#once I have a few of these up I'll probably make a masterpost for all of them

[moonlightcanyon]

ASPD/PPD knife post 1

okay so how I want to do these: I'm gonna recap everything I plan on going over (partially so you don't have to go and rewatch it to remember, partially because it helps ME while typing), then analyze it in detail. I tend to analyze like knife canonically has the disorders because he... really might as well

the text in this one is being copied and pasted from discord since I've already got it typed up and it won't take too much time to edit. that said I was talking to a friend who didn't know the show at the time and you might notice this in a few spots

this one's primarily focusing on the dynamic between knife and trophy early s2. I ask that this doesn't get tagged as shipping since it squicks me out and I personally can't see it working anyway

@fansblogs @mr-payjay

ALRIGHT HERE WE GO

at one point in season 1, the rewards for contestants that got to move on was a dora doll. knife was one of them and he ended up getting pretty attached to it

I figure he did because. PPD. this is something he was given that has no capacity for harm. if he's got something personal that he needs to get off his chest he can say it to the doll, and then in the ASPD aspect he can hold onto it for comfort if he needs to or somethin, seeing as he doesn't have anyone who would give him physical comfort if he needed it

in s2 ep1, trophy wants to form an alliance between himself and knife, but knife declines pretty quickly (the jock/jerk thing). trophy presses and knife, evidently annoyed, punches him and takes him out of the challenge

towards the end of ep2, trophy goes to find knife and finds/overhears him talking to the dora doll, saying that the doll is his only true friend and nobody else understands him. trophy snaps a picture and goes to show everyone; knife begs him not to, saying he'll do anything

trophy tells him that if knife does everything he tells him to for the rest of the season, he won't show anyone the picture. and knife agrees bc as far as he can tell there's no getting out of it otherwise

ep 4 opens up with more of knife doing everything trophy says, even using fan as a literal fan. knife then abruptly says 'no' to trophy and to show everyone the stupid picture + he doesn't care

in ep3 we see trophy manipulating knife into doing exactly that; when knife considers not doing something, trophy either shows/mentions the picture to him and knife immediately cooperates. he gets his leg broken because of this

trophy pulls it out, knife goes 'wait!', trophy laughs and says he knew knife was chicken, and then knife says 'no, I just wanted to let you know that you have grape juice on your chin'

trophy then goes and shows everyone. we get a shot of several characters laughing, but it's very obvious not all of them are: baseball and apple look irritated and confused respectively

knife sighs in defeat. cut to baseball saying he honestly doesn't care

baseball goes on to talk about how everyone who got sent to idiotic island each had their own Thing to keep them occupied and knife's was the doll. he then mentions how paper didn't have something to keep him occupied and practically tried to kill everyone and asks if that's what trophy wants: for knife to do the same

trophy is like '????? you support this?????'

a few others agree with baseball and they all walk off, with trophy trying to get them to come back because he 100% believes knife is super lame for this

knife then comes up behind him and gives trophy a mini-lecture about how he must feel like a loser, because he knows he would, reminds trophy that he's a jock and knife is a jerk, and says that trophy never stood a chance against him from the start

cue unexpected moment where trophy tells him to go jump off a bridge

and fuckin- there is so much to break down here okay.

things that back up knife having ASPD and PPD:

trophy has a huge ego and sees himself as above others. a big thing with pwASPD is the disrespect of authority that we find stupid/unnecessary, and that can include people that act like they have authority when they really don't (I personally don't often get along with pwNPD for this exact reason). knife's first interaction with trophy is trophy insulting his capacity to break things with his 'pillow fists'; their second interaction is trophy trying to form an alliance with him, backhandedly calling him a 'sharp guy'. given that trophy made his personality clear right off the bat in both interactions I'm genuinely unsurprised that knife turned him down (and then punched him when he wouldn't back off); pwPPD often have a tendency to be hypervigilant because they're looking for threats to their safety. for me personally, I experience more of the ASPD side of things when interacting with someone I don't know well, and in this instance I can see knife essentially flipping from PPD's 'seeing hidden threats' to 'I don't care about you, actually, get lost.' as an aside, while I am a trophy NPD believer, I'm biased against him and thus won't really be getting into that as I'm likely to unintentionally paint him in a bad light

knife's choice of phrasing to the doll is interesting. he specifically says true friend and not friend, and given that at this point he doesn't really have any bonds with others, thus nobody gets him? entirely accurate- and yet that is an expression of vulnerability, something he's only letting himself express to the doll in a moment of safety. I'm still kind of sorting my PPD stuff out but in my experience, I have a lot of people/friends I can talk to about things, but only two or three that I feel comfortable talking to about Literally Everything and/or being more 'stream of thought' with them. I've spent A LOT of time around them, know how they react to things, and they have continually accepted me and been there even when I display odd or less than pleasant behavior- thus I view them as safe spaces/moments for when I need to be vulnerable. then with ASPD, you will see pwASPD express vulnerability, but it's often in half-lies? for example they might say they're upset and omit why, or give you a convincing reason for their being upset that isn't the real reason. unless either a situation needs to be maintained with genuine feelings or the pwASPD is that comfortable around you/a group, feelings are often expressed in those half-lies. I tend to have this response with basically anyone that falls outside of those two or three people I mentioned, and also with people I don't know very well.

so then to be caught in such a vulnerable moment by someone like trophy? Oh God. it's partially embarrassment, partially 'fuck did he hear me' (which, interestingly, trophy doesn't seem to have), and completely registering as a threat to his safety (PPD response). he absolutely doesn't want to agree to trophy's terms but being caught in a moment like that is considered one of the worst-case scenarios to a pwPPD, so he agrees because the other option is to be seen as weak. and that Cannot Happen.

the stuff in ep3 is… well, classic manipulation? but it's also knife firmly believing that his safety will be compromised if the others find out about the doll, plus what he said to it. this is another PPD response; he's backing up his worries with evidence to something that ultimately isn't the biggest problem ever

knife gets his leg broken when yang throws yin at him, causing him to fall off a bicycle. knife still completes his part of the challenge via dragging himself along the ground; he calls both his broken leg and trophy stupid before saying it's all stupid. when he finally reaches microphone, she's unintentionally loud as she asks what happened, and he gets even more upset with the whole situation because now his ears hurt, taking it out on her somewhat. she asks if he's sure he's okay; he says 'not to be rude' before realizing he DOES want to be rude, says as much, and then yells at microphone to go away and start her part of the challenge. this sequence of events likely caused a symptom flare for both disorders at the same time, and knife calling his leg/trophy/everything stupid is also where he shifts from the PPD perspective to the ASPD perspective. I don't know which disorder would cause this specific response (as I tend to experience both at the same time during a flare), but one of them at minimum makes it very likely to snap at people while having a symptom flare; both the trophy situation and the challenge going to shit is 100% enough to cause an intense flare-up and he absolutely can't keep masking in the moment, he needs to be left alone. in my experience I also simultaneously experience 'I don't want to interact with people' and 'everybody is a threat' during flare-ups; typically one response is stronger than the other, but for really nasty ones both are equally strong.

trophy comes up to him later in the episode and says he can't believe that his blackmailing has led to this. knife agrees and asks to be let off the hook, and trophy reveals that he wasn't concerned for knife at all, he was upset that knife made their team lose the challenge. trophy talks a bit more and knife is VISIBLY angry, and he insults trophy under his breath the second he's done talking (the captions say 'well good grief, bozo' but it sounds more like 'well, good for you, too'. can't figure out which is right or if it's something else entirely). trophy angrily says 'what?' and knife pretty much goes 'huh whuh'. and like… yeah. petty insults during a symptom flare aren't common (an intense one will most likely see the pwASPD/PPD using the harshest insults they can come up with based off what they know about the other person to get said other person to go away), but given that knife knows little about trophy's life he can't come up with anything that'll actually have some kick to it. this interaction also reinforces the switch into a more ASPD way of thinking; a more PPD-focused thought process would be something along the lines of 'I did all this/let myself get hurt for you and you don't even care? why? aren't I doing it right?'

ep4, trophy asks knife something and knife genuinely just replies with 'oh, shut up'. given that in ep3 he was starting to realize that the whole thing is stupid and especially given trophy's lack of care about his leg, he's definitely done some thinking and come to the conclusion that this entire thing isn't worth it. he's being taken advantage of and being treated poorly, he broke his leg, he had a very bad symptom flare- and all this over a doll and some words? sounds ridiculous and stupid when put that way. and like I said earlier: pwASPD do not like authority figures or rules that they deem stupid. a stupid situation caused by someone acting like they have authority also classifies. pwASPD are also way more likely to give a firm 'fuck you' type of response to people when they're fed up with something/someone, or someone implies they can't do something

trophy then asks for more ventilation and knife, annoyed but notably somewhat indifferent, pulls out fan and, well, starts fanning. fan asks to be put down and knife tosses fan up because JESUS CHRIST THERE'S JUST NO WINNING. trophy tells him to keep fanning; fan comes back down and knife starts up again. fan then says he's getting dizzy and that is the last straw for knife; he just drops him and gives a very firm 'no' to trophy. and fucking- ouughgh okay. pwASPD often disregard the rights of others, yes, but we still have a moral compass. if someone doesn't need to get involved then they shouldn't get involved, the end. knife disregarded fan initially but the second fan said he was getting dizzy, he realized the whole thing is causing him to hurt people that don't need to be involved (which also gets into not hurting people that don't 'need' to be hurt) and that's not going to fly, actually. it also appeals to the more sensitive side of PPD, which can be very in-tune with people and their feelings.

the grape juice thing? not just a funny moment. knife is scared to possibly have his safety compromised- PPD briefly taking over, in a way- but he chooses to commit, 'flipping back' to ASPD and covering up his fear by pointing out the juice on trophy. his expression switches back to nervous as trophy turns around to go show everyone the picture, but he doesn't say anything else. enough is enough yk.

in presenting the picture, trophy calls knife 'a girly, doll-obsessed freak'… and doesn't add anything about what knife said to the doll, hence my assumption that trophy didn't hear him. which is a huge win for knife because it registers as an 'oh thank god, this isn't as bad as it could be' type of situation and helps quiet down the PPD. he sighs in defeat, yes, but there's a lot of relief too, I'd imagine- it's not the end of the world, actually. he can recover from this.

baseball saying 'honestly, I don't care' once everyone finishes laughing is also huge for knife because the way pwASPD interpret 'I don't care' is different than how most people interpret it. the phrase is often taken with a negative connotation by the average person, whereas pwASPD (and some normal people) hear it and take it neutrally. it's like saying that you think a piece of food is alright- if it turned up on your plate again, you'd eat it, but you wouldn't go out of your way to seek it out. baseball likely meant 'I don't care' as in 'are you for real/is this seriously what you're occupying yourself with', but knife heard 'I don't care' as in 'this is a piece of information that doesn't mean anything, leave it/knife alone', which also helps quiet down the PPD

in response to trophy asking if baseball really supports that part of knife, baseball backs himself (and knife) up with the stuff I mentioned earlier about idiotic island. not only did this likely comfort knife (even more soothing the PPD), it also convinces the other characters 'actually, even though we laughed at him for it at first, that makes sense. I'd do the same thing in his situation.' baseball pretty much unintentionally got everyone off knife's back and now knife doesn't have to go through all the effort of doing it himself (ASPD. if someone can do something for you, and especially unintentionally: take the opportunity and let them)

knife's mini-lecture is both him putting trophy in his place and reassuring himself. as much as trophy WANTS to have authority, have some semblance of power, he doesn't- knife actually has some due to his reputation, and the others are aware of it. a common fantasy in pwPPD is being in a position of power where nobody can hurt them. while he says that trophy never stood a chance against him from the start, I don't think he fully believes it yet, but he's saying it because he needs to make sure trophy Knows not to mess with him again. I think this also counts as an 'eye for an eye' thing considering trophy's treated him like shit for a while; knife can be shitty right back, which thus makes them both even and helps manage both disorders at the same time. I didn't know this when I initially typed all this out but in pwPPD, there's a strong desire for revenge, which is something I experience all the time.

in response to being told to jump off a bridge, knife reacts with surprise. and it makes sense given that knife didn't retaliate against trophy physically or really do much of anything to him, and that's with this whole thing resulting in knife's leg getting broken. there's not a part of knife that knows how to react to that because it's just- not computing. 'you cause this whole situation, then tell me to do that? okay?? I guess??'

after the intro plays, at the elimination area, knife and suitcase are sitting next to each other when mephone announces they're safe. when suitcase says 'wow knife!', knife initially looks over with some annoyance expecting to be insulted (likely still in the ASPD way of thinking)- but suitcase follows up with 'congratulations!' and it's so genuine knife doesn't know how to react to it. he ends up going 'wow… thanks!' with this somewhat sheepish expression that really strongly implies he has rarely or possibly never been complimented so genuinely before.

trophy starts throwing a fit that he's been voted out and stomps on box; suitcase stands up and shouts 'you monster! you're just jealous because he's (referring to box, I believe, but could also be interpreted as referring to knife) still in the game!' trophy yells at her to shut up and she meekly goes 'okay' and sits back down before trophy's even done yelling. knife is still there and as this happens he's sitting there with this expression that, to me, is him zoning out- but he's still present enough to hear and process this interaction considering he responds to it.

like I just said: given how knife reacted to a genuine compliment, he's not used to that happening. this is his first interaction with suitcase and it's an incredibly positive one, and he can tell it's not fake (goes back to hypervigilance in PPD). so after trophy yells at suitcase, knife gets up almost immediately and says 'alright dude, that's it. no more mr. knife guy.' he is Done with trophy's shit and he's not letting it start up again (very ASPD, since he learned he can go up against trophy and come out on top), especially not towards someone who was truly kind to him a minute ago (very PPD, with the sensitive side to it)

a detail I didn't mention is that in ep1, when knife punches trophy away, he does it before trophy finishes talking. now, when a contestant is eliminated they go through the portal, yeah? trophy is standing nearby said portal as knife approaches him, and in response to what knife said trophy pretty much replies with 'bring it on, I've been waiting for this'- except he doesn't get to finish because knife kicks him through the portal before he can. he just doesn't fucking care about this guy anymore. pretty good way to send trophy off, I'd say

and finally, a funny detail that isn't really related to all this but I want to mention anyway:

in that first scene of ep4 with knife and trophy, knife's leg is fine. in the elimination scene, knife's broken leg is in a cast- but the cast is suddenly gone when he stands up, and he kicks trophy through the portal with that same leg. I know what the animators were going for but it's REALLY funny. especially when the cast doesn't come back for the rest of the episode

a'ight that's about it. peace :P

[milk-is-stable]

The Shoot From the Hip Hunger Games: Day 3

Masterpost (<-START HERE! the posts are best read in order)

Content Warning: descriptions of violence, blood/injury, suicide ideation, major character death

It is the third day of the Hunger Games, and as the Capitol TV logo flickers to life on the screen, a low, menacing growl sounds through the speakers. The logo fades away to reveal a large, wolf-like animal prowling through the woods. But it is no ordinary wolf; it is a muttation, genetically engineered by the Capitol game masters to add extra excitement to the arena.

The mutt stops at a stream, and as it drinks its fill, the camera zooms out to reveal Jasper heading towards the spot with an empty canteen in his hands. He stops short when he sees the animal, and ducks quickly behind a tree. Peering around the trunk, he watches until the creature leaves, then he hurries back to the camp where he and his team have spent the night.

"I didn't sign up to play nursemaid," Caesar is saying to Julian, but Jasper cuts him off as he approaches.

"There's a mutt down by the stream," he says.

"A mutt?" Julian repeats, his eyes widening, and Caesar curses.

"That's all we need right now. That settles it. I'm not hanging around near that thing, and he can't move."

He gestures to where Chip is lying on the ground, his jacket draped over his body like a makeshift blanket. His face is flushed with fever, and he doesn't react as the others talk.

"His fever isn't as bad as it was a few hours ago!" Julian protests. "I think he's getting better-"

"In case you haven't noticed, this is the Hunger Games!" Caesar snaps. "He's probably gonna die anyway, just like all of us are unless we're willing to do what needs to be done! As far as I'm concerned, we should just put him out of his misery and move on."

He draws his knife and Julian takes a step back, but Jasper reaches out and grabs Caesar's arm.

"The scent of blood might draw that thing closer before we're able to get away."

"You're not suggesting we try to take him with us," Caesar scoffs, and Jasper glances at Julian as he responds.

"No, but I'm saying don't kill him here. Let's just leave, and fate can decide what happens."

Caesar rolls his eyes, but he does sheath the knife.

"Fine. But let's pack up and go now. I don't want that mutt catching us in the middle of breakfast."

The three begin gathering up their supplies, and as they do, Jasper carefully makes sure that there's enough food and water in Julian's pack. When the camp is broken down, Caesar heads off into the woods without a second look back at Chip. Julian hesitates, and Jasper leans closer, speaking in a low voice.

"You can stick with Chip or you can go off on your own, it's your choice. But I don't think you should stay with Caesar. He's not safe to be around."

"But you're staying with him," Julian points out, and Jasper gives him a half-hearted smile.

"He respects me...for now. I'll figure something out for when that changes. Listen, I'm letting you go this once, but...half the tributes are gone. I can't promise that I'll do the same next time we meet, alright?"

Julian nods.

"Good luck out there," he says, and Jasper takes his hand, in a quick, firm grasp before letting it go.

"Same to you."

He turns and follows Caesar into the forest, leaving Julian looking down at Chip's shivering form, a thoughtful expression on his face.

The camera cuts to show the mutt, once again moving through the woods. It pauses, sniffing the air, then it moves forward more quickly, a growl rumbling at the back of its throat. The camera follows along the path its walking, then moves forward, zipping past the beast and following its trajectory until it reaches another campsite.

Sally and Alexa are kicking sand over their campfire, extinguishing it for the morning.

"What are we going to do today?" Alexa asks as Sally begins taking stock of their supplies.

"Well, we're okay on food for right now," she says. "Thought it's probably a good idea to gather more anyway. We want to avoid the larger groups of tributes if we can, it wouldn't be safe...to..."

She trails off, her eyes fixed on something in the distance, and Alexa tilts her head.

"Wouldn't be safe to what?" she asks, and Sally sucks a breath in.

She drops to one knee so she's at Alexa's height and grabs her by the shoulders.

"Alexa, listen very carefully," she says. "I need you to take our supplies, and I need you to start heading north, and I need you to move as quickly as you can, but also as quietly as you can. Can you do that? Can you be quick and quiet?"

Alexa nods, though confusion is written plainly on her face.

"I can, yes. I am very light on my feet, Madame Romanoff even said so."

"Good. Then I need you to go, now, and no matter what you hear, don't stop and don't come back, alright?"

"Why not?" Alexa asks, but Sally just shakes her head.

"There's no time. Go now, and remember what I told you."

"Not to look back?"

Sally smiles sadly, and she takes Alexa's hands in hers and squeezes them.

"To keep fighting, as hard as you can for as long as you can."

Alexa nods, her little face solemn.

"I will."

"Good. Now go, hurry!"

Alexa turns, quietly hurrying away, and Sally straightens. Swallowing, she turns and faces the mutt as it comes into view. The two regard each other for a moment, Sally taking a deep breath and the hackles on the creature's back rising, then Sally lets out a defiant cry and runs into the trees, deliberately leading the mutt away from Alexa.  

The creature bounds after her, and the camera follows the pair, predator and prey, as they sprint through the woods. Sally tries her best, zigging and zagging where she can to try and put some distance between her and her pursuer, but she's no match for the Capitol's engineering. It isn't long before the mutt slams into her, sending her crashing to the forest floor. The camera pulls back, flying up above the treetops as her screams echo through the arena.

The cannon fires, and the camera cuts back to Caesar and Jasper walking through the woods.

"Let's cross here," Jasper says, pointing to a shallow spot in the stream. "That will help us mask our scent."

"We should set up a new camp as soon as we've put enough distance between us," Caesar says as they splash their way across the water. "I want to scout around for signs of the other tributes, but I don't want to lug all this gear while we do it."

The pair begins setting up a campsite, and as they work the camera zooms out, revealing a third figure crouching in the bushes nearby: Benjamin. He watches silently as the two dig a new fire pit and stow their extra supplies under piles of dead leaves.

"That should do for now. I say we follow the stream further east and see whether there are any encampments nearby. We're likely to find people near a water source," says Caesar.

"I was thinking we should head north, actually," Jasper says, pointing. "There are some tall firs over that way that could serve as a good vantage point."

Caesar makes a face.

"I'm no good at climbing trees. I think we should follow the stream."

"Well, why don't we just do both then?" Jasper says. "You follow the stream, I'll head north, we'll report back at the end of the day."  

"Fine, if that's what you want," says Caesar, and after a few more minutes of preparation, the two head off in their respective directions.

The camera zooms in on Benjamin hiding in his bush. He waits until the sound of both Caesar and Jasper's footsteps have faded, then he darts out from his hiding spot and begins digging through their supply packs. He has just pulled out a utility knife and a length of rope when his head snaps up at the sound of footsteps coming closer. He jumps to his feet, his eyes blown wide with panic, and sprints into the trees as quickly as he can.

The camera does not follow him, but rather stays on the campsite as the source of the footsteps draws closer.

"Did you see who that was?" Michael asks, and Inga shakes her head.

"They bolted before I could get a good look at them."

"Was this their campsite, do you think?" asks Johnny.  

"No...I think this is another one of Caesar's. See?" Michael says, pulling a sleeping bag from beneath the leaves. "This is what Pinocchio stole from them the other day. They must have gotten it back after they attacked us."

"In that case, let's help ourselves," Inga says.

The three spend a few minutes digging through the supplies, and Michael lets out a low whistle, pulling out a small shovel with a collapsible handle.

"Now this is a treasure," he says. "Sally was right, Caesar is definitely no survival expert, or he wouldn't have let this out of his sight."

"How come you know so much about survival, anyway?" Inga asks. "I know about plants and things from working in my father's shop, but lumber forests aren’t like real ones. They're just trees. But even though you don’t know as many plants as I do, you make decisions quickly, you don't mind sleeping rough, and you're not grumpy on an empty stomach. Not everyone would be able to handle this as well as you have. Hugh wouldn't, that's for sure."

"I thought you liked Hugh?" Johnny asks, and Inga sighs.

"I do. I just...look, we decided before we even got to the arena to try and stay away from one another. And I have a feeling he's not handling things the best."

A pop up view of Hugh appears in the bottom right corner of the screen. He is still hidden away in his berry patch, and he is tossing and turning on his makeshift bed of leaves, his eyes screwed shut and his face pinched.

The view disappears, and the camera focuses on Michael as he stows the shovel on his belt. He hesitates for a moment, then looks up at Inga and Johnny solemnly.

"Did either of you hear about...the outbreak? In District 7?"

Johnny shakes his head, but Inga looks thoughtful.

"I think so...something about a virus, right? I remember there being a lumber shortage and a planned upgrade to the town hall not happening because of it."

"Did you get sick?" Johnny asks, and Michael laughs, a hollow, empty sound.

"No...no, it wasn't that kind of virus. If you caught it, you didn't survive. It...it did something to people. Turned them into mindless monsters. There were rumors that it was a Capitol experiment gone wrong, some kind of attempt to make enhanced soldiers. All of District 7 was completely overrun. Those of us who survived the initial carnage, we had to flee into the lumber forests and try to survive. My dad and I, we spent months out there."

"Just the two of you?" Johnny asks, and Michael nods.

"Yeah...my Auntie Julep came with us, but she...well, she got the virus."

Michael sniffs, and shakes himself.

"The Capitol eventually sent soldiers to take all the infected out and get the lumber production back on track, and we found my mom again when we got back to civilization, so. It could have been worse."

"Still, it's amazing that you survived that," Inga says.

"Anyway, I'd have killed to have a shovel like this then," Michael says, patting the tool at his hip. "My dad and I, we dug these trenches and filled with sticks whittled to a sharp point. The infected would fall right into them. It was a great way to make sure we wouldn't get attacked at night while we were sleeping. But we dug them with our sticks, rocks, and our hands. We could do the same here and with this it'd only take a fraction of the time."

"Let's do that around our camp then," Johnny says. "I like the idea of no one being able to sneak up on us."

As the three continue to make plans, the screen splits into a multicam view, giving an update on multiple tributes at once. Caesar is hiking along the stream, and finds that it disappears into a cave entrance. After a quick glance around, he follows the water into the dark and disappears. Robin has left the forest behind and is tucked away at the bottom of a ravine. He wraps his arms around himself and leans back against a rock, looking up at the sky.

"Are you watching right now?" he mutters. "Cuz if you are...you were right. Doing it on my own's no good at all. I hope I get back to you soon."

Finally, Chip and Julian are foraging together. The color in Chip's cheeks is back to normal, and though they are walking slowly, they are moving.

"I can't believe they took all the supplies," Chip grumbles, and noticeably, his voice sounds different than before. The pitch is higher, and the accent has changed entirely. Julian frowns as he picks the berries from a bush.

"So you're saying that this is...your mother's side coming out?" he asks, and Chip nods.

"I know it doesn't make a lot of sense, but I only take after my mother at certain times, often after I've had some kind of episode. I guess that fever counted."

"I guess so," Julian says, shaking his head. "I've gotten as many berries as I can carry from this bush. How about you?"

"Same here," Chip agrees.

"Should we camp nearby so that we can eat them again tomorrow?" Julian asks, but Chip is looking at the large, dense bushes, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Such an obvious food source would be like a beacon to other tributes."

"So we shouldn't stick around, then?"

"Not just that...do you still have some matches left?"

"Uh...I think so, why?" Julian asks.

"Give me one," Chip instructs.

Julian hands one over, and Chip lights it, then squats down near the base of the bush. He holds the match out, and after a moment, the flame licks up the side of the bush. It moves slowly at first, then faster as more and more leaves catch fire.

"What are you doing!" Julian cries, stepping away from the heat as the bushes on either side of the first also burst into flame.

"If we can start limiting the food supply available to other tributes while keeping our own supply secure, we can try starving some people out of the games," Chip says.

Julian stares at him, his mouth agape.

"What?" Chip demands. "Don't forget what these games are, Julian. Only one of us gets to walk out of this alive."

"I know, but–"

Julian is cut off by a sudden, panicked scream.

The inferno grows larger and the screaming grows louder, and Julian looks at Chip with wide, horrified eyes.

Chip, for his part, looks stunned.

"Someone's IN there!" Julian exclaims.

He takes a step towards the blaze, but Chip grabs his arm.

"Don't! There's nothing you can do. Besides, like I said..." he trails off, and Julian wrenches his arm out of his grip.

"Don't touch me!" he says, backing away.

"I'm not going to hurt you," Chip begins, but Julian shakes his head.

"Maybe not now. But you will. I know you will. I can't...you can't..."

He turns and takes off running into the woods, and Chip makes no move to follow him. He looks back at the roaring fire as a cannon shot rings out through the arena, and squeezes his eyes shut, shaking his head rapidly. When he opens his eyes again, his jaw is set and his shoulders are square.

"Only one of us gets out alive," he mutters, and his voice has changed back to how it sounded before. "Only. One."

The camera cuts to Jasper, who is watching the smoke rise from the branch of a tall tree. He grimaces when the cannon fires, and after a glance at the position of the sun as it begins sinking for the evening, he begins climbing back down to the forest floor.

"If I'm lucky, then that was Caesar," he mutters to himself. "And if I am lucky, then I'm also fucked."

He drops the last few feet to the earth and lands with a thud, then picks himself up and lets out a sigh.

"Let's face it though...we're all fucked in here."

He begins walking back towards the campsite, and the camera pulls up, flying back along the river to the cave that Caesar entered earlier. A figure is standing at the mouth, but zooming back in to ground level the camera reveals that it's not Caesar, but Peter.

He is holding a small bundle of kindling in his arms, and the water jug strapped to his back is freshly filled. Looking around to make sure no one is watching, he carefully steps forward, and the darkness of the cave swallows him whole.

The camera cuts one last time, and shows Alexa sitting in a patch of white flowers. There are dried tear tracks on her face, but her hands are steady as she rummages through her pack of supplies, pulling out a small packet of matches.

Before she can light one, the sound of running footsteps echoes through the trees. She quickly reaches out and closes her hands around the handle of her axe.

Julian bursts into view and she flinches, but when he spots her crouching there, he doesn't run or move to attack her.

Instead he groans, and drops unceremoniously to the ground, gathering his legs close and burying his face in his knees.

Alexa tilts her head and cautiously moves towards him, and her expression turns from fearful to concerned as Julian lets out a muffled sob.

"Go on then. Do it," he says, not looking up at her. "Kill me. I deserve it."

Alexa hesitates, then sets her axe down on the ground and scoots closer.

"Why do you think that?" she asks, and Julian looks up at her, tears running down his face.

"I can't do this," he says. "I can't do it, I don't know what I'm doing, I don't know how to survive out here, and I can't...I won't..." He shakes his head, and wipes his eyes with the heel of his hand. "Only one of us can make it out, which means we have to hurt people, and I can't do that. How could anyone do that? If that's what it takes to win these games, then I don't want to win! So you may as well just kill me now!"

Alexa bites her lip, looking away for a moment, then she forces a small smile onto her face.

"Well, I don't want to hurt anyone either," she says. "So I'm not going to hurt you. Even if you ask me to, I won't do it. If we cannot win their game, maybe the answer is not to play it."

Julian hiccups.

"What if it isn't that easy?" he asks, and Alexa shrugs.

"I think that nothing is easy. But I also think...that I'm going to keep fighting anyway. Because that's what the people who cared about me would want."

Julian nods slowly, and Alexa's smile widens slightly.

"My name is Alexa," she says, holding out a hand, and after a moment, Julian takes it.

"I'm Julian," he says. "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you...friend."

The broadcast will now break for commercial. Please tune in again soon to see what else will become of our tributes on the first day of the games!

Game Summary

Deaths:

Sally was killed by an animal

Hugh was killed by Chip

Kill Counts:

Pinocchio: 2 (Maria, Jimmy)

Inga: 1 (Jim L)

Caesar: 2 (Juliet, Pinocchio)

Chip: 3 (Clarissa, Marty, Hugh)

Jasper: 1 (Pinocchio)

Robin: 1 (Janae)

Peter: 1 (Priscilla)

Game Meta

I KNOW OKAY I KNOW. I AM ALSO DEVASTATED. This damn simulator gave me Alexa & Sally platonic goodness and then ripped it away immediately and I am not okay. But then! It gives me the narrative parallels of Alexa begging someone for death to then turn around and give someone else the same comfort she received?? I am going insane. How did this happen.

Anyway, not a lot of actual structure notes to make on this one, except that I'm baffled that somehow half the tributes are gone, but this is still the longest chapter so far. That's what happens when I go in to add more backstory for some of the characters, I guess. Once again, thank you so much for reading and commenting! Let me know who you're rooting for if it's changed after today's...events.

[phantombegruvia]

SFTH MURDER MYSTERY - PART 8 [TARQUIN POV]

MASTERPOST

*CW for description of death and blood

[WAYNE MANOR DRAWING ROOM - 18:57]

“Give her the.. whatever it is,” Tracey shrugged, she leaned against one of the side tables. Amanda physically deflated in relief.

Margaery nodded, she kneeled next to Esmeralda, “Amanda, could you make her sit up, and see if you can wake her?”

Amanda did so, she pushed Esmeralda up and shook her awake - her eyes fluttering open slightly as she groaned.

“Esmeralda,” Margaery said, “I know it won't be pleasant, but I need you to drink this. It will help you, trust me.” She brought the glass to Esmeralda's lips, and pressed her chin so Esmeralda's head was tilted upwards ever-so slightly. Esmeralda winced as she drank the remedy.

When all the water was gone, Amanda helped Esmeralda lay back down, her eyes closing almost immediately. Not long after, Esmeralda's face returned back to the paper-white shade it was when Tarquin first saw her (it didn't look much healthier than the dark red her cheeks were just a few moments ago).

“It seemed to work,” Rumpled had taken his place next to Margaery, but his voice was laden with scepticism.

Margaery hummed, “and quicker than what it should have.”

“Because of her condition?”

“Most likely, but that doesn't make sense, because why-”

“What condition?” Helter asked, interrupting Margaery.

“Ah- well,” Rumpled turned to the group, it was clear he didn't know what to say - Margaery was the same.

Ethel, however, knew exactly what to say, “she's a vampire!” she started to laugh, “and that lady over there,” she pointed at Amanda, “has fallen in loOove with her!”

“I-” Amanda's face suddenly turned crimson, Tarquin was partly worried that she had been poisoned too, “what? No- no. I haven't- I'm not in love with- I'm not.”

“Yes you are! I'm good at spotting people in love, you see, my grandson’s best friend-”

“Is now really the time?” Tarquin couldn't help but stop the back and forth between the two, “I can't believe that I've had to remind three people tonight that people are dying!” He glanced towards Tracey who rolled her eyes, "And Ethel has just said that Esmeralda is a fucking vampire! Jesus what is wrong with you people?" He sighed, trying to calm himself down, “I'll go check on Derek, you said he was in that room?”

Tarquin gestured towards another door, and John Jacob nodded. John quickly got up and stood by Tarquin's side, “I'll- I'll come with you, I don't want to sit around and do nothing, I want to help.. and do something.”

Tarquin nodded and opened the door.

[WAYNE MANOR SNUG - 19:00]

The snug was a small room, but decorated quite similarly to the drawing room. There were two white sofas and a television mounted on the wall. The coffee table in the middle of the room was decorated with a vase with two black roses.

It took a while for Tarquin to notice the farmer, he was practically blending in with the sofa as he covered himself with a soft white blanket. He was sporting a.. distant expression, as if not really aware of anything going on around him.

Tarquin sighed, and sat next to him, he didn't say anything but he pulled Derek closer to him and rubbed his upper arm. After a few moments, Derek rested his head on Tarquin's shoulder.

Tarquin watched John as he seemed to notice something on the set of drawers, he pulled something from under the tray that had the glass pitcher on it. He looked at it confusedly, before walking towards the two on the sofa.

“I'm going to assume that these are fancy new words,” John handed Tarquin a yellow post-it note, “and that you will know what it means?”

Username: BWayne39

Password: IRNBRU01

Before Tarquin could think anymore of it, the lights went out once more - which Tarquin did not like. He shot up, pocketing the yellow note, and headed towards the door, stumbling over something - probably the coffee table leg. Derek seemed to have recovered a little as Tarquin could sense his and John's presence behind him (or, at least he hoped that it was Derek and John).

Tarquin entered the drawing room just as the lights came back on.

[WAYNE MANOR DRAWING ROOM - 19:09]

Tarquin could imagine that somebody screamed, but his ears weren't working as he stared up at the hanging body. Poppy was only young, he thought, she didn't deserve that rope that cut into her neck, nor the blood that leaked from beneath it; the blood that trickled down and stained her overalls. She didn't deserve to be hung from the ceiling of the manor's drawing room, around 20 feet in the air.

It seemed that she used the last of her strength to hold onto the plaid fabric she had been clutching since she arrived. But, eventually, her strength had ran out, and the square fabric slowly glided down to the floor.

part 7 << part 8 >> part 9 MASTERPOST

[tridentkickflipper123]

share ur bonus interesting night music video findings/rambles/analysis NOW!!!!!!!!!!!(please and also thank u:])

HIII JAGGY o/ honestly I could probably ramble about Night forever so... :} works out for me!

a lot of this are going to be things I've already mentioned on this blog, but they're pretty scrambled around so I might just make this a big post for all of it... consider this a 'nearly beat for beat Night analysis plus some other things and details' masterpost. not much of a lyrical analysis though because I'm not good at it lol. (also putting this all under the cut. thumbs up)

so, for starters... well, I'm not starting off with Night! nope! we're starting off with Spring and a Storm (now imagine a big arrow pointing towards me that says 'person that can't stop mentioning SaaS/StaaS at any given opportunity')

and the reason I'm bringing up Spring and a Storm first is due to the ending lines, which lead up to Night:

now, I'm aware that Spring and a Storm was the very first Tally Hall cover that Chonny made, and thus was made waaay before there was an overarching story planned for it. but ☝️ I do think CJ placing it right before Night in the final album (and assigning it to Soul, of all three... four? of them) is immensely relevant. in SaaS we get shown Soul's outright optimism/idealism despite his circumstances, and, while this is my own interpretation (which could very well be wrong!), I do think these lines are meant to be directed towards Heart and Mind specifically

and, this has never been confirmed since once again, this cover was made way before there was a story, but the final lines do sound an awful lot like Heart and Mind, don't they?

personally I think this is why CJ placed SaaS right before Night – it truly is the perfect lead-up to it. Heart and Mind singing the final lines almost feels like a call and response to Soul's beginning lines. they tried to sing once, about spring and a storm...

but we know how it goes.

[here's where I actually talk about Night lol]

now Night... it honestly may be my favorite CCCC MV out of all of them. I said so in that other post, but there's so much detail in every single scene. you can really tell that just about everything was planned out.

the MV itself starts off with Soul/potentially Whole arriving at the scene. it's interesting, actually – if we assume the silhouette is the same silhouette as the one that's in the latter half of Night, then that's definitely Whole, which would make sense as we properly see Heart, Mind and Soul arriving to the scene later. yet, all his lines are transcribed as Soul's, so... eh? I'll leave that in the air

I do interpret this beginning section as Soul guiding Heart into harmonizing with Mind. Heart's line, 'open the window, look out and see me' fades into Mind's voice, at this point, when he sings 'slow, I am coming a long way to be' the environment turns into a bright white.

I like both of these shots a lot. here we see that Mind and Heart are already feeling their respective pains (headache and heartache). but another detail is that Mind's holding up his left hand while Heart is holding up his right – which correspond to Soul's own nail color (black on the left, white on the right)

as Soul sings 'such as I am mother's only son', we see what seems to be an ultrasound scan overlaid on top of Soul / Whole. honestly, it's so hard to see that I'm still not 99% sure that's what it is even with the brightness turned up + more contrast, but I don't really know what else it could be. it's only present through this specific line too.

(this is such a typical 'blink and you miss it' CCCC detail that I can't help but love it. there's a few more like these scattered throughout some of the other MVs and each one makes me go like WHAT!!! HUH!!!)

now comes another detail that's honestly so hard to see in the video itself, but it feels really really important, and that is the fact that Heart does not have a blindfold on in this scene

(Ever is the light on.) [Is the light on ever meant to run?]

right after we see a door starting to open, in a bright environment. afterwards we see Heart puts on his blindfold

we go back to the shot with the door, except the environment is now dark. the door keeps opening, revealing Mind at the other side. worth mentioning that the only bright spot on the screen is right where Mind appears

[Cold, but I’m outside and waiting to see] (a glow in the snow, coming closer to me.)

this whole imagery with the door is important, due to both the incoming lines and another reason I'll bring up later, so remember this detail. after the chorus, we get a section with only Soul.

{Better when the light comes in the night-time, opening the door. Hoping to be right, it’s open every night, so what’cha waiting for?}

Soul is inviting Heart and Mind to harmonize, guiding them and giving them the space to connect with eachother. however. as we saw, they don't want to see eye to eye with eachother. or rather, they can't – not at this point of the cycle, at least. there's a tension there that's still unresolved, made evident by Heart's avoidance of Mind

and then comes the tines line:

I've explained in my other post what I think the line means, so I won't repeat it here. (also because I'm lazy lol). but I do think this shot itself is interesting. we see Soul alone throughout this entire verse, only going back to Heart and Mind during this line. and they're both clearly in pain; Mind with his constant headache and Heart with his chest pain. they're also not looking at eachother, with a clear split between them, Mind's environment being brighter and Heart's environment being darker. it's clear they're not on equal grounds here

here we get the second chorus again, but there's a clear difference. Heart and Soul start this line off singing together, but at the very end it's just Soul singing

{I want to see your) eyes, looking back and out through mine.}

here, Soul takes a pause right before the last word, there's a just barely audible sigh, and then sings 'mine,' alone. to me, this is the moment that Soul realizes that this isn't going to be possible, at least not in the state that things are in.

(Something is real.) {Maybe not.} {(Something is gone.)} (Something is here.) [Only thought.] {(What do you want?)}

I won't say much about these lyrics, as they're admittedly hard to parse for me as to what they mean exactly. (though it does feel like this is the point where Soul's given up on his initial task). I do think that it's notable how this is the only instance I can think of where Soul directly talks towards only Mind.

the continuing line is this:

{([Everything else will fade away.])}

as this line plays, we see Soul, Heart, Mind*, and we see Whole, and then… the video reverses, and keeps reversing up until the point where the door is closed again, Heart puts on the blindfold.

to me, what this means is that all of the progress made through the song, the attempt made by the three to see eachother's point of view, to harmonize, is now undone. they're now back at square one.

*one little detail about this part is that both Soul and Heart are looking downwards, while Mind is looking straight-ahead at the camera... which could mean nothing /ref

as the final chorus plays, there's a different, darker static filter over their shared screen. they're all singing together until the very end, where only Soul remains singing. the lyrics change too, from 'looking back and out through mine', to 'looking back and into mine'

... and then we fade into Ruler of Everything. *stock sfx of children cheering*

considering how both Spring and a Storm and Ruler of Everything were covered before there was a story planned, the fact that CJ chose Night to bridge them together works perfectly IMO. we go from 'some semblance of peace' to 'an attempt an harmony' to 'nevermind shit has hit the fan'

I could in theory talk about Light as well, but I don't have a whole lot to say about it compared to Night, as it doesn't have as many minute details that Night does (none that I've noticed, at least). I imagine it's due to the lyrics being far more straight forward to the CCCC lore, since Night is more of a 'faithful' cover compared to Light (which was very much intentional, IIRC)

so yeah. that's my Night analysis, kind of 👍 I didn't proof-read this post as much as I did the other so I may edit this post later if I notice a glaring issue later on or want to reword anything or something. little carbonation and I'll see you next time, later /ref

[murkycran]

Radiostatic/Voxal Fic Rec List

Welcome to my Radiostatic/Voxal Fic Rec List! ^_^ This will include romantic, platonic, and/or queerplatonic Radiostatic fics (and admittedly probably a couple of Radiosilence fics, too).

I will keep updating this periodically as I read more fics, so feel free to check back every once and a while! I'll reblog it when I update it, plus make a note with the date at the top. Trust me, this is by no means a complete list; there's fics I still want to add to this that I just haven't gotten to yet. I just decided to go ahead and post it anyways, because if I kept waiting until I ran out of fics to rec I'd probably be working on this forever.

These are not in any particular order; I'm going by both my Bookmarks list on AO3 and my memory of fics I forgot to bookmark. I also tried to make notes on what fics were written before season 1 released, but I might have missed some, so keep that in mind.

Please let me know if any links don't work or are wrong!

✨Before you proceed:✨ read the tags on these fics if you decide to read them. Many of them have heavy material - no surprise given the fandom, but still, felt like this needed said. On that note, there's also fics with explicit material and some fics are straight up PWP. Again, read at your own risk/heed the tags.

Fic Rec List Masterpost

Staticmoth Fic Rec List

Misc. Vox Fic Rec List

------

Radio Healed the Video Star by Aspiring_Forest_Witch

Summary: Alastor comes across an unconscious and battered Vox while out on one of his strolls. He feels compelled to bring him back to the hotel.

Notes: 98% of this fic was written before season 1 was released, so keep that in mind, because there's obviously going to be inconsistencies with canon. It's nearly finished (at least according to the author's notes in the latest chapters, I think). I suggest pacing yourself with this one - it's nearly 700k words long. I ruined a good sleep schedule staying up to get through it. (So worth it though.) There are quite a few OCs in later chapters, but they're such good OCs. You fall in love with them just as much as the canon characters, I swear. I would die for Verity and the Trio.

Let's Misbehave by joosymango

Summary: Alastor wins a bet against Vox, now his rival must stop pestering him for two weeks. It should be a pleasant break! So why does he miss the idiot?

Notes: Vaguely inspired by Aspiring_Forest_Witch's Radio Healed the Video Star. Also largely written before season 1 release. First fic I read for the HH fandom. ^_^

Safe with Me Series by rillo (rillyrillo)

Summary: Having only ever set his sights on men who treat women with odious disrespect, Alastor never thought he'd take interest in Vox's turbulent relationship with his fiancé and business partner, Valentino. He decides to lend a helping hand in the hopes of getting Vox out of his sticky situation. After all, what are childhood enemies for?

Unfortunately, neither Alastor nor Vox could've predicted the rollercoaster of unsaid emotions and future horrors that are thrown their way. Will they be able to rely on each other and get by unscathed? Or will destiny have other plans for these two?

[HUMAN AU] [There's art included for the human designs]

Notes: It's so, so good. ;-; Heed the tags. There's a prequel consisting of oneshots, plus a sequel (listed below, bc I can't not put it here)! And there's ART! So much art!

You, My Everything by rillo (rillyrillo)

Summary: Some say that love can conquer all, even in Hell.

Vox begged to differ, and he was damn well sure Alastor did too – or at least he would be, if Alastor hadn’t become one big question mark.

Sequel to Safe with Me.

Notes: Only read if you've read Safe With Me!!! Still pretty early in the story but so good. ;-; The angst, I swear...

You're on the Air by rillo (rillyrillo)

Summary: A series of short, daily conversations between a radio host and his avid listener, as the two learn more about each other’s lives over the air. Set in the late 90s/early 2000s.

Notes: Same author as Safe with Me, but not set in the same universe! This one is set up in a literal radio show format; almost entirely dialogue-centric.

Of Candied Pine and Cherried Smoke by rillo (rillyrillo)

Summary: Inspired by x_Arcticfox_x’s fanfiction: Blue Raspberries And Cherry Cola

After overdosing on them one too many times to curb the steadily weakening suppressants, Vox's body rejects them outright. Now with his scent getting stronger, he finds himself struggling to hide his true status as an Omega. In his desperation, he seeks help from the one person that knows his secret: Alastor.

Notes: Omegaverse. Same author as Safe with Me series and You're on the Air!

Blue Raspberries And Cherry Cola by x_Arcticfox_x

Summary: Vox is an omega, that's his biggest secret.

During his life time he hid this fact using suppressants, and counited to in death. One day he runs out of pills and his supplier is out of stock for the time being so Vox is forced to submit to the torture of going through heat for the first time in decades.

Too bad his business partner only see's omega's as mere object's...

But hey, at least Angel found him just in time, right?

Notes: Omegaverse. Currently on hold, but has 14 chapters currently available for reading. :)

Once Bitten, Twice Shy by The_Penny_Tails

Summary: Alastor decides that it's time to claim what is rightfully his, consequences be damned.

Notes: It's not porn but it might as well have been for how fucking intense this scene was. 😳

Dripping Pink by The_Penny_Tails

Summary: Just before an Overlord meeting, Alastor gets infected by an off-market, highly potent, and incredibly dangerous love potion. Nobody realises until it's too late.

Notes: Simultaneously funny as fuck and erotic as all hell. I suffered from so much secondhand embarrassment on Vox's behalf. It's wonderful. :D

Lucidity's Fog by The_Penny_Tails

Summary: Ever since he met Alastor, Vox has been having raunchy dreams about the deer. Those dreams suddenly stop when Alastor disappears. For seven years, he's free of the guilt, of the shame brought on by his unconscious desire.

Until Alastor comes back, and Vox is plagued by a new dream the same day he finds out about the news. This time, however, something is distinctively different about how the deer is acting.

Notes: Author tagged for light angst, but ngl the ending did not feel like 'light' angst to me lol. Hurt in a good way.

Finger Tips and Dotted Lips by The_Penny_Tails

Summary: Alastor has sensitive hands; he finds this out at the most inconvenient time possible. Unfortunately, Vox is the one who ends up paying the price for it.

Having to help a seemingly broken Overlord whilst navigating this new discovery proves to be a little more taxing than the Radio Demon could ever have imagined.

Notes: Alastor is such a troll in this omg.

Thawing Out by Seaside_Dreaming

Summary: Seeing a small crack in Vox's screen nags at Alastor more than he likes to admit.

Vox wishes things were better. Sooner or later, Alastor has to come to terms with the fact he has feelings, in general.

Notes: Written before season 1 release. HIGHLY suggest reading the prequel one-shot. It's not necessary to understand the plot here, but you should read it anyway.

Static by passthevoxcord

Summary: Vox creates a new and improved version of himself to please Val, only to be replaced by it. He is left beaten and broken with no one to turn to . . . except maybe his oldest enemy, Alastor.

Notes: Written before season 1 release.

Hating you feels so good by TwoBitJester

Summary: Vox obsesses over his returned enemy and finds himself a little too wound up

Notes: Very good PWP.

Laced Over Dinner by hazbinhearts

Summary: Vox is persuaded to dress a little differently over dinner for Alastor, but finds it remarkably uncomfortable as the night goes on. Written for VoxWeek21 Day 3: dressing up [appearance, formal, dance].

Notes: Written before season 1 release. Corsets. 😳

Observer by DeviousPossum

Summary: He moved the cursor to click off, when he suddenly heard a very recognizable static laced tone.

Alastor.

Alastor.

What the fuck. Alastor is singing.

Vox unintentionally ran claw marks across his desk, an increasingly common habit for him as of late. He grimaced at his now ruined table and unsuccessfully tried to reel in an inexplicable feeling that could only be described as jealousy.

Notes: Porn with a tiny bit of plot in the first chapter. :3

RadioTV Week 2021 Series by Heliosolar

Summary: Pretty much the title; various prompts.

Notes: Written before season 1 release. All worth reading, though they aren't connected.

Sharkblocking by Anonymous

Summary: Alastor is Vox’s number one rival. Incidentally, though nobody involved is aware of it, Alastor’s number one rival is actually Vox’s pet shark.

In which Alastor is actually a little obsessed back and Vark is the biggest obstacle to Radiostatic short of canon itself.

Notes: VARK!

Control + V by TooManyPsuedonyms

Summary: Vox and Alastor have a... thing. Not quite a relationship, but something. Vox is too scared to define it properly, and Alastor is dead set that Vox will eventually get bored of his lack of reciprocity and move on.

So, Valentino tries to show Vox what he is missing.

... too bad Vox didn't want him like that. ... too bad Alastor didn't know want is a vague word.

Notes: Heed the tags!!! There's currently a sequel; I haven't read it yet, but I definitely plan to. 👀

gift of the magi by vol_ctrl

Summary: "... Although husband and wife are now left with gifts that neither one can use, they realize how far they are willing to go to show their love for each other, and how priceless their love really is ..."

Alastor/Vox established relationship fluff.

Notes: Written before season 1 release. Very sweet. ^_^

the lost tape by vol_ctrl

Summary: There's a NEW ambitious media demon in Pentagram City. You never get a second chance to make a first impression, right?

Notes: Written before season 1 release.

12 Days of Yuletide by vol_ctrl

Summary: A parody of the 12 Days of Christmas traditional tune, as can only be done by Vox gifting to his beloved adversary.

Or, a series of letters from the desk of Alastor upon receiving a series of increasingly elaborate gifts from his insufferably modern foil during the holiday season.

Notes: Written before season 1 release.

Fear makes the heart grow fonder by Graysongirl

Summary: After a bit of inspiration from an unlikely source Vox comes up with the plan that scaring Alastor is the best route to gaining his affections. The haunted house at LuLu World seems like the perfect (safe) environment for a bit of pre-planned scaring...

[Stand-alone staticradio]

Notes: Written before season 1 release. Funny af. "Red! Red!" XD

Cordyceps, King of Ants by spappest

Summary: Vox is tired. Of Valentino. Of Velvette. Of Alastor, and Hell, and everything in between. He can't escape, but he can cut himself off, piece by piece, until he feels nothing at all. Alastor takes exception to this approach and commissions a certain princess of Hell to fix his foe. Now Vox has a hotel of misfits on one side of him, overlords on the other, and Alastor crushing his cage ever smaller.

Clearly, the only way Vox will get any peace and quiet is to just kill God.

Valentino did always tell him that he had no chill.

Notes: Started before season 1 was released. Technically features Staticmoth but it's not the focus as much as Radiostatic (which honestly has a relationship status of ??? not romantic but also not friendship or even strictly enemies...just...Alastor and Vox). O_O I think about this fic on a daily basis.

Russian Roulette by spappest

Summary: Vox and Alastor play a game that Vox is way too excited to lose.

Notes: Started before season 1 release. Take note!!! I'm putting this on the Radiostatic list because it's almost entirely centered on Alastor and Vox's dynamic, but the romantic relationship is Staticmoth. The Staticmoth is just not featured very much.

Vox and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Afterlife by spappest

Summary: Alastor goes into rut.

Vox has a bad time. Then a good time. Then a very bad time. Then a brief vacation. Then a confusing time.

Notes: Background Staticmoth, but Radiostatic is most prominent. Funny af. Alastor and Vox have...a very special relationship. Lol.

Killer Ex by FanGirl48

Summary: Alastor was a serial killer who valued his privacy. So when someone who claims to know what he is tries to barge into his life he can't let them live, his secret must be protected at all cost.

A normally easy task easy task becomes complicated when Alastor's ex-boyfriend is dragged into the whole thing forcing the serial killer to go visit them for the first time in seven years.

Notes: Human AU. Love me some possessive Alastor. <3

Negotiations by FanGirl48

Summary: Vox had no interest in attending a meeting between Heaven and Hell following the failed attack by the Adam and his Exterminators. Alastor's little gremlin caused the mess, so he can go clean it up. Vox had nothing wanted nothing to do with the radio demon, king of hell or heaven.

But that was before Lucifer made the media overlord aware of Valentino's little job offer to his daughter.

Damnit Valentino!

Notes: "And they were roommates!" "Oh my god they were roommates"

Down, Up, and Back Down by CowboyEnthusiast

Summary: Vox dies. Surprisingly no one takes this well.

Or, Vox dies and Alastor tries to drag his soul back from Purgatory.

Notes: Another fic I think about daily... Heavy themes. Heed the tags.

Hold Me Like a Grudge by Rachello344

Summary: Alastor has spent a long time running from Vox. Vox has chased after him almost as long. When suppressants fail throughout the city, they finally collide.

Notes: Omegaverse. Fun fact about this author: all their Radiostatic fic titles are from Fall Out Boy lyrics lol. (I fucking love FOB sue me.) I haven't yet read all of Rachello344's Radiostatic fics, BUT I have them all on my To Read list because I've loved everything I've read of theirs so far lol.

What Makes You So Special? by Rachello344

Summary: With Lucifer’s return to the Pride Ring, the other Deadly Sins were bound to take notice. When Asmodeus stops by the Pride Ring to visit the Morningstars, the Vees are able to make a deal to host a pop-up shop of the incredibly popular Lust Ring establishment, Ozzie’s, bringing it to the Pride Ring for the first time.

When Vox and Alastor both attend the restaurant’s opening night, long repressed sparks fly, forever changing their relationship.

Notes: Because of the pacing of this (sex first romance later), I feel like this is the Radiostatic equivalent of Femalefonzie's Freak-A-Zoid (a really good Staticmoth fic). This is hands down one of the most romantic Radiostatic fics I've read. ^_^

Hold Me Tight (or Don't) by Rachello344

Summary: Alastor and Vox finally come to an understanding, both of each other and of what they each mean to the other. Their relationship evolves accordingly, one concession at a time, until they both get everything they could possibly want: power, companionship, and even love.

Notes: So, so good.

Keep You Like an Oath by Rachello344

Summary: Alastor normally wouldn’t bother with the chore—breaking into V Tower was quite a lot of work, even for him—but he found himself curious about what Vox and his little friends might be working on. Especially since whatever it was had Angel concerned enough to report back to the rest of the hotel about it.

Of course, before he can learn anything, he’ll need to sneak past Vox’s watchful eye…

Notes: God it's just...so good. Read it. Radiostatic reconciliation. One thing I love about Rachello344 writing Radiostatic is Alastor's terms of endearment for Vox. ^_^

To Be Yours by pinegreenapples

Summary: Alastor hears something he hasn't heard in years. He decides to investigate why now, of all times, this frequency has turned back on. Vox is not amused.

Notes: Hurt no comfort. Hurts so good, though. ;-;

oleanders in june by spoondrifts

Summary: It seems like while Alastor was off preying on the self-destructive addictions of desperate sinners, Vox was off getting himself beaten half to death, probably from spouting belligerent nonsense at someone with violent tendencies and a far lower threshold for disrespect than Alastor. Not everyone finds poor Vox’s chatter as charming as he does.

If Vox is unconscious, then Vox is not being entertaining, and Alastor came here to have fun, not play nursemaid.

Or: Drunk on power and itching to cause some mayhem, Alastor hunts down the only person in the city who's always up for anything. Unfortunately, he finds Vox... not exactly in tip-top shape. No matter; he can work with that too.

Notes: ^_^ Very sweet.

equilibrium by curtailed

Summary: Post-Finale. The Hotel finds Alastor right on the front lawn, unconscious and bleeding, still injured from Adam's blade. While he recovers, all of Hell scrambles to find out who his mysterious rescuer is.

Meanwhile, Vox tries not to freak out that he might have accidentally made a soul bond to save that deer asshole's life. All he had wanted to do was to scope out the ruins of Alastor's radio tower. Fuck him for being curious, he supposed.

Notes: This fic has me in a CHOKEHOLD. I love the characterizations so, so much. Manages to fit in humor alongside the angst. One of the best fight scenes I've ever seen put into words. Curtailed really took Vox and Alastor as characters and planned out a cool fucking fight scene using their unique abilities. I automatically love anything tagged with "one fell first but the other fell harder" lol.

candlelight by curtailed

Summary: Despite the #SirRepentious success, Heaven remains skeptical of a sinner's ability to change. Logic gets lost somewhere, and really, what's a better way to show sinners can be marginally less horrible than to stick two Overlords who hate each other in the same living space?

OR

Alastor and Vox play house.

Notes: The comedy of Alastor and Vox being forced to be civil with each other and then unintentionally becoming very domestic together. Lol

wallow by curtailed

Summary: A 2+1 fic. Two times when Alastor and Vox were in a love triangle (hard quote on love, hard quote on triangle), and the one time Alastor had Vox to himself.

Notes: Only 1 (very good) chapter so far, but safe to say pretty heavy already. Heed the tags.

Addicted by Dancingdog

Summary: After the latest argument with Valentino, Vox finds himself at the Hazbin Hotel. An injured Alastor is less-than-pleased to see him, which is understandable considering they are enemies.

But as more and more of Valentino's venom leaves his system, Vox begins to remember his days before V-Tower and he learns exactly why Alastor rejected his offer all those decades ago.

His memories return in fits and spurts - not all of them good. His past with Alastor isn't something he expected and it turns out that he isn't the only one suffering.

Notes: Dude. This fic hurt me. Such good angst.

Radio Made the Video Star Series by songofhell

Summary: Snippets of Vox and Alastor's afterlife, and their journey from strangers to friends to enemies to... something more.

Notes: Pretty much what the series summary says - a series of installments that chronicle the beginning and subsequent evolution of Alastor and Vox's relationship. Very good, has tons of possessive!Alastor, which I die for.

Uneasy by Saezs

Summary: “Something’s wrong with Voxy.”

Velvette’s eyes snapped to the tall moth pimp. “And?” she prompted with a raised eyebrow. As if she needed to deal with two piss babies this close to a show. Valentino shrugged, tapping away on his phone, and walked away to stand threateningly close to her new models. Before she could snap at him, she saw it; his wings were twitching. Barely noticeable to strangers, just under the hum of the building’s lights, he was squeaking with each tap of his fingers. She felt unease and a healthy dose of aggravation swirl in her stomach.

Or: Vox was roofied and sexually assaulted. Velvette tries to be better than her mother. Unexpected connections are formed.

Notes: Heed the tags! Features genderfluid Vox. :)

Five Times Vox and Alastor Danced and One Time They Didn't by Drowsy_Salamander

Summary: “I say, good fellow, what are you doing on the ground like that?”

The voice was perky, cheerful, and bright. It had a crisp mid-Atlantic accent, the kind Vox remembered being all the rage for stage and film performers back when he first entered the broadcast industry. The diction was crystal clear with every sound enunciated separately to maximise clarity, the consonants clicked and the vowels were broad. It was a performer’s voice.

A voice for radio.

Oh shit.

... Five times Vox and Alastor danced and one time Vox and Alastor didn't.

From their first meeting through their friendship, to their enmity and fighting. From infatuation to yearning to animosity. Dancing is a partnership, is it not?

Notes: Each chapter so far has been a different type of dance, which is really neat. Especially chapter 2. ^_^ That said, there's a feeling of impending doom, knowing what happens to their relationship eventually... Not saying that as a deterrent but just a comment on how I felt while reading it lol. It's very sweet, which is why it hurts to think of future chapters. 🙃

Days Long Past by Momo52

Summary: All sinners of hell bore some physical marks of how they lived and died. Some physical manifestations were more obvious while others were subtle. Vox was not an exception to this rule.

While his television head was an obvious indication of his life while on Earth, the mark he bore from his death was far more subdued. Luckily enough, his shame was easily concealed behind a high collar. Unfortunately, he is just as well known in his afterlife as he was in his life. As such, trying to make everyone believe that he is so much stronger than what his death implies is a constant battle. He only wished that he wasn’t the hardest one to convince.

Notes: I think platonic Radiostatic is the endgame here. Still pretty early in the story, but I'm really liking this author's depiction of Vox and Alastor's pasts. Heed the tags. There are heavy subjects such as suicide (very big theme for Vox's pov) and period-typical racism (in Alastor's past) present in the story.

Remote Access by x-UsoTsuki-x (its_not_reael)

Summary: In the aftermath of Alastor and Vox's electrifying on-air showdown, Vox finds himself unusually rattled. His usual suave demeanor is slipping, much to his cohorts' amusement – and concern. Velvet can do little more than roll her eyes at his antics. Valentino, on the other hand, is convinced that all Vox needs to do is get fucked and relax.

or, alternatively...

The tech-savvy overlord manages to snag a virus from a porn site and finds himself in the arms of his worst enemy.

Notes: Fairly certain this is firmly Radiosilence based on the tags (and the direction of the story so far). Very funny, very hot. Vox is pathetic in this one. Lol

Nun-thing Like You've Ever Seen Series by A_Cypress_Coffin

Summary: Alastor, the feared radio demon with more blood on his hands than most of hell combined, wasn't always as we imagine him. There was a time where instead of a dapper suit and smile he donned a simple vow and habit. That didn't last of course, but the journey is quite something.

Notes: This author has a great sense of humor, lmao. I enjoyed the unique headcanons for Alastor's backstory. The tag that hooked me: "Accidentally becoming a better person through bad domming and found family".

Empathia by The_Oblivious_Swallow

Summary: Creating new technology is boring, sex is physically unappealing, the other Vee’s are so annoying, annoying, annoying! Even Vark, his baby, his pride and joy, doesn’t stir the same joy in his heart like he should.

So, Vox had concluded that it had to go. For his sake.

Notes: Contains Staticmoth, but Radiostatic seems like the endgame (I write this as there is one chapter still left). Really interesting idea. I love Vox.exe so much. ;-;

Every Madman Has His Vice by phantasm_png (chibellero)

Summary: “What the fuck do you want, Alastor? Was it not enough to kill me all those years ago? Now, you had to go for the people I loved and the only things I had left in this fucking Hellhole?”

“It was my fault,” Alastor whispers as he approaches Vox slowly, as if he was some sort of wounded animal he didn’t want to scare off. His prey. “Vox, I’m sorry. If I had a chance to redo that night, I would never have hurt you to this extent. I’ll never harm you again.”

“That’s seven years too fucking late, Alastor.”

OR: Seven years ago, instead of Alastor disappearing, it was Vox who left instead.

Notes: I’m so fucking here for this AU. Possessive Alastor, Vox helping with the hotel, Husk is still an Overlord, yessss

Metathesiophobia (Fear of Change) by phantasm_png (chibellero)

Summary: There's a lot that can change in seven years.

But never once had Alastor expected for something like this from his old rival and older friend.

Or, Alastor and Vox start to rekindle their old friendship again after a shocking discovery strikes the deer demon.

Notes: QPR Radiostatic with MtF Vox! Contains a smidge of Staticmoth, but it's in the background and not the focus. Very well written.

surimi and venison by phantasm_png (chibellero)

Summary: A series of short drabbles (500+ words) in an interconnected universe (peep the tags, they're still in hell), centering around Alastor and his new pet fish... shark... television thing. Will (hopefully) update 1-2 times a week. Written as my attempt at a Mermay series.

Notes: Like the summary says, Mermay prompts featuring SharkHybrid!Vox, along with Alastor, who literally saw Vox and decided to make him his pet. Lol.

an arm and a leg, my dear, les yeux d'la tête by phantasm_png (chibellero)

Summary: “I mean, usually when Val gets mad he gets like, super pissy too an’ starts destroyin’ shit ‘round the set and in his clubs, but like, usually Vox can calm him down. Problem is, where the Hell is that guy? I haven’t seen ‘im round the Tower for like, a month or two now. That ain’t normal.”

“What, so you mean he just up and left?”

“No, but like… he hasn’t been seen ‘in public’ for like, two months now. It’s startin’ to get suspicious. Like, I ‘unno if I’m just paranoid or something, but… Vox is like, the fuckin’ face of Hell’s Entertainment District. When he’s not round for a bit, that’s nothing to worry about on its own… but when he’s not round for a bit an’ Val and Velvette are creeping around, looking for his rival…? I mean… the dots are connecting. If Al did something…”

“If Vox was dead, we would know.” OR: Two months ago, Vox went missing. Right now, it seems as if Alastor has something to hide.

Notes: Vox gets attic-wifed and wears a virgin killer sweater. ^_^

we'll go down together in the ashes of our love by phantasm_png (chibellero)

Summary: Glimpses into the Radio Demon's life as he reluctantly navigates parenthood with his co-parenting partner and the demon princess hoisted onto him by the King and Queen of Hell.

Loosely inspired by Spy X Family.

Notes: CUTE! I love domestic Radiostatic.

What Has Been by Tianren

Summary: Vox has never known peace. From being the son of a egocentric cult leader, to being the boyfriend of a self absorbed abuser. Vox has managed to build a pretty sad life for himself. The only spot of sunshine that had ever blessed his existence was when he met an amateur true crime investigative journalist, with a podcast named, Alastor. The man was his only source of unfiltered news and contact to the world outside his father’s compound. But after Vox finally escaped the cult he waited for Alastor. Waited weeks in their assigned meeting spot just to be forgotten. Vox was convinced he’d stopped waiting for Alastor years ago until he meets the man again seven years later at a hotel. What will reconnecting with his past lead to and will it help him escape the hell he’s built for himself?

Takes place in the late 2000s early 2010s

Trigger warning for religious trauma and abuse as major themes of this story. Will add more warnings if they arise as I go on.

Notes: Really interesting human AU concept!

(Fic rec list to be continued)

[phoenixeclipse-lmkau]

OMG!!! <3 I’m in love with all your content. It’s so hard finding yandere Shadowpeach, especially in a ploy relationship with oc/reader!!! I enjoy the dark themes this can bring to the table!!! I’m curious however, to hear your nsfw (smut) headcanons regarding the monkeys in a yandere romantic relationship and then how that changes with oc/reader? ;3 (Only if you’re comfortable, as I read somewhere that you are planning on featuring smut in some of the fanfics).

I have a few NSFW's that I am currently trying to work on. They are harder than I thought but I shall give you these headcannons of mine. (For this I'll use my cursed warlords AU because I might decide to change it up per au who knows)

Now onto it!

Shadowpeach Headcannons (NSFW)

I imagine that before the two got together, there was a lot of chemistry.

Wukong would get drunk once in a while (like blackout drunk). During this, he'd definitely be flirty with Macaque. Macaque, who never drank more than he could handle.

So Macaque would barely hold himself back as Wukong teased him in every way possible. The want to pounce was always there, he would want and pine to jump onto his King and fuck him senseless.

What made it harder was Wukongs hands raking across his body, teasing and taunting him. The number of times he nearly slid his hands into his warriors' pants counted into the hundreds before they got together. The only reason they never got further was because Macaque put a stop to it rather quickly.

After they get together?

Macaque is all on Wukong, weather drunk or not. He has months of teasing to repay (teasing that Wukong doesn't recall)

He'll suck Wukong off, enjoying the peachy flavor (why not?)

He'll bind him in shadows to keep him still when he's on top.

He also likes it when he makes Wukong beg, it's one of his favorite parts of sex. It only happens when he's bound up in shadows as that's the only time that Wukong can't really move to help himself.

He'll be more than willing to fuck him any way he or his mate wants. Nothing is off the table.

Both him and Wukong would be constantly fighting for dominace when they are in bed. They both like to be on top.

Like Macaque, Wukong likes to be on top as said before.

Even before the two got together Wukong would be extremely flirty while he was drunk.

He would never say it put loud but he was addicted to Macaque's scent.

He of course never understood why he was but he was.

He would never admit it out loud but he likes it when Macaque ties him up.

Wukong will tease and often. He'll slid his tail up Macaque's leg or even wrap it around his tail. He does not care who is in attendance because he’s a warlord (and even before that) he just doesn’t care about other’s opinions. (Except when they think badly of him. You all know his temper)

He will do anything to be on top, well unless he gets bound up. He can’t resist that feeling.

Now keep in mind this man never had sexual encounters with anyone before Macaque (Why? Because I said so)

Though neither of them liked the idea of a threesome, at least not until they met Reader.

Once Reader gets involved

Of course when Reader came along a few things change.

Once these two both figure out they love her (and get over their little bickerment) they are all for a threesome. (Only with Reader though)

The two still have their own rough exchanges because they know they can each handle it.

They want to be gentle with Reader because she is human. And they don’t want to hurt her.

Will leave bitemarks and possibly small bruises (which they will tend to if they do, they're not used to controlling their strength for humans)

They both love the idea of breeding you in every way possible.

They prefer to cum inside of you which means they’ll probably take turns.

Now I do want to clarify that I have a dub-con warning in my masterpost that is for nights such as drunk sex. Yeah mostly drunk sex and threats for kisses.

The threats for kisses is because they crave your affection. They will make ‘playful’ threats to get kisses and cuddles.

They’ll burn a house down if you don’t give them a kiss on the cheek. This is mostly from Wukong of course.

If Reader is drunk and initiates the act they have a hard time resisting. Depending on how drunk you are depends on the outcome.

Tipsy? They will definitely have sex with you.

Drunk? If you look like you are in control they would do it. If you’re not stumbling or slurring words or swaying.

Now if you are almost blackout drunk or even starting to slur your words. Nope, they are not doing it. (Unless if they are also drunk)

Instead they will take you to bed to rest and sleep. In the morning they will definitely be flirtatious though, hoping that it wasn’t just the alcohol talking. They’d shoot their shot, even if they get shot down.

If Reader says no to them they will stop. For your safety and your comfort. Or if you simply don’t want to, these two aren’t going to force you at all.

Afterwards weather your drunk, tired or still have energy they are cleaning you up. Flower Fruit Mountain has many hot springs and they have their personal one that they don’t even let other monkey demons get in.

You might be tired or sore who knows. But you are set into the water so you will be soaking for a while as they make sure that you are nice and clean.

As soon as you are clean they’ll let you relax in the water before taking you to bed. Since these two have probably exhausted you.

Is this everything? No. But just some head cannons that came to my mind.

Hands trailed down your body both from the front and the back. Wukong was pressed to your back and Macaque to your front as they nipped and left small bites across your collarbone. You held in a whine as you bit your lips. Wukong’s hands were the first to slide past your waist and gently gripped your thighs. Too much, too much.

“S-STOP!” All at once both of the Monkey Kings froze.

“Are you alright?”

“Did I hurt you?”

“N-No… I just don’t want to.” You were holding back tears. You weren’t ready for anything like this, you didn’t want to. Everything was happening so fast. But as soon as you said to stop, both of them listened.

“Oh honey, it’s alright. Hey, hey don’t cry,” Macaque lifted his hands to your face wiping away a few terrified tears.

“It’s alright, we don’t have to continue. How about we cuddle instead, you were okay with that yesterday,” Wukong added as he took his hands away, walking around you to help clean up your face a bit.

“No matter what, you can always tell us no for anything like this,” Macaque added as he gave you a few kisses on the cheek.

You sniffled as they sat down on their large nest full of the fluffiest blankets and pillows the two monkey kings could find. These two, no matter how much they craved for you still gave you this mercy. They wouldn’t force themselves onto you, even if they wouldn’t let you leave. You were trapped on the mountain with them, but they still loved you in a way that they would never make you do something like that against your will.

“Yeah. We can cuddle and talk. Talk about anything you want. We’re right here,” Wukong added with a chuckle, as he kissed your cheek again.

Did I stress enough how this would go? I think so. They love you and knowing your from another world would make them so some desperate measures. But those desperate measures have limits! Consent is highly important, so I wanted to stress that in this post. Since it’s the first one like it that I’ve got.

I’ma be honest with ya’ll I have had this post in my inbox and drafts for a while. I just haven’t finished it. But now it’s done. So I do hope for your feedback. I like these headcannon style posts. Have other questions send them my way. I may be slow, life may get in the way, or I might procrastinate. But- I don’t delete asks unless they actually make me uncomfortable so it’s mostly free game. Even if I am slow 😅

[nb-octopus-writes]

once you’re in the hive, the other bees assume you’re supposed to be there

[Masterpost]

Chapter 3: A Series of Unintended Events

Wordcount: 1.3K

~~~~

The pancakes are delicious, light and fluffy. Virgil only has two, because he did already have cereal and unlike Remus his stomach is not a bottomless pit into which he can pour an unending stream of nutrients. But they're delicious, and he's glad Calico convinced him to try a bit.

After breakfast, Virgil helps with the dishes because Remus still isn't up yet, and neither is Janus—probably still curled around him like a hot water bottle—and he has nothing better to do.

Princey meanders in after him, and despite having just demolished an entire stack of pancakes and a decent amount of scrambled eggs, starts rooting around in the fridge. He emerges with a plastic-wrapped plate of tiny pumpkin pies and leans against the counter to eat them directly off the platter, clearly pleased that the party having ended means he can have the leftovers.

“So you're the reason the chinese buffet has a twenty plate limit,” Virgil teases after Princey eats several in a row without pausing. Virgil had a few of those tiny pies last night, so he knows they're good, but Princey is absolutely chowing down on them.

“Hey, that was not my fault!” Princey protests. “Besides, a place that calls itself ‘all you can eat’ shouldn't even have a limit.”

“It shouldn’t,” Virgil agrees. “But I've never hit the limit myself, so I thought it was reasonably high. I suppose that a buffet operating in the same town as twin black holes would need to be cautious to protect their profit margins though. How much did you two pack away before they asked you to stop?”

“Wouldn't you like to know, weather boy,” Princey says. “Anyway, it really wasn't us.”

“No?”

Princey sighs. “No, Count Woe-laf,” he says. He is just too much fun to tease. “If my father is to be believed, it was actually him and a couple of his college buddies.”

Virgil laughs. “Oh, so it's definitely genetic, then!”

Princey chuckles, popping the last tiny pie into his mouth and setting the plate on the counter. Virgil takes it and rinses it off so he can put it in the dishwasher with the others. “Yeah. Dad says they absolutely cleared out the seafood section, and most of the mac and cheese, and ate a sizable portion of pretty much everything else. If you get him going, he'll give you a very long and probably quite embellished retelling of the many courses they had. They never got kicked out, but the next time they went, they were told that there was now a limit to just how much they could eat.”

“Ah, alas,” Virgil says. “I bet it was a fabulous feast, though.” He finishes loading the dishwasher and checks under the sink for soap. They have pods, which is very convenient for measuring, or rather for not having to do that. He pops one in and turns the machine on.

“So, if I'm Count Olaf antagonizing you, which Baudelaire does that make you?” he asks. “Not bookish Klaus, surely. Maybe Sunny? I think she could demolish a plate as quickly as you, though her small stomach wouldn't have the same capacity.”

Princey's eyes light up and he leans forward. Instead of answering the banter, he says meaningfully, “I have the full series on dvd.”

“I'm not doing anything right now,” Virgil says. Princey beams.

“Great! I'll make popcorn!”

~

They have a dedicated home theater. The tv is large, the seats are comfortable, and the speakers are crisp and clear without being too loud. Princey made a bucket of popcorn for each of them, and Virgil isn't very hungry right now considering he very recently had breakfast, but he munches idly on it as they watch, and comment, and theorize. Princey is fun to watch tv with, and doesn't mind Virgil talking while they watch.

They're in the middle of an episode when Remus appears in the doorway.

“Hey Emo,” says Remus. “I gotta get home and feed my cat before she figures out how to unlock the front door and hunts me down. I was gonna take you home on the way, but it looks like you're in the middle of something.”

Virgil considers. He looks at the screen, where Lemony Snicket is explaining that if you're allergic to something, it's generally best not to put that thing in your mouth, especially if the thing you are allergic to is a cat. He looks back at Remus. “You swear you'll come back for me?”

“On my favorite dildo and Janus's two cocks,” Remus says with feeling, and Virgil can't help the chuckle that escapes him.

“I'll be okay,” he says. “Go get Diesel Fuel her lunch.”

Remus salutes him and disappears.

They finish the episode and Remus hasn't come back yet, so they go on to the next one. During the theme song though, Nerdbot appears to inform them that they too need to eat lunch.

Virgil thought Princey might protest, given how invested he's been, but he pauses the show and gets up. “C’mon, Tall Dark and Stormy,” he says to Virgil. “If we skip lunch to watch tv all day we get a lecture about why proper nutrition is important.”

“You do,” Nerdbot confirms. “Points of note include the necessity of proteins and vegetables in addition to carbohydrates.”

“Is popcorn a vegetable?” Virgil asks.

Nerdbot raises an eyebrow. “It is a carbohydrate, actually. It is also primarily air.”

It seems that all the other guests have gone home, so it's just the four of them now. The table is back to its smaller size, and Princey has Virgil sit at the corner beside him, so they can keep talking. Nerdbot sits on Virgil’s other side, and Calico sits at the head, across from Princey.

Lunch is baked chicken and a vegetable dish that Virgil doesn't really expect to like, but he takes a polite spoonful anyway because he's sure Nerdbot is capable of a very powerful ‘eat your vegetables’ lecture, and he doesn't feel like hearing it right now.

The vegetables do not taste bad. Virgil’s not sure why he's surprised anymore considering everything he's eaten in this house so far—with the possible exception of the cereal, which doesn't count—but the vegetables are the opposite of bad.

“Why are you such a good cook,” Virgil says to Calico, who brightens. “I need to come eat your food more often.”

“He has a magical tongue,” Princey says, making heart eyes across the table at him.

Calico blushes slightly (not nearly as deeply as he had last night) and clarifies, “I'm very good at tasting, and I have a lot of practice combining flavors. I'm also not afraid of fats and salt, and that helps.”

Virgil has two servings.

Remus still isn't back yet when they finish lunch, and Virgil is starting to get concerned.

Don't forget me, he texts, and goes into the room with the couches to wait.

This couch really is comfortable. And Virgil got barely any sleep last night, between staying up late and waking up so fucking early, and also probably never actually falling into a deep sleep at all since there were other people in the room. And his stomach is full and warm. And the couch is so comfortable. 

He barely has time to notice how heavy his eyelids are becoming.

~

Virgil wakes, briefly. The room is dark. Someone has covered him with a blanket. He finds his phone and checks it. There's a message from Remus, about half an hour after Virgil’s last text.

came to get you but you were very asleep, it says. text me when youre awake and wanna go home

Attached is a selfie, with Virgil in the background passed out on the couch.

Virgil groans. fucker, he texts back, and falls back asleep.

~~~~

Chapter 4: The Second Morning

[apocolillaz]

Chapter One

Warnings:

- Overthinking

- Profanity/brief use of a slur

- Alcohol

[Masterpost]

Four years. That's how long it's been since you left that house and what happened in it. You dont even like to think about it.

You've since moved all the way to London (Uhh if you already live here... Um. Like, pretend you didn't). A lot of the music you like is from British/English bands... The Smiths, Led Zeppelin, The Cure, Gorillaz... They're all great. Plus, you honestly just like the feel of it. Or maybe just the glorified version in your head, but... Whatever. You're currently working as a waiter in a restaurant in a rather busy area of town. You've just gotten off work and are on your way out when your co-worker, Daniel, walks up to you quickly. Fuck.

"(Y/N), hey! Did you see that guy at the counter just now? Did you see what happened!?"

He is eager and you just wanna go home and sleep. But you've pretended to care about people for this long, if you suddenly changed now, it would be horrible. Or worse, you'll be bothered even more about it.

"No. I didn't."

"He kept finding ways to say a bunch of bullshit. Like, 'uhh I'll get some fags- uh, fries with that. Huh huh huh.' and, like, talking extremely loudly about gay people and staring at me while they sat at their table."

You pretend to care as Daniel mocks the guy. You really couldn't give a shit.

"And?"

"...What?"

"You're probably never gonna see them again, and even if you do they obviously don't give a shit about you and see you as a thing to make fun of. Why do you care so much what they're saying that may or may not be about you?"

You cross your arms and he does the same. He opens his mouth to speak but you suddenly become filled with a horrible rage and just turn on your heels to leave. You don't care if his rebuttal would be right or wrong. You felt right in the moment and stuck to it.

On the way down the road a short black car zooms past, definitely over the speed limit. You're startled, but you couldn't care enough to yell.

You stop by Gray's house for your shower. Gray is your best friend, since about two years ago. This is because she lets you shower and sometimes sleep at her place if needed. You met at the park once, she was still living with her parents but she was 18 and able to go wherever she wanted, whenever. After a few time meeting up at the same place, she eventually learned you're technically considered a missing person, and since then she'd been helping you out. While she still lives with her parents, she just gave you bags of food each time you'd meet up at the park. Now that she's renting a place herself, well, with one other person... A roommate... She's able to help you better. Maybe... Well. Yes. She is definitely too nice. And sure, maybe you do use that to your advantage at times.

But it's fine.

Because she doesn't care.

In your shower you have the water nice and warm, and use your favorite shampoo which you had bought yourself. Honestly... At this point, little by little it's slowly become apparent that you are basically living here. Gray originally was just letting you shower there, then she let you sleep there a few times without her landlord knowing, and now since you don't have much stuff she just.. keeps your back pack in her closet. It's convenient knowing someone so nice, but you're always alert in case she starts catching on to you slowly becoming more settled in, and kicking you out. Or even the landlord catching you. But... That's a problem for the future.

After your shower, you put on your loose sweatshirt and soft pants, the same ones you wear right before bed every night. And no, Gray doesn't wash them for you. Of course you can do your own laundry, what kind of person do you think you're taken for, a leech? You step out of the bathroom and meet eyes with Samantha, Gray's roommate. She's... Well, ha. Let's not talk about your feelings about Samantha.

"(Y/N)." She looks at you blankly.

"Samantha." You smirk at her, trying not to giggle. Her stern face makes you feel some sort of way. No, not horny, you dirty little bastards. Just funny. Yep.

Samantha glares at you and walks away. She's not mean, and she doesn't hate you. You guys are chill... At times. She's just, uh, stern. You guess. And she critiques everything you do, or always has some sort of comment about it. She kinda reminds you of your mother.

She's also really tall. And she usually wears thin white tank tops with nothing under it. Peak fashion in your opinion, peak design, peak um... Peak... Hah. You laugh to yourself. She hears you and stops to look back at you, but just shakes her head and keeps going. She's also got long straight hair and usually no makeup. And she has such pale skin. And scary blue eyes. And did you mention how tall she is? She's really tall.

You realize how long you've been standing still and staring at the wall when Gray walks past.

"Hey (Y/N)." She says.

"Hey Gray." You wave, pretending you didn't just snap out of a long internal string of thoughts.

Well, it's not like you ever really snap out of it. You're an amazing person, y'know. Your thoughts never stop yet you can hold a conversation even if it's more complex. Even when the second you stop talking your brain keeps analyzing everything but the conversation, you're still so good that you can come up with a response to whatever the other is saying even then. You love reminding yourself how hard you work, and how much of a good job you do all the time.

All jokes aside, these thoughts make for good music. So while you continue your thinking, you head to the closet at the end of the hallway where you keep your songbook, and start writing lyrics. You've been saving up and you're gonna be getting a computer soon, and being 19 means you've been an adult for a year now and you can be on the internet again, fully. You won't get in trouble for being a runaway. You're so excited. Once you get a computer you can start making your music. For now maybe you'll just post videos to YouTube playing your guitar and your bass, some covers and some original shit. You're pretty sure you can do some basic music shit on some kind of free music studio app or whatever... But you'll worry about that when you need to.

Later on, you hear a knock at the door and do the routine: Hide in the shower, which had a mostly opaque curtain so no one could see that you were there. You bet the landlord talking to Gray.

"Hey Grace. Just thought I'd check in... I thought I heard someone come in here when I could've sworn I saw you and Samantha come home recently."

"Yeah, it was my friend. They were picking up some stuff I was meaning to give them, no big deal." Gray knows to ignore when Cole, the landlord, calls her by her birth name. No matter how much correction, he never cares enough to stop. It's whatever though, Gray doesn't really care enough to mention it anymore.

After some chatting, Cole leaves and Gray lets you know you can get out of the bathroom. Your clothes are damn because the inside of the shower was still wet from earlier, but it's fine.

"So uh, (Y/N)... Samantha has been... Really bored lately. And like, miserable. I'm taking her to the bar down the road tonight, wanna come?" Gray asks nonchalantly. She is pretty monotone most of the time so she always sounds that way, and because of this she manages to both ease your awkwardness and make you nervous at once.

Right, the bar. Well, why would you turn that down? You were planning on drinking tonight anyway. Might as well do it with other people.

"Yeah, alright." You nod briefly and go to Gray's room to look through your bag for your nicer clothes, which you'd bought after turning 18 since before then you didn't want to worry as much about standing out or having your type of style. But as an adult you can do whatever the hell you want. You pick out an outfit (your choice what the outfit looks like) and get dressed. You don't care that Gray walks in halfway through, she's your friend. And people don't really get the title of "friend" with you for nothing. She gets dressed as well, in a short jean skirt - and Satan, she loves jean skirts like no one could imagine - and a loose Garfield shirt with the collar part cut off so it goes over her shoulders. She wears a thicker belt than usual, it's a dark brown color with some black, and just some regular converse with some doodles of dicks and other bullshit on them. She went to the bathroom to straighten her hair and you waited for her so you could do your hair. As you waited, you looked through your bag for any accessories to go with your outfit, and once you were satisfied with your look, you sat on the bed.

What's the point of dressing up?

It only ever catches peoples attention very rarely, unless they have something stupid to say about not liking it.

Why do you even try?

Sure, you don't really care what people think of you. Like, for fuck's sake, you openly worship Satan and wear a pentagram like you're proud of it. You'd much rather be totally honest of who you are to anyone you meet, it's much better that way.

But if you have no reason to care what others think, why do you try at all? I mean, sure, it gives you a good feeling, but you're positive it's probably inherently because of society in some way. Fuck, you're starting to sound like one of those "we live in a society" motherfuckers. You hate that word, honestly, just because of how people use it.

Before you could spiral any further, Gray comes back in.

"Your turn." She smiles.

You nod and go to the bathroom. Even when you know it's pointless, nothing can stop you from pursuing this good feeling that dressing up always gives you. Why would you care if none of the reactions are negative? You love negative attention. Especially from more "normal" looking people. You don't understand why people actually get upset over people saying a few words about their outfit. Even if it's every day, constantly, for you it just gives you a boost and a good feeling. But to milk it, you do like to pretend it bothers you. Maybe that's what everyone else does, and everyone around them just thinks theyre the different one.

When you're done with your hair, you come back out to see Gray, since you didn't actually get a good look at her hair. She straightened it, since it's usually more curly, and she put it in two ponytails. She teased them a bit so they're more messy looking, and it looks good honestly.

"You ready to go? We should check on Sam..." She reminds you.

"Right." You mumble, not fully paying attention.

On the way to the bar, which the three of you are walking to, you only half pay attention to anything the two are saying. You're walking behind them and all you can think about is the fact that the two of them seem to be dressed a lot less... Different than you are. You feel like a scary dog being walked by some normal enough looking person. That's probably what it looks like to an outsider. But to be honest, it's Samantha and Gray they should be worried about. You honestly don't care enough about anything unless it gives you entertainment or benefits you, so you're nowhere close to being considered a protector or a "scary dog" kind of thing.

As the three of you walk into the bar, you straight away go to get some drinks. You're honestly just hoping to get as drunk as you can before Gray stops you. Samantha would probably be entertained by your drunk self so she wouldn't stop you. You look around, eyeing all the drunk people socializing, a couple dancing around with their mates but nothing too interesting. Well, that just means more drinks for you. Hopefully that'll make it interesting.

And fucking hell, it did.

You feel like your wishes have been answered just then, because you swear you'd caught a glimpse of a familiar black hair, green tinted smdark-ish skin, and inverted cross that you know all too well.

"No fucking way." Gray said it before you could.

"I was gonna say that." Samantha says, beating you to that phrase as well, so the only option left was one word.

"Ditto." You mutter, now staring at the man. You're 99% sure it was the real Murdoc Niccals, talking to some girls. And when he tilted his head a bit and did the familiar "Hah-haww" laugh he always does, it sealed the deal. You were looking at the real Murdoc Niccals. He is surrounded by people, of any gender really. Gray and Samantha are on their way over already, so you follow reluctantly. The Gorillaz is your favorite band, sure, but even the Murdoc Niccals most likely has a lot to deal with, having all these fans around him. Then again, what's three more? The only thing is, this band is probably the one rare group of people you actually value the opinions of. And you don't wanna risk him having something to say about you. You actually tried while putting this outfit together. Are you trying too hard to be different? Is he gonna say something about your pentagram? He could think you're a wannabe. You know that's not true, but he doesn't. Height think youre only doing it because of him, despite it not being true.

What are you thinking? Murdoc from Gorillaz is here. Fuck, enjoy the damn moment!

When you arrive over there Murdoc doesn't even notice the three of you at first. He's talking to the people closer to the front, which he can see better. He probably caught a glimpse of Samantha, with how tall she is, but other than that the three of you went unnoticed. You watch Murdoc sign shit, take pictures, and even feel up some of the people closer to him which... Alright. I mean, you knew that's what he's like.

You're still just trying to get a good look when you feel a rough push from someone behind you, and you find yourself halfway through the crowd and much closer to the pickle.

Lmao

You look back to see Gray grinning mischievously and growl to yourself. "Satan bless it..." You mutter. You turn back to see that some of the girls had gotten much closer to Murdoc, and a lot of them were clumsily trying to reach over each other to even barely touch the guy. Why'd he come here and not a more private place? There's no way he likes this much attention. I mean, it must be great having fans, real fans, but come on. This has to be exhausting.

But he seems to be enjoying himself...

You're still standing in the crowd and you feel a familiar hand grab your shoulders and push you through.

"Gray!" You shout back at her, but by now she's already disappeared into the crowd again.

You look up to see your face to face with him, who was now eyeing you up. There were a few other people dressed as strangely as you, but his eyes caught onto a certain spot in the center of your chest. You had actually nearly fell onto him, more than once in fact, because of the crowd being so close and packed. You have no idea how Gray managed to get through it, let alone push you through as well.

"'Ello..." You hear him say over the many, many people trying to get his attention. You realize he's talking to you and your heart picks up speed.

"Hey..." You say, trying not to let your voice crack.

After finally working up the courage to get him to take a picture with you, you get the hell out of that crowd and back to safety, away from the actual bar area where Murdoc had been sitting. Now with the more fat away view you could see there were even people crawling on the table to get to Murdoc. You shake your head and laugh softly.

Samantha and Gray managed to find you after awhile and the three of you just sit at a farther away table, drinking and laughing at the other people sitting at tables, hoping to be noticed by Murdoc and acting clueless and twirling their hair. As is he would even be able to turn his head in that crowd. They aren't special. You know you aren't either, but you're just saying.

"EVERYBODY OUT!" Screams a new voice, coming from where the crowd is.

"Oh no, a crazy one?" Wonders Samantha aloud, but as you look over, you see who had said it.

Pushing through the crowd is a bigger man, with a basic t-shirt and pants and some regular shoes, darker skin. He wouldn't stand out much if it weren't for his purely white eyes. That, and the fact that he's literally Russell from Gorillaz. Within seconds he's pulling Murdoc, who is squirming and grumbling, out of the crowd.

You see Russell's mouth move, as if he was muttering something under his breath, but you couldn't tell what it was. Murdoc catches a glimpse of you and tries to pull away from Russel, yelling something sharply. But the man just dragged him out of the bar and probably into his car to go home. You furrow your eyebrows and drink more of your drink, feeling a little embarrassed after both Murdoc and Russel had looked at you. You assumed Murdoc was just being crazy and drunk and trying to make a joke or something, you don't know.

The rest of the time there you just sat there while Samantha and Gray socialized with people. You couldn't stop overthinking every move you made in front of Russell and Murdoc.

"Can we go home?"

This catches Gray's attention first.

"What?"

"I'm not feeling good. We gotta go." You insist.

"But you haven't even had your third screwdr-"

"I'm not up for it, Gray."

"...alright. Sam, c'mon. We need to get (Y/N) home."

"But they-"

"I know." Gray pulls Samantha, who is pretty drunk, a long with her as you walk alongside them. You hate feeling like the boring one. You never are the boring one. Right now you have no choice, though. You just wanna sleep.

[screamingatanemptyroom]

Screaming at an Empty Room -

Reintroduction/Update

Hello everyone! Probably too late to do an intro, given that I've been writing on this blog since 2017, but since I've returned after a few years away from writing, I wanted the opportunity to talk about my blog and projects completed and my upcoming plans!

I go by Avaleon everywhere else on the internet, but respond to pretty much anything, including Screaming, hey you, etc! Started this blog in my mid 20s, and aged normally into the early 30s from there. I love writing, have always loved it, but between work and life, it's definitely something that I mostly do late at night and on weekends. I love hearing from people, but I usually answer asks in bunches, and typically right before I post writing. Love hearing about other people's projects as well!

I write short stories, novellas, and occasional full length novels. I am not published, but actively working on self-publishing some of my full length works. Everything I write is posted online, I enjoy sharing my work. The main reason to self publish for me is to have physical copies for myself or anyone who might want one!

My short stories can be found under the #writing tag on my blog. As for the long completed stories, I'll post them below the cut!

Love you Tumblr, happy to be back!

A. Full Length Novels (100,000+ words)

Please Fix the Story!

Description:

I don’t know who I am. I don’t know why I’m trapped in this never ending cycle of rebirth. All I know is that I wake up inside the worlds of unfinished stories, with a mission to accomplish the author’s wishes and stabilize the worlds now headed for destruction. I do my best, hoping, praying that maybe if I complete enough missions, I’ll be able to remember my past and return to my home.

It’s just fixing stories, it should be simple enough.

So can someone explain who this random villain is who keeps following me to each world?

Masterpost linked here

2. I Can’t Eat Love

Description:

Lenora did not have a wonderful life. After her engagement to Prince Ronan is broken, she loses everything… her reputation, her home and her family. Starving on the streets, she dies angry and bitter at how her life unfolded… only to wake up in her old bed, fifteen again, five years before her death. 

Now she must struggle to change her fate, and the fate of the around her. This time she won’t trust in something as flimsy or changeable as love. No, this time she’ll have the power and the money she needs to protect herself. 

Lenora has already lost everything once. She’s not going to lose again. 

No matter the cost. 

Masterpost Linked Here

B. Novellas

I Refuse to be a Named Character

Description:

I woke up inside the world of one of the best selling fantasy book series “Deadly Crown.” Intrigue, handsome heroes, adventure… sounds great, right? Just one problem: all the named characters except the main hero and villain die, are replaced and their replacements die. Being important in this story is a death sentence, so I plan to move to the middle of nowhere, and avoid the plot! 

It should be a fool proof plan, so why do the main characters keep dragging me into the story?

Masterpost Linked Here

2. Living in a Rewrite of my Own Book World

Description:

This is the story about an author who gets hit by a car right before she can finish her bestselling book series. Trapped in the role of a terrible side character antagonist, she must find a way to change the story’s ending. Not just for her own survival, but for the characters that seem just a little too real to be fiction. (30K words)

Masterpost Linked Here

3.Baby’s First Revenge!

Description:

When Charlotte is betrayed and killed by the friend she sacrificed everything for, she thought it was the end. Instead, she found herself reborn as a baby, with her killer still enjoying the fame of stealing her work. Now, she's coming after him, and plans to make him pay... But first, nap time.

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7

4. The Supervillain’s Daughter

The story of Erica, a girl who finds out that her brother is the kidnapped child of superheroes, and that her parents are villains. Years later she is the best agent in the Villain Suppression Unit, and hates everything to do with superheroes. So of course she isn’t pleased when she is paired with the strongest man alive, especially because she knows him. But with even darker parts of her past surfacing again, she will have no choice but to join forces and save the world. 

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4

Other smaller works and the incomplete ones can be found on this page

Thanks everyone!

[wonderinc-sonic]

psst hey :] im playing an uno reverse card (no pressure)

any stories or creative projects in the works 🎤 ?

So many I want to worrrk onnnn and I am not doing!

In the Sonic world specifically, I have recently started trying to write the script a sonic and friends friending simulator. So a dating simulator but instead of getting sex at the end you get to finish a puzzle with Tails and listen to Amy learn ukulele. I have absolutely no idea how to actually make one, as I can't code or really draw to the standard I would need. But I figured I'd cross that bridge once I scripted it.

I am half way through drawing Poms spaceship properly, then I will finally make the new Pom masterpost including the drawings I did of other seedrians and another Allium. I spent hours just drawing the hair of a generic allium guy who will likely never be seen except as a way to indicate Pom's specific details 😂

I am still wanting to finish designing the Personas and Shadows (the tv world kind not the hedgehog kind) for all the sonic cast. That I already hammered out the story for, and I have picked the names and pantheons but the designs are harrrrd. Drawing gods in a way that incorporates Sonic characters is dificult actually. I only ever finished Sonic and Tails and have like all the main cast chaotix and metal sonic incl to do. Oof! I'll get there. I really want to share them because I was chuffed with some of the assigned gods/ cultural figures!

Someday I will post the part 2s/ finish some of these fanfictions. When I stop thinking everything in my Ao3 library needs to be torched, ha! I can't look to hard at any of them without being full of sadness atm it's a bit of a pickle.

Oh and I have assigned every Sonic character a fire emblem class and I want to draw them in it. That should be fairly doable but I keep putting it off because I need to go back into engage and take model pictures for all of them and I am laaaazy. Might do it on the partners switch 2 as it could be in higher def, but idk if engage goes up to 4k.

And what I am currently currently working on - as in today - is some OC drawings based on sunflowers ocs as we have been talking about them. Won't share that as I don't assume she will want to share but they are very fun and exciting designs - especially the clothing and accessories are quite out of my comfort zone, I usually don't give my characters lots of interest in the outfits. Honestly I usually just give them big boots and an apron, shorts, or dungarees. So that has pushed me a bit but that's the point! I really want to do a good job, but it's always a bit nervewracking drawing other people's OCs in case you do a bad job lol.

There's a few more non-sonic things I am spinning in my head rn, but they'll probably never make it onto the notepad at this rate! Good grief!

[mimisempai]

Never ordinary

Summary

Crowley and Aziraphale take their daily stroll through their garden, and the angel realizes once again that the most innocuous of gestures, like holding hands, will never be ordinary for them.

Notes

Just because they like holding hands

On Ao3

Rating G -  561 words

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the orchard through the fruit trees as Aziraphale and Crowley walked hand in hand, fingers intertwined, in what had become a daily routine.

Crowley commented on the blossoming of this or that plant, Aziraphale looked forward to picking the last of the season's apples to make delicious desserts, and both realised that they would probably have to repaint the shutters soon.

Crowley was now talking about the next brood of ducks about to hatch, but the Angel was no longer listening, his attention focused elsewhere.

His gaze had fallen on their intertwined hands and he was enjoying the way Crowley's fingers brushed over his, the way their hands fit so well together, the way Crowley's skin felt warm against his. A wave of satisfaction washed over him, as it always did, and his fingers tightened a little more around the demon's.

Crowley, of course, had noticed the angel's lack of attention and asked amusedly, "Barely a few months of living together and I'm already boring you? "

" What? Oh, no, sorry, dear. What were you saying about the ducks? "

But Crowley wanted to know where the angel's mind had wandered and said gently, "You seemed lost in thought, Angel."

Aziraphale looked up and his eyes met Crowley's before returning to their joined hands. He raised them slightly before replying, "I was just thinking how... this will never be ordinary for us."

Crowley looked thoughtfully at their hands and replied softly, "You're right, I don't think it ever will be. Maybe because we've waited so long to be able to do it this way, freely, without looking over our shoulders, without fear."

Aziraphale nodded, no more words needed, he knew he and Crowley understood each other perfectly. It was more than just holding hands, it was the freedom to be together, tangible proof of a bond forged centuries ago, but now finally openly expressed. 

They walked in silence for a while, the only sound being the rustling of leaves beneath their feet and the gentle breeze in the trees. 

Suddenly, a gust of wind made Aziraphale shiver. Crowley, seeing this, let go of the angel's hand and wrapped his arm around his shoulders, holding him close.

Aziraphale laughed softly, "This will never be ordinary either."

The demon chuckled in turn, then suddenly stopped, stood in front of the angel, took his face between his hands and said playfully, "You know what else will never be ordinary, Angel?"

Aziraphale shook his head as Crowley leaned his face into his, a mischievous twinkle dancing in his eyes. 

"I'll show you." 

He closed the distance until his lips met Aziraphale's in a kiss that was both tender and passionate. 

As always since their first kiss, the world around them faded away, leaving only the intensity of their connection, the depth of their love. 

Never ordinary.

As the kiss deepened, Aziraphale forgot all about the wind, and it was no longer the cold that made him shiver.

A little later, they parted, breathless and flushed, their eyes locked in a silent conversation that spoke volumes, before continuing their walk hand in hand. 

To anyone passing by, they would look like an ordinary couple living an ordinary life in their ordinary cottage, but they would always be aware that what they were living now would never be ordinary for them.

_________

Still not beta'd

Still not my native language

Still hoping you'll enjoy this story  🥰

Still thanking you for bearing with me 😝

South Downs cottage series : here

Ineffable fan fictions Masterpost : here

[timelyrmdoodle]

Okay it's about time I made a masterpost!!

Hello!! My name's Leo, I use He/Him pronouns, I like, run this account or something? And there's a good chance you're looking for info on it! Soooo-

First things first, some things you might know me by!

This account, obviously

My main, @leounderseas, where I post more cookie-unrelated stuff!

My instagram

My tiktok (currently inactive)

You don't know me from twitter because I don't use that!!! Twitter is banned in my country, so I do not have a twitter account.

Also some artworks you might recognize!!

Now that introductions are out of the way, here's some more info on me and this account specifically! This a daily doodle account for Royal Margarine Cookie from Cookie Run Kingdom! I am very normal about him. That's pretty much all I post about here, though other cookie related things do pop in every once in awhile!

This account was meant to be daily, but I am still finishing up highschool, and it's been very stressfull, so sadly I don't have the time to actually make that work. The plan is still to post a doodle daily! But maybe I'll only be able to do that once I finish up with school, sadly.

I have two main hashtags in here!

#my art and my stuffff, for any art or similar things I end up making and posting! If you're expecting a daily doodle and haven't seen it, or just wanna browse, you might wanna check the hashtag :)

#questions and rambling and stuff, for askbox questions that I answered or just general rambling about characters or any other topic! If you're interested about my insight on things (or my analysis of a certain cookie, whom this account happens to be about....) it'll be there!

My askbox is open, and anonymous is an option! Feel comfortable to ask me questions, don't be shy! Just, yknow, be civilized? And not mean? Or any kind of -phobic or -ist or anything like that

Projects I currently have in the works are:

My marge shimeji! It is still in production sadly because I haven't had the time to work on it.... but I plan on finishing it and making it downloadable for anybody who wants it once it's done!!

Another related thing is my character playlists! I make those for fun in my freetime :) I have a lot of them, and some of them are longer than others because I am obviously biased (staareeess....) but I still enjoy all of them! Here are the links if anybody is interested!

Royal Margarine Cookie playlist (longest by VEEERY FAR. You need commitment to finish this one. Also lowkey suggestive. Tread carefully.)

Black Pearl Cookie playlist (Second favorite! Nowhere near as long but still very dear to me :])

Butter Roll Cookie playlist

Matcha Cookie playlist (Third favorite,,,,,, ouuugh blorbo....)

Pure Vanilla Cookie playlist (Has purelily undertones fyi, i like purelily)

White Lily Cookie playlist (Fourth favorite, SHE'S JUST LIKE ME FOR REAAAALLL,,,,,)

Golden Cheese Cookie playlist (Fifth favorite! Not really that long, but pleeeaasee recommend me songs for it)

Shadow Milk Cookie playlist

Black Lemonade Cookie playlist (very unfinished...)

Shining Glitter Cookie playlist (very unfinished....)

Snapdragon Cookie playlist (very unfinished, IM SO SORRY BABYYYY,,,,)

I also have non cookie playlists! Though they are few

Furina de Fontaine (Genshin Impact) playlist (Second longest playlist I have. I LOVE HER SO MUUUUCHHH YOU GUYS DONT GET ITTT)

Kieran (Pokemon Scarlet & Violet DLC) playlist (This kid is ill and I care him)

To finalize, I don't take comissions right now, but I do take requests in my askbox! Depending on the request ofc. I plan on taking comissions someday, but that'll probably have to wait until I finish highschool next year! And with all that said.... You're caught up!!! *confetti falls Have any questions? Lmk!! I'll answer them! Have a good day :]

[dame-zoom-a-lot]

Batteries Not Included Ch 8 - After

It's done! Ahhh It's finished!!

I'm going to make an actual masterlist of all the chapters because in retrospect I should have linked each chapter to each other, but in my defense, I really hate formatting posts so I'm slowly and resentfully figuring this out ^^;;

Anyway, ahh thank you @fkinkindagauche for shoving me forward on this journey. You should check out their beautifully organized masterpost

This one's a short chapter and epilogue

Chapter tags: they finally kiss! It only took 25k words :'D

"Cali's miles better than here Mrs. Byers. You'll love it," Billy says. Mrs. Byers nods with a pinched little smile.

"I hope so," Mrs. Byers says, chewing her lips, "at least I didn't end up transferring before you all found Will. Can you imagine? I would have had to strangle some poor teleport officer so I could come back right away." She laughs, but the laughter is hollow. "And I guess I can always ask to transfer back…"

"You wouldn't want to," Billy declares, "give it two months and you'll never want to even look in Indiana's direction again."

"You sure you're not just saying that because California is your home Billy?" Mrs. Byers asks sadly, "you don't get forests like here in California, or the lakes, or the people… Alright, maybe not the people," she concedes.

"Yeah, I don't think the entire town would collectively shun you for being upset about your son," Billy says, rolling his eyes, "Cali's always got at least one or two people that say no just because everyone else is saying yes."

"Well, I had Nancy, Steve, and apparently you here saying no when everyone was saying yes," Mrs. Byers says with a wry smile. "Indiana may grow on you yet. How about this for a deal?" She leans in, all motherly. "I'll give California a chance. You give Indiana a chance. And we'll write each other status updates once month, at least."

"You're on," Billy lies. He knows an empty friendly gesture when he sees one.

They both look over at the kids, who are playing some sort of complicated board game with cards, dice, minis, and sticks. At least they were playing just a few minutes ago. Now they're arguing. Max is pointing furiously at some arrangement of sticks. Mike waves a card under her nose. Will is brandishing a thick rule book. El is backing away from them slowly while Lucas tries to play peacemaker.

Max's eyes start to glow copper.

"Yep, I better go break that up," Mrs. Byers mutters as she leaves.

Max makes something explode before Mrs. Byers can fully get to them. Mike screams and Will throws a handful of cards at Max. The screaming devolves into hysterical, high-pitched laughter that burrows under Billy's skull.

He doesn't hate it, oddly enough. It sure beats the tense silence of the Hargrove household.

He's going to miss this.

It's dumb. He's only been crashing here at the Harrington manor for... maybe two? three? days now. And even though he was stuck with a girl that could break apart dimensions and hated him specifically, he still felt more relaxed here than he ever had at home. But he can't stay here forever. Neil should have cooled off enough by now that he could just show up kinda sheepishly with Max. He was probably going to get beat around quite a bit. But after the whole Ahgui and the torture thing, Neil feels like peanuts.

Billy looks over at Max, who's gesturing vigorously as she explains something to Mrs. Byers. He can see Jonathan and Nancy behind the group of dweebs. They're sitting side by side on the bottom step of the stairs, off in their own world. The only person he can't find is... Steve.

Billy glares at Nancy and Jonathan. Sure, it must suck for them that Jonathan is moving to Cali so soon after getting together. But still. The ex is the man of the house. They could have had the courtesy of taking it somewhere else.

He sneaks away to the kitchen and digs up a beer he can take to Steve. It takes a bit of searching, but he eventually finds Steve in the driveway. He's leaning against his beemer, smoking a joint. The sun is setting and the light frames the sharp lines of his jaw. His face is scrunched into a little frown.

Damn, pining looks good on this guy.

Billy clears his throat. Steve jumps a little, then relaxes when he sees that it's just him.

"You sneaking a smoke by yourself amigo?" Billy asks. He moves to stand next to Steve. There's plenty of room, but he shoves Steve over a few inches anyway without knowing why. Steve squeaks as he lets himself get pushed.

"Ugh, you're like a vulture. Here, let me give you one--" Steve mutters, as he reaches into his pocket. Billy plucks the one Steve had in his mouth instead. Steve watches, plush lips open in a little circle, as Billy takes a deep drag of the joint. Billy leans in and blows smoke in Steve's face. Steve squeezes his eyes shut and giggles. It's cute.

Billy gives the joint back to Steve, who promptly blows smoke right into his face. For a blessed second, the air is all weed and cookies.

"Want me to beat him up?" Billy offers after a few seconds of comfortable silence.

"What?"

"Jonathan. You know you've got a chance right? Wheeler doesn't seem like a long distance kind of gal." Steve looks at him with his signature confused little frown. "Look. It's a simple plan. I go in. Beat him up. You swoop in to save him. Put a good, heroic impression of you in Wheeler's noggin while her little boyfriend is in California."

Billy remembers how accurate and strong her lightning bolts were. "But we're going to have maybe two or three seconds before she starts throwing down, so be quick."

Steve rolls his eyes and punches Billy lightly on the shoulder. "I don't fucking care about them."

"Sure Steve," Billy says, punching Steve back a little harder, "sneaking out to bitch and moan by yourself really works on the babes."

"I didn't sneak out to pine," Steve rolls his eyes and kicks Billy gently on the shin. He breathes a cloud of weed directly into Billy's face again. "You think I'm going to smoke in front of Mrs. Byers?"

"Then why didn't you ask any of us to join you?" Billy challenges.

"You don't know how to let go of anything do you? Fucking barnacle," Steve says, rolling his eyes. He rubs his face and mutters something then looks back up. "It's stupid. But... it felt too fucking peaceful in there. Like something might happen. I wanted to just do a quick round. Check if anything's coming."

"Ah. Shit," Billy grimaces then looks out. He gets it now. They stare out into the empty, monsterless horizon for a bit. Billy clears his throat. "You can go in and join the party if you want. I'll keep an eye out."

"I want to stay," Steve says quietly, "if you want."

Billy grunts then takes the can of beer out of his pocket and shoves it into Steve's hand. Steve takes a sip then hands it to Billy. They stand like that, swapping the beer and joint back and forth until both are all gone.

Then they keep standing, staring out into Hawkins. It's nice. But also shitty. Steve shouldn't be stuck out here like this. He should be inside, getting his chick. Fuck knows he deserves that.

"You sure you're good with Jonathan and Nancy?" Billy asks.

Steve groans and runs a hand through his hair. He turns around so he's looking directly at him. Billy looks away, uncomfortable without the fog of weed or beer between them.

"Look, it's not like that ok?" Steve starts. He moves slightly, bending so they can still make direct eye contact. He wets his lips then continues. "I do still love her. I think I'll always love her. But we're done."

"Why?"

Billy watches as Steve's pinkie extends to find his. Watches as they gently intertwine. Steve's thumb finds the pad of his palm. Steve takes a deep stuttering breath as he traces along Billy's life line.

"There's this asshole," Steve says hesitantly, "that kept coming to look for me." He inches forward. His face is so close. The world is nothing but brown eyes and olive skin and sharp nose. "Bitched the whole time. But he was also kinda funny about it. Grew on me."

"Stupid," Billy huffs.

"Can I?" Steve asks.

Fuck it.

Billy leans forward and closes the distance. Steve's lips are soft and inviting. He sighs contentedly into Billy's mouth when their tongues meet. It's not fucking fireworks. It's hands twisting together. It's soft touches on his back. It's a blanket fort. A home. It's something better.

[clown-friend-gt]

Up, Up, and Away Chapter 7

This chapter is a bit long because I combined two chapters into one. That also means I only have one completed chapter after this one, which I'll probably post later this week. There may or may not be a short hiatus after that while I work on writing more chapters. Thanks for understanding.

Link to Masterpost

************************************************************************

Left Alone

2.8k words

(CW: More police stuff, body horror)

The next few hours were a blur. More people from the institute arrived to take Trevor away. Around that same time, EMT’s arrived, wheeling Robbie away on a stretcher. Trevor had just enough time to watch them load him into an ambulance before the institute agents shoved him into the back of a gray van with the logo of the institute’s enforcement department on the side.

The ride over was not a smooth one. He was too big to fit in any of the seats that lined the sides of the walls, so he had to lay on the floor, crammed in like a sardine. Whenever the van took a particularly sharp turn, he’d be slammed into the wall, and the whole van would tilt dangerously to the side.

“Settle down back there!” The driver yelled back at him after the van crashed back onto four wheels.

If you don’t want the van to flip over, maybe stop driving like a maniac, Trevor thought, but said nothing. He didn’t need to make more trouble for himself.

Trevor thought he knew the city pretty well. But with no view of the outside and all of the twists and turns, he had no idea where they were headed. All he knew was that based on how long they’d been driving, it was pretty far outside of San Solaris.

He wondered what his mom was thinking right now. Would she be worried after he didn’t come home? Had anyone told her what had happened? She’d done so much for him since this all started, trying to keep him from going insane. And he’d just thrown it all away.

Then his thoughts drifted to Robbie. Would he be okay? He looked to be in pretty bad shape when they took him to the hospital. He hadn’t wanted to hurt him, not really. He just wanted to scare him off. But he’d underestimated his own strength, and now both of them were paying for it.

God, he was disgusted with himself. Maybe Robbie was right. Maybe he was a freak. After all, what kind of person would do such a thing? The way Robbie had crumpled when he hit that wall, it made Trevor shudder to think of now.

As he stewed in silence, he didn’t notice the van come to a stop. Then someone pounded on the side of the van, jolting him from his thoughts. The doors opened, but from his crumpled-up position, he could hardly see outside.

“We’re here. Get out,” came an authoritative voice from the outside.

“Just a minute.” Trevor started wriggling around, trying to free himself.

He managed to straighten his legs and plant them on the ground outside. From there, he did a kind of half-crabwalk to pull his torso from the van. Once it was no longer underneath him though, he collapsed onto his back, his legs folding awkwardly beneath him.

“Ow,” he muttered to himself.

An institute official stood over him, arms crossed. He wore slacks, a light blue button up shirt, a tie, and suspenders. His name badge read “Ray Morgan.”

“Get up,” he ordered.

“I’m trying,” Trevor complained, struggling to try and sit up. But with his legs trapped and his hands bound, it was almost impossible. He sighed, defeated.

“I can’t. I’m stuck,” he told the official.

“Seriously?”

“Maybe if I could use my hands…” he snarked.

Morgan sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Fine, hold on,” he said, retrieving a small remote from his pocket. He pointed it at Trevor and clicked a button, causing his cuffs to buzz again. He felt the magnetic pull they on each other turn off. Slowly, he rolled over and pushed himself up. Once he was standing, he shook himself out, trying to regain feeling in his limbs.

He looked at the cuffs on his wrist. There was a light on the side of one that glowed yellow. Before he could try and guess what that meant, Morgan spoke up again.

“Don’t get any ideas on me now,” he said, pressing another button on the remote.

The light flashed red, and with a buzz, the cuffs snapped together once more. So much for that.

Now that his hands were connected in front of him, he grabbed Trevor by the elbow and tried to pull him forward. He didn’t budge. Morgan slowly seemed to realize that he’d need a lot more force to move Trevor than he could muster on his own.

“Work with me here, kid,” he said, sounding exasperated.

Trevor rolled his eyes, but started walking in the direction he was leading him.

Between the lingering effects of the growth spurt he’d had the night before and being stuck in the back of a van for nearly an hour, Trevor had expected to be in more pain. But the cuffs he wore had some kind of numbing effect on him, so he felt fine. If it wasn’t for the situation he was in, he might have been glad to have them.

They headed towards an imposing-looking brick building. A sign above the door read “The Lively Institute: Juvenile Corrections Center.” Now there was no mistaking how much trouble he was in.

Trevor was led inside. He had enough room to stand in the entrance hall, which had higher ceilings. But the official directing him quickly ushered him past the front desk and into the hallway, which was significantly shorter, so he had to crouch most of the time.

Morgan led him to a room with an institute staff member who dressed more like a police officer, kind of like Mr. Roberts had. Morgan directed the officer to pat Trevor down.

“I can do this myself, you know,” Trevor told Morgan as the officer removed his keys, his wallet, and his phone from his pockets.

Morgan shook his head. “Can’t let you do that. Safety risk, and all.”

Then he led Trevor to another room to have his picture taken for his mugshot. As they entered the room, Trevor spotted a potential issue.

“This only goes up to seven feet,” he said, pointing to the height chart on the wall.

Morgan rubbed his forehead, clearly starting to get a little fed up with this whole situation.

“Just kind of…crouch down into frame,” he said, motioning with one hand as he spoke. “You let us worry about the rest.”

Trevor shrugged and did as he was told, carefully maintaining his balance as the camera’s light flashed. Then he turned to the side so they could repeat the process.

After that, Morgan led him to one final room. Once they were there, he led Trevor over to a screen mounted on the wall.

“Put your thumb here,” he instructed Trevor.

“Why?”

“So we can record your fingerprints.”

“Oh,” he said, pressing his thumb to the screen. “Don’t they normally dip your fingers in ink for that?”

Morgan shook his head. “Nah, we stopped doing that years ago.”

After a moment, a light on the screen flashed green.

“Okay, now for your pointer finger…”

After he pressed each of his fingers to the screen in turn, Morgan led him back into the hall.

“You’re all checked in, sir,” he said with an ironic flourish. “Right this way, I’ll lead you to your room.”

Trevor knit his brows in confusion. “My room?”

Morgan sighed. “It was a joke. You go into the same holding cell as everyone else.”

He motioned for Trevor to follow him. Just before they got to the cell, Morgan stopped him and pointed to the phone mounted on the wall in the hallway.

“You get one call,” he told him.

He nodded. He’d call his mom, of course. She had to be worried sick by now. He plucked the handset off its hook in a few fingers. Then he went to press the first digit of her number with his pinky.

He stopped, his finger hovering over the button. He felt his stomach drop. What would he even say to her? How could he face her, after what he’d done?

“…Does my mom know I’m here?” he asked Morgan.

“Yeah, she got the word whenever you were arrested,” he confirmed.

Trevor pressed his lips into a fine line, before eventually placing the phone back on its hook and stepping away.

“You only get this one chance to call someone,” Morgan warned him.

Trevor shut his eyes and shook his head.

“I don’t need it,” he told him.

Morgan put his thumbs in his pockets and shrugged. He opened the door to the holding cell and gestured for Trevor to enter.

“After you, Monsieur.” He stepped aside and allowed Trevor to squeeze himself into the room. Then, after one last look after him, he shut the door behind him, leaving Trevor alone in the room.

************************************************************************

The holding cell wasn’t what he thought it’d be. He’d been expecting a door with iron bars, one of those prison beds that was hooked to the wall, stuff like that. What he got instead was a plain-looking room with a few benches. The only indication he was under surveillance now was a camera in the corner and a window that looked to the hall outside.

He sat up against the wall for a few hours, replaying the events of the day in his head. If only he’d kept his cool. If only he hadn’t hit Robbie so hard.

If only.

Then a voice came down the hall. It was one he knew well.

“Where is he?” his mom was shouting. “I want to see my son.”

“Please calm down, Ms.…?” someone responded.

“Castillo,” she shot back.

“Ms. Castillo. No one is allowed to visit detainees until we review their case.”

“Can’t I post bail or something?”

“This isn’t a police station. We do things a bit differently here.”

“That’s insane, he’s just a kid,” she yelled. “He has rights!”

“Ma’am, please stay calm,” the other voice tried to assure her.

“This is stupid. I’m going back there.”

“Ma’am, no—” there was a sound of a scuffle.

“Hey!” his mom cried out in alarm. Trevor shot to his feet.

“Mom?” he called out. He got no response. Instead, all he heard was more sounds of a struggle.

“Let go of me!” He heard her shout. He ran to the door and tried the handle. It jiggled uselessly in his cuffed hands.

Ugh, these stupid cuffs. If only I could—

Trevor strained against his cuffs with all his might. After a moment, they came apart for just a second. Then they clapped back together like nothing had happened. That wouldn’t help him anytime soon.

So instead, he lowered himself down so his shoulder was level with the door. He took a step back, then crashed into the door with all his weight. The door splintered into pieces, sending him stumbling out into the hallway. He shook himself off and stood up to his full height. At least, as much as he could in these hallways.

At the other end of the hall, his mom was struggling against two officers. One held her by either arm. They all turned to look at the sound of the disturbance.

“Let go of her,” he bellowed, charging down the hall towards them.

His mother’s eyes widened in terror as he came barreling down the hall. That caused him to hesitate. Her fear didn’t seem to be directed towards the men who held her.

No. She was afraid of him.

He slowed down, stopping short a few feet from her. After a moment of silence, he spoke up.

“Mom, I—” he raised his hands, reaching for her.

She flinched.

He stared at the three people cowering in front of him. They stared back, varying levels of fear written on their faces. He took a step back, then another. Then he turned and hurried back to the holding cell.

Just before he reached the door, he heard his mom start to speak.

“Mijo, espera—!”

Trevor paused but didn’t look her way. He couldn’t bear to see that look in her eyes again.

He bent down and squeezed himself through the empty doorframe without another word. He took a few more steps before slumping against the wall and sliding to the floor. He sat there with his knees bent, his arms resting on top. Then he buried his face in his arms.

He didn’t even have it in him to cry.

“This way, ma’am,” he heard one of the officers tell his mom, presumably leading her back to the front. This time, she put up no fight.

Now they all knew he belonged in here.

************************************************************************

Nothing else really happened that night. Because he’d removed the door keeping him there, they kept an officer stationed at the doorway at all times. Every few hours, they’d shift one officer out for another. Where before everyone had treated him with aloofness, their attitudes towards him now seemed to vary from thinly veiled paranoia to downright contempt.

The officer watching him now fell into the first category. Any time Trevor looked over at him, his hand seemed to instinctually hover down to his belt. Never quite coming to rest on the holster of his weapon, but never straying far from it either. Trevor didn’t bother telling him that he had no plans to try and escape again. Even if the man believed him, it still made sense for him to treat him like a monster.

He certainly felt like one now.

Eventually, the lights shut off. There was no clock in the room, but if he had to guess, it was probably getting pretty late. He supposed he should try and get some sleep.

The way he saw it, he had two choices. He could either stay sitting against the wall like he was or try laying out on the floor. Neither sounded all that appealing. But his neck was starting to cramp up in this position, so he decided to try laying down.

As he stood up, a wave of exhaustion hit him. He stumbled forward a step before regaining his balance. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the officer watching him nearly jump out of his skin, his hand flying down to his holster.

“Don’t—don’t try anything,” the officer warned him, his voice trembling.

Trevor gave him a tired look but didn’t say anything. He was too drained, physically and emotionally, to think of anything to say to him. Instead he slowly walked to the middle of the room and lay down on his side.

The floor was cold and hard. He shifted around, trying to get comfortable. He tried curling up to stay warm, but it didn’t help much. With a heavy sigh, he shut his eyes and tried to get some rest.

Sleep did not come easy. In fact, Trevor didn’t feel like he’d slept at all. The only indication that time had passed were the shifting shadows, and the fact that the figure watching him from the door seemed to have changed.

It was the pain that had woken him up. It came in waves, like it was struggling to break through the cloud of numbness that had settled over him. But soon enough, that feeling of his muscles tearing and his bones shifting that visited him every time he had one of those terrible growth spurts slowly powered through the effects of the cuffs he wore.

A cry escaped his throat. He began to tremble as the pain spread throughout his body. Hot tears welled in his eyes and spilled down his cheeks.

Why now? He wondered weakly.

He curled in tighter on himself, silently praying for something, anything that would take the pain away. He wished his mom was here. For the past week, any time he’d had a particularly bad flare-up like this, she’d been there to comfort him. It didn’t do much for the pain, but having her with him eased his mind somewhat. Now he was completely alone.

In the low light, he made eye contact with the person who stood in the doorway. He couldn’t read any sort of expression on their face. But he could see their eyes, just barely. He knew they saw him suffering.

“Help me,” he croaked. “Please.”

The person did not move. They did not speak. Instead, they stood there, arms crossed. They shook their head no, just once. The only indication that they’d heard him at all.

He squeezed his eyes shut. More tears poured forth. His shaking escalated to intermittent spasms, paired with the sound of his joints popping as they displaced and replaced themselves, over and over again.

Even though he’d been through this before, there was a part of his mind that always broke into a panic whenever it started happening again. What if this time his body couldn’t handle the stress? What if it left him injured afterwards? Or worse?

His mind eventually went white with pain. He faded into unconsciousness, unsure of what he’d come back to when he awoke. Or even if he’d wake up at all.

First/Last/Next

[mysticwolfshadows]

Taken - Zutara - Part 33

First / Previous / Next / Masterpost

When they get to the arena, Toph and Aang are dangling in the air in metal cages.

And then Lord Beifong, the bastard, tried to take Toph and leave Aang too be handed over to the Fire Nation. When the Beifong's were walking past her, Katara tapped her foot, making Toph pause.

"It's your choice," Katara said. "But we could use the help."

Toph's father scoffed. "My daughter is blind. She is blind and tiny and-"

"I'll help," Toph said, pulling away from her father.

They joined the fray, despite Toph's father shouting at them. Toph takes over, telling Sokka and Zukoo to go help Aang instead. Katara smiled, knowing this girl could take care of a few lesser benders. She joined the boys at the cage, nodding to Zuko as she pulled water from her pouch.

"Heat the lock," Katara said.

Zuko nodded, trusting her judgment, and grabbed the lock in both hands, heating it until it was red hot. Quick as a whip, Katara doused it in water, freezing it all at once. There was a crack, and the lock came loose with a tug. Aang crawled out, staring at Toph.

"Wow," he said, blinking. "She's so good. Am I really gonna learn from her?"

"Maybe," Katara said, as Toph finished up. "That's up to her..."

Back at the Beifong estate, Katara stands with the others as Toph confronts her parents. She listens as Toph confesses her feelings, her desire to fight, and genuine love for it. She confeses never having a real friend, but feeling like she has the chance to now.

Katara was so proud of her, only, Toph's father is an absolute ass.

"I've let you had far too much freedom," the man has the gaul to say. "From now on you'll be cared for and guarded twenty-four hours a day."

"But dad!" Toph cries, then turns her head. "Katara-"

"They have no say here," Lao said, scowling at them. "This is for your own good."

But it wasn't Katara that spoke up. It was Zuko, his hands clenched, that stepped forward.

"No," Zuko snapped. "You're doing this for you. Your insane desire for control. You'd rather destroy your daughter than release any of your control over her."

"You don't know what you're talking about, boy!" Turning Lao shouted. "Guards! Escort the Avatar and his friends out. They are no longer welcome here."

As the guards stepped forward, Zuko turned, sweeping a foot out, shooting flames at the approaching enemy. The guards stumbled, and Katara got into her own fighting stance, ready to defend.

"Firebender!" Poppy gasped, shrinking away.

"I am Prince Zuko, son of Ursa and Fire Lord Ozai." He turned back to the Beifong's, smoke rising from his fista as he glared. "And I speak from experience when I say you will break your daughter one day. And when you do, it'll be something you can't take back."

"Get out," Lao tries, even as his voice shakes. "Get out of my house."

"We'll leave in peace," Aang cuts in, his staff pointed towards one man. "Toph?"

"My daughter-!"

"Has the right to choose," Katara said, reaching with one hand to touch the earthbenders shoulder. "Toph, if you want to leave, we won't let them stop you, even if you don't come with us."

For a moment, Toph just stared in the direction of the floor. Then, she nodded. "I'll join you," she said, ignoring her parents cries. "I'll teach the Avatar."

Her father was shouting, and the room was thrown into chaos. They took off, fighting their way out, climbing quickly onto Appa and flying off.

"This is gonna come back to bite us, isn't it?" Sokka asked, peering over the saddle as the Beifong Estate grew smaller and smaller.

"Probably," Zuko sighed. "I shouldn't have done that."

Katara shook her head. "Toph deserved to make her own choice. Right, Toph?"

She turned, finding the younger girl clinging to the saddle. She was looking kind of green. "I think I'm gonna hurl!"

"Over the side!" Sokka shrieked. "Over the side! Not in the saddle!"

First / Previous / Next / Masterpost

[seblaineworld]

Hey, Seblainers! Hellooooo, everyone else!

After a seriously stressful few months, I'm finally getting a bit more back to normal and can breathe a bit more easily at last, so of course that means...it's time to decide when Seblaine Week 2024 will be held!

Now, the first poll is going to be a bit different, and let me explain why that is: I was absolutely flabbergasted by the success of 10 Days Of Seblaine, and once again would like to thank everyone who offered support and sent me such kind messages after my Mum was rushed into hospital so suddenly last year. As you all know, that meant I had to sadly postpone Seblaine Week 2023 from the original August dates, and after a vote, it was unanimously decided that we would have a 10 day event, that would comprise Seblaine Week 2023 AND Seblainiversary Weekend 2023, and it was held last November

I want to preface this next by saying that Seblainiversary Weekend 2024 will be unaffected this year and will be going ahead from Friday 8th November until midnight on Sunday 10th November 2024. So you can pop that one in your diaries, and the themes will be announced much nearer to the time.

However! I have actually received a lot of lovely messages (including, surprisingly, some from people who aren't technically even part of our tiny, (but always fierce!) Seblainer fandom, but followed along with the event), to say how much 10 Days Of Seblaine 2023 was enjoyed by you all, and the one thing I have been repeatedly asked is; can I please consider making our main Seblainer celebration a 10 day event from now on?

I honestly have no problem with that whatsoever, but I would probably take things on a year to year basis, asking the same question every May. For now, though, I want to make this entirely your decision, so the first poll has simply two options: Do you want a traditional 7 day Seblaine Week 2024, or do you want 10 Days Of Seblaine 2024?

Just to clarify; if the 10 day event is chosen, it will have 9 themes and a free day, and Seblainiversary Weekend 2024 will take place separately in November, as previously detailed above. Following the result of this first poll, and depending on whether we will be working with a 7 or a 10 day event, I'll post the various date choices before the end of May. The following week, we'll vote for our themes.

Please bear in mind that voting is restricted to one vote per person for the duration of the poll. The first poll will be open for voting from today until midnight GMT on Saturday May 11th, 2024.

P.S. I'm well aware that you are all still waiting for the 10 Days Of Seblaine Masterpost, and this will be completed and posted by mid-June. Thank you all for bearing with me during what was (and still often is!) a hectic and stressful time of upheaval. Please let me know if the poll doesn't work properly. Just send me a message or come off Anon and send me an Ask.

**Please note in advance that none of the nine 10 Days of Seblaine 2023 themes can be used for this year's event!**

Vote here, and please reblog and share this poll.

Love you all, and I am really looking forward to hosting our big event and seeing what all our insanely talented Seblainers come up with!

Ail 💜