#okay back to writing :D

[jedisupernova]

thinking about oldschoollove!seunghyun tonight …. 😔🩷

[inkedinserendipity]

here’s something that surprised me on my all systems red reread: secunit sits down like halfway through the book! page 104, murderbot sits on one of the hopper’s benches.

and the first time i read this book i paid that line no mind! it’s just sitting down. i didn’t have the context to be like :O secunits don’t do that. secunits aren’t supposed to sit while on duty!

and now i’m thinking about the crew, who also have no idea what this means. and about mensah, who just minutes ago told it that she sees it as a person who’s trying to help (this is the first time its insides “go melty!”) and i simply do not think it is a coincidence that murderbot sits down next to its humans for the first time probably ever right after being told by a human for the first time probably ever that they see it as a person.

and it’s so satisfying on a narrative and rereading level, right, because the first time you read the book you’re with the crew—you have no idea what this means. but then you read it again, knowing more about secunits, and then the full emotional weight of that one line hits. because now you have context!

anyway this line was such a lovely example of why the murderbot diaries in particular is such a good reread. the context makes everything hit afresh the second time around, just as hard if not harder than the first!

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

MDZS Severance AU: Get me out of here.

[ancha-aus]

RealAgeAU Drabble - Alternative Path - The Cattree

Okay so. I am still editing Real Age. Of course I am. But I can't help but think about what ifs. What if the gang didn't find Nightmare on his travels? What if they didn't get to Nightmare before Nightmare went a the path they didn't expect him to do?

What if they went left where Nightmare had gone right?

This. Is about that posibility. @spotaus

Real Age AU Masterpost [Here]

*-----------------------------------*

Ccino cleans the counter as he glances at the clock. It is already an hour after when he would normally show up. Ccino is going to have to accept that Nightmare isn't going to show up again.

That is the fourth week he missed now. Ccino is starting to get really worried. But it isn't like he can file a missing person report for Nightmare.

First it would be one that had to cover the whole multiverse. But well, Nightmare isn't exactly liked in the multiverse.

Which, Ccino suposes there are some reasons for. But Ccino always figured it wasn't his place to consider the actions of gods. Reaper kills people after all and no one thinks twice about it as god a dead. So why are people mad at Ngihtmare for causing negativity when he is the god of negativity?

Ccino just doesn't understand and that is why he tries to not judge and stay out of it.

He sighs as he starts to clean up the coffee machines and clean up the food. Trying to remember if he heard any gossip about large fights or battles but nothing that he can think of right away-

The door rings and Ccino looks up already halfway through his sentence "I am sorry. We are close-" Then his sight settles on the customer.

Okay! nevermind! He is very open! He shoots the small child a gentle smile "Are you lost? It is okay if you want to wait here for your parent or parents." He hasn't seen a babybones since Papyrus was still a small. He can't believe how small the little guy is.

The tiny skeleton looks dirty however. There are dirt and mud marks all over their clothes. They aren't wearing shoes and they have a very tight hold on their backpack.

A moment of silence before they speak "Hey... Ccino..." They glance to the side "I... I wasn't sure... where else to go..."

Ccino's mind pauses before something about the way the other stands reminds him oh-

Ccino feels everything in his body tense "Oh stars..." that is... Is that why...

The door!!

Ccino rushes away from the counter and towards the door. Nightmare tenses and seems to wait but Ccino rushes passed him as he closes the door and locks it. Putting the latch on for good meassure. He looks around the store and quickly closes all the curtains.

Ccino glances around before he sighs "Okay.. Okay... that should be good." He turns back to Ngihtmare. Who is still just standing there, waiting and staring silently.

Ccino can't help but stare. Nightmare remains standing right where he stopped before. He is just... How is he?

Ccino slowly goes closer as he mutters "what... What happened?"

Nightmare looks away as his grip just grows tighter around the backpack "I don't... know... I thought... I thought I managed to do it. Do what I had to and now..." He frowns as he stares at his hands, his face sad "I don't understand..."

Ccino frowns before kneeling down by him "It is okay. We can figure this out. Lets first get you out of those dirty clothes and cleaned up. Do you have a spare set with you?" Nightmare doesn't look up as he just shakes his skull.

Ccino nods "That is okay. You can borrow some of mine." He smiles as he leads him towards the door to the back.

Nightmare glances at him before glancing towards the side of the room "But... your cats?"

Ccino frowns as he looks t them before smiling at Ngihtmare "They will be fine for a little. You look like you are freezing." which Ccino knows is silly. Nightmare doens't get cold. He feels the cold of course but he doesn't truly get cooled.

Ngihtmare shrugs as he mutters "Yeah... that is still new."

alarms go off in Ccino's mind. That can't be good. He quickly leads Nightmare to the back and up the stairs to his own small apartment. he helps him to the bathroom where he grabs soaps and a warm towel.

Ngihtmare goes to undress before hissing in pain as he moves his arm wrong. ccino joins his friends side and starts to help him. It happened before that after a very bad battle that nightmare would show up by his store. asking him if he could wash up and heal for a moment.

Ccino always thought it was stupid that nightmare didn't want to appear weak in front of his team. but was touched that nightmare trusted him enough to show the weakness to. it proved that they truly are friends.

Ccino notices that Nightmare leaves the shirt under his hoody on, a much too large shirt and Ngihtmare is swimming in it, and he can't help but frown "It will be easier to clean up if you take that off... also keeping it on will not help the whole cold thing." He gets the shower head down and checks the temperature. He doesn't go for hot right away. When monsters get cold their bodies need time to slwoly warm up or risk going into shock. Ccino isn't sure if Nightmare can go into shock but quite honestly Ccino doesn't want to find out.

Nightmare pauses and frowns "I know just... Don't freak out?" He crosses his arms before freezing slightly.

Ccino grins and sits by the floor with the shower head running water "I mean. One of my best friends just showed up to my doorstep as a four year old. I think I can handle it."

Nightmare smiles a bit before sputtering "F-four?! I am not four! I am six!!" his face puffs up slightly before he frowns to himself. seemingly surprised and shocked befores peaking again "I mean! I am over 500 years old!! The body is just six!"

Yeah. Ccino has his doubts. Because he notices certain things and how Nightmare behaves now. It is slightly diferent. It is undeniably Nightmare. But it isn't how he was before. The old Nightmare would never allow himself to sputter or pout. He would not smile as easily or look away as quickly. Ngihtmare was confident, or at least knew how to fake his confidence.

This Ngihtmare is unsure. uncertain. It may be because something is affecting him. But what could be powerful enough to change and affect a god? That isn't just any magic. Only ancient and other very powerful gods should be able to do that.

Ccino doens't point out the things he saw. He doens't need Nightmare to be even more unsure about what is going on. He needs to help his friend focus so they can start to figure this out. "Six? You sound very sure on that. I would think four still wiht how small you are... maybe even three?" he grins as he winks. Making it obvious it is a joke and that he is just teasing.

Ngihtmare huffs and sputters as a tiny tiny purple blush appears... wait purple? since when is Nightmare's magic purple? It fits the eye colour but it is strange.

Nightmare mutters unhappily "It is... My body is how it was before... and before is when i was six..." he frowns as he no doubt noticed his own speak pattern.

Ccino frowns as he keeps the water running, it is fine he doesn't use a lot of water anyway, "What do you mean before? Before what?"

Nightmare frowns as he looks to his feet. then he mutters "I... I think... I am not sure... Who is was before? That body? I don't think it was mine... it was a power that i... took... And i shouldn't have had." He keeps looking down. Everything about him saying 'guilty child.' and 'regret'.

Ccino frowns. He has no doubt there is more to that story. But Nightmare is troubled. He is dealing with his body just shrinking and returning to a child state, is a child like or truly a child? Neither of them knows.

Right now. Nightmare needs a friend.

Ccino nods as he hums "Well, in that case it is best to get you washed and get you to sleep. You look exhausted Nightmare." He waits and nods to the shower "The water is warm..." he grins.

Ngihtmare frowns as he slowly pulls on the shirt "It... it happened... ages and ages ago... I think it will look worse than it is? Probably... Just don't freak out?"

ccino nods and promises easily. He will be calm and relax and not at all OH SHIT!!

That... that are open wounds and horrifing breaks on the very spine of nightmar.e How the fuck had he been standing and moving adn walking around without sobbing and screaming in pain?! Ccino can see his mana lines in that spine! It is a weak looking purple, much like his eye lights- shit Nightmare is very hurt and very low on magic.

Okay. Calm down. Deep breaths. Remember. Panic is the enemy in these type of situations.

Nightmare just stands wiht his back to him. Slowly folding the shirt and Ccino is thankful to it because by the time Nightmare glances at him, guarded and his shoulders high as if he is bracing himself, Ccino has his face calm.

He knows he looks worried. Of course he is worried. But he is calm. He won't make it a big deal if Ngihtmare doens't want to. He speaks softly "Want me to help clean your wounds? Same as we did before?"

Ccino is happy to note that it works as he had hoped. Nightmare relaxes at the reminder that they have done this before. Ccino had helped him treat his wounds before when they are at places Nightmare can't reach or check himself easily. They are friends. They are still friends. Nothing has to change.

Ngihtmare nods as he speaks "I think that is for the best..." He slowly moves into the shower and Ccino can't help but see the angry sparks of magic come off the cracks. The way the broken and split bones grind against one another as he moves.

Ccino is going to have to figure something out to convince Ngihtmare to let him help him move around because that can't be good. That has to hurt so much.

Ccino says as much "It looks very painful... I think it is best you sit down while i try to wash it a bit."

NIghtmare freezes at the first comment but eventually answers "I... I guess..." He sits down as he lets the water just fall over him. Shivering each time water goes passed the wounds. clearly hurt but he doens't even make a sound.

Ccino frowns as he starts to clean the wound. there is dirt and little sticks in those wounds. He gets some tweezers and starts to carefully and slowly remove what he can. But in the end he needs to use the water to dislodge some very stubborn pieces.

Nightmare shivers and shakes as they work but remains completely quiet.

Ccino speaks softly "I am sorry this hurts this much. It is okay... to cry."

Nightmare shakes his skull as he speaks slowly and painfully "Can't... weakness... bad... exploided..."

Ccino speaks softly "I won't... Never. We are friends Nightmare. You are one of my closest friends that I have. You helped me so much. PLease, let me help you."

Ngihtmare still isn't looking at him "It... it is... too much." his voice is so quiet.

Ccino gently holds his friend's hand "Nightmare. You helped me wiht my depression. There is no way anything you have going on is going to be too much for me. Maybe i will be confused and out of my depth. But i will not give up on trying to help you."

Nightmare is quiet for a long time before a small sobs "It hurts... so bad...."

Ccino jsut hugs him. Not caring that he will get wet and soaked. that the bathroom will be a mess. His friends needs him. Has aparently needed comfort for a very long time. and Ccino will not disappoint him.

-------

The shower took a long time and in the end Nightmare just looked exhausted. Ccino managed to convince him to at least help him a little as Ccino took him to his own bed. Nightmare tried to reassure him that Nightmare would be fine on the couch. Ccino had grinned adn said it would be fine. It would be like a sleepover. tehy could watch movies and eat snacks and then go to bed and sleep.

Ccino first made sure that Ngihtmare had some food and was comfortable before rushing downstairs to make sure his cats were okay and were ready for the night and to finish the last few tasks to clean up.

He made sure to leave a notice on the door that the cafe would be closed the next day. He will need to help nightmare figure out what to do next.

After it he got redressed in his own PJs and put all the clothes of them both in the washer. Making sure to use a fabric softener to make those more comfortable.

He returns to his room to see Nightmare enjoying the warm meal as one of his own cats, Noodle, has joined the small skeleton. Noodle is living up to his name as he just lays limb and stretched out by Nightmare's side.

Ccino smiles as he joins him. Having grabbed his old laptop to load up some movies he has on it "Is it okay? Sorry I only had some leftovers."

Nightmare hums as he eats another bite "It is really good. Thank you." He takes another bite of the curry and Ccino smiles. His is washed and his wounds are clean. He is eating. and they will now relax and make light conversation on what to do.

Ccino joins Nightmare agianst the headrest and puts on a movie. One about some people throwing a ring into an volcano. it is enjoyable and most important, long. Ccino puts the movie on and the two of them watch it in silence. Nightmare eats and wathes the movie with great interest while Ccino just lets him relax for a while.

Once Nightmare finishes his meal Ccino makes sure to put the plate to the side. He will clean that up in a bit.

Tey sit in silence for a while longer but Nightmare breaks it "Thank you... You... thank you..."

Ccino smiles as he leans back agianst the headrest "No worries. as i said. We are friends. Friends help each other." More thoughtful "Do you want to stay for longer? I don't have a lot of space like you had at your place." a small assumption but to be fair Nightmare did mention he made his own castle in his own hidden universe. "If you don't mind the smaller space i am happy to have you around."

Ngihtmare blinks up at him confused. sockets so big and wide and Ccino can't help but wonder who could ever hurt the other when he just looks like that. Nightmare looks abcka t the blanket "I... if... It is okay... I am sorry for just... showing up I just... didn't know where else to go..." he looks so sad.

Ccino frowns. He wants to know so badly why Nightmare isn't with his team. But if he looks this sad and confused... Maybe it didn't go well? Maybe they didn't react well to Nightmare's change in form? That could explain why nightmare was so nervous about showing himself and meeting Ccino.

Ccino smiles "Happy to have you." but more practical "We will need to figure out something to tell everyone else. I need to take you to the healers."

Ngihtmare freezes and stares at him, that is fear in those sockets "Why?" it is muttered so softly.

Ccino smiles sadly "Because your spine is very hurt Nightmare. If your spine breaks you may never be able to move your lower body or even feel it. We need to make sure it will heal okay."

Nightmare frowns a she looks away and mutters "But... Healer don't really... help..."

And isn't that just something that sketches even more of Nightmare's past? Something that had been terrifying and full or hurt everywhere. Somewhere where nightmare couldn't trust others. where he knows showing wekaness would just cause him more pain. A place where nightmare got those terrible wounds. Where nightmare has this mindset that he can't even trust those who made an oath to help to help him recover.

Ccino doesn't want to know about the place that hurt Nightmare so. That place doesn't deserve the other.

Ccino speaks softly "I get it. I know I am always scared when i go to the dentist. But I know a few healers who are really nice and honestly want to help no matter who that person is."

Ngithmare doesn't look back up "That is because they deserve it... i don't... I am not good."

and isn't that just fucking heart breaking to hear someone say? this is the most confident Ccino has heard Nightmare speak since he showed up on his doorstep and it is to say these things.

Ccino hugs his friend "You are good Nightmare."

"Everyone in the multiverse will disagree."

Ccino stubbornly just holds unto the other "Then they are all wrong." Nightmare spend so much time and effort into helping Ccino first deal with his depression and than find the help he needed. Nightmare was gentle with the cats and always made sure to pay for what he bought. He may have caused negativity but he is a god of it. Maybe he needs it to live. as far as Ccino knows Nightmare never went out to kill others or cause ruin beyond repair.

Nightmare leans into his hug "... thank you..."

Ccino smiles as he continues to hold the other.

---------

Toriel smiles as she nods "You are a very smart young man Midnight." she smiles as Nightmare looks down embarresed.

Ccino smiles from behind the counter as he serves someone a drink.

It had been an adjustment but it was very worth it.

In the end Ccino mad eup a story that some of his friends dropped Nightmare, going by Midnight as there are too many multiverse travlers in his universe, at his shop to watch him while they went on holiday. Ccino faked a letter and used an old phone of his to make it seem like there was a text conversation before turning the phone of the 'friend' off and locking it away.

Now Ccino is Midnights caretaker while the police searches for the neglectful parents.

some people were called to make sure Nightmare was okay and Ccino saw his chance as he spoke about how 'Midnight' had showed up at his store alone with jsut the letter. Dirty clothes and some marrow on it.

One examination wiht healers later, Ccino stayed right by Nightmare's side, it became obvious that 'Midnight''s parents were abusive and that he would not be safe wiht them anymore. Ccino offered to keep fostering and helping the babybones and after a long conversation for both Ccino and Nightmare they managed to do it.

It helped tha tNightmare jsut said he didn't feel safe with others. That he wanted to be with Ccino and that he was happy to be with Ccino and didn't want to go back to his old home.

Ccino is very happy with his perfectly clean track record and his work with fostering cats nad helping abused animals recover as it gave him the perfect file to be allowed to take care and watch over the hurt Midnight.

But Midnight needed schooling. Luckily everyone, the people helping them with all the paperwork and information and process, agreed that it would be smart for Midnight to first remain inside to recover more and to heal and process his trauma more. Ccino had easily agreed.

So now every day around eleven Toriel would come by to homeschool Midnight, which turns out Nightmare's mind reverted to child forma dn he forgot many things. Ngihtamre had been very distressed to realise he had gotten dumber. Ccino reassured him he was still smart but Nightmare didn't seem to believe it. Luckily Toriel had more luck with making Nightmare see this truth.

And once a week a healer would visit them to check Nightmare's wounds and how those were healing.

All things considered? Things were going well.

The time that the stars walked in had been very tense. Luckily Nghtmare had alreayd been behind the counter and had been hunched over his homework.

Ccino had easily distracted the three wiht options to order while Nightmare quickly dove into one of the cabinets under the counter. When asked about the babybones Ccino said he was just babysitting a friend of his. The others let it go quickly after that.

At least it made Ccino very happy Nightmare nad him had decided on a nickname for Nightmare to go by. Midnight is still pushing their luck but it is worth it as Nightmare can still go by Night this way which seems to bring him comfort.

All in all. Ccino is proud in how far they had come in the last month. He does still worry about how everyone will react if this gets out but with each day that passes. each new face that meets Midnight. They less likely it is people will look at Nightmare and see the old Nightmare. Isntead they will just soo Midnight, or jsut Night, for who he is.

A bright kid that has had a very rough start of life and just wants to be.

Ccino thinks he managed alright.

Though... He does wonder... Because people have been living him and Nightmare tiny packages. His community and friends are amazing and Ccino always has small care packages delivered to his door.

He does wonder about the ones without any names on them. Without a message or letter or anything. Ccino obviously makes sure the package is checked for anything dangerous but it is always completely safe.

Maybe some people truly just wnat to help him but not be known for it?

Ccino isn't sure. But he won't worry too much about it. He should get ready for antoher busy rush hour!

[sunsetsandsunshine]

~ 𝙰 𝚌𝚞𝚝𝚎 𝚐𝚒𝚐𝚐𝚕𝚎 𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚝 ~

̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚𝚃𝙷𝙸𝚂 𝙵𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙾𝙼 𝙸𝚂 𝙱𝙰𝚂𝙸𝙲𝙰𝙻𝙻𝚈 𝙰 𝙶𝚁𝙰𝚅𝙴𝚈𝙰𝚁𝙳 𝚁𝙽 𝙱𝚄𝚃 𝙸 𝙳𝙾𝙽’𝚃 𝙲𝙰𝚁𝙴!!! 𝚃𝙰𝙺𝙴 𝚃𝙷𝙸𝚂 𝙵𝙻𝚄𝙵𝙵𝙻𝚈 𝙱𝙵𝙵 𝙵𝙸𝙲 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙰𝙰𝙷𝙷𝙳𝙷𝙳𝙷!!!˚*• ̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*＊·̩̩̥͙

𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: 𝙵𝚕𝚞𝚏𝚏

𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜: 𝟷,𝟹𝟺𝟾

𝙻𝚎𝚎: 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚎 ⚾️💛

𝙻𝚎𝚛: 𝙻𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚜 🎃❤️

𝚂𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚢: 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚎 𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚝 𝚊 𝚟𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚘 𝚐𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙻𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐; 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚊 𝚝𝚊𝚍 𝚋𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚢 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝…

(𝙰/𝙽: 𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚂𝙴 𝚃𝚆𝙾 𝙲𝙷𝙰𝚁𝙰𝙲𝚃𝙴𝚁𝚂 𝙰𝚁𝙴 𝙺𝙸𝙳𝚂; 𝙼𝙸𝙽𝙾𝚁𝚂. 𝙳𝙾 𝙽𝙾𝚃 𝙼𝙰𝙺𝙴 𝙸𝚃 𝚆𝙴𝙸𝚁𝙳 𝙿𝙻𝙴𝙰𝚂𝙴 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝚃𝙷𝙰𝙽𝙺𝚂!!!)

𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜: 𝚂𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 😚💞

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚🕺🏾𝙴𝙽𝙹𝙾𝚈🫶🏾𝙴𝙽𝙹𝙾𝚈🕺🏾𝙴𝙽𝙹𝙾𝙾𝚈𝚈𝚈𝚈𝚈🫶🏾˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙

It was a nice, cool and collected October afternoon.

The air smelled like October…the tree’s looked like October…

…And everything just felt…October-ish in a way; if that makes any sense…

It was the end of the school day; and just like any intelligent and studious student…you would assume doing your homework as soon as you got home would be the best bet, right?

Well…not for Linus Van Pelt and Charlie Brown. 

The two best friends have been playing video games for the past…two hours; give or take? 

And their homework would most likely not be finished until…probably…midnight…

…But the two had priorities. Very good ones in fact!

And one of the main priorities they had as of right now was finishing their video game. 

(A wonderful priority if you ask me).

And to make it even better, Charlie was surprisingly…winning! 

Which…was something in his life that didn’t happen…much, if, not at all. 

Linus looked at the small TV screen in slight disbelief as his best friend managed to score yet another point in Mario Kart.

The brunette chuckled at the action, a mix of surprise and amusement in his voice, “Wow…I didn't know you were such a video game expert, Char. You’re destroying me, here.”

Charlie giggled, “I guess I am, aren’t I?”

The younger boy shook his head, feigning an offended tone, “You 'guess', huh?” The red cladded preteen snickered as he put the controller to the side, “Don’t let it get to your head. You're supposed to be letting me win, after all."

“You wouldn’t win even if I let you.” The other chuckled. 

“Wha— exCUSE me?!” Linus gasped dramatically. 

“You’re excused...” Charlie said cheekily as the TV roared with champion music, displaying the results of the leader board as the yellow cladded preteen was shown as the winner. 

“…Looks like I win.” The older grinned.

“That’s not faaaaair!!!” The younger one whined, pointing his finger accusingly at his best friend, “You cheated!”

Charlie Brown let out a small huff of laughter, raising an amused brow as he crossed his arms, “Hohow dihid I cheat? Yohou watched me plahay!” 

The red cladded preteen rolled his eyes, looking away from his friend as he sulked, “Whatever...”

Charlie rested his head on his friend’s shoulder whilst teasingly poking his cheek, “It’s okay to lose, Li. We all have to at some point.”

“You lose all the time in…like…w-well, everything!” The shorter teen retorted.

“But I’m not losing right now, am I?” The honey brown eyed preteen grinned smugly, going out to poke the other’s cheek one more time but was stopped as Linus grabbed his wrists, pinning his arms above his head with one hand as he sat on his friend’s thighs.

Charlie’s eyes widened, kicking his legs underneath Linus as he tried to get out of the hold.

…Good…grief.

The one in red used his free hand to tickle the other’s side, dancing his fingers diligently and effortlessly which caused Charlie to absolutely shriek, shaking his head as he stomped his feet on the carpeted floor. 

Linus chuckled, enjoying the lightheartedness of the moment and the adorable sound of his friend’s shriek as he tickled his sides.

The brown eyed preteen was barely even tickling him!

…In fact, Linus was barely getting started.

The younger smiled slyly, “Huh...who would’ve known? The great video game champion is ticklish…”

“N-Nohohohoh!!” The other kid giggled helplessly. 

“'No?' You seem pretty ticklish to me, Char.“ The brunette haired preteen mused. 

“I-Ihihi’m nahahat!” The older cried. 

Linus rolled his eyes fondly as he doubled down on the tickling, his grin stretching wider. He released his friend’s wrists and he pinched his hips, chuckling at the giggly denial the other was sputtering through his laughs.

I mean, come on now. Linus knew Charlie Brown since…kindergarten. 

…The two were only in fifth grade…but still! His point still boldly stands!!!

“Oho, you're not, huh? Then how come you're giggling and squirming around so much?“

“I-Ihihi’m nahahat!” The honey brown eyed kid desperately denied which Linus to only laughed out loud in result, his fingers still dancing over his best friend’s sides. 

He looked at the taller boy with mock seriousness, still smiling widely as the other wriggled and writhed. 

“Oho really? Because your giggling is telling me a veeeeery different story~!” The red cladded preteen smiled smugly as he started to knead the other’s hips, “Just say you’re ticklish…'cuz I know you know you are…no matter how much you deny it. 

Charlie Brown just snorted, hugging his middles and kicking his legs slightly as Linus continued with his tickling onslaught, making sure to leave the other boy in utter stitches.

“Cohome on, Char! Admit it! Just say, your ticklish and this can aaaaaall be over~! You know you want to~!” The hazel eyed teen said as he tickled his best friend’s stomach swiftly.

And in result, the yellow cladded preteen genuinely screamed in a result to the new sensation on his tummy, grabbing the other’s wrists but not quite pushing them away. 

Linus just grinned, enjoying the silliness of the situation, “Pff— how about now, Char~? Are you still 'not ticklish~?'” He teased as he continued to tickle the taller oh-so casually, “Y'know…the more you deny it, the more I'm tempted to keep going~!” 

The honey brown eyed preteen’s whole face turned to a bright red as he tugged on his best friend’s hands, “NAHAHAHAH— snrk LIHINUHUS!!”

The younger boy found his best friend’s giggling both adorable yet hilarious at the same time; continuing to tickle the other on his stomach and not showing the slightest sign of stopping anytime soon.

“D'aww~! Your little snorts nehever get old…” The younger smiled fondly, “Come on, Char, just say it! I won't stop until you do~!”

“LIHI— snrk!! PLEHEASE NAHAHOH!!” Charlie Brown cackled.

“But all you have to do is admit it, Char-Char~! Just say you’re soooo ticklish and the tickling will stop!” The hazel eyed preteen casually said.

The slightly taller kid snorted, flapping his hands on his friend’s arms. Linus glanced at his best friend's happy stims and smiled, pausing his tickling torment for juuuuust a moment.

“Your happy stimming is so. freaking. cute!” The younger gushed, “But~! We're not done here; not until you say those two magic words..." He said as he resumed the tummy tickling with a smirk.

Charlie snorted, “LIHI LIHIHI!! PLEHEHEASE!!!”

“Awe…is that a 'please' I hear? Sounds like someone's starting to give in…”

“I’M TICKLISH!! IHIHIHI’M TIHICKLIHISH!!!” The yellow cladded preteen cackled despretley 

“Those aren’t the magic words, Charlie Brooown~!” Linus grinned evilly, leaning down and blowing a raspberry on his best friend’s stomach. 

The older let out an embarrisngly loud squeal at the sensation on his said stomach, covering his face with his arms as he laughed hysterically. 

“Oho gosh…I forgot how sensitive your tummy is...” Linus giggled in between breaths.

“IHIHITS SNRK NAHAHAT!!” The other denied.

“It’s not? Are you sure? 'Cuz this seems like a goldmine for your giggles, Charlie..” The younger said matter-of-factly as he lightly scribbled his nails around the elder’s bellybutton as he raspberried his sides. 

The elder in question howled, arching his back and cackling madly, “GAHAHASH NOHOH! HIC! WHYHYHY THAHAHAT?!”

“Because you loooove it~!”

“PLEHEASE!! LIHIHI NOHOHAH— SNRK! STAHAHAP!!!”

“But this cute little giggle spot is so yummy, Char! I just need to...” And with that, Linus blew the most freaking ticklish raspberry Charlie Brown’s ever felt directly on his bellybutton. 

Happy tears ran down the older’s face, lying limp on the carpet as he laughed like The Joker, “LINUS IHI’M SOSOHO TICKLISH!!! IHI’M TICKLISH JUHUHUST PLEEHEHEASE!!!”

The red cladded preteen stopped immediatley, getting off and lying down next his best friend as his best friend in question tried to catch his breath. 

“Ihihi’m gohohonna gehehet yohou back…”

“I’m sure you will, Char.” Linus snickered, sitting back against the couch as he grabbed his and Charlie’s playstations and waving them around teasingly, “Best out of three?”

“Oho you’re ohon.” The older grinned, snatching back the gaming device as they placed video games throughout the night.

…Perhaps that homework could wait until tomorrow…

[seaweedstarshine]

“They engineered a psychopath to kill you.” “Totally married her. I'd never have made it here alive without River Song.”

Sources: Let's Kill Hitler, Diary of River Song: My Dinner With Andrew, Closing Time, The Husbands of River Song, Diary of River Song: The Furies, Diary of River Song: Animal Instinct, The Ruby's Curse, Time of the Doctor

[flowercrowngods]

"Captain."

The quill scratches roughly along the page, too aggressive for the paper softened and hardened over time by wear and tear and seawater air. Ink spills, making a mess of the log's entry, splotching over fingers and staining them almost black in the cabin's dim light, a flame flickering in its hold to the right, unaware of the tension in the air. Unaware of the captain's rapidly beating heart and his hands clenching around the quill until he fears it might break.

Although the fear he feels is not on behalf of the quill in his hand.

"Captain."

His first mate is insistent on gaining his attention, but he refuses to acknowledge that she already has it. He knows it can only mean one thing if she comes to him at this hour, if she seeks him out despite clear orders – or, rather, because of them.

"Steve."

He looks up, his jaw clenched, and the quill breaks, spilling ink all over his palm where the sharp tip is cutting into his skin with a spark of pain that pales in comparison to what he can find in her features.

Robin nods, imperceptible to every other soul in this universe. Every soul that is not him, attuned to her every move, every twitch of a brow, every hint of a frown, and every gesture that she dares him to overlook if only to have an excuse later on.

But she nods. And Steve swallows.

"It's him. He's back."

It's the captain who nods now, incapable of doing anything else, and feeling as his sanity slips away from him, through the cracks in the floorboards and sinking down to the bottom of the ocean to join his heart and his conscience. All have long been lost at the cause of one man.

"Thank you," he says, though his voice does not feel like his own, and the candle beside him flickers once more as if to signal that, really, he shouldn't be sounding like that. He blinks, deliberately, because he has been staring for too long and she doesn't need to know that he has been losing himself since the second she appeared at the door.

"Steve–"

"That's Captain to you."

She swallows, defiant, but choosing her battles wisely. He is grateful, for he hasn't the strength to argue any more than he has the strength to stand upright in this moment.

"Captain," she says, deliberate but gentle, because she knows and she forgives. "Are you alright?"

"No," Steve says, and his voice remains remarkably steady in this confession. "I'll be out in a second. Make sure they do not to say a word to him. Shoot everyone who does, or throw them overboard. Nobody talks to The– to Munson but me. Understood?"

"Understood," she says, straightening her posture, though her eyes remain worried and wary. There is more she wants to say, but Steve dismisses her before leaning his fists on the table and breathing deeply. The tip of the quill buries deeper into his palm and he closes his fingers around it, hard, to keep himself anchored and distract from one pain with another.

Theo is back. Theodore Munson. Though he will have a new name, Steve knows. But those eyes... Those eyes never changed, not once in all this time, and Steve fears that he will break apart if he has to look at them again and find no ounce of recognition. No memory of words whispered in the dark, of gentle touches to roughest scars, of time spent together in different lifetimes.

Steve plucks the tip soiled in ink and blood from his palm and reaches for a book hidden underneath a false bottom in the first drawer of the desk. A book with the initials T M pressed into fine, deep red leather.

He writes, with blood and ink in unsteady hold,

27th March He came is back. I wish he weren't.

@vampeddie remember me talking about this before i disappeared? remember how you went insane? remember that you like me?

[s4pphic-sh3nan1gans]

I can't believe it was exactly a year ago today that I met Joker Out in London... time isn't real.

[merlins-strawberriesandroses]

TO be honest. I don’t understand what it means when people say Merlin was Arthur’s bane. Mayhaps I misunderstand but. Arthur was a bit of an assassination magnet (not to mention all those magical creatures and bandits... so many bandits), and Merlin actively prevented Arthur's death for years, which would have occured without him anway in the very first episode. I can see why one might argue that Merlin was just delaying the inevitable, or that he didn't succeed in keeping Arthur safe until Arthur could enact the golden age, but certainly I don’t see how he could have been Arthur’s bane.

Also, it’s implied in the last episode that the golden age does occur, but under Guinevere. Which makes sense as she knew Merlin was the sorcerer and that she was pleased about it (and I recall it was confirmed in interviews), so I also don’t follow the twin train of thought that Merlin was his own bane or even Camelot’s. Camelot was already bane-d(?) under Uther. But partly because of Merlin's steady friendship, Arthur matured into a king who was kinder than his father. He also actively sought magic's aid on multiple occasions, so he knew magic had potential for good (like healing his queen) without Merlin needing to tell him about his magic.

I don't think it's fair to say Camelot's laws on magic remaining relatively static was because no one close to Arthur came out as having magic. There was still much risk in that, and for Merlin a lot at stake, not just his life. A law change was still possible (and almost seemed to be set up that way) without Arthur needing someone he was personally close to having to do the work to humanize it for him (in the sense that the episodes with the druids, the druid boy with Elyan, and the dolma seemed like they were pointing to a law change because Arthur sees the diversity of magic and those who have it).

At worst Merlin’s efforts didn’t change the status quo, but we do have things indicating that they did. And Merlin was not single-mindedly serving Arthur at the expense of everyone else. He saved Camelot as a whole multiple times. He was also very willing to stick out his neck for many others even during the height of his anxiety and agitation in season 5. (Also only being slightly silly when I say this, but he was also THE wingman for Arthur when he was getting with Gwen, so in a way Merlin’s help led to their courting being a success and thus contributed to her being in a great position to change the laws. so personally I give points to Merlin for that). Most of the decisions centering Arthur's safety seemed to stem from the fear that Albion would crumble before it began if Arthur were to die, so he tried his best to prevent that from happening in any way he knew. (Like, when Arthur is dying, Merlin asks "So I failed?" regarding the whole golden age thing, which I think is telling that the prophesy and his role in it was still VERY much at the forefront of Merlin's mind).

And this is a digression but I know people think Merlin should have done more for Camelot, or for folks with magic (like, as a revolutionary or something akin), which I understand but no one reached out to network with him really? It'd require resources, people (always confused why there weren't a whole bunch more folks offering Merlin material/intellectual/emotional support if they thought he should be the one to bring about the golden age. all he was told was that the forseen way it actually happens succesfully is through Arthur), time (I doubt it’d have been much of a ‘quicker’ way necessarily), and incredible planning + foresight if it's meant to be something that works out effectively + long-term. Okay I think I've digressed enough now. This is a whole seperate thought that I don't think I'm gonna do any justice here lol, and I'm already rambling, so I'll stop now :,)

But anyway, in terms of being his own or Arthur’s bane, we know Arthur will return, and we don’t know how Merlin spent his years. His magic can play with time and maybe he learns how to control that, or he could have entered a stasis like in various legends, etc etc etc. And I mean it is tragic on many levels, and it’s sad we didn’t see Arthur’s arc completed, and that Merlin sacrificed so much for a goal that didn't get much acknowledgment by the show at the end, but still. I don’t think Merlin was Arthur’s bane, or Camelot’s, or his own.

[skitskatdacat63]

Ye olde cat boys....

(I'm working on a bigger piece rn, so I colored this sketch in the meantime :DD)

I realized this is basically a more realized version of a sketch from really early boy king days:

[mbirnsings-71]

👑👑👑

💀💀💀💀

🐺🐺🐺

💍💍💍💍

Please ✨✨✨

Hi Dee!! Oh gosh well isn't this just silly- Okay Okay I got this-

Sentence counter: 9 for OUACD, 12 for ESRMT, 9 for Twicraft, and 12 for WAADW. oh and you gave me extra emojis. Hm. I'll also give you a snippet of an idea that's been floating around in my brain since last night then.

OUACD au:

“In bed? Why?” “We were supposed to meet half an hour ago! Our Biochem exam is in an hour!” “What? No it isn’t-” Grian says, lightly pushing Scar’s head away from his shoulder so he can continue speaking without being distracted by his partner. Scar huffs about it for a moment before conceding to just pressing a quick kiss against the back of Grian’s neck before resting his forehead there. “Isn’t that tomorrow?”

Twicraft au:

Martyn blinks and furrows his brows. Well that certainly wasn’t what he was expecting. “Was that a growl?” he asks in disbelief, because genuinely why would Ren have something growling under his couch? The only reply he gets to his question is his werewolf boyfriend making a tiny yipping noise, which again earns another growl from under the couch that Ren very quickly whines at.  “Okay… Ren, did you bring home a stray?” Martyn asks, because he desperately needs some answers to the situation he walked into. All Ren does is finally look at him, his head tilted a bit with big pleading eyes before he huffs and slinks down the hall to his bedroom, where Martyn assumes he’s going to shift back so he can actually communicate with him.  It takes a few minutes, with Martyn using this time to make his way to the kitchen area to see if Ren has any water bottles that he can pour into a bowl for the stray whatever it is that’s currently hiding from them, but eventually his boyfriend comes out to join him.

WAADW Au:

It takes a little bit, seeing as he knows Jimmy is at work and Scott said he had plans today, but around noon he does manage to get a reply from one of them. Scott <3: Feeling any better? Tango: No :/ Scott: in that case, you're resting yes? Tango: I am... But It sucks that I have to!! I had plans today!! Scott <3: You mean work? The one thing you shouldn't be doing while you're in pain? Tango: well yeah, But we had a really important cake order come in the other day and I was actually really excited to start working on it. There’s gonna be some pyrotechnics involved once the others actually get it bakificated and you know that’s my jam!!   Tango: Plus I totally could've worked through it- Totally. Scott <3: Mhm, just cause you could doesn't mean you should. I'm proud of you for calling out <3 Tango: yeah yeah whatever...

ESRMT AU:

"I can assume they both died?" "You can." He states as he stares into his partially drank tea as an excuse to not make eye contact with Cleo. "For how long, if I may ask?" "Milo's been gone for about a year…" Scott pauses to take a breath. It doesn't feel like it's been a year already, but he supposes that's how time works, plus how much of a support Max had been in his grief. "And Max's been gone a couple days now." "I'm sorry for your losses." Cleo says and Scott sighs as he puts his cup down on the little table besides him. "Thanks. You don't really need to say that, I've heard it too many times now… But it's appreciated."

Extra sentences about the secret wip I have:

"Hey Scar?" "Yeah G?" "Can I see your wings for a minute?" Grian asks as his hand comes to rest on Scar’s hip and he can physically feel Scar tense up at the question which is odd to say the least. His partner usually loves being asked to show off his wings, has always been excited to show off how they glow and can illuminate an area while Grian chides him for how that’s still not a replacement for properly lighting up your bases so mobs don’t spawn. Scar stays silent for a minute (which is also a bit concerning because he knows Scar loves to talk and chatter about what he did today if asked. Sure it could be he just doesn’t have the energy today to do so, but still…) before mumbling out "Now why would you wanna see those old things?" Grian frowns at the question while his brows furrow in confusion, immediately on edge because of Scar's choice in words. His partner has never once referred to them like that, so that's another thing to add to his ever quickly growing pile of evidence for his very legitimate concern. "Because you haven't been showing them off for a while, which means you're hiding them. I want to make sure they aren't bothering you or that you aren’t hiding that you hurt them on me."

I- I have no excuse for why the brain wanted sad topics today they really were the easiest to write and idk why but uhhhh HI DEE LOVE YOU <3

Wanna make me write? Well you can send me emojis from either of these [x | x] into my Ask box and I will write!

[tohruies]

ha! 💌 ! except that i’m doing uno reverse and sending one to you! (and especially since you’ve already written it once for me and i even printed it out!!!)

dear coco, so i know how you always want to bring even the tiniest smile to people’s faces! you are the sunshine that peeks from behind the clouds during the cloudy days ⛅️ but i’m smacking you affectionately because oftentimes in your selfship dynamics you mention that your dear beloveds soothe your heart after you give it away to everyone around on an open palm — and you should listen to that inner voice! ✨ treat yourself first, be a little selfish, make sure to feel comfortable before you comfort others ❤️‍🩹 let me tell you again — i am shaking you and telling you this because a happy and healthy coco guarantees even more happy people around her! 🥺 i love your prose, love your poetry that you sneak so elegantly in between sentences and paragraphs — it’s been a while since i’ve read anything from you and i understand that there are things that you must focus on first, but no matter the passing time, yours will always be one of the styles that inspired me the most in my writing journey on here! 🥹 your presence here has been influencing my life in the most positive way ever since becoming mooties with you! you always put so much thought into remembering everyone’s personalities, lives, preferences and stories! 🌸 but i wanted to make sure that you know how it also feels to be on the receiving side of love (though i know i’m not the only one adoring you so much and certainly there are so many others who would stand right beside you if you only needed a shoulder to lean on) 🩷

༼ﾉ ´༎ຶ ﹏ ༎ຶ༽ ﾉ *: ·ﾟ💌 when manu wears the biggest ever size of meanie pants ever... /silly

(i will acknowledge & respond to your own 💌 to me in the tags, if that's okay!! 🥺 oh my goodness 🥺🥺)

3 days later and i think i have finally collected myself enough to respond to this WAH... I AM SO SORRY TO KEEP YOU WAITING MANU! 🥺 i am uno reversing your uno reverse >:3 hehe, i remember that i wrote you one of these last year, in april!!!! it's always been a difficult month for me, so it made me really happy + meant the whole world to be able to write something for you and have you receive it with all the love in your heart 🥺 so much so that you even printed it out (i cried tears of joy last year when you told me that AODKJFAJ i am so sorry 🙈). i hope you don't mind that i give last year's message a sibling LOL, with what i am about to say to you now!!!! (⁄ ⁄>⁄ω⁄<⁄ ⁄) 

dearest manu mousie, manu the great, my manumimii!

where do i even begin with youuuu ;w; /pos!!!!! maybe i can start with how much i love (and also fear /lh, because you are truly so... omniscient lol!) how perceptive you are... the way you make people feel seen (exhibit a, the contents of this ask asdfghjkl) and look so deep into their hearts... i think you are incredibly excellent at analysing people and charaters /POS and i feel like this is very evident in your fics and character studies!!!!! it is due in large part to your introspection which is another thing i love about you :D and why i think i find a great deal of comfort in you 🥺 because i am always especially drawn to these kinds of people!! people who you don't need to wear a mask around because they will be able to see through you anyway... it's very soothing in a sense to know that you are like this 🥺💗 and it only inspires me to be more perceptive too!! i hope i can be as caring and kind as manu is some day, heheh (๑•̀ᴗ•́๑)  💗

which brings me to my next point—i love all the ways in which you are quietly kind and looking out for your friends—again, as evidenced by this ask, wah... BUT ALSO!!! in how you do other things for them! 🥺 little blurbs in their mailbox (i revisit that xiangli one you wrote me not so long ago) or even drawings!!! perhaps i don't ship with haitham anymore, but the doodle you gifted me last year has always been a widget on my phone :3 and it will continue to be!!! that was the very first time anyone had ever drawn me something just out of the goodness of their heart, let alone gifted me anything of the sort!!!! 🥺🥺 so it is something i hold really really close. it makes me smile SO BIG!! and kick my feet all excitedly to see you do that for your other friends here too HEHE—when i look at femi's pfp... vana's pinned... i am reminded of just how big and bursting with love that your heart is 🥺💗

i love how much you have grown on here over the past year. ⭐️ in terms of your writing—which has been such a pleasure to witness over time how you've grown into a style that is so distinctly manu!! 🥺🥺 because like! 🥺 i remember so distinctly a certain post you made last year about wanting to improve your writing and your vocabulary and finding your 'own writing voice' 🥺 look at you now!!! with your lush descriptions and rich prose and dynamic characterisation, IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY!!!!! AND PROUD!!! and i hope you too, are proud of yourself friend 🥹💖 even aside from your writing, i'm so glad that you have grown more comfortable here in sharing more personal posts about yourself hehe AND OF COURSE YOUR SELFSHIPS!!!!!!!!!! :3 i am also very glad about how you have lots and lots of friends on here now!!! that all love and cherish and uplift and reassure you in the way you deserve to be 🥺

i'm just really happy you are here with us, babie. i hope you won't take it the wrong way when i say this, but i really do believe that you are so much stronger, kinder, and easy to love than you think yourself to be! 🥺🥺 i hope that you can continue to work on being less hard on yourself, and i hope that all your friends here can help with that in any way you'll let us!! i hope you will continue to share more of your heart with us here and let us cradle it and soothe it when you need it. i hope your studies will treat you as kindly as they can, and that you will succeed in them :3 i hope you know that all you need to do is try your best!! you have a beautiful brain and a tender, loving heart—so i am sure in due time that all the good karma will be returned to you 🥺💗 making you a steaming cup of pink chai with a dollop of condensed milk in it, and gently rubbing your hands in mine to warm them up 🥰 we love you so much manu, not just for all that you do for us, but for just simply existing as you are, and letting us bask in the warm light you radiate 💖💖💖

[sodapopcurtis-dx-asks]

Wowah! Out of character posting this morning instead of the usual "Now Open" page...

Good morning everyone, this is Arcade speaking! Sorry to break the magic here. I'm gonna put Soda's ask blog on hold until either Friday or Saturday CST due to some outerworld inconviences, but it shouldn't be gone soon as I'll be on spring break next week!

Asks will still be open, but I won't be replying until later in the week.

After all, I'm still a student doing a hobby!

We'll see you soon though, I have more drawings in store and so many stories to tell with Soda and Steve!

[angeart]

hello!!!! Just wanted to drop in and tell you that I LOVE your fic HMTB and it was one of the first HC fica I’ve ever read!!! I’m not big on having a social presence on the internet but recently I’ve found myself in a Desert duo resurgence and hermit craft in general; I’ve found that I have this desperate to create my own art and stories that surround grian and scars dynamic bc it’s just… SO good. Like, idk how but there’s so many themes and details and symbols that you can draw from both their characters that isn’t even intentional!!!! It’s so cool!!! But I’m pretty scared to post anything or make an account dedicated to it. I’ve had this problem before, but after years and years of just following and lurking on accounts I feel like I might be able to handle it. Tbh I’m just anxious of what will happen if I do go through with it.

either way I don’t mean to bother you! Just wanted to tell you that I’m a long time enjoyer of your content and I’m glad to see you creating!! ty!

awwww hi!! thank you for coming here to tell me!! 🥺🥰💕

i've also been swallowed up by an urgent craving to create things about scar and grian :3c i know how that is. they're soo fun! and if you want to make things, you absolutely should! it's important to indulge in things that we enjoy doing, and creating stuff in particular can be so enriching!

i've sort of just. fallen into this hole myself. i remembered fanfics are a thing that exists, barely read a handful before i was hit by a sudden itch to make something myself... and boom, hmtb was born! just because i gave in! and i didn't know what to make of it or expect. it was just indulgent, born on a whim, but i put it out there anyway.

and then i remembered tumblr exists, and promptly went to look at scarian art :3c ... and bayum another itch later and i had an art account, and i also had no idea how that'll go or turn out!

and here we are.

opening up can be scary. but hey— think of it this way. if you make an account for things like that, you can always change your mind and pull out. it's easy. you can stop posting, or delete things—it's all yours. you control what you put out there.

i have met so many amazing people because i put myself and things i enjoy creating out there. it's been a wild ride—it's been, what, two years now?—but all of it is such an wonderful experience. (and yet somehow i continue to be surprised and so grateful and happy for every new positive interaction. like your message! <33)

if i never took that first step, i wouldn't be here, like this. i wouldn't know these people, i wouldn't have made these friends, i wouldn't have gotten back into rping, and i wouldn't be so continuously encouraged and inspired and excited to keep making more things! personally, i think sharing things is so fun. like, so so so fun. it's my favourite part. the mutual hype, inspiring each other, boucing off ideas, and feeling connected.

sometimes all it takes is being a little bit brave and taking a chance. taking that first small step on what might be a stroll to the end of your garden and back, or end up being a long, unexpectedly wonderful adventure. (yes okay i might be thinking about bilbo baggings here shhh—)

[tenderjock]

like the moon moves the tides [agent carter werewolf au]

part v. ears back

Please, Jack says to her, just get on this flight with me.

And Peggy can’t. He’s asking her, and she can’t – she doesn’t even feel bad about it, because she knows it’s the right decision. But there’s a part of her that’s more instinctive than anything else, tugging at her gut, pulling an answering howl at her throat, and it’s harder than she expects to refuse him.

He’ll show her a trumped-up file, his scent angry and miserable. JUNE 1944 – M. CARTER – a lot of redacted nonsense, and Peggy will tell him as much.

“You're willing to believe any phlegm Vernon coughs up because you're worried that I would betray your trust,” Peggy says. She stares at Jack, trying to will him to understand her. “I wouldn't.”

Jack looks at her, eyes wide, and there’s a moment – a moment where she thinks she’s done it, that she’s gotten through to him.

Then he says, “This is your choice, not mine.” He sounds like he’s choking on the words.

“Jack,” Peggy says, voice full of pity for her lost, foolish packmate, “You don't need to cut corners to get ahead. You're better than that.”

She leaves briskly, without looking back.

: :

“What's happened and what's true are two different things,” Vernon tells Jack, when Jack questions the validity of Carter’s file. “This is an official document. That means it's true, regardless of what happened.” He pauses, frowning at Jack. “Do I really need to be telling you this?”

Jack feels sick.

“No, sir,” he says. “I understand that.”

Vernon sends him out of the room to take his phone call, but Jack can pretty much hear through walls if he concentrates, now. He takes the coordinates down on the pad of paper on some agent’s desk out in the bullpen – the coordinates – the –

Peggy’s there, her scent throwin’ off scared-angry-dominant-scaredscaredscared. Jack feels all of him turn towards her, like he could just curl up in her lap and she’d let him.

Peggy’s there. It’s gonna be alright.

He only thinks it for a second before his real brain catches up with him and he gets a grip on himself. But the feeling lingers.

“What is the last thing that you remember?” she asks him, and Jack tells her and Sousa about Vernon and the woman on the phone with the voice like a South Pacific sunrise.

“Whitney,” Carter says to Sousa at that description. Neither of them trust Jack, which shouldn’t hurt, but does anyway. He tries to play it off as a joke, but Carter’s eyes go serious and dark.

“If I were helping them, I'd be on my way there. But I'm here with you,” Jack says to them.

Carter and Sousa exchange a look. Then, Carter steps forward – right in front of Sousa! – and butts her nose up under Jack’s chin. He feels the air get knocked out of him like she had socked him in the stomach with a baseball bat.

“You’re with us,” she says against Jack’s throat, sounding way too satisfied with herself.

Jack blinks at her when she steps away. Then he blinks at Sousa, who looks like he’s fighting a grin.

“Let’s go,” Sousa says, and racks the shotgun.

(Later, Peggy will call Jack a good man, her scent warm and happy and inviting. Jack won’t understand it, okay? He won’t – he won’t understand, how out of anyone in the entire world, this fucking person will say that about him, and mean it. She’s not stupid. He’s not sure how he’s managed to fool her, and he’s afraid that someday he’s not gonna be able to anymore.)

part vi. cry/howl

There’s a wolf in Jack Thompson’s hospital bed.

Mr. Thompson is fully in human form, looking thin and white and still very unconscious under the sheets. He’s hooked up to a saline drip; in addition to changing his bandages, Violet has orders to give him another blood transfusion. They’re trying to flush out all the poison that the silver bullet leaked into him.

When Violet taps on the open door’s frame, the wolf looks up, a slight snarl on her face. Violet gives a low, answering whine, a safe-good-nonaggression kind of whine. There’s a rustle, and Peggy jumps off of Mr. Thompson’s bed, slinking forward to greet Violet in a pile of shaggy gray limbs.

“Hiya, Peg,” Violet says. “I need to clean him up and give ‘im some juice. You’re welcome to stay while I do it.” Generally speaking, human adult patients were protected by confidentiality agreements, which is why she kicked Daniel out of all of Mr. Thompson’s surgeries. However, exceptions were made for wolfpacks, and Peggy is about as much a packmate for Mr. Thompson as Violet was for any of her family.

Peggy whuffs and withdraws into the corner of the room to watch Violet, unblinking, as she does what she needs to do. Mr. Thompson’s bullet wound isn’t too severe, honestly. Silver bullets aren’t especially effective in terms of being good for shooting people dead, but they are deadly when the bloodrot sets in. If he had been found even twenty minutes later, things would have been different. There’s still streaky red lines coming from the wound, but they’re fading. He’s getting better.

Violet tells Peggy that. She whuffs again and finally shifts, crouched on the hospital floor naked as the day she was born. Violet politely looks away as Peggy redresses into the neat pantsuit that is folded up on the chair next to Mr. Thompson’s bed.

“Thank you, Violet,” Peggy says. She sounds – and looks – tired. There are purple shadows under her eyes and her voice is hoarse.

Working on a hunch, Violet asks, “When was the last time you’ve eaten?” When Peggy looks away, she hums. “That’s what I thought. Let’s head down to the cafeteria. They’ve got a killer full moon breakfast platter.”

“Someone has to look after him,” Peggy says, tone dismissive. But while Violet may not be naturally as dominant as Peggy likes to make herself out to be, she frankly isn’t submissive, either.

“Agent Roberts was on her way in,” Violet says. “And Daniel will be along in about an hour, when my shift ends. We’ve got nurses all along this floor. He’ll be alright for a few minutes while you eat something.”

Still, Peggy hesitates. Her gaze keeps being drawn over to Mr. Thompson. Violet looks at him, too.

Daniel complains about him quite a bit. From what Violet’s heard, Chief Jack Thompson is a braggart and a jerk and a liar and an arrogant bastard to boot. But you don’t pick pack, not exactly.

She makes a decision. “I’m Daniel’s pack, as far as a wolf can be pack with a man, and you’re his pack, too,” Violet says. “And Mr. Thompson is your pack. That makes us, I don’t know, pack-in-laws.”

Peggy blinks at her. “Yes?”

“I can have some of my cousins come on in, when you can’t be here,” Violet offers. “Not to snuggle with him or nothin’, I imagine that wouldn’t end well, but to sit with Daniel or Agent Roberts. If you’d like.”

Peggy stares at her for a long time. Then, in a queer kind of voice, she says, “That would be appreciated. Thank you.”

“Of course,” Violet says, and means it. Then she holds out a freshly washed hand. “Alright, we’re going to the cafeteria now. They got an option that has bacon, ham and sausages. It’ll blow your mind, Peg, I mean it.”

Peggy takes her hand, neatly manicured red nails scratching Violet’s palm. “Of course, darling,” she says, and smiles for the first time in what’s gotta be days.

[ohitslen]

Thinking and headcannoning the shit out of angry Stampede! Vash and how Wolfwood deals with that first thing in the morning because i think him getting angry about something and letting down some of his mask in those genuine moments of anger is super awesome

Before we continue I have not read the manga yet so if you read something incredibly obvious or redundant to your experience, well, haha or something OQNENW

This is a VERY LONG Vashwood ramble I have to put SOMEWHERE or I will explode, so feel free to join if you want.

Vash is an overall very expressive person right? very emotional too generally, but the thing is I like drawing people getting angry so that’s what you are getting from me.

And I also often think about the fact that it’s Wolfwood and Knives the ones that have seen him be like that (most often than not towards them).

Wolfwood specifically, I think that he WOULD get scared because when Vash is angry angry, he just seethes and looks like he is three seconds away from being love and peace to hate and war. These are probably the moments in where he carries the most resemblance to Knives, and to anybody that has experienced the man firsthand they know how scary that is because everyone and their moms knows that he does not hesitate to resort to murder if he is upset about something or if it’s inconvenient to him, so it is rightfully terrifying to even think of him getting mad.

Now take the same idea and apply it to Vash, he is so friendly and playful all the time and he gets kicked around all the time too, that it would be almost impossible to imagine him getting angry in a genuine way. That is UNTIL his ideals and morals are being countered or challenged by someone and THAT’S when people are gently reminded that oh yeah he can get mad too, and really fucking mad at that.

The peak of his anger doesn’t last for too long because he tries to level himself quickly, he is aware of how he can look when he gets like that, and it would be showing a little too much about how he is not very human in nature for what he is comfortable with. I think that when he gets mad his expression turns into something very vulnerably honest, to the point in where he unconsciously looks imposing and demanding, paired with his uncanny vibes it really is a treat and anyone at the other end of it would be other than also upset, quite scared. Like Wolfwood.

There is something very obviously other about Vash and he has the privilege of knowing just exactly why that is, and considering that his brother has a record for being a certain way when angry, knowing what he is does not soothe him at all. Then again, Wolfwood cares for him still and he is a stubborn guy himself, so even when most likely scared shitless, he would not move his ground, and the only thing that reassures him that things will be fine, is Vash’s pacific nature and also knowing that he cares deeply for him too, but that is a thing he would not think too much about other than the flash of thought that it is in the moment.

Vash is petty as hell too, he remains silent and gives the cold shoulder to the other person that was involved in the argument, and it is usually, once again, Wolfwood at the end of that stick. Wolfwood is a “mind your business and I mind mine” kind of guy considering he never asks things, but traveling with that idiot and having to be with him 24/7 and being given the silent treatment has to be uncomfortable at best incredibly annoying at worst. So even though he won’t change his opinion most of the times, he still insists on talking to him idly sometimes after they argue, something he would usually not do.

All Vash ever responds with are the necessary answers, at first shrugs or nods, then very short and to the point sentences, he eventually warms up to him again and they talk the way they usually do; and just like that things seems to be at bay for the time being until the next unavoidable argument comes by.

No matter how many times they argue, when things escalate and Vash begins to show his very honest anger, Wolfwood’s instincts would be screaming at him to stop it and to get away, because whatever Vash is feeling is reeking of a danger that no matter how enhanced he might be, he is NOT gonna make it through whatever will happen to him worse comes to worst. But when has he ever actually heard his instincts when it comes to dealing with Vash. So he always replies and stays.

He is somehow one of the very few (almost non existent) people who can deal with Vash when he is like that, one thing is getting mad at Vash and the other is him getting mad at you, and he has bite alright, he will say things that can come across as hurtful and very venomous when he starts to get more visceral, and yeah the whole predator kind of vibe he can give off is there too.

Maybe Wolfwood also knows how hurt Vash would feel if he retreats because of how scared he feels and that’s why he doesn’t back away. It would be reasonable if he did, hell he doesn’t owe him shit for all he knows and he would be in his whole right to run away scared if he wanted, but for one it would be too cowardly, and two Vash would be once again pushed away for being something not human, and that would be a scar he would carry for his whole life and Wolfwood does not want to be a part of that. So that’s another reason to the ever growing list of “why don’t I just let this be”.

There is an odd sense of comfort in seeing Vash get mad, knowing that the man knows his ground, that even he has lines he won’t allow anyone to cross, that he can allow himself to feel something genuine for once and not the fake little things he is always doing. It is the positive side Wolfwood tries to see in those situations and what he has to remind himself over and over again so he doesn’t flinch away. Good thing he has some practice in arguments thanks to his little siblings back at the orphanage, practice he refuses to let go and holds on to dear life because he needs any crumb of reason at those moments.

At some point when hands are involved, when a clench to the shirt and a push to the shoulder escalates to shoving the other to the ground and a punch to the gut, Wolfwood goes full survival mode because no one told him that Vash was THAT strong and THAT heavy and THAT intimidating. He could have guessed after having watched the man fight. He is capable and strong, he usually moves with a certain preciseness and care under the goofy display, he may twirl around and stumble when dodging, but he is dodging and also landing hits.

He knows that Vash is strong and that he is also incredibly careful. But that’s when he is in all his senses with a mostly cool head, so having him hovering over Wolfwood pressing him down rendering him to the ground while very obviously mad and trying to prove his point, he freezes before he can react and fight back.

Those are the times where Vash feels the most guilty after the fight from what Wolfwood can gather and wildly assume. If him not eating (again) for days or even refusing to acknowledge Wolfwood unless necessary is any sign. That behavior can last over a week which is a little too long for Wolfwood’s peace of mind. So he starts poking again because apparently arguing again is the only way to make the bastard answer more. And it usually works, some nudging here and there and putting lemon with salt to the wound seems to do the trick.

It entails more shouting and screaming at each others faces their flaws that they already know like a script, until things start to calm down when Wolfwood reassures him that he is tougher than he looks, and that no matter what he won’t just leave Vash in a ditch, and if they were going to travel together for the future to come they would have to learn how to sort things out. Something he knows neither of them will probably never learn, but it is what it is and that’s what he can resort to at the moment, and it does seem to satisfy Vash a little. So once they are done, and they go their separate ways, never too far from each other, Vash starts to nibble at his food and says or asks little things to Wolfwood, and just like that they are good to go again.

They are both aware that addressing out loud how fucking scary Vash can be at those raw moments of anger, would be like painting a line of ‘I am this and you are that so we shouldn’t be doing this’ that neither of them would actually want to have. So even when yeah it can be horribly scary and surprisingly intimidating to deal with Vash when he is angry, Wolfwood is willing to stay and fight with him if that’s what he wants, if that’s what he needs. Even if it’s starting to take a toll on him. He is getting used to it though so it will be fine.

Probably.