#pretend i didn't forget to post this yesterday

[neptunym]

ULTRATOBER // Part 5 - Day 14: Meme

✌️

[synindoodles]

Another one of my husbands aka Kalf 💕

[starlightvio]

Baldur's gate inktober day 5- proficiency

I know giving a bard stealth proficiency doesn't make much sense but I'm too much of a coward to ever approach battle directly so every character that can have stealth proficiency gets it

[littlemssam]

Since not everyone saw my latest Statement on Discord yesterday, I wanted to post it here as well, and I also want to clear a few things up.

For those who do not know what this is about, I made a post that I should not have, or at least I should have phrased it in a way where the meaning is clearer. The Post I made was "Since I was one of those that got tagged in there, I can just say that I will not partake in any Anti Israel Pro Hamas Propaganda, and I will most certainly not forget what Hamas did Oct 7th like a lot of these ppl seem to do." I now see that the way I phrased it made it seem like I feel that the attacks on Palestinian Civilians were/are justified, and that is not what I meant, and I am deeply sorry about that. Edit: To make it clear I am against the Israel Government and Netanyahu, just like I am against Hamas. I am pro ceasefire now.

On June 25th I had to face the consequences in my Discord. A lot of ppl came in and confronted me about it. When the first ppl joined and started the confrontation, I did knee jerked again and banned the first three of them, because one of them insulted me and wrote that the attack on Oct 7 was made up. There were a few follow up bans of ppl, who also insulted me, but I did not ban anyone on purpose because they are Pro Palestine. There were also some Posts deleted that should not have been. It was not done by me personally, but I was also not fast enough and clear minded enough to stop it and I could not undo it, so I apologise for that as well.

I locked the Server down in the End, because it was 3 am for me and I was, and still am, very overwhelmed and exhausted, and the Server will stay down for a while. This is the latest Statement I made, and I know it will not be enough for everyone and I respect that.

"I did not mean to seem to take a stance that seems like I am pro-Israel as if I believe this is all their land (a Zionist). I do not want to condone the violence happening in the country right now or pretend that Palestinian lives don't matter. It was never intended in what I said. I did not mean to phrase things in a way that make me seem to be against the problems palestinians are facing in Gaza. I inserted myself into something I don't know enough about or how to talk about in an educated way, so I should have better not said anything at all. I am sorry that I did. I do feel it is wrong that some people feel like what happened on October 7 is fake and I have already had people say it is. I have banned people who have said so while attacking me. That is wrong. Those people died and it's sad, so too it is sad the people who are dying over the military actions of Israel in attacking the groups who did this causing a loss of Palestinian life without considering who will be hurt. I am not a Zionist. I am just someone who felt sickened by what happened in the attacks last year and didn't like how I see some people pretending that is all a hoax."

[lizardkingeliot]

The thing is tho... okay.

Here's the thing.

AMC’s Interview with the Vampire has so effectively driven home the point that Lestat loves Louis without condition and will continue loving him to the same degree forever regardless of the passage of time and regardless of what Louis has done that sometimes it's easy to forget that, like... Louis doesn't actually know that. Sometimes I'm really just like what do you MEAN Louis de Pointe du Lac doesn't know he's Lestat de Lioncourt's heartbeat now and forever Louis de Pointe du Lac do you even watch the SHOW.

Anyway. I don't know what I'm trying to say here but I think it's something about the romantic angst of it all. The way Lestat is going to be forced to betray Claudia and Louis in Paris during the trial leaving Louis with the belief that Lestat doesn't want him. He will view this as a rejection and this is the reason why he is going to spend the next 77 years of his life with Armand. This is why he couldn't just reach out to Lestat post-Paris and try to work things out. I’m not saying anything new here, I know. Most of us have worked this out already. It took me a while to get there yesterday when I was digesting the episode because, like I said, Lestat’s love is so obvious it’s easy to forget Louis really doesn’t know. But listen….

Louis is deeply unwell in 1973 San Francisco. When Lestat asks him why he’s ill all I can think right now is… well. Because he doesn’t have you. Even before he walked into the sun he was ill because he doesn’t have you. Ill in New Orleans after the deed was done. Ill in Paris and sustaining himself with memories so vivid it was like Lestat was there in the room. Ill in San Francisco when Armand could have ended it all by relaying Lestat's words to Louis, and didn't. Ill in Dubai searching the well of memory trying to find his way back to something like sanity again...

But listen. Sam Reid said Lestat very much thinks Louis is dead after 1973. This tracks. It fits very neatly with the ~theme. With what this season is trying to do wrt the romantic angst of it all. Maybe Lestat is still locked up in a dungeon or underground somewhere sleeping, maybe he isn't. Maybe he's rotting away in New Orleans, wrecked with grief, thinking about walking out and greeting the sun every morning when it rises and he's reminded Louis is gone. I guess we'll find out soon enough…

But listen. There's not some great conclusion I'm trying to arrive at with this post. I'm just spinning my wheels thinking about how delicious the tropes on this show truly are. To separate a love like that, to have Louis believe Lestat doesn't want him and have Lestat believe that Louis is dead. Well, friends... that sounds like a recipe for a grand reunion to me. And maybe what I'm trying to do with this post is toss another coin in the wishing well of a potential season 3. Because you can't have a love story like this that is destined to end in a reunion only to come back the next season to pretend it doesn't matter. I don't know. Maybe you can. But I really hope they don't. I really hope when they come back together at the end of this nightmare, when Lestat is finally permitted to have a voice of his own, that voice will be echoing through the halls of their home, because he'll be telling his story to Louis.

[bewareofthenewphannie]

So let me summarise, they want us to believe that...

Phil asked dan to buy him things for his background all the way back in 2016. that means dan ordered these things during tatinof. in that context it makes perfect sense for dan to forget about already having bought a present because they arguably had a lot going on.

Dan got him the lamps, plus a deer candle, which phil mentions in a video back in January 2017 (this is relevant, I promise).

He then tweeted about the hippo lamp in February, presumably because he thought it's nice/funny and wanted to show people but didn't want to mention that dan had bought it for him for...reasons.

A few months later they moved with all the lamps (and never showed the dino and lava lamp) and a few years later in 2019 phil finally used the deer candle, along with the dinosaur lamp (and the lava lamp?) for the new AP set in the 2nd London apartment.

Which he planned on doing since 2016? (He doesn't mention where he got the candle from but he does pretend to order the lamps. On that topic I'll redirect you to the tags on this post.)

OR they lied yesterday. Which is at least as plausible as this because they do have a track record of getting their own past wrong.

[anothermansjeans]

youtuber!reader forgetting to edit out the five minutes of her just rambling about everything she likes about spencer🙏

hehehe this is part 2 of the q&a blurb!!

cw: spencer's a little shit (affectionate), the comments roast reader, reader just loves spencer sm, soooo fluff

wc: 737

youtuber!reader masterlist

++

You did it again– you accidentally forgot to edit a video and posted it. This time, you blame Spencer completely. After filming, you were planning on editing it immediately because you had a strict posting schedule and you were behind on some videos. However, Spencer thought it was a good idea to pull you in his arms and practically wrap you in a cocoon of his warmth. You woke up the next morning completely forgetting about the unedited version and queuing it up to be uploaded.

You were terrified to watch the video, seeing as the comments were blowing up almost as much as they were when you exposed Spencer, but you simply couldn't remember what you said that would make people go feral. You wanted to wait to look, mostly because you were alone and didn't know if you could handle the embarrassment by yourself, but also because you wanted to be comforted by something you were still deeming his fault.

When he got home, he put his satchel down and took off his shoes, noticing you on the couch with your laptop opened to the video.

“Are you editing?”

You looked over your shoulder and gave him a shy smile. “No… I didn't edit a video again…”

Furrowing his eyebrows he walked towards the couch and sat down next to you. “Which one?”

“The Q&A from yesterday.”

You actively watched his face shift from concern to amusement. “Have you watched it?”

Immediately shaking your head, you gave him a confused look. “No.”

“You should.”

At his ominous words, you pressed play. It started off like the last one– fixing your hair in the viewfinder, adjusting the lighting, and preparing for the video. The video continued showing small hiccups along the way when mispronouncing usernames and laughing at something Spencer said, but you finally realized why Spencer was so amused when you told him this was the unedited video.

“@ prettyboystan asked ‘what’s your favorite thing about Spencer?’” You put your finger on your chin pretending to think. A scoff was heard in the background from Spencer. “Oh hush, you know I love you. Hmm, I love how he always has something new to tell me. It’s never a dull day in our relationship.”

You thought you were done, but then another thought popped into your head, “Oh! I also love when he reads to me. I know it sounds juvenile, but his voice is soothing and calms me down. Oh my God, he’s also so talented on the piano. There’s almost nothing he couldn't do.”

Looking down at your phone, you were preparing to move on, but you looked up at Spencer one last time, finding words at the tip of your tongue. “You know, I also love the way you find an appreciation for the new things I introduce you to, and the way you take in new things with ease. You're so open minded and I love it. You're also extremely humble for how accomplished you are,” Your face was lighting up as you looked off camera towards a blushing Spencer, “I love that you're caring, kind, and helpful to everyone around you. I also love that you let me love you. It makes me so happy being able to give you the love you deserve…”

Beside you, a soft chuckle could be heard, and you paused the video to scold Spencer. “You think this is so funny.”

“Because it is!”

“Ugh!” You groaned as you went back to your laptop and scrolled down to the comments… they were definitely roasting you more than normal. “They’re calling me a simp!”

“What’s a simp?”

Looking at him softly, you grabbed his hand, “this might be a long conversation…”

++

BONUS: some comments

@ user: SIMP SIMP SIMP SIMP !! SIMPERELLA OVER HERE

@ user1: oh babe, you're so down bad

@ user2: please give us more… video essay on what you love about spencer???

@ user3: and you call him the yapper?

@ user4: wait everyone's roasting you (rightfully so) but this is so cute????

@ user5: she stops talking about him at 10:34

@ user6: i wish i had someone to yap to about how much i love them

@ user7: GETTING READY TO PLACE FREEZE TAG ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER THIS ONE BABE !! how dare you be so sweet

@ user8: can spencer teach a college course for men who need to be better because you would NEVER compliment a man sm

++

youtuber!reader taglist: @im-a-ghost666 @lyd14k4y @happiestcat @hauntedtv13 @obi-wansgirl @charismatic-writer @navs-bhat @itsleilabxtch @strabarrybat @hiireadstuff @cherrybb-ily @wietske27 @mynameiskelly

let me know if you would like to be added or removed!

[sir-jay-bell]

7 holy nights of jeremy day 5 - lore

(let's just pretend i didn't forget to post this yesterday ehehe)

i LOVE the headcanon that e1! joel is made of terracotta, and that he sculpts all his clones from terracotta!

so here is my contribution for that!

[randomshyperson]

Borderlines - Wanda Maximoff Oneshots

Summary: Wanda and the borderlines of healthy in her relationships.

Warnings: Implied Cheating, Toxics behaviors, High School, secret dating, implied smut (no description), mild angst. | Words: 1.016k

A/N-> I just forgot I had ones ready in my drive. Just loose ideas transformed into small works, enjoy! I'll try to upload once a week.

General Masterlist | AO3 | Wattpad

--//--

"I'm tired of your games. To be frank, I am tired of you."

Dial this number?

This phone is not receiving calls at the moment, please leave a message after-

With a weary sigh, Wanda threw the device away, one hand covering her face as she normalized her breathing.

Don't cry. Don't cry.

A sob ripped through her throat, and Wanda got to her feet, frantically moving around the room. She collected in record time every little thing of yours that was still lying around the bedroom.

She had a box full when she finished, and a face wet with tears. She ignored her twin's worried question about her state, heading downstairs toward the garage, where as soon as she reached the car, she tossed the box into the passenger seat.

The way to your apartment was made at high speed, but Wanda couldn't worry about future traffic tickets now.

She arrived at a crowded place, used to the always busy condo of other residents. Some of them recognized her, and this only made Wanda feel even more nauseous. The box weighed heavier in her arms.

She pressed the doorbell impatiently many times, until your figure appeared with a towel in her hair, worry dissipating into irritation as soon as she recognized the figure on the other end.

"Jesus, Wanda, what the hell are you doing here?"

Suddenly, all rehearsed speech faded from her mind. Wanda noticed many things at once, easily overwhelmed by the smell of post-bath, and the amount of skin exposed by your pajamas. 

Her throat went dry. 

"I-I..."

You grimaced at the box. "Oh, I get it." And you looked suddenly very sad. Your hands grabbed the item away from her, and Wanda didn't have the strength to resist. She clenched her fists at the side of her body, wanting to scream without being able to form any coherent sentence to say. "If that was all it was, please go away."

The tears were back, burning behind her eyes. But this time, you had a pair too, and this gave Wanda the courage to approach. The box bumped against her stomach, and your back against the door.

"Please, just-"

You looked away. "You've said everything, Wanda. Did you forget? Yesterday, to those jerk friends of yours. I don't mean anything, so stop pretending."

"You got it all wrong-"

A hoarse laugh made her shudder. "Right, on top of everything else, I'm also dumb." You sneered, the box pushing her a few inches away as you moved the item inside, placing it on the floor. Wanda denied it, shaking her head in desperation to clear up the misunderstanding, but you put your hands on her shoulders to push her out. "I don't want to talk to you. I don't even want to see you. Go away, the least you can do is leave me alone after everything!"

She let herself be pushed out, but as soon as you made mention of moving away, her hands grabbed your wrists, holding you in place.

"Please, let me explain, Vis and I have been distant, he shouldn't be back home yet and I didn't know how to tell you-"

"I don't want to hear about it!" You squirmed, sobbing, giving a tug to free yourself from the grip. Wanda was crying too - As in her, all the moments of the past few weeks were passing in your mind. Unlike Wanda, now that you knew the truth, everything carried the idea that it was a lie. An act, a distraction. You hearing Wanda try to dispel her friends' suspicions by saying you were just a party friend, a summer fling, made everything worse. "Go away or I'll call the police."

Wanda shook her head. "I didn't know how to tell you, but everything I said was true. I'm in love with you, I want to go to NYU with you-"

"Wanda, stop!" You pulled away, crying so hard that Wanda despaired. Your escape back into the apartment made her follow you, closing the door behind her and coming closer until she could hold you again, as she had done so many times in the last few weeks, in this very room. 

"I swear, detka, I swear I love you..." She assured, repeating several times until your crying subsided in her arms. She wiped your tears away, kissing your cheeks, repeating the same words like a mantra until you relaxed and responded back. Surrendering to her, as always.

Wanda is not sure who initiated the kiss, but most likely it was her. Soft at first, so as not to scare you off, but then firm and sensual, with tongue. You gasped, cheeks burning as your lower belly, and Wanda wasted no time in clutching at your thin clothes, pulling them off without tenderness.

You muttered something about your colleagues, apartment rules she should know by now, and that was the only deterrent to Wanda's taking you across the living room floor. She dragged you back into the bedroom, pushed you onto the bed, and climbed on top of you.

And she stayed and remained until the tears in your eyes were of pleasure, the whimpers were pleas for more. More from her fingers, from her mouth.

You always slept when she was rough like this. Wanda took immense satisfaction in watching you sleep, but shortly after covering you with a bed sheet, she got up to check the vibrating cell phone in her pants lying on the floor.

Vision sent her a message. The celebratory caption announced that the two of them were going to the same college they had planned for so long. She bit the inside of her cheek, typing that she was very happy for him and then that she needed some time.

She deleted the last part.

"Wan?"

Your sleepy voice made her look away from her cell phone. You gave her a tired smile, of one who was exhausted after coming so many times. Deliciously worn out. "Come back to bed."

She nodded. She forgot to answer any messages, her full attention on you.

[frnchgirls]

I need more of regency!artick pretty please your writing is sooo brilliant

thank you so much for this request and the kind words!! ask and you shall receive :] my original post was safe for work so i stuck with that for this one as well. hope you enjoy!

when patrick was informed by a footman that he had a visitor, he was not expecting said visitor to be art. at least, not so soon. "i must speak to you. in private." the blonde blurts, nostrils flared before his friend even has a chance to greet him at the foot of the stairs. he assumes the need for conversation doesn't stem from being missed or the sheer goodness of arthur's heart.

he's correct in his assumption.

"what exactly were you doing yesterday?" art asks as soon as the two are behind closed doors. patrick feigns innocence. "attending lady debret's ball. with you." he answers. art scoffs and damn near slaps him across his smug face. "allow me to rephrase. what were you trying to do last night?" the brunette sucks his teeth. devil's blazes, does art know? "dance. with a lady. and i didn't try, i did."

art takes a step closer, arms folded in front of his chest for security; to make himself feel bigger. the scornful way patrick looks at him down the barrel of his sharp nose renders it futile. "you were playing a game. gentlemen do not dance with ladies they do not plan to court." patrick smirks, left dimple on full display, "who says i don't plan on courting her?" and the arrogance in his tone makes art's blood boil.

"i know you do not love her. standing idly by and letting this go on any further would be irresponsible." art explains, shaking his head both at the other and at himself. "love matches are a myth, art." patrick spits, gaze situated just behind the man in front of him. he has to pretend he isn't there right now, that he's not doing this with his best friend. just for a moment. just for a second.

"i could have had one. with her. if only you would have stayed out of it."

he's snapped back to reality. art's words cause patrick to erupt.

"if i would have stayed out of it? how naive can you possibly be? you know, before she weaseled her way into your backyard, you were mine." he states, troubled fingers sweeping through his hair. "so i'm sorry, art. i'm so sorry that i tried fixing it in some messed up way. and i'm sorry that i ended up getting a dance out of it." patrick's talking so fast, he nearly forgets to breathe. "it's probably the only one i'll ever get."

to his surprise, the blonde's reaction is limited to the lift of a brow, skipping over everything but the last sentence as if he had been expecting it. maybe he would address it properly another day, when emotions weren't so high. "you can dance with anyone you want, patrick." he reminds him, tight-lipped as he fidgets with his coat.

"i can't dance with you, not in front of the entire ton. it would mean social ruin." the brunette counters, and art extends a hand. "is the ton in the room with us now?" he quips. patrick can't hold back his smirk when their fingertips touch. he thinks his heart might beat out of his chest. "let us dance."

so, they do. they're a tangled mess of appendages twirling on the mahogany floor of the zweig study. art might have stepped on patrick's toes once or twice, but it's alright.

he makes up for it later when he asks his friend to dance again the next week, at lady ellsworth's ball. in front of the entire ton.

[weirdly-specific-but-ok]

Hello my pretties *witch cackle* *voice cracks mid-cackle* *we pretend it didn't happen* it's your mascot, prince of the gays. I'm just going to take a break from tumblr and discord for a day and try to deal with my legs and my messy lil maggot brain.

My definition of "rest your legs because they're fucking bruised and you have a haematoma" was "cram them into heeled boots and go to a music production workshop and then walk around a mall for a subway" yesterday. As you can imagine that has not worked out well for me. BUT fuck it we ball it just aches a lil.

ALSO LOOK AT THIS THE BRAINROT IS INESCAPABLE. THERE WERE A YELLOW POT WITH PLANTS. CROWLEY. A BOOK WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. CROWLEY. AND OFC I FOUND NORSE MYTHOLOGY CHILLING IN THE BOOKSHOP.

There is no escape and I love that. Ofc I'm not exactly helping matters, I literally took the Good Omens book to the hospital (haematoma babygirls) and slept with it there (the homoerotic tension between me and my copy of the book is real).

Yesterday I had an anxiety attack at the Staged stream (thank you so much @thescholarlystrumpet for helping me, I'm sorry to everyone on the stream for having to stop after S2) which is why I think I'd better take a break for a day and, well, think about what I wanna do vis à vis college and also speaking up about the whole issues surrounding it and our shit education system.

Aaaaaand so here I am making this post. Roxie and the plants (Aziraphale, Adam and Crowley) send their love to you all.

I'll leave you with a cursed thought so that you do not forget me while I'm gone ✨️...

The Bentley × Lightning McQueen fanfiction (E rated enemies to lovers)

*grins* See you on Monday, my crazy fandom. Someone please check in on the server, the maggots are rather prone to incest and cannibalism when left unattended. I love you all.

Have an amazing day. Look at you, you're gorgeous.

~Asmi

[stampsthemeow]

I am sick rn so you guys will pretend like I didn't forget to post yesterday

💥💥💥💥

[sharkphobicz]

THE GHOST AND MOLLY MCGEE PROMO TRAILER SPOILERS!!

we're gonna pretend that I didn't forget to post this yesterday ... Libby!! I absolutely love her design, I think it fits her wonderfully :D

[gmanwhore]

Inspired by @gabbbyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy and @double--hh I present: Incorrect quotes featuring my nightmares.

Yan Luo: Don't forget, we must complete a head count of all nightmares before the next ritual.

Shub: When have I forgotten anything ever?

Teutates: You left Yan Luo and I in the middle of nowhere once.

Shub: I did that on purpose.

-

Abducius: Pretending to be a snake oil salesman is so easy! Look.

Abducius: The mitochondria is the powerhouse of AIDs.

Zoth: STOP.

-

Yan Luo: Oh, Orcus, I am just feeling real low...

Orcus: I'm the man behind the slaughter.

Yan Luo: Oh shit, fr?

-

Xezbet: Imagine if mayonnaise came in cans.

Dadga: I wouldn't be able to microwave it then!

Chaugnar: Good morning to everyone but you two.

-

Ishtar: Behind every girlboss is another, bigger girlboss.

Teutates: Sounds like an mlm.

Shub: You mean a wlw!

Ishtar: We did it guys.

-

Mask Ghost: I've been considering joining you guys, but why would I even do that? I've been considering joining you guys, but why would I even do that? I've been considering joining you guys, but why would I even do that?

Unlikely: I have a gun.

-

Abducius: So I saw you hanging out with Ah Puch yesterday!

Yog: Abducius, it's not what you think-

Abducius: I WON'T HESITATE, BITCH

-

Drugia: I thought...I thought you liked the eight ball dreams 🥺

Izanami: Of course you would think that.

Drugia: What do you mean by that? Izanami, what do you mean by that?

-

Ishtar: I love bugs. Why don't people like bugs? They are just little guys that crawl on the ground...they don't harm no one...

Yog: Actually, there are lots of bugs that-

Ishtar: DIVORCE!!!!!!

-

Yan Luo: Can you stop posting NSFW?

Ishtar: You come to MY house and tell me how to arrange my furniture? PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS!!!!!

-

Teutates: Hey dad, have you seen-

Ah Puch: The war.

Teutates:...ok.

-

Lilith: "I cast testicular torsion", "I cast appendix explosion" I CAST ENDOMETRIOSIS.

-

Anazareth: Out of everything I can summon...I cannot summon a way out of your bullshit.

-

Barbatos: *reading a confession he found* "I still want to rub my ass on Barbatos."

Barbatos: ...still?

Barbatos: ...was there a time this person didn't? What?

-

Abducius: Quick, I need 7-10 human skulls and please don't ask why.

Exael: *pulls out fifteen perfectly preserved human skulls* you can't ask either.

Abducius:...I want those seven on the left.

-

Unlikely: Hello! This is the part where I kill you.

D.D.D. Agent: This is the part where he kills us

!Achievement Unlocked! The part where he kills you (this is that part)

-

Shub: Hmm...this spring festival, I think I'll go topless.

Ishtar: How you will you do the festival without me?

[synindoodles]

Let's pretend I didn't forget to post her yesterday also we're not discussing her eyes because for once it's not my fault lol

[see more on my portfolio]

[destinywillowleaf]

lifeswap AU: 6-2 reunion

because apparently i'm contractually obligated to think about this au every few months (even if i don't actually post anything of it, oops). original concept by @greentrickster

summary: talking to apollo in defendant lobby no. 3 has a... different outcome than nahyuta would've hoped for.

As Ema was apologizing to Trucy, the doors to the lobby opened and Nahyuta felt his heart stop.

"Oh!" Ema turned to address the new arrival.

"Prosecutor Justice?" He forced the words out of his mouth, old familiarity and Khura'inese threatening to spill through. "What are you doing here?"

The prosecutor barely spared him a glance and focused his attention on the detective. "Detective Skye."

"Y-Yes?"

"I require your forensic expertise in order to close this case." It felt wrong to hear his voice come out so quietly. That wasn't how it was supposed to be. "Come, let us go."

Ema gave the group a small wave and started to walk off with him.

"W-Wait!" Nahyuta called. "Prosecutor Justice!"

He didn't turn back. "The trial is over, Mr. Helios."

"So what? You—"

"There is no need for us to interact any further. We are strangers, and nothing more."

His heart froze.

Strangers.

Fifteen years was a long time. It was long enough to make his own memories of home fuzzy, but that didn't mean he forgot everything. He barely knew what was happening in the country at this point but that didn't mean he ignored things completely. But… did… "Did you really forget all about me?"

"What?!" Athena practically shouted in his ear. Widget chimed in with a relatively quieter ⟨YOU KNOW HIM?!⟩

His brother stopped walking away.

«I thought you were dead.» Nahyuta tried not to wince at his own Khura'inese. He knew it was rough, but hearing his brother speak it to cleanly in court made the difference all too clear. «Instead you turn up as a prosecutor and treat me like a heretic, like nothing Dad or Datz said ever meant anything. What happened to being a dragon? What happened to fighting to put an end to all this?» He closed the gap between them, hand fidgeting at his side. He wanted to reach out. They could pretend like nothing was different and reconnect and put everything that happened in the last 24 hours behind them. He could find out what changed and how he could help. It didn't have to be like this.

"What happened to you, Apollo?"

Apollo tore his hand away with a glare. "I have no time for a heretic bearing a dead man's name." With that, the prosecutor was gone.

The door slammed shut and his heart shattered.

"…Nahyuta?" Athena was uncharacteristically quiet.

Everything felt hazy. "Huh?"

"What the heck was that all about?" Her voice regained some of its usual energy. "How do you know Prosecutor Justice, and what in the WORLD did you tell him to get him to answer with… with THAT?"

"…I don't want to talk about it." He'd survived fifteen years without being able to contact his family and living with the knowledge that nearly everyone at home thought he was dead. He could survive another fifteen knowing his brother never wanted to speak to him again.

"Yuta…" Trucy looked worried.

"It's fine," he lied. "I'll manage."

Trucy pointed at him. "You're grabbing your right arm. You're not fine."

"Ignoring the problem is only going to make it worse," Athena chimed in. "You were skittish about him yesterday, too. Don't think I forgot about that."

Sometimes he hated being surrounded by lie detectors. It wasn't like chasing after Justice would help things, either. He was stuck in the same place he started all those years ago: that horrible, horrible limbo of wondering if the pieces would be put together and if he would die that night.

Athena sighed. "I know I was bad about not telling you guys about Simon, but this seems more… serious, than that."

"It's really not." It kinda was.

"Then what was all of that about a dead man's name?"

"I don't—"

Of course that had to be the moment when the phone rang.