“Hey, apologize to the lady!” Hiccup said as he discarded the used oil cartridge in his sword and put in another one. “Geez, people nowadays,” you mumbled as you opened yet another cage, setting the dragon free.

Just in time, Toothless came down the ship, persecuting a group of hunters. Hiccup cut their path, his sword ablaze.

The terrified men looked for any way out of their current predicament and took a sharp left, walkin in the cage you had just opened. With a swift swing of his tail, Toothless closed it shut.

“Thank you,” Hiccup said as he rubbed the dragon’s snout. “Now go get the rest bud.” Obediently, he jumped up onto the cages and like a cat, disappeared into the shadows.

“I thought this was supposed to be a stealth mission,” you said as you geared up once again, standing next to Hiccup.

“Yeah, they always start that way.”

Just as Hiccup was about to signal the retreat, a hunter lunged from the shadows, aiming straight for you. Reacting quickly, you spun on your heel, staff meeting his weapon with a sharp clang. You knocked him back, but before you could finish him off, Hiccup’s sword swung in from the side, cutting through the air and forcing the hunter to retreat.

“We’ve got all the dragons!” Astrid called over the chaos. “We need to move out!”

“Everyone, back to the sky!” Hiccup commanded, swinging onto Toothless. The gang obeyed, dragons lifting off one by one. You turned to follow, but just as you took a step, something heavy wrapped around your ankle.

A chain.

Before you could react, the hunter yanked hard. Pain shot through your leg as you were ripped from your feet and slammed into the deck. A sickening crack echoed through the air.

Your vision blurred, but you forced yourself up, adrenaline pushing past the pain. The hunter sneered, stepping closer. “Not so tough now, are you?”

You gritted your teeth, shifting your weight despite the searing pain in your foot. Your staff spun in your hands, and with a desperate swing, you aimed for his legs. He stumbled, giving you just enough time to struggle against the chain.

You tried to stand but immediately came tumbling down, as your foot would not allow your whole weight to rest on it. You screamed out in pain, trying to claw your way to the ledge of the ship. Your dragon made its way to you, trying to help you up, but with the thick chain still wrapped around your foot, their wallows and struggles were in vain.

You barely registered your name being called out, followed by a dropping figure from the sky -Hiccup.

“Get out of here!” you screamed as you tried to stand once again. Your breaths came heavy, hands shaking from the pain, but you refused to stay down.

With one final strike, Hiccup sent the hunter sprawling. He rushed to you, eyes wide with panic. “Are you okay?”

You were about to give him a response, but instead, a pained groan came out of your throat.

Without hesitation, Hiccup scooped you up into his arms and leapt onto Toothless. “I’ll take care of her,” he said to your dragon who had refused to leave your side. “Go!”

With hesitant eyes, and after a brief moment, they leaped into the air, joining the rest of the ridders.

As Toothless carried you both home, the wind rushed past, cooling your skin. You groaned, shifting slightly in Hiccup’s arms.

“Are you okay?”

You winced. “Broke my foot. But I’ll live.”

“That hunter was an absolute bastard. I swear, if I see him again—”

Hiccup chuckled. “You mean if you hobble over to him?”

You scowled. “I had it handled.”

“You were on the ground.”

“Temporarily.”

He laughed again, shaking his head. “You are something else.”

By the time you reached Berk, the pain had settled in, and Hiccup wasted no time getting you back to his hut. He set you down carefully, grabbing a cloth and some water as he examined your foot.

“You’re terrible at taking it easy,” he muttered, wrapping the injury with careful hands.

You smirked through the discomfort. “You’re terrible at stealth missions.”

He sighed, shaking his head, but there was something fond in his expression. “Just… let me take care of you for once, alright?”

For once, you didn’t argue.

[killertoons]

I've got ideas and a theory for the recent welcome home updates (10/18/2024)

Walk with me-

So that short story alone already showed pulling ideas from Edgar Allen Poe with the tell-tale heart and the cast of amontillado

(I wouldnt be shocked if they reference other Edgar Allen poes works like the raven soon but that's me cheating to peek at clowns kofi and I won't speak further on that-)

Basically Sally is doing a rendition of the tell-tale heart and poppy got cast....only she doesn't want to be involved. It's a scary tale, and for those who didn't take advanced English

The story of the tell-tale hearts about a man so absolutely freaked out by this old man's eyes to quote

'I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this! One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture- a pale blue eye, with a film over it.'

So the man sets out to kill him, does so by lurking in the dark for 7 straight nights till finally the 8th night he finally does so, dismembered him and hide the pieces under the floorboards!

But when police came to investigate...he could hear both but a beating heart under the floors and from his guilt he admitted to the murder and ended the tale with

'"Villains!" I shrieked, "dissemble no more! I admit the deed!- tear up the planks!-here, here!- it is the beating of his hideous heart!"

So already Sally doing a rendition of this tale is wild already as I imagine it's been changed to be more family friendly for the neighborhood, but poppy isn't up for it.

And Sally's sad about it! And of course the neighbors all know why poppy actually didn't wanna do it. And Sally trying to be a good friend realized the play scares her so they gotta do something to let poppy have her cozy state of mind away from anxiety

So they form their plan-

To cask of amontillado her into her house, brick by brick.

Another famous story by Edgar Allen Poe, that one is about a guy luring someone he had a dispute over into a cellar and bricking him up down there to rot.

It's a revenge story, one we have no details other than a man was wronged (we never learn the reason) his anger and vengeance taking center stage.

Through the entire story time, the neighbors are supposed to be following a book along as a read aloud story but they keep breaking into separate lil conversations or making quips to each other... Till the end where audio is lost on the rest of the story after poppy was bricked away.

However...

Because we have the secret website we can check there and what's found was....worse

Poppy in the dark of her barn and something is lurking with her in the dark.

By the end someone gets her out but the sounds of the people aren't named... although they sound familiar to us

I could say what we were all thinking and state the obvious "oh those must be the puppeteers! That was poppy's puppeteer having a freak out moment-"

Which I personally agree but there's more to it.

Do y'all know how big birds puppet works?

It's one person in there, with a screen to tell you where to go and a script taped inside while they maneuver around like this!

I imagine poppy is the same way since she's based design wise off big bird

Now with this in mind, add how hard it is to move or see or perceive where you are in general in that suit. How clasterphobic your gonna be if you can't get out!

I get clasterphobic trying to get out of a dress that fits too tight at the store, I can't imagine how scary this would be especially if your on your own in the dark room as well!

with only your lantern to read your lines and something to occupy yourself- maybe knitting as it's a hobby you picked up-

When you hear breathing that's not yours. From within the suit. A suit that's JUST big enough for you, mind you.

So it be impossible for anyone else to be breathing...only you forgot someone.

The puppet suit itself...is breathing.

And there's scratching at the door, something else is lurking in the dark with you but you can't see it. You can't get out, the suit can't leave but your mind is stuck the doors open but in another world it's closed and sealed-

But I'm getting ahead of myself

What is said is...what if that IS poppy reacting in the dark to something...but also it's the puppeteers reaction to poppy as well. They share a mind and A space for a moment in the dark where their fear matches them and it doesn't break till the door opens and the puppeteers talk..

I think the horror is going higher as both sides are gonna start interacting more and more with each other..

[itsgiovanna]

playing for love (chapter 8)

pairing: fem!character x mason mount

summary: injured and lost, mason mount begins his recovery with the help of adeline alderidge, a tough yet brilliant physiotherapist with secrets of her own. he becomes determined to break through the walls adeline has built around herself. but some wounds don't heal easily, and the closer they get, the more mason realizes she might need saving just as much as he does.

notes: since i got more time to write, here's another oneeee!!! hope you love it 🤍

word count: 5.7k

warnings: just a lot of teasing, hehe.

next: chapter 9 (soon)

tag list: @avalentina @a1leexxa

The restaurant, Saray Garden, a lively Turkish eatery on the corner of the street, radiated warmth. Mosaic lanterns dangled from the ceiling, casting colorful patterns on the walls. The scent of freshly baked pita and sizzling kebabs filled the air. Golden cushions and vibrant rugs added to the cozy, bustling atmosphere. Families gathered around low tables, laughter mingling with the hum of conversations.

"This place is amazing." Debbie said, her eyes scanning the intricate wall tiles. "Good choice, Mason."

"I’ve got my moments." Mason replied with a grin, holding the door open as his family stepped inside.

Adeline lingered for a second, feeling the slightest twinge of nerves. But Mason caught her eye, offering a small reassuring smile. She nodded, clutching Lily’s hand tightly.

"We’ll be fine." he murmured as she passed him.

The hostess led them to a round table near a window, where sunlight poured in, illuminating the colorful platters of mezze being carried by the waitstaff. Mason pulled out a chair for Adeline before taking his seat, while Lily settled beside her.

"This is beautiful." Adeline said, scanning the space. "I haven’t had Turkish food in ages."

"Then you’re in for a treat." Tony chimed in. "Mason’s obsessed with this place. He thinks he’s a food critic now."

"Don’t be jealous, Dad. Not everyone has my refined taste." Mason smirked.

"Refined?" Jaz scoffed. "You’re the guy who puts ketchup on everything. Even rice."

"Okay, that happened one time." Mason argued. "And in my defense, I was starving after the match."

Laughter echoed around the table. Mason glanced at Adeline, his smile lingering. He liked the way she laughed, the way it softened her. And for a moment, he forgot about the world outside this table.

"So, how’s he been as a patient?" Debbie asked, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "We’ve heard all about his physiotherapy sessions."

Adeline chuckled. "He’s… determined."

"That’s a nice way of saying stubborn." Jaz added with a grin.

"Hey!" Mason protested. "I’ve been very cooperative."

"Sure you have, mate." Sam teased. "Especially when you pretend to know more than the professionals."

"I don’t pretend. I do know more."

Adeline shot him a dry look, her lips curving upward. "Except for that time you tried to ‘speed up’ your recovery."

"We agreed never to speak of that again." Mason mumbled, though his grin betrayed him.

"Mummy, what’s Turkish food like?" Lily suddenly piped up.

Adeline smiled. "It’s really yummy. Lots of grilled meats, rice, and fresh bread. And the desserts are delicious."

"They have something called baklava." Mason added, winking at Lily. "It’s all sweet and sticky with honey. Best part, hands down."

Lily giggled, the tension easing from Adeline’s shoulders. Mason’s gaze lingered on her, noticing how her eyes lit up when Lily laughed. There was something about her — a strength, a softness. And it tugged at him.

Just as their conversation flowed comfortably, a sudden stir caught Mason’s attention. A group of girls had noticed him. They exchanged whispers, their excitement barely contained.

"Oh my God, it’s him!"

They approached cautiously, one of the girls hesitating before speaking. "Sorry, Mason, would you mind if we took a picture?"

Mason offered a polite smile, rising from his seat. "Sure."

As he posed for the photo, the fans’ eyes flickered to Adeline. The smiles faltered, and whispers resumed.

"Who’s she?"

"Not his girlfriend, right? She doesn’t even look—"

Adeline kept her eyes on Lily, trying to keep her focus on the little one’s excitement, but she couldn’t help the small, amused smile playing on her lips. The comments still swirled in her head, but she wasn’t bothered — more like mildly amused. She hadn't expected people to think she was Mason's girlfriend.

Mason returned to the table after the picture, sliding back into his seat. His eyes immediately found hers, and there was a brief, awkward silence. He leaned in slightly, his voice quiet but trying to keep it casual.

“So… that was something,” he said with a slight chuckle, clearly still trying to shake off the weirdness of the situation. “Didn’t think I’d be getting a girlfriend so soon.” He gave her a teasing glance, almost shy, like he wasn’t sure if he’d said too much.

Adeline lifted an eyebrow, surprised at the sudden remark, but her smile grew. "Oh, so you do think I look like your girlfriend?" she teased, her voice light.

Mason shifted a bit in his seat, a small blush creeping up his neck. “Well, I mean, if I had to choose someone... you’d definitely fit the bill.” he said, barely above a whisper, as if he wasn’t sure he’d said it at all.

Adeline couldn’t help but laugh quietly at the awkwardness, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Right, sure. I’ll be sure to put that on my resume next time I’m looking for a job."

Mason smiled at her laugh, clearly relieved that she wasn’t uncomfortable. "No one would ever dare question your qualifications." he replied, his voice still playful, though his smile was just a bit softer now.

Adeline’s smile lingered, but her thoughts stumbled for a moment. She had always been quick with a comeback, always had something to say. But Mason’s compliment — so simple, yet so sincere — left her momentarily speechless. She hadn’t expected that from him.

For a split second, she just stared at him, her thoughts trying to catch up. It wasn’t the teasing she was used to, not even the casual banter they usually exchanged. There was something in his voice that felt... real. And it caught her off guard, making her feel a little warmer than she’d anticipated.

She opened her mouth, but before she could respond, Jaz’s voice cut in from the other side of the table.

“Alright, enough with the lovebirds already.” Jaz said with a playful roll of her eyes, clearly not taking the conversation too seriously. “Anyone want more of those bread rolls, or are we just going to keep flirting over here?”

Adeline blinked, snapping out of her daze, and let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She shot Jaz a grateful look, relieved for the distraction. "I don’t know about lovebirds." she said with a light laugh, her tone quick and easy again. "But I could go for another roll."

Mason, still feeling the warmth from his own awkwardness, let out a small chuckle, running a hand through his hair. "You can never go wrong with more bread, right?" he said, trying to cover the slight embarrassment creeping up his neck.

"Right." Adeline agreed, her smile returning, though it held a hint of something softer now. She glanced back at Mason, her eyes briefly locking with his before she looked away, unsure of what exactly had shifted between them, but it was there.

Mason cleared his throat, his usual confidence returning. “Okay, okay, no more lovebird jokes. We’re just two people who can’t stop talking about carbs.” He winked, easing the lingering tension.

"Maybe carbs are the real love of my life, then.” she said, the playful spark back in her eyes.

The brief, quiet moment between them had passed, but for a second, something unspoken had lingered in the air, something they both quietly acknowledged. Neither of them said anything more about it, but it was there — an invisible shift, soft but undeniable. And for Adeline, it was something she couldn’t quite ignore.

(...)

Mason stood by the entrance, casually leaning against the wall, watching as Adeline said her goodbyes to his family. His parents, his sister, and his brother-in-law all gathered around her, chatting like old friends. His mom gave her a warm hug, her smile wide and genuine, and his sister had an arm around her shoulders as they exchanged a few final jokes. Even his nieces, who had been completely charmed by Adeline, waved enthusiastically as they headed toward the door with their parents.

Mason couldn't help but notice how easily Adeline had settled in. She was laughing more freely now, genuinely enjoying herself. It made him feel lighter, watching her engage with his family so effortlessly, though a part of him remained keenly aware of the issue at hand — her apartment was still damaged, and she seemed uncertain about what to do next.

As the goodbyes were wrapping up, Adeline gave his sister one last hug and turned toward the door. She was just about to step outside when Mason straightened up and walked over.

"Heading out?" he asked casually, his voice warm as he stepped into her line of sight.

Adeline turned to him, offering a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, though it was sincere enough. "Yes, we’re just about to grab an Uber back to the hotel."

Mason tilted his head slightly, a thought forming in his mind. "You know, I was planning on heading in that direction. I can give you both a ride, if you want." His offer was simple, no pressure, but he hoped it would give them both a chance to talk.

Adeline paused for a second, clearly considering his offer, before nodding with a smile. "That sounds great, actually."

Mason smiled, relieved she didn’t hesitate too much. "No problem, happy to help."

Lily, who had been listening quietly, suddenly piped up, her voice more thoughtful than you’d expect from a three-year-old. "Mum, can I tell Mason about the rainbow we saw yesterday?" she asked, looking up at Adeline for approval.

Adeline smiled warmly at her daughter. "Sure, darling, go ahead."

Lily turned to Mason, her face lighting up with excitement. "We saw a big rainbow! It was all the colors! Red, and yellow, and blue!" She paused, trying to remember. "And purple! And green! And it was after the rain, but the sun was coming out."

Mason chuckled, charmed by Lily’s enthusiasm. "That sounds amazing. I love rainbows. They always seem to pop up at the best times, don’t they?"

Lily nodded, clearly proud of her discovery. "I like the purple one the best." she said, her small voice filled with certainty. "It's like the color of grapes."

Adeline glanced at Mason, clearly amused by her daughter’s energy. "She does have a thing for grapes." she said with a laugh, her earlier hesitation softening. "She’s not wrong though. The purple one was pretty nice."

Mason smiled at the both of them, feeling the tension ease a little. "I think I’d have to agree. Purple is a pretty great color."

Adeline gave him a light smile. "Alright, I guess we’ll take you up on that ride after all."

"Great." Mason said, his smile widening. "Let’s get going then."

The three of them made their way outside, and Mason led them to his car. As they all climbed in, the mood felt a little more relaxed. Lily continued talking about the rainbow, asking if they might see another one soon, and Mason humored her, offering suggestions for "rainbow hunting."

Once they were all settled, Mason started the car, his hands on the wheel but his attention still divided between the road, Adeline and Lily. The quiet hum of the engine filled the space, but Mason couldn’t ignore the weight of what he needed to say.

"So..." he began, glancing briefly at Adeline. "About your apartment. I’ve been thinking about it. And, if you don’t mind me saying, it sounds like a pretty stressful situation. The repairs, all the unknowns..." He trailed off, watching her reaction.

"Yeah, it’s been rough. I’m not sure when it’ll be fixed, and I haven’t really figured out where we’re going to stay long-term. It’s a bit of a mess." Adeline turned slightly toward him, her brow furrowing a bit.

Mason nodded, his voice steady and calm. "I get that. And look, I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable, but I have an apartment I used to live in when I played for Chelsea. It’s empty now, and I was thinking — if you want some space while your place is getting sorted — you and Lily could stay there. It’s close to where you’re staying now, and it might give you some peace of mind."

"Mason, I really appreciate it. I do. But this feels like a lot. You've already done so much for me, and I don’t want to take advantage of that." Adeline blinked, surprised by the offer. She hesitated for only a moment before looking back at him, her tone gentle but firm.

Mason’s expression softened, his voice warm and reassuring. "I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t want to help. I don’t want you to feel like you owe me anything. But it’s just an apartment — it’s a two-bedroom, nothing fancy — but it’s available, and you won’t have to deal with finding a place to stay in the middle of everything. I just want to make sure you’re not stressing about this while you’re dealing with the other stuff."

Adeline glanced at him, clearly considering his words, but she didn’t seem as hesitant as before. "It’s a kind offer, Mason. I’ll definitely think about it."

Mason nodded, glad she wasn’t shutting it down completely. "Take your time. But just know it’s there if you need it."

Lily, sensing the heaviness of the moment, turned around from the front seat. "Mum, can we get ice cream later?" she asked, trying to lighten the mood. "I want strawberry. And chocolate too!"

Adeline chuckled softly, shaking her head. "We’ll see, kiddo. Maybe after we figure this all out."

Mason smiled at the little exchange, grateful for the small interruption. "Strawberry and chocolate, huh? Sounds like a great combo."

Lily beamed at him. "It’s the best!"

Mason felt a strange warmth spread through him as Adeline agreed to think about his offer. There was something growing inside him, an unspoken connection that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. He wasn’t sure what it was yet, but the desire to take care of her, to help her through this, felt natural. He wasn’t backing down now — he wanted to be there for her, however she needed him.

(...)

The car slowed as they approached the hotel, the warm glow of the entrance lights cutting through the darkness. Adeline’s stomach twisted, though she wasn’t entirely sure why. The drive had been easy, filled with Lily’s endless chatter and Mason’s effortless charm. Now, with the ride ending, the lingering warmth of the evening was harder to ignore.

Mason pulled into the small parking lot and shifted the car into park, the soft hum of the engine fading.

"Well, here we are." he said, glancing her way with a small smile. "Not the greatest chauffeur service, but I think I did alright."

Adeline unbuckled her seatbelt, matching his grin. "I’d give it four stars. You lost one for not having free snacks in the backseat."

Mason's chuckle rumbled low in his chest. "Next time, I’ll be sure to stock up. Juice boxes and biscuits, right?"

Lily perked up from the backseat. "I like biscuits! And juice! Can we have some now?"

Adeline shook her head, amused. "Not now, love. We’ll get something later."

Before Adeline could open her door, Lily wriggled free from her car seat and tugged eagerly at Mason’s sleeve.

"Wait! I gotta show you something!" she exclaimed.

Mason barely had a chance to react before Lily dragged him toward the hotel entrance. Adeline followed, her arms crossing loosely over her chest. It was both exasperating and endearing — the way her daughter had taken to Mason so effortlessly.

Inside, Lily rummaged through her small backpack with the dramatic flair only a three-year-old could pull off. With a triumphant grin, she produced a crumpled piece of paper.

"Look!" she announced, holding it up proudly.

Adeline watched as Mason knelt down to inspect it. The drawing was a bright, chaotic burst of color. Three stick figures stood beneath a massive, wobbly rainbow. One was clearly Lily, with bright yellow curls, and the other was unmistakably Adeline, her hair drawn in long, straight lines. The third figure — short brown hair, a smile that stretched ear to ear and a blue jersey — was Mason.

"This is amazing, Lily." Mason said, his voice warm. "I don’t think I’ve ever looked this cool before."

Lily giggled, beaming. "I made your hair brown like real life!"

Adeline’s chest tightened. She hadn’t expected this. She hadn’t expected Mason to kneel there, holding a child’s drawing like it was priceless. She hadn’t expected the way Lily’s laughter rang through the small lobby, or the way Mason looked at her daughter — soft, patient, genuine.

"Do I get to keep this?" Mason asked, lifting the drawing with exaggerated reverence.

Lily nodded eagerly. "Yes! But you have to put it on your fridge!"

"Front and center." Mason promised.

Adeline’s heart gave a little squeeze. She knew she should say something — thank him for the ride, for the kindness, for the way he somehow made everything lighter — but the words didn’t come.

"Alright." she said gently, taking Lily’s hand. "We should let Mason go before we completely take over his life."

Mason held up the drawing. "Too late."

“Thank you, Mase. I mean it.” Adeline said, smiling genuinely at him.

He blinked, the grin faltering just for a moment. "Mase?" The surprise in his voice was unmistakable, though his eyes sparkled with amusement. "Didn't know we were on nickname terms now."

Adeline shrugged, her cheeks warming. "Don’t get used to it."

"I definitely will, Ady." he said, his smile widening.

Adeline froze, her laughter escaping in a burst of surprise. "Ady? Really?" She shook her head, fighting the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips. "You’re really pushing your luck, Mason."

"Hey, I’m just following your lead." He shrugged, his grin never faltering. "You started it."

"We’ll see about that." She rolled her eyes, still chuckling.

As he walked toward the door, Lily tugged on Adeline’s hand. Her daughter’s voice dropped to a hushed whisper.

"Mummy." Lily said, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Can Mason be our friend forever?"

Adeline’s throat tightened. She watched as Mason reached the door, pausing to glance back with one last smile. It was so easy to picture him like this — like he belonged.

But that was the problem, wasn’t it?

She didn’t know how to answer.

(...)

Adeline stepped inside Mason’s house, the door clicking shut behind her. She’d gotten used to the informal nature of these sessions, where she’d simply show up and Mason would leave the door unlocked for her. Today, though, it felt a little more unusual. She glanced around the spacious hallway as she set her bag down by the door. No sign of him yet, which was strange given that she’d been a bit early.

"Mason?" she called out, her voice breaking the silence. There was no response. She waited, a little puzzled, shifting her weight from foot to foot. She checked her phone, just to be sure he hadn’t sent her a message about running late, but the screen was clear.

Still no response. It was quiet enough that she figured he might be upstairs or in a different room. Hesitant but curious, she wandered further into the house.

She hadn’t really taken the time to look around before. Today, with no immediate task at hand, she was feeling unusually… nosy. She wandered toward the open living area. The walls were decorated with a few framed photos, mostly of Mason and his teammates in action during their Chelsea days and his family. She felt a strange mix of admiration and guilt — her patient had been a professional football player for years now. It was easy to forget that when they were in these sessions, when she was helping him with something as personal as his injury.

Her eyes wandered toward the shelves that lined one wall, stacked with books and a few glossy trophies. She didn’t want to snoop, but something about the way they were arranged made her curious. Gently, she reached up to touch one of the items — a small, polished trophy. She squinted at it, and her breath caught in her throat.

It was a Player of the Match prize. The same one Mason had earned during one of Chelsea’s most celebrated games, the match that had everyone buzzing about his standout performance. She had heard about it from the sports reports, but she’d never actually seen the award in person. She wondered if he even thought about it anymore, considering how much had changed since then.

It felt odd to see something so significant on a shelf in what now seemed like an ordinary home. He wasn’t just Mason Mount, the physiotherapy patient. He was someone who had once been the hero of a major match, someone who had carried the weight of expectation with every move on the field.

Her eyes lingered on the other trophies — each one marking a major accomplishment in his career — before her gaze drifted to some medals from his more recent seasons. She knew he’d faced some tough times with Manchester United, had struggled with injuries, and hadn’t exactly found his feet in the same way he had at Chelsea. There was a sense of something missing in his collection now, something quieter compared to the years when his career had been soaring.

The sound of footsteps suddenly broke through her thoughts. She quickly placed the trophy back on its shelf, straightening up and turning toward the sound.

"Sorry." Mason’s voice echoed from the hallway as he appeared at the top of the stairs. His hair was still damp from the shower, but he was dressed in a plain t-shirt and sweatpants. He looked completely relaxed — unlike the man whose name had once filled the sports pages.

“Didn’t mean to make you wait, Ady.” he added with a small chuckle, his eyes darting to the space where she’d been standing. "Find something interesting?"

Adeline flinched slightly, her heart skipping a beat at the suddenness of his appearance. "I didn’t mean to—" She paused, shaking her head, trying to cover up the fact that she had been snooping. "Just… looking at your medals and stuff."

Mason smiled and walked down the stairs, clearly unbothered by her curiosity. “Ah, yeah. Those old things.” he said, brushing a hand through his still-damp hair. “I keep forgetting they’re there. I don’t really look at them much these days.”

She raised an eyebrow, still processing the shift in his tone. He was being casual about it, but she could tell there was more to it. "I’d imagine those were pretty big moments for you."

“Yes. They were.” he replied, a distant look crossing his face for just a moment. He walked toward her, stopping beside the shelf of awards. “But, things change, right? Things are different now. It’s not the same as it was when I was at Chelsea. I had everything going for me back then. Player of the Match, the recognition. Now… now it’s different.” He let out a quiet exhale, as if pushing away the weight of his words.

Adeline bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. She wasn’t sure if he expected comfort or just an ear to listen. But she knew that even with the professional boundaries they maintained, there was still a person in front of her. She had seen that person — the one who wasn’t just a football player — during their time together.

Mason cleared his throat, quickly shifting his focus away from the shelf of trophies, his hands finding his pockets as he gave her a lopsided grin. "Look." he said, trying to sound casual again, "That's the past, right? Nothing to dwell on. Just one of those things." He waved a hand dismissively, as if to shake the whole conversation off. "Anyway, let’s get back to business."

Adeline watched him carefully, catching the slight tension in his shoulders and the way he deliberately steered the conversation. He was clearly trying to brush off the topic, but there was something in his tone, something in the way he avoided meeting her eyes, that made her feel like he was pretending a little too much.

She crossed her arms, taking a small step toward him. "Mase..." she started gently, her voice light but sincere. "It’s okay to talk about it, you know."

His grin faltered for just a second before he quickly replaced it with his usual teasing expression. "Talk about what? My so-called glory days? Nah, I’m good." He chuckled, though it didn’t reach his eyes.

Adeline raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "You don’t have to pretend it doesn’t matter. I know you’ve been through a lot lately, but it’s okay to care about where you’ve been and where you’re going." Her voice softened, almost coaxing, as she leaned a little closer. "Don’t have to bury those feelings behind a joke."

Mason exhaled sharply, his eyes flicking over to the shelf of awards before looking away again. "I don’t know what you want me to say, Adeline." he muttered, his tone suddenly lower, more serious. "It’s just... It’s hard, alright? Things were different. I was a different player back then. Now, I’m just... trying to get back to where I was. And it’s frustrating."

The vulnerability in his voice, despite the rough edge, caught her off guard. She hadn’t expected him to open up, especially when he was so quick to mask his emotions with humor.

"I get that, Mase." she said quietly, stepping a little closer, her tone gentle. "It must be hard to feel like you’ve lost something. But..." She paused, carefully choosing her words. "That doesn’t mean you won’t find it again. Maybe not exactly the same, but something just as important."

Mason turned slightly, giving her a brief, almost bitter smile. "Yeah? And what if I don’t? What if I’m just stuck here now, trying to scrape by?" His voice was tinged with frustration, but there was also a hint of uncertainty in it.

Adeline didn’t answer right away. She didn’t need to give him some grand speech or offer empty reassurances. She just stood there for a moment, meeting his gaze with a look that was steady, supportive. "I don’t think you’re stuck, Mason. Not at all. You’re just... finding your way through it, like anyone would."

He didn’t respond right away, but the air between them seemed to shift, the distance between professional and personal fading just a little more. He looked at her, really looked at her, and for the first time since they’d started talking, the guarded expression in his eyes seemed to soften.

"Maybe." he murmured, his voice a little quieter. "But it’s tough, you know? Some days it feels like I’m doing everything I can, and it still doesn’t feel like enough."

Adeline gave him a small, reassuring smile. "But you are doing everything you can. That’s what matters. And I know you’ll get there." She hesitated for a moment, then added with a teasing glint in her eyes, "Besides, you’ve still got me to keep you in check, right?"

Mason chuckled softly at that, his lips curving into a genuine smile for the first time in the conversation. "Lucky me." he teased, his voice warmer now. "Wouldn’t want to go through this without your sessions would I?"

She grinned back, the mood lifting just a bit. "Exactly. Now, let’s focus on getting your knee back in shape so you can prove all those doubters wrong."

He nodded, his posture relaxing as he gave her a more genuine, appreciative look. "Alright. Let’s do it."

As Mason settled in for the session, the unspoken understanding between them grew. They weren’t just physiotherapist and patient anymore — they were two people who had seen each other for more than what they were on the surface. And as much as Mason tried to deflect it with jokes, Adeline could tell there was something deeper at play here. Something he wasn’t ready to face fully just yet. But, she thought, it would come in time. For now, it was enough that they could share this space of honesty, even if only for a moment.

(...)

The session had wrapped up not long ago, and Mason was toweling off the sweat that clung to his skin. The sun filtering through the large windows had warmed the living room, adding a lazy glow to the midmorning air.

Adeline scribbled a few notes on her clipboard, but the faint smile tugging at her lips was hard to miss.

“You’re doing well.” she said, glancing up at him. “It’s been a month since we started, and your knee’s definitely showing improvement. Your strength and balance are getting there.”

Mason grinned, the pride clear on his face. “Good to hear. I’ll be back to embarrassing everyone on the pitch in no time.”

She shook her head, though the amusement was evident. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

“Right, right. One step at a time.” He tossed the towel onto the back of the couch, brushing a hand through his slightly damp hair. “But you know, there is one recovery method I’m not sure you’ve approved yet.”

“Oh?” Adeline arched a brow.

He grinned, the gleam in his eyes making her immediately suspicious. “The pool. Perfect for low-impact exercise, great for the knee.” He gestured toward the backyard, where the glistening blue water of his pool was visible through the glass doors.

“Tempting, but I’m pretty sure your idea of pool recovery involves less swimming and more floating around doing absolutely nothing.” she retorted, standing up and gathering her things.

“Not true.” Mason said, taking a step closer. “Well, not entirely true.”

“Besides, I should get going. I’ve got the hospital shift later.” Adeline laughed softly, shaking her head.

“Plenty of time for a swim first.” He gave her a grin that was both mischievous and entirely too persuasive. “Come on, Ady. It’s not every day I offer a free pool day.”

“I’m sure it’s not, Mase.” she replied dryly. “But I’m good. Thanks.”

Mason tilted his head, pretending to mull it over. “Sure?”

“Positive.”

“Alright.” he said with an exaggerated sigh. “But it’s a shame.”

“What is?”

“That you’re gonna end up in the pool anyway.”

Before she could react, Mason lunged forward, scooping her up effortlessly. Adeline let out a startled yelp, clutching his shoulders as laughter bubbled from her chest.

“Mason! Don’t you dare!”

“Too late, Ady.” he shot back with a grin, already carrying her through the patio doors. The sun hit them instantly, the warmth on their skin contrasting with the cool breeze rolling off the water.

“I swear, Mount—”

But before she could finish, Mason stepped to the pool’s edge and tipped forward, sending them both plunging into the water. The coolness was instant, shocking, and Adeline surfaced with a gasp, water droplets clinging to her hair and face.

“You’re an idiot!” she sputtered, pushing her wet hair back.

Mason emerged right beside her, running his hands through his dripping hair with a triumphant grin. “But you’re in the pool now, aren’t you?”

She splashed water toward him in response, and Mason laughed, ducking away with an exaggerated flinch. “Okay, okay, I deserved that.”

Adeline shook her head, but even as she tried to scowl, she couldn’t stop the smile pulling at her lips. The sun reflected off the water, droplets sparkling as they dripped from his jawline. His chest rose and fell, still catching his breath, and without meaning to, she found herself noticing just how close he was.

Their playful splashes slowed, the water lapping gently around them. Mason’s gaze softened, his eyes locking with hers. She could feel the warmth of his skin beneath the water, their bodies only inches apart.

His breathing was steady, his face so close that the faint scent of his soap mixed with the chlorine. Her eyes traced the droplets running down his neck, lingering on the curve of his jaw. He wasn’t smiling now, but there was something else — something quieter — in his expression.

Adeline’s heart pounded, her pulse betraying her. Their noses nearly touched, and for a moment, it felt like the rest of the world slipped away. She wasn’t thinking about boundaries or professionalism. There was just the water, the sunlight, and the undeniable pull between them.

Without thinking, Mason’s hand brushed against her waist beneath the water — light, almost hesitant, but enough to send a shiver down her spine. His fingers lingered just slightly, the warmth of his touch contradicting the cool water.

“Careful.” Mason murmured, his voice low and teasing. “If you keep looking at me like that, I might think you actually like me.”

Adeline’s pulse quickened, but she forced a laugh, shifting her weight uncomfortably in the water. “You’re delusional, Mason.”

Mason raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the edge of his lips. “Am I?”

The space between them seemed to shrink, but before either of them could say anything more, the sound of the back gate creaked open, followed by the unmistakable burst of laughter.

“Oi! Mason!” Declan’s voice called out, unmistakably amused.

Adeline jerked back, her cheeks flushing as she turned toward the trio of figures standing by the poolside. Declan, Ben, and another friend she didn’t recognize, all grinning like they’d just caught something far too entertaining.

“Did we interrupt something?” Ben teased, smirking.

“No.” Mason said, though the guilty glance he threw at Adeline didn’t help his case. “Just a recovery session. You know, the therapeutic benefits of water and all that.”

“Oh, definitely. Very professional.” Kai replied, barely suppressing his laughter.

Mason rolled his eyes, desperate to change the subject. “Please, Kai. Enough with the jokes. You’re embarrassing yourself.”

Adeline cleared her throat, trying to remain composed as she waded to the pool’s edge. “I should… probably get going.”

“Shame.” Ben added, a mischievous glint in his eye. “We were just about to suggest a pool party.”

"Mate, shut up." Declan said, bumping into his shoulder.

“I’ll pass.” Adeline said quickly, climbing out of the water and wringing her hair out. She avoided Mason’s gaze, though she could feel the lingering heat of it. “Enjoy your… recovery session.”

And with that, she grabbed her towel, cheeks burning, while the guys’ laughter echoed behind her.

Mason’s eyes followed her until she disappeared inside, his heart still racing — and not just from the swim.

(...)

[worldstarz]

saving kaeya after his fight with diluc

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

pairing: kaeya alberich x fem!knight!reader

summary: after his fight with diluc, kaeya is thrown out of the manor to fend for himself. stumbling, bleeding, and on the verge of death, he finds you.

tags: hurt + comfort ; some angst ; mutual (?) feelings ; tbh could also be seen as platonic ; pre-storyline ; not proofread ; prolly ooc i’m so sorry

cw: blood ; injuries ; mentions of violence

notes: going through my notes app that is filled to the BRIM with oc x canon pairings. i haven’t played genshin in over a year (and this blurb was originally written like two years ago lmao) but i still love my flirty slutty cryo man! anyways i altered it so it’s reader x kaeya and removed some oc stuff, but idk how to fit in an explanation on why you’re in the forest… let your imagination run wild!!!

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

kaeya stumbled out of the winery, hand trembling over his bleeding eye.

'it's fine... everything will be fine.' thoughts raced through his head. his whole entire body was throbbing in pain. it’s not like he could go back inside the winery to rest—not after a fight as nasty as that.

"diluc will be running over to some maid any second now. ha, lucky bastard," kaeya muttered.

diluc had a team of servants that he could go to. kaeya only had diluc, emphasis on had.

at the dead of night, there was no way he could get care at the cathedral. he couldn't hold in a chuckle, realizing the situation he was in. he had no one, huh? though popular, kaeya didn’t have any particularly close friends who he could spend the night with.

with that, he knew he had no choice but to pitifully limp to the favonius headquarters—a long, long walk away.

he barely made it into the forest before he fell to the ground, wheezing against a tree. his ears were ringing, but he could hear footsteps cautiously approaching him. he didn't even have the energy to lift his head.

"kaeya? what the hell are you doing out here this late?" whose voice was that...? was it an angel’s? oh, wait. angels wouldn’t swear. it was your voice.

in the state he was in, he could only muster a grunt in response. you kneeled down in front of him, and gasped at the sight of his collapsed body. "just what have you gotten yourself into this time?" you muttered. "can't stand up anymore, huh?"

you tilted his chin up, and both of you wince—him as a result of pain, you due to getting a clear view of his injuries. his blue hair, usually tied into a low ponytail, cascaded down his shoulders, caked in blood. his crimson-soaked chest rose and fell rapidly. "ooh, that is nasty. come on, lean on me. we're going to headquarters." you kneeled down to wrap your arm around his torso, gingerly lifting him up.

"well, would you look at that. that’s exactly where i was heading,” he chuckled, leaning against your body. typically, he would never accept support from another. but, with this arguably being the lowest point of his life, his pride was the least of his concerns. plus, you were just so undeniably warm. if he’s on the verge of death, then maybe being by your side wouldn’t be so bad for a final memory.

you don’t respond, your pace slower from his weight and for his comfort. silence follows. you obviously had a million questions for him—what the hell happened? did he get in a fight with an abyss mage? why was he out so late?—but you could tell he was beyond exhausted, and from the sight of his gushing wounds, getting answers was far from a priority.

the two of you arrived in the city, streets barren in the pitch black of night. the tavern was closed, so, thankfully, no drunkards were hanging about near the path.

the inside of the headquarters was equally empty. the soft glow of lanterns lit the way up the stairs to the barracks. "kaeya, where is your room?" you asked, your voiced barely above a whisper as to not wake the other knights.

"all the way at the end of the hall. but... i forgot my keys," he whispered. you could tell he was smirking.

"how sly of you. if i didn't know any better, i would've thought this was another trick of yours to be close to a lady," you responded, though there wasn’t a hint of accusation in your voice.

"ha, you know me so well."

"to my room we go." you walked further up the steps.

after a moment of silence, you mumbled, "i know you're not the type of person to sneak into a lady's room."

"i'm grateful you understand me so well."

"zip it. i don't even know your favorite color."

unlocking your door, you gently set kaeya down on your bed. you immediately get to work, removing his coat and shoes. usually, his slick tongue would say something suggestive, but tonight, he had no choice but to refrain.

even with your limited knowledge of first aid, you knew just a damp rag would do nothing to help. "i have no tools with me," you say, beginning to walk away. "i'll go grab so-"

kaeya suddenly grabbed your arm, effectively stopping both you and your sentence. he looked so... pained. "please don't go,” he whispered. you never could have expected this level of venerability from him.

"...kaeya?" you whispered, turning to face him. "i have to find a way to tend to your injuries. you're in pain, aren't you?"

his hand slacked.

after coming back with medical supplies, the two of you were silent as you tended to his wounds. he gazed at the ceiling, the silence occasionally broken by you asking for permission for actions such as unbuttoning his shirt. you don’t comment on the new cryo vision in his pocket.

deep gashes littered his body, most notably a diagonal one across his chest. as you applied pressure against the gaping wound in an effort to stanch the bleeding, kaeya couldn’t help but hiss in pain. “sorry, sorry, i’m trying to be gentle,” you whispered hurried apologies, using one hand to continue applying pressure and the other to hold his hand.

his grip tightened, and the poor boy whispered, “i know, i trust you. or, well, i’m trying to.”

all you could do regarding his eye was wrap it in bandages to get it checked out in the morning. the basic first aid lessons you were required to take to become a knight did not cover an injury like that.

once you finished, you sat on the floor, leaning against the bed frame. he was still holding onto your hand.

"what happened?" you asked softly.

"..."

"was it an ambush?"

"..."

"i'll report it in the mor-"

"don't. please, don't," he whispered. “i swear i’ll explain everything to you one day.”

you grimaced. "fine. just... promise not to do anything stupid like that again, alright? i was worried."

kaeya didn't respond, going over your words in his head. you were worried? you didn't seem worried. but... you were worried. why would you so willingly take care of him like this? how would you react if you knew who he really was? would you still be worried?

he couldn't hold back his tears and restrained sobs. you lifted your head in surprise, leaning in closer to scan his expression.

"...kaeya?"

"my apologies," he tried to smile, covering his face with his free arm in embarrassment. no one has seen him like this before, and it was far too foreign for him. "especially when you let me use your room."

in response, you squeezed his hand, whispering, “it’s fine. i don’t think of you any differently.”

how do you always know exactly what to say? to grant him at least a little bit of privacy, you turn away as he quietly sobbed into his forearm.

after a while, he sniffles, saying, “i apologize. i don’t know what came over me.” trying to get some humor out of the situation, he adds, “well, i guess we are bonded for eternity now, aren’t we?”

you turned your head to face him, the furrow of your brows causing him to chuckle. “archons, you’re going to be the death of me,” you sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose.

“seeing how you saved me from death, that wouldn’t be fair, would it?” his foxy grin made you let out yet another exasperated sigh, but you still couldn’t help but smile slightly. it was obvious he was trying to act tough for you, but for now, you would follow along with his fantasy.

“alright, whatever. get some sleep.”

“and what about your sleeping arrangements?”

“i’ll manage. i’ve slept on the forest floor for missions, i can handle a hardwood floor.”

“oh? i couldn’t possibly let my savior sleep in such horrible conditions,” he teased. “won’t you join me in bed?”

“barbatos, give me strength,” you muttered.

he laughs softly, and you can feel your stomach tighten at the sound. even during such a rough moment, kaeya can still manage to put up a charming appearance. his single eye twinkled in the low dim of the candlelight, and you realized your falling for his sly tricks. “please, [name], won’t you grant a poor, injured man his dying wish?”

with a groan, you let go of his hand and climb into the bed beside him, careful not to touch him to avoid any unnecessary pain.

“i knew you were a saint!” he gives you a triumphant smile as you lay on your side to look at him. his tanned skin, though scratched, still was as enchanting as ever in the moonlight. the deep blue of his eye pulled you in deeper, and once again, you realized you were a victim of his charm. but, this was different—though he would never admit it, with your tender care of his wounds and unwavering support, he has unknowingly fell victim to your charm, too. his hand seeks out yours once again, intertwining your fingers.

neither of you commented on the continuation of the hand-holding, nor would you ever.

only then, as you two shared the cramped bed space, does kaeya come to a realization—he had you.

his grip on your hand tightened.

he has you.

[nomsfaultau]

Philza Malewife Competition Round 9

Previous rounds: Cleaning. Cooking. Decorating. Karens. Sick Day. Eggs. Hugs. Venting. Current points: The Lambs Wolves Wear (2), Lighting Lanterns (1), Weight in Gold (2), Fault (2), everyone else (0). And an honorary point to qsmp for a guest appearance.

For a quick synopsis for the fics I’m referencing- those are here

Next round: Handy man! Broke a Samsung Smart Fridge? Giant magical explosion? No problem! These Phils are on the job, dedicating their experience and skills to crafting, repairing, and home improvement!

GOLDEN APPLES (Gilded Atrophy): Well this Philza did repair all of L'Manburg after withers, tnt, and however many wars occurred. If he could patch up a crater, he can fix just about anything. This includes lovely walkways and infrastructure, beautiful residencies for the refugees of the nation, stunning air balloon lanterns, and overall just the prettiest town ever seen on the server. It's all developed from his centuries of knowledge, though might be a little slow since he's building it all by hand while his wings are recovering from the blast damage. If he can fix a country, he can fix anything. Also patches up creeper holes <3

The LAMBS Wolves Wear: He lives in an old house (built by his great great grandparents) and is used to fixing things up by hand. Doesn't have much in the way of materials, but can chop down trees or make rudimentary replacements. And given "Tommy" keeps destroying the house, he's putting those skills to use....or would, if "Wilbur" isn't refusing to let him, insisting on plastering illusions to 'fix' everything. So, now it's broken, and you can't tell it is until it's too late.

MANDATORY FAMILY REUNION: Hahahahhah......he has a check for 200k to make this go away..?

Where do BABIES come from?: "Heyyyy Dad? Could you swing by, I think my fridge is broken. And the shower, and backdoor, and- DID YOU START A FIRE IN THE WASTE BASKET?! Sorry, I- oh yeah, I have news about new...roommates?" Essentially, this dude just got out of college, does not have money for a repair person, and is replying on his own dad to dad for him. Also forgot to tell his family he now has...four kids? And counting?? So that'll be fun....

LIGHTING LANTERNS to Bring You Home: "Mmm I'm reading. Technoblade I humbly fall in supplication in need of your godly power blah blah fix it for me. "HAEH?! Your words fall upon closed ears for I am a god of Work, not of lazying about!" "Fascinating. I did not realize you were incapable." "NAY! VERILY I AM THE MOST CAPABLE!" "uh huh prove it. Do I win the tournament now?"

Worth far more than you WEIGHT IN GOLD: He has made a very fluffy nest! (this is all he is capable of building). Like technically he can use rudimentary tools...but that's kinda it.

LORD what fools these mortals be!: Poof. He conjures up the finest of new rooms. The ceiling is infinitely high and sparkles with constellations. There are floating steps and magic candles and waterfalls for bed curtains and jewel trees and just about any magic you can imagine. Doesn't show much hard work, though.

FAULT: Philza reveals a lot of craftiness and resourcefulness within Fault. He is shown carving a reed based woodwind instrument for Wilbur, tanning rabbit hide and creating sinew thread for a dagger sheath, contributing metallurgy abilities to the crafting of Tubbos' prosthetic legs, and constructing fairly serviceable tarp tens for everyone while on the run. Has lots of experience from building houses, crazy knowledge for all sorts of time period based skills, trades, architecture trends, etc. However doesn't currently particularly have a house to do home repair in.

I thiiiiink next round will be the Maid Outfit round but that will take a bit because I’m planning full drawings for each one.

[skyward-floored]

Whumptober Day 30 - Recovery

CONTINUATION TO DAYS 13 AND 28 read those or you’ll probably be confused 👍

Hola I have not given up yet 👋 I’ve only got one fic left now and it’s already half-written, and I’m going to do everything in my power to finish it before thanksgiving SO HELP ME. Please enjoy the finale of the animal transformation plot line :)

and forgive me for slipping in one of my Link OCs these are technically his bad guys I borrowed for the fic lol

Warnings: same as 13 and 28, body horror, injury, creepy people.

Ao3 link

Day 13

Day 28

————————————————————

Twilight bolted through the caverns, the others’ voices long gone behind him. The pain in his side only got worse the further he went, but he didn’t stop, tongue lolling, paws pounding.

He had to reach Four. Before it was too late.

The smithy’s cries grew louder as he ran, and Twilight abruptly realized they weren’t Hylian sounds— he couldn’t quite make out what they were over the sound of the water beside him, though. The current of the stream had gotten much faster, water rushing past rocks and frothing at the edges. But Twilight didn’t focus on it much, intent only on reaching Four.

Some measure of sense came back to Twilight as he made out more voices over the water, and he slowed his frantic pace, making an effort to quiet his steps. A different kind of light reflected off the water as he followed a bend in the stream, and Twilight crouched down, creeping hurriedly towards a clump of large rocks. He ducked behind them as he heard voices, then cautiously poked his head around.

Standing on the other side of the now-roaring water was a stone pedestal, partially carved from some of the glowing green rocks around. It was surrounded by a handful of figures in dark green cloaks, carrying lanterns that made strange shadows dance across the walls.

One of them shifted around, and Twilight’s gaze locked on the tiny, struggling figure tied to the stone, frantically trying to free itself. Twilight squinted, moving just a little closer, and sucked in a breath.

A small, rainbow-colored bird was trapped on the stone, fluttering its wings and attempting to peck at the rope with its beak. It was maybe a bit bigger than Twilight’s hand, and Twilight scanned the colors its feathers held, recognizing them with a sinking stomach.

“Let me go! I have no clue what you’re talking about with all this courage stuff!” Four’s voice squawked from the bird, fear creeping in on the edges of his words. “Quit plucking feathers! Will you at least tell me what’s going on? Seriously! What do you want?!”

None of the cloaked figures replied, obviously unable to understand him, and one of them drew forward, raising a hand up.

“Oh goddess Farore... greatest of the Three... grant us your courage as we initiate one of your chosen,” she said, and Twilight startled as he recognized the croaking voice from earlier. “His power will serve us well...”

Her other hand went up, and Four’s chirps grew to a frantic pitch as the long knife she’d drawn gleamed in the lantern light.

Twilight forgot any semblance of stealth and raced forward, leaping across the stream in one huge jump and landing on the other side with a snarl. The cloaked figures whirled around, and Twilight bared his teeth, prepared to fight every single one of them.

The old woman holding the knife seemed unconcerned at his appearance though. In fact, she seemed downright pleased, a gnarled smile stretching across her ancient face.

“Ah, another of Farore’s beloved. She must have taken a special liking to you, clothing you in one of her sacred beasts.”

She swept her hand forward and ropes surged from nearby of their own volition, snagging Twilight’s legs and sending him to the ground before he could do anything. He snarled, fighting against them, but they only grew tighter, and Twilight fell to his side with a grunt.

“Twilight!” Four chirped frantically.

“Oh he’s magnificent!” another voice squealed, and Twilight recognized it as the other voice they’d been hearing. “Mistress may I have him first? Please?”

“You know the rules, sister,” the old woman reprimanded. “Farore has chosen me to partake first.”

The other figure that had spoken drooped, but bowed her head in a nod, and the old woman approached Twilight, her knife still held high.

Twilight snapped at her, struggling fiercely, and the old woman wagged a finger at him.

“Now now, relax. We’re not going to kill you.”

“Right. We’ll only take some pieces of your courageous bodies, and leave you alive after,” the cheerful woman added. “And afterwards you get to stay with us forever!”

Twilight fought much harder against the ropes, but they refused to budge a bit, and Four let out a frantic cheep.

“Twilight, hold on!” he said hurriedly, his beak pulling at the ropes.

“Doing my best,” Twilight growled back. He kept fighting, but made no progress in escaping his bonds.

The old woman with the knife knelt beside him, unconcerned at his snapping teeth, and thumbed a bit of the drying blood off of his muzzle, studying it.

“Yes, you’ll be perfect. A proud, fierce beast. One of the blue-eyes of legend,” she said with a smile. “Never have we had so many true Chosen in our grasp... Farore’s providence is good indeed.”

Twilight snarled, struggling wildly, and the woman raised her knife again.

“Hold still.”

Twilight’s heart wrenched up into his throat, but then Four managed to bite through the ropes holding him, launching himself off of the platform with a cry.

His flight was miserable at best, but he still managed to land on the woman’s head, pecking and clawing at her furiously. She reeled back from Twilight with a shout, smacking at Four, and Twilight strained as hard as he could. The woman’s hand smacked down, hitting Four hard enough that he was stunned, and she snatched him into her gnarled hand with a glare.

“Do not interrupt,” she hissed, squeezing until Four cried out.

Twilight barked in anger, worry for Four strengthening him, and he snapped a few of the ropes around himself. He lunged for the woman’s legs and she shouted again, several of the other cloaked figures sweeping forward. One of them took Four from her grasp so she could wave her hand and fix the ropes over Twilight again, and he grunted as he was rebound and Four was carried away.

“Smithy!” Twilight barked, heart pounding at the sight of the limp bird on the stone. “Let him go!”

“Stop that this instant,” the old woman snapped as Twilight thrashed around, growling and fighting against the ropes. They abruptly tightened, and Twilight’s snarling was choked off, pressure squeezing his already-sore ribs.

“I know the adjustment is hard, but this really will be the best for you,” the giggly woman cooed. “We’ll only take some of your courage now and then, and you’ll live a wonderfully comfortable life with us! Farore will bless us all for our devotion!”

Twilight wheezed, unable to take in a deep breath, his ribs aching and squeezing. He could barely focus on the words being spoken, his head growing fuzzy from lack of air, and he couldn’t stop the pained whine that escaped him.

He had to get to Four, but Four wasn’t moving, and he couldn’t breathe, and these people were too powerful for him to take by himself—

The old woman approached him again, her knife glinting in the lantern light. It was made of some kind of pearlescent material, small rainbows rippling across the tip, and Twilight stared at it as he wheezed for breath, unable to move away.

What he didn’t expect was for the woman to press the flat of the blade to his forehead, the metal cold against his fur.

A familiar biting cold wrenched through him, and Twilight gasped, the cold shooting through his limbs like an icy flood, hungrily spreading and devouring him. The ropes stopped him from thrashing, but he jerked beneath them, a strangled howl escaping his throat.

Oh please not again—!

His limbs began to contort, his stinging muzzle shrinking in, already abused ribs pushed and stretched. It was worse than the first time, his limbs still sore from the initial transformation and the fight earlier, and stars flew and shattered in Twilight’s vision as pain ripped through him.

His howl turned into a scream that rang through the cave, his body contorting and twisting around back into its rightful shape. Legs stretched and fur receded, teeth and ears and eyes that rolled back in his head.

It felt like hours before it finally eased, the cold‘s intensity ebbing, and Twilight abruptly fell still, his breath rattling as tears slipped down his Hylian cheeks.

He might have passed out for a moment, he wasn’t sure. But he was so wrung dry from it all that he barely registered he was back in his rightful body, a shiver wracking through him.

A frightened chirp reached his ears, and Twilight pried his eyes open, a blurry spot of color moving in his vision. A flicker of relief hit him as he saw Four moving around, but then a hand grabbed his chin, tilting his head up.

“Hm, maybe not so courageous after all,” the old woman frowned, flicking some of his tears away. “But Farore has chosen you, so we will submit to her will.”

She dropped his chin, then lifted up his hand, Twilight shuddering as she traced the triangles on his skin.

“Courage touched. We’ll take this first,” she said almost hungrily.

Twilight’s hand was stretched out, ropes tightening on his wrist and pinning his arm to the ground. The woman raised up her knife again, and Twilight pulled weakly against the ropes, his strength sapped. All he could do was watch.

Twilight looked up as Four let out a cry of dismay, and the knife plunged down towards his wrist.

Then was knocked from the woman’s grasp by a boomerang.

The woman shouted as the blade fell with a clatter, a furious expression on her face. Twilight panted weakly as someone shouted, and loud steps thundered by, blurs moving around. Two smaller ones split off, and were suddenly in front of Twilight, looking at him in fear and worry.

“L... Legend?” Twilight wheezed at the blur of pink in his vision, and the rabbit nodded, the otter beside him quickly patting Twilight’s forehead.

“Yep, and me too. Hold still, we’ll have you out in a second,” Wind reassured, and he and Legend got to pulling and gnawing on the ropes, snapping them with their teeth.

Twilight followed their wishes and kept still while they worked, not really able to move anyway. It didn’t take Legend and Wind long to snap enough ropes for him to get loose, and Twilight tried to get his eyes to focus as he surveyed the scene.

Time and Warriors were attempting to keep the cloaked figures back, Wild helping them where he could. Sky clung to Time’s back, occasionally shooting out a paw, and Hyrule hovered closer to Twilight, still looking wobbly, but keeping his footing. All of them still looked battered and shaken, but they were putting up a fair fight.

Especially thanks to the teenager Twilight didn’t recognize in the middle of the fighting, damp hair falling in his face, his expression a mixture of determination and annoyance.

“You,” the old woman seethed, glaring at the teenager. “You’ve caused us nothing but trouble, boy.”

“Yeah a lot of people tell me that,” he shrugged, then threw himself out of the way of a sudden thrust from a knife.

“Who..?” Twilight started to ask, and Legend snorted.

“We picked him up on our way here, he fell in through the ceiling and nearly squashed Wild. Said he’d figured out there was trouble and came to help. Pretty sure he’s the hero of this world, even though he said he wasn’t much of one. He’s almost as crazy as the champion.”

Wind snickered. “Yeah, but I like him.”

Twilight struggled to sit up, body shrieking in protest at the movement. Legend and Wind gave him worried looks, but Twilight refused to be held down, and struggled upwards, breathing hard as he managed to get to his knees.

“Four,” he realized suddenly, jerking his head around. “Where’s—”

“There,” Wind said, quickly climbing up to sit on Twilight’s shoulder. Twilight looked where he was pointing, and he began to stumble towards the stone pedestal where Four was struggling to stand. The smithy chirped as they approached, something like confusion on his face, and Twilight realized with a flicker of annoyance he couldn’t understand him anymore.

“Yeah it’s me and Wind and everyone and also another guy, please don’t ask right now,” Legend replied with a sigh, obviously able to understand. “We need to go.”

“Here,” Twilight urged, holding out a hand, and when Four struggled his way over to it, Twilight picked him up and cradled him gently to his chest. He could see blood on Four’s feathers, and felt a sharp prick of guilt.

“Mistress, they’re escaping!” the giggly woman shouted, and Twilight just barely managed to duck away from a sudden thrust of a knife, the old woman looking extremely displeased.

“You’re ruining the ceremony,” she said with a cold anger, and lunged forward again.

Twilight dodged, but Wind cried out, the pearlescent blade nicking his side. A short ripple of magic shot outwards, and Wind dropped from Twilight’s shoulder like a stone, another pained shout coming from him.

Panic shot through Twilight and he quickly moved to stand in front of Wind, sucking in a breath as he saw Wind’s form ripple unnaturally, then convulse, a strangled cry ripping from his throat.

He began to elongate, his limbs stretching out, tail shrinking away. Twilight dodged another slash from the woman, and shouted for assistance as Wind slowly shifted back into his proper form, the curse peeled away from him agonizingly slow.

Someone shouted as Legend growled, and despite his injured paw, he launched himself up at the woman, sinking his teeth into her arm. Her green eyes flashed and she threw him aside with a squeak, horrible cracking and shifting noises coming from where Wind lay.

She turned her sights on Twilight again as Wind’s cries turned to a scream, his body almost finished shifting back, and Twilight leveled shaky fists at her as Four puffed himself up and tried to look menacing.

The woman stepped forward. “You will not—”

The unfamiliar teenager lunged in front of Twilight, blocking her attack with a swipe of his own dagger. He shot a glance back at Twilight, worry on his face as he looked at Wind, then dodged another swipe.

“Wretched child!” the woman shrieked, and the teenager in green leapt over a burst of magic, his hair flying in his face.

“Go, get out of here!” he shouted, and Twilight stumbled back, dropping to his knees beside Wind’s trembling form.

He was gasping for breath, eyes shining with tears, and Warriors suddenly ran over, urgency in the neigh he let out.

“Can’t understand you,” Twilight frowned, and Warriors jerked his head in Wind’s direction, then twisted around and motioned at his back. “You... want to carry him? Can you handle that?”

Warriors snorted, and that was enough of a confirmation for Twilight.

He ran a quick hand over Wind’s head, a bright swirl of blue on his forehead, and the sailor winced.

“O-ow,” he moaned, still trembling, and Twilight did his best to sit him up, his own arms shaking as he moved him. He knew he wouldn’t be able to lift him up onto Warriors’ back, and Warriors seemed to realize it, quickly crouching down on mostly-steady legs.

“Wind, can you hold onto Wars?” Twilight asked, and the sailor gave a bleary nod, still shaking.

Twilight did his best to shove him up, and Wind slumped on Warriors’ back, tangling a few shaky fingers in his mane. Warriors winced but didn’t otherwise react, and carefully stood, Four chirping worriedly. Warriors neighed something in response, and Four made an irritated sound, squawking as he flapped a wing.

Another cloaked woman ran up, but the new teenager kept her back, his blade glinting in the light of the rocks, and he shot a glance back at them all.

“Get going! Didn’t you hear me?” he shouted, then reeled as he was struck on the shoulder.

He recovered quickly, but Twilight had seen blood, and he knew the kid was right. This wasn’t a fight they were going to win.

As if to emphasize the point, Time suddenly ran over and shoved Twilight towards the entrance to a tunnel he hadn’t seen before, barking something at him he couldn’t understand. Twilight stumbled, but regained his footing, holding Four to his chest.

Wind swayed where he clung to Warriors, but he hung on tight, Warriors keeping as steady as he could. Time ended up staying beside Twilight as a furry crutch, Sky giving him and Wind concerned looks, and they all rushed for the tunnel, furious shouts coming from behind them.

Twilight noticed a bloody scratch on Warriors as they reached the tunnel, blood marring his pale side. He whinnied something behind him, and Hyrule stumbled forward, his flanks heaving as he tried to keep up. Relief flickered through Twilight as he saw Legend limping beside him, and Four cawed happily.

“Coming through!” Wild’s voice yelled, and the unfamiliar teenager ran forward with the squirrel clinging to his shoulder, a bomb in his hands.

They all charged forward as the teenager chucked the bomb behind them, and an explosion shook the floor, rocks falling where they’d been standing moments ago.

Time dropped back and snatched Legend up by the scruff, and Warriors began shoving Hyrule, the teenager Twilight didn’t recognize helping with pulling the deer forward across the rocky ground.

The tunnel curved and Twilight saw light ahead that steadily grew brighter. A furious shout came from behind them as they ran, something echoing through the tunnel that was lost in the sound of it collapsing.

The ground shook and he held tight to Time’s fur as the wolf practically dragged him forward, rocks crashing down, his head spinning, the light growing bigger and brighter by the second.

The teenager shouted, Time lunged forward, and they all spilled out from the tunnel into a grassy clearing, the whole thing collapsing in behind them.

Twilight landed on his back with a wheeze, Time and Legend panting beside him. Four was still resting on his chest, feathers puffed in alarm, and Twilight gasped for breath, every bit of him aching and sore.

They’d made it out.

Twilight wheezed and closed his eyes, exhaustion he’d been ignoring hitting him like a moblin.

Oh thank Ordona.

“That’ll hold them for a while,” the new guy panted, swiping some of his hair from his face. He gave Twilight a weary grin when he looked at him. “This isn’t the only exit, but it’ll take them a loooong time to get to the other one.”

He let out a loud whew, then flopped on the ground beside the others, Wild hopping out of his arms. The champion sniffed at his shoulder, his head tilted in concern, and Twilight saw a line of blood on the teenager’s neck, dripping into his hair.

“Hey you okay? That looks painful,” Wild asked, and the teenager (or Link, probably) waved him off.

“Ah, this? I’ll be fine, no worries,” he said with a grin, though Twilight saw the edges were strained. “Just a scratch.”

The dust from the collapse began to settle, and Twilight wearily raised his head and looked around, making sure everyone else had made it. Warriors was sitting close by, saying something to Hyrule flopped beside him, the two still panting for breath and looking a bit worse for wear. Wind had been slid off his back, and Sky was curled up beside him, the sailor pale and looking like he was going to be sick. Wild was still sitting by the unfamiliar teenager, and was saying something to him, scratching at one of his ears.

The teenager caught Twilight’s eye again as he looked at him, and gave him a half-grin.

“Not too bad of a day’s work,” he said cheerfully, as if they hadn’t all just escaped by the skin of their teeth. “You alright there? You look like you’re going to pass out.”

Wild wasn’t the only one who immediately looked over at Twilight, and Four let out a worried chirp, getting to his feet and cocking his head as he looked at him.

“I’m alright,” Twilight reassured weakly, and Legend let out an exhausted scoff.

“Yeah, sure. We all heard you screaming back there, don’t start that.”

“You all aren’t exactly in... pristine condition, either,” Twilight huffed, and let his head fall back to the ground.

Time whined from nearby, and Twilight let him sniff over his sore and aching body, even putting up with the cold nose Time accidentally poked his neck with. Finally he seemed content enough with his examination, and Time sat back down beside Twilight with a huff, Twilight trying to ignore the darkness wavering on the edge of his vision.

He blinked dizzily, conversation floating over his head and past his ears without turning into anything recognizable. A groan from Wind was perfectly legible though, and guilt gnawed at Twilight as he tried to look at the sailor.

Wind was still deathly pale and shaking, and Warriors was saying something to him, Sky translating. Wind shook his head to whatever it was, then pressed his face against Warriors’ neck with a whimper.

If you hadn’t run ahead, this probably wouldn’t have happened, his mind whispered, and Twilight closed his eyes, headache growing suddenly worse.

“Rancher? You all right?” Legend’s voice asked from somewhere close by. Twilight mumbled a response, his head spinning and darkness tugging at him.

Four chirped quietly, nuzzling his head against Twilight’s cheek, and something soft settled itself on Twilight’s other side, patting his shoulder.

“Go ahead and rest, Twi,” Legend said from his side, his voice surprisingly soft. “We can handle things.”

That and Time pressing himself against his side were the last things Twilight was aware of before darkness overtook him.

(...)

It felt like both an eternity and barely a moment when Twilight awoke with a start, eyes shooting open as he lurched upright... and nearly clocking his forehead against Time’s.

“Whoa, easy there pup,” Time said, catching his shoulders when he pitched forward.

Twilight blinked a couple times, willing his fuzzy vision to clear, and realized he was in a bed, soft sheets over him, early dawn light rippling over the blankets. He raised his head, but barely took in the room as he focused on Time’s face, squinting as he noticed something off about it.

Then he startled as he realized Time wasn’t a wolf anymore.

“Huh?” he asked blearily, and Time cracked a smile, gently pushing him back down again.

“Good morning to you too. Our new Link and a few of the others found our belongings, including the Master Sword,” Time explained, brushing some hair out of his face. It looked more brightly golden than normal, and Twilight saw a few strands of white streaked through it. “Sky said we could use it to shift back, and he was correct. It still wasn’t pleasant, but I believe it went much more smoothly than you or the sailor’s experiences.”

“Huh,” Twilight repeated, and Time smiled again.

“Are you hungry? The inn here has excellent food. If you’re not up for that you should have some water at least, you’ve been out for more than a day,” he replied quietly, a flicker of worry in his eye.

Twilight’s stomach growled before he could answer, and he and Time both smiled.

“I’ll fetch you some of both,” he said with a pat to Twilight’s shoulder. Time then stood up a bit stiffly, stretching his arms behind his back with a grimace. Twilight heard a crack, and Time straightened, then walked quietly out of the room.

Twilight properly studied the room then, tired eyes glazing past curtains and a picture of flowering tree on the wall, then zeroed in on another bed in the room.

Wind was curled up under the sheets, still looking pale where he lay. Four was flopped beside him, the tips of his hair and cheeks shimmering with color that matched the feathers he’d been sporting. Warriors was snoring quietly in a chair beside them, his hair paler than normal, with a light-colored spot right in the middle of his forehead.

Twilight slowly sat up, grunting as his sore body protested, but he managed to get upright enough to see the other bed in the room as well. Sky was the one the most under the blankets, his hair color paler with some darker bits scattered throughout, but Wild and Legend were both under them somewhat as well, Wild’s hair streaked with silvery-blue, Legend’s back to fully pink. Hyrule was at the foot of the bed, just as deeply asleep as the rest of them, green flecks scattered across his face, two larger spots on his forehead.

The only one unaccounted for was the new kid, but when Time came back a few moments later, he was following behind him, grey-green eyes fixed on Twilight.

“Hey, you’re alive!” he said with a grin, grabbing a chair and sitting on it backwards. “That’s great, we were starting to worry.”

“I’m alright,” Twilight reassured, taking a bite of the warm bread Time had brought him. Oh that tasted good. “Just... tired.”

“You and everyone else, it’s been nothing but sleeping around here,” the teenager said with a glance at the others, his grin fading. “You guys had it really rough down there, I’m sorry.”

“It’s hardly your fault,” Time said, eating his own piece of bread. “I doubt we would have made it out of there without you.”

“Yeah... maybe. I just usually keep a better eye on the Farore weirdos, and right when I think they’re pretty much just down to stragglers, they somehow get twice as active and kidnap a bunch of people and torture them,” he said miserably. “I thought I’d taken care of them. I thought their leader was gone, and yet she was down there carrying on like always.”

“I’m certain that’s not your fault,” Time said grimly. “The reason we’re all traveling together is likely to blame.”

“You think it was the Shadow?” Twilight asked quietly. Time shrugged.

“I’m not discounting it. But,” he said, taking another bite of bread, “theories can come later. At the moment, all anyone needs to be doing is to rest. We deserve a break after all of that.”

Twilight smiled. “I agree.”

The other Link looked like he was bursting with questions, but he nodded, and bounced his leg as he drank some kind of juice from a cup. Twilight studied him a bit, looking at his unkempt hair and mossy green tunic. He looked about like all the rest of them, and Twilight couldn’t help his sigh, finishing off his bread. Yet another kid dragged into this mess.

A yelp from across the room interrupted his thoughts, and all three of them startled and looked over at Wind, who had shot upright with his eyes wide.

Time stood to go over to him, but Warriors was faster, waking up and going to Wind’s bedside with a worried look. He said something quietly as Four also sat up, and the three of them looked over at Twilight at the same time.

Relieved smiles lit all their faces, and Twilight gave them an exhausted one in return.

“Help me up,” Wind urged, and Warriors complied, helping Wind stand and supporting him as he wobbled over. The sailor shimmied up onto Twilight’s bed, then settled himself beside him with a smile.

“Hey sailor. Feeling better?” Twilight asked, and Wind hummed.

“Better than I did. I have no clue how you go back and forth between Wolfie like that,” he said tiredly, and Twilight sighed.

“My transformation isn’t nearly that painful, and only takes a few seconds,” Twilight replied, slinging an arm around Wind. “This... was not the norm.”

“That’s good to know,” Four said as he slowly walked up, parts of both his arms wrapped in bandages. “...I’m fine, Twi, I see you looking guilty.”

Twilight lowered his gaze, and Wind squeezed himself a bit tighter against his side.

“I should’ve done more. I shouldn’t have run ahead,” he murmured, looking at his hands. “If I’d waited for you all, we might’ve been able to make an actual plan that didn’t involve... everything this one did.”

“It wouldn’t have changed anything if you’d waited, Rancher,” Four chided, sitting on the bed. “They we’re already hurting me before you showed up, and I would’ve been changed back with that knife. Plus, who knows? They might’ve taken off my hand if you’d taken too long.”

“While I don’t appreciate you tearing ahead, it did end up being the best for Four,” Warriors added, crossing his arms.

“There’s no use dwelling on it, it’s in the past,” Time finished, and faintly smiled. “Besides, if we’d all rushed ahead, or even all held back, we might not have met our other hero here.”

The new Link blushed a little, but also smiled, a grin pulling at uneven teeth.

“True. Though... I still don’t totally get the whole time-traveling-multiple-guys-named-Link thing,” he admitted, scratching the back of his neck. “The guy who was a rabbit explained, but we were kind of in a rush...”

“Well there’s not much more to it than that, but once everyone is awake I’ll give you a more detailed explanation,” Warriors assured, and Wind grinned.

“And then we can give you a nickname!”

Wind started listing off ideas, each more terrible than the next, and Four squeezed Twilight’s arm as he looked over at him.

“Seriously Rancher, thank you,” he said softly, and Twilight nodded at him, feeling a little better. “I know you’re feeling torn, but it was in the heat of the moment. I doubt you could’ve made a perfect decision.”

“I still left the others behind,” he murmured, and Four sighed.

“Yeah. But they handled it. And so did we. And so did Wind. Try not to worry about it, we’re all safe now.”

Twilight breathed out, and tried to heed Four’s words. He didn’t exactly regret running ahead, but he’d gotten himself and Four hurt in the process, and Wind as well, thought somewhat tangentially, and he knew he’d be thinking about the whole situation for a while yet, wondering what he could’ve done better.

But... Time was right. It was in the past.

And they’d all made it out alive.

Twilight finished off his bread as he listened to the others chat, a hesitant sort of peace settling over him. The new guy was saying something about a swamp monster and how he’d ended up meeting Zelda, and Twilight settled back to listen, a smile pulling at his cheeks. Wind nestled a bit more tightly against his side, setting his head on his arm, and Four also leaned against him, listening contentedly.

Twilight looked around at them all while they talked, Sky and the others on his bed beginning to stir, everyone injured and marked by magic in some way.

But they were all back to normal. All recovering.

Twilight smiled, and closed his eyes, resting his head over Wind’s.

All safe.

[shyficwriter]

i love your writing !! can you please do a fix where the reader had a bad day and is overthinking decorating a pumpkin and loki tickles bcuz they won't start it

I could maybe produce a drabble... lol (Thank you!) [Edit: Sorry this is late! I started it and then got busy and forgot all about it!]

***

Loki walked into the kitchen to find you standing still, staring intently at a pumpkin on the countertop.

"Are we expecting it to do a trick?" Loki quipped, resulting in you jumping as you had been so focused you hadn't noticed him enter.

"No," you sigh, returning your gaze to your bare pumpkin. "I just don't know what I want to do with it. I mean- I could make it funny, but I not sure what would be funny. Or I could make it scary- but there's so many possibilities for scary- like the classic jack-o-lantern face, or I could make it a monster-," the corners of your mouth twitch as you continue, "or... I could model it off of your face..."

"Hey, now!" Loki scolded in mock-hurt as he calmly closed the gap between him and you. "One might take offense to that!"

You grin cheekily at him briefly as he joins you at the counter, but don't apologize. Within moments your attention returns to the pumpkin and your face returns to one of concentration.

"What about a happy face then?" Loki suggests.

"Not feeling it." you respond. It was true, carving something happy just didn't feel genuine considering just an hour ago you had been scolded by Tony for spilling some paint in the lab. You knew he wasn't actually angry, just frustrated from lack of sleep and you knew that he knew his robots would get the stain out of the floor in short order, but your anxiety still pulled you into a funk where you couldn't quite focus on doing anything productive- even something fun like decorating your pumpkin.

"Hmm..." Loki ponders, walking behind you to your other side. "Maybe I could help with that?" he pokes you in the side, making you jolt.

"Loki!" you scold, eyes popping wide as you grab his hand as he went in for another poke, "What are you doing!?"

"Helping," he said, matter-of-factly, using your distraction to latch onto your ribs with his other hand, sending you into a fit of giggles.

"Loki!" you scold again, giggling as you both crumple into yourself and make a poor attempt to defend yourself by grappling for his hands.

"Yes?" he asks, grinning mischievously as he further melted you into helpless laughter.

"Quit it!"

Loki hummed as if considering it before asking, "Are you feeling happy yet?"

You knew this was a trick. If you said no, he'd tickle you more. If you said yes to make him stop, he'd take that as a 'confession' that tickling would be a way to cheer you up in the future, and would probably definitely use it as an excuse to tease and/or tickle you. Given that, your brain must have short-circuited in your answer, because you only managed to reply with a giggly, "I'm going to bite you!"

"Oh!" Loki exclaimed in humored surprise. "Well that's not very kind of you at all! We should fix that- you're much too grumpy." He pulls you in again as you try to pull away and starts to rapidly dart his hands around your ribs and stomach so that you can neither get used to one sensation nor manage to grab his hands to stop him.

You're now doubled over in full belly laughter, uselessly trying to fight him off and scolding, "No fair!"

Loki chuckles and shakes his head in response. "Are we going to be less grumpy?" he asks, cheekily.

"Okay! Okay!"

"Hmm?"

"Yes! Alright!" you manage to get out, realizing he was fully intent on being a little shit. "Alright! I give up!"

Loki stops, but doesn't yet remove his hands. "Are we feeling happy yet?" he asks in a lilting voice.

"Okay- yes! I'm happy now! Are you?" you reply, still giggling as you catch your breath.

Loki thinks for a moment before deciding he was, but also deciding to give you one last quick tickle just for good measure, which you then swatted him for, only to then hold up your hands in surrender when he gave you a look that told you he had absolutely no issues with tickling you to pieces again.

"So, have you decided how you wish to decorate your pumpkin?"

"Yeah... Yeah, I think I know what I'm going to do with it now." you respond, already picking up a marker to get started.

"Well, I'm glad I could be of service." Loki gives a cheeky bow before departing, leaving you grinning in his wake to decorate your pumpkin.

You watched him leave as you drew on the goofiest, dopiest, face you could manage, before raiding the kitchen cabinets for some tin foil, which you then molded into a fairly good replica of Loki's horned helmet.

He was sure to be surprised when he saw it sitting with the other pumpkins later, though that might spell more trouble for you.

You'd decide later if it was worth it.

[blood-grove]

odd adjustments

prev <- part 2 -> part 3

adoptive!soap and ghost + adopted!reader

× pairing: soapghost

× summary: the now retired couple decides that there house is feeling a bit empty besides there two cats and german shepard.

× tws: medication, mentions of ptsd, angst, minor injuries

The ride was long they lived ways out from the city which would be a change of pace and scenery.

Simon was quiet through the drive the silence wasn't uncomfortable it was nice you found yourself dozing off here and there along the trip jostled awake by the sudden bumpiness of the road glancing out of the window to see you were pulling up into a gravel drive way.

You grumbled quietly mainly out of tiredness you caught Simons eyes in the car mirror checking up on you as he parked.

"You can head inside out of the rain I'll grab the bags." Simon said as he promptly got out of the car with his own umbrella.

You quickly did the same heading over to the house where a cat waited behind the glass door seeing you it left.

Aw.

The door opened luckily it was unlocked as you stepped inside wiping your feet off on the mat setting your dripping umbrella into the umbrella holder nearby awkwardly shifting around as you stepped into the short hallway glancing around at the pictures on the walls as you made it to the living room the house was quiet aside from the movement upstairs which you could assume was possibly John.

You felt increasingly awkward as you glanced around flinching once the door opened once more Simon coming in holding both your bag and suitcase gently brushing past you as he sat them next to the stairs glancing back at you.

"You can sit anywhere you'd like" He hummed as he headed upstairs and so you did that sitting down on the couch as you slipped your phone from out of your pocket it was a bit cracked but it worked.

You eventually heard footsteps coming down John coming into the room with the grin you remembered.

You found the mohawk funny.

"It's nice ta' finally have you here!..I made some food so you can eat if you want or If your tired yer bedroom is upstairs first on the right its bare bones for now since we didn't know what ye'd like to decorate it with."

His accent was funny.

Oh you should answer.

"Uh um.." You just mumbled which got you a confused look with just made you tense which he noticed.

"Oh ah sorry forgot to mention- Cant hear very well out of my right ear n all supposed to be getting a new hearing aid soon So you may need to shout ever now and then—"

"I'm uh kind of hungry." You spoke up a bit more which John luckily heard this time

"Oh! Good Ah didnae waant the food tae git tae cauld even if its just sandwiches."

This wasn't as awkward as you thought it'd be.

You had eaten chatted up with John a bit more he was a nice guy a lot more talkative than Simon but you knew that from the interviews.

Simon had come down as well not without John badgering his to sit down something about his leg and medication you weren't too nosy.

He'd seemed to be getting the dog situated as he brought her down Riley was her name wasn't it?.

She was a German Shepard you thought as you stretched out your hand towards her with a glance at Simon she sniffed it before licking your hand you guess it smelt like the deli meats from the sandwich.

You scratched behind her ear as her tail wagged.

You'd put up with the awkwardness of adjusting to here for the dog.

Simon and John started talking about something as you pet Riley the rain hadn't really let up and began to pour down a bit harder thunder rumbling out as John mumbled something to Simon the man getting up with a grunt and headed back down the hall.

"He's just going to check if we have lanterns in case the power gives out." You flinched as John spoke you didn't even realize you were staring where Simon had left you just nodded.

"You can go up to your room y'know still early in the day plus so you can unpack and unwind n' all." John glanced at you as he spoke you just nodded again maybe too quickly getting up Riley leaving your side and heading down where Simon had went.

You felt nauseous laying in bed so many things running threw your head.

Also there was a cat on your bed.

You were pretty sure this was Old man, The gruff appearance and the near mustache and beard combo look in his fur fur and the greying hairs.

You held you hand out for him to smell and he just looked at you with near human unamusement.

You pulled your hand back and went back to thinking.

Right.

God what were you thinking about even?

These are good people.

This room is good.

This house is good.

The animals are better.

Why do you have to start spiraling now? Always sinking yourself into doom spiralling.

Hypothetical's that made no sense as the storm just picked up outside.

You grumbled as you got up and started to search through your suitcase Old man had hoped down to watch you as you swallowed trying to ignore the nauseous feeling your now sweaty hands find your medication.

You fumble with the cap always forgetting how to open it before you finally pop it off and dig out a couple of pills swallowing them dry even if you know you shouldn't.

You just tried to focus on not hurling on your new floor taking deep inhales as you shakily dug your fingers into the carpet below sniffling.

Fuck.

a/n: idk why i had to leave on a sad end ALSO I LIED ITS GETTING MORE PARTS

[aylen-san]

🔥Why the Sun and Moon Are Better Than the Lamps of the Valar: Sauron's Opinion🔥

Have you ever wondered why Arda is now illuminated by the Sun and Moon instead of those pathetic Lamps the Valar so proudly erected at the beginning of time? Ah, I remember them—Illuin and Ormal, two fragile sources of light that Manwë and his companions raised, hoping to illuminate the world before the arrival of the Children of Ilúvatar.

They thought they had created something eternal.

They were wrong.

And you know what? I'm glad they fell.

The Lamps of the Valar: Colossal Decor Mistakes

Let's say you’re a divine being with aspirations of omnipotence. You have a world where darkness and light have yet to define their borders. What do you do?

— Create light sources that cannot be protected?

— Place them on fragile pillars made of material that won’t withstand even the first attack?

— Fail to implement even basic defenses in case of war?

Congratulations. You're a Valar.

These Lamps stood on colossal towers, completely exposed, as if Manwë and Aulë had no concept of strategy. They thought that if they placed the lamps high enough, no one would be able to reach them.

How naïve.

When Melkor decided it was time to remind these self-satisfied beings who the true creator was, he simply leveled everything to the ground. No, seriously. The Lamps were destroyed in the very first real conflict. As if they weren’t the work of gods but some amateur project crafted by mentally unstable Elves.

The Valar wept. Arda trembled. I smiled.

The Sun and Moon: The Natural Order of Things

Now, let's look at what came after.

When the Lamps burned down, the Valar realized they were terrible architects and decided to try a new approach. First, they had the Two Trees—a more beautiful but still vulnerable creation. Oh yes, in case anyone forgot: those were destroyed too.

And then, at last, the Sun and Moon rose in the heavens.

🔥 The Sun is magnificent.It is blazing fire, it is a scorching light, it is something that cannot simply be shattered. It is not a lantern on a tower. It is a living force, set into the sky, never to be broken.

🌙 The Moon is cold, mysterious, always beyond reach. It shifts, it hides, it manipulates light instead of merely spilling it mindlessly. This is true artistry.

But most importantly: they cannot be destroyed. They are not perched on some pillars. No enraged Ainur with a god complex can simply knock them over.

They are eternal.

The Irony the Valar Never Noticed

Do you see the joke here?

— Melkor destroyed the Lamps.

— Morgoth’s creatures destroyed the Trees.

— But when true light was finally born from the ruins of their failures, no one could do anything about it.

And who, after all, is the true master of change?

I'll just leave that question unanswered.

Conclusion?

The Lamps of the Valar were a naïve attempt to control nature without understanding its essence. The Trees—a beautiful but fleeting illusion.

But the Sun and Moon? They came from chaos, from destruction, from the ashes of the Valar's mistakes.

And they remained.

🔥And I have always respected only what can survive destruction. 🔥

[kawaiigirly21]

Alien Heart:Chapter 2

As the two get beamed up to the watchtower, Nat’asha turned to the man only to see that he was no longer in civilian clothing. He was now in his hero suit. He was The Flash. “Hey, aren’t cha gonna change?” Looking around, the martian shrugged. “Ah, Too late. We’re here!” That entire afternoon, Flash introduced Nat’asha to almost every hero he could find that would listen. “Oh, I almost forgot! We offer room and board in case you don't have a place to stay. We got a 24/7 accessible kitchen, shower and gym. Med bay, game room and a training room! We even have a pool and a sauna.”

Nat’asha couldn’t help but admire Flash’s personality and cheerful demeanor. She could definitely see herself being really good friends with him. “Oh hey Diana! This is Natasha! She’s new and bats gave me the wonderful task of showing her around!” Diana smiled and held out her hand. “Greetings Natasha. It’s so nice to finally meet you. I’ve seen your work. You’re quite strong.” Nat’asha gladly took Diana’s hand and shook firmly.

“Thank you very much princess. I appreciate that.” Diana nodded. “You have a firm grip. Like the women of my home. You’d be gladly accepted on Themyscira.” Flash huffed before grabbing Nat’asha’s hand. Love to talk more but we gotta go Diana! Bye!” As the tour continued, Nat’asha and Flash grew closer. The man even went as far as to give her his name. “I’m uh Wally. That's my real name.”

Nat’asha smiled and punched his shoulder playfully. “It’s nice to get a name to the face Wally.” That evening, as the woman was preparing to go home, Wally snatched her up and ran her to the galley where a small party was waiting for her. “How did you…?” “Batman made it known today was your birthday. We put a small dinner together for you. This is also to welcome you to the League.” A deep voice spoke.

The breath of the man who the voice belonged to tickled her ear. Turing around and taking a step back, Nat’asha realized the man was none other than the handsome Martian Manhunter. She almost felt faint. “J’onn J’onzz. You are Natasha. Also known as The Gentle Warrior.” The Martian held out his hand and the moment Nat'asha took it, sparks flew. It seemed like there was no one in the room but themselves.

Like the world fell still around them all they could see or feel was the touch, the presence of one another. “J’onn! Are you alright?” Clark asked as he placed a concerned hand on the martian’s shoulder. J’onn looked at Clark. “How long have I’ve been..?” “For 10 minutes. Natasha had long walked away from you.” Bruce responded.

The famed detective had a bad feeling about what had just happened and decided to keep a very close eye on both his collegaes until the end of the party. Towards the end of the party, Nat’asha had met a few other members of the League. “Green Lantern, Nice to meet you rookie. Or should i call you ookie? Because you are just so carmel and delicious and chocolate and…shit that sounded better in my head. You know what, I’m gonna go over there.”

Nat’asha watched as the man sulked inna corner before his friend who donned the same suit and ring came up to her with a cup of punch. “I’m sorry about him. I guess he’s not used to seeing true beauty up close. Punch?” The woman laughed a little before taing the cup. “Thank you and it’s quite alright. I thought he was kind of funny. I’ve never been compared to a cookie before. That was new.”

“I know thats right. Green Lantern, but you can just call me John. John Stewart.” While the pair were busy talking and John lowkey flirting, they had no idea of the eyes on them and the glare they held. After the party, as Nat’asha was on her way home, she had a strange feeling that something was still watching her. Even as she entered her home and closed the lead curtains.

[desertfangs]

How do you think Daniel would realise he had the fire gift, if he ever develops it?

Since I imagine him returning to writing at some point, I think there is a distinct possibility that writer's block or some similar frustration could lead to the paper or computer just bursting into flames 🔥 (thankfully anywhere he stays has a very robust fire suppression system, but now everything is wet 😥)

Oh my god, I am so glad you asked. this!

First, like.. Marius discovering he has the Fire Gift is PEAK COMEDY. You all probably know but in case you forgot this amazing moment, basically Marius is being set upon by two immortals, and he reaches for a lantern hoping to burn them, and then as he's wishing he could set them on fire, one of them bursts into flame! And Marius stares horror-struck, realizing that he made that happen with his mind.

Like, just imagine you don't even know that's possible and suddenly you've set someone on fire with the power of your desire to do so. Incredible!

But I digress.

Our boy Daniel will hopefully get the Fire Gift! Because damn that would save on lighters. And how cool would he feel if he could spark a flame on his finger and light a cigarette that way? He'd do that party trick every chance he got, Armand rolling his eyes behind him and reminding him to try and blend in, while the mortals around think it's just some cool magician's illusion.

I love the idea of him discovering this skill as he's trying desperately to get words on the page (I do think he will get back into writing at some point!) and then the fire alarms go off and the room is soaked. That's an amazing mental image of soggy, downtrodden Daniel, frustrated and then amazed at his own power, only to have it literally washed out immediately.

I do wonder if Daniel tests his powers every so often. I would imagine Marius had him test them after he recovered from his illness, probably taking him out into the jungle to see if he could fly or set a tree on fire, things like that. Out of curiosity, mostly, because both of them probably did wonder. I kind of like to imagine he still occasionally checks to see if he can do things other vampires can do, to kind of see where he stands.

But if he does develop the Fire Gift between these little tests, and he doesn't discover it from the sheer frustration of writer's block--a pain so many of us know all too well--I would love to think it happens during a fight with Armand.

Like they're arguing over something silly, and it escalates, because it always escalates, and Armand is being intentionally obtuse, twisting Daniel's words and acting like him wanting to go to Germany for a concert or something means he doesn't love him anymore, you know how they get. And then suddenly Daniel's rage hits a boiling point and the curtains behind Armand burst into flame. And they're both so stunned that the fight ends and Armand makes him do it again, and then the sprinklers go off or the room fills with fire suppressant and then they're both laughing so hard that they can't breathe. 🔥🔥

That would be so amazing, to be honest.

[beesmygod]

What's your take, if you have one, on the cut moon presence boss on the lake of mud?

as always, i dont know. i thought i didn't really have much to say but the more i typed the more i Realized. but i still don't really know lol. this is really image heavy, which made it long, so most of it is under a readmore.

e: hello bea from the future here. hey. this gave me so much to chew on for the next section in a shockingly positive direction. thank you so much for getting this ball rolling

it half-relevant but there's also some kind of. intermediary thing. i think it's the same shape as the used moon presence but its blue. for some reason.

no animations on this one, so it was cut early. different "faces" as well. or the low quality of the cut one doesn't maintain the "features" as accurately.

oh what the fuck. hold on. look at the head of the "lake of mud" (LOM from now on) moon presence compared to the others

ive made posts in the past about anti-clockwise and clockwise metamorphosis runes possibly referencing the in-game phenomenon of creature's heads being turned in odd directions. loran silverbeasts and the crawler enemies (ostensibly both loran/nightmare frontier residents) have their "heads" turned clockwise, like above. slime scholar and probably other things i cant remember turn anti-clockwise.

the crawlers are....i mean they're gross. but also uncanny. there's SOMETHING going on here, right? god only know what though. they are also known for the grim sight you can take in when they rear up to Get You: their...stomach?? is rife with messengers. being consumed? maybe? it evokes the image of the artbook moon presence, who is swarming with messengers in the same area of its body.

anyway back to the little creep.

in the center of its chest there's this bizarre unknown thing. if you peel away the majority of its body it looks like this. a grey blob with tentacles. as far as i can tell it doesn't have bones to animate, unlike the rest of the model. the entire model has unfinished textures so its hard to tell what it's supposed to be.

judging from the blisters on the creature, it is CURSED. the orphan of kos' placenta weapon (which is, i think, just a huge cursed blood gem?) has these same blisters, marking it as a fellow "cursed" great one infant (? probably? look at what a runt it is).

curses are a complex aspect of the bloodborne universe. sometimes they can be identified by the appearance of "sickly spots", but other times, curses are color-coded with purple (or red, but that seems strictly related to cainhurst nope i forgot foetid offering can give enemies red rally auras and change their drop tables to include cursed blood gems. much to think about) auras and magic.

a curse is exactly what you expect it to be: great power at a high price (like a huge weapon bonus but your health depletes per second), but the source is arcane. the cursed and defiled pthumerian chalice states, "curses are caused by inciting the anger of the Great Ones, and used to hex others." winter lanterns, the enemies with the heads made out of messengers fused into a brain shape, are the only enemy that consistently only drops cursed blood gems (and, evidently, blood gems only form in the dungeon or nears its entrances). given the pattern of these spots appearing on bosses, it can be reasonably assumed that winter lanterns are the result of a great one's wrath. what the fuck! i dont know what that means!

we're not going to bother going into the nuances of rites and data-mining because holy shit. this garbage is needlessly complex for how half-baked its implementation is. but cursed offerings create cursed dungeons to explore with cursed blood gems to collect. cursed and defiled pthumeru is differentiated by the purple (!) skull vapor overflowing from the chalice. cursed rites required cursed materials: bastards of loran are the mummified bodies of infants who died midway through their transformation into a silverbeast. with the clockwise heads.

okay. that wrapped us up back around to the beginning. i think the lake of mud arena was intended to be in loran, canonically. it has a bunch of different variations that probably would have been used for root dungeon generation rather than canon usage. a lake of dried up water fits perfectly with the terrifyingly arid climate of loran (which generates the blue bolts in the atmosphere). at one point, it seems that several chalice dungeons would have had secret 4th layers (they're still in the game and can be accessed with some light hex editing); i propose that this is where that fight would have taken place. the previous layer would have been the cut great one beast. and layer 2 would have been the loran darkbeast. layer 1 would have been the abhorrent beast instead of the baffling loran silverbeast boss fight that's completely inexplicable otherwise. isz has similar pacing issues. oh shit, i wonder if that's what that blue one is supposed to be. fuuuuccckkk.

the ailing loran chalice tells the player that "some have made the dreaded extrapolation that Yharnam may be next" but the game is telling YOU the player that YOU are supposed to look at loran and extrapolate the fate of yharnam from it. loran was also using old blood as medicine and became a place overrun with beasts and abandoned by god. the loran moon presence is bloated with curses and lives in a place devoid of water, a horrible thing for a great one given how much they love to yammer about lakes and the sea. the area outside of the LOM arena is, amazingly, the exact same facade as the entrance to mergo's loft. there's a stained glass window above the door that's shared between locations, yet again linking loran, the nightmare frontier, and the nightmare of mensis together. and, really, the hunter's nightmare, since the LOM arena was very, VERY similar to the orphan's ocean with identical architecture.

holy shit i guess this is what im working on tonight. and now i see how micolash fits into the entire timeline. neat

[starmatzz]

Chapter 1: Unknown

Treasure of Utopia

Seonghwa inhaled sharpy as he regained consciousness, the smell of sea salt and wood hitting his nose. The rough ropes burnt into his skin as he wiggled uncomfortably on the small chair. He couldn't see around him, his eyes were covered with a cloth.

"Looks like the prince is finally awake" a voice behind him echoed through the whole room and Seonghwa tensed, moving his head around.

"W-Where am I..? What happened..?" he asked, voice soft and careful.

"You're on my ship" the male voice said, ripping the cloth covering Seonghwa's eyes away. The prince blinked a few times, his eyes didn't need much adjusting as the room was dimly lit with lanterns.

Seonghwa looked at the pirate in front of him. He was a little shocked; expecting an old pirate with full beard, perhaps a wooden leg or an eye patch. Those he heard about in tales. Instead he was met with a young male, who could be around the same age as him. Realizing this, he used his prince attitude towards him.

"Get me back home, immediately! Or...or" he stuttered, seeing he hadn't spark any emotion in the pirate's face. "Or I will have your head cut off!" he lifted up his chin proudly, while his eyes nervously scanned the person in front of him.

"Oh will you?" the man chuckled, stepping closer to Seonghwa as he grabbed his chin, holding it up. "Don't think you rule the world just because you're the prince of Utopia" he winked at him and stared into his eyes.

He could smell the prince's sweet scent. Mix of almonds and flowers almost making the pirate close his eyes in bliss. And his porcelain skin, long eyelashes that brushed against his flushed cheeks every time he blinked. Platinum white– almost white hair falling into his eyes.

"Oh pardon me, my majesty, I forgot to introduce myself" he said with sarcasm when he was done observing Seonghwa's features. "I am Hongjoong, the captain of this ship".

Hongjoong leaned closer to Seonghwa, their faces nearly inches apart.

"If you—" Hongjoong paused when the other suddenly spat in his face. His smile dropped, staring dangerously at the prince through his eyebrows.

"So you wanna play like this, huh?" he tilted his head, his hand immediately striking forward to grip Seonghwa's chin. Pulling a sharp blade from under his belt, he held it against Seonghwa's neck.

"Your prince title doesn't give you privileges on my ship" he growled. Seonghwa looked up at him, letting out a little whine as he felt the cold blade press against his neck. The pirate could kill him on the spot, he thought.

He took a deep breath in, smelling Hongjoong's scent; whiskey and pine tree.

"What do you want from me..?" Seonghwa suddenly asked when Hongjoong pulled the knife away. He was scared, but he wasn't stubborn.

"Well..you have something I want.." Hongjoong said, opening his mouth to finish his thought, but his speech was interrupted by the sound of wooden door creaking.

"Captain, Yunho sent me to ask if—" the person who came inside suddenly stopped in front of both, eyes settled on the prince tied to a chair.

"Mingi..not now, can't you see I am busy?!" Hongjoong growled in frustration, his sudden change of attitude giving Seonghwa goosebumps.

Mingi kept standing there, closing his eyes briefly as he deeply inhaled Seonghwa's scent. The prince could smell his scent too; strong rum and leather, making Seonghwa's nose scrunch. Hongjoong watched Mingi with a cold stare before he let out a deep chuckle at Seonghwa's reaction.

"Now, leave. And I won't repeat myself, you know that" he ordered firmly, and Seonghwa was surprised that the other pirate actually bowed his head and left without saying another word.

"You have something I need.." he continued with the previous conversation before it had been interrupted. He grabbed the knife again, Seonghwa's eyes squinting protectively. But Hongjoong pointed the tip of the blade at a necklace decorating his neck. It had pearls on it, with a circular gem in the middle.

"My necklace..?" Seonghwa asked, brows pulling in in confusion as he looked down at it.

"Have you ever inspected it closely, Seonghwa?" Hongjoong said, pronuncing his name extra carefully.

"It has a compas inside, but—" suddenly it hit him. Hongjoong hummed softly, kneeling down in front of him.

"It's exactly how you think it is. I took you here because I need the compas you have inside the necklace" he replied, tilting his head.

"Then take it. Take it and let me go" Seonghwa said eagerly, making Hongjoong burst out in laughter.

"Of course I will take it, darling. But that's not all" he said, sighing softly before tracing the knife along his arm. Seonghwa shivered, the hair on the back of his neck standing up.

"The compas might lead me towards the treasure..but one more thing is needed to open the chest..a sacrifice" he dug the tip of the blade into his forearm, making Seonghwa wince in pain.

"Blood..royal blood of a male omega to be exact. And looks like you're the perfect candidate, my highness" he smirked, pulling the knife away and tugging it back behind his belt.

Seonghwa swallowed dryly, looking at the little hole in his skin from being punctured with the knife. The condition was pretty specific, but Seonghwa wasn't surprised after all. Only a small percentage of males with royal blood were born omegas. Seonghwa was a treasure for sure.

"What if I won't let you?" he asked boldly, catching Hongjoong's attention. The pirate let out a high pitched laugh, hands gripping the chair handles as he hovered over the prince.

"Let's say, you have no choice. Because I will do anything for that treasure. You have no idea how long I've been searching for it.."

"Well you're not that old-" slipped past Seonghwa's lips, earning a sharp slap across his cheek.

"Enough!" he growled, voice bouncing against the wooden walls. Seonghwa bit the inner side of his cheek, blinking away the tears which started gathering in his eyes.

Hongjoong stepped behind Seonghwa, his hands striking forward to unclip his necklace. Seonghwa stayed quiet, he couldn't do anything much while being restricted with ropes.

Slipping the jewelry into his pocket, Hongjoong sighed and rubbed his temple. Without any more words, he left the room, leaving Seonghwa alone with his thoughts.

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