#staircases idea

[tititilani]

I can't stop thinking about if Simon had taken Edwin's offer

Like Charles finds Edwin in the hallway as ever but this time there's another boy there too, cowering against the wall next to him. Maybe the dollhead spider doesn't care about Simon, too busy focusing on its favorite target, so Charles is left standing in the hallway with Simon when Edwin is taken.

They get out of hell, but Edwin doesn't confess due to Simon hovering behind his elbow. He doesn't want to confess his emotions in front of his killer, who he probably hasn't even properly figured out how he's feeling towards yet.

The Night Nurse is pissed they came out with an extra soul but Niko's same loophole still applies and Simon stays.

"This is Simon," Edwin says when it's all said and done, finally introducing the boy that's been hiding behind him since the door closed. "He was a...classmate of mine."

"He saved me," Simon says, looking up at Edwin moony-eyed and Charles knows that look and something settles heavy in his stomach.

"Glad to have ya, mate," he tells him even though the words taste sour. This other boy knew Edwin when he was alive, the thought is slightly terrifying to him.

Simon settles in fine with the agency even if the agency feels a little crowded now with five people in it but he continues to moon over Edwin and Edwin just...never tells anyone how they actually knew each other. He reasons it just doesn't matter, that he can't find the right time, whatever.

Charles never really warms up to him, though he tries to hide it, but he sees the looks Simon gives Edwin, a soppy smitten look that is somehow worse than anything Monty or the Cat King ever tried with Edwin because of all of them, Simon arguably knows the most about like Edwardian courting. That, like Edwin, Simon has also survived hell. Charles hates the idea that someone could potentially understand Edwin more than he does.

He hates it so much that nothing further happens between him and Crystal because the idea of Edwin being left alone with Simon bothers him so much. He sees Simon adjusting Edwin's collar one (1) time and it makes him feel sick.

And then there's the fortune-teller.

They only go to her sometimes for cases because she never fails to freak Charles out but her prophecies tend to be accurate like 60% of the time which is pretty good for a fortune teller. She looks at the two of them at the end, because it is just the two of them for once, and then looks just at Edwin.

"How kind you are," she says, the words a compliment but the tone snide. "To house your killer. Pray tell it doesn't come back to you."

"What." Charles says. "The fuck."

Charles is furious, of course, and it takes Edwin a long time to talk him out of smashing Simon's face in with the new cricket bat.

"He's like me," he insists in that quiet but firm voice. Charles wants to scream that Simon is nothing like Edwin - that he doesn't have a fraction of Edwin's kindness or pissiness, that his blue eyes are not nearly as beautiful as Edwin's green - but before he can even open his mouth, Edwin continues. "He...He likes boys, Charles. He likes me."

Oh. Oh.

Charles stares at Edwin who is looking back at him, trying and failing to hide the fact he's terrified, and Charles doesn't give one shit that Edwin likes boys because he's his best mate forever. He's still pissed that Simon is apparently staying but he has to hug Edwin at that. "I'm still pissed you didn't tell me about him," is all he says, swallowing back the other words he wants to say.

Charles grows even more paranoid about Simon being around, who has to get used to the fact that Charles takes to swinging his cricket bat ominously every time he comes within ten feet of Edwin. He finds out that adjusting clothing was an Edwardian courting thing and wants to break something. The very idea the very person who killed his best mate is now trying to put the moves on said best mate pisses him off.

It also makes him think of numerous times Edwin had readjusted his collar or jacket in the past and it makes his non-existent stomach flip.

Eventually, Simon decides he's ready to move on to his after-life and Charles keeps his hands from fisting when he looks at Edwin with that same soppy look. He knows Edwin has forgiven Simon by now but Charles has always been better at holding a grudge and he knows what is going to come out of Simon's mouth before he even asks. He knows that if Edwin says yes, he won't stop him.

Charles also knows that if Edwin does, there is no way he is going to find any kind of his own afterlife.

"You could come with me," Simon says hopefully and the moment after is the longest in Charles' life.

"Thank you, Simon," Edwin says kindly and Charles has to keep himself from crying. "But I have no interest in going anywhere without Charles."

He steps back - away from Simon and back towards Charles. Ears suspiciously pink, Edwin links their hands and they watch as Simon follows the Night Nurse.

[frigidlyauthorial]

also obsessed that both outie and innie marks' plans hinged on the other one just figuring out the next step on the spot

[toyastales]

Everything comes together so well ( the stained glass windows, intricate railing design, ad pendant lights).

[paranormaljones]

Honestly though I feel so awful for Lockwood in The Screaming Staircase. He extended an insane amount of mercy to Lucy considering his past. He lost his entire family to The Problem and more specifically his sister to a Visitor that was unintentionally let loose in his house. And then along comes Lucy who unleashes Annie Ward's ghost in his house twice (the first time unintentionally, the second 100% on purpose and without asking). Like, can you imagine what he was going through on both occasions and especially on the second when it was done on purpose??? And he barely even told her off for that one, though he was very clearly deeply upset about it at first. Babygirl I would have had a panic attack. That poor boy.

[departmentofinteriors]

[shirozora-draws]

Part 1 of "dinluke + kisses ruined my workflow". Part 2 is in the far future because I am writing two fics, I don't have the time to map out and draw a 1-page silent comic. I am also still rusty as hell so maybe work on drawing a bit more before attempting another comic? Maybe????

Inspired by me losing my mind over an ask for an ask game. Huge shoutout to @violets-and-mints-reblogs for derailing the last hours of my workday. I really needed that break from writing.

[more-than-ideas]

all the light

The Dr. Oliver Bronson House & Estate

[stuck-in-jelly]

If The Dragon Prince wont give me Soren and Corvus trapped in the puzzle house trying to solve the puzzles and riddles I’ll do it myself

[etherealarte]

[ndlightingfactory]

Snapshot of factory and machine still running at night due to high demand.visit www.ndgogogo.com to get yours and it will bring you a big market. Contact Monica if you want to be agent in your city.

[kairithemang0]

Thinking about Owen leaning towards Curt's gun, his head pressed against the barrel, small tears in his eyes as he waits for Curt to pull the trigger. He sits there for a few seconds, and then everything goes blank, the bullet in his skull, he hits the floor, Curt's gun clacking to the steps below, realizing what he's done

[thegikitiki]

Home Design & Decor, 1976

[dolokhoded]

my one season 4 complaint is Where The Fuck Was Aneesa

[asexualenjolras]

Hermione Granger sitting and sobbing on the staircase after the Yule Ball all alone because the person she loves more than anything in the whole world has hurt her feelings, and she has nobody to talk to about it.

And Scorpius Malfoy sitting and sobbing on the staircase after Staircase Ballet all alone because the person he loves more than anything in the whole world has hurt his feelings, and he has nobody to talk to about it.

[departmentofinteriors]