#q: touch averse

[arkhamsfinalvictim]

“At first, there was a slight stiffness to her posture. It was as if a piece of her still expected to be hurt—a primal sliver that couldn’t understand that it was possible to be touched out of love rather than anger.”

— Mistborn: The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

[burntoutuserboxes]

[This user is touch starved and touch averse.]

[cornerdreams-txt]

hiiii so i was talking with a friend about the consequences of q!fit being in. a fucking pit. with dead bodies. for weeks. and we've agreed that, you know, being a 2b2t veteran and a major historian, fit has gone through a lot, that honestly? the worst part just might be the isolation aspect.

on 2b2t, even if it was a fight, or even if he had to duck into cover and hide, there was people. there was other people. fit would see others, he wasn't ever truly, fully alone. but here? in this pit? the only soul is himself. everyone else is beyond his reach. so when he finally, finally gets back, gets to go home, he's... at a loss. everything he'd grown used to is no longer normal to him. it's as foreign and strange as it once was when he first arrived on the island. sleeping on a bed. seeing people. being touched.

pac is unbearably kind to him, when the pieces finally fall into place, and fit's sudden, severe aversion to touch turns out to be touch starvation, and isolation trauma, no matter how hard fit tries to pretend its fine.

after some serious consideration, pac decides a good way to help fit readjust will be not to tell him that he's safe, but to show him.

also this got really long so there's more under the cut! i'm just putting the cut there to shorten the visible length of this post for the sake of scrollers lol

at first, he listens. watches. fit never turns his back on him, no matter what. he's always within fit's line of sight. so, he takes initiative. he turns his back to fit, on purpose. including when they sleep in the same bed - pac will stretch wide and long, then curl up on his side, back to fit, and let himself doze off there, all too aware of fit's eyes burning into the backs of his shoulder.

...fit always keeps at least one hand empty, or filled with a weapon when he's around other people. so, pac happily busies his hands with trinkets and useless items - blocks and books and signs and food and tools and never potions fit wouldn't be able to immediately identify - until fit stops watching pac's hands so warily.

fit doesn't touch him. so pac touches him, slowly, cautiously. absently reaches out to dust off his clothes for him, grabs his hand to give it a little squeeze, blows him a playful kiss if he's feeling extra sappy or teasing, shows him with gentle hands that it's okay. pac isn't going to hurt him.

and he keeps doing it, over and over, making himself vulnerable, allowing himself to appear defenseless and weak in fit's eyes, even when it makes his own anxiety tick and claw at him, because he knows fit won't hurt him. fit might be scared and withdrawn and back, in some ways, to how he used to be, but it's still his fit. he's still safe with him around.

and fit, well. if it weren't for it being pac, he'd call it stupiditiy. he'd call it suicidality to be so open, so vulnerable around someone else like that. especially someone who you know is dangerous and volatile and bloodthirsty and not afraid to hurt others. but it is pac. it's his boyfriend. it's ramon's other dad. so he checks himself, reevaluates, questions over and over why pac would be doing this.

it isn't until pac pulls fit to hover over him while he enthusiastically explains a new creative idea he's been mulling over in his brain, hands gesturing happily within the confines of fit's arms and their chests, rambling and infodumping, occasionally stumbling and struggling to find the words in english while he explains, that fit's brain clicks together that all that vulnerability. all that intentional self-disarming. it's been intentional. it's all. been intentional.

the reason pac has been putting himself in danger (making himself vulnerable) around fit is because he trusts fit. these intentional acts that fit would call suicidality in anybody else aren't pac being stupid or careless, it's a willful, intentional reminder, over and over and over, "i trust you," in every breath he breathes while doing things he knows fit's survival habits and instincts would never let him even try to do, showing him that it's safe, here, because if it wasn't, he wouldn't be doing all this.

if it wasn't pac doing all that shit, fit would call it stupiditiy.

but it is pac. so instead, he's pretty sure it's just… pac.

it's just his boyfriend.

so, he's okay.

[promptsforyourwhumpfic]

The Grand A-Z List of Whump 3/3

This list contains 194 items listed R to Z

As always, I heavily encourage people to research topics thoroughly when writing as it is important to avoid stereotypes/misinformation. This list's intention is to not glorify/romanticise sensitive topics in any way.

This is a comprehensive list of injuries, Illnesses and tropes - including those from the Whumptober 2023 trope vote!

All submissions are listed in italics, and those who wanted to be tagged will be included at the end. If you have any more submissions: please send them via DM/my ask box.

[A-H] [I-Q] [NSFW List]

List below the cut:

R

Rabies

Radiation Poisoning/Exposure

Radio Silence

Ransom Note/Video

Rashes

Recovery

Reducing breaks or dislocations (bonus: out in the field with no painkillers available)

Reflection

Rejection

Reluctant Caretaker

Reluctant Whumpee

Reminded of trauma

Reopened Wound

Repressed Emotions

Repressed trauma resurfacing

Rescue

Rescued by the enemy

Rescues gone wrong

Respiratory Distress

Restraints

Reuniting

Revenge

Ringing Ears

Ritual sacrifice

Rockslides

Role Reversal

Rope Burns

Running fingers through hair (maliciously or comfortingly)

Running Out of Air

Ruptured eardrum

S

Sacrifice

Sadistic Choice

Sartorial constraints

Scars

Scoliosis

Scraped Knees

Scratched corneas

Scratches

Seasickness

Second impact syndrome

Secrets

Sedated

Seeing double

Seizures

Self esteem issues

Self induced injury to escape

Self sacrifice

Self-aid

Self-inflicted injury (to escape)

Semi-consciousness

Sensory Deprivation/Overload

Sentimental Items

Separation

Sepsis

Servitude

Setbacks in recovery

Severed Artery

Shaking Hands

Shipwreck

Shivering

Shock

Shock collar

Shot (gun, arrow, dart, etc...)

Shrapnel (blast/wounds)

Sick/injured at a party

Skull fracture

Slapped

Sleep Deprivation

Sleep Paralysis

Sleeping in the cold

Sleeplessness

Smashing their head into a wall

Smoke Inhalation

Snake Bites

Sneezing

So sick they can barely even stand or stay awake

Significant other taking care of wounds

So weak they have to hold on to something or someone to walk

Solitary Confinement

Special object being ruined/torn apart

Spinal Cord Injury

Split lip

Sprains

Stab Wounds

Stabbed (sword, spear, knife, TRIDENT!, etc...)

Stabbed through the back by the only person the whumpee trusted

Stage fright

Stalking

Status epilepticus

Stiches

Stings (insect, creature, plants)

Stitches

Stoic/Defiant Whumpee

Stoic/Rude/Harsh Reluctant Caregiver!Mentor & Ball of Sunshine Hurt!Mentee (platonic)

Stomach ache

Stomach Ulcers (a cause for vomiting up blood)

Stomach virus

Straight Jacket

Strangling

Strangulation resulting in bruised or swollen vocal chords and loss of voice + the process of regaining your voice and everything that comes with that trauma.

Stress (this could induce headaches/general illness)

Stress Position

Stumbling

Sucking chest wound

Suffocating

Sunburn

Super glued to toilet

Surgery

Surgery gone wrong

Surrendering

Survivor's Guilt

Swollen Lymph Nodes

T

Tachycardia

Taking the bullet

TBI (traumatic brain injury)

Team as a family

Team has a certain amount of time to get to their Whumpee before they’re killed

Team teaming up to take care of sick teammate

Temporary Loss of Sense(s)

Tendonitis

Tetanus

The Final Straw

Thrown from an explosion

Time Loop

Tiny whump

Tonsillitis

Tooth knocked out

Torn Ligaments - Achilles, Meniscus etc.

Torn Muscles

Torture

Touch Aversion/Touch Starved

Tranquilizer Dart

Trap

Trapped (whether this is after an explosion, car accident, natural disaster…)

Trapped Limbs

Trapped underwater

Trauma reveal

Tremors

Trust Issues

Truth spell/serum

Tuberculosis

Twisted ankle

U

Undead (vampires and ghosts and zombies, oh my!)

Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms

Unresponsive

Upper respiratory infection

Used as bait

Usually big, strong and boisterous whumpee becomes quiet and weaker as the whumper conditions them.

UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)

V

Vampire whump

Vampires Thrall

Vehicular Accident

Venom

Vertigo

Very badly hurt and on life support - with slow recovery

Virus

Visions

Vocal chord paralysis

Vomiting/Vomiting blood

W

Waterboarding

West Nile virus

Whip scars

Whipping/Flogging

Whumpee being psychologically tortured via fake escape scenarios so when they are actually getting rescued they don't believe it. bonus point if they still don't think anything is real.

Whumpee dreams of a loved one happily inviting them “home” (They're actually dying IRL)

Whumpee getting the upper hand over whumper.

Whumpee stabbing whumper or beating their head into the ground over and over while sobbing, even when they’re clearly dead because they NEED to take their emotions out.

Whumpee turned Whumper

Whumpee watches caretaker take a bullet/hit/poison for them.

Whumper turned Caretaker

Whumper turned whumpee

Whumper with a crush

Wincing/Flinching

Wing whump

Wisdom Tooth Removal

Withdrawal

Withholding Medical Treatment

Witnessing. (Whumpee sees someone die in a brutal way. Whumpee sees someone get possessed/turned into a zombie/some other horrifying thing and they just stare horrified.)

Working for the enemy

Working through injury/illness

Working to Exhaustion

Wrists rubbed raw

Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Wrongfully Accused/Arrested

Wrongfully fired

X

Xeroderma. (Extreme sun sensitivity)

XMRV is a newly identified human retrovirus that is similar to a group of mouse retroviruses (called murine leukaemia viruses, or MLVs)

Y

Yellow Fever

Z

Zombie virus, etc.

Zoonotic Hookworm

Zoonotic illness (It’s a disease carried or transmitted by animals to humans like tularemia or psittacosis)

Zosler (Shingles)

Zygomycosis (Fungal infection)

TAG LIST: Thank you very much to the following people for submitting ideas! (I apologise if some tags did not work, I'm not sure why tumblrs not letting me tag you!)

@I-eat-worlds | @greygullhaven | @letsgowhump | @cyberwhumper @firapolemos05 | @originaldeerhottub | @whumpilicious | @drawing-dinos82 | @carenrose | @stellarinuscronicles | @gottheseasonalblues | @marvelflame2010 | @sowhumpful | @avamcu | @courtneygacha | @lordofthewhumps | @autismmydearwatson | @kuddelmuddell | @the-most-handsome-ginger | @whirls-and-swirls | @painsandconfusion

[thestalwartheart]

James Bond doesn’t like crowds.

Q’s only just started noticing. He supposes the fact that he’s noticed at all is a result of spending more time with Bond outside the office and the field.

Dating, some people might call it. He and Bond never bother to call it anything.

Really, the aversion to crowds should have been obvious. Q doesn’t like that it’s taken him long to catch on, but now that he knows, it throws a dozen past conversations in a different light.

Whenever Q suggests taking the Tube anywhere, Bond declines and offers to drive instead. It's something Q has, until now, put down to a) Bond’s well-known love of cars and b) a snobbish disdain for public transport. On their admittedly rare weekends away, Bond never suggests a city break. They always go somewhere quiet; often, it’s somewhere rural. Q had assumed it was because they live in a city (at least he does—Bond never stays anywhere long enough to be considered a local), and Bond was keen to shag him somewhere without the kind of walls the neighbours could hear through.

But there are tells to say otherwise.

Chief among them is the one in front of him right now. In the middle of Trafalgar Square, which is bustling with the signs of weekend life, Q tries to link his arm with Bond’s.

Bond flinches at his touch.

“James?”

Bond pointedly doesn’t look at him, though he does relax ever so slightly under Q’s hand. Yet, as they walk on, Q can tell there’s something still off.

“You know,” says Q, at the bottom of some of the most famous stairs in London, “I’m not much in the mood for art, after all.”

It was a romantic idea to come to the National Gallery. To see the Turner paintings again. To listen to Bond groan at Q playing the pretentious art critic while he reduced all the nude paintings down to cheeky one-liners. It was, perhaps, too romantic an idea for what they are to each other. Q parks that thought, leaves it to worry about in the midnight hours. The more pressing matter is that it’s too uncomfortable for Bond to be here at all.

“You’re terrible at lying,” Bond tells him.

“Yes, well. So are you, sometimes.” Q looks around at the busy square. The sky is turning that dark and foreboding grey that signals rain is on the way. The fountains look dull and coppery under it. “I know you hate crowds. What do you say we get out of here and go for a drink?”

It’s a gamble. It’s always a gamble trying to guess at Bond’s moods, but today, the gamble pays off. Bond offers Q a fond, relieved smile and squeezes the hand Q has resting on his arm.

“Thank you.”

Inside, Q warms. No doubt it shows on his cheeks. He leans forward and presses a soft kiss against Bond’s chapped, chilly mouth, one that promises more kisses to come. It’s the kind of kiss Q likes best: slow and thoughtful. Cosy.

All the while, he promises himself that he’ll pay more attention to Bond’s tells. He prides himself on knowing his agents, after all. What sort of Quartermaster—what sort of friend or, well, whatever—would he be if he didn’t?

[maschotch]

Random Hotch q for the expert, but do you think he’s especially religious? I can’t recall if it’s been mentioned/touched upon in the show (currently rewatching) but I always envisioned him to not be practicing but maybe subconsciously Christian lol idk what are your thoughts

truthfully im not sure. from his vibes i could definitely see him being a hardcore christian, but considering the amount of american symbolism we see in his office, we definitely would see some sort of evidence if he practiced any kind of religion.

if i was to speculate, id say he’s uninterested in organized religion and spirituality on the whole. he seems more bemused when interacting with overtly religious pushy parents and clinical with abusive parents with a religious front, while morgan has a much more personal reaction, which makes me think hotch isn’t bothered by religion the way morgan is. but i imagine morgan, who grew up in a loving home that was disrupted, felt abandoned by a god he once loved whereas hotch, who grew up in a consistently abusive household, never bought into a benevolent god to begin with.

if we’re talking just my opinion? i think hotch’s childhood was littered with the omnipresent force of southern christianity: there’s a church on every street, sunday church was a weekly occurrence, bibles in every school, prayer during class, crosses in every room, etc. but i think he thought it was a sham. i think of his interactions in natural born killer with the guy who’s dad put up a religious front in public but beat his family in private, or the father in boxed in who would do the same thing. i think of it similar to that; religion was just part of the cover to maintain the appearance of a happy wholesome family. hotch doesnt seem like the type to pray every night for the abuse to stop—it seems more like he would just accept the way life was for him until he takes it into his own hands.

it’s been a while since i’ve seem cm so i don’t remember his house decorations or haley’s jewelry, but nothing stands out in my memory. i don’t think he’s religious but i don’t think he has a particular aversion the way morgan does. that being said, i could understand any religious headcanons for him since he really doesnt talk about it much. he even kinda dodges the question in demonology when morgan asks what he believes in: he believes in behavior and people and things he can understand. there’s no need for him to worry about the rest of it.

[tyrantofthefirmament]

Have a Q:

Does preening, specifically for seekerlets/sparkling seekers ever get ticklish?

I know it’s VERY different but I’m an adult and to this day when someone rubs my shoulders, it is SO ticklish. However to other adults it feels like a massage.

Adults would tell me “Oh once you’re an adult, it won’t be ticklish anymore” but I have yet to reach that stage. anything similar for bby Seekers or is it just like a massage for you guys no matter the age.

It's an inexact comparison, since Cybertronians are never babies. We emerge from the Well of AllSparks full sized and fully capable, though lacking any experience. That said, newly Sparked Seekers do have an instinctual aversion to anything touching their wings, that could be considered "ticklish", though perhaps "twitchy" would be more accurate. It takes time to learn how to sit still and allow someone to preen your wings or perform preflight checks, and even after millions of years, someone doing it wrong can make fully "adult" Seekers want to flick their wings and get comfortable again. It also helps to have friends or Trinemates you know and trust, who preen your wings the way you like.

For example, my preference is firm but gentle handling, and slow stretching along my ailerons. I cannot abide light brushing or tapping - it sets me on edge and makes me want to flick the contact off of my wings, so I suppose you would call that tickling. Such luxuries were not available as the war went on though, and I settled for a few Eradicon aides de camp who could do a thorough pre-flight check without tickling.

[practically-an-x-man]

1, 4, 8, 9, 13, 16, 18 for Gia, E, I, M, Q, U for Eris and Rick, 💀🔥🖌️🪢 for you

Thank you so much!!!

OC/Ship Ask Game: Firsts (created by me!)

Gia

First big aspiration (i.e. what did they want to be when they grew up?)

She's wanted to be a singer since she was a little kid, and would put on shows for her family practically all the time! She still has an excellent voice (though it's a bit raspier than it used to be, since her time in HYDRA led to a bit of vocal damage...) and still daydreams about writing her own music, but she doesn't imagine anything will really come of that anymore.

4. First time experiencing grief

She did lose her great-grandfather as a young child, though she was too young to really grieve him at that point. Her first major point of grief was of course for her younger sister - first for her cancer diagnosis itself, later for her death. It was incredibly hard on the whole family, but Gia especially took it to heart.

8. First time they took a risk, or the biggest risk they've ever taken

Her biggest risk was probably signing up for the "medical study" that led her to HYDRA - which is part of why she's so hesitant to take risks after that. It's not just that she was vulnerable and grieving and HYDRA took advantage of that, but that signing up in the first place was a very daring, selfless thing she tried to do, and having that manipulated leads to an aversion to all risk.

9. First time living away from home

She'd gone to summer camp a few times as a kid, if that counts, so she wasn't entirely lost on the concept of being independent. However, since she was pulled into HYDRA at age 18 and never went to college, her first time living completely independently came after getting out of HYDRA and starting her flower shop.

13. First time being drunk/high

Not counting whatever drugs HYDRA might've tried on her, since she doesn't even remember... recovering from HYDRA was a really dark time for her, she was depressed and in a lot of physical pain and stress, and there were times when she did try to dull that pain with substances. She never got especially deep into it (she wasn't old enough to legally drink and didn't have any friends to supply her, plus her newly-developed agoraphobia made it unlikely for her to seek out any sort of dealer for harder substances), but she definitely had a few experiences.

16. First thing they remembered feeling ashamed of

Eh, just some routine scuffles with her siblings. Every kid inevitably has a couple of those, it's just part of life, but given how close she was to her family, accidentally making her sister cry and getting told off by her parents for it was enough to make her really ashamed.

18. First example of real character growth along their journey

As she gets closer to Kate, she starts getting comfortable with small risks - very small and mundane ones at first, like going to the coffee shop three streets down rather than the one at the end of the block, but given her self-isolating nature, those are big steps for her! And of course, as she grows to trust Kate more and develop more of a support system, she's able to get a bit more open about those risks.

____

Eris/Rick

E. First time meeting the other's family

First things first... eventually I will have a oneshot of Eris and Rick meeting Diana, which is a bit like meeting the family, but aside from that there's not really anyone Rick could meet that would qualify for Eris.

On the other end, Rick isn't really in touch with his biological family anymore, but the Squad are basically his family after a while and Eris meeting them was a big deal to him.

I. First time sleeping together (sexual)

At first, it wasn't any big emotional thing, and they both recognized that. They found each other attractive, Eris especially wasn't looking for any kind of emotional connection at that point, they slept together casually back in 2014-2015 or so and never made a big deal of it. That obviously stopped when Rick started seeing June (and honestly... I don't think he even told June that it happened, since she already didn't like Eris), but for a while it was a good thing for both of them.

M. First time they introduced the other as their partner

I feel like both Rick and Eris would be the type to use the word "partner" early, liberally, and strategically. I mean, are they romantic partners or partners in the field? They'd been partners of the latter meaning for years, and neither of them really know when the word began to shift meaning to the former.

Q. First act of non-sexual intimacy (e.g. washing the other's hair, taking a bath together, sharing food)

Oh, patching up wounds was a huge one for them. Obviously Eris doesn't need it much, unless it's for a very severe injury, but there were a lot of nights spent with Eris perched on the kitchen counter, carefully suturing up Rick's wounds from the field. Similar to the whole "partner" thing, it was something they'd done for a long time before their relationship even took on a romantic meaning, and it slowly began taking on a more intimate tone over time.

U. First pet names/nicknames they give each other

Their whole "wartime"/"cowboy" thing also started pretty early (repeat theme for these two - they were both utterly devoted before they even knew it), and began as purely teasing while out in the field. As an author, I'm a big fan of those individual nicknames that end up being used as pet names, I think it's adorable.

As for Rick's more traditional pet names, that's one part just pure Southernness (look, it's more common with women than men, but there are a whole host of Southerners who will just casually call you "honey", "baby", "sweetheart", etc. in a totally platonic way, it's just a thing here), and one part genuine flirting. He definitely gets more candid with it after his breakup with June, when he and Eris are "officially" together for the first time, but it had a habit of slipping out whenever he was worried about them, romantic relationship or no.

____

💀 - First time writing character death, and how you felt about it

I... am not sure. On the one hand, I don't shy away from death as a narrative tool, and I think it can be really impactful (and sometimes is just how a story needs to end). But on the other hand, it's not something I usually seek out in fanfic, just because fanfic is an escape for me. I don't know what my first time writing character death was, honestly.

🔥 - First time writing romance/spicy scenes, and how you felt about it

I still don't write smut, but I have done a bit more expanding into writing spicier scenes over time. I've been writing romantic things for a while and I enjoy it, but I think the first really spicy scene was somewhere in the middle of A Love Once New, since it took me a while to even approach the subject (it's fun to read and write, but I was nervous that my writing skills weren't good enough and it would come off as cringey)

🖌️ - First character you created, or first character you wrote for

I've created so many characters and haven't even begun to share them all, and most of them have gone through so many revisions and rewrites that I'm not entirely sure who was really the "first one" to begin with. I will say that I remember attempting to start a novel about a pair of twins called Flora and Fauna when I was like 11 years old, plus some characters that predate even that, but the first character I created that still exists today is Mira Hart.

🪢 - First time writing a crossover or gift fic

Hm... I think it was writing Lucky for @can-of-pringles. It was not only my first time writing for Good Omens, but also my first time writing for OCs that weren't my own, and it was a lot of fun! Now, as you know, I do enjoy taking temporary custody of my friends' OCs for the sake of a gift fic here and there, but at the time I was so nervous I was going to get the characters wrong XD

[tiredassmage]

6 Do you have your Rook(s) planned out to any degree? If so, would you share some details or ideas you have?

I do have this one! How much of an apology I will owe Tyr for dragging him into new universes since he's become my blorbo obsession is going to depend wildly on the ongoing plot of Veilguard, lol, but I've only, like, half-threatened him with a jaunt into the Dragon Age before, ironically first about a year ago was my first stab at putting him in Inquisition, but now with Veilguard on the table, I think... that's way more the right style to introduce him to Dragon Age and I'm... a little obsessed with the ability to see him in that style, ngl.

So that means Tyr's probably gonna be my first playthrough and that'll be a melee focused rogue, probably... with a background with the Antivan Crows (gotta pay homage to that operative/spy background, after all). And since the Inquisitor's making an appearance, it'll kinda be a cute little treat for me. My canon Inquisitor is... synthesized, we'll say, from the first oc I had that I've toted almost everywhere since, so to be able to have him on-screen with my latest blorboly beloved will be pretty sweet, I think. Astor as that original oc and Hallaren as my Inquisitor are cut of the same cloth and there's still a lot of similarities between them, but I think there's some distinct things about Hallaren that'd incline me to classify them as two different ocs, in the end.

Tyr in general I think is a good one to put in Rook's shoes because he's... a balance of ideals and pragmatism and a driving force of a core that pushes him to act wherever and in whichever ways he feels he's able, so I think he'll take to the role well.

I do also feel like I'm... gonna have to do a mage run at some point; mage is usually the playstyle in these games that I've enjoyed the most and it's what Hallaren is (I believe with... Knight-Enchanter as his specialization, iirc). Don't have any solid plans for this one yet because we're still really early as far as information goes, but I am intrigued at the tease from I think it was the Q&A's that Rook will have a reason to have a particular aversion to blood magic, so I'll have to see what that's all about and see if I can wrap it up more specifically in any kind of character concept. And I'm getting the feeling that this is a game I'll want several playthroughs of anyway, so! Very eager to see what else might cook up in the brain stew as we learn some more and I actually get my hands around the game!

I'll say the one class I probably won't touch is any of the warrior things, lol. I'm... kinda bad at playing them in Dragon Age games so far. xD My one Inquisitor with a warrior build I ended up focusing into more combat abilities and taking Bull or Blackwall with him to handle more of the battlefield commanding. I'm here to hit buttons and have a good time, lol!

(bonus tax of last year's inquisition!tyr and. I need to stop seeing that post about starting Inquisition and maybe surviving the Hinterlands by the time Veilguard comes out because it's feeling too true for Hallaren's replay xD)

In another life, I'd been half-ready to justify Tyr as one of the scouts and spies of the Inquisition to begin with, so! Veilguard is solving some of my blorbo urges that way xD

[skarlettskwrl]

A broken tether, A new path forged.

For: @q-gorgeous @tourettesdog @kawaiijohn @lovelyunknown @modordracena

Summary: Jack and Maddie discover their mistakes regarding their son and need to make it right. Also on AO3: A broken tether, A new path forged.

Danny sneezed. He didn't know why; it was mid-spring. So, must it be allergies? But was it, though? He shrugged it off. He was glad to be enjoying his time with Sam and Tuck. Ghost sightings had been at an all-time low. Zero. Even the lower ghostly fauna, like blobs and spites, have been strangely absent. He knows he should be worried, but it's honestly pretty nice. This afternoon was in the low seventies. He kicked a rock down the road. He, Sam and Tucker were on the way from the local bowling alley.

Danny tuned back into their light-hearted conversation. His friends were laughing at a joke he’d missed. But he chuckled as well, not wanting to be left out. Sam smiled.

“I don’t get it, Danny. How is your aim with a bowling ball soo baaad.” Tuck teased. He scoffed, but Tucker continued, “I mean, you have perfectly good aim as Phantom. How does a bowling ball change things?” Danny kicked the rock with a little more force down the road. Danny shot Him an incredulous stare.

“You’re one to talk. Mister gutter balls. At least my rolls actually hit some pins.” Danny teased in turn. “And I have to pull my throws. It’s hard to gauge sometimes.” He grumbled under his breath. Tucker conceded, then turned to Sam, who was smirking at their exchange.

“Why are you so good at like every sport ever!” Tucker whined. Sam closed the distance. Sam laughed.

“You could be too, if you too if you didn’t have this aversion to touching grass.” Her tone was pretty condescending. Danny shoved his hands in his pockets.

He turned to them and cut in. “If you could be one of my rouge galleries for a day, who would it be and why?” Danny had succeeded because his friends’ argument ceased as they both contemplated.

“Technus, the way can manipulate tech is sick. It’s honestly wasted on him, with how he uses flawed software. His hardware is top-notch.” Tuck pumps his arm for emphasis.  

“Hey, how do you think Technus could actually build or design hardware without possessing some base machine first? Like building something from scratch?”  Danny thinks he’s only seen the tech ghost possess and modify. Was it just an innate thing? Or actual understanding?

Danny’s thoughts were cut off when he was hit with a strong sense of wrongness. He felt phantom hands brush along his limbs. Someone was touching him.

His tether.  

They were moving him.

Defiling him.

Sam grabbed Danny’s shoulder. He barely felt it. His breaths were coming in greedy gulps now.

“Danny, what’s wrong?”

“So- Some-one’s found it. I need- ” Danny trailed off in heavy gasps. He broke out of Sam’s grasp.  Danny stumbled down the sidewalk a few paces. Then he remember it he could shift.

He did, and God, it was soo much worse. Everywhere! It was fucking everywhere! He could feel it with his whole being. Their fucking hands! They were rubbing something all over him. It was also appearing on his skin, red and sticky.

It fucking burned!

He shot off in the direction his core was urging him to go with increasing franticness.

Earlier that day at Fenton Works.

Maddie was finishing folding and putting away clothes. She and Jack’s latest efforts to keep ghosts out of Amity had been working. They had been planting Sanguinem Germinabunt, more commonly knowns as Blood Blossoms. More so around their house because it housed the portal, and other places the ghosts most frequented.

Maddie wasn’t stupid she knew their anti-ecto blast doors weren’t perfect. No matter what changes they made, ghosts always slipped through. Though the blossoms seem to be the most effective method so far. They had seen neither hides nor hairs of any ghost, especially that dratted Phantom.

She put more socks in his drawer. Danny had been short of breath and sneezing quite a lot. She should book an appointment. That’s when she saw a small composition notebook, well worn. It looked like a diary of sorts. Curious, flipped it open. She immediately felt guilty and closed it again. But, this might give her a glimpse at what’s been wrong with Danny.

They’d been so close. It was only about 18 months that the changes presented themselves. No, she needed to do this! She flipped it open.

And started reading.

Maddie sat on the edge of her late son’s bed, shell-shocked.

That’s how her husband, Jack found her. He asked what’s her what was the matter, and she wordlessly handed him the notebook. He took it from her and began reading.  He sat down next to her.

A tear rolled down Jack’s cheek. He hugged Maddie for comfort. Maddie broke down and cried in his shoulder.

They sat like that for a while. The silence was thick in the air.

Jack gently uncoupled from Maddie. He stood up. “Madds, we gotta make this right.” Maddie looked up at him, her face completely desolate.

“Too little too late, Jack.” Maddie’s voice was strained with the effort of holding off more ugly sobs.

Jack left her to retrieve something from the storage room just down the hall. She guessed this based on the rustling.

Her husband soon returned with one of his ancestors, much like the one detailing blood blossom use and cultivation.

Jack quickly started flipping to an entry he obviously remembers from a prior reading.

How to set a ghost free. A permanent exorcism. They knew the rough location. Now they just need to prepare.

Maddie would give her boy a proper send-off.

“It should be right around here,” Maddie grunted as she hacked through the foliage. They had to abandon the GAV to continue on foot. This neck of the woods was too tight for it. Jack was carrying most of the supplies they’d need.

They finally got to the edge of a clearing. It was just like the journal description. There at the other end, was the large oak tree. At the base was a large patch of grave bloom hugging its shade. A flower that only grows near corpses as they emit ecto-radiation as the body breaks down.

It was still an abnormally large patch. More akin to a mass grave than the single one they know is there.

“Jack fluid, I think we found it.” Jack unhooked the canister of fluid and began dousing the patch. It was a concoction that leached ectoplasm from the grave blooms and the ground purifying the area. The delicate blooms quickly wilted and blackened. That was the first step.

Once the ectoplasm had been thoroughly cleaned, it was time to start digging. It didn’t take long. Maddie saw the melted glove first. She chokes at the sight and backs up into who catches her as her knees give out.

“I guess I was holding out some hope. But seeing it now…” She breaks down in a fit of sobs again. Jack sets them both and gives Maddie a few minutes.

“Come on, we need to finish this.” He helps her up to her feet.

Soon they unearth the rest of him.

The body was very well preserved despite the damage from the cause of death. Most of the skin was charred black. There were green Lichtenberg figures all over the corpse, even after all this time, still positively radiating ecto energy, looking recent. It explained that large patch of grave blooms.

They set him down and prepare the paste. It was a special blood blossom mixture, highly flammable. They soon coated the body with the blood blossom paste. It was meant to weaken the ghost’s foothold over the corpse.

Now it was time for the final step.

That’s when they feel static and cold. Phantom arrived. Their son’s remnant. But he was wrong. His eyes were solid green. His skin and suit were fracturing. He was covered in the paste as well, a red vapour wafting off of him.

“What the fuck did you do to my body?!” The scream was layered with shifting, creaking, groaning, and shattering ice.

A tear rolled down Maddie’s cheek as she dropped the lit match.

Danny saw as the match landed on his corpse. He could do nothing as it ignited. It burned hot with a blue flame. He felt his outer shell fracture further before mimicking his body by erupting into a ghostly green fire.

He was too weak to fly, let alone walk, so he crawled. He needed… need to get… to get to his body.

He crawled at an agonizingly slow pace. He didn’t know why.  

Danny couldn’t move. He had too little energy. Even just simply existing now was taxing.

Crack

He whimpered and keened it was all too much. His mom walked over and gather him up in her lap. He renewed weakened struggles trying to get away, back to his body. He needed… needed-

Dark started to encroach on the edges of his vision. He felt his mom cart her finger through his hair like when he was small. It was comforting. But there was something he needed to do, right? He thinks it was important. Why had he been so angry before?

He was scared, confused, and in so much pain. Why was Mom’s smile so soft? His Dad sat beside him, squeezing his hand.

The pain was fading. He was pretty sure that was probably a bad thing.

“It’s all right, Danny-boy. Now you can find peace now.” His Dad’s voice was unnaturally quiet, it carried a soft, sombre quality to it.

“We’re so sorry we hadn’t noticed the extent of your suffering sooner.” Mom choked on the start of more sobs. “Oh God, we did this to you! Our invention did this!”

Dad wrapped his arm around Mom, holding her and Danny closer to himself. He didn’t understand. What was going on?

“But we’re making it right now.” Danny tried to ask what was happening, but his voice was too weak, and they couldn’t pick up what he said.

Mom shushed him, “It will be all over soon.” It clicked into place slower than he wanted, the thick brain fog nearly stopping his thoughts.

He was dying.

For real this time.

Crack

His vision faded, but he could still hear and feel his parents. This was not what he expected when they found out. At least this was a mostly peaceful end. He was not fading on an exam table. He saw no hatred in their eyes before his vision left him. They loved him. He smiled.

Crack

Another crack filled with love.

There was an odd tingling warmth that was comfy. But it was fading like the rest of his senses. Danny was really tired. Maybe, he’d take a nice nap. Yeah, one of those sounded nice.

Danny’s core soon couldn’t support the ectoplasmic matrix it was housed in. Danny was losing the feeling of his parents, but he knew they were still there. It started with his fingers and toes working up to his wrists and ankles. It accelerated once it passed his elbows and knees. Soon he was nothing but his core, tiny and fragile.

Then there was the final crack, and with it, the tether snapped.

The elder Fenton’s sat and held each other. They had done it. Their boy was now at peace. The clearing was mostly intact, sans the scorched and overturned soil.

Maddie had taken it upon herself to plant more blood blossoms to leach any remaining ectoplasm from the soil.

They gathered Danny’s ashes and the dust of his crystallized matrix, placing it in a nice urn they’d gotten on the way here. Black with silver etching. Simple and elegant. The two parents left the former grave site of their son with no fanfare.

They had to get their story straight. There were funeral arrangements to be set. Now Danny would get the funeral he deserved. No longer a tortured soul left to linger. He was at peace at least they could give him this final kindness.

He groans, he tried to hang on to the last dregs of unconsciousness. But it’s futile. He cracks one eye open. All he was met with were green swirls and floating purple doors.

Where was this? Who was he? He hyperventilated. What was his name?! He didn’t know own his name!

“Your name is Janus.” Janus? whirled around. There was a strange new blue-skinned ghost in purple hooded purple robes.

“That’s my name? I know you?” Janus (?) took a hesitant step toward the ghost. The ghost nodded.

“Yes, quite. I am Clockwork, Elder Spirit of time. And you, young Janus, are my charge, the current Spirit of Space. You and I will be working together for the foreseeable future.” They smiled warmly, and it was familiar. Janus approached Clockwork less apprehensive. Now that he had a name for both the ghost and for himself.

Janus felt it in his core, it told him the ghost was honest. This ghost was family, his parent.

He winced.

“Why does my core hurt so much?” Janus rubbed at his sternum.

Clockworks hummed, “A tether violently shredded, a core shattered. It left its mark, leaving you as you are now. Fractured, a blank slate.” Clockwork held out their hand. “You need rest, then you must train. Come.”

Janus frowned as Clockwork didn’t elaborate. He took Clockwork’s hand anyway. Janus felt something slot into place in his core.

His body shifted and changed, endless boneless limbs spouted and sinking. Heads countless with everchanging features rolled in and out of the galaxies dancing across his inky skin. Countless eyes blinked all around his form, swimming soothingly along the constantly altering maws along his skin.

Janus felt the loving ticks of his father ripple through his liquid from the contact.

He was beautiful, perfect.

Right.

He trusted and loved Clockwork with everything he was. What came before didn’t matter. All that mattered was the path he and his father forged forward.

[ao3gobi17]

What if Spider had a strong aversion to physical contact? And he didn't want to hug or have his hair washed by someone else than himself after cutting his hair, cuddle in bed, generally any kind of touch. Would Quaritch let him do it himself when it comes to his hair and avoid touching him unnecessarily, or would he try to get him "acquainted" with touch again? Or would he just ignore it and touch him anyway?

It's likely Q would have found out during the prison visit - so in that case he'd have asked why that is and likely have gone about things differently thereafter. Whether he found out then or later much would depend on Spider being able to explain... if he couldn't articulate it then Q might think he's panicking and needs more touch. He might think he's acting out, even. If Spider could say 'please don't touch me, I don't like to be touched' or similar then Q would be able to understand that it wasn't Q that was the problem but that Spider had a general problem. In which case he'd be sympathetic. But if Spider was just yelling 'don't touch me' or similar then Q would likely interpret that as aggressive/resistant.

I do feel like this Spider would be able to advocate for himself, so probably it wouldn't go down a bad way. Q would let him cut his hair himself if he was wiling to do it - Spider would likely end up having to shave it though.. I don't think he'd have been able to do the curl job, so that would have not be preferable to Q. He would definitely want him to get acquainted with touch again... and definitely touch with Q in particular. So he'd be working away at that - starting with whatever the reason was behind Spider having the issue. He'd probably try to get Spider to do small things - like maybe if Spider reached out to touch his hand or something and Q would hold still - practice basically.

Q would really struggle if this didn't improve. He VERY much wants to be close to Spider, to have interactions where there's touch. So while he would try to be patient and get Spider all the help he needed, I can see him ultimately trying to brute force it if there was no improvement. Like, I'll hug him still he stops struggling and is worn out and realises he's safe and nothing bad happened kind of vibes <3

[arkhamsfinalvictim]

[samanthahirr]

for the writing ask:

18. Do any of your stories have alternative versions? (plotlines that you abandoned, AUs of your own work, different characterisations?) Tell us about them.

Oh, what a great question from the Fun Meta Asks for Writers meme! I want to talk about Off the Books Chapters 12 & 13 here. Content-warning for a passing description of 00Q dub-con:

When I first started planning Off the Books, I could immediately see the beginning and the final destination. Over the next month, I wrote a scene-by-scene outline, mapping out the investigation plot and the relationship arc. But after a few months of refining and tweaking the full outline, I decided I needed to change Bond’s characterization and the planned blocking for the first two “intimate” scenes (Chapters 12 & 13). 

In my original outline of these chapters, Bond was more manipulative, treating Q like a mark instead of as an equal. When Bond decided in Chapter 12 that Q needed to overcome his touch-aversion now-now-now, I had Bond pushing Q to be intimate on Bond’s schedule. That meant an orgasm on the couch in Chapter 12, and Bond dragging a reluctant Q into the shower in Chapter 13, not particularly concerned with whether Q might be crying under the stream of water as Q was forced to confront his touch-aversion too quickly. 

But I realized that degree of high-handedness would undermine the long-term relationship I was building for 00Q. So I changed both scenes to show Bond wanting to push, but each time pulling back and instead inviting Q to come to him, letting it be Q’s brave choice to address his touch aversion head-on. This change also opened up space in Bond’s characterization for him to yearn, to crave a more emotional connection than mere physical seduction, which let me develop the romance earlier in the fic, and made those first scenes of intimacy more emotionally vulnerable for my narrative character. Wins all around!

[vtoriacore-rbs]

@angelhairpastawithherbs Q's for the matchup info I'll need :D you can answer them in replies, inbox, reblog or wherever you feel comfortable. if you're uncomfortable answering certain questions don't be afraid to skip them !!

1) MBTI/Zodiac sign (optional)

2) 3-5 hobbies / interests that you're really into or focused on (if comfortable could provide a story relating to each to get a better feel for how you act in different situations - more general aspects of personality)

3) love language(s) you have + love language(s) of a preferred partner (whether romantic or platonic)

4) your biggest personality trait? (something that tends to stand out regardless of what situation you're in, eg. optimism)

5) 3-4 aspects of your personality which are considered positive by your standards (eg. ambitious? empathetic? hard working? etc.)

6) 3-4 aspects of your personality which are considered negative by your standards (something you might want to improve on or something you wish you could change - you don't have to go into detail with this at all, or you may skip this if you're not comfortable answering this question!)

7) your favourite story to tell/favourite positive memory? (only if you're comfortable sharing - and you can make it as vague as you wish if you choose to answer)

8) academics? (what subjects you're studying, what grades you get etc. you can answer however you want as long as it relates to school)

9) favourite aesthetic? (could incl colours, fashion sense, locations etc. you can be as specific or as vague as you want)

10) favourite food? (are you a takeout person? home cooked meals? restaurants? have any particular cultural dishes you like or maybe are interested in another cultures dishes?)

11) physical touch or physical touch averse?

12) the space you feel safest in? (could be vague answers like city, nature or as specific as being in a cozy bed next to the window watching the ocean)

13) preferred pet names you'd want your partner to call you? could include as many as you want (mostly optional question)

14) goals and ambitions? (eg. getting a specific job, buying the ideal house or car etc. could be related to anything)

15) sense of humour? (dark and edgy? dad jokes? etc.)

16) (LARGELY OPTIONAL) any ideal partner in mind already? could be extremely vague and although this would play into my decision the previous questions would still take precedence !!

This is the most basic list I can come up with I'm sorry if it's still too long- you can skip out whichever questions you feel like if you're uncomfortable or just don't like them !!

[thebusytypewriter]

Salem my beloved!!! Have some Ro q’s!!! 💕

1, 4 and 5 (outside of the killing game for clarification lol), 6, 8, 13, 20, 28, and 38 :D

And for you: E!!!

ASLKGHSK JONNIE you're giving me so much of an excuse to talk about my girl omg

1. What's the maximum amount of time your character can sit still with nothing to do?

God like. maybe ten minutes. And that's only if someone's nearby to keep her occupied. Rosalind's an introvert to be sure, she loves her alone time, but she MUST be doing something or she will Lose Her Mind. Even if it's just reading her own book yet again.

4. How easy is it to earn their trust?

Mmmm my child is naive and has been called this to her face. Even in her social aversion, she prefers to give people the benefit of the doubt. If she doesn't, it's anxiety hell, and she would rather not do that thank you very much.

5. How easy is it to earn their mistrust?

Insult a friend of hers or do something against them and BAM. Instant Ro dislike. Doing something against her is still pretty mistrust-worthy, but the fast lane toward it is via hurting the people important to her.

6. Do they consider laws flexible, or immovable?

To her, laws/rules are solid. She might consider something to be unfair or just plain dumb, but they're rules for a reason, right? Not much to do about that.

8. What were they told to stop/start doing most often as a child?

"Rosalind Francine, don't touch that."

13. What color do they think they look best in? Do they actually look best in that color?

Ah silly simple plain child. She thinks she looks best in brown and muted colors. It's a striking contrast to Ibuki's wardrobe, and she thinks it's funny. Ibuki does not. Ibuki once pouted so much over the concept that she dragged Rosalind on a shopping trip. They found out that Ro does look good in warm colors, especially yellows/golds/oranges.

20. If they were asked to explain the difference between romantic and platonic or familial love, how would they do so?

Truthfully? I don't think she could. Not because she doesn't understand the difference herself but because explaining concepts like love are Difficult for her. She uses a lot of physics/chemistry analogies, but there's not really a good option for this, so she just kinda implodes for a sec and then books it.

28. Would they prefer a lie over an unpleasant truth?

Rosalind "tell it like it is, Hinata" Curie prefers the truth. She sees it as a way to move on and grow.

38. What memory do they revisit the most often?

Meeting Ibuki! It was incredibly chaotic, but since the interaction led to a wonderful friendship and left her feeling warm and fuzzy in a new place, she just loves thinking about it.

E) Are they someone you would get along with? Would they get along with you?

HA she's based on myself (or at least I was the starting point) so I would like to think so? in both directions. if not, we have another problem lmao

[angstyaches]

Would you be willing to make a sort of species guide for StW? Like what are the characteristics of your vampires, werewolves/shapeshifters, demons, demon eaters and witches? And how might someone identify one? Here are some q’s to get the ideas flowing but feel free to do your own thing or to decline if you want us to learn these things through the stories

Vampires: Do they sparkle in the sun or have an aversion to garlic? Do they get crazed by the scent of blood or are they more in control? Are they cold to the touch? Can they reproduce or do certain or all biological functions cease at a certain point in the transformation? What is the transformation process/how many stages are there and what characteristics does the vampire have at each stage? Is anyone who is bitten by a vampire turned or can a vampire feed on a human without turning them? Can a transformation be reversed? At what stage of the transformation can a vampire turn others? Do all vampires have the same abilities? Are abilities inherited somehow or are they unique to each vampire? What is the vampire social structure like?

Werewolves/Shapeshifters: Can they eat chocolate? Do they only transform during the full moon or can they do so at will? Is there a physical/mental toll either pre, during or post transformation? Are they stronger/faster/do they have heightened senses while not transformed? What makes someone a shapeshifter? Is it inherited genetically or do you have to be turned by another shapeshifter? How do you get turned? Do they have a pack or community or are they generally solitary?

Demons/Hybrids: Can they possess someone at will or do they have to be invited? Do demons have a physical form or are they more of a shadowy entity? Could they leave their host if they wanted to or do they form a dependence? Is the bond generally symbiotic? How does the bond affect the host and is this different depending on the type of demon? Does the host experience physical changes when possessed? Can the host generally access and use the demons abilities at will? Where do the demons come from? Is there a community or are they solitary beings?

Demon Eaters: Are they more physically capable than humans? Can they sense demons or do they have to stumble upon them/hunt them down? How do they hunt demons? Are there clear signs to indicate a demon has been in the area or is nearby? Can they manipulate or control demons in any way? Can they be sustained by eating demons alone? Is the ability generally passed on genetically or can you become a demon eater? Do they generally work alone or do they have a community?

Witches: Are there different types of witches? Can anyone learn to work with magic or do you have to be born with the ability? Is it generally passed on genetically or is it random? If passed on genetically, is it possible for one member of a family to be born without magical aptitude? Can these people still be involved in the community or are they generally more removed? If random, how do witches find each other/know they aren’t just hallucinating? How do witches use magic? Are there spells, potions, rituals? Are there ways of increasing magical power? Is it like a muscle that gets stronger with use or can power be increased with a staff or another type of catalyst?

Bonus: Are there other supernatural beings in your world that you think are particularly interesting?

Thank you for all of these lovely questions! As always with my worldbuilding stuff, everything I say is subject to change if I change my mind, or (the more likely) I forget the lore of my own story.

Answers under the cut 🖤 If they suck or they don't make sense, it's because I've been in a weird brain fog for a few days now and I can't seem to shake it.

Vampires

Do they sparkle in the sun?

No; they just have more sensitive skin that’s more prone to sun damage, depending on whether they’re fully turned or just half.

Aversion to garlic?

Fully-fledged vampires, yes. It causes extreme nausea and violent vomiting. Ryan can’t even smell it without a reaction.

Crazed by the scent of blood or in control?

It depends on the personality of the vampire, as well as how long they’ve been denied food and blood. A starving vampire will fall victim to their cravings more easily than one who’s fed recently.

Are they cold to the touch?

This one, I go back and forth on, and I’m sure I’ve been inconsistent with it in my fics at this stage.

I’d like to say with full certainty that half-vamps have just a slightly lower body temperature than humans, while fully-blooded vampires are much colder, and that their body temperature would actually be affected by whether or not they’ve consumed blood recently… but like I said, I’m sure this could be disproven by my own writing.

Can they reproduce?

I actually haven’t thought about it too much, but I’m going to say no because that makes the most sense to me. Half-vampires probably could, especially if they’re reproducing with a human, but vampire laws wouldn’t allow it, because there is so little known about it and the offspring’s wellbeing wouldn’t be guaranteed. Vampires have a lot of laws about mixing species.

Can vampires feed without turning the human?

Yes, they can! Turning is a deliberate process that requires a special venom, whose production can only be stimulated by strong, sincere intent.

Can a transformation be reversed?

Not that anyone is aware of.

At what stage can a vampire turn others?

It depends on the vampire or half-vampire’s strength. Some half-vamps can produce the required venom, but are forbidden from doing so even if they can manage it. Otherwise, it’s mostly the older, stronger, fully-turned vampires called Elders who have the ability to change others, and are permitted to (if the right paperwork is submitted to the council etc.).

Do all vampires have the same abilities? Are the abilities inherited or unique?

All vamps and half-vamps all have enhanced senses and reflexes, as well as increased body strength. The level of these depends on their age, their training, and their heritage (Elliott’s strength and stamina are due to the fact that he was turned and nurtured by Ryan, a particularly powerful Elder vampire; Felix’s abilities are weaker because he was turned by a half-vampire).

Some, but not all, fully-fledged vamps have extra supernatural abilities (Watson: can turn into a giant bat; Elliott: can turn into a swarm of bats; Ryan: power of persuasion) that manifest according to their own strengths and characteristics.

What is the vampire social structure like?

The Elders are essentially the ones in charge of maintaining order amongst those in their bloodline, and also make up the council of vampires who make big decisions that could affect the entire community. Full-bloods who aren’t Elders also have occasional responsibilities, which include community service and law keeping.

The council of vampires also precedes over the other supernatural creatures, since they have the greatest population (and they were strongest in the past and nobody really wanted to challenge them) and the closest lives with humans.

Werewolves/Shapeshifters

Can they eat chocolate?

Yes! But they have a strong aversion to silver jewellery, and will break out in a rash and eventually develop burns from it.

Do they only transform during the full moon or can they do so at will?

At will.

Is there a physical/mental toll either pre-, during, or post transformation?

Physical, yes. It’s an exhausting and occasionally painful process.

Mental, sometimes. Mitsuko, in particular, struggles with controlling herself when she transforms, and has the most trouble processing things after she’s switched back to human form.

Are they stronger/faster/do they have heightened senses while not transformed?

Nope!

What makes someone a shapeshifter? Is it inherited genetically or do you have to be turned by another shapeshifter?

It’s a genetic condition that activates at a certain age. Kazuhito was a late bloomer, and only developed his ability when he did because he prayed repeatedly to the fox god, who changed his target animal from a wolf to a fox. He often wonders if other animal deities could grant the gift to regular humans who weren’t born with the shapeshifting ability, but he’s never voiced his theory to anybody who could possibly look into it.

Do they have a pack or community or are they generally solitary?

In the past, they would have stuck in packs, but in modern days, there’s no exact rule for it. Some stick with their biological family members for a lot of their life, while others go out on their own. Kazu and Mitsuko have traumatic childhood experiences that have pushed them away from the family unit, but they’re doing their best to still be there for each other.

Demons

Can they possess someone at will or do they have to be invited?

If they’re strong enough, they can possess and control anybody they please.

Do demons have a physical form or are they more of a shadowy entity?

Both! Demons have physical and ethereal aspects; the physical aspect is something that was possessed and/or absorbed from our world, while the demon’s soul itself is from another realm.

Could they leave their host if they wanted to or do they form a dependence?

They could leave their host/object if they needed to, but they would be a lot weaker and more vulnerable. Most demons wouldn’t choose to do so willingly, once they learned the security of having a host.

Is the bond generally symbiotic?

Generally speaking, no! Charlie and Charlie Two are the first known human/demon pair to function the way they do, so in-world, there’s very little known about this kind of symbiosis, or “affiliation” as they come to call it in canon.

How does the bond affect the host and is this different depending on the type of demon?

Regardless of its type, a demon would generally have destructive intentions on a human host. This would include mental strain, confusion, painful mind sharing, lost chunks of time where the demon took control, and any number of bodily ailments, too.

Does the host experience physical changes when possessed?

Most victims of possession wouldn’t exhibit any physical changes that other people could see or notice. In Charlie and CT’s case, Charlie only experiences physical changes because of how deeply bonded they are.

Can the host generally access and use the demon’s abilities at will?

Unless we’re talking about a case like Charlie and CT, it would take an extremely tough human to tap into a demon’s powers like that. Most likely, a demon wouldn’t continue to try to possess a person with that much willpower, and would just leave them.

Where do the demons come from?

They come from The Other Side, a demon realm adjacent to our world. I hope to keep expanding upon it as a concept, but for now, it’s all very vague, I apologise.

Is there a community or are they solitary beings?

Demons are chaotic creatures who don’t seek order or community or security. They mostly just want to feed on whatever it is they crave and exert their influence over. Charlie Two is eloquent and craves connection because of how long they’ve spent attached to Charlie’s consciousness.

Demon Eaters

Are they more physically capable than humans?

In terms of speed, yes. Dahlia could move impossibly fast, practically melting into a shadow while she hunted. Shayne inherited a weaker form of this ability, since he’s half-human. Unfortunately, there are no natural benefits in terms of physical strength.

Can they sense demons or do they have to stumble upon them/hunt them down?

A bit of both! Shayne sometimes gets a weird feeling, like he’s being watched, if there’s a demon nearby, but it’s sometimes hard for him to distinguish this from general anxiety (he sits in class with Charlie for almost a month before realising he’s possessed).

How do they hunt demons?

If they can lock onto that sense that there’s a demon nearby, it’s not too hard for them to tap into that feeling and just follow it until they find the source. Demon eaters can catch and wrestle demons into an ideal position before devouring them, but it’s easier to use magically-enhanced devices, like Madelyn’s jars.

Are there clear signs to indicate a demon has been in the area or is nearby?

No. It’d be the same as trying to figure out if a human had just walked through the area; unless there’s a distinct disturbance of some kind, it’d be extremely hard to tell.

Can they manipulate or control demons in any way?

Demon eaters can command demons in their custody to do anything they want, so long as they don’t escape. This is done by employing their demonic speech, which demon hunters have an inherent knowledge of. As a weak hybrid version of a demon eater, Shayne can only command them to answer questions.

Can they be sustained by eating demons alone?

True demon eaters survive exclusively by eating demons! I can’t remember if I ever wrote/posted about it, but Dahlia didn’t and couldn’t eat human food. She didn’t even have a sense of taste. Shayne only needs to eat food because he’s half-human.

Is the ability passed on or can you become a demon eater?

It’s passed on.

Do they generally work alone or do they have a community?

Demon eaters are rare and tend to keep to themselves, to the point where Dahlia was the only one that anybody in the vampire sphere was aware of.

Witches

Are there different types of witches?

The main distinction that exists is that some witches have inherent magical abilities (type 1), and others are born with the capacity for magic but have to study and practice to unlock it (type 2). Nancy and Blake are type 1s; Lilith, Astrophel, and Rex are type 2s.

They can also be categorised according to their aptitudes. For example, Lilith and Nancy are both healing witches, Blake can transform thoughts into reality, Astrophel is clairvoyant, and Rex can manipulate the veil between worlds.

Can anyone learn to work with magic or do you have to be born with the ability?

You have to be born with the capacity for magic to flow through you.

Is it generally passed on genetically or is it random?

It can be either! It’s most common for witches to inherit magic, but it’s not unknown for babies to be randomly born with it. Witches that come from strong magical backgrounds are sometimes called legacies. Blake, Rex, and Lilith are legacies; Nancy and Astrophel are both born of humans.

If passed on genetically, is it possible for one member of a family to be born without magical aptitude? Can these people still be involved in the community or are they generally more removed?

Yes, it is possible. It’s also possible for someone born with magical capabilities to lose them, or let their strength dwindle to the point where it would be almost impossible to reinvigorate them. The latter is the case with Lilith’s sister, Nadya. In her case, she is fairly far removed from the witching world, but isn’t exactly estranged from Lilith or their family.

If random, how to witches find each other/know they aren’t just hallucinating?

Astrophel spent years trying to decipher the messages xe kept getting from the stars about Nancy, but eventually xe was able to track her down. Witches who don’t have clairvoyance, or another method of communicating with or finding the witch community would struggle a lot more.

However, the supernatural community, including the council of vampires, does keep an ear out for odd occurrences like that, just in case there’s a witch (or other) out there who doesn’t know how to contact anyone.

How do witches use magic? Are there spells, potions, rituals?

Yes, all of the above. Magic can be used on the spot, channelled directly from the user onto their environment (spells), or poured into physical objects (potions, enchanted items, etc.). Rituals would probably be the rarest form, used only in cases where a lot of time and magical energy is required.

Are there ways of increasing magical power?

Exposure to magical or otherworldly energies can increase a witch’s capacity for magic.

Is it like a muscle that gets stronger with use or can power be increased with a staff or another type of catalyst?

If a witch had a magical object that amplified their powers, it would only expand the brute force of their power. The way they get stronger is by learning the pathways that work the best, take the least toll on their body, and achieve the most accurate results. So I guess it’s a mixture of both.

Bonus

Are there any other supernatural beings in your world that you think are particularly interesting?

They’re very underdeveloped because when I started to delve into this, I found it a little too morbid to think about, but zombies exist in Swallow the World as well. Not the mindless, groaning, constantly ravenous kind a la The Walking Dead, but undead creatures kind of similar to vampires but who need flesh instead of blood, and without the strength, the supernatural powers, the immortality, etc. that vampires have.