#that toe scene was traumatizing though

[vigilante24ish]

Have you come to notice in the new KAOS series that whenever Poseidon shows up to mortals, specifically Minoas, it is always in the bathroom?

Which sort of makes sense cause he is the god of the seas and almost God of the water. So Kaos sort of establishes that Poseidon can teleport where there is Open Water? Like those ancient spirits that haunt you and can appear through clear reflections?

Now, this also brings me to another question. When Ari rules, will he also dare to show up while she is in the bathroom? Because I am sure my girl Ari would not take it kindly being invaded in her own bathroom, god or no god.

P.S. It definitely it was a nice touch because it shows how little the gods think or care about humans. To invade their privacy to such degree and not give a shit.

[arsenicflame]

i sometimes get the impression that a lot of people forget that while our flag means death is a comedy, it does know how to handle trauma well within the narrative. we are shown it over and over with the flashbacks for ed and stede and jim. at no point do they play the real trauma of the situation for laughs, its treated with the weight it deserves, while still being part of a comedy show

[defire]

So it frustrates me (in whump movie scenes) when you can tell the actor has never been in this kind of pain before (or at least they're not translating it to the scene!)

Like.

Caning. Whumper should yelp and flinch, then groan and cover the spot protectively afterward.

Whipping, whumpee should should SCREAM. Do a lot of shrieking and then shudder and whimper and huddle into yourself.

Also the pain BUILDS. Even if they don't strike the same spot (they probably will though).

If whumpee is trying to be stoic, what are they doing to hold in their screams? Gripping a chair leg? Holding their breath? Cursing? At every blow, they're still going to wince, flinch, clench their fingers and toes, hyperventilate, and every other reflex your body does to get you away from danger. and if they have to hold a position they WILL be shaking by the end.

Gun pointed at they're head? Flinch. Look away for a second. Something to show that they're scared of dying or AT LEAST scared of the pain on the way.

Got cut? That pain often comes in waves (especially with infection!) so they'll be talking, then they'll wince and grab the spot with a grunt of pain, then like, "shhit." or something. Grab another shot of whiskey.

And sudden traumatic injuries they've never had before, yes, they can walk it off for a minute, if the limb is mostly functional. But as soon as that adrenaline fades and they feel like it's safe, they are going to drop, screaming.

Tied up. The instinctive reaction is a quick tug at the bonds and then start panicking at having their arms trapped.

On that note: with their ankles and wrists tied behind them, you may still be able to roll just as fast as crawling!

Also a note for whumpers, if you're threatening whumpee with a stiletto:

You are threatening to STAB into the SIDE of their neck, not slice their throat across the front!! You also want to keep them very close to you (manhandle them!) so they can't worm out of your grasp while you're threatening them. Think like a hug. <3

[verysium]

ACT 1, SCENE 3: blue lock headcanons

sae is into skincare: lotions, serums, the whole set. he and rin used to have self-care nights as children during which they would sit in bed with matching face masks and watch cartoons on the family tablet. if they were in a good mood, they would let you join.

barou listens to classical while working out. no joke. this man is so insanely focused he will shoot goals and play paganini at the same time. his work ethic is low-key why you were attracted to him the first place.

nagi is lazy to the point he will deliberately buy five pairs of the same exact pants just to save himself the trouble of having to choose an outfit in the morning. thank god for reo otherwise nagi would still be dressing like he just crawled out of bed. he still can't do much about his bedhead though.

rin desperately wanted to join sae in the deeper end of the community pool; however, he was deathly afraid of drowning. his only logical solution was to cover himself in pool floaties while he dipped a single toe into the water. even to this day, he still has traumatic memories of that experience. you need to hold his hand every time.

kaiser acts like his football prowess comes entirely from natural talent. in reality, he trains to an obsessive degree behind the scenes. you could come home at midnight, and he would still be there replaying every single highlight of his recent game. he is the type to keep detailed notes about all the players he went up against.

isagi likes to walk around his hometown of saitama and just observe the snapshots of life around him. whether it's a street vendor, children playing on a grass patch, or a couple in the sunset, he secretly enjoys these little vignettes of human experience. he would become sentimental when it comes to you. sometimes you have to pull his head out of the clouds.

nagi has parents who work overseas, so the most he sees of them is through video calls or holiday presents. occasionally, he also gets a birthday card shipped through international mail. when you threw him his first surprise party, he secretly felt touched because his family was never big on physical celebrations.

sae is ridiculously good at anything that involves data and calculations. he participated in a math competition one time in junior high, and he would have made it to the national level had he not been entirely focused on football. refused to tutor rin in algebra though because apparently his little brother has to figure out everything for himself. if it were you though, he would begrudgingly agree.

bachira holds the world record in procrastination. his notebook, pencil, and eraser are still as untouched and pristine as they were on the first day of the academic school year. he does not know what a book is, nor has he read one. he only studied because you refused to cuddle with him otherwise.

ego eats so many cups of instant ramen noodles that his glasses begin to fog up from time to time. anri has to clean the frames and lenses weekly just to make sure his myopic self can even see. at this point, she's the real MVP of the entire series.

barou likes to open the windows right after it rains because he enjoys the sweet smell of petrichor. his ideal day would be spent lounging on a couch with some tea and a novel. it would be even more perfect if you snuggled under the blankets with him.

niko sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night, immensely insecure about his forehead. he thinks it looks giant though it really isn't. you have to brush his fringe back and pepper kisses down his face and remind him that a big forehead means a big, sexy brain, so it really isn't that bad. he believes you and goes back to sleep.

shidou would make fun of boomers. in fact, he'd ridicule every single person he considers past their prime. he does not believe in any form of authority, nor does he like being told what to do. if he had his way, he would have turned the entire world into anarchy a long time ago. the only reason why he doesn't wake up and make himself everyone's problem is because he doesn't want to upset you.

kaiser knows he is very well-endowed physically, so he purposefully walks around your apartment shirtless. if he catches you eyeing him, he will make a big deal out of it. tries to not-so-subtly flex his biceps every time he reaches for the milk carton.

reo loves cocktail dresses, especially in the wine red shade. something about the accentuated figure and natural curves gives him goosebumps. his favorite part of you is when your tummy slightly protrudes after you've eaten too much. you might think it's embarrassing, but he thinks it's adorable.

rin only uses shower gel, mostly because he learned his lesson after using the locker room shower stalls. never use bar soap, always use bottled. he's also the type to always have shower shoes. sae taught him that.

bachira is the type of student to completely misread the question and still not feel bad after the teacher points it out. oh no, he was actually supposed to solve for x, not just circle it? he'll shrug it off like nothing ever happened. at least he tried. the teacher should be grateful for his effort.

sae says he does not understand the sentiments behind cute couple traditions but then proceeds to get upset when you show up to his game without wearing his jersey. would definitely get you matching bracelets for your anniversary.

aiku has a high spice tolerance. he would definitely drown his food either in sriracha or buldak sauce. if you can't handle spicy though, he would set aside a separate plate just for you and manually spoon out the food just to make sure you have something to eat too.

aryu never has dry cuticles. he is always trimming and filing to perfection. sometimes he has beef with your nail tech because he thinks he could have done so much better on your acrylics. refuses to let you go to a salon because he already has all the tools and expertise necessary.

sae does not know how to cook. his manager has always ordered take-out for him. the one time he tried to use a microwave, he completely misread the package instructions and nearly burned the entire building down. called you up with the straightest face afterwards to tell you that the smoke alarms were not shutting off.

barou unconsciously caves into peer pressure. every single new trend makes him rethink his personal style. however, he views it all with an old man mentality. like what are these youngsters doing these days? dying their hair every possible color of the rainbow? he has to do that too. proceeds to call aryu to add red streaks into his own hair. sometimes you have to remind him that external opinion should always taken with a grain of salt.

chigiri has a major sweet tooth. if you so much as bake him one single treat, he will have made plans to put a ring on your finger before he even finishes the damn pastry. his ideal partner is someone mature and understanding who can take care of him well. definitely likes the homemaker type.

gagamaru is the seeing friend in your relationship. no matter how many trips he makes to the optometrist, he will always come back with perfect 20/20 vision. definitely a nature enthusiast, and he loves hiking. even if you're blind as a bat, he will always be there to hold your hand in the dark.

© verysium 2023 / please do not translate, repost, or plagiarize any of my works

[starhvney]

𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝟑 | 𝟏𝟔: 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃

𝐂𝐖: um... more violence and mentions of traumatic injuries, cussing but like how offensive is that in comparison to the other stuff at this point

𝐀/𝐍: oh snap it’s going down (intense traumatic experiences)

𝐖𝐂: 4,600+

𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑: the one, the onlyyyy @arienic !!! *blows airhorn*

𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 ☆ 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 | 𝐀𝐎𝟑 | 𝐅𝐈𝐂 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 | 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐒

laughter carries through the air, the mix of everyone’s joyous voices in the room warming your chest the same way your hot chocolate warmed your hands. you settle back into the ro'meaves’ couch, the worn-in material allowing you to sink into the cushions where you were lodged between lucinda and dante. 

“okay!” aphmau squeals, clapping her hands excitedly in the center of the room. “it’s time to exchange the secret santa gifts!”

you’re perfectly content where you sit, though, with a soft smile on your face as you glance around the room. everyone was bundled up in their sweaters and cozy pajamas, excitedly getting up to give and receive their gifts and giggling as they bumped into each other. oh, you suppose you should get up when lucinda’s hand grasps onto your arm to help you along with her, the mature scent of her perfume wafting along your face and the tinkling of her bracelets pleasantly gracing your ears.

“c’mon, sweetie. you can’t fall asleep now,” she coos playfully.

“i wasn’t! just enjoying the moment,” you defend, only earning a teasing look from her in response before she prances off with an amused huff.

you shake your head, chuckling quietly to yourself as you pick up vylad’s gift, shuffling around the crowd and earning a hair ruffle from dante and a nose pinch from teony as you go, the two of them being the touchiest of your friends as always. not that you minded—coming from anyone in this room. you kind of enjoyed that you were close enough to them for them to want to casually reach out to you in a sudden burst of affection. it was cute.

vylad immediately turns to look down at you with a dimpled grin as you hold out your gift, giving you a grateful nod. “hey! merry christmas.”

“merry christmas,” you return, shuffling on your feet as he starts to open his gift, starting to feel a bit nervous if he’d like it.

his face lights up as he opens the box, mouth cracking open in surprise as he reaches in, pulling out the 35mm camera film bundle you got. “woah, there’s so much! and a calligraphy set too?”

“yeah… sorry i didn’t get as much film because it can get kind of expensive… but i thought i’d get you something you’d use the most.”

“no, no, don’t apologize. this is perfect!” he insists, his voice full of genuine thankfulness. “how did you even know i liked all of this? or what kind of camera i had?”

“i totally interrogated your mom about what kind of camera you had. shout out to zianna,” you laugh. “i remember you talking about liking photography and how you liked to write, so…”

“wow. i’m not secretive but i didn’t realize i was that easy to read,” he muses, wrapping an arm around your shoulder for a hug. “you really put a lot of thought and effort into this, i can tell. this is so awesome.”

“aw, i’m really glad you liked it.” you sheepishly return the hug before stepping back again.

“i more than like it, i love it. thanks!”

a gentle tap on your shoulder diverts your attention from the heartfelt scene you were in. nana gives you a sweet smile when you turn to her, her eyes forming into crescents as she presents a rather large pink gift bag with a cute snowman on it.

“hi! i was your secret santa,” she giggles as if it weren’t obvious.

“oh! thank you, nana.” you smile, taking the bag from her as she bounces expectantly on her toes.

“go ahead and open it!” she ushers, tail swishing behind her, the tiny jingle bell on the bow she used to decorate it tinkling.

you laugh lightly as you appease her demands, pulling out the tissue paper to reveal quite an array of gifts.

“so, i remember you mentioning you thought the cookie cutters i had were super cute when we were making those sweets for everyone… so i got you some! and—and those are some earrings that reminded me of you, and—oh! that’s a blanket with kitties on it,” she rambles, pointing out each thing with a shimmer in her eyes. “that’s a cute journal i got for you because we had talked about how you wanted to start writing down your favorite memories so you never forgot them. remember?”

“wow, nana. you didn’t have to get all this for me…” you murmur, mouth agape as you admire the hardcover journal in your favorite color, its pages glinting gold around the edge.

“of course i did! you were one of the first people to actually care about me and try to become my friend at the school.” she rocks on her heels, hands folding behind her back. “you mean a lot to me, so i wanted your gift to be special.”

pulling in a big breath, you swallow thickly, overwhelmed by the affection poured onto you. your friends’ laughter buzzes in your ears as you reel in the moment, eyes wide. “thank you, so much… you mean a lot to me, too.”

“but, um…” she murmurs your name, face turning gravely serious. “i have to tell you something.”

strange. this isn’t how you remember this going.

“if you want to come back to us, you have to wake up.”

“…what?”

“wake up.”

a sharp inhale through your lungs pulls a veil of darkness over your eyes, replaced by a gray ceiling. there’s no warm laughter, no welcoming fireplace; just the cold, damp room you’ve been forced into for who knows how long now. your fingers dance across the thin sheets, chasing after the ghost of warm hands encasing yours, only to be met with the scratchy material irritating your skin.

your neck hurts; externally as you reach up to feel a crusted-over bandage, and internally as a lump forms inside. vision blurs and fingers tremble as a pathetic sob wracks your chest, the choked noise of pain echoing in the empty room. turning on your side, you gasp for air, your breaths tight and panicked. you can move again, you realize, but when you attempt to sit up and stand your body gives out on you and sends you sprawling onto the hard tile floor. using what little strength you have, you use your arms to drag yourself to the bars of your cell, grasping the bars and resting your cheek on the rusted metal.

tears pour down your face while your chest heaves unevenly, soaking into the gauze on your neck and staining your dirtied clothes. weakly, you lift your hand again, realizing through your hazy eyes how thin and pale you’d gotten. you’d been fully drained, your body pulling whatever it could from your muscles and bones just to keep your heart beating. more cries leave your lips as you reach up to your neck once again, tugging at its tight constraints with an angry cry. as it loosens with an uncomfortable crack from your skin a wave of fear washes over you, freezing you in place.

what if your head fell?

short breaths are sucked in through your mouth as you try not to move, slowly loosening the bandages again until they finally give free, unraveling onto your lap. you stay still for a few moments, staring at the dark red below you, before reaching up to feel where the blade had been lined against your neck. there it is: an indent, perfectly horizontal, reaching across where your jugular was.

she must not have completely beheaded you. if she did, would you not have woken up?

a feeling of utter hopelessness creeps into your veins starting from your hands and feet until it spills out in the form of more tears, a piteous weep leaving your lips. none of this makes sense to you. not the pain… not anything she said about your parents… or the man… or men behind it…? she mentioned two, didn’t she? no, no that’s not what she said…

not what she said about…

not what she said…

no.

what exactly did she tell you?

why can’t you remember it?!

there was something important! information you had to keep if you got out of here! what is it?!

“what happened…” you hiccup, lungs catching and stopping, breaths hiccuping. “what did you…”

your fingers dig into the metal, pressing uncomfortably into your bones as you manage some strength in your lungs and scream at him, “what did you do to me?!”

the muscles in your throat strain in protest, cracking your words as they echo in the empty corridor. raspy coughs leave your throat as your remaining strength gives out and you go limp where you sit. it’s a few minutes like this—maybe even an hour—before quiet footsteps slowly make their way toward your cell. you don’t bother looking up, only acknowledging who it is when someone kneels down by the door. black jeans, a dark blue shirt… it matches his hair.

he watches you from the side of his eye as he sets down a tray, sliding it under the door. when he moves to get up again, he hesitates, as if there's something he needs to say.

“please kill me,” you rasp, making him jump as he whips his head over to you, his eyes darting down to your fingers where they grasp onto his wrist. “just kill me. i can’t do it again.”

he gives you a look, eyes widening and lip curling. you can’t tell what it is. pity? disgust?

this is the first time you've really looked at him up close. a few scars litter his skin, his steel gray eyes startlingly harsh through his dark lashes. his nostrils flare as he pulls away from your touch, standing and backing away as he looks down on your miserable slumped form.

“i can’t,” he mutters. “but… i wouldn’t bite into your food too hard.”

you stare up at him, confusion muddling your features.

“and wait until dusk. that’s two hours from now.”

he turns on his heel and stalks away, glancing back at you once more over his back before quickly running back up the wooden staircase, leaving you alone as fast as he had appeared.

don’t bite into your food too hard.

the tray is by your feet, nothing but a pile of mush on it. you’re not sure what kind of food it’s supposed to be, but it most definitely wasn’t crunchy or solid. shakily, you reach out to the tray and pull it into your lap, hesitantly hovering your fingers over it.

what are you doing…

wriggling your fingers down into the semi-warm substance, they soon meet the cold center where a metal object is buried inside. your eyebrows pinch together when you pull it out, shaking the food away to reveal a… key. did he just…?

he gave you the key to the cell. he’s helping you escape.

two hours from now.

“thank you,” you whisper to the void, even if you know the boy is long gone.

would he be punished for this? a part of you worries for him, but the selfish want for self-preservation has those thoughts pushed to the back of your mind, replaced by the memory of warm arms around your shoulders. you had to get back. this wasn’t the end. you didn’t have to die here. a joyful weep wobbles from your lips, as you begin to count the seconds. how many are in two hours?

one mississippi… two mississippi…three…

eight hundred and thirty-three…

five thousand six hundred and twenty-seven…

seven thousand two hundred.

you had eaten the plate of food to the best of your abilities, despite its bland taste and rather disgusting texture. it was like southern grits, but if it were slimy and void of any good flavor. still, you stomached it, and it at least gave you the strength to stand up on your legs without falling. your breathing was labored from the effort, but you had to do this, and you had to do it now.

nimbly sliding your fingers through the door’s bars, you fix the key into the lock and twist, a satisfying click meeting your ears as the door gives way to your weight leaning on it. it squeaks in the silent hallway, and for a moment you stand completely still as it swings all the way open. 

you were free.

run. run run run run run run!

you take off towards the wooden stairs, careful to keep on your tiptoes, sliding your feet across the stone to make less noise as you go. slowing down at the wooden stairs, you’re careful to make a minimal amount of creaks as you ascend them, holding your breath as you listen closely to the floor above. there’s no talking, no shuffling or movement. did they go somewhere else?

at the top of the stairs, there's a wooden door. quiet prayers for it to be unlocked leave your lips as you approach it, and you have to stop yourself from letting out a cry of relief when it is, opening up to a dimly lit, huge room. 

you were in a log cabin, though a mansion seems more suitable as a title. tall windows span up to the ceiling on one wall, overlooking a familiar scene of a forest. plush couches and red carpets littered the large space, setting up what was an over-the-top lounge room.

tentatively, you walk out from the doorway, looking up to realize it was somewhat hidden behind a staircase. the place seemed empty, but you sure weren’t going to stick around to find out. the only thing you can hear is your uneven breaths as you make your way to two large red doors, hands shaking as you push the heavy wood open. the sound of crickets beginning to chirp and fresh air enveloping your face is overwhelming, making your shaky steps stutter in place as you stare out at the tall trees ahead.

looking around, the coast is still clear. was what ein told you a red herring? this seemed too easy. running out to the empty driveway, you step beyond the pavement toward a nearby cliffside, looking over the forest beyond. there was nothing else in sight for miles, except for…

a tall lookout tower in the distance.

your face blanches, and the small amount of nutrients you had in your stomach comes rushing back up your throat in an instant. they were that close to you the whole time.

sputtered coughs leave your lips as you lean forward, hands resting on your knees while black spots your vision. what if they were just letting you go now? have you never been in control this whole time? not since the moment you moved? since the moment you were born? is there any point in escaping this?

there’s no time to delay anymore though, not when you’re taking off again towards the driveway, cutting into the treeline where you’re sure the road led off to. your lungs burn as they try to keep up with your legs, your throat barely taking in enough oxygen for you to stay conscious. you feel like you’re out of your body, merely spectating a memory as you weave through trees. your face feels cold and numb, and you vaguely feel the pain of your bare feet getting scraped and stabbed by the forest floor. black is beginning to spot your vision and the next moment your toe catches on a root, sending you tumbling down a steep hill with a sudden cry.

rolling to a stop, you gasp for air, yet none comes as panic continues to riddle your lungs.

“...you mean a lot to me…”

it feels like warm hands are lifting you, urging you to keep going, and as you stumble forward you realize you’ve made it to the road. warm asphalt meets your feet as you continue to try and catch your breath. the sun had set by now, disorienting any sense of direction you may have had in the first place.

as soon as your vision clears, you’re blinded by headlights and the screeching of rubber against the road—

you're sent flying, your hands painfully scraping as you land on your back. it feels like you’re dying, lungs on the verge of collapsing. even if it was your captors, you don’t think you could run or even crawl away, the stars in the sky beginning to spin and melt above you and the noise of the world around you turning into warbled echoes.

“oh my… is that… missing… girl that… gene… with.” a woman appears above you. you can’t make out her features. “holy shit… logan! call… help! …hospital…!”

“help,” you gasp. in a last attempt at freedom, you grasp onto her shirt.

“shh… you’re… okay, hun… safe…”

a tall man looming over the both of you is the last thing you see. strong arms lift you from the jagged ground; the bitter, metallic scent of your blood is the last thing you sense before the terrifying freedom of darkness overtakes you.

☆

over a week. it’s almost been two.

garroth stares blankly at the empty fireplace, stuck in the same position he’d sat in hours ago. he chews at the inside of his cheek again, wincing when he draws blood this time. 

there's no telling where you are now or what’s happened to you. and it's all his fault. if he’d just walked with you down the sidewalk. it was two houses down. only two. that careless decision took you from him and everyone else who cared about you.

when you come back… if you do… he wouldn’t blame you if you hated him. if you never wanted to talk to him again, or even look at him. he deserved your resentfulness. he wouldn’t even mind it if it just meant you were back safe.

“hello?” zianna’s voice carries from the kitchen, her tone indicating she’d picked up a phone call. 

vylad shifts from where he sat on the other side of the couch, turning down the volume of the tv that had been playing mindless background noise to his and garroth’s thoughts. his head turns to better hear their mother’s voice, only to flinch when the shattering of porcelain on the floor and a sharp gasp from the woman breaks the silence.

“where is she?”

garroth swallows, eyes widening before shooting up from his spot, sprinting into the kitchen and nearly crashing into the counter. he's gripping onto the marble top as he stares down his mom—the woman leaning back into the corner with a face void of color. her sweet, green eyes are glossy with tears, hand reaching out to zane whose eye flicks between her and the shattered plate in concern. for once, he looks to his two brothers without malice or annoyance, instead holding zianna’s hand with care as he leans in to overhear the other end of the line.

“and she’s okay?” she whimpers, shaking her head as she looks around, attempting to move. “where? where?”

garroth sucks in air, only just realizing he’d been holding his breath before rushing to his mom, lifting her over the shards threatening to slice her bare feet. she dashes over to snatch her keys up from the hallway table, sliding her feet into some sandals by the door—before stopping in the doorway, and turning to face her sons once again.

“i’m headed there now.”

as soon as the phone is pulled away from her face, questions hastily tumble from their mouths.

“she?”

“did they find her?”

“where are you going?”

she covers her mouth, pulling in a deep breath in an attempt to pull herself together in front of the kids. they were only kids. she was only a kid.

“yes—she—” she clears her throat, wiping at her bare face. “they found her. she’s in a hospital an hour from here. i’m headed there now—”

“i’m going!” garroth interrupts, startling the woman and making her jump in place.

“yes… all of you can come. i’m not even—” she waves them forward, pausing by the mirror and beginning to fix her hair—before shaking her head, footsteps quick as she goes off to the garage door. “just get in the car, boys. i need to call garte…”

all three of the boys follow, the youngest boy pulling out his phone and sending off a text as they scramble for their seats in the suv. zianna’s hands tremble as she starts the key in the ignition.

vylad: they found her.

laurance: wait what?

katelyn: please don’t tell me you’re lying

lucinda: is she okay?

travis: where???

nicole: which hospital???????

dante: are you serious? did they find her just now?

aphmau: she’s at nahakra hospital

teony: can we see her?

laurance: i don’t care i’m going anyway

nana: i’m crying please tell me she’s okay

aphmau: i don’t know there’s no details yet

katelyn: i’m going too

aphmau sent a location.

“mom.” zane’s voice cuts across the near-silent car. “it’s night. you’re driving crazy.”

zianna clears her throat as she slows down, and when garroth glances over she quickly wipes her face again, shaking her head. “i’m sorry boys, i’m just—oh, that poor baby. please, please let her be okay.”

the drive there is a long one, both having stretched on for far too long and blurring together in garroth’s memory as they now sit in the small hospital’s lobby.

“we can’t go see her at all?” sylvanna presses. the poor receptionist who they'd been badgering for the past hour shifts in her seat.

“i’m sorry, ma'am. all i can tell you is that she is alive and stable. but i can’t give you details or let you through unless you’re family.”

“she is family.”

“...i’m sorry. please understand i can’t do anything more until a doctor gives the clear. you can take a seat and have some refreshments until then.”

katelyn sighs, shifting as she glances at the analog clock above her. nana and aphmau let their heads bobble against her shoulders as she moves, hands clutched onto each other, exchanging words of worry that didn’t leave their lips.

12:40 am.

“no, man. they’re not even letting us see her,” laurance mutters into the phone, sighing tensely. “yeah, just come tomorrow if you want… yeah, i’ll text. yeah. bye.”

“was that dante?” aphmau shifts her head, voice quiet.

“yeah. his mom won’t drive him this late and he was trying to get… gene to come back from out of town to get him here.” his lips sour at the name, but he seems too tired to dwell on his own reservations. “...i think teony and lucinda won’t be coming until tomorrow, too.”

“makes sense…” nana rubs her swollen eyes, her nose still red. “the only reason i could come is 'cause aphmau picked me up.”

travis is uncharacteristically quiet, eyes round and knees hugged to his chest as he stares at the adults in the room.

following travis' line of sight, garroth glances over at the receptionist's desk. even his dad was here… his arm wrapped around zianna’s hunched shoulders as they exchanged hushed whispers with travis’s dad and… two people he’d never met before. aphmau had said something about aaron’s parents earlier, seeming confused herself, but why would they be here? or travis’s dad, for that matter… and what could the group of them possibly have so much to talk about so secretly and with such intensity?

“...fuck this. i’m finding something out,” he mutters, earning a questioning look from laurance as he stands from his seat, slowly making his way to the stairway and slipping through the door, thankful for sylvanna’s distraction to the staff.

they mentioned that you're in a room on the third floor. his feet skip every other step as he huffs his way up the flights, stopping at the thin window and glancing inside with narrowed eyes. the coast is clear, so, after catching his breath, he pushes through the door, glancing around the hall. he can hear distant chatter around the corner, and recognizes the familiar cadence of your mom’s voice. a pang of guilt and shame runs through him, his eyes dropping to the tiled floor as he moves closer, listening to her despaired, hitched breaths.

“...yes ma’am. torn ligaments in her feet, a fractured wrist, pretty deep fissures on her whole body… it’s all healed. the stitches pushed out of her skin. i really have no way to explain this except for an ancient magic that hasn’t been used by anyone for a long time. this kind of practice would be…” the doctor clears his throat, pausing. “ah, but… aside from her external injuries, our biggest issue is what came back on her brain scan… and her blood results.”

“what is it?” a gruff voice urges.

“she had large amounts of midazolam in her system. it’s a sedative that can cause some serious issues with hallucinations and memory recollection if abused. judging by the scan, it seems like she had a pretty consistent flow of it, but there’s also not enough information to tell how much she's been affected by it, and how much damage it's done.”

garroth’s mouth curls, hand coming to cover his face as the blood drains from his face.

“and…” the doctor seems to be choosing his words carefully, voice gentle. “there's more. not only was she given large amounts of midazolam, but her brain shows signs that we would see in a person who went through something highly traumatizing. it’s likely she will suffer from dissociative amnesia among other ptsd symptoms. i can’t tell you how she will react when she wakes up, as it varies among each patient… but she will require a lot of psychiatric help. i don’t mean to make this worse, but this is the worst case i’ve ever seen.”

bile rises up garroth’s throat, and he’s forced to swallow as he slides down the sterile, white wall of the hospital hall. another choked weep leaves your mother’s lips, but not before the doctor speaks up again.

“but also…” he hesitates. “while her other injuries mysteriously have been healed, she has strange scarring on the upper half of her arms and legs, as well as a scar along her neck. they’re very precise. it's a quality that, in my personal opinion, one would expect from an experienced doctor… and when she arrived, the outfit she was wearing was a patient’s two-piece with the number three on it. we don’t have much other information as of yet.”

“oh god… this is all our… fault…” your mother incoherently babbles. “my baby… what have i done to you…”

“ma’am…?” the doctor sounds uncomfortable, confused. “i don’t…”

“please just leave us be for a moment.” your dad’s voice cracks.

a quick tap on garroth’s shoulder has the boy jumping out of his skin, whipping his head up to see the scolding face of a nurse peering down at him.

“young man… you know you aren’t supposed to be here,” she says, voice firm but eyes at the very least understanding as she keeps her voice at a whisper. “go back to the waiting room. you’ll get to see her eventually. okay?”

garroth swipes a hand over the back of his neck, the cold sweat making him shiver as he stands. his eyes are glassed over as he nods, stumbling back to the stairwell without another word.

©starhvney 2024. do not plagiarize, feed to any AI, or repost my works to any sites.

tag list: @orinlin @pain-in-the-ashe @youmake1mistake @arienic @wasting-away-on-the-internet @angelhyperfixates @remiechu @valentique @kalegrinch @izzybella1807

[purple-obsidian]

hi so sorry if this is awkward asf im genuinely so bad at asks lmfao-

but i wanted to know your take on how you think both reader and ak!jason would react to jason having a nightmare? the pt2 to the ak!jason fic ended with them sleeping side by side and i was just wondering like what you think would happen if jason has a nightmare while sleeping beside reader. would he be embarrassed or angry, and try to lash out, or would he be cold and nonchalant and pretend he's fine? idk its just a thought thats been floating around in my head recently!!

i love ur fics esp ur jason fics all ur works r genuinely so good and i love reading anything you write. anywayss have a good day/night!

hi there rose!

i am so glad you asked. plz never apologize, your asks are always welcome, awkward or not. jason has nightmares frequently, as mentioned in part 2:

He’s insisted on having you stay with him, but sharing a bed is a luxury you’ve been without, being forced to sleep on the couch every night instead. It’s surprisingly comfy, but good rest is still hard to come by, given the frequent, violent nightmares that plague your boyfriend’s mind and make him cry out in his sleep.

so it wouldn't be a first time for reader. but this is the first time her and jason are actually sleeping in the same bed since they've been reunited, so it's a good question to ask.

i imagine that the first few times she woke up from his night terrors, reader tried to comfort him and offer support, but jason lashed out at her, similar to how he did after the scene in the bathroom after she patched him up. so reader got used to just leaving him be, not bothering to get off the couch. it hurts her though, knowing that he's suffering and she can't help.

but now that he's allowed reader this new level of intimacy, would reader feel bold enough to try and comfort him again? lets say for the sake of your question, yes.

and my answer is it depends on what the nightmare is about. if it's a vivid nightmare [as described above] reliving a traumatic memory of his torture, jason would most likely be more worked up/fearful and therefore take a bit longer to calm down once he wakes up. he'd probably be embarrassed, as as soon as he's regulated his breathing and become aware of where he's really at, he'd shrug reader's loving touch away and be standoffish. it's just something he isn't ready to talk about and he scared to be so vulnerable around her.

if it was a less violent/vivid nightmare, where he wakes with a start but isn't hyperventilating or panicking, i think he would deny it and tell reader to go back to sleep even though reader can obviously tell he was in anguish. i don't think, at this point, he would allow himself to accept reader's comfort, but he's let his guard down enough that he wouldn't like get violent or yell at her for trying to help unless she pushed him.

i dunno. i feel like it could really depend on the day. i'm portraying jason's emotions as especially tumultuous, so any of your suggestions could be a fair guess too! he keeps reader on her toes, fr.

i'm happy to hear that you love my fics! thanks for being patient with me while i work on what's next.

xoxo sid

[a-court-of-fics-and-errors]

Keep Moving Forwards, Part 20

Azriel x Reader Fic

Summary: After finally deciding to leave your abusive and manipulative mate for good, you find unexpected companionship with Azriel, the Shadowsinger of the Night Court. As you navigate the aftermath of your traumatic relationship, you struggle to understand where the mating bond went wrong and contemplate your path forward, vowing never to return to the past.

Find other parts here: Master List

To follow this fic, follow tag "Keep Moving Forwards Fic" or comment to be tagged in future parts.

Content Warning: This story contains depictions of extreme emotional manipulation and abuse, detailed descriptions of direct physical abuse, and scenes of men hunting women with implied sexual assault. Please read at your own risk. Additional warning for this one in particular, it's got some smut adjacent romance in it.

Word Count: 3.5K

Author's Note: This is a multi-part series. Unlike my previous works, this fanfiction delves deeper than just fluff, exploring complex emotional landscapes. As I navigate this new writing journey, I kindly ask for gentle feedback. The topics addressed are profoundly impactful, touching many lives with diverse experiences. Please be gentle with yourselves and others. Healing is a journey, and everyone processes it differently. Be kind to yourself. Take what resonates, and leave what doesn’t.

Please continue reading, being aware of the above content warnings, ensuring you are in a healthy headspace. Give yourself time to process and be gentle with yourself.

Night seemed to pass quickly, and it felt as though you had just closed your eyes when they opened again. You tried to orient yourself to the unfamiliar wooden wall in front of you. Stretching slightly, your movements caused Kai to grumble and bury his face deeper into the pillow, one arm stretched lazily over you, tightening you into him.

You heard Kai’s father’s bed creak, followed by the thud of his feet hitting the floor before he rose and quietly opened and closed the door of the room. You flipped onto your side to look at Kai, or more accurately, the side of his head, which was thoroughly tousled from his night of sleep. “We need to get up,” you whispered, running your hand down the side of his face. Kai merely grumbled, pulling the blanket up higher around his chin. You sat up, inching your way to the end of the bed and tugging on your pants before rising to your feet. The wood was cold beneath your toes as you stretched.

You pulled on the wool sweater you had lying around and the socks you had shoved into the side of the bed during the night, brushing your fingers through your hair, trying to comb out the knots. All the while, you snuck glances at Kai, who lay in bed face down, his breath rising and falling softly. As you braided your locks and tossed them over your shoulder, you’d had enough of sleeping beauty. You grabbed the corners of the blankets near the end and, with a mighty heave, ripped the warmth from Kai, who immediately curled into himself, wearing nothing but his undergarments and undershirt. He groaned, “No,” as he tried to shield himself from the cold.

You smiled, chuckling slightly at how much he sounded like a child, and dropped the blanket to the ground. Walking to the side of the bed, you leaned over him, resting your hands on his arms as you shook him. “Get up!” Kai merely moaned in response. “I’m hungry!” You continued to shake him until Kai opened one of his eyes, glancing up at you with a scowl.

“My head hurts like a bitch,” he said, shutting his eyes again.

You let go of his arm, huffing slightly as you settled into the armchair, pulling on your boots and lacing them. “Do you remember last night when you came in and insisted that you hadn’t had too much to drink?”

Kai sat up slightly, his face a bit pale as he rubbed his eyes with the base of his palms. “Mildly,” he responded.

You clapped your hands on your thighs as you rose, walking over to him again. He looked up at your face, squinting in the dimly lit room. “Do you remember trying to go to sleep in your coat?”

Kai’s brows furrowed slightly. “Not at all,” he replied.

You laughed, pressing your shins into the mattress as you leaned forward, your face close to Kai’s as you pressed a kiss to his forehead. He smiled, his eyes shut as he wrapped his arms around your waist, the side of his face resting against your stomach as you ran your hands through his wavy hair. You pressed another kiss to the crown of his head as he loosened his grip on your waist. “I need to get up,” he said. “Dad’ll skin me if we’re late setting up.”

As though summoned by the mention of his name, Kai’s father appeared back in the room, dressed for the day. For the first time since you’d known him, it looked as though he’d washed his face and brushed his hair. He flashed you a smile before telling you and Kai that he would be heading down to the stable to get the cart and that you should meet him at the stand within the next half hour. Kai, hopping on one foot while trying to force the other into his pants, agreed, and his father turned and left. As soon as the door shut, Kai lost his balance, falling to the floor with a thunk as you laughed at him. He looked up at you through his hair. “Stop laughing, I’m ill!” he joked.

You picked up the blanket you had discarded at the end of the bed, throwing it back over the mattress. “I have no sympathy. You did it to yourself.”

Kai merely rolled his eyes as he stood. In just his undershirt and pants, you could still make out the faint muscles underneath it all. He wasn’t strikingly gorgeous, with his muddy brown hair and thin frame, but his smile and eyes caught your heart in your throat, and you felt a sense of pride walking alongside him, his hand wrapped in yours. Kai searched the floor for his discarded shirt, and as he did, you came from behind him and wrapped your arms around his midsection, nuzzling your nose into his shirt.

“Hi?” he asked, peering over his shoulder at you.

You smiled up at him. “Carry on,” you urged.

Kai continued bending down and standing up as he dug through his bag. Each time he did, your feet left the floor for a moment and dropped back down. After the third time, you realized he might have been doing it on purpose. You let out a light giggle, and then, without warning, Kai leaned so far forward his fingers grazed the ground as he arched his back, a playful growl emerging from his throat. You squeaked out a faint cry as your feet left the floor and dangled, your face pointing toward the ground as Kai laughed. “Put me down! Put me down!” you yelled, “I’m serious, Kai!” although your serious tone was masked with laughter.

Kai pushed his hands up to your hips as he leaned farther forward, throwing you from his back so you flipped over top of him and onto the bed, a fit of laughter erupting from you as you smacked down onto the mattress. Kai quickly hopped onto the bed next to you, straddling you under his hips as you giggled out, his weight pushing the air from your stomach as you laughed. Kai’s smile peered down at you as you settled. “We have to go!” you urged.

“I have a beautiful female pinned underneath me. I think I can stay here for a few minutes,” he smiled back at you, and you rolled your eyes.

“Wouldn't you rather get some breakfast instead?” you teased.

Kai pretended to ponder the question, tapping his chin thoughtfully. “Hmm, beautiful female or food… It’s a tough choice.”

You smacked his shoulder playfully. “Food, obviously.”

Kai leaned in, his lips meeting yours in a gentle, lingering kiss. His mouth carried a faint taste of cranberry and icing sugar, inviting and comforting against yours. As you responded, he braced himself with his arms on either side of your shoulders, his chest pressing against yours. Your arms lazily wrapped around him, pulling him closer as he peppered your cheek and neck with small kisses.

A rosy warmth spread through you, cheeks flushing with contentment as you melted into his touch. Kai's faint moan resonated against your skin as he delicately traced your collarbone with his lips, eliciting a gasp from deep within you. His weight pressed into you, his arms bending to explore, one hand trailing down your side, fingertips teasing your hips.

His touch sent shivers down your spine, goosebumps rising on your skin in the chilly morning air. His fingers ventured beneath your clothing, tracing patterns against your skin as he returned his kisses to your mouth. But your focus wavered as he traced higher, barely grazing the soft flesh of your rib cage, pausing just below your breast.

With a slow, deliberate movement, he curled his hand around your ribs, his fingers flexing against your back as you yearned for more. A whimper escaped your lips, earning a smile and a soft laugh from Kai as he continued his exploration. His warm hand slid under your undergarments, pressing against your breast as he kneaded the soft flesh beneath his palm.

You couldn't help but moan in response, the sensation sending waves of pleasure through you. It was the first time he had touched you this intimately, after months of restraint, and you melted into the newfound feeling blooming in your core. Your kiss deepened, fingers gripping into his shirt and hair as he continued to explore, teasing your nipple with a gentle pinch that caused your legs to instinctively curl around him. 

Without hesitation, your fingers trailed along the hem of Kai's undershirt, gradually pulling it free from his pants. As the fabric lifted, exposing the smooth skin of his lower back, you reached around to the front, your hand finding Kai's growing arousal. An almost primal growl escaped him, and you glanced up to find him hovering above you, lips parted in anticipation as you stroked him.

"F-fuck," he breathed out, his grip on your breast tightening momentarily before he refocused, his fingers kneading circles as you continued your ministrations. He sucked his lower lip between his teeth before leaning back down to claim your lips in a hungry kiss.

Your palm pressed firmly against him as Kai's touch grew more commanding, trailing from your breast down your stomach to your waist. With a sense of urgency, he untied the front of your pants, both of you shifting to create more space. His hand moved swiftly, slipping under the outer clothing and over your underwear, a soft moan escaping him at the wetness already pooling between your thighs.

In response, you echoed his pleasure-laden moan, feeling his cock twitch slightly against your touch, as though he was already on the brink just from the warmth of your core. His fingers grinding into the wetness, exploring as he continued to kiss you, the once precise kisses now becoming sloppy and forgotten as you both reveled in the intoxicating sensation of each other's gentle caresses. 

Just as your hand hovered near the knot of his trousers, you both froze at the sound of the bell outside, tolling six times. With a sigh of resignation, Kai's eyes opened, his head dropping onto your chest. "We really need to go," he whispered.

Reluctantly, you withdrew your hand as Kai rolled off you, a playful smile flickering across his lips as he retrieved his shirt, adjusting his attire while you straightened out your clothes and tousled hair. Slipping on your coat, you headed for the door, Kai quickly following suit, hopping into his boots.

With one hand on the doorknob, Kai turned you around, his grip on your shoulder guiding you until your back met the door with a soft thud. He kissed you deeply, an intensity and hunger sparking between you that hadn't been felt in a long while. When he pulled back, your eyes fluttered open.

"We aren't done here," he murmured, his voice filled with promise. "Just hold on to that feeling."

You playfully bit your lip. "It's going to make this day so much more challenging now," you teased, your hand trailing down to his pants again, eliciting a soft moan from Kai.

Just as he leaned in for another kiss, you swung open the door, causing Kai to stumble forward with a shout. Laughter bubbled up from within you as he regained his balance, shooting you a playful glare. "You know what? Scratch that. Forget I said anything. I just want to be friends," he joked.

Wiping tears from your eyes and finally standing after doubling over in laughter, you were met with Kai's adoring gaze. Softly, you kissed his cheek, intertwining your fingers with his as you descended the stairs of the inn and stepped out into the crisp morning air of the Winter Solstice Market.

________________________________________________________

As Velaris slowly awoke to the holiday cheer, vendors bustled to and fro, preparing their stands for the influx of last-minute shoppers. You and Kai made your way toward the booth, stopping at a bakery just raising its curtains to buy a cup of tea for the two of you to share and a cranberry croissant, which Kai let you have most of. When you finally arrived at the booth, his father was already unloading the carvings and placing them on the table. Kai immediately jumped in to help, while you stood back, watching the two of them. This was a routine for them—twice a year, every year, for the last hundred and twenty years. You were content to stand back and watch as Kai silently handed his father the carvings.

The booth was filled with all sorts of handmade items: animals, landscapes, bowls, spoons, forks, cutting boards, all crafted throughout the year whenever his father had spare time and lumber. They were beautiful and delicate, a stark contrast to the hands of the lumber workers, which were often calloused, cut, and large. These carvings required patience and the fine movements of a skilled craftsman. By the time they were finished unloading, most of the market had been set up. You took a few moments to stroll between booths, investigating what other vendors were selling. Some sold rare stones and gems, others paintings, drawings, or pottery, and some sold herbal medicines found only in other Courts, while others offered homemade pastries or pastas.

Everyone seemed to know each other, as the same vendors had been coming here for centuries, much like Kai’s family. Kai wasted no time in introducing you to each and every person. They fawned over you as Kai held your hand, swooning over how adorable the two of you were together and expressing their happiness to see Kai finally with someone. Kai’s father, ever the stoic introvert, stuck to the stand, chatting with a few other burly men about this or that. Meanwhile, you and Kai were out socializing. Kai took much more after his mother, always making time to chat with those around him, always with a compliment, and seeming to know the more intimate details of their lives, checking in about elderly relatives or asking after children.

When the clock tower finally rang out, announcing it was nine in the morning, Kai brought you back to the stand and informed you that you would be helping with transactions, writing down profits, and recording trades if there was a barter. With a wink, he also added, “Plus, you’re good advertising.” You rolled your eyes at that statement.

As fae from all walks of life rolled into the market in their solstice best, you couldn’t help but track the mothers walking hand in hand with their children, who pointed in awe at the many sights and sounds before them. Fathers hoisted their children onto their shoulders to get them out of the crush of people, and small babes wrapped in swaddling blankets cooed and babbled over their mothers' adoring faces. You tried to picture yourself here as a child, though no memory arose from it.

A small girl approached the stand, barely able to peek over the edge of the table as she surveyed the carvings. Her curly brown hair was pulled back with a dark red headband, exposing her delicate alabaster skin and rosy cheeks. You smiled down at her as she looked at the items.

“Mama, Mama, look!” the little girl cried out. Her mother, with a babe strapped to her chest, approached from the neighboring booth. The girl's mother looked much like her, with the same curly hair, though her face was slightly more angular. She placed one hand delicately on the back of the babe’s head, which was covered in a dark red hat. “What do you see, darling?”

“It’s a horsey!” the little girl pointed. It was indeed a carving of one of the lumber horses, mid-gait.

“It is!” The mother’s voice was light and excited as she looked to you and smiled. “It’s a big horse.”

“I wanna play with it,” the little girl reached forwards for the statue, and her mother gently pulled her back, crouching down so her forest green dress and matching coat swayed just above the ground.

“No, no, honey,” she said softly, “These aren’t toys. These are very fragile.”

The little girl’s face dropped slightly as she looked to her mother, her large blue eyes seeming to grow wider. “But... but I have horses at home.”

The mother nodded, the babe fussing slightly as she ran her hand down their back to soothe them. “I know, but those are toy horses. Those ones don’t break, and if you play with these too much they might.” The little girl looked back at the statue on the table and then back to her mother. “So we can look at this horse, but we can’t play with it.”

The little girl frowned, gazing longingly at the horse.

Seeming to overhear the interaction, Kai moved in next to you and glanced between the horse and the girl. He placed his hand on your lower back to scoot you forward as he crossed behind you, grabbing the horse on the way and coming out to the front of the booth. He crouched down next to the girl, who shied slightly away from him.

“You know,” Kai said gently, “your mom is right, a lot of these things are really fragile.” The little girl scanned his face. “But this horse is very strong.” He seemed to weigh it in his hand. “My dad made this to look like my horse, Ingrid, who’s really big and super strong.” The little girl took a tentative step towards him. “So I think,” Kai continued, “that if you just play with her a little more carefully, she could be a good addition to your herd.” Kai smiled at her and handed her the horse.

The little girl beamed in delight as she took it from him, turning back to her mother, who gave Kai a soft, appreciative smile. “How much do I owe you?” she asked as the little girl squeezed the horse to her chest.

Kai stood, shaking his head and hand, “Nothing.”

The mother stopped, pulling her purse around from her side as she bounced the babe in the carrier, “No, I have to give you something.”

Kai slipped back behind the stall and just repeated, “Don’t worry about it. Consider it a solstice gift!”

The mother nodded and smiled, asking the little girl to thank him. She looked up at him, and with a grin revealing a missing front tooth, she said, “Thank you!” prolonging ‘you’, before her mother beckoned her to move on.

Kai continued to smile and waved them off before turning to you and saying, “Don’t tell my dad I did that.”

You looked over Kai’s shoulder to where his father was speaking with another craftsman, seemingly unaware of what took place. You simply crossed your fingers over your lips, feigning locking them, and chucked the imaginary key away. Kai chuckled, ruffling his tousled hair, and gave you a playful wink.

The market continued to bustle with life as more patrons wandered through the tight aisles. Sylvan even made his way through, stopping to chat with Kai about last night’s antics. He revealed that Kai had, in fact, had more drinks than he had ever seen him have before and that it took them an extra hour to get back to the inn because Kai kept going down the wrong streets. Sylvan took particular joy in telling you that the entire night, Kai only talked about you and how “pretty your hair was,” and how “nice your smile was.” Even as Kai tried to silence him, Sylvan noted that Kai seemed particularly interested in how nice and white your teeth were, which made you blush. Kai merely beckoned Sylvan to go find someone else to bother. His father shook his head and rolled his eyes.

The booth was doing so well, in fact, that Kai’s father asked you to return to the stable to grab the rest of the boxes of figures from the cart and bring them back to finish out the day. You hurriedly made your way down towards the entrance of the city, pushing open the door of the barn and pulling boxes off the cart, even stopping to stroke Lila for a moment. You stacked the boxes on top of one another and headed back out the door, pushing it open with your back.

Suddenly, you heard a familiar voice. “Hello, my love.” The boxes fell from your grasp as you turned to see the imposing stature of your mate, his shadow towering over you and sending a freezing cold chill down your spine.

The world seemed to narrow to just the two of you. His piercing gaze locked onto you, and the barn's light seemed to dim as though the very air grew colder with his presence. Your heart pounded in your chest, a mix of fear and disbelief rendering you speechless. The warm, bustling market felt a million miles away as you faced the reality you had been running from.

To my readers - Sorry. @thatacotargirl @mcuamerica @lilah-asteria @florabelll @fightmedraco @marvelbros-oneshots @mariahoedt @quinzzelx @romantasyreader28 @minnieoo @mysteriouslydeafeningwerewolf @annabethgranger123 @krowiathemythologynerd @scatteredstardustt @romantacyreader28 @caroline-books @slytherintaco @sevikas-whore @sidthedollface2 @405rry @sleepylunarwolf @acourtofbatboydreams @quiettuba @julesofvolterra @skylarkalchemist @darling006 @rhysandorian

[chuplayswithfire]

Edward Teach and his relationship to violence and power and the cycle of abuse is so fascinating, because Ed grew up in a household where he was intensely, constantly vulnerable, where he and his mother were at the whim of his incredibly abusive father, and so he escapes by committing the most understandable and well justified murder in the entire show, and it traumatizes him -

Not just because it was murder

Not just because it was his dad

But because he was able to plan it out and make it happen at all. Killing his dad is this moment of terrifying strength and courage at the heart of him and it's the birthplace of the Edward that does what needs to be done to survive, no matter the emotional consequences. Ed thinks he is a bad person specifically because as a child he killed own father so he and his mother could survive, and then had to keep committing acts of violence to survive long into adulthood.

I don't think Ed worries about becoming his father. I think he sees himself as someone much worse - because he was able to kill that man, to plan out and complete his murder, even though that was his dad.

The show never once treats Ed's anger in the show as unreasonable or problematic - his flashes of temper throughout the show are always in very understandable moments and they're played for drama (french captain), furthering the romance (wanting to shoot the rich people party vs stede offering to handle it), or comedy (snake snack/punching izzy in ep 9).

Even Kraken is deliberately not particularly shown to be an expression of Ed's anger, which is hot, but that deliberate ruthless problem solving spirit that comes after the anger passes and the knowledge of exactly what to do washes over him; following his father to the dock and strangling him; skin him, and fang? use the snail fork; toe scene and sitting exactly at Izzy's bed side for it and telling him what will happen if he threatens him again. Even marooning the crew is not an act committed with anger, but a muted sorrow.

Piracy is a culture of abuse, mistrust, and backstabbery, this is established in episode one, further emphasized in episode 8 with both Spanish Jackie and Calico Jack and the tales of Hornigold, and demonstrated yet further with Captain Hands in episode 9.

Ed escaped the abuse at home, but found his place in the world in the abusive professional and interpersonal relationships of piracy, which is one reason he's so drawn to Stede - because he's doing it differently, he's trying to build a form of piracy that doesn't rely on the traditional forms of abuse that manage piracy - and because his people positive management style works, as demonstrated throughout the length of the show. Not everything Stede does works out or is ideal, but his people positive management style is.

When Stede leaves and breaks Ed's heart, and Ed starts to recover from that heartbreak only for Izzy to kick him back down with another threat to his life and for him to hear the crew calling for another song and wonder if it's mockery instead of friendship -

Yeah, Ed turns back to the familiar culture of abuse, mistrust, and backstabbery that piracy has. Shoving Lucius, the one most likely to see through him, overboard. Using Izzy's preferred language, violence, to get him to back the fuck off and fall in line. Violence against Jim and threats against violence against Frenchie, to get them to comply. Abandoning over half the crew.

Ed tried something new and at the end he feels like it fucked him over, made him weak, and vulnerable again, and he reacted exactly as his childhood self did - by creating and executing a plan to remove the threat and position himself out of harm.

That's what Ed's journey is likely to be about, in season 2, by my estimation - understanding what he actually wants in and from life, and having to recognize that he 1) deserves that life 2) can't get it by retreating of self-destruction and abuse that he's grown familiar with. Not a fear of being like his father (he's really not imo, and I could go on about how throwing a knife past your subordinate who has betrayed you and threatened to kill you is vastly different from throwing plates at your cowering wife because you're mad about dinner are not the same, but I'd hope it's unnecessary), or anger issues in general, but recognizing that his retreat from his authentic self into the mask of Blackbeard we see at the end was wrong and doomed to fail.

[magpiepills]

En El Mar

Rating: EXPLICIT 18+ MDNI

Pairing: Joel Miller x f reader

Word count: 727

Summary: you and Joel on the beach just like in that scene in From Here to Eternity.

Warnings: smut. Sort of non con? No express consent is given and both parties have just washed ashore from a shipwreck. They are traumatized, but horny! PWP, PIV, kissing. Javi’s curls.

A word from the author: This is a repost! Y’all saw that SAG awards shirt, right? And you know the black boxers from that one leather jacket selfie, right? This is like those things combined. Also An Affair To Remember tidbit in there and if you spot it you get a kiss.

He drags you to shore and begs you not to die, not here, not now. He’s only just felt the warmth and the weight of the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen in his arms, it’s too soon to lose you. When you open your eyes, he kisses you and doesn’t stop kissing you until he realizes he’s grinding his cock against you. This isn’t him. He’s a gentleman. He needs to wait, to woo you, make you love him. The salty water laps at your bodies, though and he feels there may never be a dinner to go to.

Overcome with lust he rips your shirt open and kisses your chest and up your neck. You’re still delirious from nearly drowning, limp in his arms as the sun sparkles on the crystal blue water and glints off the white sand of the pristine beach. Despite the tropical heat, your nipples pebble, drawing his lustful eye. He drags you further up the beach, the sand shifting beneath you when he repositions to draw your peaked bud into his warm mouth.

Your weak moans mingle with the crash of waves and the call of seabirds. He is helpless to resist you, the arch of your back and the adrenaline urge him on, easily tearing the fabric of your shirt the rest of the way off. He pauses, unable to believe that he is alive and so are you, the beautiful and charming stranger from the doomed ship. You cup his scruffy jaw in your hand and pull him to your lips, parted and waiting like petals of a drowsy rose. He kisses you deeply, soundly, the way he wanted to the moment he laid eyes on you. As he licked into your sweet mouth, you pull at his white shirt, half unbuttoned and hanging open, tearing it from his broad shoulders, exposing his strong, golden chest.

Impatiently he unzips your shorts, tossing them to the dry sand. He presses his chest to yours and rolls you on top of him.

The full length of his turgid member throbs against your own aching core. All inhibition lost along with the wreckage of the SS Consitution, you roll your hips suggestively, and run your fingers through the beautiful man’s thick, graying curls. You sweep them away from his forehead and trace his sloped nose with your lips, kissing his face while his strong hands anchor your hips just above his own.

No words are spoken, silent understanding passes between you. You may die together on this remote island all alone, but you have right now. He lifts his hips and pushes down the tight black briefs that kept him from you, then gathers the scant lace of your underwear in his thick fingers. Teasing at your slit with his knuckles, he looks at you, and tells you his name before joining your soft, supple body with his hard, aged one. The first word you speak to him is a staccato moan of his name. “Joel!” He’s slow and languid in his motion, holding you with firm yet gentle hands on your hip and cheek. Your knees and toes slip in the wet sand. You’ve no choice but to take every solid inch of him.

You can’t keep your eyes open. You’ve never felt so full, he coaxes you to move, he needs to feel you as you surrender yourself to him, your beautiful tits, the nipples he longs to tease swaying so erotically above his face. Your throaty moans drive his hips upward, fucking into you with abandon as you find your own matching rhythm, grinding your clit into the coarse dark hair beneath you. You’re overtaken by your orgasm, it bolts up your spine and down every nerve, rendering you nearly drunk on his cock. He can feel the ripple of your pleasure pulling at his own, and he can’t stop until he has filled you with his seed.

He doesn’t let you go. He can’t. He pulls you to his chest, bodies joined, breath escaping you both in ragged pants. As the tide rises and the sky darkens, he holds you, kissing your face, your hair, your lips. You stroke his chest, twirl a lock of his hair around your finger, and vow to live the rest of your life, however short it may be now, with him.

[carefulfears]

literally thinking about how mulder is the softest man. and he loves beautifully. he's so focused on his quest because of how much he loves samantha, and his parents. he tries to hope, desperately, that samantha is alive & he'll find her even though he knows how unlikely it is. and without scully, it would have taken him much longer to face it. no one ever looked into the darkness with him or loved samantha with him or believed in him so much they always followed him & stayed present with him in those really difficult moments he couldn't get away from the grief. and everything scully does for him, he returns. he responds to how she cares, and her boundaries. and they talk but they don't really talk, so he toes the line. he's always checking in with her.

the x-files is about love because everything mulder does is through love does everybody get it!! god, it’s just so major to me, that he’s this iconic sci-fi hero who’s just 100% grounded in kindness and generosity. there’s nothing hiding around the corner. he’s not the bad boy in the basement, he’s not the maverick with a secret heart of gold, he’s just fucking nice. he cares about people. he sees people. he wants to help. he loves his sister. loves his shitty parents. loves his evil ex-partners and ex-wife. loves his friend. there’s always something deeper in mulder, but it’s always just pain. he’s not hiding anything away. he refuses to let go of anything, but never wants anyone to fall into the same trap, his or their own. he tells traumatized women who’ve been abused and imprisoned that he needs their help, that they’re capable of contributing, that he wants to know what they think. while every other cop tries to lock them up. he feels every loss, carries every ghost, never stops trying.

i just watched irresistible again, and god. the way that he pulls scully aside and tells her, it’s okay to be affected. it’s normal. “i’ve seen agents with 20 years fall apart on cases like this.” he doesn’t say that it’s because she’s a woman (like the cop in 2shy does) or because she’s young or because she’s traumatized. he never brings up her recent abduction. he just tells her that it’s okay to need space, that she can talk to him.

and scully is trying so fucking hard to be that perfect navy captain’s daughter. that girl who straightened before looking up at her father to say goodnight. that girl who, as her mother says, has “always been the strong one.”

and she tries to be the strong one. she takes a step back. she goes to therapy. she tells her therapist that she trusts her partner more than anyone, but she does not want him to know that she’s struggling. when she decides to come back, and calls him, she plays it off with a joke. (like he does). “besides, you could use my help.” when he responds, “always.” it’s so earnest and direct, without breaking her cover or stepping out of the box she created. yes, of course, agent scully. come help.

in the end, she can barely choke out that “i’m fine,” her signature move. he doesn’t say a word. he tips her chin so slightly, so that she looks at him. it’s one of the most special moments of the series, to me, the way she just breaks when she sees him. grabs him and sobs. and how you can just barely hear him whisper: “it’s alright.”

the police are still cleaning up the scene around them. i don’t think we ever see her do that again, in front of other people. but we do see her do it with him, when they’re alone, because she knows she can. that strong captain’s daughter. it’s like someone talked about on one of your posts before: scully has to be put together. she has to be the strong one. she’s trying to maintain a fragile place in “the boy’s club” (she talks about this herself). she’s trying to present respectability and a certain image.

and maybe she does have to be that person, for her parents, for her brother, for the FBI, the doctors. but mulder thinks that it’s okay to be affected. he just wants her to be able to talk about it. he wants to see her vulnerability, and shield it. in that house in minneapolis, his face breaks, but he just holds her and whispers. and she rarely falls into it, but she knows that she can, since the motel room in bellefleur. and that means something.

it’s just impossible not to soften around him. and that’s something really special, for scully, for the victims and witnesses he works with. he values their help, he already views them as strong, he wants them to express everything that they’re feeling. he believes it helps.

(mulder has said that line too, “you’re the strong one.” - to lucy householder when she was crying in the dirt)

this show was always realistic. you do have to present a certain image. most people are gonna think you’re young and weak and traumatized and stupid. but it also centered this whole thing around this one person that didn’t require any of that, and that’s why it works. why it’s so special.

[spacerockfloater]

House of the Dragon, Season 2, Episode 1: Discussion

Overall, I did not like the episode at all.

First of all, am I crazy or was the whole scene at Winterfell and the Wall purely fanservice so that HOTD can gain the sympathy of old fans? I mean, it lasted like, 2 minutes, and added nothing to the plot. Cregan’s speech was amusing though.

Daemon didn’t let a single moment go to waste before he started acting like a king. Typical and at least consistent with his character.

Sigh. Preparing myself for the backlash I’m going to receive for this. I did not like the way Rhaenyra’s and Jace’s emotions were portrayed. Where was the shock? The agony? The horror? The pain? Too much silent grief for someone who just found out that their son/ brother was murdered. Hell, Rhaena showed more emotion than both of them combined and we saw her face for merely a second.

Good for my girl Alicent for finally getting some I guess, but the Alicole sex scenes were weak as fuck. No passion, no chemistry. It was robotic as shit. All that subtle tension between them during the first season led to nothing. Rushed as fuck and not at all what they made us think it would be. Provided absolutely zero context. Boring as hell, too. Thank fuck that it was leaked because it would have been a jumpscare. Nothing could have prepared me for it, it came out of nowhere.

Alicent standing her ground against Otto was surprisingly very good. I loved seeing her take the lead. And it was touching to see her light a candle for Luc, too.

Aegon II was very entraining. Refreshing to see him try to be a good king, actually care for his subjects and love his son. Distracts you from the fact that he’s still a stupid unseasoned teenager. Looking forward to some more character development on his part.

Now, what the actual fuck could Aemond ever possibly have to be angry about? Didn’t he just have his revenge? Who is he so pissed at?

Daemon and his murder cloak are the strongest ship in HOTD, which they should rename to “House of Misunderstandings” at this point.

I nearly pissed myself when Cheese’s super secret hidden path through the castle, that only he as a specialist knows, was crossing the fucking throne room on their tippy toes. Did they sneak back outside to meet Daemon the same way while leaving a bloody trail behind them? Are the writers actually insane? Who gave that shit the green light? Why does the door to Aemond’s room open by a lever? Is he Batman? Where the actual fuck was literally everyone? The guards? The servants? The ladies of honour? How was the fucking queen all alone?

And lastly, speaking of the queen… Oh my God. This was the most anticlimactic scene in the whole episode. I nearly fell asleep. I don’t know what’s Helaena’s deal, like is she neurodivergent? Is she just not fazed by anything because she has already seen everything play out in her head before it actually happens? It’s never explained and it makes it so infuriating that she looks just… concerned. Not traumatized or shocked, just perplexed and worried, lol. She pointed to her son faster than lightning. Did she just want all of it end as fast as possible? No idea. All the tragedy of the situation was removed. Luc’s death was much more impactful and shook the audience. This seemed so underwhelming and stale. And then Helaena quietly goes to her mother’s room, walks past her riding Criston like this happens to her every Tuesday, sits down, refers to her own son as “the boy”, and looks slightly distraught. Dian Doesn’t even shed a single tear. Nothing like the mourning woman gone mad by grief we saw in the trailer, though maybe we just have to wait I suppose. Like, lol okay. This was not giving like y’all promised it would. The only grotesque thing about it was listening to them sawing Jaehaerys’ head off.

The episode felt rushed as fuck and has severely reduced my interest in hating or loving any of the characters. There’d better be some top notch acting next Sunday or I’m dropping the show.

All opinions are welcome, just please be civil to one another!

[izzysillyhandsy]

I sometimes wonder if the Izzy hate would have reached those dizzying heights if S1 had ended on episode 9.

Izzy would still have done almost all the bad things: making Ed unhappy, duelling Stede and wanting him gone, the deal with the English, his past with Ed/Blackbeard - except for hurting and threatening Ed after the breakup.

And even though all of this can be seen from different angles, it is possible to interpret it from the most damning perspective - and that should be enough to hate him, right?

But Ed wouldn't have turned into the Kraken, he wouldn't have killed Lucius, marooned half of the crew and cut off Izzy's toe.

And I am almost 100% sure that most of the Izzy hate comes from seeing Ed's drastic change in episode 10. Without it, sure, some people might have found Izzy unsympathetic or just unimportant, or a little shit. But that level of hate?

I guess what I'm saying is that a lot of the Izzy hate comes from "what Izzy made Ed do" and not from "what Izzy did to Ed".

Also, it is a way of dealing with the shock/cognitive dissonance of seeing a very beloved character turn "evil" after 9 episodes of being a gentle and misunderstood guy who is a pirate, yes, but who's fundamentally non-violent and good. How can you reconcile this with Ed suddenly killing a beloved (and completely innocent) character? And the extreme violence of the toe-cutting? (And yes, I know Ed burned people alive before, pirate-typical violence etc. But we didn't know these people and we didn't see them in close-up.)

But to blame Izzy for everything and to make him this evil part of Blackbeard - completely separate of "true Ed" of course - lets Ed still be the same gentle soul that loves a fine fabric, fell in love with Stede in the sweetest way and, although traumatized by his childhood, is at his core an innocent person that can be saved by removing the rotten influence of Izzy Hands - without confronting the self-hatred, self-centeredness, mistrust of others and tendency to violence that might be a part of "true Ed" as well.

And of course, if a group of fans started liking Izzy and maybe even defended/found understanding for his actions to a degree - where would that leave Ed? Is it really justifiable to fly into a murderous rage because your heart was broken (by a man you've known for a few weeks), because you're deeply unhappy and you've outgrown your pirate persona?

If Ed wasn't mentally abused by Izzy for decades, if it wasn't Izzy alone that drove Stede away, if Izzy hadn't duelled Stede out of the evilness of his heart, if Ed didn't desperately want to leave but Izzy forced him to stay in their toxic relationship, if it wasn't just Izzy and his hurtful words that drove Ed to become the Kraken...

...then maybe Ed wouldn't be an innocent babygirl anymore, and it would be much more difficult to see Ed/Stede as this perfect, unproblematic and sunshine-y couple.

It seems to me that seeing Izzy as "The Worst" and casting him in the role of the villain behind every bad thing Ed ever did is a quick and painless way to make Ed loveable without actually putting the work in (and the show actually avoided that up unto the death scene - one example is Izzy leaving in S1E4 and Ed manipulating him to stay; there are countless others).

I sometimes have the feeling that the hate for Izzy grows exponentially with more and more of Ed's darker side coming through in the show. And I don't get it - maybe because I am drawn to darker, fucked up characters and relationships. Give Ed his agency back and let him be cruel! Let Ed and Izzy have their mutually destructive, weird but intense dynamic!

Let Ed be a fascinating, loveable character with a (very) dark side - exactly like his partner for decades, Izzy - and you'll actually get a better character, and an additional fascinating relationship - as well as a more interesting story.

[stromuprisahat]

True love is "When he isn't horrible to her, she's horrible to herself for him..."

Siege and Storm- Chapter 21

What exactly is the purpose of this extempore performance, outside of reminding Alina he doesn't want to have anything to do with her and keep her on her toes, attempting to gauge his next mood swing?

Five seconds earlier: it has to be my way! - Now: I don't care.

*purposefully pointedly ignores Alina*

THIS is the last place I wanna be. *leaves without permission*

And with this tiny interaction Alina loses all her previous spirit, ending up emotionally drained and in tears.

Classic home abuser behaviour.

But hey- if he disappears quickly enough, there will be no consequences to his negligence. It's not like his victim will let anyone hold him responsible now that he reminded her how she cannot imagine to exist without him.

Honey, this might be THE exception.

This would be an interesting angle to explore, if they were twins or very close siblings, who were forced to depend on each other all their lives through some unique traumatic experience.

This way it's just plain boring nurtured codependence, with Alina getting the shorter straw.

You don’t care what happens to Mal ... *singsongs* I wish it were truuueee!!!

And I wish this would be a sudden emotional outburst of a wounded girl, not a part of a pattern of Alina expecting the worst for no reason.

But is this really the life you want for him? Ehm, Alina's not his mother. She's not his caretaker. She has no responsibility for him and his actions. That's all on Malyen.

So much bullshit in a single paragraph.

Malyen's purpose was supposed to be Alina's protector. Except he never even tried to do the job. If he's a soldier, he should be following his leader, not making scenes. Except for him Alina's not a person worth respect, she's always just his inconsequential girlfriend for him.

I wonder what would happen to him under ordinary circumstances (read: Nobody tiptoeing around to spare her feelings.).

Would he get away with drunkenness? Fistfights? Spreading rumours about his officer? Missing watch? Neglecting other duties of his station? Turning up unpresentable to accompany his superior?

All of his unhappiness stems from inability to respect Alina both as a leader and a person.

Am I to feel sorry for him?!

While I ~could~ understand Alina's fear of wanting more*- even though she is driven by shame- her greatest concern shouldn't be she might be truly seen by her loved one of choice. Unlike family, relationships formed by people, who simply want to be together should be about acceptance and treasuring each other's company. Not moulding one's self into what the other one wants.

_____

* Unlike Ms. Bardugo I know great power doesn't mean corruption, it's how you use it that matters.

[personal-blarghe]

I finally watched Trigun Stampede. Speaking as someone who really, really loved Trigun (1998) and watched it + Badlands Rumble multiple times growing up, nothing holds to that nostalgia. But I really liked it! The animation and art is so, so pretty. The framing, the combat scenes, it's all just really impressive and gorgeous. The original was also very impressive visually, especially for its time, so that feels like something that held up. It looks like how a Trigun revamp should, I think. (A little disappointed by Vash's sexy hair because he was sexy DESPITE his goofy hair damnit, but yeah like. it looks good on him. whatever. also the old coat was cooler sorry.)

Not sure who out there wants to talk about this and not just look longingly at Vashwood art (fair) but I really enjoyed that it was so fully different. Different takes on the story and a different but still fully contained story structure so that I wasn't 100% sure what was going to happen or how things would play out. I haven't read the manga yet (I really do mean to get around to that one day), so I can't speak to which show is more book-accurate, but it was neat to see some of the same stuff happening but have it be handled differently enough to keep me on my toes. I particularly loved the fuller backstory and more fleshed out angles of the main conflict, and especially the worm perspective. I did a little reading on the wikis and it seems this is the more manga-accurate lore for Zazie the Beast, and I enjoyed that part of Stampede a lot. It did sort of bring up more questions than it answered (ok so what happens to the worms if humans and plants learn to get along and they terraform the planet?), but then it also left a big open door for more story that I really hope we will get. Excellent setup and worldbuilding overall.

The art change for the Wolfwood backstory was also really neat, and again, I enjoyed getting more and fuller backstories in general. I loved the contrast of that soft fuzzy artstyle to his gritty present day, and and I loved, loved how bloody and gory the show was overall. I don't watch a lot of anime these days but the blood spouts felt very 90s to me. I did miss a lot of the old Wolfwood angst though. His whole cult was still there as a villain (I don't think they called them the Gung-Ho-Guns though, too silly?), but the twist of his character arc was so heartbreaking in the original and it's very understated in Stampede. Of course I love that he's not dead (yet?), but his role in the story felt a lot less significant.

I think my recommendation would still be to watch 1998 first. Stampede has a huge tonal shift. It almost isn't goofy at all, which is fine if you already have the silliness of OG Vash in your heart and know that side of the characters, but I did miss it. A lot of the comic relief got pushed to Merryl which I didn't love, but I did like what they did with her arc in setting her up to go from naive kid employee to the one in charge. Interesting to see kind of a prequel for her while the rest of the story is not "prequel" to Trigun so much as just a kind of all over rehash of some of the same events and some different ones.

I think with having more episodes, Trigun (1998) was able to pull off a better slow burn on these goofy characters with traumatic pasts and all the fun little whiplashes you can get out of seeing the goofy idiot turn serious, but it also suffers from bad anime tropes and being From the 90s. Stampede is pretty much just serious, which worked very well in its limited story time, but I missed the goofs.

Without having actually read it, I would say that Stampede feels like it is probably more manga accurate. And while it was self-contained in a satisfying way, I like the open ending and the many new questions I have. Like, wtf happens to all those pregnant plants now? Vash didn't undo that as far as I could tell, they were very much still pregnant with Knives' baby independents. Did they die? Knives clones for season 2? Maybe not quite clones because of Vash's involvement? Not getting into the general grossness of that, (it's pretty gross!) but it's definitely room for more questions about freewill and souls and mutual dependency. Can't wait.

Anyway, I liked Trigun Stampede and I will be very excited to get more. (Wolfwood death scene that defined me as a person when?) All in all, Trigun remains a 10/10 and I will probably finally go read the manga now, it's about time.

[tabl3]

answering some asks in one post for the sake of laziness

Q: If there was a 6th EF member to your rewrite who would it be

A: dooley! I love his relationships with bree and chase, as well as him and kaz being besties. i think he would add enough sunshine to the team too, because the more sunshine-y characters already on the team are somewhat edgy. he absolutely would be traumatized by sharing a home with people who kiss his big siblings on the mouth though lol

Q: AO3 tag?

A: tabs_alt

Q: If the team was in college like Adam, what would their majors be?

A: chase: buisness, bree: art/design, kaz/oliver: some major for pre-med (kaz would make oliver do his homework lmao), skylar: i don't see her as a college type, but probably criminal justice

Q: Logan would like to bake

A: absolutely. that's something that could bond him and adam so he isn't afraid of being nuked by him. also,,, he just gives malewife vibes

Q: when was techertz a thing?

A: so i hinted to it in an earlier book. they were off and on for a few months before ef began and a few months into the team. long story for them lol

Q: are Tasha and Douglas a thing

A: nope. just disaster co-parents trying their best

Q: What do you think of Douglas x Horace and do you think we're gonna get some in the tabl3-verse?

A: i love the ship outside of my universe and totally get the appeal :D however brylar is more important to my rewrite and it's too weird because horace adopted skylar and douglas is bree's biological dad

Q: what are the cats names

A: Posh Spice & Georgiano

Q: So how does the family see each other in your rwite? Is Daniel their brother?

A: yes and no. it's complicated lol. daniel is biologically their brother, but they view him as a cousin and he does the same. it's like that with marcus too (if marcus wasn't evil) daniel calls tasha aunt and douglas dad, while the rats call tasha mom and douglas douglas lmao

essentially when building their family tree they go less by genetics and more by emotional connection, which is why leo is referred to as their brother and daniel isn't (which he's fine with) they used to view donald as their dad and douglas as their uncle, but the line blurred after aijaf so douglas has a weird mix of the roles now (he felt more paternal than uncle affection for them, naomi and leo included, way before but didn't want to step on the kids' toes)

Q: were Kaz nd Skylar pranking Logan

A: oh yes. they embellished adam's overprotectiveness very intentionally for their entertainment (I assume you're asking about the scene where they talk about adam threatening them)

[polyhexian]

Cait and Tell in the Runaway AU - Wait, y'know what, we can do better on the 3-Grimwalker Pile-Up, this can get so much more ridiculous.

Admittedly this only works if both Jasper and Will's staffs are out of commission for the moment. *handwave*

Jasper launches himself at Tell and thus begins their fistfight. Panicking and determined on Jasper's part, panicking and confused on Tell's. Hunter, Caitlyn, and Enoch are all like "what. what?"

But then all of Caitlyn's neighbors start crowding around hollering and shouting encouragement like "GIVE IT TO 'EM, TELL!" This is a small, tight-knit community that firmly believes in supporting their own, and also this is the most interesting thing that's happened since Old Man Jebthro caused a ratworm stampede last year. People are yelling out tips, or at least fight moves they want to see. Some folks have the gall to criticize Jasper and Tell's brawling skills. Bets are being placed. Caitlyn is peeved to hear one of her neighbors betting against Tell, but of course she would, this is the same woman who always turns her nose up at Caitlyn's pies. Hunter has started pick-pocketing the crowd; he's sure his dad has this well in hand, and at this rate they obviously aren't gonna get a job here, so he might as well get SOME value out of the place. The only person who notices is Enoch, when he attempts to pick her pocket. Assuming they are somehow both children in this timeline, they start slapfighting and yelling at each other.

This is the scene that Will suddenly stumbles into. Jasper and Tell were already freaked out enough by each other, but now faced with a third Grimwalker in full Golden Guard regalia, they freak out so much worse. Will wades into the fight with the intention of breaking it up and arresting Jasper in the process, but instead the other two just launch themselves at him. They're still fighting each other, though, and it devolves into a three-way fistfight.

The crowd goes WILD. They've had not one, but TWO outsiders show up today and immediately give them entertainment! And look at our Tell, holding his own! You show 'em, Tell! They're gonna be telling this story in the local tavern for YEARS.

Will might've assumed that his very presence was going to do his job for him, the Golden Guard tends to have that effect when he walks onto the scene, but unfortunately for him, Cait and Tell chose the most out-of-the-way location possible to hide. This is the farthest part of the toenail on the Titan's pinky toe, it's barely changed since the Savage Ages. It was never seen as profitable enough for anyone on the torso to bother with it; the whole region doesn't even have wifi. (Belos IS planning an Extremeties Outreach Program that'll start implementing the infrastructure needed to bring even these remote settlements under the coven system's thumb, but he hasn't gotten around to it yet.) The people know that the empire exists in theory and that the Golden Guard is a thing, but heck if they know what the guy looks like. Mostly they're wondering who this idiot dressed all in white is. Tell in his everyday wear and Jasper in his travel gear are looking pretty dirty too, but Will looks the worst out of the three of them.

Caitlyn, unlike her neighbors, is WELL AWARE of what the Golden Guard looks like, so she is starting to understand why her partner is panicking.

Hunter and Enoch, however, being sensible children, have, upon watching their fathers tackle the Golden Guard, looked at each other. Obviously both of them know who the Golden Guard is, Hunter from traumatic experiences and Enoch from cautionary bedtime stories. So they have a brief conference. If YOUR dad is fighting the Golden Guard, and MY dad is fighting the Golden Guard, then WE'RE DRIVING THE PLANE!

And that's how Will's shins suddenly come under attack from two small children.

Mrs. Pie Critic makes a remark about how she always KNEW there was something wrong with Tell's girl, and Caitlyn very gallantly does NOT tackle the woman into the dirt because SOMEONE in this family needs to stay calm. The rest of her neighbors are shouting encouragement at Enoch anyway.

The whole mess eventually ends with a little village elder or mayor tottering in like "what's all this?" and that's how three grown men get chastised right there in the town square. It's all "you can't just come into our home and start trouble!" and "we can't just start fistfighting outsiders, we get little enough trade as it is!" and "Tell I know you, why on EARTH did you think this was necessary?" Tell is very sheepish like yes, yes, sorry about that, terrible mistake on my part. Jasper is just vibrating while he tries to decide if it'll cause more problems to stand here and get scolded while the Golden Guard is RIGHT THERE or to just grab Hunter and run.

Will is lying on his back in the dust staring up at the sky, wondering at his life choices and making weak gestures of acknowledgement to their lecturer. He can appreciate a person who has this much control and commands this much respect in their community; even the crowd of onlookers are shuffling their feet sheepishly. This is probably when he manages to convey "look I'm just trying to ask those two some questions" at which point it's like, oh my titan you three were brawling like drunks over some QUESTIONS? For shame! Let the man ask you some questions, goodness!

That's when Caitlyn comes over like "ahaha well said, come on I'll go put a kettle on and we'll hear out these questions!" and drags the three of them back to her and Tell's house where they proceed to awkwardly sit around the coffee table. Jasper and Will aren't convinced that their tea isn't poisoned. Caitlyn has to set up a million privacy spells because, now deprived of the entertaining fistfight, the neighbors have all spontaneously decided to do some garden work or sweep the street outside the house.

"shins" hunter is the distraction so that Enoch can kick him in the nuts