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fluentmoviequoter · 1 year ago

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A Room Away

Requested Here!

Edit: Part 2 Here

Pairing: Tim Bradford x fem!reader

Summary: Tired of Tim's bad moods, Angela gets him a new roommate: you. As Tim gets to know you and learns about your past, you slowly become more than his roommate.

Warnings: mentions of past domestic abuse (reader and Tim), reader has chronic migraines from past head trauma, nightmares, reader has a panic attack, angst, fluff, Nyla and Angela. (roommates to lovers)

Word Count: 4.2k+ words

A/N: Parts of this are so self-indulgent. The migraine depictions are based on my migraines, but I think they're some of the most common symptoms. I hope you enjoy and please let me know what you think! (I'm still trying to get Tim's character down, so apologies if he's OOC.)🤍

Masterlist | Tim Bradford Masterlist | Request Info/Fandom List

Picture from Pinterest

Tim sits in the back of the room for roll call, his arms crossed tightly across his chest as unimpressed sighs escape him. Angela is getting tired of his seemingly perpetual bad mood. Clearly, he’s lonely, but he will never admit it. And that loneliness makes him mopey and broody (Angela’s official motto for Tim Bradford) until he has enough and snaps at someone.

Sitting at her desk, Angela watches Tim yell at a boot. He’s always harsh with them, trying to prepare them for anything, but now he’s using them as punching bags for his forbidden feelings.

“What’s his problem? He’s grumpier than usual,” Nyla says as she joins Angela.

“He’s lonely,” Angela answers. “Won’t admit it or do anything about it.”

“That man needs a girlfriend,” Nyla muses.

Angela sits up straighter and smiles. “You’re a genius, Harper.”

“I know.”

Angela opens a website on her computer, and Nyla pulls up a seat to watch her intervention into Tim’s personal life.

“You’re going to rent out his spare room without telling him? This’ll be fun to watch,” Nyla says, laughing.

“He has way too much room for just one guy. Getting him a roommate and a girlfriend will surely help with.. that,” she finishes, gesturing toward Tim.

“A roommate and a girlfriend, or a roommate who becomes a girlfriend?”

“Either should work.”

“That’s your number.”

Angela nods, putting her contact information on the listing. “Tim would shut it down after the first call, so I’ll interview them, run background checks, whatever, and find the perfect one.”

“Well, Mrs. Right is always found on Craigslist,” Nyla jokes.

“This isn’t Craigslist.”

“Semantics.”

Angela posts the listing, and she and Nyla hope getting Tim a roommate will help nudge him out of his bad mood. He needs someone to talk to and bond with, but he’ll never come to that conclusion on his own. Which is why Angela considers herself to be such a good friend.

✯✯✯✯✯

Los Angeles is a big city, which is part of why you chose it without another thought. Full of opportunities and a chance of fading into the background, it’s the complete opposite of your home, which overflows with memories. The patched drywall you were pushed into, the stained tile where you thought everything was going to end, and the china cabinet with the shattered glass are left behind and traded in for a minimum wage job, a used car, and a lot of panic that you won’t be able to find somewhere to live.

You’ll need a roommate until you can save enough money for your own place. However, finding a decent place with a decent roommate is nearly impossible in your price range. Browsing online listings, you see one that could be promising. The information at the bottom says there is an interview process, which catches your attention. Sending a text to Angela Lopez, you cross your fingers for good luck before walking into work.

By the end of your shift, Angela has replied and asked you to meet somewhere nearby. You want to go home, a dull headache building at the base of your skull impairing your mood. But you also really want a better place to call home than the pay-by-the-month motel you’re currently living in.

Angela gives you a firm handshake as she introduces herself as an LAPD detective. She asks questions about your life, job, hobbies, and finally, why you moved to Los Angeles.

“I just needed a change of pace; was ready to leave my old life behind, find something bigger and better,” you answer, a simplified version of the truth.

Trying not to show it, Angela immediately takes a liking to you. Each of your answers solidifies her gut instinct that you’re a good fit for Tim. You ask why her name was on this listing if it’s not her house, and she follows your lead and gives you the truth, but not all of it.

“Tim, the owner of the house, is a coworker and friend, and I’m just trying to help him out while he’s busy with work,” she explains.

As you leave the meeting, Angela gives you her personal number, as well as someone named Nyla Harper’s number, “just in case you need anything.”

She texts you a time and address, telling you to meet her at your new place the following afternoon. You thank her repeatedly before driving to the trashy motel one last time.

✯✯✯✯✯

Parking outside the house, you fall in love with the neighborhood and the cute architecture of the home. Angela meets you in the driveway, seeming more nervous than excited. You realize she may not have been totally honest with you as you follow her to the door.

An incredibly handsome man opens the door, sighing when he sees Angela. He lets both of you in, seeming to trust Angela completely.

✯✯✯✯✯

Tim knows he will regret opening the door, but the woman with Angela is beautiful, and deep down, a small part of him wants to know who she is and why she’s on his doorstep.

“This is your new roommate,” Angela announces, giving Tim your name.

“You didn’t,” Tim responds. “Please tell me you didn’t rent out my spare room without asking me, Lopez.”

“I won’t tell you that, then.”

Standing quietly to the side, you anxiously watch their argument.

“Um, sorry,” you begin, interrupting them. “But I can go, and find a new place, since this is clearly not what you signed up for.”

You move toward the door before stopping when Angela demands, “Don’t go anywhere.”

She gives Tim a stern look before cocking her head to the side. He sighs like he has accepted his fate, a tragedy based on his reaction. Gesturing for you to follow him, he gives you a quick tour before showing you to your new room and bathroom.

“I’m not home a ton, but when I am, I’m usually watching a game or just hanging out, so,” he tells you before trailing off.

You nod before promising, “You won’t even know I’m here.”

Tim wants to believe you, but he also thinks you’re pretty and kind enough that he wouldn’t mind seeing you occasionally.

✯✯✯✯✯

You cross paths with Tim a few times in the first two days of living with him. He’s struck by your beauty each time but recognizes that you don’t open up willingly, so he never presses you to talk. Content to be ships passing in the night, Tim gives you a nod before continuing out the door.

It’s your third night in the house that Tim learns your reserved qualities may not be as simple as a personality trait. Waking when he hears a strange noise, Tim listens in the darkness before deciding it’s your footsteps he hears. Based on the sound, you're pacing, so Tim gets out of bed and walks to the kitchen. He walks right past you, and you give him an apologetic smile before slowing down. Tim makes you a mug of calming tea, sliding it across the kitchen island before sitting beside you as you drink it. Suspecting you had a nightmare or some similarly disturbing experience, Tim reminds you where you are and that everything is okay in his own way.

Over the next week, you wake him up a few more times, thrashing in your bed or exiting your room once you wake. He nudges each time, offering to let you talk about it, but you never do. You always apologize for waking him, thank him for keeping you company and making you tea before you disappear back into yourself and into your room.

✯✯✯✯✯

You’ve lost count of the days and nights spent in Tim’s house, your sense of time thrown off by the continued plague of nightmares and the monotony of your days. As you wake up after a surprisingly dreamless sleep, you immediately turn your face back into the pillow. Your heartbeat pounds in your head, and everything seems brighter and louder. The migraines have been nearly as consistent as the nightmares since before you left for Los Angeles.

Tim knocks on your door, and you groan as the sound echoes in your brain. He cracks the door, concerned that you aren’t up yet.

“Are you okay?” he asks, seeing your current state.

“Migraine,” you answer. “I called in sick.”

He closes the door to block the light from outside and lowers his voice to ask, “Do you need anything before I leave?”

“I’m okay. Thanks.”

“Well, call me if you do, or if anything changes, okay?”

“I will. Thank you, Tim. Have a good day.”

Tim nods, even though you can’t see him, before backing out of your room and exiting the house as quietly as possible. He keeps his ringer on, looking at his phone every few minutes as his concern for you remains at the forefront of his mind.

Angela and Nyla notice his usual grumpy disposition seems to have been replaced with concern for something, or someone. After he checks his phone for the fifth consecutive time, Angela decides to pry.

“How’s the beautiful roomie? Still just a roommate?” she asks.

“She’s not feeling well,” Tim answers.

Angela waits for an elaboration, but Tim doesn’t offer one. She looks at Nyla, who gives a knowing look. It’s obvious that Tim is softening toward you, but you haven’t made enough of an impact that he’s less grumpy or snappy. As the day continues, his usual personality returns, convinced that you must be okay, or you would have called.

The next day, after learning that you are, in fact, feeling better, Tim is back to his pre-roommate levels of anger and high strung-ness. To worsen his mood, you wake him up with a nightmare but refuse to let him in, not even acknowledging his kind questioning as to how you are. He’s worried about you because you welcomed his presence before, but he is also angry that you changed so quickly, and now you don’t trust him. Everything is piling on, and Tim isn’t sure how much more he can carry.

✯✯✯✯✯

“Just tell me something,” Angela presses.

“Stay out of it, Lopez!” Tim yells, his emotions reaching a boiling point. “I didn’t even want a puppy- a roommate! If you like her so much, why don’t you take her in?”

Angela waits for his shoulders to drop slightly before asking, “Timothy… is this because you don’t like her, or because you do?”

Tim’s jaw clenches, and his nostrils flare as he turns away, offering to go on patrol while Nolan and Celina go to the shooting range. Everyone seems to think they know Tim better than they do; Angela is pushing him toward you while you’re distancing yourself, and the push and pull is tiring.

✯✯✯✯✯

Tim waits in his truck in the driveway for a few minutes before walking in. When he walks in, you’re standing in the kitchen. He hasn’t actually seen you since the day of your last migraine when you stopped trusting him, and your sudden willingness to be in the same area confuses him. Anger and confusion rarely mix well; with Tim, it’s a fatal combination.

You notice his tension and knitted brows, chewing your bottom lip before asking, “Are you okay?”

Stumbling to his tipping point for the second time in the day, Tim takes all his anger and confusion over his feelings out on you.

“What do you think? You can’t decide if I’m worth trusting with something as small as a nightmare, and Angela thinks that I’m practically neglecting you,” he begins.

You swallow harshly as his voice rises, stumbling backward when he starts moving his arms.

“Especially considering I didn’t even want you here!”

Flinching, you snap your eyes closed and catch yourself on the corner of the wall. Tim freezes as he watches you. Everything begins snapping into place in his mind: your nightmares and the distance added to your reaction to him yelling and moving his hand are all signs he should have noticed sooner.

Your chest is heaving as you take short breaths, and when you finally open your eyes, you look terrified. Tim steps back, keeping his hands where you can see them. You focus on him as you slide down the wall, cradling your head in your hands as you fight off bad memories and a growing headache.

Tim watches you before sitting on the floor, keeping his distance. He waits for you to calm down, willing to let you decide whether or not you want to talk to him. You finally look back up at him, but he doesn’t move.

“I- I’m sorry,” you whisper.

“Can I come closer?” Tim asks.

You nod, and Tim slides across the floor, not wanting to stand up and look any more imposing than necessary. His knee presses gently against your thigh, and when you don’t move, he gives you a small smile – the first you’ve ever seen.

“I’ll leave in the morning,” you say, fiddling with your fingers.

“Please don’t,” Tim replies, shaking his head. “I’m really sorry. I wasn’t mad at you, just angry with a long day. But that’s no reason to yell at you or act like that. You confused me, and I didn’t know how to deal with it. That’s on me.”

“I’m sorry,” you repeat.

“Don’t. When I was younger, my dad took his anger out on me sometimes. I’m sure I deserved it once or twice, but I also know better than to treat people like an emotional outlet. If you ever want to talk, I’m here.”

You nod before saying, “My ex.”

Tim feels a protective surge at the idea of anyone hurting you, let alone doing it enough times that yelling pushes you to the point of a panic attack.

After comforting you with proximity and kind words, Tim offers to walk you to bed. Your hand brushes his as he opens your door, and you smile as you thank him for everything. It’s a minor change in your relationship but an important one.

✯✯✯✯✯

Tim leaves before you wake up the following morning, determined to find out as much as he can about you and your past. He’s not necessarily being nosy, but he wants to know if there’s anything specific that could help or hurt you.

“What do you know?” he demands as he storms up to Angela’s desk.

“About what?” she replies, raising her brows.

“What do you mean ‘about what’? Her!”

Nyla leans back in her chair, glad to watch the unfolding drama.

“Tim, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Angela explains.

“Why’d she move to LA?”

“Are you seriously trying to find something wrong with her? That’s low.”

Tim moves around her desk, dropping his voice to answer, “I’m trying to figure out who thought it was okay to put their hands on her. Because she won’t let me in.”

Angela begins connecting the dots you left untouched. You ran from the person controlling your life, not your actual life. She knew that you were omitting something during your initial meeting, but she didn’t expect it to be so big.

“Have you been open with her?” Angela asks finally. “Because that’s a two-way street. I’ll talk to her if you want me to, but she trusts you, Tim.”

“How do you know that?”

Nyla’s eyes bounce back and forth like she’s watching a tennis game. She sighs before deciding to interject. “She told her! Sent her a text one night!” she calls out, smiling and waving when Angela and Tim look at her.

Tim nods, giving Angela the closest she’ll get to an apologetic look before leaving.

✯✯✯✯✯

Returning home, Tim is surprised to find you on the couch, in your work clothes, with your face pressed into a pillow. You wave your fingers without moving to acknowledge him, and he remains silent as he walks to the kitchen.

“You don’t have to be silent, it’s your house,” you mumble. “I’ll figure out a way to get to the bedroom.”

“You’re fine here,” Tim answers, setting a glass of water beside you. “Another migraine?”

“Skull fractured from getting my head pushed through a window a few months ago,” you explain with a sigh. “The migraines have gotten worse since then.”

Tim lays a hand on your shoulder, giving you plenty of time to tell him not to touch you. You don’t, relaxing under his touch instead. Tim takes a seat beside you, hoping to comfort you once more.

“Your ex?” Tim asks.

You hum a yes, and Tim’s jaw tightens, even as he comforts you.

✯✯✯✯✯

Walking into the police station, Tim’s wallet is tucked safely in your bag. Approaching the front desk, you say your name and are wordlessly handed a visitor’s badge before someone gives you directions. You don’t have time to argue, shrugging as you attempt to remember where to turn. Angela sees you before you see her, rushing to your side and looping her arm with yours.

“What are you doing here?” she asks happily.

“Uh, Tim forgot his wallet. I was just going to drop it off, but they sent me back here,” you answer.

Tim says your name, coming around a corner, and Angela pushes you toward him, joining Nyla as they watch your interaction.

“You know she was trying to get you a girlfriend and not just a roommate, right?”

Tim nods a thanks as he accepts his wallet, glancing over at your audience. “I’m half-tempted to make them think I kicked you out.”

You smile brightly, and Tim licks his lips to keep his smile from mirroring yours. His eyes tell you more than enough, and you’re happy to see him, too.

“Do it,” you whisper. “Just let me know when so I can play my part. Angela told me to call her if you were ever mean to me.”

“Have you?”

You don’t answer, opting to wink at him before stepping back. Waving at Angela and Nyla, you leave the station as they rush to Tim’s side. As they ask overlapping questions and talk about how cute you and Tim look standing together, Tim ignores them before walking away.

✯✯✯✯✯

Tim is pulled from his sleep by your panicked yell. He leaves his bed and barges into your room with no thought. His heart rate slows when he sees your teary face and tangled sheets.

“Sorry,” you mutter as you wipe your tears. “I just don’t know how to make them stop.”

Tim sits beside you, opening an arm toward you. It’s a bold move, especially for him, but you take his offer and curl into his side.

“Are- did you mean it when you said I could talk about it?” you ask.

Tim nods, and you tell him more, but not everything. You remind yourself that he’s your roommate and maybe, just maybe, he's your friend, but he’s not here to listen to all of your baggage.

“The last thing he said before I left was, ‘there is nowhere you can go that my love won’t lead me to find you.’”

“You know that wasn’t love,” Tim replies, waiting for your nod before continuing. “And I’ve got your back, Angela and Nyla are right here, and we won’t let anything happen to you. No matter what.”

Drifting back to sleep in his warm, safe embrace, you finally learn what it’s like not to be scared.

When you wake alone, neither you nor Tim acknowledge what happened. You’re okay with slow changes, as long as there are changes.

“Tim,” you say, interrupting him on his way out. “Thank you. For last night.”

“I’m only ever a call away,” he reminds you.

✯✯✯✯✯

Your head starts aching around noon, quickly worsening into a full-blown migraine. When you’re ready to go home, it’s bad enough that you can’t drive. Sitting in your car and resting your head against the steering wheel, you want to call Tim but can’t find the strength to move.

Tim, meanwhile, returns home and begins wondering where you are. He calls, and you don’t answer, so he lets his worry control him as he gets back in his truck and drives your usual route. Tim hopes to pass you or find you waiting as someone changes your tire. When he gets to the parking lot of your job and sees you slumped in your car, he has to fight not to panic.

Rushing to the door, he’s both grateful and concerned that it’s unlocked. He kneels beside you, saying your name before bending to see you. Your eyes are tightly closed, but tears are still leaking out.

“I’m taking you to the hospital,” he says.

You whimper as he picks you up, clinging to him until he lays you down in the backseat of his truck, buckling you in as well as possible.

“Hospital can’t help,” you mumble.

Tim wants to argue, but remembers what you said about the skull fracture. You’ve already been to the doctor, so maybe getting you home and comfortable will be enough.

After a nap partially influenced by unbearable pain, you wake to see Tim sitting by your bed.

“Why are you so nice to me? You didn’t even want a roommate,” you mutter sleepily.

Tim smiles, making you think you’re hallucinating. “Yet I got something better.”

✯✯✯✯✯

You don’t quite make it to work the next day. Walking into the station, you’re surprised when Nyla greets you first.

“I’m assuming it’s a joke,” she says.

You furrow your brows in confusion before you see Tim leaning on a desk with his arms crossed while Angela yells at him.

“Unless he really kicked you out,” Nyla adds.

You nod, walking towards Angela and Tim.

“No, you don’t get to blame me! I got you a roommate, a friend, a beautiful woman who could have been more than a friend, and you’re mad at me?” Angela exclaims.

Tim locks eyes with you, not changing his expression as he gauges whether or not her yelling is upsetting you.

“Can I talk to you?” you ask Tim.

Angela steps back, hoping to hear Tim apologize, but he stands up and gestures for you to follow him without speaking. Worried that you’re sick again, Tim waits silently.

“I’m okay,” you promise. “I just wanted to see you.”

Not believing something so simple, Tim shakes his head. “Tell me what happened.”

“I saw a guy who looked like him while I was driving to work. He was yelling at a girl outside of a diner, and it made me nervous.” You keep your eyes on the floor, but Tim gently raises your head.

“You’re not alone, and I know that things still seem uncertain, and probably will for a long time, but you don’t have to be afraid of anything while I’m here.”

“Then why’d you kick me out?” you tease with a pout.

Tim shakes his head, telling you to go before following you out. You wipe an imaginary tear before waving at Angela.

“No, you’re not leaving,” she says, grabbing your shoulders and steering you toward her desk.

Nyla smiles at Tim, and he sighs before following.

“Tell me exactly what happened between you two,” Angela commands.

You look past her before tensing, and Tim immediately catches on. He follows your line of vision and sees Nolan and Celina booking someone. You shrink in on yourself, and Tim moves to block your view.

“Get her out of here,” he tells Angela.

Angela doesn’t wait before obeying, ushering you into the bullpen and out of sight.

“What’s the charge?” Tim asks Celina.

“Assault. Beat up a woman outside a diner,” she answers.

Tim’s jaw tightens at the knowledge that this man made you nervous this morning, reminding you of your ex. He hates abuse in every situation, but when you’re involved, his protectiveness and anger differ. Tim leaves before saying or doing something he’ll regret.

When he finds you in the bullpen, he takes one look at you before hugging you. It’s quick, but Angela and Nyla look at each other in shock.

“So, you’re good?” Nyla asks.

“We were never bad,” you reply. “Just wanted to get back at Angela for trying to set us up.”

“It worked?” Angela inquires excitedly.

“Not yet.”

“Not yet?” Tim repeats, looking over at you. He shrugs as he concedes, “Okay.”

✯✯✯✯✯

When Tim gets home, he drops his stuff by the door, raising his arms in question as he looks at you. “Not yet? What is that supposed to mean?”

“You haven’t made a move. How do I know you’re not just protective and caring under that handsome, gruff exterior?” you ask with a shrug.

Tim shakes his head, cupping the back of your head gently as he kisses you. You raise your hands over his chest to hold his jaw, pushing yourself closer as you reciprocate his every move.

“Because I don’t protect just anyone like this,” he says against your lips.

You kiss him again before asking, “Does this mean you can reduce my rent?”

Tim rolls his eyes, tucking you against his side where you’re safe from everything and everyone.

#tim bradford x reader #tim bradford x fem!reader #tim bradford fluff #tim bradford imagine #tim bradford the rookie #tim bradford #the rookie #requests

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bloodfin · 5 months ago

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can you feel me longing for you, forever

Air Ghoul/Earth Ghoul, background Dewdrop/Alpha

Rated: M for mature, 18+ only recommended

Word Count: 3.900k

Summary: Air and Earth petitioned the clergy for a kit and have been denied forty seven times. This time, their wish is granted. Features some abbey life, and a lot of tears.

Warnings: kit adoption; mean guy Alpha; Dewdrop is the inter-era bridge; pack feels; angsty/sad with a happy ending; fade to black ending

Author’s Note: from @anotherbananasong storyline about Earth and Air wanting to adopt a kit and being denied by the ministry. Everything changes when the fire nation attacks when Copia becomes Frater

Read on Ao3

"You need to be fully committed to the Project. No distractions."

"You just retired, you should take some time to enjoy it."

"Things are too busy at the moment."

"Everything just calmed down, we can't summon a ghoul right now. Imagine the chaos."

"The ministry's resources are stretched too thin."

"A child, in the catacombs? Absolutely not."

"We don't have space right now, we have to summon new ghouls for the Project."

"We just summoned four new ghouls."

"No."

Air's empty arms ache. The repeated denials feel like a lost dream, a lost future. Grief like that that runs deep. He had clung tightly to the hope that someday Sister would change her mind, but now that she's gone, he can't help but feel like the last shreds of that hope died with her.

Earth is wrapped around him, a low, protective growl rumbling deep in his chest. He holds Air tightly, fighting back his own tears. They'll find a way.

He keeps Air pressed to his chest, reminiscing about when they first mated. When they first decided they wanted a kit. The first time they asked, and the first time they were told no.

Earth's growl grows louder as he thinks of the excuses and yes he knows it's more difficult to summon a kit than an adult. He knows that raising a kit won't be easy. But he wants it, oh does he want it, with Air by his side.

"It will be okay, sweet skybird."

He presses a kiss to Air's forehead, rubs their noses together. Air chokes on a hiccup, let's himself be crushed against Earth. He feels bad, that Earth seems to always be comforting him when he knows he hurts just as deeply. But for now, Air lets himself be held, and lets his emotions run free.

In the room next door, Dew is reclined on Alpha's bed, heart breaking at the sound of Air's muffled sobs mixed with Earth's growling.

"D'ya think Copia knows? That they've been asking to summon a kit?"

Alpha shrugs.

Dew hums, picking at the hem of his shirt.

"Do you... want kits some day?"

"With you?"

It came out colder than intended, and Dew barely has time to mask the hurt that flickers on his face.

"Rainy and I were talking the other day and -"

"Oh, you and Rainy were talking about kits, were you?"

This time, he meant to sound cruel.

Dew scoffs and jumps out of the bed, crossing Alpha's room in six steps this time. He has the mind to pause and do up his fly, throwing a face over his shoulder that makes Alpha thankful looks can't kill.

"Why were you and Rain even -"

"Save it," Dew bites back.

"Where are you going Dew, the whole abbey is asleep already. We'll talk about this is in the morning."

Dew throws open the door and stomps into the hall.

"Maybe try getting your shit together instead."

He doesn't look back when the door slams behind him, pretends not to hear Alpha's frustrated roar. Just marches towards the library, ignoring the unwelcome tears gathering in the corners of his eyes.

Dew's footsteps get lighter the further he travels from the catacombs, pausing every now and then to take in the moonlight streaming in through the stained glass windows. Rests at the chapel for a quick prayer for Earth and Air, and to check on Sister's memorial flame.

It's strange, her absence. They had been through a lot together and he, in some ways, misses her. Maybe things could change now that Copia, Frater, runs the clergy.

He doesn't dwell on it too long, opts to leave the chapel as quick as he entered and veers right down a long hallway. The paintings here are poorly lit, making the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He’s never liked this corridor with all its knowing eyes.

He reaches the library and pushes inside, surprised to see a table still occupied. Less surprised when he approaches and realizes it's Copia, hunched over an old manuscript, making notes in a small leatherbound journal.

Dew rubs at his eyes as he approaches, plops himself down in the seat across from him, careful to not disturb his text.

"Hey Papa."

"My ghoul," Copia smiles gently, placing a worn bookmark into the tome before closing it and moving it to the side. "Are you well? It's very late."

Dew isn't quite sure how to answer that, quietly taps his fingers on the table with a shrug instead.

"You spend much time in the catacombs yes? With the Ancient Ones?"

Dew tries not to grimace, just nods yes with a tight lipped smile.

"How is Air doing? He seemed distraught when my mother passed, and I regretfully haven't been able to visit yet."

Dew rolls a few words around on his tongue, trying to find the best way to explain that particular situation.

"He was of course upset to hear that she passed, but, he and Earth had been waiting to hear back about their um... request."

Copia tilts his head.

"Request?"

"Yes, it was denied by the clergy. Again."

"You'll have to forgive me, my ghoul, but what was the request?"

"They would like to adopt a kit."

"Oh!" Copia smiles broadly. "They would make such wonderful parents, eh? Of course, of course. I'll mention it at tomorrow's meeting."

Dew blinks at Copia, jaw dropping towards the table.

"Papa, Frater, they denied their request forty-seven times."

It's Copia's turn to stare now, aghast, squeaking a bit like a mouse.

"F-f-forty seven denials? Why?"

Dew shrugs, picks at the skin around his claws.

"There were always excuses, but they don't like them. Even Secondo tried."

Copia sets his mouth in a tight line.

"Well that's just silly. Let's get them a kit."

"Seriously?"

"Absolutely. The cruelty ends with me. My mother may have been wise about some things, but others. Well. Not so much."

Dew is thankful for the late hour when he scrambles across the table to pull Copia into an extremely undignified hug, pushing his chair back so quickly it crashes to the floor.

"Thank you," he breathes into Copia's neck, letting his tears fall freely. He may not have been around for all forty-seven denials, but he's seen enough of them.

Copia wraps his arms around Dew, apologizing for all the things he didn't know about, but can work towards changing.

When Dew pulls away, he tilts his chin up to meet Copia's eyes.

"If the clergy tries to say no again because 'that's what Sister always said', I'll burn the room down with all of them in it."

Copia can't help but laugh, his eyes crinkling in the corners.

"No, you wouldn't." He pauses, thinking for a second. "Alpha would though."

Dew can't help but agree, wiping his eyes with the back of his hands.

"You're right. He would."

⸸⸸⸸⸸⸸

A gentle knock on the door forces Earth to peel his sticky eyes open, crusting from the tears he shared with Air.

"It's open," he grumbles, pulling Air tight to his chest and burying his face in the crook of his neck.

"Good morning!"

Dewdrop looks a little too chipper, considering they both heard him stomp out of the catacombs and slam every door in his way last night.

Air raises a sleepy brow, silently asking him why in the nine circles they are being disturbed at the unholy hour of ten AM.

"Papa, uh, Frater, would like you to meet him in your common room in twenty minutes."

He's still smiling, and Earth can't help but be a little suspicious.

Dew looks at his feet then, digging his toe into the ground.

"Could you um... could you let Alpha know? I'll go tell River. And Omega, if he's there and not. With... You know."

"Mmn."

He takes that as a verbal affirmative and quickly backs out of their room, alerting the rest of the ancients to the meeting before taking a seat near their hearth. He couldn't bear to miss Copia sharing the good news.

Dew is still smiling when the ghouls begin to file into the room, plopping themselves onto various sofas and chairs. He only scowls when Alpha looks his way, covertly flipping him off while Copia strides in.

"Good morning my lovelies," he smiles, gently clapping his hands together. He's met with a chorus of half awake greetings, missing the rude face Alpha throws at Dew while his back is turned.

"I've just come from a clergy meeting, and I would like to gather your input on what you all would like for your new den. The ceilings can't be raised here, and I want you all as comfortable as possible, so we are building a new space for you upstairs. You can still come down here if you like. I also need to know what we need for the nursery -"

Earth sits up then, launching himself off of Air's shoulder.

"Nursery?"

His eyes are wide, hand crushing Air's as he waits for Copia to explain. His looks at Dew briefly, catching his smile and tear filled eyes.

"Yes," Copia beams at him. "Your request has been approved. We're going to help you get a kit."

Air slides from the couch and to his knees, tears streaming down his face as he sobs. Earth quickly joins him, holding him tight to his chest.

"You're serious?" he chokes out, a low growl building in the back of his throat.

"If it's what you want, it's okie dokie with me."

"More than anything," Air confirms, and rests his head on Earth's. "We're going to be dads my Earth. It's finally happening."

Dew slips out before he can be pulled into the quickly growing pile, wanting the ancients to enjoy this moment of great joy.

⸸⸸⸸⸸⸸

"We need to plan a baby shower!" Cumulus beams, bouncing on her toes after Dew shared the good news.

"Yes, but the ancients need time to acclimate. Sister kept them locked away for far too long, I don't want to overwhelm them."

Cumulus nods, bouncy white curls falling in her face.

"Of course! We can make cake, does that ever get sent to the catacombs? And Cici and I can help paint, I'm sure Mountain and Swiss can help build. Speaking of I need to go let her know -"

Cumulus drifts off down the hall, chatting to herself about room designs and party plans, eager to welcome the ghouls back into the main halls of the abbey.

"You doing okay?"

Rain's smooth baritone makes Dew jump, turning to face him in surprise.

"Sorry, thought you heard me come in."

"Yeah, I'm so excited for the them -"

"I know. But you were upset last night, and I want to make sure you're actually okay, not just hiding it "

Dewdrop huffs a sigh. He can't hide anything from Rain. No one can, really. Everyone's pretty convinced that whatever ocean vent he crawled out of gave him some quint-level mind reading powers.

"It's... complicated."

Rain nods and gestures towards the couch.

"C'mon. I'll even let you turn on the Hallmark channel, I think they're playing holiday movies already."

Dew grumbles while pulling some popcorn out of a nearby cabinet, trapped between being annoyed about being known and allowing himself to be comforted, a skill matched only by Air.

⸸⸸⸸⸸⸸

"How soon can we try a summoning?"

Air is practically vibrating in his seat, Earth's hand crushed in his own.

Copia has a stack of notes and paperwork, all the necessary permits to expand the abbey and of course Earth and Air's nursery wishlist.

"I'm afraid I've never summoned a kit before, so it may take a few tries before we are successful."

"We understand."

Air and Earth share a quick glance.

"Frater, we have been begging the clergy to help us with a kit for years. Forty-seven times we were told no. We're ready, whenever you are."

Earth squeezes Air's fingers.

"You're sure, my skybird? I know what this means to you, to us, and I fear if we rush you'll be devastated."

Air turns to his partner, holds his cheek gently with his free hand.

"I will be. But then we can try again. As many times as Frater allows."

Earth's eyes brim with tears, mirroring his mate. They turn back to Copia, smiles full of cautious optimism.

"Yes," Earth agrees. "We're ready."

⸸⸸⸸⸸⸸

The addition is built rather quickly, ghouls and humans alike eager to bring the ancients out of the catacombs. News of the kit spreads like a wildfire, and soon there are more hands hoisting beams and laying walls than anyone had expected.

"Which room should face the sun," Copia questions, looking over the layout on his desk.

"Alpha," Dew answers without hesitation.

Copia briefly raises a brow before finishing the room assignments, pleased that all the ghouls can now move freely through the abbey.

"It will take time to lift all of the doorways, but we'll get there."

"Thanks, Papa. Frater."

"It's fine, my ghoul." Copia wears a gentle, genuine smile. "You know I don't care about the title. Just that you all see me as a friend."

Dew relaxes again, rests his head on the soft chair.

"As your friend, and prior Papa, I feel I must tell you that I'm a little concerned about your connection with Alpha."

Dew's eyes fly open as he scrambles to sit straight in the chair, patting his pocket for his phone.

"Would you... would you look at that? Oh, Mounty is um. He's, he's calling me so I have to uh, I have to -"

Dew keeps patting himself for his phone while making his way towards the door, forgetting it on Copia's desk.

"Dewdrop, you need to talk about this at some point."

"Dewdrop!"

⸸⸸⸸⸸⸸

While Dew fails at making a smooth exit from Copia's office, Earth and Air are curled up in their nest, the last day they'll spend in the catacombs.

"I'm a bit nervous to go up there," Air mumbles, fingers playing with Earth's shirt.

"I know, skybird. But this will be better for your lungs. And even better for our kit."

"Yes, yes. It will be. What do you think they'll be like?"

"I think, no matter what, she'll be absolutely perfect."

Air scrunches his eyebrows. "She? We told Frater we'd be happy to raise any kit that needed a family."

"I know," Earth smiles, taking Air's hand in his own. "Call it a hunch."

They share a few kisses before cuddling back into each other, trading guesses on what they think their kit will be like. Their personality, their element. If they'll choose to veil when they get older. What their family will be like, and how it will grow in love.

So much love.

So much love, that when the time comes for the summoning, more ghouls are gathered than have ever gathered at a summoning before.

Dew stands between Alpha and Rain, arms wrapped around himself as Alpha stares into the side of Rain's head.

"Will you stop," Dew hisses, glaring at his mate.

"Will you stop?"

"Me? Stop what, having friends? What is wrong with you -"

Rain slowly sneaks away from the pair to stand with Mountain and Swiss, letting them bicker until Copia walks into the room.

His vestments are glittering even in the candlelight, casting shadows onto the stone walls as he checks the candles and offerings.

"My lovelies," he smiles, gesturing to Earth and Air. "We are gathered this evening to summon a kit for mates Earth and Air, so that may raise them in the ministry family."

"Do you accept the roles of parents, to guide this young one with love in your hearts?"

"We do," they say in unison.

"And do you promise to always be there for them and each other, in good and bad times, to offer your full support and encouragement?"

"We do."

"And do you promise to always love this child, no matter who they are now, and who they may find themselves to be in the future?"

"We do."

"Then let it be done."

Copia picks up a black candle and lights it in the north of the room before kneeling in front of Earth and Air. Earth has a small pile of dirt that Air then lifts with his own element, gently swirling the granules around the candle as Copia stands it before them.

"We open this portal to any kit in search of a loving home, eager to accept them into our arms."

The portal fizzles to life, and Air's breath hitches. Earth squeezes his hand and Dew reaches towards Alpha, who tightens his own into a fist. Rain glares while Dew frowns, before all eyes return to the swirling portal before them.

It spins.

And it spins.

Ghouls less close to Earth and Air respectfully begin to shuffle out of the room, and Copia closes the portal by extinguishing the flame while Air's broken whine echoes against the walls.

"I'm so sorry," he offers with a gentle hand to his shoulder. "But next week is a full moon, eh? We will try again."

"Thank you Frater," Earth manages, lip trembling.

They knew. They understood. They talked and talked and talked and openly acknowledged that it might not happen the first time, but all the preparations in the world couldn't have possibly protected their gentle hearts when they were so ready to love whoever came through.

"It's not a no," Air whispers against Earth's shoulder. "Just a not yet."

Earth swallows his tears down and wraps himself against Air, his shuddering breath making the ground tremble.

"If you need anything, my lovelies, I'll be in my office preparing for our next attempt. You are loved."

Alpha opens his mouth and Dew immediately grabs at his shoulder, reaching for his ear.

“For the love of Satan's taint, if you say anything to either of them right now I will send you back to the pits myself.”

“When did you grow a backbone,” Alpha scoffs, throwing his hands up in surrender.

“Shouldn't you know,” Aether starts, “you’re the one always blowing it out.”

Dew's already pale skin gets paler, wiping his hands down his face.

“You are all ridiculous and I hate you.”

He steps away from the others to approach Earth and Air, sitting down in front of them.

“I'm so sorry.”

Air looks at him with shining blue eyes, Earth opens his free arm, not lifting his face from his mate's shoulder.

“Can I hug you?”

Dew asks so quietly, but Air has always been there for him. He wants to do the same.

Air nods and lifts an arm as well, and Dew quickly climbs between them, wrapping himself around the ancients as best he can. He kicks up his heat and his rusty pur, acting like a living weighted blanket.

“I kn-know it might not have worked but,” Air hiccups, “but I really hoped it would.”

“I know,” Dew sighs. “It's okay to mourn the loss of this moment.”

Rain and Mountain appear with a pile of blankets, and Swiss follows shortly with a large stack of pillows.

“Figured you might not want to go back to your den or the catacombs right now,” Rain offers, wrapping the three ghouls in a large soft blanket.

The thought of the empty nursery weighs heavy on all of them.

“Would you like us to go?”

Mountain gestures at his pack and rest of the Ancient Ones, all standing with clasped hands and solemn expressions. Even Alpha has the sense to look disappointed, though it may have been at the prospect of sleeping on the floor and not in his nest.

Air and Earth exchange a quick glance at each other.

“Get in here,” Earth grumbles, and he lets himself and Air be pulled down into a loudly purring pile.

⸸⸸⸸⸸⸸

They try the next summoning at the peak of the full moon.

“I'm scared,” Air admits while he wrings his hands together nervously.

“Me too,” says Earth before taking Air's face in his hands. “But no matter what, we're both here. Together. And nothing can change that.”

This time, the room is empty, except for them. They appreciated the outpouring of love the last time, but now they want to face the portal by themselves.

Dew understands, though he can't help pace the hall outside nervously.

“Would you stop it, the echo is giving me a headache,” Alpha grumbles, crossing his arms as he leans on the wall.

Dew pauses in front of him, hands on his hips.

“Why did you come with me if you were just going to be a dick?”

“I… don't know.”

Dew narrows his eyes at his mate before sitting on the ground across from him, wrapping his arms around his knees. He looks up for a moment when Copia walks by, offering a quiet wish for good luck.

Copia bids his thanks and quietly enters the room. He finds Air and Earth hand in hand at the center, the room laid out exactly as before, except -

“The candles,” he starts, seeing Earth nod.

“We hope it's okay but we changed out the ceremonial candles for a few that were more personal.”

He explains, pointing to each candle as he goes.

“The red fire candle is from our mating ceremony. The blue water candle was a gift from River when we announced that we were becoming exclusive, to certify our mating bond. The white air candle and green earth candles were from our summonings. And the purple quintessence candle is the same candle that has always been used, as it never burns out.”

Air takes a small step forward then, offering a black candle to Copia.

“I think you'll recognize this one.”

His voice is much tighter than Earth's, his emotions at risk of bubbling to the surface at any moment. Copia nods, takes it with a gentle smile.

“I think this is a beautiful tribute. We are ready to begin, then?”

Air and Earth say that they are in unison, sharing a quick smile before Copia begins the ceremony.

The portal opens, a swirling mix of elemental colors. The three men hold their breath as they watch it spin.

And spin.

And just as Air and Earth drop their heads in defeat, Copia's gasp fills them with hope.

“Look, my lovelies, something is coming through!”

Earth and Air scramble closer, seeing horns flicker in and out of the portal. They quickly take shape and soon they see the tip of a tail, a leg, an arm. A few more seconds pass and Earth feels the urge to open his arms, to step forward and catch the sweet kit as the portal closes.

They land in his arms softly and a hundred things flash before his eyes, dreams and possibilities and a future he had been so afraid to want, yet wanted like nothing else. He finally lets the tears fall, hitting the ground in big fat drops.

“Earth?”

Air has a gentle hand on his elbow, and he sniffles before turning around with a smile that could illuminate even the darkest corners of the catacombs. He feels their little heart breathing, the rapid rise and fall of their little chest. He holds up their kit, voice thick with emotion.

“It's a girl!”

#air ghoul #earth ghoul #dewdrop ghoul #alpha ghoul #air/earth #frater copia #popia copia #the band ghost fanfiction #the band ghost fanfic #anotherbananasong #kit adoption #adoption

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cowgurrrl · 1 year ago

Text

It Ain't Me Babe

Pairing: Joel Miller x fem!reader

Author’s note: A holiday present from me to you ❣️

Summary: Ellie’s first art club meeting [2.8k]

Warnings: creative insecurity, mentions of financial instability, teacher things, Ellie talking about Sarah, more flirty flirt, I think that’s it??

Nothing has ever been as annoying or guilt-inducing as an unfinished piece of art. Sure, every artist— no matter the medium— has felt like an uncreative, unoriginal hack, but it still feels just as new as it did the first time. Moonlight streams through your window as you glare at the canvas, hoping for an idea or stroke of genius. It's late. You should be in bed, especially since it's a Sunday night and you spent your weekend working at the bar down the street. But you're holding a paintbrush between stained fingers and praying for a miracle. It's been eight months since you last sold a piece for a whopping $200, chump change when it comes to living in Austin these days. Even with two jobs and doing commission work, you're living paycheck to paycheck. Maybe that's why it's so hard to create? That has to be the reason. You don't remember it being this hard when you were younger.

Creating art was the only thing that brought you solace during your teenage years. It didn't matter if it was drawing, pottery, painting, sculpting. All that mattered was that you were doing it and you were good. You won awards, scholarships, and attention. Your art teacher, Ms. Henry, was a godsend. Grey-haired, glasses-wearing, colorful Ms. Henry glided through lessons and projects like it was second nature. She always had pencils in her hair, a mug in her hands, and a kind word on her lips when you entered her classroom. She's the one who pushed you to go to your artsy liberal arts college full of people richer and better than you. Even with her love and support, you struggled and almost dropped out after that first semester.

"There's always someone better," she told you when you ended up crying across from her in a coffee shop. "But there's nobody in the world who can make what you will because there is and never will be another you. I mean, God, what a gift. I'd hate to see you waste it." That sobered you enough to keep going and eventually pursue a teaching certification. Ms. Henry has since retired to the Pacific Northwest with her wife, Mable, and sends you a postcard every once in a while because she believes smartphones will be the downfall of civilization. After so many years in education, you're ready to agree with her.

You sigh, feeling your motivation fluttering away with your breath, and plop your paintbrush down in the cup engraved with the words "DO NOT DRINK" in bold. The canvas doesn't look like much of anything right now— just a mass of colors and shapes that could potentially pass as an abstract version of a landscape. It looks like the other painting you left at the school to work on when you have time. And the painting before that. And the one before that. You curse at exactly the same time your phone buzzes with a text.

You awake?

You don't bother responding and go straight to FaceTiming her. She picks up on the second ring, her beautiful, round face greeting you with a smile. You met Andie during high school, and her effortlessly cool attitude and bulky violin kit quickly became a part of your heart. You two were inseparable all four years of high school, dividing your time between rehearsals and time spent in the studio, but college took you to art school and her to a prestigious orchestra program in Vienna. She's been there ever since graduation, playing for diplomats and royals alike, but she comes home for holidays, and you've been trying to save money to go see her. Being so far from her is hard, but you make it work.

"Why are you awake?" You ask by way of a greeting, more than accustomed to your seven-hour time difference and her early riser habits. She laughs, and you hear a tea kettle whistle in the background.

"Well, hello to you, too," she says. "I have rehearsals all day today, so I got an early start. Why are you awake?"

"I'm staring at my waking nightmare."

"Oh, God, are you having another spiral?"

"I'm a hack."

"You're an artist."

"I got rejected again this weekend," you say as if to prove your point, and she sucks her teeth. "They said my art didn't fit their vision for their exhibition, but to feel free and submit another time."

"Well, they must not know great art when they see it. There will be another exhibition and another chance for you to show off your amazing skills. And when you get accepted, which I know you will, I'll fly in, and we'll drink fancy champagne and talk shit the entire opening night." She says, and you sigh. Her persistent optimism is one of the things you love about her, but sometimes, all you want to do is sulk.

"Or I could fly to you when your first composition gets performed, and we could do all those things in Austria instead of this shithole."

"Hey, some of us like that shithole."

"Some of us haven't lived in the shithole in ten years."

"Touche," she concedes. "But I'm serious about what I said. You're a good artist, just going through a little bump in the road. One day, we'll be really sexy and successful, and we'll look back at this and laugh with our rich spouses while drinking expensive wine."

"One day," you say, smiling. "How are rehearsals going?" She groans at the question, and you laugh. Whenever you talk to her, she's working on a new show or with a new conductor and always has something to say. There are many things you could call your best friend, but lazy is not one of them.

"I feel like we're stuck on this one part, but the conductor won't listen to me. He says he knows better than I do, which might be true, but also, if he just listened to me, then we can move on. I don't know. I'm sure if I poke him enough, he'll have to listen to me."

"Sounds reasonable."

"That's what I'm saying," she says as she shuffles her coffee mug and breakfast to her dining room table before checking the time. "It's midnight there. Don't you have school tomorrow?" She asks, and you sigh.

"And an early morning staff meeting and art club after school."

"Sometimes, I worry about your mental health." She says, and you laugh a little too deliriously to prove her wrong. You stay up talking with her for a while before finally getting hit with a wave of fatigue and crashing into bed.

The next day is not any less hectic than your weekend was. The staff meeting early in the morning is mind-numbing and completely unnecessary. The printer in the teacher's lounge breaks halfway through a heavy-duty print job, and you're left scrambling for new activities and lessons. Not only that, but your students were more out of control than usual, prompting a veteran teacher to come in and scold your class on your behalf. It would be kind if it didn't make you feel two inches tall and your students didn't look at you like you betrayed them. You spend your planning period indulging in the silence of your empty classroom and fighting off a migraine.

The second the final bell sounds, your art club kids are knocking down your door, more than ready to work on their projects for the winter showcase. The winter showcase is hosted by a local art gallery that opens for submissions from students every fall. If a student's work is taken, it gets shown in the gallery, and they get entered into a prize to win money and a chance to paint a mural downtown. It's a big deal. So far, you haven't had a student win first place, but you've had them get very close. You always assure them you're proud of them no matter what, which is especially true when Ellie slinks into your classroom with a shy smile.

"Hey! We're just setting up supplies to work on stuff for the showcase. Do you have something to work on?" You ask, gesturing to the students working around the room in a buzz.

"I think so. Are you gonna play music?"

"Who do you think I am?" You make a face, and she laughs. "Why don't you find a spot and get comfortable while I queue up a playlist?" She hesitates for a second before she takes a deep breath and musters up the courage to approach another student to ask if she can sit with them. They start chatting easily, and her shoulders relax as she gets more and more comfortable with all the new people. You put on a random playlist and move around the room to answer any questions about colors or give an opinion when asked for one. Over the course of an hour, Ellie makes her own little group of friends, and they all talk as if they've known each other forever as they work. She seems so in her own element, and you can't fight the pride beaming in your chest. Okay, so maybe your job can be pretty cool sometimes. Not fame and fortune cool or traveling overseas cool, but cool nevertheless.

Students gradually start packing up their things and leaving when they get texts from impatient parents in the parking lot or close to dinner time, but Ellie stays behind, bobbing her head to a beat or bouncing her knee under the table. She's the only one left in the classroom when you start packing your stuff and preparing the room for the next day. "You've got a ride home, honey?" You ask, and she glances nervously between you and her phone.

"Yeah. My dad should be here soon." She says.

"Alright, well, I've gotta lock up here, but I'll wait outside with you until he gets here."

"Oh, you don't have to do that."

"It'd make me feel better knowing you weren't left behind. Plus, I'm the adult responsible for you until he picks you up, so it's kinda illegal for me to just leave you here." You say, and she looks hesitant again but nods. Together, you walk out of the classroom and through the empty hallways until you get out to the scorching September afternoon. You stand outside in silence for a few seconds, taking in the sunset, before you turn to look at her.

"How'd you like the club?" You ask.

"It was fun! I met lots of cool people."

"I told you, kid. You just needed to give it a chance."

"I know, I know," she rolls her eyes, and you smile. "Thank you for pushing me to go. I don't think I would've gone without you." She's so genuine and kind in her tone that it throws you off-kilter. You're used to being berated by students, staff, and parents. To be told you actually had an impact on someone is not commonplace, to say the least.

"I'm sure you would've found your way there without me."

"Maybe, but you helped me get there a lot sooner than I would've on my own." She says, and you take a deep breath. It feels nice to be acknowledged, especially after the day you've had, and Ellie seems to sense it. You're looking for something to say when she looks down at her shoes and kicks a stray rock. "Just take the compliment and move on. Don't make it a thing."

"Alright." You say, laughing, and she cracks a smile, too. Traffic will be horrible on the way home, and you have nothing to eat for dinner, but it's okay. You did one good thing today. That's all you need.

"Sorry, my dad is taking so long." She changes the subject, a touch of anxiety creeping in, and you shake your head.

"Does he always work late?" You ask, and she shrugs.

"Sometimes. Dad and Uncle Tommy have been picking up jobs to send money to my sister in Boston. "

"What's in Boston for your sister?"

"Medical school. She's about to go into her internship at a hospital there."

"That's a big deal." You say, and she hums.

"Yeah. She'll probably save the world or something one day." There's a hint of something nostalgic in her voice, and you decide to push just a little.

"Do you miss her?"

"A lot," she says. "She's my best friend."

"She's lucky to have you." You say. She smiles but doesn't say anything. You want to ask more about her family, but a rickety, greenish pickup truck comes rumbling through the parking lot before you can. Ellie shifts her backpack on her shoulder as her dad and uncle come into view, and you smile at them. Joel, however, looks frantic.

He's unbuckling his seatbelt and opening the driver's side door before the car can even finish moving. There's dirt on his pants and a little bit of a sunburn across his arms, the muscles straining across the black fabric. He politely pulls the ball cap off his head to reveal sweaty curls as he approaches you, jerking his head toward the truck at Ellie. "Why don't you wait in the truck with Uncle Tommy? He's got a snack for you." He says, and Ellie lights up at the mention of food. When you're alone, he tucks his hands in his pockets and gives you an apologetic look.

"'M so sorry. We got caught up at work and lost track of time. It won't happen again." He says, wringing his hands like he's waiting to be scolded, but you wave him off.

"It's okay. Things happen, and I'm just glad she's got someone picking her up." You say.

"How'd she do today?"

"Really good. I think she fits right in."

"She make some friends?"

"I can't give away all my secrets. What else are y'all gonna talk about at the dinner table?" You tease.

"I guess that's right," he says as he stares at you, a muscle in his jaw jumping. "Thanks for waitin' with her."

"It was my pleasure." You say. You stand awkwardly for a few seconds, rocking back and forth on your feet. His eyes are locked in yours, and there's a silent competition to see who's gonna blink first. "Well, I should let you get home. Have a good night."

"Uh," he starts, stopping you before you can even fully take a step. "I wanted to apologize for the other night. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"You didn't make me uncomfortable," you say a little too quickly, and he smirks. "I was very flattered. Besides, it's not the first time."

"Beautiful woman like you, I'm sure you've got 'em linin' the block for a chance with you." He says. You're dancing a delicate dance here. You're not not flirting, and you're not not interested in him, but if your principal finds out, it could cause a whole new world of problems. Still, it's nice to be wanted after so long of being on your own. You're not a saint, but you're also not doing anything inherently wrong, right?

"The teacher thing usually freaks 'em out before they can get very far."

"That's a damn shame." He's quick with it, and you have to resist the urge to roll your eyes at the line. A buzz in your bag reminds you of the time and why you're still at school, and you find your footing again.

"Uh, I usually give out my contact information to the parents of my art club kids in case they need anything or need to contact me quickly. Since Ellie's an official part of that, I figured I should give you my phone number in case anything comes up. If that's alright?" You say, and he pulls his cracked phone from his back pocket.

"Yeah, yeah. That's more than alright." He says, handing it to you to punch in your information.

"It's for emergency purposes only."

"What d'you consider an emergency?"

"Mr. Miller-"

"Joel." He corrects, and you give him a look as you pass his phone back.

"Don't abuse it. I'd hate to have to put you in a group chat with all the PTA moms."

"You're evil." He groans, and you laugh. Tommy, leaning over and honking the truck horn, interrupts your conversation, and he shoots daggers through the back window.

"I'll see you next week, Joel." You say, dismissing him, and he hesitates for another second before nodding.

"See you next week." He says and turns on his heels to get back in his truck. You think you vaguely catch Joel scolding Tommy for being impatient, but you ignore his deep voice and the engine sputtering as you walk to your own car with a little more pep in your step than this morning.

TAGLIST: @abbyhaslongshorts @kiwiharrykiwi @sumsworldz @myloveistoolittle @anavatazes @marantha @cosmoscoffeee @shyminnie07 @beezusvreeland @eddiemunsonsbedroom @harriedandharassed @doodlebob-mp3 (look at how many of you there are!)

#joel miller #the last of us #joel miller x reader #joel miller the last of us #joel miller fic #the last of us x reader #joel tlou #joel miller x female reader #joel miller x f!reader #the last of us fic #the last of us au #joel the last of us #ellie the last of us #joel au #joel miller fluff #joel miller au #tlou hbo #tlou fic #tlou fanfiction

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jnnul · 2 years ago

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things he reminds me of (nct dream)

a/n: i know i was supposed to post this on friday oops 😭 i just...have so many thoughts when it comes to love and these boys are some of my greatest muses

genre: fluff/slice-of-life maybe, just love, different types of love, young dumb broke kids in love, LOVE, idk did i say they’re in love yet, tw: mentions of kissing & hickeys lol

word count: 1.4k (idk either man)

MARK

gif credits: @jsuh

that moment when you realize how much someone truly loves you

guitars that have so many stickers, you can barely see the wood

buying a new fuzzy blanket

the little scratch of stubble when you kiss

laughing when his glasses poke you in the forehead

falling asleep with your legs on top of his on the couch

massaging his head when he’s had a long day

oversized sweatshirts to avoid the paparazzi when he’s coming over

long facetime calls even though it’s three in the morning in his time

voice messages instead of texts bc he wants to hear your voice

hearing your voice in a song

turning your little doodles into the cover of his next solo

whispers about the future that dissolve into the hot summer sky as he looks at you with eyes filled with hope

musky cologne that reminds you of the forest after it rains

the color gray

love.

RENJUN

gif credits: @faerenjun

never letting you open the door yourself

succulents for every anniversary until you have a forest in the living room

brushing his lips over your forehead before he leaves for work

having a faceless picture of you and him as his background

buying you a necklace with his initials and a matching bracelet with yours

always, always, always feeding you because he’s scared you won’t eat if he’s not there

teaching you mandarin and kissing you every time you get a word right

filming a ‘day in my life’ vlog every couple weeks that you rewatch on your anniversary to see how you’ve grown

sunset lamps that don’t work the way he thought they would

painting together in absolute silence

having a french window with billowing curtains and a bench that the two of you sit on

adopting a dog together only to find out that the dog is a demon

fighting for the remote but he lets you win every time

rubbing your shoulders when you’re stressed

forgetting why you were so stressed when you look at him working so serenely

love.

JENO

gif credits: @seomarkno

the thunder that rolls in ten seconds after lightning that shakes the high-rise apartment

quiet cups of coffee as the two of you wait for the rest of the world to wake up

words of endearment that are saved only for the most intimate moments

the wracking shoulders when he tries not to cry because he doesn’t want to burden you

the soft comfort in sleeping in his arms

the feeling of all of his worry melting away when you reach for him, even in your sleep, and look for his love

the color red that stains your white dress when you and jeno get wine drunk

waiting for the other to come home to them

home-cooked meals that are a little too hot so he has to blow on it

fights that turn into whispered i love you’s because he can’t stay away from you for too long

listening to the same song, even when you’re hundreds of miles apart

opening all the jars for you, even if you say you can do it yourself

watching a show together and hoping for different pairings

mature conversations about investing in the future

meeting his family a little too quickly - but it’s okay bc they love you

love.

HAECHAN

gif credits: @huangrenjuns

quirked eyebrows as you vehemently counter his argument about ice cream

making you sit on his lap as he games until ungodly hours to feel your warmth

kissing the nape of his neck bc you love the way he melts in your arms

dropping the cake on his birthday, only for him to eat it anyway so you wouldn’t feel bad

secret getaway trips that you have to beg and plead the company for

telling him how much you love him and seeing his eyes well up

feeling his heart swell with pride when you come home with a new accomplishment

only saying i love you when he really means it - but he says it every morning

gently explaining to you why you should love yourself the way he loves you

green accents everywhere bc you think it’s vibrant

calling him a loser affectionately

looking at him like he put the stars in the sky

the deep rumble of his chest when you’re curled into him

the way he hums when he thinks you’re not listening but you are

being able to calm you down within 30 seconds no matter what

love.

JAEMIN

gif credits: @jaemtens (thank u for doing the lord’s work)

letting him play with your hair until it looks ridiculous

making peach cobbler but you accidentally added too much sugar

waking him up with a mug of fresh coffee and so much affection

letting him pull you into a dark corner to press a soft kiss to your lips

him tugging a blanket over you as you fall asleep waiting for him

carrying you from the kitchen counter to the sofa, insisting that he was going to cook for you tonight

letting him buy you pink accessories bc he says you look soft

getting the silent treatment from him when he’s mad but he can never stay mad for too long

promising him that you’re never going to leave him when he’s scared about your relationship getting discovered

surprising him backstage at an overseas concert

seeing his eyes light up when you walk into the room, no matter how long it’s been since you started dating

feeling the hard planes under his shirt when you bandage his back after a long dance practice

texting you at insane hours to sneak over to his place and order takeout

frowning when he sees you wear revealing clothes only to say, “you wear whatever you want, baby. i can fight.”

he can’t fight but he tries to seem tough for you anyway bc that’s what he thinks you want. you don’t. all you want is him.

love.

CHENLE

gif credits: @jjsungie

oversized jerseys which all say ‘curry’ on them somewhere

buying him presents only to find out that he already has it

seeing him cry when you tell him about your deep and personal secrets bc he’s never felt so much pain for someone else before

convincing you to get matching tattoos but both of you pussy out

renting out an entire arcade to go on a date

not letting him rent out an entire arcade bc wtf who does that chenle

always celebrating your anniversaries in a lowkey, private, and humble way

going 50/50 on everything in the relationship even if chenle would rather die than make you pay

playing rock, paper, scissors to decide how to split the chores. for. everything.

playing cards against humanity except the two of you are just looking for the craziest combinations

brightly colored scrunchies for his hair, not yours

stealing the blankets bc you run cold and he runs hot

wearing sweatshirts to colleges that neither of you attend

sober advice bc he doesn’t understand why you get stressed sometimes

knowing that you compliment each other, rather than complete each other

love.

JISUNG

gif credits: @leemarkies

thinking he’s rizzing you up but it just looks rlly silly

asking you what-if questions at ungodly hours and then leaving you on read

do not disturb until he dies. and then he comes back with a pinterest reaction meme.

feeling frustrated when he can’t tell you how much he really loves you

getting confused between love, lust, and like but knowing that he feels so incredibly safe and warm with you

fighting his instincts to run every time he realizes how down bad he is for you

having to physically drag him out of the dance studio bc he’s going to collapse from exhaustion

not letting anyone but you touch him when he’s sick

telling you abt his dreams to become a big star

rambling about his theories abt humanity and the universe for h o u r s

not realizing that his sweatshirts are disappearing until you wear them around him

nearly having a heart attack the first time you give him a hickey (and then asking for three more)

the purple light glinting in his eyes as he rewatches his stages for mistakes

gently coaxing him to be a little less perfectionist

splitting a pizza with you and thinking it to be peak romance bc it is to you and him

love.

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the-blind-geisha · 2 days ago

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Scene reminiscent of King Boo appearing at Darkshire to ward off the people from coming into his woods in my King Boo story. It takes place at night, so a good enough excuse to say it's not that busy with people--even for a town that's in the Boo Woods where it's constantly shrouded in darkness. lol

This image... oof. I had all the pieces put together in June of last year, I wanna say, but I took a look at it and instantly intimidated myself out of it. It sat in my idea list forever until I wanna say, September or so, I finally kicked myself in the rear and got to working on it. I almost tormented myself with making every window visible in regards to the inside, but decided 'nope' and made a lot of stained glass windows instead. Future me thanks past me for that choice..

I had a lot of fun drawing the bandits. I realized I don't draw them enough for someone who has them as a fave enemy, so in they go.

I do have the background saved solo for future projects or any commissions where folks want to ask for it as a substitute background. 😩💦

#granny is ready to throw hands i think #i almost had her with a power up item but decided a sack that has something in it would do well enough #the blue flames and smoke are because of King Boo being angry af #he's just hiding that with a twisted gleeful grin #but i wager every time he's nearby that's a warning sign you've made him mad #probably why everybody relies on candles someway/ somehow in the towns #king boo #luigi's mansion #fanart #smb #super mario bros #nintendo #artwork #myart #oreana draws #bandits #shy guys #koopas

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atlas-of-the-mind · 11 months ago

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[Img ID in alt text and under cut]

I don't go here but this Thang wouldn't leave me alone until I drew it. Enjoy

IMG ID: A bust of the Lamb from cult of the lamb(a white sheep with a black face, and this version of them has large, curling horns) facing 3/4 to the right. Their chin is tucked to their chest and their mouth is open to reveal flat teeth save for extra large canines that curl out over their lips. Their visible eye is wide and bright red with a cross pupil and two streaks of red tears -- one thicker one thinner -- leak from it down their face, stopping at their lip. More red streaks flow from their open mouth down their chest to give the illusion of a cut throat. There is a bright, spiky star of light, partially obscured by their wool, in the middle of their chest. The style is blocky, almost stained glass window esque, with thick smooth lines and large shapes. The thick, smooth line art accentuates the swirls of the Lamb’s wool and gives it a stained glass window style, and there is yellow highlights and shadows around the swirls. The bright spot in the center of their chest is glowing brightly and has stylized spikes extending out from it. A large, gold, crown-like halo circles their horns that has a thick band, a thin band, spikes through both bands, and small floating white teardrop shapes. The halo acts as a second source of light. The background is a deep red with barely visible silhouettes of large chains in other shades of red. End ID.

#art #artwork #my artwork #digital art #cotl lamb #cotl #cult of the lamb #cw bood #there is also an idea for that fucked up cat in my brain #we'll see if that comes to fruition

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sunny-honeytears · 6 months ago

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Okay so I was originally going to wait until I'm done with the full project but I HAVE to share this

It was originally supposed to be a crochet tapestry pattern because if done with type3 yarn it would be the size of my pillow, but the art itself looks to pretty not to show you guys

Tadaaa-

So theres a lot to unpack because neither of my parents understood a single thing about this and why it took me 5 hours to make

First, the border. The border is supposed to be the actual set on hungarian Tdv, designed by Kentaur (if i remember correctly), in the middle its a bat, hanging down. The stained glass kind of melts in the details but its also an actual prop on the set, just with blue lighting. The middle has a hidden VB in it, which refers to Vámpírok Bálja, the hungarian name.

Now the characters!

Krolock and Sarah were inspired by The Kiss, with Krolock draping his cape over the both of them, mostly so I don't have to draw Sarah's dress. He also bit her <3 I tried to make the cape look like the dress in the og painting but with only grey so I don't have to buy 20 balls of yarn :')

Herbert and Alfred were also inspired by a painting,I know its very hard to see because its like 20 pixels, but its Dante and Virgil in Hell (fun fact my name is Dante lol)

And then professor is just..existing really. I tried to find a painting for him but I couldn't and at this point I was really mad at the program, because for some reason it didn't like idk SAVING MY PROGRESS? Once I lost a whole finished Herbert and Alfred, then I lost the colourwork on Professor, then I lost a background so what should have taken me 3 hours, ended up being 5. But honestly I dont regret it, Krolock and Sarah look amazing, I might make a tapestry of just the two of them.

Also I love the devil in the Dante painting, just floating there with crossed arms like yeah thats so me

#artist #tanz der vampire #count von krolock #herbert von krolock #tdv #vámpírok bálja #tanz der vampire alfred #graf von krolock #art #fanart #pixel art #pixilart #digital art

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journalsouppe · 1 year ago

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THE WIND WAKER AHHHHHHHH I love this game SO much, ranked right below OOT and MM for my all time favorites.

One of my biggest critiques of the game is that I wish Aonuma was given the proper time to develop the game since you can tell that there should be more but a lot was cut out for time constraints. Still an incredible game but what I would give to have a full scale sequel or the full scope of the original game T^T!!!

Writing typed below as well as my game notes! (Game notes won't be typed since it's just a mess of notes for puzzles and things to come back to)

Rating: 9.0 Played: Su 2023 Recommended by: Rylan Version: Original Port: (originally Dolphin emulation but bought a Gamecube and OG TWW bc the emulator kept crashing)

Comments

iPad kid... my son (about link)

love Mkaar

THE LITTLE ANIMATIONS

ww Ganondorf is my favorite

LOVE YOU ARYLL

the kids are adorable

the music and SFX are SO CUTE!!!!!!

the actual GC version is much better than emulating

Link's too small for the door i_i I love him

ooo the upside down triforce in outset

I like the wind waker (the instrument lmao)

oo god of winds

ooo you can control seagulls?

MASSIVE pig...

PEAHATS? >:(

oo a cauldro lemme climb in -> THEYRE SAVE POINTS!!

DARKNUT AND ARMOS

I HATE GOHMAS

link is just a sweet little guy T-T <3

inch resting great deku tree

STUPID 25 LETTERS

LOVE the syrup Korok

LINK IS THE SAME HEIGHT KOROKS

how long has hyrule been flooded and how old is zelda? why is there a statue of link...

Oooo did Link from OOT speak a different language with the Great Deku Tree? (bilingual king)

ooo I love that King of the red lions joins you at the tower of gods

magic is in this game *eye emojis*

ooo ganon's tower theme when stormy

all the OOT sages in stained glass omg :)

NOT TETRA'S PIRATES HOLDING THE BOMB GUY HOSTAGE

there's a lot to process at the cabana

TETRA IS LIKE 10 YOU CREEPS

HYRULE CASTLE THEME

i'm forever haunted by the floormasters

why did zelda lose all of her melanin

is the king of red lions actually the king of jyrule?

PHANTOM GANON DEAD MANS VOLLEY FUCK

the return of tingle...

ZELDA 2 STORY

moe the MOBLIN?

MAKARS WALK T-T

THE MEOW

schooner

love the maze idea

ghost ship next to me!!!!

GANON MOLDORM

I love this game so much holy shit. What a perfect sequel to the Hero of Time story, what a great continuation of Ganondorf's motive. I definitely wish there was more, esp dungeons and zora and towns, but this game was made pretty quick after MM and on the GC so I know there are limitations. Everything from Link, Tetra, the sound effects, the stylization, the Rito, the Koroks, Ganondorf, oh my god I absolutely adore it. Everything about it is so unique yet having the core Zelda elements within it. I also noticed how many future games took a lot of inspiration from this game, esp TP and TOTK. I also love how involved Tetra/Zelda is to the plot, Link could not have succeeded without her help, esp in the final battle and when saving Aryll. This game gives so much personality and background to Link and Tetra, every single cutscene is such a delight. This would be a super replayable game if my GC wasn't so wonky. Hopefully it'll come back to the switch. I love this game :')

#journalsouppe #bullet journal #journal #tloz #legend of zelda #loz #the legend of zelda #zelda journal #tww #the wind waker #wind waker

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kaakelymaakely · 1 day ago

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do i wanna know

KLANCE FANFIC CHAPTER 3

Monster Hunter! Keith AU

Despite Coran’s vague age, he was a hard man to keep stride with. Many times, Keith attempted to fall in step with him, only to quickly get winded and fall back. Coran kept a steady pace while he pointed out various buildings, rattling off about their long history or whatever. Keith mostly tuned him out into the background, eyes trained on the ground. The less he knew about the town, the better; there was no use in getting attached to the village.

The only part that had Keith’s ears perk up was when Coran had mentioned Lance’s house. He followed Coran’s pointing finger to a quaint little shack, the outside decorated in different crops and flowers. Is that what Lance was? A farmer? As cute as the thought might be, imagining Lance in overalls with a piece of wheat between his teeth, it just didn’t seem fitting.

Embarrassing as it was to admit, Keith took a mental note of the address, just in case he wanted to bring the leftover pie and make amends, maybe even apologize if he could find the words. The thought was quickly shoved away though. He would not be doing that.

Eventually, the two of them arrived at a particularly messy building—or was it a house? It seemed like a weird Frankenstein-mix between a laboratory and someone’s home. Where the usual foundation would be something simple, like cobblestone, it seemed to be replaced with heavy hardware, bolts peeking out like the place was stitched together. The front lawn was a graveyard of metal scraps and rusted tools, an iron spine sticking out of the dead grass as if it were some twisted garden sculpture.

The door had the same reinforcements, the wood replaced with straight-up iron that gleamed dully in the overcast light. There was no room for a keyhole, or even a doorknob—just a small, scuffed-up keypad. Coran, for whatever reason, seemed to have the password. He used one hand to cover the keypad from prying eyes as he typed in the password with the other. He winked at Keith as the door quickly slid open with a mechanical hum, like it was some ancient beast reluctantly allowing entry.

Keith hesitated, eyes scanning the yard one last time, before finally trailing behind Coran into the shadowy interior.

“This is The Friend’s house! Isn’t it so ‘Ohio?’”

Keith jumped, heart hammering in his chest as Coran’s voice boomed right next to his ear. The words made him scrunch up his nose, irritation flaring. “Yep. Definitely Ohio.”

Coran flipped a switch, flooding the cramped space with harsh fluorescent light. The air was tinged with the smell of burnt metal and stale coffee, and the walls were bare, save for the sporadic grease stain. A compact kitchen clung to one corner, countertops cluttered with mismatched mugs and half-empty bags of instant noodles.

Coran led Keith past a narrow island toward another reinforced door. This one was battered, dented, as if something had tried to claw its way in—or out. There was no keypad this time, just a rusted handle that Coran yanked open with ease.

Inside, the room opened up into a chaotic wonderland. Shelves lined the walls, crammed with jarred animal remains—frogs suspended in cloudy liquid, bird wings pressed against glass. Intertwined were half-assembled gadgets that buzzed and clicked with a life of their own. A dusty photo of Coran, Lance, and some other folks shared space with a twisted metal sculpture that looked suspiciously like some sort of animal trap.

Webs of red string stretched between thumbtacked photos, a conspiracy map painted in snapshots and scribbled notes. Keith stared, half-impressed, half-unnerved. This person was his kind of crazy.

His gaze landed on a small, hunched figure at a cluttered workbench, hands delicately adjusting gears in what looked like a tiny mechanical spider. He squinted, trying to make sense of them, and then—

“You brought me to a child?” Keith’s voice was incredulous, eyes darting from Coran to the small, wiry figure hunched over the workbench. They didn’t look a day older than fourteen, lanky limbs disappearing into an oversized hoodie. He was ready to storm out, frustration coiling tight, but Coran’s hand clamped down on his shoulder, grounding him.

“This is not a child,” Coran said softly, his tone a quiet assurance that only made Keith bristle more. “This is Pidge, the town’s resident genius. If you’ve got a tech problem, you bring it to Pidge.”

“Pidge?” Keith echoed, skepticism thick in his voice. His eyes narrowed, as if expecting the punchline of a bad joke. “Your name is Pidge?”

“That’s what people call me, yes.” Pidge didn’t look up, eyes glued to their project, hands never faltering.

Keith shifted. “...And you’re not a child.”

“No,” Pidge confirmed, adjusting a tiny screw with nimble fingers.

“And you’re offering to make me gear for free?”

“Correct.”

Keith considered the offer. “I mean, there’s no harm in saying yes,” Keith finally admitted with a slight shrug.

“What are you looking for me to make? A trap? Like a bear trap?” Pidge asked, voice oddly resigned.

“Uh, no, actually.” Keith shook his head, dismissing the idea. “Just a motion sensor, maybe have it connected to a camera. That’s all.”

Pidge finally glanced up, curiosity etched their face. “You’re not gonna try and kill this ‘monster’?”

“No?” Keith replied, though it came out more like a question. “I just want to prove it exists, not kill it.”

“Huh.” Pidge blinks, adjusting their glasses.

“What?” Keith frowns.

“No, nothing. I just figured when Lance said there’s a monster hunter in town….” Pidge trails off, eyes flicking over Keith like they’re piecing together a puzzle.

Keith exhales sharply through his nose. “Ugh,” he groans. Of course. “Lance told you too?”

Pidge smirks like they’ve been expecting that question. “If you have a secret, you never tell Lance.”

“Lesson learned,” Keith mumbles, rubbing the back of his neck. “Don’t trust Lance.”

“Now, I didn’t say that.” Pidge raises an eyebrow. “He’s loyal when he needs to be.” Then, after a beat, they tack on, “Just not to new incomers that manage to push his buttons.”

Keith scoffs. “Fair enough.” He shrugs, not taking the bait. He knows he messed up—he can finally admit it.

“So,” Pidge starts, leaning against their workbench. “You want me to whip up a simple motion sensor? That’ll take a day max.”

Keith hesitates. “Are you sure you want to do it for free? I can definitely fund your expenses.” He still has that stone-cold cash from the ‘Dream Demon’ incident. Should be enough to cover whatever contraption Pidge puts together.

But Pidge just waves a dismissive hand. “Nah, it’s real simple. Don’t worry about it.”

Coran, who has been fiddling with some old wiring in the background, suddenly pipes up. “See, Keith? Pidge is as smart as a ‘low taper fade’!”

Keith grimaces. “Genuinely, I don’t think you know what that means.”

“I do! But maybe you don’t.” Coran argues, all wide-eyed conviction.

Pidge cackles, the sound sharp and quick, and Keith feels a weird warmth settle in his chest. It’s not romantic or anything, but it’s fuzzy. Light. Like standing near a fireplace and realizing it feels kind of nice. Is this what friendly banter feels like? He shakes his head, clearing the thought. He’s here to find a monster, not make friends.

He steps away, halfway out the workshop door. “Whatever. I'll be back in a day or so to pick up that motion sensor. In the meantime, I’m gonna go home and rest.”

–

Keith had woken up early that next morning, before the sun had risen. He had planned to record something for his podcast—update his listeners on his run-in with Coran and Pidge and lay out his next steps. He got as far as setting up his microphone and laptop before a sharp knock at the door interrupted him.

He checked the time. Still early. His eyes narrowed.

Grabbing his dagger just in case, he swung open the door, half-expecting some random burglar or maybe even the mailman.

He did not expect Pidge.

“Hey, Keith.”

“Oh,” Keith exhaled, shoulders easing up just slightly. Without thinking, he tucked the dagger into his pocket before they could notice. “Good morning, Pidge. Finish the sensor?”

Pidge snorted, hefting up a decent-sized box. “That, and some other gifts.”

Then, without waiting for an invitation, they shoved past him into the house.

Keith huffed. At least Lance had the decency to ask before barging in.

With an unceremonious thud, Pidge dropped the box onto his coffee table. Keith grumbled under his breath, shutting the door and shuffling over to stand beside them.

“What’s in the box?” he asked, already reaching for the lid.

“The sensor with that camera you wanted,” Pidge said. “All you have to do is place it wherever you want, and it should be good to go. No real work on your part, of course.”

Keith lifted a brow. “What else?”

“Straight to the point,” Pidge mused, nodding approvingly. “I respect it.”

They gestured to the contents of the box. “There’s an enhanced flashlight in there—no need for batteries. A new voice recorder for your ‘adorable little podcast,’ as Lance put it.” Keith immediately bit his cheek, refusing to react to that. If Pidge noticed, they didn’t comment.

“It uses less battery but has much better quality,” they continued. “Oh, and there’s a regular old compass. Just in case you get lost. I had the idea to add in GPS directions, because I can, but I figured you’d be the type to get annoyed by the constant guidance. So it’s normal.”

Keith nodded, impressed despite himself. “I appreciate it. Are you sure you don’t want any money for all this?”

Pidge waved a dismissive hand. “I’m all good.”

“Okay, then. Thanks, Pidge. I owe you.”

Pidge visibly stiffened. “Don’t say that.”

Keith blinked. That was… a weird reaction. Too sharp for a joke, too serious for them to be messing with him. He took note of it but wasn’t really sure what to do with it.

“…O-kay?” he said slowly. “Well, seriously, thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

With that, they turned on their heel and left, leaving Keith standing there, watching them go.

He frowned, turning back to the box. Did he say something wrong?

–

Keith waits until after lunch to go exploring in the woods. As helpful as Pidge’s inventions were, they didn’t provide everything he needed, so he waits for the town’s market to open, slinking in as soon as he can to grab the essentials—protein bars, water, paracord, and a map of the area, just in case. He moves through the aisles quickly, keeping his head down, grabbing what he needs, checking things off his paper list.

Once his basket is full, he heads toward the checkout, scanning for the fastest way out. He spots an open self-checkout and makes a beeline for it, only for someone to cut in front of him at the last second, practically materializing in his path. She hums softly to herself, completely unbothered, and Keith has to pull up short before he collides with her. He’s about to say something when she turns to face him, and—

Oh.

She’s gorgeous. White hair, sharp features, the kind of presence that makes the world blur for half a second. And when their eyes meet, Keith feels like he’s just walked headfirst into a dream, like his brain has short-circuited before he even had a chance to process what’s happening. Despite being perfectly secure in his own sexuality, he feels entranced , like he’s been hit over the head with something heavy and vaguely magical.

“I’m sorry,” she says, clearly in a rush, “Can I cut in line?”

Keith, against his better judgment, lamely responds without thinking.

“Uh-huh.”

She smiles, grateful, and turns back around, and the moment her gaze is off him, Keith feels like he’s been dropped back into reality. He blinks hard, trying to shake off whatever the hell that was, but it lingers, leaving him annoyed at himself. Just because a beautiful woman exists doesn’t mean he has to stand there like an idiot. He’s not even into women! He’s got no reason to be acting like this!

Scowling, he grips his basket a little tighter and exhales sharply through his nose, forcing himself to focus. He’s got better things to do than lose his mind over a stranger in the checkout line.

Once he arrives back home, he unpacks his haul, methodically fitting everything into his bag—protein bars tucked into one side pocket, water bottles strapped securely in place, paracord coiled neatly at the bottom, the map folded flat against the inner lining, and Pidge’s inventions carefully tucked into the bulk of the bag. He’s about to zip it all up when he hesitates, his fingers hovering over the bag’s opening.

He debates it for only a moment before deciding, Yeah, better safe than sorry. With practiced ease, he connects a sheath to his belt, slides a dagger into place, and gives it a quick tap to make sure it’s secure. Satisfied, he slings the backpack over his shoulders, adjusts the straps, and heads out the door.

“This is Keith Kogane. The date is October 4th, and the time is 1400 hours.” His voice is steady as he speaks into his new recorder, his thumb pressing down on the button. As he steps outside, he locks the backdoor behind him, testing the knob once to make sure it’s truly latched before descending the porch stairs in quick, confident strides.

He moves through the backyard with ease, stepping over patches of uneven ground, sidestepping a large fallen tree trunk, and slipping into the shadowed entrance of Altea’s forest. He keeps walking, his boots crunching against the dirt, his eyes flickering over every detail around him.

“I am currently entering Altea’s forest, where the town’s so-called ‘monster’ is rumored to live,” he continues, his tone measured, analytical. “I will update any findings.”

With that, he clicks the recorder off and slips it into his front pocket, keeping it within easy reach. His other hand drifts toward his belt, fingertips brushing the hilt of his dagger. Just in case.

–

Keith follows the compass, heading south, the needle jerking slightly as he moves. He stashes it away in his pocket when he stumbles upon the remains of a landmark—Hunter’s Rest. Once a hunter’s lodge, later converted into a museum, now nothing more than a wreckage swallowed by the forest. Keith had searched for records detailing what the museum once showcased, but he came up empty.

Great. Another thing to ask the townsfolk.

The building itself is barely recognizable, its skeletal remains jutting out from the earth like the bones of some ancient beast. The walls have collapsed inward, and the roof is a distant memory. More unsettling than the decay, though, are the claw marks. They scar the surrounding trees, deep grooves carved into the bark as if something massive had torn through the area in a fit of rage.

Keith crouches, his fingers brushing against the forest floor. He slings his backpack forward, digging through the pockets until his hands brush against the motion sensor. He gently grabs ahold of it, lugging it out. Keith fiddles with it until it’s standing, and hides it behind a bush– out of sight from anyone looking for it, but still visible enough to take pictures when triggered.

While still in a deep squat, Keith stares at the scattered debris, until he spots tufts of fur, coarse and dark, clinging stubbornly to the undergrowth. He picks up a small strand, rubbing it between his fingers. It’s thick, not like anything from a deer or a bear.

Then—

A twig snaps.

Keith's body tenses, muscles coiling like a spring. He whips his head toward the sound, his eyes locking onto a pair of wide, startled ones staring back at him from the shadows.

“Relax… I come in peace.” the figure says.

“If that’s true, why are you lurking in the shadows?”

“Why are you lurking in the shadows?”

Keith grits his teeth, rising to his full height. “Maybe I don’t come in peace. I could easily attack you with my dagger, you know. Take one step closer, and it’s going straight into your chest.”

“Alright, alright! I’m just a simple baker! Seriously, I'm not trying to attack you!”

“...Come out with your hands up.”

“I thought you told me not to come any closer!!” the man yelps.

“Just,” Keith groans. “Just come out.”

The man stumbles out from behind the bushes, hands raised high above his head in exaggerated surrender. He’s wearing a thick, earth-toned sweater, sleeves slightly too long as they bunch around his wrists, and in one of his hands, he holds a raw steak like some kind of bizarre peace offering.

“See?? I come in peace!” he insists, shaking the steak slightly for emphasis.

Keith sucks in a sharp breath, forcing himself to relax as he slides his dagger back into its sheath. He lets his eyes sweep over the man, trying to make sense of the whole situation, before settling on the mark on his forehead.

“You’ve got something on your forehead. Dirt, maybe?” Keith says, tilting his head.

“Oh! It’s Ash Wednesday…?” the man offers weakly.

Keith furrows his brows. “It’s a Friday.”

The man freezes for half a second before clicking his tongue. “Okay, you got me. I was doing face masks with my friend earlier, and I guess I didn’t wipe it all off.” He scratches at his cheek sheepishly, but makes no move to remove the mark.

They both stand there, unmoving, the air thick with unspoken questions.

“Well… are you going to?” Keith finally asks, gesturing vaguely at his own forehead.

“No! No… I– I have a bad batch of acne there. So it’s like. Might as well?” The man shrugs, though his voice rises an octave in clear nervousness.

Keith narrows his eyes, not entirely convinced, but decides to let it slide. “Right. Well… I’m searching for a monster.”

The man lets out a low whistle, tucking the steak under his arm as if it were a book. “A monster? I’m guessing you’re the town’s new monster hunter.”

“Lance got to you too?” Keith sulks, crossing his arms.

“Who do you think I was doing the face masks with?” Hunk grins, waving a hand over his still-smudged forehead.

Keith exhales sharply through his nose. “Fair. But yes, that’s me.”

Hunk tilts his head, squinting slightly like he’s sizing Keith up. “Be honest, did the government send you?”

“No, not at all. I’d never work with them. I just run my own podcast.”

“Oh, that’s cute!” Hunk beams.

Keith blinks. “…Thanks.”

The guy is weirdly friendly. Like, suspiciously friendly. But not in a bad way. Just in a Lance-adjacent kind of way. It makes him think of the unfinished pie sitting out on his kitchen counter. Maybe he really should pay him a visit.

“I’m Hunk, by the way.”

Keith raises an eyebrow at the strange name but bites his tongue. He’s met weirder– like Pidge. Instead, he nods toward him. “I’m sure Lance already told you everything about me?”

Hunk nods enthusiastically before pausing to double-check. “But you’re not here to hurt any monster?”

“No. Just prove they exist. Why does everyone assume I’m on the hunt for it?” Keith throws up his hands.

Hunk shrugs, shifting the raw steak to his other hand. “Well… you are called a monster hunter. One can only assume…”

Keith sighs, rubbing a hand down his face. “I guess you’re right.” He exhales, glancing around at the claw-marked trees and wreckage of Hunter’s Rest before turning his attention back to Hunk. “We both know what I’m doing here, but what’re you doing here?”

Hunk raises an eyebrow. “Would you be surprised if I said the same thing?”

Keith frowns. “Really?” The idea that someone else might be tracking the creature as well sends a spark of unease down his spine. But no—Hunk had already said he was a baker, hadn’t he? So then… Why was he out here?

“Well,” Hunk continues, shifting on his feet, “the ‘monster,’ as you want to call it, actually saved me from a really bad run-in with the town’s most hated person. Scared him off. So I figured… maybe he’d appreciate a steak or something.”

Keith blinks. “ He ?”

Hunk rubs at his arm, glancing away. “Well, I feel better calling him a ‘he’ versus an ‘it.’”

“Just seems a bit too… humanizing.”

Hunk’s gaze sharpens, eyes narrowing. “For someone who doesn’t want to kill the creature, you are quite insensitive.”

Keith presses his lips into a thin line, then exhales. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” The words taste dry on his tongue, but he figures he might as well play nice. He’s gotten pretty far with playing nice —if the free gear is anything to go by. “I guess I’m just wondering about your experience with… him. You said you had a run-in?”

“I did.” Hunk’s grip tightens on the steak. “And that’s all I feel comfortable sharing.”

Keith watches him carefully, noting the slight tension in his shoulders, the shift of his weight from foot to foot. Whatever happened, Hunk isn’t eager to part with it. But Keith isn’t worried– he knows he’ll get what he wants.

“How did you even learn about our forest creature ?”

Keith exhales sharply through his nose, answering honestly. “An anonymous tip.”

Hunk frowns. “I bet that ‘anonymous tip’ was given by the town’s most hated person. He’s the only one who’s ever had some trouble with him.”

“Oh really? What sort of trouble?” Keith prompts.

“Well he— oh you’re good.” Hunk points at him, steak in hand. “I'm not sharing that information.”

“I was so close.” Keith smiles, not unkindly.

…Did he just tease Hunk? What is happening to him? “Do you mind telling me about the appointed ‘most-hated-villager’? Maybe I can chat with them?”

“I would, but I'm afraid he’d ruin the creature’s reputation. The ‘monster’, as you call him, really isn’t bad, he’s just trying to live his own life.”

“That’s what Lance said too.” Keith says before he can catch himself.

“And you didn’t believe him?” Hunk raises an eyebrow, defensively. Seems like Keith touched a nerve with that one.

“I believe that he believed what he was saying. But I personally hadn't had a run-in with this monster. But you have. Please, prove me wrong and say he has a good heart.”

“Lance, or the creature?”

Keith furrows his brows. “We both know I'm talking about ‘the creature’. Lance has his own morals he sticks to.”

“I have a feeling you trust lance more than you let on.”

Keith purses his lips. “Maybe I'd like to believe Lance's morals about this creature. But that's up to what you share.”

Hunk shifts his gaze across Keith’s face, searching for something. Keith, despite himself, allows him to. Whatever Hunk was looking for, he must’ve found it, because his shoulders sag. “Fine. I'll indulge.”

Keith can’t help the small smile that creeps onto his face. “Do you mind if I record the conversation? Just to put it on the record?”

“Sure, but you better not include my name.”

“I’ll respect it.” Keith rummages through his pocket for the voice recorder. When he finds it, he hits the record button with a soft click. “So, anonymous person, what was your experience with the town’s monster?”

“Well. I had gotten into a scuffle with the town outcast.”

“The supposed most-hated-villager?” Keith clarifies, more for his listeners than himself.

“…Yes. Him. well he had ended up cornering me in the woods, threatening to carve me up in the woods.”

Keith’s jaw drops. He was… not expecting that. Altea seemed like such a nice, quiet town– definitely not the type to have attempted murder. “Holy shit”

“Right?” Hunk continues. “Well it was late in the night, and I couldn't see 10 feet in front of me. But he started advancing towards me and i didnt know what to do– I'm just the town’s baker! Well, suddenly, seemingly from nowhere, this large creature leapt over me and started protecting me from the villager. He curled around me and growled, loud enough to scare them off.”

“What did it look like?” Keith prods. He was so glad he ran into Hunk.

“He.” Hunk corrects.

“I'm sorry. What did he look like?”

“Well, he was large. Like larger than me. Covered in this grey fur. And had this bushy tail.”

It fits the same description that Lance had given. What kind of monster is larger than a man, and as furry as an animal?

“A werewolf.” Keith breathlessly says.

Hunk swallows harshly. “I think I've said too much.”

Keith turns off the recording. “This is off the record. Between just the two of us, did it seem like a werewolf?”

Hunk shakes his head. “Seriously, I said more than I meant.”

At this point, Keith was talking more to himself than hunk. “No wonder you’re protecting this werewolf– his human form lives amongst you! Be honest, do you know who he is?”

Hunk stares at him with sad eyes before shaking his head. “I don’t. And honestly? You shouldn’t either. Whoever it is is a good person. And if you keep prodding where you’re not welcome, you’ll just be making enemies in the town.”

Before Keith could respond, Hunk turns and walks away, casually taking his steak further into the woods. Keith’s instinct is to follow, to press for more, but the sinking sun—casting long, eerie shadows over the trees—gives him pause. His grip tightens on the recorder for a second before he sighs and stuffs it back in his pocket. It’s best not to stay out too late, just in case something is out there. Well, correction. Something is out there, but Keith is not prepared to find it– him– quite yet.

With one last glance toward Hunk, Keith hesitates. Reluctantly, he turns and heads back to his house, the crunch of his footsteps in the underbrush the only sound as the last of the daylight slips away.

#voltron #voltron fanfic #klance fanfiction #fanfiction #klance #keith x lance #keith kogane #lance mcclain #voltron coran #originally posted on ao3 #pidge voltron #hunk voltron #allura voltron

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catholic-character-tournament · 2 years ago

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CONTESTANTS

I will make the bracket soon but if anyone has any reason why X character shouldn't be in the tournament, let me know. (Please no Kristen Applebee discourse, the pro-Kristen is catholic got to me)

Philip Wittebane has been disqualified

The main I'm ??? Idk if they should be allowed is Philip Wittebane/Emperor Belos

Propaganda was:

Okay okay so like he's technically Puritan-coded but like the Catholic background is still applicable imo. This man truly acts like he's a "savior" and really goes full martyr mode where instead of being like "yeah no my actions were reprehensible" he's like "I AM BEING PERSECUTED FOR DOING WHATS RIGHT BY RIDDING THE WORLD OF THESE WICKED VILE WITCHES". He also follows some Catholic symbolism pretty heavily in the last episode: he's posed similarly to Jesus being crucified, in a monster form he strikes a pose reminiscent of the Adam and God painting from the Sistine Chapel, and he even calls the Boiling Isles(a place full of witches and demons separate from the human realm) a "Perdition", which is "a state of eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and unpenitent person passes after death." in Catholic theology. So YES he's Puritan coded but I feel there's enough overlap to consider him for Catholic. Hear me out I know I said Philip was probably Puritan so like. Imagine how funny it'd be to be lumped in the Catholic pool. He would be FURIOUS at being called Catholic he would HATE it. It'd be hilarious. Please consider it.

His whole villain modus operandi is crowning himself Emperor in what could reasonably be interpreted in-universe as Hell (it's not, but it sure does fit a lot of the stereotypical requirements of Hell in roundabout ways, specifically Dante's Inferno kind of stuff) by claiming that he's a prophet/follower/proclaimer etc. of "the Titan's Will" which is basically just a reskin of God's Will aka the typical uber-controlling religious fear mentality the Catholic church was and still kind of is known for. He claims that "wild" or unrestricted magic is displeasing the Titan (the main, uh, god-figure? sorta? of the show) leading everyone to destruction (sin) and that the only way to "please the Titan" is to submit to "magical purification" aka have one's magic be sealed off to only allow one type of magic to be used at a time. Those that don't adhere to this "purification" are evil Wild Witches that must be eradicated. The whole ideology is just Catholic repentance and crusading with a different coat of paint. Not only that but he literally built himself a castle with Catholic aesthetics, specifically church/cathedral ones—it has tons of stained glass windows and painting depicting his "virtues" and accomplishments in clearly religious ways, similar to how Catholic churches use their stained glass windows. He also cloaks a lot of his actions as being a part of "the Titan's Will" and is the main interpreter of said Will, which is pretty much like being the Pope. The kicker of it all is that he's just using all of this as a ruse to eradicate all of witch/demonkind because he's a witch hunter with a grudge nearly 400 years old and still going strong—the ends justify the means and all that.

This bitch is a radical Puritan Protestant witch hunter (the Puritan part being subtext due to where he specifically originated from, the witch hunter part EXPLICITLY CANON) and he just goes full ham on the Catholic Pope aesthetic when he becomes Emperor—lots of gold, grand regalia/clothing, religious iron fist, the whole bit. Over witches and demons, the very thing he's trying to wipe from existence to "save humanity." He basically becomes the fucking Demon Realm Anti-Christ Pope or something. Something something you became the very thing you swore you would destroy something something. The finale of the show ends off with him BECOMING A DRAGON (Revelations allegory) because he got turned into parasitic green goop. The irony here is so massively ridiculous it's insane. Not only that but HE'D HATE BEING NOMINATED AS A CATHOLIC. CAN YOU IMAGINE? PURITAN WITCH HUNTER BECOMING TUMBLR'S CANONIZED PATRON SAINT? HE'D BE SO FREAKING PISSED ABOUT IT (deserved)

List below cut

Matt Murdock/Daredevil (Daredevil)

kurt wagner/nightcrawler (x-men)

Nicholas D. Wolfwood (Trigun)

Homura Akemi (Madoka Magica)

Vector the Crocodile (Sonic the Hedgehog)

Kirei Kotomine (Fate franchise)

Ronan Lynch (The Raven Cycle)

Temenos Mistral (Octopath Traveler 2)

John Ward (FAITH)

Claude Frollo(The Hunchback of Notre Dame)

Eddie Brock (Venom)

Enrico Pucci (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Amon from (Tokyo Ghoul)

Galahad (The Mechanisms)

Harrowhark Nonagesimus (The Locked Tomb)

Johnathan (Shin Megami Tensei IV)

Seeley Booth (Bones)

Doomguy (Doom)

Pope Pinion IV (Cars)

707/Luciel Choi (Mystic Messenger)

Aymeric de Borel (Final Fantasy 14)

Dana Scully (the X files)

Father Alexander Anderson (Hellsing)

Ky Kiske (Guilty Gear)

Akane Kurashiki (Zero Escape)

Hell boy (HellBoy)

Kristen Applebees (Dimension 20's Fantasy High)

Louis de Pointe du Lac (Interview with the Vampire/The Vampire Chronicles)

Pastry Cookie (Cookie Run Kingdom)

Sister Michael (Derry Girls)

Wesley Hailoh (Rhyme and Reason)

Abuela Alma Madrigal (Encanto)

The Derry Girls (Derry Girls)

Aslan from (Chronicles of Narnia)

Father Paul (Midnight Mass)

Helena Bertinlli (DC comics)

Jean Valjean (Les Misérables)

Mac McDonald (It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia)

Mark Heathcliff (The Mandela Catalogue)

Saint Citrina Rocks (Dimension 20's A Crown of Candy)

Tatsumi Kazehaya (Ensemble Stars)

Belizabeth Brassica (Dimension 20's A Crown of Candy)

Caesar Zeppeli (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure)

Chrollo Lucilfer (Hunter x Hunter)

Father Brown (Father Brown)

Gabriel (Ultrakill)

Hot Pants (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Javert (Les Miserables)

Jeanne d'Arc (Alter) - Fate/Grand Order

Justin Law (Soul eater)

Lady Rhea (Fire Emblem)

Luis Serra Navarro (Resident Evil)

Mello (Death Note)

Ryker | Show: Roleslaying With Roman

Nate Ford (Leverage)

Nico D'Angelo (Percy Jackson)

Patton Sanders (Sanders Sides (Web Series))

Pucci (Jojos Bizarre Adventure)

Puss in Boots

Quasimodo (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)

SCP-166 (Just a Teenage Gaia)

Shadow the Hedgehog (sonic)

Sir Keradin Deeproot (Dimension 20's A Crown of Candy)

The Penitent One (Blasphemous)

Tobias Schneien (Ghost Eyes)

Vito Corleone (The Godfather)

Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel the Series)

Asia Argento (High School DxD)

chuck e. cheese

Bishop Raphaniel Charlock from Dimension 20 - the Ravening War

Blake Langermann - Outlast 2

Brother Cellanus from The Completely Unerotic Adventures of Brother Cellanus

carlos reyes from 911 lone star

Carrie White (Carrie)

Catherine of Aragon (SIX the Musical)

CC from Code Geass

Detective William Murdoch (Murdoch Mysteries)

Double (Skullgirls)

Doug Jones from The VelociPastor

Dracule Mihawk (One Piece)

Duo Maxwell from Gundam Wing

Father John Mulcahy- MASH

Felicia Hardy (Black Cat) | Spiderman

Firestar warrior cats

Flayn from Fire Emblem Three Houses

Frank Castle

Gerard from Unholyverse

Gloria Maria Ramirez Delgado-Pritchett (Modern Family)

Ibara Shiozaki from My Hero Academia

Inori Yamabuki/Cure Pine and Fresh Precure

Jason Todd in DC Comics

John "Soap" MacTavish (Call of Duty)

John Gaius (The Locked Tomb)

Junk rat from Overwatch

Knuckles the hedgehog from Sonic.

Kuroe (Magia Record)

Kyoko Sakura from Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Leliana (Dragon Age)

Lestat de Lioncourt - the Vampire Chronicles (Books/Movies/TV)

Libra (from Fire Emblem: Awakening)

Link - The Legend of Zelda

Maddie Fitzpatrick (Suite Life of Zack and Cody)

Marcy Park (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)

Mercedes - Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Michael Carpenter (Dresden Files)

Michael Corleone, the Godfather

Ocean O'Connell Rosenberg from Ride the Cyclone

Philip Wittebane/Emperor Belos - The Owl House (disqualified)

Pontifex Belizabeth Brassica from Dimension 20's A Crown of Candy

Rin Okumura from Blue Exorcist

Robocop

Sasuke from Naruto

Shiozaki Ibara bnha

Shiro Fujimoto from Blue Exorcist

simon belmont castlevania

Steve Rogers

Tammy Edwards from the play Legoland by Jacob Richmond

Valeria Garaz (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 reboot)

Valery Michailov (Goncharov - 1973)

Zakuro Fujiwara from Tokyo Mew Mew

Kawabuchi Sentarou (Kids on the Slope)

Kaworu Nagisa (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

Emilio Santoz from The Sparrow

Remy LeBeau (Gambit) from Marvel Comics X-Men

jesus but from jesus christ superstar. i think this should count

Leon from 8:11

Sister Mary from The Young Pope

Replacement:

Miles Morales (Marvel Comics)

Friar Tuck (Robin Hood)

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uraniumnm333 · 2 years ago

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I NEED TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE SYMBOLISM + REFERENCES IN THE NEW EVENT CARDS !!!! OR I'M GOING TO EXPLODE !!!!!!

Okay so FIRST i'm going to go thru what i think are all the refs here, obviously most of these are probably wronga nd i'm just grasping at straws BUT:

jackpot sad girl (obvious)

white day mafuyu (similair color pal, strings in the front kind of look like the glass shatter effect ? plus the ribbons kind of look like shizuku's card)

kanadetomosusora (that's what i thought when i saw the window in the right background, but i could be wrong)

(not in her card but everyone else's) hidden snow white event (the heart/apple shaped gem)

(ALSO not in her card but) tricologe (the gem)

ANYWAYS i have. a lot of thoughts and theories about this card. FIRST I'd like to bring your attention to the mask that's split in half. what i noticed was how there's a little bit of the white side still clinging onto the black side. i saw this as maybe how a bit of himself is still going to be lost ? like he's never going to be completely whole, as someone else (his mom) stole it (childhood). another thing is the ribbons. if you look closely, most of them appear to be dirtied, much like the vocaloid's drip in the empty sekai. i don't think mafuyu's really worn a dirty looking outfit. i'd argue even in the snow white thing his skirt didn't give the appearance of being dirty, just foggy. but the ribbons all look frayed and stained. and my third thing here is the string that's almost pulled tight around his neck. it's like if he doesn't cut the string with the scissors in his hand (might i mention they look a lot like embroidery or sewing scissors) the string will pull tight around his neck. but it'll also bring everything else crashing down, like the furniture. maybe this is like, a reference to how by embracing how he really feels his life is going to have to crash down before he can rebuild it ?? just a thought yk. ALSO I JUST NOTICED THIS BUT THE LIGHT IS COMING FROM THE SIDE OF THE BLACK MASK MAYBE SYMBOLIZING HOW HIS MOM THINKS SHE IS SAVING HIM (ie light is usually seen as good) BUT IS STILL BAD FOR HIM !!!!! also the wind is blowing in the opposite direction of the light soooooooooo. yeah. mafutime over.

the refences HERE are kinda easy. i think it's mostly a ref to infinitely gray but there might be an i nandesu/nomad ref that was absolutely lost on me. but the way ena is jumping from the gray reminds me of the gray from the infinitely gray set (take a shot everytime i say gray). it almost makes it kind of look like she's jumping out of a painting which i thought was cool. ANYWAYS m thoughts on this card are everything everywhere all at once. i think they gemstone heart apple thing is supposed to represent mafuyu. ena is reaching out because she wants to express her feelings towards mafuyu (she's jealous she's proud of him ect ect ect) but can never seem to reach him. but instead of giving up he's pulling the words apart (the strings) to get to him instead. ena's driven by passion, and even though she's stubborn, that's good sometimes. she wants to save mafuyu, going so far as to break out of her infinitely gray moment. also it kind of appears as though she's going from the light into the dark ? i dunno these thoughts are all over. i also think this card's fun bc ena and mafuyu's dynamic is the most interesting. in the main story ena was the only one not to idolize or pity mafuyu. unlike mizuki or kanade who kind of coddled him or whatever ena was just firing shots at him. ena's card also features a lot of tools used to create things, or artistic kind of things (that thing you use to spin thread, books that someone's written, a picture frame w what appears to be a painting) which might allude to how badly she wants to make things.

i'm pretty sure mizuki's references their ID SMILE event w all the glossy ribbons and such. NOW with mizook's,,,, i have a lot to say. first of all the fact that it looks like they're singing to the heart gemstone. it looks like they're quietly supporting it, but never really getting close enough to touching it. similar to mafuyu and mizuki's relationship, they're usually standing on the sidelines and giving mafuyu pieces of advice but never getting close enough to sharing their own feelings. kinda like how mizuki's afraid of getting close to people, so they never get too close to the crystal !!! another thing is the heart gem on their lapel. for this i'd like to cite their relationshipt to mafuyu as stated in the wiki: "Fellow circle member. Mizuki seems to understand Mafuyu's experience, and does their best to support her quietly." which is basically alluding to the fact that mizuki can closely relate to mafuyu !!! just like how mizuki's gem on their lapel looks similair to the apple gem thing, they both relate to one another in these experienes. mizuki, though, keeps their feelings close to their chest (literally in this card) and doesn't let them interfere w their support w mafuyu. also w the whole shared experiences thing, the string in the front of the card is already cut. this made me think that mizuki has already cut the string binding them to the expectations of others, and is now trying to help mafuyu do the same ? what made me think this was that there's no scissors in mizuki's card, which implies that it's been cut for a while. also there looks to be a vanity stand, dresser and teapot which makes me think of mizuki's love for cute things. similair to ena's card. or maybe i'm just reading intothese props too much i dunno.

i wanted to do kanade's last bc i was just. so hyped. i love this card. i'm listening to the kanade solo cover of hated by life just for this. i love her so much. okay. so first of all i think the ivy growing is a reference to carnation recollection just like how mizuki and ena's are refs to their first focuses. also there's all the musical things which are LOVELY. I AM IN LOVE (is about to change their blog theme just for this). something i noticed was how even though the strings are still present in kanade;s card, they're not tying her down to anything. the things around her aren't tied down, either. honestly it almost looks like the shine of a gemstone (... tricologe. also i'm sure there's a samsa ref here. kanade's special she gets all of her focus events). anyways another thing i love is kanade's relationship to mafuyu portrayed in the card. nobody else is as close to mafuyu as kanade is. unlike ena, she doesn't need to fight to get close. unlike mizuki, she's not afraid to get close. she holds mafuyu close to her heart, without fear of what loving him might be. she's just,,,, *starts sobbing*

she also seems to be underwater which is kind of ???? to me bc like. i don't think there's really any ocean cards. maybe it's a ref to the kanadetomosusora mv when the water's dripping ??? so like now the water's not just dripping it's fully filled up now ? also maybe, since the strings seem to be refering to the control mafuyu's mom has over him, kanade's protecting him from it ??? yeah i dunno.

#ran thoughts :thumbs up:#project sekai #pjsekai #mafuyu asahina #mizuki akiyama #kanade yoisaki #ena shinonome

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