#probably would've been too small anyhow

[4thebedrockbros]

A Bedrock bros SUPERHERO AU WIP I need opinion on

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Icarus, the boy that flew too close to the sun, burnt and fell.

He hadn't chosen this alias, though it ironically fits him well. When he inevitably falls, there will be no outstretched hands, there will be no saviours.

Tommy is Icarus. Tommy will burn. Tommy will fall.

And eventually, he'll die all alone, an unmarked grave as the only proof of the fact that he had once been someone, that he had once screamed, laughed and cried.

He's completely fine with that. ( He is a liar )

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

When he hears something falling loudly on his balcony, Technoblade knew it would be a long night.

When he chose to live near Logsteadshire, the district with the highest crime rates, he knew he would probably have to deal with robberies and other things of the sort. It had not bothered him, if he could he would've moved directly inside said district, but no, the Hero Committee and his father had to be rich dumbasses over it.

In his humble (and completely right) opinion, crime rate in Logstead’ would probably be way lower if the heroes actually came to patrol there instead of leaving the heavy lifting to vigilantes. Don't get him started on their vigilante policies.

Now he wasn't actually a hero, while the HC would probably like him (or force him) to be one. But with a father that's the number one hero and a power that is considered “ dangerous “ the brunette still has to listen to whatever they say or do whatever they order him to do.

Anyhow, Techno takes the baseball bat he keeps near the front door of his apartment and slowly makes his way to the balcony, hoping the robber was unharmed, he's not really in the mood to deal with guns or any other weapon, unsurprisingly.

He steps in front of the glass door of the balcony, opens it and stops his steps, breath halting as the bat in his hand, now forgotten, clatters to the floor with a -thud-.

In front of him a small figure, with a white and golden coat, black combat suit underneath, blue lens goggles along with a black mask covering the lower half of their face, and two golden mechanical wings that seemed a bit messed up. And blood. So much blood everywhere.

Fuck.

This ladies, gentlemen and folks of all other genders, is the vigilante Icarus, or Archangel as some people tend to nickname them. They've been fighting crime all over the poorer districts for a little over a year now without once being caught by the heroes.

And listen, Techno knows he should probably call the committee, his father or even the police. But–

They're probably the reason the kid (He refuses to believe that this is a grown man, they look so small) is in this state in the first place. And so, Technoblade does something that would probably make the HC snap and finally put him in Pandora, he slowly lifts the young figure off the ground, leaving the busted mechanical wings aside for now, and takes them inside before they end up bleeding out.

Is he risking his safety for a random kid in a suit? Apparently so.

Who knew ‘The Blood God’ could be so heroic.

–

The first red flag was that when Tommy woke up, he felt safe and warm, which doesn't add up since last time he checked he was very cold and dying alone on a concrete roof, or was it a balcony? Fuck if he knows. Did he actually die? Huh. He would try and say that it was surprising but it was really not.

However, he does feel pain all over his damn body. ' Man, the afterlife fucking sucks’ is his first thought.

“ You're not dead, kid . “ A monotone voice answer - and that was the second red flag. That definitely wake Tommy up, because, first of all did he say that out loud? Probably not, he knows better. Second of all if he isn't dead then, where the fuck is he. And most importantly who the fuck was that-

The vigilante immediately shot up to stare at the stranger. He's apparently in the living room of a small apartment, the unknown person standing in their kitchenette, above the shoulder brown hair and crimson eyes not bothering to look at the younger boy, the man is buff, has a few scar as well, way more than the usual civilian, and square glasses sitting on his nose, weird guy.

Crimson eyes meets his own summer blues. Wait a fucking minute what did pinkie pie just call him ??

“ Not a kid, bitch !” He signs rapidly, not bothering to check if the man even knew ASL. (Yes ASL, Purpled was the one who taught him and the guy was a fucking American so-)

“Well hello to you too, kid. You shouldn't move around so much you're still injured. Almost bled out on my balcony, and my couch.” The stranger answers before looking back at the food they were preparing.

Tommy flips the guy off before realising the predicament he put himself in. He's alone, inside a strangers appartement. Shit.

… oh Shit oh piss wait, the young blonde touched his face to see if his goggles and mask are still there, which surprisingly they are.

Huh. Double weird guy. He takes a moment to reboot his goggles, the digital eyes appearing in each lens. Once a criminal said he looked like a Tamagotchi. Tommy punched him extra hard for that one.

“You saved me and you didn't even try to u-n-m-a-s-k me ?” He asked, digital eyes displaying question marks (?.?), it was a very valid question. No one would pass this golden opportunity, either to blackmail him, reveal him to the world or other weird reasons.

“Seems like an invasion of privacy” The brown haired man answered as if it was common sense.

Well it totally is. Not a lot of people care about that though, especially when it comes to vigilantes. With them being illegal and all. Tommy signs so to the guy, trying to make him understand how stupid they're being.

“ Heh. don't really care about your identity. All I need to know is that you're a kid and you crashed on my balcony. “ Now that should be an immediate third red flag, but Tommy just concluded he was dead and ended up in heaven, which, congrats to him, didn't think he would make it there but he’s not about to complain. He’s still hurt though so that's less ideal. The tension in his shoulder is relieved a bit.

“By the way, my name's Techno, pronouns he and him“ the ever so monotone voice cut through his thought. “ What should I call you ?”

The younger immediately noticed the Techno guy didn't really ask for his name back, which he's kinda grateful for. But he is also Tommy Innes. So he signs:

“What kind of dumb name is T-E-C-N-O” Digital eyes displaying a childish expression to match the blonde's grin. (⁠*⁠^-^⁠*⁠)

“ T-E-C-H-N-O kid” The man sighs, hiding a smile at the kid's antics, with that mask, his size and the way they expressed themself ?

That was definitely a child. Coming out of the kitchen and putting a bowl on the table in front of them. “ and I don't know, I was young, don't let a nine year old choose his own name I guess “

Tommy makes a small chuckle that ends up being muffled by the mask, not really questionning the fact that Techno had to name himself, before staring at the food bowl. It seems to be for him. His stomach wails at the sight of a hot meal. But eating means removing the mask. And that puts him in danger.

“ I'm going to clean the mess of blood you made out on the balcony, don't eat too fast, don't throw up, don't snoop around” That's all Techno said before leaving, giving the young vigilante the opportunity to eat. And Tommy is not about to complain, or wait. He removes the lower mask and drinks the soup, trying to eat it as slowly as he can while trying to ignore his aching stomach. He only eats half the bowl before being full, he stares at it guiltily.

He hears the other man coming back after a while and quickly put his mask back on, putting the bowl back on the table.

Techno does his best not to address the half eaten food, the kid is skittish, he doesn't need to have an injured boy running away from him. “ Your wings are kind of broken, I think, I'm not an expert but you should bring them to be seen by whoever created them “

At that the vigilante or well the mask displayed a frowny face.

Tommy raised his hand once again to sign “ I made them, bring them to me. “

[msmk11]

A Moment For Yourself

Johanna Mason x fem!reader

WC: 830

CW: mention of killing people; fluff

Summary: You, the daughter of the mayor of district two, surprise Johanna

Day 1 of MK's mad dash

Upon becoming a victor, Johanna quickly realized that even if you won the Hunger Games, you never really left the arena. Instead, you were thrust into another more complicated, confusing one dominated by social etiquette and politics. The worst part about it- you couldn't kill anyone in this new arena. And right about now, Johanna really wanted to kill someone. Preferably her stylist, who'd dressed her in one after another idiotic outfit that was itchy, restricting, and thoroughly unflattering.

If the outfit wasn't enough, today was the day Johanna was most dreading on her victory tour- second only to visiting the Capitol- her visit to District 2. If the tributes from Two during her games were any indication, everyone from the district were smug, cocky pain in the asses with a superiority complex.

She got off the train in Two with a less than warm reception- dim smiles worn on plastic faces, altered by Capitol surgeries. This district visit was no different than the rest- insincere speeches to the neighbors, friends, and families of the fallen, a tour of the district where Johanna could barely hide her disinterest, and a fancy dinner with the mayor, table laden with local favorites. The feast was Johanna's favorite part, always using the excuse of too much food shoved in her mouth to be able to answer questions.

Just as she thought she'd survived the day, a quieter voice said, "we have one more stop here in Two before we send you off to the train."

Johanna looked up from her plate, dread already filling her stomach. It was you. She couldn't remember your name, having zoned out during introductions, but she did know that you were the mayor's daughter. You looked it too- your soft, full features a demonstration of your wealth, the pretty, baby blue dress you wore clearly made from the finest material, and the innocent smile that still graced your lips, free from any real idea of struggle. Had you not been who you were, Johanna would've maybe called you attractive.

The brunette nodded silently and stood, moving towards you. When no one else followed, she looked at you confused.

You smiled shyly at her, "This isn't an official part of your itinerary, I just like to steal the victors away for a minute to show them a secret spot."

Johanna looked at you warily, not really believing your seemingly innocent intentions, but followed anyhow. For someone who was likely trained on hostess etiquette, you were strangely quiet as you led Johanna away from your house. You padded through the lush grass that she assumed was your backyard and motioned for her to follow as you slipped between a small opening in a long wall of bushes. You stood patiently waiting for her on the other side, hands clasped behind your back and a soft look on your face. You walked for what could've only been a few more minutes before stopping in front of a small, peaceful pond. It was wonderfully quiet, the only sounds wildlife and the faint hush of your breathing.

You looked at her expectantly.

"So, what? You here to drown me or something?" She asked, confused.

"No, course not," you answered with a small giggle. A giggle that, though she'd never admit it, made Johanna's heart jump a little.

Johanna tried to think of something to say, so as to not appear rude, but she was at a loss for words. She couldn't understand why you'd brought her here.

It's like you read her mind, "I'm sure you're wondering why I brought you here, to a secluded pond in the middle of the woods."

"You could say that."

"It's probably silly," you say, a faint blush spreading over your cheeks, "But I've always thought about the victors and how, if I were you, I'd be feeling awfully lonely and exhausted right about now, so far away from home traveling with a bunch of strangers. And though it's not much, I thought that you all might just want a moment to yourselves with no prying eyes or incessant questions. I've gone to this place since I was little, whenever I just needed to be for a moment, and I've always hoped it would help the victors the same way it's helped me."

Johanna was silent.

"We can go back if you want. I know it's stupid I-"

Johanna reached out and grabbed your hand gently, "No, it's not stupid. I- thank you, really. This is the nicest thing anyone has done for me in a long time."

You smiled prettily at her and your shoulders visibly relaxed, "well, I'll leave you alone now. I'll just be on the other side of the hedge if you need me."

She gripped your hand tighter, "Wait! You can stay- if you want."

You looked her in the eyes intensely, "do you want me to?"

Even Johanna is a little shocked by what comes out of her mouth next- "yes."

[pomogando]

darkheart x reader fluff

pelase PLEASE

Melatonin

A Darkheart x reader

Darkheart wants to try sleeping, but you're busy.

No content warnings, comfort and fluff. Not much to say here. Sappy warning !!!!!!!

1300+ words, oneshot, romantic

Rain tapped the glass in a soothing lullaby. You yawned, the computer screen a harsh contrast to the beautiful night. You have been working on this report since the morning. It was dark now. Winter always made the days feel shorter, or maybe it's just that you didn't have as much time as you thought.

You let out a cry of annoyance as you stared at your unfinished draft. Causing your shadow to chuckle as it wrapped its hands around you, a gentleness you wouldn't have thought possible for Darkheart. He was careful, clawed hands that treated you like porcelain. As if one scratch was just too much to risk.

He laid his head on top of yours, and you sighed as you felt yourself start to relax. The chaos deity had a calming presence unlike any other.

You got used to him appearing out of seemingly nowhere.

A frail but stubborn wing wrapped around you, Darkheart had been awfully clingy recently, not leaving your side for a second. You knew the reason, of course. He disappeared for a month on short notice. It wasn't the first time he had done that, and it's not something you could hold against him. Darkheart never told you exactly what he did, and that was fine. You just wish he stayed with you longer.

You were good at pretending his infrequent visits that had unfortunately become common didn't bother you.

You stared blankly at the meaningless words on your screen. A finger playfully poking your nose snapped you out of your boredom induced trance. His hands were cold.

"I'm busy, love." You mumbled, absent-minded, exhausted, bored. "Can't you wait till after I'm done to mess around?"

He giggled, and his laugh had a threatening aura to it. You remember it used to make you feel unnerved, but not anymore. It was charming in its own right despite the way it made others shiver.

"Why wait? Time is fleeting for you." They moved their free hand to pull on your cheek, making you groan in annoyance. He had been getting more touchy, as if he didn't want to be apart from you for one second. "Mortals are so curious.. spending your little life on menial, boring, repetitive tasks." He looked over your shoulder at your computer, studying the screen.

"It's not... well." You cut yourself off with a huff. You felt the need to explain how journalism wasn't boring, but at this time, you couldn't help but agree. You wrapped your hand around his, squeezing it gently before, hesitantly, letting go. It was comforting for the small moment it lasted.

"We don't think you mind as much as you're saying, anyhow." Darkheart hummed, cutting off your thoughts. You felt his hand brush against yours for a moment, but you moved it away to type. His firm smile seemed to falter, but only slightly. You might've not even noticed if you weren't paying attention.

"I needed this done by yesterday." You yawned, clearly uninterested in the gossip piece assigned to you. If you were, you would've had it done already.

"It is quite late for you, don't you think?" He pouted. "When was the last time you slept? We recall it wasn't yesterday."

"If I don't complete this, my boss will probably yell at me. I can't lose this job." You mumbled, you had almost forgotten, darkheart wanted to sleep with you. He had become curious about sleeping after you had fallen asleep near him way more than once. He wasn't even sure if he could sleep in the first place. He never tried. He didn't need to. You looked back at the screen, feeling a bit guilty for a reason you didn't understand.

"We will stay by your side until you're finished." It wasn't really a proposal more than it was him stating his intentions. You felt his arms wrap back around you, and his wing fluttered softly. He was anything if not stubborn, probably making sure you don't stay up all night.

Darkheart was practically attached to your hip. You appreciated his gesture, more than he would ever understand, but it was hard to work when he was watching your every click. He had an aura that always made you want to ignore your responsibilities and just lay in his arms. That was something he encouraged, unfortunately for your productivity.

To Darkheart, the work you were doing seemed like meaningless garble. Garble that he did not care to understand. "Maybe when I'm done, we can lay down together." You say nonchalantly, still looking at your screen. "I'm almost done anyways." You lied, but it was more for yourself than Darkheart. He seemed pleased by your lie, humming as his wing fluttered in delight. His grin widened.

You had to admit that you were stalling at this point, not wanting to look at the open word document. You hesitantly looked away from Darkheart.

So, for an excruciatingly long time, you sat at your desk. You stared at your screen. You typed meaningless text.

Your fingers are against the keyboard. You started to feel fatigue setting in at full force. At some point, you weren't sure if you were typing actual words at this point. You weren't sure what you were even writing about. It was about an actor, right? One whose name you didn't care to remember the name of. You wonder if Darkheart had thought about you while he was gone. Whatever it was that he went to do.

Your fingers were against the keyboard. Your eyelids got heavy as your keyboard clicked. The sound almost became like a lullaby. You weren't writing actual words anymore. You weren't writing at all, actually. Just staring at the screen. It looked like a blur of black and white. You could still hear the lullaby. It wasn't the computer

Your head started to lean against the keyboard. You heard Darkheart say something you didn't entirely understand. The lullaby paused. It felt like your fatigue from the last few days had completely overwhelmed you all at once. The keyboard had started to feel as soft as a pillow. "I'll just rest for a second before continuing.." you said, half asleep.

You heard an annoyed huff right before cold hands gently picked you up. Your exhausted body relaxed almost immediately. You should've finished the paper, but a part of you didn't care enough to. Not that he would've let you go in the first place, nor would you have typed anything.

"We were getting a bit impatient." Darkheart sighed. "We waited quite a while to see you, just let us be with you." You were half asleep, only seeing the sharp green glow of his eyes as he laid you on the bed. The bed felt the same as it always had, but when he pulled you into his arms, it felt like you were floating on a cloud. He held onto you tightly as if you hadn't seen each other in years. A clawed hand reaching to move a strand of hair out of your eyes.

He pulled you closer to him. He loved you. He wasn't like you in any way, but he loved you. Everything you did down to your breathing. Enamored by your laugh and smile. You were mortal, easily hurt. He wanted you to be by his side for eternity. How could someone like you be only mortal when you were so much more?

"I love you, I'm sorry." You mumbled, relaxing in his arms, neither of you were sure what you were apologizing for.

"We're sorry too."

You felt a pleasant rumble come from Darkhearts chest, similar to a cat purring. It felt nice. His embrace was all you wanted. Your warmth was all he wanted. You felt your eyes close, hearing the lullaby again.

The paper could wait, or maybe you'd just never do it. It didn't matter, you had eternity.

[alaydabug2]

I feel like being angsty

This is while Keefe is in the Forbidden Cities

Enjoy ☺️

It was getting late in the chilly evening. The sun was slowly dipping over the horizon. If Keefe wasn't about to do what he was thinking of, he would've reveled in its beauty.

He took a deep breath and swung one leg over the railing. Then the other. He balanced on the small ledge.

He had to do this. There was no debating it. It wasn't safe -for him or others- to be around anymore. The longer he was breathing, the longer his mom was able to manipulate him and use him for awful, horrendous things.

Keefe already knew he was never going back to the Lost Cities. He would never see his friends again. It didn't matter if he did this or not. He. Wouldn't. Go. Back.

Tears pricked his eyes as he stared down at the water below. It was a long fall. His heart picked up pace

He'd heard before that falling on water was the equivalent of falling on concrete. He just hoped that it would take him out quickly, and he wouldn't have to suffer through too much of the pain.

But...it'd be worth it. That short amount of time, to never have to feel it again. It strengthened his resolve.

Everything hurt enough as it was. The human emotions cut straight to his gut. The choked back words burned his throat. His head pounded from the constant stress it all caused. His skin ached from his emotions slowly going numb, leaving behind almost a hum from its lack of presence. His heart squeezed against his ribs from knowing how many times he'd hurt his friends before.

He was making sure it never happened again.

Keefe Sencen had officially hit rock bottom. And no matter how hard and long he tried, he didn't have the strength or energy to climb back up. It was too steep.

He'd been fighting for so long. His entire life. At least soon, he would be able to rest.

A few more deep breaths to calm his nerves. Just when he planted his feet for the jump, a panicked voice spoke out behind him.

"What are you doing?"

Keefe turned his head to be face to face with a woman who was likely to be in her late twenties. His eyes widened.

Her face was pale and terror filled her eyes. The man beside her, who Keefe assumed was her husband, had a similar appearance.

"Oh, ummm." How was he supposed to get himself out of this one? He could always just jump off and not have to worry about it, but that would probably traumatize the poor couple. Plus...for some odd reason, he felt compelled to stay on the bridge for a little longer. "I'm just... looking out at the view. The water looks nice this evening. Doesn't it?"

The man nodded. "It does, but...that doesn't seem very safe."

Keefe shrugged. "It'll be fine." He threw in a nervous laugh. "I've always wanted to cross high diving off my bucket list anyhow." He was trying to be convincing, but he couldn't quite meet their eyes.

The woman didn't seem to be buying it. She whispered, "You don't have to do this, you know?" She placed a hand on one of his wrists. Probably to make sure he couldn't try to jump off as easily. "It's not going to be like this forever."

Keefe didn't know why he was saying this, but the next thing that came out of his mouth was, "It's been like this my entire life."

The woman's heartache sliced straight to his core with the contact. He could feel her husband’s in the background as well. It was making his head bleary.

"What's your name?" The man asked him.

"I'm Keefe," he murmured.

"Keefe," the man repeated. "I'm Maverick, that's my wife, Ruby." He seemed to hesitate a moment before asking, "How... How old are you?"

His voice was almost inaudible, "Sixteen."

Both of the couple's eyes teared up. Keefe didn't dare to face them. He squeezed his eyes shut. There was a slight pressure of a hand on his shoulder. He willed himself not to cry.

"Why would you want to do something like this? You have your entire life ahead of you. Why cut it so short?" Ruby whispered.

Keefe shook his head and laughed darkly. "You have zero idea on how messed up my life's been from the start. It's just not worth saving anymore, and I'd rather it be on my own terms than someone making the decision for me. You wouldn't understand. No one does."

"Well," Maverick said, "help us understand." When Keefe didn't say anything, he continued. "We don't have anywhere to be. We're able to listen."

Keefe couldn't help shedding a few tears as he explained, "My parents are pieces of absolute garbage. They don't care about me. My mom has made me do awful, awful things that I don't even remember doing. I've pushed my friends away so many times that they all probably hate me by now. I keep, quite litterly, running away from all of my problems. I keep putting my friends in danger. Everything just keeps spiraling into a dark pit of doom, and," his voice cracked, "I just can't deal with it anymore. It's too much for me to handle."

The hand from his shoulder moved to run up and down his back in slow, soothing  movements. Ruby spoke, "What has your mom made you do? And why would your friends be in danger?" When he didn't say, she added, "It might make you feel better to get it off your chest."

It was clear they weren't going to be leaving anytime soon, so he gave in. "My mom is part of..." He trailed off. How was he supposed to explain this without them thinking he was crazy. "My mom is apart of...a cult like gang. And she wants me to join, saying that the whole reason I was born is to take her place. And...one night she...gave me some sort of drug so I wouldn't remember what happened. And had me go out in the street to distract this man and his daughter. And..." he hung his head. "They got hit by a bus and died. I learned about this a couple of days ago, and it's been eating me up since. And with my friends, they keep getting hurt from my mom. And I'm not able to stop her. So I ran away and skipped town. I don't plan on ever going back. It's better for them this way. Better for me."

"I'm sure your friends are worried about you, though," Maverick murmured. You don't want them to try and find you, then have to figure out you jumped off a bridge."

Keefe shrugged. "This is the second time I've run away. I'm not counting on them waiting up for me. I've caused them so much trouble. They'll be glad to get rid of."

"What about your dad? I know your mom is bad, but what about him?"

He snorted. "Yeah, I'm sure he's up looking all over the planet for me as we speak. Worried sick. It's not like I'm his only child or anything." The raw truth of that stung. He blinked the tears away from his eyes. He wasn't going to break down in front of them. He just wasn't. He'd at least like to keep a little dignity he had left.

"What about your future?" Ruby's voice was soft. "Don't you want to find love? Get married. Have kids of your own."

The girl he'd been trying very hard not to think about since stepping onto the bridge flashed through his mind. Her blond hair and beautiful brown eyes hurt to think about.

"I've already found it." WHY was he admitting this? "But...she likes my best friend. I don't want to interfere with that. She deserves to be happy, and I'm no good for her. I've hurt her so many times. And as long as my mom is around, I'd never have kids. That's just another person I care about she can hurt. I don't want to become like her or my dad anyhow."

"You have a lot to deal with for a sixteen year old," she noted. "But... there are still reasons to keep going."

"Like what?"

Ruby shared a look with her husband, probably struggling with trying to figure out what to say. Finally, Maverick pointed to the sky. "That's a beautiful sunset, isn't it?" The sun was sinking below the water. It filled the sky with vibrant yellows and pinks and reds. Keefe nodded. "Would you be sad if you were never able to see it again?"

"Yeah."

"Ok. Just... focus on going long enough each day to see the sun set. Then, the day is over. You can try again in the morning, clean slate."

Both Ruby and Maverick waited for him to process it. Finally, something inside him clicked, putting him back into a clearer head space as a gust of wind chilled his body.

"What am I doing?" Keefe muttered. He'd gotten so far. Survived for that long. He couldn't just give up.

He looked around frantically, trying to find a way back off the ledge. Tears pooled in his eyes, blurring his vision. His breath quickened.

"Easy," Ruby whispered. "We'll help you up."

Ruby pulled him up as Maverick made sure he didn't topple backward as he stepped over the rail. He collapsed in their arms, clinging as tight as he could. He shook from the adrenaline and the wind that he had just realized was biting at his skin. He couldn't hold back his tears anymore, and the floodgates broke free.

Neither of them seemed to mind. They held onto him just as tight. Their relief poured off of them in waves. He was pretty sure they were crying, too.

A warm hand squeezed his shoulder. Another one rubbed his back. A third cupped the back of his neck, holding him close to a body. Whose, he wasn't sure. Was this how caring parents were supposed to feel?

After being able to collect himself, they rushed to get him away from the railing and off the bridge. Maverick took off his jacket and placed it over Keefe's shoulders. It blocked some of the bitter wind from reaching his body.

They brought him inside a small, warm café and sat him down at a table. Ruby placed a cup in front of him. Something she called 'hot cocoa'.

He took a sip. It was warm and had mini marshmallows floating in it. It reminded him almost of cinnamcreme, except instead of cinnamon, it was chocolate. It warmed him up from the inside out.

They continued to sit and talk with him until the cafe closed. Even when it did, the owners didn't try to kick them out. They must've known it was important.

He'd seen some awful things from humans, but...they weren't all bad. Humans were still people, too. They had feelings and compassion. And two of them had just saved his life

For some reason, the council couldn't see that. It wasn't even the humans' fault they were separated from the lost cities!

If, by some miracle, he made it back home, he'd have to find a way to explain that to the council

Until then, he took another sip of his hot chocolate and explained the best he could about his mom without giving away the elves. Oddly enough, talking about his problems did actually make him feel a tad better. He'd have to figure out a way to use that to his advantage.

[maple-the-awesome]

The Commander and His Assistant || 1/2

Pairing: Erwin x Pixis! Reader

Words: 4,618

Requested by @malakmilli: Hello lovely 🤍 If the requests are open , this is my: Erwin x reader. When she is the daughter of Pixis and works as erwin's assistant . And during these two years of working with him they fall in love and their relationship becomes official in the survey corps , But one day erwin decides to break off this relationship because he doesn't want her to grieve over his death, so he avoids her for days, then calls her to his office to tell her that her job as an assistant is done, And she can return to the Protection Corps, But she collapses in front of him because he told her to forget what happened between them and that he has stopped loving her (He was lying because he still loves her) ... So she leaves and goes back to work with her father. Months pass, and erwin can't go on without her , He returns to meet pixis and tell him the reason ....... And he asks pixis to let him take her back, but this time as his fiancée ....... I hope my request is not too long 😭😭😭 I do not expect you to refuse 🥺🥺 I send you my greetings and thanks🤍 Oooh, I love the whole daughter-of-a-friend trope😍It's one of my favorites for angst! I got a little carried away writing, so I'm going to make this into at least two parts. Here's the first!

Attack on Titan Masterlist 🖤 Fandom Masterlist

A knock at the door demands Erwin's attention more than relaxation does, however it's not necessarily something that he minds seeing as his new title has only just begun. Although he was hoping to rest a bit after such a chaotic day of meetings, he doesn't hesitate to stand back up from the comfort of his new desk chair and opens the door with a greeting given to the young woman who waits at the other side with a perfectly angled salute.

More would've been said aside from a simple 'hello' if not for her beating him to the punch, "Good evening, Sir. My name is (Y/n), and I've been assigned to be your assistant. It will be a pleasure to work with you from here on out."

"'Assistant'...?" Erwin echoes with a raised eyebrow, yet he shakes your outstretched hand nevertheless, after all being caught off guard isn't an excuse to not be polite. You give him a firm shake, but mirror his confusion before eventually retracting your hand to run it through your hair with an exhausted sigh.

"...Well, I suppose I shouldn't find it too surprising if you didn't receive a proper orientation seeing as things have never worked very fluidly around here. Throw Commander Shadis' sudden retirement on top of it and things have been particularly chaotic as of lately..." You ramble mostly under your breath, so Erwin isn't too certain if you're speaking to him or complaining to yourself. Regardless of your intended audience, you multitask between your mumbled rant and slipping past him into the office where you promptly invite yourself to begin shifting through the massive pile of paperwork stacked on top of his desk as if it's meant for you.

"I would apologize for everything being a mess, especially with this being your first day and all, but it would probably be more effective for me to ask that you just get used to it if you plan on being commander for a while because in your current position, you'll be set to encounter more bumpy trails than smooth roads," You speak aloud this time, your voice bored with a lace of irritation, "Anyhow, seeing as no one has explained this to you yet, I am to be your assistant when it comes to the more 'administrative' work that being the leader of the Survey Corps entails. Every commander gets one and not to worry, I worked for Commander Shadis for two years, so I'm pretty familiar with my responsibilities. 

"I do the typical tasks you would imagine for an assistant. I run small errands, make sure you have everything you need to do your job, and help you do it effectively. First and foremost, I'll be in charge of organizing your schedule, particularly when it comes to meetings. Everyone is expected to go through me first before they can meet with you since you'll be very busy and won't have time for friendly visits every hour of the day. You'll also receive a lot of paperwork, much of it not needing your actual attention, so starting tomorrow, I'll make sure to have it organized into five piles every morning before you come in: mission reports, latest recruits, current statuses, budget info, and miscellaneous."

Turning back around, you take Erwin's wide eyes as a sign that nothing you just said must’ve made it past his skull - a thought that has you holding back an annoyed sigh - yet before you can repeat yourself, Erwin ends up smiling with a slight tone of admiration, "...You do seem to have this job down fairly well."

You nearly smirk at what you take as a compliment, "If there’s one thing you should learn about me, Commander Smith, let it be that I take my job very seriously and don't care for wasting precious time. Maria knows we don't have much of it with those titans clawing at our doorstep."

"That's very true, Ms...-"

"- Pixis," You do finally sigh when Erwin's eyes widen in reaction.

"Would I be wrong to assume you’re related to -?"

"- Commander Dot Pixis? Yes, he's my father," You roll your eyes and even go as far as to pinch the bridge of your nose. It isn't that you're in any way ashamed of your father, in fact you have an excellent relationship built upon years of care and respect, however it does get tiring to constantly have other people compare you to him. Oh well. That's what you get for deciding to follow in his footsteps; you should expect no less.

"For the sake of keeping this simple, please feel free to call me by my first name," Sitting in one of the chairs in front of his desk, you continue to overlook the papers in each of your hands, only parting your eyes from them to send Erwin a smile as he takes a seat in his own chair in front of you, "After all, considering we'll be spending a lot of time together, I doubt a first name basis would be too inappropriate." 

.

.

.

And that's how you both met. If looking back at it now, it really wouldn't stand out as that unique of a day, although granted, Erwin has since spent two whole years with you being his assistant and your time together has never strayed far from how it began. 

Every morning you confidently welcome yourself into his office, giving a quick greeting before explaining his schedule for the day without missing a single beat. You're always at the top of your game, making it clear that while your job is to help him, it is not to hold his hand. He's an adult in charge of the entire Survey Corps, and thankfully for your sanity, he has no problem acting like it. 

Erwin makes your list of tasks easy, remembering all the meetings you arrange for him and staying on top of paperwork instead of adding to ever-growing stacks. If you didn't know any better, you'd say he was born for this job, accomplishing everything on his busy plate without so much as a word of complaint. It's honorable, really. So many people get big heads when they make it to the highest steps within the military, but never Erwin. He balances authority with understanding, never forgetting his simpler origins and the reasons for why he joined in the first place - reasons you're well aware of by this point.

Although your respective jobs already require cooperation, Erwin and you do consider yourselves to be on friendly terms even beyond work matters. It started when you first offered to stay later and help Erwin complete his paperwork by a reasonable hour. As you assured then and ever since, you don't mind overtime nor is it like you have anyone eagerly awaiting your return back home. This became a common occurrence in no time - the two of you staying until the sky would grow dark and building quiet aside from your genuine conversations. Soon, such conversations dripped into the actual work day, it not being rare for someone else to pass you in the halls snickering over an inside joke together.

Needless to say, Erwin and you became tied to the hip both almost literally due to your jobs and figuratively through your close friendship. Perhaps what helped the most in this was your ability to bond over your similar positions in life: both raised by single fathers in an environment that fostered a dangerous curiosity for what lies beyond the Walls - a key point in your development as you would forever march forward with fierce determination to seek out answers for all your itching questions no matter the cost.

Sure, it shouldn't be strange to see the Commander and his assistant together nor to notice that they get on well, however that hasn't stopped others in the Survey Corps from placing bets on how long it will take for you to step beyond the lines of professional colleagues or even friends. It's an especially favored pass time for those within your inner group:

Hanji bet exactly three months and thirteen days, giving some explanation based on 'evidence' and the 'science' of emotions or whatnot (it's safer just to nod along when she gets into it). 

Levi said a year, convinced you're both too dense to notice the other's feelings any sooner, although he did mention that he's willingly to make an exception if a life-or-death situation were to occur and force confessions earlier. 

Weeks, months, years - Guesses have been all over the place. And then there's Mike who confidently bet that you're already in a relationship which you keep secret in the name of professionalism. His stance has brought forth many objections, but the others would be shocked to know that he actually isn't wrong. 

It took approximately a year for your relationship to turn romantic, so Levi would've been right if only he had placed his bets in the very beginning. It might further disappoint him to know there was no life-or-death situation nor dramatic build up to your confessions either. The start was as simple as Erwin casually asking if you had any plans after work one day and you having an open schedule. Provided how much you already enjoy each other's company, it just felt like a natural next step to officially begin dating.

As Mike predicted, you decided to keep your relationship quiet for the sake of remaining professional, neither of you wanting to deal with the ridiculous commotion that would undoubtedly follow anyone's realization that the Commander is dating his own assistant. The secret itself is also easy to keep since being romantically involved doesn’t change much about your workday interactions aside from the small signs of affection now laced into your daily tasks: quick kisses to your cheek before he leaves for a meeting, flirtatious whispers in each other’s ears during passing, but your favorite has to be those quiet domestic conversations shared over paperwork where business and dinner become a balanced pair.

The only person you made an effort to inform about your relationship was your father who you didn't feel comfortable keeping in the dark. Truthfully, like Mike, Pixis had already expected something deeper was going on between you both and while he can't say he was particularly thrilled when you confirmed his suspicions, nor does he exactly approve, he has never argued beyond asking if you realize the risks of dating a fellow scout. Your father isn't a fool, aware that realistically, there isn't anything he can do to change his adult daughter's decisions. He just counts himself lucky that he at least raised you well enough to know your own worth by dating a good man like Erwin and not some pesky troublemaker.

Indeed, Erwin treats you well as an equal deserving of recognition for all your hard work both behind the desk and out on expeditions. The feeling is mutual, of course. Your relationship - even before it turned romantic - has always been built upon a foundation of trust and respect going both ways. 

You admire Erwin for his leadership and strength. Every Survey Corps soldier may have a certain fire in their eyes, however your Commander is one of the few who manages to maintain its blaze. Even you must admit that you had felt afraid and discouraged when faced with titans for the first time, those very feelings festering inside after the Fall of Wall Maria, but a single glance towards Erwin is all it ever takes to extinguish your fears. Seeing his confidence and everlasting determination despite every failed mission - his refusal to simply bow his head to the doubts of others - that’s what turned your basic respect for one’s superior into love for someone’s entire being. 

Unfortunately, there’s a reason as to why Pixis asked you what he did that day you informed him of your relationship. Do you understand the risks of dating a fellow scout? Most soldiers have their significant other waiting for them back home where at least one of them is being kept safe. Your boyfriend rides by your side on the frontline, perfectly willing to risk his entire existence for the betterment of humanity. While that is something you love so dearly about him, it’s also a terrifying thought especially whenever faced with awful reminders…Reminders like what you experienced during your latest mission…

You witnessed it happen which in hindsight probably only made the situation worse regardless of how well anyone thinks you handled it. By outward appearances, you played your role to a T. You were calm, collected, and quick to secure control the best you possibly could. Reach his side, ensure you were protected by other soldiers, stop the bleeding…You maintained a straight face as you shouted orders and gave commands, but that doesn’t mean your hands weren’t shaking nor heart skipping.

Even now, you can’t seem to stop the trembling, only hide it by keeping your arms crossed behind your back. The room is quiet because no one has the strength nor will to speak. The last week has been nothing short of a disaster, at least that’s what the girlfriend side of you wants to say. 

The soldier in you would claim the opposite, insisting that humanity has gained a huge step forward in comparison to where you’ve been in the past. The Armored and Colossus Titans have been unveiled, Eren is more valuable than originally believed, and Hanji has a theory as to what titans truly are which sounds plausible based on the evidence she’s briefly ran by you…however none of that seems to stop you from worrying over Erwin who had been severely injured in battle.

‘Severely’ might be a strong word. A week ago, you watched as comrades were torn to shreds and heartlessly devoured. Erwin’s alive, likely sore and tired as he awakes from his coma, not to mention one arm less than the man who set out on that mission, but he’s alive, so at least you can be thankful for that. Regardless, such an injury might be costly. Will he even be able to use ODM gear again? Will it be reasonable for him to return to the field? There’s much to consider…

“You’ve quiet.”

You sigh, not looking directly at Erwin but rather keeping your attention turned to the window, “...I wish my mind were.”

He matches your frown, although he waits to say anything until you finally depart from the window’s side and take a seat on the chair pulled up next to his bed, “You should get some rest for yourself then. It’s been a long day for everyone…especially you.”

“Do you honestly think I’d be able to?” You almost snort, running a hand through your hair which feels knotted. You haven’t taken the time to properly comb it today. When you heard Erwin had awoken, you got dressed quickly, not wanting to waste much time in reaching his side.

You sigh once more with your head still in your hands, “...Where do we go from here, Erwin? I mean, are titans really just humans? We’ve been killing humans this whole time? Where did they come from - What do they have against us? …It seems every mystery we unravel, another two are there to replace it.”

“We keep moving forward,” He answers easily as you knew he would, “Every answered mystery is a step in the right direction - a step towards the full truth that so many of our comrades have already fallen in search of. If we stop now, we’ll never have hope of removing the blindfold from our eyes, but if we keep our progress, I know that one day we’ll succeed.”

You wonder when ‘one day’ will be. The Survey Corps has been at this for long before your own existence. Surely there was a Commander in the past who gave a similar speech only to die without ever seeing the day. While it’s nice to imagine humanity being free from this terror during any generation…

“Let’s hope we live to see it ourselves,” You reach over, placing your hand over his and giving it a gentle squeeze as you smile, “Perhaps I’m being too optimistic and maybe even a bit greedy by saying this, but I want to actually see the pay-off for our hard work. I want to be there the day this all makes sense - The day I can know our sacrifices were worth it…and I want us to be there together.”

Erwin looks to you with an expression you can only think to describe as surprise, although there might be something else there that you miss. Buried hope, burning worry… burdening guilt. Whatever it is, it goes unspoken because after some brief hesitation, he squeezes your hand back, raising it carefully to his lips so that he can kiss your knuckles delicately, “...I would like that, too.”

“You asked for me?” The ‘Sir’ dropped a long time ago after Erwin’s own insistence. Since you requested that he call you by your first name with no extra pageantry attached, it was only fair that you do the same for him although you’ll still occasionally tie formalities to coquettish words just to get a reaction.

“I did. I have something I want to discuss with you,” It had taken Erwin no time at all to return to his feet after losing an arm - and apparently back to work, too, if you’re to make anything of his ‘secret’ meetings with other soldiers and your father.

As his assistant, it’s only natural that you’ve helped set up some of those meetings, and as his girlfriend, it should be even less of a surprise that you’ve reached the conclusion that he’s planning something big. What exactly, he has yet to tell you, although you have some guesses and are eager to sit down for his long awaited explanation. 

“Well, I’m all ears.”

In typical Survey Corps fashion, nothing has slowed down since the previous mission. You’ve been busy, busy, busy trying to get everything sorted out during Erwin’s absence from official work. Cover his typical duties as Commander, organize meetings, and maintain communication with Levi’s squad - The latter of the two having been done ‘under-the-table’ as to keep unwanted eavesdroppers out of your business. No doubt Erwin’s plan has to do with the Military Police who currently hover above the Scouts like vultures and you’re always willing to entertain creative ways that could take them down a peg in their superiority complex.

“I want to discuss our relationship.”

Now you’re really intrigued. So many huge, new developments in the last few days and Erwin wants to discuss a five year romance? What could the topic possibly be? There’s no anniversaries or birthdays approaching, and even if there were, you’d hardly call them relevant. If he wanted to give you a celebratory gift, you’d be perfectly satisfied with an ordinary dinner, perhaps with a side of alcohol if you could steal some from your father’s stash…but again, there are no important dates that would warrant such a commemoration, you’re certain of that.

A lesser man may take the time to complain about your divided attention lately, demanding that you tear your eyes away from work related matters to instead focus upon him, although Erwin isn’t the type. He shares your pride towards the Survey Corps and understands your particularly packed schedule, after all, he’s partly the reason for it at the moment. Seeing as he’s mature enough to survive without his girlfriend’s constant recognition, you can’t see that being an issue either.

‘Discuss’ implies something significant where common ground must be sought. Five years is a long time to be dating; perhaps he wants to move things further along? Many couples your age already live together at this point and it isn’t uncommon for those within the military to move out of the barracks to a nearby home. Personally, you haven’t considered the idea much since you already spend most of your days side-by-side regardless, but it’s possible that Erwin could want to make things more ‘official’. Of course, for that to work, you’d also have to stop hiding your relationship, a good point of discussion -

“- I believe it would be in our best interest to terminate our relationship and remain strictly professional.”

“Huh?” Yet another surprise towards both the words said and how calmly Erwin says them. He doesn’t hesitate nor does he treat it as any grand announcement. It’s clearly rehearsed, formed in a way that makes it sound like more of a work-related matter presented before a jury of peers than a serious suggestion to his long-term girlfriend, leaving her stunned, “...As in ‘break up’?”

“Yes,” At least he shows some emotion when looking down at the table between you both, a frown etched onto his face which is twisted with what could best be called ‘guilt’, maybe even regret…but that’s all he says.

Erwin’s phlegmatic manner of delivery would usually act as the perfect fuse for an explosion on the part of even the most respectable woman - and you likely wouldn’t be blamed if you were to now leap up from your seat while tying the most abominable curses to his name - however the only sound that leaves you instead is the audible breath you suck in before fixing your posture against your chair.

“...Well, I think I have a right to ask why,” is your relaxed response, your eyes never so much as flickering away from the man sitting directly across from you. You can see the wheels turning in his head, trying hard to think of something decent to say that could possibly help this conversation land smoothly, yet he takes far too long working out the controls before you decide to take them for yourself:

“Does this have to do with challenging the government? I must admit I listened in on your conversation with my father last night, so I know what you’re planning,” You reach over, delicately placing a hand over his the same way you had days ago in his recovery room. Your voice is equally as soft, echoing your concern without any blame, “Are you afraid it will backfire on me? Because you don’t have to be. I understand pulling the rug out from underneath them won’t be easy and that the cost of failure will be high, but you know that I can handle myself, Erwin. I believe in your cause and I am prepared to stand by your side through every hardship. I could never hold any consequences against you.”

Erwin slides his hand away only to move it over your own. His touch is gentle - nearly as light as a feather - when he takes hold of your hand, giving it a squeeze that partners his sigh, “That’s not the reason. While I would hate to involve you in my plans against the King, and do worry about making you an enemy of the state - even more so than we might already be considered - that’s not the reason for why I think we should separate. Our line of work isn’t built for relationships -”

“- And yet we’ve been together for quite some time already,” You feel the need to point out.

“Barely.”

You can’t help but scrunch your nose; your first sign of irritation. ‘Barely’? Barely makes it sound as if you’ve only been tolerating each other through heaving breaths during all these years which surely hasn’t been the case, at least not through your observation and interpretations of things. No, your relationship isn’t traditional, yet you have nevertheless greatly enjoyed your time by Erwin’s side along with the little moments that have come with it. Not once have you questioned his admiration for you nor your own towards him. If anything, it gives you life, not suffocation.

“Our work is demanding. Ever since the near fall of Wall Rose, we have had little time to spend together that hasn’t been related to our assignments, and given recent developments, it’s only going to go uphill from here on out,” Erwin speaks carefully while watching your reaction, “Titans in our Walls, titans being people, spies among our ranks and a fake king…So much has happened that demands my attention. As Commander, I need to focus on leading the Survey Corps and humanity to the answers we’ve seeked for generations. I can’t risk a relationship getting in the way of my responsibilities.”

“Then it won’t. It never has before -”

“- You’re a distraction,” Erwin cuts you off, his eyes stern as they meet yours, “One I can’t afford. When I first considered starting a relationship with you, I was optimistic that I’d be able to create a balance between my priorities, but that was before everything. Now isn’t the time for me to risk any bias or reluctance towards my decisions. My priorities must lie solely with the Survey Corps without any hindrance. That being said, I will no longer have time for romance and I don’t know if I ever will again.”

“Then I can wait,” You announce, your free hand quickly moving over his, “I’m willing to wait for you until the world slows down.”

“...When has anyone in the Survey Corps had a peaceful streak to their career? When has a commander…?” There’s more stress to this point than Erwin means to let on, and you’d be tempted to believe there’s actually a hidden meaning behind it that he doesn’t want you looking into which is why he moves on so swiftly, “It would be unfair of me to lead you along when I don’t have any real intentions of a seeing a pay out for our relationship anyway. You’d be better off focusing on your own life by redirecting your own attention to someone who’s willing to give you the undivided love you’re deserving of.”

These words cut deeper than you care to admit. It feels like someone’s suddenly dumped a cold bucket of water over your head, throwing you into a disoriented state where you’re struggling to grasp straight thoughts. Usually you’re fairly good at rapid responses and quick quibs, but for once you’re left unsure of how to reply. A part of you wants to argue, another wants to cry…yet continuing to desperately beg like that isn’t worth the prolonged heartache nor your dignity. You’re both adults here. You must force yourself to keep it professional as you always have.

“...So is that truly what you want - and I don’t mean what you think is best from a logical standpoint. I mean is it what you want? You think you’d be happier if we were separated?”

“In the long run -” You can’t help biting your lip as Erwin looks down at your connected hands, “- I think we’d both be better off ending things now.”

“...Okay…” You match his tone, certain that if you speak any louder, you’ll both hear the quiver of your voice, “I -...I supposed I can’t say much to change your mind then. I don’t agree with it and I think you’re acting rashly to dispose of all our good memories so suddenly, but…If you’re certain it’s what you want…”

Your movements from there are numb and practically automatic as you stand from your chair while avoiding eye contact, “...I should get going then. I may not be your girlfriend anymore, but I’m still your assistant and as such, I’m still in charge of your work while you're confined here. There’s much I have to tend to, so I’ll, um…be on my way, Commander Smith.”

With that, you head to the door, the optimistic side of you hoping through each step that you’ll hear Erwin call out for you again with an apology after having already reconsidered his foolish decision…however that never comes. He simply watches you in silence and sorrow, only speaking as you open the door to leave, “...Goodbye, Miss Pixis.”

[gentlebliss]

hihi, i love ur page and u seem lovely, i just wanted to say a few things about your template/commissions..

neocities is all about creativity and passion; it seems that using or posting templates for neocities is kind of defeating the point of it. i keep seeing your templates pop up on neocities and it makes me think that people just don't want to learn how to code and make their site from scratch, and be creative, and it makes me a little sad... because the nice thing about neocities was everyone had something unique!

I am aware it's for starters and that it's for beginners, but i also believe that if you truly enjoy and understand neocities, you will make something yourself no matter how small !! , and build your way up from there. watching someone progress forward is a nice sight..

i can't blame you that the layout got popular, however, i think that you could've advertised it for a different web hoster instead of neocities.. :( it makes me think a little that nowadays users will choose to use a template rather than just wait and code something and make their site when they're ready..and there r tons of resources out there, i just don't get the point of templates nor commissions. neocities really isnt the site for that (′д｀ )

im not coming at you with mean intentions. i love ur blog and u seem very sweet and kind.. i just really needed to say this..

I've actually received an ask like this before, hopefully I can respond to this in a meaningful way! I do appreciate your kindness. Thank you for saying I'm sweet and kind!

This became very long, so TL;DR... I make templates for the people that need them for any reason, cause I believe everyone should have their own web space if they want one, and I don't believe in gatekeeping coding or personal websites. Sorry but that's just not me... Coding is for everyone, and should be made into something that everyone can do.

If you don't agree and it bothers you, that's fine, but I don't plan to stop helping people to comply to those that are against it... As long as people tell me they find my resources helpful, I will keep making them. I do this because I love it

The long version is below

Firstly, I don't believe there is a "purpose" or something Neocities is particularly for, other than building personal sites. I don't think there is a right or wrong way to "do" Neocities. First and foremost Neocities is a space to make your own thing, whatever it may be, and people have already been demonstrating for years that websites comes in MANY different ways

A lot of people need a place to start, it's not as easy as just learning it just like that, cause I remember when I first started it was very frustrating! I wanted to quit many times. And I had to use bases for awhile. I used bases for my first couple of Tumblr themes. If there weren't bases available to me, I probably never would've continued. If I couldn't even figure out how to make images round, I doubt I would've been able to start from scratch so early on, and I probably would've quit

People need a space where they can learn at their own pace, and throwing them into something like that with not much guidance will have mixed results. Some people will stick with it and become exceptionally skilled, but many won't, and they deserve just as much guidance and support!

And there are just people who don't have the time for building a site from scratch... A lot of people are too busy or many other reasons that prevent consistent dedication to a website, and I think they deserve to have a website if they want one for any reason, even if they don't have all the time that someone might need in order to build it all the way up... Many people who do use bases will eventually make their own things, anyhow. I started with bases, and I make nearly everything myself now. I have noticed my friends use my bases and then make their own thing. But everyone needs somewhere to start. And then again, even if they never do decide to work on things from the ground up later on, that doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to have a website!

... Also templates have been a thing waaay before Neocities was made. Like, back in Geocities days, and on random websites in entirely different languages from way back too, so it's like everywhere. I've seen Japanese websites hosted on platforms you've never heard of offering tons of free templates! It's nothing new tbh, and there are also many free instant generators that build websites from the ground up, I'm not sure why it's much of an issue when I take time to build something myself that can be shared among everyone !

Thanks for reading! Hope none of this sounds rude, and hopefully it's clear and worded in a way that makes sense lol

[getmemymicroscope]

So, the Wiki synopsis of the plot says a bit, but at the end, it finishes with what amounts to "Rekha escapes from the asylum with the help of Saif, and they set off to bring the villains to justice." ... I've never been the biggest fan of Rekha (honestly, I think it is her voice?), but this sounded fun enough to watch. (Or at least it said that before I watched the movie.)

However, what we really have is: bad guys kills Rekha's father and have her admitted into in insane asylum (obviously the doctor is gonna be in cahoots with them, because there is no way she would've been admitted otherwise). There is a lot of very unethical shock therapy going on. Then she spends most of the movie in the asylum, having lost her mind (or, at least, pretending to have lost it, waiting for some unknown perfect time to break this act). She finally finds that reason late (in like the final quarter of the movie), and breaks out - with the help of a couple of other asylum inmates, NOT Saif Ali Khan, and sets out for revenge on the 3 baddies. She takes care of 2, helped by the fellow inmates in one of the cases; it is only during the 3rd one where, after he escapes to the streets, she just happens to come across a incidentally-there Saif, who helps her out in ending him. (Also, despite what Wiki says - it was not a 'difficult journey.' Rekha had literally no issue at all dispatching the first 3 villains, and the 4th one - sure, he killed a few folks and ran for a minute and shot someone else, but she didn't really have much struggle with him either, beyond taking a couple of punches and having to climb up the side of a building.)

Otherwise, Saif just has a very minimal role (but, of course, the songs) in which he peripherally crosses paths with Rekha before she is committed and otherwise just fails to get a job. Oh, and has a couple of songs with Madhoo in an otherwise DOA love story. Madhoo has a even smaller role than he does, and the track with her and Deven Verma not only goes nowhere, but entirely disappears - that 'comedy' track is quickly replaced by a Bollywood stereotypical insane asylum comedy track that feels like it is the same as every other movie involving institutionalization.

Also with a small role is Mohnish Behl, whose go as a not-bad guy has him as a cop that has him told to stand down when he thinks something is off with a case, then suspended when the bad guys kill the suspect he was interrogating, and then ultimately killed when he tries to help Rekha with the ultimate baddie (Danny). No wonder he always plays the bad guy - still ends with death, but usually comes with a bigger role. Hell, the bad guys even get a song/dance here while he just gets to sit around off-screen on suspension, probably wondering why he chose to be a cop when even the head officer won't let him investigate something he feels is fishy.

Rekha's quest for revenge is also very much sidetracked by the typical Bollywood attempt to mix comedy and action, resulting in way too much failed comedy and Rekha just sitting around the asylum and not enough of her teaming up with Saif to go kick some bad guy butt. Of course, he doesn't have much reason really to go around doing that - short of the whole "help those in need" sort of thing - which is probably why he's missing for most of the 2nd half of the movie (except when they need to throw in a song to, I guess, interrupt the attempts at comedy?).

Our baddies are the worst type of baddies - willingly putting kids at risk with addictive, toxic tonics to increase the money they make. Very real for the way this world is going. Depressing. Anyhow, not that vigilantism is the answer, but ... they had it coming, and they deserved what they got. Who didn't deserve it? Mohnish Behl, and Asrani. And, of course, Rekha and her stint in the asylum, and Saif in his spell as the unsuccessful, jobless, 'disappointing my dad' son.

Udaan - not a bad movie, but also not exactly what Wiki said it would be at the time.

[psychomanix]

I am a deeply complicated person on the inside. I have the worst times trying to tell people how I feel because in the past, almost constantly, was it swept aside for someone else's problems to be heard. Over time, no matter how many times people say they care, deep down, I don't believe that, ever. Based on past experiences, it doesn't make sense that someone would actually care when constantly shown otherwise by people throughout my life, even family, especially family.

I don't deserve anyone's time, attention, or love, as that's been shown to me not to be something people would willingly give me. I'm not a good communicator, I'm not good at being empathetic, and I have terrible comprehension skills. The best I can give is good hugs, hearty laughs, and delicious food.

I wish I was different, i wish some people actuallycared about me..... actually, I wouldn't say that, because yes, some people do care about me, but I don't know, I just wish I was different and fit into the cog of the machine of this universe. I wish my brain functioned like a regular person without mental illnesses. That way I didn't feel so fucking stupid half the time when I don't understand where others are coming from and actually comprhened what's being said straight up instead of reading between every line.

I wish I wasn't filled with so much self-hatred... life would be immensely easier if I actually thought highly of myself because then I could stand up for my inner teenager and child. They're severely damaged and deserved more than they were even given. Even just the benefit of the doubt would've been a blessing, but no, they weren't even given that. They didn't fit the mold of my family, so they were constantly judged for not being someone someone else wanted. Told constantly they should be the opposite of who they are in fear the family would be judged for not raising the perfect offspring they so gladly paid for.

To many, I am just a good time they can use to benefit their own life without ever considering my own wellbeing. "Oh, Kat? she's a really good listener, but we don't care if she has problems too. She'll have answers for us, but we'd never in life give her any answers back or even a listening ear." Over and over and over again, I'm assumed to be strong, assumed that my life is just a party to be a part of. Assumed that my problems are nothing other than small benign dramas that don't deserve even the time of day.

No friends genuinely check in on me anymore, what the fuck is up with that? I'm constantly the type of person to check in, and make sure I can do anything within reason to make sure a person feels better, but I don't get that in return? Their problems always will be bigger than mine? what? because I'm not the normal person who would deserve that kind of time? what the fuck is it about me that keeps people close, but not close enough to actually care about what goes on in my OWN brain?

I don't feel safe confiding in anyone anymore without thinking... no, knowing that it just matters ever so slightly, but never enough to take the time out of their day just to hear what I'm going through inside. I'll always be someone people get but don't understand. I've never been shown otherwise, or that's how it feels. I could be wrong..

All of these feelings feel redundant anyhow because low and behold, I make people feel this exact same way..... and it just cancels out my own distress. I can't keep putting my feelings on a back burner due to fear, but when will I feel safe enough to take them off that burner? because I still don't feel safe to do so and probably never will.... I'm constantly draining my own sense of self-worth because it's just easier caring about others and forgetting myself in the process. If people can't take genuine time for me even though they say they are, why should I even give an inch of that care back to myself? I don't feel I deserve it because most people my whole life have never made me feel like I do.

"Life is a garden. With care and love, you can cultivate beautiful flowers." - Author Unknown

thought to end my thoughts with a positive life affirming analogy because why not?

[the-story-of-how-we-died]

Fixing Unity's Animation System

Idk if there's a big game dev community on tumblr or not, but I want to talk about this, so I'm gonna lol

The problem with Unity's animation system becomes obvious as soon as you try to do anything more complicated than "idle, walk, run, jump". Trying to add attacks or more complicated form of transitions becomes absolute hell. And no small part of this I attribute to the fact that it's a state machine.

(I think state machines are shoe-horned into game development anyhow, but that's a topic for another post)

So, I went out to create a new system that better fit my needs. I managed to categorize nearly all of my animations into three separate groups: cross fades, snaps, and cinematics.

Cross fades are animations that play continuously under some kind of condition, like idling, walking, running, falling, swimming, etc. etc. The important part of cross fades is that they don't have a predetermined end (ie. they're meant to seamlessly loop).

Snap animations are animations that do have a predetermined end, like attacks, dodges, emotes, etc.

Cinematics are, well, cinematics. I was mainly thinking cut scenes, but there's probably other uses for them as well.

And what about animations that don't fit perfectly into one of these groups? Well, I added support for specialized behaviors as well. I'm not certain exactly what these would do, but I made an abstract class these scripts can derive from with an `ExecuteSpecializedBehavior()` function to be called. (I think it's better to build in support for these kinds of things right now, even if I can't see a use for them.) this also isn't, like, an asset. I'll provide the scripts, but I'm not, like, claiming to own the code or the process or anything like that lol (or offering support for bugs). feel free to use/modify it however you want.

(This got waaaay longer than I intended it to, so I'm going to put the rest under a keep reading)

This `ChangeAnimation()` function is at the core of the entire system:

I had originally wrote out exactly what each of the variables not defined in the function did, but I think it'd be easier to just share them in a photo

Some things to note: It'd be possible to get rid of 'defaultClip' with something like 'animations[0]', but I didn't want to force myself to remember that the first thing in the list needed to be the default animation (as well, it prevents things from getting messed up if the order of the list somehow changes).

'AnimationName' and 'TransitionType' (which I've renamed to 'AnimationType' in the script, I'm just too lazy to retake the screenshot. I'll refer to it here as 'TransitionType' for clarity) are (clearly, probably) enums. I realize that an enum isn't the best type for 'AnimationName', but I felt that the ease of writing 'AnimationName.Idle' in a script was worth the extra effort of adding each animation to the enum.

I partially blame this on Unity, as there is (as far as I know), no way to play an animation via script except with it's name (which is a string, ofc). I thought of several ways I could've implement this, including consts or a static class, but I felt like an enum had the fewest downsides relative to its upsides (consts would require a reference to a class, and a static class would've been more annoying to implement inside the `AnimationWrapper` class)

I could've coded something that would've handled it better, but this seemed like the easiest way that's also fairly robust and is supported by default inside Unity.

'OnSnapAnimationEnd' is called via Unity's built-in animation event system. I tried really hard to make it so I didn't have to use it because I find it absolutely awful (supplying an function name by a string?!). But, unfortunately, Unity's way of adding them by via code is broken (because of course it is), so the workaround I came up with was to create one function that is called via the event which invokes another event that is far easier to subscribe to. (Plus, some extra functionality for the snap animations, which I covered above.)

The 'AnimationWrapper' class supplies both information about the animation (the actual clip, it's AnimationName, and its TransitionType), clip functionality (cross fade times and offsets), as well as a field to supply custom behaviors.

I don't know why it's low res, but oh well

And that's most of it. There are two extra functions ('OverrideCurrentAnimationSnap' and 'OverrideCurrentAnimationCrossfade') that I didn't supply photos of, but that's because I feel like just mentioning them clearly conveys their purpose. I plan on adding one for cinematics, as well, but since that part of the system isn't finished, I didn't see a purpose in adding it.

Normally I don't share my code because I don't feel like I've done anything innovative, but with this, I think it's good. It's not the most robust of animation systems, but it supports my needs and - imao - is so. much. easier. to use than Unity's built-in system.

Letting each script handle calling the animations they need is so much easier than getting a reference to the animator, getting a reference to a parameter, setting it up inside the script, setting it up inside the animation editor, defining all the transition, etc. etc.'Letting each script handle calling the animations they need is so much easier than getting a reference to the animator, getting a reference to a parameter, setting it up inside the script, setting it up inside the animation editor, defining all the transition, etc. etc.

Anyhow, even if this is just me shouting into the void, it made me happy to talk about it, so /shrug

Link to script

[ace-malarky]

I meant to sit around and answer tags tonight except I got distracted and anyway I also p much preordered Samantha Shannon’s new book again because I forgot I did that already and it’s weird that Waterstones doesn’t like. it doesn’t say. on your orders page. What they are. like I have to click on them to see the titles of the books bc none of them have covers yet and wouldn’t it be easier just to have the titles there?

 Anyway I caught that one and may have preordered something else instead and no I don’t have space on my shelves or in my flat or whatever, but that’s a future Ace problem

[ninlilwinds]

Hi!! How are you? I hope you're doing well!! And sleeping at least 6 hours =.=) (don't mind me, I often do this a lot to writers lol).

Anyhow!! Would it be alright to request Diluc, Kazuha, Xiao, Zhongli and Kaeya react to a reader who can read people easily? Like, just a few seconds of seeing someone walk and talk, they immediately have huge info about them?

I have a habit of observing too much, and it lead to me knowing someone before actually talking to them, and it usually ends up with them getting a tiny bit uncomfortable;;;;

I hope this isn't too much to ask;;; Feel free to remove it if it's not to your liking! ^-^)/

Reader that is very perceptive x genshin men

Hello SO sorry for anwsering so very late. I have been in a bad state of mind and haven't had the energy for much due to family and mental health issues, but today I have found a small window of energy.

I hope this isn't too late! Hope you enjoy

Plot: Genshin men with a reader that can read people easily and figure them out after a few conversations

Characters:(In order) Diluc, Kazuha, Xiao, Zhongli, Kaeya (can be read as platonic and romantic)

Warning: Not proofread! Also if there is any content anyone finds offesenive in any way let me know and I will tweak the story to make it more enjoyable for all types of reader from any backgrounds (that made more sense in my head, but you all understand right?)

Diluc

Since Diluc does have a business to run he also has a habit of paying close attention to people. For example, nights at the tavern he has to make sure no one is expressing any violence due to being a bit too tipsy.

He thought maybe he was the only one who would focus so much on people, but when you seemingly had his whole persona understood after an hour conversation with him, he had to think again

He found it pretty admirable, how skilled you were. He did notice though that you had some trouble making close friends. Everyone who you knew always seemed to be very reserved around you even though they acted different with others.

Diluc decided it was probably because of how easily you could figure them out. He understood how that may make someone uncomfortable. When you would quickly decipher how he was feeling in a conversation he was also surprised and a bit wary at first

For example, he'd he is talking about this one order he did, and you would say "I bet that made you feel relieved." when anyone else would've asked if that was mad. But he did appreciate how considerate you were about his feelings since you knew them so well So after a while, he didn't really mind it.

Overall, you were both pretty perceptive. Diluc in reading people's intentions and you in reading people in general (made pretty good business partners)

Kazuha

I feel like Kazuha would be very very wary of you at first. he had heard the crew speaking of this new mysterious person that joined the team and how they seemed to know everything after a single conversation

Rumors started circuiting the crux, saying how you had divine powers from the archons and that's how this was possible. He didn't really believe this, but he never really joined in the gossip

In the end Kazuha was the only person you had not spoken to since your arrival, so this gave you plenty of time to watch him closely. You had no intention of offending the man so you decided that if you could figure him out this way, you could avoid any miscommunications or altercation.

So, when you were both assigned to go into Liyue Harbor to restock supplies, you thought the day would go very smooth.

But then Kazuha noted how you would avoid certain conversation that would usually make him uncomfortable. That was cause for some concern in his opinion

You seemed nervous yourself. Everyone in the crew already didn't have much trust in you, so this was more or less your last chance

Because of your nervousness Kazuha would ask why and how and you'd give him a quick explanation. Oh, so that's why. Well since you couldn't help it, he didn't mind much. Kazuha seems like a pretty calm and lenient person

He wouldn't mind you pretty much knowing most of his life without him revealing anything, in fact he felt like it helped with avoiding conversations he didn't want to have.

Xiao

When you were first hired at Wangshu Inn and learned about the Yaksha living in it, Xiao didn't mind much. You both would also talk almost daily because you had been tasked with bringing him his almond tofu. Well as much talking as Xiao would let you.

Your conversations were short and ended abruptly, but you already had a good idea of this Xiao character. And when you brought up points that were something between a question and a statement that his silence would confirm. He found this troubling

Sure, there were some records of his past but none of them explained them to this...deep of an understanding.

he would try to avoid you and conversations with you as much as possible. he tried to stay as private as possible and you knowing so much disturbed him greatly.

But as time passed and the leaves changed, he realized you truly didn't mean any harm and it wasn't something specifically pointed towards him (because he was watching you at all times since he thought you were a threat) He didn't sense any evil or demons in you either

So soon your conversation instead of being one sided he would start answering with short and to the point answers

You were a bit shocked at first, but soon your relationships would grow, you just had to give him a little bit more time.

Zhongli

Your both very perceptive. Zhongli is an archon. One look and he pretty much knew everything about you, but due to his human body's limitations, he sometimes doubted it.

So, when you both started telling you let slip certain details such s "It must have been hard leaving your old life behind." randomly when you were both enjoying the, he was a bit curious as to just how much you truly knew.

he wouldn't exactly grow weary of you, but he would observe you very closely. You every move action and word were analyzed to the smallest detail and his answers would be as vague as possible without making it seem like he was either withholding information or seeming uninterested in the conversation

but the comments would still continue, and he still couldn't figure out how or why. Did you have some sort of divine power bestowed upon you by Celestia?

Nevertheless, he didn't mind too much.

Zhongli also noticed that this seemed to be a trend with other people as well, although most would not put in the effort to not look uncomfortable or disturbed.

He never really asked about it and besides for the pauses when you would mention something he was sure you'd know nothing about and surprised him he would keep your conversation and relationship as normal as possible.

In the future he would reveal that he is in fact the retired geo archon because he wanted to see if you had known this for some reason and that's why but that would be later when he fully trusted you.

Kaeya

When you were recruited as his secretary due to his nature of putting off certain projects and Jean wanting them done, he was not very happy. He didn't need an assistant and there was something about you that put him off his usually rhythm

Maybe it was the rumors or bad comments people have made about you or maybe it was how perceptive you seemed to be

Kaeya himself is very perceptive, he thought of it as a battle of who would guess who about the other person first.

He would say certain things about your past that he would find out through records and when you would retaliate with something like "Well I bet this happened in your past didn't it? It would explain that." it would always shock him

As time went on, he found this very much amusing, and he would enjoy having you as an assistant.

He would sometimes bring you into interrogations (with you consent to it for sometimes it would get a bit intense) and on missions so you could help. When it came to dealing with people, you proved very much useful.

He didn't think you had any bad intentions, and he didn't mind much, but sometimes topics he would rather not talk about, you would quickly notice and apologize. he'd try not to him much of it, he knew you didn't mean to offend him or bring up the dark parts of his past.

In time Kaeya started trusting you with more and more of his work and you both became an unstoppable Dou, capable of getting anything out of anyone.

[davyjoneslockr]

fugo w/ 7, 17, 31, 37, 38?

(For this ask game)

7: Travel

Since his family was rich, he did a lot of traveling as a kid. Mostly around Europe, but internationally, too. He's probably been to every continent, barring Antarctica, at least once. He didn't really get to experience much on these trips, though. Sure, he'd be in these places, but the trips were never so much for sightseeing as they were for his parents' business opportunities, going to really fancy places as a status symbol, and probably some networking for him, as his parents were very keen on "maximizing his potential" as a young genius and showing him off to fellow rich folk or higher-ups in academia. If anything, traveling was an isolating experience for him. There was never any warmth in the Fugo family, and the one person he truly loved and could've enjoyed having new experiences with, his grandmother, was never included.

So, as he gets older, he finds that he really enjoys trips that aren't so rigid. He likes having things planned in advance, certainly, but instead of seeing huge cities and staying in luxury resorts, he'd much rather go to small towns or rural areas, eat at local restaurants, buy little trinkets that his family would've ridiculed, and just. Have the opportunity to slow down and enjoy things. He couldn't give a single shit about seeing Paris or Tokyo or New York City, but if he's able to go on a road trip through the countryside and stop at a little farmer's market for some homemade jam, he'll be ecstatic.

17: Scars

His hands and wrists are heavily scarred from scratching at them - a bad, self-destructive habit the others have tried to get him out of, to no avail. He’s also got a lot of scarring on his face, shoulders, and back from acne. By the time he gets the scars on his cheeks/throat at the end of PHF, he’s too used to having scars to outwardly angst about them much. He claims he’s “never had a nice face, anyhow,” and is at least thankful he has an intact jaw after that.

Internally, though, he’s conflicted. He has some serious issues with self-worth, and, body image-wise, views himself as somewhat ugly at best, if not completely repulsive. The scars, at first, do not help.

Eventually, though, he starts working to reframe his mindset. The scars are proof that he’s bettering himself - while he may not be able to undo the damage he’s caused, there are things he can still fix. He isn’t as selfish, cowardly, or mean as he used to be. He’s starting to understand other people, and understand himself. The scars he sees when he looks in the mirror are proof.

Also, if I can plug the Fugio agenda for a moment. Most of his mental restructuring is done on his own, but it certainly helps to know that Giorno’s never been judgmental about his scars. Quite the opposite, in fact. Giorno kisses the PHF scars constantly, and likes tracing the acne spots on Fugo’s back (he always says cheesy stuff about them, like “they’re like little stars” or whatever. Fugo thinks it’s bullshit, but doesn’t complain).

31: Death

Despite his stand’s motif, he is deeply terrified of dying. Deep down, it was one of the main reasons he stayed behind. He finds comfort in understanding things, and knowing that he can understand anything in life, potentially. Even though he’s staunchly atheist, the fact that he can’t possibly understand or comprehend death scares him. Purple Haze’s, or his, ability to end lives so quickly and effortlessly, in a way, makes him scared of himself.

37: Vengeance

I like to think that he does see his family again, when he’s an adult. Not to reconcile, though. His father, or maybe one of his brothers, somehow gets tangled up in mafia business, and they arrange a meeting to ask Giorno for protection or money. Giorno’s ready to dismiss the offer, but Fugo asks to go with him, with his face obscured, to see if they’ve actually changed.

As it turns out, they haven’t. They’re still as pretentious and elitist as he remembers, walking over everyone who doesn’t meet their standards - of class, of wealth, of behavior. Giorno asks if they have another child, and they claim they don’t - Pannacotta has more or less been eliminated from the Fugo family tree, reduced to no more than a whisper at dinner parties, a rumor among the upper crust. He’s completely dead to them, and, perhaps, after kicking him to the streets without so much as a goodbye, they assumed he would be literally.

Giorno, of course, rejects their request. And, as a final blow, Fugo reveals himself. Flashes his and Giorno’s matching rings in his father’s face, sits with his feet up on the expensive coffee table, and describes, in detail, what’s happened to him since he was last at this mansion. It’s dramatic, and it’s not a huge act of revenge, in the grand scheme of things. But it’s cathartic to imagine his family living with the fact that their son’s a criminal, right at the top in Passione’s ranks, and the shitstorm that would ensue, should he choose to leak the information to the public. And, of course, knowing that he has a real family by his side - more of a real family than they would ever be.

38: Sympathy

If there is one opponent he comes to regret killing, it’s Angelica. While she may have been working for the narcotics team, she was really no different than him, or any of his friends - she was just a kid driven to extremes, and was only able to find solace among criminals. Most of what he learns about her, he learns after her death, and there’s times where he spirals, thinking about what he could have done differently, had he known what he does now. Could they have convinced her to leave the narcotics team? Gotten her treatment for her addiction? Used Gold Experience Requiem to help with her illness, somehow? What hurts most is that parts of her remind him of Narancia, and, occasionally, he wonders if they could’ve even been friends. 

At the end of the day, he tells himself she was too far gone, and any thoughts of helping her are just ridiculous fantasies. Still, he hasn’t been able to fully convince himself.

[hexpea]

Ch. 16 - Just a Hangover

After doing a little bit of freshening up, you tiptoed back into the bedroom to grab your clothes. Just as you had predicted, Gojo was completely crashed. His sweaty body lied atop the sheets with little to no care in the world.  You sighed to yourself, realizing that your dream had come true. At least a certain aspect of it. Your ultimate goal had been to be with him, romantically. But this was at least the first step. 

However, you found yourself mysteriously conflicted. You chalked it up to still being pissed at Geto's sour attitude.  And speaking of sour, you felt your stomach start to churn a bit. Regret began flooding your mind as the reflux began bubbling up your throat. 

Instead of spending the night, and considering your now hungover state, you decided to head back to your room.  You silently dressed and made sure to shut the front door to his place as quietly as possible. 

Just as you entered the hallway, head beginning to pound, you heard an obnoxious retching sound coming from one of the other rooms. Specifically the room you knew to be Geto's. You paused for a moment and listened to his pain. He seemingly had much more than you did and was clearly much worse off. You felt a bit guilty somehow. He had accomplished his mission after all, angry at him or not. 

Your timing must have been just right because the retching sound had stopped. You bit your bottom lip and contemplated your next actions. You gave three gentle knocks on his door, half-hoping he'd hear and half-hoping he'd not. 

You waited outside of the door for a few seconds, thinking he hadn't heard after all. But just as you were about to walk away, the door cracked open to reveal his tired-looking face.  He was extremely pale with the start of purple marks under his bloodshot eyes. His hair was a complete mess, some of it sticking to his sweaty skin. 

His stare was dreadfully intimidating, the additional frown he carried not making anything much better. You, on the other hand, held a bit of a startled expression. The silence was much louder than you would've liked.

"Ge-" you started. But before you could continue, Geto turned and slammed the door shut. You swallowed hard to both keep the tears and the reflux down. 

Giving up, you struggled back to your own room. You tried to keep your mind off of things as you made some tea and drew a bath. Your priority: getting this hangover over with. 

As you relaxed into the warm water, Epsom salt galore, you reflected upon your birthday "celebration."  If today wasn't a win, then you didn't know what was. Your goal with Gojo from here on out was to simply romantically schmooze with him until the two of you fell in love. It sounded much more simple than it actually was.  You also thought about the disaster. Geto, who you thought was your closest friend, turned out to be a total jerk. Thinking about his words made your blood boil, but you still felt awful for how hard you had slapped him. You had gone to his room to apologize whether or not he had deserved it, but since the door was slammed in your face - you wondered if it was even worth it. You wondered how things would go from here, especially as you lived next door in the same building.

You slid further into the tub, letting the water up to your lips. You felt your face turn red with embarrassment. It must've been so awful to be slapped like that in public, let alone in front of your closest friends. No wonder he slammed the door...

Just as you closed your eyes, you heard your phone give a small vibration against the tile floor.  You leaned over, dried your hand on a nearby towel, and unlocked your phone. It was from Geto...

"Congrats," he typed. You flattened your lips and furrowed your brow, feeling major disappointment in yourself. Whether you deserved to feel that way or not was up in the air. 

You put your phone back down and chose to not reply. He probably didn't want to hear from you anyhow. And if he did, it would just be too awkward.

After a long night of peaceful rest, you still woke up with a headache. You quickly learned that hangovers don't just go away quickly. Your entire body still ached and the nausea caused you to have saltines for breakfast, specifically only one saltine. In those moments, you vowed to never drink again. Whether or not that'd hold up would be a test of time.

You ran into Geto at the mailboxes on the first floor of on-campus living. Typically the mission assignments would arrive along with any other mail a sorcerer might get.  He stood in front of his box, the metal door wide open, and flicked through different envelopes as if he were looking for one in particular. He looked much better than he did the night before, hair up and usual uniform on. He didn't look at all angry but also gave no mind to your new presence.

You silently went to your own box and opened it, grabbing the few pieces of mail that you had. You barely read any of the envelopes as you flicked through them, but instead were busy wondering if you should even say hello.

"Good morning!" Gojo's sing-song-y voice rang out. He stopped at Geto first, tossing his arm around his best friend's shoulder.

"Too loud," Geto shrugged his arm off of him with a smirk. 

"Right, right," Gojo chuckled, "I'm glad I stopped drinking when I did. Otherwise I'd be as miserable as you guys."

"You were supposed to be my babysitter!" You challenged with a grin. "You kept giving me shots!"

"It was your birthday!" Gojo defended. "What? Am I supposed to tell the birthday girl no?"

"When it means I'll get sick, yeah!" You scolded, still holding your grin. 

"Oops," Gojo shrugged with a shit-eating grin while checking his mail. He obnoxiously ripped open the first envelope he had.

You, too, had gotten to the envelope you needed - the one that contained your next assignment. You tore it open and read carefully. 

"Oh?" You mumbled to yourself. The assignment was completely unexpected. Honestly, you felt as if it were some kind of mistake, but you reminded yourself that the higher ups "don't make mistakes," at least according to Yaga they don't. 

"We're together on this next one," Geto sighed, sounding slightly disappointed. "Special grade."

"And I'm out this time!" Gojo piped in, holding up his own letter with a completely different assignment. Special grades didn't come around too often and when they did, it was preferable to get them taken care of as soon as possible. With two in the area, it meant that Gojo was capable of dealing with his alone as the ultimate "strongest" and Geto would need some assistance. Being a first grade sorcerer not currently on assignment, it was reasonable for you two to be paired up. 

"Why do they keep giving these hard-ass missions to me?" You whined, dropping your hands to your sides in defeat. 

"Nanami's on his own mission. You're the only one here," Geto mumbled. "It's fine. I can probably handle it on my own anyway."

"No," you insisted angrily, "I'm coming."

"I didn't say you weren't," he scoffed, "you can just sit in the car." You pouted, not wanting to continue an unproductive conversation. It was safe to say your relationship was completely in shambles.

[averagesmw]

Penny Haywood x MC- Experience (4/4)

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this special! See you soon!

Game: Harry Potter Hogwarts Mystery

____________________

There was always something about a village that helped it stand out from a landscape and earn a smile from one, even if one had never been there before

Maybe it was the way the houses looked, stuck in time without showing signs of decay

Or perhaps it was the way the people behaved, so polite and welcoming that even a stranger could feel as if they had lived amongst them for years

Regardless of what it was, there was no denying that the atmosphere was unmatched. Such was the ambiance of the village that Penny and Y/N were visiting as requested by her mother

Unfortunately, Beatrice fell ill due to the food they ate last night. Nothing too severe, but a few ingredients would help to make a potion for her

Penny took the opportunity to give the curse-breaker a tour around the place, with her holding their hand the entire time...not that they minded, of course

The village's colors were different in the afternoon, with oranges, purples, and pinks bouncing off the buildings to set a serene tone

"And here we are. This is the place where we get most of our ingredients. The quality is amazing!"

They stopped at a small, wooden store. It looked a bit old, but certainly stood the test of time

When they stopped, an old woman came out and smiled

"Good morning, Penny. It's always a pleasure to see you around here"

"Likewise, Madam Clarke!" She answered, ever so cheerful

Then, the woman's attention turned to you, with an intrigued look to her

"And who this might be?"

"Y/N L/N, I go to the same school as Penny. A pleasure to meet you"

They greeted the woman with a hint of formality, they didn't know how Penny's relationship with these people was, after all

"Is that so? You two seem to be getting along quite nicely" She chuckled to herself after saying that

That's when They remembered, neither of them let go of the other's hand

Being too embarrassed to say anything, Penny just let go

"Anyhow, what can I get you?"

"The things in this list, please"

Penny handed her a paper with the ingredients written in it. Fortunately, the woman didn't see her blushing while doing so

Without further due, Madam Clarke left to get the objects, leaving the two teenagers to chat for a bit

"...So, how are you finding this village so far, Y/N?"

They turned to see Penny smiling once again, almost as if she was using them as an escape from that embarrassing moment seconds ago

"It's amazing, it reminds me of the first time I saw Hogsmeade"

The blonde found herself nodding at this

"I know, right? This place is just so charming. That's why we come here every chance we get"

"It does wonders to help the mood. No wonder you always return so happy for the next year"

This earned a laugh from Penny, who just shook her head

"Well, it's also because I get to see you, Y/N. That is always something to look forward to"

Y/N smiled fondly at this. Truth to be told, there were many reasons to either look forward to or dread the return to Hogwarts every year

The obvious reason to fear would've been the curses going around every single year, until this one, that is

However, one reason to look forward to it was to spend time with friendly faces once again, even appreciate them a bit more after being on their own for a while

"There you go. This should be everything" Madam Clarke made her way back to the counter

She handed Penny a bag and she saw the content to check if everything was in order and upon confirming it, she handed her a couple of coins

"Thank you, Madam Clarke!"

She turned around and motioned Y/N to come with her. Upon exiting that business, however, the blonde noticed something, she even stopped walking because of it

"Penny? Is everything alright?" Out of instinct, Y/N had their wand at the ready

"Absolutely, I just noticed how different the center of the village looks. It's so festive!"

Y/N let out a sigh of relief when they heard this, then proceeding to look into the reason for this

"Perhaps they are preparing something?"

"Could be..." She pondered before looking at a person walking nearby

"Excuse me, what are the decorations for?"

"We've decided on preparing a small outdoors celebration this year! To keep the spirit as jolly as it can" The man announced proudly, but this answer also sparked curiosity in Penny's eyes

"An outdoors celebration? You mean with dancing too?"

"You bet! Make sure you bring your sweetheart. It's going to be brilliant"

With that, the man left to attend his own business. While Y/N was glaring at him for calling them that, Penny was already tending to thousands of ideas in her mind

Before Y/N could ask about it, she turned around and grabbed both of their hands, sporting a bright smile as well

"This is wonderful! What better to show you how magical this place is than with a festival!"

They didn't even have time to say anything due to Penny hugging them tightly. It was commonly known that Penny Haywood adored these types of events

But there was something about this one that just felt so different. It only made sense, this was the first time that Y/N had seen a Muggle community like this one

"Come on, we have to tell my mum about this!"

And so, the young Haywood practically dragged them back to the small house, where she delivered the big news to her family

"A festival, you say? That would explain why the village looked so different this time"

Mr. Haywood stated while picking up the ingredients Penny had brought them and put them on the counter for his wife

"I'm afraid we can't, we have to tend to Bea until she recovers"

Her statement saw itself defied by the voice of the patient herself. Beatrice looked as if she had a cold, yet she was in her pajamas standing in the middle of the hall

... honestly, not her best look

"I... told...you I'm... fine"

"What are you doing out of bed? You'll catch a cold like that!"

Her dad rushed in and gently took her back to her room, making her mum sigh in annoyance

But that's when she got an idea just by looking at the two teenagers standing in the living room

Penny looked so eager to go to this event, while Y/N seemed to be quite distraught by Beatrice's problem

They had already done their part by bringing supplies, and playing nurse wasn't a way to spend the holidays, was it?

"I have an idea, why don't you two go to the festival for us? You earned it"

The moment she heard this, the stars in her daughter's blue eyes began to shine once again with excitement, making her chuckle at this

"Really?"

"Consider it my Christmas gift to you two"

She winked at the couple. Penny ran towards her for a hug, one that she eas quick to return

"Thank you so much!"

It was cute to see the blonde get so excited for this, but when recalling events like the Celestial Ball or the festival at Hogwarts, it was difficult for the heart not to start racing as well

This is when Y/N realized something. They've had fun dancing before with Penny and the rest of the school

But this time, it was a festival just for the two of them. No distractions or obstacles, or even multiple crushes to balance out

Just fun with a single person, Penny

"Do you have something to wear for the dance, Y/N?"

Her sweet voice made them snap out of their thoughts and when remembering the question, the student gave her a confident smirk

"Absolutely, I have just the outfit for this. Just leave it to me"

...

Two hours later

"I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR, I AM DOOMED"

Y/N walked through the room back and forth, their clothes all scattered around, a faithful reflection of their mind currently

The curse-breaker had packed their things when they left Hogwarts, but none of the clothes they brought would help them look good enough for this dance! They'd stand out like a stain on a white sheet

They had spent hours upon hours trying to find something decent for this event, not just regular clothes switched up to look like something new

It's not that they would know that they'd need a special outfit, but they couldn't afford to go and buy one. There was no time left

Not good, not good

"Think, what would Andre do?"

They stopped to look at the room before facepalming

"Probably yell at me for having my clothes like this"

Groaning in defeat, Y/N sat back on the bed

"This was going so well..."

However, as their frustration threatened to take over, they managed to see something in their suitcase, something that wasn't there before

"What the...?"

Y/N directed their attention to this and brought the suitcase closer to them and what they saw caught them off-guard by sure

It was another set of clothes, perfectly folded so that they weren't perceivable unless every other piece of clothing was taken out before

Y/N recognized this as one of the outfits Andre had styled for them. But how? It wasn't there when they put their clothes in the suitcase before

That's when they spotted a small note attached to the outfit

"You might need it. Good luck!"

- Tulip &, Chiara

"Pd. You ought to tell me all about your trip when you get back,!"

-Alanza <3

Y/N didn't know if they should laugh at this or question how did the girls manage to sneak in this outfit without them noticing. Regardless, they were beyond grateful for their friends at this moment

Without wasting another second, they grabbed the outfit and tried it on. It looked elegant enough to notice that it wasn't just a make-shift outfit, but not too extravagant either

They couldn't recall the last time they had worn those clothes, but it didn't matter now, for it was perfect!. They made a note to themselves to thank the girls when they saw them again

Minutes after making the final adjustments to the outfit, there was a knock on the door

"Y/N? Are you ready?"

Penny's voice could be heard from the other side. But this time, the teenager had an answer to it

"Absolutely, I'm coming out"

Without further due, they left their room with a confident smirk, sure to look their best for the night

But when they stopped to look at the blonde in front of them, Y/N was left speechless

A yellow tiered ruffle skirt hugged her waist and part of her legs, contrasting with a cute black top that highlighted her two necklaces, and to top it all off, a french braid resting on her side. As if she wasn't breathtaking enough, her smile was what sent Y/N over the edge

However, they weren't the only ones in awe of what they were seeing, for Penny too was beyond impressed by the way their partner looked tonight. Even if they were amazed by the other, they couldn't bring themselves to look at each other in the eye without ending up like a tomato

"P-Penny! You look brilliant"

Y/N was the first one to break the ice, earning a smile from her

"You too, Y/N, I...wow"

She tried her best to remain her friendly self but found herself staring even against her own

"Awww look at you two! Let me take a picture!"

Penny's mum rushed off to get her camera, leaving the two teenagers on their own. However, watching the woman's reaction helped the teens to ground themselves a bit in reality and thus, laughing  at what had just happened

Of course, they still thought about how good the other looked, but they could at least get a hold of themselves now and look at one another without exploding with emotions immediately as a child would

And so, after getting their photograph taken, Penny and Y/N left the building, now greeted by the nocturnal sky and a breeze of cold air. In the distance, the lights of the village could be seen waiting or them, their colors so warm and festive

"I can't believe it, a festival just for us!"

Then, she looked at Y/N with her usual smile

"This is going to be incredible"

Just as Penny regained her excitement, so did Y/N's confidence returned and showed so by extending a hand to their partner for the evening

"Then let's check this festival together, shall we?"

At first, the blonde was caught off-guard by this gesture, like a knight in shining armor coming for her, requesting for her hand, hers

Words couldn't describe how lucky she felt to be the one looking at this, but that was okay, her actions would suffice. With a proud smirk, she reached out for their hand as well

"Yes, let's"

...

As soon as they stepped into the village, they were blown away by what they were seeing. The decorations made the place feel even more alive than it was before and as the moonlight shined upon it, the festive lights highlighted this atmosphere

Smiles could be seen everywhere they looked. From the elderly to the children, everyone seemed to be having a great time

"A gift for the young couple"

A woman approached them with flower bracelets for both, placing them gently on their hands

They accepted the gift but were certainly surprised by it too. Mainly to be called a couple, but to be fair, there was no point in arguing against it now

"It's...comfy!" Penny stated while adjusting hers

"How does it look on me?"

She turned to take a good look at the new accessory in Y/N's head and she giggled

"It looks adorable"

Without further due, the duo continued to explore the festival. It had amazing  food, fun games the likes of which Y/N had never seen before, and even a place to take pictures with someone

Being that last part what caught their eye the most. It wasn't often that they were able to take pictures together, after all

They took a couple of photos. If there was any doubt as to whether Y/N smiled at all that year or not, one would only need to look at those items

With the same jolly attitude, they kept exploring what the festival had to offer, and that's when they reached the center of the village

The people were gathering around a wooden stage, where an old man was giving an announcement

"Friends, I know you're all as anxious about the dance as I am, so I will keep this short"

They stepped back into the stage, motioning to it

"The dance will welcome all who want to participate, but only one couple will be crowned tonight! And your cheers will help us decide who that is!"

The people cheered as some of them walked onto the stage with their couple, eager to dance

When this happened, Penny's blue orbs sparkled with excitement as she looked back at Y/N

"Can we participate? Can we?"

They couldn't help but chuckle at her kid-like eagerness but found themselves nodding too

After fending off a dragon, Acromantulas, and even Dark Wizards, Y/N L/N had grown much more confident, so dancing in a festival with Penny didn't seem to be a challenge too big

However, this one was a far more likable challenge than those others

"Of course we can. Let's show them!"

The young lady guided them to the stage, where they found a spot to dance right in the middle of it all

"Alright everyone, let's begin!"

The musicians started playing their entrancing melody, inviting everyone who heard it to dance. The violins and even the piano gave it a distinct sound

(Think of something like this if you want)

                          Y/N's right hand made its way to Penny's waist as hers fell on their shoulder and their left hands intertwined shortly after and their eyes, fixed in one another's

The music slowly picked its pace and the couple began to move together, first left, then right and left one more time, starting slowly and with a gentle tone

When the time came, Y/N raised their hand and allowed Penny to twirl, swiftly stepping back so that she and her partner were in front of each other, still dancing

The people clapped in unison as they started to tap the floor following the rhythm of the music, dancing and jumping in place without losing sight of the floor either

The way they moved was akin to the music of another time, yet with the same life and energy

Soon, laughter and smiles would come from both of the teenagers as they lost themselves to this cheerful music and even clapped with the crowds before switching partners

Never before had Y/N felt so free. No responsibilities or problems, nothing was wrong with the world, nothing needed fixing

It was just them, the music and Penny

And that was all they needed

This intoxicating happiness quickly took over them, and regardless of how long it would last, they would cherish every second of it

And so they danced, jumped around in place, and even formed circles with the other dancers until eventually, they made their way back to Penny herself

Once again, they intertwined their hands as they began to move in synchrony, twirling and dancing in circles without letting go

The violins helped their moves, guiding every step of theirs until suddenly... They were inches away from each other, they could feel the other's breath and all they could see was the other's face as they regained their breath, but most importantly, they smiled at each other

They genuinely smiled

Penny pushed their bodies closer to each other, the curse-breaker took the hint, held the blonde's waist, and spun them around, much to her surprise

Both laughed at this until Y/N was holding Penny's back, keeping her from falling as she cupped their cheek in return, and finally, they sealed the moment with a long-awaited kiss

Y/N found themselves closing their eyes to shut the world out the moment their lips met hers

The soft taste of her honeyed lips was far sweeter than any treat the curse-breaker ever got, and the wait only made them better

As they slowly separated their lips, they could only stare at each other in disbelief of what just happened

"Penny..." Was all they could mutter and yet, that was enough for her heart to melt

But then, the clapping and cheering from the crowds surrounding them reminded the couple that they were still in the middle of a festival, and by the looks of it, they had put quite a show

Everyone was looking at them with a huge smile as if they somehow knew the importance of the moment they had witnessed

Even the other couples were applauding them at this point

"It seems that we have our winners!"

The man walked towards them and placed a beautiful crown of flowers on the blonde's head, and then another on Y/N's

They were now standing in front of the crowd, too shocked to know how to respond on their own, but that was the thing, they were not alone

One way or another, they both knew this and acting out of pure instinct, their hands reached out for the other's until they inevitably succeeded

This sudden contact made them look at one another, surprised by this connection at first, but it soon turned into a smile

Not the kind of smile one would do when being told good news

Nor the kind of smile to make when seeing someone after a long time

But a smile of the purest kind

That of love itself

[alaydabug2]

Tag list: @paloma-ascends-into-hellfire @nowjumpinthewater @bookwormgirl123 @thishumanformislimiting

History Repeats

Chapter two

The war is over. Everyone is happy. Years later, Biana is accepted as a councilor. Only then, does she realize she wants what she can't have. Dex Dizznee. She could step down so they could be together, but progress is finally being made with her on the Council. If she steps down, that could reset all the progress that was done. What will she do? Stay? Leave? Have this affair in secret? Will they end like Kenric and Oralie, two star crossed lovers who fate had different plans? Find out in this story.

(Dex Pov)

Dex sighed when he sat on his bed after the ceremony. He unbuttoned his shirt and flopped back.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

He was so stupid.

He should've manned up and asked her out sooner. Right when he got the nerve to try, Oralie stepped down. Then, the talk of Biana being nominated started circling around.

He couldn't ask her then. He was too late.

He would've asked her sooner, but regent duties kept them both busy. They had to go on different assignments for the council.

He had even planned to ask her out over the weekend before everything happened. He had asked to meet up, but now he couldn't do that. He'd just have to make up some sort of excuse to why he wanted to meet with her.

Maybe she would cancel now that she was a councilor. She would probably be too busy now.

He laid down and fell asleep. In the morning, he felt his heart skip a beat. The hope was immediately squashed out when he remembered. Biana had responded. She was still able to make it out. That, unfortunately, complicated things.

Now what was he supposed to do?

When Saturday came, he ended up dressing nice and clasped his cape over his shoulders. They were heading out to Atlantis, where he invited her over to the ice cream shop.

His original plan included getting some flowers. That was now out the window.

He leaped to the city. He wandered around a little before taking a seat on the outdoor table.

Biana had joined him a while later. She fiddled with her nails.

"Oh, hey," Dex greeted her.

"Hey," she murmured. "You wanted to meet?"

"Yeah. I did."

Now he wished he could just escape.

"So... what did you want to meet with me here for?"

"Oh..."

Crap. That small tiny detail he forgot to figure out.

"I just wanted to see you. Wondered how you've been," Dex managed to force out.

"I've been good. You?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I've been good, I-"

His breath caught when he made eye contact with her. He could see her cheeks flush.

"Um, Dex." Biana lowered her voice. "Not that I don't want to see you, but this... looks like something it's not."

He could've kicked himself.

"Oh, yeah. Of course." He got up from his seat. "I'll see you later."

"Wait," she said, reaching for his arm. "You don't have to leave right now."

Dex pulled his arm free. "No, sorry. You're probably busy anyhow."

He took off down the street.

[redrose-arrow]

Dear Alyss // Birthday special

HEY GUYS GUESS WHO TURNED SIXTEEN TODAY??? THAT'S RIGHT, Y'ALL'S FAVOURITE (JK) RIGHT HERE !!!!

Honestly, I wasn't that excited about my birthday but I figured that it's still a special day, I mean, you don't turn sixteen every day! And besides, in books, turning 'Sweet Sixteen' is quite a big deal ;). Anyways, since it's my birthday, I decided to treat you all with a new special! This one's a bit sad, but I'm really happy with the outcome so I hope you guys will be too :) Please let me know!

(I’m one my phone so I can’t add the “keep reading” this I’m sorry)

>>>—————>

Dear Alyss,

It's been years since you left. And I still think of you every day. It's the smallest things that remind me of the life we used to share. A life so full of passion, care, and love. I know that you will never read this, or even receive. Heck, we both know I won't even send this letter. I'll just roll it up and hide it with all the others.

I do think this will be the last letter for a while. I don't need writing to you as much as I did before. In the beginning, writing these letters was simply a way to cope with the emptiness that you have left behind. It would feel good, letting my thoughts onto the paper, telling you what you would've been here to witness if it had never happened. It felt good telling you about Maddie (who is doing great by the way. She's getting real good with the bow, and her thinking is incredible. I'm thinking about having her sent on a small solo mission, just to see if she's up to it. You'd be proud of her if you were here.).

The thing is, I have sent you dozens of letters over the months, but I never actually told you how I felt about you before the incident.

As you know, I never been much good at talking. Whenever I try to express the emotions whirling in my soul, my throat tightens, blocking me from saying anything. I never got much farther than a "I love you" or "thank you". I never explained to you what you really meant to me. And now I guess it's too late.

However, with this being the last letter for a while, this is also my last chance to tell you how I really feel. I realise that now, I am aware of it as much as I was ignorant as to what was going to happen the last time we saw each other. It's probably going to sound very cliche but then again, you won't read this anyhow.

So, here goes nothing.

You always stood by my side, quietly and loudly, supporting me through all I had to go through. Though I didn't at the time, I later realised that you have always been more than just a best friend to me. I could tell you things easily and you just listened. You always made me laugh.

After Halt took me as his apprentice I thought I had my life figured out, but I didn't. Without my knowing, from the moment I first saw you real love had begun to take shape in my heart. I only truly realised it when I saw you in that tower in Macindaw. You knew I was there, but you weren't yourself, and I looked at you then and realised that I loved you. Because you cared. Love radiated in your heart spilling out into the lives of all those around you. You weren't just pretty on the outside, no, you had a whole new level of beauty somewhere deep within.

Life without you has been real hard. Harder than I had ever expected it to be. But, I'll find a way, just like I did before. Only this time you won't be here to help.

So, in the end, I guess it just comes back to the same thing. I want to thank you, you know. I mean, I wouldn't know where I'd be now if it weren't for you and frankly, I don't even want to know. You've saved me, over and over again. And I never got to save you.

You know, Alyss, I'm not over you, I don't think I'll ever be. But I did find a way to cope with the pain, and until we meet again, that's all I can ask from whoever is up above and in charge.

Please note that I have always loved you, and that I always will.

Love, Will